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NC 


J  .  L 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ANNALS 

■ 


OF 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY 


PENNSYLVANIA 


CONTAINING 


A    GENEALOGICAL   RECORD   OF   REPRESENTATIVE   FAMILIES.  INCLUDING   MANY   OF   THE 

EARLY     SETTLERS,    AND    BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF     PROMINENT 

CITIZENS,    PREPARED   FROM   DATA   OBTAINED   FROM 

ORIGINAL   SOURCES   OF  INFORMATION 


Wlustratefc 


CHICAGO 
J.  L.  FLOYD  &  CO. 

1911 


en  : 


PREFACE 


TI1H  importance  of  placing  in  book  form  biographical 
history  of  representative  citizens — both  for  its  im- 
mediate worth  and  for  its  value  to  coming  genera- 
tions— is  admitted  by  all  thinking  people;  and  within  the 
past  decade  there  has  been  a  growing  interest  in  this  com- 
mendable means  of  perpetuating  biography  and  family 
genealogy. 

That  the  public  is  entitled  to  the  privileges  afforded  by 
a  work  of  this  nature  needs  no  assertion  at  our  hands;  for 
one  of  our  greatesi  Americans  has  said  that  the  history  of 
any  country  resolves  itself  into  the  biographies  of  its  stout, 

<. -1    and    representative  citizens.     This  medium,  then, 

serves  more  than  a  single  purpose:  while  it  perpetuates 
biography  and  family  genealogy,  it  records  history,  much 
of  which  would  be  preserved  in  no  other  way. 

In  presenting  the  Genealogical  and  Biographical  An- 
nals of  Northumberland  County  to  its  patron-,  the  pub- 
lishers have  to  acknowledge,  with  gratitude,  the  encourage- 
ment and  support  their  enterprise  has  received,  ami  the 
willing  assistance  rendered  in  enabling  them  to  surmount 
the  many  unforeseen  obstacles  to  be  met  with  in  the  produc- 
tion of  a  work  of  this  character.  In  nearly  every  instance 
the  materia]  composing  the  sketches  was  gathered  from 
those  immediately  interested,  and  then  submitted  in  type- 
written form  for  correction  and  revision.  The  volume, 
which  is  one  of  generous  amplitude,  is  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  public  with  the  belief  that  it  will  be  found  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  library,  as  well  as  an  invaluable  contribution 
to  the  historical   literature  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


INDEX 


Adam,  Edwin  A 839 

Adam,  Emanuel  849 

Adam  (Adams)  Family 

634,   839,   847 

Adams,  Adam  C 848 

Adams,  Allison  C 610 

Adams,  Andrew  848 

Adams,   Bernard   E 634 

Adams,    Curtis    M 775 

Adams,  D.  Alonzo 609 

Adams,  David  N 775 

Adams  (Adam)  Families   . .  . 

..    252,   609,   634,  775,  806,   847 

Adams,  General  G 610 

Adams,   Henry   N 806 

Adams,  John  H 636 

Adams,   Merritt  S 384 

Adams,  Nathan   850 

Adams,  Nathan  G 252 

Adams.    Tobias    850 

Albright  Family 371 

Albright,  John  T 901 

Albright,  Joseph    371 

Albright,   Mrs.  Mary  E 901 

Allen,  John  E 819 

Allison,  C.  Edward,  M.  D.  .. 

207 

Allison    Family    207 

Apgar  Family 118 

Apple.  Benjamin   301 

Armstrong    Family     315 

Aten    Family    34 

Auman  Family  186 

Auman,  George  0 186 

Auten  Family 34 

Auten,   Voris    34 

Awl    Family    6 

Awl,  Robert  H.,  M.  D 6 

Ayers,    Alfred    263 

Bailey   Family    386 

Bailey,    Dr.   Frank   W 386 

Barber,   Levi   B 920 

Barnhart,  Harry  C 414 

Barr,   John   W 408 

Barron,   Charles   A 591 

Bartholomew   Family    273 

Bartholomew,  James  W.    ...274 

Bartholomew,  John  L 274 

Barto    Family    451 

Barto,   Oliver   S 451 

Bastian,   Benjamin   F 840 

Bastian   Family    840 

Bastress,   John    E 697 

Batdorf,   Adam    449 

Batdorf,    Levi    B 859 

Bealor,   Benjamin   A.,   M.   D. 
602 


Bealor  Family   602 

Beaver,  Simon  P 401 

Beck  Families   97,  332 

Beck,  John  A 333 

Beck,   John    H 97 

Beck,    William    H 333 

Becker,  H.  M.,  M.  D 716 

Behrent.   Julius    666 

Bergstresser  Family 972 

Bergstresser,   Franklin  A.    ..972 

Berkheimer   Family    439 

Berkheiser,  Daniel  N 621 

Berlew    Family    859 

Berlew,  Jacob   F 858 

Best   Family   459 

Best,  James  H 459 

Best,  Samuel  D 460 

Bieber,  Elias  369 

Bieber   Family    369 

Billman  Family   226 

Billmeyer  Family   482 

Billmeyer,   Henry   482 

Bingaman  Family  86 

Bingaman,  Jacob   E 88 

Bingaman,  Jeremiah  Adam  .   89 

Bingaman,    William   0 87 

Bingeman,  Charles  C 87 

Bingeman    Family    87 

Bird,  Mrs.  Clara  E 606 

Bird   Families    605,  632 

Bird.    William    B 605 

Blank.  Charles  F 158 

Blank,  Daniel  C 938 

Blank    Family    158 

Blasser,   Abraham  D 741 

Blasser   Family    741 

Blasser.  Jacob  D 742 

Bleistein,  Rev.  A.  H 562 

Bloom.    Amos    712 

Bloom  Families    93,  709 

Bloom,    Isaac     93 

Bloom,  John   711 

Bloom,  Urias   710 

Blue,    Edgar     3S5 

Blue   Family   385 

Blue,  Horace  C 935 

Bly,  David  L 437 

Bobb,  Alfred  C 226 

Bobb,  Peter  G 227 

Bohner,    David    677 

Bohner,    Edwin    D 678 

Bohner   Family    677 

Bohner,   John   R 680 

Bohner,   Noah   R 680 

Bohner,  William  S 680 

Bolich,  Daniel  D 309 

Bolich    Family     310 

Boone  Families   116,  127 


Bordner    Family     359 

Boughner   Family   56 

Boughner,  Thomas  P 56 

Bower,   Be"njamin   F 450 

Bower,    Elias    E 911 

Bower  (Bauer)  Families  450,  911 

Bower,    Thompson     863 

Boyer,  Abraham  C 958 

Boyer,  Benjamin  A 222 

Boyer  Families   221,  958 

Boyer,  Peter  222 

Boyer,  S.  Pierce 221 

Boyer,  William  C 833 

Brady,    Capt.    John    693 

Brady,    Samuel    687 

Brady,  Mrs.  Sarah  L 688 

Braun,    William    L 473 

Brennan,   Thomas   L 541 

Brierley,  John  J 183 

Bright    Family     283 

Bright,  John   M 283 

Broceus,  Abram    872 

Broceus,  Mrs.  Lucy  A 872 

Broscious,   Charles   H 871 

Brosious,  Charles  H.  (Rock- 
efeller  township)    868 

Brosious,  A.  Eugene   867 

Brosious,    Charles    H.    (Dal- 

matia)    867 

Brosious  (Brosius)  Family.. 866 

Brosious,  John  F 867 

Brosious,  William  1 868 

Brosius,    Andrew    J 870 

Brosius,    Emanuel    G 870 

Brosius   Family    866 

Brosius,   Maurice   E 871 

Brosius,  William  S 869 

Brower,   Daniel    265 

Brower,  Mrs.  Emma  H 265 

Brower,   John   T 264 

Brown,    Cyrus    369 

Brown  Family   843 

Brown,  James   C 703 

Brown,  John   F 843 

Brown,   John   W 843 

Brown,  Mrs.  Laura  B 34 

Brown,   Mrs.   Rebecca   E.    ..370 

Brown,  Samuel  T 369 

Brown,    Simon    Peter    33 

Bruner,   Capt.   Charles  J.    . .   21 

Bryson   Family    432 

Bryson,    Capt.    James    432 

Brvson,   Mrs.   Margaret    ....432 

Bu'bb,  Benneville  M 270 

Bubb   Family    270 

Bubb.  William  C 271 

Bucher,  Andrew  L 225 

Bucher  Families   226,  734 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Bucher,  John   \V 734 

Buffington    Family    202 

Bumngton,  John   X 202 

Burd    Family    709 

Burd.    Isaac    C TOO 

Burns,   Carey   E 302 

Burns    Family    302 

Butler,    Mrs.    Helen    M 179 

Buyers    Family     985 

Buyers,     Howard     985 

Byerlv   Family   503 

Byerly,    John's 504 

Byerly.  Jonathan    M 505 

Cabel,    Jesse     675 

Cadwallader,      Col.      George 

B 15 

Cake.  John  A 71:'. 

Caldwell,    Mrs.   Mary   L 4S1 

Cameron.   Henry    958 

Campbell.    Ambrose    S 746 

Campbell,    Delmer    F 279 

Campbell,    Edwin    M 433 

Campbell,    Elisha    M 132 

Campbell.   Mrs.   Ella   V 433 

Campbell    Families    .38,   275,   747 

Campbell,   James   H 27fi 

Campbell,  Lemuel  277 

Campbell.    William    K 279 

Campton,  John  J 845" 

Carl   (Corl)    Family    205 

Carl.    Henry    A 205 

Carpenter,  John  P 568 

Cawley,   A.   0 987 

Cawley    Family    390 

Cawley,   Miss   Florence  J.    ..390 

Cawley.   John    H.    389 

Chamberlain  Families   ..141,367 

Chamberlain,   L.   J 764 

Chamberlain,    Silas    142 

Chamberlin    Families    ..141,   367 

Chamberlin,  Harry  W 366 

Chamberlin,  Joseph  H 142 

i  jhamberlin,  Lewis   Hi 

Cherry    Family    637 

Cherry.  Lorenzo  D 637 

I  iirsu-r.  Theodore    211 

Christ.   Benjamin   F 139 

Christ  Family  138 

Christ,  Jeremiah   M 139 

Clapham,  i  'ol.  William  . .  .  .7in 
I  lapp      i  EClopp     and     Klapp) 

Family   46" 

Clapp,    William   S 460 

Clark.   Alfred   C,   M.    I) 201 

(  lark.  Elmer  E 750 

Clark    Family     749 

Clark,  II.   Preston   752 

Clark.  Wilson  II 750 

irberger,    Edward    683 

Cleaver,   (  harles  L 203 

Clemens,    Abram     734 

■   li     tens    Family    7::.; 

Clemens,    Peter   7:;:; 

i  m.  Gen.  Charles  M.   .  .160 

Clement,    Charles    W 288 

I  1.  in.  in  Families  ,  .64,  L60,  732 
I  lement,    Francis    7:;:; 

Clement.     1  Irnry     65 

Clement,   Ira   B.     733 

Clement,  Ira  T 64.  288 

Clement.    Peter    

I  lewell  Familj    824 

Clingan,  William  654 

Clinger,    I  laniel    189 


Clinger  Families 189,  363 

Ginger,  William  Bruce 363 

Coates,  John   M 898 

Coates,  Thomas  J 89S 

Coldren   Family   205 

Conrad.   Charles   A 706 

Conrad  Families   ...286.  705,  970 

Conrad,  George   286 

Conrad,  George   M 705 

Conrad.   Harry   F 970 

Cooke.  Frederick  W 95 

Cooper,    Alexander    618 

Cooper,  David  W 612 

Cooper,  James   618 

Coulston.   William  J 898 

Cowden  Family   10 

Cramer,  George  W 514 

Cressinger  Family 171 

Cressinger,  John  B.,  M.  D.  .  .170 

Crompton,  John  T 563 

Crone  Family 256 

Crone,  George  E 257 

Crone,  George  F 258 

Crone,   Gotthilf  C 251 

Crone,  Herman  T 2.">s 

Crone.    Lewis    257 

Cross.   John    A 856 

Cruger   (Kruger)    Family    ...660 

Culp.   Albert   S '. 969 

Culp    Family    96S 

Culp,  Peter  F 968 

Cummings  Families  ....101,  423 

Cummings,  Herbert  W 425 

Cummings,  Joseph  F 101 

Cummings,   Robert   M 423 

Dagle.  George  H 448 

Dalius,   William    633 

Daniel    Family    275 

Daniel,  John   275 

Day    Family    963 

Dean,  William  A 407 

Deeter.    Harry   R 355 

Deibler,  Amos  K 592 

Deibler.  Jacob   R 619 

Deitrich   Family   253 

Deitrich,    Levi    253 

Deitrich,  Samuel   253 

Delcamp    Family    675 

Delcamp,   A.    Milton    675 

Deppen,  Alexander  903 

Deppen,    Benjamin  F 58 

Deppen   Families    ...58,  120,  901 

Deppen,    George    902 

Deppen,  George  E 120 

Deppen,  Henry  C 903 

Deppen,  John   E 903 

Deppen,   John    II 552 

Deppen,  Joseph   27 

Deppen,  Joseph  H 27 

Deppen.    Samuel     905 

Deppen,   William  S 904 

Dewart    Family    198 

Dewart.  William  L 198 

DeWitt,  A.  T.,  M.  D 289 

DeWitt.   Daniel  L 916 

DeWitt,  David  L 915 

DeWitt    Family    915 

I  U  \\  itt.    Mrs     Susan    S 915 

1  (ickerman,  Charles  II is 

Dickerman   Family   4s 

Dietrich  Family :.'."■::.  79s 

Dietrich.  Levi  

I  Jissingei .    I  lavid  C him 

Dissinger,  Ira  T.  C 400 


Ditty    Family    279 

Dockey,    Elmer   W 184 

Dockey   Families    184,   381 

Dodge,    Charles    H 604 

Dodge  Family   603 

Dodge,  William   H 604 

Doney   Family    381 

Donmayer    Family    830 

Donmayer.    Henry    J 830 

Dornsife    Family     544 

Dornsife,  Frederick  R 544 

Dougal    Family    701 

Dougal,  James  S.,  M.  D.    ...701 

Douty    Families    96.    729 

Douty,  John    B 96 

Douty,    William    H 9  7 

Dreher,    Spencer    H 628 

Dreibelbies   (Dreibelbis )  Fam- 
ily    759 

Dreibelbis  (Dreibelbies),  Wil- 
liam  759 

Dreisbach,  Miss  Edith  M.  ..255 
Dreisbach   Families   ....315,  433 

Dreisbach.  Hiram   255 

Druckenmiller    (Truckenmil- 

ler)   Family   406 

Drumheiser,  John  F 103 

Drumheller,  Albert  Z 882 

Drumheller,   Emanuel   C.    ...881 

Drumheller  Family 880 

Drumheller,  Hiram  C 881 

■Drumheller,  Oliver  R 883 

Drumm   Family    688 

Drumm,   Henry    689 

Drumm,    Henry    C 689 

Drumm,  Jacob  E 690 

Drumm.  John    690 

Dugan.  Mrs.  Liberty  D 62 

Dunkelberger  Families  ..49,  123 
Dunkelberger,  George  A.  ..124 
Dunkelberger.    Henry   W.    ..125 

Dunkelberger,  Jesiah   50 

Dunkelberger,   John   H 54 

Dunkelberger.  Jonathan    ....    51 

Dunkelberger,  Luther  L 54 

Dunkelberger,   Roy   0 52 

Dunkelberger,  Simon  F 52 

Dunkelberger,    Mrs.   Susanna 

„   K 51 

Dunkelberger.  Tobias    124 

Dunkelberger,  William  H.  ..966 
Dunkelberger,  William  L.  .  .  52 
Dunkelberger.  William  S.  54 

Durovcik,  Paul  82 1 

Eagle,  Charles  K 703 

Eagle  Family   703 

Eagle,  John  H :o:i 

Earley.  Edward   506 

Eckman  Family  410 

Eckman,   Mrs.   Harriet    286 

Eckman,  Joseph  W 411 

Eckman,    Philip    285 

Eckman,    William    H 410 

Eddy.   Peter    224 

Edwards,   Richard   H.    .        ..264 

Egolff   Family    14s 

Eichholtz,  William  F 722 

Eisenhart   Family    C45 

Eisenhart,    lohn'H 645 

Ellenberger,   I.  C.  M 134 

Emerick     (  Emrick,     Emrich) 

_     Family    945 

Emerick,  Henry  M.,  M.  D.  .335 
Emerick,  Martin  L..  M    D      947 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Einrich    (Emerick,     Emrick) 

Family   945 

Emrick,  Joseph    94S 

Engle,   Jackson    M 927 

Ent    Family     565 

Ent,  James  B 565 

Erdly    Family     394 

Erdman    Family    444 

Erdman,   Frank    501 

Erdman,  John   K 444 

Ettinger   Family    ::  1 1 

Ettinger,    Lewis    K 311 

Evans,    Benjamin    1 966 

Evans,   Thomas    A 813 

Everitt,  Mrs.  Catharine  M...418 

Everitt,    Enoch    418 

Everitt,  Enos   417 

Everitt  Family   417 

Fagely  Family   81 

Fairchild,   Abram    497 

Fairchild     Family     496 

Fairchild,   Solomon    496 

Falck,  Edward  H 853 

Falck   Family    853 

Farley    Family    46G 

Farley,   Harry   M 468 

Farley,  John  M 466 

Fasold,    Daniel     131 

Fasold,  David   130 

Fasold,    Eli    132 

Fasold   Families    130,  662 

Fasold,     Samuel     132 

Federolf   Family    82 

Feger,   Daniel    G 182 

Feger    Family    182 

Fegley,    David   A 826 

Feister    Family    470 

Fenstermacher     Family     ....324 
Fenstermacher,    Milton    R.    .325 

Ferster    Family    671 

Ferster,   John    A 671 

Fetherolf    Family    82 

Fetter,    Charles    H 509 

Fetter,    Elias    508 

Fetter    Family    506 

Fetter,   Isaac   0 508 

Fetter,  John   F 509 

Fetter,  Nathan  E 507 

Fetterolf,  Daniel  C 84 

Fetterolf,    Edward    84 

Fetterolf    Family    82 

Fisher,   Edward   D 398 

Fisher  Families  .73.  227.  373.  39S 

Fisher,  William  H 373 

Fisher,  William   W 73 

Follmer,  Mrs.  Abbie  A 889 

Follmer,    Charles    F 889 

Follmer,    Daniel    8S8 

Follmer.  Daniel  II 889 

Follmer  Family   887 

Follmer,  Horace  L 446 

Follmer,  Rolland  S 890 

Follmer,  Miss  Susanna  L.   ..889 
Follmer,  Mrs.  Susanna  M.   ..893 

Follmer,   William    893 

Follmer,  William  H.,  M.  D.  893 

Forsyth,    Tames    McQ 20 

Fort  Augusta    716 

Fox,  Christopher  C 158 

Fox,   G.   Dal 951 

Fox.  James    158 

Fox,  Miss  Joanna   158 

Fox,    Obad'iah    P l"'s 

Foy    (Foye)    Family    513 


Frampton  Family   23 

Francis   Family    41 

Francis,  Rev.].  M.,  D    D. ".'  4" 

Francis,    William    H 835 

Frederick,    David    P 329 

Frederick,   Mrs.   Emma   C.    .329 

Frederick    Family    329 

Frederick,  Mrs.  Jane  K 330 

Frederick,  John  W 330 

Fries,    Amandus    472 

Fries    Family    439 

Fries,    Franklin   S 439 

Fry   Family   687 

Fry,  Landis   687 

Fryer,  Thomas   G 928 

Fryling,  John  W 740 

Fuhrmann,   P.   H 301 

Furman,    David   A 129 

Furman   Family   125 

Furman,    Freeman   W 476 

Furman,  John    W 476 


Gable    Family    

Gable,    Frank    A 

Gable,    Hon.   William    

Galbraith,    Bertram    

Galbraith    Family    

Galligan,   Rev.   Charles  J.    .. 

Garinger   Family 

Garinger,  Samuel   L 

Gass,  Charles  M..  D.  D.  S.   . 

Gass,    Edward    F 

Gass   Family    251. 

Gass,   Horatio  W„   M.   D.    .. 

Gass.  Joseph   A 

Gass,    William   J 

Gauger,    Anthony    E 

Gauger   (Gouger)    Family    .. 

Gauger,  Mrs.  Mary  E 

Gearhart,   Cadwallader   W.    . 

Gearhart  Families  

55,  120,  126, 

Gearhart.  J.  Beaver.  D.  D.  S. 

Gearhart,    Robert    H 

Gearhart.    Samuel    G 

Gehres   (Kehres)   Family   ... 

Geise,   Daniel    

Geise     Family     

Geise,   Mrs.   Froenica  T.    ... 

Geist    Families    551, 

Geist,    John    H 

Geist.    William    B 

Geist,  Wilson  H 

Geist.    Wilson    O 

Getter,   Jacob    B 

Gift'en    Family    

Gilland,  Rev.  James  W 

Gillespie,   John    W 

Glass,    John    H 

Glass,  Richard    

Glass.    Samuel    

Glennan,    Patrick    J 

Glick    Family    

Glick.    Reuben   J 

Glowa,  John   

Godcharles,   Charles   A 

Godcharles,    Mrs.    Elizabeth 


247 
247 
248 
784 
?s| 
236 
639 
639 
319 
319 
317 
318 
318 
251 
395 
395 
396 
875 

874 

S76 
877 
878 
804 
SI  2 
812 
s  1 :.' 
837 
551 
839 
838 
815 
8 1  6 
377 
172 
17.-. 

'.1;  1 
683 
684 
612 
is;; 
in;: 
558 
943 


Godcharles.    Frederic     V 

Gold     Family     

Gonsar  Family 
Goodwill,   Anthonj    G 

Goodwill    Family    

Goodwill,  William   F 


.942 

.  92  1 

61 

699 


1  rordon,  .lames   F ;is  1 

( >"s>.    j<  ihn     

1  rottshall  Family   22s 

Gottshall,   William    B 22s 

Gouger   (Gaugei  1    I  amily    .  .395 
Grant,  Mrs.  Rachel  V.   ..'....    47 

Grant,   William  T 46 

Gray   Families   351,  97:'. 

Gray,    John    A 972 

Greenough;    F.ben    W 12 

Greenough    Family    11 

Greenough,  Mrs.  Mary  C.   ..    12 
1 ,1  eenough,    William    H.    ...   12 

Grier.  Daniel   I 

Crier,    Mrs.   John    A 299 

Gross,   Mrs.   Amelia   11 944 

Gross,   Eberhard   979 

1  iross,    I  saac   M 91  ; 

Grow,  William  F 

Guffy     Family     314 

Guffy,  Thomas  H 314 

Guyon,    I..   11 479 

Haag   Families    469.  975 

Haag,    George   W 

Haas,   Charles    518 

Haas,   Edward  L :,  1  s 

Haas,  Mrs.   Emma  T.    .  519 

Haas    Families    266.   ;,16 

Haas.  Frederick  266 

Haas,    Hiram    M ;,s-.' 

I  laas,   John    280 

Haas,   John    B 519 

Haas.  John   B.   P 31 6 

Haas,   John    P :, is 

I  laas,   Joseph.  M.  D .-,17 

I  laas,    Mr*.    Mercy    A.    :.'si 

Haas,  Mrs.  Sarah  S 316 

Hackenberg,  Albert   ?65 

Haile,    Michael    J 255 

Hancock,    George    E 70 1 

1  larris    Family    217 

Hartlein    Family    615 

I  Jartlein,    George   W 615 

Hartman.   Charles   A i;<>7 

Hartman,    Harrison    II.    .        u\m 
Hastings,    William   P.    ...  -1, 

1  laupt    Families    61,  ;>7( 

llaupl.   Fred   I...  M.   I) 68 

1  laupt.    George    W 66 

I  laupt.     Harry    E 669 

1  laupt.     Henry      62 

I  laupt.   John    D 62 

I  laupt.    Joseph    II .-,7:> 

Haupt,    William    T 

I  [ause,  Charles  L 168 

I  tause    Family    (68 

I  Ink.    John    \Y s  1 1 

Heckert,    B.   Franklin    .. ,       551 

I I  eckert    Families    

138,  557,  ;;  1.  797 

I  [eckert,  Janus   F 7;  1 

I  [edenberg,  ( leorge  I )    106 

Heim,   I  laniel   I) 1-: 

I  [1  nil     Family     1*1 

I I  01111.    Pi  1  en  al   '  I  186 
I  leim.    (  apl     W  illiam    1 1          186 

i,    Mrs.    \1111a    R.    . 

I  leinen    Family    

I  leinen,   I  lenry  .1 10" 

M.   William   A 

I  [eiser   Family    1  si 

1  lelfenstein,    Charles    P.    .  .  .    19 
I  lelfenstein    Family    ...  if 

Helfenstein,  John   p 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Helfenstein,  William  L.   . .  . 

Hendricks,   Martin   L 

Hendrickson   Family   

Henrie,  John   W 

Henry,  Martin  L 

Herr,  August  C 

Herring    Family    

Herring,   Grant    

I  leaser   Family    

Hesser,  John   F 

Hetrich,    Benneville  S 

Hetrich,  Charles  B 

Hetrich    Family    

Hetrich,  John  S 

Hetrich,  Mrs.  Mary  A 

Hetrick    (Hetrich)    Family 

Hetrick,  John   K 

Higgins,  Patrick  B 

Higgins,  William  J 

High,   Aaron    C 

High  Family  

High.    Mills    S 

High,  Samuel   

IHlbish  (Hilbush)   Family   . 

Hilbish,   John    A 

Hilbush,  Edwin  S 

Hilbush  (Hilbish)   Family   . 

Hilbush,   Jacob   R 

Hilbush,  John  D 

Hill,  Ferdinand  K 

Hill,  Joshua   F 

Hime  (Heim),  Charles  A     . 

Hoch    Family    

Hoch,  John  W 

Hoffman,   Asber   S 

Hoffman  Families  

77,    137,    174, 

Hoffman,   Howard  D 

Hoffman,  Capt.  Jacob  F.   .. 

Hoffman,  Jacob  G 

Hoffman.  John   

Hoffman,  W.  P.  G 

Holland,  James  J 

Hollenback.  D.   S.,   M.   D.    . 
Hollenback,      Edwin       E.. 

D.  D.  S 

Hollenback    Family    

Hollenback,    Samuel    

Hoover,   C.   C 

Hoover   Families    425, 

I  [oover,   Henry    

Hoover,  Mason  I 

Hoover,   Raymond   F 

Hoover.   Wallace   A 

Hoover,  William  A.  J 

Hopewell,  Mrs.  Catherine  M 


18 
829 
387 
G31 
931 
962 
36 
36 
956 
956 
899 
899 
899 

S'l'l 

899 
581 
581 
956 
595 
306 
305 
306 
305 
879 
714 
880 
879 
880 
879 
864 
858 
487 

514 
174 


188 
189 
77 
L37 
43!) 
189 
441 
272 

159 
272 
272 
282 
598 
282 
425 
GOO 
601 
599 


Hopewell   Family   

Hopewell,  John  C 

Hopewell.    John    I ' 

Hopewell,   Miss   Sarah   C.    . 
Hottenstein   Family    

I  [ottenstein,  William    1'. 
.Houghton,  Millard  M 

Houston   Family   

Hot*  ell    Family    

Howell,  George  M 

Howell,    lohn  J 

Howells,  William  H 

Howerter    Family     

Hoy,  <  lharles   E 

I I  m1><  r    Families    352, 

Hubcr,    I  \  anli.  ie   S 

Hullihen,    'I'll'  >mas    

I  nine,    Edgar    B 


.572 
.572 
.572 
.571 
.."72 
.426 
.  186 

.  n  i 

.355 
.564 
.  564 
.474 
.935 

846 
! 

599 
.352 
.370 
,  676 


Hummel   Family    516 

Hunter,  Col.  Samuel    986 

lluntzinger   Family    656 

Huntzinger,   Frederick   C.    ..658 

Huntzinger,  Lewis  L 656 

Huston,   Matthew    11 

Irland  Family  430 

Irvin,   William   R S50 

Irwin,  Jarid  C 560 

Jacoby,  Ezra  R 964 

Jacoby    Family    v..964 

John,   Samuel    606 

Johnson  Family   604 

Johnson.  John  H 955 

Johnson,  Joseph  H 604 

Johnston,        William        T., 

D.  D.  S 451 

Jones,   David   J 569 

Jordan,    Alexander    949 

Jordan,  Miss   Mary  Hurley   .950 
Jordan,  Samuel  D 949 

Kahler,  William  S 845 

Kane,   Prof.  Michael  F 721 

Kapp,   Amos    E 22 

Kapp,   Miss   Clara   M. 23 

Kaseman,    Nathan    366 

Kauffman,  Mrs.  Esther  B.   ..   76 

Kauffman   Family   237 

Kauffman,   John   R 254 

Kauffman,  Josiah  M 76 

Kauffman,   Levi    238 

Kearins,    Patrick    F 963 

Kearney    Family    589 

Kearney,  Matthew  A 589 

Kearney,    Patrick     852 

Kearney.    William    E 590 

Keefer.  Capt.   Benjamin  F.   .348 

Keefer.    Clyde    349 

Keefer  Families  ...345,  556,  931 

Keefer,    George    H 556 

Keefer,   George  W 347 

Keefer,  Jacob  J 349 

Keefer,   John    S 348 

Keefer,  Lloyd  C 349 

Keefer,    Peter    R 347 

Keefer,   Philip   W 348 

Keefer,    Samuel    L 346 

Keefer.   William   F 931 

Kehler,  Daniel  W 263 

Kehres    (Gehres)    Family    ..804 

Kehres,  Franklin  L 804 

Keiffer.    Daniel    M 821 

Keim.    John     183 

Keiner,   Mrs.   Louisa    633 

Keiner.  Walter  T 633 

Keiser.  Absalom  B 614 

Keiser,    Edwin   L 384 

Keiser   Families    ...384,  570,  613 

Keiser,   George   Henry    615 

Keiser,   Joseph   A 614 

Kellagher,    Michael    541 

Keller,    Ezra   C 842 

Keller   Families    42,  842 

Keller,  John  J.,  M.   D 42 

Kelly    Family    330 

Kemble,  William  P 708 

Kennedy.  James  F 611 

Kent.    Tsaac   J 462 

Kerstetter,  Emanuel  W 833 

Kerstetter  Families  580,  601,  833 

Kerstetter,  George  M: 601 

Kerstetter,    Leonard    834 


Ketner    Family    642 

Keyser   Family    438 

Keyser,   Maurice    438 

Kiefer,  William,  Jr 223 

Kieffer,  Abraham    821 

Kieffer    Family    820 

Kirk    Family    391 

Kirk,   Frank   E 391 

Klapp      (Klopp      or      Clapp) 

Families  397,  460 

Klase    Family    163 

Klase,  John  H 168 

Klase,  Solomon  P 165 

Klaus,    Frank    X S27 

Kleckner,  Prof.  William  M.  .577 

Klerx.    Heinrich    136 

Kline    Family    162 

Kline.  J.  Simpson   865 

Kline.  Mrs.  Margaret  E.    ...163 

Kline,   William    F 162 

Klinger.    David   S 550 

Klinger  Families 549,  979 

Klinger,    George    979 

Klinger,   Henry   C.    550 

Klinger.   Paul    984 

Klock    Family    357 

Klock.   Felix    359 

Klock,    Frank    R 358 

Klock,   Galen   R 359 

Knapp.   Joseph    P 537 

Knapp.   William    617 

Knauer.   C.    Hull    229 

Knauer   Family    229 

Knauff.    John    34 

Kniss.   Prof.   Samuel   B 703 

Knittle.    Mr>.    Annie   F 324 

Knittle    Family    324 

Knittle.   Joseph    C 324 

Kobel    Family    206 

Koch   Families    390,   457 

Koch,    Right    Rev.    John    J., 

D.   D 718 

Koch,   Samuel    H 459 

Koch.  William   H 458 

Kohl,  Henry  759 

Kohl,    James     758 

Konstankewicz,     Rev.     John 

Ch 647 

Kopenhaver    (Koppenheffer) 

Family     .731 

Kopenhaver,  Rev.  George    ..731 

Koppenhaffer    Family    732 

Kowaleski,  Joseph  S.,  M.   D. 

649 

Kreitzer  Family 74 

Kreitzer,  John  H 74 

Kremer,    Charles    L 941 

Kremer  Family   387 

Kremer.   John   V 386 

Krieger,  A.  Ralph  £62 

Krieger   (Kruger)   Family   ..660 

Krieger,    Wilson     662 

Kriner,   Byron   W 640 

Kriner,   George   C 641 

Krumm,   Franklin   E 352 

Kuebler,  William  H 476 

Kulp,  Darlington  R 861 

Kulp,   George   Gilbert    863 

Kulp,    Monroe    H 862 

Kumer,   Fred   F 857 

Kunkel,    Charles    A 840 

Kurtz,  Amandus    911 

Kurtz    Family     910 

Kurtz,    J.    TJ 911 

Kutzner.   Mrs.   Anna   M.    ...620 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLTA  \  I  A 


Kutzner,  William   R 620 

Kuzmicz,    Peter    C 983 

Lahr   Family    37s 

Lalir,    Franklin   A 379 

Lahr,    Jacob    379 

Lahr,  Joriah   S 381 

Lahr,  Prof.  M.  L.  W 380 

Lambright,    Joseph     854 

Landau,    Harry    643 

Landau,   John    P 653 

Lark,    Charles    C 573 

Lark    Families    223,   573 

Lark,  Henry  W 633 

Lark,  John   B.,  M.  D 223 

Lark,  Thomas   F 634 

Last,    David    904 

Latsha,    Abraham     532 

Latsha,    Adam    532 

Latsha,   Daniel   L 531 

Latsha  Families   519,  529 

Latsha,  Frederick  W 530 

Latsha,   George   H 531 

Latsha,    John   F 532 

Latsha,    Levi    R 531 

Latsha,   William   M 532 

Latshaw,  Benjamin  F.  W.   ..519 

Latshaw,   Burlington   B 522 

Latshaw   Families    519.   529 

Laughlin,    John    T 577 

Lawler,  Thomas  M 629 

Lawler,    Mrs.   Virginia   M.    ..630 

Lawton,    Toseph    629 

Leader,  Charles  C 32 

Leader,    Edward    M 326 

I. cam,    Henry    L 713 

Lebo,    Harrv   A 860 

Lee  Family   663 

Lee,    William    H 663 

Leh,   Dennis    390 

Leiby  Family   691 

Leiby,   Harry  E 712 

Leiby,   Willard   D 691 

Leighou    Family    724 

Leighou,   I  (scar   726 

Leighow   Family    724 

Leinbach,   Charles   F 135 

l.cinbach,  D.  0 135 

I  einbach    Family    '..134 

Leisenring    Family     240 

Leisenring,    George    K 242 

Leisenring.    Jacob    E 241 

Leisenring,  Mrs.  Mary   240 

Leisenring,  Peter  S 241 

Leitzel,  Benjamin  B 919 

Leitzel,    Daniel    S 917 

Leitzel.     David     B 918 

Leitzel    Family    916 

Leitzel,   Ray  G 918 

Leitzel.  W.  Oscar   919 

Lemon.   Thomas    i;43 

Lenker,    Adam     72 

Lenker,    David.   M.    D 71 

Lenker   Families    ...69,   669.   822 

Lenker,    George   H 822 

Lenker,  Trying   70 

Lenker,  Jacob  F 70 

Lenker.    Jeremiah     669 

Lenker,    J.    Harris    71 

Lentz.  Andrew   803 

Lentz  Family   803 

Lentz,  John   H 804 

Leonard.  Walter  J 962 

Lepley    Family    674 

Lepley,    Isaac     674 


Lerch,  Daniel   420 

Lerch     Family     420 

Lerch,  Samuel   P 420 

Lesher,  Charles   M 464 

Lesher,  Cornelius   814 

Lesher  Families  ...464,  7::s,  814 

Lesher,    George    L 815 

Lesher,    Robert    46.") 

Lewis,   Joseph    475 

Lewis,    Lawrence    L 3S."> 

Lewis,  William  B 286 

Linder,   William  J 978 

Linderman,    Fred    C 782 

Lindner  Family   461 

Lindner,    Francis   W 461 

Lindner,  Harvey  L 462 

Lippiatt,  Thomas  H 656 

Llewellyn,  Mrs.  Annie  G.    ..129 

Llewellyn,    David    128 

Llewellyn,  Miss  Effie  129 

Lloyd.  William  M 35 

Long.    Alexander     978 

I. nng,  Benjamin  C 580 

Long,    Daniel    C 512 

Long,   David   D 579 

Long  Families 2.57.  512,  578 

Long,  George  M 513 

Long.  Peter  D 579 

Long.  William  E 513 

Lorenz,   Frederick  W.  V.    ..715 

Lower.    Teremiah    585 

Luekenbill   Family   872 

Luckenbill;  Thomas  J 872 

Lupoid,  John  W 473 

Machamer  Family 335 

Maclay,    William    293 

Maier,   Henry   T 631 

Mailey,   John   H 556 

Malick,  Charles  A 444 

Malick.   Elmer  V 535 

Malick,  Emanuel   536 

Malick  Families 442.  534 

Malick.   George  W 536 

Malick,  Simon  P 

Malick,   Solomon    E 444 

Mann   Family   308 

Mantz,   Charles   W 249 

Mantz    (Mountz    or    Moutz) 

Family    249 

Mantz,  William  D 2.51 

Markle,  Amandus  A 707 

Markle,  Mrs.  Catharine  S.  .  .  707 
Markle,  Mrs.  Catherine  E.   ..708 

Markle.  George  F 707 

Markle.   Martin    706 

Markle.    William    M 797 

Mark-.   Mrs.    Ida   A 667 

Marks,   1.  Wesley   [ 

Marr.   David   P '"'" 

Marr  Families   14,  296 

Marsh.  Charles  X I'1 

Marsh   Families  218, 

Marsh.  N.  Thompson    .... 
Marshall.  Mi-.   Elizabeth   \.  305 

Marshall.   George    

Martin.   Alexander    32 

Martin,  Charles   1- 

Martin.  Charles  M,  M.  D. 

Martin.     Edward     

Martin    Families    28-, 

Martin,   Mrs.   Marv   A '_•■; 

Martz,   Benjamin    F 

Martz,  Clarence    K 

Martz,    David    P 


Mart/,     Edward     II 

Mart/.    Families    

66,  -1.  235,  501,  652,   776 

Martz,    Franklin    68 

Mart/.    George    (> 231 

Mart/.    Jacob    \ 501 

Martz,  Mi      Mai  -  .net   66 

Mart/.    Nathan    F S4 

Marl/,   Reuben   F 776 

Martz,  William 502 

Mart/.   William    E 50 

Masser    Family    498 

Masser,    Felix    C 499 

Masser.  Franklin   1'...  M.  D.  .500 

Masser.   Mrs.    I  larriet    E 591 

Masser.    lac, .I.    I',..    M.    1).    ..  .501 

Masser,    Jacob  C 498 

Masser,  Monroe  II 499 

M. Ill,  I'll,     \lllns    913 

Mattern    Family    91  ■ 

Mattern,  Felix  0 91  I 

Mattern,   Jeremiah    914 

Maj    Family    146 

Maj  .   Samuel   E 146 

Maves,    lared   D 133 

McBride,    James    11 980 

\l  i  i  affei  i       Thomas    J 6  I  I 

M  i  I  leei  j    I  amily    L2 

Met  leery,    lnhn    12 

McCleery,  Mis.  Mary  M.  ...   14 

M<  1  low    Family    688 

Mc(  ullnm    Family    541 

McCollum,   Facob  I 541 

McConnell,  William  C 112 

McDonnell    Family    178 

McDonnell,    Frank  J 178 

McDonnell,  Peter    \ 179 

McKinney    Family     258 

McKinney,  Samuel  11 !58 

M.  Mahan,  Charles  II '- 

McMahan  1  MacMahan  1  Fam- 
ily          182 

McMullen,    lohn   T 

Mi  \\  ill'. mis.    I  urn-    Q.     ...      B0 
Mi  V\  illiams  Familii 
McWilliams,     Kimber     I    . 

M.   D 

Meisei     Family 

Meiser,  Geoi    1   1     

Menapace,  Celeste   647 

Mi  ngel    I lies    3.5.5.  954 

.1,  ngel,    Frank    J 357 

Mengel,  John  S.,  M.  1).  .. 

Menges,   Edward  S '■'<'■ 

M,ii"i       I  amily    

Mi  ngi  -.   John    

Menges,   V    Facob    195 

Mengi        Peter    R 

Mertz   Families        ..84,   501 

Messimer   Family   

\1  ettler  Family   '  '  ~ 

Meyer,    Henry    1'. 

Mifflin    Family    

Mifflin,   Hi.  George   W.   .. 

Mifflin,    racob    W 

Mil,        1  as   M ''-; 

Miller.    Vddison  C 

Miller,    Burl    0     

Miller.    Edward    S 

Miller.   Emory   I 

Miller    Families     

..98,   61 

Mill  e   U 

Miller,     Henry     

M    ler,  J.    \ilam   


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Miller.   John    L 616 

Miller.   Joseph   E 572 

Miller.   'Mrs.    Lvdia    A 587 

Milk-r.    Mike     852 

Miller.     Nelson     98 

Miller.   Mrs.  Tillie  C W 

Miner.  Theodore   983 

Mingle  (Mengel)   Family   ..   954 

Mingle,    I ' . i \  id   C 954 

Moeschlin,  August    296 

Moeschlin    Family    295 

Moeschlin,   Julius    295 

Montgomery  Families  

213.  285,  312,    157,  644 

Montgomery,  II.   Bryson   ... 

". .  .  .219,  457 

Montgomery.    James    213 

Montgomery.  John  S.    ..:-'17.  313 
Montgomery,   William   A.    .. 

219 

Moore.    Henry   E 65 

Moore.    James    R 163 

Moore.  John  C 619 

Moore.   Mr-.    Louisa   C 
Morgan,    Mr-.     Vnnie    E.     .    1 4 4 

Morgan   Family    1*4 

Morgan.  William  H 14:! 

Mi  iser  Family 415 

Moser,    Henry     415 

Mi  "■<  r,  Jaci  ib   I'. 416 

M<>ser.    lohn  W 415 

Moser,   William    H 416 

Moury   Family    281 

Moury,    Peter     287 

Mowery,  Daniel  W 288 

Mowery    Family    287 

Mowery,  Harvey   288 

Muench   Family   960 

Muir.    Robert    624 

Murdock   Family    350 

Murdi  ick,  Tin  imas  A 350 

Murdock.   William   G 

Murrav    Family    176 

Murray.  Samuel  W 170 

Myers.    David    C 470 

N'eary.  Timothy  330 

Newcombe,    (  'harles    11... 
New  i  ranklin    A.    . 

Xey.   Harry   K.  G 

Xey    Family     

Xi'-ely.    Edward   V 

Nicely   Family    

Nicely,   William    A 

Nickersi  m,  I  'harles   W !68 

Nickerson,    Mi--    Gertrude 

Oakes  Family   16 

rdori".  Charles  D 113 

rdorf,   Elmer   E 414 

rdorf    Family    412 

Oberdorl  ..413 

rdorf,    Peter   (' H3 

iiarles    242 

O'Connor.    William    P. 

O'Gara,    John     969 

'  irtler.   Ellis   F I 

braham   I 

dward   J 

■    Family    

hn     B 

I  IttO      j-hn     P 

1  'It".    Mrs.    Katie    A 

Otto.  William   II.   II.    . 


Packer  Family    1 

Packer.  James   C '- 

Packer.  John  B 1 

Packer.  William  C 2 

Pardoe    Family    321 

Pardoe.  Mrs.   Lucy  T :^22 

Pardoe.   William    322 

Park.    Silas    B 540 

Parmley,    George    W 96 

Parmley,  Mrs.  Minnie  D.  .  .  .    96 

Paul    Family     831 

Paul.   George   W 831 

Peifer   (Peifferi    Family    .  .      681 

Peifer.  Jeremiah    680 

Peifer.    John    J 584 

Peiffer   (Peifer)    Family    ..  ..681 

Pensyl,    Adam    

Pensyl      (Bentzel)      Families 

.." ITU.   191,   259,   663 

Pensvl.  Joseph  E 179 

Pensyl.  Oscar  W 

Pensyl,  William   260 

Pensyl.  William  H L91 

Persing,   Alfred   J 175 

Persing.  Ambri  >se   94 

Persing  Families  94.  175 

Pfesterrer.  John  D 617 

Philippi.  William H71 

Philips.    Elias    . .  .' B95 

Philips.    Elias    K S96 

Phillips.   Benjamin    

Phillips.    Chilion    897 

Phillips     (Philips)      Families 

570,   395 

Phillips.  George  J 896 

Phillips.  John    570 

Phillips,  Samuel  F 455 

Phillips.  William    898 

Plunket    Family    188 

Plunket.  William   188 

Pollock   Family    315 

Pollock.  Hon.  James 189 

Pontius.  Abraham  W L80 

Pontius  Family   180 

Pramuk,   Stephen   A 905 

Priestley  Family    

Priestley.   Rev.    Joseph    :: 

Purdy.  Mrs.  Mary  J 29 

Purdy,  Truman   H 

Rabuck   (Rebuck  I    Family       :- 

Rabuck.  John  H ?83 

Radel,    Elmer    I !62 

le.   Emanuel  S !60 

Radle  (Radel)  Family > 

Raker,    Cornelius    334 

Raker.   Edward   P> Ill 

Raker  Fannin  I    33  I,  855 

Raker.  Isaac   F 110 

Raker,   Lewis   R 110 

Raker.    Mr-     Mar\     E 

Raker.   William    Z 200 

Raup.   ('.    E 

Raup    Family    427 

Reader  Family   185 

Reader.  William  H 185 

Reber    Family    303 

Reber,    Frank    M 

Rebuck   Family   ■        i  33 

Rebuck,    Joel    762 

Rebuck,   Luther   

Rebuck.  Samuel    

Rebuck,  William   r64 

Redcay,    Abraham     940 


Redcav       (Redche,       Retge) 

Family 940 

Reed.   Abraham   H 142 

Reed.  C.  Oliver   

Reed.  Emanuel  i 

Reed   Families    

125,   14-'.  231,  907 

Reed.   Henrv  M 909 

Reed.    Tesse  J 

Reed.  Samuel  S 

Reed.  Simon  F 908 

Reed.  Sirvetus  O. 231 

Reen.   Mai.   Frederick   A.    ...434 

Reeser.    George    C 448 

Reick.  Charlei  F 828 

Reimensnvder,  John  J..  A.  M. 



Reimensnvder.  Rev.   J.  M.   ..698 

Reinhardt.   William   R 290 

Reitz.  Alvin  P 

Reitz.    Benjamin   F 588 

Reitz.    Charles   J :  • .' 

Reitz.    Daniel    X 790 

Reitz.  Daniel  Z 793 

Reitz.   David  W 792 

Reitz,  Elias  R 

Reitz.    Emanuel    789 

Reitz  Families   .269,   163,  5-7.  7-7 

Reitz.   Galen    588 

Reitz.   Henry   1 788 

Reitz,  Isaac  J 589 

Reitz.  James   589 

Reitz,  James  S 789 

Reitz.   John  L 791 

Reitz.    Joseph   S 463 

Reitz,  'William   H 790 

Remly,  Wilson   H 42'.' 

Renn.   Bertram   1 156 

Renn    Family-    155 

Renn.  Ira  T.  156 

Renn.    Xicholas    W 157 

Renn.  Roland  D 156 

Replev    Family    72 

Repley,  John  B 72 

Reynolds    Family    435 

Reynolds.  Henrv  A 436 

Reynolds.  William   X 436 

Rhoads     Family     41) 

Rhoads.  Josiah  540 

Rhoads.   Walton   F 40 

Rice.  Fred.  M.  D 271 

Richard.    Henry     

Riche    Family    17:: 

Riche.   Isaac    17.", 

Richie    Family     

Richie,  Joseph  W 17:; 

Richie.  William  E 17:: 

Rieger   Family    

Rieger,  Robert  L 670 

Riland.  William  A 

Rinehart.  Charles  P 91 

Rinehart   Family    91 

Ringler.    Harrison    441 

Rishel    Families    :;77.   961 

Rishel.    Isaiah    C ::77 

Rishel.   Joseph    C 377 

Rishel.  tosiah  R 901 

Rissel,  Charles   M :;7:: 

Ri-sel  Family   ::7:; 

Riwr      Cemetery      (Fisher's 

Ferry  I     " 

Roan,   Rev.  John    654 

Roat.  Luther  E 445 

Robbins  Family  370 

Robbins.  Harry  H 371 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEWSYLVA  \  I A 


XI 


Robbins,  Jobn  H 371 

Robbins,  William  E 371 

Robenalt  (Rovenolt)  Family  401 

Robenalt,   Lewis   F 402 

Robenolt    Family    401 

Robenolt,   Phineas   F 403 

Roberts,  George  O.,  D.  D.  S. 
595 

Robins  Family   622 

Robins,  Harvey  S 622 

Robinson,   Dr.   Kennedy    ....663 

Rockefeller,   Charles   G 39 

Rockefeller,  David  P 60 

Rockefeller,   Emery    61 

Rockefeller  Families  ..3S,  59,  67 
Rockefeller,   Mrs.   Harriet   R. 

688 

Rockefeller,  Isaac   39 

Rockefeller,  Lemuel  C 68S 

Rockefeller,  Oliver  P 67 

Roesler,  George  399 

Rogers,  E.  C 665 

Rohrbach    Families    

66,    140,    144,    959 

Rohrbach.   George   E 146 

Rohrbach,  Jacob   S 959 

Rohrbach,  Mrs.   Jennie  F.   ..140 

Rohrbach,    Lloyd"   T 144 

Rohrbach,   Mjss   Mary   M.    ..960 
Rohrbach,    William    H.    (de- 
ceased)     110 

Rohrbach,  William  H 66 

Rohrbach.  William   R 146 

Romig,  Aaron  S 421 

Roos,"   Peter     970 

Ross,   Alexander    900 

Ross,    Emanuel    547 

Ross   Family   545 

Ross,   Wellington    548 

Ross.   William    547 

Rossiter,  Charles  E 730 

Rossiter    Family    "29 

Rossiter,   William   M 730 

Rothermel,  Charles  H 673 

Rothermel    Family 923 

Rothermel,  Lazarus  W.  ...926 
Rothermel.  Manasses  W.   ...926 

Rothermeh    Monroe     926 

Rothermel.  William  W 925 

Rothrock,  D.  Roswell,  M.  D.  883 

Rothrock    Family    883 

Roush,  Earl   M 944 

Roush,  Robert  J 858 

Rovenolt.  Charles  F 403 

Rovenolt  (Robenalt)  Family  401 

Ruch.  Daniel  K 325 

Rupp    Family    939 

Rupp,   George   W 939 

Russell.  David  P 936 

Russell,  Mrs.  Lydia  0 937 

Ruthrauff   Family    592 

Ruthrauff,   Rev.  John   F.    ...593 

Ruthrauff,  Samuel  H 592 

Ryon,  William  W 63 

Samuel.  Edmund  W-,  M.  D.  120 

Satteson.  Thomas   --434 

Savidge  Families 636,  748 

Savidge,  Simon  P '' -' ■' 

Schabo,  John    207 

Schabo,  John  W 977 

Schadel   Family    667 

Schaeffer  Family  890 

Schafer   Family    ■  626 

Schafer,    Prof.    Norman    \\ 
H 626 


Schaffer.  Charles  F 796 

Schaffer      (Shaffer)      Family 

31,  793 

Schaffer,  Jacob  H 796 

Schaffer.  John  F 31 

Schaffle   Family   317 

Schell  Family  456 

Schell,  Frederick  45G 

Schlegel    Family    664 

Schleig  Family 99 

Schleig,  Peter  W 99 

Schneider    (Snvder)     Family 

777."  781 

Schotzberger     (Shotzberger) 

Family 650 

Schrawder,   F.    F 920 

Schreffler,  Daniel  S 375 

Schreffler   Family    375 

Schultz    (Shultzf  Family    ...495 

Schwalm.   Andrew   T 685 

Schwalm    Family    685 

Schwartz,    Daniel   S 510 

Schwartz  Families  510,  720 

Schwartz,  James  M 511 

Schwartz.  John  T-  W 720 

Scott,   Clayton  S 623 

Scott,  George  W 60S 

Seaman,  Adam   H 739 

Seaman,  Edgar  0 738 

Seaman   Family   73S 

Sechler  Family 100 

Sechler,  LaFayette  100 

Seiler    Families    494.    900 

Seiler,  Jacob 900 

Seitzinger  Family  271 

Sensenhach,  Charles  A.    .      .85] 

Sever.  John  B 822 

Shade,  "Daniel   E 122 

Shade  Family  121 

Shade,  Jacob  M 122 

Shade.   Richard  A 122 

Shaffer,    Aaron    (Little    Ma- 

hanoy)    "97 

Shaffer,  Aaron  (Jordan  town- 
ship)     922 

Shaffer,   D.   Richard   797 

Shaffer.  Elias  Z 794 

Shaffer    (Schaffer)    Family    .793 

Shaffer.  George  E 796 

Shay,  William  Field  700 

Shearer  Families  ....      .  .15.  61  l 

Shearer,  James  0 45 

Sheoperson.   W.   T 203 

Sniffer,  Charles   553 

Shiffer   Family    553 

Shikellimy    768 

Shikellimy,    Anecdote   of    Is- 
land in   Susquehanna    ..  .243 

Shinier.  Elmer  S 17 

Shinier.   George  S 17 

Shinier.   Samuel   Johnston    ..   16 
Shipe  Families    .  ,  ,  .267.   HI,  649 

Shipe.    Frank   W 267 

Shipe,  Harry  P 6,1, 

Shipe,   Moses    649 

Shipman,  Cullen   F 491 

Shipman,  Mrs.  Emma  J 197 

Shipman   Family   192 

Shipman.    Ira    195 

Shipman,   John    B. 

Shipman.  Ralph    196 

Shipman,   Saul    194 

Shipman.  Mrs.  1  '     '  ...196 

Shipman.  Waldo   196 

Shipman.  Walter   196 

Shipman.  William  A 194 

Shoemaker  Family  2l< 


Shoop    Family    126 

Shoop,  Levi  M 638 

Shoop,  William  G 125 

Shotsberger,    Galen    

Shotzberger     (Schotzberger) 

Family 650 

Shultz,  Charles  H 495 

Shultz   (Schultz)   Family    ...495 

Minster.   David   E I 

Simmons,  Richard  II..  M.  I).  493 

Sipe,  John  A 627 

Slifer    Family    419 

Slifer,   Harry  R 419 

Small,    Bruce    210 

Small,  Mrs.  Susan  E.  (Young- 
man)    210 

Smeltzer   (Schmeltzer)   Fam- 
ily   475 

Smith.    Miss  Caroline   E.    ...311 

Smith,    Daniel    E 474 

Smith,   Elmer   F 480 

Smith   Families   362,  630 

Smith.  Frank  T.  G 597 

Smith.   Henry   B B5 

Smith,  Jacob  W 311 

Smith,   James  H 855 

Smith,  John  J 362 

Smith.  Nelson  M.,  M.  D.   . . .   54 

Smith,  Prof.  Samuel  G 906 

Snvder.  Aaron  W 

Snyder,  A.  Morris  

Snyder.    D     11 634 

Snyder,  David 773 

Snyder.    Davjd    L.    559 

Snyder,  Edwin  W 779 

Snyder  (Schneider)    Families 

" 558,  771,  77*! 

Snyder,  Harry   E 560 

Snvder.    Henry   M 

Snyder,   Hubert  E B36 

Snyder,    Israel    

Snyder,   raci  ,D  S 

Snvder.   tohn   M 778 

Snyder,    Mrs.   Martha   G.    . 

Snyder.    Morris    772 

Snyder,    Rudolph    781 

Snj  dor.    Samuel     772 

Snyder,    Silas    R    772 

Snyder.   Simon   S 

Snyder    Solomon  S 

Snyder,     robias    779 

Si  >bi        I  in  K 336 

Sober    Family    

Sotitcr.  Sydnej    II 951 

Sowden,    Samuel    291 

ers,    Foseph    E.   A 

Spott-    (Spatz)    Family    .  .  . 
Spotts,   Miss    !  '■ r 

Spotl  s,    Harrj    E 544 

Spotty    Henry    

Stackpole   Family    

Stahl,   Aaron  S 767 

1.    Daniel    

Slab!    I  amilii  S  389,    I  I" 

Stahl.  George  C 

Stahl.   Harvey    M 140 

Stahl,   Levi   11 

Stamm,    Benjamin    F 808 

Stamm    Family    

Stamm,  John  w 

Stamm,  Levi  F 

[i 

I 

niel   

I,   I.   Irvin   

Still.   Samuel    

William  E 746 


XI 1 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Stout,   Isaac    17 

Straub  Families  200,  320 

Straub,    Harry   J 984 

Straub,  Jacob   320 

Straub,   Tames  H 200 

Straub,  John  L 321 

Straub,  William   H 478 

Strausser  (Strawser)  Family  651 

Stroh   Family 92 

Strobecker  Family   548 

Strohecker,   Jacob    W 548 

Strouss,   Frank  H 590 

Summers,    Edgar    418 

Suter,    William   T 387 

Swab,    Mark    L 594 

Swanger,  John  D 965 

Swank,    Charles    H 668 

Swank  Family   668 

Swartz  Family   510 

Swenk,  Charles  H„  M.  D.  . .  .431 
Swenk  (Schwenk)   Family  ..428 

Swenk,    Jacob    H 430 

Swenk,   Raymond    431 

Swenk,   Reese   H 430 

Swinehart  Family   933 

Svpher    Family    364 

Sypher,   William    H :!64 

Taggart,  Col.  David   9 

Taggart  Family  9 

Taggart,  Hanna  C.  H 10 

Taggart,  James    10 

Talpash,    Theodore    938 

Teitsworth   Family    239 

Teitsworth,    Matthias    239 

Tierney,  Michael  P 581 

Timmes,  John  W 650 

Treon,  Adam   R 40 

Treon  Family   39 

Treon,   Dr.   Frederick    39 

Tressler,    Cornelius    M 75S 

Tressler    (Dressier)     Family 


Tressler,  Isaac  B 

Tressler,  J.   C 

Tressler,    John     

Tressler,  Ray  E 

Trexler.    Arthur    R 

Trexler    Family     

Troutman,  Benjamin  F 

Troutman.   Elmer  F 

Troutman   Families    

532,  684,   735, 

Troutman.    George    L 

Troutman,  Harvey  A 

Troutman.    Moses   H 

Troutman.   William   L 

Tro.xel    Family    

Trucken  miller    (Druckenmi 

ler)    Family    

Truckenmiller,  Valentine  S. 

Tule.  Robert  P...  M.  D 

Turner,  George  \\  .,  Jr.  ... 
Tye,   P.   H 


rs4 

7  .">  7 
7.->7 
.  756 
.758 
.106 
L07 
.817 


817 
736 
684 
532 

7:i7 


.403 
103 
70S 

.S52 
.938 


Unger    Family    -  !5 

Unger,   Warren    B25 

Utt    Family    890 

Van   Alen    Family    29 

Van   Alen,  Gilbert   R.    31 

Van    Devender    Family    ....463 
Van   Devender,  Frank  M.    ..462 
Vandling    (Wendling)     Fam- 
ily     _ 729 

Van  Gasken  Family  9S0 

Van  Gasken,  Wesley   980 


Van   Kirk,   Charles   M 448 

Van    Kirk    Family    447 

Van   Kirk,  James  W 447 

Vastine  Families   ..113,  133,  727 

Vastine,  Hugh  H 117 

Vastine,  Mrs.  Susan  M 117 

Vastine,  William   115 

Vincent  Families    2S3,  950 

Vincent,  John   H.,   Ir 285 

Vincent.  John   H.,  Sr 283 

Voris,  Clarence  G 20 

Voris    Family    292 

Voris,    Gilbert    292 

Voris.  Mrs.  Harriet    292 

Voris.  John  L 293 

Voris,  Mrs.  Mary  B 21 

Vought.  Edward  B 43 

Vought  Family    43 

Vought,  Jesse   R 45 

Wachter,    John    930 

Wagner,    Augustus    F 798 

Wagner    Family    937 

Wagner,  Joseph   D 937 

Wagner.   Mrs.   Laenda   F.    ..798 

Wald  Family 555 

Wald,  Joshua   555 

Waldron,  Charles  L Ill 

Waldron   F'amilies    Ill,   515 

Waldron.  Frank  P 515 

Walt    Family     554 

Walt,  William  A 354 

Walt,  Solomon  Z 555 

Weaver    Families    646,    818 

Weaver,  John  A.  (born  1863) 

819 

Weaver,  John  A.  (born  1847) 

646 

Weaver,    Peter    M 819 

Weaver,  William  H 819 

Weidenhamer,  Edward  ....528 
Weidenhamer  Families  .416,  528 
Weidenhamer,  Walter  L.   ...416 

Weiser,    Conrad    453 

Weiser    Family    153 

Weiser.  Peter   455 

Weiser.   Samuel   H 152 

Weitzel   Family    933 

Weitzel,  Samuel  L 933 

Welter.   William    907 

Wendle,   William    P 375 

Wendling    (Vandling)    Fam- 
ily      729 

Wenzel,   Harvey    471 

Wert    Families    79,    743 

Wert.  John   A 79 

Wetzel,    Arthur    P. 970 

Wetzel  Families   658,  932 

Wetzel.  Irvin  K 551 

Wetzel,    Morris    932 

Whalen,  Michael  J 974 

Wharton,  Charles  D.,  Sr.   ...  180 

Wharton   Family   480 

Wiest.  Carlos    799 

Wiest   Family    799 

Wiest.  Irwin  H S03 

Wiest.   fames  M S0O 

Wiest,  John  T S02 

Wilkinson    (Wilkison)    Fam- 
ily    811 

Wilkinson.  Samuel  J 812 

Wilkison,  Henry  N 811 

William-.   Thomas   R 7S 

Wilson.  John  F 322 

Wirt,    Benneville     744 

Wirt,    Daniel    W 744 

Wirt  (Wert)  Families  ...79,  743 


Wirt,   John    745 

Wise.  George  F 691 

Wise.   Mrs.  Mary  A 691 

Witmer,  Charles'  B 523 

Witmer,   David   H 525 

Witmer,  Ephraim  D 527 

Witmer    Family     522 

Witmer,  Francis  A 524 

Witmer,   Harvey  C.   ...'....526 

Witmer.    Henry   S ' 528 

Witmer.  Isaac  H 522 

Witmer,  John   H 523 

Witmer,  Jonathan   H 525 

Witmer,    Joseph    527 

Witmer,  William  D 527 

Wolf,    David    C 596 

Wolf   Families    ....106,   568,   596 

Wolf,  Frederick  W 825 

Wrolf,   Henry  A.    567 

Wolfgang    Family    487 

Wol verton   Family   695 

Wolverton,  Hon.  Simon  P.   .695 

Work,  James  H 470 

W'ynn    Family    824 

Yarnall  (Yarnell)  Family  ...211 

Yarnall,  John  G 212 

Yeager,    Conrad     671 

Yoch,  William  M 820 

Yocom  Family  57,"> 

Yocum,  Adonijah  F 577 

Yocum    Family    ">7."> 

Yocum,   George  W 576 

Yoder  (Yodder)  Family 566 

Yoder,  Webster  H 566 

Young,  Emanuel  W 810 

Youngman,    Andrew    A.     ...209 

Youngman,  George  B 209 

Youngman,  Jacob   210 

Youngman,   John    209 

Youngman,  John   G 208 

Youngman.   Miss  Louisa  H.  210 

Youngman,   William    209 

Yoxtheimer    Family     742 

Yoxtheimer,  George  W 7t:.' 

Zartman,    Daniel   M 106 

Zartman,    Daniel    R 308 

Zartman.  Elias  F 105 

Zartman  Families  ..103,  30S,  809 

Zartman,  Landis   809 

Zartman,  Samuel  M 106 

Zartman,  William  E 106 

Zerbe,   Ambrose   L 491 

Zerbe,   B.   Frank    492 

Zerbe,  Charles  W 492 

Zerbe.   David    493 

Zerbe  (Zerbv)  Families  4-9.  5S5 

Zerbe,  John "W 585' 

Zerbe,   Robert   B 492 

Zerbe,   Thomas    490 

Zerby    (Zerbe)    Family    489 

Zerbv.   William   A 493 

Ziegler,    Absalom     327 

Ziegler,   Edward    328 

Ziegler    Family    327 

Ziegler,  George  E 328 

Ziegler,  J.  Monroe 

Zimmerman,  Aaron   P 247 

Zimmerman.  Edward  B 886 

Zimmerman  Family   242 

Zimmerman,   Frank    641 

Zimmerman,    Peter    246 

Zimmerman,  Sebastian    243 

Zimmerman,   Siegfried   W.    .827 
Zimmerman,  William  A 244 


t 


r4 


/^* 


j 


-4 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY 
PENNSYLVANIA 


JOHN  B.  PACKER.  The  Parkers  trace  their 
descent  from  Philip  Packer,  a  native  of  England, 
who  came  to  America  and  located  in  Xew  Jersey, 
near  Princeton,  lie  married  Rebecca  Jones,  a  na- 
tive of  Philadelphia. 

Philip  I'a.ker  (2),  son  of  Philip  ami  Rebecca 
(Jones)  Packer,  lived  for  a  time  in  the  forks  of 
Cooper's  creek,  opposite  Kensington,  Philadel- 
phia, later  removing  to  the  vicinity  (if  Yellow 
Springs  in  Chester  county,  Pa.  lie  married 
Ann  ( loates,  a  nat  ive  of  1  reland. 

•  I; -    Packer,   eldest   son    of   Philip    (2)    and 

Ann  Packer,  was  born  near  Princeton,  X.  J.,  on 
the  1th  of  the  2d  month,  1725,  and  died  Jan.  10, 
1805,  in  Howard  township,  Center  Co.,  Pa., 
whither  he  had  moved  aboul  1794.  On  dan.  1, 
1752,  at  Hast  Cain  meetinghouse,  in  Chester  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  he  married  Rose  Mendenhall,  who  sur- 
vived him.  dying  at  Bald  Eagle,  Clinton  Co.,  Pa., 
in  June,  1824,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one. 

Amos  Packer,  fifth  in  the  family  of  James  and 
Rose  (.Mendenhall)  Packer,  was  horn  dan.  30, 
1759,  in  Chester  county.  Pa.,  and  married  Eliza- 
beth Jones,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  Jones. 

Samuel  J.  Packer,  seventh  child  of  Amos  and 
Elizabeth  (Jones)  Packer,  was  born  March  23, 
1799,  in  Howard  township,  ('enter  Co.,  Pa.  lie 
received  a  good  education  for  the  day.  attending  a 
local  school  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  under  the 
superintendence  of  his  father,  and  while  -till  a 
boy  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  printer,  serv- 
ing his  apprenticeship  at  Bellefonte,  Pa.  lie  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  journalistic  work  at  Har- 
risburg,  this  State,  and  while  there  reported  the 
proceedings  of  the  Legislature.  There  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  and  the 
friendship  then  begun  between  these  two  strong 
characters  lasted  through  life.  Mr.  Packer  came 
to  Sunbury  in  1820  and  established  the  paper 
called  the  Pullich  Inquirer,  issued  at  that  time 
principally  to  advocate  the  reelection  of  Governor 
Findlav.  It  was  continued  for  several  yi 
l 


During  his  career  in  the  publishing  business  Mr. 
Packet-  took  up  the  study  of  law.  under  the  tutor- 
age of  the  famous  Hugh  Pel  las.  and  by  devoting 
all  his  spare  time  to  gaining  the  necessary  prepar- 
ation for  the  legal  profession  obtained  admission 
to  the  bar  of  Northumberland  county  in  L823,  be- 
ing formally  entered  Aug.  23d  of  that  year.  From 
that  time  until  his  death  he  devoted'  himself  to 
legal  practice  ami  to  the  duties  of  the  various  offi- 
cial positions  to  which  he  was  chosen,  and  though 
he  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  thirty- 
Bve  years,  on  Oct.  20,  1834,  he  left  a  permanent 
impression  upon  the  legal  and  public  liistor 
his  county  and  State,  lie  lived  at  Sunbury.  By 
earnest  and  faithful  attention  to  the  law  work 
intrusted  to  him,  he  soon  earned  a   leading  and 

unassailable  position  i mg  the  noteworthy   h 

practitioners  of  his  time  and  locality,  ami  he  main- 
tained that  position  by  the  mosl  thorough  and 
painstaking  care  of  ever]  trust  reposed  in  him. 
lie  was  popular  as  a  public  speaker,  particularly 
at  political  gatherings,  and  possessed  in  a  lat 
measure  the  faculty  of  u  inning  his  audience  to 
his  views — a  gift  which  made  him  a   p  ti  tor 

in  the  activities  of   the   Whig  organization,  with 
which  he  allied  himself.     On  dan.  27,   1824,   Mr. 

Packer  wa-   commissi I    prothonotarv,    holding 

that  office  until  1829.  From  April  20th  to  No- 
vember, 1829,  he  was  deputj  attorni  \  gem  ral.  In 
1836  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  for  a 
term  of  lour  vears,  and  while  a  membei  o  al 
body  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  special  commit- 
tee mi  the  Coal  Field  of  l'eim-\  It  ania.  The  report 
he  presented,  the  first  made  on  the  subject,  was  re- 
markable for  completeness  of  detail  and  exhaust 
treatment  of  all  it-  phases,  and  was  lai  ion- 

sible  for  the  rapid  development  of  the  mining  in- 
dustry of  the  State.  In  fact,  his  gt  -  ity 
throughout  the  period  of  hi-  legislai ive  sei 
filiated  to  the  encouragement  of  enterprises  for 
the  development  of  the  material  r<  Penn- 
sylvania, the  Danville  &    Pottsville  railroad  being 


2 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


thi'  most  important  project  of  this  kind  in  his  dis- 
trict which  received  his  aid  and  support.  Its  con- 
struction from  Sunbury  to  the  Shamokin  coal  field 
was  the  direct  result  of  a  measure  introduced  I  >y 
him  into  the  Senate  and  passed  through  the  exer- 
cise of  his  influence.  In  f  834  Mr.  Packer  was  the 
Whig  candidate  for  Congress  from  the  district  in 
which  Northumberland  county  was  included.  As 
previously  stated,  he  died  Oct.  30th  of  that  year. 
having    achieved   much    in    his    short   but    ai 

r.  He  married  Rachel  Black,  daughter  of 
James  and  Catherine  (Cochran)  Black,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  viz. :  John  B., 
Eliza  J..  Jane  B.,  Samuel  J..  Jr..  and  Mary  C. 
(who  married  Bev.  F.  B.  Riddle). 

John  B.  Packer.  -on  oi  Samuel  J.  Packer,  was 
born  March  21,  1824.  at  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land Co..  Pa.,  and  received  an  excellent  education, 
principally  at  Sunbury  Academy,  then  recently 
Wished  and  under  the  charge  of  two  classical 
scholars,  men  of  thorough  culture  and  great  abil- 
ity as  teachers.  Prom  L839  to  Is  !'.'  lie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  a  corps  of  engineers  employed  by  the  State 
in  the  survey  and  construction  of  public  improve- 
ments. In  1842  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
under  the  celebrated  Ebei  i  ei  Creenough,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Northumberland  county  bar  Aug. 
6,  1844.  The  year  following  he  was  appointed 
deputy    at!  geni       ,    in    which    capacity    he 

served  three  years.  Though  he  attained  more 
than  local  fame  for  his  ability  as  a  lawyer  he  was 
very  prominent  outside  of  his  pn  as  well  as 

in  legal  circles.  He  was  prominent  in  the  organ- 
ization of  and  as  counsel  for  many  railroad  com- 
panies launched  in  his  day.  In  1851  he  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  Susquehanna  Railroad 
Company,  since  merged  into  the  Northern  Central, 
and  served  many  year-  as  counsel  and  one  of  its 
directors.  It  was  originally  chartered  to  connect 
York,  Cumberland  and  Sunbury.  and  was  eventu- 
ally made  a  part  of  the  Pennsylvania  system.  Mr. 
Packer  acted  as  counsel  for  the  Philadelphia  & 
Krii'.  the  Pennsylvania,  the  Lackawanna  &  Blooms- 
burg  and  several  other  railway  companies,  and 
was  concerned  in  the  sale  and  reorganization  of  the 
railroad  properties  of  the  Shamokin  Valley  & 
-ville  railroad  :  in  fact,  there  were  scarcely  any 
i  asi  -  of  tin-  kind  of  importance  in  this  county — 
in  the  litigation  resulting  from  contested  land 
titles  and  in  railroad  and  other  cases — with  which 
he  was  not  professionally  connected. 

In  1855  Mr.  Packer  became  identified  with  the 
Northumberland  Bank,  of  which  he  was  elected 
president  in  1857.  serving  as  such  until  1864 
That  year  it  was  merged  into  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Sunbury.  and  Mr.  Packer  was  elected 
president,  continuing  to  serve  in  that  capacity  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  also  connected  as 
stockholder,  director  and  adviser  with  the  banks 
of  Selinsgrove  and  Lewisburg.  Pa.     He  was  one 


of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Mr.  Packer's  public  services  formed  an  impor- 
tant part  of  his  well  rounded  career.  He  was  a 
tariff  Democrat  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  represented  his  county  a? 
such  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1849-50,  serving 
on  important  committees  both  sessions.  In  1868 
he  was  elected  to  Congress,  representing  the  Four- 
teenth district,  and  was  reelected  four  times  in 
succession,  declining  a  fifth  nomination  after  re- 
ceiving it.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
1869  to  187  7,  during  which  time  he  did  impor- 
tant committee  work,  the  first  term  as  a  member 
of  the  committee  on  Banking  and  Currency,  the 
second  on  Railroads  and  Canals  (of  which  he  was 
chairman),  the  third  term  on  Post  Offices  and  Posl 
Roads  (of  which  he  was  chairman)  and  the  fourth 
term  on  Foreign  Affairs.  In  his  public  life  as  in 
legal  practice  -Mr.  Packer  always  commanded  at- 
tention as  a  speaker,  his  style  being  lucid  and 
ical.  his  arguments  strong,  his  eloquence  notable 
on  occasion.  He  died  July  1.  1891,  honored  by  all 
who  had  had  the  privilege  of  his  acquaintance,  and 
mourned  as  a  public  benefactor  whose  place  was 
iioi  easy  to  fill. 

On  May  22,  1851,  Mr.  Packer  married  Mary  M. 
Cameron,  who  was  born  July  2,  1831.  daughter  of 
William  Cameron,  of  Lewisburg.  Pa.,  and  five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  their  union:  William  Cameron. 
Rachel  (wife  of  Ferdinand  K.  Hill).  James  Cam- 
eron, Mary  and  Nellie  ('.  The  mother  sun 
until  Dec.  6,  1905.  She  was  the  founder  of  the 
Mary  M.  Packer  hospital  of  Sunbury,  named  in 
her  honor,  an  institution  that  ha-  proved  a  g 
Messing  to  the  community,  tilling  a  long-felt  want. 
She  contributed  liberally  toward  its  establish- 
ment. 

W I LLIAM  CAMERON  PA(  IKER,  of  Sunbury. 
is  one  of  the  younger  element  prominent  in 
i;e--  circles  in  that  borough,  where  as  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sunderland  Lumber  Com- 
pany and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Sunbury 
Burial  Case  Company  he  is  identified  with  two 
of  the  most  important  concerns,  in  their  respec- 
tive lines,  in  this  section  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  Packer  has  already  demonstrated  his 
right  to  he  counted  in  the  same  class  of  citizens 
as  his  forefathers  for  several  generation-  have 
been.     He  has  all  the   tntelligen  sight  and 

executive   qualities   for  which  his   ancestors   were 

is.  and  he  is  doing  honor  to  a  name  which 
has  long  been  considered  representative  of  the 
progress  of  this  region,  which  in  its  development 

much  to  the  enterprise  of  the  Packers  and 
their  business  associates.  Public  education,  pub- 
lic improvements,  philanthropic  projects  and  all 
the  movements  which  characterize  the  expansion 
of  the  community's  interests  have  alwavs  received 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXNSYLVA  NIA 


their  eneouragemenl  and  support.    He  is  a  son  of 

the   late   William   Cameron    Parker  and  grandson 
of  John  B.  Packer. 

William  Cameron  Packer,  son  of  John  B.  Pack- 
er, was  born  in  Sunbury  .May  1.  1852,  and  was 
identified  with  that  borough  throughout  his  life. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  local  public 
schools,  later  attending  the  Wilkes-Barre  Acad- 
emy and  the  Bloomsburg  State  normal  school,  from 
which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1871. 
lie  then  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  under 
In-  father's  tuition,  was  admitted  to. the  county 
bar  Nov.  5,  is;-.1,  and  settled  in  Sunbury  for  prac- 
tice. Mr.  Packer  was  a  thorough  student  and  ex- 
ponenl  of  the  law,  for  which  he  had  a  natural  pre- 
dilection, and  though  a  young  man  at  the  time 
of  his  death  had  long  been  conceded  to  be  one  of 
the  ablest  legal  practitioners  in  this  section.  Eis 
practice  was  large  and  responsible.  Several  years 
after  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company 
in  Northumberland  county,  and  he  retained  that 
association  until  his  death.  He  was  connected 
with  a  number  of  important  local  business  enter- 
prises, being  a  director  of  the  Firsl  National  Rank 
oi  Sunbury,  laid  oul  the  Cameron  addition  to 
Shamokin,  this  county,  and  took  an  important  part 
in  the  public  administration  of  Sunbury.  In 
ls;.'i  he  became  a  member  of  the  borough  coun- 
cil,   in    which    he   continued   to   serve   for   several 

years,  l a  assistant   burgess  in   1876-78,  second 

burgess  in  1879-80,  and  chief  burgess  from  18S1  to 
L883.  During  this  period,  as  a  result  of  his  efforts. 
the  river  embankment  was  constructed,  protecting 
the  town  from  damage  by  flood,  and  the  borough 
debt  was  materially  reduced  and  refunded  at  a 
lower  rati  ol  interest,  thus  saving  the  taxpayers 
considerable.    Mr.  Packer  was  a  Republican  in  pol 

itics.     He  died  June  4.  1886,  at  tl arly  age  of 

thirty-four.     The   following   was   written    by   

who  knew  him  well:  "Running  through  his  life 
was  a  vein  of  generosity  that  formed  one  of  his 
prominent  characteristics.  The  poor,  into  whose 
home  his  bounteous  hand  carried  comfort  and  as- 
sistance, are  among  those  who  will  miss  him  most 
in  the  days  to  come.  His  friends  are  numbered 
by  thousands,  including  all  classes  of  society.  To 
know  him  was  to  love  him.  and  few  there  are  who 
have  had  that  pleasure  who  do  not  reci 
kindly  deed  performed  or  some  cheering  word  ut- 
tered in  the  hour  of  adversity.  To  the  sick  and 
afflicted  he  i-  endeared  by  ties  which  even  death 
can  not  -ever,  for  his  goodness  supplied  many 
delicacies  and  attention-  otherwise  beyond  their 
reach.  In  all  relations  of  life  he  was  the  same — 
honorable,  upright,  manly  and  charitable." 

In  L873  Mr.  Packer  married  Jennie  H.  Houtz, 
who  wa-  born  Dec.  9,  Is:.?,  daughter  of  Dr.  Henry 
('.  and  Harriet  (Boob)  Houtz,  of  Alexandria.  Pa. 
-   i    died  April  1.  1883,  the  mother  of  the  follow- 


ing children:  Mary  ('..  who  is  married  to  Harry 
C.  Blue,  of  Northumberland,  Pa.;  John  B..  b 
dune  1  I.  L879,  who  was  educated  at  Bueknell  Uni- 
versity and  Yale  Law  School  and  is  now  in  the 
lumber  business  in  Philadelphia  (he  married  Oct. 
8,  1910,  Mary  C.  Yorks,  of  Danville.  Pa. )  :  and  W. 
Cameron.  In  1884  Mr.  Packer  married  (second) 
Laura  A.  Houtz.  sister  of  hi-  tir-t  wife.  She  sur- 
vive- him.  as  do  all  his  children. 

William  Cameron  Packer  was  horn  May  20, 
1881,  in  Sunbury,  youngest  child  of  William  Cam- 
eron and  Jennie  II.  (Houtz)  Packer.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  local  schools, 
graduating  from  Media  Academy  in  1898  and 
then  entering  Bueknell  College,  where  he  studied 
two  terms.  He  next  became  a  clerk  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Sunbury.  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  six  years.  In  1907  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Sunderland  Lumber  Company,  of 
which  John  L.  Miller  was  chosen  president,  P.  I.' 
Sunderland,  vice  president,  and  Mr.  Pa. 
retary  and  treasurer.  The  offices  and  yards  of 
company  are  at  Sunbury.  It  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  wholesaling  of  lumber,  huh. 
flooring,  siding,  etc.,  handling  one  of  the  largesi 
businesses  of  the  kind  in  this  portion  of  the  State, 
and  enjoys  a  trade  which  is  expanding  steadily. 
All  the  members  of  the  concern  are  live  bus 
men,  able  to  make  the  most  of  the  opportun 
afforded  in  this  section,  and  the  company  has  ev- 
ery prospect  of  a  successful  future.  Mr.  Packet- 
is  also  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Sunbury  Buri- 
al Case  Company,  which  has  succeeded  to  the 
business  established  by  the  late  Ira  T.  Clement. 
His  achievements  thus  far  entitle  him  to  rank 
among  the  leading  young  business  men  of  the  bor- 
ough.   He  js  a  director  of  the  Firsl  National  Bank. 

Socially   Mr.    Packer  has   beei te  active   as 

a  member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  P.  X'  A.  M..  of  Sun- 
bury; of  Xoitliumherlaud  Chapter,  No.  \;  I.  p.  A. 
M.:  of  Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K. 
T. :  and  of  the  Temple  and  Americus  Clubs.  He 
was  president  of  the  Temple  Club  in  L910-1 1. 
lie  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  No. 
1  Fire  Company,  of  which  he  is  a  men 
uncle  being  one  of  its  most  enthusiastic  sup 
He  attend-  the  Presbyterian  Chun 

i  in  March  19,  1905,  Mr.  Packer  was  married 
Esther   Lucretia    Seal,   of   Millersburg,    Pa.,   and 
they    had   one   daughter,    Mar]    Cameron.      Mrs. 
I'  ,    er  died  Feb.  24,  L906. 

REV.  JOSEPH  PRIESTLEY,  whose  re-id, 
a!    Northumberland    has    probably    given    I 
place  a   wider  celebrity   than   any  other  circum- 
stance in  connection  with  its  history,  was  born  at 
[head,     near     }.frt\<.     Yorkshire,     England, 
March    13,    1733.      His  early   educat 
tamed   nirhr  the  tuition   nil;  nds    Hague  and 

Kirhv.  and  at  the  age  "I'  sixteen  he  had  acquired 


NOETHUMBEBLAXD  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


a  fair  knowledge  of  Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew.  In 
September,  1752,  he  went  to  the  academy  of  Dav- 
entry,  where  he  spent  three  years,  entering  the 
ministry  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Meadows,  of 
Needham  Market,  Suffolk,  at  the  conclusion  of 
his  academic  course.  There  he  remained  three 
years;  during  this  period  his  first  published  work, 
"The  Doctrine  of  the  Atonement,"  was  issued. 
The  following  three  years.  1758-61,  were  spent  at 
Xantwick,  where  he  wrote  an  English  grammar 
and  "Observations  on  the  Character  and  Reason- 
ing of  the  Apostle  raid."  From  1761  to  1767  he 
taught  elocution,  logic,  Hebrew  and  the  civil  law 
in  an  academy  ai  Warrington.  During  this  con- 
nection lie  met  Benjamin  Franklin  at  London, 
and,  as  the  result  of  this  association,  began  a  se- 
ries of  experiments  in  electricity.  Ee  also  gave 
much  attention  to  the  subject  of  political  .econ- 
omy. 

In  September,  1 7 ( i T .  he  removed  to  Leeds,  hav- 
ing aee<  pted  an  invitation  to  take  charge  of  Mill- 
hall  chapel.  Here  the  first  of  his  controversial 
treatises  was  written:  he  also  published  an  "Essay 
on  Government,"  "A  Familiar  Introduction  to  the 
Study  ..f  Electricity,"  a  "('hart  of  History,"  etc. 
Hi-  house  at  Leeds  adjoined  a  brewery,  and  ob- 
servations of  fixed  air  produced  in  the  process  of 
fermentation  led  to  a  series  of  experiments  upon 
the  nature  of  the  atmosphere,  ultimately  result- 
ing in  that  discovery  with  which  his  name  will  al- 
ways he  associated.  Tie  began  these  experiments 
with  hut  limited  knowledge  of  chemistry,  hut  this 
apparent  disadvantage  undoubtedly  contributed 
largely  to  his  success,  as  he  was  thus  thrown  en- 
tirely upon  his  own  resources  and  led  to  devise 
new  apparatus  and  modes  of  operation.  His  firsl 
publication  on  the  subject  of  air  appeared  in  1772; 
it  was  a  small  pamphlet  on  the  method  of  im- 
pregnating water  with  fixed  air.  In  the  previous 
year  hi'  had  already  procured  g I  air  from  salt- 
petre; he  had  ascertained  the  use  of  agitation  and 
of  vegetation,  as  the  means  employed  by  nature  in 
purifying  the  atmosphere  for  the  support  of  animal 
life,  and  that  air  vitiated  by  animal  respiration 
was  a  pabulum  to  vegetable  life;  he  had  procured 
factitious  air  in  a  much  greater  variety  of  ways 
than  had  been  known  before,  and  he  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  substituting  quicksilver  in  lieu  of 
water  in  many  of  his  experiments.  Of  these  dis- 
coveries he  gave  an  account  in  his  paper  before  the 
Royal  Society  in  1773,  which  deservedly  obtained 
the  honor  of  the  Copley  medal.  In  this  paper  he 
announced  the  discovery  of  nitrous  air:  lie  showed 
i  te  use  of  a  burning  lens  in  pneumatic  experi- 
ment-: he  related  the  discovery  and  properties  of 
marine  acid  air:  he  added  much  to  the  little  there- 
tofore known  of  air  generated  by  animal  putre- 
faction and  vegetable  fermentation,  ami  deter- 
mined many  facts  relating  to  the  diminution  and 
deterioration   of  air  by   the  combustion   of   char- 


coal and  the  calcination  of  metals.  It  was  not  un- 
til dune  or  .Inly,  1774,  that  he  made  the  full  dis- 
covery of  dephlogisticated  air  (oxygen  air:  the 
term  was  introduced  to  scientific  nomenclature  by 
Priestley),  which  he  procured  from  precipitate  /»  r 
se,  and  from  red  lead.  He  announced  this  dis- 
covery publicly  at  the  table  of  M.  Lavosier  at  Par- 
is in  October,  KM.  and  about  the  same  time  i 
peated  his  experiments  before  the  scientific  chem- 
ists of  Paris. 

In  a.  sketch  of  this  nature  it  is  impossible  to 
pursue  his  subsequenl  investigations;  enough  has 
been  said  to  show  that  in  the  brief  space  of  two 
years  he  announced  to  the  world  more  facts  of 
real  importance  and  wide  application  in  pneu- 
matic chemistry  than  all  his  predecessors  had 
previously  made  known.  His  attention  was  called 
to  the  subject  purely  by  the  accident  of  his  prox- 
imity to  a  brew-house  at  Leeds,  where  he  had  am- 
ple opportunity  to  observe  and  determine  the 
properties  of  fixed  air:  one  experiment  led  to 
another,  ultimately  resulting  in  the  discoveries 
upon  which  his  philosophical  reputation  is  prin- 
cipally founded. 

After  a  residence  of  six  years  at  L 1-.  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Earl  of  Shelhume.  with 
whom  be  traveled  in  Europe.  In  1780  he  became 
pastor  of  a  dissenting  congregation  at  Birming- 
ham, where,  in  1789,  he  became  involved  in  a 
controversy  regarding  the  "tesi  act":  his  expressed 
approval  of  the  French  Revolution  provoked  a 
violent  attack  from  Burke  in  Parliament,  and.  to 
such  an  extent  had  his  political  views  aroused  the 
hostility  of  the  Birmingham  populace,  that,  mi 
the  11th  of  duly.  1791,  his  residence  was  burned 
by  a  mob.  This  called  forth  a  number  of  address- 
es,  among  which  were  several  invitations  to  be- 
come a  member  of  the  French  Convention.  Dur- 
ing the  next  three  years  he  resided  at  London  and 
Hackney,  hut.  finding  the  hostility  of  hi-  enemies 
unabated,  he  de  ;'led  to  leave  England,  and  em- 
barked for  America  April  7,  1794.  The  consider- 
ations that  induced  his  location  at  Northumber- 
land are  thus  stated  in  his  "Memoirs": 

"At  the  time  of  my  leaving  England,  my  son,  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Cooper  and  other  English 
emigrants,  had  a  scheme  for  a  large  settlement  for 
the  friends  of  liberty  in  general  near  the  head  of 
the  Susquehanna  in  Pennsylvania.  And  talcing 
it  for  granted  that  it  would  be  carried  into  effect, 
after  landing  at  New  York  I  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  thence  to  Northumberland,  a  town  the 
nearest  to  the  proposed  settlement,  thinking  to 
ie-ide  there  until  some  progress  had  been  made 
in  it.  The  settlement  was  given  up:  buf  being 
here,  and  my  wife  and  myself  liking  the  place.  1 
have  determined  to  take  up  my  residence  here. 
though  subject  to  many  disadvantages.  Philadel- 
phia was  excessively  expensive,  and  this  compar- 
ative^ a  cheap  place;  and  m\  -mi-,  settling  in  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


neighborhood,  will  be  less  exposed  to  temptation 
and  more  likely  to  form  habits  of  sobriety  and  in- 
dustry. They  will  also  be  settled  at  much  Less 
expense  than  in  or  near  a  large  town.  We  hope, 
after  some  time,  to  be  joined  by  a  few  of  our 
friends  from  England,  that  a  readier  communica- 
tion may  be  opened  with  Philadelphia,  and  that 
the  place  will  improve  and  become  more  eligible 
in  other  respects." 

In  the  spring  of  1795  be  began  the  construction 
of  a  large  house,  suitable  to  bis  requirements  and 
pursuits,  "ii  the  estate  which  he  purchased  to  the 
ea.-i  of  the  borough.  It  was  completed  in  1797, 
and  still  stands  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  on 
North  Way,  owned  by  Robert  Scott,  Esq.  He  laid 
out  a  beautiful  lawn,  sloping  to  the  canal,  and 
se1  "in  many  shade  trees,  bul  the  effecl  has  been 
altered  by  the  construction  of  the  railroad  and 
canal.  Here  he  had  a  large  library  and  laboratory, 
and  on  the  roof  an  observatory,  which  disappeared 
some  time  ago,  and  he  resumed  bis  experiments 
and  studies.  He  was  offered  the  professorship  of 
chemistry  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
declined,  although  he  delivered  two  courses  of 
lectures  in  Philadelphia.  He  corresponded  with 
Presidents  Jefferson  and  Adams,  and,  although 
a  voluminous  writer  on  political  economy,  never 
participated  actively  in  the  civil  affairs  of  this 
country,  of  which  he  never  became  a  naturalized 
citizen.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Unitarian, 
and  established  at  Northumberland  the  oldest 
church  of  that  denomination  in  central  Permsyl- 
vania;  lie  was  also  active  in  promoting  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  community  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  old  Northumberland  Acad- 
emy, the  first  school  of  advanced  grade  in  this 
part  61  the  State,  lie  became  the  owner  of  many 
thousands  of  acres  in  what  is  now  Sullivan  coun- 
ty, which  he  sold  to  his  fellow  countrymen  very 
cheap  in  order  to  induce  them  to  locate  there. 
The  last  years  of  his  life  were  free  from  the  con- 
troversy and  care  that  entered  so  largely  into  his 
experience,  and  thus  he  died,  in  peace  and  quiet- 
ness, on  Feb.  6,  1804.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  the  little  Friends'  burial  ground  at  Northum- 
berland. The  "Memoirs  of  Dr.  Joseph  Priestley, 
to  the  year  1795.  written  by  himself:  with  a  con- 
tinuation, to  the  time  of  his  decease,  hj  his  son. 
Joseph  1'riestley."  were  printed  by  John  Binns  at 
Northumberland  in  1805. 

The  centennial  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of 
oxygen  was  celebrated  at  Northumberland  in  the 
summer  of  1874,  by  a  meeting  of  about  fifty  of  the 
iim-t  prominent  scientists  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada.  David  Taggart  delivered  the  address 
of  welcome,  and  ProfessoT  t 'handler,  of  Colum- 
bia College,  New  York,  presided.  Appropriate 
memorial  exercises  and  scientific  addresses  were 
the  feature-  of  the  program.  Cablegrams  were  in- 
terchanged with  the  Priestley  Memorial  Commit- 


tee   of    Birmingham.      This    convention    and    the 

demonstrations  of  a  similar  nature  in  England  at- 
tracted wide  attention. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  Sunbury  news- 
paper of  April  to.  L910:  "The  old  Unitarian 
Church  in  Northumberland  famed  for  its  connec- 
tion with  the  Priestlej  family  will  remain  a  me- 
morial chapel  and  library  in  the  future. 

••'the   steps   taken    by    the    American    Unitarian 
Association,  of  Boston,  toward  keeping  green  the 
memorv  of  Dr.  Joseph   Priestley,  one  of  the  Eon 
most  scientists  of  Ins  da\  and  one  of  the  founders 
of   Northumberland,  are  mm    being  I    in 

the  renovation  of  the  old  Unitarian  edifice  in 
Northumberland,  where  the  Priestley  family  long 
worshipped. 

"The  church  was  rapidly  falling  into  decay,  and 
had  not  been  used  for  a  lone-  time.  The  trustees, 
who  held  possession,  secured  an  order  of  court  to 
transfer  the  property  to  the  association,  whose 
main  purpose  is  the  preservation  of  such  spots 
of  historic  interest 

"It  is  the  intention  to  make  a  memorial  chap- 
el and  library  out  of  the  church.  A  cellar  is  be- 
ing dug,  a  furnace  will  he  installed,  the  building 
will  he  wired  for  electric  lighting,  and  other  im- 
provements will   he  completed." 

Joseph  Priestley,  a  son  of  low.  Joseph  Priestley, 
was  born  in  England  in  1768,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage came  to  this  country  with  his  father,  lie. 
too,  became  interested  in  land  speculations  in  Sul- 
livan county,  and  the  vasl  wilds  which  he  and  bis 
father  possessed  have  long  since  been  converted  in- 
to beautiful  home-  and  farm  land.  His  first  union 
was  formed  in  England,  April  15,  1792,  with  Eliz- 
abeth Ryland,  and  they  were  the  parent-  of  five 
children,  namely:  Joseph  Pawnor:  Elizabeth  Pay- 
nor,  horn  Aug.  28,  1798,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Parker;  Lindsay,  horn  July  '.'1.  1801; 
Marian,  born  July  26,  1803,  who  married  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Power:  and  Sarah,  born  April  28,  1807, 
married  Robert  Wainwright.  After  the  death  of 
his  wif e  Mr.  Priestlej  returned  to  England,  where 

he   formed  a  second   malrin lal  alliance  with  Lu- 

cinda  Barton  and,  as  she  was  opposed  to  coming 
to  America  to  live,  he  spenl  the  remainder  of  his 
life  there,  dying  September  3,   is:'.::. 

Joseph    Raynor    Priestley,  son   of  Joseph,   was 
horn  in  England  March  23,  L793,  and  upon  reach- 
ing maturity  succeeded   to  in-   father'-   prop, 
Although  a  man  of  mean-  he  was  largeh  engaj 
in    farming   throughoui    his    life.      On    April 
L817,  la-  was  united  in  marriagi    to  Fran<  es  Dun- 
das,   and    the\    had   eight    children  :   Jane    I',.. 
Jan.   15,  tsi's:  Joseph;   Elizabeth,  horn   Aug.  •'!. 
1821;  Mark-  John,  horn  Jan.   17,   1823;  I, lie 

born  Feb.  9,  is?;  ;  Mariai born  Sept.  22,  1831  ; 

.Ian,.  1»     bora    Mai    !.    Is:;  .  -   rah  A..  1 

May  10,  1836.  Mr.  Priestlej  died  Nov.  L0,  1863, 
ami  his  wife  -ui".  ived  lnui  until  I  >ec.  18, 1878.     II 


6 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY.  PEN  X  SYLVAN  I A 


was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Northumberland  and  for  many  years 
served  as  its  cashier. 

Dr.  Joseph  Priestlev  was  torn  in  Point  township, 
Northumberland  Co.,' Pa.,  Sept.  22,  1819,  and  at- 
tended the  private  school  taught  by  the  Eev.  David 
Kirkpatriek  of  Milton.  He  then  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  James  Dougal  of  Milton,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  in  March,  1844.  He  took  up 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Northumberland 
and  rose  rapidly  to  a  place  in  the  foremost  ranks 
of  the  physicians  of  that  section.  During  the 
finly  years  of  his  practice  he  had  a  very  large  pat- 
ronage and  was  at  all  times  held  in  the  highest  es- 
teem. He  was  an  extensive  owner  of  real  estate, 
possessing  several  farms.  He  purchased  the 
grand  old  brick  building  known  at  the  time  as  the 
"Burr  Hotel"'"  and  remodeled  it  into  a  fine  home 
and  office,  in  which  his  daughters  now  live.  This 
property  is  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Front 
streets,  and  faces  Market  Square  park.  He  prac- 
ticed at  Northumberland  until  his  demise.  March 
in.  1883.  He  was  a  member  of  the  national,  State 
and  county  medical  associations,  and  served  as 
president  of  the  county  association.  He  was  an 
unswerving  supporter  of  the  Republicans  party 
from  the  time  of  its  organization. 

On  March  4.  1847,  Dr.  Priestley  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Hannah  H.  Taggart,  who  was  horn 
Sept.  10,  1825,  and  died  Sept.  28,  1894.  This 
union  was  blessed  by  the  following  children:  Han- 
nah T..  who  married  Hasket  Derby  Catlin.  of 
Gouverneur,  X.  Y..  by  whom  she  had  two  chil- 
dren, Joseph  and  Lucy  H..  deceased;  Joseph  Ray- 
nor,  who  died  in  childhood;  France?  D.,  wife  of 
William  Forsyth,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  and  Annie 
S.  and  Jean  B..  who  settled  at  the  old  homestead 
in  Northumberland. 

EOBEET  HAEEIS  AWL,  M.  D„  was  for 
many  years  a  leading  medical  practitioner  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  his  influence  in  the  profession  was  far- 
reaching.  But  Iris  usefulness  went  beyond  its 
limits,  though  they  are  wide,  for  he  was  called  up- 
on to  till  several  public  positions,  and  displayed 
such  remarkable  judgment  in  municipal  affairs 
that  he  was  consulted  in  various  important  move- 
ments. He  lived  to  be  over  eighty-five  and  was 
active  until  a  short  time  before  his  death. 

Dr.  Awl  was  born  Dec.  27,  1819,  on  his  father's 
farm  along  the  old  Reading  turnpike,  in  Augusta 
township,  about  a  mile  east  of  Sunbury,  Northum- 
1 1  ■  1  <  ounty,  now  owned  by  W.  L.  Dewart.  He 
came  of  notable  stock,  his  paternal  grandfather 
having  been  of  the  Scotch-Irish  rare  whose  vir- 
tues have  had  so  strong  an  influence  on  the  de- 
velopment of  Pennsylvania;  his  maternal  grand- 
father. William  Maclay,  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant  figures  in  public  life  in  the  State  in  his 


day,  and  one  of  the  first  two  representatiu-^  of 
Pennsylvania  in  the  United  States  Semite;  while 
his  great-grandfather,  John  Harris  (father  of  M  rs. 
William  Maclay),  was  the  founder  of  the  city  of 
Harrisburg. 

Dr.  Awl's  grandfather,  Jacob,  who  came  from 
the  North  of  Ireland,  spelled  The  name  Aul.  and  it 
was  originally  spelled  Auld  in  Ireland.  He  was 
born  in  the  North  of  Ireland  Aug.  6,  1727,  and 
settled  in  Paxton  township.  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  before  and  during  which 
struggle  he  took  an  efficient  part  in  Colonial  mil- 
itary affairs.  He  was  ensign  and  lieutenant  in 
Colonel  Elder's  battalion  of  rangers  in  the  fron- 
tier wars,  from  1756  to  1764,  taking  part  in  Col- 
onel Bouquet's  victory  over  the  Indians  at  Bushy 
Run,  which  prepared  the  way  for  the  capture  of 
Fort  Pitt  by  the  British  and  Colonial  forces. 
When  the  Revolution  came  on  he  was  active  in  the 
organization  of  the  associated  battalions  of  Lan- 
caster county,  which  did  much  efficient  service  in 
that  struggle.  He  was  a  contemporary  of  John 
Harris,  mentioned  above,  and  was  one  of  the  five 
commissioners  who  laid  out  Harrisburg  in  1785, 
and  Mr.  Harris  appointed  him  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  land  reserved  for  public  uses.  Upon  the 
formation  of  Dauphin  county  he  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  by  whom  its  boundaries  were  lo- 
cated.  Mr.  Aul  was  a  tanner  by  occupation.  In 
1759  he  married  Sarah  Sturgeon,  daughter  of  Jer- 
emiah Sturgeon,  and  to  them  were  born  twelve 
children.  Mr.  Aul  died  Sept.  26,  1793,  in  Paxton 
township.  Dauphin  county. 

Samuel  Awl,  fourth  son  and  seventh  child  of 
Jacob,  was  born  March  5,  1773,  at  Paxton,  ' 
Dauphin  county,  and  was  married  April  27,  1795, 
at  Harrisburg,  to  Mary  Maclay,  who  was  born 
March  19,  1776,  at  Harris5  Ferry,  second  daugh- 
ter of  Senator  William  Maclay.  In  early  man- 
hood he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at 
Harmsburg,  and  in  1800  removed  from  Dauphin 
to  Northumberland  county,  where  Mr.  Awl  was 
to  take  charge  of  the  extensive  landed  property  of 
his  brother-in-law,  which  included  numerous 
tracts,  locale,]  near  Sunbury  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  county.  They  settled  on  the  farm  along  the 
Reading  turnpike,  near  Sunbury,  already  men- 
tioned  as  Dr.  Awl's  birthplace,  and  Mr.  Awl  w-as 
engaged  in  farming  there  for  many  years.  But  he 
did  not  devote  all  his  attention  to  igriculture, 
for  he  took  part  in  public  affairs,  officiating  in  sev- 
eral important  positions.  In  1805  he  was  elected 
county  commissioner,  serving  until  1808:  he  also 
served  as  county  auditor.  1834-37;  as  justice  of 
the  peace  of  old  Augusta  township,  and  in  other 
offices.  He  w-as  one  of  the  first  Masons  in  the 
county,  was  a  prominent  officer  of  Lodge  No.  22, 
at  Sunbury,  and  was  one  of  the  few  who  remained 
steadfast  to  the  fraternity  when  it  was  the  object 
of  public  obloquy  during  the  Antimasonic  move- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ni'iit.  He  died  on  his  farm  Jan.  1,  1843.  His 
wife  died  in  Augusta  township,  Aug.  13,  1823. 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Maelay)  Awl  had  ten  children, 
the  first,  William  Maelay,  burn  before  they  came 
to  .Northumberland  county.  The  others  were  bom 
upon  the  farm  in  Augusta  township  namely:  Mary 
Harris,  born  in  1802,  married  William  ('.  Gear- 
hart,  of  Hush  township,  and  their  surviving  chil- 
dren are  .Maelay  Gearhart  and  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 
Lenker  (the  latter  is  the  widow  of  John  B.  Lenk- 
er  and  mother  of  the  Lenker  brothers  of  Sun- 
bury)  ;  Charles  Maelay  died  in  childhood;  Eleanor 
Maelay  married  Ezra  Grossman,  printer  and  pub- 
lisher of  New  York  Citj  (their  only  child,  John 
Ira,  died  of  wounds  received  at  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Run);  Charles  Samuel  went  out  to  Illinois 
in  early  life,  engaged  in  farming,  and  became  a 
prominent  residenl  of  the  section  in  which  be  set- 
tled, serving  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  taking 
considerable  part  in  public  affairs;  George  Wash- 
ington died  when  nineteen  years  old;  Sarah  Irwin 
married  Hon.  George  ('.  Welker,  of  Sunbury;  Hes- 
ter Hall  married  William  Brindle,  nephew  of 
Governor  Ritner;  Elizabeth  Jane  married  Daniel 
Rohrbach,  whom  she  survived  (she  was  living  in 
Selinsgrove  in  1903  at  the  age  of  eighty-six)  ;  Rob- 
ert Harris  was  the  youngest  of  the  family.  The 
oldest  and  youngest  became  physicians. 

Dr.  William  M.  Awl.  the  first-born  in  the  fam- 
ily of  Samuel  Awl.  studied  under  Dr.  Agnew  at 
Harrisburg.  attended  one  course  of  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  from 
Jefferson  Medical  College.  He  settled  in  Ohio, 
where  he  gained  eminent  standing  in  his  profes- 
sion, especially  in  connection  with  medical  and 
benevolent  institutions,  he  having  been  prime 
mover  in  the  establishment  of  the  Ohio  Lunatic 
\-\lum  ami  the  founder  of  the  Ohio  Institute  for 
the  Blind:  be  served  as  superintendent  of  the  asy- 
lum from  the  time  it  was  opened  until  he  retired 
on  account  of  age,  and  for  many  years  was  pres- 
ident of  the  Association  of  Medical  Superintend- 
ents of  American  Institutions  for  the  Insane.  In 
fact,  he  was  a  national  leader  in  his  special  line, 
being  the  first  person  in  the  United  States  to  pro- 
pose the  training  of  the  mentally  deficient,  at  a 
convention  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1844.  He  was 
a  skillful  surgeon,  and  in  1827,  when  yet  a  very 
young  man,  he  performed  an  operation  then  rare- 
lv  attempted  in  America,  taking  up  and  tying  the 
carotid  artery.  He  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-seven. 

Robert  Harris  Awl  began  going  to  school  when 
about  ten  years  old.  at  a  schoolhouse  located  along 
the  turnpike  about  a  mile  from  his  home,  a  small 
one-story  log  building  on  the  Christian  Shissler 
farm  originally  built  for  butchering,  soap  and  ap- 
ple butter  boiling,  and  similar  purposes.  It  had 
one  door  and  two  windows,  and  a  large  open  fire- 
place, none  too  large,  as  school  was  held  only  m 


the  winter  sessions  and  the  cracks  in  the  sides 
made  the  ventilation  too  thorough  for  solid  com- 
fort. The  furnishings  and  equipment  were  as 
primitive  as  the  building  itself.  The  younger  pu- 
pils occupied  rough  board  seats  without  backs, 
placed  in  the  center  of  the  room,  the  older  pu- 
pil- sitting  with  their  backs  to  the  teacher  at  a 
long  desk-like  arrangement  along  one  side.  A 
bundle  of  whips  within  easy  reach  of  the  teacher 
was  then  as  much  a  part  of  the  school  equipment 
as  books  themselves.  Books,  indeed.,  were  expen- 
sive and  therefore  scarce.  The  beginners  often 
studied  their  alphabet  from  letters  pasted  on 
(vooden  paddles.  The  teacher  set  the  writing  cop- 
ies and  mended  the  quill  pens.  When  the  number 
of  pupils  increased  this  school  was  provided  with 
more  commodious  quarters,  in  the  stillhouse  of 
Adam  Shissler,  which  stood  along  the  creek  road 
leading  to  Snydertown,  on  the  farm  recently 
owned  by  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach.  Dr.  Awl's  first 
teacher,  Aaron  Robbins,  of  Sunbury,  was  a  good 
arithmetician  and  an  expert  penman.  A  regular 
schoolhouse  was  eventually  erected  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, along  the  turnpike  (on  Mr.  Gideon  Leisen- 
ring's  land),  the  residents  of  the  vicinity  sharing 
the  expense,  as  there  were  no  public  school  funds 
at  the  time,  and  young  Awl  attended  there  for 
some  time,  later  going  to  a  school  in  Sunbury.  anil 
to  LeBrun's  Academy.  The  idea  of  free  school- 
ing was  highly  unpopular  in  the  locality  in  those 
days,  being,  in  fact,  but  little  understood.  When 
the  question  of  free  schools  was  first  submitted  to 
;i  vote  of  the  people  in  the  neighborhood  Samuel 
Awl.  the  Doctor's  father,  was  one  of  the  few — 
eight — who  voted  in  its  favor.  Dr.  Awl  was  very 
active  as  a  youth,  noted  for  his  lively  disposition 
and  physical  agility.  His  more  ambitious  efforts 
in  the  latter  line  were  summarily  stopped  by  his 
father  when  a  neighbor  boy.  trying  to  imi- 
tate him,  fell  off  a  horse  he  was  attempting  to  ride 
bareback,  in  a  standing  position,  ami  broke  his 
leu'.  But  bis  mind  was  alert,  too.  When  quite 
young  he  became  interested  in  phrei  .  and  in 

the    modest    little    school n     the     I  .eisenri  UlT 

place,  before  mentioned,  where  the  spelling  b 
and  debating  exercises  were  held,  even  attempted  a. 
lecture  on  that  subject.  When  about  nineteen 
be  chose  the  medical  profession  for  his  life  work 
and  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  John  W.  Peal,  of 
Sunbury,  who  bad  quite  a  large  class  of  tudents 
at  the  time.  Later  he  became  a  student  at  the 
Medical    College   ot    Philadelphia,   -  eh    the 

celebrated  Dr.  George  Met  Hellan    I  < 

George  B.  Met  llellan  )    ■  ,  am!  in 

connection  with  bis  work  there  bad  a  year's  study 
at  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital.  He  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  is  IV.  in  svith  Dt     McClel- 

lan's    son    (a    brot  ra)  i    and    Dr. 

Landis   Price,  of   Sunbury,  and   soon   commenced 
-vii.  in    Dauphin  county,  v. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


he  remained  for  about  two  wars,  during  which 
he  made  a  fair  start.  Removing  then  to  Halifax, 
same  county,  a  more  promising  location,  he  grad- 
ually acquired  a  practice  which  entitled  him  to  the 
lirst  rank  in  the  neighborhood  in  his  profession, 
his  practice  extending  for  many  miles  over  the  ad- 
joining territory.  Meantime  he  also  became  iden- 
tified with  the  public  affairs  of  the  locality,  sen 
ing  in  1843  as  surgeon  of  the  16th  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  receiving  the  nomina- 
tion for  the  State  Legislature  in  1845;  he  was  de- 
feated by  about  two  hundred  votes.  Polities  al- 
ways interested  him  and  he  assisted  in  establish- 
ing the  Halifax  Herald,  a  Democratic  paper. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  sold  his  practice  and 
property  to  Dr.  Brown,  from  Philadelphia,  and 
moved  West,  settling  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  en- 
gaged in  general  practice  until  he  had  established 
a  residence  in  that  State,  which  was  accessary  for 
his  admission  as  assistant  to  his  brother,  then 
superintendent  and  head  physician,  at  the  Ohio 
Lunatic  Asylum.  After  three  years  at  that  insti- 
tution as  second  assistant  he  resigned,  his  health 
having  become  impaired  by  the  close  application 
to  work  and  the  trying  nature  of  his  duties.  This 
was  at  the  height  of  the  gold  fever  excitement, 
and  he  intended  to  go  to  California,  starting 
via  the  overland  route.  But  he  was  taken  sick, 
and  turned  back,  returning  to  Pennsylvania  in 
L849.  Settling  in  Sunbury,  near  his  birthplace, 
he  resumed  practice,  entering  upon  a  career  of 
professional  and  civic  usefulness  destined  to  make 
his  memory  cherished  in  this  vicinity  for  years  to 
come.  The  extensive  acquaintance  of  his  earlier 
life,  his  old  friendships,  the  reputation  he  had 
gained  in  his  Dauphin  county  home,  his  experi- 
ence in  the  West,  all  combined  to  attract  patrons, 
whose  confidence  and  good  will  were  held  by  his 
faithful  and  skillful  treatment,  his  manly  char- 
acter and  kindly,  sympathetic  disposition.  It 
would  have  been  difficult  for  any  of  his  friends  or 
patients  to  decide  which  held  them  most,  the  ad- 
miration for  his  conscientiousness  and  proficiency 
as  a  physician  or  the  genial  good  nature  which 
made  him  so  welcome  everywhere.  Eight  young 
men  pursued  their  medical  studies  under  his  in- 
struction, lie  had  various  professional  associa- 
tions primarily  a  recognition  of  his  eminent  worth 
and  skill.  For  fourteen  years — between  1855  and 
1888  inclusive — he  acted  as  physician  at  the  coun- 
ty prison,  in  the  old  and  new  jails,  by  appoint- 
ment of  different  hoards  of  commissioners.  He 
was  an  expert  surgeon,  performing  numerous  op- 
erations, principally  those  necessitated  by  railroad 
accidents,  and  was  highly  successful  in  this  branch 
of  bis  work.  For  several  years  he  was  connected 
with  the  surgical  department  of  the  Packer  hos- 
pital in  Sunbury  as  general  consultant,  having 
been  elected  and  re-elected  yearly.  He  practiced 
until  a  few  years  before  his  death,  even  after  he 


was  eighty  attending  to  office  practice,  for  he  en- 
joyed good  health  up  to  within  a  few  week-  of 
the  close  of  his  life,  and  his  mental  faculties 
remained  unimpaired. 

Dr.  Awl  was  a  Democrat  and  an  influential 
member  of  the  party  for  years,  working  zealously 
in  its  interests,  and  he  was  honored  with  election 
as  county  treasurer,  which  office  he  held  in  1864 
and  1865,  at  the  time  the  new  courthouse  was 
built,  so  that  he  had  the  handling  of  an  unusu- 
ally large  amount  of  public  funds.  He  was  one 
of  the  three  commissioners  to  whom  was  given  the 
task  of  dividing  the  borough  .of  Sunbury  into 
wards,  in  1885.  He  was  also  well  known  in  other 
connections,  having  been  president  of  the  North- 
umberland County  Agricultural  Society,  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  Mo.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunlmry  (he 
was  probably  the  oldest  Mason  in  the  State  at  the 
time  of  his  death),  and  a  member  of  St.  John's 
M.  R.  Church  at  Sunlmry  for  over  thirty  years. 

As  an  authority  and  writer  on  local  historical 
matters  Dr.  Awl  had  considerable  reputation  and 
made  a  number  of  valuable  contributions  to  that 
class  of  literature,  lie  was  instrumental,  with 
other  Democrats,  in  the  establishment,  in  1861,  of 
the  Northumberland  County  Democrat.  In  1859 
several  party  leader-,  including  Dr.  Awl.  raised 
a  fund  to  enlarge  the  plant  of  the  Milton  Demo- 
crat and  remove  it  to  Sunbury;  and  though  this 
plan  did  not  materialize  Dr.  Awl  later  purchased 
the  equipment  of  the  Democrat  at  sheriff's  sale, 
removed  it  to  Sunbury,  and  allowed  its  use  in  the 
publishing  of  the  German  paper,  and  it  subse- 
quently  proved  the  nucleus  of  the  equipment  of 
the  Northumberland  County  Democrat  outfit. 
His  intimate  knowledge  regarding  penal  institu- 
tions, combined  with  his  familiarity  with  the  his- 
tory of  his  section  of  the  county,  makes  his  his- 
tory of  "Northumberland  County  Prisons"  (be- 
ginning with  the  lock-up  built  for  Shikelliiny  by 
Conrad  Weiser  and  concluding  with  an  account  of 
the  present  model  penitentiary),  published  in  Me- 
ginness's  Historical  Journal,  an  authentic  and  re: 
liable  production:  he  made  interesting  contribu- 
tions to  other  publications  of  Meginness  on  sub- 
jects of  local  interest,  "The  Old  Cannon."  "The 
First  Duel  in  Northumberland  County,"  "The 
Brady  Family."  etc..  and  assisted  in  preparing 
other  material  for  similar  use:  and  he  prepared 
some  "reminiscences"  concerning  social  life  in 
the  early  days  for  the  county  history  published  in 
1891.  In  this  connection  it  might  be  mentioned 
that  ho  himself  was  one  of  the  adventurous  youths 
of  Sunbury  who  planned  a  midnight  expedition  to 
Selinsgrove  to  recapture  the  old  Fort  Augusta 
cannon  which  the  Selinsgrove  boys  had  stolen. 
The  raid  was  successful,  the  cannon  being  restored 
to  it^  rightful  place  on  the  river  bank  at  Sunbury, 
and  was  fired  the  next  Fourth  of  July  with  proper 
observances. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


9 


On  March  9,  1843,  Dr.  Aw]  was  first  married, 
while  at  Gratztown,  Dauphin  county,  to  Eliza 
Bower,  of  thai  county,  and  they  had  one  child, 
which  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Awl  died  July  28, 
1846,  and  on  Nov.  SI,  is  I!),  shortly  after  Ins  re- 
turn in  Sunbury.  Dr.  Awl  married  (second)  Re- 
becca  A.  Pursell  of  thai  place,  daughter  of  Peter 
ami  Rachel  (Miller)  Pursell.  She  died  Dec.  11, 
1897,  several  years  before  the  Doctor,  who  passed 

away   at    his    hoi m    Market    square,    Sunbury, 

March  13,  1905,  alter  a  week's  illness.  Ee  is 
buried  in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery.  Three  chil- 
dren survived  him:  William  Maclay  and  Ellen 
Emily,  both  of  Sunbury;  and  Mary  P.,  who  mar- 
ried Edward  G.  Young  and  lives  in  Renovo,  Pa. 
(her  children  are  John  B.  Packer  and  Robert  Har- 
ris). 

(OL.  DAVID  TAGGART,  in  his  day  one  of 
the  Eoremosl  citizens  of  Northumberland  and,  in- 
deed, of  this  section  ol'  the  State,  a  public  man  of 
bigh  standing  and  influence,  came  of  a  family 
which  has  been  identified  with  what  is  now  the 
borough  of  Northumberland  since  1",;.".. 

Thomas  Taggart,  the  founder  of  this  family  in 
America  and  in  Northumberland  county,  was  born 
May  ltt.  1728,  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
ami  emigrated  with  his  brother  Roberl  prior  to 
1750,  the  young  men  settling  in  Philadelphia, 
where  Robert  became  a  merchant.  About  1775 
Thomas  Taggarl  arrived  at  the  town  of  Northum- 
berland, \\heiv  he  became  a  leading  merchant. 
Settling  at  Queen  and  Front  streets,  near  what 
was  later  the  site  of  Morgan's  sice  store,  he  was  a 
well  known  residenl  of  the"  place  until  his  death. 
which  occurred  April  13,  1788.  He  married  Mary 
Vanderbilt,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  who  died  in 
Northumberland  in  1805.  Their  descendants 
have  been  prominent  in  public  life,  in  business 
matters,  and  in  the  wars  of  the  country.  Their 
family  was  a  large  one.  viz.:  Elizabeth,  born  June 
15,  1753,  married  William  Bonham,  and  died 
about  1780  (her  son,  Thomas,  was  for  many  years 
a  tanner  at  Northumberland,  but  finally  removed 
to  Wabash  county,  111.,  where  he  died):  Christi- 
ana, horn  May  12,  1755,  married  a  Mr.  Sample, 
and  settled  in  Allegheny  county,  this  State:  Rob- 
ert was  born  Feb.   18,  li-v;  ;  John,  horn  June  30, 

1759,  died  July  '.'I.  1759;  Catharine,  born  Sept.  6, 

1760,  married  ('apt.  John  Painter,  and  died  in 
1840;  Thomas,  born  Oct.  22.  1762,  died  Jan.  16, 
1780  (he  was  killed  by  InduAis)  ;  Mary,  born  Jan. 
lit.  1765,  married  a  Mr.  Patterson,  a  noted  fron- 
tiersman of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  Feb.  8,  1791  ; 
John,  born  Julv  11.  1767,  died  Feb.  8,  1 
David,  horn  Feb.  2  1 .  1769,  died  May  17,  1ST': 
William,  horn  Oct.  3,  1771,  died  Jan.  24,  1773; 
William  CO.  known  as  ••old  Major"  Taggart,  horn 
Aug.  6,  1  "73,  kept  store  at  an  early  day  in  North- 
umberland  and    in   the  latter  part  of  his  life   re- 


sided in  Chillisquaque  township,  where  lie  died  at 
the  age  ol'  eighty  rears:  and  James  was  born  Jan 
1,  lis—. 

David  Taggart,  son  of  Thomas,  horn  in  Phila- 
delphia Feb.  -.'1,  1769,  died  May  17,  1st?,  m 
was  educated  in  Northumberland,  followed  mer- 
chandising, and  was  a  prominent  Democrat  in  bis 
tune.  He  married  Mary  McCalla,  whose  father, 
John  McCalla.  was  bom  April  22,  L739,  son  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  McCalla.  and  died  Sept.  It'. 
1810;  his  wife.  Tamar  (  Rich),  daughter  of  John 
Rich,  was  horn  in  1742  and  died  Sept.  v.'.  L797. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCalla  lived  for  some  years  in 
Bucks  county.  Pa.,  where  some  of  their  older  chil- 
dren were  born.  They  hail  the  following  family: 
Sarah,  born  Dec.  1.  1762;  Mary,  Sept.  13,  L764 
(she  was  horn  in  Bucks  county  and  died  in  North- 
umberland county);  William,  April  20,  1767; 
Elizabeth,  April  7.  1769;  Ruth,  Sept.  IV.  1771 
(Mrs.  Welker) ;  Margaret,  March  6,  1774  (died 
Mar,  hi;,  1798)  :  Tamar,  Feb.  7,  L776;  Martha, 
Feb.  28,  1778;  Ann.  May  ~, .  1780;  Susanna,  June 
27,  1782;  John.  Nov.  VI.  1785.  To  David  and 
Mar;  (McCalla)  Taggarl  were  horn  the  following 
named  children:  John  is  mentioned   below  ;  James, 

who  died  in   Northumberland   al t    is:,:,,  vvas  a 

merchant  and  was  engaged  for  sonic  time  running 
packets  on  the  canal,  and  was  collector  ol'  tolls 
on  the  canal  at  Huntingdon  for  many  year-  (his 
son.  Grantham  I.,  became  a  coal  dealer  at  Savan- 
nah. Ga.,  and  another  son,  John,  was  a  physician, 
and  died  at  Salt  Lake  City:  his  two  daughters  were 
Mary,  who  married  Marks  B.  Priestley,  and  Ger- 
trude, who  married  Solomon  Kreegar)  :  Sarah 
married  Samuel  C.  McCormick:  Mary  A.  married 
Alexander  Colt. 

John  Taggart,  son  of  David,  horn  April  12, 
1796,  in  Northumberland,  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native,  county  and  began  bis  business 
career  as  a  brewer  in  the  town  of  Northumber- 
land, where  he  lived  and  died.  Eis  luvwen  was 
located  near  the  present  steamboat  landing.  When 
the  canal  was  constructed  hi-  brewer}  was  removed 
to  give  place  to  if.  and  be  quit  the  husinc.--.  lie 
was  appointed  canal  commissioner  h\  Governor 
Ritner,  but  after  holding  the  position  about  one 
year  resigned,  being  succeeded  bj  Thaddeus  St 
\eii-.  He  was  a  charier  member,  stockholder  and 
director  ot  the  Northumberland  Bank,  of  which 
he  wa-  president  for  a  number  •'(  years,  and  be 
was  regarded  as  an  enterprising  man  in  all  his 
undertakings.  At  the  lime  ol'  his  death  be  was 
a  Republican  in  politics.  II  is  deal  '•<  oci  nrred  al 
Northumberland  Aug.  23,  Is;;,  and  there  he  ai 
his  w  ife  are  buried.  The\  wore  meinbei  -  of  the 
Unitarian  Church.  Mr.  Taggarl  married  Hannah 
Collm  Buston,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  boi  n  I  i 
22,  1796,  on  Queen  street,  that  city,  died   Nov.  28, 

1870,   and    they    had    children    a-    follows :    I  >a\  id 

mentioned  bel  iw  :  Matthew    Huston,  born   Feb.   18, 


10 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


18"24.  married  Rebecca  McCurlev,  (second)  Eliza 
McCurley  and  (third)  Ella.G.  Royer  (in  1888  he 
purchased  the  plant  of  C.  A.  Godcharles  &  Co.,  at 
Northumberland,  and  on  Oct.  1,  1889,  the  estab- 
lishment became  the  property  of  the  firm  of  Tag- 
garts  &  Howell,  manufacturers  of  iron  and  of 
iron  and  steel  nails,  his  interest  in  this  business 
covering  a  long  period)  :  Hannah,  born  Sept.  10, 
18 <?.">.  married  Dr.  Jos.  Priestley  and  reared  four 
children,  Hannah  (wife  of  Rev.  H.  D.  Catlin), 
Fannie  D.  (wife  of  William  Forsyth,  Jr.), 
Anna  and  Jennie;  Capt.  James,  bom  at  Northum- 
berland Feb.  4.  1827,  married  Sarah  Cowden, 
daughter  of  John  II.  Cowden  (he  entered  the  ar- 
my in  1861,  organizing  the  Taggart  Guards,  of 
which  he  was  elected  captain,  and  he  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  June  30, 
186?):  John  K.,  born  Nov.  V>.  1829,  was  secre- 
tary and  clerk  to  his  brother  David  in  the  pay- 
master's department  in  the  army,  and  died  Sept. 
8,  1868.  in  St.  Louis:  Mary  was  born  June  13, 
1831 :  Francis  A.,  born  Feb.  26,  1833,  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at 
Philadelphia  (he  had  children:  John,  William, 
Joseph  and  Mrs.  Anna  Christy). 

Col.  David  Taggart,  born  at  Northumberland, 
May  28,  1822,  received  a  good  education,  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  and  Dickinson  and  Mil- 
ton Academies.  He  read  law  with  the  famous  Eb- 
enezer  Greenough.  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Northumberland  county  Nov.  7,  1843,  and  was 
prominent  in  public  life  for  many  years.  In  1854 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  in 
which  body  he  served  two  years,  during  the  last 
year  of  his  term  being  speaker.  In  1S52  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Whig  State  central  committee, 
and  subsequently  became  a  Republican.  For  some 
years  he  was  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Agricultural  Society.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  service,  remaining  to 
the  close  of  the  struggle.  He  was  in  the  pay- 
master's department,  and  after  the  war  entered 
the  United  States  regular  army  as  paymaster  in 
the  quartermaster's  department,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel.  He  was  stationed  in  this  capacity  at  dif- 
ferent points  throughout  the  country  for  several 
years.  Possessing  rare  gifts  as  a  public  speaker, 
he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  deliver  addresses 
at  patriotic  and  other  celebrations,  and  he  was 
popular  and  influential  wherever  known.  He  was 
prominently  mentioned  for  governor,  but  he  was 
as  willing  to  give  his  time  and  efforts  to  local  affairs 
as  to  those  which  would  bring  him  more  fame, 
and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
borough,  serving'  as  school  director  and  doing  his 
duty  a-  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  died  at 
Northumberland  June  30,  1888.  and  is  entombed 
in  the  Taggart  mausoleum  in  Riverview  cemetery. 

On  May  5.  1848,  David  Taggart  married  Anna 
P.    Cowden.    daughter   of   John    IT.    Cowden    and 


granddaughter  of  John  Cowden,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  coming  to  this  country  settled  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  in  which  section  he 
was  one  of  the  earliest  merchants.  He  was  post- 
master from  1795  until  Jan.  12,  1837.  He  sold 
his  store  and  residence  in  1836.  upon  his  retire- 
ment from  business.  He  married  Sarah  Hope- 
well, and  both  lived  to  old  age.  They  were  the 
parents  of  children  as  follows:  One  son  died  in 
infancy,  unnamed:  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Wal- 
lace; Deborah  married  William  McQuhae,  a 
Scotch  artist,  who  painted  a  miniature  portrait 
of  Robert  Burns,  the  poet,  from  life:  Sarah  mar- 
ried Judge  Merrill,  of  New  Berlin.  Pa.;  Mary 
married  Judge  Bradford  :  Rebecca  married  James 
Hepburn;  John  H.  is  mentioned  below:  Anna  M. 
married  Judge  Donaldson. 

John  H.  Cowden  was  born  in  Northumberland 
county,  became  a  very  successful  business  man, 
and  amassed  a  large  competence.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant, was  president  of  the  West  Branch  Bank 
at  Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  for  some  years  was  own- 
er of  the  beautiful  Packer  Island.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years.  Mr.  Cowden  married 
Hannah  Pleasants,  who  died  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-seven,  the  mother  of  four  children:  John, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six:  Anna  Pleasants, 
Mrs.  Taggart;  Sarah  H..  who  married  Capt. 
James  Taggart:  and  Hannah  P..  wife  of  William 
Potter  Withington,  living  in  West  Virginia. 

After  Colonel  Taggarfs  death  Mrs.  Tag-art 
bought  the  Martin  property  on  0ueen  street. 
Northumberland,  where  she  took  up  her  residence. 
To  Co].  David  and  Anna  P.  (Cowden)  Taggart 
were  born  four  children:  Helen  T.  is  the  widow  of 
David  H.  Clark  and  resides  in  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. : 
John  C.  died  when  six  year-  old  :  If  anna  C.  H.  is 
unmarried  and  makes  her  home  in  Northumber- 
land: James  is  also  a  resident  of  that  place. 

James  Taggart,  son  of  Col.  David  Tag- 
gart. was  born  Feb.  22,  1862,  in  Northumberland 
borough,  and  there  received  the  greater  part  of  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  completed  the 
freshman  year  at  the  University  of  Lewisburg 
(now  Bucknell  University),  after  which  he  began 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  management  of  his 
father's  affairs,  the  latter's  property  including 
three  large  farms,  gardens,  fine  herds  of  cattle, 
etc..  and  being  the  only  son  he  was  given  a  large 
share  of  the  responsibility  from  an  early  age. 
Though  but  twenty-six  years  old  when  his  fat 
died,  the  care  of  the  large  estate  fell  upon  his 
shoulders,  but  he  proved  himself  equal  to  the  I 
and  has  conducted  all  the  details  of  its  manage- 
ment in  a  most  able  manner.  He  is  a  prominent, 
citizen  of  the  borough,  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  influential  in  the  various  circles  in  business 
and  social  life  with  which  he  is  identified. 

I'm  Maid,  s.  1892,  Mr.  Taggart  married  Mary 
E.  Gulick,  daughter  of  William  G.  and  Ellen  (Zer- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


11 


ting)  Gulick.  of  Northumberland,  but  earlier  of 
Ejhish  township,  this  county,  where  her  grandpar- 
ents, Charles  ami  Hannah  (Morgan)  Gulick,  re- 
sided.   Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taggari  have  no  children. 


Matthew  Huston,  father  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Collin 
(Huston)  Taggart,  was  horn  July  31,  1759,  in 
Warminster  township,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  on 
March  25,  1786,  he  married  Hannah  Cox.  who 
was  horn  April  5,  1762,  in  Kingessing  township. 
Philadelphia  county.  They  lived  in  Woolwich 
township,  Gloucester  Co.,  N.  J.,  for  some  time,  the 
firs!  two  children  being  born  there.  They  had  the 
following  family:  Andrew  ('.,  born  March  :',. 
1787:  Mary  L.,  horn  Aug.  10,  1788  (died  Feb. 
26,  L790)  :  Cynthia,  born  July  28,  1790  (died 
Aug.  31,  179-1 )  :  Charles  A.,  born  Aug.  31,  L793 
(died  March  17.  1795);  Hannah  Collin,  born 
Feb.  22,  L796  (died  Nov.  28,  1870). 

CKEENOUGH.  The  Greenough  family  rep- 
resented at  present  in  Sunbury  by  William  H. 
Greenough,  a  business  man  of  that  borough,  has 
not  been  a  numerous  one,  but  its  members  have 
been  distinguished  in  local  professional  and  finan- 
cial circles,  Ebenezer  Greenough  and  his  son, 
William  T.  Greenough,  haying  been  brilliant  legal 
practitioners,  whose  association  with  the  North- 
umberland county  bar  covered  more  than  half  a 
century.  With  the  legal  career  of  Eben  William 
Greenough,  -on  of  William  I.  Greenough,  the  name 
was  connected  with  tin1  legal  profession  for  the 
hetior  part  of  a  century. 

Ebenezer  Greenough.  great-grandfather  of  Wil- 
liam 11.  Greenough,  was  horn  Dec.  11.  1783,  in 
Massachusetts,  and  graduated  ai  Earvard  in  1801. 
Soon  afterward  ho  left  Haverhill  on  horseback 
for  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  he  made  his 
first  location  at  Wilkes-Barre,  accepting  the  po- 
sition of  principal  of  the  academy  at  that  place 
immediately  after  his  arrival.  During  his  con- 
nection with  that  institution  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  under  Ebenezer  Bowman.  Remov- 
ing to  Sunbury  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1806, 
he  completed  his  professional  preparation  under 
Charles  Hall,  was  admitted  to  the  Northumberland 
county  bar  Jan.  19,  1808,  and  was  continuously 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law  from  that  time 
until  his  death.  Dee.  25,  1847.  He  was  a  man  of 
large  education  and  high  intellectual  qualities. 
versatile,  forceful,  commanding,  and  he  soon  at- 
tained a  position  of  pre-eminence  among  the  le- 
gal fraternity  which  he  maintained  by  his  superior 
abilities  and  acquirements  until  the  close  of  his 
life.  His  familiarity  with  the  land  laws  of  Penn- 
sylvania was  so  thorough  that  he  was  noted  for  his 
skill  m  the  trial  of  ejectment  cases  for  the  de- 
termination of  titles  under  conflicting  surveys 
but  though  concerned  in  almost  every  important 
case  of  the  kind  in  his  home  county  and  the  ad- 


joining counties  he  by  no  means  confined  bis  work 
to  that  class  of  litigation,  being  as  frequently  en- 
gaged and  equally  successful  in  general  civil  and 
criminal  cases.  So  noted  was  he  for  his  cleaj  m 
logic  and  force  in  argument,  for  self-possession 
under  the  most  trying  circumstances,  thai  in 
later  years  he  was  often  asked  by  attorneys  of 
other  counties  in  the  Northern  district  to  assisl 
in  the  presentation  of  their  cases  before  the  Su- 
preme court.  No  distractions,  no  unforeseen  and 
sudden  difficulties,  ever  disconcerted  him  or  took 
his  mind  off  the  issue  at  stake.  In  cross-examin- 
ation he  seldom  failed,  to  produce  the  desired  tes- 
timony from  a  witness;  in  addressing  a  jury  he  ap- 
pealed to  their  intelligence  rather  than  to  senti- 
ment, and  he  had  the  faculty  of  making  his  views 
appear  so  logical  as  to  be  incontrovertible.  With 
the  exception  of  one  term  in  the  State  Legislature, 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  1831,  on  the  Whig  tick- 
et, he  held  no  public  position,  his  fame  resting  up- 
on his  professional  achievements,  which  won  him 
a  conspicuous  place  among  the  notable  men  of 
his  day.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  Samuel  J. 
Packer,  and  they  worked  much  together  in  matters 
of  vital  interest  affecting  the  public  welfare.  Dur- 
ing his  service  in  the  Legislature  lie  was  a  leading 
advocate  of  internal  improvements  in  Pennsylvania 
and  active  in  the  formation  of  manufacturing  and 
corporation  laws  and  he  was  the  author  of  the 
Lateral  Railroad  law,  although  this  was  probably 
written  after  he  left  the  Legislature:  though  he 
was  no)  subsequently  interested  officially  in  public 
affairs  they  interested  him  none  the  less,  and  his 
influence  was  an  appreciable  factor  for  or  against 
any  cause.  He  accumulated  what  in  his  day  was 
considered  a  handsome  fortune.  Mr.  Greenough 
married  Abigail  Israel,  a  native  of  Delaware,  born 
Dec.  12,  1791,  and  she  survived  him  man}  years, 
dying  in  1868.  Their  family  consist*  :  one  son 
and  five  daughters. 

William  I.  Greenough,  sou  of  Ebenezer,  was  born 
May  '.'■;.  1821,  at  Sunbury.  He  attended  the  acad- 
emy at  that  place,  and  later  those  of  Wilkes  Barre 
and  Danville,  after  which  he  entered  Princeton 
College,  from  which  lie  w&i  graduated  in  L839. 
He  studied  law  lor  three  years  under  it     c  be- 

fore his  admission  in  the  Northumberland  county 

bar,  Aug.  '.'.  1842,  and  from  thai  ti n  wa 

successful  attoi'ue\  ami  counselor  ai  Sunbury. 
I. ilce  his  father,  though  interested  in  public  ques- 
tions and  matters  affecting  the  general  welfare, 
he  himself  avoided  official  responsibilities,  giving 
his  entire  nine  to  the  profession  for  which  he 
ed  so  eminently   lilted.     I  \.  ion  o 

as  a  counselor,  and    thro  -   as- 

sociated   iii    the   trial  im- 

portant case-  of  the  county .     His  methods  in  pre- 
iii  court      ere  mui 
followed  by  his  father.     II 
!  for  the  absence  of  unm  and 


12 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


irrelevant  matter  of  any  kind,  presented  as  if  they 
were  facts  that  needed  only  to  be  stated,  not  logic 
laid  before  a  jury  to  persuade  them  to  his  cause. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  selected  as  master  in 
chancery  in  many  of  the  leading  cases  in  North- 
umberland county,  a  tribute  to  "his  judicial  qual- 
ifications no  less  than  a  compliment  to  his  sound 
deliberative  judgment.'*  Originally  a  Whig  in 
politics,  lie  became  a  Eepubliean  upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  party  and  supported  its  principles 
the  rest  of  his  life.     He  died  in  1893. 

On  Sept.  21,  1852,  Mr.  Greenough  was  married 
at  Danville,  Pa.,  to  Mary  C,  Baldy,  who  was  born 
there  Sept.  Id.  IS'.'?,  daughter  of  the  late  Peter 
Baldy,  of  Danville,  and  died  May  20,  1910,  at  her 
home  on  Chestnut  street.  Sunbury.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Greenough  had  two  sons.  William  ami  Eben  Wil- 
liam, the  formeT  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  They 
settled  in  Sunbury  immediately  after  their  inur- 
riage,  so  tli.it  Mrs.  Greenough  had  been  a  resident 
of  the  borough  for  almost  sixty  years  at  the  time 
of  her  recent  death,  and  during  the  greater  part 
of  that  time  had  occupied  the  home  near  the  First 
Reformed  church,  where  she  died.  In  her  eighty- 
third  year  at  the  time  of  her  demise,  she  had  been 
in  failing  health  for  some  time,  hut  was  not  seri- 
ouly  ill  until  the  last  three  weeks.  She  was  buried 
in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery.  A  devout  member 
of  St.  Matthew's  Episcopal  Church,  she  was  one  of 
its  most  devoted  workers  and  liberal  supporters, 
and  the  present  prosperity  of  the  parish  i-  due  in 
large  measure  to  her  generosity.  She  built  and 
equipped  the  parish  house  on  South  Fourth  street. 
a-  a  memorial  to  her  husband.  But  her  interest  in 
her  fellow  beings  was  not  limited  to  what  she  could 
do  through  the  church.  Her  charity  and  sympa- 
thies were  broad,  extending  to  all  who  needed  or 
deserved  them,  ami  though  quietly  and  unosten- 
tatiously performed  her  many  good  deeds  will  live 
in  the  hearts  of  the  recipients  for  all  time.  Her 
kindness  and  consideration  made  her  benefactions 
doubly  gratifying  to  the  poor  and  distressed.  She 
was  a  welcome  presence  among  all  classes.  Mrs. 
Greenough  encouraged  many  material  improve- 
ments in  the  borough  by  her  influence  and  sup- 
port and  her  name  will  long  lie  remembered  with 
gratitude  by  all  who  knew  her. 

Ebex  William  Greenough,  son  of  Wil- 
liam T.  and  Mary  C.  (Baldy)  Greenough,  was 
horn  ai  Sunbury  July  3,  18 — .  and  died  there 
April  1.  100."");  b,:.  is  buried  at  Pomfret  Manor 
cemetery.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Uni- 
versity, and  like  his  distinguished  Father  and 
grandfather  entered  the  legal  profession,  practic- 
ing until  his  recent  death.  He  laid  out  the  bor- 
ough of  Marion  Heights,  in  Mount  Carmel  town- 
ship. He  married  Elizabeth  Swann  llewiti. 
daughti  i'  "i  Horatio  Hewitt,  a  native  of  England. 
and  shi  cl  i  ■■'  m  June,  1889.  They  bad  three  chil- 
dren. Mary,  William  11.  and  Suzette  Reeves,  Marv 


and  William  H.  living  with  their  grandmother, 
Mrs.  Greenough,  until  her  death. 

William  Hewitt  Greexotjgh  was  born 
in  Sunbury  March  30.  1884.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  private  schools  in  Philadelphia, 
later  attending  Trinity  College,  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  from  his  youth  has  been  in  active  busi- 
oess  in  Sunbury.  He  has  large  real  estate  hold- 
ing-, in  the  borough,  and  is  associated  with  various 
business   enterprises.      Since   April,   1905,   he   has 

been  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank,     s 

March  20,  1909,  he  has  been  president  of  the 
Sunbury  and  Selinsgrove  Electric  Street  Rail- 
way Company.  He  is  a  member  of  Maclay  Lodge, 
No.  632,  F.  l\:  A.  M.,  at  Sunbury,  and  a  member  of 
the  Temple  Club,  of  which  he  was  the  first  pres- 
ident. Mr.  Greenough  has  one  of  the  finest  law  li- 
braries in  the  county,  having  his  father's,  grand- 
father's and  great-grandfather's  libraries,  a  most 
complete  and  valuable  collection. 

JOHN  McCLEEEY,  late  of  Milton.  -North- 
umberland county,  was  among  the  useful  citizens 
whose  memory  will  Ion-  be  gratefully  cherished 
in  tlh  borough  where  his  entire  life  was  passed. 
Coming  of  a  family  which  had  for  tun  generations 
preceding  him  maintained  its  position  among  the 
leading  influences  for  progress  and  good  in  the 
community,  he  lived  up  to  its  best  traditions,  and 
has  left  a  name  typical  of  the  race  from  which  he 
sprang  and  a  i  redil  to  the  life  he  led. 

The  McCleery  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  Presby- 
terian stock.  The  early  ancestors  left  Scotland  at 
the  time  of  the  religion-  persecutions  and  took 
refuge  in  the  North  of  Ireland.  Michael  Mc- 
Cleery, a  native  of  Coleraine,  Ireland,  came  to 
America  when  a  young  man  with  his  brother  John. 
The  latter  served  as  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  and  was  killed  ai  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
Michael  McCleery  went  first  to  Virginia  and  final- 
ly settled  on  the  Cone-toga,  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.      His   wife'-  name  was  Jeanette. 

John  McCleery,  son  of  Michael  and  Jeanette, 
born  Oct.  13,  17*67,  at  the  forks  of  the  Conestoga 
m  Ear]  township,  Lancaster  county,  grew  up  there, 
attending  the  subscription  school-  in  his  youth. 
When  a  young  man  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits  at  Harrisburg,  whence  early  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  he  removed  to  Milton.  Northum- 
berland county.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  busi- 
'"  --  men  at  that  point,  opening  a  general  mercan- 
tile etablishment  at  the  southeast  corner  of  South 
Front  street  and  Broadway,  and  hi-  business  was 
typical  of  the  times,  his  dealings  in  produce  and 
grain  reaching  large  proportions.  Transportation 
facilities  in  those  days  were  very  primitive,  there 
'in-  neither  canals  nor  railroads,  and  he  shipp 
In-  grain  and  produce  down  the  river  to  market 
in  large  arks  built  for  the  purpose,  trading  them 
for    merchandise    in    the    larger    cities.      Retiring 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  iSTSYLVANIA 


13 


from  merchandising,  he  purchased  a  farm  south 
of  Milton,  which  later  formed  a  part  of  the  Wil- 
liam Cameron  estate  and  is  now  owned  by  J.  C. 
Packer.  He  erected  good  buildings  and  followed 
farming  there  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  June  21 
L851. 

On  Sept.  23,  1802,  Mr.  McCleery  married,  al 
Lytic  Ferry,  Mary  Lytic,  who  was  horn  there 
March  16,  1774,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah 
(Morrison)  Lytle;  the  ceremony  was  performed 
by  Rev.  Nathan  Souden.  Mrs.  McCleery's  pater- 
nal ancestors  were  English,  while  on  the  mater- 
nal side  she  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McCleery  are  buried  in  the  Harmony 
cemetery  a!  Milton.  They  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: William:  Sarah,  hum  Feb.  18,  1805,  who 
married  John  L.  Watson;  Joseph,  born  dan.  10, 
1807  :  dane.  bora  Feb.  I.  1809,  who  married  Rev. 
David  \.  Junkin  ;  Elizabeth,  bora  Sept.  lo.  1811 : 
and  Mary,  born  March  16,  1  si  |,  who  married 
Rev.  Naiiian  Shotwell. 

William  McCleery,  M.  D.,  eldesl  son  of  John, 
was  bora  July  31,  1803,  at  Halifax,  Dauphin  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  a  roung  child  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Milton,  where  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  passed.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  famous  old  Milton  Academy,  then  under 
the  principalship  of  Rev.  Dr.  David  Kirkpatrick, 
which  excellent,  school  was  the  alma  mater  of 
many  I  Vnnsylvanians  who  became  prominent.  His 
higher  literary  training  was  received  at  Washington 
College,  Washington,  Pa.,  and  he  then  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  dames  S.  Dougal,  of 
Milton.  He  completed  the  course  al  Jefferson  Med- 
ical College,  Philadelphia,  graduating  in  1827,  aft- 
er which  he  was  assoi  iated  in  practice  with  his  old 
preceptor  at  Milton  for  several -years.  His  skill 
and  personal  qualities  brought  him  wide  popu- 
larity and  patronage  and  he  continued  in  the  ac- 
tive practice  of  medicine  until  1857,  in  which 
year  he  turned  over  his  professional  interests  to 
his  son.  Dr.  dames  Pollock  McCleery,  who  was 
a  prominent  physician  of  the  borough  for  almosl 
fifty  years,  retiring  in  1905  because  of  poor  health. 
Dr.  McCleerj  lived  in  retirement  for  a  time  alter 
abandoning  his  profession,  taking  a  much  needed 
rest,  hut  his  mind  was  too  energetic  to  find  relief 
in  complete  inactivity.  While  practicing  he  had 
become  interested  in  the  lumber  business,  and  in 
1844  he  erected  the  firsl  steam  sawmill  ever  es- 
tablished on  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
at  Milton,  on  what  is  now  the  site  of  the  Ameri- 
can Car  &  Foundry  Company's  plant.  He  soon 
turned  his  attention  to  the  operation  of  this  mill, 
in  which  he  was  most  successfully  engaged  to  the 
end  of  his  days,  dying  Dec.  4,  1867.  He  was  a 
man  of  enterprising  and  progressive  spirit,  dili- 
gent in  whatever  he  undertook,  and  was  efficient 
in  business  as  he  had  been  in  professional  pur- 
suits.     Tie  occupied   the  brick  residence   which  in 


nine  became  the  home  of  his  son  John  (whose 
widow  now  occupies  it)  and  in  which  he  spent  his 
later  days.  In  political  sentiment  he  was  original- 
ly a  Whig,  becoming  a  Republican  on  the  forma- 
ii if  the  new  partv. 

On  Oct,  2,  1828,  Dr.  McCleery  married 
Margaret  Pollock,  daughter  of  William  Pollock 
and  sister  of  dames  1'ollock.  one  time  governor 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  to  this  union  were  horn 
the  following  children:  Mary,  horn  Sept.  9,  1830, 
married  Joseph  D.  Potts,  ol  Philadelphia; 
dames  Pollock,  horn  Nov.  13,  1832,  was  tor  years 
in  successful  medical  practice  at  Milton;  Sarah, 
horn  Nov.  5,  1834,  is  deceased:  John  is  mentioned 
below;  William  P..  horn  April  27,  1836,  was  a 
captain  in  the  18th  Regiment,  United  States  In- 
fantry, during  the  Civil  war.  and  later  served 
against  the   Indians  on    the   Western    plains,   but 

he  resig 1  his  commission  in  1868,  was  for  some 

time  in  business  at  Trow  Pa.,  and  died  May  31, 
1907,  at  Milton.  Pa.:  Julia  J.,  horn  Oct.  IS.  is  II. 
was  the  wile  of  Gen.  Jesse  Merrill.  The  mother 
of  this  family  died  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
six. 

John  McCleery,  son  of  Dr.  William,  was  born 
April  8,  is:;;,  at  Milton,  and  there  received  his 
early  education,  attending  the  Milton  Academy. 
Later  he  went  to  Tuscarora  Academy,  at  Juniata, 
and  took  the  classical  course  at  Princeton  Uni- 
versity, graduating  in  1S5S.  His  next  few  years 
were  devoted  to  teaching  and  reading  law.  Imme- 
diately after  graduating  from  college  he  became 
assistant  principal  of  the  Milton  Academy  under 
Rev.  W.  T.  Wylie,  and  at  the  same  time  read  law 
with  Hon.  dames  Pollock.  Soon  after  he  Ma- 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  and 
although  he  had  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances, 
with  ever}  promise  of  immediate  success,  he  did 
not  hesitate  about  entering  the  I  nion  ser 
when  the  calls  for  troops  came.  The  Pollock 
Guards  were  organized  at  Milton  under  the  firsl 
requisition,  hut  were  no!  accepted,  the  complemenl 
o!  the  county  having  been  Idled.  A  second  e 
was  made  to  enter  the  sen  ice,  and  on  Mm  1 5, 
1861,  the  companj  lefl  for  Harrisburg,  going  by 
canal  boat.  The}  were  again  <■■}•  i  ted,  and  n 
turned  to  Milton,  bul  having  signified  their  will- 
ingness to  enlist  for  three  years  they  were  as- 
signed i"  the  Reserve  I  lorp  .  and  on  June  L,  1861, 
again  went  to  Harrison  i  the]    « 

tered  in  as  Company  II.  34th  Pennsylvania  (5th 
Reserve)  Infantry,  with  John  McClei  and 
Harry  P>.  Paxton  as  captains.  Captain  Mi 
Cleery  tools  an  active  share  in  all  the  movements 
of  his  command,  which  saw  service  in  the  cam- 
paigns in  Maryland  and  West  Virginia  in 
summer  of  1861,  and  in  the  summer  of  1862 
was  engaged  in  the    i     "    !  '   befori    Rich- 

mond.     He    v  Mei  hanicsi  ille  and  Gaines' 


14 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mill,  June  26  and  27,  1862,  and  in  the  fierce  en- 
counter at  Newmarket  Cross  Roads  (Glendale), 
June  30th,  where  he  was  twice  severely  wounded, 
being  shot  through  the  thigh  and  receiving  seri- 
ous injury  to  his  spine  by  a  fragment  of  shell. 
That  day  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  was  confined  in  Libby  prison,  where  he  re- 
mained until  released  cm  parole,  in  July.  In 
August  he  was  exchanged,  and  in  September  re- 
ported for  duty,  rejoining  his  regiment  near 
Fredericksburg,  Md.  But  his  injuries  and  im- 
prisonment bad  rendered  him  quite  unfit  for  field 
service  and  he  was  ordered  home  for  further  con- 
valescence. Finding  that  his  disability  was,  ap- 
parently permanent,  he  reluctantly  resigned  on 
Nov.  25,  1862.  Later,  however,  as  bis  health 
improved  somewhat,  he  was  mustered  in  as  a  lieu- 
tenant colonel  with  the  28th  Emergency  Regiment, 
at  Harrisburg,  giving  valuable  service  in  that 
capacity  during  the  invasion  of  the  State  in  1863. 

As  a  soldier  Captain  McCleery  measured  up 
to  the  highest  standards  of  efficiency,  bringing  to 
his  duties  such  intelligence  and  good  judgment 
as  to  win  at  once  the  approving  notice  of  his  su- 
perior officers.  Though  firm  in  matters  of  disci- 
pline, he  commended  himself  to  the  members  of 
his  command  by  his  strict  impartiality  and  his 
manifest  interest  in  their  welfare.  In  every  en- 
gagement  in  which  he  took  part  he  gave  convinc- 
ing proof  of  flawless  courage.  His  pleasant  rela- 
tions with  bis  fellow  officers  gave  him  an  enviable 
reputation  for  gentlemanliness  which  he  well  de- 
served ami  which  won  him  universal  respect. 

His  military  service  over,  Mr.  McCleery  re- 
turned home  and  took  up  the  practice  of  the  law. 
in  which  be  was  actively  engaged  until  1891.  His 
energy  and  intelligence  also  found  an  outlet  in 
the  promoting  and  pushing  of  large  enterprises, 
many  of  which  have  been  a  substantial  foundation 
for  the  prosperity  which  Milton  enjoys  .to-day. 
Hi-  influence  and  encouragement  were  sufficient 
to  gather  support  for  a  number  of  the  most  im- 
portant undertakings  in  the  place,  and  thus,  as 
early  as  1864,  be  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Milton  Car  Winks,  with  which  be  was  long  identi- 
fied, lie  was  also  among  the  founders  of  the 
Milton  Rolling  Mills,  a  director  of  the  Milton 
Water  Works,  and  for  years  president  of  the  Mil- 
ton Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  which  was 
organized  through  his  efforts  Feb.  17,  1887.  He 
continued  as  president  of  that  concern  until 
physically  disabled  lor  the  duties  of  the  office,  bis 
injuries  finally  resulting  in  paralysis,  so  that  he 
was  compelled  to  withdraw  from  all  such  activi- 
ties. For  the  last  twenty  years  of  bis  life  he 
suffered  continuously,  but  though  dependent 
throughout  this  long  period  upon  those  around 
him  for  the  slightest  office  he  was  patient,  never 
murmuring  at  bis  affliction  or  its  cause,  though 
he  drew  comfort  from  the  thought  that  his  suf- 


fering was  for  the  good  of  his  country.  His 
death,  which  occurred  Dec.  29,  1907,  at  Atlantic 
City,  was  doubtless  a  happy  relief  to  him,  but  it 
was  a  loss  to  his  family,  his  friends  and  his  com- 
munity which  will  long  be  regretted.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cleery was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  in  political  faith  a  Republican.  Socially  he 
united  with  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  Union  Veter- 
ans' Legion. 

On  June  6,  1866,  Mr.  McCleery  married  Mary 
Helen  Marr,  and  to  them  were  born  two  children, 
Edward  Heber  and  Margaret  Pollock.  Edward 
Heber  McCleery  was  born  July  25,  1867,  in  Mil- 
ton, and  there  attended  public  school  and  a  select 
school  taught  by  Prof.  Elias  Schneider.  Later 
he  went  to  Lawrenceville  Academy,  in  New 
Jersey,  entered  Princeton,  in  the  class  of  188S, 
and  then  entered  upon  his  medical  studies  at  Jef- 
ferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1890.  He  has 
since  been  practicing  medicine  at  Kane,  Pa., 
where  he  has  met  with  the  most  gratifying  suc- 
cess. Margaret  Pollock  McCleery  married  Hazel 
Baldwin,  and  they  reside  in  Corning.  N.  Y.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  Shaw  Baldwin. 

Mrs.  McCleery  still  resides  in  the  old  home  at 
Milton.  She  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Hettie 
L.  (Davis)  Marr.  granddaughter  of  William  Marr 
and  great-granddaughter  of  Joseph  Marr. 

Joseph  Marr  was  born  June  15,  1750,  in  North- 
ampton county,  Pa.,  and  in  1793  came  up  the 
west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river  to  Turbut 
township.  Northumberland  county,  where  be  pur- 
chased of  the  widow-  of  Francis  Turbut  a  tract  of 
739  acres,  a  portion  of  the  estate  known  as  "the 
Colonel's  reward."  It  being  a  choice  piece  of 
land,  be  paid  five  pounds  per  acre.  In  L793  he 
settled  thereon  with  bis  family,  and  there  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  Sept.  3, 
1796.  lie  married  Susanna  Trice,  who  was  born 
April  27,  1754,  and  died  Dec.  27,  L826.  They 
bad  six  children:  Mary,  who  married  Roberi 
Martin;  Hannah,  who  married  William  Hull; 
David;  William,  grandfather  of  Mrs*.  McCleery; 
Joseph;  and  Alem,  a  prominent  attorney,  who 
served  two  terms  in  Congress. 

David  Marr,  father  of  Mrs.  McCleery.  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead.  He  became  a  prosperous 
farmer,  owning  two  tine  farms,  but  later  took 
up  railroad  contracting  and  eventually  became  a 
woolen  manufacturer  at  White  Deer  Mi  IN.  in 
Union  county.  Pa.  He  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
seven.  Mr.  Marr  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Hettie  L.  Davis,  by  whom  lie 
bad  four  children:  Annie  Eliza,  who  married  John 
A.  Grier;  Mary  Helen,  widow  of  John  McCleery; 
William,  who  died  in  infancy:  and  Rebecca,  who 
also  died  young.  By  his  second  marriage,  to 
Harriet  Matchin,  Mr.  Marr  had  five  children: 
William,   Alem.   Brainard,    Alfred   and   Jeanette. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


15 


COL.    GEORGE    B.    CADWALLADER,    now 

living  retired  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  was 
long  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  that  community, 
in  his  earlier  years  in  various  business  relations, 
for  a  number  of  years  before  bis  retirement  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunbury  Water  Company, 
and  for  several  years  in  his  official  capacity  of 
chief  burgess.  He  attained  the  rank  of  colonel 
by  brevet  during  the  Civil  war,  entering  the  Union 
service  as  first  lieutenant  and  rising  by  merit. 
Colonel  Cadwallader  is  a  native  of  Bucks 
county.  Pa.,  born  Oct.  20,  1830,  near  Doylestown. 
Hi-  grandfather  lived  and  died  in  that  county. 
Dr.  Peter  Cadwallader,  his  father,  was  also  born 
there,  died  in  L832  at  Doylestown,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  medical  profession, 
and  is  buried  there,  in  Buckingham  township. 
He  married  Hannah  ML  Magill,  like  himself  a 
native  of  Bucks  county,  and  like  him,  also,  of 
Scottish  ancestry.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty. 
Dr.  Peter  Cadwallader  and  his  wife  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Peter  died  in  infancy;  John, 
who  was  a  millet  and  a  well  known  man  in  this 
section,  lived  in  Montour  county,  hut  died  in 
Sunbury  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  (he 
never  married  :  ho  was  a  well  known  member  of 
i  lie  Masonic  fraternity  here,  belonging  to  Maclay 
Lodge  and  to  the  Knights  Templars);  George 
B.  i>  mentioned  below-;  Mary  died  young. 

George  B.  Cadwallader  spent  his  boyhood  at 
his  native  place  and  there  received  his  early  educa- 
tion, lie  subsequently  attended  the  academy  at 
Danville,  Pa.,  and  having  decided  to  become  a. 
druggist  went  to  Philadelphia  to  take  the  course 
at  the  College  of  Pharmacy  there.  Having  com- 
pleted his  preparation  he  established  himself  in 
tin1  drug  business  at  Danville,  thence  in  is:.;  re- 
moving to  Shamokin,  Northumberland  county, 
where  lie  carried  on  business  as  a  druggist  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  In  April,  1861, 
he  entered  the  Union  army,  and  for  over  five  years 
was  engaged  in  the  service  of  his  country,  bis 
army  record  being  a  notable  one.  Becoming  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  A,  8th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  he  served  three 
months,  in  August,  1861.  re-entering  the  service 
with  the  same  rank  in  Company  K,  46th  Regi- 
ment. Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  Promo- 
tions came  rapidly.  On  Sept.  17,  1861,  he  became 
first  lieutenant  and  quartermaster  of  his  regiment, 
serving  thus  until  duly.  1863,  when  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster,  I 
S.  A.  In  March,  1,865,  he  was  brevetted  major 
and  lieutenant  colonel,  and  subsequently,  for  meri- 
torious service  throughout  the  war,  was  brevetted 
colonel,  with  which  rank  he  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service,  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Sept.  10,  1866. 
He  served  as  quartermaster  of  Williams's  Brigade, 
Army  of  Virginia,  of  the  1st  Brigade.  1st  Division. 
3d  Corps,  Army  of  Virginia,  and  of  the  1st  Bri- 


gade, 1st  Division.  i-.MIi  Corps,  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac; as  post  quartermaster  at  Deehant,  Tenn.. 
and  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  was  in  charge  of  transportation 
during  Sherman's  memorable  march:  in  elm 
of  national  cemeteries  at  Seven  Pines  (Fair  Oaks  I 
and  Hollywood;  in  charge  of  quartermasters' 
depots  at  Cleveland,  Ohio!  and  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia. 

In  1867,  soon  after  the  close  of  his  army  sen  i  e, 
Colonel  Cadwallader  came  to  Sunbury,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  He  and  his  brother 
John  embarked  in  the  flour  and  feed  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  John  Cadwallader  &  Co., 
and  prospered  from  the  start,  operating  three 
mills  at  different  points  in  Northumberland 
county.  The  business  developed  to  large  and 
profitable  proportions.  In  1869  Colonel  Cadwal- 
lader purchased  a  drug  store  in  Sunbury  from 
Dr.  John  G.  Markle  &  Co.,  and  continued  to  carry 
it  on  until  1884,  at  which  time  be  became  general 
superintendent  of  the  Sunbury  Nail.  Bar  and 
Guide  Iron  Company,  manufacturers  of  consid- 
erable importance  to  this  region.  He  retained 
that  position  until  1891,  resigning  to  take  the 
position  of  superintendent  with  the  Sunbury 
Wafer  Company,  with  which  he  was  connected  in 
such  capacity  until  his  resignation,  over  ten  years 
ago.  Though  he  has  relinquished  his  more  active 
responsibilities  he  is  still  associated  with  local 
interests  as  member  of  the  official  board  of  the 
Sunbury  Safe  Deposit  &  Trust  Company,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  original  direi  tors,  having 
been  a  leading  spirit  in  its  organization.  II,  is 
also  president  of  the  Sunbury  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company,  of  which  he  was  a  founder  and 
the  first  vice  president. 

The    Colonel    has    always    held    public-spirited 
ideas   regarding  the  duties  of  citizens   to   proteel 
the  interests  of  the  community,  and   in  his   p 
tion  as  an  influential  business  man  lias  been  able 
to  accomplish  much  of  benefit  to  his  fellow  citi- 
zens.    They  have  recognized   his  efforts   b 
ing  him  to  responsible  public  office,  and  Ins  popu- 
larity  lias  won   him   the  support  of   the   b< 
of  citizens.     In  1881  be  was  elected  chief  burg 
in  which  office  he  served  two  terms,  having  been 
re-elected  in  1889.     In  other  respects  he  has  also 

l ii  a  leader.     For  several  years  be  was  foreman 

of  No.  1  Fire  Company!  He  was  firs!  commander 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  posl  a1  Sunbury.  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Masonii  aging  to 
Lodge  No.  22,   F.  X    \.  M.,  ami   Northumberland 

Chapter,    No.    K  I.    R.    A-    M.       He    is   ;i     I,',    I 

iii  political  sentiment. 

In  1870  Colonel  Cadwallader  married  Mrs. 
Georgiana  ( Markle)  Wolverton,  « bo  died  Maj  9, 
1885.  Two  daughters  were  born  to  this  union: 
Mary  ( '..  who  is  unman  ■   :    it  home  « lib 

father:  and  Anna,  who  married  Simon  P.  Woh 


16 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


ton,  Jr.,  son  of  S.  P.  Wolverton,  and  resides  at 
Sunbury.  Mrs.  Cadwallader's  mother  was  a 
Robin?,  a  member  of  tbe  first  family  to  settle  at 
Sunbury.  The  site  of  the  Colonel's  beautiful 
home,  which  he  erected  in  1883  at  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Market  streets,  was  taken  up  by  the 
Robinses,  and  the  property  is  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive residences  in  Sunbury.  The  General  has 
been  active  in  building  up  the  borough,  having 
erected  several  residences. 

SAMUEL  JOHNSTON  SHIMER.  late  of 
Milton.  Northumberland  county,  was  a  name  that 
-t 1  for  leadership  in  the  manufacturing  activi- 
ties of  that  borough  for  many  years.  For  almost 
forty  years  the  name  has  been  identified  with  the 
most  important  interests  of  the  place  and  its  rep- 
resentatives have  shown  themselves  capable  not 
only  in  the  executive  work  of  the  enterprises  but  in- 

ge us   in    the   technical    requirements,   for  their 

most  valuable  products  are  device-  of  their  own  in- 
vention and  some  of  their  output  has  probably 
attained  a  wider  circulation  than  any  other  indus- 
trial products  of  Milton,  certain  of  their  special- 
tie-  being  used  in  practically  every  country  of  the 
globe.  Samuel  .T.  Shinier,  iong  senior  membi  i '  oi 
the  firm  which  still  bears  his  name,  was  a  citizen 
of  Milton  for  thirty  wears,  during  which  time  he 
did  as  much  as  any  one  citizen  of  the  borough  has 
done  for  it-  business  advancement,  especially 
along  modern  industrial  lines.  The  Milton  Manu- 
facturing Company  has  also  been  owned  by  the 
Shimers  for  over  twenty  years. 

Samuel  Johnston  Shimer  was  born  Dec  3,  1837, 
in  Bethlehem  township,  Northampton  Co.,  Pa. 
His  parents,  Abram  B.  and  Margaretta  (John- 
ston)   Shimer,   were   natives  of  the  sai unty. 

Mr.  shinier  of  German  descent,  Mrs.  Shimer  of 
Scottish  extraction.  He  was  reared  on  the  old 
farm  in  his  native  township,  where  he  began  his 
education  in  the  public  school-,  later  attending 
an  academy  at  Bethlehem.  Upon  leaving  school  he 
engaged  in  fanning.  In  October,  1871,  Mr.  Shim- 
to  Milton,  whither  his  brother  George  had 
preceded  him  in  1869,  and  with  Georg  \pple- 
gate  and  ('.  L.  Johnston  they  formed  the  firm  of 
gate.  Shimer  &  Co.,  which  purchased  a  trad 
en  hundred  acres  of  heavily  timbered 
land  in  Union  county,  Pa.,  for  lumber  operation-. 
They  cut  the  timber  and  manufactured  it  into 
lumber,  which  was  hauled  to  Milton,  the  n 
shipping  point.     Their  operations  were  continued 

until  owe  three  thousand  acres  of  timber  had  1 n 

cut  and  marketed,  when  in  1880,  after  the  Milton 
tire,  the  firm  continued  under  the  name  of  Shimer 
&  Co.,  Messrs.  Johnston  and  Applegate  retiring. 

Meantime,  in  L873,  the  Shimer  brothers  had  in- 
vented and  patented  a  matcher  head  which  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  devices  of  the  cen- 
tury.    In  1872  the  linn  had  establish  d  a  sawmill 


and  small  planing  mill  at  Milton,  at  the 
ore-,  nt  location,  in  the  Third  ward,  and  the  n<  i  i  s- 
sities  of  the  work  there  prompted  the  invention. 
The  plant  had  been  intended  originally  for  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  exclusively,  but  in  tin 
small  machine  shop  came  to  be  run  in 
connection,  and  after  the  destruction  of  the 
establishment  in  the  great  fire  of  1880  it 
was  rebuilt  as  a  machine  shop  for  the 
manufacture  of  cutter  heads  of  their  own  inven- 
tion, and  other  specialties.  The  establisbment  was 
a  small  one  at  the  beginning,  but  energy  and  vigor 
were  back  of  it.  and  tin  owni  -  devoted  their 
and  attention  to  pushing  the  business  with  such 
success  that  it  soon  needed  to  be  enlarged  and  be- 
i  ame  one  of  the  mosl  i  ompletely  equipped  plants 
in  this  section.  The  main  building,  a  two-story 
concrete  structure.  72  x  14f>\  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, is  thoroughly  prepared  for  all  kinds  of  work 
in  this  special  line,  with  engine  lathes,  planers, 
shapers,  millers,  drills,  ei  cetera,  and  in  ano 
building.  3(5  by  315,  two-story  brick,  are  the  lathes 
and  planers  upon  which  the  heavier  product  is 
manufactured.  The  plant  is  equipped  throughout 
for  electrical  transmission  of  power.  The  matcher 
heads  made  here  are  used  in  all  parts  of  this  coun- 
try, as  well  as  in  Australia.  England.  Canada  and 
elsewhere,  having  probably  become  more  widely 
known  than  any  other  single  manufactured  product 
of  Milton. 

In  1884  a  new  plant  was  erected,  in  Northamp- 
ton county,  Pa.,  and  that  year  George  J.  Shimer 
retired  from  the  Milton  business  to  assumi  control 
of  the  new  establishment,  S.  J.  Shinier  becoming 
sole  proprietor  of  the  original  plant,  which  he  con- 
tinued under  his  own  name.  Later  he  took  his 
two  son-.  Elmer  S.  and  George  >..  into  partner- 
ship, the  name  then  taking  its  present  form.  S  J. 
Shinier  &  Sons.  In  the  fall  of  1886  there  was 
established  the  Milton  Manufacturing  Company 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  certain  iron  and 
-  i  I  specialties,  but  the  business  was  unsuccessful 
and  in  the  fall  of  1888  the  plant  was  purchased 
under  Li  asi  tn  Samuel  J.  Shimer  and  his  sons,  who 
reorganized  and  continued  under  the  same  title. 
there  being  then  employed  about  fifty  men.  This 
company  has  since  developed  until  at  present  their 
employees  number  about  eight  hundred  and  their 
manufactured  products  are  distributed  through- 
out the  world. 

In  1889  Mr.  Samuel  J.  Shimer  originated  and 
patented  a  device  for  cutting  nuts  and  washers,  and 
its  production  became  the  chief  work  of  the  Milton 
Manufacturing  I  ompany.  After  some  years  the 
manufacture  of  hoi  -      and  cold  pun.  hed  nuts 

was  commenced.     S.  ,T.  Shimer  &  Sons  still  i 
tinue    the    manufacture    of    cutter    head-,    cutter 
knivesand  bits,  which  are  favorably  known  and  used 
throughout    the    United    State-    and    Canada.      Ir 
has  always  been  the  policy  of  this  concern  to  de- 


V^^^Z  <^£^^ 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


(  AND 

M-IONS 


NORTHUMBERLAND     COUNTY,     PENNSYLVANIA 


17 


Bigu  and  perfect  machinery  especially  adapted  to 
the  manufacture  of  its  products,  and  to  maintain 
the  highest  possible  standards  in  quality — a  policy 
made  possible  by  the  inventive  genius  possessed  by 
the  members  of  the  Shimer  family,  and  by  the  in- 
teresl  they  have  always  kept  up  in  the  perfection 
of  mechanical  devices  generally.  They  are  noted 
for  high-grade  pin. hut-  and  for  irreproachable 
business  standards,  a  combination  which  has 
proved  effective  in  winning  success  of  the  per- 
manent kind.      In   the  death  of   Mr.    Sai il   J. 

Shinier,  which  occurred  June  18,  1901,  Milton 
ln.-i  one  of  her  foremost  citizens. 

Mr.  Shinier  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
the  Milton  Trust  &  Sale  Deposil  Company,  of 
which  he  served  as  vice-presidenl  many  years.  A 
gentleman  of  enterprise,  public  spirit  ami  the  high- 
e-t  integrity,  lie  was  widely  known  ami  universally 
respected. 

(in  Sept.  27,  I860,  Mr.  Shimer  married  Cath- 
arine A.  Stout,  a  native  of  Northampton  county, 
Pa.,  ami  three  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Elmer  S.;  Mary  ('..  wile  .if  William  A.  Eeinen; 
ami  George  S.  Mr.  Shpner  ami  all  his  family 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  lie  was  a 
Republican  in  political  mailer.-. 

Isaac  Stout,  Mrs.  Stumer's  father,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county,  followed  farming  there,  and 
died  dan.  .">.  1857.  lie  married  Catharine  Clemens; 
a  native  of  Bucks  county,  but  like  himself  a  mem- 
ber of  a  Northampton  enmity  family  and  of  Ger- 
man origin.  They  are  buried  at  Bethlehem, 
Northampton  county.  To  them  were  horn  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Frederieka  Amelia,  widow  of 
(diailes  Christian,  i-  now  (1911)  in  her  uinety- 
si\th  year:  Mary  married  Samuel  Reigel ;  Bar- 
bara died  iii  infancy;  Elizabeth  married  William 
Sleekier;  Anna  M.  married  Jacob  Lillie;  Louisa 
E.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  unmarried; 
Dr.  Abraham  served  as  a  surgeon  during  i\ir  Civil 
war:  Lewis  II.  was  also  hi  the  Civil  war,  in  the 
commissary  department;  Catharine  A.  is  the  will- 
ow id'  Samuel  .1.  Shinier,  and  continues  to  make 
her  home  at   Milton. 

Elmer  S.  Shimer,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  J. 
Shinier,  was  horn  Sept.  1!».  1862.  lie  received  the 
greater  part  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
ol'  .Milton,  and  at  the  Milton  Academy  under  Pro- 
fessor Schneider,  and  later  attended  the  Eastman 
Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  X.  Y.  He 
began  work  in  his  father"-  employ,  and  remained 
with  him  continuously,  in  time  becoming  a  mem- 
ber id'  the  linn.  When  the  Milton  Manufacturing 
Company  was  established  by  Ins  father,  in  1886, 
he  became  treasurer  of  the  n>:w  concern,  and  upon 
the  incorporation  of  Samuel  J.  Shinier  &  Sons,  in 
1903,  he  was  made  president.  As  the  executive 
officer  of  this  company  he  holds  an  important 
place  in  the  industrial  'life  of  the  borough,  where 
the  value  of  hi-  establishment  and  its  influence  on 

2 


the  prosperity  of  the  community  are  thoroughly 
appreciated.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Milton  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  is  at  presenl  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  school  hoard.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
in  religious  connection  a  Presbyterian. 

Mr.    Shimer    married     Margarel     S.     Lawson, 
daughter  of  John  and    Elizabeth   (Finney)    Lavi 
son.  and   they  have  had   three  children:    Elizabeth, 
Samuel  J.  and  Harold. 

George  s.  Shimer,  younger  son  of  Samuel  .1. 
Shimer.  was  horn  March  26,  L866,  and  received 
his  education  in  Milton,  graduating  from  the  high 

scl I.     Like  his  brother,  he  has  always  l o  as 

sociated  with  the  Shinier  interests  at  Milton,  and 
upon  the  incorporation  of  Samuel  .1.  Shimer  & 
Sens,  in  1903,  he  became  vice  president  and  treas- 
urer. When  the  Milton  Manufacturing  Company 
was  established,  in  1886,  he  was  made  manager, 
and  in  1901  became  president,  and  he  is  also  a 
director  of  the  Milton  National  think.  Though 
a  man  id'  large  husiness  interest-,  he  ha-  always 
maintained  a  strong  interesl  in  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  borough,  and  he  is  at  present  serving 
as  councilman.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  like  the  resi  of  the  family,  a  Presbyterian  in 
religious  connect  inn. 

Mr.  Shinier  was  married  to  Lihha  S.  Moore. 
daughter  of  John  Moore,  of  Milton,  and  their  fam- 
ily consi-ts  of  three  children:  Miriam  C,  Flor- 
ence E.  and  George  S. 

JOHN  P.  HELFENSTEIN,  of  Shamokin, 
who  i-  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  and  the  man- 
agement "f  various  important  business  interests, 
is  a  native  of  that  borough,  horn  Nov.  26,  L856, 
-mi  of  Charles  P.  and  Caroline  II.  (  Perkins  i  Helf- 
enstein.  In  pursuing  the  legal  profession  and  in 
the  prosecution  of  business  he  is  following  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  immediate  ancestors,  the  Helfen- 
steins  having  been  identified  with  both.  His 
father  and  uncle  were  not  only  eminent  lawyi 
hut  among  the  most  enterprising  leaders  in  the 
developmeni  ol'  the  Shamokin  ami  Trevorton  coal 
Is,  the  introduction  of  railroads,  and  the  pro- 
motion of  many  undertakings  which  marked  the 
beginning  of  modern  industrial  conditions 
only  in  Shamokin  ami  vicinity  bu1  also  through- 
out this  sei  tion  of  Pennsylvania. 

Alter  graduating  from  the  Shamokin  high 
school  in  1872  John  I'.  Helfenstein  attended  a 
Mil,.  -,  hnnl  iii  Shamokin,  Inr  thive  ir;ir-.  his  teach- 
er the  first  year  being  Herbert  La  iduate  of 
Yale,  is;::  i.  and  the  second  year  Charles  y.  Joy 
(  Yale,  is;  I ).  [n  1876  he  entered  5  ale  Coll 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 

p,      \.    in    ]  SMI.    with    honors,    i lediately    tie 

after  matriculating  a1  the  law  si  hnnl  ol  thai  uni- 
versity, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1883.     lie 

was  entitled  to  prai Ian   in  thi   Supi  rior  courts 

of   Connecticut,   and    returning    in    In-    home    in 


is 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Pennsylvania  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  North- 
umberland county  the  following  year,  1884. 
Meantime  he  had  settled  down  to  business  at 
Shamokin,  becoming  superintendent  of  the  Gas 
Company,  which  position  he  held  until  1886,  when 
he  resigned  it  in  order  to  give  more  time  to  his 
professional  interests,  which  were  growing  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  demand  the  greater  part  of  his  at- 
tention. However,  his  time  at  present  is  princi- 
pally occupied  with  the  management  of  his  own 
real  estate  and  that  of  his  fathers  estate,  though 
he  retains  interests  in  different  concerns  includ- 
ed in  the  field  of  public  utilities,  including  the 
Gas  Company,  the  Electric  Light  Company,  the 
Mount  Carmel  Gas  Company  (of  which  he  is 
treasurer),  the  Telephone  Company  and  various 
banks. 

Mr.  Helfenstein  maintains  numerous  social  re- 
lations, being  a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  No. 
255,  P.  &  A.  M.;  Shamokin  Chapter.  No.  264,  R. 
■A.  M. :  Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  77,  K.  T. : 
Bloomsburg  Consistorv  (thirty-second  degree) ; 
LuLu  Temple.  A.  A.  0"  X.  M.  S.,  at  Philadelphia; 
the  Craftsmen's  Club  of  Bloomsburg.;  the  Cresco 
and  Temple  Clubs  of  Shamokin:  the  Livingston 
Club  of  Allentown  :  and  Shamokin  Lodge  of  Elks, 
No.  355.  lie  holds  membership  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  has  served  in  a  number  of  the  church 
offices.  Politically  he  has  been  active  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  having  served  sixteen  years  as  com- 
mitteeman of  his  ward.  Hi'  lias  availed  himself 
iif  many  opportunities  to  show  his  broad  public- 
spirit  on  questions  of  general  interest  and  projects 
affecting  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

In  1883  Mr.  Helfenstein  married  Carrie  At- 
wood  Northall,  daughter  of  John  Northall,  of 
Pottsville.  Pa.,  and  they  had  two  children:  Esther 
('..  now  the  wife  of  Roger  Iv.  "Williams,  of  Cynwyd, 
near  Philadelphia,  and  the  mother  of  one  son, 
Roger;  and  Gretchen  E..  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sis  years.  Mrs.  Carrie  Atwood  (Northall)  Helf- 
enstein died  in  1902.  On  Aug.  12,  1908,  Mr. 
Helfenstein  married  (second)  Helen  C.  Holl, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Holl,  late  of  Shamokin.  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  two  children:  Helen 
Leonard,  on  July  28,  1909,  and  John  Philip,  on 
Aug.  4.  1910. 

HELFENSTEIN.  There  are  few  names  which 
have  more  significance  in  the  history  of  the  de- 
velopment and  opening  of  this  region  than  that 
of  Helfenstein.  The  achievements  of  Judge  Wil- 
liam Leonard  Helfenstein  and  Charles  P.  Helf- 
enstein. brothers,  in  the  promotion  of  the  early 
coal  and  railroad  companies,  the  forerunners  of 
organizations  and  systems  of  such  strength  and 
importance  that  the  history  of  the  State  and  even 
the  nation  is  bound  up  in  their  successful  and 
propel'  administration,  may  rightly  he  classed  as  a 
solid  part  of  the  foundation  upon  which  the  in- 


dustrial prosperity  and  fame  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania  have  long  rested.  Her 
coal  fields  have  constituted  one  of  the  most  val- 
uable sources  of  her  wealth:  and  their  operation 
is  so  closely  associated  with  the  expansion  of  and 
progress  of  railroads  that  the  two  can  scarcely  he 
separated.  From  1819  on  through  the  most  try- 
ing period  of  their  evolution  Judge  Helfenstein 
wa-  at  the  head  of  many  of  the  most  ambitious  en- 
terprises of  the  kind  set  on  foot.  As  time  has 
proved,  he  was  ahead  of  his  generation  in  his  ideas 
and  in  the  possibilities  he  foresaw.  All  his  hopes 
were  not  realized  in  his  own  active  career  in  this 
region.  But  he  paved  the  way  for  those  who  took 
u))  his  work  after  him,  and  he  deserves  the  praise 
of  the  pioneer  in  any  held,  the  man  who  has  the 
courage  to  act  upon  his  convictions.  He  and  his 
brother  withdrew  from  active  connection  with  the 
coal  interests  of  this  section  about  1>872. 

William  Leonard  Helfenstein  was  born 
in  1801  in  Lancaster.  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  son 
of  John  P.  and  Elizabeth  Helfenstein,  ami  grand- 
son of  Pev.  Conrad  Helfenstein.  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Germany  as  a  missionary  of  t1" 
German  Reformed  Church.  William  L.  Helfen- 
stein  was  a  small  boy  when  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  there  he  grew  to  man- 

1 1  and  received  his  education,  graduating  from 

Dickinson  College  in  1823.  Subsequently  he 
studied  theology  at  Princeton,  with  the  intention 
of  entering  the  ministry,  hut  his  health  failing  he 
was  obliged  to  abandon  his  studies,  and  thus  the 
whole  after  current  of  his  life  was  changed. 
Shortly  afterward  his  parents  moved  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  to  which  place  he  accompanied  them.  He 
there  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  Crane,  one 
id  the  eminent  jurists  of  the  Miami  Valley, 
was  admitted  to  the  liar  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession  in  Dayton  for  several  years  quite  suci  i  ■  — 
fully.  Meantime  he  became  prominent  in  the  local 
councils  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  nominated 
him  for  Congress  against  his  old  preceptor,  Judge 
Crane,  and,  though  the  district  had  a  Whig  ma- 
jority of  over  two  thousand,  his  great  personal 
popularity  cut  down  the  majority  to  within  thirty 
votes  of  election.  After  this  favorable  expression 
nl  public  opinion  he  was,  in  1835,  elected  by  the 
Legislature  judge  of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas 
of  the  Dayton  district,  which  position  be  filled  in 
a  satisfactory  manner  for  the  full  constitutional 
term  of  seven  years,  until  1842.  He  then  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Milwaukee,  Vis.,  but  finally 
settled  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  opened  a  law 
office  and  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession 
for  a  few  years.  About  this  time  his  attention 
was  directed  to  the  undeveloped  anthracite  coal 
fields  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  urged  by  some  of  his 
friends  to  undertake  their  development,  he  came 
East  in  1849  and  commenced  the  great  work  with 
which  his  name  is  intimately  connected.     There 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


19 


is  hardly  any  other  one  man  who  did  so  much 
in  this  special  field,  lie  w;i-  1 1  n  ■  principal  pro- 
moter of  the  company  thai  founded  Trevorton  the 
following  year.  He  organized  Erom  time  to  time 
a  number  oi  coal  i  ompanies,  among  them  the  Zerbe 
Run,  Mahandy  Improvement,  Carbon  Run,  Big 
Mountain,  (.urn  Ridge,  Locus!  Gap,  Locus!  Sum- 
mit, and  others,  and  displayed  wonderful  energy 
and  enterprise  in  the  developmenl  of  the  coal  fields 
between  Trevorton  and  Mouni  Carmel.  As  one 
of  the  lir-t  in  appreciate  their  immense  value  he 
became  largely  interested  in  nearl}  all  the  besl 
coal  lands  from  Mouni  Carmel  1"  Trevorton,  and 
these  were  the  basis  of  the  several  coal  companies 
organized  by  him.     He  organized  and  partly  built 

the  railroad   fr Trevorton  to  the  Susquehanna 

river,  being  the   leading   spirit    in  this  lertak- 

ing,  and  laid  out  the  town  of  Trevorton;  he  Ma- 
li li  ading  member  of  the  company  that  purchased 
the  1  »an\  tile  &   Pottsville  railroad  al  sheriff's  sale, 

changed  the  i le  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Sunbury 

railroad,  and  organized  the  company  that  rebuilt 
the  road  and  laid  il  « ith  T  rails ;  he  was  the  1<  ad 
ing  spirit  and  president  of  the  company  that  re- 
habilitated the  line  from  Sunbur;  to  Shamokin, 
built  the  extension  from  Shamokin  to  Mount  Car- 
mel ami  the  branch  to  Locusl  Gap;  he  was  a  mem- 
ber ni'  the  company  that  laid  out  Mouni  Carmel, 
and  was  proprietor  of  tin-  towns  of  West  Shamokin. 
Helfenstein  ami  Gowen  City.  While  president  of 
il,,.    Philadelphia   &   Sunbury   road,  and   eager  to 

carry  the  r I   through  successfully,  he  risked   a 

large  part  of  his  persona]  estate  in  the  enterprise. 
Being  far  ahead  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived, 
his  hop.--  were  not  realized,  and  his  coal  estate 
and  railroad  interests  were  consequently  sacrificed. 
He  then  united  with  his  brother,  Charles  P.,  in  the 
Helfenstein  coal  lands,  and  during  then-  develop- 
ment laid  out  the  town-  of  Helfenstein,  1868, 
opening  a  colliery  there.  Gowen  City,  and  West 
Shamokin,  from  which  enterprises  he  realized  a 
handsome  fortune. 

Judge  Helfenstein  resided  in  Shamokin  and 
Trevorton  up  to  1860  and  then  removed  to  Potts- 
ville. In  1872  he  removed  from  Pottsville  to 
New  York  City  and  purchased  a  residence  al  Mot1 
Haven,  in  die  neighborhood  of  the  metropolis.  He 
subsequently  became  interested  in  silver  and  iron 
ore  mine-  m  the  republic  of  Mexico,  and  spent 
the  remaining  years  of  hi-  life  between  New  York 
and  Mexico.  He  died  of  Mexican  fever  at  Du- 
rango,  Mexico,  in  March,  1884,  in  the  eighty-third 
year  of  hi-  age,  and  his  remain-  were  interred  m 
that  distant  land.  . 

Originally  a  Democrat,  the  . I  edge  m  1861 
united    with   the  Republican  party   and   was   ever 


fterward  an  anient  Republican.     He  was  a  mem- 

er  and    vestryman  of  Trinity   Episcopal   Church 

while    at    Pottsville.    Pa.,    and    superintendent    ol 

their  mission  Sundav  school  at  Fishback,  Schuyl- 


a 
her 


kill  county,  during  hi-  residence  in  Pottsville. 
Judge  Helfenstein  never  married.  Wherever  be 
made  his  home  he  left  a  wide  circle  of  the  warm- 
est admirers  and  friends,  and  bis  death  was  deeply 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  early  impres- 
sions made  upon  his  mind  while  studying  for 
ministry  at  Princeton  influenced  his  whole  after 
life,  and  his  character  was  deeply  imbued  with  the 
most    sincere    religious    sentiments.     He    was    a 

truly  charitable  man.  and  was  a  spontat i-  and 

frequent  contributor  toward  the  support  of  reli- 
gious and  charitable  objects,  lie  was  a  fluent  and 
logical  speaker,  and  was  well  versed  m  the  current 
literature  id'  his  day.     His  lecture  on  Mexico,  its 

mineral  resources,  and   its   | pi     and   their  habits 

and   customs,    delivered    in    Shamokin,    Pottsville 
and  other  places,   was  an   aide  historical   add' 
highly  spoken  of  by  the  local  press,  and  -nil  favor- 
ably remembered  by  his  many  friends  throughout 
the  coal  region. 

Charles   I'.   Helfenstein  was  born  Sept.  1'.'. 
1819,  in  Carlisle.  Pa.,  and  .-pent   most  of  his  b 
hood  in  that  town.     Hi-  family  moved   from  there 
to  Dayton.  Ohio,  whence  he  went  to  Yale  College, 
graduating  from  there  in  1841.     He  subsequently 
read  law  for  two  years  in  the  office  of  his  brotl 
in-law.  Judge  Benjamin  Patton   (subsequently  of 
Trevorton  I.   m   Pittsburg.      In   the   meantime  bis 
family  had    removed    t>>   Milwaukee.   Wis.,  and  he 
ueni    in   that    place  and   entered    the   land   offii  i 
his  brother  Albert.    About  1850    i  to  North- 

umberland county  to  assist  his  brother,  Judge  Hel- 
fenstein, in  his  Trevorton  operations  and  in  the 
development  of  his  coal  lands.  While  in  Trevor- 
ton he  had  charge  of  the  lumber  interests  of  the 
companies  which  his  brother  had  organized,  and 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Jeremiah  Perkins,  who 
U;i>  in  (  barge  of  the  lumber  interests  ol  another  of 
Judge  Helfenstein's  coal  companies.  Mr.  Perkins 
nras  a  native  of  Nev\  Hampshire,  was  oni 
pioneers  of  Northumberland  county,  and  resided 
for  a  number  of  years  in  Sunbury.  In  1^"';> 
Charles  P.  Helfenstein  married  Caroline  H.,  eldesl 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Perkins,  and  settled  in  - 

mo    in.  where  he  lmilt    himself  a   1 in   the 

0f  woods  between  the  eastern  and  western  portions 
0f  the  village,  as  it  then  was.    Hai  ing  in  the  mean- 
time purchased    the   interests   oi    hie   brother 
David   McKnight.  in  the  town  of  Shamokin  and 
surrounding  country,  he  i  ngaged  for  several 
in   the  real   estate  business,  and   was   for  several 
more   years    in    the    lumber    business.      He    also 
turned    his   attention   to   the  developmenl   ol 
Helfenstein  coal  land.-,  and.  in  connection  with  his 
brother  Judge  H'  Ifenstein,  laid  out   the  towm 
Helfenstein  and    Wesl    Shamokin.     Alter  dis 
[ng  of  mosl  of  In-  coal  lands  in   L8'  '  tired 

from   active   business.      He   resided    in    I 
which  he  erected   in    L855  until   Ins  death,  which 
occurred  Feb.  15,  1900,  when  he  was  in  his  eighty- 


•.'II 


XOKTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


first  year.  He  is  buried  in  Shamokin  cemetery. 
His  widow  still  occupies  the  old  home  in  Sha- 
mokin, her  daughter  and  son-in-law,  Rear  Ad- 
miral Forsyth  and  wife,  making  their  home  with 
her.  Four  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Helfenstein:  John  P.,  attorney  at  law  at  Sha- 
mokin: William  L.,  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Trevorton,  also  a  resident  of  Sha- 
mokin; Elizabeth,  wife  of  T.  Pershing,  of  Phila- 
delphia: and  Carrie  A..  Mrs.  Forsyth. 

Mr.  Helfenstein  wa*  actively  interested  in  many 
of  the  institutions  of  his  adopted  home.  He  was 
a  director  of  the  Northumberland  County  Bank, 
vice  president  of  the  Shamokin  Banking  Company, 
a  stockholder  in  the  Shamokin  Water  Company, 
line  of  the  corporators  and  president  of  the  Sha- 
mokin Gas  Light  Company,  and  one  of  the  cor- 
porators of  the  Shamokin  Cemetery  Company,  as 
well  as  the  first  president  of  the  institution.  Al- 
though a  member  of  the  Reformed  Episcopal 
Church,  he  was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the 
erection  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sha- 
mokin and  a  liberal  contributor  to  same.  He  was 
a  Republican  from  the  time  of  the  Civil  war.  but 
never  held  any  political  office  except  that  of  chief 
burgess  ol  Shamokin  for  two  terms.  He  was  one 
of  the  members  of  the  committee  of  creditors  of 
the  Jay  Cooke  estate. 

Rear  Admiral  James  McQueen  Forsyth, 
F.  S.  X..  retired,  has  long  been  well  known  in 
Shamokin,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since  1903. 
He  was  horn  dan.  1,  1842,  on  Long  Island,  in  the 
Bahamas,  British  West  Indies,  son  of  James  and 
Catherine  Ann  (Taylor)  Forsyth.  His  father  was 
a  planter  and  magistrate  in  the  Bahamas,  where 
he  died  in  1855.  In  September,  1853,  James  M. 
Forsyth  came  to  the  United  States,  spending  the 
following  few  years  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
was  graduated  from  the  Central  high  school  in 
ls"»s.  He  went  to  sea  as  a  sailor  before  the  mast. 
seining  as  such  from  1858  to  1861,  when  he 
entered  the  volunteer  navy,  with  which  he  served 
during  the  Civil  war.  On  Sept.  25,  1861,  lie  was 
linted  acting  master's  mate.  He  took  part  in 
the  capture  of  Forts  Clark  and  Hatteras,  Aug.  27, 
1861,  engagements  under  Farragul  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi, the  engagement  with  the  Rebel  ram 
"Arkansas"  and  at  Sumter,  Moultrie  and  other 
fortifications  in  Charleston  harbor.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  acting  ensign.  Sept.  5,  1862,  and  to  act- 
ing master,  Aug.  1.  1864.  Entering  a  competitive 
examination  for  admission  to  the  regular  navy  he 
passed  as  No.  23  of  sixty-five  admitted  out  of 
nine  hundred  competing;  was  made  commanding 
master  March  14.  L868;  lieutenant.  Dee.  18,  1868; 
lieutenant  commander,  May,  1878;  commander, 
March.  1889;  captain,  March  3,  1899;  and  placed 
upon  the  retiree]  list  at  his  own  request,  Sept.  25, 
1901,  after  forty  years  of  service,  with  the  rank 
of  rear  admiral.     He  commanded  at  various  times 


the  TJ.  S.  S.  "Tallapoosa,"  U.  S.  protected  cruiser 
"Baltimore.""  TJ.  S.  armored  cruiser  "Brooklyn"' 
and  U  S.  battleship  "Indiana:"  and  was  chief 
of  the  staff  of  Rear  Admiral  J.  C.  Watson,  com- 
manding the  Philippine  fleets.  1899-1S Ad- 
miral Forsyth  is  sis  feet,  four  inches  in  height. 
and  very  erect,  a  typical  officer  of  the  naval  service. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
the  Xaval  Order  of  the  United  States,  the  G.  A. 
R..  the  Union  League  of  Philadelphia  and  the 
United  Service;  and  as  a  Mason  he  holds  mem- 
bership in  Union  Lodge,  No.  121,  F.  &  A.  M.: 
Shamokin  Chapter;  Shamokin  Commandery; 
Caldwell  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree,  at 
Bloomsburg,  Pa.;  and  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  O.  X. 
M.  S.  In  1873  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  Central  high  school 
at  Philadelphia. 

The  Admiral's  first  marriage  was  to  Mary  .T. 
M.  Perkins,  of  Philadelphia,  the  ceremony  taking 
place  Aug.  1.  1871,  and  they  had  one  son.  Ja 
Perkins,  horn  Aug.  20,  1878,  now  living  at  Con- 
cord, X.  II.:  he  married  Harriet  Gilmore,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Fores  McQueen,  born  dune 
22,  1905,  and  .lame-  Huntington,  born  duly  17, 
1906.  on  (id.  :.  1903,  the  Admiral  married  "(sec- 
ond) Caroline  A.  Eelfenstein,  da .;.  .  the 
late  Charles  P.  Helfenstein,  of  Shamokin.  Pa., 
and  there  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  made'  trips 
to  Shamokin  since  is;:!.  From  1880  to  1885  his 
home  was  in  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania. 

CLAPEXCE  G.  VORIS,  late  of  Milton,  was 
for  years  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  Xorth- 
umberland  county,  where  he  was  in  practice  for 
over  thirty  years.  His  professional  connections 
v:rw  of  the  highest  and  most  honorable  character, 
and  his  achievements  and  methods  were  of  tin. 
kind  that  reflect  credit  on  the  legal  fraternity, 
his  own  high  standards  making  a  permanent  im- 
pression   for   good   on  such   procedures  generally. 

Mr.  Voris  was  born  .Tan.  29,  1851,  in  Danville, 
Montour  county,  son  of  Archibald  Gray  and  Ri  - 
becca  X.  (Prick)  Voris  and  grandson  of  James 
Voris.  His  father,  horn  Nov.  14,  1817,  in  Chil- 
lisquaque  township,  Northumberland  county, 
at  Danville  in  1894.  He  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  by  occupation,  and  in  1840  moved  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  followed  that  business  to  the  end 
of  his  days,  becoming  one  of  the  prominent  citi- 

■  -  of  that  place.  His  wife,  horn  in  the  borough 
of  Northumberland  .Tan.  15,  1815,  died  at  Dan- 
ville Aug.  25,  1887.  Five  of  their  children  grew 
t"  maturity:  Elizabeth  A.  (now  deceased),  Mary. 
Clarence  G.,  Louisa  and  John  G.  The  parents 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which 
Mr.  Voris  served  as  elder. 

Clarence  (..  Voris  was  reared  in  Danville  and 
there  received  his  early  education,  attending  the 
public  schools  and  the  academy.     He  then  em 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


21 


Lafayette  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1872,  after  which  he  read  law  with  Silas  M. 
Chirk,  who  later  served  on  the  Supreme  court 
bench.  Ee  furthered  his  preparation  for  the  law 
at  the  Law  School  of  Columbia  University,  New 
York  City,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Indi- 
ana county,  this  State,  in  the  spring  of  1876. 
In  1871  he  opened  an  office  at  Sunbury,  this 
county,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Northumber- 
land county  Oct.  3,  1877,  and  continued  to  prac- 
tice at  his  original  location  until  dan.  1,  1887, 
when  he  removed  to  Milton.  At  the  new  location 
be  formed  a  partnership  with  Col.  John  McCleery, 
under  the  firm  name  of  McCleery  &  Voris,  and 
the  combination  proved  \en  effective,  the  firm 
receiving  a  large  share  of  the  best  legal  work  in 
tin-  section.     The  Milton  Trust  &   Sale    Deposit 

Company  \\a-  ai ig  their  patrons,  thai  institution 

retaining  their  services  foT  many  years.  .Mr.  A  or- 
is continued  in  successful  and  lucrative  practice 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Philadelphia 
Juh  2,  1909.  He  i-  buried  at  Danville.  In  re- 
ligious connection  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  lie  was 
a   Republican  on  political  questions. 

On  March  28,  1888,  Mr.  Voris  married  Mary 
<;.  Bruner,  daughter  of  Capt.  Charles  J.  Bruner, 
late  of  Sunbury,  a  great-grandson  of  the  noted 
Capt.  John  Brady.  Two  sons  were  horn  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Voris:  Clarence  Archibald,  who  is  at- 
tending Haverford  College,  Haverford,  Pa.,  and 
i  barles  William  I'...  who  is  -till  a  pupil  in  the  pub- 
lic school.  Mrs.  Voris  continue-  to  make  her 
home  in  Milton.  Like  her  husband  she  is  a  mem- 
be]  of  the  Presbyterian  Chun  h. 

CAPT.  CHARLES  J.  BRUNER  (deceased). 
long  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Sunbury,  North- 
umberland county,  was  born  there  tfov.  L7,  1820, 
son  of  Rev.  Martin  and  Mary  (Gray)  Bruner.  the 
former  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  the  latter  of  Sun- 
bury. The  father,  a  clergyman  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  came  to  Sunbury  when  twenty- 
one  vears  old,  moved  thence  to  Hagerstown,  Mil.. 
and 'thence  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  died  in 
1852.  The  mother  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  Captain  I'.runer  was  descended  in  the  ma- 
ternal line  from  the  celebrated  Brady  family,  he 
having  been  a  great-grandson  of  the  noted  Capt. 
John  Brady. 

Charles  J.  Bruner  came  to  Sunbury  to  live  m 
is  in.  He  received  his  literary  education  in  Lan- 
caster, and  received  a  thorough  training  for  the 
lega]  profession,  studying  law  under  Judge  Alex- 
ander Jordan.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Northum- 
berland countv  bar  Jan.  3,  1843.  and  at  once 
opened  an  office  of  his  own  in  Sunbury.  tor  some 
rears  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  professional  career 
he  was  associated  with  Maj.  William  L.  Dewart 
latter  practicing  alone.     He  took  a  prominent  part 


in  the  Civil  war.  responding  at  the  first  call  for 
troops  as  the  leader  of  Company  F.  11th  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  organized  a-  the  Sun- 
bury Guards,  his  command  being  the  first  detach- 
ment of  troop-  to  leave  Northumberland  county 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  April  20,  1861.  lie 
served  about  six  months,  during  which  time  he 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters  and  was 
afterward  in  the  emergency  service  for  a  shorl 
tune,  when  after  the  disastrous  second  battle  of 
Mull  Run  the  Confederate  army  moved  toward  the 
North.  In  this  service  he  was  captain  of  Com 
panv  D.  3d  Regiment,  which  regimenj  was  or- 
ganized Sept.  11-13,  1862,  and  discharged  Sept. 
23-25,  1862. 

Captain  Bruner  was  appointed  collector  id'  in- 
ternal revenue  for  the  Fourteenth  Pennsylvania 
district  by  General  Grant,  and  served  successively 
under  Haves  and  Arthur,  holding  the  office  four- 
teen years  in  all.  He  died  March  15,  1885.  Of  his 
legal  standing  and  reputation,  we  have  excellent 
evidence  in  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  meeting 
of  the  bar  held  at  Sunbury  Monday  March  30, 
1885,  for  that  purpose,  which  we  quote: 

The  bar  of  Northumberland  county,  having  con- 
vened to  take  recognition  of  the  death,  and  to  pay 
some  seemly  tribute  to  the  character  and  memory  of 
the  late  Charles  J.  Bruner.  Esquire,  whose  relations  as 
a  member  thereof  have  always  been  so  honorable,  but 
whose  untimely  decease  it  has  been  so  suddenly  and 
unexpectedly  called  to  deplore,  doth  resolve. 

First,  That  his  spotless  career  as  a  lawyer  while  in 
active  membership  of  this  bar,  his  exemplary  courage 
when  in  camp  and  field,  while  he  served  his  country 
as  a  soldier  in  the  early  and  trying  days  of  the  late 
Civil  war,  his  enviable  record  for  efficiency  and  in- 
tegrity  as  an  cifticer  in  the  civil  service  of  the  Federal 
government  during  the  fourteen  years  or  more  he  held 
the  important  trust  of  collector  of  internal  revenue  for 
the  Fourteenth  district  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  fan 
promise  of  honorable  achievement  on  his  recent  return 
to  ami  renewal  of  active  employment  in  his  profess 
of  the  law.  have  made  his  name  and  character  well 
u  i  irthy  to  be  held  in  active  memory,  and  render  his 
fame  well  worthy  of  perpetuation  among  the  historical 
records  of  our  bar  and  his  virtues  and  achievements  in 
public  and  professional  life  well  worthy  of  righteous 
emulation. 

Second,  That  his  learning,  the  high  order  of  his 
natural  abilities,  his  discriminating  judgment  and  quick- 
ness of  perception,  and  the  noble  virtues  of  In-  public 
and  orivate  life,  have  largely  contributed  to  place  him 
in  high  rank  among  the  just  and  honorable  of  his  pro 
fession. 

Third,  That  by  his  genial  manners,  his  amiable  tem- 
per, his  affectionate  disposition,  bis  generous  impul 
as  wrll  by  his  unswerving  fidelity  in  pure  and  disin- 
terested friendship  as  by  his  kindly  and  beneficent  in- 
fluences in  social  and  professional  intercourse,  he  has 
won  his  way  to  the  -trongest  feelings  and  best  im- 
pulses of  our  hearts. 

Fourth.  That  a  committee  of  four  members  of  the 
bar  be  appointed  to  convey  to  his  family  the  assurance 
of  our  heartfelt  sympathy  with  them  in  this  sudden 
and  great  bereavement,  and  to.  commend  them  in  the 
great  depth  of  tine  'he  strong  staff  tendered 

by   him   "who   tempers   the   wind   to   the   -horn    lamb," 
and   fails  not  to   remember  the   widow  or  the  orphan. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


but  notes  in  tenderness  of  mercy  even  the  fall  of  the 
sparrow. 

Signed,  \\  .    A.    Sober. 
G.   W.   Zeigler, 
Samuel    Heckert. 
P.  L.  Hackexberg. 

Committee. 

Though  Captain  Brunei-  began  life  in  humble 
circumstances,  and  accumulated  whatever  prop- 
erty he  had  through  his  own  efforts,  he  left  a  fair 
competency,  and.  more  than  that,  he  had  always 
been  liberal  in  giving  to  those  less  fortunate  than 
himself.  His  success  never  developed  in  him  a 
greed  for  wealth  or  selfishness  of  any  kind.  Ins 
prosperity  being  to  him  a  welcome  opportunity  to 
gratify  the  impulses  of  a  naturally  kind  and  gen- 
erous disposition.  He  belonged  to  the  Beformed 
Church  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  0. 
0.  F.  The  G.  A.  B.  posl  al  Sunbury  was  named 
in  honor  of  his  brother  William. 

Captain  Brunei-  was  married  June  3,  1852,  in 
Sunbury,  to  Louisa  Weiser,  a  direct  descendant  of 
Conrad  Weiser,  the  noted  Indian  interpretei  so 
prominent  during  the  early  settlement  of  the 
region  around  Shamokin,  at  what  is  now  Sunbury. 
Six  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Mary  Gray, 
now  the  widow  of  Clarence  G.  Voris,  of  Milton; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  when  less  than  a  year  old; 
Louisa,  who  died  when  four  and  a  half  years  old; 
(lull,-,  who  died  when  one  and  a  half  years  old; 
William  W..  who  died  Dec.  7.  1901.  in  Sunbury, 
Pa. :  and  Franklin,  who  died  when  eight  years 

AMOS  ELMAKER  KAPP  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  the  borough  of  Northumberland 
for  over  fifty  years.  In  his  day  he  was  undoubt- 
edly    of  the  best  known  men  in  central  Penn- 
sylvania, particularly  in  the  period  preceding  the 
advent  of  the  railroad,  when  his  connection  with 
stage  liii'-  and  canal  packets,  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Kapp  i-  Calder,  gave  him  an  unusually 
wide  acquaintance.  He  was  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising residents  of  the  borough,  being  the  or- 
ganizer of  the  Fir-t  National  Bank,  a  director  of 
the  Northern  Centra]  .Railroad  Company,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  lumber  firm  of  Kapp  &  Co..  and  in  many 
wavs  identified  with  important  interests  of  vari- 
ous kinds. 

Mr.  Kapp  was  born  Aug.  27,  1809,  in  Harris- 
bur^.  Pa.,  son  of  Michael  Kapp.  one  of  the  pi- 
oneers  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Harrisburg. 
Michael  Kapp  was  born  Aug.  1.  1770,  in  Schaef- 
ferstown,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  at  Harris- 
burg July  1.  1830.  IF'  owned  valuable  property 
in  Harrisburg,  upon  what  is  now  the  Square,  and 
there  did  business  until  his  death.    He  brought  his 

g 1-    from    Philadelphia    by    team.      Mr.    Kapp 

married  Mary  Elmaker,  who  was  horn  May  13. 
1770.  daughter  of  Leonard  ami  Elizabeth  (Baker) 
Elmaker,  and  died  at  Harrisburg  Oct.  28,  1811. 
Two  children  were  born  to  this  union.  Catharine 
and  Amos   F.     The  daughter,  horn   Feb.  8,  1799, 


was  the  first  pupil  to  graduate  from  Linden  Hall 
Seminary,  at  Lititz,  Lancaster  county.  She  never 
married,  and  was  very  well  known  in  Harrisburg, 

where  -1 lained  at  the  old  homestead  until  her 

death,  Sept.  Is.  1880. 

Amos  E.  Kapp  was  born  in  Harrisburg  in  a 
building  which  stood  in  the  northwest  comer  of 
Market  square,  adjoining  the  present  "Bolton 
Bouse."  IF-  -pout  Ins  early  years  in  his  native 
,  nw  .  which  he  loft  Dee.  30,  1832,  for  Northumbi  r- 
land,  making  the  journey  by  stagecoach.  He 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  Immedi- 
ately after  his  arrival,  on  .Tan.  1.  1833.  he  took 
jo  of  the  stagecoach  business  there,  becom- 
ing identified  with  the  famous  old  line  which  car- 
ried passengers  up  and  down  the  river.  Forming 
a  partnership  with  William  Calder  (2),  under 
the  name  of  Kapp  &  Calder,  he  built  up  a  large 
business.  They  had  two  offices,  one  in  Harrisburg 
and  one  in  Northumberland,  Mr.  Calder  looking 
after  the  Harrisburg  office,  and  in  addition  to  car- 
rying passengers  did  an  extensive  business  in  haul- 
ing from  Philadelphia  to  central  Pennsylvania, 
having  as  many  as  one  hundred  horses,  the  best 
that  could  be  obtained. 

When  Mr.  Kapp  came  to  Northumberland  the 
stagecoach  was  the  only  means  of  transportation, 
and  he  and  his  partner  not  only  ran  stages  hut  also 
packets  on  the  canal,  following  this  business  un- 
til they  were  bought  out  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road  Company.  There  were  lew  men  in  this  sec- 
tion who  witnessed  so  much  of  its  progress  as  Mr. 
Kapp,  and  there  were  few  who  had  more  to  do 
with  its  opening  up  and  advancement.  He  organ- 
ized the  First  National  Bank  of  Northumberland 
and  served  as  its  president;  he  was  identified  with 
the  Northern  Central  Railroad  Company  for  mam 
years  and  served  as  one  of  its  directors:  he  was  a<  - 
five  in  the  lumber  business  as  president  of  Kapp 
&  Co.,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  agricultural 
development  of  his  State,  serving  as  president  of 
the  Pennsylvania   State  Agricultural  Society. 

Mr.  Kapp  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  val- 
uable land  in  Point  township,  adjoining  the  bor- 
ough of  Northumberland,  and  there  he  made  his 
home,  dying  on  that  place  Sept.  22,  1887.  It  is 
a  very  fertile  tract  and  under  his  management  was 
kept  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  kept  reg- 
stered  Jersei  cattle,  and  in  many  other  ways  dis- 
played his  advanced  idea-  in  agricultural  lines. 
The  original  house  on  this  farm  known  as  Hum- 
mel's  Inn  was  built  in  1799  and  repaired  in  1852. 
The  barn  was  built  in  1851.  and  at  the  time  of 

-     icction  was  the  largest  barn  in  the  State,  be- 
L00  by  50  feet  in  dimensions.     Mr.  Kapp  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1 S 7 - > . 

i  Mi  Fob.  16,  Is  11.  Mr.  Kapp  was  married  at 
Sunbury,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  to  Margaret  Wigh- 
ington,  who  was  born  Dec.  10.  1818,  in  Mifflin- 
burg,  Union  Co..  Pa.,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catharine    (Youngman)     Wigbington.    and    died 


XOKTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


23 


June  13  L868.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  Clara  M..  Amos  E.  (de- 
ceased), Horace  E.  (deceased),  William  ('.  (de- 
ceased), Maggie  (living  in  New  Jersey,  widow  of 
Samuel  Trump;  she  has  one  daughter,  Margaret), 
Laura  (deceased  in  infancy),  Eelen,  Mary  E. 
(wife  of  Frank  L.  Sheppard,  of  New  York  City. 
general  manager  of  the  United  Railroads  of  New 
Jersey),  Bertha  (who  is  married  to  P.  Leisen- 
ring  and  has  one  son,  Frank),  Annie  (living  in 
New    York  City),  Cameron   (deceased). 

Though  over  half  a  century  elapsed  from  the 
time  Mr.  Kapp  lefi  Harrisburg  until  his  death,  it 
was  his  custom  to  visit  his  Dative  city  yearly  on 
i  in ■  animei  -;n 3  i.i  In-  departure  and  spend  the  day 
with  his  friend,  William  1>.  Boas,  of  Harrisburg, 
who  had  accompanied  him  to  the  coach  when  he 
set  out  in  seek  his  fortune  up  the  river.  He  was 
active  and  energetic  to  the  close  of  his  long  life  and 
interested  in  the  events  of  the  day.  the  social  and 
political .  changes  which  had  taken  place  during 
ins  mature  years  affording  him  much  pleasure, 
lie  was  present  at  the  inauguration  ceremonies  of 
sixteen  di Herein  ".ovornors  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
as  six  of  them  served  two  terms  each  he  attended 
twenty-two  inauguration — a  record  which  few 
citizens  of  the  State  can  equal. 

The  Misses  Clara  and  Eelen  Kapp  lived  upon 
the  home  farm  just  outside  of  Northumberland 
until  July  20,  1909,  when  they  moved  into  the 
borough,  having  sold  the  old  place  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania  Railroad  Company,  the  property  being 
very  desirable  for  yards,  which  were  established 
there  in  that  year.  The  station  known  as  Kapp'-. 
on  the  Pennsylvania  road,  was  named  for  the 
family.  The  Misses  Kapp  are  members  of  the  I ». 
A.  B.  and  active  and  prominent  in  the  social  life 
nf  the  borough,  being  very  hospitable  and  noted  en- 
tertainers. 

FBAMPTON.  The  Framptons  have  been  a 
prominent  family  in  Pennsylvania,  especially  in 
the  early  days  in  Philadelphia,  from  Colonial 
times,  and  some  of  the  descendants  of  William 
Framptoii.  a  Friend  who  was  a  member  of  Penn's 
first  Provincial  council,  are  living  in  Northumber- 
land county  at  iln-  day.  They  are  of  English 
stock. 

In  Burke's  "Genealogical  and  Heraldic  History 
of  the  Commoners  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland" 
the  Frampton  family  of  England  are  spoken  of 
a-  "Frampton  of  Moreton  in  1355.  John  De 
Frampton  was  returned  to  serve  in  that  year  in 
Parliament  for  the  borough  of  Dorchester  in  the 
County  of  Dorset.  His  son  Walter  De  Frampton 
acquired  the  manor  ami  estate  of  Moreton  by  mar- 
riage. It  was  entailed  and  is  in  the  possession  of 
tin-  family  still.  There  seems  to  he  a  William  in 
almost  everv  generation.  Mr.  James  Frampton 
built  the  present  house  at  Moreton  in  1746  mi  the 


site  of  the  aiiinm  mansion,  also  the  church  in 
1776  on  the  site  of  the  former  church.  Ee  dull 
in  1784  and  was  succeeded  fcrj  his  only  son,  the  pres- 
ent James  Frampton  of  Moreton.  Col.  James 
Frampton  served  as  high  -hen  IT  for  the  Count]  of 
Dorset,  in  1793."  They  have  arm-  and  a  crest,  the 
latter  a  greyhound;  the  motto  i-  "Perseverando.' 
The  family  seat  is  at  Moreton  in  Dorsetshire. 

John  Frampton  of  England,  born  m  1581,  was  a 
merchant  and  a  compatn.it  nf  John  Hampden, 
Oliver  Cromwell  ami  other  members  of  the  Par- 
liament which  resisted  the  aggressions  of  Charles 
I.,  ami  founded  the  English  Commonwealth.  Ee 
was  probably  the  grandfather  of  William  Framp- 
ton, the  ancestor  of  the  American  branch.  In 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  and  in  the  Colonial  Rec- 
ords, we  find  numerous  references  to  his  sen  ii 
and  participation  in  important  affairs.  He  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Robert  Turner  (a  prominent 
member  of  Penn's  council),  with  whom  we  fre- 
quently find  his  name  associated  in  public  ser- 
vice. Hi-  business  was  evidently  that  of  merchant, 
as  In-  name  first  appears  in  the  Provincial  records 
in  the  year  tils::,  as  a  merchant  to  whom  certain 
hills  (given)  were  due  for  merchandise:  and 
among  the  proc lings  attending  a  common  coun- 
cil meeting  -March  1.  1683-84,  from  minutes  of 
the  common  council,  City  of  New  York.  1675- 
1  696,  we  Rnd  the  folk™  lie:  : 

"Pursuant  to  an  order  from  the  Mayor  and  al- 
dermen and  common  Council,  bareing  date  the 
23rd  of  Feh.  1683-4  appointing  us  underwritten 
a-  A  Committee  to  make  a  listt  of  all  barques, 
sloopes,  ami  open  boates,  Belonging  to  tin-  Porte, 
and  to  inquire  wt  vessels  are  in  \n-aiv 
foi-  their  Dockage  Joe  returne  this  underwritten  as 
Our  Report  (233)  and  cannot  understand  whal 
vessels  are  iii  Areare.  2  Sloopes — Francis  Rich- 
ardson, Win.  Frampton."  Then  follows  a  lone-  list 
of  other  boats  and  owners. 

In  Xew  York  is  also  found  a  record,  27th  da] 
of  9th  month,  1678,  showing  that  William  Framp- 
ton was  present  at   tin-  marriage  of  George  Mas- 
ters and    Mary  Willis.      |lt<   :      ound    in    Let 
Library,  Yew' York  City.]     At    the   Hall  of   R& 
ords,  New  York  Cilv.  there  are  two  deeds,  both 
lone  documents,  one  from   William    Frampton   to 
Alexander  Farley,  Lib.  XIII,  page  12;  date  oi   in 
strument  Oct.   17,  1681  :  recorded   Ma]    L6,   L684  : 
place   of    residence,    New    York    city:    Merchant. 
The  second  is  from  "Win.  fframpton  A   Elizabeth 
his  wife.  Grantors,  to   Daniel   Putt-.  Grantee.    I" 
Lib..  44th  Page.     Date  of  Instrument,  May  I 
1684.     Recorded  Mm  27th,  1684."    Tl  is 
was  on    \e\\e   street,    a    shori    street    two    bio 
long,   extending    from    Wall    street    to    Exchange 
place.    The  deed  is  dated  thus:  "15th  da]    in  the 
sis  and  thirtieth  year  of  the  reign  of  Sovereign 
l.i, nl  i  hat  Ii  -  ye  2nd  b]  the  grai  e  oi  God  "f  Eng., 
Scot..   Fram  e  <S    1  reland,   I  '  I        aith." 


•.'1 


NOETHUMBEBLAJSTD  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


William  Frampton  was  a  large  landholder  in 
Philadelphia  county,  as  shown  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  where  lists  are  preserved  of  the  first  pur- 
chasers of  lots  in  Philadelphia.  In  a  list  of  those 
purchasing  lots  of  less  than  one  thousand  acres. 
"&  placed  in  the  back  streets  of  the  Front  of  Del- 
aware, beginning  with  No.  5  at  the  South  Side. 
and  so  proceed  north  as  numbered  in  the 
Draught/5  we  find  the  name  of  William  Frampton 
as  purchaser  of  No.  10.  In  a  list  of  "Old  Rights," 
consisting  of  the  first  purchases  of  land  from  Wil- 
liam Peiin.  we  find  the  following:  Under  ■■Wil- 
liam Framton"  the  following  quantities  of  land 
in  Philadelphia  county — "Beturn,  Id  acres,  ".'nd  of 
()«t..  1684";  Warrant.  "500  acres.  13th  day,  1st 
Mo.,  1683";  Warrant.  ••Bank  Lott,  2nd  day  of  6th 
Mo.,  1684"  :  Warrant.  "2  CityLotts,  17th  day  of  1st 
Mo..  1683";  Warrant.  "City  Lott,  17th  day  of  1st 
Mo.,  1683."  In  Backs  county  William  Frampton 
had  a  warrant  for  1,500  acres,  5th  day  of  5th  Mo.. 
1686;  and  in  Chester  county  "Win.  Frampton  iV 
ors"  had  an  order  for  289  acre-.  3rd  day  of  6th 
Mi...  1686.  Besides,  it  appears  that  William 
Frampton  was  the  owner  of  land  in  Kent  county. 
Del.,  and  in  Burlington.  X.  .1.  lie  died  insolvent, 
however,  in  1686,  and  it  would  seem  that  his  death 
was  premature,  and  somewhat  sudden:  had  he 
lived  longer  he  would  probably  not  have  been  in- 
solvent. In  further  confirmation  of  the  theory 
that  his  death  was  rather  sudden  we  have  the  rec- 
ord of  his  nuncupative  will,  •■spoken  before  Sam- 
uel Spicer,  Samuel  Bulkley  at  Phila.,  9th  of  7th 
month.  1686,  Proved  8th  of  9th  month.  1686,  by 
said  witnesses,  Robert  Turner  having  a  knowledge 
of  the  matter.  Release  of  interest  by  Elizabeth 
Frampton.  acknowledged  before  Robert  Turner, 
same  date.  Win.  Frampton,  Robert  Turner.  Win. 
thby.  Io-gi-tri>."  With  the  copy  of  this  nun- 
cupative will  there  is  on  file  the  last  will  and  testa- 
ment of  William  Frampton  made  the  same  date 
and  properly  executed.  There  are  three  seals  to 
the  signature:  (1)  A  Griffin  head:  ('.'I  a  head 
pierced  by  an  arrow:  ( :i  i  a  lion  passant.  Wills 
proved  at  Philadelphia.  [Genealogical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  Vol.  1.  Xo.  1,  dune.  1900;  New 
York  Library — Lennox.] 

Philadelphia  was  laid  out  in  1682,  and  as  pre- 
viously noted  William  Frampton  was  a  memtx 
William  Perm's  first  Provincial  council,  for  the 
governmenl  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  (and 
the  lower  counties,  now  called  Delaware),  and  he 
represented  Kent  county.  Del.,  in  that  council. 
1  luring  tin1  time  he  was  a  member  of  that  body 
Penn  was  no!  in  this  country,  Thomas  Holmes  act- 
ing as  president  of  the  council  alternately  with 
Thomas  Lloyd,  for  a  time,  after  which  the  latter 
presided  altogether.  From  the  time  William 
Frampton  became  a  member  of  the  council  he  was 
invariably  present,  his  name  always  appearing  in 
the  list  of  the  seven  or  eight  members  comprising 


that  body  and  recorded  as  present.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  peace  commissioners  lor  the  county  of 
Philadelphia,  and  was  one  of  the  three  persons 
who  jointly  filled  the  office  of  register  general,  and 
ua-  keeper  of  the  Great  Seal.  In  the  "Colonial 
Records,  Vol.  1.'"  which  contains  the  minutes  of 
the  Provincial  council  of  Pennsylvania  from 
March  in.  1683,  the  date  of  its  first  organization, 
to  Nov.  27,  1700,  we  find  the  following  items  re- 
garding William    Frampton: 

Page  82,  record  of  meeting  12th  of  7th  Mo., 
His-!:  Accounts  and  hills  due  to  "Win.  Framp- 
ton" are  given  from  seventy-eight  persons.  They 
are  for  tobacco,  pork.  Indian  corn,  wheat,  etc., 
chiefly  tobacco. 

Page  94,  record  of  meeting  20th  of  2d  Mo.. 
L683:  "•Wm.  fframpton  being  sent  for  before  this 
board,  his  petition  was  read,  and  it  was  Ordered 
that  dames  Claypoole,  Robt.  Turner.  Jno.  Greene, 
Jno.  done-,  and  Wm.  fframpton,  or  any  two  of 
them,  to  have  the  Keys  &  to  take  into  Possession 
the  estate  in  the  hands  of  John  Yanburson.  and  to 
Inspect  hi-  accts  in  psuance  of  the  same,  and  to 
make  a  returne  distinctly  of  said  goods  &  accts  to 
this  board." 

Meeting  -.'1st  of  12th  Mo..  1683:  "dam,-  Clay- 
pool,  dn,,.  Joanes,  &  Wm.  fframpton  made  their  re- 
turn to  this  board  Concerning  the  Estate  of  John 
VandBorsons." 

"Whereupon  James  Clay] 1  &  Wm.  fframpton 

were  appointed  to  Inspeel  and  make  up  accts  of 
John  Vanborson,  &  to  give  an  aect  of  it  to  this 
board  when  they  make  up  the  Cr.  &  Dr." 

"Wm.  fframpton  makes  a  report  of  the  refer- 
>i  the  Council  covering  estate  of  John  Van- 
borson Lately  deceased." 

"The  provll  Council  Ordered  Wm.  fframpton  & 
Samll  Carpenter  of  this  town.  Marchts.  to  admin- 
ister on  ye  behalf  id'  ye  creditors  and  Heirs  of  Jno. 
Vanborson,  &  to  make  report  of  what  they  doe 
there  in  to  this  hoard." 

Page  127,  meeting  1 -t  day  of  2d  Mo.,  1685: 
Wm.  Frampton  appears  for  the  first  time  as  a 
member  of  the  council.  The  minutes  say  :  "Wm. 
Clark  being  attested  deposeth  that  he  saw  ye  re- 
turne of  the  Sheiritl'  of  ye  County  of  Kent' for  a 
member  of  Councill,  &  he  did  read  in  the  returne 
that  Wm.  fframpton  was  ye  man  Chose  for  the 
membr  of  Councill.'" 

"And  it  being  put  to  the  Question  whether  that 
was  sufficienl   for  him  to  Sit.  past  in  the  Affirms. 

t IVe." 

"Wm.  fframpton  was  this  day  attested  to  keep 
?ei  resy." 

"Ordered  that  Wm.  fframpton.  Phin.  Pember- 
ton  &  John  Cann  doe  draw  up  a  Bill  that  all  pay 
may  be  made  in  kind  ace.  to  contract,  also  that 
they  bring  in  the  Distance  of  takeing  up  of  Ser- 
vants." 

Meeting  4th  day  of  2d  Mo..  1685:  "Ordered  that 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY,   PEXXSYLYAXIA 


Win.  fframpton  draw  a  new  Bill  for  the  Size  of 
Caske  Exported,  and  also  to  be  used  withm  the 
Pro\  ince"  etc. 

"Ordered  that  Jno.  Symcock,  Jno.  ('ami.  Win. 
fframpton  &  Phinehas  Pemberton  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  draw  up  the  former  bills." 

Page  133:  "Richard  Ingelo  CI.  Coney  Appoint- 
ed   for  a   C uittee  Jno.   Symcock,   Wm.   Wood, 

Jno.  Cann,  Phi.  Pemberton,  Win.  fframpton  & 
Tho.  Eolmes,  to  receive  proposals  from  the  As- 
sembly." 

The  council  was  aotified  of  the  death  of  King 
Charles  II.:  council  ordered  that  Richard  Ingelo. 
clerk,  read  a  "publication  of  King  .lames  the  2nd 
as  King."  '1'his  proclamation  is  given,  and  ends 
with  the  words:  •■AND  SO  GOD  SAVE  THE 
KING." 

Page  1  II.  meeting  28th  of  3d  Mo.,  1785:  In  the 
lis!  of  members  noted  a-  present  on  this  date,  the 
same  is  printed  "Win.  Frampton."  Later  it  is 
sometimes  written  "frampton,"  "Framptone,"  and 
"fframpton." 

Page  162,  meeting  6th  day  of  9th  Mo.,  1685: 
"Ordered  thai  James  Claypool,  Robt.  Turner. 
Sam]  Carpenter,  John  Jones,  Win.  frampton,  Pat- 
rick Robinson,  John  Test,  John  Songhors  be  writt 

i"  desireing  them  to  c e  forthwith  to  the  Coun- 

cill,  they  having  urgeni  business  with  them  about 
the  Subscriptions." 

"The  persons  above  mentioned  all  Came  to  ye 
Council!,  where  they  Discoursed  about  ye  subscrip- 
tions. Concluded  amongsi  themselves  to  meet  to- 
gether in  ye  afternoon  to  Consult  about  methods 
how  to  proceed  in  order  to  discharge  their  Obliga- 
tion and  give  in  aee'l  thereof  at  next  Sitting  of  ye 
Councill." 

".lames  Claypool,  Whi.  frampton,"  and  seven 
others,  were  made  "General  Commission  of  the 
Peace  for  the  Count v  of  Philadelphia." 

Meeting  16th  day  of  9th  Mo.,  1685:  Ordered 
that  "ye  Respective  Indian  Kings  he  sent  for  to  the 
Council  with  all  speed  to  answer  their  Complaint." 

Page  163,  meeting  17th  day  of  9th  Mo.,  1685: 
"The  undertakers  of  ye  subscription  Came  to  ye 
Council]  according  to  their  promise  ye  Sixth  fnstt. 
and  Presented  their  Report  with  a  list  of  ye  Sub- 
scribers and  what  Subscribed,  ye  whole  amounting 
to  201,19,2  to  weh  Chris  Taylor  at  ye  board  sub- 
scribed 6.00.00.  The  Council!  Commended  their 
Diligence  and  promised  them  their  furtherence 
&  Assistance  therein." 

Meeting  9th  day  of  11th  Mo.,  1685:  A  new  Com- 
mission for  Kent  County  was  appointed,  as  the 
old  would  not  serve,  inserting  the  name-;  of  "Win. 
Southersby,   Wm.   frampton"   etc.    in   the  list. 

Meeting  1st  day  of  12th  Mo.,  1685:  The  Justic- 
es for  the  County  of  Philadelphia  appeared,  con- 
sisting of  "Wm.  frampton,"  James  Claypool  and 
others.  "Wm.  frampton's  petition  was  read  re- 
questing Removal]  of  j'e  Cave-  before  his  Door, 


he  being  about  building  a  Wharle.  It  was  Grant- 
ed, &  a  fortnights  time  given  for  ye  Removal!  of 
ye  (ioods  out  of  ye  Caves." 

Meeting  5th  day  of  5th  Mo.,  1686:  "Ordered 
that  Robt.  Turner.  Wm.  frampton,  &  Wm.  South- 
ersby take  charge  of  ye  office  of  Register  Gen'll, 
in  as  full  and  ample  a  manner  as  Christop  Taylor 
had  m  his  Lfe  Time." 

Meeting  6th  day  of  5th  Mo.,  1686:  "Commis- 
sion impowring  Robt.  Turner.  Wm.  Frampton,  & 
Wm.  Southersby  to  manage  ye  Register  Genii  of- 
fice of  this  Province  &  Territories,  NAu  Castle 
only  excepted,  was  this  day  signed." 

Page  176,  meeting  1st  day  of  3d  Mo.,  L686: 
"Robt.  Turner  &  Wm.  frampton  were  attested  as 
Justices  of  ye  Peace  for  the  Towne  and  County 
of  Philadelphia,  they  having  had  a  Commission 
Lately  made." 

Page  178,  meeting  11th  day  of  3d  Mo.,  L686: 
"I  "011110111  Ordered  John  Symcock  &  Win.  framp- 
ton to  go  with  ye  promulgated  bills  to  ye  Assem- 
bly." 

"Wni     frampton    having    urgent    business    had 
leave  for  this  day's  absence." 
_  Page   179,  meeting  12th  day  of  3d   Mo.,   1686: 

■  petition  of  ye  frenchmen  sent  over  by  

Bellases  was  Read  Complayning  agl  Bellases 
agents  for  not  performing  ye  Contract  between 
Bellases  &  ye  frenchmen:  11  was  Ordered  \t  Arth 
Cook  John  Symcock  Robt.  Turner  Win  frampton 
should  Examine  and  Redress  the  same  with  all 
K\  ped  ition." 

Pages  189-190:  On  the  3d  .lay  of  the  7th  Month. 
1686,  council,  after  a  morning  session  in  the  usual 
place,  adjourned  for  an  afternoon  session  "al  Robt 
Turner's  house"  "he  being  sick."  "Wm  frampton" 
is  recorded  as  being  present  at  both  sessions,  this 
being  hi-  last  recorded  attendance  (evidently  be 
ing  ill). 

Page  !!'-">.  "Ai  a  meeting  of  Council]  in  the 
Conn. -ill  Bouse  ye  I8tb  9th  Mo.  L686,  I'.  M.": 
"The  Commission  upon  ye  Death  of  Wm  frampton 
"i  ye  persons  Commissioned  for  ye  manage- 
ment of  ye  Registry  office  etc.,  il  was  unanimously 
[word  missing?]  that  ye  (.cull  Registry  be  pro- 
posed to  the  acceptation  of  .lame-  Claypoole  Senr 
having  lately  Requested  ye  same;  Upon  his  con- 
soiit  thereunto,  a  Commission  !"■  Drawne  i"  lm- 
powre  him  to  act  therein  During  ve  Govrs  Pleas- 
ure." 

Meeting  30th  day  of  the  l-t  Mo.  1687,  P.  M  : 
"Returne  of  Kenl  Count}  send  returning  Griffith 
Jones  to  serve  in  Provl]  Council]  the  Remaining 
part  of  the  line-  Wm  Frampton  Deceased  was  to 
have  served;  signed  •  Obligation  a  took  his  place 
in  \  e  ( 'ouncill." 

The  friend-'  records  referring  to  William 
Frampton  sliov  1  hal  lie  was  presenl  ai  a  monthly 
Hireling  in  Philadelphia  Itlt  Mo.,  3d,  1684,  when 
he  was  appointed   with  others  to  have  chargi    0 


36 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


building  a  meeting-house  for  the  accommodation 
of  Friends.  8th  Mo.,  7th,  1684,  he  was  appointed 
with  another  to  take  the  account  of  what  is  col- 
lected for  poor  Friends  and  give  information  to 
next  meeting.  12th  Mo.  3d,  Friends  belonging  to 
the  meeting  were  desired  to  meet  at  William 
Frampton's  house  "to  consider  what  to  do  in  rela- 
tion to  poor  Friends."  12th  Mo.,  9th :  It  is  agTeed 
that  subscriptions  for  the  poor  be  paid  to  Wm. 
Frampton,  "who  is  to  pay  it  to  whom  the  meeting 
shall  order."  He  was  also  appointed  with  others 
to  assist  the  poor  in  providing  work  for  them.  etc. 
3d  Mo.,  1th.  His;,:  William  Frampton  "acquaint- 
ing the  meeting  that  he  is  going  to  divide  his 
bouse  and  desires  Friends  that  some  other  place 
be  considered  anil  provided  against  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  he  and  others  were  appointed  to  provide 
such  a  place  etc."  He  is  also  appointed  at  this 
meeting  to  prepare  a  certificate  for  certain  Friends 
who  were  about  to  remove  out  of  the  Province.  He 
is  also  desired  "to  speak  to  poor  Friends  that  are 
like  to  lie  in  want  ami  that  they  advise' them  the 
properest  way  Eoi  the  getting  of  a  livelihood."  3d 
Mo.,  5th,  1686,  In'  is  named  with  another  to  see 
about  tlir  money  rights  of  a  certain  child:  3d  Mo., 
3d.  appointed  on  a  certain  property  matter;  4th 
Mo..  7th,  he  is  desired  to  pay  out  certain  money 
belonging  to  the  Meeting.  This  entry  of  4th  Mo., 
7th.  1(186.  is  the  last  one  relating  directly  to  him, 
and  it  appears  that  he  must  have  died  soon  after- 
ward, for  in  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  7th  Mo., 
'.'I  ih.  1686.  the  following  minute  was  made:  A.  B. 
"is  appointed  by  Friends  to  go  to  the  widow 
Frampton  and  get  those  books  that  belong  to 
this  meeting,  which  her  husband  had  in  his  cus- 
tody."'  Elizabeth  Frampton  is  mentioned  as  hav- 
ing been  appointed  on  certain  matters  of  busi- 
ness  in  the  meeting  on  the  meetings  held  12th  Mo., 
35th,  1686.  1st  Mo..  35th,  His;.  3d  Mo.,  29th. 
1687.  and  3d  Mo..  27th.  1687. 

In  William  Penn's  "Further  Account"  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  published  in  1685,  he 
mentions  the  fact  that  he  has  built  a  brick  house 
to  "encourage  others  and  that  from  building  in 
wood."  lie  adds:  "many  have  brick  houses  now 
going  ii]i  with  good  cellars."  He  enumerates  hous- 
es built  by  Arthur  .Cook,  William  Frampton. 
John  Wheeler,  and  others,  on  Front  street  chiefly. 
He  says:  "All  these  houses  have  balconies." 

The  "History  of  Philadelphia  County"  says: 
"Robert  Turner's  brick  house  on  Front  and  Arch 
Streets  was  1  milt  in  1685."  The  history  says  fur- 
ther: "Bristol  Township  adjoined  Bucks  Co.  hav- 
ing Taeony  Creek  on  the  east,  and  Germantown 
south  and  west  of  it.  The  lands  in  this  township 
were  taken  up  by  such  men  as  Samuel  Carpenter. 
Richard  Townshend,  William  Frampton,  Samuel 
Benezet,  Griffith  Jones,  etc." 

William  Frampton  married  Elizabeth,  sister  of 
Mary,  wife  of  Philip  Richards,  but  as  we  find  no 


record  of  his  marriage  it  was  presumably  lost  or 
destroyed,  as  be  was  too  prominent  a  man  for  the 
record  not  to  have  been  made.  His  widow  re- 
married, as  in  the  meeting  held  8th  Mo..  36th, 
1688.  Richard  Basnet  or  Bassnett  and  Elizabeth 
Frampton  declared  their  intentions  of  marriage. 
Elizabeth  was  desired  "to  make  what  reasonable 
provision  she  could  for  her  children  before  the  next 
monthly  meeting."  9th  Mo..  13th,  the  Friends 
finding  nothing  to  obstruct  their  marriage  set 
them  at  liberty  to  accomplish  it  "according  to  the 
good  order  of  Truth."  No  record  appears  to  have 
lieen  preserved  of  their  marriage  certificate, 
though  there  is  the  following  record:  "At  the 
Philadelphia  monthly  meetina;.  Elizabeth  Framp- 
ton to  Richard  Bassnett,  9th  Mo.,  30th,  1688." 
|  There  must  he  another  record.] 

Thomas  Frampton.  son  of  William,  married  an 
Ellis,  first  name  unknown,  who  was  probably  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Ellis  of  Burlington.  N.  J. 
They  had  three  children:  John.  Hannah  (who 
married  David  Price)  and  another  child,  name  un- 
known. [The  death  of  a  Thomas  Frampton.  10th 
ilo..  37th,  1726,  is  mentioned  among  tin-  Friends' 
records.  | 

John  Frampton,  son  of  Thomas,  lived  and  died 
in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  in  Derry  township, 
near  the  town  of  Carlisle,  which  was  then  little 
more  than  a  trading  post.  He  owned  a  farm.  He 
married  a  Critchfield,  first  name  unknown,  and 
they  had  sons:  William,  John,  Samuel.  Nathaniel 
and  Arthur,  who  have  numerous  descendants  in 
various  parts  of  the  country.  One  of  Nathaniel's 
descendants  became  a  Mormon.  John.  Arthur 
and  Samuel  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  as 
members  of  the  "Cumberland  County  Rangers." 

William  Frampton,  son  of  John,  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful  and  wealthy  farmer  of  Mifflin  county.  Pa., 
living  near  what  is  now  Lewiston.  He  married  a 
Staley,  and  died  in  1820.  in  Clarion  county,  when 
over  eighty  years  old.  and  is  buried  near  Church- 
ville,  in  that  county.  Previous  to  his  time  the 
family  had  all  been  Quakers,  but  be  became  a 
Baptist,  and  all  his  numerous  descendants  have 
clung  to  that  faith.  He  had  an  only  son.  David, 
and  several  daughter-,  whose  descendants  are  num- 
erous. 

David  Frampton,  -on  of  William,  born  nei 
Lewistown,  Pa.,  removed  to  a  farm  near  Reids- 
burg,  Clarion  Co..  Pa.  He  married  Hannah  Lo- 
haeh.  who  was  of  Holland-Dutch  lineage,  and  they 
had  son~  Samuel.  William.  Abraham.  Jonathan. 
David  and  Reid.  and  a  number  of  daughters. 

Samuel  Frampton,  son  of  David,  born  in  1810. 
died  in  18s;.  II,.  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  resid- 
ing near  Clarion,  Pa.  He  married  Eveline  Rey- 
nolds, granddaughter  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
and  of  Scotch  and  English  descent.  They  had 
children:  Richard:  Thomas:  Byron  Hays:  and 
several  daughters,  one  of  whom.  Ida.  is  the  wit,   oJ 


\ ORTB  I'M  BERLAND  ( IOUNTY,  PEN  \ SYLVAN  1 A 


■r, 


J.  S.  Wrightnour,  D.   I>..  a  graduate  of  Bucknell 
University,  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Byron  Hays  Frampton,  of  Clarion,  Pa.,  young- 
est son  of  Samuel,  married  Nellie  Mohney,  and 
they  became  tin-  parents  of  three  children:  James 
Villiard  (who  was  a  siiid.Mii  at  Bucknell  Univer- 
sity), Samuel  and  Romaine. 

JOSEPH  DEPPEN.  though  one  of  the  oldest 
citizens  id'  Mount  Carmel,  is  still  one  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  in  that  borough,  and  is 
probably  one  of  tin-  best  known  men  in  Northum- 
berland county.  As  pBoprietor  for  a  number  of 
years  of  the  "Deppen  House"  of  Mount  Carmel,  lie 
came  in  contact  with  manj  citizens  of  the  locality 
in  his  earlier  days,  and  at  one  time  he  owned  most 
of  the  ground  now  included  in  the  borough  lim- 
its, lie  was  the  organizer  of  the  Mount  Carmel 
Savings  Bank  and  has  been  engaged  in  tin-  real 
estate  business  fur  many  years. 

Mr.  Deppen  was  born  Dec.  '.'.  isdL  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county,  near 
Greenbrier.  His  parents.  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Snyder)  Deppen.  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  Louise,  who  married  Dr. 
Reuben  Muth;  George,  horn  in  1836,  at  Locust 
Gap,  this  county,  who  married  Mary  Mertz  (he 
lives  in  Herndon,  Jackson  township )  ;  Joseph  ;  and 
Alexander.  In  1844  the  parents  took  their  family 
out  tn  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  making  the  journey  by 
wagon.  The  trip  was  a  remarkable  "tie.  always 
remembered  with  interest  by  all  the  family.  They 
took'  up  farm  land,  hut  nut  finding  conditions  fa- 
vorable returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  1846  and  lo- 
cated at  County  Line,  Lower  Mahanoy  Township, 
Northumberland  county.  In  the  spring  of  1848 
Abraham  Deppen  bought  land  at  Greenbrier  where 
he  followed  farming  and  tanning,  selling  this 
place  in  1  s r»  1  and  In.  at  in-  at  Mahanoy,  now  Peel 
Cross,  near  Herndon.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  pur- 
chased the  well  known  island  opposite  Herndon, 
where  the  family  lived  for  a  period  of  fourteen 
years.  It  was  during  this  time  that  the  bridge  was 
built  connecting  the  i-dand  with  the  shore  at  Hern- 
don, and  Joseph  Deppen  was  the  first  to  drive  a 
horse  over  the  bridge.  It  was  torn  down  about 
1875.  During  the  time  the  Deppen  family  lived 
on  the  island  occurred  the  disastrous  flood  of 
1865.  From  March  17th  to  March  81st  the  is- 
land was  all  under  water  and  the  Deppen  family 
had  to  live  in  the  barn  for  a  week,  during  which 
the  floating  sawlogs  entered  the  second-story  win- 
dows of  the  dwelling  house.  The  flood  was  one 
of  the  worst  which  have  visited  this  district  and 
the  Deppens  lost  nearly  all  their  possessions.  In 
1866  they  moved  to  Herndon  and  rented  the 
island.  Abraham  Deppen  died  Aug.  13,  1890.  his 
wife  Nov.  5.  1868. 

Joseph  Deppen  attended  an  old  pay  school  typ- 
ical of  the  times.    It  was  located  in  Dauphin  coun- 


ty, near  the  Northumberland  county  line,  and  was 
held  in  the  building  of  a  gristmill.  The  grinding 
of  grain  and  the  grinding  of  an  education  occurred 
at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  seats  or  ben<  i 
were  arranged  in  a  circle  around  the  teacher,  each 
pupil  with  his  or  her  hack  toward-  the  instructor. 
When  the  family  moved  from  near  Greenbrier  and 
located  near  Herndon  the  old  Trevorton  railroad 
was  in  process  of  construction,  and  In-  found  em- 
ployment on  the  job.  After  attaining  hi-  major- 
ity he  was  in  the  droving  hnsiness  for  three 
ami  itt  tin:'  mercantile  business  at  Herndon  for  two 
years.  From  L867  to  1869  he  was  in  business  with 
his  brother  George  at  Herndon.  Pa.,  in  April.  1869, 
locating  in  Mount  Carmel.  with  which  place  lie  has 
-line  been  identified.  For  fifteen  years  after  set- 
tling here  he  "was  engaged  in  conducting  the  "Dep- 
pen House,"  now  known  a-  the  "Commercial,"  and 
after  abandoning  that  line  of  business  was  devoted 
principally  to  real  estate.  He  at  one  time  owned 
most  nf  the  ground  mi  which  Mount  Carmel  is  sit- 
uated, and  he  sold  his  property  off  in  lots,  making 
a  success  of  his  transactions,  which  have  covered 
many  years.  In  1872  he  organized  the  Mounl 
Carmel  Savings  Bank,  which  began  business  at 
his  hotel  April  !».  1ST v :  Amos  Vastine  was  pt 
nleiit  nf  this  institution.  Upon  the  expiration  of 
the  hank's  charter  the  stockholder-  discontinued 
business  and  a  new  institution,  now  known  as 
the  Union   National  Bank,  was  formed. 

Mr.  Deppen  was  not  only  prominent  in  business 
\:iii  also  in  the  public  life  of  the  borough,  which 
lie  served  as  treasurer,  as  treasurer  of  the  council, 
and  a-  school  director.  In  all  his  relations  with 
his  fellow  men  he  gave  evidence  of  public  spirit 
ami  an  intelligent  insight  into  local  needs  which 
made  him  a  valuable  public  servant. 

On  Sept.  ;.  1867,  Mr.  Deppen  married  Eva 
Elizabeth  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eva 
Elizabeth  (Weiser)  Hoffman,  of  Jordan  town-hip. 
Northumberland  county.  Mrs.  Deppen  died  dune 
17,  1896,  ami  i-  buried  al  St.  Peter's  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  in  Jackson  township.  She  was  a 
lifelong  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  which  Mr.  Deppen  and  their  children 
joined  Nov.  3,  1890,  He  is  a  Democrat  □  pol 
faith.  Four  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  ami  Mr-. 
I  leppen  :  (1)  Lizzie  E.  is  al  home,  i '.'  i  Marx- 
Ada  married  Dr.  V.  D.  Raker,  of  Shamokin, 
was  at  one  time  treasurer  of  Northumberland 
county,  and  lhr\  had  lour  children,  Conrad  Joseph 
Moses,  Ralph  Edward,  Susan  Eva  and  Alma  Eliz- 
abeth. Mt>.  Raker  died  Maj  8,  1898.  (3)  Josi 
Henry  is  mentioned  belon .  (4)  Gertt  tide  -lane 
i-  at  home.  Mr.  Deppen  resides  with  his  daugh- 
ters ai   Xos.  L09-]  US  l    testnul  street 

Joseph  Henri   1  >eppi  \.  - >f  Joseph  I  leppen, 

(vas  born  I  >»     1".  1874,  at   Mount  Carmel.  and  r 

received   hi-  preparatory   "dm  ation.     Ei 

oil  from  the  hij  a  1893,  an  i  ntly 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


attended  the  business  college  at  Shamokin.  gradu- 
ating in  18D4.  For  two  years  he  was  secretary  for 
Judge  Voris  Auten,  in  1890  entering  Bucknell 
University,  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  graduating  in  1900, 
with  the  degree  of  Sc.  B.  Thereafter  he  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Auten,  and  was  admit- 
ted t«i  the  bar  of  Northumberland  county  Dec.  29, 
1902.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice  in 
Mount  Carmel,  his  office  being  at  No.  32  North 
Oak  street.  Mr.  Deppen  has  won  high  standing 
at  the  bar  as  a  lawyer  of  thorough  training  and 
reliable  intelligence.  Tie  has  established  an  ex- 
cellent practice,  which  is  being  steadily  augmented 
by  reason  of  his  conscientious  attention  to  all  the 
work  intrusted  to  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  At  the  present  time  lie  is  treas- 
urer of  the  Mount  Carmel  school  district  and  is 
now  completing  the  last  year  of  his  third  term  as 
school  director. 

TRUMAN  HARVEY  PURDY  was  born  June 
•.'<;.  1830,  in  the  village  of  Purdytown,  Wayne  Co.. 
Pa.,  and  died  April   i,  1898,  in  Sunbury,  of  which 

place  he  had   I n  a   citizen    I'm'  thirty-six  years. 

The  measure  of  his  influence  upon  that  community 
and  upon  the  various  other  communities  with 
which  his  interests  were  linked  cannot,  however. 
be  expressed  in  a  simple  statement  of  time.  One 
whose  versatile  abilities  brought  him  into  con- 
tact with  many  phases  of  the  progressive  period  in 
which  he  lived,  whose  diversity  of  talents  made 
him  known  to  almost  every  elass.  he  had  a  well- 
rounded  career — a  life  unusually  well  spent  and 
lived  close  to  high  ideals.  His  professional  work 
as  journalist,  lawyer  and  writer  won  him  high  rep- 
utation and  popularity  and  gained  wide  recogni- 
tion of  his  mental  attainments;  in  the  years  of 
his  early  manhood  he  was  a  successful  political 
leader;  throughout  his  mature  life  lie  displayed 
rare  business  qualities,  his  accomplishments  in  the 
way  of  industrial  development  showing  a  degree 
of  foresight  and  executive  faculties  of  surpassing 
strength.  He  prospered  in  his  business  operations, 
which  were  not  confined  to  Sunbury.  his  inter- 
ests in  Sunbury  being  extensive  and  importanl 
to  the  evolution  of  thai  place  into  a  modern,  pro- 
gressive city;  and  in  association  with  J.  B.  Ewing 
he  founded  the  town  of  Steelton,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  retained  large  interests. 

Mr.  Purdy  was  a  son  of  Harvey  and  Ruth 
( (  Hark  i  Purdy,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  born, 
respectively,  in  Wayne  and  Lackawanna  counties. 
They  traced  their  ancestry  in  this  country  back 
to  Colonial  days.  The  father  died  Nov.  9,  1847, 
aged  forty-six  years,  the  mother  Dec.  31,  1852,  at 
the  age  of  forty-eight.  They  had  a  family  of  four 
children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely: 
Drusilla,  Myron  E.,  Truman  Harvey  and  Dr.  Na- 
thaniel ('.,  the  last  named  of  Allenwood,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


Truman  H.  Purdy  spent  his  youth  at  Lewis- 
burg,  Union  county,  and  there  received  his  early 
education,  also  attending  Madison  Academy  at 
Factiiryville.  He  took  the  collegiate  course  at 
Lewisburg  University.  Leaving  that  institution 
about  18"iS.  he  was  for  the  next  three  years  en- 
gaged in  newspaper  work  at  that  place,  having 
established  the  Union  Argus,  a  weekly  Democratic 
paper,  which  he  edited  until  induced  to  move  to 
Sunbury  in  1861.     In  the  stormy  days  preceding 

tl utbieak   nf   the   Civil   war   when   party  lines 

meant  much,  the  need  of  a  Democratic  newspaper 
was  felt  at  Sunbury.  and  selling  out  his  interests 
at  Lewisburg  Mr.  Purdy  founded  the  Northumber- 
land County  Democrat,  with  which  he  was  associ- 
ated, as  editor  and  proprietor,  until  the  winter  of 
1866-67,  meantime  publishing  also  the  German 
Democrat,  which  went  out  of  existence  upon  his 
retirement.  At  the  time  of  his  death  the  following 
paragraph  appeared  in  the  Democrat,  which  is  still 
one  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  this  section: 
"(Mi  this  page  is  announced  the  death  of  Hon.  T. 
11.  Purdy.  of  Sunbury.  He  was  the  founder  of 
this  paper.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  Democrats,  and 
never  wavered  in  support  of  the  principles  of  his 
party.  During  the  war  he  suffered  for  opinion's 
sake,  but  he  was  as  unbending  as  the  sturdy  oak. 
lie  died  as  lie  li\ed.  true  to  himself,  his  family  and 
friends  and  all  humanity.  We  deeply  mourn  the 
death  of  our  friend  and  benefactor."  Such  was 
the  opinion  his  successors  were  able  to  voice  after 
a  lapse  of  over  thirty  years,  when  time  had  shown 
the  wisdom  and  integrity  of  his  conduct  of  that 
paper  in  its  early  days.  Under  his  management 
the  paper  grew  in  circulation  from  three  hundred 
to  thirty-five  hundred.  Reference  was  made  to 
tin-  stanchness  of  his  Democracy.  Always  a  zeal- 
ous worker  in  the  councils  of  his  party  as  an  or- 
ganizer or  in  meeting  during  the  period  of  his 
active  association  therewith,  he  was  a  forceful  in- 
fluence in  its  local  triumphs.  In  1862  he  made 
sixty-live  speeches,  and  at  the  election  that  year 
the  party  had  one  thousand  majority  as  against 
sixty-four  in  1861.  He  was  elected  to  represent 
his  district  in  the  State  Legislature  twice,  serv- 
ing in  1864-65  and  1865-66,  but  thereafter  bore 
no  working  part  in  political  affairs. 

Throughout  his  career  as  a  newspaper  man  Mr. 
Purdy  bad  been  engaged  in  the  study  of  law.  which 
he  began  before  establishing  the  Argus.  He 
studied  at  Lewisburg  under  Judge  Bucher.  and 
continued  his  studies  at  Sunbury  under  Alex- 
ander Jordan,  being  admitted  to  practice  in  1866. 
When  he  disposed  of  the  Northumberland  County 
Drill, urn/  in  the  winter  of  1866-<i7  it  was  to  have 
all  his  time  for  the  practice  of  law.  in  which  he 
was  most  successful.  In  1881  he  was  the  choice 
of  the  Demoqrats  of  the  county  for  president 
judge,  but  -was  defeated  for  the  nomination  by 
the  -I i'  overconfidence  of  his  friends." 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


29 


From  the  early  sixties  to  the  close  of  his  life  he 
was  prominent  in  the  development  of  industrial 
enterprises  of  various  kinds,  a  field  in  which  his 
executive  ability    had    ample  scope.      Be  was  not 

afraid  to  trust  to  his  foresight  in  real  estate  in- 
vestment.-, and  thus  in  1863  he  purchased  much  of 
the  laud  upon  which  what  is  now  Hast  Sunhurv  is 
located,  reserving  a  piece  of  about  two  and  a  half 
acres,  upon  an  elevation  overlooking  the  town,  for 
the  site  of  his  own  residence.  He  built  several 
houses  there  at  a  time  when  there  were  only  one  or 
two  other  buildings  on  all  the  ground  which  now 
forms  ahoiit  a  fourth  of  the  entire  greater  Sun- 
hurv. His  own  palatial  home,  built  some  twenty 
years  before  his  death,  was  sold  to  the  Mary  M. 
Packer  hospital  organization  at  the  time  the  fatter 
body  was  formed. 

In  1876,  in  association  with  -I.  I!.  Ewing,  Mr. 
Purdy  purchased  mariy  acres  of  land  adjoining  the 
growing  town  of  Steelton,  a  venture  which  proved 
highly  profitable.  A  lew  years  later  ho  started  an 
addition  to  Lewisburg,  when  he  built  the  nail  and 
forge  works  and  a  furniture  factory,  being  presi- 
dent of  the  Lewisburg  Furniture  &  Planing  Mill 
Company,  treasurer  of  the  Lewisburg  Mail  Works 
and  a  director  of  the  Lewisburg  Steam  Forge.  He 
was  tin-  organizer  and  for  many  years  manager  and 
treasurer  of  the  Sunhurv  Gas  Company.  Public 
improvements  of  all  kinds,  those  changes  neces- 
sary to  keep  a  community  abreast  of  the  material 
progress  of  tin-  clay,  always  received  his  encourage- 
ment ami  support,  hut  he  was  particularly  favor- 
able to  projects  affecting  the  advancement  of  pub- 
lic education,  and    the  establishment  of  the  high 

scl 1  at    East   Sunhurv  was  due  principally  to  his 

influence. 

Mr.  Purely  had  literary  gifts  of  a  high  order. 
and  though  a  busy  man  never  neglei  tod  his  intel- 
lectual pursuits,  in  which  he  found  his  keenest 
pleasure.  TTis  historical  oration.  "Sunhurv."  de- 
livered ai  the  centennial  celebration  duly  4.  1872, 
"a  delicious  hit  id'  local  history,  colored  with 
the  master  hand  of  one  who  dearly  loved  his  sub- 
ject."  was  published  in  pamphlet  form  and  widely 
read.  It  is  "a  most  interesting  and  exhaustive  pen 
picture  of  the  town'-  history  from  the  time  it  con- 
tained but  a  \'v\\  cabins  up  to  the  time  of  the  cen- 
tennial. It  was  the  only  authentic  history  of  Sun- 
hurv ever  prepared  and  delivered."  His  "Legends 
of  the  Susquehanna"  is  rich  in  charming  verse,  in 
which  the  lore  and  the  legends  id'  the  Indian  in- 
habitants id'  the  region  are  beautifully  told  :  an- 
other work,  "Doubter,"  a  long  poem,  a  religious 
argument  of  great  depth,  was  also  published  in 
hook  form,  hut  is  now  out  of  print.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  had  in  preparation  a  novel,  which 
never  reached  the  press. 

Though  gentle  in  disposition,  and  tolerant  of 
the  opinions  of  others.  Mr.  Purdy  was  noted  for 
his  unyielding  defense  and   advocacy    of  what    he 


believed  to  he  right,  and  he  had  the  courage  of  his 
convictions  on  any  question.  This  trait  was  espe- 
cially noticeable  during  the  Civil  war  period.  His 
greatest  political  activity  was  at  a  time  when  party 
differences  often  came  between  the  besl  'if  friends, 
and  though  he  himself  was  unswerving  in  his  al- 
legiance to  the  standards  of  his  party,  men  who 
had  been  his  strongest  political  opponents  became 
his  warmest  personal  friends  and  admirer-.  His 
true  nature  appealed  to  intelligent  men  of  all 
minds.  This  characteristic  marked  his  relations 
with  his  fellow  men  throughout  life,  and  his  sup- 
port was  often  solicited  when  an  able  and  influen- 
tial champion  was  needed.  It  is  seldom  that 
traits  conducive  to  success  in  so  many  lines  are 
combined  in  one  man.  or  that  talents  so  diversified 
are  so  well  employed.  His  name  will  he  revered 
in  many  circles  for  years  to  come.  Mr.  Purdy  is 
buried    in   Pomfre.t   Manor  ( emetery. 

On  Dec.  19,  1861,  at  Lewisburg,  Mr.  Purdy 
married  Mary  E.  James,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr. 
Robert  E.  dames  and  sister  id'  Robert  E.  dames, 
the  latter  of  Easton,  Pa.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  anil  lived  at  Centerville, 
Northampton  county,  where  he  died.  Four  chil- 
dren were  horn  to  Mr.  anil  .Mrs.  Purdy:  (1)  Rob- 
ert Harvey  died  in  Infancy.  (".')  Carrie  M.  is  en- 
gaged in  missionary  work  under  the  auspices  of  the 
MetliodistChurch. having  since  1895  been  located  at 
Pueblo.  Mexico,  where  she  has  charge  of  130  ifirls. 
(3)  Truman  J.  received  his  early  education  in  the 

public   and   select    scl Is  id'   Sunhurv.  graduated 

from  Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg,  and  after 
a  course  of  law  study  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  i-  now  engaged 
in  legal  practice,  lie  has  been  particularly  suc- 
cessful  as  a  counselor  in  corporation  law.  and 
holds  rank  among  the  leading  junior  practitioners 
at  the  Northumberland  county  bar.  (I)  Hiram 
L.,  who  lives  with  his  mother  at  Sunbury.  received 
In.-  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
borough  and  was  graduated  from  Bucknell  I'ni- 
versity.  He  is  a  civil  engineer  bj  profession  and 
one  of  Sunbury's  enterprising  young  business  men. 

YAM  ALEN.  The  Van  .Mens  have  pla.yed  so 
important  a  part  in  the  prosperity  of  the  borough 
of  Northumberland  for  the  past  forty  years  and 
more  that,  no  mention  of  its  industries  would  he 
complete  without  the  record  of  their  achievements. 
Throughout  this  period  their  establishmenl  has 
been  one  of  the  mainstays  of  the  place,  for  m 
times  id'  financial  depression  it  has  been  kept  run 
QJng  for  the  benefit  of  employees  when  other 
plants  closed  rather  than  operate  at  a  loss.  \i 
present  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  find 
profitable  employment  with  the  Van  Alen  Com- 
pany. 

T)ie  first  of  the  Van  .Mens  in  America  emigrat- 
ed n,  this  country  from   Holland,  settling  in  do 


30 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


lumbia  county,  N.  Y.  There  was  born  his  son 
Gilbert,  who  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his 
life.  The  latter  married  Annis  Moore,  of  Colum- 
bia county,  and  they  had  two  children,  Reuben  and 
Catherine.  The  daughter  married  John  J.  Van 
Volkenburg,  a  farmer  and  merchant  of  Columbia 
county. 

Reuben  Van  Alen.  son  of  Gilbert,  followed 
farming  and  merchandising  at  Chatham  Center^ 
Columbia  count}',  N.  Y.,  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1S'?T  he  moved  to  Salisbury  Mills,  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y..  where  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  paper,  continuing  in  that  line  for 
many  year?.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
superior  business  ability.  The  closing  years  of 
his  life,  after  his  retirement  from  business,  were 
spent  with  his  son  Timothy  at  Danville,  Pa.,  where 
lie  died.  He  married  Mary  Oakley,  daughter  of 
Timothy  and  Sallie  Oakley,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  Gilbert  P.. 
Timothy  0.,  Sallie  0.  (who  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen years)   and  Lewis  0. 

Timothv  0.  Van  Aim  was  born  in  Chatham 
Center,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  10,  1819.  and 
there  passed  his  early  years.  He  was  ten  years  old, 
in  1829,  when  his  father  employed  a  private 
teacher  for  him,  for  two  years,  and  at  the  age  of 
twelve  he  entered  the  academy  at  Kinderhook,  Co- 
lumbia county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  studied  for  two 
years,  during  that  period  residing  with  the  fam- 
ily of  Dr.  Henry  Van  Dyke.  Subsequently  he  re- 
turned to  Orange  count}',  N.  Y..  where  he  ; i t 
ten, lei!  tee  school  of  Nathan  Stark,  at  Goshen,  "tie 
year.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  served  as  apprentice  in  a  hardware 
store  until  1839.  Returning  home,  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  paper  and  agricultural  imple- 
ment? and  in  the  mercantile  business  with  his 
father,  continuing  tint-  lor  five  years. 

Tn  1811  he  went  to  Danville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa., 
to  represent  the  Murdock,  Leavitt  Company  in 
the  Montour  Iron  Works,  acting  as  resident  asjent 
of  that  company.  Tin1  same  year  he  built  at  Dan- 
ville what  was  afterward  known  as  the  "company 
-tore.'"  and  in  1846  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  association  with  individual  stockhold- 
i  i  -  of  the  company,  under  the  firm  name  of  T.  0. 
Van  Alen  &  Co.  In  1866,  in  company  with  George 
M.  Leslie  and  A.  H.  Voris,  Mr.  Van  Alen  built 
a  nail  factory  at  Northumberland,  Northumber- 
land county,  establishing  a  business  which  has 
since  been  one  of  the  features  of  the  industrial 
life  of  The  place.  At  the  time  it  was  opened  the 
mill  contained  five  puddling  furnaces,  one  coal 
heating  furnace,  and  fifteen  nail  machines.  In 
1872  Mr.  Van  Alen  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Voris.  and  in  188fi  that  of  Mr.  Leslie.  He  then 
enlarged  the  plant,  putting  in  five  more  puddling 
furnaces,  one  thirty-ton  Smiib's  gas  heating  fur- 
nace and  thirty-eight  more  nail  machines,  bring- 


ing the  annual  capacity  up  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  kegs  of  cut  iron  and  steel  nails. 

In  1891,  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Timothy  0. 
Van  Alen.  his  five  sons  took  the  business,  which 
they  continued  until  the  plant  was  destroyed  by 
lire  in  L894.  In  that  year  three  of  the  brothers, 
Cornelius  G..  Gilbert  R.  and.  Edmund  G.,  with 
William  B.  Waples  purchased  the  mill  property 
of  Taggarts  &  Howell,  and  rebuilt  the  mill,  open- 
ing it  for  business  in  May.  1895.  That  year  the 
Van  Alen  Company  purchased  the  plant  of  the 
Keystone  Forge  Company,  located  at  Elizabeth- 
town.  Lancaster  Co..  Pa.,  and  moved  it  to  North- 
umberland; this  plant  is  now  owned  by  the  mem- 
bers  of  the  Van  Alen  Company,  [saac  Cornwall 
ami  .1.  D.  Weekes.  In  1908  the  Van  Alen  Com- 
pany devoted  the  entire  mill  to  forge  work  and  the 
manufacture  of  nail  products,  in  which  they  give 
employment  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
This  establishment  has  been  one  of  the  thriving 
interests  of  Northumberland  throughout  its  ex- 
istence, bringing  prosperity  to  owners  and  em- 
ployees alike. 

Mr.  Timothy  0.  Van  Alen  always  took  an  \u  I 
interest  in  his  home  town.  Danville,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  for  many  years. 
He  kept  his  business  in  operation  through  periods 
of  financial  depression  as  well  as  in  prosperous 
times,  and  the  appreciation  of  In-  generous  policy 
was  shown  in  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  all  classes  held  him.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Danville,  and  he  served  many  years  as  a  trustee  of 
the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  that  place. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  acted  as  president  of  the  boai 
trustees  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1816  Mr.  Van  Alen  married  Miss  Anne 
Catherine  Garretson.  daughter  of  Cornelius  Gar- 
retson,  an  ironmaster  of  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  and 
their  union  was  blessed  with  eight  children: 
Cornelius  G.,  Gilbert  1.'.  (deceased  in  infancy), 
Gilbert  R.  (2),  Alexander  Oakley  (bom  1850,  died 
1893).  Edmund  G.  (deceased  in  infancy),  Ed- 
mund G.  CM.  Mary  A.  (died  young i  and  George 
L.     Of  these  Edmund  G.  married  Margaret  Bibby. 

Cornelius  G.  Van  Alen.  horn  Sept.  25,  1846,  is 
vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dan- 
ville, and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  borough 
council.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian^ 
Church.  He  married  Marion  Beveridge.  of  New- 
burgh.  N.  Y.,  and  to  them  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren. Thomas  B.  (deceased),  Marion  B.  (married 
J.  D.  Weekes  and  lias  two  children.  Rachel  and 
Marion).  Catherine  B.  (married  John  E.  Van 
Devender),  Henrietta  (deceased).  James  S.  (mar- 
ried May  Peters  anil  has  one  child.  Charles),  Gil- 
bert  B.  and  George  L.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died,  and  Mr.  Van  Alen  has  since  married  the 
widow  of  his  brother  Alexander  0.  Van  Alen. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


31 


Gilbert  K.  V\\  Ai.ia  was  bom  Sept.  10,  1848, 
in  Danville,  .Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Timothy  0. 
Van  Alen.  Ee  married  Frances  Withington, 
daughter  of  M.  J.  D.  and  Elizabeth  G.  (  Forsythe) 
Withington,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Timothy  <>.  and  Eelen  W.  Mr.  Van  Alen 
was  the  first  eminent  commander  of  Mount  Her- 
mon  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  of  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county. 

JOHN  FREDERICK  SCHAFEER,  of  Sun- 
bury,  is  considered  one  of  the  foremost  legal  prac- 
titioners of  his  section  of  Northumberland  county, 
where  as  boroi  o  citor  for  Sunbury  from  1899 
to  L907,  and  since  in  the  capacity  of  corporation 
Lawyer,  he  has  taken  pari  in  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant litigation  of  recent  years.  His  success  in 
a  number  oi  involved  and  notable  cases  has  gained 
him  high  reputation  and  enviable  standing.  Mr. 
Sehaffer  was  born  in  Sunbury  Sept.  •.'('),  1st;;.  -,,u 
of  John  F.  and  Sarah  A.  (Houghton)  SchafEer, 
and  i-  a  great-grandson  of  Jacob  Sehaffer.  The 
I  a  null    name  is  now  frequently  spelled  Shafer. 

Jacob  Sehaffer  was  born  at  a  small  town  called 
Soffensburg,  on  the  border  line  of  Germany  and 
Switzerland,  about  three  miles  from  the  city  of 
Basel.  Eis  father  was  in  the  silk  business  in 
Soffensburg,  where  he  lived  and  died.  His  chil- 
dren, besides  Jacob,  were  Frederick  and  Hans 
(John  ).  neither  of  whom  came  to  America.  Fred- 
erick fought  under  Napoleon,  serving  as  one  of 
his  bodyguard,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  died  on 
the  island  of  Corsica.  The  other  brother,  Hans, 
lived  at  Soffensburg  and  corresponded  with  his 
brother  Jacob  after  the  latter  settled  in  America, 
his  letters  being  now  in  the  possession  of  his  great- 
niece..  Catherine  Rowland.  Jacob  Sehaffer  also 
fought  in  Napoleon's  army,  for  seven  years,  leav- 
ing the  army  after  receiving  a  serious  wound  in  the 
chest,  lie  Mas  married  in  Germany  to  Catherine 
D.  Fossinger.  who  was  born  May  8,  1771.  al 
Frankfort,  and  they  came  to  this  country  in  1801 
with  one  daughter,  Catherine,  who  died  when  two 
years  old.  shortly  after  their  arrival  here.  They 
settled  in  Reading,  Pa.  The  other  children  of 
this  couple,  all  horn  in  this  country,  were:  Sam- 
uel, born  in  Reading  in  1S05,  who  died  Nov.  1  I. 
1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Charles  Evans  cemetery  in  Reading  (he 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  being  one  of  the  oldest 
soldiers  who  enlisted  in  the  Union  service,  and 
was  a  corporal  in  Company  H,  31st  Regiment, 
Stale  Militia)  :  John,  the  grandfather  of  the  pres- 
ent John  F.  Sehaffer:  Frederick,  who  .lied  young  : 
and  Anna,  who  married  Levi  Wunder  and  died  in 
Reading. 

John  Sehaffer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Read- 
ing and  early  in  life  learned  the  trade  of  tailor, 
which  he  followed  in  that  city  all  his  life,  be 
ing  very  well  known  in  that  connection.     He  died 


11    Reading  al nt  1859.     Mr.  Sehaffer  was  quite 

active  in  the  Democratic  party  in  his  day.  giving  of 
bis  tune  and  means  to  help  desirable  men  to  local 
positions,  and  he  was  a  leading  member  of  and 
worker  in  the  Reformed  Church,  serving  as  supi  r 

intendent  of  the  Sunday   scl I.      Hewn-    twici 

married,  and  by  his  first  wile,  Louisa  Wmckler, 
had  a  family  of  four  children:  John  F. :  Francis, 
who  died   luinir.  Catherine  E.,  who  married   Cm 

iel  W.   Rowland    (she  is  the  only  ( of  her  <;eri- 

eration  now  living,  and  supplied  the  information 
concerning  the  early  generations  used  in  tin-  ai 
tide;  she  lives  in  Reading);  and   Anna  I...   who 

died    Voll  112'. 

John  F.  Sehaffer  was  bom  Aug,  3,  L834,  in 
Reading,  and  therein  his  youth  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  under  his  father's  instruction.  In  1855  he 
located  at  Lewisburg,  Union  Co..  Pa.,  when 
followed  merchant  tailoring  until  1864,  and  then 
returning  to  Reading  remained  there  until  his 
moval  to  Sunbury,  in  the  spring  of  L865.  There 
lie  was  in  business  until  hi-  death,  which  occurred 
Aug.  '■'•.  L878,  and  be  is  buried  in   Pomfret   Manor 

ce leiv.      He   prospered    well    in    his   work.    . 

ing  employment  to  a  number  of  people,  and  was 
also  an  artist  of  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
About  is."")-.1  be  was  married  at  Lewisburg  to  Sar- 
ah A  Eoughton,  daughter  id'  .lame-  Eoughton,  of 
Lewisburg,  ami  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  namely:  Anna  M.,  who  is  unmarried: 
lima  II..  born  in  1862,  who  died  in  L866 ;  John 
Frederick;  and  Helen  L.,  born  jn  1872,  who  died 
in   1892. 

John  Frederick  Sehaffer  grew  t<>  manhood  in 
Sunbury  and  received  his  education  in  (lie  public 
schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  L884. 
He  then  became  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  register, 
recorder  ami  clerk  of  the  Orphans3  Court,  at  Sun- 
bury,  under  George  D.  Bucher,  and  also  served 
under  his  successor,  Orias  Bloom,  until  August, 
1887.  That  year  be  went  West,  spending  about 
three  years  in  California.  Colorado  and  Arizona. 
For  a  short  nine  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of 
an  abstract  and  title  compan}  al  Co-  ijngeles,  later 
finding  employment  as  cashier  with  Fred  Earvey, 
the  celebrated  proprietor  of  ;i  chain  of  restaurants 
from  Kansas  City  to  San  Bernardino,  Cab.  for 
whom  be  worked  at  four  different  points,  San 
Bernardino,  Cab.  Williams.  Ariz..  Needles,  Cal., 
and    La. I  unfa.    Colo.      Before    going    West    Mr. 

Sehaffer  bad  passed  the  prelii arj   examination, 

and  on  his  return  to  Sunbury,  in   May,  L890, 
took  up  the  reading  of  law-  under  lion.  John  B. 
Packer,  a  distinguished   practitioner  of  that   bor 
ough.     Mr.   Packer  d\  ing  in    1891,  be  completed 
!n-    studies    under    George    lb    Reimensnyder,    a 

prom ni  lawyer  of  Sunbury,  finishing  the  course 

in  Januarv,  L89  i.     He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  m 

December  of  that  year.     Meantime  Mr.   Si 

had  entered  the  office  of  the  prothonotary,  S.   I'. 


32 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,,  PENN SYLVANIA 


Fausold,  under  whom  he  served  three  years  as  chief 
clerk.  Alter  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  remained 
in  the  office  of  his  preceptor  for  a  year  and  a  half, 
in  May,  1896,  opening  an  office  of  his  own  in  the 
Masser  building,  where  he  has  since  been  located. 
From  1899  to  1907  Mr.  Schaffer  was  solicitor  for 
the  borough  of  Sunbury,  and  as  such  successfully 
defended  a  number  of  suits  for  the  municipality. 
He  is  now  the  legal  representative  of  the  Sunbury 
&  Northumberland  Electric  Railway  Company  and 
the  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Company  of 
Sunbury,  which  has  the  first  plant  installed  by 
Mr.  Edison  personally,  he  having  superintended 
its  construction,  the  installation  of  all  machinery, 
etc.  As  the  attorney  for  the  Sunbury  &  Northum- 
berland Electric  Railway  Company  Mr.  Schaffer's 
most  important  work  was  in  connection  with  the 
injunction  suit-  instituted  againsl  the  corporation 
by  liny  Webster,  acting  for  the  Sunbury  &  Selins- 
grove  Electric  Railway  Company  and  the  hoi-  _ 
of  Sunbury.  In  both  instances  the  Sunbury  & 
Northumberland  Company  scored  a  complete  vic- 
tory. After  failing  in  the  injunction  suits  the 
prosecutors  made  application  to  the  attorney  gen- 
eral for  a  quo  warranto  proceeding  in  the  Dauphin 
county  courts,  but  the  matter  was  never  brought 
to  an  issue.  It  was  largely  through  Mr.  Schaffer's 
efforts  as  attorney  for  the  Sunbury  &  Northumber- 
land Company  that  the  bridge  over  the  north 
branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  between  Sun- 
bury  and  Packer's  Island,  was  constructed,  in 
1910.  Be  i-  a  valued  counselor  and  an  authority 
whose  opinion  commands  general  resp 

(»n  .huii'  20,  1906,  Mr.  Schaffer  married  Ger- 
trude Lindsay  Gervin,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
.lain-  M.  (Brown)  Gervin,  late  of  Northumber- 
land, and  they  have  had  one  daughter,  Helen  Jose- 
phine. Mr.  Schaffer  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  but 
In-  takes  ii"  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  party. 

CHARLES  C.  LEADER,  of  Shamokin,  North- 
umberland count}',  is  connected  with  so  many  1ms- 
iness  interests  in  that  city,  of  private  and  public 
importance,  that  his  name  is  synonymous  with  all 
that  represents  its  progress  and  well-being.  As 
merchant  and  hanker  he  lias  been  a  leader  in  the 
business  life  of  the  city  for  years.  As  promoter, 
;1  !, holder  and  officer  of  important  financial  in- 
stitutions his  name  ami  reputation  have  given  the 
confidence  needed  by  such  concerns  at  the  outsi  i  oi 
their  career  and  they  in  turn  have  benefited  the 
community  and  increased  its  possibilities  of  ex- 
pansion and  sound  development. 

Mr.  Leader  was  horn  July  13.  1843,  in  Alsace 
township.  Berk-  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Edward  Leader. 
and  grandson  of  George  Leader,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Montgomery  county,  this  State.  The 
grandfather  removed  to  Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  resided  until  the  time  id'  his  death. 


Edward  Leader,  father  of  Charles  C.  Leader,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  died  in  1859  in  Al- 
sace township,  Berks  county,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years,  and  he  is  buried  at  Alsace  Church.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Catherine 
Snyder,  his  second  Hettie  Wanner. 

Charles  C.  Leader  was  reared  on  his  fathers 
farm  in  Berks  county,  and  there  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  local  schools,  having  also  the  advan- 
tages nf  niie  year's  study  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa., 
before  he  commenced  work.  In  1860  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  general  store  of  A.  .1.  Medici',  in 
Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  was  employed  for 
about  three  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  removing 
with  his  employer  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where  he  con- 
tinued with  him  as  clerk  I'm-  three  wars  more. 
Returning  to  Schuylkill  Haven  in  1  s ( ; r> .  he  opened 
a  -tore  of  his  own,  carrying  a  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, and  remained  there  ten  years,  doing  re- 
markably well.  However,  feeling  that  lie  had  ex- 
hausted the  possibilities  in  that  line  at  Schuylkill 
Eaven,  he  resolved  to  try  his  sue.  es  -  here,  and 
in  1875  lie  established  himself  at  Shamokin.  where 
he  has  continued  to  reside  to  the  present  time. 
During  his  first  three  years  in  that  city  he  was  the 
head  of  the  firm  of  Leader.  Muir  &  Co..  who  had  a 
-i  ire  .r  Liberty  and  Independence  streets.  After 
file  firm  was  dissolved,  by  mutual  consent,  in  LSLS. 

Mr.  Leader  opened  a  <\v\  g Is  store  of  his  own  at 

Shamokin  and  Sunbury  streets,  two  years  later,  in 
1880,  removing  it  to  Independence  street.  In  1881 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  1!.  »..  Eisenhart,  the 
firm  name  being  Leader  &  Eisenhart,  and  they  were 
a--  iciated  for  three  years,  until  Mr.  Leader  bought 
out  his  partner  and  took  his  brother.  Edward  M. 
Leader,  into  partnership.  When  he  entered  into 
the  partnership  with  Mr.  Eisenhart  a  clothing  de- 
partment was  added  tn  the  original  business,  and 
Leadei  &  Brother  continued  both  tines  until  1889, 
when  they  divided  the  trade.  Charles  C.  Lead'  r  re- 
taining the  dry  goods  branch,  and  Edward  M. 
Lead.'  thi  clothing  branch.  Mr.  Charles  C.  Lead- 
er, at  the  time  of  the  separation,  established  him- 
self in  the  new  building,  built  in  1889.  in  which  he 
has  ever  since  continued  the  dry  good-  business,  his 
brother  remaining  at  the  old  stand  on  Independ- 
-ti'it.  The  business  was  incorporated  in 
1908,  as  tiie  ('.  C.  Leader  ,v  Si, ns  Company,  Mr. 
Leader's  two  sons,  Harry  K.  and  Edward  1!..  and 
daughter,  E.  May  Leader,  being  now-  members  of 
the  firm.  He  himself  continue-  to  act  as  president 
ncern.  Mr.  Leader  has  always  been  known 
.  -  a  progressive  man  in  his  methods  and  ideas,  and 
when  be  erected  his  present  dry  goods  -tore,  in 
1889,  it  was  niie  of  the  finest  buildings  used  for  the 
purpose  in  the  State,  modern  in  construction,  com- 
modious and  complete  in  equipment,  pleasant,  at- 
tractive, and  convenient  beyond  the  ordinary.  The 
building  is  18  by  125  feet  in  dimensions,  three 
stories  and  basement,  and  is  devoted  entirely  to  the 


7\jz€Z&(j£' 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOK.  LRN     v    KU£ 
riLDi  N  1      UNDA 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


accommodation  of  this  business,  which  has  en- 
joyed a  career  of  uninterrupted  prosperity. 

As  the  founder  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most 

successful   dry  g Is   houses   in   this  section  Mr. 

Leader  would  be  entitled  to  front  rank  among  the 
enterprising  business  men  of  Shamokin.  Bui  he 
has  noi  devoted  himself  entirely  to  this  one  under- 
taking.    A-  an  extensi I'  his  first  interests,  he 

had  a  dn  g I-  store  at  Mount  Carmel,  Northum- 
berland county,  which  when  the  Shamokin  store 
was  incorporated  he  -old  to  his  son  ('.  F.  Leader, 
who  is  conducting  il  on  the  same  scale  and  in  the 
same  progressive  style  characteristic  of  the  Sham- 
okin store.  An  earnest  desire  to  please  their  pa- 
trons may  he  said  to  he  the  keynote  of  the  success 
of  (his  concern,  ami  the  results  commend  the  policy. 
Liberal  management  has  also  been  a  leading  feature 
of  Mr.  Leader's  code,  and  its  wisdom  has  been 
made  apparent  by  his  continued  prosperity. 

Several  of  the  -t  important  financial  cor- 
porations in  Shamokin  count  .Mr.  Leader  among 
their  promoters  ami  founders,  and  he  has  been 
identified  with  their  conduct  in  various  capacities, 
bis  connection  and  influence  being  considered  im- 
portant factors  in  their  welfare.  He  was  the  lead- 
in-'  promoter  of  the  Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe 
Deposit  Company,  capitalized  at  $250,000,  which 
was  organized  and  began  business  in  March,  L896, 
ami  has  been  it-  president  since  the  organization; 
he  is  also  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  of  the  \Y.  1'.  Zartman  Lum- 
ber Company  (with  offices  at  Shamokin).  of  C.  ( '. 
Leader  &  Sons  Company  (dry  goods  and  carpets), 
and  of  the  Hillsboro  Telephone  Company  of  Hills- 
boro. Texas.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Cement  Block 
Company,  of  Shamokin.  of  the  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company,  of  Shamokin.  id*  the  Mississippi 
Telephone  Company  and  of  the  Auburn  Shale 
Brick  Company  of  Shamokin:  and  a  trustee  of 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster.  Pa., 
and  of  Bethany  Orphans'  Home,  Womelsdorf,  Pa. 
Mr.  Leader  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  which  was  organized  in  1899,  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $50,000,  and  held  the  office  of  \  ice  president 
until  1904,  when  he  became  president.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  building  commission  for  the  State 
hospital,  including  the  district  of  Trevorton, 
Shamokin  and  Mount  Carmel.  His  services  in  ev- 
ery position  of  responsibility  have  shown  his  selec- 
tion to  be  a  wise  one.  Few  men  have  done  more 
for  the  community,  though  he  has  not  gone  into 
the  realm  of  public  life,  confining  his  efforts  to 
doing  the  best  he  can  for  his  fellow  men  in  his 
capacity  of  private  citizen.  His  gifts  to  charity 
have  been  generous  and  well  distributed,  his  in- 
terest in  benevolent  projects  leading  him  to  sup- 
port worthy  organizations,  and  his  sympathy  for 
less  fortunate  fellow  beings  prompting  many  pri- 
vate beneficences. 


In  May,  1867,  Mr.  Leader  married  Amanda  R. 
Ketner.  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Ketner,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  five 
children:  Emma  May  is  at  home:  Charles  Frank- 
'in  married  Cora  Pensyl :  William  C.  born  in 
181  I.  was  manager  of  (he  Mouth  Carmel  More  at 
ill"  time  of  his  death,  in  1899,  in  a  terrible  rail- 
road accident  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  road  at  Dun- 
ellen,  N.  J.;  Harry  lv.  a  member  of  the  corpora- 
tion of  C.  C.  Leader  &  Sons  Company,  married 
Bertha  Dress  and  had  two  children,  Charles  C. 
and  Richard;  Edward  R.  succeeded  In-  brother 
William  in  the  management  of  the  Mount  (  ar 
mel  store  and  is  a  member  of  the  corporation  of 
C.  C.  Leader  &  Sons  Company. 

In  politics  Mr.  Leader  was  originally  a  Demo- 
crat, but  he  now  votes  independently:  he  is  a 
man  of  strong  Prohibition  tendencies,  and  a 
stanch  advocate  of  reforms  which  have  lor  their 
object  (he  permanent  elevation  of  (he  human  race. 
lie  has  long  been  a  member  of  St.  John's  Re- 
formed Church,  and  has  served  main'  years  as  eld- 
er. For  twenty-five  years,  from  1880,  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  responded  to  the  call  when  the  in- 
vasion of  the  State  was  threatened,  enlisting  at 
Harrisburg  and  serving  in  an  emergeni  \  regi- 
ment at  Wrightsville,  York  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

SIMON  PETEE  BROWS  was  a  resident  of  the 

borough  of  Milton  for  forty  years,  during  which 
period  he  was  not  only  considered  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  id'  that  place  hut  also  one  whose 
influence  counted    lor  much   in   the  promotion   of 

progressive   enterprises.       He    made   a    great    success 

of  bis  own  undertakings,  and  when  he  became  in- 
terested in  public  institutions,  those  bearing  on 
the  genera]  welfare  of  the  community,  he  gave 
them  the  same  thought  which  had  made  his  per- 
sonal affairs  prosper,  intelligent,  broad-minded 
and  public-spirited,  he  was  a  man  whose  life, 
though  unassuming  and  avoiding  rather  than  seek- 
ing notoriety,  was  one  of  continuous  usefulness  to 
his  fellow  men  as  well  as  to  those  who  had 
right  (o  claim  his  attention. 

Mr.  Brown  was  a  native  of  Cnion  county,  Pa., 
horn  Aug.  14.   1843,  -on  of  Cyrus  and   Elizabeth 
(Wooltrout)    Brown   whose  children   were  as   fol- 
lows:  Mary  Ann    (who  married     \ao>n    Van    B 
kirk).    Daniel.    Reuben,    Abram,    Obediah    (died 
voting),  Jeremiah  (died  young)  and  Simon  Peter. 
The  last   named   was  a   pupil    mi    the   31  hools   oi 
home  locality  in  Cnion  i  onntj   and  later  wi  at   to 
school  at    Lew  ishurg.     lie  came  to   Milton  about 
1861   and  there  spent   the  remainder  of  his  days. 
He  began    work    in    the   borough   as  a   clerk    in 
store  of  William  lleinen.  remaining  there  when  it 
Was  conducted   by  the  firm  of   lleinen.    Etzler  & 
Raush,  and  later  by  the  lleinen  &  Schn      H  om- 
pany.     But  he  did  not  conl  inuc  long  in  the  hum- 


34 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


ble  capacity  in  which  he  began  his  connection  with 
the  business.  He  became  a  partner,  and  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Heinen  the  firm  became  Schreyer, 
Brown  &  Co.,  continuing  thus  until  Mr.  Brown 
withdrew  from  the  association,  in  1894.  Though 
unostentatious  in  everything  he  did  Mr.  Brown 
was  recognized  as  a  most  efficient  worker  by  all 
who  had  any  dealings  with  him.  Many  of  the  most 
important  movements  in  Milton  counted  him 
among  their  most  effective  promoters.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Milton  Water  Company 
ami  served  as  director;  was  for  years  president  of 
the  Milton  Gas  Company  and  was  one  of  the  di- 
rectors of  the  Milton  Xational  Bank.  He  was  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
in  politics  a  Republican.  His  death,  which  oc- 
curred April  28,  L907,  was  a  distinct  loss  to  the 
community. 

On  March  14.  1882,  Mr.  Brown  married  Laura 
B.  Knauff.  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Clinger) 
Knauff.  and  she  survives  him,  she  and  her  mother 
occupying  the  beautiful  home  on  East  Broadway 
erected  by  Mr.  Brown. 

JOHN  KNAUFF,  late  of  Milton,  who  served 
as  assessor  of  the  Second   ward  of  that  borough, 

was  born  in  1833  in  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  but 
was  long  a  citizen  of  Northumberland  county. 

Frederick  Knauff.  his  father,  was  born  in  L809 
in  Germany  and  was  only  a  boy  when  he  came  to 
America,  in  1817.  He  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  His  wife.  Anna,  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
was  born  in  1810  and  survived  him,  dying  in  1885. 
Mr.  Knauff's  death  occurred  in  1875.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religion  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
To  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Knauff  were  born  children  as 
follows:  John:  Henry,  who  lives  in  Lewisburg; 
Peter,  living  in  Jersey  Shove.  Pa.:  Daniel,  who 
lives  in  Scranton,  Pa.:  Abram,  deceased:  Susan. 
who  married  John  Zere  and  died  in  1860;  Mar- 
garet, Mrs.  Wagner:  Julia  Ann.  who  married 
Peter  Heilman  and  lives  in  Indiana  (they  have 
two  children.  Fred  and  Lloyd);  Catharine,  who 
married  Edward  App :  and  Matilda,  who  married 
Harry  Noll. 

John  Knauff  followed  farming  in  his  early  life, 
later  engaging  in  lumbering  for  a  number  of  years. 
For  over  twenty  years  he  was  connected  with  the 
"Milton  Car  Works  as  foreman,  during  the  time 
that  plant  was  under  the  management  of  Murray, 
Dougal  &  Co.  Although  a  Democrat  in  a  ward 
which  is  normally  Republican  by  a  majority  of 
liai  Mr.  Knauff  was  elected  assessor  a  few  years 
ago,  the  second  time  by  a  majority  of  168,  which 
statement  needs  no  comment.  He  held  this  office 
during  his  last  years,  dying  Aug.  1.  1910.  His 
trustworthy  character  ami  efficient  services  were 
well  appreciated  bv  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  Feb.  9.  1856,  Mr.  Knauff  married  Susan, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Susanna  (  Wagoner)  ding- 


er, and  their  union  was  blessed  with  the  following 
children:  Laura  B.,  win:,  is  the  widow  of  Simon 
Peter  Brown:  Amanda  Y.,  Mrs.  Crane:  Carrie 
(deceased).  Mrs.  Hanam :  and  Robert  C,  who 
married  Bessie  May  Eottenstein  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. John  A.  and  Robert  S.  Mrs.  Robert  C. 
Knauff  is  the  daughter  of  Allen  S.  Hottenstein. 
granddaughter  of  Charles  Hottenstein  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  Henry  and  Catharine  (Spohn) 
Hottenstein. 

Though  Mrs.  Knauff  has  passed  the  threescore 
and  ten  mark  she  enjoys  good  health  and  is  active 
beyond  the  ordinary,  and  the  same  was  true  of 
Mr.  Knauff.  They  made  their  home  with  their 
daughter,  Mrs.  Brown,  spending  their  days  in  well 

deserved   peace   and   content nt,   surrounded   by 

all  that  goes  to  make  life  worth  living. 

YOR1S  AUTEN,  of  Mount  Carmel,  judge  of 
the  courts  of  Northumberland  county,  comprising 
the  Eighth  Judicial  district,  occupies  a  conspic- 
uous place  among  the  leading  citizens  of  that 
section  of  Northumberland  county  and  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  success  in  both  professional 
and  business  lines  indicates  the  strength  and  ver- 
satility of  his  makeup,  and  his  services  as  judge 
have  established  him  firmly  in  the  confidence  of 
the  people. 

Judge  Aitteii.  -on  of  William  Maxwell  Auten 
and  Sarah  (Allison)  Auten.  was  born  in  Chilli-- 
quaque  township,  this  county.  July  8.  1856.  His 
original  paternal  ancestor  in  this  country  was 
Adrian  Hendricksen  Aten,  who  came  from  Hol- 
land and  settled  at  Flatbush,  Long  [sland,  in  1651. 
Just  when  or  under  what  circumstances  the  let- 
ter "u"  was  inserted  in  the  paternal  name  is  not 
definitely  known.  Some  of  the  descendants  of  this 
hi.'  -tor  retain  the  original  form  of  the  name.      - 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
probably  between  1780  and  1800.  John  Auten 
(Aten),  descendant  of  Adrian  Hendricksen,  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Montour  county.  Pa.,  along  the 
banks  of  the  Chillisquaque  creek,  about  nine  miles 
from  its  mouth,  where  were  born  Joseph  Auten 
ami  William  Maxwell  Auten.  grandfather  and 
lather  of  the  Judge.  John  Auten  assisted  in 
building  the  first  Chillisquaque  Presbyterian 
church,  a  log  structure  subsequently  destroyed  by 
the  Indians.  His  son  Joseph  married  Elizabeth 
Maxwell. 

William  Maxwell  Auten.  son  of  Joseph  ami 
Elizabeth  (Maxwell)  Auten.  was  born  July  7. 
1814.  He  received  a  common  school  education, 
ami  when  about  eighteen  years  old  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  millwright,  which  he  followed  in  con- 
nection with  fanning  throughout  his  active  years. 
He  made  his  home  in  Chillisquaque  township  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  8,  1891.  after  a  se- 
vere illness  of  about  four  weeks"  duration.  Mr. 
Auten  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in 


XOI.Tril/MBERLAXb  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


35 


his  township,  where  he  served  one  term  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  several  terms  as  school  director, 
taking  especial  interesl  in  the  welfare  of  the  pub- 
lic schools.     He  was  a  De -rut  and  took  part  in 

the  work  of  the  part}',  serving  as  delegate  to.eounty 
and  Stale  convent s.  In  religion  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he 
was  a  conscientious  Christian  and  an  earnest  stu- 
dent of  the  Bible,  conducting  himself  in  all  the 
relations  of  Life  so  as  to  retain  the  respect  ami 
good  will  of  all   his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  Auten  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  un- 
ion, with  Sarah  Kline  daughter  of  Joseph  Kline, 
he  had  six  children,  namely:  Joseph  II..  Wesley, 
Isaiah.  Catharine  .1.  (Mrs.  Samuel  (iin'en).  John 
.).,  ami  a  sixth  which  died  in  early  infancy.  The 
neither  died  in  IS  Is.  and  Mi'.  Auten  subsequently 
married  Mrs.  Saraji  <  Ulison)  Man-,  widow  of 
John  Marr,  and  daughter  of  .lames  Allison,  who 
settled  hi  Northumberland  county  in  pioneer  days. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  the  second  marriage: 
James  A..  \\  illiam  M.,  Voris,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  W. 
B.  Cox),  Edward,  George  B.  M.  and  Annie  (wile 
of  Angus  Fairchild  > . 

Voris  Auten  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
township,  gaining  his  earl}  education  there  in  the 
common  schools.  Later  he  attended  the  academ} 
ami  university  at  Lewisburg,  taking  part  of  the 
scientific  course  at  the  university  and  like  many 
who  follow  the  professions  he  taught  school  while 
preparing  for  his  life  work.  Tie  was  engaged  lor 
several  terms  as  teacher  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  township,  ami  was  six  years  thus 
engaged  in  the  Snnbury  schools,  meantime,  in 
April,  L879,  commencing  the  study  of  law  under 
Frank  A.  Marr,  attorney,  of  Sunbury.  lie  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Northumberland  county  in 
September,  1881,  ami  in  .lunc.  1883,  removed  to 
Mount  Carmel,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  practice,  ^n  the  fall  of  ISS!)  he  was  elected 
district  attornej  of  the  county,  and  was  reelected 
in  1892,  serving  two  terms.     In  November,  1901, 

he     waS    el. -(ted     judge    of     the    eoullfv    COUfts.        Sllcll 

is  a  brief  outline  of  his  legal  career.  Of  the  steps 
by  which  he  has  attained  his  success,  the  consci- 
entious fulfillment  of  every  trust  reposed  in  him, 
the  skillful  handling  of  all  his  legal  cases  and  his 
efficient  discharge  of  every  duty,  we  can  best  judge 
by  results.  He  is  a  man  who  has  done  his  best 
a-  a  citizen,  in  both  the  relations  which  he  has 
formed  in  the  pursuit  of  his  professional  and 
business  interests,  and  those  which  the  intelligent 
man  feels  called  upon  to  assume  as  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  society.  Tie  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  So- 
cially Judge  Auten  belongs  to  the  1.  O.  O.  F.  and 
the  F.  &  A.  M. 

On  dune  '.).  1887,  Judge  Auten  married  Jennie 
1,'eiin.  daughter  id'  Dr.  George  M.  Renn,  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter,  Agnes 
Renn,  who  was  born  Julv  11.  IS!).'!. 


WILLIAM  M.  LLOYD,  of  Shamokin,  present 

treasurer  of  Northumberland  county,  is  a  citizen 
who  enjoys  excellent  standing-  in  both  business  and 
official  circles.  Before  taking  his  present  office  he 
filled  that  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  time. 
and  he  has  business  interests  which  entitle  him  to 
be  considered  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his 
community.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county,  of 
Welsh  extraction. 

Mathew  Lloyd,  grandfather  of  William  M. 
Lloyd,  was  born  in  the  south  of  Wales,  in  1814, 
and  came  to  America  in  1854.  lie  had  married 
Mary  Powell,  also  a  native  of  Smith  Wales,  and 
on  coming-  to  this  country  they  brought  their  fam- 
ily of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Mr.  Lloyd  followed  mining  throughout  his  active 
years,  and  died  in  1884  in  Shamokin.  Coal  town- 
ship. Northumberland  ( lo.,  Pa.,  where  he  is  buried. 
Of  the  children.  William  died  in  Shamokin:  Eliz- 
abeth married  John  Khittle,  of  Roaring  Creek-. 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  at  Centralia,  that 
county  :  Thomas  is  the  father  of  William  M.  Lloyd. 

Thomas  Lloyd,  son  of  Mathew,  was  born  April 
14.  1852,  in  Nantyglo,  South  Wales,  and  came  to 
America  when  very  young,  landing  al  New  York. 
His  first  home  here  was  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  later  he  was  in  Lycoming  county,  this 
State,  whither  his  father  moved  in  1858.  In  1859 
the  family  moved  to  Danville,  Montour  county, 
remaining  there  until  1869,  when  they  settled  in 
Shamokin.  Here  and  in  the  vicinity  Thomas 
Lloyd  has  since  resided.  He  worked  at  mining  at 
the  various  places  where  the  family  lived,  follow- 
ing that  occupation,  part  of  the  time  in  connection 
with  contracting,  for  twenty-five  years  in  all.  He 
then  embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  al  Mar- 
shallton,  in  Coal  township.  Northumberland  ooun 
ty,  being  engaged  in  that  line  for  about  seven 
years,  in  association  with  his  son  William  .\L. 
under  the  name  of  Lloyd  &  Sun.  Hi-  next  ven- 
ture was  in  the  hotel  business,  on  the  same  site  as 
he  had  bis  grocery  store,  ami  be  continued  in  tie- 
line  for  thirteen  years,  making  a  success  of  it. 
Since  settling  at  his  present  home  he  has  devoted 
all  his  time  to  hi-  real  estate  interests,  lie  pur 
chased  property  at  Edgewood,  in  Coal  township, 
in  1901/  erecting  thereon  the  line  residence  he  now 
occupies,  at  No.  1  1 1 > i  Arch  street.  In  many  ways 
Mr.  Lloyd  ha-  proved  himself  a  trustworthy  and 
intelligent  citizen,  and  bis  business  reputaf 
is  unimpeachable. 

On  July  1.  1872,  Mr.  Lloyd  married  Delilah 
.-Vnn  Dilliplane,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Dilliplane. 
She  is  a  native  of  Roaring  ( heel .  t  lolumbia  ( !o., 
Pa.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Lloyd  have  had  si.\  children: 
William  M. :  Albert,  novt  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Malick  <S  Lloyd,  manufacturers  of  overalls  and 
shirts  at  Shamokin,  formerly  superintendent 
schools  iii  Coal  township  (he  married  Nellie 
Ernst);  Lydia   A.,  unmarried;  Thomas,   M.    I1  ; 


30 


NORTHUMBERLAND  OOTTNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Edward,  1».  D.  S.,  of  Shamokin;  and  Harvey,  M. 
P..  of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Lloyd,  the  father,  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  of  the  Knights  of 

the  Golden  Eagle. 

William  M.  Lloyd  was  born  April  9,  is;;1,,  in 
Coal  township,  near  Shamokin,  and  attended  the 
schools  of  In-  native  township.  But  as  was  com- 
mon in  those  days  he  commenced  work  at  the  age 
i.f  eight  years,  as  slate  picker  at  the  mines  near 
Shamokin,  following  this  vocation  for  four  years. 
Then  he  entered  his  father's  grocery  store,  clerk- 
ing i  here  for  >r\ri\  vears.  after  which  he  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  bottling  business,  in  Coal  town- 
ship. He  conducted  that  business  until  1900, 
when  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  his 
native  township,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity  un- 
til he  was  eleeted  county  treasurer,  in  November, 
1908.  Though  a  Republican,  Mr.  Lloyd  was  given 
flattering  support,  having  a  majority  of  •.':',  1  rotes 
in  his  run  I'm-  the  treasurer's  oilier.  Hi'  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  county,  and 
his  successful  race  for  the  position  was  undoubt- 
edly due  in  large  measure  to  his  personal  popular- 
ity and  his  high  standing  I'm'  integrity  and  moral 
strength. 

Mr.  Lloyd  is  one  of  the  owners  of  the  well 
known  "•Windsor  Hotel"  at  Shamokin.  of  which 
Mr.  .1.  W.  Henrie  is  in  charge,  and  in  this  con- 
nection is  well  known  to  the  traveling  public;  he 
is  vice-president  of  the  company  which  owns  the 
hotel,  lie  i-  president  of  the  Miners'  Building 
&  Loan  Association  of  Shamokin.  of  which  Charles 
O'Connor  i-  vice-president.  Mr.  Lloyd  holds  mem- 
bership in  Shamokin  Lodge,  B.  1'.  <  >.  Elks,  and 
also  belongs  to  the  West  End   Fire  Company. 

Mr.  Lloyd  married  Julia  Eagan,  daughter  of 
William  Eagan,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  have  hail  a 
family  of  four  children:  Letitia,  Albert,  Valeria 
and  Lyman  S. 

GRANT  HERRING,  of  Sunbury,  a  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  whose  professional  talent  and 
attainments  have  gained  him  standing  among  the 
foremost  legal  practitioners  of  the  day  in  Penn- 
sylvania, has  been  a  resident  of  Northumberland 
county  for  only  a  few  years.  His  reputation  and 
achievements,  however,  entitle  him  to  recognition 
wherever  he  goes.  Bloomsburg,  Columbia  county, 
was  his  home  for  a  number  of  years.  For  a  con- 
siderable period  he  was  prominent  in  Democratic 
politics,  hut  since  January,  1899,  he  has  devoted 
himself  to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Mr. 
Herring  was  horn  May  19,  1862,  at  Centerville 
(now  Limeridge),  Columbia  Co..  Fa.,  son  of 
George  A.  and  Mary  A.  (ITes<)  Herring.  The 
family  is  of  German  peasant  origin. 

Christopher  Herring,  the  emigrant  ancestor, 
came  to  this  country  with  his  wife  and  eight 
children  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  They 
were  "redemptioners,"  their  services  being  -old  to 


defray  the  expenses  of  the  passage.  Two  ,,f  the 
eight  children  were  killed  in  the  battle  of  the 
Brandywine.  Another.  Ludwick,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  Grant  Herring.  He  settled  in  Or- 
angeville, Columbia  Co.,  Fa.,  in  1800.  He  was  a 
teamster  and  was  engaged  in  hauling  produce  and 

g Is  from  Orangeville  and    Pottsville  to  Reading 

before  the  introduction  of  the  railroad  system  in 
that  section. 

John  Herring,  son  of  Ludwick,  was  horn  in 
Orangeville,  Fa.,  in  1808,  and  there  resided 
throughout  his  active  life.  IF'  was  a  carpenter  by 
occupation,  and  for  twenty  vears  was  a  carpenter 
foreman  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  between  Xan- 
tieoke  and  Sunbury.  Politically  he  was  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Jack- 
son, and  adhered  to  tin'  Democratic  party  until  his 
death.  For  ten  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
at  Orangeville.  In  1889  he  moved  to  Bloomsburg 
and  for  the  rest  of  his  vears  lived  in  retirement, 
dying  in  1893.  He  married  Rebecca  Snyder,  a 
sister  of  the  late  Sheriff  John  Snyder,  of  Orange- 
ville,  and  they  had  eight  children,  six  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

George  A.  Herring,  son  of  John,  was  horn  in 
Orangeville,  Dee.  '.'I.  is:;:;,  and  obtained  his  edu-. 
cation  in  the  academy  at  that  place.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  years  he  moved  to  Bloomsburg,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  molder,  which  he  followed 
for  a  period  of  four  years  in  Bloomsburg, 
Illinois  and  Michigan.  Returning  home  he 
engaged  in  carpentering  with  his  father. 
building  canal  boats  at  Limeridge.  Columbia 
county,  and  continued  carpenter  work  and 
boatbuilding  until  1864,  when  he  purchased  a  col- 
lierv,  now  known  as  No.  3,  at  Shenandoah.  Schuyl- 
kill Co..  Fa.,  in  connection  with  J.  AY.  Williams. 
Esq.,  operating  it  for  a  U-w  years  as  a  member  ol 
the  firm  of  Williams  &  Herring.  He  then  met 
with  a  serious  accident  which  nearly  resulted  in 
his  death  and  which  terminated  his  connection 
with  the  mine.  He  disposed  of  his  interest  and  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  in  Shenandoah  up  to  the 
year  1876,  when  he  sold  out.  During  tin-  period 
he  was  eleeted  tiva-urer  of  Schuylkill  county,  serv- 
ing from  1870  to  L873.  IF'  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers  and    a    director    of    the    Shenandoah    Water 

(  pany;  also  a  director  of  the  Shenandoah  Val- 

le\  Hank.  In  1876,  owing  to  poor  health,  he  sold 
bis  -tor,'  an, I  moved  to  Bloomsburg,  purchasing 
a  farm  two  miles  from  there  and  also  renting  a 
tannery,  which  he  operated  until  1882.  He 
then  disposed  of  the  tannery,  hut  has  since 
owned  the  farm.  From  1881  to  1887  he 
served  as  deputy  treasurer  of  Columbia 
county,  and  for  the  following  three  year-  as 
treasurer.  In  1894  he  was  made  deputy  collector 
of   internal    revenue   for  the  Twelfth    District    of 

F lsylvania,  with  office  at  Scranton,  under  his 

-oil  Grant,  and  he  has  since  held  that  office.     Po- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


litieally  Mr.  Herring  is  a  firm  supporter  of  Demo- 
cratic principles  and  has  frequently  served  as  del- 
egate to  State  conventions  from  Columbia  and 
Schuylkill  counties.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
vention which  nominated  Pattison  for  governor, 
the  first  time  he  was  fleeted,  and  the  delegation 
from  Schuylkill  county,  being  the  last  to  east  its 
vote,  had  the  distincl  ion  of  naming  the  Democratic 
candidate,  as  the  vote  was  very  close.  Mr.  Herring 
married  Mary  A.  Hess,  who  died  in  1893  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Grant;  Ida.  who  resides 
with  her  father  at  Bloomsburg;  and  John,  who 
died  in  March,  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years.  The  latter  was  graduated  from  Lafayette 
College  in  June,  188!),  and  during  his  junior  year 
in  college  received  honors  in  oratorical  contests; 
upon  leaving  school  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
his  brother  and  continued  it  until  his  death. 

Grant  Herring  attended  the  common  schools  of 
Shenandoah  until  I  sic,  when  he  entered  the 
Bloomsburg  State  normal  school,  to  prepare  for 
college,  remaining  there  until  L879.  He  then  took 
a  classical  course  in  Lafayette  College,  graduating 
therefrom  in  . I  une,  1883,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. ; 
later  he  received  the  A.  M.  degree  from  his  alma 
mater,  lie  is  an  excellent  speaker  and  a  fluent 
writer,  and  in  Ins  junior  year  took  first  honors 
in  the  oratorical  contest.  In  September,  1883,  he 
began  the  study  of  law  in  Bloomsburg  with  E.  R. 
Ikeler.  Esq.,  afterward  president  judge  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Judicial  district  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Columbia  county 
Fch.  •">,  1885.  lie  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ikeler  on  the  same  day.  under  the  firm  name  Ike- 
ler &  Herring,  and  they  continued  together  for 
four  years,  until  the  former  was  elected  to  the 
bench.  lie  has  been  admitted  to  the  County, 
United  Stales.  State  and  District  Supreme  courts. 
lie  built  up  a  good  corporation  practice,  becom- 
ing solicitor  for  the  Farmers  National  Bank,  attor- 
ney for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Com- 
pany,  for  the  .lack-on  &    W Tin   Manufacturing 

Company,   id'   Berwick,   and   a   number  of  other 
prominent  firms. 

Mr.  Herring  was  active  in  the  councils  of  the 
Democratic  party  for  some  years.  He  was  del- 
egate-al-large  from  Pennsylvania  to  the  Demo- 
cratic National  Convention  of  1892,  which  nomi- 
nated Cleveland,  and  was  delegate  from  his  district 
in  1896  to  the  convention  held  al  Chicago,  where 
he  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  sound  money  doc- 
trines throughout  the  financial  excitement  which 
characterized  that  period.  He  received  a  number 
of  honors  from  the  party.  He  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  from  the  Twenty- fourth  district, 
which  he  represented  in  that  body  from  1890  to 
1894,  serving  in  the  extra  sessions  called  in  1893 
by  Governor  Pattison  for  the  investigation  of  State 
officials.      He   was   the   youngest  member  of   that 


body.        He    was    appointed     Collector    ,,f     Internal 

Revenue  lor  the  Twelfth  district  of  Pennsylvania, 
assuming  the  duties  of  this  office  Fch.  :;.  L892. 
<>n  Aug.  1?.  1898,  he  was  appointed  president 
judge  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Judicial  district  (suc- 
ceeding his  former  |, receptor  and  partner.  Mr.  Ike- 
ler.  in   that   position),  and   soon   after  was  oi f 

three  judges  to  decide  a  contest  at  a  judicial  elec- 
tion in  Schuylkill  county,     lie  was  not  a  candidate 

for     (lie     election     which     took     place     the     following 

November,  and  in  January,  1899,  resumed  the 
pi  ivate  practice  of  his  profession,  which   he   fol 

lowed  alone  at  Bloomsburg  fr the  time  he  and 

Mr.  Ikeler  dissolved  partnership  until  he  came 
to  Sunbury,  April  22,  1907,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Hon.  S.  I'.  Wblverton.  The]  prai  ticed 
together  for  two  years,  since  which  time  Mr.  Her- 
ring has  practiced  alone.  His  office  is  in  the  Boss- 
ier building,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Fourth 
streets.  Sunbury.  Mr.  Herring's  success  in  han- 
dling the  cases  intrusted  to  him  has  com,,  as  the 
result  of  indefatigable  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
his  clients,  and  his  thorough  familiarity  with 
legal  methods  m  all  the  courts.  His  standing,  be- 
cause of  his  brilliancy  and  conscientious  devotion 
of  his  best  efforts  to  any  work  he  undertakes,  is 
id'  the  highest,  and  he  has  a  forceful  personality 
which  attracts  the  most  substantial  elements  in 
any  community.  Mr.  Herring  wa-  made  a  trustee 
of  the  State  normal  school  at  Bloomsburg  in  1895, 
and  again  appointed  m  1898;  since  the  latter  year 
he  has  also  been  a  trustee  of  the  Siatc  Eospital  for 
Injured  Persons,  located  at  Fountain  Springs,  in 
Schuylkill  county. 

On  Sept.  4.  1885,  Mr.   Herring  married    F, ia 

.Tones,  of  Bloomsburg.  daughter  of  John  C.  Jones; 
she  died  Nov.  8,  1910,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years,  the  mother  of  three  children.  \  iz. :  (  1  )  Don- 
ald Grant  Herring,  horn  Sept.  25,  1886,  attended 
Bloomsburg  high  school,  was  graduated  at  Law- 
renceville  in  1903,  ami  then  entered  Princeton, 
from  which  university  he  was  graduated   with  the 

degr f  A.    B  .   m    L907.     lie  won   the   Rhodes 

scholarship  for  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  which  en- 
titled him  to  a  thive  years'  course  at  Oxford  Cm 
versify,  England,  where  he  wa-  graduated  with 
honors  in  dune.  1910.  While  then'  he  played 
Rugby  football  on  tin'  Oxford  side  in  the  inter- 
varsity  match  between  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
(the  only  American  who  enjoys  that  distinction), 
lb.  is  now  an  instructor  at  Princeton  in  Wdodrow 
Wilson's  department  of  History,  Politic-  and 
Economics.      ( '-' )    Laura    Douglas    Herring,   born 

Dec.    2  I.     1887,    graduated     from     the     Bloo 

State  normal  school  and  from   Rye  Seminary,  V 
Y..  entered  Vassar  College,  and  subsequently  to 
a  course  at  the  Damrosch  School  of  Musical  An. 
New  Yoik-  City,  studying  vocal  music.     She  is  now 
preparing  to  sing  in  grand  opi  i a  nous 

Madam    Milka   Ternina.      (3)    Mildred    Herring, 


38 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


born  Sept.  24,  1893,  graduated  from  the  Blooms- 
burg  State  normal  school,  attended  Susquehanna 
University,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and  is  now  at 
Rye  Seminary,  preparing  for  Vassal'  College. 

EOCKEFELLEE.  The  Eockefeller  family  has 
long  been  well  represented  among  the  best  class 
of  citizens  in  Northumberland  county,  and  one  of 
the  townships  of  the  county  bears  the  name.  The 
family  was  founded  here  by  Godfrey  Rockefeller, 
from  whom  the  brothers  to  whom  this  article 
chiefly  refers  are  descended  in  the  fifth  generation. 
All  the  surviving  sons  of  the  family  of  the  late 
Lewis  Rockefeller  are  prosperous  and  substantial 
business  men  of  Sunbury,  and  there  resides  the 
family  of  the  late  Lemuel  ('.  Rockefeller.  Eis 
brothers,  Isaac  and  Charles  (i.  Rockefeller,  are  as- 
sociated in  business  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  G. 
Rockefeller  &  Brother,  and  are  proprietors  of  the 
Sunbury  Market  House  and  of  the  Sunbury  San- 
itary Dairy  Company,  both  of  which  are  well  pat- 
ronized by  the  people  of  the  borough. 

The  Rockefeller  family  traces  its  beginning  in 
America  to  one  Peter  Rockefeller,  who  was  born 
in  Europe  in  1710  and  on  emigrating  to  America 
settled  at  Amwell,  Hunterdon  Co.,  N.  J.  He  died 
there  about  1740,  leaving  to  his  son,  who  was  also 
named  Peter,  763  acres  of  land  in  the  county 
mentioned. 

Godfrey  Rockefeller,  born  in  1747,  was  a  son  of 
Peter  Rockefeller  (2).  He  came  to  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  in  1780.  and  took  up  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  Snydertown.  He  married  Margaret 
Lewis,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
three  sons  ami  eight  daughters.  One  of  the  sons 
was  the  grandfather  id'  John  D.  Rockefeller,  of 
Standard  Oil  fame.  The  other  two  were  John  and 
"William,  the  former  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  Rockefeller  brothers  of  Sunbury  just  referred 
to.  the  latter  the  father  of  David  (born  Sept.  6, 
isie.')  and  grandfather  of  Judge  William  M. 
Rockefeller  (born  Aug.  18.  1830),  who  married 
Emily  Jones,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Maria 
House]  Jones,  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

John  Rockefeller,  son  of  Godfrey,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  Lemuel  C.  Charles  G.  and  Isaac 
Rockefeller. 

John  Rockefeller,  the  grandfather,  was  killed 
on  his  way  home  from  Reading,  at  a  time  when 
much  of  the  country  was  still  a  wilderness.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Moore,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents  of  Lewis  Rockefeller,  mentioned  below,  their 
other  children  being  a-  follows:  Henry  married 
Elizabeth  Morgan  and  had  live  children.  John, 
.lame-.  Jacob,  Franklin  and  Harriet  (Mrs.  John 
Gulick) ;  Michael  never  married;  David  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Isabella  Campbell; 
John  married  Harriet  Kneiss  and  had  five  children. 
Mice  (wife  of  Rev.  John  Bowman),  Caroline  (Mrs. 
Woods),  Anne    (wife  of  Jacob   Five'),   Elizabeth 


(wife  of  Jesse  Cleaver)  and  Ella  (Mrs.  Sanders)  ; 
Mary  married  George  Bassett  and  had  -ix  chil- 
dren, Lucy,  Alda,   Ruth.   Maggie,   Elizabeth   and 

t . _e :   Hetester  married  Isaac  Eckman  and  had 

children,  Col.  Charles  (married  Sophia  Gearhart) 
and  David  (married  Ella  Wolfe  and  had  chil- 
dren, Franklin,  Alfred.  Dyer  and  Ethel),  Eliz- 
abeth (married  first  Oscar  Heller  and  second 
Joseph  Bonner)  ;  Harriet  (married  George  Mettler 
and  had  two  children,  Ella  and  Susan)  and  Lewis. 

Lewis  Rockefeller,  born  Sept.  1'.'.  1823,  died  in 
October.  1898.  He  married  Catherine  Campbell, 
who  survives  him  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  a  large  family:  Lemuel  ('.,  born  Nov.  8.  1848, 
is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  publication;  Sarah 
married  H.  Clay  Seasholtz  and  has  had  one  -on. 
David;  Isabella  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-five: Hattie  married  H.  C.  Lyons:  Charles  G. 
is  mentioned  below:  Isaac  is  mentioned  below; 
Joseph,  born  in  1859,  died  in  1870;  David  V.  mar- 
ried Agnes  Cummings;  Oliver  P.  married  Jennie 
A.  Haupt;  Emery  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Minnie  Gonser. 

Mrs.  Catherine  (Campbell)  Rockefeller,  though 
now  (1910)  in  her  eighty-first  year,  is  active  and 
retains  all  her  faculties,  and  to  her  excellent  mem- 
ory we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  data  in  this 
article.  She  enjoys  good  health,  and  her  kind  and 
unselfish  disposition  keeps  her  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  her  numerous  descendants  and  endears 
her  to  a  wide  circle  of  relatives  and  friend-.  She 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Sea- 
sholtz. Her  cheerful  temperament  ami  fine  Chris- 
tian character  have  won  for  her  the  esteem  and 
love  of  all  fortunate  enough  to  know  her.  She 
was  one  of  ;i  family  of  nine  children  born  to  Chris- 
topher and  Sarah  (Kline)  Campbell,  the  former 
of  whom  was  the  son  of  Christopher  Campbell,  the 
latter  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Kline.  Isaac  Kline 
and  his  wife  Catharine  had  the  following  sons: 
Harmon.  Henry.  Isaac  and  Christopher.  The  chil- 
dren of  Christopher  and  Sarah  (Kline)  Campbell 
were  as  follows:  (1)  Isaac  married  Hannah  Camp- 
bell. Children:  Dr.  John,  who  died  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa. :  Lemuel,  who  married  Sally  Kersuge : 
James,  who  married  Alice  Van  Zant:  Rebecca, 
who  married  Joseph  Eckman:  and  Flora,  who  died 
young.  ( '.' i  Lemuel  married  Emma  Smith.  Chil- 
dren: Dr.  Charles,  who  married  Lizzie  Enos;  Wil- 
liam, who  died  young;  Eli,  who  died  young;  and 
Mary,  who  lives  in  Sunbury.  (3)  Abraham  died 
young.  (  1  )  Herman  married  Elizabeth  Reed,  and 
their  son.  Edmund,  married  Mary  Haupt.  (5) 
Sarah  married  Charles  Eckman,  and  had  two 
children,  Frank  and  Ellard  (who  married  Ella 
Snyder).  (6)  Ella  married  (first)  Kelso  Sav- 
idge,  by  whom  she  had  three  children.  Clinton 
(who  married  Louise  Essie  and  has  six  children. 
Harry  W..  Albert  C,  Ralph  W.  E..  Preston  M., 
Louise   and   Lucile),   Harrison   C.   and   Lizzie  A. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


39 


(married  Willard  Robinson).  Eer  second  mar- 
riage was  to  George  Forrester,  by  whom  she  has 
had  two  children,  Isabella  (Mrs.  Clark)  and  Ellen, 
the  latter  dying  young.  (7)  Rhoda  married  Sam- 
uel Oberdorf,  and  they  haw  had  cloven  children, 
Oliver  (deceased),  [saac  (deceased),  Hamilton 
(deceased ),  [sabella  (deceased),  Chalmers  (de- 
ceased), Mary,  Peter,  G.  Donald  (a  grad- 
uate of  Princeton  and  now  principal  of 
the  Mount  Carmel  high  school,  who  married  Olive 
A.  Kneh),  Maurer  (married  to  Amanda  Gear- 
hart),  William  (who  married  Ollie  Wolverton 
and  has  two  children,  Calvin  and  Robert,  the  for- 
mer a  graduate  of  Bucknell  University)  and  Susan 
(Mrs.  Lorenza  Eckman,  who  has  two  children, 
.lames   and    Chalmers).      (8)    Elizabeth    married 

(first)    I'.I afield    Carr,   by   whom   she  had   two 

sons.  James  and  William,  and  (second)  Charles 
Eoughout,  by  whom  she  has  two  daughters,  Vir- 
ginia and  1,'oda.  tin'  latter  the  wife  of  William 
Clark  and  I  he  mother  of  three  children,  Bessie, 
George  and  Morris.  (9)  Catherine  married  Lew- 
is Rockefeller. 

Charles  G.  Rockefeller  was  born  Aug.  •">, 
1856,  mi  one  of  tin:  Rockefeller  homesteads  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  near  lOinesgrove,  and 
he  and  his  brother  Isaae  lived  on  the  farm  there 
until  they  tame  to  Sunbury  in  1906.  They  are 
now  associated  in  business  as  C.  G.  Rockefeller  & 
Brother,  ami  own  and  conduct  the  Sunbury  Mar- 
ket House  and  the  Sunbury  Sanitary  Dairy  Com- 
pany, Charles  G.  Rockefeller  looking  alter  the  san- 
itary milk  and  cream  depot,  where  four  people  are 
constantly  employed.  This  plant  supplies  about 
eight  hundred  quarts  of  Pasteurized  milk  and 
cream  daily  to  the  local  market.  The  Sunbury 
Market  House,  which  is  100  by  '.'so  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, was  built  by  them  in  1901,  several  years  be- 
fore they  removed  to  Sunbury  to  manage  their  in- 
terests from  that  point,  and  has  been  well  patron- 
ized by  the  farmers  of  this  district  and  by  the 
people. of  the  borough  ever  since  its  establishment. 
The  brothers  own  considerable  valuable  land,  hav- 
ing one  farm  of  1S7  acres,  another  of  Bfty-seven 
acres,  and  a  wood  tract  of  twenty  acres  and  they 
beep  help  on  these  tracts  all  the  war  around. 
They  slock  their  own  farms,  and  have  thirty-five 
head  of  dairy  cattle,  also  buying  considerable 
milk,  for  which,  handled  by  their  excellent  meth- 
ods, they  find  a  ready  market. 

In  February,  1886,  Charles  G.  Rockefeller  mar- 
ried Mattie  Minnier,  of  Upper  Augusta  township, 
and  they  have  had  I  wo  children.  Harrison  L.  and 
Helen  P.  The  son  is  agent  in  Northumberland 
ami  Snyder  counties,  Pa.,  for  (he  Velie  Motor  Car 
Company  of  Moline,  ill.,  and  is  an  able  machinist. 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  machinery  he 
hand!.-.  Mr.  Rockefeller  ami  .his  family  reside 
on  East  Chestnul  street,  near  Seventh  street,  Sun- 
bury. 


^  Isaac  Rockefeller  was  horn  Dec.  18,  1858,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  at  Klinesgrove,  and 
lived  in  that  township  until  his  removal  to  Sun- 
bury. He  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother 
Charles  and  they  were  engaged  in  general  farming 
ami  dairying-.  Their  Pasteurized  milk  has  always 
had  a  ready  sale  in  and  around  Sunbury,  and  their 
market  house,  of  which  Isaac  Rockefeller  is  the 
manager,  is  one  of  the  .standard  supply  depots  of 
the  borough.  These  brothers  have  made  and  main- 
tained the  highest  reputation  for  reliable  table 
commodities,  and  their  trade-  is  one  of  the  largest 
in  Sunbury,  with  a  steady  increase  which  speaks 
well  for  its  future. 

In  December,  1907,  Air.  Isaac  Rockefeller  mar- 
ried Emma  Specht,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Agnes 
Specht.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

DR.  FREDERICK  TREON  (also  spelled  Try- 
on)  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.. 
and  coming  to  Northumberland  county  sen  led 
in  what  is  now  Washington  township,  where  he 
practiced  dicine  until  his  death,  being  a  physi- 
cian of  wide  acquaintance.  He  traveled  around 
on  horseback,  being  a  typical  "saddle-bag  doctor." 
He  is  buried  at  the  Eimmel  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  member.  He  had  a  large  field  of 
operation — and  in  his  time  rode  thousands 
of  miles.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Gougler,  is  also  buried  at  the  Himmel 
Church,  in  Washington  township,  located  near 
Rebuek.  They  had  these  children:  Michael,  horn 
Nov.  8,  1790,"  died  Jan.  2,  1871  (he  married  a 
.Miss  Reitz  and  they  had  two  children  when  -he 
died,  Isaac  and  Maricha) ;  Dr.  George  located  at 
Muncv.  Pa.,  and  was  a  prominent  doctor;  Dr. 
Frederick  is  mentioned  later:  Benjamin,  who  was 
a  laborer  and  lived  in  Washington  town-hip.  had 
a  large  family,  Joseph,  William.  Henry.  Emanuel, 
Matilda.  Sarah.  Polly  and  Ahhie:  Peter  married 
Sarah  Glace  and  they  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy 
(children,  Henry.  William,  and  some  daughters)  ; 
Barbara  married  Henry  Mover  and  they  lived  near 
Lewistown,  Pa.;  Julia  married  Dr.  Smith:  Susan- 
na married   (first)    Abraham    Reitz  and    (second) 

\ -    \lr,-A:    Ann    married    Peter    Kobe!    and    they 

lived  in  Stone  Valley  (he  was  a  tanner)  :  Elizabeth 
married  Marlin    Drumheller;  Sarah   married    Phil- 
ip Moyer,  of  Snyder  county,  Pa.;   Poll]    married 
John    Bobb   and.    they    moved    to   Centre   com 
Pennsylvania. 

Hr.    Frederick  Treon   was   born   Oct.    L6,    1 803, 

and  died  June  '.'1.  L870.     Eis  wife,  Mar 'oily) 

Reith,  daughter  of  Georgi  Ri  th,  ivas  horn  Feb. 
:i.  isoi).  and  died  May  1.  1859  They  are  buried 
at  the  Himmel  Church.  Ee  v ■<-  reared  in  Wash- 
in  low  n-hiii  and  r  i  ion 
in  the  schools  in  vogue  i  da  1 1 
medicine  with  his   father  w  I ned    man 


Ill 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


for  his  time,  and  was  about  twenty-four  years  old 
when  lie  engaged  in  practice,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
and  Jackson  townships.  Ee  had  a  large  field,  and 
went  as  far  as  Buffalo  Valley  and  Snyder  county. 
He  was  specially  skilled  in  treating  gangrene,  and 
people  came  to  him  for  many  miles.  He.  too, 
like  his  father  was  widely  known,  and  his  life  was 
a  useful  one,  his  existence  a  benefit  to  the  afflicted 
and  to  his  fellowmen  generally.  Tie  lived  near 
Rebuck,  in  Washington  township.  Like  his  father 
before  him  he  was  a  Lutheran  in  religion.  He 
was  "nee  voted  in  for  township  clerk  for  a  joke, 
as  he  never  cared  for  office.  Lis  children  were: 
Adam  R.j  Jacob,  who  died  at  Ashland,  Pa.;  Peter, 
who  died  at  Shamokin;  and  Lovina,  who  married 
George  B.  Kiehl   (they  live  in  Philadelphia). 

ADAM  P..  TREON,  an  old  and  respected  cit- 
izen of  Lower  Augusta  township,  was  born  July 
23,  1837,  son  of  Dr.  Frederick  Treon.  He  is  a 
native  of  Washington  (then  Jackson)  township, 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  anil  received  such  ad- 
vantages as  the  local  schools  afforded,  learning  to 
read  English  and  "cipher."  lie  began  farming  at 
the  tender  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  in  1858-59 
began  farming  for  himself  in  Washington  town- 
ship, as  a  tenant.  There  he  lived  and  farmed 
until  the  spring  of  1885,  when  lie  crossed  the 
mountains  and  came  into  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  lie  has  a  farm  of  seventy-three  acres 
located  "it  the  Hollowing  Run  Road  between  Fish- 
erV  Ferry  and  Trevorton.  This  tract  was  a  Hum- 
mel homestead  many  years  ago,  and  the  property 
originally  was  much  larger.  Here  Mr.  Treon 
has  since  farmed.  He  has  owned  the  trad  since 
18!>4.  before  which  he  farmed  it  on  share-.  Mr. 
Treon  i-  a  Democrat  and  was  School  Director 
many  years,  holding  the  office  lor  twelve  years  in 
succession.  He  was  constable  seven  years,  also  in 
Washington  township,  and  was  also  auditor  of  that 
township;  in  Lower  Augusta  township  he  was 
auditor  three  years.  At  present  he  is  a  super- 
visor, having  been  elected  in  1906.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent and  useful  citizen.  In  religious  conviction 
he  and  family  arc  New  Lutherans. 

In  1858  Mr.  Treon  married  Susanna  Hoffman, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Hetrich)  Hoff- 
man, of  Washington  township.  She  died  April 
15,  L894,  aged  fifty-sis  years,  and  is  buried  at  St. 
Peter's  Church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treon  were 
horn  the  following  children:  Edward  H.  married 
Sarah  .1.  Miller,  daughter  of  Andrew  Miller,  and 
they  reside  with  his  father  and  follow  farming 
(their  children  are  Mabel  Ruth,  Dennis  D..  George 
A,  and  Jessie  Susanna)  ;  Jeremiah  is  a  farmer  in 
Lower  Augusta  township;  Alexander  died  aged 
twenty-one  years  after  an  illness  of  five  years,  fin- 
ally becoming  blind  about  one  year  before  he  died; 
Galen.  Lewis  and  Daniel  died  young;  Mary  mar- 
ried John  A.  Minnier;  John  is  a  resident  of  Fish- 


er's  Ferry,  Ta.;  Wesley,  of  Asherton,   l'a. :  Alice 
died  young. 

WALTON  F.  RHOADS,  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Sunbury,  the  oldest  financial 
institution  of  that  borough,  has  been  identified 
with  that  community  all  his  life,  but  he  belongs  to 
an  <>1<1  Berks  county  family,  being  a  son  of  William 
s.  Rhoads  ami  grandson  of  Benneville  Rhoads. 

The  Rhoads  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Berks 
county,  where  it  was  planted  in  the  early  days 
of  the  eighteenth  century — some  accounts  give  the 
year  1710 — by  several  brothers  of  the  name,  one  of 
whom  was  John  Jacob  Rhoads.  His  nationality 
is  uncertain,  and  in  the  early  tax  lists  ami  records 
his  name  is  also  spelled  Roth  and  Roads.  In  1753 
he  was  a  taxable  resident  of  Amity  township. 
Berks  county,  and  owned  considerable  land,  lie 
was  a  man  of  affairs  and  operated  a  paper  mill 
in  Amity  township.  Tradition  has  it  that  oire  of 
the  sandstone  tombstones  east  of  Amityville 
church,  whose  inscription  has  become  illegible  by 
time,  marks  his  grave.  His  children  were:  (1) 
Lena  married  Henry  Baum.  (2)  Jacob  in  1778 
was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  He 
married  Susanna  Yoeum  and  their  children  were; 
Hannah.  Daniel.  John.  Jacob,  Samuel  and  Eliz- 
abeth. (3)  Matthias  was  a  lieutenant  colonel  in 
the  Revolution.  He  married  Elizabeth  Gotterin 
and  had  children:  Mary,  Esther,  ('apt.  Jacob, 
Joseph,  Abraham  ami  John.  (4)  Daniel  married 
Magdalena  Kerst  and  they  had  twelve  children: 
David,  Peter,  Samuel.  Jacob.  John.  Solomon, 
Adam.  George,  Daniel.  Henry,  Abraham  and 
Mary.  (~>)  Mary  married  Mai  George  Lorah,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier.  (6)  Elizabeth  married 
Maj.  George  Lorah  after  the  death  of  her  sister 
Mary.  (7)  Samuel  is  mentioned  below.  (8) 
Christina  married  Jacob  Griesemer.  (0)  John 
married  Catharine  Greiner  and  had  children: 
Jacob,  Hannah.  John.  Catharine.  George,  Mary, 
Eleanor.   Elizabeth,  William  and   Samuel. 

Samuel  Rhoads,  son  of  John  Jacob,  married 
Elizabeth  Auvenshine.  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  children  a-  follows:  William.  John.  Dan- 
iel. Samuel.  Abraham,  Elizabeth,  and  two  sons 
that  died  young. 

Samuel  Rhoads,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth, 
married  Sarah  Ludwig  and  they  had  children  as 
follows:  William  L.  married  Lydia  Hine:  Jonas 
married  Rachel  Hunter:  Abraham  L.  married 
Harriet  Stranh;  Frederick  lived  in  Dayton,  Ohio; 
Sarah  married  John  Nein  and  lived  in  Chester 
county,  l'a..  where  she  is  buried:  Eliza  married 
Samuel  Sands  and  both  are  buried  at  Boyertown : 
Benneville  married  Rebecca  Lewis. 

Benneville  Rhoads.  wdto  married  Rebecca  Lewis. 
was  born  at  Amityville,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  for 
many  years  lived  in  Ohio.  Among  his  children 
was  a  Mm  William,  father  of  Walton  F.  Rhoads. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


il 


William  S.  Rhoads,  son  of  Benneville,  was  born 
May  25,  1835,  in  Berks  comity.  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  in  1866, 
spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  that  place, 
lie  moved  hither  from  Paxtonville  (earlier  known 
as  Beaver  Furnace),  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  had 
been  engaged  as  a  bookkeeper,  and  he  followed  the 
same  work  in  Sunbury,  where  he  died  March  13, 
L891.  He  is  buried  in  Pomfrei  Manor  cemetery. 
He  became  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Sunbury, 
where  Tor  fifteen  years  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  school  hoard  from  what  was  then  the  Third 
ward,  serving  many  years  as  secretary  of  the  board. 
Politically  lie  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a 
Lutheran,  and  socialh  he  belonged  to  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Odd  fellows.  Mr.  Rhoads  mar- 
ried Hannah  Koch  Francis,  who  was  horn  May  25, 
1833,  and  died  Feb.  28,  1907.  Thej  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Mary  ('.  (de- 
ceased) married  Elwood  1'.  McConnell;  Adelaide 
F.  married  Charles  A.  Sensenbach,  of  Sunbury; 
Joseph  W.  died  when  eleven  years  old;  Walton  F. 
is  a  resident  of  Sunbury. 

Walton  F.  Rhoads  wa"s  horn  Sept.  22,  1860,  at 
llecla,  Schuylkill  county,  and  received  his  literary 
training  in  the  Sunbury  schools,  going  to  the  Sun- 
bury high  school.  Later  he  entered  the  military 
academy  at  We-t  Point,  but  resigned  in  1881,  aft- 
er one  year's  attendance,  and  returning  to  Sun- 
bury became  employed  as  I kkeeper  in  Whitmer 

&  Foster's  general  store.  There  he  remained  one 
year,  when  he  became  connected  in  the  capacity 
of  bookkeeper  with  the  First  National  Dank  of 
Sunbury,  with  which  he  has  since  been  associated. 
This  was  in  1883.  From  I kkeeper  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  teller,  then  to  assistant 
cashier,  and  on  Feb.  1,  1909,  he  became  cashier, 
succeeding  George  W.  Deppen.  This  hank  was 
established  in  1831,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  reliable  financial  concerns  of  Sunbury  and  the 
adjacent  territory.  Mr.  Rhoads'  lone  and  honor- 
able career  in  its  service  has  given  him  the  highest 
standing  among  business  men  in  this  section,  and 
his  personal  reputation  is  equally  enviable.  Fra 
ternallv  he  is  associated  with  True  Cross  Com- 
mandery,  No.  112,  Knights  of  Malta,  and  Maclav 
Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  both  of  Sunbury,  and 
he  also  belongs  to  the  Temple  Club  and  to  Good 
Intent  Fire  Company,  No.  1.  of  Sunbury,  of  which 
latter  organization  la'  has  been  treasurer  since 
18'95.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
Church.  ( 

On  Nov.  4.  1883,  Mr.  Rhoads  married  Mary  C. 
Cooper,  daughter  "!'  Thomas  G.  and  Mary  Eliz- 
abeth   (Rohrbach)   Cooper,  who  lived  in  Sunbury. 

Children    as    follows    have    I n    horn    to    them: 

Florence  Edna,  wife  of  Bruce  (I.  Prick,  who  is 
employed  in  the  treasury  department  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C:  Bertha  Irene:  Alma  Catharine,  who 
died  March  'it.  1906,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  war-: 


Thomas  W. ;  Mary  Cooper;  Walton  Francis  dr.: 
and   Martha    Elizabeth. 

Tin:  Francis  Family,  to  which  Mr-.  Hannah 
Koch  (Francis)  Rhoads,  mother  of  Walter  Fran- 
cis Rhoads,  belonged,  is  also  a  Berks  count) 
family.  Her  grandfather,  Jacob  Francis,  was  born 
Oct.  10,  L777,  and  lived  on  the  farm  in  Amity. 
near  the  Exeter  township  line,  now  owned  by  his 
grandson,  Jacob  S.  Francis,  in  June,  1806,  he 
purchased  live  acres  from  one  Jacob  Bower  and 
settled  upon  it  for  the  remainder  of  hi-  life,  dying 
there  Aug.    Hi,    1849.      In  April.   1810,  he  added 

twelve  acres  to  || 'iginal   tract  and   more   from 

tune  to  time  until  he  had  fifty-four  acres.  In  1819 
he  built  the   harn   which   is  still   standing  on   the 

place,  and  in  1X4:!  the  present  dwelling  1 se.     He 

was  a  shoemaker  ami  farmer,  industrious  and 
thrifty,  and  prospered.  He  was  a  Lutheran  and 
a  regular  attendant  of  Amityville  Church,  and 
he  and  his  wife,  Susanna  Rosena,  are  buried  in 
the  graveyard  at  Amityville,  in  Amity  town- 
ship. She  was  horn  Oct.  8,  1777,  and  died  Feb. 
'.'I.  1843.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children: 
John,  horn  Dee.  31,  1801,  was  married  Dec.  3, 
L826,  to  Elizabeth  Susan  Snyder;  Samuel  is 
fully  mentioned  below;  Daniel,  horn  Aug.  8,  1805, 
was  married  Dei'.  26,  1829,  and  died  Aug.  8,  1849; 
Jacob,  horn  Aug.  6,  1  so 7 .  married  Dec.  is.  1843, 
Lydia  Yaeger  (or  Hunter)  :  Lydia,  horn  Aug.  Hi. 
1809,  died  Nov.  27,  1824;  Elizabeth  was'  horn 
Oct.  Ht.  1S11  ;  Catharine  was  horn  .Ian.  -.'1.  183  1  ; 
Susanna  was  horn  Oct.  29,  1817;  William  is  men- 
tioned below. 

Samuel  Francis,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  .Ian. 
31,  1803,  ami  on  Now  25,  1827,  married  Cath- 
arine Koch,  by  whom  he  had  children  as  follows: 
Jacob  K.  is  mentioned  below;  Abram  K.  died  at 
Pinegrove,  Fa.:  Rev.  Samuel  A.  K.,  D.  I»..  is 
a  Lutheran  minister  located  in  Philadelphia;  Lay- 
anna  married  Isaac  ().  Bortz;  Hannah  K.  was 
the  wife  id'  William  S.  Rhoads,  late  id'  Sunbury, 
Fa.:  Dr.  Lesher  K.  lives  at  Boyertown,  Fa.:  a 
son.  twin  of  Lesher,  died  in  infancy:  Amanda 
married  William  Brunei",  of  Amity  township, 
Berks  count;  :  Bertolette  is  a  resident  of  Annt\ 
township,  Berks  county. 

Jacob  K.  Fraiuis.  -mi  of  Samuel,  was  bora 
in  Berks  county,  and  died  at  Harrisburg,  Fa., 
when  past  fifty  years  of  age.  lie  is  buried  at  My- 
erstown,  Fa.  In  his  earlier  life  he  was  a  teacher, 
later  engaging  in  business  as  a  merchant  at  Har- 
,  isburg.  IDs  wife,  Elinda  (  Breitenbach  ).  died 
Oct,  18,  1908,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years  ami 
js  buried  at  Colorado  Spiines.  (•,,!,,.  Their  chil- 
dren were  a-  follows:  Elizabeth  A.,  deceased; 
Man'  J.,  who  married  Thomas  I'.  Barber  and  re- 
gies ai  ( 'olorado  Springs,  ( 'olo. :  Ida.  w  ho  married 
■]■  s,  ||ui|  ,,,,,!  ]i\,.-  ;n  Colorado  Springs;  S 
\rw  inn.  a   publisher,   of    I  d  I  Ri  i     4 

M  _   mentioned    below  :    Alma    E.,   « ife   of    D.    W. 


42  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Shetzline,  of  Philadelphia;  and  William,  a  printer,  the  place  coming  into  his  possession  in  1901.  It 
of  Fort  Collins,  Colorado.  had  been  successively  the  property  of  his  grand- 
Rev.  J.  M.  Francis,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Zion*s  father  and  father.  The  place  now  contains  fifty- 
Lutheran  Church,  at  Sunbury,  Northumberland  seven  acres,  valuable  land,  which  is  under  a  profit- 
Co..  Pa.,  was  born  March  4,  1865,  at  Myerstown,  able  state  of  cultivation. 

Pa.,  and  has  been  in  the  Lutheran  ministry  for  On  March  25,  1875,  Mr.  Francis  married  Catli- 
almost  twenty  years.  He  received  his  college  edit-  arine  Bitting,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
cation  at  Gettysburg  College,  from  which  he  was  (Bella)  Bitting,  of  Exeter  township,  and  they 
graduated  in  1888  and  took  his  theological  course  have  had  a  large  family,  horn  as  follows:  William. 
immediately  afterward,  at  Gettysburg  Seminary,  Dec.  31,  1875;  Charles,  Aug.  31,  1ST;  (he  is  de- 
graduating  therefrom  in  1891.  His  first  charge  ceased);  Daniel,  April  19,  1870:  Jacob,  dan.  22, 
was  at  Louisville,  Ky..  whence  he  transferred  to  L882;  James,  dan.  3,  1881:  Henry,  Sept.  8.  1885; 
Columbia  City,  Ind..  and  later  to  Springfield,  111.,  Lizzie.  April  T.  1887  (deceased)  :  George,  March 
becoming  quite  prominent  in  the  administrative  23,  1888:  Sallie,  Aug.  23,  1890;  Vesta,  Nov.  :'.. 
work  of  the  church  in  the  latter  State,  serving  as  1893  (deceased)  :  Pearl,  dune  9,  1896;  and  Lu- 
president  of  the  Lutheran  Synod  of  northern  In-  ther  and  Annie,  twins,  duly  16,  1898.  Mr.  Fran- 
diana  and  holding  the  same  position  in  central  eis  and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  be- 
Illinois;  he  was  chaplain  of  the  Illinois  Legis-  lief,  members  of  the  Amitvville  Church, 
lature  for  four  years,  from  1904  to  1908.     On  May 

17.  1908,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  present  JOHN  JACOB  KELLER,  M.  D..  has  been  lo- 
charge,  at  Sunbury,  Pa.,  where  he  has  an  im-  cated  in  medical  practice  al  Seven  Point-.  Rock- 
portant  pastorate,  the  congregation  of  Zion"s  efeller  township,  since  1890  and  during  that  period 
Church  numbering  fourteen  hundred  members,  has  built  up  a  large  practice,  his  patients  being 
He  is  a  devoted  and  efficient  worker  and  his  serv-  scattered  over  a  wide  territory,  some  of  them  in 
ices  have  proved  highly  acceptable.  Fraternally  Sunbury  and  Trevorton.  lie  was  born  Oct.  5, 
he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Maclay  Lodge,  No.  1861.  one  mile  south  of  Elvsburg.  Northumber- 
632.  of  Sunbury,  and  to  the  consistory  at  Blooms-  land  county,  son  of  Jacob  Keller,  and  was  named 
burg.  for  his  great-grandfather  John  Jacob,  who  was 
Dr.  Francis  married  Eliazbeth  M.  Toot,  daugh-  born  Nov.  22,  1773.  and  died  April  28,  1817. 
ter  of  H.  S.  and  Harriet  S.  (Deardorf)  Toot,  of  aged  seventy-three  years,  six  months,  six  day-. 
Gettysburg,  Pa.  They  have  three  children:  Ray-  Hi'  came  to  Northumberland  county  in  his  later 
mond  T.,  who  graduated  from  Sunbury  high  years  and  settled  in  Ralpho  township.  He  is  bur- 
school  in  1910  and  is  now  a  student  at  Bucknell  ied  at  the  historic  Blue  church,  at  Dark  Corner. 
University;  Reginald  K..  and  Robert  M.  His   wife,   Mary   Magdalina,   born  Aug.    5,    1777, 

■  Med  Aug.  26,  is:,;,  aged  eighty  years,  twenty-one 
William  Francis,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Aug.  days.  His  children  were:  Philip,  the  Doctor's 
6.  1820,  in  Amity  township,  Berks  county,  where  grandfather;  Henry,  who  lived  at  Bear  Gap,  Pa.; 
In-  -on  Jacob  S.  now  resides,  lie  passed  all  his  Samuel,  who  lived  in  Snyder  county.  Pa.:  an- 
life  on  that  farm  dying  there  April  4.  1901.  when  other  son.  who  lived  in  Venango  county.  Pa.:  Dan- 
over  eighty  years  old.  He  owned  the  place  and  iel,  who  lived  and  died  in  Ralpho  township,  North- 
cultivated  it.  also  following  shoemaking,  and  out-  umberland  county,  at  Dark  Comer  Valley  (he 
side  of  his  own  affairs  he  was  principally  inter-  was  a  farmer)  :  and  George,  who  married  Rebecca 
ested  in  church  work,  in  which  he  was  very  active.  Hoover,  and  died  in  Ralpho  township. 
He  and  his  wife  were  devout  Lutherans,  and  he  Philip  Keller,  grandfather  of  Dr.  John  J. 
was  deacon  and  elder  in  the  church,  chorister  for  Keller,  was  born  Oct.  ".'.  1803.  in  Shamokin  town- 
many  years,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  cem-  ship,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  ob- 
etery  board,  which  he  helped  to  organize.  On  May  tained  his  education.  He  married  Catherine  Roth, 
11.  1843,  be  married  Julian  Steinmetz,  daughter  who  was  born  duly  15,  1806,  in  Limerick  town- 
of  Michael  and  Mary  Ann  Steinmetz.  and  their  ship,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.  She  died  Dec.  15, 
children  were  a-  follows:  Mary  A.,  born  Aug.  1870,  aged  sixty-four  years,  five  months.  They 
15,  1844,  married  Augustus  Redcay  and  they  had  these  children:  Jacob,  born  Sept.  26, 
lived  in  Birdsboro,  Berks  county;  Emeline,  born  1826;  Daniel,  born  Jan.  17.  1828;  Louisa, 
Sept.  3.  1846,  .married  Samuel  McLean:  Amanda,  born  Fell.  22,  1830,  who  married  Jacob  Kersch- 
born  Feb.  3.  1  s  I'-',  died  aged  fourteen  years:  Jacob  ner;  Isaiah,  born  duly  22,  1833,  who  died 
S.  is  mentioned  below:  Ellen,  born  April  1.  L853,  young;  Marc  born  Sept.  29,  1838.  who  died  Feb. 

died  Oct.   19,  1871:  David,  born  May  10,  1855,    1.   1868,  wif William  Kreigbaum;  and  Anna, 

died  in  infancy.  born  duly  17.  1841,  who  died  Dec.  3.  1867,  wife 

da.  oli   S.   Francis  was  born   Sept.   3,    1850,   on  of  Thomas  Smith. 

the  Francis  homestead  in  Amity  township  where  Philip  Keller  settled  in  Shamokin  township  and 

he  was  reared  and  where  he  lias  spent  all  his  life,  followed  farming,  owning  a  farm  at  Elysburg,  now 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


i:; 


the  property  of  Valentine  Swank.  By  trade  he 
was  a  weaver,  of  both  plain  and  fancy  articles, 
turning  out  bedspreads,  {•loth,  linen,  etc.     He  was 

a  devout  member  of  the  German  Refor 1  ( Ihurch, 

deeply  interested  in  religion  ami  a  devoted  Bible 
student,  taking  great  pleasure  in  the  perusal  of 
i  lie  Scriptures.  He  died  aboul  1884,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  eight,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 

Jacob  Keller,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  at  Elysburg,  and  died  in  1896,  aged 
sixty-nine  year-,  seven  months,  lie  is  buried  at 
the  Blue  church,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  be- 
longing to  the  Reformed  congregation.  Having 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  he  was  engaged 
on  the  construction  of  many  coal  breakers,  and 
later  in  life  he  took  up  farming,  owning  a  farm 
which  is  now  the  property  of  Percy  Swank,  ad- 
joining the  homestead  place.  He  married  Rosetta 
Conrad,  who  survived  him  dying  in  190'5,  aged 
seventy  years,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children:  Uriah  1!.,  who  is  deceased;  Ma- 
lissa,  wife  of  .lames  Kramer,  of  Shamokin;  Amos, 
who  died  in  Wisconsin;  Tillie  (deceased),  who 
married  Luke  Bird  and  lived  in  Shamokin:  Frank, 
who  died  of  typhoid  fever  when  nine  years  old; 
John  Jacob;  Viana.  who  married  Leonard  Pensyl 
and  lives  at  Shamokin;  Hannah,  who  married 
Harry  Kline  and  lives  at  Shamokin;  Elias  Wesley, 
a  carpenter,  who  lives  on  Dewart  street  in  Sham- 
okin :  and   four  who  died  young. 

John  Jacob  Keller  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  after  leaving  the  Elys- 
burg  high    school    took    private   instruction   and   a 

Chautauqua     corres] dence    course.       He    then 

taught  school  for  six  years,  in  what  is  now  Ralpho 
township,  and  began  reading  medicine  with  the 
late  Dr.  S.  F.  Gilbert,  of  Elysburg.  He  completed 
his  professional  preparation  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College.  Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he 
was  graduated  in  1890  with  the  degree  of  M.  1>. 
From  thai  lime  he  has  been  located  at  Seven 
Points,  where  he  has  not  only  established  an  ex- 
cellent practice  but  gained  a  high  reputation  for 
skill  and  conscientious  devotion  to  his  duties,  and 
a  personal  standing  that  is  beyond  reproach.  He 
has  been  a  valuable  citizen,  and  has  interested  him- 
self in  matter-  of  bus ss  a-  well  as  of  professional 

concern.  Though  conservative  lie  is  progressive, 
and  his  judgment  is  regarded  as  reliable  among 
those  who  have  hem  associated  with  him  in  bus- 
iness transactions.      He   is  a  large  owner  of   real 

estate  in  Sunbury,  and  was  oi I'  tl gamzers 

and  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  directors  oi 
the   Sunbury  National  Bank.     He  has  served  his 

township  as  scl 1  director  and  is  a  Democrat  in 

politic.-.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership in  Elysburg  Lodge.  No.  -HI,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Northumberland  Chapter.  No.  1W,  ''•  A.  M., 
of  Sunbury,  Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  JNo.  bo, 
K.  T.,  of  Sunbury,  and  Bloomsburg  Consistory, 
thirty-second  degree. 


On  Feb.  23,  L882,  Dr.  Keller  married  Cath- 
arine Barron,  daughter  of  Camel  and  Margaret 
(Slaughterback)  Barron,  who  lived  at  Elysburg; 
the  Slaughterback  family  came  from  Juniata 
county.  Pa.  Five  children  have  been  horn  to  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Keller,  namely:  Myrtle  attended  school 
at  Williamsport.  Pa.,  and  later  studied  at  Buck- 
iiell  University,  at  Lewisburg,  Pa  ;  Verna  grad- 
uated   from   the    Stale    normal    school    at    I'd s- 

hurg.  Pa.,  in  1908,  and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching 
public  school,  this  being  her  second  term:  Russell 
died  in  infancy;  Grace  died  in  1907,  when  nine 
years  old:  Gladys  is  the  youngest.  Dr.  Keller  and 
his  family  worship  at  the  Methodist  Church. 

EDWARD  B.  VOUGHT,  proprietor  of  the  Pax- 
inos  Roller  .Mills,  is  one  of  the  leading  business 
men   of   his   section   of    Northumberland   county, 

where  he  has  resided  from  young  manh 1.     He 

is  a  native  of  Montour  county,  this  State, 
horn  July  30,  1857,  son  of  Esick  Howell  Vought, 
and  is  a  grandson  of  John  Vought.  Sr.,  the  foun- 
der of  this  branch  of  the  family  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  Voughts  are  of  German  origin,  and  the  first 
of  the  faiuih  to  come  to  America  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  near  what  is  now  Trenton.  Among  his  chil 
dren  were  the  three  brothers,  John.  Daniel  and 
Isaac,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in 
this  region  in  pioneer  times.  A  large  number  of 
Voughts  are  buried  in  the  section  where  they 
settled,  and  most  of  the  dates  in  this  article  have 
been  taken  from  tombstone  records'  gathered  by 
Mr.  Jerry  Vought,  of  Danville:  many  of  the  fam- 
ily, however,  had  no  markers,  and  some  are  buried 
at  Catawissa,  Berwick,  and  other  places,  but  the 
records  have  been  made  as  complete  as  possible 
under  the  circumstances. 

John  Vought,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  emigrant 
ancestor  who  came  to  Pennsylvania,  was  born  July 
:;.   L785.     About  1817  be  came  from  New  Jersey 
to  what  is  now  Mayberry  township,  Montour  Co., 
Pa  .  making  the  journe]   \\  ith  teams,  and  he  was 
among  the  earlj  settlers  in  that  district.     He  look 
up  about  twelve  hundred   acres  of  land,  followed 
farming,  and  built  the  first  sawmill  along  the  Big 
Roaring  creek.     He  married    Hannah   Metz,  who 
was  born  Feb.  9,   L787,  and  died  June   is.   i 
upon  their  farm,  where   Mr.    Vought    died    Sept. 
30,  1869.     They  are  buried  a1   St.  John'-  Lutheran 
church,  also  known   a-    Nought's   Prick  church,   in 
Mayberry  township.    They  had  children  as  follows: 
,    John,  -I  r..   horn   June    1,    1807,   died    I  let.    7, 
ins.',.  He  was  a  boy  when  be  came  with  his  parents 
to   Montour  county,  w here  he   followed 
||e    married     Esther    Knillle.    who    was    horn    '  I 
11.  1813,  and  died    Dei .  20,   L898,  and  I 
i  ;  [ldren  :     Peter  II. ;  Caroline,  who  married  - 
,,,.]  Mutchler:  Hannah,  who  married  John  Martz; 
Sim-  ■''-■  who  hi 

,j,.,.  0f  the  peai  e  of   Ri  wnship  since  is::. 

(;m    infant   daughter  of  himself  and  wife  Clara. 


44 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


born  Oct.  2,  1875,  died  Oct.  4.  1875)  :  Mary,  who 
married  James  Broffel;  Julia,  born  in  1845.  who 
died  in  1902,  wife  of  Sanrue]  Pensyl,  who  was  born 
in  1837  and  died  in  1897  (their  son  Elwood,  born 
in  1867.  died  in  1871,  and  their  son  John,  horn 
in  1873,  died  in  1874):  .lane,  who  married  Jo- 
seph Campbell:  and  Serenda,  wife  of  S.  S.  Hel- 
wich.  (2)  Daniel.  (3)  Esiek  Howell  is  men- 
tioned below.  (4)  Valentine,  born  March  21, 
1814,  died  Feb.  14.  1901:  His  wife  Maria,  born 
Dec.  9,  1821,  died  May  9,  1881.  Their  son  J.  M. 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  had  a  son  born  Jan.  1. 
L881,  who  died  tin'  same  day:  and  another  grand- 
child of  Valentine  and  Maria  was  Mary  Gertrude 
Unger,  born  March  27,  1882,  who  died  Feb.  14. 
1907,  leaving  twin  sons  who  were  cared  for  and 
reared  by  their  grandmother,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Vought. 
(5)  James,  born  Dee.  30,  1826,  died  May  9,  1894. 
His  wife,  Emaline,  died  April  -.A'.  1868.  Their 
daughter,  Emaline.  died  Mav  2,  1SC>8:  their  son, 
Archibald  Luther,  died  June  30,  1867;  their 
daughter,  Amelia  Elizabeth,  died  May  10,  1866; 
their  daughter,  Naoma  Ann.  died  March  20,  1866; 
their  son,  Esick  Calvin,  died  Oct.  23,  1863— all 
dying  in  infancy  or  early  childhood.  Alice  Au- 
miller,  daughter  id'  James  and  Jane  Vought,  ami 
her  young  child  arc  also  buried  with  the  Voughts, 
but  their  graves  are  not  marked.  (6)  Anna,  (7i 
Elizabeth.  (8)  Leanah,  horn  April  28,  1819, 
died  Nov.  ".'■"■'.  1889.  She  married  Thomas  1'. 
Vastine,  born  Jan.  -.'0.  1822,  who  died  Dec.  3,  1885. 
Of  their  children:  Hannah  «died  May  26,  1867, 
aged  fifteen  years,  eight  months,  eleven  days; 
Sarah  Catharine  died  April  15.  1867,  aged  eighteen 
years,  three  months,  twelve  days:  and  their  son  J. 
W.  and  his  wife  Emma  hail  a  son  horn  March  6, 
1893,  who  died  the  same  day. 

Esiek  Howell  Vought,  son  of  John  Vought  and 
his  wife  Hannah  (Metz).  died  July  29,  1894, 
aged  seventy-two  years,  twenty-one  days.  He  was 
born  in  Columbia  county,  and  -pent  practically 
all  his  life  in  Mayberry  township,  Montour  county, 
where  he  followed  farming.  He  married  Louisa 
Crowl,  who  was  born  in  June.  1819.  daughter  of 
Harry  Crowl.  and  died  in  January.  1902.  They 
are  buried  at  St.  John's  Lutheran  church  in  Co- 
lumbia county.  Their  children  were  as  follow-: 
(1)  Annie  F...  horn  April  6,  1844.  died  Oct.  28, 
1889.  CM  Marv  J.  i-  deceased.  (.3)  Henrietta 
married  Adam  Pensyl  and  they  live  at  Elysburg, 
Northumberland  county.  Their  son,  Edward  Ear- 
ns, born  June  6,  1871,  died  March  23,  1873;  their 
daughter  Linnie.  horn  July  6,  fs75.  died  Sept. 
4.  1880.  (4)  Christian  M..  who  is  deceased, 
married  Araminta  Campbell,  who  was  horn 
March  1".  1855,  and  died  Mav  Hi.  1877.  Their 
daughter  Araminta.  horn  May  I.  1*77.  died  July 
25,  1877.  (5)  Sallie  E.  married  A.  V*.  Long,  and 
is  deceased.  (6)  "Margaret  married  H.  V.  Hart- 
man    and    they    are    living   in    Ralpho    township. 


They  have  children,  May,  "Clark,  Ray  and  Wilbur. 
(7) "Alfred  Chester,  horn  May  31,  1855,  died  July 
15.  1879.  (8)  Edward  B.  is  mentioned  below-. 
CM  Joseph  H.  is  living  in  Sunhury.  (Id)  Alonzo 
C.  is  living  in  Sunbury.  Clara  E.,  his  wife,  died 
July  ".'5.  1896,  aged  thirty  years,  six  months,  six 
days;  daughter  Daisy  a.  died  Feb.  16,  1891,  when 
two  months  old;  son  Frankie  E.  died  July  16, 
1889,  when  nine  months  old;  Nora,  twin  of  F.  E., 
is  living:  an  infant  son  died  Aug.  29,   L896. 

Edward  B.  Vought  was  born  in  Mayberry  town- 
ship. Montour  county,  and  was  reared  upon  the 
farm,  remaining  with  his  father  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  At  that  time  he  be- 
came engaged  in  business  as  a  general  merchant  at 
Union  Corners,  in  Rush  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  was  located  for  a  period  of 
ten  years,  removing  thence  to  the  borough  of 
Shamokin.     There  he  remained  another  ten  years, 

conducting  a  - store  at   Independence  and  Lib- 

erty  streets,  after  which  he  spent  a  year  in  the 
lumber  business.  In  1900  he  bought  the  old  mill 
property  of  J.  \Y.  Reed,  near  Paxihos,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  has  since  conducted  the  mill. 
This  mill  was  built  in  1840,  and  a  milling  bus- 
iness ha-  been  done  at  this  site  for  the  last  hund n  d 
years.  In  1909  Mr.  Vought  equipped  his  plant 
with  the  most  improved  roller  process,  and  he  car- 
ries on  a  general  milling  business,  in  flour,  feed, 
etc..  his  leading  brands  of  flour  being  White  Loaf, 
White  Satin  and  Gilt  Edge.  He  has  become  one 
of  the  foremost  business  men  of  hi-  section,  and 
is  quite  prominent  in  public  affairs,  being  at  pres- 
ent road  commissioner.  lie  was  school  director 
l"i  six  years,  during  which  time  he  acted  as  pres- 
ident and  treasurer  of  the  hoard,  one  year  in  each 
capacity.  He  is  a  pasl  master  of  Elysburg  Lodge, 
No.   114,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Vought's  first  marriage  was  to  Mary  E. 
Pensyl,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Caroline  (  Epler) 
Pensyl.  She  died  in  ls84  and  is  buried  at  Reed's 
church.  Three  children  were  horn  to  this  union: 
Caroline  L..  Jesse  R.  and  Ambrose  J.  For  his 
second  wife  .Mr.  Vought  married  Catharine  Wil- 
hour,  daughter  of  Peter  Wilhour,  and  they  have 
three  children :    Marion  L.,  Grant  S.  and  Violet  E. 


Daniel  Vought,  one  of  the  three  brothers  who 
came  from  New  Jersev  to  Pennsylvania,  was  born 
I'd.  23,  178'8,  and  died  Dec.  13,  187(>.  He  set- 
tled in  Mayberry  township,  Montour  county,  and 
followed  farming.  His  wife.  Marv.  horn  Oct.  22, 
1791,  died  July  12.  1859.  Their  children  wi 
(1  i  Jacob.  (2)  Peter.  (J)  Daniel.  who«e 
in-law.  William  Mutehler,  born  in  1842,  died  in 
1909.  Two  sons  (  Mutchlers)  are  buried  with  him. 
John  and  Oscar,  but  no  age  is  given.  (4)  John 
M.  died  April  7.  1882,  aged  fifty-three  years,  ten 
months,  eighteen  days.  Hi-  wile.  Elizabeth,  horn 
April  26,  1827,  d.  June  7.  1900,  aged  seventy-tl 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


15 


years,  one  ith,  eleven  days.     (5)   Samuel  died 

March  5,  L889,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  month, 

twenty  days;  his  wife  Catharine  died  Sept.  '.'It, 
1887,  aged  thirty-eight  years,  seven  months, 
twenty-three  days.  Their  son,  Lorenzo  E.  A., 
horn  in  is;::,  died  in  1902.  (6)  Mary  died  after 
reaching  maturity,  but  tier  grave  is  not  marked. 
(7)  Catharine  died  dan.  2,  ISUS,  aged  forty  year-, 
twenty-six  days.  (8)  Sarah  A.  Dimick,  the 
other  daughter,  also  died  after  reaching  maturity, 
hut  her  grave  is  not  marked,  and  age  is  not  known 
to  the  present  writer. 


Concerning  the  posterity  of  Isaac  Vought,  the 
third  brother  who  came  from  New  Jersej  to  Penn- 
sylvania, Z.  <).  Vought,  his  son,  born  July  26, 
1831,  died  April  P.'.  L906;  the  latter's  wife,  Ma- 
nali.  horn  Nov.  5,  1835,  died  Feh.  17,  1900.  Their 
daughter,  Mar]  Gertrude,  born  Dec-.  29,  1855, 
died  Feh.  is,'  L860;  then-  son.  Chalrles,  horn 
Dec.  17,  L860,  died  Nov.  7,  1877. 


A  grandson  of  Daniel  Vought,  Sr.,  Henry 
Vought  (whose  wife's  name  was  Ilattio),  laid  in- 
fant twins  that  died  May  1:1.  1878;  an  infant  son 
that  died  March  '.'(>,  1875,  when  one  month,  sev- 
enteen days  old;  and  another  infant  son  that  died 
Dec.  5,   1*882,  aged  twelve  days. 

JESSE  R.  VOUGHT,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
flour  and  i\<t't\  business  at  Shamokin,  Pa.,  was  born 
at  Union  Corners,  Rush  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  June  13,  1881,  son  of  Edward  B 
and  Mary  I-:.  (  Pensyl )  Vought.  lie  received  Ins 
education  in  (lie  local  public  schools  and  at  the 
Elysburg  Academy,  ami  then  entered  Franklin  ami 
Marshall  College,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained one  and  a  half  wars.  He  then  entered 
the  shoe  hnsiness  with  his  father  in  Shamokin, 
working  with  linn  during  the  year  1900  in  this 
business,  ami  next  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
with  his  father  at  Paxinos,  where  he  remained 
until  1909.  At  thai  time  he  embarked  in  his  pres- 
ent hnsiness  at  Shamokin,  dealing  in  Hour,  feed, 
hay,  grain  and.  straw.  His  place  of  hnsiness  is 
situated  at  the  corner  of  Commerce  and  Ninth 
streets,  and  he  has  a  flourishing  trade. 

Mr.  Vought  married  Leona  Linderman,  daugli 
ter  of  William  Linderman,  of  Shamokin,  I'a.     So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  local  lodge  id'  Elks. 

JAMES  a  SHEARER,  present  chief  burgess 
of  Milton.  Northumberland  county,  is  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business  in  that  borough  and  has 
long  been  associated  with  its  civil  administration, 
having  held  office — local  or  county— continuously 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  high  standing  in  the 
borough  is  attested  by  the  manv  marks  oi  confi- 
dence which  have  been  shown  him  by  his  fellow 
citizens. 


Mr.  Shearer  was  horn  in  1858  in  Limestone 
township,  Montour  Co..  Pa.,  and  is  of  [risli  de- 
scent, a  member  of  the  fourth  generation  of  his 
family  in  this  country.  His  great-grandfather, 
Michael,  who  spelled  the  name  Sherred,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  lived  and  died  in  that  coun- 
try, lie  married  Esther  Dutton,  and  they  had 
three  children.  Robert,  Jane,  ami  another  daugh- 
ter who  died  at  sea  while  the  family  were  en  route 
for  America.  The  mother  was  remarried,  to 
Thomas  Wallace,  by  whom  she  had  -i\  children: 
Susan,  who  married  John  Russell ;  Esther,  wife  of 
Samuel  DeArmaml  (she  died  in  1851,  and  he  in 
1818)  ;  Nancy,  Mrs.  McKinney;  Mary,  Mr-.  More- 
head;  Mrs  MeKee;  and  John,  who  died  young. 
About  1780  this  entire  family  came  to  America, 
settling  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  In  1793  they  re- 
moved to  Delaware  township,  Northumberland 
county,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace  lived  and 
died.  Jane  Shearer,  daughter  of  Michael,  mar- 
ried William  Hunter  and  settled  near  Washington- 
\  die,  Pennsylvania. 

Robert  Shearer,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  was  fifteen  years  old  when  he  came  to 
America  with  the  family.  Ho  also  accompanied 
them  on  their  removal  to  near  Warrior  Run  in 
Northumberland  county,  and  one  of  his  grand- 
daughters, a  Miss  Shearer  of  Milton,  ha-  his 
church  certificate  lor  transfer  of  membership 
from  the  Derry  Church  in  Dauphin  county,  dated 
March  •.'(',,  l?!):i.  lie  married  Margaret  Hutch- 
inson, wdto  was  horn  Oct.  30,  L782,  and  upon  his 
marriage  purchased  a  farm  of  L60  acres  in  what 
was  then  Turhtit  township,  Northumberland 
county  (now  Limestone  town-hip.  Montour 
county).  Here  lie  and  his  beloved  wife  spent 
their  entire  married  life,  his  death  occurring  March 
31,  1839,  hers  Sept.  15,  is.'.d.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children :  Esther,  El- 
eonore.  Margaret,  John.  Jane  and  Mary,  all  hut 
John  dying  unmarried. 

Joseph  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Margaret  (Hutch- 
inson )  Shearer's  father,  was  horn  in  1 ;  1".  ami 
in  1762  married  Margaret  Hutchinson,  who  was 
born  in  Kll-  Their  children  n-en  born  a 
lows'  Marv.  Jan.  16,  1  Hi-". :  Joseph,  July  L0, 
1765;  Jean," June  15,  1761  ;  John,  July  23,  1770; 
Elder,  Feh.  :.  1773;  Margaret,  Jan.  23,  1775 
(died  voung)  ;  Sarah,  Nov.  '-'J.  L777;  Andrew, 
Apnl  16,  1780:  Margaret  (2),  Oct.  30,  1782: 
Florence,  April  5,  1785.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  Sept.  21,  1804,  the  mother  Jan.  17,  L813.  lie 
pave  the  lam!  for  the  burying  ground  at  w  arrior 
'i;,m  church,  entering  in  Hie  deed  a  provision  that 
;mv  of  his  descendant  -  forever  who  so  desin  tl 
should  he  buried  there  free. 

John  shearer,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  Aug 
1811,  and   did    \pnl    12,    1892,  at    Milton.      He 
purchased  bis  father"-  farm  ami  that  prop- 

n,iil  1885,  when  he  sold  the  place  to  i  lideon 


40 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Shoop  and  moved  to  Milton,  passing  the  remainder 
of  liis  days  in  that  borough.  Before  his  removal 
to  Milton  he  had  served  thirty-five  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  there  were  few  better  known 
men  in  his  locality.  If.-  married  Catharine  Frick 
Oakes.  who  was  born  in  White  Deer  Valley,  Union 
Co..  Pa.,  Nov.  21,  1834,  and  died  Nov.  8,  L908, 
and  they  are  buried  in  the  upper  cemetery  at 
Milton.  They  had  a  family  of  five  children:  Rob- 
ert, now  of  Duluth,  Minn. :  Samuel,  of  Okla- 
homa; Margaret  H. :  James  0. :  and  Wallace,  who 
died  in  1890  (he  was  serving  at  the  time  as  sei  - 
retary  of  Milton  Lod.se.  No.   256,    K.  &   A.   M.). 

Judge  Samuel  Oakes,  father  of  Mrs.  John 
Shearer,  was  horn  Dec.  30,  L796,  and  died  Dec. 
21,  1867.  On  March  14.  1822,  he  married  Sarah 
Montgomery,  who  was  horn  Sept.  20,  L803,  daugh- 
tei  of  Robert  (horn  1762)  and  Catharine  (Prick) 
Montgomery  (born  1767,  died  1805),  grand- 
daughter of  John  Montgomery  (horn  1738,  died 
1792)  and  Christiana  (Foster)  (born  1741,  died 
L821),  and  great-granddaughter  of  Robert  and 
Sarah  Montgomery,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  in  1737  and  set- 
tled in  Dauphin  county.  Ta.:  this  Robert  Mont- 
gomery died  Oct.  15,  1776,  aged  seventy-one 
years,  and  is  buried  at  Paxton  Church,  near  Ham- 
burg, Pa.  To  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Montgomery) 
Oakes  was  born  a  large  family,  viz.:  Catherine  F. 
was  born  Feb.  14.  1823;  Gen.  James,  born  April 
t.  1826,  who  married  Maria  Beehn,  of  Philadel- 
phia, was  a  captain  in  the  Mexican  war.  served 
"11  the  Western  frontier,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Union  Veteran  Legion  (he  died  in  1910); 
Sarah  J.,  bora  Feb.  7,  1829,  married  John  V. 
G llander,  of  Milton,  and  died  May  5,  1898;  Mar- 
garet, born  Aug.  30,  1832,  married  Titer  Hughs 
(associate  judge),  of  Danville,  Pa.;  Catharine  F. 
was  the  wife  of  John  Shearer:  Lucretia,  born  Sept. 
6,  L836,  died  Si  it.  21,  1842:  Christiana,  born  Jan. 
5,  1839,  married  Dr.  C.  11.  Dougal  and  died  March 
25,  1873;  Caroline,  horn  Feb.  6,  1841.  married 
James  D.  McGinnes,  of  Limestoneville,  Pa.;  Eliza- 
beth, born  Sept.  24,  1843,  married  B.  Lyons,  of 
Columbia  county.  Pennsylvania. 

James  0.  Shearer  spent  Ins  boyhood  days  on  his 
father's  farm.  In  1885  he  went  West,  remaining 
until  1887,  when  he  returned  Fast  and  located  in 
Milton,  finding  employment  in  the  Milton  Car 
Works.  In  1896,  with  his  election  as  overseer  of 
the  poor  in  Milton,  he  began  his  connection  with 
the  official  life  of  the  town,  and  lie  continued  to 
fill  that  position  for  ten  years,  until  1906,  in  which 
year  lie  was  appointed  chief  clerk  in  the  county 
commissioners'  office,  which  is  located  at  Sun- 
bury.  There  he  remained  until  1909,  when  he 
returned  to  Milton,  and  the  same  year  he  was  hon- 
ored with  election  to  the  office  of  chief  burgess, 
which  he  is  now  filling.  He  is  also  deputy  protho- 
notary    of    Northumberland    county.      It    was    in 


1902  that  Mr.  Shearer  began  the  insurance  bus- 
iness, which  he  has  since  continued,  having  his 
office  at  No.  11  Front  street.  Milton.  He  has  es- 
tablished a  profitable  patronage  in  this  line,  which 
he  is  constantly  widening  by  his  diligent  efforts 
and    enterprising   methods. 

Mr.  Shearer  has  been  a  well  known  worker  in 
the  Democratic  organization  in  this  county,  and 
was  county  chairman  for  his  party  from  1903  to 
1905.  Socially  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  member- 
ship in  Lodge  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Milton: 
Warrior  Run  Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  of  Watsontown: 
Williams] M.it  Consistory;  and  Iram  Temple.  A. 
\  0.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  to  which  his  ancestors  for  gener- 
ations, before  the  emigration  to  America,  have  be- 
longed. 

On  Sept.  7,  1910,  Mr.  Shearer  married  Algie  D. 
Lamberson,  of  Sunbury. 

WILLIAM  T.. GRANT,  late  of  Sunbury. 
during  his  active  years  one  of  the  prominent  cit- 
izens of  Northumberland  county.  His  strong  char- 
and  business  ability  were  demonstrated  in  a 
life  of  energetic  and  successful  effort,  but  he  is 
probably  besl  n  membered  as  he  would  have  chosen 
to  be,  for  his  gentle  and  kindly  nature,  his  unas- 
suming but  effective  labors  in  the  interest  of  the 
the  general  welfare — a  career  of  quiet  usefulness 
continued  long  beyond  the  ordinary  span.  He 
was  one  of  the  oldesl  residents  of  Sunbury  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  one  of  the  most  re- 
spei  ted. 

Mr.  Grant  was  burn  Oct.  9,  1828,  on  the  old 
family  homestead  farm  now  within  the  upper  part 
of  the  borough  of  Sunbury.  and  was  a  descendant 
of  a  family  which  in  the  early  days  bon  its  -hare 
in  the  making  of  history  in  this  section  of  the 
State.  His  great-grandparents,  Alexander  ami 
Anna  (Gordon)  Grant,  came  from  Scotland  and 
settled  in  what  i-  now  the  northwestern  part  o 
borough  of  Sunbury,  and  there  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  They  are  buried  in  the  up- 
per graveyard:  Z\I r-.  Anna  Grant  lived  to  be  101 
years  old.  They  brought  with  them  two  children. 
Thomas  and  George,  both  of  whom  had  been  bap- 
tized in  the  cathedral  at  Edinburgh.  Both  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  Gi  _■  was  killed 
at  Stony  Point. 

Col.  Thomas  Grant,  son  of  Alexander  and 
Anna  (Gordon)  Grant,  was  a  colonel  in  the  Con- 
tinental forces  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  and 
settled  in  Sunbury  after  its  termination.  He  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  remained  with  his 
father  on  the  homestead,  becoming  the  owner  of 
the  extensive  farm,  which  is  now  within  the  limits 
of  the  borough.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
enterprise,  a  leading  citizen  of  his  day,  and  was 
supervisor  of  the  turnpike  company.  He  died 
June   16,   1815,   aged   fiftv-eight.   while   his   wife 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Deborah  (Martin),  who  was  from  Northumber- 
land, this  county,  born  Jan.  19,  1763,  died  Feb. 
22,  1845.  They  had  children:  <; 'ge,  Mary,  Ju- 
lian, Deborah,  William.  Thomas,  Martin,  Sarah, 
Roberl  (who  died  in  infancy)  and  Robert  S.  Of 
these  Deborah  married  Eenderton  Smith  and  had 
children,  Elizabeth,  Virgellia,  Deborah,  Julia, 
Annie,  Thomas,  Mary  A.,  Kenderton  and  Cad- 
wallader.  William  (son  of  Col.  Thomas  Grant), 
born  \m.  :.  l>s.  died  Feb.  28,  1838;  hi'  married 
Dorcas  Montgomery  (born  Dec.  5,  1790,  died 
July  3,  1863),  and  their  children  were  Clarinda, 
Thomas,  Roberl  Montgomery  (born  Feb.  '.'.  1816, 
died  Dec.  37,  L840),  Deborah  (born  Feb.  15, 
1818,  died  Feb.  1.  L851  i,  Margaret  Ann  (born 
in  1820,  died  in  1823),  and  Mary  (who  married 
Dr.  Reed  and  had  sons  Thomas  and  William). 

Roberl  S.  Grant,  son  of  Col.  Thomas,  was  born 
Dec!  I.  [554,  in  the  brick  house  winch  is  -till 
standing  on  the  old  homestead  place,  and  passed 
his  life  tin  re,  dying  April  25,  1849.  He  followed 
farming.  He  married  Elizabeth  Dyer,  who  was 
from  the  Wyoming  region,  being  of  \\  ilkes-Barre, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  sons:  William  T. 
is  mentioned  below  :  George  M.,  born  in  1831,  died 
in  is.".:;:  Thomas  D.,  born  Nov.  21,  1834,  died 
Aug.  13,  1879,  while  his  wife  Amelia  I).,  born 
\|,-il  15,  1839,  died  dan.  15,  1875.  There  was 
also  a  daughter,  who  died  young.  The  mother 
of  tin-  family  died  Feb.  27,  1837,  at  the  age  of 
t  Inn  \  -one. 

William    T.    (Irani    spent   his   boyhood    at    the 
home    place    and    received    his    education    in    the 

scl I-  of  Sunbury.     At  an  early  age  he  entered 

the  emploj  of  Eenry  Yoxtheimer,  who  at  thai  time 
had  one  of  the  largest  general  stores  in  tins  part 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  there  he  became  familiar 
with  business  methods  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  future  success.  Marrying  Mr.  Yoxtheimer's 
daughter,  he  and  another  son-in-law  of  that  gen- 
tleman, John  W.  Fryling,  formed  a  partnership 
and  became  proprietors  of  this  extensive  business. 
Mr.  (.rant  followed  merchandising  successfully 
for  a  number  of  rears,  later  becoming  interested 
in  the  coal  trade' in  the  Shamokin  region,  mak- 
ing large  shipments  from  his  wharves  in  Sui 
It  was  in  this  connection  that  he  became  one  ol 
the  founder-  and  officers  of  the  Shamokin  National 
Bank.  After  giving  tip  the  coal  business  he  was 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company's  service 
at  Sunbury  until  he  retired  because  of  advancing 
age  a   few    years  before  his  death. 

Though  he  never  aspired  to  public  honor-  Mr. 
Grant  had  such  close  association  with  various 
phase-  of  the  life  of  his  borough  that  he  was  very 
well  known.  He  was  always  ready  to  do  his  full 
duty  as  a  citizen  in  private  life,  and  during  his 
active  business  years  was  diligent  in  the  care  of 
his  own  enterprises,  but  he  invariably  found  time 
to  be  a  devoted   and  faithful  church  worker,  and 


in  this  connection  he  was  known  of  all  over  the 
State.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  Episcopal  Church 
officers  in  Pennsylvania,  having  been  a  vestryman 
of  St.  Matthew's  Church,  at  Sunbury,  for  a  period 

of  nearly  sixty  year-,  from  early  manhood  until  his 
death.  All  his  church  duties  were  efficiently  and 
promptly  performed,  and  he  was  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  services  as  long  as  his  strength  permit 
Sincere  and  unostentatious  in  his  religious  life, 
he  carried  the  principle-  of  Christianity  into  all 
his  relations  with  his  fellowmen.  "His  life  has 
been  an  open  book,  full  of  usefulness,  consider- 
ation for  others  and  gentleness.  All  hi-  ways 
were  ways  of  gentleness,  for  he  was  a  gentleman, 
and  taken  all  in  all  his  life  is  worthy  of  emulation. 
It  can  he  truthfully  said  the  world  for 

his  having  lived  in  it  and  there  are  many  sorrow- 
ing hearts  in  this  community,  for  his  friend-  and 
acquaintances  were  legion."  Hi-  "consideration 
for  others"  was  a  trait  he  carried  to  the  extent  of 
speaking  well  of  others  or  not  at  all.  and  wa-  so 
marked  that  it  wa-  always  a  pleasure  to  n 
him.  his  unfailing  kindness  and  courtesy  being  a 
matter  of  heart  as  well  as  of  principle.  In 
home  circle,  as  well  as  among  his  neighbors  and 
friends,  he  was.  cheerful  and  thoughtful,  a  delight- 
ful   companion,  and    loving    father    and    husband, 

whose  first  thought  was   for  others.       \ ig 

business  associates  he  was  no  less  esteemed  for  his 
clear  judgment  and  fairness  to  all.  His  last  years, 
after  'ii-  retirement  from  business  activities,  ■■■  ■ 
enjoved  in  simple  outdoor  life,  in  the  cultivation 
of  flowers  and  vegetables,  for  which  he  seemed  to 
have  a  gift,  Ins  success  with  such  ventures  being 
remarkable.  It  was  undoubtedly  his  method  of 
living  which  so  prolonged  his  years,  for  with  the 
exception  of  the  last  few  months  he  enjoyed  un- 
usual vitality  throughout  his  long  life  of  nearly 
eighty-two  rears,  In-  death  takin  August, 

1910J  at  his  1 e  on  Arch  street.  Sunbun      Ee 

was  buried  in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery.   Mr.  Grant 
wa-  probably  one  of  the  oldest  Masons  in  the  SI 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  havin  ;  b©  n  a  membei 
Lodge  No.  •."-,.  F.  &  A.   M..  for  ovi 
and  for  many  years  he  took  an  active  nan  in  the 
,,.-,,,  |.   of   the   fraternity.      He   was   mash  c  o 
lodge  in  1857. 

On  Sept.  23,  1852,  Mr.  Granl   n  arned    I.  i 
\     Yoxtheimer.    who    was    born     Sept.    30,     1>:;". 
daughter   of    Henry    and    Nancy    ( Bacm 
theimer.  and  she  survived  him,  with  seven  children. 
namelv:     George  E.,  who  is  at   present  secretary 
of  the 'school  board  of  Sunbury:  Char'.-,  ol  North- 
umberland, this  county:  Roberl  1'  ,  who  a 
home  m  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  i  m  the  mil 

business   (his  wife,   Ruth    Lola    G 
Waterhurv.    Conn.,    '         9,    1868,    . 
I  ake  Citv  Sept.  1.  1903  I  ;  Lnnie;  Ehzabi        I 
erin.  Edith,    Mrs.   William    L.    Dewarl 

Sunhiiry. 


- 


:THrMBERLAXP  COUXTT.  PENNSYLVANIA 


HON.  CHARLES  HEBER  DICKERMAX 

.ial  Bank,  and 
s      -   ian  from  the  S  _     --:onal 

district,  is  one  of  1  this  bor- 

ough proudly  relV  ;  as  -  is  best 

inte:   -  -         -  member  for  man;  -  arm 

_ 
adust  ats  at  that 

instrunieJ  ging  to  t  srh  an  amount 

of  business  which  materially  inc-re-  -    -pros- 

perity.   As  a  public-spirited 

t   in  most  m 
crease   Mill       -  -  -       His 

-  -  _  r  manv  * 


known  ft  State,  and 

a  native  of  Penns 
man  belongs  to  an  old  _  trac- 

ing his  anees  to  t 

lonial  day?,  when  in  1635  Thomas  Dickerman  came 
from  England  and  -         Massa- 

chus 

I  I 
-nnan  family  in  this  count  .rand- 

father  of  the  subject  of  this  s  -       ra  in 

Vermont  Mar    t  IT,  1"  _  - 

he  enl  -  ;  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  in 

ed  about  nine  months.     During 
- 
scout.     In   1TS«  he  married  Thankful    S 
-  -  .   " 

Smith.  ice.    "  .-     ■ 

Mr. 
en  a 
young    man.    and    thei  -      -   ing. 

About  1S00  he  i  - 

.  X.  Y..  where  h  1  his 

trade.     -        _   _ .    _  _  :er  he  removed 

tse«  "   .   X.  Y.. 

-    -  at  the  s 

IS; 

larles  Heber  I 
Jolin  and  Thank- 
ful (Smith )  ]  -       m  June  I     IS     . 

.   X.  Y.     He  new 

Jeffers  .  .  . 

Pa.     Dr.  -  married, 

union  _  m  he  married 

IX  ,  IS     .He 

= 

na  Co..  Pa.,  to  S  who  was 

born  1S1-: 

in  H  .  Sus  ana 

2    - 

s  death. 

nd  marrias  "x>rn 

I    s 


:a  Knajy  ed  Ra! 

H.  E  -  -    -  -  _  - 

R.  Woodin 
-  '.'.         Die-ken  s  born  F 

.  <-> 


cviieii 


"   Harford 
_   _  rion 

5  en- 
.   _  -  in  the  -  5  of  S   ~que- 

-    .  - 

~ee  of  Hon.  Daniel 


man   Slal  -  rth- 

Pa..   miners  and   nianuf  ac-furt  i  - 
z  slai  -         produo. 

f  thai  IS"  ;  chosen 

hec-ame  :  -  - 
S.  W.  ]  -  -  _  - 

-    and  rem- 
- 

.       -  Sir.  Did  s  associated. 

_   -  buildir_ 

-      .nd   Mr.   Dickerman  continue. 

until  the 
plant  was  s  1  -•■.:• 

...  my.   i  -     - 

men.  and  was  an 

[ 

-    id  in  numer- 
-  -  - 

a  dir  f  the  Secoi  ial  Bank  of  Mauc-h 

f  Pa.. 

5 

.  Pa...         of 

sident   in   1S9T.  -    - 

a     uncompr       -    _    " 

He 
-     -      .airman 
com;  nd  county.     In 

gate  to  1  nal 

Dstitutioi  this 

S   I 
IS9"2  .... 

-  -  v      -enth 

-     --  -  served  as  a  mem' 

.      -    and  declined  a  r 
tion  ring  private  life.     In 

by  Presi.  del- 

_     --   vhic-h  met  at  Bnt—    -. 
_ 


pub: 


TT- 


N  ( )  IJT  HIM  BEELAN  1  >  <  IOTJ  NT  Y.  PENNSYLVANIA 


19 


Mr.  Dickerman  was  married  March  10,  1869,  at 
Beaver  Meadows,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Joy  Ivy, 
daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  Carter,  natives 
of  Cornwall,  England,  where  Mrs.  Dickerman  was 
born.  Four  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union: 
Adelia  Margarel  (Mrs.  Howard  II.  Williams. 
Plainfield,  \.  J.),  William  Carter  (vice  president 
of  tin'  American  Car  &  Foundry  Company,  No.  165 
Broadway,  New  York  City),  Grace  Beatrice  (Mrs. 
Guido  C.  Vogel,  Milwaukee,  Wis.)  and  Joy  Chand- 
ler (Mrs.  G.  W.  B.  Fletcher,  Philadelphia,  Pa.). 
The  family  are  attendants  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  Mr.  Dickerman  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  Lawyers'  Club,  of 
New  York  City. 

DUNKELBEEGEE,  a  name  well  represented 
in  Northumberland  county,  originated,  according 
tn  tradition,  from  Dunkel  Berg,  a  spur  of  the 
Black  Forest.  Little  is  known  of  the  Dunkel- 
bergers  before  the  time  of  the  Reformation.  Dur- 
ing that  period  they  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
formers,  and  their  descendants  to  the  present  day 
have  continued  to  adhere  to  Protestant  denomina- 
tions. Up  to  the  time  of  their  emigration  to  the 
New  World  they  were  industrious  and  patriotic 
citizens  of  what  is  now  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  in  lower  Germany,  bu1  being  deprived  there 
of  their  religious  liberty  they  turned  to  America, 
coming  hither  in  1728  by  way  of  the  Rheinfeld, 
down  the  Rhine  to  Eolland,  whence  they  sailed  in 
the  English  ship  "Morehouse,"  landing  at  Phila- 
delphia Aug.  28,  1728.  They  proceeded  at  once  to 
what  is  nofl  Berks  county,  Pa.,  locating  in  Wind- 
sor township,  a  little  southeast  of  what  is  now 
the  borough  of  Hamburg.  They  were  frequently 
molested  h\  the  Indian-.  These  emigrants  were 
(dement.  Daniel  and  John  Dunkelberger.  Idem- 
ent.  who  was  the  ancestor  of  tl thers  (the  name 

of  his  .,,ii  Daniel,  however,  doe-  not  appear  in 
Ins  will).  a1  -nee  paid  taxes  to  the  English 
Crown.  "Clement/  Doncleberger"  is  on  the  first 
list  of  taxables  of  Windsor  township  (1754).  He 
paid  £6  tax  in  1759.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
L782,  his  home  was  in  Windsor  township.  His 
will,  made  Feb.  12,  1776,  was  probated  April  8, 
1782,  and  i-  on  record  in  Will  Book  B,  page  38.  At 
the  time  the  will  was  made  his  wife  Anna  Maria 
was  still  living.  Their  children  were  (no  record 
of  Daniel):  Clemens,  who  obtained  the  planta- 
tion; Catharine,  married  to  Andrew  Winiger; 
Mrs,  John  Beck;  John:  Frederick:  Christopher; 
Elizabeth,  married  to  Michael  Deck;  Philip:  Se- 
vila  :  Magdalena;  and  Dorotha. 

John  Dunkelberger,  grandson  of  Clement,  was 
horn  in  Windsor  township,  near  Hamburg,  m 
1740.  He  married  there  and  had  two  sons  by  that 
marriage,  in  1780  (at  which  time  he  was  a  wid- 
ower)    urn:  with  his  son  George  to  the  northern 

part  of  the  Mahanoy  Valley,  in  Northumberland 
4 


county — that  part  of  Mahanoy  now  embraced  in 
Little  Mahanoy  township.  He  received  from  the 
State  a  warrant  for  more  than  two  hundred  acres 
of  land,  located  north  of  Line  Mountain  and  be- 
tween that  and  Mahanoy  creek.  The  Indians  were 
his  neighbors,  and  were  friendly  to  him,  hut  dur- 
ing the  terrible  Indian  disturbances  his  family  on 
several  occasions  had  to  flee  for  safety.  There  he 
built  a  stone  grist  mill  anil  stone  dwelling  bouse. 
In  1814  he  is  credited  with  a  grist  and  saw  mill 
on  Mahanoy  creek  which  mill  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  in  that  section.  He  built  the  mill  several 
years  after  locating  in  that  district.  On  the  John 
Dunkelberger  homestead  -till  stands  a  large  stone 
house,  1">  lo  :;:,  feet  in  dimensions,  and  two  and  a 
half  stories  high,  which  was  built  in  1818,  the  year 
in  which  this  pioneer  died.  Large,  well-selected 
stones  were  used  in  its  construction  and  the  wall 
i-  exceptionally  strong. 

Alder  settling  here  John  Dunkelberger  married 
again  and  had  two  sons  by  his  second  wife.  Solo- 
mon and  Jonathan,  front  whom  most  of  the  Dun- 

kelbergers    are    descended.      These    pi rs    are 

buried  on  their  own  farm  on  an  elevation  below  a 

piece    of    pine    w Is.    about    fifty    feet    north' ias1 

from  a  public  road.  Their  graves  are  marked 
by  marble  tombstones,  inscribed  as  follows: 

' '  Hier   ruhet 

Johanes  Dunkelberger 

Gabo.   den   2S   Sept. 

1745 

Storb  den   27   Xovem 

1818 

Alt   73  valir  2  mo 

I    Tag 

Text     I  Bueh  Moses 

48  Capitel  21V" 

"  Hier  mhen  die 
gebine  von   Elizal  el  h 

I  (unkelberger  war 
Eine  geborne    Kahwel 
war  geboren  den  20ten 
Marz,    1761,  and   starb 
den  3ten  September,  1827 
1st  alt  worden  66 
Yahr  .">  monot  und 
12  tag.  Text   Heob. 

17,  Capitel  den   11,  ver.  5" 
Early    members    of    the    Dunkelberger    family 
( probably  sons  of  John    Sr.   and    of    Frei 
were  David,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Solomon,  John  and 
Daniel  (who  was  lame).     The  following  Dunkel- 
bergers  were  mentiom  d  in  the  first  assessment  list 

of  Little  Mahi j  township  in  LSI  I  :    John,  F 

erick,  Christopher,  Chi     o  >)  <      -'        n   :    P 

Christopher   Dunkelb 
Mahanoy  township  in  L835,  mad<   In-  last  will  and 
testament  (on  record  a:  Sunbury  coui  Feb. 

,.,    is:;  I.  and  "'  March  v.  18  : 

made  ample  p  '  latn" 

arine      Items  She   -hall 

cows,  two  beds  and  their  beddings,  privilege  of 
the   iiousi .   an  |  -''   to    ride   when   she 


50 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


wants  to  go  abroad.  Their  children :  Abraham 
(received  the  homestead,  cattle,  sheep  and  swine), 
Susanna,  Catharine,  Ester.  Saloiuey.  Elizabeth, 
Henry,  Daniel.  Magdelina,  John,  Peter.  Hannah. 
In  a  private  graveyard  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  on  a  farm  formerly  owned  by  Frederick 
Dunkelberger  (now  owned  by  Galen  Raker),  is 
a  tombstone  bearing  the  inscription: 

' '  Hier  ruhet 

Friederich  Dunckelberger 

gebo.  1747,  storb 

d.  24,  Jener  1815 

alt.  67  y.  9  mo. ' ' 

His  wife,  Catharina,  nee  Hauer  (in),  is  buried 

at  Little  Mahanoy  church,  where  may  be  found 
record  of  her  birth  and  death.  Oct.  18.  1749,  and 
Jan.  17,  1831,  respectively.  Her  will  is  on  record 
in  Will  Book  III.  page  83:  executor,  Leonard 
Reed. 

On  a  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy,  on  Little  Maha- 
noy creek,  formerly  owned  by  Christophel  Dun- 
kelberger  (now  owned  by  Jacob  Dreibelbis),  is  a 
tombstone  with  the  following  inscription: 

"  Hier  ruhet 

Christofel  Dunckelberger 

worde  geboren   den   27 

Hornung,    177",   und 

Storb  den  29  .Tenner  1827 

Ward  alt  53  yahr  11  mo 

nat  2  Tag" 

There  is  another  stone  with  the  inscription: 

"Hier  Rhnefc  ein  Sohn  von 

David  Dunkelberger 

b.   1831,  d.   Infancy." 

Eve  Feister,  the  wife  of  Christophel  Dunkelber- 
ger, is  buried  at  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church:  she 
was  born  July  8,  1780,  and  died  Nov.  30,  1830. 

George  Dunkelberger,  eldest  son  of  the  John 
Dunkelberger  who  came  into  Northumberland 
county  in  1780,  settled  in  the  Mahantango  Valley. 
in  Mahanoy  (now  Lower  Mahanoy)  township, 
about  1S02,  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers  in 
that  region.  He  attended  the  Reading  markets 
from  there.  Shortly  before  his  removal  he  was 
married  (in  1800)  and  he  had  four  sons,  Jacob, 
Samuel  (who  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy)  Daniel, 
(who  died  July  IS,  1865;  his  wife,  Catharine,  nee 
Wagner,  horn  'Aug.  29,  1816,  died  July  6,  1863) 
and  John.  George  Dunkelberger  died  in  August. 
1837.  His  will,  on  record  at  Stmbury,  Pa.,  in 
Will  Book  III,  page  282,  provided  by  item  for 
his  wife  Elizabeth  as  follows : 

She  shall  have  a  cow,  spinning-wheel.  9  bushels 
rye,  3  bushels  wheat,  24  pounds  beef,  35  pounds 
pork,  iron  pot,  one  pan,  one  bucket,  kitchen  uten- 
sil-;, etc.  The  will  speaks  of  four  children,  but 
only  three  are  mentioned,  as  follows:  Samuel  and 
Daniel  shall  have  homestead  :  John  shall  have  that 
certain  tract  of  land  of  my  old  farm.  etc.  The  ex- 
ecutor was  John  Mowrer.     George  Dunkelberger 


lived  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  had  land 
at  Mahanoy  which  the  Saibals  had  before  him. 
Of  George's  children.  Jacob,  the  eldest,  born  in 
1803.  in  1850  moved  to  Hegins  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  had  bought  a  large  farm  and 
gristmill  near  the  present  town  of  Hegins.  ■  There 
he  died  in  1871.  and  was  buried  in  the  Evangelical 
cemetery.  He  had  married  in  1838  Catharine 
Maurer,  and  they  had  eighl  children,  Moses, 
William,  Emanuel,  Caroline,  Lena.  Hannah. 
Mary  and  Salome.  Of  these,  Moses,  born  in  Ma- 
hantango in  1830,  married  in  1853  in  the  locality 
mentioned,  Elizabeth  Bensinger,  and  they  are 
both  living  at  present  at  their  homestead  in  the 
town  of  Hegins.  Their  children  are:  R.  B.  Dun- 
kelberger,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Reading. 
Pa. :  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  John  H.  Schrope,  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Hegins  township ;  and  James  H. 
Dunkelberger.  living  on  the  homestead  farm  with 
his  two  sons,  Harry  and  Ray. 

John  Dunkelberger,  son  of  George,  was  born 
in  the  Mahantango  Valley  Sept.  16,  1806,  and  he 
died  March  3:;.  1892,  aged  eighty-five  years,  six 
months  and  seven  days.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
lived  in  Rockefeller  township,  near  the  Shamokin 
township  line.  His  farm  consisted  of  313  acres, 
upon  which  he  built  two  barns,  rebuilt  the  present 
bouse,  rebuilt  the  sawmill  and  erected  all  the  other 
buildings  now  standing.  This  farm  is  now  owned 
by  John  Erdman.  John  Dunkelberger  was  a  short, 
stout  man  and  was  known  as  "Der  dick  John.'*'  or 
"Sawmiller  John.*"  He  married  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Beisel.  horn  April  14.  1811,  ami  died 
Nov.  •'111.  1890,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  seven 
months  and  sixteen  days.  John  and  Lydia  Dun- 
kelberger are  buried  at  Dunkelberger's  graveyard, 
at  what  was  formerly  known  as  the  "White 
Church,'"  in  Rockefeller.  They  were  the  last  mem- 
bers of  this  church.  John  Dunkelberger  gave  the 
ground  for  this  church  and  graveyard,  and  was  one 
of  its  foremost  members.  They  had  fifteen  chil- 
dren, all  deceased,  save  two.  Jeremiah,  of  Holt 
Co..  Mo. ;  and  Jesiah. 

Jesiah  Dunkelberger.  son  of  John,  is 
a  citizen  of  Rockefeller  township.  Born  Jan.  16. 
1849,  on  his  father's  homestead,  he  was  reared 
there,  and  here  spent  his  entire  life.  He  worked 
for  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty -one,  then  for 
three  years  farmed  the  homestead  for  a  quarter 
share  of  his  father's  stock.  After  that  he  began 
with  his  own  stock  for  one-half  interest, 
which  he  did  for  three  more  years.  He  then  la- 
bored  one  year  when  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
nearly  forty  acres  in  Lower  Augusta,  living  there 
one  year.  In  1877  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
of  sixty-eight  acres  in  Rockefeller  township  and 
built  the  present  barn.  He  markets  his  produce 
at  Shamokin. 

Jesiah  Dunkelberger  was  married  in  Decent  her. 
1873.  to  Susan  Raker,  daughter  of  Solomon  and 


X  i  >RT  BUMBERLAND  ( IOUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


51 


Elizabeth  (Dornsife)  Raker,  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. Their  children  were  sis  in  number,  viz. :  Ir- 
win 6.,  who  married  Ella  Conrad,  and  lives  at 
kut  I'iuii.  Pa.;  Edwin  ii..  Daisy  and  John 
E.,  \vln>  died  young;  S.  Pearl,  who  married 
Barry  Moyer,  of  Trevorton,  Pa.:  and  Jesse 
P..  who  married  Emma  Riland,  lives  at 
home  and  has  a  son  Harry  J.  Mr.  Dunkel- 
berger  is  a  Republican,  and  served  as  supervisoj 
for  three  years.  Hi'  and  Ids  family  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Seven  Points,  where 
the  United  Evangelical  Church  is  now  located. 
Mrs.  Dunkelberger  was  the  granddaughter  of 
.la,  .ill  Raker,  who  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship. He  was  the  father  of  William.  <; 'ge,  Ja- 
cob, Solomon,  Lovina    (Mrs.   George  Long). 

John  (Johannes)  Dunkelberger,  known  as  "Lit- 
tle Johnny"  (brother  of  George),  the  other  son  of 
John  by  his  tirst  marriage,  was  born  in  Northum- 
berland county,  Sept.  1  i.  1775.  He  died  May  IT. 
1835,  and  was  buried  in  Howerter  cemetery  in 
I  pper  Mahanoy  township.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
like  his  brother  George  settled  in  Mahantango  Val- 
ley, in  Mahanoy  (now  Lower  Mahanoy)  township, 
Northumberland  county,  lie  married  Susanna 
Zimmerman,  horn  in  April,  1785,  who  died  dan. 
19,  I860,  and  their  children  were:  Daniel  (set- 
tled in  Mahantango  Valley),  Catharine  (married 
a  Mr.  kiierri.  George,  John,  Joseph,  Magdaline, 
Susanna   (married  Abraham  Howerter),  Solomon 

and   Elizabeth   (married  Klock).     George, 

John  ami  Joseph  are  more  fully  mentioned  below. 
Solomon,  horn  in  1821,  died  in  1892,  at  Shamokin. 
He  followed  the  tailor";  trad,'.  Tie  married  Eliza- 
beth Wagner,  horn  Feb.  IT.  1823,  died  April  6, 
1861,  and  they  had  five  children.  William.  Jere- 
miah, Edmond,  Ellen  and  Franklin.  John  Dun- 
kelberger, the  father,  died  May  17,  1835,  in  ter- 
ritory now  embraced  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. He  had  a  tract  of  twenty-four  acres  of  land 
when  he  died.  His  will,  made  May  5,  1835  (on 
record  in  Will  Book  III,  page  200),  was  probated 
June  1?.  .1835.  It  was  witnessed  by  George  Haas 
and  H.  F.  Heintzelman.  and  he  names  "my 
friends''  Pete  Fetterolf  and  John  Maurer,  Sr., 
a-  executors. 

George  Dunkelberger,  son  of  John,  was  a  well 
known  farmer  at  Seven  Points,  in  what  is  now 
Rockefeller  township,  where  he  lived  and  died. 
lie  married  Kate  Rebuck,  and  they  had  children 
a-  follows:  George,  Jonathan.  Henry,  Tobias, 
Susan,  Kate,  Harriet.  Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

Jonathan  Dunkelberger,  son  of  George, 
was  born  Julv  1.  1843,  at  Seveu  Points, 
and  died  Aug.  2i,  1909,  at  his  home  in  Shamokin. 
being  the  first  of  his  family  to  pass  away.  His 
youthful  days  were  spent  upon  the  home  farm 
where  he  not  onlv  learned  agricultural  work  hut 
also  the  butcher's' trade,  following  it  successfully: 
he  ua-  iii  business  as  a  butcher  at  Taylorsville  and 


Locust  Dale.  Pa.,  and  at  the  latter  place  was  also 
in  the  genera]  store  business  lor  a  time.  Ou  June 
12.  1893.  he  moved  to  Shamokin,  and  from  that 
time  lived  retired,  occupying  his  home  at  No.  536 
North  Second  street  during  the  winter  season  and 
in  the  summers  moving  with  his  family  to  a  farm 
at  Seven  Points  which  he  had  purchased.  Mr. 
Dunkelberger  was  a  man  of  upright  life  and 
high  ideals,  and  for  years  was  a  prominent  church 
worker,  belonging  to  the  United  Evangelical 
Church,  where  he  taught  a  class  of  young  men  in 
the  Sunday-school,  for  one  period  of  three  years 
he  missed  hut  one  Sunday  al  Sunday-school.  Be 
was  a  great  Bible  student  and  well  versed  in  the 
Scriptures. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  married  Susanna  K.  Kehler, 
and  they  hail  one  daughter.  Jennie,  the  decea 
wife  of  Charles  Geist,  a  young  business  man  of 
SI  amokin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geist  have  one  son, 
Paul  Jonathan.  Mrs.  Dunkelberger  still  live-  at 
the  old  home  on  Second  street.  She  is  a  grand- 
daughter of  John  Kehler  who  lived  and  died  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  as  did  also  her  father. 
John  Kehler.  The  latter  was  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Kate  Knerr,  and  to  them  were  horn  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Elias,  Joseph,  Frank.  Joel 
John.  Benjamin.  Charles.  Catharine  (married  Jo- 
seph Dreibelbis),  Harriet  (married  Jacob  Eepler) 
and  Susanna  (married  Jonathan  Dunkelberger), 
all  now  deceased  hut  Mrs.  Hepler  ami  Mrs.  Dun- 
kelberger. 

John  Dunkelberger,  -on  of  John  ami  brother  of 
George  and  Joseph,  was  born  in  Mahantango  Val- 
ley, in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  died  in 
Shamokin  township.  He  is  buried  at  Dunkel- 
berger's  Evangelical  Church,  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. He  and  another  John  Dunkelberger.  with 
Henrv  Keiser  ami  George  Dunkelberger,  built  the 
"Dunkelberger  Evangelical  Church."  in  Rocke- 
feller township.  There  is  a  graveyard,  ami  there 
rest  the  founders  of  this  house  of  worship.  John 
Dunkelberger  was  a  carpenter  earlier  in  life,  hut 
later  became  a  farmer,  owning  a  223-acre  farm  in 
Shamokin  township.  The  old  goat-kin  deed  of 
this  land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  William 
L.  Dunkelberger,  who  is  hi-  -on.  This  farm  is 
now  owned  by  Julius  Behrent.  Mi'.  Dunkelberger 
was  an  active  member  of  hi-  church  and  class 
leader  and  exhorter  of  the  Evangelical  Church 
which  was  named  after  hi-  famih  He  was  a 
slim,  tall  man.  Bis  wife  was  Christ  ana  G> 
who  died  in  her  ninetieth  wear,  her  birth  occur- 
ring Dee.  21,  1818,  and         -  itli   Ma     18.   I 

Tlie\    were  the  parents  of  nine  children  :      (  I  I    l.e 

cinda  married  Elias  Bingaman.     (2)   Lanab  mar- 
ried  William    Kla-e.      1 3)    Gabriel    was   born    in 
1S41   and  died   in    1864.     (4)   S  ilomon    n  ai 
Lorinda  Miller.     (5)  Simon  married  Man  Ybrdy. 
(6)    Jo!, ii    mat  ried    I  (?)    Mariah 

married  <    rus  Buffin  tfon.     I  8  |  J-  is  a 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


bachelor,  is  blind.  I Tt-  makes  his  home  with  his 
brother  William  L.  (9)  William  L.  is  mentioned 
below. 

William  L.  Dunkelberger,  sou  of  John,  re- 
sides at  Seven  Points,  in  Rockefeller  township. 
He  was  born  Aug.  20,  L858,  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, where  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  were  horn. 
Reared  on  the  farm  lie  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  local  schools,  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  entered  his  apprenticeship  in  the  car- 
penter's trade,  serving  three  years,  at  Shamokin. 
He  then  farmed  for  two  years,  at  County  Line,  for 
Elias  Bingaman,  went  hack-  to  carpentering  again 
for  a  short  time,  bought  a  65-aere  tract  in  [rish 
Valley  and  followed  farming  in  connection  with 
his  carpenter  work.  He  was  thus  occupied  for  six- 
teen years  when  lie  sold  his  tract  and  went  to 
Rockefeller  township,  where  he  has  an  excellent 
trad  of  seventy  acres  at  Seven  Points. 

William  L.  Dunkelberger  was  married  three 
times,  his  first  wife  being  a  widow,  Mrs.  Catha- 
rine Underkoffler,  and  there  were  no  children  born 
to  this  marriage.  He  married  (second)  Viola 
Swank  and  they  had  two  children,  Versa,  who 
married  Bert  German;  and  Roy,  who  married 
Bessie  V.  Reitz,  and  they  live  at  Sunbury,  where 
he  follows  the  trade  of  baker.  William  L.  Dunkel- 
berger married  (third)  Almeritta  Witmer,  and 
their  children  arc:  Calvin,  Howard.  Ralph.  Katie. 
Myrtle  and  Esther.  Mr.  Dunkelberger  is  active  in 
the  Dunkelberger  Family  Association,  which  holds 
annual  reunions,  the  reunion  of  1910  being  held 
at  Carsonia  Park,  Reading,  Pa.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  lias  served  as  treasurer  of  Sham- 
okin township  for  the  school  hoard,  as  a  school 
director,  and  at  one  time  was  a  delegate  to  the 
County  Convention,  lie  h  active  in  the  P.  0.  S. 
of  A.  at  Seven  Points,  and  frequently  serve;  it  as 
delegate.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  at  Seven  Points,  was  class  leader  and  ex- 
horter  for  years  and  at  present  serves  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  and  is  very  active 
in  all  church  interests. 

Roy  0.  Dunkelberger,  who  has  been  engaged 
in  the  bakery  husiness  at  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land county,  since  June.  Phis,  was  born  Xov.  19, 
1887,  in  Irish  Vallev.  Shamokin  township,  this 
county,  son  of  William  L.  Dunkelberger  and  his 
second  wife.  Viola  Swank,  lie  obtained  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Swenk  public  school,  in  Irish  Valley, 
meantime  assisting  with  the  farm  work  at  home 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  At  thai 
time  he  went  to  Trevorton,  where  he  worked  in 
the  coal  mines  about  two  years,  and  for  the  next 
three  years  he  was  engaged  in  threshing.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1907,  he  came  to  Sunbury,  where  he  worked 
for  the  Adams  Express  Company  for  a  year  and 
a  half,  on  June  1.  1908,  purchasing  the  stock,  fix- 
tures and  good-will  of  F.  A.  Jacobs,  in  the  bakery 
at  No.   23   Packer  street,     lie  has  continued   the 


husiness  with  such  success  that  it  has  been  neces- 
sary to  enlarge  the  establishment,  and  he  keeps 
three  helpers  and  two  teams  busy,  selling  about  six 
hundred  loaves  of  bread  daily,  besides  a  large 
variety  of  other  bakery  goods.  He  now  owns  his 
place  of  business  and  residence  and  has  his  affairs 
in  prosperous  condition,  his  thrifty  management 
having  brought  excellent  results.  Mi-.  Dunkelber- 
ger is  connected  with  several  insurance  companies 
in  Sunbury.  He  is  a  respected  young  business 
man  of  the  borough,  and  has  attained  a  substantial 
position  through  his  own  efforts. 

On  May  2;,  1908,  Mr.  Dunkelberger  married 
Bessie  V.  Reitz.  daughter  of  U.  P.  Reitz.  of  Seven 
Points,  this  county.  They  worship  at  the  First 
United  Evangelical  Church  of  Sunbury. 

Joseph  Dunkelberger,  ->>n  id'  John,  and  brother 
of  George  end  John,  was  horn  in  the  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  Valley  ami  died  there  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  eleven  months;  he  is  buried  at  Union 
Church  in  Upper  Mahantango  Valley,  lb'  fol- 
lowed farming  and  also  did  carpenter  work.  His 
wife  was  Rachel  Pederolf  and  their  children  were: 
Flias.  born  Sept.  54.  is  I  I.  who  died  Oct.  5.  1870, 
in-  Schuylkill  county,  and  is  buried  at  the  Little 
Mahanoy  Church:  Henry,  now  living  retired  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  who  owned  the  "Id  home- 
stead for  several  years;  Esther,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Kerstetter  :  Isaac  deceased  :  Lucetta,  who  died 
young:  Mary,  who  married  David  Mowery;  Jo; 
seph,  deceased;  Simon  P.;  Hannah,  who  died 
young;  Susanna,  who  died  young;  and  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy. 

Simon  F.  Dunkelberger,  -on  of  Joseph,  was 
horn  April  20,  1855,  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in 
Schuylkill  county,  and  lived  upon  the  farm  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  year-. 

In  1877  lie  came  to  Shamokin  and  took  up  the 
plastering  trade,  which  he  has  since  continued  to 
follow,  having  engaged  in  the  business  a-  a  con- 
tractor on  his  own  account  in  1887.  He  now  em- 
ploys from  five  to  twelve  men.  according  to  the 
work'  he  ha^  in  hand,  ami  he  has  plastered  many 
dwellings  in  the  borough  in  his  day.  His  work- 
is  high  class,  and  he  deserves  the  large  share  of 
the  local   patronage  which   comes  to  him. 

On  July  21,  1878,  Mr.  Dunkelberger  married 
Helena  Wetzel,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Kate  (  Keh- 
ler)  Wetzel,  and  five  children  have  been  horn  to 
them,  namely:  Estella.  married  to  Harry  Rcnn  : 
Walter,  a  traveling  salesman,  now  of  Williamsport, 
I 'a.,  married  Anna  Willauer;  Joseph,  of  Philadel- 
phia; Mabel,  who  graduated  Erom  the  Shamokin 
high  school  with  the  class  of  1911  ;  and  Goldie,  at 
school.  The  family  reside  at  Xo.  630  West  Perm 
street,  Shamokin.  Mr.  Dunkelberger  has  long 
been  an  active  member  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  responsible  posi- 
tions of  class-leader  and  trustee  for  twenty  years. 


NORTHU M BERLAN  1 )  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


53 


About  1780  another  branch  of  the  family  at 
Hamburg  moved  to  Perry  county,  Pa.,  and  some 
of  these  later  moved  to  near  Niagara  Falls.  X.  Y. 
One  descendant  of  this  branch  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Republican  National  Convention  held  in  Phil- 
adelphia, when  MeKinley  was  nominated  fm-  Pres- 
ident the  second  time. 

Another  branch  moved  to  Oley  township,  near 
Reading,  and  at  the  present  time  quite  a  number 
live  in  the  city  of  Reading.  In  language  the  Dun- 
kelbergers  are  mostly  Pennsylvania  German. 

As  the  early  members  of  the  family,  who  suffered 
so  severely  during  the  Thirty  Years'  war,  showed 
their  love  I'm-  right  and  liberty  by  then-  active 
participation  in  thai  struggle,  so  the  descendants 
in  this  country  have  shown  their  loyalty  ami  patri- 
otism by  supporting  our  struggles  in  the  cause  of 
independence.  Some  took  part  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  ami  quite  a  dumber  were  in  the  Civil  wai 
on  the  Union  side.  Some  were  killed  in  hat  tie. 
and  some  were  wounded,  notable  among  the  latter 
number  being  ('apt.  Isaac  R.  Dunkelberger  (son 
of  Solomon  Dunkelberger  ami  grandson  of  John 
D.  Dunkelberger),  of  the  lsl  Pennsylvania  In- 
fantry, who  enlisted  April  20,  1861,  and  served 
during  the  war,  was  twice  wounded,  promoted  for 
bravery,  ami  continued  in  the  army  until  placed 
on  the  retired  list  by  the  Government  in  1901  as 
captain  of  cavalry.  I.  S.  A.  lie  resides  at  present 
in    California. 


In  the  direct  line  of  William  S.  Dunkelberger 
and  Luther  L.  Dunkelberger.  both  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  Henry  Dunkelberger 
(grandfather  of  the  former  ami  great-grandfather 
of  the  latter)  was  born  May  I,  1791.  He  was  an 
early  resident  of  Shamokin.  where  he  had  his  home 
for 'some  time,  hut  later  moved  West,  dying  in 
June,  1875,  in  Starke  county.  Ind..  where  lie  is 
buried.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  second 
wife,  Leah,  born  Dec.  :>.  1799,  had  children  horn 
as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Oct.  29,  1823;  Daniel,  Sept. 
24.  1826;  Hannah.  Nov.  5,  1828;  Benjamin,  Nov. 
2,  1834;  Joel,  June  14.  1836;  George  W.,  May  9, 
1840;  Matilda,  -Ian.   1.  1843. 

John  Dunkelberger,  only  child  of  Henry  by  his 
first  marriage,  was  horn  June  8,  1816,  on  Scotch 
Hill,  at  Shamokin.  in  Little  Mahanoy  township. 
Northumberland  county,  in  a  little  log  cabin  which 
is  still  standing.  His  mother  dying  when  lie  was 
a  child,  he  lived  with  his  grandparents  m  Mahan- 
tango  until  he  was  thirteen,  at  which  age  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  place,  spending  the  remainder 
of  his  days  there.  His  association  with  its  business 
and  political  interests  made  him  one  of  the  best 
known  citizens  of  the  place,  useful,  progressive, 
respected  and  active  to  the  close  of  his  long  lite. 
His  early  days  were  spent  upon  the  farm.  He  was 
engaged'  upon  the  building  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  between  Shamokin  and  Sunbury,  worked 


in  the  mines,  and  later  carried  on  the  goal  mining 
business  in  partnership  with  Reuben  and  William 
Fagely,  continuing  in  this  line  for  some  time,  but 
finally  disposing  of  his  interest  therein  to  Welling- 
ton Lake.  The  firm  name  was  changed  to  John 
Dunkelberger  &  Co..  who  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  and  after  his  withdrawal  from  this 
line  Mr.  Dunkelberger  became  associated  with  the 
Shamokin  Water  Company,  on  June  .">,  1876,  suc- 
ceeding Daniel  Zuern  as  superintendent.  He  con- 
tinued to  hold  that  position,  also  acting  as  secre- 
tary of  the  company,  until  April.  1886,  proving 
competent  as  well  as  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
his  important  duties.  Having  an  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  affairs  of  the  company,  his  valuable 
services  were  highly  appreciated,  hut  he  resigned 
at  the  time  named  because  he  felt  that  it  was  due 
to  himself  to  withdraw  from  active  affairs.  His 
resignation  was  accepted  with  regret  by  the  board 
of  directors.  However,  he  did  not  give  up  all 
responsibility,  as  he  was  appointed  tax  collector 
for  the  borough  just  a  few  weeks  before  his  death. 
He  had  served  in  other  official  capacities,  having 
been  elected  Dec.  2,  18(14.  to  a  seat  in  the  first 
council  upon  the  incorporation  of  the  borough. 
and  he  was  re-elected  at  the  spring  election  follow- 
ing. He  was  the  second  notary  public  commis- 
sioned ill  the  borough.  Mr.  Dunkelberger  was  a 
Republican  in  political  conviction.  His  death, 
which  occurred  May  30,  1889,  at  Milton,  this 
county,  removed  a  citizen  who  had  witnessed  and 
aided  the  growth  of  Shamokin  from  the  days  of 
its  earliest  infancy,  for  the  site  of  the  borough 
was  little  more  than  a  mountain  forest  and  a  vallex 
of  swamp  at  the  time  of  his  birth.  In  those  days 
wild  animals,  panthers,  hear  and  deer,  were  still 
numerous  in  the  region.  And  here  lie  lived  and 
labored  to  the  end  of  his  span,  passing  the  three- 
score years  and  ten,  with  but  a  brief  absence— the 
few  months  he  spent  in  Indiana.  He  had  moved 
out  to  that  State  in  1875,  for  the  purpose  of  set- 
tling, and  bought  a  farm,  but  love  for  the  scenes 
of  his  early  home  was  too  strong  and  he  returned 
the  same  rear.  About  a  week  before  hi-  death 
he  had  gone  with  his  daughter.  Mrs.  Phillips,  id' 
North  Judson,  Ind.,  to  visit  relatives  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Milton,  when  he  was  suddenly  taken 
with  his  fata]  illness.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran   Church. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  was  married  three  ti S.     "ii 

Aug.  14.  1836,  be  married  Mary  Gass,  born  Feb. 
7, 1815,  who  died  Oct.  11.  1866.  she  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Gass  (died  Oct.  8,  L861,  aged  seventy- 
four  years)  and  his  wife  Margarel  (died  April  17, 
1864,  aged  seventy-three  years).  To  tin-  union 
w-ere  born  ten  children,  viz.:  Salome,  boi  d  Feb.  13, 
1837,  died  March  22,  is:;;  ;  Sarah  E.  married 
Jefferson  Bare;  lleiirv.  born  Dec.  26,  1840,  died 
Dec.  28,  L893;  Mahalia,  bom  Aug.  28,  1842,  - 
Charles  Krieger;  Susanna,  horn  .Ian.  26,  L844, 


54 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


married  Andrew  Kreiger,  (second)  Thomas 
Hughe?  and  (third)  William  Gilbert;  Amanda, 
born  March  24,  1S46,  married  Francis  Moore; 
Mary  J.,  born  Aug.  27,  1848,  died  Aug.  29,  L849; 
"William  S.,  born  Dec.  12,  1850,  is  mentioned  be- 
low; John  A.,  born  April  17,  1854;  Margaret  L., 
born  June  '.' ; .   l.v.s.  married  .John  1!.   Phillips. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  married  (second)  Lavina  Gass 
and  (third)  the  widow  of  John  Van  Zant. 

Henry  Dunkelberger.  son  of  John,  born  Dec. 
26,  1840,  learned  the  butcher's  trade  and  followed 
it  for  some  time,  later  engaging  in  the  hotel  and 
restaurant  business.  He  died  in  Shamokin  Dec. 
28,  1893.  He  married  Hannah  Huldv.  and  to 
them  were  born  children  as  follows:  Luther  L.. 
Clinton  (deceased),  Clara  (wife  of  Frank  1\>  r- 
stetter)  and  Bes-ie  (who  married  Michael  Slater). 
■  Luther  L.  Duxkelbekgei;.  son  of  Henry,  was 
born  in  Shamokin  in  1S68  and  there  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  All  his  active 
years  have  been  spent  in  the  restauranl  business, 
and  since  1905  la-  has  been  manager  tor  Emanuel 
Malich,  at  the  West  End  Cafe,  lie  is  very  well 
known  in  Shamokin.  both  in  his  business  relations 
and  as  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  < ».  V.  and  the  Knig  - 
of  Pythias:  he  also  belongs  to  the  Friendship  Fire 
Company  and  to  the  Veteran  Firemen's  Associa- 
tion. The  familv  are  Lutherans  in  religious  con- 
nection. Mr.  Dunkelberger'-  responsible  position 
speaks  for  his  business  ability  and  integrity,  and 
his  personal  standing  is  also  high. 

William  S.  Dunkelberger,  son  of  John,  was 
bom  in  Shamokin  Dec.  12,  L850,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
worked  in  the  mines  for  a  time,  and  when  seven- 
teen years  old  commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  all  for  twenty-three 

vear-.  for  i u1  seventeen  years  of  this  time  being 

located  at  Pine  Run.  in  Lycoming  county.  He 
then  came  to  Shamokin.  in  1S01  opening  his  res- 
taurant, which  is  the  largest  and  best  place  of  the 
kind  in  the  city.  He  occupies  the  premise-  at  Nos. 
IOo-IO?  East  Independence  street.  Shamokin, 
whore  he  has  become  one  of  the  substantial  busi- 
ness men. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  married  Mary  E.  Lush,  who 
was  born  July  17,  1851,  daughter  of  Jacob  Lush. 
of  Lycoming  county,  Pa.:  she  died  June  20,  1901. 
the  mother  of  the  following  children :  Thomas  E., 
bom  Dec.  10.  1871 :  Harrv  Warren.  Aug.  30,  L873; 
Ernst  P..  Aug.  15.  1875;  John  H.  July  19,  1877; 
Joseph  M.,  June  5,  1879,  died  April  19,  1911;  Ja- 
A..  Feb.  11.  1881:  David  M„  Aug.  27.  18S5: 
William.  Aug.  20.  1887   (died  Sept.  2;.  1881  >. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Malta  and  of  the  Jr.  O.  V.  A.  M.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Dunkelberger  family  asso- 
ciation, and  served  some  tine-  a;  its  treasurer.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  views,  and  in  religion 
a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church. 


Johx  Henry  Dunkelberger,  son  of  William 
S.,  was  born  July  19,  1877,  at  Salladasburg,  Ly- 
coming county,  Pa.  He  was  twelve  years  old  when 
his  father  brought  the  family  to  Shamokin  to  re- 
side, and  his  education,  begun  in  the  public  sehools 
of  his  early  home,  was  continued  in  this  borough. 
He  attended  the  high  school  and  later  the  Sha- 
mokin Business  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  commercial  eoursi  .  subsequently  taking 
a  course  at  the  Williamsport  Commercial  Co! 
from  which  he  was  also  graduated.  After  working 
one  summer  at  Eagle's  Mere.  Sullivan  county,  be 
went  to  Philadelphia,  in  1900,  there  finding  em- 
ployment on  the  Evening  Telegraph.  He  remained 
in  that  city  until  his  return  to  Shamokin  in  1903, 
at  which  time  he  became  a  clerk  for  Senator  W.  C. 
McConnell,  one  of  the  most  prominent  bush  - 
men  of  Shamokin.  So  capable  did  he  prove  that 
in  1906  he  was  given  full  charge  of  the  office.  Mr. 
Dunkelberger  is  secretary  of  the  Union  Brick 
Company  of  Shamokin,  and  he  is  considered  one 
of  the  rising  business  men  of  that  borough,  where 
he  has  made  an  excellent  name  for  himself  by  able 
and  diligent  service  in  the  discharge  of  his  various 
responsibilities. 

On  Jan.  30,  1901,  Mr.  Dunkelberger  married 
Emma  M.  Thomas,  daughter  of  William  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Hudson)  Thomas,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Marion  Elizabeth.  The  family  are  Meth- 
odists in  religious  connection.  Mr.  Diinkelbergi 
is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 

XFLSOX  M.  SMITH.  M.  P.,  of  South  Dan- 
ville. Northumberland  county,  has  practiced  med- 
icine  at  his  present  location  since  1882.  and  has 
built  up  a  wide  clientele,  having  high  professional 
and  personal  standing  all  over  the  adjacent  terri- 
tory. He  is  a  native  of  Trevor-ton.  this  county, 
horn  Aug.  12.  1857,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
which  ha-  3i  t tied   in  this  region  for  several 

generations.  He  is  a  descendant  of  ITitt  Smith, 
who  lived  in  Morristown,  X.  J.,  and  there  mar- 
ried Delilah  Morris,  a  member  of  the  family  after 
which  Morristown  was  named.  They  were  the 
parents  of  Morris  Smith,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Xel- 
son  M.  Smith.  About  1790  this  family  proh: 
along  with  other  families  who  came  to  Xorthum- 
berland  county,  Pa.,  from  Xew  Jersey,  left  the 
old  home  in  Morristown  and  settled  in  the  Irish 
Valley,  in  what  is  now  Shamokin  township,  where 
Morris  Smith  became  a  well  known  resident.  He 
followed  milling  throughout  his  active  life. 

Dr.  Samuel  S.  Smith,  son  of  Morris  Smith,  was 
born  in  1828  in  Shamokin  township,  and  there 
obtained  his  early  education.  When  he  reached 
maturity  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  Joseph  C.  Robbins,  who  for 
more  than  forty  years  was  located  at  Elysb  - 
A    few   vears   later   he  entered   the   Universirv   of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


.,., 


Pennsylvania,  where  he  studied  for  two  years, 
graduating  from  that  institution.  He  then  Lo- 
cated at  Hartleton,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  met 
with  marked  success  in  his  profession,  but  after 
a  few  years  he  moved  thence  to  Trevorton,  where 
he  built  up  a  large  practice  His  career  was  cut 
short  by  his  early  death,  which  occurred  in  1862, 
in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  He  married 
Sarah  Reed,  daughter  of  Matthias  and  Priscilla 
I  1  .arnsworth)  Reed,  and  granddaughter  of  Jacoh 
and  Elizabeth  (Dreher)  Reed,  whose  family  is 
fully  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  Servitus  0.  Reed, 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Sarah  (Reed)  Smith 
married  William  Depuy  in  1871,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  1873.  She  si  ill  survives,  making  her  home 
at  Riverside.  Six  children  were  born  to  Dr.  Sam- 
uel S.  and  Small  (Reed)  Smith:  Galen  R.,  who 
lives  in  Virginia;  Nelson  M.;  William  R.,  who 
lives  in  Washington  ;  t  llinton  S.,  of  Riverside,  Pa. ; 
Laura,  who  married  Dr.  1  >.  C.  Kline,  of  Reading, 
Pa.;  and  (Mara,  who  married  Lafayette  Sechler, 
of  Riverside. 

Nelsdn  M.  Smith  attended  the  public  schools  of 

Northumberland    ty    and    later   the   Danville 

Academy.  Bloomsburg  State  normal  school  and 
Eastman  College,  Poughkeepsie,  X.  V..  after  which 
he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Pursell, 
of  Danville.  Entering  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  there  completed  the  medical  course  in 

188'?.    since   which   time   he    has   1 n    located   in 

South  Danville,  which  lies  jn-t  easl  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Riverside.  He  at  once  built  an  office  on 
Sunbury  street,  and  met  with  gratifying  success 
from  the  start,  enjoying  a  wide  patronage,  which 
he  has  held  by  his  skillful  treatment  and  consci- 
entious devotion  to  the  needs  of  his  patients.  Per- 
sonally he  is  esteemed  by  all  who  come  in  contact 
with  him.  in  any  of  the  relations  of  life,  and  he  is 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  most  useful  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  community.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Montour  County  Medical  Society  and  of 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society. 

On  Jan.  29,  1885,  Dr.  Smith  married  Lillian 
Gearhart,  and  they  occupy  a  fine  home  ,,u  Gear- 
hart  street.  Dr.  Smith  owns  considerable  real  es- 
tate in  his  own  village,  and  he  is  the  manager  of 
the  Depew  and  Gearhart  e-tates.  in  which  capacity 
he  has  shown  marked  business  ability.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  fraternally  is 
a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Danville  Lodge, 
No.  516. 

The  Gearhart  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Smith  be- 
longs, is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 
in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania.  Capt.  Jacob  Gear- 
hart. her  great-grandfather,  was  born  in  Stras- 
hui'2'.  then  a  city  of  France,  now  of  Germany,  in 
1735.  In  1754  lie  came  to  America,  settling  in 
Hunterdon  countv,  X.  J.  In  New  Jersey  he  mar- 
ried Katherine  Kline.  When  the  Revolutionary 
war  broke  out  he  enlisted,  becoming  a  sergeant  m 


the  2d  Regiment  of  volunteers  o  II  mterdon  coun- 
ty, X".  .1..  was  soon  promoted  to  ensign  and  in 
time  reached  the  rank  of  captain.  In  1776,  when 
Washington  crossed  the  Delaware  to  attack  the 
Hessian  troops  then  encamped  at  Trenton,  I  ap- 
tain  Gearhart  was  detailed  with  Captain  Van 
Teiiye  to  take  charge  of  the  boats  with  orders  to 
destroy  them  should  the  expedition  prove  a  failure. 
Captain  Gearhart  was  with  Washington  at,  Valley 
Forge  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Brandy- 
wine.  In  1790  Captain  Gearhart,  with  his  wife 
and  family,  left  the  old  home  in  Hunterdon  coun- 
ty, X.  J.,  and  journeyed  by  means  of  horses  and 
wagons  into  central  Pennsylvania,  encountering 
many  difficulties  and  hardships  on  the  trip.  Hpon 
reaching  a  point  near  a  spring  in  what  is  now 
Gearhart  township.  Northumberland  countv.  they 
found  a  deserted  log  cabin  in  which  they  stopped 
to  rest.  The  water  was  of  sui  h  excellent  quality, 
and  the  hind  apparently  so  fertile,  that  Captain 
Gearhart  decided  to  locate  there,  and  he  pureha 
a  tract  upon  which  he  settled.  He  at  once  began 
to  clear  this  land  with  the  help  of  his  BonSj 
prospered  so  well  that  from  time  to  time  lie  was 
able  to  add  to  his  holdings,  until  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1813,  he  owned  all  the 
land  from  Kipp's  run  to  Boyd's,  for  a  mile  I 
from  the  hanks  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  He 
built  a  frame  house  upon  a  slight  elevation  over- 
looking the  river,  and  it  is  ^till  standing  and  in  a 
good    state   of   preservation,   alt!  lout    one 

hundred  and  twenty  years  old.  Here  his  grand- 
daughter, now  (1910)  in  her  ninetieth  year,  re- 
sides. Hi-  family  consisted  of  eleven  children, 
namely:  (1)  Jacob,  horn  in  1763,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight.  He  married  Margaret  Runkill, 
and  they  hail  a  son  John,  hum  in  September,  1789. 
The  latter  married  Sophia  Brown,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  horn  as  follows:  Jacob  S..  1818;  Sarah, 
.Ian.  17,  lv.'l  :  Margaret,  April  22,  1823  (man 
T.  H.  Torrence)  :  Mar]  I'..  Sept  L5,  1825;  Henry 
T.,  Aug.  7,  1829;  Jesse  B.,  Ma]  L7,  Is:;:;.  (2) 
Herman,  born  in  1765,  was  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Xelson  M.  Smith.  (3)  William,  horn  in 
1776,  died  in  1854.  lie  married  Sarah  Maclay. 
(4)  George  married  A.chie  Runyan,  h\  «  hue 
had  children:  Bonham  R.,  Benjamin,  Eliza  and 
Rebecca.  His  second  wife  was  Phoebe  Lutt,  and 
they  had   three  children.   Alice,   Gi  md    Her- 

man.    (5)  John,  horn  in   1771,  died  in   1858.     To 
him  and  Lnn   (Cool)    n  i  re   bora   eight 

children  :   Annie    K..  u  ': 

ami  had  children.  Sarah   (M   !    Hoffman),  Susan 
M.   (Mrs.  Hugh    Vastine),  Spencer  C.   (t 
Anna  Brandon  i  and  Anna :  Tunis,  n 
Iowa  :  Jacoh.  -  i    0     o;  William  :  .1 

u  ho  moved        I  'unty,  Pa. :  Sarah  :  ( lathar- 

and  Elizabeth.    I  6  i  Benjamin,    i  i  i  Elizabeth 
Depi  I  lohn 

Gulick.       I  9  )     Kate    married     A  I  |o) 


56 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEN N SYLVAN  I A 


Charles  married  Sarah  Ephland  and  they  had 
three  children :  Charles  Perry,  born  Jan.  18,  1818, 
married  in  December,  1850,  Agnes  Blue,  daughter 
of  Isaiah  and  Agnes  Blue,  and  their  six  children 
were  Arthur  C.  (who  died  unmarried).  Amanda 
(Mrs.  S.  M.  Oberdorf),  Edith  (who  married  Phil- 
ip W.  Mettler  and  had  Charles  G.,  a  captain  in 
the  United  States  army.  Agnes,  wife  of  John 
Smith:  Edith:  Alice:  John,  and  Catharine),  Mary 
Alice  (Mrs.  E.  M.  Eckman).  Charles  1'.  ami  Ger- 
trude (Mrs.  George  H.  Sonneborn).  Samantha 
married  Thomas  Jameson  and  had  four  children: 
Charles,  who  married  Mary  Lyon  and  had  Nellie 
(Mis.  H.  Billmeyer).  Thomas  (married  Alice 
Kardisky)  anil  Louis  (who  married  V.  Y.  Hideker 
ami  later  Elizabeth  Laubach)  :  Helen,  unmarried: 
Arthur,  deceased  :  and  Frank,  who  married  Alice 
Richards  and  had  children  Mary  and  Catharine. 
Arthur  and  his  wife  Lucy  had  four  children.  Ar- 
thur. Annie,  William  (married  Lena  Harnian) 
and  Sarah  (who  married  Samuel  Detwiler  and 
had  children  Lucy  ami  Clara).  (11)  Isaar  moved 
to  Ohio. 

Herman  Gearhart.  son  of  Capt.  Jacob,  horn  in 
1765,  died  aged  eighty-one  years.  He  married 
Abigail  Baylor  ami  they  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Mary,  who  married  Henry 
Yorks  and  had  Clinton.  Amanda,  and  Ellen,  who 
married  David  Dnger;  Ceorge,  who  moved  to 
Ohio  (he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters)  ;  Marg- 
aret, who  married  Jonas  Wolfe  ami  had  Donald. 
Gearhart.  Willington,  and  three  daughters :  Jacob. 
deceased,  who  never  married:  Daniel,  who  married 
Sarah  Koons;  William,  who  died  unmarried  :  Han- 
nah, who  lives  at  Riverside,  now  (1910)  aged 
eighty-nine  years:  Elizabeth.  Ellen.  Susan  and 
Katie,  all  of  whom  died  unmarried  :  and  Peter. 

Peter  Gearhart,  son  of  Herman,  married  Celes- 
tia  Koup,  and  to  them  were  horn  three  children: 
George;  Gertrude,  Mrs.  Charles  Chalfont;  and 
Lillian,  who  married  Dr.  Nelson  M.  Smith. 

THOMAS  P.  BOUGHNER.  farmer  of  Ralpho 
township.  Northumberland  county,  is  a  member 
of  a  family  whose  name  has  been  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  progress  of  that  district  for  sev- 
eral generations.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of  John 
Boughner.  a  native  of  Hunterdon  county.  N.  J., 
who  in  1814  removed  to  what  is  now  Snydertown, 
in  Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa. 
The  same  year  he  enlisted  and  served  a  short  time 
on  the  northern  frontier  in  a  company  organized 
at  Snydertown  among  his  neighbors  in  Shamokin 
and  Rush  townships  in  defense  of  Erie.  He  was 
a  tanner  by  trade,  and  after  his  settlement  at 
Snydertown  engaged  in  the  carpenter  business. 
continuing  to  follow  same  until  his  death.  He 
also  lived  in  Milton  and  Shamokin  for  some  time, 
but  died  at  Snydertown.  He  was  looked  upon  as 
one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  his  day.  and  filled 


a  number  of  the  minor  township  offices.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican.  To  him  and  his  wife 
Margaret  (Kolcker),  also  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
were  born  six  children:  Peter:  Mahlon,  deceased; 
Charity,  who  was  the  second  wife  of  Jonas  Gilger; 
Susanna,  who  was  the  first  wife  of  Jonas  Gilger; 
Andrew  Jackson,  deceased  :  and  William,  deceased. 

Peter  Boughner,  son  of  John,  was  born  Jan. 
23,  1816,  at  Snydertown,  and  received  such  edu- 
cation as  the  subscription  schools  of  the  day  af- 
forded. After  learning  the  carpenters  trade  with 
In-  lather  he  settled  at  Shamokin  and  engaged  in 
railroad  work.  The  railroad  company  later  placed 
him  in  charge  of  repairs  and  construction  from 
Sunbury  to  Mount  Carmel.  When  the  Shamokin 
Valley  &  Pottsville  railroad,  later  the  Shamokin 
division  of  the  Northern  Central,  was  extended 
from  Shamokin  to  Mount  Carmel.  he  and  Mr. 
John  Dunkelberger  were  associated  in  the  work 
of  laying  the  rails  between  those  points,  under 
contract.  In  1850  lie  was  placed  in  charge  of 
grading  and  constructing  the  streets  of  Trevorton, 
l>ut  with  the  exception  of  the  period  of  eighteen 
months  he  was  thus  engaged  he  was  continuously 
in  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Central  Railway 
Company  for  thirty  years.  As  member  of  the  firm 
of  Boughner  &  Gilger.  who  built  the  first  breaker 
at  the  Luke  Fidler  mine,  and  of  the  firm  of  Cleav- 
er &  Boughner,  who  built  the  first  two  at  Locust 
Gap,  he  was  also  associated  with  another  industry 
which  played  a  most  important  part  in  the  devel- 
opment of  this  rich  section.  Upon  his  retirement 
from  active  business  pursuits  he  purchased  the 
farm  in  Ralpho  township  where  be  resided  up  to 
the  time  of  bis  death,  in  ISO?.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  pioneers  of  Shamokin.  and  one  of  the  last 
survivors  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  borough.  His 
intimate  connection  with  its  affairs  through  so 
long  a  period,  and  his  intelligent  comprehension 
of  the  changes  which  took  place  during  his  life, 
were  so  well  recognized  that  he  is  spoken  of  as  be- 
ing consulted  regarding  dates  and  localities  to 
verify  points  concerning  local  history.  Shortly 
after  his  death  one  of  the  newspapers  published  an 
interview  which  took  place  in  1890  and  which  is 
quoted  in  part  here  as  being  of  considerable  inter- 
est in  this  connection: 

"While  vet  a  mere  boy  I  commenced  to  work 
with  my  father  at  the  carpenter  trade,  hut  work- 
was  scarce,  the  times  were  dull,  and  little  or  no 
money  was  paid.  In  183?  work  was  started  on 
grading  some  twelve  miles  of  the  Danville  &  Potts- 
ville railroad  between  Mount  Carbon  and  Girard- 
ville.  This  was  commonly  called  the  'Girard 
Road,"  as  Stephen  Girard  bad  the  principal  inter- 
est in  the  construction  of  this  part  of  the  eastern 
division.  Tn  the  early  part  of  1S33  I  went  to  work 
on  this  line  and  got  my  first  lesson  in  railroad 
making.  It  was  a  good  place  to  learn  the  busi- 
ness and  what  I  picked  up  here  served  me  well  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


after  years  when  I  became  railroad  boss  and  super- 
visor. I  was  then  a  boy  of  seventeen  years,  but 
large  for  my  age.  ]  was  given  different  kinds  of 
work  and  as  I  was  handy  and  showed  a  willingness 
to  work  I  was  soon  favored  with  jobs  that  required 
some  skill.  My  knowledge  of  the  carpenter  trade 
helped  me  very  much. 

"Tins  railroad  of  twelve  miles,  crossing  over  the 
Broad  Mountain  direct;  was  at  that  time  one  of  the 
greatesl  undertakings  in  the  country.  Ii  was  un- 
der the  charge  of  Moncure  Robinson,  then  the 
greatest  railroad  engineer  in  this  country.  Tins 
'Girard  Road/  with  its  heavy  masonry,  complicated 
st  ructures  and  many  planes  :  its  hoisting  machinery, 
bridges  and  a  tunnel  of  sun  feet,  was  a  wonderful 
feat  in  engineering  if  not  entirely  satisfactory  in 
all  its  workings.  A  number  of  persons  afterward 
residents  of  Shamokin  worked  here.  Among  these 
I  can  recall  George  Shipe,  Jacob  Mowery  and  Mr. 
Katterman,  and  also  Ziba  Bird,  a  contractor,  who 
a  low  years  later  was  connected  with  laying  out 
Shamokin  and  putting  u)i  the  first  house  in  the 
town  proper.  And  here  also  was  a  boy,  some  two 
year-  older  than  myself,  eonneeted  with  the  en- 
gineer force,  a-  a  peg  driver  and  later  as  a  rods- 
man,  who  a  few  years  later  was  to  become  the 
»'reai  engineer  of  the  Shamokin  coal  region.  This 
was  Kimber  Cleaver,  and  here  a  friendship  was 
formed  that  was  never  broken  and  in  after  years 
we  were  associated  in  several  business  undertak- 
ings. Ai  the  close  of  is:;:!  the  Girard  portion  of 
the  road  was  finished  and  I  returned  to  Snyder- 
town.  It  was  generally  understood  that  the  west- 
ern division  of  the  T>.  &  V.  railroad,  between  Sun- 
bury  and  Shamokin.  would  he  commenced  the  next 
year. 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  is:!f  work  was  com- 
menced on  this  branch.  Here  there  was  a  natural 
location  for  a  railroad,  as  the  route  followed  the 
water  courses  and  therefore  much  labor  and  ex- 
pense were  avoided.  The  entire  roadbed  from 
Sunbnry  to  Shamokin  ami  one  mile  beyond,  some 
twenty  miles  in  length,  was  graded  about  August 
1st.  1835.  A  large  lone  was  employed  and  a 
number  of  Trish  from  the  public  works  came  on 
this  job  to  handle  the  pick,  shovel  and  wheelbar- 
row. When  the  grading  was  started  I  went  on  as 
a  common  laborer  at  first,  as  the  wages  on  the  road 
were  much  better  than  I  could  get  elsewhere.  I 
was  soon  promoted  as  it  was  evident  that  I  had 
some  experience  in  that  kind  of  work.  Here  1 
again  met  my  friend  Cleaver  on  the  engineer  corps, 
who  was  now  promoted  to  the  use  of  an  instru- 
ment. *  *  '■■  The  roadbed  was  graded  22  feet 
wide,  being  intended  for  a  double  track  when  the 

second  one  was   n led.     This  permitted  a  space 

of  5  feet  between  the  tracks.  The  track  we  put 
down  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  roadbed.  While 
the  road  was  being  graded,  the  bridges  that  were 
to  span  Shamokin  creek  at  four  or  five  points  were 


put  up.  They  were  models  id'  good  workmanship 
for  those  times.  It  was  then  decided,  as  the  basin 
at  Sunbury  to  connect  with  the  Pennsylvania  canal 
had  not  been  finished,  the  railroad  should  only  he 
completed  to  Paxinos,  and  the  remainder  of  graded 
road  when  the  basin  was  prepared  fm-  coal  ship- 
ments. During  Augusi  the  work  of  superstruc- 
ture, as  it  was  then  termed,  was  commenced  in 
good  earnest  and  pushed  ahead  with  all  possible 
dispatch.  Why  there  was  so  much  baste  1  ivall\ 
cannot  tell.  Sills  by  the  thousands  were  hauled 
on  the  ground,  that  had  been  hewed  by  such  of 
the  neighboring  fanners  along  the  line  as  had  suit- 
able timber.  All  the  sawmills  far  and  near  were 
working  day  and  night  in  sawing  white  oak  rails 
for  the  track,  and  strap  iron,  imported  from  Eng- 
land  (no  tariff  then),  was  distributed  along  the 
whole  line.  In  three  months  the  road  wa-  com- 
pleted between  Sunbury  and  Paxinos,  ready  for 
the  ears  to  run.  The  formal  opening  of  the  road 
took  place  on  Nov.  26,  1835,  at'  Paxinos.  :;:  :::  * 
I  acted  as  foreman  in  putting  down  the  track,  and 
here  my  knowledge  of  the  carpenter  trade  and  the 
experience  1  had  gained  on  the  Girard  road  gtood 
me  well  in  hand."'  The  remainder  of  the  inter- 
view was  devoted   to  a  description  of  the  manner 

in  which  a  track  was  laid  before  the  t lern  days 

of  T  rails  and  other  up-to-date  devices. 

In  1837  Mr.  Boughner  married  Margaret  Rep- 
ley,  daughter  of  John  Eepley,  anil  she  died  long 
before  him,  in  1877.  They  bad  the  following  chil- 
dren: Henry  R.,  a  resident  of  Shamokin.  married 
Sarah  Lake,  and  they  have  had  children.  Edwin. 
Emily,  Libby,  Edna.  Ethel,  and  Mabel  (the  last 
named  deceased):  Joseph  It.  is  mentioned  below; 
John  R.  died  in  Shamokin:  Catharine  married 
dames  A.  Shipp  and  is  deceased  :  Lucy  A.  married 
A.  Hoffman  Reed,  of  l'a\ino>:  Somerfield  married 
Emma  Snyder.  Mr.  Boughner  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Free- 
masons lodges  at  Shamokin.  In  political  senti- 
ment he  was  a  Republican. 

Joseph  R.  Boughner.  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in 
1840  in  Shamokin.  and  died  Feb.  5,  1907,  aged 
sixty-six  years,  three  months,  one  day.  lie  is 
buried  at  Oak  drove  Church,  in  Ralpho  township. 
.Mi-.  Boughner  passed  his  earh  years  in  Shamokin 
and  was  employed  at  railroad  work  with  hi-  father, 
later,  in  July,  1862,  going  to  Ohio.  There,  on 
July  29,  1862,  he  married  Sarah  Tanneyhill, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Tanneyhill.  of  Scotland, 
and  they  remained  in  the  Wesl  iml  I  1864,  in 
which  year  they  settled  at  Shamokin.  Mr  Bough- 
ner was  track  foreman  on  the  railroad  until  1m. 1. 
later  followed  farming,  and  subsequently  enga 
in  the  manufacture  of  powder  in  partnership 
with  Samuel  Frederick,  continuing  in  that  busi- 
ness until  lsi"'  Selling  his  mill  and  farm  inter- 
ests io  a  Mr.  Weld.i  out  i men,  fnd  . 

where   hi'  was   located    from   October,    1875,   until 


5S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1876,  in  which  year  he  embarked  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Montandon,  Northum- 
berland Co..  Pa.,  in  association  with  0.  B.  Hoff- 
man. There  lie  remained  until  his  removal  to 
Juniata  county.  Pa.,  in  1878.  After  a  year  in 
the  mercantile  business  there  he  bought  the  John 
Beplev  farm  in  Ealpho  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  in  1879,  and  there  he  afterward  re- 
sided, engaging  in  farming  until  his  death.  He 
had  seventy-four  acres  of  land.  For  some  time  Mr. 
Boughner  was  also  in  the  slating  business  in 
Shamokin.  He  was  a  Methodist  in  religion  and 
-  ed  as  steward  of  his  church.  Fraternally  he 
was  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Elystmrg 
Lodge,  No.  414.  In  politics  he  adhered  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Republican  party. 

Mrs.  Boughner  died  Jan.  14.  1890,  aged  fifty- 
five  years,  ten  months,  nineti  -.  and  is  buried 
at  Oak  Grove  church.  They  had  four  children: 
Clark,  who  died  in  infancy  and  was  buried  in 
Ohio:  Annie  M..  who  lives  on  the  homestead; 
Thomas  P.,  our  subject :  and  Margaret  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Thomas  P.  Boughner.  son  of  Joseph  B.  Bough- 
ner, was  born  March  7,  1868,  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, and  attended  public  school  in  his  boyhood. 
He  was  with  his  father  in  his  various  removals, 
and  was  eleven  years  old  when  he  came  to  the 
homestead  at  the  Blue  church  where  he  has  re- 
mained to  the  present.  He  is  an  intelligent  and 
prosperous  farmer,  and  a  worthy  member  of  a  re- 
pected  family. 

Mr.  Boughner  married  Lydia  Adams,  daughter 
of  Daniel  H.  and  Sarah  A.  (Pensyl)  Adams,  and 
their  children  are  Clarence  and  Frank.  Mr. 
Boughner  is  a  member  of  the  Oak  Grove  M.  E. 
Church,  and  socially  belongs  to  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 

BENJAMIN  F.  DEPPEN,  one  of  the  foremost 
business  men  at  Trevorton,  is  the  leading  merchant 
of  that  town  and  variously  identified  with  its  in- 
dustrial progress.  He  established  his  general  store 
in  1889.  Mr.  Deppen  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  this  county,  in  1847.  The  history  of  his 
family  in  this  country  goes  back  to  the  early  part 
oi  the  eighteenth  century. 

Christian    Deppen.  the   founder  of   this  family 

in   Pennsylvania,   came  hither  from  the   German 

Palatinate,  arriving   (qualifying)   at  Philadelphia 

16,    1736.      He   crossed   the   ocean   on   the 

■•  Princess  Augusta"  from  Rotterdam.  Samu- 

i  1  Merchant,  masti  s  with  a  number  of  others 

the  Palatinate,  their  wives  and  children — in 

all  three  hundred  souls,  according  to  the  historian 

Rupp.     On   the  "List  of   Ship's   Foreigners"  his 

name  ;-   given  as  Christian  Dappen,  and  his  age 

as  thirty  years.     In  the  Captain's  book  his  name 

appears  as  Christian  Teppe.     In  his  will  his  name 

is    written,    in    plain    English,    Christian    Deppe. 

Thus  Ave  find  ;         tin  as  been  considerable  un- 


certainty concerning  the  correct  orthography  of 
the  name.  It  appears  often  as  Deppe,  Depew  and 
Dupee,  and  some  genealogists  declare  its  original 
form  to  have  been  that  of  the  old  French  Huguenot 
name.  DePui. 

Christian  Deppen  settled  near  Womelsdorf,  in 
Heidelberg  township.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  In  the  tax 
lists  of  Heidelberg  township  Christian  "Deppy" 
is  a=sessed  as  follows:  1767,  on  300  acres.  3  horses, 
'■'<  cattle,  3  sheep:  1768,  on  150  (?)  acres.  4  hoi  -  - 
1  cattle,  5  sheep:  1779,  on  220  a<  res,  5  horse-.  l-"> 
cattle;  1780,  on  395  acres,  5  horses,  1'.'  cattle; 
1781,  -ii  395  acres.  5  horsi  -.  8  cattle.  The  will  of 
Christian  Deppe,  of  Heidelberg  township,  is  on 
record  in  the  Berks  county  courthouse,  as  □ 
Sept.  '.',.  1775,  and  probated  in  ITS?,  the  year  of 
his  death.  It  was  witnessed  by  Philip  Mover.  John 
Casper  Reed  and  Adam  Kalbach,  and  it  begins 
thus:  "I,  Christian  Deppe,  an  aged  yeoman  of 
Heidelberg  township.  Berks  County."'  As  the  will 
contains  no  reference  to  his  wife,  it  is  presumed 
-he  was  dead  at  the  time  it  was  made.  At  the  Mm. 
of  his  death  Christian  Deppe  also  owned  fifty 
-  of  land  in  Northampton  county.  In  his 
will  he  refers  to  his  "eldest  and  beloved  -  n,  Jo- 
hannes, who  shall  have  fifty  pounds  over  and 
above  his  other  share."'  His  children  as  named  in 
the  will  were:  Johannes;  Barbara  (married  Peter 
Zimmerman  i  :  Anna  i  married  George  Yeakly )  : 
Treanic:  Elizabeth:  Thomas:  Peter:  David,  who 
died  in  1804  (his  German  will  is  on  record  in 
Perks  county  courthouse);  Joseph;  Jacob;  and 
Abraham,  who  died  in  1840  intestate,  and  whose 
heir  was  Richard  I'.         .        B    delberg. 

Joseph  Deppy  (one  of  the  older  sons  of  the 
pioneer  Christian)  in  the  Federal  Census  Report 
of  1T90  is  recorded  as  a  resident  of  Heidelberg 
township,  and  as  the  head  of  a  family  consisting 
of  himself,  wife  and  three  sons  above  sixteen  years 
of  age. 

Christian,  Peter,  William  and  George  Deppeiu 
natives  of  Berks  county,  were  pioneers  of  North- 
umberland county.  They  located  in  that  section 
now  embraced  in  Jackson  and  Washington  town- 
ships: in  1778  tlie  name  of  Christian  Deppen  ap- 
pears in  the  list  of  pioneers  of  Mahanoy  township 
(both  Jackson  and  Washington  were  originally 
embraced  in  Mahanoy  township).  This  Christian 
Deppen  and  Peter  Deppen,  who  were  pioneers  in 
Northumberland  county,  tradition  states  were  - 
of  the  ancestor  Christian  Deppy.  The  name  of 
Peter  is  found  in  the  will,  but  Christian  is  said 
to  have  been  a  heavy  drinker,  and  poor  probably 
on  that  account,  and  for  this  reason  he  was  not 
mentioned  in  his  father's  will.  He  was  unlike  his 
brothers.  Early  in  the  nineteenth  century  he  went 
to  Mercer  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died.  He  was 
married  three  times,  and  among  his  children  were 
a  son  Washington  and  a  daughter  Bet-y. 

Peter   Deppen   came,  a-   -tared,   from   Berks  to. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


59 


Northumberland  county,  and  after  living  there  a 
-hurt  period  went  to  Ohio,  finally  settling  in  Mis- 
souri, where  he  was  a  prosperous  fanner.  His 
descendants  in  Missouri  and  the  West  are  said  to 
be  many.  Among  his  children  were  sons  Zetic 
ami  Andrew. 

William  and  George  Deppen,  mentioned  above 
as  having  settled  in  Northumberland  county,  were 
grandsons  of  the  ancestor  Christian,  through  his 
oldesl  son,  John,  and  from  these  two  spring  all  the 
Deppens    now    living  in    Northumberland   county. 

Whether  Christian  Deppy,  the  ancestor,  was  a 
Roman  Catholic  or  nut  is  uncertain,  but  tradition 
slates  thai  lie  was.  His  son  Joseph  was  a  Cath- 
olic, as  were  the  latter's  children,  and  a  number  of 
the  family  still  adhere  to  thai  faith.  Most  of  the 
name  now  living  in  Reading  are  members  of  St. 
Paul's  Catholic  Church.  There  were  sixteen  per- 
sons by  the  name  of  Deppen  in  the  Reading  city 
directory  for  1908. 

George  Deppen,  one  of  the  two  grandsons  of 
Christian  mentioned  as  settling  in  Northumber- 
land county,  was  bom  dune  2,1,  1787,  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  and  in  1810  came  to  Northumberland 
count]  with  his  brother  William,  as  previously 
stated.  He  was  a  lifelong  fanner,  and  upon  his 
removal  from  his  native  county  settled  on  the  farm 
puK  ..wned  by  Isaac  Tressler,  a  tract  one  and  a 
half  mile-  north  of  Herndon.  This  place  he 
-old.  and  purchased  an  adjoining  farm,  on  which 
stood  a  gristmill.  From  the  latter  property  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson, 
Samuel  Deppen,  a  line  place  of  fully  200  acres  in 
Jackson  township.  lie  died  Feb.  7,  1850, 
and  his  wife.  Maria  Madg.  Greise,  a  native  of 
Berks  countv,  bom  April  3,  1785,  Ion-  survived 
him,  dving  Aug.  11.  1869.  They  are  buried  at 
St.  Peter's  i  bun  h,  in  Mahanoy  township.  He  and 
his  family  were  Reformed  members  of  St.  Peter's, 
which  was  a  Union  Church,  and  lie  served  as  an 
official  :  In  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  political  opin- 
ion. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deppen  were  horn  four  chil- 
dren: Rebecca,  who  married  John  Haas,  of  Sun- 
bury;  William:  John,  who  died  at  Herndon:  and 
Isaac,  Who  spent  most  of  his  life  at  Herndon  and 
died  in  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania. 

William  "Deppen,  eldes!  -on  of  George,  horn  in 
1814,  was  a  merchant  in  Jackson  township  and  at 
other  place-  in  this  county  for  forty  years,  at  one 
Time  owned  much  real  estate,  and  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  section.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Augustaville  when  a  young  man.  and 
was  subsequently  at  Mahanoy,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, for  eighteen  vears.  In  the  spring  of  18< 
located  at  Trevorton,  where  he  was  a  merchant 
lor  about  two  years,  until  his  retirement  from 
business  He  died  Jan.  S.  1876,  and  is  buried  at 
Mahanoy.  in  Jackson  township.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.    His  wife.  Susan  Lantz,  who  sur- 


vived him.  was  of  Lower  Augusta  town-hip.  this 
county,  and  to  them  were  born  children  as  follows  : 
Mary,  Samuel,  William  (all  three  died  young), 
Benjamin  F.,  George  W.  Richard  L.  (of  Sham- 
okin)  and  Sarah  A.  (living  m  Trevorton  on  the 
old  homestead).  George  W.  Deppen.  who  was 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sunhury, 
died  in  January,  1909. 

Benjamin  F.  Deppen  attended  the  school-  of  the 
home    locality,    later    Millersville    State    normal 

sel 1.  at  Lancaster.  Pa.     Having  been  appointed 

agenl  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading'  Railroad 
Company  at  Trevorton,  he  filled  that  position  con- 
tinuously for  twenty  years,  and  as  such  became 
one  of  the  best  known  men  of  this  district.  In 
1889  he  began  what  has  proved  to  be  a  highly 
successful  business  career,  opening  the  general 
store  at  Trevorton  which  he  has  since  conducted, 
and  which  he  moved  to  it-  present  location  in 
1898.  He  has  the  principal  trade  of  the  kind  in 
the  town,  his  patrons  coming  from  a  wide  area. 
Business  has  occupied  all  his  attention,  his  inter- 
ests having  broadened  until  he  is  now  identified 
with  a  number  of  enterprises.  He  is  a  trustee  of 
the  Trevorton  Silk  Mills,  ami  a  director  of  the 
Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company  of 
Shamokin,  and  in  1910  he  succeeded  the  late 
Charles  Fritz  in  his  connection  with  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Trevorton.  Mr.  Deppen  is  a 
Republican,  but  takes  no  part  in  politics. 

Mr.  Deppen's  first  wife.  Su-an  (Herb),  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Herb,  of  the  Mahantango  Valley, 
died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.     In   1893 

Mr.  Deppen  married    (sec 1)    Louisa   Leitenl 

er.  daughter  of  Charles  Leitenberger,  who  was 
killed  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  by  the  kick  of  a  horse. 
Four  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  Deppen's 
marriage,  namely:  Laura  M. :  Susan  M.:  Samuel 
II..  horn  in  1876,  who  died  in  L905  (he  mar 
Minnie  Holshue  and  they  had  two  children.  Wil- 
liam Frank  ami  Donald  II.)  ;  and  William  Ralph, 
who  married  Eva  Kline  and  has  two  children. 
Russell  C  and  William   Robert. 

ROCKEFELLER.  The  Rockefeller  family  has 
long  been  well  represented  among  the  best  class 
of  citizens  in  Northumberland  county,  mid  oi 
the  townships  of  the  county  hears  the  name,  which 
was  founded  here  by  Godfrey  Rockefeller,  from 
whom  David  P.  and  Emen  Roi  kefeller,  brol 
of  Sunbury,  are  di  in  the  fifth  generation. 

The  Rockefeller  famil]  true,-  it-  beginning  in 
America  to  one  Peter  Rockefeller,  who  was  born 
in  Europe  and  iii  1710  em   !  rii  a,  set- 

tling at  Amwell,  Bunterdon  Co..  N.  J.     He  died 
there  about    I  i  10,   leaving  to   his   -on.   w  ho   was 

;l|.,i  mil 1  Peter,  i  i  and  in  the  coxinty 

mi  in  toned. 

Godfr  \    Roi  kefeller,   horn    in    1747,  was   i      i 
0f  Peter  Roi  ("2).     He  i  ame  to  Nbrthum- 


(II) 


X<  iRTHOIBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PEN  XSYLYAXIA 


berland  county,  I':).,  in  1789,  and  took  up  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  Snydertpwn.  Tie  married  Mar- 
garet Lewis,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  eight  daughters.  One  of  the 
sons  was  the  grandfather  of  John  I>.  Rockefeller, 
of  Standard  Oil  fame.  The  other  two  were  John 
and  William,  the  former  the  great-grandfather  of 
David  P.  and  Emery  Rockefeller,  of  Sunbury,  the 
latter  the  father  of  David  (horn  Sept.  6,  1802) 
and  grandfather  of  Judge  William  M.  Rockefeller 
(born  Aug.  18,  1830),  who  married  Emily  Jones, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Maria  (Housel)  Join-. 
of  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

John  Rockefeller,  son  of  Godfrey,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  David   P.  and   Emery   Rockefeller. 

John  Rockefeller,  the  grandfather,  was  killed  on 
his  way  home  from  Reading,  at  a  time  when 
much  of  the  country  wa-  still  a  wilderne--.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Moore,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  Lewis  Rockefeller,  their  other  children-be- 
ing as  follows:  Henry  married  Elizabeth  Morgan 
ami  had  live  children.  John.  James,  Jacob,  Frank- 
lin and  Harriet  (Mrs.  John  Guliek)  ;  Michael 
never  married:  David  was  twice  married  his  liv-t 
wife  being  Isabella  Campbell:  John  married  Har- 
riet Kneiss  and  had  live  children,  Alice  (wife  of 
Rev.  John  Bowman).  Caroline  (Mrs.  Woods), 
Anne  (wife  of  Jacob  Frye),  Elizabeth  (wife  of 
Jesse  Cleaver)  and  Ella  (Mrs.  Sanders);  Mary 
married  George  Bassett  and  had  six  children, 
Lucy,  Alda.  Ruth,  Maggie,  Elizabeth  and  George; 
Esther  married  Isaac  Eckman  and  had  five  chil- 
dren. Col.  Charles  (married  Sophia  Gearhart), 
David  (married  Ella  Wolfe  and  had  children, 
Franklin.  Alfred,  Dyer  and  Ethel),  Elizabeth 
(married  first  Oscar  Heller  and  second  Joseph 
Bonner),  Harriet  (married  George  Mettler  and 
had  two  children.  Ella  and  Susan)  and  Lewis. 

Lewis  Rockefeller,  born  Sept.  12,  1823,  died  in 
October,  1898.  lie  married  Catherine  Campbell, 
who  survives  him.  and  they  became  the  parents  oi 
a  large  family :  Joseph,  born  in  1850,  died  in  1870; 
Lemuel  married  Hattie  McClow  and  they  have 
three  children.  Catharine,  Mary  and  Margaret : 
Sarah  married  H.  Clay  Seasholtz  and  has  had  one 
son.  David:  Isabella  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five;  Hattie  married  H.  C.  Lyons:  Charles 
married  Mattie  Manier  and  has  two  children. 
Harrison  and  Helen:  Isaac  married  Emma 
Specht;  David  P.  is  mentioned  below:  Oliver  mar- 
ried Jennie  Haupl  :  Emery  is  mentioned  below. 

Mrs.  Catharine  (Campbell)  Rockefeller  though 
now  (1911)  in  her  eighty-first  year  is  active  and 
retains  all  her  faculties,  and  to  her  excellent  mem- 
ory we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  data  in  this 
article.  She  enjoys  good  health,  and  her  kind  and 
unselfish  disposition  keeps  her  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  her  numerous  descendants  and  endears 
her  to  a  wide  circle  of  relatives  and  friends.  She 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Sea- 


sholtz. Her  cheerful  temperament  and  fine  Chris- 
tian character  have  won  for  her  the  esteem  and 
love  of  all  fortunate  enough  to  know  her.  She  was 
one  of  a  family  of  eight  children  horn  to  Chris- 
topher and  Sarah  (Kline)  Campbell,  the  former 
of  whom  was  the  son  of  Christopher  Campbell,  the 
latter  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Kline.  Isaac  Kline 
and  his  wife  Catharine  had  the  following  sons: 
Harmon.  Henry,  Isaac  and  Christopher.  The 
children  of  Christopher  and  Sarah  (Kline)  Camp- 
bell were  as  follows:  (1)  Isaac  married  Hannah 
Campbell.  Children:  Dr.  John,  who  died  in  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.;  Lemuel,  who  married  Sally  Ker- 
suge;  James,  who  married  Alice  Van  Zant:  Re- 
becca, who  married  Joseph  Eckman :  and  Flora, 
who  died  young.  (2)  Lemuel  married  Emma 
Smith.  Children:  Dr.  Charles,  who  married  Liz- 
zie Lee  Enos  :  William,  who  died  young:  Eli.  who 
died  young:  and  Mary,  who  lives  in  Sunbury. 
(3)  Abraham  died  young.  |  D  Herman  married 
Elizabeth  Reed,  and  their  son.  Edmund,  married 
Mary  Baupt.  (5)  Sarah  married  Charles  Eck- 
man. and  had  two  children,  Frank  and  Ellard 
(who  married  Ella  Snyder).  (6)  Ella  married 
(first)  Kelso  Savidge,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children.  Clinton  (who  married  Louis. •  Essie  and 
has  six  children.  Harry  W.,  Albert  C.  Ralph  W. 
E..  Preston  M..  Louise  and  Lucile),  Harrison  C. 
and  Lizzie  A.  (married  Willard  Robinson).  Her 
second  marriage  was  to  GeoTge  Forrester,  by 
whom  she  has  had  two  children.  Isabella  (Mrs. 
(lark)  and  Ellen,  the  latter  dying  young.  (7) 
Rhoda  married  Samuel  Oberdorf,  and  they  have 
had  eleven  children,  Oliver  (deceased),  Isaac  (de- 
ceased), Hamilton  (deceased),  Isabella  (de- 
ceased), Chalmers  (deceased),  Mary,  Peter,  G. 
Donald  (a  graduate  of  Princeton  and  now  prin- 
cipal of  the  Mount  Carmel  high  school,  who  mar- 
ried Olive  A.  Ruch),  Maurer  (married  to  Amanda 
Gearhart).  William  (who  married  Ollie  Wolver- 
ton  and  has  two  children.  Calvin  and  Robert,  the 
former  a  graduate  of  Bucknell  University)  and 
Susan  ( Mrs.  Lorenza  Eckman,  who  has  two  chil- 
dren, James  and  Chalmft-s).  (8)  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried (first)  Bloomfield  Carr,  by  whom  she  had  two 
son-.  James  and  William,  "and  (second)  Charles 
Houghout.  by  whom  she  has  two  daughters,  Vir- 
ginia and  Roda,  the  latter  the  wife  of  William 
Clark  and  the  mother  of  three  children.  Bessie, 
George  and  Morris. 

David  P.  Rockefeller,  son  of  Lewi-  ami  Cath- 
erine (Campbell)  Rockefeller,  is  a  well  known 
business  man  of  Sunbury,  being  president  of  the 
Sunbury  Table  Works,  manufacturers  of  exten- 
sion and  parlor  tables,  and  similar  goods.  Mr. 
Rockefeller  was  horn  in  Sunbury  Nov.  83,  1859, 
and  there  received  his  early  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  After  a  few  years'  attendance  there 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  a  pupil  in 
the  school  at  Seventeenth  and  Pine  streets.     Dur- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


61 


ing  his  residence  in  thai  city  he  clerked  for  his 
cousin,  John  Rockefeller,  for  a  period  of  ten  years. 
Returning  to  Sunbury  in  1883,  he  engaged  in  the 
bottling  business,  which  he  continued  to  follow 
until  1898.  For  three  years  afterward  he  was 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and  for  a  similar 
■period  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  1905  selling 
his  stock  of  merchandise  to  J.  K.  Frederick.  At 
that  time  he  began  the  manufacture  of  tallies,  in 
which  lie  was  engaged  alone  until  he  established 
the  present  concern,  in  May.  1907.  The  plant  is 
located  on  North  Second  street,  the  factory  and 
yards  covering  nearly  a  city  block.  The  main 
building  is  200  feel  square,  and  there  is  another 
50  by  L50  feel  in  dimensions.  The  establishmenl 
is  equipped  throughout  with  the  must  modern  ma- 
chinery and  all  improvements  designed  to  facili- 
tate the  work,  and  from  seventy-five  to  eighty  men 
are  given  constant  emplo] ni  supplying  the  de- 
mands of  the  large  trade.  Mr.  Rockefeller  has 
devoted  himself  to  the  building  up  of  this  busi- 
ness, ami  his  efforts  have  been  rewarded  with  un- 
usual success,  lie  is  respected  and  trusted  by  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  elected  him  to  the  borough 
council  in  1904,  ami  he  served  in  thai  body  from 
thai  year  until  1908.  lie  is  a  Republican  in 
polities  ami  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Socially  he  belongs  In  the  I.  O. 
O.  F. 

On  Sept.  18th,  1891,  Mr.  Rockefeller  married 
Agnes  Cummings,  daughter  of  Andrew  ami  Har- 
riet Cummings,  of  Washingtonville,  Montour  Co., 
Pennsylvania. 

Emeey  Rockefeller,  retired  farmer  and  dairy- 
man, now  living  in  Sunbury,  was  born  June  L5, 
1868,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated, 
lie  lived  mi  thr  family  homestead  in  that  town- 
ship I'm'  Mime  time,  ami  in  1900  purchased  from 
Gen.  George  B.  Cadwallader  a  fine  farm  of  154 
acres  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  fertile  ami  val- 
uable land,  which  he  cultivated  until  1906.  That 
year  he  built  a  line  home  mi  East  Market  street. 
in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  where  he  has  since 
resided  with  his  family.  While  mi  the  farm  Mr. 
Rockefeller  carried  on  the  dairy  business,  which 
he  has  continued  since  his  removal  to  Sunbury. 
Though  unostentatious  in  his  habits  and  retiring 
in  disposition  he  has  always  interested  himself  in 
the  public  welfare,  ami  while  in  Upper  Augusta 
township  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  twn  terms.  Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Sun- 
bury he  has  been  elected  to  the  borough  council, 
at  present  representing  the  Eighth  ward  in  that 
body.  He  is  an  excellent  neighbor  and  friend, 
kind  and  hospitable,  and  has  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him.  In  religious  connection  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Catawissa  Avenue  Methodist 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  since  1909. 

On    Jan.    24.    1894,    Mr.    Rockefeller    married 


Minnie  Gonsar,  and  to  them  were  born  twn  chil- 
dren, Yi-rna  and  1 1  i ft*.  Mrs.  Rockefeller  died 
March  12,  1911,  aged  forty-one  years  ami  was  bur- 
ied in  Pomfrel  Manor  county. 

Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Rockefeller  was  a  mem- 
ber of  ime  of  the  early  settled  families  of  the  coun- 
ty- Her  grandparents,  Samuel  and  Catharine 
(Line)  Gonsar,  natives  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
came  to  Northumberland  county  in  an  early  day. 
settling  m  Shamokin  township,  where  they  passed 
tin1  remainder  of  their  lives,  dying  there.  They 
arc  buried  at  Snydertown.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
miller  by  occupation.  In  religion  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  and  his  wife 
hail  a  large  family,  viz.:  John,  David.  Andrew, 
O 'ge,  Daniel.  Isaac  Jacob,  Jesse,  Sarah  (mar- 
ried Benjamin  Evert),  Harriet  (married  Jeffer- 
son Miller,  of  Lewisburg)  ami  Hannah  (married 
John  Campbell,  of  Snydertown).  George,  Daniel, 
[saac,  Jacob  and  Jesse  all  lived  in  Shamokin 
township. 

•lesse  Gonsar,  father  of  Mrs.  Emery  Rockefeller, 
was  horn  in  1836  and  died  in  1898,  aged  sixty-two 
years,  live  months,  sixteen  days.  He  married 
Harriet  Houseworth,  and  she  survived  him  with 
tiieir  three  children:  Minnie.  Mrs.  Rockefeller, 
now  deceased:  Laura,  who  is  the  wife  of  Andrew 
Lantz  and  has  one  son.  Jesse;  and  Grant,  of 
Snydertown,   Pennsylvania. 

HAUPT.  The  Haupl  famih  in  which  be- 
longed  the  late  Henry  Haupt,  long  a  resident  of 
Sunbury  ami  later  of  Upper  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county,  was  founded  here  by 
one  George  Haupt.  There  are  several  distinct 
families  of  the  name  in  the  county,  that  of  Sham- 
okin   township    bearing    no    known    relationship 

either  to  il ne  here  under  consideration  or  to 

the  family  of  which  John  D.  Haupt,  of  Rocke- 
feller township,  is  a  member. 

G 'ge  Haupt  was  a   native  of   Berks  county, 

Pa.,  and  came  lo  Northumberland  county  in  1802, 
settling  in  what  was  then  Augusta  (now  Rocke- 
feller) township,  where  he  owned  mam  acres  lo 
the  east  of  Augustaville.  He  was  a  tailor,  and 
followed  his  trade  for  some  years,  hut  farming  wa- 
ins principal  vocation,  lli^  farm  was  later  owned 
hv  his  grandson,  \.  <  I.  Haupl  i -on  of  his  son 
Samuel ).  hut  the  present  owner  is  John  1  >.  Haupt, 

before  mentioned.    G ge  Haupt  was  a  Lutheran, 

and  he  and   his  wife,   Margaret    (Overpecl  i, 
buried  at  the  Augustaville  (Stone)  Church.      \< 
cording  to  the  rei  ird    there  he  was  bom  Jul?    1  3, 
1761,  and  died   Feb.   1 1.  1853 :  she  was  born  dan. 
21,    1772,  and   died    \n\,   30,    1858.     The",    wi 

arents  of  ten  <  hildren  :    John  :  Samuel   <  horn 
1804,  died    1882,  who  married   Lydia   Fasold  and 
had  eight  children  i     George;  l»a\  id  :  Jacob;  Hen 
rv:  Sebastian,  who  lived  at  the  corner  of  Third  ami 
Market  streets,  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury;  Oath- 


62 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


anile,  who  married  Peter  Flook :  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried John  Shipe:  and  Elizabeth,  who  died  when 
twenty-one  years  old. 

Henry  Haupt.  son  of  George,  was  born  May 
30,  1812,  in  Augusta  township,  and  learned  the 
tailor's  trade  from  his  father.  In  1810  he  located 
in  Sunbury,  at  what  is  now  No.  321  Market 
street,  in  a  typical  log  cabin,  and  he  followed  his 
trade  until  1853,  when  his  health  failed  and  he 
moved  out  of  the  borough,  settling  in  Upper  Au- 
gusta township.  The  change  proved  beneficial, 
for  he  lived  to  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
dying  Feb.  10,  1897.  After  giving  up  tailoring 
he  became  a  watchman  on  the  Shamokin  branch 
of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  He  is  buried  in 
the  old  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Mr.  Haupt  was  a 
Presbyterian  in  religious  faith,  and  served  as  trus- 
ts  f  the  church  at  Sunbury.  He  took  an  inter- 
est in  the  affairs  of  the  community,  and  served 
some  years  as  overseer  of  the  poor.  His  first 
wife,  Maria  Yordy,  died  March  26,  1814.  the 
null  her  of  two  children.  Samuel  Y.  and  Freeman. 
His  seii md  marriage  was  to  Sarah  Mowery,  who 
was  born  Christmas  Day.  1810,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Elizabeth  (Kerschner)  Mowery,  of  Sunbury, 
and  died  Nov.  4,  1876.  There  was  one  child  by 
this  union.  Liberty  Dewart,  born  in  Sunbury. 
on  the  site  where  she  still  resides.  She  married 
in  1871,  John  0.  Dugan  and  has  three  children, 
Harry  W.,  of  Plymouth,  Pa. :  Fannie  E..  who 
married  Claude  E.  Wilson,  of  Sunbury:  and  Sal- 
lie,  who  married  W.  C.  Forrester,  of  Upper  Au- 
gusta township.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  She  was  named  Liberty 
after  Miss  Liberty  Brady,  who  was  born  about 
the  time  the  Liberty  Bell  proclaimed  freedom  to 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  Colonies  upon 
the  adoption  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
July  I.  1776,  and  who  was  a  sister  of  the  six 
Brady  brothers,  noted  Indian  fighters  and  scouts 
of  the   Susquehanna   valley,   in   Pennsylvania. 

JOHN  D.  HAUPT.  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Rockefeller  township,  was  born  there  May  25, 
1851,  sun  of  George  G.  Haupt,  on  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  family.  His  grandfather  lived  in 
Cameron  township,  this  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  he  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Gearhart,  are  buried  in  that  township. 
He  owned  property.  They  were  Lutherans  in  re- 
ligious faith.  Of  their  children.  John,  Jacob  and 
Benjamin  lived  in  Cameron  township;  George. 
G.  is  mentioned  below;  Sarah  married  George 
Derk;  TIettie  married  Gideon  Derk,  brother  of 
George;  there  were  other  daughters  whose  names 
are  not  given. 

George  G.  Haupt  was  born  Sept.  12,  1810,  in 
Cameron  township,  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker,   which    he    followed    to    s e    extent,    but 

farming    was    his    principal    occupation    through 


life.  He  owned  a  farm  of  thirty-three  acres  in 
Rockefeller  township,  where  he  died  Jan  11, 
L866.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  holding  the  office  of  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  and  it  is  singular  that  his  asso- 
ciate in  office,  Daniel  D.  Conrad,  died  just  two 
weeks  before.  His  wife,  Barbara  (Dornsife), 
born  Feb.  18,  1824.  died  April  8,  1897.  They 
wiiv  Lutherans,  and  are  buried  at  the  Augusta- 
ville  Church.  Their  children  were:  Mary  Eliza- 
beth married  Simeon  Haupt,  who  was  a  descend- 
ant of  George  Haupt  (1761-1853  ),  of  another  fam- 
ily resident  in  the  same  community,  and  who  had 
Indian  blood  in  his  veins;  John  D.  is  mentioned 
later;  Emeline  is  the  widow  of  Hyman  Shilly; 
Catharine    E.    married    Milton    De"\\ 

John  D.  Haupt  has  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits all  his  life.  His  farm  consists  of  100  acres 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  Rockefeller  township, 
and  is  the  old  homestead  of  George  Haupt,  who 
was  the  founder  of  another  Haupt  family  in  this 
neighborhood,  being  no  known  relative  of  John 
D.  Haupt.  Mr.  Haupt  raises  general  crops  and 
sells  his  produce  at  Trevorton.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising citizen  and  has  taken  some  part  in  public 
affairs  in  his  locality,  having  served 'the  township 
as  school  director  and  roadmaster.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat. 

In  1883  Mr.  Haupt  married  Matilda  Neidig. 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Maria  (Conrad)  Nei- 
dig, and  five  children  were  born  to  them:  Stella 
B.,  who  was  married  in  1910  to  Atwood  Wetzel; 
Blanche  M.,  wife  of  William  E.  Straub;  and  Don- 
ald D.,  Myrtle  V.  and  Hatton  II..  at  home.  Mrs. 
Haupt  died  Oct.  3,  L903,  aged  forty-one  years, 
twenty-five   days,   and    is   buried   at   Augustaville. 

CHARLES  M.  MARTIN'.  M.  D.,  late  of  Sun- 
bury, was  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  high  stand- 
ing in  that  borough,  where  he  was  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession 
for  nver  thirty  years.  A  man  of  admirable  per- 
sonal traits,  public-spirited,  energetic,  progress- 
ive in  bis  special  field  of  labor  and  in  all  that  had 
to  do  with  the  real  good  of  his  fellow  nun.  he 
was  a  citizen  to  be  esteemed  and  valued,  and  his 
memory  will  live  lung  in  the  hearts  of  the  many 
who  knew  and  appreciated  him.  Dr.  Martin  he- 
longed  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Sunbury, 
having  been  a  grandson  of  George  Martin,  who 
came  thither  among  the  pioneers. 

■  George  Martin  was  active  in  the  public  affairs 
of  Northumberland  county  in  his  day.  serving  as 
county  prothonotary  and  for  some  years  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  cem- 
etery at  Sunbury.  He  and  his  wife  Mary  had 
children  as  follows :  Rev.  Jacob  was  the  father 
of  l>r.  Martin;  George  served  for  thirty-two  years 
in  the  United  States  army,  attaining  the  rank  of 
captain,    and    was    in    the    Indian    Seminole    war. 


NTOKTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


63 


through  the  Mexican  war  and  in  the  Civil  war  in  the  locality  of  his  birth,  lie  had  a  very  ex- 
(he  lived  retired  in  Philadelphia) ;  William  served  tensive  general  practice,  and  attended  faithfully 
through  the  Mexican  war  and  m  the  Union  army   to  all  its  demands,  in  addition  to  which  he  served 

during  the   Civil   war  and   attained   the  rank   of    for    thirteen    years    as    residenl    surg i    at    Sun- 

1     '  l"'-    '""•    ,IV'''1    retired    in    Philadelphia);    bury  for  the  Pennsvlvania  Railwavll'ompanv.  1»- 
Charles,   who   served    in    the  Union   army  during    ing  succeeded  in  that  position,  upon  his   death, 
the  Civil   war,  died  in  Savannah,  Ohio,  where  he    by    Dr.    Drumheller,   of    Sunbury.      He   was    ap- 
had  ma. 1m  his  home  for  a  number  of  years;  Henry,   pointed  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  exam- 
fas  a  resident  of  Sunbury,  entered  the  Union    iners,    removed-  when    the    Dei irats    c: into 

army  during  the  Civil  war  and  was  killed  at  the  power,  in  1884,  and  reappointed  in  June,  1889. 
battle  of  the  Wilderness;  Luther,  who  lived  in  His  standing  in  the  profession  was  high,  and  he 
Elizabeth.  \.  J.,  where  he  was  married,  was  also  was  honored" with  the  vice-presidency  of  the  Sun- 
a  soldier  during  the  Civil  war  and  was  killed  at  bury  Medical  Association.  In  spite  of  a  busy 
ll"'  battle  of  Gettysburg;  Betzy  married  a  Mr.  professional  career  he  found  time  for  local  public 
St  ml,   and   they  lived  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.;  Cath-    service,  acting  as  member  of  the  borough  council 

arine    (Kitty)    married   Peter    Khoads    and.   they   and  for  so years  as  a  school  director.     He  was 

lived  near  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Mary;  and  two  others,  also  known  in  social  circles,  and  fraternally  was 
All  of  tins  family  wen-  born  ami  reared  at  Sun-  a  Knight  Templar  Mason.  He  was  a  Republican 
bury.  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection. 

Rev.  Jacob  Martin,  son  of  George  and  Mary  In  1865  Dr.  Martin  married,  ai  Westminster, 
Martin,  was  born  in  Sunbury  Feb.  11,  1803.  anil  Md.,  Sallie  H.  Shreeve.  who  died  in  1872  at  Ow- 
died  there  in  is;?,  after  a  service  of  fifty  years  mg's  Mills,  Md.  On  Feb.  18,  1873,  he  married 
in  the  ministry  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  (second)  Mary  Alice  Haas,  daughter  of  John  and 
first  charge  was  in  New  York  State,  at  Dans-  Mary  (Gheen)  Haas,  late  of  Sunbury,  and  Mrs. 
ville.  For  some  years  he  was  at  Westminster,  Martin  still  occupies  the  large  residence  at  No. 
and  at  Reisterstown,  both  in  Maryland,  each  of  141  Chestnut  street  which  the  Doctor  erected 
his  charges  comprising  four  or  five  congrega-  in  1875.  To  the  second  union  was  bom  one  son, 
tions.  He  was  an  able  speaker,  preaching  both  William  H.,  on  December  28,  1873:  he  died  Nov. 
English  and  German,  and  also  a  good  singer,  us-  13,  1902,  while  a  student  at  the  University  of 
ually  leading  the  church  singing.  He  married  Pennsylvania,  and  he  and  his  father  are  buried  in 
Abbie  A.  Stevenson,  daughter  of  Henry  Steven-  Pomfret Manor  cemetery,  at  Sunbury. 
son,   who  came   from   Ireland,   and   she   survived 

him  but  three  months.  They  were  the  parents  WILLIAM  W.  RYON,  of  Shamokin,  a  legal 
of  seven  children,  namely:  Henry  and  George  practitioner  of  over  thirty  years"  standing  in  that 
died  young,  but  five  days  apart;  Mary  E.  died  borough,  was  born  April  29,  Is.",;,  at  Lawrence- 
young:  Margaret  married  D.  Wilson  Shryoeek,  of  ville.  in  Lawrence  township,  Tioga  Co..  Pa.  His 
Greensburg,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.:  Charles  M.  parents  were  George  L.  and  Hannah  (Hammond) 
is  mentioned  below:  Harriet  married  James  Lyon,  Ryon,  both  descendants  of  prominent  pioneer  fam- 
and  they  live  at  Sunbury:  Harry  died  at  West-  ilies  of  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  a  member  of 
minster.   Md.,   when   eighteen  years  old.  the    Connecticut   Hammond    family,   which   came 

Charles  M.  Martin  was  born  Jan.  15,  1810,  to  Pennsvlvania  in  Provincial  days.  Both  of 
at  Greencastle,  Franklin  Co..  Pa.  He  received  Mr.  Ryon's  great-grandfathers  served  in  the  I  on- 
liis  academic  training  at  Pennsylvania  College,  tinental  forces  'luring  the  Revolution,  one  a! 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  attended  medical  lectures  taining  the  rank  of  colonel  and  commissary  of 
at  the  University  of  Maryland.  Baltimore,  from  subsistence  in  General  Anthony  Wayne's  division. 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  March.  Several  of  the  name  have  attained  distinction  in 
1863.      The    family    was    living   at   Westminster,    high  offices  of  public  trust. 

Md.,  during  that'  period.  While  in  Baltimore  John  Ryon.  Jr..  grandfather  of  William  W.. 
he  was  a  resident  student  at  the  hospital  and  was  horn  in  Luzerne  county,  and  left  the  Wyo- 
after  his  graduation  received  the  appointment  of  ming  Valley,  where  the  family  had  then  been  set- 
assistant  surgeon  from  Surgeon  General  Ham-  tied  for  nearly  a  century,  when  about  eighteen 
mond  of  the  United  States  army,  being  assigned  years  of  age.  He  removed  to  Elkland,  Tioga 
to  hospital  duty  at  Frederick.  Md.*  He  remained  county,  where  he  became  a  prominent  citizen,  tak- 
in  the  government  service  until  the  close  of  the  ing  a  leading  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  thai 
war,  after  which  he  located  for  practice  at  Owin^s  tion,  which  he  represented  m  the  State  Senate 
Mills.  Baltimore  Co..  Md.,  remaining  there  until  (from  the  Tioga  and  Bradford  districts)  for 
he  settled  at  Sunburv,  Northumberland  Co..  Fa.,  eleven  years,  ami  while  in  the  Senate  mm, 
in  the  summer  of  1872.  From  that  time  until  a  resolution  favoring  the  nomination  oi  Andrew 
his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  '26.  189?.  Dr.  Mar-   Jackson   for   P  "Inch  wa     pa    ed  by  both 

tin   took   high   rank  as   a   phvsieian   and   surseon    houses.     He  was  associate  judge  oi    doga  i  lunty 


64 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


for  fifteen  years.  About  eight)'  years  ago  he  was 
located  at  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  as 
superintendent  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and 
his  name,  as  such,  was  cut  on  a  stone  in  the  lock 
at  Shamokin  dam,  opposite  Sunburv.  under  date 
of   1829. 

George  L.  Ryon  removed  with  his  family  from 
Elkland  to  Lawrenceville  (both  in  Tioga  county) 
about  1849.  Their  eldest  son,  George  W.  Ryon, 
of  Shamokin.  has  been  a  resident  of  that  borough 
for  over  forty  years  and  long  one  of  its  leading 
citizens. 

William  W.  Ryon  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive township,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Tioga  county.  Later  he 
attended  the  Mansfield  I  Pa.)  State  normal  school, 
from  which  be  graduated  in  June,  1874,  and  soon 
afterward  entered  the  office  of  his  brother  George 
W.  Ryon,  of  Shamokin.  to  take  up  the  reading  of 
law.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  of  Northum- 
berland county,  in  March.  1878,  he  practiced  for 
a  short  time,  until  he  accepted  an  appointment 
as  deputy  sheriff  urn  lei-  Sheriff  William  M.  Weaver, 
with  whom  he  served  three  years,  continuing  in 
the  position  for  three  months  longer  under  Mr. 
Weaver's  successor.  John  C.  Morgan.  Mr.  Ryon 
then  resumed  the  practice'  of  his  profession,  was 
in  time  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  ami 
the  Superior  courts  and  has  continued  his  legal 
work  successfully  ami  profitably  to  the  present 
day.  though  he  is  also  interested  in  a  number  of 
the  most  important  commercial  and  manufactur- 
ing enterprises  of  the  borough.  He  was  an  orig- 
inal stockholder  in  the  Shamokin  Street  Railway 
Company,  was  president  of  the  Shamokin  Valley 
Telephone  Company,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers,  until  it  was  taken  over  by  the  United 
Telephone  &  Telegraph  Company;  and  a  leading 
member  of  the  Shamokin  Board  of  Trade,  hav- 
ing been  connected  with  the  organization  from  its 
inception.  lie  is  attorney  for  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Shamokin  and  for  the  Union,  Home  and 
Citizens*  Building  *.V"  Loan  Associations,of  which 
he    was    one    of    the    original    promoters. 

Politically  Mr.  Ryon  is  a  Democrat  and  active 
and  influential  in  the  party.  Tie  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  St.  Edward's  Roman  Catholic  Church  of 
Shamokin. 

IRA  T.  CLEMENT,  late  of  Sunburv.  was  a 
leading  citizen  of  that  community  to  the  close  of 
his  long  life,  which  covered  a  period  of  over  eighty- 
five  years.  In  his  day  there  was  scarcely  a  more 
conspicuous  figure  in  the  development  of  the  bor- 
ough and  the  surrounding  territory,  ami  bis  de- 
-i  ■  ii'lants  are  classed  among  the  most  valuable  cit- 
izens there  to-day.  His  interests  as  merchant  and 
manufacturer  not  only  brought  to  him  means  and 
influence,  but  were  also  the  means  of  enhancing 
the  industrial   facilities  of  the  entire  region.      A 


man  of  strong  character,  of  progressive  disposition, 
of  foresight,  he  combined  the  possession  of  all  these 
traits  with  sufficient  enterprise  to  launch  and  car- 
ry through  the  various  undertakings  he  felt  could 
be  successfully  prosecuted  in  this  section.  His 
sons  in  time  engaged  in  business  with  him,  and  in 
the  activities  of  various  members  of  the  family 
the  position  of  the  Clements  among  the  most 
prominent  residents  of  this  section  has  been  well 
sustained. 

Joseph  Clement,  the  father  of  Ira  T.  Clement, 
died  on  Staten  Island,  New  York.  He  served  a-  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  1805,  in  Sus- 
sex county.  N.  J.,  he  married  Hannah  Hazen, 
daughter  of  Samuel  or  Ezra  Hazen,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children:  Augustus  married  Car- 
oline Lyons,  and  died  in  Sunburv:  Sarah  was  twice 
married,  first  to  a  Mr.  Hazen  and  later  to  Dr. 
Woodbridge,  and  raised  a  large  family  (-lie  died 
at  Buchanan.  Mich.)  :  Ira  T.  is  mentioned  below. 
After  the  death  of  Joseph  Clement  his  widow 
married  Solomon  Smith,  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  and 
they  moved  out  to  Ohio,  where  they  settled  and 
reared  their  family.  Mr.  Smith  died  there,  and 
Mrs.  Smith  then  came  to  Sunbmy.  Northumber- 
land Co..  Pa.,  where  she  -pent  several  years  he- 
fore  her  death,  which  occurred  June  35,  1868,  in 
her  eighty-fourth  year.  She  was  born  April  12, 
1  785,  m  Woodbury,  New  Jers 

Ira  T.  Clement  was  born  dan.  11.  1813.  in  \>'u 
Jersey.  He  was  a  young  child  wdien  he  came  with 
his  mother  to  Northumberland  county,  and  in  fact 
was  only  five  years  old  when  his  mother  indentured 
him  to  Jacob  Hoover,  with  whom  he  lived  on  what 
i-  now  the  iidd  Fellows'  Orphanage  farm.  He 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  a  few  year-;,  hut  he  soon  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  on  his  own  account  in  Sunbury, 
continuing  in  that  line  for  thirty  years.  However, 
there  were  too  many  opportunities  in  this  then 
opening  region  to  permit  him  to  devote  all  his  en- 
crgies  to  one  field  of  enterprise.  He  had  a  small 
tract  of  land  and  a  sawmill  near  Arters  station, 
a  few  miles  east  of  Sunbury.  and  he  worked  in  the 
woods  during  the  day.  getting  out  hi-  logs,  which 
he  sawed  into  lumber  at  night.  In  1847  he  came 
I"  Sunbury,  where  in  that  year  he  built  the  first 
sawmill  established  in  the  place,  at  what  was  later 
the  site  of  his  table  factory  on  Front  street,  having 
bought  the  land  shortly  after  his  arrival  here, 
from  Ebenezer  Greenough.  Besides  conducting 
this  place  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
his  first  store  in  Sunbury  being  located  on  Mar- 
io t  street,  near  Third  street.  He  ran  the  sawmill 
until  1867,  when  he  sold  it  to  William  Reagan,  and 
it  was  subsequently  owned  successively  by  the 
Sunburv  Lumber  Company  and  the  firm  of  Fril- 
ing,  Bowen  &  Engle.  After  they  fai'.ed.  in  Is'1"., 
it  was  conducted  in  the  interest  of  their  creditors 
until    lSSo.    when    Mr.    Clement    repurchased    it. 


9. 


nn>i~^nl[ 


X  ( )  i;t  HIM  P.KRLAX  1 )  (  'OUXTY,  PENNSYLVA  X 1 A 


65 


Meantime,  aboul  1868,  he  had  built  the  first  plan- 
ing mill  in  Sunbury,  originally  a  two-story  frame 
building  60  by  80   feel    in  dimensions,  but  later 
enlarged  considerably  to  meet  the  demands  of  ex- 
panding business.     In  1875  the  upper  story  of  this 
structure   was  equipped    for   the   manufacture   of 
coffins,  but  the  coffin  business  grew  so  rapidly  that 
in  1887  a  two-story  frame  building  10  by  140  feet 
was  buiH  for  its  sole  accommodation.    In  1880  Mr. 
Clemen!  had  begun  the  manufacture  of  extension 
tables  at  the  planing  mill,  and  in  1887  liis  old  mill, 
which  as  recorded  he  hail  repurchased  in  1883,  was 
adapted  tor  this  special  branch  of  manufacturing. 
For  a  number  of  years  Ins  combined  industries  oc- 
cupied   an    extensive    site    extending   from    Front 
streel  to  Third,  th  of  Race,  the  saw  mill,  plan- 
um mill,  table  factory  and  coffin  factory  affording 
employment  to  one  hundred  anil  twenty-live  men, 
with  an  annual  product  valued  at  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars.     The  influence  of  such  an 
establishment    mi   the  general   prosperity  may   he 
easily  conjectured.     Further,  Mr.  Clement  estab- 
lished   the'  Sunbury    Steam    Ferry   and    Tow     Boa1 
Company,  of  which  he  was  the  president,  and  which 
for  many  years  kept  a  line  of  steamboats  plying  on 
the  Susquehanna  between  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land, Shamokin  Dam  and  other  points.    lie  also  in- 
vested heavily  in  real  estate,  buying  the  Kutz  farm 
in  Upper  Augusta  township  ami  the  ObeTdorf  farm 
in  Hast  Sunbury,  on  which  he  made  vast  improve- 
ments, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  lie  owned  oyer 
one  hundred  houses  in  Sunbury,  of  which  borough 
he  was  the  heaviest  taxpayer.     He  engaged  in  con- 
tracting to  some  extent,  in   1876-77  building  the 
Northumberland  county  prison;  and  other  build- 
ings,   including    the   city    hall    and    the    Moore  & 
Diss'inger  block  on  Market  street,  were  of  his  con- 
struction.    In  this  line  he  also  gave  employment  to 
a  considerable  number  of  men. 

Mr  (dement  relinquished  comparatively  little 
control  of  hi>  affairs  in  Ins  old  age,  being  active  to 
th,.  end  of  his  .lavs.  Although  rheumatism  ai- 
Eected  and  finally  destroyed  his  power  of  locomo- 
tion, he  never  lost  interest  in  the  condition  and 
management  of  his  numerous  business  concerns, 
giving  them  his  direct  personal  supervision,  as  he 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  doing,  and  lie  continued 
to  he  a  power  in  local  industrial  and  commercial 
mattes  until  his  death.  A  horn  leader,  he  was 
foremost  in  many  movements  which  lane  made  a 
permanent  impression  upon  the  development  aid 
welfare  of  Sunbury.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
casket  manufacturers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  as  sueli 
started  a  line  of  industry  in  Sunbury  which  con- 
tinues to  he  one  of  its  business  factors.  Though 
he  never  took  any  direct  part  in  public  aftairs  he 
had  strong  convictions  on  political  questions,  ami, 
originally  a  Wine;,  changed  his  allegiance  to  the 
Republicans  and  later  to  the  Democratic  party. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 


Mr.  Clement  married,  when  in  his  twenty-second 
year,  in  1834.  Sarah  Martz,  of  Shamokin  town- 
ship, daughter  of  David  ami  Magdalena  (Shissler) 
Mart/.,  ami  twelve  children  were  horn  to  them, 
namely:  Amelia,  who  died  unmarried:  Henry; 
Catharine  A.,  who  died  young;  David  :  a  child  that 
died  in  infancy:  Mary  Jane,  who  married  John 
W.  Bucher;  Louisa,  widow  of  Henry  E.  Moure: 
Sarah  Frances,  who  married  l>avid  C.  Dissinger, 
who  died  before  she  did:  Laura  1..  who  married 
Dietrich  .lames;  Maria  W.,  who  died  unmarried; 
and  Grace  and  Emma,  who  died  young.  Only  two 
of  this  family.  Henry  and  Mrs.  Moore,  survived  the 
father,  who  died  Oct.  28,  1898,  attaining  the  great 
age  df  eighty-five  years,  nine  months,  seventeen 
days.     He  was  buried  at  Sunbury. 

Henry  Clement,  the  only  son  of  [ra  'I',  (dement 
who  survived  him,  is  still  a  resident  of  Sunbury, 
where  he  was  horn,  in  what  was  then  Upper 
Augusta  township,  Sept.  1,  1838.  When  a  mere 
hoy  he  commenced  clerking  in  his  father's  store, 
and  he  was  always  associated  with  him  in  his  lum- 
ber and  manufacturing  interests,  for  many  years 
before  Ins  father's  death  being  with  him  in  the 
management  of  his  entire  business.  He  stepped 
into  a  busy  career,  hut  he  has  proved  himself  well 
adapted  to  its  demands,  as  his  capable  manage- 
ment, of  his  various  interests  shows  that  he  not  only 
inherited  the  business  hut  the  ability  to  look  after 
it  to  advantage.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in 
the  West  Branch  lumber  industry,  but  though 
thoroughly  progressive  he  is  conservative  and  has 
a  reputation  lor  sound  judgment  which  ma  e 
his  opinion  on  business  questions  highly  valued. 
Though  his  time  is  well  taken  up  with  his  private 
affairs  he  has  found  time  to  serve  the  borough  as 
councilman.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith. 
Fraternally  Mr.  (dement  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Mason,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  203,  I.  ( >.  0.  P., 
io  Lodge  No.  '■"■'.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  to  Northumber- 
land Chapter,  X".  174,  R.  A.  M. 

On  March  '.'3,  I860,  Mr.  (dement  married  Cath- 
arine Geist,  of  tforthumberland,  tins  county, 
daughter  of  John  ami  Susan  I  Frederick)  Geist, 
and  she  died  in  1899,  leaving  two  children:  Jen- 
nie M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  IF  Fanes,  a 
court  stenographer  of  this  and  surro ling  coun- 
ties; and  Ira  T.,  of  Sunbury,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth P..  Fisher  and  has  one  -on.  Henry  (dement. 
Jr. 

HENRY  I-:.  MOORE,  late  ol  Sunbury,  where  he 

was  well  known  in  business  hie  a-  an  associate  of 
[ra  'I'  (dement,  was  horn  in  L842,  at  Millmonl.  in 
Buffalo  Vallev.  Union  Co..  Fa  ,  son  of  Jacob 
Moore,  and  died  April  3.  1903.  Mr.  Moore  was 
for  many  vears  engaged  as  a  merchant  and  ba, 
before  coming  to  Sunbury,  and  throughout  his  res- 
idence in  that  borough  was  one  oi  in  substantial 
and  highly  respected  citizens.     He  married   Mrs. 


66 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Louisa  Hauptj  widow  of  George  W.  Haupt.  and 
daughter  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  They  had  no  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Moore  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious 
connection. 

GEORGE  W.  HAUPT  was  born  in  Sunbury 
Feb.  22,  1840,  son  o  Si  -nan  and  Sarah  (Halm) 
Haupt.  In  his  earlier  manhood  he  followed  teach- 
ing and  won  considerable  success  and  local  distinc- 
tion in  that  profession,  serving  as  superintendent 
of  the  Northumberland  county  schools  from  1866 
to  1868.  He  resigned  Sept.  1,  1868.  on  account 
of  ill  health,  William  J.  Wblverton  being  ap- 
pointed by  the  State  to  fill  the  unexpired  term. 
Mr.  Haupt  studied  law  under  Judge  Jordan  and 
practiced  from  the  time  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  18,  18T0. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith,  and  a 
Mason  in  fraternal  connection,  holding  member- 
ship in  Lodgi  \".  22,  P.  &  A.  M.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat  Mr.  Haupt  married  Louisa 
Clement,  daughter  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  and  by  this 
union  there  was  one  son,  Wilson. 

FRANKLIN  MARTZ,  late  of  Ralpho  township. 
Northumberland  county,  was  one  of  the  substan- 
tial and  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  locality 
and  a  descendant  of  an  old  family,  his  father, 
David  Martz,  having  been  born  in  the  county. 

David  Martz  was  bom  Oct.  15,  1802,  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
died  Nov.  11.  1S55.  Shortly  after  his  marriage 
he  located  at  Paxinos  and  owned  and  operated  a 
fulling  mill  there,  being  quite  -  cess  ul  in  bus- 
iness. He  was  a  respected  man,  and  for  many 
years  was  chosen  to  serve  as  justice  of  the  peace 
a;  Paxinos.  His  wife.  Hannah  (Evert),  born 
Oct.  6,  1S04,  died  June  9,  1SS0,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  Blue  church  in  Ralpho  township. 
Their  children  were:  Eliza  died  unmarried: 
Henry,  who  was  a  teacher,  died  unmarried :  Mar- 
garet married  David  Adams;  Sarah  married 
Emanuel  Artman;  Franklin  is  mentioned  below; 
Mary  married  Albert  Fisher:  David  P.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Ralpho  township,  this  county:  John,  twin 
of  David,  is  deceased:  Hannah  married  Jackson 
Hoffman  :  Susan  died  young. 

Franklin  Martz  was  born  Dec.  12,  1835,  in 
Shamokin  township,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  local  schools.  When  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  carpenters  trade,  which  he  followed  several 
years.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
K'.'d  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  was 
out  eleven  months.  After  he  returned  home  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Shamokin  (now  Ralpho)  town- 
ship, of  150  acres,  the  old  Solomon  Hummel 
place,  and  there  he  lived  and  farmed  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  July  21,  1889.  He  is  bur- 
ied at  the  Blue  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Re- 
formed member,  and  was  serving  as  elder  at  the 


time  of  his  death.     In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. 

On  Oct.  25,  I860.  Mr.  Martz  married  Margaret 
Fisher,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Yocum) 
Fisher,  who  was  born  in  Northumberland  county 
Dec.  7.  18-40;  she  now  makes  her  home  at  Pax- 
inos. Mrs.  Martz  is  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  Martz 
were  born  the  following  children :  Henry  E.  died 
of  smallpox  when  eleven  years  old;  Mary  H.  died 
in  infancy :  Catharine  A.  married  William  Kreig- 
baum,  and  they  reside  at  Elysburg,  Pa. ;  Edwin 
H.  lives  in  Shamokin :  William  F.  married  Eliza- 
beth Fisher  and  they  reside  in  Shamokin:  Clar- 
ence K.  lives  at  Paxinos:  Ira  T.  died  in  infancy: 
John  C.  died  in  infancy:  Bertha  M.  married  Frank 
Wertley,  and  they  reside  at  Paxinos. 

WILLIAM  H.  ROHRBACH,  postmaster  and 
merchant  at  Paxinos,  has  been  prominent  in  the 
business  and  public  affairs  of  that  section  of 
Northumberland  county  for  many  years,  and  is 
indeed  well  known  all  over  the  county.  He  bears 
a  name  which  has  long  been  regarded  as  the  syn- 
onym of  progress  and  executive  ability,  many 
members  of  the  Rohrbach  family  having  attained 
position  and  means,  and  their  honorable  lives 
have  been  a  credit  to  themselves  and  to  the  com- 
munity as  well. 

Mr.  Rohrbach  was  born  July  13,  1852,  in  Cata- 
wissa  township.  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  John 
Rohrbach  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Rohrbach.  The 
family  is  an  old  one  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German 
origin,  being  descended  from  John  George  Rohr- 
.  who  emigrated  to  America  about  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  settled  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania,  in  Berks  county,  in  the  territory 
now  embraced  in  District  township,  and  the  family 
is  now  quite  numerous  in  the  eastern  end  of  that 
county.  The  ancestral  homestead  is  still  owned, 
by  one  of  his  descendants.  He  was  twice  married, 
and  by  Ms  first  union  had  a  son  Lawrence,  who 
had  five  sons,  Daniel,  George  (who  had  eight 
children).  Christopher  (or  Stophel,  who  had 
eleven  children),  Jacob  and  Henry.  By  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Christiana  Moser,  he  had  five  children, 
Gi  ge,  John,  Simon,  Eva  and  Christiana.  Those 
of  the  name  now  living  in  Berks  county  are  de- 
scendants of  Lawrence  and  John :  Simon  is  said 
to  have  moved  to  Catawissa.  Columbia  county: 
rge  to  have  gone  West;  Eva  married  Jacob 
Finkbohner,  who  after  her  death  married  her 
sister  Christiana. 

The  ancestor  of  a  number  of  the  name  now  liv- 
ing in  Northumberland  county  devoted  himself 
to  his  business  affairs  and  lived  and  labored  in 
the  section  of  Pennsylvania  referred  to.  He  was 
a  successful  and  influential  man  of  his  day,  al- 
though he  had  no  aspirations  toward  public  honors 
and  took  no  part  in  anything  outside    of  his  pri- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEX X S YLVAX 1 A 


vate  interests.  For  many  years  he  conducted  a 
charcoal  furnace  in  conjunction  with  fanning.  He 
married  Catharine  Fenstermacher,  and  to  them 
was  born  a  large  family.  Their  son  George,  born 
in  1808  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  was  the  father 
of  the  late  Floyd  T.  and  William  II.  Rohrbach, 
both  prominent  citizen?  of  Sunbury. 

John    Rohrbach,    - E   Jacob   and    father   of 

William  II.  Rohrbach,  of  Paxinos,  was  born  Oct. 
15,  L819,  in  Clay  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  moved 
to  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  with  his  lather,  and  in 
L855  came  to  Shamokin  township,  Northumber- 
land county.  In  his  early  years  he  had  follow-ed 
farming  for  some  time,  later  being  employed  in 
the  ironworks  at  Catawissa,  Columbia  county,  and 
after  coming  t"  this  region  purchased,  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother-in-law,  William  Reed,  a 
farm  al  Reed's  station,  consisting  of  about  1T5 
acres.  Eere  he  followed  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  '.'.  1895,  and  he  is  buried 
at  St.  Jacob's  (Eeed's)  Church  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship. He  married  Julian  Reed,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and   Hannah   Reed,  and  she  survives  him,  making 

her   I le  a1    Paxinos.     They   had   two  children, 

(  iara  E.  and  William  IF  The  daughter  married 
Amos  Epler  and  both  are  deceased;  they  left  five 
children. 

William  II.  Rohrbach  was  only  three  years  old 
when  the  family  settled  m  Shamokin  township, 
ami  after  attending  the  local  public  schools  he  be- 

ca a  pupil  at  the  Elysburg  Academy,  then  taught 

by  Rev.  James  Wampole.  He  remained  at  home, 
assisting  his  father,  until  the  latter's  death,  after 
which  he  took  the  farm  fur  five  years,  conduct- 
ing it  until  elected  county  commissioner,  in  I! 

He  filled  that  office  efficiently  for  our  term  of 
three  pears,  and  in  1904  took  another  public  posi- 
tion, having  been  appointed  mercantile  appra 
in  which  capacity  he  served  for  one  year.  During 
that  time  he  purchased  the  business  of  Miller 
Brothers,  general  merchants  at  Paxinos,  which  he 
has  since  carried  on,  and  in  connection  with  which 
he  has  performed  the  duties  of  postmaster,  to 
which  office  he  was  appointed  in  1904.  Mr.  Rohr- 
bach has  been  prominent  in  the  political  and  pub- 
lic activities  of  his  township  as  a  zealous  member 
of  the  Democratic  partv.  He  has  served  a-  men 
ber  of  the  election  board,  and  has  been  elected 
assessor,  tax  collector  and  auditor,  his  work  in 
every  capacity  justifying  the  flattering  -upport 
he  received  as  a  candidate.  He  stands  high  in 
th(  opinion  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  has  en- 
deavored to  merit  their  judgment  of  his  character 
and  abilities.  Socially  he  is  a  member  and  a  pas! 
masteT  of  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  41 1.  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Rohrbach  married  Emma  Keifer,  daughter 
of  Abraham  and  Maria  ( Everlv )  Keifer.  of  Colum- 
bia countv,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children.  John 
F.  and  Wallace  K. 


OLIVER  F.  ROCKEFELLER,  of  Sunbury, 
was  engaged  in  tin-  bottling  business  m  that  bor- 
ough  for  many  years,  and  is  at  present  dividing 
his  attention  between  the  "".Montour  House."  at 
Danville,  Pa.,  of  which  he  is  a  part  owner,  and  his 
extensive  real  estate  interest-.  He  was  born  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  tin-  county,  Nov.  6, 
1862,  -mi  of. Lewis  and  Catherine  (Campbell) 
Rockefeller. 

The  Rockefeller  family  has  long  been  well  rep- 
resented among  the  best  class  of  citizens  in  No: 
umberland  county,  and  one  of  the  townships  of  the 
countv  bear-  the  name,  which  was  founded 
by  Godfrey  Rockefeller,  from  whom  David  P., 
Emery  and  Oliver  1'..  brothers,  of  Sunbury,  are 
descended  in  the  fifth  generation. 

The  Rockefeller  family  traces  its  beginning  in 
America  to  one  Peter  Rockefeller,  who  was  born 
in  Europe  and  in  1710.  on  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica, settled  at  Aniwell,  Hunterdon  Co.,  X.  J.  He 
there  about  1740,  leaving  to  his  son.  who  was 
also  named  Peter,  763  acres  of  land  in  the  county- 
mentioned. 

Godfrey  Rockefeller,  horn  in  11  17,  was  a  son  of 
Peter  Rockefeller  (2).  He  came  to  Northumber- 
land countv.  Pa.,  in  1789,  and  took  up  land  in 
the  vicinity  of  Snydertown.  He  married  Mar. 
et.  Lewis,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  eight  daughters.  One  of  the 
sons  was  the  grandfather  of  John  D.  Rockefeller, 
o  Standard  Oil  fame.  The  other  two  were  J 
and  William,  the  former  the  great-grandfather  of 
David  P.  and  Emery  and  Oliver  I'.  Rockefeller,  of 
Sunbury,  the  latter  the  father  of  David  (born 
Sept.  6,  lsie?  i  and  grandfather  of  Judge  William 
M.  Rockefeller  (horn  Aug.  18,  1830),  who  mar- 
ried Emily  Jones,  daughter  of  Tl las  and  Maria 

(  Housel)  Jones,  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

John  Rockefeller,  son  of  Godfrey,  was  the  great 
grandfather  of  David   P..   Emery   and   Oliver  P. 
Rockefeller. 

John   Rockefeller,   the  grandfather,   was   kil 
on  hi-  way  home   from    Reading,  at  a  time  when 
much  of  the  country   "a-  -nil  a  w  ilderness.     II 
married  Elizabeth  Moore,  and  thej   were  the  par- 
ent- of  Feu  i-  Rockefeller,  their  other  children  b  ■ 
Lng   as   follows:     Henry   married    Elizabeth    Mor- 
gan and  had  five  children,  John.  James,  Ja 
Franklin     and     Darnel      |  Mr-.     John     Gulii 
Michael    never    married:    David    was    twice    n      - 
ried,  his  first  wife  being  Isabella  Campbell ;  J 
married    Harriet    Kneiss    and    had    five    children, 
Alice    (wife   of    Rev.    John    Bowman),    Caroline 
(Mrs.  Wood- 1.  Anne  (wi  i   o    Jacob  Frye),  Eliz- 
abeth   (Mile   of   Jesse   Cleavei  I    and    Ella      Mrs 
Sanders)  ;    Mary    married    George    Basseti     and 
had     six     children.     I.iev.     Ald.i.     Ruth,     Ma 
Elizabeth  and  George;  Esthei   man  ied   [saai    Ei 
man   and   had    five   •  hildn  a,   I  ol     I  harles    (mar- 
ried    Sophia     Gearhart),     David     married     Ella 


68 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Wolfe  and  had  children.  Franklin,  Alfred,  Dyer 
and  Ethel),  Elizabeth  (first  married  Oscar  Heller 
and  second  Joseph  Bonner).  Harriet  (married 
George  Mettler  and  had  two  children.  Ella  and  Su- 
san )  and  Lewis. 

Lewis  Rockefeller,  born  Sept.  12,  1823,  died 
in  October,  1898.  He  married  Catherine  Camp- 
bell, who  survives  him,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  a  large  family:  Joseph,  born  in  1859,  died 
in  1870;  Lemuel  married  Hattie  MeClow  and 
they  have  three  children.  Catharine,  Mary  and 
Margaret;  Sajah  married  H.  Clay  Seasholtz  and 
has  had  one  son,  David:  Isabella  died  in  188s.  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five;  Hattie  married  II.  C. 
Lyons:  Charles  married  Mattie  Manier  and  has 
two  children,  Harrison  and  Helen;  Isaac  married 
Emma  Specht;  David  P.  married  Agnes  Cum- 
mings;  Oliver  P.  married  Jennie  A.  Haupt;  Em- 
ery married  Minnie  Gonsar. 

.Mrs.  Catherine  (Campbell)  Rockefeller 
though  now  (lull)  in  her  eighty-first  year  is 
active  and  retains  all  her  faculties,  and  to  her 
excellent  memory  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the 
data  in  this  article.  She  enjoys  good  health,  and 
her  kind  and  unselfish  disposition  beeps  her  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  her  numerous  descend- 
ants and  endears  her  to  a  wide  circle  of  relatives 
and  friends.  She  now  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter  Mrs.  Seasholtz.  Her  cheerful  temper- 
ament and  line  Christian  character  have  won  for 
her  the  esteem  and  love  of  all  fortunate  enough 
to  know  her.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  Christopher  and  Sarah  (Kline) 
Campbell,  the  former  of  whom  was  the  son  of 
Christopher  Campbell,  the  latter  the  daughter 
of  Isaac  Kline.  Isaac  Kline  and  his  wife  Cath- 
arine had  the  following  sons:  Harmon,  Henry. 
Isaac  and  Christopher.  The  children  of  Chris- 
topher and  Sarah  (Kline)  Campbell  were  as  fol- 
lows: (1)  Tsaae  married  Hannah  Campbell. 
Children:  Dr.  John,  wdio  died  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.:  Lemuel,  who  married  Sally  Kersuge;  James, 
who  married  Alice  Van  Zant;  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Eckman;  and  Flora,  who  died  young. 
(2)  Lemuel  married  Emma  Smith.  Children: 
Dr.  Charles,  who  married  Lizzie  Enos;  William, 
who  died  young;  Eli,  who  died  young;  and  Mary, 
who  lives  in  Sunbury.  (3)  Abraham  died  voung. 
(4)  Herman  married  Elizabeth  Reed  and  their 
son,  Edmund,  married  Mary  Haupt.  (o)  Sarah 
married  Charles  Eckman,  and  had  two  children. 
Frank  and  Ellard  (who  married  Ella  Snyder). 
(6)  Ella  married  (first)  Kelso  Savidge,  by  whom 
she  had  three  children.  Clinton  (who  married 
Louise  Essie  and  had  six  children.  Harry  W.,  Al- 
bert C,  Ralph  W.  E.,  Preston  M.,  Louise  and  Lu- 
cile).  Harrison  C.  and  Lizzie  A.  (married  Wil- 
lard  Robinson).  Her  second  marriage  was  to 
George  Forrester,  by  whom  she  had  two  children. 
Isabella   (Mrs.  Clark)   and  Ellen,  the  latter  dying 


young.  (7)  Rhoda  married  Samuel  Oberdorf, 
and  they  have  had  eleven  children,  Oliver  (de- 
ceased), Isaac  (deceased),  Hamilton  (deceased), 
Isabella  (deceased),  Chalmers  (deceased),  Mary, 
Peter,  G.  Donald  (a  graduate  of  Prince- 
ton and  now  principal  of  the  Mount  Car- 
mel  high  school,  who  married  Olive  A.  Ruch), 
Maurer  (married  to  Amanda  Gearhart),  William 
(who  married  Ollie  Wolverton  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Calvin  and  Robert,  the  former  a  graduate 
of  Bueknell  University),  and  Susan  (Mrs.  Lor- 
enza  Eckman,  who  has  two  children,  James  and 
Chalmers).  (8)  Elizabeth  married  (first)  Bloom- 
field  Carr.  by  whom  she  had  two  >ons.  James  and 
William,  and  (second)  Charles  Houghout,  by 
whom  she  has  two  daughters,  Virginia  and  Roda, 
the  latter  the  wife  of  William  Clark  and  the 
mother  of  three  children.  Bessie,  George  ami  Mor- 
ris. 

Oliver  1'-  Rockefeller,  son  of  Lewis  and  Cath- 
erine (Campbell)  Rockefeller,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  later  was  a 
pupil  at  private  school  in  Sunbury.  He  followed 
farm  work  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  Philadelphia.  After  clerking  there  for 
live  years  he  returned  to  Northumberland  county 
and  settled  at  Sunhury.  engaging  in  the  bottling 
business  with  his  brother  David  P..  in  1883.  After 
an  association  of  fourteen  years  he  bought  out 
his  brother,  in  1898,  amf  thereafter  conducted 
the  business  ahme  till  November,  1909,  when  he 
gave  it  up  after  a  career  of  twenty-seven  years 
in  the  one  line.  He  was  very  successful,  and  by 
his  ability  and  tine  business  qualities  became  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  Sunbury.  He  lived  retired 
one  year,  until  be  and  Mr.  II.  W.  Geyer  bought 
out  the  well  known  "Montour  House'"  at  Dan- 
ville, to  which  Mr.  Rockefeller  has  given  most 
of  his  time  since.  He  is  also  a  lajge  real  estate 
owner,  the  management  of  his  property  occupy- 
ing most  of  his  time. 

Mr.  Rockefeller  married  Jennie  Alice  Haupt. 
daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Fred  L.  Haupt.  They 
have  no  children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local 
lodge  of  Elks,  No.  '!><',.  and  of  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

FRED  L.  HAUPT.  M.  D.,  late  of  Sunbury, 
was  born  in  that  borough  Nov.  11.  1836.  He  re- 
ceived his  preparatory  literary  training  at  the 
Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Williamsport.  Pa.,  he- 
gan  leading  medicine  in  Sunbury,  and  completed 
the  course  at  Jefferson  Medical  College.  Phila- 
delphia, in  1861,  in  which  year  he  commenced 
practice  at  Sunbury.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted,  as  surgeon,  for  three  months. 
serving  that  term  with  the  130th  Regiment,  and 
upon  it-  elose  reenlisted  in  the  same  command, 
for  three  years.  His  army  record  is  highly  cred- 
itable.    He  was  poisoned  at  Winchester.  Va..  con- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


69 


tracting  illness  which  never  wholly  left  him  and 
which  eventually  was  partly  responsible  for  his 
death.  After  the  war  he  resumed  practice  at 
Sunhurv.  where  he  not  only  established  a  large 
private  practice  but  also  served  sixteen  years  as 
surgeon  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company, 
some  years  as  physician  at  the  county  jail  and  five 
years  as  member  of  the  board  of  pension  examiners 
of  which  he  was  president.  As  a  surgeon  he  gained 
high  repute  and  was  widely  known.  He  was  an 
intimate  friend  of  Dr.  dames  D.  Strawbridge  and 
Dr.  Martin,  and  they  wen'  associated  in  perform- 
ing many  operations.  For  a  number  of  years  he- 
hire  his  death  Dr.  Haupt.  being  unable  because 
of  poor  health  to  endure  the  demands  of  his 
lieaw  medical  practice,  was  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  a1  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market 
streets,  Sunbury.  lie  died  March  16,  1894,  and 
is  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  Few  cit- 
izens of  the  borough  were  mure  generally  known 
or  respected.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  hoard  of  educa- 
tion   of    Sunhurv.    fraternally    he    belonged    to 

Washing! D.  C.)  City  Lodge..  F.  A  A.  M.,  and 

io  the  tmproved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

In  1866  Dr.  Haupt  married  Angeline  Bowen, 
ami  to  them  was  born  a  family  of  live  children. 
four  >ons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  John  B., 
bookkeeper,  machinist  and  druggist  of  Sunbury, 
lives  with  his  mother;  Alice  Jennie  married  O. 
1'.  Rockefeller;  Alexander  11.  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-one  years;  William  F.,  horn  in  1871,  died 
in  1900;  Joseph  Priestley  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years 

John  Bowen,  father  of  Mrs.  Angeline  (Bowen) 
Haupt.  was  a  native  of  Wales  ami  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  1825,  when  four  years  old.  He  was 
engaged  in  business  a-  a  coal  operator  at  Sliam- 
okin,  this  count}',  and  was  a  lumber  dealer  at 
Sunbury  as  a  member  of  the  linn  of  Fryeling, 
Bowen  &  Engel.  He  died  at  Sunbury  about 
1896,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-live  years. 
Mi'.  Bowen  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  in 
religion  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He 
married  Hannah  Barnhart,  daughter  of  Michael 
Barnhart,  and  they  had  three  children:  William. 
deceased;  Jane,  deceased;  and  Angeline,  Mrs. 
Haupt. 

LEXKER.  The  Lenker  family  has  many  rep- 
resentatives in  Northumberland  county,  descend- 
ants of  Adam  Lenker  (or  John  Adam  Lenker).  a 
native  of  Switzerland,  who  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  in  this  region.  He  located  in  terri- 
tory now  embraced  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  followed  farming,  the  original  homestead 
upon  which  he  settled  being  the  farm  now  owned 
by  David  Bohner.  He  was  born  Dec.  12,  1765, 
died  March  -?4.  1834,  and  is  buried  at  the  Zion 
church  in  Stone  Valley,  as  is  also  his  wife.  Anna 


Maria:  she  was  horn  June  15,  1764,  ami  died  May 
12,  1822.  Their  children  were:  Michael,  John 
Adam,  Jacob,  Polly  (married  John  Witmef)  and 
Mary    (married    William    Schaffer). 

Michael  Lenker.  son  of  Adam  (or  John  Adam) 
Lenker,  married  Catharine  Emerick,  and  they 
were  farming  people  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
She  was  horn  March  11.  1791,  and  died  Sept.  Is*. 
1860.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Abraham, 
Polly,  Isaac  (born  dan.  22,  1818,  died  March  27, 
1881),  Sarah.  Catharine.  Lydia,  Elizabeth,  and 
Jacob. 

John  Adam  Lenker.  son  of  Adam  (or  John 
Adam),  horn  Aug.  11.  1789,  .lied  Oct.  13.  1861. 
He  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  his  home- 
stead being  now  the  property  of  Jacob  F.  Lenker. 
ami  was  a  farmer  and  stonemason.  He  and  his 
wife  Maria  (M.)  Bobb,  horn  May  13.  1792,  dud 
March  30.  1864,  are  buried  at  /.ion's  Stone  Valley 
church.  Their  children  were:  Rev.  Nicholas, 
Adam.  David.  John  B.,  Rev.  Michael  (who 
died  at  Lykens.  Pa.).  Jacob.  Elizabeth  (married 
dosepli  Neglev).  Mary  (married  David  Ditty), 
Lydia  (married  John  Wetzel)  and  Catharine 
(married    Jonathan    Bonawitz). 

Jacob  Lenker.  third  son  of  Adam  (or  John 
Adam),  the  pioneer,  according  to  one  account 
was  married  in  Lebanon  county,  this  State,  and 
had  no  children.  This  seems  doubtful,  however, 
as  his  children  are  elsewhere  given  a-  follows: 
Jacob.  John.  Simon  (who  had  a  son  Peter),  Su- 
sanna (Mrs.  Losch),  Christina  (who  married  John 
Schaffer  and  died  when  nearly  ninety-three  year- 
old  ).  Catharine  (never  married  I.  Peter,  and  maybe 
others. 

Jacob  Lenker.  born  1809,  son  of  Jacob,  lived 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  died  on  his 
farm  there  in  1880.  By  trade  he  was  a  weavei 
of  carpet  and  cloth,  bid  he  also  operated  his  farm, 
the  place  now  owned  by  Isaac  Batdorf.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  member  of  Zion's  Church,  and  lie  and 
his  wife  Susanna  (Haupt)  are  buried  at  that 
church.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and 
two  daughters:  Catharine,  who  married  Isaac 
Sehroyer;  Jacob,  who  settled  in  [owa;  Benjamin; 
Henry,  who  lived  and  died  in  Lower  Mahanoj 
township;  Reuben,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  and  Helena. 
who  died  unmarried. 

Benjamin  Lenker,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township  Aug.  29,  L836,  where 
Michael  Lenker  now  lives,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  pay  scl Is  conducted  in  the  aeigh- 

borh 1     during     hi-     boyhood.       Learning     the 

trade  of  stonemason,  he  followed  it  for 
twenty-four  years,  and  he  al  "engaged  in 
farming.  Though  he  began  life  in  hum- 
ble circumstances,  he  became  a  substantia]  man 
through  his  own  industry  and  thrift,  and  h 
a  much  respected  citizen  of  his  township,  wl 
he  has  served  officially  four  years  a-  school  director. 


70 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily worship  at  Zion  Union  Church,  at  Stone  Val- 
ley, in  which  he  held  office  for  many  years,  having 
served  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  In  1863 
Mr.  Lenker  married  Mary  Wert,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Lydia  (Bubb)  Wert,  and  she  died 
duly  31,  1887,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  six  months, 
seven  days.  Four  children  were  born  to  their 
union:  Jacob  F. :  Irving;  Gertie,  wife  of  Oscar 
Barder,  a  grocer  of  Allentown,  Fa.:  and  Boaz, 
of  Allentown,  a  milk  dealer. 

Jacob  F.  Lenker,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  bora 
June  16,  1SG4.  on  the  home  farm,  and  obtained 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
vicinity.  Subsequently  he  spent  considerable  of 
bis  time  at  home  in  study,  and  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one he  received  a  license  to  teach,  his  first  ex- 
perience being  at  Blassers  schoolhouse,  in  his 
native  township.  Altogether  he  taught  eighteen 
years  in  the  same  district,  making  an  excellent 
record  for  efficiency,  while  his  personal  popular- 
ity made  him  many  stanch  friends  among  his  pu- 
pils and  associates.  In  1886  he  began  farming  on 
bis  own  accdunt,  and  he  has  since  followed  that 
calling,  owning  a  nice  home  place  of  thirty  acres, 
which  was  the  homestead  property  of  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Michael  Wert.  lie  owns  another 
tract  of  11?  acres,  and  135  acres  of  wood- 
land, having  in  all  over  three  hundred  acres!  Mr. 
Lenker  is  one  of  the  intelligent  and  progressive  i  it- 
lzens  of  his  locality,  and  though  he  has  nude  a 
success  of  his  personal  ventures  he  has  also  in- 
terested himself  in  public  affairs,  having  served 
as  auditor  and  justice  of  the  peace;  be  was  first 
elected  to  the  latter  office  in  1901,  and  re-elected  al 
the  end  of  his  term,  in  political  opinion  he  is  a 
Republican.  During  the  year  1SS6  he  spent  throo; 
months  out  West. 

On  Aug.  3d.  1886,  Mr.  Lenker  married  Mary 
Frymoyer.  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Catharine  (Bow- 
man) Frymoyer,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  son 
Oscar.  The  family  are  members  of  Stone  Valley 
Church. 

Jacob  Frymoyer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lenker, 
lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  be  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died,  however,  in  Snyder 
county.  Pa.  We  have  the  following  record  of  his 
children:  Isaac,  Jacob  (of  Iowa),  Catharine 
(married  Isaac  Phillips).  Royal  (married  An- 
drew Ziegldr),  Folly  <  Mrs.  Hummel)  and  Harriet. 

Isaac  Frymoyer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  this  county.  He  and  bis  wife 
Catharine  (Bowman  I  are  buried  in  Snyder  county. 
Their  ehildrent were :  Seneries,  William.  George, 
Joseph,  .lane-.  Jacob  and  Mary. 

Irving  Lenker,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Wert)  Lenker.  was  bom  March  14.  1865,  at 
Iliekorv  Corners,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  was  there  reared,  passing  bis  early  years  in 
the  manner  of  the  average   farm   boy.      Alter  at- 


tending the  public  schools  of  his  township  he  went 
to  Berrysburg  Academy,  receiving  his  first  license 
to  teach  when  only  sixteen  years  old.  from  Coun- 
ty Superintendent  Wolverton.  He  taught  his  first 
term  at  Lenker's  schoolhouse,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  m  the  fall  of  1883.  From  that  time 
to  the  present  he  has  taught  in  all  twenty-two 
terms,  three  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  fifteen 
in  Jackson  township  ami  the  borough  of  Hern- 
don,  and  one  term  at  Middleburg,  Snyder  county, 
where  he  was  principal:  earlier  in  his  career  as 
an  educator  he  was  at  Danville  for  one  term.  Al 
Herndon  he  was  engaged  eleven  terms  in  succes- 
sion, having  been  principal  of  the  schools  of  thai 
borough  for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  teach- 
er has  served  up  to  this  writing.  IIi<  efficiency 
could  have  no  better  commendation,  lie  lias  also 
taught  fifteen  normal  school  sessions  at  Herndon. 
For  two  years  he  taught  at  Gowen  City,  this  coun- 
ty. He  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  leading 
educators  of  this  section.  Mr.  Lenker  has  always 
been  conscientious  in  the  pursuit  of  his  profes- 
sion, and  he  has  continued  his  studies  with  a  view 
of  increasing  his  efficiency.  He  furthered  his 
early  training  by  study  at  Lebanon  Valley  Col- 
lege, and  graduated  from  Central  Pennsylvania 
College  (now  known  as  Albright  College)  in  1S90; 
the  institution  was  then  located  at  New  Berlin, 
but  has  since  been  removed  to  Myerstown.  He 
was  granted  a  professional  certificate  in  1894  and 
;i   permanent  certificate  in   ]*'.<',. 

In  1892  Mr.  Lenker  took  up  his  home  at  Hern- 
don, moving  away  in  1902,  after  his  wife's  death. 
For  two  years  be  was  engaged  in  teaching  al 
Gowen  City,  and  for  one  year  lie  was  al  Allen- 
town, as  agent  for  the  Prudential  Life  Insurance 
Company,  returning  to  Herndon  in  1905.  lb- 
has  since  remained  in  the  borough,  where  in  De- 
cember, 1908.  he  established  his  present  printing 
business  and  founded  the  Herndon  News,  of  which 
he  is  editor  as  well  as  proprietor.  The  paper  has 
the  largest  circulation  of  any  journal  in  the  bor- 
ough, and  Mr.  Lenker  is  the  leading  job  printer 
there,  doing  all  kinds  of  printing  and  also  book- 
binding, his  plant  being  well  equipped.  Though 
this  business  was  a  considerable  departure  from 
his  former  line  of  work  he  has  found  it  congenial 
and  profitable,  and  he  has  made  a  success  of  it 
by  his  customary  thoroughness  and  attention  to 
detail,  profiting  by  his  experiences  and  surmount- 
ing difficulties  witli  characteristic  steadiness.  In 
political  faith  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
served  five  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  at  Hern- 
don. His  influence  has  always  been  given  to  the 
support  of  the  best  causes  and  his  worth  as  a 
citizen  has  been  demonstrated  in  his  various  ac- 
tivities. 

On  Oct.  38,  1891,  Mr.  Lenker  married  Ella 
Neiman.  daughter  of  James  Neiman.  of  New  Ber- 
lin,   Pa.,    and    they   had    three   children:      Mabel 


X  ( >  I ,'T UU  MBERLAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  X  SYLVAX]  A 


71 


Grace,  Lena  May  and  Rex  Benjamin.  Mrs.  lin- 
ker died  April  14,  1902,  aged  thirty-five  years, 
and  is  buried  at  New  Berlin.  On  Jan.  12,  1907, 
Mr.  Lenker  married  (second)  Katie  Wagner, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (  Masser)  Wagner,  of 
Gowen  City,  Pa.  They  have  a  daughter,  Mary 
Hilda.  Mr.  Lenker  and  his  family  worship  with 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Zion  Church  at 
Herndon,  of  which  he  is  a  deacon.  He  sang  in 
the  choir  for  five  years. 


John  B.  Lenker,  son  of  John  Adam  and  Maria 
(Bobb)  Lenker.  was  a  native  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tailor,  which 
he  followed  in  Sunbury  for  aboui  six  years.  Later 
he  became  a  brick  manufacturer  and.  dealer  in 
real  estate,  as  such  laying  out  "Lenker's  Addition" 
to  Sunbury;  he  owned  the  greater  part  of  the  site 
of  Purdytown.  He  was  a  man  of  affairs,  influen- 
tial in  the  public  life  of  Sunbury,  where  he  served 
as  school  director,  councilman,  street  commissioner 
and  overseer  of  the  poor.     He  was  public-spirited, 

and   had  as  much  to  do  with  the  advance n.1   of 

the  place  in  other  directions  as  he  did  in  its  ma- 
teria] upbuilding,  with  which  he  was  identified  to 
a  considerable  extent.  He  buih  more  than  twenty- 
five  houses  in  the  borough.  He  was  a  prominent 
Freemason,  a  Republican  in  polities,  and  a  Luth- 
eran in  religion,  being  an  active  member  of  Zion's 
Church  at  Sunbury,  which  he  served  as  member 
of  the  church  council.  He  married  Mary  A.  Gar- 
land, and  they  are  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  ceme- 
tery at  Sunbury.  The)  had  children  as  follows: 
W.  O.,  of  Sunbury;  John  X'..  of  Minneapolis. 
Minn.;  J.  Harris  and  David,  twins;  ami  Mary  G., 
who  is  unmarried.  All  but  John  1ST.  Lenker  live 
in  the  old  homestead  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Chestnut  streets.  Sunbury. 

J.  Harris  Lenker,  son  of  John  B.,  horn 
June  27,  1862,  in  Sunbury.  is  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men  of  that  borough.  He  and  his  twin 
brother.  David  Lenker.  are  the  members  of  the 
firm  of  the  Sunbury  Supply  Company,  with  office 
and  warehouse  at  No.  599  East  Chestnut  street, 
dealers  in  limes,  sands,  cements,  fire  clay,  fire 
bricks,  galvanized  pipe,  iron  pipe,  sewer  pipe, 
plastering  hair,  common  bricks,  terra  cotta  ware, 
and  all  other  building  supplies,  doing  a  large  busi- 
ness. Mr.  J.  Harris  Lenker  is  a  director  of  the 
Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  presi- 
dent of  the  Middle  Creek  Electric  Company,  of 
Sunbury.  and  with  his  brother  largely  interested 
in  Sunbury  real  estate  as  holders  ami  dealers,  buy- 
ing, building  and  selling. 

On  December  25,  1883,  Mr.  Lenker  married  [da 
Badman,  daughter  of  Zacharias  Badman,  of 
Uniontown,  Pa.,  who  died  in  1876  when  a  com- 
paratively young  man.  of  smallpox,  which  he  had 
contracted' while  visiting  the  Centennial  Exposi- 
tion   at    Philadelphia.      Two   children  have   been 


born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lenker:  John  E.,  a  civil 
engineer,  who  graduated  from  the  Sunburv  hitrb 
school  and  from  Stale  College,  at  State  College, 
Pa.,  and  William  0..  a  graduate  of  the  Eastman 
Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  X.  V..  who  is 
now  in  business  with  his  brother,  under  the  name 
of  the  Selinsgrove  Supply  Company. 

Mr.  Lenker  and  his  family  are  members  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.  He  is  a 
Republican  on  political  questions. 

David  Lenker,  M.  D.,  twin  brother  of  .1.  Harris 
Lenker.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Sunbury,  the  Missionary  Institute  al  Selinsgrove, 
Wittenberg  College,  at  Springfield,  ohm.  and  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College.  Philadelphia,  graduating 
April  12,  1889.  Returning  to  Sunbury.  he  was 
appointed  physician  al  the  Northumberland  Coun- 
ty prison,  holding  that  office  for  several  terms. 
But  medical  practice  did  not  appeal  to  him.  and  he 
became  associated  with  his  brother.  .1.  Hani-  Len- 
ker, in  business  and  in  the  manufacture  of  bricks, 
which  latter  they  continued  for  six  years,  even- 
tually organizing  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Sun- 
bury Supply  Company.  Every  war  they  build 
from  two  to  ten  houses  in  addition  to  continuing 
the  other  lines  of  their  extensive  business.  Len- 
ker avenue  is  named  for  this  family.  Dr.  Lenker. 
in  association  with  his  brother,  has  large  real 
estate  holdings.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  intelligence, 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  local  welfare, 
in  which  he  is  deeply  interested:  he  served  some 
years  as  auditor  of  Sunbury.  Dr.  Lenker  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  was  at  one  time  m*>>t  ac- 
tive in  the  interest  of  the  party. 

John  Adam  Lenker,  another  son  of  John  Adam 
and  Maria  (Bobb)  Lenker,  was  born  June  29, 
ISIS,  on  the  old  homestead,  where  Jacob  E.  Len- 
ker now  lives,  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  owned 
the  property  which  Michael  Linker  now  owns.  He 
was  also  an  extensive  contractor,  erecting  a  num- 
ber of  county  buildings,  houses  and  barns  in  the 
lower  end  of  the  county,  a  part  of  the  Central 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  the  Mahantango  bridge  in 
Lower  Mahanoy,  a  number  of  other  bridges  along 
the  Mahantango  creek,  and  helped  to  build  the 
State  road  from  Tower  City  t"  Tremont.  He  filled 
various  public  offices  in  his  locality,  among  otl 
that  of  school  director,  ami  in  fact  was  one  of  the 

leaders  in  the  establishmeni  of  the  free  -  1 1  - 

tern  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  being  long  its  .principal 
supporter.  He  was  enterprising  in  giving  his  in- 
fluence to  worthy  public  movements  as  well  as  in 
ili,.  conduct  of  his  personal  interests,  and  was  a 
active  in  church  affairs,  holding  all  the  offices  in 
his  church.  He  died  March  24,  1881,  and  is  buried 
at  Stone  Valli  belonged.     His 

wife.    Sarah    Massm  i  I     Dec.    1  I.    1821,    died 

March   23,    1899.     3  i  a   dame-  John 

\l  ner.  They  bad  children  as  follows:  Lizzie, 
wife  of  Abraham  D.  Blasser;  Jeremiah,  deceased; 


N  ( IRTHUMBERLA XI )  C<  ITJNTY,  PEN X SYLYAXIA 


John  M.,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township;  Sallie.  un- 
married: Ellen,  wife  of  John  H.  Snyder;  Newton, 
deceased;  Adam:  and  Michael,  who  has  the  old 
homestead. 

Adam  Lenker,  son  of  John  Adam  and  Sarah 
(Massner)  Lenker,  was  born  Jan.  9, 1860,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  thirty  years  lived  on  his  father's  farm  in  the 
Mahantango  Valley.  Moving  to  Shamokin.  he 
lived  in  that  borough  three  years,  engaged  as  a 
drayman,  and  then  returning  to  the  Mahantango 
Valley  he  purchased  a  farm  of  sixty-five  acres, 
which  he  cultivated  for  the  next  twelve  years.  This 
place  was  a  part  of  the  old  William  Deppen  home- 
stead. Renting  that  place  he  removed  farther 
north,  in  the  same  township,  where  he  became  a 
tenant  on  the  A.  D.  and  Jacob  Blasser  farm,  the 
present  year  (1910)  being  his  fifth  on  that  prop- 
erty. His  own  place  is  at  County  Line  and  is  a 
very  desirable  tract,  but  lie  rents  it  because  it  is 
too  small  to  occupy  all  bis  attention,  and  bis  family 
being  a  large  one  he  finds  a  larger  place  more 
profitable.  He  was  elected  a  school  director  of 
Lower  Mahanoy  township  in  the  spring  of  1910. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

On  May  :.J.">.  1885,  Mr.  Lenker  married  Annie 
Engel,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Catharine  (Wald) 
Engel,  and  they  have  had  twelve  children:  Birdie 
(who  died  young),  -loci  (who  died  aged  sixteen 
years),  Howard.  Sallie.  Annie.  Alvin.  John,  Clar- 
ence. Clara.  Irwin,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Lenker  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members 
of  the  Zion  Church  at  Stone  Valley,  where  many 
Lenkers  are  buried. 

JOHN  B.  BEPLEY,  of  Ralpho  township,  North- 
umberland county,  engaged  in  farming  on  the 
place  formerly  owned  by  his  lather,  and  which  has 
been  in  this  family  for  about  sixty  years,  was  born 
Oct.  27,  1851,  on  that  place.  The  family  is  of 
German  origin,  and  the  name  is  also  found  with 
the  spellings  Reply  ami  Hippie. 

Henry  Repley,  great-grandfather  of  .John  B. 
Bepley.  lived  in  this  section,  owning  and  occupying 
the  farm  now  owned  by  T.  B.  and  Annie  Bough- 
tier,  in  wdiat  is  now  Ralpho  township. 

John  Bepley.  son  of  Henry,  was  born  Dec.  "Jr.. 
1789,  and  died  X'ov.  5.  1864.  He  spent  all  his  life 
at  the  homestead  in  Ralpho  (then  Shamokin)  town- 
ship, following  farming  and  also  cabinetmaking. 
and  was  a  well  known  man  in  his  day.  By  his 
first  marriage,  to  Jane  Zartman,  he  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Henry:  Margaret,  Mrs.  Peter  Boughner : 
Mary.  Mrs.  Samuel  Campbell:  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Simeon  Campbell  (brother  of  Samuel).  His 
second  wife,  Rachel  (Sober),  who  died  March  G. 
1877,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  four  months,  was 
the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Jane,  born 
in  1836,  who  married  Henry  K.  Price,  and  died  in 
1874;  Savilla.  wdio  married  Harvey  Fisher;  Lou- 


isa, who  married  John  K.  Erdman:  and  Rebecca. 
who  married  David  P.  Martz.  All  these  four 
daughters  are  buried  at  the  Oak  Grove  church  in 
Ralpho  township. 

Henry  Repley,  son  of  John,  was  born  April  T, 
1820,  and  died  Jan.  16,  L882.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  with  the  exception  of  the  period  spent  in  the 
service  during  the  Civil  war  gave  all  his  active 
years  to  that  occupation.  In  1849  and  1850  he 
bought  part  of  the  Haas  and  Porter  farms,  in  what 
is  now  Ralpho  township,  having  a  tract  of  sixty 
acres  upon  which  he  erected  all  the  buildings,  ami 
there  he  farmed  until  his  death.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  a  member  of  Company  H.  162d  Penn- 
sylvania Regiment.  He  is  buried  at  the  Oak 
Grove  church,  in  whose  welfare  he  was  interested 
from  the  beginning,  having  been  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  that  church  and  active  in  its  work.  His 
father's  home  was  a  stopping-place  for  the  Meth- 
odisl  ministers.  .Mr.  Repley  married  Mary  E. 
Scout,  who  was  born  Feb.  15,  1824,  daughter  of 
John  Scout,  who  was  of  Scottish  extraction.  She 
died  July  15.  1892.  Two  children  were  born  to 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Repley:  Ursula,  born  Sept.  26, 
L845,  who  married  David  H.  Snyder,  and  died 
Nov.  12,  1907  (she  is  buried  at  Oak  Grove 
Church )  :  ami  John  B. 

John  B.  Repley  attended  the  public  schools  ami 
Elysburg  Academy,  acquiring  an  excellent  educa- 
tion, and  he  himself  long  followed  the  teacher's 
profession,  teaching  twenty-two  terms  of  school  in 
all,  in  six  different  schools  m  Shamokin  and  Ralpho 
townships.  His  success  in  this  work  has  made  him 
very  well  known  in  this  section  of  the  county,  his 
efficiency  and  conscientious  devotion  to  the  best 
interests  of  his  pupils  gaining  him  many  friends. 
Meantime  he  had  also  commenced  farming,  to 
which  he  was  reared  from  boyhood,  and  in  Septem- 
ber. 1882,  be  took  possession  of  his  father's  old 
farm.  He  has  now-  seventy-sis  acres,  located  along 
the  Center  turnpike  between  Paxinos  and  Bear 
Gap,  and  gives  all  his  time  to  his  agricultural 
work,  in  which  he  has  prospered  by  intelligent  at- 
tention to  Lis  land.  He  has  served  twenty  years 
as  assessor  in  his  district,  and  has  always  been  a 
leading  citizen  in  influencing  public  opinion  for 
the  uood  of  the  community,  in  which  he  take-  a 
public-spirited  interest.  Politically  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 

On  Jan.  25,  1879,  Mr.  Repley  married  Kate 
Erdman,  who  was  born  May  •">.  1850,  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  (Knorr)  Erdman.  and  they  had 
children  as  follows:  Edward  A.  is  at  home; 
Gertrude  B.,  twin  of  Edward,  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Sanders  and  has  two  children.  Catharine  A.  and 
Charles  L. ;  George  Henry,  who  is  a  carpenter, 
married  Clara  Crowd,  and  they  live  at  Shamokin. 
Pa.:  John  C.  is  at  home:  Frank  E..  twin  of  John, 
died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died  Fell.  5,  1908, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


73 


WILLIAM  \Y.  FISHER,  who  has  the  leading 
jewelry  establishment  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury, 

is  a  man  who  has  developed  every  branch  of  Ins 
chosen  business,  a  fact  which  entitles  him  to  rank 
amoii"'  the  most  enterprising  citizens  of  thai  place, 
in  the  best  sense  of  the  term.  By  able  manage- 
ment and  good  judgment  he  has  drawn  a  high 
class  of  trade  and  raised  the  standards  of  excel- 
lence in  Ins  line  until,  through  him,  the  community 
receives  as  good  service  a.-  may  lie  found  in  the 
larger  cities  of  the  State,  lie  is  a  native  of  Mil- 
ton, this  county,  born  Feb.  13,  1861,  ami  belongs 
to  an  old  family  of  the  county,  one  which  has 
been  settled  here  for  a  hundred  and  twenty-five 
years. 

Joseph  Fisher,  from  whom  this  family  traces 
its  descent,  was  burn  in  Saxony  in  April.  1734.  At 
ilic  age  of  thirteen  years,  n  is  -aid.  he  was  appren- 
ticed t"  learn  a  trade,  and  as  was  the  custom  in 
those  days  lived  in  bis  master's  family.  This  fam- 
ily emigrated  to  America  in  1747,  Joseph  Fisher 
and  Ins  sister  Elizabeth  accompanying  them,  and 

they  landed  in  New  Jersey,  where  the  sister  - 

died.  Joseph  remained  in  the  western  pari  of 
\ru  Jersey  and  completed  bis  apprenticeship.  On 
June  5,  1764,  he  married  Catharine  Minegar,  who 
was  bom  Aug.  21.  1746,  in  Holland,  and  they  lo- 
cated in  Warren  county.  \".  .1.  Luring  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  he  entered  the  American  service 
from  Morris  county.  X.  .1.  The  home  he  had  es- 
tablished, being  amid  the  scenes  of  several  battles 
ami  various  movements  of  the  Revolution,  was  de- 
stroyed and  the  surrounding  lands  laid  waste  by 
the  armies,  ami  he  determined  accordingly  to  move 
oni  to  Pennsylvania.  In  1788  he  came  to  North- 
umberland county,  on  April  7th  of  that  war  pur- 
chasing from  Samuel  Reeder  a  farm  of  100  acres 
along  the  Little  Roaring  creek.  He  lived  to  a 
good  old  age.  dying  Dec.  '."'.  1819,  after  a  short 
'illness,  and  was  buried  -Ian.  1.  1820,  at  Catawissa, 
beside  his  wife,  who  had  died  in  1809;  thei  resl 
in  the  old  burial  ground  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  that  place.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, born  as  follows:  Catharine.  June  29,  1765 
(married  Nicholas  Shipman)  ;  Henry,  Juh  23, 
1761!  (married  Magdalena  Farley);  Mary,  Dec. 
IS,  1769  (married  Samuel  Mutchler) ;  Hannah. 
Jan.  27.  1772  (married  Caleb  Farley)  ;  Elizabeth, 
July  21.  1774  (married  John  Reeder):  John, 
June  10.  1776;  Moses,  Sept.  23,  1778  (married 
Elizabeth  Bear);  David.  March  6,  1781;  Jacob, 
Dec.  18.  1783  (married  Margaret  Kimbpel) ;  Jo- 
seph, May  20,  1786  (married  Mary  Kimbpel). 

John  Fisher,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  June  19, 
1776,  in  Sussex  countv,  X.  J-  On  Aug.  13,  1798, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Mauser,  who  was  born  in 
17;:.  in  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  and  died  ,n  1844  in 
Noble  township.  Branch  Co.,  Mich.  They  had 
four  children,  namely:    John  married 


arus ; 


Catharine,    born    June    Lb    1801,    marrie 


ed 


Thomas  Shane;  William,  born  Oct.  19,  1mm;.  mar- 
ried Eleanor  Blue;  Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  in.  L80  i, 
married  John  Ritter. 

William  Fisher,  son  of  John,  born  Oct.  19,  L806, 
married  Dec.  25,  1827,  Eleanor  Blue,  who  was 
bom  Nov.  22,  1810,  in  Mahoning  township,  and 
after  their  marriage  they  resided  for  a  time  at 
Danville,  when-  Mr.  Fisher  was  employed  in  the 
store  of  Peter  Baldy.  Thence  they  removed  to 
.Milton,  Northumberland  county,  and  later  to  Lock 
Eaven,  Pa.,  where  they  remained  seven  years.  For 
the  next  three  years  they  lived  in  Philadelphia, 
during  which  time  Mr.  Fisher  was  burned  oul  in 
the  big  fire  of  184;).  losing  everything,  lie  subse- 
quently returned  to  Milton,  where  Mrs.  Fisher 
died  Jan.  28,  1878,  and  from  that  time  until  Ins 
death  Mr.  Fisher  made  his  home  with  bis  daugh- 
ter  Margaret,  who  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Glover. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  were  the  parent-  of  nine 
children,  born  as  follows:  B.  Frank.  June  15, 
1829;  Samuel  ,L,  April  8.  1831;  William  A..  Oct. 
21.  1832  (died  Sept.  Lb  L885) ;  John  K.  lb. 
Sept.  2,  1S34  (died  April  12.  1848);  Mary  E., 
Oct.  s.  1836;  Charlotte  J..  March  25,  1840;  Mar- 
garet   F...    April    2  1.    18  12:    Dudley    P..    Jan.    8, 

1818    (died    Sept.   21,    1850)  |    Dudley    I,'.    (2l.    Si 

2-"..  1850  (married  Sept.  25,  L884,  Catharine 
Ebright). 

B.  Frank  Fisher,  son  of  William,  born  June  15, 
L829,  died  Oct.  12.  1867.  lie  was  engaged  in 
business  at  Reading,  Pa.  On  Jan.  28,  1858,  be 
married  Mary  P..  Grift,  who  died  Feb.  21.  1878. 
They  bad  four  children:  William  W..  bom  Feb. 
L3,  1861  :  Flora  E.,  born  Fob.  26,  1863;  Harry 
II..  who  died  in  1865;  anil  P..  Frank,  born  Sept. 
Hi.  1866. 

William  W.  Fisher  was  a  boy  of  ten  when  tb.1 
family  moved  to  Watsontown,  tin-  county,  in  L87  1. 
and  there  bo  attended  public  school.  In  1882 
founded  a  paper  at  Watsontown  known  as  the  Star, 
the  first  issue  of  which  appeared  April  1.  IS82. 
lb  was  in  partnership,  in  this  venture,  with  Lew 
C.  Fosnot,  who  is  still  interested.  Mr.  Fisher 
sold  his  share  to  Lore  Burr  in  November,  1883, 
and  in  March,  188  1.  the  Watsontown  Record  and 
the  Star  were  merged  under  the  name  of  the  ; 

ord  'iu:l  Sh'r.  under  which  title  it  ha-  - : 

published,  Lw  C.  Fosnol  and  In-  -on.  J.  Clyde 
Posnot,  being  the  preseni  o»  no-,  \ii-m  severing 
his  connection  with  the  newspaper  Mr.  Fisher 
entered  the  stationery  and  book  business  in  \\ 
sontown,  establishing  a  store  in  1885,  ami  for  a 
time  ne  also  published  band  music.  In  1888  bo 
went  into  the  jewelry  business  at  Watsonl 
where  be  was  located  for  several  years.  In  1891 
he  settled  at  Sunbury.  having  thai  rear  bought 
the  jewelry  business  of  M.  -1  I'-  y,  at  No.  :;i  I 
Market  street,  where  he  has  since  been  estab- 
lished.      His   stole    IS    How    01  -1    "I    tlll> 

parj   ,,f  the   State,   in    regard   to  both  -tuck   and 


NORTHUM  BERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


equipment,  the  fittings  being  attractive  and  in 
excellent  taste,  while  his  comprehensive  stock  in- 
cludes diamonds  mounted  and  unmounted,  watches, 
sterling  and  plated  silverware,  cut  glass  and  ob- 
jects of  art.  A  finely  equipped  repair  department, 
conducted  at  one  end  of  the  store,  gives  employ- 
ment to  several  workmen,  and  diamond  setting, 
watch  and  clock  and  jewelry  repairing  receive  the 
most  skillful  attention  from  experienced  me- 
chanics. 

A  special  evidence  of  Mr.  Fisher's  enterprise  is 
the  optical  department  connected  with  his  store. 
He  himself  took  a  course  at  the  McCormick  Neu- 
rological College,  at  Chicago,  111.,  from  which  he 
was  graduated,  receiving  his  diploma  July  19, 
1904.  His  equipment  for  the  diagnosis  of  all 
kinds  of  defective  vision  is  complete,  ami  his  un- 
derstanding of  the  can-.',  treatment  and  cure  of 
the  various  nervous  disorder-  and  other  ills  of  the 
human  system  arising  from  such  source  has  been 
proved  in  the  numerous  cases  he  has  successfully 
handled.  Thus  it  will  lie  seen  that  his  success  i- 
due  to  a  combination  of  qualities  which  make  him 
a  valuable  member  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides.  He  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  holding 
membership  in  Maclay  Lodge.  No.  632,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Sunbury;  in  Northumberland  Chapter,  No. 
174.  R.  A.  M. ;  in  Mount  Hermon  Commandery, 
No.  84,  K.  T.,  and  in  [rem  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  V. 
M.  *.,  of  Wilkes-Barre.  He  was  a.  charter  mem- 
ber of  Mac-lay  Lodge  and  was  elected  treasurer 
upon  the  organization,  having  held  that  position 
continuously  since.  He  is  a  past  exalted  ruler  of 
Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of  Sunbury,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Temple  Club  and  of  the  Amer- 
icus  Club,  and  president  of  the  Sunbury  Auto 
Club,  which  was  organized  July  30,  1909.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

On  April  16,  1894,  Mr.  Fisher  married  Susan 
Stroh.  daughter  of  George  W.  Stroh,  of-Sunbury, 
Pa.     She  died  Dec.  8,  1910. 

JOHN  HENRY  KREITZER,  of  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  proprietor  of  the  largest 
wholesale  and  retail  grocery  establishment  in  that 
section  of  the  State,  president  and  treasurer  of 
the  Kreitzer  Wholesale  Candy  Company,  one  of 
the  most  popular  borough  officials  Milton  lias  ever 
had.  a  leader  of  the  Republican  party  and  active 
in  almost  every  phase  of  the  life  of  his  locality,  is 
a  citizen  who  deservedly  holds  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  the  entire  community.  Mr.  Kreitzer 
has  won  his  standing  by  hard  work  and  ability 
in  the  management  of  his  affairs,  and  a  mere  rec- 
ord of  his  many  successful  undertakings  is  suffi- 
cient to  show  how  busy  a  life  he  leads.  None  but 
a  man  of  energy  and  progressive  disposition  could 
handle  the  numerous  enterprises  he  looks  after  so 
ably,  and  his  judgment  has  been  in  demand  in 
the   execution   of  public   trusts,   to   which   he  has 


been  called  time  and  again.  He  belongs  to  a  fam- 
ily of  German  origin  established'  in  this  county 
by  his  great-grandfather,  with  whom  the  record 
of  the  family  history  begins. 

Peter  Kreitzer,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to 
America  when  a  young  man.  settling  in  Tulpe- 
hocken.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  in  1762,  and  there  lived 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  living  to 
be  105  years  old,  and  both  wives  are  buried  in 
Berks  county.  There  were  five  children  by  the 
first  union  and  ten  by  the  second,  among  them 
being  Frederick,  who  died  in  Berks  county;  Wil- 
liam, who  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  died  I  he  has, 
two  sons  in  Texas,  both  druggists)  ;  and  Balser. 

Balser  Kreitzer,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in  Berks. 
county  (at  what  is  now  Myerstown.  Lebanon 
county)  in  1800,  and  about  1826-27  moved  to  Mil- 
ton. Northumberland  county,  where  he  lived  and 
died.  After  his  settlement  there  he  did  day's 
work  at  first,  but  in  time  became  a  contractor,  his 
principal  business  being  lumbering,  in  the  pur- 
suit of  which  he  cleared  off  most  of  the  timber 
around  Milton.  He  formed  the  logs  into  rafts 
which  he  took  to  market.  When  the  old  Lutheran 
church  on  Mahoning  street  was  sold  at  the  time 
of  the  erection  of  the  new  edifice  (subsequently 
destroyed  by  fire)  he  purchased  it  and  remodeled 
it  into  a  dwelling.  He  himself  was  a  Lutheran 
in  religious  belief,  and  assisted  in  the  building 
of  the  first  church  of  that  denomination  in  Milton. 
Jn  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  took  an  interest  in  local  affairs, 
holding  minor  township  offices  and  later  borough 
offices.  He  died  in  Milton  m  1878,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years,  and  is  buried  in  Harmony 
cemetery.  His  wife.  Mary  (Zimmerman),  of  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  died  in  1884,  at  tin-  age  of  eighty- 
four.  They  had  children  as  follows:  John,  who 
was  killed  in  the  last  battle  of  the  Civil  war: 
George  Washington:  Jacob,  of  Milton,  formerly 
a  shoe  merchant,  who  married  Sarah  Beidelman 
and  has  children.  Edith.  Sedosia,  Bertha.  Frank. 
Carrie  and  George;  Reuben,  who  was  killed  at 
Milton,  on  the  railroad  (he  was  twice  married, 
Ins  first  wife  being  Emma  Crawford,  his  second 
Emma  Applegate)  :  Sarah,  who  married  Andrew 
Irvin.  and  died  in  1904;  William,  who  served 
through  the  Civil  war.  and  who  died  at  Milton 
(he  married  Rebecca  Ehrhart )  :  Adam  :  ami  Moses, 
who  died  in  early  childhood. 

George  Washington  Kreitzer  (known  as  Wash- 
ington Kreitzer  i.  soli  of  Balser,  was  the  father  of 
John  Henry  Kreitzer.  He  was  bom  in  1828  at 
Milton,  and  as  was  the  custom  in  that  day  began 
work  early,  being  only  a  boy  of  ten  when  he  began 
driving  a  team  on  the  Union  canal.  His  fondness 
for  horses  kept  him  in  such  work  for  some  time. 
He  drove  a  packet  team  for  a  while  and  in  winter 
a  stagecoach,  also  carrying  the  mail  up  and  down 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  liver  for  many  years.  After  a  time  he  learned 
the  butcher's  trade,  and  being  ambitious  he  saved 
his  earnings,  accumulating  enough  to  enable  him 
to  start  business  independently.  Be  formed  a 
partnership  with  Conrad  Cares,  under  the  linn 
name  of  Kreitzer  &  Carjes,  and  engaged  in  the 
meat  business  in  Milton,  following  that  line  in  all 
for  about  eight  years.  After  his  association  with 
Mr.  Cares  was  dissolved  he  had  Charles  Boy  for 
a  partner.  Selling  out  his  interest  in  the  meat 
business,  he  was  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of  Wil- 
liam Price  Hull,  dealer  in  coal  and  grain,  and 
later  followed  the  dairy  business.  During  Ins  Last 
years  he  assisted  his  sod  John.  A  man  of  strong 
constitution,  he  continued  to  work  hard  to  the  end 
of  his  days  and  enjoyed  it.  Be  died  June  17,  1898, 
in  his  seventieth  year,  and  was  buried  in  Harmony 
cemetery,  lie  was  a  Republican  .in  polities  and 
served  two  terms  as  street  commissioner. 

Mr.  Kreitzer  married  Mary  .1.  Lohr,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  A.  ("Wilson)  Lohr,  of  lola. 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she  survives  him,  contin- 
uing to  make  her  home  in  .Milton.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Mary  Cather- 
ine, who  married  John  Byers,  and  lives  near  Mil- 
ton; John  If.;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  who  married 
William  Cowles,  formerly  of  Picture  Rock,  Pa., 
now  living  at  Chester;  Abraham  L.,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Ada  Nora,  who  married  Augustus  Ber- 
ger,  of  Watsontown  ;  and  William  Washington,  who 
died  aged  seven  years,  ten  months. 

John  Henry  Kreitzer  was  horn  at  Milton  Oct. 
24,  1858.  and  received  his  education  there  in  the 
public  schools,  which  he  at  hauled  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age.  Like  his  father,  he  began 
work  as  a  driver  on  the  towpath,  and  when  the 
canal  season  closed  for  the  winter  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  office  of  William  Trice  Hull,  at 
that  time  a  prominent  coal  and  grain  dealer  of 
Milton.  After  two  years  in  his  employ  he  decided 
to  return  to  school,  as  he  was  ambitious  to  gain  a 
good  education,  and  he  was  at  his  studies  again 
for  three  years.  On  April  1,  1877,  he  began  clerk- 
in--  for  Albert  Cadwallader,  who  had  a  grocery 
and  provision  store  in  Milton;  and  made  such  good 
progress  in  learning  the  details  of  this  business 
that  on  Aug.  12,  1879,  he  was  made  superintend- 
ent of  James  Buoy's  grocery  store  on  Mahoning 
street.  On  Jan.  11.  1881, 'he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  this  establishment  from  Mr.  Buoy,  the 
firm  name  being  Buoy  &  Kreitzer.  In  May,  1883, 
this  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Kreitzer  pur- 
chasing Mr.  Buoy's  interest  and  continuing  the 
business  alone.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  his 
present  extensive  business,  the  largest  wholesale 
and  retail  grocery  house  in  this  section  of  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is  located  in  a  tine  brick  block  which 
Mr.  Kreitzer  owns  and  adjoining  which,  in  1891, 
he  built  a  large  three-story  warehouse;  since  the 
erection  of  this  building  he  has  enlarged  his  busi- 


ness to  include,  besides  the  original  lines  of  gro- 
ceries and  provisions,  crockery,  wooden  and  willow 
wares,  gram,  hay  and  feed.'  In  this  connection 
he  also  deals  extensively  in  count  n  produce,  which 

he  ships  to  other  markets.     In  1894   h ganized 

the  Kreitzer  Wholesale  Candy  (' pany,   dealers 

in  confectionery,  fruit  and  nuts,  and  he  erected 
and  owns  the  building  occupied  by  this  concern. 
adjoining  his  grocery  establishment,  lie  is  presi- 
dent and  treasurer  of  this  company,  of  which  M. 
C.  Kreitzer  is  assistant  treasurer  and  M.  E.  Kreit- 
zer secretary.  Mr.  Kreitzer  employs  from  twenty 
to  thirty-five  people,  ami  four  teams  are  used  in  th 
delivery  and  transportation  of  his  goods.  Since 
L898  Mi-.  Kreitzer  has  also  had  a  retail  store  in 
Wesl  Milton.  Union  county.  Since  ism  he  has 
owned  a  sand  plant  two  miles  south  of  Milton, 
shipping  sand  to  all  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and 
various  portions  of  New  York  Slat.-  for  use  in 
foundry  and  concrete  work,  and  a  particularly 
line  quality  for  special  uses.  Such  a  record  of  un- 
broken success  is  the  lot  of  few  men.  but  Mr.  Kreit- 
zer has  won  all  his  triumphs  by  hard  work  and 
upright  dealings,  and  he  has  the  good  will  of  his 
employees  and  of  all  who  come  in  contacl  with 
him   in  business  or  other  relations. 

Though  he  has  never  neglected  his  business  in 
any  way.  Mr.  Kreitzer  has  found  time  to  take  a 
public-spirited  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. His  influence  being  valuable,  his  work- 
is  much  appreciated,  for  he  has  the  faculty  of  in- 
fusing energy  into  movements  thai  n I  encourage- 
ment and  of  putting  through  any  work  he  under- 
takes. He  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  and  is  serving  as  a  director,  taking  an 
active  part  in  its  enterprises.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Milton  Driving  Park  ami  Fair  Association, 

the  Mil Knitting  Mill  and  the  Milton  Trusl  & 

Safe  Deposit  Company.  It  was  principally  through 
the  earnest  efforts  he  put  forth  thai  the  bridge 
which  spans  the  river  between  Milton  ami  Wesl 
Milton  was  built,  victory  rewarding  its  advocates 
after  three  years  of  hard  fighting  in  I  he  courts; 
it  was  opened  to  travel  in  1894.  Be  is  the  only 
citizen  of  Milton  who  has  thrice  been  honored 
with  election  to  the  office  of  chief  burgess,  for 
terms  of  three  years  each,  his  3ei  \  ii  es  e>  tend 
from  1894  to  1897,  from  L900  to  L903,  and  from 
L906  to  1909.  The  issue  upon  which  he  won  in 
his  latest  campaign  when  a  candidate  for  this  o 
was  the  obtaining  of  mountain  water  for  the  bor- 
ough, and  he  made  good  all  his  pr ises,  no  place 

in  the  Stale  enjoying  purer  water  or  better  privi- 
leges than  Milton.  Mr.  Kreitzer  had  previously 
served  three  years  as  councilman,  to  which  office 
|1(,  was  elei  ted  in  188  I  ;  and  three  years  as  auditor. 
to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  1881  ;  so  thai  his 
active  participation  in  public  affairs  has  covered  a 
lout;  period.  He  has  long  been  a  valued  worker  in 
the  Republican  party.     Be  was  elected  ward  i  o 


76 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


niitteeman  in  1881  :  >or\ed  two  years  as  judge  oi 
election;  and  was  delegate  to  the  State  convention 
in  1902.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Anti-Tramp 
convention  that  met  in  Philadelphia  May  15,  1901. 

Mr.  Kreitzer  served  nine  years  as  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Baptist  Sunday  school.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  so- 
cially he  unites  with  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

On  Feb.  11.  1886,  Mr.  Kreitzer  married  Mary 
Catharine  Ettla,  daughter  of  Capt.  George  H. 
and  Amanda  C.  Ettla,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter. Mary  Elizabeth. 

JOSIAH  M.  KAI'FFMAX  (deceased)  was  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  this 
county,  until  his  removal  in  1892  to  Sunbury. 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  and 
where  his  family  now  reside.  He  was  a  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  high  personal  character.  Mr. 
Kauffnian  was  born  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
Jan.  7,  1860,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Burns) 
Kauffman  and  grandson  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Ressler)  Kauffman,  of  whose  family  the  follow- 
ing still  survive:  John  R.,  of  Sunbury:  Levi,  of 
Paxton.  Pa.:  Caroline.  Mrs.  James  Coldren,  of 
Sunbury:  Lucy.  Mrs.  Brocious,  of  Buchanan, 
Mich.;  Malinda,    Mrs.    I.   J.    Renn,   of   Asherton. 

Pa.;  and  Rachel,  Mrs.  Ja -   Lower,  of  Asherton. 

The  family  is  well  known,  its  various  branches 
being  well  represented  throughout  this  section  of 
the  country. 

Daniel  Kauffman,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Ressler)  Kauffman.  was  bom  Jan.  21,  1834.  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  this  county,  and  was 
quite  young  when  the  family  moved  to  Lower 
Augusta  township,  where  he  resided  for  many 
years,  engaging  in  fanning.  Retiring  from  agri- 
cultural pursuits  he  removed  to  Sunbury.  when 
elected  county  commissioner,  and  there  passed  the 
last  twenty-five  years  of  his  life.  He  served  one 
term  of  three  years.  1888-90,  as  county  commis- 
sioner, and  at  the  end  of  his  service  in  that  office 
bought  the  "Empire  House"  on  Third  street,  which 
he  continued  to  carry  on  until  a  few  years  before 
his  death.  He  then  removed  to  his  late  residence 
on  Pine  street,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  peaceful  retirement.  About  three  weeks 
before  his  death  he  was  taken  to  the  Mary  M. 
Packer  hospital,  where  he  died  after  two  serious 
operations.  Aug.  25,  1910.  With  the  exception  of 
this  illness  Mr.  Kauffman.  although  past  seventy- 
six  years  of  age,  had  enjoyed  unusual  health,  being 
as  strong  and  active  as  men  many  years  his  junior. 
His  family  had  always  been  noted  for  remarkable 
vitality,  and  his  death  was  the  first  in  their  circle 
in  thirty  years.  Mr.  Kauffman  was  a  good  busi- 
ness man  and  gave  creditable  service  as  county 
commissioner,  being  a  citizen  highly  respected 
throughout  his  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances.    During  the  Civil  war  he  served  the  Union 


as  a  member  of  the  172d  Regiment.  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  and  he  became  a  member  of  William 
A.  Brunei'  Post.  No.  335,  G.  A.  R. :  the  flag  in 
Cameron  park  flew  at  half  mast  upon  the  occasion 
of  his  death. 

In  1857  Mr.  Kauffman  married  Sarah  Burns, 
daughter  of  John  Burns,  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, and  he  survived  her  only  a  few  weeks,  her 
death  taking  place  when  she  was  seventy-four 
years  old.  exactly  seven  weeks  before  the  day  of 
his  funeral,  which  was  held  August  "is.  1910. 
They  are  buried  in  the  Kauffman  lot  in  Pomfret 
Manor  cemetery.  Mr.  Kauffman  was  a  lifelong 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  ami  the  funeral 
services  were  held  at  his  late  home  on  Pine  streel 
by  Lev.  J.  X.  Wetzler.  of  St.  Luke',-  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauffman  were 
survived  by  three  children,  namely:  Silas  D..  of 
Coneptoga,  X.  Y.:  Mrs.  Clarence  Parsons,  of  Nan- 
ticoke,  Pa.;  ami  Mrs.  Morris  Swartz,  of  Urban, 
La.,  as  will  as  the  widow  and  children  of  their  late 
son.  Josiah  M.  Kauffman.  of  Sunbury.  They  bad 
a  number  of  grandchildren  ami  great-grandchil- 
dren. 

Josiah  M.  Kauffman,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Burns)  Kauffman.  received  his  early  education 
in  the  puhlic  schools  of  Lower  Augusta  township 
ami  later  attended  the  academy  at  Selisgrove,  this 
county.  lb'  taught  school  for  seven  years  in 
Lower  Augusta  township  and  one  term  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  holding  a  professional  certifi- 
cate, ami  meanwhile  followed  farming  during  the 
summer  season,  having  been  trained  to  that  voca- 
tion from  early  boyhood.  He  owned  the  homestead 
of  his  grandfather  Daniel  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship (  now  the  property  of  H.  S.  Bowersox)  and 
farmed  that  place  for  one  year;  for  eleven  years 
he  lived  upon  ami  cultivated  one  farm  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  Moving  with  his  family  to 
Sunbury  in  1892,  he  there  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  April  25,  1908.  He  is  buried  in 
Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  In  1898  he  erected  the 
building  at  Nos.  416-418  Market  street  where  Mrs. 
Kauffman  is  still  engaged  in  business.  Mr.  Kauff- 
man was  an  intelligent  citizen,  capable  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  own  affairs  and  public-spirited  in 
his  interest  in  such  matters  as  affected  the  general 
welfare.  He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  resigning  the  office  when 
he  removed  to  Sunbury.  was  active  in  local  affairs 
generally  and  well  known  socially,  belonging  to 
Lodge  No.  2-2.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  to  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  upon  church 
services  and  an  efficient  worker  in  church  and  Sun- 
day-school, serving  four  years  a-  Sunday  school 
superintendent  before  his  removal  to  Sunbury. 
He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  political  matters. 

On  July  30,  1882,  Mr.  Kauffman  married  Esther 
Bohner,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Esther  (Haas) 
Bohner,  of  Plum  Creek,  Northumberland  county. 


\  OETH  I  MBERLAND  ( !<  >UXTY,  PEXXSYLVA  N  1 A 


71 


and  they  had  a  family  of  four  children:  Sarah 
Maud,  who  assists  her  mother  in  the  millinery 
business,  is  the  wife  of  Waldo  Shipman;  Myrtle 
May  is  a  public  school  teacher  in  Sunbury;  Harry 
S.  is  an  electrician  engaged  in  business  at  Blooms- 
burg  and  Danville,  Pa.;  Bessie  Mabel  is  a  trained 
nurse.  The  family  are  Lutherans  and  Presby- 
terians in  religious  connection. 

When  the  family  removed  to  Sunbury  Mrs. 
Kauffman  opened  a  millinery  establishment  at  No. 
416  Market  street,  where  she  is  -till  located,  and 
she  enjoys  the  leading  trade  in  the  borough  as 
well  as  a  large  share  of  the  custom  from  the  sur- 
rounding district.  She  carries  a  full  line  of  mil- 
linery, and  is  an  pbliging  and  capable  business 
woman,  well  deserving  the  success  which  has  re- 
warded her  efforts.  In  1909  she  erected  a  double 
residence  at  Nos.  117-419  Woodlawn  avenue,  Sun- 
bury. 

CAPT.  JACOB  I".  HOFFMAN,  now  living  re- 
tired at  Herndon,  Northumberland  county,  is  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  a  member  of 
a  family  long  established  in  that  section.  Mis 
great^great-grandfather  settled  in  Berks  county,  in 
what  was  then  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  earl) 
in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  his  great-grand- 
father, John  Nicholas  Hoffman,  was  at  the  battle 
of  Brandywine,  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
where  he  picked  up  a  spent  ease  shot.  The  Hoff- 
mans  have  been  patriotic  citizens,  members  of  the 
family  having  served  in  the  Revolution,  the  war 
of  1812  and  the  Civil  war.  At  the  close  of  the 
latter  five  -'ins  of  Amos  Hoffman  were  -till  in  the 
service,  while  another.  Henry,  had  done  his  part 
also   as   a   soldier. 

Jacob  Hoffman,  son  of  John  Nicholas,  was  the 
grandfather  of  Capt.  Jacob  F.  Hoffman.  He  was 
horn  in  the  Lykens  valley,  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  was  a  substantial  farmer,  and 
an  influential  man  in  his  community,  serving  as 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  from  1822  to 
1824.  His  wife,  who  was  a  Ferree,  was  of  French 
descent.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Jacob, 
who  lives  at  Harrisburg,  now  (  1910)  nearly  ninety 
years  old:  Amos;  Hannah,  who  married  John 
Rumberger;  Sarah,  who  married  Michael  Forney; 
and   Mrs.   Abraham    Hess. 

Amos  Hoffman,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  in  May, 
1809,  in  Lykens  township.  Dauphin  county,  was 
a  lifelong  farmer,  and  died  at  Girardville,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  about  1S99,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 
He  is  buried  at  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  county.  He 
married  Amanda  Harper,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children:  Henry,  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war  as  a  private  in  the  8th  Illinois  Cavalry; 
Thomas  W..  who  became  a  lieutenant  colonel  in 
the  Civil  war:  Capt.  Jacob  1-'.:  Edwin  A.,  who 
served  as  sergeant  in  the  Civil  war:  John  If.,  who 
was  a  drummer  in  the  Civil  war.  though  but   til- 


teen  years  old  at  the  time;  George  M.:  Charles 
H.;  Joseph  W.;  Henrietta,  wife  of  William  Wil- 
lard :  and  Adaline,  wife  of  Charles   Koser. 

Jacob  F.  Hoffman  was  born  Dec.  25,  1841,  in 
Lykens  township.  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  later  attending  Berrysburg  Seminary  sev- 
eral terms.  For  one  term  he  taught  school.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  busine-- 
at  Pillow,  Dauphin  county,  and  afterward  at  Ber- 
rysburg, where  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war.  joining  the  26th  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania 
militia,  which  was  among  the  first  troops  in  the 
field  in  the  emergency  just  before  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg.  This  command  met  White's  Cavalry 
and  defeated  them,  then  fell  back  to  Fort  Wash- 
ington, at  Bridgeport,  where  they  were  held  during 
the  battle  with  other  troop-.  After  the  battle  thej 
followed  Lee  as  far  south  as  Greencastle.  They 
were  regularly  sworn  into  the  Federal  service,  uni- 
formed and  paid  by  the  Federal  government,  and 
the  regiment  has  a  monument  at  Gettysburg.  The 
company  to  which  Captain  Hoffman  belonged  was 
mustered  out  at  Harrisburg  in  the  latter  part  of 
July,  1863.  After  that  he  went  to  Harrisburg 
and  clerked  for  Kelker  Brothers,  and  in   August, 

1864,  he  again  entered  the  service,  be ling  first 

lieutenant  of  Company  A,  208th  Regiment.  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  sent  to 
the  front  with  other  troops,  arriving  at  Bermuda 
Hundred  in  September,  L864.  It  was  brigaded 
with  the  200th,  205th,  207th,  209th  and  211th 
Pennsylvania  regiments,  forming  the  light  brigade 
commanded  by  Colonel  Fatter  of  the  12th  New 
Hampshire  Regiment,  and  which  for  about  two 
months  did  picket  duty  between  Dutch  Gap  and 
Petersburg.  In  the  latter  part  of  November  it 
was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in 
which  the  sis  regiments  mentioned  formed  the  3d 
Division  of  the  9th  Army  Corp-,  commanded  by 
i, en.  J.   F.   llartranl't.     The  brigade  did   reserve 

duty  with  the  1st  Division,  consisting  of  the  2 

208th  and  209th  Regiments.  On  March  25,  1865, 
General  Cordon  made  an  assault  upon  Fort  Sti 
man  and  batteries  9,  10,  12  and  13,  which  he  cap- 
tured. The  1st  Brigade,  3d  Division,  came  to  the 
rescue  and  fought  the  enenr  - ssfully.  Cap- 
tain Hoffman  was  wounded  in  the  right  thigh  dur- 
ing this  engagement.  W  hen  thi  2d  Bt  igade  came 
to  the  reliel  ol   the  I  -1   b  ith  bi  igades  charged 

lv,  which  fled  across  the  lines,  and  all  that 
had  been  lost  to  the  1st  Division  of  the  9th  Anm 
Corps    was    recaptured,   but   with   a    loss  of    1,500 

merj     in     dead,    wounded    and    captured.       On     the 

Belfield  raid  Captain  Hoffman  had  charge  of  the 
advance  guard  over  the  Jerusalem  Flank  Road, 
also  commanding  <  " ">'    \  ol  the  208th  Regi- 

l:l  I)t      ;n      Hatcher's      Fun     and      Fort      Steadiiian. 

After  being  wounded  he  was  sent  to  City  Point 
hospital  and  from  there  bon  absem  I 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Recovering  to  some  extent,  he  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment ai  Alexandria.  Ya.,  but  was  not  accepted  for 
duty  and  was  sent  to  Armory  Square  hospital,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  mustered  out  by  order 
of  the  war  department  June  23,  186.3. 

Following  the  Civil  war  Captain  Hoffman  and 
his  brother  Col.  Thomas  W.  Hoffman  embarked  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  at  Port  Trever- 
i"ii.  Snyder  Co..  Pa.,  where  they  carried  on  a 
store  fur  thirty  years,  doing  well  throughout  that 
period.  From  1896  the  Captain  followed  i 
avocations.  Meantime,  in  January.  1891,  he  had 
taken  up  his  residence  at  Port  Treverton,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  his  removal  to  Herndon, 
Northumberland  county,  in  1902.  There  he  has 
since  lived  in  comparative  retirement,  though  he 
maintains  business  relations  with  the  John  Win- 
ston Publishing  House  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
National  Silverware  Company  of  the  same  city, 
nut  being  content  to  be  entirely  without  occupa- 
tion. He  is  a  much  respected  resident  of  the 
borough,  where  he  is  well  known. 

Captain  Hoffman's  first  wife,  Martha  (Winner), 
daughter  of  Abraham  Winner,  of  Juniata  county. 
Pa.,  died  Oct.  16,  1892,  after  eighteen  years  of 
married  life,  aged  forty-one  years,  ten  months, 
twenty-eight  days.  She- was  the  mother  of  two 
sons:  Charles  11..  who  is  engaged  as  shipping 
clerk  at  Burnham,  Pa.,  for  the  Logan  Steel  &  Iron 
i  ompany;  and  Edwin  S..  a  machinist  employed 
at  tlii'  National  Gun  Works.  Washington,  1>.  C. 
On  Jan.  2,  1905,  Captain  Hoffman  married  (sec- 
ond) Mary  Agnes  Blasser.  daughter  of  Abraham 
D.  Blasser. 

For  many  years  Captain  Hoffman  lias  been  an 
active  member  of  the  G.  A.  P..  is  at  present  serving 
as  assistant  patriotic  instructor,  and  is  chaplain 
of  John  C.  Arnold  Post.  No.  407,  of  Port  Trever- 
ton. In  religious  matters  he  is  identified  with 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  member  since  1874.  He  held  the  office  of 
class  leader  fur  twenty-two  years,  was  Sunday 
school  superintended  for  eight  years,  ami  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  Union  Sunday  school  at 
Herndon.  He  is  also  president  of  the  North- 
umberland county  district  of  the  State  Sunday 
School  Association.  Captain  Hoffman  was  made 
a  Mason  in  Lafayette  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1869. 

THOMAS  REESE  WILLIAMS,  postmaster  at 
Mount  Carmel.  has  in  various  ways  been  associated 
with  public  affairs  there,  directly  or  indirectly,  for 
many  years.  He  was  at  one  time  city  editor  of 
the  Mount  Carmel  Daily  A.  ws,  was  recently  rep- 
resentative of  the  district  in  the  State  Legislature, 
and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  hoard 
from  the  First  ward.  In  all  these  associations  he 
has  proved  a  reliable  and  capable  worker,  worthy 
of  the  trusts  reposed  in  him.  Mr.  Williams  is  a 
native   of    Schuvlkill   county,   Pa.,   born    Feb.    1. 


1875,  at  Minersville,  but  has  lived  at  Mount  Car- 
mel since  he  was  a  year  old. 

David  Williams,  grandfather  of  Thomas  Reese 
Williams,  was  a  native  of  South  Wales  and  came 
to  America  in  1829.  His  first  location  in  this 
country  was  at  Carbondale,  Lackawanna  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  was  engaged  as  foreman  for  the  Dela- 
ware &  Hudson  Canal  Company.  In  1836  he  re- 
moved to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  thence 
tn  Summit  Hill,  Carbon  Co.,  this  State,  where  for 
five  years  he  operated  the  mine  known  as  Spring 
Tunnel.  He  then  became  general  agent  for  the 
Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  his  death,  Nov.  6,  1848.  His 
wife's  name  was  Sarah. 

Benjamin  H.  Williams,  son  of  David  and  Sarah, 
was  born  July  19,  1833,  at  Carbondale,  Lacka- 
wanna Co..  Pa.,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  this 
State,  receiving  his  education  in  the  various  places 
at  which  the  family  lived.  In  1852  In-  went  out 
in  California,  where  he  spent  live  years,  engaged 
m  gold  mining.  Returning  in  Pennsylvania  he 
ained  a  year,  in  1858  again  going  to  Califor- 
nia, where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1874.  He 
has  since  made  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
■een  a  resident  of  Mount  Carmel  since  1876. 
Fur  a  number  of  years  after  settling  in  the  bor- 
ough he  followed  coal  mining,  but  he  retired  from 
that  business  several  years  ago,  and  since  1905 
has  been  i  agaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  No. 
15  North  Maple  street.  He  is  a  substantial  ami 
respected  citizen  of  Mount  Carmel,  where  he  is 
well  known.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

On  June  20,  1859,  Mr.  Williams  married  Cath- 
arine Morgan,  of  Minersville,  Pa.,  and  they  cele- 
brated the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  marriage 
June  '.'ii.  1909.  Eleven  children  were  burn  tn  their 
union,  namely :  David  is  a  resident  of  Mount  Car- 
mel and  engaged  as  fire  boss  at  the  Richard  Col- 
liery; George  is  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at 
Mount  Carmel ;  Franklin  is  deceased :  Wesley  is 
superintendent  of  the  Black  Diamond  coal  mine 
near  Seattle.  Wash.;  Thomas  Reese  is  mentioned 
below:  Garfield  lives  at  Seattle.  Wash.;  Emma 
(deceased  i  was  the  wife  of  "Squire  William  Amour. 
of  Mount  Carmel:  Sarah  F.  married  !!■  - 
Fegley,  deceased,  and  resides  at  Mount  Carmel: 
Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Marsh  and  lives  in 
Philadelphia:  Lottie  is  the  wife  of  David  Muir,  of 
Shamokin.  Pa.; -Ella  M..  unmarried,  lives  with 
her  parents. 

Thomas  Reese  Williams  was  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  settled  at  Mount  Carmel.  He  attended 
the  local  public  schools  and  later  was  a  student  at 
the  Shamokin  Business  College,  front  which  he 
was  graduated,  in  1893,  after  which  he  did  office 
work  for  some  time  at  Mount  Carmel.  He  nail 
law  under  Hon.  Lincoln  S.  Walter,  at  Mount  Car- 
mel. and  at  this  period  gained  his  first  experience 
in  the  postal  service,  being  a  local  mail  carrier  for 


M'KTIII  MBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


79 


Four  years  and  three  months.  For  one  year  he  was 
city  editor  of  the  Mount  Carmel  Daily  News.  In 
1905  .Air.  Williams  bought  The  well  known  "Valley 
House"  near  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  station  in 
Mi. urn  Carmel,  and  conducted  that  hotel  for  three 
years  and  three  months,  making  a  success  of  the 
business.  In  1908  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature  on  the  Republican  ticket,  receiving  a 
flattering  majority,  and  gave  most  satisfactory 
service  throughout  his  term.  He  received  Ids  ap- 
pointment as  postmaster  of  Mount  Carmel,  to  suc- 
ceed the  late  George  H.  Cope,  on  Jan.  28,  1910. 
Mr.  Williams  is  a  director  of  the  Minn--'  and  La- 
borers' Building  and  Loan  Association. 

On  Sept.  18,  1902,  Mr.  Williams  married  Edith 
Wightman,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sarah  Wight- 
man.     To  them  bas  been  horn  one  son.  Glenn. 

JOHN  A.  WERT,  proprietor  of  the  Wert  de- 
partment store  at  Shamokin,  has  been  sole  owner 
of  that  establishment  since  1890  and  began  his 
mercantile  career  in  the  borough  several  years 
previously.  His  interests  have  expanded  stead- 
ily, his  connection  with  various  enterprises  of 
the  borough  showing  him  to  be  a  man  of  progress- 
ive as  well  as  active  impulses.  His  ability  as  a 
manager  has  had  many  practical  demonstrations. 

Mr.  Wert  was  horn  in  Jordan  township,  North- 
umberland county,  June  30,  1864,  son  of  Moses 
Wert  and  great-grandson  of  Henry  Wert.  The 
name  is  spelled  Wirt  by  many  members  of  the 
family,  and  the  earlier  spelling  was  probably 
Wirth.  as  shown  by  tombstone  records.  The  Werts 
are  of  German  origin.  Adam,  the  first  of  this 
line  to  come  to  America  from  Germany,  arrived 
in  this  country  with  his  wife  Eva  before  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  settled  at  or  above  what  is 
now  the  site  of  Millersburg,  in  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  These  pioneers  had  nine  sons,  who  settled 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  the  family  be- 
coming scattered  over  New  Jersey,  the  Carolinas, 
Ohio  and  through  the  West,  besides  having  many 
representatives  in  Pennsylvania. 

John  Wert,  the  second,  father  of  Henry,  lived 
in  the  Lykens  Valley,  about  two  miles  above  Mil- 
lersburg. 

Henry  Wert  (or  Wirt)  was  a  pioneer  farmer 
of  the  Mahantango  valley  in  Northumberland 
county,  having  settled  in  that  section  when  the 
Indians  still  roamed  the  forests,  and  the  red  men 
were  neighborly  with  "Henner"  Wirt,  to  whom 
they  bade  farewell  when  they  left  the  region.  He 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  are  buried  side  by  side  at 
the  Stone  Valley  church  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  where 
we  find  the  following  tombstone  records :  Johann 
Heinrich  Wirth.  born  Dec.  22.  1769.  died  June  2. 
1846:  his  wife  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  30.  1771,  died 
Sept.  6,  1838.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
John  and  Michael,  who  both  lived  in  the  Mahan- 
tango  valley   (Michael  was  born  March   16,  1798, 


died    Dec.   27,   1872;   wife   Lvdia,   horn  June  18, 
L809,   died    Sept.   2,    1884)  ;    Henry  and    Philip, 
who  lived  in  the  Sugar   Valley,   neai    L* 
Pa.;  Mrs.  Philip  Kerstetter;  Mrs.  Michael  Schaf- 
fer,  and  Mrs.  Peter  Bis< 

John  Wirt,  son  of  Henry,  lived  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  L838  settling 
at  Mandata,  where  be  engaged  in  the  milling  bus- 
iness. That  year  he  built  the  frame  mill  at  Man- 
data  which  is  still  standing,  and  he  followed  the 
business  for  a  number  of  years,  prospering  con- 
tinuously. He  acquired  considerable  land  about 
Mandata.  He  and  his  family  worshipped  at  the 
Stone  Valley  church,  where  he  and  his  wife  Bar- 
bara, daughter  of  Matthias  Witmer,  are  buried, 
their  tombstone  records  reading  as  follows:  Jo- 
bannes  \\  irth,  born  Nov.  16,  1795,  dud  Sept.  8, 
1852;  his  wife  Barbara,  bom  Nov.  30,  1794,  died 
July  30,  1871.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Lvdia  married  David  Campbell;  Elizabeth  was 
the  second  wife  of  David  Campbell;  Catharine 
married  Jacob  Garman ;  Anna  married  Frederick 
Snyder;  Mary  married  Martin  Harris;  Michael 
died  soon  after  his  marriage  to  Mary  Leshei  :  John 
married  Judith  Wentzel :  Daniel  (born  May  6, 
1829,  died  Sept.  5,  1855)  was  a  particularly  well 
built  and  strong  man,  and  operated  the  Mandata 
mill  for  ten  years  (he  and  his  wife  Rebecca  Seiler 
had  one  son.  John,  and  one  daughter,  Sarah); 
Moses  married  Mar;   Ann  Spotz. 

Moses  Wert,  son  of  John,  was  horn  dan.  24, 
1832,  in  the  Mahantango  Valley  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township.  Northumberland  county.  Ee 
was  a  lifelong  farmer,  living  in  Jordan  township, 
near  Mandata  (where  he  had  a  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred aire-),  until  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  before 
his  death,  when  he  retired.  Upon  giving  up 
tive  labor  he  settled  m  Eerndon,  where  be  died  in 
1904.  His  widow  still  occupies  their  home  at  that 
place.  He  was  a  man  well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected, and  though  he  devoted  himself  principally 
to  the  management  of  his  own  affairs,  ed  as 

supervisor.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  in 
religion  a  Lutheran,  his  family  adhering  to  the 
same  belief.     In  his  earlier  years  be  belonged  to 

the  Stone  Valley  Church,  but  after  re ring  to 

Eerndon  be  became  a  member  of  the  church  t:: 
;illd  he  is  buried  in  the'  Wirt  and  Shaffer  family 
plot  at   Eerndon.     Be  was  a  devout  I  Ihristian  and 
an  enthusiastic  church  worker,  serving  in  various 
,  hurch  offices  and   taking  a  keen  interest   in 
welfare  of  the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Wert  married  Mary  Ann  Spotz  and  they 
had  four  children,  namely:  Clara  Rebecca  mar- 
n,,l  George  T.  Shaffer,  of  Eerndon,  who  is  de- 
ceased :    Emma    J.    married   John    P.    Tri        '.   of 

don  ;  Alveretta,  who  died  in    1886,  was 
ulf(,  0f  Dr.   Fred  D.   Raker,  of  Shamokin:  John 
A.  married  Ellen  S.  Eisei   tart. 

John    A.   Wert    received   the  public  school    ad- 


80 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


vantages  in  his  native  township  and  later  attended 
Berrysburg  Academy.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  father  until  he  readied  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  since  when  he  has  been  identified  with  his 
present  line  of  business.  Beginning  as  a  clerk  in 
the  employ  of  J.  P.  Tressler,  at  Herndon,  he  came 
thence  to  Shamokin  in  1884  and  for  one  year 
clerked  in  the  store  of  C.  L.  Sowers  and  D.  K. 
Haas.  Later  he  was  engaged  for  two  wars  with 
D.  K.  Haas,  whom  he  bought  out  in  1887.  in  1888 
forming  a  partnership  with  N.  ('.  Wolverton.  They 
did  business  as  Wert  &  Wolverton  until  1890,  in 
which  year  the  association  was  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Wert  has  since  done  business  alone.  In  18'.>!i  he 
erected  the  tine  store  in  which  the  business  has 
since  been  located,  at  Nos.  315  to  219  West  Spruce 
street.  The  store  is  well  stocked  with  seasonable 
and  up-to-date  goods,  Mr.  Wert  having  the  faculty 
of  meeting  the  demands  of  his  customers  and  the 
good  business  judgment  to  introduce  new  lines 
which  create  further  demand,  the  trade  multi- 
plying of  itself  as  one  good  suggestion  follows 
another.  His  high  reputation  for  honorable  deal- 
ing he  strives  to  maintain  in  every  possible  way. 

Though  merchandising  has  been  his  principal 
interest  Mr.  Wert  has  done  what  every  enterpris- 
ing business  man  should  do,  encouraged  the  intro- 
duction of  modern  business  institutions  of  every 
kind  into  his  community,  and  he  is  a  director  of 
the  Market  Street  National  Bank,  director  and 
vice  president  of  the  Croninger  Packing  Company, 
and  director  of  the  West  Ward  &  Black  Diamond 
Building  and  Loan  Association.  lie  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  all  the  offices  and  has  served 
as  Sunday  school  teacher.  Fraternally  he  belongs 
to  Lodge  No.  664,  I.  <>.  < ».  F..  and  to  Camp  No. 
30,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  being  particularly  prominent  in 
the  latter  organization  as  president  of  the  P.  0.  S. 
of  A.   Hall  Association. 

On  Jan.  27,  1887.  Mr.  Wert  married  Ellen  S. 
Eisenhart,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Beisel) 
Eisenhart,  and  they  have  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Alva  M.,  W.  Pay.  Minnie  G.,  How- 
ard 1).,  Norma  L..  Sarah  E.  and  Mary  E. 

CURTIS  Q.  M< WILLIAMS  is  one  of  a  group 
of  energetic  citizens  of  Shamokin  who  have  long 
been  regarded  as  arbiters  of  matters  affecting  its 
advancement.  His  judgment  and  foresight,  espe- 
cially in  the  field  of  public  utilities,  have  made 
him  a  valuable  factor  in  their  promotion,  and  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  identified  with 
almost  every  important  enterprise  of  the  kind  un- 
dertaken in  the  borough.  Progressive  in  his  own 
affairs,  he  has  advocated  many  public  improve- 
ments in  advance  of  their  apparent  usefulness,  and 
he  is  regarded  as  a  farseeing,  intelligent  business 
man,  with  a  broad  outlook  on  questions  affecting 
public  and  private  interests. 


Mr.  McWilliams  was  born  in  Shamokin  Sept. 
in.  1852,  son  of  J.  Scott  and  Catharine  (Fagely) 
McWilliams  and  grandson  of  Robert  McWilliams. 
The  latter  settled  at  Elysburg,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  died.  He  married  Margaret 
Craig  (a  sister  of  his  brother  David's  wife)  and 
they  had  five  children:  Sarah  (died  unmarried), 
John  Scott.  William  J.,  Samuel  W.,  and  Mary  II. 
(married  Paterson  Johnson  and  resides  at  Dan- 
ville, Pennsylvania). 

John  Scott  McWilliams  was  born  in  what  was 
then  Shamokin  township,  and  died  in  1893.  He  is 
buried  at  St.  Peter's  (the  Blue)  church,  in  Ralpho 
township.  Northumberland  county,  where  both  his 
wives  are  also  interred.  His  first  wife,  Catharine 
(Fagely),  died  in  1854,  and  he  subsequently  mar- 
ried her  sister  Ellen,  who  died  Feb.  11,  1! 

Curtis  Q.  McWilliams  was  reared  at  Elysburg, 
where  he  received  his  early  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  the  academy.  When  fifteen  years 
old  he  came  to  Shamokin,  where  he  had  found 
employment  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Valentine 
Fagely,  later  entering  the  employ  of  Reuben  ami 
William  Fagely,  pioneer  business  men  there.  Am- 
bitious to  gain  a  better  education  than  he  had  been 

able   to   acquire    in    bis   boyh 1.   he   went   to   the 

famous  Eastman  Business  College,  at  Poughkeep- 
sie,  N.  Y..  in  1870.  and  the  following  year  was 
given  charge  of  the  -tore  of  William  ami  Reuben 
Fagely,  continuing  with  them  in  that  capacity  un- 
til the  autumn  of  L81  I.  He  then  resumed  study 
once  more,  entering  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  two  terms.  In  April. 
1875,  he  left  that  institution  to  look  after  the  vari- 
ous interests  of  Reuben  Fagely,  remaining  with 
him  until  he  died,  after  which  be  acted  as  executor 
oft  lie  estate. 

Meantime,  on  May  1.  1878,  Mr.  McWilliams  be- 
gan his  independent  business  career,  becoming  a 
partner  of  the  late  Darlington  R.  Kulp  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Kulp  &  Mc- 
Williams. The  following  year  they  added  two 
lines,  ice  and  brick,  and  on  .Ian.  1.  1882,  W.  C. 
McConnell  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which 
from  that  time  was  known  as  Kulp.  McWilliams  & 
Co.  On  Aug.  to.  1886,  this  partnership  was  dis- 
solved. Mr.  Kulp  taking  the  lumber  interests, 
Messrs.  McWilliams  and  McConnell  continuing  as 
partners  in  the  ice  and  brick  business  until  1903. 
Mr.  McWilliams  then  sold  his  interests  in  that 
business.  However,  he  still  retains  other  important 
connections.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  and  director 
of  the  Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  chief  work- 
ers in  the  management  of  the  various  water  com- 
panies which  have  had  such  a  large  share  in  the 
prosperity  of  Shamokin  and  surrounding  places. 
He  was  one  of  the  corporators  of  the  Roaring 
Creek,  Anthracite  and  Bear  Gap  Water  Companies, 
and   served   as  treasurer  of  all   three  of  these  con- 


C  --A-/.  ■'     ,  '    'I 


TP 
PUB., 


Ry 


i. 


X I ) i;T BUM  BEKLA X  D  COUNTY,  PF.X  X S YLVA  X  1 A 


81 


cerns  from  the  time  of  organization,  being  presi- 
dent, treasurer  and  manager  of  the  Bear  Gap  Water 
Company  and  president  and  manageT  of  the  Roar- 
ing Creek  Water  Company.  He  is  now 
also  president  of  the  Shamokin  Water  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  the  treasurer  from 
May,  1886,  until  1899.  His  familiarity  with 
the  workings  of  these  companies,  and  his  long 
experience  in  their  administration,  make  him  an 
authority  and  a  valuable  counselor,  as  the  success 
of  the  various  companies  attests. 

Mr.  McWilliams  was  married  Oct.  7,  1879,  to 
Louisa  Geywitz,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna 
(Schmid)  Geywitz,  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  Shamokin  before  their  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Geywitz  died  in  isss,  his  widow  con- 
tinuing to  make  her  ho m  Shamokin.    To  Mr. 

and  Mrs.  McWilliams  were  born  four  children, 
Guv  E.  (horn  Sept.  23,  1882,  died  Nov.  26,  1898), 
[da  Catharine  (born  May  20,  1885),  John  Scott 
and  Douglass  E.  The  family  belong  to  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church. 

Socially  Mr.  McWilliams  is  a  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  111.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Shamokin  Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  77,  K.  T.  In  polit- 
ical matters  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  tin-  Union  League,  Philadelphia. 

FAGELY.  The  Fagely  family  is  of  German 
origin  and  was  founded  in  Pennsylvania  by  Jacob 
and  .Maria  Eve  Pagely,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  the  Old  World  in  17:!:!  in  the  ship  "Samuel," 
of  London.  Hugh  Percy  master,  from  Rotterdam, 
last  from  Deal,  which  qualified  Aug.  17,  1733. 
Jacob  Fagelv  was  thirty-two  years  old  at  the  time. 
In-  wile.  Maria  Eve,  twenty-seven;  their  son, 
Christian,  was  four  years  old. 

Christian  Fagely,  son  of  the  emigrant,  had  a 
son  George. 

George  Fagely,  son  of  Christian,  had  a  sen 
Christian,  who  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Mi'. 
Curtis  Q.  McWilliams,  of  Shamokin. 

Christian  Fagely,  son  of  George,  was  born  Sept. 
28,  1764,  in  Maiden-creek  township.  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  moved  with  his  family  to  Shamokin  town- 
ship, Northumberland  eountyj  in  1808.  There  he 
spent  the  rest  of  In-  lite,  engaged  in  farming, 
purchasing  a  large  trad  of  uncultivated  land 
which  he  cleared  and  improved,  becoming  one  of 
the  leading  and  most  prosperous  agriculturists 
in  his  community.  He  died  Dec.  31,  1845,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Blue  church.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in 
religious  faith.  His  wife.  Magdalena  (Lehman), 
who  was  horn  April  1.  1773,  in  Berks  county,  died 
June  to.  1843,  and  is  buried  at  the  Pine  church 
in  Northumberland  county.  They  were  married 
in  dune.  1792,  and  had  a  large  family,  a-  fol 
Elizabeth,  born  March  16,  1794,  married  Henry 
Martz,   ami  died   in  May.   1870;  Catharine,  born 

6 


I  ''  e.  1.  1795,  married  Jacob  Unger,  and  they  went 
West,  where  they  died;  John  was  horn  Feb.  28, 
Co;  ;  Benjamin,  born  Nov.  '.'1.  1798,  died  unmar- 
ried; Hannah,  hum  Dec.  f.  1800,  died  young; 
Solomon,  born  dune  19,  1802,  died  Sept.  6,  L883; 
Hannah  ('.').  born  March  31,  1804,  was  the  last 
survivor  of  the  family;  William,  born  dan.  5, 
L806,  died  Feb.  17,  1874,  unmarried  (he  was 
first  postmaster  at  Shamokin):  Amos  was  hern 
Feh.  1.  1808;  Marv  Magdalena,  hem  March  21, 
1810,  died  young;  Nathan,  hern  dune  30,  1812, 
left  a  daughter;  Reuben,  horn  duly  25,  I s  1 4 .  died 
Peli.  21,  1880,  unmarried. 

Solomon  Fagely,  sen  el'  Christian,  hern  dune 
P.'.  lso-.'.  iu  Maiden-creek  township.  Berks  county, 
was  reared  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  having  been  hut  six  years  old  when 
the  family  settled  there,     lie  was  educated  in  the 

com i  schools  and  was  reared  to  farming,  which 

he  followed  principally  all  hi-  life,  also  conduct- 
ing a  hotel  at  Mount  Carniel  two  years  and  later 
operating  a  mill  at  Paxinos  for  several  year-.  He 
then  returned  to  the  eld  homestead,  where  he 
farmed  the  rest  of  his  life,  lie  was  a  promii 
man  in  the  community  in  his  day.  With  his  wife 
ami  family  he  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  in  politics  he  was  originally  a  Democrat,  later 
(after  the  breaking  out  id'  the  Civil  war)  a  Re- 
publican. He  died  Sept.  6,  1883,  and  is  buried  at 
the  Blue  church. 

In  1823  Solomon  Fagely  married  Maria  Eve 
Klase.  who  was  horn  Dec.  20,  lso:!.  in  Northamp- 
ton county,  Pa.,  and  died  Feh.  13,  1881  ;  -he.  too, 
is  buried  at  the  Blue  church.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Valentine  and  Maria  Eve  Klase,  the  latter 
horn  Oct.  1.  1766,  in  Northampton  county,  Pa.. 
dying  Aug.  2,  1838;  -lie  is  buried  at  Snydertown, 
Pa.  Eleven  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fagely:  Eliza;  born  Oct.  I.  1824,  in  Shamokin 
township,  married  Solomon  Weaver,  .if  Sunhury, 
and  died  Aug.  22,  1879  (she  is  buried  at  Sun- 
bury);  Valentine,  horn  in  1826,  in  Shamokin 
township,  lived  ai  Shamokin  in  retirement;  Ro- 
sanna.  horn  March  17,  1828,  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, died  Sept.  17.  1883,  and  is  buried  al  Sun- 
Inirv  (she  wa-  t«  ice  married,  lir-t  to  John  Sober, 
and   second    to    Henry   Tregellas,    ol    Sunbury) ; 

trine,     horn     Aug.     28,     1830,     in     S 
township,  was  the   m  si    « ifi    of  J.  Scot!    McWil- 
liams. and  .lied  Oei.  31,   is:.!  :  Caroline,  born  dan. 
26,    1832,    in    Shamokin    township,    m 
lorHiby   Haas,  of  Shamokin  township,  died    May 
25,  1906,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church:  Wil- 
]j.111K  born   \o\.  20,  1833,  in  Shamokin  township. 
died    Aug.    •">.    1856,   and    i-    buried    at    the    Blue 
church :    Henry    K..    horn    March    15,    1836,    in 
Shamokin   township,   lived    in    Sunbu 
was  proprietor  of  the  Standard   Wire  Xail   Works 
and  of  a  general  merchandisi   st  ETarrii 

\pril    7.   1838,    in    Shamokin   township,   died   July 


82 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1,  1839,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church:  Ellen, 
born  Jan.  8,  1840,  in  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  was  the 
second  wife  of  J.  Scott  McWilliams,  and  died  Feb. 
1,  1900;  Mary  Eve.  born  March  9,  1843,  in  Sham- 
okin  township,  died  March  21,  1860.  and  is  buried 
at  the  Blue  church:  George  K.,  born  Nov.  34, 
1845,  in  Shamokin  township,  was  formerly  sheriff 
of  Northumberland  county. 

FETTEROLF.  The  Fetterolf  (Federolf, 
Fetherolf )  family,  two  of  whose  representatives  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, are  Edward  and  Daniel  Fetterolf.  brothers,  is 
of  Dutch  origin,  its  founder  in  this  country.  Peter 
Federolf,  having  been  a  native  of  Wachbach,  Hol- 
land, born  in  1699.  In  1729  or  1730  he  married 
Anna  Maria  Rothermel,  only  daughter  and  eldest 
of  the  six  children  of  Johannes  and  Sabilla  (Zim- 
merman) Rothermel.  In  1730  Peter  Federolf  and 
his  wife  accompanied  Ins  father-in-law  to  America. 
the  \  ing  made  in  the  "Thistle,"  and  about 

1732  in- am!  his  wife  and  one  of  her  brothers,  Leon- 
ard and  Rothermel,  located  in  Hereford  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Peter  Federolf  acquired  a 
large  acreage  of  what  has  become  valuable  farm 
land,  upon  which  lie  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  there.  11  is  property  was  partly  in  Here- 
ford township  and  partly  in  Longswamp  township, 
and  lie  made  his  home  near  what  is  now  Seisholtz- 
ville.  near  the  line  of  Lehigh  county.  Leonard 
Rothermel  located  in  Perry  township,  Berks  coun- 
ty, before  the  Revolution,  and  there  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  leaving  a  large  family. 

Peter  Federolf  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
importance  in  his  locality,  not  only  because  he  was 
a  large  land  owner,  but  because  his  successful  man- 
agement of  his  own  affairs  showed  him  entitled  to 
inflitence  ami  leadership  in  the  conduct  of  such 
matters  as  affected  the  general  welfare.  He  reared 
a  family  of  seven  children,  who  became  connected 
by  marriage  with  other  substantial  old  families  of 
the  county,  and  all  of  whom  are  mentioned  in  his 
last  will  and  testament  (on  record  in  the  court- 
house at  Reading.  Will  Book  B).  made  July  19, 
1784,  and  probated  Sept.  16,  1784,  showing  that 
he  died  during  the  summer  of  that  year.  The 
witnesses  to  tin'  will  were  Henry  Bortz  and  Chris- 
topher Sehultz,  the  executors  Paul  Groscup.  of 
Rockland  township,  who  was  the  testator's  true 
and  trusty  friend  (he  was  the  ancestor  of  Judge 
Peter  Grosscup.  the  Federal  jurist  of  Chicago), 
Jacob  Fetherolf.  the  eldest  son,  and  Christopher 
Bittenbender,  blacksmith,  a  son-in-law.  In  later 
years  this  Christopher  Bittenbender  obtained  the 
original  Federolf  homestead,  on  which  is  located 
the  Federolf  private  burial  ground,  where  the 
emigrant  ancestor,  Peter,  is  buried,  as  well  as 
Christopher  Bittenbender,  his  wife,  and  some  of 
their  children.  The  will  sets  forth  that  the  son 
Jacob  was   to  have  three  hundred   acres  of  land: 


the  son-in-law.  Christopher  Bittenbender,  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land;  the  six  children  of  the  son 
Peter,  who  predeceased  his  father,  three  hundred 
pounds  of  money  (divided  between  them):  that 
the  son  Philip,  deceased,  left  one  daughter;  that 
the  daughter  Catharine  was  twice  married,  first 
to  John  Siegfried  and  after  his  death  to  Abraham 
Zimmerman:  that  the  daughter  Barbara  married 
a  Helm  (name  now  spelled  Hain)  :  the  daughter 
Magdalena  married  Christopher  Bittenbender.  who 
was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and  who  as  previ- 
ously noted  eventually  acquired  the  old  homestead 
of  Peter  Federolf.  which  remained  in  the  Bitten- 
bender name  until  1908.  About  1840  a  valuable 
find  of  iron  ore  was  discovered  on  this  property, 
and  some  of  the  Bittenbenders  became  wealthy 
thereby,  the  ore  mines  being  worked  until  the 
early  eighties. 

Jacob  Fetherolf  was  born  Feb.  16.  1762,  anil 
died  April  6,  1823;  be  is  buried  at  Wessnersville, 
Berks  Co..  1'a.  His  wife  Catharine,  born  May  12. 
Ciin.  died  Jan.  lo.  Lsl'J.  (There  was  a  Jacob 
Fetherolf.  -on  of  Peter,  who  died  in  Albany  town- 
ship in  1823,  and  whose  will  is  on  record  in  Will 
Book  5,  page   112.     He  left  sons  John  and  Peter,  i 

The  will  of  a  Peter  Fetherolf  of  Berks  county 
who  died  in  1840  is  also  on  record  (Will  Book  8, 
page  2  12).  He  died  without  sons,  and  John  S. 
Ivistler  and   William    Mosser   were  the  executors. 

Johann  Peter  Fetherolf.  ancestor  of  the  North- 
umberland county  branch  of  the  family,  was  born 
June  30,  1  T  7  4 .  in  Hereford  township.  Berks  coun- 
ty, and  was  one  of  the  six  children  of  Peter  Feder- 
olf. son  of  the  emigrant  Peter  Federolf.  mentioned 
in  the  tetter's  will.  He  came  to  this  region  bi 
his  marriage  and  here  wedded  Anna  Maria  Ihm- 
kelberger,  who  was  born  Sept.  2.  1772.  They  lived 
for  some  years  in  Cameron  township,  where  their 
children  were  born,  later  settling  on  a  large  farm 
in  Upper  Mabantango  township,  across  the  line 
in  Schuylkill  county,  which  Mr.  Fetherolf  pur- 
chased from  a  man  named  Carl,  who  got  the  best 
of  the  bargain.  He  did  not  tell  Fetherolf  that 
there  was  a  mortgage  upon  the  property,  which 
he  (Fetherolf)  was  obliged  to  pay.  so  that  the 
transaction  proved  an  expensive  one.  Neverthe- 
less,  lie  became  a  most  successful  man.  and  by  the 
nine  of  his  death  had  accumulated  a  large  estate. 
His  original  tract  in  Upper  Mahantango  town- 
ship is  now  divided  into  three  farms,  the  one  on 
which  the  first  sel  of  buildings  was  erected,  and 
mi  which  Johann  Peter  Fetherolf,  lived,  being  now 
the  property  of  William  Mattern.  When  he  came 
to  the  Mabantango  Valley  the  Mahantango  creek- 
was  alive  with  fine  fish,  and  he  and  his  family 
found  them  an  acceptable  addition  to  the  larder 
in  those  days  when  variety  in  food  could  not  al- 
ways be  obtained  even  by  the  well-to-do.  Johann 
Peter  Fetherolf  died  Nov.  2.  1848,  his  wife  on 
Feb.   ;.  1S53.  and  they  are  buried  at  the  Salem 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


8  ! 


(Herb)  Church,  Located  immediately  across  the 
Northumberland  county  line  in  Schuylkill  county, 
where  some  of  their  children  also  rest.  In  reli- 
gious faith  the  family  were  all  Lutherans,  Johann 
Peter  Fetherolf  was  a  -a. Idler  by  trade,  and  he 
was  a  short-sot  man  physically.  His  ten  children 
wore:  Samuel,  Peter,  John,  Joseph,  George,  Jo- 
seph ('.!).  Daniel,  .Mrs.  Josiah  Geist,  .Mrs.  Joseph 
Dunkelberger  and  Mrs.  John  Zimmerman.  We 
give  some  accouni  of  the  six  sons  who  reached 
maturity. 

Samuel  Fetterolf,  son  of  Johann  Peter,  was 
horn  Oct.  11.  L800,  and  died  March  29,  1880.  He 
was  a  worker  in  a  fulling  or  carding  mill,  where 
wool  was  manufactured,  the  old  establishment 
standing  on  the  Little  Mahantango  creek.  Later 
he  owned  am!  operated  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and 
he  was  a  large  land  owner,  having  :!<;ii  acre-  of 
land  at  Count}  Line,  in  which  region  he  was  a  mosl 
useful  and  influential  citizen,  being  a  man  of  ex- 
tensive liusincss  interests.  In  his  grist  and  saw  mill 
employment  to  a  number  id'  hands,  and 
ho  Imilt  a  number  of  dam-  or  retaining  walls. 
upon  which  ho  expended  considerable  money,  and 
which  also  afforded  work  lor  many  men.  lie  also 
built  a  large  brick  li<m>e  and  several  barns.  His 
example  and  encouragement  were  powerful  factors 
for  -oml  in  the  development  and  betterment  of  his 
section,  in  more  than  a  material  sense.  He  was 
a  pillar  of  the  church  of  his  choice,  he  and  his 
wife  being  active  members  of  the  Evangelical  As- 
sociation, and  they  are  buried  side  by  side  at  the 
Bingaman  meeting-house  near  County  Line,  the 
Lower  Mahanoy  Church  of  that  denomination. 
Mrs.  Fetterolf,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rachel 
Maurer,  was  horn  Dec.  15,  1807,  daughter  of  John 
Maurer,  of  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  and  died  Sept.  21, 
1889,  at  the  home  of  her  son  Daniel.  Their  ten 
children  were:  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Peter  Kehler; 
Catharine,  Mr-.  John  C.  Renn;  Sarah.  Mrs.  George 
Kehler:  Hannah.  Mrs.  Isaiah  Kiehl:  Lydia,  Mrs. 
John    D.    Deibler;    Felix,    whose    wife    Elizabeth 

died    Au-.    30,    1' aged    sixty-four   years,    six 

months,    ten    days;    Daniel:    Samuel:   John,   and 
Elias.     Of  this  family. 

Daniel  Fetterolf,  a  farmer  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
town-hip.  Northumberland  county,  horn  July  1. 
1835,  has  been  an  agriculturist  all  his  life  In 
1860  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Dauphin  county,  at  County  Lino,  being  a  tenant 
for  ten  years,  'in  1870  lie  purchased  hi-  present 
farm,  a  tract  of  eighty-three  acres  which  was  for- 
merly the  John  Kohl  homestead  (il  was  much 
larger  in  Mr.  Kohl's  time).  Mr.  Fetterolf  has 
since  occupied  and  cultivated  this  farm,  and  he 
has  prospered  steadily,  in  1907  building  the  at- 
tractive frame  residence  which  now  adorns 
propertv.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
has  -  irved  as  election  officer  and  filled  the  position 
of  supervisor   in  his  township.      His  wife.   Sarah. 


was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Shutt) 
Spotts  and  granddaughter  of  John  Spotts.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and*  Mr-.  Daniel  Fette- 
rolf: Amelia  (deceased)  married  Jacob  II.  Schaf- 
fer,  and  their  only  son.  Charles  F..  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  work:  Alexander  was  accidentally 
killed  in  a  runaway,  whin  a  young  man. 

Peter  Fetherolf  (tombstone  inscription  Fette- 
rolf), >on  of  Johann  Peter,  was  boTn  Jan.  6,  LS0G, 
and  died  March  16,  1861.  He  lived  in  Upper 
Mahantango  township.  Schuylkill  county,  follow- 
ing farming.  He  married  Sarah  Reiner,  born 
Feb.  26,  Co:,.  who  died  Sept.  13,  L887,  and  they 
had  children:  Harris,  Peter  (who  was  an  under- 
taker), Flias,  Hettie,  Katie.  Mary  (married  Nel- 
son Kiiorr)  and  Elizabeth  (married  Isaac  Knorr). 
John   Fetherolf.   son   of  Johann    I'  s   a 

farmer.  His  first  wife.  Whose  maiden  name  was 
Maurer,  is  buried  with  him  at  Kimmel's  Church. 
She  was  the  mother  of  Peter.  Daniel  and  Jessi  ; 
and  by  his  second  wife,  who  was  a  sister  oi 
first,  lie  had  one  son,  Frank  Dengler  Fetherolf, 
named  after  his  sponsor.  Frank  Dengler. 

G ge  Fetterolf,  son  of  Johann  Peter,  was  born 

March  11.  1809,  and  died  Dec.  31,  1888.  By  ti 
he  was  a  shoemaker,  hut  farming  was  his  principal 
occupation.  Through  his  wife  he  obtained  the 
homestead  of  his  father-in-law.  Johann  Nicholas 
Rebuck,  which  was  located  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township  on  the  public  road  between  Rough  & 
Readj  and  Urban,  now  owned  by  Edward  Fette- 
rolf. grandson  of  George.  His  wife.  Polly  (Re- 
buck),  born  March  30,  1810,  was  a  daughter  of 
Johann  Nicholas  Rebuck  (1771-1855)  and  his 
wife  Magdalena  Wolfgang  (1777-1859).  She 
died  aged  eighty-five  war-,  three  days.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fetterolf  are  buried  at  the  Salem  (Het 
Church,  which  he  served  in  the  offices  of  deacon 
and  elder.  They  "ere  the  parents  of  ten  clrildn 
Adam  and  Emanuel  are  mentioned  later  in  this 
article:  George  is  a  resident  of  Illinois:  Gabriel 
lives  at  Heplers,  Schuylkill  county:  Dinah  died 
unmarried:  Amanda  married  George  Wolfgat 
four  died  young,  George  and  three  who  were  older 
than  he. 

Joseph  Fetherolf.  horn  May  25,  1813,  died  July 
11.  is*5.  He  married  A.bby  Rice,  who  was  horn 
April  1'.'.  1815,  and  died  Dec.  24,  L890,  and  ; 
were  farming  people  in  Upper  Mahantango  town- 
i,  living  near  Heplers  post  office.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Joseph,  Daniel,  Samuel.  Alice,  Het 
and  Amelia  (  married  James  Thorn 

Daniel  Fetherolf,  son  of  Johann  Peter,  married 
a  Miss  Miller,  and  they  had  one  daughter,  K; 
who  married  H  nr)    I  [erb.     I  'anii     I 
at  a  comparatively  earlj  age,  of  smallpox,  ami  he 
and    his    wife    arc     buried     ai    Klinger's    Church. 
;V   ig  a   Daniel    Feterolf  buried   there,   born 
April  27,  1804,  diod  Aim-.   13,  18   I 
Adam    Fetterolf,  -on  of  G  orge,  was  born  May 


84 


N  ( )  HT 1 1  UMBE  HLAXD  COUNTY.  PEXN  SYLVA  N 1 A 


27.  1834,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  of  which 
his  brothers  and  sisters  were  also  natives,  and 
lias  passed  all  his  life  there,  being  now  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  of  that  section.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  German  subscription  schools 
conducted  during  his  boyhood,  and  worked  for  his 
parents  until  he  reached  the  age  of  thirty,  soon 
after  the  Civil  war  commencing  farming  for  him- 
self on  his  father's  place,  where  he  continued  to 
live  and  work  for  eighl  years.  In  187?  he  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  to  which  he  removed  at 
that  time,  and  which  consists  of  105  acres  of 
valuable  land.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
connection  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  he  and 
his  family  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation 
at  the  Salem  (Herb)  Church,  which  he  served  as 
elder  four  years.  In  1861  he  married  Mary  Brown, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Peggj  i  Kidman)  Brown; 
ten  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union:  Sarah. 
Lydia,  Nathan,  Mary.  George  Henry,  David.  Har- 
riet. Wilson.  Victor,  and  one  that  died  young. 

Emanuel  Fetterolf,  son  of  George,  farmed  his 
father's  homestead,  of  which  he  became  the  owner. 
It  is  located  on  the  public  road  between  Leek  Kill 
and  Klingerstown,  the  latter  being  his  post  office. 
He  was  a  useful  man  in  his  district,  serving  as 
school  director,  and  he  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  at  the  Salem  Church, 
which  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  He  died  Nov.  26,  1894, 
aged  fifty-seven  years,  ten  month-,  six  days,  and 
is  buried  at  the  Salem  Church.  Mr.  Fetterolf  mar- 
ried Catharine  Knorr.  daughter  of  John  and  Cath- 
arine (Schadle)  Knorr,  and  since  his  death  she 
has  become  the  wife  of  Nathan  Steely,  of  Schuyl- 
kill county.  By  her  union  with  Mr.  Fetterolf  she 
was  the  mother  of  seven  children:  Catharine  mar- 
ried Samuel  Ressjer  and  they  live  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township;  Edward  is  mentioned  later:  John 
M.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  unmar- 
ried :  Daniel  C.  is  mentioned  later:  Emma  J.  mar- 
ried Samuel  Schmeltz  and  they  live  in  Schuylkill 
county  :  two  died  young. 

Edward  Fetterolf,  a  farmer  of  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township,  was  born  there,  on  his  father's 
homestead.  Oct.  2.  1867,  and  attended  the  town- 
ship scl I-  during  bis  boyhood.     He  was  reared 

to  farming,  working  for  bis  parents  until  be 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-four,  and  in  the  spring 
of  189]  began  cultivating  his  grandfather's  place. 
where  he  lived  for  fifteen  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  line  farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies, 
which  contains  fifty-eight  acres  along  the  road  be- 
tween Leek  Kill  and  Line  Mountain.  It  was 
old  John  Diehl  homestead.  Mr.  Fetterolf  has 
made  a  number  of  improvements  on  tin-  property 
during  hi-  ownership,  ami  he  also  owns  the  home- 
stead of  his  grandfather.  George  Fetterolf,  now 
comprising  121  acres,  lie  t-  a  prosperous,  enter- 
prising   and    highly    respected    citizen    of   his   dis- 


trict, where  he  has  been  chosen  to  the  office  of 
school  director,  in  which  he  has  been  serving  for 
the  last  five  years. 

In  December,  1894,  Mr.  Fetterolf  married 
Cevilla  Snyder,  daughter  of  Levi  Snyder,  of  Up- 
per .Mahanoy  township,  whose  wife  was  a  Diehl. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Fetterolf 
are  members  of  the  Salem  (Herb)  Church,  and 
he  has  served  as  deacon. 

Damii.  ('.  Fetterolf,  now  farming  his  father's 
old  homestead  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  was 
born  there  Feb.  ',.  1871,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  local  common  schools.  Farming  has 
been  his  occupation  all  his  life,  and  he  worked 
for  his  parents  until  be  attained  his  majority.  In 
the  spring  of  1895  he  began  working  the  home 
place  on  his  own  account,  purchasing  the  property 
from  his  father's  estate.  This  place  was  formerly 
the  homestead  of  Paul  Brosius,  from  whom  George 
Fetterolf  purchased  it  for  his  son  Emanuel,  father 
of  the  present  owner.  The  house  was  built  many 
years  ago  and  was  remodeled  by  the  late  Emanuel 
Fetterolf.  The  barn  was  erected  in  1904  by  Daniel 
C.  Fetterolf,  to  replace  the  one  destroyed  by  lire 
May  loth  of  that  year.  The  farm  contain-  110 
acres,  which  Mr.  Fetterolf  has  under  profitable 
cultivation.  He  i-;  an  industrious  and  intelligenl 
worker,  and  has  taken  his  place  among  the  pro- 
Si  ressive  farmers  of  his  district. 

On  Dec.  26,  1903,  Mr.  Fetterolf  married  Lydia 
Rebuck,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Rebecca  (Malick) 
Rebuck,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Minnie 
G.  and  Lottie  D.  Mr.  Fetterolf  and  his  famih  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Salem  Union  Church, 
located  jus!  across  the  Northumberland  line  in 
Schuylkill  county.     Politically  be  is  a  Democrat. 

NATHAN  F.  MAETZ,  of  Sunbury,  is  the  old- 
est living  member  of  the  Martz  family,  which  has 
been  -ruled  in  Northumberland  county  for  at 
least  a  century,  and  he  has  long  been  known  as 
tin  ■■-rand  old  man"  of  that  borough,  where  over 
half  of  his  ninety  year-  have  been  passed.  He  is 
a  grandson  of  David  Martz.  the  pioneer  of  this 
family   in    Northumberland   county. 

The  Martz  (or  Mertz)  family  is  quite  numer- 
ous in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where,  in  Longswamp 
township,  the  first  ancestor  to  come  from  Ger- 
many made  a  settlement.  The  name  is  perpet- 
uated there  by  the  town  Mertztown,  in  Longswamp 
township,  and  Mertz's  Church  in  the  same  section. 
Johannes  Martz  (also  Maertz),  the  founder  of 
this  family  in  America,  was  one  of  242  passengers 
on  the  -hip  -Ann."  which  sailed  from  Rotterdam, 
last  from  Cowes.  He  was  a  son  of  Johannes 
Maertz,  of  Stockhausen,  Wurtemberg,  about  thirty- 
five  miles  northwest  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main, 
ami  forty  miles  northeast  of  Coblentz,  in  Germany. 
Johannes  Maertz,  the  emigrant,  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia Sept.  28,  1T49.     He  settled  in  the  vicinity 


NORTHUMBEBLAN  D  COU  N  T  V,  P  E  X  X  S  YLVA  X  [A 


85 


of  Lyons,  Berks  county,  and  the  church  located 
near  his  home  was  named  Mertz's  Church  in  honor 
of  him.  The  births  of  his  first  four  children  are 
recorded  there.  On  May  24,  1756,  he  married 
Rosina  Hase,  daughter  of  Melehior  Ease.  Their 
children  were:  Johannes,  born  July  17.  1757; 
Anna  .Maria.  Dec.  '.'.  1760;  Maria  Salome,  May 
24,  1763;  Melehior,  April  11.  1765;  and  Peter, 
March  9,  1769.  The  line  in  which  we  are  inter- 
ested at  present  descends  from  either  Johannes 
or    Melehior. 

David  anil  Jacob  Martz,  brothers,  moved  from 
Berks  or  Lancaster  county  toward  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  settling  on  the  Shamokin 
creek,  three  miles  smith  of  Sunbury,  in  North- 
umberland county.  Jacob,  however,  did  not  re- 
main long,  moving  to  the  Lykens  valley,  in  Dau- 
phin county,  where  he  died  ami  is  buried.  David 
Martz  was  a  blacksmith,  and  followed  his  trade 
in  connection  with  farming.  He  married  Bar- 
bara Miller,  am!  they  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  two  daughters:  David,  Henry, 
Peter,  Abraham  and  George,  all  of  whom  hut 
Henry  moved  to  Dayton.  Ohio,  where  they  died: 
Susan,  who  married  John  Richstine,  and  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Abraham  Arter.  The  son  Peter, 
of  this  family,  was  commissioned  associate  judge  of 
Northumberland  county  April  1?,  is:',:;,  qualified 
on  the  following  day,  and  served  a  little  more  than 
a  year. 

Henry  Martz,  son  of  David,  was  born  on  the 
h estead  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  lie 
married  Elizabeth  Fagely,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Magdalena  Fagely,  pioneer-  of  Shamokin 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martz  both  died  in 
Shamokin  and  are  buried  in  St.  Peter's  grave- 
yard. They  had  six  children:  Hettie,  Katie, 
Mary  Ann,  George,  Solomon  and  Nathan  F..  all 
now  deceased  but  the  last  named. 

Nathan  F.  Martz  was  horn  July  20,  1820,  in 
Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  county.  He 
spent  most  of  his  early  days  on  the  farm  and  when 
eighteen  years  old  went  to  Mauch  Chunk,  where 
be    became    a    clerk    in    the    store    of    his    uncles. 

Nathan  and  0 ge  Fagely.     After  eight  years  in 

their  employ  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Robert 
Klotz,  under  the  firm  name  of  Martz  &  Klntz,  and 
they  carried  on  a  genera]  store  for  some  time,  un- 
til Mr.  EQotz's  enlistment  in  a  military  company; 
he  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  war. 
During  the  period  of  that  war  Mr.  Martz  sold  out 
tn  a  Mr.  Lowry  and  went  into  the  butchering  bus- 
iness, in  which  he  continued  for  two  years.  In 
1851  he  came  to  Sunbury.  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Here  he  was  first  associated  with 
his  uncles  William  and  Reuben  Fagely,  win. 
shipped  considerable  coal  at  that  time,  remaining 
with  them  until  the  completion  of  the  Northern 
Central   railroad,  in  1856.  at  which  time  he  be- 


came the  first  baggagemaster  for  that  road  at 
Sunlmry.  He  held  the  position  continuously  for 
thirty-five  years,  until  his  retirement,  ami  was  un- 
doubtedly one  of  the  most  familiar  figures  in  this 
section  of  Northumberland  county.  Mr.  Martz 
has  always  been  popular  with  his  fellow  citizens, 
who  have  shown  him  many  evidences  of  their  es- 
teem. A  social  organization  of  the  town  has  been 
named  the  Nathan  F.  Martz  Club  in  his  honor. 
Though  he  has  passed  the  ninetieth  anniversary 
of  his  birth  he  is  remarkably  well  preserved  and 
reads  the  newspapers  assiduously  without  glasses, 
retaining  his  interest  in  local  and  national  events 
ami  in  everyday  affairs  of  all  kinds.  He  was 
never  addicted  to  the  use  of  tobacco  or  liquor,  and 
enjoys  a  game  of  cards  as  much  as  ever.  Tall  and 
of  massive  build,  he  has  been  blessed  with  a  line 
physique,  and  he  is  very  active  for  one  of  his 
years,  though  he  has  long  since  retired  from  ar- 
duous labors.  He  speaks  both  English  and  Ger- 
man. 

In  1842  Mr.  Martz  became  a  member  of  "Old 
'76  Lodge,"  at  Mauch  Chunk,  of  the  1.  O.  0.  F., 
and  he  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  living  Odd  Fel- 
lows in  the  United  States.  His  first  Presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  James  K.  Folk,  hut  he  Lit  the 
Democratic  party  when  Folk  took  his  stand  on  the 
tariff  question  and  has  been  a  Republican  since 
the  formation  of  the  party.  He  has  held  local 
offices,  having  served  four  year-  as  overseer  of  the 
poor,  and  was  a  member  of  the  town  council 
for  several  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church  for  seventy-six  years,  having 
joined  when  he  was  a  hoy  of  fifteen.  He  first 
became  a  member  of  the  Blue  Church  in  Ralpho 
township,  and  later  was  a  member  of  the  First 
Reformed  Church  of  Sunbury.  in  which  he  and 
all  his  family  have  been  active  workers,  lie  was  a 
member  of  "the  consistory  for  half  a  century  and 
has  long  been  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  congrega- 
tion. Mr.  Martz  lived  on  Market  street  for  many 
years,  but  since  1885  has  made  his  home  at  tin 
corner  of  Fourth  street  and  Woodlawn  avenue. 

On  Sept.  19,  1848,  Mr.  Martz  married,  at 
Allentown,  Fliza  Samuels,  who  was  bom  Sept.  1.".. 
is?;,  daughter  of  Jesse  ami  Mary  (Engleman) 
Samuels,  of  Allentown.  They  celebrated  their 
sixtieth  anniversary  Sept.  L9,  L908,  ami  Mrs. 
Man/  passed  away  Sept.  '.'1.  1908.  Six  children 
were  horn  to  this  union:  One  daughter  died  in 
infancy;  William  F.  is  a  residenl  of  Shamokin; 
Jesse  s.  died  in  1856;  Edward  died  Feb.  2,  is:,;  ; 

Ida  A".   B.   is  the  wife  of  W.  C.   McCo 'II:   Mary 

Elizabeth   is  the  wife  of   Henry   I!.   Smith. 


Henri  l'>.  Smith,  of  Sunbury,  ua-  born  Nov. 
in.  1855,  in  Womelsdorf,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  -mi  of 
Joseph  ami  Elizabeth  ( Haak )  Smith,  he  being 
the  second  of  their  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.     The   father,  who   was  a    lumber 


86  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

merchant,   died    in    1876,   at   the  'age   of   fifty-six  whose  home  he  died  about  184:!.     He  is  buried  at 

vears.     The  mother  continued  to  live  at  Womels-  the  western  end  of  the  old   graveyard   of  Zion's 

dorf.    Henry  B.  Smith  had  received  all  his  school-  (Stone  Valley)   Church.     As  tradition  has  it  that 

ing  by  the  time  he  reached   his   thirteenth  year,  he  was  in  his  twenty-second  year  when  he  came  to 

when  he  began  to  clerk  in  his  native  place.     At  this  country,  in  1776,.  having  been  born  in  17".  1. 

the  end  of  a  year  he  had  saved  twenty  dollars,  with  he  was  evidently  about  ninety  at  the  time  of  his 

which  he  started  out.  intending  to  go  West:     By  demise.      He   was   a    tall,   robust   man,   of   strong 

the    time   he   reached    Sunbury,    Northumberland  character  and   convictions,   and    lived   a   peaceful 

county,  his  money  was  so  nearly  gone  that  he  took  industrious  and  useful  life.     His  many  descend- 

employment  with  Clement  &  Dissinger,  merchants,  ants  in  Northumberland  county  have  been  num- 

with  whom  he  remained  for  ten  or  eleven  years,  bered  among  the  thrifty  and   successful  farmers 

until   he  was  ready  to  commence  business  on  his  and  business  men  of  their  respective  communities, 

own  account.     In'  188?.  having  saved  about  two  He  married   Anna    Reed,   born   March    11,    1759, 

hundred  dollars,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  died   Dec.    11,    183.'),   and    they   bad   six  children: 

C.  Drumheller  and  embarked  in  the  coal  business.    John;  Adam:  Nicholas:  »; ge;    Eve,  who  niar- 

The  following  year  he  became  associated  with  Mr.  ried  and  moved  West,  where  she  died,  leaving  one 

Drumheller  and  Walter  Zeigler  as  H.  B.  Smith  &  daughter:    and    Catharine,    who    married    Peter 

Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods.     Mr.  Zeigler  withdrew  Hain. 

from  this  partnership  three  years   later,  and   Mr.  John  Bingaman,  son  of  John,  born  April    27, 

Drumheller  two  years  after  that.  Mr.   Smith  do-  1801.  died  May   10,   1882;  his  wife  Susanna  died 

ing    business    alone    as    a    merchant    since    1887.  Nov.  20,  1003,  aged  ninety-eight  years,  one  month. 

Their  combined  capital  at  the  outset  was  but  three  ten  days,  and  both  are  buried  at  Georgetown,  this 

thousand  dollars;  Mr.   Smith  has  since  increased  county,  where  they  died.     He  owned  part  of  the 

his  investment  to  many  times  that  amount,  and  he  homestead  farm,  which  was  later  owned  by  John 

does  a  wdiolesale  as  well  as  a  retail  business,  being  Kiehl    and    was    still    later    purchased    by    David 

one  of  the  most  substantial  merchants  in  the  bor-  Hain.      His   children   were:   Adam,   John    (better 

ough  of  Sunburv.  known  as  "Jack"),  Sarah  (married  Enoch  Raker), 

On  Oct.  24,  1888,  Mr.  Smith  married,  in  Sun-  Mary    (married  William  Wiest)   and  Eliza    (Mrs. 

bury.    Mary    E.    Martz,    daughter   of    Nathan    F.  Shoil).      '■Jack"    Bingaman   had    a    son    William 

Martz,    and    they    have    one    daughter.    Elizabeth  who  was   known   locally   as   "Haughel   Bill,"   and 

Martz  Smith.     In  religion   Mr.   Smith  is  a  mem-  "Jack's"   brother   Adam    had    a    son    William   who 

ber  of  the  Lutheran  Church.     Socially  he  belongs  was   distinguished    from    his   cousin    of  the   same 

to   the   Patriotic   Order    Sons   of    America.   Royal  name  by  the  cognomen  of  ''DeuveFs  Bill." 

Arcanum  and  Conclave.  Adam    Bingaman,   son   of   John   the   emigrant, 

was  born  July  5,  1701.  in  Low-er  Mahanoy  town- 

BINCAMAN.  The  Bingaman  family  now  ship,  and  lived  on  and  cultivated  the  farm  in  that 
numerous  throughout  Northumberland  county  is  township  lying  adjacent  to  the  property  now  oc- 
descended  from  one  John  Bingaman,  one  of  the  cupied  by  his  grandson  William  E.'  Bingaman. 
••Hessian"  soldiers  (many  of  them  came  from  He  died  Jan.  28,  1856,  on  his  home  place.  He 
llessen  Cassel,  Germany)  sent  to  this  country  in  owned  another  tract  of  123  acres  in  the  Stone 
the  pay  of  the  British  during  the  Revolutionary  Valley  which  had  belonged  to  his  father,  and 
war,  and  one  of  those  captured  on  Christmas  night,  which  is  now  owned  by  Edwin  Badman.  He  was 
1776.  by  Washington  at  Trenton.  Many  id'  those  enterprising,  and  prospered  in  his  farm  work,  and 
taken  prisoner  wire  held  at  Penn  Common,  at  was  also  a  popular  auctioneer,  crying  most  of  the 
Reading.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  until  the  close  of  the  sales  held  in  the  neighborhood  in  his  day:  he  was 
war.  and  John  Bingaman  was  one  of  those  who  re-  widely  known  in  this  connection.  He  married 
fused  to  leave  this  country,  of  which  he  became  a  Hannah  Schroyer,  born  Feb.  0,  1796,  died  Oct. 
loyal  citizen.  About  1790  he  came  to  Northumber-  27,  1871,  and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's  (Stone 
land  county,  where  his  first  location  was  in  the  Valley)  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed  mem- 
vicinity  of  Mahantango,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town-  ber.  Their  children  were :  John,  Jacob.  Abraham, 
ship,  about  where  Levi  Kauffman  now  lives.  William.  Alexander,  and  Catharine  (married 
There  he  conducted  a  hotel  on  the  banks  of  the  Elias  Wiest).  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob,  born 
Susquehanna  river,  and  according  to  family  tra-  July  13.  1810,  died  Aug.  9,  1851.  Rebecca,  wife 
dition  the  Indians  used  to  visit  him  and  drink  of  William,  born  March  29,  1830,  died  July  30, 
his  applejack.     He  afterward  settled  farther  north  1866. 

in  the  township,  on  a  large  tract  which  is  now  the  Nicholas  Bingaman.  son  of  John  the  emigrant, 
farm  of  Edwin  Badman,  and  there  he  erected  was  born  Nov.  28,  1708.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
buildings  and  continued  to  make  his  home  for  ship.  He  made  his  home  on  the  farm  of  100  acres 
many  years.  Some  years  before  his  death  he  re-  where  Benjamin  Bingaman  now  lives,  and  was  a 
tired   and   went  to  live  with   one  of  his   sons,   at  substantial    and    industrious    man,    engaging    in 


X  0ETH1  MBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


s; 


huckstering  as  well  as  farming  for  many  years; 
he  made  trips  with  produce  to  Tremont  and'  Don- 
aldson every. week.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  three  farms.  lie  was  a  leading  member 
and  supporter  of  Bingaman's  Evangelical  Church, 
at  the  county  line,  which  lie  served  as  class  leader 
and  exhorter,  and  was  an  upright  and  con  i  ■  □ 
tious  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He  married 
Marv  (Polly)  Witmer,  who  was  born  Oct.  15, 
1801,  daughter  of  Christophel  Witmer,  and  died 
An-.  11,  188o.  surviving  her  husband  many  years. 
Ee  died  June  L0,  I860.  They  are  buried  at  Binga- 
man's  Church.  They  had  children  as  follows:  An- 
nie married  John  Kiehl;  Catharine  married  .lohn 
Underkoffler;  John:  Hannah,  who  died  of  small- 
pox, married  Isaac  Schaffer  and  they  had  one  son, 
Benjamin:  Sarah  married  George  Bohner  and 
went  to  live  in  Dakota:  Mary  married  Philip 
Grim;  William  W.  and  Elias  are  mentioned  be- 
low: Caroline  married  Cyrus  Bufnngton  ;  Henry 
died  in  Dakota.  Sarah  and  her  brothers  Elias 
and  William  W.  are  now  the  only  survivors  of  this 
large  family. 

George  Bingaman,  son  of  John  the  emigrant, 
lived  lor  si, me  years  with  his  brother  Nicholas  in 
Lower  Mahanoj  township,  later  moving  out  to 
Illinois,  whither  ho  made  the  trip  in  big  cov- 
ered wagons.  He  located  near  Polo.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Philip  Zerbe,  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  and  among  their  children  were:  John, 
wdio  was  a  tall  man,  and  who  is  said  to  have  be- 
come very  rich:  Jacob,  who  came  East  to  marry: 
Lovana;  and  George.  Long  after  reaching  matur- 
ity  these  sons  came  East  to  visit.  John  had  no 
children. 

Of  the  posterity  of  Adam  Bingaman.  son  of 
John  the  emigrant,  we  give  herewith  the  record  of 
three  lines,  those  of  his  sons  John,  Abraham  and 
Alexander.  John  Bingaman  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township  in  1817,  and  was  reared  upon 
the  farm.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  boatman  up- 
on the  Susquehanna  canal,  and  in  the  winter  drove 
teams  to  Pittsburg  and  Philadelphia,  transport- 
ing farmers"  produce  to  market.  Locating  at 
Georgetown,  this  county,  early  in  the  forties,  he 
engaged  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business,  and  in 
1850  purchased  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Binga- 
man House,"  conducting  same  in  connection  with 
his  other  affairs.  In  18;.')  he  built  the  brick 
store  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  bus- 
iness until  his  death,  and  be  also  had  extensive 
agricultural  interests.  He  was  an  ardent  Repub- 
liean  in  politics,  hut  never  took  any  part  in  pub- 
lie  matters,  his  time  hem-  well  occupied  with  his 
many  private  concerns.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.  and  in  religion  united  with  the  Re- 
formed Church.  He  died  March  31,  1889.  To 
his  first  marriage,  with  Louise  Brosius,  was  born 
one  son  John,  wdio  lives  in  Virginia.  By  his  sec- 
ond   marriage,    with    Marv   Wiest,    who    survived 


him,  there  were  nine  children,  six  of  whom  were 
living  in  1890,  namely:  William  0.,  Charles  C., 
Mary  (married  Joseph  Morgan),  Harry  W.,  Fred- 
erick W.  ami  Lizzie. 

^  William  0.  Bingaman,  - f  John,  was  born 

Feb.  6,  1856,  and  received  a  good  education,  at- 
tending the  academies  at  Berrysburg  and  Fiee- 
burg  and  the  State  normal  school  at  Shippens- 
burg.  In  1875  he  entered  his  father's  store  as 
clerk,  and  upon  his  fathers  death  he  purchased 
the  business.  He  has  been  a  prominent  eiti  en 
01  G 'getown  in  public  as  well  as  business  cir- 
cles (serving  as  assessor,  postmaster  and  tax  col- 
lector of  that  town  and  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship) and  as  a  well  known  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  married  Lillie  Beaver.  -I' 
Snyder  county,  and  they  had  three  children, 
Blanche.  John  G.  and  Ella  Corrine.  The  family 
belong  to  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

Charles  C.  Bingeman,  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Wiest)  Bingaman.  was  horn  March  38,  1863,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  anil  attended  school 
at  Dalmatia,  receiving  a  good  education.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  management  of  in-  various 
business  interests,  store,  hotel  and  farm,  coal  and 
lumber  trade,  etc..  ami.  his  father  being  the  lead- 
ing business  man  of  Georgetown  for  years,  he 
gained  ample  experience  in  that  connection.  He 
eventually  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Dal- 
matia (Georgetown)  on  his  own  account,  conduct- 
ing the  •■Bingaman  Louse"'  for  fourteen  yea 
He  sold  it  to  tlie  presenl  owner  in  aboul  1907. 
Meantime  he  had  gone  to  Jersey  Shore.  Lycoming 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  conducted  the  "Crawford 
Bouse"  for  about  four  years,  in  January.  1905, 
removing  to  Sunbury,  where  he  accepted  a  posi 
tion  as  traveling  man.  After  two  and  a  hall  years 
in  that  work  lie  took  the  "Keystone  Hotel"  at 
Selinsgrove,  this  county,  which  he  carried  on  for 
about  two  and  a  half  years,  in  October,  L910, 
coming  proprietor  of  the  "Hoffman  Bouse"  at 
Sunbury,  one  of  the  leading  hotels  of  mat  bor- 
ough. It  is  located  on  Third  street,  south  of 
Market,  in  an  advantageous  situation  near  the 
Pennsylvania  railway  depot  ami  the  posi  ofi 
and  has  forty  guests  mom-.  Mr.  Bingeman  has 
been   well   fitted    by   long   business   <  e  to 

make  a  success  of  this  hotel,  which  already  ha-  a 
well  established  patronage.  Bis  reputation  in 
previous  ventures  of  the  kind,  his  adaptability  for 
the  business  and  recognized  executive  talents  all 
augur  well  for  the  future  of  the  "Hoffman  Bouse." 

Mr.  Bingeman  is  will  known  sociallv,  belong- 
ing to  Aerie  No.  970,  F.  <  >.  E.,  of  Williamsport, 
to  the  Owls  at  Sunbury,  and  to  No.  I    Fire  <  ■ 

panv.  o] f  the  leading  companies  in  the  State. 

whose   membership   of    'ill  leading 

business  men  of  the  borough. 

In  188-1  Mr.  Bingeman  married  Ida  I..  Roth- 
ermel.  daughter  of   Andrew    Rothermel,   of   Dal- 


88 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


matia.  and  they  have  had  two  children:  Clarence, 
who  died  when  four  years  old  ;  and  Clinton  C,  his 
father's  assistant  in  business,  who  married  Effie 
Fegley. 


Abraham  Bingaman,  son  of  Adam  and  grand- 
son of  John  the  emigrant,  was  born  Oct.  22,  18 — . 
and  died  Feb.  — .  1!"» — .  He  was  a  life-long 
farmer,  owning  and  cultivating  the  123-acre  farm 
which  is  now  the  property  of  his  son  William  E.. 
and  there  making  his  home.  He  built  the  pres- 
ent house  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  fit.  Kiehl 
and  Daniel  Kauffman.  Mr.  Bingaman  served  as 
school  director  of  his  township  before  the  estab- 
lishment df  the  free  schools.  To  him  and  his  wife 
Rebecca  (Enterline)  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Adam  E.,  William  E.,  Jacob  E..  Belle  (mar- 
ried Philip  Drumm),  Mary  (deceased  wife  of  John 
Host)  and  Jennie  (married  Adam  Dubendorf). 

Adam  E.  Bingaman,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born 
Dec.  25,  1851,  on  the  original  Bingaman  home- 
stead farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  He  was  then  in  the 
employ  of  his  uncle  Elias  Wiest  for  some  years, 
and  for  four  years  burned  lime  for  different  par- 
tie.-.  For  another  year  he  was  engaged  in  hauling 
powder  for  the  Berry  Powder  Company,  and  then 
farmed  for  the  same  employer  three  years.  For 
one  entire  year  he  was  ill  and  unable  to  work. 
Following  this  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  his 
father,  for  a  period  of  three  years,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  during  the  next  live  years 
found  work  in  the  lumber  woods.  He  then  set- 
tled (in  tlie  Harry  Dornsife  farm,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  six  year-,  after  which  for 
four  years  he  was  in  business  threshing  and  cut- 
ting wood  in  Little  Mahanoy  and  Jackson  town- 
ships. Selling  his  threshing  outfit,  he  began 
farming  at  his  present  place  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  near  Hunter  station,  in  March.  1902, 
this  being  the  old  Conrad  Raker  homestead  (his 
post  office  is  Raker).  It  consists  of  some  fifty 
acres,  which  Mr.  Bingaman  has  under  successful 
cultivation. 

In  is;-.'  Mr.  Bingaman  married  Margaret  Eliz- 
abeth Byerly,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Mary  (Bow- 
er) Byerly,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  twelve 
children:  Benjamin  F..  who  died  when  eight  years 
old:  Abraham,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township:  Mary 
A.,  who  died  when  five  years  old :  Israel  and 
Joseph,  both  of  Little  Mahanoy  township:  George 
and  Charles,  both  at  Shamokin:  and  John,  Wil- 
liam. Fred.  Isaiah  and  Eve,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Bingaman  and  his  family  are  Reformed 
members  of  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church.  He  is 
a  Democrat  politically,  was  formerly  supervisor 
of  his  township  and  is  now  serving  as  member  of 
the  township  road  board. 

William    E.    Bingaman.    son   of   Abraham,    was 


born  April  28,  is:>4.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
He  worked  on  the  farm  for  his  father  until  he  be- 
came  of  age.  meantime  obtaining  his  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  then  conducted  in  the 
neighborhood  and  the  public  schools  established 
during  his  boyhood,  and  still  later  he  attended  the 
academy  at  Freeburg.  He  received  a  thorough 
training,  and  received  a  license  to  teach  public 
school  in  Northumberland  county  in  1874.  spend- 
ing his  first  term  at  what  is  known  locally  as  the 
Washington  schoolhouse  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. In  all  he  taught  five  terms  in  his  home  dis- 
trict. His  salary  was  a  dollar  a  day.  or  twenty- 
two  dollars  a  month  for  twenty-two  days'  teach- 
ing. In  the  spring  of  1880  Mr.  Bingaman  be- 
gan farming  on  bis  father's  place,  on  shares,  and 
in  1882  he  purchased  his  present  home  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  which  at  that  time  contained 
thirty-five  acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  about 
thirteen  a.  res.  This  farm,  which  is  located  on  the 
road  between  Hickory  Corners  and  Pillow,  was 
owned  Ion-  ago  by  Isaac  Winner,  a  tailor:  later 
by  Elijah  Byerly;  next  b\  Jacofi  Schaffer,  and 
after  him  by  William  L.  Schaffer,  whom  Mr. 
Bingaman  succeeded  in  the  ownership.  He  is 
a  respected  and  reliable  citizen  of  his  township. 
one  who  hold-  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
a-  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  for  six  successive 
terms  he  was  chosen  auditor  of  his  township.  He 
i-  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
Reformed  members  of  /.inn's  Union  Church  of 
Stone  Valley.  He  ha-  been  a  deacon  of  that 
church  -nice  1888.  On  .Ian.  8,  1876,  Mr.  Binga- 
man married  Mary  M.  Kiehl.  daughter  of  John 
and  Esther  (Frymoyer)  Kiehl.  They  have  no 
children. 

•I  A.COB  1-:.  Bingaman,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born 
May  19,  1857,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  After  attending  the  local 
ols  he  went  to  Uniontown  Seminary,  then 
taught  by  Prof.  Harry  Eisenhower,  and  in  1880 
received  a  license  to  teach,  following  the  profes- 
sion a  few  terms.  His  iir-t  term  was  spent  in 
■Ionian  township,  his  second  and  third  at  the 
Stone  Valley  schoolhouse,  and  he  gave  excellent 
satisfaction.  However,  he  returned  to  the  pur- 
suit to  which  he  had  been  trained  from  boyh I. 

farming  the  Lessman  place  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township  for  three  years.  He  was  next  engaged  as 
a  huckster,  driving  a  produce  team  weekly  to 
Pottsville,  Minersville  and  Tremont  for  six  rears, 
during  which  period  he  and  his  family  resided  at 
Hickory  Corners.  In  the  spring  of  1896  he  he- 
came  proprietor  of  the  "Keystone  Hotel"  at  Hick- 
ory  Corners,  conducting  that  house  very  success- 
fully for  the  next  eleven  years,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1907  moving  with  his  family  to  Dalmatia 
(Georgetown),  where  from  July'  2d  until  the 
spring  of  1908,  he  was  engaged  in  no  special  line. 
On  the  latter  date  he  assumed  charge  of  the  "Na- 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


89 


tiona]  Hotel"  al  thai  point,  the  leading  first-class 

hotel  of  this  region.  It  is  situated  near  the  North- 
ern Central  depot,  and  lias  twenty-two  guest 
rooms,  provided  with  all  modern  conveniences  and 
comfortably  furnished.  This  hotel  is  conducted 
along  modern  lines,  the  accommodations  are  of 
the  best,  and  the  place  has  an  appearance  of  thrift, 
neatness  and  good  management  which  attracts  the 
best  element  of  the  traveling  public.  Mrs.  Binga- 
man is  an  excellent  cook,  noted  for  the  preparation 
of  dainty  and  original  dishes,  and  her  assistance 
has  done  much  to  add  to  the  popularity  of  the 
hotel.  Mr.  Bingaman  own-  a  lot  in  Dalmatia, 
some  limestone  quarry  property  and  four  tracts  of 
land — totalling  twenty-one  acres — in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township.  He  has  been  active  in  citizen- 
ship, having  served  three  years  as  township  clerk 
in  Lower  Mahanoy,  and  alter  the  expiration  of 
Ins  term  in  that  office  was  twice  elected  auditor. 
for  terms  of  three  years  each,  lie  is  a  Democrat 
on  most  political  questions,  hut  independent  when 
he  thinks  it  necessary  to  follow  his  own  convic- 
tions. 

In  September,  L881,  Mr.  Bingaman  married 
Fietta  Harris,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Polly 
(Kemp)    Harris,    and    granddaughter   id'    George 

and   (Batteau)    Harris,   who  came   from 

Berks  county,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bingaman  have 
had  children  a-  follows:  Clara  E.,  who  is  the 
widow  of  Harry  II.  Engel  (she  has  a  daughter, 
Helen)  ;  .lav  A.;  Winton  V. ;  Melvin  II.;  Beulah 
G.;  Garrett  Q.,  and  Kara  I'.  Mr.  Bingaman  and 
his  family  worship  at  Zion's  (Stone  Valley) 
Church,  he  being  a  member  of  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation, his  wife  of  the  Lutheran. 

.lay  A.  Bingaman,  son  of  Jacob  E.,  was  horn 
Oct.  15,  L884,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  at- 
tended  the  loeal   scl Is.  and   later  took  a  course 

in  a  Philadelphia  Business  college  and  a  Imsiness 
course  in  the  Seranton  Correspondence  School. 
He  then  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  Philadel- 
phia hotel,  where  he  was  engaged  for  four  years, 
in  the  spring  of  1908  returning  to  Dalmatia. 
where  he  became  clerk  for  his  father  at  the  "Na- 
tional Hotel." 

On  Aug-.  1.  1908,  Mr.  Bingaman  married  Jen- 
nie B.  Lenker.  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Rebecca 
(Winner)  Lenker'  and  granddaughter  of  Isaac 
Lenker  and  of  Isaac  Witmer.  One  daughter,  Hel- 
en Constance,  has  been  horn  to  this  union.  Mr. 
Bingaman  and  his  family  worship  with  the  Ee- 
formed  congregation  at  Zion's  (Stone  Valley) 
Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  dr.  0.  V.  A.  M. 
at  Dalmatia. 

'Melvin  H.  Bingaman,  son  of  Jacob  E.,  was 
born  Feb.  28,  1889,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  there  received  his  education  in  the  public- 
schools.  He  is  at  present  engaged  in  assisting  his 
father.  He  is  a  Reformed  member  of  Zion's 
(  Stone  Valley)    Church. 


Alexander  Bingaman,  sun  0f  Adam  and  grand- 
son of  John  the  emigrant,  was  born  Aug.  35,  L838, 
hi  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  on  what  was  the 
'"'""'stead  of  both  his  father  and  grandfather. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  for  forty-nine 
years  cultivating  the  tract  now.owned  by  his  son 
Jeremiah  A.  Bingaman,  erecting  the  house  and 
ham  on  that  property  in  the  year  L845.  He  and 
his  wife  began  housekeeping  there  dan.  1,  1846, 
and  he  passed  all  his  life  on  that  place.  One  of 
the  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  his 
locality,  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  an  official 
of  Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church,  of  which  he  was 
a  Reformed  member,  held  the  office  of  township 
supervisor  fifteen  years,  and  served  aboui  the  same 
length  of  time  as  constable  and  overseer  of  the 
poor.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Binga- 
man died  in  his  native  township  July  29,  1895, 
anil  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church.  His 
wife.  Catharine  Radel,  daughter  of  Michael  Radel, 
was  horn  1  ice.  25,  is:;  I.  in  the  second  house  north 
of  the  place  where  she  settled  upon  her  marriage, 
and  though  now  over  seventy-five  years  old  is  well 
preserved  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  marriage:  Sophia, 
who  died  in  her  fourth  year:  Agnes,  win.  died  in 
her  fourth  year:  Alveretta,  wife  of  John  Reitz,  of 
Harrisburg;  Jeremiah  Adam:  and  Malinda.  wile 
id'  John   Fetterolf,  of  Lykens  Valley. 

Jeremiah  Adam  Bingaman,  son  of  Alexander. 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  teacher  of  Lower  Mahan- 
03  township,  was  born  in  that  township  June  8, 
1st;;,  at  the  place  which  is  now  his  home.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  began  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  the  home  district,  later  attending 
the  National  Pen  Art  Hall  and  Business  College, 
then  located  at  Canfield  Ohio,  and  the  Wot 
Farmington  College  (also  in  Ohio),  from  which 
latter  he  was  graduated  in  1892,  with  the  degree 
of  B.  S.    After  his  graduation  he  went  to  Chicago, 

111.,   where   he   engaged    a-    I kkeeper   with    the 

Sykes  Steel  Roofing  Company,  having  general 
charge  of  their  office  from  June  11.  IS!)-.',  until 
June  in,  ls'.i  I.  During  the  World'-  Columbian 
Exposition,  held  at  that  city  in  1893,  he  was  a 
guard  at  the  fair  grounds  tor  seven  and  a  half 
months.  He  left  Chicago  Dee.  23,  is'1 1,  and  re- 
turning to  Pennsylvania  taught  school  in  his  na- 
tive township  for  three  consecutive  terms,  at  the 
Mahantango  schoolhouse.  He  then  taught  the 
Stone  Valley  school  for  two  terms,  and  Hyerly's 
school  in  the  same  township  for  one  term,  and  ac- 
cepted a  school  for  the  following  term  which,  how- 
ever, he  resigned  alter  four  months  to  take  a  po- 
sition with  the  Standard  nil  Company.  He  was 
with  the  Baltimore  branch,  which  lias  headquar- 
ters at   Salisbury,  Md.,  and   filled  the  positi f 

district  manager,  Ins  territory  comprising  Wi. 
ico  ami  Dorchester  counties,  Md..  and  Northamp- 
ton and  Ac  omac  counties,  Va..  a-  wi 


90 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


jacent  island  in  the  Atlantic.  He  held  this  posi- 
tion from  February,  1902,  until  his  resignation, 
in  August,  1907,  when  owing  to  the  condition  of 
his  health  lie  deemed  it  advisable  to  resume  farm- 
ing. He  cultivates  his  father's  old  homestead, 
which  consists  of  sixty-four  acres  of  fine,  fertile 
land,  and  is  making  a  thorough  success  of  his 
work.  In  addition  to  farming  he  acts  as  agent  for 
the  Aermotor  Company  of  Chicago,  manufactur- 
ers and  dealers  in  wind  machinery,  and  he  also 
installs  bathtubs  and  does  various  kinds  of  work 
in  these  lines.  He  has  been  quite  active  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  township,  of  which  he  is  an 
auditor,  and  he  has  been  Democratic  committee- 
man of  his  township  since  1908,  being  one  of  the 
party's  stanch  supporters  in  his  locality. 

On  Dec.  24,  1896,  Mr.  Bingaman  married 
Laura  J.  Witt,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Em- 
erick)  Wert. 


William  W.  Bingaman,  son  of  Nicholas  and 
grandson  of  John  the  emigrant,  was  horn  April  8, 
L836,  ai    the  place  in   Lower  Mahanoy  township 

where  he  still  lives.  With  the  exception  of  two 
years  when  he  was  engaged  with  George  Bohner 
as  an  apprentice  at  the  saddler's  trade  he  always 
followed  farming  throughout  his  active  years, 
beginning  on  his  own  account  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-two years,  mi  his  father-in-law's  farm.  He 
lived  eight  years  at  that  place,  which  period  and 
the  two  and  a  half  years  he  spent  at  Uniontown 
before  his  marriage,  while  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Bohner,  constitute  hi-  entire  absence  from  the 
home  farm.  This  place  comprises  ninety-six  acres, 
which  ilr.  Bingaman  sold  in  1910  to  his  son  Ben- 
jamin, who  is  now  cultivating  it.  Mr.  Bingaman 
always  did  his  own  harness-making  and  similar 
work  while  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a  quiet, 
industrious  citizen,  prospering  by  hard  work  and 
g 1  management,  has  never  touched  intoxicat- 
ing liquor  of  any  kind,  and  has  never  been  in 
court  even  as  a  witness.  In  1855  he  married  Polly 
Koeher.  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Kocher,  and 
to  them  were  born  ten  children,  four  of  whom 
are  deceased,  including  Charles.  The  survivors 
are  Jane,  Joseph,  Benjamin  F..  William.  Linden 
and  Alice.  Mrs.  Bingaman  was  born  at  Orndorf. 
Benjamin  F.  Bingaman,  son  of  William  W., 
was  born  Jan.  '.'.  1860,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  was  two  month-  old  when  his  parents  set- 
tled at  the  old  Bingaman  homestead.  He  has 
been  used  to  farming  from  earliest  boyhood,  and 
in  1892  began  to  work  for  his  uncle  Elias  Binga- 
man, with  whom  he  farmed  for  six  years.  He  then 
moved  upon  his  present  farm,  taking' possession 
of  same  in  the  winter  of  1910.  He  is  an  intelli- 
gent and  thrifty  worker,  a  reliable  citizen,  and  a 
man  respected  wherever  known.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  Trinity  Evangelical  Church 
(also  known  as  Bingaman's  Church)  at  the  county 


line,  and  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  workers 
in  that  congregation,  serving  as  class  leader  and 
trustee,  and  in  official  positions  in  the  Sunday 
school,  of  which  he  has  been  superintendent  for 
many  years. 

On  Aug.  10,  1888,  Mr.  Bingaman  married  Jen- 
nie Peiffer,  daughter  of  Henry  C.  Peiffer,  and  they 
have  had  a  family  of  five  children :  Roy  (wdio  is 
a  teacher  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township),  Spur- 
geon.  Hale,  Gertie  and  Harry. 


Elias  Bingaman,  -on  of  Nicholas  and  grandson 
of  John  the  emigrant,  was  horn  <>rt.  1'?.  ls->.  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  there  received  his 
early  education  in  the  pay  schools  then  conducted 
in  the  vicinity,  attending  the  free  schools  for  one 
winter.  He  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  be- 
came of  age.  when  he  began  farming  on  a  ninety- 
acre  place  adjoining  his  present  home,  remaining 
there  for  twenty-five  years.  Since  1889  he  has 
lived  at  his  present  place  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  a 
farm  of  ninety-one  acres,  but  he  is  not  now  actively 
engaged  in  its  cultivation,  living  retired  in  thi 
enjoyment  of  the  earnings  of  his  earlier  years.  He 
is  a  man  of  upright  character  and  consistenl 
Christian  life,  a  faithful  member  of  the  Trinity 
Evangelical  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  most 
dutiful  worker,  serving  many  years  as  classleader, 
trustee  and  exhorter. 

About    1867    Mr:    Bingaman    married    Lucinda 

Dunkelberger.  daughter  of  John  and  

(Geist)  Dunkelberger.  She  passed  away  Feb. 
28,  1904,  aiied  sixty-five  pears,  i  leven  months,  four 
days,  and  is  buried  at  the  Trinity  Evangelical 
Church. 

SAMUEL  STILL,  farmer  and  fruit  grower 
of  Lower  Augusta  township,  belongs  to  a  family 
which  has  for  several  generations  been  settled  in 
Dauphin  county,  this  State,  wdiere  the  Stills  were 
represented  among  the  early  residents.  The  Federal 
Census  Report  of  1790  shows  Benjamin.  Charles. 
Christian.  David.  Elisabeth,  John,  Samuel,  Thom- 
as and  William  Still  as  heads  of  families  in  the  sev- 
eral counties  of  Pennsylvania.  The  family  to 
which  Isaac  Still,  grandfather  of  Samuel  Still. 
belonged  is  known  to  have  moved  to  Dauphin 
county  from  another  section  of  the  State,  and  it 
is  known  that  the  Stills  were  located  in  the  Lvkens 
Valley  before  1800. 

Mr.  Still's  great-grandfather  was  an  English- 
man, and  his  wife  was  a  German  woman.  She 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  suffering  a  stroke  while- 
sitting  at  the  table.  This  was  when  her  greats 
grandson,  Samuel,  was  a  boy  of  about  seven  years. 

Isaac  Still,  the  grandfather,  passed  his  earlier 
life  at  Elizabethtown,  along  the  Sweet  Arrow 
creek,  in  Lancaster  county,  and  when  his  son  Jacob 
was  about  six  years  old  moved  across  the  Peters 
mountain  in  Armstrongs  Valley,  one  and  three- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1)1 


quarters  miles  from  Halifax,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
farmer,   and    willed    his   farm   to   his   son   Jacob. 

Of  his  six  children,  one  son  and  live  daughters,  we 
have  record  of  hut  three:  Jacob,  Polly  (married 
John  Miller)  and  Elizabeth  (married  dames 
Buchanan ). 

Jacob  Still,  only  son  of  Isaac  was  horn  in  1808, 
and  passed  practically  all  his  life  in  Halifax,  Dau- 
phin county,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-six.  lie  was  a  farmer,  and  came  into 
possession  of  the  paternal  farm,  which  he  contin- 
ued to  cultivate  throughout  his  active  years.  Bis 
wife  Elizabeth  (Bailey),  horn  in  1812,  died  in 
L869.  They  are  buried  at  Long's  Church  in  Dau- 
phin county.  Twelve  children  were  bora  to  this 
couple:  Mary.  Sallie,  Jacob,  Samuel.  David,  Han- 
nah. Nancy,  William.  Maggie,  a  twin  of  Maggie 
that  died  in  infancy,  1  >aniel  ami  Louisa. 

Samuel  Still  was  horn  Oct.  11,  1840,  in  Hali- 
fax, Dauphin  county,  ami  was  reared  upon  the 
farm,  where  he  began  work  at  an  unusually  early 
age.  He  handled  the  plow  when  only  eight  years 
old,  and  continued  to  work  fur  his  parents  until 
he  was  seventeen,  after  which  he  learned  the  pot- 
ter's trade  ai  Elizabethville.  After  four  years 
in  that  line  he  turned  to  the  carpenter's  trade, 
winch  he  followed  for  nearly  forty  years,  in  the 
boroughs  of  Shamokin  and  Herndon  and  the  ter- 
ritory surrounding  them.  He  worked  on  houses 
in  llermlon  when  the  place  contained  only  four 
dwellings.  For  one  year  he  assisted  on  bridge 
work  at  Rondout,  N.  V.  He  rose  to  the  grade  of 
boss  carpenter,  and  taught  the  trade  to  a  number 
of  apprentices.  In  lssii  Mr.  Still  bought  his 
presenl  property,  the  "Klondyke"  fruit  farm,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  to  which  lie  has  added 
until  now  it  contains  eighty-two  acres,  in  1902 
buying  the  homestead  of  Samuel  and  Harriet  Col- 
dren,  formerly  a  Clements  homestead.  Mr.  Still 
raises  considerable  fruit,  and  though  now  seventy 
years  old  continues  to  attend  the  Sunbury  markets 
weekly,  finding  ready  sale 'for  all  his  products. 
He  i-  a  progressive  farmer,  ami  has  reaped  rich 
returns  for  his  up-to-date  methods  and  careful 
management. 

In  1866  Mr.  Still  married  Rebecca  Zearing, 
daughter  of  John  Zearing.  of  Halifax.  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  to  this  union  were  horn  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  but  two  survive:  Harry,  who  lives 
at  Sunbury;  and  Sylvester  D.,  of  Lewistown, 
Pa.  Mrs.  Still  died  about  1883,  and  she  and  her 
six  children  are  buried  at  Zartman's  Church,  in 
Jackson  township.  In  about  1881  Mr.  Still  mar- 
ried (second)  Rosilla  Coldren,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Harriet  Coldren,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Hattie  J.,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives  at 
home.  Mr.  Still  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  at  Herndon. 


CHARLES  1'.  RINEHART,  a  prominent  cit- 
izen of  Upper  Augusta  township,  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  dairying,  a  man  who  has  been 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  development  and 
progress  of  his  section,  was  horn  May  19,  1851, 
in  Sunbury,  near  which  borough  he  u,,»  lives. 
He  is  a  grandson  of  John  Rineharl  (  Rhineharl  i.  a 
native  of  Germany. 

John  Rineharl  was  born  in  1772,  and  emi- 
grated to  America  about  1790.  lie  had  to  serve 
three  years  to  pay  the  expenses  of  his  passage,  and 
In-  time  was  bought  by  one  Gideon  Wolf,  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  in  whose  household  was  also 
Elizabeth  Oberhoff,  like  himself  a  native  id'  Ger- 
many, who  had  conn-  to  America  eighteen  months 
before  John  Rinehart.  She  was  to  serve  five  years 
to  defray  the  cost  of  the  voyage,  hut  when  John 
liineharfs  period  of  redemption  had  expired,  the 
young  couple  having  decided  to  marry.  .Air.  Wolf 
released  her  from  the  remaining  six  months  of 
her  period  of  service.  Young  Rinehart  could  nei- 
ther read  nor  write  at  that  time,  but  he  was  strong 
and  industrious,  and  he  made  his  way  in  the 
world  without  assistance.  The  young  couple  mar- 
ried as  soon  as  Air.  Rinehart  was  free,  but  contin- 
ued to  live  in  the  Wolf  family  for  another  two 
years,  after  which  they  continued  to  live  in  Lan- 
caster county  for  several  years  longer.  He  was 
naturalized  there.  He  kept  hotel  until  his  re- 
moval from  that  county,  paying  twelve  dollars 
for  his  license.  Removing  to  Montgomery  county 
in  1ST?  he  remained  there  a  few  years,  thence  com- 
ing to  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  and 
soon  thereafter  settling  in  Upper  Augusta  (then 
Augusta)  township,  where  Air.  Rinehart  acquired 
a  farm  of  100  acre-.  lb'  also  had  a  piece  of  prop- 
erty in  Sunbury.  Besides  farming,  he  did  thn 
ing,  and  one  season  after  threshing  his  own  grain 
he  worked  out  for  a  tenth,  receiving  ninety  bushels 
of  grain  as  his  share  that  year.  He  continued 
to  farm  in  Northumberland  county  until  his  death. 
which  occurred  in  1837,  and  he  is  buried  in  the 
lower  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  In  religious  fa 
he  and  his  wife  were  Lutherans.  She  died  in 
L845.  They  had  children  as  follow-:  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Steel,  lived  ill  Philadelphia:  Sarah.  Mrs. 
Collin-,  lived  in  Baltimore;  Mrs.  Crosby  lived  in 
Philadelphia;  Mary  married  Martin  Euhn  and 
they  lived  out  West;  Louisa,  Ah--.  Reed,  lived  in 
Sunbury;  John  went  to  Michigan  in  an  early  day 
and  there  followed  fanning:  Chai 
,,!'  Charles  1'.  Rinehart. 

Charles  Rinehart,  youngest    -on   of  John,   was 

born    Jan.    31,     1817,     in     Augusta     town-hip.    i 
county,  and  was  reared  mi  Hie  homestead.      Iii   his 
early  life  he  assisled  with  the  farm  wo  iome, 

hut  when  a  young  man  he  commenced  boating  on 
the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and  followed  thai  occu- 
pation   for  about   a  quarter  of  a  century.      M 


92 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


while  he  resided  in  Sunbury,  whore  he  became  a 
well  known  citizen,  filling  a  number  of  the  borough 
offices.  He  built  a  residence  on  Front  street,  where 
he  resided  from  the  time  he  began  boating  until 
he  left  Sunbury.  In  1868  he  bought  the  farm 
in  Upper  Augusta  township,  near  Sunbury,  now 
owned  by  his  son  Charles,  and  there  engaged  m 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  L890, 
when  he  was  seventy-three  years  and  one  day  old. 
He  is  buried  in  the  lower  cemetery  at  Sunbury. 
Mr.  Rinehart  was  a  Democrat  up  to  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war.  when  he  gave  his  support  to  Lin- 
coln and  thereafter  was  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  actively  interested  in  political 
issues,  and  did  his  share  in  the  administration  of 
local  public  affairs,  serving  as  overseer  of  the 
poor  and  as  school  director  of  his  township, 
where  he  was  considered  a  highly  useful  citizen. 
In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  Mr.  Rine- 
hart     married      Mary      Crissinger,      who      was 

burn      April      24,      1808,      daughter      of      -I b 

Crissinger.  and  died  in  1884,  aged  sev- 
enty-seven years.  Six  children  were  born  to 
their  union:  Martha  married  George  W.  Fisher, 
who  is  now  deceased,  of  Sunbury:  Sarah  C.  mar- 
ried George  P.  Krohn,  of  Sunbury:  Amelia  died 
when  thirteen  years  old;  Susanna  married  Charles 
P.  Martin,  of  Sunbury:  Margaret  Louisa  mar- 
ried William  Kreisher,  of  Sunbury;  Charles  P. 
lives  on  the  home  farm. 

Charles  P.  Rinehart  attended  the  schools  of  Sun- 
bury, and  began  to  assist  his  father  at  an  early 
age,  boating  on  the  canal  from  1860  to  1868.  'W  hen 
seventeen  he  settled  on  the  farm  with  his  father, 
and  has  ever  since  been  occupied  with  the  culti- 
vation of  that  place.  On  Dec.  16,  1868,  he  and 
his  father  commenced  the  dairy  business,  which  he 
has  continued  ever  since  in  connection  with  general 
farming,  having  now  made  a  specialty  of  that  line 
for  a  period  of  forty-two  years.  He  is  considered 
one  of  the  most  reliable  dairy  farmers  in  this  dis- 
trict. At  present  be  keeps  twenty  cows,  and  his 
dairy  products  are  marketed  in  Sunbury.  Mr. 
Rinehart's  farm  contains  184  acres  and  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  township,  not  only  because  of  the 
quality  of  the  land  but  in  the  way  of  improve- 
ments, the  buildings  being  substantial  and  in  g  od 
order,  and  the  other  improvements  up-to-date  in 
every  respect.  In  1801  he  built  the  large  brick 
residence,  which  is  ecpiipped  with  all  modern  con- 
veniences and  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  prop- 
erty. He  has  not  only  found  time  to  attend  sys- 
tematically to  his  personal  interests,  but  he  has 
taken  a  public-spirited  interest  in  the  general  wel- 
fare and  has  held  various  local  offices.  For  three 
consecutive  terms  he  was  auditor  of  his  township; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors, 
and  since  ISO!)  has  been  a  school  director,  during 
that  time  filling  all  the  offices  of  the  board  ex- 
cept that  of  secretary.     Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 


crat. Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Conclave  of  the  Lance  and  Shield  at 
Sunbury.  When  he  was  a  hoy  of  nine  years  he  wa- 
in Philadelphia  just  after  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln, whom  he  remembers  seeing  there. 

On  March  12,  1885,  Mr.  Rinehart  married  Clara 
Ella  Stroh.  daughter  of  John  Stroh,  of  Riverside, 
and  they  have  had  five  children:  William  C.  who 
graduated  from  the  township  schools  and  later  at- 
tended Susquehanna  University,  now  assisting 
hi-  father;  Mary  A.:  Charles  0..  who  died  when 
two  years  old,;  John  J.,  who  graduated  from  the 
Sunbury  school  in  1011.  when  sixteen  years  old: 
and  Anna  E.  Mr.  Rinehart  and  his  family  are 
Lutherans  in  religious  connection. 

Philip  Stroh,  the  pioneer  of  Mrs.  Rinehart's 
family  in  this  section,  was  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county.  Pa., 
about  the  year  1825.  He  settled  in  Upper  Augusta 
town-hip.  at  what  is  now  known  as  Kline-grove, 
and  there  followed  farming,  owning  a  tract  of 
land.  He  died  in  New  York  State  and  is  buried 
there.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Oberdorf),  daughter 
of  Peter  Oberdorf,  long  survived  him,  and  is  bur- 
ied at  the  Klinesgrove  Church,  where  Mr.  Stroh 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation. In  politics  be  was  a  Democrat.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stroh  had  the  following  children:  Peter 
lived  near  Seven  Points,  this  county:  Samuel,  a 
machinisl  of  gnat  ability,  who  built  rolling  mills, 
lived  for  a  time  at  Danville,  Pa.,  and  later  at 
Heading.  Pa.:  Mary  Ann  married  Jacob  Evert 
ami  they  lived  in  Upper  Augusta  township:  Eliza- 
was  Mrs.  Kocher;  David,  a  carpenter,  lived 
and  died  at  Danville;  John,  a  fanner,  lived  at 
Riverside  (  he  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Rinehart  )  : 
Solomon  is  mentioned  below;  William,  who  was  a 
blacksmith,  lived  and  died  at  Pittston,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Solomon  Stroh.  son  of  Philip,  was  born  June 
13,  1825,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was 
brought  by  bis  parents  to  this  section.  The  re- 
moval was  made  by  wagon.  He  learned  the  trade 
id'  blacksmith,  ami  proved  to  be  a  mechanic  of 
unusual  skill,  making  hinge-,  handcuffs,  and  iron 
work  for  bridges,  mills,  bouses,  etc.  He  was  a  re- 
markable man  in  many  ways,  and  one  of  the  no- 
table citizen-  of  his  time  in  this  region,  taking 
an  active  part  in  every  movement  with  which  he 
was  identified.  He  served  some  years  as  council- 
man in  Sunbury.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  volunteer  fire  department  of  the  borough. 
rendering  valuable  service  to  the  community  as 
head  of  the  Washington  Fire  Company  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  was  a  prominent  Democrat,  party 
chairman  of  bis  ward,  and  chosen  as  delegate  t 
many  county  conventions.  A  prominent  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  he  was  past  grand 
of  Lodge  Xo.  203.  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  en- 
campment, and  was  the  first  representative  from 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


93 


his  town  to  the  meeting  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Or- 
phans' Home  Association,  located  near  Sunbury. 
For  many  years  he  acted  as  chaplain  of  his  lodge. 
In  the  days  of  the  old  State  militia  he  was  an 
officer,  and  did  efficient  work  in  that  capacity.  A 
strong,  robust  man,  six  feet  in  height,  and  of 
commanding  presence,  he  was  an  attractive  figure, 
and  he  was  as  popular  as  he  was  widely  known. 
He  was  a  member  of  /ion's  Lutheran  Church  and 
a  zealous  worker  in  its  behalf,  serving  as  deacon 
and  elder,  holding  the  latter  office  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  For  some  years  he  was  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school,  which  he  served  efficiently 
as  librarian  for  the  long  period  of  thirty  years, 
being  active  in  all  the  departments  of  the  church 
and  Sunday  school,  in  both  of  which  he  was  highly 
esteemed.  He  died  at  Sunbury  April  I?.  L898. 
On  Sept.  L2,  1850^  Mr.  Stroh  married  Mary 
Zimmerman,  who  was  born  May  I.  L827,  daughter 
of    George    and    Mary    (Hall)    Zimmerman,    and 

still  makes  her  h i  in  Sunbury.     Though  past 

eighty  she  is  well  preserved  and  still  active,  and 
she  is  highly  esteemed  in  Sunbury,  where  she  has 

had    her  I for  SO   many  veins.      She.  too,  is  an 

active  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  and  she 
taught  one  of  the  classes  in  its  Sunday  school  for 
fifty-five  years,  relinquishing  the  work  only  be- 
cause of  her  advancing  years.  Her  sympathies 
have  always  been  practically  shewn  in  her  activity 
in  the  church  work,  and  she  also  sang  in  the  choir 
for  a  number  of  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stroh 
were  hern  eight  children,  as  follows:  Naomi,  hern 
in  1851,  married  W.  A.  Heller,  and  is  deceased; 
George,  born  in  1853,  died  in  1856;  Samuel,  born 
in  1855,  is  a  residenl  of  Sunbury;  Jeremiah,  born 
in  1857!,  died  at  Sunbury  in  1906;  William,  hern 
m  1859,  lives  al  Sunbury;  Annie  F...  hem  in  1862, 
died  m  1874;  Stella  and  Miriam  are  unmarried 
and  at  home. 

ISAAC  BLOOM,  now  living  retired  in  Sun- 
bury, has  made  his  home  in  that  borough  since 
1872.  His  active  years  were  for  the  most  part 
spent  in  lumbering,  and  as  raftsman  and  pilot  on 
the  Susquehanna  river  he  became  thoroughly  fami- 
liar with  that  stream,  upon  which  he  has  had  man] 
interesting  experiences.  He  was  born  dan.  27, 
1842,  in  Pike  township,  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.,  sen  of 
John  Bloom,  and  is  a  descendant  of  a  family  now 
numerous  in  Northumberland  and  Clearfield  coun- 
ties, descended  from  two  brothers  who  came  into 
Pennsylvania  from  New  Jersey.  In  the  archives 
of  that  Suite  are  recorded  the  names  of  live  Bloom 
brothers  who  served  in  Baxter's  Brigade  of  New 
Jersey  volunteers.  One  was  killed  in  action.  Al- 
ter the  war  <.ne  remained  in  New  Jersey,  the 
ether  three  coming  to  Pennsylvania.  Oi  these, 
Stephen  Bloom,  the  ancestor  of  Unas  Bloom,  ol 
Sunbury,  settled  in  the  Shamokin  Hills,  in  North- 
umberland county;  William,  the  ancestor  of   Lsaac 


Bloom,  whose  name  opens  this  article,  and  of 
Ames  Bloom,  also  of  Sunbury,  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Clearfield  county;  the  third  set- 
tled in  a  valley  near  Bellefont,  in  Center  county, 
where  a  large  number  of  his  descendants  have  since 
lived. 

William  Bloom,  as  stated,  leek  up  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Clearfield  county,  at  what  is  known  as 
the  "Peewee's  Nest."  He  was  hem  in  New  Jer- 
sey in  1752,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  I'M  years;  he 
is  buried  at  Curwensville,  Clearfield  county.  He 
followed  farming  on  land  which  he  himself  cleared, 
and  where  he  erected  a  log  house  and  barn.  His 
wife,  like  himself  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  also  at- 
tained an  advanced  age,  living  to  be  ninety- 
eight.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children. 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters:  Abraham,  James, 
Isaac.  John.  William,  Benjamin,  Peter,  Mary 
(married  Matthew  Caldwell)  and  three  daughters 
whose  names  are  not  recalled. 

From  the  above  somve  there  is  a  large  poster- 
ity, and  we  quote  the  following  from  the  Phila- 
delphia North  American  of  Aug.  18,  1909,  as  be- 
ing of  interest  in  this  connection: 

"The  Bloom  reunion  was  held  at  the  'Peewee's 
Nest,'  on  the  hank  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  near 
Curwensville.  Pa.  The  Bloom  clan  is  one  of  the 
largest  in  Clearfield  county.  They  are  descend- 
ants of  William  Bloom,  a  oative  of  New  Jersey, 
and  a  Revolutionary  war  veteran,  who  came  to 
Clearfield  county  with  his  wife  in  1796.  They 
came  up  the  West  branch  of  the  Susquehanna 
river  in  a  canoe  and  settled  on  the  spot  where  the 

family   reunion    was   held.      The   ancestor    Bl 

and  his  helpmate  had  eleven  children,  seven  sons, 
four  daughters,  and  from  them  are  descended  the 
many  hundred  of   Blooms  of  Clearfield  and   sur- 
rounding counties.     The  eighth  generation  o 
family  participated  in  the  reunion  in    1909.     The 
Blooms  have  figured  extensively  in  the  afiairs  of 
Clearfield  county  since  its  organization.    They  are 
a  hearty  and  tall  people,  noted  for  longevity  and 
multiplicity.     Ross   Bloom,  of  near  Curwensville, 
who  was  eighty-eight  years  old,  attended  the  g 
ering   of  the  family.     Benjamin    Bloom,  »    o  al 
tended     the     reunion.     ...     is     seventy-seven 
years   ,,ld.   and    the    father   of   thirteen    children, 
eleven  of  whom  are  living.    He  has  so  manj  grand 
children  that  he  fears  missing  some  should  be  en- 
deavor to  count   them,  scores  of  greal  grandchil- 
,!,,.n  and  sevi  n  great-great-grandchildren. 

-The  Blooms  are  members  of  the  Democratic 
party.  During  the  Civil  war  the  familj  sen!  many 
0f  it's  sons  to  do  battle  for  their  country." 

Isaac  Bloom,  son  of  William,  wa         i    all  his 
brothers    and    sisters    born    in    Clearfield    coi 
He  was  a   farmer  bv  occupal  ion,  and   owned 
farm  on  which  he  died.    He  married  Mar]   I  Po 
War  who  survived  him,  dying  in  1870 
i;M  .,,,,.   anc]  the]   had  a  family  of  twelve  children. 


94 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


six  sons  and  six  daughters,  namely:  Jolm,  James 
A.,  William,  George,  Eeuben,  Benjamin,  Caro- 
line (Mrs.  Owens),  Priscilla  (married  John  Xorris 
and  had  eighteen  eliildren).  G-eneise  (married 
Samuel  Taylor),  Mrs.  George  Ogden,  Margaret 
(married  Nicholas  McCraeken)  and  Mrs.  George 
Garrison. 

Jolm  Bloom,  Jr.,  son  of  Isaac,  was  horn  Feh. 
4,  1809,  in  Pike  township,  Clearfield  Co..  Pa.,  and 
was  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  about  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  He  served  three  years  as  con- 
stable, ami  for  a  number  of  years  as  supervisor, 
and  was  a  man  well  known  in  his  district.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Methodist  in  re- 
ligion. On  Oct.  24,  1833,  John  Bloom  married 
Mary  Ann  Jordan,  who  was  horn  April  9,  1812, 
eldest  of  the  large  family  born  to  John  and  Eve 
(Lawyer)  Jordan,  and  granddaughter  of  Peter 
and  Mary  Magdalena  Lawyer.  Mr.  Bloom  died 
in  August,  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
and  his  wife  died  at  (he  age  of  eighty-five.  They 
are  buried  at  Bloomington,  Clearfield  county. 
Their  children  were  born  as  follows:  Frederick, 
Sept.  24.  1834:  Eliza.  March  3,  1836;  Matilda. 
Nov.  in.  is:;;  ;  Rachel,  Dec.  It.  1839;  [saac,  dan. 
27,  1842:  John  Jordan,  April  s.  L844;  Mary  J., 
Dec.  21,  1845:  Sarah  A.,  Dec.  24,  1847;  Susan, 
April  7.  1849:  Jerusha,  May  11.  1851:  Eva  A., 
Nov.  7,   1853:  Alfred.  May  27,  1856. 

Isaac  Bloom  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Pike  township.  He  was  reared  up- 
on the  farm,  and  after  reaching  manhood  contin- 
ued to  follow  farming  during  the  summer  season, 
in  the  winter  time  working  in  the  lumber  woods, 
with  which  he  was  also  familiar  from  boyhood. 
Rafting  on  the  river  was  a  great  business  in  those 
days,  aiid  he  was  thus  engaged  on  the  west  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna  for  many  years,  making  his 
first  trip  when  only  fourteen  years  old.  He  made 
two  trips  every  spring  for  about  fifteen  years, 
bringing  some  of  the  finest  square  timber  ever 
sent  down  the  river  to  Marietta.  Some  of  the 
logs  he  brought  down  contained  125  feet  of  good, 
solid  timber.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Bloom  engaged 
as  a  pilot  on  the  Susquehanna,  where  there  are 
many  dangerous  falls  and  rocks  to  be  avoided  or 
skillfully  passed,  all  known  by  name  to  the  pilots, 
as  "White  Break."  -Side  Pocket,"  "Stepping 
Stone."  "Sandy  Harbor,"  "Meshannon  Falls." 
"Wood  Rock,"'  "Karthus  House.*'  "Buttermilk- 
Falls."  etc.  In  is:-.'  Mr.  Bloom  and  his  family 
moved  to  Sunbury,  where  they  have  since  resided. 
After  settling  in  this  place  he  was  engaged  in  su- 
perintending lumber  jobs  for  different  parties, 
later  served  five  years  as  street  commissioner  of 
the  borough,  was  janitor  at  the  courthouse  for 
three  years  and  for  another  three  years  was  boss 
of  the  carpet  weaving  department  at  the  North- 
umberland county  jail  before  his  retirement,  in 
1908.     He  has  been  an  active  Democrat  ever  since 


he  attained  his  majority,  having  missed  but  two 
elections  in  all  that  time.  He  has  long  been  a 
leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of 
which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and  steward  since 
1880.  As  a  citizen  he  has  commanded  the  respect 
of  his  fellow  men  in  every  relation  of  life. 

In  1867  Mr.  Bloom  married  Sarah  E.  Kline, 
daughter  of  John  F.  and  Eliza  (Mittler)  Kline, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  nine  children:  Carrie 
K.,  who  is  engaged  in  school  teaching;  J.  Byron, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Sunbury:  ami  Charles  W.. 
Arthur  M.,  Lucy,  Chester  C,  Emma,  Henry  0. 
and   Mary  F..  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

John  Jordan,  Mr.  Bloom's  maternal  grand- 
father, was  born  Dec.  4,  1790,  and  Eva,  his  wife, 
was  horn  Aug.  8,  1792.  They  had  a  large  family, 
born  as  follows:  Mary  Ann,  April  9,  1812;  John. 
Maj  12.  L814;  David",  June  10,  1816;  Margaret, 
June  15.  1818;  Samuel.  Nov.  12,  1820;  Rachel, 
Nov.  17,  1822;  Daniel.  July  2.  1825;  Janiza,  May 
15,  1827  :  on,,  that  died  in  infanev.  Mav  10,  1829; 
Leir,  June  17.  1830;  Susan.  Mav  12.  1832;  Wil- 
liam. April   29,    1834;   Sarah  Ann.  July  9.  1836. 

AMBROSE  PERSING,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Persing  &  Cooke,  of  Arters,  Northumber- 
land county,  proprietors  of  the  Shamokin  Valley 
Roller  Mills,  was  horn  Dec.  29.  I860,  at  St.  Clair, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Matthias  Persing.  in 
his  day  a  prominent  contractor  of  this  county. 
Several  generations  ago  the  family  was  settled  in 
Xew  Jersey,  where  William  Persing,  great-grand- 
father of  Ambrose  Persing.  lived,  at  Greenwich,  in 
Sussex  county.  There  all  his  children  were  horn, 
among  them  being  William.  Jr..  and  John,  both 
of  whom  came  to  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

William  Persing,  Jr..  born  in  Xew  Jersey  April 
23.  1773,  -etiled  in  Shamokin  township.  Northum- 
berland county,  where  he  died  Feb.  19,  is:,:;.  IF 
is  buried  at  the  old  Blue  Church.  Fie  was  a  man 
of  enterprise  ami  had  large  interests,  engaging  in 
farming,  building  a  gristmill  which  he  operated, 
and  also  carrying  on  a  rope  walk  and  distillery. 
He  was  an  extensive  fruit  grower,  the  most  ex- 
tensive in  his  section,  using  the  fruit  in  his  dis- 
tillery. He  also  made  peppermint  products.  Wil- 
liam Persing  was  twice  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Margaret  Dimmiek.  The  children  of 
his  first  marriage  were  born  as  follows:  Mary, 
KM.',:  Philip,  1797;  Matthias.  1800;  William, 
iso-.';  Samuel,  1804:  Isaac.  1807;  John.  1809.  To 
the  second  marriage  were  bom:  Hannah,  1812; 
Elizabeth,  1814:  a  son  and  a  daughter,  twins,  who 
lived  only  a  few  days;  Abigail.  Feb.  11.  1817: 
Peter.  June  28.  1819 ;  Rebecca,  Dec.  24,  L821; 
Daniel.  April  10,  1825:  and  Susanna  and  Marg- 
aret, twins.  July  2.  1S29. 

John  Persing.  the  other  son  of  William  Persing 
who  came  to  Northumberland  county,  was  born 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


95 


March  13,  1775,  and  on  removing  to  Pennsylvania 
settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed 
farming.  Coming  later  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, be  settled  in  the  Irish  Valley  on  land  later 
owned  by  Joseph  Bird,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  distilling.  lie  died  March  18,  1558,  at  the 
home  of  his  son  Matthias,  and  is  buried  in  the  old 
Presbyterian  graveyard  near  Deiblers  station,  he- 
low  Shamokin.  Mr.  Persing  was  married  in  1797 
in  New  Jersey  to  Anna  Eve  Larkins,  who  was 
born  March  38,  1776,  and  died  July  13,  1850. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
William,  born  .March  28,  1791  :  Mary,  horn  Sept. 
12,  1800,  who  married  John  Shipman;  George, 
born  Feb.  1,  1802,  who  died  Nov.  23,  1824  (ins 
death  was  caused  by  a  falling  tree)  ;  Sallie  A., 
born  March  2S,  1804,  w] arried  Michael  Tay- 
lor; Catharine,  born  Oct.  18,  1806,  who  married 
Isaac  Teitsworth  ;  Benjamin,  horn  April  ", .  1809; 
Matthias,  horn  Dec.  '.'1.  1810;  Susanna,  horn  Feb. 
10,  1813,  Mrs.  Willitt;  Nancy,  horn  April  1!), 
1815,  who  married  Jacob  Goss;  Washington,  horn 
. I  une  3,  1818,  of  Illinois;  and  Alfred,  born  Sept. 
L5,    L822,   who  died   Oct.  2:;.   1824. 

Matthias  Persing,  son  of  John,  horn  Dec.  21, 
1810,  in  New  Jersey,  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Shamokin  township,  and  himself  took  up  farm- 
ing, owning  a  100-acre  tract,  now  the  property  of 
l\.  ( '.  Leisenring.  By  trade  he  was  a  stonecutter, 
and  he  did  contracting  in  thai  line,  one  of  the 
last  large  contract-  which  he  fdled  being  for  part 
of  the  stone  work  on  the  Sunbury,  Eazleton  & 
Wilkes-Bafre  railroad.  After  this  he  was  associated 
in  the  contracting  business  with  Andrew  Knoble, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Persing  &  Knoble.  Among 
other  important  work  which  Mr.  Persing  per- 
formed was  the  mason  work  on  the  large  coal 
breakers  at  Shamokin.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  this  region  in  his  day.  employing  huge 
numbers  of  men,  and  showing-  great  ability  in  all 
his  undertakings,  which  were  ambitious  enough 
to  give  him  a  place  among  the  most  progressive 
men  of  his  time.  He  died  April  25,  1874,  at  Elys- 
burg,  and  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Reed's 
Church,  at  Reed's  station,  below  Shamokin.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Republican,  socially  a  Mason,  a 
charter  member  of  Elysburg  Lodge.  No.  414.  P.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  a  past  master  "by  merit." 
In  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  served  as 
deacon  of  his  church.  He  married  Joanna  Parent, 
daughter  of  John  Parent,  an  Englishman,  among 
whose  "children  were  also  John.  Elizabeth,  Sophia, 
Sarah,  Caroline  and  Ellen.  Mrs.  Persing  died 
about  1871.  The  following  children  were  horn  to 
this  union:  Emanuel  S.,  born  in  August.  1843, 
who  died  in  1909 :  Alson.  who  died  in  infancy.  Jo- 
anna, who  died  in  infancy:  Emma,  Mrs.  George 
W.  Hefflv.  deceased:  Hamilton  S..  who  died  at 
Williamsport,  Pa.  (he  left  a  daughter.  Carrie  ('.)  : 
Edward  E..  who  died  in   1007   at   Altoona,   Pa.: 


Ida  V.,  Mrs.   Adolphus  Hart  man,   deceased;   and 
Ambrose. 

Ambrose  Persing  began  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  home  locality,  later  attending  Elys- 
burg Academy.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
commenced  to  learn  milling,  at  Paxinos,  and  in 
1885  engaged  in  milling  upon  his  own  respon- 
sibility, leasing  the  mill  at  Arters  for  two  year.-. 
lie  then  became  associated  with  Ritter  &  Son.  of 
Lairdsville,  Lycoming  Co..  Pa.,  continuing  with 
them  for  two  years,  at  the  end  id'  which  time  he 
and  his  brother  Emanuel  S.  Persing  formed  a  part- 
nership, buying  the  Shamokin  Valley  Roller  Mills 
at  Arters,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  which 
they  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  Persing 
Brothers.  In  1892  Frederick  W.  Cooke  boughl 
the  interest  of  Emanuel  S.  Persing  in  these  null-. 
and  he  and  Ambrose  Persing  bave  sine  done  bus- 
iness together  as  Persing  &  Cooke.  They  turn  out 
a  number  of  popular  brands  id'  wheat  flour,  Gold- 
en Sheaf  and  White  Falcon  among  others,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  buckwheat  flour,  which  is 
famous  over  a  wide  territory,  having  \'vw  equals. 
The  firm  also  deals  in  flour,  Iced,  grain,  etc..  and 
has  a  large  patronage  in  every  line.  The  busi- 
ness has  long  been  the  leading  industry  of  the 
town  and  vicinity.  .Mi-.  Persing  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  community, 
having  served  fourteen  years  as  auditor  of  Upper 
Augusta  township,  and  be  is  at  present  assistant 
po-t  master  at  Arters.  In  political  connection  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  socially  be  is  a  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  -II  f.  F.  X-  A.  M. 

On  March  28,  1885,  Mr.  Persing  married  tda 
E.  Cooke,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Catharine 
(Casey)  Cooke,  and  sister  of  his  business  partner. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Persing  have  no  children.  They 
are  members  of  the  Church  of  Chris!  at  Sunbury. 

FREDERICK  W.  COOKE,  member  of  the  linn 
of  Persing  &  Cooke,  proprietors  of  the  Shamokin 
Valley  Roller  Mills,  at  Aiders,  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  is  not  only  one  of  the  able  business  men 
of  his  section  but  also  well  known  in  his  connec- 
tion with  its  public  affairs,  lb1  was  horn  July 
v;.  1861,  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son 
of  Edwin  Cooke,  and  has  passed  all  his  life  in 
Northumberland  county. 

Edwin  Cooke  was  born  in  Shropshire,  England, 
came  to  America  in  IS.",;,  and  settled  down  to 
farming  in  Ralpho  township.  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  had  a  tract  of  150  acres.  He 
was  a  Methodist  in  religion  and  particularly  in- 
terested in  church  affairs,  helping  to  rebuild  the 
present  Oak  Grove  Church.  Me  died  in  L902,  at 
the  age  of  -i\t\  live  years,  and  is  interred  in 
Oak  Grove  burying  ground,  near  Paxinos.  lie  mar- 
ried Catharine  ( lasey,  a  native  of  Limerick,  In- 
land, whom  he  met  aboard  the  vessel  while  com- 
inCT  to  America.     She  -till  survive-,  living  on  the 


96 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


old  homestead,  and  is  well  preserved  in  spite  of 
her  advanced  years.  Six  sons  and  five  daughters 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwin  Cooke;  Edwin 
11..  now  of  Union  Corners.  Pa.:  John  J.,  who  lives 
near  the  homestead,  in  Ralpho  township;  Sarah  J. 
(deceased),  who  married  Hamilton  Persing;  Fred- 
erick W. :  Ida  E..  wife  of  Ambrose  Persing;  George 
W.j  of  Ralpho  township;  Daniel  W.,  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.:  James  A.,  of  Rush  township;  Kate,  who  died 
aged  five  years:  Kate  wife  of  W.  E.  Fisher,  of 
Paxinos;  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 

Frederick  \Y.  Cooke  began  to  learn  the  trade 
of  miller  at  Paxinos  when  twenty  years  old.  For 
seven  years  he  conducted  the  Shamrock  Mill,  lo- 
cated near  Paxinos  (then  known  as  Hughes  sta- 
tion mill),  and  in  1892  formed  his  present  part- 
nership with  Ambrose  Persing,  with  whom  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  milling  business  un- 
der the  name  of  Persing  &  Cooke.  This  firm  lias 
had  a  career  of  continuous  prosperity,  and  has  a 
large  custom,  drawn  from  a  wide  territory.  In 
addition  to  manufacturing,  they  deal  in  flour,  feed, 
grain,  etc.  Among  their  various  brands  Golden 
Sheaf.  White  Falcon  ami  Silver  Cloud  are  the 
leaders,  and  their  buckwheat  flour,  of  which  they 
make  a  specialty,  has  a  wide  reputation,  so  much 
so  that  the  supply  has  never  been  equal  to  the  de- 
mand, although  they  have  never  advertised  it.  or 
done  any  soliciting. 

Mr.  Cooke  has  no  political  affiliations,  voting 
independently,  but  lie  has  taken  considerable  part 
in  the  public  affairs  of  his  locality,  having  served 
eighteen  years  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  Upper 
Augusta  township.  He  was  also  supervisor  one 
term,  refusing  to  serve  longer  though  re-elected. 
He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  I  nit  refused 
to  accept  the  honor,  lie  was  instrumental  in 
having  the  postofnee  at  Arters — the  only  one  in 
the  township — established,  in  1895,  was  the  first 
postmaster,  and  is  still  serving  in  that  capacity. 
In  1900  Mr.  Cooke  took  a  course  in  Spencerian 
penmanship  under  Prof.  A.  ('.  Crawford,  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  he  became  a  master  of  skillful  and  legi- 
ble penmanship,  having  a  high  reputation  in  that 
capacity.  Socially  he  is  widely  known,  belonging 
to  Lodge  Xo.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury,  and  to 
Lodge  Xo.  203,  1.  0.  0.  F..  of  Sunbury.'  lie  was 
originally  a  member  of  Elysburg  Lodge.  Xo.  414. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  worshipful  master. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  at  Sunbury,  of  which  he  is  the  elder. 

On  dan.  ■?!».  1885,  Mr.  Cooke  married  Laura 
Fenstermacher,  daughter  of  G.  Washington  and 
Caroline  (Zhenders)  Fenstermacher.  of  Franklin 
township,  Columbia  Co..  Pa.  She  died  Oct.  27, 
1908,  aged  forty-four  years,  the  mother  of  six 
children:  Frank  married  Josephine  Feffingwell 
and  they  live  in  Upper  Augusta  township:  George 
W.  married  Margaret  Pitch  and  they  live  at 
Northumberland;  Frederick  W..  Jr.,  was  drowned 


when  seventeen  months  old  ;  Jesse  A.  died  of  diph- 
theria when  five  years  old:  Boy  A.  is  at  home; 
ami  Ida  L.  is  at  "home.  On  Nov.  111.  1910,  Mr. 
Cooke  married  (second)  in  Philadelphia  Mrs. 
Martha  L.  Huff. 

GEOEGE  W.  PARMLEY.  deceased,  tor  many 

years  successfully  engaged  as  a  florist  and  mer- 
chant at  Shamokin,  was  of  English  blood  but 
American  birth.  He  was  born  at  Tamaqua, 
Schuylkill  county,  in  L858,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Matilda  (Ellis)  Parmley. 

Samuel  Parmley  was  bom  in  England,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  firsl  wile.  After  a  shorl  time 
in  New  York  his  wife  died,  leaving  two  children, 
Henry  (since  deceased)  and  Elizabeth  (who  mar- 
ried Dallas  Van  Horn).  Mr.  Parmley  married 
(second)  Matilda  Ellis,  and  to  this  union  were 
born:  Charles  S.;  George  VV.;  Thomas  J.,  of  Car- 
lisle. Pa.;  and  Mary  E.,  deceased  wife  of  Llew- 
ellyn James.  Mr.  Parmley  after  his  second  mar- 
riage settled  at  Tamaqua,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business  and 
prospered. 

George  W.  ParmleA  came  to  Shamokin  in  1884, 
and  was  firs!  engaged  in  a  milling  business  with 
Andrew  Robertson.  Later  he  became  a  florist,  and 
acquired  a  wide  reputation  by  his  success  in  that 
line.  lie  also  carried  on  a  china  store,  located  at 
Independence  and  Orange  streets,  one  of  the  best 
location-  in  the  city,  and  was  so  engaged  until  his 

death. 

Mr.  Parmley  married  Minnie  F.  Douty,  daugh- 
ter of  William  11.  Douty,  and  to  this  union  were 
hoi  n  :  George  W.,  Jr. :  Samuel  C. :  J.  Hillmer:  and 
D  ithy  L.  Mrs.  Parmley  resides  in  her  com- 
fortable 1 ie  at    Xo.   126  Church  street. 

DOUTY.  Mrs.  Parmley  is  a  member  of  a  fam- 
ily that  was  active  in  pioneer  days  in  Pennsylvania. 

John  Bltjndin  Douty,  her  grandfather,  was 
a  prominent  man  in  the  coal  regions.  lie  was 
born  near  Lambertville.  X.  J..  May  30,  1812,  5on 
of  William  and  Mary  (  Blundin)  Douty,  Vho  came 
to  Rush  township.  Northumberland  county,  about 
1822.  Four  years  later  they  removed  to  Potts- 
ville,  where  the  father  became  the  owner  of  five 
boats  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  John  B.  being  placed 
in  charge  of  one  of  them.  He  worked  as  a  boat- 
man until  1842,  when  he  became  interested1  in  the 
coal  trade  at  the  East  Delaware  mines.  After  a 
few    years    there    he    went    to    the    West    Delaware 

mines  where  1 perated  until  the  failure  of  the 

company  in  1851  caused  the  loss  of  all  he  had  ac- 
cumulated. In  1852  he  came  to  Shamokin  and  be- 
gan mining  in  a  small  way  at  the  Gap.  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  linn  of  lyase,  Douty  &  Peed.  This  ven- 
ture met  with  little  success,  and  in  1856,  with 
others,  under  the  name  of  Bird.  Douty  &  John. 
he  leased  the  Big  Mountain  colliery,  which  in  the 


1  ^:^t  r  £ 


PUBLIC  I 


p 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


91 


end  proved  successful.  In  1859  he  withdrew  from 
the  firm  to  take  charge  of  the  Henry  Clay  colliery, 
and  he  acquired  a  handsome  fortune.  He  opened 
and  operated  the  Brady  colliery  for  a  few  yen-. 
and  in  L873  began  working  the  Ben  Franklin  col- 
liery, at  which  he  was  engaged  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  died  Nov.  L5,  1*;  I,  in  the  faith 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  On  May  22,  1836, 
he  married  Lavinia  Jones,  daughter  of  William 
and  Catharine  Jones,  of  Reading.  They  had  one 
son,  William  II.  Mr.  Douty  was  a  man  of  decided 
views,  and  was  very  tenacious  of  his  opinion.  He 
had  a  kind  heart,  ami  was  ever  generous  to  those 
less  fortunate  than  himself. 

William  II.  Douty,  son  of  John  B.,  was  hum 
at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  in  1836,  and  died  in  October, 
ism;,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  buried.  He 
assisted  Ins  father  in  the  management  of  his  coal 
mines  at  Shamokin  and  Doutyville.  He  was  side 
manager  of  the  Ben  Franklin  colliery  at  Douty- 
ville, one  of  the  largest  mine  workings  in  the  an- 
thracite field,  ami  with  John  Gabel  became  the 
owner  of  the  Garfield  mine.  He  was  one  of  the 
chief  movers  in  suppressing  the  terrible  crimes  of 
that  desperate  band  of  men  known  as  the  "Mol- 
lie  Maguires,"  who  infested  the  coal  region  in 
1! arl\  seventies.  He  had  other  business  rela- 
tions, however,  being  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
and  grocery  business  on  Sunbury  street,  his  place 
being  known  as  the  "Brown  Stone  Front/5  and 
was  verj  successful  in  his  undertakings.  In  1893 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  lived  in  retire- 

nt  until   his  death.     lie  married  Dorothea   M. 

Slump,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Christ) 
Stroup.  Their  children  were:  Phoebe,  wife  of 
Philip  Goodwill,  of  Bramwell,  Mercer  Co.,  W. 
Va. ;  Minnie  F..  widow  of  George  W.  Parmley; 
John,  of  Cumberland,  Md. ;  and  Sallie,  wdio  lives 
with  her  sister  M  rs.  Goodwill. 

Mr.  Douty  was  burgess  of  Shamokin  in  1873, 
an  office  in  which  his  lather's  brother,  R.  B. 
Douty,  had  been  the  first  incumbent  in  1864-65. 
He  was  the  first  president  ami  director  of  the  Ed- 
ison Electric  Illuminating  Company  of  Sham- 
okin. which  was  incorporated  Nov.  39,  1882.  Mr. 
1  kruty  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Sham- 
okin appointed  as  a  committee  to  prepare  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  for  the  Board  of  Trade, 
dan.  34,  1887,  and  he  became  the  first  president  of 
that  important  organization.  The  first  attempt 
at  fixing  up  the  streets  of  Shamokin  was  made 
I . x  Mr.  Douty  and  Dr.  R.  S.  Hollenback,  both  go- 
ing to  Harrisburg  to  appeal  to  the  Legislature  for 
a  loan  of  money  from  the  State  for  that  pur- 
pose, as  the  taxes  at  that  early  time  were  insuf- 
ficient for  any  improvements  of  this  kind.  Mr. 
Douty   and    his   family   were   Presbyterians. 

JOHN  H.  BECK,  of  Rockefeller  township,  has 
long  been  considered  one  of  the  most  progressive 

7 


farmers  of  his  section  0f  Northumberland  county. 
He  was  hum  Aug.  30,  1850,  in  Frailey  township, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  ami  belongs  to  a  family  which 
has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania  since  Provincial 
times,  being  a  descendant  of  John  Martin  Beck, 
who  was  horn  in  Europe  in  the  year  1724,  and  died 
Sept.  29,  1785.  His  wife.  Catharine,  was  born 
May  1.  1726,  and  died  Oct.  19,  1804.  Among 
their  children  were  sons  Daniel.  John  and  Jacob 
A  Catharine  Reck,  horn  June  -.'T.  1766,  who  died 
duly  2,  1841!,  was  probably  a  daughter  of  John 
Martin  and  Catharine  Beck,  who  were  the  grand- 
parents of  Gottlieben  Hoeckly. 

John  H.  Beck,  the  grandfather  of  John  II. 
Beck,  was  a  grandson  of  John  Martin  Beck,  the 
immigrant  ancestor.  He  was  born  Feb.  11,  1786, 
in  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  and  settled  in  Ly- 
kens  valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  wdrere  he  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  active  years.  He 
died  June  20,  1855,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  four 
months,  nine  days,  and  is  buried  at  Dhiontown, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.  He  gave  considerable  land  to 
the  cemetery.  He  married  Susan  Greenswicht,  of 
Northampton  county,  and  to  them  were  born  the 
following  children :  Daniel :  John  and  David, 
twins:  Jonathan'.  George;  John  Jacob;  Roily, 
Mrs.  Benneville  Ossman ;  Harriet,  Mr-.  Wolf  (she 
and  her  husband  moved  to  Ohio)  ;  Susanna,  Mr-. 
Heater:  and   Christianna,   Mrs.   Charles   Drumin. 

John  Jacob  Beck,  son  of  John  II..  was  born 
June  24,  1820,  and  died  May  15,  L883.  He  is 
buried  at  the  Wolfs  Cross  Road  Church,  for  a 
number  of  years  he  was  a  coal  miner,  living  in 
Audenried,  Pa.,  for  several  years,  and  tor  three 
years  at  Hazleton.  After  his  marriage  he  moved 
to  Low-er  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township, 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  boughl  from 
David  Shipe  the  farm  of  eighty  acres  upon  \\ 
he  made  his  home  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  car- 
ried on  general  farming,  in  which  he  prospered 
so  well  that  he  was  able  to  buy  more  land,  adding 
materially  to  hi-  original  acreage,  lie  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and   a   Lutheran   in   religion. 

In    the   spring   of    1848    lie    married    I 
Shadel.  who  was  born  in  Schuylkill  county  Air.'. 
•.'I.   1822,  daughter  of  David   Shade!,  a   nam 
Northumberland  county,  who  married   Polly  B 
fey,  1     1  -  valley,  Dauphin  county.     Sis  chil- 

dren v.,  r«  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shade! :  Elizabi 
Henry,  <  laroline,  Sarah,  ( latharine,  and  Eve.     Mr. 
Shadel  passed  most  of  his  life  in  the  Lykens  val- 
ley   and    was    a    hal    manufacturer   l>\    occupal 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  had  three  children  ;    John  II. : 
I  »,n  id,  who  died  u  hi  :  and  Louisa, 

who   married   W.    B.    faster,   Esq.,  a   merchant   and 
postma    '  :        ■    Points,  this  coi  n 

John    II.    Beck    was    reared    and    educated    in 
Rockefeller  to\i  oship,  where  he  ;  d  all  his 
life.    He  was  n  entually 
-lead,  to  wf 


98 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEN  NSYEYANIA 


until  he  now  ha?  a  tract  of  260  acres,  where  he 
carries  on  general  farming.  Ho  lias  raised  con- 
siderable stock,  and  for  many  years  was  engaged 
in  the  dairy  business,  running  a  milk  team  daily 
to  Sunbury.  He  kept  as  many  as  thirty-two  cows, 
which  were  cared  for  in  the  most  approved  hy- 
gienic fashion,  his  barn  being  a  model  modern  es- 
tablishment, supplied  with  running  water  and  var- 
ious other  facilities  for  keeping  it  cleanly  and  at- 
tractive. He  has  also  made  a  number  of  improve- 
ments in  his  residence,  which  is  supplied  with  run- 
uing  water  ami  is  a  comfortable  home,  kept  up 
with  the  same  care  which  characterizes  all  Mr. 
Beck's  possessions.  He  has  shown  excellent  bus- 
iness  ability  in  every  branch  of  his  work,  which 
has  thriven  under  his  management  until  he  is 
justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists 
of  his  section.  He  has  interested  himself  in  the 
local  welfare,  taking  part  in  such  movements  as 
affect  the  entire  community,  and  has  been  particu- 
larly active  in  local  educational  matters,  having 
served  six  years  as  school  director,  as  supervisor, 
tri  which  office  he  was  appointed  by  the  court,  and 
from  1903  to  1906  a-  county  commissioner;  he 
was  secretary  'it  fche  board  three  years.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican. 

-Mr.  Beck's  hobby  has  been  music,  and  he  is  a 
fine  performer  on  the  B-flat  cornet,  which  he  has 
played  as  member  of  the  Seven  Points  band :  he 
has  also  played  the  tenor  horn  with  that  organiza- 
tion. Socially  lie  i-  a  member  and  past  master  of 
Lodge  No.  414,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Elysburg,  and  a 
member  of  Camp  No.  130.  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  of  Seven 
Point-.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

On  Jan.  2.  1868,  Mr.  Beck  married  Abbie  R. 
Zostman,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Esther  (Raker)  Zostman.  both  of 
that  township,  whose  children  were:  Sarah  Ann. 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  Alexander.  Harriet.  Wil- 
liam. Mary  Jane,  Rebecca,  Catharine.  Abbie  R., 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  Daniel  and  Esther.  For 
hi-  second  wife  Mr.  Zostman  married  Susanna 
Conrad,  of  Lower  Augusta.  He  was  a  tanner  by 
trade,  and  died  in  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  have 
had  a  large  family,  namely:  William  Edward, 
who  died  April  21,  1872;  David  Albert,  horn  May 
6,  1871,  a  dairyman  in  the  Irish  valley,  in  Sham- 
okin  township,  who  married  Alberta  Dunkel- 
berper:  Mary  Alice,  horn  Aug.  26,  1872,  wife  of 
Harvey  E.  Miller,  a  butcher,  of  Sunhurv;  Daniel 
J.,  horn  Dec.  13,  1873.  a  farmer  of  Rockefeller 
township,  who  married  Emma  J.  Maurer  and  has 
children.  Laura  Y.  and  Lloyd  E. :  George  "YW. 
horn  June  18,  1875;  Harry  Luther,  horn  July  IS. 
is";;,  who  married'  Susanna  Dunkelberger  and 
lives  m  Shamokin  township:  John  Norman,  born 
June  26,  1881;  Susan  Elizabeth,  horn  Oct.  P.'. 
1883,  who  married  Theodore  P.  Bennett,  of  Co- 
lumbia county;  Franklin  W.,  horn  dan.  20,  1886: 


Abbie  M..  born  Sept.  30,  1888 :  Kate  P.,  born  May 
30,  1890;  Esther  N..  born  Sept.  13,  1892:  and  Or- 
ville  E.,  horn  July  23.  1S95. 

Among  the  family  traditions  preserved  by  the 
.Becks  are  stories  of  the  trouble  these  pioneers 
had  with  the  Indians  during  the  early  days  in 
Northampton  county.  It  is  said  that  they  suffered 
from  several  attacks  of  the  savages,  from  whom 
they  were  in  such  danger  that  they  had  a  place  of 
refuge  constructed  under  the  floor  of  their  house, 
where  they  would  secrete  themselves  when  the  out- 
look was  threatening. 

NELSON  MILLER,  late  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship,  was  "in-  of  the  leading  farmers  of  bis  section 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  born  there.  Jvrne 
14,  1860,  nil  the  homi  stead  of  his  father,  Solomon 
Miller,  who  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  old- 
i-i  citizen  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  grandson 
of  David  Miller. 

The  Miller  family  has  long  been  established  in 
Pennsylvania.  George  Miller,  commonly  called 
"Hunter  George,"  emigrated  from  Germany  some 
tune  during  the  eighteenth  century.  He  settled 
near  Hamburg,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  had  sev- 
eral children,  of  whom  nothing  is  known  at  pres- 
ent except  such  history  as  lias  been  preserved  con- 
cerning the  son  John.  John  Miller,  born  in  1759, 
settled  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumberland 
county,  prior  to  1785.  He  owned  about  thirteen 
hundred  acres  of  land  situated  upon  the  Centre 
pike,  and  built  his  log  house  upon  the  south  side 
of  the  road  opposite  where  George  W.  Miller,  his 
great-grandson,  now  resides.  In  ITS-")  he  married 
Catharine  Reber,  who  was  horn  Sept.  26,  1769, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters: 
George;  David:  Elizabeth,  who  was  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  a  Mr.  Rockefeller  and  second 
to  a  Mr.  Wilbour;  and  Sarah.  Mrs.  Miller.  Be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  in  1804.  when  he 
was  forty-five  years  old,  George  Miller  divided  his 
property  between  his  sons,  David  obtaining  the 
land  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley  and  George 
that  on  the  north  side.  His  wife,  who  survived 
him  many  years,  died  Aug.  19,  1845,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years.  John  and  Elizabeth  Miller 
are  interred  in  the  old  Baptist  burial  ground 
near  Deiblers  station,  in  Shamokin  township. 

Solomon  Miller,  father  of  Nelson  Miller,  was 
born  in  August,  1820.  in  Shamokin  township,  this 
county,  and  thence  moved  to  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  for  sixty  years.  For  many 
years  lie  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  residents 
of  his  section.  A  prosperous  farmer,  he  acquired 
the  ownership  of  several  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
township,  and  had  a  long  active  career,  retaining 
his  physical  vigor  until  well  advanced  in  years. 
He  continued  to  work  until  five  years  before  his 
death,  when  he  sustained  an  injury  which  made  it 
necessary  for  him  to  relinquish  some  of  his  activ- 


north  cm kkklaxd  county,  Pennsylvania 


99 


ities.  He  died  July  11,  1909,  when  almost  eighty- 
three,  and  was  the  oldest  citizen  of  the  township 
at  thai  time.  His  death  was  caused  by  paralysis. 
Mr.  Miller's  home  was  seven  miles  from  Sunbury, 
where  his  remains  were  taken  for  interment,  in 
Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  The  community  felt 
that  id  his  death  it  had  lost  one  of  its  most  val- 
uable citizens.  He  had  not  only  managed  his  own 
affairs  well  but  had  been  intimately  associated  with 
the  best  interests  of  his  section,  encouraging  and 
supporting  everything  thai  would  advance  the 
prosperity  of  the  township,  and  those  in  financial 
distress  found  a  true  friend  in  him.  Mr.  Miller 
had  been  married  three  times,  his  first  wife  being 
Adaline  Kline,  who  died  three  or  four  years  after 
their  marriage.  To  this  union  was  born  one  daugh- 
ter, Theresa,  now  the  widow  of  Prof.  Ira  Shipman 
and  living  in  Sunbury.  By  his  second  wife.  Cath- 
arine (Long),  daughter  of  Daniel  Long,  there 
were  two  sons,  Nelson  and  Jefferson,  the  latter 
now  in  Texas,  where  he  holds  a  responsible  posi- 
tion in  the  oil  fields. 

Nelson  Miller  received  Ins  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he 
followed  all  his  life.  From  the  time  he  was  twelve 
years  old  he  had  charge  of  his  father's  teams.  In 
1910  the  homestead  farm  of  his  father  came  into 
his  possession— one  of  the  finest  farm  properties 
m  Rockefeller  township  and  under  an  excellent 
state  of  i  nltivation.  The  farm  on  which  he  died, 
and  where  his  widow  and  family  live,  contains 
,  onsiderabl)  over  one  hundred  acres,  and  in  addi- 
tion Mr.  Miller  owned  two  adjoining  farm-.  He 
died  Nov.  II.  1910,  suddenly,  succumbing  to  a 
stroke  of  paralysis  from  which  he  suffered  the  day 
before.  Fifty  years  of  age,  and  possessing  abun- 
dant vitality  and  splendid  physique,  he  was  taken 
away  when 'the  best  part  of  his  life  was  apparently 
before  him.  He  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Church 
at  Augustaville.  The  family  are  Lutherans.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Miller  was  serving 
as  supervisor  of  his  township,  and  he  had  been  a 
member  of  its  school  board.  He  was  a  man  who 
possessed  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and 
proved  himself  worthy  of  it  in  the  discharge  ol 
the  dutie,   of   hi-  public  trusts. 

On  May  13,  1883,  Mr.  Miller  married  Lillie  (  . 
Klase  daughter  of  Francis  and  Rebecca  (Shaffer) 
Klase,  who  lived  at  Stonington,  Pa.,  and  seven 
children  were  born  to  them:  Dora  E. :  Carl  W., 
now  farming  one  of  the  tracts  belonging  to  his 
father's  estate,  who  married  Stella  Bartholomew 
and  has  one  child.  Arline;  Arthur  E;  Frank  b.; 
Ralph  W.;  Mary  T..  who  died  in  childhood;  and 
Grace  R. 

PETER  W  SCHLEIG,  justic '  the  pence  and 

retired  merchant,  of  Gowen  City,  in  Cameron 
township,  is  one  of  the  host  known  citizens  of  his 
section  of  Northumberland  county,  where  he  has 


been  identified  with  business  and  public  affairs 
for  a  long  period.  He  was  hern  in  Cameron  town- 
ship April  28,  1845,  sen  of  Daniel  and  Catharine 
(Weary)  Schleig,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  Ger- 
man origin. 

Adam  Schleig,  his  great-grandfather,  came  to 
this  country  from  Germany,  and  served  his 
adopted  land  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  after- 
ward settled  upon  the  land  now  owned  by  Brinton 
Hartline,  in  Cameron  township,  Northumberland 
Co..  Pa.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
His  son  Adam,  who  was  horn  about  1774.  inherited 
that  property  and  passed  his  entire  life  there. 
He  taught  German  in  the  local  school.-.  He  dud 
in  Cameron  township  about  1819,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Catharine 
(Derek),  were  born  six  children:  Daniel: 
Michael:  Martin:  Elizabeth:  Sarah,  Mrs.  John 
Derr:  and  Catharine.  Mrs.  Philip  Kerstetter. 
Elizabeth,  who  lived  in  Cameron  township,  was 
the  last  survivor  of  the  family. 

Daniel  Schleig,  eldest  son  of  Adam,  was  horn 
Aug.  8,  1812,  at  the  old  homestead,  and  died  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  in  connei  - 
tion  with  farming,  and  was  quite  a  prominenl  i 
in  his  day  in  the  locality,  holding  minor  township 
offices  and  being  an  active  worker  in  the  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  as  elder  and  deacon.  Id 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Catharine 
Weary,  who  survived  him,  continuing  to  make  her 
home'  in  Cameron  township  until  her  death,  in 
1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children:  Peter  W.,  Joseph, 
Michael.  Hannah  (wife  of  Daniel  Enarr),  Salome 
(wife  of  Henry  Sortman),  and  Marl  in.  all  now  de- 
ceased except  'Peter  W.  and   Hannah. 

Peter  W.  Schleig  was  reared  upon  the  old  home- 
stead place,  which  his  father  inherited  and  oc- 
cupied. He  received  his  education  in  the  publn 
schools  of  Cameron  township,  and  when  a  hoy  oi 
thirteen  commenced  work  in  the  mines,  where  he 
was  employed  for  sixteen  years,  filling  various 
positions.  In  1874  be  established  himself  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Gowen  City,  which  he  con- 
tinued for  over  thirty-five  years,  retiring  June  22, 
1910  since  when  the  store  has  been  carried  on 
by  his  son  Andrew  H.  Schleig.  Mr.  Schleig,  how- 
ever has  by  no  means  retired  from  active  partu  - 
nation  in  business  or  matters  of  general  rate 
In  1009  in  partnership  with  his  son  Andrew  and 
Elias  Gonser,  he  established  a  telephone  com 

for  local  service  which  has  proved  a  b o  '   < 

community,   both   as   a   pn 
for  the  convenience  it  has  afforded  manj 
0f  the  locality.     [1   is  known  as  the  Gowi      i 
branch   of   the   Bell    phone,  and   has  been   a   highly 
ul  enterpi    ■ 
There  are  few  men  in  i1 


10861811 


100 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..   PENNSYLVANIA 


more  prominently  identified  with  the  administra- 
tion of  loeal  public  affairs.  Mr.  Schleig  has  al- 
ways been  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  cause 
of  free  education,  and  as  such  was  repeatedly 
elected  to  membership  on  the  school  board,  his 
willing  services  meeting  with  the  highest  approval 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  has  also  served  his 
township  as  treasurer,  auditor,  assessor  (  five  years  i 
and  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  office  he  was 
first  elected  in  1876,  and  in  which  he  has  served 
continuously  since.  He  has  been  a  lifelong  Demo- 
crat, and  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  party 
in  his  township.  In  every  relation  of  life  he  has 
won  the  respeel  of  all  associated  with  him.  So- 
cially he  holds  membership  in  Gowen  City  L  dge, 

I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  75  of  Oowen 
City,  Shamokin  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M..  and  Gowen 
City  Cam]),  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  In  religion  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  has  set  ed 
six  years  as  deacon. 

Mr.  Schleig's  Brsl  wife,  Annetta  (Haupt), 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Haupt,  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-six  years.  By  this  union  there  was  one 
son,  Andrew  11..  who  was  born  March  28,  1864, 
ived  a  public  school  education,  and  at  an  early 
age  entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  with  whom 
he  has  ever  since  been  associated  in  business.  In 
18S5  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Gowen  City 
and  he  has  held  the  office  ever  since.  lie  has 
served  the  township  as  auditor  and  tax  collector, 
and  served  as  county  auditor  two  terms.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  an  active 
citizen  in  many  ways.  Leading  a  busj  and  useful 
life.  He  is  a  member  of  Gowen  City  Lodge,  I.  0. 
<  >.  P.,  and  of  the  encampment,  and  a  member 
of  Shamokin  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married 
Mary  Henninger,  daughter  of  Nathan  Eenninger, 
of  Cameron  township,  and  they  have  had  two  chil- 
dren. Charles  ami  Goldie.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew 

II.  Schleig  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
For  his  second  wife  Peter  W.  Schleig  married 

Mrs.  Lillie  A.  (Yoder)  May.  daughter  of  Enos 
1).  Yoder  and  widow  of  Harry  May,  by  whom  she 
had  two  children,  Joseph  G.  and  Enos  D.  Her 
father  was  born  in  the  Mahanoy  Valley  and  moved 
thence  to  Shamokin,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business :  he  married  Susanna  Drumheller. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  W.  Schleig  have  had  these 
children:  Rolland  L„  Goldie  L.  and  Annie  S.. 
all  livinsr.  Socially  Mrs.  Schleig  holds  member- 
ship in -Rebekah  Lodge  No.  75  of  Gowen  City, 
the  ladies  auxiliary  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  site  is 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

LAFAYETTE  SECTILER,  now  a  resident  of 
the  borough  of  Riverside,  was  until  recently  a 
farmer  in  Gearhart  township,  in  which  section 
his  family  has  resided  for  several  generations. 
Mr.  Sechler  was  born  in  1860,  at  Bradys  Bend, 
Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Alem  Marr  Sechler. 


and  he  is  a  grandson  of  Jacob  Sechler  and  great- 
grandson  of  John  Sechler. 

John  Sechler  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  In  1775  he  purchased  from  the  Penns 
some  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Danville,  and  built  a  house  not  far  from  where 
the  State  hospital  now  stands,  in  which  house,  in 
1790,  his  son  Jacob  was  born,  the  first  male  child 
born  within  the  present  limits  of  Danville.  The 
old  Mahoning  burying  ground  was  taken  from 
his  land. 

History  informs  us  that  there  were  four  broth- 
ers of  the  Sechler  family  who  settled  in  or  around 
Danville.  One  of  these  was  Rudolf  Sechler.  born 
in  1772,  who  married  Susanna  Douty.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  but  later  became  register  and 
recorder  of  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and  in  1821  he 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office 
he  held  until  1S45,  resigning  on  account  id'  his 
age.  lie  died  in  L857,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 
He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  of  only  on 
whom,  at  this  writing,  we  have  any  definite  knowl- 
edge, this  being  H.  B.  1).  Sechler.  who  was  born 
Jan.  26,  1m is.  In  his  early  life  he  became  a 
painter,  following  that  business  all  hi-  active  life. 
In  1830  he  married  .lane  Jamison,  of  Mifflin  coun- 
ty.  Pa.,  who  died  in  1831;  in  1835  he  married 
(second)  Sarah  Gearhart.  daughter  of  John  Gear- 
hart,  and  a  member  of  the  Gearhart  family  so 
prominent  in  this  section,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  Harriet  (Mrs.  John  Watters)  and  Emma 
I  Mrs.  John  Yorgy). 

Jacob  Sechler,  son  of  John,  born  in  1790,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  IF'  married  Barbara 
Reese,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family, 
of  whom  we  have  the  following  record:  (1) 
Abram,  born  in  Danville  April  13.  LS14.  was 
twice  married,  the  first  time,  in  1835,  to  Lavina, 
daughter  of  Asa  Pancoast.  She  died  in  1864, 
the  mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  are  men- 
tioned Mary  Alice  (Mrs.  ffenr;  Schick),  Sarah 
Jane  (Mrs.  John  Kerwin)  and  V.  YV  (of  Phil- 
adelphia. Pa.).  In  1869  Abram  Sechler  married 
(second)  Harriet  Wertman,  daughter  of  John 
Wertman,  and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child. 
Martha  (Mrs.  Charles  Robinson).  ( 2 )  Samuel, 
born  in  Danville,  married  Martha  Morgan,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  Jacob,  Hannah  (Mrs. 
Ends).  Dallas.  Isaac.  John  and  Mrs.  Newberry 
(of  fmnbury,  Pa.).  (.1)  Jacob  married  Susan 
Harris  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Harris,  Charles,  Anna.  Ida  and 
Jay.  all  of  whom  live  in  the  West,  their  father 
having  moved  to  that  section  many  years  ago, 
settling  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  founded  the  town 
still  known  as  Sechlerville.  (4)  Mary.  Mrs.  Coxey, 
had  children,  Jacob  Sechler.  Martha  and  Eliza- 
beth, all  of  whom  live  in  Ohio.  (5)  Alem  Marr 
is  mentioned  below.  (6)  Frank  R..  born  March 
22,  1826,  in  Mahoning  township,  Montour  county, 


N<  MITHUMBERLAXD  county.  PEN  XSYLVAX  [A 


L01 


married  in  1850  Abigail  Best,  and  they  have  chil- 
dren, Barbara  (Mrs.  Kinney)  and  Clarke  (of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.).  (7)  James  moved  out  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  (8)  Lafayette,  horn  in  Danville, 
married  Eosanna  MeBride,  and  they  had  four 
children,  Margaret  (Mrs.  Jeremiah  Faust).  Anna 
(wife  of  Eev.  J.  11.  Mortimer),  William  A.  (who 
married  Mary  Williams  and  has  one  son.  Jay) 
and  Ida  M. 

Alem  Marr  Sechler  was  bom  in  1824  in  Dan- 
ville, Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  in  1903.  Ee 
was  by  trade  a  straightener  of  iron  rails,  for  rail- 
roads, and  straightened  the  first  rail  made  in  the 
iron  mills  at  Danville.  In  1854  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Gearhart  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, lying  along  what  is  known  as  Kipp's  run,  it  be- 
ing a  part  of  the  tract  settled  by  the  Doutys  and  lat- 
er owned  by  the  Kipps.  Mr.  Sechler  married  Em- 
ily Love,  daughter  of  Stephen  Fairehild  and"  Ma- 
hala  (Nelson)  Love,  and  they  had  three  children, 
Lafayette,  Kate  and  Gardner  Little  (who  died  in 
infancy)  ;  the  daughter  married  Charles  W.  Blakes- 
lee,  a  teacher  in  the  High  school  at  Long  Branch, 
N.  J.,  and  thej  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren. Marrion  and  two  sons  wdio  are  deceased. 

Lafayette  Sechler  was  reared  on  the  farm,  mean- 
lime  receiving  his  education  in  the  cot on  scl Is 

of  his  home  township  and  at  Williamsport,  Pa. 
After  attaining  his  majority  he  continued  farm- 
ing, on   Ins  own   account,  and  upon  the  death  of 

his    father    he    purchased    the   old    h estead    in 

Gearhart  township,  which  he  carried  on  until 
1909.  At  that  time  he  moved  to  his  present  home 
in  the  borough  of  Riverside,  and  he  has  since 
rented  his  farm,  which  comprises  156  acres  of 
excellent  river  bottom  land.  Mr.  Sechler  has  been 
enterprising  in  his  business,  and  has  made  a  suc- 
cess of  his  undertakings,  hut  he  has  also  found 
time  to  take  part  in  various  matters  of  interest 
to  the  community  generally,  and  he  has  filled 
differed  township  offices,  having  several  times 
held  that  of  school  director,  lie  is  a  Mason,  hold- 
ing membership  in  Lodge  No.  516,  F.  $  A.  M., 
of  Danville,  of  which  he  is  a  past  master. 

On  Oct.  9,  1884,  Mr.  Sechler  married  Clarissa 
Smith,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  S.  and  Sarah 
(Beed)  Smith,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Blanche  is  the  wife  of  P.  M.  Irey,  and  lives  in 
Lewisburg.  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Irey  owns  and  con- 
ducts what  was  formerly  the  Marsh  shoe  store; 
Paul  is  in  his  senior  year  at  the  Danville  high 
school.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Baptisi 
Church,  though  Mr.  Sechler  is  a  Methodist  in 
religious  connection. 

JOSEPH  F.  CUMMINGS.  of  Sunbury,  former 
chief  burgess,  an  influential  and  honored  citizen 
of  that  borough,  whose  career  has  made  him  one 
of  its  most  respected  residents,  has  had  Ion-  and 
intimate  connection  with  public  affairs  m  Penn- 


sylvania in  his  capacity  of  court  reporter,  a  pro- 
fession he  has  followed  for  a  period  of  thirty-five 
years.  His  work  has  not  only  taken  him  into  the 
courts  of  a  number  of  counties  in  this  State,  hut 
also  into  the  State  Legislative  bodies.  II.-  was  the 
first  official  stenographer  appointed  in  the  counties 
of  Union,  Snyder,  Mifflin,  Juniata  and  Perry 
alter  the  act  authorizing  their  appointment  in 
1874  was  passed. 

Mr.  Cummings  was  born  March  13,  L853,  at 
McEwensville,  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
Alexander  Cummings  and  grandson  of  .lames 
Cummings,  who  was  a  son  of  John  Cummings,  the 
first  ancestor  of  this  family  in  America. 

John  Cummings  landed  at  Newcastle,  whence 
lie  proceeded  to  Philadelphia  and  from  there  to 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  lie  located  in 
Sunbury  at  an  early  day.  having  been  a  member 
of  the  town  council  in  1797.  He  is  known  to  have 
been  possessed  of  some  means  upon  his  arrival  in 
the  borough.  Of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  he  was 
a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith,  and  he  left  the 
reputation  of  having  been  a  man  of  exceedingly 
kindly  disposition.  He  is  buried  at  Middle  Creek. 
Snyder  Co..  Pa.  His  children  were:  John. 
James;  Nancy,  who  married  a  Mr.  Spence;  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  John  Cummings.  and  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years;  and  Nancy  (the  second 
of  that  name  in  the  family),  who  married  James 
Russell  and  lived  at  Danville,  Pa.  John  Cum- 
mings. husband  of  Elizabeth,  was  the  first  sheriff 
of  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  served  as  associate  judge 
and  was  known  as  ""Judge"  Cummings,  and  in 
1816  was  master  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Williams- 
port,  where  they  resided.  He  was  the  owner  of  a 
farm  on  which  part  of  Newberry  is  bunted. 

James  Cummings,  son  of  John,  was  born  July 
11,  1794,  and  died  June  86,  L836.  For  some  tune 
lie  was  a  merchant  at  Washingtonville,  Montour 
Co..  Pa.,  where  he  was  residing  al  the  time  of 
his  death,  winning  an  excellent  reputation  as  a 
business  man.  Ee  was  public-spirited  and  took-  an 
active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  bis  time,  held  the 
rank  of  major  in  the  State  militia,  and  was  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M..  at  Sun- 
bury, to  which  In-  father  also  belonged.  On  Nov. 
6,  1817,  he  married  Fannie  Billmeyer,  who  was 
bom  in  1788,  near  Washingtonville,  now  in  Mon- 
tour county,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Fannie 
Billmeyer,  and  died  April  L6,  1835.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Cummings  are  buried  in  the  Bill- 
meyer private  graveyard,  six  miles  east  of  Milton, 
along  the  Chillisquaque  creek.  Their  children 
were  horn  as  follows:  Andrew.  s,-pt.  ii.  L818; 
Alexander,  April  3,  1819;  Chri  fciana,  -Inn,'  is. 
1822;  Fannie,  Man  h  16,  1836;  Nancy,  Sept.  1 1. 
1829. 

Alexander  Cummings  was  bora  at  Washington- 
ville, Montour  Co..  Pa.  He  became  engaged  in 
(he  hotel  business  at  Mitllinburg.  Onion  Co.,  Pa., 


102  NOETHTTMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

where  he  was  burned  out   in   1857,  his  place  of  1S74  he  received  such  appointment  to  serve  in  the 

business  being  completely  destroyed,  and  he  him-  courts    of    Union.    Snyder,    Mifflin,    Juniata    and 

self  so  badly  injured  in  the  disaster  that  he  died  Perry  counties.     At  the  beginning  of  such  service 

six   months   later,   in  the  same   year.      His    wife,  he   entered   the  Millersville   State  normal   school, 

Mary  E.    (Morgan),  whom  he  married  Feb.   26,  near  Lancaster,    Pa.,   and  pursued  the  studies  of 

L846,  still  survives  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  making  the  course  between  courts,  and  at  the  expiration 

her  home  with  her  daughter  at   Mexico,  Montour  of  three  years   entered   the   office  of  Hon.   S.    P. 

county.     She  is  a   faithful  member  of  the  Tres-  Wolverton  and  remained  with  him  between  courts 

byterian   Church.     To   Mr.   and    Mrs.    Cummings  until  1881. 

were    born    six    children:    James    H.    (who    was  For  seventeen  years  Mr.  Cummings  reported  for 

killed    at    the    Billmeyer   sawmill,    at    the   age   of  the  courts  of  Union,  Snyder  ami  Mifflin  counti   ;, 

miir  years,  while  seated  on  a  sawlog),  Robert  M.,  and  continues  his  work  in  the  courts  of  Juniata 

John  J..  Joseph  ¥..  Annie  F.  and  Robert  A.  and  Perry  counties,  in  addition  to  the  courts  of 

Mis.  Mary  E.  (Morgan)  Cummings  was  born  Northumberland  county.  In  his  long  experience 
Nov.  4.  1824,  one  mile  east  of  the  Chillisquaque  as  court  reporter  he  has  been  engaged  specially  in 
Church,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Anne  (Auten)  the  counties  of  Cambria,  Blair,  Bedford,  Hunting- 
Morgan.  'The  latter  was  the  daughter  of  John  don,  Dauphin.  Lebanon,  Berks.  Adams.  Montgom- 
Auten.  who  was  a  large  land  owner  ami  miller,  cry.  Delaware.  Philadelphia.  Lycoming,  Clinton 
conducting  a-  well  a  sawmill  on  the  Chillisquaque  and  Elk.  11.-  was  for  seven  years  official  reporter 
creek,  having  been  among  the  firsi  settlers  along  for  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  before  said 
the  said  creek  to  utilize  its  waters  for  business  body  was  organized  as  a  department,  and  he  was 
purposes.  His  farms  are  now  owned  by  Hon.  similarly  employed  a  number  of  times  as  reporter 
Alexander  Billmeyer.  The  children  of  Robert  and  for  the  State  Horticultural  Society,  of  which  he 
Anne  Morgan  were:  John  J..  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  i;-  a  life  member.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
Cummings),  Joseph  A.  (dud  young),  Jane,  also  reported  in  the  State  Senate  of  Pennsylvania, 
Joseph  T..  Sarah  A.  and  Robert  G.  his  work  including  the  proceedings  of  the  eommit- 

Mrs.   Anne    (Auten)    Morgan,  maternal  grand-  tee  appointed  by  the  Senate  and   House  t"  inves- 

niother  of  the  subject   of  this  sketch,   was  a   de-  tigate  the  insane  asylums  of  the  State,  which  re- 

seendent  of   Adrian   Hendrickson   Auten   and   his  port  was  published  in  book  form.    In  1880  he  was 

wife  Elizabeth    (Thomas),  who  came   from    Hoi-  stenographer  on  the  State  committee  of  which  Hon. 

land    and    settled    in    Flatbush,    Long    Island,    in  A.  H.  Dill  was  chairman.    In  1888  he  accompanied 

1651,  his  descendants  having  moved  to  Northanip-  the    Pennsylvania    Miller-'    State   Association    on 

ton  Co.,  Pa.,  near  Delaware  Water  Gap,  in  1764,  their  trip  across   the  continent   to  San    Fran.   - 

and    soon    thereafter   one   of   the   members   of   the  and   as  far  north  as  Tacoma,  Wash.,  stopping  at 

family   located   in    Northumberland   county.  various    places    along   the   rout.'   and    traveling    a 

Ji  seph  F.  Cummings  began  his  education  in  the  week  in  Yellowstone  park.  In  L890  lie  planted  a 
common  -elm,.]-,  and  in  his  youth  learned  tele-  peach  orchard  of  five  thousand  live-  four  miles 
graphy  in  the  Milton  office  of  the  Philadelphia  &  south  of  Sunbury,  and  with  his  other  duties  man- 
Erie  Bailroad  Company.  He  was  only  fourteen  aged  the  growth  and  product  of  the  orchard  for 
vears  of  age  when  he  took  charge  of  a  telegraph  twenty  years.  When  the  trees  became  exhausted 
office   near    Lock    Haven,   and   after   a    few  years'  he  sold  the  place. 

service  was  transferred  t<i  the  day  office  at  Lock  Mr.  Cummings's  wide  experience  of  and  thor- 
Haven,  where  he  was  operator  for  the  Philadelphia  ough  insight  regarding  public  affairs  has  made  him 
&  Erie  and  Bald  Eagle  Vallev  roads  and  the  West-  a  particularly  valuable  citizen  of  his  home  place. 
ern  Union  Telegraph  Company.  It  was  at  this  He  served  some  yeaTS  as  a  member  of  the  council 
time  that  he  took  tip  the  study  of  shorthand,  with-  of  the  borough  of  Sunbury.  and  was  subsequently 
out  a  teacher,  ami  with  no  help  from  any  one  who  elected  chie  --.  m  1891.  During  his  incum- 
nnderstood  its  practice.  This  was  in  1872,  and  in  bency  of  that  office  the  first  square  of  vitrified 
spite  of  obvious  disadvantages  he  had  progressed  brick  paving  was  laid.  He  showed  his  progressive 
so  far  in  1873  that  he  was  requested  to  proceed  to  spirit  and  intelligent  understanding  of  the  nei  - 
Erie  to  take  the  position  of  private  stenographer  to  of  the  community  in  many  ways,  chief  among 
William  A.  Baldwin,  then  general  superintendent  which  was  the  bringing  to  Sunbury  of  a  representa- 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  railroad.  He  was  the  tive  of  the  Lewis  Mercer  Sewer  Construction  Corn- 
first  incumbent  to  hold  a  position  of  this  kind  in  pany.  of  New  York  City,  for  the  purpi  -  i  stab- 
the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  Eailroad  lishing  a  general  sewer  system  throughout  the  bor- 
Company.  and  he  was  with  Mr.  Baldwin  when  the  ough.  An  agreement  was  made  satisfactory  to 
offices  were  removed  to  Williamsport.  After  he  the  borough  council  and  an  ordinance  formulated 
had  remained  a  year  with  Mr.  Baldwin  the  Act  to  accomplish  the  object.  The  authority  was  aft- 
of  Assembly  authorizing  the  appointment  of  offi-  erward  vested  in  a  local  party,  but  never  com- 
cial  stenographers  was  passed,  and  in  the  fall  of  pleted.     He  was  active  in  encouraging  all  move- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in:: 


ments  for  the  benefit  of  the  greatesl  number,  and 
giving  his  aid  to  worthy  projects  whenever  possible. 
He  and  his  family  arc  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  has  ta  □ 
an  active  pari,  being  ai  presenl  a  ruling  elder  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school,  which  latter 
position  he  has  held  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
has  served  as  a   director  of  the  Sunbury   Mutual 

Fire  In-iir, ■  (  ipinpany  from  its  organization  in 

1896. 

Socially  Mr.  Cu minings  is  a  Mason,  being  a 
member  and  pasl  master  of  Lodge  No.  22,  V.  & 
A.  M.,  member  aid  pasl  high  priest  of  Northum- 
berland Chapter,  No.  11  I,  R.  A.  M.,  both  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  a  member  of  Bloomsburg  Consistory, 
thirty-second  degree.  He  is  at  present  senior 
grand  master  of  ceremonies  of  the  Grand  Chapter 
of  Holy  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
i-  also  a  member  of  the  Veteran  Association  of  the 
Eastern  Divisii I'  the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  Kail- 
road  Company. 

(Mi  Dec.  29,  1887,  Mr.  Curnmings  married  Emily 
M.  (Tmberger,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  R.  and  Mary 
E.  (Moody)  Umberger,  "I'  Dauphin,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children: 
John  P..  Mary  E.,  Juliel  P.  and  Joseph  F.  The 
last  named,  who  was  born  May  is.  1898,  is  gener- 
ally conceded  to  l>e  the  largesl  child  of  his  age  in 
Pennsylvania.  When  eleven  years  of  a£e,  in  the 
summer  of  1909,  he  was  four  feet,  eleven  inches  in 
height  and  weighed  226  pounds.  Excepl  for  his 
size  he  is  a  normal,  healthy  boy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cummings  have  an  ideal  home,  a  large,  convenient 
and  well  appointed  residence  with  all  the  comforts 
which  go  to  constitute  a  desirable  dwelling  place. 

JOHN  F.  DEUMHEISEE,  of  Shamokin,  for- 
mer chief  burgess  of  that  borough  and  for  over  ten 
years  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  is  a  citizen 
who  has  done  his  -hare  in  administering  the  affairs 
of  the  community  in  such  a  manner  as  to  reflei 
credit  on  both  himself  and  the  community.  Pur- 
ine- his  long  service  in  the  council — of  which  body 
he  was  president  one  year — ami  his  three  years  as 
chief  burgess  he  was  in  a  position  to  promote  much 
valuable  legislation  affecting  the  local  welfare,  es- 
pei  ially  as  regards  improvements  in  the  borou 
public  utilities.  That  he  used  his  powers  in  the 
most  public-spirited  manner  is  attested  by  his 
long  retention  in  office.  He  has  made  a  permanent 
place  for  himself  among  the  citizens  of  Shamokin 
who  have  done  something  for  the  borough. 

Mr.  DrnmheiseT  was  born  Aug.  23,  1837,  ai  St. 
Clair.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Conrad  Drum- 
heiser,  a  native  of  Germany,  horn  near  Berlin  in 
April.  1831,  who  came  to  America  when  eighteen 
years  old.  He  landed  at  New  York  City,  hut  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  St.  Clair.  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  followed  mining.  He  first  came  to  Sha- 
mokin   in    1859,   hut   his   wife   died    there   and   lie 


went  hack  to  Schuylkill  county,  returning  to 
Northumberland  county  m  1860  and  reman 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  In.  1873. 
At  tlie  time  of  Ins  death  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Douty  &  Baumgardner,  at  the  old  Henry  Clay  col- 
liery, which  was  operated  by  Alexander  Fulton,  of 
Shamokin.  and  the  gas  explosion  there  in  which 
he  and  ten  other  men  lost  their  lives  was  the  lir-t 
accident  of  such  serious  importance  in  the  district. 
Mr.   Drumheiser  was  well  known  in   the  town  in 

various  connections.     II 'gani  i  d   the  first  hand 

ai  Shamokin  and  taught  the  same,  and  he  was 
known  as  a  composer  of  music,  devoting  all   the 
time  possible  to  such  work,  in  which  he      ■ 
keenest  enjoyment.     He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  German    Reformed   Church  of  Shamokin   an. I 
one  of  its  liberal  supporters. 

Conrad  Drumheiser  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Elizabeth  Neagart,  of  Schuylkill 
county,  li\  whom  he  hail  two  children.  John  F. 
and  Charles,  the  latter  also  a  residenl  of  Shamo- 
kin. By  his  second  wife.  Henrietta  Machet,  he 
had  four  children:  Elizabeth  I  married  William 
Lewis).  Conrad.  Philip  YV.  and  Barbara  (Mrs. 
Adam-). 

John    F.    Drumheiser  came   to   Shamokin   with 
his  father  and  here  received   all  his  education    in 
the  public  schools.     When   a   boy  he  began   v 
at  the  mines,  which  he  has  continued  ever  since, 
having  been  employed  in  that  line  for  the  li  ag 
riod  of  thirty-nine  years.  He  is  now  at  the  Burnside 
colliery,  in  the  employ  of  the  Coal  &   Iron  Com- 
pany.    Mr.  Drumheiser  is  a  worker  whose  intelli- 
gence and  reliability  can  he  depended  upon.  , 
he  has  the  highesl   reputation   for  efficiency. 

In  1879  Mr.  Drumheiser  married  Caroline  Vo- 
der, and  to  this  union  have  been  horn  the  following 
children:  Oliver  Charles,  Raymond,  [da  May, 
Cora,  Gertrude,  Malcolm.  Helen  Irene  ami  Curtis 
Allen. 

Mr.  Drumheiser's  public  service  began  with  his 
eleel  ion  as  member  of  the  council  from  the  Second 
ward,  in  1897.  lie  served  ten  and  a  half  vears  in 
that  position,  during  which  time  ded  over 

the  council  for  a  year.  In  1906  he  was  elected 
chief  burgess,  and  served  a-  such  until  1909.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  faith,  lie  is  a  member 
of  Camp  No.  1  19,  P.  0  -  o  \..  in  Shamol 
of  the  We-i  End  Fire  Company,  and  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church. 

ZARTMAN.  The  Zartmans  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  have  I n  idem 

with    the   best    .'lenient    in    thi  era! 

general  ions    past,  ami  the  family 

in   this  county   for  over  one   hundred   and    fo 

i"  of    the    t ;  1 1 1 1  -  I  oiintri 

settled  in  l.an< 

Alexander  Zartman  and  his  wife  Ann  Catharina 
came  from  Germany  to   !  n  the  summer  of 


1(14 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1  '<  28.  They  were  classified  with  the  German  Pal- 
atinates, but  it  is  more  likely  that  they  came  from 
the  province  of  Wurtemberg,  possibly  from  Erlen- 
bach.  Their  first  stopping-place  was  Philadelphia, 
whence  they  followed  the  pike  leading  to  Ham- 
burg, and  at  length  found  their  way  into  the  re- 
gion of  the  Tulpehoeken,  southwest  of  Reading, 
in  Berks  county,  not  far  from  the  Mudd]  Creek 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  where  they  wor- 
shipped in  the  years  1728  and  1729.  Before  1M". 
however,  they  located  in  Warwick  township,  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1738  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  near  Brickerville,  that  county,  the  deed  Eor 
which  (calling  for  197  acres  i  was  given  by  the 
Penns  to  Alexander  Zartman  in  about  1750.  Ee 
made  his  last  will  and  testament  (recorded  at  Lan- 
caster, Pa.)  Oct.  (i.  1762,  and  it  was  probated  in 
December,  that  year.  His  age  is  not  given.  He 
lived  in  America  thirty-four  years.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  some  years.  They  had  two  sons,  Jacob 
and  Alexander,  and  as  there  is  no  record  of  othei 
offspring  it  is  probable  these  were  their  only  chil- 
dren. The  line  in" which  we  are  interested  is  de- 
seended  from  Jacob,  and  is  given  in  detail  pres- 
ently. 

Alexander  Zartman.  sun  of  the  emigrant,  was 
born  Jul;,  29,  1731,  near  Brickerville.  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  spent  all  his  life  in  his  native  county, 
most  likely  on  the  farm  he  received  from  his 
father.  This  property  was  near  Brickerville,  and 
Alexander  Zartman  (2)  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  there,  at  which  church  he  is 
buried.  Pie  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two  war-. 
His  homestead  remained  in  the  family  until  about 
1907,  descending  through  his  son  Emanuel  to 
Alexander  (3),  Jacob.  George,  David  and  "Wil- 
liam, son  of  David.  To  Alexander  Zartman  (2) 
and  his  wife  Magdalena  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: John  Michael,  Alexander.  Susanna.  Maria 
Elizabeth,  Catharine.  Emanuel  and  Margaret.  The 
three  sons  became  the  heads  of  large  families,  and 
their  posterity  is  scattered  over  many  States  of  the 
Union. 

Jacob  Zartman.  ancestor  of  the  Zartmans  of 
Northumberland  county,  may  have  been  horn  in 
Germany.  He  received  his  inheritance  from  his 
parents  in  1754.  when  they  deeded  to  him  seventy- 
one  acres  of  the  old  homestead.  This  land  Jacob 
Zartman  sold  to  George  Graff e  in  1759  for  £280 
($1,355.20).  In  about  1768  he  came  to  Mahanoy 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  122-acre  tract  at  the  foot  of  Line  Moun- 
tain. In  1 7 T o  John  Adam  Shaffer  deeded  a  farm 
of  100  acres  to  Jacob  Zartman.  of  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, the  consideration  being  £11,  and  there,  be- 
tween what  are  now  known  as  Eneass  and  Otto 
stations,  established  the  old  Zartman  homestead. 
which  after  his  death  was  owned  by  his  sons  Mar- 
tin and  Peter,  later  by  their  brother  Henry,  and 
then,  successively,  by   Henrv's   son  Martin,   Mar- 


tin's son  Daniel  and  Daniel's  son  Samuel  S..  who 
sold  it  only  recently  to  Edward  Hilbush.  There  is 
a  very  good  spring  near  the  old  house,  ami  there 
stood  a  beautiful  pear  tree,  from  which  tour  gen- 
erations gathered  trait.  In  February.  1793,  Jacob 
Zartman  made  his  last  will  and  testament,  ami 
died  either  that  month  or  the  month  following. 
He  is  interred  in  a  private  burial-ground  in  the 
meadow  west  of  the  house;  he  has  no  tombstone. 
He  married  Anna  Margareth  Roemin  (Ream), 
and  their  children  were:  Henry:  Martin:  Anna 
Margareth,  born  Oct.  28,  1755;  Susanna:  Eve, 
born  Oct.  1,  1758  (probably  died  young:  her  birth 
and  baptism  are  recorded  at  Brickerville  Church)  : 
Peter,  born   March  3,  1760;  Jacob;  Anna  Maria. 

Henry  Zartman.  son  of  Jacob,  married  Eliza- 
beth Hauser,  and  they  had  ten  children,  nanieh  : 
Christena;  John  Martin,  bom  Dec.  31.  1774:  John 
Henry,  born  Sept.  5,  1776;  John  Peter,  born  Nov. 
30,  1778;  John  -la,  ob,  born  Dee.  10,  1780  (died 
I-Vb.  ;.  1849);  Elizabeth;  Sophia,  born  May  12, 
1785;  Alexander,  born  Oct.  29,  1786;  Samuel, 
born  Lee.  13,  1  ;*>:  and  Michael. 

John  Martin  Zartman,  son  of  Henry,  was  born 
Dec.  31,  1774,  and  in  accordance  with  the  terms 
of  his  lather's  will  purchased  the  obi  homestead 
m  Mahanoy  township.  It  then  consisted  of  206 
aires,  lb'  was  born  on  that  place  and  passed  his 
entire  life  there,  dying  April  27,  1833;  he  is  buried 
on  the  farm.  By  trade  lie  was  a  blacksmith.  I  lis 
wife.  Elizabeth  (Kniss),  born  Nov.  19,  1779,  died 
Jan.  14,  1854,  and  they  hail  three  children:  Sam- 
uel, born  Feb.  23,  1803;  Daniel,  born  May  18, 
1808,  who  died  March  5,  1883  (bis  wife  Catharine, 
born  April  23,  1814,  died  May  5,  1898)  :  and  Mary. 

Samuel  Zartman.  son  of  John  Martin,  moved 
in  1828  to  Jamestown,  Greene  Co..  Ohio,  and  died 
July  31,  1856.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade.  On  Feb.  12,  1824.  he  married 
Margaret  Crumrine,  who  died  Feb.  2.  1875.  They 
had  the  following  children,  the  first  two  born  in 
Pennsylvania:  Elizabeth  Ann  Maria.  Harriet, 
dames  W.,  Eliza.  Adelia.  Miranda.  Samuel  H., 
William  Isaac.  Charles  H.,  Daniel  E.  and  Essan- 
n ia  II. 


Martin  Zartman.  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Mar- 
gareth Zartman.  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
and  in  about  1769  moved  to  Northumberland 
county,  wdiere  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Under  bis  father'-  will  he  and  his  brother  Peter 
became  joint  owners  of  the  homestead  at  the  foot 
of  Line  Mountain.  lie  made  his  last  will  and  tes- 
tament Oct.  2.  ISlfi.  and  it  was  probated  Oct.  2. 
1817.  He  married  Susanna  Futler  (  Eitler).  sister 
of  his  brother  Jacob's  wife,  and  their  children 
were  born  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  April  27.  1780; 
Martin.  Nov.  11, 1781 ;  Benjamin.  March  13,  lis:;-. 
William.  May  2s.  1785;  Eve  Magdalene,  Oct.  8, 
1795;  Margaret,  1797;  David.  Dec.  30,  1799. 


NOBTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PEX.XSYLVAM.V 


in:, 


.Martin  (Johann  Martin)  Zartman,  sun  of  Mar- 
tin, born  Nov.  11,  1781,  lived  in  Northumberland 
county,  and  died  May  8,  1849.  He  was  a  weaver 
by  trade.  He  married  Elizabeth  KLobel,  born  Sept. 
in.  1775,  died  June  3,  1856,  and  they  had  three 
children:  Sophia,  John,  and  Sarah  Ann  (who 
married  William  Schlappig  and  moved  out  West, 
where  they  died  |. 

Benjamin  Zartman,  son  of  Martin,  born  March 
13,  1783,  was  a  farmer  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, where  he  married  Mary  Stonebraker  (Stein- 
bruch).  In  181]  he  knd  his  family  moved  out  to 
Millville,  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  arrived  Nov. 
9th.  He  bought  land  there,  reared  a  large  family, 
and  died  Feb.  18,  183J  ;  he  is  buried  in  the  Ziegler 
graveyard,  west  of  Hamilton.  Ohio.  His  children 
(at  least  our:  Daniel,  horn  in  Northumberland 
county)  were:  Daniel,  Jonathan,  David.  Benja- 
min. William.  Sarah.  Margaret,  Mary,  Elizabeth 
ami   l.yilia. 

William  Zartman.  son  of  Martin,  horn  in  North- 
umberland county  May  28,  1785,  was  a  farmer  in 
Jackson  township,  owning  and  occupying  the  farm 
there  which  is  now  the  property  of  his  grandson, 
Samuel  M.  Zartman.  He  died  April  30,  is:,;. 
very  suddenly,  while  engaged  in  burning  brush: 
he  was  sitting  on  a  fence  when  overtaken  by  the 
stroke  which  ended  his  life  instantly.  He  is  buried 
at  Si.  Peter's  church,  at  Mahanoy.  His  first  wife, 
Sarah  (Herb),  who  is  buried  at  Hunter,  was  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  namely:  Adam,  born 
Aug.  1,  1810;  Daniel,  horn  Sept.  29,  1811;  Lydia, 

horn    Feb.    12,    1 S 1 4  :    (i 'ge    II.,    horn    April    4, 

1817:  Abraham,  horn  Deo.  5,  1821;  Mary  (Polly), 
born  in  1824:  Rebecca:  Harriet:  Sarah:  Abigail; 
and  Hannah,  who  married  Charles  Leader.  One 
of  the  daughters  married  Daniel  Reitz,  one  Simon 
Bohner,  and  another  Adam  Campbell.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  William  Zartman  married 
Mrs.  Catharine  Elizabeth  (Wolf)  Seiler,  who  was 
born  Feb.  25,  1787,  ami  died  Feb.  22,  1867.  They 
had  a  son  Joseph,  bom  May  11.  1833,  who  died 
Dec.  21,  1858. 

Adam  Zartman.  son  of  William,  was  horn  Aug. 
1,  1810,  in  Jackson  township,  ami  passed  all  his 
long  life  in  Northumberland  county,  dying  Dee. 
28,  1889,  as  the  result  of  an  accident,  at  Herndon. 
He  was  caught  and  killed  by  a  fast  train  on  the 
Pennsvlvania  railroad,  while  crossing  the  track. 
He  is 'buried  at  St.  John's  Lutheran  church.  Ih' 
was  a  lifelong  farmer,  in  1844  purchasing  the  farm 
in  Jackson  township  which  now  belongs  to  Ins  son 
Elias  F.  Zartman.  and  he  was  a  well  known  and 
highly  respected  resident  of  his  district, _ serving 
many  vears  as  supervisor  of  his  township.  On 
Feb.'  27.  1834,  Mr.  Zartman  married  Susanna 
Beitz.  daughter  of  Jacob  Reitz.  of  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  and  she  died  Nov.  2:5.  1842,  the  mother 
of  five  children,  who  were  born  as  follows:  Henry, 
Dec.  30.  1834:  Hannah.  Dec.  25,  1835  (dud  Oct. 


3,  1838)  :  Lydia,  Sept.  ;;.  is:;;  ;  Abigail,  Dee.  24, 
L838  (died  Jan.  18,  1894);  Eliza,  July  11,  1841. 
<in  July  8,  l si;;.  Mr.  Zartman  married  (second) 
Susanna  Forney,  daughter  of  Peter  Forney,  and 
by  this  union  there  were  eight  children:  Sarah, 
horn  April  15,  1845;  Harriet,  Oct.  ;.  L846;  Polly, 
June  vii.  1849;  Phoebe,  Nov.  21.  1850:  Elias  F., 
Sept.  14,  1852:  Michael,  April  13,  Is:,  I;  \|., 
Inula.  - » uly   2:,,  1856;  Lucy  Ann.  (let.  22.  1858. 

EL]  IS  K.  Zu.-m  \x.  -mi  of  Adam,  was  hern 
Sept.  ,14,  1852,  m  Jackson  township,  on  his 
father's  homestead,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  home  district,  attending  subscription  schools 
and  for  the  last  two  years  et  hi,-  school  life  the 
live  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  which  . 
commenced  on  the  homestead  place  on  his  own 
account  in  1874,  and  with  the  exception  of  1876 
and  1877,  when  he  lived  at  Berrysburg,  Dauphin 
county,  he  has  been  there  continuously  since.  Ih 
was  also  farming  at  Berrysburg.  In  September, 
1890,  the  Adam  Zartman  farm  came  into  hi-  pos- 
session. It  consists  ef  188  acres  of  g 1  land,  lo- 
cated in  the  upper  end  of  Jackson  township,  and 
is  a  valuable  piece  of 'property.  Mr.  Zartman  is  a 
thrifty  farmer  and  a  representative  member  of  an 
excellent  old  family.  Ih  i-  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics anil  has  served  three  years  as  school  director. 

in  January.  1873,  Mr.  Zartman  married  Han- 
nah Metz,  daughter  of  William  ami  Kale  (  Forney) 
Metz,  of  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren: Henry  A.  married  Nettie  Steffy  and  has 
children,  Stanley  ('.,  Warren  1'.,  Lennie,  Hannah 
L.  and  Edith  May.  Charles  F.  married  Martha 
Lenker  and  has  two  children,  Paul  Elias  and 
Max  Alvin.  Both  the  son-  live  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Henry  A.  Zartman  farming  for  himself  and 
Charles  F.  assisting  his  father.  Mr.  Zartman  and 
his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  St.  John's 
Church  in  Jackson  township. 

Abraham  Zartman.  sen  n\'  William,  was  born 
Dec.  :,.  1821,  on  the  heme  place  iu,\\  ewned  by  his 
son,  and  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  successful  in  In- 
work  and  active  in  the  public  affairs  of  bis  sei 
tion.  For  many  year-  be  held  local  ": 
as  school  director  and  supervisor,  and  he  was  also 
interested  in  church  work  as  a  prominenl  tnembei 
ai  st.  Peter's,  where  he  held  tl (Bees  of  deacon 

and    elder.      He   died    Dec.    .'!  1 .    1898,    and    i-    huricl 

at  that  church.     Politically  lie  was  a    Democrat. 
His  wife.  Sarah  Michael,  was  hum  Nov.  25.  L826, 
and  died    May   I".   1880.     They  had  a  large  family, 
namely:    Wilhelmina  married   Isaac  Raker;  I1 
iel  M.    (deceased)    was  a    resident   of   Little   Ma- 
hano\   township;  Hannah  married   Benjamin   I' 
fer:  William   M.  lives  near  Sunbury:  Samuel    M. 
is  a  resident  of  Jackson  township :  Joseph  M.  i 
in  Rush  township,  near  Montoursville ;  Alice  mar- 
ried Galen  Latsha;  Elizabeth  married  Levi  Drum- 
heller:   Man    mar:         i  P,      r,  brother  of 
Benjamin    Peifer. 


10G 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Daniel  M.  Zartman,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  Oct.  21,  1848,  in  Jackson  township,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  busy  career  at  an  early  age.  In 
1871  he  succeeded  Joseph  Reitz  in  business  at 
Dornsife,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  a  railroad 
station  on  the  Herndon  branch  of  the  Reading 
railroad.  It  is  a  busy  place,  being  the  nearest 
railroad  station  for  the  farmers  up  the  Swabian 
Creek  Valley,  and  for  twenty-nine  years  Mr.  Zart- 
inan  was  at  the  bead  of  its  principal  activities 
there.  He  was  no!  only  a  general  merchant,  but 
also  conducted  the  "Dornsife  Hotel,"  and  handled 
coal  during  the  early  years  of  his  residence  there, 
later  adding  the  lumber  business  to  his  ether  in- 
terests. He  purchased  the  old  Sholly  homestead, 
and  in  time  several  other  tracts.  A  thorough  busi- 
ness man  in  everything  he  undertook,  he  gained  a 
large  and  profitable  trade,  employing  three  men 
and  lining  well  in  every  line  be  entered.  He  was 
the  first  postmaster  at  Dornsife,  his  service  begin- 
uing  m  1879.  Ee  died  Sept.  21,  1909,  and  is 
buried  at  St.  Peter's,  of  which  church  he  was  a 
Lutheran  member.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  lie  served  some  years  as  township  treas- 
urer. 

On  Jan.  18,  1868,  Mr.  Zartman  married  Lana 
Peifer,  daughter  of  George  and  Kate  (Zimmer- 
man) Peifer.  They  had  cue  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter: William  P.  is  an  extensive  lumber  merchant, 
having  his  office  and  home  in  Shamokin  (he  em- 
ploys many  men)  :  Cassie  married  Fred  Dornsife 
and  they  live  at  Dornsife. 

Samuel  M.  Zartman,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  Feb.  3,  is;,:,,  in  Jackson  township,  was  edu- 
cated  in  the  township  schools,  and  continued  to 
work  on  the  farm  until  1885.  That  year  lie  began 
working  for  the  National  Transit  Company,  a  sub- 
sidiary of  the  Standard  <»il  Company,  in  which 
employ  he  still  remains.  Since  1892  he  has  made 
his  home  at  Latsha's  pumping  station  (his  post 
office  being  Dornsife).  In  1900.  after  his  father's 
death,  he  obtained  the  homestead  of  1  \~>  ;icres  in 
Jackson  township,  which  he  has  since  rented  out. 
In  1900  he  built  a  large  barn.  85  by  38  feet  in 
dimensions,  upon  the  property.  The  old  log  house 
still  standing  upon  the  place  is  one  of  the  land- 
marks of  this  region.  It  is  now  roughcast.  Mr. 
Zartman  is  a  substantial  and  respected  citizen  of 
his  community,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation at  St.  Peter's  Church.  Mahanoy.  to  which 
bis  family  also  belong. 

On  June  25,  1882,  Mr.  Zartman  married  olive 
Wolf,  and  they  have  had  three  children,  one  of 
whom  is  deceased,  the  survivors  being:  Aura 
Mabel,  who  is  unmarried  and  living  at  home:  ami 
Lottie  May.  wife  of  Burlington  Buhner,  of  .lack- 
son  township. 

Joel  Wolf,  Mrs.  Zartman's  grandfather,  was  a 
farmer  in  Rockefeller  township,  owning  land  there. 
He  is  buried  at  Wolf's  Cross  Road  church,  which 


was  built  upon  his  ground.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Hannebach,  bore  him  the  following- 
children:  '  Raymus.  Lydia,  Sallie,  Henry  (de- 
ceased), Maria  (deceased),  Harriet,  Reuben,  and 
Elizabeth    (  deceased ) . 

Henry  Wolf,  son  of  Joel,  was  bom  in  Rockefel- 
ler township,  where  he  passed  his  life,  following 
the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  died  in  August,  1896, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Mr.  Wolf  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religion,  as  are  the  members  of  his 
family.  He  married  Elizabeth  Yordy,  daughter 
of  Joel  Yordy.  and  to  them  *vere  born  seven  chil- 
dren: Clara  married  Gabriel  Klinger;  Olive  mar- 
ried Samuel  M.  Zartman:  Annie  married  George 
Long:  Prazier  lives  in  Rockefeller  township:  Ray- 
mus is  a  resident  of  New  York:  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. 


David  Zartman.  grandfather  of  William  E.  Zart- 
man. farmer  of  Jackson  township,  was  born  Dec. 
30,  1799,  -on  of  Martin  Zartman.  grandson  of 
Jacob  Zartman  and  great-grandson  of  Alexander 
Zartman,  the  emigrant.  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade. 
and  lived  in  Washington  township,  dying  Oct.  30, 
1879,  aged  5eventy-nine  years,  ten  months. 

[saae  1>.  Zartman.  son  of  David,  was  horn  Nov. 
25,  1835,  and  is  now  living  at  Dalmatia.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Campbell. 

William  E.  Zartman  was  born  Feb.  23,  1864, 
mi  the  Zartman  homestead  in  Washington  town- 
ship, son  of  Isaac  D.  and  Sarah  (Campbell)  Zart- 
man.    lie  was   reared   to   farm  life  and  educated 

in  the  township  schools,  at  the  close  of  his  sel 

days  hiring  out  among  farmers  in  Washington  and 
Jackson  town-hips.  In  1894  he  began  farming  for 
himself,  having  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty-six 
ai  res  in  Jackson  township,  one  and  a  quarter  miles 
northeast  of  Herndon,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  The  water  facilities  on  this  place  are 
unusually  good,  and  Mr.  Zartman  has  cultivated 
the  place  successfully  and  profitably.  He  has  by 
good  management  succeeded  in  accumulating 
property,  owning  several  houses  in  Herndon.  In 
the  administration  of  local  public  affairs  he  has 
done  his  share  as  a  good  citizen,  serving  six  year- 
ns school  director  of  Jackson  township.  In  politi- 
cal opinion  he  is  a  Democrat. 

In  1884  Mr.  Zartman  married  Alice  Drumhel- 
ler.  daughter  of  Nicholas  Drumheller.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them  :  Abbie  married 
Cleveland  Kind;  (who  works  for  Mr.  Zartman.  his 
father-in-law)  and  they  have  two  children.  Hilda 
E.  and  Felix  William:  Carrie  L.  and  Thomas 
Eugene  are  at  home.  Mr.  Zartman  and  his  family 
are   Lutherans   in    religious  connection. 

ARTHUR  R.  TREXLER,  of  Sunbury,  propri- 
etor of  the  largest  department  store  in  Northum- 
berland county,  is  naturally  one  of  the  best  known 
business   men   of  this   region.      He  has  been   sole 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXNSYLYANIA 


101 


owner  of  this  large  establishment  since  1893,  and 
previous  to  thai,  time,  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Whitmer  &  Trexler,  was  part  owner.  The  busi- 
ness is  the  oldest  in  the  borough  in  the  dry  goods 


line,  and  has  always  been    foremost    among 


cal 


commercial  enterprises. 

Mr.  Trexler  is  a  native  of  Snyder  county,  Pa., 
and  comes  of  a  family  which  has  been  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  from  the  early  days,  being  one  of 
the  oMest  and  rnosl  numerous  in  Berks  county, 
where  the  first  of  the  line  of  whom  we  have  record, 
Peter  Trexler.  made  bis  home  before  1720.  We 
give  a  record  of  the  early  generations  in  chrono- 
logical order. 

(J)  Peter  Trexler  came  to  Berks  county  before 
1720,  settling  in  Oley  township.  As  early  as 
Sept.  5,  1720,  he  was  one  of  the  petitioners  for 
the  erection  of  the  township.  It  was  but  a  short 
time  afterward,  however,  that  he  left  Berks  coun- 
ty, moving  to  what  is  now  Upper  Macungie  town- 
ship, Lehigh  county,  which  territory  then,  covered 
with  brush  and  scrub  oak.  offered  very  little  in  the 
way  of  attraction  to  the  early  settler  except  the 
abundance  of  water  with  which  it  was  blessed. 
He  settled  near  Breinigsville,  his  land  embracing 
what  is  now  the  John  K.  Gonser  farm.  On  Nov. 
18,  1729,  he  obtained  from  Casper  Wister,  the 
patentee,  a  deed  for  this  land,  which  deed  is  one 
of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  earliest,  in  that  region. 
\  seven-years  residence  was  required  before  nat- 
uralization, and  Peter  Trexler  did  not  lake  out 
his  papers  until  1730.  He  and  his  family  were 
the  Brsi  white  settlers  in  Macungie.  and  Dr.  Helf- 
rich.  in  his  history  of  the  various  congregations  in 
Lehigh  and  Berks  counties,  says:  "Way  down  in 
the  valley  near  what  is  now  Breinigsville  lived. 
before  the  general    migration  into  this  neighbor- 

h I.   a    Trexler    family,   with   whom   the  Indians 

were  very  friendly.  Mother  Trexler  often  pre- 
sented the  Indians  with  gifts  and  gave  them  bread, 
and  in  return  they  brought  her  wild  skins  and 
showed  friendship  t<>  the  pale-faces." 

Peter  Trexler  died  in  1758,  and  his  will,  dated 
Dec.  1 ;.  1744,  divides  hi-  estate  among  his  widow. 
Catharine,  and  three  sons  and  three  daughters  - 
Jeremiah,  John.  Peter.  Anna.  Catharine  and  Aim 
garet.  The  son  Peter  (2)  was  made  executor  of 
the  will.  Peter  Trexler  and  hi-  wife  were  both 
buried   in  the  family  cemetery  on  their  farm,  but 

the  graves,  originally  marked   by  soft   sandst - 

now  waste. I  away,  cannot  lie  definitely  located. 
Steps  were  recently  taken  by  the  Trexler  Family 
Association,  in  reunion  Aug.  28,  1907,  to  restore 
this  ancient  burial  place  of  their  ancestors,  and  to 
place  a  tablet  to  the  memory  of  Peter  Trexler  and 
wife.  Of  the  daughters  of  Peter  Trexler  noth- 
ing is  known,  but  in  the  diary  of  Rev.  John  Cas- 
per Stoever,  Nov.  0.  1732,  is  the  record  of  the 
marriage  of  John  George  Schumacher  and  Cath- 
arine Trexler.  of  Macungie. 


(ID  Peter  Trexler  (2),  son  mi   Peter  the  emi- 
grant, was  bom  Feb.  it.  1721,  and  was  bequeathed 
the  homestead  near  Breinigsville,  which  had    n 
deeded  to  him  in  1748.     lie  became  a  man  of  con 
siderable  importance,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace 
from   1752  to  1776,  as  such,  under  the  Colonial 
system,  sitting  in  the  courts  at  Easton.    The  iir-t 
election  in  Northampton  county  occurred  Oct.  1. 
1752,  many  of  the  voters  being  obliged  to  travel 
twenty-live  miles  to  deposit  their  ballots.     The 
posing  parties  were  the  Irish  and  German  -.tile!-. 
Peter  Trexler  was  elected  one  of  the  three  county 
commissioners.     He  was  a  frugal  man.  of  method- 
ical habits,  ami  in  favor  of  education.    When  com- 
pelled to  be  away  fr home  to  attend  court,  he 

filled  his  saddlebags  with  provisions  so  he  could 
board  himself.  When  schools  were  established  in 
Pennsylvania  by  the  English  nobility  for  the  pur- 
pose of  teaching  the  English  language,  Peter  Trex- 
ler was  made  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  William 
Parsons  school  at  Easton.  lie  died  An-.  25,  L798, 
and  was  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  on  the  home 
farm.  He  married  Catharine  Winck.  born  Aug. 
',,  1728,  died  Aug.  II.  L815,  aged  eighty-seven 
years,  daughter  of  Casper  and  Gertrude   (Kemp) 

Winck.     According  to  the  Lehigh  Church  I k.  at 

her  death  she  left  sixty-two  grandchildren  and 
seventy-nine  great-grandchildren.  Seven  children, 
three  sons  and  four  daughter-,  survived  Peter  Trex- 
ler. The  sons  were  Peter,  Jonathan  and  John. 
The  daughters:  Maria  Christine,  born  Nov.  '■'>. 
1 ;.".:;.  who  married  Aug.  1:!.  1776,  Peter  Haas,  and 
died  Sept.  13.  1829,  the  mother  of  ten  children: 
Airs.  Philip  Fogel;  Mr-.  Henrj  Grim;  and  one 
of  whom  there  is  no  record. 

(TIT)  Peter  Trexler  (3),  - if  Peter  of  Ma- 
cungie. and  flic  third  of  the  name  was  horn  Aug. 
15,  1748,  and  is  known  as  Mertztown  Peter; 
quently  in  the  records  his  name  appears  as  John 
Peter  or  Horn  Peter,  lie  was  a  patriot  of 
Revolution,  serving  as  captain  of  the  :,ili  Company 
of  Colonel  Breinig's  2d  battalion  of  militia,  and 
on  May  5,  1783,  was  made  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
was  elected  county  commissioner  in  1782;  repre- 
sentative in  the  General  Assembly,  1785-86-87-88, 
thus  serving  four  veal's,  the  time  lira  the 

constitution  of  L776.  He  died  March  ]::.  1828, 
agec]  seventy  -nine  years,  six  months,  twenty-eighl 
days,  and  was  buried  in  the  famih  cet  His 

will  | sec  Will  Book  6,  page  LSI  Feb. 

i;,.     LS25.    and    entered      \pril    ::.     1828,    In-    SODS 
Peter,  Jacob,   Reuben  and  Jonas  being  exei  utors. 
II,.  married   I  latharine  I  Irim,  daughter  of   Henrj 
i  .rim.  voungest  son  of  Geittie  Grim. 
,,!'  the  Grim  famih  so  prominent  in  I  ion. 

She  was  bom  Juh  30,  1757,  a  I  I  328, 

.,„,.,!    seventy-one    wars    less    twenty-three    days. 

Eleven  children  were  n  to  Pi  ter  and  <  latha 

,  i, rim  i  Trexler.  namely:  ( 1 )  Maria  man  ed  John 
Folk    and    had  :         is  John,    ' 


108 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Anna    (Shuman).   Catharine    (first   married   to  a 
Keizer  and  second  to  a  Hilbert),  Caroline  (Guise) 
and   Lydia    (Guise).      (2)    John    Peter    (Jan.    2. 
1777-March  6,  1828)  married  Rachel  Fogel  (Sept. 
11.   1784-Jan.   1,  1867)    and  had  children,  Caro- 
line (Horlacher),  Sarah  (Seiberling),  Maria  (Fo- 
gel) and  Jonas.     (3)  Jacob  became  the  father  of 
Eeuben,  David,  Peter,  Jacob.  Mrs.  James  Breinig, 
Catharine    (Breinig)    and   Mrs.    Stephen    Sawyer. 
(4)    Eeuben    (1782-1846)    was  an  ironmaster,   re- 
siding in  Mertztown,  Longswamp  township,  Berks 
i  on  my,  where  he  also  carried  on  farming  and  was 
well    and    favorably    known.      lie    married    Anna, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Lesher,  a  charming,  charitable 
woman  of  refined  tastes,  and  they  lived  in  the  old 
Trexler  mansion  in  Longswamp.     Thev  had  chil- 
dren.   Col.    William    (1816-1905),    Horatio    (who 
lived  at  Beading,  where  he  was  president   of  the 
National    Union    Bank).    Dr.    Lesher    (of    Fort 
Wayne,  father  of  Mrs.  Anna  Wertz,  of  Alleiitown, 
and  Mrs.  Judith  Reno,  mother  of  Claude  Trexler 
Reno,  of  Kutztown),  Lucinda  (wife  of  Gen.  James 
Rittenhouse)     and    Caroline     (wife    of    William 
Schall).      Mrs.    Anna    (Lesher)    Trexler   died    in 
1848,  aged  fifty-four  years.     (5)  Benjamin  (1784- 
1855 )   married  Maria  Drescher,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  (second)  Cath- 
arine Bolich,  who  bore  him  one  daughter.      (6) 
Catharine  married  a  Mr.   Haas  and  had  children. 
Judith    (Gregory),  Nathan.  Leana    (But/.).   Kate 
(Hoffman),  Tallie  ( Hoffman  i.  Jonathan  T..  Reu- 
ben T.  and  J.  P.  T.     (?)  Jonas  is  mentioned  he- 
low.     (8)  Anna  married  Philip  Dresher,  and  had 
two  children,  Nathan  and  Judith    (Reiter).     (9) 
Nathan  lived  in  Longswamp  township,  where  he 
died  in  February,  1865.     His  will  is  on  record  in 
Will  Book  11,  page  363.    His  wife  Phebe  bore  him 
four    children,    Edwin    EL,    Maty    (Mrs.    George 
Schall).   Amelia    (Mrs.   Jonathan  B.   Grim)    ami 
Sarah    (Esterly).      (10)    Daniel    died   leaving   no 
children.     (11)  Judith  married  Rev.  Isaac  Eoeller 
and  was  affectionately  known  as  "Aunty  Roeller." 
She  died  in  1885.  leaving  no  children.     <  >n  Aug. 
17,  1809,  Peter  Trexler  bought  hi-  son  Benjamin 
a    large    family    Bible,    printed    in    1798,    costing 
seven  dollars.     This  is  now  in  the  possession   of 
Oliver  Trexler  (born  Dec.  21.  1852),  son  of  Na- 
than and  grandson  of  Benjamin. 

(IV)  Jonas  Trexler.  son  of  Peter  (■"■).  was  the 
grandfather  of  Arthur  R.  Trexler.  of  Sunbury. 
He  was  born  at  Mertztown,  Berks  county,  where 
be  lived  and  died.  He  married  Sarah  Hottenstein, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Hottenstein.  and  they  had  eleven 
children  born  to  them.  We  have  mention  of  the 
following:  Willoughby  (married  Amelia  Filbert). 
Ahal  (or  Abyle)  II..  David  H..  Peter  (married 
May  Himmel).  Sarah  (married  George  Ludwig), 
Angeline  (deceased,  wife  of  Milton  Allium).  Eliza 
(married  Harry  Miller)   and  Jonas. 

(Y)  Jonas  Trexler  (2).  son  of  Jonas,  horn  Nov. 


18.  1820,  at  Mertztown.  went  to  live  at  Kutztown, 
Berks  county,  when  a  boy,  and  later  to  Reading, 
that  county.  In  1854  he  went  to  Union  county. 
Pa.,  where  he  first  followed  farming,  being  a  large 
landowner,  and  he  subsequently  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Shamokin  Dam.  Snyder 
county,  where  he  prospered,  becoming  one  of  the 
substantial  and  well  known  citizens  of  that  sec- 
tion. He  retired  from  active  pursuits  ten  years 
prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  April  6.  1906, 
when  he  was  aged  seventy-seven  years.  He  is 
buried  in  the  family  plot  in  the  Ponifret  Manor 
cemetery.  Sunbury.  Mr.  Trexler  married  Mary 
Elizabeth  Good,  daughter  of  George  Good.  She 
was  horn  near  Milton.  Pa.,  and  survives  Mr.  Trex- 
ler. still  residing  at  the  old  home  in  Snyder  coun- 
tv.  To  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Trexler  was  born  one  child, 
Arthur  R. 

(  VI  )   Arthur  R.  Trexler  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  place  and  took 
a  business  course  at  the  famous  Eastman  commer- 
cial school  in  Poughkeepsie.  X.  Y.     Returning  to 
Shamokin  Dam.  which  is  near  Sunbury.  he  enti  red 
mercantile  business  on  his  own  account,  continu- 
ing thus  for  six  years,  meeting  with  success  and 
gaining  valuable  experience.     He  has  since  been 
identified  with  the  business  of  which  he  is  now 
sole  owner.     This  store  was  founded  by  Whinner 
&  Foster,  which  firm  was  succeeded  by  Whitmer 
&  Trexler  when  Mr.  Trexler  acquired  an  interest. 
As  previously  stated,  he  has  been  sole  proprietor 
since  1893.    By  progressive  methods,  by  anticipat- 
ing the  needs  of  this  growing  community,  by  ca- 
tering successfully  to  the  various   demands  of  a 
wide  patronage.  Mr.  Trexler  has  proved  his  right 
to  he  considered  a  leader  in  his  line  of  business  in 
Northumberland  county.    The- fact  that  his  house 
is  known  as  "The  Old  Reliable"   is  ample  proof 
that  he  merits  the  confidence  and  support  which 
have  been  his  throughout  his  career  in  the  com- 
munity: while  the  growth  of  his  establishment,  in 
keeping  with  other  business  advances  made  in  the 
borough   during   his   mercantile   experience   there, 
shows  that  he  meets   their  appreciation   with  in- 
creased  service    and   better  accommodations,   even 
more  than  the  local  trade  would  seem  to  warrant 
to  one  less  enterprising.     The  store  has  maintained 
its  place  as  the  largest  and  best  stocked  in  North- 
umberland county  for  many  years,  the  lines  now 
carried   including  dry  goods   and   ladies*   wearing 
apparel  of  all  kinds,  ready  to  wear  suits,  cloak-. 
-  and  other  articles  of  dress,  while  the  gro- 
cery department  is  fully  stocked  with  the  best  and 
most  desirable  goods  of  every  kind.     Mr.  Trexler 
has  long  given  his  principal  attention  to  his  store. 
though  he  has  other  interests,  being  a  director  in 
the  Sunbury  Trust  Company  and  otherwise  identi- 
fied with  local  concerns.    His  business  standing  is 
irreproachable. 

On  Jan.  12.  1884.  Mr.  Trexler  married  Lillian 


N  i » I  ,'T  1 1 1 '  M  I  IF.  I ;  LAND  COUNTY,  PEXX  S  YLYA  \  I A 


109 


Thompson,  daughter  of  W.  G.  Thompson,  formerly 
of  Thompsontown,  Pa.  They  have  two  children: 
Thompson  A.,  who  is  a  student  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia;  and  Mary  E.  The 
family  occupy  a  beautiful  residence  on  Arch  street, 
Sunbury. 

EAKEE.  The  Raker  family,  now  aumerously 
represented  in  several  sections  of  Northumberland 
county,  is  of  German  extraction,  the  founder  of 
the  name  in  America  coming  from  Baden,  near 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  settling  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Pa.,  «  here  he  lived  and  died. 

Conrad  Baker,  son  of  the  emigrant  ancestor, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  or  Berks  county  and 
came  to  Northumberland  county  among  the  pio- 
aeers.  According  to  tradition  be  firsl  settled  at 
the  "Block  House,"  in  one  of  the  eastern  counties 
of  the  State,  and  he  bad  a  brother  who  located  in 

i  of  the  upper  counties  of   Pennsylvania.     Dr. 

William  Raker,  of  Pillow,  Pa.,  and  his  brother, 
Dr.  Morris  Raker,  of  Augustaville,  Pa.,  were  sec- 
ond cousins  to  the  descendants  of  the  second  gen- 
eration from  Conrad  Raker,  the  pioneer  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county.  After 
his  marriage  Conrad  Raker  settled  at  Augusta- 
ville, in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  whence 
he  moved  two  years  later  to  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, settling  on  the  Little  Mahanoy  creek  and 
following  farming  there  until  his  death.  His 
holdings  comprised  between  live  hundred  and  six 
hundred  acres,  ami  he  gave  a  farm  to  each  of  his 
sons,  lie  was  a  strong  man.  of  "chunky"  build, 
was  a  great  hunter  and  fisherman,  shot  many  a 
deer,  and  hail  a  fight  with  a  bear  in  which  his 
lite  was  saved  by  his  faithful  dog.  His  adven- 
turous spirit  made  him  well  known  in  this  respect. 
In  public  ami  church  affairs  he  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  day.  serving  a-  county  commissioner 
in  1837  ami  L838,  and  helping  to  build  two 
churches,  the  Emanuel  Lutheran  in  Little  Ma- 
hanoy township  and  the  Stone  Church  at  Augusta- 
ville. In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran,  in  politics 
a  Democrat.  He  is  interred  in  a  private  burial 
ground  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Kerstetter  iV 
Kraemer,  at  Raker,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township; 
this  place  was  named  in  honor  of  the  family. 
Conrad  Baker  married  Elizabeth  (or  Rebecca) 
Dunkelberger,  of  Northumberland  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick,  and  they  bad  children  as  follows: 
Frederick.  Jacob,  William  D.,  fsaae  1  >.  ami  Enoch 
D.  are  all  mentioned  in  detail  below:  John  moved 
out  to  Illinois:,  where  he  died  :  Mary  (Molly)  mar- 
ried Elias  Peifer  and  died  at  Raker;  Barbara 
Alice  married  Joseph  Gass  :  Esther  (Hettie)  mar- 
ried Daniel  Zartman  and  died  in  Lower  Augusta 
township;  one  daughter  married  George  Savage; 
and  Bate.  (Conrad's  wife's  name  is  given  as  Eliz- 
abeth or  Rebecca  here,  while  in  another  account 
it   appears   as  Barbara;   if  it  was   Barbara,  then 


the  following  dates,  from  Little  Mahanoy  ceme- 
tery, would  apply  to  Conrad  and  wife:  Conrad 
Raker,  horn  m  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  June  :. 
L778,  died  Sept,  I.  1849;  his  wile  Barbara  nice 
Dunkel).  born  April  5,  1779,  died  Dec.  17,  1838.) 

Frederick  Baker,  sou  of  Conrad,  was  bom  Dec. 
21,  1804,  in  what,  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  and 
spent  all  hut  three  or  four  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  county.  He  went  to  Lycoming  count)  after 
his  marriage  and  returning  to  Northumberland 
settled  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  at  Little  Ma- 
hanoy Church.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  ami  also 
followed  carpentering  and  farming,  besides  keep- 
ing "Baker's  Hotel"  for  many  years.  He  died  in 
Little  Mahanoy  Aug.  4.  1st  I.  ami  is  buried  at 
Baker.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  well  known  ami 
active  citizen  of  his  section,  serving  as  justice  of 
the  peace  and  taking  a  prominent  pari  in  the 
work  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  In  1825  Mr.  Raker  married  Eliz- 
abeth Hoffman,  daughter  of  John  ami  Susanna 
(DrumheUer)  Hoffman,  who  settled  in  Washing- 
ton township,  this  county,  in  1813.  Mrs.  Raker 
was  born  in  District  township.  Berks  county,  in 
1806.  and  survived  her  husband,  dying  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven.  She  is  buried  at  Baker.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Con- 
rad II.  married  Susan  Dornsife  ami  is 
mentioned  at  length  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
Susanna  died  young;  Jeremiah  married  .bun 
Martin  and  died  in  Philadelphia;  Harriet 
married  Israel  Dunkelberger,  who  was  killed  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  (second)  Samuel  Dornsife, 
whom  she  also  survived;  Catharine  married  Sam- 
uel Frederick;  John  II.  died  Jan.  14,  1862,  while 
serving  in  the  Civil  war,  at  Bulla.  Mo.;  .lane  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Bechtel. 

Jacob  Baker,  son  of  Conrad,  was  born    tpril  26, 
1808,  in  Little  Mahanoy   township,  ami  was  one 
of  the  well   known  citizens  of  that   locality  in 
day,  living  near  the  present   railroad  on   pari 
the    homestead    near   Dunkelbergei     sta    on.      lb 
followed   farming,   and    died    in    Little    Mahanoy 
Dei .  2-8,  1869,  living  to  be  sixtj  one.     II  -  n  ife, 
Margaret,  whose  maiden  mime  was  Zartman,  was 
born  Jan.  4,  1813,  ami  .lid  June  L2,  1883.     T 
bad  children   as    follows:      Lucinda,    Earry,   Wil- 
liam, Samuel  Z.  (died  Aug.  19,  L892,  aged  forty- 
eight   years,  eleven   months,   fourteen   ■  I .  > 
Margarette  'lied  .Ian.  21,    LS88,  aged  thirty-four 
■.,.;,, ..  seven   months,   twenty-thn  I 

Daniel    Z.    (died   July    Lb    L89£  sixty-two 

wars,   two   months,   twenty-four  days;    In-    wife, 
...  died    \im.  20,    1905,  agi  ears, 

ten  months,  fourtei  □  'be    I,    ihbie,  R>  -         <  lon- 
rail.  Cornelius,  Alice  am1    ' 

William    D.    Raker,   son   of   Conrad,   was   bora 

.lime  ;.  L812,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where 

ed  in   E\  bruary,  L887.     He  is  buried  at   Little 

Mahanoy    church.'     lie    was    a    farmer,    owning 


110 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


thirty  acres  near  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  also 
owned  the  farm  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son 
I  sine  I-'.,  and  had  houses  in  Trevorton.  He  was 
an  active  and  progressive  citizen,  held  the  office 
of  supervisor  for  many  years,  and  was  prominent 
in  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  which  he  served  as 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  He  is  buried  at  that 
church.  His  wife,  Catharine  (Fink),  daughter  of 
John  Fink  and  sister  of  David  Fink,  bore  him  a 
large  family,  namely:  Martin  (deceased),  Henry 
(deceased),  James  F.  (deceased).  Isaac  F..  Lewis 
(deceased),  Galen  (who  lives  on  his  farm  in  Little 
Mahanoy,  and  is  unmarried,  his  unmarried  sisters 
living  with  him),  Elizabeth  (unmarried).  Mary 
(married  Adam  Reitz),  Sarah  (married  John 
Field ).  Hettie  (unmarried),  Lovina  (married 
William  Field),  Rebecca  (who  died  unmarried) 
and  Susan  (deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Reitz). 

Enoch  D.  Raker,  son  of  Conrad,  was  born  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Edward  B.  Raker, 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and  died  in  that 
township  dune  23,  1888,  aged  sixty-six  years,  six- 
teen days.  Hi-  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  the  120- 
acre  tract  now  in  the  possession  of  bis  son  Edward 
B.  A  stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  he  took  an 
interest  in  politics  and  local  public  affairs,  hold- 
ing office  for  many  years,  and  was  also  active  in 
the  religious  life  of  the  community,  being  a 
Lutheran  member  of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church, 
of  which  he  was  a  deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  He 
married  Sarah  Bingaman,  daughter  of  John 
Bingaman  (locally  known  as  "Jack").  To  Enoch 
I  >.  and  Sarah  linker  were  born  three  children: 
Edward  B. :  and  Alice  and  Jane  B.,  twins,  the  for- 
mer married  to  Robert  II.  Hoffman,  the  latter  to 
James  Rose. 

Isaac  D.  Raker,  son  of  Conrad,  was  born  Fee.  6, 
L§25,  and  died  .March  11,  1907.  He  lived  in 
Little  Mahanoy.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served 
as  county  commissioner  and  subsequently  was  a 
jury  commissioner.  In  polities  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. His  wile.  Phoebe  A.  (Witmer),  born  Dec. 
(i.  1824.  died  April  :..  1890.  Their  children  were: 
Ah  in.  Willie.  Clinton.  Nelson,  Laura.  Minnie  and 
Jennie. 

•Tames  F.  Raker,  son  of  William  D.  Raker,  was 
born  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was 
a  well  known  citizen,  being  postmaster  and  station 
agent  at  Hunter,  a  railroad  station  on  the  Herndon 
branch  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  mail.  I'm' 
many  years.  He  was  postmaster  at  Raker,  also  in 
Little  Mahanoy  township,  from  1882  until  his 
death.  The  latter  post  office  was  established 
through  the  influence  of  Conrad  11.  Raker,  son  of 
Frederick  and  grandson  of  Conrad,  the  pioneer 
in  this  region.  James  F.  Raker  .was  also  a  farmer, 
owning  a  tract  of  about  forty  acres  near  Hunter. 
In  politics  be  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  served  as 
supervisor.    He  died  June  is.  1904,  aged  sixty-six 


years,  five  months,  twelve  days.  His  wife  Cath- 
arine (Rothermel),  daughter  of  William  Rother- 
mel.  died  Jan.  12,  1899,  aged  sixty-two  years,  one 
month,  twenty-four  days.  Three  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  F.  Raker :  William, 
of  Shamokin:  Mary,  of  Hunter.  Fa. :  and  Lewis  R. 

Lewis  R.  Raker,  son  of  James  F.  Raker,  was 
born  Jan.  12.  1876,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
ami  spent  his  youth  upon  the  home  farm,  receiving 
hi-  education  in  what  is  known  as  the  Raker 
schoolhouse.  He  lives  at  Raker,  where  he  and  his 
wife  conduct  a  grocery  store,  and  also  look  after 
the  post  office,  he  being  assistant  postmaster.  He 
also  works  as  hoisting  engineer  for  the  Trevorton 
Coal  Land  Company.  He  has  his  own  home, 
and  li\  his  upright  life  has  made  an  excellent  name 
Eor  himself  among  his  fellow  citizens,  who  have 
shown  their  faith  in  bis  ability  and  trustworthi- 
ness by  choosing  him  to  public  responsibilities  of 
various  kinds.  Me  was  tax  collector  for  nine  years, 
and    in    the    spring   of    1910   was   elected    for    bis 

see 1   term   as  township  auditor.     In  politics   he 

is  a  Democrat,  lie  is  also  active  in  the  work  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  secretary  and  teacher 
in  the  Sunday  school. 

On  Nov.  11,  L899,  Mr.  Raker  married  Cora 
Deppen.  daughter  of  John  Deppen,  of  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township,  this  county,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Vema  May,  and  one  son.  William  Lewis. 

[saai  F.  Raker,  son  of  William  D.  Raker,  was 
born  April  20,  1846,  on  the  homestead,  and  re- 
ceived Ins  education  in  the  subscription  schools 
conducted  in  the  neighborhood  during  his  youth. 
Farm  work  has  been  bis  principal  occupation, 
though  when  eighteen  years  old  he  went  to  learn 
the  trade  of  miller  with  his  brother  Henry,  in 
Juniata  county,  Pa.  He  had  been  there  only  two 
months  when  his  brother  was  drafted  fur  service 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  it  fell  upon  the  shoulders  of 
the  apprentice  to  make  the  flour  and  do  all  the 
work  of  an  experienced  miller.  He  continued  at 
milling  for  one  and  a  half  years,  Earmed  lor  his 
father  twelve  years,  until  the  latter  died,  and  then 
did  the  same  for  his  mother,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained twelve  years  also.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  he  bought  his  present  farm  in  Little  Ma- 
hanoy, fifty-five  acres  of  which  constituted  the 
old  Abraham  Rothermel  homestead.  Mrs.  Roth- 
ermel died  at  a  very  advanced  age.  To  this  Mr. 
Raker  added  two  tracts,  of  forty-two  and  thirty- 
nine  acres,  respectively,  having  136  acres  in  all. 
His  father.  William  D.  Raker,  erected  the  build- 
ings now  on  this  property,  building  the  house  in 
1874  and  the  barn  in  1875.  Mr.  Raker  is  one  of 
the  substantial  and  esteemed  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity, has  served  as  school  director  and  for  many 
years  as  supervisor,  being  at  present  one  of  the 
three  roadmasters,  and  has  given  efficient  service 
in  every  capacity.  Tn  political  faith  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  he  is  now  serving  as  judge  of  election. 


NOBTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


111 


Jn  religioD  lie  is  a  Lutheran,  and  he  has  been 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee  of  the  Little  Mahanoy 
( Ihurch. 

In  Is;:;  Mr.  Raker  married  Wilhelmina  Zart- 
nian.  daughter  of  Abraham  Zartman,  and  they 
have  had  four  children:  Kate  is  the  widow  of 
Albert  Raker;  Sallie  is  the  wife  of  John  A.  Ferster; 
George  married  Gertie  Sipe;  Francis  died  when 
<  ighf  years  old. 

K\<\\  \i;n  I'..  Rakek,  -mi  of  Enoch  l>.  Raker,  was 
born  July  9,  1853,  on  the  homestead,  and  was 
reared  to  farming,  working  lor  his  parents  until 
he  was  thirty-five  years  old.  In  1902  he  began 
farming  for  himself  at  his  presenl  h e,  this  be- 
ing the  farm  which  belonged  to  his  grandfather 
and  lather  in  turn.  The  old  buildings,  however, 
have  .-id  been  razed.  Mr.  Eaker  is  a  Democrat 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  active  in  county 
politics,  being  dele-ate  to  many  county  conven- 
tions of  the  party.  He  has  held  a  number  of 
offices.  F<>r  three  years,  from  1895  in  1898,  he 
Mas  jury  commissioner  of  Northumberland  county, 
having  been  elected  in  thai  office  on  his  first  can- 
didacy by  a  majority  of  over  si\  thousand  votes. 
For  eleven  years  he  was  constable  of  Little  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  he  served  two  years  as  in- 
spector, lie  erected  many  bridges  in  the  county 
under  contract  from  the  county  commissioners, 
and  has  given  thorough  satisfaction  in  every  way 
and  in  every  capacity.  In  February,  1900,  Mr. 
Raker  married  Sarah  Reed,  daughter  of  Solomon 
Eeed.  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Goldie. 

(I  TABLES  LAFFEET  WALDEON,  of  Milton, 
ha-  been  engaged  in  contracting  and  building 
since  1879,  bis  work  in  this  line  covering  prac- 
tically the  entire  period  of  his  residence  at  that 
place,  a-  he  began  carpentering  when  he  came  to 
Milton,  in  the  spring  id'  1871.  His  patrons  in 
this  borough  and  all  the  surrounding  towns  are 
numerous,  many  id'  the  most  substantial  buildings 
in  this  section  testifying  to  the  thoroughness  of 
his  work  and  the  part  he  has  taken  in  its  ma- 
terial development. 

Mr.  Waldron's  first  ancestor  in  tin-  region  was 
his  great-grandfather,  Cornelius  Waldron.  The 
family  has  been  established  in  America  from  Co- 
lonial days,  and  is  of  Dutch  origin.  Baron  Waldron, 
its  founder  in  this  country,  having  come  from 
Holland  to  what  was  then  New  Amsterdam,  now 
New  York,  in  1660.  After  the  English  took  pos- 
session of  New  Amsterdam  the  family  moved  to 
Xew  Jersey,  and  Cornelius  Waldron,  above  men- 
tioned, moved  from  Hunterdon  county,  X.  J-,  to 
Pennsylvania  in  1785.  His  first  location  was  near 
Muncy,  in  what  is  now  Lycoming  county,  and  he 
afterward  bought  a  farm  in  Brady  township,  that 
county,  still  later  buying  land  at  the  mouth  of 
Muddy  run,  in  Northumberland  county.  He  moved 
his  family  to  this  place,  where  he  was  accidentally 


killed  while  felling  a  live.  11,.  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  old  Warrior  Eun  burying  ground.  Cornelius 
Waldron  served  as  a  captain  m  the  Revolutionary 
war  ami  after  its  close  was  captain  of  a  military 
company. 

Lall'ert  Waldron,  son  of  Cornelius,  was  horn  in 
1764  in  Hunterdon  county,  X.  .1..  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania with  his  father,  and  purchased  the  farm 
on  Muddy  run.  But  he  soon  sold  it  and  bought 
ii  place  about  a  mile  east,  in  Turhut  township, 
from  the  Kelchner  estate — the  place  afterward  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  William.  There  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  on  his  farm  in  Is:;;. 
His  wife.  Hannah  (Webb),  died  in  1832,  and  tln\ 
are  buried  at  the  Warrior  Run  Presbyterian  church. 
The  family  attended  services  There.  Mf.  and 
Mrs.  Waldron  had  the  following  children:  John. 
Cornelius,  Richard,  William.  Charles,  David.  M. 
1'..  Mary  (Mrs.  Sloat),  Sara  (who  married  Mr. 
Sloat  after  her  sister  Mary's  death).  .lane  (mar- 
ried James  Stadden)  and  Hannah  (who  became 
the  second  wife  of  James  Stadden  after  the  death 
of  her  sister  Jane).  Lall'ert  Waldron  was  a  tine 
penman,  and  some  of  his  work  now  in  the  posses- 
sion id'  his  grandson,  Charles  L.  Waldron,  of  Mil- 
ton, shows  unusual  ability:  though  it  is  over  a 
century  old  it  is  not  faded,  and  it  is  well  cared 
for  by  the  present  possessor,  who  prizes  it   highly. 

William  Waldron,  son  of  Laffert,  was  horn  Sept. 

17,  181  I.  on  tl Id  farm  in  Turhut  township,  and 

received  his  education  in  the  township  schools. 
lie  followed  farming  all  his  life  and  prospered  by 
dint  of  industry,  winning  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him  because  of  his  uprighl  methods  and 
high  Christian  character.  Though  his  own  affairs 
demanded  constant  attention  he  was  progressive, 
and  recognized  the  fact  that  a  citizen  owes  his 
duty  to  his  community  as  much  as  to  his  immedi- 
ate personal  interests,  and  he  did  his  share  in 
local  matters,  filling  various  township  offices  and 
serving  fifteen  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
cause  id'  free  education,  not  a  particularly  popular 
one  in  his  early  manhood,  also  received  Ins  earnesl 
support,  and  all  his  children  received  good  ad- 
vantages, lie  was  an  original  member  of  the  Tur- 
hut Grange,  I'.  of  II..  and  an  original  stockholder 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Milton,  giving  his 
influence  and  support  to  all  institutions  which  in 
his  opinion  would  lie  of  general  benefit.  In  reli- 
gious connection  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  an  active 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Milton  Church.  He 
died    111    1901. 

In  IStl  William  Waldron  married  Anna  Ilil- 
M,.,-t,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherine  Hilgert, 
0f  Chillisquaque  township,  and  -lie  died  at 
,ll(.  age  of  seventy  years.  Eleven  children  were 
born  to  this  union  :  Philip  II..  now  In  ing  ai  I  : 
v,,se.  near  Philadelphia,  who  served  during  the 
Civil  war  in  Compam  I'..  L31s1  Penn  u  \  ol- 
unteers;     Hannah     J.,     who     married     Ephraim 


112 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Duitch,  of  Williamsport ;  David,  who  died  young; 
Prof.  William  A.,  who  died  a1  Bay  City.  Mich.; 
May,  who  married  James  Marsh,  and  lives  in 
Michigan;  Charles  Laffert;  Frank  P..  of  Turbut 
township,  who  married  Susan  Hummell;  George 
W.,  of  Coatesville,  Pa.,  who  married  Ida  Brobst; 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.:  John  C.  who 
married  Mary  Kerr:  and  James  M..  who  gradu- 
ated from  the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  became 
a  civil  engineer,  was  formerly  in  Georgia  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  subway 
and  tunnels  in  New  York  City. 

Dr.  David  Waldron,  brother  of  William  Wal- 
dron,  was  born  m  1820  in  Turbut  township.  North- 
umberland count}',  and  died  m  that  township 
April  22,  L885.  Be  stood  high  in  his  profession 
and  had  a  large  practice,  though  he  was  somewhat 
erratic  in  disposition,  and  he  was  honored  with 
the  office  of  sheriff  of  the  county,  serving  from 
L860  l-  L863.  II*-  was  a  Democrat  in  p  tii  - 
From  the  time  he  commenced  practice  until  a 
years  before  his  death  In-  resided  at  Milton. 

Charles  Lafferi  Waldron,  son  of  William,  was 
born  Aug.  26,  1S50,  in  Turbut  township,  and  there 
grew  to  manhood.  Be  assisted  his  father  mi  the 
farm  from  an  early  age.  especially  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  hut  in  tin-  winters  had  good  educa- 
tional advantages,  being  -out  to  the  academies  at 
Limestoneville  and  McEwensville.  In  the  spring 
of  1871  he  came  to  Milton,  where  he  at  once  began 
to  do  carpenter  work,  though  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school  during  the  winters  of  1874,  1875 
and  1876.  In  1879  ho  began  contracting  and 
building  on  his  own  account,  and  has  since  de- 
voted himself  to  that  line  with  most  gratifying 
results.  lie  is  a  progressive  business  man.  in  both 
his  work  and  his  methods  of  handling  it.  and  suc- 
cess  has  (nine  to  him  because  ho  has  made  an  earn- 
est effort  to  do  the  best  possible  in  his  line.  Out- 
side of  his  s  ce  as  school  director  he  has  taken 
no  direct  pari  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a  Democrat. 
in  politics. 

On  Feb.  3,  1876,  "Mr.  Waldron  married  Clara 
Sharrow,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Anna  (Bar- 
clay) Sharrow.  of  Lycoming  county,  and 
have  one  daughter,  Grace  Barclay  Waldron.  who 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Milton  high  school.  1896,  and 
of  the  Philadelphia  Musical  Academy,  1898,  being 
particularly  accomplished  in  music.  Mr.  Waldron 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

AV1LLIAM  C.  McCONNELL  was  horn  in  Hali- 
fax. Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  on  the  4th  day  of  April, 
I860.  ITi-  family  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  sec- 
tion, both  his  father  and  mother  being  natives  of 
the  count}7.  His  parents  were  George  Washington 
and  Sarah  (Marsh  i  Mi  Connell,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased. 

The  early  day-  of  the  subjei  I  of  this  review  were 


spent  in  his  native  county,  and  he  received  his 
primary  education  at  the  neighboring  public 
schools.  In  these  institutions  he  made  such  ex- 
cellent progress  and  proved  himself  such  a  ready 
student  that  in  1877  he  entered  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall Academy,  located  at  Lancaster.  Pa.,  in  which 
institution  he  rounded  out  his  education  and  pre- 
pared him=elf  for  admission  to  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College,  where  he  spent  two  years,  during 
which  he  profited  by  every  opportunity. 

On    dan.    1,    188-?.    Mr.    McConneil    associated 
himself  as  a  partner  with  the  firm  of  Kulp.  McWil- 
liams   &   Company,  dealers  in  lumber,  brick  and 
ice.     For  more  than  four  years  he  remained  a  mem- 
ber of  this  business  house,  and  in  1886,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Kulp  continued 
the  lumber  business.  Mr.   McConneil  and  Mr.   Mo- 
Williams,    the    remaining    members    of    the    firm, 
formed   a   partnership  under  the  title  of   McWil- 
&    Mi  I  onnell,  and  continued  in  the  ice  and 
trade.    This  firm  was  dissolved  in  the  spi 
903. 
The  business  capacity  and  indomitable  energ] 
of  Mr.  McConneil  are  best  illustrated,  however,  by 
a  statement  of  the  many  interests  with  which  he  is 
allied,  and  the  public  and  semi-public  enterprises 
which  owe  a  large  measure  of  their  success  to  his 
ready  guidance,     lie  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
of  tin-   Roaring  Creek.  Anthracite  and   Bi    r  Gap 
Water  Companies,  and  his  associates  in  their  man- 
agement have  indicated  their  confidence  in  his  abil- 
i v  electing  him  to  the  presidency  of  these  cor- 
porations,  which    important  position  he  held   for 
several   years,  discharging  the  duties  thereof  with 
rare  fidelity.     He  ha-  also  been  president  of  the 
Shamokin  Water  Company,  elected  in  May,  1886. 
Mr.  McConneil  is  a  director  of  the  Shamokm  Bank- 
ing Company,  of  which  he  is  now  president,  and  a 
member  of  the  Shamokin  Board  of  Trade,  connec- 
tions which  aptly  show  how  varied  have  been  his  in- 
terests  and   how   diversified  his  energetii    efforts. 
All  in  all,  he  is  one  of  the  most  intelligently  and 
thoroughly  progressive  men  of  his  borough,  active 
in  every  phase  of  its  development. 

Mr.  McConneil  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
commission  for  the  -election  of  a  site  and  the  erec- 
tion of  a  State  Bospital  for  Injured  Persons  of 
the  Trevorton,  Shamokin  and  Mount  Carmel  coal 
fields  by  Gov.  Edwin  S.  Stuart,  in  pursuance  of 
an  Act  of  Assembly  passed  by  the  Legislature  of 
1907.  Upon  organization  of  the  commission  Mr. 
McConneil  was  made  chairman  of  the  same.  The 
hospital  is  now  in  course  of  construction  and  will 
he  open  for  the  reception  of  patients  sometime  dur- 
ing the  month  of  October.  1911.  The  building  siti 
and  surrounding  grounds,  equaling  about  eleven 
a,  res,  was  donated  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  lion  Company  and  W.  C.  McConneil. 

Thoroughly  imbued  with  the  conviction  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  show  his  public  spirit 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


113 


by  participating  to  the  greatesl  extenl  possible  in 
the  political  affairs  of  the  country,  Mr.  McConnell 
early  allied  himself  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  always  been  a  stalwart  member  of  that  greal 
political  organization.  In  1890  lie  was  a  delegate 
i"  the  State  convention  which  placed  George  W. 
Delamater  in  nomination  for  the  governorship,  and 
in  1892  he  represented  the  Seventeenth  Congres- 
sional District  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  Republican 
National   Convention   held   al    Minneapolis,  which 

Ten inated  Benjamin  Harrison  for  the  presidency 

of  the  Union.  Al  the  election  in  November,  1908, 
Mr.  McConnell  was  chosen,  as  the  nominee  of  the 
Republican  part]  in  the  Twenty-Seventh  senatorial 
district,  comprising  the  counties  of  Northumber- 
land, Snyder  and  Union,  to  represent  the  same  dur- 
ing i  he  sessions  of  1909  and  1911. 

<*n  April  II.  1896,  he  was  appointed  aide-de 
camp,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel,  on  the 
staff  of  Governor  Hastings.  The  Union  League 
of  Philadelphia  elected  him  to  membership  in  that 
famous  social  organization  in  February,  1897. 
Colonel  McConnell  is  a  member  of  Elysburg  Lodge, 
No.  414,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Shamokin  ; 
Chapter  No.  264,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  and  Sham- 
okin (' mandery,  No.  77,  Knights  Templar. 

On  June  9,  1881,  lie  was  married  to  Ida  V. 
Martz,  daughter  of  Nathan  V.  and  Eliza  (Sam- 
uels) Martz,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.  Mrs.  McConnell  is 
a  native  of  Northumberland  county.  She  is  the 
mother  of  two  children,  William  Donald  (de- 
ceased) and  Katharine  Martz.  Senator  McCon- 
nell and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church  of  Shamokin. 

VASTINE.  Abraham  Van  De  Woerstyne,  with 
his  wife  and  their  three  children,  viz.,  John,  Cath- 
erine and  Hannah,  left  Holland  in  the  seventeenth 
century  and  crossed  the  ocean  on  a  sailing  vessel, 
landing  in  Now  York.  They  soon  crossed  over 
into  Xew  Jersey.  About  the  time  William  Penn 
founded  Philadelphia  thei  came  into  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1696  we  find  them  in  Germantown, 
Pennsylvania. 

In  1698  John  Van  De  Woerstyne  purchased  sev- 
eral tracts  of  land  from  one  Jeremiah  Langhorn, 
in  Hilltown  township,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  I 
erected  a  granite  dwelling'  along  the  pike  leading 
from  Philadelphia  to  Bethlehem.  It  stood,  as 
was  the  custom  in  that  day.  with  its  gable  to  the 
road,  fronting  south,  at  a  point  two  miles  north 
of  Line  Lexington  and  four  miles  southwest  from 
Sellersville,  Pucks  Co.,  Pa.  The  name  John  Van 
De  Woerstyne  appears  on  a  number  of  official  pa- 
pers and  documents  on  record  in  Pucks  couirft  ;  il 
is  found  on  many  papers  pertaining  to 
roads  and  improvements  in  Hilltown  town- 
ship. John  Van  De  Woerstyne  died  Feb. 
9.  1738.  His  wife,  Abigail,  survived  him 
some  time.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
s 


dren,  as  follows:  (1)  Abraham,  horn  May  24, 
1698,  died  in  October,  1772,  in  Hilltown.  He 
married  Sara  Ruckman,  and  thej  were  the  parents 
of  five  daughters:  Abigail,  married  to  Andrew 
Armstrong;  Ruth,  married  to  James  Armstrong; 
Mary,  married  to  Roberl  Jameson;  Ra6hel,  mar- 
ried to  Hugh  Mears;  and  Sara,  married  to  Samuel 
Wilson.  Thus  far  we  have  keen  unable  to  learn 
anything  about  their  descendants.  (2)  Jeremiah, 
born  Dec.  24,  1701,  died  in  Hilltown  in  November, 
1769.  He  and  his  wife  Debora  were  the  parents 
of  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Jeremiah  died  in 
New  Britain,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  in  April.  L778  (his 
wife's  name  was  Elizabeth)  ;  Martha  married  John 
Louder;  Hannah  married  Samuel  Greshom.  (3) 
Benjamin,  horn  July  9,  1703,  died  in  August, 
11  1:9.  (4)  John  died  Feb.  9,  1765,  in  Hilltown. 
Pa.,  unmarried.  (5)  Mary,  born  March  1,  1699, 
married  a  Mr.  Wilson  and  remove. 1  to  South  Car- 
olina. 

Benjamin  Vastine.  son  of  John  and  Abigail, 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
Friends  .Meeting  and  at  one  of  the  meetings  held 
in  Philadelphia  requested  permission  to  hold  meet- 
ings in  his  house.  He  married  Mary  Griffith,  and 
their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Hannah  married  Emerson  Kel- 
I]  ;  John  married  Rachel  Morgan:  Abraham  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Williams:  Benjamin  married  Cath- 
erine Eaton  (he  died  in  September,  1775);  Jon- 
athan married  Elizabeth  Lewis:  Isaac  married 
Sara  Matthews;  Amos  married  Martha  Thomas. 

The  name  Van  De  Woerstyne  has  changed  grad- 
ually, first  to  Voshne,  then  to  Vashtine  and  lastl] 
to  Vastine.  The  name  in  Dutch  meant  forest, 
hence  the  early  settlers  often  called  John  Van  De 
Woerstyne  "Wilderness." 

John  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Gri f- 
fith)  Vastine,  married  Rachel  Morgan,  and  thej 
became  the  pa  rent-  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Benjamin,  who  married  Mary  Van  ZanI  :  Simon, 
who  had  a  son  named  John:  Nancy,  and  Margaret. 

Abraham  Vastine,  second  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary   (Griffith)    Vastine,  married    Elizabeth   \\  il 
liams.    Their  family,  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
was  as  follows:  John;  William;  Abraham ;  Nan< 
Man ,  and  Jeremiah.    This  family  first  settled  in 
York  county,  Pa.,  and  later  moved  to   Hi  ntui 

Benjamin  Vastine,  third  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Griffith)  Vastine,  married  I  latl  erim  Eaton, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  namel]  :  Marj  married  Josiah  I. mm  ; 
Peter  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  \ 

Benjamin    married    Doto 
Amos  Vastine;    Elizabeth   married    Alem    Mot 

Jonathan  Vastine,  fourth  - E  Benjamin  and 

Mary   I <  rriffitli  I    Vastini  m    Peter, 

who  was  also  his  son-in-law,  came  to  Northuml 
land  coum  \ .  Pa.,  n  here  thi  j  pun  hased  largi 


114 


NORTHUM 1 1 E  I!LAXD  COUNTY,  PE  Si  NSYLVA  N I A 


the  former  about  six  hundred  acres  where  later 
Valentine  Epler  lived,  and  the  latter  three  hun- 
dred acres  near  that  of  his  uncle.  Jonathan,  like 
his  father,  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  built  a  house  on  his  farm. 
He  died  about  1830  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Qua- 
ker burying  ground  at  Catawissa,  Pa.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Lewis,  and  their  union  was  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: Benjamin  married  Elizabeth  Van  Zant; 
Ann  married  Thomas  Robbins;  Hannah  married 
Peter,  son  of  Benjamin  Vastine;  Mary  married 
William  Marsh;  John  married  Catherine  Osmun; 
Jeremiah  married  E.  Reeder;  Thomas  died  un- 
married;  Jonathan   married    Nancy    Ann    Hughs. 

Amos  Vastine,  sixth  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Griffith)  Vastine.  married  Martha  Thomas,  and 
svere  the  parents  of  two  daughters:  Dorothy 
married  Benjamin,  son  of  Benjamin  Vastine:  Mar- 
tha married   Robert  C.  Shannon. 

Benjamin  Vastine,  son  of  John  and  Rachel 
(Morgan)  Vastine,  married  Mary  Van  Zant  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  three  sons:  Benjamin 
married  Elizabeth  Hauek:  Thomas  married  Sara 
Ellis;  John  married  Sara  Scott. 

Benjamin  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Van  Zant  i  Vastine,  married  Elizabeth  Hauck. 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  following:  Mar- 
garet, who  married  William  Savidge;  Armand; 
Harriet,  who  married  Al.-m  Hughes:  Algernon, 
and  Thomas. 

Thomas  Vastine.  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Van  Zant)  Vastine.  married  Sara  Ellis,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters: Ann  (married  George  Pensyl),  Lucinda 
(married  John  Adams).  Mary,  Samantha,  Bene- 
ville,  Grace  Ella.  John.  Rufus,  Thomas  J.,  Jane 
and  Sara  Matilda. 

John  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Van 
Zant)  Vastine,  married  Sara  Scott,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  Hannah,  who  married  Mahlon  Huff: 
Ellen:  Sara  Jane;  Benjamin;  Catherine,  and  Isa- 
bella. 

Peter  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Catherine 
(Eaton)  Vastine,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Vastine.  and  their  union  was  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  nine  children:  Catherine,  unmarried; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Colket;  Benjamin. 
unmarried;  Mary,  who  married  Henry  Johnson: 
Ann.  who  married  Henry  Boone:  Lydia,  unmar- 
ried: Thoma-  Jefferson,  who  married  Harriet 
Paxton;  Peter  E.,  who  married  Mary  Miller;  and 
Jeremiah,  unmarried. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Vastine.  son  of  Peter  and 
Hannah  (Vastine)  Vastine,  married  Harriet  Pas- 
ton,  and  had  children:  Peter,  Margaret  P.,  Charles, 
1    -    ih,   Sara  and  Hannah. 

Benjamin  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Cath- 
erine (Eaton)  Vastine,  married  Dorothy,  daugh- 
ter of  Amos   Vastine.     They  were  the  parent-  of 


two  daughters:  Martha,  wife  of  Joel  Miller:  and 
Catherine,  wife  of  Benjamin  Miller. 

Benjamin  Vastine,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lew  i- 1  Vastine,  married  Elizabeth  Van 
Zant.  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters: Lewis  married  Martha  Boone;  Mary  married 

Samuel    B le :    Ann    married    Isaac    Wolverton; 

Rachel  married  John  M.  Housel. 

Lewis  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
(Van  Zant)  Vastine.  married  Martha  Boone,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Hannah  (married  Dudley  Adams),  Margaret 
(married  Jacob  B.  Gearhart),  Rachel  -lane.  Eliz- 
abeth (married  John  II.  Morrall),  Matilda  (mar- 
ried Abraham  Gulick),  Sara.  Martha.  William  B., 
Lewis  B.  and  George. 

John  Vastine,  second  son  oi  Jonathan  and  I. 
abeth  (Lewis)  Vastine,  inherited  a  portion  of  his 
lather's  farm  and  built  wdiat  is  known  as  the  old 
-tone  houst — it  is  still  standing — where  he  lived. 
He  married  Catherine  Osmun  and  their  union  was 
blessed  with  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  (1) 
Thomas  P.,  horn  in  1808,  married  Lanah  Vought, 
and  they  had  children:  John  Willington,  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Fisher;  Catherine  and  Matilda,  both 
unmarried  :  Rosanna,  who  married  George  W.  Mil- 
ler and  was  the  mother  of  Gussie  M.,  Florence  V., 
Daniel  0.  and  Both  A.  (2)  William  is  fully  men- 
tioned later.  (3)  John  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  graduated  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  bui  soon  died.  (4)  Amos, 
born  in  L813,  married  Susan  Lerch,  and  died 
Nov.  15,  1889.  His  principal  business  was  farm- 
ing, but  at  one  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Paxinos.  He  owned  some  six 
hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  tilled:  and  also 
had  large  real  estate  interests  in  Mount  Carmel. 
He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Mount  Carmel 
Savings  Bank,  of  which  he  was  president  from  its 
organization  until  his  death:  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  ShamoMn  Township  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company  and  was  treasurer  of  same  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Politically  he  was  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  filled  the  office  of  county  commissioner 
from  1871  to  1ST  L  Mrs.  Vastine  was  the  daughter 
of  Felix  Lerch.  one  of  the  pioneer  settler-  of 
Mount  Carmel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vastine  were  the 
parents  of  the  following:  Felix,  who  died  young: 
John,  who  married  Kate  Bird:  Thomas,  who  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Haas,  and  has  children.  Amos  and  Hat- 
tie:  Catherine,  who  married  L.  S.  Persing  (chil- 
dren, Anna.  Sadie,  Amos  and  Susan)  :  and  Hattie, 
who  had  two  children  (Amos  and  William)  by  her 
first  husband.  Olive  Reed,  and  married  for  her 
second  husband  William  Metz.  (5)  Margarel 
married  Charles  Heflev  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  three  children.  Elizabeth  (married  Harvey  Rob- 
bins  and  had  children  Margarel  and  Josiah  or 
Joseph).  Harriet  and  George  W.  (married  Emma 


NORTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1  L5 


Persing  and  had  children,  Harriet  and  Harvey). 
(6)  Sara  Ann  married  Robert  C.  Campbell  and 
was  the  mother  of  Abram  (died  unmarried).  John 
L.  (unmarried,  lives  in  Danville,  Pa.),  James  C. 
(married  Margarel  Mettler),  and  Margaret  C, 
Hannah  J.,  Isabella  A.  and  Sara  Alice,  all  four 
of  whom  died  narried. 

Jeremiah  Vastine,  third  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Lewis)  Vastine,  married  E.  Eeeder, 
ami  they  had  a  Eamily  of  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters, as  follows :  Mai  \  married  C.  Fisher;  Marga- 
ret married  D.  Robbins;  Surrissa  married  William 

Leighou;  Tl as  married   Eliza   Reeder  and  they 

are  the  parents  of  <  'ai  herine. 

Jonathan  Vastine,  fourth  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Lewis)  Vastine,  married  Nancy  Ann 
Hughs,  and  their  children  were  the  following: 
Hugh  Hughs  married  Catherine  Zimmerman; 
I. iwis  married  Sara  Potts  and  had  one  daughter, 
Anna,  who  married  Alfred  Hablerstadt;  and  Ben- 
jamin  died    unmarried. 

Hugh  Hughs  Vastine,  son  el'  Jonathan  and 
Nancy  Ann  (Hughs)  Vastine,  married  Catherine 
Zimmerman,  and  thej  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Martha  Ann  died  unmarried: 
William  L.  married  Alice  Carded,  and  had  chil- 
dren, Blanche,  Jane,  Mary  and  Cera;  Oscar  mar- 
ried Edna  Gillaspy;  Mary  married  John  K.  Erd- 
niaii.  and  had  children.  Hattie.  Sara.  "Nora,  Allen, 
Bert.  John,  Calvin,  Kimher  and  Frank;  Jonathan 
married   Cora    lies-,  and   had   Charles,  Katie  and 

:  Jacob  married  M.  Smith,  and  had  Ethel. 

Hattie  and  Grethel;  Lewis  married  Mary  Mina- 
maker;  Sara  C.  married  E.  Campbell  and  had  a 
son  Elwood,  who  is  deceased;  Harriet  married  Wil- 
liam Arnold  and  had  children  Bessie  and  Ann: 
Ida  married  Charles  Huffman  and  had  a  large 
family,  Vergie,  Edwin.  John.  Mary,  Wesley,  Wil- 
liam  Wellington  and  Frank. 

William  Vastine.  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Osmun)  Vastine,  when  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  settled  on  the  farm  later  occupied 
by  his  son  Simon,  and  followed  farming.  He  was 
a  large  land  owner,  cultivating  between  150  and 
500  acres.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Politically  he  was  lir-t 
a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  He  died  in  1859. 
In  1832  William  Vastine  married  Elizabeth 
Hursh,  who  was  horn  in  1809  and  died  in  1890. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vastine  were  horn  the  following 
children:  (1)  Amos  will  be  fully  mentioned  later 
(2)  Jacob  H.,  M.  D.  horn  April  2,  1836,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, at  Danville  Academy.  Shamokin  Collegiate 
Institute  and  Jefferson  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1858.     In  1861  he  married 

Sara,  daughter  of  G ge  Hughs,  of  Catawissa, 

Pa.,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Henrietta  t  married  Asa  Spencer),  Elizabeth 
(deceased).  Dr.  George  H.  (married  Nettie  Pfah- 


ler),  William  (married  Elizabeth  Custaborder), 
Marion  (married  Catherine  Sharpless),  Harriel  B. 
(married  Horn,,.  Boas),  Sara  (married  Ralph  Ray 

Griffith)     and    Alder     (married     Mahle    )'. 

(3)  Hugh  II.  is  fully  mentioned  below.  (  1  I 
Simon  married  Elizabeth  Faux  and  they  were  the 
parent-  of  Catherine  ami  Ellen  M.  (5)  Ezra  mar- 
ried Sarah  Davidson  and  had  two  daughters, 
Bethia  and  Sara  M.  (6)  Elizabeth  A.  married  Dr. 
James  Oglesby,  M.  D.,  of  Danville.  Pa.,  and  their 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  sons,  Ge 
(deceased)  and  William  V.  (an  attorney  of  Dan- 
ville).    (7)   Daniel  and  (8)   Ellen  died  young. 

Amos  Vastine,  eldest  child  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth  Vastine,  was  born  in  Bush  township.  North- 
umberland Co..  Pa.,  Nov.  is.  is:::;,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  scl I-  of  hi-  native  township 

and  in  the  Presbyterian  Institute  at  Wyoming,  Pa. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  purchased  the 
homestead  place,  where  he  subsequently  lived  nine 
years.  In  ISC'!  he  purchased  a  farm  id'  280  acre-. 
whereon  he  lived  until  1890,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  home  in  Danville,  Pa.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Vastine  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
served  in  various  township  offices  and  was  for  sev- 
eral term-  a  member  of  the  Danville  city  council, 
of  which  body  he  was  president.  He  is  a  member 
"f  the  Mahoning  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which 
he  has  for  vears  been  an  official.  Fraternally  he 
belongs  to  Danville  Lodge,  No.  •-".'I.  F.  &  A.  M. 
In  1855  Mr.  Vastine  married  Mahala.  daughti  i 
Jacob  Shultz.  of  Danville,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  -ix  children:  (1)  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  ('.')  William  is  fully  mentioned 
below.  ('■'<)  Laura  M.  married  Dr.  John  1,'.  Kim- 
merer,  M.  D.  They  left  three  children.  Jeffie,  Hel- 
en ( -nice  deceased  )  and  John,  the  survivors  living 
with  their  grandfather,  Amos  Vastine.  (I)  Dr. 
John  H.  married  Helen  Beniscoter,  and  ha-  chil- 
dren. Richard  B.,  Roberl  and  Josephine  L.  (5) 
Ella  Kate,  twin  of  John  II..  married  Henry  S. 
Mains  and  has  one  son,  Charles  Vastine.  (6) 
Amos  Beaber  married  Lulu  V.  MeClure,  and  i 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  F. 

William  Vastijte,  a  retired  fa  iding  in 

West  Market  street.  Dam  die.  Pa.,  through  win 
efforts  and  assistance  much  of  the  earh,  historj  of 
the  Vastine  family  here  given  was  obtained,  was 
horn  in  Rush  township,  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, in  1859.  He  i-  the  oldesi  -on  of  Amo-  and 
Mahala  (Shultz)  Vastine.  Hi-  early  boyhood 
days  were  spent  on  hi-  father's  farm,  the  sum- 
mers in  tilling  tlie  -oil  and  the  winters  in  attend- 
ing the  native  schools  and  later  Dam  die  Academy. 
\fter  he  reached  ih,  agi  "i  maturity  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  some  320  a,  res  of  river  valley  land  in 
Point  town-hip.  Northumberland  county,  which 
he  fanned  for  several  years.  Eventually  he  pur- 
chased a  beautiful  home  mm   Wesl    Market   street, 

I  !,,n\  ill,.,   and    moved    thither.      There   he   has  since 


116 


XOBTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


resided.  Mr.  Vastine  was  a  successful  farmer,  and 
by  close  attention  to  his  work,  notwithstanding  his 
farm  is  so  large,  has  made  it  one  of  the  best  in  the 
valley.  Although  he  lives  in  town,  he  continues 
to  give  careful  attention  to  his  farm.  He  is  a 
Republican,  but  very  liberal  minded  politically. 
voting  for  whom  he  considers  the  best  man.  In 
religious  faith  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Mahoning  Presbyterian  Church,  at  Danville, 
and  earnest  workers  in  that  congregation. 

Mr.  Vastine  married  Elizabeth  Boone  Gearhart, 
daughter  of  Maybury  Gearhart,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sara  (Boone)  Gearhart,  of 
Maybury  township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  daughters:  Catherine  Gearhart 
and  Elizabeth  Boone,  both  of  whom  were  educated 
in  the  Danville  schools,  graduating  from  the  high 

school.    Mrs.  Vastine  is  a  descendanl  of  the  B le 

family,  a  record  of  which  we  here  append. 

George  Boone  lived  in  Exeter,  England,  and  was 
the  father  of  a  son  whom  he  also  called  George. 
George,  Jr.,  was  horn  in  the  city  of  Exeter,  Devon- 
shire. England,  and  when  a  young  man  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  following  it  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  sixtieth  year.  He 
had  married  Sara  Uppy,  who  survived  him  about 
twenty  years,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty. 
They  were  t  he  parents  of  a  son  <  teorge 

George  Boone  (3)  was  hum  at  the  village  of 
Stoak,  near  the  cit]  of  Exeter,  in  1666.  When  a 
young  man.  as  was  the  custom  in  that  day.  he 
learned  a  trade,  ;elei  ting  that  of  weaver.  He  mar- 
ried .Mary  Manbridge,  who  was  born  in  1669, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Milton)  Manbridge, 
ami  died  in  1741.  aged  seventy-two  years.  George 
Boone  (3)  arrived  with  his  family  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  (let.  lo.  1717.  They  -pent  '-..me  time  in  Ab- 
ington,  Pa.,  and  then  removed  i<>  North  Wales, 
where  they  remained  two  years,  thence  removing 
tn  Oley  township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  pur- 
chased 400  acres  of  land,  as  the  warrants,  dated 
1718,  show,  and  settled  upon  it.  The  original 
Boone  farm  is  now  owned  by  Morris  11.  De  'lurk. 
Mr.  Boone  died  July  ".J7.  17  11.  aged  seventy-eight 
years.  He  left  surviving  eight  children,  fifty-two 
grandchildren  ami  ten  great-grandchildren,  in  all 
seventy  descendants,  all  of  whom  excepting  S:  n 
and  Squire  remained  and  died  in  Exeter,  as  the 
record  of  the  Friends'  burying  ground  in  Exeter 
shows. 

We  have  the  following  record  of  the  descend- 
ants of  George  (3)  and  Mary  (Manbridge) 
j;,  ione : 

(It  George  Boone  (4),  born  July  13,  1690,  died 
Nov.  23,  1753.  lie  was  by  profession  a  teacher, 
for  many  years  held  the  office  of  magistrate  and 
was  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  community.  He 
married  Debora  Howell  July  31,  1713;  she  died 
Jan.  ?<;.  17">7.  Their  children  are  mentioned  he- 
low. 


(V)  Sara  Boone,  horn  Feb.  18.  1691  (?),  mar- 
ried Jacob  Stover  and  moved  to  Virginia,  later  to 
Kentucky. 

(  M  )  S.piire  liooiio.  horn  Xov.  •.'•">.  1696,  died  in 
17  HI.  in  North  Carolina,  whither  he  had  removed 
in  17-"itt.  He  married  Sara  Morgan  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  lived 
io  be  from  eighty-three  to  ninety-one  years  o]^ 
one  of  these  being  Daniel  Boone,  the  Kentucky 
pioneer. 

(4)  Mary  Boom',  horn  Sept.  •.<:;.  1699,  died  dan. 
It:.  1774.  She  married  John  Webb,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  one  of  whom, 
Samuel,  removed  to  Columbia  county  and  settled 
near  Espy.  Hi-  daughter  Mary  married  Morde- 
cai  Lincoln,  brother  of  Abraham  and  son  of  Morde- 
cai  Lincoln,  who  died  in  1 1  36. 

(5)  Joseph    11 ie.    Imrn    April    ■">.    1704,   died 

Jan.  30,  1776.     11  is  wife's  name  was  Catherine. 

(6)  Benjamin  Boone,  horn  July  16,  1706,  died 
"),t.  11.  1762.  In  1726  he  married  ( first  I  Ann 
Farmer,  at  Abington,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children  :  John  :  Susannah.  There 
were  evidently  five  children  of  Benjamin  Boone's 
- nd  marriage,  Mary.  Benjamin,  dames.  Sam- 
uel (whose  daughter  Rachel  married  Hezekiah 
Pancoast)  and  Dianah  (or  Dinah).  The  last 
named  married  Benjamin  Tallman,  who  was  a 
son  of  William  and  Ann  (Lincoln)  Tallman.  Ben- 
jamin being  their  only  child  to  live  to  matur- 
ity and  leave  descendants.  Ann  Lincoln,  his 
mother,  was  a  sister  of  Sara  Lincoln,  who  was  the 
wife  of  William  Boone.  They  were  the  daughters 
of  Mordecai  Lincoln,  whose  will  was  probated  in 
•  I  iitio.  1736.  The  Tallmans  removed  to  Virginia 
in  1780.  Williain  and  Ann  died  in  Virginia;  Ben- 
jamin and  Dinah  settled  in  Ohio  about  1805  or 
L810.     He  died  in  1820,  and  she  in  1824. 

( 7  i  dame-  Boone,  born  July  18,  1709,  died 
Sept.  1.  1785.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Foulke 
and  (second)  Ann  Griffith,  and  his  first  wife  was 
the  mother  of  fourteen  children.  His  son  James 
was  an  astronomer  and  the  writer  of  the  Boone 
manuscript,  from  which  records  much  of  the 
amily  history  has  been  obtained.  Ann. 
eldest  child  of  James  and  Mary  (Foulke).  married 
Abraham  Lincoln,  the  posthumous  son  of  Morde- 
cai Lincoln,  who  died  in  1736.  Mordecai  Lincoln, 
son  of  this  couple,  married  Julia  Maybury,  sis- 
ter to  Margaret  Maybury,  who  was  the  wife  of 
George,  -on  of  William  and  Sara  Boone.  Only 
one  child  of  Mordecai  ami  Julia  (Maybury)  Lin- 
coln. Margaret,  lived  to  maturity;  she  married  a 
Mr.  Barto. 

To  George  (4)  and  Debora  (Howell)  Boone 
were  horn  the  following  children:  George  (5), 
horn  May  3,  171  I  (died  Sept.  30,  1731  i  :  Mary, 
Feb.  10.  1716;  Hannah,  duly  20,  1718:  Debora, 
Dec.  18,  1720:  Dinah,  Oct.  is.  1722:  William. 
Sept.  is.  17V!  (died  1771)  ;  Josiah,  June  6,  1726; 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PEXXSYLYAXIA 


117 


Jeremiah,  Jan.   L6,  1729;  Abigail,  Aug.  9,  1732;' 
Hezekiah,  .March  22,  1734. 

William    B te,   son    of   George    (4),   married 

March  26,  1748,  Sara  Lincoln,  who  was  born  in 
January,  1727,  and  died  April  21,  1810.  Their 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the  following 
children:  Mordecai;  William:  Mary;  George; 
Thomas;  Jeremiah;  Eezekiah,  and  Abigail.  The 
firsl  seven  named,  together  with  the  mother,  had 
certificates  from  the  Exeter  Meeting  to  the  Fair- 
fax Meeting  in  Virginia,  under  date  of  Oct.  30, 
L776,  and  again  a  return  certificate  for  the  mother 
and  Mary.  William,  George,  Jeremiah  and  Hez- 
ekiah from  Fairfax  to  Exeter  Meeting.  The  will 
of  William  Boone,  dated  May  23,  L768,  and  pro- 
bated Dec.  6,  L771,  bequeathed  as  follows :  To  Abi- 
gail, wife  of  Adiii  Pancoast,  70  pounds;  to  repair 
Exeter  burying  ground;  to  Mary,  100  pounds  at 
age  of  twenty  years;  to  Mordecai,  50  pounds  be- 
fore division ;  the  remainder  of  the  estate  to  be  di- 
vided equally  among  sons,  and  they  to  be  put  to 
trades. 

We  have  the  following  record  of  the  descend- 
ants of  William  and  Sara  (Lincoln)  Boone:  (1) 
Abigail  married  Adin  Pancoast  May  28,  1767. 
He  died  Dec.  12,  1822;  she  died  March  1  1.  L808. 
Abigail  had  a  certificate  to  Fairfax  Meeting  and 
another  to  return  to  Exeter,  and  a  third  from  Ex- 
eter to  Catawissa,  June  28,  L797.  In  the  last  are 
named  children  as  follows:  William  Pancoast, 
who  married  Vashti  Cooper  (their  daughter  mar- 
ried dames  Evans  Lindsay  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  son.  William  T.  Lindsay);  Mary  Pan- 
coast  :  and  Hezekiah  Pancoast,  horn  dune  8,  1789, 
who  married  Rachel  Boone,  March  26,  1814  (she 
was  born  May  30,  1789,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Boone,  who  died  on  the  Fishing  Creek  in  1811). 
(2)  Mordecai  died  in  August,  1774,  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  unmarried.  (3)  William  married 
Susan  Parks,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  in  1778.  She  had 
a  certificate  to  Pipe  Creek  Meeting  dated  L782. 
Their  descendants  founded  Boonsboro,  Md.  (4) 
Mary  married  Isaac  Lee,  at  Exeter  Meeting,  May 
8,  1777.  (5)  Thomas  died  in  Amity  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  28,  1823.  (6)  Jeremiah. 
(7)  Hezekiah  married  Hannah  Hughs  in  Exeter 
township,  daughter  of  George  Hughs.  Hezekiah 
died  in  Catawissa  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa., 
and  his  will  was  probated  April  5,  1827.  The 
children  of  his  first  wife  were:  William  ami 
George,  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.;  Martha,  wife  of 
Lewis  Vastine;  Ann.  wife  of  J.  Wolverton;  and 
Xewton,  who  died  in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  By  his 
second  marriage  he  had  children :  Milton,  who 
died  at  Pottsville,  Pa. :  Surrissa  :  Hannah  :  John : 
Jndah  (of  Schuylkill  county)  ;  Willette,  who  died 
in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  Potts- 
ville, Pa.  (8)  George  (5)  married  Aug.  6,  1780, 
in  Hereford  township,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  Margaret 
Maybury,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Ann  1 and 


widow  of  William  Maybury.  She  died  April  21, 
1825,  aged  sixty-five  years.  Their  children  were 
born  as  follows:  Sara.  Mm  L0,  lis--  William, 
Nov.  1-.'.  1783;  Ann.  Aug.  21,  L785;  Charles,  Dec. 
21,  L786;  Mary.  Oct.  Is.  1788;  George,  Aug.  7, 
1790  (died  May  30,  1860);  Elizabeth,  Aug.  23, 
1793;  Harriet.  Xo\.  22,  L795;  Margaret,  Ma\  25, 
1798;  Rachel,  Feb.  5,  1801. 

George  Boone  (6),  son  ..f  George  (5),  married 
Hannah   Hughs,  horn   Feb.   9,   1794,  died    Ma 
11  ■    Is' I-      Children:      Edward,    born    April     1 - 
1811  :    Ellis,    Dee.   30,   1818;    Margaret,    Dec.   -."J. 
1820;  Thomas,  Dee.  26,  L822;  George,  March  11. 
I  s  ■.'  5 . 

Sara    B le,  born  May  10,  1782,  married  Wil- 
liam Gearhart,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  as   follows:   Maybury,  Julia  Ann,   Har 
riet,  Eleanor  and  Amelia  Douglas. 

Maybury  Gearhart  married  Margaret  C.  Nixon, 
and  their  union  was  blessed  with  seven  children: 
( 1 )  Sophia  G.  married  Col.  Charles  W.  Eckrnan. 
Children:  Catherine  G.,  Hester  R.  (married 
George  Darby)  and  Elizabeth  I'.,  (superintendent 
of  I'.rvn  Mawr  hospital).  (?)  William  married 
Margaret  Thompson.  (3)  Clarence  F.  married 
Malissa  Burd.  Children:  Amelia  H.  and  Magda- 
line  (married  Gustaf  Peterson).  (4)  Amelia  s. 
married  Hon.  IT.  M.  Hinckley.  Children:  Sara 
G.,  John  M.  (married  Mabel  Eey),  Eleanor  (mar- 
ried C.  F.  Zimmerman),  Edna  (deceased)  and 
Elizabeth  Shoop.  ( .~> )  Elwood  Sayn  married  Ella 
Creveling.  Children:  Mary  Catherine,  Helen 
Sophia,  Marion  and  Eveline  Regina.  (6)  Eliz- 
abeth  Boone  married  William  Vastine.  Children: 
Catherine  Gearhart  and  Elizabeth  Boone.  (7) 
George  S.  married  Harriet  C.  Yetter.  Children: 
William  L.  G. :  Julia  Ann,  married  to  Samuel 
Harder  (children,  Arthur  and  Harriet  Y.)  ;  Har- 
riet, married  to  Lewis  Yetter  (-en  William  G. 
Setter)  ;  Eleanor,  married  to  David  ('lark  (daugh 
ter  Cordelia  is  married  to  George  Gearhart  and 
has  children  Eleanor  ami  Charles);  and  Amelia, 
married  to  G.  M.  Shoop  (they  have  a  son  William 
G.  Shoop). 

Hugh  H.  Vastine,  third  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Hursh)  Vastine.  was  born  July  22, 
1838,  in  Northumberland  county,  and  died  Sept. 
25,  1908.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  township,  at  Danville  Academy,  and 
at  Greenwood   Seminary,  a    Friends'  institution  at 

Milville.    1'a.      C| attaining    his    majority 

married  Susan  Mettler,  daughter  of  Wilson  and 
Anna  E.  (Gearhart)  Mettler,  and  settled  upon  a 
farm  id'  some  three  hundred  acres,  which  he  pnr- 
ed  ami  where  he  lived  for  s wars,  follow- 
ing farming.  He  then  moved  to  Riverside,  where 
he  put  up  a  line  brick  house  "li  what  was  once  a 
pari  of  the  Gearhart  farm,  the  plea-ant  home 
which  his  widow  now  occupies  with  her  unmarried 


118 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mm  and  (laughter.  The  ground  was  originally 
taken  up  by  Capt.  Jacob  Gearhart,  Mrs.  Vastine's 
maternal  great-grandfather. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hugh  H.  Vastine  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  (1)  Wilson  M..  born  in 
Rush  township,  was  educated  in  Danville  Acad- 
emy under  Prof.  Kelso;  and  at  Bucknell  Univer- 
sity, located  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  graduated.  Since  the  death  of  his  father 
he  has  been  engaged  in  overseeing  his  father's  es- 
tate. (2)  Elizabeth  1!..  only  daughter  of  Hugh 
II.  and  Susan  M.  Vastine,  was  also  educated  in  the 
Danville  Academy,  at  Danville,  Pa.,  and  Buck- 
nell Seminary,  at  Lewisburg.  She  now  lives  with 
her  mother  at  Riverside.  (3)  Eugh  Spencer,  sec- 
ond son  of  Hugh  IT.  and  Susan  M.  Vastine,  was 
bom  in  Rush  township,  educated  in  the  Danville 
(Pa.)  high  school  and  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle. Pa.,  and  now  follows  farming.  He  married 
Sarah  P.  Mettler,  daughter  of  William  IT.  and 
Julia  (Kreigbaum.)  Mettler,  and  their  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  daughters,  Pauline 
ami   Rachel,  and  one  son,  Hugh  H. 

Mrs.  Susan  (Mettler)  Vastine  can  trace  her  pa- 
ternal ancestn  to  one  William  Mettler,  whose  fa- 
ther tame  from  England  and  settled  in  Hunter- 
don cminty.  X.  .1.  He  had  five  sons,  viz.:  Benja- 
min. I-aae.  Philip,  Henry  and  William.  The  lasl 
named  married  (first)  Katy  Ifann  and  (second) 
Katv  Finish,  ami  there  were  born  to  him  five  sons 
and  lour  (laughters,  viz.:  Jonathan,  Philip.  Mat- 
thias (Tice),  John,  William.  Mary  (married  Wil- 
liam Taylor),  Elizabeth  (married  Francis  Apgar), 
Catherine  (married  [saac  Van  Konk)  and  Sara 
(married  Philip  Sine). 

William  Mettler.  son  of  William  and  Katy  Met- 
tler. was  born  Aug.  25,  1778,  in  Hunterdon  coun- 
ty, X.  J.,  and  married  Elizabeth  Apgar,  daughter 
of  William  and  Katie  (Pickle)  Apgar.  About 
1790  he  came  to  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and 
settled  near  Klinesgrove,  in  Rush  township,  upon 
lands  recently  owned  bv  Harmon  Savige.  He  first 
leased,  paying  money  rent  once  a  year  to  one  <  teorge 
Sutton,  agent,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  for  the  owner, 
who  resided  in  England.  Later,  when  the  owner 
came  to  inspect  the  lands  he  purchased  318  acres 
and  resided  thereon  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  Oct.  11.  is  is.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  nearly  thirty 
years,  and  had  held  several  prominent  positions  in 
the  church,  such  as  class  leader,  steward  and  trus- 
tee. He  was  of  a  charitable  disposition,  assisting 
imt  only  his  own  church  but  other  congregations, 
and  he  was  ever  ready  to  help  the  needy.  He  was 
a  great  Bible  student,  well  versed  in  the  Scrip- 
tures. Politically  lie  was  a  Democrat,  hut  took 
little  interest  in  politics.  For  his  time  he  had  en- 
joyed good  educational  advantages,  was  a  good 
mathematician,  and  fond  of  astronomy.  Indus- 
trious, economical  and  prudent,  he  reared  his  large 


family  ami  lefl  an  unincumbered  estate  to  his 
heirs. 

His  wife,  as  has  been  noted,  was  Elizabeth  Ap- 
gar. This  name  was  originally  Ebgert  or  Ebeher. 
The  family  came  from  the  borders  of  Lombard, 
in  Italy,  to  Philadelphia  in  1749.  The  records 
show  that  Sept.  13,  1749,  Johan  Adam  Ebgert 
signed  the  oath  of  allegiance.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  one  of  two  brothers  who  came  to  this  country, 
the  other  going  to  Monmouth  county,  X.  .1.  Jo- 
han Adam  Ebgert  was  the  father  of  ten  son>  and 
one  daughter.  \iz.:  Herbert,  Henry,  Jacob,  Peter, 
John,  William  (who  settled  near  Clinton,  Hunter- 
don Co..  X.  J.).  Adam,  Frederick.  Conrad.  George 
and   Catherine. 

William  Apgar.  of  Clinton,  X.  .1..  horn  in  1752, 
died  April  9,  1836.  He  married  April  17.  1774, 
Catherine  Pickle,  daughter  of  Conrad  Fickle,  horn 
in  1752,  ami  died  in  1831.  To  them  were  horn 
Sve  -oiis  and  seven  daughters,  viz.:  Joanna  Ger- 
trude, born  March  31,  1775;  Hannah,  March  3, 
1776  (died  young);  Elizabeth,  17T7  (died 
young):  Xicholas  I'..  June  29,  L779  (married 
Catherine  Manning)  :  dames.  .Ian.  28.  ITsi  (died 
single);  William.  Oct.  29,  1782  (died  young); 
Elizabeth  CM.  dune  12,  1785  (married  William 
Mettler);  Sarah,  twin  of  Elizabeth  (2)  (married 
Isaac  Bloom  i  ;  ( Catherine,  Aug.  2,  1 789  (died 
young):  Nancy,  duly  12,  1792  (married  Samuel 
Manning,  son  of  Samuel)  :  William  (2),  July  15, 
1794  (died  young);  George,  1799  (married  Eliz- 
abeth  McPherson,  of  Brooklyn).     Of  these, 

Mrs.  Mettler  died  Feb.  17,  [876,  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  nearly  ninety-one  years.  She  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  nearly  sixty 
years.  As  was  expressed  by  her  minister,  who 
wrote  her  obituary,  "her  house  was  the  home  of 
the  weary  itinerant,  and  a  church  in  which  to  wor- 
ship God."  At  the  time  of  her  death  her  descend- 
ants were  fourteen  children,  sixty  grandchildren, 
sixty-three  great-grandchildren  and  five  great- 
great-grandchildren,  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-two.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  resem- 
blance between  Elizabeth  Apgar  Mettler  and  her 
twin  sister  Sara  A.pgar  Bloom  was  so  marked  that 
their  closest  friends  were  puzzled  to  know  them 
apart.  They  were  married  the  same  day.  by  the 
same  minister,  one  of  them  wearing  a  bit  of  ribbon 
to  distinguish  her  from  the  other.  Each  was  the 
mother  of  fourteen  children,  the  last  two  of  Mrs. 
Bloom's  children  being  twins. 

We  have  the  following  record  of  the  seven  sons 
and  seven  daughter-  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Mettler:  (1)  Nicholas,  horn  dune  18,  1803,  died 
July  16,  1803.  (  ?  i  Catherine,  horn  Jan.  17,  1805, 
on  Oct.  17,  1822,  was  married  by  Rev.  John  Rhodes 
to  Robert  Campbell.  Their  home  was  first  at 
Snydertown,  Pa.,  and  later  on  a  farm  near  there. 
Their  children  who  reached  maturity  were:  Wil- 
liam. John  and  Harry.    Mrs.  Campbell  died  at  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUYTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


1  L9 


home  of  her  son  John,  in  Snydertown,  Dec.  6, 
1881.  (.3)  Hannah,  born  ISTov.  27,  L806,  on  April 
i;.  L827,  was  married  to  William  Price,  of  Clear 
field  county,  Pa.,  where  she  resided  until  the  time 
of  her  death,  July  9,  1892.  Their  children  who 
grew  up  were  Elizabeth,  William  Lorenzo,  Annie, 
Martha,  George  and  Wesley.  (4)  Isaac  !'>..  born 
May  20,  1808,  died  Dec.  31,  1850,  unmarried. 
(5)  William,  born  Jan.  13,  1810,  on  Oct.  9,  1834, 
was  married  by  Rev.  Thomas  Taunehill  to  .lane 
Kline.  They  lii'st  lived  on  a  farm  afterward  the 
home  and  property  of  John  F.  Kline,  then  on  a 
farm  near  the  old  Mettler  homestead,  and  later 
went  Wesl  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Joliet,  111., 
where  he  died  Oct.  8,  1885.  Their  children  who 
reached  maturity  were  A.  Brittian,  Jasper,  Mc- 
Kendree,  William  Henry,  Keturah,  Harriet  Ann 
and  Mary  Eliza.  (6)  Sarah,  born  July  5,  1811, 
on  Oct.  21,  L831,  was  married  by  Rev.  Daniel 
Steele  to  Charles  Gearhart,  of  Danville,  Pa.,  and 
settled  mi  a  farm  near  Danville.     She  new  makes 

her  I ie  u  ith  her  sons  Weslej .  of  Scranton,  Pa., 

ami  Clark,  of  Locl<  Haven,  Pa.  Her  children,  who 
grew  up,  were  Susan,  William  M.,  Wesley  and 
Clark  R.  She  married  (second)  Andrew  Run- 
;  an.  ( "i  )  Eleanor,  born  April  L6,  1813,  on  Sept. 
10,  1832,  was  married,  h\  Rev.  Josiah  Forrest,  to 
Philip  Huff,  and  located  on  and  afterward  pur- 
chased  the   farm   ow 1   l>v   Philip's  grandfather. 

(8)  George,  born  Oct.  12,  lsi  i.  died  Oct.  9,  1824. 
I'.i)  Nancy,  born  Sept.  s.  1817,  on  Dec.  17,  1835, 
was  married  by  Rev.  Oliver  Ege  to  William  Carr, 
of  Siinhiirv.  where  they  located  and  where  she 
died  dune  is.  1892.  She  married  for  her  second 
husband  ex-Sheriff  Daniel  Buckley.  Of  the  chil- 
dren   born    tn    her    first    marriage,    the    following 

grew   up:   William    M.,  G 'ge,   Bartley,   Francis, 

Charles,  Alfred  and  Edward.  (10)  Eliza,  born 
Feb.  '.'.  1819,  was  married  h\  Rev.  Henry  Dill.  .Tan. 
.",.  1839,  to  John  F.  Kline,  and  located  mi  a  farm 
near  Klinesgrove,  Pa.,  where  they  both  died,  the 
Eormer  Jan.  30,  1899.  Their  adult  children  were: 
Sara;  Ellen;  Martha;  Ann:  Henry  M.;  and  Ida. 
Mrs.  James  Stoner.  ill)  Lorenzo,  born  March 
27,  1821,  was  married  Ma\  31,  1842,  by  Rev.  C. 
A.  Hewitt,  to  Permelia  Wolverton.  They  firsl  lo- 
cated in  the  old  stone  parsonage  near  home,  then 
at  Deiblers  Station  in  Irish  Valley,  and  later  came 
to  own  a  farm  near  Rushville,  Pa.,  wl  ere  he  spent 
most  of  his  life.  He  died  March  17,  1889.  His 
adull  children  were:  Charles.  William  H.  and 
Margaret.  His  second  wife  was  Matilda  Eckman. 
daughter  of  Jacob  Eckman.  (12)  John,  born 
dan.  13,  1823,  was  married  dan.  8,  1846,  by  Rev. 
J.  W.  Haughawout,  to  Jerusha  Kline.  They  lo- 
cated on  the  old  farm  at  Union  Corners  and  then 
for  a  time  ai  Elysburg,  Pa.,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  ..„  which  lie  died  May  22,  1889.  They  were 
the  parents  of  but  one  child,  Preston.  I  13)  Susan, 
born  Oct.  19,  1825,  was  married  dan.  9,  1841.  by 


Rev.  Alem  Brittian,  to  Isaac  DeWitt  Kline.  They 
first  farmed  for  Mr.  Kline's  lather,  then  purchased 
a  farm  near  Mettler's  Church  mi  which  he  died  in 
L861,  a  victim  of  the  then  prevailing  typhoid 
fever  scourge  of  Rush  tow  nship.  His  widow  died 
July  30,   1887.     Their  adult  children  were  Delia. 

Ella  and  Garner.     (II)  E di,  the  youngesi  ol  the 

family,  horn  duly  25,  1827,  was  married  iSTov.  3, 
L853,  by  Rev.  Andrew  Barr,  to  Marj  Ann  Rob- 
inson, and  resided  for  a  time  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Later  he  werd  Wesl  with  his  brother  Wil- 
liam and  located  on  a  farm  near  Joliet,  III.  Re- 
turning East  lie  located  on  a  farm  near  the  Met- 
tler Church,  and  afterward  came  to  Riverside  and 
made  his  home  with  his  son  William.  His  adult 
children  were  William  I.,  and  Ambrose  Apgar. 

William  H.  Mettler.  the  only  surviving  son  of 
Lorenzo  and  Permelia  (Wolverton)  Mettler.  was 
horn  in  1848  in  Shamokin  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  In  is;  I  he  pur-  s 
chased  a  farm  in  Rush  township.  In  1873  he  mar- 
ried . Julia,  daughter  of  Daniel  Kreigbaum,  ami 
their  11111011  has  been  blessed  with  the  following 
children:  Lorenzo  1'.  married  Bertha  Hartung; 
Elizabeth  J.  married  Dallis  G.  Pensyl  and  has  one 
>on.  d.  Mettler;  Willard  K.  married  Carrie  Pensyl 
and  has  one  daughter,  Beatrice;  Sarah  I',  married 
Hugh  Spencer  Vastine;  John  D.  married  Verna 
Enterline;  Rachel  I.'.  is  unmarried;  Charles  Mark- 
died    when    Bve    months   old. 

Philip  Mettler,  -on  of  William,  married  Susan 
Carter,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  il)  William  married  Elizabeth  Wolver- 
ton and  had  children.  I  ivne  Ann  (deci  I  ed), 
Charles  and  Amzi.  CM  Spencer  married  Rebecca 
Gearhart  and  had  George,  Susan  and  Jasper.  I  1) 
Charles  married  Miram  Moore  and  had  one  child, 
Amy.  (4)  Wilson,  born  in  1813,  died  Oi  t.  8, 
1900.  lie  married  Anna  E.,  daughter  of  Jo 
and  Ann  (Cool)  Gearhart,  and  their  four  children 
were:  Sara  E.,  who  married  Gobin  Hoffman,  and 
ha-  a  child  Anna.  Mrs.  William  G.  William-: 
Susan,  who  married  Hugh  II.  Vastim:  Spencer 
('..  who  married  Amanda  Brandon,  ami  thev  were 
parents  of  Flora  A.  (Mr-.  C  V.  Amerman,  who 
ha-  one  child,  Ruth)  and  Spencer  W.  (died 
young )  :  and  Anna  A.,  who  lives  with  her  sister, 
ilrs.  Vastine.     (5)    Kate  married    David    Rocke- 

fellow  and   had   two  Sons,  William    M..  an  ex-judge, 

and  Jordan,     i  6  i  Sarah  I  and 

her  children  were  Ellen,  I  latherine,  Henrietta  and 
Mettler.  (7)  l  do  na  ed  John  Eckman 
and  had  children,  Philip  (who  married  Harriet 
Conrad  and  had  a  daughter  Esther)  and  Mary 
(unmarried  |.  (8)  Cai  ter  married  M  1 1 
uoui  and  had  <  hildren,  Laura.  Uice,  Su  an  I  . 
Philip.  Wilson  and  Jennie.  (  9  i  Jonal  hac  n 
ried  Bulah  Hoffman  and  had  \nnie  and  Elizabeth. 
Mrs.  Susan  \I.  Vastine  trace-  her  maternal  an 


120 


\m|;TIII   MIVEPLAND   COl   NTY,    Pi:\\>YI.\  A\1A 


eestry  to  Capt.  Jacob  Gearhart,  who  was  born  in 
Strasburg,  then  in  France,  now  in  Germany,  in 
1735,  and  in  1754  came  to  America  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Hunterdon  county,  X.  J.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Kline.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Herman.  Jacob.  George,  Wil- 
liam, John,  Benjamin.  Elizabeth.  Mary,  Kate, 
Charles  and  Isaac. 

John  Gearhart.  fifth  son  of  Capt.  Jacob  Gear- 
hart,  married  Ann  Cool,  of  Xew  Jersey,  and  in 
1790  removed  with  his  parents  to  what  is  now 
Riverside,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Gearhart  were 
the  parents  of:  Anna  E.,  Jacob,  Tunis.  William, 
John.   Sain.  Catherine  and   Elizabeth. 

Anna  E.,  daughter  of  John  Gearhart,  married 
Wilson  Mettler,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Susan  Mettler  Vastine. 

In  her  beautiful  home  at  Riverside,  surrounded 
by  her  children  and  grandchildren,  Mrs.  Vastine 
and  her  sister,  Miss  Anna  A.  Mettler.  live  in  plen- 
ty and  comfort.  Hers  is  a  model  Christian  house- 
hold, characterized  by  charity  and  hospitality. 
She  and  her  family  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  Mrs.  Vastine  united  when  a 
girl  in  her  teens,  and  she  has  ever  since  been  a 
faithful   member. 

DEPPEX.  The  Deppen  family  of  Northum- 
berland county  to  which  George  Edward  Deppen, 
lawyer  of  Sunburjr,  belongs  is  descended  from 
John  Deppen,  of   Berks  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(I)  John  Deppen  had  children  as  follows:  Da- 
vid, of  Berks  county:  Peter,  of  Berks  county, 
whose  children  were  Alexander.  William.  Isaac, 
George.  Andrew.  Catherine.  Lizzie  and  Rebecca; 
Christian,  whose  children  were  John  (by  first  mar- 
riage ) .  Washington,  Harriet  and  Elizabeth  (by 
second  marriage)  :  William,  great-grandfather  of 
Gi  irge  Edward  Deppen:  Henry,  whose  children 
were  Gabriel  and  two  daughters:  and  George, 
whose  children  were  William  (father  of  G.  W. 
Deppen).  John.  Isaac,  a  daughter  whose  name  is 
not  given.  Catherine  and  Elizabeth. 

(II)  William  Deppen.  son  of  John,  was  horn  in 
1782  in  Berks  county.  He  married  a  Miss 
Maurer.  and  they  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
namely:  Mrs.  George  Snyder  (horn  in  isil). 
Abram,  [saac,  David  (died  unmarried),  Alex- 
ander. William.  Mrs.  Winner.  Mrs.  Boyer.  Mrs. 
Bower  and  John. 

(III)  Abram  Deppen.  born  in  1812,  died  in 
1899.  He  was  a  sawyer  and  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  cleared  the  first  five  acres  of  the  present 
site  of  Shamokin.  Later  he  removed  to  Locust 
Gap,  where  he  followed  farming.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  lived  in  the  house  which  Pat  Hester  sub- 
sequently occupied,  and  there  bis  son  George  was 
horn.  He  then  moved  to  what  was  called  the 
Deppen  plantation,  his  father's  farm,  and  later 
purchased  a  part  of  the  White  island,  near  Hern- 


don,  finally  removing  to  Herndon.  where  he  died. 
He  accumulated  considerable  property  during  the 
course  of  his  industrious  life. 

In  1833  Mr.  Deppen  married  Mary  Snyder,  who 
dieil  in  1868.  They  had  four  children:  Louisa, 
born  m  1834,  who  married  Dr.  R.  H.  Muth : 
George,  born  in  1836;  Joseph,  horn  Dee.  2,  is:;;. 
now  of  Mount  Carmel :  and  Alexander,  horn  in 
L839. 

( IV  |  George  Deppen,  born  in  1836,  spent  his 
early  life  upon  the  farm.  In  1867  be  moved  to 
Herndon  ami  began  the  grain,  flour  and  feed 
business,  which  he  still  carries  on.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  served  as  postmaster  at  that  place, 
and  for  thirty  years,  with  hut  one  intermission,  he 
served  continuously  a-  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  wife, 
Mary  (Mertz),  born  in  1st;,  died  in  1898.  They 
had  the  following  children:  Lizzie,  horn  in  187H. 
who  married  II.  E.  Snyder;  Laura,  who  married 
II.  E.  Engle;  George  Edward,  horn  in  1873;  and 
Barry  C.    (horn   in    1874),  Charles  P..  Sue.  Car- 

.  John  E..  Nettie,  Raymond  and  Abram  Earl, 
at  home. 

(  V )  (iicoEGE  Edward  Deppen  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  local  schools,  and  later  at- 
tended the  academy  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  county, 
for  three  vears.  In  1890  he  entered  ITsimis  Col- 
lege, al  Collegeville,  Pa.,  and  in  1893  became  a 
student  at  Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg,  Pa., 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated,  in  the 
classical  course,  m  June.  1894.  He  then  took  up 
study  of  law  with  H.  S.  Knight,  .if  Sunbury, 
and  wa-  admitted  to  the  bar  May  :'>.  1897,  the 
same  year  opening  his  office  in  Sunbury,  where  he 
has  since  devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  is  connected  with  various  social 
bodies  at  Sunbury,  belonging  to  the  Temple  Club. 
to  Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M..  Northum- 
berland Chapter.  Xo.  174.  R.  A.  M..  and  Mt.  Her- 
mon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K.  T.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania,  having 
served  as  regimental  sergeanl  major,  battalion  ad- 
jutant, and  being  at  present  inspector  of  small 
arms  practice  of  his  regiment  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  local  politics 
as  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  ami  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  is 
active  in  the  Laymen's  Missionary  movement. 

On  April  17.  1901,  Mr.  Deppen  married  Laura 
Koons.  of  Collegeville,  Pa.  They  have  had  one 
daughter,  who  is  deceased. 

EDMUND  W.  SAMUEL.  M.  D..  of  Mount 
Carmel.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  physician  and 
druggist  of  long  standing  at  that  place,  represen- 
tative of  the  Sixteenth  Congressional  district  for 
one  term,  and  a  leader  in  founding  and  conduct- 
ing several  of  the  most  progressive  business  en- 
terprises which  have  assisted  in  the  opening  up  and 


N  < )  I ITIIUMBERLAXD  ( JOUNTY,   I ' E  X  X  S YL  YA  X  I A 


r.M 


development  of  this  section,  was  born  Now  27, 
1857,  at  Blanavon,  England,  son  of  Edmund  and 
Mary   (Bower)   Samuel. 

Edmund  Samuel  brought  his  family  to  America 
in  I860  and  first  located  at  Scranton,  Pa.  In 
1861  they  removed  to  Schuylkill  county,  in  1863 
settling  at  Ashland,  thai  county,  where  they  re- 
sided continuously  until  is;-.1.  They  then  lived 
in  differenl  parts  of  the  county  until  18S6,  when 
they  returned  to  Ashland  and  there  made  a  per- 
manent borne.  Mr.  Samuel  was  a  well  known  man 
in  his  day  in  mining  circles,  having  been  super- 
intendent of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal 
and  [ron  Company  for  the  long  period  of  fifteen 
years,  and  in  1889  be  was  a  member  of  the  State 
board  of  mining  examiners.  His  family  consisted 
of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters: 
Edmund  W. ;  Lizzie.  Mrs.  Samuel  McConnell : 
Thomas  P.;  William  C. ;  Mellie;  Emma,  and 
Gertrude. 

Edmund  W.  Samuel  received  a  thorough  pre- 
paratory education,  baving  the  privilege  of  four 
years  tinder  private  instructors  as  well  as  the  ben- 
efits ni  the  public  schools.  He  began  to  learn  the 
drug  business  in  1874,  when  be  entered  the  drug 
store  of  J.  II.  Pritchard  &  Co.,  at  Ashland,  and 
meantime  also  pursued  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  William  R.  Owens,  of  that  place.  In  October, 
1878,  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phil- 
adelphia, from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
March  13.  1880,  the  following  month  commencing 
practice  in  Ashland.  He  remained  there  only 
until  November,  however,  when  he  came  to  Mount 
Carmel,  which  has  since  been  his  field  of  practice. 
In  188^  be  became  a  member  of  the  drug  firm  of 
Dr.  E.  S.  Heiser  &  Co.,  this  association  lasting  un- 
til July  25,  1889,  when  he  purchased  Dr.  Heiser's 
interest,  becoming  sole  proprietor  of  the  business. 
His  establishment  is  one  of  the  leading  drug 
stores  in  the  borough,  or  anywhere  in  this  sec- 
tion, and  his  high  personal  character  is  reflected 
in  the  management  and  standing  of  the  business. 

Besides  making  a  success  of  his  professional 
work  and  drug  business  Dr.  Samuel  has  interested 
himself  in  local  affairs  to  an  unusual  extent  for 
one  of  his  calling.  Few  men  have  had  better  op- 
portunities to  acquire  an  insight  into  the  greatesl 
needs  of  the  community,  and  few  would  have  pos- 
sessed the  energy  to  try  to  put  so  many  different 
plans  into  successful  operation.  In  1901  he  was 
eh',  ted  president  of  the  Shamokin  &  Mount  Car- 
mel Transit  Company,  and  he  is  also  president  and 
general  manager  of  the  Mount  Carmel  &  Locusl 
Cap  Trolley  'Company,  chartered  Dec.  6,  C111*. 
which  in  19*09  built  the  road  from  Bear  Dale  to  Lo- 
cust Cap.  about  two  miles  long.  J.  G.  McConnell  is 
vice-president  of  the  hitter  company,  1?.  D.  Heal 
on,  secretary,  and  William  J.  Kiefer,  treasurer 
Dr  Samuel  is  a  director  of  the  Union  National 
Bank  of  Mount  Carmel  and  of  the  People's  Build- 


ing &  Loan  Association  of  Mount  Carmel;  pres- 
ident  of  the   Hazleton   Heights  Land   Company; 

president  of  the  Penn  Bond  &  Mortgage  C pany, 

of  Brooklyn,  X.  Y..  and  president  of  the  Samuel 
Realty  Company,  also  of  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.  He  has 
shown  great  executive  skill  in  the  management  of 
the  various  interests  he  has  acquired,  to  all  of 
which  he  give-  his  personal  attention. 

Dr.  Samuel  has  long  been  an  ardent   Republi- 
can, and  as  such  he  was  elected  to  Congress   in 
1904    as    representative   from    the    Sixteenth    Dis- 
trict, embracing    Northumberland,   Montour,   I  o 
lumbia    and    Sullivan    counties.      He    has    ah 
been  particularly  interested  in  the  cause  of  p 
lie  education,  and  has  served  as  a  tnembei   ol 
local  school  hoard. 

On  April  \Js.  1886,  Dr.  Samuel  married  Alice 
Kiefer,  daughter  of  William  and  Deborah  Kiefer, 
of  Mount  Carmel.  and  they  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, all  sons:  Frank  J.,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
clerking  for  his  father;  E.  Roger,  a  student  al 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  class  of  1913;  E.  Wil- 
lard.  who  is  in   the  class  of    1911    al    the    Mount 

Carmel    high    sel 1:   and    E.    Waller,   who    is    al 

school. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Methodisl  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  has  various  fraternal  connec- 
tions, belonging  to  the  I.  0.  0.  F..  the  K.  of  M., 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Masons  Mourn  Car 
mel  Lodge.  No.  378,  V.  &  A.  M. ;  the  Williams- 
port  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree:  and  I,', 
Temple.  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S.  lie  is  a  member  of 
the  Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society  and  of  the 
Pennsylvania   State  Medical  Society. 

SHADE.  The  name  Shade  is  well  represented 
in  business  circles  in  Shamokin.  where  the  broth- 
ers Daniel  E.,  Jacob  M.  and  Richard  A.  Shade, 
sons  of  the  late  Andrew  Shade,  are  establishei 
various  lines,  identified  with  local  activities  and 
well  known  in  Masonic  organizations. 

Andrew  Shade,  great-grandfather  of  these  three 
brothers,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  lb- 
was  the  first  of  the  family  in  Schuylkill  county, 
settling  near  what  is  noM  Pei it,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  which  be  ai  once  began  to 
clear.  He  remained  here  all  his  active  life  and  died 
upon  his  farm.  II  is  son  John  became  owner  of  the 
homestead,  but  it  is  now  in  the  possession  Ri 
ben  If.  Shade,  uncle  of  Daniel,  Jaeob  and  Richa 

John  Shade,  son  of  Andrew,  moved  with  his 
father  by  team  from  Berks  count) .  Pa.,  to  Si  huyl- 
kill  county,  settling  near  Klingerstown.  He  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  containing  two  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  farmed,  and  be  became  a 
known  man  in  his  district.  He  died  al  the  age 
of    sixty-five   years,    and    is    buried    at     Klwu 

ife,     Hannah     (Hofl 

They  had  children:  Elizabeth;  Andrew;  Jacob, 
u  ho'  was   killed    h  '  ing   in   the  Civil   war: 


122 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Emanuel;  Katie:  Abraham;  Polly;  Louisa,  who 
married  John  Lants  and  live?  near  Seven  Points, 
Northumberland  county;  and  Reuben  II. .  who 
now  owns  the  old  homestead  near  Fearnot. 

Andrew  Shade  was  horn  in  Schuylkill  county. 
When  a  young  man  he  learned  tanning,  which 
trade  he  followed  successfully  for  several  years, 
having  a  tannery  about  four  miles  from  Tremont, 
Schuylkill  county.  Selling  out  he  moved  to  Sny- 
der county,  Pa.,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  near 
Freeburg  on  which  he  remained  for  some  time,  in 
L870  removing  to  Shamokin,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years.  His  last  days  were  spent  in 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  died  in  1895,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four,  and  was  buried  at  the  Metho- 
dist Church  near  his  home.  He  married  Caroline 
Stein,  of  that  county,  who  died  at  Shamokin. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Hannah  married  John  Shoup  and  they  live  in 
Missouri;  John  is  living  in  Kansas:  Jacob  M.  is 
mentioned  below;  Savilla  died  young;  Daniel  E. 
is  mentioned  Mow:  Alice  married  Emanuel 
Long,  a  merchant  of  Shamokin:  Mary  married 
Daniel  Snyder  of  Shamokin:  and  Richard  A.  is 
mentioned  below. 

Jacob  M.  Shade  was  horn  in  1856  mar  Beg- 
ins, Schuylkill  county,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  In  common  with  many  boys 
of  this  region  he  began  work  at  the  mines  at  Sham- 
okin, hut  he  eventually  went  to  a  trade,  learning 
the  carriage-making  business,  which  he  followed, 
being  employed  at  different  places,  until  1892.  He 
-pent  some  time  ai  Renovo,  Clinton  county,  whence 
he  came  .to  Shamokin.  on  dan.  '.'.  1892,  establish- 
ing the  store  at  No.  509  North  Second  street 
which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  carries  a  com- 
prehensive line  of  groceries,  notions,  shoes,  etc., 
and  is  well  known  in  his  section  of  the  borough 
as  one  of  its  most  progressive  business  men.  He 
has  built  up  an  excellent  trade  by  the  most  hon- 
orable methods,  and  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed 
citizens  of  Shamokin.  His  attention  lias  been 
given  chiefly  to  the  care  of  his  business  interests. 
but  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
from  his  ward,  the  Tenth,  for  seven  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  fraternal  con- 
nection a  member  of  Renovo  Lodge,  No.  495,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  of  the    Temple  Club  of  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Shade  was  married  three  times,  (fust) 
Pee.  is.  isr, .  to  Emma  Maliek,  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel Malick.  of  Seven  Points,  Pa.:  she  died  Nov. 
12,  1880.  They  had  one  daughter  who  died  in 
infancy.  Tic  married  (second)  Mary  Rhoads, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Rhoads  of  Elysburg,  Pa.,  and 
she  died  Dec.  18,  1881.  They  had' one  son  Charles, 
who  assists  his  father,  lie  married  (third)  Feb. 
16,  1883,  Annie  ('.  Gray,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel  (Fox)  Gray,  of  Paxinos,  Pa.,  and  to  this 
marriage  came  one  son  Clarence,  who  died  aged 
thirteen  years. 


Daxiel  E.  Shade  was  horn  in  185?  near  Tre- 
mont,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  For  nineteen  years 
after  he  began  to  earn  his  own  living  he  was  en- 
gaged at  the  mines,  being  employed  at  the  Cam- 
eron colliery.  He  then  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business,  for  many  years  occupying  the  location 
at  Third  and  Spruce  -t reels  where  his  brother-in- 
law,  Emanuel  Lone,  i-  now  doing  business,  and  in 
connection  with  his  lines  of  general  merchandise 
he  dealt  in  oils.  Tin-  specialty  in  time  attained 
such  proportions  ami  offered  such  good  prospects 
that  he  gave  up  his  original  business  and  devoted 
himself  exclusively  to  the  oil  trade,  which  be  has 
ever  since  continued.  He  is  manager  of  what  i- 
known  as  the  Merchants  Oil  Company,  with  offices 
in  the  Market  Street  National  Bank  building, 
Shamokin.  and  handles  a  large  wholesale  business 
which  has  not  yet  by  any  means  reached  the  limit 
id'  expansion.  Hi-  partners  in  tin-  concern  are 
Martin  and  Charles  Jameson,  of  Warren.  Pa.,  ami 
these  two  young  men  are  associated  with  W.  B\ 
Stewarl  a-  proprietors  of  the  Warren  Refining 
Company,  of  Warren.  Pa.,  which  furnishes  the 
product  disposed  of  by  the  Merchants  oil  Com- 
pany, Mr  Shade  ha-  developed  the  business  by 
the  exercise  of  ability  ami  good  judgment,  which 
he  possesses  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  his  suet  ess 
lias  placed  him  among  the  most  enterprising  men 
of  Shamokin.     His  personal  and  social  standing 

i-  equally  g !.     lie  i-  a  prominent  member  of  the 

Masonic  fraternity,  holding  membership  in  Sham- 
okin Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M.:  m  Shamokin 
Chapter,  No.  264,  If.  A.  M..  of  which  he  is  a  past 
high  priest:  in  Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  ii. 
K.  T..  of  which  he  is  a  past  eminenl  commander; 
in  Willianisport  Lodge  of  Perfection  (fourteenth 
degree);  Williamsport  Consistory  (thirty-second 
degree)  :  and  in  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  O.  X.  M.  S., 
of  Reading,  Pa.  He  is  a  Republicanin  politics 
and  has  held  the  office  of  school  director,  serving 
from  the  Sixth  ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed ( Ihurch. 

Mr.  Shade  married  Sept.  20,  1876.  Prances 
Ross,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  .Anna  (Kerrey) 
h'os-..  of  Jersey  Shore.  Pa.,  and  six  children  have 
been  horn  to  this  union:  Minnie  married  Claude 
Morgan  and  they  live  in  Pittsburg;  Gertrude  mar- 
ried Ray  Kellerman  ami  they  live  in  Mount  Oar- 
mel;  Edith  is  bookkeeper  for  her  father:  George 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy; Mabel  and  Frances  are  at  home. 

Richaed  A.  Shade  was  horn  July  21,  1871,  at 
Shamokin.  He  attended  public  school  ami  was 
ivaivd  to  farming  on  his  uncle's  farm  in  Dauphin 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  continuing  to  fol- 
low this  occupation  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he 
had  learned  harnessmaking,  at  which  he  began  to 
work  when  seventeen,  continuing  it  in  connection 


MM.TIirMBERLANI)  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


123 


with  agricultural  work.  After  reaching  his  ma- 
jority he  gave  all  his  time  to  his  trade,  and  in 
is1.)  I,  returning  to  Shamokin,  established  himself 
in  business  in  that  line  at  No.  15  South  Market 
street.  Pie  lias  all  the  latest  conveniences  Eor  car- 
rying mi  hamessmaking,  and  his  work  is  first 
class  and  in  large  demand,  his  trade  being  exten- 
sive and  profitable.  His  trade  is  as  good  as  the 
besl  in  the  borough,  where  he  is  regarded  as  a  sub- 
stantia.! and  desirable  citizen,  one  who  holds  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  thirty-sec- 
ond-degree Mason,  belonging  to  Shamokin  Lodge, 
No.  855,  P.  &  A.  M.:  Shamokin  Chapter,  No.  264, 
K.  A.  M.:  ami  Bloomsburg  Consistory,  thirty-sec- 
,,ii,|  degree.  In  religious  connection  he  i<  a  mem- 
ber nl'  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Mr.  Shade's  first  marriage  was  to  Mamie  Wolf- 
gang, who  died  April  6,  1891,  the  mother  el'  two 
children:  Allen,  who  is  at  borne;  ami  Normand, 
who  died  young.  <»n  April  9,  1895,  Mr.  Shade 
married  (second)  Miss  Ida  Strauh.  daughter  of 
Elias  and  Mary  (Walborn)  Strauh.  and  to  this 
anion  have  been  born  five  children:  Clyde  L., 
.lames  A..  Edna  M..  Richard  W.  and  Leona  I). 

DUNKELBERGER.  The  Dunkelberger  fam- 
ily is  an  old  settled  and  numerously  represented 
family  nl'  Northumberland  county,  and  allied  by 
marriage  with  many  other  of  the  foremost  fami- 
lies of  this  region.  The  name  itself,  according  to 
tradition,  originated  from  Dunkel  Berg,  a  spur  of 
the  Black  Forest,  in  Germany.  Little  is  known  of 
the  Dunkelbergers  before  the  time  of  the  Ri  Eor 
mation.  During  thai  period  they  espoused  the 
cause  nl'  the  Reformers,  ami  their  descendants  to 
the  present  day  have  continued  to  adhere  to  Prot- 
estant denominations,  dp  to  the  time  of  their 
emigration  to  the  New  World  the}  were  industri- 
ous and  patriotic  citizens  of  whai  is  now  the  King- 
dom of  Wurtemberg,  in  lower  Germany,  hut  heme 
deprived  there  of  their  religious  liberty  they 
turned  to  America,  coming  hither  in  1728  by  way 
of  the  Rheinfels,  down  the  Rhine  to  Holland, 
whence  they  sailed  in  i he  English  ship  "More- 
house." landing  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  28,  1728. 
Tl,,  \  proceeded  at  once  to  what  is  now  Berks  coun- 
ty Pa,  locating  in  Windsor  township,  a  little 
southeast  of  what  is  now  the  borough  of  Ham- 
burg. They  were  frequently  molested  by  the  In- 
dians. These  emigrants  were  Clement.  Daniel  and 
John  Dunkelberger.  ('lenient,  who  was  the  an- 
cestor of  the  others   (the  name  of  his  son   Daniel. 

however,   does    imt   appear   in   his   will),   ai    ;e 

paid  taxes  to  the  English  Crown,  "(lenient/ 
Doncleberger"  is  mi  the  first  list  of  taxahles  ol 
Wimhor  township  (1754).  He  paid  six  pounds 
tax  in  175  I.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  m  1<82,  Ins 
home  was  in  Windsor  township.  His  will,  made 
Feb  12.  1776,  was  probated  April  8,  1782  and  is 
o„  record  in  Will  Book  B.  page  38.     At  the  lime 


the  will  was  made  his  wile  Anna  Maria  was  still 
living.  Their  children  were  (no  record  of  Daniel)  : 
Clemens,  who  obtained  the  plantation;  Catharine, 
married  to  Andrew  Winiger;  Mrs.  John  Beck; 
John:  Frederick;  Christopher;  Elizabeth,  married 
to  Michael  Deck;  Philip;  Sevila;  Magdalena,  and 
Dorotha. 

John  Dunkelberger,  grandsorj  of  Clement,  was 
born  in  Windsor  township,  near  Eamburg,  in 
1740.  He  married  there  and  had  two  sou-  by  thai 
marriage,  in  1780  (at  which  time  he  was  a  wid- 
ower) moving  with  his  son  George  to  the  northern 
part  of  the  Mahanoy  Valley,  in  Northumberland 
county — that  part  of  Mahanoy  now  embraced  in 
Little  Mahanoy  township.  He  received  from  the 
State  a  warrant  for  more  than  two  hundred  acres 
of  land,  located  north  of  Line  Mountain  ami  lie 
tween  that  and  Mahanoy  creek.  The  Indians  were 
his  neighbors  ami  were  friendly  to  him.  hut  dur- 
ing the  terrible  Indian  disturbances  hi-  i'amiK  on 
several  occasions  had  to  flee  for  safety.  There  he 
built  a  stone  gristmill  ami  stone  dwelling  house. 
In  1814  he  is  credited  with  a  grisl  ami  saw  null 
on  Mahauox  creek,  which  mill  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  in  that  section.  He  built  the  mill  sev- 
eral years  after  locating  In  that  district.  On  the 
John  Dunkelberger  homestead  still  stands  a  large 

stone  house.  r>  by  35  feci  in  di nsions,  and  two 

and  a  half  stories  high,  which  was  buiH  in  L818, 
the  year  in  which  this  pioneer  died.  Large,  well- 
selected  stones  were  used  iii  its  construction  and 
the  wall  is  exceptionally  strong. 

After  settling  here  .John  Dunkelberger  married 
again  ami  had  two  sons  by  his  second  n  ife,  Solomon 
and  Jonathan,  I'r whom  most  of  the  Dunkelber- 
gers are  descended.  These  pioneers  are  buried  on 
their  own  farm,  on  an  elevation  below  a  piece  of 
pine  woods,  ahout  fifty  feel  northeasl  from  a  public 
road.  Their  craves  are  marked  by  marble  tomb: 
stmies,  inscribed  as  follows ; 

1 1  ier  ruhet 
Johanes   Dunkelberger 

i  ,:ii  o.   den   28   Sept 

17  15 
Storb  den  27   \"  era 

IMs 
Alt    7.".    vulir   2   mo 

i  Tag 

'text    I    I'.mli   Moses 

is  i  apitel  21  V. 

Hier  ruhen  die 
gebine   von    Elizabeth' 
Dunkelberger  war 
l-j I,,-  geborne  Kahwel 
war  geboren  den  20ten 
Marz,  1761,  und  starb 

[ten  September,  1827 
1st   alt   vvorden 
>i  niir  ."  monot   inn! 
12  tag.  Texl    Heob. 

7    i  lapitel  den   11,  vei 


124 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY.   PEN  \ SYLVAXIA 


John  (Johannes)  Dunkelberger,  known  as 
"Little  Johnny,"  one  of  the  sons  of  John  by  his 
first  marriage,  was  horn  in  link-  county  Sept.  14. 
1775.  He  died  May  17,  1835,  anil  was  buried  in 
the  Howerter  cemetery  in  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. He  was  a  farmer  and  like  his  brother 
George  settled  in  Mahantango  Valley,  in  Mahanoy 
(now  Lower  Mahanoy)  township.  Northumberland 
county.  He  married  Susanna  Zimmerman,  born 
in  April,  1785,  who  died  Jan.  1!'.  1860,  and  their 
children  were:  Daniel  (settled  in  Mahantango 
Valley),  Catharine  (Mrs.  Knerr),  George,  John, 
Joseph,  Magdaline,  Susanna  (married  Abraham 
Howerter),  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  dock). 
i ge  is  I  u I !  \  mentioned  below.  John,  who  mar- 
ried Christiana  Geist,  is  fully  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Joseph,  who  married  Rachel  Fede- 
rolf,  is  also  mentioned  at  length  elsewhere.  Solo- 
mon, horn  in  1821,  died  in  1892,  at  Shamokin. 
He  followed  the  tailor's  trade,  lie  married  Eliza- 
beth Wagner,  born  Feb.  17,  1823,  died  April  6, 
1861,  and  they  had  five  children,  William.  Jere- 
miah. Edmond,  Ellen  and  Franklin.  John  Dun- 
kelberger, the  father,  died  May  17,  1835,  in  terri- 
tory now  embraced  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
He  had  a  tract  of  twenty-four  acres  of  land  when 
he  died.  His  will,  made  May  5,  1835,  on  record 
in  Will  Book  111.  page  200,  was  probated  dune  12, 
1835.  It  was  witnessed  by  George  Haas  and  H.  F. 
Heintzleman,  and  he  names  "my  friends"  Pete 
Fetterolf  and  John  Maurer,  Sr.,  as  exei  mors. 

George  Dunkelberger,  son  of  John,  was  born 
March  10,  1810,  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and 
was  a  lifelong  farmer.  Moving  to  what  was  then 
Shamokin  (now  Rockefeller)  township,  he  settled 
near  Seven  Points,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of 
160  acres  on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  there  Jan.  6,  1884.  He  is  buried  at 
Seven  Points.  His  wife.  Catharine  Rebuck,  daugh- 
ter of  John,  was  born  in  1816.  end  died  Oct.  1. 
1895.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Susan,  who 
is  in  Oklahoma:  Jonathan,  deceased;  George,  liv- 
ing in  Michigan;  Catharine,  of  Sunbury;  Eliza- 
beth, of  Shamokin;  Tobias:  Mary,  living  at  Sun- 
bury;  Henry  W. :  and  Harriet,  living  in  Sunbury. 
Tobias  Duxkelbergei;.  son  of  George,  is  a  well 
known  farmer  of  Shamokin  township,  where  he 
was  born,  near  Seven  Points.  Dec.  4.  1851.  He 
attended  the  local  schools  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years, 
after  which  he  was  associated  with  his  brother 
Jonathan  for  five  years,  engaged  in  butchering, 
lie  then  spent  two  years  upon  the  homestead  again, 
after  which  he  went  to  Shamokin  and  entered  the 
milk  business,  in  which  he  continued  four  years. 
He  then  bought  the  old  Wilkinson  homestead  of 
seventy-sis  acres  in  Shamokin  township,  to  which 
he  added  until  he  now  has  two  hundred  acres  in  the 
one  tract,  as  well  as  another  farm  of  145  acres  in 
the  same  township.     In  addition  to  general  farm- 


ing he  makes  a  specialty  of  dairying.  Mr.  Dunkel- 
berger is  a  progressive  man  and  has  taken  con- 
siderable interest  ami  part  in  various  affairs  af- 
fecting the  welfare  of  the  community,  was  post- 
master at  Yordy  for  about  five  years,  until  the 
office  was  discontinued  upon  the  establishment  of 
the  rural  free  delivery,  and  is  a  director  in  two 
telephone  companies.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  has  likewise  been  ac- 
tive, serving  upon  the  building  committee  when  the 
new  church  was  erected,  in  1905.  lie  has  always 
been  liberal  in  his  support  of  religious  work  and 
enterprises.  Fraternally  he  is  a  thirty-second-de- 
gree Mason,  belonging  to  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  414. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Bloomsburg  \.<ji.\:ii'  of  Perfection  and 
Bloomsburg  Consistory. 

Mr.  Dunkelberger  married  Martha  Chamher- 
lin,  daughter  of  Isaac  Chamberlin,  and  they  have 
six  children:  Alverta  M.,  wile  of  D.  A.  Beck; 
Mary  ('..  wife  of  Harry  Robinson;  George  A.: 
Susan  <;..  wife  of  H.  L.  Beck:  Herbert  11.:  and 
L.  Anabel,  who  graduated  from  the  Bloomsburg 
State  normal  school  in  1910. 

George  A.  Dunkelbergj  i;.  son  of  Tobias,  was 
horn  .Inly  is.  1882,  in  Shamokin.  and  was  quite 
young  when  his  parents  settled  at  the  home  in 
Shamokin  township  where  he  was  reared.  He  at- 
tended tlie  local  scl Is.  and  later  was  a  student  for 

two  years  at  the  Millersville  State  normal  school, 
in  Lancaster  county.  Returning  home  he  assisted 
his  father  until  his  marriage,  after  which  he  lived 
for  two  years  upon  the  farm  at  Seven  Points 
owned  by  his  father.  In  1908  he  bought  the  old 
Swank  farm,  near  the  upper  M.  E.  Church,  where 
he  follows  agricultural  pursuits,  also  carrying  on 
a  daily  milk  business,  his  route  being  to  Trevorton. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Irish  Valley  &  Seven  Points 
Telephone  Company.  Mr.  Dunkelberger  is  an 
estimable  young  man.  an  active  member  of  and 
worker  in  the  Methodist  Church,  where  he  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Epworth  League  and 
superintendent  of  the  Junior  League. 

In  1905  Mr.  Dunkelberger  married  Hannah  If. 
Sober,  daughter  of  l-a.u  and.  Abigail  ( Furman  I 
Sober,  and  they  have  three  children:  Verna  May, 
Oscar  Wallace  and  Tobias  Henry. 

The  Sober  family  came  to  America  from  Ger- 
many, and  Samuel  Sober,  Sr.,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  this  section,  was  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey. He  came  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in 
Shamokin  township  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
containing  about  seven  hundred  acres,  where  the 
Sober  brothers  at  one  time  resided.  His  wife. 
who  maiden  name  was  Moore,  was  a  resident  id' 
Shamokin  township,  and  their  children  were  as 
follows:  John:  Michael  M..  horn  March  12,  1801, 
who  died  Nov.  36.  1870  (his  wife.  Maria,  died 
Sept.  2.  1863.  aged  fifty-two  years)  :  Susan,  wdio 
married  Morris  Smith:  Alexander:  Isaac,  born  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  N  s V  LVANIA 


125 


1814,  who  died  in  1882  (his  wife  Mary,  born  in 
1817,  died  in  1896);  and  Aaron.  Samuel  Sober, 
the  father  oi  this  family,  died  about    L820. 

Alexander  Sober,  son  oi  Samuel,  Sr.,  was  born 
in  1807  on  the  hoi  □  Shamokin  township, 

Northumberland  county,  was  a  farmer  throughout 
life,  and  inherited  a.porl  ion  of  the  homestead  farm, 
living  and  dying  in  Shamokin  township.  Eis 
death  occurred  in  December,  1869.  Eis  wife,  Mary 
Foy,  also  born  in  180?  (probably  in  Rockefeller 
township),  survived  him  manj  years,  continuing 
to  live  in  her  native  place  Until  her  death,  in  1895. 
Mr.  Sober  was  a  quiel  and  industrious  citizen  and 
farmer,  highly  estei  his  neighbors.    Twi 

children,  nine  sons  and  three  daughters,  were  born 
to  him  and  his  worthy  wife,  namely:  Samuel,  who 
-  deceased:  Beulah,  dei  eased  :  I iriah,  I \\  ing  in 
Shamokin;  Morris;  Aaron;  William  A.,  deceased; 
I  -...!>  ;  Salal  hiel,  deceased  ;  Alexander  Jordan,  de- 
ceased; Mary  A.,  who  married  Frank  Eummel; 
Susanna,  who  married  Jared  Neidig;  and  Joseph, 
h\  ing  in  Sunbury. 

Isaac  Sober,  son  of  Alexander,  born  Nov.  28, 
Is::;,  followed  farming  and  threshing  throughout 
his  active  year-.  Be  resides  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship. By  his  marriage  to  Abigail  Furman  the 
following  children  were  born:  Lillie  B.  married 
Charles  Schrader;  Florence  A.  married  Grant 
Smith;  Mary  It.  and  Susan  E.  died  young;  Amos 
V.  is  living  in  California ;  John  F.  lives  al  homi  ; 
George    R.    is    a    resident  "of    Sunbury;    Atwood 

lives    in    Balti 'e;    Kane    ]..    married    Earvey 

Wynn;  Alvin  A.  lives  in  Iowa;  Hannah  R.  married 
Georgi    A.  1  lunkelbei  srer. 

Daniel  Furman,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Isaac  Se- 
ller, lived  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumberland 
county,  and  followed  farming.  He  married  Rebec- 
ca Moore,  and  they  hail  the  following  children: 
Moore,  who  was  drowned;  Annie,  who  married 
Bevy  Taylor  and  (second)  George  Campbell; 
Lovina,  who  married  Chris!  Yordy;  Rachel,  who 
married  Peter  Kreiger;  Ale-nil.  who  died  young; 
William,  who  .lied  in  Shamokin  township:  John. 
and  Samuel,  who  died  in  Shamokin  township. 

John  Furman.  sou  of  Daniel,  followed  farming, 
and  died  in  Shamokin  township.  He  learned  Aim 
H.  Biche,  daughter  of  Moses  Riche,  and  they  had 
the  loll, .win-  children  :  Moore.  M.  Riche.  Rebecca, 
Catharine,  Hannah,  Abigail  (Mrs.  Isaac  Sober) 
and  Elizabeth  J. 

Hexky  W.  Dtjnkelbergek;  - f  George  and 

Catharine  (Eebuck)  Dunkelberger,  was  horn  on 
his  present  farm  in  Shamokin  township  Feb.  25, 
1856.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  was  engaged  with  Id-  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  vears, 
when  he  went  to  Michigan.  Alter  farming  in  that 
State  for  eighteen  months  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  and  learned  the  trade  of  butcher  al  I- 
Dale,   following  this  business   for  three    rears:    it 


was  during  the  time  the  "Molly  Maguires"  made 
nine-  -e  exciting   in  thai   sei  tion.     He  was 
engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  homes 
father  for  some  lime,  and  he  subsi  quentl ,    located 
at  Weigh   Scale-,   where  he   farmed   for   ten      • 
On  April  15,  1890,  he  bought  the  old  hoi 
ninety-six  acres  of  good  land,  which  former!} 
longed  to  Benneville  Keim,  of  Reading,  Pa.     He 
i-  now  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  truck- 
ing.   Mr.  Dunkelberger  has  atti  aded  the  Shamokin 
markets  since  1871,  and  is  as  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  marketing  of  produce  as  with  its  cultiva- 
tion.   He  is  an  industrious,  respected  citizen,  and 
has  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his  districl  for 
the  past  twenty-three  year-.     Ee  i-  a  Democrat  in 
politics,    a    member    of    the    United    Evange 
Church,  has  been  a  member  of  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 
since  1878,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Brotherhood  of 
America. 

Mr.     Dunkelberger    married     Elizabeth     Reed, 
daughter  of  Amos  Reed,  and  they  ha1  i    fam- 

ily of  eight  children,  namely:  Mabel,  who  man 
Webster  Lot  and  has  one  son.  Fain ;  Charles,  a 
dent  of  Shamokin,  who  married  Susan  Behreni  and 
has  four  children,  Adelina,  Carl,  Mabel  and  Eman- 
uel: Howard,  of  Snydertown,  who  married  Mary 
Hawk:  Yiola :  Emma:  Charlotte:  Arthula,  and 
Leon. 

Amos  Reed,  father  of  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Dunkel- 
berger, was  born  -Ian.  1".  Is'.'1'.  in  Little  Mahat 
township,  son  of  Leonard  and  Elizabeth  (Dunkel- 
berger)  Beed.     His  father,  who  was  a   native  of 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  came  to  Northumberland  county 
with   his   parents   at    an   early   period,   tie-   family 
settling  along  Plum  cheek,  in  what  is  now  Roi 
feller  township.     Leonard  Reed   was  a   mason   by 
trade.    He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.     Of 
his   six  children,  we  have   rei  ord  of    hree: 
mon,  Elizabeth   (wife  ol    ihrahi        -        fer)    and 
Ames.    In  1846  Amos  Reed  married  R 
lv.  daughter  of  Jonathan  Fageh  , 
1852,  the  mother  of  three  children:     Em; 
Iowa:  Mary,  wife  of  Newton  Furman.  of  Williams- 

and    Maggie,    \\  Lndrew    \\ 

Roi  kefeller  township.     Mr.  Reed*s  second  man 
was  to  Sarah  Swim  hart.  h\  whom  hi    I  ad  sis  cb.il- 

th,    Mrs.    Bi  nry  W.  Dunl 
Harriet,  «  tfe  of  Luther  Ell  a,  D. 

c. ;  Chat  lotte,  of  Nebraska  .  3  Benry 

Mi'ller,  of  Rockefeller  towns!        i  an,  c    Iowa, 

I  ,i_  0f  [daho.     For  his  third  wife  Mr.  '•' 
married  Susanna  Trion,  wid         !  Abt     am  Reitz. 
A[r.  Reed  died  in  1889  and  is  buried  al  the  Wolfs 

Road   1 1  cm  h.     Ee  was  a    member  o 
Lutb       i  Chn       ,  which   h  and 

m,  and  in  poli  i   Republican. 

WILLIAM  G.  SHOOP,  o1  Danville,  Pa  .  on 

that  place  and  o 
ng  territory,  was  horn  in   Danville,  only 


126 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


son  of  Gideon  M.  and  Amelia  (Gearhart)   Shoop, 

the  former  of  whom  was  for  years  one  of  the  fore- 
most citizens  of  this  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

George  Shoop,  grandfather  of  William  G. 
Shoop,  was  born  Jan.  1.  1783,  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  son  of  John  Shoop.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Cockley,  who  was  born  in  Dauphin  coun- 
ty A]. i-il  30,  1783,  and  she  died  July  -21.  1832,  in 
Sunbury.  Pa.,  Mr.  Shoop  surviving  until  June  '.'I. 

1849.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
born  as  follows:  Man  Ann.  Aug.  30,  1804  (born 
in  Cumberland  county):  John,  Sept.  If.  ISO1* 
(born  in  Sunbury)  :  Amelia.  March  30.  1810  (bon 
in  Sunbury) ;  Gi  irge,  Jr..  June  14,  1813;  Jere- 
miah. Oct.  1.  1815  (died  April  19,  1847  |  :  Sarah. 
An-.  24,  L818  (di,-d  Oct.  26,  1818)  ;  (.id, -on  M., 
Jan.  23,  1821. 

Gideon  M.  Shoop  attended  public  school  at  Sun- 
b.ury  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
Franklin  county.  Pa.,  to  learn  the  art  of  making 
French  buhr  millstones,  at  which  be  was  empL 
for  two  years.  When  fifteen  he  went  to  Cumber- 
land county,  where  lie  toll,, wed  his  trade  for  some 
time,  until  ready  to  establish  himself  in  business. 
In  1841  he  came  to  Danville  as  collecting  agent 
for  several  stage  lines,  and  in  that  capacity  per- 
formed the  duty  of  sorting  and  distributing  the 
mail.  In  1S46  he  rented  the  "Brady  Hotel,"  which 
he  repaired  and  improved,  added  another  story  and 
changed  the  name  to  the  "Montour  House."  by 
which  name  it  is  still  known.  After  eighteen 
months  in  the  hotel  business  he  sold  out  ami 
went  into  the  mercantile  business,  in  which 
he  was  engaged  for  several  years.  On  April 
11.  1849,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Dan- 
ville,  serving   as   -itch   until    Nov.   26,    1852.      [n 

1850,  when  Montour  county  was  formed  out  of 
Columbia,  Mr.  Shoop  and  Dr.  Frick  were  the  prime 
movers  in  the  formation  id'  the  new  county,  and  in- 
strumental in  it-  erei  tion.  For  over  thirty  years  he 
served  as  a  director  of  the  Danville  National  Bank, 
and  he  was  influential  in  the  promotion  of  various 
industries  in  Danville,  was  a  director  of  the  Dan- 
ville Xail  £  Manufacturing  Company,  of  the  F>an- 
ville  Bridge  Company,  and  of  a  number  of  similar 
concerns.  Mr.  Shoop  became  interested  in  the 
lumber  business  as  opportunity  offered,  purchasing 
several  tin.  r<  of  timberland  in  Montour  and  ad- 
joining counties,  cutting  the  timber  and  building 
a  number  of  sawmills  in  which  to  prepare  the  lum- 
ber for  market.  When  wood  grew  scarce  in  his  own 
locality  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  South,  when:' 
he  acquired  large  interests.  This  was  his  last  busi- 
ness. One  of  Mr.  Shoop"-  pet  enterprises  was  the 
Danville  high  school,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
foremost  advocates  from  the  time  the  project  was 
first  broached.  If  there  was  one  of  his  achieve- 
ments which  he  valued  above  others  it  was  un- 
doubtedly what  he  accomplished  in  this  direction. 
For  fourteen  years  previous  to  his  death  he  was  a 


trustee  of  the  hospital  for  the  care  of  the  insane 
at  Danville.  In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  standi 
Republican,  and  influential  in  his  locality,  but  not 
an  office  seeker:  socially  he  was  identified  with 
Danville  Lodge.  Xo.  524.  F.  &.  A.  M.,  and  with 
the  Royal  Arch  chapter.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Church,  which  he 
served  faithfully  as  president  of  the  board  of  trus- 
ter,-, steward  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 
and  In-  interest  extended  to  the  denomination  at 
large.  In  1880*he  was  elected  a  lay  delegate  to  the 
Centra]  Pennsylvania  Conference,  and  the  same 
vear  was  elected  by  the  Conference  to  the  General 
Conference  which  met  at  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  His 
death  occurred  Manh  20,  1909. 

On  Dec.  '.'.  1846,  Mr.  Shoop  married  Amelia 
Gearhart,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Boone) 
Gearhart,  both  members  of  prominent  old  families 
of  this  region  more  particularly  mentioned  later 
in  this  article,  and  to  them  were  born  four  chil- 
dren: Clarence  and  Jeremiah,  twins,  who  died 
in  infancy:  William  (I.,  and  GeoXge,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  live  years.  Mrs.  Shoop  died  Oct.  17, 
1896. 

William  G.  Shoop,  son  of  Gideon  M.  and  Amelia 
(Gearhart)  Shoop.  was  uiven  educational  advan- 
tages in  bis  youth,  and  upon  commencing  the 
earnes!  business  oi  life  became  associated  with  his 
father,  lie  has  continued  the  sawmill  successfully 
to  the  pre-ent  time,  maintaining  the  high  reputa- 
tion established  by  hi-  father  in  a  lone  and  pros 
ous  career.  He  lias  worthily  worn  a  name  which 
has  been  identified  with  the  most  progressive  in- 
ten  -t-  of  this  portion  of  the  State  for  many  years, 
and  ha-  managed  all  his  interests  with  an  ability 
which  entitles  him  to  rank  among  the  most  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  vicinity. 

On  Dec.  "2.  1906,  Mr.'  Shoop  married  Mary 
Emma  Robertson,  of  Galesburg,  111.,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Wallace)  Robertson,  formerly  of 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoop  re- 
side in  the  beautiful  stone  mansion  at  the  corner 
of  East  Market  and  Ferry  streets.  Danville.  They 
attend  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

William  Gearhart.  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gideon 
M.  Shoop.  came  to  Northumberland  county,  Pa.. 
in  1790  with  his  brother  Capt.  Jacob  Gearhart, 
William  taking  up  the  land  between  Kipp's  run 
and  the  stream  that  enters  the  river  above  River- 
side. Both  had  married  in  New  Jersey,  from  which 
State  they  moved  to  this  region.  William  (prob- 
ably the  elder)  marrying  Eleanor  De  Knight. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children  :  William. 
Tobias.  Aaron.  Jacob.  Elizabeth  (Mr-.  Amen-). 
Mary  (Mrs.  Lamberson)  and  Ann  (Mrs.  Aniens) 

William  Gearhart,  son  of  William  and  Eleanor 
Gearhart,  died  in  1847.  He  married  Sarah  Boone, 
and  they  had  five  children,  born  as  follows:  May- 
berrv.  in  1813  :  Eleanor,  in  1814:  Harriet,  in  1815  : 
Julia  Ann.  in  ISIS:  Amelia,  in  1821. 


Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania 


12; 


The  Boones,  Mrs.  Gideon  M.  Shoop's  maternal 
ancestors,  descended  from  George  Boone  (1),  who 
lived  in  England.  Eis  son,  George  (2),  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Exeter,  Devonshire,  England,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.     By  trade  he  was 

a  blacksmith.     He  rried  Sarah  Dppey,  who  lived 

tn  the  age  of  eighty,  and  to  their  union  was  born 
George  Boone   (3),  whose  birth  occurred  in  1666 
at  the  village  of  Stoak,  near  Exeter.     He  married 
Mary  Manbridge,  who  was  born  in  1669,  daughter 
nl'  John  and  Mary  (Milton)   Manbridge,  and  dud 
in  1740,  in  lift-  seventy-second  year.    George  Boone 
(•'ii  and  his  wife  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Oct.  10, 
1717,  spent  some  time  a1   Abington,  Pa.,  then  two 
years  at   North  Wales,  eventually  moving  to  Oley 
township,  Berks  county,  where  they  settled.    War- 
rants  fur    In"  acres  of  land  there   issued   to  him. 
dated    1718,  are  mi   record.     Tin-  original  home- 
stead   is    uow   owned    by    Morris    DeTurk.     This 
George  Boone  died  in  Berks  county  duly  27,  174  7. 
He    left    eighl    children,    fifty-two   grandchildren, 
and  ten  great-grandchildren,  all  of  whom  excepting 
Sarah   and   Squire   remained  and  died   in   Exeter 
township,    Berks    county,    as   the    records    of   the 
Exeter   Friends  burying  ground   show.     We  have 
the  following  record  of  the  children  born  to  George 
Boone  (3)  and  his  wife  Mary  (Manbridge):     (L) 
George    I  li.  born  July  Id,' 1690,  died   X..v.  20, 
1753.     Hi'  was  a  teacher  by  profession,  served  as 
magistrate,  and  was  a  man  of  great  prominence  in 
the  community.   On  Julv  31,  Kid,  he  married  De- 
borah Howell,  who  died  Jan.  26,  1757.     (2)  Sarah, 
born    Fed.    is.    1691(F),    married    Jacob    Stover. 
They  moved   to  Virginia  and  later  to   Kentucky. 
(3)  Squire,  horn  Nov.  25,  1696,  died  in  1764  in 
Xnrth  Carolina,  whither  he  moved  in  1750.    About 
1745  he  erected  what  was  then  the  largest  barn  in 
Berks    county,   a    stone   structure   which    remained 
standing  until    1875,  when   it   was  turn   down    by 
Mr.  DeTurk,  who  needed  a  larger  building.     The 
masonr;  was  found  to  he  perfect,  and  the  walls  had 
to  he  blasted  to  pieces  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  they 
had  stood  for  over  one  hundred  and  thirty  years. 
In  1750  Mr.  Boone  sold  his  farm  to  Mr.  DeTurk, 
and   it  has  since  remained  in  the  hitter's  family. 
Squire  Boone  married  Sarah   Morgan,  an  aunt  of 
Gen.  Daniel  Morgan,  of  Revolutionary  fame  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  of 
whom  lived  tu  the  ages  of  between  eighty-three  and 
ninety-one     years,     one     of     this     family     being 
Daniel  Bonne,  the  famous  Kentucky  pioneer.     An- 
other was  Hawkins  Boone,  who  built   Fori   Boone, 
at  the  mouth  of  Warrior  Bun.      (d)    Mary,  horn 
Sept.  2d.  1699,  died  dan.   16,   1774.     She  married 
John  Webb,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,    of   whom    Samuel    moved    to    Columbia 
county,    Pa.,   settling    near    Espy.      His   daughter 
Mary  married  Mordecai  Lincoln,  brother  of  Abra- 
ham, and  son  of  Mordecai,  who  died  in   1735-36. 
(5)  Joseph,  horn  April  ■">.  1704,  died  Jan.  30,  1776. 


Mi-    wife's    name    was    Catharine.      (6)     Benja- 
min,   born    duly    16,    1706,    died    Oct.    1  I.    1762. 
In    1726,    at    Abington,    Pa.,    he    married    (fii 
Ann     Farmer,    and    they    were    the    pai  mts    o 
John    and    Susanna.      There    were    five    children 
by  the  second  marriage,  Mary.  Benjamin,  dame-. 
Samuel      (whose     daughter  '  married      Hezekiah 
Pancoast)     and     Dinah,    who    married     Benjamin 
Tallman,    -mi    of    William    and    Ann     (Linco 
Tallman — Benjamin   being  their  only   child    who 
reached  maturity  and  left  descendants.      \nn  (  Lin- 
coln), his   mother,   was  the  sister  of  Sarah    Lin- 
coln, wife  of  William  Boone,  and  they  were  daugh- 
ters of  Mordecai  Lincoln,  whose  will  was  probi 
in    1736.      Mordecai    Lini  oln    married    i  sei    i 
Mary    Robinson,   and    Sarah  and   Ann   were  their 
children  :  there  was  also  a  posthumous  son,  Abram. 
Among  the  sons  of  his   first  marriage   was  John, 
who  had   a  son   Abraham,   who  was   the   father  of 

Thomas  Lincoln,  who  m d   Xancv  Hanks 

became  the  father  of  Abraham   Lincoln,  president 
of  the  United  States.    William  and  Ann  (  Lincoln  i 
Tallman    moved    to    Virginia,    where    the}    i 
Benjamin    and    Dinah     (Boone)     Tallman     al 
moved  to  Virginia,  but  about  1805-10  the}   set 
in  Ohio,  where  he  died  about  1820  and  she  about 
is-?  i.     (7)  .lames,  born  Jul}    Is.  1  709,  died  Si 
1,  1785.     He  married   Mary  Foulke  and    | 
Anna  Griffiths,  and  by  his  wife  Mary  had  fourteen 
children.     One  of  his  sons.  James,  became  an  as- 
tronomer; he  wrote   the    Boone   manuscript    from 
which  much  of  the  material  used  in  this  article  [s 
taken.      The    eldesl    child.    Ann.    married    Abram 
Lincoln,   posthumous  child   of   Mordecai    Lincoln, 
who  died   in   1735-36.     Mordecai    Lincoln,  son  of 
Abram  and  Ann  (Boone)   Lincoln,  married  Julia 
Mavberrv,  sister  of  Margaret   Mayberrv,  who  was 

the   wife   of   George    Boone,   - £    William    and 

Sarah  Boone.  Margaret  Lincoln,  only  child  of 
Mordecai  and  Julia  (Mayberrv)  Lincoln  who 
reached  maturity,  married  a  Mr.  Barto. 

George  Boone  i  l).  born  July  13,  L690,  married 
1  leborah  Howell,  and  they  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, hm-n  as  follow-:  George  (5),  Ma\  :;.  1713, 
who  died  Sept.  .'in.  1737  :  Marv,  Feb.  10,  1716; 
Hannah.  Julv  20,  1718;  Deborah,  Dec.  18,  1720; 
Dinah.  Oct.  is.  1722:  Win..  Sept.  18,  I 72  i  :  Josiah, 
dan.  6,  1726;  Jeremiah,  dam  16,  1729;  Abigail, 
Aug.  9,  1732;  Hezekiah,  March  22,  1734. 

William  Boone,  son  ol  George  (4).  hm-n  Sept. 
is.  i  72  I.  dud  in  1771.     His  v  ill,  signed    M 

.  and  probated  Dec.  6,  1771.  provides  for  the 
following:    To   daughter    Abigail,    wifi  \din 

Pancoast,  70  pounds ;  to  er  bury- 

in  f  ground  :  to  daughter  Vlary,  LOO  pounds  a 
of  twentv  years:  d    Mordecai  30  pounds  be- 
fore division.     TIi  der  of  the  estate  wa- 
in |)e  di\  ided  equallv  among  the  son-,  who  « 
to  l»e  put  to  trad         0      M  26,   M  18,  William 
Boone    married    Sarah    Lincoln,    who   was   horn    in 


1-28 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


January,  1727,  and  died  April  21,  1810.  The 
mother  and  children  Mordeeai,  William.  Mary, 
George,  Thomas,  Jeremiah  and  Hezekiah,  by  cer- 
tificate members  of  Fairfax  Meeting,  Virginia, 
Oct.  30,  1776,  were  dismissed  from  Exeter;  Sarah 

Boone  and  her  children   Mary,  William.   G ge, 

Jeremiah  and  Hezekiah  wen-  dismissed  to  Exeter 
Meeting  by  certificate  later.  Following  is  the 
record  of  the  children  born  to  William  and  Sarah 
(Lincoln)  Boone:  (1)  Abigail  was  married  May 
88,  1767,  to  A <  1  in  Pancoast,  who  died  Dec.  L2, 
1822.  Her  death  oci  nrred  May  14.  1808.  She 
had  a  certificate  to  Fairfax  Meeting  and  another 
to  return  to  Exeter,  June  28,  1797,  and  a  third 
from  Exeter  to  Catawissa,  and  in  the  last  arc 
named  children  as  follows:  William,  Marv  and 
Hezekiah.  Of  these,  William  married  Vashti 
Cooper  and  their  daughter  Mary  married  James 
Evans  Lindsey,  by  whom  she  had  a  son.  William 
Lindsey.  Hezekiah,  bora  June  8,  1789,  was  mar- 
Man-h  26,  1815,  to  Rachel  Boone,  who  was 
bom  May  30,  1789,  daughter  of  Samuei  Boone, 
who  died  <>n  Fishing  creek  in  1811.  (2)  William 
married  Susanna  Park-,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  v, 
L778  had  a  certificate  to  Pipi  <  reek.  In  1782 
their  descendants  founded  Boonsboro,  Md.  (3) 
Mordeeai.  (4)  Marv  married  Isaac  Lee,  I 
Meeting,  May  8,  1777.  (5)  Thomas  died  Oct.  28, 
L823,  in  Amity  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  He 
married   a  daughter  of    Rii  Lee.      (6)    Jere- 

miah. (7)  Hezekiah  married  Hannah  II 
daughter  of  George  Hughs,  in  Exeter  township, 
Berk-  Co.,  Pa.  He  died  in  Catawissa  tdwnship, 
Columbia  ("..  Pa.,  and  his  will  was  probated  April 
•">.  1827.  The  children  of  his  first  wife  were:  Wil- 
liam and  George,  of  Schuylkill  Co.,  Fa.:  Martha. 
Mrs.  Lewis  Vastine;  Ann.  Mrs.  J.  Wolverton:  and 
Newton,  who  died  in  Blooi  Pa.:  the  chil- 

dren by  the  second  marriage  wen  :     Milton,  who 
died    at    Pottsville;    Surrissa;     Hannah:    John; 
Judah,  of  Schuylkill   County,   Pa.:  Willetts,  who 
died  in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.:  mid  Elizabeth,  who  died 
in  p0    -        .  Pa.     I  -i   George,  horn  in  1739,  died 
in   1824.      He   married    Hannah    Hughs,    and    to 
them  were  born  the  following  children:     Edward, 
Margaret,    T.    Ellis,    Joseph,    William   Eidgeway, 
Elizabeth,  and  Jeremiah,  all  of  whom  died  early 
in  life.     The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1774, 
and  Mr.  Boone  married    (second)   Margaret  May- 
berry,  "f  Hereford  township.  Berks  Co..  Fa.,  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.   Ann   Lee.   wife   of  Richard    Lee   and 
widow  of  William  Mayberry.     By  this  union  there 
were  ten  children,  horn  as  follows  :    Sarah.  May  10, 
1782  (married  William  Gearhart)  ;  William,  Nov. 
12,  1783;  Ann.  Aug.  '.' 1 .  1785:  Charles,  Dec.  21, 
1786;  Marv,  Oct.  18,  1788;  George,  Aug.  7,  1790 
(died  Ma-v'30,   I860);   Elizabeth,  Aug.  2:!.   1793; 
Harriet.  Nov.  22,  i;«:  Margaret,  Mav  25,  1798; 
,       ,-!.  Feb.  5,  1801. 


DAVID  LLEWELLYN,  late  of  Shamokin,  was 
prominently  connected  with  the  coal  mining  in- 
dustry  in  this  region  for  manv  years,  and  was 
also  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  in  various  other 
phases  of  the  local  business  development,  his  as- 
sociation with  the  Shamokin  Banking  Company 
and  with  companies  which  promoted  various  pub- 
lic utilities  of  the  borough.  invoL  ing  services  which 
give  bis  name  a  permanent  place  among  the  val- 
uable residents  oi   this  -eetion. 

Mr.  Llewellyn,  who  was  born  Nov.  20,  l^'.'o.  in 
i  dlly,  Wales,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Edward 
and  Sarah  (Harris)  Llewellyn,  natives  South 
Wale-,  who  came  to  this  country  about  1831.  The 
parents  first  settled  in  Caxbondale,  Pa.,  in  1836 
moving  to  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  county,  and  in 
1838  to  Pottsville,  in  the  same  county,  where  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  was  passed.  The  father, 
Mr.  Edward  Llewellyn,  died  in  1*44.  his  wife  sur- 
viving until  1866.  David,  Llewellyn  and  John 
were  their  -ons.  Mary  and  Ann.  their  daug  lb  rs. 

David  Llewellyn  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents and  began  miner's  work  in  early  life,  work- 
ing at  different  branches  of  the  business.  In  1853 
he  located  at  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland 
county,  where  lie  spent  several  year-,  engaged  in 
the  development  of  what  became  known  as  Bell's 
Tunnel.  Thence  he  went  to  Locust  Gap,  where 
in  was  with  Haas  &  Bowen  and  other  firms  as  in- 
side superintendent,  in  1863  coming  to  Sham- 
okin to  take  the  position  of  superintendent 
11;  ,i-  &  Fagely,  coal  operator-.  In  1869  he  was 
mitted  to  the  firm  and  from  that  time  until  1886, 
when  he  relinquished  the  coal  business,  he  was  one 
of  the  active  figures  in  the  local  coal  field.  He 
held  interests  in  the  Cameron.  Helfenstein  and 
B  2  Mountain  mine-,  and  was  one  of  the  prom- 
and  wealthy  operators  of  this  region,  which 
in  hi-  progress  ■  and  enterprising  -  i  _ained 
a  fresh  impetus  and  an  added  factor  in  its  pros- 
ty.  His  la-t  business  operations  were  with  E. 
B.   Patterson,  running  the  Big  Mountain  col: 

Meantime,     as    hi-    means    accumulated.     Mr. 
Llewellyn  became  interested  in  other  line-,  and  for 

,i! st   twenty     rears    he   was  officially   connected 

with  the  Shamokin  Banking  Company.  On  March, 
•.".i.  1872,  he  was  elected  a  director  of  that  institu 
tion,  and  -  14.  1883.  was  chosen  president, 
tilling  that  office  ably  until  Jan.  20.  1801.  He 
was  a  promoter  and  one  of  the  original  directo 
the  Shamokin  Electric  Light  Company  and  was 
of  the  directors  of  the  Shamokin  Water  Com- 
pany. During  his  residence  in  Mount  Carmel  he 
was  elected  first  treasurer  of  that  borough  and 
al-o  served  a-  president  of  the  school  hoard.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  Mr.  Llewellyn's 
.  on  NTov.  18,  1896,  removed  one  of  the  fore- 
mosl  in:  ens  o  Shamokin,  one  who  had  been  iden- 
tified with  the  evolution  of  many  projects  which 
|mve    made    il    the   prosperous   and   desirable    bor- 


Cxi 


0t 


^^ 


THE  NEW  YORK 

pub; 


A.STOR, 

T1LDEN   . 

R 


\  ORTE  I '  M  BERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


129 


ough  which  it  imw  bears  the  reputation  of  being, 
and  one  who  was  farsighted  and  intelligent 
enough  to  foresee  its  possibilities  and  to  show  his 
faith  by  helping  to  realize  them.  He  was  buried 
in  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 

Mr.  Llewellyn  married  (first)  Mary  Eaine,  of 
Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and  three  children  were 
born  to  them:  Emma  (deceased),  William  and 
Sarah  (wife  of  NTathan  Swank).  By  his  second 
marriage,  to  Susan  Laubenstein,  he  had  six  chil- 
dren: Frank.  Alice,  Ida.  Annie,  Erne  and  Kate. 
For  his  third  wife  lie  married  Annie  G.  Robinson, 
of  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  who  survives 
him. 

DAVID  A.  FURMAN,  farmer  and  dairyman, 
has  passed  mosi  of  his  life  in  Rockefeller  township, 
where  his  famil}  has  been  settled  many  years. 
His  grandfather,  William  Furman,  lived  there 
when  the  territory  in  which  he  resided  was  known 
as  Augusta  township.  He  was  a  man  of  affairs 
and  various  interests,  following  farming,  operating 
a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  engaging  extensively  in 
the  lumber  business,  continuing  the  latter  line  for 
many  years.  He  gave  employmenl  to  as  many  as 
twenty-five  men  in  his  lumber  operations,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  cut  many  forests.  He  furnished 
most  of  the  timber  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  Pennsylvania  roundhouse  ai  Sunbury.  He 
owned  two  farms,  now  owned  by  Andrew  Lentz  and 
Tobias  Dunkelberger,  respectively.  In  his  day  he 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  prominence.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  in  reli- 
gion a  Baptist.  Eis  wife,  Iluklah  (Chamberlin), 
who  was  from  the  Irish  Valley,  was  born  Maj  6, 
1S16,  and  died  Oct.  15,  1885,  and  they  are  buried 

in  the  c itery  of  the  Plum  Creek-  Church.    They 

had  three  children:  John  Wesley,  and  two  who 
died  in  infancy. 

John  Wesley  Furman  was  born  Aug.  1">.  L839, 
in  Rockefeller  township,  and  was  a  lifelong  agri- 
culturist, cultivating  the  place  now  owned  by  An- 
drew Lentz.  In  his  day  the  tract  comprised  120 
acres,  and  lie  was  an  enterprising  and  prosperous 

farmer,  making  a  pood  living  and  ranking  a ig 

the  substantial  men  of  the  community  in  his  i 
He  died  in  Rockefeller  township  May  1,  1886,  at 
the  comparatively  early  age  of  Eorty-six  years. 
His  wife  Mary  Ann  i  Fasold),  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Fasold,  died  Feb.  20.  1893,  aged  fifty-five 
years,  two  months,  ten  days,  and  they  arc  buried  at 
the  Eden  (Plum  Creek)'  Church,  where  a  num- 
ber of  their  children  are  also  interred.  Mr.  Fur- 
man was  a  Lutheran  member  of  the  Plum  Creek 
Church,  and  served  many  years  in  the  church  coun- 
cil. He  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows: 
William  M.  died  July  14.  1899,  aged  thirty-eight 
vears.  ten  months,  seven  days;  David  A.  is  men- 
tioned below:  Calvin  X.  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury; 
Josephine  died   aged  fourteen  years;    Edward  B. 

9 


is  a  resident  of  Shamokin  township;  Jonathan  F. 
is  a  resident  of  Sunbury;  Charles  D.  died  Oct.  11. 
1894,  aged  nineteen  years,  six  months,  eleven  days  : 
Anna  D.,  twin  of  Charles  1>..  died  Man  b  25,  L906, 
aged  thirty  years,  eleven  months,  twentv-five  da 
Martin  L.  died  March  G.  1898,  aged  twenty  years, 
one  month,  seventeen  days;  Roy  died  March  15, 
1S99,  aged  eighteen  pears,  six  month-,  twenty-nine 
days. 

David  A.  Furman  was  horn  April  7,  1863,  in 
Rockefeller  township,  and  was  there  reared  and 
educated,  being  trained  to  farm  work  from  early 
boyhood.  Working  for  his  parents  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  he  commenced  farming  for 
himself  in  the  spring  of  L884  act  ol  sev- 
enty-two acres  in  Shamokin  township,  w 
remained  until  1891.  Selling  that  place,  he  moved 
to  the  Amos  Epler  farm,  in  the  same  district, 
wdiere  he  lived  for  one  year,  after  his  wife's  death 

(which   occurred   in   1892)    selling  oul    at    i 

auction  and  returning  to  the  home  ot   In-  parents, 
where  he  remained  until  that  place  was  -old  out, 
a    year   later,   on   account    of   hi-    mother's   death. 
After  his  second  marriage  he  lived  ai    Shamokin' 
;>e'  Mia    pear,  al  the  end  of  that  time  returnin; 
farming,   in    Little   Mahanoy  township,   where   hi' 
was  thus  occupied  for  eleven  years  on  the  William 
Dunkelberger  farm.     In   the  spring  of    l!)o;    he 
came  to  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  has  a  100- 
acre  farm  which  he  purchased  Sept.   1.   1906 
old   Joseph   Cass  homestead    in   the    Plum   < 
Valley.    The  land  is  fertile  and  well  cultivated,  and 
Mr.  Furman  does  a  large  dairy  business  in  addi- 
tion to  genera]  farming,  keeping   fron     ifteen  to 
twenty    cows   and    wholesaling    the   milk    at    Sun- 
bury.     He  is  a  thrifty  and  energetic  worker,  and 
has   had   excellent  returns  on  all  his   work.     Mr. 
Furman  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  at  present 
on  the  hoard  of  school  direi  b  his   towns 

Mr.  Furman's  first  marriage  was  to  Laura  J. 
Adams,  daughter  of  Casper  and  Elizabeth  i  Lake) 
Adams,  who  then  lived  at  Elysburg,  Pi  3  ied 
Dec.    29,     1892,    aged    twenty-nine  nine 

months,   nine   days,   and    is   buried   at    tb 
Evangelical    Lutheran    (  Plum    Crei     I    <    lurch    in 
Rockefeller   township.      Five    children    we 
to  this  union:   Ward   manic. I    Ida    Drumheiser,  of 
Shamokin;   Mary    E„   n 

home:  <  Hyde  man  ied   Flossii    She  Sun- 

bury;  William  married  Jennie  Kembel,  of  Opp 
Augusta   tow  nsliip  ;  Clara   In  -  in.     On 

I  I,  1.     25,     L89  I.     M  r.     Furman     man   i 

Hannah  J.  Wagner,  and  to  then  born 

children  :     Phoebe  V,  John   L.  an      1! 
\l.     He  and  his    amilj  are  men  I  den 

Evangelical    Lutheran    Chut  Plum    Cr< 

ey,  and  he  is  sen  i) 

Edward  B.  Furman,  son  nf  John  Wesley  Furman, 
was  horn  Ma\   [7,1  fel- 


130 


XuKTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


ler)  township,  received  a  common  school  education. 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  the  latter  died. 
After  his  marriage  he  was  with  his  father-in-law, 
Joseph  Yeager.  for  ten  year-,  after  which  he  spent 
about  ten  years  on  the  Jonathan  Kreigbaum  farm 
of  forty  acres,  engaged  in  dairying  as  well  as  gen- 
eral farm  work  in  Shamokin  township,  which  farm 
he  now  owns.  On  May  1,  1892,  he  married  Cor- 
delia A.  Yeager,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rosanna 
(Farley)  Yeager,  and  their  children  are  Wave 
Marie  and  Joseph  Groevenor.  Mr.  Furman  is  a 
member  of  the  Cross  Road  Church,  which  he  has 
ed  as  trustee  for  sixteen  years.  Politically  he 
is  ,i  1 1 em oc rat. 


William  Furman.  grandfather  of  David  A.  Fur- 
man,  had  a  brother  Samuel,  whose  son  George  Fur- 
man lived  at  Stonington,  in  Shamokin  township. 
They  are  mentioned  elsewhi 

FASOLD.    The  Fasold  family  has  been  settled 

in  Northumberland  county  for  almost  a  hundred 

-.  Valentine  Fasold  (or  Fausold),  the  first  of 

the  name  in  this  country,  having  brought  his  fam- 
ily hither  in  the  year  1816.  The  brothers  Daniel 
and  Samuel  Fasold  (the  latter  now  deceased),  of 
Sunbury,  were  long  well  known  carpenter  con- 
tractors of  that  and  other  sections  of  the  county, 
and  their  younger  brother,  Fli  Fasold,  now  living 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Rockefeller  township,  was 
for  many  years  associated  with  Daniel  in  such 
work.  The  members  of  this  family  are  an 
the  best  known  carpenters  of  the  region. 

Valentine  Fasold  was  a  native  of  Hessen,  Gi  r- 
many,  emigrated  about  the  year  1795,  and  mad.  a 
location  in  Whitehall  township.  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  lived  for  some  time.  He  served  in  the 
war  of  1S12.  In  1S16  he  came  to  Northumberland 
county,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Shamokin  township 
now  owned  by  a  Schlegel,  and  there  he  remained 
until  he  died.  Like  the  members  of  the  family 
generally,  he  was  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the 
church  at  Augustaville.  where  he  is  buried.  The 
inscription  on  his  tombstone  reads:  "Valentine 
Fasold,  born  in  Deutschlaud  Oct.  6,  1765,  died 
Nov.  16,  1824."  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife.  Christian  Xander. 
of  Whitehall  township.  Lehigh  Co..  Pa.,  being  Ger- 
man horn.  They  had  three  children,  as  follows: 
Susanna  married  Abraham  Wolf;  Mary  Elizabeth 
married  Henry  Dornsife :  John,  the  only  son,  set- 
tled in  Richmond.  Ind.,  and  there  died.  The 
baptismal  certificate  of  Susanna  Fasold  is  i 
the  possession  of  her  granddaughter.  Mrs.  Theo. 
Chester,  daughter  of  Abraham  Wolf,  and  the  fid- 
lowing  is  written  upon  it  in  German  script:  Su- 
sanna Fasold.  daughter  of  Valentine  and  Chris- 
tian, a  horn  Xander  (in),  his  wife,  was  horn  into 
this  world  Oct.  8,  1798,  at  L0  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing,   in   Whitehall   township,   Northampton    [now 


Lehigh  |  Co.,  Pa.  She  was  baptized  Oct.  18th  of 
year  in  the  Lutheran  faith.  Her  sponsors 
were  Johannes  Sliehter  and  his  wife  Dorothea. 
Valentine  Fasold's  second  wife.  Catharine  B. 
Schriver,  born  Dee.  28,  L775,  died  Dec.  31,  L858, 
rom  Lehigh  count},  she  was  the  mother  of 
children:  Catharine  (married  Jonathan 
Kreigbaum),  Jonathan.  Peter  i  settled  m  Pottsville, 
Pa.),  George,  Lydia  (married  Samuel  Haupt), 
Charles  (lived  in  McKeesport,  Allegheny  t  o.,  Pa., 
and  had  a  family:  he  was  a  carpenter).  Mary 
(Folly)  (married  Jonathan  Daughenbach) ,  Jo- 
seph, Sarah  (married  George  Zimmerman),  llenrv 
(1821-1885,  who  lived  and  died  in  Rockefeller 
township)  and  Mary  Ann  (married  Daniel  I, 
ger). 

At  a  reunion  of  the  Fasold  family  held  Dec. 
15,  1885,  at  Farrow'-  drove,  in  Snydertown, 
Northumberland  county,  about  three  hundred  de- 
-  i  udants  of  Valentine  Fasold  were  present. 

Jonathan  Fasold,  son  of  Valentine,  was  born  in 
Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  in  1805,  ami  when  eleven 
years  old  came  with  his  parents  to  Northumber- 
land county.  He  owned  the  farm  in  Rockefeller 
-hip.  on  which  he  died  in  1885,  and  followed 
bis  trade  of  shoemaker  in  connection  with  farming. 
He  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  his  family  were 
Lutherans.  His  widow  Catharine  (Bartholomew) 
survived  him  a  number  of  years,  living  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Rockefeller  township  until  her  death. 
Sept.  5,  1891,  at  tin-  age  of  eighty-three  years,  one 
month,  twelve  days.  Their  graves  are  marked  by 
a  large  monument.  They  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Jonathan,  Elizabeth,  Catharine.  Mary  Ann. 
Simon  Peter,  David.  Hannah  and  Lucinda  (mar- 
ried Saul  Shipman). 

David  Fasold,  a  citizen  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, was  born  Aug.  31,  Is!'.',  -on  of  Jonathan 
ami   Catharine    (Bartholomew)    Fasold.      He  was 

reared  to  farming  and  learned  the  trade  of  s1 - 

mason  and  paving  when  a  young  man.  following 
that  line  of  work  in  Sunbury  and  the  surround- 
ing territory.  He  has  passed  the  major  part  of  his 
life  in  Rockefeller  township,  purchasing  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  a  tract  of  ninety-eight  acre-. 
about  L885.  This  was  part  of  the  John  Shipman 
farm.  Here  Mr.  Fasold  built  a  large  frame  house 
in  1900.  and  has  made  a  pleasant  home.  He  also 
owns  part  of  his  father's  homestead,  which  com- 
prised forty-seven  acres,  but  he  sold  thirteen  ai 
the  part  on  which  the  buildings  were  erected,  re- 
taining the  other  thirty-four  acres.  It  joins  his 
lai  ge  farm.  Mr.  Fasold  does  general  farming,  dis- 
posing of  his  products  in  Sunbury.  Mr.  Fasold 
was  a  member  of  the  township  school  board  and 
during  his  administration  two  substantial  >. 
buildings  were  erected  in  the  district,  serving  as 
models  for  those  that  were  built  afterward.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  he  and  his  family 
are  Lutherans  of  the  General  Svnod.     Mr.  Fa- 


NOBTHUMBEBLAX  1 1  I  <  ITJXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


131 


has  been  a  useful  member  of  the  church,  lias  served 
in  the  council  many  years  and  has  been  superinten- 
dent of  the  Sundaj  school  many  terms,  still  filling 
the  position. 

Mr.  Fasold  married  Ma  Dressier,  daughter  of 
[saac  and  Luzetta  Dressier,  residents  of  Perrj 
county.  Pa.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union:  Leon  Launcelot,  Howard  Russel  and  Ed- 
ward Warren. 

Mr.  Fasold  is  a  prominent  odd   Fellow,  a  mem- 
ber of  Augusta  Lodge,  No.  6]  I.  al   Augustaville, 
which  he  represented  in  the  Grand  Lodge  foi   - 
era!    terms.      He   was  also  a   member  of  the  En- 

campmenl  and  filled  all  its  offices.     He  is  a  g 

citizen  and  a  man  highh  esteei 1  wherever  known. 


George  Fasold,  son  of  Valentine,  was  born  in 
Lehigh  county  May  25,  LS09.  He  lived  and  died 
in  Rockefeller  township.  By  trade  he  was  a  car- 
penter and  he  did  considerable  contract  work,  em- 
ploying a  number  of  men  and  erecting  many 
houses  and  barns.  He  owned  the  farm  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  son  Eli,  and  there  died  Dec. 
13,  1895.  When  he  settled  on  this  tract  it  was 
all  covered  with  forest,  and  he  cleared  it  with  the 
help  of  his  sons.  His  wife  Mary  (Kreiger),  a 
daughter  of  Christian  Kreiger,  was  born  March  25, 
1813,  and  died  March  30,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fasold  were  Lutherans  and  are  buried  at  the  Plum 
Creels  church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  church 
council  many  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
active   in    local   affairs,    serving   his    township    as 

scl i    director,    supervisor    and    overseer    of    the 

poor.  He  was  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of 
his  district  in  many  respects.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Fasold  had  a  large  family,  namely:  Daniel,  men- 
tioned below;  Henry,  who  did  not  marry;  Samuel. 
mentioned  below;  Jeremiah  (1839-1872),  who 
married  Sarah  Kelley  and  had  four  children,  Rosa, 
Emma,  Gertrude  (Mrs.  Ammon  Geist)  and  Minnie 
(Mrs.  Cadwallader  Reeser)  ;  Sarah,  who  died  aged 
sixteen  years;  Lydia,  who  married  Samuel  L. 
Kulp  and  died  when  twenty-two  years  old  (their 
daughter  Minnie  married  Albert  Teitsworth)  ; 
John  George,  who  married  Eva  Bhoads,  and  had 
Mary.  Ada'.  Emily,  Ella,  Daniel  IT.,  Walter.  Reu- 
ben and  George;  Reuben,  who  married  Sarah 
Malick  and  had  four  children.  Amy  (  Mrs.  [saac 
Haas),  Elwood'  (married  Mary  Snyder).  Mabel 
and  Homer;  Eli,  mentioned  below;  Albert,  who 
married  Lucinda  Peiffer  and  had  five  children. 
Cora,  Truman,  Molly,  and  Flora  and  Lydia,  both 
deceased:  Sophia,  who  married  Henry  Conrad: 
Josiah,  who  married  Florine  Shindel  and  had 
Harry,  Mary  and  Maggie. 

Daniel  Fasold,  sou  of  George,  was  born  Oct. 
5,  L835,  in  what  was  then  Augusta  (now  Rocke- 
feller) township,  and  there  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  which  were  just  being 
established  in  that  locality.     He  received  a  license 


to  teach  from  the  first  superintendent  of  North- 
umberland county,  Prof.  .1.  ,1.  Reimensnyder, 
being  eighteen  when  he  taught  his  first  term,  in 
what  was  then  Lower  Augusta  township;  ti  las 
three  months,  and  he  taught  ten  terms  in  all,  be- 
ing quite  successful  in  his  profession.  He  had 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  from  his  father,  prai  - 
tically  growing  tip  with  a  knowledge  of  that  b 
lies-:,  which  he  followed  during  the  summers  while 
ting,  and  to  which  he  devoted  all  his  time 
eventually.  He  was  engaged  thus  from  I-  t8  to 
L910,  a  period  of  sixty-two  years  in  all,  and  from 
L856  to  1890  was  Largely  engaged  in  contract  work. 
often  employing  as  many  as  ten  men.  Much  of  his 
work  was  done  in  and  around  Sunbury,  but  he  had 
a  reputation  which  extended  beyond  thai  locality, 
for  he  was  well  and  favorably  known  over  a  radius 
of  twenty  miles,  and  was  the  leading  contractor  of 
his  section  for  many  years.  In  1st:-!  he  built  the 
Plum  Creek  church:  he  assisted  to  build  Millers 
Cross  Road  church,  in  Rockefeller  township;  put 
up  a  number  of  sehoolhouses  in  that  township; 
and  assisted  as  foreman  in  the  erection  of  the  large 
St.  Peter's  church  at  Mahanoy,  in  1858.  In  the 
spring  of  1895  Mr.  Fasold  moved  to  Sunbury, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  his  home  being  at  No. 
448  Catawissa  avenue.  From  the  time  of  his 
settling  in  the  borough  he  has  taken  quite  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs,  having  served  as  assessor 
of  his  district  since  1903.  While  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township  he  was  school  director  one  term, 
and  also  served  a  term  as  auditor:  in  Rockefeller 
township  he  served  two  term-  as  school  director 
and  two  terms  as  auditor.  Politically  he  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party,  in  whose  work  he  has 
taken  an  active  interest.  He  has  also  been  an 
energetic  church  worker,  and  was  long  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Plum  Creek  Lutheran  congre- 
gation, serving  as  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee when  the  present  edifice  was  erected,  in 
1873;  he  was  also  deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  lie 
and  his  family  now  unite  with  Zion's  Lutheran 
Church  in  Sunbury. 

On  Dee.  18,  1856,  Mr.  Fasold  married  Elizab 
Bartholomew,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bartholomew, 
and  they  have  had  three  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  II.  Frances  married  Francis 
Culp,  a  railroad  employee,  who  died  in  February. 
1911,  and  they  lived  in  Sunbury;  the>  had  five 
daughters,  Laura  (who  married  Joseph  l'>.  Kline 
and  has  a  daughter,  Mildred  K.).  Elizabeth  (who 
graduated  from  the  Stale  Normal  school  at 
Bloomsburg  ami  is  engaged  in  teaching),  Elsie  1. 
aographer),  Ruth  Evangeline  (a  milliner,  now 
in  Middletown,  Del.)  and  Verdie  Winifred  (wife 
of  Edward  Harrison  and  living  at  Wilkes-Barre, 
pa.).  Charles  E.,  a  carpenter  l>\  trade,  formerly 
followed    i 

foreman  of  a  gang  for  the   Pennsylvania   Railway 
Company,  and  makes  his  home  at    No.  211    Lair- 


132 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


mount  avenue,  Sunbury;  he  married  Caroline 
Shipe,  and  they  have  eight  children,  Agnes  M. 
(wife  oJ  Joseph  Moyer),  I-'.  Edith  (who  is  married 
and  has  a  son,  Kennerl  F.i.  Sarah  (wife  of 
Charles  Hart.  <>f  Danville),  Daniel  S.,  Irving  G. 
(an  employee  of  the  Bell  Telephone  Company), 
Ellis  Lee,  Francis  ami  Helen  B. 

Samuel  Fasold,  son  of  George,  was  born  Feb. 
16,  1839,  on  the  homestead  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, and  obtained  a  common  school  education.  At 
an  early  age  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade  under  his  father'-  instruction,  and  from  his 
early  manhood  worked  as  a  boss  carpenter,  being 
for  a  rime  engaged  at  Shamokin  and  surrounding 
towns.  On  May  ".'1.  1m;;.  he  ami  his  wife 
to  Sunbury,  where  they  settled  permanently,  Mr. 
Fasold  building  the  home  at  \H.  'Mil  East  Market 
street,  Sunbury,  in  1869,  and  it  has  been  occupied 
h\  the  family  from  that  time  to  tie'  present.  Mr. 
Fasold  became  one  of  the  leading  contractors  in 
Sunbury,  and  in  his  time  had  the  hulk  of  the  best 
patronage,  putting  up  many  residences  and  large 
business  structures,  giving  employment  to  a  num- 
ber of  hand-,  and  teaching  tin'  trade  to  various 
apprentices.  He  deserved  his  success,  proving  him- 
self worthy  of  tin-  confidence  shown  in  him.  and 
was  honorable  ami  trustworthy  in  all  his  dealings, 
giving  honest  work  in  everything  he  undertook 
and  making  an  excellent  name  for  himself  through- 
out this  region.  Mr.  Fasold  died  Maj  'K  1906, 
at  the  old  home  on  East  Market  street  where  his 
widow  still  resides,  lie  was  a  member  of  Au- 
gustaville  Lodge,  I.  0.  G.  F.,  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church,  assisting  in  the  work 
of  i  liureh  and  Sunday  school  :  he  held  the  offiee  of 
deacon.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  member 
of  Company  C,  136th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

On  Dee.  25,  1866,  Mr.  Fa-old  married  Mary 
Catharine  Evert,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Sarah 
(Weiser)  Evert,  hue  of  Rockefeller  township,  the 
former  of  whom  is  buried  at  Plum  Creel;  Church. 
Mrs.  Fasold  was  horn  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
Her  maternal  grandfather,  Philip  Weiser,  was  a 
grandson  of  Conrad  Weiser,  the  noted  Indian  in- 
terpreter. Three  children  were  born  to  Mi',  and 
.Mrs.  Fasold:  (1)  Ida  J.  lives  with  her  mother. 
( '.' )  Rev.  John  ( 'ah  in  is  a  minister  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  now  located  at  Williamstown,  Pa.  He 
married  Maggie  Albert,  ami  they  have  had  chil- 
dren, Evert  L.,  Robert  A..  Hannah  Weiser  (died  in 
infancy)  and  Marshall.  (3)  Dolan  W.  is  engaged 
as  station  agent  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  He  married 
Lulu  App,  daughter  of  Solomon  App,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Florence,  [rene  A.  ami  Lena 
May. 

Eli  Fasold,  son  of  George,  was  horn  in  Rocke- 
feller township  Nov.  20,  1846.  He  lived  at  1  ome 
and  worked  tor  his  parents  until  he  was  of  age,  ami 
was  trained  t<<  carpenter  work  from  an  early  age; 


when  hut  fifteen  years  old  he  went  with  his  father 
and  did  such  work  as  he  was  capable  of.  he  and  his 
brother  Daniel  continuing  their  father's  work  after 
his  death.  They  did  day's  work  as  well  as  con- 
tracting, and  became  the  best  known  carpenters 
in  their  district.  Eli  Fasold  owns  and  lives  on  the 
homestead,  which  contains  fifty-five  acres,  located 
in  the  Plum  Creek  Valley.  George  Fasold,  his 
father,  cleared  this  tract  and  erected  the  present 
buildings  on  it. 

On  April  :;.  1870,  Mr.  Fasold  married  Lydia 
llepner.  daughter  of  John  Hepner,  of  Shamokin 
township.  She  died  Sept.  24,  1905,  aged  sixty- 
two  years,  ten  days.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fasold  were 
horn  six  children:  Charles  F...  now  of  Shamokin, 
Pa.,  Carrie  E.,  married  to  P.  L.  Klinger,  of  Rocke- 
feller township;  William  W. :  Milton,  of  East  Sun- 
bury; Christian  Fv.;  and  Jennie  P>..  married  to 
Charles  Snyder.  Mr.  Fasold  and  his  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Plum  Creek  Church,  in 
the  work  of  which  he  has  been  very  prominent. 
having  served  mam  j-ears  as  deacon  and  treasurer. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  ha-  been  quite 
active  in  his  community,  being  school  director, 
auditor  and  supi  n  is  >i . 


Joseph  Fasold,  -on  of  Valentine,  lived  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  where  he  had  a  farm.  He  was 
a  stonemason  by  trade.    He  and  hisj  wife,  Catharine 

(  Hart/ell  ).  had  :     Mary  Ann.  James  B..  Lillie  and 
( !a1  herine. 

ELIS1IA  M.  CAMPBELL,  a  farmer  of  Push 
township,  Northumberland  county,  was  born  in 
Shamokin  township  in  1863,  -on  of  Fli-ha  Camp- 
bell, Sr.,  and  grandson  id'  Henry  Campbell,  who 
lived  in  West  Virginia  and  followed  lumbering 
and  farming.  Elisha  Campbell,  Sr..  was  his  only 
child. 

Fli-ha  Campbell,  Sr..  married  Hannah  Kareh- 
ner,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  six  children. 
namely:  Hannah  married  Harmon  Snyder, 
and  they  had  children.  Calvin,  William.  Mary. 
Cora,  Rachel,  Jacob  and  Edith:  Sarah  married 
George  Miller  and  had  children,  Elizabeth,  Jesse, 
Albert  and  Orville;  Ella  married  William  Ford 
and  had  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased 
but  Hazel:  Clara  married  John  Snyder  and  had 
three  children,  Greda,  Anna  and  John:  Charles 
married  Lillie  Snyder  and  has  two  children,  Ray- 
mond and  Edward:  Elisha  M.  is  a  resident  of 
Rush  town-hip. 

Elisha  M.  Campbell  has  followed  farming  all 
his  life.  He  married  Sarah  Catherine  Vastine, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Hughs  Vastine,  and  to  them 
was  born  one  child.  Elwood,  who  is  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  attend  the  Baptist  Church. 

Abram  Van  De  Weestyne,  from  which  Mrs. 
Campbell  is  descended,  came  from  Holland  to 
America    in    the   seventeenth   century   and    settled 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


133 


in  Nct  Jersey.  In  1698  John  Vastine,  his  son, 
lived  in  Germantown,  Pa.  He  soon  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  Hilltown  township,  Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  from   one  Jeremiah   Langhorn,  and   became 

in £   the   pioneers   of   thai    county.      Bis   wife 

Ainu-ail.  whom  lie  married  in  New  Jersey,  survived 
him,  his  death  occurring  Feb.  9,  1738;  he  was 
buried  at  Hilltown,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  (1)  Abraham,  born  May 
21,  1698,  died  in  October,  1773.  He  married 
Sarah  Ruckman  and  they  had  five  children: 
Abigail  married  Andrew  Armstrong;  Ruth  mar- 
ried James  Armstrong;  Mary  married  Robert 
Jameson;  Rachel  married  Hugh  Mears;  Sarah 
married  Samuel  Wilson.  (2)  Jeremiah,  born 
Dec.  24,  1701,  died  in  1769.  lie  and  Ins  wife  Deb- 
orah had  children:  Jeremiah,  who  died  in  1778 
in  New  Britain,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  (his  wife's  name 
was  Elizabeth)  ;  Martha.  Mrs.  John  Louder;  Han- 
nah, Mrs.  Samuel  Gresham.  (3)  Benjamin,  bom 
Jan.  9,  1703,  was  the  next  in  line  of  descent  to 
Mrs.  Elisha  Campbell.  (1)  John  died  Feb.  9, 
1765,  in  Hilltown,  unmarried.  (5)  Mary,  born 
March  1.  1699,  married  a  Mr.  Wilson  and  moved 
to  South  ( larolina. 

Benjamin  Vastine,  born  dan.  9,  1703,  son  of 
John,  died  iii  August,  1749.  lie  married  Mary 
Griffith,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  (1)  Hannah  married  Emerson  Kel- 
ly. (2)  John  married  Rachel  Morgan  and  had 
children  Benjamin  (married  Mary  Van  Zant), 
Simon,  Nancy  and  Margaret.  Of  these,  Benja- 
min and  Mary  (Van  Zant)  Vastine  had  three 
son-:  Benjamin,  who  married  Elizabeth  Hauck 
and  had  '  Margaret  (Mrs.  William  Savidge), 
Amanda,  Harriet  (Mrs.  Alvin  Hughs),  Algernon 
and  Thomas  F. :  Thomas,  who  married  Sarah  Ellis 
and  had  Ann  (Mrs.  George  Pensyl),  Lucinda 
(Mrs.  John  Adams).  Mary,  Samantha,  Beneville, 
Grace  Ella.  John,  Rufus,  Thomas  J..  Jane  and 
Sarah  Matilda;  and  John,  who  married  Sarah 
Scott  and  had  Hannah  (Mrs.  Mahlon  Huff),  El- 
len, Sarah  Jane,  Benjamin.  Catherine  and  Isa- 
bella. Simon,  son  of  John  and  Rachel,  married 
and  had  a  son  John.  (3)  Abraham  married  Eliz- 
abeth Williams,  and  their  children  were  John.  Wil- 
liam, Abraham.  Nancy,  Mary  and  Jeremiah.  The 
family  lived  in  York  county.  Pa.,  for  a  time,  later 
moving  to  Kentucky.  (4)  Benjamin,  who  died  in 
September,  1775,  married  Catherine  Eaton,  and 
their  children  were:  Mary  married  Josiah  Limn. 
Peter  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Vastine,  and  had  children.  Catherine  (unmar- 
ried), Elizabeth  (married  John  Colket),  Benja- 
min (unmarried),  Mary  (married  Henry  John- 
son), Ann  (married  H.  Boone),  Lydia  (unmar- 
ried), Thomas  Jefferson  (married  Harriet  Pax- 
ton  and  had  Peter,  Margaret  P..  Charles,  Joseph, 
Sarah  and  Hannah).  Peter  E.  (married  Mary 
Miller)    and    Jeremiah    (unmarried).      Benjamin 


married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Amos  Vastine,  and 
they  had  children  Martha  (married  Joel  Miller) 
and  Catherine  (married  Benjamin  Miller).  Eliz- 
abeth married  Alem  Morris.  (5)  Jonathan,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Lewi-,  is  now  in  the  line  of 
descenl  to  Mrs.  Elisha  Campbell.  (6)  Isaac  mar- 
ried Sarah  Matthews.  (7)  Amos  married  Mar- 
tha Thomas  and  they  had  two  daughters:  Dor- 
othy, who  married  Benjamin  Vastine,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin: Martha,  who  married   Roberl   C.  Shannon. 

Jonathan  Vastine,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Griffith)  Vastine,  married  Elizabeth  Lewis,  and 
their  children  were:  (1)  Benjamin  married  Eliz- 
abeth Van  Zant  and  their  children  were:  Lewis 
V,  who  married  Martha  Boone  and  had  Hannah 
(Mrs.  Dudley  Andrews),  Margaret  (Mrs.  Jacob 
B.  Gearhart),  Rachel  Jane.  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  John 
II.  Morrall).  .Matilda  (Mrs.  Abraham  Gulick), 
Sarah.  Martha,  William  B.,  Lewis  B.  and  George: 
Mary,  who  married  Samuel  Boone:  Ann,  who 
man  led  Isaac  Wolverton;  and  Rachel,  who  mar- 
ried John  M.  Housel.  ( •' )  Ann  married  Thomas 
Robbins.  (3)  Hannah  married  Peter  Vastine, 
- if  Benjamin  Vastine.  (4)  Mary  married  Wil- 
liam Marsh.  (5)  John  married  Catherine  Osmun 
and  had  William  (married  Elizabeth  Hursch), 
Amos  (married  Susan  Lerch),  Margaret  (mar- 
ried Charles  Eeffley),  Sarah  (married  Robert 
Campbell),  Thomas  (married  Lanah  Vought) 
and  John.  (6)  Jeremiah  married  E.  Reeder,  and 
their  children  were:  Mary,  who  married  C.  Fish- 
er: Margaret,  who  married  D.  Robbins;  Surrissa, 
who  married  William  Leighaw:  and  Thomas,  who 
married  Eliza  Reeder  and  had  children  Catherine 
and  Elizabeth.  (7)  Thomas  died  unmarried.  (8) 
Jonathan  married  Nancy  Ann  Hughs. 

Jonathan  and  Nancy  Ann  (Hughs)  Vastine 
had  children  as  follows;  Hugh  Hughs:  Lewis,  who 
married  Sarah  Potts  and  had  one  daughter  Ann. 
now  the  wife  of  Alfred  Ealberstattel  and  the 
mother  of  one  child;  and  Benjamin,  who  died 
single. 

Hugh  Hughs  Vastine,  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Nancy  Ann  (Hughs)  Vastine,  married  Catherine 
Zimmerman,  and  to  them  were  bora  the  Eollowing 
children:  Martha  Ann  died  single;  William  L. 
married  Alice  Cardell  and   had  children.  Blam 

Jj is,  Mary  and  Cora;  Oscar  married  Ada  Gil- 

|;i-|o  :  Mary  F.  married  John  K.  Erdman  and  had 
children,  Eattie,  Sarah.  Nora,  Alice,  Bert,  John. 
Calvin.  Kimber,  and  Frank:  Jonathan  married 
Cora  Hess  and  had  children,  Charles,  Katie  and 
Chester:  Jacob  married  M.  Smith  and  had  chil- 
dren, Ethel,  Batten  and  Grethel :  Lewis  married 

M ; i ,  -.    \ imaker;  Sarah  C.  married  Elisha  Camp- 

bell,  Jr. :    Earriel    married    William    Arnold    and 
lil(|    |  hildren,    Bessie   and    Annie;    Ida    married 
i  lharles  Eoffman  and   had  children,   Vergie,    I 
win,   John.    Mary,    Wesley,    William,   Lillie 

Frank. 


134 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


I.  ('.  M.  ELLENBERGER,  present  superinten- 
dent of  the  public  schools  of  the  borough  of  Sun- 
bury,  has  been  engaged  in  educational  work  for 
over  twenty  years,  about  half  of  that  time  as 
teacher  and  the  remainder  in  his  capacity  of  super- 
intendent. Ee  was  born  Oct.  30,  1863,  at  Gates- 
burg,  Pa.,  and  received  bis  elementary  education 
m  the  public  schools,  lie  prepared  for  college  at 
Stone  Valley  Academy  and  Dickinson  Seminary, 
Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  toot  his  collegiate  course 
at  Pennsylvania  State  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1890.  From  1891  to  L894  Professor 
Ellenberger  was  principal  of  the  Bremen  Institute, 
in  Kentucky.  In  1894  he  took  the  position  of 
principal  in  the  high  school  of  Tyrone  (  Pa.),  Idl- 
ing that  incumbency  until  1899,  when  he  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  Tyrone  public  schools.  He 
continued  in  that  work  until  he  came  to  Sunbury, 
in  1908,  to  serve  in  a  similar  capacity.  Some  idea 
of  his  responsibilities  may  be  gained  from  a  brief 
outline  of  the  educational  facilities  Sunbury  affords 
its  youth  at  the  present  time. 

The  borough  is  fairly  well  provided  with  Large 
and  commodious  school  buildings,  well  equipped 
for  thorough  and  efficient  work.  There  arc  eight 
buildings  advantageously  located,  readily  access- 
ible so  as  to  be  convenient  for  the  pupils  in  all  the 
various  parts  of  the  borough.  The  borough  of 
Sunbury  was  incorporated  as  such  March  34,  1797, 
h\  Ait  of  Assembly,  and  divided  into  two  wards, 
East  and  West,  thus  establishing  the  school  district. 
Some  time  later  the  first  free  school  was  opened. 
on  Third  street,  where  the  post-office  now  stands. 

The  town  grew  considerably  and  was  s i  divided 

into  four  wards,  and  the  schools  were  managed  by 
a  board  of  six  directors,  the  hoard  meetings  being 
held  semi-monthly.  Previous  to  1870  there  was  no 
Central  high  school  in  Sunbury,  hut  the  schools  in 
the  different  wards  were  partially  graded.  The 
first  step  to  establish  a  central  high  school  was 
taken  by  the  hoard  of  directors  in  1870.  Bartholo- 
mew's store  room,  at  No.  35  North  Fourth  street, 
was  rented  for  the  purpose,  and  in  December. 
1870,  .1.  Pi.  Miller  was  elected  first  principal,  at 
a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars  a  month:  at  this 
time  primary  teachers  received  thirty-five  to  forty 
dollars  a  month,  secondary  teachers,  fifty-five  dol- 
lars, an«l  grammar  school  teachers,  sixty  dollars. 
The  school  term  was  hut  seven  months.  Because 
of  poor  health  Professor  Miller  resigned  almost 
immediately  after  accepting,  and  Prof.  Elias 
Schneider,  who  formerly  taught  in  the  Sunbury 
Academy,  was  elected  principal  in  January.  1871. 
Shortly  afterward  the  high  school  was  moved  to  the 
Second  street  building,  opposite  the  county  prison  : 
then  to  the  building  on  Front  street,  near  the 
Reading  railroad  bridge,  the  same  building  the 
academy  had  occupied  for  a  short  time:  then  it  was 
partly  in  the  Front  street  building  and  partly  in 
the   Eighth   ward   building.      For   some   time   the 


high  school  was  small.  Professor  Schneider  served 
three  years  as  principal,  heine.  succeeded  by  W.  M. 
Boal,  W.  II.  Black,  H.  R.  Roth,  C.  I>.  Oberdorf, 
Professor  Conser,  Professor  Young,  Professor  Den- 
nis and  Professor  Rhodes,  the  present  principal. 
The  first  regular  high  school  class  was  graduated 
in  1882,  and  consisted  of  three  pupils.  After  sev- 
eral years  it  was  thought  superior  school  advan- 
tages could  be  secured  by  consolidating  Sunbury  and 
East  Sunbury,  a  project  which  was  consummated  in 

1895.     The  scl 1  district  then  consisted  of  nine 

wards,  a  new  Central  high  school  was  built  on 
Fifth  street,  at  the  head  of  Court  street,  midway 
between  Market  ami  Chestnut  streets.  In  1893  the 
borough  superintendencv  was  established,  C.  D. 
Oberdorf  being  elected  superintendent,  hi-  place  as 
principal  of  the  high  school  being  taken  by  Pro- 
fessor Conser.  In  1897  the  high  school  of  the 
Sunbury  school  district  took  up  in  quarters  in  the 

new  building.     Professor  Oberdorf  was  spec led 

as  borough  superintendent  by  Prof.  Ira  Shipnran, 
who  held  the  office  until  1908,  since  when  Prof. 
I.  ('.  M.  Ellenberger  has  been  the  incumbent. 

The  annual  reports  indicate  the  steady  growth 
of  the  schools.  In  1860  there  were  four  teachers, 
269  pupils,  and  the  school  term  was  eight  months. 
in  1870  there  were  ten  teachers,  672  pupils;  term, 
seven  months.  In  1880  there  were  fourteen  teach- 
ers, 822  pupils;  term,  eight  months.  On  Dec.  i. 
1884,  the  wards  had  increased  to  five,  by  reason 
of  the  increase  of  the  borough  population,  and 
there  were  in  all  five  school  buildings,  accommo- 
dating one  boys'  ami  girls'  high  school,  two  inter- 
mediate, twd  secondary  ami  three  primary  schools. 
In  1890  there  were  nineteen  teachers,  1,109  pupils, 
and  the  term  was  eight  months.  In  1900  there 
were  forty-two  teachers,  2,100  pupils,  and  the  term 
had  increased  to  nine  months,  as  at  present.  In 
1910  there  were  fifty-six  teachers.  2,504  pupils. 
Including  the  class  of  1910  the  Sunbury  high 
school  has  hail  708  graduates,  and  the  East  Sun- 
bury high  school  63.  The  State  appropriation  has 
increased  from  $213.20  in  1860  to  $13,131.83,  in 
1910. 

LEINBACH.  The  brother^  D.  0.  and  Charles 
F.  Leinbach,  of  Milton,  Northumberland  county, 
are  natives  of  Turbut  township,  this  county,  where 
their  father  and  grandfather  lived,  but  the  family 

is  an  old  .a i'  I'.erks  county,  and  has  been  settled 

in  Pennsylvania  since  1723. 

The  first  known  ancestor  of  the  Leinbachs  was 
Henry  Leinbach,  of  Langen-Weibolt,  Wetterau, 
Germany,  who  married  Barbara  Lerch. 

Johannes  Leinbach,  Sr..  son  of  Henry  and  Bar- 
bara, was  born  in  Langen-Selbold,  Wetterau. 
March  9.  L674;  he  was  baptized  by  the  Reformed 
pastor.  In  his  native  land  lie  was  an  organist.  On 
Oct.  2,  1700.  he  married  Anna  Elizabeth  Kleiss. 
who    was   horn    in    Eidengup,    Wetterau,    Feb.    '?. 


NOKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,   I'KWSYLVAXIA 


135 


1680,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Schil- 
linger)  EOeiss,  and  was  baptized  in  the  Lutheran 
faith,  tn  which  her  parents  adhered.  Johannes 
Leinbach.  Sr..  came  to  Pennsylvania  Sept.  11, 
1  ;•.':;.  with  Ins  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Frederic,  John  Henry,  John  (Johannes,  Jr.), 
Joanna  Maria  and  Maria  Barbara,  the  family 
settling  in  Oley  township,  Berks  county.  He  was 
"vorsteher"  of  the  Olej  congregation,  into  which 
office  he  was  inducted  April  9,  1742. 

Frederic  Leinbach,  sun  of  Johannes,  Sr.,  was 
bom  in  Hochstadt,  near  Frankforl  on  the  Mam, 
July  15,  1703,  and  was  baptized  by  the  Reformed 
pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Bender.  He  was  a  tailor  by 
trade.  <»n  June  2,  1737,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Prey,  of  Skippaek,  who  was  born  there  July  1, 
1719,  and  was  baptized  hv  Ciinnt  Zinzendorf  May 
(I,  1742. 

John  Henry  Leinbach,  son  of  Johannes,  Sr., 
was  bora  Nov.  '.'ii,  1705,  in  Hochstadt,  ami  was 
baptized  in  his  infancy  by  the  Reformed  pastor, 
Rev.  Mr.  Bender.  On  Nov.  2,  1739,  lie  married 
Joanna  Herman,  bora  in  Conestoga  March  Hi. 
1718,  and  baptized  by  Count  Zinzendorf  May  6, 
i;  r.'.  the  same  day  ;|-  Elizabeth  Frey,  above  men- 
tioned. 

Johannes  Leinbach,  dr..  son  of  Johannes,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Hochstadt  Feb.  13,  1712.  He  accom- 
panied In-  parents  i"  Pennsylvania  in  1723,  and 
settled  as  a  farmer.  On  Aug.  12,  1735,  lie  married 
Catharine  Kiehm.  of  Muddy  Creek,  and  they  had 
eleven  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being:  Frederick.  John  Daniel.  Lewis, 
Abraham,  Benjamin,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Maria 
Barbara,  Johanna  and  ( iatharine. 


John  C.  Leinbach,  great-grandfather  of  D.  <>. 
and  Charles  I-'.  Leinbach,  lived  and  died  in  Oley 
township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.     His  son. 

John  C.  Leinbach,  born  in  1796,  died  in  1853. 
Coming  to  Northumberland  county,  he  settled  in 
Turbul  township  about  1820,  and  there  he  is 
buried,  at  Paradise.  He  was  a  tinsmith  by  trade 
and  a  skilled  mechanic  in  various  lines,  being  quite 
famous  for  the  grandfather  clocks  which  he  made; 
the  lasl  one  he  made  is  owned  by  his  grandson, 
D.  0.  Leinbach.  His  wife.  Mary  (Stitzel),  was 
born  in  1799  and  died  in  1887  ;  she  was  a  member 
of  the  Judge  Stitzel  family  of  Berks  county.  John 
C.  and  Mary  (Stitzel)  Leinbach  had  two  children. 
Daniel  S.  and  Hannah.  The  daughter  married 
John  Kutz.  of  Northampton  county,  who  died  in 
Limestone  township,  Montour  county,  the  mother 
of  Daniel  (deceased).  Emma  (married  del,,, 
Wdlfinger),  Annie  (married  Judson  Derr),  Wal- 
la,,, (of  Milton,  Pa.)  and  Nelson  (of  Sunbury, 
Pa.).  Mrs.  Archer  ATan  Dyke,  sister  of  John  C. 
Leinbach.  lived  in  the  Juniata  valley. 

Daniel  S.  Leinbach,  father  of  D.  O.  and  Charles 
F.   Leinbach.  was  horn  Aug.  31,   1822,  in  Turbut 


township,  and  died  Nov.  Id.  1902;  lie  is  buried 
at  Paradise.  He  attained  prosperous  circumstan- 
ces through  In-  Hv,  ii  efforts,  and  was  highlj  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  He  owned  a  line 
farm,  containing  about  one  hundred  aero,  located 
near  Follmer's  church  in  Turbut  township,  re- 
paired the  residence  on  thai  tract  and  huilt  a 
new  barn.  He  was  independent  in  politics  and  an 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  which  he 
served  as  elder  and  deacon.  Mr.  Leinbach  married 
Mary  Pick,  who  was  horn  July  8,  1828,  daughter 
of  John  Pick,  and  died  Dec.  •.':;.  1891  :  -he  is  buried 
beside  her  husband.  They  became  the  parents  of 
four  children  :  Annie  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  Ditz- 
ler,  of  Turbut  township,  and  ha.-  three  children, 
Emma,  John  M.  and  Charles;  John  A.,  now  a  re- 
tired farmer,  who  owns  the  old  homestead  in  Tur- 
but township,  married  Eliza  Bieber;  D.  ( ).  a  ml 
<  harles   F.  are  mentioned  below. 

D.  0.  Leinbach  was  horn  July  29,  is.")!),  near 
Paradise,  in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland 
county,  and  received  his  education  in  the  township 
schools,  lie  remained  with  his  father  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twent y-niie.  when  he  came  to 
Milton,  Aug.  6,  1880.  Here  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  learned  the  trade  of  machinist  at  the 
well  known  establishment  of  S.  d.  Shimer  i\  Sons, 
in  Milton,  and  continued  to  follow  that  occupa- 
tion as  a  journeyman  until  1887,  when  he  became 
traveling  salesman  for  the  concern,  a  capacity  in 
which    lie    was    engaged    until     1894,    traveling 

through  the  States.  Territories,  and   Domini I' 

Canada.  Continuing  in  the  service  of  the  above 
named  firm,  who  established  the  iron  Imsine-s 
known  as  The  Milton  Manufacturing  Company,  he 
assumed  the  salesmanship  of  this  company  and 
after  years  of  extensive  travel  became  their  Phila- 
delphia representative,   a    position   he  now   holds. 

lie   has  been    in    the  -a mploy   for  a    period   of 

upwards  of  thirty-one  years.  Mr.  Leinbach's  prac- 
tical experience  in  the  machine  shop  and  hi-  me- 
chanical skill  are  valuable  supplements  t"  his 
ability  as  a  salesman  and  his  judgment  in  business 
dealings,  and  the  combination  of  qualities  has 
made  him  an  appreciable  factor  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  company  in  the  field  over  which  he 
has  op. anted,  lie  i-  a  substantial  citizen  of  Mil- 
ton, and  retains  his  home  there,  living  in  the  line 
residence  which  he  huilt  in  1906,  ai  No.  398  East 
Broadway.  He  is  a  Lutheran  and  ha-  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  church,  which  he  has  serve, 1 
as  deacon.  1  n  politics  lie  wears  no  collar,  am!  is 
no  man's  man. 

On  March  L9,  1889,  Mr.  Leinbach  married  Ella 
\|.  Khipp.  daughter  of  Peter  and  Catharine 
(Haag)  Klapp,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Klapp 

and  John  Haag.     \h.  .mi  Mrs.  Leinbach  havi 

son.  W.   Dew  ill.  wdio  was  horn  March  6,    I-'1'' 
is  now-  attendinj  i  iools. 

i  ii  irles  F.  Leinba<  h  was  born  dan.  28,  L866, 


136 


Nl  >I{THUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  Turbut  township.  Northumberland  county,  and 
after  attending  the  local  schools  went  to  the  acad- 
emy at  Limestoneville,  Montour  county,  and  to  the 
academy  at  McEwensville,  Northumberland  county. 
He  also  spent  one  year  in  study  at  the  normal 
school  at  Hickory.  N.  C.  Upon  his  return  home, 
in  1888.  he  began  clerking  in  the  store  of  W.  L. 
Raup,  where  he  remained  five  years,  subsequently 
clerking  one  year  in  West  Hilton  and  then  six 
years  with  the  Schreyer  &  Sons  Company,  at  Hil- 
ton. He  has  since  been  in  business  or  his  own 
account  Pie  bought  out  the  grocery  of  1».  I.. 
Hogue,  of  Watsontown,  which  he  conducted  for 
two  years,  until  1904,  that  year  returning  to  Mil- 
ton and  establishing  himself  at  his  present  loca- 
tion,  X".  136  Broadway.  Here  he  has  a  first-i 
store,  dealing  in  groceries,  flour  and  feed,  an 
enjoys  a  steady  and  lucrative  patronage,  built  up 
by  honorable  methods  and  earnesl  efforts  to  p 
his  custoi  i  -.  who  appreciate  his  attention  to  their 
wants  and  his  ability  to  meet  all  the  requiremi  ats 
of  his  trade.  Mr.  Leinbaeh  is  deservedly  a  much 
respected  citizen  of  the  borough  in  which  he  makes 
his  home. 

On  Pec.  27,  1895,  Mr.  Leinbaeh  married  Sarah 
i  Lahr,  who  was  horn  Nov.  11,  1872,  daughter 
of  William  B.  and  Sarah  (Sterner)  Lahr,  and  died 
March  24,  L907;  she  is  interred  a1  the  Harmony 
cemetery,  at  Milton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leinbaeh  had 
one  daughter,  Mary  Helen,  who  was  born  Ma\  20, 

1! The  family  home  is  at   No.    132  Broadway, 

Milton. 

Socially  Mr.  Leinbaeh  is  a  member  ol  I  as  No. 
265,  K.  6.  E.,  and  Commandery  No.  27,  K.  of  H. 
He  is  active  in  the  work  of  St.  John's  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
consistory. 

HEINEICH  KLERX,  general  superintendent 
of  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills,  at  Sunbury.  stands 
at  the  head  of  one  of  the  foremost  enterprises  i  s- 
tablished  in  that  borough  as  the  result  of  tin 
forts  of  local  business  men  to  enhance  the  interests 
of  this  place  by  drawing  industrial  capital  hither 
with  special  inducements  of  convenience  and  .  ■ 
omy  of  production.  That  the  reciprocal  advan- 
tages for  which  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills  agreed 
stablish  a  plant  at  Sunbury  have  been  exceeded 
to  a  notable  degree  may  be  gathered  from  the 
citation  of  a  very  few  statistics.  The  Sunbury 
Board  of  Trad,  was  organized  in  1894,  and  not 
long  afterward  the  industrial  committee  became 
particularly  active  in  urging  the  advantages  of  the 
borough  as  an  industrial  center  upon  capitalists 
in  search  of  suitable  locations.  Through  the  in- 
dustrial department  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad  Company  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
old  established  silk  manufacturing  firm  of  H.  E. 
Sclmiewind,  of  Germany,  was  considering  the  es 
tablishment  of  a  plant  in  this  country.  An  offer 
was  made  on  the  condition  that  a  factory  at  least 


100  by  300  feet  in  dimensions  be  erected,  and  that 
employment  be  furnished  to  at  least  250  people. 
That  the  success  of  the  plant  has  surpassed  the  ex- 
pectations of  its  founders  and  of  the  Sunbury  citi- 
zens who  induced  them  to  choose  this  location  is 
shown  in  the  simple  fact  that  the  main  mill  in  the 
Ninth  ward  occupies  an  area  tOO  feet  square,  tak- 
ing no  count  of  substantial  additions,  and  that  a 
working  force  of  over  800  finds  constant  employ- 
therein.  Moreover,  another  large  establish- 
ment, the  converting  works  of  these  mills,  has 
grown  out  of  the  needs  of  this  and  other  mills 
operated  by  the  same  concern,  giving  employment 
to  another  force  of  400  workers. 

The  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills,  manufacturers  of 
the  famous  Suskana  silks,  are  operated  by  a  Ger- 
man house  of  long  standing.  II.  Schniewind,  dr.. 
is  the  present  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Amer- 
ican branch  of  this  concern,  Max  Siepermann, 
secretary.  For  ten  years  before  the  establishment 
of  the  plant  at  Sunbury  Mr.  Siepermann  hail  been 
the  New  York  representative  of  the  firm.  Through 
him  negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  visit- 
ing representative  of  the  firm  by  which  a  plant  of 
the  proportions  above  gifen  was  to  lie  erected  and 
put  into  operation,  a  com/pan]  being  incorporated 
under  the  laws  ,,f  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Heinrich  Klerx  had  at  that  time  been  connected 
with  the  German  house  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years, 
and  through  efficient  service  in  various  capacities 
had  risen  to  the  position  of  superintendent.  His 
ability,  no  less  than  his  long  and  varied  experi- 
ence, seemed  to  qualify  him  particularly  for  the 
special  responsibilities  of  the  new  venture,  though 
he  was  at  the  time  unfamiliar  with  American  meth- 
ods and  business  customs,  and  had  but  slight  ac- 
quaintance with  the  English  language.  His  re- 
sources, however,  proved  equal  to  the  unusual  de- 
mands made  upon  them.  Assuming  control 
at  the  outset,  he  superintended  all  the  de- 
tails in  the  construction  of  the  plant  and  the 
setting  up  of  machinery,  and  after  the  factory 
commenced  operations  soon  learned  by  actual 
contact  with  conditions  here  whatever  he  needed 
to  grasp  the  local  situation.  The  methods 
of  his  native  land  combined  with  the  best 
in  American  commercial  tactics  have  proved 
sufficient  to  raise  the  plant  under  his  con- 
trol to  foremost  standing  among  the  industrial 
institutions  of  the  country.  Mr.  Klerx  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  being  a  skilled  mechanic,  and  his  inven- 
tive faculties  have  enabled  him  to  produce  many 
devices  for  saving  labor  in  the  Susquehanna  Silk 
Mills,  some  of  his  appliances,  in  fact,  being  now 
in  general  use  in  similar  establishments  all  over 
the  United  States.  His  familiarity  with  the  execu- 
tive and  financial  intricai  Les  of  this  branch  of  man- 
ufacturing i~  no  less  comprehensive,  and  the  com- 
bination of  faculties  which  be  lias  shown  in  his 
administration  of  this  great  plant  makes  his  serv- 
ices invaluable. 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


1:;; 


In  1903  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills  established 
another  plant,  at  Marion,  Ohio,  the  demand  for 
the  product  having  outgrown  the  capacity  of  the 
mills  in  Sunbury.  Ii  was  erected  and  equipped 
1 1 1 1 « ! .  i  the  persona]  supervision  of  Mr.  tiers — a 
high  compliment  to  his  management  of  the  Sun- 
bury  plant.  Since  then  two  other  plants,  one  at 
Lewistown,    Pa.,   the  other  at  Jersey  Shore,   Pa., 

have  I n  put  into  operation  by  this  concern,  the 

ilium  office  being  at  Sunbury,  where  Mr.  Klerx 
resides.  There  are  also  salesrooms  and  offices  a1 
No.   L8   West  Eighteenth  street,  Xew  York  City. 

In  1903  it  was  found  that  another  plant,  for 
dyeing  and  finishing  the  product  of  the  weaving 
mills,  would  be  a  desirable  addition,  and  through 
Mr.  KleiV  efforts  this  new  establishment  was  also 
located  at  Sunbury,  though  it  finishes  the  product 
of  all  the  mills  of  the  concern.  Mr.  Klerx  had  full 
charge  of  all  the  preliminary  arrangements,  the 
purchase  of  suitable  property  and  the  construction 
of  the  factory,  which  is  located  in  the  Fifth  ward. 
This  new  plain,  known  as  the  converting  works. 
was  i  ompleted  and  se1  in  operation  in  I  »ei  ember, 
L903.  In  construction  and  equipment  it  is  second 
tn  no  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  State 

Every  branch  of  the  silk  business  has  been  the 
object  of  Mr.  Klcrx'  earnest  study.  The  welfare 
and  health  of  employees,  no  less  than  the  prosper!!  \ 
of  the  factory,  has  received  his  attention  from  the 
time  he  took  up  Ins  work  here,  and  it  was  he  who 
organized  the  Silk  Mill  Relief  Association,  which 
pays  benefits  to  employees,  members  incapacitated 
through  accident  or  illness.  Moreover,  movements 
looking  tn  the  general  welfare  have  always  re- 
ceived his  hearty  support,  for  a  well  ordered  com- 
munity means  healthful,  industrial  conditions  for 
both  employer  and  employee. 

Socially   Mr.    Klcrx    holds   membership   and    is 
pas!    Exalted  Ruler  in  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks.  I, 
Xo.  267,  the  Americus  Club,  and  other  organiza- 
tions. 

JACOB  G.  HOFFMAX,  a  venerable  resident 
of  Washington  township,  Xorthumberland  county, 
was  born  in  that  district  Aug.  1,  L836,  son  of 
William  D.  and  Anna  Maria   (Gonser)    Hoffman. 

John  Hoffman,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Colebrookdale  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was 
a  pioneer  in  Xorthumberland,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  is  buried  at  the  Reformed  and  Luth- 
eran Church  at  Bakers.  Pa.  He  made  his  home 
in  Washington  township,  along  the  mountain. 
His  wife.  ' Susanna  (Drumheller),  daughter  of 
Xicholas  Drumheller.  a  native  of  Earl  township, 
Berks  county,  came  with  him  tn  this  county.  They 
had  children  as  follows:  Jacob  D.  died  in  Jackson 
township  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church  (he 
married  Rebecca  Snvder,  bom  April  51.  1812,  died. 
\w  1.".  1835;  their  twin  sons,  Montgomery  and 
Cornelius,  born  Aug.  14.  1835,  died  in  1835  and 


1836,  respectively)  ;  Henrv  D.,  born  .Ian.  9,  LS10 
did  Nov.  in.  L889,  lived  in  Washington  township^ 
where   he   followed   the  occupations  of   farmer  ami 

stonemason    (his  wife  Maria    Elizabeth,   II, -i- 

rich,   horn   Sept.   51.    1812,  died    Feb.   3,    186',  i  : 
\\  llliani  I),  i.  mentioned  below;  Elizabeth  ma 
Fred  Baker:  Catharine  married  Jacob  Groh,  and 
they  located  in  Missouri. 

William   D.   Hoffman,   son   of  John,   was   born 
Dec.  23,   L802,  in  Colebrookdale  township,   I; 

Co.,    Pa.,    ami    came    to    Northumberland    h 

with  his  parents  when  a  young  man.  He  was  a 
stonemason  ami  farmer  in  Washington  tow  aship, 
Ins  property  there  including  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  son  Jacob  »..  Eoffman;  his  purchase  was 
a  much  larger  trad.  He  was  a  Lutheran 
of  the  Himmel  Church,  where  he  held  va 
offices,  and  is  buried  there.  His  death  oecui 
Oct.  •.'.  1885.  IB-  wile.  Maricha  or  Anna  \l 
Gonser,  bora  Sept.  i;.  1812,  was  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Gonser,  ami  came  of  a  verv  prosperous 
family.  She  died  May  Hi.  L899.  The  children  of 
this  union  were  as  follows:  Daniel  Gonser,  horn 
June  26,  1832,  died  Her.  22,  i860;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Drumheller;  John  «...  horn  April  19, 
L835,  died  Nov.  10,  1868  (his  wifi  Sarah  died  May 
9,  L90  l.  aged  sixty-six  war-,  three  months,  □ 
teen  days):  Jacob  G.  is  mentioned  below;  Maria 
(or  Maricha)  was  the  next  in  the  family;  Denah 
married  Elias  Hetrick;  William  (i.  lives  at  Pillow, 
Pa.;  Emanuel  died  m  infancy;  Henry  <;..  horn 
Sept.  24,  1843,  died  Feb.  9,  187  I:  Conrad  <..  was 
the  next  son:  Rudolph  A.,  horn  Nov.  8.  1847,  died 
Jan.  '.i.  1886;  Louisa  married  Henrv  Keihl,  of 
Billow.  Pa.;  Benjamin,  horn  April  ','!»'.  1850,  died 
Feb.  20,  1861  :  Robert  G.,  horn  March  27,  1852, 
died  March  1.  1851  ;  Caroline,  horn  .Ian.  17,  L857, 
died  May  13,  1866;  Ernestus  <i.  lives  at   Billow. 

Jacob  G.  Hoffman  was  reared  to  farm  life  and 
remained  at  home  working  for  hi-  parents  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  Meantime  he  attended  the 
subscription  schools  for  a  limited  period.  He 
then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he 
ha-  continued  to  follow,  though  he  has  lived 
partially  retired  since  L892.  His  first  home 
was  in  Washington  township,  whence  he  moved 
to  Upper  Mahanoy,  hut  after  less  than  two 
years'  residence  there  he  returned  to  Washing- 
ton township,  where  he  svas  established  lor  eight 
years,  for  three  years  afterward  he  was  d  Jack- 
son township,  thence  moving  to  Lower  Mahan 
where  h:-  home  was  near  Hickory  Corners  for  one 
year.  From  there  he  moved  to  In-  presenl  loca- 
i  ion.  remainin  i  rs  at  thai  i  ime  and  nee.  ing 

here  tor  two  years,  after  which  he  purcha 

... 

1 i  -o  Ion--,  ami  there  i  on!  inu- 

■   1887.     Thi-  formed  part  of  thi    8 
moii    i  ad.   which   originally   was 

large,  M  r.  I  [offman  owi  150  a>  res. 


138 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


There  are  two  dwellings  on  the  place.  Part  of  his 
present  residence  is  of  log  construction  and  was 
built  before  1800,  and  the  stone  house  was  built  in 
1819.  There  is  good  water  on  this  farm,  and 
Mr.  Hoffman  has  been  successfully  engaged  at  his 
trade  and  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  taken 
an   interest    in   local   affairs,   was   overseer   of  the 

I lor  twelve  years,  school  director  six  years  and 

supervisor  one  year.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 
In  1860  Mt.  Hoffman  married  Sarah  Drum- 
heller,  who  was  born  duly  29,  1840,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Drumheller  and  granddaughter  of  Nicho- 
las Drumheller,  a  native  of  Berks  county,  the 
family  being  prominent  and  fully  mentioned  else- 
where in  this  work.  Twelve  children  have  beell 
born  to  this  union:  Emma  R.  married  Frank 
Rothermel  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty,  the  moth- 
er of  three  children,  one  <>\'  whom  survives;  Lilian 
A.  married  Adam  Rebuck  ami  has  two  children 
(she  is  now — 1911 — fifty  years  of  age)  :  Frank- 
lin L.,  of  the  Mahantango  Valley,  married  Cath- 
arine Strohecker,  and  they  have  bad  fourteen  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  are  living:  Francis  W.,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  his  father's  land,  married 
Bertha  Klock,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  all 
of  whom  survive:  Daniel  M.  died  when  four  years 
old :  John  T.,  \\  ho  lives  in  the  Mahantango  Valley, 
married  Louisa  Klinger  and  they  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, all  living:  Sara  J.  married  Daniel  Bordner 
and  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  the  mother  of  one 
child,  deceased:  Ira  I.  died  when  six  months  old; 
Ida  .1.  married  John  IT.  Hoffman  and  has  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living  (they  live 
in  Lykens,  Pa.)  ;  Rosa  May,  born  March  30,  L879, 
married  Daniel  Kahler,  of  Washington  township, 
who  was  born  Sept.  1.  1875,  and  they  have  had 
seven  children,  Harry  A.  (born  Jan.  3,  1900), 
Howard  J.  (June  is.  1901),  Jennie  M.  (March 
26,  L903),  Xora  Alice  (Oct.  23,  1905),  Mary  Agnes 
(Feb.  3,  L907),  Irwin  D.  (Aug.  11,  1908)  and 
Claude  A.  (Sept.  9,  1910);  Jacob  Edwin,  who 
lives  in  Schuylkill  county,  married  Lizzie  Weist 
and  they  have  hail  two  children,  both  of  whom  are 
living;  Charles  Elmer,  who  lives  in  the  Mahan- 
tango Valley,  married  Xora  YViest  and  has  two 
children.  Mr.  Hoffman  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


Eaton  H.  Hoffman,  son  of  Henry,  was  horn  Feb. 
24,  1848,  and  married  Elizabeth  Bellman,  horn  the 
same  day.  Their  children  were  horn  as  follows: 
Paul,  March  14, 1872  :  a  -on  (that  died  in  infant  i. 
Aug.  9,  1873;  Susan  F..  Sept.  3,  1874;  John  H.. 
March  IS.  1876;  William  Harvey,  July  12,  1878; 
Emina  J..  Nov.  11.  1879 ;  Daniel  L.,  Oct.  14.  1881  : 
Mary  E..  Nov.  29,  1884;  Solomon  Carev,  Nov.  -3s, 
1886;  Samuel  Howard.  July  5,  1888.'  Of  these 
Susan  E.  married  William  Dornsife,  born  Feb. 
20,  1m;;.  and  they  have  had  four  children:  A 
daughter,   born   .lead    April    17,    1895;    Edith    F.. 


born  March  6,  lsii;  (died  Oct.  3,  L900)  ;  Dela 
Direne,  born  July  16,  1900,  and  Ruth  E.,  born 
Feb.  17,  1909. 

CHRIST.  Several  members  of  this  family  have 
been  associated  with  the  business  interests  of 
Mount  Carmel  as  butchers  and  dealers  in  meat, 
the  brothers  B.  F.  Christ  and  J.  M.  Christ  now- 
conducting  well  equipped  stores  in  the  borough, 
where  their  father.  John  Christ,  was  established 
in  the  same  line  from  is;;  until  his  retirement. 
All  have  been  substantial  and  useful  citizens,  a 
credit  to  their  name  and  the  community  in  which 
they  have  lived  and  worked. 

'The  father  of  John  Christ  died  when  a  com- 
paratively young  man.  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa. 
Mis  widow  married  a  Mr.  Snyder.  She  had  three 
children  by  her  first  marriage,  namely:  Emanuel, 
who  settled  at  Ashland.  Fa.,  where  he  died  (his  son 
Isaac  li\es  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county  i  :  Julias, 
who  died  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  unmarried; 
and  John. 

John  Christ  was  horn  Feb.  :).  ls;il.  and  died  m 
October,  1905.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  drover 
and  butcher,  and  he  made  Western  trips  to  buy 
cattle,  which  he  drove  Easl  in  the  early  days.  He 
was.  however,  one  of  the  first  dealer-  to  ship  cattle 
by  railroad.  In  Is;;  he  came  to  Mount  Carmel 
and  some  time  later  entered  the  retail  branch  of 
the  business,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  re- 
tirement, selling  out  to  his  son  B.  F.  Christ  some 
time  before  hw  death.  Mr.  Christ  was  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church,  in 
which  he  was  an  active  worker.  He  married  Han- 
nah Heckert,  who  survives  him.  still  making  her 
home  at  Mount  Carmel.  and  they  had  a  family  of 
five  children,  viz.:  Emma,  widow  of  J.  E.  Huber. 
resides  at  Mount  Carmel:  Agnes  is  unmarried 
and  living  with  her  mother:  Jeremiah  M.  is  men- 
tioned below:  Hannah  X.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  C.  D. 
Huber.  now  located  at  Sunbury.  Fa.,  as  pastor 
of  the  First  United  Evangelical  Church:  and  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  is  mentioned  below. 

Michael  Heckert.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Heckert) 
Christ's  lir-i  ancestor  in  America,  emigrated  from 
Germany  some  time  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  settled  in  lower  Mahanoy 
township,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.  Of  his  chil- 
dren, Francis  and  Yost  went  West;  Peter  was  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Christ:  Elizabeth  married  Jacob 
Miller,  who  moved  to  Armstrong  Valley,  in  Dau- 
phin county.  Fa.  There  may  have  been  other  chil- 
dren. 

Peter  Heckert.  son  of  Michael,  served  in  the  war 
of  1812-15,  was  honorably  discharged,  and  received 
two  tracts  of  bounty  land  for  his  sen  ii  es.  He  re- 
mained in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  having  taken 
up  farm  lands  there,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  His  wife.  Eva,  died  at  tin1  age  of  forty- 
nine.     They   had   children   as   follows:      George; 


N0|;TIILM1SL1;LA\']>  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVAN]  \ 


L39 


Michael;  Peter;  Elias;  [saac;  Benjamin;  Joseph; 
Riley;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  [saac  Lenker) ;  Polly 
(Mrs.  Harry  Weaver):  Sallie;  Catherine  (.Mis. 
Jacob  Wentzel)  ;  Christina  (  Mrs.  Aaron  Cod  rail )  ; 
Hannah  (Mrs.  John  Christ  ):  and  two  who  died 
in  youth.  Elias  ami  Hannah  (Mrs.  Christ)  are 
Dow  the  only  surviving  members  of  this  large  fam- 
ily, of  which  the  following  settled  and  lived  in 
Northumberland  county:  Peter,  whose  son  Jacob 
is  a  marble  cutter  at  Millersburg,  Pa.,  and  son 
Willis  a  railroader  living  at  Georgetown  (Dal- 
matia),  Northumberland  county;  Elias  (now — 
l'.ilo — aged  eighty-three),  who  has  ten  children, 
all  living,  Henry  A.  (of  Kansas  City.  Mo.),  Emma 
!•].  (  Mrs.  I.  .1.  Shroyer,  formerly  of  Shamokin,  now 
living  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.),  Riley  \V.  (a  farm- 
er of  Northumberland  county),  John  W.  (a  mer- 
chant at  Begins,  Schuylkill  county),  Mary  A. 
(Mrs.  John  K.  Maurer,  of  Schuylkill  county), 
Sarah  .1.  (Mrs.  Jacob  Maurer,  of  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty), Joseph  I.,  (a  baker,  in  Girardville,  Schuylkill 
county).  Lydia  A.  (  Mrs.  John  W.  Bahner,  residing 
near  Stonington,  Northumberland  county),  l.i  ;ie 
A.  (Mrs.  Elmer  A.  Bohner,  of  Northumberland 
county)  I  Eli  P.  (principal  of  schools  at  Schuyl- 
kill Eaven,  Pa.);  Benjamin,  who  was  for  years 
a  leading  furniture  dealer  ami  undertaker  in 
Sunbury,  and  whose  children  are  Dr.  (diaries 
(I.  Heckort  (president  of  Wittenberg  College, 
Springfield,  Ohio),  Emma  (Mrs.  Savidge,  of 
Sunbury,  Pa.);  Jennie  May  (Mrs.  Sharon 
Stephens,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.)  ami  B.  Frank 
(attorney  at  law,  of  Sunbury);  Polly.  AI rs. 
Harry  Weaver,  whose  son  George  lives  in 
Shamokin;  ami  Hannah.  Mrs.  John  Christ, 
whose  children  have  been  previously  mentioned. 
Joseph  ami  Christina  (Mrs.  Aaron  Conrad)  re- 
sided in  Terry  county.  Pa.;  Joseph  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war  and  was  shot  while'  in  the  act  of 
relieving  a  picket,  who  did  not  recognize  him.  Mi-. 
Conrad  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and 
dud  of  typhoid  fever  after  a  forced  march  to  Get- 
tysburg, in  1st;:;,  after  his  term  of  enlistment  had 
expired.  Catherine,  who  married  Jacob  Wentzel. 
resided  in  the  Slate  of  Indiana. 

Jer]  \i  1  mi  M.  Christ,  son  of  John  and  Hannah 
(  lleckert  )  Christ,  was  horn  March  L6,  1867,  in 
Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  began 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality,  re- 
ceiving the  rest  of  his  schooling  at  Mount  Carmel, 
whither  he  removed  with  his  parents  in  1877.  He 
was  in  his  father's  employ  until  1892.  when _ he 
wen!  west,  spending  eighteen  months  traveling 
throughout  the  West  and  Northwest,  finding  em- 
ployment at  different  places.  After  his  return 
home  he  again  worked  for  his  father,  until  he  was 
thirty-two  wars  old,  at  which  time  he  and  his 
brother  became  associated  with  their  father  under 

the  name  of  John   Christ  &   Sons.      At  tl ml   of 

a  -year  Jeremiah    M.    Christ   withdrew   fr this 


partnership  and  located  in  Buffalo,  N.  V..  where  he 
engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account.  Return- 
ing to  Mount  Car I,  he  established  his  present 

-lore,  at  No.  221  South  Market  street,  m  L906. 
He  deals  in  groceries,  provisions,  butter  and  eggs, 
as  well  as  fresh  and  smoked  meats,  and  carries 
a  large  and  comprehensive  stock  in  all  those  lim  3, 
catering  to  a  line  class  of  trade.  By  upright  deal- 
ing and  (dose  attention  to  the  wants  of  his  cus- 
tomers he  has  built  up  a  profitable  patronage,  which 
continues  to  show  a  steady  increase.  Mi-.  Christ 
has  found  time  to  interest  himself  in  the  public 
affairs  of  the  community,  and  has  Wn  chosen  to 
represent  the  Second  ward  in  the  council.  lie 
was  formerly  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
but  since  1909  has  supported  the  Socialist  party. 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  m 
social  connection  belongs  to  Mount  Carmel  Lodge, 
No.  378,  F.  &  A.  M.,  to  bhe  Sons  of  America  and 
to  the  Knights  of  Malta. 

On  June  3,  1897,  Mr.  Christ  married  Alice 
Fagely,  daughter  of  Isaac-  and  Lydia  (Leipens- 
berger)  Fagely,  of  Topton,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  Thej 
have  had  two  children.  Lydia  C.  and  Benjamin 
Franklin. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Christ,  son  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Heckert)  Christ,  was  horn  Nov.  3,  L874, 
in  Eldred  township.  Schuylkill  Co..  I'a.  lie  re- 
ceived all  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mount  Carmel,  ami  learned  the  butcher  business 
under  his  father,  with  whom  he  was  associated  as 
a  member  of  the  firm  id'  John  Christ  &  Sons,  as 
above  stated,  and  whose  interest  he  purchased  in 
1003.  In  1907  lie  built  his  fine  More  at  No.  L23 
North  Oak  street,  one  of  the  most  complete  and 
up-to-date  meat  markets  in  this  district.  He  also 
conducts   another    market    al    No.    135    South    <>ak 

street.    Mr.  Christ  c mands  a  thriving  trade,  and 

gives  constant  employment  to  from  twelve  to  fif- 
teen men.  He  has  a  stock  farm  of  his  own.  com- 
prising 150  acres  al  Stonington.  in  Shamokin 
township,  tin-  county,  ami   there  keeps  his  cattle 

until  they  are  ready  for  slaughter,  an  arrange nt 

which  gives  him  many  advantages  over  the  aver 

age  dealer.     He  is  a  business  man  of  ability  I 

resource,  enterprising   in   hi-   ideas   and    methods, 
and  his  prosperity  is  the  best  evidence  of  his  sound 
judgment  on  such  matters.    Mr.  Christ  was  one 
the  organizers  of  the  Guarantee  Trust   and   Sa 
Deposit   Compam   of  Mount    Carmel.  one  of  the 

-1     important     financial     institutions    of     the 

borough,  and  has  served  a-  one  of  the  directors 
throughout  the  period  of  its  e>  isteni  1  .  Frater- 
nally he  unites  with  thi  Sons  of  Ami  !  the 
local  lodge  of  Elks  |  No  356  I,  and  in  religion  he 
-  ;,  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

0,1  o.t.  1  p  1897,  M  r.  Christ  married  Annie 
Gross,  daughter  of  Frederick  Gross,  of  Mount  Car- 
tel, and  ihe\  have  two  child  John  Frederick 
and  Emil  Mar-hall. 


14U 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


WILLIAM  H.  KOHRBACH,  late  of  Sunbury. 
was  throughout  his  active  years  thoroughly  iden- 
tified with  the  business  interests  and  material 
growth  of  that  borough.  He  was  associated  with 
his  father  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  foundry 
business,  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunbury  wa- 
terworks for  a  period  of  eight  years,  and  as  an  in- 
telligent and  public-spirited  citizen  was  esteemed 
by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  who 
had  known  him  well  through  years  of  business  oi 
persona]  association. 

Mr.  Kohrbach  was  a  member  of  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family. «of  German  origin,  descended 
John  George  Rohrbach,  who  emigrated  to  An 
about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He 
settled  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  in  Berks  county, 
in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  District  township, 
and  the  family  is  now  quite  numerous  in  the  east- 
ern end  of  thai  count}'.  The  ancestral  homestead 
is  still  owned  by  one  of  his  descendants.  He  was 
twice  married;  and  by  his  first  union  had  a  son 
Lawrence.  By  his  second  wife,  Christiana  Moser, 
he  had  five  children.  George,  John,  Simon,  Eva 
and  Christiana.  Those  of  the  name  now  living  in 
Berks  county  are  descendants  of  Lawrence  and 
John:  Simon  is  said  to  have  tinned  to  Catawissa, 
Columbia  county;  George  to  have  gone  West;  Eva 
married  Jacob  Finkbohner,  who  alter  her  death 
married  her  sister  Christiana. 

The  grandfather  of  William  II.  Rohrbach  devoted 
himself  to  his  business  affairs  and  was  a  successful 
and  influential  man  of  his  daw  although  he  had  no 
aspirations  toward  public  honors  and  took  no  part 
in  anything  outside  of  his  private  interests.  For 
many  years  he  conducted  a  charcoal  furnace  in 
conjunction  with  farming.  He  married  Catharine 
Fenstermacher,  and  to  them  was  born  a  large  fam- 
ily. 

George  Rohrbach,  father  of  William  H.  Rohr- 
bach, was  born  in  1808  in  Columbia  county.  Pa. 
11.  early  became  interested  in  the  iron  industry 
and  continued  to  follow  the  foundry  ami  furnace 
business  all  his  active  days.  In  1838  he  movi 
Northumberland  county,  locating  in  Upper  Au- 
gusta township,  where  he  resided  a  tew  years,  a 
ward  removing  to  Sunbury.  There  he  lived  for 
more  than  half  a  century,  until  his  death,  in  1S9-L 
lie  was  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  borough 
a!  that  time.  In  183S  he  had  established  a  small 
foundry  a  mile  east  of  Sunbury.  between  the  Center 
turnpike  and  Shamokin  Valley  railroad.  Two 
•  later,  having  secured  a  location  on  the  south 
side  of  Chestnut  street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth 
-t reets.  he  removed  his  business  to  Sunbury,  his 
being  the  first  foundry  'at  thai  place.  He  contin- 
ued to  operate  it  tor  some  years,  either  individually 
or  in  association  with  his  brothers  William.  Jacob 
and  Daniel.  They  were  succeeded  by  Clinton  D. 
and  Jacob  Kohrbach.  the  latter  retiring  in  favor 
of  T.  G.  Cooper,  and  in  1866  the  firm  of  Eohrbach 


&  Coopi  :  save  place  to  Rohrbat  h  &  Son,  i  omposi  d 
of  George  Eohrbach  and  his  son  William  H.  Later 
Jacob  Rohrbach  (another  son  of  George)  was  ad- 
mitted, the  style  becoming  Eohrbach  &  Sons,  who 
continued  to  carry  on  the  business  until  1883,  when 
the  plant  was  sold  to  Halfpenny  Brothers. 

George  Eohrbach  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Sunbury.  in  which 
congregation  he  served  as  trustee  for  a  long  time 
and  also  held  other  official  positions.  He  married 
Mary  ('.  Artley.  who  died  in  1887,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  those 
who  reached  maturity  being:  Clinton  D.  carried 
on  lumbering  and  farming  as  well  as  the  foundry 
business,  and  died  in  Upper  Augusta  township; 
he  married  Sarah  Engle.  Jacob  engaged  in  the 
foundry  business,  was  afterward  postmaster  at 
Sunbury.  subsequently  lived  in  retirement  and 
in  It'll.  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  Henry  G. 
of  Sunbury.  Catharine,  widow  of  Harry 
Bourne,  also  lives  at  Sunbury.  Lloyd  T.  was  a 
business  man  of  Sunbury.  Edward  died  at  the  .  g 
ghteen  years.    William  H.  is  mentioned  below. 

William  H.  Eohrbach  was  born  Feb.  14.  1845,  on 
( Ihestnul  -net.  Sunbury,  and  died  in  that  borough 
Feb.  9,  1898.  He  learned  the  trade  of  molder 
and  long  followed  the  business  with  which  the 
family  has  been  so  closely  identifier!  in  Sunbury. 
being  connected  with  his  father's  foundry  for 
en  years.  lie  also  acted  as  bookkeeper  for 
the  concern.  For  eight  years  he  filled  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  superintendent  at  the  Sunbury 
waterworks.  He  was  quite  active  in  the  material 
improvement  of  the  borough,  and  erected  many 
louses  there  as  a  builder,  the  house  in  which  his 
widow  now  lives,  al  Mo.  11"  North  Eighth  street, 
being  in  fact  the  third  which  he  put  up  for  his 
own  use.  Thoroughly  public-spirited,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  promotion  of  many  movements 
which  had  the  benefit  of  the  community  generally 
for  an  object,  and  though  he  was  a  shrewd  bus1:  - 
man  he  was  not  selfish  in  advancing  his  own  ra- 
the expense  of  others.  He  had  hosts  of 
friends,  and  was  highly  esteemed  wherever  known. 
With  his  family  he  worshipped  at  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  for  years  he  gave  of  his  time  and 
means  to  the  furtherance  of  its  work,  serving 
many  years  as  deacon  and  for  twenty  years  as 
Sunday  school  superintendent.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican,  and  lie  served  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  under  two  enlistment-. 

Mr.  Eohrbach  married  Jennie  F.  Miller,  daugh- 
ter of  William  M.  and  Annie  (Strickler)  Miller, 
of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  granddaughter  of 
Alexander  Strickler,  who  lived  in  Sunbury.  The 
foUowing  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Lloyd 
M..  who  died  in  infancy:  Alexander  S.,  who  died 
when    eiffht   months   old:    Annie    F. :    Jacob    A.: 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1  11 


Franklin  L..  a  graduate  of  State  College,  an  elec- 
trical engineer  by  professsion,  and  at  present  en- 
■  .1-  superintendent  of  a  plant  at  Spokane, 
\\  ash.  i  he  is  fond  of  athletics  and  an  able  busi- 
ness man);  Eattie  M.;  Charles  E.  who  is  an  in- 
\  alid  ;  and  ( llarence  <  1. 

CHAMBERLIN.  The  Chamberlin  family  of 
Shamokin  township  has  been  settled  in  that  part 
of  Northumberland  county  from  pioneer  days.  Jo- 
seph Chamberlin,  grandfather  of  Joseph  H. 
Chamberlin  and  Silas  Chamberlain  (as  one  branch 
of  the  family  u  rites  the  name),  and  of  the  late 
Lewis  ( lhamberlin,  i  ousins,  all  of  whom  make  their 
homes  in  Shamokin  township,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  whence  lie  removed  to  Pennsylvania  at  an 
earhj  date,  settling  on  land  in  Northumberland 
county  now  owned  by  Silas  Chamberlain,  tie 
had  a  fcra,ct  of  about  two  hundred  acres,  and  there 
he  lived  and  died,  reaching  the  age  of  eighty-seven 
years,  seven  months,  fourteen  days.  Vast  im- 
provements were  made  upon  the  property  during 
his  lifetime.  Though  frequently  in  danger  of  be- 
ing molested  b\  the  Lndians  in  Hie  early  days  he 
persevered  in  the  work  of  clearing  his  land  and 
getting  n  under  cultivation.  He  and  his  wife. 
Man  i  Young  i.  are  buried  in  the  cemeten  of  (he 
Upper  Valley  M.  E.  Church.  They  bad 'the  fol- 
lowing children:  Peter,  who  died  in  Jefferson 
county,  Pa.;  Rachel,  Mrs.  Alexander  Tharp; 
Annie.  Mrs.  Moorey;  Suldy,  Mrs.  William  Fur- 
man  :  Mary,  wlm  married  Mahlon  Hull  ;  Cabel  and 
[saac,  mentioned  below;  Lewis,  who  died  in  Sham- 
okin township;  Lemuel,  mentioned  below;  and 
A.icnii,  who  died  in  Shamokin  township. 

Cabel  Chamberlin,  son  of  Joseph,  was  bora  in 
1813,  and  dieil  M a v  2,  1884,  aged  seventy-one 
years,  four  months,  one  day.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  owned  pari  of  the  old  homestead,  the  farm 
having  been  divided  between  him  and  his  brother 
Lemuel.  In  his  young  manhood  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  for  some  time.  first  in  the  subscription 
schools  then  commonly  conducted  in  this  region 
and  later  as  one  of  the'first  teachers  under  the  free 
school  system.  He  was  intelligent  ami  energetic 
and  for  many  rears  a  leader  in  his  community. 
On  political  questions  he  was  ,-i  Republican.  He 
died  upon  his  farm,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife, 
Mary  E.  (Krissinger).  at  the  1  pper  Valley  M.  E. 
church.  She  died  Nov.  20,  1866,  aged  fifty-two 
years,  eleven  months,  fifteen  days.  Eleven  chil- 
dren were  horn  to  this  worthy  couple:  Sarah  mar- 
ried Isaac  D.  Kline:  Lewis  is  mentioned  below; 
Elnorah  married  Jared  Haupt;  Annie  died  Nov. 
6,  1865,  aged  twenty-four  year-:  Catharine  died 
April  -1.  1864,  aged  twenty-five  years:  Hulda  died 
Jan.  -Jo.  1866,  aped  nineteen  years;  Emeline  mar- 
ried Newton  Morgan;  John  died  in  is  Hi.  w  Len 
three  years  old:  Mary  Ellen  died  Aug.  10.  1861, 
aged  six  years;  Alfred  died  at  Trevorton,  Pa.; 
Oliver  died  when  twenty-two  years  "Id. 


_  Lewis   Chajiberlix,  son   of  Cabel    ami    Mary 

E.    (  Krissinger),   was  at  the  ti £    his   death, 

April  11;  1911,  a  retired  fanner  of  Shamokin 
township,  lie  was  born  there  Aim.  ;.  L834,  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  upon  the  paternal  farm. 
In  185?  he  went  to  Shamokin  borough,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years,  engaged  m  running  a 
stationary  engine.  Returning  to  his  native  town- 
ship, he  leased  the  farm  of  Miehael  M.  Sober,  his 
father-in-law,  and  conducted  that  properh  for  a 
period  ol'  five  years  a-  a  renter,  in  1873  purcha 
tlie  tract,  which  consists  of  130  acres 
hmd.  It  is  located  in  Irish  Valley.  He  erected 
all  new  buildings  on  this  farm,  and  the  farm  ai 
present  is  one  of  the  very  finest  in  tin-  =ei  tion,  due 
to  his  unremitting  and  intelligent  care.  In  addi- 
tion to  general  farming  he  made  a  specialty  of 
dairying  for  about  twenty-five  years,  selling  his 
milk  m  Shamokin.  Mr.  Chamberlin  retired  from 
active  pursuits  in  the  spring  of  1910,  hi-  son 
George  W.  taking  charge  of  the  farm,  lie  always 
held   the   respect    of   bis    fellow  citizen-,   ami    was 

lei  ted  school  director  of  his  township,  filling  thai 
position  faithfully  and  efficiently.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  devout  membe 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  took 
an  active  part.  He  is  buried  at  Hi-1  Summit  church 
in  Shamokin  township.  Socially  he  held  member- 
ship m  the  1'.  0.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.    Chamberlin's    first   wife.    Esther    (Sober), 
daughter  of  Michael  M.  Sober,  died  in  1868,  lea\ 
in-   three  children:  Calvin,  who  .lied  at  the 
of  twenty-three;  Aha.  who  died   when  five   years 

old;  and  Ella  May,  wife  of  t. Lie  Lawton,  who 

is  in  the  coiil  business  and  lives  in  Virginia.     Mr. 
Chamberlin's  second  marriage  "as  to  Mrs.   Eliza- 
beth (Solieri   Dresher,  wido\i  of  Jacob  Dn 
whom  she  had  these  children:      Harris    M . :  Mary 
F.,  wife  of  Lemuel  Tharp;  Spencer  II..  of  sham- 
okin: William  IE.  of  Shamokin  township;  Clara, 
wife  of  c.  ('.  Wilson;  ami  Jacob  G-.,  a  teachei 
Shamokin  township.     Two  children  were 
Le«  is  ami   Elizabi  th    i  Sober  |    <  lhamberlin  :     Ed- 
ward O.,  who  died  in  1906:  ami  G 'ge  W.,  now 

engaged  in  farming  the  homestead   in   Shamokin 
township,  who  married    Ada   S,ott   and    has  chil- 
dren, Au-tin  i,..  Wilfred  1'..  I        i !    and  Mar-. 
().    Mrs.  Lewis  ( Ihambei  Lin  d  ed  April  S.  I 


|-;i,n    (  'hamhi ■rlain.  son  0     -1    3i  pll,    ■  '■  i  -  boi  n   Mav 

29,  LS14,  I  died  on  the  old  h -lead  Jan.  -. 

1906,  in  his   nil  Hi 
upon  the  home  farm,  ami   fa  prin- 
cipal work  througl I 

his   \-oung   H  anhoi  d 

m  the  |  > ;  i  y  seho  e  scho 

||i-    w  ife    was   al-o   a    -  i   irly 

vears.     Mr.  Chamberlain  was  not  only  one  oi 
besf  know  n  men  in  the  most 

.1.    having    many    friends    who 


142 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEXNSYL YA XIA 


mired  and  appreciated  bis  sterling  qualities.     His 
wife,  Mary  (Campbell),  died  May  14.  1885,  aged 
ty-one   years,   seven    months,   nineteen   d:    - 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Jan 
deceased;  Silas  is  mentioned  below.  Martha  is 
wife  of  Tobias  Dunkelberger,  of  Shamokin  town- 
ship; Rhode    (deceased)    was   the  wife  of   Aaron 
Raker  and  had  a   large    family,  all   dying  young 
but  one  son.  Adam  G.,  who  died  in  April.   1911, 
1  twenty-seven  years. 

Silas  Chamberlain  was  born  July  30,  184S,  in 
Shamokin  township,  and  there  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  was  reared  upon 
the  homestead  farm,  where  he  has  spent  all  his 
with  the  exception  of  four  years  after  his  marriagi  - 
during  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  farming  i  si  ■ 
where.  Returning  to  the  old  home  he  took  the 
farm,  which  originally  contained  about  130  a<  res, 
and  has  added  to  his  holdings  until  he  now  lias 
160  acres.  His  industry  has  been  well  rewarded. 
and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  substantial  fanners 
of  his  neighborhood,  where  his  honorable  life  lias 
gained  him  high  standing  personally  as  well  as 
in  a  business  way. 

In  1875  Mr.  Chamberlain  married  Den  - 
Adams,  daughter  of  David  Adams,  of  Ralplio  town- 
ship, this  county.  They  have  had  a  family  of  nine 
children:  Lorenzo  D.  married  Mary  B.  Moore 
and  they  have  a  son.  James  F. :  Ellsworth  L.  mar- 
ried Maud  E.  Osmun  and  they  have  a  son,  Lamar 
Ellsworth;  William  A.  Is  still  at  home:  Martin 
L.  married  Myrtle  Hamilton  and  they  have  three 
children.  Elwood  H..  Glendine  M.  and  Cornelia: 
Kefurah  L„  Adam.  Roselda,  Evelyn  Viola  and  Ira 
Rankin  are  at  home.  Mr.  Chamberlain  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  M  E.  Church.  He 
rotes  independently,  supporting  the  candidate-  he 
considers  best  regardless  of  their  parry  affiliations. 


Lemuel  Chamberlin,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born 
Dec.  16,  1823.  and  lived  and  died  in  Shamokin 
township,  passing  away  Jan.  20,  1906.  When  a 
young  man  he  learned  wheelwrighting.  and  for 
some  time  followed  that  trade,  eventually  buying 
part  of  the  old  homestead,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing until  seventeen  years  before  his  death.  For 
four  years  he  lived  in  Jefferson  county,  this  Suite. 
returning  thence  to  the  homestead,  where  he  died. 
On  Oct.  17,  1850,  Mr.  Chamberlin  married  Mar- 
garet Boffman,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Catherine 
(  Dunlap)  Hoffman.  She  died  duly  14,  1889,  aged 
sixty-five  years,  eight  months,  seventeen  days,  the 
mother  of  two  children.  Joseph  H.  and  John  M.. 
both  residents  of  Shamokin  township.  Mr.  Cham- 
berlin's  second  marriage  was  to  Ida  Bowers,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son.  Lemuel  M..  who  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Jefferson  county. 

Joseph  II.  Chamberlix,  son  of  Lemuel,  was 
born  July  31,  1851,  in  Shamokin  township,  where 
he  is  now  encased  in  farming.     He  obtained  his 


education  in  the  local  public  schools,  and  re- 
mained at  home,  assisting  his  father  with  the  farm 
work  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  since  when  he 
has  been  living  at  his  present  location.  He  has 
a  tract  of  seventy  acres,  bought  of  Lewis  Chamber- 
lin in  1873,  lying  along  Irish  creek,  and  besides 
this  is  half  owner  of  another  farm  in  Shamokin 
township.  In  addition  to  general  farming  and 
trucking  he  has  engaged  in  lumbering  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  has  prospered  in  all  Iris  various  under- 
takings. His  natural  mechanical  ability  has  been 
of  great  use  to  him  in  his  work,  enabling  him  to  do 
many  things  for  himself,  and  his  handiness  has  nor 
only  saved  him  hiring  much  work  done  but  lias 
proved  convenient  in  many  emergencies.  Mr. 
1  o  berlin  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  The  Irish 
Valley  &  Seven  Points  Telephone  Company,  and 
-  serving  as  one  of  its  directors. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  married  Margaret  C.  Grove, 
who  was  born  May  15,  L856,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Susanna  (Weary)  Grove,  of  Mahantango 
Valley,  later  of  Shamokin  township,  and  they  have 
had  a  large  family,  bom  as  follow-:  Elleroy, 
•jo.  1872  (died  Aug.  12,  L876)  :  Margaret  E.. 
Dec.  22,  1877  (married  Samuel  A.  Kopenhafer)  : 
Mary  E..  Nov.  21.  1879  i  married  Frank  Faiireiis- 
w-orthl  :  Carrie  Y..  Oct.  3,  1881  (married  William 
A.  Snyder);  Lettie  M.  Sept.  5,  L883  (married 
Emanuel  Smith)  :  Ilattie  I..  Jan.  IS.  1886;  Ellis 
I;..  July  lo.  lssv  ,,!,,,,!  Jan.  2<<.  1890);  Zella  D., 
D  23,  1890;  Percy  A..  Aug.  2".  1892;  Prossie 
M..  Nov.  ;.  1893;  Florence  A..  Jan.  2-.  1898. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  is  an  active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  has  lone  been  prominent  in  the 
public  affairs  of  his  township,  which  he  has  served 
sixteen  years  as  school  director,  also  holding  the 
offices  of  treasurer  and  supervisor.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Elysburg 
Lodge,  No.  414. 

ABRAHAM  H.  REED,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Shamokin  township,  was  born  there  Nov.  Hi.  IS 
son  of  Jacob  Reed,  and  is  a  representative  of  a 
family  which  has  been  well  and  favorably  known 
in  Northumberland  county  for  over  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  years.  It  was  founded  here  by 
Jacob  Reed,  whose  posterity  is  now  numerous  in 
this  section,  ranking  among  the  most  substantial 
and  useful  citizens  and  most  highly  respected 
members  of  their  various  communities. 

Jacob  Reed  was  born  in  England  in  1700,  and 
married  a  Miss  Wolford.  a  native  of  Switzerland. 
They  came  to  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  a  -on  Jacob 
was  born,  and  later  removed  to  Lebanon,  Pa.. 
where  a  son  Casper  was  born. 

Jacob  and  Casper  Reed,  brothers,  came  from 
Berks  county  to  Northumberland  in  1774,  being 
among  the  early  pioneers  in  the  region  where  they 
settled.     They  took  up  about  five  hundred  act-  - 


\'<  IRTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


143 


land  in  what  is  now  Shamokin  and  Ralpho  town- 
ships, which  land  is  still  owned  by  their  descend- 
ants. Jacob  Reed  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of 
his  time  in  the  community.  He  was  a  skilled  me- 
chanic, as  a  worker  both  in  iron  and  wood,  carry- 
ing 'in  such  work  in  connection  with  farming, 
having  a  blacksmith  and  carpenter  shop;  he  had 
natural  ability  as  well  as  training  for  mechanical 
work,  and  n  as  - ssful  and  enterprising  in  every- 
thing he  undertook.  .Much  of  the  progress  of  the 
valley  in  his  day  owed  its  initiation  to  him.  He 
was  a  promoter,  in  fact  the  chief  advocate  for  the 
organization,  of  St.  Jacob's  Lutheran  Church, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor,  and  he  was  the 
Largest  contributor  toward  its  foundation  and  sup- 
port, his  skill  as  a  tradesman  enabling  him  to  do 
much  mure  than  most  of  the  organizers  and  sup- 
porters  :  his  brother,  ( lasper  Reed,  donated  much  of 
the  land  for  the  cemetery.  In  politics  Jacob  Reed 
•was  a  Whig. 

In  Berks  county  Jacob  Reed  had  married  Eliza- 
beth Dreher,  and  they  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren: John.  Jacob,  David,  Matthias,  Salome 
(married  John  Hursh),  Catharine  (married 
George  [lower).  Magdaline  (married  John 
Smith).  Eva  I  married  Daniel  Haas)  and  Eliza- 
beth (married  William  II.  Muench,  a  tinted  school- 
master of  his  time  i . 

John  Reed,  eldest  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Dreher)  Reed,  was  born  June  5,  1780,  upon  the 
homestead  at  Reed's  station,  and  himself  owned 
the  old  Reed  homestead,  which  is  now  the  proper- 
ty id'  the  Martz  family.  He  was  a  well  known  and 
highh  respected  man  of  his  day.  and  lived  in  a 
good  old  age.  dying  Aug.  26.  1865,  ai  the  age  of 
eighty-five.  His  wife.  Eva  G.  (Gillinger),  born  in 
L787,  died  May  IE  1876.  They  arc  buried  at 
Reed's  church,  in  Ralpho  township.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Jesse;  Maria,  Mrs.  John  Lake; 
Jacob:  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Casper  Scholl;  Hannah. 
Mis.  Solomon  Martz;  and  Eva  C.  who  married 
William  Zuern,  this  couple  moving  to  Colorado. 

Jacob  Reed,  son  of  John  Reed,  was  born  at 
Reed's  station  in  1812,  and  died  Jan.  10,  1852. 
He  is  buried  at  Reed's  church.  Ho  took  the  old 
homestead,  which  he  cultivated  all  his  life.  He 
married  Maria  Hoffman,  who  was  born  Nov.  13, 
ISIS,  and  six  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Herman  Campbell:  Jane, 
who  died  unmarried:  John,  wdio  died  unmarried  ; 
Abraham  H. :  Lydia,  who  married  Peter  Over- 
dorf;  and  Jacob  G..  a  resident  of  Sunbury.  Alter 
Mr.  Reed's  death  Mrs.  Reed  married  (second) 
Daniel  Hummel,  who  was  born  Sept.  8,  ISM.  and 
died  Feb.  10.  1874;  she  died  Jan.  IS.  1907.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Daniel  Hummel  are  buried  in  I  le 
United  Brethren  cemetery  in  Shamokin  township. 

Abraham  11.  Reed  obtained  his  early  education 
in   the  common  schools  near  his  home,  and  later 


went  to  the  academies  at  Lei  and  Eiysbt 

In  his  early  manhood   be  taught  school   for 
terms,   in   Shamokin   township,      lie   then    settled 
down   to   farming,  locating  on   his   present    place 
near    I'axinos,  where  he  erected   a   tine   residi 
in  1908.    All  the  other  building-  on  the  farm  have 
been  improved  and  kept  in  excellent  condition  - 
the  place  came  into  hi.-  possession,  and  be  lias 
reputation    of    being    a    thorough    business    man, 
which    the   success    of   his    various    undertakings 
bears  out  well.     He  has  130  acres  of  tine  land,  all 
under  cultivation,  and  in  agricultural  matters  ami 
affairs  of  general  interest  is  considered  one  of  the 
leading  men  in  his  district,  a  typical  member  of  the 
substantial  old  family  to  which  lie  belongs.     I  le  has 
served  as  auditor  of  his  township. 

Mr.  Reed  married,  Feb.  25,  1875,  Lucy  A. 
I  ion -liner,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Margaret  i  Reply) 
Boughner,  of  Ralpho  township,  this  county.  They 
have  no  children.    Mr.  Reed  is  a  Lutheran,  holding 

membership    m    St.    Jacob'-     (R 1'- 1     Church. 

Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

WILLIAM  II.  MORGAN,  late  of  Northumber- 
land, was  a  prosperous  merchant  of  that  borough 
for  aluio-t  forty  years,  and  at  one  time  served  as 
postmaster  there.  He  was  a  self-made  man.  uni- 
versally respected,  and  was  long  classed  among  the 
best  and  most  enterprising  citizens  of  hi.-  com- 
munity. 

Mi-.  Morgan  was  born  Oct.  13,  1.839,  ai  North- 
umberland, son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  Morgan. 
Both  the  parent-  were  born  and  reared  in  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  where  they  lived  until  then  re- 
moval to  the  borough  in  L828.  They  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Thaddeus  G.  settled 
in  Chillisquaque  township.  Martin  L..  William  II. 
and  Mrs.  John  Ulp  lived  in  Northumberland,  ami 
Samuel  B.  in  Watsontown. 

William  II.  .Morgan  began  life  humbly.  When 
a  boy  of  thirteen  he  husked  corn  for  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  cents  a  day.  and  when  a  few  years 
older  drove  mule  teams  for  various  employers,  and 
was  engaged  a-  a  clerk  in  the  grocer)  .-tor. 
Samuel  Burkenbine,  at  the  locks.  In  May.  1861, 
he  enlisted  iu  the  Union  service,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  B.  5th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Reserves,  the  company  being  commanded  bj  Cap- 
tain Taggarl  i  who  was  killed  in  th<  war  |  and 
composed  principally  of  men  from  Northumber- 
land and  vicinity.  Mr.  Morgan  served  three  full 
vears.  and  bad  a  fine  record  a-  a  soldier.     At  the 

- id  battle  of  Fredericksburg  he  was  woum 

m    the   loot   and   captured,   being   confined    for  a 
month  in  Libby  pris 

Returning  to  Northumberland  after  the  war  Mr. 
Morgan  clerked  aboui  a  war  for  W.  T.  Forsyth. 
In   1S65  he  and  J.  C.   Forsyth  bought   the  groi 
business  al  the  locks,  which  the\  carried  on  in  part- 


144 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


nership  until  1ST5,  after  which  Mr.  Morgan  con- 
tinued the  store  alone  until  1885,  when  he  sold  out 
to  Evans  Brothers.  Purchasing  the  Me Fa Hand 
property  on  the  corner  of  Queen  street  and  Depot 
alley,  he  renovated  some  parts  of  the  building, 
converting  one  room  into  a  store  room,  and  was 
in  the  city  buying  a  stock  of  shoes  for  the  store  he 
expected  to  open  when  fire  (supposedly  of  incen- 
diary origin)  partly  destroyed  the  building.  As 
it  was  built  of  brick,  and  the  fire  department  re- 
sponded promptly,  it  was  not  ruined,  though  con- 
siderably damaged,  and  now  repairs  were  acces- 
sary. The  building  was  long  considered  one  of 
the  most  creditable  business  and  residence  strue- 
-  in  the  borough,  being  of  substantial  con- 
struction and  well  kept  up  by  the  owner.  Mr. 
Morgan  buill  up  an  excellent  trade  as  a  shoe 
in.  rchant,  continuing  in  the  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Dec.  21,  1904.  Mean 
in  1S94,  during  President  Cleveland's  second  ad- 
ministration, he  received  the  appointment  oi 
master.  By  economy  and  thrift  in  his  youngei 
years  he  obtained  a  fair  start,  and  by  continued  in- 
dustry and  devotion  to  business  h<  gained  sub- 
stance and  standing  that  made  him  one  of  the  most 
esteemed  residents  of  Northumberland,  a  man 
looked  up  to  for  his  honorable  life  and  high  stan- 
dards of  conduit.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  though  his  family  belong  to  the  Luth- 
eran denomination,  ami  socially  was  an  ai 
member  o  I  ip  James  Taggart  Post,  No.  350, 
G.  A.  P.,  and  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Northum- 
berland. At  one  time  he  also  held  membership  in 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
had  numerous  friends. 

In  1872  Mr.  Morgan  married  Annie  E.  Stroh, 
daughter  of  John  S.  Stroh,  who  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  early  day-,  making  the  journey  in  a 
Conestoga  wagon,  a  favored  method  of  transporta- 
tion at  the  time.  Mrs.  Morgan  proved  of 
assistance  to  her  husband  in  the  conduct  of  his 
business.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to  them, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased;  the  survivors  being: 
Minnie  A.,  wife  of  Harry  Barnhart,  living  in  Point 
township  i  she  was  a  trained  nurse  before  her  mar- 
riage i  ;  Gertrude  B.,  who  graduated  from  the 
Bloom-bur"-  Stale  normal  school  and  was  a 
cessful  public  school  teacher  for  three  terms  in 
Michigan  before  her  marriage  to  Edward  Northy, 
of  Calumet.  Mich.,  where  they  reside:  F.stelle. 
married  to  Homer  Derk  and  residing  at  Northum- 
berland :  Mary  J.,  a  seamstress,  who  lives  at  home : 
Sarah,  a  milliner,  of  Philadelphia:  John  S.,  night 
clerk  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at 
Sunbury,  Pa.;  George  A'.,  of  Northumberland; 
Elsie,  clerk  in  George  M.  Howell's  store  at  North- 
umberland; Eachel  C,  a  clerk  in  Northumber- 
land: Helen  1.  and  Ruth  E.,  both  of  whom  are 
attending  scl 1. 


LLOYD  T.  ROHEBACH,  late  of  Sunbury, 
commenced  his  active  career  as  a  lawyer,  was  for 
several  years  in  his  earlier  manhood  quite  prom- 
inent in  official — especially  court — circles  in 
Northumberland  county,  and  for  ma-yv  years  be- 
fore his  decease  was  one  of  the  foremost  business 

men  of  tin-  secti if  Pennsylvania.     Though  bis 

commercial  interests  became  large  and  varied,  he 
always  kept  in  touch  with  the  public  and  political 

Life  "I    tl untv.  and  for  years  was  oi £  the 

most  valuable  workers  in  the  Republican  party  in 
the  state,  lie  was  born  Jan.  22,  1839,  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
died  at  his  home  on  Chestnut  -tree:,  in  the  borough 
of  Sunbury,  March  S.  1909. 

The  Rohrbach  family  is  of  German  origin  and 
its  members  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
eastern  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather  of  Lloyd 
T.  Rohrbach  lived  and  labored  in  that  section,  de- 
,  _■  himself  to  his  business  affair-.  He  was  a 
successful  ami  influential  man  of  his  day,  although 
he  had  no  aspirations  toward  public  honors  and 
took  no  part  in  anything  outside  of  his  private 
interests.  For  many  years  he  conducted  a  charcoal 
furnace  in  conjunction  with  farming.  He  married 
Catherine  Fenstermacher,  and  to  them  was  bom  a 
large  family. 

George  Rohrbach,  father  of  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach, 
was  born  in  1808  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.  He 
early  became  interested  in  the  iron  industry  ami 
continued  to  follow  the  foundry  and  furnace  busi- 
ness all  his  active  days.  In  1838  he  moved  to 
Northumberland  county,  locating  in  Upper  Augus- 
ta township,  where  he  resided  a  few  years,  after- 
ward removing  to  Sunbury.  There  he  lived  for 
nioie  than  half  a  century,  until  his  death,  in  1894. 
lb-  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  one  iff'  the  founders  of  the  church  of  that  de- 
nomination in  Sunbury.  in  which  congregation  he 
ed  a-  trustee  for  a  long  time  and  also  held 
other  official  position.  He  married  Mary  C.  Art- 
lev,  who  died  in  1887,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ty-eight  pears.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  those  who 
reached  maturity  being:  Clinton  carried  on  lum- 
bering and  farming  as  well  as  the  foundry  busi- 
ness, and  died  in  Upper  Augusta  township:  he 
married  Sarah  Engle.  Jacob  engaged  in  the 
foundry  business,  was  afterward  postmaster  at 
Sunbury,  and  subsequently  lived  in  retirement. 
Elizabeth  i-  the  widow  .if  Thomas  G.  Co. .per.  of 
Sunbury.  Catherine,  widow  of  Harry  Bourne, 
also  lives  at  Sunbury.  Lloyd  T.  is  mentioned  be- 
Edward  .lied  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
William  was  engaged  in  the  foundry  business  for 
many  years  ami  later  was  superintendent  at  the 
Sunbury  waterworks. 

Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Sunbury,  receiving  his  higher 
training  at   the  Missionary  Institute   (now  known 


I  I 


THI 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


I  I.", 


as  Susquehanna  University)  al  Selinsgrove,  from 
winch  he  was  graduated  in  1861,  and  al  Pennsyl- 
vania College,  Gettysburg,  where  he  spent  the 
freshman  year  of  his  college  life,  finishing  at 
Selinsgrove.  In  April,  1861,  he  became  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  army,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany I-'.  I  lih  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
of  which  company  he  served  as  clerk.  During  his 
sen  ice  of  aboul  three  months  he  took  pari  in  the 
battle  of  Falling  Wain-..  M,|.  Going  to  Earris 
burg,  he  was  assigned  to  a  position  in  the  auditor 
general's  office.  On  his  return  to  Sunbury  he 
taught  sch. ml  in  the  old  academy  which  stood  on 
the  preseni  site  of  the  former  Masonic  Temple 
building  on  Third  street,  and  tools  up  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Horatio  Wolverton,  finishing 
hi*  legal  course  with  Judge  William  M.  Rocke- 
feller, of  Sunbury.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
this  county  in  L865  and  began  the  practice  of  Ins 
profession  in  Sunbury,  giving  the  greater  carl  of 
his  time  and  attention  to  law  work  until  1872. 
During  this  time  he  had  won  a  place  in  the  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow  citizens  and  become  very  well 
know  n.  his  success  being  notable.  Meantime,  how 
ever,  he  had  begun  Ins  association  with  the  official 
life  of  the  county.  In  1868  he  was  appointed 
United   States  commissioner,  which  office  he  con 

tinued  to  fill  until  he  resig I  n   in   1872  to  take 

thai  of  prothonotary  and  clerk  of  Orphans'  court, 
to  which  he  had  been  elected.  By  reelection,  in 
1875,  he  was  continued  in  thai  position  for  six 
years  in  all.  Though  a  Republican  in  a  county 
conceded  al  the  lime  In  have  a  normal  Democratic 
majority  of  from  1,200  to  L,500  votes,  Mr.  Rohr 
bach  was  lirsl  elected  by  a  majority  of  600  and 
reelected  by  a  majority  of  300.  Though  not  much 
in  office  after  giving  up  his  courl    work  he  con- 

I  in I   In  hold   an    inlhiciii  ial   place   In   i  hi'  councils 

of  his  pari  y,  loi  al,  State  and  national,  until  I  he 
end  of  ins  active  life,  was  a  Presidential  elector  in 
1892,  and  in  Isiiii  was  a  prominenl  candidate  for 
the  nomination  for  State  treasurer;  he  had  a 
strong  following,  but  withdrew  his  name  before 
the  balloting  began,  lie  served  several  years  as 
member  of  I  he  Sunbury  school  board. 

The  extensive  business  interests,  gradually  ac- 
quired by  Mr.  Rohrbach  after  he  entered  busi- 
ness life  in  1878,  in  time  came  to  require  the 
principal  pari  of  his  time  and  il  was  probably  in 
this  connection  that  he  made- his  widesl  reputa- 
tion. In  1878  he  began  the  manufacture  of  lime, 
in  conjunction  therewith  also  dealing  in  coal  and 
ice,  and  he  continued  that  business  with  some 
variations  as  long  as  he  was  in  active  as  ociation 
with  such  interests.  Several  years  before  his  re 
tiremeni  he  gave  up  the  lime  business,  carry  ing  on 
the  ice  and  coal  trade  and  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  in  which  he  was  interested  with  his  two 
suns.  No  man  in  Sunbury  was  more  prominently 
identified  with  undertakings  of  importance  in  the 

10 


industrial  development  of  the  borough.     He  was 

interested   in   the  Sunbury   Nail.   Bar  and   le 

Iron    Manufacturing  Company,  of  which   he  was 
treasurer,  and  assisted  in  organizing,  in  1882,  I  le 
Sunbury    Water    Company,    now   grown    to    vasi 
proportions,  which  he  served  as  secretary  and  trea 
a  rer. 

About  four  years  before   his  death,  which   oc- 
curred  March  8,   1909,  at  his  home  on  Chestnui 
street,  Sunbury,   Mr.   Rohrbach   reined,  being   in 
capacitated  by  ill  health  to  such  an  extenl  thai  he 

took  no  further  pari  in  affairs  of  import: i     Oi 

his  previous  activity  the  Sunbury  Daily  Item  said 
at  the  time  of  Ins  death:  "While  his  business  in- 
terests were  multiple,  he  attended  to  the  exai  ting 
details  with  a  master  hand  and  rare  ability,  and 
enjoyed   the  proud  distinction  of  ha'\  ing  the  un 

measured  confidence  and  estee £  the  public  at 

large.  He  was  always  quick  to  further  any  pro- 
jecl  having  for  its  objeel  the  bettermenl  of  the 
community's  interests.  *  *  :;:  The  deceased 
lived  a  life  thai  was  crowded  with  many  accom- 
plishments and  good  deeds.  To  his  Friends  he  was 
stanch  and  true,  in  spite  of  any  ordeals  thai  mighi 
spring  up,  and  never  turned  a  deaf  ear  when  ap 
pealed  to  for  a  favor  or  helping  hand.  He  was  a 
public  benefactor  in  all  thai  it  implies,  regardless 
of  Ins  persona]  interests.  In  his  home  life  he  was 
a  kind,  devuied  husband  and  father." 

Though  always  progressive  and  aggressive  in 
his  business  life  to  such  an  extenl  thai  his  succes 

see I  inevitable,  M  r.  Rohrbach  a  as  alway  -  plea 

ant  and  cordial  in  his  manner  and  genial  to  all 
w  ith  whom  he  came  in  con  lac  I.  rinding  time  for  1  he 
amenities  as  well  as  the  necessities  of  existence, 
ami  making  himself  agreeable  in  all  his  relation 
Temperate  in  Ins  acts  and  principles,  large  hearted 
and  liberal  in  his  \ jews,  he  w as  nol  only  a  citi  en 
valued  in  Ins  mi  n  communil  v .  bul  one  who  w  on  M 

have  I n  an  accession   tn  "any   community.     He 

was  ;,  member  of  the  Firsl    Presbyterian  ( 'he 

and   iii f   its   leading  workers   and   supporters, 

serving  many  years  as  elder  of  thai  congregation. 
Socially  he  belonged  to  Sunbury  Lodge,  No.  22,  !•'. 
&  A.  M.,  and  in  the  Masonic  chapter.  He  was 
buried  in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery ,  and  during 
the  funeral  the  prothonotary 's  offii  e  was  closed  as 

a  mark'  of  respeel  to  i  v\  ho  had  worthily  filled 

the  office  in  his  day . 

On  I  ice.  20,  L866,  M  r.  Rohrbai  h  was  m  irried 
to  Jennie  C.  Haas,  who  was  born  Nov.  6,  1846,  and 
died  April  10,  1902.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three   children :    John    Haa  ed)     G    >rge 

Edward  and   William    R. 

John  II  vas.  lather  of  the  late  Mi  l.  •  d  T. 
Rohrbach,  was  born  June  22,  1822,  in  Shamokin 
township,  Northumberland  county,  one  of  the 
eleven  child]  Dai  el  ad  Eva  I  Reed  |  Haas. 
His  early  d  re  spenl  on  his  lather'-  farm, 
heri  a  vot  he  i  nga I  in  the  'can- 


146 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


tile  business  and  in  coal  mining,  spending:  many 
years  at  the  latter  business.  Ee  was  a  member  of 
the  firms  of  John  Eaas  &  Co.  and  Haas  &  Fagely, 
of  Shamokin,  both  well  known  concerns  in  their 
day.  Retiring  from  the  coal  business  in  1875. 
he  became  interested  in  the  Sunbury  Xail  Works, 
with  which  he  was  identified  until  1894,  resigning 
the  position  of  president  that  year.  His  other 
business  associations  were  numerous  and  impor- 
tant. He  was  president  of  the  Sunbury  Water  Com- 
pany, a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank,  one 
of  the  first  directors  of  the  Shamokin,  Sunbury  & 
Lewisburg  Railroad,  and  for  many  years  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Missionary 
Institute  (now  Susquehanna  University),  at 
Selinsgrove.  He  was  also  prominent  in  religious 
work,  serving  thirty-five  years  as  older  in  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  Sunbury,  and  for  thirty  years 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  of 
thai  church.    In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Haas  married  Mary  Gheen,  and  they  had  a 
family  of  lour  children:  John  Packer,  born  Sept. 
30,  1849,  now  deceased;  Jennie  Clementine,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach;  Mary 
Alice,  who  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Dr.  ('.  M.  Mar- 
tin: and  Louisa,  who  died  in  infancy. 


George  Edward  Rohrbai  n.  son  of  Lloyd  T. 
Rohrbach,  was  born  in  Sunbury  Xo\.  24,  1869. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
there  and  gained  a  thorough  business  training  as 
assistant  to  his  father.  A1  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  became  a  member  of  the  firms  of  Lloyd 
T.  Rohrbach  &  Sons  and  the  Sunbury  Water 
Company,  retaining  his  connection  with  the  for- 
mer concern  until  1909,  when  lie  sold  his  interest 
therein  to  his  brother.  William  R.  When  he  en- 
tered the  firm  it  was  extensively  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  coal  and  ice  (now  handling  ice  only),  the 
wholesale  coal  business  being  relinquished  in  Jan- 
uary. 19113.  when  George  E.  Rohrbach  became  man- 
ager of  Tin-  Sunbury  Wain-  Company.  Mr.  Rohr- 
bach has  continued  his  interest  in  the  Sunbury 
Water  Company,  of  which  concern — now  grown  to 
large  proportions — he  is  secretary;  is  a  director  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Sunbury:  and  has 
large  holdings  in  a  Southern  lumber  concern.  He 
ha-  devoted  considerable  time  to  local  matters 
affecting  the  general  welfare,  having  served  since 
1903  as  a  trustee  of  the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital 
(succeeding  his  father  on  the  hoard),  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  borough  council  for  eight  years,  from 
1806  to  1904,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  in 
the  Republican  party,  serving  ;1s  committeeman 
for  the  First  ward.  He  lias  numerous  social  con- 
nections, being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  & 

A.  M.,  of  Sunbury;  Northumberland  Chapter.  No. 
174,  R.  A.  M.:  the  Temple  Club;  Lodge   No.  267, 

B.  1'-  <>.   H..  of  which  he  is  a  past  exalted  ruler: 
and   the   Conclave.      lie   is   a    trustee  of   the   First 


Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  he  and  his  wife 
unite. 

On  Christinas  Day,  1905,  Mr.  Rohrbach  mar- 
ried Laura  Irene  Welker,  daughter  of  Cares  and 
Abbie  (Clement  I  Welker.  of  Sunbury.  They  re- 
-  di  in  the  homestead  of  his  father  on  Chestnut 
street.  Mrs.  Rohrbach  is  a  member  of  Fort 
Augusta  Chapter.  D.  A.  R.,  of  Sunbury,  and  is 
prominent  in  social  and  civic  circles.  She  mani- 
fests at  all  times  an  intelligent  and  devoted  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  her  husband,  to  whom  she 
i-  a  charming  companion. 

William  R.  Rohbbach,  -on  of  Lloyd  T.  Rohr- 
bach. was  horn  in  Sunbury,  March  5,  ISTO.  He 
graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1895, 
and  the  same  fall  entered  Susquehanna  University, 
at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  He  entered  Bucknell  College, 
;i;  Lewisburg.  Pa.,  in  1899,  and  graduated  in  190(1. 
after  which  he  became  connected  with  his  fattier. 
Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach,  in  1901  becoming  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach  &  Sons,  in  the 
wholesa  -  -  business.  In  1902  he  became  secre- 
tary of  the  Sunbury  Water  Company  and  in  1909 
assumed  the  duties  of  treasurer  and  general  man- 
ager of  that  company,  buying  out  bis  father's  and 
brother's  interest  in  both  the  water  company  and 
the  firm  of  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach  &  Sons.  Since  that 
nine  he  has  continued  the  business  successfully. 
displaying  ability  ami  initiative  in  his  enterprise. 

Socially  Mr.  Rohrbach  is  a  member  of  Mac-lav 
Lodge.  No.  635.  F.  &  A.  M.:  of  Williamsport  Con- 
sistory, and  of  |  rem  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S..  at 
Wilkes  Barre,  Pa.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Alpha  Tan  Omega  ami  T.  &  N.  E.  fraternities,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.:  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  and  Encampment, 
the  Temple  Club  of  Sunbury;  the  Sons  of  Veter- 
an-, and  the  Conclave.  In  politics  he  i-  a  Republi- 
can. 

On  June  10,  1902,  Mr.  Rohrbach  married.  Han- 
nah Derr.  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Susan 
( Knight)  Derr,  and  thev  have  two  children.  Lloyd 
Derr  and  Mary  Elizabeth.  In  1911  Mr.  Rohrbach 
completed  his  handsome  residence  on  Market 
-t  led.  Sunbury,  a  Colonial  mansion,  and  one  of  the 
most  up-to-date  homes  in  central  Pennsylvania. 

SAMUEL  EGOLFF  MAY,  engineer  of  the 
borough  of  Shamokin.  is  a  representative  of  a  pro- 
fession indispensable  to  the  opening  and  upbuild- 
ing of  a  town  or  country.  He  is  a  member  of  a 
family  whose  early  home  was  in  England,  and  he 
was  horn  in  Shamokin  Oct.  8,  L876,  -on  of  Maj. 
James  and  Mary  G.  (Snyder)  May. 

Joseph  May.  his  great-grandfather,  came  to 
America  from  England,  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  C ge.  They  lo- 
cated in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  hut  later  moved  to 
Canada,  where  both  died. 

Isaac  May.  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna,  was  horn 
in   Cornwall.    England.    March    18.    1819.      After 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


it; 


c in-  i"  the  New  World,  he  was  employed  in  the 

coal  mines  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  later  in 
the  lead  mines  at  Galena,  111.  After  some  time 
spent  at  the  latter  place,  lie  returned  to  Schuylkill 
county,  ami  again  entered  the  mines.  In  1864  he 
located  in  Shamokin,  ami  as  the  head  .if  the  firm 
el'  May,  Patterson  &  Co.  operated  for  ten  years  the 
Buck  Ridge  colliery,  which  was  afterward  carried 
mi  by  May,  &udenried  &  Co.  He  then  leased  ami 
operated  the  Burnside  I'm'  six  years,  after  which, 
under  the  name  of  Isaac  May  &  Co.,  he  [eased 
ami  operated  the  Morris  Ridge  colliery  for  several 
year--.  Tins  ended  his  active  participation  in  busi- 
ness.  He  was  once  tin-  owner  of  the  Maysville  t  rat  i 
win-re  Maysville  Park,  named  after  him,  is  sit- 
uated, ttutsiile  Ins  coal  interests  he  was  engaged 
actively  ami  officially  with  several  financial  insti- 
tutions, being  a  director  of  the  Northumberland 
Count]  National  Bank,  president  of  the  Miners' 
Trust  i\  Sale  Deposit  Company,  one  of  the  origina- 
tors nl'  the  Firs!  National  Bank  ami  its  second 
president,  lie  married  Mary  Sterling,  daughter 
m'  John  ami  Sarah  Sterling,  nl'  Berks  county,  Pa., 
ami  they  had  fourteen  children,  among  whom 
were  James,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  II.  W.  Morgan), 
[saac,  Jr.,  Emma  (who  married  A.  D.  Allen  ami 
later  M.  M.  Markle),  Jennie  (Mrs.  A.  A.  Heiz- 
man),  Ida  (who  married  .1.  I'1.  Graeber  ami  later 
Thomas  O'Connor),  SusaD  (Mr-.  W.  W.  Ryon), 
George,  Joseph,  Carrie  and  Laura  (Mrs.  D.  .1. 
Driscoll).  Mr.  May  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
ami  a  Methodist  in  religious  faith.  Mrs.  May  was 
a  member  of  St.  Edward's  Roman  Catholic  Church 
at  Shamokin. 

Maj.  James  Mav.  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  Dee.  4,  1st;;,  and  there 
attended  school  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  186] 
he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  -Isth  Pa.  Vol.  Inf..  and 
participated  in  a  number  of  the  noted  engagements 
of  the  Civil  war.  among  these  being  Bull  Run, 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  the 
Wilderness  (where  he  won  a  second  lieutenant's 
commission),  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Peters- 
burg Mine.  Knoxvilie.  Loudon,  Campbell  Station 
and  Petersburg.  In  the  latter  engagement  he  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  and  as  such  completed 
Ins  term  of  enlistment,  serving  throughout  the  war. 
Li  1867  he  joined  the  Pennsylvania  National 
Guard,  becoming  first  lieutenant  of  the  Sham. .km 
Guards,  later  captain,  and  finally  major,  serving 
in  the  latter  capacity  twelve  years.  After  his  re- 
turn from  the  war  he  was  engaged  in  a  mercantile 
business  until  1871,  when  with  his  father  he  began 
the  operation  of  the  Burnside  colliery.  He  was 
also  interested  in  tin-  Morris  Ridge  colliery,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Isaac  May  &  Co..  which  later  dis- 
solved, after  which  Morris  Ridge  colliery  was  op- 
erated bv  May.  Troutman  &  Co..  with  Maj.  James 
Mat  a-  senior  p. inner.  He  died  Sept.  29,  1905, 
.■ml  is  buried  in  St.  Edward's  cemetery,  Shamo 


Pa.  Major  May  was  prominent  in  public  life,  and 
served  the  borough  three  years  in  ike  i  ouncil,  and 
was  treasurer  of  the  Home  Building  ami  Loan 
Association.  He  wa.-  a  member  of  the  Military 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States, 
ami  of  Lincoln  Post,  No.  1  tO,  G.  A.  II.  Gov. 
II.  E.  Pattison  appointed  Major  Ma\  one  of  a  com- 
mission to  locate  the  position  of  the  tSth  Regi- 
ment during  the  battle  of  Antietam.  upon  which 
g  ound  a  monument  was  erected  :  it  wa-  unveiled 
Oct.  17,  1904.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 
His  religious  connection  was  with  St.  Edward's 
Catholic  Church.  On  .Ian.  31,  1866,  he  married 
in  Shamokin,  Pa.,  Mary  Gillen  Snyder, 'daughter 
of  John  A.  ami  Catherine  Styles  (Egolff)  Snyder, 
and  ten  of  their  twelve  children  reached  mature 
years  namely:  Catherine,  born  Nov.  '.'•'>.  186.6, 
married  May  2,  1893,  William  A.  .Mullen,  of  Sham- 
okin, a  powder  manufacturer,  ami  they  have  had 
two  children,  John,  horn  in  1S*.>  I  at  Shamokin, 
and  Mary  May,  horn  Dec.  25.  1895,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  March  ?.  1910,  and  is  buried  ill  St. 
Edward's  cemetery  at  Shamokin.  Louise,  hum 
March  20,  1870,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  K.  Conley,  a 
hardware  merchant  at  Shamokin.  and  they  have 
had  one  child,  which  died  in  infancy.  Elizabeth 
Egolff,  born  dan.  s.  1872,  married  .1.  Edward 
Gilger,  of  Shamokin.  a  clerk  in  the  Shamokin 
post  office,  and  they  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, William  Mullen,  Margaret  Mav.  and  James 
Mav  and  Edward,  twins.  Margaret,  born  Aug. 
5,  1873,  is  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Shephard,  of  the  Wood, 

Shephard    Varnish   C pany,  of   New-   York,   Mr. 

Shephard  being  the  patentee  of  Shephard's  Para- 
gon Varnish;  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Shephard  have  no  chil- 
dren. Charles  Eeizmann,  horn  March  2,  is;:,,  a 
druggist  at  Shamokin.  married  Catharine  M.  Mor- 
ris, of  Shamokin.  ami  they  have  had  two  children, 
Richard  Morris  and  Eleanor  Claire.  Samuel 
Egolff  was  horn  Oct.  8,  1876.  Richard  Francis, 
born  Aug.  17,  1878,  is  unmarried,  and  is  a  min- 
ing engineer  at  Shamokin.  Jeanne,  horn  Dee.  I. 
1881,  married  Dr.  G.  O.  Roberts,  of  Savannah, 
Ga.,  a  dentist  at  Shamokin.  and  they  have  had 
one  child.  Louise  Mav.  Eleanor  Claire  born  Jan- 
25.  1884,  ami  .lames  Isaac,  horn  April  I.  1890,  are 
unmarried.     The  latter  assists   his  brother  Samuel 

Egolff    Mav.      The    ther   of    i  hi-    family,    Mrs. 

Mary  O.  Maw  still  resides  at  Shamokin. 

Samuel  Egolff  Ma\  ha-  been  well  fitted  for  the 
responsibilities  of  In-  position,  hi-  practical  experi- 
ence mill  In-  seh. ml  training  both  tending  to  place 
him  at  the  top  of  his  profession.     Ik    has  mm 

careful  study  of  all  branches  fi i  the  construi  I 

0f  roads  i"  sewerage  and  the  building  of  water- 
works, ami  his  u,,rk  has  Won  him  a  high  reputa- 
tion,    if,,  ha-  I n  borough  engineer  since   1905, 

and  has  done  a  -real  .leal  of  work  for  the 

\l  r.  May  is  a  member  of  the  Militaiw   1 1 
the  Loval  Legion  of  ike  Enitei    Stab  -.  ike  I',.  I'.  i  >, 


148 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


Elks,  Sons  of  Veterans  and  West   End   Fire  Com- 
pany, and  enjoys  high  social  standing. 

EGOLFF  FAMILY— an  introduction  to  a  part 
nl'  the  Egolfi  family,  and  some  of  their  descend- 
ants (written  in  1896):  "The  history  of  the 
Egolff  family  is  quite  a  lengthy  one,  although  I 
intend  to  bring  up  only  the  descendants  of  one 
branch  of  the  family:  1  have,  of  course,  reference 
to  one  of  the  branches  that  go  hack  in  a  lineal  line 
to  the  first  Egolff  that  landed  in  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1746.  The  history  of  this  one 
branch  will,  however,  be  found  sufficiently  long, 
as  it  reaches  to  the  seventh  generation  qow  in  this 
year  of  grace  1896. 

"Michael  Egolff,  1st.  (On  the  documents  con- 
tained in  the  German  Bible  which  was  printed  in 
1 746,  in  possession  of  William  and  Barbara  Ego] iV. 
at  Carlisle,  the  name  Egolfi  is  always  written  with 
a  IV  at  the  end  of  the  name.  I 

"Michael  Egolff,  1st,  was  the  oldesi  son  of 
Michael  and  Agatha  Egolff.  He  was  born  at  Eng- 
sladt,  in  the  district  of  Bahlinger,  in  the  Duchy  of 
Wittenberg,  on  the  26th  of  April.  1693.  His 
mother  died  in  1698,  when  he  was  five  years  of  age; 
his  father  died  in  1734,  thirty-six  year-  after  the 
di  ath  of  his  mother. 

"Michael  Egolff,  1st,  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  Voutsh  on  the  loth  of  April, 
1735,  in  the  church  of  Engstadt;  his  wife  Win 
Voutsh  was  born  on  the  27th  of  July,  1704,  and 
was  consequently  eleven  years  younger  than  her 
husband. 

"The  name  of  his  father-in-law  (his  wife's  fa- 
ther) was  Wait  in  Voutsh,  a  citizen  and  farmer 
ai  Engstadt;  the  maiden  name  of  his  mother-in- 
law  (his  wife's  mother)  was  Mary  Reisbein,  who 
it  is  said  died  a  premature  death  when  her  daugh- 
ter Mary  was  but  six  years  of  age. 

"Michael  and  Mary  Egolff,  1st,  had  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  died  in  their  infancy.  The  births 
and  name-  of  those  that  died  in  their  infancy  are 
not  given  on  the  original  documents.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  order  in  which  those  that  grew  up  were 
born:  (1)  Michael  Egolff,  2d,  was  born  at  Eng- 
stadt, mi  the  2d  of  October,  1727.  (2)  Balthaser 
Egolff,  2d,  was  born  at  Engstadt.  on  the  8th  of 
May.  1729.  (3)  John  Egolff,  2d,  was  born  at 
Engstadt,  on  the  11th  of  August,  1  732.  (  A  )  Mary 
Egolff,  2d,  was  horn  at  Engstadt,  on  the  9th  of 
Mav,  1738.  (5)  Martin  Egolff,  2d,  was  born  at 
Engstadt,  on  the  Sth  of  October,  1742.  (6)  Anna 
Elizabeth  Egolff,  2d,  was  born  in  all  probability 
at    Philadelphia    on    the    15th    of    October,    1747. 

-£  *  -£  % 

"During  the  fall  of  1745  Michael  Egolff,  1st, 
conceived  the  idea  of  emigrating  to  the  English 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  in  North  America  with 
his  family.  They  left  their  native  town  of  Eng- 
stadt. as  well  as  relations  and  friends,  in  the  month 


of  March  or  April,  1746,  and  journeyed  to  Rotter- 
dam, one  of  the  seaports  of  Holland:  the  name  of 
the  ship  on  which  they  embarked  was  'Mary  I  .alien' : 
W  illiam  Wilson  was  the  name  of  the  captain.  They 
must  have  been  on  the  ocean  considerably  over 
one  hundred  days,  for  they  did  not  arrive  at  Phil- 
adelphia until  about  the  20th  of  September  of  that 
year.  On  the  27th  of  September,  just  a  few  days 
alter  they  had  landed.  Michael  Egolff,  1st.  was 
qualified  as  a  British  subject,  which  was  the  cus- 
tom then  according  to  the  laws  of  Great  Britain. 
They  were  also  going  to  qualify  Michael  Egolff. 
2d,  thinking  him  to  be  old  enough,  but  after  as- 
certaining his  age,  and  finding  him  too  young,  they 
abandoned  it.  (Some  of  the  above  information,  in 
regard  to  their  landing  in  Philadelphia  and  being 
qualified  as  British  subjects,  can  he  found  in  Penn- 
sylvania Archives,  Second  Series,  Vol.  17,  pagi 
225.) 

"i  if  the  movements  of  Michael  Egolff,  1st,  with 
his  family  we  have  information.  His  three  oldest 
smis  were  pretty  well  grown  up  when  he  arrived  in 
this  country.  According  to  the  traditions  in  the 
family,  he  remained  at  Philadelphia  for  some 
3.  Whether  he  and  his  wife  ever  left  the  city 
is  mil  known,  hut  his  children,  or  some  of  them. 
alter  having  been  in  the  city  for  some?  years,  pushed 
up  iiitn  the  country,  into  Lancaster,  Berks  and 
Montgomery  counties,  fur  it  appears  there  arc  quite 
a  number  of  Egolffs,  down  in  that  part  of  the 
State,  s.i  far  we  have  no  account  that  ever  any 
1  V  sett  led  in  ( Cumberland  county  except 
Michael  Egolff,  2d.  What  year  he  came  to  the 
county  is  not  known,  probably  between  1780  and 
1785.  The  name  of  lye..] IV  can  not  be  found  in 
the  archives  of  Cumberland  until  1784  or  1785. 
It  appears  that  all  tin-  Egolffs  through  Cumber- 
land, Franklin  and  Perry  counties,  etc..  spring 
from  Hue  branch  of  the  family,  oamely,  that  of 
Michael  Egolff,  2d. 

"In  stating  in  the  above  paragraph  that  Michael 
Egolff,  '.''I.  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  EgolfVs  m 
tiiis  part  of  the  State,  it  will  be  understood  that 
Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  was  supposed  t" 
he  one  "f  his  snti>.  although  we  have  no  absolute 
nr  authentic  proof  that  he  was  (the  matter  i-  be- 
ing investigated).  Should  it.  however,  be  proved 
that  he  was  oo1  a  son  of  Michael  Egolff,  2d,  then 
the  descendants  of  the  Egolff  family  in  this  part  of 

i  State  would  spring  from  two  branches,  namely. 
Michael  Egolff.  2d,  and  one  of  his  brother-  (2d), 
whatever  one  would  he  proved  to  have  been  the 
father  of  Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d.  The  de- 
scendants  of  Grandfather  Henry  Egolff.  3d,  arc 
much  more  numerous  in  this  part  of  the  State  than 
those  of  the  other  branch. 

"Now  we  come  to  Michael  Egolff,  2d,  who  is  the 
i  nly  Egolff  we  know  of  that  came  to  Cumberland 
county.  Michael  Egolff,  2d.  as  we  have  seen,  was  the 
oldest  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  Voutsh  Egolff,  1st. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENN  SYLVANIA 


1  19 


He  was  bom  on  the  2d  of  October,  1727,  and  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  when  his  lather  landed  in 
this  country.  He  had  learned  the  coopering  trade 
with  his  father.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  (her 
family  name  is  dot  given),  of  Dellenburg,  in  Nas- 
sau, on  the  14th  of  January,  1  757.  It  was  supposed 
they  were  married  at  Philadelphia.  They  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  two  died  in  their  infancy. 
There  is  no  record  of  the  births  or  names  of  the 
children,  and  the  following  imperfecl  record  of 
them  is  from  family  tradition,  with  the  supposition 
that  he  was  the  father  of  Grandfather  Henry 
Egolff,  3rd:  (1)1  will  begin  with  Grandfather 
Henry  Egolff,  3d,  who  was  horn  in  1759.  (2)  Jo- 
seph Egolff,  3d,  who  was  born  on  the  16th  of 
November,  L765  (William  and  Barbara  Egolff,  4th, 
children  of  Joseph  Egolff,  3d,  who  are  still  living 
at  an  advanced  age  in  this  year  of  grace  1896,  -a\ 
thai  they  think  their  father  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia; if  it  will  he  proved  that  Michael  Egolff,  2d, 
was  the  father  of  Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d, 
then  there  is  mi  doubt  that  he  also  was  horn  there, 
ii>  he  was  horn  six  years  before  his  supposed 
brother  Joseph).  (3)  Jacob  Egolff,  3d  (it  is  not 
known  when  he  was  horn).  (I)  Michael  Egolff, 
:!d  (it  i-  not  know  when  he  was  horn).  (5) 
I'olK  (or  Mary)  Egolff,  3d  (it  is  not  known  when 
she  was  born  |. 

"In  the  above  we  have  five  of  the  eight  children 
of  Michael  ami  Elizabeth  Egolff,  2d,  accounted 
for:  the  investigation  mentioned,  if  successful, 
will  probably  bring  the  other  three  to  light.  With 
this  I  will  close  with  Michael  Egolff,  2d.  His  wife 
Elizabeth  died  at  Carlisle  in  Kilo,  and  he  died  on 
Wednesday,  April  9th,  1817,  at  the  wry  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years,  bavin::  been  born  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1727.  They  are  both  buried  at  the  old 
graveyard  at  Carlisle. 

'Twill  now  begin  with  the  third  generation. 
which  brings  us  a  little  nearer  home.  I  will  take 
them  up  in  regular  order,  and  give  such  informa- 
tion as  is  at  my  command  concerning  them,  ami 
v,  ill  close  with  Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  and 
his  family. 

"Polly  (or  Mary)  Egolff,  3d,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  Egolff,  2d:  Concerning 
her  and  her  descendants  I  know  but  very  little. 
Her  marriage  to  Thomas  Mattheson  on  the  3d  of 
.Inly.  1795,  is  recorded  at  the  parsonage  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Carlisle.  They  had 
some  children.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Grandfather 
Henry  Egolff.  3d.  1  was  informed  that  the  de- 
scendants of  the  Matthesons  were  numerous,  some 
of  them  living  north  of  Carlisle,  some  m  Perry 
county,  and  others  farther  west. 

"Joseph  Egolff,  3d,  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth 
Egolff,  2d:  Of  him  1  knew  hut  little  or  nothing. 
I  do  not  know  whether  he  was  older  or  younger 
than  Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d.  1  do  not  know 
when  or  where  he  was  horn.     All  I  know  concern- 


ing him  is  thai  he  was  never  married  and  thai  he 
made  his  home  with  the  Goshert  family,  and  that 
he  died  at  their  house  about  1831;  or'  1838  (the 
home  of  the  Goshert  family  was  three  or  hair  miles 
north  of  St.  Thomas,  Franklin  Co..  Pa.).  I  do 
not  know  what  age  he  was.  He  is  buried  ai  the 
Southern  graveyard  at  St.  Thomas. 

"Michael  Egolff,  3.1:  He  is  supposed  to  haw 
been  a  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Egolff,  2d, 
hut  when  and  where  he  was  horn  is  not  known,  nor 
do  I  know  whether  he  was  a  mechanic  or  a  farmer. 
He  had  a  family.  1  only  know  from  family  tradi- 
tion that  he  lived  ami  died  near  Mercersburg. 
Co  not  know  what  became  of  his  family  after  his 
death.  We  have  accounts  of  what  might  hi'  sup- 
posed to  he  two  Michael  Egolffs,  3d.  They  were 
no  doubt  one  and  the  same  person.  In  the  history 
ol  Cumberland  and  Adams  counties,  printed  in 
1886  (second  part,  pages  101  and  102),  it  is  stated 
that  among  the  members  of  one  of  the  companies 
that  went  from  Carlisle  to  assist  in  subduing  the 
Whiskey  Insurrection  in  the  western  pari  of  the 
Stale,  in  1794,  were  Joseph  and  Michael  Egolff; 
they  were  supposed  to  have  been  brothers.  The 
Michael  Egolff,  3d.  referred  to  above,  in  or  near 
Mercersburg,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died 
prior  to  1832,  was  a  In-other  of  Henry  Egolff.  3d. 
and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  same  Michael 
Egolff,  3d,  that  was  in  service  during  the  Whiskey 
Insurrection.  The  investigation  referred  to  will 
probably  throw  the   desired   light  on   this  subject. 

"Joseph  Egolff,  3d,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Eliza- 
heth  Egolff,  2nd,  is  supposed  to  have  been  horn 
(at  Philadelphia)  on  the  Kith  of  November,  1765. 
lie  was  a  saddler  by  trade.  It  is  aol  known  when 
he  came  to  Carlisle,  but  it  is  quite  likely  that  he 
came  there  with  his  parents  about  1780  or  1785. 
Fie  carried  on  his  trade  in  Carlisle  for  many  years. 
He  was  married  twice.  The  family  name  of  his 
first  wile  was  Catherine  Roads.  Il  is  nol  known 
what  year  he  was  married  the  first  lime.  They  had 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter:  the  daughter 
died  in  her  infancy,  the  son's  name  was  John,  lih. 
lie  died  at  Harrisburg  on  the  5th  of  November, 
18:1 1,  and  was  buried  at  Carlisle.  Ai  the  timi 
the  Whiskey  Insurrection  in  the  western  pail  of 
the  State,  in  1794,  as  we  have  seen  above,  he  wa- 
in that  service  with  one  of  the  <  larlisle  c panic- ; 

thej  were  only  in  service  aboul  two  months,  from 
the  tsl  of  ( Ictober  to  the  5th  of  December,  of  the 
same  year,  on  which  dale  the]  were  discharged. 
[Refer  to  the  Historj  of  Cumberland  and  Adams 
counties,  as  requested  above.  | 

"Whether  Joseph  Egolff,  3d,  was  single,  married 
or  a  widower  when  he  entered  i  he  sen  ice  at  the 
time  of  tin'  Whiskey  Insurrccl  ion  is  aol  1  imwii  In 
the  writer,  lie  was  married  the  second  time  to 
\i  i  Barbara  Loose,  on  the  12th  of  September, 
1810.  By  this  marriage,  so  far  as  my  information 
woes,  there  were  five  children,  I  h  and  two 


150 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


daughters;  the  names  of  these  children  are  Michael, 
William.  Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Barbara.  1  will 
now  give  short  sketches  of  the  children  of  Joseph 
and  Barbara  Loose  Egolff,  3d.     .     .     . 

"ill  Michael  Egolff,  4th.  was  the  oldest  of  Jo- 
seph and  Barbara  Egolff's  family.  He  was  born  at 
Carlisle  in  1811.  When,  in  1832,  he  became  of 
age,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  his 
native  town,  in  which  he.  however,  only  continued 
until  July.  1833,  when  he  discontinued  the  busi- 
ness. He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  McManus, 
a  daughter  of  Carmack  McManus,  on  March  the 
23d,  L835,  bj  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ulrich.  Carmack 
McManus  was  one  of  the  prominent  members  o 
the  Catholic  Church  at  Carlisle;  bis  daughter  Mary 
could  not  have  been  a  Catholic,  as  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ulrich  was  the  Lutheran  minister  at  Carlisle. 
Michael  Egolff,  4th,  resides  at  Albany,  X.  Y.,  where 
he  has  resided  for  many  years.  I  am  not  abl 
say  what  year  he  left  Carlisle.      II  -  tdants 

are  quite  numerous  there,  in  children,  oth,  grand- 
children, 6th,  and   great-grandchildren,   7th.     He 

is  still  in  the  enjoymeni  of  g 1  health  in  this  year 

of  grace  1896,  at  the  advanced  age  ol   eighty-five 

"(2)  Joseph  Egolff,  lib.  is  probably  next  in  age 
to  bis  brothel-  Michael.  I  am  not  abb'  to  say  what 
he  follows,  lie  was  married  in  the  month  of  June, 
1837,  to  Susana  Mickey,  of  Perry  county.  He  re- 
sides at  Reading,  where  he  has  a  family  of  chil- 
dren, 5th,  and  grandchildren,  6th. 

"(3)  William  Egolff,  4th,  was  born  at  Cat  - 
in  1819.  lb'  has  resided  a1  Carlisle  all  his  life. 
He  resides  with  bis  sister  Barbara.  They  keep 
a  private  boarding  house.  William  Egolff  is  now. 
in  this  year  of  grace  1896,  seventy-eight  years  of 
age.  lb  is  quite  feeble,  but  is  able  to  be  about. 
He  was  never  married. 

"(4)  Miss  Barbara  Egolff.  4th.  was  born  at  Car- 
lisle, where  she  has  resided  all  the  time,  as  stated 
above.  She  and  her  brother  William  reside  to- 
gether. She  was  never  married.  She  is  a  very 
pleasant  conversationalist  and  enjoys  very  g 
health  for  a  lady  that  is  past  seventy-two  yea  ■ 
age. 

"(5)  Miss  Elizabeth  Egolff,  4th:  Of  her  I  can 
say  but  very  little.  She  died  a  few  yi  -  ig  and  is 
buried  at  the  old  graveyard  at  Carlisle.  She  was 
never  married. 

"Joseph  Egolff  was  in  very  comfortable  circum- 
stance-, and  was  very  much  respected  among  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  owned  several  properties  in  the 
town  of  Carlisle.  In  the  month  of  March.  1826, 
he  was  nominated  for  town  council  and  held  i 

lonsible  places  of  trust.  His  second  wife  died 
in  1S45  and  he  having  a  paralytic  stroke  was  con- 
fined to  the  house  for  four  or  five  years,  when  in 
1850  he  followed  his  wife  to  the  grave  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-five  years.  They  are  both 
buried  at  the  old  graveyard  at  Carlisle.    With  this 


I  will  conclude  the  history  of  Joseph  Egolff,  3d, 
and  his  family. 

"To  all  those  who  are  lineal  descendants  of 
Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  the  following  will 
be  the  most  interesting  part  of  this  investigation 
and  history,  namely,  the  biographical  sketch  of 
himself  and  his  family. 

"Henry  Egolff,  3d,  was  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  Egolff.  His  birthplace  is  no  doubt 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  born  about  the  year 
1759.  We  have  seen  that  Joseph  Egolff.  3d,  a 
brother  of  his,  was  born  in  1765,  at  Philadelphia 
also;  and  as  Henry  was  six  years  older  than  bis 
broth  -;  -  i  there  is  scarcely  any  doubt  but  he 
was  born  at  Philadelphia.  Of  his  early  life  we 
have  little  or  no  information.  We  do  not  know 
whether  he  bad  learned  the  trade  of  bis  father. 
namely,  that  of  a  cooper,  or  learned  some  o 
trade;  or  whether  he  followed  the  business  that  we 
find  him  employed  in  during  the  most  active  part  of 
bis  life,  namely,  that  of  a  farmer  and  teamster. 
We  are  informed  through  family  tradition  thai  bis 
r,  although  a  cooper  by  trade,  followed  farni- 
ng.  It  is  quite  likely  that  he  was  with  bis  father 
on  the  farm  until  he  got  married.  We  have  no 
as  of  knowing  where  his  father  was  engaged 
in  farming,  whether  in  one  of  the  lower  counties 
of  the  State  or  near  Carlisle.  We  first  come  a<  ross 
Henry's  name  on  the  military  roll  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers  who  had  enlisted  to  free  the 
thirteen  colonies  in  North  America  from  the  tyran- 
nical yoke  Great  Britain.  Whether  his  father 
still  resided  at  Philadelphia  at  the  time  of  his  en- 
listment  or  had  gone  to  one  of  the  neighboring 

dies  west  of  Philadelphia  we  do  not  know.    We 

know  from  public  documents  of  the  State  archives 
that  he  was  still  in  the  service  of  the  government 
on  the  1st  of  January.  1781.  He  was  among  the 
number  who  received  depreciation  pay.  They  were 
[•mined  that  they  should  receive  what  they  had 
been  promised,  dollar  for  dollar,  and  not  with 
money  that  they  could  only  pass  for  forty  or  fiftv 

-  on  the  dollar.  He  also  received  a  pension  by 
the  general  as  well  as  by  the  S  eminent. 
The  official  information  in  regard  to  Grandfather 
Henry  Egolff  and  his  confreres  in  the  service  dur- 
ing the  Revolution  will  be  found  in  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  Second  Series,  Vol.  13,  page  64.     .     .     . 

"About   two    years  ace    was  declared, 

namely,  in  1785,  we  find  bis  name  in  the  archives 
Cumberland   county.     After  the  war  of  inde- 
pendence he  returned  to  his  home,  to  enjoy  the 
fruits   of   his   valor.     He   had    bought   about   six 

-  of  land  from  James  Duncan.  The  land  was 
not  far  from  the  town  of  Carlisle.  The  old  home- 
stead where  he  lived  with  his  wife  is  on  the  Wal- 
nut Bottom  road,  something  less  than  a  mile  from 
town.  The  old  log  house,  which  was  afterward 
weather-boarded,  was  torn  down  a  few  years  ago 
and  replaced  by  a  brick  house.     He  was  at  this 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


151 


time  aboui  twenl  |  -si  s  years  of  age  and  in  all  proba- 
bility single  yet.  Eis  father,  Michael  Egolff,  2d, 
had  no  doubt  now  come  in  Cumberland  county,  if 
not  with  all  at  least  with  some  of  his  children. 

"It  is  not  known  what  year  he  was  married. 
What  is  to  bo  regretted  the  most  is  that  we  have 
no  information  at  all  respecting  his  wile.  We 
do  not  know  her  family  nor  her  Christian  name. 
Their  oldest  child,  Valentine,  was  horn  in  1790. 
We  mav  reasonably  suppose  thai  they  were  mar- 
ried somei  ime  in  the  year  1 789. 

"From  the  conversal  ions  thai  I  can  remember 
by  Mother  Green,  he  lived  with  his  family  on  the 
hull'  farm  he  had  bought  near  town,  where  it  is 
supposed    he    wi'in    soon   after   they    were   married. 

I  [e    fan I    m    the    summer ;    during    the    w  inter 

he  would   he  engaged   in  teaming  from  Baltimore 

or  Philadelphia  to  Carlisle  and  other  neighboring 

towns,  and  later  on.  when  the  turnpikes  were  made 

fcward,  he  sometimes  weni  a-  far  as  Pittsburgh. 

"They  had  eight  children,  two  son-  and  six 
daughters.  .There  arc  only  two  or  three  of  them 
the  date  of  whoso  birth  1  know  very  near,  tin-  resl 
1  must  put  down  promiscuously.  The  name-  of 
the  children  are  as  follows:  Valentine  Egolff,  4th, 
was  born  in  1790,  at  Carlisle  (died  in  1832) ;  Mary 
Egolff,  Ith.  was  horn  near  Carlisle,  in  1793; 
Henry  Egolff,  Ith,  was  horn  near  Carlisle  (date  of 
birth  not  known)  ;  Genevieve  Egolff,  Ith.  was  born 
near  Carlisle  (date  of  birth  not  known  I  :  Cath- 
erine Egolff,  Ith.  Sarah  Egolff,  4th.  .lam-  Egolff, 
Ith,  were  horn  near  Carlisle  (dates  of  birth  not 
known):  Malinda  Egolff,  Ith.  is  supposed  to  have 
been  horn  in  1808,  near  Carlisle. 

"I  will  now  give  some  short  biographical 
sketches  of  the  above  mentioned  children  and 
their  respective  families,  as  well  as  1  am  able,  and 
then  resume  ami  finish  the  biographical  sketch  of 
Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  himself. 

"Valentine  Egolff,  Ith.  the  oldest  child  of  Henry 
Egolff,  oil.  ami  his  wife,  was  horn  on  the  little 
farm  of  his  parents  near  Carlisle  in  1790.  I  am 
not  able  to  say  whether  he  had  any  trade  or  not. 
He  was  a  farmer.  It  is  stated  that  he  married 
young.  II'-  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin 
in  1803.  She  came  to  America  from  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, in  1800  A.  Ih.  settled  in  Carlisle.  Pa.  Her 
father's  name  was  David  Martin.  Mother's  name 
Elizabeth  McCollough.  They  had  six  childi 
three  sons  and  three  daughters;  their  name,  were 
a-  follows:  Rebecca,  5th,  Samuel.  5th,  Elizabeth, 
5th,  David,  5th,  John.  5th,  and  Catherine  Styles, 
5th.  (1)  Rebecca  Egolff,  5th,  was  married  on 
the  18th  of  December,  1838,  to  Daniel  Bailey; 
Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Egolff,  5th)  Bailey  were  the 
parents  of  David  Bailey,  6th.  David  is  about  fifty- 
or  fifty-six  rears  of  age.  fie  is  a  widower  ami 
has  lour  children  (7th)  living,  two  sons  ami  two 
daughters.  Thev  are  all  grown  up.  David  is  an 
ardent   member  of  the  G.   A.   R   and   1    thin]      - 


holding  some  distinguished  office  in  the  organiza- 
tion. He  lost  an  arm  in  the  Civil  war.  11 
seems  to  be  very  comfortably  fixed  at  Carlisle. 
I  eaiinot  sa\  whether  David  Bailey,  6th,  has  any 
brothers  or  sisters  or  not.  (2)  Samuel  Egolff,  oth, 
son  of  Valentine  Egolff,  Ith.  was  nevei  married. 
He  was  of  a  rather  roving  disposition.  I  am  not 
able  to  say  whether  he  had  a  trade  or  not.  He 
was  the  owner  of  five  teams  which  trailed  between 
Carlisle  and  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Pittsburg. 
I  saw  his  name  enrolled  on  an  old  list  of  the  I  nion 
Fire  Company  at  Carlisle.  He  died  and  was  buried 
at  Battle  Mountain,  Xev..  aboui  the  year  L890. 
(3)  Elizabeth  Egolff,  5th,  daughter  of"  Valentine 
anil  Elizabeth  (Martini  Egolff,  Ith.  was  horn 
al  Carlisle  in  Mav.  1821.  She  was  married  to 
David  Snyder  at  Carlisle.  Pa.,  in  October,  1840." 
They  have  descendants  as  follows:  Sarah  Egolff 
Snyder  i  6th  i.  born  in  August,  1841,  died  in  Jan- 
naiT,  1856,  at  Carlisle,  unmarried.  Rachel  Sny- 
di  r  i  6th),  horn  Oct.  13,  1843,  -till  living  m  this 
year  (1911),  married  first  Lieut.  Harrison  Eos 
tick,  C.  S.  A.,  who  was  born  in  1S33  and  died  in 
August,  1866,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  (he  was 
buried  in  the  Ashland  cemetery  at  Carlisle);  her 
second  marriage,  which  took  place  al  Carlisle  Jan. 
9,  L872,  was  to  Lewis  Bosh,  who  died  at  Chambers- 
burg,  Pa.,  Aug.  9,  L872,  and  is  buried  in  the  Ash- 
land cemetery  at  Carlisle.  Rebecca  Snyder  (6th), 
horn  at  Carlisle  in  August,  1845,  died  at  Car- 
lisle and  is  buried  there;  she  married  Henrj 
Kaufman,  commissary  sergeant,  U.  S.  A.,  who 
is  still  living  (1911),  and  of  this  union  two 
children  were  horn,  of  whom  Charles  William 
(7th),  horn  May  23,  1863,  now  foreman  m  the 
Linder  shoe  factory  at  Carlisle,  married  Sarah 
Speck,  of  Carlisle,  in  November^  1890;  tho\  have 
no  children.  Jesse  IT.  Snyder  (6th),  born  Nov. 
25,  1849,  a  fanner  near  Carlisle  in  this  yeat 
grace  (  191  1 )  married  Laura  ( (osh,  of  Carlisle,  Pa., 
and  had  eight  children.  7th,  all  horn  al  Carlisle, 
namely:  Harrison  Fostick.  Lewi-  Bosh,  Mary 
May  (Mrs.  Fleegal,  born  in  March.  1876),  Eliza- 
beth Egolff  (Mrs.  Garret),  Rachel  Armstrong 
(horn  March  I.  1884  ).  John  Stmts  (horn  July  29, 
1888 ).  Jessie  Yates  I  born  in  November,  1891  I, 
and  Charles  Kaufman  (born  ^pril  9,  L894  I.  "|  I  > 
David  Egolff,  5th,  son  of  Valentine  and  Eliza- 
beth (Martin)  Egolff,  Ith.  was  born  al  Carlisle. 
"He  was  a  saddler  and  harnessmaker.  He  had 
learned  his  trade  with  his  grandun  le,  Joseph 
Egolff,  3d.     His  name  i-  also  on  the  same 

men's  roll  that  hi-  brother  Sai il's  is  on.     I  also 

saw  his  name  among  a  !;-t  of  jun  men  of  Cumb 

land  county.     He  weni  to  I  Hi -  some  time  i  a 

in    the    forties    and    was    marriei  to    Mary 

Madden,  of  Galena,   111.     No  children.     He  was 
postmaster  al  Galena,  Ulii 

w  hen  the  <  California  gold  fe         i       e  out   in   1848 
he  could  not   n  ■  ■  on  and  aci  o 


152 


XOETHOIBEELAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  1849  he  left  Galena  for  California  with  Ins 
family,  where  he  died  in  L869,  at  Oleta.  Cal. 
(5)  John  Egolff,  5th.  son  of  Valentine  and  Eliza- 
beth (Martin)  Egolff,  1th,  was  born  at  Carlisle. 
where  he  resided  all  his  life.  J  am  not  aide  to 
say  whether  he  had  a  trade  or  not.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Sparr  at  Carlisle  about  1850.  They  had 
a  large  family  of  children  (6th)  and  grandchildren 
(7th).  His  son  Cirus  lives  in  the  same  log  house 
in  which  his  grandfather,  Valentine  Egolff,  4th. 
lived  and  died.  The  house  is  -till  in  a  very  good 
state  of  preservation  and  promises  to  stand  for 
many  years  yet.  John  Egolff,  5th,  died  in  1880; 
do  lrnt  know  what  his  age  was.  Cannol  say 
whether  his  wile  i-  still  living  in  this  year  <>f 
grace,  1896,  or  not.  They  had  ten  children.  (6) 
Catherine  Styles  Egolff,  5th,  a  daughter  of  Valen- 
tine and  Elizabeth  (Martin)  Egolff,  4th.  was  born 
at  Carlisle  Dec.  25,  1825;  died  al  Shamokin,  Pa., 
Oct.  20,  1890.  She  was  married  Oct.  is.  1st:.. 
at  Carlisle.  Pa.,  by  1,\\.  Father  1'.  Maher,  Catholic 
Rector,  to  John  A.  Snyder,  a  brother  of  I 'avid 
Snyder,  who  is  married  to  her  sister  Elizabeth. 
They  have  descendants  as  follows:  Mary  (..  Sny- 
der May  (6th),  bum  July  19,  1846,  at  Carlisle; 
Samuel  Egolff  Snyder  (6th),  born  dan.  ::.  1848,  at 
Carlisle:  Edw.  Helfenstine  Snyder  (6th),  born 
Sept.  6,  L850,  at  Carlisle;  Martin  McCullough 
Snyder  (6th),  born  dan.  29,  1854;  John  Patrick 
Snyder  (6th),  born  dune  15,  1858,  at  Shamokin; 
James  Harrison  Snyder  (6th),  born  May  :i.  1862 
(died  Feb.  16;  1861  i  :  George  Britten  Snyder 
idl,  :.  bora  Si  pt.  24,  1864  (died  July  14.  1891,  al 
Shamokin).  Of  this  family.  Mary  G.  Snyder. 
the  eld'esl  daughter,  married  Maj.  James  May. 

"Valentine  Egolff.  4th.  had  considerable  finan- 
cial difficulties  during  bis  life.  He  died  at  Carlisle 
cf  the  smallpox  on  the  10th  of  December,  1832, 
at  the  age  of  forty-two  years  (ten  days  bi 
the  death  of  his  brother-in-law.  Edward  Green). 
He  is  buried  at  the  old  graveyard  at  Carlisle.  I 
am  not  able  to  say  when  his  wife  died.  With  this 
ographical  sketch  of  Valentine  Egolff, 
4lh.  including  his  children  as  well  as  some  i 
grandchildren,  and  also  some  of  his  great-grand- 
children down  to  the  seventh  generation. 

"Mary  Egolff,  4th:  As  she  is  the  immediate  an- 
cestor of  my  family  on  my  wife's  side  and  the  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  her  family  and  her  descendants 
si  veral  generations  will  make  a  long  chapter, 
T  will  give  the  sketches  of  her  brothers  and  sisters 
first,  and  then  close  up  with  her  own. 

"Henry  Egolff,  4th.  was  born  at  his  father's 
home  at  Carlisle.  I  cannot  say  when  he  was  born. 
He  was  a  cripple  from  his  infancy.  I  was  in- 
formed that  when  he  was  lying  in  his  cradle  a 
drunken  man.  an  acquaintance  of  the  family,  i 
to  the  house  and  stumbling  over  the  cradle,  fell 
heavily  on  the  child,  injuring  him  to  such  an  ex- 
tent thai  he  was  a  cripple  for  life.    When  he  was 


grown  up  he  got  himself  a  small  conveyance  with 
which  he  would  peddle  notions  through  the  coun- 
try.  He  was  never  married.  After  his  father 
broke  up  housekeeping  he  made  hi>  home  with 
Simon  Sholley.  at  Carlisle.  Mrs.  Sarah  Sholley 
bi  ing  Henry's  sister.  He  died  at  Carlisle  when 
he  was  about  forty-live  year-  of  age  and  is  buried 
at  the  old  gravel  aid  at  Carlisle. 

"Genevieve  Egolff,  4th.  was  born  at  her  father's 
farm  near  Carlisle  but  I  am  not  able  to  give  the 
date  of  her  birth.    She  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Hem- 

v 1.      1    do   not    know   his    Christian    name.      I 

have  been  abh  gel  but  very  little  information  in 
Carlisle  in  regard  to  this  family,  with  the  exception 
that  they  weie  married  at  Carlisle,  hail  a  family 
ami  lived  there,  that  some  of  their  descendants  were 
still  in  the  neighborhood.     The  old  folks  are  no 

i 'ml  ill    .lead. 

"Catherine  Egolff,  4th.  a  daughter  of  Henry 
ff  and  his  wife,  was  born  on  her  parents'  farm 
near  Carlisle,  but  I  do  not  know  the  date  of  her 
birth.  She  was  married  to  Mardicay  Duncan,  but 
what  year  they  were  married  1  am  not  able  to  say. 
Mr.  Duncan  is  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  lived 
about  two  miles  north  of  Loudon,  in  Path  Valley. 
where  he  had  a  small  piece  of  land  which  he  tilled 
along  with  In-  trade.  They  bad  three  children, 
two  -ons  and  one  daughter:  their  names  were,  re- 
spectively. Alexander  (5th).  William  (5th)  and 
Mary  (5th).  Alexander  Duncan  was  a  millwright 
by  trade:  he  died  suddenly,  while  a  young  man. 
unmarried.  William  Duncan:  Do  not  know 
whether  William  had  a  trade  or  not :  the  last  I 
heard  of  him  he  was  in  Colorado ;  cannot  say 
whether  he  was  married  or  single.  Mary  Duncan 
was  married,  but  1  could  not  learn  the  name  of 
her  husband  nor  the  time  when  they  were  married; 
after  she  was  married  they  moved  to  Michigan. 
Mr.  Duncan  was  married  twice.  The  above  named 
children  were  all  by  his  first  wife,  be  had  no  chil- 
dren by  the  second  wife.  T  do  not  know  wdiat  year 
his  first  wife  died.  When  1  first  got  acquainted 
with  him.  in  1845,  be  was  married  to  his  second 
wife  and  the  three  children  were  very  near  grown 
up.  Mr.  Duncan  died.  I  think,  in  1ST8  or  1879. 
His  second  wife  had  died  some  time  before  him.  1 
cannot  say  where  he  is  buried,  but  1  suppose  at 
Loudon. 

"Sarah  Egolff,  4th,  was  born  at  the  home  of  her 
parents  near  Carlisle,  but  I  am  not  able  to  give 
the  date  of  her  birth.  She  was  married  to  Simon 
Sholley.  but  1  cannot  say  wdiat  year  they  were 
married.  In  regard  to  their  children.  T  do  no1 
know  how  many  they  had.  I  can  only  remember 
two  daughters  (5th),  wdio  wen-  nearly  grown  up 
when  I  tir-t  got  acquainted  with  the  family,  about 
1845.  Mr.  Si  ml  lev  bad  a  horse  and  cart  or  wagon 
with  which  be  was  doing  hauling  about  town. 
Mrs.  Sholley  kept  what  was  in  those  days  known  as 
a  cake  house.     She  baked  different  kinds  of  sweet 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


153 


cakes  and  made  mead  and  small  beer.  From  my 
best  recollections  they  left  Carlisle  for  Ohio  in  the 
fifties.  I  was  informed  by  some  of  the  relations 
after  they  bad  gone  to  Ohio  thai  Mr.  an. I  Mrs. 
Sholley  were  both  dead,  without  knowing  where 
and  when  they  died,  ami  that  none  of  the  rela- 
tions about  Carlisle  knew  what  had  beco 
children.      Th  is    all    the    information    I 

could  gather  in  regard  to  the  Sh. >lk'v  family. 

"Jane  Egolff,  1th.  a  daughter  of  Henry  Egolff, 
3d,  and  his  wife,  was  born  at  the  home  of  her 
parents  near  Carlisle,  hut  the  date  of  her  birth 
I  do  not  know.  Sin-  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Koup. 
!  do  not  know  In-  Christian  name,  not-  the  date 
of  their  marriage.  After  they  were  married  they 
resided  in  Perry  county,  Pa.,  where  Grandfather 
Henry  Egolff,  3d,  paid  them  a  visit  in  1826.  They 
had  ten  children:  I  do  not  know  how  many  sons 
or  how  many  daughters.  I  do  not  know  what 
their  name-  were.  They  are  all  dead  Inn  two. 
namely,  Henry  (ath)  and  Jeremiah  (5th).  An- 
other brother,  by  the  name  of  Jacob,  died  about 
four  years  ago,  in  1892.  The  following  is  all  the 
information  [  have  in  regard  to  the  children  of 
Mi.  Koup  and  .lane  Egolff,  4th.  his  wife:  (1) 
Henry  Koup,  5th  (born  no  doubt  in  Perry  county. 
Pa.),  in  1-820,  lives  in  Pontiac,  Livingston  Co.. 
111.  Cannot  say  whether  he  is  a  mechanic  or  farm- 
er. He  has  a  family  there.  Do  not  know  what 
year  he  went  West,  nor  do  [  know  whether  lie  was 
married  before  he  went  to  the  West  or  got  his  wife 
out  there.  1  am  not  able  to  say  how  many  chil- 
dren they  have.  (?)  Jeremiah  Koup.  5th,  bom 
(no  doubt  in  Perry  Co.,  Pa.)  in  18:52.  resides  at 
Duncannon,  in  the  same  county.  1  do  not  I 
what  his  occupation  is.  He  is  a  widower  with  five 
children  (6th),  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  but 
1  do  not  know  their  names,  age  or  occupation. 
( 3  )  Jacob  Koup.  5th  :  Although  he  is  dead,  as  his 
wife  is  living  vet  1  will  relate  what  little  1  know 
about  him.  lie  was  no  doubt  also  bom  in  Perry 
county.  Pa.,  but  T  do  not  know  the  date  of  his 
birth.  His  wife"-  Christian  name  is  Josephine, 
but  her  family  name  I  do  not  know.  They  had 
no  children.  She  resides  in  Duncannon.  Perry 
Co..  Pa.,  where  her  husband,  Jacob  Koup,  died 
in  1892.  With  this  1  will  have  to  close  the  family 
record  of  Jane  EgolfT.  4th.  and  her  husband  -Mr. 
Koup.  I  am  sorry  that  I  have  not  got  some  in- 
formation concerning  the  other  -even  children 
of  theirs. 

"Malinda  Egolff,  1th.  was  the  youngest  of  the 
family  of  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  and  his  wife,  and  was 
probably  born  in  1808.  It  is  stated  in  the  family 
traditions  that  Grandmother  Egolff,  the  wife  of 
Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  died  in  1809,  that 
several  of  the  children  were  single  vet  at  the  Time 
of  her  death,  and  that  the  youngest  ( Malinda  1 
was  only  a  few  months  old:  that  Mary,  the  elde-t 
of  the  girls,   who   was  then   a   good  -chunk'  i 


girl  of  about  sixtei  of  age,  bad  the  whole 

charge  of  the  family  on  her  shoulders.  Malinda 
Egolff,  1th.  was  married  twice-.  Her  first  hus- 
band's name  was  Sipes;  could  not  say  what  his 
Christian  name  was.  nor  what  year  she  was  □ 
ried  to  him.  I  don't  think  they  had  any  children. 
1  cannot  say  what  year  he  died.  Some  time  a 
the  death  of  her  first  husband  -he  ivas  ma 
Ja.ol,  Albert.  Mr.  Albert  wa-  a  house  carpenter; 
tbej  had  live  children,  that  are  grown  up.  I  am 
not  able  to  say  whether  they  had  any  children  that 
died  young.  Of  the  age  of  their  children  I  am 
not  positive,  but  think  the  following  order  is  cor- 
rect: Barbara  (.".th).  Levi  (5th),  Jacob  (5th), 
Samuel  (5th),  ami  Rebecca  (5th).  The  following 
is  a  shorl  biographical  sketi  o  e  children  and 
other  descendants  of  Jacob  and  Malinda  (Egolff, 
1th  i  Sipes  Albert:  (  1 )  Barbara  \  iert  was 
at  Carlisle:  do  not  know  the  date  of  her  birth. 
shi-  was  married  to  Thomas  Jameson.  Mr.  Jame- 
son is  a  day  laborer.  They  have  five  children, 
three  sons  ami  two  daughters  (6th).  The  three 
-on-  are  all  married  and  have  families:  the  two 
daughters  are  single.  (2)  Levi  Albert  was  horn 
at  Carlisle:  do  not  know  what  year.  Levi  i>  a 
day  laborer.  He  is  married,  but  I  do  not  know  his 
wil.'s  family  or  Christian  name:  they  have  two 
daughters  (6th),  who  are  both  single.  ( :: )  Jai 
Albert  was  bom  at  Carlisle,  hut  I  cannot  say  what 
year.  He  is  an  engineer  ami  woi  -  oi  one  of  the 
railroad  companies  at  Carlisle.  He  i-  a  widower. 
He  was  twice  married.  He  has  no  children,  and 
makes  his  home  with  his  brother-in-law,  Jess 
Hayes,  who  is  married  to  Jacob  Albert's  sister  Re- 
becca. I  li  Samuel  Albert  was  horn  at  Carlisle 
(year  not  known),  lie  is  married,  but  1  do  not 
know  his  wife'.-  family  or  Christian  name,  lie  has 
some  children  (6th),  but  I  can  not  say  how  many, 
nor  do  I  know  what  he  follows,  mi  Rebecca  Al- 
bert, the  youngest  of  Jacob  and  Malinda  i  Eg 
4th)  Sipes  Albert'-  family,  was  bom  at  Carlisle, 
but  1  do  not  know  the  date  of  her  birth. 
is  married  to  Jesse  Hayes.  Her  husband  is  a 
watchman  at  one  of  the  &  ■  -  al  Carlisle. 
They  have  four  children.  One  died  in  infancy. 
two  sons  and  one  daughter  (6th)  -ur\i. 
Their  name-  are,         i  >,   Martin  and 

Mary.     The  two  son-  are  married  and  have  fam- 
ilies  (7th);  the  daughter  is  single.      Mrs     II 
is   a   very   pleasanl    woman.      1    have    received    a 
good    deal    of    information    from    her    concerning 
some  of  our  relations.     This  completes  the 
graphical   sketch   of   the  children   and   other   de- 
scendants of  3  !   Malinda  Albert's  family. 
*     *     *     Jacob    \  summei 
1879.    lie  had   been   laid  up  for  some  time  and 
was  quite  feeble.     I  am  not  abl  his 
ane  was  at  the  time  of  his  death.     His  n 

.    years    before    him.      The}    are    both    buried 
in  the  old  rd  at  ( 'arlisle. 


154 


NnRTHFMBEh'LAXD  Cl  HXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


"Man  Egolff,  4th,  was  the  second  child  and 
the  oldest  daughter  of  Henry  Egolff,  3d,  and  his 
wife.  She  was  born  at  the  paternal  mansion  near 
Carlisle  in  1793.  Her  parent-  belonged  to  the 
Lutheran  denomination,  in  which  faith  she  was 
brought  up.  The  early  part  of  her  life  was  passed 
on  her  father's  -farm,  in  the  pursuit  of  such  work 
as  pertains  to  the  female  portion  of  a  farmer's 
family,  namely,  the  household  affairs,  culinary 
duties  and  the  dairy.  Schools  were  scarce  in  her 
young  days,  particularly  in  the  country,  conse- 
quently her  education  was  limited;  however,  she 
was  able  to  read  quite  well,  hut  1  do  nut  think  she 
could  write.  She  had  plenty  of  mother  wit.  good 
common  sense  and  excellent  judgment.  There 
were  eight  children  in  the  family,  one  of  them, 
her  brother  Henry,  a  cripple  for  life.  Her  father 
was  engaged  in  fanning  during  the  spring,  sum- 
mer and  early  fall,  and  during  the  winter  and 
early  spring  he  was  engaged  in  wagoning.  He 
would  take  country  produce  to  Baltimore  or  Phila- 
delphia and  return  laden  with  merchandise  ol 
different  kinds,  for  the  business  men  of  Carlisle 
or  some  of  the  neighboring  towns:  and  when  the 
turnpike  was  finished  westward  he  would  make 
atrip  once  in  a  while  as  far  as  Pittsburg.  In  1809, 
when  she  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  -lie  as  well 
as  the  rest  of  the  family  met  with  a  serious  loss  in 
the  death  of  her  mother.  As  she  was  the  oldest 
daughter  she  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  family 
and  nearly  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  family 
re-ted  on  h.-r  shoulders.  This  wa-  more  particular- 
ly the  ease  when  her  father  was  away  with  the 
team.  But  when  the  war  of  1ST,'  broke  out  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  her 
responsibility  increased  still  more,  as  her  father's 
patriotism  (although  he  had  fought  for  several 
years  during  the  war  of  Independence,  and  was 
now  past  the  age  of  doing  military  duty)  prompted 
him  to  go  again,  and  according  to  the  family 
tra'ditions  he  was  gone  almost  three  years. 

"If  the  traditions  of  the  family  are  correct,  the 
young  Irish  distiller  Edward  Green,  who  had  ar- 
rived in  the  United  States  in  1811,  had  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Mary  Egolff,  4th.  and  had  ob- 
tained the  eonseni  of  her  father  to  their  marriage 
before  he  left  for  the  army.  It  is  quite  likely  they 
were  married  in  1813  or  Isl  I.  She  was  then  about 
twenty  or  twenty-one  year-  of  age.  while  her 
young  husband  was  one  year  Iter  senior. 

"After  their  marriage  -he  no  doubt  remained  at 
her  father's  home  until  he  returned  from  the  war. 
She  was  very  conscientious  and  would  not  leave 
the  family  of  her  father  without  it  being  properl] 
cared  for.  and  she  thought  she  could  do  better  her- 
self than  anyone  else.  From  information  received 
it  would  appear  that  her  husband  continued  work- 
ing at  the  distillery  after  they  were  married  and 
after  her  father's  return  from  the  army  they  com- 
menced housekeeping  themselves,  and  lived  at  or 


near  the  distillery  where  he  worked,  in  Cumber- 
land county,  a  few  miles  west  of  Harrisburg, 
where  it  is  quite  likely  they  remained  until  they 
moved  to  <  lhambersburg. 

"It  has  been  stated  that  she  was  born  and  raised 
in  the  Lutheran  faith.  After  her  marriage  she 
became  a  Catholic,  ami  I  think  was  received  into 
the.  church  by  one  of  the  Jesuit  fathers  from 
Conewago,  who  attended  the  mission  at  Carlisle. 
She  had  become  a  Catholic  before  thc\  moved  to 
Chambersburg. 

"Edward  ami  Mary  (Egolff,  4th)  Green  had 
eleven  children,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters; 
six  of  them,  three  -oris  and  three  daughters,  died 
while  they  were  young  anil  only  five,  one  son  and 
fmtr  daughters,  were  permitted  to  grow  up.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  their  children  and  the 
time  of  their  birth,  as  near  as  could  be  obtained: 
ill  Edward  Green  (5th)  wa-  born  in  Cumber- 
land county,  about  the  year  1815;  died  when  small. 
(2)  Sarah  Green  (5th)  was  born  at  chambers- 
burg on  the  5th  of  June.  1817.  (3)  Mary  Green 
was  born  near  Chambersburg  m  1819.  (4) 
Margaret  Green  (5th)  was  born  near  Chambers- 
burg in  1821.  (•">)  Susana  Green  (5th)  was  proba- 
bly bom  near  Chambersburg  in  1823;  died  when 
small.  ((!)  Elizabeth  Green  (5th)  wa-  probably 
born  at  Bridgeport.  Franklin  county,  in  l^-.'l  :  died 
when  small.  (,)  Catherine  Green  (5th)  was  born 
near  Bridgeport  in  is;;:..  (8)  Simon  Peter  Green 
(5th)  was  born  near  Bridgeport  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1827.  (9)  Isabella  Green  (5th)  was  born 
near  Bridgeport  in  1829;  died  when  small.  (  10) 
James  Green  (5th)  was  born  near  Bridgeport  in 
L830;  died  when  -mall,  ill)  John  Green  (5th) 
was  born  near  Bridgeport  in  1831;  died  when 
small. 

•'Having  now  finished  with  the  family  of 
Grandfather  Henry  Egolff,  3d.  including  all  his 
children  and  also  some  descendants  of  his  belong- 
ing to  generations  still  further  off.  I  will  resumi 
and  finish  his  own  biography. 

"From  the  family  traditions  we  have  it  would 
seem  that  he  lost  bis  wife  in  1809,  when  some  of 
the  children  were  still  small,  one  of  them  Malinda 
only  a  few  months  old.  He  was  still  living  on  his 
little  farm  and  the  responsibility  of  the  whole  fam- 
ily principally  rested  on  the  shoulders  of  his 
daughter  Mary  who  was  then  about  sixteen  years 
of  age.  'When  in  1812  war  broke  out  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  he.  being  then 
about  fifty-three  or  fifty-four  years  of  age,  ami 
beyond  the  age  of  doing  military  duty,  having  he- 
been  in  the  service  of  the  government  for 
several  years  during  the  war  of  Independence,  the 
fire  of  his  patriotism  was  kindled  anew,  and  al- 
though his  wife  was  dead,  and  having  no  one  as 
head  of  the  faniilv  except  his  daughter  Mary,  he 
shouldered  his  musket  again  against  the  same  foe 
he  had  fought  thirty-six  years  before,  with  a  firm 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


L55 


resolve  to  do  as  lie  had  done  before — not  to  return 
until  victory  had  been  accomplished.  II  is  stated 
that  he  was  gone  almost  three  years  during  the  war 
of  1812-15  and  that  his  duty  during  thai  time 
was  principally  on  the  lakes.  Ii  is  stated  in  con- 
nection with  tin-  war  thai  he  and  his  brother 
Joseph  Egolff  lost  a  team  laden  with  flour  which 
was  taken  near  Philadelphia  by  the  government. 
The  driver  of  the  team  was  a  nephew  of  their.-  by 
the  name  of  Mattheson,  a  son  of  their  sister  Polly 
Mattheson. 

"We  have  no  authentic  information  when  he 
discontinued  farming  and  probably  also  house- 
keeping, hut  it  was  nil  doubi  before  the  year  L826. 
His  youngest  daughter,  Malinda,  was  then  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  although  we  have  no 
record  of  the  date  when  any  of  his  children  were 
married  we  may  suppose  that  all.  or  nearly  all.  of 
them  had  been  married  before  the  year  1826.  On 
page  64,  Vol.  Id.  of  the  Archives  of  Pennsylvania, 
Second  Series,  n  is  stated  that  Henry  Egolff  re- 
sided in  Perry  county,  Pa.,  in  1826.  He  had  no 
d.iiihi  broken  ii|>  housekeeping  then  and  was  sim- 
ply staying  with  his  daughter,  .lane  Koup,  who 
resided  with  her  husband  and  family  in  Perry 
county.  It  is  quite  likely  thai  some  pension  money 
was  sent  to  him  in  Perry  county  and  in  that  way 
Lis  name  got  into  the  Stale  Archives,  as  liv- 
ing in  Perry  county.  He  had  made  his  home 
at  the  linn-,'  of  In-  daughter  Sarah  Sholley, 
in  Carlisle.  Where  his  sun  Henry,  the  cripple, 
also  made  his  home,  hut  he  would  pay  periodical 
visits  tn  his  children,  as  I  was  informed.  He  paid 
his  daughter  Mary  Egolff  Green  a  visit  when  she 
lived  in  Path  Valley,  in  is:;;;,  after  the  death  oi 
her  husband.  Then  he  paid  her  a  visit  again  in 
L838,  when  she  lived  near  Chambersburg. 

"Tie  must  have  been  of  a  very  retiring  dispo- 
sition. In  perusing  some  old  hies  of  Carlisle  pa- 
pers, beginning  with  September,  1814,  to  June. 
1839,  embracing  a  period  id'  twenty-five  years,  I 
never  came  across  his  name  a  single  time.  There 
were  a  -ivai  many  meetings  published,  some  po- 
litical, others  Ith  of  duly  celebrations,  some  re- 
ligious, some  social  and  others  business  meetings, 
where  in  many  cases  the  names  of  those  present 
at  the  meeting  or  gathering  were  published,  hut 
his  name  never  appeared  a  single  lime.  It  is  stated 
that  he  could  never  learn  to  master  the  English 
language  very  well,  which  might  have  been  a 
reason  for  him  to  absent  himself  from  public 
gatherings,  hut  during  the  first  halt'  of  the  present 
century  a  great  ileal  of  German  (Pennsylvania 
Dutch)  was  spoken  in  Cumberland  county,  and  it 
he  was  not  able  to  speak  the  English  very  plain 
there  is  no  doubt  he  had  plenty  company  of  that 
kind,  during  the  time  he  lived  near  Carlisle. 

"After  having  reached  a  good  ripe  age  he  died 
at  the  house  of  his  daughter,  Mr-;.  Surah  Sholley,  at 
Carlisle,  on  Fridav.  April  10th.  1810.  in  th 


first  year  oi  his  age  He  was  buried  on  Sunday, 
April  13th,  with  military  honors.  He  is  buried 
m  the  old  graveyard  at  Carlisle,  hut  as  there  is  no 
tombstone  to  mark  hi-  grave,  In-  grave  is  uol 
known.  With  this  closes  "the  history  of  the  most 
importanl  person  of  the  Egolff  family  up  to  the 
time  of  writing  these  biographical  sketi  he-  m  the 
year  of  grace  L896,  namely,  thai  of  Henry  Egolff, 
the  patriot  of  two  wars,  the  war  of  Independence 
in  L776  and  the  war  of  L812-15,  with  perhaps 
smgle  exception,  that  of  Michael  Egolfi,  1st.  Ii 
is  not  complete  in  all  respects,  as  1  would  like  to 

see  it.  hut    1   have  di in\    besl    w  ith   the  material 

at  my  command." 

RENN.  The  1,'enn  family  has  long  been  well 
known  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Northumber- 
land county,  where  the  old  homestead  of  Ira  T. 
Renn  is  still  owned  by  his  sou  Roland  D.  Renn, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Bert  I. 
Renn,  a  merchant  of  Sunburv.  and  [ra  T.  Renn, 
his  brother,  are  also  sons  of  [ra  T.  Renn  and 
worthy  representatives  of  this  family  name. 

Adam  Renn,  great-grandfather  of  the  brothers 
just  named,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  coming  to 
America  settled  about  1800  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  living  in  the 
locality  known  as  Jews  Hollow.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  owned  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  During 
the  war  of  1812  he  served  his  adopted  country  as 
a  soldier.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a 
Lutheran  in  religion.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Snyder,  and  they  had  children  as  follow-:  Jacob; 
Bernard;  Henry,  who  lived  and  died  in  Lower 
Augusta  township;  and  Mary,  who  married  Jacob 
L'heii  and  lived  in  Lancaster  and  Dauphin  comi- 
ties. 

Jacob  Renn,  son  of  Adam,  lived  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township.  In  early  life  he  learned  butcher- 
ing, which  occupation  he  followed  for  forty  years, 
meantime  becoming  also  an  extensive  and  pros- 
perous far r.     He  owned  a  trad   of  nearly  two 

hundred  acres,  now  the  property  of  11.  |.  Reitz. 
In  his  earlier  years  he  was  employed  a-  a  boatman 
mi  what  was  known  as  the  Pennsylvania  canal. 
He  wa-  a  tall  man.  six   feet   in  height,  strong,  ro- 

busl  and  of  military  carriage  n gh  heavy    build, 

weighing  about  two  hundred  pounds.  A  Lutheran 
in  religion.  lie  was  a  zealous  church  worker  and 
contributed  liberally  to  church  work,  donating  two 
;i,  [v-  of  gri mnd  u pon  » hich  to  erect  St.  Peter's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Lower  Augusta. 
I  |e  served  many  yei  er  o  urch,  and 

was  one  of  die  most  active  in  the  promotion  and 
establishment  of  ii-  hen-,,  of  worship.  In  politics 
be  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  March  28.  L889,  in 
Shainokin.  aged  eighty-one  vears,  nine  months  and 
eight© 

M  i'.  Renn  u  a-  union  he- 

me t0  Elizabeth  Sir  der,  by  w  hem  he  had  a  la 


15G 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


family.  We  have  mention  of  three:  Hiram  ;  John, 
di  \\  infield.  Union  Co.,  I'a. :  and  Henry,  of  Sham- 
okin,  Pa.  Bv  his  second  wife,  Eve  Conrad,  born 
Jan.  26,  1810,  died  Dee.  ■.'•-'.  1876,  Mr.  Renn  had 
four  children:     (1)  Isaiah  J.,  born  May  30,  1842, 

in    Lower   Augusta    township,   grew   to    manh I 

there,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  like  his  father  followed  butchering  and  farm- 
ing, working  at  his  trade  for  twenty-five  years.  I  le 
also  sold  farm  implements.  He  was  a  prominent 
Democrat  of  his  locality,  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1881  and  served  five  terms,  was  overseer 
of  the  poor  and  township  auditor,  and  represented 
his  district  in  the  Legislature  two  terms,  being 
firsl  elected  Nov.  4.  1*90.  In  Ins  active  years  .he 
occupied  a  most  influential  position  in  the  com- 
munity. He  died  Feb.  21,  1906.  In  1863  he  mar- 
ried Melinda  Kauffman,  daughter  of  Daniel  Kauff- 
man,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  he  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  (  2  i 
Samuel  C.  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
i-  now  an  old  resident  of  Sunbury.  CD  Mary  L. 
married  Lewis  Evarts,  and  they  live  in  Shamokin. 
i  1)  Ira  T.  was  the  father  of  the  Renn  brothers 
mentioned  at  the  opening  of  this  article, 

Ira  T.  Renn,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  Dec.  II. 
1850,  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  and  received  his  education  in  thi  local 
schools.  Learning  the  miller's  trade,  he  followed 
it  for  a  number  id'  years,  after  which  he  began 
farming  and  stock  dealing,  owning  the  place  in 
Lower  Augusta  which  now  belongs  to  his  son  Ro- 
land. There  he  passed  most  of  his  life,  prosper- 
ously engaged  in  farming.  For  six  years  he  lived 
on  the  old  Adam  Renn  farm  in  .lews  Hollow,  lie 
was  an  enterprising  man.  and  owned  some  line 
stock.  Mr.  Renn  died  on  his  farm  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta Dec.  29,  1896,  and  is  buried  at  the  Lutheran 
(lunch  in  that  township.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber el'  that  church,  serving  as  deacon  and  elder, 
and  was  also  interested  in  the  success  >d'  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  to  which  he  rendered  considerable 
service  in  his  locality  without  caring  for  the  ma- 
terial rewards  of  office  or  power. 

In  1869  Mr.  Renn  married  Rachel  Kauffman. 
whose  father,  Daniel  Kauffman.  late  of  Lower 
Augusta  township,  settled  on  a  150-aere  tract  in 
that  township  which  he  bought  from  the  Silver- 
wood  family,  large  landowners  in  that  section. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mis.  Renn: 
Roland  D. ;  Bertram  L :  Clayton  Jacob,  deceased: 
Amos  S..  of  Lower  Augusta  township:  Ira  T. : 
Grover  Cleveland,  of  Lower,  Augusta  township. 
who  married  Prances  Martz,  daughter  of  Samuel 
V.  Marl/:  Franklin  F..  horn  July  30.  1888,  who 
died   May  8,  1S89. 

Roland  D.  Rexx,  son  of  Ira  T..  was  horn  March 
25,  1870,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  received 
his  early  education  in  the  common  schools.  Later 
lie   attended   the   Normal    school    at    Bloomsburg, 


from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1889,  two  years 
after  which  he  entered  the  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege, at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  graduating  there- 
f f uu  in  1891,  the  same  year  he  entered;  he  took 
tin.'  commercial  course.  After  teaching  school  for 
a  number  of  years  in  Northumberland  county  Mr. 
Renn  went  into  the  railway  mail  service,  in  1894, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  that  work,  his  run 
being  on  the  main  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  mad 
between  New  York  and  Pittsburg.  He  makes  In- 
home  in  Harrisburg.  but  still  owns  the  homestead 
farm  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Mr.  Renn  has 
never  Los!  his  taste  for  reading,  and  he  has  a  nice 
library.  He  is  especially  interested  in  agricultural 
and  horticultural  works,  literature  on  stock  rais- 
ing, and  history,  and  he  has  traced  the  family 
genealogy  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides. 

On  .Tune  11,  1896,  Mr.  Renn  married  Jennie  S. 
Knisely,  daughter  of  Henry  Knisely.  of  St  eel  ton. 
I'a..  and  they  have  had  one  son.  Roland  R.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
at   Harrisburg. 

Bertram  1.  Renn,  son  of  Ira  T.,  was  horn  July 
13,  1872,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  pubr 
lie  schools.  IF  began  railroading  when  a  boy  of 
fifteen,  and  followed  that  work  successfully  for  a 
number  of  years,  traveling  all  over  the  United 
States.  His  last  railroad  position  was  that  of  yard- 
master  at  Chicago  lor  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railway  Company,  hut  though  he  was 
doing  well  he  resigned  and  returned  East,  buying 
an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Rockefeller  township,  in  his 
native  county.  After  farming  there  for  two  year-, 
he  moved  to  Sunbury.  Dec.  II.  1909,  selling  his 
farm  at  that  time,  and  in  November,  1910,  dis- 
posing of  his  farm  stock.  Upon  his  removal  to 
Sunbury  Mr.  Renn  embarked  in  the  fish,  oyster 
and  produce  business  at  No.  455  Market  street, 
handling  fish  and  clams  all  the  year  round   and 

oysters  and   >ea    f 1    in  season.      He  also  carries  a 

line  of  cigars  and  confectionery,  and  during  the 
summer  months  sells  ice  cream  and  soft  drinks, 
lie  enjoyed  a  good  trade  from  the  start,  and  in 
1910  purchased  a  business  place  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Walnut  streets.  Mr.  Renn  is  a  most 
obliging  dealer,  and  by  Ins  enterprising  methods 
and  accommodating  ways  has  drawn  an  excellent 
class  of  patrons. 

On  Feb.  25,  1896,  Mr.  Renn  married  Mary  E. 
Basom,  who  is  from  Newport,  Perry  county,  Pa., 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Zeiders)  Basom. 
They  have  one  child,  a  daughter.  Lillian  R.  L. 

Ira  T.  Rexx.  son  of  the  late  Ira  T..  was  born 
March  1(1.  1S80,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
was  reared  on  the  farm.  He  first  attended  the 
local  public  schools,  and  later  was  a  pupil  at  Sel- 
insgrove  (Pa.)  Academy. -and  he  was  only  seven- 
teen when  licensed  to  teach  by  Prof.  Ira  Shipman, 
then  county  superintendent.     He  taught  for  three 


N  I  >ET  Ilf  MBEBLAND  C(  >UXTY,  l'EX  X  SYLVAN  I A 


151 


terms,  two  in  his  native  township  and  one  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township,  but  farming  has  always  been 
his  principal  occupation.  He  assisted  his  father 
ami  mother  until  L901,  after  which  he  farmed  a 
year  at  home  on  his  own  account,  in  the  spring  of 
1902  settling  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he 
purchased  the  (Trias  Malick  homestead.  This  prop- 
erty consists  of  eighty-three  acres  of  the  best  land 
in  the  township,  and  there  Mr.  Renn  has  since  re- 
sided and  engaged  in  fanning.  He  is  an  energi  Lii 
young  man.  public-spirited  and  interested  in  the 
social  welfare  of  the  community  as  well  as  in  its 
material  progress.  He  lias  served  in  local  offices, 
and  has  taken  part  in  the  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Hollowing  Run,  of  which  he  and  his 
family  are  members,  having  acted  as  a  member  of 
the  church  council.  He  is  at  present  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  at  A n g list avi lie. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Renn  has  been 
quite  active  in  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity  in  his 
-eei am.  one  of  the  leading  members  of  Augu-ta 
Lodge,  No.  614,  of  i/ugustaville,  which  he  repre- 
sented at  the  (Irand  Lodge  for  seven  consecutive 
terms. 

On  Oct.  3,    L900,   Mr.   Renn  married   Man-  E. 
Barrett,  daughter  of  d antes  and  Mary  (Burns)  Bar 
rett,  formerly  of  Selinsgrove  and  later  of  Lewis- 
burg,  l'a..  where  Mr.  Barrett  died.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Renn  have  two  children  :    F.  Fay  and  Harold  W. 

Nicholas  W.  Renn,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Northumberland 
county,  was  born  in  that  township  April  25,  1858, 
son  of  John   Renn  and  grandson  of  Philip  Renn. 

Philip  Renn  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania  and  was 
the  pioneer  of  this  family  in  Northumberland 
county,  having  settled  there  at  an  early  day  in  the 
history  of  Rockefeller  township,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  the  Flemming  sisters.  It  comprises 
about  one  hundred  acres,  and  Philip  Renn  built  the 
barn  still  standing  there.  He  prospered  in  his 
farming  operations,  doing  fairly  well  for  that  day. 
He  was  a  Pennsylvania  German,  and  spoke  both 
German  and  English.  II.'  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Church,  one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  that  sec- 
tion. His  family,  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 
was  as  follows:  Betzy  married  John  Cornell,  who 
fame  from  Bucks  or  Montgomery  county  and  lived 
in  Rockefeller  township;  Henry  lived  in  Iowa: 
John  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  township:  Tina  mar- 
ried John  Flemming  and  they  lived  on  the  Philip 
Renn  homestead,  where  both  died;  Sarah  married 
William  Ross  and  they  lived  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. 

John  Renn,  son  of  Philip,  was  horn  March  3, 
1812,  on  the  Renn  homestead  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, and  lived  for  the  most  part  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  where  he  hail  a  tract  of  five  acre-.. 
upon  which  place  he  died  March  25,  1893.  lie  is 
buried  at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church,  lie 
was  a  laborer,  and  was  a  man  of  powerful  build, 


noted  for  his  strength  and  locally  known  as  "Big 
Foot."  On  one  occasion  he  was  held  up  at  a  bridge 
in  Schuylkill  county  by  a  husky  Irishman,  who 
told  him  he  could  not  pass.  Renn  said.  "Yes,  I 
will  pass"  picked  up  the  Irishman  and  threw  loin 
bodily  over  the  bridge;  lie  died  of  his  injuries. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Renn  enlisted  for  three 
years'  service,  in  Company  II.  17th  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  had  served  nineteen 
months  when  honorably  discharged,  because  of  the 
close  of  the  war.  11  is  wile.  Margaret  Fry.  was 
horn  Oct.  24,  1814.  in  Alsace.  France,  of  u 
place,  her  father.  Jacob  Fry.  «as  also  a  native. 
She  was  twelve  years  old  when  she  came  with  her 
parents  to  Pennsylvania,  the  family  locating  first 
in  Clinton  county,  at  the  "Block  House."  and 
thence  removing  to  Schuylkill  county  and  later  to 
Northumberland  county,  where  they  lived  for  two 
or  three  years.  Returning  to  Schuylkill  county, 
Mr.  Fry  made  a  permanent  settlement  there,  fol- 
lowing farming  until  his  death.  Mrs.  John  Renn 
died  in  1906  at  Williamsport,  Pa.  Ten  children 
were  horn  to  her  and  her  husband  :  Barbara  mar- 
ried Andrew  Baldy  and  (second)  Edward  Picker- 
ine:  Sarah  married  Abraham  DeWitt;  Maria  mar- 
ried Samuel  Beck;  Catharine  married  Frank  llil- 
bush;  Elizabeth  married  Henry  Eisenhuth;  Re- 
becca married  Osburn  Difford;  Emma  man 
Harry  Olmstead;  Malimla  married  Peter  Crissin- 
ger;  Delila  married  Galen  DeWitt;  Nicholas  W. 

Nicholas  W.  Renn  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  began  working  mi  the  farm  for  his 
parents  at  an  early  age.  continuing  thus  until  he 
iva.lied  the  aye  of  twenty-eight  years.  lie  then 
married,  and  for  nine  years  worked  i rag  farm- 
ers, after  which  he  began  working  upon  the  home- 
stead of  his  father-in-law.  1-a.n  Feaster,  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  In  June,  1905,  he  purcl 
this  property,  which  consists  of  fifty  acres,  the 
present  buildings  on  which  were  erected  b\  Mr. 
Feaster.  Mr.  Renn  follows  general  farming,  and 
occasionally  attend-  the  Sunburi  and  Shamokin 
markets.  Though  he  devotes  all  hi-  attention  to 
his  business  affairs,  he  ha-  found  time  i    his 

town-lnp  as  school  director  and  inspector,  in  which 
offices  he  gave  excellent  sal  isfai He    -  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.     P>.\    thrift   and   industr 
has  attained  a  substantia]   position,  and   he  is  a 
respected  citizen  of  his  community. 

tin   March  '.'.   L8S6,   Mr.  Renn  married   Losi  oia 

Feaster.  daughter  of  Isaac  and  ( lharib  i  Shipman  > 

r.   and   granddaughter  of  Jacob   Shipman. 

Mrs.  Renn  was  horn  Sept.  5,  1856,  I  died   Feb. 

■.'.  lso:..  aged  thirty-eight  years  Mr.  Renn  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Mrs.  Addie  Thomas,  widow-  of  S. 
1 1.  Thomas,  w  ho  died  April  10,  189  I.  ai  th 
fortv-two  voir-.  Mr.  Renn  had  no  children  by 
either  union.  Four  children  were  horn  to  Mr-. 
1,'enn'-  lirsi   marriage,   Elva,  William.  Maud 


158 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


JAMES  FOX,  for  many  years  one  of  the  lead- 
ing agriculturists  of  Ralpho  township,  where  he 
had  the  largesl  fruit  farm  in  Northumberland 
county,  was  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
born  Feb.  28,  1813,  in  Catawissa  township.  The 
family  was  early  in  Berks  county,  this  State, 
where  Mr.  Pox's  grandfather  was  born.  The  lat- 
ter had  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

Jacob  Fox,  lather  of  the  late  James  Fox,  was 
born  in  Berk*  county,  and  died  in  1851  in  Colum- 
bia county,  l'a..  whither  he  had  removed  when  a 
young  man.  He  was  a  stonemason  by  trade,  and 
went  to  Catawissa,  Columbia  county,  to  (ill  a  con- 
trad  he  had  obtained  to  build  a  church.  Upon 
the  completion  of  the  contract  he  remained  there, 
having  taken  a  liking  to  the  place,  and  he  later 
purchased  a  farm  in  Catawissa  township  upon 
which  he  made  his  home,  cultivating  his  land  and 
also  continuing  to  follow  his  trade.  He  was  thus 
engaged  for  many  years  and  becaine  very  well 
known  in  that  section,  where  he  made  many 
friends.  His  wife,  Rachel  (Mclntire),  died  in 
1836.  They  had  the  following  children:  William, 
Daniel,  Hannah  (wife  of  Isaac  Irwin).  Mary  E., 
Price,  dames  and  Jacob. 

James  Fox,  son  of  Jacob,  spent  his  early  life 
upon  the  homestead  farm  in  Catawissa  township, 
Columbia  county,  receiving  a  common  school  edu- 
cation in  the  locality.     S after  the  death  of  his 

father  he  removed  to  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  long  life. 
Tn  connection  with  his  brother-in-law,  John 
Campbell,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  426  acres,  upon 
part  of  which  he  established  his  home,  becoming 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  substantial  cit- 
izens of  Ralpho  township.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  farmers  of  his  district,  and  made 
a  specialty  of  fruit  raising,  having  the  largest 
fruit  farm  in  the  county.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, in  religion  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  died  Oct.  16,  1902,  in  his  ninetieth 
year. 

In  1840  Mr.  Fox  married  Elizabeth  Campbell, 
daughter  of  Obadiah  Campbell,  and  she  died  long 
before  her  husband,  passing  away  in  1880.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fox  are  buried  at  the  Mclntire  church 
in  Columbia  county.  They  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  namely:  George  W.  and  Isaac  N.  died 
young;  Obadiah  P.  is  mentioned  below;  Isabella 
married  William  Cherington ;  Joanna  now  resides 
at  Bloomsburg,  Ta. :  William  is  also  a  resident  of 
Bloomsburg;  Mary  J.  lives  at  Bloomsburg;  Chris- 
topher C.  is  a  resident  of  Mount  Carmel. 

Obadiah  P.  Fox.  son  of  James,  located  at 
Mount  Carmel  in  1884  and  was  among  the  early 
successful  merchants  there.  He  died  at  Mount 
Carmel  May  4.  1908,  aged  sixty-one  years.  Mr. 
Fox  married  Elizabeth  Campbell,  daughter  of 
Duncan    Campbell,    of   Rush    township,   and   they 


had  a  family  of  four  children :  Estella,  Kimber, 
Howard  and    Ethel. 

Christopher  C.  Fox,  son  of  James  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Campbell)  Fox.  was  born  Oct.  4.  1860, 
near  Elysburg,  Northumberland  county.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship and  at  Elysburg  Academy,  and  remained  up- 
on the  farm  until  lie  reached  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  At  that  time  he  became  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  with  his  brother  Obadiah. 
They  were  at  their  original  location  for  three 
.  after  which  they  were  out  of  the  business 
for  two  years,  in  1884  settling  at  Mount  Carmel, 
where  they  conducted  a  general  store,  under  the 
firm  name  of  • ).  1'.  Fox  &  Brother.  They  did  a 
successful  business  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Obadiah 
P.  Fox,  May  1.  1908,  after  which  Christopher  C. 
Fix  closed  out  tli,.  mercantile  establishment  and 
embarked  in  the  real  estate  line  in  association  with 
('.  II.  Robins.  They  have  acquired  a  profitable 
patronage  and  are  doing  a  live  business. 

On  April  is.  1895,  Mr.  Fox  married  Hattie  M. 
•Jones,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Gra- 
ham)  Jones,  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Ernestine  D., 
Russell  .1..  .Marion  W.  and  Benjamin  H.  Mr. 
Fox  is  a  Methodist  in  religious  connection.  On 
political  questions  he  is  a  Republican. 

CHARLES  V.  BLANK,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Blank  &  Gottshall,  who  have  a  large  mill- 
ing business  at  Sunbury,  owning  and  conducting 
the  City  Roller  Mills,  was  born  Oct.  31,  1851.  in 
Upper  Saucon  township.  Lehigh  Co.,  I'a.  lie  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  Blank  and  a  descendant  of  John 
George  Blank,  who  founded  a  family  now  num- 
erous in  Lehigh  county,  especially  in  the  eastern 
portion.  The  1910  city  directory  id'  Allentown, 
that  county,  gives  the  names  of  thirty-two  Blanks. 

John  George  Blank,  the  earliest  ancestor  of 
this  family  of  whom  we  have  record,  was  horn  in 
17".'fi  and  died  in  1799.  He  came  to  Saucon  town- 
ship. Northampton  (now  Lehigh)  county,  about 
1750.  He  married  Elizabeth  Steinmetz,  daughter 
of  Valentine  Steinmetz,  and  after  the  death  of 
his  father-in-law  succeeded  to  and  settled  upon 
his  estate,  taking'up  his  residence  on  the  site  later 
occupied  by  John  H.  Lauhaeh.  The  number  of 
his  children  cannot  lie  determined,  but  it  appears 
there  are  several  branches  of  Blanks  even  in  the 
territory  now  embraced  in  Lehigh  county.  His 
son  John  George  Blank  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  we  have  the  following  account:  George  died 
unmarried:  John  married  Esther  Clemmer  and 
had  six  children.  George,  Charles  H.  (both  re- 
siding in  Coopersburg,  Lehigh  county),  Edwin  H.. 
Benjamin  (both  residing  in  Allentown),  Eliza 
(married  William  P.  Weidner)  and  Elamina 
(married  Simon  Troxel)  ;  Jacob  married  a  Miss 
Hintenbeutel.   but   nothing   is   known   of  his   de- 


\<M;T1I['MI;KI;LAX1>  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


L59 


scendants;  Abraham  married  Mar}'  Bali]  and  was 
the  father  of  Jacob,  John  G.  and  Abraham,  who 
reside  in  Upper  Saueon  township,  Mrs.  John  Lau- 
bach,  of  Saueon-,  and  Mrs.  John  Metzger,  of  Allen- 
town;  Charles  married  Priscilla  Fry  and  resides 
at  Bethlehem,  Pa.;  David  died  unmarried;  Mary 
married  Jacob  Bahl  and  resides  at  Bethlehem; 
Lydia  married  Nathan  Eberhart  and  died  without 
issue;  Sarah  married  David  Schneider  and  re- 
sides at   Emaus,  Lehigh  <  ounty. 

Jacob  r.hmk.  father  of  Charles  F.  Blank,  was 
horn  in  Saueon  township,  Lehigh  county,  and 
died  in  1864.  Ee  is  buried  at  Zionsville  church, 
in  that  county,  having  been  a  member  of  the  T?e- 
formed  congregation  of  that  church.  He  was  a 
wheelwright,  learning  the  trade  early  in  life,  and 
followed  ii  at  Emaus  until  his  death.  Mr.  Blank 
married  Sarah  Groman,  whose  father  lived  in 
Salisbury  township.  Lehigh  county,  and  she  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  in  1906,  at  the  age 
ill  seventy-five.  She  is  buried  at  Emaus.  Eight 
children,  five  -"lis  and  three  daughters,  were  born 
to  i  his  union  :  Wilson  died  at  the  age  of  six  years; 
John  is  a  resident  of  Emaus.  Pa.;  Charles  F.  is 
mentioned  below;  .lames  was  drowned  when  about 
seven  years  old;  George  died  in  1902  at  Bethle- 
hem, Pa.  (he  had  sons  James  and  Harvey)  ;  Mary 
Aliee  married  -lames  Camburn,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  died  in  t'909  :  Sarah  married  John  Eeinbaugh, 
of  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  and  died  about  1910;  Anna 
married  Paul  Eisenhart,  of  Emaus. 

Charles  !•'.  Blank  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  county,  attending  school  at  Emaus  and 
Allentown,  to  which  latter  place  the  family  re- 
moved when  he  was  thirteen  years  old.  He  worked 
at  various  vocations  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade  at  Cetronia,  Lehigh  county. 
following  same,  as  well  as  millwrighting,  which 
work  he  began  in  1875.  He  engaged  as  mill- 
wright in  the  employ  of  others  until  1888,  being 
foreman  for  four  years  for  the  Wolf  &  Ea- 
maker  Company,  then  of  Allentown.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  in  partnership  with  William  B. 
Gottshall.  who  was  also  formerly  with  the  Wolf 
&  Hamaker  Company  and  like  himself  a  miller  of 
thorough  experience.  Messrs.  Blank  and  Gott- 
shall came  to  Sunbury  in  the  employ  of  a  Cham- 
bersburg  firm  to  remodel  the  historic  old  Eaas 
mill,  from  the  burr  to  the  roller  system.  They 
soon  leased  the  property  and  began  operations  on 
their  own  account,  remaining  at  that  place  until 
1895,  when  they  completed  the  building  of  the 
large  mill  they  have  since  occupied.  They  have  a 
three-story  building  10  by  230  feet,  with  a  two- 
story  addition  115  by  .">0  feet,  as  well  as  other 
buildings,  among  which  is  a  large  engine  house. 
Their  business  lias  extended,  in  both  volume  and 
scope,  until  there  are  now  many  interests  besides 
flour  milling,  the  firm  handling  all  kinds  of  flour 


and  f I.  cement,  plaster,  and  similar  commodities 

in  large  quantities.  Their  principal  brands  of 
dour  are  "B.  &  G.'s  Best,"  "Flak)  Loaf  and 
'■White  Cloud,"  the  daily  capacity  of  the  flour- 
milling  equipment  being  two  hundred  barrels  of 
wheat,  seventy-five  barrels  of  rye,  seventy-five  bar- 
rel- of  buckwheal  and  cornmeal.  They  manufac- 
ture cattle  ami  poultry  foods,  about  forty  tons  of 
chop  daily,  and  the  I'..  &  (J.  Chick  and  lion  food 
has  a  large  -at'  not  onbj  in  the  Lehigh  Valley  Imt 
also  throughout  the  Middle  States.  Their  hay 
shed  is  111  by  60  feet  in  dimensions,  the  grain  ele- 
vator has  a  capacity  of  40,000  bushels,  and  a  large 
warehouse  is  included  among  the  many  conven- 
iences of  this  well  equipped  establishment.  Twen- 
ty-five men  are  given  regular  employment.  The 
products,  which  have  the  reputation  of  being  of 
the  highest  excellence,  are  not  only  in  steady 
demand  locally  and  oxer  the  coal  regions,  but 
find  a  ready  sale  all  over  the  eastern  part  id'  the 
country.  Blank  &  Gottshall  have  shown  their  en- 
terprise in  the  completeness  of  their  plant,  which 
is  admirably  located,  facing  the  Susquehanna  riv- 
er and  running  parallel  with  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  tracks,  from  which  a  switch  connects  with 
the  mills:  there  is  also  a  siding  connecting  with 
the  Pennsylvania  lines.  An  engine  of  15(1  horse 
power  supplies  the  motive  force  for  the  operation 
of  the  mills  and  the  power  for  the  electrical  con- 
veniences ami  comfort  of  the  fine  residences  which 
the  partners  have  erected  on  adjoining  property. 
As  member  of  a  firm  whose  enterprise  is  reckoned 
upon  as  a  substantial  factor  in  the  prosperity  of 
Sunbury,  Mr.  Blank  is  one  of  the  most  respected 
ami  valuable  citizens  of  that  borough,  lie  is  an 
intelligent  and  public-spirited  man.  as  effective  ;i 
worker  in  other  fields  as  in  husiness  circle-. 

On  Aug.  1(1,  1872,  Mr.  Blank  married  Ellen 
Jane  Lent/,  daughter  of  Josiab  and  Miranda 
(Shearer)  Lent/.,  the  former  a  lifelong  resident  of 
the  vicinity  of  Allentown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blank 
had  one  daughter,  who  died  in  infancy.  The\  are 
active  in  the  work  of  the  First.  Reformed  Church 
,,f  Sunbury,  ami  Mr.  Blank  is  a  member  of  Mae- 
lav  Lodge.  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury. 

EDWIN   E.   HOLLENBACK,    D.    D.   S.,   has 
I,,,. n    practicing  dentistry    at    Shamokin    through- 
out Ins  professional  career,  having  begun  in  com 
pany  with  his  father,  one  of  the  oldesl  establii 
dentists  in   the  borough. 

Dr.  Reuben  Eollenback,  the  father,  was  bom 
Sept.  I.  1841,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  near 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  -on  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Sherry)  Eollenback.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and  was 
reared  in  his  native  I lity,  being  trained  to  farm- 
ing, «-hich  he  followed  until  twenty  one  years  old 
Meantime  he  had  also  tal  en  no  teai  Ion-. 
steppins  stone   to   - ani    of   the  higher   profes- 


160 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


sions,  being  thus  engaged  for  six  years,  one  year 
in  his  native  township,  the  rest  of  the  time  in 
Coal  and  Shamokin  townships.  His  older  brother, 
Dr.  D.  S.  Hollenback,  had  entered  the  medical 
profession,  and  he.  too,  had  aspirations  toward 
such  a  career,  which  led  him,  while  teaching,  to 
take  up  the  study  of  dentistry,  which  he  began 
under  the  tuition  of  Dr.  B.  P.  Van  Boskirk,  of 
Selinsgrove.  Snyder  Co..  Pa.  However,  he  was 
not  in  a  position  to  devote  himself  to  it  entirely 
for  a  numbeT  of  years.  In  1864  he  located  at 
Shamokin,  where  he  was  engaged  as  engineer  at 
the  Big  .Mountain  colliery  two  year-,  at  the  end 
of  that  time  resuming  teaching,  which  be  con- 
tinued, along  with  his  dental  studies,  until  1868. 
He  then  commenced  practice  in  Shamokin.  but 
not  being  quite  satisfied  with  his  attainments  he 
entered  the  Dental  College  of  Pennsylvania,  at 
Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was  graduated  March 
1,  18".  Dr.  Hollenback  built  up  a  large  practice 
by  his  skillful  and  conscientious  work,  and  de- 
servedly won  a  place  among  the  leading  pri 
sional  men  of  Shamokin.  Moreover,  without  solici- 
tation on  his  part,  he  has  been  honored  with  some 
of  the  mosl  responsible  public  trusts  in  the  gift 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  having  served  one  term  as 
representative  of  the  Third  ward  in  the  common 
council,  of  which  he  served  one  year  as  president. 
He  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  for  many  years  took  a  lead- 
ins  part  in  its  local  activities.  In  religious  mat- 
ters lie  has  been  identified  with  St.  John's  Re- 
formed Church,  of  which  he  has  long  been  a  prom- 
inent member,  serving  as  chorister  for  many  years. 

In  1865  Dr.  Hollenback  married  Dorcas  Sober, 
daughter  of  Michael  M.  Sober,  who  lived  in  the 
Irish  Valley  in  Northumberland  county.  Three 
children  were  bom  to  this  marriage,  viz.:  William 
S.,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  a  piano  tuner:  Hudson  S.. 
a  dentist,  who  is  located  at  Mount  Carmel,  this 
county;  and  Edwin  E.  The  mother  of  these 
Oct.  24.  1887.  and  on  Dee.  6,  1888,  Dr.  Hollen- 
back married  Savilla  Fidler.  daughter  of  William 
Fidler,  of  Shamokin.  They  have  had  two  children, 
Harry  Franklin  and  Flora  Lillian. 

Edwin  E.  Hollenback  was  horn  at  Shamokin 
May  25,  1871,  and  there  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  for  three  years, 
and  then  entered  the  Pennsylvania  College  of  Den- 
tal Surgery,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  18,92. 
For  several  years  thereafter  he  practiced  with  his 
father,  in  1898  opening  an  office  of  his  own.  Dr. 
Bollenback  is  a  general  practitioner,  but  he  makes 
lecialty  of  high-grade  crown,  bridge  and  plate 
work,  in  which  line  he  has  a  high  reputation.  His 
practice  is  large,  and  has  been  gained  by  the  most 
honorable  methods  and  satisfactory  work,  many 
of  his  patrons  having  come  to  him  ever  since  he 
i  ommeneed  practice. 


Dr.  Hollenback  married  Jessie  Hoskings.  of 
Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Alfred.  Martha  Dorcas  and  Annie  G. 
The  family  home  is  at  No.  11?  Marshall  street. 

GEX.  CHAFLFS  M.  CLEMENT,  a  leading 
lawyer  of  Sunbury,  was  born  there  Oct.  28,  1855, 
son  of  (on.  John  Kay  Clement.  His  ancestors 
were  Friends,  the  Clements  having  been  prominent 
members  of  that  Society  in  England. 

Oregon  ('lenient,  the  earliest  ancestor  of  whom 
we  have  record,  was  a  member  of  Parliament  in 
1646  and  was  one  of  the  famous  body  of  Regicides, 
and  with  four  others  was  hanged.  When  Gregory 
Clement  was  arrested,  in  1660,  his  son  James 
escaped,  ami  emigrating  from  his  native  land  came 
to  America,  landing  on  Staten  island.  Subse- 
quently hi'  located  near  Camden,  in  Camden  (then 
Gloucester)  county.  X.  J.  He  became  a  large 
land  owner  ami  surveyor  and  his  descendants  also 
followed  that  oci  on  lor  a  number  of  genera- 

tions. He  married  Sarah  Field,  and  their  children 
included  a  son  Jacob. 

Jacob  Clement,  son  of  James,  married  Ann  Har- 
rison. 

Samuel  Clement,  son  of  Jacob  and  Ann  (Har- 
rison),  married  Rebecca  Collins,  a  granddaughter 
of  Francis  Collins,  who  came  to  America  in  1678, 
locating  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  became  a  man 
of  distinction.  He  served  for  a  time  in  the  ca- 
pacity  of  judge  and  was  a  member  of  the  Provin- 
cial Legislature  of  Xew  Jersey. 

Samuel  Clemen!  ('.'i.  son  of  Samuel,  married 
Mary  Fosti  r. 

Evan  ('.  Clement,  son  of  Samuel  (2),  was  born 
in  Camden  county.  X.  J.  He  was  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  manufacture  of  glass  and  became 
a  man  of  considerable  means.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  serving  as  sergeant  major.  He 
passed  all  his  life  in  his  native  county,  where  he 
died  in  182?  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
thirty-seven.  He  married  Hannah  Kay.  great- 
great-granddaughter  of  John  Kay.  the  first  settler 
of  the  name  in  America,  who  came  over  in  1683, 
v\a-  speaker  of  the  Provincial  Assembly  of  Xew 
Jersey  for  several  years,  and  one  of  the  council  for 
We-t  Jersey.  John  Kay.  Mrs.  Clement's  father, 
married  Kesiah  Thome,  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Thorne.  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 

John  Kay  Clement,  son  of  Evan  C.  and  Hannah 
(  Ka\  )  Clement,  was  born  Jan.  1.  1820,  in  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.,  and  was  but  seven  years  old  when 
hi-  father  died.  As  the  latter  had  failed  a  short 
time  previously,  the  boy  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  at  an  early  age.  He  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  Friends'"  school  in  his  native  city, 
and  began  the  study  of  law  when  eighteen  years 
(dd  in  the  office  of  his  cousin,  Richard  Howell,  of 
Camden.  X.  J.  In  1842.  at  the  age  of  twenty-two, 
he   was   admitted    to   the   bar   in   Trenton,   X.   J. 


VLsCLstH-'*^' 


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X  OET 1 1 UMBE  1,'LAX  1 )  ( '(  >U  XT  Y,   PEXXSYLYA  N  I A 


L61 


Soon  afterward  lie  removed  to  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa.,  where  lie  iir-i  made  his  Ik. me  at  Minersville, 
later  at  Pottsville,  practicing  law  there  until  his 
removal  to  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  in 
1854.  There  he  continued  to  live  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  acquiring  a  vert  extensive  practice  and 
for  many  years  holding  a  high  place  in  public  af- 
fairs. lli>  legal  work  was  mainly  in  the  line  of 
criminal  law,  in  which  special  branch  of  the  pro- 
fession he  was  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  the 
State,  participating  in  many  of  the  most  famous 
cases  tried  iii  his  section.  He  was  not  only  ver- 
satile in  the  law.  but  gifted  with  unusual  powers 
■  >;  eloquence,  and  as  a  pleader  had  few  equals,  lie 
practiced  law  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  ever)7  other 
interest,  most  of  his  public  service  being  of  a  pro- 
fessional nature,  and  he  won  his  high  rank  in  the 
legal  fraternity  by  unswerving  devotion  to  the 
calling  of  his  choice.  II  is  logic  and  eloquence, 
backed  by  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  law, 
made  him  a  powerful  ally  on  either  side  of  a  case. 
From  1871  to  L878  he  was  engaged  as  counsel,  on 
one  side  or  the  other,  in  every  important  criminal 
.  ase  tried  here.  "Bear"  Dolan,  the  first  "Molly 
Maguire"  com  ii  ted,  was  successfully  prosecuted  by 
him  in  1872,  and  he  defended  Peter  McMannes,  the 
of  that  famous  hand  to  he  tried.  In  1859 
General  ('lenient  was  elected  district  attorney  of 
Northumberland  county,  was  again  elected  in 
1871,  and  in  is?:  again  took  the  ..nice  by  appoint- 
ment. 

While  a  resident  >.i  Schuylkill  county  he  was 
made  brigadier  general  of  the  State  militia,  and 
during  the  Civil  war  he  nut  only  aided  the  Union  by 
personal  service  as  officer  and  private,  hut  also 
used  his  influence  throughout  that  period  in  sup- 
port of  the  Northern  cause,  lie  was  captain  of 
the  Pottsville  Light  Artillery,  which  organization 
still  exists  ns  Company  F.  tth  Regiment,  P.  X.  G., 
served  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  as  aide  i  . 
Colonel  Cameron,  and  also  served  as  a  private  of 
Company  D,  tth  Pennsylvania  Emergency  Militia. 
In  1862  he  was  made  provosl  marshal  of  the  14th 
District  of  Pennsylvania  ami  served  efficiently  un- 
til 1864.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  before  the 
war.  and  subsequently  a  stanch  Republican,  lie 
served   some  a  member  of  the  council  of 

Sunbury.     II.-  died  at  Sunbury  Oct.  15,  L882. 

On  May  is.  L854,  General  Clement  married 
Mary  S.  Zeigler,  of  Sunbury,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  |  Ever)  Zeigler,  the  former  ..I'  whom  was 
once  a  prominent  leather  merchant  of  Sunbury. 
She  survived  him.  maldng  her  home  in  Sunbury 
until  her  death,  April  30,  1908.  Five  children 
were  horn  to  this  union,  Charles  M.  being  the  only 
survivor.  General  Clement  was  an  Episcopalian 
in  religion,  and  was  a  vestryman  in  St.  Matthew's 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  at  the  time  of  his 
death.     Fraternally  he  was  a  Freemason. 

Charles  M.  Clement,  only  surviving  member  of 
11 


the  family  of  Gen.  John  Kav  and  Mary  S. 
(Zeigler)  (lenient,  received  an  excellent  literary 
training  in  the  academies  at    Sunbury,    Pa.,  and 

Burlington,   X.   .1..   leaving  school   at  thi    

seventeen.      For   tin'    aexl    -ix   year-    he   was   em- 
ployed as  clerk'  in  the  prothonotary's  office  at  Sun- 
hurv.  and  then  read  law  with  hi-  father,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  .March  11.  1878.     The  January 
following  he  began  practice  with  his  father,  with 
whom  he  was  associated   in  practice  until   the  lat- 
ter'- death.     This  relation  was  of  the  utmost   value 
to  him.     His  thorough  study  of  legal    princi 
gave   him   an  excellent    foundation   for   hi-    wo 
and  his  aptitude  for  applying  it  to  practical,  ev- 
eryday   affairs    made    him    popular    with    a    la 
clientage  who  appreciate  common  sense  inter] 
tation  of  ordinary  laws.      lint  though   lie  has  en- 
gaged   in   gen'eral   practice,  corporation    work    has 
I. ecu  hi-  main  line,  particularly  as  a  trial  b*>> 
in    causes    affecting    corporate    interests.       From 
April,  1891,  to  April.  1898,  he  was  associated  in 
practice  with  Hon.   S.    I'.  Wblverton. 

General  ('lenient  has  long  been  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party.     From   1879  to  1883 

he  was  secretary  of  the  county  committee,  and  fr 

1883  to  1888  was  chairman  of  that  body,  lie  has 
served  several  years  as  member  of  the  council,  and 
oiii'  term  a-  assistant  burgess;  he  was  borough 
solicitor,  solicitor  of  the  school  and  solicitor  for 

the  overseers  of  the  | r  for  several  year-:  i-  now 

a  scl 1  director;  on  Oct.  1.  1887,  he  was  appointed 

corporation  clerk  of  the  State  department  by 
Charles  W.  Stone;  on  Nov.  28,  1890,  he  was 
pointed  by  <  kivernoT  Beaver  deputy  secretary  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.  In  all  these  of- 
fices his  service  was  most  creditable,  showing  the 
most  intelligent  citizenship  and  public-spirited  de- 
votion to  the  general  interest,  lie  is  pi  tdent  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital  at 
Sunbury. 

In  is; ?  General  clement  ua-  one  ol  the  organ- 
:ers  of   the   Sunbury   Guards,   <  'ompany    E,   12th 
Regiment,  P.  ST.  G.,  which  he  "Jo 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  in  regular 
order  and  three  times  i  I .1  to  sen  i  '  ca- 

pacity, in   L882,  lss;   and   1892.     In   1896 
elected  major  of  the  12th  Regiment,  in  1898  elect- 
ed lieutenant  colonel,  and  volunteering  for  ser 
during  the  Spanish  American   war  was  commis- 
sioned lieutenant  colonel  of  the  I'.'tli  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  which  was  mustered  out  Oct    29,  i  - 
His  eldest  son,  John  Kaj   I  llement,  then  a  boj 
seventeen,   was  a  corporal    in   Company    E,   same 
regiment.    On   Vug.  L7,  1899,  Charles  M  Clen 
„ ;l.    e]ei  ted  i  ilonel ;    was    reel  cted    in    1904    and 
[909  '  29, 

1910 :  and  on  Sept.   I,  1910,  was  I  to  the 

command  of  the  3d    Bi  igadc.     S  icialh  .   •  'olonel 
S  ms  of  \  eterans,  the  S 
Fj  0n,  I   e  Sd  the  W  ar  ol   1812, 


162 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  Society  of  Foreign  Wars  and  the  Naval  and 
Military  Order  of  bin  Spanish  American  war.  He 
is  a  member  of  Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Northumberland  R.  A.  Chapter,  No.  174,  .Mount 
Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K.  T.,  Caldwell 
Consistory,  thirty-second  degree,  and  Zembo  Tem- 
ple, Mystic  Shrine.  IK  is  a  past  master  of  his 
lodge  and  past  commander  of  the  commandery. 
General  Clement  is  rector's  warden  of  St. 
Matthew's  Church.  Sunbury,  secretary  of  the  ves- 
try, secretary  of  the  diocesan  convention,  and  has 
been  a  deputy  to  the  general  convention  since  1898, 
serving  therein  on  the  committees  on  Admission  of 
New  Dioceses,  on  the  Prayer  Book,  and  on  the 
Commission  to  Re\  ise  the  Lectionary. 

On  Nov.  19,  1879,  General  Clement  was  married 
at  Northumberland  to  Alice  Y.  Withington, 
daughter  of  Martin  J.  P.  Withington.  Four  sons 
have  been  born  to  them:  John  Kay.  Martin  W., 
Charles  Francis  and  Theron  Ball.  John  Kay 
Clement  married  Isabel  Colvin,  and  has  one  son, 
Charles  M.  Clement,  2d  :  he  is  captain  of  Company 
E,  18th  Regiment,  X.  G.  P.,  and  is  physicist  in  the 

Burei E  Mines,  stationed  at  Pittsburg.     Martin 

W.  Clement  married  Irene  II.  Higbee,  and  they 
haw  one  -on.  Martin  \\  I  - t,  Jr.;  he  is  super- 
visor on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  stationed  at 
Philadelphia,  and  is  a  captain  in  the  quarter- 
master's department,  N .  < . .  P.  Charles  Francis  is 
practicing  law  with  his  father,  and  is  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  E,  12th  Regiment.  \.  G.  P. 
These  three  sons  are  graduates  of  Trinity  College, 
Hart  lord.  Conn. :  John  K.  is  also  a  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Gottingen,  and  Charles  F.  of  the  law 
school  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Theron 
B.  is  in  the  local  high  school. 

WILLIAM  F.  KLINE,  a  leading  citizen  of  the 

I ugh  of  Snydertown,  Northumberland  county. 

was  horn  Sept.  9,  1833,  at  Klinesgrove.  which 
place  t-  so  known  in  honor  of  his  family.  He  is 
the  last  surviving  member  of  his  generation  of 
the  family,  which  was  settled  in  this  region  by 
[saac  Kline,  his  great-grandfather. 

One  Herman  Kline  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  settled 
in  Hunterdon  county,  X.  J.,  where  he  bought 
considerable  land.  It  is  said  he  was  rich,  and 
generous  to  his  less  fortunate  fellowmen.  He 
reared  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  The 
date  of  his  death  is  unknown. 

In  1799  three  of  the  sons  of  Herman  Kline 
came  to  Pennsylvania,  two  of  them  (Abraham  and 
another)  settling  on  Fishing  creek,  in  Columbia 
oounty.  Isaac  Kline,  one  of  these  three  brothers, 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  family  with  which 
this  article  deals.  He  settled  in  what  is  now 
Upper  Augusta  (then  Augusta  i  township,  North- 
umberland county,  at  or  near  the  site  of  what  is 
now    known    as    Klinesgrove,    which    village    was 


named  for  the  Kline  family.  It  is  on  the  road 
leading  from  Sunbury  to  Danville,  at  the  line  of 
Upper  Augusta  and  Bush  townships.  A  number 
of  the  family,  of  the  various  generations,  are 
buried  at  the  Klinesgrove  M.  E.  Church.  In  this 
locality  Isaac  Kline  bought  four  hundred  or  five 
hundred  acres  of  land,  then  nearly  all  forest,  and 
he  and  his  family  were  pioneers  in  all  that  the 
name  implies.  Their  nearest  neighbors  were  live 
miles  distant.  Wild  beasts  bowled  at  night  around 
the  log  cabin,  rudely  constructed,  but  affording  a 
comfortable  shelter.  There  the  family  made  a 
permanent  home.  Isaac  Kline  was  accompanied 
into  the  wilderness  by  his  wife.  Margaret,  and 
their  two  sons.  Herman  and  Isaac,  with  their 
wives  and  families.  He  settled  his  oldest  son. 
Herman,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Charles 
Rockefeller,  ami  made  his  own  home  with  his  son 
Isaac,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  F.  Derr. 
There  he  died  in  1S18,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years,  a  year  or  two  after  the  death  of  his 
wife.  They  are  interred  in  the  if.  E.  Church  cem- 
eterv  at  Klinesgrove. 

Herman  Kline,  eldest  son  of  Isaac  Kline,  settled 
in  what  was  then  Augusta  township.  He  had  a 
family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters:  Elisba, 
who  lived  on  the  farm  later  owned  by  Charles 
Moore,  died  in  1875,  aged  eighty-eight  years: 
John,  who  lived  on  the  farm  now  in  the  pen- 
sion of  A.  D.  Moore,  died  in  1861,  aged  sixty-nine 
years:  [saac,  who  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  S.  (..  Kase,  died  in  1878,  aged  eighty-four 
'in-:  David  went  West  while  young:  Margaret 
became  Mrs.  Campbell';  Jemima,  Mrs.  Stroh; 
Polly,  Mrs.  Campbell;  Susan  died  unmarried. 

Isaac  Kline,  dr..  the  younger  son  of  Isaac  Kline, 
lived  with  his  father  until  his  death,  in  1804.  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty-three  years.  He  followed 
farming.  His  widow,  Catharine  (Barton),  lived 
with  her  children  until  her  death,  in  the  year  1856, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven.  After  the 
death  of  their  grandfather  the  children  of  Isaac 
(dr.  I  and  Catharine  (Barton)  Kline  inherited 
!n-  estate,  there  being  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, namely:  (1)  Henry,  the  eldest,  born  in  1791 
in  Hunterdon  county.  N.  J.,  obtained  the  farm  on 
which  his  son  Francis  A.  now  lives  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  and  died  in  1878,  aged  eighty- 
seven  years.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Forrester), 
died  in  18-50.  Their  children  were:  John  F.  (born 
Dec.  25.  181E  in  Augusta  township).  Sarah  Ann 
(Mrs.  Weaver).  Jane  (Mrs.  Mettler.  living  in 
the  West,  and  the  only  surviving  daughter),  Eliz- 
abeth (Mrs.  Gilger),  Isaac  F..  Mary  (Mrs.  Bas- 
sett),  and  Francis  A.  (2)  Herman  inherited  the 
farm  now  owned  by  John  F.  Derr.  and  spent  some 
years  of  his  earlier  manhood  farming  on  the 
homestead,  later  living  at  Klinesgrove.  where  he 
operated  the  Klinesgrove  gristmill.  He  died  there 
in    1865,    aged    seventy-one    years.      He   married 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


163 


Nancy  Mettler.  Th<<\  left  no  descendants.  (3) 
[saac  is  mentioned  below.  (  M  Sarah,  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell, li\'''l  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  her  son, 
[saac  <  lampbell,  ami  died  there  in  is  1 1.  at  the  age 
of  about  forty-four,  sin-  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children. 

tsaac  Kline,  sod  of  [saac  (Jr.)  ami  Catharine 
(Barton)  Kline,  was  bom  Nov.  3,  1803,  and  died 
Oct.  10,  1876.  Be  inherited  the  farm  near  the 
Klinesgfove  Church,  a  tract  of  105  acres,  upon 
which  he  followed  farming,  and  resided  thereuntil 
his  death.  In  1834  In-  limit  the  stone  residence 
still  standing  upon  that  farm.  In  politics  lie  was 
originally  an  old-line  Whig,  later  becoming  a  Re- 
publican,  and  he  was  particularly  active  in  the  re- 
ligious lit''  ot  ilic  community,  being  one  of  the 
pillars  nl'  the  Klinesgrove  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  was  an  organizer,  and  he 
donated  five  hundred  dollars  when  the  church  was 
erected,  in  1867.  Hi-  family  were  also  Metho- 
dists. Mr.  Kline  married  Lucy  Ami  Forrester. 
who  was  born  Feb.  16,  1804,  and  died  Jan.  8, 1886. 
Thei  had  three  children  :  ( 1  )  Josiah  F..  born  Aug. 
29,  1831,  married  Elizabeth  Condon,  of  Philadel 
phia,  and  the\  lived  in  thai  city.  They  had  chil- 
dren: Edmund  .Tames.  William  R.,  Josiah  F.  ami 
Henry  B.,  the  las!  named  dying  young.  ('.')  Wil- 
liam F.  i-  mentioned  below,  i  •">  |  James  F.,  born 
Oct.  30,  L837,died  June  5,  L888,  at  Newark.  X.  J., 
ami  is  buried  at  Danville,  Pa.  lie  was  a  lieuten- 
ant in  the  3d  Pennsylvania  Heavy  Artillery  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war.  stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
He  ami  his  wife  Mar;  (McGill)  had  one  child,  that 
died  iii  infancy . 

William    1-'.    Kline   attended   the   scl Is  of  the 

home  locality  in  his  early  boyhood,  and  later  went 
in  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Williamsport.  He 
taught  school  for  one  term  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, ar  what  is  now  known  as  Mouni  Pleasant 
(then  Texas)  schoolliouse.  From  early  life  he  was 
trained  to  farming,  in  which  he  is  still  interested, 
having  a  valuable  tract  of  150  acres  all  included 
within  the  limits  of  the  borough  of  Snydertown. 
He  has  made  various  improvements  upon  this  es- 
tate since  it  came  into  his  possession,  ami  has  tw  ice 
remodeled  the  house  during  his  ownership.  In 
1861  Mr.  Kline  began  tanning  at  Snydertown,  in 
1868  putting  up  the  present  tannery  buildings 
there,  replacing  tin-  original  buildings  of  an  early 
tannery.  lie  continued  in  this  business  for  a 
period  of  six  years,  until  the  end  of  1ST-'!.  Mi'. 
Kline'-  substantia]  success  entitles  him  to  a  fore- 
n!i.-i  place  among  the  business  men  of  his  section, 
where  he  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment ami  ability.  In  the  conduct  of  borough  af 
fairs  he  has  for  years  been  a  well  known  figure, 
lie  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  direct- 
ors, ami  served  some  years  as  secretary  of  thai 
bodv:  he  was  the  first  chief  burgess  elected  in 
Snvdertown,   held    the  office   for  six    d  ars   in  suc- 


cession, and  later  was  elected  lor  another  two 
years.  The  mere  record  of  the  positions  to  which 
he  has  been  chosen  is  sufficient  evidence  of  the 
esteem  and  popularity  he  enjoys  among  hi-  Eellow- 
meii.  He  ha-  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  cit- 
izens of  Snvdertown  since  its  organization.  It  is 
the  largest  borough  in  area  in  the  State,  though 
the  populat  ion  is  but  four  hundred.  Politii 
Mr.  Kline  is  a  Republican. 

In    January,    1860,    Mr.    Kline    married    Marj 
Margaret    Wolverton.    who    was    horn    March     13, 
L838,  and  died  duly  2,  1886,  tin'  mother  of  | 
children:     One  that  died  in  infancy;  Charles  II.. 
also  deceased  in  infancy;  and  George  W.,  who  is 
located   at    Eleventh  ami   Wolverton  streets,  Sun- 
bury.    On  Feb.  19,  1890,  Mr.  Kline  married  i -■ 
ond  i    Margaret    E.   Moore,  daughter  of  James   R. 
and    Priseilla    (Martini    Moore,    of    Snydertown, 
who  had  the  following  children:  James  A..  John 
M..  .lane  E.,  Rebecca  M.,  Perry  M.  and  Mar. 
F.     Mr.  and   Mrs.   Kline  have  no  children.     Mr. 
Kline  and   his  family  are  Methodists,  prominent 
members  of  the  church  at  Klinesgrove,  which  Mr. 
Kline    served    on    the    hoard    of    trustees    contin- 
uously  from   1866  to   1908,  being  also   secretary 
id'  that  board.     He  has  long  been  regarded  a-  one 
of  the  pillars  of  the  church,  and  is  highly  respi  i 
ed  among  its  membership. 

JAMES  I,'.  MOORE,  the  father  of  Mrs.  William 
F.  Kline,  was  the  son  of  John  Moore,  who  came 
from  New  Jersey  at  an  early  date  ami  settled  in 
what  is  now  Rush  township,  where  he  purchasei 
farm.  He  died  upon  his  farm  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years  and  is  buried  in  a  grave  yard  near  Deib 
station  in  Shamokin  township.  Tie  married  Rebec- 
ca, daughter  of  James  Moore,  and  they  had  these 
children:  John.  James  R.,  Rebecca,  Mary,  Anna. 
Miriam.  Samuel  and  Hannah. 

James  II.  Moore,  father  of  Mrs.  Kline.  «;i- 
born  in  Rush  township  Feb.  '.'.  L805,  and  died  at 
Olathe,  Johnson  Co.,  Kan-..  July  2,  1885.  He 
was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  ami  in  the  year  of 
1846  went  to  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  ami  remained  until  1872,  when  he 
went  to  Olathe,  Kans.,  and  there  he  continued  to 
farm.  He  married  Priseilla,  daughter  .if  Atchin- 
son  Martin,  w ho  died  in  Kansas.  They  had  thesi 
children  :  James  A..  John  M..  -lane  K..  Rebecca 
M..  Perry  M.  and  Margaret  I-:..  now  the  wife  of 
William   F.   Kline. 

KLASE.  The  family  history  in  this  article  on 
the  Klases  was  contributed  by  Mr.  John  Hower 
Klase,  "f  Snvdertown.  who  intends  to  amplify  it 
and  complete  the  records  as  tune  and  opportunity 

permit.        liar!',      records     ill     hi-  HOD     -how 

considerable  variation  in  the  spelling 

The  German  forms  are  Kloss,  Klesz,  Kloesz.    T 

Anglicized      spelling     John      Klase      (Johafl 


164 


NORTHUMBERLAND  C(  IUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Kloess)  appears  in  the  tax  record  of  1773  for 
Bethlehem  township,  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
the  form-  Clase,  Glase,  Glos,  Glosz  and  Kleiss  are 
all  found. 

On  Nov.  22,  L752,  one  "Johonas  Kins-"  landed 
in  Philadelphia  from  the  ship  "Phoenix,"  Reuben 
Hotter,  captain,  from  Rotterdam  and  ('owes.  The 
emigration  records  of  Philadelphia  show  Klosses 
here  much  earlier,  as  early  as  1732,  who  evidently 
yvere  of  the  same  family,  as  they  all  settled  to  the 

i!i  of  Philadelphia,  where  they  had  land  grants 

-ii n  rwil.  Bui  this  Johanas  Kloss  is  the  earliest  ar- 
rival to  whom  the  family  here  under  consideration 
can  be  traced.  His  family  can  be  very  easily  traced 
from  the  records  appearing  at  Eastern,  Pa.  II'1 
lived  and  'iicd  near  Bethlehem,  and  his  will,  on 
record  al  Easton,  makes  grants  to  i  he  follow  ing 
nine  children  (who  were  to  receive  £5,000  in  mon- 
ey besides  land-):  Valentine,  Philip,  John,  Jr., 
Jacob,  Catharine,  Michael,  Elizabeth  (married 
Michael  Young),  Annie  Marie  and  Christiana. 
The  dates  of  birth  and  death  of  "Johon"  Klase  are 
at  presenl  net  known,  but  he  was  still  living  in  the 
year  1804,  when  he  and  his  wife  Catharine  appear 
as  witnesses  at  the  christening  of  cue  of  Valen- 
tine's daughters,  Mary  Eva,  who  later  married 
Solomon  Fegley,  father  id'  George  K.  Peg 

Valentine  Klase,  the  eldest  son  of  Johonas  and 
the  head  of  the  family  located  in  Northumberland 
county,  Pa.,  was  a  resident  id'  Northampton  coun- 
ty, near  Bethlehem,  win  re  he  owned  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  on  what  is  known  as  the  Dry  Land. 
Tins  farm  appears  on  the  tax  list  of  Bethlehem 
township  in  1788,  and  its  location  i-  known  to  the 
family,  the  Klase  burying  ground  being  on  this 
farm.  Valentine  Klase  married  Mary  Eva  Smit- 
ten, who  was  born  Oct.  1.  1766,  and  died  at  Sny- 
dertown,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  on  the  old 
homestead,  Aug.  V.  1838;  -he  i-  buried  in  St. 
John's  Lutheran  cemetery  near  Snydertown.  The 
children  of  Valentine  and  Mary  Eva  were:  Jacob, 
Abraham,  Michael.  Valentine,  dr..  Henry,  Mary 
Eva  and  Catharine,  all  horn  in  Bethlehem  town- 
ship. Northampton  county.  In  the  year  1753 
Valentine  took  out  a  warrant  for  fifty  acre-  of 
land  in  Northampton  county.  In  the  year  1778  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Continental  army,  in 
Captain  Reeser's  It'n  Company  of  Militia,  from 
Fork-  township,  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  5th 
Battalion:  ordered  to  march  July  30,  1778  (Penn- 
sylvania Archives.  Second  Series.  Vol.  14,  Page 
591  )  :  for  which  service  he  was  given  a  grant  of 
land,  which  he  never  took  up.  Valentine  Klase 
was  a  farmer  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred some  time  between  April  12th — when  he 
made  his  will — and  May  18th,  1812,  when  his  will 
was  probated  at  Easton,  Pa.  After  the  Indian 
troubles  had  been  settled  in  the  northern  sections 
of  the  State  and  the  land-  of  the  last  Indian  pur- 
chase opened   for  settlement,  he  joined  himself  to 


others  of  Northampton  county  and  came  to  fort 
Augusta,  or  what  is  now  known  as  Sunburv.  Pa., 
and  entered  into  the  purchasing  of  lands.  About 
eight  miles  east  of  Sunburv  he  purchased  950  acres 
with  an  allowance  of  ''',,,  per  cent  for  roads,  mak- 
ing 1,000  acres  all  told.  This  land  lay  north  of 
the  old  Leading  road,  at  what  is  known  as  Ston- 
ington,  comprising  a  strip  nearly  one  mile  wide 
running  north  to  the  northern  boundary  of  Sny- 
dertown borough,  including  what  are  now  the  lands 
of  John  Klase.  William  Garrow,  Jesse  Gonsar, 
Jacob  Gonsar,  II.  A.  Pensyl,  Charles  Snyder,  ami 
Jake  Klase's  farm,  and  part  of  tin/  Fox  farm. 
This  tract  had  been  surveyed  at  an  earlier  date  ami 
was  known  as  the  Banover  Manor.  Same  was 
sold  to  Lewis  Dewart  and  Jacob  Snyder,  from 
whom  Valentine  Klase  purchased.  Jacob  Snyder 
erected  the  first  burr  mill  and  saw  mill  at  Snyder- 
town, located  on  the  site  of  the  present  mill  owned 
h\  Grant  Gonsar.  The  -aid  Jacob  Snyder  was  also 
the  founder  of  Snydertown,  Pa.  [for  above  see 
die. I  ,,i    Valentine  Kloss].     The  date  of  this  pur- 

e  by  Valentine  Klase  was  L811,  as  recorded  in 
the  recorder's  office  at  Sunburv,  Pa.  After  buy- 
ing this  land  he  returned  to  Bethlehem,  with  the 
intention  of  moving  here,  but  meeting  with  an  ac- 
cident he  died.  His  will  bequeathed  this  land  to 
lii-  willow"  and  children  to  he  held  by  them  as 
tenants  in  common,  and  he  appointed  his  widow. 
Mary  Eva,  Jacob,  Henry,  Abraham,  children,  and 
John  Smith,  brother-in-law,  a-  administrators  "I' 
-  i  state,  both  in  Northampton  county  and  North- 
umberland county.  He  al-o  stipulated  in  his  will 
that  the  land  in  Northumberland  county  should 
not  be  sold  before  six  years  after  hi>  death.  Some 
of  the  family  were  not   suited   with  the  land  and 

requested  the  -ale  of  si so  mi   March  10.  L816, 

four  year-  after  the  purchase  of  the  land,  the  Leg- 
islature of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act  for  its  spe- 
cial disposal.     After  this.  Iiaving  been  advertised 

four  weeks  in  a  paper  published  at  Easton,  Pa., 
it  was  sold  to  John  Smith,  one  of  the  adminis- 
trators, for  $11,067.67.  The  tract  was  now  par- 
-  ed  out  to  the  following:  Jacob,  who  took  the 
southern  part,  about  200  acres;  Valentine,  Jr., 
centra]  part,  ".'on  acre-:  John  Smith.  200  acres  of 
northern  part;  Abraham,  one  half  of  the  western 
pait  (joining  John  Smith),  consisting  of  von 
acres;  the  balance  being  -old  to  different  parties. 
I'iie  part  that  Abraham  owned  consisted  princi- 
pally of  the  land  bought  of  Jacob  Snyder. 
Michael.  Henry.  Eva  and  Catharine  received  their 
share  in  money.  Of  this  family  we  have  tin*  fol- 
low ing  record  : 

Jacob  Klase.  son  of  Valentine,  Sr.,  born  oear 
Bethlehem,  Pa.,  dan.  28.  1790,  died  March  is. 
1870,  and  was  buried  in  St.  John's  cemetery  near 
Snydertown,  Pa.  He  cleared  the  greater  part  of 
hi-  land  for  farming,  which  lie  followed  through- 
out his  life,  and  it  was  also  the  occupation  of  In- 


NOKTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


165 


family.     They   were   noted    for   their   hospitality. 
Be  buill  a  stone  house  at  Stonington,  which  is  still 
standing,    in    a    good    slate   of    preservation,   and 
buill   a   sawmill   on   the  stream    running  past   the 
house.      He    married    Polly    Schweitzer    and    had 
these   children:    (1)    Mary.      (2)    Catharine,   horn 
in  1817,  married  Jacob  Weaver,  and  died  in  L899. 
She   is   buried   at    Rush    Presbyterian   chinch,   in 
Rush   township.     They  lived   near   Rushtown,   Pa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  had  the  following  children: 
Mary,  born  in  1834,  died  in  1889  (buried  in  Rush 
Presbyterian    cemetery),    who    married    William 
Cunningham    and    had    Catharine    (married    S. 
Bailey  and  had  one  child,  <  leorge  E.),  ( ;.  S.  ( mar- 
ried Margarel  Gulick,  and  had  children.  ('.  Louis, 
Sarah  E.,  Margarel   V  and  Dessie  Marione;  G.  S. 
Cunningham  is  living  on  the  old  homestead,  where 
he    is    following    farming)    and    Sarah    G.    (who 
married    Rev.    Thomas    Kerr   and    they   have  one 
child,    Kathrcn )  :    Elizabeth,   who   married    a    Mr. 
.Miller  and   had  children,   Frank",   Warren.  Charles. 
Jennie    and    Samuel;    Kate,    who    married    a    Mr. 
Bartlet   and    had   one  child,   Oliver    (they   live  at 
West    Pittston,   Pa.);  and   Harriet,  horn'in  1835, 
who  died   in   1909  and   is  buried  in  Rush  Presby- 
terian church  cemetery.     (3)    Elizabeth  was  born 
at   Stonington,  Pa.,  and  died  at   New  Media.  Pa., 
aged    ninety-two   years.      (I)    Solomon,    born   at 
Stonington,    Pa.,  died   while   living  at   the   farm. 
(5)    Jacob   died    unmarried,      (<>)    Annie   Marie 
married    a    Mr.    Lamcrson    and    lived    at    Danville, 
where   she   died.     There   were   no   children.      (7) 
Leonard   died    as   the   result    id'  an   accident    al    the 
sawmill,      lie  was  unmarried.      (S)    Samuel   is  liv- 
ing at  Catawissa,  Pa.,  now   (lull)   in  his  eighty- 
fourth  year.     After  selling  the  farm  at  Stoning- 
ton  he  moved  to   New    Media,   Pa.,  where  he  also 
owned  a   farm,  which  he  sold  in  1905.     (9)  Wil- 
helmina,  horn  at  Stonington;  died  unmarried. 

Abraham  Klase,  son  of  Valentine,  Sr.,  was  horn 
in  1792,  died  in  1850,  and  is  buried  in  SI.  John's 
Lutheran  cemetery  ai  Snydertown.  He  made  use 
of  the  western  half  of  the  northern  part  of  the 
land  purchased  by  his  father,  consisting  of  that 
part  boughl  of  Jacob  Snyder,  whereon  was  the 
Lji'Miuill  and  sawmill,  and  besides  following 
farming  he  operated  the  mill  for  several  years. 
Meantime  he  buill  a  house  near  the  null,  and  then 
sold  the  mill  to  Samuel  Gonsar,  whose  heirs  own 
the  same,  lie  married  Elizabeth  Smith,  and  they 
had  the  following  children :  (1)  Hannah  married 
George  Erieger.  CM  Prank  Klase  died  in  Sham- 
okin  township.  (3.)  Matilda  married  'Samuel 
Yetter.  (  I)  Catharine  married  a  Mr.  Brobst  and 
moved  to  Iowa.  (5)  Eliza  married  Daniel 
Weaver.  (6)  William  died  in  California.  (7) 
Abraham,  horn  in  1819,  .lied  in  1885,  and  is 
buried  at  Shamokin.  Tie  married  Catharine  Mil- 
ler, horn  in  1819,  died  in  1891,  buried  at  Sham- 
okin, and  they  had  the  following  children:  George 


Washington,  horn  in  1843,  who  married  Iluldah 
Clark,  died  in  1908;  Amanda,  horn  in  1844, 
died  in  1907;  Regina  Catharine,  born  in  1846, 
married  A.  G.  Goodwill;  Thomas  Jefferson,  bora 
in  1849,  married  Sue  E.  Bolieh;  Martha  Chan 
entine,  horn  in  1851,  married  A.  E.  Shissler: 
Franklin  Pierce,  bora  in  1853,  died  in  L854;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  horn  in  is:,:,,  died  in  1S7!):  Addison 
Miller,  born  in  is:,;,  died  in  lss|  :  [da  Rebecca, 
horn  in  1859,  married  W.  F.  Goodwill;  James 
Buchanan,  horn  in  1861,  married  Mattie  Apple- 
gate.     (S)   Solomon  1'.  was  horn  June  28,  L831. 

Solomos    I'.    Klase,    son    of    Abraham,    bora 
June  28,  is:;i.  in  Shamokin  township,  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  at  the  borough  of  Snydertown.     lie  be- 
came   familiar   with    farm    work    in    boyhood,    and 
when  eighteen  years  old  commenced   to  learn  the 
trades  of  stone  mason   and  stone  cutter,  which   he 
continued  to  follow  until  several  years  ago,  giving 
up  active  work  in  L900.     lie  ha,l  an  excellent  rep- 
utation   for   first-class   workmanship,   and   among 
other  undertakings  intrusted  to  him  may  he  men- 
tioned   the    building    of    St.     Edward's    Catholic 
church  at   Shamokin.  of  which   he  had  charge  as 
superintendent.       Mr.    Klase    is    a    veteran    of    the 
Civil    war.    having   entered    the    Hnion    service    in 
1862   as   a    member   of   Company   C    (largely    re- 
cruited   from    the    territory    about    Snydertown). 
1.31st    Regiment,   Pennsylvania   Volunteers,  under 
Capt.   Thomas    R.   Jones,      lie   served   as  corporal. 
He  completed  a  nine  months'  term,  11111-111":  which 
he  took  pari  in  the  fights  at  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg and  Chancellorsv  ille.      lie  is  a   member  of  O. 
A.  E.  I'ost  Xo.  335,  at  Sunbury.     Politically  Mr. 
Klase  is  a   Democrat,  and   he  has  taken  consider 
able   interest   in  the  welfare  of   his   party  and   the 
affairs  of  the  borough,  where  he  has  been  ehosen 
for  the  offices  of  councilman  and  tax  collector.    He 
is  ;i  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

On  Nov.  26,  IS.",  I.  Mr.  Klase  married  Jane 
Wittington,  who  was  horn  Jan.  1.  ls:i  |.  daughter 
of  Jacob  Wittington,  and  died  Feb.  19,  1900.  His 
second  marriage  on  May  II.  1901,  was  to  Sarah 
Evert,    daughter  iof    Isaac   Tribley.      Mr.    KJase 

reared    James    Mclirido.   who    is    mm    a    resident    of 
Shamokin. 

Henry  Klase.  son  of  Valentine,  Sr..  was  bora 
near  Bethlehem,  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.,  settled  at 
Snydertown  in  1817,  and  (here  conducted  a  gen- 
era] store,  hauling  his  merchandise  from  load 
me;  ami  Philadelphia,  by  wagon  and  team.  IF 
mm, ved  from  there  to  Danville.  Pa.,  w  here  he  died. 
He  married  Sallie  Smith,  daughter  of  John  Smith, 
and  had  the  following  children :  .!<--,■;  Mary  Jane. 
Mrs.     Kesler:    Henry:    Jacob,    and     Wellington. 

Jesse,    who    now     live-    ;ii     Danville,    is    one    of    the 

committee  of  fen  of  the  Klase  Family  Reunion. 

Michael  Klase.  son  of  Valentine,  Sr.,  was  bora 
Sept.  I.  1794,  in  Bethlehem  township,  Northamp- 
ton  county,     W  hen    the   other  1  hildren   came  to 


1G(3 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COHNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Northumberland  county  he  concluded  to  stay  at 
the  old  home.  He  married  and  had  three  chil- 
dren: Daniel.  Joseph  and  William.  He  paid  a  vis- 
i:  to  Ins  brethren  living  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty and  while  on  the  trip  took  sick  at  the  home  of 
Jacob  Klase.  where  he  died.  Feh.  22,  1852.  His 
.children  lived  at  Allentown  and  Bethlehem,  where 
his  descendants  are  still  found.  Michael  Klase  is 
buried  in  the  Klase  row  in  St.  John's  Lutheran 
cemetery  at  Snydertown. 

(  atharine  Klase.  daughter  of  Valentine,  was 
born  in  Bethlehem  township.  Northampton  Co.. 
Pa.,  Sept.  12,  1796,  died  June  30,  1875,  and  is 
buried  at  St.  Jacob's  church,  near  Reed's  station, 
in  Northumberland  county.  She  married  Felix 
i.  and  early  in  life  moved  to  Mount  Carmel, 
where  they  engaged  in  keeping  hotel.  For  a  long 
time  This  was  the  only  house  of  public  entertain- 
menl  in  Mount  Carmel.  According  to  a  reference 
in  the  Northumberland  county  history  they  had 
an  important  hotel  stand.  Located  almosl  midway 
between  Sunbury  and  Pottsville,  and  on  the  orig- 
inal Indian  trail  leading  to  Philadelphia,  they  saw 
numbers  of  the  red  nun  as  they  passed  the  place. 
Later  they  conducted  a  hotel  at  Paxinos,  Pa. 
Their  children  were:  Susan,  who  married  Amos 
Vastine;  Benjamin,  who  lived  at  Stonington,  Pa.; 
Abraham,  who  lived  at  Mount  Carmel:  Sebella, 
who  married  Jacob  Tribley  and  lived  near  Ston- 
<n  (they  were  the  parents  of  Rev.  D.  B.  Trib- 
ley, minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Miuers- 
ville)  :  and  William  IL.  the  youngest,  -till  living 
at  Mount  Carmel.  the  oldest  settler  living  there 
to-day,  who,  though  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  con- 
duets  a  store  and  is  very  bright  for  a  man  of  his 
pears 

Mary  Eva  Klase.  daughter  of  Valentine,  Sr., 
was  born  Dec:  20,  1803,  died  Feh.  13,  1887,  and 
is  buried  at  the  Blue  church  near  Paxinos.  Pa. 
On  Fee.  7,  1823,  she  married  Solomon  Fegley,  and 
they  subsequently  purchased  a  farm  on  what  is 
known  at  present  as  the  Reading  road,  three  miles 
ueM    of    Paxinos.    which    they   owned    for   several 

ars.  At  the  end  of  that  time  they  sold  it  and 
purchased  a  place  just  north  on  the  Center  turn- 
pike. Mr.  Fegley  followed  farming  nearly  his 
whole  life,  in  his  early  years  being  occupied  to 
some  extent  in  coal  mining  and  railroad  building. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fegley  had  the  following  children: 
Eliza;  Valentine:  Rosana,  Mrs.  Sober:  Catharine, 
Mrs.  McWilliams :  Caroline,  who  married  Wil- 
loughby  Hass;  William:  Harriet:  Ellen,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Williams: Mary;  Eva:  George  K..  living  at  pres- 
ent at  Shamokin.  Pa.,  who  is  a  member  of  Lin- 
>  ..It]  Post,  G.  A.  TL.  has  served  as  sheriff  of  North- 
umberland county  one  term  and  has  been  active 
in  politics  for  a  number  of  years  (he  at  present  is 
?urer  of  the  Klase  Family  Reunion);  and 
H.  K. 

II.  K.  Feglev.  son  of  Solomon,  was  born  March 


15,  1836,  and  died  Aug.  11.  1910.  At  an  early 
age  he  went  to  Sunbury.  where  he  was  employed 
by  John  W.  Fry  ling  in  his  store.  He  next  engaged 
in  merchandising,  which  he  carried  on  -tie:  -- 
fully,  and  later  built  a  nail  mill,  in  the  east  end 
of  Sunbury.  which  prospered  also.  Mr.  Fegley 
married  Mary  O'Brien,  of  Washington.  D.  C,  and 
their  surviving  children  are:  William,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  electrical  operations  in  Topeka,  Kan-.: 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Lamb,  living  at  Sunbury.  Pa.:  and 
Mrs.  William  Colhoun.  of  Sunbury. 

Valentine  Klase,  dr..  son  of  Valentine,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Bethlehem  township,  Northampton  (  ".. 
Pa.,  July  13,  1799,  and  died  April  20,  1872;  be 
is  buried  in  St.  John's  cemetery  at  Snydertown. 
He  married  Mary  Baker,  of  Milton,  Pa.,  where 
she  was  horn  Feb.  6,  1794,  her  family  being  pi- 
in  that  section.  Mrs.  Klase  died 
Feb.  11.  L884,  and  is  buried  in  St.  John's  ceme- 
tery. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klase  settled  on  a  tract  of 
land  one  mile  south  of  Snydertown.  same  beii 
part  of  the  purchase  of  Valentine  Klase.  Sr.  Here 
in  1817  they  erected  a  log  house  and  barn,  which 
is  still  -landing  and  in  a  good  -i  i  e  ■  preserva- 
tion: it  is  now  owned  by  Charles  Snyder,  who  at 
present  owns  part  of  this  farm,  located  a  short 
distance  south  of  Snydertown.  They  cleared  the 
land  of  timber  and  started  farming,  which  was 
Mr.  Klase's  occupation  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  1823  lie  erected  a  distillery  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  liquors.  In  looking  over  some  of  his  pa- 
pers  we   find    the   price    for   the   distilling   of    one 

-  el  of  rye  was  twenty-five  cents:  whiskey  sold 
for  forty  ceins  per  gallon.  Valentine  Klase  was 
also  engage  in  the  cutting  of  timber  and  its 
manufacture  into  lumber.  He  owned  a  tm< 
timber  land  on  Fishing  creek,  in  Columbia  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  the  timber  for  which  was  sawed  up  and 
rafted  down  the  creek  to  the  river,  thence  to  Sun- 
bury, where  it  was  disposed  of.  He  was  a  progres- 
-  i  man.  a-  i^  shown  by  the-  fact  that  he  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  free  school  system.  On  elec- 
tion day  he  rode  eight  miles  through  eighteen 
inches  of  freshly  fallen  snow  to  cast  his  vote  for 
free  school-,  being  the  only  one  to  go  from  Snyder- 
town. Tin-  election  carried  for  free  schools  by  a 
majority  of  one.  so  bis  efforts  were  not  wasted. 
About  the  first  school  held  in  Snydertown  was  a 
subscription  -chool  held  at  his  house  for  several 
winter-.  Jacob  Snyder,  tin-  founder  of  Snyder- 
town. left  a  pl.t  of  ground  for  school  purposes 
Valentine  Klase  was  one  of  three  trustees  ap- 
pointed to  hold  this  land 'and  they  filled  this  trust 
till  there  was  a  regular  school  board  elected  by 
Shamokin    township,    after    which   the   same    was 

turned  over  to  them.     T rs  relative  to  this 

are  .-till  in  existence. 

On  the  farm  which  Valentine  Klase  owned  was 
what  was  considered  to  lie  a  valuable  mineral  de- 
posit.   This  was  tested  for  oil  in  1869  to  a  depth  of 


X  <  >RTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVA  N  I  A 


600  Eeet,  by  drillings.  In  1887  it  was  again  tested, 
to  a  depth  of  3,200  feet,  for  the  same  purpose, 
neither  test  showing  any  signs  of  oil.  On  this 
farm  is  found  a  mineral  spring  the  waters  of 
which  may  be  drunk  of  freely  by  man.  but  the 
same  is  death  to  small  animals,  as  they  succumb 
almosl  .1-  soon  as  they  touch  the  water.  The  com- 
piler has  seen  as  many  as  a  half  dozen  dead  in  it 
.ii  one.',  some  having  died  apparently  just  before 
his  coming. 

Valentine,  Jacob  and  Henry  Klase,  along  with 
John  Smith  and  Samuel  Hoover,  were  the  found- 
ers of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  at  Snyder- 
town,  which  church  was  erected  jointly  by  Luth- 
erans and  those  of  the  German  Reformed  faith, 
in  1821. 

All  the  generation  of  the  suns  and  daughters  of 
Valentine  Klase,  Sr.,  have  passed  away.  They 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Snydertown  and 
vicinity,  living  there  and  raising  families  who  were 
honest,  upright,  stalwart  men  and  women.  They 
nut  only  cleared  the  ground  but  improved  it, 
fought  Kack  the  wolves  and  panthers,  and  saw  all 
the  wild  animals  depart  gradually  for  thicker  for- 
es! lands.  The  record  of  the  children  of  Valen- 
tine  Klase.  Jr.,  is  a-  follow  -  : 

i  1  i  ( latharine  Klase,  daughter  of  Valentine,  Jr., 
martied  Abraham  Etimert.  The]  owned  and  lived 
mi  a  farm  one  mile  west  of  Stonington,  on  the 
Center  turnpike,  and  were  engaged  in  farming 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  ?erj 
suddenly  while  he  was  on  a  trip  to  Sunbury.  They 
had  the  following  children:  David:  Martin;  Valen- 
tine; Albert;  Samuel:  Mandis;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried John  Savage  and  lived  in  Sunbury;  .lane. 
Mrs.  Koons,  who  lives  in  Watsontown,  La.:  and 
Anna.  Mr-.  Hoff.  Abraham  and  Catharine  Eim- 
ert  ate  buried  at  St.  John's  Lutheran  cemetery, 
Snydertown. 

CM  Eva  Klase,  daughter  of  Valentine,  Jr.,  was 
born  at  the  homestead  at  Snydertown  and  died  in 
Ohio.  She  married  George  William  Lerch  and 
early  in  life  they  moved  to  Canton.  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm,  which  they  cultivated  until 
his  death.  They  had  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
\wie  living  at  the  time  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  their  parent-'  wedding,  which  was  celebrated  on 
Feb.    t.   1891 

(3)  John  Klase,  son  of  Valentine.  Jr..  was  born 
Oct.  3,  1821,  at  the  homestead  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, and  died  May  12,  1906.  lie  is  buried  in  St. 
John's  Lutheran  cemetery,  Snydertown.  When 
John  Klase  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age  lie  would 
drive  a  four-horse  team  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  with  a 
load  of  produce.  The  trip  would  take  from  three  to 
four  days.  Arriving  at  Mount  Carmel,  he  would 
stay  over  night,  stopping  with  Felix  Lerch,  his 
uncle.  This  hotel  being  very  often  crowded,  he 
like  others  would  mil  up  in  sheepskin  robes  and 
sleep  on  the  bar-room  floor.     At  this  time  there 


were  practically  do  houses  after  leaving  the  Weigh 
Scales,    near   Shamokin,   till    near    Pottsville,   and 
he  has  related  how  the  deer  often  crossed 
in   droves,  and  toward   evening  the  howl   o 
cats  and  panthers  could  be  heard.     While  be  was 
still    a    boy    .Mr.    Arnold    shol     a    panther    that 
mred  nine  feet  in  length,  within  a  half  mile 
of  the  house,  and  one  morning  when  sent  on 
bring  in  the  horses  he  found  a  large  black  beat 
the  pasture  fields:  the  animal   scampered  awat    al 
hi-  approach.    In  his  early  life  he  began  t 
of  music,  in  which  he  excelled  considering  the 
itations  of  the  time-,  and  he  taught  singing       liool, 
was  musician  for  the  military  company  during  the 
battalion  days,  and  led  the  choir  of  the  Luth 
Church  at   Snydertown   lor  forty  years.     His  op- 
portunities  for  obtaining  an  education  were  very 
meager.     After  attending  subscription  school  sev- 
eral month-  during  the  winter,  he  had  the  advan- 
tage "f  one  winter  at  an  academy  in  Bethlehem.  Pa. 
lie  had  charge  of  his  father'-  lumber  interests  on 
Fishing  creek  in  Columbia  county,  where  he  man- 
ufactured lumber,  rafting  tin'  same  down  to  Sun- 
bury.     Buying  a  piece  of  land,  which  now-  form-  a 
pari  of  the  farm  owned  by  Henry  Pensyl,  of  Ston- 
ington,  lie  cleared  it  and  farmed  there  to  tin    | 
of  his  marriage.  Nov.  8,  1849,  to  Margaret    Evert, 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Rachel  (Lorman)   Evert, 
of  Snydertown.     After  marriage  he  moved  on 
farm  of  Mr.  Evert,  for  whom  he  farmed  ten   .ear-. 
Then  he  and  his  brother  Valentine  purchased 
John  Smith  farm,  a  half  mile  east  of  Snydertown, 
which  they  farmed  in  partnership  for  a  number  of 
rears,   at   the   end   id'   which   period    John    Klase 
bought   Valentine's  interest  ami  continued  to  live 
on  the  farm  till  the  time  of  his  death.     He  was  a 
member  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Chun  Si    der- 

town,  having  joined    the  congregation   when    -     - 
enteen  years  of  age.  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Shindel.    In  1845  he  joined  Mount  Taber  Lod 
Odd    fellows,   located   at    Shamokin,  and    several 
years  later  he  and  several  other-  succeeded  in  s 
ting  Shamokin  Valley  Lodge.  No.  527,  1.  0.  0.  I'".. 
organized  at  Snydertown,  Mr.  Klase  being  oni 
the  charter  members.      He   passed    a  i   lairs, 

was  secretary  for  twenl  -ion,  and 

helped  to  build  the  new  odd  bellow-  Hall  more 
than  fifty  year-  after  the  organization.  John 
Klase  was  one  id'  the  foi  en  of  1 

in  his  active  oar-,  identified  with  many  p 

the  life  of  the  community,    lie  was  oi E  the  iir-t 

-i  I  directors  to  serve  in   3  iwn  borough, 

and  held  several  other  boro  Bees.      He  was 

n,,t  only  trusted  and   r<  iy  his  fellovi 

izens.  bul  :  their  affectionate  i  i  an 

unusual   di  ild   and    voting  alike  addressing 

him  familiarly  as  ■•uncle,-     On   Mo 
and  his  w  ife  M  i  ited  their  fiftieth  an- 

niversary ]  iration  was 

,  rtooli  of  dinner.    Mr. 


168 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  Mrs.  Klase  were  married  by  R.  A.  Fisher,  and 
on  the  occasion  of  the  golden  wedding  Rev.  Mr. 
Wampole,  of  Shamokin,  I'a.,  was  present  and  gave 
a  very  interesting  talk  to  the  guests.  Mrs.  Klase 
is  now  living  with  her  son  John.  She  has  reached 
the  age  of  eighty.  John  and  Margaret  Klase  had 
the  following  children:  (1)  Sallie  J.,  born  Nov. 
21,  1852,  died  Aug.  8,  1897.  She  married  Dr.  G. 
A.  Smith,  son  of  Daniel  Smith,  of  Snydertown, 
and  they  lived  lor  ;i  short  time  at  Ilartleton,  Pa., 
thence  moving  to  Liberty.  Tioga  <o..  I'a..  where 
the  Doctor  built  up  a  very  lucrative  practice.  He 
is  still  living  there.  .Mrs.  Smith  came  home  to  vis- 
it her  father  in  the  summer  of  1897,  while  he  was 
sick,  and  taking  sick  while  there  died  at  hi-  home. 
She  i-  buried  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  cemetery  at 
Snydertown.  She  had  three  children:  Bertha  »... 
who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Mansfield  State  normal 
school,  and  has  been  teaching  for  a  number  of  win- 
ters very  successfully;  Arthur  A..  who  graduated 
from  Bucknell  University  and  later  studied  law. 
which  he  is  now  practicing  in  Williamsport,  where 
he  makes  his  home  (he  married  Alta  Shae)  ;  and 
Leon,  who  is  at  home  with  bis  father  and  is  at- 
tending school.  ( '.' )  Solomon  Ellis,  eldesi  -on  of 
John  Klase.  was  bom  at  Snydertown.  Nov.  12, 
1854,  ami  as  a  boy  worked  on  bis  father's  farm 
during  tin'  summer  months,  going  to  the  public 
school  during  the  winter  seasons.  When  twenty  he 
attended  the  Elysburg  Academy  one  or  two  terms, 
after  which  he  taught  public  school  several  terms. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  joined  Si.  John's 
Lutheran  Church  anil  at  once  became  active  in 
both  Sunday  school  and  church  work,  lie  has  a 
fine  record  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school, 
which  position  he  has  filled  for  twenty-five  years 
in  succession  without  missing  one  Sunday  in  at- 
tendance, lie  married  Flora  Deibler,  daughter  of 
Jonosoe  B.  Deibler.  of  Snydertown,  and  is  living 
at  present  on  the  homestead  farm  of  John  Klase. 
where  he  has  erected  a  house  and  barn,  being  half 
owner  of  the  homestead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klase  had 
two  children.  Mabel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, and  Myrle,  who  is  living  at  home.  (•'!)  John 
Hower. 

John  Howeb  Klase,  youngesl  -on  of  John 
Klase,  was  horn  March  6,  1864,  at  the  homestead 
at  Snydertown.  As  a  boy  he  worked  on  the  farm 
during  the  summer  months,  going  to  school  during 
the  winter  terms,  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  the  Missionary  Institute  at  Selinsgrove 
for  one  term,  thence  going  to  New  Berlin  for  two 
.terms.  He  then  helped  to  build  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  railroad  through  Snydertown.  and  in 
the  year  1884  graduated  from  the  Woods  Com- 
mercial College,  Williamsport.  Immediately 
thereafter  lie  started  cutting  and  manufacturing 
timber  for  the  coal  mines,  continuing  this  lm>i- 
ness  alone  for  five  years,  when  he  entered  into  a 
copartnership   with   Luther   Cooper   and   enlarged 


the  scope  of  his  operations,  manufacturing  lum- 
ber for  all  general  purpose-.  After  cutting  and 
manufacturing  timber  for  two  years  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Northumberland  county,  Mr.  Klase 
bought  out  Mr.  Cooper's  interest  and  connected 
himself  with  S.  Bailey,  of  Danville,  Pa.,  with 
whom  he  entered  into  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber on  an  extensive  scale  in  Pern.  Juniata.  Hunt- 
ingdon and  Franklin  counties,  in  which  region  he 
spenl  five  years.  In  1891  he  took  a  half  interesl 
in  the  homestead  farm,  which  he  and  his  brother 
Ellis  bought,  later  on.  each  having  half  of  the  180 
acres.  He  is  living  at  the  present  time  on  the  old 
homestead  farm,  in  the  house  built  by  John  Smith 
in  the  year  1815;  it  is  a  stone  house,  and  the 
wall-  are  a-  -olid  a-  the  day  the\  were  completed. 
John  Smith,  a  brother-in-law  of  Valentine  Klase 
and  one  of  hi-  administrator-,  lived  and  died  on 
this  farm  and  raised  his  family  there,  lie  was 
the  progenitor  of  the  Smith  descendants  now  in 
that  community.  He  and  hi-  wife  are  buried  in 
St.  John'-  cemetery  at  Snydertown.  At  his  death 
the  farm  wa-  purchased  by  John  Klase  and  Valen- 
tine, his  brother.  John  Hower  Klase  is  at  present 
engaged  in  farming  ami  the  raisin"  of  market 
truck,  taking  special  interest  in  the  hybridizing 
of  grains  and  small  fruits,  in  which  line  he  has 
had  very  good  results,  in  the  way  of  producing 
much  hardier  species. 

On  June  12,  1889,  Mr.  Klase  married  Elizabeth 
L.  Miller,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Esther 
(  Reed  )  Miller,  of  Paxinos,  I'a..  and  they  have  had 
two  children,  both  living:  Myrtle  May,  born  April 
It;.  1890,  attended  public  school  till  seventeen  years 
of  age,  taught  Hills  school  one  term,  and  then 
entered  the  Bloomsburg  State  normal  school,  where 
-he  graduated  in  July.  1910;  she  is  engaged  in 
tea.  lung  at  the  present  time.  Maud  Esther,  the 
younger  daughter,  horn  Feb.  '.'i.  1894,  attended 
public  school  till  sixteen  years  of  age  and  at  tile 
present  time  is  attending  Blxxknsburg  State  nor- 
mal school,  being  a  member  of  the  class  of  1912. 

Mr.  Kla-c  i-  a  member  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  teacher 
of  the  male  Bible  class  in  the  Lutheran  Sunday 
school.  In  1885  lie  joined  Shamokin  Valley  Lodge. 
No.  527,  I.  <>.  <>.  F..  of  Snydertown.  which  was 
organized  in  1856,  and  has  gone  through  all  the 
degrees;  has  represented  the  lodge  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  grand  lodge  several  time-:  has  been 
a  representative  of  his  lodge  to  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Orphans'  Home  Association  for  eight  years;  has 
served  there  on  the  Property  committee  three 
years,  and  at  present  is  serving  as  chairman  of  the 
hoard  of  trustees,  taking  a  particular  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  home.  He  joined  Royal  Ar- 
canum Lodge  No.  945,  at  Sunbury,  where  he  con- 
tinues his  membership  at  the  present  time,  lie  i- 
also  a  member  of  the  ]'.  0.  S.  of  A.  He  was  one 
of  the  originators  of  the  Klase   Family   Reunion. 


MOBTHTJMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


L69 


and  has  been  active  in  the  work  since  its  establish- 
ment, having  been  firsi  secretary  of  same  and 
historian,  lie  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as 
member  of  the  si  I I  board  and  of  the  town  coun- 
cil, as  auditor,  constable  and  borough  officer.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat. 

(4)  Levina  Klase,  daughter  of  Valentine,  Jr., 
was  born  at  the  home  near  Snydertown;  she  mar- 
ried Isaac  Boughner  and  they  moved  early  in  life 

to  Ma Mich.,  where  they  engaged  in  farming 

to  the  end  of  their  days.  They  had  the  following 
children:  Jefferson,  George,  Clara.  Bell  and  Hen- 
ryetta.  all  living  in  Michigan  as  far  as  known. 

(5)  Hannah  Klase,  daughter  of  Valentine,  Jr., 
was  born  at  the  homestead  farm  near  Snydertown. 
She  married  Daniel  Donbach,  and  the}  moved  to 
Ringtown,  Schuylkill  county,  where  they  resided  to 

the  lii »f  her  death.    Their  children  were  as  Eol- 

lows:  Catharine,  the  eldest,  married  Joseph  Kling- 
erman  and  they  moved  to  Beaver  Meadow,  where 
he  was  an  employee  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad  Company;  George,  a  college  graduate,  for 
several  years  was  engaged  in  missionary  work  in 
the  far  West,  coming  hark  to  Pennsylvania  in  1908 
ami  engaging  in  contracting  and  building  at 
Shamokin,  where  he  now  resides;  Laura,  youngest 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Donbach,  is  living  at 
presenl  at  Ringtown,  Pa.,  taking  care  of  her  father, 
who  has  become  an  invalid. 

(li)  Susan  Klase.  daughter  of  Valentine.  Jr., 
was  bom  at  the  homestead  near  Snydertown  Dee. 
12,  1833.  She  received  a  meager  education  in  her 
youth,  attending  public  school  for  a  few  months 
during  the  winter.  In  September,  1855,  she  mar- 
ried George  C.  Adams,  of  Ralpho  township,  son  of 
Casper  Adams.  For  several  years  they  lived  in 
Snydertown,  until  Mr.  Adams  bough!  the  Adams 
homestead  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  to  which  they  moved  in  1863,  re- 
siding there  till  the  time  of  Mr.  Adams's  death.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  and  worker  in  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church,  where  he  held  the  office  of 
deacon  for  a  long  time,  and  he  is  buried  at  the 
Blue  church  near  Paxinos.     Since  his  death  Mrs. 

Adam-  has  I n  living  mostly  with  her  son,  G.  G. 

Adams,  and  daughter  Mahala.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adams  had  the  following  children:  Alvin,  who 
met  with  an  accident  on  the  railroad  that  caused 
his  death;  Leannah,  who  married  Francis  Barrel! 
and  they  reside  at  Reading,  Pa.;  Mahala,  married 
to  Charles  Paul,  and  residing  at  Paxinos,  Pa.  (they 
have  one  child,  Belva,  who  married  Grant  Vought, 
now  of  Emporium,  Pa.,  and  has  one  child)  ;  and 
General  G.,  youngesl  son,  horn  in  Balpho  town- 
ship.    As  a  boy  General  G.  Adams  worked  on  the 

farm  during  the  summer  months,  attending  scl 1 

in  the  winter,  lie  married  Sadie  Miller,  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Esther  (Eeed)  Miller,  of  Pax- 
inos, and  after  his  marriage  purchased  a  store  m 


Snydertown.  which  he  conducted  for  several  years. 
Selling  it  he  bought  the  homestead  farm,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years,  then  conduct- 
ing the  hotel  at  Paxinos  lor  three  vears.  lie  nexi 
bought  Hie  "Elysburg  Hotel."  which  he  enlarged 
and  there  he  and  his  wife  reside  at  the  |, resent 
time,  conducting  the  hotel  alone  with  their  farm. 
They  have  one  chilil.  George  Hatton,  w ho  i<  at 
home  with  them. 

(?)  Sallie  Klase.  daughter  of  Valentine,  Jr., 
was  hum  at  the  homestead  at  Snydertown.  She 
married  Noah  Ware  and  they  lived  mosl  of  their 
lives  in  the  northern  end  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. They  had  four  children:  William,  who  is  em- 
ployed conducting  a  sawmill  in  operation  near 
Catawissa,  Pa.:  Benjamin,  who  is  married  ami 
lives  near  Washingtonville,  1'a. :  Jefferson,  who 
is  married  and  lives  at  Three  Rivers,  Mich.;  ami 
Maryann,  who  married  Albert  Hill  and  resides 
at  Milton.  Pa.  (they  have  two  children  I. 

(8)  Valentine  Klase,  son  of  Valentine,  Jr.,  was 
born  at  the  homestead  near  Snydertown,  in  1830, 
ami  died  in  1891  at  Snydertown,  where  he  is  buried 
at  St.  John's  Lutheran  cemetery.  During  his  early 
boyhood  he  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  attending  school  a  (nv  months  in 
the  wintertime.  When  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Snydertown.  lie  married 
Sophia  Evert,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Rachel 
(Loniiaii)  Evert.  After  his  marriage  he  conduct- 
ed a  shop  for  several  years  in  Elysburg,  Pa.,  after 
which  he  and  his  brother  John  boughi  the  John 
Smith  farm  in  partnership,  conducting  it  I'm-  sev- 
eral years.  Then  Valentine  disposed  of  his  tnteresl 
to  his  In-other  John  and  moved  on  to  the  Solomon 
Ever!  farm,  thence  to  Snydertown.  where  he 
erected  a  house  and  blacksmith  shop,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  till  the  time  of  his  death,  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  a 
well  known  man.  having  served  in  a  number  of 
the  borough  offices.  He  ami  his  wife  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Cordelia  married  George  Albert 
Stattzlc  and  they  reside  in  Snydertown;  they  have 
hail  children,  Nora,  Maude  and  Clifford.  Alli>on 
married  Lydia  Startzle  and  they  reside  in  Snyder- 
town. John  Curtis  married  Catharine  Resler,  re- 
sides in  Snydertown,  and  ha-  one  child.  Violet. 
Rodella  married  George  Gross  ami  they  moved  to 
Mount  Carmel.   Pa.,  where  -he  died,  survived  by 

o hilil,   Alice.      The   brothel's  John    Curtis   ami 

Allison  Klase  were  I'm-  a  number  of  years  in  part- 
nership, conducting  a  threshing  outfil  ami  sawmill, 
I. .tier  Allison  sold  out  his  interest  to  John  Curtis, 
who  is  conduct ing  same  ai  preseni 

C.i)  William  II.  Klase,  son  of  Valentine,  Jr.,  was 
born  at  the  homestead  near  Snydertown  Jan.  ::. 
is?  I.  Like  the  resi  of  the  children  of  the  family 
he  was  employed  mi  the  farm  during  his  younger 
vears,  helping  to  clear  the  land  in  the  summi 
time  and  going  to  school   several   month-  in   the 


170 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  IA 


winter.  When  lie  became  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  a 
number  of  years  at  Snydertown.  He  married 
Susan  Adams,  daughter  of  Casper  Adams,  of 
Ralpho  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
they  resided  for  a  number  of  years  on  a  farm  sit- 
uated on  the  Center  turnpike,  about  two  miles  east 
of  Stonington.  In  1861  he  moved  to  a  farm  a 
hall'  mill/  wesl  of  Snydertown,  which  he  bought, 
and  has  made  his  home  there  ever  since.  By  his 
first  wife  lie  had  two  children,  of  whom  Maryetta 
is  married  to  Solomon  F.  Arnold  and  resides  in 
Snydertown  (thej  have  one  child,  Lula,  who  mar- 
ried John  Deibler  ami  has  two  children,  Martin 
and  Roberl  |.  Kiter  the  death  of  his  first  w  ife 
William  II.  Klase  married  Lena  Dunkleberger,  by 
which  union  he  had  two  children:  P.  C,  who  is  at 
home  with  his  parents;  ami  Agnes,  who  married 
.1.  G.  Quick  and  has  two  children  living,  Leon  ami 
Mildred,  J.  <i.  being  deceased  (they  live  at  Snyder- 
town, Mr.  Quick  being  engaged  in  contracting  ami 
building) . 

William  H.  Kiase.  at  the  present  time  of  writ- 
ing in  his  eighty-eighth  year,  is  in  general  good 
health  for  his  age.  He  i-  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  has  held  numerous  borough  of- 
lices.  and  is  highly  respected  in  the  community. 
At  his  home  some  forty  members  of  the  family,  in- 
cluding his  children,  grandchildren,  sister  Mr-. 
Adams,  and  other  relatives,  assembled  on  Jan.  1, 
1910,  to  celebrate  his  eighty-sixth  birthday,  in  hon- 
or of  which  he  was  presented  a  handsome  Morris 
chair  and  other  gifts.  At  this  time  and  place  the 
Klase  Family  Reunion  was  organized.  Solomon  F. 
Arnold  being  elected  president  and  John  H.  Klase 
secretary.  The  lime  appointed  for  the  first  meet- 
ing was  July  27,  1910,  ami  Edgewood  park.  Sham- 
okin.  Pa.,  the  place. 

Klase  Family  Reunion. — The  first  annual  re- 
union of  the  Klase  family  was  held  at  Edgewood 
park,  Shamokin.  La.,  on  July  27,  1910.  The  no- 
tices and  imitations  for  this  affair  were  sent  out 
to  the  descendants  of  Valentine  Klase  (or  Klose), 
Sr..  as  at  the  time  there  was  not  a  complete  rec- 
ord of  the  children  of  Johonas  Kloss.  But  since 
he  began  the  compilation  of  this  record  Mi-.  John 
H.  Klase  has  been  able  to  learn  who  his  children 
were,  ami  finds  that  Jacob,  one  of  them,  moved  to 
Milmont.  Ohio,  in  1851,  taking  his  family,  which 
consisted  of  sons  and  daughters.  This  branch,  of 
the  familv  held  its  second  annual  reunion  at 
Meadowhrook  park.  Bascom.  Ohio,  on  Aug.  25, 
1910.  Mr.  John  Lower  Klase  received  an  invita- 
tion to  same,  as  be  did  also  to  a  reunion  of  the 
Hoover  family,  one  of  Johonas'  daughters  being 
married  to  Henry  Hoover.  They  lived  in  North- 
ampton county  and  are  the  ancestors  of  the  Hoover 
familv  living  in  Northumberland  county.  The 
rest  of  the  family  of  Johonas  cannot  at  presenl  he 
located  and   should   this  sketch   he  read   by  any  of 


the  descendants  Mr.  Klase  desires  them  to  get  into 
communication  with  him  as  soon  as  possible.  In- 
vitation to  the  next  annual  gathering  of  the  Klase 
Family  Reunion  will  be  extended  to  the  descend- 
ants of  Johonas  Kloss  as  far  as  known,  every  ef- 
fort being  made  to  include  all  the  relatives. 

John  Smith,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Snyder- 
town. Pa.,  was  a  brother-in-law  to  Valentine  Klase, 
Si-.  Mr.  Smith  settled  here  in  1811.  and  Mr.  Klase 
finds  from  the  birth  of  his  oldest  daughter  that  he 
built  the  stone  house  wherein  Mr.  Klase  resides 
in  L815.  So  that  part  of  the  Klase  family  very 
probahhj  came  up  at  the  same  time  about  1811,. 
and  settled  on  the  Valentine  Klase  tract  of  land. 

The  meeting  at  Edgewood  park,  on  July  27, 
1910,  was  attended  by  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty.  Mr.  Klase's  register  showing  320  name-. 
while  there  were  several  families  that  did  not  reg- 
ister. The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Presi- 
dent Solomon  V.  Arnold  at  1:30  P.  M.,  and  after 
he  had  stated  the  object  of  the  gathering  a  com- 
mittee of  ten  was  appointed  to  serve  for  one  year 
to  complete  the  organization,  viz.:  C.  F.  Lerch, 
Silas  Klase,  George  K.  Pegley,  Jesse  Klase,  Felix 
Lerch.  Mrs.  Alice  Price.  Mrs.  Doll.  Goodwill,  Mrs. 
.lane  Koons,  Mrs.  Mary  Savage. and  Rev.  1>.  I!. 
Tribley.  These  elected  Solomon  V.  Arnold,  pres- 
ident, John  II.  Klase.  secretary,  George  K.  Feg- 
ley,  treasurer,  to  serve  for  one  year.  Rolling  Green 
park,  near  Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  the  second  Wed- 
nesday in  August,  1911.  were  chosen  as  the  next 
place  and  time  of  meeting.  After  these  arrange 
incnts  had  been  completed  Rev.  D.  B.  Tribley  was 
introduced    and   gave   a    very    interesting   address 

treating  on  t! arly  immigration  to  America,  the 

faithful  honesty  and  liberality  of  the  early  mem- 
bers of  the  family.  The  address  was  well  delivered 
anil  received  with  applause.  All  present  en- 
joyed the  occasion. 

In  writing  the  sketch  of  the  Klase  family,  Mr. 
Klase  was  hampered  very  much  by  want  of  time, 
being  obliged  to  do  most  of  it  after  working  all 
day  on  the  farm,  writing  generally  for  an  hour  in 
the  evening.  Where  dates  of  birth  and  death  are 
ict  given  the  same  were  mi-sing  from  records  lie 
had  at  this  time,  and  he  hopes  that  all  the  de- 
scendants of  the  family  will  cooperate  with  him 
by  furnishing  all  available  dates  and  giving  him 
any  information  at  their  disposal,  so  that  the  fam- 
ilv record  may  be  properly  completed  and  pre- 
served for  future  generations. 

JOHN  P..  CRESSINGER,  M.  D.,  who  practices 
in  Sunbury,  where  he  has  been  located  throughout 
bis  independent  professional  career,  bears  a  name 

which   has  long  I n   associated   with  professional 

circles  in  that  borough,  where  his  father  has  been 
a  dental  practitioner  lor  over  forty  years.  The 
family  has  been  established  in  Pennsylvania  for 
over  a    hundred    and    fifty   years,   the   branch    here 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


171 


under  consideration  having  descended  from  John 

G ge  Cressinger,  a  German  count  who  emigrated 

to  America  in  L753,  he  being  oi f  three  broth- 
ers who  came  to  this  country,  William,  John 
George  and  Henrj . 

John  George  Cressinger  settled  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, Pa.  Hi'  was  an  officer  of  the  Continental  army 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  taking  an  active 
pari  in  many  of  the  battles  of  that  struggle  for 
independence,  and  his  wife  accompanied  him 
through  the  entire  period  of  his  service  in  thai 
conflict.  After  its  close  they  came  to  Northum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  settling  in  Augusta  township, 
where  they  led  long  and  happy  lives,  attaining  a 
ripe  old  age.  They  are  buried  at  the  White 
Church,  a1  the  fool  of  Trevorton  mountain.  They 
reared  four  sons,  William.  John,  George  and 
Henry. 

Hem*  Cressinger,  great-grandfather  of  Di. 
John  B.  Cressinger,  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of 
[812-15.  For  many  years  he  lived  at  the  moun- 
tain, near  the  mouth  of  Shamokin  creek.  He 
died  Aug.  20,  L830,  and  is  buried  in  the  lower 
cemetery  at  Sunbury.  He  married  Margaret 
Renn,  and  thej  had  two  sons,  John  P>.  and  Barney, 
the  latter  of  whom  left  Sunbury  during  the  fifties, 
and  died  in   Michigan. 

Rev.  John  1>.  Cressinger,  son  of  Henry,  was  born 
Jan.  1.  1812,  in  Sunbury,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, ami  lived  here  many  years.  He  became  a  min- 
ister 'it  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  that  capacity 
organized  and  built  up  several  churches,  preaching 
in  hi-  native  county  until  hi?  removal  to  Ohio,  in 
October,  is  is.  Here  In'  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  lite,  and  died  May  1.  1895.  On  July  4.  1831, 
he  married  Mary  Baumgardner,  who  died  April 
21,  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  her 
death  being  caused  by  an  accident.  This  couple 
were  the  parent-  of  eight  children,  of  whom  two 
sons  and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter  reaching  maturity.  Of  the  sons, 
Daniel  B.  enlisted  in  1861  in  an  Ohio  regiment,  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  from  the  army  in 
1863,  and  died  soon  after  his  return  home,  at 
Upper  Sandusky.  Ohio.  Isaac  and  Jacob  R.,  the 
youngest,  were  twins.  Isaac  enlisted  in  1862  in 
"Company  0.  23d  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  was 
captured  ai  Harper's  Perry  and  confined  at  Libby 
and  Andersonville,  and  in  the  tall  of  1863  was  ex- 
changed, being  subsequently  discharged  on  a  sur- 
geon's certificate.  In  January.  1864,  he  re-enlisted, 
ami  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
Va.,  o,t.  L9,  1864. 

Jacob  R.  Cressinger,  I>.  D.  S.,  -on  of  1,V\  John 
P..  Cressinger,  was  horn  May  31,  184  I.  at  Sun- 
bury. lie  received  his  early  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  took  up  the  study  of  dentistry 
with  his  brother.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
he  was  a  student  at  Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  Ohm 
and  he  enlisted  soon  at  Cleveland,  being  mustered 


into  the  service  Aug.  27,  1861,  becoming  a  mem- 
bet  of  Company  E,  11-t  ohm  Volunteer  [nfantry; 
with  which  he  served  four  years  and  three  months, 
receiving  his  discharge  Nov.  27,  1865.  He  rose 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  1>\  brevet.  Dr. 
Cressinger  was  in  active  service  throughoul  the 
war.  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  the 
siege  of  Corinth;  was  on  garrison  duty  a1  Mur- 
freesboro;  in  the  battles  of  Perryville  and  Stone 
River,  where  he  was  wounded  the  second  da-.  ;  was 
on  duty  at  Readyville,  Tenn.,  and  in  the  Tulla- 
homa  campaign;  took  part  m  the  engagement 
Ringgold,  Gordon's  Mills,  Chiekamauga,  Brown's 
Perry,  Orchard  Knob  and  Mission  Ridge;  and  in 
the  expedition  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville. 
lie  was  mustered  out  Dec.  31,  is.;:;.  :u 
Blain's  Cross  Roads,  veteranizing  dan.  1, 
1864;  took  part  in  the  battle  ■>(  Dand- 
ridge,  Tenn.,  Jan.  16-17,  and  on  Jan.  17th  started 
tor  home,  on  a  thirty  days"  furlough.  Rejoining 
his  command  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn..  March  in. 
1864,  he  subsequently  took  part  in  the  battles  at 
Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Adairsville,  Dallas. 
Kenesaw  Mountain.  Culp's  House.  Knickajacli 
Creek,  Chattahoochee  River,  Pickett's  Mills.  Peach 
'Five  Creek,  Atlanta.  Utah  Creek.  Lovejoy  Station 
(Ga.),  Columbia,  Franklin.  Nashville,  and  in  the 
pursuit  of  Hood  to  Huntsville,  Ala.  Thereafter 
he  was  with  his  regiment  in  Texas 

After  the  war  Dr.  Cressinger  completed  his 
preparation  tor  the  dental  profession,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1868,  settling  in  Sunbury,  where  he  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  successful  practice.  Dr. 
Cressinger  is  the  genealogisl  of  his  family,  and 
has  made  considerable  research  into  its  early  his- 
tory, which  interests  him  exceedingly,  lie  has  the 
little  iron  hammer  carried  by  his  great-grandfa- 
ther uhde  serving  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  and 
by  his  grandfather  while  serving  in  the  war  of 
1812,  used  io  sharpen  the  flints  of  their  guns. 

Dr   Cressinger  is  well  known  in  social  and  fra- 
ternal circles  in  Sunbury,  being  a  promineni  work- 
er in  the  G.  A.   P..  an  Odd   Fellow  and  a  thirty- 
second-degree   Mason.     He  has  been   particularly 
active  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  lie 
a  most  creditable  record  oi'  service.     He  was  h 
ated  in  September,  is;:;,  in  old  Lodge  No.  22,  ol 
Sunbury,  was  crafted  in  October,  Is;:;,  and  raised 
in  November,  1873 ;  was  elei  ted  ;e<  retai 
body   m    December,  and   at    the  end   oi    his   firs! 
year's  set  vice  declined  renominal  i 

as    he  w  l-hed    to   paSS   the  ,  hairs,   which    he  did.       In 

1885  he  was  again  made  secretary,  and  has  fil  ed 

the  position  continuously  -i an  office  which  he 

|ias  also   held    in    STorthumberland    '  No. 

1 ;  I.  R.  .\.  M ..  com inuouslv  since  In-  ction, 

in   1892.     He  is  a   leading  men 

Baptist   <  'Imi'ch.  of  w  hich   he  In  .  J. ,!,  on 

thirty  six    vears.   an 

(]ire,  tor   for  thirty-five  years. 


\  ( >RT  1 1 UMBERLAN I )  COUNTY,  PE  \  X  S  YLVAXIA 


On  May  31,  1869,  Dr.  Cressinger  married,  in 
Sunbury,  Mary  A.  Brice,  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children,  the  daughter,  Edna,  dying  when 
eighteen  months  old.  The  two  survivors  are  John 
B.  and  Horace  G.,  the  latter  now  living  in  Chicago. 
111.,  where  he  is  connected  with  the  Rubber  Man- 
ufacturing &    Distributing  Company. 

John  B.  Cressinger  was  born  in  Sunbury  Dec. 
27  (St.  John's  Day  i.  1871,  and  obtained  his  early 
education  in  his  native  place.  He  graduated  from 
the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1887,  after  which  he 
took  a  course  at  Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg, 
graduating  from  that  institution  in  1893,  with  the 
degree  of  Ph.  B.,  and  subsequently  attending  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania for  three  years,  graduating  in  1896  with 
i  in  M.  1 1.  degree.  For  fifteen  months  after  his 
graduation  he  was  resident  physician  at  St.  Agni  - 
hospital,  on  Broad  and  Mifflin  streets,  Philadel- 
phia, at  the  end  of  that  period  settling  in  Sun- 
bury, where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  practice. 
He  met  with  encouraging  success  from  the  start, 
and  has  become  widely  known  as  an  able  and  faith- 
ful physician,  devoted  to  his  work,  in  which  he 
finds  his  keenest  pleasure.  He  is  a  man  of  ath- 
letic build,  sis  feet,  two  inches  in  height,  and  a 
well  known  figure  on  the  streets  of  Sunbury. 

On  April  1,  1907,  l>r.  Cressinger  married  Eva 
Haas,  daughter  of  John  B.  Haas,  of  Sunbury. 

REV.  JAMES  W.  (, II. LANK.  D.  D.,  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Shamokin. 
Northumberland  county,  has  served  that  charge  Eor 
the  long  period  of  twenty-two  years,  having  re 
mained  ten  years  from  the  time  he  was  first  in- 
stalled, and  at  present  serving  the  thirteenth  yeaT 
of  his  second  period. 

Dr.  Gilland  was  horn  Nov.  24,  1853,  in  Antrim 
township.  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  father  had 
passed  his  long  life.  His  grandfather.  Thomas 
Gilland,  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica about  1804,  locating  in  Antrim  township, 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  agricultural 

pursuits.     He  died  ahout  1840,  from  pneun a, 

when  about  sixty-six  years  old,  and  hi-  wile.  Jane 
(McDowell),  died  a  number  of  years  later.  They 
were  Scotch  Presbyterians,  and  both  are  buried 
near  Funkstown,  in  Franklin  county.  Their  chil- 
dren were  dames  R.  and  Thomas.  The  former  was 
a  graduate  of  Jefferson,  at  Canonsburg,  Fa.,  anil 
became  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  the  South,  later 
acting  as  professor  of  homiletics  in  the  theologii  aJ 
seminar}  at  Columbia,  S.  ('. :  he  died  in  1868. 

Thomas  Gilland,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  Nov. 
15,  1813,  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  later. 
however,  settling  down  to  farming  in  Antrim 
township,  Franklin  county.  He  lived  retired 
several  years,  dying  on  his  farm  Dec.  14,  1893,  in 
his  eighty-first  year.    He  is  buried  at  Greeneastle, 


Pa.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Mr.  Gilland  served  a  number  of  years  as  school 
director.  His  wife,  Susan  (Conrad),  daughter  of 
John  Conrad,  originally  from  Lancaster  county, 
died  in  1903  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  They 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  namely:  Mary,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Showalter;  Thomas  R.,  deceased;  Susar, 
Mis.  Samuel  Stover;  Sarah  Jennie,  unmarried, 
who  owns  part  of  her  father's  homestead  ;  Barbara, 
who  died  in  infancy:  Dr.  John  C,  of  Greeneastle, 
Pa.;  Matthew  M..  a  farmer  near  Greeneastle;  Rev. 
James  \\". ;  David  A.,  farmer,  id'  Greeneastle,  who 
has  part  of  In-  father's  homestead;  and  George  S., 
a  farmer  of  (I reencastle. 

James  \Y.  Gilland  spent  the  first  seventeen  years 
id'  his  life  upon  the  farm,  meantime  receiving  the 
beginnings  of  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  township.  In  1ST  1  he  entered  Ur- 
sinus  College,  at  Collegeville,  Montgomery  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  one  anil  a  half  years,  do- 
ing preparatory  work,  and  in  1873  he  matriculated 
at  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pa.,  where  he  com- 
pleted a  full  course,  graduating  in  1873.  He  was 
valedictorian  of  his  class  and  delivered  the  clas- 
sical oration.  Entering  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inary,  at  New  York  City,  he  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  May.  1880,  and  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle  at  Duncannon,  Pa.,  in  June, 
L881,  when  called  to  hi-  first  charge,  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Duncannon.  He  was  in- 
stalled in  June.  1881,  and  remained  at  that  lo- 
cation until  1884,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Shamokin.  He  re- 
ceived this  call  Feb.  20th  and  was  installed  May 
29th.  His  labors  met  with  gratifying  rewards, 
and  he  remained  in  the  charge  until  1894,  when 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Brooklyn.  N.  Y..  which  he  served  until 
December,  L898.  At  that  time,  at  the  solicitation 
of  hi-  old  congregation,  he  returned  to  Shamokin. 
where  he  has  since  been  located.  The  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  has  a  membership  of  432,  and  the 
congregation  ha-  prospered  in  every  way  tinder  his 
care.  $80,000  having  been  collected  during  his  pas- 
torate forthe  church  edifice  and  parsonage.  The 
church  has  grown  in  membership,  equipment  and 
efficiency  under  his  charge.  Dr.  Gilland  is  a 
man  of  executive  ability  a-  well  as  other  strong 
qualities  needed  for  the  successful  administration 
of  so  large  a  church.  He  is  an  excellent  and  en- 
tertaining speaker,  and  indefatigable  in  prosecut- 
ing the  various  enterprises  undertaken  by  the  con- 
gregation. The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  up- 
on him  in  1894  by  Lafayette  College. 

On  Sept.  id.  1880,  Dr.  Gilland  married  Man- 
Clark,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Mary  A.  (Davis) 
Clark,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  They  have  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Thomas  0.,  a  graduate  of  La- 
favette  College,  is  engaged  as  a  civil  engineer  in 
Philadelphia    with    the    Philadelphia    &    Reading 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


173 


Railroad  Company;  James  M.,  a  graduate  of  La- 
fayette College,  is  engaged  as  a  civil  engineer  with 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company, 
being  inspector  of  construction  work  on  the  Wil- 
liamsport  division;  Prof.  Edwin  ('..  a  graduate  of 

Lafayette  College,  has  charge  of  the  depart nt  of 

mathematics  a1  the  Shamokin  high  school;  Wil- 
liam D.  was  ready  for  college  Imt  owing  to  poor 
health  went  ou1  to  New  Mexico,  where  he  is  now 
engaged  as  superintendeni  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican Mining  Company;  Mary  K.  married  Thomas 
B.  Hill  and  they  reside  at  Shamokin;  Susan  ().  is 
deceased;  Morris  W.  is  the  youngest. 

ISAAC  RICHE,  al  present  engaged  in  farming 
in  Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  enmity, 
was  born  in  that  township  May  17,  1844,  and  be- 
longs to  a  family  which  lias  been  identified  with 
this  county  for  over  a  century.  The  famih  is  of 
German  origin.  Mr.  Riche's  great-grandfather 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany  before  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  settled  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  live. I  ami  died. 

Moses  Riche  (or  Richie),  son  of  the  emigrant, 
was  born  in  Berks  county  May  14.  1773,  and 
moved  thence  to  Northumberland  county,  settling 
near  what  is  nov\  known  as  Seven  Points,  in  Rock- 
efeller township,  in  which  section  he  was  a  pioneer. 
The  Indian-  were  siill  numerous  in  these  parts 
when  he  located  there,  lie  died  upon  his  farm 
(then  included  in  Shamokin  township)  .lime  25, 
1851,  and  he  and  his  wife  Rebecca  are  buried  at 
the  Summit  church  in  Shamokin  township.  She 
was  born  July  30,  1781,  ami  died  Oct.  1'.'.  1876. 
Among  their  children  were:  Mil-,  who  died  in 
Indiana:  Henry,  who  died  in  Fishing  Creek.  Co- 
lumbia ('<>..  Pa.;  Isaac:  Rebecca,  wife  nt  Aimer 
Tharp;  and   Elizabeth,  wile  of  William  Men-is. 

Isaac  Riche,  -en  of  Moses  Riehe,  was  born  in 
ISC?  in  Rockefeller  township,  and  died  Sept.  '!'>. 
1900.  His  occupation 'was  farming,  and  in  time 
he  was  able  te  buy  the  Thomas  Tharp  farm,  a 
tract  of  fifty  a,  re-,  to  which  he  added  by  various 
purchases.  He  attended  market  ai  Shamokin, 
where  lie  became  well  known,  and  was  a  substan- 
tial  and  respected  citizen  of  his  day.  By  his  first 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Tharp,  Mr.  Riche 
had  two  children.  Moses  ami  Mary  F...  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  His  second  marriage  was  to 
Anna  Hummel,  who  was  horn  in  1801,  daughter  of 
Frederick  Hummel,  and  died  Jan.  19,  1884, 
eighty-three  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  (hrei 
children:  Samuel,  who  lives  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship; Henry,  living  at  Tharptown;  and  Isaac. 

[saac  Riche,  son  of  Isaac  Riche,  grew  up  in  his 
native  township,  and  when  a  young  man  learned 
the  business  of  powder  making,  at  which  he  became 
an  expert,  following  same  lor  a  number  of  years 
Hi-  last  employment  in  that  line  was  at  the  Tr; 
orton  Mills.     In   Cms  he  returned  to  farming,  the 


occupation  of  bis  youth,  and  lias  sim  e  been  en- 
gaged in  thai  work,  owning  part  of  the  oh!  home- 
stead in  Shamokin  township,  whereon  he  makes 
his  home.  He  ha-  been  quite  successful,  being  in- 
dustrious and  progressive,  ready  to  adopt  up-to- 
date  method-  and  appliam  es  to  facilitate  In-  work, 
and  directing  bis  energies  intelligently  and  ffei 
tively. 

Mr.  Riche  married  Lucy  C.  Groves,  daugl 
Joseph   Groves,  and    they   are   the  parents   of   the 
following  children:  Joseph   W.   is  mention  i     bi 
low;  Laura  married  Rufus  Savage;  Lillie  married 

Leslie  Wolverton;  William  E.  i-  menti sd  below  : 

Agnes  married  Jacob  Dreher;  Francis  is  living  in 
Shamokin  township:  Elory  is  a  resident  of  Sham- 
okin: Flossie  married  William  Newberry;  George 
Herman  assists  his  father  with  the  farm  work:  Ar- 
ley  is  living  in  Shamokin  township.  Mr.  R 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Joskph  W.  Richie  (a-  he  ami  hi-  brother  write 
the  name),  son  of  Isaac  Riche,  was  born  Juh  29, 
is;;',,  and  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  in  Sham- 
okin township,  attending  the  public  schools  of  that 
locality  and  of  Locust  town-hip.  Columbia  county 
When  a  young  man   of  eighteen   he  came  to  the 
borough   of    Shamokin.    where    he    ha-    since    n 
mained.    He  learned  the  business  of  photographer, 
at  which  he  was  employed  by  others  tor  about  six 
years,  until   he  felt  justified   in   engaging  in   the 
business   on    his  own   account.      His    location    i-   at 
the   corner   of    Shamokin   and    Commerce    streets 
Mr.  Richie  has  built  up  a  lucrative  patronage,  his 
progressive  methods,  skill  and  artistic  taste,  com- 
bined with  executive  ability,  bringing  him  a  large 
business.     His  work  is  its  own   recommendat 
He  is  energetic,  obliging  and  up-to  date,  and 
customers  apprei  iate   i  lie  courteous   and    sat  isfai  - 
ton  service  rendered  at  hi-  establishment. 

Mr.  Richie  married  Bertha  Gass,  daughtei  of 
William  J.  Gass,  nt  Shamokin,  and  they  have  had 
four  children:  Elva,  William.  Mildred  and  Margie. 
M  r.  Richie  is  a  member  of  the  United  Bret 
Church  and  socialh  bolds  membership  in  the  local 
lodge  of  the  Ik  P.O.  Elks. 

W'n.ia  wi    Ik   Richie,  -on  of   [saai    R  i  ie,  was 
horn   Fele  26,   lsC.  in  Shamokin   town-hip.  w 
he  now  can  ie-  mi  farming.     He  attended 

li,-  sel I-.  and  subsequent!}   woi  -   fa 

ther  until   he  reached   the  age  of  i  ightei  a,  after 
which  he  took  charge  nf  the  homo-toad  farm,  con- 
tinuing thus  for  three  years.      For  the  next   tw 
rears  he  farmed  the  Wolverton  farm,  in  S 
township,  at  the  end  of  that  period  bm  ing  land  of 
his  own,  a  tract  of  135  acres  in   I  risli  Valley 
mrrU    known  as  the  Jesse  Mart/  farm,     li    is  lo- 
cated about  three  mile-  from  the  borough  of  Sham- 
okin, and  Mr.  Richie  ha-  a  mill.,  route  to  that  place 
which  he  supplies  daily.     He  <  neral 

farming,  and  »t  '»  'bis 

fertile  valley .  not  onh  because  of  its  rich  soil  and 


m 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COT" XT Y.   FEXXSYLVAXIA 


excellent  locatioD  but  also  in  the  matter  of  up-to- 
date  buildings  and  general  improvements.  He  is  a 
thrifty  man.  a  useful  citizen  and  a  much  respected 
member  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Richie  married  Rebecca  Mowery,  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Mary  Ann  ( Mover  I  Mowery,  and 
they  have  a  family  of  six  children:  Yerna.  Melvin, 
Mary,  Clarence.  Leon  and  Ehvood.  Mr.  Rieliie  is 
a  Democrat  in  polities  ami  in  religion  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church. 

ASHER  S.  T I  < )  1  1  M  \\  has  a  large  farm  in  the 
northwestern  section  of  Point  township,  along 
Montour  Ridge,  and  is  one  of  the  most  progres- 
sive agriculturists  of  his  vicinity,  where  he  has  also 
served  in  public  offices  ami  proved  useful  in  vari- 
ous associations.  Be  is  an  energetic  man.  and  has 
prospered  by  application  to  his  work  until  he  ranks 
among  the  successful   farmers  of  the  township. 

The  Boffman  family  has  long  been  settled  in 
Pennsylvania.  Eenry  Hoffman,  grandfather  of 
Asher  S.  Boffman,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
and  when  a  young  man  moved  thence  to  Uniou 
county,  dying  in  that  vicinity,  in  what  is  now 
Monroe  township.  Snyder  county,  in  1834.  He 
was  buried  at  Shamokin  Dam.  Snyder  county,  in 
t  lie  -ai  nc  grave  as  his  wife.  [Jehecca.  who  died  only 
twelve  hours  before  lie  did.     Mr.  Hoffman   was  a 

-I maker,   and    found   work  at  his  trade  among 

the  farmers  in  his  locality.  He  was  the  father  of 
a  large  family,  namely:  Oeorge  died  in  Monroe 
township.  Snyder  county;  William  died  in  Hunt- 
ingdon county,  Pa.;  Rebecca  married  John 
Brobst:  Elijah  died  in  Towa ;  Henry  died  at  Selins- 
grove.  Pa.:  Polly  married  Lewis  Bower:  David  i< 
mentioned  below:  John  died  in  Northumberland 
borough:  Hannah  married  Charles  Kessler  and 
died  in  Kansas;  Charles,  horn  in  March.  1831, now 
living  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  married  Molly  Matthias 
and  they  had  three  children,  Adda  E.  (Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Snook  i.  Sarah  (unmarried)  and  Margaret 
(Mrs.  John  Clopp)  :  Sarah  married  Charles  Dun- 
kelherger  and  is  living  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

David  Hoffman,  son  of  Henry,  was  horn  Sept. 
S.  1825,  in  Snyder  county,  and  being  only  a  boy 
when  his  parents  died  was  reared  in  the  family  of 
Mrs.  Betsy  Brobst.  He  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, which  he  followed  for  some  years,  and  soon 
after  attaining  his  majority  commenced  farming 
in  Monroe  township.  Snyder  county,  remaining 
there  until  he  removed  across  the  river  into  Point 
township,  Northumberland  county,  in  1873.  He 
continued  farming  in  his  new  location  to  the  end 
of  his  days,  passing  away  Dec.  35,  1885,  in  Point 
township,  at  the  age  of  sixtv  years.  In  politics  a 
Democrat,  he  took  an  interest  in  party  affairs  and 
the  public  welfare,  serving  as  supervisor  of  his 
township  while  a  resident  of  Snyder  county  and 
as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  Point  township.  He  was 
a  Lutheran  in  religion.    His  wife.  Sarah  E.  (Bow- 


el), i  la  lighter  of  Henry  Bower,  of  Dry  Valley, 
Union  Co..  Pa.,  survived  him  a  number  of  years, 
dying  March  27,  I'm0,  aged  sixty-one  years,  five 
month-.  i\\el\e  days.  They  had  children  as  fol- 
low - :  Emma,  wdio  is  the  widow  of  S.  H.  Smith,  of 
Sunhury;  Asher  S. :  Harry  W.,  of  Sunbury;  and 
Mary  E.,  who  married  Peter  Winters,  of  Danville, 
Pennsylvania. 

Asher  S.  Hoffman  was  born  June  1".'.  1862,  in 
Monroe  township,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  spent 
his  youth  up  to  his  twelfth  year,  when  he  moved 
with  the  family  across  the  Susquehanna  into  Point 
township,  Northumberland  county.  He  continued 
to  a.-sist  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-four  year- 
old,  since  when  he  has  been  farming  on  his  own 
account,  in  Point  township.  In  the  spring  of 
1893  he  settled  upon  the  place  he  has 
since  occupied,  and  cultivated,  what  was 
the  old  Thomas  Baumgardner  farm,  which 
he  operated  as  a  tenant  during  the  first 
eighl  years  of  his  residence  there:  he  purchased 
it  in  1901,  from  John  Baumgardner.  The  prop- 
erty contains  305  acres,  and  Mr.  Hoffman  is  not 
only  engaged  in  general  farming  but  also  gives 
considerable  attention  to  live  stock,  owning  some 
valuable  cattle.  For  thirteen  years  he  ran  a  dairy 
wagon  to  Northumberland,  but  since  1907  he  has 
wholesaled  his  milk,  finding  tin-  plan  more  con- 
\eiin 'lit  with  the  numerous  details  connected  with 
the  work  about  the  place.  The  farm  is  so  large 
that  excellent  management  is  necessary  to  keep  it 
in  good  running  order,  but  Mr.  Hoffman  has  been 
\ei  ,  -n,  ,  essful  in  arranging  his  work,  and  he  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  in  the 
region,  his  operations  and  methods  showing  results 
which  justify  tin-  opinion  of  him.  He  has  served 
as  school  director  of  the  township  since  1898, 
was  president  of  the  board  one  year  and  has  been 
-ii  retary  of  that  body  since  1901;  he  was  a  road 
supervisor,  filling  that  position  from  1901 
to     1910. 

On  Feb.  10.  1885,  Mr.  Hoffman  married  S.  Liz- 
zie Zeluff.  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Renn) 
/el  ii  If.  late  of  Washingtonville.  Montour  Co..  Pa., 
whose  children  were  John  W.,  Mary  A..  Charles 
H.,  William  F..  Susan  Lizzie  (Mrs.  Hoffman)  and 
Margaret.  Solomon  Zeluff,  Mrs.  Hoffman'-  grand- 
father, was  of  French  and  English  descent.  He 
moved  from  Tioga  county.  Pa.,  to  Northumber- 
land, Northumberland  county,  where  he  is  buried. 
His  children  were:  Mary,  who  married  John  Mar- 
shall: Benjamin:  Jane:  Magaret,  now  the  only 
member  of  the  family  living  (she  is  past  eighty- 
three  years  old)  :  and  Thomas. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  have  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Pay  P..  Margaret  A..  Renna  M.  and  Thomas 
L.  The  family  are  members  of  Trinitv  Lutheran 
Church,  of  Point  township,  and  Mr.  Hoffman  has 
served  many  years  in  the  church  council.  Tie  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PEXXSYLYAN1  \ 


ALFRED  .1.  PERSING,  postmaster  ai  Elys 
burg,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  also  has 
a  stationery  store,  has  passed  the  greater  portion 
of  his  life  in  this  section  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  this  region, 
tlic  Persings  having  been  established  here  from  the 
time  nf  his  great-great-grandfather,  William  Per- 
sing. 

William  Persing  was  born  in  Germany,  and  com- 
ing to  this  country  settled  in  Jersey  before  the 
Revolutionary    war.     Washington  camped  at    one 

time   near  i  lie    Persing    I e  and   the  family  was 

honored  with  his  acquaintance.  William  Persing 
married  in  Germany  and  had  two  children  when 
lie  emigrated.  He  and  Lis  wife  died  in  New  Jer- 
sey. Their  family  was  as  follows:  William.  Jr., 
George,  Philip,  Jacob,  John,  Tyson,  Margaret,  ami 
another  daughter. 

Tyson  Persing,  one  of  the  sons  of  William,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  and  came  to  Northumberland 
county  with  his  brothers.  He  followed  farming 
in  Shamokin*  township,  died  at  his  homestead,  and 
is  buried  at  the  Bine  church.  He  married  Katie 
Baker,  and  their  children  were:  Jacob:  William; 
Miller:  Rebecca,  wife  of  William  Scholl;  Mary, 
wife  of  Sol  Hummel;  Lena,  wife  of  Adam  Dim- 
iek :  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Goss;  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of   I  lavid   C'romp. 

Jacob  Persing,  son  of  Tyson,  was  born  in  Irish 
Valley,  this  county,  and  spent  his  early  life  upon 
the  farm.  He  learned  the  shoemaking  trade  and 
followed  it  at  Danville  and  at  Riverside,  but  he 
died  in  Sunbury,  while  living  with  his  daughter. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Shipe,  and  they  had  the 
following  children:  David,  Eli,  Iliff,  Israel  (nf 
Danville,  Pa.),  Reiley  (living  in  Kansas:  he  served 
in  the  Civil  war).  Susanna  (married  Joe  Garvick) 
ami  Matilda   (married  John  Lawrence). 

David  Persing,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Irish 
Valley,  and  like  his  father  became  a  shoemaker. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  at  Shamokin,  to  which 
place  he  removed  when  there  were  very  few  houses 
on  the  site  of  that  now  prosperous  borough,  and 
later  he  moved  to  Locust  ("lap.  this  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  timber  business  and  remained 
for  some  time.  His  next  location  was  at  Broad 
Top,  where  he  became  interested  in  the  soft  coal 
business  with  Krieger  &  Ammerman,  hut  their 
venture  did  not  prosper  and  he  went  to  Clearfield 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  in  the  lumber  business 
for  a  time.  From  there  he  went  to  Houtzdale, 
Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  is  now  living  retired. 
Mr.  Persing  lias  been  married  three  times.  By  his 
first  marriage,  to  Mary  Jane  Krieger,  he  had  three 
children.  Alfred  J..  George  and  Celestial.  His 
second  marriage  was  to  Isabelle  Clark,  and  their 
children  are  Andrew  C.  and  Laura  (wife  of  Isaac 
Goss ) . 

Alfred  J.  Persing  was  boni  Feb.  0.  1856,  at 
Locust  Gap,  and  received  hi-  education  in  the  pub- 


lic schools.  He  was  reared  by  his  uncle.  Eli  Per- 
sing, at  Shamrock  station,  in  Ralpho  township. 
\ller  following  farming  for  a  time  he  learned  the 
trade  ,,f  wheelwright,  and  in  hi-  young  manhood, 
in  1877,  made  a  trip  out  to  Kansas,  where  he  spent 
two  wars.  Returning  to  Northumberland  county 
he  followed  lumbering  for  five  years,  after  which 
he  settled  at  Elysburg.  He  followed  his  trade  of 
wheelwright  for  about  twenty  years  thereafter,  and 

since  1900  ha-  served  a-  postmaster.     In  c tec- 

tion  with  the  post  office  he  conducts  a  stationery 
business.     He  is  an  esteemed  citizen,  and  deserves 

the  confidence  his  fellow  n  have  shown  in  him. 

Mr.  Persing  married  Clara  Crowl,  daughter  of 
Jackson  Crowl.  of  Ralpho  township,  and  they  have 
two  children:  Howard  ('..  a  printer;  and   Irene  V. 

at   h e.     Mr.   Persing  is  a  member  of  Elysburg 

Lodge.  Xo.  5  is.  I.  o.  i).  l--..  and  a  No  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  He  is  a  member 
of  Reed's  Reformed  ( Ihurch,  and  a  Republican  in 
his  political  views. 


Philip  Persing,  one  of  the  sons  of  William,  the 
emigrant  ancestor,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and 
came  to  Shamokin  township.  Northumberland 
county,  when  a  young  man.  settling  in  Irish  Val- 
ley. Hi'  followed  shoemaking  and  farming.  Hfc 
died  at  the  age  of  1(11  year-,  and  was  buried  ai  the 
Blue  church.  .To  him  and  his  wife  Mary  (Ev- 
land)  were  horn  these  children:  William,  Abra- 
ham, Solomon,  (leorge.  Elizabeth  (married  John 
Cherry),  Catharine  (who  died  unmarried)  and 
Hannah  (Mrs.  Orlando  Templin,  of  Shamokin,  the 
last  named   now  the  only  survivor  of  the  famil\  I. 


Daniel  Persing,  a  son  of  William  Persing,  dr.. 
was  born  in  1828  in  Irish  Valley,  lived  at  Solins- 
grove,  Pa.,  for  seventeen  years,  and  then  in  1869 
settled  at  Shamokin,  where  he  wa-  employed  al 
i  he  ( iameron  colliery  until  his  death,  in  L883.  Pre 
viouslv  lie  had  followed  -1 making  and  farm- 
ing. He  is  buried  ai  Shamokin  cemetery.  His 
wife.  Anna  (Derr),  daughter  of  William  and  Han- 
nah (Reed)  Derr,  now  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter.  Mrs.  Smith,  in  Shamokin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Daniel  Persing  hail  children  as  follow-:  V- 
IVeil  lived  at  Deiblers  station;  Emma  married 
Monroe   (iease\  :    Sylvia    married    William    Yo-t  ; 

Alice    married    William    Mitchell;    Josephine    die.! 

young;  Jemima  married  Charles  Thompson; 
Lloyd  is  an  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company;  Delia  married  Charles  Schlegel; 
Clara  married  James   Long:  Charles  died  young. 

JOHN  WESLEY  GILLESPIE,  of  the  North- 
umberland county  bar,  « ith  offices  at    \  inth 

I  mire,. nd. ■in,'    streets,    Shamokin.     Pa.,    i-    om 
those  able,  clear-headed   and    straightforward   at- 
i  n-nevs  who  have  upheld  the  dign  e  law-  and 

made  il  re    ect      I    ro    diout  the  county.     Ik 


176 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  XSYLVAX1A 


born  in  Trevorton,  this  county,  in  1850,  son  of 
Anthony  Gillespie,  and  of  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  an- 
cestry. 

James  Gillespie,  his  paternal  grandfather,  emi- 
grated from  Scotland,  bringing  his  family  with 
him,  and  found  a  new  home  in  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, where  he  died.  His  children  were:  Anthony; 
and  Margaret  and  William;  both  of  whom  went  to 
New  York  and  there  died. 

Anthony  Gillespie,  the  father  of  John  Wesley 
Gillespie,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  18?'.;.  and  i 
to  America  with  his  parents  when  about  nine  years 
of  age.  However,  he  did  not  remain  long  in  Mary- 
land, but  moved  to  Trevorton,  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  afterward  to  Snufftown,  said  county 
where  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  This  he 
followed  all  of  liis  active  life.  He  died  in  Sham- 
okin  in  1883.  He  married  Sarah  Foye,  daughter 
of  Phineas  Foye,  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
they  arc  buried,  respectively,  in  the  Shamokin  cem- 
etery and   [rish   Valley  burial  ground. 

John  Wesk\  Gillespie,  son  of  Anthony  Gilles- 
pie and  Sarah,  his  wife,  began  life  at  the  age  o 
seven  years  as  a  slate  picker  boy  at  the  Trevorton 
breaker.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  he  left  Trevor- 
ton and  worked  for  liis  hoard  on  the  farm  of  Alex- 
S  ber  in  Irish  Valley  until  he  was  fifteen 
ears  of  age,  meanwhile  attending  the  old  Stone 
si  boo!  in  Irish  Valley.  He  then  wen!  to  Shamokin, 
Pa.,  where  he  picked  slate  at  the  Cameron  bi 
er,  at  that  time  owned  by  the  Fagely  Broi 
Ho  then  worked  mi  the  township  roads  of  Coal 
township  foT  "lie  year,  after  which  he  wen!  to 
Lewisburg  and  attended  the  Lewisburg  bigh  school 
fur  a  short  time.  His  next  move  was  to  Danville, 
where  lie  secured  employment  in  the  Watterman 
and  Beaver  rolling  mill-,  laboring  there  fur  three 
years.  Late  in  the  year  1869  he  returned  to  Sham- 
okin,  where  lie  learned  cabinet-making  under  Uri- 
ah Sober,  and  in  1871  he  engaged  in  that  line  for 
himself  in  Turbutville,  where  he  conducted  a  fur- 
niture store  until  1873.  He  then  took  up  under- 
taking, and  returning  to  Shamokin  he  engaged  in 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  business,  in  the  year 
1 v  '.  5  entering  into  partnership  in  that  business 
with i  M.  ( '.  Farrow. 

Being  naturally  ambitious,  Mr.  Gillespie  devot- 
ed his  leisure  hours  to  study,  in  time  taking  up 
law.  for  which  he  had  a  decided  liking.  In  1883  he 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  and  went  to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
where  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  graduating  in  1885.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  before  the  Supreme  and  Cir- 
cuit courts  of  Michigan,  and  entered  the  office  of 
Sawyer  &  Knowlton,  at  Ann  Arbor.  Returning 
t  i  Shamokin  on  July  12,  1886,  he  was  admitted  to 
the-  Northumberland  county  bar.  The  next  year. 
1887,  he  went  to  Lincoln.  Nebr.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  practice  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 


which  time  he  again  came  to  Shamokin.  and  for 
years  he  has  had  one  of  the  largest  practices  in 
Northumberland  county,  appearing  in  the  most 
important  civil  and  criminal  cases  in  this  section 
of  the  State.  In  1889  he  was  elected  borough  solie- 
itor  of  Shamokin  borough,  anil  has  served  in  that 
capacity  almost  continuously  for  fifteen  year-,  be- 
ing the  present  solicitor.  As  one  of  the  foremost 
lawyers  in  the  county  he  has  frequently  been  ap- 
proached to  permit  hi-  name  to  he  used  a-  a  candi- 
date for  judge  of  the  county  bar.  hut  ha-  invari- 
ably refused  to  do  si i. 

In  1871  Mr.  Gillespie  was  united  in  marriagi 
with  Valeria,  daughter  of  Silas  Farrow,  of  Sham- 
okin township,  and  they  have  been  blessed  with 
two  children,  as  follows:  John  Malcolm,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  Shamokin  high  school  in  1899  and 
Dickinson  School  of  Law  in  1904,  and  is  now 
associated  in  practice  with  his  father,  married 
Marcella  Trommetter,  and  is  residing  at  No.  221 
Easl  Sunbury  street:  Lillian  J.  is  at  home. 

SAMUEL  WILSON  MURRAY,  late  of  Milton, 
was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  citizen-  of  that 
ugh  and   for  many  years  a  leader  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  community,  not  only  in  hi-  ca- 
pacity of  business  man  hut  also  in  the  inaugura- 
tion and  encouragement  of  progressive  enterp 
of  all   kinds.     As  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Mil- 
ton   Car   Works,   the  first    large   industrial   plant 
established   there,  he  flowed   a   faith  in  the  com- 
ial  possibilities  of  the  place  amply  justified  by 
!    e  success  of  the  venture,  and     lie  continued  his 
ction    with    same    for   a   period   of   thirty.-five 
\-  a  citizen  he  was  always  foremost  in  ad- 
vocating and  introducing  measures  which  had  for 
their  object  the  good  of  tin-  people  generally.    His 
foresight  and  wisdom  were  demonstrated  in  many 

ways,  in  tl nduet  of  hi-  personal  affairs  and  in 

his  discharge  of  the  duties  of  citizenship  as  in- 
terpreted  according  to  his   inch   standards.     Few 

men  attain  or such  honorable  standing  as 

be  enjoyed. 

Mr.  Murray  was  a  native  of  Lewisburg,  Union 
Co..  pa.,  horn  Oct.  16,  1829,  and  belonged  to  .< 
family  which  has  been  identified  with  that  sec- 
tion for  over  a  hundred  and  forty  years.  About 
1 7 7 1 »  three  brothers,  .lame-.  William  and  John 
Murray,  settled  on  hinds  lying  along  the  Chillis- 
quaque  creek  in  Northumberland  county,  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  present  village  of  Pottsgrove,  for 
which  they  obtained  patents  from  the  Common- 
wealth. To  this  original  colony  were  afterward 
addeil  several  members  of  a  family  of  the  name  of 
Murray  who  had  come  from  Scotland  and  settled 
on  the  Swatara  (now  in  Dauphin  county)  in 
1732.  It  is  known  that  kinship  was  claimed  be- 
n  these  two  families,  hut  the  relationship  was 
probably  remote  and  cannot  now  lie  determined. 
There  appear  to  have  been  others  also  of  the  same 


<^; 


,     ? 


r> 


THE  NE  ' 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


» N      (AND 
N  f    lUNDATIONB 

R  L 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


name  who  settled  in  the  same  locality  at  about  the 
same  period,  bu1  u  is  not  known  that  any  blood 
relationship  existed  between  the  latter  and  the 
two  families  first  mentioned.  The  Murrays  were 
stanch  Presbyterians  and  active  members  of  the 
Chillisquaque  Church.  The  several  families  of  the 
same  name  became  at  one  time  so  numerous  as  to 
constitute  a  large  proportion  of  the  local  commun- 
ity, but  subsequently  many  of  the  members  re- 
moved to  different  parts  of  the  West,  and  compar- 
atively few  d|'  their  descendants  now  remain  in  this 
State.' 

Among  the  members  of  the  Swatara  family  who 
settled  on  the  Chillisquaque  creek  was  John  Mur- 
ray, who  represented  this  district  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature from  1801  to  1810,  and  served  as  i mi- 

ber  bf  Congress  from  1811  to  1820.  He  was  born 
in  1768  and  was  married  to  Margaret  Murray,  a 
daughter  of  Col.  John  Murray,  of  Dauphin  eounty. 
They  had  several  children,  one  of  whom  was  the 
late  John  Murray,  formerly  a  merchant  of  Milton. 

.lames  Murray,  one  of  the  three  brothers  first 
mentioned,  and  known  as  Col.  .lames  Murray,  took 
an  active  pari  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  as  col- 
onel of  a  regiment  of  militia  which  had  probably 
been  raised  in  the  upper  end  of  the  county.  At  the 
organization  of  the  Northumberland  county  mili- 
tia m  January  and  February,  1776,  James  Murray 
was  captain  of  the  7th  company  of  the  2d  battalion 
(Col.  James  Potter's)  and  William  Murray  was 
captain  of  the  oth  company  of  the  3d  battalion 
(Col.  William  Plunket's,),  in  which  the  lieuten- 
ant colonel  was  .lames  Murray.  Subsequently 
.Tames  Murray  became  colonel  (succeeding  Colonel 
Plunkel  probably,  as  the  latter  was  not  entirely  in 
sympathy  with  the  American  cause  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence)  :  he  was  first  called 
into  active  service  in  the  winter  of  1776-77,  and  on 
Nov.  I.  1777,  marched  with  the  Northumberland 
county  militia  to  Philadelphia.  His  regiment  was 
attached  to  Gen.  James  Potter's  brigade  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  movements  in  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  in  1776-78.  A  paper  dated  May  1, 
L778,  is  on  record  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
the  Commonwealth,  giving  the  names  of  the  cap- 
tains and  number  of  men  in  the  rank  and  tile  of 
the  2d  battalion  of  the  Northumberland  count] 
militia  commanded  by  Col.  -lame-  Murray.  James 
McMahan,  one  of  the  captains  of  this  regiment 
and  subsequently  known  as  Major  McMahan,  was 
married  to  a  sister  of  Colonel  Murray.  There  are 
but  few  of  Colonel  Murray's  descendants  now  liv- 
ing in  the  eounty. 

John  Murray,  another  of  the  three  brothers  first 
mentioned,  had  o on,  Thomas,  and  three  daugh- 
ters: Jane,  who  married  John  McMahan;  Ann, 
who  married  John  Reznor,  and  Mary,  unmarried. 
The  son  was  known  as  Thomas  Murray,  Jr.,  to 
distinguish  him  from  another  of  the  same  name 
a  few  years  his  senior. 

12 


^  Thomas  Murray,  Jr.,  was  a  member  of  the 
State  House  of  Representatives  in  1813,  and  in 
1814  was  elected  to  the  Senate.  In  1820  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Seventeenth  Congress  and 
served  during  the  years  1821  and  is-.".',  being  the 
immediate  successor  of  the  John  Murray  previous- 
ly mentioned.  On  account  of  increasing  ill  health 
he  declined  a  renomination,  and  died  Aug.  25, 
is-.':;,  lie  married  Charity  Arbour,  who  in  her 
early  lite  had  some  thrilling  experiences  with  the 
Indians  and  had  frequently  been  obliged  to  fly 
to  Fort  Augusta  for  protection.  Their  children 
were:  Mary.  John  P.,  William.  Hannah.  Joseph 
Arbour.    Nancy.   James,   Thomas    and    Margaret. 

William  Murray,  -on  of  Thomas  Murray,  Jr., 
was  horn  Aug.  26,  1796.  lie  married  Nancy  Gray 
Wilson,  of  Lewisburg,  and  they  resided  for  a  lime 
at  Washingtonville,  Montour  Co..  Pa.  The]  re 
moved  from  there  to  Lewisburg  and  subsequently 
to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  died  June  13,  1886. 
They  had  three  children:  Eliza  N..  who  married 
James  Black,  of  Lancaster;  Thomas,  who  died  in 
early  life,  and  Samuel  Wilson. 

Samuel  Wilson  Murray  received  hi-  education 
at  the  old  Lewisburg  Academy  under  Hugh  Pol- 
lock and  hi-  successor  in  that  venerable  institu- 
tion, John  Robinson,  lie  was  aboul  seventeen 
years  of  age  when  he  went  to  Lancaster,  Pa., 
where  his  father  then  resided,  and  two  year-  later 
he  weni  to  Portland,  Maine,  entering  the  Port- 
land Locomotive  Works  for  a  term  of  tie-. 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  trade  of  machinist. 
After  the  expiration  of  his  time  at  the  Portland 
works,  he  spent  a  year  and  a  hall'  at  \  ernon,  hid., 
ami  in  Rhode  Uland.  at  the  end  of  thai  period  re- 
turning to  Lancaster,  where  he  was  employed  for 
the  three  succeeding  years  as  draft-man  m  the 
Lancaster  Locomotive  Work-.  In  September, 
1856.  he  went  to  William-port.  Pa.,  and  m  con- 
nection with  William  Vanderbilt  and  I  -  Bow- 
man engaged  in  the  machine  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Vanderbilt,  Murray  a  Bowman. 
About  the  middle  of  the  following  January  their 
work-  were  entirely  destroyed  b\  fire.  The]  im- 
mediately   purchased    i ther  establishment    I 

owned  and  operated  b]  John  B.  Hall,  bul  during 

the  Foil. .wine  summer  came  the  greal  com rcial 

crash  of  1857,  and  this,  together  with  then-  losses 
bj  lire,  crippled  the  firm  to  such  an  extent  I 
d'eemed  it  expedient  to  resell  the  work-  to  Mr. 
Hall  and  retire  from  business.  Mr.  Murra]  tl  en 
returned  to  Lancaster,  and  shortl]  afterward  n 
,,,  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  i  mployed  a  year  in 
the  -hop-  of  the  Penns]  Kama  Railroai  I  >any. 
The  sui  i  eeding  year  he  spent  in  the  i;  Lo- 

comotive Work-  ai    Philadelphia.     In  the  fall  of 
I860   he   returned    to   Lewisburg,  and  in 

terested    in   Hie   firm  of  Shier.   Walk.    - 
Companv,  which  was  aboul   to 
ufacture  of  agi  i<  ultural    one! nts.     In    Febni- 


1> 


x< ibthumbekland  county,  Pennsylvania 


ary,  186L  he  came  to   Milton,  and  in  connection 
with  several  other?  founded  the  Milton  Car  Works. 
Willi  that  important  concern  he  was  identified  con- 
tinuously until  the  year  1899,  when  the  bus 
was  sold    i  ■  '.lie  American  Car  &    Foundry   I 
pany. 

In  1864,  upon  coming  to  Milton.  Mr.  Murray 
entered  upon  a  partnership  with  William  P. 
Dougal  and  others  a-  senior  member  "i  the  firm  of 
Murray.  Dougal  &  Co.,  and  the  erection  of  the  car 
works  was  begun  that  year.  During  the  years  im- 
mediately following  a  number  of  changes  were 
made  in  the  personnel  of  the  company,  C.  ('.  Mc- 
Cormick  anil  John  McCleery  being  eventually 
tin-  associates  of  Mr.  Murray  and  Mr.  Dougal. 
Mr.  McCleery  retired  in  is;:,.  Mr.  McConniek 
in  1878  and  Mr.  Dougal  a  few  months  later  that 
The  business  was  -Till  continued  under  the 
original  firm  name,  however,  and  the  firm  was  re- 
organized in  ISM),  when  Charles  H.  Dickerman 
and  R.  C.  Cartel-  became  associated  with  Mr.  Mur- 
ray as  a  limited  partnership  under  the  law  of 
181  t.  Sunn  afterward  William  R.  Kramer  became 
a  member  of  the  linn,  and  in  1881  P.  M.  Long- 
more.  The  business  consisted  principally  of  the 
construction  of  all  kinds  of  freight  cars,  includ- 
ing oil  tank  ears,  an  important  branch,  of  which 
they  have  built  a  very  large  number.  The  firm 
was  engaged  also  for  several  years  in  the  construc- 
tion of  iron  bridges,  but  the  bridge  department 
nt  the  works,  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  in  1880. 
was  not  rebuilt.  They  also  for  a  time  had  a  large 
trade  in  the  construction  of  nil  tanks  for  storage 
purposes,  and  also  steam  boilers.  The  manufac- 
ture of  freight  ears,  hoi nstituted  the  lead- 
ing business  of  the  firm,  and  there  is  no  descrip- 
tion of  ear  used  in  the  freight  traffic  which  has 
not  been  turned  out  of  the  Milton  Cax  Works.  A 
large  number  of  their  cars  have  been  exported  to 
Cuba  and  the  various  countries  of  Smith  America. 
The  capacity  of  the  works  being  ten  60-thou- 
sand-pound  hopper  coal  cars  per  day.  or  three 
-  thousand  car-  per  \< -ar.  employment  was  ordinarily 
given  to  about  four  hundred  hand-,  though  at 
times  the  number  reached  nearly  five  hundred. 
Large  portions  of  the  work-  were  destroyed  by  the 
great  fire  of  1880,  and  rebuilt  on  a  larger  si 
having  been  # replaced  by  substantial  stone  and 
brick  buildings,  and  every  department  was  amply 
supplied  with  the  most  approved  machinery  and 
appliances.  (  onnected  with  the  plant  was  a  saw- 
mill for  the  manufacture  of  the  oak  lumber  used 
in  the  business,  and  sixteen  acre-  of  pool  for  the 
storage  of  logs,  which  were  purchased  along  the 
Susquehanna  river  and  its  tributaries  and  brought 
from  Muncy  dam  by  the  canal.  .  The  works,  lo- 
cated letween  the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  railroad 
and  the  West  Branch  canal,  with  a  branch  from 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad  running  to 
tlie  premises,  enjoyed  unusual  transportation  fa- 
cilities.     Under    tin-   most    efficient   management, 


with  men  at  the  head  who  were  capable  of  meeting 
large  industrial  and  financial  responsibilities, 
this  grew  '■,  he  one  of  the  largest  and  most  sue- 
ci  —tnl  car  building  plants  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  relation  of  such  an  industrial  insti- 
tution to  the  prosperity  of  the  borough  may  he 
readily  understood.  Mr.  Murray  was  not  only 
foremost  in  business  circles  in  his  connection  with 
this  establishment,  but  was  also  active  in  oth- 
er local  enterprises,  being  one  of  the  organizers 
and  originators  of  the  Milton  Iron  Company,  in 
1872,  ol  the  Milton  Water  Gompany,  in  1883.  and 
interested  in  various  other  concern-  of  great  im- 
nc-e  to. the  community.  Toward  the  close  of 
his  life,  because  of  failing  health,  he  relinquished 

-    activity    in    business   to   some   extent,   but  he 
was  nevertheless  an  important  factor  in  the  life  of 
lorough  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

While  a  resident  of  Portland,  Maine.  Mr.  Mur- 
ray cast  his  first  vote  at  the  municipal  election  at 
which  Xeal  Low  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city 
and  which  resulted  in  the  enactment  of  the  famous 
"Maine  Law."  He  became  at  that  time  a  con- 
vert to  the  theory  that  prohibition  was  the  only 
practical  remedy  for  the  evil-  of  intemperance  and 
remained  a  life-long  adherent  to  the  cause.  In 
early  life  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  to  which  creed  his  parents  and  sister  also 
adhered,  and  he  was  a  prominent  leader  in  church 
work  for  many  years,  a  liberal  contributor  to  re- 
h-iou-  and  benevolent  purposes.  At  a  special 
ag  of  the  official  hoard  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
of  Milton,  held  July  1'.'.  1909,  the  following  res- 
olution- w  ere  passed  : 

"Whereas,  it  has  pleased  the  kind  Heavenly 
Father,  in  His  wise  Providence,  to  remove  from 
the  church  militant  to  the  church  triumphant  our 
beloved  and  highly  esteemed  brother  and  fellow 
worker  in  the  kingdom  of  out-  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Samuel  Wilson  Murray,  therefore  he  it 

"Resolved  first  that  we  how  in  sorrowful  re.   >g 
nition  of  our  great  loss  in  his  departure,  acknowl- 
edging the  supreme  will  of  God.  and  pledging  our- 
selves  anew  to  the  great  tasks  to  which  lie  gave  the 
strength  of  his  years  and  the  devotion  of  his  life. 

"Resolved  second  that  in  Samuel  Wilson  Mur- 
ray we  have  seen  an  unusual  exemplification  of 
the  principles  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ:  in  his 
unsullied  personal  life:  his  strict  business  integ- 
rity; his  spirit  of  practical  brotherly  kindness:  his 
broad  Christian  charity:  his  humble  hut  unswerv- 
ing loyalty  to  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  and  his 
persona]  love  and  devotion  to  the  church  of  his 
choice. 

"Resolved  third  that  we  recognize  the  distin- 
guished and  conscientious  fidelity  with  which  he 
discharged  ever]  responsibility  imposed  upon  him 
by  the  church:  having  in  his  nearly  fifty  years  of 
membership  in  this  church  filled  and  honored  these 
various  official  relations  with  characteristic  quiet 
dignity  and  sound  judgment. 


NOKTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


179 


"Resolved  fourth  that  we  gratefully  acknowledge 
his  large-hearted  generosity  in  the  bestowal  of  his 
means  in  the  liberal  supporl  of  the  church  in  her 
local  and  general  enterprises,  his  large  contribu- 
tions 1"  charitable,  educational  and  benevolent 
causes,  and  the  spirii  of  helpful  kindness  with 
which  he  responded  to  every  worthy  appeal. 

"Resolved  fifth  thai  we  extend  to  the  family  of 
our  translated  brother  our  profoundest  sympathy 
in  the  great  loss  thej  suffer  in  In-  departure,  but 
rejoice  with  them  that  a  kind  Providence  permit- 
ted them  to  enjoy  for  s any  years  his  wise  and 

kimlh  «  ounsels  and  his  saintly  fellowship. 

"Resolved  sixth  thai  a  copy  of  these  resolutions 
be  -'lit  in  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  also  that 
they  be  published  in  the  city  papers  and  be  entered 
upon  i  he  rei  i  irds  of  the  church." 

-Mr.  Murray  reached  his  eightieth  year,  dying  at 
his  home  on  North  Fronl  street,  Milton,  June  15, 
1909.  In  poor  health  for  several  years,  he  had 
spent  liin-t  of  the  winter  and  spring  at  Old  Point 
Comfort,  coming  home  a  few  days  before  his- death, 
which  was  unexpected.  The  veneration  and  high 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  were  seen  in  the  many 
marks  "i  honor  paid  at  the  funeral.  The  hanks 
and  practically  all  other  business  place-  of  the 
city  were  closed  during  the  funeral  hour  as  a  spe- 
cial mark  of  respect,  and  the  services  were  largely 
attended  by  citizen-  of  all  classes.  Eloquenl  and 
impressive  tributes  to  his  character  and  standing 
were  paid  by  his  pastor  and  a  former  pastor  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  where  the  services  were  held.  The 
remain-  were  interred  in  the  Upper  cemetery  at 
.Milton.  We  quote  the  following  from  the  piaster's 
address:  "For  half  a  century  he  lias  gone  out  and 
in  among  you.  His  life  was  an  open  hook  and  was 
read  by  all.  There  was  not  a  page  in  it  that  need- 
ed to  be  concealed  or  that  might  not  be  read  by 
all  the  community.  Ee  had  high  and  clear  con- 
ceptions of  right  and  an  unusual  sense  of  fine 
moral  distinctions.  The  standards  of  business  in- 
tegrity are  higher  in  this  community  because  he 
lived  here.  To  have  lived  a  public  business  life  in 
a  community  for  fifty  years  in  this  age  of  corrupt 
business  practices  without  any  man  being  able  to 
place  the  finger  upon  a  single  dishonorable  or  even 
questionable  business  transaction,  is  an  imperish- 
able monument  to  the  transcendent  moral  great- 
ness of  the  man's  character." 

The  Milton  Evening  Standard  had  the  follow- 
ing editorial  in  its  issue  of  June  16,  1909  :  "In  the 
death  of  Samuel  Wilson  Murray,  which  occurred 
at  his  home  on  North  Front  street,  last  night,  Mil- 
ton lose-  one  of  her  most  distinguished  and  hon- 
ored citizens.  He  came  to  Milton  almost  a  half 
century  ago  and  established  the  first  industrial  en- 
terprise of  any  magnitude  in  our  town — the  Mil- 
ton car  works.  He  has  been  all  these  years  a  con- 
-|  H  nous  figure  in  the  industrial,  commercial,  fi- 
nancial, social  and  moral  development  of  the  com- 


munity. He  possessed  a  strong  personality.  He 
had  a  wonderful  memory,  was  a.  keen  observer  and 
■1  man  of  remarkable  versatility  and  mental  grasp. 
He  had  an  inventive  mind  and  a  strong  inclina- 
tion to  literature.  He  was  a  great  reader  and  had 
traveled  extensively  in  this  and  foreign  lands.     He 

was   a    forceful   speaker,  a   sound    reas r  and    a 

pleasing  and  entertaining  conversationalist.  He 
was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  with  an  un- 
blemished character,  and  his  life  stands  out  and 
reflects  the  highest  ideal  of  the  upright  man.  Mr. 
Murray  always  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions. 
He  st I  boldly  and  aggressively  for  what  he  be- 
lieved to  he  right  and   he  was  unswerving  in   his 

devotion  to  any  cause  he  es] sed.     He  was  a  man 

of  generous  impulses  and  without  ostentation  has 
given  away  vast  sums.  Hundreds  of  families  have 
felt  his  generosity  who  never  knew  from  whence 
it  came.  While  Mr.  Murray  has  not  been  active 
in  business  for  a  few  years,  t\ur  to  declining  health. 
his  loss  will  be  keenly  felt  by  the  whole  commun- 
ity." 

On  Dec.  17,  1866,  Mr.  Murray  married  Sarah 
Matilda  Meekly,  daughter  of  Dr. 'John  Meekly,  of 
Milton,  who  survives  him.  Two  children  were 
horn  to  this  union.  John  Heber  and  Helen  Be- 
atrice, the  former  of  whom  died  June  is.   1895. 

JOSEPH  E.  PENSYL,  of  Paxinos,  \orthum- 
berland  county,  has  been  a  resident  of  that  place 
since  1896  and  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  at- 
tention to  the  lumber  business,  in  which  he  has 
built  up  a  prosperous  trade.  He  is  well  known  in 
public  life,  having  served  the  community  in  vari- 
ous official  capacities,  and  is  considered  a  capable 
and  reliable  man,  aide  to  handle  any  work  he  un- 
ilei  takes. 

Mr.  Pensyl  was  horn  March  16,  1862,  in  Ralpho 
township,  this  county,  -mi  of  David  I  J.  Pensyl,  and 
is  a  member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
this  region.  Jacob  Pensyl  (or  Bentzel),  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
coming  to  America  made  his  home  in  Nbrthumb 
land  county,  Pa.,  taking  up  fifty  acres  of  land  at 
the  present  site  of  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  His 
location  was  where  the  "Eagle  Hotel"  now  -lands. 
Afterward  he  abandoned  this  place  and  took  up 
a  200-acre  tract  in  Ralpho  town-hip  (where  his 
great-grandson,  David  R.  Pensyl,  later  resided)  to 
which  he  moved.    He  had  one  son,  John. 

John  Pens}  I,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  1761  i 
was  nine  years  old  w  hen   his  father  -ell  led  at   what 
is  now  Shamokin.     He  was  a  member  of  the  <  ter 

man  Reformed  <  Ihurch,  one  of  tl rganizers  and 

original  members  of  the  old  Blue  i  liun  h  in  Ra 
township,    and    donated    an  ground    for 

church  purposes,  the  edifice  of  that 
being  located  thereon  to  this  day.     He  died  upon 
the  homestead  in  Ralpho  town-hip  in  April.  1849, 
nr  the  a°"e  of  eight \  two      John    Pensyl   mar 


1SII 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Barbara  Hinkle,  and  to  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren :  Kate,  who  married  Frederick  Lebic :  Leah, 
who  married  John  Fisher:  John,  who  was  twice 
married:  George,  burn  Aug.  1.  1799;  and  Leon- 
ard. 

Leonard  Pensyl.  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Hin- 
kle) Pensy].  was  born  May  11.  1804,  on  the  bome- 
stead  in  Ralpho  township,  and  died  Oct.  1.  1883 
|  date  is  also  given  <  >ct.  31,  188  I  ].  lie  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church,  which  he  served  as 
con  and  elder  for  twenty-one  years;  in  pol- 
itic he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Kaseman,  daughter  of  Frederick  William  Kase- 
man,  of  Ralpho  township,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  three  children:  Sarah  S.,  born  July  3,  1828, 
died  dan.  :;.  1908,  who  was  the  wife  of  Daniel  11 
Adams,  of  Ralpho  township;  Daniel,  who  died 
dan.  24,  1834,  aged  seven  months,  sixteen  days; 
and  David  R. 

David  R.  Pensy],  sun  of  Leonard,  was  born  Sept. 
25,  1835,  on  the  old  Pensy]  homestead,  which  he 
inherited,  following  farming  there  throughout 
his  active   rears,  except   for  a   -   i  e  when  he 

was  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  sta 
in  is.",;  and  carried  on  for  two  years.  He  had  over 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Pensy]  died  Feb. 
15,  I'.nu.  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church.  He 
was  a  member  of  that  church,  and  socially  was  a 
Mason,  holding  membership  in  Shamokin  lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  the  Conclave.  Though  a  Dem- 
oi  i. n  in  polil  ics  and  interested  in  the  -nee,--  oi 
his  party,  he  never  took  any  active  part  in  its  at- 
•  or  in  public  matters  of  any  kind. 

In  1859  Mr.  Pensy]  married  Carolina  Fry, 
daughter  o     los    >h  Fry,  and  eleven  children 

union:  Lenora,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Alonzo  D.  Smink,  of  Shamokin.  and  has  children, 
Florence  (wife  of  Robert  Roth  and  the  mot! 
children.  Robert  L.  and  Harriet  L.)  and  Ret 
L.;  Joseph  F. :  Laura,  wife  of  Joseph  B.  Hill,  of 
Tharptown,  Pa.:  Leonard,  a  resident  of  Sham- 
okin: David  .L.  living  at  Weigh  Scales,  Northum- 
county:  Elizabeth,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  i  I  ge  Burkert:  Hannah,  living  at  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.;  Cora,  wife  of  Frank  Leader,  a  mer- 
chant of  Mount  Carmel;  Bertha  M..  who  died  in 
infancy:  Oscar  W.,  member  of  the  firm  of  Paul 
usyl,  butchers  of  Shamokin:  and  Carrie  !'.. 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Rutherford  Hayes. 

Joseph  F.  Pensyl  attended  the  Kaseman  school 
in  his  native  township.  He  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, which  he  continued  to  follow  for  a  number 
of  years,  owning  a  farm  at  the  Blue  church  which 
he  later  sold  to  his  brother-in-law.  G.  J.  Snyder. 
For  ten  years  lie  farmed  the  ground  which  has 
since  been  sold  to  the  Blue  Church  for  cem. 
purposes,  this  1  icing  the  new  part  of  the  burial 
ground  at  that  church.  In  1896  he  moved  to  Pax- 
inos,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.     Mean- 


time he  has  become  interested  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ii.  ss,  supplying  timber  for  the  Shipman  Coal  Com- 
pany's and  Buck  Ridge  collieries.  Eight  men  and 
two  four-horse  teams  are  kept  constantly  busy  at 
this  work.  Mr.  Pensyl  doing  quite  an  extensive 
business.  Since  his  removal  to  this  point  he  has 
been  almost  continuously  identified  with  public 
affairs,  having  served  fourteen  years  as  constable 
of  Shamokin  township  and  for  some  time  as  tax 
collector.  While  a  residenl  of  Ralpho  township 
he  was  constable  for  two  years  and  supervisor  for 
three  years.  He  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  belong- 
■  Elysburg  Lodge.  In  religion  he  adhere-  to 
the  Reformed  faith,  being  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Church. 

Mr.  Pensyl  married  Elizabeth  Snyder,  daughter 
Snyder.     They  have  no  children. 

ABRAHAM  W.  PONTIUS,  of  Sunbury,  whole- 
sale ami  retail  dealer  in  ice  cream  and  confection- 
ery, which  he  also  manufactures,  began  that  busi- 
■ --  'i  a  modesi  way  in  1894  and  has  made  a  nota- 
ble success,  displaying  enterprise  and  executive 
ability  which  would  have  insured  him  prosperity 
m  any  lme.  His  modern,  well  kept  establishment 
i-  a  credit  to  the  borough  and  his  career  has 
active  and  honorable,  for  he  has  come  to  the  front 
by  hard  work  and  close  application  to  tin  s  - 
principles  in  all  his  dealings. 

Mr.  Pontius  is  a  nan  .  o  Snyder  county,  Pa., 
horn  Jan.  I.  1870,  son  of  Henry  Pontius  and 
grandson  of  George  Pontius.  John  Pontius,  his 
first  ancestor  in  America,  was  born  in  1T1S  in 
Alsace,  ami  arrived  here  in  1738,  locating  in  Tul- 
cken,  Berks  Co..  Pa.  In  1743  he  married 
Anna  Catherine  Zellers,"  daughter  of  John  Zellers, 
and  they  had  quite  a  large  family,  the  sons  being: 
(John)  Henry,  born  in  1744;  (John)  Peter,  born 
in  1747;  John,  horn  in  1751;  Andrew  Michael; 
George,  ami  Frederick.  Of  the-,-.  Peter  was  a 
ii  i  apt.  John  Lesher's  company  from 
Berks  county,  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  ami 
was  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island.  All  of  the  -"ii» 
were  pioneers,  several  being  among  thi  '  -  -  ttlers 
in  Buffalo  Valley,  in  what  is  now  Union  county, 
Pa.,  and  many  of  the  next  generation  were  an 
the  early  settlers  in  Ohio  and  Illinois. 

George  Pontius,  son  of  John,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  Abraham  W.  Pontine.  He  lived  in 
Buffalo  Valley,  in  Snyder  (now  Union)  county, 
and  died  at  a  comparatively  early  age.  He  is 
buried  at  Smith  Grove  church.  He  had  -  - 
Thomas  (who  is  buried  in  Snyder  county)  and 
George. 

George  Pontius,  -on  of  George,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township.  Snyder  county,  where  he  lived 
and  owned  the  farm  which  later  became  the  prop- 
erty of  his  son  Henry.  He  married  Susan  Snyder, 
who  died   aged   seventy-five   years,   three   months. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


lsi 


twenty-one  days,  Mr.  Pontius  attaining  the  age 
of  eighty-three.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  his  wife  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely:  Henry; 
George,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.;  Mary,  wife  of  Lemekus 
Stocker;  Catharine,  wife  of  Daniel  Benfer;  Susan- 
na, who  is  unmarried;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Con- 
rad Maurer. 

Henry  Pontius,  sun  of  George,  was  born  in  1828 
in  Jackson  township,  Snyder  county,  and  died  Jan. 
21,  L897.  He  is  buried  at  the  U.  E.  church  at 
Kratzerville,  Snyder  county,  of  which  church  he 
was  long  an  active  member.  Ee  was  one  of  its 
organizers  and  for  many  years  a  pillar  of  the  con- 
gregation, serving  as  class-leader,  exhorter,  ami 
in  various  official  positions,  the  duties  of  which  he 
discharged  with  zeal  ami  efficiency.  In  polities 
he  was  a  Republican,  and  he  served  many  years  as 
assessor  of  Monroe  township,  Snyder  county. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  Earmer,  owning  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  acres.  His  wife,  Sarah  (Heiser), 
daughter  of  David  Eeiser,  of  Snyder  county,  died 
in  L904,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  They  hail  tun 
children  :  I. aura,  w  ho  married  Elmer  Greiner,  ami 
Abraham  \V.  Mr.  ami  .Mrs.  Greiner  now  live  on 
the  Benry  Pontius  homestead. 

There  were  a1  least  two  members  of  the  Eeiser 
family  serving  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Gotleib 
Heiser  having  been  a  private  in  Captain  Hitter's 
company  from  Berks  county;  and  there  was  one 
John  Heiser  in  thai  war  from  Pennsylvania. 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  1790  records  the 
names  of  Henry,  Charles  ami  Ulrieh  Heiser,  heads 
of  families  from  Brunswick  ami  Manheim  town- 
ships, Berks  (now  Schuylkill)  county. 

David  Heiser.  a  son  of  one  of  the  three  named 
a-  heads  of  families  in  1790,  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Rudolfe.  He  lived  in  the  Buffalo  Valley, 
in  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  they  are  buried  at 
Bath.  Pa.  The'v  had  these  children:  Henry, 
John,  Daniel,  Christian,  David.  .Molly  (never  mar- 
ried), Mrs.  Krebs,  Mrs.  Showers  and  Mrs.  Pat- 
terson. 

David  Heiser.  son  of  David,  was  born  in  Mifflin 
county,  Pa.,  in  1794,  and  died  in  1857.  He  is 
buried  at  Kratzerville,  in  Snyder  county.  He  was 
a  stonemason  by  trade  and  also  a  Earmer.  In  reli- 
gion he  united' with  the  Evangelical  Church,  and 
in  politics  he  was  an  old-line  Whig.  His  wife, 
Magdalena  (ImmhofE),  was  born  in  1800,  in  Lan- 
caster countv.  and  died  in  1867.  She.  too,  is  buried 
at  Kratzerville.  They  had  children ;  John.  Henry, 
David.  Elizabeth,  Daniel.  Sarah  (married  Henry 
Pontius).  Abraham.  Susan.  Mary,  Benjamin  and 
Anne. 

Daniel  Heiser.  son  of  David,  born  in  1830,  in 
Union  (now  Snyder)  county,  was  a  Earmer,  miller 
and  merchant  for  forty  years,  and  took  part  in 
local  public  affairs  in  his  active  years,  serving  as 
school  director  nine  years  and  assessor.     He  now 


resides  at  Leu  isburg,  retired.     He  is  a  mber  of 

the  United  Evangelical  Church.  Mr.  Eeiser  mar- 
ried Phoebeann  Missuna,  who  died  in  1907,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  ami  they  had  chil- 
dren:   James  E.  (died  young),  Edwin  S..  Willis 

D..   Phoebe,  El r  E.,  C.  Regina,  M.  Edith  and 

Emma   Irene  (died  aged  seventy- four  wars). 

Abraham  W.  Pontius  received  a  common  school 
education  in  the  home  locality  in  Snyder  county, 
and  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  which  he 
followed  until  twenty-four  years  old.  Coming  to 
Sunbury  at  that  age,  in  1894,  lie  lias  since  devoted 
himself  to  his  present  line  of  business.  Ee  began 
with  a  retail  confectionery  and  iee  cream  store  at 
No.  231  Markel  square,  near  the  courthouse,  con- 
tinuing at  that  location  for  eleven  years.  During 
the  first  three  years  he  confined  himself  to  the 
retail  trade,  but  soon  branched  out  as  a  wholesale 
dealer,  until  his  customers  are  now  drawn  from  a 
territory  embracing  seven  counties.  In  1904  he 
built  the  Pontius  building,  at  Nos.  104-406  Markel 
street,  which  he  has  since  occupied.  It  is  three 
stories  high,  of  light  brick  with  gray  stone  trim- 
ming, with  a  frontage  of  30  feet  on  Market  streel 
and  tot  feet  in  depth,  extending  hack  to  the  whole- 
sale room.. which  fronts  on  No.  16  North  Fourth 
street,  and  which  is  18  by  40  feel  in  dimensions. 
The  buildings  are  c ected,  and  there  are  en- 
trances ,,u  both  Market  street  ami  North  Fourth 
si  reel.  The  upper  part  of  the  Pontius  building 
is  finished  for  use  as  offices,  lodge  rooms  and 
dwelling  rooms.  Mr.  Pontius  has  mad!'  an  addi- 
tion to  the  main  building,  is  1>\  36  led  in  dimen- 
sions, where  he  manufactures  and  stores  hi-  ice 
cream.  He  has  all  the  most,  modern  machinery 
ami  appliances  for  manufacturing  ice  cream  and 
confectionery,  and  his  retail  -tore  is  mosl  attrac- 
tively arranged  and  fitted.  The  tiled  floor  and 
wainscoting,  large  mirrors,  anil  other  tasteful  ap- 
pointments, give  ii  a  wholesome,  inviting  appear- 
ance which  appeals  to  the  patrons.  There  are  ac- 
commodations h,r  serving  a  hundred  and  - 
customers  at  one  nine,  if  necessary,  and  the  es- 
tablishment is  one  of  the  mosl  popular  placi 
its  kind  in  Sunbury.  Both  retail  and  wholesale 
departments  are  conducted  in  the  mosl  hygienic 
manner,  a  fact  which  brings  the  best  class  of  trade 
in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Pontius  has  eighl  employ© 
II,.  ships  his  ice  cream  and  candy  throughoul  cen- 
tral Pennsylvania.  His  enterprise  has  drawn  him 
mi,,  other  local  business  interests,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  promoters  of  the  Sunburj  National  Bank, 
0f  ,.i  hjch  he  i-  a  director,  lie  was  instrumental  in 
havinj  ""  of  l!"'  bank,  on  Market 

streel.  chosen  for  the  site  of  iis  buildinp  and  served 
.,c  a   member  of   the  building  committee.      I 
structure  adjoins  the  Pontius  building,  which  was 
hi  planned  that  it  is  in  harmony  as  to  ex* 
with  the  hank  building,  being  apparently  a  con- 
tinuation of  it. 


182 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


On  Jan.  27,  1896,  Mr.  Pontius  married  Jennie 
Conrey,  daughter  of  J.  C.  Conrey,  of  Northum- 
berlaml.  this  county,  and  they  have  had  one  son. 
C.  Henry.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  First  U.  E.  Church  of  Sunbury,  in  which  he 
i-  very  active,  at  present  serving  as  steward  and 
treasurer.  In  1910  he  was  a  delegate  t'>  the  gen- 
eral conference  which  met  at  Canton,  Ohio.  \lr. 
Pontius  is  a  Eepubliean,  and  served  two  year-  as 
councilman  of  the  Second  want.  Fraternally  he 
belongs    to    True    Cross    I  ommandery,    NTo.    122, 

Knights  of  Malta,  and  to  two  insurai rders,  the 

Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Protected  H Circle — 

all  of  Sunbury. 

DANIEL  G.  PEGEE,  a  farmer  in  the  eastern 
end  of  Washington  township,  was  born  Aug.  LO, 
1850,  at  the  place  where  he  new  lives,  which  was 
also  his  father's  home. 

Conrad  Feger,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
r.  -  countj',  Pa.,  coming  thence  to  Northumber- 
land count}'  before  his  marriage.  Here  he  wedded 
Eosanna  Fisher,  and  they  lived  in  Northumberland 
county  for  about  twenty  years,  at  the  end  of  that 
period  moving  out  to  Ogle  county,  111.  Then 
they  took  up  160  acres  of  land  for  which  they  paid 
$1.25  per  acre,  followed  farming,  and  prospi 
passing  the  remaindei  of  their  days  in  that  county, 
where  ihe\  are  buried.  Conrad  Feger  followed 
distilling  as  well  as  farming.  Be  lived  to  the  age 
of  ninety-two  years,  his  wife  dying  some  years 
previously.  They  were  Lutherans  in  relig 
faith.  Their  children  were  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  and  all  but  Joseph,  the  eldest,  accom- 
panied them  out  to  Ogle  county,  111.,  he  having 
married  previous  to  the  removal  and  his  wife  pre- 
ferring to  remain  in  Northumberland,  hef  native 
county.  The  family  was  as  follows :  Joseph,  John, 
Daniel,  Samuel,  Conrad,  Peter,  David.  Harry, 
Isaac,  Sarah.  Elizabeth.  Katie  and  Rosie.  I 
rad  Feger  had  a  cousin  George,  who  conducted  a 
pottery  store  in  Harrisburg,  and  who  became  blind 
in  his  later  years, 

Joseph  Feger,  son  of  Conrad,  was  born  Jan.  5, 
1S12,  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  was  a  carpenter  in  his  earlier  manb L, 

later  becoming  a  farmer.  In  1850  he  settled  on 
the  farm  in  the  eastern  end  of  Washington  town- 
ship now  owned  by  his  son  Daniel.  There  he 
farmed  until  1869,  when  his  son  Daniel  succeeded 
him  on  the  place  and  he  moved  to  the  western  part 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  living  retired  in  that 
location  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  23, 
1887.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  trusted 
by  his  fellow  men.  and  as  he  was  an  excellent  hand 
at  figures  he  served  abouf  twenty  wars  a-  town- 
ship  auditor,   being  also   a ■  ;■   of   Washington 

township  for  about  twelve  years.  In  politics;  he 
was  a    Democrat,  in   religion   a    Lutheran,  he  and 


his  family  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation 
at  the  Himmel  Church.  He  was  very  regular  in 
his  attendance  on  church  services,  and  was  an  ,n 
worker  in  the  church,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  His  first  wife.  Molly  (Geist),  daughti 
Andrew  and  Catharine  (Snyder)  Geist,  of  Upper 
Mahanoy-  township,  was  born  April  19,  1817,  and 
died  Sept.  29,  1863.  They  had  six  children:  An- 
drew married  Malissa  Michael  and  had  three  chil- 
dren. Charles  ( »..  George  W.  and  Joseph,  the  last 
named  deceased;  they  lived  in  Dongola,  Union 
Co.,  111.  Harriet  married  Adam  Cherry,  and  they 
lived  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  where  her 
father.  Joseph  Feger,  died.  Mary  (deceased) 
married  Henry  Otto  and  lived  at  Shamokin, 
county.  Sarah  married  William  H.  Otto  and  they 
live  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  Andelina  (deceased)  mar- 
Si  ii  v  Schminkey  and  lived  at  Ashland,  Pa. 
Daniel  G.  is  mentioned  below.  For  his  second  wife- 
Mr.  Feger  married  Mrs.  Anna  (Wolfgang)  Gotts- 
hall  Herb,  her  first  husband  having  in  en  Samuel 
shall,  her  second  Daniel  Herb  and  her  third 
Josi  ph    Fege]  - 

Daniel  G.  Feger  attended  subscription  school 
during  his  boyhood,  but  not  for  lone.  H,.  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  which  he  has  followed  prac- 
tically all  his  life,  for  though  a  carpenter  he  en- 
gaged at  the  trade  only  one  season.  In  1869  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  at  his  present 
e,  his  farm  consisting  of  ninety-sis  acres.  In 
190'  he  remodeled  the  old  part  of  hi-  residence  and 
built  the  new  part.     Mr.  Feger  has  always  been  a 

successful  farmer  and  has  his  land  in  g 1  shape. 

Hi-  recreation  is  hunting,  and  lie  has  shot  many 
rabbits  and  raccoons,  shooting  usually  seventy-five 
rabbits  during  the  season.     He  was  the  champion 

'  n  and  fox  hunter  of  his  district  for  many 

vears.  having  caught  and  shot  as  many  as  twenty- 
six  raccoons  in  one  season. 

Mr.  Feger  is  a  Democrat  and  interested  m  the 
success  .>f  his  party  and  the  administration  of  local 
affairs,  having  helped  to  hold  main-  elections.    He 
las  served  his  township  for  six  years  as  school  di- 
rector and    three  years   in   the  capacity  of  super- 

On  Oct.  L8,  1868,  Mr.  Feger  married  Han 
Kemhel.  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Catharine 
(Feger)  Eembel,  of  Washington  township,  and 
they  have  had  fourteen  children,  nine  of  whom 
reached  maturity:  Charles  W..  now  of  Spokane, 
Wash.:  Joseph  II..  of  Frackville,  Pa.;  Harvey  F.. 
who  carries  on  his  father's  farm:  Lillie  A.,  wife  of 
G.  A.  Brosius,  of  Upper  Mahantango  township, 
Schuylkill  county:  Jennie  M..  Mrs.  Daniel  Weary. 
of  Frackville.  Pa.:  Laura  B..  Mrs.  William  Belles. 
of  Milium. Km.  Pa.:  Frank  R.,  Gertie  M.  and  Dan- 
iel C.  unmarried.  Mr.  Feger  and  his  family 
worship  at  the  Himmel  Church,  belonging  to  the 
Lutheran  congregation. 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


L83 


JOHN  .1.  BBIEBLEY,  of  Trevorton,  North- 
umberland county,  lias  been  superintendent  of  the 
silk  mill  at  that  point  since  January,  1908,  the 
plant  being  a  branch  of  the  Shamokin  Silk  .Mill-. 
owned  by  J.  II.  and  ('.  K.  Eagle.  The  business 
has  been  his  life  work.  II is  aptitude  for  (Ins 
industrial  art,  and  his  long  practical  experience, 
make  hini  a  valuable  man  in  his  capacity  as  su- 
perintendent. Mr.  Brierley  was  born  Jan.  'J.  1867, 
in  Paterson,  X.  J.,  where  his  father,  John  Brier- 
ley,  a  native  of  England,  settled  upon  coming  to 
America,  in  1854.  The  father  was  emplo  ed 
throughout  his  active  years  by  the  Hinchliffe 
Brothers,  brewers,  of  Paterson.  He  married  Sarah 
Clark. 

John  J.  Brierlej  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city.  When  only  a  boy  of  twelve  he 
began  to  work  in  the  silk  mills,  beginning  at  the 
bottom,  and  he  has  worked  his  way  up  through 
the  rarious  stages  of  employment,  rising  by  effi- 
cient service  to  his  present  responsible  position. 
In  1898  he  came  to  Shamokin,  Pa.,  entering  the 
Shamokin  Silk  Mills  as  a  foreman,  and  when  the 
mills  passed  into  the  ownership  of  the  Eagle 
brothers  he  continued  as  foreman  in  their  em- 
ploy. In  January,  1908,  lie  was  sent  to  Trevorton 
to  lake  charge  of  the  branch  mill  there,  as  super- 
intendent. About  one  hundred  hands  are  em- 
ployed in  this  plant,  which  is  kept  busy  constant- 
ly, the  output  of  these  mills  finding  a  steady  de- 
mand in  the  market.  Mr.  Brierley's  efficiency  and 
devotion  to  his  work,  and  his  intelligent  com- 
prehension of  its  requirements  and  possibilities, 
have  brought  out  his  executive  qualities,  which 
have  proved  quite  as  important  in  the  successful 
operation  of  the  plant  as  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  silk  manufacturing. 

On  Feh.  21,  1888,  Mr.  Brierley  married  Char- 
lotte Miller,  ol'  Xew  Jersey,  and  they  have  three 
children:  David  M.,  Elsie  C.  and  Charlotte  M. 
The  family  home  is  at  Edgewood.  Mr.  Brierley 
is  a  Mason' and  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  Sham- 
okin Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M..  to  Lodge  No. 
664,  I.  <>.  I'.  F..  and  to  the  Triple  Link  Club  of 
Shamokin.  In  religious  connection  he  is  a  Luth- 
eran. 

JOHN  KEIM,  of  Biverside,  Northumberland 
county,  has  been  a  citizen  of  that  borough  through- 
out its  existence  and  has  been  a  leader  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  its  public  affairs  as  well  as  in 
business  circles.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick  practically  from  boyhood. 
having  begun  the  business  so  early  in  life  that  he 
is  still  known  all  over  the  State  as  the  "hoy  brick 
maker."  Mr.  Keim  was  horn  Feh.  22,  L845,  al 
Shoemakersville,  sou  of  David  Keim.  and  comes 
of  a  family  long  known  in  Berks  county,  I'm.,  where 
its  representatives  are  still  numerous.  His  grand- 
father was  Samuel  Keim. 


David  Keim  was  horn  Sept.  S,  180S,  at  Shoe- 
makersville, in  Perry  township,  Berks  county, 
where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Danville,  Mon- 
tour Co.,  Pa.,  in  1847.  lie  was  a  farmer  h\  oc- 
cupation, and  passed  the  rest  of  his  life  at  Dan- 
ville, where  he  is  buried.  His  death  occurred  Jan. 
3,  1878.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran,  in  politics 
a  Democrat.  His  wife.  Harriet  Arnold  (sister  of 
Dr.  John  Arnold,  a  dentist  of  Reading),  was  born 
July  13,  1813,  and  died  April  19,  1887.  Their 
children  were  horn  as  follow-:  Matilda,  dan.  L8, 
1831;  Catharine,  Nov.  23,  1832;  Susan,  Julj  28, 
L834  :  Harriet,  April  3,  1836  (died  in  November, 
1910,  m  Chicago,  111.)  ;  Anna  M..  Sept.  22,  1838; 
George  W.,  July  22,  1840;  Daniel.  May  3;  L842; 
John,  Teh.  22,  1845;  Sarah.  Jan.  25,  1847;  Wil- 
liam. Nov.  ;,  1851. 

John  Keim  was  reared  at  Danville,  and  he- 
was  only  a  youth  of  fifteen  when  he  enlisted  from 
that  place  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  holding  the 
record  as  Danville's  youngest  representative  who 
earned  a  musket  in  that  conflict.  He  became  a 
member  of  Company  H,  93d  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  with  which  he  served  one  fear, 
and  during  hi:-  second  enlistment  he  was  enrolled 
in  Company  B,  194th  Regiment,  as  first  sergeant. 
He  served  four  months  in  this  command.  His 
third  term  of  service  was  with  Company  I.  4 1st 
Regiment,  in  which  he  was  also  first  sergeant,  and 
at  its  expiration  he  enlisted  Ln  Company  I.  lulth 
Regiment,  being  given  the  same  rank.  He  saw 
considerable  active  service  in  the  held,  taking 
part  in  main  engagements,  and  made  a  highly 
creditable  record.  At  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  two 
men  were  shot  by  his  side. 

Mr.  Keim  burned  his  first  kiln  of  brick  before 
he  was  eighteen  years  old.  and  he  has  been  in  the 
business  continuously  ever  since.  His  plants  are  at 
Danville,  ami  the  product  is  a  red  clay,  hand- 
made  brick    which    is    shipped    into    all    the    coal 

mining  towns,  the  den Is  being  steady,  and  the 

trade  having  expanded  to  such  dimensions  thai  as 
many  as  fifty-five  men  arc  given  >te;nlv  employ- 
ment. In  1909  the  vcarh  output  was  2,400,000. 
Mr.  Keim  has  built  up  his  large  business  1>\  con- 
stant attention  to  it^  needs  and  In  keeping 
thoroughly  abreast  of  tin'  time-  in  his  line,  and 
he  is  considered  a  deservedly  prosperous  man  by 
all  who  have  had  dealinge  with  him.  His  ass6- 
ciation  with  Riverside  as  a  municipality  dates  from 
the  time  of  its  organization,  lie  came  to  the 
town  when  there  were  only  twelve  house-  on  the 
-ne.  ami  he  was  "lie  of  Hie  leading 
incorporation  as  a  borough,  which  took  place  in 
is;  i.  As  school  director  and  member  of  the  coun- 
cil for  mam  \ear-.  he  has  taken  an  activi  part  in 
its  affairs  and  has  done  public-spirited  duty.  Po- 
litiealh  he  i-  a  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
: 1 1 1 . ]  socially  he  is  connected  with  I  lam  die  Post, 
\(1.  22,  G.  A.  R.,  and  w  nh   Danville  Lodge,   Wo 


184 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


224,  F.  &  A.  M.j  of  which  latter  he  was  chaplain 
for  some  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Keim  married  Christiana  Bowers, 
who  died  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years,  tin- 
mother  of  the  following  children:  William  is 
engaged  as  a  brick  manufacturer  in  Oklahoma : 
Catharine,  who  teaches  music  in  Danville  and 
Riverside,  is  unmarried;  Alice  married  Rev.  M.  B. 
Bird,  a  Congregational  minister,  and  they  live  in 
Chicago,  111.:  Emerson  J.  is  engaged  as  a  manu- 
facturer of  brick  and  foreman  of  a  cement  plant 
at  Independence.  Ivans. ;  Mamie  is  at  home.  In 
Is!1^  Mr.  Keim  married  Ida  M.  Morgan,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Crier  Morgan,  of  Danville.  Mr. 
Keim  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodisl 
Church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  offices  of  trustee 
and  steward,  serving  in  the  latter  lor  ninny  years. 

Joseph  Morgan,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Ida  M. 
(Morgan  i  Keim.  was  born  Aug.  29,  1784,  and 
was  of  Welsh  extraction,  his  father.  Charles  Mor- 
gan, having  come  from  Wales  with  his  wife  and  a 
large  family,  nine  sons  and  one  daughter.  He 
settled  in  the  Irish  Valley,  in  Northumberland 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  owned  a  farm  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  1 1  is  children  were  Charles, 
David.  Peter  and  Joseph.  Joseph  Morgan  followi  I 
farming  in  the  Irish  Valley  also,  dying  there  m 
1846,  in  Ins  sixty-third  year.  He  is  buried  at 
Klinesgrove.  His  wife.  Charity  (Campbell),  born 
Nov.  19,  1790,  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  Their 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Emily,  Sept.  9, 
1812;  lhildah.  Feb.  16,  1815;  John  C,  July  20, 
1818  (was  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county); 
Maria.  Dec.  7,  1819;  Charity,  June  20,  1824; 
Charles  Crier.  Sept.  3,  1826. 

Charles  Grier  Morgan  lived  at  Danville,  Fa., 
where  he  died  Oct.  12,  1866.  He  married  Sarah 
Ann  Maurer,  daughter  of  John  Maurer,  and  she 
also  died  at  Danville.  March  17,  1910.  They  had  a 
family  of  four  children:  Elliott  P..  who  married 
Margaret  Bassett,  daughter  of  George  Bassett,  ol 
Danville.  Pa.;  Sarah  E. ;  Ida   M..  Mrs.  Keim:  and 

W..  who  married  Kate  Johnson,  daughti 
Stephen  Johnson,  of  Danville. 

ELMER  W.  DOCKEY,  one  of  the  hading  citi- 
zens of  Pillow  (formerly  known  as  Uniontown), 
former  auditor  of  Dauphin  county,  and  now  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  was 
born  at  Pillow  March  22,  1866,  son  of  Benjamin 
1  tockey. 

The  Dockey  family  of  Northumberland  and  the 
surrounding  counties  of  Pennsylvania  has  its  ori- 
gin in  John  Adam  Dockey.  who  came  to  America 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  as  one  of  the  Hes- 
sian soldiers  hired  by  King  George.  After  the 
close  of  that  war  for  independence  he  remained 
in  America.  With  a  number  of  his  fellow  coun- 
trymen he  first  lived  in  Berks  county,  thence  com- 
ing to  Northumberland  county  prior  to  the  begin- 


ning of  the  nineteenth  century  and  locating  in  what 
is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Here  he  mar- 
ried, prospered,  lived  and  died.  He  and  his  wife 
are  buried  in  the  old  part  of  the  graveyard  at 
Zion's  Church  of  Stone  Valley.  He  was  tail,  erect, 
of  typical  military  appearance  and  good  address, 
and  possessed  more  than  ordinary  intelligence, 
lb  was  a  man  of  resolute  will  and  strong  con- 
viction-. He  had  three  children,  namely:  John, 
mentioned  later:  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried; 
and  Catharine,  who  married  Simon  Lenker,  of 
Lower  Mahanoy. 

John  Dockey,  son  of  John  Adam,  was  born  July 
17,  1787,  in  the  lower  end  of  the  Mahantango  Val- 
ley. He  died  on  his  large  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
tow  nship  July  28,  1  858.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer, 
and  owned  considerable  real  estate.  R\>  wife. 
Anna  Maria  Schaffer,  who  was  of  an  old  established 
Lower  Mahanoj  township  family,  was  born  Aug. 
].  1795,  and  died  Feb.  25,  1862.  John  Dockey 
and  his  w  :  red  by  their  industry,  and  reared 

a  large  family  of  children  to  usefulness  and  thrift. 
They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion of  Zion's  Church,  in  Stone  Valley,  and  are 
bulled  ai  that  church.  They  had  thirteen  children. 
twelve  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
viz.:  Michael,  born  March  2,  1813,  who  died  Nov. 
1'.'.  1889  i  lie  hail  two  sons  and  three  daughters)  : 
John,  born  March  24,  1815,  who  died  Sept.  24, 
1881    (wife   Elizabeth,  born    Nov.   27,    1815,   i 

'.'.  1891;  they  had  one  daughter);  Marv: 
Jonas,  born  De..  31,  1819,  who  dad  July  1.  1904 
(his  wife  Catharine  Hepner,  born  June  15,  1869, 
dii'd  del.  29,  1891;  they  had  one  son  and  one 
daughter);  Elizabeth;  Joseph,  who  hail  two  sons 
-ur  daughter.-:  Sarah:  Catharine  Magdalena, 
who  married  David  Underkoffier  and  had  fifteen 
children:  Benjamin:  Annie,  who  never  married: 
Elias,  born  June  21,  1833,  who  died  Dee.  1.  1888 
i  hi-  wife  Eliza,  horn  in  1834,  died  in  1893  :  they 
had  two  sons  and  five  daughters);  and  Nathan. 
bom  Dee.  11,  1830,  who  died  Oct.  J.  1835.  Near- 
ly all  this  family  are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church. 

Benjamin  Dockey,  son  of  John,  was  a  tailor. 
and  followed  the  trade  in  his  earlier  life.  About 
1850  he  engaged  in  the  store  business  at  County 
Line,  and  later  huckstered  produce  and  followed 
farming.  In  18(U>  lie  came  to  T'niontown  (Pil- 
low i.  where  he  has  since  lived,  following  various 
occupations.  He  was  a  drover  some  years  and  for 
some  years  was  connected  with  a  hotel  at  Potts- 
ville.  Since  1S96  he  has  made  his  home  with  his 
son  Elmer  W.  Dockey.  He  has  taken  some  part 
in  public  affairs,  having  held  various  local  offii 
among  them  that  of  constable,  which  he  filled  for 
some  years.  He  is  the  oldest  resident  of  his  sec- 
tion, but  though  advanced  in  years  is  well  pre- 
served. His  wife.  Mary  Witmer,  daughter  of  John 
and   Mary   (Lenker)   Witmer.  born  Feb.  s.   1833, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PEXXSYLYAXIA 


is:, 


died  in  1899,  aged  sixty-sis  years  lacking  a  few 
days.  She  is  buried  ai  Uniontown.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dockej  had  the  following  children :  Jeremiah  M., 
of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Malinda,  who  married  John 
Kaudeman,  of  Williamsport;  Miles,  deceased;  and, 
Elmer  W.  Benjamin  Dockey  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  ( Ihurch. 

Elmer  W.  Dockey  was  reared  in  the  borough  of 
Uniontown  and  there  receivi  d  bis  early  intellectual 
training.  Later  he  attended  the  Keystone  State 
Normal  School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  Leaving  when  in 
the  Junior  class  to  go  in  work.  He  began  teaching 
when  nineteen  years  old,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  was  engaged  for  two  terms.  Meantime 
he  had  learned  the  cigarmaker's  trade  when  be  was 
sixteen  years  old,  and  he  followed  the  business  as 
a  manufacturer  for  seventeen  years,  employing 
three  hands,  lie  discontinued  to  engage  in  the 
fire  insurance  business,  to  which  he  has  devoted 
himself  principally  for  seventeen  years,  being  agent 

for  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  C pany,  of  Hum- 

melstown,  Pa.;  the  Lebanon  .Mutual,  of  Lebanon, 
Pa.;  the  Palmyra  Mutual,  of  Palmyra,  Pa.;  the 
Boyertown  Mutual,  of  Bovertown,  Pa.:  the  Lykens 
Vallej  Mutual,  of  Elizabethville,  Pa.:  the  Eartford 
Eire  [nsurance  Company,  of  Hartford,  Conn,  (a 
stock  company)  ;  and  the  Mutual  of  Annville,  l'a. 
Mr.  Dockej  writes  nearly  all  the  insurance  placed 
south  of  Sunbury,  and  up  to  Pitman  and  Hegins, 
doing  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of 
business  annually  for  the  various  companies  he 
represents.  He  is  a  man  of  large  business  capac- 
ity, and  he  adjusts  most  of  the  claims  for  his  com- 
panies. 

Mr.  Dockey  has  lieen  prominent  in  his  locality  in 
the  councils  of  the  Republican  party,  wielding  con- 
siderable influence,  and  has  served  frequently  as 
delegate  to  county  conventions.  In  the  fall  of 
1902  he  was  elected  auditor  of  Dauphin  county  and 
served  two  terms,  until  1908.  He  has  been  a  school 
director  of  Pillow  for  many  years  and  for  seven- 
teen years  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  school 
board — Tune  1.  1894,  to  dale.  He  is  secretary  of 
the  borough  council,  an  office  he  has  held  since 
March,  L893.  In  1892  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  and  lias  held  that  office  continuously 
since,  all  the  local  legal  work  connected  with  the 
drawing  up  of  documents,  etc..  being  brought  to 
him.  He  has  been  secretary  of  the  Mahanoy  & 
Mahantango  Telephone  Company  since  its  organ- 
ization, in  1004.  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and 
is  a  director.  He  is  leader  of  the  Pillow  Band 
of  twenty-eight  men.  which  was  organized  in  1908, 
and  he  was  formerly  connected  with  the  old  Ex- 
celsior Band  of  Pillow  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  leading  spirit-  in  the  organization  of 
the  Pillow  Band. 

On  March  10,  1889,  Mr.  Dockey  was  married 
to  Lucetta  Wolf,  daughter  of  George  and  Helena 
(Derk)    Wolf,  of  Jordan  township.   Northun 


land  county,  and  the\  have  had  three  children: 
Alice  L..  Stella  (who  died  in  infancy)  and  Lottie 
II.  Mr.  Dockey  and  his  family  worship  with  the 
Reformed  congregation  at  the  Salem  Church,  and 

he  has  I n  leader  of  the  choir  for  manj    rears. 

He  has  also  given  laj  sen  ice  as  superintended  of 
the  Sun. lay  school.  Socially  Mr.  Doekej  is  a  char- 
ter member  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  6]  1.  I'.  ( >. 
s-    of   A.,   of   Pillow,   of    which    lie    was   one   id' 

11 ■ganizers,  and   for  many  years   was    Disti 

President  of  the  Northern  Dauphin  District,  I'.  0. 
s-  "I  A.,  and  i-  a  charter  member  of  Camp  No. 
11563,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  of  Berrys- 
burg,  Pennsylvania. 

WILLIAM  H.  READEE,  who  has  two  farms  in 
Roi  kefeller  township,  is  a  Dative  of  that  township 
and  has  passed  all  his  life  there,     lie  was 
dan.  30,  1854,  son  of  John  Reader,  who  came  ii 
this  region  in  1821 . 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  L790  r Is  sev- 
eral Readers:  Jacob  Reader  was  the  head  of  a 
family  made  up  of  the  parents,  three  sons  over 
sixteen  years  old,  one  son  under  sixteen  years  old, 
and  two  daughters.  This  family  lived  in  Cumber- 
land county,  l'a.  Absalom  Reader  headed  a  family 
in  Northampton  county,  l'a..  consisting  of  ike  par- 
ents, one  son  over  sixteen  wars  old,  on,-  -in  ivnder 
sixteen  years  old.  and  one  daughter  (page  171); 
lion.  Frank  Reeder  ( Reader  i.  a  promineni  resi- 
dent of  Eastoii.  Pa.,  at  one  time  State  chairman 
of  the  Republican  party  and  secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Pennsylvania  under  Gov.  D.  II. 
Hastings,  is  a  descendant  of  Absalom  Reader. 
Joseph  Reader,  a  residenl  of  Luzerne  county,  l'a.. 
was  tin'  head  of  a  family  of  ten,  parents,  two 
daughters,  two  sons  over  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
four  sons  under  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  fol- 
lowing -aid  to  I f  the  family  of  Joseph  Reader 

are  buried  at  Turbutville,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty: Michael  Reader,  bom  April  5,  1797,  died  Aug. 
29,  1876,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  four  months. 
twenty-four  days ;  his  wile  Anna  Mary,  1797-1865; 
Isaac  Reader,  horn  in  1S20,  who  .lied  in  1857; 
the  hitter's  wife.  Mary  A.,  bore  him  a  number  of 
children,  a  daughter  Deliah  dying  young,  h  is 
probable  thai  William  1 1.  Reader  i-  a  descendanl  of 
Joseph  Reader. 

The  grandmother  of  William  IL  Reader  came 
to  Northumberland  count}  with  her  son  .'elm  in 
1827,  after  her  husband's  death,  and  -he  i-  buried 
ai  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.  Her  chil- 
dren were:    John;  Abraham,  wl larried   Mary 

Ely   and   settled    in    the    Wesl  :    l\a--iab.   who   mar- 
ed    John    Shipman :   Joseph,    •  ited    near 

Danville,  l'a.:  Samuel,  who  lived  in  Northumber- 
land county  near  '  I  niv  line:  and 
Emily,  who  married  John  I  and  lived  in 
the  upper  pari  of  Northumberland  county,  where 
she  died  al  the  age  of  ninetv. 


1m; 


NTOKTHUM BERLAXD  COUNTY,  PE  \  N  SYLVANIA 


John  Reader,  father  of  "William  H.  Reader,  was 
born  April  10,  1808,  near  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains, in  the  northwestern  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  thence  to  Northumberland  county  bi  fore 
Ins  marriage,  in  1827,  his  mother  accompanying 
him.  as  previously  stated.  Locating  in  Augusta 
(now  Lower  Augusta)  township,  near  the  head 
of  Boyle's  run.  he  there  married  Sallie  Rodgers; 
who  died  while  a  young  woman,  the  mother  of 
three  children:  David,  who  settled  in  Columbia 
count)',  Pa.;  Katie,  who  married  John  McWilliains, 
and  Susan,  who  died  young.  His  second  marriage 
was  tn  Maria  Sears,  by  whom  he  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sallie  married  Daniel  F.  Zimmer- 
man; .Mary  married  Charles  M.  Smith;  John,  of 
Wisconsin,  married  Sallie  Zimmerman;  Janus  11. 
settled  ;i;  I  rone,  Pa.;  Joseph  T..  who  married 
Annie  Pock,  located  at  Tyrone;  Roberl  I...  who 
married  Mary  Gruber,  located  near  the  h 
stead  in  Lower  Augusta  ownship;  one  child  died 
/in  infancy:  William  11.  is  mentioned  below;  Ellen 
J.  married  Charles  E.  Weston  (now  deceased)  and 
makes  her  home  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Pa. 
Eeader.  the  father,  died  Sept.  5,  1880,  aged  sev- 
enty-two years,  four  months,  twenty-five  days.  Ee 
and  his  wives  are  buried  at  the  Mountain  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

William  II .  Reader  has  always  been  employed 
in  agricultural  work.  When  twenty-two  years  old 
hi'  began  fanning  at  the  place  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship where  he  has  since  i  mtinuously  resided,  and 
he  also  has  another  farm,  of  the  same  size — each 
containing  eighty-two  acres,  both  lying  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  Rockefeller  township,  along 
the  Lower  Augusta  township  line,  on  the  old  Tul- 
pehocken  road  so  much  traveled  in  pioneer  days. 
Mr.  Reader  make-  something  of  a  specialty  of 
fruit,  of  which  he  raises  considerable,  and  is  also 
engaged  in  dairying.  He  attends  market  at  Shain- 
okin  every  week.  The  place  upon  which  he  has  so 
long  made  his  home  came  into  his  possession  about 
1880,  through  his  wife,  and  he  purchased  his  other 
farm  in  ISO.").  The  home  place  is  an  interesting 
property,  having  been  the  homestead  of  Gulielmus 
(Gillam)  Cornell,  who  was  born  Aug.  29,  1764, 
emigrated  to  this  country  when  a  young  man.  and 
is  supposed  to  have  settled  first  in  Chester  coun- 
ty. Pa.  He  resided  there  during  the  period  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  and  is  said  to  have  been  a 
British  sympathizer.  At  any  rate,  he  and  bis 
family  supplied  the  English  army  with  such  sub- 
sistence as  they  could  produce  and  purchase  in  the 
locality,  realizing  large  profits  in  these  transac- 
tions. The  unfriendly  feeling  created  against  them 
in  the  neighborhood  on  this  account  became  so 
strong  that  at  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Cornell  was 
compelled  to  leave  the  locality  and  he  removed  to 
what  is  now  the  William  H.  Reader  farm  in  Rocke- 
feller township.  Northumberland  county.  When 
Mr.   Reader's    father   moved   into   this   locality   in 


1S2T  the  Cornells  had  long  been  settled  i 
Mr.  Cornell  continued  to  reside  on  that  place  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  July  IT.  1836,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years,  ten  months,  ten  days. 
His  wife  Rachel  died  there  April  29,  1850,  when 
about  eighty  years  old.  They  had  two  sons.  John 
(wdio  died  April  25,  1875,  aged  sixty-nine  years, 
seven  months,  seven  days)  and  William  (Sept.  '.''.'. 
1810— April  30,  1852),  and  . laughter-  Margaret 
(married  Lewis  Dewart),  Katie  (married  Samuel 
Thurston  i.  Polly  (married  George  Haupt)  and 
Bi  (married  John  Feaster).  Both  the  son- died 
without  issue  and  are  buried  with  their  parents 
at  the  Mountain  Presb  erian  Church  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  John's  wife,  Elizabeth. 
Nov.  1'.'.  Is-;,  aged  eighty-one  years,  eight  months. 
eighteen  days. 

On  Aug.  1.  1875,  Mr.  Reader  married  Mary  Re- 
buck,  daughter  of  "The  Red"  Godfried  Rehuck.  of 
Washington  township,  and  they  have  bad  a  large 
family:  Daniel  P..  who  married  Bertha  Schaeffer ; 
La  E.;  Katie  M.,  wife  of  Charles  E.  Ressler; 
Gertie  P..  wife  of  C.  G.  Culp;  ('baric-  EL,  who 
married  Sallie  Snyder;  Herberi  P.:  Frederick  lb: 
John  P.:  1 1      rgi    W.,  and  Ralph  Waldo  P. 

Mr.  Reader  and  his  family  are  members  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  been 
quite  prominent  officially,  having  served  many 
years  in  the  joint  council  of  the  charge  and  for 
many  years  a-  secretary.  There  are  few  citizens  of 
Rockefeller  township  more  intimately  identified 
with  the  administration  of  its  public  affairs,  and 
he  has  held  office  more  than  any  other  one  man. 
For  many  years  be  was  school  director  and  auditor, 
lb     -  .i    Dem  '  rat  on  political  questions. 

GEORGE  0.  ATJMAN,  of  Shamokin,  president 

of  the  borough  council  ami  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Auman  Brothers,  is  one  of  the  younger 
citizens  of  that  place  who  have  held  a  prominent 
place  in  local  affairs  in  recent  years.  His  ability 
has  gained  recognition  by  its  results  rather  than  by 
any  aggressive  self-assertion  on  his  part  and  his 
strong  personality  has  brought  him  forward  in  the 
various  projects,  business  and  otherwise,  with 
which  he  has  been  associated.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of- the  borough  council  since  1903,  in  fact  he 
was  the  youngest  man  ever  to  take  the  councilman's 
oath  in  Shamokin.  and  in  the  spring  of  1910  he 
was  honored  with  election  to  the  presidency  of 
the  council. 

Mr.  Auman  was  born  in  Shamokin  March  22. 
1878,  and  has  spent  all  his  life  in  the  city,  but 
he  is  of  only  the  second  generation  of  his  family 
to  live  in  Northumberland  county,  bis  forefathers 
in  this  country  having  resided  in  Berks  and  Schuyl- 
kill counties.  The  Aumans  are  of  German  ex- 
traction. Henry  Auman.  the  first  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, being  from  Hanover,  Germany.  He  was  one 
of  the  Hessian   mercenaries  hired   bv  the  British 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


IN". 


governmenl   for  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 

ami  was  one  of  those  surprised  and  taken  pris a 

on  thai  memorable  night  at  Trenton.  After  the 
war  he  refused  to  return  to  his  native  land,  settling 
in  Pennsylvania,  near  Amityville,  in  Amity  town- 
ship, Berks  county.  He  was  well  educated  and 
engaged  in  school  teaching,  and  for  war-  was 
choirmaster  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  there. 
He  died  in  1839,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
three.  Be  married  Catharine  Beitam,  of  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  Eliza- 
beth, Catharine,  Sarah,  George  and  Henry. 

Daniel  Auman,  great-grandfather  of  Crur^r  0. 
Auman.  was  born  in  Berks  countj',  and  there  fol- 
lowed farming  and  milling,  near  the  Lebanon  coun- 
ty line,  lie  died  there,  while  his  children  were 
young,  and  they  were  put  out  to  make  their  living 
a  i ig  strangers. 

Jacob  Auman,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  near  the 
Lebanon  county  line  in  Berks  county  in  February, 
L817,  and  there  followed  milling.  Ee  was  married 
in  Berks  county,  whence  he  and  his  wife  moved  to 
Taylorsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  continued 
that  occupation,  and  later  he  settled  at  Ashland. 
that  county,  making  a  permanent  home  there.  At 
Ashland  he  went  into  the  butcher  business,  but  in 
his  later  years  did  hauling.  Be  died  there  in 
L878,  and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery, 
having  been  a  member  of  the  fraternity.  Jacob 
Auman  married  Mary  A.  Owens,  who  was  horn  in 
1817,  daughter  of  Samuel  Owens,  and  they  had  a 
large  family,  viz.:  Emaline,  born  in  1843,  married 
S.  T.  Gottschall;  William  II..  born  in  1845,  died 
at  Ashland  :  Aaron,  born  in  1846,  was  the  father  of 
George  0.  Auman;  Marj  A.,  horn  in  1848,  mar- 
ried E.  P.  Burkert,  of  Ashland;  Jacob,  horn  in 
L850,  a  carpenter  of  Shamokin,  married  (first) 
Elizabeth  Eeefer  and  (second)  Malinda  Berb; 
Elizabeth,  horn  in  1853,  married  George  Stein- 
hilber  and  lives  at  No.  556  Oakland  street,  Ash- 
land; Esther,  horn  in  1856,  married  (first)  a  Mr. 
Heiser  and  (second)  Isaac  Davis;  Samuel  1)..  horn 
in  1858,  was  killed  in  the  mines  at  Ashland  when 
nineteen  wars  old;  John  died  at  Ashland  when 
a  young  man. 

Aaron  Auman,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  in  1846, 
and  died  in  May,  1882.  lie  was  a  butcher  by  trade, 
and  followed  that  calling  as  well  as  mining.  Be 
and  his  w  ife,  Sarah  (  Hoover),  had  a  famih  of 
five  children,  namely:  Samuel  J.,  Aaron  E.. 
George  <»..  Laura  (married  Lewis  Bipler)  and 
Elizabeth  (married  William  Dorset),  all  of  whom 
were  very  young  when  the  father  died.  The  mother 
subsequently  married  -lame-  Metz,  by  whom  she 
had  one  daughter,  Bessie  (married  Andrew  Su- 
dieskie). 

George    0.    Auman    attended    public    scl 1    in 

Shamokin.  but  his  advantages  for  education  were 
limited,  as  he  and  his  brothers  were  obliged  to  be- 
gin work  at  an  unusually  early  age  in  order  ro  help 


their  widowed  mother.     Be  was  only  eleven  when 
he   commenced    to    work    as    a    slate  '  picker   at    the 
breakers,   and   in   time   he   became   a    full-fledged 
miner,  following  mining  until  he  divided   to 
in  business.     Be  had  been  careful  and  industrious, 
but  when  he  commenced  the  groeerj    business 
which  he  has  since  given  his  attention  he  started  on 
the  modest  capita]  of  $15,  in  a  small  stoi 
Tenth  ward.    This  was  in  It Bis  earh  experi- 
ence in  overcoming  obstacles  prevented  him  Erom 
becoming   discouraged,   however,    and    the   success 
which   cam.'   to   him   as   the  years   passed   was   an 
incentive  to  further  effort,  if  he  needed  it.     Thai 
he  has  devoted  himself  intelligently  to  the  build- 
ing up  of  this  business  may  be  judged   from   the 
fact   that   lie  and  his   brother.   Aaron    I-;.,   who   lie- 
came  hi-   partner  in   1900,  now  have  one  of 
besl    paying    grocery    stores    in    West    Shai   o 
The  establishment,  which  occupies      e  site-  a1   Sos. 
60]  609   Wesl    Walnut  street,   is  commodious,   hut 
none  too  large  for  the  extensive  business  done 
Auman   brothers,   who  carry  a   tine  ami   complete 
stuck,  in  addition  to  groceries  and  green  truck,  of 
cigar-  ami  confectionery,  being  among  the  largesl 

retailers  of  tobai  co  and  penn  j   -end-  in  Shi 

The  partner-  are  popular  personally,  and  respected 
lor  their  integrity  a-  well  a-  their  enteiprise,  and 
though  both  are  still  young  they  have  established 
a  profitable  business  and  acquired  propert}  and 
standing  in  their  native  t"W  n. 

Mr.  George  •».  Auman  has  developed  business 
ability  and  foresight  with  the  need-  of  his  expand- 
ing interests;  in  fact,  he  ha-  succeeded  so  far  in 
keeping  ahead  of  them,  and  his  outlook  for  the 
future  is  excellent.     Be  has  taken  In-  placi 

the  leading  voung  n  of  the  borough  in  municipal 

matter-,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  ever 
since  he  reached  his  majority.  When  just  twenty- 
one  he  became  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  county 

convention;  was  later  em itteeman  of  Ins  ward. 

the  Tenth,  and  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  con- 
vention when  Sheetz  was  nominated  for  treasurer. 
In  1903  he  was  elected  to  the  borough  council,  of 
which  body  he  has  since  been  a  member.  In  dis- 
charging the  duties  oi  tin-  office  he  has  shown  the 
same  ability  and  application  which  made  his  pri- 
vate undertakings  successful.  Though  the  young- 
es(  man  to  serve  in  thai  posil  ion  «  heii  he  entered 
the  council  he  was  found  to  be  one  of"  the  d 

Si  lent    members    of    I  hat    body, 
where    his     fellow     members    soon     found     thai 
ould    be    intrusted    with    importanl    respon- 
sibilil  ies.      So  idily    in    use- 

fulness and  popularity,  and  in  Mar,  h,  1910, 
he     was     honored     with  or     to     the     pi 

,1, .,„....    ,,  Till  nid    Mr. 

tor  the  I i  r,  \I'-    Earley 

winning  by  two  rotes.    Thi 

tin.   Shamokin    Dispatch    upon    this   incident    and 

Mr.  Auman's  subsequec  n  is  of  inter,,-!  as 


18S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  SfSYLVANIA 


showing  the  good-will  existing  in  the  borough  re- 
garding this  young  man  and  his  achievements: 

"George  Auman.  the  new  president  of  council, 
is  admirably  fitted  for  the  important  position  to 
which  he  was  elected  and  the  fact  that  he  had  no 
opposition  speaks  still  higher  for  him.  For  five 
years  Mr.  Auman  has  conscientiously  served  his 
constituents  and  has  never  been  under  bondage 
or  under  the  control  of  any  man.  He  is  totally 
free  from  outside  influences  and  it  is  believed  that 
he  will  make  a  nmst  capable  official,  as  lias  Mr. 
Earley.  his  predecessor,  who  has  accredited  to  him 
the  honor  of  presiding  ov.er  one  of  the  besl  coun- 
cilmanic  bodies  thai  have  ever  represented  Sham- 
okin  borough     .... 

"Last  year  Mr.  Auman  ami  Mr.  Earley  both 
sought  the  office  "1  presidenl  of  the  council.  Mr. 
Auman  was  defeated  by  two  votes.  This  did  not 
interfere  with  his  good  work.  Shoulder  to  shoulder 
In'  am!  in-  successful  opponent,  Mr.  Earley,  woi 
out  plans  for  bettering  the  borough  and  it  is  said 
that  there  has  never  been  a  better  body  of  coiin- 
cilmen  representing  this  borough. 

"Mr.  Auman  is  honesl  in  In-  dealings  and  is 
noted  for  this  characteristic  ami  will  make  an  id<  al 
official.  Hi'  expects  to  make  the  coming  term  one 
nf  the  most  successful  Shamokin  borough  has  ever 
had.  Taking  the  retrospective  of  last  year,  if  he 
does  this,  speaking  in  the  sporting  vernacular,  he 
will  itavf  tn  go  some.'  However,  the  Dispatch  be- 
lieves Mr.  Attman's  ambit  inns  will  he  realized." 

Mr.  Auman  was  the  candidate  of  his  parti 
representative  tn  the  State  Legislature  in  1908, 
but  was  defeated.  He  is  well  known  socially,  be- 
longing tn  the  1.  0.  R.  M.  ( nf  which  he  is  a  past 
sachem),  the  Haymakers  (of  which  he  is  a  past 
chief  i  and  the  I.  0.  0.  F. :  is  president  of  the 
Modern  Protective  Association,  ami  president  nf 
the  Rescue  Fire  Company,  nf  which  latter  organi- 
zation he  was  made  an  honorary  member,  and 
served  as  foreman  before  being  elected  tn  his  pres- 
ent office.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  nf  the 
Liars'  Club,  which  is  made  up  nf  young  business 
men  of  his  section  of  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Auman  married  Maude  May  Yost,  daughter 
of  Henry  ami  Susan  (Rubendale)  Yost  and  mem- 
ber of  an  old  Shamokin  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Auman  have  two  children.  George  E.  and  Russel 

C.  The  family  reside  at  No.  548  North  Third 
street.  They  are  identified  with  the  Reformed 
Church. 

HOFFMAN.  The  Hoffmans,  the  late  Erastus 
Hoffman  and  his  two  son-.  W.  P.  G.  and  Howard 

D.  Hoffman,  have  been  known  in  business  circles 
in  the  borough  of  Sunbury  for  a  number  of  years, 
W.  P.  G.  Hoffman  having  been  associated  with 
hi-  father  in  the  real  estate  business,  in  which  he 
is  still   interested,  ami   Howard  T>.  Hoffman  con- 


ducting a  large  business  as  a  dealer  in  wall  paper 
ami  paints,  and  as  a  paper  hanger  and  painter. 
The  brothers  are  among  the  most  enterprising  cit- 
ens  of  Sunbury,  favorably  known  as  reliable  in 
ever]  I  ransai  tion. 

The  Hoffman  family  is  of  German  origin. 
Jacob  Hoffman,  its  founder  in  this  country,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  on  immigrating  to  this 
country  settled  in  New  Jersey,  where  lie  followed 
farming.     lie  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution. 

Abraham  Hoffman,  son  of  Jacob,  settled  in 
Shamokin  township.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
and  followed  farming  successfully.  His  children 
were:  John;  Peter:  .Michael:  Abraham;  Barbara, 
;nii I   Maria. 

Abraham  Hoffman,  son  of  Abraham,  was  horn 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood  assisting  with  the  ag- 
ricultural work.  After  attaining  his  majority  he 
\\a-  in  the  mercantile  business  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  selling  nut  purchased  a  farm  in  Rush 
i  .'  n-hip.  this  county.  There  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  four 
months,  twenty-seven  days,  lie  was  a  hearty. 
strong  ami  active  man  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  was  caused  suddenly,  by  a  stroke  of  ap- 
oplexy. IF1  married  Elizabeth  Wolverton,  daugh- 
ter of  Roger  Wolverton,  of  Northampton  county. 
Pa.,  and  she  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 
Eight  children  were  horn  to  this  couple:  Maria, 
John,  Beulah,  Jacob,  Jemima,  Erastus,  Isaac  and 
Edward  <.. 

Erastus  Hoffman,  -on  of  Abraham  and  Eliz- 
abeth  (Wolverton)  Hoffman,  was  born  in  Rush 
township,  and  there  spent  his  youth  on  the  paren- 
tal farm  near  Smith  Danville.  He  lived  at  Sun- 
bury for  about  thirty  years  before  his  death,  engag- 
ing in  various  occupations,  being  employed  at  one 
time  in  the  office  of  the  register  and  recorder.  He 
then  became  associated  in  the  real  estate  business 
with  hi-  -on.  \V.  P.  G.  Hoffman,  as  E.  Hoffman  & 
Son,  retiring  only  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  his  home.  No.  '.''.J'.J  Catawissa 
avenue,  Aug.  '.".'.  1910,  when  he  was  eighty-one 
years  old.  He  was  interred  in  Pomfret  Manor 
cemetery.  He  was  long  a  prominent  citizen  of  the 
borough,  ami  especially  well  known  as  an  active 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  he  had 
belonged  practically  all  his  life.  For  many  years 
he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church 
in  Sunbury  ami  aided  materially  in  placing  its 
affairs  on  the  substantial  basis  at  present  enjoyed, 
doing  as  much  as  any  one  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion toward  that  end.  He  was  long  a  trustee  of 
the  church,  where  his  death  was  regarded  as  a 
great  loss.  Mr.  Hoffman  married  Clarinda  Dun- 
ham, daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hussy) 
Dunham,  of  Northumberland  borough,  and  he  was 
survived  by  his  wife  and  two  sons,  W.  P.  G.  ami 
Howard  D. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


189 


W.  P.  G.  Hoffman  was  born  in  November, 
L862,  in  Rush  township,  and  was  educated  at  Dan- 
ville, Pa.  For  several  years  lie  was  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Danville,  Montour  county, 
and  in  the  borough  of  Northumberland,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  continued  that  business  for 
eleven  years  after  be  settled  in  Sunbury,  in  1891. 
He  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  bus- 
iness, in  w  ha-h  he  was  assoi  iated  w ith  hi-  father 
until  the  latter's  retirement,  in  1900.  The  busi- 
ness ilir\  founded  now  controls  the  bulk  of  real 
estate  transactions  in  Sunbury.  lie  ami  his  fa- 
ther became  members  of  the  National  Real  Estate 
Exchange,  ami  their  property  list  embraced  the 
greater  part  of  the  best  holdings  in  the  city  and 
surrounding  territory.  The  business  increased  so 
rapidlj    that    it    required    their   entire    attention. 

There  are  fefl   n  in  this  section  who  know  more 

about  Sunbury  real  estate,  its  values  and  advantag- 
es, than  Mr.  Hoffman,  or  who  are  hotter  able  to  dis- 

< 'se  nil  the  subject.     The  advances  made  in  local 

nal  estate  values,  the  substantial  reasons  there- 
for, tin'  future  of  t  he  community,  the  opportunities 
offered  by  superior  facilities  of  various  kinds  found 
in  the  territory,  all  these  are  subjects  with  which 
he  is  thoroughly  familiar,  and  be  is  sincere  in  his 
belief  thai  the  advantages  here  afforded  arc  su- 
perior to  those  of  any  other  locality  in  this  part  of 
the  State  His  particular  hobby  is  that  satisfac- 
tory and  profitable  investments  may  he  found  near 

home  ;  I  hal  there  is  mi  need  fur  people  to  go  In  d is- 
lam regions  to  find  paying  property,  and  that  there 
are  opportunities  at  the  doors  of  those  who  recog- 
nize them.  Moreover,  Mr.  Hoffman  has  interested 
himself  actively  in  securing  the  advantages  and 
facilities  he  considers  most  desirable  I'm'  the  im- 
provement of  the  locality,  particularly  as  regards 
transportation  ami  the  promotion  of  public  util- 
ities of  various  kinds. 

How  \i;n  1 »,  Hoffm  \\.  -en  of  Erastus  Hoffman, 
was  born  Aug.  23,  1867,  in  Rush  township,  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  lived  until  sixteen 
years  old.  At  that  tunc  lie  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Sunbury,  and  he  learned  the  trade  of  painter 
and  paper  hanger.1  During  L886  arid  1887  he 
lived  in  Shamokin.  In  1889  he  went  West,  where 
he  remained  for  a  number  of  years,  returning  East 
in  1898.  Fm-  the  next  two  years  he  was  in  the 
butcher  business,  hut  he  ha-  since  been  engaged  in 
his  old  line,  having  now  the  leading  establishment 
of  the  kind  in  the  borough.  He  is  located  at  No. 
620  Markci  street.  He  has  a  large  and  complete 
line  of  paints  and  wall  papers,  ami  docs  a  la 
business  in  painting  and  paper  hanging,  keeping 
from  twelve  to  twenty  men  busy.  Hi-  patronai 
one  of  the  largest  in  and  around  Sunbury,  and  hi? 
work  is  its  best  recommendation,  his  reputation  as 
a  reliable  and  artistic  workman  having  been 
gained  in  years  of  satisfactory  service. 

On  April  7.  1898,  Mr.  Hoffman  married  Margar- 


rl  M-  Campbell,  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Rachel 
(  Mariiha n  i  Campbell,  and  they  have  two  childn  u. 
Elizabeth  May  and  Fred  Erastus.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Mrs.  Hoffman  of 
'he  Catawissa  Avenue  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  i-  :l 
Democrat  politically  ami  active  in  local  affairs, 
having  served  as  member  of  the  council  Eroru  the 
Eighth  ward.  Socially  he  belongs  to  several  fra- 
ternal bodies,  K.  of  P.  Lodge  No.  194,  the  Royal 
Arcanum  ami  the  I'.  0.  S.  of  A.,  all  of  Sunbury, 
and  the  K.  of  P.  lodge  at  Allegheny  City,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

DANIEL  CLINGER,  presidenl  of  the  Mill  m 
Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of  Milton,  No 
umberland  county,  has  been  associated  with  thai 
institution  fur  many  year-,  formerly  as  direi 
ami  member  of  the  executive  board,  and  since 
1901  in  his  present  relation.  A  mere  enumeration 
of  the  local  enterprises  which  lie  ha-  helped  ;,,  ii- 
nance  tand  direct  would  he  sufficient  indication 
of  his  activity  in  the  affairs  of  the  borough  to  show 

bow  important  a  place  In upies  and   ha-    iccu- 

pied  in  the  development  of  the  place  during  the 
past  forty  years.  His  interest  and  efforts  bavi 
not  hccii  confined  te  business,  but  have  extended 
into  the  local  civil  administration,  politics,  church 
ami  social  affairs,  in  all  of  which  he  ha-  been  R 
factor  for  progress  and  intelligent  activity. 

Mr.  dinger  was  hum  \m.  is.  is:;;,  in  Lime 
stone  township.  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.  He  is  of  i  . 
man  descent,  his  great  grandfather,  John  ding- 
er, having  emigrated  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many about  1745  and  settled  al  what  was  then 
known  as  Chester  County  Springs,  now  Chester 
Springs,  in  Chester  county,  Pa.  He  took  up  land 
in  that  vicinin  and  followed  farming  and  milling 
there  the  rest  of  his  days.  His  wife'-  maiden  name 
was  Sloyer,  and  if  is  supposed  -he  belonged  to  tl  e 
family  of  that  name  who  came  from  Germany  to 

America  at  t  he  - |  one  as  John  Cling 

are  buried  in  ( Ihester  county. 

•Inliii  dinger,  sun  ni  the  emigrant,  was  b  rn  at 
( ihester  Springs,  ami  died  in  I    lester  co   □  eri 
he  is  buried,  ai    Homeville.     He  was  a   milli 
well   as   farmer,      lie  and    his   w 
familv,  as  follows :  Jacob,  n  ho  died  al   Ho 
I'a. :  lleiin  :  Samuel ,  w  he  died  a1  Camden.  V.  J.; 
I  ir,  Peter,  n  ho  died  at  Conest        Cei 
ter    county,    I'a.:     Edgar,    who    died     in    Ches- 
ter county  :  Margaret,  Mr-.  Rhoads :  Ann,  who  mar- 
ried   Thomas     Pel ten  :    and     Hannah.     M  rs. 

Booth. 

Henrv  ( linger,  son  of  John  and  grands  >; 
rant,   war-'  of  Dan       dinger,  of 

Milt, ,n.     He  was  born  Sept.  29,   1  796,  in  I     i 
COimtv,     I'a..     neat      I  I".  i     ille,    and 
ao-e  of  fifty-six  years,  '  lavs,  be- 

ing accidentally  killed  Ma        -;.  185  !.     IF-  is  b 
led   at   Collomsville,   in  Limestone  township,  Ly- 


190 


XORTHUM  P. ERLA X  0  COUNTY,  PEN X  SYLVA X TA 


coming  county.  When  a  young  man  lie  learned 
tanning  in  Berks  county  with  his  uncle.  Peter 
dinger.  On  May  Is.  1823,  he  was  married  in  the 
city  of  Reading,  and  he  ran  the  tanning  business 
for  his  uncle.  In  1828  he  moved  to  Limestone 
township,  Lycoming  county,  where  he  boagbt  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  which  lie  also  built  a 
tannery;  cleared  up  a  large  farm;  bought  a  mill 
sit.'  and  erected  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  along  one  of 
the  streams  in  tin1  township,  and  became  one  of 
the'  best  known  business  men  and  counselors  in  all 
that  section,  bis  various  interests  bringing  him  in- 
to contact,  in  one  relation  or  other,  with  almost 
all  of  the  residents  of  the  neighborhood.  He  con- 
tinued to  do  business  for  many  years,  and  served 
also  as  comity  commissioner,  many  years  .-is  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  as  land  surveyor  and  i  oiivey- 
ancer.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  Democrats  of 
the  county.  In  his  early  years  he  served  as  col- 
onel of  the  battalion,  a  military  organization  estab- 
lished by  the  United  States  government,  all  the 
men  of  a  certain  age  being  obliged  to  do  military 
service  cue  day  in  a  year.  He  was  long  an  active 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  was 
an  elder  for  many  years.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Mason. 

On  May  18,  1823,  Mr.  dinger  was  married,  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  to  Susanna  Wagner,  who  was  born 
in  December,  1803,  in  Berks  county,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Catharine  (Greenwalt)  Wagner,  and 
died  in  October,  1869,  aged  sixty-five  years,  ten 
montbsv  three  days.  Her  grandfather,  Johu  Wag- 
ner, was  a  cavalryman  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  received  a  hud  Bcalp  wound  but  recovered  and 
ende, |  bis  days  on  bis  farm  near  Reading.  Xine 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely:  Mary, 
who  married  Michael  Sypher,  of  Limestone  town- 
ship, Lycoming  county,  and  who  is  now  living  near 
Antes  Fort,  Pa.,  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  C. 
Bubb;  Catharine,  who  married  Adam  Baker,  for- 
merly of  Winchester,  Va..  and  now  resides  at  New- 
berry, Pa.:  Susan  A.,  who  married  John  Knauff 
and  resides  at  Milton,  Pa. :  John  W.,  who  died  at 
Winchester.  Ya.:  Abraham,  who  died  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa. :  Henry  S..  who  died  in  Limestone  town- 
ship. Lycoming  county;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Lime- 
stone township;  Daniel:  and  Edgar,  who  died  aired 
five  year-. 

Daniel  dinger  received  bis  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  boyhood 
home.  He  lived  there  until  1866,  working  for  his 
father  until  the  hitter's  death,  after  which  he  was 
engaged  for  a  few-  years  with  the  duties  of  township 
offices.  He  then  bought  a  farm  in  bis  aativa  town- 
ship, but  after  cultivating  it  a  few  years  sold  it 
and  went  to  Williamsport,  in  the  spring  of  I860, 
there  entering  the  grocery  business  with  his  broth- 
er Abraham.  After  fourteen  months'  association 
with  him  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Milton,  in  June. 
1867,    This  borough  has  since  been  the  field  of  his 


business  and  home  interests.  He  engaged  at  once 
in  the  planing  mill  and  lumber  business  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Balliet,  Dreisbach  &  dinger, 
conducting  the  mill  established  in  1854  by  Balliet, 
Billmyer  &  Goodlander,  who  established  the  first 
plant  of  the  kind  in  this  section  of  the  State.  The 
mills  are  on  Arch  street,  above  Locust.  Mr.  ding- 
er soon  bought  out  his  partners,  becoming  sole 
owner  of  this,  one  of  the  Largest  business  estab- 
lishments in  this  district,  and  he  retained  his  con- 
nection with  the  lumber  business  until  1906.  His 
sons  have  since  carried  it  on.  This  was  one  of  the 
few  industrial  plants  of  Milton  not  destroyed  in  the 
greai  fire  of  May  1  1.  1880. 

Though  his  active  participation  in  the  manage- 
ment of  wdiat  was  for  years  bis  principal  business 
has  ended  Mr.  dinger  has  not  by  any  means  given 
up  his  other  interests.  In  1901  he  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  Milton  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  has  served  many  years  as  direct- 
or as  well  a-  member  of  the  executive  heard,  and 
this  position  he  continues  to  fill  with  all  the  abil- 
ity and  judgment  expected  of  him.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  numerous  other  local  companies  whose 
prosperity  means  the  prosperity  of  the  commun- 
ity, having  been  identified  as  such  with  the  Mil- 
ton Knitting  Company,  the  Milton  Water  Coiu- 
pany,  the  Milton  Driving  Park  and  Fair  A.sso- 
i  iation  (of  which  he  has  been  president),  the  Mil- 
ton Creamery  Association   (of  which  he  has  been 

a  director),  the  Milton    Record   Publishing  C - 

pain  (of  which  he  has  been  a  director),  the  vari- 
ety of  his  interests  showing  how  far  reaching  his 
relations  with  the  life  of  the  borough  an'. 

In  public  capacities  Mr.  dinger  has  proved 
himself  particularly  helpful  in  promoting  tin.' 
cause  of  education,  having  served  as  school  di- 
rector and  treasurer  of  the  school  and  building 
fund.  In  this  connection  it  might  also  be  stated 
that  he  is  a  director  of  Ursinus  College.  For 
years  he  has  been  an  ardent  Democrat  anil  a  work- 
er in  the  interest  of  the  party,  having  served  as 
delegate  to  various  State  conventions  and  as  del- 
egate to   the   National  convention  at  Chicago,  in 

1896,  when  W.  J.  Bryan  was  first  t limited  for 

the  Presidency.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  has  served  as  elder  for  many 
years,  and  has  been  interested  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  -V.. 
of  which  he  was  formerly  a  director.  Fraternally 
Mr.  dinger  unites  with  the  Masons,  holding  mem- 
bership in  Milton  Lodge.  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  doirve.  and 
all  his  sons  are  members  of  that  fraternity. 

In  1860  Mr.  dinger  married  Sarah  Amanda 
Gann,  who  was  born  Sept.  19.  1839,  daughter  of 
Israel  and  Leah  (Moore)  Gann,  of  Lycom- 
ing county,  and  died  Jan.  1.  190  1.  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  (1) 
Homer  Gann,  horn  Jnlv  16,  1861,  died  March  1:1. 
L865.      (2)   Dora  M.,  born  March  11.  ISOfi.  died 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


P.'l 


June  6,  is;  l.     (3)   Barry  1!..  born  Jan.  6,  1868, 

is  the  head  of  the  fir E  D.  dinger's  Sons,  who 

conduct  the  Milton  Planing  Mil]  and  lumber  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife, 
Crissie  Fretz,  of  Philadelphia,  bora  March  7.  IS69, 
dying  Ma\  1.  1897.  There  were  no  children  by 
that  union.  By  his  present  wife  Florence  Heinen, 
he  has  three  children,  Henry,  Sarah  and  Virginia. 
i  1  )  Edgar  M..  born  May  16,  is;-.',  a  graduate  of 
the  medical  departmenl  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, lost  his  life  in  a  bicycle  accident  Aug.  21, 
L898.  (5)  Franklin  W.,  horn  Dee.  IS.  1874, 
it.  Luated  from  the  dental  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1899,  and  is  practicing 
at  Milton.  He  married  [rene  Fenton,  of  Balti- 
more, Mil.  (6)  George  \Y..  born  March  9,  1877, 
and  educated  at  (Jrsinus  College,  Collegeville,  Pa., 
is  qow  engaged  with  his  brothers  in  the  lumber 
and  planing  mill  business.  He  married  Marian 
Boyer,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two 
children,  George  and  Edgar  11.  ( ;  )  Joseph  A., 
born  Feb.  I.  1879,  a  graduate  of  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
now  practicing  medicine  in  Milton,  married  Sarah 
Buoy,  eldest  daughter  of  James  Buoy.  (8)  Daniel, 
Jr.,  horn  March  25,  L882,  a  graduate  of  Cornell 
University,  married  Elsie  Shay,  of  Williamsport. 
He  is  engaged  with  bis  brothers  in  the  planing 
mill  and  lumber  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
D.  dinger's  Sons. 

WILLIAM  11.  PENSYL,  of  Mount  Carmel, 
Northumberland  county,  present  chief  burgess  of 
that  borough  and  one  of  the  long  established  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place,  has  been  one  of  its  useful 
citizens  throughout  the  quarter  of  a  century  of 
his  residence  there.  He  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
oldesl  families  of  the  county,  being  of  the  fifth 
generation  of  his  line  to  live  here. 

The  family  name  was  originally  Bentzel.  Jacob 
Bentzel,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  William  II. 
Pensyl,  came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  his 
native  land,  and  locating  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, where  Shamokin  now  stands,  took  up  fifty  acres 
of  land,  his  residence  being  on  the  present  site  of 
the  "Eagle  Hotel."  Abandoning  this  tract  later, 
he  took  ii])  two  hundred  acres  in  what  is  now 
Ralpho  township,  which  property  was  later  owned 
by  David  R.  Pensyl.  and  is  now  the  farm  of  Wil- 
liam A.  Geise.  Jacob  Bentzel  died  upon  his  farm 
in  Ralpho  township.  His  son.  John,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  William  II.  Pensyl. 

John  Bentzel.  son  of  Jacob,  was  nine  years  old 
when  his  father  settled  at  what  is  now  Shamokin. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Shamokin 
township  and  one  of  the  organizers  and  original 
members  of  the  old  Blue  Church  (St.  Peter's)  in 
Ralpho  township,  donating  one  acre  of  ground  for 
church  purposes,  upon  which  the  edifice  stands  to- 
day. He  was  a  good  man.  and  a  leader  in  his  com- 
munity,    lie  died  upon  his  homestead   in   Ralpho 


township  in  April,  1849.  He  married  Barbara 
Hinkle,  «  ho  came  to  America  from  ( iermany,  and 
they  had  five  children:  Katie  (married  Frederick 
Lebie),  Leah  (married  John  Fisher),  John. 
George  and  Leonard. 

John  Pensyl,  son  of  John,  was  hum  near  Sham- 
okin, Pa.,  in  Shamokin  township.  When  a  yoi 
man  he  went  to  Sunbury,  where  he  learned  the 
shoemaking  trade,  following  that  calling  for  some 
time.  Later  he  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  at  Union  Corners,  in  Rush  township,  and 
there  made  his  home  for  a  number  of  yea 
purchasing  another  farm,  upon  which  he  mad< 
ins  home  until  his  death,  in  1873,  ai  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  Mr.  Pensyl  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  marriage  being  to  Lydia  Kaseman, 
by  whom  he  had  sis  children:  George;  John; 
Daniel,  living  at  Danville, .Pa. ;  Hannah,  who  mar- 
ried Charles  Dimick  and  (second)  John  Hiney, 
and  died  near  Philadelphia;  Barbara,  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Hill;  and  Catharine, 
wdio  married  Joseph  Motter.  Mr.  Pensyl's  second 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Arter  Heller, 

died  at  the  age  i >f  eighty-seven  ) 's.    She  was  the 

daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Heller.  of  Elysburg, 
Pa.      By   this    union    there    were   seven   children: 

Jacob,    who    died     in    1861,    aged    twelitv-six    yea  I'S  : 

William,  who  lives  at  Elysburg,  Pa.:  Samuel,  who 
died  m  1897;  Margaret,  who  died  aged  twenty 
years;  Adam,  of  Elysburg;  Henry,  who  dud  aged 
twenty  years;  am!  Francis,  who  was  a  merchant. 
postmaster  and  farmer  at  Pensyl,  Columbia  coun- 
ty- 
George   Pensyl.  father  of  William    IP.  was  horn 

May  14,  1818,  in  Push  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  He 
learned  the  trades  of  butcher  and  carpenter,  but 
later,  when  he  lived  at  Danville,  Pa.,  he  was  a  boss 
heater  at  the  iron  mill.  In  1856  he  removed  to 
Shamokin  township,  where  he  bought  the  farm  up- 
on which  he  remained  until  1875.  He  died  Jul] 
7,  1880.  Mr.  Pensyl  was  a  Union  soldier  in 
Civil  war.  having  enlisted  Oct.  '.".'.  1862,  in  Com 
pany  H,  L72d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Inl'antrv,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged, 
Julv  31,  1863. 

George  Pensyl  married  (first)  Anna  Vastine, 
<>\'  Push  township,  who  died  in  1850,  the  mother  of 
four  children,  munch  :  Hillings  died  young;  Thom- 
as V.  served  in  die  <  'i\  il  war.  and  dud  in  1870  the 
married  Malinda  Peed):  Helen  M.  married  John 
I.  Miller  and  had  children.  William.  Emma  and 
Olive;  l'illi<  is  chief  engineer  at  the  Philadelphia 
Inquirer  plant.    Mr.  Pei  -  ond  marriage  was 

to  Mary  A.  Vastine  i  a  con  sin  of  his  first  wife),  oi 
Push  township.  \\\u>  died  i  tct.  '.';.  is;  i.  and  who 
had  thn-'  children  :  Hatton  A.,  justii  -  ■■  ace, 

of  Snydertown,  Pa.:  Clara  IP.  wii I    \    SI 

and  William  II.    For  his  third  wife  he  married 
Harriet  Ammerman. 

William   II.   Pensyl  was  hum  March   1.  1862,  at 


192 


NO RTHUMBERLA N D  COUNT Y,  PENN SYL VANI A 


Elysburg,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  re- 
red  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  During 
his  early  life  he  assisted  his  lather  upon  the  farm. 
In  1881  he  first  came  to  Mount  Carmel,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  painter,  at  which  he  was  em- 
ed,  in  different  places,  for  several  years,  in 
1886  becoming  a  permanent,  resident  of  the  bor- 
ough. He  established  himself  in  business,  selling 
paints,  wall  paper  and  stationery,  and  doing  paint- 
ing and  paper  hanging,  continuing  thus  for  many 
:  hi  i-  ii"\\  devoting  himself  entirely  to  pa- 
pering and  painting.  Mr.  Pensyl  has  made  a  sub- 
stantial position  for  himself,  and  he  is  a. director 
of  the  Guarantee  Trusl  &  Safe  Deposit  Company 
and  President  of  the  Anthracite  Building  &  Loan 
Association  of  Mount  ( larmel. 

On  Jan.  2,  1890,  Mr.  Pensyl  married  Mary  A. 
More}',  daughter  of  Julius  Morey,  of  Jefferson 
county-,  Pa.,  but  later  of  Mount  Carmel.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Hazel,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Mount  ( 'armel  high  school. 

Mi'.  Pensyl  has  shown  considerable  interest  and 
usi  nil  activity  in  the  affairs  of  the  borough,  and 
from  L900  1  i  1903  he  was  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil, of  which  body  he  was  president  one  year.  On 
March  ].  1909,  lie  was  honored  with  election  to  the 
office  of  chief  burgess.  'Flic  confidence  his  fellow 
citizens  have  shown  in  him  is  the  reward  of  his 
disinterested  efforts  for  the  improvement  of  the 
b  ir  i_.  especially  his  work  regarding  the  streets. 
He  hail  made  an  admirable  official.  Mr.  Pensyl 
is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment.  Socially 
he  holds  membership  in  tie  S  i  -  of  Veterans,  P. 
0.  S.  of  A.  and  [.  0.  0.  1". 

SHIPMAN.  Tie  Sbipman  family,  which  is 
numerously  and  creditably  represented  in  North- 
rland  county,  has  been  resident  there  for  con- 
siderably more  than  a  century,  and  has  had  repre- 
sentatives in  this  country  from  the  earliest  Colon- 
ial days.  In  the  Old  World  it  is  of  ancient  rec- 
ord. The  ancestor  of  these  Shipmans  was  of  Nor- 
man ile-cent  and  was  knighted  by  Henry  III.  of 
England  in  1253  ami  given  the  following  coat  of 
am:-:  (.ale-,  on  a  bend  argent  betwixt  sis  esto 
or.  three  pellets.  Crest:  A  Leopard,  sejant.  - 
ted  -a.,  resting  hi-  dexter  paw  on  a  ship's  rudder. 
Mi  11  i:  "Xon  sibi  >^\  orbi."  The  family  seat  was 
at  Sarrington,  in  Nottinghamshire.  Tn  1635  Ed- 
ward Shipman,  a  refugee  from  religious  persecu- 
tion, came  to  America  in  company  with  Hugh 
Peters,  John  Davenport.  Thi  idore  Fenwick  and 
others,  and  settled  at  Saybrook,  Conn.  From  him 
one  American  branch  of  the  family  is  descended. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  family  history  in 
issession  of  Judge  Shipman,  of  Belvidere,  N. 
.1. :  "William  Shipman's  father  was  one  of  the  first 
settler-  of  Morristown,  X.  J.,  assisting  in  the  erei 
tion  of  tiie  first  h  iii-e  built  there.     He  and 
of  his  brothers  served  with  credit  during  the  Revo- 


lutionary war.  and  another  relative  died  aboard 
the  old '  -.Jersey'  prison  ship  in  Wallabout  Bay. 
Jacob  Shipman.  brother  of  William,  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  near  Fisher's  Ferry.  Northumber- 
land Co.,  Pa.,  "here  he  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  and  where  he  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  David 
Shipman  (son  of  Jacob),  horn  Feb.  26,  1809, 
bought  the  homestead  near  Fisher's  Ferry  and  di- 
vided it  with  his  brother  Sylvanus,  making  two 
good-sized  farms.  John  L.  Shipman.  son  of  Da- 
vid, who  served  with  credit  in  the  late  Rebellion. 
i-  living  in  his  native  State  and  county." 

Hari i  Shipman,  the  progenitor  of  the  North- 
umberland county  Shipmans.  was  horn  in  Ger- 
many in  KIT  ami  emigrated  to  this  country  about 
I ',  tO.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Harmony  town- 
ship, Warren  Co.,  X.  J.,  at  a  place  known  as 
Ohiontown,  where  he  purchased  200  acre-  of  land 
which  he  cleared,  continuing  to  reside  there  until 
his  death.  March  8,  1805.  He  was  the  early  - .  t 
tier  at  Morristown,  X".  J.,  referred  to  in  the 

tragraph.  He  is  buried  at  the  Straw 
Church  (St.  James).  Prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  erected  a  stone  house  '.'8  by  30  feet,  lie 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  coming  tn  Amer- 
ica with  him.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren: William,  born  June  9,  1756;  Nicholas,  bom 
m  1758,  who  died  in  1821  :  John;  Christian:  and 
a  daughter  that  died  young.  By  his  second  wife. 
-  maiden  name  was  Eowe,  he  had  -i,\  chil- 
dren: Jacob,  horn  May  8,  1766,  who  .lied  Feb.  24, 
1848    (his  Rachel,   born    in    1770,   died    in 

L82S) ;  Harmon,  horn  April  28,  1775,  who  died 
March  24,  IS.Vt  (his  wife  Susanna,  horn  May  -.'1. 
L787,  died  June  10,  1861,  and  their  daughter  Re- 
becca, horn  in  1827,  died  in  1841  i  :  David;  Ahram. 
horn  April  8,  1773,  who  was  married  Feb.  1.  1800, 
to  Mary  Eekman;  Elizabeth;  and  Mary. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  Harmon  Ship- 
man  aided  the  Revolutionists  in  many  ways,  con- 
tributing of  his  own  time  and  meat'.-  and  send- 
ing four  of  hi-  -in-.  William,  Nicholas,  John  and 
Christian,  into  the  service.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  this  patriotic  family  was  so  impoverished  that 
the  older  -ins.  with  their  families,  moved  to  newer 
settlements,  William  and  Nicholas  coming  to 
Pennsylvania  and  settling  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  in  the  spring  of 
1794.  In  1802  the  brothers  Christian  ami  Jacob 
-  ittled  in  the  same  vicinity. 

Jacob  Shipman  on  coming  from  New  Jersey  si  t- 
tled  on  the  farm  in  Lower  Augusta  township  where 
Morris  Snyder  now  lives,  followed  fanning,  and 
there  died.  He  owned  considerable  land,  his  pos- 
sessions including  the  farms  now  owned  by  Morris 
Snyder,  Silas  Snyder  and  Nicholas  Renn.  He  was 
a  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief  and  is  buried  at 
the  Presbyterian  Church  along  the  mountain,  as  is 
one  of  his  two  wives.  By  his  first  wife,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Minnier,  he  had  sons  Jacob  and  Abra- 


NOKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


L93 


ham.  Ili>  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Bird,  was  the  mother  of  six  children  :  David  :  John  : 

.Tames;    Sylvanus;    Betzy,    wl tarried    Samuel 

Wynn:  and  Polly,  who  married  [saac  Dpdegrove 
and  (second)  John  Ebright.  Of  these,  Sylvanus 
Shipman  died  Dec.  9,  1887,  aged  seventy-three 
years,  one  month,  eight  days;  his  wife  Harriet  A. 
died  Aug.  12,  L846,  aged  twenty-seven  years,  six 
months;  his  wife  Rebecca  died  Oct.  30,  1902,  aged 
seventy-five  years,  eight  months,  five  days. 

David  Shipman,  son  of  Jacob  and  grandson  of 
Harmon,  born  Feb.  26,  L809,  died  March  17.  1897. 
From  the  time  of  his  marriage  until  his  death  he 
lived  at  the  place  in  Lower  Augusta  township  where 
his  daughter  Lydia,  widow  of  Silas  R.  Snyder, 
now  lives.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His 
wife  Eliza  (  Hintershol  ),  daughter  of  John  Hinter- 
shot,  horn  iii  September,  1812,  died  Feb.  9,  1877, 
aged  sixty-four  years,  four  mouths,  nineteen  days; 
Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Shipman  are  buried  in  the  Fisher's 
Ferry  cemetery.  They  had  the  following  children: 
Matilda  married  Joseph  Porter;  John  Land  is  lives 
in  Shamokin;  Corrinda  died  at  tin1  age  of  fifty- 
eight,  mi Tied;  Lydia  is  the  widow  of  Silas  K. 

Snyder;  Hiram  A.  is  a  resident  of  Carthage.  Mo.; 
Harriet  E.  married  Dr.  11.  K  Myers,  who  died  in 
1900,  aged  fifty-nine  years,  six  days;  Isaac  E.  re- 
sides in  Kansas. 

William  Shipman,  son  of  Harmon,  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Harmony  township  June 
'i.  L756,  ami  died  Jan.  '.':!.  1841,  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  set- 
tled in  1'794.  He  is  buried  at  the  Mountain  Pres- 
byterian ('lunch  in  that  township.  As  previous- 
ly mentioned,  he  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
On  coming  to  Northumberland  county  with  his 
brother  Nicholas,  in  the  spring  of  1794,  lie  pur- 
chased 150  acre-  of  land,  where  he  made  his  home, 
and  subsequently  made  additional   purchases  until 

I wned  a  large  acreage.      Soon  after  the  close  of 

the  Revolution  ho  married  Catherine  Campbell, 
of  Sussex  county,  X.  J.,  and  they  had  children  as 
follow-:  John.  Jacob,  William.  Ahram.  Johannah, 
Lizzie.  Sara  and  Lydia. 

John  Shipman.  son  of  William,  was  born  Oct.  13, 
1783,  in  Sussex  county,  X.  J.,  and  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  to 
the  end  of  his  davs,  dying  April  s.  1850.  lie  mar- 
ried Mary  McKinney,  who  was  born  Jan.  25,  1786, 
daughter' of  Abraham  and  Abigail  McKinney  and 
granddaughter  of  William  McKinney,  a  native  oi 
Ireland,  'hom  Aug.  20,  L723,  who  died  Oct.  24, 
17;;  :  his  wife,  Hannah,  bom  Sept.  9,  1730,  died 
March  18,  1765;  they  lived  in  \\  am  n  i  ounty,  X. 
J.  Mrs.  Shipman  died  March  1".  1851.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eleven  children,  horn  a-  follows: 
Abraham.  March  10,  1810  (died  Aug.  8,  1878); 
Sarah,  Sept.  11.  1811  (died  Nov.  2.  1883);  [saac, 
Aug.  5.  1813  (died  April  1.  1S36,  by  a,,  [dent,  in 
13' 


the  prime  of  life  and  health)  ;  Jacob,  Jan.  1.  1816 

(died  Oct.  3,  1890:  his  son  Luther  died  Feb.  5, 
1891,  aged  thirty-eight  years,  five  month-,  twen 
tv  days)  :  Abigail.  Oct.  17,  181"3  (died  March  23, 
1880)  ;  William  ('..  Oct.  31,  1819;  Rachel  E.,  Dec. 
13,  1821  (died  Oct.  22,  1824)  :  James  M..  ,|;in.  ■.•:,, 
1824  (died  Oct.  24,  1824)  :  John.  Dee.  25,  L825 
(died  Sept.  5,  lss;  |  ;  Samuel  11..  STov.  30,  1828 
(dad  April  15,  1864  :  his  wife  <  'atharine  died  July 
9,  1905,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  one  month,  nine 
davs)  ;  Peter,  Aug.  11.  is:::;. 

Abraham  Shipman,  eldest  son  of  John  ami  Marj 
(McKinney)  Shipman.  was  horn  March  10,  1810, 
in    Lower  Augusta   township,   where   be   passed   all 

bis  life,  .lying  Aug.  8,  1878,  on  the  old  farm  I te 

-lead,  lie  received  only  such  advantages  a-  the 
common  schools  of  the  day  afforded,  but  he  was  a 
man  of  keen  and  intelligent  mind,  and  he  became 
well  educated  by  following  the  bent  of  hi-  own  in- 
clinations. He  studied  civil  engineering  under 
David  Andrews  and  learned  surveying,  which  he 
followed  from  March.  1836,  throughout  his  active 
years,  serving  several  years  as  county  surveyor. 
In  addition  to  farming  he  carried  on  milling, 
building  what  is  known  a-  the  Shipman  mill,  a 
large  gristmill  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rocke- 
feller) township,  and  in  connection  with  his  work 
as  surveyor  la1  did  considerable  conveyancing,  lie 
served  as  associate  judge  under  Judge  Jordan  tor 
a  period  of  ten  years,  being  first  elected  in  1861 
and  reelected  in  1866;  and  subsequently  was  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Lower  Augusta  township  for 
several  years.  In  polities  he  was  an  anient  Dem- 
ocrat and  one  of  the  local  part\  leader-,  for  a  long 
time  the  recognized  leader  in  this  county.  He 
was  also  active  in  his  earlier  years  in  local  mil- 
itarv  matters,  serving  as  a  member  of  tin'  Jack- 
son Rifles  from  1829  to  L836.  lie  was  a  he 
athletic  man.  of  fine  appearance,  and  hi-  presence 
added  much  to  gatherings  of  that  kind. 

i  iM  p,  I,,  li.  L837,  M  r.  Shipman  married  Eliza- 
beth Yoxtheimer,  who  died  April  8,  L892.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  eleven  children,  all  hern  in 
Lov  er  Augusta  township,  ten  of  whom  ma- 

turity:    (1 )  Lemuel,  born  Dec.  15,  L838,  is  n 
tioned  below.     CO    Matilda,  hum  Aug.   L9,   1840, 
was   married   Aug.   V.'.    L859,  to  John    B  oom,  of 
Lower   Augusta  town-hip.  now  a  ill  farmer 

of   Rockefeller  township.     (3)    Marl,,  born  April 
■_M.  1842,  died  m  June.  1870.     He  enlistei 
I  iinai  army    -eon  a  Civil 

war  and  remained  in  ai  tive  sen  ice  until  its  close, 
being  stationed  most  of  the  time  a!  Kej  W  est,  I 

(  |  )  '"saul    is    nt  5  i     R 

Aug.  6.  1845,  married  Oi  t.  31,  1867,  ■'     i        Gass, 

,,   farmer  of   Ri  ■  ' '' '    xmi- 

h,,m  Now  25,  1841  luni    5,  L908.     On   Nov. 

[5,   [866,  she  married    \  ?    S] .  who  is 

,,,,.'  ,,,-,,,!    J,,    the   powder    business   at    Speeceville, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.     (',  )    Rebecca  J.,  born   Dec.  27, 


194 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


L850,  married  Franklin  Mavberrv.  (8)  Silas. 
born  April  30,  Is:,:;,  died  Aug.  14,  1853.  (9)  Ira 
is  mentioned  below.  (10)  Walter,  born  Aug.  3, 
L856,  was  a  lawyer  by  professioD  and  had  long  been 
justice  of  the  peace  at  Sunbury,  where  lie  resided. 
He  married  April  30,  1878,  Josephine  M.  Col- 
dren,  and  they  had  three  children,  Lida  M., 
Carrie  G.  and  dame?  F.  (11)  Jefferson,  bom  Peh. 
24,  1859,  i-  a  successful  attorney  at  Mount  Car- 
mel,  Pennsylvania.         , 

Lemuel  Shipman,  son  of  Abraham,  born  Dei 
15,  1838,  received  his  education  in  the  public 
ols  and  at  the  New  Berlin  Academy.  In  his 
early  life  he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and 
in  the  saw  and  grist  mill,  and  also  taught  school 
,e  a  number  of  years.  On  Oi  10,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D  (Capt.  Edwin  A.  Evans), 
3d  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Artillery,  152d  Penn- 
sylvania Regiment.  He  entered  the  service  as 
sergeant,  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  of 
In-  company  Mac  16,  1864,  and  served  as  such  to 
the  close  of  the  war.  While  officer  of  the  day  at 
Fortress  Monroe  he  had  charge  of  a  distinguished 
prisoner,  Jeff.  Davis,  the  president  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. Upon  his  return  from  the  army  he  was 
gaged  in  business  as  a  merchant  until  elected  reg- 
ister of  wills,  recorder  of  deeds  and  clerk  of  the 
Orphans'  court,  in  1 v^  3,  sen  ing  as  such  from  L874 
to  L880,  and  also  filled  other  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  while  a  resident  of  Northumberland  county. 
He  was  in  the  railroad  contracting  business  for 
seven  'ear-,  in  1887  removing  to  Lewisburg,  Union 
county,  where  he  became  prominent  in  business 
circle-,  lie  was  prominent  in  building  up  a  nail 
mill,  steam  car  axle  forge  and  furniture  factory 
(the  latter  being  the  Lewisburg  Furniture 
Works);  and  in  1889  removed  to  West  Virginia, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business.  He 
-  iow  a  resident  of  Meridian.  Miss.,  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  other  enteric 

<  hi  Sept.  VT.  1860,  Mr.  Shipman  married  Maria 
Bloom,  who  was  born  Aug.  16,  1842,  daughter  of 
William  Bloom,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, viz. :  William  A.  is  mentioned  below  :  I >.  Web- 
ster; horn  March  1.  1863,  a  practicing  attorney, 
has  been  district  attornevof  Northumberland  coun- 
ty; Edwin  II..  born  "Oct.  30,  1867,  is  em- 
ployed by  the  Shamokin  Street  Railway  Company: 
Lizzie,  horn  Aug.  10,  1869,  died  Aug.  19,  1871; 
Charles  ('..  horn  Oct.  2,  1872,  died  Dec.  11.  1874; 
Augusta,  horn  March  19;  ls;i.  married  S.  C.  Yo- 
cuiii.  who  l-  superintendent  of  schools  of  Coal  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county. 

William  A.  Shipmax.  now  engaged  in  the  un- 
dertaking business  at  No.  701  Market  street,  Sun- 
bury, Northumberland  county,  was  horn  Sept.  11. 
1861,  in  Rockefeller  township,  this  county.  He 
began  his  education  there  in  the  local  schools  and 
was  ten  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to   Sunbury,   where   lie  attended   the  high   school. 


Later  he  became  a  student  at  Bucknell  College. 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1887  he  opened  a  furniture  -tore  at 
Selinsgrove,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  lo- 
cated until  the  spring  oi  1889,  since  when  he  has 
been  established  at  Sunbury.  He  has  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  undertaking,  in  which  line  he  is  a  leader 
in  this  section,  receiving  bis  full  share  of  the  local 
patronage.  Hi-  personal  and  business  standing 
has  been  won  by  upright  methods,  aide  manage- 
ment and  fair  treatmenl  of  in-  <  u-t re 

(»n  Oct.  lo.  1888,  Mr.  Shipman  married  Annie 
E.  Snyder,  daughter  of  Thomas  Snyder,  of  Sun- 
bury, and  thev  have  a  family  of  five  children: 
Myrtle  E.,  Russel  C,  Harley  N..  William  A..  Jr.. 
and   Helen. 

Mi.  Shipman  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  which  he  has  served  many  years 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  a-  well  as 
in  other  capacities.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to 
Maclav  Lodge  No.  <;:;•.>.  p.  &  A.  M..  the  Modem 
Woodmen  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans. 


Saul  Shipman,  -on  of  Abraham,  was  born  in 
Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township  Jan. 
1.  1844. 

Reared  to  labor  on  the  farm,  and  in  the  saw  and 
grist  mills,  with  the  limited  educational  advantages 
of  a  country  school,  in  August.  1862,  the  darkest 
days  of  the  Rebellion,  he  entered  the  Union  army 
as  a  volunteer  for  nine  months"  service,  in  th.  o 
5th  Corps,  participating  in  the  campaigns  of  An- 
tietani.  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville.  Af- 
ter his  discharge,  at  the  end  of  his  term  of  ser  i 
being  in  too  delicate  health  for  hard  labor,  he  took 
a  preparatory  collegiate  course  in  Freeburg  Acad- 
emy, but  his  limited  means  prevented  him  from 
going  further.  In  1864  he  began  his  pedagogical 
career  by  taking  charge  of  a  public  school  in  his 
own  district. 

In  18()9  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  schools 
of  his  native  county,  and  reelected  in  1872,  serv- 
ing six  years  in  all.  In  this  position  he  made  a 
very  efficient  officer.  Characterized  as  a  hard  work- 
er, he  followed  up  what  he  undertook  with  an  en- 
ergy and  perseverance  worthy  of  imitation.  Punc- 
tual in  all  his  appointments,  he  allowed  nothing  to 
interrupt  the  fulfillment  of  his  engagements.  By 
in-  thorough  course  he  greatly  elevated  the  grade 
of  the  schools  of  the  county. 

In  the  summer  of  18T0  he  conducted  a  local 
normal  school  at  Shamokin — the  first  movement 
of  the  kind  in  this  section  of  the  country  and  a 
most  gratifying  success.  He  has  the  reputation 
of  having  been  the  most  efficient  examining  officer 
that  ever  filled  the  position  of  school  superintend- 
ent of  this  county:  also,  the  credit  of  having  held 
the  ]„,.]  series  of  institutes  ever  held  in  the  county. 
The  annual  reports  prepared  by  him  as  superin- 
tendent  of   schools   are  concise,   pithy,   suggestive 


a^ 


NOKTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


L95 


nin!  outspoken  documents  and  form  a  valuable 
contribution  to  the  county  school  literature.  An 
independent  thinker,  lie  is  positive  in  his  opinions 
and  actions,  conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  du- 
ties, jusl  and  unyielding  in  what  he  believes  to  be 
right. 

He  i-  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  lias  served  as 
secretary  of  church  and  joint  councils;  secretary 
of  his  own  lodge,  and  representative  to  the  grand 
lodge,   1.  0.  0.   F. :  is  secretary-treasurer  of  Plum 

Creek     Cemetery     C pan)      (incorporated),    of 

which  he  was  the  organizer,  and  is  now  serving  Ins 
nineteenth  year,  by  annual  election,  as  secretary  of 
a  local  mutual  fire  insurance  company,  incorpor- 
ated. He  resides  in  Rockefeller  township,  and  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits, 
his  work  in  these  occupations  being  excellent  ob- 
jei  i  lessons,  and  Ins  advice  and  suggestions  eagerly 
sought  by  the  mosl  progressive  people  engaged  in 
the  sa pursuits. 

Mr.  Sin]. man  married  duly  Pi.  1869,  Lueinda 
Fasold,  who  was  born  Sept.  20,  1847.  They  had 
oine  children,  eight  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  still 
living,  seven  of  whom  were  teachers  in  the  public 
schools;  only  one  has  remained  in  that  work,  the 
second  being  a  supervising  principal  in  the  Phila- 
delphia schools.  The  record  of  this  family  is  as 
follows:  (1)  Warren  Lee  graduated  from  the 
Millersville  normal  school,  supplementing  this 
course  with  a  special  course  at  Valparaiso,  Ind., 
and  also  graduated  from  the  Dickinson  Law 
School,  Carlisle,  Pa.:  he  now  resides  in  Arkansas. 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  ( '.' )  Gor- 
don Brvant,  a  graduate  of  Millersville  State  nor- 
mal school,  supplemented  his  work  there  by  an  ex- 
tended course,  and  is  now  a  public  school  prin- 
cipal in  Philadelphia.  (3)  Cullen  Frazer,  a  grad- 
uate of  Bucknell  University,  and  Hon.  S.  P.  Wol- 
verton's  last  law  student,  is  now  a  practicing  at- 
torney ai  Sunbury.  (  1)  Pan  Vernon,  a  graduate 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Dental  College,  Philadelphia, 
is  now  practicing  dentistry  at  SunbUry.  (5)  Mel- 
ville M.  is  a  carrier  in  the  mail  service  from  the 
Philadelphia  post  office.  (6)  Truman  (i.  is  m  the 
government  service,  in  the  United  States  weather 
bureau  ("t  I  Grover  ('.  served  his  apprenticeship 
as  a  patternmaker  at  Baldwin's,  Philadelphia,  and 

is  a0\\   enga 1  a-  a  skilled  workman  at  his  trade. 

in  Danville.'  (8)  Catherine  E.,  the  only  daughter, 
married  Charles  W.  Gearhart,  and  reside-  at  Sim- 
ian v.  (9)  Don  Benito  is  now  a  junior  student  m 
the  Sunburv  high  school. 


[in  Snii'MAX.  -on  of  Abraham,  was  horn  in 
1  ower  Ui°-usta  (now  Rockefeller)  township,  this 
countv,  Mav  17,1854.    It  is  a  coincidence  that  the 

year  of  his" birth  was  the  year  the  oil, t   county 

superintendent  of  schools,  in  which  he  served  etti- 
cienth  Eorsis  years,  was  established,  lie  received 
hi-  eaily  education  in  the  country  schools  near  Ins 


birthplace,  attended  also  at  New  Bloomfield,  Perry 
county,  ami  was  later  a  studenl  ai  the  Freeburg 
Academy  and  the  Shippensburg  normal  school. 
He  began  to  teach  at  the  age  of  seventeen  ami 
found  his  principal  work  in  that,  profession  to  the 
end  of  his  days.  'The  first  four  years  he  was  en 
gaged  in  his  native  township,  after  which  he  was 
chosen  a  teacher  for  Sunbury,  in  which  borough 
lie  followed  his  profession,  as  teacher,  principal 
and  superintendent,  for  nearly  thirty  years.  There 
i-  hardly  any  one  educator  whose  influence  on  the 

scl I-  of   the   borough    has   been   so  strong  or  so 

lasting.  In  1893  he  was  chosen  county  superin- 
tendent of  scl I-.  ami  held  that  office  until   1899, 

after  which,  until  his  death,  he  was  borough  super- 
intendent. At  a  meeting  of  the  hoard  of  educa- 
tion held  May  '.'.  1905,  his  term  of  office  was  ex- 
tended for  a  period  of  three  years,  he  being  elected 
without  opposition  and  at  an  increased  salary. 
Nad  he  lived,  he  would  have  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  principal  of  the  Herndon  (Northumber- 
land county)  schools,  to  which  position  he  had  been 
chosen,  and  which  opened  the  day  before  hi-  death. 
Such  is  a  brief  statement  of  the  various  capacities 
in  which  his  services  were  given.  (If  hi-  work, 
none  who  knew  him  had  anything  hut  words  of 
praise.  During  his  incumbency  as  superintendent 
the'  country  schools  were  especially  benefited,  be- 
ing graded  and  brought  to  a  high  state  of  efficienc} , 
and  he  was  equally  zealous  in  In-  work  at  Sunbury. 
Indefatigable  in  his  own  efforts,  he  expected  the 
same  degree  of  industry  and  enthusiasm  from  all 
tin  teachers  cooperating  with  him,  but  he  was  ap- 
preciative and  just,  winning  their  Joyalty  and  sup- 
port as  well  as  their  best  exertions,  lie  died  Aug 
:;i,  L909,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  mourned 
by  all  who  knew  him.  Tin  following  explains  it- 
self: 

"Whereas:      Since    the    last    meeting   of 
Northumberland  County  Teachers'  Institute,  God, 
in    His  allwise  providence,   has   seen    lit    to   remove. 
In    death,   from   the   rank-  of  our  profession,    Prof. 
1 1  a  Shipman  of  the  borough  id'  Sunbury, 

"Whereas:  l'>\  the  death  of  Prof.  Shipman.  the 
County  has  lost  an  educator  who,  by  persistent  ef- 
fort, indefatigable  work  and  intelligent  applica- 
tion, placed   himself  at  the  head   of  the  scl I-  of 

the  Countv  ami  of  (he  borough  of  Sunbury,  ami. 

"Whereas:  By  the  death  of  Prof,  shipman  we 
have  lost  a  sincere  friend,  a  wise  counselor,  and  a 
splendid  leader  in  the  positions  which  he  so  ably 
filled,  a  self-made   man.  attentive  to   his  duties,  a 

real  help  to  the  teachers,  a  i Ii  I    i >1  man,  and. 

a-   Dr.  Schaeffer  puts  it,  '( f  the  three 

i  nuntv  Superintendents  of  the  State'  the  graded 
course  of  study,  monthly  reviews,  final  examin- 
ations, and  the  granting  of  diplomas,  stand  oul  as 
monuments  of  his  work' ; 

"Theri  fore:     Be  h  resolved  thai  we  exti  nd 
heartfelt  sympathy  to  the  bereaved   family  in   its 


196 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


affliction,  am]  commend  it  to  Him  who  doeth  all 
things  well.     *     *     * 

"Be  it  farther  resolved:  That  these  resolutions 
-<  rei  irded  on  the  minutes  of  the  Northumberland 
County  Teachers'  Institute,  and  that  copies  of  the 
same  he  sent  to  the  bereaved  families."  The  docu- 
ment bears  the  signatures  of  the  seven  members 
of  the  Memorial  committee. 

It  was  m>i  alone  in  the  sehools  that  Mr.  Ship- 
man  served  Iris  community  well.  When  a  young 
man  he  studied  surveying  with  his  father,  spend- 
ing his  holidays  at  the  work,  and  in  1882  was  ap- 
pointed county  surveyor  to  succeed  E.  M.  Purdy, 
who  had  resigned,  filling  the  position  until  the 
next  election,  in  1883.  lie  also  gained  consider- 
able knowledge  of  civil  engineering  under  his  fa- 
ther, and  after  his  father's  death  became  custodian 
of  the  note-  .if  many  important  surveys.  He  at- 
tained a  high  reputation  as  a  civil  engineer,  and 
served  the  borough  of  Sunbury  in  that  capacity 
for  five  years,  during  which  time  the  first  section 
Ml'  street  paving  was  laid  there,  under  his  super- 
vision, lie  tilled  this  position  while  teaching,  re- 
signing it  in  1893,  when  elected  county  superin- 
tendent of  sehools.  lie  was  for  a  time  borough 
!  served  Rockefeller  township  a-  i  - 
tici'  hi'  the  peace. 

Mr.  Shipman's  life  was  in  every  respect  an  ex- 
ample of  unselfish  devotion  to  the  ideals  he  cher- 
ished, and  the  strength  of  character  he  displayed 
in  carrying  out  his  plans,  especially  in  his  educa- 
tional work,  is  referred  to  with  pride  by  all  who 
knew  him.     Thou-  -  marked  all  hi-  actions. 

even  in  the  last*     Realizing  a  few  days  before  his 
death    that    the   end    was    near,    he   made   complete 
arrangement-;  for  his  funeral  and  interment,  spar- 
ing his  family  and  friends  as  many  of  the  sad  du- 
-   possible      Hi     iassi  d  away  at  his  home  on 
avenue  and    was  laid   to   rest    in   Pom- 
fret    Manor  cemetery.     lie  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  from  early  life  to  the  end  of 
days,  hut  as  the   First   Presbyterian  church  of 
Sunbury  was  undergoing  repairs  at  the  time  of  his 
ie  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  First 
Baptist   church.     Fraternallv   Mr.    S  ,    held 

membership  in  Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  the 

reign  Patriotic  Knights,  the  1.  <>.  0.  F..  the 
1'    ()    s    of    \.  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

On  April  27,  1876,  Mr.  Shipman  married  Ther- 

Miller,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Caroline 
I  Kline  i  Miller,  who  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  (now 
R  ckefeller)   township,  where   Mr.  Miller  was  the 

:  of  a  large  farm,  which  he  cultivated.     Three 
children  were  born  to  this  union.  Herbert  M.   (de- 
as      i,  R;    ph  and  Waldo.    Upon  the  death  o 

t  Mr.  Shipman  purchased  the  old  family 
homestead,  where  he  had  spent  his  early  life,  re- 
modeled the  dwelling,  ami  there  made  his  home 
for  eight  or  ten  years. 

Ralph  Shipmax,  son  of  Ira,  was  horn  Aug.  13, 


1879.  lie  received  a  common  school  education  in 
Sunbury  and  attended  the  Bloomsburg  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  Later  he  - 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  machinist.  In 
Decen  »  r,  1908,  bis  father  became  connected  with 
the  Shipman  Instrument  Company,  which  manu- 
factures -peed  indicators  for  use  on  automobiles 
and  railroads,  and  Ralph  Shipman  became  sei  ro- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  concern  after  the  death 
of  his  father.  This  company  produced  the  first 
-  ceess  speed  indii  ator  built  on  .the  i  ?ca]  ement 
principle,  recording  the  speed  in  miles  per 
hour,  trip  and  season  distances,  and  trip 
and  season  running  hours.  Mr.  Shipman  is 
an  enterprising  young  business  man.  and 
a  citizen  of  promising  value  to  the  community. 
Hi  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  In  190*3  lie  married  Delia  Daniels, 
and  thei  have  had  one  son.  Raldo. 

Waldo  ShipmIx,  SOn  of  Ira,  was  horn  Feb.  2, 
lss.'.  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  graduated  from 

tin   Sunbury  high  scl 1  in  1901,  and  subsequently 

attended  the  Pratt  Institute,  at  Brooklyn,  X.  Y., 
taking  the  electrical  course,  and  graduating  in 
1905    Meantimi  id  been  in  the  employ  of  the 

Westinghousi    Company,  extensive  manufacturers 

ectrical  supplies,  and  after  his  graduation  he 
engaged   in  t1  contracting  business  at 

Lewistown,  Pa.,  for  two  years.  He  then  began  as  a 
sail  -man  for  the  El  i         •  I  Company  of 

Philadelphia,  his  territory  being  northeastern 
Pennsylvania  and  the  lower  end  of  Xew  York 
State.  His  thorough  familiarity  with  the  products 
he  handles  make-  hi-  services  particulaxlv  efficient. 
S  s  a  member  of  Lodgi  No.  663,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of 
Lew i -town  :  of  Sunbury  Council,  Royal  Arcanum: 
and  of  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  203,  P.  &  A.  M., 
Caldwell  Consistorv,  of  Bloomsburg,  and  Irem 
Temple,  A.  A.  <i.  X.  M.  S„  of  Wilkes-Barre.  He 
also  belong-  to  IJ.  ( '.  T.  Council,  No,  350,  of  Wil- 

sport,  Pa.  On  March  21,  1906,  Mr.  Shipman 
married  Sarah  Maud  Kauffman.  They  have  no 
children. 


Wj  -  tiPMAX,    lawyer   and   justice   of   the 

]  eace.  late  of  Sunbury.  wa-  for  many  years  one 
of  the  prominent  residents  of  that  boroi  a  .  well 
known  in  his  earlier  years  a-  a  public  school  teacher 
and  later  a-  a  successful  member  of  ;  _.  '  pro- 

ssion. 

Mr.  Shipman  was  born  Aug.  3,  1856,  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  tin-;  county,  son  -  \  iraham 
and  Elizabeth  (Yoxtheimer)  Shipman.  In  his 
early  life  he  attended  the  Freeburg  \>  a  emy,  later 
becoming  a  student  at  the  Millersville  State  Nor- 
mal school,  after  which  he  was  engaged  as  an  edu- 
cator for  fifteen  years,  in  the  public  schools  of 
Sunbury,  where  he  won  especial  reputation  for 
thoroughness  and  skill  as  a  disciplinarian.    During 


NORTHUMBERLA  N  D  COUNTY,  PENIS  SYLVANIA 


19*3 


tli"  latter  pan  of  this  period  he  studied  law  under 
George  B.  Reimensnyder,  Esq.,  of  Sunbury,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1885,  and  made  a  decided 
Buceess  as  a  legal  practitioner.  He  had  an  exten- 
sive practice,  handling  many  importanl  cases  not 
only  in  the  lower  courts  but  also  in  the  Supreme 
court,  ami  had  an  es  ieciallv  large  practice  in  the 
Orphans'    court    of    the    county.      His    standing 

ai ig    ill"    members    id'    his    profession    may    be 

judged    IV ih"  fact  that   he  served   for  over  ten 

Mai-  as  member  of  the  examining  committee  of 
the  county  bar,  giving  In-  services  without  com- 
pensation. II"  filled  a  number  of  public  positions, 
tor  the  niosl  part  in  the  line  of  hi-  chosen  work. 
being  borough  solicitor  two  years  (at  the  time 
his  brother  Lra  ShipmaD  was  borough  regulator), 
holding  tin-  office  under  two  Republican  chief 
burgesses  -Peter  Bowen  and  Jacob  Renn — though 
he  himself  was  a  I  >emocrat.  In  1893  he  was  "I"'  ted 
justice  of  tli"  peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  by  a 
majority  of  283,  anil  in  1898  was  reelected  by  a 
majority  of  1,100,  continuing  to  serve  until  his 
death,  at  which  time  he  was  filling  hi-  fourth 
term.  In  1901  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination  for  president  judge,  and  re- 
ceived  flattering  indorsement,  carrying  every  ward 
in  his  own  city,  though  he  did  not  receive  the  nom- 
ination. The  Shipmans  generally  have  been  prom- 
inent in  public  affairs  and  polities,  and  he  pi. 
no  exception  to  th"  rid",  gaining  and  maintaining 
honorable  standing  in  the  life  of  the  community. 

.Mr.  Shipman  died  Jul}  VI.  1911,  at  his  home  in 
Sunbury,  after  about  a  year's  illness  and  suffering, 
during  which  he  underwent  three  fruitless  oper- 
ation-. The  simple  but  impressive  funeral  serv- 
ices,   held    at    thi'    house,    were    conducted    by    Rev. 

Robert  O'Bovle,  assisted  by  Rev.  Richard  Sass,  of 
Elysburg,  and  Rev.  Walter  W.  C.  Pugh,  of  Sun- 
bury, and  were  largely  attended.  The  members 
of  the  Northumberland  County  Bar  Association 
and  other  organizations  to  which  Mr.  Shipman  be- 
longed attended  in  a  body.  The  interment  at  Pom- 
Erel  Manor  cemetery  was  private,  though  the  ritual 
of  the  1'..  1'.  <>.  Elks,  of  which  lie  was  a  prominent 
member,  was  observed.  The  acting  pallbearers, 
nephews  of  Mr.  Shipman,  were  Dr.  II.  W.  i  la--.  Dr. 
I.  V.  Shipman,  Ralph  Shipman.  D.  W.  Shipman. 
Esq.,  Frazer  Shipman.  Esq.,  and  R.  Ira  Gass.  The 
honorarv  pallbearers  wen-  Eon.  C.  R.  Savidge, 
Hon.  Voris  Auten,  Hon.  ('.  B.  Witmer,  Han  3. 
Knight,  H.  W.  Cummings  and  John   V.   Lesher. 

Mr  Shipman  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
members  of  Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  a  past 
exalted  ruler  of  that  body,  and  represented  the 
lodge  at  the  convention  held  in  Salt  Lake  City  in 
1902  He  was  also  a  member  of  Washington  Camp 
No.  194,  P.  (»■  S.  of  A.,  Lance  and  Shield  Conclave 
and  the   Roval  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Shipman  married  Claudine  Fasold,  daugh- 
ter of  Solomon  W  .and  Maranda  (Kimble)  Fasold, 


the  former  of  whom,  a  farmer  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, died  July  16,  1905.  Mrs.  Shipman  survives, 
as  do  also  the  three  children  of  Mr.  Shipman  by 
a  former  union:  Lida  Maude,  now  Mrs.  William 
Gaskins,    of    Sunbury;    Carrie    (den.    now    Mrs. 

Charles  D.  Eeefer,  of  Sunbury;  and  Ji is  Pay,  a 

graduate  of  the  Dickinson  Liu  School,  who  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  Northumberland  county 
but  is  now  a  practicing  attorney  at  Moundsville, 
West  Virginia. 


Joseph  Shipman  was  a  farmer  in  what  is  now 
Lower  Augusta  township,  owning  a  farm  which 
was  later  the  property  of  his  son  John  B..  who  ■ 
it  to  one  James  II.  Smith.  Joseph  Shipman  is 
hui  led  at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Chnrch.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Bergstresser,  and 
nine  children  wriv  born  to  this  union,  viz.:  Eliza- 
beth  married  Matthew  DeWitt:  John  B.  is  men- 
tioned below;  Phoebe  married  William  P.  Koontz, 
who  died  May  23,  1854,  aged  twenty-five  years, 
eleven     months,    and     sin.'     subsequently    married 

G ge  McCarthy;   Nicholas  lives  in  Ohio;   Lot, 

who  was  a  sel 1  teacher,  later  interested  in  a  grain 

elevator,  died  April  1.  1904,  in  Ohio,  aged  seventy 
rears,  five  months,  ten  days,  and  i>  buried  in  the 
West  :  Jemima  married  John  Ditty  and  died  S 
V.  1:1114.  aged  sixty-one  years,  ten  days  (she  1-  bur- 
ied at  Shamokin,  Pa.)  :  Adaline,  who  was  the  wifi 
of  Robert  Peaster,  died  Ma\  12,  L891,  aged  forty- 
five  year-,  five  months,  eleven  dai  -.  and  is  buried  at 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Augusta:  Catharine  died 
July  26,  1836,  aged  eight  years,  fourteen  days; 
Joseph  married  Harriet  Read,  and  died  (let.  20, 
1845,  aged  forty-two  years,  one  month,  eight  days. 

John  B.  Shipmajj  was  a  native  of  Lower  Aug- 
usta township,  born  March  23,  1830,  and  died 
.Inly  18,  1906,  on  his  farm  uear  Vera  Cruz  (Mal- 
ta posl  office),  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  lie 
was  a  lifelong  farmer,  a  substantial  and  respected 
citizen,  one  who  held  the  good  will  and  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him.  Reared  in  his  native  town- 
ship, he  afterward  owned  h  's  farm  there. 
selling  it  to  James  II.  Smith  befori  he  settled  in 
Lower  Mahanoy,  in  188  I.  Be  had  a  farm  of  1  1 1 
in  the  lai  irmerly  "«  ned  by 
.1,1  m  Dnderkoffier),  and  there  passed 
mainder  of  his  days.  It  was  the  old  original  Da 
vid  1'nderkolller  homestead  and  was  settled  by  a 
Witmer:  the  house  is  a  pet)  '  nc- 
iiiiv  and  one  of  the  Landmarks  of  1  hai  se<  I 

In    1883   M  i'.   SI  1  d    Emma  J.    Di 

Witt,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Abigail  (Shipman) 
DeWitt,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  the  fol- 
lowing '."in-,  a-  above  mentioned,  t:  ;  to 
..ii-in  in  Lower  Mahanoy  to\*  nship  w  here  M  r 
Shipman    followed    farming   until    hi-   death.      \- 

were  English-speaking  people  thej    1  u 
difficult]   ai  firs!    in  their  -oeial   intercourse  h  ith 
their  German  neighbors.    Two  children  wen'  horn 


198 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shipman:  Carrie  Abigail,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Franklin  Clyde.  The  son 
farms  the  homestead  place,  where  he  and  his 
mother  continue  to  make  their  home,  and  he  is  an 
industrious  and  respected  young  man.  intelligent 
and  up-to-date  in  his  agricultural  methods,  which 
have  been  attended  with  excellent  results.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  local  schools  and 
later  attended  summer  normal  school  at  George- 
town. 

Mr.    Shipman   was   a    Presbyterian   in    religious 
connection  and  is  buried  at  the  Mountain  P 
terian  Church. 

WILLIAM  L.  DEWART,  of  Sunbury,  editor 
ami  proprietor  of  the  Sunbury  Daily  and  the 
Northumberland  County  Democrat,  wields  in  that 
connection  an  appreciable  influence  upon  public 
sentiment  and  progress  in  that  community.  His 
father  and  grandfather  were  men  of  character  and 
force,  both  representatives  in  the  National  Legis- 
lature, and  the  name  has  long  been  associated  in 
Pennsylvania  with  leadership  in  the  Democratic 
party. 

William    Dewart,  the  great-grandfather  of  Wil- 
liam L.  Lew  art.  was  horn  in  1740  in  Ireland,  and 
came  thence  to  America  in  1765,  first  settlh 
i'  iesti  ■   county,  La.     Ho  was  in  such  humble  cir- 
cumstam  i  ■  i    paid  his  passage  mone^ 

his  arrival,  working  for  five  dollars  a  month,  hut 
industry  and  thrift  soon  brought  their  reward.  11. 
came  to  Sunbury,  where  he  opened  a  store  in  1 '.  75, 
just  three  years  after  the  organization  of  North- 
umberland county.  He  was  the  second  merchant 
at  that  point,  and  his  -tore  was  the  first  in  the 
town,  a  log  building  on  Chestnut  street,  between 
Second  and  Center  strei  •  S  sequently  he  pur- 
chased ground  on  the  north  side  of  Market  -treet, 
where  he  built  a  brick  residence  and  store,  and  he 
made  .i  success  of  his  business,  accumulating  con- 
siderable property.  He  was  constable  of  Augusta 
township  as  early  as  1777.  He  died  July  25,  1814, 
seventy-four  years.  Lis  wife.  Eleanor,  died 
Sept.  17,  L805,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  ten  months. 
twenty-four  days.  They  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  most  of  whom,  however,  died  in  youth. 
We  have  record  of  the  two  -mis  William.  Jr..  and 
Lewis,  the  latter  of  whom  was  the  grandfather  of 
the  present  William  L.  Dewart,  of  Sunbury.  Wil- 
liam Dewart.  Jr.,  died  Nov.  13,  1810,  aged  thirty- 
two  years,  one  month,  twenty-three  days:  he  mar- 
ried Liberty  Brady,  who  was  born  Aug.  9,  111"-. 
daughter  of  John  and  Marv  Bradv.  and  died  July 
25,  1851.  Their  son,  William,  horn  Nov.  24,  1806, 
died  May  is.  1841  ;  he  was  a  well  known  merchant 
at  Sunbury. 

Hon.  Lewis  Dewart,  son  of  William  and  Eleanor 
Dew-art.  was  horn  in  Sunbury  Nov.  14,  1780,  when 
the  place  was  little  more  than  a  military  post  in 
the  wilderness.     For  a  number  of  vears  he  was  his 


father's  assistant  in  the  store,  and  was  postmaster 
at  Sunbury  from  1806  until  1816,  but  his  public 
career  began  when  he  was  a  comparatively  young 
man  and  covered  many  years.  From  1812  to  L820 
he  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Assembly 
and  in  1823  was  elected  State  senator  to  succeed 
Albright,  deceased,  serving  three  years  in  that  ca- 
pacity. In  1830  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-second  Congress  from  what  is  now  the  Sev- 
enteenth district  and  was  reelected  in  1832.  In 
1834  he  was  honored  with  reelection  to  the  State 
Legislature,  in  which  he  resumed  his  seat  and 
•  d  three  terms,  until  1840,  during  the  last  year 
of  that  period  being  honored  with  the  speakership 
of  the  House.  In  1839  he  was  chief  bi  .  --  o 
Sunbury,  and  for  many  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  School  Hoard.  Mr.  Dewart  was  not  only  a 
highly  capable  public  servant,  but  a  citizen  who 
benefited  the  community  equally  in  his  activity  in 
the  development  of  industrial  enterprises,  note- 
worthy among  which  was  the  Danville  &  Pottsville 
railroad,  which,  in  company  with  Stephen  i.irard. 
of  Philadelphia,  and  Gen.  Daniel  Montgomery,  of 
Danville,  he  organized  and  built;  Mr.  Dewart  was 
one  of  the  first  directors  of  this  road  and  served 
as  such  for  many  years.  He  and  Stephen  Girard 
were  the  pioneers  in  the  Schuylkill  comity  coal 
fields,  and  they  had  large  holdings  of  valuable  coal 
property  in  the  vicinity  of  Shamokin,  this  county, 
a-  well  as  in  Schuylkill  county.  Their  idea  was  to 
uncover  the  coal  instead  of  tunneling,  hut  the  pro- 

■-  proved  too  expensive  to  be  practicable.  Mr. 
Dewarl  was  identified  with  the  promotion  or  real- 
ization of  many  of  the  most  advanced  improvi 
ments  of  his  day  and  was,  indeed,  one  of  the  mosl 
prominent  citizen-  in  central  Pennsylvania,  but  his 
business  undertakings  were  particularly  helpful  to 
the  opening  up  of  the  territory  north  of  Sunbury. 
In  1840,  the  year  he  retired  from  active  business 
pursuits,  he  was  a  Democratic  candidate  for  the 
nomination  for  governor.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
rship  of  the  party  by  his  son.  William  Leu  is 
Dewart.  who  carried  the  honor  of  the  name  into 
even  greater  usefulness  than  his  father  had  at- 
tempted. Lewis  Dewart  was  associated  with  the 
•  noted  men  of  his  time,  being  a  warm  friend 
of  Andrew  Jackson,  and  his  influential  connections 
gave  him  the  opportunity  to  do  much  for  his  home 
community  that  would  have  been  impossible  for 
one  less  powerful  or  valuable  personally.  He  was 
a  man  of  fine  presence,  commanding  attention  and 
respeel  wherever  he  went.  His  death  occurred 
April  26,  1S-V.\  when  he  was  seventy-one  vears  old. 
and  his  remain-  rest  in  a  vault  at  Sunbury.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Liggett,  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

Hon.  William  Lewis  Dewart.  only  son  of  Lewis 
and  Elizabeth  (Liggett)  Dewart.  was  horn  June 
21,  1821,  at  Sunbury,  and  received  his  education 
at  various  place-.     His  early  training  was  largely 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


L99 


received  at  Harrisburg,  where  the  family  were  lo- 
cated during  the  many  sessions  his  father  served  in 
the  State  Legislature,  and  he  took  his  preparatory 
collegiate  course  at  Dickinson  Preparatory  School, 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  alter  graduating  from  which  insti- 
tution he  entered  Princeton  as  a  sophomore,  in 
1836.  He  was  graduated  from  that  university  in 
1839,  read  law  with  Eon.  Charles  G.  Donnel,  of 
Sunbury,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Jan.  3,  1843. 
The  law  was  his  chosen  vocation,  and  he  practiced 
t'ni'  many  years  in  partnership  with  the  famous 
Capt.  Charles  J.  Bruner,  of  Sunbury,  but  his  force- 
ful nature  and  the  circumstances  of  his  fathers 
failing  health  and  consequent  retirement  drew  him 
into  business  and  public  affairs,  for  which  he 
proved  to  be  eminently  fitted.  In  1845-46  he 
served  as  chief  burgess  of  Sunbury,  and  at  that 
time  he  was  already  regarded  a-  thi  local  party 
leader,  a  supremacy  which  was  accorded  him  until 
1870,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  During  that 
period  he  was  regarded  a-  the  foremosi  man  in 
Northumberland  count}'.  In  1850  his  father's 
health  failed,  forcing  him  t<>  assume  business  cares 
which  were  in. i  importanl  in  be  intrusted  elsewhere. 
His  private  interests  were  very  extensive,  and  he 
was  long  a  director  of  the  Northumberland  Na- 
tional  Bank  (now  known  as  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Sunbury).  In  1852  he  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Baltimore, 
in  1856  to  the  Cincinnati  Convention  ami  in  1860 

to  the  "Douglas"  Convention,  the  sa year  being 

a  Pennsylvania  elector  on  the  Douglas  ticket.  In 
1884  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  Convention 
which  nominated  Cleveland  for  President.  In 
1856  he  was  elected  a  membeT  of  the  Thirty-fifth 
Congress.  A  portly  gentleman,  of  line  appearance 
and  genial  disp  isition,  he  was  an  attractive  as  well 
as  prominent  figure  in  society,  and  held  a  notable 
place  in  all  the  activities  of  his  day.  Ho  was  a 
.Mason  in  fraternal  connection  and  a  Presbyterian 
in  religion.  His  death  occurred  in  Sunbury  April 
19,    1888. 

On  June  '21.  184S.  Mr.  Dewart  married  Rosetta 
Van  Horn,  daughter  of  Espy  Van  Horn,  of  Wil- 
liamsport,  and  the}  reared  two  sons.  Mr-.  Dewart 
survived  her  husband.  In  1853  Mr.  Dewarl 
his  family  to  Europe,  spending  about  a  year  trav- 
eling over  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  France, 
Germany,  Italy,  Switzerland  and  other  places  oi 
interesl  and  attraction. 

It  is  a  coincidence  worthv  of  note  that  Espy  \  an 
Horn,  of  Williamsport,  father  of  Mrs.  Dewart, 
was  the  direct  predecessor  in  Congress  ol  Mr. 
Dewart's  father:  and  that  William  Wilson  her 
stepfather,  was  her  father's  predecessor  m  thai  leg 

islative  body.  T      .    „ 

1  ewis  Dewart,  son  of  Hon.  William  Lewis  D 
arl    was  born  Mav  6,  1849,  in  Sunbury.    After  at- 
tending the  common  schools  he  took  a  preparatory 
course  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  and  Edge  Hill,  and  then 


entered  Princeton,  graduating  therefrom  in   L872. 
Ho  road  law  with  the  late  Judge  Jordan,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874.  He  received  tl 
of  Master  of  Arts  from  his  alma  mater.     In  1875 
Mr.  Dewart  was  elected  borough  i  lerk,  which  othce 
lie  held  one  term,  and  in  18";   was  elected  disti 
attorney.      Like   others   of   the    name    he   was   an 
energetic  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  ha 
been  a  member  of  the  central  committee,  and 
egate  to  county,  district.  Stati    and   national  con- 
ventions,  among   them    the   convention    at    which 
Pattison  was  nominated  for  governor  and  tin-  con- 
tention in  1892  when  Cleveland  received  the  nom- 
ination.    He  was  a   member  of   Sunbury    Loci 
No.  22,  P.  &  A.  M.     He  died  Aug.  -.;:.  1901,  un- 
married. 

William'L.   Dewart,  son  of  William  Lewi-  and 
Rosetta   i  Van  Horn)   Dewart.  was  horn  March  24, 
1858,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  while  his  father 
a   member  of  Congress.     After    reci 
ementary  training  he  was  a  student  lor  two  '.cur- 
at the  Pennsylvania  Military  Academy,  at  Ches 
fchence  goinff  to  the  Shoemaker  Academy,  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  from  which  he  was  graduated   in    1877. 
Returning  to  Sunbury  he  commenced  to  learn 
printing   and    new  -  ia  w      business,    reporting 
the  Daily  and  the  NoHhumberland  County  D 
ocrat,  and   in   time  becoming  city   editor   of  the 
Daily,  in  which  he  purchased  an  interest  dan.   1, 
1880.     He  has  been  associated  with  thai  paper  as 
editor  and  proprietor  ever  since,  and  in  the  same 
capacity  with  the  Northumberland  County  Dem- 
ocrat, both  of  which  papers  have  been  under  the 
same  ownership  and  managemenl  throughout  that 
period. 

Though  he  has   never  had   any  personal  o 

aspirations,   and    has   never    I rj    a    i  for 

any  political  office.  Mr.  Dewarl  has  upheld  the  rep- 
utation of  his  family  as  a  bulwark  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  servei  as  delegate  i  many 
convention-.  In  ISSf  he  was  alternate  at  the  na- 
tional convention  held  at  I  ;  cago  which  £ 
Grover  Cleveland  hi-  firs!  nomination  for  I  P 
idency;  in  1892,  when  Cleveland  was  nominated 
I'm-  the  third  lime,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
i  onvenl  ion  :  and  he  was  aga  in   1904, 

,,i   St.  Louis,  when  Alton   I'..   Parker  received  the 
nomination. 

Mr.  Dewarl  is  a  member  of  Lodgi  Mo.  22,  V.  & 
A.  M..  Northumberland  Chapter.  No.  174,  R.  A. 
Jf.    and   Ca  '  ommandci'. .    Mo.   74,    l\.  'I'.,  all 

of  Simliun  :  ha-  l"  i  Episcopal 

Church  at   Sunbury   for  a   number  of  years:  and 
ii,;i:;  social   life 

of  the  city,   being   note,]    for   his  hospitable  and 
companionable  nature. 

|n  189"  Mr.  I  lewari  married  fid  I 
daughter  of  the  late  William  T  I  !  ant, 
lunv.  air1  n  bom  tl  I  Wil- 

liam i.cm  is,  Lewis  and  Gilbert  V. 


VMM 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


WILLIAM  Z.  RAKEE  has  been  identified  with 
mercantile  business  at  Trevorton  for  over  fifty 
years,  having  first  come  to  this  place  in  1858.  \\  ith 
the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  the  South  he 
has  lived  there  ever  since.  Ee  became  interested 
in  his  present  establishment  in  1899. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  Nov.  2,  1834,  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township,  this  county,  son  of  Jacob  Rak- 
er. The  latter  was  born  in  that  township  in  1808 
and  there  spent  all  his  life.  By  occupation  he 
was  .i  farmer  and  tanner,  tanning  being  his  main 
occupation.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prom- 
inence in  the  locality  in  his  day,  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  school  director,  and  in  other  offices, 
and  was  one  time  a  candidate  for  county  sheriff, 
but  was  defeated  by  a  very  small  majority.  Po- 
litically he  was  quite  an  active  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  He  died  Dec.  28,  1859,  aged  fifty- 
one  years,  eight  month.-,  two  days,  and  is  buried 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township.  Ee  married  Bar- 
bara Zartman,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  na ly :  Harry,  Lucinda,  Wil- 
liam /...  Daniel.  Abbie,  Cornelius,  Samuel.  Enoch, 
Rebecca,  Conrad.  Alice.  Joseph,  and  two  that  died 
in  infancy. 

William  Z.  Raker  attended  pay  schools  con- 
ducted in  the  home  territory  in  his  youth  and  later 
bad  the  advantages  of  two  terms  at  Freeburg  Acad- 
. ■  1 1 1  \  ami  one  term  at  Berrysburg.  Lor  two  terms 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  one  in  Lower  An. 
toy  nship  and  one  in  Little  Mahanoj  township,  aft- 
er which  he  found  employment  as  clerk  tot  Wil- 
liam Deppen,  in  Jackson  township,  and  -  ■  ai 
Trevorton,  whither  he  came  in  1858.  After  three 
years  in  his  employ  he  became  a  clerk  for  Mowton 
A  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  two  \imi-.  in  IStil 
engaging  in  a  general  mercantile  business  on  his 
own  account.  He  carried  on  this  store  until  lvi  !. 
when  he  gave  up  the  business  to  go  South,  being 
in  South  Carolina  for  some  time.  After  a  lapse  of 
eight  years  he  became  assistant  to  the  postmaster 
at  Trevorton,  continuing  a-  such  for  three  years, 
when  he  reentered  business  life  as  member  of  the 
firm  of  Raker  &  Kostetter,  on  Feb.  17,  1899,  his 
associate  being  Isaac  Kostetter.  They  continued 
to  do  business  together  until  May.  1903,  when  Mr. 
Laker  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  store,  which 
he  -till  conducts. 

Mr.  Laker  has  long  been  associated  with  the  pub- 
lic affairs  of  the  community,  having  served  ten 
years  as  tax  collector,  one  term  as  assessor,  and  also 
a-  auditor,  giving  faithful  service  in  all  these 
trusts.  He  is  a  Democrat,  in  political  connection. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  one  of  the  workers 
in  his  church,  which  he  has  served  in  an  official 
capacity;  for  twelve  years  he  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Raker  married  Charlotte  Malich,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Malich.  and  they  have  had  four  children: 
Emma,  the  widow-  of  Philip  C.  Breimeier.  has  one 


son,  Frederick  W..  a  graduate  of  Buckuell  College, 
class  of  1910,  now  a  teacher  at  Stoic  College;  Katie 
is  the  wife  of  D.  W.  Beitz,  of  Trevorton.  and  has 
>oii-  W.  Stanley  and  Bobert;  J.  Wilson  lives  at 
Trevorton;  Eva  A.  married  Fred  Walt,  of  Trev- 
orton, and  they  have  children.  Charlotte  S.  and 
Roger  William. 

JAMES  II.  STBAUB,  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  Croninger  Lacking  Company. 
is  an  active  and  successful  business  man  of  Sham- 
okin.  where  he  ha,-  made  his  home  since  1894. 

The  Straub  family  originally  came  from  Ger- 
many. George  Straub,  grandfather  of  .lames  H., 
lived  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  own- 
in-  a  farm  of  260  acres  of  good  land.  He  died  in 
Deep  Creek  Valley,  in  that  county,  in  i858,  aged 
rs,  and  was  buried  there.  Hi-  wife. 
Bevvie  Zerbe,  daughter  of  John  Zerbe.  died  aged 
ninety-six  years,  and  was  buried  at  Williamstown, 
Dauphin  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  a-  follow-:  John,  who  died  in  Schuylkill 
county:  George,  who  died  in  Schuylkill  county: 
Elias,  who  died  at  Shamokin;  Joseph,  who  died  at 
Girardville,  Pa.;  Daniel,  living  at  Williamstown: 
Moses,  who  die.!  young;  Henry,  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war  and  died  one  week  after  his  release  from 
Andersonville  prison  :  Emanuel,  born  in  theMahan- 
tango  Valley  Nov.  •"■.  1st:!,  who  served  as  a  private 
in  Company  D.  18th  Pa.  V.  I.,  in  the  Civil  war. 
and  now  lives  in  Shamokin:  Harriet,  who  married 
David  Crone,  and  died  in  Schuylkill  county:  and 
Tobias,  living  at  Wiconisco,  Pennsylvania. 

Daniel  Straub,  son  of  George,  was  born  in  the 
Mahantango  Valley,  and  followed  farming  in  his 
youth.  He  now  re-ides  in  Dauphin  county,  at  Wil- 
liamstown. where  in  connection  with  farming  he 
ha-  a  fine  teaming  business.  He  married  Lucy 
Dot.  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  their  children  are: 
John,  who  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Los 
Angeles.  Cal. :  James  H. :  Lena,  who  married  J.  X. 
Weidel.  of  Altoona,  La.:  Charles,  a  miner  at  Wil- 
liamstown: and  Mamie,  who  married  Albert  Skel- 
ton,  an  engineer  at  Williamstown. 

James  H.  Straub  was  born  near  Hegins,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  March  -25.  1806.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  Dauphin  county,  and  on  starting  out  to 
earn  his  own  way  began  as  a  miner,  a  line  of  work 
he  followed  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age. 
In  iss;  he  went  to  Kansas,  and  two  years  later  to 
( lolorado,  following  mining  in  the  latter  State.  On 
his  return  Last  he  located  at  Williamstown. 
Dauphin  county,  and  was  there  engaged  in  mining 
until  1894,  when  he  came  to  Shamokin.  Here  he 
learned  the  butcher'-  trade  with  his  uncle.  Elias 
Straub.  and  after  a  short  time  he  and  his  uncle 
formed  a  partnership  under  the  name  of  Straub  & 
to.  which  continued  for  three  years.  The  uncle 
retiring  Air.  Straub  carried  the  business  on  alone. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


and  made  a  greal  success  of  it.  He  was  located  at 
No.  104  South  Market  street,  and  in  April,  1907, 
sold  bis  business  to  Paul  &  Pensyl.  Jn  October, 
1906,  he  had  become  president  of  the  Croninger 
Packing  Company,  and  in  order  to  give  his  whole 
at  tent  inn  to  the  development  of  this  business  he  was 
obliged  to  give  up  his  private  establishment.  He  is 
also  general  manager  for  the  company,  which   is 

doing  o] I    the   largest  businesses   of  the  kind 

in  i  In-  pari  nf  tlii-  State.  The  business  is  estab- 
lished in  :i  large  brick  building  at  No.  129  West 
Walimi  street,  Shamokin,  affording  about  forty 
thousand  square  feet  of  floor  space.  Mr.  Straub  is 
a  man  of  fln<  executive  ability,  and  through  this 
and  his  sound  business  judgment  has  been  able  to 
bring  abpul  the  best  results  I'm-  the  company  of 
which  lie  is  tin'  head.  His  business  integrity  has 
given  i he  company  a  high  standing  in  the  commer- 
cial u'.iM.  Ill'  was  on,,  of  the  organizers  and 
original  directors  of  the  new  Dime  Trusl  &  Safe 
I  »eposi1   *  lompany,  of  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Straub  married  Amelia  Mace,  daughter  of 
Mi,  hai  !  Mai  e,  and  they  have  two  children,  Howard 
and  Charles.  Mr.  Straub  is  a  member  of  Sham- 
okin Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Shamokin  Chap- 
ter, No.  264,  R.  A.  M. ;  Shamokin  Commandery, 
No.  '■'<■  K.  'I'.:  Bloomsburg  Consistory,  thirty- 
sec I  degree;  ami  the  Temple  Club  at  Shamokin. 

The  family  attend  the  Evangelical  Church. 

ALFEED  C.  CLARK,  M.  D..  of  Sunbury,  has 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  that 
borough  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  and  has  long 
been  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  his  sec- 
tion. He  has  served  in  a  number  of  public  posi- 
tions, in  hi-  professional  capacity,  ami  in  every 
relation  of  life  has  been  found  a  valuable  citizen. 
conscientious  in  the  performance  of  duty  and  in 
his  endeavors  to  uphold  high  standards  of  living- 
aiming  the  many  with  whom  his  work  has  brought 
him  into  association. 

Dr.  Clark  is  a  grandson  of  Jonathan  Clark,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Stroh,  daughter  of  Philip 
Stroh,  who  was  from  Lam-aster  county,  Pa.  Mrs. 
Chirk  was  born  Jan.  1  I.  1802,  and  died  Aug.  22, 
1884.  She  was  the  mother  of :  David,  of  North- 
umberland county;  John,  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
phi), .  this  county;  Mary,  who  married  a  Mr.  De- 
Witt,  and  is  now  a  widow,  living  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township;  and  Philip. 

Philip  Clark,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county,  and  died 
at  Sunbury  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  mar- 
ried Eliza  Fry,  of  Upper  Augusta  township,  ami 
both  are  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery,  al 
Sunbury.  Owing  to  his  father's  untimeh 
Philip  Clark  was  earlv  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, and  he  began  life  in  such  humble  circum- 
stances that  he  was  obliged  to  go  barefooted  until 
grown      He  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  from  young 


boyhood,  and  received   bul    forty  days'  schooling. 
But  his  was  a  strong  nature,  ami  he  triumphed 

over   obstacles    by    perseverance    and    application, 
educating  himself  by  devotion   to  study  at   evi 
opportunity  so  thai   m  early  manhood  he  was 
to  teach,  beginning   in    Upper  Augusta   township, 
lie  followed  that  calling  some  years.     Me  was  suc- 
cessful   in   everything  he   undertook.      A  natural- 
born  carpenter,  he  buili   many  houses  in  Sunbury, 
making  the  plans  as  well  as  doing  the  work,  and 
he    was    long    engaged    a-    a    railroad    and    bridge 
contractor,   in   which  line  he   was  associated    n 
d liferent  parties.      He  buili    the    Porl   Carbon   rail- 
road, and  in  partnership  with   Adam    Lenker  he 

built  several  large  bridges.     For  - ■  time  he  i 

ducted  a  general  store  al    Snydertown,    Pa.      Po- 
litically he  was  a  Democrat  and  influential  in 
party,  and  he  served   from   1859  to   L862  as  com- 
missioner of  Northumberland  county.     He  was  an 
Episcopalian   in    religion-   connection. 

Alfred  Craven  (lark  was  the  only  son  of  Philip 

and  Eliza  Clark.     He  was  n. d  Craven  after  the 

civil  engineer  who  laid  out  the  Port  Carbon  rail- 
road.    Porn  Aug.   3,    1S45,   in   Sunbury,   he   has 
passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  that  borough, 
where   lie   received   his  earlv  education   in  publii 
and  private  schools.     He  obtain,,!  his  profess 
preparation  in  Jefferson    Medical    College,    Ph 
ilelphia.  from  which  he   was   graduated    in    1869, 
after  which  he  was  located  at  Dalmatia,  this  coun- 
ty, for  a  year.     He  has  since  I,, -en  settled  al   S 
bury,  having  his  office  on  Market  square,  and  there 
are  few  men  in  that  place  better  known.    Dr.  Clark 
has  not  only  been  energetic  in  responding  to  the 
demands  of  private  practice,  but  he  has  taken  the 
larger  view  of  responsibility  which   brings  ad 
duties  to  so  many  of  his  profession      Seeing   the 
needs  of  the  community   in   their  constanl    daily 

contact  with  its  many  phases,  the\    ca i    i 

the  call  of  public  spirit   and   intelligent    interest 
in  the  general  welfare,  and  theii  titles  for 

remedial  work  resul!   in  unselfish  though  often  un- 
apprei  iated   efforts   to   help   their    fellow    citi 
IC    served    seven    years   as   prison    physician,   was 
countj    medical    inspei  tor   for  the  di   i  a     of 

health  of  the  Stat '  Pennsylvania   for  the 

period  of  twenty-three  years  (resigning 

n  cms  i.  and  for  two  yi  ars  was  si  i   the 

Xorthern  Central  and  Philadelphia  ,\  Erie  rail- 
roads. Si  Ids  membership  in  thi  B.  P. 
o.  Elks  and  the  odd  I-VIC,  Sunb  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politii  al  opii  a  and  has  been  ac- 
tive in  thi  '  ■  he  is  interested  in  all 
the  life  of  the  community,  his  en, 
ing  channel-  of  usefulni  n  every  direc- 
tion  in   which  his  work  or                 ies   lead 

Tn  186?  Dr.  Clark  I  Reess,  of 

Tl , i  a  C      Bard    and    J 

1 

Rebecca,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Willian    L  Shindel, 


202 


XOBTHIMBEKLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  Sunbury.  and  lias  one  son,  Daniel  W.  Mrs. 
Clark  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Philadelphia, 
and  is  of  Revolutionary  stock,  being  a  member  of 
Fori  Augusta  ( ihapter,  D.  A.  R. 

JOHN  X.  BUFFINGTON,  proprietor  of  the 
Uniontown  Marble  &  Granite  Works,  was  born  Feb. 
1.  1867,  at  Pillow,  Pa.,  son  of  Cyrus  F.  Buffing- 
ton.  The  family  to  which  he  belongs  has  been 
identified  with  that  community  for  several  genera- 
tions. 

Solomon  Buffington,  his  great-grandfather, 
lived  and  died  in  the  Lykens  Valley,  and  is  buried 
at  St.  John's  Church  there.  His  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth Romberger  and  after  her  firsi  husband's  death 
she  married  a  Sheaffer,  of  Snyder  county,  Pa. 
Solomon  Buffington  and  his  wife  had  children: 
Josiah,  Benjamin.  Solomon,  Jonathan,  John,  Man 
(who  was  twice  married,  her  first  husband  being 
named  Mark,  the  second  Wetzel),  Susan  (Mrs. 
Shoop )   and  Mrs.  Burtner. 

John  Buffington,  son  of  Solomon,  was  a  native 
of  La  kens  \  allej  and  in  his  earlier  years  moved  to 
Uniontown  i  Pillow),  where  lie  followed  the  wheel- 
wright business.  He  is  buried  at  Uniontown,  at 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  the  welfare  of 
which  he  had  long  been  active.  To  him  and  his 
wife,  Catharine  i  France),  was  born  a  large  family: 
Cyrus  V..  Sarah  (married  John  dinger),  William, 
Hannah  (married  Solomon  Leitzel),  Elizabeth 
(married  Isaac  Hand),  Christiana  (married  fsaac 
Graeff),  Harriet  (married  William  Drumm), 
Sol, me. n  (of  Shamokin,  expressman  at  the  depot), 
Mary,  and  three  who  died  young. 

Cyrus  F.  Buffington,  sun  of  John,  is  the  father 
of  John  X.  Buffington.  He  was  born  Sept.  24. 
1839,  and  has  lived  at  Pillow  all  his  life,  following 
his  trade,  that  of  wheelwright.  He  was  a  success- 
ful man.  prospering  by  dinl  of  industry,  and  for 
lifn  years  he  and  his  brother  "William  were  as- 
sociated in  business,  making  many  wagons.  They 
employed  three  or  four  hands  and  had  a  thriving 
trade.  Both  now  lead  a  semi-retired  life.  Cyrus 
F.  Buffington  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
thirty  years  and  has  held  a  number  of  other  local 
offices,  having  been  an  active  and  highly  esteemed 
member  of  his  community,  lie  is  identified  with 
the  United  Brethren  Church  ami  one  of  its  fore- 
most members,  having  field  all  the  church  offices, 
in  which  hi'  gave  most  conscientious  and  efficient 
service.  Mr.  Buffington  married  Caroline  Binga- 
man,  daughter  id'  Nicholas  Bingaman,  and  they 
have  had  the  following  children:  Eev.  Henry, 
of  Coalport,  Pa.,  a  prominent  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church:  Irwin,  deceased:  John 
X. :  Flora,  married  to  Charles  Shettelsworth,  of 
Williamstown ;  Lloyd,  a  blacksmith  of  Uniontown; 
and  Emma,  married  to  Isaac  Boyer. 

John  X.  Buffington  spent  his  youth  in  Pillow 
(Uniontown),  where  he  lived  until  eighteen  years 


old.  He  then  went  to  Shamokin.  in  which  borough 
he  clerked  in  stores  for  twelve  years,  four  years 
for  J.  P.  Haas  &  Co..  two  years  for  W.  H.  Malick 
&  Co.,  and  six  years  for  the  Shamokin  Hardware 
Company.  In  January,  1898.  he  returned  to- 
Uniontown  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Ed. 
D.  Bingaman.  Bingaman  &  Buffington  taking  the 
business  of  1'.  Sauser  and  continuing  it  for  ten 
years.  Mr.  Buffington  then  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  his  partner  and  he  is  now  sole  proprietor. 
lie  employs  four  skilled  mechanics  and  does  a 
large  business,  mostly  local.  He  lias  erected  many 
monuments  in  Tower  City,  and  in  fact  all  over 
lower  Northumberland  county.  His  prosperity  is 
well  deserved,  for  ft  has  been  won  by  hard  work. 
and  he  is  respei  led  for  In-  ability  and  high  stand- 
ards by  all  with  whom  be  has  had  dealings,  lie 
was  a  member  of  the  borough  council  three  years. 
On  Dee.  25,  1899,  Mr.  Buffington  married  Lizzie 
S.  Hepler,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Mary 
( Dunkellieiger  i  Hepler,  of  Eldred  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Dunkelberger.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buffington  have  had 
two  children,  Leon  Earl  and  Albert  Franklin.  The 
family  occup}  a  large  brick  residence  in  Uniontown 
equipped  with  all  modern  conveniences.  They  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Union- 
town,  and  Mr.  Buffington  has  been  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  services  and  an  active  helper  in  the  church 
work:  be  has  filled  all  the  official  positions. 


George  Buffington.  a  venerable  residenl  of  Pauls 
Valley,  m  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  has  a  sixty-acre 
farm  there  which  he  cultivates,  Ins  son  William 
now  doing  the  active  work.  His  wife.  Amelia 
Sponsell,  is  well  along  in  the  seventies,  but  they  are 
nevertheless  active  in  church  life.  Mr.  Buffington 
as  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and- 
Mrs.  Buffington  of  the  M.  F.  Church.  They  have 
had  ten  children:  George  W.  :  Sarah  J.,  married 
to  Flias  Duncan:  Laurance,  who  was  killed  in  the 
lumber  woods  in  Center  county:  Alice,  who  died 
young:  Ellen,  married  to  Gabriel  Zimmerman: 
Adaline:  Charles,  who  died  after  he  was  married. 
aged  about  twenty-five  years,  leaving  one  child  : 
Annie,  who  married  Mr.  Anders,  and  live-  in 
Pauls  Valley:  John,  of  Fisher's  Ferry.  Pa.:  and 
William,  who  is  at  home. 

George  W.  Buffington,  son  of  George,  is  a  farmer 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northumberland 
county.  He  was  born  in  Pauls  Valley,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  September.  1856,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  After  he  grew  up  he  hired  out  among 
farmers  in  Dauphin  and  Northumberland  coun- 
ties and  began  farming  for  himself  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township  in  18*4.  After  farming  there 
one  year  he  did  laboring  work  some  years,  at 
Paxinos,  and  in  1891  came  to  Lower  Augusta 
township,  where  he  ran  the  D.  H.  Snyder  &  Co. 
farm  for  fourteen  years  on  shares.     In   1905  he- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


'.'II.: 


purchased  his  presenl  farm,  which  was  the  William 
Spies  place,  in  Lower  Augusta.  Ii  c prises  sev- 
enty-six acres  of  fertile  land,  and  is  improved  with 
nice  buildings,  all  substantia]  and  in  good  repair. 
He  attends  markets  at  Sunbury.  Mr.  Buffington 
is  a  Republican  and  is  a  school  director  of  his 
township  at  present,  lie  and  liis  family  are  Luth- 
erans, and  lie  Served  as  dean. ii  while  living  at 
Pas  inos. 

In  October,  1878,  Mr.  Buffington  was  married, 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  to  Hannah  Reed, 
daughter   of    William    Reed,   of    Little    Mahanoy, 

ami    their    family   eonsisls   of   two   son-    |    three 

daughters:  William,  of  Gratz,  Pa.;  Prances,  of 
Rockefeller  township;  Lydia,  unmarried,  at  home; 
Froena,  married  to  Howard  Kloek,  who  lives  with 
his   father-in-law  :  ami   Alary  Ada,  al   home. 

W.  T.  SHEPPERSON,  a  business  man  of  the 
borough  of  Riverside,  Northumberland  countv,  and 
lone-  a  leading  figure  in  the  public  life  of  that 
place,  where  lie  is  now  serving  his  tenth  year  as 
burgess,  is  a  native  of  England,  horn  in  L859  in 
Nottinghamshire.  He  has  lived  in  this  country 
since  childhood. 

Thomas  Shepperson,  Ins  grandfather,  lived  and 
died  in  Nottinghamshire,  England,  where  he 
farmed  and  kepi  a  tavern.  He  reached  the  ad- 
vanced ayv  of  ninety-one  years,  while  his  wife  lived 
to  hi'  ninety.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  William,  who  came  to  America 
about  is  is.  was  a  contractor  and  as  such  built 
a  part  of  the  Catawissa  railroad,  now  part  of  (he 
Reading  road  ;  he  died  in  Danville.  Pa.,  some  years 
ago.  Th as  came  to  this  country  with  his  broth- 
er William  and  later  located  in  Denver,  Colo., 
where  he  still  lives.  Andrew  lived  and  died  in 
Nottinghamshire,  Kite-land,  his  death  occurring 
in  1908;  he  possessed  considerable  property. 
James  also  lived  in  England,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  kept  a  tavern.  Alfred,  who  came 
to  America  with  his  brother  William,  was  killed  in 
a  landslide  which  occurred  during  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Catawissa  railroad.  Edward  was  the 
father  of  W.  T.  Shepperson.  There  were  also  two 
daughters,  Anna,  who  married  a  Mr.  Walker  and 
lived  in  England;  and  Mary,  who  married  John 
Newham,  an  engineer,  and  came  t«>  America. 

Edward  Shepperson  was  horn  in  England  in 
1830,  and  his  wife,  Jane,  was  born  in  that  country 
in  1834.  They  were  married  in  England  and  came 
to  America  in  L865,  locating  in  Danville,  Pa.,  and 
some  years  later  moved  to  Riverside.  Mrs.  Shep- 
person died  in  Riverside  in  is;;.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Two  sons  died 
young;  Edward  Oliver  lives  in  Denver,  Col"-. 
whither  he  went  in  1878,  and  is  engaged  as  a 
railroad  engineer  and  interested  in  mining;  Annie 

died    in    Denver.    Colo.;    Lucy    died    in     1! at 

Danville.    Pa.;   Jennie  married   David   Seely,   ex- 


press agent  at  Sterling,  III.:  W.  T.  is  a  resident  of 
Riverside:  Edward  was  a  contractor  and  worked  in 
Danville,  Pa.,  until  1878,  when  he  went  out  to 
Denver.   Colo.,  where  he   did. 

W.  T.  Shepperson  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents in  L865,  and  passed  his  boyhood  in  Danville. 
Pa.,  being  about  fifteen  wars  old  when  the  family 
removed  thence  to  Riverside.  lh-  education  was 
received  m  the  public  schools,  principalh  al  Dan- 
ville. Going  South  he  located  at  Middleburg,  Ky., 
where  he  was  general  manager  for  the  S.  Bailey 
Lumber  Company  until  Ins  return  to  Riverside. 
He  has  since  made  his  home  in  that  borough, 
where     he     has     been     pl'oin  i  Uellt  I V     identified     with 

business  and  public  affairs,  having  lone  |l(.,.n  en_ 
gaged  as  an  extensive  dealer  in  lumber,  and  for 
some  years  he  also  dealt  in  coal  in  large  quantities, 
though  at  presenl  he  handles  that  commodity  only 
as  a  side  line.  He  handles  railroad  ties,  mine 
timber,  prop  timber  ami  bark,  and  ha.-  a  wide  pat- 
ronage, having  built  np  a  profitable  trade  in  those 
lines  by  the  exercise  of  his  business  acumen  and 
ability,  which  are  recognized  by  all  who  have  been 
associated  with  him.  The  respect  which  be  com- 
mands in  his  home  town  could  he  no  belter  show  n 
than  by  the  fact  that  he  has  been  called   upon  to 

serve    so    many    years    conth usty    a-    burgess, 

the  present  (1910)  being  his  tenth  year  of  service 
in  that  capacity.  He  is  a  member  of  the  [mproved 
Order  of  Heptasophs,  and  for  many  years  has  be- 
longed to  the  Methodist  church. 

Mr.  Shepperson  married  Cora  M.  Bent,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Harriet  (Francis)  Bent,  and 
sisler  of  W.  R.  Rent,  of  Riverside.  They  had  a 
family  of  thr hildren :  Charles  E.,  who  i-  em- 
ployed by  his  father,  married  Jennie  Cuthbert, 
daughter  of  Martin  Cuihheri.  and  thej  have  had 
two  children.  William  T.  ami  Irene:  Mabel  M.  ami 
Cora  Al.  are  at  home,  occupying  with  their  father  a 
beautiful  home  in  the  borough  of  Riverside.  Mrs. 
Shepperson  died   in   1901 . 

CHARLES  LINCOLN  CLEAVER,  publisher 
of  the  Mount  Carmel  Daily  News,  first  -aw  the 
light  of  day  on  Mav  '■'>.  1861,  in  Locust  township, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa  Me  is  an  admixture  of  Scotch 
1  rish.  English  Quaker,  Holland  Dutch  ami  I 
lish,  the  first  two  from  the  paternal  side,  and  the 
latter  two  from  the  maternal,  and  of  nearh 
centuries  of  American  growth,  lb-  grew  up  on 
the  farm  ami  received  hi-  education  in  the  public 
schools,  the  Bloomsburg  State  Norn  a  the 

Wvoming  Seminary  at  Kingston,  and  the  Dickin- 
son Daw  School  at  Scranton.  On  Sept.  I.  1881, 
I,,,  married  Mary  .lane  Perry,  a  descendant  of  the 
i  todore,  am!  came  to  Mounl  ( larmel  in  August, 

1884.       lie   laue.li!    public   school    for  si\tee/i   yi 

and  purchased  the  Daily   V<  ws  in    L899.     Inp 
tics  ^\lr.  Cleaver  is  a  Republican  with  independenl 
tendencies,  ha\  ing  served     vo    ears  as  chairman  oi 


20J 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  Republican  county  committee  and  one  year  as 
chairman  of  the  county  committee  of  the  Lincoln 
party.  Fraternally  Mr.  Cleaver  is  a  member  of  the 
P.  0.  S.  of  A..  Camp  No.  831;  I.  0.  0.  P.,  Lodge 
No.  630;  0.  of  I.  A.,  Council  Xo.  874;  Suns  of 
\  i  terans,  (amp  No.  34;  Royal  Arcanum,  Council 
No.  1130;  Knights  of  Malta,  Commandery  Xo. 
22;  Princes  of  Bagdad.  No.  "•',  :  Mount  Carmel 
Lodge,  Xo.  378,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Williamsport  Con- 
sistory, thirty-second  degree:  and  Rajah  Temple, 
A.  A.  ().  X.  M.  S.,  of  Readinir.  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.   Cleaver   is   an   aggressive   newspaper  man. 

a  fluent  writer,  - times  with  a  vitriolic  pen,  and 

fearless  of  any  special  interest?,  having  a  reputation 
for  hewing  to  the  line  for  what  he  ((insiders  the 
paramount  interests  of  the  community  lie  serves. 
Under  his  direction  the  business  interests  of  his 
publication  house  have  grown  to  large  proportions, 
and  it  appears  to  he  in  every  way  a  prosperous  or- 
ganization. Wesley  Nelson  Cleaver,  son  of  the 
publisher,  is  editor  and  general  manager  el'  the 
publii  al  ion  business. 

HARRY  E.  <>.  NEY  has  been  a  resident  of 
Lower  Augusta  township  Eor  the  pasl  forty  years. 
having  settled  there  in  1871.  He  has  foil- 
farming  the  greater  part  of  that  time,  and  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  carried  mi  the  store 
ami  served  as  postmaster  at  the  settlement  locally 
known  as  Patricksburg.  The  postoffice  was  dis- 
continued in  1S99.  the  store  in  pint. 

Mr.  Ney  belongs  to  an  old  family  whose  tii-t 
ancestor  in  America.  Valentine  Xev.  lived  in  the 
Tulpehocken  Valley  in  Berks  county.  He  died  in 
1790  in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  and 
his  last  will  and  testament,  written  in  German, 
is  on  record  in  the  Berks  county  courthouse.  1M- 
wil'e.  Anna  Catharine  survived  him.  and  his 
youngest  son.  Sylvester  "Nye."  was  the  executor 
of  the  will,  which  names  four  sons:  George,  Val- 
entine, Jacob  and  Sylvester.  One  of  these  settled 
in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  and  was  the  father  of 
Adam  Ney,  from  whom  Harry  E.  G.  Ney,  of 
Northumberland  county,  is  descended. 

Adam  Ney  had  two  sons  of  whom  we  have  rec- 
ord, Adam  and  Samuel,  another  -on  whose  name  is 
not  recalled,  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  became  the 
second  wife  of  David  Hummel,  of  Hummelstown, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.  David  Hummel  was  married 
three  times,  his  first  wife's  maiden  name  being 
Hess,  and  his  third  wife  being  Polly  Haines.  To 
his  second  marriage  were  born  ten  children,  one 
of  whom  «as  William  X.  Hummel,  now  a  resident 
of  Herndon,  this  county. 

Adam  Ney.  dr..  lived  two  miles  to  the  left  of 
Palmyra,  in  Lebanon  county,  and  is  buried  near 
Palmyra.  By  trade  he  was  a  shoemaker.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Adam,  a  shoemaker,  who  in  his  earlier 
life  lived  on  the  premises  occupied  by  his  father, 
later  moving  to  Lickclale.  Lebanon  county,  where 


he  followed  farming  as  well  as  shoemaking  (he 
had  one  son  and  one  daughter.  William  and 
Annie):  and  Joseph,  who  lived  and  died  near 
Palmyra  (he  had  a  son  Joseph,  who  lives  at  Prog- 
ress, Dauphin  county,  near  Harrisburg). 

Samuel  Ney.  son  of  Adam  and  brother  of  Adam. 
Jr.,  lived  for  sonic  years  at  Palmyra.  Pa.,  and  then 
settled  ill  Stony  Creek  Valley,  in  Middle  Paxton 
township.  Dauphin  county,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  oi  seventy-seven  year.-.  He  i>  buried  in  the 
Dauphin  cemetery.  He  was  a  cooper,  and  followed 
his  trade,  and  he  owned  a  ten-acre  property  on 
which  he  had  a  nice  home.  This  place  was  later 
owned  by  his  son  William,  who  eventually  sold  it 
and  now  lives  east  of  Dauphin  in  the  Stony  Creek 
Valley:  his  postoffice  address  is  Dauphin.  Samuel 
Xey's  children  were:  Joel:  Samuel:  William; 
Luzetta,  who  married  Thomas  Yautz  and  lived 
in  Middle  Paxton  township,  later  moving  to  Hali- 
fax township,  Dauphin  county:  Lydia,  Mrs.  Ritter, 
who  moved  with  her  husband  to  Oregon,  where 
they  died:  and  Caroline.  Mrs.  Caton,  who  lived  in 
Middle  Paxton  township,  Mrs.  Caton  moving  to 
Matamoras  after  her  husband's  death.  Joel  Xev.  son 
of  Samuel,  was  horn  March  17,  1820,  at  Palmyra, 
Pa.,  and  was  a  hoy  when  he  moved  to  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  Ions 
life.  (IviIil:  March  31,  1900.  He  is  buried  in  Middle 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  had 
lived  on  a  farm  for  many  years,  having  the  tract  of 
140  acres  now  owned  by  his  son-in-law,  J.  H. 
Bickel.  He  was  a  successful  farmer,  and  also  ac- 
quired the  property  later  owned  by  his  son  Amos. 
He  served  the  community  as  tax  collector  for  some 
years,  and  in  his  earlier  days  was  active  hi  the  work 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican.  His  wife.  Mary  (Cayman),  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Gayman.  was  horn  May  (i.  1821,  and 
died  Dec.  24,  1896.  She  is  buried  by  her  husband's 
side.  Four  sons  and  one  daughter  were  born  to 
this  couple:  Amos  (deceased),  who  lived  in  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township,  where  he  followed  farming; 
Harry  E.  C:  John  (deceased),  who  lived  on  one 
of  the  farms  of  his  brother  Amos;  Catharine,  wife 
of  John  H.  Bickel:  and  Lewis,  who  lives  at  Peiin- 
brook,  Pa.,  near  Harrisburg. 

Harry  E.  G.  Xev  was  horn  Dec.  25,  L848,  in 
Middle  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  and  was 
reared  to  farming,  working  for  his  parents  until 
he  began  on  his  own  account.  In  1871  he  (aim  to 
Northumberland  county,  settled  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  where  he  married  and  made  a  permanent 
home.  From  1871  to  1ST4  he  was  employed  a-  a 
switchman  on  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  at 
Selinsgrove,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  took 
place  in  1875,  he  entered  upon  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Fisher's  Ferry,  where  he  was  located  for 
three  years.  In  187?  he  opened  a  store  at  the 
country  village  locally  known  as  Patricksburg  (si 
(ailed  after  an  old-time  schoolmaster  named  Pat- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


305 


rick),  and  he  conducted  that  establishment  for 
twenty-seven  years,  doing  a  general  mercantile 
business.  Be  sold  oul  in  1904,  and  there  has  been 
no  store  ai  the  place  since.  The  postoffice  a1  Pat- 
ricksburg  was  established  about  189]  and  Mr.  Ney 
became  postmaster  in  1894,  serving  until  the  office 
was  discontinued,  in  1899.  He  continues  to  reside 
at  Patsicksburg,  owning  the  tract  of  sixteen  acres 
upon  which  Ins  borne  is  located,  as  well  as  the 
seventy-two-aere  farm  (also  in  Lower  Augusta 
township)  where  his  son  S.  Nelson  G.  Ney  lives. 
The  property  he  occupies  has  been  improved  by 
him,  and  the  frame  dwelling  now  standing  there 
was  erected  by  him  in  is;;.  The  place  formerly 
belonged  l<>  John  Snyder.  There  are  (rw  men  in 
this  section  of  the  county  better  known  than  Mr. 
Ney.  In  his  various  Im-mess  connections  he  be- 
came known  to  a  wide  circle,  and  as  township 
treasurer  and  supervisor  he  gave  most  efficienl  pub- 
lic service,  proving  himself  a  capable  and  trust- 
worthy official.     He  is  a  Republican  in  polities. 

In  1875  Mr.  Ney  married  Malinda  Coldren,  and 
they  have  had  three  children:  Mary  L.  married 
vV.E.  Ever!  and  they  live  at  Fisher's  Perry;  Ellen 
('.died  in  infancy ;  S.  Nelson  G.,  a  farmer  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  married  Mary  Eister,  daughter 
of  Benry  Eister,  and  they  have  had  two  children, 
Barry  and  Ethel.  -Mr.  Ney  and  his  family  attend 
the  Baptisl  Church. 

Solomon  Coldren,  Mrs.  Ney's  grandfather,  was 
horn  Feb.  I '. .  L779,  came  to  this  county  from 
Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and  died  March  31,  1843;  he 
is  buried  at  Fisher's  Ferry.  Be  was  a  farmer,  own- 
ing the  farm  now  in  the  possession  of  Benry 
Smith.  To  nil  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  (Minnier) 
were  horn  (he  following  children:  Sarah.  Mary, 
Harriet,  .lane.  Lydia  (who  died  young),  Isaac. 
John.  Jacob,  Peter.  Samuel.  David,  and  James 
(  L831-1899). 

Peter  Coldren.  son  of  Solomon,  was  born  Aug. 
9,  1821,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  there 
passed  his  entire  life.  He  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  owning  the  farm  of  eighty-seven  acres 
m.w  owned  by  Jefferson  Lenig,  who  bought  it  from 
Barry  E.  G.  Ney  (Mr.  Coldren's  son-in-law). 
Mr.  Coldren  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  ami  served 
his  township  as  school  director.  He  and  his  wife 
were  Baptists,  their  family  adhering  to  the 
denomination.  Mr.  Coldren  died  Nov.  13,  1898, 
ami  is  buried  in  the  Baptist  cemetery  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  His  wife.  Louisa  (Feaster), 
daughter  of  Benry  and  Margaret  (Cornell)  Feas- 
ter, was  horn  Nov.  14.  1828,  and  died  Ma;  I, 
1909.  Ten  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Coldren.  three  of  whom  died  young,  the  other-  be- 
ing: Malinda.  wife  of  Barry  E.  G.  Ney:  Silas,  oi 
Millersburg,  Pa.,  who  has  been  a  track  foreman 
on  the  railroad  for  twentv-four  rears:  Ellen,  wife 
of  C  F  Dver,  of  Shamokin;  TV.  M..  a  miller.  •• 
Catasaqua,'Pa.:  E.  Y.  B..  of  Millersburg,  who  1{ 


associated  with  his  son  in  the  mercantile  business 

there:  J.  ('..  a  carpenter,  of  Shi kin;  and  C.  I».. 

a  machinist,  of  Philadelphia. 

BENRY  A.  CARL,  who  has  a  fine  farm  one 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  Berndon,  Northumber- 
land county,  was  born  March  23,  L850,  at  Man- 
data,  this  county,  son  of  John  and  Julian  i  Kliu- 
ger)  Carl. 

The  Carl  (Corl)  family  is  lirsl  found  in  Long- 
swamp  township.  Berk's  Co..  Pa.,  Theobald  Carl, 
a  pioneer  of  that  township,  being  the  first  ancestor 
of  this  family  in  America,  lie  died  m  1800,  and 
his  will,  written  in  German,  is  on  record  in  Will 
Book  A,  page  ]'.'','.  in  the  Berks  county  courthouse. 
The  document  mentions  his  mother  and  provides 
lor  her.  and  he  also  makes  e,„„|  provision  for  his 
wife.  Anna  Maria.  He  had  a  deceased  daughter. 
Elizabeth,  and  his  son  George  Carl  ami  Samuel 
Butz  were  executors  id'  the  will,  which  disposed  of 
a  large  estate. 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  1790  gives  Geoi 
Carl  as  the  head  of  a  family  in  Longswamp  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  consisting  of  a  wife,  three  sons 
under  sixteen  years  of. age.  and   two  daughters. 

The  same  Report  records  Dewalt  Carl  as  a  resi- 
dent of  the  same  township  and  the  head  oi  a 
family  consisting  of  two  son-  over  sixteen,  a  wife 
and  three  daughters.  A-  Dewalt  was  used  as 
English  form  of  Theobald  this  may  refer  to  the 
ancestor's  family. 

The  will  of  a  John  ( larl,  who  died  in  Pike  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  in  1837,  was  made  April  9, 
1836,  and  mentions  the  wife  Hannah  but  no  chil- 
dren. 

Johan   Jacob   Carl,   grandfather   of    Benry    A. 
Carl,  was  horn  April  21,   1  796,  and   was  a  desi 
ant  of  one  of  the  two  heads  of  families  mentioned 
above.      He    came    from     Longswamp    township, 
Berks  county,  in  Northumberland  count  i  i  arlj   in 

the  nineteenth  i  entury,  settling  in  Main \   I    ■ 

ship,  and  lived  on  the  farm  now  o\\  ned  lo   i  lalen 
Bower  (one  George  W  olf  <>«  ned   it   eai  tier)-     Be 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  is  described 
slim,  medium-sized  man,  with  light  haii      Hi 
in  May,  1862,  aged  sixty-six  yeai  and 

is   buried   at    Urban   church.     1 1  i-   t  dden 

name  was  Schaffer,  and  their  childn  i  John, 

William  and  several  daught  i 

John  Carl,  father  of  Benn    \.  I  arl,  was  born 
Feb.  18,  1818,  and  died  July  21,  185-1 :  he  n 
member   of   the    Mahano)    I  hun  h,    where    k 
buried.     For    i  -  store  ;"  Xl:"'' 

later  keeping  a  store  where  Dan 
located,    and    there    he   died.      Bis    wife    J 

,  Klinger)    bore   him    th Qs,    W   lliam,   John 

and  Henry  A.     Umr  his  death  she  man  i 

l>ry rer  and  moved  with  him  out  to  foi 

he  died' at  the  a  ~ 

jjarch    1:1.    L904.      She   was   the    m  i    i  four 


206 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENXSYLVAXIA 


children    by    her   second    marriage,    Jane,    James, 

Alice,  and  one  daughter  that  died  young. 

Henry  A.  Carl  began  working  at  an  early  age, 
finding  his  first  employment  at  what  was  known 
as  the  Albert  sawmill,  on  Fidler's  run,  in  Jackson 
township,  and  there  he  was  engaged  for  the  Long 
period  of  thirty-sis  years.  After  Christopher  Al- 
bert gave  up  the  mill  he  worked  under  Mr.  Brower 
and  later  with  Mr.  Rickert,  and  during  this  time 
he  made  his  home  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township 
with  the  exception  of  two  and  a  half  years  during 
which  the  family  resided  at  Herndon.  About  L873 
he  built  a  house  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  which 
he  occupied  until  the  spring  of  1896,  at  which  time 
he  commenced  fanning  in  the  same  township,  on 
the  place  where  he  has  since  had  his  home.  It  i- 
a  tract  of  164  acres  one  and  one  half  miles  south 
of  Herndon,   formerly   the  property   of   Sebastian 

Stepp.     The  land  is  in  a  g I  -tate  of  cultivation, 

and  the  buildings  are  substantial.  Mr.  Carl  has 
been    industrious   and   thrifty,   and   he   is   making 

a  o i  living.     He  is  a  Democrat,  has  held  local 

(ithce.  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation of  the  Herndon  Church,  with  which  his 
family  also  unite. 

On  May  29,  1870,  Mr.  Carl  married  Rebecca 
Kobel.  daughter  of  George  and  Catharine  (Sny- 
der) Kobel,  of  Pitman.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  they 
have  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children:  William 
G.  E.,  who  is  new  in  Iowa  ;  J.  Calvin,  of  Carrizozo, 
X.  M.;  Charles  H..  of  Illinois:  Minnie  M..  who 
married  Harry  Kramer:  Katie  A.,  who  married 
George  Hoover;  Monroe,  who  died  in  infancy: 
John  YV..  Clarence  H.  and  Quincy  J.,  all  of  Still- 
water. X.  Y. :  Clyde  A.  and  James  F..  at  home; 
Mary  P.  1!..  who  is  married  to  Howard  Lenker, 
-on  of  Adam  Lenker:  and  Violet,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

'Idle  Kobel  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Carl  belongs, 
is  one  of  the  earliest  settled  families  of  Lower 
Northumberland  county,  the  tax  list  of  Mahanoy 
township  for  1778  containing  the  names  of  Abra- 
ham. Casper,  Henry  and  Daniel  Kobel.  whose  re- 
lationship is  uncertain.  Their  descendants  still 
live  in  Jackson.  Washington  and  Little  Mahanoy 
townships.  They  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  a  number  of  the  name  are  buried  at 
St.  Peter's  (Mahanoy)  Church,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. 

Frederick.  Simon  and  Peter  Kobel  were  broth  irs, 
and  the  first  named  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Henry  A.  Carl. 

Frederick  Kobel,  bom  June  8,  1761,  lived  and 
died  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  was  a  farmer 
and  land  owner.  His  wife.  Sostern  (the  name  is 
not  really  legible  on  the  tombstone),  was  born 
April  9,  1765,  and  died  Dec  It.  1848.  He  died 
May  11.  1834  (age  given  as  seventy-two),  and 
they  are  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church  before  men- 
tioned.    Among  their  children  were:    Marc  Tailor. 


William.  Rebecca  Snyder.  Catharine  Miller,  George 
and  Henry. 

George  Kobel,  son  of  Frederick,  married  Cath- 
arine Snyder,  and  they  lived  at  Pitman.  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  they  were  farming  people.  They 
are  buried  at  the  Haas  Church,  at  Hepler.  that 
county.  Their  children  were :  Elias.  Isaac,  Frank, 
Sarah.  Rebecca   (  Mrs.  Carl)  and  Harriet. 

Simon  Kobel.  brother  of . Frederick,  was  born 
in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Washington 
township,  Northumberlan]  county,  the  farm  where 
he  was  born,  and  which  belonged  to  his  father. 
being  still  pointed  out  as  the  old  Kobel  homestead. 
It    is  now  owned   by  Samuel  Kieffer.     The  place 

c prises    loo    acres,   originally    taken    up    by   a 

member  of  the  Kobel  family  in  pioneer  days. 
Simon  Kobel  followed  farming.  His  wife.  Sarah 
(Sally)  Engel,  daughter  of  Felix  Engel,  was  like 
himself  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  St.  Peter's  Church.  They  hail  children  as  fol- 
lows: John,  who  settled  in  Jefferson  county.  Pa.: 
Daniel  aid  Joseph,  mentioned  later:  Lena,  who 
married  Adam  Drumheller;  Polly,  who  married 
John  Lebo;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Henry 
Latsha. 

Daniel  Kobel,  -on  of  Simon,  was  born  in  1829, 
and  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  Until  1887  he  lived 
near  the  homestead,  his  son  Elias  succeeding  him 
to  its  ownership  in  that  year.  He  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1903,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  of 
which  he  was  a  Reformed  member.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat.  To  him  and  his  wife  Elizabeth 
(Kei'stetter.  who  was  born  Jan.  11.  1838,  were 
born  four  children:  Louisa,  who  married  John 
Daniel:  Abhy.  who  died  young;  Cassie,  who  mar- 
ried  Samuel    Keel  ;  and    Elias    K. 

Elias  K.  Kobel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1865 
in  Washington  township,  and  in  1904  commenced 
farming  for  himself  in  that  township,  where  hi 
lived  until  1910.  In  the  fall  of  1901  he  -old  his 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  was  formerly  the  Sam- 
uel Maliok  farm:  a  large  stone  house  was  built  on 
the  place  in  1818.  He  married  Sarah  C.  Hoff- 
man, and  they  have  had  eight  children,  five  <<( 
whom  died  young:  A  daughter  that  died  in  in- 
fancy, Charles.  Harvey,  Eva  May,  Carrie  I-"...  Fred- 
erick, a  son  that  died  in  infancy,  and  William  B. 

Joseph  Kobel,  son  of  Simon,  was  born  June  CI. 
1837  (or  1838).  and  died  March  19,  1889.  He 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  miller,  owning  240 
aires  of  land,  and  for  nine  years  operated  the. 
Dornsife  mill,  his  son  Henry  W.  succeeding  him 
in  the  milling  business  after  In-  death.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat,  served  as  tax  collector,  and  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
St.  Peter's  Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon  and 
elder.  His  wife  Wilhelmiiia  (  Eister),  born  Oct.  2. 
1834,  died  Nov.  15,  1903.  They  had  five  children  : 
Sarah  married  Oliver  Buchner:  James  R.  is  a 
resident  of  Washington  township:  John  died  when 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


207 


eighteen  years  old ;  Kdu  m  s.  is  of  Mahanoy ; 
Henry  W.,  born  in  Washington  township  Aug.  25, 
LS67,  is  a  farmer,  owning  113  acres  of  land,  and 
has  been  a  deacon  and  an  elder  of  Himmel's 
Church  (in  1889  lie  married  Lovina  Treon,  and 
the}  have  had  two  children,  Jennie  and  Samuel, 
the  latter  dying  when  three  years  old  |. 

JOHN  SCHABO,  a  former  treasurer  of  North- 
umberland county,  who  was  living  retired  at  Sham- 
okin,  thai  county,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Sept. 
L6,  L910,  was  born  in  Germany  March  26,  1841, 
al  Fahren,  in  Trier,  son  of  John  Schabo  and  his 
first  wife,  who  in  maidenhood  was  Eva  Ott. 

John  Schabo.  the  father,  was  a  farmer  in  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  America  in  L853,  permanently 
loi  .n  ing  in  • larbon  county,  l'a.,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm,  cultivating  his  lands  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  the  year  L868.  He  was  honorable  and 
successful;  be  made  friends  and  kept  them.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Eva 
(lit.  who  died  in  Germany,  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, Annie  and  John.  His  second  wife  was 
Annie  Caries,  and  they  were  also  married  in  Ger- 
many, but  their  children  were  all  born  in  Car- 
bon county,  Pn..  viz.:  Peter  and  Paul,  both  de- 
ceased; Maggie,  wife  of  Amandus  S.  Markle,  of 
Shamokin,  Pa.;  and  Katie,  wife  of  Jonas  Gerber, 
of  Weatherly,   Pennsj l\ ania. 

John  Schabo,  firs!  named  in  this  narrative,  when 
but  a  lad  engaged  as  a  boatman  on  the  Lehigh 
canal,  and  this  kind  of  work  he  pursued,  in  all 
the  various  capacities,  until   he  was   thirty  years 

of  aire.     In  1871  he  located  at  Weissport,  Carl 

Co.,  Pa.,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  to 
this  lb'  gave  his  attention  until  1875,  when  he 
went  to  Shamokin.  Pa.,  and  established  the 
"'•Shamokin  Hotel."'  which  he  successfully  conducted 
until  1907.  He  then  retired  from  business  life  and. 
took  possession  of  his  pleasant  home  at  N"o.  226 
Walnut  street,  erected  by  him  in  1890.  The  home- 
stead farm,  the  farm  of  his  father,  comprising 
sixty-five  acres  situated  in  Towamensing  township, 
Carbon  Co..  Pa.,  and  about  six  miles  from  Weiss- 
port,  became  his  property. 

In  politics  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Schabo  was  in  1881 
elected  to  the  borough  council:  was  chief  of  the 
fire  department  from  1883  to  1889;  and  in  1890 
was  elected  county  treasurer  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  The  campaign  of  1890  was  a  memorable 
one.  and  though  the  contestants  seemed  equally- 
reputable  and  well  known  Mr.  Schabo  was  elected 
over  his  adversary  by  a  majority  of  129  votes. 

In  the  year  L883  Mr.  Schabo  was  made  a  direc- 
tor of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Shamokin,  now 
the  National  Bank  of  Shamokin,  ami  continued 
to  ho  a  member  of  the  hoard  during  the  resl  of 
his  life:  he  was  also  a  director  of  the  Shamokin 
Building  and  Loan  Association:  the  Shamokin 
Street  Railway  Company;  and  served  as  treasurer 


of  the  Shamokin  Driving  Park  Association.  Fra- 
ternally lie  was  a  member  of  Elks  Lodge  No.  :;:.:,. 
Mr.  Schabo  was  married  Feb.  1'.'.  1862,  to  Eva 
Schweibenz  (a  daughter  of  Alyons  Schweibenz), 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Feb.  It.  LS38. 
They  had  two  children:     John  W.   (who  married 

Et a  Armbuster,  and  has  had  two  children,  John 

lvlu  aid.  who  married  .May  I  lower,  and  Harry,  de- 
ceased)   and   Annie   E.,  the  latter  a  young  lady  at. 
home.     His  creed  was  thai  of  the  Roman  Cat! 
Church,  to  which  his  family  also  adhere,  and  they 
worship  at   the  Si.   Edward's  shrine. 

C.  EDWARD  ALLISON.  M.  !»..  of  Elysburg, 
Northumberland  county,  has  been  practicing  medi- 
cine at  that  place  tor  over  ten  years,  and  ha-  a 
large  patronage,  having  been  successful  from  the 
time  of  his  settlement  in  this  district.  He  is  a 
native  of  Adams  county,  Pa.,  horn  May  17,  1871, 
at  Gettysburg.  The  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ex- 
traction, James  Allison,  the  first  of  this  hue  to 
come  to  America,  having  emigrated  from  Ireland 
or  Scotland.  It  is  not  known  where  he  settled,  but 
his  son  Francis  lived  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
about  five  miles  easi  of  Emmitsburg.  Thence  he 
moved  to  Adams  county,  Pa.  His  wife,  Ruth 
Thompson,  was  also  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 

Francis  Allison,  son  of  Francis,  was  bora  in 
June,  1794,  in  Adams  county,  l'a..  and  there  lived 
and  died.  All  his  family  were  horn  and  reared 
there.  He  became  a  landowner  and  farmer  in 
Mmiin  Joy  township,  Adam-  Co.,  l'a..  near  the 
Mason  and  Dixon  line.  He  married  Hannah 
Mieksell.  who  was  horn  near  Emmitsburg,  Md.. 
and  was  of  German  descent  :  her  mother"-  maiden 
name  was  Catharine  Rudolph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fran- 
cis Allison  are  buried  in  the  Mount  Joy  Lutheran 
churchyard.  Their  children  were:  Jonathan  I... 
of  Tanevtown.  Md.:  Samuel  M.:  Mary  A.,  who 
married  Amos  Yeatts.  and  died  in  Carlisle,  l'a.: 
Sarah,  who  married  William  Lightner;  Catherine, 
who  married  Samuel  D.  Peek:  and  Martha,  who 
died  \\  hen  twenl  \   years  old. 

Samuel   M.  Allison,  son  of   Francis,  was  born 

in    Mount    Joy    township,    Adam-   county,    and    fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  for  a  number  of  yi 
living  first  upon  the  homestead  and  latet 
a   farm    near  Gettysburg    whii  !i   he  occupied 
some  time.     He  now  lives  in  the  town  of  Gettys- 
burg,     lie  married    Anna    M.   Schwai  [liter 
of  Jacob  Sehwarl  .  and   the}    ha 
children  :    C.  Edward  ;  Herb  ri  A.,  who  is  a  pro- 
:   ;n    Susquehanna  I              Si            ive,   l'a. ; 
and  ( 'ordelia. 

( '.   Edward   Alii- 'eceived  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  am        P      isj  Ivania  ' 
lege,  Gettysburg,  graduating  from  thai  institution 

n,   1893,  « iili  the     \     I'       I  !  his 

college  course  '■  time  in  Kansas 

o;j;l:  return    from   t! 


20S 


V(  MM'II  U.MBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


was  engaged  in  teaching  for  one  year.  Be  then 
entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at 
Baltimore,  later  continuing  His  medical  studies  at 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1899.  His  first  year  of  inde- 
pendent practice  was  spent  at  Jeddo,  Luzerne  Co., 
Pa.,  after  which  he  was  at  Mount  Carmel.  North- 
umberland county,  a  short  time  before  locating  at 
Elysburg,  in  September,  L900.  There  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  practice  of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  P. 
Gilbert,  who  died  in  August,  1900,  and  who  was 
a  prominent  physician  there  for  twenty-five  years. 
Dr.  Allison  has  been  popular  at  Elysburg  through- 
out the  period  of  his  residence  there,  and  though 
a  busy  man  professionally  he  has  endeavored  to 
I"-  a  useful  member  of  the  community  in  other 
ways.  He  is  serving  as  road  supervisor  of  Ralpho 
township  at  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Allison  is  a  thirty-second-degree  Mason,  be- 
Qg  to  Eh  -I-M  °  Lodge,  NTo.  II  1.  V.  &  A.  M. 
(of  which  he  is  a  past  master),  and  to  Blooms- 
burg  Consistory  (thirty-second  degree).  He  also 
holds  membership  in  the  I.  <>.  0.  P.,  and  in  pro- 
onal  connection  is  a  member  of  the  Northum- 
berland County  Medical  Society,  etc.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  political  sentiment.  His  ancestors 
have  been  Lutherans  and  Presbyterians  as  far  back 
as  they  have  been  traced. 

On    Sept.    5,    1907,    Dr.    Allison    married    Am 
E.  Gilbert,  daughter  of  the  late   Dr.  Samuel  F. 
Gilbert. 

JOHN  G.  YOUNGMAN.  The  Youngmans 
have  been  identified  with  Sunbury  for  almosl  a 
Gentury,  and  throughout  that  period  have 
noted  for  intellectual  activity.  Their  leadership 
in  such  matters  was  acknowledged  during  their 
long  connection  with  the  newspaper  circles  of  this 
section,  with  which  they  were  prominently  asso- 
ciated continuously  for  over  seventy  years.  They 
are  i  its  of  a    Moravian    family  that  emi- 

grated from  Lusatia,  Prussia,  in  L740,  settling  at 
Bethlehem,  Pa.  John  G.  Youngman.  the  first  of 
the  Youngman  name  in  Sunbury,  was  born  Jan. 
6,   1786,  near  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa., 

- f  Jacob  Youngman.  a  blacksmith  and  farmer, 

and  son  of  Rev.  John  Georgi  Youngman,  a  Mora- 
vian missionary  to  the  Indians,  who  died  at  Beth- 
lehem in  1808,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight. 

When  he  was  eight  years  old  John  G.  Youngman 
was  adopted  by  his  uncle.  Gottlieb  Youngman,  a 
veteran  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  who  established 
the  first  German  newspaper  in  Berks  county,  this 
siate.  It  was  called  Tlu  Impartial  Reading  News- 
r,  and  was  first  issued  Feb.  18,  1789,  being 
published  until  1 S 1 6 .  Gottlieb  Youngman,  died 
June  10,  1833,  at  Louisville.  Ky.,  when  seventy- 
six  years  old.  His  nephew  had  acquired  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  printing  business  under  his 
tuition,  so  that  he  was         Bed   in  the  mechanical 


as  well  as  the  business  and  intellectual  features 
of  newspaper  work,  and  he  always  took  great  de- 
light in  typesetting,  at  which  he  worked  in  the 
composing  room  of  the  Sunbury  Gazette  until 
within  a  few  months  of  his  death.  In  1802,  hav- 
ing had  a  misunderstanding  with  his  uncle.  Mr. 
Y'oungmau  left  him  and  walked  to  Somerset  coun- 
ty, where  he  found  employment  at  his  trade  with 
a  Mr:  Ogle.  Four  years  later  he  took  a  position 
on  the  Horni  '.  at  Frederick,  Md.,  and  in  1807  he 
was  connected  with  the  Times,  one  of  the  first 
daily  papers  of  Baltimore.  Thence  he  went  to 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  be  found  work  with  John 
Gruber,  the  well  known  almanac  publisher.  Re- 
turning to  loading  in  1812,  he  obtained  the  neces- 
sary equipment  from  his  uncle  and  came  to  Sun- 
bury to  establish  Der  Northumbei  and  Repub- 
JiJcaner,  a  German  paper,  which  was  the  third  pa- 
per published  at  Sunbury.  The  first  number  ap- 
peared Aug.  12,  1812,  and  as  shown  by  the  files 
in  existence,  from  Aug.  11.  1815,  to  January. 
1818,  was  a  three-column  folio,  fourteen  inches 
long  and  nine  inches  wide,  creditable  in  typogra- 
phy and  composition.  In  1818  the  name  was 
changed  to  Nordwestliche  Post,  which,  supported 
Findhn  m  the  gubernatorial  contest  of  1*'.J|1  and 
thus  lost  it-  large  number  of  German  subscribers, 
who  were  almost  unanimously  in  favor  of  Hiester. 
It  was  really  as  a  result  of  this  disaffection  that 
Mr.  Youngman  suspended  the  paper,  though  he 
continued  it  until  after  July,  1827.  For  several 
years  I  i<  reafter  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  print- 
b  oks  and  pamphlets. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  until  Mr.  Youngman 
resume. I  n.u  spaper  «  ork  as  publisher  of  the  '  'anal- 
boot,  which  was  established  with  the  idea  of 
promoting  local  enterprise-  of  a  public  nature,  at 
the  height  of  the  popular  agitation  in  favor  of  in- 
ternal improvements  then  in  progress.  The  issue 
ol  March  5,  1831,  shows  it  to  have  been  a  folio 
fifteen  and   a  half  inches  long  and  eleven   inches 

\  ide,  a  canalboat  on  the  headline  of  the  fii  -i  page. 
The  paper  was  issued  under  this  name  ttntil  1833. 
Its  immediate  successor  was  The  Working) 
Advocate,  a  four-column  folio  eleven  by  sixteen 
inches  in  dimensions,  the  tii-i  English  newspaper 
published  by  Mr.  Youngman.  The  first  issue  ap- 
ed April  29,  L833,  and  in  it  the  editor  an- 
nounced that  it  would  be  Democratic  in  politics, 
reserving  to  himself,  however,  the  right  of  differ- 
ing  from  party  conventions  as  to  what  platforms 
or  candidates  were  really  Democratic,  should  oe- 

asion   require.      It    was   a    successful    publication 
throughout  its  existent  e  (which  I  838  |, 

a  fact  which  is  notable,  as  several  rival  papers  at 
Sunbury  and  Northumberland  suspended  during 
that  period.  In  1838  Mr.  Youngman  established 
the  Sunbury  Gazette,  under  the  imposing  title  of 
The  Sunbury  Gazetti  and  Miners'  Register,  and 
the  issue  of  Jan.   7,   L843,  when  it  still  bore  that 


r^-^o) 


TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS  1 


NOKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


209 


name,  was  a  five-column  folio  twenty-one  and  a 
half  b}r  thirteen  inches. 

When  Mr.  Youngman  established  the  Repub- 
likaner,  in  1812,  he  did  business  in  a  small  frame 
building  on  the  north  side  of  Market  street,  at 
what  was  later  the  site  of  Rippel's  photograph  gal- 
lery. When  he  purchased  the  property  at  Third 
and  Arch  streets  he  removed  the  printing  office  to 
a  frame  structure  adjoining  his  residence  and  fac- 
ing on  Arch  street.  It  was  next  located  in  a  wood- 
en building  on  what  was  subsequently  the  site  of 
the  Dewaxt  block,  at  Market  and  Third  streets,  be- 
ing there  from  1847  to  1850,  when  it  was  moved  to 
the  north  side  of  Market,  street,  nearly  opposite  the 
"City  Hotel."  There  the  Gazette  was  published  at 
the  time  of  its  suspension,  in  1883,  though  it  had 
occupied  several  different  places  in  the  meantime, 
the  principal  one  being  the  second  story  of  the 
(over  block,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Market 
square,  to  which  it  was  removed  in  1868. 

Mr.  Youngman  was  not  only  actively  connected 
with  the  press  in  Sunbury  for  over  fifty  years,  but 
he  also  took  a  leading  part  in  public  affairs  in 
Northumberland  county,  holding  several  respon- 
sible offices.  In  1814  he  served  as  county  treas- 
urer, in  1818-21  as  county  commissioner;  and  on 
Feb.  5,  1839,  he  received  his  commission  as  reg- 
ister and  recorder,  being  elected  to  succeed  him- 
self in  the  fall  of  that  year;  he  was  thus  the  last 
person  elected  and  the  first  one  appointed  to  that 
office  in  Northumberland  county.  He  died  Sept. 
13,  1871,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

On  Aug.  1,  1813,  Mr.  Youngman  married  Cath- 
erine Bright,  daughter  of  George  Bright,  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  step-daughter  of  Hon.  Andrew  Albright, 
and'  they  were  the  parents  of  George  B.,  William, 
Louisa  Hester.  Andrew  A.,  Jacob,  Susan  E.  and 
John. 

Geohge  B.  Youngman  learned  the  printing- 
business  with  his  father  and  it  was  principally 
through  his  efforts  that  the  Gazette  was  founded, 
he  having  been  the  junior  member  of  the 
(inn  of  John  G.  Youngman  &  Son  from  L838 
until  1855.  Upon  his  retirement  from  the  paper 
he  devoted  himself  to  fruit  and  grape  culture  on 
a  farm  several  miles  east  of  Sunbury,  continuing 
this  business  successfully  until  his  death,  April 
J.  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  served 
as  treasurer  of  Northumberland  county  m   1850- 

5L  ,  x- 

After  George  B.  Youngman  s  retirement  trom 
the  Gazette  he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  A.  A. 
Youngman,  upon  whom  much  of  the  responsibility 
in  connection  with  the  paper  devolved.  The 
of  the  firm  then  became  A.  A.  &  John  Youngman, 
the  latter  being  another  son  of  the  founder,  and 
they  carried  on  the  Gazette  until  it  was  eonsoh 
ed  with  the  American,  on  April  11,  187!).  as  the 
Gazette-American.  A  year  later,  however,  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Gazette,  alone,  was  resumed  by  A.  A. 

14 


&  John  Youngman  and  continued  for  a  few  years, 
the  last  issue  appearing  March  III.  1883.  This 
number  gave  a  review  of  (he  political  policy  of  the 
paper,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  the  Gazette  was 
"iie  of  the  four  Democratic  organs  in  Pennsyl- 
vania that  came  '-out  boldly  in  favor  of  the  nation- 
al administration  as  against  the  Rebel  cause"  in 
1861,  yet  although  it  was  constrained  "to  protesl 
against  certain  tendencies  and  methods  in  the 
management  of  the  Republican  party"  on  several 
occasions,  it  could  not  he  said  "that  the  Gazette 
ever  went  hack  on  the  principles  of  that  great  po- 
litical organization." 

Andrew  A.  Youngman,  after  closing  his  news- 
paper career,  continued  to  reside  in  the  old  home 
at  Third  and  Arch  streets.  Sunbury,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  Dec.  '.'.  1905,  at  tin'  age 
of  eighty-four.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary intelligence,  having  been  of  a  studious  dis- 
position, making  himself  well  versed  in  various 
branches  of  knowledge:  hut  being  of  a  retiring  na- 
ture the  extent  of  his  information  was  known  and 
appreciated  only  by  those  who  came  into  intimate 
intercourse  with  him.  During  the  years  after  his 
retirement  from  the  printing  business  he  was  a 
constant  reader,  giving  his  attention  largely  to 
scientific  subjects,  of  which  meteorology  was  tiis 
favorite.  The  result  of  his  reflections  and  obser- 
vations on  that  subject  is  contained  in  a  large 
manuscript  volume  which  would  furnish  material 
for  a  printed  book  of  ample  dimensions. 

John  Youngman,  the  youngest  child  of  John 
(i.  Youngman.  and  the  last  editor  of  the  Gazette, 
received  most  of  his  education  in  his  father's  print- 
ing office,  where  he  learned  to  "sel  type"  and  made 
his   first  efforts   in   writing.      With    the  objec(    of 
changing    his    business    he    read     law    with     Eon. 
John  B.  Packer  and  was  admitted   to  the   North- 
umberland county  bar  at  the  August  term  in  1851, 
but  soon   discovering   that    he   was    better   adapted 
for  newspaper  work  than  law  practice  he  dropped 
the  latter  and   took  charge  of  the  Gazette  a-   it- 
editor   in   1855.      In   this  capacity   he  continued 
until  the  publication  of  that  paper  cea  ed  in  Iss::. 
when  he  left  Sunbury  to  engage  in  journalise 
other   localities.      He  did    editorial   work   on 
Harrisburg  Patriot    for   two  years,   was   engaged 
for    |i\e    rears    a-    editorial    writer    for    1'.    G 
Meek"-   Bellefonte  II  at  hman,  and   then  going  t<> 
Philadelphia  found  employment  on  the  / 
Record  and  was  editor  of  the  Evt  ning  II  ■ 
four  years.     Having  been  in  Philadelphia  journal- 
ism for  fourteen  years  he  returned  to  Sunbury  in 
1904   at    the  age  of  sevent]  four,  and   again  did 
some  new-paper  work  in  his  native  town. 

William  Youxgman,  the  second  son  oi  John 
<;.  Youngman,  learned  the  cabinetmaking business 
.H1(-|  was  noted  for  his  skill  in  that  handicraft.     I  b 

ears  in  Sunbury,  but  ai 
the  close  of  his  [if,  employed  in  th    Sun- 


210 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


bury  shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co., 
doing  the  finer  woodwork  needed  in  that  estab- 
lishment. He  was  well  skilled  in  music  and  in  his 
younger  years  was  at  the  head  of  musical  move- 
ments in  his  neighborhood,  he  having  been  the 
organizer  and  leader  of  the  first  instrumental  band 
in  Sunbury,  and  he  was  for  a  long  while  the  leader 
Sunbury's  Episcopal  Church  choir.  He  was 
married  to  Henrietta,  and  after  her  demi- 
Susan,  who  were  daughters  of  Dr.  John  B.  Price, 
of  Sunbury,  a  noted  physician  of  that  period  who, 
besides  having  a  thorough  medical  education, 
was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  University.  By  his 
two  marriages  William  Youngman  had  a  numer- 

progeny. 
Louisa  Hesteb  Youngman,  the  first  daughter 
of  John  G.  Youngman,  was  noted  for  her  beauty 
as  a  young  woman  and  fur  her  excellent  trails  of 
womanly  character,  among  which  her  charitable 
disposition,  anil  tli>'  assistance  she  gave  to  the 
needy  and  suffering,  were  conspicuous.  Her  voice 
vas  such  that  if  it  had  deceived  more  i  ultivation  it 
would  have  made  her  a  star  singer.    It  was  tin-  de- 

•  of  those  who  hoard  her  in  the  choir  a!  v. 
Matthew's  Episcopal  Church  of  Sunbury.  in  which 
she  was  the  leading  soprano  for  a  number  of  years ; 
-  e  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.     Siie  died  unmarried  in  1892. 

Jacob  Youngman,  the  fourth  son  of  John  (-. 
Youngman,  learned  typesetting  in  his  father's 
printing  office,  where  lie  became  proficienf  in  the 
various  branches  of  the  printer's  art.  After  "grad- 
uating"   in    thai    scl 1   he   did   journal   work   in 

Pottsville,  Washington  and  Philadelphia,  eventu- 
ally returning  to  Sunbury.  where  lie  continued  to 
work  at  printing  and  also  engaged  in  other  busi- 
n<  --.     Application  to  one  pursuit  was  all  that  was 

ssaxj  i"  have  made  him  a  decided  success,  as 
he  was  an  expert  printer  and  a  ready  writer,  par- 
ticularly in  a  humorous  vein,  some  of  his  produc- 
tions in  that  line  having  been  much  admired,  and 
he  was  imted  as  a  comic  versifier.  He  branched 
off  from  printing  to  engage  in  the  foundry  busi- 
i  --.  an  enterprise  that  was  entirely  out  of  his 
line,  and  consequently  was  not  successful:  and  he 

-  id  a  number  of  ingenious  inventions,  some 
of  which  were  patented  but  never  pushed  to  profit- 
able results.  His  last  years  were  spent  in  working 
in  the  different  Sunbury  printing  offices.  He  died 
in  1892,  at  thi    .  _  _:it  years. 

Susan  Elizabeth  Youngman,  the  second 
daughter  of  John  (i.  Youngman.  was  horn  Jan. 
'.'ii.  1828,  in  the  old  homestead  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  Third  and  Arch  streets,  Sunbury,  where 
she  and  her  brother  John  reside,  together  with 
their  niece.  Mis>  Carrie  V.  Youngman.  Though 
in  her  eighty-fourth  year  she  is  well  preserved,  as 
active  intellectually  as  ever,  takes  great  enjoy- 
ment in  reading,  and  has  been  a  lifelong  and  much 
interested  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  liber- 


ally contributing  to  its  support.  Her  first  mar- 
riage was  with  Francis  Bright,  of  Reading.  Pa., 
who  engaged  largely  and  successfully  in  the  hard- 
ware and  foundry  business  in  Tamaqua  and  Hazle- 
t on.  He  died  at  the  latter  place  Aug.  58,  1865, 
and  his  remains  are  interred  in  Pomfret  Manor 
cemetery.  Her  second  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  1881,  was  to  Bruce  Small,  who  was  a  native 
of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  a  -on  of  Hon.  Jacob  Small, 
a  man  of  public  note  and  prominence,  who  served 
at  one  time  as  mayor  of  Baltimore.  The  Smalls 
have  long  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  public 
and  social  circles.  The  family  of  this  name  in 
York  county.  Pa.,  is  of  the  same  stock.  Bruce 
Small  was  born  in  1834,  and  received  his  literary 
training  in  various  educational  institutions.  Dur- 
um' the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  United  States 
navy  on  the  frigate  "Potomac"  and  was  very  ac- 
tive. While  in  the  service  he  was  a  comrade  of 
Winfield    S  Schley    <  now   rear  admiral),  with 

whom  he  was  long  on  terms  of  personal  friendship. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Small  was  for  many  years  in 
the  Government  employ  at  Washington,  D.  •'.. 
subsequently  coming  to  Sunbury.  He  died 
.March  18,  1890,  at  his  Sunbury  residence,  and 
rests  in  the  family  vault  in  St.  Caul's  cemetery, 
Baltimore. 

Only  three  of  John  G.  Youngman's  seven  chil- 
dren married,  they  being  William.  Susan  and  John, 
and  but  one  of  them.  William,  produced  a  progeny 
as  future  representatives  of  Sunbury's  first  print- 
er. The  children  of  William  and  his  first  wife. 
Henrietta  Price,  were:  John  1'..  William  Edgar, 
Christianna  Guild  and  Henrietta  Rose,  besides  sev- 
eral who  died  in  infancy.  His  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  to  Mrs.  Susan  (Price)  Sutton, 
were:  Mary  Isabella  and  Caroline  Yandergrift. 
John,  the  eldest  son.  now  deceased,  became  a  res- 
ident of  Hazleton,  married  Ann  Bird,  of  that 
town,  and  was  the  father  of  two  -ids.  on,,  of  whom 
died  at  an  early  age,  the  survivor  being  John  Price 
Bird    Youngman,   a   prominent   civil   and   mining 

:  _  aeer  of  that  region,  who  is  the  father  of  an  in- 
teresting family.  Christianna  Guild,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  William,  is  the  wife  of  Rufus  Reber, 
who  is  prominent  in  the  clerical  department  of 
the  Reading  Railroad  Company  in  Philadelphia, 
and  she  is  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Andrew  Chidsev. 
wife  of  a  leading  Easton  hanker,  and  of  Frank 
Reber  of  Philadelphia  and  Guy  Reber  of  Savan- 
nah. Ga.  William  Edgar,  the  second  son  of  Wil- 
liam, who  also  became  a  resident  of  Hazleton. 
married  Julia  Shapley,  of  that  place,  and  was 
father  of   Barton   Edgar  Youngman,  who  is  city 

'  _  ueer  and  conspicuous  in  the  municipal  affairs 
of  Hazleton:  he  also  has  a  fine  family.  Henriet- 
ta Rose,  the  youngest  daughter  of  William  by  his 
first  wife,  married  Clarence  Hawthorne,  and  is 
the  mother  of  an  interesting  daughter,  Frances, 
this  family  being  residents  of  Sunbury,  where  Mr. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


211 


Hawthorne  is  connected  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company.  Of  William  Youngman's  two 
children  by  his  second  marriage,  Mary  Isabellai  is 
the  wife  of  William  Coleman,  a  progressive  and 
prosperous  Kansas  granger,  and  is  the  mother  of 
au  accomplished  daughter  and  a  stalwart  sun: 
and  ('aniline  Vandergrift,  familiarly  known  in 
Sunbury  as  Miss  t  arrie  Youngman,  resides  with 
her  aunt,  Mrs.  Small,  in  the  old  Youngman  home- 
stead, and  takes  a  leading  part  in  the  literary 
and  church  work  of  Sunbury. 

(!  rent  changes  have  taken  place  in  Sunbury  since 
John  0.  Youngman,  at  the  beginning  of  the  las! 
century,  began  journalism  in  the  town.  There  has 
been  a  ureal  increase  in  its  population,  its  business 
and  its  importance,  other  newspapers  have  taken 
the  place  of  those  established  by  the  elder  young- 
man,  and  of  his  descendants  but  fefl  are  residents 
of  the  town,  but  the  progeny  of  Sunbury's  veteran 
printer  may  be  found  in  many  parts  of  this  na- 
tion's broad  domain. 

THEODORE  CHESTER,  nov  a  retired  resident 
of  Sunbury,  is  a  well  known  man  in  that  borough, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for  a 
number  of  years,  having  formerly  conducted  the 
"Si.  Charles  Hotel,"  which  his  sons  now  own.  He 
was  horn  Sept.  27,  1844,  in  Barry  township. 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  only  son  of  John  Chester,  who 
lived  at  Dam  ille,  Pa.,  where  he  was  the  first  maker 
of  east  iron  plows.  His  plows  were  used  exten- 
sively all  over  Pennsylvania,  lie  went  West  aboul 
L851.  John  Chester  married  Matilda  Yarnall. 
who  came  from  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
a  member  of  a  Quaker  family  which  was  earlier 
settled  in  Maiden-creek  township,  Berks  county. 
Mrs.  Chester  is  interred  in  a  private  burial  ground 
on  t'nc  homestead.  Her  father.  Elijah  Yarnall, 
lived  in  Schuylkill  county. 

Theodore  Chester  was  brought  up  by  his  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Elijah  Yarnall,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  the  home  neighborhood  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  later  went  to  school  at  Rushtown 
and  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Northumberland 
county,  in  the  neighborhood  now  known  as  Plum 
Creek.  In  hi-  eighteenth  year  he  began  clerking 
in  a  genera]  store  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, and  drove  a  produce  wagon  to  market  in 
Schuylkill  county,  during  the  -reign  of  terror" 
of  the  Molly  Maguires.  He  and  Nathan  Baker 
were  in  the  butter  and  <^ii  business  for  three 
years  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.  He  also  learned  the  trade 
of  watchmaker,  which  he  followed  for  fifteen  years 
at  Northumberland,  this  county,  also  traveling 
siderably  in  the  rural  districts  all  over  1  nion 
county  and  in  Philadelphia  and  Harrisburg,  re- 
pairing grandfather  clocks,  in  which  line  he  was 
quite  expert.  lie  was  a  natural-bom  mechanic, 
and  has  always  had  a  liking  as  well  as  talent  lor 
Mid,  work,  even  to  this  day  occasionally  repairing 


timepieces  for  the  pleasure  the  work  affords.     I  o 

twelve  years  he  conducted  the  "St.  Charles  Hotel" 
in  Sunbury,  being  succeeded  in  the  ownership  of 
thai  establishment  by  bis  sons  Herbert  C.  and 
Nathan  W.  Chester,  who  now  conduct  it.  Though 
now  retired,  Mr.  Chester  still  retains  some  business 
interests,  having  large  real  estate  holdings  in  Sun- 
bury, and  investments  in  certain  patented  automo- 
bile tires.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen,  and  has 
lived  to  enjoy  the  rewards  of  his  more  active  years. 

On  June  I.  1864,  Mr.  Chester  married  Louise 
Wolf,  daughter  of  Abraham  Wolf,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  nine  children:  Herbert  ('..  Emma 
A.  (deceased).  Wilson.  Nathan  Wellington.  Sam- 
uel (deceased),  Asburry,  Bessie  (Mrs.  Herbert  A. 
Welker),  Jennie  (Mrs.  Jacob  Bright)  and  Annie 
(unmarried).  There  are  sixteen  grandchildren. 
The  family  have  occupied  their  pleasant  home  at 
the  comer  of  Tenth  and  Market  streets,  Sunbury, 
since  L902.  They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
( 'lmivh. 

Mr.  Chester  i-  a  Republican  in  political  matters, 
hut  be  has  never  taken  any  part  in  public  affairs 
and  has  always  refused  to  bold  public  position,  lie 
is  a  popular  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
belonging  to  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  .A.  M.;  North- 
umberland Chapter.  No.  lit.  R.  A.  M. ;  Mount 
Herinoii  Commandcry.  No.  85,  K.  T.— all  of  Sun- 
bury. and  Irem  Temple.  A.  A.  <>.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Wilkes-Barre.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  blue  lodge 
and  chapter,  a  past  eminent  commander  and  past 

high  priest,  and  has  1 n  active  in  the  fraternity 

for  many  years. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Chester  enlisted,  in 
1862,  in  Company  C,   136th   Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  for  nine  months,  and  took 
i„  the  battle-  of  Fredericksburg  and  chance; 
ville. 


The  Yarnall    (Yarnell)    family,   to   which   Mr. 
Chester  is  related   on   the  maternal  side,   is  of  obi 
English  Quaker  Mock.  Francis  and   Peter  Yarnall 
having   come    from    their    native    land    with    the 
Hugheses.  Boones,    Penroses,    Kirbys   ami    1. 
foots,  and   settled    in  Oley  township,   Berks  Co.. 
pa     xhey  were  of  the  fifty  or  more  families 
had  been  left  out  when  the  township  was  ere, 
The  people  to  the  "south   part   of  Oley"   therefore 
petitioned  the  court  of  Philadelphia,   in    L741,  to 
erect  that  part  into  a  township.    The  petition  was 
granted.    Among  the  sixteen  signers  to  this 
tion  were  Francis  and  Peter  Yarnell. 

In  Northumberland  county  a  mi  mb  r  •>(  this 
same  family,  Richard  Yarnall.  was  Ih nd  set- 
tier  at  Mount  Carmel.  His  lather.  Jesse  Farnall, 
kept  a  bold  on  the  old  Minersville  -ad.  at  the 
crossing  of  Mahanoy  i  reek,  near  into,  Eorge, 
Sehuvlkill  county,  about  four  miles  south  of  Mount 
Carmel.  An  Indian  path  which  led  from  the  vicin- 
ity of  Roaring  Creek  township,  Columbia  county. 


212 


NOETHUMBHPLA  XD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN I A 


to  his  hotel  is  referred  to  in  the  early  official  rec- 
ords of  Northumberland  county  as  "Yarnall's 
path."  He  married  Hannah  Penrose,  of  Roaring 
Creek  township),  whose  people,  like  his.  came  from 
Maiden-creek  township,  Berks  county,  and  were 
Friends. 

Richard  Yarnall  was  borri  April  10,  1791,  ami 
died  Oct.  II.  1847.  He  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter and  millwright.  About  the  time  he  reached 
manhood  tin'  Centre  turnpike  was  constructed,  re- 
sulting in  a  large  increase  in  the  travel  between 
Danville  and  Sunbury  on  the  north  and  Reading 
and  Pottsville  on  the  south.  A  favorable  oppor- 
tunity was  presented  for  the  erection  of  a  hotel 
on  this  important  thoroughfare  at  the  present  site 
of  Mount  Carmel.  which  is  about  equidistant  from 
Danville  and  Pottsville,  and,  prompted  by  these 
considerations,  Mr.  Yarnall  erected  the  "Mount 
Carmel  Inn,"  a  two-story  log  structure  situated 
on  the  southeast  side  of  the  turnpike  immediately 
northeast  of  the  "Commercial  Hotel."  He  opened 
a  hotel  there  and  conducted  the  business  with  fail- 
success  for  several  years,  when,  having  become 
surety  fur  a  friend  who  failed  to  meet  his  obliga- 
tions, the  property  was  sold  and  he  removed  to 
the  vicinity  of  Pear  (iap.  where  he  was  variously 
employed  for  several  years.  He  then  located  on  a 
small  cleared  tract  near  the  old  Minersville  mad. 
and  also  resided  at  the  Tomlinson  farm,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  hotel-keeping  at  the  Riffert 
tavern,  where  lie  died.  The  Riffert  tavern  was  a 
log  structure  standing  on  the  east  side  of  the 
turnpike,  north  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  depot.  It 
is  not  known  who  erected  it.  and  under  the  man- 
agement of  its  early  owners  it  bore  a  bad  reputa- 
tion, but  with  Mr.  Yarnall  as  proprietor  it  re- 
ceived the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the  travel- 
ing public.  He  married  Mary  King,  daughter 
of  John  King,  of  Ralpho  township,  and  we  have 
record  of  two  of  their  sons,  Jesse  and  John,  both 
of  whom  lived  at  Mount  Carmel.  The  former 
was  born  July  7,  1815,  near  Bear  Gap. 

John  Yarnall.  son  of  Richard,  was  born  Feb. 
1.".  L828,  at  tlie  Tomlinson  farm,  in  Coal  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  with  his  father,  working  at  that  occu- 
pation for  some  years.  In  1859  he  married  Hen- 
rietta Mussina,  daughter  of  Henry  B.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Winters I  Mussina,  of  Center  county,  Pa., 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children: 
Mrs.  William  H.  Hinkel.  Henry  M.,  Newton  L., 
Richard  K.,  Jerusha  M.  (deceased),  John  W.. 
William  and  Lizzie. 

Richard  K.  Yarnall  was  born  Feb.  ('>.  1865,  at 
Mount  Carmel,  received  a  public  school  education 
there  and  learned  the  trade  of  painter  ami  paper- 
hanger.  After  working  as  a  journeyman  five  years 
he  commenced  business  for  himself  at  Mount  Car- 
mel, on  March  1,  1S89,  and  made  a  success  of  the 


venture.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
served  as  constable  of  Mount  Carmel. 

Of  another  branch  of  this  Yarnall  family  was 
Francis  Yarnall.  who  had  brothers  Amos,  Jona- 
than, Asa.  John  andJBlijah.  Francis  Yarnall  was  a 
native  of  .Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  lived  in  Barry 
township,  that  county,  where  lie  was  not  onlv  a 
farmer  but  also  one  of  the  early  merchants  of  the 
region,  and  conducted  a  sawmill.  His  home  was 
near  what  was  then  the  line  between  Northumber- 
land and  Berks  counties.  He  was  a  man  of  affairs, 
of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  usefulness, 
and  quite  prominent  in  his  day.  and  lived  to  an 
advanced  age.  dying  in  1869.  He  is  interred  in 
a  private  graveyard  on  the  public  road  leading 
from  Ashland  to  Gowen  City.  His  wife  died  long 
before  he  did.  Among  their  children  were:  Jo- 
seph: Isaac,  who  lived  at  Ashland.  Pa.;  William, 
who  had  a  son  William:  and  Lydia  A.  and  Anna, 
who  never  married  and  remained  on  the  home- 
stead farm,  near  Taylorsville.  Schuylkill  county. 
conducting  the  sawmill,  etc.  Miss  Lydia  A.  Yarn- 
all  gave  much  of  the  information  contained  in  this 
article. 

Joseph  Yarnall.  son  of  Francis,  was  born  April 
9,  1825,  in  tin'  section  of  Schuylkill  county  where 
his  father  lived  and  died  Feb.  24,  1S88,  in  Sun- 
bury,  where  he  is  buried,  in  the  old  south  cemetery 
on  Fourth  street.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic, 
a  skillful  woodworker  ami  engineer,  a  sawmill 
worker  and  expert  saw  filer,  and  was  in  the  employ 
of  Ira  T.  Clement,  of  Sunbury,  for  some  thirty 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican  and  popu- 
lar locally,  being  elected  to  various  offices  in  his 
district.  He  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the 
fire  department,  and  helped  to  purchase  the  lir>r 
engine,  in  1870.  He  was  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0. 
P.  ami  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Yarnall  married  Mary  A.  (Christian), 
widow  of  Benjamin  Starner,  and  to  them  were 
horn  six  children,  of  whom  five  are  mentioned  : 
William  II..  who  died  in  infancy:  Gaynor,  who 
died  young;  Horace,  who  died  young;  Charles  E., 
of  Sunbury;  ami  John  G.  The  mother  was  born 
July  :',n.  L821,  and  died  in  June.  1897. 

John  G.  Yarnall  was  born  Nov.  24,  1860,  at 
Sunbury,  where  he  has  passed  all  his  life,  being 
now  one  of  the  prosperous  business  men  of  that 
borough.  He  received  his  education  in  the  local 
public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school 
in  the  spring  of  1877,  and  in  1879  entered  the 
employ  of  Ira  'J'.  Clement,  as  clerk  in  the  office, 
remaining  with  him  until  Jan.  1,  1895,  and  be- 
coming a  valuable  employee.  He  has  since  been 
in  business  for  himself.  Tie  began  as  a  partner  of 
T.  H.  Paul,  in  association  with  whom  he  pur- 
chased, at  the  time  mentioned,  the  goodwill,  stock 
and  fixtures  of  C.  G.  Heckert.  whose  business  was 
then  located  at  No.  446  Market  street,  Sunbury. 


NOBTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


213 


being  the  leading  furniture  house  of  the  place. 
The  firm  of  Yarnall  &  Paul  lasted  four  years, 
when,  in  1899,  Mr.  Yarnall  became  sole  owner,  and 
lie  has  since  continued  the  business  alone.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1900.  he  Ideated  at  bis  present  place,  No.  33  I 
.Market  street,  which  building  he  purchased  the 
previous  August.  It  has  a  frontage  of  .'!!i  feet, 
mi  Market  street,  and  the  building  has  a  depth  of 
I c.o  feet,  the  Int.  however,  being  230  feet  deep. 
Mr.  Yarnall  carries  a  large  line  of  furniture,  rugs, 
etc.,  and  enjoys  an  extensive  trade,  which  he  has 
attained  and  held  by  the  most  honorable  methods 
ami  satisfactory  goods,  for  which  his  establishment 
i-  noted. 

Mi-.  Yarnall  married  Harriet  D.  Haas,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Haas,  of  Mahanoy  City,  Pa.,  and  his 
liisi  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Smith.  George 
Haas,  Mrs.  Yarnall's  grandfather)  lived  in  the 
Swatara  Creek  Valley  in  Dauphin  county.  Mr. 
ami  Mrs.  Yarnall  have  bad  live  children:  Mary 
Ann  died  in  infancy:  Joseph  H.,  electrical  en- 
gineer, who  has  been  engaged  as  assistant  engineer 
of  the  elevated  railroad  nf  Boston,  Mass.,  since 
June,  1910,  is  a  graduate  nf  State  College  and  an 
ambitious  young  man:  Ira  T.,  also  a  graduate  of 
State  College,  is  now  in  the  government  employ 
as  a  forester,  in  New  Mexico;  Sarah  0.  is  a  sten- 
ographer: John  W.  is  assisting  his  father  in  busi- 
ness. 

.Mr.  Yarnall  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
in  1884  he  was  a  member  of  the  borough  council, 
where  lie  proved  an  aggressive  worker.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  and  one  of  the  trustees  of 
Sunliiin  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company  No.  1.  and 
fraternally  holds  membership  in  the  I.  <>.  ().  F. 
and  Encampment,  old  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  all  of  Sunbury.  He  be- 
longs tn  the  Reformed  Church. 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY,*  the  progenitor  of 
the  Pottsgrove  branch  of  the  Montgomerys,  was  a 
member  of  that  numerous  body,  the  "Scotch  Irish,"' 
which  has  done  so  much  for  the  material,  moral  and 
spiritual  advancement  of  our  beloved   America, 

Many  circumstances,  and  family  traditions  as 
well,  sliow  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt  that  the  1  >an- 
ville',  Paradise  and  Pottsgrove  families  of  this 
name  are  connected  by  ties  of  blood,  but  at  this  late 
day  it  seem-  wholly  impossible  to  trace  the  rela- 
tionship. Some  dav.  should  a  complete  history  oi 
the  Montgomery  family  he  written,  we  may  know 
much  of  our  ancestors  of  which  we  are  now  ignor- 
ant. .       . 

It  seems  fairly  certain  that  the  head  ol  our 
branch  was  a  descendant  of  Captain  Montgomery, 
born    1666,  who  was  an  officer  under  William  ol 


♦  History  of  the  -POTTSGROVE  BRANCH"  of  the 
Montgomery  family,  by  James  K.  Montgomery,  M.  U., 
1903. 


Orange,  and  who  was  promoted  to  a  majority  in 
the  British  army  for  bravery  shown  at  the  battle  of 
the  Borne.  However  that  may  be,  we  do  know  that 
he  was  born  in  Ireland  about  1766.  As  to  wdiat 
part  of  the  Emerald  Isle  gave  birth  to  our  ancestor, 
I  am  in  total  ignorance,  although  1  have  gone  to 
very  great  pains  endeavoring  to  find  out.  Of  his 
early  life  we  know  practically  nothing,  although 
family  traditions  tell  us  that  he  was  a  school  teach- 
er in  bis  native  country.  He  early  determined  to 
emigrate  to  the  '•land  of  the  free"  and  did  so  in  or 
about  K!)().  On  landing  in  America  he  first  lo- 
cated in  the  vicinity  of  Wesl  Chester,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  about  three  years.  He  then  removed  to 
what  is  now  Montour  county,  Pa.,  it  being  at  that 
time  a  part  of  Northumberland  county.  The  first 
definite  allusion  to  him  that  1  have  found  is  in  the 
report  for  1ST7  of  County  Superintended  William 
Henry,  in  which  he  says:  "The  first  (schoolhouse) 
of  which  we  have  an  authentic  account  was  built 
in  1793  by  James  Montgomery,  the  father  of  H.  R. 
Montgomery,  Esq.,  and  the  few  scattered  settlers 
in  the  vicinity.  The  building  stood  near  the  Mil- 
ton and  Danville  mad  and  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  present  boundary  line  between  Montour 
and  Northumberland  counties,  on  lands  now  owned 
by  Romamis  Mull,  .lames  Montgomery  became  its 
first  teacher  and  be  can  with  truth  he  called  the 
pioneer  school  master  of  the  county.  It  is  supposed 
that  Mr.  Montgomery  was  the  only  teacher  that 
taught  in  the  building.  It  is  known  that  he  taught 
school  for  some  time.  lie  wa-  a  teai  her  who  firmly 
believed  in  "sparing  not  the  rod.'  'the  late  Eli 
Wilson  of  Danville,  bore  to  the  end  of  his  life  a  scar, 
the  result  of  a  violent  collision  with  this  master's 
ruler.  In  addition  to  teaching  he  for  many  year- 
followed  the  arduous  profession  of  civil  engineer- 
ing, a  calling  much  more  in  demand  at  thai  early 
da\  than  at  present." 

Captain  Montgomery,  as  he  was  familiarly 
known,  for  many  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  his  first  commission,  hearing  date  dan. 
5,  1815,  being  given  him  by  Gov.  Simon  Snyder, 
for  District  No.  2  in  the  township  of  Chillisqua- 
que  in  the  county  of  Columbia,  the  same  being  \al 
hi  "so  long  as  you  do  behave  yourself  well."  His 
second  commission,  bearing  the  signature  of  Gov- 
ernor Shultz,  was  dated  Maj  29,  1826,  and  was  for 
tin-  township  of  Liberty,  county  of  Columbia. 

]|r  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  craft,  having 
in  November,  1816,  joined  by  card  Lodge  No.  ill 
at  Lewisburg,  Pa.;  he  was  a  member  of  the  fra- 
ternity previously;  I  have  been  wholly  unable  to 
find  out,  hut  suppose  it  fo  have  been  over  in  [re 
land. 

The  Pennsylvania  Archives,  a-  well  as  family 
tradition,  show  that  he  was  earlj  a  member  of  the 
local  military  organization,  lie  being  Captain  (  hence 
liis  tin,. i  of  the  81st  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Mili- 
tia, during  and   subsequent    to    L805.      That    he   iv- 


214 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


mained  with  the  "boys"  and  did  not  desert  his 
adopted  country  in  time  of  peril  is  evidenced  by 
the  fact  that  in  1814  he  and  his  regiment  were 
called  out,  they  going  as  far  as  Northumberland, 
where  they  were  ordered  to  encamp.  They  re- 
mained in  camp  for  fifteen  days,  when,  the  war 
being  practically  ended,  they  were  sent  home. 

Of  course  ii  is  a  foregone  conclusion  that  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  William  of  Orange's  soldiers 
could  be  naught  but  a  Presbyterian  and  such  was 
the  fact  in  this  ease.  Grandfather  was  during  his 
life  a  consistent  member  and  supporter  of  the 
Chillisquaque  Presbyterian  Church,  an  organiza- 
tion formed  in  1773,  a  few  years  prior  to  his  ar- 
rival here.  A  personal  letter  recently  received 
from  my  venerable  friend,  Samuel  McMahan,  of 
Milton.  Pa.,  says,  -"l  remember  your  grand  father 
MTv  well.  He  with  the  greater  part  of  those  fam- 
ilies that  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  were 
strong  Presbyterians,  lie  was  one  of  the  regular 
supporters  of  the  old  Chillisquaque  Church." 

<>n  March  6,  1800,  in  consideration  of  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  pounds,  he  received  Erom  .1. 
Sheldon  a  deed  for  133  acres  and  6  per  cent  allow- 
ance of  land  along  the  Heaver  run  in  what  is  now 
Liibertj  township,  Montour  Co..  Pa.,  it  being  part 
df  a  tract  of  land  which  the  Propriel  its  of  Penn- 
niia  did  by  patent  dated  the  3d  day  of  April, 
L776,  grant  to  James  Sheldon.  This  farm  was 
very  beautifully  located,  and  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  heavy  timber,  mostly  white  oak.  I 
have  heard  it  -aid  that  he  chose  this  land  be 
of  the  splendid  timber  on  it.  arguing  from  this 
that  the  soil  must  he  extremely  productive,  while 
other  settler-  having  less  means  were  compi 
to  purchase  the  apparently  poorer,  hence  chi 
land,  that  was  covered  with  small  scrubby  trees. 
We  see  hi-  error  now.  His  acre-  turned  out  to  be 
a  fair  quality  of  gravel,  while  hi-  p  lorer  neighbors 
became  the  ] —  ssors  of  the  valuable  limestone 
farms,  as  fertile  as  any  in  the  State,  and  which 
have  made  their  descendant-  wealthy.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  clear  tip  a  farm  and  to  erect  the  neces- 
sary  buildings  for  tin-  comfort  and  maintenance 
of  himself  and  bis  family.     These  have  long  since 

disappeared.    The  house,  built  of  logs,  -i 1  about 

two  rods  east  of  the  location  of  the  present  dwell- 
ing. There  was  a  splendid  spring  near  the  house 
and  as  there  was  at  that  time  little  or  no  market 
for  his  surplus  grain  be.  like  many  of  the  pioneer 
settlers,  built  a  distillery  for  its  consumption. 
With  tireless  energy  he  laboriously  hewed  out  the 
broad  acres  of  the  old  homestead  where  his  chil- 
dren were  all  born  ami  which  remained  in  the  pos- 
—  ton  of  himself  and  his  descendants  for  nearly  a 
century  thereafter. 

During  the  summer  of  1795  he  married  Sarah 
Sheddan,  who  was  bom  at  "Seoiceberry  Grove," 
the  Sheddan  homestead  in  Liberty  township.  .Ian. 
16.  177s.  a  daughter  of  .lame-  Sheddan.  an  Irish- 


man, born  Aug.  12,  174J,  who  with  his  wife,  born 
in  August,  1749,  came  to  Amenta  in  1774.  Mrs. 
Montgomery  was  a  devoted  wife  to  the  end  of  her 
life,  which  occurred  duly  22,  is-.' ', .  She  and  her 
husband  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren:  Samuel,  born  Sept.  20,  L796,  died  April  1'.. 
1798;  James,  born  170s.  died  1827  :  Samuel  (2), 
bom  An-'.  7.  1800,  died  .Ian.  Hi.  1826;  Nathaniel, 
born  An-  3,  1802,  died  Nov.  20,  1824;  William, 
born  April  Hi.  1805,  died  Aug.  11.  1826;  Mar., 
born  L808,  died  1854;  Daniel  W.,  born 
1811,  died  1866;  Andrew,  born  dune  -.'1.  1814, 
died  Aug.  3,  1838;  Roberl  <  ,..  born  1817,  died 
ls;:,;  Hugh  1!..  bom  1819,  died  lssi  ;  Anne,  bom 
duly  9,  1822,  died  dan.  23,  1829.  It  was  a  sad 
and  remarkable  coincidence  that  so  many  of  the 
-on-  died  in  early  manh 1. 

Soon  alter  the  death  of  his  wife  dames  Mont- 
iv  again  assumed  the  matrimonial  relation. 

g    united    in    marriage    with    Mrs.    Catherine 

Bums,  nee  Harvev.  who  tore  him  three  children: 
John  C.  born  1828,  died  L859;  David  II.,  born 
1831,  died  1902,  and  .Margaret  J.,  born  1835,  died 
L842.     S  "\  ived  him  some  years,  finally  gi 

the  way  of  all  flesh.  Aug.  is.  L856. 

As  indicated  in  the  foregoing  sketch  our  grand- 
father was  a  man  of  considerable  importance  to 
the  community  in  bis  day  and  generation.  In- 
tellectually he  was  far  above  the  avi  ttler. 
My  old  friend,  Samuel  McMahan,  tells  me,  "1 
saw  him  sign  the  temperance  pledge  in  the  center 
id  he  was  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  pro- 
nounced views,  who  would  be  of  much  help  in  the 
reformation."'  Physically  he  was  a  large,  finely 
built  man.  nol  tall  but  rather  heavy.  Like  a  trui 
son  "1  Erin,  he  was  jovial  and  witty.  As  a  hus- 
band he  was  thoughtful  of  the  comfort  of  his  part- 
ner, as  a  father  he  was  kind  and  just,  although 
somewhat  strict  as  was  the  habit  of  the  old  colon- 
ists. \-  a  neighbor  and  citizen  his  effort-  and  in- 
fluence were  ail  to  the  good. 

II-  lived  to  the  Biblical  limit  of  three-score  and 
ten.  His  death  occurred  suddenly  and  without  any 
premonitions,  he  being  found  dead  in  his 
probably  from  an  apoplectic  seizure.  Dee.  6,  1836. 
His  remain-  were  buried  by  the  side  of  his  first 
wife  in  the  old  Chillisquaque  cemetery  ami  have 
long  since  been  followed  by  all  that  was  mortal 
of  his  widow  and  many  of  his  children.  There 
they  quietly  rest  in  that  dreamless  sleep  from  which 
they  shall  not  awaken  until  the  resurrection  morn. 

Concerning  the   children  of  .Tame-   and    Sarah 
(Sheddan)   Montgomery  who  reached  maturity. 

James  Montgomery  was  born,  probably  at 
Sh,,l. Ian  homestead.  Oct.  Lb  1798.  Very  little  is 
now  known  about  him.  On  Nov.  15,  1825,  be  mar- 
ried Jane  Harrison  (a  >ister  of  the  late  Mrs.  Obed 
Everett  of  Frosty  Valley),  who  was  born  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  June  15,  1805.  During  their  honey- 
moon  they   visited    friends   near    Milton   and    bop 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


2]  i 


contracted  colds  which  developed  into  illness  so 
serious  that  in  both  cases  it  terminated  fatally,  her 
death  occurring  Jul}  31,  1826,  his  following  on 
May  10,  1827.    They  lefl  no  children. 

Man  Montgomerj  was  born  on  the  old  Mont- 
gomery homestead  Nov.  20,  1808,  and  died  Jan. 
27,  1854.  About  L830  she  married  John  Rogers 
(an  Irishman  and  school  teacher),  by  whom  she 
had  two  children,  Sarah  Anne  and  Elinor:  The 
latter  was  born  Nov.  20,  Is::  I.  and  died  without 
issue  Feb.  22,  1857.  Sarah  Anne  was  born  in 
Liberty  township  May  1,  is;;-.',  ami  died  in  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  Ore.  30,  L891.  On  Sept.  9,  L858,  she 
was  married  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  to  Samuel 
Burns  (born  in  Liberty  township  Oct.  12,  1833, 
died  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Oct.  '.'I.  1906),  and  thej 
wen'  the  parents  of  five  children:  Ella,  John, 
Anna.  Amos  ami  Robert,  all  of  whom  died  during 
childhood,  and  thus  terminated  tins  branch  "1  the 
family. 

Dr.  Daniel  \V.  Montgomery  was  limn  on  the  old 
homestead  in  what  was  then  Turbut  township, 
Northumberland  county,  May  7,  1811.  He  left 
home  at  an  early  age,  probably  about  fifteen,  ami 
matriculated  as  a  studenl  at  an  institution  of  much 
mite  at  the  ti the  old  Milton  Academy,  the  lead- 
ing spirii   of  which  was   th centric  hut.  learned 

minister  David  Kirkpatrick,  familiarly  known  as 
•■<>|il  Kirk."  Among  his  classmates  were  .lames 
Pollock,  who  afterward  served  as  governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  Andrew  ti.  Curtin,  who  later 
became  the  famous  "War  Governor"  of  our  Com- 
monwealth, as  well  as  other-  who  achieved  con- 
siderable success  in  the  various  walks  of  life.  Aft- 
er graduation  he  was  retained  in  the  academy  as 
teacher  for  several  years.  Being  poor  hut  am- 
bitions he.  as  manv  before  ami  since  have  done,  re- 
sorted to  the  scl [master's  desk  in  order  to  ob- 
tain funds  with  which  to  secure  a  medical  edu- 
cation.    He  taught  at  Danville,  Mausdale,  Sodom, 

the  "Marsh,"  1  probably  at  other  schools  in  the 

forks  of  the  Susquehanna.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  the  lady  who  afterward  became  his  wife  was  at 
one  lime  one  of  his  pupils.  He  now  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  William  II.  Magill,  a  noted  physician 
of  Danville,  as  a  student  of  medicine,  and  in  dim 
time  matriculated  at  Jefferson  Medical  College. 
After  a  faithful  attendance  at  its  courses  of  Lec- 
tures he  was  granted  the  coveted  degree  in  1835. 
He  immediately  located  at.  Orangeviile,  where  by 
energy  and  industry  he  soon  built  tip  a  large  hut 
exceedingly  laborious  practice,  his  field  being  a 
very  extensive  one,  embracing  territory  which  now 
supports  over  a  dozen  physicians.  But  he  never 
faltered  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  de- 
sist, retaining  the  confidence  and  support  of  his 
patrons  to  the  end.  His  premature  death,  which 
occurred  Nov.  16,  1866,  was  like  that  of  thousands 
of  his  brother  physicians— unhonored  and  unsung, 
vet  heroes  none  the  less— directly  due  to  the  wear 


and  (ear  and  exposure  incident  to  the  life  of  the 
busy  physician  whose  creed  and  practice  alwaj 

"others   before  ; self."      Physically    Dr.    Mont 

gomery  was  not  a  robust  man.  being  slight  in  build 
and  not  tall,  hut  he  had  a  dear  eye,  a  irm,  resolute 
llmi   and   a   thoughtful,   faith-inspiring    face.      In 

■  early   life  he   had   some    trouble   wit! E   his 

ankles,  which  caused  a  permanent  lameness. 

On  April  13,  1839,  he  purchased  the  lot  mi  coj  - 
ner  of  Mam  and  Mount  Pleasant  streets,  in  the 
lage  of  Orangeviile,  mi  which  he  built  the  house 
winch  was  his  home  to  the  end  .if  his  life,  in  w 
his  children  were  all  horn,  and  which  still  remains 
in  the  possession  of  his  son.  Some  year-  later  he 
purchased  a  fine  farm  in  Orange  township. 

The  Doctor  was  one  of  a  small  body  of  nieiic.il 
men  who  on  the  31st  day  of  July,   L858,  founded 
the  Columbia  County  Medical  Society,  an  associa 
tion  which  has  endured  to  the  present    da\    and 
which   embraces    in    its   membership    the'leading 
practitioners  of  the  county.    Although  in  no  sense 
a  politician  he.  like  all  our  family,  was  a  life-long 
Democrat.    My  father  once  told  me  that  had  i 
been  deemed  impossible  in  dispense  with  his  serv- 
ices as  a  physician,  he  would  have  been  thrust  in 
the  stifling  vaults  of  Port    Mifflin  along  with  the 
other  poor  victims  of  that  horrid  creation  of  n  a 
lignity  and  falsehood,  the  so  called  "Fishing  i  i 
Confederacy."    Yet.  it.  is  Ian  the  simple  truth  (hat 
no    purer-minded,    mere    patriotic   American    ever 
lived   than    was  he.     A   conti  rnporarj    new  -paper. 
77/.'  Siar  of  the  North,  says  of  him :  "His  long  i 
idenee  in  the  place,  in  connection  with  his  greai 
success  m  the  practice  of  medicine,  his  unwavering 
principles  of  morality  and  integrity,  his  zea] 
1 1;.'  i  ause  el'  education,  his  aid  and  enei  _  j    fo]   I  te 
public   welfare,    Inn-'   a    community   to    mourn 
In--    a-    irreparable.      As    a    ph\  i     ranked 

among  the  highest.    His  calm  and  deliberate  judg- 
ment, with  his  long  experience,  rendered  him  one 
of  more  than  ordinary  skill.     'The  profession   ka- 
li -i  a  valuable  member  and  the  physicians  thro 
out  this  and  adjoining  counties  who  have  frequei 
l\  sought  his  counsi  adly  deplore  the  loss  of 

one  whose  life  has  been  so  valuable  to  the  profi 
sion  and  community,  liui  alas'  He  i-  mi  more. 
Death  has  claimed  him  and  his  quiet,  tranquil 
death  assures  as  thai  his  spirit  rests  in  peace." 
His  mortal  remains  tow  rest  in  thai  dreamless 
sleep  that  knows  no  wakening  tin-  i  ternity, 

by  the  side  of  her  he  loved     a  life,  in  beautiful 
Orangeviile  cemetery. 

On    Nov.    L6,    1831! .  at    the  In. me  of  her  parent-, 
he  was  joined  in  wedlock  In  Margaret,  daughter  of 

William    ami    .lane    |  \l i    Curi    .    and    grand 

daughter  of  Robert  Curry,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 

wa-   .a i'  the  earliest  of  ti  hat    i-   i 

Montour  county  and  who  was  kille.  e  Indians 

In   1 780.     Mrs.  Montgoi  bora  on  the  "Id 

( lurry   homestead    in    V  nship,   Columbia 


216 


m  IRTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


(now  Montour)  county,  Jan.  20,  1815,  and  after 
a  faithful  performance  of  the  many  and  varied 
duties  that  confronted  her  as  wife,  mother  and 
grandparent  departed  this  life  in  Orangeville,  in 
the  house  where  all  of  a  congenial  and  happy  mar- 
ried life  had  been  spent,  dan.  6,  1888.  Both  Doc- 
tor  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  were  consistent  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Clara  .1.  ('..  born 
.May  17.  1843,  who  died  Sept.  in.  1853 j  Zelma 
Agnes,  born  dan.  10.  1  s  1 7  :  and  dames  B.,  born 
July  6,  1849. 

Robert  0.  Montgomery  was  born  on  the  old 
Montgomery  homestead,  dan.  5,  1817.  and  lived 
on  it  during  the  whole  of  his  life,  following  the 
humble  but  very  honorable  and  useful  occupation 
of  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  was  an  excellent  farmer 
and  liked  nothing  better  than  to  "make  two  blades 
of  grass  grow  where  one  grew  before.'"'  He  became 
the  owner  of  his  farm  sometime  during  the  forties 
and  improved  it  by  the  erection  of  a  fine  brick 
house  and  a  large  bank  barn.  1 1  e  was  a  man  of  qui- 
et tastes,  one  who  thoroughly  despised  vulgar  os- 
tentations. He  was  honest  and  God-fearing,  ami 
while  his  fame  was  merely  local,  who  can  say  how 
fax  reaching  is  the  influence  of  that  well  lived  life! 
I  shall  never  forget  a  remark  made  by  a  neighbor 
which  I  overheard  at  his  funeral,  '"'There  lies  a 
perfectly  honest  man,  one  who  never  bad  an  ene- 
my." On  Dec.  4,  1857,  be  married  Susan,  daugh- 
ter of  Fleming  and  Anna  (Randolph)  Nesbit,  who 
was  born  at  Carlisle.  Pa.,  Jan.  22,  1 827,  and  died  at 
the  home  of  her  daughter  May.  in  Orangeville, 
Nov.  29,  1800.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  James  1-'..  born  dan.  26,  L862; 
Ida  May,  born  Feb.  8, 1864;  John  ('.,  born  Dec.  19, 
L861  :  and  three  others  who  died  in  infamy.  Mr. 
Montgomery's  death,  which  was  sudden  and  un- 
expected, occurred  Dec.  31,  1875,  from  an  attack 
of  pneumonia.  He  was  buried  in  the  new  Qhillis- 
quaque  cemetery.  His  widow  was  buried  at 
Orangeville.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent 
members  of  the  old  Chillisquaque  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Hugh  R.  Montgomery,  the  youngest  son  of 
James  and  Sarah  Montgomery,  was  bom  May  26, 
1810.  on  the  old  Montgomery  homestead,  where  he 
lived  until  he  arrived  at  manhood's  estate.  Al- 
though never  physicalh  robust,  yet  like  most  of 
our  ancestors  of  a  century  ago  he  early  became  ac- 
customed to  hard  work.  He  helped  clear  up  ami 
till  his  father's  farm,  while  during  the  long  win- 
ter- he  taught  the  district  school.  The  latter  oc- 
cupation be  followed  for  many  years,  the  former 
during  his  lifetime.  The  lady  who  afterward  be- 
came his  wife  was  for  some  time  a  pupil  of  his.  In 
1st'.'  be  bought  a  tract  of  land  to  which  he  moved 
to  which  he  subsequently  made  additions  (this  is 
now  known  as  the  "Lindrew"  farm),  and  improved 
bv   building  a   substantial  brick  house   and   large 


bank  barn.  Here  he  lived  till  1865,  when  he  sold  it 
and  moved  to  the  "Auten"  farm,  where  he  lived  one 
Mar.  when  he  bought  and  moved  on  the  "Morgan" 
farm  in  the  Village  of  Mexico.  Here  he  lived  for 
three  years,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  along  the  banks  of  the  Chillis- 
quaque, near  Pottsgrove.  This  was  known  as  the 
"Bennage"  farm  and  was  the  same  tract  originally 
known  as  "The  Trite  Point/"'  which  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds,  two  shillings, 
sixpence  sterling  was  granted,  released  and  con- 
firmed unto  John  Morrow  (a  progenitor  of  our 
present  Murray  family)  on  the  sixteenth  day  of 
June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1774.  arjd  the  four- 
teenth year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  the  Third 
over  Great  Britain,  etc.,  by  Thomas  Penn  and  John 
Perm,  Ksq's.,  etc.,  etc.  He  moved  on  this  farm 
during  the  month  of  April,  1869,  and  soon  im- 
proved it  by  the  erection  of  an  excellent  brick 
house,  which  he  occupied  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred after  a  lingering  illness,  July  28.  1881.  He 
was  a  man  of  sterling  honor  and  integrity  and  a 
person  of  much  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 
Although  naturally  rather  backward  and  unas- 
suming, his  life  was  an  active  and  useful  one.  He 
n  as  first  commissioned  justice  of  the  peace  by  Gov- 
ernor Johnston  in  1850,  an  office  he  continuously 
held  until  his  removal  from  the  county,  in  1860. 
Ee  was  executor  or  administrator  of  a  great  many 
estates.  He  took  much  interest  in  educational 
matters,  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
many  years  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Pottegrove  Academy.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  and  an  elder  in  the  old  Chillisquaque 
Presbyterian  church.  By  his  death  his  wife  lost  a 
kind,  thoughtful  husband,  his  children  a  loving 
father,  the  church  an  excellent  counselor,  the 
community  an  upright,  conscientious.  God-fearing 
member.  His  mortal  remains  rest  in  the  family 
plot  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Milton.  Pa. 

On  dune  25,  18:,;.  ,-n  Danville.  Pa.,  Rev.  I.  W. 
Yeomans  united  him  in  the  bonds  of  holy  matri- 
mony with  Sarah  S.  Moll,  who  proved  a  true  help- 
mate during  the  quarter  century  of  their  married 
life.  She  bore  him  the  following  children:  James 
b'..  born  May  15,  is.jS:  John  S..  born  Aug.  21. 
1859:  Mary  E.,  born  Nov.  20,  1860;  Sarah  A., 
born  Sept.  20,  1863;  Daniel  M.,  born  Sept.  27. 
1865:  William  A.,  born  Sept.  2.  1S67:  Hugh  B., 
born  Aug.  2;.  1868;  Clara  lb.  born  Nov.  29,  1870 
(died  July  23,  1000)  ;  Alice  d ..  bom  Dec.  17.  1873. 

Sarah  S.  Moll  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.. 
March  30.  1837.  daughter  of  Daniel  F.  and  Mary 
1  Seidel)  Moll,  granddaughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  (Poust)  Moll,  and  great-granddaughter 
of  Henry  Moll.  Of  the  original  Molls  (or  Mulls 
as  they  spelled  it )  but  little  is  known,  but  it  is  sup- 
posed they  came  from  Germany. 

John  0.  Montgomery,  son  of  James  and  Cath- 
erine  (Burns)   Montgomery,  was  born  on  the  old 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


517 


homestead  Oct.  31,  1828.  He  was  a  man  of  consid- 
erable promise,  being  bright,  energetic  and  indus- 
trious. Physically  he  was  a  splendid  specimen  of 
manhood.  He  had  a  decided  military  build  and 
was  a  member  of  the  local  militia.  He  bought  the 
"Bond"  farm,  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  his  lather's 
farm  on  the  west,  and  this  he  proceeded  to  improve 
by  the  erection  of  a  large  brick  house  and  bank 
barn.  He  was  engaged  at  the  former  when  he  was 
stricken  by  an  attack  of  erysipelas  which  resulted 
fatally,  Sept.  11,  1859.    He  had  never  married. 

Dr.    David  H.   Montgomery,  son  of  James  and 
Catherine   (Burns)   Montgomery,  was  born  on  the 

old  I stead  Dec.  1.  1831.    After  the  completion 

of  his  literary  education  he  taught  school,  at  the 
same  time  reading  medicine  with  his  brother,  Dr. 
Daniel.  After  attendance  on  the  usual  lectures 
ami  clinics,  be  received  bis  diploma  from  the  Phil- 
adelphia College  of  Medicine — an  institution  of 
repute  at  the  time,  but  which  has  long  since  ceased 
to  exist — .March  10,  1852.  He  then  engaged  in 
practice  with  his  preceptor  at  Orangeville,  which 
he  continued  till  1856,  when  he  located  in  Mifflin- 
ville.  Here  by  close  attention  to  bis  professional 
duties  he  soon  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice, which  he  bebl  to  the  day  of  bis  death,  which 
occuned  suddenly,  though  to  himself  not  unex- 
pectedly, Nov.  21,  L902,  it  being  due  to  a  severe 
attack  of  angina  pectoris,  a  disease  to  which  he  had 
long  been  subject.  Iii  tsfr.1  be  bought  a  lot  in  the 
village  on  which  he  erected  a  tine  residence  in 
which  be  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
quite  a  man  in  the  financial  world,  being  one  of  the 
original  promoters  and  stockholders  of  the  North 
ami  West  Branch  railroad,  a  stockholder  in  the 
Farmers'  National  Bank,  etc.  Dr.  Montgomery 
was  man  of  many  excellent  traits.  Physically  he 
was  a  splendid  specimen  of  manhood.  He  was 
very  genial  and  intuitively  inspired  everyone 
with  trust  m  bis  ability  and  honesty.  In  his  tastes 
be  whs  thoroughly  domestic.  He  was  a  great  lover 
of  home.  No  man's  family  relations  could  have 
been  pleasanter.  His  pastor  said  of  him:  "His 
work  has  been  magnificent  and  every  stroke  has 
been  in  the  interest  of  right.  lie  read  the  world 
in  its  various  phases  and  if  a  strong  brain  and  a 
magnetic  presence  are  evidences  of  the  good  he 
has  derived  from  following  out  bis  own  notions  of 
life's  best  plan,  indeed  bis  is  a  receipt  worthy  to  be 
followed  by  all  who  wish  to  attain  the  same  re- 
sults." 

In  1S54  he  was  united  in  wedlock  with  Amelia. 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann  (lies-)  Kline. 
and' granddaughter  of  Abram  Kline,  who  prior  to 
tbe  Revolution  emigrated  to  America  from  Gi 
many  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Orange  township. 
She  was  born  near  Orangeville.  and  after  a  happy 
married  life  survived  tier  husband  but  a  few 
months,  dying  suddenly  from  a  ruptured  aneurism, 
July  14.  1903.  Both  sleep  in  Berwick  cemetery. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children. 


Margaret  J.  Montgomery,  daughter  of  James 
and  Catherine  (Burns)  Montgomery,  was  born 
March  23,  1835,  and  died  May  14,  1842. 

Dr.  James  R.  Montgomery/son  of  Hugh  E.  and 
Sarah  S.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  was  born  on  the 
"Harvey"  farm  in  Liberty  township,  Montour  Co., 
Pa.,  May  15,  1858.  He  worked  with  bis  father  on 
the  farm  till  he  was  seventeen,  attending  the  com- 
mon schools  during  the  winter  months'  and  com- 
pleting his  literary  education  at  Millersville  Nor- 
mal School.  He  then  taught  two  terms  of  school 
at  Oak  Grove,  in  his  native  township,  at  the  same 
time  reading  medicine  with  his  preceptor,  Dr. 
Charles  II.  Dougal,  of  Milton.  Pa.  He  matriculat- 
ed ai  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  "with  honorable 
mention"  of  his  thesis,  March  13,  1880.  He  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  upward  of  a  year  in  Phil- 
adelphia, when  his  father  desiring  him  nearer  home 
dining  bis  illness  he  located  in  Clarkstown,  from 
which  place  he,  on  Jan.  16,  1882,  removed  to  Buck- 
horn,  where  he  still  resides  and  where  he 
has  built  up  a  large'  practice.  In  1889  he 
purchased  the  property  where  he  now  lives 
and  which  he  improved  the  same  year  by  the 
ere.  lion  of  a  large  store  building.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Columbia  County  Medical  Society, 
Slate  Medical  Society  and  American  Medical  As 
social  ion.  in  the  various  duties  of  which  he  takes 
an  active  part.  He  is  member  of  Huntington 
Lodge,  Xo.  265,  I-'.  &  A.  M. 

on  Oct.  26,  1887,  by  Rev.  V.  H.  Tubbs,  the  Doc- 
tor was  united  in  marriage  with  Daisy  May  Harris. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  James  J,'.. 
Jr..  born  Sept.  22,  1889,  and  Maud,  born  March 
1.  1894. 

Daisy  May  Harris  was  born  in  Buckhorn,  in  the 
house  in  which  she  now  lives,  Oct.  ;.  L866,  only 
daughter  id' Jacob  and  Sarah  A.  (Shoemaker)  Har- 
ris, granddaughter  of  James  and  Marx  (Sheep  l 
Harris,  great  granddaughter  of  William  Harris 
and  great-great-granddaughter  of  James  Harris. 
who  was  born  in  or  near  Bristol,  England,  about 
I  700,  and  emigrated  to  America  about  I  725,  set- 
tling iii  Susses  county .   V  J.,  n  liere  he  i ii  d 

Miss  Boleyn.  On  the  maternal  side  she  i-  a  grand- 
daughter of  Ahram  and  Rebecca  (Girton)  Shoe- 
maker and  a  great-granddaughter  of    \liram  SI 

maker,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey.    Hewasa 
dier  in  the  war  of  i he  Revolution,  at  the  close  of 
which  be  married   Margaret    Melick  and  came  to 
what  is  now  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  n    i  died 

ahmd    IS  |."i.  at    a   great    age.      I  le   was   buried    with 

military  honors    in    the  old    Presbj  teria oj 

in  Bloomsburg. 

John  S.  Montgomery,  son  of  Hugh  It.  and  Sarah 
S.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  formerly  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  J.  S.  Montgomery  >\  ( lo.,  Pottsgrove, 
Pa.,  was  born  on  iee  "Harvey"  farm.  Aug.  21, 
1859.    After  I  ere  ovei  be  followed 

the  profession  i  for  a  number  of  years, 


MS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


being  employed  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad  Company  from  iss:;  to  lss.s.  .In  August. 
l>v>.  he  purchased  a  store  in  Pottsgrove  which  he 
conducted  alone  for  a  time,  but  in  the  fall  of  1889 
'  10k  in  as  a  partner  his  brother  I  >aniel  M.  This 
partnership  was  continued  till  1901,  when  Daniel 
withdrew  and  William  A.  entered  the  firm,  which 
continued  to  do  a  large  retail  mercantile  business 
in  the  prosperous  community  in  which  they  were 
located.  In  1894  they  purchased  a  lot  on  which 
they  erected  a  large  and  substantial  store  building 
and  residence.  John  S.  Montgomery  sold  his  in- 
-i  in  this  store  in  1905.  He  is  an  enterprising 
man.  taking  an  active  part  in  all  thai  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  his  town.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Pottsgrove  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

•  hi  Match  11.  i'902,  he  took  unto  himself  a  bet- 
ter  half  in  the  person  of  Jane   S.   McWilliams, 
Rev.  A.  B.  Herr  officiating,     .lane  S.  McWilliams 
was  bom  near  Pottsgrove,  April  •">.  1871,  dau| 
of  John  C.  and  Susan  (Rissel)  McWilliams. 

Mary    E.    (Montgomery)     Marsh,    daughter   of 
Hush  R.  and  Sarah  S.    (  Moll  i    M  .  was 

l.uni  on  the  "Harvey"  farm  Nov.  20,  1860.  She 
received  her  education  at  the  Pottsgrove  schools. 
On  Match  27,  1879,  she  was  joined  in  marriage. 
by  Rev.  II.  Graham  Finney,  to  Charles  X.  Marsh. 
They  farmed  his  father's  farm  in  Turbut  township 
for  several  years,  when  they  purchased  a  trai 
land  along  the  banks  of  the  Chilli-- 
They  lived  on  this  for  some  years,  improving  it  by 
the  erection  of  a  line  brick  house  and  a  substan- 
tial bank  barn.  In  1898  Mr.  Marsh  accepted  a  po- 
sition witli  the  first  National  Bank  of  Milton,  and 
leaving  the  farm,  which  they  slill  own.  they  pur- 
chased and  moved  to  the  property  at  No.  128 
(  Vnnv  -in  •  i  where  they  still  reside.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  child.  Hugh  M..  who  was  born  in 
Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county,  June 
13,  1SS0.  All  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Marsh  was  elected  an  elder  of  their 
church  in  1901. 

Charles  Newton  Marsh  was  horn  in  Turbut  town-- 
ship,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  dune  25,  1858. 
lie  received  hi-  education  in  the  common  schools. 
Limestoneville  Academy  and  Millersville  Normal 
School,  taught  school  for  some  years,  and  also  fol- 
lowed surveying.  He  still  devotes  his  spare  time 
to  thi  latter  occupation  and  to  tire  insurance.  lie 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1889  and  held 
the  office  until  his  removal  from  this  township,  in 
1898.  He  is  the  only  son  of  Minner  Guliek  and 
Margaret  t  Follmer)  Marsh,  grandson  of  Isaac  and 
Sa  ah  (Guliek)  Marsh  and  great-grandson  of  Isaac 
and  Elinor  (Griggs)  Marsh,  whose  ancestors  fled 
from  Scotland  during  a  rebellion  and  settled  near 
Flemington,  X.  J.  Elinor  Griggs  was  a  native  of 
Flemington,  X.  J.  Sarah  Guliek  was  a  daughter  of 
Minner  Guliek,  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  whose  ancestors  came  to  this  country  from 


Julick,  Germany,  about  1653.  Margaret  Foll- 
mer is  a  daughter  of  Simon  Follmer.  he  a  descend- 
ant of  Michael  Follmer.  one  of  three  brothers  (then 
called  Yollmer)  who  came  from  Bavaria  and  set- 
tled on  what  is  now  the  Reuben  Hoffa  farm,  near 
Follmcr's  Church,  about  1772  or  1773. 

Sarah  A.  (Montgomery)  Eckman,  daughter  of 
II  gh  R.  and  Sarah  S.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  was 
horn  on  the  ■■Lindner"  farm  Sept.  20,  1863"     S 

red  her  education  in  the  common  schools  and 
at  Pottsgrove  Academy.     On  March  1.  1888,  - 
was  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  with  ' 
liam  II.   Eckman,  by   Rev.  J.   0.   George,     'i 
purchased  a  property  in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  where  I 
lived  for  some  years.  Mr.  Eckman  being  connected 
with  the  Pomfrel  Mano]   I    mete]     Company.     In 
dune.  1891,  ti  _  '  i !  farm,  a  beau- 

tiful tract  of  land  lying  near  Pottsgrove,  to  which 
they  removed  in  1893,  and  on  which  they  still  re- 
They  have  since  built  a  handsome  and  com- 
fortable dwelling  on  it  and  have  made  it  a  model 
farm.  Both  ate  membefs  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     They  are  the  -   of  two  children: 

Clara  A.,  who  was  horn  in  Sunbury,  Pa..  Aug.  11. 
'.   and   Mae  Mont-'  iorn   at  Pi 

9,  1904. 

William  II.  Eckman  was  born  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county,  Aug.  "i.  is."..",. 
!h  -  .i  -  hi  of  Peter  Eckman,  who  was  born  near 
Kline-  Grove,  Pa.,  May  10,  1831.  He  was  a  farmer 
nearly  all  his  lite,  but  for  about  fifteen  years  was 
employed  by  tin-  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company. 
He  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
He  died  July  31.  1906,  and  was  buried  at  Sun- 
bury. In  1849  he  married  Angelina  Shipe.  a 
daughter  o  M  lei  and  Judith  (Huberi  \, 
was  born  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  March  13,  1833.  Hi-  grandfa- 
ther, Jacob  Eckman,  was  born  Sept.  22,  1805, 
and  died  April  1'.).  1876,  was  a  native  of  Blooms- 
bury,  X.  d.  <in  July  26,  1826,  he  married  Em- 
ma Guliek,  born  Pee.  6,  1802,  died  April  :.  L88  . 
whose  paternal  ancestors  were  English.  Oh  the 
maternal  side  she  was       -  rom  a  Hugue- 

not family  named  Gauo,  who  fled  from  Franci 
America  during  a  religious  persecution  in  I 
eighteenth  century.  His  great-grandfather. 
Charles  Eckman.  was  lxirn  near  Bloomsbury,  X.  -I .. 
in  1779,  married  Margaret  DeWitt  in  1800,  and 
lived  on  a  farm  near  his  birthplace  till  1807,  when 
he  bought  a  farm  near  Snydertown,  Pa.,  on  which 
they  lived  till  IS  Id.  when  they  exchanged  it  for 
a  farm  near  Klines  Grove,  Pa.,  now  known  as  the 
old  Eckman  home-lead.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  great-great- 
grandfather Eckman  was  an  old  settler  of  War- 
ren county.  X.  .T. :  he  was  the  father  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughter-. 

Daniel  M.  Montgomery,  son  of  Hugh  R.  and 
Sarah   S.    (Moll)    Montgomery,  was  born  on  the 


N'OETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


219 


-  Men"  farm  Sept.  -r,,  I860.  At  the  death  of 
Ins  father  lie  left  the  old  home  and  after  taking 
a  commercial  course  at  Poughkeepsie,  X.  Y. 
cepted  employment  from  the  Pennsylvania  Bail- 
road  Companj  a-  telegrapher.  This  vocation  ho 
followed  for  some  years,  occupying  various  loca- 
tions, mostly  on  the  main  line  between  Harrishurg 
and  Pittsburg.  Be  very  nearly  lost  his  life  in  the 
famous  "Johnstown  flood"  'if  1889.  He  was  in 
the  Conemaugh  lower  at  the  time,  but  fortunately 
he  saw  the  huge  wall  of  water  approaching,  and 
quickly  deserting  the  doomed  locality  he  safel} 
reached  the  hills.  A  minute  after  tower  ami  ail 
were  destroyed.  The  same  year.  1889,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother,  John  S.,  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Pottsgrove,  winch  con- 
tinued until  1901.  lie  then  withdrew  from  the 
firm  and  removed  to  Eazleton,  Pa.,  where  he 
opened  a  store  During  the  rear  he  bought  a  lot 
ai  \.e  ■;:::  W<  -  Broa  I  Street  on  which' lie  built 
a  large  three-story  store  and  dwelling  into  which 
he  moved  the  following  spring,  and  which  he  still 
occupies. 

i>m  \n!'i  i.  L 89 3,  he  married  Mary  L.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Clara  (Hit—)  Moons,  who  was 
horn  in  Lycoming  county  dan.  Lo,  1873.  She  bore 
him  two  children,  Florence  and  .Mildred  May,  both 
of  whom  died  during  infancy.  Unfortunately  his 
wife  went  into  a  decline  which  developed  into  that 
scourge  of  our  race,  consumption,  and  terminated 
fatally  June  30,  L896.  she  is  buried  in  the  family 
plot  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Milton. 

On  Api'il  12,  1899,  he  again  assumed  the  marital 
relation  by  uniting  in  marriage  with  Annie  L.  Le- 
van,  Eev.  II.  P.  Corser  officiating.  They  have  one 
child.  Elwood  Watson,  who  was  born  ai  Potts- 
grove April  I.  1900.  Both  are  members  0 
Presbyterian  <  ihurch. 

Annie  Louisa  Levan  was  born  at  Ottawa,  Pa., 
Jan.   in.  is;;.     She  received  her  education  in  the 

common     scl I-    ami    at     I'.! nsburg     Normal 

School,  graduating  from  the  latter  institution. 
She  is  a  da  tg  itet  ot  C  tarles  D.  ami  Sarah  C. 
(Watson)  Levan,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Chi 
and  Mary  A.  (Follmer)  Levan,  the  former  of 
whom  was  horn  in  southern  France  in  1800,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  America,  where 
died  in   1881. 

William  A.  Montgomery,  son  of  Hugh  1.'.  and 
Sarah  S.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  was  horn  on  the 
"Morgan"  farm  in  Liberty  township  Sept.  ..  L867. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  Pottsgrove 
schools.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1881, 
he  took  charge  of  the  old  home  and  farmed  the 
place,  tints  making  a  home  for  his  motherland 
his  younger  brother  and  sisters.  In  L895 
bought  the  farm  and  occupied  it  for  some  years. 
t'nfortunatelv  he  sustained  a  severe  sunstroke,  the 
results  of  which  compelled  him  to  forego  the  hard 
work  and  exposure  to  the  heat  of  the  stin  incident 


to  the  life  of  tlie   agriculturist.      He   rem  1 
term  and  removed  to  Pottsgrove,  where  hi    ! 
retired  life  until  1901,  when  he  joined  In-  bro 
er,  John  S.,  in  the  mercantile  business  from  which 
he  retired  in   1906.     He  is  a  Presbyterian  and  a 
member  of  the  Odd   Fellow,.      He  is  unmarried. 
II.    Bryson    Montgomery,  son  of  Hugh    R.  and 
Sarah    S.     (Moll)     Montgomery,    was    born    on 
the    "Morgan"    farm    Augusl    27,    1868.      A 
In,  school  days  were  over  he  entered  into  a  1 
1. 11,'  apprenticeship  with  MeKillip  Broth 
tographers,  of   Bloomsburg,   Pa.     At   the  comple- 
11 1'  this  term  he  built  and  operated  a  gall 

■  it  W  illiaimiow  11.  I'a.     lie  continued  here  till  1895, 
when   he  bought  a   lot   at    No.    1  !:;    South    I 
street,  Milton.  Pa.,  on  which  he  erected  a  splendid 

brick  residence  I  gallery,  which  he  occupied  for 

a.  number  of  years,  and  when.'  he  did  probably 
largest  photographic  business  in  the  county.     Ee 
was   an   expert   photographer   and    in   addition   an 
extensive  dealer  in  cameras,  frames  and  other  ac- 

1  1  "ill  Li  ,.       lie   ha,   sold    out    hi-    studio   and    i-    now 

extensively  interested  hi  the  sand  busini  bs. 

On  March  20,  1895,  he  was  united  in  man  is 
by  Rev.  J.  A.  Adams,  to  Sarah  A.  Billmeyer. 
was  born  in  Liberty   township,   near  Oak   Grove, 
Oct.  12,  1870.     She  i-  a  daughter  of  ITenn 
Hannah     (Florce)     Billmeyer,    and    great-gra 
daughter  of  Martin  Billmeyer,  who  with  his  fa 
Martin  Billmeyer,  came  to  what   is  now-   Moj 
county  and  took  up  I  han  a  centu 

large  amount   of  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
ers  dam.  which  still  remain-  in  tin-  posses 
their  descendants.     Both  are  members  of  1 
ity  Lutheran  Church. 

Clara  B.  Montgomery,  daughtet  0    II    jh  B.  and 
Sarah  s.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  was  horn  at  tl 
home  in  Chillisquaque  township,    Nov.   29,    LS 
\iier    completing    tier    education    at    tin 
schools  and  at    Pottsgr 

profession  of  photography,  which  she  learned  with 
her  brother  Bryson  at  Williamstow  0,  b 
pn>\  ing  delii  ate  -he  never  followed  1;  exci  pi  a-  an 
amateur.  She  made  her  home  with  her  mother  al 
Pottsgrove.  During  a  visit  to  Atlantic  City  in 
summer  of  1899  she  contracted  a  cold  which  finally 
terminated  in  that  dread  disease,  consumption. 
Uler    a    lingering    illness,    which    sh 

Christian   fortitude,  her  1 r  young  life  was  cut 

short  by  the  grim  reapet   Juli   2  I,  1 I ' 

the  whole  of  her  brief  lifi  ad  been  an  .1 

earnest,   consisteni    member   of    the    Presbyti 
(  'hiirch.     All   thai   is  mi 

mr  fa  mil;       rcli    to  pass  to  the  great  be- 
yond, now  i  he  i'ann  li    Milton. 

Alice  Jane    1  Montgot  1      1    Sheddan,  di 

■  if  Hugh  R.  and  Sarah  S  (Moll)  Montgomerj .  was 
horn  on  the  old  farm  along  I  I  iiil- 
lisquaque  Dec.  I ;.  is;:;.     She  compli 

m  in  the  comic  -I  1  own- 


220 


X<  >ETHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ship  and  at  Pottsgrove  Academy.  In  addition  she 
took  a  number  of  courses  in  music,  an  art  in  which 
she  became  an  adept.  On  August  12,  1896,  she 
was  joined  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  to  Rev.  Wil- 
liam B.  Sheddan.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Ralph  Montgomery,  born  at  McEwens- 
ville.  Pa.,  June  24,  1897,  and  Boyd  Robert,  born 
at  Little  Oxford.  Warren  Co.,  N.  J.,  Sept.  8,  1902. 

William  Boyd  Sheddan  was  born  at  the  old 
Sheddan  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the  pos- 
session  of  the  family  since  1774,  April  8,  1867. 
He  is  the  only  child  of  John  K.  and  Marietta  J. 
(Wilson)  Sheddan,  and  the  great-grandson  of 
•  lame-  Sheddan,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1744, 
and  who  came  to  America  thirty  years  later,  set- 
tling on  what  is  now  the  Sheddan  homestead.  His 
grandfather,    William    Sheddan,    and    his    wife's 

grandmother,   Sarah   Sheddan   Montg i\.   were 

brother  and  sister.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  first 
taught  school  at  Balls  Mills,  followed  by  a  year 
each  at  Chestnut  Grove  and  Limestoneville.  He 
then  matriculated  at  Bueknell  University,  from 
winch  he  graduated  in  1895,  with  the  degree  of 
Ph.  B.  Then  for  three  years  he  taught  at  Potts- 
grove,  McEwensville  and  Milton.  He  became  a 
student  in  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  and 
completed  the  course  in  1900.  During  this  time 
he  supplied  several  churches.  On  Aug.  18,  1900, 
he  received  a  call  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Oxford.  X.  J.,  and  was  ordaine^  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  same,  Jan.  30,  1901,  and  which 
charge  he  served  till  the  summer  of  1904,  when  he 

; pted   the  position  of  Librarian  at  Princeton 

Theological  Seminary,  removing  to  the  latter  place 
in  August  of  that  year.  His  address  is  No.  5  Lin- 
den Lane,  Princeton,  New  Jersey. 

Concerning  the  children  of  Robert  G.  and  Su- 
san (Nesbit)   Montgomery, 

James  1".  .Montgomery  was  born  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, on  the  old  Montgomery  homestead,  .Ian.  26, 
1862.  lie  lived  at  home  until  the  death  of  his  la- 
ther. Shortly  after  this  event  he  removed  to 
Orangeville.  where  he  worked  at  carpentering.  In 
1883  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Orange  township. 
lie  lived  on  this  until  1903,  when  he  rented  it  and 
moved  to  the  Daniel  McHenry  farm  at  Stillwater, 
where  he  remained  one  year  and  then  returned  to 
In-  own  farm.  On  June  27,  1885,  he  married  Jen- 
nie R.  Sharpless.  who  has  borne  him  the  follow- 
in-  children:  Robert  S.,  born  Dec.  26,  1886; 
Laura  Mav.  born  Oct.  13,  1888  (died  March  27, 
1891)  ;  Clement  D..  horn  Oct.  28,  1890:  Maud  A., 
bora  Sept.  1.  1892;  Wallace  W.,  born  May  (».  1894 
(died  Aug.  15,  iso:,):  William  O,  burn  Feb.  2, 
1896;  Clara  O,  bom  Nov.  27,  189S.  Jennie  R. 
Sharpless  was  born  in  Orangeville,  Pa.,  Oct.  15, 
1865,  daughter  of  Samuel  A.  and  Mary  (Everitt) 
Sharpless. 

Ida  May  (Montgomery)  Swank  was  born  on 
the  old  Montgomery  homestead,  Feb.  8,  1861.    She 


staid  with  her  mother  for  some  years  after  her 
father's  death,  but  finally  left  home  and  learned 
dressmaking.  She  also  lived  for  several  years  with 
the  family  of  Henry  II.  Grotz,  in  Bloomsburg. 
On  April  28,  1887,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Clement  V.  Delong,  of  Orangeville,  but  the  period 
of  her  wedded  life  was  very  brief,  as  he  died  Sept. 
1,  1887.  On  April  26,  1900,  she  again  entered 
the  matrimonial  ranks,  taking  for  her  life  partner 
Dill  L.  Swank. '  They  at  once  moved  into  their 
own  house  in  Fernville,  near  Bloomsburg,  where 
lived  until  1901,  when  they  rented  it  and 
moved  to  Hazleton,  where  Mr.  Swank  had  accepted 
a  situation  as  foreman  in  a  large  woodworking 
plant.  Their  <  hild.  •  ieoige  Nol.it.  horn  March  4, 
1902,  they  were  unfortunate  enough  to  lose  by 
death,  from  cholera  infantum,  July  3,  1902. 

I  Mil  L.  Swank  was  born  at  Hetlerville,  Pa., 
March  16,  1865,  son  of  Obadiah  and  Elizabeth 
(Kirkendall)  Swank,  grandson  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Hutchins)  Swank  and  great-grandson 
of  John  and  Catherine   (Hover)    Swank. 

John  C.  Montgomery  was  born  in  Liberty  town- 
ship. Dec.  19,  1867.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  lived  for  a  number  of  years  with  William  Curry 
at  Mausdale.  Being  of  an  economical  and  sav- 
ing disposition,  he  accumulated  quite  a  sum  of 
money,  with  which,  with  his  patrimony,  be  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  known  as  the  "Beaver" 
farm,  located  in  Pine  township.  Columbia  Co., 
l'a.  Here  be  lived  for  some  time  following  farm- 
ing and  lumbering.  But  owing  either  to  misman- 
agement or  the  dishonesty  of  others,  or  both,  he 
was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  all  his  property. 
Thinking  be  might  succeed  better  elsewhere,  he 
located  at  (  laymount.  111.,  where  be  still  resides. 
He  is  a  farmer,  and  so  far  as  is  known  he  is  un- 
married. 

Zelma  Ague-  i  Montgomery)  Smith,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Daniel  W.  and  Margaret  (Curry)  Mont- 
gomery, was  born  in  Orangeville.  Pa..  Jan.  19, 
i  s  I ; . 

James  B.  Montgomery,  son  of  Dr.  Daniel  W.  and 
Margaret  (Curry)  Montgomery,  was  born  in  Or- 
angeville July  6,  1819.  He  received  bis  education 
at  Orangeville  Academy,  Bloomsburg  Institute, 
Dickinson  Seminary  and  Pougbkeepsie  Business 
College.  For  many  years  he  has  followed  the  hon- 
orable calling  nf  tiller  of  the  soil,  although  he 
does  the  directing  rather  than  the  actual  labor, 
and  owns  and  manages  several  of  the  handsomest 
Farms  in  the  county,  of  which  be  is  justly  proud. 
He  lives  in  Orangeville,  in  the  house  built  by  his 
father  a  half  century  or  more  ago.  He  is  no  politi- 
cian, but  takes  an  active  part,  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  his  native  town :  is  a  member  of 
the  council  of  Orangeville  borough.  In  1871  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E.  Lee,  who  has 
home  him  three  children:  Mary  Grace,  born  Feb. 
IS.  18?'i:  Cora  Agnes,  horn  Nov.  25,  1875:  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


221 


James  Curry,  born  Oct.  17,  1877.     All  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Mary  Elizabeth  Lee  was  born  in  Scott  township, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  in  October,  1851,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  .Mary  E.  (Liyler)  Lee  and  grand- 
daughter of  David  and  Susanna  Lee. 

S.  PIERCE  BOYER,  fanner,  of  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  Northumberland  county,  lives  on 
part  of  the  old  homestead  of  his  grandfather,  Peter 
Borer,  who  moved  to  this  county  in  1831  with  his 
family.  The  Boycrs  are  from  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  the  name  lias  long  been  a  representative  one. 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  Boyer  family  was 
John  Philip  Beyer,  who  came  from  the  Palatinate 
to  Philadelphia  in  1731,  with  a  number  of  chil- 
dren. He  settled  in  Frederick  township.  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.,  but  later  lived  in  Amity  township. 
in  the  lower  end  of  Berks  county,  where  he  died 
in  the  spring  of  1753,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Swamp  Lutheran  Church,  and  was 
buried  by  the  pastor.  K<v.  Henry  Melchior  Muh- 
lenberg, who  reports  the  matter  fully  in  the  "Hal- 
leschen  Nachrichten."  His  will  is  on  record  at 
the  Philadelphia  courthouse,  and  in  it  some  of  his 
children  are  named.  Among  his  sons  were  Jacob, 
the  ancestor  of  the  Boyertown  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily; and  Johann  Heinrich. 

Johann  Heinrich  Boyer  was  born  in  1711,  in 
the  Pfalz.  Germany,  and  died  May  2,  1814,  in  the 
one  hundredth  year  of  his  age.  In  1743  he  was 
married  to  Magdalena  Kin  liner,  and  among  his 
children — six  sons  and  one  daughter — were  Philip 
and  Heinrich. 

Philip  Boyer,  horn  Dec.  14,  1754,  died  July  31, 
1832.  llis  wite,  Christiana,  who  was  born  in  1754, 
also  died  in  1832,  and  both  were  buried  in  the  old 
graveyard  at  Amityville.  Philip  Boyer  made  a 
will  the  year  before  his  death,  while  a  resident  of 
Amity  township,  and  in  it  he  mentions  the  follow- 
ing children:  Michael;  Jacob,  who  had  a  sob 
I'hi'lip:  John;  Peter;  Mary,  married  to  George 
Koch;  and  Daniel,  horn  in  1792,  who  died  in  1825. 

Peter  Boyer,  son  of  Philip,  was  horn  in  Amity 
township,  Berks  county,  and  in  1831  came  to 
Northumberland  county  with  his  wife  and  family, 
which  then  consisted  of  twelve  children,  the  young- 
est two  having  been  horn  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, where  they  settled.  His  170-acre  farm  in 
that  township  is  now  owned  by  one  Frank  Phillips. 
Later  he  moved  to  Dauphin  county,  where  he 
owned  a  valuable  farm  and  mill  property  for  which 
he  paid  $12,000,  and  he  died  in  that  county  about 
1850-51,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  is 
buried  at  Hoffman's  Church,  in  Lykens  township. 
Dauphin  county.  Though  a  stonemason  by  trade, 
he  was  engaged  principally  in  farming,  in  which 
he  was  very  successful  and  prosperous.  He  was 
a  strong  man,  noted  for  his  courageous  dispo/ 
and  was  known  locally  as  "Wammas"  Boyer.     His 


wife,  Catharine  Herb,  also  of  Berks  county,  lived 
i"  the  age  of  eighty-four.  They  were  the  parents 
of  fourteen  children,  as  follows:  Benjamin,  Sally, 
Elias,  Isaac.  Rachel,  Mary,  Hettie,  Gabriel,  Abra- 
ham, Catharine,  Josiah  and  Benneville  (twins), 
John  and  Leah,  the  two  last  named  horn  in  North- 
umberland county. 

John  Boyer,  probably  an  uncle  of  Peter  Lover. 
above,   served  as  a  soldier   in  the   Revolution 
war. 

Abraham  Boyer.  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in 
Amity  township,  Berks  county,  and  came  with  the 
family  hi  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  active  ami  successful 
life  with  the  exception  of  the  years  he  was  at 
Millerstown,  Perry  county.  Like  the  Boyers  gen- 
erally, he  was  noted  fur  his  industry  and  thrift, 
and  he  became  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  town-hip.  owning  about  500 
aires  of  land,  lie  died  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship Sept.  28,  1894.  Abraham  Boyer  married  Cath- 
arine Anderson,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  I  liar- 
rold)  Anderson,  and  to  them  were  horn  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  S.  Pierce;  Amelia,  who  married 
Henry  Kieffer.  of  Dauphin  county.  Pa.:  John. 
deceased;  Elias  D.,  of  Limestone,  Upper  Augusta 
township,  this  county;  Hannah,  married  to  John 
Lahr,  of  Pillow.  Pa.:  ami  Peter,  of  Pillow. 

S.    Pierce   Buyer   was   born   Jan.    12,    1853,    in 
Millerstown.    Perry    Co..    Pa.,   and   was   but    four 
weeks  old  when  the  family  returned  to  Northum- 
berland county,  where  he  was  reared  to  farm  life. 
I  h   worked  for  his  parents  until  he  was  thirty  ;. 
old.  when  he  left  home  and  began  farming  on  his 
own    accbunl    in    Jordan    township,    as    a    tenant. 
Some  years  later  he  and  his  brother  Elias  bought 
a   tract  of  seventy-one  acres   near    Mandata,    Pa., 
in  partnership,  and   S.    Pierce   Boyer  farmed  this 
trad  for  twelve  years,  until  he  settled  on  his  pn  -- 
out   place  in  Lower   Mahanoj    township   in    L894. 
lie  has  a  trad  of   L09  acres  near   Mandata  which 
was  at  one  time  pari   of  the  "Id  homestead  oi 
grandfather,  Peter  Boyer,  and  which  has  been  in 
the  family  name  for  many  years.    The  barn  on  this 
place  was  built  by  his  father.  Abraham  Boyer,  and 
ih,.  presenl  ■>«  u<-y  has  remodeled  the  bouse,  v. 
is  a  comfortable  dwelling.    The  place  is  well 
up  and  Mr.  Boyer    5  8      pit  al  member  of  bis  fam- 
ilv.  enterprising   and   i  nei  s*ei  ic   in   all   he 
takes  and  prosperous   in  his   farming  operations. 
lie   has    taken    some    part    in    local    affairs,    having 
served  three  years  as  school  director  of  the  town- 
ship ami  also  as  tas  collector,     lie  is  a   Dei  oi  rat 

in  politics.     Mr.  Boyer  has  I n  quite  promii 

fairs,  he  being  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed congregation  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church,  -  ed   ;l~  membi 

council  for  ten  yea 

In    March,    1883,    Mr.    B  uric!    Si 

Michael,  daug    b  •  oi  Jacob  and  Catharine  i  Bo 


XOBTUUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Michael,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  who  had 
a  family  of  six  children,  namely:  John,  William. 
Mary  (Mrs.  George  Philips),  Susan,  Isaac  and 
Sarah.  Mrs.  Boyer  died  April  14,  1893,  at  the 
age  of  forty-two  years,  the  mother  of  two  children: 
Katie,  unmarried,  who  lives  in  Sunbury.  Pa.;  and 
Carrie,  who  is  living  with  her  parents.  Mr.  Boyer 
married  for  his  second  wife  Ella  Drumheller, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Drumheller,  and  to  this 
union  there  was  one  child,  born  dead. 

Petek  Boyer,  youngesl  son  of  Abraham  Boyer, 
u. i-  born  April  15,  1m:;.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  readied 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  He  subsequently 
fanned  same  seven  years  as  a  tenant  mi  the  John 
Haas  farm,  three  miles  east  of  Milton,  Pa.  In 
L902  in-  settled  in  Jordan  township  on  the  valu- 
able farm  of  286  acres,  near  Hebe,  which  he  has 
since  occupied  and  cultivated.  Besides  this  place 
lie  owns  other  land,  having  in  all  321  acres,  of 
which  209  acres  are  under  cultivation.  In  addi- 
tion to  farming  he  is  engaged  to  some  extent  in 
lumbering,  and  he  has  also  been  interested  in 
building,  having  put  tip  five  houses  in  Sunbury 
during  1907-08. 

Mr.  Boyer  married  Catharine  Troutman,  and 
they  have  five  children  :  (1)  William  If.,  born  July 
30,  L882,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  took  a 
course  at  Keller's  business  college,  at  Lewisburg, 
Pa.,  taught  public  school  for  live  terms,  and  has 
since  held  his  present  position,  being  rural  letter 
carrier  Xo.  1,  of  Pillow.  Pa.  He  married  Minnie 
3  meeker,  and  they  have  three  children.  Hazel. 
Helen  and  Vivian.  They  live  a  half  mile  west  of 
Pillow.  (2)  John  ('.  bom  Aug.  13,  1884;  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  a  while  and  then  turned 
to  tin'  raising  of  fancy  poultry  and  lumbering. 
He  lives  on  his  place  at  Klingerstown,  Pa.  He 
married  Jennie  S.  Wiest,  and  they  ha\.e  three  chil- 
dren. Mildred.  Margaret  and  Evelyn.  (3)  Silas 
X..  born  Pec.  1">.  ls.st;.  lives  at  home  with  his 
parents.  He  is  a  prominent  young  farmer  and 
raiser  of  swine.  (4|  Chauncey  E.,  born  Dee.  26, 
1889,  lives  with  his  parents,  and  devotes  mosi  of 
his  time  to  cattle  and  horse  raising;  he  is  also 
assistant  rural  carrier  at  Pillow.  (■">)  Ramsey  E.. 
born  May  31,  1894,  living  with  his  parents,  is  par- 
ticularly interested  in  machinery. 


Benjamin    Boyer,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  Aug. 

8,  1813,  in  Amity  township.  Berks  county,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, locating  with  them  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. He  was  reared  to  farming,  which  was  always 
his  principal  vocation,  though  during  his  early 
manhood  he  taught  school  for  a  time.  When 
twenty-five  years  old  he  married  and  began  farm- 
ing on  his  father's  place,  which  he  purchased 
some  time  later,  this  farm  comprising  about  one 
hundred  acres,  in  addition  to  which  he  owned  two 


other  farms.  He  prospered  greatly  in  his  work. 
and  continued  farming  until  eight  years  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  Dec.  10,  1887,  when  he  was 
seventy-four  years  old.  His  wife,  Catharine  Stein, 
bom  An-.  14.  1814,  died  Sept.' 27,  -1887.  The] 
were  members  of  the  Stone  Valley  Union  Church 
in  which  he  held  various  offices.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boyer  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being:  Elias,  of 
Dalmatia,  Pa. ;  John,  deceased,  who  was  a  resi- 
lient of  Lykens  valley,  in  Dauphin  county;  Han- 
nah,'Mrs.  William  Seller:  Emeline,  Mrs.  Emanuel 
Lark;  Caroline.  Mrs.  .Jeremiah  Lenker ;  Benja- 
min Adam:  and  Daniel,  deceased,  who  lived  in 
Jordan  township. 

Bexjamin*  Adam  Boteh,  son  of  Benjamin, 
was  born  March  17,  L853,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  now  lives,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  is  a  typical  dark  •"complected"  Boyer. 
and  a  representative  member  of  a  family  noted 
for  enterprise  and  progressive  industry.  In  his 
early  boyhood  he  attended  both  subscription  and 
free  schools,  and  later  was  a  pupil  at  the  Free- 
burg  Academy,  in  Snyder  county,  profiting  so  well 
by  his  advantages  that  when  sixteen  he  began 
ea<  nne- — at  McKee's  school  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  In  1874  he  began  farming  on  the 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, a  tract  id'  150  acres  made  up  of  two  farms, 
the  part  on  which  he  lives  having  formerly  been 
his  father's  place,  the  other,  which  comprises  sixty- 
six  acres,  having  become  his  by  purchase.  The 
former  part  was  originally  a  Leffler  homestead, 
was  next  acquired  by  the  Bowman  family,  and 
then  came  into  the  possession  of  Benjamin  Boyer, 
father  of  the  present  owner,  who  built  a  new  resi- 
dence thereon  in  1894.  It  replaced  the  old  log 
bouse  which  had  stood  for  a  little  over  a  hundred 
years,  having  been  erected  by  the  Lefflers,  the 
pioneer  settlers  on  this  land.  Mr.  Boyer  was 
formerly  somewhat  extensively  engaged  in  the 
burning  id'  lime,  as  much  as  24,000  bushels  per 
annum.  He  gave  employment  to  as  many  as  four 
men.  and  has  throughout  his  active  career  proved 
himself  a  competent  business  man.  He  has  been 
supervisor  of  his  township  since  190.").  Mr.  Boyer 
and  his  children  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  Mrs.  Lover  uniting  with  the  Lutheran 
Church.     He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

In  1873  Mr.  Boyer  married  Lizzie  Coleman, 
daughter  of  John  and.  Catharine  (Arte)  Coleman. 
granddaughter  of  John  Coleman  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Charles  Coleman.  Two  children  have 
been  bom  to  them:  Charles  T.  is  a  graduate  of 
the  State  Normal  school  at  Bloomsburg  and  of 
Liickiiell  University,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged 
in  teaching  public  school  and  in  a  business  college 
at  Baltimore,  but  he  is  now  following  his  profes- 
sion of  civil  engineer,  being  a  member  of  an  en- 
gineer corps  at  Altoona.  Pa. :  John  Benjamin  is  a 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  \ SYLVAN  I  A 


22  ; 


graduate  of  the  HI usburg  State  Normal  school 

and  of  Bueknell  University,  and  is  a  highly  suc- 
cessful teacher,  being  at  present  principal  of  the 
high  school  at  Milroy,  Mifflin  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

JOHN  B.  LARK,  M.  D.,  physician  of  Trevor- 
ton,  has  practiced  at  that  location  for  the  past  five 
years,  having  settled  there  in  1906.  Be  has  built 
up  a  large  patronage  in  the  town  and  surrounding 
territory,  where  he  has  become  well  and  favorably 
known  for  his  skill  and  devotion  to  his  work.  Dr. 
Lark  was  horn  Dec.  L8,  1876,  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  near  Millersburg,  but  has  passed  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  Northumberland  county. 

The  Lark  family  is  of  Swiss  origin.  George 
Lark,  the  Doctor's  gn  at  -grandfather,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county,  and  became  a 
farmer  there,  tie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years,  and  is  buried  at  Buffington  Church  in  his 
native  township.  He  married  Elizabeth  Enter- 
line,  who  married  (second)  Captain  Snyder,  of 
Lvkons  township,  Dauphin  county.  Alter  the 
death  of  her  second  husband  she  made  her  home 
with  her  son  George,  and  died  there  aged  seventy- 
five  years.  To  George  and  Elizabeth  Lark  were 
'horn  four  children:  Amos  and  Elizabeth  died 
young;  John  is  mentioned  below;  George  settled 
at  Berrysburg,  as  a  merchant,  and  was  the  father 
of  Leon.  Elizabeth,  Edward,  William  B.,  Mamie, 
Annie  and  Clara. 

John  Lark,  son  of  George,  was  horn  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Mifflin  township.  Feb.  7,  1S26.  He 
learned  the  stonemason's  trade  when  a  young  man. 
but  never  followed  it.  He  devoted  Ids  time  to 
fanning,  and  died  in  Salina.  Saline  Co.,  Hans., 
aged  seventy-two  years,  and  is  buried  there,     lie 

married  Leah   SI p.  daughter  of  Jacob   Shoop, 

and  they  had  two  children.  George,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Emanuel  S. 

Emanuel  S.  Lark,  son  of  John,  was  horn  in  Miff- 
lin township,  on  the  same  farm  on  which  both  his 
lather  and  grandfather  were  born,  Feb.  8,  1853. 
lli>  attended  the  local  schools,  Preeburg  Academy, 
in  Snyder  county.  Berrysburg  Seminary  and  Mil- 
lersburg  Academy,  lie  taught  ten  terms  of  school 
in  Dauphin  ami  Northumberland  counties,  and 
was  very  successful  as  an  instructor.  Turning  his 
attention  to  farming  on  the  old  homestead.  In 
inained  there  for  three  rears,  after  which  he 
farmed  for  one  year  in  Jackson  township.  North- 
umberland county,  and  then  lived  two  year 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
tv.  In  1880  he  came  to  Shamokin.  and  found  em- 
ployment in  the  mines,  where  he  remained  about 
six  years.  The  next  live  years  he  passed  m  a  gen- 
eral hauling  business,  ami  the  succeeding  live  years 
a-  conductor  on  a  freight  train  for  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  Railroad  Company.  On  Oct.  1. 
1  !><>;),  he  assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  position. 
that  of  superintendent  of  the  Shamokin  cemetery, 


and  his  efficiency  is  well  attested  by  the  carefully 

kept  condition  of  that  beautiful  city  of  the  dead. 

His    residence   is   at    53    Marshall    street.      lie    i-    a 

member  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church. 

Mr.  Lark  has  been  twice  married.  In  1873  he 
married  Emeline  Boyer,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Catharine  (Stine)  Boyer,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  of  French  Huguenot 
ancestry,  later  settling  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  Mrs.  Lark  was 
horn  Oct.  -21.  1847,  and  died'  April  9,  Is'.".'.,  and 
was  buried  in  Shamokin  cemetery.  The  follow- 
ing children  were  born  of  this  union:  Charles  C, 
now  a  practicing  attorney,  id'  Shamokin:  Carrie 
('..  who  died  aged  eighteen  years;  John  B. :  Leah 
1!..  horn  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  living  witli 
her  father:  H.  Wilson  and  Thomas  ]■'..  overall 
manufacturers  at  Shamokin.  trading  under  the 
Jinn  name  of  Lark  &  Lark:  Edward  11..  a  sales- 
man lor  hark  &  Lark.  Emanuel  S.  Lark  married 
i  second  I  tfov.  12,  1908,  .Mr-.  Margarel  Unpleby, 
daughter  of  "William  and  Susan  AVeitzel. 

John  B.  Lark  was  a  young  child  when  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Shamokin.  where  he  received  his 
literary  education  in  the  public  schools,  graduat- 
ing from  the  high  school  in  1895.  He  then  taught 
school  for  six  terms,  live  in  Cameron  township,  this 
county,  and  one  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  after 
which  he  entered  upon  his  medical  course,  tit  the 
Medico-Chirargical  College  of  Philadelphia. 
Graduating  from  that  institution  in  the  year  1905, 
he  first  located  at  Shamokin.  where  he  practiced 
only  about  eight  months,  coming  to  Trevorton  in 
1906.  He  has  found  a  large  held  of  work  at  Ids 
present  location,  ami  has  been  most  successful  in 
retaining  the  confidence  of  his  patients.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Northumberland  County  Medical 
Society,  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  holds 
fraternal  association  with  the  Independent  Order 
el  odd  fellows,  i-  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  on  political  questions  supports 
Republican  party. 

Dr.  Lark  was  married.  Feb.  19,  1907,  to  Harriet 
M.  Strieker,  daughter  id'  G.  II.  Strieker,  a  well 
known  merchant  tailor  of  Shamokin.  The]  have 
had  two  children:  George,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven  months,  three  day- ;  and  John. 

WILLIAM     K I EFER,   Jr.,    who-,  ■    it  on 

with  various  business  and  financial  institutions  of 
Mount  (  'armel  has  made  him  well  known  in  many 
lines  of  enterprise,  has  spent  practically  all  his  ac- 
tive vears  in  thai  borough.  Ho  began  humbly, 
with  nothing  hut  his  trade  to  rely  upon,  hut  by  in- 
telligent and  progressive  management  has  enlarged 
lus  field  of  operations  and  acquired  interests  h  I 
class   him   among   i    ■  ign      ive  and   influ- 

ential element   in  the  place. 

Mr.  Kiet'er  was  hoi  ii  Nov.  9,  L859,  at  Schuylkill 


221 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Haven,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
Kiefer,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
in  1850.  He  received  his  education  in  public  school 
at  Frackville,  in  his  native  county,  and  learned  the 
butcher's  trade  under  his  father,  remaining  in 
Schuylkill  county  until  1878,  when  he  settled  at 
Mount  Carmel.  Here  he  was  employed  for  some 
time  by  Charles  K.  Maurer,  who  established  the 
first  meat  market  in  Mount  Carmel,  and  on  Oct. 
20,  1885,  he  entered  the  same  line  of  business  on 
his  own  account.  By  1889  he  had  prospered  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  was  able  to  build  the  sub- 
stantial three-story  building  at  No.  COS  South  Oak 
street  where  he  has  since  been  located,  his  store 
occupying  the  ground  floor,  which  has  been  spe- 
cially equipped  for  the  business.  Five  years  after 
lie  began  business  on  his  own  account  his  brother 
Thomas  entered  into  partnership  with  him.  and 
they  have  since  continued  together  under  the  firm 
name  of  Kiefer  Brothers.  They  have  built  up  their 
business  until  they  are  considered  the  leading 
butchers  in  Mount  Carmel.  They  run  five  delivery 
wagons,  do  their  own  killing,  and  conduct  everj 
branch  of  their  work  in  the  most  progressive  man- 
ner, a  fact  which  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  un- 
broken success  this  firm  has  enjoyed. 

Mr.  William  Kiefer  has  become  interested  in  so 
many  local  public  utilities  that;  his  name  is  identi- 
fied with  a  great  variety  of  enterprises.  He  is  vice 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mount 
Carmel:  treasurer  of  the  Shamokin  &  Mount  Car- 
mel Transit  Company;  treasurer  of  the  Locust  Gap 
Trolley  Company;  treasurer  of  the  Mount  Carmel 
Cement  Block  Company,  director  of  the  Mount 
Carmel  Water  Company,  of  the  People's  Building 
&  Loan  Association,  and  of  the  Edison  Illuminat- 
ing Company  of  Mount  Carmel.  Socially  he  is 
a  thirty-second-degree  Mason,  belonging  to  Mount 
Carmel  Lodge,  No.  378,  1".  &  A.  M.,  Williamsporf 
Consistory,  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S. 
He  is  a  Democrat  but  not  active  in  politics,  though 
he  has  served  one  term  as  school  director. 

On  Dec.  15,  1887,  Mr.  Kiefer  married  Mary  A. 
Eddy,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Lydia  (Wolcock) 
Eddy,  of  Shamokin,  and  they  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom,  Roy.  William  ami  Grace,  are 
deceased.  The  survivors  are  Frederick,  Dorothy 
and  Frank.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious 
connection. 

Peter  Eddy,  father  of  Mrs.  Kiefer.  was  a  native 
of  England,  horn  in  1828,  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man.  He  settled  at  Minersville, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  mining  for  many 
years,  later  moving  to  Shamokin,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  ended  his  days  Aug.  13. 
1896.  He  married  Lydia  Wolcock,  daughter  of 
William  Wolcock,  and  their  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  namely :  Peter,  William,  John, 
Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Kiefer),  Newton.  Amelia,  Joseph 
and  George. 


K1MBER  CLEAVER  M<  WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 
The  McWilliams  family  has  been  located  in  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.,  for  140  years,  and  those  of 
the  name  have  been  substantial  and  industrious 
men  and  women  who  have  lived  upright  lives,  use- 
ful to  the  community  in  their  respective  callings. 
At  the  present  time  at  Shamokin  is  found  Dr. 
Kimber  Cleaver  McWilliams.  a  successful  physi- 
cian, vice  president  and  director  of  the  Coal  Town- 
ship Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  director  of 
the  Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company, 
and  an  official  in  several  other  important  corpor- 
ations. 

William  McWilliams  came  to  America  from 
County  Armagh,  Ireland,  and  settled  at  Bristol. 
Bucks  Co..  Pa.,  between  1740  and  1750.  With 
him  came  his  widowed  mother,  his  sister  Hannah, 
and  brother  John.  William  McWilliams  became 
a  pioneer  settler  in  Turbut  township.  Northum- 
berland county,  settling  then'  soon  after  the  In- 
dian purchase  of  1768.  In  the  Pennsylvania  Ar- 
chives he  is  mentioned  as  having  taken  out  a  war- 
rant for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  1772  and 
again  in  17  7-1  a  warrant  for  306  acres.  This  tract 
was  in  the  region  known  as  Chillisquaque,  and 
here  he  made  his  home  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  during  the  Indian 
troubles,  Mr.  McWilliams  and  his  family  were 
obliged  to  flee  to  Fori  Augusta  for  protection,  but 
soon  returned  to  their  farms.  He  supported  the 
cause  of  the  colonies  during  the  war.  having  ap- 
peared before  Robert  Martin  at  Northumberland 
and  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  as  shown  by  the 
following  certificate,  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
family:  "Northumberland  County:  I  do  here- 
by certify  that  William  McWilliams  hath 
voluntarily  taken  and  subscribed  the  Oath 
of  Allegiance  and  Fidelity  as  directed  by  an 
Act  of  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  passed 
the  13th  day  of  June.  1777.  Witness  my  Hand 
and  Seal  The  12th  day  of  November  Anno  Dom- 
ini 17  7  7.     Bobt.  Martin."     [L.  S.] 

Mr.  McWilliams  died  Jan.  11.  1819,  aged  eighty 
years.  He  married  Sarah  Johnston,  who  died  Oct. 
6,  1S06,  aged  fifty-two  years.  Be  was  a  Presby- 
terian in  religious  faith.  His  children  were  :  Han- 
nah, born  Oct.  3,  17  71:  James.  Sept.  27.  177::: 
Thomas,  Nov.  27.  177.".;  Mary,  Oct.  3,  1777  (mar- 
ried A.  Cruise);  Eleanor,  Feb.  3.  1780  (married 
John  Scout)  ;  William.  April  21.  1782  (died  Nov. 
-.'1.  is:.:',);  John.  June  28,  1784  (died  July  30. 
L849);  Samuel.  Aug.  13.  17S6;  Philip,  Oct,  20. 
I  :  88  :  David,  Jan.  19.  1791  ;  Robert.  Feb.  3,  179:1 : 
Sarah  Johnson.  1795;  and  Joseph  Watt.  June  17. 
L797. 

David  McWilliams.  son  of  William,  born  Jan. 
19,  1791,  followed  farming,  as  did  his  father,  all 
his  life.  He  was  first  located  in  Turbut  township, 
but  soon  after  his  marriage  he  located  at  Elysburg, 
where  he  became  quite  prominent.     He  died  July 


7t.  ■&•  1m*  "  Uu^M^A^jum. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN]  \ 


225 


2,  1856.  He  married  Jane  Craig,  born  Aug.  19, 
L798,  died  Sept.  29,  1882,  daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Johnston)  Craig.  Nine  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  as  follows:  William  Watt;  Dr. 
John  Craig,  win.  married  Esther  Schindler,  and 
has  a  daughter  Ida  (married  Alfred  Evans)  ; 
Robert,  who  died  aged  seven  wars;  David  N"ich- 
"1.  who  married  Cecilia  Levers:  Sarah,  who 
married  Joseph  T.  John;  Chittillon,  who  married 
Margarel  Kase;  Ellen,  who  married  Joseph  B. 
Craig;  Aquilla,  who  died  unmarried;  and  .lane, 
unmarried. 

William  Watt  McWilliams,  son  of  David,  was 
horn  July  -.'I,  L821,  and  died  June  1.  1879.  lie 
was  educated  in  Milton  Academy,  and  became  a 
civil  engineer,  a  calling  he  followed  all  his  active 
life.  He  assisted  in  laying  out  the  borough  of 
Shamokin.  and  was  employed  in  making  the  sur- 
vev  of  the  railroad  from  Shamokin  to  Sunhurv. 
associated  with  lumber  Cleaver,  lie  surveyed 
many  of  the  mines  and  early  coal  lands,  and  maps 
were  made  from  his  measurements.  He  was  very 
accurate  in  his  work,  ami  had  a  wide  reputation 
lor  efficiency.  He  look  an  active  interest  in  edu- 
cation, and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Elys- 
burg  Academy.  For  many  years  he  was  an  elder  in 
t  hi'  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  always  found 
cooperating  in  any  measure  tending  toward  the 
welfare  id'  the  community.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican,  hut  never  held  political  office.  On 
Oct.  13,  is:,:;.  ,,,  Danville,  Montour  Co..  Pa., 
he  married  Catharine  Caldwell,  horn  Dec.  15, 
1831,  died  Sept.  7,  1890,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Caldwell  (horn  Ma\  I.  1800,  died  Fell.  II,  1856) 
and  his  wile  Martha  (horn  1798,  died  May  7, 
1845).  To  this  union  were  horn  five  children: 
(I)  Clifton  Craig,  horn  dune  -.'(I,  1855,  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Elysburg  Acadenry,  and  made  agri- 
culture his  life'  work.  On  March  I'.'.  L879,  he 
married  Georgians  Jefferis,  and  they  had  c-hil- 
dren:  Mary  C,  horn  Feb.  3,  1880  (died  in  in- 
fancy); William  C,  horn  April  18,  1881;  Eliza- 
beth) horn  Oct.  10,  1884  :  Howard  C,  horn  Feb. 
11,  1881  :  Benjamin  J.,  horn  June  17,  1892  (died 
Oct.  2,  1910)  :  and  Ralph  C  horn  Aug.  25,  L894. 
CO  Kin, her  Cleaver  was  horn  Oct.  7,  1857.  (3) 
David  Alexander,  born  Aug.  15,  is:,!),  .lied  at  the 
Presbyterian  Hospital,  Philadelphia,  Sept.  20, 
1904.'  He  graduated  from  Dickinson  Seminary, 
and  studied  law  at  Minneapolis,  where  he  prac- 
ticed for  several  years,  later  entering  McCormick 
Theological  Seminary.  Chicago,  and  becoming  a 
Presbyterian  minister.  He  was  later  professoT  of 
History  and  Sociolog;  at  Lincoln  University,  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  married  Ada  E.  Cuss,  and  had 
children,  Craig,  David  B.,  William  and  Stewart. 
His  widow  resides  at  Mifflinburg,  Pa.  (4)  Cora 
Rebecca  was  horn  Sept.  22,  1862.  (5)  William  O. 
born  .Ink  25,  1867,  died  aged  three  years. 

Dr.    Limber   Cleaver    McWilliams   was  born   at 

15 


Elysburg  Oct.  7,  is:.;,  and  alien. led  the  public 
schools  and  Elysburg  Academy,  where  he  taughi 
school  for  a  ti lie  began 'the  stud;  of  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  s.  F.  Gilbert,  at  Elysburg,  and 
later  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Phila- 
delphia, I'n.ni  which  he  graduated  in  1884.  He 
'"'.-•in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mainville. 
Columbia  county,  hut  remained  there  od1|  two 
months,  lie  then  located  at  Snydertown,  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  continued  lor  two 
years.  In  lssc,  be  located  at  Shamokin.  hut  hav- 
ing decided  to  devote  himself  to  sp.-.-ial  diseases 
lie  went  to  Philadelphia  m  1892  and  pra<  ticed 
there  three  years,  ai  the  same  time  taking  special 
lei  lores  ..n  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear.  nose  and  throat, 
at  Jefferson  hospital.  During  the  List  year  of  his 
stay  in  that  city  he  was  chid  assistanl  at  the  eye 
clinic  at  the  Polyclinic  hospital,  and  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Beacon  dispensary  during  the  0 

years  he  was  there.  On  completing  his  course  he 
returned  to  Shamokin.  and  has  met  with  greai 
success  in  his  specialties. 

The  Doctor  has  been  active  in  the  business  as 
well  as  in  the  professional  world.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company; 
vice  president  and  director  of  the  Coal  Township 
Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  and  director  of 
the  Greenough  Coal  &  Coke  Company.  In  1901!  he 
completed  a  fine  apart ineiii  house  on  Independence 

street,  Shamokin,  which  contains  121   r it-     The 

lower  floor  is  given  over  t.,  stores.  This  is  one  of 
the  finest  apartment  houses  in  central  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  is  looked  upon  as  a  shrewd  business 
man,  of  good  execut  ive  ability. 

Dr.  M. •Williams  takes  an  active  pari  in  the  work 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics  i-  a 
Republican.  On  Oct.  1 1.  1887,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  .1.  Chester,  ..f  Shamokin. 
They  have  three  children  :  lloldeii  (  'hester,  boi  n 
July  12,  lsss.  a  -indent  at  Princeton  University  : 
Kiinhor  Cleaver,  horn  .Inly  l  I.  1890,  a  student  at 
Princeton  I  Diversity  :  and  ( Hifton  Alexander,  born 
May  s.  1896,  attending  Lawrericeville  School. 

John  Craig,  great-grandfather  of  the  Doctor, 
married  Margaret  Johnson,  and  had  children: 
John,  horn  \..\.  ;,  L794;  Alexander,  born  .km  i. 
1796 :  .lane,  horn  Aug.  19,  I  ?98  :  Margaret,  horn 
t'ch.  i.  1800:  ami  .lam.-  (died  young). 

Catharine  Carmichael,  great-grandmother  of  the 
Doctor,  was  born  in  L766  ami  died  in  L850.  -  ■ 
married   John    Caldwell,   ami    was    the    mother   of 

Marl  ha.   w  ife   of    Alexander  (  al.lwell. 

AVDI.'KU  I..  Bl  CHER,  who  is  farming  his 
father's  ..I. I  homestead  in  Washington  township, 
i-  a   2 randson   of   I  lieti  i    Bu.      r,  the  ancestor  of 

a   prominent   branch  of  the  Buchel       ■><  main    of 

u  hose  ne1:  bi  nd  in  \ori  humberland 

,.,,uiii  \.     i  )n,-  bran.  ed   in   Lower   Malm 

township. 


226 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


The  Bucher  family  lias  Ions  been  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  homes  of  the  earlier  members 
being  in  Lancaster  and  Montgomery  counties. 
Dieter  Bucher  was  a  native  of  Limerick  township, 
Montgomery  county,  whence  he  came  to  the  Ma- 
hantango  Valley,  in  Northumberland  county,  pur- 
chasing 'two  farms  lying  along  tin-  creek,  from 
Uniontown  to  the  county  line.  He  never  lived 
there  any  length  of  time,  however,  dying  in  his 
native  district.  His  son  Andrew  lived  upon  one 
iese  farms  for  some  years,  and  bis  son-in-law 
David  Lenker  occupied  the  other,  in  later  years 
purchasing  Andrew  Bucher's  place  and  eventually 
owning  both  properties.  Dieter  Bucher  was  twice 
married,  Ins  first  wife  being  a  Ziegler,  his  second 
a  Miss  Shutt.  To  the  first  marriage  were  born 
three  children:  Mary,  who  married  Frank  Mark- 
ley;  Catharine,  who  married  David  Lenker;  and 
Andrew.  By  the  second  wife  he  had  two  children  :• 
Ephraim  and  Louisa,  the  latter  marrying  Jona- 
than Eisenbrown,  who  is  still  living  in  Philadel- 
phia, at  an  advanced  age.  Dieter  Buchei  had  a 
sister,  Lydia,  whb  was  the  mother  of  Gov.  John 
I"     ffartranft,   of    Pennsylvania. 

Andrew  Bucher,  son  of  Dieter,  was  born  Nov. 
22,  1822.  Be  came  from  the  Mahantango  Valley 
to  Washington  township  about  1852,  settling  a1 
the  Mahanov  (  St.  Peter's  i  <  'hurch,  where  he  o^  aed 
the  i  ighty-five-acre  farm  now  the  property  of  his 
-on  Andrew  L.  Bucher.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer 
and  prospered  in  his  work,  about  1860  buil 
what  is  now  the  west  end  of  the  dwelling  on  the 
farm,  and  in  1868  putting  up  the  barn  which  is 
still  in  use.  He  was  a  useful  and  highly  esteemed 
member  of  the  community,  serving  as  school  direc- 
tor, tax  collector  and  assessor,  and  he  was  a  very 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  congri  mat  St. 
Pi  i. r's  Church,  of  which  he  was  deacon,  elder,  trus- 
tee and  treasurer.  In  political  conviction  he  was  a 
Republican.  He  died  in  April,  1894.  aged  seventy- 
four  years,  four  months,  fourteen  days,  ami  is 
buried  with  his  wife  at  Mahanoy.  Her  name  was 
Elizabeth  Lenker.  and  she  was  born  Dec.  ;.  1827. 
daughter  of  Michael  Lenker.  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township:  she  died  in  September.  1888,  aged  sixty 
years,  nine  months,  nine  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bucher  had  five  children:  Mary  married  Isaac  0. 
Billman ;  Sallie  married  Jacob  Smith :  Amanda 
married  I.  M.  Wentzel :  L.  Alice  died  aged  twenty- 
six  years:  Andrew  L.  was  the  only  son. 

Andrew  L.  Bucher  was  born  March  16,  1861, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  began  farming 
for  himself  on  the  homestead  in  1SS4.  since  which 
year  he  has  continued  to  follow  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  disposing  of  his  produce  at  Tr< 
ton  and  Shamokin :  he  has  been  huckstering  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  is  also  agent  for  fertilizers. 
and  is  a  successful  business  man.  recognized  as 
bv    all   his   neighbors    ami    associates. 


homestead,  which  came  into  his  possession  in  1897, 
is  nicely  located,  overlooking  Mahanoy  and  Ma- 
hanov Church,  and  it  is  equipped  with  substantia] 
buildings.  Mr.  Bucher  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  school  director  of  his  township,  but  his  prin- 
cipal activity  outside  of  his" private  affairs  is  in  St. 
Peter's  ('hurch.  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee 
many  years:  formerly  he  held  the  office  of  deacon. 
lie  has  served  the  congregation  faithfully,  and 
takes  a  sincere  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
church. 

Mr.  Bucher  has  the  old  grandfather  clock  of  his 

grandfather  Dieter  Bucher.  which  is  still  a  g 

timepiece,    though    fully    one    hundred    and    fifty 
-  old.    It  has  a  brass  lace,  and  beside-  marking 
the   hours   and  minutes   shows   the  date   and 
movements  of  the  moon.     Mr.  Bucher  also  has  a 
lot"  of  red  chinaware  that  belonged  t"  his  father. 

On  Oct.  23.  1881,  Mr.  Bucher  married  Sarah 
A  Blasser,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bias-;,  o  Sern- 
don.  She  died  May  2\.  1895,  aged  thirty-two 
years,  three  months,  leaving  a  son,  Charles  E.,  who 
is  now  employed  a-  a  tombstone  cutter  at  Mariano}'; 
he  married  Mary  Harris  and  has  two  children. 
Guy  and  Stanley.  Mr.  Bucher's  second  marriage 
was  to  Lizzie  Latsha,  daughter  of  Adam  W.  and 
Wilhelmina  (Fegley)  Latsha.  and  they  have  three 
children:     I.  May,  Harry  P.  and  John  J. 

Jacob  Billman.  grandfather  of  Isaac  0.  Bill- 
man,  who  married  Mary  Bucher.  daughter  of  An- 
drew Bucher  and  sister  of  Andrew  L.  Bucher.  he- 
longed  to  a  family  which  was  settled  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  in  an  early  day  and  was  himself  a 
eer  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  married  Maria 
Magdalena  Weaver,  and  their  children  were: 
Maria  (or  Polly,  who  married  Jacob  Tressler), 
Solomon.  Peter.  Daniel.  Jacob  and  David. 

Solomon  Billman.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Sept. 
24,  lsl".\  in  the  vicinity  of  liegins.  Schuylkill 
county,  where  his  father  then  lived.  He  died  near 
Mahanoy,  Pa.,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church.  Mahanoy. 
His  first  marriage  was  to  Luzetta  Ossman,  bv 
whom  he  had  three  children,  Isaac  0..  Amos  and 
Solomon.  By  his  second  wife,  Salome  (Michael), 
he  had  four:    Aaron.  Lizzie.  Sarah  and  Mary. 

Isaac  0.  Billman.  son  of  Solomon,  was  born  in 
1839,  and  died  in  1904.  He  married  Mary  Bucher. 
anil  to  them  were  born  the  following  children : 
Agues,  George,  Charles,  J.  Calvin.  Lizzie,  Verna 
and  Le>ter. 

ALFRED  CAMERON  BOBB,  of  Paxinos,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  surveyor,  and  also  well  and 
favorably  known  in  other  connections  in  his  sec- 
tion of  Northumberland  county,  was  born  at  Pa-v- 
inos June  11.  1873,  son  of  the  late  Peter  G.  Bobb. 

Michael  Bobb,  the  first  of  this  family  to  come 
to  America,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  settled  in 
Jackson  townsuip.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.     His 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


•rr. 


son,  Michael  M.  Bobb,  was  born  Sept.  28,  1812,  at 
Big  Mahanoy,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
tin-  count}-.  There  he  followed  the  tailor's  trad.' 
for  about  nine  war-,  in  L852  removing  to  Shamo- 
kin  township,  where  he  located  a1  Snufftown.  At 
that  place  he  followed  farming  in  addition  to  bis 
trade  Selling  nin  later  he  moved  to  near  Mifflin- 
burg  in  Union  county,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing, and  thence  re red  to  Rockefeller  township, 

Northumberland  county,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  living  in  retirement  for  some 
tunc  before  Ins  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
seventy-two  years  old.  Bis  wife,  Elizabeth  (Gon- 
sar),  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Gonsar,  a  farmer 
of  -lack-Mii  township,  this  county,  who  died  at  the 
agi  "i  -i  i  ty-i  wo  years.  Mrs.  Bobb  survived  her 
•and  nine  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  She  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve 
children:  Mary  Ann  (deceased)  married  J.  A. 
Treats,  a  resident  of  Snufftown;  Daniel  operates  a 
planing  mill  in  Sunbury;  Elizabeth  (deceased) 
married  William  Biles,  oi  Mounl  Carmel,  Pa.; 
Caroline  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  Dundore  (de- 
ceased), a  cattle  drover ;  Peter  0.  is  mentioned  lie- 
low  :  Sarah  married  ('.  Frederick'  Lindig,  id'  Lewis- 
burg,  Pa.;  William  W.  is  deceased;   Michael  died 

young;  Franklin  Pierce.  wl tarried  Mary  Bone, 

operates  a  planing  mill  at  East  Lewisburg,  Pa.: 
Louisa,  widow  of  James  Havens,  lives  in  Lewis- 
burg; Lucy  married  Wilson  Russell,  of  Lewis- 
burg, Pa.;  Catherine,  unmarried,  lives  in  Sunbury. 
Peter  G.  Bobb,  son  of  Michael  M'.,  was  horn 
Sept.  28,  1842,  in  Jackson  township,  this  county, 
and  lived  at  home  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen, meantime  receiving  public  school  opportun- 
ities, as  did  his  brothers  and  sister-.  He  then 
taught  school  for  two  years,  after  which  he  clerked 
for  John  Nesbit,  in  his  store  at  Paxinos,  three 
years.  After  186?  he  embarked  in  the  general  mer- 
cantile business  for  himself,  at  Paxinos,  continuing 
only  a  short  time,  however,  when  he  sold  out  to 
Thomas  Metz,  subsequently  clerking  for  another 
three  years.  He  was  ap] tied  postmaster  at  Pax- 
inos. and  filled  that  office  for  twenty-three  years 
continuously.  In  1871  he  was  appointed  ticket 
and  freight  agent  at  Paxinos  for  the  Northern 
Centra]  Railroad  Company,  holding  that  position 
until  1894,  after  which  he  started  the  business  in 
which  his  son  Alfred  ( '.  Bobb  succeeded  him.  deal- 
ins  m  farm  implements  of  all  kinds,  harm--. 
whips,  coal,  fertilizers,  etc.  He  also  owned  two 
farm-  in  Ralpho  township.  He  lived  in  Paxinos 
for  over  forty  years,  and  became  one  of  it-  fore- 
most i  ii  i. 'en-,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
died  Kelt.  8,  1899,  and  i-  buried  in  Pine  Hill 
cemeterv,  in  Ralpho  township.  Mr.  Bobb  was 
alwavs  a  staunch  Republican,  and  in  June.  If 
he  enlisted  in  Companv  A.  28th  Regiment.  Pi 


sylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  until  June 
27,  L863.  Ih  never  sought  office  or  took  any 
particularly  active  part  in  politics,  leu  lie  mm-  an 
influential  citizen  of  his  community  for  a 
years  ami  one  in  whom  his  fellow  citizens  I 
pride,  for  he  was  a  self-made  man  and  one  of  the 
me-1  creditable  residents  of  the  town.  He  was  a 
worthy  and  active  member  ol  the  Methodist 
( 'hurch. 

In  1865  Mr.  Bobb  married  Mary  .lane  Fisher, 
d;ni-iiter  of  John   and    Hannah    (Yocum)     Fisher, 
and  she  survives  him.  still   residing   in    Paxinos. 
Four    children    were    horn    to    tin-    union:       B 
married  John  II.  Kase,  formerl]  a     inner  of  M  ty- 
berr\    township,   Montour  Co..   Pa.,  now  living 
!     sburg;  Carrie  Belle  married    II.   M.    Fetti 
and  they  reside  in  Berwick,  Pa.:  Alfred  C.  is  men- 
tioned   below;    Mildred    P.    man-red    Charles    L. 
Pensyl  and  is  living  at  Bloomsburg,  Pennsylvai 

Alfred  Cameron  Bobb  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  local  public  schools,  later  attending  the 
Bloomsburg  State  normal  school,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1895.  He  also  took  a  post- 
graduate course  at  that  institution,  finishing  same 
in  IMC  His  experience  as  a  teacher  covered  three 
year-,  one  year  at  Reed's,  one  year  at  Deiblers  and 
one  year  at  Paxinos.  He  then  took  the  manage- 
ment of  the  implement  business  established  b; 
father,  at  Paxinos.  and  carried  it  on  successfully 
for  a  number  of  years,  selling  out  to  \.  <;.  Adan  - 
May  28,  1910.  He  is  now  devoting  the  greater 
pari  of  his  time  to  surveying  in  In-  own  district. 
His  attention  is  also  taken  up  to  a  large  extenl 
»-itli  In-  musical  interests.  He  organized  the 
Paxinos  hand,  which  is  composed  of  twenty-three 
men.  ami  is  the  leader  of  that  body,  which  is  well 
known  in  this  region  and  in  popular  demand.  In 
1904  Mr.  Bobb  was  elected  justice  of  the   peace, 

and    was    reelected    at    the   close   o|'    the   term.   1" 

still  in  office.  His  political  affiliations  are  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  belongs  to  the  Metho- 
dist Church  at  Elysburg,  .mil  socialh   holds  m 

bership  in  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  IN.  F.  X"  A.  M. 
(of  which  he  is  a  past  master),  and  iii  the  Modern 
Woodmen. 

In  July,  1904,  Mr.  Bobb  married  Viola  II.  Pen- 
syl, daughter  of  William  and  Harriet  |  Hull  I 
Pens}  I.  of  Elysburg,  and  the\  are  the  parents  of 
two  daughters,  Wmifred  am!  I  lot 

On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Bobb  is  a  member  of 
the    Fisher   family,   hein.     a    deso  ndanl    of   .^-- 
and  Catharine  (Minegar)    Fisher,  natives  0f  Ger- 
nianv.   the   former  born   in   April.    1 ;:'.  I.   the  la 
n    August,    1 1  16.     They    wi  -Fie.    ... 

1764.     It   is  elaimi  near  the  site  of 

( 'atafl  issa.  in  what  is  now  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
some  lime  in  tl  ei  nth  century,  hut  e\  idently 

they    had    previously    lived    in    Bradford    coun 
where  i In-  I    son,   Henry,  was  born  Juh   25, 

l ;  e;       1 1 ,-    resided    in    ( 'olumhia   county,    whence 


328 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYIA "AN  1 A 


he  removed  to  Northumberland  county.  To  Jo- 
seph Fisher  and  his  wife  were  born  the  following 
children:  Catharine,  Mrs.  Nicholas  Shipman; 
Henry;  Mary,  Mrs.  Samuel  Mutchler;  Hannah, 
Mrs.  Caleb  Farlee;  Elizabeth;  John;  Moses;  Da- 
vid :  Jacob :  and  Joseph. 

Henry  Fisher,  eldest  son  of  Joseph,  came  from 
Columbia  county  to  Northumberland  county,  lo- 
cating upon  the  land  now  owned  by  Peter  Leisen- 
ring,  where  he  built  a  gristmill  and  tavern  which 
he  operated  many  years.  He  also  owned  about  eigh- 
teen acres  of  land  adjacent  to  the  hotel  and  mill 
property.  His  death  occurred  about  1825, 
which  all  his  family  except  his  son  John  left 
Northumberland  county.  He  was  the  father  of 
eighi  children:  Jacob,  John.  Caleb,  Clotworthy, 
Joseph,  Sarah,,  Elizabeth  and  Catharine. 

John  Fisher,  son  oi  Henry,  was  born  Sept.  20, 
L800,  in  Columbia  county,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  miller.  After  the  old  mill  prop'erty  passed  into 
the  hand-  of  the  Leisenring  family,  he  was  en- 
gaged as  miller  for  them  until  1851,  at  which  time 
he  purchased  the  Sober  mill  (now  known  as  Reed's 
mill)  on  Shamokin  creek,  which  he  operated  until 
1873.  Meantime  he  also  conducted  his  farm  of 
eightj  aire..  Then  he  purchased  two  farms  in 
Ralpho  township,  one  of  which  his  son  Albert  S. 
later  occupied,  the  other  passing  into  the  posses- 
sion of  his  daughter  Mrs.  Charles  Paul.  John 
Fisher  died  Sept.  11.  L881.     He  was  a  Republican 

in  politics,  in  religion  a  mber  of  the  Methodist 

Church.  His  wife.  Hannah  (Yocum),  daughter 
oJ  Nicholas  Focum,  died  Aug.  11.  1889.  They 
were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  two  of  whom. 
Jacob  F.  and  .lame-  1'...  died  young,  the  others  be- 
ing as  follows:  Clotworthy,  of  Snyder  county, 
married  Sabina  Stambach ;  Sarah  married  Joseph 
Sanders;  Nicholas  Y..  of  Indiana,  married  Julia 
Haas:  Esther  i-  the  widow  of  Charles  Manx,  of 
Shamokin:  Charles,  formerly  of  Columbia  coun- 
ty, lives  near  Hear  Gap;  Catharine  married  Sam- 
uel Adams  ami  (second)  John  McWilliams,  of 
Kansas;  Peter,  who  married  Hannah  Yocum,  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  while  serv- 
ing in  the  Union  army  as  a  member  of  Company 
C.  131st  Pennsylvania  Volunteers;  Albert  S.,  horn 
March  "?.  1843,  married  Mary  Martz  and  lives  in 
Ralpho  township;  Harvey  P..  of  Boston.  Mass., 
married  Savilla  Repley,  (second)  Emma  Treibley, 
and  (third)  Mollie  Xeely :  Margaret,  wido^  of 
Franklin  Martz  (of  Columbia  county),  resides  at 
Paxinos;  Alice,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Charles 
Paul;  Mary  J.  is  the  widow  of  Peter  c.  Bobb,  of 
Paxinos. 

WILLIAM  P..  GOTTSHALL,  of  Sunbury, 
member  of  the  firm  of  Blank  &  Gottshall,  leading 
millers  in  their  section,  was  horn  in  March.  1860, 
near  Schwenkville,  Montgomery  Co..  Pa.,  and 
h   ongs  to  a   family  which  has  been  prominent  in 


that  county,  especially  in  its  connection  with  the 
ministry  of  the  Mennonite  Church,  from  early 
Colonial  days. 

Rev.  Jacob  Gottshall,  who  came  over  from  Hol- 
land m  Co-.'.  i>  said  to  be  the  direct  ancestor  of 
all  of  the  name  in  Montgomery  and  surrounding 
counties.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Mennonite 
Church,  well  educated,  energetic  and  self-saeri- 
fii  tng.  Pi'  was  one  of  the  three  translator-,  from 
Dutch  to  German,  of  the  celebrated  ""Mirror  of 
Martyrs"  (1601) — a  translation  that  was  one  ol 
the  important  literary  achievements  of  Colonial 
Pennsylvania.  The  date  of  his  death  ami  place 
of  burial  are  not  known.  He  preached  many  years 
at  Skippack,  and  may  lie  buried  at  the  old  Men- 
nonite Lower  Skippack  church,  or  he  nun  he 
buried  at  Germantown  (where  he  first  settled)  In 
the  cemetery  surrounding  the  oldest  Mennonite 
Church  in  America,  built  in  17  ?0.  on  the  site  of  the 
log  church  erected  in  1708.  Some  of  ins  children 
settled    in    Montgomery  county. 

Gottshall  Gottschalk,  great-grandfather  of  Wil- 
liam P.  Gottshall,  settled  in  Frederick  township, 
Montgomery  county,  in  1781,  ami  In-  old  home- 
stead is  now  owned  by  M.  C.  Gottshall,  a  cousin 
.if  William  B.  Gottshall.  He  was  a  weaver  1>\ 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  in  connection 
wiiti  farming,  doing  tut  excellent  business,  and 
at  his  death  in  1824  he  left  a  tine  farm  of  246 
acres  to  he  divided  between  his  two  son>.  Dillman 
and  William. 

William   Gottshall,  grandfather  of  William    B. 

Gottshall,  was  horn  in   17S4.  and  lived  to  a  g 1 

old  age,  dying  in  hi-  ninety-second  year.  He  was 
a  Mennonite  and  i-  buried  at  the  Schwenkville 
meetinghouse,  lie  inherited  the  farm  above  men- 
tioned as  belonging  now  to  M.  C.  Gottshall,  located 
one  mile  wesl  of  Schwenkville,  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, and  there  lived  and  died.  He  married  Magda- 
lena  Hunsberger,  and  to  them  were  horn  thirl  ten 
children,  eleven  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
William,  who  died  in  Montgomery  county  in  1901, 
at  th.  age  of  ninety-five:  Dillman.  who  died  in 
Montgomery  county:  Andrew,  who  died  at  College- 
ville.  Pa.:  Abraham,  who  died  in  infancy:  Abra- 
ham t ".' i  :  Gottshall,  who  died  at  Schwenkville; 
Joseph,  who  died  in  Spring  City,  Chester  county: 
Adam,  of  Uniontown  (Pillow).  Northumberland 
county:  Jacob,  who  died  young;  John,  of  Phila- 
delphia; Moses  IP.  a  minister  of  the  Mennonite 
Church,  who  died  in  1888  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Montgomery  county;  Mrs.  Jacob  Umstead,  ami 
Mr-.  Bergy  (one  of  these  daughters  was  named 
Elizabeth,  the  other  Hannah). 

Abraham  Gottshall,  son  of  "William,  was  horn  at 
Schwenkville,  Montgomery  county,  in  1826,  ami 
died  April  1.  1901;  he  is  buried  in  the  Mennonite 
cemetery  at  Bally,  Berks  county.  He  lived  at 
Niantic,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  owned  a 
farm  of  fifty-four  acres,  and  followed  farming,  he- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


.,.,,, 


Lag  an  industrious,  thrifty  and  respected  citizen. 
From  the  age  of  forty,  for  a  period  of  thirty-five 
years,  tu  was  like  so  many  members  of  the  family 
a  preacher  in  the  Mennonite  Church;  he  was  a 
New  Mennonite.  He  married  Maria  Bauman, 
daughter  of  John  and  Magdalena  (Bauer)  Bau- 
man, of  Niantic,  from  Huber's  ( 'lunch,  and  they 

had  the  following  children:     Me is  a  merchant 

nf  Boyertown,  Berks  county;  Abraham  died  when 
six  years  old;  l!ev.  John,  twin  of  Abraham,  is  a 
well  known  evangelist,  now  located  at  York,  Pa.; 
William  B.  is  mentioned  below;  Milton  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Boyertown;  Abraham  lives  at  Sunbury, 
Pa.;  Frank  B.  is  in  business  at  Boyertown;  Diana 
died  aged  fourteen  years;  Elizabeth,  of  Boyertown, 
died  at  the  age  of  forty,  unmarried;  .Mary  (de- 
ceased) married  Daniel  Tiler  of  Schwenkville ; 
Catharine  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Reigner,  of  Potts- 
town,   Pennsylvania. 

William  B.  Gottshall  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright with  Daniel  Bowman,  at  Sumneytown, 
Montgomery  county,  later  working  for  Wolf  & 
Eamaker,  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.  lie  followed  Ins 
trade  for  a  period  of  seven  years  before  forming 
his  present  partnership,  with  Charles  F.  Blank, 
in  isss.  They  have  since  dime  business  together 
under  the  linn  name  of  Blank  &  Gottshall.  After 
running  the  II.  M.  Haas  flour  mill  at  the  east  end 
of  town  from  1888  until  1895,  they  began  to  oper- 
ate the  new  mill  in  the  spring  of  the  hitler  war.  its 
capacitj  hem-  LOO  barrels  daily,  and  Blank  & 
Gottshall  have  since  conducted  one  of  the  leading 
establishments  of  the  kind  in  this  section.  In 
1! the  mill  was  enlarged  from  100-barrel  ca- 
pacity, I"  200-barrel  on  wheal  flour,  ami  they  have 
since'  added  a  complete  rye  mill  with  75-barrel 
capacity  daily,  and  a  75-barrel  buckwheat  and 
cornmeal  mill  :  10  ton-  of  feed  are  the  daily  output 
in  that  line,  and  the  plant  lias  a  storage  capacity  of 
forty  thousand  bushels.  At  the  City  Roller  Flour- 
ing Mills,  as  the  plant  is  known,  there  are  not  only 
manufactured  high-grade  flours  and  all  kmd-  d 
feed,  but  the  firm  also  deals  in  -ram.  hay,  salts 
and  seeds,  and  in  poultry  and  stock  foods  and 
remedies,  and  similar  commodities.  They  do  a 
thriving  trade  in  the  various  lines  into  which  their 
business  has  extended,  and  then-  standing  in  the 
community  is  of  the  best.  Mr.  Gottshall  has  also 
become  interested  mother  fields  of  activity,  and  he 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Sunbury  &  Selmsgrove 
Street  Car  Company. 

On  Feb  13  1890,  Mr.  Gottshall  married  flora 
Reinhard,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Josephine  Rein- 
hard,  of  Allentown,  Pennsylvania. 

C  III'I  L  KNAUER,  shoe  merchant,  of  Mil- 
ton,'Northumberland  county,  comes  of  an  old  fam- 
ily of  Chester  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  bom  Nov. 

lit.  1859,  at    Knauertown.  in  Warwick  township. 


The  earliest  members  of  this  family  in  America 
were  John  Christopher  and  Jacob  Tobias  Knauer. 
brothers,  who  came  over  from  Germany,  their  na- 
tive land,  when  young  men.  settling  in  the  French 
Creek  Valley,  in  Chester  county.  Pa.,  where  they 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Penns.  The  old 
deed  to  the  Penns  for  this  land  was  given  to  John 
Christopher  Knauer.     It  reads  as  follows: 

We,  Packenah,  Jarckhan,  Sikals,  Pari  Quisatt,  Jervis, 
Essepennauk,  Felkhop,  Hekllappco,  Wissa  Pyma,  Indian 
Kings  and  Sacheniakers.  right  owners  of  all  lands  from 
Quigg-Qniggus,  lulled  Duck  creek,  unto  Upland,  called 
Chester  creek,  all  along  the  west  sole  of  the  Delaware 
river  and  so  fai  between  said  creeks  and  backwards  so 
far  as  a  man  can  ride  in  two  days  on  a  horse,  for  and 
in  consideration  of  these  following  goods  to  us  in  hand 
paid  and  secured  b)  William  Penn,  Proprietor  and 
Governor  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  ami  territories 
thereof,  namely:  twenty  guns;  twenty  fathoms  match- 
coat;  'Id  fathoms  of  strong  water;  20  blankets;  20 
kettle;  20  pounds  of  powder;  100  pounds  of  lead;  40 
Tomahawks;  100  knives;  40  pairs  of  stockings;  1  Barrel 
Beer;  20  lbs.  of  red  lead;  100  fathoms  of  wampum;  10 
glass  bottles;  30  pewter  spoons;  105  blades;  300  tobacco 
pipes;  100  hanks  of  tobacco;  20  tobacco  tongues;  20 
steels;  300  flints;  30  pairs  of  scissors;  30  combs;  60 
looking  glasses;  200  needles;  one  kipple  of  salt;  30  lbs. 
of  sugar;  a  gal.  molasses ;  20  tobacco  boxes;    100  jews'- 

harps;  20  hues;  30  gimlets;  30  n ten  screM   boxes;   I1111 

strings  of  beads; 

Do  hereby  acknowledge  and  give  under  our  hands  etc 
this   2   .lav 'of  Aug.    1685. 

[Signed] 

His   mark  X     PaCKEN  vll 

His  mark  X    JARCKHAN 

His  mark  X    Sik  us 

His  mark  X    PART    QUISATT 

II,-    mark  X    JERVIS 

His   mark  X    ESSEPENAUK 

I  [is   mark  X    FELKHOP 

His   mark  X    Hf.ki.i.  u 

His  mark  X    WlSS  \    I'vmv 

Indian  Kings  and  Sachemmakers  to  William    Pei 

John  Christopher  and  Jacob  Tobias  Knauer  di- 
vided  the  land  by  a  line  running  due  north 
south,  each  building  his  cabin   n<*ar  the  line,   for 
company  as  well  as  protection,  where  Enauertown 
has  since  been  located.      Much  of  the  land   remain- 
in  the  possession  of  the  Eamily  to  this  day.    John 
Christopher's  old  home  is  -till  ..wned  by  a  Knauer. 
Here,  upon  their  land,  was  erected  a  .  hurch,  i 
ably  a   Mennonite  meetinghouse,  a-  the  old  bury- 
ing-ground  -till  hears  the  name  Seven  Days'  gri 
yard.     In  this  burying  ground  are  the  remains  of 
John  Christopher  and  Jacob  Tobias  Knauer.  and 
.,,,,,,.  0f  their  descendants  are  also  I. unci   there. 
The   name-  of   their  wives  are   Q< 
Tobias  Knauer  had   three  children:  Christopher, 
Jr.,  Amos  and  Jai  ob. 

John  Christopher  Knauer.  who  was  itoi 

of  C.  Hull  Knauer,  was  born  Oct.   I.  L702,  in  I  o 
burg,  Germany.     His  children  wi  n     San  u<  .  Da- 
vic1    Da,,,.1.  Jonathan,  Tobias,   Man    (married  a 

.ml    a    Brunner)    and 

hi  Knauer.  son  of  John  I  I 


230 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


cue  of  the  two  brothers  who  came  to  America,  was 
born  in  1752,  and  died  April  2,  1825,  aged  seven- 
ty-two years,  ten  months,  seven  days.  He  erected 
tiie  first  ilour  and  saw  mill  at  Knauertown,  log 
structures,  and  he  followed  fanning  and  milling 
all  his  life.  There  were  five  Knauer  flour  mills 
in  Chester  county.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
i  in  Dee.'  12,  1778,  died  July  28,  L845; 
Daniel,  bom  May  6,  1780,  died  April  7.  1859 
(Daniel  Knauer  was  his  only  son)  :  Samuel,  born 
May  3,  1784,  died  Aug.  11.  L856  (his  sons  were 
Samuel,  Isaiah  and  Nathan)-.  David,  born  June 
lu.  1786,  died  Aug.  14.  1856  (Thomas,  Daniel  and 
Davis  Knauer  wen-  -  -  - 1  :  Jonathan  (C.  Hull's 
grandfather),  born  July  17,  1788,  died  June  2, 
L848:  Tobias,  born  Oct.  6,  1790,  died  Oct.  18, 
: 

Jonathan  Knauer,  son  of  John,  born  July  IT. 
L788,  died  J  m  v.  L848.  Like  bis  father  he  fol- 
lowed milling  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  all 
his  active  years.     He  replaced  the  old  log  mills 

with    si structures    which    are    still    standing, 

owned  by  Morris  Knauer  and  in  operation.  He 
married  a    Miss   liiee.  who  -       him, 

and  to  them  were  born  five  children:  Jonathan, 
Joshua,  Eannah  (married  Evan  Dampman),  Re- 
becca and  Maria  (married  Henderson  Esseck). 

Prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war  and  during 
period  the  Knauers  had  much  to  do  with  the  set- 
tling up  of  this  part  of  Chester  county  and  oper- 
ated the  Warwick  Furnaces,  manufacturing  can- 
non and  similar  supplies  for  the  Continental  ar- 
my. John  Knauer  (son  •>  i  stopher)  o\ 
and  opi  ironworks  at  "Knauertown  and  man- 
ufactured the  first  round  iron  in  the  I 
States.  The  British,  learning  of  these  furnaces. 
determin  -troy  them,  hut  the  troops  sent 
out  on  that  mission  were  repulsed  after  proceed- 
ing as  far  as  Fountain  Inn,  now  a  part  of  Phoenix- 
ville,  near  Valli  I  irge.  Many  of  the  supplies  at 
the  furnaces  we're  hurriedly  buried  in  plowed 
fields,  and  lost  for  the  time  being,  and  some  of 
the  old  cannon  and  ordnances  of  war  have  been 
found  within  the  last  generation.  One  of  the 
plowed-up  cannon,  which  had  been  spiked  and 
had  to  be  set  off  with  a  fuse,  was  used  to  celebrate 
the  Fourth  of  July  and  battalion  days.  At  one 
of  the  battalion  day  meets  at  Knauertown  the 
muzzle  burst  off  and  a  fatal  accident  was  barely 
me  of  the  pieces  coming  down  through 
i  that  was  crowded  with  people. 
•  old  Continental  cannon  was  later  stolen, 
first  from  the  Republicans  and  then  from  the  Dem- 
ocrat-, t ut'"  of  the  country  any  Repub- 
lican or  Democrat  moving  out.  As  there  were  no 
wheels  under  it  Mr.  Knauer'-  teams  and  log  wag- 
on were  used  to  haul  it  from  place  to  place.  Even- 
tually, to  avoid  strife  and  conflict  hetween  the  two 
parties,  it  was  taken  and  sunk  in  Mr.  Knauers 
r   mill   dam.  in   ei°  eet  of  water.     But 


some  one  "squealed,"  and  again  the  opposite  party 
obtained  Mr.  Knauers  log  chains  and  hoists 
from  his  mill,  and  with  boats  ami  a  raft  to  com- 
the  equipment  raised  it  one  night  ami  laid 
it  away  along  the  race  hank  in  the  woods  until  it 
was  again  used  to  "bang"  another  party  out  of  the 
country.  It  was  once  more  captured  by  the  other 
part;  _  it  ami  taken  up  on  the  hill  near  the 

falls  of  ]  eek,  where  it  was  dropped,  muz- 

zle down,  into  an  old  abandoned  well,  which  was 
filled  up  with  rock  and  stone.  There  it  still  re- 
mains, hut  there  arc  few  living  to-day  that  know 
of  its  existence . 

In   1907.  when  the   Fountain   Tun   at    Phoenix- 
ville  was  marked   and  dedicated   by   the   Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution,  Mr.  David  Knauer  fur- 
d    the   marker,    which    was    taken    from    his 
granite  quarries  at  Knauertown.     This  marks  the 
inmost  point  of  the  Colonies  reached  by  the  Brit- 
-      'nring  the  Revolution,  Sept.  21-23,  1777.  was 
J  by  the  borough  of  Phoenixville,  and  dedi- 
cated  by  the   Pennsylvania    Society.   Sons  of  the 
ran    Revolution,    Sept.    ".'1.    1907,    with    ap- 
propriate  ceremonies,    various    historical    societies 
and  members  of  the  borough  ami  State  government 
those  who  participated  in  the  exer- 
EEon.  Samuel  \V.  Pennypacker,  former  e 
ernor  of  the  State,  made  an  address,  and  thi 
casion  was  altogether  an  in      -     s   "tie.     It  com- 
memorated   the    movement    of    Lord    Cornwallis 
which   resulted    in    Washington   being  obliged  to 
spend  the  winter  with  his  army  at  Valley  Forge. 
the  battle  of  Brandywine  and  the  Paoli  event 
Washington    took    :      -  -     m   of   Philadelphia,   in- 
tending to  e  winter  of  177  7-78  there,  which 
would   have  compelled  the  British  to  remain  out- 
side of  the  city.     Lord  Cornwallis  led  Washington 
to  believe  he  was  going  with  his  army  to  Reading, 
to  destroy  the  materials  of  war  there  stored,  and 
Washington,  there!  pied  the  country  north 
of  PhoenixviUe.     Then   Cornwallis.  with  his  left 
wing  resting  on  the  French  creek  and  his  right  wing 
near  YalK      Forge,  got  his  army  across  the  Schuyl- 
kill, near  PhoenixviUe  at  Gordon's  Ford,  and  took 
his   troops    t<>    Philadelphia,   where   he    remained. 
Thus  it  was  that   Washington  came  to  -pend  the 
memorable  winter  at  Valley  Forge. 

Joshua   Knauer.  son  of  Jonathan  and  father  of 
C.  Hull  Knauer.  was  born  Feb.  20,  1820,  at  Knau- 
ertown. (       -         ounty,  and  died  March  31.  1v-' 
sixty-sis     ears,  one  month,  eleven  days.     He 
■  dei]    his    father,   engaging   in   flour   milling 
and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  shingles,  pur- 
chasing the  old  mills  which  had  been  in  the  fam- 
ily for  so  many  years  and  which  he  continued  to 
operate  for  many  years.     He   was   a   mechanical 
-.  us  the  numerous  appliances  with  which  his 
mills    were   equipped    showed,   the   elevators,   con- 
veyors, -unit  machine  and  other  improved  machin- 
ery  which  he  used  being  of  hi-  own  invention.    He 


KOKTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


231 


invented  and  used  in  his  mills  the  firsl  high  power 
apple  grinder  and  hydraulic  presses — now  in  use 
all  over  the  country.  Bis  flour  mill  was  known  as 
the  best  in  that  part  of  the  country.  There  was 
ample  water  power,  with  several  runs  of  burrs,  in 
addition  to  which  he  had  a  plaster  burr,  in  those 
days,  before  the  advent  of  phosphate,  grinding  ami 
selling  plaster  in  the  farmers. 

Mr.  Kiuiht  was  a  natural-born  musician  and  a 
man  of  considerable  note  in  that  line  in  his  day, 
ami  was  a  member  of  the  Knauertown  Hand,  an 
organization  composed  entirely  of  members  of  the 

KnaiHT  family.     Een    again   In-   ehanical  skill 

was  highly  useful.  II'-  made  all  the  drums  for 
the  band,  of  which  he  was  the  expert  tenor  drum- 
mer. His  brother  Jonathan,  also  one  of  its  mem- 
bers, was  an  expert  liter,  and  served  .1-  such  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  in  which  several  members  of  the 
band  enlisted.  Before  the  Civil  war.  when  ''bat- 
talion days'"  were  held,  this  hand  was  much  in 
demand. 

Joshua  Kmnier  married  Rebecca  (John)  Davis, 
who  was  hrn-n  .lam  9,  1821,  and  died  May  24,  ism;;. 
She  was  a  descendant  of  Welsh  Quaker  -tuck. 
Griffith  .John,  Si-.,  who  was  born  in  L683  in  Pem- 
brokeshire, South  Wale-,  landed  at  Philadelphia 
Feb.  1  1.  L709.  He  moved  to  the  district  in  Ches- 
ter county  known  as  Welsh  Barony  and  there  on 
July  '.'•">.  1711.  married  Ann  William-,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  William-,  surnamed  "the  King  of 
Goshen/'  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua  Knauer  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  are  mentioned: 
Griffith,  who  lives  in  Reading,  Pa.;  Dorcas,  mar- 
ried   to    Benjamin    P.    Font:    Hannah:    ('.    Hull: 

Dora;  Theodosia,  married  to   Dr.   Elw I   Sehin- 

er;  and   Ida.     Six  are  deceased. 

C.  Hull  Knauer  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  hi-  native  county.  When  a  young  man 
he  went  to  Phoenixville,  Pa.,  where  he  acquired 
his  early  knowledge  of  the  -hoe  and  leather  bus- 
iness, and  in  1885  lie  came  to  Milton.  Here  he 
opened  a  -Imc  and  leather  store,  and  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  same  line  continuously  to  the  pres- 
ent. In  is'.is.  the  business  having  outgrown  the 
old  accommodations,  he  purchased  and  remodeled 
the  place  he  now  occupies,  a  commodious  and  con- 
venient building,  known  as  the  Knauer  block,  on 
Front  street.  IT.'  carries  a  large  and  up-to-date 
stock,  and  Ins  store  is  a  model  of  taste  and  neat- 
ness. His  motto.  "We  never  sleep,"  1-  typical  of 
hi.  enterprise  and  the  business  methods  which 
mad.'  him  a  leader  in  his  line.  His  patronage  is 
noi  confined  to  Milton  and  the  immediate  vicinity, 
lint  is  drawn  from  all  the  surrounding  towns,  and 
has  been  increasing  steadily  ever  since  he  ■ 
menced  business.  Mr.  Knauer's  jovial  disposition 
has  won  him  many  friend-  among  those  with 
whom  he  has  dealings,  and  his  sincere  desn 
please  his  patrons  and  give  honest  values  ha-  been 
a  factor  in  hi-  success  recognized  by  all  who  knew 
him. 


Although  he  is  not  a  native  ol  \|  Qton  Mr.  Knau 
er  is  thoroughly  identified  with  it-  various  interests 
and  devoted  to  its  welfare,  taking  part  in  a  num- 
ber of  movements  designed  to  promote  th.  pro 
peritj  of  the  borough.  Ee  1-  connected  w  ith  the 
Methodist  Church  and  has  for  some  war-  been 
one  of  the  active  workers  in  Milton.  Mr  is  a  thir- 
ty-second-degree  Mason,  having  been  made  a  Ma- 
son in  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  75,  at  Phoenixville, 
Ma\  :;.  L884,  and  transferred  to  Milton  Lodge, 
No.  256,  in  1897  :  1-  a  member  of  Williamspori 
Lodge  of  Perfection;  of  the  Chapter,  Rose  Croix; 
and  of  Williamspori  Consistory,  A.  A.  s.  i;  .  fchir 
ty-second  degree;  he  was  made  a  Shriner  at  [rem 
Temple,  Wilkes-Barre,  Ma)  1A  L903  I  0 
from  a  family  of  musicians,  he  is  himself  a  born 
musii  ian,  has  organized  several  quartettes,  and 
is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Temple  choir.  A.  A. 
S.    I,'.,  at   William-port,  singing  first  tenor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  Hull  Knauer  have  two  30ns: 
(1)  Iienn  graduated  from  the  Milton  high  school 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  immediately  took  and 
passed  the  examinations  for  entrance  to  Earvard 
University,  Cambridge,  Mas-.,  where  he  gradu- 
ated June  26,  1911,  with  tl  e  degree  of  II.  S.. 
laude,  making  the  four  years'  course  in  three  and 
one-halt  years;  he  ha-  entered  the  emploj  of  the 
Xew  York  Central  Railroad  Company  and  will  be 
located  at  Albany.  X.  Y.  (2)  C.  Hull.  Jr..  is  at 
home  with  his  parents,  a  student  in  th.-  Milton 
high  school,  le,  reason  of  the  service  of  their 
ancestors  in  the  Revolutionary  war  Mrs.  Knauer 
and  her  sons  are  eligihl.-  for  membership  in  the 
Son-  and  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 

sih'VF.TFS  (i.  REED,  of  Sunbury,  Northum- 
berland county,  is  a  teacher  of  long  experience  and 
high  standing  there  and  also  well  known  in  busi- 
ness circles  as  a  successful  insurance  man.  repre- 
senting   mam    of   th,-    substantial    lire    insurance 
companies.     Eis  worli  in  both  lines  has  made  him 
widely  acquainted  all  over  In-  section  of  the  coun- 
ty.    He  was   horn   here,   in    Shamokin   township, 
May  '.'I.    Is  II.   -on   of   l-'arn-worth    Reed,  and    is  a 
great-great  grandson  of  Jacob  Reed,  whose  poster 
itv  is  now-  numerous   in    Northumberland  county. 
Of  this  same  stock  is  Dr.  Jesse  J.  Reed,  a  prom- 
inent physician  of  Pillow,  Pa.,  whose  lim 
given  in  this  article;  mid  C   Olivei   Reed    ol   l' 
township,   tin-    county,    is    likely    of    th.-    family, 

1! gh  In-  immediate  forefathers  w<  -I  in 

In  inn  county. 

.1  acob  Reed,  th.-  emigrant  or,  was  b. 

in  England  in   1700,  and  married  a  Miss  Wolford, 
a    native  of   Switzerland.     They   came   to    B. 
county,  I'a..  where  a  son  Jacob  wa-  horn,  and  later 
removed  to  Lebanon,  Pa  on  I 

Mini. 

Jacob   and    Casper    Reed,    brol  mm 

Berks  county  to   Northumberland   in    1774,  being 
am.ui  1  pioneers  in  the  region  where  they 


232 


XOPTHFMBEPLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


settled.    They  took  up  about  five  hundred  acres  oi 

land  in  what  is  now  Shamokin  anil  Ralpho  town- 
ships, which  land  is  still  owned  by  their  descend- 
ants. Jacob  Reed  was  one  of  the  fore- 
most men  id'  his  time  in  the  community. 
He  was  a  skilled  mechanic,  as  a  worker 
both  in  iron  and  wood,  carrying  on  such 
work  in  connection  with  farming,  having  a  black- 
smith and  carpenter  shop;  he  had  natural  ability 
as  well  as  training  for  mechanical  work,  and  was 
successful  and  enterprising  in  everything  he  un- 
dertook. Much  of  the  progress  of  the  valley  in 
In-  day  owed  its  initiation  to  him.  He  was  a  pro- 
moter, in  lad  the  chief  advocate  lor  the  organiza- 
tion, of  St.  Jacob's  Lutheran  Church,  which  was 
named  in  his  honor,  and  he  was  the  largesl  con- 
tributor toward  its  foundation  and  support,  his 
skill   as  a  tradesman   enabling  him  to  do  much 

more  than  most  of  tl 'ganizers  and  supporters; 

his  brother,  Casper  Reed,  donated  much  of  the 
land  for  the  cemetery,  hi  politics  Jacob  Reed 
w  a-  a  Whig. 

In  Berks  county  Jacob  Reed  had  married  Eliza- 
beth Dreher,  and  they  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren :  John,  Jacob,  David,  Matthias,  Salome  (mar- 
ried John  Hursh),  Catherine  (married  George 
Hower),  Magdaline  (married  John  Smith).  Eva 
(married  Daniel  Haas)  and  Elizabeth  (married 
William  11.  Muench,  a  noted  schoolmaster  of  bis 
lime  ;  he  had  a  crippled  arm  ). 

Casper  Reed,  brother  of  Jacob,  married  Mary 
E.  Bausloch.  They  had  a  son.  horn  in  ITS-.',  who 
married  Hannah  lienn.  To  them  was  born  a  son 
Jacob,  May  22,  1806,  who  married  Maria  Join-. 
born  Aug.  4.  1808.  Their  children  were:  Mary, 
h,,rn  Oct.  29,  1828;  William.  April  13,  1830;  Lib- 
erty, Feb.  Id.  1832;  Angeline,  Jan.  1.  1834;  Al- 
fred. Feb.  7,  1835;  Josiah,  Oct.  23,  1830;  Han- 
nab.  June  L3,  1838;  Harriet.  Oct.  13,  1841;  Ma- 
lissa,  March  30,  1844  ;  Jacob  M.,  May  25,  1849; 
and  Emma  A..  July  16,  1852. 

John  Reed,  eldesl  -on  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Dreher)  Reed,  married  Eva  C.  Gillinger.  Their 
children  were:  Jesse,  Maria  (married  John  Lake), 
Jacob.  Elizabeth  (married  Casper  Seholl),  Han- 
nah (married  Solomon  Mart/.)  and  Eva  ('.  (mar- 
ried William  Zuern,  of  ( lolorado). 

Of  this  family,  Jesse  Reed,  bom  in  Shamokin 
township  March':'..  1808,  died  June  18,  1884.  In 
1834  he  married  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Joshua 
l-'arlev.  of  Hunterdom  county,  N".  J.,  and  six  chil- 
dren were  horn  to  them:  Harriet  S.  (married  John 
Shipman),  John  W..  Parlev,  Catherine.  Oliver  and 
William  A. 

John  W.  Peed,  -on  of  Jesse,  bom  Oct.  3.  1838. 
married  in  1876  Bethiah,  daughter  of  Robert  Pa- 
vison,  of  Montour  county,  Pa.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Kate  M. 


was  very  enterprising  and  had  good  executive  abil- 
ity, engaging  successfully  in  various  lines  of  work. 
He  learned  tanning  and  milling,  and  purchasing 
a  tract  of  •.'."()  acres  in  Shamokin  township  settled 
there  ami  creeled  a  carding  and  saw  mill,  which  he 
operated  in  connection  with  the  cultivation  id' 
farm  land.  He  married  Hannah  1  Mutineer. 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Leise)  Dut- 
tinger,  natives  of  Germany  who  emigrated  to  Al- 
sace township.  Berks  county,  about  1800,  in  1819 
moving  to  Northumberland  county  and  settling 
«  here  I  leiblet  s  station  is  now-  located.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reed  were  born  seven  children:  Daniel.  Maria 
(married  George  Young),  Simon  I'..  Elizabeth 
(married  John  Nathan  Deibler),  Julianne  (mar- 
ried John  Rohrbach),  William  and  John  Jacob. 
Simon  1'.  Reed,  son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (l)ut- 
tinger)  Reed,  was  born  in  1825,  and  in  1850 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Daniel  Campbell.  They 
had  the  follow  in--  children:  Daniel  Jacob.  Am- 
brose Alvernon  (married  Harriet  A.  Berger),  Clara 
F.  and    Norman  C. 


Jacob   Reed,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth   (Dre- 
her)  Peed,  was  born  in  1795.     Like  his  father  he 


David  Reed,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Dreher)  Reed,  was  bom  on  the  Reed  homestead 
in  Shamokin  township.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer, 
and  owned  1  ID  acres  a  mile  east  of  Reed's 
church;  he  had  thirty-five  acres  of  land  on  Sham- 
okin Hill.  Like  many  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily he  is  buried  at  St.  Jacob's  (or  Reed's)  Church, 
at  Reeds  station,  and  he  was  a  Lutheran  member 
of  thai  church.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican, 
though  the  family  before  the  war  were  all  Jeffer- 
sonian  Democrats.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Haas), 
was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Haas,  who  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary war  soldier:  they  had  a  family  of  fourteen 
children,  of  whom  two  died  small  and  all  are  now 
deceased  but  Or.  Jesse  J.  Reed.  Those  who  grevi 
to  maturity  were  as  follows:  Jacob.  Mary  (Polly), 
Eve,  Susanna,  Louisa.  Daniel.  Henry,  Samuel.  Dr. 
Jesse  4  .  Malinda,  Harriet  and  ( >scar. 

Jesse  J.  Reed,  M.  D.,  of  Pillow  (Uniontown), 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Shamokin  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  Aug.  14.  1840.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  obtained  his  early  education  in 
the  old  pay  school  at  St.  Jacob's  (Reed's)  church, 
later  attending  Elysburg  Academy,  where  in  time 
he  became  assistanl  teacher  to  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Wampole.  who  was  a  leading  educator  of  his  day 
and  for  many  years  taught  in  Elysburg  Academy, 
in  connection  with  preaching,  having  six  congre- 
gations in  that  section.  During  the  Civil  war  Dr. 
Reed  enlisted  in  Company  C.  131st  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  and  served  nine  months.  Returning, 
he  was  home  only  three  weeks  when  he  again  en- 
listed,  for  the  existing  emergency,  in  Company  A. 
".'st]|  Regiment,  serving  two  months,  when  the  reg- 
iment was  discharged.  He  taught  public  school 
four  winters  (terms  of  four  months).  Dr.  Peed 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine  at  Shamokin  with 
Dr.   E.   S.    Robins,  with  whom  he  remained  three 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


years,  after  which  lie  attended  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  graduating  in  the  win- 
ter of  1865-66;  lie  had  completed  his 
course,  however,  some  time  before.  Locat- 
ing at  Centralia,  in  Columbia  county,  he 
shortly  afterward  came  to  Georgetown  (Dal- 
matia),   where    Lie   remained    two  years.      In   the 

winter  of    L868   he  ea to   Pillow   (then  known 

only  as  (Jniontown),  which  is  in  Dauphin  county, 
north  of  the  Mahantango  mountains.  He  has  had 
a  large  field,  over  a  radius  of  from  six  to  twelve 
miles,  and  is  now  the  only  physician  in  the  bor- 
ough. Dr.  Reed  has  in  his  long  anil  busy  career  be- 
come well  and  favorably  known  as  a  physician,  and 
In-  K 1 1 1 1 1 1 \  disposition  and  liberal  mind  have  made 
him  main  warm  friends  whose  good  will  he  enjoys. 
The  Doctor  is  a  Democrat  and  has  always  stood 
high  in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  hav- 
ing been  chosen  burgess  of  the  borough  of  Pillow 
different  terms,  was  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil, and  was  on  the  school  board  many  years,  lie 
was  a  deacon  and  elder  of  Salem  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Pillow,  and  is  an  all-around  repre- 
sentative and  esteemed  citizen  of  his  community. 
He  is  active  lor  In-  years. 

Dr.  Reed's  first  marriage  was  to  Catharine  Lein- 
bach,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  11.  Leinbach,  of 
1'illou.  She  died  in  1877,  aged  thirty-two  years, 
the  mother  of  five  children  :  Elizabeth ;  (  'lara  A., 
who  married  Dr.  Elmer  M.  Hoffman  (he  is  now  de- 
ceased )  ;  Arthur  Benjamin,  a  druggist  of  Philadel- 
phia: Vinnie  ('..  who  married  Charles  Kessler,  of 
Glen  Union,  Clinton  Co.,  Pa.;  and  Jay  E.  On 
April  24,  L878,  the  Doctor  was  married  (second) 
to  Addie  A.  l'.assler.  daughter  of  Rev.  II.  S.  Bass 
ler.  who  was  a  prominent  Reformed  minister  of  Ly- 
kens  Valley,  Pa.,  preaching  in  Berks  and  Lehigh 
counties  at'  old  Zionsville,  Lehigh  county,  and  at. 
Boyertown,  where  he  was  long  located.  Rev.  Mr. 
Bassler  married  Rebecca  M.  Dechant,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  William  L.  Dechant,  who  is  buried  at 
Oley,  Pa.,  a  foremost  minister  of  his  day  and  gen- 
eration. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  had  an  only  son. 
Dr.  Henry  David  Reed,  now  a  prominent  practi- 
tioner at  '  Pottstown,  Pa.,  where  he  is  associated 
with   Dr.  Todd. 


Muiihias  Reed,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Dreher)  Reed,  was  bom  in  1790  in  Shamokin 
township.  He  married  Priscilla  Farnsworth,  ol 
Irish  Vallev.  moved  to  Rush  township,  and  m  L833 
returned  to  Shamokin  township,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there  in  1859.  He 
was  a  fanner  bv  occupation.  Mr.  Heed  was  a 
Whig  in  politics  and  in  religious  connection  origin- 
ally a  Lutheran,  later  a  Baptist,  his  wile  also  be- 
longing to  the  latter  denomination.  For  man) 
years  he  served  a-  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist*  hurch 
Mrs.  Reed  died  in  1857,  and  she  and  her  husband 
are  buried  at  the  Summit  church.     1  he;,  were  the 


parents  of  seven  children:  William.  Abigail.  Eliz- 
abeth. Jacob,  John  (who  was  burned  t"  death), 
Farnsworth  and  Sarah.  'riii'  last  named,  now 
( I'M  1  )  over  eighty  years  old.  i-  -nil  In  ing  at 
Riverside,  this  county;  she  married  Dr.  Samuel 
Smith  and  after  his  death  became  the  wile  of  Wil- 
liam  Depew. 

Farnsworth  Reed,  son  of  Mall  bias,  was  horn 
Dec.  IT.  1824,  in  Hush  township,  and  attended 
the  public  school-  of  Rusl I  Shamokin  town- 
ships.    After  Ins  marriage  he  lived   in  Sha kin 

township  until  1866,  when  he  moved  to  Point 
township,  buying  a  farm  of  -.'no  acres  on  which  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  Ins  life.  d\  ing  there  I  i 
■.'.  L898.  For  a  few  years  he  conducted  a  sawmill 
at  Trevorton.  lb'  was  an  energetic  man  and  trav- 
eled 'pule  extensively,  having  visited  twenty 
Stales  of  the  Union,  journeyed  as  far  west  a-  Ne- 
braska, ami  as  far  south  as  Florida.  He  was  ac- 
tive iii  the  affairs  of  his  community,  Idling  most  of 
the  township  offices;  was  at  one  time  a  director  of 
the  Shamokin  Lank:  was  well  known  in  politics 
as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  and  in  re 
Ligious  matters  as  a  faithful  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  which  he  served  for  years  a-  a  deacon 
both  at  Northumberland  and  at  Shamokin,  when 
he  joined  in  1842.  In  1843  be  married  Rosanna 
Miller,  who  was  horn  Sept.  9,  1823,  daughter  of 
David  Miller,  late  of  Shamokin  township,  who 
was  a  descendant  of  George  Miller,  called  "Hunt 
er  Miller."  One  of  his  -mis.  John  Miller,  settled 
in  Shamokin  about  1Ls:>.  purchasing  1,300  acres 
of  land  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farnsworth  Reed 
were   the    parents   of    nine   children:    Sirvetus    0. ; 

Maria    Elizabeth,  wl tarried   Charles    p.    Seas 

holtz,  of  Upper  Augusta  township,  and  they  had 
three  children.  Annie  A..  George  I ..  and  (  lara  (  .  ; 

( 'larissa  A.,  who  married  G 'ge  W.  Van  Devender, 

of  Northumberland  county,  Pa.;  Jacob  A.,  of  Ne- 
braska; Sarah    L..  who  married  Thomas  .1.   Vand- 
ling:    Laura    D.,   who   married    Charles    M.    Pa 
Harriet   I.,  who  married  .lames  B.  Lesher,  of   Me 
braska  :    Elmer   E.,  of   Reading,    Pa. :  ami   i  . 

M..  of   Laurel.   Nehr.     At   the  tn f  his  death 

Farnsworth  R I  had  twenty  living  grandchil- 
dren. His  widow .  ih.w  (1911)  eighty  eight  years 
old,  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter.  Mrs. 
Seasholtz.  She  has  thirty-six  grandchildren  and 
ten   great-grandchildren. 

Sirvetus  0.  Peed,  son  of  Farnsworth,  obtained 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township.  Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war.  though  only  in  Ins  eighteenth  - 
he  enlisted  in  the  L31st  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  participated  in  I 
en<nigi  ments    in   « hich  bis  command    fought.     Ai 

battle  of  Fredericksburg  he  was  w ided 

Ijavonet  i  hat  ■  on  of  which  he  was  eventu- 

ally discharged  for  disability,  in  March,  l- 

]\  fter  In-  ai'im   sen  ice  M  r.   Reed   i  u  oi  d 


•.'.;i 


XoRTHLMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


tention  to  augmenting  his  early  education,  attend- 
ing the  academy  at  Elysburg,  Northumberland 
county;,  and  later  Bucknell  University.  Lewisburg, 
Pa.  For  some  time  afterward  he  followed  mer- 
cantile pursuits  and  lumbering,  finally  engaging 
in  teaching,  which  he  has  followed  for  over  thirty- 
sis  years  in  various  graded  schools  (all  but  the 
primary  grades).  Out  of  school  hours  Mr.  Reed 
has  given  his  attention  principally  to  the  insur- 
ance business,  in  which  he  has  built  up  a  most  sub- 
stantial patronage,  representing  many  of  the  lead- 
ing fire  insurance  companies,  Continental,  of  New- 
York :  National,  of  Hartford,  Conn.:  American, 
of  Trenton,  X.  .1. ;  ami  several  others. 

Mr.  Reed  married  ^gnes  A.  Beidelsbach,  of 
Point  township,  Northumberland  c  mnty,  and  they 
have  had  one  daughter,  Man  1'...  who  is  the  wife 
of  W.  B.  McCaleb,  superintendent  of  the  Philadel- 
phia division,  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Mr.  Reed 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  is 
an  active  worker  ami  holds  office.  Mrs.  Reed  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     In  social 

c iction  ho  holds  membership  in  the  Knights  of 

Pytnias,  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and  the  G.  A.  P.  His 
political  opinions  arc  those  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  in  every- 
thing affecting  the  general  welfare. 


The  grandfather  of  C.  Oliver  Reed  was  a  native 
of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  thence  removing  to  Union 
county,  where  he  lived  and  died  in  White  Deer 
township,  owning  land  and  following  farming.  He 
was  a  Lutheran  and  is  buried  at  the  White  Deer 
church.  His  children  were:  K\e.  who  married 
Jacob  Dershern  and  lived  in  White  Deer  township  : 
Jacob;  Valentine,  a  resident  of  White  Deer  town- 
ship: Susan:  and  John,  a  fanner  near  Harris- 
burg,  Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  Reed  was  born  at  his  father's  home  in 
White  Peer  township  in  1809,  and  died  in  1869. 
He  was  a  fanner  and  had  a  tract  of  ninety-three 
acres.  He  was  a  member  of  White  Deer  Church, 
where  he  is  buried.  His  wife  Susan  (Cronrath) 
was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Cronrath,  of  Union 
county,  and  died  in  1871,  aged  sixty-six  years, 
four  months.  They  had  eleven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: William  died  at  Watsontown,  Pa.:  John  died 
at  Montgomery  station.  Pa.;  Elizabeth  died  small: 
Harriet  (deceased)  married  Washington  Delaney; 
Rachel  married  Joseph  Ramer  and  they  live  in 
Mifflin  county.  Pa.:  Charles  is  a  resident  of  Kelly 
township.  Union  county;  Daniel  lives  at  Milton, 
Pa.:  Helen  (deceased)  married  Frank  Prince- 
hotf:  Emma  married  Charles  Ramsey  and  died  in 
Mifflin  county,  Pa.;  C.  Oliver  is  mentioned  later: 
Samuel  died  aged  two  years. 

C.  Olivei;  Reed,  of  Point  township.  Northum- 
berland county,  was  born  on  the  Reed  homestead 
in  Kelly  township,  Union  county,  Nov.  5,  1855. 
lie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  reared 


to  farming  pursuits.  His  father  dying  when  he 
was  fifteen  years  old  he  helped  his  mother  for  nine 
years,  after  which  he  labored  for  six  years  among 
farmers  in  Union  and  Lycoming  counties.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  was  married,  March  Hi.  1885, 
to  Emma  Dieffenbaeh.  daughter  of  David  and  Fliz- 
abeth  (Truckenmiller)  Dieffenbaeh,  of  Delaware 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Solomon  Truckenmiller,  a  Dative  of 
Berks  county.  They  have  had  one  child,  Elsie 
May.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Reed  went  out  to 
Ogle  county,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  ten  years, 
engaged  as  a  farmer,  and  then  went  to  Appanoose 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  farmed  for  three  years. 
Removing  to  the  central  part  of  the  same  State, 
into  Stoi'3  county,  he  farmed  there  fine  years,  in 
1902  coming  back  to  Pennsylvania.  In  1904  hi 
purchased  the  George  Ditzler  farm,  in  Point  town- 
ship, along  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
which  i-  one  of  tin'  best  farms  in  the  district,  con- 
sisting of  IID  acres,  nicely  located,  with  excellenl 
buildings.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  general  farmer  and  has 
prospered   deservedly.     He  owned   four   farms  in 

Iowa,  and  made  considerable  in  this  field  of  -pecu- 
lation. Lor  one  tract  of  ninety-eight  acres  located 
at  Siad'  College,  at  Ames,  Story  Co..  Iowa,  lie  paid 
$73  an  acre,  and  sold  it  for  $98  an  acre  after  hold- 
ing n  on,,  year.  Mr.  Reed  is  modern  and  intelli- 
gent in  hi-  methods,  and  on  the  alert  always  lor 
progress  in  his  line.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. While  at  Ames.  Iowa,  he  and  his  family  be- 
came members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

GEORGE  «>.   MARTZ,  of  Shamokin,  secretary 

of  the  Roaring  Creek  Water  Company,  was  horn  in 
that  borough  June  4.  184^,  son  of  Solomon  Mart/, 
and  a  great-grandson  of  David  Martz.    The  earlj 

members   of   the   Martz    family   in   America   ci i 

from  Germany  and  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa... 
whence  David  Martz  moved  into  Northumberland. 

David  Martz  and  his  brother  Jacob  moved  from 
Berks  county  toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  settling  on  Shamokin  creek,  three  miles 
south  id'  Sunbury.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
married  Barbara  Miller,  and  they  had  a  family  of 
seven  children.  f\\r  sons  and  two  daughters:  David, 
Henry,  Peter,  Abraham  and  George,  all  of  whom 
hut  Henry  moved  to  Dayton.  Ohio,  where  tiny 
died:  Susan,  who  married  John  Richstine,  and 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Abraham  Arter. 

Henry  Martz,  son  of  David,  was  horn  on  the- 
homestead  in  Shamokin  township.  Northumber- 
land county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
lie  married  Elizabeth  Fagely.  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian and  Magilalena  Fagely,  pioneers  of  Shamokin 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martz  both  died  in  Sham- 
okin and  are  buried  in  St.  Peter's  graveyard. 
They  had  six  children:  Ilettie.  Katie.  Mary  Ann. 
(i -e'e.   Solomon  and   Nathan,  all  now  deceased 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN1  \ 


235 


Imi  Nathan,  who  resides  in  Sunbmy,  Pennsylvania. 

Solomon  Martz,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  March 
22,  1818,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  ainl  w  hen  seven  years  old  went  (<> 
live  with  his  uncle,  Solomon  Fagely,  in  Shamokin 
township,  remaining  with  him  until  he  was 
eighteen  war-  old.  He  then  entered  tin-  employ  of 
his  uncles  Amos,  George  ami  Nathan  Fagely,  who 
had  a  store  at  Mauch  Chunk,  clerking  there  six- 
teen month-.  Returning  to  Shamokin  he  engaged 
with  William  ami  Reuben  Fagely  in  a  similar  ca- 
pacity, continuing  for  a  year,  after  which  he  wont 
tn  Miami  Carme]  in  work  for  Solomon  Pagely, 
who  kepi  a  tavern  there.  He  remained  with  him 
a  year.  At  thai  time  a  stage  line  was  started  be- 
tween  Mount  Carme]  ami  Shamokin,  ami  In-  was 
appointed  driver  ami  mail  carrier,  working  as 
such  for  a  few  months.  He  then  took  (he  same 
position  "ii  the  stage  line  between  Pottsville  and 
Northumberland,  lor  one  year,  ami  he  was  the  last 
survivor  of  those  connoeloil  with  (his  method  of 
transportation  in  central  Pennsylvania  at  that 
time.  Returning  to  Shamokin,  he  was  elected  su- 
pervisor of  Coal  township,  having  charge  of  the 
mails  from  Mount  Carmel  to  Trevorton,  and  filled 
that  office  two  years.  During  the  next  seven  years 
he  was  engaged  in  hauling  coal  over  the  railroad 
from  Shamokin  In  Sunbury  for  William  ami 
Reuben  Pagely,  under  contract,  at  the  end  of  that 
time  settling  on  the  farm  at  Reed  station  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  In-  days.  He  died  Oct. 
I.  1894,  in  In-  seventy- seventh  year,  ami  is  buried 
al    Reed's  church. 

Mr.  Mart/,  was  always  interested  in  the  welfare 
..I'  the  community  ami  the  success  of  those  enter- 
prises thai  affected  all  its  members.  I  lis  gener- 
osity to  those  less  fortunate  than  himself,  his 
benevolence  to  all  philanthropic  movements,  bis 
sympathy  with  all  who  needed  it.  were  as  much  the 
cause  of  the  esteem  he  enjoyed  as  his  industrious 
and  successful  career.  He  and  his  family  attended 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  when  St. 
Jacob's  (Reed's)  was  rebuilt,  in  1870,  he  contrib- 
uted  all  the  brick  necessary,  one  hundred  thousand, 
his  children  giving  the  money  to  erect  the  steeple. 
$1,200.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican 
and  greatlv  interested  in  the  success  of  the  party, 
though  he'  never  had  any  politieal  aspiration-  for 
himself.  lie  was  overseer  of  the  poor  for  one 
year  after  settling  in  Shamokin  township. 

On  April  6,  is  11,  Mr.  Mart/  married  Hannah 
Reed,  horn  in  1815,  died  Dec.  15.  1895,  aged 
eighty  years,  daughter  of  John  and  Eva  (Howard) 
Reed,  of  Shamokin  township,  and  to  this  union 
were  horn  seven  children:  George  <>.:  William  P., 
who  died  young;  Isabella,  who  died  in  1875,  aged 
thirty-one  years;  Sophronia,  who  died  in  is;  I.  ai 
the  age  of  thirtv-three  years;  Reuben  P.,  John 
Henry  and  Jesse  R.,  all  of  whom  live  at  Reed  sta- 
tion. Jesse  being  on  part  of  the  old  homestead. 


George   0.    Mart/   received    hi-   edu.al in    the 

public  schools  of  the  home  locality,  and  was  ten 
years  old  when  he  moved  with  his  parents  on  to 
the  home  place  in  Shamokin  township.  When  he 
was  seventeen  years  old  he  went  to  Loi  usl  Gap, 
where  he  took  the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  Haa 
&  Bowen,  proprietors  of  the  Locus!  Gap  colliery. 
In  January,  L864,  he  came  t,,  Shamokin  to  take 
a  similar  position  at  the  ( lameron  collien .  w 
he  subsequently  became  outside  foreman.  I  □  1869 
he  beeame  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Haas,  Fagely 
.v  Co..  who  then  operated  that  colliery,  ami  in  July, 
ISA,',  the  linn  of  Fageh  A  Mart/,  merchant-.  \\a- 
organized.  Subsequently  he  In  came  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Patterson,  Llewellyn  A  Co..  who  oper- 
ated the  Big  Mountain  colliery,  and  he  continued 
his  interest  in  the  coal  business  until  a  year  be- 
fore (hat  colliery  was  purchased  by  the  Philadel 
phia  &  Reading  Coal  and  Iron  Company.  In  L872 
he  commenced  the  lime  business,  about  1888  com- 
mencing the  manufacture  of  wood-burned  lime, 
for  building  purposes,  burning  the  first  made  in 
that  part  of  (he  State. 

Mr.  Mart/  has  been  a  leader  in  supporting  move- 
ments for  the  advancement  ami  material  improve 
nieiii  of  Hi,,  town,  having  long  been  a  director  of 
the   Shamokin   Banking   Company    (of   which    he 
was  one  of  the  organizers),  a  dire,  lor  and  secretary 

of  the  Edison  Electric  Ului ating   Company,  a 

director  of  the  Shamokin  Arc  Light  Company,  sec 
retary  ami  director  of  (he  Shamokin  Water  Com 
pany,  and  of  the  Roaring  Creek.  Anthracite  and 
Hear  Gap  Water  Companies,  lie  is  -till  secretary 
of  the  Roaring  Creek  Water  Company,  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  Shamokin  Hoard  of  Trade,  and  in 
every  way  has  done  his  share  toward  bringing  the 
borough   up   to   the  standard   of   modern   business 

ideals. 

On  Sept.  '.'.  1865,  Mr.  Mart/  married  Emma  1.. 
Keener,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.,  ami  they  re- 
side in  their  home  at  No.  Ill  East  Sunbun  street, 
Shamokin.  They  have  had  one  daughter,  Ada  C. 
who  married  II.  0.  Beury  and  resides  in  Philad 
phia;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beur\  have  three  children, 
William   M..   Emma   L.  and   Susanna   G. 

In  politic-  Mr.  Mart/  has  always  hem  .,  stanch 
Republican.     During  the  i  ivil  war  he  en 
Company     \.   28tb    Regiment,    Pennsylvania    Vol- 
unteers. 

MARTZ.     The   Mart/   family   has  been   settled 
in  Northumberland  county  for  over  a  centurj . 
I  ia\  id  P.  Marl/,  now   retired,  of  Ralp 
occupies  pai  I  of  his  father's  old  id,  In  ing 

along  the  <  'entral  turnpike.     Edward  II    Marl  -.  of 
Shamokin.   is  a   nephew    of   I  >a\  id    P.    Man 
a   son  of   franklin    Ml 

David    Mart/,    father   of    David    P.    Mart/    . 
1  father  of  Edward   II     Man,-,  was  born  «  Ii  i 
15    1802,  in   Lower  Augusta  township.   Northum- 


236 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


berland  county,  and  died  Nov.  11,  1855.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage  lie  located  at  Paxinos  and  owned 
and  operated  a  fulling-mill  there,  being  quite  suc- 
cessful in  business,  lie  was  a  respected  man,  and 
for  many  years  was  chosen  tq  serve  as  justice  of 
the  peace  at  Paxinos.  His  wife,  Hannah  (Evert). 
born  Oct.  6,  1804,  died  dune  9,  1880,  and  the]  are 
buried  at  the  Blue  church  in  Etalpho  township. 
Children:  Eliza  died  unmarried;  Henry,  who  was 
a  teacher,  died  unmarried:  Margaret  married 
David  Adams;  Sarah  married  Emanuel  Artman; 
Franklin  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  married  Al- 
bert Fisher;  David  is  mentioned  below ;  John,  twin 
of  David,  is  deceased;  Hannah  married  Jackson 
Hoffman;  Susan  died  young. 

Franklin  Martz,  son  of  David,  was  born  Dec.  1'.'. 
1835,  ni  Northumberland  county,  was  reared  upon 
a  farm  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  follow- 
ing both  farming  and  carpentry.  He  died  near 
Paxinos  in  duly,  1887,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue 
church.  His  wife.  Margarel  (Fisher),  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county,  daughter  of  John  Fisher. 
still  survives,  residing  at  Paxinos.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber ni  the  German  Reformed  Church,  as  was  also 
Mr.  Martz.  Thej  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living :  Edward  IF:  William,  who 
lives  in  Shamokin;  Bertha  M..  married  to  Frank 
Wertley;  Catharine  A.,  married  to  William  Krieg- 
bauiu  :  and  Clarence  ('..  living  at  Paxinos. 

Edward  IF  Maetz  has  been  engaged  in  the  liv- 
ery business  at  Shamokin  since  1889,  at  present  in 
partnership  with  Jacob  F  McCollum.  lie  ha-  a 
targe  patronage  and  is  counted  among  the  substan- 
tial citizens  "f  the  borough,  where  he  has  been  lo- 
cated  practically  throughoul  hi-  business  life.  He 
was  burn  Jan.  :!.  1867,  at  Paxinos,  Northumber- 
land county,  son  of  Franklin  Martz.  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  During  bis 
boyhood  he  did  farm  work  and  later  was  employed 
at  the  mines  for  three  years  before  entering  bis 
present  line.  In  1889  he  purchased  a  half  interest 
in  the  livery  and  feed  business  of  C.  M.  Adams, 
and  subsequently  admitted  Andrew  G.  Murray  to  a 
partnership,  being  associated  with  him  for  seven 
years  under  the  name  of  Martz  &  Murray.  Mr. 
Murray  withdrew  from  the  firm  in  1809  and  the 
business  is  now  conducted  by  Mr.  Maitz  and  his 
father-in-law,  Jacob  1.  McCollum.  Their  -table 
is  located  at  Rock  and  Webster  streets,  and  they 
keep  about  thirty-five  horses,  having  a  constant  and 
profitable  trade.  They  are  up-to-date  in  manage- 
ment and  methods  as  well  as  equipment  and  enjoy 
a  reputation  second  to  none  in  the  place.  Mr. 
Martz  has  prospered,  and  besides  his  business  owns 
a  fine  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  consisting  of  195 
acres  located  on  the  main  road  leading  from  Pax- 
inos to  Bear  Gap. 

Mr.  Martz  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife.  Hannah  Brocious,  daughter  of  John  H.  Bro- 
cious,  died   in  June.   This,  leaving  one  daughter, 


Helen.  By  his  second  wile.  Mamie  McCollum, 
daughter  of  Jacob  I.  McCollum,  he  has  had  one 
son,  John  Edwin. 

Fraternallv  Mr.  Martz  holds  membership  in  the 
B.  P.  ().  E./P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  Knights  of  Malta. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  preference. 

David  P.  Maetz,  son  of  David,  was  born  April 
Hi.  1840,  in  Ralpho  township,  with  which  he  has 
been  identified  throughout  his  long  life.  He  was 
reared  upon  the  farm  and  in  bis  boyhood  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  locality.  When  a  young 
man  he  commenced  to  learn  milling,  but  never 
followed  it  to  any  extent.  On  Sept.  in.  1861,  be 
enlisted  in  Company  F.  50th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  throughout 
the  Civil  war.  receiving  his  honorable  discharge 
Aug.  5,  1865.  lie  was  in  twenty-nine  battles,  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  among  them  the  im- 
portant engagements  at  Hilton  Head,  Antietam, 
South  Mountain.  Fredericksburg,  Bull  Run.  Vicks- 
burg,  the  Wilderness,  Knoxville,  etc.  He  was 
wounded  four  times,  twice  in  the  head  and  twice  in 
the  right  leg.  At  the  close  of  his  arnv;  service  Mr. 
Martz  began  farming  for  himself,  settling  upon 
his  present  property,  a  farm  of  ]nl  acres  at  Pax- 
inos. lying  aloiiu'  the  old  Central  turnpike.  It  is 
pan  of  the  old  Martz  homestead.  On  this  place 
Mr.  Martz  creeled  a  substantia]  barn  and  outbuild- 
ings, and  in  is;:;  he  put  up  a  sawmill  on  the  site 
formerly  occupied  by  a  fulling-mill.  He  operated 
it  for  some  time.  Since  190?  he  has  been  retired 
from  the  more  active  duties  of  the  farm,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  his  early  labors.  He  is  a  citizen  of 
the  highest  worth,  deserving  the  confidence  of 
bis  fellow  men.  and  is  a  much  respected  member 
of  the  community.  He  has  served  the  township 
three  years  as  school  director,  is  a  member  of 
Progress  Grange,  P.  id'  H.,  and  is  active  in  the 
work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
he  belongs,  serving  as  steward  and  teacher  in  the 
Sunday  school.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
sentiment. 

On  Dec.  Pi.  18(11).  Mr.  Martz  married  Rebecca 
('.  Repley,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Replev. 
She  died'  Oct.  ii.  1900,  and  is  buried  at  the  Oak 
Grove  church  in  Ralpho  township.  To  this  mar- 
riage were  born  children  as  follows:  John  W.  is 
living  at  Norfolk,  Va.;  Grace  is  married  to  Wil- 
liam C.  Bower  and  lias  two  children.  Lois  and  Le- 
ona :  Nora  is  the  wife  of  Wilson  Willow,  living  in 
Ralpho  township,  and  has  two  children.  Ellen  and 
Alfred:  Ruth  married  Harrison  Erdman,  living 
in  Shamokin.  and  has  one  child.  Mildred. 

REV.   CHARLES  J.   GALLIGAX,  pastor  of 

St.  Joseph's  Church.  Locust  Gap.  Northumber- 
land  county,  who  has  just  celebrated  the  twenty- 
first  anniversary  of  his  ordination,  beloved  by  his 
flock  and  respected  by  people  of  all  religious  de- 
nominations, is  a  native  of  Xew  York  City,  and 


\'<  >i;TH  r  M  BEELAN  D  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVA  X  I  A 


•.':;; 


first  -aw  tlir  light  of  clay  m  July,  1863.  Gradu- 
ating from  Manhattan  College  m  1884  he  as- 
sumed the  study  of  his  natural  vocation  and  wit- 
aessed    the  consummation  of   his  cherished    ideal 

when  he  was  elevated  to  the  priesth I.  li\   Bishop 

Curtis,  of  Baltimore  Seminary,  Feb.  7,  1890.  Mis 
career  since  has  been  marked  by  continuous  suc- 
cess iu  his  chosen  Held  of  goodness.  His  zeal  and 
fidelity  to  the  different  laity  who  have  been  under 
his  spiritual  care  furnish  an  example  to  all  la- 
borers in  Christ's  Vineyard.  During  his  career  he 
has  seen  service  at  Harrisburg,  Marietta,  York, 
Renova,  Mount  Carmel  ami  Lykens,  being  trans- 
ferred in  his  present  location  April  27,  1908.  In 
a  constructive  sense  he  exhibited  his  personal 
influence  and  business  ability  by  paying  nil'  an 
indebtedness  of  long  standing  on  his  church  at 
Marietta,  lie  has  made  many  improvements  at. 
Locust  Gap,  but  his  crowning  achievement  in  this 
direction  was  the  erection  of  St.  Patrick's  Church, 
at  York,  which  is  a  credit  to  the  city  and  will  ever 
stand  as  a  monument  to  Father  Galligan's  taste 
ami  industry.  It  is  in  the  spiritual  work,  how- 
ever, that  Father  Galligan  loves  to  exercise  his 
faculties.  He  is  therefore,  beloved  by  his  con- 
gregation, a  credit  to  his  church  and  to  the  vo- 
cation for  which  he  has  such  natural  fitness,  and 
the  duties  of  which  he  has  m>  creditably  dis- 
charged.     lie  is.  par  excellence,  an  ideal  priest. 

KAI'FKMAX.  The  Kauffmans  of  Northum- 
berland county  have  been  settled  there  lor  several 
generations,  hut  the  earlier  representatives  of  this 
name  in  the  United  States  were  residents  of  Berks 
county,  where  many  Kauffmans  are  to  be  found 
to  this  day. 

<>n  Sept.  15,  1749,  one  Jacob  Kauffman  lauded 
in  the  United  States,  having  conic  hither  in  the 
ship  "Phoenix,"  with  550  other  passengers  from 
Zweibrueken,  Nassau,  Wurtemberg  and  the  Pa- 
latinate, lie  and  two  brothers  located  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  but  the  land  there  was  not  what  be 
wanted,  so  he  did  imt  remain  long,  lie  did  not 
want  to  undertake  the  work  of  clearing  away  the 
forest-  winch  then  covered  that  region,  and  land 
which  could  he  converted  into  meadows,  to  raise 
hay  to  I'eed  his  stock,  seemed  in  him  more  desir- 
able, so  with  mie  brother  lie  settled  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, in  Hern  (now  Upper  Bern)  township.  He 
took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  fertile  valley 
at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Mountain,  near  the  presenl 
site  of  Si.  Michael's  church,  receiving  a  patent  for 
about  seven  hundred  acres,  part  of  which  was 
meadow  land,  with  an  abundant  water  supply.  He 
built  a  log  house  with  a  cellar,  particularly  adapted 
lor  defense  against  the  Indians,  there  being  no 
opening  which  afforded  an  easy  entrance  and  an 

attack  could  he  repelled  by  si ting  from  a  win- 
dow. The  few  settlers  in  the  vicinity  at  thai  time 
suffered    much    from   the    treachery   ami    depreda- 


tions nl'  the  Indians,  ami  they  accordingly  estab- 
lished a  military  post,  the  men  carrying  their  uuns 
when  the\  went  forth  tn  their  work  in  the  morning 
and  returning  tn  the  fort  when  their  day's  work 
was  clone.  This  state  of  affairs  continued  from 
I  in  I  to  1764,  hut  with  all  their  precaution-  about 
one  hundred  settlers  were  killed,  a  brother  of  Jacob 
Kauffman  being  among  the  number.  Jacob 
Kauffman  himself  had  many  thrilling  adventures 
and  some  narrow  escapes  from  death,  hut  he  con- 
tinued to  work  and  prosper  and  in  time  became  a 
well-to-do  man.  In  later  years  lie  built  a  substan- 
tial stone  mansion  upon  this  farm,  ami  this  dwell- 
ing is  still  standing  in  a  good  state  of  preserva- 
tion. He  Eollowed  farming  mi  his  old  homestead 
until   his  death    in    1804,   and   he   left    a    tract    of   a 

little  over  •  hundred  acres  (the  nhl  homestead) 

to  his  son  Yost  ;  this  is  now  owned  hv  the  John 
Kauffman  Estate,  the  sixth  generation.  Jacob 
Kauffman  was  buried  at  St.  Michael's  church,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  promoters  and  an  active 
member.  lie  reared  a  large  family  of  children, 
and  it  is  said  that  his  sons  became  great  hunters, 
deer  in  that  day  being  ven  plentiful  in  their  sec- 
tion. Tradition  has  it  that  a  gun  now  owned  by 
one  of  his  descendants  has  killed  as  many  as  two 
hundred  deer. 

Philip  Kauffman,  son  of  Jacob,  born  I'd.  31, 
1757,  died  Nov.  17,  1843.  He  was  buried  at  St. 
Michael's  Lutheran  church,  nl'  which  he  was  a 
member.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  war.  For  many  years  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing, living  on  a  portion  of  the  original  tract  taken 
up  by  his  father,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  He  married  Magdalena  Seaman,  daugh- 
ter of  Ludwig  Seaman,  and  in  them  were  born 
eleven  children,  seven  sons  ami  four  daughters. 


Jacob  and  Samuel  Kauffman,  brothers,  who  emi- 
grated  from  Switzerland  to  America  in   1770,  have 
many  descendants  in  Berks  county,  the  former  set- 
tling in  the  ( ►ley  Valley  and  the  latter  iii  Maiden 
creek,  where  he  became  a  very  prosperous  farmer 
and  stock  dealer  and  a    man   well  and   favorably 
known    in    his   vicinity.     The   name   of   his   wife 
is  not  known,  but  it  is  known  thai  their  son,  Sam- 
uel,  married   Catharine    Berndi   and    had   a    large 
family,    among   whom    wr\-f.   John    G..    Samuel, 
Daniel,    I  'avid   and   two  daughters,  om    of   w  bom 
married  a  Mr.  Sell,  the  other  David   Haas,     hi  re- 
ligious belief  the  family  were  members  '■>(  I  he  Re 
formed     denomination.       The     Kauffman 
Whigs  up  to  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  R 
publican   party,  when   many  joined   the  latter  or- 
ganization. 


There  is  a  very  old  famih  of  Kauffmans    a  Oh 
township.  Berks  county,  « iiii  h  was  founded  there 
between  1 720  and   1734  h\    1  >ai  id   Kauffman, 
,.; there    from    Germantown,    Pa.,    where    his 


238 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


mother  resided.  In  1734  lie  obtained  a  warrant 
for  land  from  tin  Peniis  for  property  located  in 
Olei  township,  Philadelphia  (now  Berks)  county. 
This  warrant  bears  the  date  May  24,  1734,  and  is 
for  one  hundred  acres  located  in  the  eastern  part 
of  tli.-  township,  and  part  of  this  property  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  the  family,  being  the  property 
of  Frank  Y.  Kaufman.  Later  David  obtained  an- 
other warrant,  under  date  of  July  1.  1740,  for  54 
n  res,  154  perches.  This  tract  adjoined  the  former 
one,  and  part  of  it  i-  also  owned  by  Frank  Y. 
Kaufman.  In  addition  to  this  property  David 
owned  300  acres  (now  owned  by  hi-  descendants 
Ephraim  K.  Kauffman  and  Frank  Y.  i.  which  he 
obtained  prior  to  1734,  his  holdings  totaling  354 

acres,  admitted  to  In-  i ag  the  very  choicest  land 

of  the  township.  Upon  this  property  he  erected 
buildings,  since  replaced  i]  those  of  more  modern 
:  ruction,  but  in  their  day  considered  models 
of  convenience  and  elegance.  He  is  buried  in  a 
private  burying  ground  upon  the  premises  and  his 
resting  place  i>  marked  by  a  limestone  without  any 
inscription.  Five  generations  are  buried  in  that 
little  plot.  ITis  wife.  Veronica,  in  1763,  with  her 
other  children,  released  the  property  to  her  son 
Jacob.  In  the  release  it  is  stated  that  she  was  the 
widow  of  David,  and  therefore  it  is  evident  that 
David  'lied  Mime  time  prior  to  1763.  This  release 
i-  -i-iied  by  the  widow  and  her  children,  who  were 
as  follows:  Annie  Yoder,  Mary  Shenkle.  Barbara 
Lasker,  and  John,  who  settled  in  Maiden-creek 
township,  where  his  descendants  still  reside.  It  ij 
evident  that   David  had  but  two  sons.  Jacob  and 

John. 

Another  interesting  fact  revealed  by  the  records 
of  the  township  is  that  in  1758  and  1759  Jacob 
Kauffman  paid  heavy  taxes  in  Oley  township,  his 
assessment  being  thirty  pounds. 

David,  the  original  ancestor  of  this  Oley  town- 
ship family,  had  a  brother  Jacob  wdto  died  without 
will,  and  his  mother.  Anna,  of  Philadelphia  coun- 
ty,  took  out  letters  of  administration  in  1732,  the 
letters  stating  that  she  was  his  mother  and  next 
of  kin.  Anna,  mother  id'  David  and  Jacob,  made  a 
will  in  which  she  bequeathed  the  grandfather  clock 
to  David,  and  the  balance  of  her  estate  to  all  the 
children  of  her  son  David,  except  David's  son  John, 
who  was  left  out, 

•  I. nob  Kauffman.  son  of  David,  obtained  the 
family  estate  in  1763,  as  above  stated,  purchasing 
it  from  the  other  heirs,  and  he  retained  it  until 
hi-  death,  residing  upon  the  property  and  engag- 
ing in  farming.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
family  of  Hill,  and  among  their  children  were: 
Jacob,  John.  Nicholas,  Peter,  Samuel  and  David. 

There  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  two  of 
the-,'  sons,  David  and  Nicholas,  settled  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  and  that  Satnuel  settled  in  the  State 
of  Indiana.  It  is  also  believed  that  a  son  of  the 
first    Jacob   located  in   the  then   wilds  of  Ti 


where  a  county,  a   town,  a  paper  and  a   postofl 
bear  the  family  name. 


Daniel  Kauffman.  son  of  Leonard,  was  born  on 
Jan.  17.  1804,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  in  1889,  aged  eighty- 
four  years,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  this  coun- 
ty. He  followed  farming  all  his  life,  renting  until 
in'  was  able  to  have  his  own  property,  and  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  150  acres  in  Lower  Augusta 
now  owned  by  H.  S.  Bowersox.  He  is  buried  in  that 
township,  at  the  St.  Elias  Union  church.  Daniel 
Kauffman  married  Mary  Ressler,  born  Aug.  23, 
L807,  who  died  in  1885.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  she  of  the  Reformed  denomi- 
nation. They  had  children  as  follows:  Sallie.  who 
married  Samuel  Conrad:  John  IT,  who  lives  at 
Sunbury,  this  county:  Elizabeth,  who  died  an  in- 
fant :  Eliza,  who  died  of  smallpos  after  reaching 
maturity;  Daniel,  also  of  Sunbury;  Levi:  Caro- 
line, of  Sunbury,  widow  of  Jam.'-  Coldren;  Mary, 
who  married  Hiram  Savage;  Levi :  Melinda,  widow 
I -,na 1 1  J.  Renn;  Lucy,  of  Buchanan.  Mich.. 
widow  of  Abraham  Brosius  (now  spelled  Broceus)  : 
and  Rachel  who  married  (first)  I  ra  T.  Renn  and 
(second)  James  Lower. 

Levi  Kauffm  w  a  substantial  citizen  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  county,  was 
born  he..  27,  1812.  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Ressler)  Kauffman.  He 
lived  at  home  until  just  before  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, at  the  age  of  twenty  going  into  business 
with  his  brother  John,  the  young  men  conducting 
a  store  in  Lower  Augusta.  After  two  years'  asso- 
ciation Levi  Kauffman  went  into  business  at 
Augustaville  on  his  sole  account,  continuing  thus 
for  three  years,  after  which  he  practically  retired 
for  a  year,  being  ill  for  some  time.  In  18(59  he 
came  to  Lower  Mahanoy,  where  he  was  in  the  mill- 
ing business  for  a  year  before  he  resumed  mer- 
chandising, opening  a  general  store  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  township,  on  the  hanks  of  the 
Susquehanna.  He  carried  this  place  on  success 
fully  for  about  fifteen  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  it  was  taken  over  by  his  son  Webster.  Mean- 
time, in  1880,  Mr.  Kauffman  had  purchased  the 
ninety-six-acre  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  on  which 
he  now  lives,  and  on  which  he  built  the  present 
large  residence  in  188!).  Many  other  valuable  im- 
provements have  been  made  oh  the  place  during  the 
thirty  years  of  his  ownership.  The  land  is  ex- 
cellent, and  under  his  management  lias  increased 
steadily  in  value.  Mr.  Kauffman  is  a  thrifty  and 
much  respected  citizen  of  his  section  of  the  county. 
He  has  become  widely  known  personally  as  well 
as  in  a  business  way. 

Mr.     Kauffman     married     (first)     Mary     Ann 
Wynn,  whose  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth   (Snj 
der)  Wynn.  of  New   Jersey,  were  English  people; 
John  Wvnn  had  a  most  remarkable  memory.     Six 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


cliildreii  were  bora  to  this  union:  Webster,  who  is 
.1  merchant  a1  Bridgeport,  in  Lower  Mahanoj  : 
Tamar;  Warren  I...  of  ronkers,  X.  Y. :  Lee,  of 
Danville,  Pa.;  Daniel,  a  farmer,  living  at  home; 
mid  Mary  <>..  who  married  George  I  lowan  and  lives 
in  Brooklyn,  X.  V.  For  his  second  wife  .Mr.  KauiV- 
iii, in  married  Amanda  Trainman,  widow  of  Daniel 
Messner,  and  they  have  had  two  sons:  .lam,-. 
who  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  railroad;  and 
Harrison,  a  graduate  of  Pennsylvania  College,  at 
i  lettysburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Kaiiil'man  and  his  family  are  members  of 
St.  Luke's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  of 
which  lie  ha-  been  an  elder  fur  more  than  twenty- 
five  years,     lie  is  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion. 

MATTHIAS  TEITSWOBTH,  a  farmer  of 
Ralpho  township,  lias  spent  all  his  life  in  the  sec- 
tion  where  he  now  reside-,  having  been  horn  upon 
the  farm  where  he  still  makes  his  home.  He  is  a 
great-grandson  of  John  Teitsworth,  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  Northumberland  county,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  here,  coming  from  New 
Ji  rsey,  bi  fore  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  is  quite 
certain  that  his  father  came  at  the  same  time,  and 
they  settled  mi  Shamokin  creek,  near  what  is  now 
Snydertown.  He  owned  about  five  hundred  acres 
■  •I  land.  Subsequently  lie  kept  a  tavern  at  what 
is  known  as  Paxinos,  on  the  line  of  Ralpho  and 
Shamokin  townships,  and  he  died  about  1800.  He 
had  two  smis.  William  and  Robert,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, who  married  Benjamin  Campbell.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction. 

Robert  Teitsworth,  the  younger  of  the  two  sons 
ni'  .lulm  Teitsworth,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1T68,  and 
died  June  9,  1832.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Taylor,  was  born  Oct.  6,  1775, 
and  died  Oct.  IT.  1815.  They  were  married  June 
11.  K94,  and  their  children  were  born  as  follows: 
Leanah.  July  20.  1795 :  William.  Dec.  1.  1797; 
John.  March  15,  1800:  Sarah.  Oct.  1,  L802;  Mar- 
garet, May  14,  1805:  Phebe.  Oct.  10,  1807;  Rob- 
ert. May  25,  1811:  Eliza.  Aug.  5,  1814.  On 
Manh  •.';,  1817,  Mr.  Teitsworth  married  (second) 
Elizabeth  Andrews,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Philip 
(born  Oct.  15.  1772)  and  Elizabeth  (DeWitt) 
(born  Jan.  26,  1778)  Andrews.  There  were  two 
children  by  this  marriage.  James  and  Perry.  Rob- 
ert Teitsworth  and  his  first  wife  are  interred  in 
the  old  Presbyterian  burial  ground  near  Reed's 
station,  in  Ralpho  township. 

William  Teitsworth.  elder  son  of  John  Teits- 
worth, was  born  in  Shamokin  township.  He  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  For  many  year-  lie 
conducted  the  tavern  which  he  inherited  from  his 
father,  and  was  also  engaged  in  farming,  at  one 
time  owning  about  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
where  Paxinos  is  now  located.  Later  he  sold  tin- 
tract  and  bought  aboul  250  acres  where  hi-  grand- 
sun  Matthias  now  owns,  building  a  lug  house  and 


clearing  land  which  he  continued  to  cultivate  until 
In-  death,  in  March,  L836,.  He  was  Ion-  a  lead 
citizen  of  his  district,  lie  was  twice  married, 
tlie  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not  known,  and  he 
had  no  children  by  that  union.  Bv  his  second 
marriage,  in  Mary  Campbell,  In-  had  five  childn  □  : 
Isaac;  John  B.,  deceased;  Elizabeth,  of  Ralpho 
township;    Katie,    deceased,    who    married     I'. 

YiMiim:  and  Mary,  deceased.   »  I tarried   John 

I  'ersing. 

I -ii'  Teitsworth,  -on  of  William,  was  born 
Dec.  5,  1801,  at  Pa\-inos.  Northumberland  county, 
and  in  time  became  the  owner  of  hi-  fathers  fa 
which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son  Mat- 
thias. He  cleared  this  land  and  followed  farming, 
in  his  latter  years  removing  to  Elysburg,  where 
he  lived  retired  and  died  Aug.  28,  L882.  lb'  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Presb}  terian  Church. 
of  which  he  was  an  elder  fifty  years,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried  in  the  old  Presbyterian  grave- 
yard in  Ralpho  township,  near  Reed's  station.  He 
married  Sarah  Catharine  Persing,  who  was  bom 
Oct.  18,  1806,  daughter  of  John  Persing,  and  after 
her  husband's  death  resided  with  her  -on  Isaac 
N.  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  dying  dan.  28,  1895. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family:  Mary  A. 
married  Jacob  II.  Reed  and  (second)  William 
Haas;  Lemuel  died  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.;  Rev.  Wil- 
liam P.  is  living  at  Oakland,  Cal. ;  Benjamin  Fran- 
klin died  in  Columbia  county:  Alfred,  horn  Feb. 
9,  1833,  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war  in 
the  16th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  was  killed 
in  battle  near  Culpeper,  Va.,  at  the  engagement 
of  Cedar  Mountain.  Aug.  8,  L862;  Susanna  mar- 
ried Daniel  Adam- and  resides  al  Bear  Gap;  1- 
Newton,  who  lives  in  Columbia  county,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war:  Matthias  is  mentioned 
below;  Kate  died  unmarried:  John  11.  died  in 
Michigan;  Harriet,  born  Nov.  2  1.  1834,  died  dun. 
it.  1853,  and  she  and  her  brother  and  si>ter  are 
interred  in  the  same  cemetery  as  their  parents; 
Matilda  married  Theodore  Clayton,  formerly  of  . 
Riverside,  Pa.,  and  is  now  living  at  South  Dan- 
ville, Pa. :  Antoinette  (  Nettie  I  Ha 
]!.  Soult,  of  Elysburg,  and  they  now  live  in  the 
State  of  Washington. 

Matthias  Teitsworth  was  bom  Oct.  25,  1- 
Ile  was  reared  upon  the  farm  and  attended  the 
schools  of  the  home  locality,  and  after  In-  parents 
died  he  took  the  "Id  homestead,  where  he  is  >till 
living,  This  farm  contain-  L0"3  acres,  near  Elys- 
burg, and  Mr.  Teitsworth  is  -till  actively  engaged 
in  its  cultivation  ami    imp  In    1894  he 

,.e,.,  ted    his    presenl    reside  nee    then        Me    owns 
another  farm  of  nit  ,  also  in  the  \ ' 

Elysburg.     Mi'.  Teitsworth  formerly 
eel    market    at    Mouni    Carmel,    later   taking   his 
pi-odu         i   Shamokin.     He  i-  a   substantia]   at 

■   .  niial  citizen,  read}    to  do  his  -hare  for  the 
nance  i      I     i   ','''1- 


N0RTH1  MBERLAND  C01  !STTY3   PENNSYLVANIA 


of  the  community.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  old  Elysburg  Academy,  built  in  L865;  was  a 
charter  member  of  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  548,  I.  0. 
i  >.    F..   organized   Jan.    I.    1859  ;   wa  if  the 

organizers  of  the  Pine  Hill  Cemetery  Association 
(the  cemetery  being  located  near  Elysburg,  in 
Ralpho  township),  and  is  still  a  trustee;  and  he 

has  served  as  a  trust f  the  Presbyterian  Church, 

of  which  he  and  his  famity  are  active  members. 
In  polities  he  is  a  Republican.  I  □  1 862  he  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  II.  172d  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  served  for  ten  months, 
being  stationed  al  Yorktown  for  seven  months. 
In  1865  Mr.  Teitsworth  married  Lanah  Louisa 
M  ers,  who  was  born  March  14,  1849,  daughter 
of  John  < !.  and  Rachel  i  \\  atson  i  M  yers,  of  <  o 
lumbia  comity.  Pa.  Mrs.  Teitsworth  died  Jan.  20, 
1910,  aged  sixty  y«  are,  and  is  buried  in  Pine  Hill 
cemetery.  The  following  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teitsworth:  Alfred,  who  lives  at 
Sunbury,  married  Minnie  Kulp;  Harve]  B.,  who 
mi  Ralpho  township,  married  Annie  Wilt  : 
Williani  Monis.  now  of  Mount  Carmel,  married 
Elizabeth  I  Qger;  Amos  is  in  the  west:  Ma 
M.  married  Clark  (  ampbeL1  ;  Josiah  B.  married 
Minerva  Rhoads;  Preston,  who  is  living  in  Ralpho 
township,    married    Lucy    Leiby;    Delia    I.    is    at 

LEISENRING.  The  Leisenrings  of  Northum- 
berland and  Lehigh  counl  ies,  Pa.,  trai  e  their  line 
from  John  Conrad  Leisenrinck,  who  came  from 
3  cony,  <  lermany,  as  early  as  1744  and  firs!  lo- 
i  ated  in  Baltimore.     He  found  ,  m  in  home 

in  Pennsylvania,  coming  firs!  to  Northampton 
county  and  in  1752  settling  in  White  Hall  town- 
ship, Lehigh  county,  where  he  purchased  a  very 
estate,  securing  the  title  from  the  Penns.  He 
is  buried  in  the  <  I  a   pt,  Lehigh  county, 

and  hi<  name,  spelled  as  above,  is  -till  to  be  seen 
on  his  tombstone,  which  was  bough!   in  German- 
town  and  was  the  first  marble  gravestone  in  that 
tenr.     He  and  his  family  lived  like  the  I    pica 
thrifty  people  of  their  day.     II  is  w  iiV  spun 

ild    li   to  customers  in    Philadelphia.     'I 
had   a    famih    of  four  sons  and   thn  fhters, 

namely:  Conrad,  Andrew,  Peter,  John  Seba 
Vnnie  Mai  ia,  Elizabeth  and  Barbara. 

Peter  L  m  of  John  Conrad,  was  horn 

F<  '    28,    L770,   ;n    Li  high  county',  Pa.,  whi  n 

ith   ami  earl  d    life.     Com- 

ing to  Northumberland  county  in  1805,  he  settled 
noon  a  trad  of  109  acres  about  two  miles  south 
of  Sunbury,  in  what  is  now  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, and  on  this  property  erected  one  of  the  firsi 

neries  in  the  countv;  he  also  ran  a  distillery, 
carrying  on  a  large  business  for  the  time.  He  was 
a  pri  man,  and  raised  the  first  red  clover 

in  t!:  i  of  the  countv.     He  also  planted  the 

firs!    ori  hard    in    his   district.      Enti  and 


hard-working,  he  becami i  of  the  leading  men 

of  the  county.  He  married  Susan  Schod,  who  was 
horn  in  Lehigh  county  May  17,  1774,  and  they 
had  the  follow  ing  children :  Jacob  I-!..  Gideon, 
Peter,  Lydia  (married  Christian  I'.aldv)  ami  Kit- 
(m:  :  icd  Martin  Weaver).  All  are  now  de 
d.  The  parents  both  died  in  Northumber- 
land countv. 

Jacob  E.  Leisenring,  eldesl  child  of  Peter,  was 
hom  in  Lehigh  county  July  14,  1794,  and  when  a 
roung  man  learned  the  tanning  trade  with  his  la- 
ther, lie  was  engaged  in  hauling  the  products 
of  the  tannery,  distillen  and  farm  to  Philadel 
and  Pittsburg,  where  they  attended  the  markets. 
and  he  used  to  carry  to  Philadelphia  large 

'.)  to  purchase  supplies  for  the  farmers  in  the 

district.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  under 
H  mel  and  served  nine  months.  In 
1833,  in  company  with  William  Cloyd,  whosi  d 
terest  he  later  bought,  he  purchased  the  old  Fisher 
property  ai  Bei  Gap,  where  his  grandson,  Jacob 
E.,  now  resides,  this  property  consisting  of  105 
aciv-  of  land,  a  gristmill  and  tavern,  of  which 
latter  he  was  the  landlord  for  a  period  of  forty 
The  house,  a  large  -tone  structure,  was 
buill  l>\  Caleb  Fisher  about  181  2,  and  the  location 
being  a  changing  point  for  the  stagecoaches  the 
stand  was  a  very  prosperous  one.  Dunne  this 
country  was  so  wild  that  hear-  were 
still  very  plentiful.  Mr.  Leisenring  later  bough! 
from  Benjamin  Tillman  the  adjoining  land,  so 
thut  he  had  in  one  tract  then  about  sis  hundred 
acres;  he  also  had  another  farm  at  what  i-  now 
Paxinos,  of  two  hundred  acres.  As  the-  thriving 
condition  of  his  affairs  would  indicate,  he  was  a 

man  of  excellent  judgment  and  a  e I  overseer  in 

business  matters,  and  his  opinion  and  ,  sel  were 

often   sought   by   his   neighbors.      He   d ted   all 

his  time  to  business  and  was  considered  one  of  the 
leading  men  in  the  county',  though  he  took  no  di- 
rect part  in  the  conduct  of  public  affairs.  He  was 
a    Democrat,  and   interested   in  the  success  of  the 

party,  but  was  never  active  in  it-  affairs.    He  fo I 

time   for  church   work,  however,   being  a  zealous 
member    of    the    Lutheran    Church,    m    which     for 
many  years  he  filled  the  office  of  deacon,  and  few 
highly  respected. 

On  June  13,  1819,  Mr.  Leisenring  married 
Mary  Bucher,  daughter  of  Henry,  of  Sunbury,  Pa., 
and  she  died  a  few  years  befon  he  did,  June  1  I. 
i  -  i  :  i    enty  t  hree  rears,  six  month-.     \l  r. 

I  nring  died  Ma\  II.  1878,  and  the.1  are  buried 
al  the  Blue  i  Iran  h  in  Ralpho  t  iwnship.  The} 
were  the  parent-  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  and  Mr.  Leisenring  was  able  to 
a  farm  or  a  hoi  i  each  of  the  seven  who 
ted  maturity,  namely:  Charles;  Henry,  who 
i-    deeeas<  d:    Lydia    (d  Mrs.    Benjamin 

Wolverton :  Catharine,  who  married  George  Hugh- 
waut,  le  survived;  Frank,  deceased :  Marv, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


■.Ml 


deceased,  wl larried  George  Mifflin,  of  Paxinos; 

and  Peter  Shindel. 

Peter  Shindel  Leisenring,  son  of  Jacob  F... 
was  born  May  12,  1842,  upon  the  homestead  al 
Bear  Gap,  and  was  educated  at  the  Local  schools. 
In  his  youth  he  was  employed  with  his  father. 
clearing  the  land  and  farming,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  farming  and  grist-  and 
saw-milling,  continuing  all  these  industries  with 
success.  His  Farm  consisted  of  285  acres  of  land, 
under  profitable  cultivation,  and  with  all  these  in- 
terests he  also  conducted  the  hotel  for  some  time. 
He  was  very  well  known,  being  one  of  the  most 
substantial  citizens  of  his  time,  and  his  success  m 
all  his  undertakings  was  such  as  to  make  him  one 
of  the  most  valuable  men  in  Ins  community,  where 
his  death  was  regarded  as  a  general  Jo=s.  On  Feb. 
13,  1876,  Mr.  Leisenring  married  Mary  A.  Sand- 
ers, daughter  of  Joseph  ami  Sarah  (Fisher) 
Sanders,  id'  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and  they  hail 
two  children,  Jacob  E.  and  Mary  ('.  The  latter  is 
the  wife  of  David  K.  Geise,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Frank;  the}  reside  in  Ralpho  township. 

Mr.  Leisenring  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a 
Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  belonging  to  the  Blue 
Church  in  Ralpho  township.  He  .lied  July  8, 
1898,  aged  fifty-six  years,  and  is  buried  at  the 
Line  church.  His  widow  resides  with  her  son  and 
daughter   in  Ralpho  township. 

Jacob  I'].  Leisenring,  a  well  known  business 
man  of  Bear  Cap.  Northumberland  county,  is 
the  only  son  of  Peter  Shindel  Leisenring.  He 
was  born   Nov.  IT,  is;;,  at  the  place  where  he  still 

resides,  and  attended  the  local  public  scl 1-  and 

Blysburg  Academy.  From  the  time  he  was  obi 
enough  to  be  useful  be  assisted  his  father,  and  after 
the  hitter's  death  he  continued  his  business  affairs 
for  four  years.  He  then  bought  the  old  home- 
stead, which  now  consists  id'  about  132  acres  of 
land,  and  his  holdings  at  present  aggregate  about 
450  acres,  of  which  a  good  deal  is  timber  land. 
He  carries  on  the  lumber  business  in  addition  to 
farming,  and  has  given  every  evidence  that  the  rep- 
utation of  the  family  for  business  thrift  and  sagac- 
ity will  not  suffer  in  bis  career.  Well  known  in 
his  business  and  social  relations,  popular  person- 
ally, ambitious,  honorable  ami  trustworthy,  he  has 
gratifying  prospects  for  a  useful  ami  prosperous 
future.  He  has  served  as  road  commissioner  and 
auditor  of  his  township. 

Mr.  Leisenring  married  Emma  Yocum,  daugh- 
ter of  Ezra  and  Joannah  (Hummel)  Yocum,  and 
they  have  had  four  children:  One  son  that  died 
in  infancy  ;  Kathleen,  w  bo  died  when  six  years  old  : 
Charlotte",  and  Mary  Johannah.  Politically  Mr. 
Leisenring  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Luth 
eran.  Be  is  a  member  of  Elysburg  Lodge,  No. 
414.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  of  Shamokin  Lodge  of  F.Iks. 


Charles  Leisenring,  son  of  Jacob  E.,  was  I i 

182]  and  received  bis  education  in  the  schools  of 
the  home  locality,  lie  followed  farming  and  also 
kept  hotel  at  Paxinos,  this  countv.  Mr.  Lei 
ring  died  Aug.  27,  L868,  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  forty-seven  years,  bis  death  being 
caused  by  the  kick  of  a  colt,  while  he  was  going 
about  bis  work.  He  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 
Ilis  widow,  who  is  still  living  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa., 
was  Maria  Haas,  ami  they  were  the  parents  of  five 
children:  [da,  Mrs.  John  Pensyl;  Emma,  who 
married  Rev.  John  Adams,  a  Lutheran  minister 
(both  are  dead);  Lewis  ('.  :  .lames;  anil  Clara. 
Mrs.  John   Snyder. 

Lewis  C.  Leisenring,  son  of  Charles,  was  born 
at  Paxinos,  Pa.,  Aug.  I.  1856,  and  when  a  Inn 
came  with  his  parents  to  a  farm  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship, near  Hear  Cap.  He  followed  the  life  of  a 
farmer,  and  in  1896  took  bis  father's  homestead  of 
147  acres,  which  is  located  at  Bear  Cap  and  joins 
the  farms  of  his  cousins.  Jacob  F.  and  George  K. 
Leisenring.  Lewis  C.  Leisenring  married  Emma 
Teats,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Teat.-,  of  Shamokin 
township,  and  they  have  had  children  as  follow-: 
Charles  (married  Blanche  John),  Walter,  Grace 
and  Warren.  Mr.  Leisenring  is  a  Democrat  and 
served  Ralpho  township  as  school  director  for 
five  years.  In  religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  a  member 
of  the  Blue  ( Ihurch. 

Henry  Leisenring,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  al 
Sunburv.  Pa.,  March  31,  is-.'::,  and  died  at  Elys- 
burg, Pa.,  Feb.  22,  1895.  He  is  buried  al  the 
Blue  church.  In  early  life  he  learned  milling  and 
was  engaged  in  the  Hour  and  feed  business  al 
Hear  Gap.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  which  be  followed  some  time,  and  then, 
returned  to  the  milling  business  at  Bear  Gap.  lie 
was  a  Lutheran  in  religion.  His  wife.  Mary  A. 
Eekroth,  daughter  of  John,  did  Oct.  15,  1898, 
aged  seventy-nine  years.  They  bad  these  children: 
(  1  )  Anna  died  unmarried  aged  twenty-eight.  (2) 
Herbert,  who  lives  in  Shamokin.  married  Cathar- 
ine Lanciscus,  daughter  of  John  and  Lena  (Bird) 
Lanciseus,  ami  they  have  had  four  children.  Mal- 
colm 1...  Edna  L.  (deceased  i.  Lena  M.  (as  home) 
and  Ethel  F.  (deceased  i.  i  3)  Estella  is  the  ■, 
of  Clark  R.  Creasy,  and  the}  are  living  m  Sham- 
okin. Their  children  are  1  >ayton,  ( 'lara  and  Grace. 
( 4)  Tacie,  w  idow  of  Theodore  Heck,  of  Shamokin, 
is  the  mother  of  Irene  (wife  of  Dr.  A.  G.  Shiss- 
ler),  Millie  (wife  of  .1.  A.  Shipman),  and  Harry 
l  uim  died  aged  twenty-one).  (5)  Dayton,  who 
lives  at  Elysburg,  Pa.,  married  Carrie  Vought 
and   has  one  son.  .1'  ihn. 

Frank  Leisenring,  son  of  Jacob  E.,  was  born 
in  L835,  upon  the  homestead  al  Bear  Cap,  and 
was  educated  in  ihe  public  schools  of  the  vicinity. 
Me  had  a  line  farm  of  150  ai  res  al  Lear  Cap.  cul- 
tivating 'be  same  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at   the   faun  .Ian.    16,    L902,  when   be  was  sixty-six 


16 


242 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSY  LYANIA 


years,  three  month-,  four  days  old.  In  1861  he 
married  Angeline  Keller,  of  Balpho  township,  who 
is  now  living  with  her  son.  George  K.  They  had 
three  children:  Savanna,  deceased:  George  K. ; 
and  Laura,  widow  of  William  Campbell,  of  Ralpho 
township.  Mr.  Leisenring  was  a  well  known  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party  and  tilled  the  office  of 
school  director  and  other  township  positions.  He 
was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith. 

i  iKohge  K.  Leisenring,  son  of  Frank,  was  horn 
dan.  31,  18(56,  in  Ralpho  township,  and  became  a 
fanner.  He  was  employed  with  his  father  until  he 
began  for  himself  in  1890,  and  now  own-  hi-  fa- 
ther's homestead,  having  a  tine  farm  at  Bear  Gap, 
well  appointed,  with  substantial  and  up-to-date 
buildings.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  has  si  rred 
his  community  as  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  in  re- 
ligious connection,  like  so  many  others  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  a  Lutheran  and  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Church. 

.Mr.  Leisenring  married  Elizabeth  Haas,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Eaas,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
six  children:  Frank  (died  aged  six  years).  Ruth, 
Mary,  Dorothy,  Catherine  and  Marcella. 

CHARLES  O'CONNOR  is  identified  with 
business  life  of  Trevorton,  Northumberland  county. 
in  various  associations,  being  owner  and  proprietor 
of  the  well  known  "Elk  Hotel."  proprietor  of  the 
New  York  clothing  store,  treasurer  of  the  Trev- 
orton Industrial  Stock  Company  and  director  of 
the  Miners'  Savings  &  Loan  Association,  in  which 
oils  he  has  come  in  contact  with  so  many  of 
bis  fellow  citizens  that  lie  is  an  unusually  well 
known  man  in  hi-  community.  He  was  born 
March  19,  1861,  in  England,  son  of  Michael 
I  m  Hiiiior. 

Michael  O'Connor  was  born  in  1836  in  the 
Province  of  Munster,  Ireland,  and  brought  his 
family  thence  to  America  in  1868,  landing  at  New 
York  City.  After  a  brief  residence  in  Xew  Jer- 
-'  < .  engaged  al  hi-  fade,  thai  of  potter,  be  came 
to  Shamokin  (in  1868),  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa.,  and  here  found  work  at  mining,  following  that 
occupation  most  of  his  active  years.  For  some  time 
before  his  death  he  was  in  tlie  shoe  business  al 
Shamokin.  his  store  being  in  the  old  Weaver  build- 
ing. He  died  in  Shamokin  January  16,  1894. 
'Sir.  O'Connor  married  Catherine  Costello,  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  whose  people  settled  at  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  and  she  died  Oct.  17,  1889.  Mr.  and  Mr-. 
O'Connor  are  buried  at  Shamokin.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  them:  Michael,  who  lives  in  Sham- 
okin; Charles:  Thomas,  of  Shamokin:  Patrick, 
of  Shamokin;  James,  of  Shamokin:  Margaret, 
wife  of  Thomas  Tamey,  of  Shamokin:  William 
Francis,  who  died  young;  William  P..  of  Sham- 
okin: and  F.  Henry,  who  died  June  15,  1870,  and 
who  was  the  second  person  buried  in  the  Catholic 
cemeterv  at   Shamokin. 


Charles  O'Connor  was  eight  and  a  half  years  old 
when  he  came  to  America,  in  1869,  and  he  attend- 
ed school  at  Shamokin  for  some  years  thereafter. 
He  began  work  as  a  slate  picker,  and  in  time  en- 
gaged in  mining,  following  this  occupation  until 
Feb.  ">.  1905.  Meantime,  however,  he  bad  ac- 
quired other  interests,  and  he  is  now  an  active  busi- 
ness man.  On  Feb.  5,  1905,  he  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Trevorton,  becoming  proprietor  of 
the  "Elk  Hotel."  the  best  known  hostelry  in  the 
town.  It  was  built  in  1851,  and  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  O'Connor.     Since  October,  1909.  he 

-  i l-o  been  interested  in  the  clothing  business,  be- 
ing proprietor  of  the  fine,  up-to-date  store  located 
site  his  hotel,  conducted  by  what  is  known  as 
the  Xew  York  Clothing  Company.  He  is  con- 
nected with  tlie  Trevorton  [ndustrial  Stock  Com- 
pany as  treasurer  and  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, his  son  Michael  being  secretary  of  the  com- 
pany and  Mr.  Plummet'  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees.  He  is  treasurer  (since  1908)  and  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Miners'  Sav- 
ings A  Lean  Association  of  Trevorton  (serving  as 
vice  president  from  1904  to  1908,  when  he  was 
elected  treasurer),  which  was  established  April  30, 
1904.  In  1898  Mr.  O'Connor  became  jury  com- 
missioner of  Northumberland  countv.  and  suc- 
ed  himself  for  another  term,  in  1901,  having 
the  distinction  of  being  the  first  man  ever  to  suc- 
ceed himself  in  tin-  office  since  the  county  was  or- 
ganized. 1772.  Politically  be  is  a  Democrat,  and 
he  has  numerous  social  connections,  being  a  mem- 
ber (,f  Lodge  \o.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of  Sunbury, 
this  county  (since  1898)  :  a  member  of  the  F.  O. 
E.  Aerie  at  Shamokin.  of  which  he  was  one  of  tlie 
first  trustees:  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Beneficial 
ty,  and  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  H.  In  religion 
-  a  Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  Patrick's  Church 
at  Trevorton. 

Mr.  O'Connor  married  Mary  Kelllher,  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  Kelliber.  and  they  have  had 
a  large  family,  viz.:  Thomas,  who  died  young: 
Michael,  who  was  educated  at  St.  Vincent  College, 
Latrobe,  Pa.,  and  Mount  St.  Mary's,  Emmitsburg, 
Mil.,  and  i-  now  clerk  of  the  Quarter  Sessions 
court  at  Sunbury;  Patrick  (also  a  student  at  St. 
Mary's  College),  who  married  Verna  Kehler  and 
lias  one  son.  George;  Catherine:  Charles  Raymond, 
who  died  when  one  year,  five  months  old':  Joseph, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  :  Francis,  who 
died  when  eleven  months  old;  William  Raymond, 
who  died  in  infancy:  Barmary.  who  is  still  attend- 
ing school  :  Margaret  ;  and  Joseph. 

ZIMMERMAN.  The  Zimmerman  family,  rep- 
resented in  Schuylkill  county  for  several  gener- 
ations, and  among  the  most  substantial  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  this  region,  has  been  settled 
in  Pennsylvania  for  a  hundred  and  eighty  years, 
since  the  four  brothers  Abraham.  Jacob,  Isaac  and 


NORTHU  M  BEE  LAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  N  SYLVANIA 


243 


Sebastian  Zimmerman  came  from  Germany  in 
L730-31.  They  first  settled  m  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, near  Kutztown,  in  Maxatawny  township, 
Berks  county,  in  which  township  Abraham  paid 
sixteen  pounds  tax  in  1759— the  year  the  first  tax 
was  levied,  Sebastian  (or  Bastian,  as  he  was  known 
in  Berks  county)  paying  twenty-three  pounds  tax 
there  that  year.  The  latter,  who  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  branch  of  the  family  in  which  we  are  here  in- 
terested, the  line  of  the  present  Sebastian  Zim- 
merman, of  Sunbury,  an  old  resident  of  that  place. 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  Avar. 

Abraham  Zimmerman,  son  of  Sebastian,  married 
!!•  mice  Werley,  and  they  lived  near  Kutztown.  in 
Maxatawny  township,  where  they  were  farming 
people.  Their  children,  all  horn  in  that  township. 
were:  Elizabeth,  Abraham,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Sebas- 
tian, Solomon.  Carrie,  Esther,  Dewald,  John  and 
Isaac. 

Sebastian  Zimmerman,  son  id'  Abraham,  was 
horn  May  ",.  1796,  in  Berks  county.  He  together 
with  three  of  hi-  brothers,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 

of  1812,  and   was  I'  the  four  men  detailed  to 

bury  the  dead  in  the  disasters  about  Washington 
that  resulted  in  the  burning  of  the  national  capital 
h\  the  British.  Moving  to  Schuylkill  county,  lie 
acquired  a  large  farm  in  Upper  Mahantango  town- 
ship, which  ha-  -nee  I. ecu  divided  into  two  farms, 
one  of  which  is  owned  by  Felix  Masser.  The  prop- 
erty originally  comprised  over  two  hundred  acres. 
Mr.  Zimmerman  died  in  July.  1885,  in  the  Upper 
Mahantango  Valley,  near  the  Northumberland 
county  line,  aged  eighty-nine  years,  two  mom  lis. 
one  day.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  B.  Klock,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Klock;,  wa-  horn  Aug.  30,  1796,  and  died 
dan.  13,  1875.  They  were  Lutherans,  and  are 
buried  at  the  Salem  (  Serb)  Church  at  Rough  and 
Ready,  in  Schuylkill  county.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  children  as  follows:  Joseph,  Catharine, 
Elizabeth,  Salome.  Esther,  Lydia,  Sebastian  and 
George.  The  last  named  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Petersburg,  Va.:  he  married  Eliza  JTerter.  and 
they  had  four  sons,  Jonathan,  Washington,  doe1 
ami  Monroe. 

Sebastian  Zimmerman,  son  of  Sebastian  and 
Elizabeth  B.  (  Klock)  Zimmerman,  was  horn  June 
■.'.  1830,  in  Cameron  township,  Northumberland 
Co..  Pa.  His  parents  moved  across  the  line  into 
Upper  Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
when  lie  was  about  a  year  old.  and  he  was  there 
reared  to  farming,  which  he  continued  to  follow 
after  beginning  life  on  his  own  account,  acquir- 
ing a  farm  in  that  locality  which  he  cultivated 
until  his  removal  to  Northumberland  county  in 
1867.  At  that  time  he  settled  in  Lower  Aug 
township,  the  part  now  included  in  Rockefeller 
township,  remaining  there  for  about  twenty  years, 
until  he  retired  from  active  pursuits,  in  1887. 
Since  his  retirement  he  has  made  his  horn 
bury,  of  which  place  he  is  on.'  of  the  oldest  and 


-i    respected    residents.      Mr.   Zimmerman    has 

never  sought  office,  hut  he  lias  served  thirteen  years 
a-  school  director,  pari  of  the  time  for  what  is 
now  Rockefeller  township  and  pari  of  the  lime 
for  tlie  borough  of  Sunbury.  He  i-  a  Democrat 
in  political  matters.  He  has  always  been  interesl 
ed  in  the  welfare  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  having 
served  as  deacon  while  he  was  a  resident  of  Upper 
Mahantango,  and  he  and  In-  wife  arc  members  of 
the  /.ion's  New  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.    On 

Oct.    ?s.    1862,    "Mr.    Zimmerman    enlisted    Er 

Schuylkill  county  in  Company  K.  172d  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  under  (apt.  1-'.  A.  Eoff- 
man,  was  promoted  to  second  sergeant  of  that 
company,  ami  served  with  the  Army  of  the  Potom- 
ac, lie  was  discharged  Aug.  1.  1863,  with  his  n  s 
inieiit.  at  Harrisburg.     Mr.  Zimmerman  has  long 

been   an  active  mber  of  William   Brunei-    Post, 

No.  335,  G.  A.  II. .  in  which  he  has  held  various  of- 
fices. 

On  Feb.  23,  1851,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married 
(first)  Elizabeth  Sehlappig,  who  was  born  Nov. 
25,  1832,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Sehlappig,  and 
died  Dec.  8,  1872,  in  her  forty-first  year.  They 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  born  as  follows: 
Ileurv  S.,  dan.  22,  Is.",'.';  Sarah.  Sep).  L7,  L853; 
Lewis.  May  1,  1855  (died  Nov.  22,  L901  i  ;  Ed- 
win, March  10,  185*3  (died  June  1-"..  IKlilO  :  John. 
July  20,  1859:  Sebastian,  Dec.  15,  1861  ;  Eliza- 
beth, Ma-,  12,  1864  (died  Lee.  s.  1872)  :  William, 
Julv  11,  1866;  Benjamin,  July  25,  L868  (died 
Aug.  11,  ISM)  :  Mary  Ann.  Maj  26,  1870  (died 
July  15,  1871). 

Mr.  Zimmerman's  second  marriage  was  to  Mrs. 
Harriet  (Klock)  Voder,  horn  Feb  L8,  L832, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Polly  (Masser)  Klock,  and 
bv  this  union  there  are  two  children:  Alice,  horn 
Feh.  13,  1ST  I.  and  Clara,  horn  Dec  13,  1875.  By 
her  lii-t  marriage,  to  Peter  Voder,  son  of  \ni< 
Ybder,  of  Schuylkill  county  and  later  of  North- 
umberland county.  Mrs.  Zimmerman  had  sis  chil- 
dren: Sarah  (deceased),  Lewis,  Emma,  Juliann, 
Christian  and   Peter. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  much  interested  in  incidet 
of  the  early  days  in  this  region,  and  he  relate-  one 
story,  about  the  manner  in  which  the  famo  <  on- 
rad  Weiser  acquired  possession  oi  one  of  the  is- 
lands in  the  Susquehanna  river,  which  is  worth 
repeating:  The  Indians  had  great  ams, 

and  as  far  as  possible  executed  commands  or  heed- 
ed warnings  received  during  sleep.  Conrad 
Weiser,  the  greal  1 1  i        ms,  had  a  tine 

gun    which    the    l.'ediiicii    admiivd    a-    imieli    a-    the 

owner  prized  it.  Shikellimy,  the  Oneida  chief,  who 
was  v>  was  stationed  al  S 

bury  at  the  time  of  this  happening.     II 
tin-  gun,  and  one  nighl  dreamed  thai  Weiser  gave 

1    tO    inni.       The    nexl    time    he   met    Weiser    he    told 

Pin,  of  the  di  >'■  eiser,  knowing  that   it 

would  he  had    i  him  the  gift,  gave  his 


244 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSY  LVANIA 


treasured  gun  to  the  Indian,  though  reluctantly. 
Now  it  was  the  white  mau's  turn  to  dream.  In  the 
Susquehanna  river,  below  Sunhurv,  is  the  Isle  of 
Cue  upon  which  the  Indians  lived  and  which  they 
valued  highly.  Weiser  had  often  asked  for  it.  but 
the  Indians,  though  friendly,  said  they  could  not 
part  with  it.  Weiser  dreamed  that  his  friend  Shik- 
ellimy  made  him  a  present  of  the  island,  and  when 
he  met  the  Chief  began  by  apologizing  for  hav- 
ing a  dream  to  relate  which  might  not  please  the 
latter.  The  Chief  reassured  him  on  the  strength 
of  their  great  friendship  and  Weiser.  with  apparent 
regret,  told  his  story.  Shikellimy,  though  evident- 
Iv  disturbed,  was  "game"  and  insisted  that  the 
dream  must  he  fulfilled,  hut  at  the  same  time  he 
gave  his  friend  to  understand  that  it  was  time  to 
pul  an  end  to  their  dreaming.  This  story  is  re- 
lated a-  the  true  version  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  island  came  into  Weiser's  possession.  It  is  a 
matter  of  record  that  hi'  did   own  it. 


John  Zimmerman,  who  was  from  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  settled  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county.  His  children  were:  Daniel,  who 
married  Catharine  Hall:  John,  who  lived  in  Up- 
per  Augusta  township:  Sarah,  who  married  Abra- 
ham Hartman :  a  daughter,  who  married  Daniel 
Zimmerman;  George,  who  married  Mary  Hall  ^sis- 
ter of  Catharine):  and  Peter,  who  moved  away 
from  this  section.  Of  this  family.  George  Zim- 
merman lived  in  Augusta  township,  and  later  came 
to  Sunhurv.  Pa.,  where  he  built  a  house,  which  is 
Mill  standing,  now  occupied  by  his  grandsons  Sam- 
uel and  William  H.  Stroh.  George  Zimmerman's 
children  were:  . Jeremiah  (a  prominent  man.  who 
served  as  Representative  in  the  State  Legislature), 
Rachel.  Luzy  (died  young),  Mary.  Elizabeth  and 
Emma. 

Daniel  Zimmerman,  grandfather  of  William  A. 
Zimmerman,  a  residenl  of  Rockefeller  township, 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  in  Oley  town- 
ship, Berks  Co..  Pa.,  Feb.  1.  1793,  son  of  Johannes 
(John)  Zimmerman,  and  died  March  26,  184"?.  in 
Northumberland  county,  aged  forty-nine  years,  one 
month,  twenty-two  days.  Tin-  record  and  that  of 
his  wife  are  to  lie  found  in  the  old  cemetery  at 
Sunbury.  After  his  marriage  he  came  to  this  coun- 
ty and  settled  in  what  i-  now  Rockefeller  township, 
and  he  followed  farming  as  well  as  his  trade  of 
blacksmith,  his  shop  being  in  Brush  valley,  near 
where  his  grandson.  William  A.  Zimmerman,  now 
resides.  The  latter  owns  Ins  grandfather's  old 
ledger,  in  which  he  kept  the  accounts  and  records 
of  his  blacksmith  business,  the  first  account  entered 
hearing  date  Aug.  '.'0.  1816.  He  continued  to  fol- 
low his  trade  until  his  death,  and  prospered,  own- 
ing the  farm  now  in  the  possession  of  his  grand- 
son William  A.  and  also  an  adjoining  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  now  owned  by  Samuel  Lantz.  He 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and 


well-informed  for  his  time,  and  was  looked  up  to 
by  his  neighbors  for  his  sound  judgment  and  com- 
mon sense.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Hall),  horn 
Aug.  1.  1791,  died  June  30,  1858,  aged  sixty-six 
years,  ten  months,  twenty-nine  days.  They  are 
buried  in  the  old  Sunhurv  cemetery  on  South 
Fourth  street.  Two  children  were  horn  to  this 
couple,  Samuel  II.  and  Susan,  the  latter  of  whom 
married  dames  Covert  and  lived  first  at  Sunbury, 
latei'  at  Selinsgrove,  this  county.  Mr.  Zimmerman 
and  his  family  were  members  of  Zion  Lutheran 
Church  at  Sunhurv. 

Samuel  H.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Daniel,  was  horn 
Aug.  '.'::.  1824-25,  in  what  was  then  Augusta  (now 
Rockefeller)  township.  Northumberland  coxfhty, 
and  died  Fell.  ::.  1893.  He  succeeded  hi-  father  in 
the  ownership  of  the  home  farm,  where  he  passed 
all  his  life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
improved  the  place  considerably,  building  the  pres- 
ent dwelling  on  the  property  in  the  year  1876  and 
the  barn  in   1S8S.     Mr.  Zimmerman  had  received 

a  E I  common  school  education  for  his  day.  and 

like  his  father  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  good 
sense  above  the  average,  showing  his  character  in 
all  the  relations  of  life.  lie  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  confirmed  at  Sunhurv  and  was 
active  in  the  work  of  the  church  at  Plum  creek, 
where  he  is, buried.  He  -,  rved  as  a  member  of  the 
church  council.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics. 
In  1850  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Mary  Bartholo- 
mew, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Bloom) 
Bartholomew  of  Push  town-hip.  and  five  children 
wi-ie  born  to  their  union:  Malinda  married  George 
W.  Schive  and  they  reside  at  Scranton,  Pa.:  Ange- 
line  (deceased)  married  Henry  Wolf;  Morris  A.  is 
deceased;  William  A.  i-  mentioned  below;  Sarah 
I  deceased  )  married  David  Fegley. 

William  A.  Zimmerman  was  born  Sept.  10, 
1858,  on  the  homestead,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  Since  he  was 
eighteen  he  has  followed  the  carpenter  trade  off 
and  on.  having  learned  it  through  his  own  efforts 
and  by  applying  himself  faithfully.  He  has  fol- 
lowed the  trade  in  Sunhurv  and  in  his  home  town- 
ship, and  still  maintains  a  carpenter  shop,  though 
he  also  gives  considerable  attention  to  farming, 
having  owned  the  homestead  since  the  fall  of  1893. 
He  ha-  ninety-three  acres,  under  profitable  culti- 
vation. In  the  summer  of  1910  Mr.  Zimmerman 
hui It  an  addition  to  his  residence  for  his  son 
Hoiner.  who  had  just  been  married,  doing  all  the 
carpenter  work  himself.  He  has  a  high  reputation 
as  a  mechanic. 

On  Oct.  6,  1878,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Su- 
san Shipe.  daughter  of  John  II.  and  Esther  (Gar- 
inger)  Shipe  and  granddaughter  id'  Samuel  Gar- 
inger  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Con- 
rad. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmerman  have  had  two 
children:  Jennie,  who  is  unmarried:  and  Domer 
E..  a  silk  worker,  who  married  Bertha  E.  Zartman. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


2  1 5 


Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the 
church  at  Plum  Creek,  which  he  has  served  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  member  of  the  council.  His  family 
arc  of  the  Reformed  faith.  In  political  sentiment 
lie  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  at  present  serving 
as  one  of  the  township  auditors.  He  has  served 
three  years  as  school  director. 


George  Zimmerman  was  born  March  26,  1784, 
son  of  Georg  and  Anna  Maria  (Moutz)  Zimmer- 
man, and  died  Sept.  24,  1835.  He  is  buried  in  the 
old  graveyard  at  Sunbury.  He  lived  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
owning  a  tract  of  .'ion  acres,  his  land  extending 
along  Shamokin  creek  from  the  gristmill  down  to 

tl hi    Methodist   Church,    the  old    cemetery   of 

which  is  -till  to  he  seen.  A  man  of  pious  dispo- 
sition, he  was  strictly  temperate  in  all  things  and 
a  devout  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He 
was  of  tall  figure.  Mr.  Zimmerman's  first  mar- 
riage was  to  a  sisior  of  Henry  Youliemier.  and  by 
that  marriage  he  had  four  children :  fteb .  ■.  ■>.  Mrs. 
Daniel  Haas;  Sarah,  who  died  unmarried;  Jere- 
miah, who  lived  at  Shamokin;  and  Catharine,  M is. 
Oyster.  His  second  wife,  Catharine  (Hartzell), 
died  March   17,  1840,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  nine 

uths.      She   was   the   mother  of   four  children: 

( reorge,  Peter,  1  fenry  and  Simon. 

George  Zimmerman,  son  of  George,  was  horn  in 
Upper  Augusta.  Aug.  18,  1815,  and  died  .May  13, 
L887.  His  wife,  Sarah  (Fasold),  was  horn  Feb. 
is.  isis.  and  died  May  2,  1863.  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man was  a  shoemaker  and  also  cultivated  the  old 
homestead,  owning  the  farm.  He  was  an  active 
Democrat,  and  served  as  school  director,  super- 
visor, tax  collector,  assessor,  and  overseer  of  the 
poor,  being  a  prominent  man  in  the  public  affairs 
of  In-  township.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
trustee  and  steward.  They  had  a  large  family. 
mz.  :  Mary  Ann  married  Jacob  Cass:  Catharine 
M.  owns  the  homestead  of  inn  acres  m  partner- 
ship with  her  brother  Samuel  ami  resides  there; 
Sarah  died  unmarried  :  George  V".,  who  never  mar- 
ried, lived  m  Upper  Augusta;  William  II.  died  in 
infancy;  Samuel  is  a  resident  of  Upper  Augusta: 
John  died  when  iwo  weeks  old:  Harriet  F.  died 
aged  eleven  years;  Alice  died  aged  eighteen  years; 
Clara  married  T.  11.  Lippiatt,  of  Sunbury;  Emma 
died  of  scarlet  fever  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
five  months:  Rachel  A.  married  Jacob  Deibler,  id' 
near  Snydertown. 

Samuel  Zimmerman,  son  of  George  and  Sarah, 
was  born  on  the  Zimmerman  homestead  April  24, 
1848.  lb'  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  when  nineteen 
years  old,  following  it  about  eleven  years,  at  Potts- 
ville  and  throughout  the  oil  regions  of  Western 
Pennsylvania.  Returning  to  his  native  township. 
he  worked  for  several  seasons  at  his  trade  in  Sun 


bury.  About  188.2  he  bought  his  preseni  farm  of 
H»ii  acres  in  Upper  Augusta  township.  Eormerlj 
the  Martz  homestead,  and  there  he  has  since  car- 
ried .hi  general  farming.  Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  served  as  tax  collector  since 
1907;  he  was  School  director  for  a  period  of  six 
years,  lie  married  Anna  Mensch,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Hannah  (Reish)  Mensch,  who  lived 
m  Upper  Augusta,  and  seven  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union  :  Ralph,  who  is  a  farmer  .if  I  p 
per  Augusta  township;  Eva  V..  married  to  Dr.  J. 
William  Sehultz,  of  Tremont,  Pa.;  Mabel,  at. 
home;  George,  of  Reading;  Clarence,  at  home:  a 
son  that  died  in  infancy:  and  Carrie,  at  home. 
Mr.  Zimmerman  and  his  family  are  Methodists 
in   religious  connection. 


Jacob  Zimmerman  was  born  March  I!).  1764,  in 
Maxatawny,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  thence  after 
bis  marriage  to  Northumberland  county,  settling 
at  Augustaville.  lie  owned  a  farm  of  over  three 
hundred  acre-,  and  being  a  tanner  by  trade  oper- 
ated a  tannery  in  connection  with  bis  large  farm. 
He  married  Susanna  Brown,  .laughter  of  Michael 
Brown,  id'  "Swabian"  Creek.  Washington  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  children  :  (1)  John,  who  died  Aug.  In. 
1870,  aged  sixty-five  years,  lived  on  a  farm  ad- 
joining that  of  bis  brother  Daniel.  IB'  was  a  lirst- 
class  mechanic:  made  spinning-wheels  and  line 
guns,  for  which  latter  there  was  especial  demand, 
and  also  made  musical  instruments.  His  wife,  Mol- 
ly  Fetherolf,  was  a  sister  of  his  brother  Daniel's 

wife.  They  had  one  son.  Peter,  who  died  in  Waver- 
ly,  Xehr.  (2)  Daniel  is  mentioned  below.  ( .1  i 
Jacob,  horn  March  .'ill.  1  111  I.  died  un  ma  tried  Oct.  5, 
1817,  aged  twenty-three  years,  six  months,  live 
days.    Jacob  Zimmerman,  the  father,  died  March  li. 

1835,  aged  seventy  years,  eleven  i ths,  seventeen 

days.  The  mother  died  Feb.  27,  1854,  aged  eighty- 
three  years,  six  months,  eight  days.    Both  belonged 

to    the    Stone    Church    at     AugUStaville,    be    being    a 

Lutheran,  and  his  wife  a  Reformed  member.    They 

are  buried   there. 

Daniel  Zimmerman,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  Oct. 
o.  1808,  in  Augusta  township,  Northumberland 
county,  mi   thi'  homestead   where  he  passed   all   his 

life.      He   wa-   a    ta -v   ami    fanner,   owning    loo 

a.  res  of  land,  now   the  property  of  Harry  /.mm 
man.  of  the  fourth  general  ion.      |  |r  died    Aug.   '.'■; . 

1883,  age.l  seventy-four  years,  ten  i iths,  twen 

tv-two  days.  He  married  Hannah  Fetherolf, 
.laughter  of  Peter  Fetherolf,  ol  Mahantango  Val- 
ley, Northumberland  count;,  and  she  died  Sept. 
30,  isi;:;,  aged  sixt\  years,  six  months,  ten  days. 
They  are  buried  al  the  Stone  t  'him  h  I  heir  fam- 
ily consisted  of  twelve  children,  namely:  Jacob,  of 
Union  county,  I'a. :  John  I.;  Henry:  Mary; 
Christian,  who  married  Susan  M.  Reeser;  Daniel 
!•'.;   Peter;   Elias,  deceased;  Samuel   I-'.,  of  Aber- 


246 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


en,  S.  Dak.:  William,  who  lived  and  died  at 
Allentown.  Pa.  (lie  had  children:  Jennie,  Annie, 
Mary  and  Eve)  ;  Jeremiah,  who  died  when  young; 
and  Hettie,  who  married  IT.  S.  Koppenhafer,  of 
Sunbury,  Pennsylvania. 

John  F.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
Feb.  5,  1829,  on  the  homestead,  learned  the  trade 
of  cabinet-maker  and  house  carpenter,  and  has 
passed  most  of  his  life  in  Augusta.  During  his 
later  years,  however,  he  has  lived  at  Lewisbnrg  and 
Williamsport,  also  spei  ag  considerable  time 
with  his  daughter  in  Georgia.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  first,  in  1851,  to  Magdalena  Kieffer,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  Feb.  27, 
1863,  while  her  husband  was  serving  in  the  Civil 
war.  By  this  union  there  were  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  David. A.,  IT.  Rebecca  (who  married  T. 
EL  Finn  and  lives  at  Way  Cross,  Ga.)  and  Aaron 
1'.  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  married  (second)  in  1869 
to  Rebecca  Campbell,  who  died         :  fifty- 

four  years.  To  them  were  also  horn  three  chil- 
dren: Landis  I.,  who  lives  at  Punxsutawnev.  Fa., 
lias  three  children,  Eugene,  Myron  and  Hilda; 
Ellemeta  died  when  sixteen  months  old;  and  Ira 
J.  lives  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  John  F.  Zimmer- 
man was  a  Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war, 
serving  in  Company  II.  Kith  1.'  .  Pennsyl- 

vania Militia.  lie  was  mustered  in  at  Sunbury,  in 
November,  1862,  and  served  nine  months. 

lleiirv  Zimmerman,  son  of  Daniel,  born  April 
17.  1830,  died  March  23,  L863,  while  serving  in 
the  Civil  war.  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  of  typhus  fever, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Church;  near  his  old 
home,  lie  was  in  the  same  company  as  his  broth- 
ers. He  hail  children:  Martin  M.,  Morris,  and 
Alice,  the  last  named  deceas 

Daniel  F.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Daniel,  lived  ami 
died  on  the  old  homestead,  passing  away  Nov.  29, 
1905,  aged  seventy  years,  eight  months,  eight  days. 
He,  too.  served  fur  nine  months  during  the  Civil 
war  in  the  same  company  as  his  two  brothers.  He 
was  twice  married,  firsi  to  Hannah  Zeiflng.  who 
died  Sept.  '.'-'i.  1863  (aged  twenty-nine  years,  nine 
months,  one  day),  and  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
William,  and  second  to  Sallie  A.  Feeder,  by  whom 
he  had  Joseph,  Elmer,  Tura,  Katie  and  Harry. 

Peter  Zimjiermax,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
April  4.  1836,  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  North- 
umberland county.  When  twenty  year- 
he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  can  _ 
builder,  which  lie  has  ever  since  followed.  He 
served  his  apprenticeship  at  Berrysburg,  and 
later  worked  at  Mifflinburg  for  five  years. 
He  began  business  for  himself  at  Zimmerman- 
town  (Augustaville  P.  0.)  in  what  is  now  Rocke- 
feller township.  Northumberland  county,  and  re- 
mained at  that  location  for  nineteen  years,  com- 
ing to  Herndon,  Fa.,  where  he  has  since  main- 
tained his  stand.  He  not  only  does  the  wood  work, 
hut   also  painting  and  trimming,  and   the  family 


generally  do  cabinet-making.     Mr.  Zimmerman  is 
a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  was  active  in  hel] 
t<>  organize   Herndon  into   a  borough.     He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics. 

<  >n  June  '-'.  1862,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married 
Rachel  Kebauch,  of  Dauphin  county.  Fa.,  who  died 
Feh.  21,  1877,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years,  sex- 
en  months,  fourteen  days,  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren: Calvin  G.,  now  of  Seven  Point-.  Pa. :  Addie, 
who  died  in  infancy:  Laura,  married  to  Monroe 
Ziegler,  of  Herndon:  and  a  son  that,  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  1889  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  for  his 
ad  wife  Mary  Auchmuty,  of  Millersburg, 
Dauphin  county.  They  have  had  no  children.  1 
family  arc  members  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church  at  Herndon. 

Samuel  F.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
in  Rockefeller  township  in  September,  1830,  and 
was  there  reared  to  farm  life.  At  the  age  of  -  - 
'iiuiii  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  .  which  he 

followed  in  Rockefeller  township  until  he  went  to 
South  Dakota,  in  1887.  There  he  farmed  ami 
raised  stock  until  his  retirement,  in  Chi:',.  He 
his  home  at  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota.  Before  his 
marriage  Mr.  Zimmerman  spent  about  two  years  at 
South  Bi  i  d,  [nd.,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Studebaker  Manufacturing  Company,  return- 
ing Fast  to  be  married.  He  is  a  Democrat;  was 
originally  a  Lutheran,  bui  since  settling  out  West 
has  belonged  to  the  !'  -  terian  Church,  there 
being  no  Lutherans  in  his  locality.  He  married 
Lucy  Ann  Martz,  daughter  of  [saac  and  Polly 
i  Emerici  i  Martz.  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  she 
died  May  li.  1908,  aged  fifty-eight  years.  She  is 
buried  at  Aberdeen]  S.  Dak.  To  them  were  born 
seven  son-,  viz.:  Warren  If.:  Reuben  Clay,  of  Aber- 
deen, s.  Dak.:  Benjamin  F.,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.; 
Char!,-  M..  of  Ashley.  N.  Dak.:  Orville  W.,  who 
_  four  years;  Freeman  A.,  of  Aberdeen,  S. 
Dak.:  am!  Frederick  F.,  of  Ashley,  North  Dakota. 

Warren  H.  Zimmerman,  of  Sunbury,  Fa.,  was 
born  in  Rockefeller  township,  on  the  homestead, 
May  22,  1871.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
in  liis  native  township  following  it  there  until  the 
family  went  West,  in  1887,  after  which  he  farmed 
for  one  year.  Then  for  three  seasons  he  conducted 
a  grain  elevator  at  Roscoe,  S.  Dak.  In  1892 
returned  East  to  Sunbury  and  followed  his  trade 
another  year.  Returning  to  Roscoe  lie  worked 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  £  St.  Paul  Railroad  Com- 
pany for  a  year,  and  he  again  returned  East  in 
1895.  After  working  at  carpentering  and  painting 
some  time  he  connected  himself  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  being  first  employed 
as  car  repairman,  then  foreman  of  engine  tend  ■ 
having  charge  of  from  fifteen  to  as  many  as  twen- 
ty-five men.  It  is  responsible  work,  and  he  has 
shown  himself  capable  of  handling  it.  Mr.  Zim- 
merman has  become  quite  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Sunbury  in  his  connection  with  its  public  affairs.  In 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


2 1 ; 


190]  hr  was  elected  to  the  council  from  the  Seventh 
Ward  as  an  independent  candidate,  defeating  the 
two  regular  party  nominees,  and  he  has  twice  been 
re-elected.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  do- 
ings of  that  body,  having  served  as  secretary  one 
year,  treasurer  one  year,  and  member  of  the  Fi- 
nance committee  two  years ;  since  1901  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Supply  committee.  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man was  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  the  Fran- 
cis E.  Drumheller,  M.  I".,  public  school  building  in 
the  Seventh  Ward  in  1910,  the  most  complete  and 
up-to-date  school  building  in  Central  Pennsyl- 
vania; it  has  eighl  rooms,  and  was  erected  at  a  cosi 
.if  $35,000.  Though  independent  in  local  affairs. 
In'  is  a  Democrai  mi  national  issues.  Socially  he 
belongs  t<>  Maclay  Lodge  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Sunbury,  to  J'.  <).  S.  of  A.  Camp  No.  194,  also  of 
Sunbury,  to  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  married  to  Cora  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Valentine  and  Amelia  (Hauck)  Bartholo- 
mew, who  lived  in  Rockefeller  township.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Hazel  May  and  Beulah  Irene. 


Aaron  I'.  Zimmerman,  -on  of  John  |\  and 
Magdalena  (Kieffer)  Zimmerman,  was  born  .Ian. 
6,  1862,  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  and  there  attended 
the  public  school-.  He  remained  with  his  grand- 
father until  1878,  after  which  he  went  to  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Ira  T.  ('leni- 
ent for  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he  went  to 
Shamokin,  where  lie  engaged  as  a  clerk  with  Seller 
&  Zimmerman,  and  where  he  remained  continu- 
ously until  his  re val  to  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1898. 

lli>  was  m  the  hardware  business  at  that  place  for 
one  year.  In  1903  Mr.  Zimmerman  engaged  in 
business  as  a  shoe  merchant  at  his  present  location 
in  Shamokin,  Mo.  154  East  Independent  street, 
where  he  has  since  done  business,  carrying  a  high 
class  of  goods,  lie  formerly  resided  in  the  Sixth 
Ward,  and  served  two  terms  as  school  director 
from  that  Ward,  but  his  home  is  now  in  the  Third 
Ward. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Lizzie  Zimmerman, 
daughter  of  Sebastian  Zimmerman,  and  they  have 
had  three  children.  Mabel,  Helen  and  Ruth.  He 
is  a  member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  of  the  I'. 
O.  S.  of  A.,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  B.  P.  0. 

Elks. 

David  A.  Zimmerman,  another  -on  oi  John  1 . 
Zimmerman,  has  four  children:  Edwin,  of  Renova, 
Pa.;  Ella,  at  home:  Spencer,  unmarried;  and  Em- 
ery, who  live-  in  Detroit,  Michigan. 

FRANK  A.   GABLE,   assistant  cashier  of   the 
National  Bank  of  Shamokin.  at  Shamokin,  North- 
umberland county,  has  been  associated  with  tha 
stitution  since  1902  and  has  held  his  present  po- 


sition -nice  1906.  He  ha-  resided  in  Shamokin  all 
Ins  life,  having  been  horn  in  that  city  <  ><  t.  L8, 
1869. 

Mr.  Gable  is  a  representative  of  the  fifth  gen- 
eration of  his  family  in  this  country,  his  great- 
grandfather, John  Gable,  a  native  of  Hessen-Cas- 

sel.  Germany,  having  come  to  America  in  boyh I 

with  his  parents.  They  settled  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.  John  Gahle  served  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  in  the  Continental  army,  the  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  5th  Series,  Vol.  \'j|.  page  i  |  |o.  show- 
ing that  one  John  Gahle  was  a  private  in  Capt. 
Philip  Baker's  company,  Lancaster  county  militia, 
L782;  battalion  and  battalion  commander  not 
stated. 

John  Cable,  grandfather  of  Frank  A.  Gahle.  was 
horn  in  1794  m  the  upper  part  of  Berks  county, 
and  died  in  1878.  He  served  his  country  during 
the  war  of  1813.  He  was  identified  principa 
with  Schuylkill  county,  where  his  first  settlement 
was  at  Orwigsburg,  hut  he  did  not  remain  i 
long,  going  thence  to  Pottsville.  He  was  a  car- 
penter, hut  did  not  follow  his  trade  manj  yi 
being  engaged  as  a  merchant  at  Pottsville,  where 
lie  became  quite  a  prominent  citizen.  He  teamed 
his  goods  all  the  way  Erom  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Gable  lived  retired  for  several  years  before  liis 
death,  which  occurred  at  the  home  of  hi-  daughter, 
Mrs.  Conner,  at  Girardville,  Schuylkill  county. 
Hi-  will',  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Ham- 
mer, died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 
Both  are  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at 
Pottsville.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
viz. :  Lydia.  wdio  married  Tobias  Houser,  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  year-:  Lucj  married  John 
Hower;  Rebecca  married  John  Miller:  Mary  mar- 
ried John  Freehafer;  Nancy  married  Thomas 
Conner:  Harriet,  now  the  onlj  survivor  of 
parents'  family,  is  the  widow  of  George  I'.  Ben- 
singer  and  resides  at  Mount  Oarmel,  Northumber- 
land county  (her  children  are  Sarah  E.,  Clara  B., 
married  to  J.  L.  Haas,  Minnie.  Maude  and  Hen- 
ry) :  Henry  died  Aug.  1.  L860;  John  is  mentioned 
\  :  Jacob  died  young;  William  died  al  Sham- 
okin Sept.  3,  1908. 

John  Gable,  father  of  Frank  A.  Gable,  was  horn 
Sept.  16,  1825,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  there  re 
ceived  a  common  school  ei  Aboul    L863 

he  came  to  Shamokin,  and  thence  went  with  - 
eral  other  men  to  Harrisburg,  to  enlist  for  sen  a 
in  the  ci\  il  war.     They  wet 
tune,  however,  and   \l  r.  Gable  n  tui  aed   to  Sham- 
okin, w here  for  a  numb  i  ars  he  was  inter- 
ested in  mining,  becoming  verj  well  known  m  thai 

ci iction.     For  several  years  he  was  superintend- 

'I  3  Baumga  '  Lani  as- 

ter, Pa.,  who  owned  the  Enterprise  Coal  Company. 
Mr.  Gable  later  operated  the  Colberi  collierj  suc- 
cessfully—during  the  W.  I'>.  A.  strike,  and  in  . 
pany  with  John  B,  1  louty  a  rated  the  Car- 


2  1 8 


NORTH FMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


field  colliery,  in  the  course  of  time  selling  his  in- 
terests to  Mr.  Douty.  From  that  time  on  lie  lived 
retired  until  his  death,  in  November,  1902;  he  is 
buried  in  St.  Edward's  cemetery.  He  was  prom- 
inently identified  with  other  business  interests  be- 
sides mining  after  coming  to  Shamokin,  was  one 
of  the  promoters  of  the  street  railway  company  and 
of  a  fire  insurance  company  which  was  one  of  the 
first  companies  of  the  kind  in  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Gable  married  Caroline  Sterling,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Wingert)  Sterling,  and  to 
them  were  born  children  as  follows:  Louise,  Joseph 
and  Cecilia  all  died  in  infancy;  Amelia  Ida  is  un- 
married;  William  married  Mann  Devitt ;  Alfred  I!, 
married  Catherine  Kennedy;  Frank  A.  is  men- 
tioned below;  Charles  married  Emma  Moyer. 

Frank  A.  Gable  received  his  education  in  the 
parochial  and  high  schools  of  Shamokin.  and  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  a  clerk.  On  dan.  !•">. 
1902,  he  entered  the  National  Bank  of  Shamokin 
as  bookkeeper,  in  1906  receiving  promotion  to  the 
office  of  assistant  cashier,  which  he  has  since  held. 
George  C.  Graeber  being  cashier.  Mr.  Gable  has 
given  the  greater  pari  of  his  attention  to  business, 
tin  only  important  departure  he  has  ever  made 
from  this  rule  being  his  two  terms  of  service  as 
borough  treasurer.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
principle,  but  not  active  in  party  affairs.  Socially 
he  hold-  membership  in  Lodge  No.  355,  P>.  P.  0. 
Elks,  in  the  Knights  of  Columbus  (of  which  he  is 
district  deputy)  and  in  the  Crescoe  Club.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic  Church. 

On  June  3,  1896,  Mr.  Gable  married  Mary  Bren- 
nan.  only  child  of  Edward  and  Annie  (Walsh) 
Brennan,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  eighl 
children:  Anna  M..  Caroline  S..  Margaret  W.,  Ed- 
ward B.,  Frank.  Louise,  John  J.,  and  Natalie  P. 
Mrs.  Gable's  father  is  a  prominent  mine  inspector 
and  banker  of  Shamokin. 

HON.  WILLIAM  CABLE  (deceased),  who  had 

the  hon being  the  second   Republican  in  the 

history  of  Northumberland  county  to  be  senl  as 
its  representative  to  the  Legislature,  was  born 
June  26,  is:'.;,  near  Pottsville,  in  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  died  Sept.  3,  This,  at  Shamokin. 
Northumberland  county.  Some  early  history  of 
the  fainilv  is  given  elsewhere,  in  the  sketch  of 
Frank  A.  Cable. 

Mr.  Cable  passed  his  boyhood  in  his  native  coun- 
i  \ .  attending  the  public  schools  until  he  reached  the 
;,<,',.  0f  sixteen.  Tie  then  took  up  mechanical  en- 
gineering, for  which  he  showed  considerable  apti- 
tude, and  his  success  in  later  years  showed  him  to 
he  well  adapted  for  such  work.  In  1860,  the  year 
he  east  his  first  Presidential  vote,  he  supported  the 
Republican  candidate,  and  from  that  time  on  to  the 
end  of  his  days  he  continued  to  be  an  ardent  mem- 
ber of  the  party,  in  which  he  was  a  leader  for  many 
vears.      Hi-   lather  had  fought  for  his  country  in 


the  war  of  1812  :  hi-  grandfather  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Continental  forces  in  the  Revolution; 
and  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  was  among  the 
first  to  offer  his  services  in  the  Union  cause.  He 
enlisted  in  1861  in  Captain  Jenning's  company,  at 
St.  Clair,  the  command  being  assigned  to  the  11th 
regiment:  it  went  to  Camp  Cnrtin,  at  Harrisburg, 
and  made  an  unimportant  tour  of  the  "sacred  soil 
of  Virginia"  to  Martinsburg,  Bunker  Hill  and 
Harper's  Ferry,  whence,  the  term  of  service  having 
expired,  it  was  sent  to  Carlisle.  Pa.,  and  mustered 
out.  Mr.  Cable  returned  to  St.  Clair  at  the  end  of 
this  three  months'  term.  About  this  time  Capt. 
William  J.  Palmer,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
Anderson  Troop  in  the  Southwest,  received  per- 
mission in  recruit  a  cavalry  regiment  in  Pennsyl- 
vania to  act  as  bodyguard  to  General  Buell.  The 
organization  was  popularly  known  as  the  "Ander- 
son Cavalry"  (named  in  honor  of  Bobert  Anderson, 
the  hero  of  Fort  Sumter),  but  was  officially  the 
loth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  As  it  was  to  be  a 
picked  body,  representative  of  the  entire  State,  each 
county  was  to  be  allowed  to  furnish  eight  men. 
William  liable  applied  from  Schuylkill  county  and 
was  accepted.  His  company  was  sent  to  Carlisle 
barracks,  where  it  was  drilled  by  officers  detailed 
from  the  regular  army.  When  General  Pope  un- 
defeated at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  An- 
derson Cavalry  went  to  Chambersburg,  pressed 
into  service  a  sufficient  number  of  horses,  and  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  at  the  very  he- 
ginning  of  which  the  Colonel  was  taken  prisoner: 
he  did  run  rejoin  the  regiment  for  more  than  a  year. 
Alter  tin-  battle  the  regiment  returned  to  Carlisle, 
and  shortly  afterward  was  transferred  to  Louis- 
ville. Ky..  where  it  was  equipped  with  horses  and 
marched  to  Nashville,  arriving  in  time  to  take  pari 
in  the  battle  of  Stone  River:  in  that  conflict  it  suf- 
fered the  loss  of  seventy  men.  including  two  act- 
ing majors,  Rosengarten  of  Philadelphia  and  Wara 
of  Pittsburg.  It  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  after  which  Mr.  Gable  was  promoted  to 
sergeant  for  service  on  the  field.  The-  regiment 
then  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  partici- 
pating in  its  principal  engagements  under  General 
Thomas.  In  1864  Mr.  Gable  went  before  the  ,  ,- 
amining  board  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  received 
a  commission  as  first  lieutenant,  being  assigned  to 
the  lQlst  United  States  Colored  Infantry  and  sent 
to  Gallatin.  Tenn..  to  recruit  a  company.  Then  he 
joined  the  regiment  at  Clarksville,  was  ordered  to 
Nashville  ami  remained  there,  doing  guard  duty, 
until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  in  1866. 

After  the  war  Mr!  Cable  engaged  in  cotton  rais- 
ing in  Arkansas  for  a  time,  but  the  surroundings 
were  not  congenial  and  after  a  six  months'  trial  he 
gave  it  up  and  went  to  Washington,  1).  C,  to  ap- 
pear before  the  examining  board  as  a  candidate  for 
tin'  regular  army.  He  called  on  Grant,  wdio  re- 
ceived him  cordially,  and  save  him  the  benefit  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


249 


his  influence  to  secure  a  position  which  would 
prepare  him  for  the  examination.  But  in  the 
meantime  Congress  passed  an  aei  reducing  the 
army,  and  that  pul  an  end  to  his  ambitions  in  the 
military  line. 

In  November,  1869,  Mr.  Gable  came  to  Shamo- 
kin  and  engaged  with  his  brother  in  the  operation 
of  the  Lancaster  collierj',  and  later,  when  the  Min- 
eral Railroad  and  Mining  Company  was  organized, 
be  was  made  outside  superintendent  at  the  Luke 
Fuller  colliery,  holding  that  position  until  181  I. 
when  he  became  general  manager  for  the  Enter- 
prise Coal  Company.  He  continued  thus  until 
1884,  passing  safely  through  all  the  troublous  clays 
of  the  "Molly  Maguire"  terror. 

In  the  early  eighties  lie  was  nominated  by  the 
Republicans  of  Northumberland  county  to  repre- 
sent the  district  in  the  State  Assembly,  and  al- 
though the  county  was   Democratic  by  a  normal 

jority  of  one  thousand  lie  was  elected,  and  took 

a  very  active  part  in  the  work  of  that  body.     He 

was  chairman  of  the  eommitti u   Pensions  and 

Gratuities  ami  under  the  rules  which  apply  to  the 
second  member  was  secretary  of  the  committees 
mi  Mines  and  Mining  and  on  Geological  Surveys. 
Be  had  charge  of  the  Geological  Survey  Bill, 
succeeding  only  by  the  most  untiring  efforts  in, 
securing  its  enactmenl  into  a  law.  other  special 
results  nia\  he  credited  to  his  activity.  Hall's  Is- 
land, in  the  Susquehanna,  opposite  Georgetown, 
although  a  very  valuable  property,  hail  until  then 
enjoyed  immunity  from  certain  taxes  by  reason 
of  it?  being  an  independent  School  district. 
Through  Mr.  Gable's  exertions  the  law  so  ex- 
empting it  was  repealed.  Among  other  things, 
ho  succeeded  in  securing  the  passage  of  a  bill, 
which  he  seconded,  creating  an  additional  law 
judge  tor  Northumberland  county,  hut  the  -aim 
was  \etoe.l  by  tie-  governor.     Mr.  Gable  was  0ne 

of   the  eommitte f   fifteen   Republicans  of  the 

Legislature    appointed    by    the    party    caucus    to 

draft   an   Apporti mi    Bill  and  was  earnest  in 

his  opposition  to  the  measure  which  was  finally 
passed,  but  which  was  vetoed  le  Governor  Patti- 
son.  Mr.  Gable  was  a  dele-ate  to  the  State  con- 
vention which  nominated  James  A.  Beaver  for 
governor  the  first  time. 

At  the  end  of  his  service  as  representative  Mr. 
Gable  became  proprietor  and  manager  of  the  "Na- 
tional Hotel"  at  Shamokin.  conducting  that  estab- 
lishment until  Oct.  31,  1889,  when  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  position  of  depute  United  Stales  internal 
revenue  collector.  In  1889  he  was  again  the  choice 
of  lii-  party,  receiving  the  nomination  Edt 
Legislature,  "bu1  owing  to  the  complication  rising 

from  the  presenc '  a  ticket  placed  in  the  field 

by  the  Knights  of  Labor  the  support  was  divided. 
and  he  was  defeated. 

Mr.  Gable  was  a  member  of  Shatnokm  Lodge, 
No  2-55,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  Military  Order  of  the 
Loval  Legion,  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 


i  Posl  Xo.  14ii)  and  of  the  Union  Veterans'  As 
sociation.  He  was  captain  and  commissary  of  the 
7th  Regiment,  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  its  organization  until  it  was  mustered  out. 
II"  -lied  at  Shamokin  Sept.  3,  L908,  and  is  buried 
there. 

In  1859  Mr.  Gable  married   Mary  .1.   Ill ,,    of 

Pottsville. 

CHARLES  W.  MANTZ,  senior  membi 
firm  of  Mantz  Brothers,  who  conduci  the  largesl 
planing  mill  at  Sunbury,  has  been  a  valuable  citi- 
zen of  that  borough  for  many  years,  successful  in 
business,  an  interested  worker'  in  its  public  and 
religious  i  ircles,  and  highly  respected  for  I 
ful.  industrious  career.  He  was  horn  May  Hi. 
1854,  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  be- 
longs to  a  family  which  has  long  been  settled  in 
this  State.  The  name  is  also  found  spelled 
Mountz  and  Moutz. 

Tlie  only  records  of  the  arrival  in  this  country 
of  any  Moutzes  or  Mountzes  are  as  follows: 
George  Mountz,  ship  "Charming  Nancy,"  of  Lon 
don.  (diaries  Stedman.  master,  from  Rotterdam, 
Oct.  8,  L737;  Peter  Moutz.  ship  "Molly,"  Thomas 
'Minor,  master,  from  Rotterdam,  Oct!  IT.  KM; 
Peter  Mautz,  ship  "Sandwich,"  Captain  Ilazle- 
nian.  from   Rotterdam,  Nov.  30,  1750.     A  Samuel 

Mautz,  -on  of  i; •-,..  weni  to  Holland  for  a  for 

tune.  It  is  not.  known  definitely  from  n  In. 
these  emigrants  the  Northumberland  county  fam- 
ily with  which  this  article  is  concerned  descends, 
but  it  is  likely  that  George  was  the  ancestor. 
There  was  a  Mountz  family  early  in  Berks  county, 
one  Joseph  Mountz  having  been  a  taxable  in 
Heidelberg  township,  that  county,  as  earl]  as 
1759,  when  ho  was  assessed  a-  a  single  man.  lie 
had  a  brother  George,  who  died  in  1800,  the 
his  will  was  entered  on  record  in  the  courthouse 
( a  son.  John  G.,  \\a-  exei  utor  of  the  estate  i . 

One  Nicholas  Moutz  (also  Mautz').  horn  aboul 
1754,  died  in  Berks  county  in  is  In.  aged  fifty- 
six  years.  1 1 •  ■  was  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  [see  Pennsylvania  Archives,  2d 
Set  ies,  Vol.  XIII,  page  138]  at ved  de- 
preciation pay  from  the  Stat  o  Pennsylvania  ;  an. I 
Mary  Mautz.  his  widow,  was  granted  a  gratuity 
of  fortj  dollars  and  an  annuity  of  forty  dollars  by 
special  ait  of  the  Pennsvlvania   Leg  Jan. 

1,1829  [Smith  Laws,  Vol.  X,  page  273].  Nicholas 
Moutz  married    Mari    Eeih  i  was  born  in 

175G  ami  .hod  in  L839,  aged  eighty-three  years. 
They  had  a  son  Samuel,  horn  duly  31,  1797,  who 
died  Sept.  22,  1827,  aged  thirty  year-:  he  mar- 
ried Susanna  Durst,  horn  V  26,  L798,  daughter 
of  Jacob  I  >ur-i.  died  Dei  t,  1864,  aged  sixty-six 
years. 

'there  i-  a  tradition  that  N  i.  In.  ,1-  Mautz  came 
to  this  country  bringing  with  him  a  sister,  who 
married  a  Zimmerman  or  a  Rothi  i 

The  Orphans'  court  docket  of  Northumberland 


250 


NOKTHUMBEBLANQ  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


county,  Book  III,  page  118,  states  that  letters  of 
administration  were  granted  to  Adam  Heilman 
and  George  Martin  (the  widow  Mary  and  son 
George  having  sent  in  their  renunciation)  upon 
the  estate  of  Nicholas  Moutz,  late  of  borough  of 
Sunbury,  deceased  28  Feb.,  1810;  the  widow's 
name,  Mary,  and  children  George,  John  and  Wil- 
liam only,  arc  mentioned.  Some  of  the  thirteen 
children  of  Nicholas  "Mountz"  were:  George,  born 
March  26,  1776;  Jacob,  born  Jan.  !.  1781,  in 
Greenwich  township,  Berks  county,  who  died  Dec. 
19,  1858,  and  is  buried  in  the  lower  cemetery  at 
Sunbury  (he  married  Elizabeth  Cressinger,  and 
his  daughter  Katie  was  Mrs.  Cheny)  :  Sallie,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Underwood,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.: 
Betsy,  wiiv  'if  Henry  Bucher,  'if  Sunbury;  and 
Polly,  wife  of  Benjamin  Deal,  of  Sunbury. 

The  line  of  the  Northumberland  county  Mantz 
family  comes  from  this  source,  hut  is  not  definite- 
ly traced.  We  give  the  following  fragmentary 
['.ill-  from  the  Orphans'  court  of  Berks  county: 
Vol.  I,  page  86,  recites  that  John  Mauntz, 
nineteen  and  upwards  (Kith  Nov.,  1761  |,  son  of 
Jacob  Mautz,  late  of  Heidelberg  township.  Perks 
county,  deceased,  and  who  died  intestate,  peti- 
tioned for  a  guardian.  Court  appointed  John 
Eckert,  blacksmith,  of  same  township. 

Page  87,  same  date,  Mary  Catharine,  widow  of 
above  named,  petitioned  court  to  appoint  guar- 
dians for  her  children.  Lacarus,  aged  thirteen 
years,  and  Michael,  aged  eleven  year-.  Court  ap- 
pointed Lazarus  Winger  and  Henry  Fiedler. 

Page  101.  satin:'  date.  Jacob  Moutz.  aged  sixteen 
years,  son  of  Jacob,  deceased,  states  that  his  fa- 
ther left  considerable  estate  and  that  the  widow  was 
appointed  administratrix,  that  she  had  lately  in- 
termarried with  John  Fister,  and  petitioned  the 
court  to  appoint  a-  his  guardian  his  uncle  George 
Loucks. — Granted. 

Page  102,  Feb.  12,  1762,  George  Mountz.  in  his 

ii  i"  ("iirt  state^  that  his  father  died  seven 

i  I  )  years  ago,  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children 
and  prays  that  the  father's  estate  be  valued.  Com- 
mission appointed  and  it  appraised  the  land  at 
£600  and  that  George,  the  son  of  Jacob  Mountz, 
late  of  Heidelberg  township.  Berks  county,  shall 
have  the  land  upon  paying  the  widow  her  dowry 
anil  the  children  their  respective  shares. 

The  records  of  Little  Tulpehocken  Church, 
Bernville,  Berks  county,  state  that  they  were  com- 
municant members  in  the  years  1761,  1762  and 
1763. 


John  A.  Mantz.  father  of  Charles  W.  Mantz. 
of  Sunbury,  was  born  May  11.  1827,  in  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died  Dec.  ". 
1891.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  planing  mill  man 
by  occupation.  Eemoving  to  Pottsville  during  his 
voung  manhood,  he  was  married  there  to  Harriet 
Sevilla  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 


May  5,  1831,  'laughter  of  John  Smith,  and  died 
\'o\.  23,  1863,  at  Ashland,  where  they  then  re- 
sided;  -he  is  buried  there.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  children,  born  as  follows:  Kevnold  1)., 
March  17,  1851;  Charles  W.,  May  16,  1854;  Wil- 
liam D..  April  23,  1858;  and  Elmer  E.,  Dec.  12, 
1862.  They  came  with  their  father  to  Sunbury 
after  the  mother's  death.  John  A.  Mantz  subse- 
quently married  (second)  Adaline  Good,  daughter 

George   <■ 1.   of   Sunbury,  and  to  this  union 

svere  born  six  children,  namely:  George  Edward, 
horn  July  1.  1869;  Oliver  S.,  Feb.  18,  1871;  Su- 
san .1..  I-'eh.  :;.  1873;  John  T..  Her.  -.'1.  187- 
Aug.  15,  L878)  :  Clmtoit  A..  Feb.  10,  1^;;  ; 
and  J.  Barton,  March  27,  1879  (died  April  23, 
L881  i. 

Charles  W.  Mantz  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ashland.  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa. 
Coming  to  Sunbury  in  1865,  be  here  learned  the 
planing  null  business  in  the  employ  of  Ira  T. 
(lenient,  with  whom  he  remained  for  the  long 
period  of  twenty-five  years,  in  the  planing  mill 
for  ten  wars  of  that  time  and  the  other  fifteen 
years  as  manager  of  the  table  works.  In  1904  he 
began  business  on  his  own  account,  he  and  his 
three  brothers,  William  D.,  Beynold  D.  and  Elmer 
lv.  forming  a  partnership  that  year  under  the  linn 
name  of  Mantz  Brothers,  and  they  have  since  been 
associated,  having  now  the  largest  planing  mill 
establishment  in  Sunbury.  (diaries  \y.  Mantz  is 
manager  of  this  concern.  The  firm  employs  six- 
teen men,  and  all  kind-  of  planing  mill  work  are 
turned  out.  They  also  handle  and  deal  in  all 
kinds  of  lumber,  and  in  both  lines  have  built  up 
a  large  business,  which  has  shown  a  steady  in- 
crease from  the  beginning.  .Mr.  Mantz's  long  ex- 
perience fits  him  well  for  the  management  of  this 
plant  and  he  has  shown  business  ability  as  well 
as  practical  knowledge  in  the  conduct  of  the  estab- 
lishment, much  of  the  success  of  which  has  been 
due  to  his  efficient  oversight. 

On  Nov.  21,  1871,  Mr.  Mantz  married  Kate 
Rogi  i-.  of  Pottsville.  Schuylkill  county,  who  died 
July  27,  1894,  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years.  She 
was  buried  in  the  lower  cemetery  at  Sunbury. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  this  union,  all  the 
survivors  living  in  Sunbury  except  Katie,  viz.: 
Alice,  who  married  Arthur  E.  Kelly;  W.  Harry: 
Sarah  I.,  who  married  E.  E.  Jaeoby;  Margaret, 
unmarried:  Katie  M..  who  married  Medus  Huff 
and  lives  in  Philadelphia;  Guy  H.  and  Charles 
E.,  twins,  who  died  in  infancy:  Benjamin  Wert. 
married  to  Nellie  Marked] :  and  Baymond  L..  who 
died  when  four  years  old. 

Mr.  Mantz  has  long  been  an  active  member  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury,  having  led 
the  choir — which  has  from  twelve  to  sixteen  ex- 
cellent voices — for  forty  years,  and  he  was  choris- 
ter of  the  Sunday  school  for  many  years,  having 
charge  of  the  singing;  ho  is  still  a  teacher  in  ihe 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


25] 


Sunday  school.  In  politics  Mr.  Mantz  is  an  in- 
dependent Republican,  and  interested  in  good  local 
government.  He  represented  the  old  Second  ward 
in  tow  n  council  for  two  terms.  Socially  he  belongs 
to  the  Protective  Hume  Circle,  which  has  a  mem- 
bership of  six. hundred  in  Sunbury. 

William  D.  Mantz.  another 'member  of  the 
firm  of  .Mantz  Brothers,  of  Sunbury,  was  burn 
April  23,  1858,  in  the  Catawissa  Valley,  in  Co- 
lumbia county.  Pa.  His  education  was  obtained 
principally  in  the  public  schools  of  Sunbury,  to 
which  place  he  came  with  his  rather  in  childhood, 
in  1867.  All  his  active  years  have  been  spent  in 
the  line  of  work  in  which  he  is  still  interested.  In 
his  youth  he  learned  sash  and  dour  making  at  Sun- 
bury. having  followed  this  trade  in  all  for  about 
thirty-eight  years.  In  1904.  when  the  firm  of 
Mantz  Brothers  was  organized,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  concern,  in  the  success  of  which  his  long 
experience  in  sash  and  dour  manufacturing  has 
proved  a  valuable  asset.  He  has  borne  his  share 
in  the  upbuilding  of  the  business  and  has  worked 

faithfully  to  establish   it    ii| a   substantial  and 

permanent  basis.  Air.  Mantz  is  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Relief  Association,  and  of  the 
Unights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  the  latter  a  frater- 
nal insurance  organization.  In  political  mailers 
he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

In  January,  1882,  Mr.  Mantz  married  Clara  E. 
Rockefeller,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Catharine 
(Unger)  Rockefeller,  of  the  same  family  as 
Judge  Roi  I  efeller,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  reside 
in  their  own  home  al  \o.  251  South  Third  street. 
Sunburv.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mantz.  John  S.  and  Lillie  Adora.  The  son. 
an  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, lives  at  Sunbury.  and  is  married  to  Emma 
Dietz;  they  have  a  daughter,  Clara  E.,  born  Dee. 
28,  1909.  Mr.  Mantz  am!  his  family  are  members 
of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  of  Sunbury. 

WILLIAM  J.  (I ASS.  a  prominent  fanner  of 
Shamokin  township,  is  a  native  of  that  township, 
born  Aug.  29,  1845,  and  is  the  only  son  of  Martin 
Gass,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  this  district  in 
his  day. 

The  Gass  family  is  of  German  origin.  "William 
Gass,  grandfather  of  William  J.  Gass.  was  an  earl] 
settler  in  what  is  now  Shamokin  township,  North- 
umberland county,  and  also  lived  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township.  '  He  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and 
ran  the  old  mill  now  owned  and  conducted  by  W. 
A.  Reed,  at  Paxinos.  He  hauled  goods  as  far  as 
Reading,  Pa.  William  Gass  died  upon  his  farm 
in  Shamokin  township,  near  Paxinos,  and  is  buried 
at  St.  Jacob's  (Reed's)  Church.  He  was  well 
known  in  the  locality  in  his  time.  His  wife,  Mary 
(Kershner).  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  • 
and    is    buried   near    Pottsville,    Pa.      They    had 


children:  Jacob,  Reiley,  Martin   and   Kate   (Mi's. 
Zerbe). 

Martin  Gass,  son  of  William,  was  Lorn  in  L823 
in  Shamokin  township,  and  died  Dec.  1.  L909, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  He  followed  farming 
principally,  but  also  engaged  in  boating  on  the 
'anal.  He  was  well  known  in  Shamokin  township, 
beiii"  a  leading  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  a  faithful  official  of  the  township,  which  he 
served  a-  justice  of  the  peace  and  school  director. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Persing,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  Persing,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  Nov.  Is.  1792,  and  died  .lime  is,  [881,  i 
eighty-eight  years;  Ins  wife,  Marx,  born  Lug".  22, 
L795,  died  dune  4,  is;;;.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin 
Gass  are  buried  at  the  Blue  church.  They  had  two 
children,  Eliza  (who  married  .1.  J.  Hogland)  and 
William  .1. 

William  J.  Gass  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  lie  reached  :  i 
of  twenty.  He  then  resolved  to  try  his  fortune  in 
the  West,  where  he  remained  three  years,  spend- 
ingtwo  years  of  that  time  in  the  Rocky  Mom 
region.  Eis  experiences  were  varied  and  interest- 
ing, but  he  returned  to  his  native  home  and  has 
since  remained  in  Northumberland  county.  After 
coming  back  home  he  was  with  bis  father  for  a 
tune,  until  he  look  the  farm  in  the  Irish  Valley, 
in  Shamokin  township,  where  he  still  make-  his 
home.     It  was  the  old  homestead  of  Solomon  llim- 

mel,  one  of  the  pioi rs  in  this  region,  and  here  he 

has  since  worked  and  prospered,  becoming  oni 
the  most  substantial  men  of  his  community.  For 
about  fifteen  years  Mr.  Gass  also  followed  the 
butcher  business  in  connection  with  farming, 
eventually  selling  his  interests  in  that  line  in  bis 
sons.  He  has  been  active  in  local  affairs,  par- 
ticularly in  the  welfare  of  the  public  school-,  hav- 
ing served  fifteen  years  as  school  director,  which 
office  he  still  holds;  lie  ha-  served  twice  as  presi- 
dent of  the  school  hoard,  lie  ha-  also  been  audi- 
tor of  his  township.  The  high  standing  be  enjoys 
among  Ins  fellow  citizens  could  he  shown  in 
hotter  way  than  by  his  long  continuance  in  posi- 
tions of  responsibility,  and  his  influence  lias  al- 
ways been  considered  a  factor  in  local  enterprises 
of  every  sort.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1872,  is 
a    member    and    past     master    oil'1      '  i 

No.  Ml.  1".  i\  A.  M..  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Grange  al  Paxinos.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 
Hi-  religious  -on ition  IS  with  the  U.  B.  Church. 

Mr.  too-  married  Clara  Moyer,  daughter  of 
I  >a\  i'l  Moyer  and  granddaughter  of  Jai  ob  Moyer. 
They  have  had  the  following  children:  Oswald 
p..  who  lives  at  Reed's  station,  t:  coun  B 
S..  who  lives  in  Sunbury :  Sidney  W  ..  of  Shamokin. 
this  county,  who  i  butcher  business;  Lor- 

enzo  1*..   who    i  oi  h    hi-   brother   Sid- 

ney; Harvey  I...  at  I  rsula,  wife  of  William 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLYAM A 


Moody;  Bertha,  wife  of  J.  Wesley   Richie;  and 

Annie. 

XATHAX  <:.  ADAMS,  of  Paxinos;  Northum- 
berland countv.  has  established  a  substantial  busi- 
ness as  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements  and  a 
manufacturer  of  wagons.  His  trade  has  grown 
steadily  from  the  beginning.  The  stand  is  an 
old  one.  Mr.  Adams  is  a  comparatively  recent 
comer  to  Paxinos,  and  previous  to  his  removal 
hither  was  located  at  Bear  Gap,  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship, where  he  carried' on  a  general  mercantile 
busini    - 

Mr.  Adams  is  a  native  of  the  county,  horn  Feb. 
1.  1866,  in  Ralpho  township,  near  what  is  now 
the  Blue  church,  and  he  is  a  great-grandson  of 
per  Adams,  the  firs!  of  the  family  in  this 
country.  Casper  Adams  was  born  April  25,  1755, 
at  Langendiebach,  Offenburg,  Germany.  Little 
is  known  of  his  early  life.  Od  coming  to  this 
country  he  lived  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  before  com- 
ing to  Northumberland  county,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  earliest  pioneers  in  Ralpho  township,  own- 
ing several  hundn  i  land  then'.  He 
cleared  some  of  his  land  and  followed  farming. 
II  die  I  Jan.  26,  L8  12,  and  is  buried  at  St.  P< 
(the  Blue)  church  in  Ralpho  township.  Casper 
Adams  married,  in  Berks  county.  Elizabeth 
Hinkle.  of  that  county,  and  they  had  a  large  fam- 
ily, six  sons  and  six  daughters,  namely:  Freder- 
ick (1792-1853),  John,  Samuel.  Casper,  Leonard, 
Peter,  Nellie  (married  George  Startzel),  Susanna 
(married  Samuel  Startzel).  Elizabeth  (married 
Gilbert  Lily).  Polly  (married  Peter  Strauss 
Maria  (married  Jacob  Creher)  and  Catharine 
(married  Samuel  Anspach). 

Casper  Adams,  fourth  son  of  Casper  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hinkle)  Adams,  was  born  April  10,  1796,  on 
the  homestead  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  and  was 
there  reared  to  farm  life.  When  he  became  of  age 
his  father  deeded  100  acres  of  land  in  Ralpho 
township  to  him.  this  being  the  farm  afterward 
occupied  by  his  son  George  C,  near  the  Blue 
church.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  man  of  active  mind, 
one  who  interested  himself  in  the  general  welfare 
as  well  as  in  the  promotion  of  his  own  interests. 
and  he  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  lo- 
cality for  many  year>.  well  known  as  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  i  -  of  the  nest  liberal  support- 

ers of  the  Blue  Church,  with  which  he  was  identi- 
fied all  his  life:  he  served  as  elder  of  that  church 
and  was  one  of  the  most  generous  contributors  to- 
ward the  erection  of  the  church  edifice.  He  mar- 
ried Susanna  Startzel  (daughter  >  John),  who 
was  born  March  14.  1800,  and  died  Jan.  22.  1873  : 
Mr.  Adams  died  Jan.  28.  1882,  and  is  buried  at 
1!  .  Blue  church.  Their  children  were:  Benjamin, 
who  died  in  1805,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
(  Edward,  William  P.  and  Lueinda  were  his  chil- 
dren) :   Daniel   11.:  Casper,  deceas         George  C. 


born  Aug.  17,  1826;  David,  born  iu  1830:  Jacob, 
horn  in  1833,  who  died  in  1895  :  Samuel,  deceased; 
William;  Elizabeth  (deceased),  who  married  Wil- 
liam Smith:  Susanna  (deceased),  who  married 
William  Klase;  Polly.  Mrs.  Pry,  deceased;  An- 
gelina, who  married  William  Smith:  and  Harriet, 
decea  - 

Daniel  H.  Adams,  son  of  Casper  and  Susanna 
(Startzel)  Adams,  was  born  in  1822  on  the  old 
estead  near  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township. 
Be  followed  farming  all  his  life,  owning  a  tract 
of  about  fifty  acres  near  the  Blue  church,  and  in 
connection  with  his  agricultural  work  engaged  in 
lime  burning.  He  died  June  20,  1892.  Mr. 
Adams  married  Sarah  A.  Pensyl,  who  was  born 
in  1829,  daughter  of  Leonard  Pensyl,  and  died 
•  Ian.  I.  1908.  They  are  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 
Twelve  children  were  born  to  their  union,  viz. : 
Francis  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin:  John  is  de- 
<l:  Henry  X.  lives  near  Bear  Gap,  in  Colum- 
bia county:  D.  Alonzo  is  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Ralpho  township:  Leonard  M.  is  a  resident  of 
Shamokin:  Nathan  G.  is  located  at  Paxinos:  Alli- 
son C.  is  living  in  Ralpho  township:  Marietta  (de- 
i  \\a-  the  wife  of  Frank  Frdman.  commis- 
sioner of  Northumberland  county;  Emma  married 
George  Frdman:  Elizabeth  married  Philip  Rich- 
ard and  they  live  at  Elysburg.  Northumberland 
county7;  Lydia  married  Thomas  Boughner,  of 
Ralpho;  Casper  died  young. 

Nathan  G.  Adams  attended  the  Kaseman  school 
in  Ralpho  township.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
remaining  at  home  with  his  father  for  some  I 
after  his  school  days  were  over.  His  first  employ- 
ment away  from  home  was  with  the  Philadelphia 
&  Heading  Railway  Company,  in  whose  employ 
he  remained  about  twelve  years,  being  engaged 
as  track  foreman  and  having  charge  of  the  Weigh 
Scales  division.  Establishing  himself  as  a  general 
merchant  at  Bear  Gap,  in  Ralpho  township,  he 
continued  business  there  for  seven  years,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  selling  out  to  J.  W.  Marks  and 
removing  to  Paxinos.  in  Shamokin  township, 
where  he  bought  out  A.  C.  Bobb.  Here  he  has 
since  been  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  implements,  also 
manufacturing  wagons,  finding  a  steady  demand 
in  both  lines  in  this  community.  His  square 
methods  and  satisfactory  transactions  have  won 
him  a  growing  patronage.  He  has  been  quite 
active  in  the  community  since  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence there,  and  is  considered  a  substantial  citi- 
zen. He  has  business  interests  also  in  Bear  Gap, 
being  president  of  the  Bear  Gap  &  Numidia  Tele- 
phone Company. 

Mr.  Adams  married  Daisy  Yocum,  daughter  of 
Obadiah  Yocum.  of  Cleveland  township,  Colum- 
bia Co..  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  six 
children:  Grace,  Malcolm.  Frederick,  Earl  (who 
■  lied  March  14.  1911),  Sarah  and  Lewis. 

So<  ially  Mr.  Adams  holds  membership  in  Elys- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


853 


burg  Lodge,  No.  111.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  in  the  P.  0. 
S.  of  A.,  Camp  No.  189.  In  religion  he  adheres 
to  the  Reformed  faith,  being  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Church  (St.  Peter's).  He  is  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, ami  while  in  Ralpho  towuship  served  as  con- 
stable ami  auditor. 

DIETRICH.  The  branch  of  the  Dietrich  fam- 
ily to  which  Samuel  and  Levi  Deitrich,  prominent 
citizens  in  then-  respective  communities,  belong,  i< 

di  -.ended  from  one  of  eight  brothers  of  that  name 
who  came  from  Germany  about  1740  and  settled  at 
Philadelphia. 

John  Michael  Dietrich,  son  of  one  of  these  eight, 
brothers,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  before  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolutionary  war.  When  the  bat- 
tle of  Brandywine  was  fought,  in  11  ??,  the  Diet- 
rich family  lived  near  that  now  famous  battlefield, 
and  his  mother  took  him  ami  other  small  children 
into  an  underground  cellar  for  safety.  John 
Michael  Dietrich  served  as  a  soldier  under  Maj. 
"Mad  Anthony"  Wayne,  in  1794,  in  the  Indian 
wars;  and  later  be  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
ceiving for  his  services  four  grants  of  land  in 
Schuylkill  county.  It  is  probable  one  or  two  of 
these  grants  were  located  below  Sunbury,  in 
Northumberland  county.  After  living  for  some 
time  in  Schuylkill  county  (where  he  was  among 
the  first  settler-  at  what  is  now  the  site  of  Potts- 
ville)  he  moved  to  a  place  below  Sunbury,  in  what 
is  now  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  he  farmed 
one  of  the  islands  of  tin  Susquehanna  river,  all  of 
which  are  embraced  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
At  this  place  he  remained  some  years,  and  some  of 
his  children  were  married  while  the  family  resided 
there.  Later  he  returned  to  Schuylkill  county, 
locating  in  the  Deep  Creek  Valley,  in  Parry  town- 
ship. There  be  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was 
a  pensioned  soldier  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  a  cooper  by  trade.  After  leaving  Philadelphia 
he  had  lived  in  Longswamp  township.  Berks  Co.. 
for  a  time,  and  there  he  was  married  to  a  Miss 
Seasholtz.  Thence  they  moved  to  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty. He  was  tall,  raw-honed  and  of  dauntless 
courage,  and  possessed  a  roving  and  adventurous 
disposition,  taking  part  in  several  wars.  His  ten 
children,  five  son-  and  five  daughters,  were:  Con- 
rad never  married;  Jacob  never  married;  Philip 
was  killed  in  the  coal  mines  at  Mount  Carmel, 
Pa.;  John  was  married  and  some  of  his  family  m>w 
live  at  Mount  Carmel;  George  is  mentioned  later: 
Polly  married  George  St.  Clair;  Betsy  married 
Daniel  St.  Clair,  brother  of  George;  Hannah  mar- 
ried Adam  Snyder:  Susan;  Sally  married  Jacob 
Derr. 

George  Deitrich.  son  of  John  Michael,  was  born 
in  1809,  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county.  En  1871 
he  moved  to  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, where  be  died  Nov.  ;i.  1S95.  He  was  a  laborer, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  employed  in  a  brick- 


yard, continuing  to  he  active  until  late  in  life. 
His  wife  was  Hannah  Oyster,  and  their  union 
blessed  with  the  following  eleven  children:  Eliza 
was  burned  to  death  when  twenty  years  old.  at 
Newcastle.  Schuylkill  county;  Harriel  married 
Lance  Parker,  and  they  live  at  Shenandoah.  Pa.; 
Man  never  married:  Kate  married  Abraham 
Fry;  Hannah  never  married;  Elizabeth  married 
Peter  Ivauffman;  Sarah  married  Thomas  Moser; 
George  died  aged  lour  years;  Jolin  died  aged 
twenty-two  years ;  Samuel  i-  mentioned  later:  Levi 
is  mentioned  later. 

Samuel  Deiteich,  former  sheriff  of  Northum- 
berland county,  and  at  present  warden  of  the  coun- 
ty jail  at  Sunbury.  was  born  in  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty .lune  21,  1854,  son  of  George  Deitrich.  Be 
began  working  in  early  youth  in  the  coal  mines, 
and  followed  the  mining  business  until  1884,  after 
which  he  conducted  a  hotel  at  Mounl  Carmel 
lor  five  years.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  war- 
den of  the  Northumberland  county  prison  and 
served  as  such  six  years.  In  1901  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  sheriff,  in  which  he  served  in  1902-03 
04  In  1909  he  again  received  the  appointment  of 
jail  warden,  in  which  office  he  has  since  served. 

Mr.   Deitrich  has  I u  active  in   Republican  party 

affairs  since  1880,  and  has  served  frequently  as 
delegate  to  county  convention,  being  a  power  in 
county  political  circles.  He  is  financially  interest- 
ed in  various  business  enterprises,  and  i-  a  man 
of  substance  and  prominence,  occupying  an  hon- 
orable position  in  the  community  he  has  served  50 
ably  as  a  public  official.  He  i^  a  large  man.  six- 
feet,  two  inches  in  height,  and  weighing  240 
pounds. 

In  1876  Mr.  Deitrich  married  Margarel  Jane 
Manney,  daughter  of  Dennis  Manney,  and  to  them 
have  been  horn  six  children:  Mary  married  Claude 
Savage,  and  they  live  at  Northumberland ;  Delia 
j-  a  school  teacher  at  Mount  Carmel ;  Maud  mar- 
ried John  Xoadhecker  and  they  live  mi  Sunbury: 
Dr.  George  A.  graduated  from  Mourn  I  dgh 

school  and  from  Pennsylvania  College,  al  Getl 
burg,   later  attending  four  years  and   gradual 
from  the  Oniversitj  of  Pennsj  Kama  i  1910  |  ;  Ada 
died  in  infancy :  Margaret  is  at  home. 

Levi  Deitkich  (  Dietrich  |,  justice  of  the  pi 
and  prominent  citizen  of  Mounl  Carmel,  North 
berland  county,  was  born  at  Llewellyn,  Schuylkill 
Co.,    Pa.,   in    L857.     He  began   work  at    the  coal 
mine-  as  a  slate  picker  when  a  mere  boy,  and  fol- 
ipation  of  mining  many  years.     In 
1871    he  came  with   his   parent-  to   Mount   Cam 
o  here  he  ha-  since  made  in-  home.     Mr.  Deitrich 
is  a  Republican  and  has  been  ai  live  in  promoi 
the  welfare  of  In-  party.     In   189"3   he  was  i  li 

,     table  of  the  borough  of  Mount   Cam  i 
ing  in  this  offii  i  ai-.  until,  in  the  spring  of 

1906,   he   was  elected    a   justice   of   the   peace,   which 

office  he  now   till-  with   merit.      Mr.    Deitrich  wa- 


25  4 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


also  overseer  of  the  poor  of  his  district  for  some 
years. 

Mr.  Deitrich  is  popular  socially.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  the  P.  0.'  S.  of  A.  and  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  In  1882,  when  the 
Anthracite  Fire  Company  of  Mount  Carmel  bor- 
ough  was  organized,  Mr.  Deitrich  was  a  charter 
member,  and  for  many  years  was  its  efficient  treas- 
urer: for  twenty-one  consecutive  years  lie  rang  the 
fire  1  it'll. 

In  May,  1878,  Mi'.  Deitrich  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Susan  Stutzman,  daughter  of  Adam 
and  Susan  C.  Stutzman.  To  this  union  were 
born  seven  children,  as  follows:  Elmer,  George  W., 
Clarence,  Levi,  Jr..  John.  William,  and  Annie 
(who  died  when  three  and  a  half  years  old).  Mrs. 
Deitrich  died  May  7.  1899,  aged  forty-four  years, 
six  months,  twelve  days. 

JOHN  1!.  KAUFFMAN,  of  Sunbury,  is  a  man 
of  large  financial  affairs  and  real  estate  interests, 
principally  active  at  present  in  the  latter  connec- 
tion. His  property  holdings  in  the  borough  and, 
in  fact,  all  over  Northumberland  county,  are  ex- 
tensive  and  valuable,  and  their  management  now 
occupies  the  greater  part  of  his  time.  For  forty 
years  Mr.  KaulTman  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Asherton.  Lower  Augusta  township, 
hi-  establishment  being  the  business  center  of  that 
locality  for  years.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  at 
that  point,  serving  until  his  removal  to  Sunbury 
in  1889,  and  there  was  no  better  known  citizen  in 
that  section.  Since  he  settled  in  Sunbury,  upon 
his  retirement  from  tin  mercantile  business,  he 
has  continued  to  give  his  numerous  interests  his 
personal  attention,  although  he  is  now  in  his 
eighty-third  year:  his  zeal  and  ability,  however, 
are  unabated  and  his  intellect  as  keen  as  ever. 

Mr.  Kauffman  was  bom  Oct.  19,  1828,  in  Up- 
per Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  county, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Ressler)  Kauffman.  His 
education  was  begun  in  the  old  German  subscrip- 
tion school  held  in  Upper  Mahanov,  which  he  at- 
tended until  1838.  when  his  parents  moved  into 
Lower  Augusta  township.  He  there  continued  his 
studies  in  the  English  language,  attending  school, 
though  not  regularly,  until  he  was  about  twenty 
years  of  age.  Meantime  he  had  worked  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  was  thus  engaged  until  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years,  at  which  time,  in  1850,  he  em- 
harked  m  the  mercantile  business  at  what  is  now 
Asherton,  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  He  re- 
mained there  until  1889,  with  the  exception  of  six 
years  during  which  he  had  a  mercantile  establish- 
ment at  wdiat  is  now  Meiserville,  in  Snyder  coun- 
ty, at  the  end  of  that  period  moving  back  to  Low- 
er Augusta  township.  In  188!)  he  removed  to  Sun- 
bury.  Prospering  in  everything  he  undertook,  as 
his  interests  expanded  he  found  himself  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  farming  and  the  real  estate  business 


in  addition  to  his  original  line.  He  became  post- 
master  at  Asherton  in  1886,  when  the  office  was 
established,  and  continued  to  serve  as  such  until  he 
came  to  Sunbury.  One  of  the  oldest  business  men 
in  his  section,  he  enjoyed  a  large  patronage 
throughout  His  location  there,  and  his  place  was 
long  a  business  center,  his  full  line  of  merchandise 
attracting  the  custom  of  a  wide  territory,  and  his 
accommodating  methods  holding  customers  from 
year  to  year.  As  his  business  throve  he  acquired 
other  interests  and  accumulated  considerable  real 
estate,  still  owning  about  three  hundred  acres  in 
Lower  Augusta  township.  Since  he  settled  in 
Sunbury  he  has  been  one  of  the  shrewdest  invest- 
ors in  that  borough,  and  by  his  foresight  and  sa- 
gacity has  made  a  place  for  himself  in  the  front 
rank  of  its  intelligent  business  men.  He  is  a  di- 
re, i  ,r  of  the  Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, and  lias  been  such  since  the  organization  of 
that  concern,  which  he  is  also  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  finance  committee.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Pennsburg  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Penns- 
burg, Pa.,  and  was  connected  with  the  Kauffman 
&  Sons  Planing  Mill  Company  of  Sunbury  until 
the  plant  was  removed  to  Pennsburg.  For  some 
years  he  was  connected  as  director  with  the  Blue 
Wing  Copper  Company  of  North  Carolina,  with 
the  Sunbury  Nail,  Par  and  Guide  Iron  Manufac- 
turing Company  and  with  the  Buffalo  Lumber 
Company  of  West  Virginia.  During  his  earlier 
years  Mr.  Kauffman  was  quite  active  in  the  local 
Democratic  organization,  was  auditor  of  Lower 
Augusta  township  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also 
served  as  assessor.  In  1861  he  was  drafted  for  the 
Civil  war.  and  paid  $300  for  a  substitute,  being  un- 
able to  give  personal  service  on  account  of  home 
responsibilities. 

On  March  28,  1852,  Mr.  Kauffman  married 
Boann  Shaffer,  daughter  of  John  Shaffer,  of  Ber- 
wick, Pa.,  and  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding March  28,  1902.  Mrs.  Kauffman  died  April 
15,  1907,  aged  seventy-five  years,  seven  months, 
thirteen  days.  Eight  children  were  bora  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kauffman,  as  follows:  Abia  died  April 
27.  lsT:!,  aged  twenty  years,  eight  months,  fifteen 
days:  Dora  A.,  who  is  unmarried,  lives  with  her 
father:  Frank  S..  bom  in  1857,  now  of  Newton, 
N.  J.,  who  has  for  many  years  been  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Hart  &  Iliff  Coal.  Lumber  &  Sup- 
ply Company,  married  Minnie  Smink,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Smink.  of  Shamokin,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
two  children.  Elizabeth  and  John;  Daniel  S.,  who 
was  a  merchant  at  Millheim,  Center  Co.,  Pa.,  died 
April  26,  1903,  aged  forty-two  years,  one  month, 
twelve  days,  unmarried ;  Alfretta  married  E.  H. 
Long,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  died  Aug.  11,  1892,  aged  thirty- 
four  years,  twenty  days  (she  was  the  mother  of 
three  children,  Elroy  and  Stanley,  both  deceased, 
and  Flossie  V.,  who  has  made  her  home  with  her 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


355 


grandfather  from  childhood,  and  who  graduated 
in  1904  from  the  Woman's  College,  Frederick, 
Md.)  ;  Clara  died  unmarried  March  11,  1889, 
aged  twenty-six  years,  seven  months,  eleven  .lavs; 
John  R.,  .Jr..  who  has  been  highly  educated,  hav- 
ing graduated  from  Selinsgrove  Academy  and 
from  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  at  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  later  having  a  war's  study  in  Leipsic,  Ger- 
many, was  admitted  to  practice  before  the  North- 
umberland county  bar  Sept.  2,  1889,  when  but 
twenty-two  years  old,  was  formerly  secretary  of  the 
Buffalo  Lumber  Company,  of  Bayard,  W.  Va., 
and  i-  now  proprietor  of  the  planing  mill  at  Penns- 
burg,  Pa.  (he  is  married,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Ruth);  Annie  died  Sept.  15,  L894,  aged  twenty- 
two  years,  eleven  months,  thirteen  days. 

Mr.  Kauffinan  and  his  family  occupy  a  fine  res- 
idence at  No.  1103  Market  street,  Sunbury.  lie 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  during 
his  residence  in  Lower  Augusta  township  was  a 
very  active  worker  in  St.  Elias  Church,  which  he 
served  many  years  as  elder  and  member  of  the 
council;  he  was  also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  for  many  years.  In  1880,  when  the  pres- 
ent brick  building  of  the  St.  Elias  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  Church  was  erected,  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  building  committee,  giving  most  ef- 
fii  iciit  service  in  thai  capacity.  His  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  id'  that 
church. 

HIRAM  DREISBACH  was  horn  in  Buffalo 
Valley.  Union  Co..  Pa.,  Aug.  9,  1831.  His  orig- 
inal progenitor  in  America,  Martin  Dreisbach,  em- 
igrated from  Wltgenstein,  Germany,  arriving  at 
Philadelphia  Oct.  1.  1751,  in  the  ship  "Queen  of 
Denmark,"  and  located  in  Cocalico  township.  Ivan- 
caster  <'...,  Pa.  In  1773  he  bought  from  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Plunkett  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Buffalo  Val- 
ley, in  what  is  now  Union  county.  Pa.  This  was 
on  the  frontier  id'  the  Province,  and  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  which  followed  soon  after  his 
removal  thither,  the  family  endured  great  hard- 
ships and  dangers. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  family  of 
six  sons  and  one  daughter,  born  to  the  marriage  id' 
Martin  Dreisbach,  one  of  the  early  judges  of  Union 
county,  and  Elizabeth  Kleckner,  both  of  Buffalo 
Valley.  The  history  of  both  families  is  closely 
interwoven  with  the  early  development  id'  the 
country,  the  Dreisbach  family  being  especially  ac- 
tive in  early  religious  work,  as  attested  by  (he  his- 
tory of  the  Dreisbach  Church,  which  forms  so  con- 
spicuous a  part  in  the  religious  annals  id'  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Dreisbach  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  an  old  log  schoolhouse  under  privati 
telage,  this  training  being  accompanied  with  all 
the  hardships  and  inconveniences  common  to  the 
early  days.  Later  he  attended  the  Union  College 
at  New  Berlin,  Pa.,  completing  his  education  with 


a  business  course  at  Crittenden  Business  College, 
Philadelphia,     lie  came  to  Sunbury  shortty  after 

the  flood  ,,f  1865,  and  in  company  with  his  brother 
Solomon  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  queensware 
business,  which  they  successfully  conducted  until 
the  year  1892.  This  business,  however,  did  not  oc- 
cupy all  his  attention,  a-  he  found  time  to  carry  on 
the  retail  lumber  business,  and  later  formed  a  part- 
nership with  the  late  William  Whitmer,  under  the 
firm  name  of  the  Sunbury  Lumber  Company;  they 
engaged  in  a  general  lumber  business,  operating 
both  -awmills  and  planing  mills  for  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  Whitmer  later  retiring  from  the  busi 
ness,  Mr.  Dreisbach  conducted  it  alone  until  the 
year  1904,  when  he  sold  it  to  the  Mantz  Brothers 
by  whom  it  is  still  conducted.  From  thai  lime  un- 
til within  a  k'\\  months  of  his  demise,  which  oc- 
curred Feb.  Ill,  1910,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the 
interests  he  had  acquired  during  ids  more  active 
years,  retaining  his  business  acumen  to  the  last. 
His  operations  in  the  lumber  business  were  carried 
on  at  a  time  when  the  lumber  traffic  on  the  Sn 
quehanna  was  at  its  height,  and  he  accumulated  an 
excellent  competence  in  that  line  alone,  increasing 
his  means  by  good  investments  and  judicious  man- 
agement until  he  was  accounted  one  of  Sunbury's 
most  substantial  citizens.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  business  men  of  the 
community,  and  had  the  unlimited  respect  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

On  July  28,  1864,  Mr.  Dreisbach  married  Re- 
becca Houghton,  who  was  born  Dee.  10.  1844,  at 
Lewisburg,  Pa.,  daughter  id'  James  and  Margaret 
Houghton,  formerly  Margaret  How  man.  of  Hali- 
fax. Dauphin  Co..  Pa.     She  died  Feb.  22,  L881. 

Three  children  of  this  union  survive:  Frank  M.. 
a  lumber  merchant,  of  Fast  Oakland,  Cal. ;  and 
Nellie  M.,  wife  of  (diaries  i;.  Benson,  and  Edith 
M.,  both  of  Sunbury. 

MICHAEL  J.  HAILE,  nf  Shamokin,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  M.  J.  Haile  &  Bros.,  met 

chants,  began  business  on  a  small  scale  there  in 
1887  and  has  built  up  a  trade  which  is  a  credit  to 
his  good   management  and  honesty,     lie  and  his 

two   brothers   have  an   establisl nl    at    No.    no 

North  Hunter  street  so  well  stocked  and  patron- 
ized that  the\  are  justh  classed  among  the  most 
enterprising  dealers  of  the  borough. 

Mr.  Hade's  father,  Lawrence  Haile,  was  horn 
Aiie-.  in,  1830,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  son  of 
Matthias  Haile.  who  lived  and  died  in  Wurtem- 
berg.  Lawrence  Haile  came  in  America  in  L854, 
landing  at  New  York  i  lity,  n  hence  he  proceeded  to 
Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co..  Fa.,  and  from  that 
ii until  hi-  retirement,  in  1891 ,  a  period  of  for- 
ty-three Mar-,  he  was  mi  the  employ  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia &  Reading  Railway  Company.  He  was 
>r    ome  tin*  baggage  master  at 

Shamokm     to  which  borough  he  moved  m  1874 — 


21 


X<  »RTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


many  years,  and  in  one  stretch  of  thirty-five  years 

-  lut  thirty-six  days,  all  on  account  of  sickness. 
Such  a  record  of  industry  is  not  often  equalled. 
Mr.  Haile  took  a  trip  to  Germany  in  visit 

-  -  -■     - 

On   Sep!  -         Mr.  Haile  married  Cathar- 

ine Maringer.  who  was  horn  Dec-.  IT.  1S33.  daugh- 

Pel  Maringer.  a  native  of  Prizen. 
many,  who  died  in  his  native  land :  he  was  a  cab- 
inetmaker by  trade,  and  had  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing a  skilled  workman.  Mrs.  Haile  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1857  and  was  married  shortly  afterward. 
Mr.   and   Mrs.   Haile  celebrated  the  golden  anni- 

-  iry  of  their  wedding  Sept.  30,  1907.    Though 
both  have  reached  advaj  - 

health,  and  their  long  and  industrious  lives  are  re- 
warded with  the  peace  due  in  old  age.  They  had 
a  family       -  lildren  :  Peter,  a  clerk,  of  Shani- 

okin,  ma:  Michael  J.  is  men- 

tioned more  fully  below;  Lawrence,  a  boss  carpen- 
Pa.,    married    Annie   Brennen : 
Francis  J.,  a  member  of  thi  M.  J.  IP 

-  .  married  Mary  Burk.  Pa. : 
Joseph  T.  -  -  with  his  parents:  Katie  is  the 
widow  of  Joseph  McLaughlin:  Charles  A.,  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  M.  J.  Haile  &  Bros.,  married 
Elizabeth  Callaghan.  of  L  -  •  The  family 
home  is  at  Race  and  Hunter  stri 

Michael  J.  Haile  was  horn  Oct.  12,  1862,  in 
■  Ikill  county.  Pa.,  tight  miles  northea- 
-ville,  and  there  received  what  little  schooling 
he  was  allowed,  attending  but  ten  months.  Before 
he  was  eight  years  old  he  began  picking  slai 
the  mines,  and  at  that  time  he  could  speak  only 
German.  He  continued  at  this  work  about  eight 
years,  doing  outside  duty  at  the  mines,  where  he  re- 
mained until  eighteen  years  old.  He  then  took 
up  the  butcher's  trade,  with  Nicholas  Timmes,  and 
learned  the  bi  -      --  nghly.     I:     188'     le  en- 

gaged in  business  in  that  line  for  lumself,  and  three 

-  later  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother 
Francis  J.,  under  the  firm  name  of  M.  J.  Haile  & 
Bro.  In  1906  their  younger  brother.  Charle-  A., 
became  a  member  ich  has  since 
been  known  as  M.  J.  Haile  &  Bros.  Meantime 
various  lines  have  been  added  to  the  original  one, 

stock  now  includin,  -    _  -.         _ 

and  noti  :  -  -etionery  etc..  for  all  of  which 

they  find      -  demand.    The  bus      --      is  had 

_  'Wth,  and  it  has  expanded  until 
: ion  of  all  three  brothers  is  well  taken  up 
with  its  conduct  and  management.  Michael  J. 
Haile  is  a  director  of  the  Shamokin  and  Coal 
Township  Building  and  Loan  Association,  which 
he  helped  to  organize  July  1.  1904.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  and  is  a  member  of  the  original 
board  of  directors  of  the  Dime  Trus:  &  Safe  De- 
jx>sit  Companv  of  Shamokin. 

On  Jar.         1890,  Mr.  Haile  married  Elizabeth 
Peck,  daughter  of  Clemens  and  Genevieve  (Reiber) 


.  and  a  native  of  Wurtemherg,  Germany.    Five 
children  have  been  horn  to  this  union :  Cecelia  E., 
Elizabeth,    Clement,   Michael,   Jr..   and    Edward. 
All  this  family  are  members  of  St.  Edwar    -  I 
olic  Church  and  Mr.  Haile  is  a  member  o:    I 
Knigl  ts    f  I     lunibus. 

CROXE.     The   Crone  family  has  been  repre- 
sented in  Xorthumberland  county  from  the  tin 
I      I  rone,  a  nativr  of  Westphalia,   I 
many,  who  brought  his  family  here -in  the  middle 
of  the  last  century.     He  came  to  the  Uni: 
in  1-4"-.  an. I  rim  located  at  Reading.  Pa.,  subse- 
quently removing  to  Lehigh  county  ( where  he  was 
_   ged  in  the  mining  of  slate),  and  one  year  later 
sertliuj  ai  Middleport,  Schuylkill  county.    In  1853 
cated   at   Trevor/ton,   Xorthumberland  coun- 
ty, where  he  died  in  1868.     He  was  a  mine 
in  Germany.     In  that  country  he  marr.  i  J.  W.  L. 
n.  who  died  while  they  were  livi:  _        M    '.dle- 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
named   children:  Carl  died  in  Germany:   Henry 
Julius  is  mentioned  below:  Franklin,  who  died  at 
Trevorton.  was  the  father  of  Herman.  Christian. 
Lena  and  Emma :  Herman  T.  is  mentioned  below : 
is  mentioned  below. 
Though  a  resident  of  Trevorton  for  only  a  few 
paratively,  Gotthilf  C.  Crone  was  r- 
nized  as  an  intelligent  and  valuable  citizen,  and 
he  was        -       to  the  ofl     5  of  -    ".  tax  col- 

and  director  of  the  poor.  He  took  an  a 
part  in  politics  as  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  in  church  work  as  a  member  of  the 
ran  Church,  which  he  served  many  yea-  - 
elder  anc  -  -  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

Henry  Julius   Crone,  son  of  Gotthilf   C.  was 
born  in  Germany  April  13,  1830,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  America.    He  followed  mining,  act- 
r  many  vears  as  boss  for  Douty  &  Baunr. 
-   ainokin.    He  served  a  term  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war.  enlisting  Oct.  IT. 
in  Company  D.  172d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  V    - 
unteer  Infantry,  and  receiving  his  discha  _ 
1.  1863,  at  Harrisburg.     Mr.  I'rone  married  Mary 
M.  Kopp.  who  was  born  Marci:  8.  1831, 
survives  him.  making  her  home  at  Shamokin.     Mr. 
1  .Tan.  1.  1899,  and  was  bui  S  am- 

okin. Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Crone:  1 1 )  Francis  G..  born  Xov.  "26.  l"r,i.  mar- 
ried Hannah  Hepler.  and  they  have  had  children : 
Henry.  Mamie.  Millie.  Ida.  Cyrus.  D^ra.  Clara. 
Alma.  Ethel.  Victor  and  Fran.  -  .  Marv  M. 
was  -"  :ii  Theodore  H..  born 

May  -  "viamokin :  he  married  Em- 

S  -hweitzer  and  they  had  three  children.  Maude. 
Minnie  and  Bessie,  i  4  i  Gotthilf  C.  is  mentioned 
below        a     i  hristiana  Frederic-ka,  born  Aug 

-      .  married   Joseph  Kerstetter.  and  they  have 
had  children:  Alvin.  Lena.  Delia.  Samuei.  As 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Edward.  Mildred.  ;_       . 

is  mentioned  below.  (7)  M  -  hia,  born  Jan. 
31,  1864,  married  Samuel  Crist,  and  thev  live  at 
Shamokin :  their  children  are  Hazel.  Violet.  Mal- 
colm, Elsie  and  Elva.  (8)  Julius  EL,  born  March 
1,  1866.  married  Minerva  Rhine,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Grace.  Lena.  Retta,  Leah  and  John. 
John  Jacob,   bon  named  Mary 

Romberger  and  has  one  daughter.  Emma. 
Henry  John,  born  Jul  .  died  voung. 

Gotthilf  C.  Crone,  fourth  child  in  the  family 
•  Henry  Julius  Crone,  was  born  Nov.  2,  1858 
Trevorton,  Northumberland  county.  He  followed 
mining  until  lie  was  twenty-nine  years  old,  mean- 
time-, in  1881,  moving  to  Shamokin,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  mines  for  about  two  months.  He 
then  _  _  in  the  butchering  business  with  his 
brothers  Francis  and  Jacob,  later  earning  on  bus- 
iness on  his  own  account.  He  now  does  an  exten- 
at  S  1  and  Chestnut  streets.  Mr. 
Crone  is  a  mi  Lodge  No.  664,  I.  0.  0.  F., 

and  of  the  Sr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  In  religious  connec- 
tion he  is  a  member  of  Grace  Evangelical  Luther- 
an Church. 

On  Nov.  4.  L878,  Mr.  Crone  married  Diana 
Long,  and  ten  children  have  blessed  this  union: 
Theodore  H.  married  Kate  Treon.  of  Shamokin: 
-  :nentioned  below:  Cora  is  the  wi- 
th W.  Mause  and  they  have  one  daughter. 
Josep  i  e;  I  harles  married  Ida  Hattern  and  they 
have  three  children.  Herbert.  Elline  and  Florence: 
Frances,  a  graduate  of  the  Shamokin  high  school, 
taught  three  years  in  Cameron  township  and  two 
years  in  Shamokin  before  her  marriasre  to  Grover 
Shipman.  and  they  reside  at  Danville.  Pa.  ( they 
have  a  daughter.  Marion  E. )  :  Oscar  married  May 
Swift  and  |  second  I  Helen  Boch  and  they  have  one 
child.  Maude  Helen :  Arthur  married  Pearl  B 
and  has -one  child.  Harriet  F. :  Grover  is  at  home, 
assisting  his  father;  Madeline  and  Dorothy  M.  are 
still  in  school. 

Georg  !.  s  _randfather  of  Mrs.  GotthiH  I 
Crone,  was  a  farmer  and  the  largest  landowner  in 
Cameron  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
served  upon  the  first  school  board  of  that  township. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  whose 
name  was  Leah  Bracher.  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Samuel.  Daniel.  John.  Peter,  Jacob,  Wil- 
liam. Kate  and  Hannah.  By  his  second  wife,  Eliz- 
abeth (  Schleieh),  he  also  had  a  large  family,  viz.: 
Elias.  Ellen.  Kate.  Polly,  Elijah,  Joseph.  .1  - 
and  Sallie. 

Elias  Lon^r.  eldest  son  of  1        -  -  -    '  >n<l 

marriage,  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  <  rone.  He  was  a 
lifelong  farmer  in  Cameron  township,  and  the  fam- 
ily have  a  burial  plot  there,  at  the  Union  church. 
at  Gowen  City.    He  marri.  2       e  Houpt,  and 

their  children  were:  William.  Benneville.  Diana 
I  Mrs.  Ci  I,  Alice.  Hettie.  who  survive,  and 

Lvdia  A.,  Fran    ?,  Ella  and  Rosie.  all  dec 


n    Doutrville,    Northumberland 
county,  and  learned  the  butchering  business  with 
his  father  at  Shamokin.  where  he  began  bush      - 
on  his  own  account  March  21.1 
is  at   No.    132   South   Mark  b  si        .   and   he  has 
established  a  profitable  trade.     IE-  good  bus 
sty  show  him  to  be  a  typcial 
tative  of  the  name  he  1» 

On    Dec.   22,   1899,   Mr.   Crone  married   Nei 
A.    Goodling,    daughter   of    Is;>.  ing    and 

granddaughter  of  Char:  3  G  _-  who  was  l»irn 

near  York.  Pa.,  and  later  mi  S  unty, 

where  he  followed  farming  near  Meiserville.  He 
married  Lucy  Diehl,  of  York  county,  and  their 
children  were:  Is;:  _  ,  L       -.  Henry.  •' 

athan,  and  Lucy  (di 

Isaac  Goodling,  Mrs.  I  -  a  farm- 

er near   Freeburg,   Snyder  county.      He  mar 
Catharine  Gehnett.  daughter  of 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them:  John  W.. 
who  died  Dec-.  28,  1899,  in  the  Philippines,  while 
serving  in  the  United  Stales  army:  William:  and 
Nettie  A.,  Mrs  ' !.  I  No  children 

have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crone. 

Lewis  Choke,  sixth  child  in  the  family  of  Henry 
Julius  Crone,  was  born  April  »i.  1862,  at  Trev- 
orton.  Northumberland  county,  and  his 

education  in  the  publii    -  5.     When  but  nine 

years  old  he  commenced  work  as  a  slate  picker  at 
Brady,  this  county,  and  he  was  employed  at  the 
mines  for  about  fourteen  years,  as  engineer1  and  ma- 
chinist. For  two  years  after  that  he  was  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Helfenstein.  Pa.,  returning 

Shamokin,  where  he  was      _  _    :  as  an  engi- 
neer for  some  time  and  .   -  iwed  the  hotel  bus- 
iness for  eight  years,     i .           -  ace  been  in  th 
gar  manufacturing  business,  which  he  -'  May 
1,  1905,  havii  p_                                 in  the  12th 
trict.  at  Nos            558  North  Third  street.     Mr. 
Crone  dis     -  -               greater  part  of  his  product 
in    Northumberland    county,    where   his 
brands     "Crone     Special."     "Grain-."      "11 
Value."   "American    Leader,"    "J     n    Trumbull" 
and  "American  Bond."  and  his  "William  Windom" 
ten-cent  brand,  are  well  and  favorably  known. 

popular   ;         -       !'   their   1 
He  gives  employment  to  six  men.  and  by  turning 
-  of  high  grade      3  est       -  stant 

demai  -  factory. 

M:  i  known  beyond  the  limits 

of  his  bus      --       quaintanceship,  having  nui 

-  -  which  bring  him 
with  '  l)llr 

Bam!,  is  a  mi  '         any, 

and  socially  holds  membership  in  the  Knights 

-    1        .  \      225,  I    I ' 
H.  M..  and  in  Shamok  0.0 

Y.     His  1  •  with  Grace  Luth- 

• 


17 


258 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Bepubliean  ward  he  has  been  assessor  of  the  Tenth 
ward  since  18!*:!. 

On  June  11,  1881.  Mr.  Crone  married  Chris- 
tiana Koons,  daughter  of  Michael  Koons,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  children  as  follows:  Bobert 
A.,  a  musician,  who  plays  with  Our  Band  and 
Zenda  Orchestra  (he  is  a  cigarmaker  by  trade)  : 
William  H.,  who  is  also  a  musician  (member  of 
Our  Band  and  the  Zenda  Orchestra)  and  who  as- 
sists his  father  in  the  cigar  manufacturing  busi- 
ness: Baymond  L..  at  school:  Charles  L.  and  Fran- 
cis W..  both  at  school. 


George  Francis  Crone,  son  of  Gotthilf  C.  and 
J.  W.  L.  (Stollen)  Crone,  was  born  in  1832  in 
Westphalia,  Prussia,  and  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents.  He  was  employed  for  many 
Arm--  in  the  slate  and  coal  mines  of  this  region, 
in  1865  being  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
mine-;  at  Trevorton.  Later  he  was  engaged 
"in  the  same  capacity  at  Mahanoy  Valley 
and  Shamokin,  continuing  at  this  work  until 
1885.  when  he  opened  a  restaurant  at  Shamokin. 
He  has  conducted  the  establishment  ever  since, 
making  a  success  of  that  business  as  he  has  of  his 
other  ventures.  He  was  associated  with  his  broth- 
er, H.  T.  Crone,  in  the  manufacture  of  powder,  the 
works  being  at  Trevorton.  where,  as  at  Shamokin, 
he  has  many  friends.  While  living  there  he  was 
honored  with  choice  to  the  offices  of  election 
judge  and  constable.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics 
and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  socially  lie- 
longing  to  Shamokin  Lodge.  V.  &  A.  M.,  and  Lin- 
coln Post,  G.  A.  B.  He  is  entitled  to  membership 
in  the  latter  organization  by  reason  of  his  service 
in  the  Civil  war.  having  enlisted  in  1862  in  Com- 
pany D,  l?2d  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  with  which 
command  he  served  nine  months. 

In  1857  Mr.  Crone  married  Charlotte  Creamer, 
and  they  have  had  eight  children,  the  survivors  be- 
ing: Lena  {wife  of  Isaac  P.  Treon),  Christian, 
Herman  T.  and  Sarah  A. 

Herman  T.  Crone,  brother  of  George  F.  and  son 
of  Gotthilf  C.  and  J.  W.  L.  (Stollen)  Crone,  was 
born  in  Westphalia,  Prussia,  in  1834.  Tie  came  to 
this  country  with  his  parents,  and  like  most  of  the 
family  engaged  in  mining  during  his  early  years, 
which  he  also  followed  after  moving  with  his  fa- 
ther to  Trevorton.  In  186?  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D,  172d  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
in  which  he  served  nine' months.  In  186f>  he  en- 
gaged in  the  butchering  business  at  Trevorton. 
continuing  it  until  his  death,  and  in  188?  he  also 
engaged  in  the  powder  business,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Gillespie.  Crone  &  Co..  who 
founded  the  Shamokin  Powder  Company.  Subse- 
quently selling  his  interest  in  that  concern,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  George  F. 
Crone,  and  they  erected  the  works  at  Trevorton. 
manufacturing  powder  under  the  firm  name  of  H. 


T.  Crone  &  Brother.  He  died  at  Trevorton.  Mr. 
Crone  was  long  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial  and  progressive  citizens  of  that  place,  tak- 
ing great  interest  in  public  matters,  encouraging 
the  establishment  of  \arious  public  utilities,  and 
serving  as  school  director  and  tax  collector.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  in  religion  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Socially  he  held 
membership  in  the  Knisrhts  of  Pythias  and  the  I. 
0.  0.  F. 

In  1861  Mr.  Crone  married  Fredrica  Knapp. 
who  died  in  1862,  leaving  one  child,  who  died 
young.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Mary  S. 
Yuengling,  of  Trevorton,  and  six  of  the  children 
born  to  this  union  reached  maturity:  Emma  C, 
Louisa  P..  Francis  G..  Henry  J..  Bertha  C.  and 
William. 

SAMUEL  11.  McKIXNEY.  present  chief  burg- 
ess of  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  has  been  engaged 
in  business  there  from  early  manhood,  conducting 
the  only  established  general  transfer  business  at 
that  point.  He  is  a  native  of  Herndon.  North- 
umberland county,  born  Feb.  20,  1868. 

The  McKinney  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  origin. 
David  McKinney,  the  great-great-grandfather  of 
Samuel  H.  McKinney,  lived  in  New  Jersey  and 
Virginia  before  he  came  to  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land Co..  Fa.,  where  he  located  in  the  spring  of 
1 ;;-.'.  lie  was  a  miller  by  trade,  but  he  established 
one  of  the  first  distilleries  at  Sunbury  and  carried 
mi  the  business  some  years.  Late  in  life  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  on  the  West  Branch,  near  the 
Great  Island,  ami  there  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
He  had  a  family  of  nine  children.  Abraham,  Mary. 
John.  Isaac.  Sarah.  Jacob.  James,  Elizabeth  and 
Rachel.  Of  these.  Isaac  removed  to  Center  county. 
Fa.,  where  he  became  a  prominent  citizen,  estab- 
lishing an  iron  furnace  and  serving  as  associate 
judge. 

Abraham  McKinney.  son  of  David,  was  born 
Nov.  12.  1762,  and  came  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty from  New  Jersey.  He  first  lived  at  what  is  now 
the  site  of  Herndon,  being  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers thereabout,  and  later  moved  to  Sunbury. 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  stonemason  and 
built  many  of  the  stone  houses  in  that  section, 
some  of  his  work  still  standing.  He  built  and  op- 
erated the  first  mill  on  Mahanoy  creek,  in  Jack- 
son township.  He  died  at  Sunbury  Sept.  13.  1835, 
and  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  lower  cem- 
etery at  Sunbury.  Among  his  children  were  Jacob, 
John  and  James,  of  whom  Jacob  served  as  sheriff 
of  Northumberland  county  (1830-33)  and  was  a 
prominent  man  in  various  ways:  he  subsequently 
went  West,  where  he  died. 

James  McKinney,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  in 
1805  at  Mahanoy,  Northumberland  county.  He 
learning  milling,  and  followed  that  trade  for 
many  years.     Obtaining  a  position  as  foreman  on 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


259 


the  Philadelphia  &  Heading  railroad  he  located 
in  Schuylkill  county,  and  followed  that  line  of 
work  throughout  his  active  years.  He  died  at 
Cressona,  that  county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  and  is  buried  there.  He  married  Lydia 
Sheriff,  a  native  of  Northumberland  county,  who 
also  died  at  Cressona,  Schuylkill  county/  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Hiram,  who 
died  young;  Abraham,  who  died  young;  Abigail, 
who  died  young;  David,  who  died  at  Cressona, 
Schuylkill  county;  Lovina,  wife  of  Michael  Thom- 
as; Sarah  J.,  Mrs.  Lynch;  and  Samuel. 

Samuel  McKinnev,  lather  of  Samuel  H.  Mc- 
Kinney, was  born  May  2,  1826,  six  miles  east  of 
Sunbury.  He  learned  the  trade  of  stonemason, 
which  he  followed  all  his  active  life,  being  m  the 
employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company  for 
the  long  period  of  forty-one  years,  engaged  on  the 
construction  of  bridges,  locks  and  canal  repairs. 
In  1849  he  settled  at  Herndon,  where  he  has  since 
maintained  a  home,  being  now  the  oldest  living 
resident  of  the  place,  lie  has  always  been  an  in- 
telligent citizen,  and  is  well  informed  on  local 
matters.  He  retired  in  the  year  1899.  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinney  is  a  Democrat  in  political  conviction,  but 
has  never  been  active  in  public  or  political  affairs. 
Mr.  McKinnev  married  Mary  A.  Ziegler,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Catharine  (Wise)  Ziegler.  She 
died  July  25,  1900,  aged  sixty-six  years,  five 
months,  eleven  days,  and  is  buried  at  Herndon. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  union:  James 
Monroe  married  Hettie  Heim  and  they  have  chil- 
dren, Archie  B.,  Erma,  Charles  E.,  Guy,  Samuel 
W.,  Daniel  H.  and  Wilbur;  Andrew  J.  married 
Catharine  Ruth  and  they  have  had  four  children, 
Ethel,  Dorothy.  Gerald  and  Harold;  Samuel  H. 
is  mentioned  below;  Sarah  died  young;  Catharine 
died  aged  twenty-three  years. 

Samuel  H.  McKinnev  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  home  locality  at  Herndon.  His 
first  work  was  upon  a  sawmill,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged for  a  short  time,  after  which  he  did  farm 
work  at  Herndon  for  a  while.  In  1885  he  first 
came  to  Sunbury,  finding  employment  with  Ira 
T.  Clement,  with  whom  he  remained  four  months, 
after  which  he  was  engaged  at  the  "Neff  House." 
In  1888,  while  still  employed  at  that  hotel,  lie  be- 
gan the  draying  business  which  he  has  ever  since 
continued.  In  1894  he  added  a  general  hack  and 
transfer  business  to  his  original  line,  which  he  has 
extended  until  lie  now  has  the  best  trade  of  the 
kind  in  his  section.  He  runs  three  hacks  and  three 
drays,  and  he  makes  his  headquarters  at  the  "City 
Hotel."  Mr.  McKinney  owes  his  prosperity  to 
his  earnest  attempts  to  please  his  patrons  in  ev- 
ery branch  of  his  business,  bis  accommodating  dis- 
position and  excellent  management  enabling  him 
to  accomplish  many  things  which  have  won  him 
friends  and  customers  all  over  this  section. 
For  several  years  Mr.  McKinney  has  taken  an 


active  part  in  the  local  civil  administration.  He 
was  elected  to  represent  the  Second  ward  of  Sun- 
bury twice  in  the  borough  council,  and  in  1908 
was  elected  chief  burgess,  receiving  a  majority  of. 
345  votes — a  very  large  majority  for  a  Demo- 
crat in  his  community.  Socially  he  holds  mem- 
bership in  Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of  Sun- 
bury, Pa.,  and  in  No.  1  Fire  Company. 

PENSYL.  The  Pensyl  family  has  been  repre- 
sented in  Northumberland  county  for  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  years,  ever  since  the  advent 
in  America  of  Jacob  Pensyl,  or,  as  the  name  was 
originally  spelled,  Bentzel.  He  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  ami  coming  to  this  country  made  his 
home  in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  taking  up 
fifty  acres  of  land  at  the  present  site  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Shamokin.  His  location  was  where  the 
"Eagle  Hotel"  now  stands.  Later  he  abandoned 
this  place  and  took  up  a  200-acre  tract  in  Ralpho 
township  (where  bis  great-grandson,  David  R. 
Pensyl.  later  resided)  to  which  he  moved.  He 
had  one  son,  John. 

John  Pensyl,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  1767, 
and  was  nine  years  old  when  bis  father  settled  at 
what  is  now  Shamokin.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church,  one  of  the  organizers 
anil  original  members  of  the  old  Blue  Church  in 
Ralpho  township,  and  donated  an  acre  of  ground 
for  church  purposes,  the  edifice  of  that  congrega- 
tion being  located  thereon  to  this  da  v.  He  died 
upon  the  homestead  in  Ralpho  township  in  April, 
184!).  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  John  Pensyl  mar- 
ried Barbara  Ilinkle,  and  to  them  were  born  five 
children:  Kate,  who  married  Frederick  Lebic; 
Leah,  who  married  John  Fisher:  John,  who  was 
twice  married;  George,  born  Aug.  1.  1799;  and 
Leonard. 

John  Pensyl.  eldest  son  of  John  and  Barbara 
(Ilinkle)  Pensyl.  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Ralpho  township.  When  a  young  man  he  went 
to  Sunbury  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker. 
Later  he  purchased  a  farm  id'  two  hundred  ai 
at  Union  Corners,  in  Rush  township,  where  be 
lived  for  a  number  of  years,  afterward  purchas- 
ing and  removing  to  the  adjoining  farm,  where 
he  dieil  in  1873.  By  his  firs!  marriage,  to  Lydia 
Kaseman,  he  had  six  children:  George,  born  May 
14.  lsis.  died  duly  7,  1880;  John,  shoemaker  and 
farmer  of  Rush  township,  lived  retired  before  his 
death;  Daniel  live-  at  Danville,  Pa.;  Barbara.  de- 
.!,  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Hill,  of  Shamokin 
township:  Hannah,  who  died  at  Manavunk.  Phil- 
adelphia, was  twice  married,  her  first  husband  be- 
ing Charles  Dimick,  her  sec.. ml  John  Ilinev:  Cath- 
arine married  dame-  Matter,  of  Scianlon.  Pa. 
For  bis  second  wife  Mr.  Pensyl  married  Mary 
Arter,  daughter  of  John  and  Maw  (Heller)  Arte!-. 
0f  El  lied    Nov.   i>.   L890,  al 

home  of  her  -on  Adam,  in  Ru-h  township,  at  the 


26U 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  marriage:  Jacob  died  in 
1861,  when  twenty-six  year?  old;  William  is  men- 
tioned below;  Samuel,  who  was  a  retired  farmer 
of  Bush  township,  died  in  1897;  Margaret  died 
when  twenty  year?  old;  Adam  is  mentioned  below; 
Henry  A.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years;  and 
Francis  lives  at  Jersey  Shore,  Pa.  (he  was  a  mer- 
chant, miller,  postmaster  and  fanner  at  Pensyl, 
Columbia  county,  for  some  years). 

William  Pensyl,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Ar- 
ter)  Pensyl,  is  probably  the  best  known  man  in 
his  section  of  Northumberland  county.  He  was 
born  .Sept.  20,  1835,  on  the  Pensyl  homestead  in 
Rush  township,  and  was  educated  in  the  local 
~<  hools.  When  a  boy  he  went  to  learn  tanning 
with  Charles  Hull,  with  whom  he  worked  for  sev- 
eral years,  at  the  tannery  near  Elysburg  which  is 
now  his  own  property.  He  manifested  consider- 
able aptitude  for  the  work  and  became  an  ex- 
pert, and  in  1857  he  was  made  a  partner  in  the 
business  with  William  Hull,  in  Ralpho  township, 
this  association  lasting  until  1867.  Mr.  Pensyl 
then  took  his  brother  Francis  into  partnership, 
meantime  purchasing  and  enlarging  the  tannery 
property,  raising  the  capacity  to  two  hundred  hides 
a  week.  The  brothers  carried  on  the  business  to- 
gether  until  1880,  in  which  year  William  Pensyl 
became  sole  owner.  He  has  one  of  the  oldest  and 
best  known  tanning  establishments  in  central 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  output  has  always  been  in 
steady  demand.  This  place  has  been  burned  out 
twice,  with  considerable  loss,  the  first  time  in  May, 
L859,  and  again  on  Feb.  3.  1901;  Mr.  Pensyl  re- 
built at  once.  Though  he  was  successful  in  the 
tanning  business  he  did  not  devote  all  his  time  to 
that  one  line,  becoming  quite  extensively  interest- 
ed in  the  shipping  of  horses,  which  he  found 
profitable,  and  in  connection  with  his  tannery  he 
has  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  at  Elys- 
burg. tlie  old  Rothermel  and  Hull  farms.  On  this 
property  he  lias  erected  all  new  buildings,  and  has 
everything  in  up-to-date  condition.  Mr.  Pensyl 
was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Danville,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Guarantee  Trust 
&  Safe  Deposit  Company  of  Shamokin,  hut  he 
has  resigned  from  both  hoards.  He  is  director  and 
president  of  the  Shamokin  Township  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company.  He  was  president  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  Ralpho  township,  has  served  many 
years  as  school  director  (being  also  president  of 
the  board),  and  in  other  useful  associations  has 
proved  his  public  spirit  and  real  interest  in  the 
general  welfare.  His  extensive  business  enter- 
prises have  afforded  employment  for  a  number  of 
men,  and  all  in  all  he  has  been  as  thoroughly  iden- 
tified with  the  best  interests  of  the  community  as 
any  other  one  citizen.  He  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics and  a  Baptist  in  religion,  and  formerly  served 
as  trustee  of  his  church.     Socially  he  is  a  prom- 


inent member  of  Elysburg  Lodge.  No.  414.  F.  & 
A.  M..  of  which  he  is  a  past  master,  and  he  has 
been  treasurer  of  that  body  for  the  past  twenty 
years. 

On  dune  '.'s.  18611.  Mr.  Pensyl  married  Harriet 
C.  Hull,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Catharine  (Ritter) 
Hull,  of  Ralpho  township.  She  died  Aug.  10,  1899, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Push  Baptist  church.  The 
following  children  were  horn  to  this  marriage: 
M.  Laura  married  William  Reed,  a  prominent 
miller  at  Shamrock.  Pa. :  Estella  V.  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Amos  Persing;  Annie  M.  married  Preston 
Vought,  an  attorney  of  Mount  Carmel :  Viola  mar- 
ried A.  C.  Bobb,  of  Paxinos;  Carrie  B.  married 
Willard  Mittler,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  for 
his  father-in-law. 

Adam  Pensyl,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Arter) 
Pensyl,  is  now  living  retired  at  Elysburg,  a  re- 
spected citizen,  who  has  led  an  industrious  and 
useful  life.  He  was  born  Jan.  18,  1842,  at  Union 
Corners,  in  Push  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, anil  there  attended  the  public  schools.  He  was 
reared  upon  the  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
his  enlistment,  in  1864,  in  Company  C,  16th  Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry,  with  which  he  served  to  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war.  thereafter  doing  guard  duty  until 
discharged.  His  service  included  the  battle  at 
Petersburg  and  the  eight  days'  fight.  Upon  his 
return  from  the  army  he  went  to  Sunbury,  where 
he  drove  a  mill  team  for  some  time,  after  which 
he  went  hack  home  and  farmed  his  father's  land 
until  the  latters  death.  He  then  bought  the  home- 
stead place,  consisting  of  150  acres,  some  of  which 
has  been  cleared  by  him.  He  has  made  many  im- 
provements on  the  property,  including  an  entire 
set  of  new  buildings,  and  made  his  home  there 
from  1866  until  his  retirement,  in  1900.  That 
year  he  removed  to  Elysburg.  where  he  has  since 
resided.  During  his  army  service  Mr.  Pensyl  con- 
tracted rheumatism,  from  which  he  has  suffered 
ever  since.  While  in  Rush  township  he  served  as 
overseer  of  the  poor,  and  he  is  a  well  known  mem- 
ber of  the  community,  commanding  the  esteem 
of  all  with  whom  he  associates. 

Mi-.  Pensyl  married  Henrietta  Vought,  daughter 
of  I-].  Howell  and  Louise  (Crowl)  Vought.  ami 
they  have  had  four  children:  Fdward,  who  died 
when  twenty-one  months  old:  Ambrose:  Addie, 
who  is  at  home:  and  Lena,  who  died  when  five 
years  old.  The  son  Ambrose  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  the  homestead,  being  the  third  generation 
of  his  family  to  cultivate  that  place.  He  married 
Sadie  Klingman,  and  their  children  are  Leon. 
Chester.  Lawrence,  Myrlan  and  Henrietta.  The 
family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  connection.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Pensyl  is  a  Democrat. 

EMANUEL  S.  PADLE,  of  Dalmatia.  now  liv- 
ing retired,  has  had  a  successful  and  useful  ca- 
reer, and   he  is   well   known   in   Lower  Mahanoy 


XOP.THUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


•>in 


township  and  that  section  of  the  county,  having 
held  official  positions  and  engaged  in  business  there 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  horn  .Ian.  16, 
1845,  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  Co., 
Pa.,  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  Daniel  Radel. 

According  to  family  tradition  and  the  state- 
ments of  the  older  residents  of  this  region  the 
Radel  family  descends  from  one  of  the  Hessian 
soldiers  who  came  to  this  country  to  fight  in  King 
George's  army  during  the  Revolution  and  remained 
here  after  the  close  of  the  war.  It  is  in  part  con- 
firmed by  record  that  Daniel  and  John  Radel  were 
brothers  who  came  to  America  as  Hessian  soldiers. 
John  Radel  lived  near  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  Co., 
Pa.,  later  moving  across  the  Susquehanna  river 
to  Snyder  or  Juniata  county.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Schroyer,  had  these  children:  Hannah.  Cath- 
arine, Julia,  Elizabeth,  Polly,  Susan,  Sallie,  Philip 
and  John.  His  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mmnieh,  was  the  mother  of:  George,  Thomas, 
Simon,  Jonas  and  Daniel. 

There  is  record  of  the  will  of  one  Michael  Roe- 
del,  of  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county,  made 
Feb.  1.  1828,  probated  Jan.  26,  1829.  The  execu- 
tors were  his  oldest  son-in-law,  Christophel  Yeger, 
and  Joseph  Roedel;  witnesses,  John  Happel,  John 
\.  Happel  and  Samuel  Koppenhaffer.  lie  left 
a  farm  in  Mifflin  township  to  his  oldest  sons, 
Joseph  and  Michael  ($2,000);  a  farm  in  Mifflin 
t,,  his  son  Daniel  ($1,100);  Joseph  "shall  have 
$471  for  his  hereditament";  Elizabeth,  $351;  An- 
namaria,  $221;  Marktha,  $200;  Catharine,  $271; 
Anna.  $271  ;  Dana,  $231  ;  Susanna,  $251.  There 
was  another  clause:  "Because  my  housewife  left  me 
15  months  ago  without  cause,  and  contrary  to 
agreement  as  made  Aug.  1,  1824,  that  had  she  re- 
mained until  after  my  death  she  would  have  been 
paid  $60  in  money  and  been  given  free  place  of 
residence  in  my  house  and  land." 

There  is  also  on  record  the  will  of  Elizabeth 
Radel,  dated  June  9,  1841;  executor,  Benjamin 
Koppenhaffer. 

The  grandfather  of  Emanuel  S.  Radle  had  a 
family  id'  three  sons  and  several  daughters,  three 
of  whom  are  mentioned,  namely:  Daniel:  Mich- 
ael; Joseph:  Margaret,  Mrs.  Jacob  Hoch;  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Christophel  Yeager;  and  Mrs.  Mittle. 
Tins  would  indicate  that  he  was  the  Michael  Roede 
whose  will  is  given  above.  Of  the  sons.  Daniel 
and  Michael  are  mentioned  below;  Joseph  settled 
across  the  Susquehanna  river  in  Perry  county, 
owned  land  and  was  a  farmer:  he  is  buried  al 
Liverpool;    along    the    Susquehanna.      His    wife, 

whose   maiden   name  was   Weaver,  bore   I three 

children-  George,   Rebecca,  and  another  daughter. 

Daniel  Radel,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  about 
1805  in  Lykens  Valley,  Dauphin  county,  and 
owned  a  farm  of  162  acres  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship (now  owned  by  Henry  Lark)  which  formerly 


belonged  to  his  father.  He  died  m  March,  1857, 
aged  fifty-one  years,  six  months,  of  typhoid  fever. 
He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Killingers  Luth- 
eran Church.  He  was  an  enterprising  man  and 
successful  in  his  work.  His  wife.  Mary  Magda- 
lena  (Spotts),  daughter  of  Adam  Spotts.  was  born 
in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died 
in  her  eightieth  year:  she  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  Benjamin  lived  in  Pauls  Valley,  Dauphin 
county:  Lydia  married  Alexander  Schuman  ;  Polly 
(Mary  Magdalena)  died  unmarried:  Daniel  lives 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township;  John  died  unmar- 
ried; Kate  married  William  Allman:  Emanuel  S. 
is  mentioned  below;  Rebecca  married  Levi  Bohner, 
and  died  in  young  womanhood. 

Emanuel  S.  Radle  was  reared  to  farm  life  and 
followed  that  kind  of  work  until  be  enlisted,  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  for  service  in  the  Union  army. 
In  August,  1864,  he  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F,  201st  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
volunteering  for  a  year,  and  saw  active  service  in 
Virginia;  he  was  detailed  as  dispatch  carrier  for 
a  signal  corps.  After  the  war  be  located  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his 
father-in-law,  Philip  Messner,  under  the  firm 
name  id'  Messner  &  Radle,  conducting  a  general 
stoic  at  Mahantango,  in  the  extreme  southwestern 
part  of  the  township.  This  firm  existed  for  four 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Radle  com- 
menced railroading  on  the  Northern  Central  road. 
on  which  he  was  engaged  for  ten  years,  being 
watchman  on  Section  No.  25,  between  Mahantango 
and  Georgetown.  After  that  he  followed  lumber- 
ing in  the  lower  end  of  the  county  for  twelve 
years,  employing  on  an  average  six  men.  For  the 
next  lour  years  bis  operations  were  transferred 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  ran  a  mill,  having  pur- 
chased a  section  of  stray  logs.  He  sawed  fully 
four  million  feet  during  those  four  years,  and 
had  as  many  as  twenty-five  men  in  his  employ 
at  a  time  Most  id'  his  lumber  was  disposed  of 
in  Harrisburg,  Gettysburg,  Carlisle,  and  in  the 
central  part  of  the  State.  His  next  business  ven- 
ture was  as  proprietor  id'  a  drug  and  hardware 
store  at  Georgetown  (Dalmatia),  and  in  1902  he 
assumed  persona]  charge  of  the  establishment, 
Inning  had  a  clerk  there  for  fully  a  year.  This 
store  he  conducted  until  the  fall  of  1909,  when  he 
sold  out  and  retired,  lie  prospered  steadily  during 
his  active  years,  and  besides  two  dwellings  in  Dal 
matia,  win-re  he  makes  hi-  home,  he  ha-  several 
properties  in  Tower  City.  Schuylkill  county,  lb- 
has  taken  considerable  part  in  the  work  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  his  locality,  having  been 
township  committeeman  for  four  years  and  dele- 
gate to  a  number  of  county  conventions.  He 
erved  his  district  as  school  director  for  five  year-. 


262 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township. 

In  August,  1866,  Mr.  Radle  married  Sarah 
Messner,  daughter  of  Philip  ami  Mary  (Dinkey) 
Messner.  Mrs.  Radle  died  May  12,  1894,  aged 
forty-four  years,  one  month,  seven  days,  and  is 
buried  at  the  LTnion  Church  at  Dalmatia.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  (1)  A  daughter 
lived  only  twenty-four  hours.  (2 )  Philip  E.  grad- 
uated from  the  Mount  Joy  Soldiers'  Orphans 
school,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  received  a 
gold  medal  of  honor;  he  also  graduated  from  the 
Millersville  State  Normal  school  in  1898,  and 
taught  school  in  Philadelphia.  Afterward  he  took 
a  course  in  the  Dickinson  School  of  Law.  was 
graduated,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Cum- 
berland, Northumberland  and  Snyder  counties, 
Pa.  He  was  accidentally  killed  Feb.  22,  1909, 
mi  the  railroad,  near  Paradise,  in  Monroe  county. 
Pa.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Mamie  Ziegler,  he 
bad  one  daughter,  Mamie  I.  Mrs.  Mamie  Radle 
dving  nut  lung  after  her  marriage,  he  married 
(second)  Edna  Paige,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons, 
Lawrence,  Philip  Rex  and  "William  M.  (3)  Lettie 
died  aged  seven  years.  (4)  Howard  died  when 
thirteen  years  old.  (5)  Irene  graduated  from 
the  Mount  Joy  Soldiers'  Orphans  school,  and  at- 
tended the  Shippensburg  State  Normal  school. 
In  1894.  in  her  senior  year,  owing  to  her  mother's 
illness,  she  was  obliged  to  return  home  and  she 
tended  and  eared  for  her  until  her  death.  She 
was  most  successful  as  a  teacher,  having  taught 
when  she  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  She  mar- 
ried George  W.  Dilling,  and  they  reside  in  Phila- 
delphia. She  has  two  children,  Carl  Emerson, 
aged  sixteen,  and  Bissie,  aged  seven.  (6)  Julia 
graduated  from  the  Mount  Joy  Soldiers'  Orphans 
school.  She  also  attended  the  Shippensburg  State 
Normal  school,  finishing  the  course  there.  Like 
her  sister  Irene  she  was  a  most  successful  teacher. 
She  taught  the  high  school  at  Dalmatia  for  two 
years,  and  also  taught  high  school  at  TJwchland, 
Chester  Co..  Pa.,  for  a  time.  She  was  a  graduate 
from  the  Shoemaker  Elocution  College.  Philadel- 
phia, and  later  on  from  the  Dickinson  School 
of  Law  at  Carlisle.  Pa.,  being  the  first  lady  law- 
yer upon  whom  that  school  conferred  the  degree. 
She  married  Daniel  A.  Kline,  now  serving  his 
second  term  as  superintendent  of  schools  of  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  where  they  reside,  at  Xew  Bloom- 
field.  Mr.  Kline  is  a  graduate  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal school,  having  later  taken  a  course  at  La- 
fayette College,  at  Easton,  Pa.,  where  he  graduated 
with  honors.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kline  have  three 
children,  all  daughters,  namely.  Sarah  V.,  aged 
six  years,  Margaret,  four  years  and  Carolyn,  two 
years.  (7)  Daniel  W.,  who  is  unmarried  and 
resides  with  his  father  at  Dalmatia.  served  during 
the  Spanish- American  war  in  Cuba  and  the  Phil- 
ippine Islands. 


Mr.  Radle  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  of  the  Georgetown  Luth- 
eran and  Reformed  Church.  He  has  served  as 
elder  for  twenty  years,  from  1891  to  the  present 
time. 


Michael  Radel,  son  of  the  Michael  Roedel  men- 
tioned above,  was  a  resident  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  Northumberland  county,  living  ami 
farming  near  Radel's  schoolhouse.  He  owned  four 
large  farms  (one  of  them  the  place  now  belong- 
ing to  Daniel  Heckert)  and  a  half  interest  in 
Wert's  gristmill  winch  was  located  along  the 
Mahantango  creek  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
He  was  a  man  of  affairs,  and  wielded  considerable 
influence  in  his  district.  His  death  occurred 
March  25,  1864,  when  he  was  aged  fifty-six  years, 
eight  months,  three  days,  and  his  wife,"  Catharine, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Bonawitz,  subsequently 
married  for  her  second  husband  Jacob  Witmer. 
She  died  May  25,  1892,  aged  80  years,  6  months, 
6  days,  and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church, 
of  which  Mr.  Radel  was  an  active  Lutheran  mem- 
ber, bidding  various  church  offices.  The  children 
of  Michael  and  Catharine  Radel  were  as  follows: 
Solomon,  Isaac,  Henry,  John.  Elias,  Elizabeth 
(married  Elias  Byerly),  Catharine  (married  Alex- 
ander Bingaman),  Lovina  (married  Emanuel 
Klinger),  Polly  (married  Harry  Lentz).  Emma, 
Mrs.  Andrew  Riegel  and  Mary  (married  Hiram 
Hoch ) . 

Isaac  Radel.  -on  of  Michael,  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  became  a  farmer,  and  lived 
and  died  on  the  farm  of  100  acres  near  Stoni 
Valley  Church  which  he  owned.  He  also  owned 
a  tract  of  thirty-five  acres  in  Mahantango  Valley, 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  was  a  substantial. 
respected  citizen,  a  successful  farmer  and  a  useful 
member  of  his  community.  His  homestead  is 
now  owned  by  Morris  Bohner.  He  died  June  28, 
1897,  aged  sixty-four  years,  eight  months,  two 
days,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  (Lenker),  daughter 
of  George  and  Catharine  (Snyder)  Lenker  and 
granddaughter  of  Johan  Adam  Snyder,  died  Nov. 
11.  1895,  aged  sixty  years,  nine  months,  ten  days. 
They  are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church. 
Mr.  Radel  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  of  that  church,  and  held  the  offices 
of  deacon,  elder,  treasurer  and  trustee.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Radel  had  these  children :  George,  Benjamin, 
Emma  (married  Adam  Seaman),  Malinda, 
Michael,  Marietta  (married  Harry  Spotts),  Elmer 
I.,  Jeremiah  and  Frank. 

Elmer  I.  Radel.  a  farmer  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  near  Hickory  Corners,  was  born  in  that 
township  Sept.  .:.  1869.  He  worked  for  his  par- 
ents until  he  attained  his  majority,  gaining  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  farm  work,  and  afterward 
for  ten  years  engaged  in  threshing,  sawmilling 
and  coal  digging,  owning  a  coal  digging  apparatus. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


263 


He  was  engaged  in  his  own  and  other  counties, 
having  spent  about  five  years,  in  all,  in  Montour 
county.  In  1900  he  purchased  the  William  Sehaf- 
fer  homestead,  a  tract  of  131  acres  (some  of 
which  is  woodland)  near  Hickory  Corners,  upon 
which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  dairying  as  well  as  general 
farming,  having  a  fine  dairy  herd,  including  some 
registered  Holstein  cattle,  and  takes  milk  daily 
to  Dalmatia  and  Hickory  Corners.  He  has  been 
road  commissioner  of  his  township  since  1908. 

On  June  18,  1892,  Mr.  Radel  married  Lizzie 
Spotts,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Sarah  J.  (Schaffer) 
Spotts,  and  they  have  had  children  as  follows: 
Charles  (deceased),  Nevin  (deceased),  George  R. 
(deceased),  a  son  that  died  in  infancy,  Maud  H. 
Clarence  E..  Margaret  E.  and  Mabel  Pauline.  In 
politics  Mr.  Radel  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religion 
he  is  a  Lutheran,  bidding  membership  in  the 
Stone  Valley  (Zion's)  Church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  a  Reformed  member.  He  is  giving  his  second 
period  of  service  as  treasurer,  and  lias  also  been 
deacon  ami  elder.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the 
work  of  the  Sunday  school,  in  which  he  was  a 
teacher  for  about  fifteen  years. 

DANIEL  W.  KEHLER,  member  of  the  firm 
of  Kehler  Brothers,  attorneys  at  law.  and  who 
also  conduct  a  real  estate  and  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, at  Mi  mnt  Carmel.  is  a  member  of  a  family 
of  German  origin  which  has  been  long  established 
in  this  State.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Dec. 
22,  1902. 

Charles  Kehler,  grandfather  of  Daniel  W.,  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Eldred  township.  Schuylkill  Co.. 
Pa.,  where  he  died.  His  son,  Charles  Z.  Kehler, 
was  a  butcher,  and  followed  his  trade  for  some 
time.  He  located  in  Mount  Carmel  in  1882.  and 
was  here  engaged  at  day  labor  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  25,  1898.  He  is  buried  in 
the  Union  Cemetery,  in  Eldred  township,  Schuyl- 
kill count  v.  His  widow.  Sarah  (Wetzel),  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  ami  Catharine  (Hoffman)  Wetzel, 
still  makes  her  home  in  Mount  Carmel.  They 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely:  Emma 
is  the  wife  of  S.  H.  Geist.  a  merchant  of  Mount 
Carmel:  Thomas  died  when  nineteen  years  old; 
Daniel  W.  is  mentioned  below;  R.  W.  is  employed 
as  car  inspector  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  railroad; 
Charles  H.  is  a  boss  in  the  employ  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company;  Kate 
is  the  wife  of  H.  H.  Otto  and  is  living  at  Tremont, 
Pa.;  James  G.  was  graduated  from  the  Mount 
Carmel  high  school,  the  Bloomsburg  State  normal 
school  and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
is  now  practicing  law  in  partnership  with  Ins 
brother.  .  . 

Daniel  W.  Kehler  was  born  in  1868  in  Schuyl- 
kill countv.  came  to  Mount  Carmel  in  the  spring 
of   1882   with   his   parents,   and   graduated   from 


the  high  school  in  1888.  lie  then  entered  Schuyl- 
kill Seminary  (now  Albright  College),  at  Myi 
town,  Lebanon  Co..  Pa.,  and  subsequently  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  .1.  E.  Bastivss  at  Mount  Carmel. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Northumberland 
county  Dec.  22.  1902,  and  to  practice  in  the  Su- 
preme court  in  January.  1903.  In  1909  he  formed 
his  present  partnership  with  his  younger  brother, 
James  G.  Kehler.  Their  offices  are  at  No.  !-' 
North  Oak  street  and  in  addition  to  a  general 
law  business  of  growing  proportions  they  deal  in 
real  estate  and  fire  insurance.  Mr.  Daniel  W. 
Kehler  has.  in  his  several  years  of  practice,  at- 
tained considerable  reputation  and  gained  the  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow  citizens  of  Mount  Carmel, 
and  he  is  at  present  serving  them  as  borough 
solicitor.  He  has  filled  other  public  trusts,  having 
been  borough  auditor  three  years  and  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  school  board  from  the  Fourth 
ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Anthracite  Fire 
Company  and  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  same 
for  e time. 

When  a  boy,  shortly  after  the  family  removed 
to  Mount  Carmel.  Mr.  Kehler  met  with  an  unfor- 
tunate accident  while  engaged  in  picking  slate 
at  one  of  the  collieries,  losing  his  right  arm  Sept. 
12,  1882.  He  has,  however,  completely  overcome 
any  disability  on  this  account. 

Socially  Mr.  Kehler  holds  membership  in  the 
P.  0.  S.  of  A..  Washington  Camp  No.  231:  in 
the  1.  O.  0.  P.,  John  Stine  Lodge,  No.  1150; 
in  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Red 
Men.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  St.  raid's 
United  Evangelical  Church,  in  the  work  of  which 
congregation  he  takes  an  active  part,  and  he  has 
been  an  official  many  years.  In  politics  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

On  Oct.  16.  1904,  Mr.  Kehler  married  Carrie 
Ayers,  daughter  of  Alfred  Avers,  .if  Mount  Carmel, 
and  they  reside  at  No.  32  South  Maple  street. 
Mount  Carmel.  They  have  had  two  children,  a 
son  that  died  in  infancy  and  Anna  Evelyn.     " 

Alfred  Ayers,  father  of  Mrs.  Daniel  W.  Kehl- 
er, is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Mount  Carmel. 
lie  was  horn  July  25,  1841.  at  York  Tunnel. 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Ahram  and  Anna  (  Ilus- 
sell)  Avers,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  miner  in 
Schuylkill  and  Northumberland  counties,  at  one 
time  a  mine  foreman:  he  also  operated  a  mine 
on  his  own  account.  He  moved  to  Mount  Carmel 
in  1853  ami  there  resided  until  his  death,  in  L883. 
He  married  Anna  Russell,  like  himself  a  n 
of  England,  whose  father,  .lam.-  Russell,  was  a 
pioneer  miner  of  Schuylkill  county,  where  he 
and  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ahram  Avers  were 
horn  the  following  children:  Mary  A..  Mrs.  Frank 
I',  shing;  Alfred:  Caroline:  Ettie,  Mrs.  John 
Bell:  Clara,  Mrs.  John  Shaw:  and  Sarah,  Mrs 
Frank  Shoener. 

Alfred  ime   to    Mount    Carmel    with 


864 


NoirnH'.MBERLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


father  in  1853.  He  began  mine  work  on  a  breaker, 
was  afterward  employed  as  a  loader,  and  finally 
became  a  miner.  By  faithful  work  he  won  promo- 
tion to  the  position  of  fire  boss,  then  became  as- 
sistant boss,  and  in  December,  1888,  became  in- 
side foreman  at  the  Alaska  shaft. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Avers  served  nine 
months  in  Company  U.  129th  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge after  completing  his  term.  He  is  a  Be- 
publican  in  politics. 

On  Oct.  IS.  1860,  Mr.  Avers  married  Caroline 
E.  Adams,  daughter  of  .lames  Adams,  id'  Mount 
Carmel,  and  they  had  a  large  family,  ten  of  whom 
reached  maturity,  namely:  Eliza  E.  (Mrs.  Robert 
Taylor),  Matthew  II..  Bessie  (Mrs.  Charles  Ilert- 
zog),  S.  Matilda.  Carrie  (.Mrs.  1).  W.  Kehler), 
James,  Alfred.  Claude.  Howard  and   Irvin. 

RICHABD  II.  EDWARDS,  of  Trevorton,  has 
lived  practically  retired  since  1903,  though  he 
finds  his  time  occupied  to  a  great  extent  with  the 
management  of  his  real  estate  holdings.  He  i- 
an.  old  miner  and  former  hotel-keeper,  having  for 
five  years  conducted  the  "Central  Hotel."  which 
he  still  owns.  Mr.  Edwards  was  born  Sept.  '.'!>. 
1848,  in  Cornwall,  England,  son  of  Henry  Ed- 
wards, who  followed  farming  and  worked  in  the 
copper  mines  in  England.  He  came  to  America 
after  his  son  had  settled  here,  arriving  in  this 
country  May  •.'•I.  1881,  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death  made  his  home  at  Trevorton.  North- 
umberland Co..  Pa.  He  followed  farming  and 
hauling  after  settling  here.  His  death  occurred 
May  6,  1893,  and  his  wife.  Catherine  (Pengally), 
died  iii  Trevorton  March  27,  1890,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years.  They  arc  buried  in  the  Methodist 
cemetery  at  Irish  Valley.  Of  their  children, 
Richard  H.  is  mentioned  below:  John.  Margaret 
and  William  died  in  England;  Jessie  and  Annie 
M.  came  to  America  with  their  parents. 

When  twenty-two  years  old  Richard  H.  Edwards 
came  to  America,  and  for  a  short  time  was  em- 
ployed in  the  iron  works  at  Mount  Hope.  Morris 
Co..  N.  J.  Coming  to  Pennsylvania,  lie  located 
at  Ralston,  Lycoming  county,  for  a  short  time 
before  settling  at  Trevorton.  where  lie  found  em- 
ployment at  mining,  in  the  North  Franklin  col- 
liery. He  was  engaged  at  such  work  for  about 
twenty-eight  years  in  all.  Meantime  he  acquired 
the  '-Central  Hotel"  property,  and  himself  con- 
ducted the  hotel  for  five  years,  before  he  gave  up 
mining.  In  1898  he  made  vast  improvements 
in  this  property,  of  which  he  still  retains  pos- 
session, the  hotel  business  being  now  conducted 
h\  William  H.  Francis.  It  is  a  stand  well  known 
to  the  traveling  public  and  a  good  business  has 
been  done  there  for  many  years.  Mr.  Edwards 
retired  from  active  work  in  1903,  since  when  he 
has  given  his  attention  to  the  care  of  his  real  es- 


tate interests,  which  are  quite  extensive.  By  good 
management  and  thrift  he  has  gained  a  position 
among  the  substantial  men  of  his  community, 
and  has  received  recognition  as  one  of  its  trusted 
citizens,  having  been  chosen  to  serve  as  township 
treasurer.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  Meth- 
odist in  religious  connection  and  fraternallv  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  528,  I.  0.  ().  F.,  of  Trevor- 
ton. In  1907  Mr.  Edwards  made  a  trip  to  his 
native  country,  having  a  pleasant  visit  to  his  old 
home  and  friends. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Christian  Rahmer,  Mr. 
Edwards  had  no  children.  His  second  marriage 
was  to  Alma  Rahmer,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children:  Katie,  who  married  Henry 
Pengally;  George,  of  Trevorton:  Grace,  who  mar- 
ried William  Shuck:  Blanche,  who  married  Lewis 
SheafEer;  Emiah,  who  married  D.  Fuller;  and 
John.  His  third  marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Emma 
(Ossman)  Umholtz.  There  are  no  children  of 
this  union,  but  by  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Edwards 
had  a  daughter.  Eva,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  Cook  and  lives  at  Elizabethville,  Dauph- 
in Co..  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  make  their 
home  on  Shamokin  street,  in  Trevorton. 

JOHN  T.  BROWER,  late  of  the  borough  of 
lleiiiilon.  was  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential 
residents  of  that  place,  with  whose  progress  he 
had  been  identified  for  a  number  id'  years,  as  a 
business  man  being  one  of  the  leading  factors 
in  its  material  development.  He  retired  from 
;n  i  ive  business  in  1905. 

Mr.  Brower  was  born  May  18,  1845,  in  Jackson 
township.  Northumberland  county,  son  of  Nathan 
and  Caroline  (Troutman)  Brower.  Nathan 
Brower  was  born  in  Chester  county.  Pa.,  June  20, 
1817,  and  when  fourteen  years  old  moved  to 
Cniontown,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  made  his 
home  with  Isaac  Matthias  until  lie  reached  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  He  learned  the  milling  trade, 
and  after  following  it  several  years  at  Onion- 
town  went  to  Dornsife,  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  line  for  a  period 
of  eleven  years,  doing  a  prosperous  business. 
Later  he  became  a  farmer,  acquiring  a  115-acre 
trad  in  Jackson  township,  which  he  continued 
to  cultivate  until  a  few  years  before  his  death. 
He  died  dune  4.  1895,  and  is  buried  at  Union- 
town.  Mr.  Brower  was  prominent  in  his  section 
in  both  business  circles  and  church  life,  being 
active  in  the  work  of  the  United  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, which  he  supported  with  a  liberal  hand. 
He  married  Caroline  Troutman.  who  was  born 
Sept.  28,  1821,  daughter  of  Jacob  Troutman,  and 
died  Fell.  '.'4.  1901.  They  were  the  parents  of 
live  children,  namely:  Mary  married  Benjamin 
Clement  (who  is  now  deceased)  and  they  lived 
in  Jackson  township;  John  T.  is  mentioned  be- 
low: Sarah  married  Samuel  Rumberger  and  thev 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


365 


live  at  EKzabethville ;  Elizabeth  married  Henry 
Lautenslayer ;  Daniel  is  mentioned  below. 

John  T.  Brower  was  reared  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, being  trained  to  farm  work  from  early  boy- 
hood. On  March  29,  1865,  he  enlisted,  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  in  Company  ('.  74th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years'  serv- 
ice but  the  war  closing  he  was  mustered  out  Aug. 

29,    ISC").      U] his    return    to    civil    life    Mr. 

Brower  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Bull  Run, 
in  Jackson  township,  where  he  continued  for  one 
war,  coming  thence  to  Ilerndon,  where  he  was 
in  active  business  for  thirty  years,  having  a  suc- 
cessful career  until  his  retirement,  in  1905,  when 
Ins  son  John  succeeded  to  the  business,  which 
he  still  conducts.  Mr.  Brower  carried  a  compre- 
hensive line  of  general  merchandise,  and  his  pat- 
ronage Was  large,  being  drawn  from  the  surround- 
ing territory  for  miles  around.  He  took  a  public- 
spirited  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  place,  and 
helped  to  establish  several  industries  at  Ilerndon, 
built  a  number  of  dwellings  and  business  houses 
in  the  town,  and  m  various  ways  contributed  to 
its  upbuilding  in  the  host  sense,  lie  was  instru- 
mental in  the  organization  of  the  borough,  which 
he  advocated  warmly  as  important  to  the  best 
interest-  of  the  town.  He  was  a  Republican  on 
political  questions. 

Mr.  Brower's  first  wife,  Sarah  (Latsha),  died 
in  1886,  the  mother  of  two  children:  Mary,  who 
married  Lincoln  Otto,  postmaster  at  Ilerndon; 
and  John,  who  has  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Ilerndon.  On  April  9, 
Ins!),  Mr.  Brower  married  (second)  Emma  ( Hen- 
syl)  Hoke,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Magdalena 
(First)  llensyl  ami  widow  of  George  Hoke.  By 
her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son.  George  E., 
who  is  located  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  attorney  for 
the  Northern   Pacific  Railroad  Company. 

Mr.  Brewer  died  May  21,  1910. 

Daniel  Brower,  brother  of  John  T.  Brower. 
was  horn  Aug.  25,  1856,  and  during  his  boyhood 
attended  the  schools  of  the  home  locality.  Mean- 
time he  began  his  practical  training  for  farm 
work,  continuing  with  his  father  until  twelve 
years  after  his  marriage,  and  in  1888  he  began 
farming  his  present  property,  a  tract  of  KIT  acres 
in  Jackson  township,  two  miles  east  of  Ilerndon. 
This  was  an  old  Peifer  homestead.  Mr.  Brower 
remodeled  the  house  and  the  barn,  and  has  made 
other  improvements  to  bring  his  place  up  to  mod- 
ern requirements,  keeping  the  farm  in  creditable 
condition,  He  makes  a  specialty  of  dairying,  run- 
ning a  daily  milk  route  to  Herndon.  Since  1908 
he  has  been  a  school  director  of  his  district. 

On  Dec  31,  1876,  Mr.  Brower  married  Amanda 
Swab,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Nellie  (Cooper)  Swab, 
of  Washington  township.  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and 
granddaughter  of  Jacob  Swab  and  of  Jacob 
Cooper,  of  Washington  township,  that  county.    Mr. 


and  Mrs.  Brower  have  had  children  as  follows: 
A.  Alice,  who  is  unmarried:  Sallie.  wife  of  Daniel 
Willard,  of  Jackson  township,  who  has  children 
Olive  and  Earnesl  P.;  Nellie;  Mabel,  who  mar- 
ried Charles  Kobe!  and  has  a  son.  Daniel  E;  and 
Katie.  Mr.  Brower  and  his  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  Church.    He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

WILLIAM  P.  O'CONNOR,  former  member  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  from  Northumber- 
land county,  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin,  where  he 
is  proprietor  of  the  ••Shamokin  House,"  located 
at  Xo.  613  North  Shamokin  street.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  id'  the  Democratic  party,  having 
served  as  committeeman  from  his  district  a  Dum- 
ber of  years.  Mr.  O'Connor  is  a  native  of  the 
borough  of  Shamokin,  born  Mav  4,  1870,  son  of 
Michael  O'Connor. 

Michael  O'Connor  was  horn  in  Ireland  and 
brought  his  family  from  that  country  to  America 
in  1868,  landing  at  New  York  City.  After  a 
brief  residence  in  Xew  Jersey,  engaged  at  his 
trade,  that  of  potter,  he  came  to  Shamokin  (in 
1868)  and  here  found  work  at  mining,  follow- 
ing that  occupation  the  rest  of  his  active  years. 
He  lived  retired  for  a  number  of  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  16,  1894.  He 
married  Catherine  Costello,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
whose  people  settled  at  Fall  River,  Mass..  and 
she  died  Oct.  17.  1889.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Connor 
are  buried  at  Shamokin.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  them:  Michael,  who  lives  in  Shamokin: 
Charles,  of  Trevorton,  Pa. ;  Thomas,  of  Shamokin  : 
Patrick',  of  Shamokin:  James,  of  Shamokin:  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Thomas  Lamey,  of  Shamokin;  Wil- 
liam Francis,  who  died  young:  William  P.:  and 
F.  Henry,  who  died  July  20,  L873,  and  who  was 
the  second  person  and  lirst  male  child  buried  in 
the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Shamokin. 

William  P.  O'Connor  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Shamokin.  In  1897  he  was 
appointed  a  letter  carrier  in  Shamokin  and  was 
thus  engaged  for  abouf  ten  years,  until  lie  tool 
his  seat  in  the1  Legislature,  to  which  he  was  elected 
Nov.  10,  1906.  His  services  began  Jan.  1.  I907j 
and  during  his  term  he  performed  cue  service 
for  the  community  which  has  given  him  a  perma- 
nent place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens: 
It  was  through  hi-  efforts  that  the  State  hospital 
for  injured  persons  at  Shamokin.  which  cares  for 
the  injured  from  the  Shamokin,  Mount  Carmel 
and  Trevorton  coal  fields,  was  established,  and  he 
was  highly  complimented  lor  his  labors  in  behalf 
id'  this  institution,  which  has  proved  such  a  bli 
ing  to  the  localil  v.  Mr.  <  »'t  lonnor  is  at  present 
.•I  candidate  for  reelection  to  the  Legislature.  On 
Aug.  I.  1907,  he  became  proprietor  of  the  hotel 
known  a-  (lie  "Shamokin  House,"  at  No.  613 
North  Shamokin  street,  and  he  i-  making  a  mi. 
of   the   business,   his  genial    personality   ami 


266  -      NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

good  management  gaining  and  retaining  a  luera-  Northumberland  county  from  182-1  to  1827.  He 
tive  patronage.  Fraternally  he  is  well  known  as  married  Elizabeth  Schwartz,  daughter  of  Philip 
a  member  of  the  Owls,  the  A.  O:  H.  and  the  F.  Michael  and  Margaret  (Slosser)  Schwartz,  the 
0.  E.,  and  he  was  a  charter  member  of  the  West  former  of  whom  came  to  America  from  Wurtem- 
End  Fire  Company  and  is  a  member  of  the  Yet-  berg  in  Colonial  days  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
eran  Firemen's  Association,  in  the  work  of  which  the  Revolutionary  war;  he  was  at  Valley  Forge, 
he  takes  an  active  part.  He  belongs  to  St.  Ed-  was  taken  prisoner  while  in  the  service  and  was 
ward's  Catholic  Church.  eventually  exchanged.  In  1798  Mr.  Schwartz 
In  1891  Mr.  O'Connor  married  Ella  Cotter,  came  to  Sunliury  and  took  up  600  acres  of  land 
daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Catherine  Cotter,  and  at  Beaver  Meadows,  where  he  remained  the  rest 
they  have  a  family  of  four  children:  Chester,  0f  his  active  life.  He  was  the  father  of  Hon. 
William,  Cornelius  and  Sarah.  John  Schwartz,  who  represented  the  Seventh  Con- 
Mr.  O'Connor  is  a  "double"  of  Frank  McClain,  gyessional  district  of  Pennsylyania  in  Congress. 
present  mayor  of  Lancaster.  Pa.,  who  was  formerly  He  died  at  Sunbury  and  is  buried  in  the  old 
speaker  of  the  State  House  of  Representatives.  cemetery  then'.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haas  had  a  family 

of  ten  children:  Dr.  William  died  at  Mount  Car- 
FREDERICK  HAAS,  whose  connection  with  niel :  Elizabeth  died  young:  Margaret  married 
the  business  and  public  life  of  Sunliury  has  been  Edw.  C.  Hannah:  Frederick  died  in  Shamokin: 
important  ami  long  continued,  is  the  owner  of  Jacob  W.  is  mentioned  below:  Catharine  died  un- 
a  thriving  industrial  establishment  at  that  place  married;  Francis  died  young;  dames  H.  was  a 
and  one  of  its  most  prosperous  business  men.  member  of  Company  K,  46th  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
He  was  for  two  terms — 1895-1900 — register  and  teer  Infantry,  during  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
recorder  and  clerk  of  the  Orphans' court,  to  which  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain;  Charles 
responsibility  he  was  elected  although  a  Repub-  was  a  conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
lican  in  what  was  then  a  Democratic  stronghold,  and  was  killed;  John  P.  M..  who  served  in  the 
Mr.  Haas  has  been  identified  with  many  local  Civil  war,  died  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
organizations,  business,  social,  political,  etc.,  and  Jacob  W.  Haas,  father  of  Frederick  Haas,  was 
is  a  citizen  of  the  most  reliable  character,  one  born  June  2."),  1833,  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co., 
whose  work  for  the  community  is  the  best  guar-  Pa.,  and  there  passed  his  early  life.  He  was  en- 
antv  of  what  he  mav  lie  counted  upon  to  perform,  gaged  as  a  clerk  and  bookkeeper  until  his  en- 
Mr.  Haas  was  born  May  3.  1858,  in  Pottsville.  Iistment  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  Sept.  1.  1861, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  but  his  family  has  been  identi-  at  Pottsville.  where  he  became  a  member  of  Com- 
bed with  Northumberland  county  for  several  gen-  pany  G,  96th  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Volunteer-. 
erations.  The  first  of  the  family  in  America,  with  which  command  be  served  throughout  the 
Frederick  Haas,  came  to  this  country  from  Ger-  war.  He  attained  the  rank  of  captain.  He  took 
many  in  17.">7.  and  located  for  a  time  in  Berks  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
county,  Pa.,  later  settling  in  Northumberland  from  1861  to  1863.  After  the  war  Mr.  Haas 
county,  at  Sunbury.  where  he  remained  until  his  spent  two  years  in  the  oil  fields  of  western  Penn- 
death.  His  son  Frederick,  wdio  conducted  a  gen-  sylvania.  In  1867  he  went  to  Shamokin,  and 
eral  store  and  had  various  other  business  inter-  was  connected  with  various  collieries  in  that 
ests  in  Sunbury,  married  a  Miss  Martz.  and  they  vicinity  for  thirty-five  years,  being  clerk  and  fore- 
had  two  sons.  Frederick  and  John,  the  former  man.  In  1880  he  made  a  tour  of  the  Southern 
being  the  grandfather  of  the  present  Frederick  States  prospecting  for  the  Roanoke  Iron  Company. 
Haas  of  Sunbury.  During  his  son's  terms  as  recorder  he  served  as 
Frederick  Haas,  grandson  of  the  emigrant  and  deputy  recorder.  In  1901  Mr.  Haas  gave  up 
grandfather  of  Frederick  Haas,  was  born  in  Sun-  active  work  and  has  since  lived  retired  at  Sha- 
bury  in  1800.  He  carried  on  a  tanyard,  was  en-  mokin.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
gaged  in  merchandising,  and  ran  a  line  of  boats,  taken  little  interest  in  active  public  life.  He 
being  one  of  the  busiest  men  of  his  day,  energetic  married  Eliza  E.  Jones,  daughter  of  John  J.  and 
and  thrifty  in  everything  he  undertook.  Going  to  Mary  (Jenkins)  Jones,  and  they  have  had  four 
Pottsville.  Schuylkill  county,  he  engaged  in  the  children:  Mary,  who  married  E.  L.  Burkert.  of 
coal  business  as  an  operator,  and  after  four  years  Philadelphia;  Frederick;  John,  of  Brooklyn:  and 
at  that  place  moved  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  same  James  Franklin,  of  Shamokin,  who  is  the  Asso- 
county,  where  he  carried  on  the  hotel  business,  ciated  Press  correspondent  at  that  point, 
in  which  he  was  also  interested  at  Pottsville.  In  Frederick  Haas  was  nine  years  old  wdien  his 
1850  he  located  in  Shamokin  and  for  seven  years  parents  settled  in  Shamokin.  He  had  commenced 
was  in  the  hotel  business  there.  He  died  in  1859,  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
and  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin  cemetery.  Mr.  place,  and  he  took  the  course  in  the  high  school 
Haas  was  an  old-line  Whig  and  prominent  in  at  Shamokin,  after  which,  in  1878,  he  entered 
local   politics   in   his   day.     He  was   treasurer   of  the    United    States    Military    Academy    at    West 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


W, 


Point,  N.  Y.,  intending  to  qualify  for  the  army. 
However,  after  taking  part  of  the  course  he  was 
obliged   to   resign   on   account  of   ill  health,  and 
he  returned  home.     For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Haas 
was  engaged  as  clerk  at  the  Luke  Fidler  colliery, 
at  Shamokin,  and  in  the  recorders  office  at  Sun- 
bury,  so  that  when  ho  was  himself  elected  recorder 
he  was  well   prepared    to   enter  upon  the  duties 
of  the  position.     In  1894  he  was  the  Republican 
candidate  for  the  office  of  register,  recorder  and 
clerk  of  the  Orphans'  court,  and  though  the  coun- 
ty was  strongly  Democratic  at  the  time  he  was 
successful,  assuming  the  office  Jan.  1,  1895.     In 
1897  he  was  re-elected,  and  completed  his  second 
term,  serving  to  the  close  of  1900.     He  has  long 
been  an  influential  member  of  his  party,  and  in 
1900,    during   the   MeKinley   campaign,    he  was 
county    chairman.       He   has   proved   an   efficient 
worker  in  every  capacity. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  his  second  term  as  re- 
corder Mr.  Hans  engaged  in  business,  purchasing 
the  Sunbury  Coffin  &  Casket  Company,  which  was 
organized  in  1871  with  members  of  the  Clement 
family  as  principal  owners.  Under  Mr.  Haass 
management  the  business  has  shown  a  gratifying 
increase.  The  greater  part  of  the  trade  is  found 
within  a  hundred  miles  of  Sunbury,  but  it  is 
growing  constantly,  and  Mr.  Haas  has  made  a 
number  of  improvements  in  the  equipment  of  the 
establishment  and  the  handling  of  the  business 
which  promise'  to  bring  about  good  results. 

Mr  Haas  is  a  member  of  Mount  Tabor  Lodge, 
No.  125,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  of  Sunbury  Lodge.No. 
'■>■;.  V.  .V  A.  M.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Rescue  Hose  Company  of  Shamokin.  In  1877 
he  became  a  member  of  Company  B,  1th  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  National  Guard,  in  1880  became 
lieutenant,   and   four  years  later   resigned. 

In  1892  Mr.  Haas  married  Nellie  Murray,  ot 
Shamokin.  and  they  have  had  two  children:  Frank 
M.  and  Frederick.  Jr. 


FRANK  W.  SHIPE,  secretary  of  the  Herndon 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Herndon.  Northum- 
berland count  v.  is  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  ot 
his  section,  and  has  been  prominent  in  official  as 
well  as  business  circles,  serving  the  community 
efficiently  in  various  positions  of  trust  and  proving 
his  ability  in  his  various  undertakings.  He  is  a 
native  of'  Jackson  township,  born  July  -o.  18ei, 
son  of  Abraham  and  Lydia  (Rebuck)  Shipe,  and 
conies  of  a  family  which  has  been  settled  n  this 
county  for  several  generations,  since  the  time  ot 
his  grandfather,  Jacob  Shipe.  'Ibis  name  is  va- 
rio^ufly   spelled,    Shive,    Scheib   ami    Sheib   being 

common  forms.  in  Dovles- 

Jacob  Ship  was  born     an    2  ^™3* 

S'coun?  S&SfrS*  after  his  marru, 
a  farm  near  Seven  Points,  m  what  was  then  ! 


Augusta  township.     He  purchased  210  acres,  and 
there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there 
Jan.  27,  1845.    He  followed  fanning  and  was  suc- 
cessful.    His  wife  Barbara  (Fluck),  born   March 
27.  1777,  died  Oct.  29,  1857,  and  they  are  buried 
at  the  Stone  church,  Augustaville,  both  having  been 
active  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation  ot 
that  Church.    Their  children  were  as  follows  :     (1) 
John  F.  (Shive),  who  obtained  the  homestead  after 
his  father's  death,  died  Jan.  30,  1890,  aged  eighty- 
eight  years,  one  month,  seventeen  days.     His  wile. 
Rachel  Gehringer,  died  March  8,  1885,  aged  sev- 
enty-nine years,  eleven  months,  twenty-one  days. 
They  had  a  large  family,  among  their  sons  being 
Levi,  Henry  George  and  William.       (2)  Henry  is 
mentioned  below.     (3)  David  was  a  farmer  in  Up- 
per Augusta  township,  and  died  Oct.  30, 1881,  aged 
seventy  years,  twenty-five  days.     His  wife   Mar- 
garet, who  died  June  28,  1890,  aged  seventy-seven 
years,  four  months,  sixteen  days,  was  the  mother 
of  Enos,  Hettie,  Sarah,  Mrs.  Emanuel  Kulp,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Barhart  and  Hannah.     (4)   George  passed 
most  of  his  life  at  Shamokin.  and  followed  mer- 
chandising.   His  wife  was  a  Hoover,  and  they  bad 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  William.  George, 
Albert,  Catharine,  Barbara  and  Alice.    (5)  Samuel 
was  a  farmer  in  Lower  Augusta  township.      His 
wife,  Lovina  Fryling,  born   Aug.  29,   1811.   .lied 
March  15.  1877.    They  had  children:    John,  Reu- 
ben (born  .March  25.  ISIS,  died  Jan.  1.  1ST2,  being 
killed  while  "shooting  oil'"  an   anvil  loaded   with 
powder),  Isaac  F.,  Henry,  Washington,  and  Louisa 
C.    (deceased ).      (»i)    Catharine   married    Daniel 
Long,  and  they  bad   one  son    (Samuel  I    and   six 
daughters.     They  were  farming  people  in   Lower 
Augusta  township.     (7)   Abraham  was  the  father 
of  Frank  W.  Shipe. 

Abraham  Shipe.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Dec.  1  I. 
1S22.  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  Hade  m 
his  youth,  and  followed  il  all  his  life,  both  as  a 
journeyman  and  as  an  employer,  having  work  for 
a  number  of  men  and  teaching  the  trade  to  many. 
He  erected  a  number  of  substantial  buildings  in 
Sunbury.  lie  lived  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  lor  seven 
vcars.  and  thence  in  1868  came  to  Sunbury,  wl 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  hi-  days,  dying  Aug. 
I  i.  is;  i.  in  bis  fifty-second  year.  Mr.  Shipe  was 
an  intelligent  man.  showing  line  mechanical  abil- 
ity in  bis  work  and  proving  a  valuable  fai  tor  in 
the  various  circles  m  which  he  moved.  He  -end 
six  years  as  assessor  of  Jackson  township,  and  was 
au  0fgeer  of  the  Refon I  Church  in  which  be  held 

membership. 

In  1840  Mr.  Shipe  married  (first)  Esther  II. n- 
ninaer  who  died  Nov.  2.  L846,  aged  twenty-three 
vcars  eleven  months,  eighi  days,  the  mother  oi 
three  children:  Peter,  who  died  al  Reading,  Pa.; 
Susan  widow  of  Frank  Stoute,  who  .lied  at  Minne- 


268 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


apolis,  Kans.,  where  she  still  resides:  and  Bar- 
bara, who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Snipe's  second 
marriage  was  to  Lydia  Rebuek,  who  died  Nov.  10, 
1905,  in  her  eighty-sixth  year.  She  is  buried  at 
Mahanoy  church,  and  Mr.  Shipe  is  buried  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  They  had  four  children :  Ab- 
bie  Ann  and  Lucy  .lane,  twins,  the  former  of  whom 
is  the  widow  of  H.  Z.  Drumheller  (  Lucy  Jane  died 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years)  :  Prank  W. :  and  Mar- 
tin E.,  a  carpenter,  now  residing  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama. 

Frank  W.  Shipe  received  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  Lock  Haven,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  two  years.  In  18T3  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  who  operated 
a  large  planing-mill,  remaining  with  him  for  nine 
years,  after  which  he  took  charge  of  an  organ  fac- 
tory at  Sunbury.  He  was  thus  engaged  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  taking  charge  of 
'William  Whinner  ,\  Son-'  planing-mill.  at  Sun- 
bury,  where  he  was  engaged  for  seven  years.  Sev- 
en! v  people  were  employed  there.  In  1891  Mr. 
Shipe  came  to  Herndon,  where  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  John  D.  Bogar  and  George  W.  Rhoads 
in  the  organization  of  the  Herndon  Manufacturing 
Company,  of  which  he  has  been  secretary  and  man- 
ager ever  since.  They  manufacture  fine  mill  work 
and  interior  finishings  of  all  kinds,  especially  the 
high  class  work  required  in  the  completion  of 
houses,  and  have  been  successful  from  the  start. 
When  they  commenced  business  six  men  were  suffi- 
cient to  turn  out  the  work  in  hand.  Now  employ- 
ment is  given  to  eighty  men.  and  the  trade  extends 
all  over  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  State-.  The 
business  has  been  built  up  by  progressive  methods 
and  the  ability  to  hold  customers  by  giving  the 
satisfaction  anil  service  they  desire,  by  anticipating 
their  wants  and  enterprise  in  introducing  new  and 
improved  products,  all  of  which  appeal  to  up-to- 
date  business  people. 

Mr.  Shipe  has  been  an  excellent  citizen,  and  in 
spite  of  his  busy  lite  has  found  time  to  serve  the 
i  ommunity.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  Jackson  township  for  six  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  secretary  of  the  board  four  years  and 
president  one  year.  Since  1906  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Herndon  council,  and  he  was  the  second 
chief  burgess  of  that  town.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 

On  July  3,  ISM.  Mr.  Shipe  married  Margaret 
Mart/.,  daughter  of  William  K.  and  Susan 
(  Bowen)  Martz,  of  Sunbury.  and  to  them  were 
horn  two  children:  Laura  married  A.  W.  Smith. 
of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  has  one  daughter.  Ethel 
Wynn;  Elizabeth  M.  married  Charles  Eby,  of 
Herndon,  and  has  four  children.  Edgar.  Gertrude. 
Esther  and  Margaret.  Mrs.  Shipe  died  Sept.  10, 
1883,  aged  thirty-nine  years.     Mr.  Shipe's  second 


marriage  was  to  Lydia  L.  Drumheller,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  S.  and  Abigail  (Kembel)  Drumheller, 
of  Jackson  township,  prominent  residents  of  that 
district,  who  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  As- 
sociation and  are  buried  at  Zartman's  church.  By 
this  marriage  there  are  also  two  children :  Robert 
W.,  of  Herndon,  his  father's  assistant  at  the  Hern- 
don Manufacturing  Company,  married  Nellie 
Trautman;  Raul  E.  graduated  from  the  Herndon 
high  school  in  1908,  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Mr. 
Shipe  and  his  family  worship  at  the  Reformed 
Church. 


Henry  Shipe,  son  of  Jacob,  above,  was  an  exten- 
sive farmer  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he 
was  a  large  landowner,  among  other  holdings,  own- 
ing the  farm  now  in  the  possession  of  John 
Drumm.  He  had  a  farm  for  each  of  his  eight  chil- 
dren. He  died  May  88,  1887,  aged  eighty-three 
years,  three  months,  eight  days,  and  is  buried  at 
Hollowing  Run  Lutheran  and  Reformed  church. 
11  is  wife,  Hannah,  was  a  Reeser.  She  died  Aug. 
24,  1880,  aged  seventy-six  years,  four  months,  five 
davs.  They  had  children:  Catharine  married 
Daniel  Shipe:  Mary  married  John  Gehringer; 
Hannah  married  Frank  K  el  ley:  licit ie  married 
Jacob  Long:  Solomon  R.,  who  lived  at  Sunbury, 
died  Jan.  24,  1885,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  twenty- 
six  days  (his  wife  Mary  died  Jan.  27,  1901,  aged 
sixty-six  years,  seven  months,  twenty-two  days); 
David  1!..  who  lived  at  Shamokin  Hill,  died  Dec. 
3,  1S87,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  three  month-. 
twenty-five  davs  (his  wife  Maria  died  March  20, 
L900,  aged  seventy-three  years,  three  months. 
fourteen  days  and  they  are  buried  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant M.  F.  church,  in  Upper  Augusta  township)  ; 
Anion  lived  at  Shamokin  Dam:  there  was  another 
son. 

Daniel  Shipe  (son  of  Samuel)  and  his  wife 
Catharine  (daughter  of  Henry)  lived  on  the  farm 
now  the  property  of  Landis  Shipe.  and  were  farm- 
ing pi'opie.  They  are  buried  at  the  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  church  in  Hollowing  Run.  Mr.  Shipe 
died  Dec.  lo.  1902,  aged  seventy^one  years,  two 
months,  seven  davs.  and  his  wife  died  Jan.  20, 
1905,  aged  seventy-one  year-,  seven  months,  thir- 
teen days.  They  had  these  children:  Samuel, 
Nelson,  Sneary(?),  William.  Landis  (died  aged 
four  years),  Alice  (married  Oliver  Shaffer)  and 
Rose. 

Landis  Shaffer  Shipe.  son  of  Oliver  and  Alice 
(Slope  i  Shaffer,  has  formally  adopted  the  name 
Shipe.  He  wa-  horn  July  0,  1878.  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  after  his  mother's  death  obtained  the 
farm  which  belonged  to  her,  a  tract  then  consist- 
ing of  130  acres.  Mr.  Shipe  has  sold  forty-seven 
acres,  retaining  the  other  eighty-three  acres,  where 
he  carries  on  general  farming.  He  attends  the 
Sunbury  markets,  his  farm  being  located  four  miles 
south  of  Sunbury.  and  does  a  thriving  business,  be- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


269 


ing  an  energetic  young  man  and  an  excellent  man- 
ager. Mr.  Shipe  married  Maud  Hetriek.  daughter 
of  John  and  Catharine  (Thomas)  Hetriek,  of 
Lower  Augusta  township,  and  they  have  had  four 
children,  Daisy,  George,  Mary  and  Harry,  all  born 
in  the  month  of  July,  two  years  apart.  Mr.  Shipe 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  with  which 
bis  family  is  identified. 

Samuel  Shipe  was  a  resident  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  living  on  the  tract  now  belonging  to  the 
estate  of  Peter  Lenker.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  His  children  were:  Maria  married  David 
R.  Shipe;  Sallie  married  Daniel  Martz;  Elizabeth 
married  Joseph  Xeidig  and  (second)  Joseph  Gass; 
Samuel  lived  and  died  in  Washington  township;  a 
daughter  died  after  she  had  grown  up  and  left 
these  parts;  Daniel  married  Catharine  Shipe, 
daughter  of  Henry. 

ELIAS  R.  REITZ,  of  Mount  Carmel,  and 
formerly  a  well  known  resident  of  Washington 
township,  this  county,  is  a  member  of  a  family  well 
represented  in  Northumberland,  particularly  in 
Washington,  Little  Mahanoy  and  Lower  Augusta 
townships,  in  which  section  it  was  founded  in  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  by  one  George 
Reitz,  who  settled  in  Washington  township  among 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  that  region. 

George  Reitz  settled  in  Washington  township 
among  its  first  residents  and  was  a  large  landowner 
there,  his  original  tract  including  the  land  now  em- 
braced in  the  farms  of  Luther  Rebuck,  William 
Rebuck,  Harvey  Rothermel,  Charles  B.  Hetrich  ami 
A.  C.  Adams.  He  is  buried  in  an  unmarked  grave 
near  a  fence,  in  the  orchard  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  C.  B.  Hetrich.  Among  his  children  were  sons 
Andraes  (Andrew)  and  'Michael. 

Michael  Reitz,  son  of  George,  born  in  January, 
1757,  died  Dec.  IT.  1825.  He  lived  near  what  is 
now  Rebuck,  in  Washington  (then  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy)   township,  and  there  bis  death  occurred; 

be  is  buried  at  Hi lei's  church,  in  that  township, 

having  been  a  Lutheran  member  of  that  church. 
When  the  church  was  erected  in  1818  there  were  a 
Michael  and  a  Peter  Reitz  among  the  members  of 
the  building  committee.  A  Michael  Reitz  is  on  the 
communion  list  of  June  30,  1776,  of  that  church. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Schnope,  who  died  Dec.  18, 
1853,  aged  eighty-seven  years,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children  :  Michael :  Peter, 
who  settled  near  Richfield,  in  Juniata  county.  Pa. ; 
William,  who  settled  in  Jefferson  county.  Pa.: 
Daniel,  who  lived  on  the  old  homestead,  as  did 
Jonathan;  Henry,  who  lived  in  Washington  town- 
ship; George,  who  settled  in  Jefferson  county; 
John,  who  settled  in  Jefferson  county:  and  two 
daughters.     All  lived  to  old  age. 

Daniel  Reitz.  son  of  Michael.  Jr..  was  born  Aug. 
11.  1804.  near  Rebuck,  and  came  into  possi 
the   old   homestead,   which   comprised   about   four 


hundred  acres,  lie  followed  farming  there  to  the 
end  of  his  active  lite,  and  died  upon  his  farm  Jan. 
9,  1886.  His  wife.  Susanna  Burrell,  born  June 
26,  1810,  died  Jan.  12,  1881.  They  had  a  large 
family,  viz.:  Maria  married  Elias  Rebuck;  Jona- 
than B.  died  in  Missouri;  Samuel  B.  is  mentioned 
below:  Katie  married  (first)  Godfried  Rebuck  and 
(second)  Andrew  Rebuck  (brothers):  John  B. 
is  living  in  Nebraska;  Salome  married  Milton 
Drumheller;  Elizabeth  married  Jare'd  Snyder: 
Michael  B.  lives  in  Washington  township,  this 
county;  Leonard  B.  lives  in  Nebraska;  Daniel  I'.. 
lives  in  Mifflintown,  Juniata  county,  and  is  al 
present  (1910)  sheriff  of  that  county. 

Samuel  B.  Reitz,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in 
1832  on  a  part  of  the  old  Reitz  homestead.  In  his 
early  life  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade  and  followed 
it  for  some  time,  but  he  eventually  settled  down  to 
farming,  owning  part  id'  the  old  homestead.  He 
died  June  29,  1906.  lie  married  Eliza  Reitz, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Annie  Wagner,  and  to 
them  were  born  nine  children:  Nathan  died 
young;  John  R.  is  a  resident  of  Nebraska;  Elias 
R.  is  mentioned  below:  Henry  M.  is  a  resilient  of 
Sunbury,  this  county:  Mary  A.  married  William 
Rebuck;  Andrew  D.  is  living  in  Jefferson  county. 
Pa.;  Susan  married  George  A.  Foltz,  of  Sunbury; 
George  W.  is  living  at  the  homestead:  Hannah  A.. 
who  is  unmarried,  lives  in  Shamokin,  this  county. 

Elias  1!.  Reitz,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Jan.  19, 
1858,  at  the  old  Reitz  homestead.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  locality  and  taught 
school  for  five  terms  in  Washington  township.  Un- 
til he  was  twenty  he  was  engaged  at  farm  work, 
to  which  he  had  been  reared,  and  for  eleven  years 
was  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Rebuck,  in  Wash- 
ington township,  where  he  became  rerj  well  known. 
serving  eleven  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
three  years  as  jury  commissioner  during  In-  resi- 
dence there.  In  1905  be  came  to  Mount  Carmel. 
where  he  has  since  resided,  lie  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  produce  business  in  partnership  with 
John  L  Reitz,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  1,'.  & 
J.  L.  Reitz,  and  after  withdrawing  from  this  asso- 
ciation engaged  in  mercantile  business  on  hi-  own 
account  for  a  shorl  time.  His  home  is  al  No.  23  I 
West  Third  street,  anil  he  has  represented  his 
ward,  the  Fourth,  on  the  school  board,  although 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  the  ward  is  normally  a  strong 
Republican  district.  In  public  or  private  life  his 
record  is  a  creditable  one.  for  he  has  won  re 
nition  as  a  useful  citizen  in  every  community  with 

in.  Dec  27,  1885,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Lydia  E. 
(Genres)    Kehres,   daughter   of    Nathan    E.    and 
rine  t  Boffman  i  G  Kehres,  and  I 

e  children,  as  follows:     Bertha   M 
died  w  hen  eig  I  Mabel  G.  is  a  gradu- 

the  Keystone  State  normal  school,  at  Kutz- 
town;  Charles  II.  is  attending  the  Mount  Carmel 


870 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


high  school,  being  a  member  of  the  class  of  1911. 
Mr.  Reitz  is  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection, 
his  wife  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  So- 
cially he  holds  membership  in  the  Elks,  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  Red  Men. 

BENNEYILLE  M.  BUBB,  of  Dalmatia,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  justices  in  Northumberland  county, 
his  services  as  such  having  extended  over  a  period 
of  more  than  forty  years — from  1869  to  the  pres- 
ent. There  are  few  men  in  his  locality  better 
known,  and  none  commands  more  respect  than 
this  venerable  citizen,  who  holds  a  most  honored 
place  in  the  esteem  of  all  his  fellow  men.  He  was 
born  Nov.  21,  1833,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
son  of  Philip  Bubb,  and  comes  of  an  old  settled 
family  of  the  region,  where  his  grandfather,  Johan 
Philip,  lived  and  died. 

Johan  Philip  Bubb.  born  Sept.  28,  1789,  owned 
a  tract  of  land  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He  died  Dec.  10,  185-4,  and 
was  buried  at  Zion's  church.  His  two  wives,  Mag- 
dalena  and  Hannah  Kerstetter,  respectively,  were 
sisters,  and  his  children,  the  two  first  named  born 
to  the  first  union,  were  as  follows :  Philip,  Lydia 
(married  Joseph  Fenstermacher),  Polly  (married 
John  Patrick),  Sally  (married  Josiah  Wert), 
Catharine  (married  Jacob  Michael),  Susan  (mar- 
ried Augustus  Badman,  late  of  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. Pa.)  and  Isaac  (who  was  a  farmer  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township).  Philip  Bubb  had  a  brother 
Michael  and  sisters  Elizabeth  (  Mrs.  John  Lenker), 
Mrs.  Paul  Lahr,  Mrs.  Michael  Wert  and  Mrs. 
Witmer. 

Philip  Bubb,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  Mahanoy 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  became  a 
well  known  resident  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
where  he  owned  a  tract  of  land.  He  followed  shoe- 
making  until  his  retirement,  and  died  at  a  ripe  old 
age.  His  wife,  Magdalena  (Michael),  was  born 
Jan.  3.  1810,  daughter  of  Wilhelm  Michael,  and 
died  Jan.  16,  1895.  Philip  Bubb  and  his  wife  are 
buried  at  Dalmatia.  He  was  a  Lutheran,  she  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  They  had  ten 
children,  five  of  whom  died  young,  the  others  be- 
ing: Benneville  M. ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Peter 
Sechrist :  Sarah,  who  married  George  Shull;  Isaac, 
who  died  while  serving  in  defense  of  his  country 
in  the  Civil  war,  being  killed  at  the  siege  of 
Atlanta  while  serving  as  a  regular  in  the  15th 
United  States  Infantry:  and  Anna,  who  married 
Henry  Spotts. 

Benneville  M.  Bubb  was  reared  at  the  paternal 
home  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  obtained 
his  education  in  the  subscription  schools  and  at 
Freeburg  Academy.  When  about  fifteen  years  old 
he  became  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Georgetown 
(which  is  now  known  as  Dalmatia)  conducted  by 
one  Andrew  Ditty,  who  was  succeeded  in  the  busi- 
ness bv  the  firm  of  Dittv  &  Lenker,  of  which  he 


was  the  senior  partner.  Later  Mr.  Lenker  with- 
drew and  was  succeeded  by  John  Bingeman,  the 
firm  then  becoming  known  as  Bingeman  &  Ditty. 
Mr.  Bubb  was  with  Mr.  Ditty  about  two  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  became  clerk  in  the  gen- 
eral store  of  Peter  Borel  (name  now  spelled  Burrell 
— it  is  of  French  extraction).  Mr.  Borel  operated 
a  -general  store  and  bought  up  grain,  which  was 
taken  across  the  Susquehanna  at  Georgetown,  by 
fiats,  tn  "MeKees  Half  Falls,"  to  the  Pennsylvania 
canal,  was  loaded  onto  a  Union  canalboat,  at  Mid- 
dletown,  where  the  Union  canal  started,  and  went 
by  way  of  Reading  to  Philadelphia,  where  the  grain 
was  sold.  Mr.  Bubb  was  with  Mr.  Borel  for  five 
years,  until  be  and  George  W.  Arbogast  bought  out 
the  good  will,  stock  and  fixtures  of  Borel's  store, 
the  firm  being  Arbogast  &  Bubb.  This  associa- 
tion  lasted  three  years,  when  Mr.  Bubb  bought  out 
the  interest  of  his  partner  and  conducted  it  alone 
for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  admitted 
George  Bordner  to  the  firm,  which  became  Bubb 
&  Bordner  for  two  years.  When  the  Civil  war 
began  they  sold  out  to  Backhus  &  Ells,  for  whom 
Mr.  Bubb  continued  clerking,  also  conducting  the 
post  office  in  the  store.  He  was  the  postmaster 
during  the  two  administrations  of  President  Lin- 
coln, from  1860  to  1866.  He  remained  as  clerk 
with  P.  S.  Bickel,  who  succeeded  to  the  general 
merchandise  business  of  BacWius  &  Ells,  and  who 
was  a  justice  of  the  peace  many  years,  Mr.  Bubb 
succeeding  him  in  this  office  in  1869.  He  has  con- 
tinued to  hold  this  office,  by  reelection,  ever  since, 
inn]  in  this  connection  has  also  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  surveying,  conveyancing,  etc.,  establish- 
ing his  business  as  surveyor  in  1880.  He  has  writ- 
ten many  wills,  deeds,  etc..  and  his  reputation  for 
reliable  work  is  such  that  his  services  are  in  great 
demand.  He  is  a  true  peacemaker,  having  by  his 
friendly  and  wise  advice  settled  many  cases  with- 
out recourse  to  the  regular  processes  of  law,  thus 
saving  those  who  consulted  him,  as  well  as  the 
community,  many  thousands  of  dollars  which 
might  have  been  expended  in  useless  litigation,  to 
say  nothing  of  maintaining  goodwill  between  rela- 
tives and  friends.  He  has  clerked  at  many  public 
sales.  During  1908,  1909  and  1910  Mr.  Bubb  was 
badly  hampered  in  his  work  by  a  cataract  in  the 
right  eye :  be  has  also  an  undeveloped  cataract  in 
the  left  eye.  Having  been  a  resident  of  Dalmatia 
from  his  youth  he  has  seen  the  town  improve  great- 
ly. It  was  laid  out  by  one  Gray,  a  deputy  surveyor 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  1 708,  and  the  original  name 
was  Georgetown.  In  1908  the  name  was  changed 
to  Dalmatia  because  of  a  Georgetown  in  Beaver 
county.  Pa.,  causing  errors  in  mail  and  freight 
shipments.  Mr.  Bubb  owns  a  number  of  lots  in 
the  town,  and  has  also  a  stone  quarry  of  six  acres. 
Mr.  Bubb  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  has 
served  Lower  Mahanoy  township  on  the  school 
board  a  number  of  years.    He  was  one  of  the  first 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


271 


school  directors  elected  in  the  township,  in  1865, 
and  helped  to  establish  the  free  schools  here,  al- 
though he  had  opposed  their  introduction.  At  the 
time  he  was  teaching  subscription  school,  and  he 
taught  two  terms  of  public  school.  He  continued 
to  serve  as  school  director  until  1888.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  the  establishment  of  the  Dalmatia 
independent  school  district  and  the  erection  of  the 
present  four-room  brick  school  building.  All  in 
all,  he  has  been  a  highly  useful  citizen. 

Mr.  Bubb's  first  wife,  Eliza  (Roush),  born  Sept. 
9,  1838,  died  April  8,  1861,  leaving  a  son,  William 
C.  She  is  buried  at  Georgetown  church.  On  Dec. 
7,  1862,  he  was  married  (second)  to  Susan  Se- 
christ, daughter  of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Se- 
clirist )  Sechrist,  and  granddaughter  of  Christian 
Sechrist,  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Grace. 
To  this  marriage  were  born  seven  children: 
Pauline  married  Luther  Albert;  Lizzie  A.  died 
young;  U.  S.  Grant  lives  at  Milton.  Pa.;  Isaac  N. 
died  in  infancy;  Eenry  S.  is  a  resident  of  Dalma- 
tia: Lewis  X.,  of  Herndon,  Pa.;  Arthur  S.,  of 
Philadelphia  (he  is  a  printer  and  works  on  the 
Philadelphia  Inquirer).  Mr.  Bubb  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Congi-egation  of  the 
Dalmatia  Church,  and  he  has  served  as  deacon  and 
elder  for  many  years.  He  has  an  old  German 
Bible  brought  to  America  by  the  Seehrists,  who 
hailed  from  Switzerland,  and  in  whose  family  it 
has  been  for  several  centuries.  Though  fully  three 
hundred  and  fifty  years  old  it  is  well  preserved. 

William  C.  Bubb,  son  of  Benneville  M.  Bubb, 
is  postmaster  at  Dalmatia,  where  he  was  born  Feb. 
14,  1861.  He  was  engaged  at  clerking  in  a  store 
there  for  many  years,  first  for  T.  S.  Bickel  &  Son, 
later  for  Albert  Schnee;  and  for  two  years  he  was 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Dalmatia 
on  his  own  account.  On  Aug.  29,  1897,  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Dalmatia,  which  is  a  fourth- 
class  office.  Ho  married  Sevilla  Brosius,  daughter 
of  Napoleon  Brosius,  who  lived  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant Mills,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary 
Magdalene.  Mr.  Bubb  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  has  a  nice  residence 
in  Dalmatia.  Politically  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  was  formerly  commit- 
teeman from  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  has 
been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  conventions. 

FRED  RICE,  M.  D.,  of  Sunbury,  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  that 
borough  since  1901,  the  year  after  his  graduation 
from  medical  college,  and  commands  a  large  pat- 
ronage, being  considered  one  of  the  foremost  phy- 
sicians of  his  section,  lie  devotes  himself  to  gen- 
eral practice.  Dr.  Rice  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  born  in  Butler  township  Aug.  17, 
ls:5,  son  of  Charles  Pice  and  grandson  of  Fred- 
erick Rice. 

Frederick    Rice    was    born    near    Taylorsville, 


Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  died  at  Gordon,  in  Butler 
township.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
retired  at  a  comparatively  early  age.  His  wife. 
Catharine  (Carl),  died  in  1881,  and  they  are 
buried  at  Kimiuel's  church,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
both  having  hern  members  of  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation of  that  church.  Mr.  Rice  was  a  Whig  in 
politics.  His  children  were:  Edward,  William. 
John,  Charles,  Alfred,  Aaron,  Louisa  (married 
Charles  E.  Bergstresser,  a  passenger  conductor  on 
the  Lvkens  Valley  railroad).  Arvella  (married 
Elsworth  Shoemaker,  ■  who  is  employed  on  the 
Lykens  Valley  railroad)   and  Mary   (unmarried). 

Charles  Rice,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born  April 
24,  1850,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  his  early 
life  followed  farming,  later  learning  the  machin- 
ist's trade  in  the  car  shops  at  Cressona;  he  is  now- 
one  of  the  oldest  workmen  at  Gordon.  Since  1873 
he  has  made  his  home  in  the  borough  of  Gordon, 
in  Schuylkill  county,  and  he  has  served  that  com- 
munity in  the  official  capacity  of  school  director. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Mr.  Rice  married  Isabella  Seitzinger,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  ten  children:  Dr.  Fred,  Margaret 
(who  died  of  diphtheria,  about  1883),  Gertrude, 
Aaron  L.,  Edith,  Stella,  Charles,  Ruth,  Cameron, 
and  Beatrice  (who  died  in  infancy). 

Mrs.  Rice  is  a  granddaughter  of  Jacob  Seit- 
zinger, a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  born  near 
Reading,  who  settled  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  day.  He  built  the  "Exchange  Hotel"  at  that 
point,  the  first  hotel  there,  and  prospered  well  in 
his  business  ventures,  leaving  a  large  estate.  His 
wife.  Elizabeth  (Scott),  was  also  from  Berks  coun- 
ty, and  both  are  buried  at  Pottsville.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Capt.  Israel  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Rice;  Jeremiah  owned  and  operated  a  coal 
breaker  and  owned  and  occupied  a  mansion  back 
of  the  present  courthouse  in  Pottsville;  Isabella 
married  George  Palmer  and  they  lived  in  Potts- 
ville; Elizabeth  married  William  Bigler  (brother 
of  former  Governor  Bigler.  of  Iowa)  :  Nettie  mar- 
ried Joseph  Scuyler,  who  lived  in  Pottsville: 
Sarah  married  John  Femsler  and  they  lived  in 
Pottsville;  Adelia  married  Charles  Hippie.  Esq.,  of 
Pottsville. 

Capt.  Israel  Seitzinger  was  born  Aug,  L7,  L823, 
in  Berks  county,  and  came  to  Schuylkill  county 
in  young  manhood,  settling  at  Pottsville.  He  fol- 
lowed the  livery  business  there  for  some  years,  and 
for  many  years  was  a  railroad  employee.  Through- 
out the  Civil  war  he  served  as  captain  of  Company 
E,  116th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  Captain  Seit- 
zinger was  married  at  Pottsville  to  Margarel  Eeub- 
ner,  >>(  Schuylkill  Baven,  who  survived  him.  dy- 
Od  31,  L909,  ai  the  advam  ed  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  died  in  1889,  ai  -  of  sixty- 
seven.      They    are    buried    at    Fountain    Spring-. 


272 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Schuylkill  county.  Ten  children  were  born  to 
this  couple,  namely:  John  L..  Mary  Elizabeth, 
James,  Jacob,  Charles,  Isabella  (Mrs.  Charles 
Rice),  Sarah,  Harry,  Franklin  and  William. 

Fred  Rice  spent  his  youth  at  Gordon,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school  of  that  borough.  .Mean- 
time, between  school  terms  and  after  school  hours, 
he  had  begun  to  work  as  clerk  in  the  general  store 
of  Rice  &  Brother,  there.  He  was  a  substitute 
teacher  in  the  Cordon  schools  until  1896,  when  he 
matriculated  at  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating  in  1900. 
While  taking  his  medical  course  he  further  im- 
proved his  time  by  spending  his  summers  at  the 
Fountain  Springs  State  Hospital,  at  Ashland,  and 
"iic  year  he  was  at  the  Williamsport  Hospital. 
Alter  his  graduation  he  was  assistant  to  Dr.  Daniel 
Uice,  at  Hastings,  Cambria  Co.,  Pa.,  for  some 
months,  on  Oct.  21,  19<>1.  establishing  his  office 
at  Sunbury,  where  he  has  since  practiced  on  his 
own  account.  He  is  located  at  No.  256  Arch  street. 
Dr.  Rice  has  met  with  gratifying  success  in  his 
profession,  and  has  a  large  and  profitable  general 
practice  which  is  a  tribute  to  his  personal  worth 
as  well  as  to  his  medical  skill.  His  efficient  serv- 
ices and  conscientious  attention  to  patients  have 
won  the  appreciation  of  all  who  know  him.  He 
has  taken  no  part  in  public  affairs,  his  time  being 
well  occupied  with  his  work. 

On  June  30,  1903,  Dr.  Rice  married  Emma  B. 
Van  Allman.  daughter  of  William  and  Sue  (Wall) 
Van  Allman,  of  Blair  county,  Pa.,  both  being  from 
Frankstown,  and  two  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union.  Carl  F.  and  Paul  Y.  The  Doctor  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

HOLLEXBACK.  The  Hollenback  family  is 
represented  in  various  parts  of  Northumberland 
county,  its  members  being  specially  well  known  in 
professional  circles.  Dr.  D.  S.  Hollenback,  a 
prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Shamokin,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  medical  practitioners  in  that 
section,  and  one  of  the  oldest  still  actively  engaged 
in  that  calling  there.  His  brother  Dr.  Reuben  H. 
Hollenback,  and  two  of  the  latter's  sons,  are  prac- 
ticing dentistry:  his  brother  Samuel  Hollenback, 
a.  retired  railroad  man,  is  a  respected  resident  of 
Fisher's  Perry,  this  county. 

John  George  Hollenback.  the  first  ancestor  of 
the  family  in  America,  came  from  Germany  with 
his  two  sons,  Michael  and  George,  arriving  at  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.,  Sept.  "24.  1754,  on  the  ship  "Nep- 
tune." 

Michael  Hollenback.  son  of  John  George  and 
grandfather  of  Dr.  D.  S.  and  Samuel  Hollenback, 
was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Northumberland 
county.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  in  Briesen,  and 
was  but  live  years  of  age  when  brought  to  this 
country.     He  lived  in  Upper   Augusta  township, 


where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  owning 
the  farm  which  is  now  the  property  of  one  John 
Snyder.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Lantz,  and  he  is 
buried  at  Lantz's  Church  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship. Their  children  were  as  follows :  Daniel ; 
Charles,  who  lived  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
and  had  a  son  Noah  and  daughter  Mary  (this  fam- 
ily has  died  out)  ;  Henry,  a  shoemaker,  who  died 
at  Selinsgrove  (his  wife  was  of  foreign  birth,  and 
they  had  two  children,  the  mother  and  one  daugh- 
ter dying;  the  other  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married 
and  moved  to  Nebraska)  ;  Samuel,  a  farmer,  who 
died  at  Shamokin  (he  had  sons  Oscar  and  Theo- 
dore) :  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Zimmerman:  Han- 
nah, wife  of  Charles  Conrad:  Catharine,  wife  of 
George  Kramer:  and  Mrs.  Haupt. 

Daniel  Hollenback,  son  of  Michael,  was  born 
Aug.  3,  1803,  and  died  in  1883,  aged  eighty  year-. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Sherri,  and  of  their  chil- 
dren we  have  record  of  D.  S.,  the  eldest  son :  Sam- 
uel :  and  Reuben,  born  Sept.  1,  1811,  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

D.  S.  Hollenback,  M.  I).,  was  horn  May  26, 
1836,  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Northumber- 
land county.  He  received  his  early  education 
there,  in  the  local  public  schools,  later  attended 
the  academy  at  Freeburg,  and  began  his  medical 
studies  with  Dr.  Eyster,  who  afterward  practiced 
at  Sunbury.  He  was  graduated  from  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  April,  1861,  and 
soon  after  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery  in  Shamokin,  where  he  has  since  resid- 
ed. His  standing  as  one  of  the  leading  practition- 
ers of  Northumberland  county  has  been  gained  by 
conscientious  devotion  to  the  duties  of  his  profes- 
sion, of  which  he  is  a  foremost  member  in  his  lo- 
cality. 

On  Oct.  •?.  1878,  Dr.  Hollenback  married  Clara 
Sober,  daughter  of  Isaac  Sober,  of  Shamokin  town- 
ship, ami  they  have  had  one  child,  William  W. 
Politically  Dr.  Hollenback  is  a  Republican.  He 
served  as  director  of  the  poor  in  1876,  and  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Northumberland  county  in 
1893,  with  a  majority  of  2,300  votes,  serving  until 
1896.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  St.  John's 
Reformed  Church  at  Shamokin. 

Samuel  Hollenback,  son  of  Daniel  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Sherri)  Hollenback,  was  horn  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  April  5,  1839.  He  was  reared 
in  Lower  Augusta,  being  trained  to  farm  work, 
which  he  followed  from  early  boyhood  until  he  took 
a  position,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  as  laborer  on 
the  Northern  Central  railroad.  He  was  then  en- 
gineer for  three  years,  from  1865  until  1868.  and 
meantime,  in  1867,  had  become  track  foreman. 
He  remained  in  the  employ  of  the  same  company 
continuously  for  a  period  of  forty-three  and  a  half 
years,  until  November,  1908,  when  he  was  honor- 
ably retired  with  a  pension  and  pass.  He  has  al- 
ways been  thrifty,  and  is  now  in  comfortable  cir- 


-ARY 

TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS! 


XORTHUMBERLAN  D  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


273 


cumstances,  owning  his  own  home  at  Fisher's  Fer- 
ry and  a  small  farm  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
which  latter  property  he  rents  out.  He  and  his 
family  are  Reformed  members  of  the  Elias  Union 
Church  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican. 

On  May  16,  1867,  Mr.  Hollenbaek  married  Har- 
riet Reitz,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Tre- 
on)  Reitz,  of  Swabian  Creek,  this  county,  and 
granddaughter  of  Michael  Reitz.  who  lived  to  the 
age  of  ninety-five  years.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollenbaek.  two  of  whom  died  in 

infamy.    T! thers  are:  S.  Elizabeth  married  A. 

W.  Baer  and  they  live  in  Sunbury :  Sallie  married 
Fred  Seaman,  who  was  from  Snyder  county.  Pa., 
and  they  live  at  Sunbury:  Joint  H.  lives  in  Lower 
Augusta  township:  George  E.  is  a  resident  of  Sun- 
bury: Katie  married  Francis  Gamberling,  and  they 
live  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.;  Lottie  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Engely,  of  Sunbury. 

BARTHOLOMEW.     The  Bartholomew  family 

has  been  settled  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, this  county,  since  the  early  days,  the  brothers 
James  W.  and  John  L.  Bartholomew  being  mem- 
bers of  the  fourth  generation  of  Bartholomews 
resident  in  Northumberland  county.  James  W., 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Bartholomew  &  Jar- 
rett,  coal  dealers  of  Sunbury,  is  also  engaged  in 
the  marble  and  granite  business  at  that  point. 
John  L.  Bartholomew  is  in  the  stone  cutting  busi- 
ness and  operates  a  quarry. 

William  Bartholomew,  great-grandfather  of 
James  W.  Bartholomew,  wa.s  born  in  Chester  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  and  married  Elizabeth  Miller,  who  was 
from  the  same  section.  Some  of  their  children 
were  born  before  their  removal  to  Northumberland 
county.  They  settled  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller 
township.  Mr.  Bartholomew  owning  a  farm  in  the 
Plum  Creek  district  (the  place  later  owned  by 
Solomon  S.  Snyder),  and  he  also  followed  his 
trade  of  wheelwright.  lie  and  his  wife  are  buried 
at  Augustaville.  They  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  William  ;  Jacob;  John  M. :  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Daniel  Bloom:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Bloom,  brother  of  Daniel;  Hannah,  who  mar- 
ried John  Kreeger;  Catharine,  who  married  Jona- 
than Fasold :  and  Sarah,  who  married  Dr.  John 
Raker. 

'William  Bartholomew,  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Miller)  Bartholomew,  was  horn  in  1797  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  came  to  Northumberland  coun- 
tv  with  his  parents,  and  followed  farming  through- 
out his  active  years.  He  lived  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, after  his  marriage  settling  near  Emanuel 
church,  in  the  Plum  Creek  section,  where  lie 
in  1860.  He  and  his  wife  were  Lutherans  in  reli- 
gion, and  he  is  buried  at  Lantz's  church  there. 
His  wife,  wdto  survived  him  many  years,  was  Susan 
Elizabeth  Wolf,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  thir- 
18 


teen  children:  Mary  (Polly).  Mrs.  William  Tay- 
lor, of  Sbamokin  township,  this  county:  Julian, 
Mrs.  John  Strasse;  Anna  Eliza,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Conrath  and  (second)  Michael  Smith,  of 
Shamokin  township;  Amanda,  Mrs.  Nathan 
Lister:  Hester,  Mrs.  Ambrose  Taylor,  of  Shamo- 
kin township:  Elizabeth,  who  died  young:  Henry, 
born  Nov.  :;.  1821,  who  married  Mary  M.  Shipe; 
William:  Charles;  Joel,  of  Shamokin  township; 
Valentine:  Harvey  II..  who  lived  at  Kendall 
Creek,  McKean  Co.,  Pa.:  and  Rev.  Edward  F., 
of  Illinois. 

Jacob  Bartholomew,  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Miller)  Bartholomew,  was  the  first  of  their 
family  born  in  Northumberland  county.  He  was 
a  wheelwright  and  farmer,  settling  on  his  farm  in 
the  Plum  Creek  district  in  1831,  from  which  time 
until  his  death  he  farmed  ami  worked  at  his  trade. 
He  was  born  Sept.  19,  1803,  and  died  Feb.  11, 
1877.  and  is  buried  at  the  Plum  Creek  church — 
the  Eilen  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Bloom,  of  the  same  township,  born 
May  7.  ISO:,  died  April  7,  1870,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  viz.:  Mary,  born 
Nov.  ;.  1826,  who  married  Samuel  Zimmerman; 
Peter,  born  Oct.  -Jo.  1828,  who  died  March  29, 
19d5  (he  lived  in  Rockefeller  township)  ;  Mag 
Mrs.  Henry  Zimmerman:  Jacob  B. :  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Fasold;  John,  who  died  at  Sunbury; 
Lot,  wdio  lives  in  Upper  Augusta  township;  Sarah, 
who  died  young:  Hulda,  who  has  never  married; 
William;  Daniel:  and  one  who  died  young.  Four 
of  this  family  survive.  Mrs.  Mary  Zimmerman, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fa-old.  Lot  and  Hulda.  Miss 
Hulda  Bartholomew  attened  to  the  want-  of  her 
parents  faithfully  in  their  declining  years,  nurs- 
ing them  both  in  their  last  illness,  anil  she  also 
nursed  her  sister  Maggie,  who  was  paralyzed. 

John  M.  Bartholomew,  son  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth  (Miller)  Bartholomew,  lived  in  the  Plum 
Creek  section  of  Rockefeller  township,  in  bis  early 
life  working  on  the  farm  and  teaching  school.  He 
then  moved  to  Sunbury.  where  for  some  years  be 
conducted  a  livery,  later  working  in  the  railroad 
shops,  where  he  met  with  an  accident,  losing  pail 
of  bis  hand.  He  married  Eve  Bennett,  and  they 
bad  four  children:  Emma  is  a  school  teacher  in 
North  Carolina:  Harry,  unmarried,  lives  in  Sun- 
bury; Rebecca  married  Harry  Ileil  :  Cora  taughl 
school  in  Sunbury  for  a   number  of  years. 

Jacob  I!.  Bartholomew,  3on  of  Jacob  and  grand- 
son of  William,  was  born  in  ls:io  in  Augusta  (now 
Rockefeller)  township,  and  lived  in  Rockefeller 
township  until  a  few  years  aft  I  ivil  war.    lie 

drafted  for  service  in  that  conflict  three  times. 
Removing  to  Sunbury,  he  there  passed  tin-  remain- 
der of  bis  life,  dying  on  the  evening  of  April  L6, 
1902,  when  sixty-nine  years  old.  He  is  buried  in 
Pomfrei  Manor  cemetery.  Mr.  Bartholomew 
learned  (be  trade  of  stonemason,  and  also  followed 


274 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


stone  cutting,  and  after  his  removal  to  Sunbury 
established  himself  in  business  there,  laving  pave- 
ments, etc.  He  gave  employment  to  a  number  of 
men,  and  there  are  quite  a  few  who  learned  the 
trade  from  him.  A  man  who  took  an  interest  in 
affairs  generally,  he  served  as  school  director  and 
tax  collector  in  Eockefeller  township,  and  while 
living  there  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Plum  Creek  (where  he  was  confirmed) 
which  he  served  as  deacon,  later  holding  the  same 
office  in  the  church  at  Sunbury.  Politically  he  was 
a  Democrat. 

On  .Tan.  17.  1856,  Mr.  Bartholomew  married 
Charlotte  H.  Lyon,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Leonard)  Lyon,  of  Sunbury,  the  latter  formerly 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.  Pour  children  were  burn  to  this 
union:  James  YV.  is  mentioned  below:  Mary  C. 
married  Albert  J.  Spinner  and  they  live  at  St. 
Louis.  Mo.;  Hattie  married  Ira  I>.  Hanna  and  they 
live  at  Philadelphia;  John  L.  is  a  resident  of  Sun- 
bury. 

Lot  Bartholomew,  son  of  Jacob  and  Catharine 
(Bloom)  Bartholomew,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
in  Rockefeller  township  Sept.  17.  1S44.  He  was 
educated  in  the  local  schools  and  learned  the  trade 
of  stonemason,  serving  his  full  apprenticeship  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  followed  his  trade  un- 
til 1895,  for  two  years  in  partnership  with  Solomon 
Kla-e.  and  worked  all  through  the  coal  regions  at 
Williamsport  and  eastern  Pennsylvania  employing 
from  three  to  twelve  men.  He  bought  his  farm 
Nov.  29,  1899.  It  contains  100  acres  and  at  one 
time  was  the  Yost  farm,  later  the  donas  Pry  home- 
stead. Before  moving  to  his  farm  he  resided  in 
East  Sunbury  and  was  one  of  the  first  councilmen 
<  i  the  Eighth  ward.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics 
and  overseer  of  the  poor,  also  fills  the  office  of  tax 
collector. 

Lot  Bartholomew  was  married  in  lMi7  to  Beu- 
lah  Pahrenswortb.  daughter  of  Robert  Fahrens- 
wortb  of  Shamokin  township.  Their  children 
were:  Elsie  married  Edward  M.  Noble  and  they 
live  in  Upper  Augusta  township :  Minnie  E.  died 
young;  Sarah  C.  died  in  infancy:  and  Rose  M. 
married  J.  P.  Van  Dyke,  a  druggist  of  Sunbury. 
Mrs.  Bartholomew  died  .Tan.  13,  1887,  aged  forty- 
one  years,  and  she  is  buried  in  the  old  Sunbury 
cemetery. 

James  W,  Bartholomew  was  born  Jan.  11, 
1857,  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  town- 
ship, and  there  began  his  education  in  the  local 
public  schools.  He  was  ten  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Sunbury,  settling  in  the  East 
End,  and  he  attended  for  several  years  the  private 
school  of  Professor  Brown,  who  then  bad  four  ac 
sistants.  In  April,  1873,  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  marble  cutting,  which  he  followed  for 
a  time  as  journeyman,  and  assisting  his  father, 
who  was  then  doing  an  extensive  building  stone 
business.     In  1881  he  engaged  in  the  marble  and 


tombstone  business  on  his  own  account,  continuing 
same  until  1892,  when  he  gave  it  up  because  he 
found  the  marble  dust  injurious  to  his  health. 
Meantime,  from  1883  to  1888,  be  also  ran  a  suc- 
cessful livery  stable  in  Sunbury,  and  in  1889  he 
opened  a  first-class  restaurant  at  No.  :!4  South 
Third  street,  having  a  hotel  license.  He  carried 
this  on  for  thirteen  years,  during  which  period,  in 
1900,  he  resumed  his  old  line  of  business,  estab- 
lishing the  marble  and  granite  yard  which  he  still 
conducts.  In  1907,  in  partnership  with  his 
nephew.  Charles  E.  Jarrett,  he  founded  the  firm 
of  Bartholomew  &  Jarrett,  dealers  in  anthracite 
coal,  who  are  located  at  Third  and  Court  streets. 
They  are  among  the  leading  coal  dealers  in  the 
city,  and  own  the  only  coal  elevator  in  Sunbury, 
having  facilities  for  raising  and  depositing  in  bins 
forty  tons  of  coal  an  hour.  Their  equipment  is  up- 
to-date  and  complete  in  every  respect,  their  meth- 
ods of  doing  business  equally  enterprising,  and 
their  standards  gain  and  hold  trade.  Mr.  Barthol- 
omew has  made  a  high  reputation  by  a  career  of 
consistent  integrity  and  fair  dealing,  and  he  oc- 
cupies an  enviable  position  among  his  business 
associates.  He  has  not  been  particularly  active  in 
public  affairs,  though  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  borough  council  during  the  eighties.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  a  prominent  member  of  Xo. 
1  Fire  Company  and  of  the  Americus  Club,  of 
which  latter  he  is  an  official;  he  was  a  member  of 
the  governing  board  of  the  club  for  1892.  and  is 
the  only  member  of  that  organization  who  has 
twice  Keen  honored  with  election  to  the  presidency. 

In  1883  Mr.  Bartholomew  married  Margaret  L. 
Garinger,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Deborah 
(Haas)  (iaringer.  They  have  no  children  of  their 
own.  but  have  reared  two  nephews.  Charles  P.  and 
Clarence  W.  Jarrett,  sons  of  W.  W.  ami  Mary 
((iaringer)  Jarrett  of  Sunbury,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jarrett  being  deceased. 

John  L.  Bartholomew,  -on  of  Jacob  B..  was 
born  May  8.  1867.  He  came  to  Sunbury  when 
a  babe  and  has  lived  here  all  his  life.  He  ob- 
tained bis  education  in  the  Sunbury  public  schools 
and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  learned  his  trade  of  stone- 
mason from  his  father  with  whom  he  worked  until 
the  latter's  retirement  from  business,  and  then 
worked  with  others  ill  Sunbury.  At  the  death  of 
his,  father  he  became  the  owner  of  a  flagstone 
quarry  and  other  interests  ami  now  quarries  flag- 
stone from  the  quarry  located  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  employing  eight  men.  This  quarry  is 
located  on  the  S.  H.  &  W.  railroad,  a  branch  of 
the  Pennsylvania  line.  Mr.  Bartholomew  owns 
his  home  where  he  resides.  Xo.  989  North  Eighth 
street.  Sunbury,  and  also  has  other  real  estate. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Socialist.  He  and  his  family 
are  Lutherans.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Friend- 
ship Hose  Company,  of  Sunbury,  of  which  he 
was  the  organizer  on  Feb.  11.  1895,  and  he  became 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ST.') 


its  first  president,  later  foreman  of  the  company 
and  afterward  secretary  for  two  terms.  The 
company  has  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and 
is  located  at  the  corner  of  Tenth  and  Court  streets. 
where  it  has  fine  quarters. 

On  Jan.  17,  1901,  Mr.  Bartholomew  married 
Alice  Marks,  daughter  of  Cyrus  Marks,  of  Center 
township,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, Mary  Irene.  Charlotte  Florence  and  Mar- 
garet Bose. 

JOHN  DANIEL,  a  farmer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  belongs  to  a  family 
which  was  established  in  this  county  by  his  great- 
grandfather, Heinrieh  Daniel.  The  Daniel  family 
first  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  upon  coming 
to  America,  the  emigrant  ancestor  settling  there, 
in  Bethel  township,  prior  to  1754.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  landowner.  In  1790  Jacob  Daniel  (a 
brother  of  Heinrieh.  who  came  to  Northumber- 
land county)  was  living  with  his  wife  and  seven 
daughters:  in  Heidelberg  township,  Berks  county, 
to  the  east  of  Bethel,  lived  Godfrey  Daniel,  an- 
other brother.  To  this  day  there  are  representa- 
tives of  the  family  in  the  locality  where  they 
first  settled  after  their  arrival  in  this  country. 

Heinrieh  Daniel,  great-grandfather  of  John 
Daniel,  was  born  July  6,  1755,  in  Bethel  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  coming  to  Washington  (then 
Jackson)  township,  Northumberland  county,  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  110  acres  upon  which  he 
erected  the  original  set  of  buildings.  A  log  house 
he  built  in  the  year  1800  is  still  standing.  On 
this  place  Heinrieh  Daniel  lived  from  1774  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Nov.  7,  1841.  His 
wife,  Maria  Magd.,  died  in  1823,  aged  sixty-five 
years.  Their  home  stood  near  the  mountain. 
They  had  a  number  of  children,  among  whom 
were  Heinrieh  and  John  Adam,  the  latter  suc- 
ceeding to  the  ownership  of  the  farm. 

John  Adam  Daniel,  son  of  Heinrieh,  was  horn 
June  8,  1795,  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  home  place,  retaining  the  owner- 
ship until  a  few  years  before  his  death,  when, 
becoming  lame,  he  sold  it  to  his  son  Jared.  After 
the  latter"-  death  it  was  purchased  by  his  brother 
John,  whose  son  Adam  Daniel  owned  it  subse- 
quently, until  1907,  in  which  year  H.  J.  Don- 
mover  purchased  it.  John  Adam  Daniel  died  June 
1,  1878,  and  he  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  church. 
Mahanoy,  where  all  the  Daniels  since  the  time  of 
Heinrieh,  the  pioneer,  have  been  interred.  He 
was  a  Reformed  member  of  that  church,  and 
being  a  good  singer  was  chorister  there  for  some 
years.  He  was  married  three  times,  his  first  wife 
being  Bosanna  Wagner,  his  second  Polly  Ruben- 
dall  and  his  third  Esther  Freymoyer,  who  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1804,  and  died  March  30,  1881. 
All  his  children  were  by  the  first  union,  namely: 
John  is  mentioned  below:  Elias  died  at  Hepler, 


Pa.;  Joel  lived  and  died  near  Bepler;  Adam  and 
Jared  died  on  the  homestead:  Polly  married  Abra- 
ham Blasser;  Catharine  married  Benjamin  Rub- 
endall;  Lydia  married  Levi   Dnrmheller. 

John  Daniel,  son  of  John  Adam,  owned  the 
old  homestead  on  which  he  was  horn  April  10, 
1815.  He  died  there  Sept.  3,  1897,  after  a  life- 
time spent  principally  in  farming,  though  he  had 
learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  and  followed  ii 
in  his  earlier  manhood.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  he  was  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
taking  a  hand  in  public  affairs  and  filling  a  num- 
ber of  local  offices;  he  was  supervisor  of  Wash- 
ington and  Jordan  townships  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  also  held  various  church  offices,  serv- 
ing many  years  as  elder.  Mr.  Daniel  married 
Catharine  Swartz,  win.  was  born  Oct,  lit.  1817, 
and  died  Nov.  1.",.  1897,  and  they  are  buried  at 
St.  Peter's  church,  at  Mahanoy,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. They  had  the  following  children:  Elias, 
who  died  when  twelve  years  old;  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Elias  Crissinger;  Emma,  Mrs.  Henry  Crissinger; 
Adam,  who  owned  the  homestead  until  1907  and 
now  lives  near  Herndon,  Pa.;  John;  ami  Cath- 
arine, who  married  Nathan  Latsha. 

John  Daniel  was  horn  April  In.  1850,  in 
Jordan  township,  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
( Swartz)  Daniel,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  the  home  district,  which 
afforded  rather  limited  opportunities,  however.  Me 
was  reared  as  a  farmer  and  continued  to  work 
for  his  father  until  his  forty-eighth  year.  After 
his  father's  death  he  began  farming  for  himself 
in  1898,  in  Jordan  township,  where  he  was  lo- 
cated for  five  years,  in  1903  coming  to  the  place 
in  Jackson  township  which  he  purchased  that  year 
and  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  has  a 
farm  of  eighty-eight  acres,  originally  an  old  Lat- 
sha homestead  anil  later  known  as  the  Henry 
Roger  farm.  Mr.  Daniel  is  a  substantial  and  re- 
spected citizen,  and  his  affairs  are  in  prosperous 
condition. 

In  November,  1885,  Mr.  Daniel  married  Louisa 
Kobel,  who  was  horn  Jan.  Hi.  1S5S.  in  Cameron 
township,  this  county,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Eliza  (  Kerstetter)  Kobel,  and  died  April  IT.  1909. 
She  was  the  mother  of  mi.'  child.  Charles  Wilson, 
who  was  born  Eel..  L7,  1887,  and  is  still  ;u  hoi 
with  his  father.  Mr.  Daniel  is  a  Democral  in 
politics  and  of  the  Reformed  faith  in  religion. 
he  and  his  family  worshiping  al  St.  Peter's  church, 
at  Mahanoy. 

CAMPBELL.  There  is  a  numerous  Campbell 
family  in  Northumberland  county  descended  from 
Obadiab  Campbell,  a  native  of  New  Jersey  who 
removed  to  this  section  in  \~,"'>  and  located  in 
Ralph.,  town-hip.  He  purchased  a  tract  of  Inn 
acres  of  what  became  valuable  land  (the  south 
pari     'i    the   village   of    Elysburg  being  built    on 


276 


XOETITUMBERLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


part  of  the  tract)  and  built  his  own  log  cabin 
upon  what  later  became  the  site  of  the  residence 
of  Davis  Huff.  This  place  continued  to  be  the 
homestead  of  the  Campbells  for  several  genera- 
tions. Obadiah  Campbell  was  a  tailor  by  trade. 
but  never  followed  that  vocation  after  settling  in 
this  county.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious 
faith  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  church 
of  that  denomination  in  his  settlement,  helping 
to  build  the  old  church  between  Snvdertown  and 
Elysburg;  he  served  as  elder  in  same  many  years. 
Politically  he  was  a  strong  Democrat,  the  leader 
of  the  party  in  his  locality.  His  children  were: 
Benjamin,  John,  James.  Robert,  Obadiah,  Albert. 
dan.'  (who  married  Caleb  Ely).  Joanna  (wife  of 
George  Ely)  and  Elizabeth.  All  were  good  sing- 
er- and  sang  at  the  memorial  service  held  at 
Sunbury  at  the  time  of  Washington's  death. 

Robert  Campbell,  evidently  son  of  Obadiah, 
above,  horn  in  Xew  Jersey,  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  this  county.  He  settled  in 
Rush  township  and  became  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  that  locality.  His  children  were: 
Christopher;  Abraham,  who  lived  in  Rush  town- 
ship and  died  in  1861  (he  and  his  wife  Jane  had 
Robert,  Duncan  ami  David);  Robert,  who  died 
young;  James,  who  lived  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship (he  married  Polly  Kline  and  had  children 
Harmon  and  Robert):  Elenor,  Mrs.  John  Kline: 
Jane,  Mrs.  John;  and  Maria.  Mrs.  Sanders,  who 
moved  with  her  husband  to  Xew  York  State  about 
1830. 

Christopher  Campbell,  son  of  Robert,  was  born 
in  1795  in  Rush  township,  and  died  July  31, 
1851,  aged  fifty-six  year-,  six  days.  In  ls-?3  he 
moved  to  Upper  Augusta  township,  settling  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  James  H. 
Campbell,  where  he  owned  100  acre-.  lie  was  a 
lifelong  farmer,  and  gave  the  rest  of  his  life  to 
the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  this  property, 
on  which  he  built  the  house  and  barn.  His  death 
was  caused  by  a  fall  from  the  top  of  the  barn. 
and  he  was  buried  at  Klinesgrove  cemetery.  He 
was  a  Methodist  in  religious  faith.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell married  Sarah  Kline,  who  died  at  her  home 
in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Feb.  '.'<!.  1841,  aged 
forty-four  years,  eleven  months,  fourteen  days,  the 
mother  of  ten  children:  Isaac  died  on  the  home- 
stead; Rhoda  married  Samuel  Oberdorf;  Abraham, 
who  remained  with  his  father,  died  at  the  old 
home,  of  typhoid  fever:  Isabella  married  David 
Rockefeller:  Catharine  married  Lewis  Rockefeller: 
Elenore  married  Kelso  Savid.se  and  ( second ) 
George  M.  Forrester;  Elizabeth  J.  married  Bloom- 
field  Can-  and  (second)  Charles  Haughawout  and 
they  live  at  Riverside,  Pa.;  Lemuel  is  a  resident  of 
Sunbury;  Harmon  K..  born  in  1837.  died  in  l\>e 
Sallie  (Sarah)  M..  horn  in  1839,  married  Charles 
P.  Eckman. 

Uaae  Campbell,  son   of  Christopher,  was  born 


May  9,  1816,  in  Rush  township,  and  died  Dec.  26, 
L896,  on  his  farm  in  Upper  Augusta  township. 
He  received  a  common  school  education.  In  bis 
early  life  be  was  employed  on  the  construction 
of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and  later  became  a 
boatman  on  that  canal,  later  engaging  in  farming 
and  for  many  years  in  merchandising  at  Klines- 
grove.  He  was  the  silent  partner  in  the  store 
there  for  many  years,  and  was  afterward  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  milling  business,  at  both 
Klinesgrove  and  Sunbury,  conducting  two  mills, 
and  giving  employment  to  a  number  of  men  in 
his  milling  and  agricultural  operations.  Able  and 
energetic  in  his  business  affairs,  he  was  also  a  use- 
ful man  in  the  general  affairs  of  the  community, 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  builders  of  the 
Klinesgrove  Methodist  Church  and  took  some  part 
in  public  matters.  Possessed  of  force  and  charac- 
ter, he  was  the  man  chiefly  instrumental  in  the 
(.instruction  of  the  church  and  the  collection  of 
funds  for  that  purpose.  He  and  his  brothers, 
Lemuel  and  Harmon  K..  gave  the  ground  upon 
which  the  fine  edifice  was  erected,  and  he  burned 
the  brick  and  gave  time  and  effort  to  the  sue- 
cessful  completion  of  the  building,  in  which  he 
took  much  pride.  During  the  Civil  war  he  ren- 
dered service  to  the  government :  he  was  public- 
spirited  in  local  matters:  served  on  road  views 
and  often  as  juryman:  and  was  a  candidate  for 
the  nomination  for  sheriff  of  the  county,  but  was 
defeated.  He  was  a  Republican  in  bis  political 
\  Lews: 

In  1848  Mr.  Campbell  married  Hannah  C. 
Campbell,  who  was  born  in  18"??  in  Shamokin 
(now  Ralpho)  township,  near  Elysburg,  daughter 
of  Joseph  D.  Campbell.  Until  her  death.  April  3, 
1911,  she  made  her  home  with  her  son.  James  H. 
Campbell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  had  children 
as  follows:  Dr.  John  Moore,  born  July  18,  1849, 
who  died  in  July,  1893;  Rebecca,  who  married 
Joseph  Eckman  and  lives  at  Snvdertown :  Dr. 
)  nel  C,  deceased,  who  was  a  veterinary  surgeon 
of  Philadelphia :  James  H. :  and  Flora  H.,  who 
died  when  twenty-two  years  old. 

James  IT.  Campbell,  who  is  engaged  in' farm- 
ing on  the  homestead  in  Upper  Augusta  township. 
was  born  Aug.  22,  1858,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  township  schools.  Later  he  at- 
tended the  academies  at  Freeburg  and  Elysburg 
and  the  State  Xormal  school  at  Bloomsburg,  and 
was  only  seventeen  when  he  began  teaching,  which 
profession  he  followed  for  twelve  years.  He  was 
in  Shamokin  one  year:  Upper  Augusta  township, 
seven  winters:  Snvdertown.  two  winters;  Evert 
school,  in  Upper  Augusta,  one  term:  Hile  school, 
in  Rush  township,  one  term.  Meantime,  about 
1SS4.  he  had  become  interested  in  the  lumber 
business,  and  for  a  number  of  years  after  giving 
up  teaching  devoted  his  time  principally  to  that 
line,  being  thus  engaged  in  Center  county,  where 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


•.';; 


lie  bought  881  acres  of  timber  land.  He  had 
Lumbered  over  about  half  of  this  acreage  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  had  employed  as 
many  as  thirty  men  at  one  time.  From  1  ss-2  he 
has  been  interested  in  fanning,  which  he  contin- 
ued during  his  lumbering  operations  on  a  farm 
adjoining  the  homestead,  and  after  nine  years  of 
lumbering  lie  decided  to  give  all  his  attention  to 
agriculture,  which  he  carries  on  yet.  Since  1897 
In-  has  owned  the  homestead,  which  consists  of  L7.2 
acres,  and  lie  also  has  an  adjoining  tract  of  sixty- 
three  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation,  Mr. 
Campbell  following  general  farming.  He  is  an 
intelligent  and  prosperous  agriculturist,  energetic 
and  up-to-date  in  his  business  affairs,  which  are 
in  a  thriving  condition.  Since  190:2  he  has  served 
as  assessor  of  Upper  Augusta  township  and  still 
has  four  years  to  serve  in  that  office,  in  which  he 
has  given  general  satisfaction. 

On  Feb.  17,  1881,  Mr.  Campbell  married  Anna 
!•'.  Van  Zant,  daughter  of  Kinkade  and  Sarah  M. 
(Vastine)  Van  Zant,  and  they  have  had  two  chil- 
dren: Verda  died  Jan.  6,  1902,  of  measles,  after 
an  illness  of  but  two  days  (she  was  twenty  years, 
one  month,  sixteen  days  old)  ;  Lessly  I.,  horn  Dec. 
25,  1882,  lives  at  home  with  his  parents:  and  Bes- 
sie A.,  who  is  an  adopted  daughter,  is  attending 
school.  Mr.  Campbell  and  his  family  support  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Joseph  I).  Campbell,  father  of  Mrs.  Hannah 
('.  Campbell,  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  at  Elysburg. 
He  i-  buried  at  the  Baptist  Church  in  Shamokin 
townsbip.  He  and  his  wife  Annie  (Moore)  had 
live  children:  Rebecca,  Hannah  ('..  Amos.  Alma 
and  Asenath. 


Lemuel  Campbell,  a  well  known  citizen  of  the 
borough  of  Sunbury,  now  living  retired,  was  born 
.Ian.  !>,  1834,  son  of  Christopher  and  Sarah 
(  Kline)  Campbell.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  and  was  reared  to  farm  life,  remaining 
with  his  parents,  as  was  customary,  until  lie 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  after  which 
he  began  farming  for  himself,  in  Rush  township. 

There  he   resided   four  years,   in    1860   bee ing 

associated  with  his  brother  Harmon  in  the  pur- 
chase of  a  null  at  Klinesgrove,  in  the  conduct  of 
which  he  was  engaged  until  1866,  meantime  mak- 
ing his  home  at  that  place.  Thence  he  moved 
to  what  is  now  the  farm  of  Dr.  Isaac  Huff,  who 
bought  the  place  from  Mr.  Campbell,  and  in  1870 
he  bought  a  farm  at  Keefer  station,  in  I  pper 
Augusta  township,  this  county,  upon  which  lie  re- 
sided until  hi-  removal  to  Sunbury,  in  1882.  He 
continued  to  own  the  property,  however,  until 
1905  when  he  sold  it  to  William  Hoover.  Since 
bis  removal  from  that  place  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Sunburv,  where  he  was  engaged  in  busi- 
ness continuously  until  the  fall  of  1910.  _  His 
first  venture  was  as  a  dealer  in  farm  machinery. 


and  he  later  added  coal,  being  a  retail  coal  dealer 
for  twenty-six  years  before  bis  retirement.  He 
was  the  first  agent  to  handle  from  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company.  For  about  five 
years  he  owned  and  operated  a  boat  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania canal,  between  Sunbury  and  Baltimore. 
Mr.  Campbell  has  acquired  a  large  amount  of 
valuable  property,  owning  a  block  1 1  •">  by  "230 
feet  in  the  heart  of  the  borough,  lying  between 
Fifth  and  Sixth  streets,  hounded  on  the  north 
by  Woodland  avenue  and  on  the  south  by  Market 
street.  He  has  refused  a  high  price  for  tiiis  block. 
Mr.  Campbell  devoted  himself  faithfully  to  the 
management  of  his  business  affairs  throughout  his 
active  career,  but  he  served  one  term  as  council- 
man of  Sunbury  from  the  Eighth  ward,  to  which 
position  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  is  a  substantial  citizen,  esteemed  by  all  who 
have  had  dealings  with  him,  and  has  made  an 
honorable  record  during  his  long  residence  iu  Sun- 
bury. Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  '-'-', 
F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sunbury.  He  and  his  family 
united  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  I860  Mr.  Campbell  married  Emma  J.  Smith, 
daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Rockefeller)  Smith, 
of  Klinesgrove  station,  and  they  have  had  four 
children:  Mary  (married  to  J.  C.  Crawford).  Dr. 
Charles  F.,  Sarah  Eliza  (who  died  aged  three 
years)  and  William  Moore. 

Charles  Foster  Campbell.  M.  D.,  of  Sunbury, 
was  born  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Sept.  li, 
1867.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools,  later  attending  Bucknell  Univer- 
sity, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1891,  with 
degree  of  A.  M.  He  then  entered  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  taking  the  course  in  the  medical 
department,  and  graduating  in  1893.  He  spe- 
cialized in  diseases  and  treatmeni  <■(  the  eve.  ear. 
nose  and  throat.  After  practising  three  years  in 
Philadelphia  he  came  to  Sunburv.  in  1896,  and 
has  since  been  located  there.  lie  is  physician 
at  the  Mary  M.  Packer  Hospital  of  Sunbury. 
Dr.  Campbell  is  a  member  oi  Lodge  No.  22,  F. 
&  A.  ML,  of  Sunbury,  of  the  r it  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  of  the  State  Medical  Society,  as  well 
as  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  was 
married  in  1896  to  Lizzie  Lee  Enos,  daughter  of 
the  late  John  M.  Enos,  of  Delaware. 

William   Moore  Campbell,  s £  Lemuel,  was 

born  in  1873  in  Upper  Augusta  town-hip.  He 
was  given  a  public  school  education,  graduating 
from  tin-  Sunburv  high  school  when  sixteen  years 
old,  after  which  be  assisted  his  father  in  the  con- 
duel  of  bis  business  affairs.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  enlisted,  becoming  a  mi 

pani    E,    I'-'th    Regiment,    Pi  ania   Vol- 

unteers/with which  command  he  served  until 
death,  from  the  effei  t-  of  typhoid  fever.  Sept.  20, 
L898.     He  had    bei    ■  corporal   while   in   the 

ice,  and  in  the  army,  as  everywhen 


278 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


was  known,  was  recognized  as  a  young  man  of 
bright  mind  and  promising  future.  He  was  well 
known  as  a  sharp-shooter,  and  had  a  medal  of 
honor.  As  a  bicyclist  he  enjoyed  considerable  lo- 
cal fame  and  bad  won  a  number  of  races :  lie 
made  the  round  trip  between  Sunbury  and  Snyder- 
town,  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles,  in  fifty  to  fifty- 
five  minutes. 


Obadiah  Campbell,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  Oba- 
diah  mentioned  at  the  opening  of  this  article, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  177(i.  and  was  a  young 
boy  when  his  parents  came  thenee  to  Pennsylvania, 
in  17 T!L  Be  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  in 
Ralpho  township,  part  of  which  is  now  embraced 
in  the  south  end  of  Elysburg,  and  eventually  came 
to  own  his  father's  homestead,  upon  which  be  made 
his  home  for  some  years.  He  then  made  a  settle- 
ment in  Columbia  county,  upon  a  large  tract  of 
timber  land  which  be  had  purchased,  just  three 
or  four  miles  cast  of  Elysburg,  erected  a  sawmill 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  which  be 
continued  all  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  thrift 
and  enterprise,  and  built  up  a  business  which 
kept  his  sawmill  busy  day  and  night,  giving  em- 
ployment tn  a  number  of  men.  He  bail  three 
hundred  or  more  acres  of  land  upon  which  there 
was  good  timber,  his  land  extending  to  the  creek 
which  divides  Columbia  and  Northumberland 
counties,  ami  he  cleared  two  farms  there,  both 
now  owned  by  one  of  his  grandson-,  Ezra  Yocom, 
whose  mother  was  .lane  Campbell.  There  Oba- 
diah Campbell  lived,  worked  and  died,  and  he  is 
buried  upon  that  place,  as  is  also  his  father,  Oba- 
diah, who  brought  the  family  out  from  New 
Jersey.  They  were  Presbyterians,  but  many  of 
the  old  Campbells  are  buried  at  the  Sharp  Ridge 
Church,  which  is  a  Methodist  church.  Obadiah 
Campbell  was  a  man  of  note  in  bis  community  in 
every  way.  He  was,  like  his  father,  a  strong 
Democrat,  and  wielded  considerable  influence  in 
the  local  councils  of  the  party,  though  he  would 
not  accept  office.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  held  offices  in  the  church 
and  led  the  choir  for  many  years.  He  was  captain 
of  a  military  company  for  thirteen  years.  His 
death  occurred  duly  27,  1865,  and  that  of  his 
wife  May  .'i.  1866.  Her  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Shipman,  and  she  was  like  her  husband  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  coming  to  Pennsylvania 
when  five  years  old  with  her  father.  Nicholas 
Shipman.  who  settled  with  his  family  in  Rocke- 
feller township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  had  a 
family  of  ten  children,  namely:  Nicholas  settled 
in  Elysburg;  Mary  married  William  Thompson; 
Hannah  married  .lames  Hile:  Jane  married  Elijah 
Yocom ;  Obadiah  S.  is  mentioned  below ;  Eliza- 
beth married  and  is  deceased;  Joanna  married  a 
McMirtry  (or  McMurtrie),  who  was  from  New 
Jersey  and  returned  to  that  State  (they  had  a 
son  John  and  a  daughter  Maggie)  :  John  is  men- 


tioned below:  Sarah  married  Shultz  Knittle: 
Jackson  settled  on  one  of  the  two  farms  into 
which  his  father's  300-acre  tract  was  divided, 
Elijah  Yocom,  his  brother-in-law,  coming  into  pos- 
sesion of  the  other. 

Obadiali  S.  Campbell,  son  of  Obadiah.  was  horn 
Nov.  '.'•">.  1816,  near  Elysburg,  was  reared  upon 
the  homestead,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
local  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  millwright, 
which  he  followed  for  the  long  period  of  thirty- 
five  years,  until  he  was  fifty-live  years  old.  build- 
ing saw  and  grist  mills  in  Lycoming,  Columbia, 
Montour.  Northumberland  and  Schuylkill  coun- 
ties; he  worked  at  his  trade  considerably  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Northumberland  county,  putting 
up  live  or  six  gristmills  on  Roaring  creek.  During 
part  of  the  time  be  was  engaged  at  his  trade  he 
lived  in  Columbia  county.  After  giving  up  mill- 
wrighting  be  farmed  for  about  ten  years,  li\ int- 
one mile  east  of  Elysburg,  on  a  farm  in  Ralpho 
township  which  he  had  purchased  in  1852  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother-in-law.  James  Pox,  re- 
moving there  in  1856.  The  place  contained  120 
acres,  now  owned  by  Columbus  liaup.  Here  Mr. 
Campbell  carried  on  general  farming-  until  his 
retirement,  in  the  spring  of  1889,  after  which  he 
made  his  home  in  Elysburg  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  there  in  1896.  Mr.  Campbell  was  a  mem- 
ber "I  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Sharp 
Ridge,  where  he  i>  buried;  he  was  active  in  the 
work  of  that  church  for  a  number  of  years,  served 
many  years  as  class-leader,  and  was  faithful  in 
all  Ins  religious  duties.  In  polities  he  was  a 
Democrat  ami  quite  active  in  the  party,  held  va- 
rious township  office-,  and  was  specially  interested 
in  public  education,  serving  on  the  school  board 
and  assisting  in  the  advancement  of  the  schools 
whenever  possible.  In  1865  he  was  elected  a  justice 
of  the  peace  of  what  is  now  Ralpho  (then  Slia- 
mokin)  township,  continuing  to  hold  that  office 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  giving  eminent 
satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  a  member  of  the  1.  0.  0.  F.  A 
public-spirited  and  intelligent  citizen,  ready  to 
give  his  time  and  influence  to  all  matters  affect- 
ing the  general  welfare,  he  was  respected  and  be- 
loved by  a  large  number  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances and  left  a  name  which  will  long  be  honored 
in  the  community. 

On  Jan.  !».  1840,  Mr.  Campbell  married  Eliza 
Teats,  who  was  born  at  "Dark  Corner."  daughter 
of  John  Teat-,  and  is  buried  by  her  husband's 
side  at  Sharp  Ridge  Church:  she  lived  to  he  about 
ninety-six  years  old.  They  had  children  as  follows  : 
Oliver  died  in  Michigan;  Elmira  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Samuel  Swank  or  Sehwenk :  John  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Elysburg;  Clement  is  a  resident  of  St. 
Louis.  Mo.:  Edgar  B.  is  mentioned  later:  Alvin 
died  at  Elysburg:  Iva  married  Oliver  Brady  and 
they  live  at  Elysburg;  Lorin  died  young. 

Edgar   B.    Campbell   was   born    Feb.    14,    1855, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


379 


nt  Elysburg,  Northumberland  county,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents  until 
after  he  attained  his  majority.  In  1889  he  began 
work  in  the  ear  shops  at  Sunbury,  where  he  was 
employed  as  ear  repairman  for  twenty-one  years, 
until  his  retirement,  Feb.  26,  1910.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell has  had  his  home  in  Sunbury  since  1889,  but 
he  spends  his  summers  upon  his  farm  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  with  the  tenant  <>n  the  place. 
The  property  consists  of  1 1  < ►  acres  situated  on  the 
Tulpehocken  road,  which  he  purchased  from  Isaac 
Lepley  in  1904,  and  was  formerly  the  George 
Conrad  homestead,  later  owned  by  Elias  Emrich. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he 
and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  religion.  He 
married  Annie  George,  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Schuler)  George,  of  Columbia  county. 
Pa.,  three  miles  cast  of  Elysburg.  They  have 
had  one  child.  William   kirnber. 

William  K.  Campbell,  of  Sunbury,  who  is 
regarded  as  the  leader  in  musical  matters  in  that 
borough,   was  horn   Oct.   21,   1880,  and  has  lived 

in   Sunbury   from   boy] I.      He  attended   public 

school  there,  and  began  taking  music  lessons  when 
twelve  years  old,  in  1900  entering  Combs'  Broad 
Street  Conservatory  of  Music,  Philadelphia, 
which  he  attended  four  wars,  graduating  in  1904. 
Returning  to  Sunbury,  he  began  teaching  music, 
violin  and  piano,  and  has  sum'  devoted  himself 
to  teaching  ami  orchestra  work,  usually  having 
about  fifty  pupils  in  Sunbury.  He  plays  in  the 
Chestnut  street  theatre  and  at  Armory  Hall,  in 
Sunbury,  and  is  the  director  of  Campbell's  Or- 
chestra, of  Sunbury,  which  he  organized  in  1905 
and  has  led  ever  since.  This  is  an  ambitious 
musical  organization  and  very  popular  throughout 
this  region.  Mr.  Campbell  has  been  notably  suc- 
cessful in  his  chosen  work,  to  which  he  is  en- 
thusiasticallv  devoted,  and  he  has  labored  faith- 
fully to  establish  and  uphold  the  most  worthy 
musical  standards  in  his  community. 

On  Dec.  !».  1904,  Mr.  Campbell  married  Annie 

Ditty,  and   they  ha\ le  child,  S.   Ruth.     They 

occupy  the  comfortable  home  at  No.  530  North 
Seventh  street,  Sunbury,  which  Mr.  Campbell 
erected  in  1907.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church. 

The  Ditty  family  located  in  Lower  Mahanoj 
township,  this  coun'tv,  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  its  founder  being  one  of  the 
Hessian  soldiers  who  decided  to  remain  in  America. 
He  is  buried  at  the  /.ion'-  Union  Church  m  Stone 
Valley,  near  Hickory  Comers,  where  many  oi  his 
descendants  have  also  been  interred.  Members  of 
this  family  still  live  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Georgetown  (Dalmatia),  in  that  section  oi  North- 
umberland county.  Andrew  Ditty,  grandfather  oi 
Mrs  Campbell,  married  a  Lenker,  oi  Dalmatia, 
and  his  son  Charles,  Mrs.  Campbell's  father,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Arndt.    They  live  m  Sunbury. 


John  Campbell,  -on  of  Obadiah  and  brother  of 
Obadiah  S.,  was  born  Dec.  7,  1823,  at  Elysburg, 
and  died  March  s.  L908.  lie  received  a  good 
education,  and  taught  school  for  a  time,  also  as- 
sisting his  father  in  his  business  affairs.  Pur- 
chasing a  farm  in  Shamokin  township,  he  lived 
thereon  three  years,  and  for  three  years  was  settled 
with  his  family  near  Waverly,  Ohio,  engaged  in 
farming.  Returning  to  Pennsylvania  in  1859, 
he  traded  farms  with  his  uncle.  Caleb  Ely,  re- 
ceiving a  farm  of  225  acre-  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  which  tract  is  still  in  the  Campbell  name. 
being  now  owned  by  his  son  Delmer.  It  was 
originally  the  homestead  of  William  Shipman 
(brother  of  Elizabeth  Shipman,  who  married  Oba- 
diah Campbell),  and  the  house  which  this  pioneer 
occupied  stood  between  the  present  home  of  Del- 
mer  Campbell  and  his  neighbor  to  the  east,  Lin- 
coln Troutman,  standing  on  the  left  side  of  a 
public  road  that  passed  through  the  land:  some 
of  the  foundation  is  still  intact,  and  sour  cherry 
trees  grow  around  the  spot.  Here  Mr.  Camp- 
bell lived  and  died.  He  was  a  prosperous  fanner, 
and  except  for  the  springhouse  built  by  Caleb 
Ely  about  a  hundred  years  ago  erected  all  the 
present  buildings  on  the  premises.  He  was  a  use- 
ful citizen  and  active  in   local   affairs,  serving  as 

scl 1   director  twelve  years,  as  township  assessor 

and  as  overseer  of  the  poor.  In  185:5  he  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Fuller,  daughter  of  John  ami 
Phoebe  (Maly)  Fuller,  natives  of  Lancaster  county 
who  came  to  Elysburg  from  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
Mrs.  Campbell  died  duly  11.  1895,  aged  sixty- 
one  years,  eight  months,  ten  days.  She  and  her 
husband  arc  buried  at  the  Mountain  (Hollowing 
Pun)  Presbyterian  Church  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  of  which  he  was  a  leading  member  and 
for  many  years  an  elder,  tilling  this  office  until 
his  death.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Georgiana  married  Henry  C.  Smith,  of  I." 
Augusta:  Theodore  Alvin  married  Katie  Reitz  and 
they  live  in  Jackson,  Mich.;  Clara  .lane  married 
Hall  Yeager  and  lives  at  Shamokin:  Delmer  F. 
is  mentioned  below  ;  Charles  W.  died  of  diphthi  ria 
when  seven  years  old:  Warren  I.,  married  Stella 
Peitz,  ami  they  live  al  Rising  Springs.  Center 
Co..   Pa.:   Mile--   II.  died   aged   twenty-one  years. 

Delmer  P.  Campbell  was  born  Feb.  Lb  1864, 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  son  of  John  Camp- 
hell.  He  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  local 
schools,  and  later  attended  summer  Normal  ses- 
sions at  Dalmatia  and  Milton,  then  taughl  by  Lie 
county  superintendent    and    oni     Pro  Geho, 

both  men  of  high  education,  the  latter  a  graduate 
of  Princeton.  When  twenty-one  years  old  Mr. 
Campbell  receive. I  a  license  to  teach  public  school 
in  the  county,  and  has  taught  fourteen  terms  in  all. 
eleven  in  hi-  Dative  township — -i\  years  of  this 
pei  od  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  which 
was  then  a  part  of  Lower  Augusta;  one  term  in 


•>o 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  high  school  at  Herndon;  two  terms  in  Lower 
Mahanoy.  He  is  well  remembered  by  pupils  and 
fellow  teachers  as  an  educator  of  high  repute, 
and  he  was  always  in  demand  while  engaged  in 
the  profession.  He  has  been  a  fanner  from  young 
manhood,  and  followed  farming  in  the  summer 
season  while  teaching.  On  Feb.  23,  1908,  he  came 
into  possession  of  his  fathers  homestead,  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  devoting  himself  to  the 
cultivation  of  this  large  tract,  which  contains  175 
acres.  It  is  located  between  Fisher's  Ferry  and 
Trevorton.  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  al'ing  the  Little  Mountains.  He 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  man.  and  has 
found  farming  very  profitable.  Like  his  father 
Mr.  Campbell  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  he 
has  never  cared  for  public  preferment  and  has 
taken  no  part  in  public  affairs.  He  is  active  in 
church  life,  however,  being  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church,  which  he 
has  served  as  elder  since  he  was  twenty-two  years 
old ;  he  was  treasurer  of  the  church  four  years, 
and  has  filled  all  the  Sunday  school  offices. 

On  June  23, 1890.  Mr.  Campbell  married  Thom- 
son Speece,  one  of  the  seventeen  children  born 
to  Anthony  and  Ann  (Shipman)  Speece,  of  Lit- 
tle Mahanoy  township,  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  Shipman,  who  served  as  associate  judge 
of  Northumberland  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Delmer  F.  Campbell  have  also  been  born  seven- 
teen children,  and  another  daughter  of  Anthony 
S.    and    Ann    (Shipman)    -  .    Kffie,   wife   of 

Ambrose  DeWitt,  also  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, has  the  same  number.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
lull  are  the  parents  of:  Myrtle  A..  Ada  V.  (whose 
birthday  is  on  Dec.  7th,  her  grandfather  Camp- 
bell's birthday),  Don  Lee,  Grover,  John  Anthony 
(named  after  both  his  grandfathers),  Goldie,  Ora, 
Alvin.  Fay,  Vera  ( who  died  of  measles  when  three 
years  old),  Russell.  Ethel.  Lloyd,  Elsworth,  El- 
wood.  Marvin  and  Theodore  A. 

WILLIAM  PENN  HASTINGS,  late  of  Milton. 
Northumberland  county,  a  newspaper  man  of  that 
borough  fur  over  twenty  years,  died  March  "?.  1911. 
11,.  was  editor  of  the  Evening  Standard  at  that 
time. 

Mr.  Hasting>  was  born  Aug.  1.  1854, 
in  Pittsburgh.  Pa.,  son  of  Captain  John  Hastings, 
who  married  a  daughter  of  Charles  C,  Gaskill.  of 
Camden.  He  was  lint  four  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Puuxsutawney,  Jefferson  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  resided  until  1S85.  Mr.  Hastings 
edited  and  published  the  Puuxsutawney  P 
Dealer  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  In  1S?:>  he 
purchased  the  Spirit,  a  paper  started  but  a  few 
months  before,  the  publication  of  which  was  about 
to  be  abandoned.  In  twelve  years  lie  had  made 
the  Spirit  one  of  the  lust  paying  country  news- 
papers in  the  western  part  of  the  State.     In  1885 


he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  published  the 
Patriot  until  the  fall  of  1886,  when  he  established 
the  Evening  Star,  now  the  Star-Independent.  In 
188?  he  removed  to  Milton  and  assumed  the  man- 
agement of  the  Economist,  which  paper  was  later 
merged  with  the  Record.  This  paper  was  con- 
tinued until  1909,  when  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  Standard. 

With  the  exception  of  a  year  spent  on  a  Virginia 
plantation  Mr.  Hastings  made  his  home  in 
Milton  from  the  time  of  his  removal  there.  In 
January,  1890.  he  established  the  Weekly  Stand- 
ard, which  was  made  a  tri-weekly  a  few  months 
later.  In  May,  1900,  he  changed  the  paper  to  a 
daily,  ami  under  his  management  it  increased  rap- 
idly in  circulation  and  influence. 

Mr.  Hastings  inherited  a  love  for  newspaper 
work,  four  generations  of  his  family  having  been 
.red  in  it.  His  grandfather.  Thomas  Hast- 
ings, published  the  first  newspaper  in  Jefferson 
county,  the  Backwoodsman,  the  publication  of 
which  was  commenced  in  1838. 

Politically  Mr.  Hastings  was  a  Democrat.  In 
L884  he  was  a  candidate  for  State  senator  in  the 
Ji  fi  rson-Indiana  district,  but  was  defeated  by 
twenty-three  votes.  In  1902  he  was  defeated  for 
chief  burgess  of  Milton  by  but  six  votes.  He 
served  one  term  as  school  director  and  three  terms 
as  councilman  of  Milton,  and  gave  the  same  ardu- 
ous labor  and  devotion  to  his  public  duties  that 
characterized  his  newspaper  work.  For  many 
-  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Editorial  Association,  being  its  vice  pres- 
ident at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Hastings  had  an  attack  of  paralysis  on 
Monday,  Feb.  27,  1911.  while  at  his  office,  but 
though  he  seemed  to  rally  at  first  he  passed  away 
the  following  Thursday  evening  at  his  home  on 
North  Front  street.  He  was  buried  in  the  Milton 
cemetery. 

Mr.  Hastings  married  Emma  L.  Evans, 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Evans,  of  Punxsutaw- 
Pa.,  and  she  survives  him  with  five  sons  and 
three  daughters :  Mrs.  Leon  W.  Budd,  of  Chicago : 
and  Mrs.  Harry  1).  Crane.  Penn  G.,  .1.  Edward. 
Percy  W.,  Anna  »,..  Berkelev  A".,  and  Frederic  <■.. 
of  Milton. 

JOHN  HAAS,  fur  many  years  of  his  long  life 
nil.'  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Sunbury,  was  not 
only  a  successful  man  so  far  as  his  personal  inter- 
ests  were  concerned,  but  also  gave  his  aid  and  in- 
fluence to  insuring  the  success  of  a  number  of 
enterprises  affecting  the  general  welfare  of  the 
borough  and  vicinity.  He  was  not  only  inter, 
in  the  material  prosperity  of  his  community,  but 
in  the  promotion  of  educational  and  religious  proj- 
ect-, i if  philanthropic  affairs,  and  of  public  im- 
provements which  would  benefit  the  greater  num- 
ber of  his  fellow  citizens,  he  displayed  a  zeal  and 


GfOBTHUM  BERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


38] 


degree  of  public-spiritedness  which  betokened  an 

intelligent  and  unselfish  interest  in  humanity  gen- 
erally. Mr.  Haas  was  born  June  22,  1822,  near 
Bear  Gap,  in  Ralphp  township,  this  county,  son 
of  I  >aniel  Haas. 

Daniel  Haas  and  his  wife  Eve  (Reed)  were 
natives  of  Northumberland  county,  and  lived  in 
Shamokin  (now  Ralpho)  township.  He  was  a 
fanner  there  for  some  years,  but  selling  his  farm 
removed  in  1S54  out  to  Indiana,  settling  in  New- 
town, Fountain  county,  where  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  They  had  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters, 
only  three  of  whom  now  survive:  William,  of 
Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Julia  A.,  who  married  Nich- 
olas Y.  Fisher  and  lives  in  Indiana:  and  Maria 
A.,  widow  of  Charles  Leisenring,  living  at  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa.  The  deceased  were:  Peter:  David, 
Jaqob  and  Daniel  R.,  all  of  whom  lived  in  Indiana  : 
John  and  Jonas,  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.; 
Caroline,  who  married  George  Wicks,  and  Betsy, 
who  married  Charles  Martz.  The  parents  origi- 
nally joined  the  Lutheran  Church,  hut  alter  re- 
moving to  Indiana  united  with  the  Methodist  de- 
nomination, there  being  no  Lutheran  Church  in 
the  town  where  they  located. 

John  Han-  attended  at  a  log  cabin  schoolhouse, 
and  among  his  early  teachers  were  Albe  C.  Barrett. 
Jehu  John  and  William  II.  Muench.  He  worked 
on  a  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen, 
when  his  father  apprenticed  him  to  learn  the  trade 
of  fuller  and  carder,  with  David  Martz.  at  the 
mill  located  on  a  small  stream  near  the  present 
site  of  Paxinos.  Thinking  there  were  no  pros- 
pects  in  that  line  for  him  he  became  discontented, 
and  his  father  apprenticed  him  to  Daniel  Roads, 
to  learn  blacksmithing.  But  after  one  winter 
he  found  that  equally  uncongenial,  and  his  father- 
allowed  him  to  choose  his  own  way.  lie  soou 
began  clerking  for  his  cousin.  Jonas  Haas,  a  mer- 
chant at  Lineville,  Lehigh  Co..  Pa.,  beginning  at 
the  tnodest  wages  of  five  dollars  a  month.  At 
the  end  of  one  year  there  he  returned  home,  and 

- found   employment   at   railroad   repair   work 

Dear  Pottsville,  being  thus  engaged  for  one  year. 
After  a  visit  home  he  again  went  to  work  for  the 
same  employer,  at  Pottsville,  hut  within  a  short 
time  came  to  Sunbury,  Ira  T.  Clement  having 
offered  htm  work  as  a  clerk  in  his  general  store. 
He  was  with  him  from  1845  until  1857.  I1 
latter  year  he  became  a  clerk  for  Fagely,  Seas- 
holtz  &  Co.,  coal  merchants  at  Sunbury,  an 
the  fall  of  1857  became  a  member  of  the  firm, 
being  associated  for  a  time  with  William  and  Reu- 
ben Fagely  under  the  firm  name  of  Fagely  & 
Haas,  the  name  of  the  firm  later  changing  to  John 
Eaas  &  Co.  They  were  most  successful,  conduct- 
ing extensive  coal' operations  until  1872,  in  which 
year  they  sold  their  personal  property  to  the  Min- 
eral Mining  Companv,  continuing  to  deal  m  coal. 


however,  until  William  Fagely's  death.  Mr.  Haas 
retained  hi-  interests  in  the  coal  business  until  his 
retirement,  some  years  before  his  death.  During 
the  Civil  war  period  the  firm  shipped  consider- 
able coal  to  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia.  While 
in  partnership  with  Mr.  Fagely  Mr.  Haas  pur- 
chased four  thousand  acre-  of  woodland  in  Ly- 
coming county.  Pa.,  and  they  had  large  quantities 
of  lumber  cut  and  manufactured  from  that  tract, 
selling  it  at  a  comparatively  small  profit. 

In  1883,  when  the  Sunbury  Nail.  Bar  and 
Guide  I  ion  Manufacturing  Company  was  organ- 
ized. Mr.  Haas  became  president,  remaining  as 
the  executive  head  of  that  concern  until  he  re- 
tired from  the  active  management  in  April,  L890; 
be  continued  to  serve  as  president  until  1894.  To 
the  upbuilding  of  this,  one  of  the  most  important 
industrial  establishments  of  the  borough,  he  gave 
his  principal  attention  and  best  energies  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  much  of  its  success  was  due 
to  his  efforts.  Numerous  other  local  concern-  of 
considerable  magnitude  also  counted  him  among 
their  most  effective  promoters.  He  was  <>ur  of 
the  first  directors  of  the  Sunbury.  Shamokin  & 
Lewisburg  railroad,  now  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing road;  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Sunbury:  and  president  of  the  Sunbury  \\  .. 
Company. 

Mr.  Haas  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
for  about  sixty  years,  being  associated  with  the 
church  at  Sunbury,  which  lie  served  as  elder  for 
thirty-five  years,  being  an  important  member  of 
the  church  council,  and  as  Sunday  school  super- 
intendent for  thirty  years.  The  Sunday  school 
of  this  church  is  a  large  one,  numbering  several 
hundred  members,  and  Mr.  Haas  was  able  to  do 
some  of  his  most  worthj  work  in  that  conned 
He  was  treasurer  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Sun- 
day School  Association  lor  one  year;  served  as 
president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Mission- 
ary, Institute  at  Selinsgrove,  now  known  as  S 
quehanna  University;  and  was  for  a  time  a  di- 
rector of  the  Loysville  Orphans  School,  lu  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Democrat  until  the  formate  : 
Republican  party,  which  he  ever  afterward  sup- 
ported, voting  for  John  C.  Fremont  lor  President. 
During  the  Civil  war  be  was  an  ardent  Unionist. 
He  died  March  10.  1899,  in  hi 
year,  after  a  life  of  all-around  usefulness  such 
as  falls  to  i  iew  men. 

In  1846  Mi-.  Eaas  married  Mary  A.  Gheen,  of 
Jersey  Shore.  Pa.,  who  died  in  1855.  To  this 
union  were  born  four  children:  Jennie  Clemen- 
tine, who  married  I..  T.  Rohrbach,  of  Sunbury. 
both  being  qom  dei  i  ased  ;  John  Packer,  bon  3 
30,  18  19,  now  i  i  mat  ried  Sarah  Schef- 

flev.  of  Lewisburg;  Mary  Alice,  widow  of  Dr. 
C.  M.  Martin:  and  Louisa,  wh^  infancy. 

On  Oct.  '-'.  L856,  Mr.  Haas  married  (second) 
Mcrcv  Ann  Martin,  dai  ind  Hen- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVAN  I A 

rietta  (Becker)  Martin.  Though  now  past  eighty.  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Militia.  He  enlisted 
Mrs.  Haas  is  a  remarkably  well  preserved  woman,  Sept.  12,  1862,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
has  an  excellent  memory,  and  is  a  pleasing  con-    Sept.  25th. 

versationalist.  The  large  residence  at  the  corner  Mr.  Martin  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  active 
of  Chestnut  street  and  River  avenue,  where  she  years  wielded  considerable  influence  in  the  local 
makes  her  home,  was  built  by  Mr.  Haas  in  1868.    ranks   of   bis   party,   being  a   leading  member   of 

Mr.  Haas  was  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in    the  organization  in  Northumberland  county.     He 
Lodge   No.   ".'".'.   P.  &  A.   M..  of  Sunbury,  North-    served  as  county  coroner,  was  an  overseer  of  the 
umberland  Chapter.  No.  17  1.  1!.  A.  M..  and  Cru-    poor  for  some  time,  and  served  as  councilman  of 
sade  Commandery,  K.  T.,  the  latter  organization    the  borough, 
of  Bloomsburg:  he  also  belonged  to  the  1.  0.  0.        On  Feb.  20,  1866,  Mr.  Martin  married  Susanna 

F.  lodge  at  Sunbury.  Reinhart.  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary   (Cr 

inger)    Reinhart,  of  Sunbury,  and  to  their  union 

Isaac  Martin,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Mercy  Ann  were  born  two  children:  John  H.  married  Minnie 
(Martin)  Haas,  was  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Withington  and  has  two  children,  Sarah  L.  and 
X.  .1.  He  came  to  Northumberland  county  in  Elizabeth  (they  live  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  where  he  is 
an  early  day.  living  two  miles  south  of  Sunbury,  freight  agent  lor  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Coin- 
in  what  is  now  Upper  Augusta  township,  on  a  pany) ;  Sarah  L.  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
large  tract  which  he  owned — about  four  hundred  twenty-two  years, 
acres.     There  he  died,  and  he  and  his  wife.  Rachel 

B  -nl.  who  long  survived  him.  are  buried  in  HENRY  EOOVER,  business  manager  of  the 
unmarked  graves  in  the  old  South  cemetery  of  New-  Publishing  Company,  of  Shamokin,  pub- 
Sunbury,  donated  by  William  Perm  as  a  place  of  lishers  of  the  Shamokin  Daily  News,  has  been  a 
burial.  They  were  Presbyterians  in  religious  faith,  resilient  of  that  borough  for  over  twenty  years 
Two  children  were  bom  to  this  pioneer  couple:  and  in  the  latter  part  of  1893  founded  the  Daily 
Jacob  and  Margaret.  The  daughter  married  Ed-  News,  with  which  he  has  continued  his  association 
ward    Harrison,  and  they   lived   at   the  "old   dam"     to  the  present. 

below  Sunbury.  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Mr.  Hoover  was  bom  Ln  1834  m  Shamokin 
where  Mrs.  Harrison  owned  much  land.  Their  township,  Northumberland  county,  where  his  par- 
children  were:  Sarah  -lane,  who  married  Jacob  ents,  John  and  Mary  Hoover,  Were  pioneer  settlers, 
Slough:  Harrison,  who  died  leaving  a  family;  and  moving  thither  from  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  in  1811. 
Rachel,  who  married  John  Young.  He    was    one    of    a    family    of    sixteen    children. 

Jacob  Martin,  son  of  Isaac,  was  horn  .Ian.  30,  Working  on  a  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
lso?.  ,,n  his  father'-  homestead,  and  died  July  seventeen,  Mr.  Hoover  subsequently  learned  the 
?'.».  1849,  aged  forty-seven  years.  He  was  priii-  trade  of  coaehmaking  at  Catawissa  and  followed 
c  ipally  engaged  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  it  until  his  enlistment  in  the  Union  army  in 
of  the  home  farm,  which  was  located  below  Sun-  1862.  He  became  a  private  in  the  5th  Pennsyl- 
bury.  His  wife.  Henrietta  (Becker),  born  Aug.  vania  Cavalry,  with  which  he  served  until  the 
30.  lsoo.  died  March  24,  1891,  in  her  ninety-first  close  of  the  war.  the  regiment  being  attached  to 
year,  and  they  are  buried  at  Sunbury.  They  the  Army  of  the  James  until  March.  1865,  wdien 
were  Presbyterians  in  religion.  Their  family  con-  it  joined  Sheridan's  Cavalry  Division,  Army  of 
sisted  of  five  children:  Isaac,  horn  Feb.  ).  1824,  the  Potomac.  Mr.  Hoover  was  wounded  in  the 
died  April  6,  L891,  at  Port  Carbon.  Pa.:  William  engagement  near  the  Albemarle  Sound.  X.  C.  in 
B.,  born  March  :U.  1826,  lived  at  Sunbury,  and  October,  1863.  After  the  war  he  located  at  Ash- 
died  March  6.  1893;  Mercy  Ann.  widow  of  John  land.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged 
Haas,  was  born  May  31,  1828;  Charles  Follmer,  in  business  until  1888,  the  year  of  his  removal 
born  July  15,  1831,  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury:  to  Shamokin.  where  lie  has  become  recognized  as 
Louisa  B.,  bom  dune  7,  1>34.  died  April  is.  1908.    a  substantia]  and  valuable  citizen. 

Charles  Pollmeb  Martin-,  son  of  Jacob,  was  On  Dec.  11.  1893,  in  association  with  his  son. 
born  July  15,  1831,  in  Sunbury,  on  the  site  of  J.  F.  Hoover,  he  founded  the  Shamokin  Daily 
his  present  home.  He  attended  public  school  News,  of  which  J.  F.  Hoover  is  managing  editor. 
there,  and  was  engaged  at  boating  ami  various  In  1902  C.  C.  Hoover,  another  son  of  Henrv 
work  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal  until  1S64.  after  Hoover,  became  a  partner  of  his  father  and  brother, 
the  war  following  different  vocations  until  his  re-  acting  as  circulation  manager  of  the  News.  They 
tirement  from  active  pursuits.  After  the  flood  of  do  business  as  the  News  Publishing  Company.  A 
1865  he  had  a  contract  from  the  borough  for  printing  plant,  for  book,  commercial  and  job  work. 
$2,500  worth  of  work,  "filling  in"  the  streets  is  successfully  maintained.  The  location  is  at  the 
which  had  been  washed  out.  In  186?  he  was  in  corner  of  Lincoln  and  Liberty  streets,  Shamokin. 
the  Emergency  troops  called  out  to  defend  the  On  Dee.  30,  1866.  Mr.  Henry  Hoover  married 
State,   serving  as   a   member  of   Company  D,   3d    Mary  E.  Bindley,  of  Pottsville.  Pennsylvania. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


283 


JOHX  M.  BRIGHT  is  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  at  Seventh  and  Oak  streets,  Mount  Car- 
mel.  to  which  place  he  came  in  September,  1900, 
having  bought  out  his  brother,  Hunter  P.  Bright. 

This  Bright  family  has  long  been  established 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  of  old  standing  in  Berks 
county,  where  Michael  Brecht,  as  the  name  was 
formerly  spelled,  was  married  in  1728  to  Mar- 
gareta  Simone.  He  was  horn  in  1706  and  died 
in  1794;  she  was  horn  in  1708  and  died  in  1778. 
They  had  the  following  children:  Jacob,  born 
April  13,  1729;  George,  Feb.  9,  1731;  Michael, 
March  24,  1732;  Katherine,  April  6,  1734;  John, 
Feb.  20,  1736;  Peter,  Ma\  L3,  1738;  David,  Aug. 
9,  1740;  Maria,  Aug.  1.  1742;  Sarah,  Jan.  19, 
1745:  and  Christina.  Aug.  12,  17-17.  A  genealogi- 
cal sketch  of  this  Bright  family,  in  pamphlet  form, 
prepared  by  the  late  A.  G.  Green,  Esq.,  may  be 
found  among  the  archives  of  the  Berks  County 
Historical  Society. 

Michael  Bright,  evidently  the  son  of  Michael 
recorded  u  1  •« >\ < ■  as  born  March  24,  1732,  was  the 
great-grandfather  of  John  M.  Bright.  He  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  and  was  an  early  pioneer 
in  central  Pennsylvania. 

Hunter  F.  Bright,  son  of  Michael,  was  horn  in 
Lewisburg,  Union  <  !o.,  Pa.,  and  passed  many  years 
in  Schuylkill  county,  living  at  Minersville  and 
later  settling  at  Ashland.  He  died  in  Philadelphia 
at  the  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business.  To  his  marriage  with 
Catharine  Dreher  were  born  four  children:  Wil- 
liam H.,  Daniel,  Harrison  and  Carrie  (who  mar- 
ried James  Lawrence). 

William  H.  Bright,  son  of  Hunter  F.  and  Cath- 
arine (Dreher)  Bright,  was  horn  at  Minersville. 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  -.'7.  1831.  He  learned 
the  saddler's  trade,  bul  did  not  follow  it  long,  as 
he  embarked  in  the  hotel  business  and  later  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  at  Ashland,  cut- 
ting most  of  the  timber  in  that  district.  He  died 
Jan.  11.  1896,  at  Reading,  Pa.,  while  on  a  visit, 
and  was  buried  at  Ashland.  Mr.  Bright  married 
Anna  Barbara  Seitzinger,  who  was  horn  Feb.  IS. 
L839,  daughter  of  Peter  Seitzinger.  at  one  time 
a  large  landowner  in  Schuylkill  county,  who  sold 
his  property  to  the  Reading  Company.  Mrs. 
Bright  died  July  '-'o'.  1902.  She  was  the  mother 
of  a  large  family,  namely:  Kate,  horn  Nov:  7, 
1855:  Adelaide  L.  horn  June  20,  is:,;  (wife  of 
Rev.  A.  Stewart,  a  Presbyterian  minister  now  lo- 
cated at  Marietta.  Pa.):  Hunter  F.,  horn  Jan. 
18,  1859,  who  resides  at  Ashland,  following  the 
lumber  business  there  and  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  and 
in  the  South  (he  married  Laura  Orth)  ;  Wmfield 
P..  horn  Oct.  16,  1860,  who  died  young:  Martin 
D.'  horn  Nov.  26,  1861;  Eveline  F..  born  May  11. 
1865  (wife  of  H.  A.  Acker,  of  Reading.  Pa.); 
William  F..  horn  May  26,  1870;  John  M. :  and 
David  J.,  horn  Nov.  19,  1877. 


John  M.  Bright  was  horn  Dec.  '.'7.  L873,  at 
Ashland.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  there  received 
his  education,  attending  high  school.  He  was 
thoroughly  trained  to  practical  lumbering  by  his 
father,  and  has  been  principally  engaged  in  that 
business  since  he  commenced  his  active  career. 
In  September,  1900,  Mr.  Bright  located  at  Mounl 
Carmel,  having  bought  the  interests  of  his  brol 
Hunter  F.  Bright,  at  this  point.  His  yard  is 
located  at  Seventh  and  Oak  streets  and  is  the 
center  of  a  large  trade,  which  is  being  steadily 
built  up  under  Mr.  Bright's  excellent  manage- 
ment. He  is  also  agent  for  the  Rubberoid  rooting. 
With  an  extensive  knowledge  of  his  bush 
gained  by  actual  experience,  and  an  enterprising 
spirit  that  is  equal  to  the  demands  of  modern  suc- 
cessful  operations.   Mr.   Bright  has  made  a   g I 

start  on  a  prosperous  business  life. 

Mr.  Bright  married  Bertha  F.  Slanker,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Slanker.  of  Gordon,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.  They  have  had  two  children,  William  and 
Marshall. 

Mr.  Bright,  is  a  member  of  the  Elks  lodge  al 
Mount  Carmel,  and  of  the  American  Fire  Com- 
pany of  Ashland,  Pennsylvania. 

JOHX   H.    VINCENT   was  for  forty  years   he- 
fore  his  death  one  of  the  leading  and   mosl 
mable  citizens  of  the  borough  of  Northumberland, 
commanding  a  large  and  creditable  legal  practice, 
serving  about  twenty  years  as  justice  of  tin-  peace, 
and   filling  various  other  local  positions  of  trust, 
in   all   of   which   he   displayed    intelligent   zeal 
tin'   welfare   of  the   community   and    a  di 
public   spirit  which   insured   the  best  care  of   the 
interests  of  his  fellow  citizens.     His  son  ami  name- 
sake, John  H.   Vincent,  is  now  engaged   in  gen- 
eral law  work  at  that  borough,  making  a  specialty 
of  civil  law,  and  has  been   liighhj    successful. 

The  Vincent  family  is  of  French  descent. 
From  a  pamphlet  containing  a  life  sketch  of  tin 
late  John  Himrod  Vincent,  father  of  Bishop  John 
11.  Vincent,  horn  April  20,  1798,  at  Milton,  Pa., 
died  Aug.  13,  ls7o.  we  take  the  following  regard- 
ing the  origin  ami  early  history  of  the  Vincents. 
The  Vincents  are  from  an  old  French  family. 
The  name  is  Latin,  and  tradition  carries  it  hack 
to  the  fourth  century.  The  Bibliotheque  Ration- 
ale, in  Paris,  contains  a  Ion-  lisl  of  Vincents  of 
various  provinces  ami  lino.  Roman  Catholic  ami 
Huguenot.  On  account  of  religious  dissens 
manv  Huguenots  emigrated  to  England,  Germany, 
the  Netherlands,  Switzerland,  South  Africa  ami 
the  North  American  colonies.  There  are  many 
Vincent  families  in  England.  Several  large  fami- 
lies   of    the    same    name    ill    Amel  '  directly 

France,  some  from  England  an. I  -..me  from 
France  via   Engl     id  ami  Holland. 

John  Himrod  Vincent  belonged  to  the  family 
of  Levi    Vincent,  who  was  horn  in  Charente-In- 


:.'S1 


NOBTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ferieur,  on  the  west  coast  of  France,  and  prob- 
ably in  the  Canton  of  Rochelle,  during  the  reign 
of  King  Charles  II..  April  10.  1676.  He  settled 
in  Xew  Rochelle.  X.  Y.,  and  afterward  moved  to 
Xew  Jersey,  living  in  Newark  township,  where 
he  died  in  1763,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  His 
wife  was  Esther  Debue.  and  they  had  one  son. 
John. 

John  Vincent,  son  of  Levi,  was  horn  Jan.  26, 
1709,  on  the  farm  where  his  father  died,  and  on 
Dec.  1.  1733,  married  Elizabeth  Doremus.  born 
July  13,  1711.  She  .lied  Feb.  11.  1788,  and  lie 
died  Feb.  '.J4,  1801.  She  descended  from  Ann  eke 
Jans  Webber,  whose  fattier  was  Wolpfert  Webber, 
her  family  records  reaching  hack  to  1600.  The 
children  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Dorernus)  Vin- 
cent  were:  Esther.  Cornelius,  Rachel,  Elizabeth, 
Elizabeth   (2),  .lane.  Alary.  Benjamin  and  Peter. 

Cornelius  Vincent,  son  of  John,  was  horn  April 
15.  1737,  "ii  his  father's  farm  near  Bloomfield, 
V  .1..  and  died  July  It;.  181?.  in  Milton,  Pa., 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter  Mary  ("Aunt  Polly 
Dericksiin").  In  November,  1756,  he  married 
Phoeba  Ward,  and  their  children  were  Isaac. 
Daniel.  Bethuel,  Sarah,  Benjamin,  John,  Eliza- 
beth,  Rebekah  and  Mary.  (Further  information 
in  the  pamphlel  concern-  only  the  posterity  of 
Bethuel  Vincent.) 

Daniel  Vincent,  son  of  Cornelius,  became  the 
owner  of  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land  near 
Fort  Freeland,  lying  along  Warrior  Run  creek, 
ami  in  tlif  year  1790  built  the  first  mill  in  the 
vicinity:  it  was  remodeled  in  1818  and  is  still 
standing.  He  did  the  work  tor  the  residents  with- 
in a  large  radius  and  was  very  well  known.  He 
was  at  Fort  Freeland  when  it  was  attacked  by 
the  Indians  and  he  and  his  wil'e  were  taken  pris- 
oners, but  she  was  sent  back  to  her  friends  on 
horseback,  while  he  was  taken  into  Canada  and 
held  four  years,  during  which  time  he  acted  as 
butcher  for  his  raptors.  During  one  of  his  fights 
with  the  Indians  he  sustained  an  injury  in  the 
side  which  gradually  grew  worse  and  finally 
caused  his  death.  He  and  many  other  members 
of  his  family  are  buried  in  the  Warrior  Run  ceme- 
tery. He  married  Anglechy  Huff,  and  they  had 
children  as  follow; :  Phoebe,  Isaac,  John  and  Eliza- 
beth. The  old  family  property  was  divided  equal- 
ly between  the  two  sons. 

Isaac  Vincent  was  burn  Oct.  21,  1783,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Northumberland  county,  and  early  in 
life  took  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  inherited 
one  half  of  his  father's  estate,  ami  there  lived 
throughout  his  life.  His  wife.  Rebecca  (Comly), 
was  a  native  of  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows:  Ezra  ('..  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy, Nancy,  Daniel.  Charles.  Caroline,  Isaac. 
John  H..  Rebecca.  Hannah  M.,  Elizabeth.  Com- 
lv  and  Henry  ('lav. 


John  H.  Vincent,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  Dec. 
?,  1S2G.  in  Delaware  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  at  McEwensville  Academy. 
He  then  taught  school  for  some  time,  and  saving 
his  earnings  was  enabled  to  enter  Lafayette  Col- 
lege, at  Easton.  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  he 
bad  passed  the  junior  year.  He  then,  with  es- 
G  ernor  Hoyt  of  Pennsylvania  and  ex-Judge 
Schuyler  of  Northampton  county,  enrolled  as  a 
student  at  Williams  College,  in  Massachusetts, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1849, 
after  which  he  went  to  Charleston,  S.  ('..  and  en- 
gaged as  a  school  teacher.  Later  he  removed  to 
Alabama,  where  he  also  followed  teaching,  being 
private  tutor  for  the  children  of  a  wealthy  plant- 
er's family.  After  a  few  years  be  returned  home 
and  began  his  preparation  for  the  legal  profession, 
entering  the  law  office  of  Gov.  James  Pollock,  at 
Mi  lion,  and  after  a  year  taking  up  study  in  the 
Met 'arty  Law  School,  at  Easton.  There  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854,  aud  immediately  be- 
gan practice  at  Easton  with  Judge  Schuyler  as 
partner,  remaining  there  until  1857.  That  year 
he  located  at  Milford.  Pike  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
sided until  the  Civil  war.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
Company  B.  151st  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  was  made  second  lieutenant  be- 
fore the  company  saw  service,  was  later  promoted 
to  first  lieutenant,  and  served  as  such  at  the  battles 
of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg  and  in  many 
skirmishes,  receiving  his  discharge  in  1863. 

Returning  to  Milford.  Mr.  Vincent  resumed  the 
practice  of  law.  which  he  continued  at  that  point 
until  1867,»meantime  serving  two  terms  as  district 
attorney  of  Pike  county.  From  that  time  until 
his  death  he  was  located  at  Northumberland,  where 
he  not  only  built  up  a  large  practice  as  a  lawyer, 
among  the  most  influential  class  of  citizens  in  the 
locality,  but  also  became  a  leading  business  man, 
being  secretary  of  the  Bird  Coal  &  Iron  Company. 
With  the  exception  of  one  year,  he  was  justice  of 
the  peace  continuously  from  188!)  until  his  death: 
\\;i<  solicitor  of  the  borough:  school  director  a 
number  of  terms:  and  filled  minor  local  offices  for 
several  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  In 
Is;;  he  built  a  large  and  handsome  brick  resi- 
dence and  office  on  Queen  street,  where  he  re- 
mained until  hi-  death,  which  occurred  in  1909, 
when  he  was  in  his  eighty-third  year.  He  is 
buried  at  McEwensville. 

Mr.  Vincent's  first  marriage  was  to  Mary  C.  Da- 
\is.  daughter  of  John  Davis,  of  Easton.  Pa.,  and 
they  had  two  children:  Julia,  who  died  at  an  early 
age ;  and  May,  who  married  J.  W.  Elliott,  of  Reno- 
\.i.  Pa.,  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Elliott  now  residing  at 
Bamesboro,  Pa.  The  mother  died  young,  and  on 
(let.  9,  1867,  Mr.  Vincent  married  (second)  Car- 
oline  Montgomery,  who   survives   him.      To   this 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  P E N  N  S Y  I .  V  A  X  I A 


28  c 


union  were  bom  four  children,  John  EL,  Caroline, 

William  M.  and  Ella,  of  whom  John  IT.  is  the  only 
one  now  living. 

John  H.  Vincent,  son  of  the  late  John  H.  Vin- 
cent, was  born  March  7.  1876,  in  the  borough  of 
Northumberland,  ami  there  received  his  prepar- 
atory education  in  the  public  schools,  graduating 
from  the  high  school  in  1894.  He  next  attended 
Bucknell  University,  at  Lewisburg,  and  for  one 
year  was  a  student  at  the  Dickinson  School  of 
Law.  at  Carlisle.  Pa.,  after  which  he  registered  in 
the  office  of  Jinn.  Simon  P.  Wolverton,  of  Sim- 
bury.  On  Dec.  18",  1800,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Northumberland  county  bar.  ami  has  since  devoted 
all  his  time  to  legal  practice,  making  a  specialty 
of  civil  law.  His  office  is  on  Queen  street,  North- 
umberland. Mr.  Vincent  enjoys  the  highest  stand- 
ing personally  and  professionally.  His  inherent 
aptitude  for  the  law  has  been  developed  in  prac- 
tical work,  and  like  his  father  he  commands  a  cli- 
entele whose  patronage  itself  is  a  recommendation 
of  his  ability.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  his  town, 
and  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  National  Guard 
of  Pennsylvania,  which  he  joined  in  1805.  In 
April,  1898,  he  was  mustered  for  service  in  the 
Spanish  American  war  with  Company  E,  12th  Reg- 
iment, Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he 
was  mustered  out  with  that  command  in  October, 
1898  ;  he  was  a  corporal. 

On  Jan.  26,  1800,  Mr.  Vincent  married  Mar- 
garet Starick,  adopted  daughter  of  William  A.  and 
.Mary  (Dunham)  Starick,  the  former  of  whom, 
now  deceased,  was  in  his  time  a  prominent  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Northumberland,  and  active  in 
civic  affairs  in  the  borough.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vin- 
cent have  one  child,  Elizabeth. 

Mi-.  Vincent  recently  found  a  register  of  the 
genealogy  of  the  Vincents  written  by  one  of  his 
relations  An-.  22,  1822. 

Mrs.  Caroline  (Montgomery)  Vincent  traces 
her  ancestry  back  to  Robert  Montgomery,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  from  County  Armagh.  Ire- 
land, when  thirty-two  years  old,  and  settled  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He  located  on  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Harrisburg  ami  was  one  of  the  first 
grand  jurors  of  Dauphin  county.  He  died  in  1776, 
aged  seventy-one  years.  To  him  ami  his  wife  Sar- 
ah were  born  live  children:  William,  Thomas, 
Hugh,  David  and  John. 

John  Montgomery,  son  of  Robert,  was  horn  in 
Ireland,  and  was  four  years  oW  when  he  can 
this  country  with  his  parents.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Dauphin  county,  became  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  in  1773  exchanged  an  improved 
tract  in  that  county  for  a  wild  tract  in  Turbut 
township,  Northumberland  county,  making  a  trade 
with  William  Patterson.  The  deal  proved  advan- 
tageous for  Mr.  Montgomery,  who  started  his  lite 
in  the  new  region  under  better   conditions  than 


most  of  the  pioneers.  But  after  getting  ins  affairs 
in  prosperous  shape  his  home  was  attacked  by  a 
band  of  Indian-  ami  he  was  obliged  to  flee  with 
his  family  to  Fort  Freeland  for  safety.  There,  on 
July  28,  1779,  they  were  attacked  by  a  pan 
over  three  hundred  British  and  Indians.  After 
that  John  Montgomery  sought  temporary  refuge 
with  his  family  at  his  old  1 ic  in  Dauphin  coun- 
ty, near  Harrisburg.  When  peace  had  finally  b 
declared,  in  1783,  he  went  hack  to  the  home  in 
Northumberland  county,  restored  the  buildii 
which  had  been  destroyed,  and  erected  a  lime- 
house  which  is  -till  standing.  He  continued  his 
work  on  this  place  until  Nov.  s.  1782,  when  he  was 
killed  by  a  falling  tree  while  engaged  on  the  build- 
ing of  the  Derry  road.  At  the  time  of  hi-  death  he 
was  fifty-eight  years  old.  He  had  married  Chris- 
tianna  Foster,  who  died  March  2,  1821.  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty  years,  and  both  are  interred 
in  the  Chillisquaque  burying  ground.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Montgomery  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Robert,  John.  William,  David.  Jane  and 
Sarah. 

William  Montgomery,  son  of  John,  was  horn  at 
what  is  now  Paradise,  in  Turbut  town-hip.  North- 
umberland county,  and  succeeded  to  the  ownership 
of  the  old  homestead,  where  he  Eollowed  farming 
all  his  life.  He  died  Aug.  22,  1853,  aged  seventy- 
sis  years,  and  his  wife,  Rachel  (Simpson),  died 
in  1806,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-six  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  children :  Nancy,  who 
married  Robert  Van  Valzah,  M.  D. :  John  T..  who 
married  Hannah  Ilower;  and  William. 

William  Montgomery,  son  of  William,  was  born 
March  7.  1805,  on  the  old  homestead,  and  early  in 
life  settled  at  Lime-tone   Ridge,  but  later  bou 
a  fine  property  at  McEwensville,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming.    He  was  verj  successful,  and  owned  a 
tine   estate    ai    the    time   of    his   death,    which    was 
caused  by  smallpox,  in  February,  1875.     He  mar- 
ried  Molly  Caldwell,  daughter  of  John   < 
and  they  had  children  as  follow-:  William  t'..  who 
married  Hadassa  G.  Dearmond;  Mary  Jane, 
resides  with  her  sister  Mrs.  Vincent,  and  who  is 
the  widow  of  John  M.  Thatcher,  a  hot  water  fur- 
nace manufacturer  of   New    York:   Caroline    \1  . 
n  ,,!,,«   n;  Jo  in   II.  Vincent  :  and  Sarah   V...  wife  of 

-iime    s.    Truckermiller,   of   TJruckermilL 
Mills. 

PHILIP  ECKMAN,  hue  of  Sunburv.  was  for 
a  number  of  ..  tged  in  business  in  thai  bor- 

ough as  ;i  merchant  and  lati  i  ni  for  farming 

implements,  in  which  line-  he  del  a  thriving  trade. 
His  widow,  Mrs.  Harriet  (Conrad)  Kckman.  -till 
continue-  to  make  her  horn,'  ■ 

Mr.    Kckman    was   bom    in    1843    in    Rusl 
Northumberland  county,  and  was  a  great-grandson 
of  Charles  Eckman,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 


2S6 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


this  county.  Charles  Eckman  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  coming  to  Northumberland  county  set- 
tled in  Upper  Augusta  township,  many  of  his  de- 
scendants now  living  in  this  section.  His  wife's 
maiden  name  was  DeWitt. 

Philip  Eckman,  son  of  Charles,  had  five  sons: 
Charles,  Isaac,  John,  Jacob  and  Abram.  Of  these, 
Charles  married  Elizabeth  J.  Kline  and  they  had 
children:  John  Edgar,  who  married  Tbeodosia 
Forrester,  and  died  in  1868:  Elisba  M..  who  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Mary  E.  (Reed)  Campbell,  widow  of 
Harmon  K.  Campbell:  Margaret,  deceased:  Clar- 
issa Ann.  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Sav- 
idge  and  had  children  Grace  and  Edgar :  and 
James  I).  Isaac,  son  of  Philip,  had  children  Col. 
Charles  Eckman  and  David  Eckman. 

John  Eckman.  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  1817 
and  died  in  1906,  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  conscientious  Christian  gentleman,  for 
many  years  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  the  weather  was  never  so  severe  that  be  could 
not  be  found  in  his  pew.  He  married  Theressa 
Mettler. 

Philip  Eckman,  son  of  John  and  Theressa  (Met- 
tler) Eckman,  was  engaged  as  a  merchant  in  Sun- 
bury  for  many  years,  and  later  became  a  general 
;  for  agricultural  implements,  in  which  line 
he  was  also  successful.  He  died  in  1904.  He  was 
a  substantial  citizen  and  highly  esteemed  by  the 
many  who  knew  him  in  both  business  and  social 
illations. 

On  Oct.  1,  1868,  Mr.  Eckman  married  Harriet 
Conrad,  who  was  horn  in  what  was  then  Upper 
Augusta  township,  now  included  in  the  borough  of 
Sunbury.  One  child  was  born  to  them,  Esther, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Sunbury  high  school.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eckman  also  reared  Gertrude  Fausold 
Eckman.  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Amnion  Geise  and 
lias  had  the  following  children:  Paul.  Harriet. 
Charles  W.  (deceased),  Henry  Lee.  Stanley  Eck- 
man. Esther.  Gertrude  and  Philip  Eckman.  Since 
the  death  of  Mr.  Eckman  Mr.  Geise  has  assisted 
Mrs.  Eckman  in  her  business  affairs.  After  the 
death  of  her  father  she  erected  a  fine  brick  house 
upon  the  property  her  father  left  her.  It  is  a 
pleasant  residence,  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  and 
well  kept  lawn,  and  she  and  her  daughter  have  a 
comfortable  home  there.  She  has  divided  her  farm 
into  borough  lots,  most  of  which  she  has  sold,  and 
Mr.  Geise  has  helped  her  in  the  division  of  the 
property  and  the  sale  of  the  lots.  She  is  held  in 
the  highest  respect  by  her  neighbors  and  friends, 
who  are  numerous  in  the  community. 

John  Conrad.  Mrs.  Eckman's  grandfather,  was 
born  March  18,  1777,  and  died  June  11,  1839.  He 
married  Julia  Cooper,  who  was  born  June  1.  177s. 
and  died  Dee.  22,  1841.  They  lived  on  the  hill 
near  Sunbury,  and  Mr.  Conrad  gave  his  attention 
principally  to  the  raising  of  fruit,  having  the  larg- 
est orchard  in  the  vicinity.     He  made  a  specialty 


of  peaches,  which  he  took  to  market  in  such  quan- 
tities that  he  used  a  six-horse  team.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  John  and  Julia  (Cooper)  Conrad: 
(1)  Daniel  married  a  Miss  Wolfe.  (2)  William 
married  Susan  Hiiey  and  (second)  a  Bartholomew. 
(3)  George  married  Esther  Reiser.  (4)  Julia 
Ann  married  Henry  Cass  and  had  children.  Wil- 
liam. Jacob.  George,  Maria.  Susan.  Louise  and 
Harriet.  ( •">  I  Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Gehrunser. 
(6)  Elias.  born  June  V".  i819,  died  Jan.  -.'7.  1849. 
His  wife  was  a  Gehrlinger.  (7)  Kate  married  a 
Mr.  Cooper.  (8)  Ann  Maria  married  Decaton 
Herb  and  hail  five  children,  Julia.  Maria.  Daniel. 
Decaton  and  Samuel.  (9)  Susan  married  Samuel 
Herl). 

Geotcge  CiiMt.U).  son  of  John  and  Julia  (Coop- 
er) Conrad,  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Eckman.  He 
was  born  Aug.  ■?<>,  lSiiS.  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, and  died  May  17.  1877.  His  wife,  Esther 
(Reiser),  born  July  ".'(;.  1811.  died  Nov.  11.  1886. 
They  wore  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
( 1 )  Catharine  married  Albert  Beckley,  and  their 
children  were  Florine  (married  Charles  Zerbe), 
Clara  (married  John  Evert).  Alice  (died  young  I 
and  Hattie.  (2)  William  died  young.  (3)  Harriet 
i-  the  widow  of  Philip  Eckman.  of  Sunbury.  (4) 
Henry  married  Sophia  Fasold  and  they  had  a 
family  of  seven.  George  M.  (who  married  Delia 
Burns  and  had  a  daughter  Ruth).  Cora  (wife  of 
\Y.  1'.  G.  Hoffman),  Esther  (died  young),  Charles 
(who  married  a  Miss  Lawrence  and  subsequently 
a  Miss  Eyster),  Ma  (wife  of  J.  B.  Could).  Emily 
(Mrs.  William  Scott,  whose  children  are  Thomas 
and  Henry)  and  William.  (5)  Amandus  A.  mar- 
ried Mary  Wise.  (6)  Gideon.  (7)  Silas  mar- 
ried Ellen  Clark. 

WILLIAM  B.  LEWIS,  general  manager  of  the 
W.  F.  Tauble  hosiery  mills  at  Shamokin,  North- 
umberland county,  has  risen  to  his  present  posi- 
tion of  responsibility  by  faithful  attention  to  duty 
and  executive  ability  which  has  proved  valuable  to 
the  large  concern  with  which  he  is  identified.  He 
entered  the  business  when  twenty-one  years  old  in 
an  humble  capacity  and  has  made  his  way  by  in- 
telligent service  and  unremitting  application  to  his 
work.  The  concern  occupies  an  important  place 
in  the  industrial  life  of  Shamokin  and  vicinity, 
giving  employment  to  about  five  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five hands  at  the  mills  in  the  city  as  well  as 
to  two  hundred  in  the  mill  at  Mount  Canned. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  March.  1869.  at  Camden, 
N.  J.,  son  of  Enoch  Lewis  and  grandson  of  Ben- 
jamin Lewis.  The  grandfather  lived  and  died  in 
New  Jersey.  Enoch  Lewis  was  an  engineer  in  the 
employ  of  tile  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  on 
the  ferryboats  taking  freight  from  Philadelphia  to 
Camden.  He  died  when  only  thirty-three  years 
old.  He  married  Rebecca  Bishoff.  who  now  makes 
her  home  at  Riverside.  N.  J.,  and  they  had  four 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


281 


children:   Wesley,   Nettie,  William   B.  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

William  B.  Lewis  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  was  first  employed  at  firing  on  a  steam- 
boat for  the  ,1.  W.  Paxton  Company  of  Philadel- 
phia, at  Pier  No.  15,  continuing  at  this  work  for 
five  years.  When  twenty-one  he  began  work  in  the 
hosiery  business  at  Riverside,  N.  J.,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  William  P.  Tauble,  as  a  stocking  knitter, 
and  by  industry  was  advanced  steadily  until  lie  at- 
tained the  position  he  now  holds.  The  company 
was  incorporated  at  Shamokin  Jan.  1,  1901,  and 
on  March  17th  following  located  in  a  small  build- 
ing on  Lincoln  street.  In  October  of  the  same 
year  a  one-story  building  was  erected  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  business,  which  was  promising 
from  the  -tart,  and  the  following  year  a  two-story 
building  was  put  up.  In  1903  a  large  four-story 
building  was  constructed,  and  all  of  these  build- 
ings, which  occupy  an  advantageous  location  on 
West  Walnut  street,  Shamokin.  are  now  used  for 
manufacturing  the  output  of  seamless  hosiery  for 
which  the  Tauble  mills  have  become  famous.  In 
construction  and  equipment  they  are  first-class  in 
every  particular  and  a  credil  to  the  city  as  well  as 
to  the  owners.  About  five  hundred  and  seventy- 
live  hands  find  employment  in  the  mill  at  Sham- 
okin. Several  other  mills  are  operated  by  the 
same  concern,  one  at  Mount  Carmel,  one  at  Phil- 
adelphia, one  at  Riverside,  N.  J.,  anil  one  at  Tam- 
aqua,  Pa.,  the  combined  output  placing  it  among 
the  most  extensive  manufacturers  of  seamless  hosi- 
ery in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Lewis,  the  general 
manager  at  Shamokin,  is  a  busy  man,  well  liked 
among  those  with  whom  he  has  dealings  in  any  of 
the  relations  of  life,  and  has  earned  the  esteem  and 
respi  ct  df  his  fellow  citizens  in  Shamokin  since  tak- 
ing up  his  residence  in  that  city.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  and  original  directors  of  the  new 
Dime  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company  of  Sham- 
okin. 

On  March  31,  1891,  Mr.  Lewis  married  Laura 
Pike,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  now 
the  wife  of  Jacob  Xeihoff.  of  Shamokin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lewis  live  at  No.  1020  West  Chestnut  street. 
Shamokin.  The  family  are  Methodists  in  religious 
faith.  Fraternally  he  holds  membership  in  the 
P..  I'.  ().  Elks  and  the  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 

MOWERY.  This  name  is  found  in  various 
forms  here  in  Northumberland  county.  Mourer, 
Maurer,  Mowery  and  Moury  being  common  forms. 
This  article  pertains  particularly  to  the  three  sur- 
viving sons  of  Daniel  Mowery.  Peter,  Daniel  W. 
and  Harvey,  the  first  and  last  named  being  resi- 
dents of  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  and  Daniel  W. 
living  in  Shamokin  township,  where  lie  owns  the 
valuable  Brookside  farm.  All  are  worthy  repre- 
sentatives of  a  name  long  ami  favorably  known  in 
this  region. 


The  family  came  from  Germany  to  this  country, 
and  first  settled  in  Berks  county,  later  moving  to 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. Peter  Mowery,  grandfather  of  the  three  broth- 
ers named,  was  born  in  the  Mahantango  Valley, 
and  later  settled  near  Kdgewood  Park,  at  Bear  Val- 
ley (Shamokin),  where  he  was  among  the  first 
settlers.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Locust 
township.  Columbia  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death.  His  wife  was  Magda- 
lena  Loudelsleger,  and  both  are  buried  in  Colum- 
bia county.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  fam- 
ily :  Michael,  who  died  in  Columbia  county:  John, 
who  died  in  Jefferson  county.  Pa.;  Solomon. 
George  and  Peter,  all  three  of  whom  died  in 
Columbia  county:  Daniel:  Sarah:  Sophia:  Fronie: 
Elizabeth;  Leah:  Sabina,  and  Catharine.  The 
mother  of  this  family  had  an  experience  typical  of 
the  time  in  which  she  lived.  While  they  were 
living  near  Bear  Valley  she  was  attracted  by  a 
noise  in  the  pig  pen,  and  going  to  investigate 
found  a  hear  trying  to  steal  a  pig.  The  men  be- 
ing all  away  from  the  house,  clearing  the  land,  she 
attacked  the  animal  with  a  long-handled  fire  shov- 
el and  killed  it. 

Daniel  Mowery,  son  of  Peter,  was  horn  at  Bear 
Valley.  In  his  earlier  years  he  followed  farming, 
hut  he  later  became  engaged  at  mining,  and  he  was 
killed  in  the  mines  in  1855,  when  forty-five  years 
old.  He  was  interred  in  a  small  burial  ground  on 
the  Mount  Carmel  road  out  from  Shamokin.  His 
wife.  Mary  (Yeager),  daughter  of  John  Yeager 
and  his  wife  Sarah  (McClow),  of  Columbia 
county.  Pa.,  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 
They  had  the  following  children:  John  is  de- 
ceased :  Mary  is  the  widow  of  John  B.  Snyder,  of 
Shamokin:  Caroline  is  deceased;  Peter.  Daniel 
W.  and  Harvey  are  mentioned  below:  Susan  is  tin- 
widow  of  Daniel  Zimmerman:  William  died 
young;  Lucy  (deceased)  married  Washington 
Lei  by  and   (second  I  Washington  Fahringer. 

Petek  Mori;Y.  eldest  surviving  son  of  Daniel, 
was  horn  Nov.  14.  1842,  in  Shamokin.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  Columbia 
county,  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and  in  his 
young  manhood  learned  the  carpenter'.-  trade. 
which  he  followed  for  some  time  at  Shamokin  and 
elsewhere  in  Northumberland  county.  In  all  he 
was  engaged  at  his  trade  for  about  thirty  years, 
being  at  the  Big  Mountain  colliery  about  eleven 
years,  and  also  at  the  Henry  Clay.  Nelson,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Green  Ridge  collieries.  Upon  giv- 
ing up  bis  trade  he  was  elected  janitor  of  the  Me- 
Kinlev  school  building,  in  Coal  town-hip.  in  1906, 
and  has  since  Idled  thai  position,  which  occupies 
all  his  time.  He  has  long  made  his  home  in  Sham- 
okin. having  built  his  present  home,  at  No.  1111 
Walnut  street,  in  1886.  He  is  a  respected  citizen. 
well  known  in  Shamokin  and  throughout  Coal 
township.     In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  in  religion 


288 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


a  Lutheran.  Socially  lie  holds  membership  in  the 
I.  0.  0.  F. 

On  Jan.  5,  1868,  Mr.  Moury  married  Mary  A. 
Moyer,  who  was  born  March  1<).  1852,  daughter  of 
David  and  Catharine  M.  (Cherry)  Moyer,  and  fif- 
teen children  have  1 n  born  to  their  union,  name- 
ly: Mary  ('..  horn  Nov.  9,  1868,  married  John  A. 
Mengel;  David  died  when  seventeen  years  old;  El- 
la R.,  born  March  17,  1872,  married  William  H. 
Ritche;  Daniel  II.  was  born  Aug.  29,  1873;  John 
W.  Mas  horn  Jan.  15,  187-j:  Ida  8..  horn  Nov.  19, 
1876,  married  Wilson  G.  Xdder;  Stella  C.  died 
in  infancy;  Clara  E..  born  July  10,  1880.  married 
Edward  Hess:  Alice  W.,  born  March  13,  1883, 
married  Absalom  Davis;  Bertha  E.,  born  July  18, 
1881,  married  Bert  Goodman:  Sarah  M.  died  when 
five  years  old:  Fannie  A.,  born  Nov.  6,  1888.  died 
when  eight  years  old:  Florence  M..  horn  March 
17.  1891,  is  at  home;  Carrie  M.  and  Arthur  E. 
died  in  infamy. 

Daniel  W.  Moweey,  -on  of  Daniel,  was  horn 
Jan.  31,  1845,  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When 
nine  years  old  he  began  to  pick  slate  at  the  break- 
er, working  thus  one  year.  He  then  went  to  live 
with  Daniel  Keller,  at  Bear  Gap,  and  while  there 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  joining  Com- 
pany D.  95th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
under  Capt.  Charles  Grosh,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  the 
company  being  recruited  from  Lancaster  county. 
He  served  one  hundred  days.  In  1866  Mr.  Mow- 
ery located  at  his  present  home  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, which  formed  part  of  the  old  Persing  prop- 
erty. He  has  erected  all  new  buildings  upon  his 
land,  and  bis  property,  known  as  the  Brookside 
farm,  is  in  up-to-date  condition  in  every  respect. 
He  follows  genera]  farming  and  trucking,  and  has 
prospered  steadily  by  dint  of  hard  work  and  good 
management.  Mr.  Mowery  is  a  good  neighbor  and 
well  liked  in  his  community,  has  served  three 
years  as  township  treasurer,  is  a  very  active  mem- 
ber of  the  U.  B.  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
treasurer,  trustee,  class  leader  and  Sunday  school 
superintendent,  and  politically  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  is  a  man  who  possesses  the  courage  of  his-  con- 
victions, and  he  has  been  influential  in  promoting 
the  best  interests  of  his  locality.  He  is  one  of  those 
interested  in  the  Irish  Valley  Rural  Bell  Telephone 
Company,  which  has  seven  miles  of  wire,  put  up 
in  1909  and  1910  by  fourteen  enterprising  men  of 
the  valley. 

Mr.  Mowery  married  Mary  C.  Zimmerman, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Clarissa  (Snyder)  Zim- 
merman, of  Columbia  county,  and  they  have  he- 
come  the  parents  of  ten  children:  Laura.  John  and 
Ida  all  died  young:  Michael  married  Rosie  Fur- 
man,  and  their  children  are  Daniel.  Ruth  and  Paul : 
Eva  married  Lewis  S.  Tharp,  and  they  have  had 
children.  Mary.  Beulah.  Ida.  Elva.  Donald  and 
Howard;  Adam  died  when  fifteen  years  old;  Al- 


bert died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  Lottie  died  when 
ten  years  old  :  Ellis  died  at  the  age  of  eight  year- : 
Clarence  D.  is  at  home. 

Hahvet  Moweey,  son  of  Daniel,  now  living  re- 
tired in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  was  horn  Nov. 
9,  1847,  at  Shamokin.  He  followed  mining  for  a 
considerable  period,  being  in  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  for  about  twen- 
ty years,  retiring  in  the  year  1910.  Mr.  Mowery 
own-  a  farm  in  Shamokin  township,  which  he 
rents  out,  and  has  some  valuable  holdings  of  real 
estate  in  Coal  township,  at  the  limits  of  Sham- 
okin borough.  His  home  is  at  No.  826  West  Pine 
street. 

Mr.  Mowery  married  Amelia  Hartline.  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Rebuck)  Hartline.  and 
to  them  has  been  torn  a  large  family :  Minerva, 
now  the  wife  of  Lewis  Reed:  William,  who  mar- 
ried Laura  Hains  and  (second)  Katie  Noll:  Dan- 
iel, who  lives  in  New  Jersey;  Mary,  wife  of  Harry 
Lake:  Michael  C.  living  at  home:  Edna,  at  home; 
Lucy,  married  to  William  Thomas;  MJalchom:, 
who  married  Edna  Persing;  Ellis;  Ruth;  Clinton; 
Annie,  deceased;  Rosie,  deceased;  Edith  and  Eth- 
el, twins:  and  a  son  that  died  in  infancy. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Mowery  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  be- 
longing to  Black  Diamond  Lodge.  No.  109?.  and 
to  the  Encampment ;  and  he  is  a  member  of  Wash- 
ington Camp  No.  149,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  In  religious 
connection  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
( 'htirch. 

CHARLES  WOLVERTON  CLEMENT,  attor- 
ney at  law.  of  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county, 
is  a  native  of  that  place  and  a  member  of  one  of 
it-  most  prominent  families.  His  grandfather, 
Ira  T.  Clement,  long  the  most  influential  man  in 
this  section,  was  a  man  who  not  only  acquired 
means  and  position  by  his  own  efforts,  but  also 
brought  advantageous  industrial  enterprises  into 
the  region  which  benefited  the  entire  community. 

Joseph  Clement.  Mr.  Clement's  great-grand- 
father, served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  died  on  Staten  [sland,  New  York.  In 
1805  he  married,  in  Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  Hannah 
Hazen,  ami  they  had  three  children:  Augustus, 
who  married  Caroline  Lyons  and  died  in  Sunbury; 
Sarah,  who  first  married  a  Mr.  Hazen  and  later 
became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Woodbridge,  and  raised 
a  large  family:  and  Ira  T.  Mrs.  Joseph  Clement 
married  for  her  second  husband   Solomon   Smith. 

Ira  T.  Clement,  horn  Jan.  11.  1813,  in  New 
Jersey,  Mas  a  young  child  when  brought  by  his 
mother  to  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  Oct.  28, 
1898.  A  more  complete  account  of  his  life  appears 
el -e where  in  this  work.  In  1834  he  married  Sarah 
Martz,  of  Shamokin  township,  daughter  of  David 
and  Magdalena  (Shissler)  Martz.  and  to  them 
were  horn  twelve  children:  Amelia,  who  died  tin- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


289 


married;  Henry;  Catharine  A.,  who  died  young; 
David;  a  child  that  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Jane, 
who  married  John  \V.  Bueher;  Louisa,  widow  of 
Benry  E.  Moore;  Sarah  Frances,  who  married 
David  ('.  Dissinger  and  survived  him;  Laura  I., 
who  married  Dietrich  .lames;  Maria  W.,  who  died 
unmarried  ;  and  ( i  race  and  Emma,  who  died  young. 
Only  two  of  this  family,  Henry  and  Mrs.  Moore, 
survived  (he  father. 

David  Clement,  son  of  Ira  T.,  was  horn  in 
August,  1840,  in  Sunbury,  and  was  interested  with 
his  father  and  In-other  in  the  lumber  business 
throughout  his  active  career,  continuing  thus  until 
his  death.  April  7,  1876,  at  a  comparatively  early 
age.  On  Nov.  2,  1866,  he  married  Sarah  Wolver- 
ton,  a  member  of  a  prominent  family  of  this  local- 
ity, horn  Nov.  22,  1844,  on  the  Wolverton  home- 
stead some  miles  below  Sunbury,  daughter  of  Den- 
nis Wolverton.  in  his  day  a  prominent  resident  of 
I'pper  Augusta  township.  Mrs.  Clement  con- 
tinued to  live  at  the  home  at  Second  and  Arch 
streets,  Sunbury,  until  her  death.  May  30,  1910, 
after  an  illness  of  over  six  months,  and  she  is 
buried  in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery.  The  funeral 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  R.  R.  Thompson,  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  she  was  a  lifelong 
member,  faithful  and  conscientious  in  her  Chris- 
tian duties  and  in  all  other  relations  of  life.  She 
was  also  an  active  member  of  the  hoard  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Y.  \V.  C.  A.  and  of  the  Ladies'  Aux- 
iliary of  the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital.  Her  many 
excellent  traits  of  character  and  useful  life  en- 
deared her  to  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. She  was  the  last  survivor  of  her  family,  her 
brothers  and  sisters  having  all  predeceased  her. 
They  were  as  follows:  Horatio  J.  Wolverton,  at 
one  time  a  well  known  lawyer  of  Sunbury;  Wil- 
liam .1.  Wolverton,  also  a  lawyer,  and  at  one  time 
county  superintendent  of  schools;  Mrs.  Peter 
Snyder;  Mrs.  .lames  Riland  :  .Mrs.  Thomas  Snyder, 
and  Mrs.  William  Kline. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David 
Clement  :  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  dames  A.  Wat- 
son, a  [latent  attorney,  of  Washington,  D.  ('.,  and 
has  three  children,  Robert  C.  .1.  Angus  and  C. 
Harold:  John  W.,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Charles  Wolverton. 

Charles  Wolverton  Clement,  born  Feb.  1,  1875, 
at  Sunbury.  there  received  most  of  his  preparatory 
education.'  in  the  local  schools,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  in  1892.  He  spent  one  year  of  his 
high  school  life  at  Washing-ton,  D.  C.  Entering 
Bucknell  College,  he  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1898,  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.,  receiving 
his  master's  degree  from  that  institution  in  1904. 
Meantime,  however,  he  had  completed  his  prepara- 
tion for  the  legal  profession.  He  attended  what 
was  then  known  as  Columbian  University,  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  now  George  Washington  Uni- 
versity, graduating  in  1902  with  the  degree  of 
19 


LL.  IV.  and  supplementing  his  course  with  special 
work  which  won  him  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Patent  Law  in  1903.  lie  was  admitted  to  the 
Northumberland  county  bar  June  23,  1902.  While 
taking  his  law  course  he  was  associated  with  his 
brother-in-law.  Mr.  Watson,  gaining  practical  ex- 
perience in  patent  law,  of  which  he  too  makes  a 
specialty.  He  also  studied  for  a  time  with  Gen.  C. 
M.  Clement,  of  Sunbury.  Remaining  in  Wash- 
ington a  short  time  after  completing  his  work  in 
the  law  school,  Mr.  Clement  returned  to  Sunbury 
and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  practice  in  this 
locality.  His  office  is  in  Room  322,  in  the  First 
National  Bank  building,  at  which  location  he  has 

done  business  since  1904.     His  patronage  has  I n 

a  creditable  one  from  the  beginning,  and  has  shown 
a  steady  increase,  his  standing  being  irreproach- 
able, whether  from  the  professional  or  the  personal 
standpoint.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sunbury  Board 
of  Trade. 

Mr.  Clement  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is 
at  present  serving  in  the  borough  council  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  First  Ward.  His  social  connec- 
tions are  numerous,  he  being  a  member  of  Maclay 
Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  which  he  is  at  pres- 
ent senior  warden  (  lull  )  ;  Northumberland  Chap- 
ter. No.  174,  R.  A.  M.;  Mount  Ilermon  Com- 
mandery,  No.  85,  K.  T. ;  the  Royal  Arcanum; 
the  Sons  of  Veterans  :  the  Temple  Club;  the  Coun- 
try Club,  of  which  he  is  president;  the  Phi  Kappa 
Psi  college  fraternity:  and  the  Bucknell  Alumni 
Association.  He  is  an  attendant  of  the  Baptist 
t '  I )  1 1  re  1  i  . 

DP.  A.  T.  DeWITT  was  born  in  1837,  in 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  DeWitt  family  here.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when 

tl migrant  ancestors  came  to  this  country  from 

Holland,  they  settled  on  .Manhattan  island,  nam- 
ing it    New  Amsterdam. 

The  records  show  that  there  were  two  brothers, 
one  remaining  in  New  York,  while  the  other 
moved  to  New  Jersey.  About  1807  Paul  DeWitt, 
a  member  "I'  the  New  Jersey  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  grandfather  of  Dr.  DeWitt.  came  with  a 
number  of  other  New  Jersey  families  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, settling  in  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county.  He  married  Margaret  Persing, 
and  to  them  were  horn  three  children:  Abraham, 
who  moved  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.:  William,  and 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Reppard. 

William  DeWitt,  son  of  Paul,  married  Elizabeth 
Tressler,  and  to  them  were  bom  s(.\c.n  children: 
Jacob,  who  married  Mary  Clark  and  had  three 
children:  Isaac,  who  married  Elizabeth  CreSsigCT 
and  had  seven  children,  two  sons  and  live  daugh- 
ters: Paul,  who  married  Abigal  Shipman,  ami 
had  five  children,  three  sons  mid  two  daughters: 
William,  who  married   Man    Latsha  and   had  eight 


290 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


children,  two  sons  and  six  daughters:  Matthew, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Shipman  and  had  two 
children,  one  son  and  one  daughter;  Moses,  who 
married  Lavina  Strausser  and  had  four  children, 
one  son  and  three  daughters;  and  Abraham  T., 
who  married  Sarah  Renn  and  had  four  children, 
three  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Dr.  Abraham  T.  DeWitt,  the  youngest  son.  was 
reared  upon  a  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  He  next  spent  two  years  at  work  in 
the  mill  of  his  brother  William,  and  then  took 
the  opportunity  to  improve  Ms  early  education, 
attending  the  academy  at  Boalsburg,  in  Center 
county.  Pa.  After  that  he  began  his  experience 
as  teacher,  being  thus  engaged  for  one  term  in 
Snyder  county.  Pa.,  at  the  close  of  which  he  be- 
came a  student  at  what  then  was  known  as  the 
Freeburg  Academy,  in  Snyder  county.  The  fol- 
lowing winter  he  taught  school  in  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty, and  then  again  resumed  his  studies,  at  the 
Missionary  Institute,  now  Susquehanna  Univer- 
sity, located  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  He  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
Caslow,  of  Halifax.  Dauphin  county,  and  in  1861 
entered  the  University  of  Vermont,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  June  9,  1862.  Dr. 
DeWitt  at  once  settled  at  Snydertown,  Northum- 
berland county,  when-  he  continued  private  prac- 
tice until  he  took  the  examination  for  army  ser- 
vice in  June,  1863.  and  passing  was  soon  appointed 
assistant  surgeon.  54th  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
.  Emergency  Men.  for  one  hundred  days'  ser- 
vice. The  command  was  sent  out  of  the  State, 
and  Dr.  DeWitt  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Gen. 
John  Morgan,  who  was  making  his  famous  raid 
into  Ohio.  After  receiving  his  discharge  with  the 
regiment,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  the  Doctor 
reentered  the  Union  service,  being  appointed  sur- 
geon of  the  2d  Pennsylvania  Heavy  Artillery 
Regiment,  within  the  fortifications  at  Washington, 
D.  C.j  at  the  northeast:  in  1864  he  was  transferred 
from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest.  Washington 
defenses.  In  June.  1864,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  join  the  army  under  General  Grant,  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  subsequently 
marched  to  White  House  Landing,  where  the 
troops  took  transports  for  City  Point.  The  regi- 
ment was  the  first  to  advance  upon  Petersburg, 
where  they  remained  until  August,  at  which  time 
they  were  stationed  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  con- 
tinuing at  that  point  until  Lee  evacuated  Rich- 
mond. They  were  then  ordered  to  Petersburg,  re- 
maining in  charge  of  the  city  until  Jan.  1,  1866, 
when  they  were  discharged  by  general  order. 
While  in  the  defenses  at  Washington  Dr.  DeWitt 
was  a  member  of  the  staff  of  General  Fariero.  with 
headquarters  at  Arlington.  Dining  the  summer 
of  1865  he  was  chief  medical  officer  of  the  district 
of  Roanoke,  with  headquarters  at  Berksville  Junc- 
tion. Va.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Philadelphia  in 
1866. 


On  April  1.  1866,  Dr.  DeWitt  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  at  Snydertown,  Pa.,  in  1878 
moving  to  the  borough  of  Riverside,  where  he  has 
since  been  located.  He  has  won  a  place  among 
the  most  esteemed  citizens  of  that  place  by  his 
busy  and  well  spent  life.  His  skill  as  a  physician 
has  brought  him  a  long  list  of  patrons,  to  whom  he 
is  friend  as  well  as  doctor,  and  he  is  widely  known 
in  Riverside  and  the  surrounding  territory. 

While  at  Snydertown,  in  1873.  Dr.  DeWitt  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  House  of 
Representatives,  was  reelected  to  serve  in  the  same 
capacity  in  1874.  and  in  1875  was  elected  tran- 
scribing clerk  of  the  House.  Since  becoming  a 
resident  of  Riverside  he  has  not  been  identified 
with  public  affairs  as  an  office  holder,  but  the  es- 
tablishment  and  maintenance  of  what  is  known 
as  DeWitfs  park  is  due  to  hi-  elicit-  and  is  a 
worthy  monument  to  his  interest  in  the  general 
welfare.  It  is  a  naturally  wooded  tract  of  some 
twenty  acres,  which  has  been  well  equipped  for 
amusement  purposes,  with  a  pavilion  50  by  110 
feet  in  dimensions,  a  dining  hall  65-  by  -'it;  feet, 
and  large  ball  grounds  with  a  100-foot  grand 
stand.  The  park  i>  well  supplied  with  flowing 
water,  cool  and  of  excellent  quality,  conducted 
through  the  grounds  from  a  spring.  The  spot  is 
cool  and  beautiful  on  the  hottest  days,  and  the 
ation  ground  has  proved  not  only  an  improve- 
ment to  the  vicinity  but  a  blessing  to  the  many 
who  take  advantage  of  it-  benefits.  The  idea  was 
typical  of  Dr.  DeWitt.  He  is  a  man  of  kind  and 
genial  disposition,  and  in  spite  of  his  advanced 
years  i>  remarkably  well  preserved. 

Dr.  DeWitt  married  Sarah  Eenn.  who  died 
duly  2,  1906,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  of  the 
four  children  born  to  this  union  one  son  died 
young,  the  others  being:  W.  ().,  who  married  Lu- 
ella  Gruver  of  Nanticoke,  Pa.,  and  has  children, 
Helen.  Florence,  John  and  William;  Heber  Lor- 
an,  who  married  Anna  Morrell  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. George  and  Sarah:  and  Cora  Irene,  who 
married  William  Mettler  and  has  one  daughter, 
Evelyn. 

WILLIAM  R.  EE1YHARDT.  general  superin- 
tendent for  the  Mineral  Railroad  it  Mining  Com- 
pany, whose  offices  are  at  Shamokin,  has  been  a 
miner  ever  since  he  became  a  resilient  of  that 
borough  in  1871.  A  man  who  carries  large  respon- 
sibilities ably,  a  citizen  of  the  highest  standing. 
he  is  self-made  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term, 
having  won  his  success  by  industry  and  the  most 
honorable  methods.  Mr.  Reinhardt  was  born  June 
1st.  1855.  in  Xew  York,  and  he  is  of  German  ex- 
traction, his  father.  William  Frederick  Reinhardt, 
having  been  born  in  Germany. 

William  Frederick  Reinhardt  came  to  America 
about  1S53-54.  After  a  short  residence  in  New 
York  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  he 
also  lived  several  years  in  Lehigh  county,  thence 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


291 


coming  to  Shamokin,  Northumberland  county.  He 
died  at  Topton,  in  Berks  county,  of  apoplexy,  in 
1892,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  By  trade  he 
was  a  printer,  engaged  in  casting  prints',  but  after 
coining  to  America  he  followed  different  kinds  of 
outdoor  work.  His  brother  in  Germany  was  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Wittenburg  and  served  as 
postmaster  there.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Keinliar.lt.  wife 
of  William  Frederick  Reinhardt,  was  a  native  of 
Switzerland.  She  came  with  her  husband  to  Amer- 
ica, and  died  about  L898,  a1  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  They  are  buried  at  Topton.  Both  were 
Lutherans  in  religious  faith.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  William  R. ;  Christian,  of  Topton,  Pa.; 
Frank,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  and  Emma,  of  Topton, 
wIki  married  John  Dye  and  (second)  John  Brouse. 

William  B.  Reinhardt  received  such  educational 
advantages  as  the  common  schools  afforded,  most 
of  his  training,  however,  having  been  acquired  in 
iIm  tields  of  practical  work.  After  he  was  fifteen 
years  old  he  began  working  in  the  coal  mines  at 
Shamokin,  starting  as  a  laborer,  and  gained  pro- 
tion  by  merit  from  time  to  time  until  he  at- 
tained his  present  high  position,  the  duties  of 
which  he  assumed  Jan.  1.  1900.  During  all  this 
time  he  has  continued  to  make  his  home  in  Sham- 
okin. except  for  the  two  years  1898  and  1899,  when 
he  uas  genera]  inside  foreman  at  the  Williamstown 
and  Lykens  collieries,  which,  however,  were 
operated  by  the  same  company.  He  returned  to 
Shamokin  to  take  charge  a-  general  superintendent 
for  the  Mineral  Railroad  &  Mining  Company,  hav- 
ing supervision  of  all  the  work  in  its  seven  collieries 
— Cameron.  Luke  Fidler,  Hickory  Swamp.  Hickory 
Ridge.  Scott.  Pennsylvania  and  Richards.  Over 
five  thousand  men  are  employed  in  the  district, 
which  is  one  of  tin'  important  coal  fields  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  original  concern,  the  Union  Coal 
Company,  had  five  collieries — all  those  above 
named  except  the  Cameron  and  Luke  Fidler.  which 
belonged  to  the  Mineral  Mining  Company.  In 
1904  the  Union  Coal  Company  was  changed  to 
the  Susquehanna.  Coal  Company,  and  in  January, 
1909.  this  was  in  turn  absorbed  by  the  Mineral 
Railroad  &  Mining  Company,  with  offices  at  Sham- 
okin. Mr.  Reinhardt  has  been  a  director  of  the 
Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company  of 
Shamokin  since  1900.  He  lias  not  taken  any  active 
part  in  municipal  affairs,  except  to  give  his  in- 
fluence as  a  public-spirited  citizen  to  projects  in- 
tended to  advance  the  local  welfare.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  mailer-. 

Mr.  Reinhardt  is  prominent  in  local  fraternal 
circles,  belonging  to  Lodge  Xo.  256,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  oi 
Shamokin  ;  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  at  Shamokin  :  and 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  connection  he 
holds  membership  in  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255, 
Shamokin  Chapter.  X...  264,  R.  A.  M.,  Shamokin 
Commanderv.  No.  77,  K.  T.,  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A. 
O.  X.  M.  S.,  of  Reading,  and  the  Temple  Club  at 


Shamokin.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  ami  at  present  serving  in  the  church  coun- 
cil. 

In  187?  Mr.  Reinhardt  married  Amelia  T.  Sow- 
den,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Williams) 
Sowden,  of  near  Allentown,  Pa.,  and  they  had  one 
child,  Elizabeth,  who  did  of  diphtheria  and  was 
buried  in  the  same  coffin  with  her  mother,  near 
Slafedale,  Lehigh  Co..  Pa.  Mrs.  Reinhardt  had 
been  in  poor  health  for  about  a  year,  and  shortly 
before  her  death  contracted  a  colli  which  ended  fa- 
tally in  April,  1883.  Mr.  Reinhardt's  second  mar- 
riage was  in  Alice  Shipe,  daughter  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Hoover)  Shipe.  of  Montour  county. 
though  her  father  was  a  pioneer  of  Shamokin  and 
built  one  of  the  very  first  houses  at  that  place.  He 
was  a  lumber  merchant  in  the  earlier  days.  Later 
a  dry  goods  merchant.  Five  children  have  been 
horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reinhardt:  George  died  of 
diphtheria  when  six  years  old  :  Walter  was  a  mining 
engineer  and  was  killed  in  the  mines  while  a  mem- 
ber of  an  engineer  corps:  Harry  is  a  mining  en- 
gineer and  Lives  at  Shamokin  :  Robert  and  Florence 
are  still  at  school. 

SAM  I'LL  SOWDLX  was  an  Englishman,  born 
at  Liskeard,  England,  May  11.  1816,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  lS4(i,  settling  in  Northamp- 
ton county.  Pa.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  ore  min- 
ing, employing  a  number  of  men,  and  he  followed 
that  business  from  the  time  of  his  settling  there 
until  his  retirement  from  active  pursuits.  He  was 
employed  for  a  number  of  years  by  the  Allentown 
Iron  Company.  Earlier  in  life  he  was  a  farmer 
in  his  native  land.  In  1858  he  located  at  [ronton, 
where  he  lived  until  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
when  he  moved  to  a  location  between  Meversville 
and  the  Iron  Bridge.  Here  his  death  occurred 
Feb.  5,  1891,  when  he  was  aged  seventy-four  years. 
eight  months,  twenty- four  days,  and  he  was  buried 
at  the  Egypt  Church  in  Lehigh  county.  Be  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  was  a 
public-spirited  man  in  the  besl  sense  of  the  word, 
never  Eailing  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  promote  the 
best  interests  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Sowden's  first  wife  was  Mary  Elliott.  She 
died  in  1S44  and  was  buried  a1  Liskeard.  England. 
Thev  were  the  parents  of  two  children:  lion. 
William  II. .  born  in  1840,  who  was  twice  elected 
to  Congress  from  the  Berks-Lehigh  district  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  a  mosl  popular  orator  and  a 
strong  and  convincing  speaker;  ami  John,  who 
emigrated  from  England  to  Australia,  and  who 
never  married.  Mr.  Sowden  married  (second) 
Elizabeth  11  Williams,  also  a  native  of  Liskeard, 
born  Sept.  27,  L827,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Sowden)  Williams.  Her  death  occurred 
Aug.  17,  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  ten 
months,  twenty  days,  she  was  the  mother  of  the 
following   children:      Dr.    Ralph    4'.:    Amelia    T.. 


292 


X<  tRTHFMBERLAXD  COFXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


who  married  William  R.  ReinhaTdt,  of  Shamokin; 
Edwin  E.,  deceased;  Jabez  B.,  retired,  of  Slate- 
dale,  l'a. :  Samuel,  who  died  in  infancy :  and  Maine 
E.,  who  married  Morris  A.  Lentz,  of  Slatedale. 

GILBERT  VORIS  (deceased)  lived  for  over 
fifty  years  on  a  farm  in  what  is  now  West  Chillis- 
quaque township.  Northumberland  county,  in 
which  region,  in  the  territory  embraced  in  either 
tin-  in-  Montour  count)',  the  Voris  family  has  been 
well  known  lor  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  his  community,  a  worthy 
representative  of  a  name  which  has  long  been 
honored  as  standing  for  intelligence,  integrity  ami 
sterling  qualities  of  manhood  and  citizenship. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America  emi- 
grated from  Holland  and  spelled  the  name  Yoor- 
hees, as  appears  from  the  church  record  of  Okey 
Yoorhees,  ancestor  of  the  branch  in  which  we  are 
interested.  But  as  the  name  at  one  time  was  writ- 
ten de  Yoorhees  it  is  supposed  the  family  is  of 
French  origin.  It  is  known  that  three  brothers. 
Okey,  danics  and  Abraham,  came  to  this  country 
from  Holland  and  settled  on  Long  Island  during 
the  seventeenth  century,  later  settling  near  Tren- 
ton, in  Xew  Jersey,  where  they  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land.  Okey.  the  ancestor  of  the  branch  in 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  in  either  Hol- 
land or  France,  and  as  stated  settled  in  Xew  Jer- 
sey, where  he  reared  a  family.  Eventually  he 
moved  out  to  Michigan,  where  he  became  a  pros- 
perous fanner,  and  a  county  was  named  for  him. 
He  died  in  Michigan. 

Gilbert  Voris,  son  of  Okey.  came  about  1765  to 
Montour  county.  Pa.,  obtained  a  tract  of  over  six 
hundred  acres  near  Mooresburg,  and  died  in  1797. 
He  was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Danville, 
now  Memorial  park,  and  when  the  question  came 
up  of  changing  the  cemetery  grounds  into  a  park 
Mr.  William  Yoris  transferred  the  markers  and  re- 
mains elsewhere.  Gilbert  Yoris  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Danville. 
In  Xew  Jersey  he  married  Jane  McClanathan. 
who  survived  him  and  remarried,  her  second  hus- 
band being  John  Carson:  she  died  in  October. 
1816.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children  by  her 
second  marriage,  and  four  children  were  also  born 
to  her  union  with  Mr.  Yoris.  namely:  (1)  James 
settled  in  Liberty  township,  Montour  county,  and 
died  at  Danville.  He  married  Anna  Grey  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children.  (2) 
John  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Eleanor  married 
Elijah  Crawford  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
ten  children.  (4)  Elizabeth  married  Peter  Yanda- 
lang  and  had  children  :  Adam.  John.  Gilbert.  Jane, 
James  and  Peter. 

John  Yoris.  son  of  Gilbert,  was  bom  Aug.  29, 
1791,  and  died  April  2.  1863.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpenter,  though  he  also  followed  farming.  He 
was  the  most  prominent  contractor  in  his  district 


during  his  active  years,  building  many  of  the  most 
important  structures  in  the  locality,  among  them 
tlie  old  eight-cornered  schoolhouse  known  as  the 
Sodom  school  in  Chillisquaque  township,  which  he 
erected  in  1814.  In  1852  lie  purchased  part  of 
the  Maj.  James  McMahan  farm,  known  as  the 
Teneriffe  tract,  for  which  his  >on"s  widow.  Mrs. 
Gilbert  Yoris.  now  holds  the  original  deed  made 
by  the  Penns  to  the  McMahans.  The  tract  is  now 
occupied  by  her  son  John  L.  Voris.  Here  stood 
the  old  fort,  close  to  which  Major  McMahan  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians.  Later  Gilbert 
Yoris  purchased  more  land  in  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  until  he  owned 
about  seven  hundred  acres,  and  he  became  very 
successful  in  his  agricultural  pursuits,  being  a  man 
of  great  business  ability  as  well  as  an  intelligent 
worker.  He  retired  when  about  sixty  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Yoris  married  Sarah  Hendrickson.  who  was 
born  May  11.  1796,  daughter  of  Adam  ami  Catha- 
rine (Vandling)  Hendrickson,  and  died  May  11, 
L874.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoris  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Mary;  Jane,  born  in  1819, 
who  died  in  1895,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Kerr  i  1815- 
1876)  :  Catharine:  Peter,  who  had  one  child,  Lizzie 
P...  wife  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Follmer;  Gilbert:  Elizabeth: 
Abraham;  William,  who  married  Anna  Mack  and 
hail  twelve  children.  Josephine  (Mrs.  Charles 
Blue),  George  M.,  Jennie  (Mrs.  Harry  Kramer). 
Mary  E.,  Bertha.  John.  Nellie  (deceased),  Okey 
(deceased),  Anna  G.,  Sarah  L.,  Emma  Caroline 
(married  Edwin  Murray)  and  William  Edwin: 
John  :  and  Ellen. 

Gilbert  Voris,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Hen- 
drickson) Yoris.  was  born  May  :>.  1826,  in  Mon- 
tour county,  and  received  bis  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  township.  Until  he  be- 
came of  age  he  worked  on  his  father's  land,  and  in 
1S62  he  purchased  one  of  his  father's  farms,  all 
his  life  continuing  to  engage  in  farming,  in  which 
he  was  very  successful.  Though  a  faithful  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics  he  always  refused  any  offer-  of 
public  office,  but  he  was  a  very  active  worker  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  serving  as  president  of  the 
committee  that  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the 
Chillisquaque  Church  at  Pottsgrove,  the  fourth 
structure  built  by  that  organization.  The  first 
church  building,  erected  in  1773,  the  oldest,  church 
in  this  vicinity,  was  burned  by  the  Indians.  In 
1789-90  the  second  was  erected,  the  third  in  1853, 
and  the  fourth  in  1889-91.  Mr.  Yoris  was  not 
only  a  zealous  church  worker,  but  actively  inter- 
ested in  everything  that  affected  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  where  he  was  held  in  the  highest  es- 
teem. He  died  Jan.  21;.  1904.  and  is  buried  in 
Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton. 

On  March  1  1.  1854,  Mr.  Yoris  married  Harriet 
MeWilliams,  and  they  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren:   (1)    Anna,   bom   March   14,  1855,  married 


ISTOETHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


293 


Dr.  II.  M.  Emerick,  of  Milton,  and  died  Sept.  3, 
1897.  ( '.' )  John  L.  is  mentioned  more  fully  be- 
low. (3)  Hugh  McW.,  born  in  1864,  died  young. 
(  I  i  Barriel  E.,  bom  Feb.  20,  1873,  is  the  wife  of 
Luther  Moll  and  has  three  children,  Sidney  Y. 
(horn  April  10,  1897),  Anna  R.  (born  Sept.  30, 
1899)  and  Frank  II.  (born  Nov.  8,  1906).  Mrs. 
Voris  now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Moll,  in  Pottsgrove,  whither  she  removed  af- 
ter her  husband's  death.  She  and  her  husband 
lived  on  the  farm  where  they  began  their  married 
life  for  over  fifty  years. 

The  McWilliams  family  to  which  Mrs.  Gilbert 
Yoris  belongs  has  long  been  settled  in  this  section 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  earliest  of  the  name  of 
which  we  have  record  was  her  great-great-grand- 
father, Robert  McWilliams,  who  married  Jean 
Orr,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  Hugh,  John  and 
Robert. 

Hugh  Mi  Williams,  son  of  Robert,  married  Ee- 
becca  Dunwoody,  and  with  his  bride  came  to  Mon- 
tour county,  l'a..  where  he  took  up  some  eight 
hundred  ai  res  of  land. 

Robert  McWilliams,  sun  of  Hugh,  was  hum  in 
nU>.  and  in  1791  married  Jane  Curry,  whose  fa- 
ther, Robert  Curry,  was  killed  by  Indians.  To 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  Hugh,  John 
and  Mrs.  <  'aldwell. 

Hugh  McWilliams,  son  of  Robert,  was  horn  in 
1799  and  died  in  1877.  He  married  Rebecca 
Lemon,  and  the}  had  children:  Harriet,  now  the 
widow  of  Gilbert  Voris;  Regina  (deceased),  who 
married  I  lr.  Simington;  and  Anna,  widow  of 
Frank  Hain. 

John  L.  Voris,  sou  of  the  late  Gilbert  Yoris, 
was  hum  Aug.  6,  1858,  in  East  Chillisquaque 
township,  and  there  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  also  went  to  school  at  Bloom 
and  a1  Lewisburg.  He  has  followed  farming  all 
his  life,  and  in  April,  1884.  settled  at  his  present 
home,  a  trad  of  212  acres  which  was  one  of  his 
father's  farms,  the  famous  Teneriffe  tract,  adjoin- 
ing the  old  Voris  homestead.  In  1891  he  built  the 
handsome  residence  which  stands  on  this  property, 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  this  region,  up- 
to-date  in  every  respect,  and  embodying  all  the 
conveniences  found  in  metropolitan  dwellings— a 
comfortable,  commodious  house  which  is  a  credit 
to  the  vicinity.  It  is  located  on  the  road  between 
Lewisburg  and  Danville.  Mr.  Yoris  is  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  his  district.  He  is  at  present 
serving  his  third  term  as  member  of  the  township 
school  board,  and  he' has  always  been  among  the 
first  to  support  worthv  movements  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, of  whatever  nature.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Grange  and  also  of  the  State  Grange,  do- 
ing all  he  could  to  raise  the  standards  of  agricul- 
ture, in  which  he  himself  has  been  most  sui 
ful  as  the  result  of  progressive  methods  and  well 
directed  energy.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  m 


religion    a     Presbyterian,    belonging    to    the    old 

church  at   Pottsgrove  which  the  family  has  so  long 
helped  to  support. 

.Mr.  Yoris  married  Mary  Hamor,  daughter  of 
William  and  Emma  (Robins)  Hamor,  and  they 
have  had  the  following  children:  Gilbert,  who 
married  Grace  Schell;  Emily,  who  is  at  home: 
Frank,  who  died  in  infancy;  ami  J.  Harold,  at 
home. 

WILLIAM  MACLAY,  .me  of  the  first  officials 
of  Northumberland  county  and  one  of  the  two  men 
who  first  had  the  honor  of  representing  Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  Senate  of  the  United  State...  left  an 
impress  upon  the  politics  of  the  State  and  country 
more  appreciable  in  the  present  generation  than 
ever  before.  He  and  his  brother,  Samuel  Madav. 
who  was  the  first  representative  of  Northumber- 
land and  Dauphin  counties  in  the  Lower  house  of 
the  National  Congress.  1794,  and  later  served  as 
United  States  senator,  were  recognized  as  men  of 
the  highest  influence  and  important  figures  in  the 
life  of  their  day.  William  Maclay  served  only  two 
years  in  the  Senate.  But  be  helped  to  direct  the 
course  of  the  ship  of  state  for  a  much  longer  period. 
Moreover,  time  has  proved  that  his  ideas,  or  more 
properly  bis  ideals,  were  so  far  in  advance  id'  his 
time  that  he  became  almost  discouraged  in  his  hope 
of  ever  seeing  them  generally  adopted.  Yet  to-day 
these  ideas  are  by  common  consent  the  only  one's 
which  a  high-minded  statesman  will  acknowledge. 
the  ones  upon  which  he  counts  most  to  gain  popular 
support.  Mr.  Maclay  thought  a  man  should  enter 
politics  with  the  one  idea  of  serving  his  consti- 
tuents to  the  highest  and  hot  of  his  ability:  that 
he  should  receive  their  confidence  on  that  basis; 
that  he  should  be  unhampered  by  the  solicitations 
of  selfish  private  interests,  seeking  to  exalt  the 
prosperity  or  promote  the  advantages  of  the  few 
at  the  expense  of  the  many.  The  project  seemed 
simple  enough.  It  was  so  big  that  though  a  full 
century  ha-  elapsed  it  is  now  only  partially  de- 
veloped. But  the  evolution  has  been  of  a  stable 
character.  The  theories  which  this  broad-minded 
and  far-sighted  legislator  attempted  to  put  into 
practice  over  a  century  ago  are  becoming  crystal- 
lized in  modern  political  standards. 

Mr.  Maclay  was  born  Jul}  20,  1737,  in  N~ew  Gar- 
den township.  Chester  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Charles  mid 
Eleanor  (Querjr)  Maclay.  lie  was  of  Irish  extrac- 
tion, his  father  having  been  horn  in  County  An- 
trim. Ireland,  a  descendant  of  Charles  Maclay, 
Baron  Fingal.  In  1742  the  family  moved  to  Lur- 
gan  township.  Franklin  Co..  Pa.,  and  there  Wil- 
liam grew  to  manh I.     At   the  outbreak  of  the 

French  and  Indian  war  he  was  a  pupil  at  the  class- 
academy  of  Rev.  John  Blair,  in  Chester  coun- 
ty: entering  the  mili tan  service  as  ensign,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank'  of  lieutenant  May  ,.  1758, 
in  the  3d  Battalion'  and  served  with  credit  in  Gen- 


294 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,.  PENNSYLVANIA 


eral  Forbes's  expedition  in  that  year.  In  1763  he 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Bushy  Run.  and  dur- 
ing the  subsequent  progress  of  Bouquet's  campaign 
was  stationed  in  command  of  his  company  at  one 
of  the  stockades  on  the  route  of  the  expedition. 
Meantime,  in  the  intervals  of  his  military  service, 
the  young  man  had  studied  law.  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  in  York  county.  Pa.,  April  28,  1760.  It 
does  not  appear  that  he  ever  devoted  himself  to 
legal  practice,  but  he  must  have  found  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  law  extremely  useful  in  administering 
the  duties  of  the  various  public  trusts  to  which  he 
was  called.  Surveying  was  his  principal  occupa- 
tion during  his  earlier  manhood,  and  in  that  work 
li vered  the  vast  tracts  of  wild  land  in  the  cen- 
tral and  western  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the 
close  of  the  French  and  Indian  war  he  visited  Eng- 
land and  had  an  interview  with  Thomas  IVim.  one 
of  the  proprietaries,  relative  to  the  survey  of  lands 
on  tlie  frontier  of  what  was  then  the  "Province" 
of  Pennsylvania,  he  being  a  deputy  surveyor  for 
the  Penns  in  Berks  county,  which  then  embraced 
the  whole  northwestern  portion  of  the  Province. 
It  was  as  a  surveyor  that  he  first  became  familiar 
with  the  territory  of  what  i-  dow  Northumberland 
county.  On  Feb.  2:',.  1769,  he  made  the  lii-i  sur- 
vey in  the  valley  of  the  West  Branch.  Buffalo  Val- 
ley, one  of  the  tracts  apportioned  to  officers  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war.  in  which  he  shared  by 
virtue  of  his  own  services.  Thus  he  became  a  set- 
tler in  the  region  he  so  honored  by  his  able  and 
public-spirited  devotion  to  its  advancement,  and 
which  in  turn  honored  him  by  intrusting  him 
with  its  must  important  public  affairs.  W  ben 
Northumberland  county  was  formed  ou1  of  Berks 
in  17~2  he  became  the  firs!  prothonotary  and  clerk 
of  the  courts,  register  of  wills  and  recorder  of 
deeds,  receiving  his  commission  March  "24th  of 
that  year.  The  same  day  he  was  commissioned 
justice  for  the  county,  his  later  commissions  to 
that  office  bearing  the  dates  .Line  11,  1777,  and 
Jan.  24.  1T85.  He  served  as  prothonotary  etc.  until 
177T.  In  1772  he  assisted  John  Lukens  in  sur- 
veying the  town  of  Sunbury,  and  in  the  following 
years  erected  a  stone  dwelling  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Arch  and  Front  streets,  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  pretentious  of  the  early  private  houses 
at  the  county  seat,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  for  a  number  of  years.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  Harrisburg.  He  was  a  foremost  advocate 
in  his  section  of  the  Colonists'  cause  from  the  early 
part  of  the  Revolutionary  period.  He  "assisted  in 
equipping  and  forwarding  troops  to  the  Conti- 
nental army,  and  marched  with  the  Associators"  to 
the  seat  of  war,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton.  After  his  return  to  Sun- 
bury  he  served  as  issuing  commissary,  and  he  fled 
with  his  family  to  Paxtang  in  1778,  his  letter  to 
the  Council,  written  July  12th  of  that  year,  urg- 
ing that  reinforcements  be  sent  to  Colonel  Hunter. 


forming  part  of  his  correspondence  relating  to  af- 
fairs in  Northumberland  county  published  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives.  Mrs.  Hunter,  the 
Colonel's  wife,  accompanied  the  Maclays  when  they 
left  Sunbury.  Another  letter  of  Mac-lay's  written 
July  26,  11  79,  states:  '-The  stores  at  Sunbury  are 
deposited  in  my  late  dwelling  house,  which  is  large 
and  conveniently  situated,  both  for  defense  and  the 
reception  and  delivery  of  stores.  The  back  part  of 
it  was  stockaded  last  year  by  Colonel  Hartley;  a 
small  expense  would  complete  the  stockade  and 
mount  ti  few  swivels,  several  of  which  lie  there  dis- 
mounted ....  I  have  had  the  charge  of 
the  magazine  at  Sunbury  for  some  time  past." 

After  the  war  Mr.  Maclay  was  steadily  in  the 
popular  favor.  In  1781,  1782,  1783  and  1785  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Assembly  from  this  coun- 
ty, and  in  1786  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil, over  which  Benjamin  Franklin  presided.  In 
January.  1789,  he  had  the  honor  of  being  one  of 
the  first  two  senators  from  Pennsylvania  to  the 
National  House  of  Representatives,  his  colleague 
being  Robert  Morris,  who  drew  the  long  term. 
Mr.  Maclay's  services  ended,  therefore,  March  3, 
1791.  Though  \w<  service  in  that  capacity  was 
brief,  it  included  participation  in  some  of  the  tnosl 
momentous  affairs  in  the  organization  of  the  na- 
tional government.  Thus  he  took  part  in  the  in- 
auguration of  our  constitutional  government  when 
the  First  Congress  assembled  in  New  York  in  1789 
and  Washington  was  invested  with  the  Presidency. 
Senator  Maclay  enjoyed  an  intimate  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  Washington  and  was  a  frequent 
guest  at  his  table.  He  kept  a  journal  during  his 
senatorial  term,  in  which  he  summarized  the  de- 
hates  in  both  open  and  secret  sessions,  and  the 
comments  it  contains  upon  the  events  of  the  Brsl 
Congress  now  form  valuable  and  important  con- 
tributions to  the  history  of  the  period.  His  journal 
has  been  published  in  book  form  with  notes  by 
George  Washington  Harris,  and  also  in  the  New 
York  Sun.  Dr.  Egle,  in  his  "Pennsylvania  Gen- 
ealogies," throws  a  light  upon  Ma.  lav'-  strength  of 
character  and  influence  which  could  not  lie  gath- 
ered, naturally,  from  his  own  writings,  and  we 
quote  the  same  as  important  to  an  insight  of  bis 
real  worth : 

"His  election  to  this  body  raised  him  upon 
a  higher  plane  of  political  activity,  but  con- 
tact with  the  Federal  chiefs  of  the  S  i  tte  on- 
ly strengthened  his  political  convictions,  which, 
formed  by  long  intercourse  with  the  people 
of  middle  Pennsylvania,  were  intensely  Demo- 
cratic. He  began  to  differ  with  the  opinions 
of  President  Washington  very  early  in  the  ses- 
sion :  he  did  not  approve  of  the  state  and  ceremony 
attendant  upon  the  intercourse  of  the  President 
witli  Congress;  he  flatly  objected  to  the  present 
the  President  in  the  Senate  while  business  was  be- 
ing  transacted,   and   in   the    Senate   boldly   spoke 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


•.".I.-, 


against  his  policy  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
President  Washington.  The  New  England  histor- 
ians, Hildreth  and  Goodrich,  repute  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson as,  the  'efficient  promoter  at  the  beginning 
and  father  and  founder  of  the  Democratic  party.' 
Contemporary  records,  however,  show  beyond  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt  that  this  responsibility  or  honor, 
in  whatever  light  it  may  be  regarded,  cannot  be 
shifted  from  the  shoulders  or  taken  from  the 
laurels  of  Pennsylvania  statesmanship.  Before 
Mr.  Jefferson's  return  from  Europe,  William  Ma- 
clay  assumed  an  independent  position,  and  in  his 
short  career  of  two  years  in  the  Senate  propounded 
ideas  and  gathered  about  him  elements  to  form  the 
opposition  which  developed,  with  the  meeting  of 
Congress  at  Philadelphia  on  the  24th  of  October, 
1791,  in  a  division  of  the  people  into  two  great 
parties,  the  Federalists  and  Democrats,  when  for 
the  first  time  appeared  an  open  and  organized  op- 
position to  the  administration.  The  funding  of 
the  public  debt,  chartering  the  United  States  Bank, 
and  other  measures  championed  necessarily  by  the 
administrat  ion,  whose  duty  it  was  to  put  the  wheels 
of  government  in  motion,  engendered  opposition. 
Mr.  Maclay,  to  usi  his  own  language,  'no  one  else 
presenting  himself,'  fearlessly  took  the  initiative, 
and  with  his  blunt  common  sense  (for  he  was  not 
much  of  a  speaker)  and  democratic  ideas,  took 
issue  with  the  ablesl  advocates  of  the  administra- 
tion. Notwithstanding  the  prestige  of  General 
Washington  and  the  ability  of  the  defenders  of  the 
administration  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  such 
was  the  tact  and  resolution  of  Mr.  Maclay  that 
when,  after  his  short  service,  he  was  retired  from 
the  Senate  and  succeeded  by  James  Ross,  a  pro- 
nounced Federalist,  their  impress  was  left  in  the 
distinctive  Hues  of  an  opposition  party— a  party 
which,  taking  advantage  of  the  warm  feeling  of  our 
people  toward  the  French  upon  the  occasion  of 
.lav's  treaty  with  Great  Britain  in  1794,  and  of 
the  unpopularity  of  the  Alien  and  Sedition  laws. 
passed  under  the  administration  of  President  John 
Adams,  in  1798,  compassed  the  final  overthrow  of 
the  Federal  party  in  1800." 

From  the  close  of  his  senatorial  career  until  his 
death  Mr.  Maclay  resided  upon  his  farm  at  Har- 
risburg,  erecting  the  substantial  stone  building 
subsequently  occupied  by  the  academy  of  that  city. 
II,.  _,',  w,-,.s  to  his  community  did  not  end  with  his 
retirement  from  the  Senate.  In  1795  and  1803  he 
was  again  elected  to  the  State  Legislature:  in  1796 
he  was  a  Presidential  elector  and  in  1801-03  he 
served  as  associate  judge  of  Dauphin  county.  He 
died  April  16,  1804,  and  was  buried  at  Paxtang 
Church  In  1769  he  married  Mary  McClure  Har- 
ris daughter  of  John  Harris,  the  founder  of  the 
city  of  Barrisburg,  and  granddaughter  oi  the  re- 
nowned John  Harris,  who  was  rescued  from  being 
burned  to  death  by  the  Indians  on  the  fiver  hank 
where   the   State   Capitol   is   now  located.     Nine 


children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maclay,  of 
whom  .Mary,  fourth  child  and  second  daughter, 
married  Samuel  Awl,  a  prominent  resident  of  Up- 
per Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county. 

MOESCHLIN.  The  firm  of  J.  &  A.  Moesch- 
lin,  incorporated,  owners  of  the  Cold  Spring 
Brewery  at  Sunbury,  was  established  in  1873  and 
lias  been  in  continuous  existence  since  that  time, 
doing  a  large  business  in  the  borough  and  sur- 
rounding territory.  It  was  incorporated  under  the 
present  name  Jan.  11,  1911.  The  brothers  Jul iu- 
aml  August  Moeschlin,  originally  composing  this 
firm,  were  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  sons  of  Jacob 
Moeschlin,  who  was  also  a  brewer  by  occupation. 

Jacob  Moeschlin  was  born  in  1820  in  Wittlingen, 
Baden.  Germany,  and  learned  the  trade  of  brewer 
in  his  native  land,  where  he  was  proprietor  of 
breweries.  Coming  to  America  in  1866  he  started 
a  brewery  at  Norristown,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  thence  moving  to  St.  Clair,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  was  located  for  a  short  time 
before  coming  to  Sunbury,  Northumberland 
county.  After  a  year  and  a  half  at  this  point  he 
returned  to  the  Fatherland  to  settle  up  his  busi- 
ness affairs,  in  1874  returning  to  America,  where 
in  the  meantime  his  sons  Julius  and  August  had 
become  engaged  in  the  brewery  business,  at  Sun- 
bury.  He  started  the  Star  Brewery  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  but  after  one  year  there  came  to  live 
with  his  sons  at  Sunhury.  where  he  passed  the 
rest  of  his  days,  dying  May  ii.  1890,  aged  sixty- 
nine  years,  six  months,  two  days.  He  is  buried  at. 
Sunhury.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria  (Noll),  who  was 
bom  in  Baden  in  1817,  died  Nov.  4.  1890,  aged 
seventy-two  years,  eleven  months,  eighteen  days 
(six  months  later  than  her  husband),  and  is  buried 
by  his  side  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  They 
had  two  children,  Julius  and  August. 

Julius  Moeschlin  was  horn  June  1'.'.  is.". I.  in 
Loerrach,  Baden,  Germany,  and  there  received  bis 
education  in  the  public  schools,  which  he  attended 
from  the  time  he  was  seven  years  old  until  he 
i  ached  the  age  of  fifteen.  At  an  early  age  lie  be- 
gan to  learn  the  brewing  business  in  all  its  branches, 
so  that  he  was  familiar  with  the  commercial 
side  of  ill''  work  as  well  as  the  trade  practicallj 
from  boyhood.  In  September,  1867,  when  in  his 
seventeenth  year,  he  came  to  America,  landing  al 
New  York  City.  His  lather,  who  had  come  to 
this  country  the  previous  year,  had  a  brewer]  al 
Norristown,  Pa.,  and  the  son  went  there  o 
him.  spending  his  first   feu-  years  in  the   United 

States  at  thai  point.    In  1870  the  father  ci i  to 

Sunbury,  and  Julius   Moeschlin  arrived  there  on 

Thanksgiving  I  »a]   ol   that    peai .  again  to  be te 

his  lather's  assistant.  He  became  brewmaster  for 
Joseph  Bacher,  who  had  established  what  is  now 
tbe  Cold   '  Brewery  in  Sunhury  in  1865,  and 

remained  with  him  until  1873,  when  he  and  his 


296 


NOBTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


brother  bought  out  Mr.  Bacher  and  continued  the 
business  on  their  own  account.  During  the  thir- 
ty-seven years  of  their  ownership  the  plant  was  im- 
proved and  enlarged  until  there  is  little  of  the  orig- 
inal establishment  left  in  recognize.  The  site  was 
chosen  lor  its  convenience,  the  first  buildings — all 
id'  which  have  been  replaced  by  modern  structures 
— having  been  erected  over  a  fine  spring,  from 
which  the  plant  derives  its  name.  The  location  is 
.11  Seventh  and  Packer  streets,  and  the  huge  and 
well  equipped  buildings  are  the  best  evidence  of 
the  prosperity  the  concern  enjoys  and  of  the 
intelligent  manner  in  which  the  business  has  been 
built  up.  The  output  i-  large,  and  a  good  mar- 
ket is  found  in  the  home  community  and  in  sur- 
rounding counties.  A  considerable  amount  is  sold 
at  Northumberland.  Employment  is  now  given 
to  thirty  men,  and  fifteen  horses  and  two  motor 
trucks  are  required  for  the  distribution  of  the  pro- 
duct. On  .Ian.  11.  1911,  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Julius  Moeschlin,  the  concern  became  incorporated 
under  the  firm  name  of  .1.  &  A.  .Moeschlin,  and 
began  business  as  such  on  Feb.  1st  with  August 
Moeschlin  as  president;  Edward  A.  Moeschlin, 
vice  president:  Reinhart  .1.  Moeschlin,  treasurer; 
John  II.  Otto,  secretary  and  manager;  Sophia  C. 
Moeschlin  and  ('.  E.  Sautters,  directors. 

Mr.  Julius  Moeschlin  became  one  of  the  sub- 
stantia] business  men  of  his  adopted  town,  and  he 
was  interested  in  tin'  Sunbury  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  a  director  from  liiii?.  From  l!iol 
he  served  continuously  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  representing  the  Sixth  ward.  He  died  Dee. 
14,  1910,  aged  fifty-nine  years,  six  months,  two 
days. 

Mr.  Moeschlin  had  numerous  fraternal  and  so- 
cial relations,  belonging  to  Lodge  Nn.  22,  F.  &  A. 
M..  of  Sunbury;  Lodge  No.  1 13,  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, of  Sunbury:  Lodge  No.  89,  I.  0.  B.  M. ;  Aerie 
No.  503,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles;  Conclave  No. 
11,  S.  1'.  K.;  the  Order  of  Moose;  the  Temple 
Club;  the  Lewisburg  Club;  the  Concordia  Saen- 
gerverein;  and  Washington  Fire  Company,  which 
he  served  ten  years  as  treasurer.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Reformed  Church. 

On  Dec.  28,  1880,  Mr.  Moeschlin  married 
Sophia  ('.  Mulfinger,  of  Danville.  Pa.,  and  they 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased,  the 
six  survivors  being  as  follows:  Edward  A.,  who 
graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1901, 
and  from  Wyatt's  Business  Academy,  of  Nlew 
York  City,  in  1!M>^,  and  who  is  now  brewmaster  in 
the  employ  of  J.  &  A.  Moeschlin :  Mary  IF.  a 
trained  nurse  of  Sunbury.  who  graduated  from 
the  Philadelphia  Women's  Eomeopathic  Bospital 
in  1906;  Catharine  M.  (who  graduated  from  high 
school  in  1903).  who  married  Melvin  G.  Fahr- 
inger,  of  Elysburg,  now  the  bookkeeper  of  J.  &  A. 
Moeschlin,  Inc.;  Reinhart  J.,  who  graduated  from 
high  school  in  1906  and  in  1909  from  the  Philadel- 


phia College  of  Pharmacy  as  a  druggist:  Harriet 
E.,  who  graduated  from  high  school  in  1908  and 
is  now  at  home;  and  Annie  L..  at  home. 

August  Moeschlin  was  horn  June  10,  is:.:;. 
in  Loerrach,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden.  Ger- 
many, and  received  a  good  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  land,  attending  between  the 
ages  of  six  and  fourteen  continuously.  For  two 
years  he  attended  uight  school.  Tie  learned  the 
trade  of  butcher,  but,  he  did  not  follow  it  long, 
having  given  his  principal  attention  to  the  brew- 
ing business.  Coming  to  America  in  duly.  1873, 
he  was  in  Philadelphia  for  about  two  months,  ar- 
riving in  Sunbury  Sept.  2-lst  of  that  year.  He  and 
bis  brother  purchased  the  brewery  from  Mr.  Bach- 
er. as  previously  related,  soon  after  his  arrival,  and 
from  that  time  conducted  it  together,  August 
Moeschlin  taking  charge  of  all  the  outside  work, 
looking  after  the  horses,  attending  to  collections 
and  managing  the  farm — a  most  important  branch 
of  the  work,  the  firm  owning  a  tract  of  170  acres 
in  Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county,  which 
they  cultivate  in  connection  with  their  brewing 
business.  He  is  an  aide  business  man.  and  though 
not  himself  a  brewer  has  thorough  familiarity  with 
all  the  needs  of  the  work,  doing  his  share  toward 
the  maintenance  and  upbuilding  "of  the  trade, 
which  has  shown  a  gratifying  increase  through- 
out the  existence  of  the  firm. 

Like  his  brother.  Mr.  Moeschlin  is  well  known 
socially,  holding  membership  in  the  Elks,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Order  of  Moose.  Odd  Fellows,  and 
Owls,  all  of  Sunbury.  and  in  No.  1  Fire  Com- 
pany, He  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  North  Branch  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  Sunbury,  and  succeeded  his  brother 
as  director  of  the  Sunbury  National  Bank. 

On  Nov.  23,  1884,  Mr.  Moeschlin  married  An- 
nie Fenstermacher.  daughter  of  Isaac  Fenster- 
macher,  of  Dalmatia,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. Fight  children  have  been  born  to  this  union. 
two  of  whom  are  deceased,  the  survivors  being: 
Gussie,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Sautter-, 
collector  and  a  director  of  J.  &  A.  Moeschlin,  Inc.: 
Plena  M. :  Frank  F. ;  M.  Ralph;  Rachel  Y..  and 
John  K. 

MAPI!  FAMILY,  genealogy  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania branch.  Joseph  Marr  was  one  of  the  pi- 
oneers of  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  born  in  Northampton  county.  Pa.. 
June  15,  1750.  the  son  of  Lawrence  Marr,  sup- 
posed to  have  come  to  America  from  Scotland  in 
the  early  part  of  the  war  1700,  who  settled  in 
Upper  Mount  Bethel  township.  Northampton  Co., 
Pa.,  died  (aged  ninety  years)  and  was  buried 
there.  On  July  2,  1792,  Joseph  Marr  purchased 
from  the  widow  of  Turbut  Francis  a  tract  of  land, 
one  mile  square,  a  part  of  the  tract  known  as  the 
"Colonel's  Reward,"  lying  on  the  east  hank  of  the 


N  OETH  I  MBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  \'S  V  LVANIA 


o;i; 


west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  embracing 
the  northern  part  of  what  is  now  Milton,  includ- 
ing the  three  farms  north  of  that  place.  Fur. this 
land  he  paid  "lour  pounds  per  acre  lawful  money 
of  Pennsylvania  and  a  negro  girl  at  the  price  of 
thirty  pounds."  He  settled  on  the  property  in 
1793  and  immediately  built  a  stone  house  beauti- 
fully situated  on  the  hanks  of  the  river.  It  is  still 
standing.  In  later  years  it  was  purchased  from 
the  family  of  Alem  Man-,  his  son,  by  .Moses  Cham- 
berlin.  Joseph  Man-  died  Sept.  18,  1796,  aged 
forty-six  years,  and  was  buried  in  what  was  then 
the  Man-  burying  ground,  where  the  Lincoln  street 
schuolhoiiM'  stands.  Later  his  remains  were  re- 
linked to  the  upper  cemetery,  where  they  now  rest. 
Mr.  Marr  was  an  earnest  ami  consistent  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  his  day  called  the 
Church  of  England.  On  Aug.  is,  1794,  he  and 
his  wife  Susanna  gave  a  tract  of  land,  in  Church 
Lane,  adjoining  Upper  .Milton,  to  the  trustees  of 
the  Episcopal  congregation  for  burial  and  church 
purposes,  lie  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination  and  the  prime  mover 
in  the  erection  of  the  first  church  of  that  faith  in 
Northumberland  county.  The  church  as  an  or- 
ganized body  dates  back  to  1 793. 

Mr.  Mair  married  Susanna  Trice,  who  was  horn 
April  •-'■;,  L754,  and  died  Dee.  37,  1826.  Mrs. 
Marr.  who  was  of  Quaker  ancestry,  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  David  Price  and  Hannah  Frampton. 
Through  her  mother  she  was  descended  from  Wil- 
liam Frampton,  of  England,  who  was  appointed  by 
William  Penn,  Feb.  23,  1685,  a  member  of  his 
Pound)  held  at  Philadelphia,  commissioner  of 
Kent  and  Sussex  counties,  L685-86,  was  registrar 
general  for  the  Provinces  of  Pennsylvania  and  Del- 
aware at  the  tune  of  his  death,  in  1686,  and  one 
of  the  signers  of  Penn's  "Actual  Treaty  with  the 
Indians  in  Pis.",  for  the  land  of  the  present  city  of 
Philadelphia  and  the  adjacent  country  out  to  the 
Susquehanna."  Penn  returned  from  New  York 
the  end  of  1682.  To  this  period  belongs  the 
-Cieat  Treaty"  which  took  place  at  Shakamaxon. 
Thomas  Wescott,  whose  researches  have  exceeded 
perhaps  any  other,  says  there  is  no  evidence  that 
a  "Treaty  of  Peace"  or  of  purchase  id'  lands  ever 
was  held  under  the  great  elm  tree  at  Shakamaxon 
in  1682  by  William  Penn,  and  vet  tradition  i-  verj 
positive  on  the  subject.  This  pleasing  transac 
Hoi,  ha-  been  so  fully  engrafted  on  Pennsylvania 
history  we  hesitate  to  dispel  it.  The  site  ol  the 
elm    tree    is    marked    by    a    monument    erected    ill 

L827. 

It  is  strange  that  for  so  important  a  matter  as 
the  Deed  and  Title  to  the  lands  which  as  Philadel- 
phians  and  even  as  Pennsylvanians  we  occupy,  we 
have  no  original  treaty  to  show,  but  the  lad  is, 
as  the  records  at  Harrisburg  show,  that  the >  Ac- 
tual Treaty  made  for  the  lands,  the  present  Phil- 


adelphia and  adjacent  country  out  to  the  Susque- 
hanna, was  made  in  the  year  1685  by  Thomas 
Holme,  as  president  of  the  Governor's  Council, 
and  was  signed  by  William  Frampton  and  seven 
other  white  men  and  eleven  Indian-,  it  is  recorded 
in  the  Look  of  Charters  and  Indian  Deed.  Page 
62,  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  State  at  Harris- 
burg. 

The  children  of  Joseph  and  Susanna  (Price) 
Marr.  all  horn  at  Upper  .Mount  Bethel,  North- 
ampton Co.,  Pa.,  were:  ( 1  )  Mary,  horn  April  2j), 
1775,  died  Jan.  -.'7.  1830.  On  Dee.  25,  1795,  she 
married  Robert  Martin,  lawyer,  and  they  had  four 
children,  Jane,  Susanna.  Joseph  Marr  and  .lame-. 
Left  no  descendants.  (2)  Hannah,  horn  April 
20,  1776,  died  Feb.  24,  1857.  (3)  David,  born 
March  11,  1779,  died  Feb.  14,  1819,  unmarried. 
(1)  William,  born  .March  26,  1782,  died  Dee.  18, 
1823.     (5)  Joseph  died  Oct.  5,  1804.     (6)  Alem. 

Hannah  Marr.  daughter  of  Joseph,  born  April 
20,  1776,  died  m  Milton  Feb.  24,  18.-)?.  On  Jan. 
12,  1797,  she  married  William  Hull,  who  was  born 
in  Sussex  county.  N.  J.,  July  17,  1771,  and  set- 
tled in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1792  or  1793.  He  died  April  28,  1828,  up- 
on the  homestead  farm,  which  was  a  part  of  the 
original  Man-  farm.  They  were  the  parent-  id' 
fourteen  children,  those  who  lived  to  maturity  be- 
ing: (1)  David,  born  in  1806,  died  in  1886. 
He  married  Emily  Rittenhouse  and  (second)  Jane 
Welch,  and  had  several  sons.  ( '! )  Alem,  born  in 
1808,  died  in  1842.  He  was  drowned  at  the  time 
of  one  of  the  hie-  Hoods  of  the  Susquehanna  river. 
(3)  William  Price,  born  in  1813,  died  in  1876, 
unmarried.  (4)  Thomas  Ryerson,  born  in  1815, 
died  in  1886.  (5)  Sarah  A.,  horn  in  1817.  died  in 
1'859.  She  married  John  H.  Brown,  and  had  chil- 
dren. Sarah,  Emma  and  Frampton.  (6)  Hannah 
Maria,  horn  in  1821,  died  in  1864.  She  married 
Robert  M.  Slater.     No  descendants. 

Thomas  Ryerson  Hull,  born  in  1815,  died 
in  1886.  He  read  medicine  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession until  his  death  in  Milton.  Hi'  married 
Elizabeth  J.  McCormick,  and  their  children  were: 
Margaret;  Alem.  a  physician,  living  at  Montgom- 
ery, Pa.;  William,  who  married  and  has  a  family; 
Thomas;  Elmer,  a  physician,  living  ai  Montgom- 
ery, Pa.,  wiio  married  Mary  Weimer,  of  Lebanon, 
Pa.,  and  has  a  family  of  three  son-.  Elmer,  Alem 
and  Weimer. 

William  Marr.  fourth  child  of  Joseph  and  Su- 
sanna Marr.  married  Mary  Barber,  and  they  had 
nine  children,  all  horn  on  the  farm  near  Milton: 
Joseph.  Phineas  Barber,  Susanna,  Ann.  James 
Barber,  David  Price.  William  II..  Margaret  and 
Alem  Kennedy. 

Ahout  1826  William  Marr  erected  the  large  stone 
mansion  which  is  slid  standing  on  uhal  was  his 
portion  of  the  estate.      Later  this  became  the  prop- 


298 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


erty  of  Edmund  H.  Heaton,  who  married  Janette 
Dales,  one  of  his  granddaughters,  the  youngest 
oh i  Id  of  David  P.  Marr. 

His.  Mary  (Barber)  Marr  was  descended  from 
tin'  Maxwells  and  Kennedys  of  Scotland.  Her  an- 
cestor, Thomas  Maxwell,  was  of  the  Kirkoonel  line. 
which  had  its  home  in  the  valley  of  the  Nith,  Scut- 
land.  Her  great-grandfather,  John  Maxwell,  with 
his  wife  and  four  children  came  from  County  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  to  America  in  1747.  Their  eldest 
son,  William,  became  Brig.  Gen.  William  Maxwell 
of  the  Continental  Line  on  General  Washington's 
staff.  Jane  Maxwell  married  dames  Kennedy  and 
they  were  the  grandparents  of  Mary  Barber.  Her 
father  and  mother  were  Phineas  Barber  (born 
about  KIT.  died  .luly  -.'I.  1812)  and  Ann  Ken- 
nedy  (born  aboui  1?<>?.  died  Aug.  5,  1834),  who 
married  in  17 7 '».  The  Kennedys  were  very  prom- 
inent in  the  civil  and  religious  life  of  Scotland, 
and  men  of  position  and  influence  in  this  country. 

Alem  Man-,  sod  of  Joseph  and  Susanna  (Price) 
Marr.  inherited  the  portion  of  the  land  adjoining 
to,  and  also  that  <>n  which  Upper  Milton  is  built, 
and  lived  in  the  stone  house  built  by  his  father, 
lie  was  a  lawyer  of  prominence  and  served  two 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  United  Sim,-  Congress. 
lie  married  Margarel  Hunter.  Their  children 
were:  (1)  Isabel  married  Edward  Shippen 
Thompson,  who  was  descended  from  Edward  Ship- 
pen,  first  mayor  of  Philadelphia.  (2)  Joseph,  un- 
married, was  a  farmer.  ( :i )  William,  a  physician. 
married  Anna  L.  Ross,  and  had  four  children, 
three  -on-  and  one  daughter.  One  son.  who  is  a 
physician,  survives,  and  the  daughter.  (4) 
Charles  became  a  physician.  ( 5 )  Margaret  W. 
(  6  i   Augustus  is  deceasi  6 

Joseph  Marr.  eldesi  child  of  .William  and  Mary 
B.  Marr.  born  March  14.  1806,  entered  Princeton 
Seminary  in  1832,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
byter] of  Northumberland  April  22,  1835.  After 
forty  years  of  service  as  a  minister  and  teacher. 
becoming  infirm,  he  was  honorably  retired,  and 
died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  Harriet,  wife  of 
Gen.  Irvin  Gregg.  He  was  married  three  times. 
his  first  wife  being  a  Miss  Smith,  of  Milton.  His 
second  marriage,  in  1835,  was  to  Harriet  Candor. 
sister  of  Joseph  Candor,  of  White  1  >eer,  Union  Co., 
Pa  .  his  third  to  Mrs.  Catherine  (Low)  Van  Slyke, 
of  New  York.  The  children  of  the  first  wife  were: 
i  ;,i  ierine,  born  in  1825,  who  married  David  Mc- 
Cormick,  lived  in  Harrisburg,  and  had  children, 
Julia,  Lizzie  (married  Mr.  Phillips,  of  Philadel- 
phia, had  one  child  Catherine).  Agnes  (married 
and  living  in  California).  Nellie  (deceased)  and 
David  (married  and  living  in  Harrisburg)  ;  John, 
who  married  and  had  a  family;  Joseph,  who  mar- 
ried and  had  two  children:  and  William,  unmar- 
ried. The  second  wife,  Harriet  (Candor)  Marr. 
had  one  child.  Harriet,  who  married  Gen.  Irvin 
Gregg,  and  had  two  sons,  Irvin  and  Robert  (Irvin 


is  married  and  has  three  sons).  The  children  of 
the  third  wife  of  Joseph  Marr,  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Low)  Van  Slyke  Marr,  were:  (1)  James  mar- 
ried Katie  Knight,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  had 
children.  James,  Emily  and  Josephine.  (2)  M. 
Elizabeth  married  Frank  Kellerman.  of  Kansas 
City,  and  had  a  large  family.  (3)  J.  Josephine 
married  Julius  Cornelius  Donovan,  of  Philadel- 
phia. Pa.,  and  (second)  Gustav  A.  Breaux.  of  New 
Orleans.  Both  her  husbands  were  members  of  the 
Legislature  of  their  respective  State-.  Colonel 
Breaux  was  an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Julius  Cornelius  Donovan  had  one 
child.  Julia  Cornelia,  who  was  first  married  to  An- 
drew Simonds,  a  hanker  of  Charleston.  S.  C; 
Iter  second  husband  was  also  a  banker,  of  Tren- 
ton. X.  .1.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simonds  had  one  child, 
a  daughter.  (  t)  Angeline  married  Harry  Knight, 
of  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  lived  for  many  years  in 
Harrisburg,  l'a.  Mr.  Knight  died  in  Sedalia,  Mo. 
4'lie\  had  lour  children.  Joseph,  Josephine,  Hor- 
ace and  Harry. 

Phineas  Barber  Marr.  -on  of  William  and  Mary 
i  Barber)  Marr,  horn  dan.  20,  1808,  died  dan.  28, 
1874.  He  was  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in 
L830,  and  ordained  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Northumberland  county  Nov.  13.  1834.  He  was 
•!  supply  at  William-port,  l'a..  from  1833  to 
183-1  :  pa-tor  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  1834  to  1852.  He 
was  stated  supply  until  his  death,  in  1874.  at  Lew- 
isburg, Pa.  He  married  Mary  Graham,  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  Graham  and  M.  Margaret  (S 
ker),  of  Lewisburg,  and  they  had  eleven  children: 
(1)  Mary  Jane  married  Dr.  John  E.  Barber:  no 
descendants.  (  2  )  William  A.,  a  graduate  of  Buck- 
nell  University,  at  Lewisburg,  was  a  prominent 
attorney  and  judge  at  Ashland,  l'a.  He  was  un- 
married. (3)  Henry  S.,  an  attorney,  married 
Caroline  Gould;  no  descendants.  (1)  James  II. 
graduated  from  the  Lewisburg  University  in  1860, 
at  Princeton  College  in  1862,  Princeton  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  1865,  and  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  San  Francisco,  Oal.,  March  21, 
1868.  He  was  stated  supply  for  five  year-:  pastor 
at  East  <  (range,  1870-78  :  pastor  at  Beacon  Church, 
Philadelphia.  Pa..  1881-93;  died  at  Point  Plea- 
ant.  N.  .1..  dune  1,  1895.  lie  married  Mary  Gra- 
ham, and  they  had  two  children.  Mary  (deceased) 
and  Phineas.  ( •"■ )  Addison  Graham,  born  dan. 
-.'4.  1844,  married  dan.  24,  1871.  Margaret  Wini- 
fred Sheriff,  daughter  of  John  W.  Sheriff,  of  Lew- 
iston.  They  had  four  children:  William  Price. 
born  Dec.  31,  1871,  attended  tin-  public  schools  of 
Shamokin,  Pa.,  entered  Lehigh  University  in  Sep- 
tember, 1889,  and  graduated  in  1893;  "Little 
Brother."  horn  Sept.  5,  1875,  died  in  1876;  Ad- 
dison Graham,  Jr.,  born  June  5,  187  7.  attended 
public  school  in  Shamokin,  Pa.,  entered  Prince- 
ton University  in  September,  1897,  graduated  in 
June.  1901  :  Phineas  Barber,  born  Sept.  14,  died 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


299 


in  1880.  (6)  Margaret  W.  married  Pliineas  M. 
Barber,  lumber  merchant  and  manufacturer  and 
builder;  no  descendants.  Mrs.  Barber  in  carrying 
out.  the  wishes  of  her  husband  built  the  "Barber 
Memorial  Institute'*  at  Anniston,  Ala.,  for  the  edu- 
cation of  colored  girls  of  the  South,  at  a  cost  of 
$50,000.  It  was  burned  down,  but  was  rebuilt  by 
Mrs.  Barber.  (7)  Helen  married  Joseph  W.  ■ 
Crawford,  lumber  merchant  and  manufacturer;  no 
family.  (8)  George  Augustus  graduated  from 
Bucknell  University,  at  Lewisburg,  and  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  of  Princeton,  was  ordained  for 
the  ministry,  and  is  living  at  Swarthmore,  Pa.  He 
married  Helen  Montgomery  and  they  had  three 
children,  Montgomery  (a  mechanical  engineer,  a 
very  bright  and  promising  young  man,  of  excep- 
tionally fine  character,  who  accidentally  lost  his 
life  while  testing  some  machinery),  Helen,  and  a 
second  son.  (9)  Caroline  is  deceased.  (10)  Hen- 
rietta married  William  Lister.  (11)  Walter  is  de- 
ceased. 

Susanna  Marr,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
B.  Man-,  born  Nov.  l(i,  1809.  married  Phineas 
Barber,  of  Fingal,  Canada.  July  1,  1834.  They 
had  five  children:  (1)  Hannah  married  and  is 
deceased:  no  descendants.  (2)  William.  (3) 
John.  (1)  James.  (5)  David  married  twice, 
and  bad  one  daughter,  Susanna. 

Ann  Marr,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  P>. 
Man-,  born  Dec.  1,  1811,  died  Jan.  20,  1874.  'She 
married  Samuel  Bowman,  of  Canada,  and  they 
had  six  children:  (1)  Josepha  married  Dr.  James 
Gun,  of  Durham,  Canada.  Sept.  24.  1861.  They 
had  <me  daughter,  Josepha  Bowman,  born  June 
29,  1862.  Mrs.  Gun  died  in  July,  L862.  (2)  Al- 
bert. (3)  James.  (I)  Jonas.  (5)  Henrietta 
married  Feb.  13,  1878,  N.  A.  Hughs,  of  Williams- 
port,  Pennsylvania. 

James  Barber  Man-,  son  of  William  and  Mary  B. 
Marr.  born  Feb.  26,  18]  I.  died  June  11,  1841.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  James  B.  Linn,  of  Lewis- 
burg, Pa,,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  that  place. 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Clearfield  county 
bar  about  1839.  He  died  a  young  man,  leaving  no 
family.  His  obituary  was  written  by  his  friend 
William  Bigler,  afterward  governor  of  the   State. 

David  Price  Marr.  -on  of  William  Marr  and 
grandson  of  Joseph  Marr,  was  born  Feb.  12,  1816, 
in  the  homestead  near  Milton,  and  died  Sept.  '-'. 
186  1.  aged  forty-eight  years.  Though  he  died  al  a 
comparatively  early  age,  he  had  made  a  signal  suc- 
cess of  his  business  life,  his  greal  industry,  per- 
severance and  good  practical  sense  having  won  him 
notable  standing  anion?;  his  fellow  men.  Pos- 
sessed of  fine  executive  ability,  lie  was  engaged  in 
assisting  to  complete  the  system  of  internal  im- 
provements which  had  been  so  successfully  com- 
menced in  his  State.  It  would  be  difficult  to  men- 
tion another  whose  death  was  so  generally  felt  and 
so  sincerely  lamented.    In  early  life  he  was  a  farm- 


er. Later  he  engaged  extensively  in  railroad  and 
bridge  building  for  the  Catawissa,  Northern  Cen- 
tral, Philadelphia  &  Erie  and  other  roads.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  associated  with  his  cousin, 
J.  B.  Moorhead,  of  Philadelphia,' president  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Erie  Road,  in  carrying  on  railroad 
construction  in  the  State  of  New' York.  He  was 
also  interested  in  manufacturing,  bavin?  built  and 
owned  the  White  Deer  Woolen  .Mills,  later  talcing 
Benjamin  Griffey  in  as  a  partner.  After  his  death 
this  property  was  bought  by  Ario  Pardee,  of  Hazle- 
ton  ;  the  mills  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1878'  The 
Presbyterian  church  in 'Milton  which  was  de- 
stroyed in  the  great  fire,  which  occurred  May  14. 
1880.  was  built  by  him.  His  industries  were  many 
and  varied. 

On  Dee.  IT.  1839,  David  Price  Marr  married 
his  first  wife,  Hetty  L.  Davis,  who  was  born  in 
1814  and  died  July  ■'..  1848.  He  married  Jan.  22, 
1850,  (second)  Harriet  J.  Matchin,  born  Sept.  11. 
1820,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Janette  (Hiatt) 
Matchin,  of  London,  England,  died  March  30, 
L896.  The  children  of  David  Price  and  Hetty 
L.  Marr  were:  (1)  Anna  Eliza,  born  Oct.  30, 
1840,  married  Sept.  24,  L861,  John  A.  Grier.  who 
was  born  at  Brandywine  Manor,  Chester  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  9,  1834,  and  died  at  Chicago,  111..  Nov.  18, 
1902.  Mr.  Crier  was  a  member  of  the  first  class 
in  the  University  at  Lewisburg.  He  received  bis 
commission  as  chief  engineer,  IT.  S.  Navy,  from 
Abraham  Lincoln,  remaining  in  the  service  lor  ten 
years,  and  taking  part  in  manv  of  the  naval  battles 
in  the  Gulf  and  on  the  Atlantic  eoa.st.  lie  also 
took  part  in  the  first  attempt  to  lay  the  first  At- 
lantic cable  in  L857,  between  England  and  Amer- 
ica. In  later  years  he  was  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing and  different  lines  of  electrical  work.  Mr. 
Grier  was  a  member  of  the  Franklin  Institute  of 
Philadelphia,  and  a  companion  of  the  Militar} 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grier 
had  children:  Margaret  Graham,  Thomas  Graham, 
and  Edward  Robie.  Of  these,  Thomas  Graham, 
a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
mechanical  and  electrical  engineering,  is  aov,  in 
business  in  Chicago.  Edward  Robie,  bom  at 
Mount  Joy,  Lancaster  Co..  Pa.,  is  sales  manager 
and  vice  president  of  the  Arrow  Electric  Company, 
of  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  lie  now  lives,  lb'  mar- 
ried April  lit.  L895,  Lue\  Parthenia  Bosworth,  of 
Lee.  Mass..  ami  their  son,  Edward  Bosworth  Grier, 
was  born  Dec.  9,  1897,  at  Chicago.  111.  cm  Wil- 
liam Price,  second  child  of  David  Price  am]  Hetty 
L.  Marr.  horn  Nov.  20,  L842,  died  Aug.  30,  L850. 
(3)  Mary  Helen,  third  child,  born  Nov.  9,  184  I. 
married  June  ll.  L864,  Col.  John  McCleery,  a 
prominent  attorney  of  Milton,  and  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Northumberland  county  bar.  He  was  a 
son  of  Dr.  William  McCleery,  born  in  Milton  April 
s.  1837,  was  educated  al  the  old  Milton  Academy 
and  at  the  Tuscarora    Academy,  and   graduated 


300 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


from  Princeton  in  the  class  of  1858.  Studying  law 
with  his  uncle.  ex-Governor  Pollock,  he  was  ad- 
mitted tn  the  liar  just  before  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war.  He  did  not  hesitate  to  subordinate 
his  persona]  interests  to  the  needs  of  his  country. 
The  beginning  of  June,  1861,  found  him  at  Har- 
risburg,  as  captain  of  Company  H,  34th  Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves.  Twiee  he  was  severely  wounded 
and  June  30,  1862,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  en- 
emy, and  for  a  brief  period  was  an  inmate  of  Libby 
prison.  He  became  iieutenant  colonel  of  the  28th 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  but  disability  from  his 
wounds  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from 
the  army.  Resuming  the  practice  of  law,  he  also 
interested  himself  in  local  business  enterprises,  be- 
ing one  of  the  founders  of  the  .Milton  Car  Works, 
in  186-4,  and  later  of  the  Milton  Iron  Work-.  He 
was  president  of  the  Milton  Trusl  &  Sale  Deposit 
Company,  which  he  had  helped  to  establish.  He 
was  finally  compelled  by  physical  suffering  to  with- 
draw from  all  business  and  professional  activities. 
As  a  soldier  he  measured  up  to  a  rare  standard  of 
efficiency.  In  private  life  he  was  an  educated,  cul- 
tured gentleman.  For  a  number  of  years,  he  was  a 
companion  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Leu- 
ion.  The  children  of  John  and  Mary  Helen  (  Marr  ) 
McCleerj  were:  Edward  Heber,  a  graduate  of 
Princeton  University,  1888,  who  read  medicine 
with  his  uncle,  Dr.  James  P.  McCleery,  graduated 
from  Jefferson  Medical  College,  and  is  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kane.  Pa.;  and 
Margaret  Pollock,  who  married  Hasell  Wilson 
Baldwin,  of  Pittsburg,  son  of  'William  A.  Baldwin, 
formerly  general  superintendent  of  the  P.  &  E.  and 
Northern  Central  Railway  (Mary  Shaw  is  the 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin).  (-1)  Re- 
becca 1...  fourth  child  of  David  and  Hetty  L. 
Marr.  born  Feb.  11,  1847.  died  Aug.  4.  1850. 

The  children  of  David  Price  and  Harriet  J. 
(Matchin)  Marr  were:  (1)  William  Price  was 
killed  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  while  crossing 
the  track  near  his  home.  He  was  in  his  nineteenth 
vear.  ami  a  student  in  his  sophomore  year  at 
Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  I '.' I  Alem  I\. 
married  dan.  Hi.  1878,  Ella  L.  Sehofield,  of  Ad- 
dison, X.  V..  ami  lives  in  Prince  George  county. 
Mil.  (3)  David  Brainard  lives  in  Prince  George 
county,  Mil.  The  property  on  which  he  lives  is 
a  part  of  the  estate  that  belonged  originally  to 
Lord  Baltimore  (the  Calverts)  and  is  called  Mount 
Calvert.  (4)  Alfred  Iliatt.  who  lives  at  Eagles 
Mile,  is  married  and  has  two  children.  David  ami 
Harriet.  (5)  Janette  Dale-  married  Edmund 
Hunter  Heaton,  of  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  dan.  14, 
1885,  and  resides  in  Milton.  Their  children:  Har- 
riet Marr  (died  in  infancy).  Maty  and  Emily. 
Mr.  Heaton  was  born  April  IS.  1851,  at  Tamaqua, 
l';i..  sou  of  the  late  Reuben  A.  and  Mary  Heaton. 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  pioneer  coal  operator  of 
the  Schuylkill  region,  in  which  he  became  one  of 


the  most  prominent.  When  a  young  man  Mr. 
Heaton  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ashland.  He 
attended  Canandaigua  Academy,  graduated  from 
college  as  a  mining  engineer,  and  resided  in  Phil- 
adelphia from  1870  to  1873,  when  he  engaged  in 
coal  operations  at  Raven  Run,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
being  thus  interested  until  1885.  He  was  associ- 
ated with  hi-  brothers  in  the  coal  mining  business 
in  that  county.  From  the  time  he  took  up  his  res- 
idence in  Milton  he  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
business  development  of  the  vicinity,  and  always 
displayed  rare  executive  ability  and  sterling  char- 
acter, proving  himself  a  most  capable  man  in  ev- 
en respect  anil  becoming  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  influential  citizens  of  the  borough.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  Milton  Trust  &  Safe 
Deposit  Company,  served  as  a  director  from  the 
time  of  its  incorporation  until  his  death,  and  from 
1901  to  1908  was  president,  retiring  because  of  de- 
clining health,  lie  succeeded  his  brother-in-law, 
John  McCleery,  in  that  position.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Pleasant  Valley  Cream  Company, 
which  under  his  management  became  one  of  the 
besl  m  the  State,  and  was  interested  in  other  cor- 
porations,  always  a  leader  in  any  movement  de- 
signed to  advance  the  interests  of  Milton.  He  died 
at  his  home  mi  North  Front  and  First  streets,  Mil- 
ton. July  '.'I.  lull,  aged  sixty  years,  and  was  in- 
terred in  the  Milton  cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Heaton  resided  at  "Maple  Bank."  the  Man-  home- 
stead (which  he  bought  from  the  heirs),  from 
1887  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  they  purchased 
the  fine  property  which  has  since  been  the  family 
home. 

Mi's.  Harriet  J.  (Matchin)  Marr's  parents  came 
to  this  country  with  the  Priestleys  in  1811  and 
lived  in  Northumberland,  Pa.  Her  aunt.  Maria 
Hiatt,  married  James  Hepburn,  afterward  Judge 
Hepburn  of  Philadelphia,  a  brother  of  Samuel 
Hepburn,  of  Milton.  Her  maternal  grandfather 
was  Captain  Hiatt.  of  the  English  navy. 

William  H.  Marr,  son  of  William  and  Mary  B. 
Marr.  born  July  25,  1818,  died  May  24,  1894.'  He 
received  his  early  education  at  the  old  Milton 
Academy,  with  James  Pollock  and  Andrew  Curtin 
(future  governors  of  Pennsylvania),  and  later  en- 
tered and  graduated  from  Lafayette  College.  By 
profession  he  was  a  physician.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  surgeon. 
He  also  was  interested  in  other  lines  and  financi- 
ally was  very  successful.  He  married  Eliza  Davis 
Baldwin,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Shaw- 
Davis,  of  Limestoneville,  Pa.,  and  they  had  six 
children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being:  (3)  Mary  Frances.  (4)  Alem  died  young. 
(5)  James  married  Sarah  Eyre,  of  Lewisburg,  and 
had  five  children.  Mary  Frances,  Helen,  Edith. 
Carlton  and  William.  James  Marr  is  a  farmer 
of  Prince  George  county,  Md.  His  winter  home  is 
in  Washington,  D.  C.     (<>)  Frank  S.  married  Eliz- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


301 


abeth  Buckingham,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  children,  Winifred  and  Judith.  Frank  S. 
Marr  is  a  graduate  of  Bucknell  University,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  law  in  Sunbury, 
Pa.;  later  formed  an  electric  construction  com- 
pany,  and  lias  continued  in  different  lines  of  elec- 
trical work,  with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. 

Margaret  Marr,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
B.  Marr.  bom  duly  15,  1820,  married  Dr.  John 
McCollum,  of  Tiffin  City,  Ohio.  Both  are  deceased. 
They  had  two  sons.  of  whom  one  died  young.  Le- 
on married,  but  had  no  children.  By  profession 
he  is  a  physician. 

Alem  Kennedy  Marr,  youngest  child  of  William 
and  Mary  B.  Marr,  born  June  15,  1823,  died  Sept. 
1!),  1847.  He  was  reading  medicine  with  his 
brother,  Dr.  William  11.  Marr,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  at  Washingtonville,  Pa.  He  died  suddenly, 
of  a  congestive  chill,  cutting  short  a  life  that  prom- 
ised much. 


History  of  the  land  bough!  by  Joseph  Marr  from 
Turbut  Francis. — The  localities  of  the  Indian 
tribes  prior  to  William  Perm's  arrival  (Oct.  '.'I. 
168?)  have  been  identified  as  follows.  The  Six 
Nations  occupied  the  territory  north  of  the  sources 
of  the  Susquehanna  and  the  Delaware  rivers.  Land 
was  purchased  from  them  in  1754  and  the  New 
Purchase  advertised  by  the  land  office  Feb.  23, 
17(50.  In  1764  officers  who  served  under  Colonel 
Bouquet  made  an  agreement  in  writing  with  each 
other  that  they  would  apply  to  the  Proprietors  (the 
Perms)  for  a  tract  of  land  for  their  services,  to  be 
divided  among  themselves.  One  Col.  Turbut  Fran- 
cis's tract  vva>  2,  775  acres,  surveyed  to  him  in  one 
tract,  adjoining  the  tract  bought  by  him  in  Mon- 
tour, embracing  what  is  called  Turbut  township. 
It  was  called  the  "Colonel's  Reward."  Joseph 
Marr  bought"  part  of  this  land  from  the  widow 
of  Turbut  Francis  in  1792. 

BENJAMIN  APPLE,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  Sunbury  Daily  Item,  and  of  The  Sunbury 
American,  a  weekly  paper,  and  present  postmaster 
of  Sunbury,  has  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper 
business  since  1904,  previous  to  which  time  he  had 
for  a  number  id'  years  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  educational   interests  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Apple  was  born  June  28,  1868,  one  mile 
west  of  Freeburg,  Snyder  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Martha.  (Graybill)  Apple,  and  grandson 
of  George  Apple  and  of  Rev.  Christian  Graybill. 
His  paternal  ancestors  in  this  region  came  from 
Montgomerv  county.  He  was  the  youngest  child 
and  only  son  of  his  parents,  who  had  also  three 
daughters.  Mr.  Apple  was  only  a  year  old  when 
his  father  died.  Living  and  working  upon  tin 
farm  in  his  boyhood  and  early  youth,  he  was 
thrown  upon  his' own  resources  at  the  age  of  four- 


teen years,  and  earned  the  money  necessary  to  con- 
tinue his  education  besides  supporting  himself. 
He  attended  the  country  public  schools  up  to  that 
age,  and  then  entered  Freeburg  Academy,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1884.  For  four  years 
hi'  taught  public  school  at  Freeburg;  graduated 
from  the  State  Normal  school  at  Bloomsburg  in 
1889  and  was  elected  assistant  principal  of  the 
East  Sunbury  public  schools,  the  duties  id'  which 
position  he  assumed  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  In 
1894  he  was  elected  principal  of  the  East  Sunbury 
schools,  in  which  capacity  he  served  two  years. 
Upon  the  consolidation  of  the  boroughs  of  Sun- 
bury  and  East  Sunbury.  in  1896,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  Central  high  school,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  mathematical  department  until  the  spring  of 
1899,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
superintendent  of  schools  for  Northumberland 
county.  When  reelected  to  that  position,  in  1902, 
he  received  a  flattering  support,  only  seven  votes 
being  polled  against  him. 

Mr.  Apple  began  his  career  as  a  newspaper  man 
in  1904,  when  "he  purchased  the  Sunbury  Daily 
Item  ami  American,  which  he  has  since  continued 
to  publish,  as  editor  and  proprietor.  The  plant  is 
located  at  No.  42  South  Second  street.  Sunbury. 
The  printing  department  also  makes  a  specialty  of 
high  .made  job  work.  The  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Apple  entered  upon  his  new  line  fully  demonstrated 
his  ability.  Under  his  management  the  Daily 
Item  has  become  one  of  the  leading  newspapers 
in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  the  circulation  has 
more  than  doubled.  During  the  same  time  it  has 
grown  from  a  seven-column,  four-page  paper  to  an 
eight-page  issue,  and  the  advertising  business  has 
kept  pace  with  modem  ideas  in  that  line,  the  pat- 
ronage which  the  paper  receives  from  business  peo- 
ple showing  conclusively  its  standing  in  conserva- 
tive but  progressive  circles.  As  an  editor.  Mr.  Ap- 
ple deserves  the  prestige  he  enjoys,  being  influen- 
tial and  trusted  by  the  best  clement  in  the  com- 
munity. During  the  year  1910  he  was  appointed 
supervisor  of  the  census  of  the  Sixteenth  Congres- 
sional district  of  Pennsylvania,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Northumberland,  Sullivan.  Montour 
and  Columbia.  On  April  13,  1911,  he  was  appoint- 
ed  postmaster  of  Sunbury   for  a  period  of  four 

years. 

On  June  2,  1892,  Mr.  Apple  married  Lillie  E. 
Mover,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  K.  Mov- 
er, and  they  have  one  son.  John.  Mr.  Apple  is  a 
member  of  Zion  Lutheran  Church  of  Sunbury.  of 
which  In'  has  been  a  deacon  for  fifteen  years. 

P.  11.  ETJHRMANN  was  born  at  Frankenthal. 
Rhenish  Bavaria,  June  if..  1863.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  in  his  native 
town  and  afterward  graduated  with  honors  from  a 
Real-gymnasium,  lie  then  held  a  responsible  po- 
sition with  Klein,  Schanzlin  &  Becker,  proprietors 


302 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


oi  one  of  the  largest  German  machine  factories, 
who  designed  and  constructed  the  then  most  mod- 
ern sugar  refineries,  chemical  factories  and  brew- 
eries in  Europe.  He  became  private  secretary  to 
the  genera]  manager,  which  position  enabled  him 
to  gain  a  thorough  business  education  and  acquire 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  machinery,  and  it  was 
but  natural  that  soon  after  arriving  in  America  he 
found  a  position  where  he  could  make  use  of  his 
executive  and  technical  abilities.  In  1883  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  assistant  manager  with  Charles 
D.  Kaier,  of  Mahanoy  City,  brewer  and  rectifier, 
whose  business  lie  increased  in  a  few  years  to  enor- 
mous  proportions,  when  he  was  advanced  to  the  po- 
sition nf  general  manager,  and  as  such  built  the 
pn  sent  large  brewing  and  rectifying  plant.  As  a 
reward  in  1891  he  was  made  a  partner  of  the 
Charles  D.  Kaier  Company. 

Looking  for  a  field  to  satisfy  his  ambition  of 
building  up  a  large  business  of  which  he  could 
own  the  controlling  interesi  himself,  he  dissolved 
his  connections  with  the  Kain-  Company  in  the 
year  1895,  and  bought  from  Martin  Markle  a  small 
frame  brewery  in  Coal  township  (on  the  outskirts 
of  Shamokin),  with  an  annual  output  of  about 
eight  thousand  barrels.  While  he  was  trying  hard 
to  establish  a  trade,  and  devoting  all  his  time  to 
that  purpose,  both  building  and  refrigerating  ma- 
chines of  the  old  plant  collapsed  during  the  first 
summer,  a  calamity  which  ordinarily  would  have 
meant  ruin,  especially  at  that  particular  time  of 
the  year.  But  not  so  in  this  case.  On  the  con- 
trary,  having  been  used  to  hard  knocks  and  humps 
all  his  lifetime.  Mr.  Fuhrniann  was  equal  to  the 
situation,  and  by  clever  management  not  only  kept 
the  plant  going,  even  if  badly  crippled,  but  built 
a  complete  new  brewery  around  the  old  one  and 
within  one  year  from  the  time  he  first  took  hold 
of  the  plant  had  erected  a  modern  brewery  and  al- 
so acquired  trade  enough  to  keep  it  going  to  its 
full  capacity.  This  has  been  kept  up  ever  since, 
with  a  steady  increase,  so  that  the  brewery  to-day 
is  one  of  the  best  equipped  in  the  whole  country 
and  lias  an  annual  output  of  fifty  thousand  barrels. 

In  18!'»;  Mr.  Max  Schmidt  became  a  partner 
with  ilr.  Fuhrniann  in  the  firm  of  Fuhrmann  & 
Schmidt,  which  in  1906  was  incorporated  under 
the  style  of  The  Fuhrmann  &  Schmidt  Brewing 
Company,  of  which  Mr.  Fuhrmann  is  president. 
The  brewery  enjoys  the  reputation  of  having  a 
pure,  wholesome  product,  the  quality  of  which 
cannot  be  excelled  by  any  brewery  in  the  country, 
a  fact  which  is  recognized  by  the  people  of  Sham- 
okin and  immediate  vicinity,  as  well  as  by  the 
great  number  of  travelers  and  societies  visiting 
Shamokin  on  many  occasions,  and  especially  dur- 
ing the  many  conventions  through  which  Sham- 
okin has  sained  an  enviable  reputation  all  over 
the  State  Eor  ber  hospitality. 

On  dune  3.  1896,   Mr.   Fuhrmann  was  married 


in  Caroline  B.  Hahn.  of  Philadelphia,  and  to 
them  was  born  a  son  Harry,  on  Oct.  3,  1897,  and 
a  daughter  Mary  Anna,  on  Feb.  2,  1911.  Mr. 
Fuhrmann  is  a  member  of  the  Cresco  Club,  the 
Motor  Cluli.  the  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Order  of 
Eagles. 

CAREY  E.  BURNS,  at  present  serving  as  one 
of  the  auditors  of  Northumberland  county,  is  a 
native-born  citizen  of  Lower  Augusta  township. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Burns  and  grandson  of  Peter 
Burns. 

The  Burns  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Peter  Burns  was  born  March  8,  1786,  and  came 
in  an  early  day  to  Lower  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  became  a  pros- 
perous farmer.  He  died  April  27,. 1849,  and  is 
buried  with  his  wife.  Elizabeth  (Oxenreider),  at 
the  Augusta  Baptist  Church  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  She  hailed  from  Berks  county,  and  was 
a  typical  German  woman,  so  that  the  Burns  fam- 
ily unites  the  qualities  of  the  two  races  that  have 
made  Pennsylvania  especially  famous.  She  was 
born  in  1789,  and  died  Dec.  13,  1856.  Among 
tin'  children  of  this  couple  were:  Peter,  who  settled 
out  West:  Christian,  who  lived  at  Winfield.  Pa.: 
Leah.  Mrs.  Campbell:  Mary,  Mrs.  Jacob  Freder- 
ick: and  Susan.  Mrs.  Behler. 

John  Burns,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in  1810  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  and  farmed  on  the  place 
in  Hollowing  Run  still  occupied  by  his  widow, 
Mary,  and  son  Carey  E.  Burns.  He  died  there 
Aug.  27,  1879,  and  is  buried  at  the  Augusta  Bap- 
tist Church.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  the 
following  family:  Sarah,  Mrs.  Daniel  Kauffman; 
Silas,  of  Shamokin.  Pa.:  Andrew  J.,  who  lived 
and  died  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  passing 
away  Nov.  1,  1ST"),  aged  thirty-five  years,  two 
months,  sixteen  days:  Malinda,  who  died  unmar- 
ried; Dennis,  who  died  in  Lower  A*ugusta  when 
twenty  years  old:  Elizabeth,  who  married  William 
Leffler  and  (second)  Jacob  McKeloy;  Horatio, 
who  died  young:  and  another,  whose  name  is  not 
recalled.  John  Burns  married  for  his  second 
wife  Mary  Leffler,  who  was  born  June  7,  1828, 
daughter  of  William  Leffler,  and  who  is  now  liv- 
ing with  her  son  Carey,  tenderly  cared  for  by 
him  and  his  wife.  Though  past  eighty  she  is  well 
preserved.  Nine  children  were  born  to  the  second 
marriage:  Malinda,  who  died  young:  Horatio,  who 
died  young;  Alfred,  of  Idaho:  Ellis,  of  Nebraska: 
Mary,  who  married  James  A.  Barrett,  wdio  died 
in  1898  and  is  buried  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.:  Erwin, 
who  died  young:  Harvey,  of  Kansas:  Carey  E. ; 
and  Frank,  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Carey  E.  Burns  was  born  Feb.  5.  1868,  on  the 
Burns  homestead  in  Hollowing  Run  which  he  still 
occupies.  He  received  an  excellent  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  township,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1893  was  licensed  to  teach  public  schoql, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


303 


his  paper  being  signed  by  Prof.  W.  E.  Bloom,  then 
county  superintendent  of  schools.     Mr.  Burns  was 

trai 1  to  farm  work  from  early  boyhood,  and  at 

an  early  age  took  charge  of  the  farm' for  his  moth- 
er, his  father  having  died  when  he  was  a  hoy  of 
eleven.  This  property  of  110  acres  is  well  located 
in  the  Hollowing  Run  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
and  was  at  one  ti a  Shipe  homestead,  as  was  al- 
so the  adjacent  tract.  It  is  a  valuable  farm,  and 
has  been  well  kept  up  under  the  management 
of  the  present  occupant. 

Mr.  Bums  has  been  active  in  the  work  of  the 
Republican  party  in  Northumberland  county  ev- 
er since  he  attained  his  majority,  served  as  com- 
mitteeman of  his  district  For  a  number  of  years, 
has  been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  conven- 
tions, and  has  done  excellent  work  for  the  organ- 
ization in  every  capacity.  He  served  three  years 
as  auditor  of  his  township,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1908  was  elected  county  auditor,  a  position  he  is 
filling  with  the  efficiency  Ins  constituents  expected 
nt  him.  He  is  a  man  of  high  personal  standing, 
enjoying  the  confidence  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 

On  Feb.  11,  1897,  Mr.  Burns  married  Jessie 
E.  Snyder,  daughter  of  the  late  Silas  R.  Snyder, 
who  married  Lydia  Shipman.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Burns  have  no  children,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Augusta  Baptist  Church,  which  he  is  at  present 
serving  a-  deacon,  and  is  also  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school,  a  position  he  has  held  for 
some  years. 

FRANK  M.  REBER,  attorney  of  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  is  a  native  of  that  bor- 
ough, horn  Nov.  21,  1867.  lie  is  a  son  of  William 
H.  Reber,  grandson  of  John  Reber,  and  great- 
grandson  of  John  Reber,  who  married  Magdalina 
Rathmaeh. 

The  Reber  family  is  one  of  the  very  old  families 
of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  on  account  of  its  prom- 
inence, and  because  of  its  numbers  and  wide  dis- 
tribution, some  of  its  members  have  taken  a  justi- 
fiable pride  in  looking  up  its  early  records.  A 
well  known  citizen  of  Reading  and  a  member  of 
this  family,  Morris  B.  Reber,  a  prominent  real 
estate  dealer  of  that  city,  has  with  careful  re- 
search compiled  a  volume  which  bears  the  title 
"Genealogv  of  the  Reber  Family,  descended  from 
Johan  Bernhard  Reber.  1738."  From  this  inter- 
esting work  we  quote  as  follows: 

"The  idea  of  preparing  a  genealogy  of  the  Reber 
family  was  probably  suggested  by  the  finding  of 
the  original  passport  of  Johannes  Reber,  still  pre- 
served, who  was,  f.'i'  a  long  time,  believed  to  he  the 
first  one  of  the  large  family  of  Rebers  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country.  This  passport  shows  that 
he  came  from  Langenselbold,  Germany,  which  is 
situated  in  Kreiz  Hanau,  Regierungsbezirk  Cassel, 
Koenigreich  Prussia.     While  visiting  in  that  part 


of  the  country,  in  1882,  Mr.  James  T.  Reber,  of 
Reading,  Pa.,  found  recorded  in  the  old  church 
book  of  the  Evangelical  Church  (Rev.  Frederick 
Hufnagle,  pastor)  the  names  of  four  brothers,  (1) 
Johan  Bernhard,  ( '.' )  Hans.  ('■])  Johan  Conrad 
and  (4)   Michael  Reber. 

•'This  church  hook  dates  back  to  the  year  1563, 
so  that  it  might  be  possible  to  obtain  the  ancestors 
of  these  four  brothers  since  the  sixteenth  century. 
However,  we  have  been  satisfied  to  make  a  record 
only  from  the  earliest  emigrant  to  this  country. 

"(1)  Johan  Bernhard  Reber.  the  first  of  these 
brothers,  is  recorded  in  this  same  book  as  having 
one  son,  (5)  Johannes,  who  was  married  Feb.  8, 
1736,  to  Johanna  Magdalena,  daughter  of  Con- 
rad Halm.  From  this  union  two  sons  were  born: 
(6)  Johannes,  Dec.  10,  1736,  and  (7)  Ludwig 
Friedrich  August.  Sept.  11.  1740. 

"The  Pennsylvania  archives,  containing  the 
names  of  30,000  early  emigrants,  mention  the  ar- 
rival of  John  Bernhart  Reber,  from  Rotterdam, 
Holland,  on  the  snow  Two  Sisters,  landing  in 
Philadelphia  and  qualifying  Sept.  9,  1738,  by 
swearing  allegiance  to  Great  Britain.  We  can 
learn  of  nothing  pertaining  to  his  whereabouts  or 
life  after  his  arrival  in  this  country.  The  pass- 
port, however,  of  the  son  is  still  intact.     *     *     * 

"(5)  Johannes  Reber,  whose  date  of  birth  is  un- 
known, was  married  Feb.  8,  1736,  to  Johanna 
Magdalena  Hahn.  They  had  two  sons  born  in 
Germany,  Johannes  and  Ludwig  Friedrich  Aug- 
ust. According  to  his  passport,  he  left  bis  native 
country  for  America  April  33,  1742,  bringing  his 
family  with  him,  although  it  is  known  that  the 
second  son.  Ludwig,  died  on  board  the  ship.  Be- 
ing a  member  of  William  Penn's  colony,  his  first 
object  was  to  find  a  desirable  location.  Having 
selected  some  acres  of  land  about  six  miles  west  of 
Reading,  in  Lower  Heidelberg  township,  at  the 
big  bend  of  the  Tulpehocken,  in  a  beautiful  though 
isolated  valley  known  afterward  as  the  Bine  Marsh, 
he  moved  thither  with  his  wife  and  son.  built  him- 
self a  home  which  served  the  double  purpose  of 
shelter  and  protection  against  the  Indians  and 
wild  animals,  his  only  aeighbors.  This  quaint  old 
building,  with  its  large,  square  fireplace  in  the 
center,  is  still  standing  on  the  farm  occupied  by 
Mi-.  Heiirv  Shafer,  Reading,  Pa. 

"We  find  recorded  in  the  Pennsylvania  archives, 
that  John  Reber  was  naturalized  May  13,  L768, 
and  also  that  he.  like  many  oilier-  of  the  early 
settlers,  was  concerned  in  uumerous  dispute-  re- 
garding the  rights  of  ownership  of  their  land. 
During  the  time  thai  he  resided  in  this  locality,  he 
was    blessed    with   an    increase   to    hi-    family    of 

three  sons,  "ho  were  aai I   Th a-.   Valentine 

and  Peter." 

John  or  Johannes  Reber,  mentioned  above,  eld- 
est son  of  Johan  who  emigrated  in  LI  l'.'.  continued 
t(,  live  in    Pennsylvania  after  hi-   father's  death. 


:;o| 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


He  was  twice  married  and  had  six  children.  The 
other  brothers,  Peter  and  Valentine,  went  West 
to  Ohio,  in  search  of  homes,  where  numbers  of 
their  descendants  may  he  found — at  Lancaster, 
Ohio.  The  remaining  brother,  Thomas  Reber, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1746,  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Kerschner,  born  Nov.  1.  1747,  died 
Dec.  22,  1823,  and  he  left  ten  children. 

John  Reber,  the  grandfather  of  Frank  M.  Re- 
bel-, married  Catharine  Minnich  and  was  a  farmer 
in  Heidelberg  township,  Berks  county,  where  be 
died  in  1834.  He  is  buried  at  Baum's  Church. 
To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  two  sons.  John 
and  William  H.  Of  these,  John  died  May  V  1909, 
in  Reading;  be  married  Hettie  Stoudt  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  two  children.  Mary  and  Sarah 
(wife  of  H.  Hoffner). 

William  II.  Reber,  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
(Minnich)  Reber.  was  born  dan.  15,  1832,  in 
Heidelberg  township.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  learner] 
tanning  in  his  native  county,  serving  bis  appren- 
ticeship to  that  trade  with  Benjamin  Klein,  at 
Rehrersburg.  In  1864  be  came  to  Milton,  and 
purchased  from  Samuel  Brown  the  tannery  orig- 
inally established  by  John  Armstrong,  in  1795. 
It  was  burned  in  1867  and  Mr.  Reber  rebuilt  it. 
In  the  great  fire  of  May  1  I.  1880,  it  was  again 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  again  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Reber, 
and  under  bis  management  it  became  one  of  the 
important  industries  of  Milton.  During  his  ac- 
tive years  Mr.  Reber  was  a  well  known  business 
man  of  his  section  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
he  prospered  in  his  calling  by  industrious  and 
honorable  devotion  to  his  work. 

On  Feb.  5,  1853,  Mr.  Reber  was  married,  at 
Stouchsburg,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Leinbacb.  Sr..  to 
Hannah  Gasser,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
Maria  Magdeline  Gasser,  of  Berks  county.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children:  William  M..  who  is 
a  farmer  in  Michigan;  Sophia,  who  married  Aus- 
tin ('.  Derr;  John  M.,  Attorney  at  Law.  who  died 
in  April.  1908;  .lame-  M.,  a  tanner;  Frank  M.; 
and  Hannah  E.,  married  to  Edward  W.  Moore. 
Mr.  Reber  died  April  23,  1010.  He  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Frank  M.  Reber  received  hi-  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Milton,  graduating  from 
the  high  school,  after  which  he  entered  Lafayette 
College,  from  which  institution  be  was  gradu- 
ated in  1890.  Cor  two  years  he  was  principal  of 
the  Pottsgrove  Academy,  meanwhile  registering 
as  a  law  student  with  James  Scarlet,  of  Danville, 
Pa.  In  1895  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  North- 
umberland county,  and  later  was  admitted  to  the 
Montour  county  bar.  In  1895  he  opened  his  law 
office  in  Milton,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  he  has  ever  since  continued,  in 
connection  therewith  engaging  in  the  real  estate 
business,  which  forms  an  important  part  of  his 
work.      In   1908,  in  connection  with  William   N. 


Watson,  he  organized  the  Milton  Realty  Company, 
of  which  he  has  since  been  secretary  and  treasur- 
er. This  company  has  become  an  important  fac- 
tor in  the  material  development  of  Milton.  Its 
most  important  operation  was  the  erection  on  the 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Front  Street  of  a  large 
three-story  business  block.  Mr.  Reber  is  a  de- 
servedly successful  young  man.  He  has  made  his 
way  to  the  front  under  difficulties  of  various  kinds, 
and  the  standing  and  prosperity  lie  enjoys  at 
present,  in  both  professional  and  business  circles, 
are  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts  and  persistent 
work. 

Mr.  Reber  is  a  member  of  the  Milton  Lodge 
of  Klks.  No.  913,  Ancient  ami  Independent  Or- 
der Knights  of  Malta,  and  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Mystic  Chain.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Milton. 

GEORGE  MARSHALL,  director  of  the  Sham- 
okin  Banking  Company,  treasurer  of  the  Sham- 
okin  Cemetery  Company,  contractor  and  builder,  a 
man  highly  esteemed  in  public  and  private  life, 
died  at  his  home  in  Shamokin  Dec.  2,  1906,  aged 
fifty-nine  years. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Sept. 
23,  is  17.  son  of  George  W.  ami  Esther  G.  (Bowen) 
Marshall,  who  later  became  residents  of  Shamokin. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  town,  and  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  public  schools,  remain- 
ing in  Ohio  until  March.  1866,  wdten  he  came  to 
Shamokin,  his  uncle,  the  late  William  II.  Marshall, 
persuading  him  of  the  superior  advantages  of  this 
town.  With  Thomas  M.  Helm  as  a  partner,  he  en- 
gaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business  for  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Helm 
and  went  into  the  planing  mill  and  lumber  trade, 
which  he  conducted  until  May.  1800.  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest.  While  in  this  business  he 
was  also  engaged  a.s  a  contractor  and  builder,  erect- 
ing many  of  the  best  buildings  of  the  town,  in- 
cluding the  Presbyterian  church  and  chapel,  hotel 
Vanderbilt.  Boston  block,  and  the  Oram  and  Helm 
block.  He  was  greatly  interested  in  real  estate,  and 
was  deeply  concerned  in  the  improvements  made 
in  his  adopted  town.  He  erected  his  own  home  in 
1S8V  For  about  fifteen  years  before  his  death  he 
lived  retired. 

On  the  death  of  his  uncle,  in  1878.  Mr.  Marshall 
was  chosen  to  succeed  him  as  treasurer  of  the 
Shamokin  Cemetery  Company,  an  office  he  tilled 
as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
Shamokin  Banking-  Company.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican,  and  twice  served  as  a  member  of  the 
borough  council.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  served  as  a  trustee  many 
years. 

In  September.  187V  Mr.  Marshall  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Maggie  Fulton,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Fulton,  of  Shamokin.     She  died  in  January.  1878, 


'man  yyiafbo  XaM 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


30a 


the  mother  of  two  children,  William  H.  and  Ami 
Fair,  both  now  deceased.  On  June  11,  1885,  Mr. 
Marshall  married  (second)  Elizabeth  X.  Fulton, 
sister  to  his  first  wife.  Four  children  blessed  this 
union,  namely:  Elizabeth  F. :  George  W.  and  Alex- 
ander F,  both  students  at  Lafayette  College,  and 
John  N. 

SAMUEL  HIGH,  a  business  man  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Watsontown,  engaged  in  the  coal,  grain 
and  feed  trade,  has  been  connected  with  his  pres- 
ent establishment  since  1888  and  was  manager  of 
same  sOme  time  before  he  became  proprietor.  He 
was  horn  at  Muncy,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  22, 
1865,  son  of  Aaron  C.  High  and  grandson  of 
Samuel  High,  and  is  a  member  of  an  old  settled 
family  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Highs  or  Hochs  hav- 
ing  long  1 ii  identified  with  this  Commonwealth. 

Early  in  1717  Rudolph  and  Melchior  Hoch, 
Moravians,  left  their  home  in  Switzerland  for 
America  on  account  of  religious  persecution.  Tra- 
dition says  they  were  without  much  money  when 
they  landed.  These  two  were  the  ancestors  of  all 
of  the  name  in  Berks  county  and  surrounding  ter- 
ritory. The  first  spelling  of  the  name  was  Hoy, 
the  final  "If  being  added  later:  some  members  of 
the  family  preferred  the  form  High  to  Hoch.  and 
as  early  as  1744  Samuel,  a  grandson  of  Rudolph, 
spelled  his  name  High.  After  wandering  about 
for  some  time,  Rudolph  Hoch  settled  near  what 
is  now  Pottsgrove.  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  while 
Melchior  settled  in  Bucks  county,  same  State,  all 
of  the  Hochs  or  Highs  now  in  Bucks  county  be- 
ing descended  from  his  two  sons,  Philip  and  Ja- 
cob. In  1725  Rudolph  Hoch  removed  Erom  near 
Pottsgrove,  then  called  Swedeland,  to  Oley,  and 
became  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  300  acres  two  miles 
northeasl  of  Friedenshurg,  the  land  being  still 
in  the  possession  of  the  Hochs.  In  1728  he  laid 
out  a  burial  place,  about  eighty  feet  square,  and 
here  he  and  seven  generations  are  buried.  Sev- 
eral interesting  relics  id'  the  two  emigrants  are 
preserved  by  the  family.  The  large  German  Bi- 
ble is  owned  by  Gideon  A.  I>.  Hoch.  Books 
bronchi  from  over  the  sea  are  still  at  the  Hoch 
farm',  the  elder  Hochs  making  this  provision  in 
their  wills.  There  is  also  a  very  ornamental, 
small,  open-faced  watch,  which  though  266  years 
old  is  in  excellent  condition  and  keep-  perfect 
time.  Philip  D.  Hoch  has  a  piece  of  petrified 
wood  brought  over  by  Rudolph  Hoch.  and  used  as 
a  whetstone,  one  of  its  principal  uses  being  to 
sharpen  razors.  Rudolph  Hoch  was  married  when 
he  came  to  America,  and  his  son  John  was  born  in 
Switzerland.  His  wife  died  in  1728,  and  was  the 
first  to  he  buried  in  the  family  cemetery.  He  died 
in  1748.  His  sons  numbered  five,  among  them  be- 
ing John  and  Samuel. 

In     Prof.    Daniel     Rupp's    "History    of    Berks 

20 


County,"  published  in  1844,  is  a  letter  written  by 
Maria  He  Turek  (born  Hochen),  of  oley  town- 
ship, which  hears  date  Hay  14,  1718.  It  was  ad- 
dressed to  her  brother,  sisters  and  friends  in  her 
oative  country,  and  it  reflects  her  profound  piety. 
John  Hoch,  son  of  Rudolph,  established  the 
family  homestead,  purchasing  it  from  William 
Ranberry.     He  was  the  father  of  eleven  children: 

(I)  Deborah  was  born  in  1721.  (2)  Samuel,  born 
in  If.'.,  moved  to  Poplar  Neck.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Herbein,  of  Oley,  and  they 
hail  three  sons  ami  one  daughter,  two  of  the  sons 
living  quite  voting.  The  surviving  son,  Isaac, 
horn  July  J.  17:,:!.  died  May  18,  L795.  lie  had  a 
son  William,  who  was  horn  in  1786  and  died  in 
1851.  (3)  Rudolph,  hmn  in  I?".'-"),  lived  in 
Maiden-creek,  where  he  reared  six  sons — lohn, 
Daniel,  Jacob,  [saac,  Abraham  and  Samuel — and 
four  (laughters.  (1)  Daniel,  horn  in  1728.  had 
nine  sons — Samuel.  Jacob.  John,  Daniel.  Abraham, 
[saac,  David,  Joseph  and  Philip — and  four  daugh- 
ters. ( •"> )  Maria  and  (('. )  Magdalena,  twins, 
were  horn  in  1730.  (7)  John,  horn  in 
L733,  married  Susanna  Levan,  hail  one  daughter, 
and  died  in  1763.  (8)  Susan  was  horn  in  1735. 
(h)  Jacob,  horn  in  17JS.  married  (first)  Miss 
Weiser  and  (second)  Mi--  Fisher,  and  had  five 
sons — David,  Abraham,  Solomon,  William  and 
Daniel — and  three  daughters,  all  born  and  reared 
in  Maiden-creek.     (10)   Esther  was  bora  in  17  1'.'. 

(II)  Abraham,  born  in  1745,  married  Susanna 
Weiser,  and  lived  on  the  old  Hoch  farm,  where 
i. lie  son.  Abraham,  and  two  daughters  were  bom. 


Samuel  High,  grandfather  of  Samuel  High  of 
Watsontown,  was  born  Sept.  12,  1789,  in  Oley 
township,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage moved  to  Union  county,  Pa.,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  substantial 
fanner,  owning  a  large  farm  in  White  Deer  town- 
ship, where  he  died  Oct.  is.  1880.  His  wife.  Cath- 
arine Pott,  of  Pottsville,  horn  about  1800,  died 
An-'.  24,  1879,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  old 
Clapp  (Klopp)  graveyard  in  White  Deer  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  High  were  Methodists  in  re- 
ligious connection.  They  had  a  large  family,  as 
follow-:  Judith  Ann.  born  Jan.  6,  L815,  married 
Daniel  Ruthraulf.  who  died  Nov.  3,  1876,  aged 
sixty-three  years,  five  months,  four  days,  sin  d 
ing  Nov.  21,  1902  (two  30ns  and  one  'l.r. 
tins  couple  live  in  East  Sunbury);  Ma 
in    1816,  died   in    L82-J :   Priscilla,  born   Nov.  22, 

1818,  died   Jan.   .'ID.    L899  :    \anm   ('.   is  uieiiti 1 

below  ■  Jai  ob,  born  in  is-.-:;,  died  in  L85^  ;  Benja- 
min F.,  horn  Jan.  is.  1827,  did  July  -.'1.  1850; 
Rebecca  »'..  born  March  11.  1829,  did  Feb.  25, 
1838;  Samuel  B.,  born  Dec  29,  1831,  Lives  al 
Mille'rsburg,  Pa.;  Cordelia,  born  in  1834,  died  in 
■  Sarah   M.,  born    March  29,    1837,  married 


306 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Alex.  Donauchy,  who  died  July  25,  1871,  and  she 
now  lives  at  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Eliza  J.,  born 
Sept.  1.  1835,  died  Dee.  8,   1898. 

Aaron  C.  High  was  born  June  22,  1821,  in 
Union  county,  Pa.,  and  died  May  18,  1894,  at 
White  Deer;  lie  is  buried  at  Watsontown,  North- 
umberland county.  Mr.  High  was  a  fanner  by 
occupation,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  a, 
small  farm.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian  man.  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  al- 
ways active  in  the  life  of  the  church  and  Sunday 
school,  serving  as  superintendent  of  the  Franklin 
Union  Sabbath  school  for  about  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wile's  maiden 
name  being  Rauck,  and  his  second  was  Susan  Lesh, 
of  Clinton  county.  Pa.,  who  died  in  June,  1899, 
and  is  buried  at  Watsontown.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  seven  children,  as  follows:  William  H.  is 
a  business  man  of  Dalmatia,  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa.;  Mills  S.  is  mentioned  below;  Grant  B..  who 
is  an  invalid,  lives  at  White  Deer,  l'a.:  Samuel  is 
mentioned  below;  Cora  C.  died  unmarried  at  the 
agi  of  twenty-one  years,  of  typhoid  fever,  while 
visiting  in  Philadelphia;  Delilah  B.  married  W. 
W.  Curry  and  they  live  in  Williamsport,  l'a.:  Ario 
P..  an  engineer  on  the  Philadelphia  &  [leading 
railroad,  lives  at  West  Milton. 

Mills  S.  High  was  horn  Oct.  in,  I860,  in 
White  Deer,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  five  years 
old  when  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Muncy. 
l'a..  where  the  family  resided  until  1873.  He 
was  there  employed  in  the  dairy  business,  and  af- 
ter returning  to  White  Deer  worked  on  a  farm  for 
five  years,  coming  to  Watsontown  in  1878.  Here 
he  took  up  the  trade  of  tinner  with  E.  B.  Hogue, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years,  after 
which  he  continued  with  Mr.  Hogue  until  the  lat- 
ter -Mid  nut  to  Kirk  &  Shannon,  for  which  firm  he 
worked  until  1SST.  in  which  year  he  purchased 
Mr.  Kirk's  interest  in  the  business,  the  name  be- 
coming  Shannon  &  High.  The  business  is  still 
conducted  under  this  ownership,  and  they  do  a 
genera]  business  as  tinners  and  hardware  and 
stove  merchants,  having  a  prosperous  establish- 
ment, well  patronized  by  the  residents  of  Watson- 
town and  the  surrounding  country.  Their  hon- 
orable methods  and  obliging  ways  have  won  and 
retained  a  large  patronage.  Mr.  High  is  well 
known  as  a  member  of  Watsontown  Lodge.  No. 
619.  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  the  Artisans  Order  of 
Mutual  Protection,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most 
popular  members  of  the  old  Hope  Hose  Company, 
being  particularly  well  liked  among  the  young 
people  of  the  town  and  community. 

In  April,  1803.  Mr.  High  married  Jennie  Peter- 
man,  daughter  of  the  late  Peter  Peterman.  One 
child  has  been  horn  to  this  union.  Edwin  Burke. 

Samuel    High    received    his    education    in    the 

ils  of  the  home  locality  in  Union  county,  and 

was  reared  on  the  farm.     For  several  years  he  as- 


sisted his  brother  in  the  tinning  and  stove  busi- 
ness at  Watsontown.  In  188s  he  became  an  em- 
ployee of  W.  A.  Leiser.  at  that  time  the  owner  of 
the  grain,  coal  and  feed  business  with  which  he  has 

since    I o    associated,    remaining    in    his    employ 

continuously  tor  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  and 
then  became  manager  of  the  business,  which  he  has 
conducted  successfully  ever  since,  being  now  pro- 
prietor.  The  concern  has  prospered,  being  one  of 
the  profitable  business  houses  in  the  town.  He 
has  become  the  owner  of  some  real  estate  in  the 
borough,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  general 
welfare  of  the  community,  which  he  has  served 
particularly  well  a-  overseer  of  the  poor,  to  which 
office  he  was  first  elected  in  1900,  ami  which  he 
has  held  continuously  sinee,  having  been  reelected 
five  successive  times.  He  himself  votes  independ- 
ently, and  he  has  been  a  candidate  on  more  than 
one  party  ticket.  Under  his  administration  the 
poor  tax  of  the  borough  has  been  considerably  re- 
duced, and  a  borough  poorhouse  "a-  built — an 
action  favored  by  the  best  class  of  citizens  in  the 
community. 

On  Oct.  23,  1890,  Mr.  High  married  Ada  Car- 
roll, daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Diz- 
zany)  Carroll,  of  West  Fairview,  Cumberland  Co.. 
Pa.,  and  they  have  had  two  children.  Clyde  0. 
(who  i-  an  electrician)  and  Zenna  S.  Mr.  High 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Watsontown,  and  lie  has  served  some 
\eais  in  the  office  of  steward.  Socially  he  belongs 
to  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  (Watsontown  Lodge.  No.  619, 
and  the  Encampment)  and  the  Artisans  Order  of 
Mutual   Protection. 

H  KIN  F.N.  Tin-  members  of  this  family  have 
been  active  in  the  business  development  of  the 
borough  of  Milton  for  so  many  years  and  so  suc- 
cessful in  financial  circles  that  many  of  the  most 
important  interests  of  the  place  owe  their  incep- 
tion and  prosperity  to  the  foresight  and  good 
management  of  the  Heinens.  At  the  present  da} 
William  A.  Heinen.  vice  president  of  the  Milton 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  director  of  a  num- 
ber of  other  companies  which  have  been  factors  in 
the  advancement  of  Milton,  is  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  borough. 

Or.  Henry  Heinen.  the  grandfather  of  William 
A.  Heinen.  was  a  native  of  Germany,  horn  in 
1780,  and  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young 
man.  settling  in  York  county,  Pa.  About  1825 
he  moved  to  Milton.  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  followed  his  profession  until  his  death. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Etzler,  who  was  born  Sept. 
1Y  1784,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Maria  E. ;  Lucetta;  William:  Sarah: 
and   Henry  W.,  horn  in  18".JY  and  died  in   1854. 

William  Heinen.  son  of  Dr.  Henry,  horn  May 
•">.  1817,  received  the  greater  part  of  his  education 
in  the  Milton  Academy,  under  Rev.  David  Kirk- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;n; 


patrick.  He  started  his  eventful  business  life  as 
a  clerk,  and  served  an  extended  apprenticeship, 
though  lie  commenced  business  for  himself  at  a 
comparatively  early  age,  in  1835  entering  into 
partnership  with  Jesse  Schreyer,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Schreyer  &  Heinen.  This  association 
lasted  for  some  time,  and  his  next  was  with  his 
brother  Henry  W..  under  the  firm  name  of  Hein- 
en &  Bro.  After  that  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Messrs.  Roush  &  Etzler,  under  the  name  of 
Heinen.  Etzler  A  Roush.  Following  this  connection 
he  was  with  his  son  Henry  anil  Win.  (i.  Anspaet. 
as  Heinen,  Son  &  Co.,  later  selling  out  his  inter- 
est in  their  business,  in  1879.  After  that  the  bus- 
iness was  continued  under  the  name  of  Heinen. 
Schreyer  &  Co.,  by  Mr.  Heinen's  sons.  W.  A. 
Schreyer  and  Simon  P.  Brown. 

Coming  to  Milton  when  the  town  was  still  a  vil- 
lage, there  was  little  connected  with  its  growth  in 
which  William  Heinen  did  not  have  an  active 
pait.     He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Milton 

National    Bank   and   of   its  directors   for  many 

years. 

(in  April  1.  1863,  Samuel  Hepburn  and  wife 
conveyed  to  William  ('.  Lawson,  William  Heinen 
and  Edward  W.  Chapin  his  farm  containing 
eighty-three  acres  and  112  perches,  situated  just 
easl  of  what  was  then  the  borough  of  Milton  and 
south  of  Broadway.  This  land  was  first  opened 
lor  building  purposes  by  the  laying  out  of  what 
is  now  known  a-  Centre  street.  Mr.  Chapin  took 
part  ol  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  Centre  street 
for  his  share  in  the  property,  and  conveyed  his 
interest  in  the  balance  to  Messrs.  Heinen  and 
Lawson.  Mr.  Chapin  subsequently  laid  his  part, 
of  the  land  out  in  town  lots.  Messrs.  Lewis  H. 
Funk.  Reuben  Etzler  and  William  Mervine  pur- 
chased a  pari  of  the  land  north  of  Centre  street. 
just  east  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  right  of  way. 
which  they  laid  out  in  town  lots.  In  1868  Mr. 
Heinen  sold  his  interest  in  so  much  id'  the  land 
as  was  then  undeveloped  to  W.  A.  Schreyer,  who, 
together  with  William  C.  Lawson,  laid  out  the 
balance  of  the  land  in  town  lots  extending  as  far 
eastward  as  Hottenstein's  addition  to  the  borough 
of  Milton.  In  1870  Mr.  Heinen  purchased  a  large 
farm  adjoining  the  town,  which  he  laid  out  in 
lots,  forming  that  part  of  Milton  known  as  Hein- 
en'- addition. 

Mr.  Heinen  married  Anna  M.  Funk,  daughter 
of  Henry  Funk,  horn  Feb.  20,  1798,  died  .Ian.  25, 
1852  and  his  wife  Catherine  (Stover),  horn 
May  12,  1799,  died  Sept.  29,  1871.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Funk  had  the  following  children:  Anna  M..  Mrs. 
William  Heinen;  Benjamin  F.,  who  married  Sal- 
lie  Lloyd;  Clementine.  Mrs.  Samuel  Hoffa; 
George  Washington,  who  married  Rebecca  Gauby; 
Catherine.    Mrs.    Michael    Rissel  ;    and    Lewis    H. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heinen  were  horn  eight  chil- 
dren:  Henry  J.  is   mentioned   later:   Melancthon, 


born  Feb.  15,  1846,  died  Nov.  21,  1868;  Cather- 
ine E.,  horn  March  26,  1848,  died  1905,  married 
D.  M.  Krauser  and  had  a  son  William  Heinen 
Krauser:  William  A.  is  mentioned  later:  Sallie 
A.,  horn  May  12,  is.".  1.  died  May  1.  ls.V".;  Anna 
M..  horn  Feb.  22,  1856,  died  Sept.  19,  1858;  Ed- 
ward E..  born  Sept.  S.  1862,  died  March  11.  1864: 
T.  Curtis  married  Carrie  Y.  Belford,  daughter  of 
1).  W.  A.  Belford,  and  has  one  daughter,  Kath- 
erine  E.  T.  Curtis  Heinen  spent  his  early  life 
engaged  in  the  store  business,  continuing'  thus 
until  1890,  when  he  became  secretary  of ,  the 
Milton  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  remain- 
ing in  that  institution  until  he  entered  the  Mil- 
ton National  Bank,  in  1906,  as  teller.  He  is  a 
member  of  Milton  Lodge,  No.  •,'.".<;,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  which  he  is  a  past  master.  Baldwin  Command- 
ery,  I\.  T..  of  Williamsport,  Pa.,  Warrior  Run 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  at  Watsontown,  and  Williams- 
port  Consistory,  A.  A.  S.  R. 

William  Heinen  died  .Inly  19,  1879,  and  his 
wile  survived  until  1885.  He  was  a  member  of 
the   Lutheran  Church. 

Henry  .1.  Heinen  was  horn  May  -.'1.  1843,  in 
Milton,  Pa.,  received  his  early  education  in  the 
local  schools,  and  later  entered  Bucknell  College. 
From  college  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war.  enlisting  first  in  Com- 
pany E,  131st  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  later. 
on  duly  1.  1863,  in  Company  1.  37th  Regiment. 
He  was  discharged  Aug.  t.  1863,  with  the  rank'  of 
sergeant.  Upon  his  return  from  the  army  Mr. 
Heinen  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Heinen 
&  Rissel,  at  Limestoneville,  in  a  general  store. 
After  a  few  years  there  he  came  to  Milton  and  en- 
tered into  business  with  his  father.  In  the  year 
1871  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Heinen. 
Schreyer  &  Co.,  with  which  he  continued  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  March  19,  1887.  He  is 
buried  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Milton.  Mr. 
Heinen  was  not  only  a  successful  merchant  but 
also  active  in  promoting  various  institutions  and 
public  utilities  of  Milton,  being  a  director  of  the 
Milton  National  Bank,  of  the  Water  Company 
and  of  the  (las  Company.  He  was  a  working 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  served  as 
trustee,  as  member  of  the  building  committee  dur- 
ing the  erection  of  tin-  present  line  church  at 
Milton,  and  from  issn  until  his  death  a-  super- 
intendent of  the  primary  department  of  the  Sun- 
dav  school.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  opin- 
ion, hut  never  active  in  party  affairs.  He  held 
membership  in  Milton  Lodge,  Mo.  256,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Heinen  married  Anna  Rebecca  Mann.  an. I 
five  children  were  born  to  them,  all  daughters. 
namely:  Edna,  married  to  John  M.  Correy;  Anna 
jf.,  married  to  George  1».  B.  Hedenberg,  of  Mil- 
Ion;  Grace  J.,  married  t>  Rev.  Forrest  L.  Fraser, 
a  Baptist  minister,  now  of  Albany,  N.  Y.:  Flor- 
ence  G.,   married    to    Henry    I.'.   ('linger,   a   young 


308 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


business  man  of  Milton;  ami  Elizabeth  Mann,  at 
home. 

John  Mann,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hen- 
ry .1.  Heinen,  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  and  later  lived  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa. 
He  had  a  family  of  eight  children:  John;  Jo- 
el, who  lived  and  died  at  Abington  (his  children 
were  George,  John.  Albert  and  Rachel);  Annie, 
Mrs.  Long;  Samuel,  who  lived  and  died  in  Phil- 
adelphia ;  Betsy :  Mitch  el,  who  died  when  a  young 
man  ;  Eliza,  and  Mrs.  John  Fenton. 

John  Mann,  son  of  John,  settled  down  to  farm- 
ing in  Doylestown  township,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
became  a  prominent  man  in  that  district.  He 
died  there,  and  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  lie  was  a  member. 
He  was  twice  married,  ami  1  ■  v  his  first  wife  had 
four  children,  namely:  Benjamin,  a  carpenter; 
lived  and  died  in  Bucks  county:  Maria  married 
Joseph  Rich;  Eliza  was  twice  married,  first  to  a 
Mr.  Fritzinger.  and  second  to  William  Widison; 
Martha  married  Joseph  James.  Mr.  Mann'-  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Martha  Grier.  by  whom  he 
hail  eight  children:  John  Grier;  Jane.  Mrs.  Alfred 
MeGill;  Dr.  William,  who  died  in  Philadelphia: 
Margaret,  Mrs.  James  Poole;  Louisa.  Mrs.  Samuel 
James:  Susan.  .Mrs.  Benjamin  Stuckertt:  James 
S.,  who  died  at  Norristown,  Pa.:  and  Charles, 
who  died  young. 

John  Grier  Mann,  father  of  Mrs.  Heinen.  was 
I  Him  in  1805  in  Doylestown  township.  Bucks  coun- 
ts followed  fanning,  and  died  in  1883,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  years.  He  is  buried  at  the  Doyles- 
town Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Lydia 
A.  James,  daughter  of  Levi  James,  of  Bucks  coun- 
ty, and  to  them  were  horn  five  children:  Isabella 
James  married  J.  K.  Lovett;  Francis  T.  married 
Sarah  Rich,  and  died  in  1905;  Robert  M.  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  died  of  his 
injuries  at  the  Philadelphia  hospital,  when  twen- 
ty years  old:  Anna  1!.  i<  the  widow  of  Henry  J. 
Heinen:  Elizabeth  Polk,  unmarried,  died  at 
Doylestown   Dec.  14.  1909. 


William  A.  Hi:ixt;x.  brother  of  Henry  J..  was 
born  Oct.  16,  1850,  at  Milton,  and  there  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools.  Later  he 
took  a  course  at  Bueknell  University,  Lewisburg, 
Pa.  In  his  youth  Mr.  Heinen  followed  fanning, 
but  in  1879,  upon  the  retirement  of  his  father,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Hein- 
en, Schreyer  &  Co.,  with  which  he  continued  until 
1880.  after  which  he  was  engaged  for  some  years 
in  superintending  Ids  farm.  In  June.  1891,  he  be- 
came vice  president  and  paymaster  of  the  Milton 
Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers  of  nuts 
and  washers,  and  he  is  still  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity. He  is  associated  with,  a  number  of  other 
local  enterprises  of  note,  having  served  as  director 
of  the  Milton  Gas  Company,  the  Milton  Trust  and 


Sal,  Deposit  Company  (of  which  he  is  vice  pres- 
ident), the  Milton  Iron  Company,  the  Milton 
Driving  Park  and  Fair  Association,  the  Milton 
Water  Company  and  the  Milton  Bridge  Company, 
and  he  is  secretary  of  the  Milton  Creamery  Com- 
pany. His  substantial  position  makes  his  connec- 
tion with  any  venture  an  assurance  of  it-  legiti- 
mate business  purpose  and  high  character.     - 

<)n  Oct.  8,  1889,  Mr.  Heinen  married  Mary  C. 
Shinier,  daughter  of  Samuel  J.  and  Catherine  A. 
(Stout)  Shinier,  of  Milton.  They  have  live  chil- 
dren. William  s..  Horn  s..  George  S., 
Lewis  S..  and  Catherine  S..  all  of  whom 
are  still  at  home.  Mr.  Heinen  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     He  is  a  Republican  in  political  opinion. 

DANIEL  R.  ZARTMAN,  of  Sunbury,  who  has 

a  large  grocery  house  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Market  streets,  has  been  in  business  in  the  bor- 
ough for  some  thirty  years,  in  various  associations. 
He  was  horn  Oct.  1">.  1854,  in  what  was  then  Low- 
er Augusta  (now-  Rockefeller)  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  comes  of  an  old  family  of  this 
count},  being  a  descendant  of  Alexander  Zartman, 
who  came  to  America  in  1728.  from  whom  he  traces 
his  descent  through  Jacob.  Martin,  William  and 
Daniel.  These  generations  in  detail  are  given  be- 
low. 

Alexander  Zartman  and  his  wife  Ann  Cath- 
arine were  the  first  of  this  family  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica. In  the  summer  of  1728,  they  came  down  the 
Rhine  river  to  Rotterdam.  Holland,  and  from 
there  on  June  .".'.  1728,  they  sailed  via  ('owes  in 
the  ship  "Albany,"  Lazarus  Oxman,  master,  and 
landed  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  31,  1728.  Here  they 
remained  some  days,  thence  finding  their  way  to 
the  Tulpehocken  region  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  Be- 
fore the  year  1730  they  located  in  Warwick  town- 
ship. Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  in  a  place  near  Brieker- 
ville.  Alexander  Zartman  died  early  in  December, 
1762,  and  his  wife  survived  him  some  years.  They 
had  two  sons,  Jacob  and  Alexander. 

Jacob  Zartman.  son  of  Alexander,  married  An- 
na Margareth  Roemm  (Ream),  and  they  had 
eight  children,  all  horn  in  Lancaster  county,  viz.: 
Henry.  Martin,  Anna  Margareth,  Susannah,  Eva, 
Peter,  Jacob  and  Ann  Maria. 

Martin  Zartman.  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  in  Lan- 
i  aster  county,  about  1T69  (  ?).  He  came  to  North- 
umberland county  and  lived  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township  before  1 T 7 s .  He  married  Susanna  Fut- 
ler  i  Fitler),  and  they  had  children:  Elizabeth, 
Martin.  Benjamin.  William.  Eve.  Magdalena, 
Margaret  and  David. 

William  Zartman.  son  of  Martin  and  grand- 
father of  Daniel  P..  was  born  May  28,  1785,  in 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  followed  the 
work  of  fanning.  He  married  (first)  a  Miss 
Herb,   and    their   children    were:   Adam,    Daniel, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


309 


Lydia,  Georgi  II..  Abraham,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Har- 
riet. Sarah,  Abigail,  Hannah.  Joseph  and  May. 
William  Zartman  died  April  30,  1857.  He  evi- 
dently married  a  second  time. 

Daniel  Zartman,  son  of  William  and  father  of 
Daniel  I!.,  was  born  Sept.  29,  1811.  and  died  Feb. 
17.  1889.  He  owned  and  operated  a  tannery  in 
Rockefeller  township.  He  married  Esther  Raker. 
who  was  born  Jan.  10,  1817,  and  died  Jan.  1,  1857. 
They  were  thi  parents  of  twelve  children  born  as 
follows:  Harriet,  a  son  that  died  in  infancy,  Sar- 
ah Ann.  Alexander  1!..  William  (died  aged  twen- 
ty-one years),  Mary  Jane.  Rebecca,  Catharine, 
Abigail,  one  thai  died  in  infancy,  Daniel  R.  and 
Esther. 

Conrad  Raker,  maternal  grandfather  of  Daniel 
R.  Zartman,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
and  came  thence  about  1795  to  Northumberland 
count)',  "where  he  married.  He  located  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  remaining  there  two  years  and 
then  removing  to  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  his  death.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent man  in  various  ways,  serving  as  county  com- 
missioner in  1836-37,  was  a  leading  church  mem- 
ber and  worker,  assisting  in  the  building  of  Eman- 
uel's Church  in  Little  Mahanoy  township  and  the 
••Stone  Church"  ai  Augustaville,  both  Lutheran 
churches,  and  proved  himself  useful  in  other  capa- 
cities. He  married  Barbara  Dunkelberger,  and 
they  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  as  follows: 
John;  Kate:  Frederick-,  horn  Dec.  21,  1804,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Hoffman  and  had  children,  Con- 
rad 11..  Catharine  (wife  of  Samuel  Frederick)  and 
Harriel  (wife  of  Sam.  Dornsife) ;  Jacob;  Wil- 
liam :  Enoi  h  :  Isaac;  Maria:  Esther,  who  married 
Daniel  Zartman  :  and  Mary. 

Daniel  R.  Zartman  spent  his  boy] d  days  at- 
tending school  ami  working  in  his  father's  tan- 
nery.     When    a    voung   man   he    beca shipping 

clerk  for  James  Martin  &  Co.,  of  Rochester,  X.  Y.. 
and  upon  resigning  his  position  in  New  Y- 
Eormed  a  partnership  with  T.  J.  Vastine,  of  Sun- 
burv,  the  firm  of  Vastine  &  Zartman  dealing  in 
general  mi  n  liandise  and  groceries.  This  asso- 
ciation asted  until  1883,  when  Mr.  Zartman  sold 
his  interest   to  his  partner  and  opened  a  general 

merchandise  store,  which  he  carried  on   fot    al I 

a  year  and  a  half.  At  the  end  of  that  time  be  en- 
tered into  |  irtnership  with  Johnson  B.  Miller,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Zartman  &  Miller,  and  they 
did  busim  --  together  for  five  years,  selling  general 
merchandise  and  meat-.  Mr.  Zartman  then  pur- 
chased Mr.  Miller'-  interest  and  continued  the 
business  alone  for  two  years,  until  obliged  to  sell 
out  beeausi  of  ill  health.  Vought  &  Co.  hem.--  the 
purchasers.  In  about  a  rear  he  bought  back  the 
business  from  that  firm,  and  conducted  it  until  he 
sold  out  to  D.  A.  Hartman,  the  present  owner,  in 
1904  Meantime,  in  1895,  Mr.  Zartman  had  built 
a  |ar<re  three-story  brick  store  building  at  the  cor- 


ner of  Market  street  and  Catawissa  avenue,  the 
first  floor  of  which  is  used  for  store  purposes,  the 

s nd  divided  int..  flats  and  the  third  used  as  a 

hall  by  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  He  also  erected  two 
dwelling  house-  and  a  large  warehouse.  On  June 
!*.  1908,  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with 
R.  H.  Treon,  and  as  Zartman  &  Treon  they  are 
conducting  a  large  ami  growing  grocery  trade,  hav- 
ing a  line  -tore  at  the  corner  of  Fifth' and  Market 
streets.  On  May  22,  1909,  Mr.  Zartman  pur- 
chased Mr.  Treon's  interest,  and  he  continues  the 
business  alone.  Mi'.  Zartman's  enterprising  dis- 
position and  success  in  his  various  undertakings 
have  made  him  one  of  the  most  active  business  men 
in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  and  he  is  highly  es- 
teemed throughout  this  section,  his  long  career  as 
a  merchant  having  brought  him  into  contact  with 
a  large  proportion  of  his  fellow  citizens,  among 
whom  he  is  universally  respected  for  his  honorable 
dealings  and  creditable  life. 

On  Nov.  3,  1881,  Mr.  Zartman  married  Ellen 
Bateman,  daughter  of  Augustus  and  Mary  (  Mes- 
siner)  Bateman,  and  they  have  had  two  children: 
Susan,  who  is  married  to  Joseph  Nesbit  and  has 
one  child.  Bailey  Zartman:  and  Harry,  who  mar- 
ried Minnie  ('line-  and  has  two  children.  Reulah 
M.  and  Clifford. 

Mr.  Zartman  and  his  family  are  members  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  as  such  has  been  chosen  to  represent  his 
ward  in  the  borough  council.  In  social  connection 
he  hold-  membership  in  the  1'.  < ).  S.  of  A..  Con- 
clave, Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and 
Knight-  and   Ladie-  of  Honor. 

Augustus  and  Mary  (Messiner)  Bateman,  par- 
ent- of  Mrs.  Daniel  R.  Zartman,  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  namely:  (!)  Sarah  married  James 
Bitterman,  and  has  two  daughters,  Mabel  and 
Maud  (Mrs.  George  Stroh).  (2)  Polly  married 
Gideon  Kremer  and  has  children.  Harry,  Geo) 
Walter  and  Goldie.  (3)  Savilla  has  been  twice 
married,  and  has  two  children.  Charles  and  Jen- 
nie, by  her  first  husband.  ('.  Phillips:  her  second 
marriage  was  to  "Find  Holm.  (  t)  Edwin  married 
Mary  Witmer  and  the]  have  four  children,  Ida. 
Laura.  Minnie  and  Clarence.  (5)  Ellen  is  the 
wife  of  Daniel  If.  Zartman.  (6)  Katie  married 
George  F.  Markel  and  has  two  daughters.  Lillian 
i  married  Samuel  Wileye  i  and  Lena  ( married 
Charles  Rogers).  (7)  Marietta  married  George 
Radle.      (8)   Lillian  married   Daniel   Smith. 

DANIEL  DENGLER  BOLICH,  senioT  mem- 
ber of  the  linn  of  Daniel  D.  Bolii  ll  A  Son,  "f 
Mount  Carmel,  is  at  the  land  -  om  o  the  most 
important  mercantile  concerns  m  thai  borough, 
original!;  '  ed  by  In-  father  in  1864  and  in 

enei    -'ii.  e      IF-  father 
business,  carrying  a  compre- 
hensive st...  k,  and  tin'  pre-'  ners  have  added 


310 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


other  lines,  all  of  which  they  have  found  in  de- 
mand, their  business  showing  a  steady  growth. 
They  have  kept  pace  with  the  advance  of  the  times, 
both  in  the  variety  of  their  merchandise  and  in 
the  method?  of  handling  their  trade,  the  increase 
of  which  show?  the  appreciation  which  their  efforts 
to  please  customers  has  gained.  Mr.  Bolich  has 
lived  at  Mount  Carmel  from  boyhood,  hut  he  is 
a  native  of  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
horn  July  22,  1850.  The  Bolich  family  was  founded 
in  this  country  by  Andraes  Bolich,  his  great-great- 
grandfather, wlio  came  from  the  Palatinate,  in 
Germany,  crossing  the  ocean  in  the  ship  "Nep- 
tune," with  171  other  passengers,  and  landing  at 
Philadelphia  Sept.  24,  1754.  We  have  a  record 
-In. wine-  thai  he  located  in  Greenwich  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  some  time  aboul  L765,  among  the 
first  settlers  in  that  district.  Where  he  spent  the 
intervening  years  is  not  known.  Here  he  followed 
farming,  lie  was  a  man  of  typical  German  char- 
acteristics. His  will,  on  record  in  Will  Book  A. 
page  11.  in  the  Berks  county  court  house  at  Read 
ing,  is  dated  March  16,  1780;  he  died  in  April, 
1780.  To  his  sun  Andrew  (Andraes)  he  bequeathed 
the  plantation  and  all  the  implements,  with  the 
provision  that  he  was  to  pay  three  hundred  pounds 
sterling  to  his  seven  sisters,  in  installments.  The 
will  was  witnessed  by  Philip  Arnold  and  Benedict 
Kohlcr. 

Andraes  Bolich  i'.'i.  -on  of  the  emigrant,  lived 
upon  his  father's  estate  in  Greenwich  township. 
having  become  the  owner  of  that  property  upon 
his  father's  death,  lie  was  horn  in  IT-")?,  and  died 
on  his  farm.  The  Federal  Census  reporl  of  1790 
recorded  Andraes  Bolich  a  resident  of  Green- 
wich township  and  the  head  of  a  family  consisting 
of  his  wife,  one  -on  under  sixteen,  and  four  daugh- 
ters. His  wife's  name  \\a-  Margaretha,  and 
among  their  children  were  Johan  and  Michael. 

Michael  Bolich.  son  of  Andraes  (2),  was  horn  in 
1770  upon  the  homestead  in  Greenwich  township, 
and  in  time  moved  to  what  is  now  Barry  township. 
Schuylkill  county,  settling  ahout  three  mile-  west 
of  Ashland.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  that 
district,  and  took  up  about  fifteen  hundred  acres 
of  land,  prospering  by  good  management  so  that 
he  left  a  large  estate.  He  was  a  prominent  Luth- 
eran and  a  leader  in  his  district.  He  died  in  L835, 
and  is  buried  in  Barry  township.  He  was  three 
times  married,  and  his  children  were  as  follow-: 
Henry,  John.  Daniel,  Solomon.  Michael,  William. 
Samuel,  Charles,  Andrew.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Kantner, 
Mrs.  Soloma  Hepler,  Mr-.  Elizabeth  Bickel  and 
Mrs.  Susan  Hull.  Many  of  the  descendants  of  this 
family  continue  to  live  in  that  region  of  Schuyl- 
kill county. 

Charles  Bolich.  son  of  Michael,  was  horn  April 
22,  1820,  in  Barry  township.  Schuylkill  county, 
and  lived  in  his  native  county  until  bis  removal  to 
Mount  Carmel.  Northumberland  county,  in  April. 


1864.  He  learned  shoemaking,  and  followed  that 
trade  as  well  as  dealing  in  boots  and  shoes  all  his 
life.  Upon  settling  in  Mount  Carmel  he  engaged 
in  business  as  a  shoe  dealer,  carrying  on  his  store 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  duly  ??.  1872. 
The  year  after  his  removal  to  that  place,  on  Sept. 
27,.1865,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  under  Pres- 
ident Johnson,  and  served  nearly  three  years  in 
that  position.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  in  re- 
ligion a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  in  the 
work  of  which  he  was  quite  active. 

In  October,  1849,  Mr.  Bolich  married  Sarah 
Dengler,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Schappel)  Dengler,  all  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
granddaughter  of  George  Dengler,  a  resident  of 
Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  as  early  as  1812;  he 
erected  the  first  hotel  in  the  town,  known  as  the 
"White  Horse  Inn."  later  as  the  "Merchants  Ho- 
tel." ami  now  as  the  "Allen  House."  Mrs.  Sarah 
(Dengler)  Bolich  died  dan.  •.'<;.  1876.  She  was 
the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Daniel  D.  is 
mentioned  below;  Susan  E.  is  the  wife  of  T.  J. 
Kl.i-e  and  lives  at  Cranford,  X.  J.;  Tansem  Eliza 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  James  L.  Seibert.  of  Bellefonte, 
Pa.:  Charles  1..  who  is  a  shoe  merchant  at  Can- 
ton. 111.,  married  Carrie  Thornton;  Newton  A.. 
now  living  in  Deming,  X.  Mex.,  married  Mary 
Smith  ;  Michael  ( ).  is  a  resident  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo. ;  Sarah  E.,  who  is  unmarried,  lives  in  Belle- 
fonte. Pa.:  Abraham  L.  resides  in  Beatrice.  Neb.; 
David  William,  id'  New  York  City,  is  a  noted 
civil  engineer. 

Daniel  D.  Bolich  attended  public  school  at  Ash- 
land. Schuylkill  county,  until  he  came  to  Mount 
Carmel  with  his  parents.  He  learned  the  shoe- 
making  trade,  working  in  hi-  father's  shop  a  short 
time  and  serving  two  years  as  deputy  postmaster — 
continuing  in  his  father's  employ  until  the  latter's 
death.  He  then  succeeded  to  the  business,  to  the 
conduct  and  expansion  of  which  he  has  since  de- 
voted all  his  energies.  Hi-  -tore  i-  located  at  No. 
123  South  <>ak  street.  The  hoot  and  shoe  branch 
of  the  business  has  been  extended  to  include  rub- 
bers, leathers  and  shoemakers'  supplies,  and  other 
department-  have  been  added  from  time  to  time 
until  the  stock  now  comprises  line-  of  clothing, 
shirts,  hats,  underwear,  trunks,  etc..  for  all  of 
which  there  is  a  good  local  demand.  Since  fin; 
Mr.  Bolich  has  had  his  eldest  son  as  partner,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Daniel  D.  Bolich  A:  Son.  and 
they  do  the  largest  retail  business  in  Mount  Car- 
mel. Mr.  Bolich  is  naturally  best  known  in  con- 
nection with  this  establishment,  lint  lie  has  various 
other  business  interests  in  the  borough  and  owns 
valuable  real  estate  there.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Union  National  Bank  in  1894  and 
a  member  of  the  original  board  of  directors  of  that, 
institution:  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  anil  has  been  active  in  its  various  enter- 
prise-, during  his  twelve  years  of  continuous  ser- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


31] 


vice  as  presidenl  of  that  body,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  upon  its  organization,  having  been  able 
to  encourage  and  launch  many  plans  for  the  pro- 
motion of  local  commercial  conditions.  He  is  a 
Republican,  bul  no!  active  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  he  has 
served  as  trustee  and  treasurer. 

On  Sept.  !»,  1880,  Mr.  Bolich  married  Emily 
Hartshorn,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Catherine 
(Burchfield)  Hartshorn,  of  Curwensville,  Clear- 
field Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three  children: 
Charles  II..  Wayne  (who  died  when  seven  years 
old)  and  Newton  A.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home  at  No.  19  East  avenue. 

JACOB  W.  SMITH,  who  died  many  years  ago, 
was  a  native  of  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  North- 
umberland county,  and  belonged  to  a  family  which 
has  long  been  represented  there,  but  he  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  active  years  at  Selinsgrove, 
Snyder  county,  where  he  ranked  among  the  most 
intelligent,  progressive  and  influential  citizens. 
He  became  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of 
that  section,  ami  was  highly  respected  wherever 
known. 

James  Smith,  father  id'  Jacob  W.  Smith,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Bucks  county,  this  State.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Pennsylvania  Provisionals,  and  the 
musket  he  u^vi]  in  tiie  Colonial  service  is  uow  in 
the  possession  of  one  of  his  grandsons — a  highly 
prized  heirloom.  In  1781  lie  came  from  Bucks 
county  f<>  Northumberland,  being  a  pioneer  at 
Sunbury,  where  in  1796  he  built  a  hotel  on  the 
present  site  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Louisa  A. 
Moore  (daughter  of  the  hue  [ra  'I'.  Clemen! ).  con- 
ducting same  for  many  veins.  His  grandson  John 
.1.  Smith,  of  Sunbury,  has  the  board  upon  which 
the  year  the  hotel  was  erected,  1796,  appears. 
James  Smith  served  some  years  as  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  county  prothonotary.  In  his  later  life 
he  made  In-  home  for  several  years  with  his  son 
.lames,  at  Reading,  Pa.,  but  he  returned  to  Sun- 
bury, where  he  lived  with  his  daughter  Catharine 
(Mrs.  Withiiigton)  until  his  death.  He  is  buried 
in  the  old  South  Fourth  street  cemetery.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  wife, 
Barbara  Ann  (Vanholdt),  was  from  Bucks  county, 
her  people  living  in  Philadelphia  and  Bucks  coun- 
ty.    An  oil   portrait  of  her  now  in  the  possess 

of  her  grandson.  John  J.  Smith,  is  in  a  line  stale  of 
preservation  and  highly  valued  by  the  owner. 
James  and  Barbara  Ann  (Vanholdt)  Smith  had 
(ptite  a  large  family,  hut  a  number  of  their  children 
.lied  when  -mall.  '  We  have  record  of:  Jacob  W., 
who  lived  and  died  at  Selinsgrove;  James,  who 
died  in  Sunbury,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  tins 
work:  John,  a  farmer  of  Upper  Augusta  township, 
who  after  his  retirement  lived  in  Sunbury,  where 
he  died;  Catharine,  wife  of  William  Withmgton; 


Polly,  who  married  Robert  Smith,  and  lived  in 
Lower  Augusta  township:  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wil- 
liams. 

Jacob  W.  Smith  was  horn  in  Sunbury  Oct.  3, 
1799.  After  studying  at  a  select,  school  in  North- 
umberland he  studied  for  the  Lutheran  ministry 
under  Rev.  J.  Peter  Shindle,  but  owing  to  throat 
trouble  he  had  to  give  up  the  profession  after  fol- 
lowing it  a  short  time,  and  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  business  pursuits,  in  which  he  made  a  de- 
cided success.  Locating  at  Selinsgrove.  Snyder 
Co..  Pa.,  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  grain  trade. 
in  which  lie  built  up  a  large  business,  which  he 
continued  to  carry  on  throughout  his  life.  He 
took  an  interest  in  all  matters  concerning  the  com- 
munity, took  a  leading  part  in  local  politics  as  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  an  en- 
thusiastic member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Sel- 
insgrove, contributing  liberally  when  the  church 
building  was  erected.  His  death,  which  occurred 
April  f.  1851,  was  regarded  as  a  public  loss.  He 
is  buried  at  Selinsgrove. 

On  Aug.  38,  1827,  Mr.  Smith  married  Mary 
Straub,  who  was  horn  .March  '.'1.  1806,  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  (Walter)  Straub,  the  former  of 
whom  founded  what  is  now  the  borough  of  Milton. 
Northumberland  county.  Mrs.  Smith  died  in  Sun- 
bury Aug.  14.  1885,  and  was  buried  beside  her  hus- 
band.  They  had  a  family  «<  ten  children,  only 
three  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Emma  J.  is  the 
widow  of  ('apt.  Selin  Davis:  Caroline  E.,  who  is 
unmarried,  makes  her  home  in  Sunbury  :  Gertrude 
I.  is  the  wife  id'  Or.  ( 'harles  Arthur,  son  of  the  well 
known  writer  T.  S.  Arthur,  and  they  reside  in  San 
Francisco,  ( lalifornia. 

LEWIS  K.  ETTINGER,  one  of  the  mosl  val- 
ued employees  of  the  S.  J.  Shinier  &  Son-  (  Incor- 
porated) concern,  in  the  borough  of  Milton,  is  en- 
gaged in  the  capacity  of  superintendent  at  thai 
important  industrial  establishment.  His  ability 
is  recognized  in  all  his  husiness  relations,  and  his 
high  standing,  won  in  years  of  honorable  occupa- 
tion, is  well  merited. 

Mr.  Ettinger  is  a  native  of  York,  York  Co..  Pa., 
horn  June  Hi,  1855.  The  family  there  is  of  long 
and  honorable  standing.  His  great-grandfather. 
\!v\ .  Adam  Ettinger,  a  clergj  man  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  died  in  1809.  lie  married  a  sister  of 
Rev.  John  Stouch,  of  t he  Lutheran  Chun  h. 

Rev.  Adam  Ettinger,  son  of  Rev.  Adam,  for 
sixty-two  years  a  clergyman  of  York  county,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  of  the  Evangelical 
Church.  He  wa<  horn  in  York  in  1787,' and  in  the 
fall  of  L813,  under  the  administration  of  Rev. 
John  Walter,  the  firs!  fellow  laborer  of  Rev.  Jacob 
Albright,  founder  of  the  Evangelical  Association, 

joined   thai   del limilion.  w  hieh   I  hen   had   leil    lil 

teen  preachers  and  76! imbers  in  America,     lie 

became  one  of  the  original  preachers  of  tin-  Assoi  i 


312 


NORTHUMBERLAND  county,  Pennsylvania 


ation  in  York  county,  traveling  through  that  and 
surrounding  counties,  and  no  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel was  a  more  devoted  follower  of  the  doctrines 
and  principles  of  the  church  of  his  choice  than  lie, 
giving  not  only  his  time  but  his  means  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  cause  he  so  faithfully  advocated.  In 
fact,  to  the  church  and  its  interests  he  was  gener- 
ous and  philanthropic,  beyond  his  means.  When 
ninety  years  old  he  preached  a  sermon  at  Milton. 
He  died  in  York  in  October,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
ninety,  and  is  buried  there,  in  Prospect  Hill  cem- 
etery. He  was  married  early  in  life  to  Elizabeth 
Miller,  daughter  of  Conrad  Miller,  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution  and  well-to-do  farmer  of  Hopewell. 
His  father-in-law  and  mother-in-law  then  formed 
part  of  his  household,  and  their  home  became  a 
place  for  religious  meetings,  and  in  summertime 
camp-meetings  were  held  in  the  adjoining  woods. 

Rev.  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Ettinger  had 
children  as  follows:  Daniel,  who  resided  at  York, 
Pa.,  and  who  became  a  civil  engineer:  Jesse,  who 
settled  in  York  county,  where  he  died  :  Catharine, 
who  married  l>r.  William  Bower  and  now  resides 
at  Mount  Sterling,  111.:  Leah,  who  married  John 
Sprenkel,  of  York.  Pa.;  George,  living  in  Balti- 
more: John,  who  died  at  Elizabethville,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.:  Mary,  wife  of  George  Messersmith:  Joel, 
who  died  at  Baltimore:  and  William. 

William  Ettinger,  son  of  Rev.  Adam  and  Eliza- 
beth (Miller),  was  born  Jan.  -23.  1825,  in  York 
county,  Pa.,  and  learned  the  weaver's  trade  which 
he  followed  in  York  and  Center  counties. 
After  his  marriage  he  lived  in  Shrewsbury, 
York  county,  for  a  few  years,  in  1853  set- 
tling in  York,  where  he  remained  until  his 
removal  to  Aaronsburg,  Center  county,  in  1861. 
There  he  followed  weaving  and  later  conducted 
a  meat  market.  In  18?<i  he  moved  to  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  had  a  meat 
market  for  about  twenty-five  years,  becoming  one 
of  the  best  known  business  men  in  the  borough. 
He  made  his  home  there  until  his  death.  Nov.  30, 
1896,  when  he  was  aged  seventy-one  years,  nine 
months,  twenty-seven  days.  Like  his  father  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  he  was 
a  Republican  in  politics. 

On  March  '.'4.  1850,  Mr.  Ettinger  was  married, 
in  Center  county,  to  Sophia  M.  Kurtz,  a  native  of 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  born  Oct.  1*.  1831.  who  was 
only  nine  months  old  when  brought  by  her  parents 
to  America.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Ettinger:  (1  I  Joanna  E.,  born  Jan. 
6.  1851,  married  Rev.  L.  K.  Harris,  an  Evangelical 
minister,  and  died  in  August,  1908.  (?)  Lewis 
K.  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Anna  Mary,  born 
Jan.  2.  1861,  married  William  Neagley,  and  they 
have  one  son.  They  reside  in  Milton.  (4)  Joel, 
born  Nov.  30,  18(53.  married  Grace  Anderson,  of 
Chester,  and  they  now  live  in  Portland,  Oregon. 

Ludwig  Kurtz,  father  of  Mrs.  William  Ettinger, 


was  born  in  Darmstadt.  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  wife  and  family  in  1832,  set- 
tling at  what  was  then  known  as  "Little  York" 
(now  York).  Pa.  The  voyage  to  this  country, 
made  in  a  sailing  vessel,  took  fifty-five  days.  Mr. 
Kurtz  had  a  forge  and  sawmill  in  Germany,  and 
was  also  an  expert  printer,  and  he  was  engaged  as 
a  printer  after  coming  to  this  country.  His  death 
occurred  at  Aaronsburg,  Center  Co.,  Pa.  He  mar- 
ried in  Germany  Joanna  S.  Brahm,  whose  father, 
Godfrey  Brahm,  was  a  prominent  man  in  Darm- 
stadt in  his  day.  being  secretary  under  the  ruler  of 
the  Duchy  of  Hesse-Darmstadt:  he  could  speak 
nine  languages. 

Lewis  K.  Ettinger  received  a  common  school 
education,  and  learned  the  weaving  trade  with  his 
father.  In  1875  he  came  to  Milton  and  took  a  po- 
sition in  the  Shinier  establishment,  making  cutter 
beads,  for  a  dollar  a  day.  There  were  only  two 
men  besides  himself  in  the  department,  and  by 
earnest  application  and  intelligent  attention  to 
his  work  he  won  promotion  from  time  to  time,  be- 
coming foreman  and  continuing  as  such  until 
[902,  when  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
plant.  In  this  capacity  Mr.  Ettinger  has  about 
]i)i>  men  to  oversee,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most 
trusted  heads  in  the  establishment,  which  has  an 
important  place  in  the  industrial  prosperity  of  the 
borough  of  Milton.  He  is  a  much  respected  and 
substantia]  citizen  of  that  borough,  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trade,  and  in  various  ways  identi- 
fied with  its  best  interests.  Fraternally'  he  holds 
membership  in  Milton  Lodge.  No.  256,  V.  &  A.  M. : 
in  Warrior  Run  Chapter,  No.  ?1G,  R.  A.  M.,  of 
Watsontown;  and  in  the  B.  P.  ().  Elks.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politi  - 

In  August,  1899.  Mr.  Ettinger  married  Mary 
Blanch  Jenkins, daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  (Hull) 
Jenkins,  the  former  a  prominent  citizen  of  Milton. 
connected  with  several  local  financial  institutions 
and  well  known  in  the  Board  of  Trade,  which  he 
served  at  on,,  time  as  president. 

MONTGOMERY.  The  Montgomery  family- 
descendants  of  James  Montgomery,  '  who  liiav 
truthfully  be  called  the  pioneer  schoolmaster  of 
Northumberland  county — is  well  and  worthily  rep- 
resented in  and  around  Pottsgrove  at  the  present 
tune,  ami  a  full  account,  giving  the  record  of  many 
of  its  living  member-  ami  their  immediate  prede- 
cessors, will  be  found  elsewhere  in  these  pages. 
The  present  article  is  immediately  concerned  with 
the  brothers  John  S.  and  William  A.  Montgomery, 
sons  of  Hugh  R.  Montgomery  and  grandson>  of 
James.  Herewith  we  give  only  an  outline  of  the 
earlier  generations,  more  complete  mention  of 
which  may  be  found  in  the  article  written  by  Dr. 
James  R.  Montgomery. 

In  IT!).')  James  Montgomery,  the  emigrant  an- 
cestor, married  Sarah  Sbeddan.  and  they  had  chil- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


313 


dren  as  follows:  Samuel,  born  in  1796,  died  in 
1798";  James,  born  in  1798,  died  in  1827;  Samuel 
('.').  born  in  1800,  died  in  1826;  Nathaniel,  born 
in  1802,  died  in  1824  :  William,  born  in  1805,  died 
in  1826';  Mary,  born  in  1808,  died  in  1854;  Daniel 
W.,  born  in  1811,  died  in  1866;  Andrew,  born  in 
1814.  died  in  1838:  Roberi  <!..  bom  in  1817,  died 
in  1875;  Hugh  R..  born  in  1819,  died  in  1881; 
Anno,  born  in  1822,  died  in  1829.  For  his  second 
wife  James  Montgomery  married  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Harvey)  Burns,  and  they  had  three  children: 
John  C,  bom  in  1828,  died  in  1859:  David  IT., 
bom  in  1831,  died  in  1902;  Margaret  J.,  born  in 
1835,  died  in  1842. 

Hugh    R.   Montgomery,   father  of  John   S.  and 
William  A.  Montgomery,  was  horn  May  26,  1819, 

on  tin'  old   Montg ry  homestead,  where  he  lived 

until  In'  reached  his  majority.  Although  never 
physically  robust,  ho  early  became  accustomed  to 
hard  work,  helping  to  clear  and  till  his  father's 
land,  while  during  the  long  winters  he  taught  the 

district  sol 1.     The  latter  occupation  ho  followed 

for  many  years,  the  former  throughout  his  life. 
The  lady  who  afterward  became  his  wife  was  for 
some  time  a  pupil  of  his.  In  1842  he  bought  a 
trad  mi'  land  to  which  ho  moved  and  to  which  he 
subsequently  made  additions  (this  is  now  known 
a-  the  "Lindrew"  farm),  and  improved  the  prop- 
erty by  building  a  substantia]  brick  house  and 
large  bank  barn.  There  he  lived  till  1865,  when  he 
sold  it  and  moved  to  the  Auten  farm,  where  he  lived 
one  year,  when  he  bought  an. I  ved  to  the  Mor- 
gan farm  in  the  village  of  Mexico.  Here  he  lived 
for  three  years,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  along  the  banks  of  the 
Chillisquaque,  near  Pottsgrove.  This  was  known 
as  (ho  Bennage  farm  and  was  the  tract  originally 
known  as  "The  True  Point,"  which  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds,  two  shillings, 
sixpence  sterling  was  granted,  released  and  con- 
firmed  unto  John  Morrow  (progenitor  of  the  pres- 
ent Murray  family)  on  the  16th  day  of  .Tunc  in 
the  year  of  "iir  Lord  1774,  and  the  14th  year  of  the 
reign  of  King  George  111.  over  Great  Britain,  etc., 
by  Thomas  Penn  and  John  Penn,  Esq's.,  etc.,  etc. 
lb'  moved  on  tin-  farm  during  the  month  of  April, 
1869,  and  -mil  improved  it  by  the  erection  of  an 
excellent  brick  house,  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  after  an  extended  illness, 
July  28,  1881.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  honor 
and  integrity  and  a  person  of  much  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence.  Although  naturally  rather 
backward  and  unassuming,  his  life  was  an  active 
and  useful  one.  He  was  first  commissioned  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  by  Governor  Johnston  in  1850, 
an  office  lie  hold  continuously  until  bis  removal 
from  the  county,  in  L869.  In  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship he  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  took 
much  interest  in  educational  matters,  was  a  n 
ber  of  the  school  board  for  many  years  and  was 


of  the  founders  of  the  Pottsgrove  Academy.  He 
was  executor  or  administrator  of  a  great  many 
estates.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion 
a  Presbyterian,  for  many  years  a  member  of  and 
elder  in  the  old  Chillisquaque  Church.  His  fa- 
ther was  one  of  the  founders  of  that  church. 
Hugh  R.  Montgomery  is  buried  in  the  family  plot 
in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Milton. 

On  June  25,  1857,  at  Danville,  Pa.,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery married  Sarah  S.  Moll,  who  was  horn 
March  30,  1837,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  daughter 
of  Daniel  F.  and  Mary  (Seidel)  Moll,  granddaugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Foust  )  Moll,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  Henry  Moll.  Little  is 
known  of  the  first  Molls  (or  Mulls,  as  they  spelled 
the  name)  in  this  country,  but  it  is  supposed  they 
came  from  Germany.  Children  as  follow^  were 
horn  to  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Hugh  J?.  Montgomery: 
James  R.,  May  15.  1858;  John  S.,  Aug.  21,  1859; 
Mary  E.,  Nov.  20,  1860;  Sarah  A..  Sept.  20,  1863; 
Daniel  M..  Sept.  27,  1865;  William  A..  Sept.  ?. 
1867:  Eugh  Bryson,  Aug.  27,  1868;  Clara  B.. 
Nov.  -."J.  1870  (died  July  23,  1900);  Alice  J.', 
Dec.  17,  1873. 

John  S.  Montgomery,  born  Aug.  21,  1S59,  on 
the  Harvey  farm  in  Liberty  township.  Montour 
Co.,  I'm.,  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  academy  at  Pottsgrove,  whither 
the  family  had  moved  in  1869.  After  his  school 
days  were  over  he  learned  telegraphy,  which  he 
followed  for  several  years,  being  employed  by  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company  from 
1883  to  1888.  He  spent  some  time  at  Danville 
and  Beaver  Valley.  In  August,  1888,  he  pur- 
chased a  store  in  Pottsgrove.  which  he  conducted 
alone  for  a  time,  but  in  the  fall  of  1889  he  took 
his  brother  Daniel  M.  into  partnership,  which 
lasted  until  1901.  Then  Daniel  withdrew  and  an- 
other brother,  William  A.,  entered  the  linn,  which 
continued  to  do  a  large  retail  business  in  the  pros 
perous  community  in  which  the  store  was  located. 
In  IS!'!  the  brothers  purchased  a  lot  on  which  they 
erected  a  large  and  substantial  store  building  and 
residence.  John  S.  Montgomery,  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  which  was  known  as  J.  S.  Mont- 
gomery &  Co..  withdrew  from  the  business  in 
L905,  and  has  since  lived  retired,  lie  continues 
to  make  his  home  in  Pottsgrove,  where  he  ha-  a 
line  residence.  Mr.  Montgomery  is  looked  upon 
as  one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  his  town,  taking 
an  active  part  in  all  that  concerns  its  welfare. 
though  of  late  not  SO  intimately  associated  with 
its  business  life.  He  sold  hi-  business  and  stock  in 
1905  to  Mr.  C.  T.  Rumnage,  and  his  brother  Wil- 
liam disposing  of  his  interest  in  1906  Mr.  Rum- 
no  \    i  arries   on    the   business   alone.     The 

stand  is  oi £  the  most  important  in  tin-  region, 

ami  during  his  active  connection  with  the  busi- 
ness Mr.  John  s.  Montgom  rved  i  igW  years 
as  postmaster  of  Pottsgrove.     Since   1903  he  ha- 


314 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


been  assessor  of  East  Chillisquaque  township.    He 

is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  fraternally  belongs 
to  Pottsgrove  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  to  Milton 
Lodge,  No.  913,  B.  P.  <  >.  Elks.  Few  citizens  of 
Pottsgrove  have  been  more  thoroughly  identified 
with  its  best  interest-. 

On  March  14,  1902,  Mr.  Montgomery  married 
.lane  S.  McWilliams,  daughter  of  John  Cruser 
McWilliams.  Like  the  family  generally,  be  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

William  A.  Montgomery,  born  Sept.  2,  1867, 
on  the  Morgan  farm  in  Liberty  township,  received 
his  education  in  the  Pottsgrove  schools.  After 
the  death  of  his  father,  in  1881,  he  took  charge  of 
the  old  home  and  farmed  the  place,  thus  making 
a  home  for  his  mother  and  his  younger  brothers 
and  sisters.  In  1895  be  bought  the  farm,  and 
occupied  it  for  some  year-.  Unfortunately  he  sus- 
tained a  severe  sunstroke,  the  results  of  which 
compelled  him  to  forego  the  hard  work  and  ex- 
posure to  the  heat  of  the  sun  incident  to  the  life 
of  the  agriculturist.  He  rented  his  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Pottsgrove,  where  be  led  a  retired  life 
until  1901,  when  he  joined  his  brother.  John  S., 
in  the  mercantile  business,  from  which  he  with- 
drew in  1906.  shortly  after  his  brother'-  retire- 
ment. He  has  -nice  devoted  his  time  to  looking 
alter  his  farm  properties,  having  two  fine  tracts  in 
East  Chillisquaque  township,  one  of  seventy-seven 
acres,  the  other  of  150  acre-. 

Mr.  Montgomery  has  always  been  fond  of  trav- 
el, and  on  Jan.  22,  1909,  he  left  for  a  pleasure 
tour  of  the  Western  coast,  going  by  way  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pittsburg,  Chicago,  Denver,  Salt  Lake  City 
and  Sacramento  to  Los  Angeles,  returning  via 
Sacramento  and  Seattle,  where  he  visited  the 
fair  then  in  progress.  After  a  trip  to  Vancouver, 
B.  C,  he  returned  to  Seattle,  and  thence  East  by 
way  of  Spokane.  Yellowstone  Park.  St.  Paul,  Chi- 
cago, Niagara  Falls  and  Buffalo,  home  to  Potts- 
grove, where  he  arrived  Sept.  9th. 

Mr.  Montgomery  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows fraternity  and  of  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  holding 
membership  in  the  Milton  Lodge  of  the  latter  or- 
ganization. In  religion  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  and 
at  present  serving  as  a  member  of  the  hoard  of 
trustees  of  his  church.     He  is  unmarried. 

THOMAS  II.  GUFFY,  who  lives  retired  at  Mil- 
ton, has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  that  place, 
where  he  was  horn  Feb.  10,  1859,  son  of  Robert 
P.  Guffy. 

The  Guffy  family  is  of  Scotch  extraction.  Al- 
exander Guffy,  grandfather  of  Thomas  11.  Guffy, 
was  horn  in  Scotland  in  1750  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1770,  settling  in  Northumberland  county. 
Pa.,  upon  the  site  of  McEwensville.  He  died  July 
15,  1816,  at  the -age  of  sixty-five.  He  married 
Margaret  Seott.  daughter  of  .lames  Scott,  and  she 
died  dan.  3.  1822,  also  aired  sixty-five.    They  were 


the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  we  have  the 
following  record  :  (1)  John  married  Agnes  Grier, 
and  died  May  6,  1854,  aged  seventy-two;  his  wife 
Agnes  died  July  1.  1833,  aged  forty-eight.  His 
children  were:  Mary  married  Aaron  Miser;  Alex- 
ander married  Margaret  Riddells;  John  married 
Eliza  Crawford;  Margaret  married  Charles  W. 
Potts;  .lane  married  Thomas  Jones:  Sarah  mar- 
ried Alexander  Koons:  Emily  married  Jacob 
Craw  lord.  ( '.' )  Eliza  married  Anthony  (Arm- 
strong, and  they  had  six  children:  .lane  married 
V..  W.  Derickson;  Matilda  married  Judge  John 
I'.  Dentler  and  had  children.  Mary  E.  (married 
Peter  Melich).  Henry  Clay.  Walter  W.  .lane  E. 
(married  .1.  W.  Sloan).  John  M.,  James  D..  Jes- 
sie (married  Alfred  Bagney),  Maggie  (married 
Leidy  Monloeh),  Sallie  M,  (Mrs.  Gifford) 
and  Julia  (married  William  Withers);  Mar- 
garet married  John  Sloan:  Andrew  mar- 
ried Angeline  Watson:  James  P.  married 
A.  Guffy;  G.  \\.  married  Elizabeth  With- 
ers. (•'!)  Jane  died  voiing.  (4)  Andrew. 
born  Aug.  L3,  1792,  died  June  28,  1879.  He  mar- 
ried Eleanor  Armstrong,  who  died  Feb.  7.  L857, 
aged  sixty-four  years,  six  months.  They  had  sever! 
children:  Margaret,  born  Dec.  28,  1821,  married 
James  1'.  Armstrong:  Andrew  Jackson,  born  near 
Turbutville  Ma\  31,  1823,  married  Mary  M.  Falls 
(he  was  well  known  as  a  surveyor  and  lawyer): 
James,  horn  April  13,  L826,  married  Elizabeth 
Shannon,  and  died  Oct.  :!.  1891;  Harriet,  born 
Jan.  24,  1828,  married  Samuel  Frvmover.  and 
died  Feb.  H.  is;:,;  Clarissa  ('.,  born  in  1831,  died 
April  1'.'.  1884,  aged  fifty-one  years,  four  month-. 
twenty  days:  Richard  A.,  horn  in  1836  (died  Dec. 
31.  1871,  aged  thirty-five  years,  three  months, 
eighteen  days),  married  Hester  McKee  (who  died 
Dec.  '.'1.  1871,  aged  thirty-two  year-,  eight  months. 
twenty-seven  days)  ;  Eleanor  S..  born  May  '.'!». 
IS'.'!*,  died  in  1888.  (5)  Samuel  married  Mary 
Pollock  and  they  hail  children:  Alexander.  Rich- 
ard, Emanuel,  Samuel  Seott.  Sheriff  and  Mary 
Ellen.  ( i; )  Alexander  married  Catharine  Kerch- 
ner  and  they  had  seven  children,  Angeline,  Susan- 
na (married  Joseph  Money),  Theodore.  Ellen, 
Catharine.  Elizabeth  and  John  Andrew.  (?)  Em- 
ily married  Jacob  Crawford,  and  died  July  27, 
1894.  Their  children  wrvc  Mary  (married  John 
Moyer),  Ellen  (married  James  Shell),  Alfred 
(married  Margaret  Sheep),  Ambrose  (married 
Georgie  Taggart),  Margaret  (married  George 
Reeser),  William,  and  Louisa  (married  Alfred 
Cadwallader).  (8)  Robert  F.  is  the  father  of 
Thomas  H.  Guffy. 

Robert  P.  Guffy  was  born  in  1831  and  died  (let. 
25,  1900,  at  Milton.  Pa.  He  came  to  that  town 
when  quite  a  young  man.  and  followed  his  trade. 
blaeksmithing,  for  many  years,  also  boating  on 
the  canal  for  many  years.  He  was  a  well  known 
man  and  very  popular  in  his  district.     His  wife. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


315 


Matilda  (Overpeek  |,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Deb- 
orah (Housekeeper)  Overpeck,  born  in  1829,  died 
in  1905,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows:  Laura, 
who  died  in  1859;  Thomas  H. ;  Milton  F.,  born 
in  1862,  who  died  in  1863;  and  Annie  Lee,  bom 
in  1863,  whci  married  Wilson  Werly  (now  de- 
ceased) and  had  three  children,  Ralph,  Robert  and 
Helen,  she  and  her  family  residing  at  No.  511 
Shakespeare  avenue,  Milton. 

Thomas  H.  Guffy  received  his  education  in  the 
Milton  schools.  For  a  period  of  fourteen  years 
he  was  employed  in  the  nail  mill  there,  and  later 
was  with  the  J.  B.  Hester  &  Son  Company  for 
five  years  and  with  the  Milton  Manufacturing 
Company  four  years.  He  then  took  charge  of  the 
estate  of  his  uncle,  Milton  Overpeek,  which  he 
looked  after  until  it  was  dosed,  and  in  1907  he  re- 
tired from  active  labor.  Mr.  Guffy  is  an  esteemed 
citizen  of  Milton,  a  member  of  the  local  camp 
(No.  l.ss)  of  the  P.  <).  S.  of  A.  and.  in  religion, 
of  ( Ihrist  Lutheran  Church. 

On  April  11,  190(5.  Mr.  Guffy  married  Mrs. 
Catharine  (Dreisbach)  Berlin,  widow  of  (leorge 
Berlin,  by  whom  she  has  one  son.  Harlos  H.  To 
her  marriage  with  Mr.  Guffy  was  also  born  one 
son,  who  dieil  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guffy 
reside  at  the  old  Guffy  homestead  in  Milton,  No. 
501  Shakespeare  avenue. 

Isaac  Dreisbach,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Guffy, 
lived  principally  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa.,  though 
he  died  in  Columbia  county,  where  he  made  his 
home  with  hi-  daughter,  Mrs.  Sherman.  His 
children  were  Stephen.  Catharine,  Sophia.  Chris- 
tine.  Rachel  and   Maria. 

Stephen  Dreisbach,  lather  of  Mrs.  Guffy,  mar- 
ried Mary  Bittenbender,  and  they  hail  a  family  of 
six  children  :  Levi.  Alice,  Frances,  Rosania,  Cath- 
arine, and  Julia  (who  died  young). 


James  Scott,  father  of  Mrs.  Alexander  Guffy, 
had  children:  Samuel:  John;  Andrew,  who  moved 
to  Ohio  in  1791  ;  Margaret,  who  married  Alex- 
ander Guffy;  Rebecca,  who  married  Peter  Jones.; 
and  Eliza,  who  married  .'.him-  Boon,  of  this  fam- 
ily. 

Peter  and  Rebecca  (Scott)  Jones  had  children: 
John,  Samuel,  Isaac,  Matthew,  Matilda  and  Sar- 
ah, of  whom  Isaac  Jones  married  Jane  Wilson  and 
had  Wilson.  Samuel  Scott,  Joseph  B.,  John  J., 
Reuben  J..  Andrew.  Matilda  and  Margaret.  Mat- 
tie  Jones,  daughter  of  Peter,  married  Peter  (live 
and  had  four  children:  Philip,  Hiram,  Henry  and 
Rebecca. 

Dr.  Thomas  Pollock,  great-grandfather  of  El- 
eanor Armstrong,  who  married  Andrew  Guffy,  son 
of  Alexander,  was  married  in  Ireland  to  a  Miss 
Cochran  and  lived  at.  Coleraine,  where  his  children 
were  horn,  viz.:  John;  Thomas,  M.  IX.  who  died  in 
Ireland,  where  he  returned  after  studying  medi- 
cine in  America:    Robert;  James,  horn   in   1728; 


Charles,  horn  in  i ::;•_>.  „-]„,  married  Aon,-  'Feel. 
anil  died  n,  1795;  Jane.  Mrs.  McClean.  who  died 
m  1797;  Eliza,  who  married  John  Sheriff:  Mary; 
a  daughter  who  married  (first)  a  Mr.  Caldwell 
ami  (second)  a  Mr.  Allison:  Mrs.  David  Barber, 
of  Northumberland,  Pa.:  and  Elizabeth,  svho  died 
in  Ireland.     Of  this  family. 

John  P'lloek.  horn  in  1724,  died  in  1794.  He 
was  twie€  married,  his  first  wife  being  Catherine 
Campbell,  Ins  second  Eleanor  Snell.'who  was  a 
niece  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren: Eleanor,  horn  in  1760,  married  James  Arm- 
strong, and  died  in  IS'.':;;  Thomas,  horn  in  1762, 
ded  in  1812",  Alexander,  horn  in  17(54.  married 
Jane  Sheriff,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Cnll'\  | 
Sheriff,  ami  died  in  1801;  John,  horn  in  1765, 
.lied  in   1772. 

James  Pollock,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Pollock,  born 
in  1728,  died  in  1812.  He  moved  to  the  Ligonier 
Valley,  in  Westmoreland  county.  Pa.  He  married 
Mary  Heron,  and  they  had  children  as  follow-: 
Adam,  horn  in  1767,  married  Elizabeth  Gilen,  and 
died  in  1815;  James,  horn  in  1769,  married  Mary 
Steel,  died  in  1857;  Thomas,  horn  in  177'.'.  mar- 
ried Mary  Fruit,  and  died  in  1844:  William. 
horn  in  1773,  married  Sallie  Fruit:  Thomas,  horn 
in  1777.  married  Rachel  Hendricks  and  (second) 
S.  Henderson,  and  died  in  1S47:  Charles,  horn  in 
1780,  died  in  1798;  John,  horn  m  17s:;.  married 
Elizabeth  Hamill.  and  died  in  1862";  David,  horn 
in  1784,  died  in  1807;  Jane  was  born  in  1784; 
Robert,  horn  in  1785,  married  Mary  Anderson, 
and  died  in  1844;  Nancy,  horn  m  1789,  married 
William  Lytic,  and  died  in  1845;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried John  Met  'o\ . 

James  Armstrong  came  to  America  in  1786,  and 
dieil  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His 
wife  Eleanor  (Pollock),  daughter  of  John  Pol- 
lock and  granddaughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  Pollock, 
died  in  1823.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren: (1)  Anthonv,  horn  in  17ss.  married  Eliz- 
abeth Guffy,  and  died  in  1866.  (2)  Elizabeth, 
born  in  1789,  married  George  Blain,  and  died  in 
1861.  Their  children  were  Ellen  (married  Jacob 
Man-teller).  Prudence  (married  John  I).  Brit- 
toil),  James  (married  Elizabeth  Emaus),  Mary 
(married  Hiram  Artman)  and  Eleanor  (married 
Andrew  Guffy  i.  (3)  Eleanor,  horn  in  1791,  died 
in  1791.  (4)  Eleanor,  bora  in  L792,  married  An- 
drew Guffy,  and  died  in  1857.  (•"■)  Catharine, 
horn  in  17!'.",.  died  in  L863.  Mi)  John,  horn  in 
1795,  died  in  1863.  i  i  I  Jane,  bora  in  L798,  died 
in  1844  (8)  James  Thomas,  born  in  L800,  was 
a  surveyor,  and  died  in  L871.  lie  married  Mary 
Reeder  and  their  children  were  Dr.  Richard,  Mary 
Ellen,  George  B.,  William  W.  and  Mary  (who  mar- 
ried Frank  B.  Me*  \&  I  (9)  Man.  bora  in  1803, 
died  in  is;  l.  (  I'1 1  Richard,  bora  m  1805,  was  a 
missionary  to  the  Sandwich  islands  and  died  in 
1860.    He  married  Clarissa  Chatman  ami  they  had 


316 


X0RT1 I EMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


six  children:  Caroline:  Carrie  (married  Ed.  Bech- 
urtle)  :  Samuel  (Gen.),  founder  of  the  Hampdon 
schools;  William  Nevins,  who  was  attorney  for  the 
king  of  the  Sandwich  Islands :  Ellen  J. :  and 
Clara  A. 

JoIIN  HAAS,  late  of  Sunbury.  Pa.,  long  an 
influential  and  representative  business '^han  of  that 
borough,  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Haas,  whose  father 
participated  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Daniel  Haas  married  Eve  Reed:  both  were  of 
Shamokin  township.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa. 
He  engaged  in  farming  there  for  some  years,  but 
in  1854  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Indiana,  set- 
tling in  Newtown,  Fountain  county,  where  he  and 
his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Their  son  John  spent  his 
younger  days  on  his  father's  farm,  but  left  home 
at  an  early  age  to  engage  in  mercantile  business. 
In  180*1  he  was  clerk  for  Fagely,  Seasoltz  and  Co., 
coal  merchants  at  Sunbury,  l'a..  and  in  the  fall 
of  lx"w  became  a  member  of  that  firm,  being  asso- 
ciated for  a  time  with  William  and  Reuben  Pagely, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Fagely  >v  Haas,  the  firm 
name  later  changing  to  John  Haas  &  Co.  They 
were  most  successful,  conducting  extensive  coal 
operations  until  1872,  in  which  year  they  sold  their 
persona]  property  to  the  Mineral  Mining  Com- 
pany, Mr.  Haas  continuing,  however,  to  deal  in 
coal  until  his  retirement,  some  years  before  his 
death.  During  the  Civil  war  period  the  firm 
shipped  considerable  coal  to  Baltimore  and  Phil- 
adelphia. While  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Fagely 
Mr.  Haas  purchased  four  thousand  acres  of  wood- 
land in  Lycoming  county.  Pa.  They  had  large 
quantities  of  lumber  cut  and  manufactured  from 
that  tract,  -riling  it  at  a  comparatively  small 
profit.  In  1883,  when  the  Sunbury  Nail,  Bar  and 
Guide  Iron  Manufacturing  Company  was  organ- 
ized, Mr.  Haas  became  president,  remaining  as  the 
executive  head  of  that  concern  until  he  retired 
from  the  active  management,  in  1890,  continuing 
to  serve  as  president  until  181)1.  To  the  upbuild- 
ing of  this,  one  of  the  most  important  industrial 
establishments  of  the  borough,  lie  gave  his  princi- 
pal attention  anil  best  energies,  and  much  of  its 
success  was  due  to  his  efforts.  Numerous  other 
local  concerns  of  considerable  importance  also 
counted  him  among  their  most  i  ffei  tive  promoters. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  Sunbury. 
Shamokin  &  Lewisbu'rg  railroad,  now  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  road:  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Rank  of  Sunbury :  and  president  of  the  Sun- 
bury Water  Company.  Mr.  Haas  was  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  serving  as  elder  thirty- 
five  years,  being  an  important  member  of  the 
church  council,  and  as  Sunday  school  superintend- 
ent thirty  years.  He  was  president  of  the  hoard  of 
directors  of   the    Missionary   Institute   at    Selius- 


grove,  Pa.,  now  Susquehanna  University,  also  a 
director  of  the  Loysville  (Pa.)  Orphans'  Home. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  during  the 
Civil  war  was  a  strong  Unionist. 

In  1816  Mr.  Haas  married  Mary  A.  Geen,  of 
Jersey  Shore,  Pa.,  who  died  in  1855.  To  this  un- 
ion were  horn  four  children:  Jennie  Clemetine. 
who  married  L.  T.  Rohrbach,  of  Sunbury;  John 
Black  Packer:  Mary  Alice,  widow  of  Dr.  C.  M. 
Martin,  and  Louisa,  who  died  in  infancy.  Later 
Mr.  Haas  married  Mercy  Ann  Martin,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Henritta  Martin.  Though  past 
eighty-three  years  of  age  Mrs.  Haas  is  a  remark- 
ably well  preserved  woman,  a  pleasing  conversa- 
tionalist, with  an  excellent  memory.  The  resi- 
dence  at  the  corner  of  Chestnut  street  and  River 
avenue  where  she  resides  was  built  by  Mr.  Haas 
n  1868.  Mr.  Haas  was  a  Mason,  holding  member- 
ship in  Lodge  Mo.  •-".'.  E.  and  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury: 
Northumberland  Chapter.  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.,  ami 
Crusade  Commandery.  K.  T.,  the  latter  organiza-. 
tion  of  Bloomsburg.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
I.  <».  <>.  F.  at  Sunbury.  He  died  March  10,  1899, 
in  his  seventy-seventh  year,  after  a  life  of  all- 
around  usefulness  such  as  falls. to  the  lot  of  few 
men.     His  son, 

John  Black  Packer  Haas  was  born  in  Sunbury 
Sept.  30,  1849,  and  there  began  his  education.  He 
was  a  student  at  Susquehanna  University,  Selins- 
grove,  Pa.,  ami  later  at  Pennsylvania  College, 
Gettysburg,  l'a.  Upon  leaving  school  he  was  em- 
ployed by  his  father  at  Sunbury.  In  1875  he 
moved  to  Baltimore  to  engage  extensively  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  coal  business  there.  While 
residing  in  that  city  he  purchased  "The  Knox  Hat 
xi ":  also  was  appointed  cashier  of  the  Balti- 
more post  office,  May  16,  1881.  Hpon  the  expir- 
ation of  his  term  in  1885  he  returned  to  Sunbury, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  iron  business.  He  then 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Pottstown  Iron  Com- 
pany, with  offices  located  at  Syracuse,  X.  Y.,  and 
efficiently  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  com- 
pany closed  the  works,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Sunbury  and  gave  his  time  to  his  fathers  exten- 
sive private  interests.  His  exceptional  business 
ability  and  high  sense  of  honor  were  recognized 
by  all  who  had  dealings  with  him  in  any  of  the 
relations  of  life,  lie  was  trusted  implicitly,  re- 
ceiving many  marks  of  the  high  confidence  in 
which  he  was  universally  held.  He  was  a  thirty- 
second-degree  Mas, in.  being  a  member  of  Beauseant 
( 'omiiiandery.  Xo.  8.  at  Baltimore :  an  Odd  Fel- 
low:  and  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks.  Though 
a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  he  declined  the 
nomination  as  candidate  for  representative  from 
the  Seventeenth  Congressional  district,  though 
unanimously  nominated  from  his  county. 

On  Nov.'  4.  is:-'.  Mr.  Haas  married  Sarah 
Schaffle,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  eldest  daughter  of 
Charles  William  Schaffle.  ami  to  them  were  born 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;i; 


three  children,  Mary  Gheen,  Gertrude  and  Jenny, 
the  last  named  .lying  when  seven  months  old.  In 
1S!C  Marv  Gheen  married  Alonza  J.  Carter,  of 
Waynesburg,  Pa.,  now  of  Jeannette,  Pa.,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  and  as  fun- 
eral director;  they  have  two  children,  John  Pack- 
er Haas  and  Sarah  Schaffle. 

Charles  William  Schaffle,  father  of  Mrs.  Haas,- 
was  born  in  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  in  1820.  He  was 
married  in  L845  to  Marv  Wykoff,  who  was  horn  in 
1823,  daughter  of  Peter  Wykoff  and  Sarah  Nevius, 
and  a  descendant  of  the  Chamberlin  family,  well 
known  in  Union  county,  which  was  represented  in 
the  service  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  To  this 
union   were   born    four  sons  and   four  daughters. 

('ha rles  Frederick  Schaffle,  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Haas,  was  horn  in  1796  at  Durmenz,  Oberamt 
Maulbrum,  in  the  kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, son  id'  Simon  F.  Schaffle  and  Mary  Magda- 
lene Kliner,  who  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
Charles  Frederick  being  the  youngest  of  five  sons. 
Simon  F.  Schaffle  was  a  man  of  influence  and  po- 
sition, for  eight  years  burgomaster  of  Durmenz. 
Charles  Frederick  Schaffle,  his  son,  sailed  for 
America  Aug.  29,  lsis,  his  twenty-second  birth- 
day, and  the  following  year  he  settled  in  Lewis- 
burg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  dying  March  7,  1881.  He  had  a 
superior  knowledge  of  chemistry,  and  became  a 
noted  apothecary  in  that  section,  founding  the 
druggist  and  chemistry  establishment  which  he, 
his  sons  and  grandsons  conducted  in  turn  for 
many  years.  He  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
two  of  whom  dieil  in  infancy.  Two  fought  in  the 
Civil  war  ami  died  on  the  battlefield.  He  mar- 
ried March  12,  1820,  Marie  Caroline  Dickes, 
daughter  of  Jean  Guillaume  Dickes  and  Marie 
Elizabeth  Feline.  She  was  horn  April  29,  1800, 
at  One  Mine,  Alsace,  Fiance,  and  left  her  home 
on  the  German  border  the  year  her  future  husband 
settled  at  Lewisburg,  April  29,  1819,  with  her 
parents  and  only  brother,  . Joseph,  who  was  Secre- 
tarv  to  Joseph  Bonaparte,  ex-King  of  Spain,  and 
held  that  position  for  fifteen  years,  until  the  mon- 
arch's  death. 

GASS.  The  Gass  family,  which  has  several  rep- 
resentatives among  the  best  citizens  of  the  borough 
of  Sunbury,  has  been  identified  with  that  section 
of  Northumberland  county  since  the  founder.  Ja- 
cob   ('Joss,   ci hither    from    Berks   county,   Pa., 

where  the  immigrant  ancestors  apparently  first 
settled  upon  coming  to  this  country. 

This  family  name  was  originally  written  Goss, 
and  was  anglicized  to  Gass  about  1800.  The  immi- 
grants of  this  name  are  recorded  as  follows:  Carl 
Goss,  ship  "Christian,"  qualified  Sept.  13,  1749; 
Stephan  Goss,  ship  -Brothers,"  qualified  Sept.  22, 
1752 ;' Johannes  Goss,  -now  "Louisa."  qualified 
Nov.   8,  1753;  Johann  Kraff  Goss,  ship  "Edin- 


burgh," qualified  Sept.   14,   1753;  Johan   Georg 
doss,  snow  "(food  Intent,"  qualified  Oct.  23,  1754. 

The  (hisses  of  Northumberland  county  are  de- 
scended from  one  Frederick  GoSS,  who  »;i-  a  tax- 
able resident  of  Colebrookdale  township,  Berks 
Co.,  I'a..  in  1754.  lie  had  among  other  descend- 
ants— these  being  probably  sons — Jacob,  Martin 
and  Ludwig  Goss,  all  of  whom  were  living  in 
Northumberland  comity  when  the  Federal  Census 
of  1790  was  taken.  At  that  time  all  were  heads 
of  families  except  Ludwig,  who  was  married  but 
had  then  no  family.  Jacob  had  wife,  two  -mis  and 
one  daughter,  all  the  children  under  sixteen  years 
of  age;  Martin  had  wife  ami  three  sons,  all  under 
si  \teen   \  cars  of  age. 

Jacob  ( loss  (or  Cass)  came  from  Berks  county 
ami  as  mentioned  was  settled  in  Northumberland 
county  at  the  time  of  the  census  of  1790,  living  in 
Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township,  about 
one  mile  east  of  Sunbury.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
owned  a  large  tract  (now  the  property  of  Horace 
Lenker).  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  ami  he  and  his  wife  spoke  German.  .Mr. 
Goss  died  when  ahout  sixty-eight  years  old.  and  is 
buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Hi-  wife, 
Sarah  (Lantz),  sister  of  the  venerable  Samuel 
Lantz,  late  of  Rockefeller  township,  survived  him 
several  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  The  sons,  Eenry,  Joseph, 
William  and  Martin  are  all  mentioned  in  turn 
below;  Mary  married  William  Kuebler;  Sarah 
married  Reeder  Campbell  and  they  moved  to  Red 
Bank,  Pa.:  Eliza  married  Jacob  Thompson;  Susan 
married  Westley  Bastian;  Lydia  married  P.  O.  F. 
Maize. 

Henry  (lass,  son  of  racob,  horn  July  29,  1805, 
died  July  1,  ]S!i?.  He  lived  in  the  Plum  ( 
district  and  is  buried  at  the  Plum  Creek  Church. 
where  many  Gasses  have  found  their  last  resting 
place.  lie  was  twice  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing to  Julia  Ann  Conrad,  who  died  Dec.  L6,  L857, 
aged  fifty-four  years.  His  son  Jacob,  now  a  een« 
erable  residenf  of  Upper  Augusta  township,  is  liv- 
ing at  Hamilton:  during  the  early  part  of  I'M  I  he 
married  Susannah  (Malick)  Raker,  widow  of  Wil- 
liam    Raker.      ether    sons     were    William     ami 

George,    and    there    were    daughters    Maria.    Su-an. 
Louisa  and  Harriet. 

Joseph  (iass.  Sr.,  son  of  Jacob,  born  Dec.  20, 
1810,  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  prominent 
citizen  of  his  day.  He  lived  in  (he  Plum  Creek 
section,  owning  a  farm  of  L48  acres  which  he  cul- 
i  ivated  profitably,  of  «  hich  100  a.  res  i  -  qow  •>»  ned 
by  David  Furimin.  A  Democrat  in  politic-,  and 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  in-  party  and  .in  pub- 
lic matters,  he  served  a-  county  commissioner  from 
1863  i"  L866.  He  died  Dec.  28,  1879.  (>n  Aug. 
12,  L834,  Mr.  Cass  married  Maria  Raker,  who  was 
born  Jan.  ■!'..  1S1  I.  and  died  Oct.  25,  L81!  I.  and 
both  are  buried   in  the  cemetery  of  Lantz's  Ger- 


318 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


man  Reformed  Church,  in  Rockefeller  township. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Martin  R..  born 
July  6,  1836,  died  Jan.  IV.  lsss  (his  first  wife. 
Mary  Ann.  born  Sept.  20,  1835,  died  Oct  16, 
186V:  his  second  wife,  Abigail,  died  duly  26,  1892, 
aged  fifty-five  years,  seven  months,  eight  days) ; 
Samuel,  born  March  10,  1838,  died  Nov.  5,  1901, 
aged  sixty-three  years,  seven  months,  twenty-five 
days  (his  wife  Sarah  died  duly  4.  1905,  aged  six- 
ty-five  years,  four  months,  eight  days)  :  Mary  Ann 
was  born  July  29,  1840,  and  died  in  Sunbury  Sept. 
is.  1900;  Lueendia,  horn  March  25,  is  IV.  died 
in  February,  1843:  Joseph,  Jr.,  is  mentioned  be- 
low; Barbara  A.  was  horn  Feb.  24,  1st;,  and  died 
in  Snvder  county;  Isaac,  horn  July  18,  1849,  died 
Aug.  9,  1849;  Rev.  Richard  F.,  horn  Nov.  19,  1852, 
graduated  from  Franklin  and  .Marshall  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  at  Lancaster,  and  at  present  is  serv- 
ing his  old  home  church. 

Joseph  Gass,  Jr.,  horn  Dec.  13,  1844,  in  Rock- 
efeller township,  is  engaged  in  farming  there.  He 
married  Ruth  Shipman,  daughter  of  the  late  Judge 
Abraham  Shipman.  of  that  township,  and  they 
have  had  four  s,,ns:  Horatio  Warren  is  mentioned 
below;  George  Nevin  died  in  infancy:  Rev.  Rich- 
ard Ira  is  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church,  sta- 
tioned at  Mainville;  Foster  W.  married  Rachel  R. 
Grier,  daughter  of  Albert  C.  and  Catharine 
(( rann  )  Grier,  who  lived  in  Lycoming  county.  Pa.. 
and  a  member  of  a  family  which  numbers  many 
ministers,  doctors,  teachers  and  editors  among  its 
members,  Albert  C.  Crier's  father  having  been  Dr. 
John  Wilson  Grier.  of  Nippenosc  Valley,  Lycom- 
ing county,  and  his  grandfather  a  Presbyterian 
minister  who  lived  and  preached  at  Jersey  Shore 
for  fifty  years. 

Horatio  Wabren  Cas>.  M.  D.,  a  successful  phy- 
sician of  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  was 
horn  Sept.  9,  1868,  in  Plum  Creek.  Upper  Augus- 
ta ( now  Rockefeller)  township.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  the  schools  of  the  home  locality, 
later  attending  the  Kutztown  Normal  school,  af- 
ter which  lie  was  engaged  as  a  public  school  teacher 
in  his  native  county  for  seven  years.  In  the  year 
189  1  lie  began  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  0<  to- 
iler. 1895,  entered  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College 
in  Philadelphia,  graduating  therefrom  with  his 
degree  of  M.  D.  May  VI.  1898.  In  dune  he  passed 
the  examination  of  the  State  Board  and  in  Aug- 
ust began  practice  at  Mount  Aetna.  Berks  county, 
where  he  located  Aug.  8th.  In  1901  he  removed 
his  office  to  Sunbury,  where  be  is  located  at  the 
corner  of  Fairmount  avenue  and  Market  street. 
Dr.  Cass  has  not  only  acquired  a  large  private 
practice,  hut  other  interests  of  a  professional  na- 
ture in  which  he  has  won  wide  repute  and  high 
standing.  He  was  jail  physician  at  Sunbury  from 
1906  to  1908,  inclusive,  has  been  medical  exam- 
iner for  the  Mutual  Life  and  Travelers*  Insurance 
Companies,  and   for  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 


Workmen,  and  holds  membership  in  the  Northum- 
berland County  and  Pennsylvania  State  Medical 
Ties  and  in  the  American  Medical  Association. 
He  has  various  social  connections,  being  a  mem- 
ber ol  Lodge  Xo.  22,  F.  &  A.  M..  at  Sunbury;  of 
Camp  No.  194,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  of  Sunbury';  and 
of  the  W.  0.  W.  His  church  membership  is  with 
the  Reformed  denomination.  Dr.  Gass  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  opinion,  and  he  takes  a  genuine 
interest  in  public  affairs,  especially  movements  af- 
fecting the  welfare  of  his  home  community,  for 
whose  good  be  has  done  much  effective  work.  His 
unquestioned  position  and  strong  intelligence  make 
him  an  influential  factor  in  any  enterprise  which 
enlists  his  sympathies. 

On  June  VS.  1900,  Dr.  (.as-  married  Gertrude 
E.  Kuebler,  daughter  of  George  E.  and  Sarah 
(Fasold)  Kuebler,  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  a 
descendant  of  Conrad  Weiser.  They  have  had  one 
child.  Mark  Kuebler  Cass. 


William  (iass.  one  of  the  four  sons  of  Jacob  Gass 
above  mentioned,  was  a  resident  of  what  is  now 
Shamokin  township.  Northumberland  county,  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  owning  the  large 
farm  now  the  property  of  Alfred  Sehlegel.  He 
served  many  years  as  school  director  of  his  town- 
ship, was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religious 
matters  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  a  number  of  years  as 
member  of  the  church  council.  He  died  March 
23,  1897,  aged  eighty-one  years,  six  months,  eight 
days,  and  his  wife.  Susanna  (  Strickline).  horn 
Jan.  27,  1820,  died  May  29,  1888;  they  are  buried 
at  the  Helen  Church  in  the  Plum  Creek  section. 
Their  children  were:  Jacob,  born  in  1842,  who 
died  in  1858;  Joseph  A.:  Simon  W..  who  is  out 
West;  Isaac  X..  of  Sunbury,  Pa.:  Harriet  A.,  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  Francis  Campbell: 
Emma  J.,  who  married  John  Taylor  and  (second) 
Charles  Feese;  and  Annie  E..  who  married  Cyrus 
Tucker. 

Joseph  A.  (i  \--.  -on  of  William,  was  born  Sept. 
s.  1844,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  passed  his 
early  life  upon  the  farm.  When  eighteen  years 
old  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  five  years.  Mean- 
time, though  he  had  no  special  educational  advan- 
tages in  boyhood,  be  had  improved  his  mental  ac- 
quirements by  evening  study  and  application,  and 
in  1862  he  began  teaching  public  school,  in  Sham- 
okin township,  commencing  at  a  salary  of  eighteen 
dollars  a  month.  He  taught  thirty  terms  in  all — 
nine  terms  in  one  school,  and  seven  terms  in 
Snvdertown  borough.  All  bis  schools  were  un- 
graded, and  some  idea  of  the  amount  of  work  ex- 
pected  from  one  teacher  in  those  days  may  be 
gained  from  the  fact  that  he  had  114  pupils  en- 
rolled in  Coal  township,  in  1864-65;  111  enrolled 
in  Elizabeth  township,  Allegheny  county:  and  88 


N  OETHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


319 


enrolled  in  Snydertown  borough.  His  school  work 
was  done  for  the  most  pan  in  the  winter  season.  Ins 
summers  being  devoted  to  farming  in  Rockefeller 
township.  In  1889  he  began  dealing  in  fertilizers, 
being  one  of  the  first  agents  in  Ins  section,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1898  he  removed  to  the  borough  of 
Sunbury,  where  he  lias  since  been  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, being  established  on  North  Eighth  street,  off 
Markel  street.  There,  in  addition  to  phosphates, 
of  winch  he  sells  about  lour  hundred  tons  annu- 
ally, he  i-  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  and  agent  for 
buggies,  runabouts  and  wagons  of  all  kinds,  agri- 
cultural implements,  steam  and  gasoline  engines, 
light  plants,  pumps,  etc.  He  handles  considerable 
International  Harvester  goods,  machine  mowers. 
reapers,  etc.  Mr.  Gass  was  the  chief  organizer  of 
the  Augusta  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of 
which  he  was  agent,  secretary  and  director  for  fif- 
teen year--:  it  has  grown  to  he  one  of  the  large  and 
successful  insurance  companies  of  this  region.  In 
every  way  he  lias  been  a  useful  and  energetic  man, 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  various  interests  and 
organizations  with  which  he  has  been  identified. 
Socially  he  was  connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  Encampment,  the  1*.  0.  S.  of  A.  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  which  latter  fraternity  he 
helped  to  organize  at  Northumberland,  Pa.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  served  as  school 
director  of  Sunbury,  at  present  representing  the 
Ninth  ward  on  the  school  board.  He  and  his  fam- 
ilj  are  members  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  at  Sun- 
bury,  and  he  has  been  active  particularly  in  Sun- 
day school  work,  having  served  as  superintendent 
in  his  country  district  and  in  Sunbury,  and  he  is 
now  superintendent  of  the  Union  Sunday  school  at 
the  Eas1  End  of  the  borough.  His  services  in  this 
capacity  have  covered  a  period  of  fifteen  or 
eighteen  years. 

On  May  28,  1873,  Mr.  Cass  married  Isabella  A. 
Hausewart,  daughter  of  Samuel  I.  Hausewart  and 
In-  wife  Hulda  (Parley),  and  they  have  bad  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Hulda  Susanna,  who  has  been  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  Sunbury  since  1895;  Maggie 
S.,  wife  oi  George  S.  Conrad,  of  Sunbury:  Harriet 
A.,  a  stenographer,  at  York.  Pa.:  Isabella  M.,  wife 
of  Charles  Schlegel,  of  Sunbury;  Samuel  .1..  born 
June  27,  1883,  who  is  now  assisting  his  father; 
Francis  C.  :  and    Nellie  P. 


Martin  Gass,  another  son  of  Jacob  Cass,  lived  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  at  the  Gass  schoolhouse.  He  is  buried  in 
the  old  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  By  his  first  wile, 
Anna  Hower,  who  was  born  Dec.  5,  1815,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Hower,  and  died  Jan.  22,  1850,  be  bad 
four  children:  Elizabeth  J.  (deceased),  who  mar- 
ried William  Mackert:  Richard  A.:  Jacob  F. :  and 
George  W.,  of  Sunbury.  His  second  wife  was  Man 
Conrad,  widow  of  Eli  Conrad.  NV>  children  were 
horn  to  this  union. 


Richard  A.  Gass;  son  of  Martin,  was  born  Oct. 
1".\  1845,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  and  ob- 
tained his  early  education  in  the  local  schools. 
Later  be  attended  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Wil- 
liamsport,  Pa.,  and  afterward  taught  school  for 
some  time,  in  Upper  Augusta  township  and  East 
Sunbury  borough.  For  sex  era  I  years  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Sunbury.  until  lie  be- 
came traveling  salesman,  being'  at  present  engaged 
thus  for  the  Chase  Brothers  Nursery  Company. 
lie  has  been  selling  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and 
has  been  highly  successful.  In  politics  Mr.  Cass  is 
a  Democrat  and  has  been  active  in  bis  party,  hav- 
ing served  from  1905  to  1  !MtS  as  county  auditor. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

In  ISC'  Mr.  Cass  married  Emily  A.  Garinger, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Deborah  (Haas)  Gar- 
inger, of  Sunbury.  and  to  them  have  been  born  four 
children:  Laura  C.  Carrie  D.,  Charles  M.  and  Ed- 
ward F.   ■ 

Chahles  M.  Cass.  D.  D.  S..  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  dentistry  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury, 
was  born  then'  May  1.  1878;  He  received  his  lit- 
erary education  in  the  public  schools,  including  the 
high  school,  and  on  Oct.  1.  1897,  he  entered  the 
dental  department  of  Pennsylvania  College,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1900.  Re- 
turning to  bis  home  town  he  opened  an  office  at 
No.  silo  Market  street,  where  he  has  since  been  es- 
tablished, lie  has  built  up  a  lucrative  practice 
and  occupies  creditable  standing  in  his  profession. 
Dr.  Cass  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and 
of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Edward  F.  Gass,  member  of  the  firm  of  Wetzel 
&  (iass.  of  Sunbury.  the  leading  electrical  firm  of 
that  region,  was  bom  Dee.  12,  1883.  at  No.  so;, 
Market  street.  Sunbury,  and  received  bis  education 

in  the  borough.     Graduating  from  the  high  scl I 

in  1900,  he  subsequently  worked  for  the  United 
Telephone  Company,  doing  business  in  Sunbury 
and  vicinity,  for  a  period  of  six  years,  during 
which  time  be  studied  the  science  of  electricity. 
On  Aug.  28,  1906,  he  formed  bis  present  partnei 
.(up  with  Arthur  lb  Wetzel,  under  the  linn  name 
oi  Wetzel  &  Gass,  and  they  do  the  leading  business 
in  their  line  in  Siinburv  and  the  adjoining  country. 
keeping  four  men  regularly  employed,  besides 
working  themselves.  Thej  also  carry  a  full  line 
of  all  kinds  of  electrical  supplies  and  equipment, 
:iiid  arc  up  to  date  in  everything  pertaining  to 
their  business 

On  Sept.  '■'',  1909,  Mr.  Cass  married  Frances  E. 
Brand,  daughter  of  William  F.  and  Laura  (Tay- 
lor) Brand,  of  Sunbury,  the  Taylor  family  coming 
from  near  Laporte,  Sullivan  Co..  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mr..  Gass  have  ha. I  one  son,  Charles  Joseph.  They 
reside  at  No.  806  Court  3treet,  Sunbury.  Mr. 
Cass  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,    the    Americiis    Club    and    the    Reformed 


320 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Church,  i»  which  he  has  been  quite  active,  having 
been  secretary  of  the   Sunday  school  since   1905. 


Jacob  F.  Cass,  son  of  Martin,  was  born  Oct.  IT, 
1848,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  and  at 
an  early  age  began  clerking  in  the  store  at  Sun- 
bury.  In  1880  lie  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
there  on  his  own  account,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Market  streets,  where  the  Sunbury  Trust  Com- 
pany is  now  located,  but  owing  to  ill  health  he 
gave  up  this  business  in  course  of  time  and  took 
to  carpenter  work  and  contracting,  in  which  he 
continued  until  his  death,  Jan.  25,  1909.  He  had 
been  a  resilient  of  Sunbury  for  many  years. 

On  June  8,  1880,  Mr.  Gass  married  Sarah  Jane 
Keefer,  daughter  of  George  Keefer.  They  had 
no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cass  worshipped  at  the 
first  Reformed  Church.  Sunbury.  In  politics  he 
was  a  I  (emocr-at. 

JACOB  STRAUB,  a  venerable  resident  of  East 
Chillisquaque  township.  Northumberland  county, 
has  spent  his  life  in  that  section  with  the  exception 
of  the  three  years  he  was  in  the  West,  and  there 
is  no  more  respected  citizen  in  the  district.  Born 
Oct.  19,  L826,  in  what  was  then  known  as  Chillis- 
quaque township,  he  is  a  grandson  of  Andrew 
Straub,  the  founder  of  what  is  now  the  prosperous 
borough  of  Milton. 

Andrew  Straub's  lather  was  horn  along  the 
southern  border  of  Germany,  and  as  his  parents  de- 
sired him  to  become  a  priest  he  attended  the  Cath- 
olic schools  of  that  country  until  he  reached  young 
manhood.  However,  he  did  aol  complete  his  prep- 
aration for  the  church,  but  coming  to  America  be- 
came a  land  owner  and  farmer,  settling  at  Colum- 
bia. Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  took  up  land, 
cleared  it  and  followed  farming  to  the  end  of  his 
days.  He  was  a  good  neighbor  and  true  friend, 
and  was  on  very  friendly  terms  with  the  Wright 
brothers,  the  founders  of  Columbia  and  Wrights- 
ville.  He  married  after  his  arrival  in  this  country, 
and  his  children  were:  Andrew:  Valentine,  who 
settled  along  the  Tulpehocken  creek  in  Berks  coun- 
ty. Pa.;  Mrs.  Hougendobler ;  and  Mrs.  Merkle. 

Andrew  Straub,  son  of  the  emigrant,  was  horn 
Fell.  14,11  18,  on  his  father's  farm  just  hack  of  the 
town  of  Columbia,  in  what  is  now  Lancaster  coun- 
ty. When  a  hoy  he  was  hound  out  to  one  Mr. 
Bashore.  near  Columbia,  to  learn  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright, but  he  remained  with  him  only  four  weeks, 
hi-  master  making  him  work  at  the  trade  during 
the  daytime  and  split  rails  at  night.  This  was 
too  hard  for  the  youth,  so  he  returned  home,  and 
the  Wrights  gave  him  employment  in  the  same  line, 
in  which,  being  a  natural  mechanic,  he  soon  be- 
e  expert.  Before  the  Revolutionary  war  Mr. 
Wright  asked  young  Straub  if  he  thought  he  could 
come  up  along  the  river  to  build  a  mill  for  the 
soldiers  at  Fort  Augusta,  and  lie  agreed  to  do  it. 


Making  the  trip  to  Sunbury  by  team,  he  came  up 
the  river  above  Northumberland  to  the  Chillisqua- 
que creek,  where  he  erected  the  first  mill,  the  iron 
for  which  was  poled  up  the  river  from  Columbia 
in  a  canoe.  He  then  built  a  mill  on  the  White 
Deer  creek,  in  what  is  now  Union  county.  Return- 
ing to  Columbia  he  enlisted  in  the  Continental 
troops  for  service  in  the  Revolution,  hut  when  the 
conflict  was  over  his  mind  again  turned  to  the 
new  country  in  which  he  had  worked  and  in  April, 
L784,  he  returned  to  this  section,  locating  at  what 
is  now  Milton,  and  engaging  in  work  at  his  trade. 
going  hack  to  his  former  home,  however,  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year.  On  May  1.  ITsT.  he 
married  Mary  Eveline  Walter,  and  in  1790  took 
up  his  residence  at  Milton,  where  lie  built  a  log 
house  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Milton  Na- 
tional Bank.  Two  years  later  he  built  a  house 
near  what  is  now  the  intersection  of  (enter  and 
Filbert  streets  and  removed  thither  with  his  fam- 
ily. He  obtained  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  in 
1795  had  completed  a  residence  upon  the  eastern 
part  of  his  farm,  at  or  near  the  corner  of  Center 
street  and  Turbut  avenue,  where  he  resided  until 
hi-  death.  Aug.  •-'.  1806.  One  Christian  Yentzer 
was  originally  associated  with  him  in  planning 
what  is  now  the  borough  of  Milton,  hut  he  bought 
Mr.  Y'lii  er's  interests  in  1791  and  laid  out  the 
town  in  1792.  An  enterprising,  farsighted  and 
public-spirited  man.  his  activity  in  promoting  the 
interests  of  the  new  town  was  effective,  and  his 
name  will  ever  be  associated  with  its  growth  along 
the  most  beneficial  lines.  He  made  donations 
ground  for  church  and  school  use.  established 
mills,  encouraged  local  business  and  manufactur- 
ing enterprises,  and  lived  to  see  Milton  prosper, 
one  of  the  most  thriving  towns  in  the  valley  of  the 
West  branch.  He  was  kind  to  the  poor,  and  a  lib- 
eral supporter  of  every  cause  which  was  good  and 
just,  and  no  one  citizen  of  the  community  has 
probably  don,-  as  much  as  he  did  to  place  its  for- 
tunes upon  a  substantial  basis.  His  children  were 
as  follows:  Joseph;  Andrew;  Susanna.  Mrs. 
Rhoads:  Esther,  Mrs.  Lawrence;  Rachel,  Mrs. 
Jodon;  Mary,  Mrs.  Smith:  Abraham  and  Isaac, 
twins,  horn  Dec.  9.  1794;  Christian;  and.  three 
who  died  young. 

Abraham  Straub,  horn  in  Milton,  learned  the 
tannine  trade  and  followed  the  business  until 
1824,  when  he  sold  out  and  became  associated 
with  his  twin  brother  in  what  was  known  as  the 
Birchwood  Mills,  on  the  island  opposite  Milton. 
There  they  were  engaged  in  milling  and  lumber- 
ing for  many  years.  They  invented  and  intro- 
duced into  their  mill  the  first  reaction  water  wheel 
probably  ever  used  in  the  State.  They  also  had  a 
railroad  track  to  their  mill  and  yard.  In  1832  and 
1833  they  erected  the  first  bridges  over  the  West 
branch  of  the  Susquehanna  at  Milton,  carried 
awav  by  the  flood  of  March  17,  18(55.     In  1834 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


321 


[saac  retired  from  the  firm  and  went  to  Lewis- 
town,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising,  leav- 
ing thai  town  in  1838  and  going  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  died  Dee.  17,  is;:,.  Abraham  Straub 
continued  to  operate  the  mills  until  1840,  when 
he  took  down  the  gristmill  and  moved  it  to  Mud- 
dy Run,  two  miles  above  Milton,  where  he  con- 
tinued the  milling  business  until  1853.  He  then 
sold  it  and  built  a  bridge  across  the  Susquehanna 
at  Oniontown,  alter  the  completion  of  which  work 
he  turned  hi?  attention  to  the  invention  of  a  cen- 
trifugal pump.  Though  a  self-educated  survey- 
or, lie  became  one  of  the  foremost  in  that  pro- 
fession in  his  section  of  the  State.  He  laid  out 
Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton.  He  died  Aug.  '.'1. 
1864.  On  Nov.  39,  1821,  he  married  Nancy  Bal- 
liet,  who  was  horn  in  1804,  and  whose  father  was 
a  native  of  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  and  a  settler  in 
Limestone.  Montour  county.  She  died  Dec.  25, 
1861.  They  had  children  as  follows:  John  An- 
drew, Ambrose  White  (died  in  infancy),  Stephen 
Daniel,  Elizabeth  Caroline  (married  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Goodrich),  Clement  Calvin  (born  Nov.  2*3, 
1833).  Ambrose  White  C-M.  William  Alfred  and 
Mary  Louisa. 

Christian  Straub,  ninth  child  of  Andrew,  taught 
school  and  was  a  merchant  in  Schuylkill  county, 
served  as  sheriff  of  that  county,  and  was  elected  to 
represent  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature  and 
in  Congress.  lie  'lied  before  the  expiration  of 
his  term  as  Congressman,  and  is  buried  at  Wash- 
ington, I).  C,  in  the  Congressional  burying 
ground. 

Joseph  Straub,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  Feb. 
10,  lTil.'i,  at  Milton,  and  in  his  early  life  followed 
tanning  ami  distilling.  He  owned  considerable 
land  in  what  is  now  Chillisquaque  township,  and 
followed  fanning  until  his  death.  Like  his  father. 
he  is  buried  in  the  Harmony  cemetery  at  Milton. 
His  first  wife,  Elizabeth  (Follmer).  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Susanna  (Staid)  Follmer,  was  the 
mother  of  these  children:  Susanna,  who  died  un- 
married: Mary,  widow  of  Reuben  Follmer.  i 
ing  in  Milton:  and  Jacob.  To  hi-  second  mar- 
riage, with  Mrs.  Maria  (Bright)  Orwig,  widow  of 
Dr.  Orwig,  were  horn  the  following  chil- 
dren: Franklin  died  in  Ohio:  Joseph  si 
in  the  Civil  war:  John  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg;  Charles  'lied  young,  of 
smallpox:  Barbara  married  Dr.  Koenig;  Kitte 
married  William  Mover. 

Jacob  Straub,  or.  as  he  is  familiarly  known 
among  his  large  circle  of  relations  and  friends. 
"Uncle  Jake,"  received  such  education  as  the  pay 
schools  of  the  home  district  afforded.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  stonemason,  which  lie  followed  only 
a  comparatively  short  time,  however.  In  1864  he 
went  out  to  Nebraska,  where  he  remained  tor  three 
years,  living  among  the  Indian-  still  numerous  in 
that  region  and  following  farming.    At  the  end  ol 

21 


that  time  he  returned  to  the  homestead  where  he 

had  I n  brought  up,  and  bought  fifty-three  a<  i  is 

of  the  old  farm,  upon  which  he  built  his  present 
home  m  1869.  He  followed  farming  and  truck- 
ing here  for  forty  years,  retiring  in  1907,  -nice 
when  his  son  has  conducted  the  farm.  Mr.  Straub 
is  intelligent,  and  having  a  go(»|  memory  has  be- 
come well  informed  through  reading,  of  which  he 
is  fond.  He  is  an  entertaining  conversationalist, 
and  though  in  his  eighty-fifth  year  continues  to 
take  the  deepest  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the 
community  with  which  he  has  so  long  been  identi- 
fied. He  has  two  heirlooms  which  he  values  high- 
ly, a  grandfather  clock  that  was  made  in  the  year 
1786  and  has  been  in  the  family  for  one  hundred 
years,  and  an  old  secretary  which  was  made  in 
Milton  in  1821,  all  the  work  done  by  hand. 

On  April  li).  1864,  Mr.  Straub  married  Aramin- 
ta  Agnes  Schlebby,  who  was  horn  April  '.'1.  1836, 
and  died  April  30,  1904.  She  is  buried  at  Milton. 
Two  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Kate  and 
John  L.  The  daughter,  born  Aug.  ".'','.  Is"'.',  now 
keeps  house  for  her  father.  Mr.  Straub  is  a  Re- 
publican in  political  preference. 

John  1..  Straub,  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
West  Chillisquaque  township,  was  born  Sept.  11. 
1ST3,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  son  of  Jacob 
Straub.  He  attended  the  Harrison  school  in  his 
native  township,  and  when  old  enough  commenced 
to  work  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  continued 
in  larm  until  1909.  He  then  removed  to  the  old 
Dougal  farm,  in  the  same  town-hip.  near  the  bor- 
ough line  of  Milton,  where  be  carries  on  general 
tanning.  He  married  Lois  May  Balliet,  daughter 
of  Charles  Henry  and  Catharine  (Hall)  Ba 
and  they  have  had  two  children.  Annie  Catharine 
and  Andrew  Jacob.  Mr.  Straub  is  a  Republican  in 
politics. 

PARDOE.  The  Pardoe  family  of  Northum- 
berland county  has  Ion-  been  oi E  prominence. 

It  was  planted  here  bj  Thomas  Pardoe,  a  native  oi 
London,  England,  horn  March  1.  1795,  who  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  in  childhood.  lb 
settled  in  Chillisquaque  township.  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  became  till 
tract  of  land.  At  first  hi-  father  hound  him  out. 
and  for  a  time  he  lived  in  Point  township.  After 
hi-  location  in  Chillisquaque  township  be  devoted 
himself  to  farming,  milling  and  distilling,  and  al- 
so had  a  genera]  stori .  Naturally  given  to  -i 
he  acquired  what  education  he  could  with  the 
primitive  facilities  of  those  early  days,  and  he  was 
called  upon  to  settle  up  many  estates,  wrote  deeds, 
and  performed  similar  offices.  A-  justice  of  the 
peace  he  married  many  couple-.  He  was  school  di- 
,  or  in  bis  district,  and  also  held  the  office  of  su- 
pervisor.  He  died  April  21,  1873.  On  March  2, 
is-.'!,  he  married  Sarah  Hause,  horn  o.-t.  13,  1801, 
who  died  Nov.   18,  1876.     Thee   were  members  of 


:;22 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  Presbyterian  Church.  Their  children  were: 
Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  26,  1824.  married  John 
Troxel.  and  died  Feb.  23,  1859;  William,  born 
Jan.  vs.  1826,  is  mentioned  below;  Charles,  born 
.Ian.  21.  1828,  died  Jan.  3,  1833;  Peter  H..  born 
Jan.  25,  1830.  died  Sept.  5,  1850;  Sarah  A.,  born 
April  19,  1832.  married  William  Fordsman,  and 
died  in  19.06;  Hannah  II. .  born  Sept.  6.  1834, 
married  John  IT.  Gotsehall,  and  lived  in  Michigan 
(she  died  in  1910);  Franklin  ('..  born  Aug.  28, 
183G,  married  Margaret  A.  Rishel,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Rishel,  and  died  in  1909  in  Chillisqua- 
que township:  Joseph  and  Mary,  twins,  born 
March  15,  1839,  died  Oct.  16.  1899,  and  July  28, 
1839,  respectively:  Jemelah,  born  June  14,  1842, 
died  Jan.  1,  1844:  and  Thomas  E..  born  Jan.  25, 
1846,  died  March  '.'I.  1875. 

Joseph  Pardoe,  son  of  Thomas,  horn  March  15, 
1839.  was  a  well  known  man  in  Northumberland 
county,  making  his  home  in  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship. In  1890  he  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner: in  1888-89  he  served  as  tax  collector.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Susan. 
daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Fetzer,  in  18G0,  and  she 
resides  at  Montandon.  this  county.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Mary  J.,  who  married  Charles  Shearer, 
and  has  three  children.  Rupert,  Susan  P.  and 
Joseph  P.:  Sarah  E..  who  married  Thomas  Houpt, 
of  Sunbury,  and  has  a  daughter,  Grace  J. ;  Thomas 
II.,  who  married  Bertha  Kech,  lives  in  Illinois,  and 
has  a  daughter.  Louisa  I!.:  and  Emma  G..  who 
married  Frank  Johnson,  and  lives  in  Montandon. 

William  Pardoe,  second  child  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah,  horn  Jan.  28.  1826,  attended  the  eight- 
cornered  schoolhouse  in  Chillisquaque  township — 
which  school  building  is  still  standing,  a  famous 
landmark  in  the  district.  He  applied  himself  as- 
siduously to  his  hooks,  and  became  fitted  for  teach- 
in,?,  a  profession  lie  followed  for  twenty-eight 
years.  Ho  then  bought  a  sixty-seven-acre  farm  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  served  a  long  time  as  school  director  and  for 
a  time  was  treasurer  of  the  hoard,  and  also  filled 
the  offices  of  tax  collector  and  constable.  In  1898 
he  removed  to  Milton,  and  amid  new  surroundings 
won  new  friends.  Wherever  he  lived  be  had  a 
high  reputation  for  honesty  and  square  dealing. 
After  his  removal  to  Milton  he  settled  tip  several 
estates  and  filled  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor. 
He  died  April  7.  1901.  On  Jan.  2.  1849.  he  mar- 
ried Lucy  Louisa  Troxel,  who  was  horn  June  4, 
182'.).  daughter  of  George  Troxel.  She  now  re- 
sides at.  Milton.  This  union  was  blessed  with  the 
following  family  of  children:  Ida  I...  horn  Jan.  13, 
1850.  died  Feb.  20,  ls.V.';  Martha  J.,  horn  Nov. 
27,  1852,  married  Lee  Bellas,  who  died  in  Wil- 
liamsport.  and  she  died  July  9,  1890,  in  Chillis- 
quaque township  (she  had  two  children.  William 
and  Bertha)  :  Charles  Edwin,  horn  Aug.  31.  1855, 
a   butcher   at   Milton,   married   Lizzie   Newberry; 


Sarah  C,  born  Sept.  8,  1857,  married  Joseph 
Wolfe,  .if  Milton:  Thomas  E..  horn  Feb.  6,  1860, 
married  Sallie  Pfleeger,  and  lives  in  Chillisquaque 
township:  Lizzie  T.,  born  Oct.  5,  1863,  married 
A.  C.  Yarger,  of  Milton:  Franklin  L.,  horn  Nov. 
in.  1867,  married  Lola  McClain,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Maria  (Berger)  McClain,  of  Chillis- 
quaque township,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Oscar  W. 
and  George  \Y..  and  an  adopted  daughter,  Nora  E. 

Troxel.  Abraham  Troxel.  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Lucy  Louisa  (Troxel)  Pardoe.  was  an  early  settler 
of  Chillisquaque  township,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing. He  married  Catherine  Derr,  and  both  are 
buried  at  Lewisburg.  Their  children  were:  Jacob, 
George,  Benjamin,  Abraham.  Andrew,  David,  An- 
drew   (2).  Susan.  Mary.  Catherine  and  Elizabeth. 

George  Troxel.  son  of  Abraham,  was  horn  in 
1 7 ! 1 7  and  died  in  issf.  He  was  the  owner  of  a 
large  farm  in  Chillisquaque  township,  which  he 
successfully  cultivated.  He  served  as  school  di- 
rector in  his  district.  In  his  religious  faith  he  was 
a  Methodist.  He  married  Catharine  Kline,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Kline,  and  she  died  in  1872.  Their 
children  were:  Reuben,  John.  Charles  (who  died 
in  Chicago).  Sarah  (who  married  William 
Haupt),  Lucy  Louisa  (Mrs.  Pardoe),  Catharine 
(who  married  Lena-  Stoudl  ).  Margaret  (who  mar- 
ried John  Hassenplug,  and  lives  in  Milton),  B. 
Frank    (of  East  Lewisburg)    and  Aaron   (of  East 

Lew  ishllTL:  I. 

JOHN'  F.  WILSON,  the  well  known  photo- 
grapher of  Milton,  where  since  1903  be  has  been 
located  in  the  J.  R.  Smith  building,  is  a  native 
of  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  born  in  October.  1863, 
son  of  Ellis  B.  Wilson  and  grandson  of  Joseph  Wil- 
son. 

Joseph  Wilson  was  horn  in  Lycoming  county, 
where  he  died,  and  was  buried  in  Mill  Creek  town- 
ship. He  passed  the  years  of  his  active  life  as  a 
farmer.  Tie  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follow,-: 
Ellis  B.,  William.  Seth,  Charles  and  Sarah. 

Ellis  B.  Wilson  was  horn  in  Lycoming  county, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and 
was  buried  in  Mill  Creek  township.  For  a  few 
years  be  was  engaged  in  the  harness  business  at 
Montoursville,  later  taking  up  farming.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Elizabeth  Hite,  daughter  of 
George  F.  Hite.  and  their  children  were:  Harry 
H.,  living  in  South  Dakota:  Ada  F.,  wdio  married 
Huston  Wright,  and  died  aged  thirty-three  years; 
and  John  F.  Later  Mr.  Wilson  married  (second) 
Kate  Hall,  who  is  also  deceased,  and  to  this  union 
was  born  one  son.  Rev.  Rolland  E..  an  Evangelical 
minister  at  Hallstead,  Pennsylvania.  George  F. 
Hite.  father  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Hite)  Wilson,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  on  coming  to  America 
settled  in  Lycoming  county.  He  married  Chris- 
tian Lipp,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they 
bad  children:  Jacob,  Sarah  Neff,  Fred.'  Marv.  Eliz- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


323 


abeth  (who  married  Ellis  P>.  Wilson),  Emma 
. I. Hies,  John  (died  in  the  Civil  war).  Christian  and 
George. 

John  F.  Wilson  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Montoursville,  and  made  his  home  with  J.  C.  Bry- 
an until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  at  which  he 
time  he  went  to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  there  attend- 
ing the  Williamspori  Commercial  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  L886.  His  school  days  over, 
lie  took  up  photography,  for  which  he  had  always 
had  a  liking,  and  for  a  short  time  was  located  in 
Mimcv  ;  for  several  years  he  was  at  different  places. 
In  ls!)!i  he  came  In  Milton,  and  was  first  located 
cm  Lincoln  street,  mm  Dec.  1,  1903,  opening  his 
present  studio  in  the  J.  R.  Smith  building,  where 
he  has  since  done  a  thriving  business.  He  is  a 
man  of  naturally  artistic  tastes,  and  his  poses 
have  in ii f  the  stiffness  which  mars  so  many  pho- 
tographs. 

Mr.  Wilson  married  Fannie  Heddens,  daughter 
of  James  and  Fanny  Heddens,  of  Washington- 
\ille.  Montour  county,  and  they  have  a  comfort- 
able home  at  No.  57  Bound  avenue.  Milton.  Mr. 
Wilson  i-  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  of  the 
State  Photographers'  Association.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Church.  He  has 
won  many  friends  since  he  came  to  reside  in  Mil- 
ton, and  the  prosperity  that  has  attended  his  ef- 
forts here  has  been  well  deserved. 

MARTIN.  The  oldest  representative  of  this 
family  living  is  Alexander  Martin,  of  Montandon, 
Northumberland  county,  son  of  Hugh  Martin,  who 
founded  the  family  in  this  county.  Edward  Mar- 
tin, contractor  and  builder  of  the  borough  of  Mil- 
ton, is  a  grandson  of  Hugh,  being  a  son  of  the 
late  Robert  Martin.  The  father  of  Hugh  Martin 
was  horn  in  White  Deer  township,  Union  Co.,  Pa., 
and  his  wife,  Mary  Ambrose,  was  also  a  native  of 
that  county. 

Hugh  Martin  was  horn  April  5,  1810,  at  Lewis- 
burg,  Union  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  was  reared,  in  his 
youth  attending  the  local  pay  schools.  When  sev- 
enteen years  of  age  he  had  earned  and  saved 
enough  money,  by  working  on  the  canal,  to  buy  a 
house  and  lot  at  Lewisburg.  Later  he  learned  the 
trade  of  plasterer,  which  he  followed  about  twen- 
ty-five years.  He  was  a  skilled  workman,  and 
many  of  the  houses  in  his  district  showed  his  work- 
manship. In  ISIS  he  moved  to  Chillisquaque 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  120  acres  of  valuable  land,  which 
he  cultivated  for  a  period  of  eleven  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Montandon,  resid- 
ing there  until  his  death,  Dec.  11,  1893.  Mr. 
Martin's  business  enterprise  had  turned  out  well, 
and  be  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Lewisburg  Bank, 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Milton,  the  Lewisburg 
Nail  Company  and  the  Lewisburg  Bridge  Com- 
pany.   Mr.  Martin  was  a  Democrat,  and  m  1864  he 


was  elected  Northumberland  county  commissioner, 
serving  from  1864  to  1867.  He  also  served  as 
overseer  of  the  poor  for  seven  years,  and  held  al- 
most all  the  township  offices,  being  a  man  who  in- 
spired the  greatest  confidence  among  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Lewisburg 
Lodge,  I.  O.  ().  F.  Though  not  connected  with 
any  particular  denomination  he  was  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  all  the  churches.  In  1831  Mr.  Martin 
married  Hannah  Maurer.  daughter  of  John 
Maurer,  of  Berks  countv,  Pa.;  she  was  born  Nov. 
11.  1807,  and  died  Aug.  21,  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin  are  huried  in  Harmony  cemetery.  Milton. 
They  had  a  family  of  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely:  Alexander  is  living  at  the 
old  homestead  in  Montandon.  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship; Elizabeth  married  James  Bannen,  and  had 
children.  Rev.  Hugh  (a  Lutheran  minister,  now  of 
Illinois),  Rev.  Robert  (a  Lutheran  minister,  of 
Williamsport,  Pa.),  May  (married  Fred  Swooper), 
Cora  (married  Miles  Derr;  she  is  now  deceased) 
and  Amv;  Robert  is  mentioned  below;  Fannie  is 
the  wife  of  Elias  Bieber  and  they  reside  in  Chillis- 
quaque township. 

Alexander  Martin,  son  of  Hugh,  a  retired 
farmer  now  living  at  Montandon.  was  horn  in 
Lewisburg,  Pa.,  Aug.  5,  1834.  He  is  the  only  sur- 
viving son  of  Hugh  and  Hannah  Martin.  When 
a  young  man  he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm 
in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  he  has  I n  a   resident  of  that  township 

I'm'  sixty-three  years,  now  having  the  old  home- 
stead at  Montandon.  A  man  of  quiet  and  unas- 
suming disposition,  he  has  followed  the  paths  of 
integrity  and  industry  all  through  his  long  life, 
and  few  men  have  won  greater  respect  among  their 
fellows  for  unpretentious  but  valuable  services  and 
solid  worth.  He  has  served  his  township  as  school 
director  and  in  other  offices. 

Mr.  Martin's  first  marriage  was  to  Margaret 
Harper,  who  died  aged  fifty-two  years,  leaving  one 
son,  George  R.  Martin,  who  married  Ellen  Krause; 
they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Karl  and 
Blanche.  On  April  19,  1894,  Alexander  Martin 
married  Mrs.  Anna  Wagley.  widow  of  Allonza 
Wagley,  and  by  this  union  had  one  daughter,  Ed- 
na, now  the  wife  of  Curtis  Slack,  of  Look  Haven; 
they  hav le  daughter,  Helen  Elizabeth. 

Robert  Martin,  son  of  Hugh,  wa  born  at  Lew- 
isburg March  I.  is  I'.',  and  died  Jan.  22,  1880.  He 
is  huried  at  Milton.  In  earl}  lite  he  assisted  his 
father  at  farming,  later  coming  to  Milton,  where. 
he  was  employed  by  Lenas  Stout,  who  was  in  the 
grain  and  coal  business.  There  he  remained  till 
'hi<  death,  which  was  caused  by  falling  from  a  tree. 
II,  wife.  Elizabeth  1'.  I  ETause),  was  born  Aug.  3, 
is  Hi.  and  died  An-.  1 1.  1898.  Her  father.  George 
Elause,  was  a  native  of  Northumberland  county, 
and  was  a  merchani  at  Chillisquaque  creek  for  sev- 
eral   years,   later   t  I  in    farming.      lie   died 


324 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


upon  his  farm,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
Harmony  cemetery  at  Milton.  He  married  Mary 
Iveefer,  and  they  had  the  following  family:  Eliz- 
abeth P.  married  Robert  Martin;  Mary  A.  married 
William  B.  Galbraith;  Lydia  died  in  Michigan; 
George  is  living  in  California:  Peter  is  living  in 
New  Columbia,  Pa.;  Frank  lives  in  Corning,  New 
York. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Martin  had  these  children: 
Alfred;  Fannie,  who  married  .lames  Stiver,  of 
Montandon,  Pa.;  William;  Edward:  Catharine, 
who  married  Cyrus  Trate,  of  Milton;  Mary,  mar- 
ried tn  John  Xeiler  and  residing  in  Philadelphia: 
and  Melvin. 

Edward  Martin  was  born  April  11.  1868,  at 
.Milton,  and  there  began  his  education.  When  elev- 
en years  old  he  went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  James 
Bannen,  near  Turbutville,  remaining  with  him 
till  sixteen  years  of  age.  lie  was  seventeen  when 
he  came  to  Milton,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
nail  feeder  for  three  years,  after  which  he  learned 
the  slating  business,  at  which  he  was  engaged  four 
years.  In  1892  he  went  to  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  followed  it  until  1897,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  contracting  and  building  business.  He  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  contractors  in  the  borough,  cm- 
ploying  from  -i\  tn  eight  men.  and  has  established 
a  business  which  dues  credit  to  his  executive  ability 
as  well  as  to  his  standing  as  a  reliable  workman. 

Mr.  Martin  married  Mary  Catharine  Murphy, 
daughter  of  James  Murphy,  of  Milton,  and  they 
have  a  large  family:  William  .1..  Edna  M..  Luther 
II..  Roberl  1'...  Amy  F...  Elmer  A..  Mildred  E., 
Catherine,  Grace  and  Harold.  The  family  reside 
at  Xii.  2a  Stanton  avenue,  Milton.  Mr.  Martin  is 
an  active  member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church, 
which  he  has  served  as  member  of  the  council,  and 
he  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school  since 
1905.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum. 

JOSEPH    C.   KNITTLE,  an   engineer  on   the 

Pennsylvania  railroad  who  makes  his  home  at 
Sunbury,  was  born  May  -.' 1.  1854.  This  family  is 
of  the  same  origin  as  the  Knittles  of  Berks  county. 
Pa.  The  history  of  the  family  in  Pennsylvania  be- 
gins back  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
The  only  one  of  the  name  recorded  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania archives  up  to  Sept.  17,  1753,  was  Joseph 
Knittle,  who  came  to  America  on  the  ship  "Pa- 
tience," which  landed  him  at  Philadelphia  on  the 
date  named. 

Michael  Knittle,  probably  a  son  of  Joseph,  was 
a  resident  of  Richmond  township,  Berks  county. 
He  made  his  will  May  9,  1789,  and  it  was  entered 
dune  13th  of  the  same  year.  It  is  evident  that 
he  died  between  these  two  dates,  and  bis  sons, 
Michael  and  Daniel,  were  the  executors.  His  chil- 
dren are  given  as  follows:  Frederick.  John  Adam, 
Michael,    Daniel.    Rosina    and    Catharine.      John 


Adam  was  a  resident  of  Richmond  township  in 
1785  and  that  year  paid  is  s.,  !i  d..  tax.  In  1758 
Michael  Knittle  was  a  resident  in  Maxatawny 
township,  and  in  that  year  he  paid  £1,  Is..  6d., 
tax.  In  1775  he  is  registered  as  taxable  in  Rich- 
mond township  when  he  paid  £5  tax.  In  1815 
Michael  Knittle,  Jr..  was  a  tax-payer  in  Rich- 
mond township,  paying  44s.  tax. 

Aaron  Shultz  Knittle.  father  of  Joseph  C.  Knit- 
tle, lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Catawissa.  Columbia 
Co..  Pa.,  and  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming. 
He  married  Sarah  Campbell,  daughter  of  Obediah 
Campbell,  ami  they  had  children  as  follows:  Dan- 
iel, who  is  a  merchant  of  Catawissa:  Dallas,  of 
Heading.  Pa.:  John,  of  New  Mexico:  Jennie,  wife 
of  John  Frederick,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.:  Laura,  wid- 
ow of  Silas  Everet,  of  Mount  Carmel:  Mary,  wife 
of  Franklin  Maurer,  a  carpenter,  of  Shamokin; 
and  J  use]  ih  < '. 

Joseph  C.  Knittle  has  been  engaged  in  railroad 
work  since  1876,  and  throughout  that  period  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  borough  of  Sunbury.  He 
has  been  an  engineer  since  ls'»-.'.  and  i-  a  member 
of  the  Engineers'  Brotherhood  and  of  the  Veter- 
ans' Association,  in  both  of  which  organizations 
he  is  well  known,  and  he  is  highly  respected  by  all 
his  acquaintances.  A  man  of  steady  habits  and 
faithful  to  his  duties,  he  has  been  a  reliable  em- 
ployee throughout  bis  connection  with  the  rail- 
road   service. 

Mr.  Knittle's  first  wife.  Celesta  (Yeager),  died 
in  August,  1896,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years. 
She  was  the  mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  Miss 
Mabel  now  lives  in  New  York:  William  is  a  drug- 
gist in  Philadelphia:  Clark  is  a  carpenter  at  Sun- 
bury. Pa.;  and  two  died  young.  On  April  19, 
1906,  Mr.  Knittle  married  (second)  Mrs.  Annie 
( Fenstermacber )  Bowen,  widow  of  Joseph  Bow- 
en,  who  lived  and  died  in  Sunbury,  passing  away 
Nov.  15,  1897,  at  tin1  age  of  thirty-seven  years. 
.Mr.  Knittle  and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  re- 
ligious faith. 

The  Fenstermacher  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Knit- 
tle belongs,  was  founded  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  by 
one  Matthias  Fenstermacber.  a  native  of  the  tier- 
man  Palatinate,  who  crossed  the  sea  on  the  good 
ship  "Glasgow,"  which  arrived  at  Philadelphia 
Sept.  9,  1738.  On  the  original  list  of  passengers 
his  age  is  given  as  sixty  years,  and  he  was  born  in 
KiTS.  He  was  accompanied  to  America  by  his  two 
sons:  Jacob,  who  was  then  •.'!>  years  old.  and  Wil- 
hclni.  twenty-five  years  old.  These  three  were  pre- 
ceded to  the  Xew  World  by  a  third  son,  Philip. 
who  qualified  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  30.  1737.  He 
was  then  twenty  years  of  age.  He  settled  iu  Long- 
swamp  township,  Berks  county,  and  in  1759  he 
paid  a  federal  tax  of  ten  pounds  in  that  district. 
His  father  and  two  brothers  also  lived  in  Long- 
swamp  township  for  some  time.  Tradition  holds 
that  one  of  the  sons,  probably  Jacob,  located  near 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


325 


The   name   is  also 


spef 


Fenster- 


Philadelphia. 

maker. 

Philip  Fenstermacher,  son  of  Matthias,  was  a 
large  property  owner  in  Longswamp  township  and 
owned  valuable  land  on  which  in  later  years  was 
found  iron  ore  in  large  quantities.  Some  of  this 
land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  posterity.  He 
died  in  1790,  and  his  will  was  probated  duly  9th 
of  that  year,  his  widow  Elizabeth  being  the  ex- 
ecutor. The  names  of  his  sons  John  and  Chris- 
topher were  mentioned  in  his  last  will,  and  hi'  al- 
so had  a  son  Philip,  dr..  a  son  Michael,  anil  one 
named  Joseph. 

From  this  source  probably  came  (he  family  to 
which  Mrs.  Knittle  belongs.  Her  grandfather, 
Joseph  Fenstermacher,  born  March  28,  1798,  died 
Oct.  is.  1875.  lie  lived  at  Dalmatia,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  followed  the  trade  of 
cabinetmaker.  I  lis  children  were:  Joseph;  Aug- 
ustus, who  lived  and  died  at  Dalmatia;  Annie, 
who  married  William  Negley;  Sarah,  who  was 
twice  married,  her  second  husband  being  Isaac 
Fetherolf;  and  Mary,  who  died  unmarried. 

Joseph  Fenstermacher,  son  of  Joseph,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  moved  to  Snnbury  in 
August,  is;  I.  He  married  Barbara  Kobel,  and 
they  had  children:  Charles,  James.  Milton.  Alice. 
Annie  and  Howard.  Of  these,  Annie,  now  the 
wife  of  Joseph  ('.  Knittle  was  horn  at  Urban,  in 
Jordan    township.    Northumberland    county. 


John  fenstermacher,  brother  of  Joseph,  above, 
was  horn  Aug.  4,  1800,  in  Lynn  township,  Lehigh 
county,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county  be- 
fore In-  marriage,  scttline;  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  He  owned  and  cultivated  a  small  farm 
at  Georgetown,  and  owned  a  home  in  that  vil- 
lage. He  died  April  3,  1869,  and  his  wife  Cath- 
arine (Michael),  horn  June  15,  IS!)'.',  died  at 
Georgetown  March  1.  1867,  both  being  buried  at 
that  place,  lie  and  his  family  worshipped  in  the 
Lutheran  Church  there  Their  family  consisted 
of  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  viz.:  Isaac:  Ka- 
tie. Mrs.  Philip  Spotts:  Anna  Eliza  (1838-1862), 
Mr-.  Abraham  Hetriek;  Michael,  horn  July  26, 
1830,  did  March  12,  1891,  who  married  Rebecca 
Snyder  (  1839-1894)  ;  and  another  daughter  whose 
name  is  not  given. 

Isaac  Fenstermacher,  son  of  John,  was  horn  at 
Dalmatia.  and  there  passed  all  his  Ion-'  life,  dying 
March  •.':;.  190-1,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  four 
months,  two  days.  In  his  earlier  life  he  followed 
boating,  until  he  became  a  partner  of  John  Binga- 
man  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  Bingaman  &  Co., 
the  firm  establishing  a  large  business  at  Dalmatia 
in  the  coal,  grain,  lumber  and  railroad  ties  trade. 
In  tunc  Mr.  Fenstermacher  became  sole  owner  of 
the  business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  many 
years,  at  his  death  being  succeeded  h\  his  son 
John' A.     He  was  a  much  esteemed  man  of  hi-  sec 


tion,  served  as  school  director,  and  was  one  of  the 
active  members  of  the  Union  Church  at  Dalmatia, 
in  which  he  and  his  family  held  membership.  Ee 
helped  to  build  the  present  church  edifice,  held  of- 
fices in  the  church  for  man\  years,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  treasurer.  For  many  years 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  Onion  Sunday 
school.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  His 
wife.  Lenah  (Reitz),  died  in  December,  1909, 
aged  eighty-one  years,  and  they  are  buried  at  Dal- 
matia. Their  children  were  as  follows:  Marietta, 
wife  of  D.  F.  Batdorf;  Anna,  wife  of  A.  Moesch- 
lin:  Milton  R. ;  John  A.:  Eliza  Catharine,  wife  of 
John  Otto:  and  Lizzie  A.,  wife  of  William  D.  Wit- 
nier.  All  of  this  family  are  living,  and  all  ha\  • 
families  hut   John   A.,  who   has   never  married. 

Mii.tox  R.  Fenstermacher,  passenger,  freight 
and  baggage  agenl  at  Dalmatia  for  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  Company,  was  horn  in  that  town 
Dei.  14,  1861.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  there,  and  when  eighteen  began  to  serve 
his  apprenticeship  as  telegraph  operator,  at  that 
point.  On  July  22,  1882,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  Company  as 
operator  at  Selins  Grove  Junction,  whence  after 
about  nine  months  he  was  transferred  to  his  native 
place.  There  he  has  since  been  stationed,  and  he 
is  also  agent  at  that  point  for  the  Adams  Express 
Company.  He  has  taughl  telegraphy  to  many 
young  men  and  started  them  out  in  the  service  nf 
the  company.  His  satisfactory  work'  ha-  earned 
h i in  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  reli- 
able, as  he  is  one  of  the  oldest,  employees  in  the 
Northern  Central  service.  Painstaking,  efficient 
ami  industrious,  he  deserves  the  high  standing  he 
ell  joys. 

On  Jan.  8,  1885,  Mr.  Fenstermacher  married 
Sarah  E.  Denker,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
Conker,  and  they  lane  had  one  child.  Stella  T.. 
who  died  in  her  ninth  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenster- 
macher are  Cut  heraii  members  of  t  he  church  at  Dal 
matin,  where  he  is  at  present  serving  a>  leader:  of 
the  choir.  He  has  been  active  in  the  life  of  i  he 
church  in  various  ways.  Mr.  Fenstennachev  oc- 
cupies a  home  of  his  own  at  Dalmatia.  an  1  he  also 
owns  I, i-  father's  old  farm  of  forty  acres,  located 
near  th(    town. 

DAN  ICC  l\.  I.'l't  II.  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war. 
and  now  engaged  in  luisines-  ;ii  Milton,  Pa.,  a-  a 
dealer  in  wall  paper  and  paints,  was  horn  in  Aug- 
usta township,  this  county,  in  1834,  son  of  Abra- 
ham Ruch,  and  i-  of  l  ierniaii  ancestry. 

Jacoh  Ruch,  grandfather  of  Daniel  K'..  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  America, 
and  on  coming  to  Pennsylvania  settled  in  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county.  He  was  a 
stone  mason  by  trade,  and  this  he  followed  in  con- 
nection  with   farming.     He   be<  i ■  the  ow  aer  of 

a  large  farm  in  Augusta  township,     In    lsii   he 


326 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  his  family  started  for  what  was  then  the  Far 
West,  their  destination  being  Whitley  county,  In- 
diana, fourteen  miles  west  of  Fort  Wayne.  The 
journey  was  made  by  team  and  much  of  it  was 
along  scarcely  formed  wagon  roads.  Mr.  Ruch 
bought  a  farm  there,  and  was  engaged  in  its  culti- 
vation as  long  as  he  lived.  He  is  buried  there. 
After  his  death  his  widow  returned  to  Northum- 
berland county,  and  here  died  and  was  buried. 
Mr.  Ruch  was  a  man  of  large  proportions,  weigh- 
ing 347  pounds.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
eight  children,  namely:  Abraham.  Margaret,  Da- 
vid. Charles.   Susanna.  Maria,  Julia  and  Louisa. 

Abraham  Ruch,  sun  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Augusta  township,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  removal  to  Indiana.  In  1848  he  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Augusta  township, 
near  the  old  homestead,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but  all  his  later  years 
were  given  over  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is 
buried  in  the  old  graveyard  at  Sunbury,  his  death 
having  taken  place  in  1849.  lie  married  Eliz- 
abeth Keefer,  daughter  of  Daniel,  who  died  in 
1887,  aged  seventy-four  years,  and  is  also  buried 
:it  Sunbury.  Their  children  were:  Peter  B..  of 
Xebraska  :  Daniel  K. :  Louisa;  Charles;  Catharine; 
Samuel,  of  Sunbury;  and  Elizabeth. 

Daniel  K.  Pitch  received  the  education  af- 
forded by  the  district  schools  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  his  home.  As  a  young  man  lie  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1855  came  to  Mil- 
ton,  and  here  engaged  in  planing  mill  work  and 
carpentering.  In  1867  he  added  painting  ami 
this  he  followed  until  1897,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  wall  paper  and  paper  hanging  business.  He 
also  does  some  graining.  His  place  of  business  is 
:it  No.  V,:  South  Front  street.  He  has  won  his 
own  way  in  the  world,  and  has  gained  a  high 
place  in  the  estimation  of  the  business  men  with 
whom  he  has  had  dealings.  He  is  honest,  and 
upright,  and  gives  conscientious  attention  to  the 
work  entrusted  to  him. 

ilr.  Ruch  has  an  enviable  record  for  service 
in  the  Civil  war.  There  are  three  enlistments  to 
his  credit.  He  first  served  in  Company  B,  4th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  second  in  Company 
A.  •""!  Regiment  of  Emergency  Men,  and  third  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Veteran  Heavy  Artillery. 
He  suffered  from  a  few  minor  flesh  wounds, 
but  nothing  very  serious,  and  after  two 
years  of  hard  service  received  his  honorable 
discharge.  He  has  a  keen  sense  of  humor, 
and  with  the  intervening  rears  to  soften 
the  recollection  of  suffering  and  privation, 
he  can  relate  many  interesting  and  amusing 
stories.  He  delights  in  meeting  with  his  com- 
rades at  arms,  and  is  a  popular  member  of  the 
Henry  Wilson  Post,  No.  129,  G.  A.  P.  at.  Milton. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.   Ruch  married   Louisa   Burnman,  daughter 


of  William  and  Eliza  (Corey)  Burnman,  of  East- 
on.  Pa.,  but  later  of  Milton.  To  this  union  has 
been  born  a  son,  James  P.,  who  is  associated  with 
his  father  in  business,  and  who  married  Cora 
Holter.  and  has  two  children,  Catherine  and  Har- 
riet.    Mr.  Ruch  resides  at  Xo.  165  Elm  street.  ' 

EDWARD  M.  LEADER,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Leader.  Hamilton  &  Co..  one  of  the  oldest 
established  clothing  houses  in  Shamokin,  has  for. 
many  years  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  success- 
ful and  progressive  business  men  of  the  city.  His 
parents.  Edward  and  Hettie  (Wanner)  Leader, 
were  residents  of  Berks  county,  near  Reading,  Pa., 
where  Edward  M.  was  born  June  ".'.  1859.  At  the 
age  of  nine  he  made  his  home  with  his  brother.  C. 
C.  Lender,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.,  being  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  that  town,  and  in  the 
year  1875  accompanied  his  brother  to  Shamokin, 
ii  ing  employed  for  several  years  by  the  firm  of 
Leader.  Muir  &  Co.  After  this  he  conducted  suc- 
cessfully a  dry  goods  ami  notion  business  on  his 
own  account  on  Sunbury  street,  later  purchasing 
part  of  the  interest  of  R.  (i.  Eisenhart,  of  the  firm 
of  Leader  &  Eisenhart,  and  under  the  firm  name 
of  C.  C.  Leader  &  Bro.  continuing  the  manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  clothing,  dry  goods  and  he 
wear,  on  Independence  street,  until  the  year  1889. 
The  association  was  then  dissolved  by  division  of 
the  stock,  the  dry  goods  being  removed  to  a  new 
building  erected  by  C.  C.  Leader,  while  E.  M. 
Leader  remained  in  the  old  location,  and  occupied 
I  he  entire  building  in  the  manufacturing  of  cloth- 
ing and  sale  of  men's  wear.  In  1899  Mr.  1.  Spencer 
Eamilton,  a  brother-in-law  of  E.  M.  Leader,  be- 
came  associated  with  him  under  the  firm  name  of 
Leader  &  Hamilton,  and  in  l!»n!i  Mr.  W.  J.  Salter 
became  a  member  of  the  present  firm  of  Leader. 
Hamilton  &  Co.  This  enterprising  firm  have  few 
if  any  real  competitors  within  the  borough  of 
Shamokin.  occupying  a  store  room  ::>  by  110  feet 
in  dimensions  on  the  first  floor,  stocked  with  men's 
clothing,  furnishings,  hats,  -hoes  ami  ladies'  gar- 
ments,  while  the  second  and  third  floors  are  occu- 
pied by  the  merchant  tailoring  department,  trunks. 
bags  and  surplus  stock. 

Mr.  Leader  has  not  confined  his  attention  whol- 
ly to  the  mercantile  business,  but  has  been  active 
in  various  enterprises  that  have  been  essential  to 
the  growth  and  advancement  of  the  community, 
being  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  as  also  the 
Business  Men's  Association.  Always  active  in  the 
welfare  of  the  town  and  the  success  of  its  indus- 
tries, lie  was  president  of  the  Shamokin  and  Coal 
Township  Light  &  Power  Company  from  its  in- 
eeption.  this  company  absorbing  and  consolidating 
all  the  light  and  gas  companies  of  the  town,  later 
sold  to  a  Xew  York  and  Philadelphia  syndicate 
now  known  as  The  Pennsylvania  Lighting  Com- 
pany, of  which  Mr.  Leader  remains  a  director.    He 


NORTHUMBER  LAND  COT  I  XT  V .   PE  N  X  S  Y I  AAX  I A 


32? 


\\;i-  also  president  of  tin'  Middlecreek  Electric 
Company,  of  Sunburj',  Pa.,  who  are  operating 
plants  at  Sunbury,  Selinsgrove  and  Northum- 
berland, Pa.;  i^  a  director  of  the  United  Tele- 
phone Company  and  of  a  number  of  local  tele- 
phono  companies;  secretary  and  director  of  the 
Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company; 
treasurer  and  director  of  the  I'enn  Mining 
Company  of  New  Mexico;  director  of  the  W.  P. 
Zartman  Lumber  Company;  director  of  the  Green- 
ough  Coal  anil  Coke  Company,  of  Kentucky,  and 
interested  in  oiher  industries. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Leader  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of 
Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  Royal  Arch  Chapter 
Xo.  264,  ami  Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  77;  of 
Rajah  Temple,  .if  Reading;  and  a  thirty-second- 
degree  member  of  Williamsport  Consistory.  He 
is  aho  a  member  of  Camp  No.  HP.  P.  <).  S.  of  A., 
of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Leader  is  and  has  been  for 
many  years  an  elder  and  trustee  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  'd  Shamokin. 

On  Oct.  lo,  Isss,  Mr.  Leader  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Carrie  I.  Hamilton,  daughter  of  George 
Hamilton,  of  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania. 

ZIEGLER.  The  Federal  census  report  of  1790 
records  Dillman,  Andrew  and  Jacob  Ziegler  as 
residents  and  heads  of  families  in  upper  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.,  Dillman  with  one  son  above 

sixteen  years  of  age,  son  under  sixteen,  and 

two  daughters;  Andrew  with  two  suns  above  six- 
teen, two  sons  under  sixteen,  and  one  daughter; 
Jacob  with  two  sons  above  sixteen,  one  son  under 
sixteen,  and  three  daughters.  A  number  of  Mont- 
gomery county  families  came  in  a  sort  of  colony 
into  Northumberland  county,  among  them  the 
Zieglers,  Walts  and  Weisses;  later  came  the  Hall- 
mans,  who  were  from  Skippaekville,  and  the  Fab- 
ingers  also  came  from  that  county,  but  after  the 
others  named.  Eli  Neiman  moved  thence  in  1896. 
There  are  a  number  of  Zieglers  now  living  in 
Herndon  and  the  surrounding  territory.  Jackson 
township,  people  of  high  respectability  and  sub- 
stantial worth,  who  are  counted  among  the  best 
citizens  of  their  communities  and  do  honor  to  a 
name  long  respected  in  this  locality. 

Peter  Ziegler.  the  common  ancestor  of  the  Zieg- 
lers referred  in  in  this  article,  was  a  native  of 
Frederick  township,  Montgomery  county,  born 
Dec.  '.'.  1778.  He  was  a  stonemason,  and  owned  a 
tract  of  land,  living  near  Ziegler's  church.  He 
died  June  '.'.  1856,  three  miles  fr0m  Liverpool,  in 
Wildcat  Valley,  Perry  county,  and  is  buried  in  that. 
county,  at  St.  James"  church.  His  wile,  Polly 
(  Keh'lcr),  a  member  of  an  old  Montgomery  county 
family,  died  Nov.  10,  1876,  aged  ninety-two  yeat 
eleven  months,  six  days.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  Andraes  or  Andrew.  Abraham,  Alfred. 
Nancy  (married  George  Neiman),  Eliza  (married 


Isaac  Heffelfinger)  and  Magdalene  (married  Wil- 
loughby  Walt). 

Andrew  Ziegler.  son  of  Peter,  was  born  Feb.  22, 
1810,  in  Frederick  township,  Montgomery  canty, 
learned  the  trade  of  stonemason,  and  came  with 
his  father  to  Herndon,  Northumberland  comity, 
where  he  passed  the  principal  part  of  his  active 
life.  He  acquired  real  estate  in  that  town,  where 
he  died  April  14,  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years,  and  lie  is  buried  there.  He  and  iii-  wife, 
Catharine  (Ilarner),  were  Lutherans  in  religious 
faith.  She  died  when  about  forty-five  years  .if  age. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  s..ns  and 
two  daughters:  .Mary  (deceased)  married  Samuel 
McKinny,  of  Herndon;  Peter  died  at  Herndon 
dune  25,  IS'.)],  aged  fifty-four  years,  twenty-two 
days;  Alfred  lives  in  Kansas  (he  visited  Herndon 
in  1909)  ;  Andrew  is  a  resident  of  Dalmatia,  this 
county:  Absalom  is  mentioned  below;  Catharine 
married  William  Brown,  of  Sunbury;  Charles 
lives  m  the  state  of  Washington. 

Absalom  Ziegler,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born 
dan.  12,  1849,  below  Dalmatia,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  this  county,  and  in  his  seventeenth  year 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  stonemason  in  his  na- 
tive county.  His  parents  moved  to  Herndon  at 
that  time  and  there  he  still  resides.  He  followed 
his  trade  until  1907,  when  he  became  proprietor 
..I  i  he  "Hotel  Parrish,"  in  that  borough,  the  own- 
er of  the  property  being  his  nephew,  S.  II.  Mc- 
Kinny. burgess  of  Sunbury.  Mr.  Ziegler  has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  marriage,  which  took 
place  in  1875,  was  t..  Maria  Rebuck,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Rebuck.  She  died  in  1891,  aged  thirty-nine 
years,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows:  Isaac  I.. 
Lizzie  M.,  Edward,  and  Alfred  X.  and  1 1 .  n r\  P... 
twins.  In  1904  Mr.  Ziegler  married  (second) 
Malicca  Ermogast  Willard,  widow  of  Daniel  Wil- 
lanl.  nf  Northumberland  county,  h\  whom  she 
had  three  children:  Annie,  Edward  and  Milton. 
The  Zieglers  arc  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 


Abraham    Ziegler.    son    of    Peter,    was    burn    in 

Montgomery  county,  ami  ca to  Northumberland 

county  about  1840.  He  was  a  stonemason  and 
farmer,  and  operated  a  sawmill  al  Herndon.  It 
burned  down  in  18"!  1  or  1872,  entailing  a  beavj 
loss,  and  he  then  moved  out  to  Missouri  with  his 
wife,  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  the  new 
location  he  settled  dofl  n  to  farming  an. I  prospered, 
retiring  several  years  before  hi-  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  Piedmont,  Wayne  Co.,  Mo.,  when  he 
was  ninety-two  years  old.  lie  is  buried  out  there. 
He  married  Catharine  Walt,  daughter  of  Solomon 
Walt,  of  Montgomi  i  i  ounl  y,  Pa.,  and  they  had  a 
family  of  ten  children,  that  reached  maturity. 
namely:  Henry,  who  w.ni  west;  Peter;  Andrew, 
who  died  at  1 1  .Tin  I.  m.  Pa. :  <  latharine,  w  bo  wen! 
West;  Solomon  and    David,  who  went   West:    Dan- 


328 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  Xs  VLVAXIA 


iel,  who  died  out  West ;  Benjamin  and  William, 
both  of  whom  went  West;  and  Sallie,  of  Sunbury, 
wife  of  Fred  Flemming.    Two  others  died  young. 

Peter  Ziegler.  son  of  Abraham,  was  horn  June 
21,  1839,  was  a  farmer  during  his  active  years, 
and  died  Nov.  4,  1907,  at  Herndon,  where  he  is 
liuned.  He  married  Charlotte  Snyder,  daughter 
of  George  Snyder,  of  Jackson  township,  who  is 
now  living  at  Herndon  beside  her  son  George  E., 
the  only  child  of  this  marriage. 

George  E.  Ziegler,  only  child  of  Peter  and 
Charlotte  (Snyder)  Ziegler.  was  horn  March  13, 
1862,  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  was  reared  to  farm  life,  following  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  his  native  township  until  1897. 
In  the  year  1890  he  built  a  nice  residence  on  River 
street,  in  the  borough  of  Herndon.  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  still  owns  considerable  farm 
land,  owning  half  of  White  island,  in  the  Susque- 
hanna river,  and  a  small  farm  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. Mr.  Ziegler  has  been  a  useful  citizen  of  the 
borough,  served  as  one  of  its  first  councilmen,  and 
i-  especially  well  known  for  his  activity  in  church 
and  Sunday  school  work.  He  is  a  zealous  mem- 
ber hi  the  Reformed  Church,  has  held  all  the 
church  offices,  has  served  as  Sunday  school  super- 
intendent, and  since  189'  has  been  organist  of  the 
church.     His  wife  is  a  Lutheran. 

In  1882  Mr.  Ziegler  married  Alice  Tressler, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Polly  (Peiffer)  Tressler. 
who  died  in  December,  1908,  aged  seventy-two 
years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ziegler  have  been  born 
one  son  and  two  daughters:  Tama  married  Nelson 
Wentzel,  who  is  employed  in  the  post  office  depart- 
ment at  Washington,  D.  ('..  where  they  reside; 
Calvin  graduated  from  Franklin  and  Marshall  Col- 
lege m  1903  and  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company  at  Philadelphia;  Jen- 
nie married  Lloyd  J.  Tressler.  of  Herndon  (died 
('it.  18,  1910).  ' 

Alfred  Ziegler,  son  of  Peter  and  Polly  (Kehler) 
Ziegler',  was  born  May  6,  L825,  in  Frederick  town- 
ship. Montgomery  county,  was  a  stonemason  and 
farmer,  and  lived  at  Herndon.  where  he  owned  his 
home.  He  died  Jan.  20,  1897,  and  is  buried  at 
Herndon.  Mr.  Ziegler  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  and  in  political  matters  was  a  Re- 
publican. His  wife.  Harriet  (Batdorf),  daughter 
of  John  Batdorf,  was  bora  Oct.  5,  1824,  and  died 
April  16,  1878,  aged  fifty-three  years.  She  was 
first  buried  at  Liverpool.  Pa.,  but  her  remains 
have  since  beeD  moved  to  Herndon.  Ten  children 
were  horn  to  their  union,  all  of  whom  survive  at 
the  present  writing  ( 1911),  the  youngest  now  for- 
ty-two years  old:  Polly  married  John  Zaring;  Ed- 
ward is  mentioned  below;  William  has  been  a  rail- 
road conductor  for  thirty-five  years  on  the  Phil- 
adelphia &  Reading  road;  Elias  and  Samuel  are 
residents  otf  Herndon:  John  lives  in  Harrisburg; 
J.  Monroe  is  mentioned  below;  Henry  lives  at  Dal- 


matia,  this  county;  Alice  married  Albert  Shuler, 
of  Liverpool:  Jennie  married  Cyrus  Hornberger, 
of  Philadelphia. 

Edward  Ziegler,  son  of  Alfred,  was  born  Feb. 
3,  1849,  in  Lower  Mahanoy.  Northumberland 
county,  and  passed  his  early  years  in  farming,  to 
which  occupation  he  was  trained  from  boyhood. 
When  twenty-one  he  commenced  to  learn  cabinet- 
making,  and  when  competent  engaged  in  business 
as  a  cabinetmaker  and  undertaker,  first  at  Shen- 
andoah, in  Schuylkill  county,  later  at  Liverpool, 
in  Perry  county,  and  at  Watsontown,  in  Northum- 
berland county.  From  Watsontown  he  removed 
in  1874  to  Shamokin,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  with  R.  S.  Aucker,  in  1877  settling  at  Hern- 
don. There  he  carried  on  the  business  successfully 
for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  during  which 
time  he  had  charge  of  about  three  hundred  funer- 
als and  did  a  thriving  furniture  business.  He 
a  1  so  built  seven  houses  in  the  borough,  where  he 
has  long  been  regarded  as  an  intelligent,  enterpris- 
ing man,  of  -mid  judgment  and  substantial  qual- 
ities. He  built  his  own  nice  residence  on  Main 
street  in  1908.  Mr.  Ziegler  is  well  thought  of  in 
the  community,  and  has  refused  the  candidacy  for 
ehiel  burgess.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
with  his  family  holds  membership  in  the  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon  for  twelve 
year-. 

In  1  s? l  Mr.  Ziegler  married  Luzetta  Arnold. 
daughter  of  Augustus  and  Leah  (  Rine)  Arnold,  of 
Snyder  county,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catharine  Mine.     They  have  no  children. 

J.  Monroe  Ziegler,  son  of  Allied,  was  lx>rn  Oct. 
8,  L858,  at  Port  Treverton,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Perry 
county.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  trade  of  cabinetmaker,  which  he  fol- 
lowed as  a  journeyman  some  years,  working  at 
that  calling  in  his  brother  Edward's  employ  five 
He  was  also  engaged  as  a  house  carpenter 
at  Shamokin  several  years.  For  sixteen  year-  he 
was  porter  at  the  "Herndon  House"  in  Herndon. 
On  Oct.  8,  L903,  he  purchased  the  building,  stock. 
good  will  and  fixtures  of  his  In-other  Edward  at 
Herndon.  and  has  since  continued  the  old  estab- 
lished furniture  business,  carrying  a  full  line.  In 
connection  with  the  store  he  has  a  repair  shop,  do- 
ing general  repairing.  He  has  managed  the  busi- 
ness with  success,  commanding  -an  extensive  patron- 
age, and  is  one  of  the  thriving  merchants  of  the 
borough. 

On  Jan.  28,  1887,  Mr.  Ziegler  married  Laura 
Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Rachel  (Ke- 
bach)  Zimmerman,  of  Herndon.  and  they  have 
had  two  sons:  Harry  E.  and  Cloyd  E.,  the  latter 
still  at  school.  Harry  E.  Ziegler  is  engaged  as 
a  printer  at  Herndon.  employed  on  the  Star;  he 
married  Mame  E.  Messner,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Emma  Messner,  of  Millersburg,  Pennsylvania. 


NORTHUM  BERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  I A 


329 


Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Ziegler  and  their  family  arc  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  interested  in  the  local  welfare. 
though  he  has  aol  taken  any  active  part  in  public 

all'ai  i  s. 

FREDERICK.  The  Fredericks  have  long  been 
established  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Philip  Freder- 
ick, the  ancestor  of  those  of  the  name  with  which 
this  sketch  is  concerned,  was  born  in  Union  coun- 
ty Feb.  18,  1788,  in  the  earlj  days  of  the  settle- 
ment of  that  region.  He  was  a  well  known  man 
in  the  district  ill  his  time.  Jlis  wife.  Christian 
(Hmwn).  horn  Aug.  6,  1786,  died  March  28,  1864, 
and  he  died  Feb.  19,  1852,  They  are  buried  at  the 
Dreisbach  Church  In  Union  county.  In  religion 
they  were  members  of  the  Reformed  denomination. 
Their  children  were  horn  as  Eollows:  George,  Aug. 

10,  1809;  Elizabeth,  May  18,  1812;  Joseph,  .March 

11,  1SI  1  ;  Isaac.  Feb.  3,  1816;  John,  .Ian.  20, 
1819;  Jacob,  dan.  in.  1822;  Abram,  March  3, 
is-.- 1  ;  Ellis,  June  1'.'.  1826;  Philip,  dune  5,  1829. 

Joseph  Frederick,  -on  of  Philip,  remained  at  the 
old  home  in  Union  county  until  alter  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  His  education  was  obtained 
in  the  pay  schools  in  vogue  in  the  neighborhood  in 
his  youth.  Ahoul  seventy-five  years  ago,  with  his 
brothers  Isaac  and  George,  he  came  to  what  was 
then  Chillisquaque  (now  Past  Chillisquaque) 
township  and  purchased  over  three  hundred  acres 
of  land,  which  at  thai  time  was  low  and  swampy 
ami  covered  with  timber.  They  improved  this 
tract  greatly,  clearing  away  the  forest  and  draining 
the  low  places  thoroughly,  putting  in  seven  miles 
of  underdrains,  with  the  result  that  the  land  is  now 
equal  to  the  best  in  the  vicinity.  The  brothers 
burned  brick,  and  each  built  a  house  and  barn,  two 
ni  i  he  houses  remaining  to  this  'lav.  monuments  to 
their  energy  and  skill.  For  some  lime  they  lived 
together  in  one  house,  as  one  family,  and  there  were 
no  quarrels  or  ill  feeling  to  mar  the  pleasanl  re- 
lations for  which  these  brothers  were  noted,  for 
they  were  noi  only  brothers  in  name  hut  much 
more  in  the  kindliness  which  marked  their  asso- 
ciation. Xo  jealousy  came  up  between  them, 
though  they  were  always  intimately  connected  in 
business  and  home  affairs.  Each  labored  for  the 
welfare  of  the  other,  and  the  happiness  of  their 
lives  was  proverbial  among  all  who  knew  them. 
Joseph  Frederick  died  March  11.  1892.  Hi-  wife. 
Matilda  (Mvers),  horn  April  is.  1819,  died  Sept. 
is.  L866.  they  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Samuel:  Clara' A.  P..  who  married  Rev.  Aaron 
Hottenstein  and  (second)  Franklin  E.  krumm, 
and  died  in  January,  1909;  and  David   P. 

David  P.  Frederick  was  horn  Oct.  3,  1843,  m 
what  is  now  East  Chillisquaque  township,  and  there 
followed  farming  until  his  untimely  death.  Feb.  16, 
1876  when  he  was  hut  thirty-two  years  old.  cut 
short' what  promised  to  be  a  busy  ami  useful  career. 


He  was  a  faithful  member  and  conscientious  work- 
er of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Lewisburg,  and  in 
polities  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Mr.  Frederick  married  Emma  Car- 
oline Kelly,  daughter  of  David  II.  and  Mary  (Bak- 
er) Kelly,  of  Union  county.  Pa.,  and  their  union 
was  blessed  with  four  sons:  (1)  Joseph  IP,  who 
lives  at  Montamlon,  married  Emma  M.  Bellas  and 
has  children,  William  B.  and  Caroline  E.  ( 2 ) 
John  Kelly,  of  Atlantic  City,  married  Jennie  Gif- 
fen.  daughter  of  James  Giffen,  and  their  children 
are  Watson  K..  Martha  G.  and  Jackson  B.  (3) 
W.  IP  died  in  1906.  (4)  David  P.,  who  resides 
in  the  old  home,  married  Helen  G.  Lesher,  daugh- 
ter of   Robert   Lesher.  and   has  one  son,  John  P. 

After  her  husband'-  death  Mrs.  David  P.  Fred- 
erick continued  to  live  in  the  old  home  with  his 
father,  with  whose  kind  and  generous  assistance 
she  reared  her  family.  In  turn,  she  was  permitted 
to  soothe  and  comfort  his  last  years,  for  he  lived 
to  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight,  honored 
and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  farm  is 
now  conducted  by  David  P.  Frederick,  and  the 
property  is  up-to-date  in  every  respect,  the  house 
and  barn  supplied  with  pure  spring  water  and 
lighted  by  gas,  and  all  the  surroundings  bespeaking 
intelligent  and  thrifty  supervision. 


Isaac  Frederick,  son  of  Philip,  was  horn  Feb.  3, 
1816,  in  Union  county,  and  during  his  boyhood  at- 
tended the  local  pay  schools,  in  the  summer  sea- 
sons assisting  his  father  at  home.  Upon  reaching 
bis  majority  he  came  with  his  two  older  brothers 
to  Northumberland  county,  purchasing  over  three 
hundred  acres  id'  land,  which  they  improved  as 
previously  related,  converting'  a  low.  swampy  and 
useless  tract  into  valuable,  fertile  farm  land  by 
their  energetic  and  well  directed  hilars.  When 
their  work  had  progressed  sufficiently  to  give  them 
time  for  other  things,  they  burned  brick  and  built 
houses  for  each  family  and  divided  the  land.  Isaac. 
the  youngest  of  the  three,  taking  the  middle  por- 
tion. They  were  neighbors  and  remained  upon  the 
besl  of  terms  all  their  lives.  Pike  his  brothers, 
Isaac  Frederick  was  a  line  example  of  Christian 
manhood.  His  home  was  always  open  to  strang- 
ers as  well  as  friends,  he  had  a  kind  and  cheering 
word  for  those  who  were  struggling  to  make  their 
way,  and  whenever  possible  assisted  those  in  need. 
He  and  his  good  wife  will  long  he  remembered  and 
missed  in  the  community.  Mr.  Frederick  died 
Sept.  27,  1892.  He  married  Julian  Wolfe,  born 
Jan.  is,  1817,  who  died  dan.  3,  1909,  and  they 
were  the  parent-  of  live  children,  namely:  Chris- 
tian, horn  Sept.  29,  1839,  married  Hiram  Dunkell 
(  is:;;  L905  I,  and  died  Hee.  9,  Fan;  ;  they  reared  a 
large  family.  Catharine,  born  \ug.  •">.  L841,  mar- 
ried W.  IP  Mack  and  reared  a  large  family.  Sar 
ah  J.,  born  July  11.  1847,  married  Joseph  C.  1  lis! i- 
,.|.  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere.    Ada  P..  born  Sept. 


330 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


15,  1850,  married  Ephraim  Datesman.     John  W. 
is  deceased. 

John  W.  Frederick,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born 
Sept.  29,  1853,  in  Chillisquaque  (now  East  Chil- 
lisquaque) township,  and  died  dan.  '.'!•.  1904,  in  the 
prime  of  a  useful  and  well  spent  life.  He  was  dil- 
igent in  looking  after  his  business  affairs,  and  ac- 
tive in  the  administration  of  local  public  matters, 
having  served  on  the  school  hoard  and  in  other 
township  offices.  In  polities  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religion  a  Presbyterian,  belonging  to  the 
church  at  Pottsgrove.  Possessed  of  a  kind  and 
jovial  disposition,  he  was  loved  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  No  one  in  need  ever  left  his  door 
unaided,  and  he  was  never  happier  than  when  en- 
gaged in  kind  service.  On  Nov.  20,  1873.  he  mar- 
ried Jane  E.  Kelly,  daughter  of  David  H.  Kelly. 
of  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Mary  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Jonas  E.  Koch.  Mrs. 
Frederick  lives  with  her  daughter  in  the  old  home 
which  her  husband  purchased  from  the  estate  upon 
the  death  of  his  father.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Pottsgrove  Presbyterian  Church.  With  the  same 
kindly  and  charitable  inclinations  which  made  Mr. 

Frederick   so  widely  beloved,  she  is  an  esteei 1 

member  of  the  community,  commanding  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  know  her. 

Col.  John  Kelly,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  David  P. 
Frederick  and  Mr-.  John  W.  Frederick,  was 
ooted  character  of  Revolutionary  days.  Born  in 
February,  1114.  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  this 
honored  pioneer  was  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood 
at  the  time  the  oppressed  Colonies  decided  to  throw 
off  the  English  yoke,  and  his  quick  intelligence  and 
dauntless  courage  brought  him  into  prominenei 
from  the  first.  He  had  already  established  a  home 
in  the  wilderness  in  Buffalo  Valley,  then  a  part  of 
Northumberland  county,  having  settled  there  im- 
mediately after  the  purchase  from  the  Indian-  in 

1768,  and  before  the  opening  of  the  land  office  in 

1769.  Be  was  about  sis  feet,  two  inches  in  height, 
with  a  vigorous,  muscular  frame,  which  easily 
endured  the  labors  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  discussion  of  the 
wrongs  of  the  Colonists,  which  led  to  the  attempt 
ai  separation  from  the  mother  country,  and  in 
1776  wa-  a  member  of  the  first  Constitutional  Con- 
vention of  the  new  State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  had 
had  considerable  experience  as  a  memher  of  the 
militia,  and  at  twenty-seven  had  been  appoint,-! 
major  in  that  service,  and  he  was  thus  well  pre- 
pared to  assi-t  in  the  tremendous  tasks  that  con- 
fronted the  Patriot  forces.  The  fall  of  1776  was  a 
dark  period.  The  loss  of  Forts  Washington  and 
Lee  with  their  stores,  and  the  defeat  on  Long  Is- 
land, had  brought  the  holies  of  the  Colonists  low. 
hut  it  was  at  this  critical  juncture  that  the  rally 
was  made  to  drive  the  British  from  .New  Jersi 
the  wrongs  of  that  Colony  being  felt  by  the  others 
as  their  own.     A  large  force  went  from  Pennsyl- 


vania. Colonel  Kelly  being  conspicuous  among  the 
number  for  his  ability.  Of  the  brave  deeds  per- 
formed history  has  a  scant  hut  significant  record, 
ami  to  the  ordinary  dangers  of  war  there  was  added 
the  prospect  of  an  ignominious  death  a.s  a  rebel, 
belligerent  rights  not  being  acknowledged.  We 
quote  from  an  address  made  on  the  occasion  of  the 
unveiling  of  a  monument  to  Colonel  Kelly  on  April 
8,  1835:  "For  three  days  at  a  time  there  was  no 
regular  service  of  provisions,  and  for  more  than 
thirty-six  hours,  at  another  time,  they  were  con- 
stantly on  the  march,  or  in  action,  without  a  mo- 
ment's sleep  or  giving  up  their  arms.  In  the 
course  of  one  of  their  retreats,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  through  Colonel  Potter,  sent  an  order  to  Ma- 
jor Kelly  to  have  a  certain  bridge  cut  down  to  pre- 
vent the  advance  of  the  British,  who  were  then  in 
sight.  The  Major  sent  for  an  axe.  hut  represented 
that  the  enterprise  would  he  very  hazardous.  Still 
the  British  advance  must  he  stopped  and  the  or- 
der was  not  withdrawn.  He  -aid  lie  could  not 
der  another  to  do  what  some  might  say  he  was 
afraid  to  do  himself:  he  would  cut  down  the 
bridge.  Before  all  the  logs  on  which  the  bridge 
lay  were  cut  off.  he  was  completely  within  the 
range  of  the  British  fire,  and  several  halls  struck 

the  log  on  which  he  st 1.    The  last  log  broke  down 

r  than  he  expected,  and  he  fell  with  it  into 
the  swollen  stream.  Our  soldiers  moved  on,  not 
believing  it  possible  lor  him  to  escape.  He.  how- 
ever. In  greal  exertions,  reached  the  shore  through 
the  high  water  and  the  floating  timber,  and  fol- 
lowed the  troops.  Encumbered,  as  he  must  have 
been,  with  his  wet  and  frozen  clothes,  he,  on  his 
road,  made  a  prisoner  of  a  British  scout,  an  armed 
er,  and  took  him  into  camp.  What  did  Cur- 
tius  do  more  than  this?  If  such  an  instance  of  de- 
voted heroism  had  happened  in  Greece  or  Rome, 
the  day  would  have  been  distinguished  from  all 
other  days.  A  medal  would  have  been  struck,  and 
every  means  used  to  secure  the  everlasting  remem- 
brance of  such  a  deed.  In  England  such  a  man 
would  have  been  made  a  knight  or  a  lord,  with  the 
thanks  of  Parliament.  In  our  poor  devoted  land 
such  instances  were  too  common  to  receive  especial 
notice.  History  mentions  that  our  army  was  pre- 
served by  the  destruction  of  that  bridge:  hut  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  done,  or  the  name  of  the 
person  who  did  it.  is  not  mentioned.  It  was  hut 
one  of  a  series  of  heroic  acts,  which  happened  every 
day,  and  our  soldiers  then  were  more  familiar  with 
the  sword  than  with  the  pen. 

"'.Major  Kelly  was  present  at  Trenton,  when  the 
Hessians  surrendered,  and  assisted  in  that  most 
masterly  movement  on  Princeton,  by  which  the 
chain  of  communications  of  the  enemy  was  broken, 
all  their  plans  deranged  and  their  army  compelled 
to  return  to  New  York.  After  his  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm  and  family,  and  during  the 
three  succeeding  vears  the  Indians  were  trouble- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;:;i 


some  neighbors   to   this  then   frontier  settlement. 
He  became  colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  it  was  his 
duty  to  keep  watch  and  ward  against  the  incur- 
sions  of   hostile    Indians    through    our   mountain 
passes.     At  one  time  our  people  were  too  weak  to 
n  -i-t,  and  our  whole  heautiful  country  was  aban- 
doned.    Colonel  Kelly  was  among  the  first  to  re- 
turn— for  at  least  two  harvests  reapers  took  their 
rifles    to    the    fields,    and    some    of   the   company 
watched  while  others  wrought.     Colonel  Kelly  had 
the  principal  command  of  the  scouting  parties  in 
tin-  valley,  and  very  often  lie  was  out  in  person. 
Many   and    many   nights    has   he   lain   among   the 
limbs  of  a  fallen  tree  to  keep  himself  out  of  the 
mud,  without  a  fire,  because  a  tire  would  indicate 
his  position  to  the  enemy.     He  had  become  well 
skilled  in   their   mode  of   warfare.     One  circum- 
stance  deserves   particular    notice.     The   Indians 
seem  to  have  resolved  on  his  death,  without  choos- 
ing to  attack  hi  in  openly.     One  night,  he  had  rea- 
son to  apprehend  they  were  near.     He  rose  in  the 
morning,  and,  by  looking  through  the  crevices  of 
his  log  house,  he  ascertained  that  two.  at  least,  if 
not  more,   were   lying  with    their   arms,  so  as  to 
shoot  him  when  he  should  open  his  door.    He  fixed 
his  own  rifle  and  took  his  position  so  that  by  a 
string  he  could  open  the  door  and  watch  the  In- 
dians.    The  moment  he  pulled  the  door  open  two 
halls  came  into  the  house,  and  the  Indians  rose  to 
advance.      He   tired   ami    wounded  one.  and   both 
retreated.     After  waiting  to  satisfy  himself  that 
m.  others  remained  he  followed  them  by  the  hlood, 
but  thev  escaped. 

"For  many  years  Colonel  Kelly  held  the  office  of 
a  magistrate  'of  the  county.  In  the  administra- 
tion of  justice,  he  exhibited  the  same  anxiety  to  do 
right,  and  the  same  disregard  of  selfish  gain,  which 
had  characterized  him  in  the  military  service  of 
the  country.  He  would  at  any  time  forego  his  own 
fees,  and  'if  the  parties  were  poor  pay>the  con- 
stable's cost,  to  procure  a  compromise:  while,  by 
industry  and  economy,  his  own  pecuniary  circum- 
stances were  comfortable  and  easy,  he  seemed  to 
desire  the  prosperity  of  all  men.  ami  most  anxious- 
ly to  desire  that  ail  neighbors  should  he  friends. 
No  man  ever  in  vain  sought  hi-  interposition  to 
reconcile  conflicting  interests,  to  soothe  angry  pas- 
sions, to  stand  as  the  defender  and  protector  of 
the  poor  man,  the  widow  and  the  orphan.  _  He 
obeyed  the  injunction,  'he  given  to  hospitality.  It 
is  true  that  so  general  is  the  hospitality  of  his 
neighborhood  that  the  want  of  it  would  be  consid- 
ered a  great  vice;  but  in  him  it  was  a  part  oi  the 
same  character,  indicating  a  freedom  from  selfish- 
ness, an  inability  to  enjoy  fully  God's  bounties 
alone;  a  feeling  that  a  good  thing  is  rendered  tar 
more  valuable  by  participation:  and  a  conviction 
that  the  diffusion  of  happiness  is  not  merely  right 
in  itself,  hut  the  sour.,  oi  great  joy  to  every  well 
regulated  mind.    Colonel  Kelly  was  an  affectionate 


husband  and  a  kind  and  judicious  father,  as  well 
as  a  friendly  and  hospitable  neighbor.  He  was  a 
sincere  and  an  exemplary  Christian,  and  adorned 
all  his  other  virtues  by  exhibiting  a  pattern  of  hu- 
mility well  worthy  of  imitation.  Having  no  anxi- 
eties who  slnml.1   he  greatest  in   the   King.!.. f 

Heaven,  he  had  no  striving  who  should  he  greatest 
in  the  Church  on  earth:  his  profession  of  religion 
was  well  sustained  by  his  practice.  He  had  that 
true  characteristic  of  bravery,  an  indisposition  to 
fight  his  battles  over  again,  and  that  feeling  of 
humility,  that  where  a  man  has  only  done  hi-  duty, 
boasting  has  no  place.  It  is  in  some  measure  ow- 
ing to  this  reserve  that  our  notice  of  his  life  must 
lie  s.i  brief  and  so  imperfect.  He  seemed  not  to 
know  that  other  men  would  have  done  differently 
from  him:  but  to  believe  that  whatever  dis- 
tinguished him  from  others  arose  mainly  from  the 
circumstances  under  which  he  acted.  We  are  of 
another  generation,  and  his  contemporaries  have 
either  gone  down  to  the  grave,  or  through  lapse  of 
time  and  failing  faculties  are  unable  to  give  par- 
ticular details.  From  himself,  hut  a  few  glean- 
ing-  from  a  life  long  and  full  of  incidents,  havi 

1 n  obtained. 

"His  last  end  proved  his  character  to  he  consist- 
ent, lie  met  the  grim  messenger  calmly:  'for  he 
knew  in  whom  he  had  trusted':  and  he  could  'walk- 
through the  valley  and  shadow  of  death,  fearing  no 
evil."  The  frame  was  bent,  and  the  muscles  re- 
laxed; hut  the  mind — the  immortal  mind — could 
not  lie  obscured.  It  brightened  more  and  mm.- 
'unto  the  perfect  day.'  At  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years  he  departed,  leaving  his  memory  to  our  care 
and  his  virtues  for  our  imitation."  Colonel  Kelly's 
death  occurred  Feb.  is.  1832. 

Colonel    Kelly   married    Sarah   Polk,   wh..   , 
Jan.  '?,  1831.  aged  seventy-seven  years,  and  they 
reared  a  numerous  family,  of  whom   David   II.  was 
the  youngest:  John,  the  eldest  -on.  who  settled  in 
I', -iin'-  Valley,  was  the  father  of  Hon.  James  K. 
Kelly.  United    States   senator,  of   Portland.   Ore- 
gon; James  also  made  his  home  in  Penn's  \  alley. 
William,  who   married   a   daughter  of  Archibald 
Allison,  of  Center  county,  died  .Ian.  27,  L830:  An- 
drew, horn  Oct.  30,  1783,  died  Sept.  25,  1867,  un- 
married:   Samuel    settled    in    Armstrong   county, 
Pa.:  Elizabeth  married  Simeon  Howe:  Man  mar- 
ried  John  Campbell,  of  Lewisburg;    Robert 
April  12,  1865,  aged  seventy  -si  ?en  ;  Josi  pi 
March  2,  L860,  aged  sixty-six. 

David  H.  Kelly  was  born  Nov.  5,  1798,  on 
old  homestead,  in  a  house  built  by  Colonel   Kelly 
before  the  Revolutionary  war.     Be  was  reared  a-  a 
ner  boy,  his   father'-  extensive  estate-  afford- 
ing  hi,,,    plenty  of  work   a-    lii-   strength   devel- 
;l]1,l  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  sub- 
0f  that   time.      His  mind  wa-  of  a 
high      .,  mited    instrui  tion    of   his 

earlv  davs  wa-  so  suppli  mented  by  studj  and  ob- 


33S 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


servation  that  he  became  well  informed  upon  sev- 
eral topics,  and  his  opinions  were  held  in  high  re- 
spect by  his  associates.  He  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  held  every  office  in  Kelly 
township  except  that  of  justice  of  the  peace.  In 
]s."i!i  he  was  elected  county  commissioner.  In  re- 
ligious matters  he  was  also  active,  adhering  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Reformed  Church  and  attending 
regularly  the  Union  Church  at  Mazeppa,  in  which 
he  served  many  years  as  an  official.  He  followed 
farming  exclusively,  and  although  he  owned  a 
gristmill  at  Kelly  Cross  Roads  he  did  not  operate 
it.  He  was  six  feet  tall,  and  weighed  180  pounds, 
and  his  robust  and  well  built  frame  enabled  him 
to  do  much  hard  work  as  well  as  to  perform  sum, 
notable  feats  in  hunting  and  fishing,  of  which 
sports  he  was  very  fond.  His  home  life  was  pleas- 
ant, and  he  delighted  in  gathering  about  him  a 
gay  company  of  neighbors  for  whom  he  would 
evoke  sweet  -tram-  Erom  his  violin,  visitors  often 
gathering  at  his  house  to  dance  an  evening 
through.  On  Feb.  10,  1831,  he  married  Mar} 
Baker,  who  was  horn  Feb!  8,  1812,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Rockej  i  Baker,  and  resided 
until  her  marriage  upon  the  same  farm.  Their 
first  home  was  upon  an  estate  in  Kelly  township 
given  to  David  H.  Kelly  by  his  father,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1858  he  bought  another  farm  in  Buffalo 
township  which  was  at  one  time  owned  by  Wen- 
dell Baker,  a  well  known  pioneer  of  Buffalo  Val- 
ley. Both  these  farm-  descended  to  the  heirs  to- 
gether with  a  large  tract  of  mountain  land.  David 
11.  Kelly  died  Feb.  11,  1875,  and  was  buried  in 
Baker's  cemetery,  where  all  the  deceased  mem- 
bers of  the  family  have  been  interred  except  his 
son  David  S.  Mrs.  David  II.  Kelly,  who  survived 
her  husband  and  reached  an  advanced  agej  died 
in  her  ninety-third  year.  We  have  the  following 
record  of  the  large  familv  of  children  born  to 
David  H.  and  Man  (Baker)  Kelly:  John  A., 
born  in  Kelly  township  Nov.  21,  1831,  occupies  the 
farm  in  Buffalo  township.  Union  county,  upon 
which  his  father  spent  his  last  years;  Catherine 
R.,  bom  April  18,  1833,  married  Dr.  L.  B.  Meyers. 
of  Fremont.  Ohio,  who  died  Dec.  -.'4.  1896;  Jacob 
B.,  born  Sept.  (i.  is:;i.  died  dune  7,  1891,  in 
Kelly  township;  Sarah  F...  horn  dune  14.  1836,  is 
the  widow  of  Joseph  Kleckner,  of  Buffalo  township; 
Robert  II..  horn  Feb.  14,  1838,  was  a  student  of 
pharmacy,  and  died  Nov.  26,  1860,  at  Elmore. 
Ohio;  William  W.,  horn  Dec.  29,  1839,  is  a  drug- 
gist at  Ottawa.  Ohm;  Mary  A.,  born  Dec.  3,  1841, 
married  d.  S.  McCreight,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa,; 
dames  B..  horn  June  28,  1811.  died  Feb.  s.  1884, 
in  Buffalo  township:  Emma  Caroline,  born  April 
1.  1846,  is  the  widow  of  David  P.  Frederick;  Da- 
vid S..  born  Dec.  '.'1.  1847.  was  a  merchant  of 
Fremont.  Ohio,  and  died  Sept.  10,  1887,  at  San 
Jacinto,  Cal..  while  traveling  for  his  health,  and 
was  buried  at  Ottawa.  Ohio,  where  his  widow.  Mrs. 


Annie  (Hank)  Kellv,  is  living;  Jane  E.,  born 
Nov.  29,  1849,  is  the  widow  of  John  W.  Frederick; 
H.  Brady,  born  Oct.  17,  1851,  resides  in  Buffalo 
township,  Onion  county;  Clara  M.,  born  July  25, 
1854,  died  April  22,  1856;  a  son.  born  Feb'.  27, 
1858,  died  in  infancy. 

BECK.  The  brothers  William  II.  and  John  A. 
Beck,  of  Milton.  Northumberland  county,  both 
identified  with  the  manufacturing  concern  of  S. 
d.  Shinier  &  Sons,  in  that  borough,  the  former  as 
secretary,  and  the  latter  also  in  business  for  him- 
self as  a  florist,  are  descendants  of  a  family  which 
has  been  established  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  cen- 
tury and  a  half. 

Johann  Thomas  Beck,  the  common  ancestor  of 
this  branch  of  the  family,  was  born  in  Germany, 
in  what  was  then  the  countship  of  Hanau.  In 
1752,  with  his  wife  Esther  and  children,  he  em- 
barked for  America,  but  he  never  reached  the  new 
land,  dying  at  sea.  The  family  landed  at.  Philadel- 
phia, where  the  widow  again  married,  and  the  chil- 
dren became  scattered.  One  son,  Henry,  went  to 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  married  Margaret  Wolfgang, 
and  reared  a  famil\  of  seven  children.  The  other 
son.  John,  settled  in  Northampton  county,  where 
he  lived  and  died.  Three  of  his  sons.  Jacob.  John 
and  Henry,  settled  in  White  Deer  Valley  in  the 
early    part    id'  the    nineteenth    century.      Of   these, 

John  Beck  married  Elizabeth  Snyder,  a  native 
id'  Northampton  county,  and  later  they  settled  in 
Center  county,  where  they  reared  their  family, 
which  comprised  the  following  children:  Daniel, 
John  (i..  Sarah.  Mary.  Charles  Simon.  Catharine. 
Henry,  Joseph,  Margaret.  Elizabeth  and  Susan. 

Jacob  Beck,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of 
Johann  Thomas,  settled  in  Lycoming  county,  near 
Alvira,  Pa.  He  is  buried  at  the  Messiah  Church 
near  that  place.  He  was  a  large  land  owner  and 
followed  farming  all  his  life.  His  family  was 
large,  viz.:  Charles  lived  and  died  in  Lycoming 
county;  Henry  ami  Peter  lived  and  died  in  Ly- 
coming county:  Benjamin  is  mentioned  below: 
Catharine  married  John  Breon;  Mary  married 
Mahlon  Bower;  George  and  William  lived  and 
died  in  Lycoming  county;  Hannah  married  Mr. 
Wenrick;  Thomas  lived  and  died  in  Lycoming 
i  ounty. 

Benjamin  Beck,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  1814 
in  Northampton  county  and  removed  with  his  fa- 
ther to  Lycoming  county.  In  early  life  he  learned 
stone  cutting,  which  he  continued  to  follow  after 
he  took  up  farming,  having  purchased  a  farm  in 
Montour  count}-,  about  three  miles  east  of  Potts- 
grove.  Pa.  He  was  thus  engaged  to  the  close  of 
his  life,  dying  in  his  prime,  April  16,  1863,  at  the 
agv  of  forty-nine  years.  He  married  Eliza  Derter, 
of  Northampton  county,  born  in  181s.  who  died 
Dee.  '.J-.'.  1882,  and  they  are  buried  at  Center 
Church,    in    Liberty    township,    Montour   county. 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY.  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


333 


They  were  members  of  the  Center  Lutheran 
Church.  Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Beck:  Matilda,  who  married  William 
(iaskins.  of  Danville,  Pa.;  Catharine,  who  married 
William  R.  Miller;  George  A.;  William  H. ;  Ella, 
who  married  Charles  Weinland;  and  John  A. 

William  II.  Beck  was  horn  April  9,  1852,  in 
Liberty  township,  .Montour  county,  and  there  re- 
ceived   his  early   education   in  the  public  schools. 

also  attending  the   Franklin  select  scl 1   for  one 

term,  during  the  period  it  was  taught  by  Charles 
Lesher.     He  was  also  a  student  at  the  Milton  high 

scl I.     For  a  time  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in 

the  general  store  of  Heinen  &  Schreyer,  after 
which  he  took  a  course  at  the  Eastman  Business 
College,  Poughkeepsie,  \.  V..  and  on  his  return 
to  Milton  entered  the  employ  of  the  Adams  Ex- 
press Company.  He  was  engaged  by  that  com- 
pany as  driver  four  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time 
being  promoted  to  the  agency,  which  he  held  for 
five  years.  In  1881  he  resigned  to  accept  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  in  the  establishment  of  S.  J. 

Shinier  &    Sons,   with   which   c ■em,  one  of  the 

most  important  in  Milton,  he  has  since  been  as- 
sociated. A  year  after  entering  the  employ  of  the 
firm  he  was  sent,  upon  the  death  of  the  father 
of  George  and  Samuel  J.  Shimer,  to  Northamp- 
ton county  lo  superintend  the  construction  of  a 
new  plant,  remaining  there  one  year.  Upon  the 
completion  of  the  plant  be  returned  to  Milton, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  order  department, 
in  this  capacity  traveling  widely  for  the  firm.  In 
1903,  when  a  corporation  was  formed  without 
change  of  name,  Mr.  Beck  was  elected  secretary, 
which  position  he  has  since  tilled.  Fie  has  proved 
a  valuable  member  of  the  corporation,  the  condi- 
tion id'  whose  business  has  a  material  bearing  on 
the  well-being  of  the  borough. 

In  various  relations  outside  of  business  Mr. 
Beck  has  proved  a  useful  citizen,  his  aid  and  in- 
fluence counting  for  much  in  the  promotion  of 
many  desirable  local  enterprises.  For  six  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Milton  borough  council, 
and  as  an  active  worker  in  the  councils  of  his  party, 
the  Republican,  he  has  assisted  in  securing  cred- 
itable candidates  for  local  offices,  having  served 
as  committeeman  and  as  borough  chairman.  For 
years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Luther- 
an Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon,  trustee 
and  financial  secretary,  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school  and  teacher  of  the  Bible  class,  extend- 
ing his  Sunday  school  work  to  activity  in  the 
County  Sunday  School  Association,  of  which  he 
was  recording  and  corresponding  secretary,  and  is 
still  a  member  of  the  executive  committee.  IF' 
now  attends  the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  he 
teaches  the  men's  Bible  class.  For  a  number  of 
rears  Mr.  Reck  was  district  president  of  the  Y.  M. 
'('.  A.,  his  district  embracing  Northumberland, 
Union,  Snyder,  Lycoming,   Montour  and   Colum- 


bia counties,  and  he  was  also  president  of  the 
local  organization.  Fraternally  he  unites  with 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  for  six  years  was  district 
deputy  grand  regent. 

Mr.  Keek  married  Anna  M.  Angstadt,  who  was 
born  Nov.  -iS.  L850,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Fliza 
(Eckbert)  Angstadt.  and  died  Aug.  -.':!.  1891; 
she  is  interred  in  Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton. 
Three  daughters  were  born  to  this  union:  Lottie, 
who  is  married  to  Walter  .1.  Xail  and  has  one  son. 
William:  Lulu  .1..  who  is  at  home;  and  Elenora  E., 
now  a  student  at  Wilson  Seminary. 

John  A.  Beck,  son  of  Benjamin  and  brother  of 
William  II..  was  horn  May  11.  1858,  in  Montour 
county,  1'a.  lie  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  hut  his  father  dying  when  be  was  very 
young  be  has  had  to  make  his  own  way  from  an 
early  age,  and  his  education  has  been  mostly  of 
the  practical  kind.  For  several  years  after  com- 
mencing to  work  steadily  be  was  employed  on 
farms  in  his  own  county  and  in  Northumberland 
county,  in  ls?ii  locating  in  the  borough  of  Milton, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  1S7'.>  he 
entered  the  employ  id'  S.  .1.  Shimer  &  Sons,  as 
clerk,  and  has  served  in  such  position  ever  since, 
his  long  experience  in  this  capacity  making  his 
services  most  valuable.  Hbwever,  he  has  also 
had  other  business  interests,  having  for  almost 
twenty  years,  since  1891,  been  conducting  a  green- 
house at  Xo.  319  Hepburn  street,  where  he  also 
has  bis  home.  He  makes  a  specialty  id'  cut  (low- 
ers and  floral  designs,  and  bis  taste  for  the  work, 
combined  with  industry  and  good  management, 
has  made  his  venture  profitable. 

Mr.  Reck  married  Ella  Hill,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Kate  (Hause)  Hill,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Charles  L.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious 
connection.  Mr.  Beck  has  been  quite  active  in  bor- 
ough affairs,  having  served  eleven  years  as  mem- 
ber of  the  council,  lie  is  a  Republican  in  political 
affiliation,  ami  socially  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum   and    the    Knights   of   the   Golden    Eagle. 

RAKER.  The  Raker  family,  to  which  the  late 
Cornelius  Raker,  of  Shamokin,  belonged,  is  of 
German  extraction,  the  founder  of  the  name  ill 
America  coming  from  Baden,  near  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  settling  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
where  he  lived   and  died. 

Conrad  Raker,  son  of  the  emigrant  ancestor,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county  and  came  to  North- 
umberland county  among  the  pioneers.  After  bis 
marriage  be  settled  at  Augustaville,  in  Rockefeller 
township,  whence  he  mo\cd  two  icir.  later  i"  Lit- 
tle Mahanoy  township,  following  farming  there  un- 
til ins  death.  He  is  buried  al  Raker.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day  in  public  and  church 
affairs,  serving  as  county  commissioner  in  L831 
and  1838,  and  helping  to  build  two  churches,  the 
Emanuel's   Lutheran    in  Little   Mahanoy  township 


334 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


and  the  Stone  Church  at  Augustaville.  In  pol- 
ities he  was  a  Democrat.  Conrad  Raker  married 
Rebecca  Dunkelberger,  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, daughter  of  Frederick,  and  they  had  children 
as  follows:  John,  who  died  in  Ashland  county, 
ohm:  Kate:  Frederick;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township;  William,  who  died  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township:  Enoch  D.,  who  died  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township  June  23,  1888,  aged  sixty-six 
years,  sixteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  Little  Maha- 
noy Church  (his  wife  died  Sept.  25,  1903,  aged 
seventy-six  years,  five  months,  twenty-one  days); 
lsaa<  1 1..  horn  Dee.  6,  1825,  who  lived  at  Sham- 
okin  and  died  March  11,  1907  (his  wife,  Phoebe 
A.,  horn  Dec.  6,  1834.  died  April  5,  1890)  :  Bar- 
bara, who  married  George  Sordogn  and  died  in 
Upper  Augusta  township;  Maria,  who  married 
Joseph  Cass  and  died  in  Upper  Augusta  township; 
Esther,  who  married  Daniel  Zartman  and  died  in 
Lower  Augusta  township;  and  Mary,  who  married 
Elias  Peiffer  and  died  at  Raker.  (X.  B. :  Conrad's 
wife's  name  is  given  Rebecca  here,  while  in  an- 
other account  it  appears  as  Barbara;  if  it  was  Bar- 
bara, then  the  following  dan-,  from  Little  Ma- 
anoy  cemetery,  apply  to  Conrad  and  wife:  Con- 
rad Raker,  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  June 
7.  1778,  died  Sept.  4,  1849;  his  wife  Barbara. 
nee  Dunckel,  born  April  5,  1779,  died  Dec.  17. 
1838.  i 

Frederick  Raker,  son  of  Conrad,  was  born  Dec. 
21,  1804,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  and 
spent  all  hut  three  or  four  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  county.  He  went  to  Lycoming  county  after 
hi-  marriage  ami  returning  to  Xorthumberland 
settled  in  Little  Mahanoy  township.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  also  followed  carpenter- 
ing and  farming.  He  died  in  Little  Mahanoy  Aug. 
4.  Is44.  and  is  buried  at  Raker.  Like  his  father 
he  was  a  well  known  and  active  citizen  of  his  sec- 
tion, serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  taking  a 
prominent  part  in  the  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.     He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

In  1825  Mr.  Raker  married  Elizabeth  Hoffman. 
daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (Drumheller) 
II  oil  man.  who  settled  in  Washington  township,  this 
county,  in  1813.  Mrs.  Raker  was  born  in  District 
township,  Berks  county,  in  1806.  and  survived  her 
husband,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  She  is 
buried  at  Raker.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  this  union:  Conrad  H.  is  mentioned  below; 
Susanna  died  young:  Jeremiah  married  Jane  Mar- 
tin :  Harriet  married  (first)  Israel  Dunkelberger 
and  (second)  Samuel  Dornsife.  whom  she  also 
survived;  Catharine  married  Samuel  Frederick: 
John  H.  died  Jan.  14.  1862,  while  serving  in  the 
I      il  war.  at  Rolla.  Missouri. 

Conrad  H.  Raker  was  born  Nov.  8.  1828,  and 
was  about  three  years  old  when  his  parents  re- 
turned to  Northumberland  county.  He  attended 
the  local   schools  and  was  reared  to  farming,  at 


which  he  assisted  his  father  for  a  time,  until  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  gunsmith's  trade.  He 
followed  that  in  connection  with  farming  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township,  where  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  spent  in  the  Western  States  he  always 
lived.  In  1899  Mr.  Raker  removed  to  Shamokin, 
where  he  has  since  lived  in  retirement.  He  was 
quite  active  in  local  affairs  while  a  resident  of 
Little  Mahanoy.  serving  as  school  director  and 
auditor  of  the  township,  and  was  the  first  post- 
master at  Raker,  holding  the  office  seven  years. 
Raker  station  and  postoffice  Were  named  in  his 
honor.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and,  like  the 
members  of  the  family  generally,  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee. 

On  April  "27.  1856,  Mr.  Raker  married  Susan 
Dornsife,  who  was  born  March  22,  1832.  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Herb)  Dornsife.  and  died 
\"o\.  5,  190 — :  she  is  buried  at  Raker.  Eleven 
children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raker,  as  fol- 
lows: Dr.  Frederick  Daniel  is  a  resident  of  Sham- 
okin :  Mary  Elizabeth  married  Alvin  Raker,  of 
Shamokin.  and  they  have  three  children.  Florence, 
Helen  and  Walter:  Rev.  John  Henry,  a  graduate  of 
Muhlenberg  College,  at  Allentown.  is  a  Lutheran 
minister  now  stationed  at  Allentown,  Pa.  (he  is 
married  and  has  two  children,  Ruth  and  Reherta  )  : 
Lydia  J.  married  John  Schlegel,  of  Shamokin.  and 
has  one  child.  Clarence:  Ida  married  John  Hil- 
bush,  lives  in  Shamokin.  and  has  two  children,  Ed- 
ward and  Susan :  Hattie,  who  married  Samuel 
Moyer  and  lives  in  Shamokin,  has  two  children, 
Francis  and  Lydia;  Albert  is  living  on  the  old 
homestead  at  Raker:  Susan  died  in  infancy:  Con- 
rad, twin  of  Susan,  lives  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, is  married,  and  has  one  son,  Frederick;  Ed- 
ward, who  studied  at  Muhlenberg  College,  now  an 
attorney  at  law  of  Shamokin.  is  married  and  has 
two  children.  Marion  and  Grace:  one  son  died  in 
infancy. 


Jacob  Raker,  son  of  Conrad  and  grandson  of  the 
emigrant,  was  horn  April  26,  1808,  in  Little  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  was  one  of  the  well  known 
citizens  of  that  locality  in  his  day.  He  followed 
farming,  and  died  in  Little  Mahanoy  Dec.  28, 
1859,  aged  fiftv-one  vears.  His  wife,  Rebecca 
(Zartman  I.  horn  Jan.  4,  1813,  died  June  12,  1883. 
Thev  had  children  as  follows:  Lucinda.  Harry, 
William,  Enoch.  Daniel  Z.  (died  July  13.  1898, 
aged  sixty-two  years,  two  months,  twenty-four 
days:  his  wife.  Annie,  died  Aug.  20.  1905,  aged 
seventy  years,  ten  months,  fourteen  days).  Abhie. 
Rebecca,  Conrad.  Samuel  (deceased).  Cornelius, 
Alice,  and  Joseph,  the  last  named  deceased. 

Cornelius  Raker,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born 
March  14.  1838,  in  Little  Mahanoy,  near  Raker, 
and  was  reared  upon  the  farm  in  his  native  town- 
ship. When  a  young  man  he  went  to  Washing- 
ton. D.  ('..  and    there  learned  photography,  in  the 


X  < )  I JTI I  CM  BERLAND  COU  XT  Y.  1 '  E  X  X  SY  I.VAX  I A 


335 


fall  of   1865  locating   in  Sha km.  where  he  was 

the  pioneer  in  his  line  of  work.  He  followed  it  un- 
til his  retirement  in  1890,  enjoying  a  steady  and 
profitable  patronage,  and  naturally  was  widely 
known  in  the  borough  and  vicinity,  where  he  had  a 
high  reputation  for  first-class  work  and  courtesy 
to  patmn-;  which  was  his  best  advertisement  in  all 
the  long  years  of  his  business  career.  Though  a 
man  ol  unassuming  life  and  quiet  habits  he  was 
considered  a  most  useful  and  desirable  citizen,  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  June  1,  1901,  was  re- 
garded as  a  loss  throughout  Shamokin,  where  he 
had  many  friends  and  well  wishers.  He  is  buried  in 
Shamokin  cemetery.  Mr.  Raker  accumulated  con- 
siderable  valuable  real  estate;  he  bought  his  first 
lot.  on  Independence  street,  for  $55,  and  the  ad- 
vance in  values  is  well  illustrated  by  the  statement 
that  it.  is  now  among  the  most  valuable  property 
in  the  borough.  Mr.  Raker  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

On  duly  26,  1865,  Mr.  Raker  married  Mary  E. 
Machamer,  daughter  of  Israel  Machamer.  and 
three  children  were  horn  to  them:  Emma,  who  mar- 
ried (first)  Thaddeus  B.  Strine,  by  whom  she  had 
one  son.  Harry  ('..  and  (second)  L.  W.  Smith,  a 
druggist  of  Shamokin:  Elizabeth,  deceased;  and 
Elmer  E.,  who  died  April  86,  1911.  Mrs.  Raker 
resides  at  the  old  home.  No.  1  18  East  Independence 
si  reet. 

John  Machamer,  Mrs.  Raker's  grandfather,  was 
a  tailor,  ami  followed  his  trade  at  Lewisburg,  Un- 
ion Co..  Pa.  Later  he  went  West,  where  he  died. 
His  children  were:  Eli.  an  attorney,  who  died  at 
Leavenworth,  Mans.;  Israel:  John,  who  died  in 
the  West:  Mary,  and  Julia. 

Israel  Machamer,  father  of  Mrs.  Raker,  was  born 
at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  learned  the  trade  of  his 
father,  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  For 
a  long  time  he  was  located  at  White  Deer,  Union 
county,  removing  thence  to  Trevorton,  where  he 
duel  in  1880;  he  is  buried  at  Shamokin.  Mr. 
Machamer  married  Susan  k'nauss.  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Knauss,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
four  years.  Mrs.  Machamer,  horn  Oct.  Hi.  1820, 
is  now  the  oldest  resident  of  Shamokin.  She  en- 
joys good  health  and  a  clear,  bright  mind,  discuss- 
ing the  topics  of  the  clay  with  interest  and  intel- 
ligence, and  enjoying  life  as  she  deserves  to  do. 
The  following  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Machamer:  Margaret  married  Peter  Metz  and  died 
in  Shamokin;  Mary  E.  is  the  widow  of  Cornelius 
Raker:  Clara  became  the  wife  of  Herbert  Ward,  of 
Trevorton.  where  she  died  :  Benjamin  lives  in  'I 
orton  :  Katie  was  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  of  Trev- 
orton, where  she  died:  John,  Emma  and  Matilda 
all  died  young. 

HENRY  M.  EMERICK,  M.  D.,  physician  and 

surgeon,  and  a  leading  citizen  of  the  borough  of 
Milton  in  his  private  as  well  as  his  professional 


capacity,  has  been  settled  there  since  1892.  He 
has  established  an  extensive  practice,  and  for  real 
worth  as  a  member  of  the  community  he  ranks 
among  the  residents  of  the  borough  wdio  have 
worked  steadily  along  lines;  for  its  advancement. 

Dr.  Knierick's  grandfather.  John  George  Emer- 
iek,  was  the  first  of  the  family  in  Northumberland 
county,  whither  he  came  from  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  with  his  brother  Michael.  They  settled  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  on  adjoining  farms. 
Michael  married,  hut  had  no  children.  John 
George  Emerick.  besides  following  farming,  built 
a  tannery  on  his  place  and  conducted  it  for  many 
years,  becoming  particularly  well  known  in  that 
connection.  He  and  his  wife,  Magadela  (Zart- 
man),  died  on  the  farm  and  are  buried  at  the  old 
Stone  Valley  church  near  Hickory  Comers,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Their  children  were: 
George  died  in  Uniontown,  Pa.;  John  died  in 
Illinois:  Elias  was  the  father  of  Dr.  Emerick: 
.Michael  died  iii  Jordan  township:  Joseph,  born 
in  1834,  now  living  in  Sunburv,  married  (first) 
Sarah  Wert  and  had  six  children,  Henry  M.. 
Charles  L..  George  W.,  Sarah  J.,  Mary  M.  and 
Minnie  Alice,  and  (second)  Sophrona  Elizabeth 
Krosteder,  by  whom  he  had  no  children. 

Elias  Emerick.  son  of  John  George,  was  born 
in  1826  at  the  old  home  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  In  1852  he  moved 
to  Lower  Augusta  township,  this  county,  where  he 
purchased  the  old  Clark  farm,  upon  which  was 
the  hotel  called  the  "Lower  Augusta  Inn."'  or  dur- 
ing his  day  more  commonly  known  as  "Emerick's 
Hotel."  situated  on  the  old  Tulpehocken  road.  He 
conducted  the  farm  and  hotel  until  1867,  after 
which  he  gave  all  his  time  to  farming  for  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  engaging  in  the 
mercantile  business,  which  he  continued  until  he 
sold  out.  in  1875.  He  then  moved  to  Selinsgrove, 
Pa.,  and  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  which  he 
followed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  al  3 
insgrove  in  1892;  he  i--  buried  at  the  Stone  Church 
in  Lower  Augusta  township. 

Mr.  Emerick  married  Anna  Mary  Siine.  a  na- 
tive of  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter 
of  John  Stine.  Mrs.  Emerick  died  in  L880,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  she  was  the'  mother 
id'  eight  children:  Louisa  J.,  who  married  John 
M.  Boyer,  their  home  being  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.; 
Henry  M.:  Benjamin  Franklin,  a  well  known 
druggist  and  leading  business  man  of  Carlisle. 
Pa.,  who  died  in  1910;  .Martin  I...  a  physician. 
also  of  Carlisle,  and  four  children  who  died  young. 

Henry  M.  Emerick,  son  of  Elias,  was  horn  in 
Is.'il  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  received  bis 
earlv  education  in  the  public  schools  near  his  boj 

hood   home.      Later  he  attended    Su-.|Uehanna    I'ni- 

versity,  at  Selinsgrove,  ami  there  also  he  began 
reading  medicine,  under  tin-  %v « ■  M  known  Dr.  J. 
W.  SI ts,  who  was  then   located  at   Selinsgrove. 


33(5 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Entering  the  College  of  Physician?  and  Surgeons 
at  Baltimore,  Mil.,  he  graduated  in  1880,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  in  continuous  practice. 
He  made  his  first  location  after  graduating  at 
Pottsgrove,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  twelve  years. 
in  1892  removing  to  Milton,  which  has  since  been 
his  home  and  field  of  practice.  Dr.  Emerick  has 
won  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  as  much 
by  his  personal  merits  as  by  bis  medical  skill,  and 
his  standing  among  his  fellow  practitioners  is 
equally  high.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Lycom- 
ing County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical 
Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association. 
His  time  has  naturally  been  almost  entirely  ab- 
sorbed by  his  professional  duties,  hut  he  has  served 
as  school  director  at  Milton,  his  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education  and  his  high  standards  making 
him  a  valuable  member  of  the  board.  In  politics 
In'   is  a   Republican. 

Dr.  Emerick  married  Feb.  '!'■'•.  1882,  Anna  M. 
Voris,  daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Harriet  (McWil- 
liamsi  Voris,  and  granddaughtft"  of  John  Yoris. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Harriet  A.,  who  gradu- 
ated from  Bucknell  Seminary  in  1903,  and  sub- 
sequently attended  Lasell  Seminary,  at  Auburn- 
dale.  Massachusetts. 

COLEMAN  K.  SOBER,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  is 

as  much  a  citizen  of  Northumberland  county  as 
he  i-  of  the  former  place.  lie  belongs  to  a  fam- 
ily which  has  been  settled  in  this  county  lor  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  since  pioneer  times:  lie 
himself  is  a  native  of  the  county,  and  the  care 
of  the  extensive  landed  interests  lie  retains  here 
has  kept  him  in  touch  with  the  affairs  of  the  lo- 
cality, where  his  value  to  the  community  is  uni- 
versally recognized.  Mr.  Sober  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful man  from  the  worldly  standpoint.  His 
profitable  operations  in  lumber,  covering  many 
years  of  an  unusually  energetic  career,  would 
alone  entitle  him  to  that  distinction.  But  he  has 
led  a  life  useful  to  others  as  well  as  to  himself. 
His  active  intellect  has  enabled  him  to  discover 
more  than  mere  business  opportunities  in  the  pur- 
suit of  his  various  ventures:  and  his  inquiring 
mind  has  led  him  into  investigations  which  have 
yielded  much  of  real  utility  and  added  definitely 
to  the  sum  total  of  serviceable  knowledge.  In 
practical  illustration  of  this  tendency  of  Mr.  So- 
her"s  may  be  mentioned  his  chief  interest  in 
Northumberland  county,  the  extensive  chestnut 
groves  on  the  mountainsides  that  inclose  the  beau- 
tiful Irish  Valley,  the  outgrowth  of  an  experi- 
ment which  has  attracted  attention  all  over  the 
country.  It  is  the  only  commercial  chestnnl 
grove  in  a  sufficiently  advanced  stage  of  develop- 
ment to  permit  an  estimate  to  be  formed  of  the 
possibilities  of  such  an  enterprise. 

Mr.  Sober  is  a  native  of  this  resrion,  born  Nov. 
24.  1842.  at  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents  in 


Northumberland  county,  seven  miles  from  Sha- 
mokin.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  pion<  ■  - 
of  the  county,  where  the  family  has  been  settled 
for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years.  His  grandparents 
were  Samuel  and   Isabella   (Moore)    Sober. 

Isaac  Sober,  father  of  Coleman  K.  Softer,  was 
a  native  and  lifelong  resident  of  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  was  a  wealthy  and  influential 
agriculturist.  He  was  born  Feb.  23,  1^14.  and 
dud  dune  12,  1882.  Hi-  wife.  Mary  (Krigh- 
baum),  daughter  of  George  and  Barbara  (Reed) 
Krighhaum.  was  also  of  Northumberland  county 
birth,  and  ten  children  were  horn  to  their  union, 
namely:  Freeman  W.,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  died:  Harriet,  wife  of  Samuel 
Swinehart,  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.:  Cole- 
man K.:  Clinton  D.,  a  farmer  and  dairyman  of 
Northumberland  county  (he  is  a  great  shot  with 
the  gun);  Isabella,  widow  of  F.  "W.  Gilder,  who 
died  in  Philadelphia,  Fa.:  Barbara  Ann.  widow 
of  Mahlon  C.  Mover,  who  died  in  Shamokin: 
Amanda,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  G&  _ 
Startz.el.  id'  Shamokin:  Adeline,  deceased,  wife 
of  A.  .1.  Campbell;  Martin  Luther  (another  phe- 
nomenal shot  in  the  family,  and  in  whom  Mr.  So- 
ber says  he  finds  the  nearest  approach  to  a  rival 
in  game  shooting)  :  and  Clara,  wife  of  ex-County 
Treasurer  D.  S.  Hollibaugh,  M.  1»..  a  prominent 
physician  id'  Shamokin. 

Mrs.  Sober  was  not  only  an  excellent  rifle  shot, 
hut  also  an  expert  mechanic.  She  was  the  only 
child  of  a  famous  gunmaker  of  the  Susquehanna 
Valley  in  his  day — the  latter  part  of  the  eight- 
eenth and  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury— and  many  a  time  in  her  girlhood  she  ass 
her  father  in  his  shop.  Her  skill  in  shooting  was 
acquired  in  testing  the  guns  turned  out  in  the 
shop,  and  so  adept  was  she  that  with  her  own 
hands  she  manufactured  a  gun  that  became  the 
property  of  her  future  husband. 

Coleman  K.  Sober  remained  at  home  up  to  the 
age  of  eighteen,  his  summers  being  spent  in  farm 
work,  and  his  winters  in  study  at  the  neighbor- 
ing schools.  So  well  did  he  improve  these  edu- 
cational opportunities  that  he  prepared  himself 
for  teaching,  and  on  leaving  home  in  1860  he  en- 
gaged in  that  profession  with  such  success  that  he 
continued  it  for  eighteen  terms  with  increasing 
reputation.  His  vacations  were  spent  in  study 
at  higher  schools,  or  in  various  occupations,  sui  h 
as  pumping  oil  in  the  oil  regions  of  the  State-. 
working  in  a  sawmill,  in  blast  furnaces,  or  in  the 
rolling  mills  at  Danville.  Pa.  His  industry  knew 
no  bounds,  and  when  he  had  a  "night  turn''  he 
would  take  contracts  to  unload  coal  boats  or  draw 
board  rafts  during  the  day. 

Among  the  higher  schools  he  attended  was  the 
Danville  Academy.  In  1854,  at  the  close  of  his 
term  there,  he  found  himself  obliged  to  look 
around  for  work  of  some  kind,  bis  circumstances. 


TH1    '• 


MIONS 

P. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


financially,  not  being  the  best,  and  lie  was  too 
proud  to  accept  any  assistance  from  his  father. 
It  so  happened  thai  one  of  his  schoolmates,  a  lad 
I'.v  the  name  of  C.  R.  Savidge  (now  judge  of 
Northumberland  county),  having  exhausted  all  his 
means,  was  obliged  to  seek  some  kind  of  employ- 
ment before  the  term  of  school  came  to  a  close, 
and  procured  work  at  corn  husking  for  a  farmer 
named  William  Fox.  Through  this  old  si 
"chum"  young  Sober,  now  twenty-two  years  old. 
and  of  slighl  build,  made  application  to  William 
Fox  for  similar  work.  The  latter,  however,  hav- 
ing "sized  ii)."'  the  youthful  applicant,  remarked 
thai  he  was  too  lighl  for  su.  b  a  task,  and  that  his 
earnings  thereat  would  be  very  meagre  (the  corn 
shocks  were  eul  7x9,  or  sixty-three  hills).  Nev- 
ertheless, the  lad's  application  being  favorably  re- 
ceived, he  began  work  on  the  following  i ■nine. 

at  five  cents  a  shock,  and  when  nigbd  came  it  was 
found  that  lie  had  husked  no  less  than  eighty-six 
shocks.  Mr.  Pox  having  left  the  farm  for  a  few 
days,  a  report  was  made  to  Mrs.  Fox  by  some  of 
the    hands   of   the    rapid   work   done    by    the    nev 

man.    whereu] -he    immediately    sent    for    Mr. 

Soher  and  informed  him  that  lie  was  discharged 
for  the  reason  that  he  "would  break  her  husband 
up!":  his  commissions  amounted  to  $4.30  lor  this 
day's  work,  lie  thereupon  demanded  settlement 
and  his  pay;  hut  Mrs.  Fox  being  unprovided  with 
necessary  funds,  young  Sober  was  permitted  to 
remain  at  work  until  her  husband's  return.  On 
the  hitter's  arrival  home,  and  on  his  learning  of 
this  phenomenal  record  in  husking,  he  at  once 
sel  about  to  investigate  whether  or  not  the  work 
was  well  done.  In  his  examination  he  failed  to 
find  a  single  stalk  with  an  ear  remaining  unhusked. 
All  this  mighl  be  counted  a  mystery  were  it  not 
explained  awa\  by  the  fad  that  Mr.  Sober  ac- 
complished with  two  niotioiw  what  others  required 
four  to  do. 

Another  anecdote,  bearing  on  Mr.  Sober's  in- 
nate skill  and  natural  adaptability  to  existing  cir- 
cumstances, is  recorded  of  him  in  quite  a  different 
trend.  "The  hammer  in  the  hand  above  all  the 
arts  doth  stand"  is  a  well  known  adage,  and  Mr. 
Sober's  presenl  expertness  with  the  anvil  is  bet- 
ter known  than  is  his  boyhood  experience  with 
one.  as  here  related.  When  he  was  a  sixteen-year- 
old  lad  he  had  a  long  distance  to  tramp  to  school. 
and  about  midway  between  his  home  and  the 
schoolhouse  was  a  blacksmith  shop  or  "smithy,"' 
where  on  cold  days  he  would  stop  to  warm  him- 
self and  watch  the  smith  forging  horses] nails. 

etc.  One  day  young  Sober  asked  permission  of 
this  son  of  Vulcan  to  make  a  horseshoe  nail, 
whereupon  the  latter  laughingly  asked  the  lad  if 
he  was  aware  that  to  learn  to  do  such  a  job  prop- 
erly required  usually  a  full  year's  apprenti  eship 
Nevertheless,  the  undaunted  stripling  insisted  up- 
on being  allowed  to  try  his  hand,  at  least,  and 
22 


alter  hut  five  attempts  he  presented  to  the  aston- 
ished blacksmith  a  perfeel  nail  rea.lv  for  use. 

In  1880  Mr.  Sober  became  employed  by  the 
day  by  Beecher  &  Zimmerman,  Lumbermen,  who, 
quickly  realizing  his  ability,  at  the  end  of  the 
month  ottered  to  receive  him  into  the  firm,  lie 
accordingly  purchased  a  one-third  interest,  and 
at  the  death  of  Mr.  Zimmerman,  a  year  or  two 
later,  he  boughl  half  of  the  deceased's  interest. 
thus  becoming  half  own. a-  of  the  entire  business, 
firm,  the  Glen  Union  Lumber  Company, 
which  is  one  of  the  largest  lumber  concerns  in  the 
Slate,  its  oHices  atcl  freight  depot  hem-  -limited 
a1  Glen  Onion,  in  Clinton  county,  now  ..wns  over 
±5,000  acres  of  the  best  timherland  in  the  Stale 
of  Pennsylvania,  employment  being  given  to  a 
small  army  of  .me  hundred  men.  The  sawmills 
turn  out  each  month  one  ami  a  half  million  feel 
of    sawed    lumber,    and     al     least     125    carload-    ., 

prop  timber  per  month.  In  this  connection  it 
mighl  noi  he  out  of  place  to  .ate  an  illustration 
of  Mr.  Sober's  business  acumen  and  foresight. 
Hi-  first  purchase  of  prop  timber  was  1,100  acres 
boughl  "on  the  stump,"  and  by  the  ton.  at  fifty 
cents  per  ton,  and  he  immediately  arranged  for 
its  transportation  by  rail,  securing  a  reduction 
of  fifty  cents  per  ton  (just  the  sum  the  timber 
cost  him)  from  the  regular  rate:  thus  his  pur- 
i  base  in  reality  cost  him  nothing,  while  at  the 
same  time  he  was  the  first  in  the  United  State- 
to  buy,  sell  and  transport  timber  by  the  pound. 
Mr.  Si, he  i'  became  t  he  head  and  front  of  tin.-  con- 
cern, everything  being  under  his  supervision,  he 
giving  bis  attention  mainly  to  the  field   work   of 

the  company,  his  special  province  being  tl xam- 

ination  of  timberland  and  the  direction  i 
tions  in  the  woods.  Independent  of  t !  Glen 
Union  plant,  he  conducts  an  extensive  personal 
business;  In-  shipments  for  the  fourteen  vear-  be- 
ginning dan.  1.  1897,  to  .Ian.  1.  1911,  being  18,- 
L40  carloads,  or  an  average  of  l  ,295  ,  arloads 

vear,  of  prop  timber,  pulpw I.  lumber  and  hay. 

His  administrative  and  executive  ability  is  well 
exemplified  in  the  generalship  he  displays  in  hand- 
ling and  controlling  his  many  employees,  some- 
thing that  in  the  lumber  \\ 1-  requires  no  little 

1  a.  and  discretion.  I le  i-  a  master  of  .  ■  de- 
tail of  his  business,  and  ha-  never  had  a  mechanic 
in  his  employ  to  whom  he  could  not  teach  some- 
thing, while  he  often  finds  points  in  the  machinery 
of  hi-  plani  up. at  which,  perfeel  though  it  may 
seem,  lie  could  ugge  I  ome  improvement.  This 
comprehensive  grasp  of  detail  is  eharacterisl  ii 
the  man  :  and  if  is  also  -aid  of  him  thai  n  ben 
and  w  hcii'"  er  he  sees  an  effei  l  he  is  sure  to  find 
the  cause — that   is.  in  anything  that   ma\    interest 

him.      lie    is   so    thorough    a    laisin  an. I    30 

prominent  as  a  citizen,  that  it   would  he  injustice 

to  him   to  give   undue  prmnii  ■    ■     .  u   to   1,1-   mar- 

-    feats  with  the  shotgun,  which   will   he   full.- 


338 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLYAX  I A 


spoken  of  farther  on.  Hi'  has  made  his  own  way 
in  the  world  with  clear-eyed  singleness  of  purpose 
which  reminds  one  of  his  unerring  aim  at  a  tar- 
get. In  all  his  enterprises,  great  and  small,  he 
is  precise  and  painstaking,  and  the  strictest  integ- 
rity marks  his  business  dealing.-,  every  obligation 
being  met  promptly  and  fully.  While  he  would 
not  take  an  unfair  advantage  of  an  opponent  in 
a  -hooting  contest  or  an  athletic  game,  and  would 
not  accept  a  penny  thai  he  did  not  consider  his 
due.  neither  would  he  smother  his  sense  of  right 
and  yield  tamely  to  an  infringement  upon  his  own 
just  claims.  Thoroughness  in  everything  is  one 
of  his  strong  points,  and  he  will  never  allow  him- 
self to  be  excelled  in  any  respect,  if  earnest,  per- 
sistent thought  and  labor  will  win. 

Mr.  Sober  is  not  only  a  marvel  of  ambidexter- 
ity with  the  shotgun,  as  the  reader  will  presently 
discover,  and  an  expert  in  work  on  the  anvil,  as 
above  recorded,  but  he  is  also  highly  skilled  in 
taxidermy,  an  art  that  cannot  be  learned  in  a 
day,  vet  one  that  came  to  him  naturally  and  with- 
out any  instruction.  Some  fine  specimens  of  his 
skill  in  mounting  birds,  etc.,  including  an  eagle 
shot  by  X.  B.  Grugan,  of  Glen  Union,  and  which 
measured  seven  Eeei  from  tip  to  tip  of  wings  (pre- 
pared for  Dr.  B.  H.  Warren,  the  State  zoologist), 
were  exhibited  at  the  World's  Fair  held  in  Chi- 
cago in  1893,  and  attracted  much  attention,  win- 
ning many  encomiums:  while  among  other  speci- 
mens he  has  in  his  possession  some  five  deer  heads. 
taken  from  noble  animals  of  his  own  slaying,  and 
mounted  by  himself.  On  his  fifty-eighth  birthday 
Mr.  Sol. ei'  shot  a  pheasant  on  wing,  with  a  weasel 
attached  to  its  neck  taking  its  ]|f,.  blood,  and  he 
has  same  mounted;  it  is  a  question  if  this  is  not 
the  only  specimen  of  its  kind  in  the  world. 

Then,  also,  as  an  engraver  on  gold  and  other 
metals,  he  excels,  in  this  respect  being  not  one 
whit  behind  professionals,  though  he  never  re- 
ceived instruction  in  the  art,  his  designing  and 
engraving  of  horses,  dogs,  violins,  locomotives,  on 
a  ten-cent  piece,  etc.  (from  tools  of  his  own  mak- 
ing i .   being  surprisingly  clever. 

Socially  Mr.  Sober  is  looked  upon  as  a  prince 
among  men.  exceedingly  pleasant  and  affable,  and 
he  is  a  perfect  gentleman,  hospitable  and  liberal — 
in  short,  "a  royal  good  fellow."'  as  he  is  called 
by  his  closest  acquaintances:  and  he  always  carries 
under  his  vest  a  big  heart.  He  is  a  man  of  fine 
physical  proportions,  active,  strong  and  quick,  in 
height  about  five  feet,  ten  inches,  and  weighing 
some  175  pounds:  his  complexion  i-  somewhat 
sandy,  much  tanned  by  his  outdoor  life.  Pos- 
sessed of  the  bright  blue  eyes  of  a  sure  shot,  he 
is  in  fact  what  might  be  expected  in  the  makeup 
of  a  sportsman;  and  although  in  age  he  is  now 
Hearing  the  three  score  and  ten  mark,  he  only 
shows  a  better  developed  maturity  of  vigorous 
manhood.     In  his  habits  he  is  very  abstemious. 


using  neither  tobacco  nor  liquor  in  any  shape.  In 
his  political  predilections  he  had  always  been  a 
Democrat  until  the  campaign  of  Gov.  D.  H.  Hast- 
ing- (now  deceased),  and  since  that  time  has  been 
a  stanch  Republican;  but  he  has  never  found  time 
to  seek  official  preferment  or  recognition,  save 
that  in  May,  1884,  he  was  commissioned  by  Post- 
tnaster  Walter  Q.  Gresham  postmaster  at  Sober 
(Center  county),  which  office  was  named  in  his 
honor,  and  of  which  he  was  first  postmaster.  He 
also  was  postmaster  at  Glen  Union,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, from  1892  to  1897.  In  1870  he  was  appointed 
h\  Gov.  John  W.  Geary  coal  and  iron  policeman 
for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  he  being  one  of 
the  six  first  commissioned  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
clothed  with  all  the  authority  of  the  city  police. 
In  1878  he  was  appointed  mercantile'  appraiser 
of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  being  chosen  from 
among  twelve  applicants.  He  long  ago  received 
his  first  appointment  as  state  game  commissioner, 
and  was  reappointed  in  1892.  On  Xov.  17,  1896. 
he  was  again  appointed,  by  Govi  I ).  II.  Hastings. 
and  he  has  held  the  office  continuously  to  the 
present,  by  successive  reappointments.  This  is 
not  a  salaried  position,  but  its  duties,  the  propa- 
gation and  conservation  of  game,  are  so  thorough- 
ly to  Mr.  Sober's  liking  and  in  accord  with  Ins 
principles  that  he  take-  pride  and  pleasure  in 
their  performance. 

In  1864  Mr.  Sober  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Bernctta  Anderson,  of  -Xorthumberland  county. 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Phebe  Anderson.  She 
died  Jan.  1.  1901).  and  i-  buried  at  Lewisburg,  Pa. 
Four  children  blessed  their  union,  two  of  whom 
are  deceased.  (1)  Man  B.  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  Harry  Grove,  by  whom  she  had  one 
child.  Helen  Mary.  After  Mr.  Grove's  decease 
she  married,  Oct.  14.  1896,  Martin  H.  Lesher,  of 
Shamokin  Dam,  Pa.,  and  they  have  five  children. 
Bernetta  Edna,  Isabelle  M.,  Martha  S.,  Coleman 
K.  and  Thornton  S.  Mrs.  Lesher  is  skilled  in 
oil,  pastel  and  crayon  work,  and  excels  in  free- 
hand drawing.  (2)  ((-well  Coleman  and  (3) 
Hudson  Atwood  both  died  young.  ()i  Waldron 
Bland  married  B.  Elizabeth  Bright,  daughter  of 
William  H.  Bright,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Bernetta  E.,  Mary  B..  Coleman  K.,  Jr..  and  Wil- 
liam Bright  :  the  last  named,  born  Sept.  6.  1908, 
celebrates  the  anniversary  of  his  birth  on  the 
same  date  as  his  father  and  his  grandfather 
Bright.  While  still  a  youth  W.  Bland  Sober  ac- 
quired marvelous  skill  as  a  trapshot,  and  as  a 
sportsman  few  of  the  old  hunters  can  "bag  more 
game"  in  a  day  than  he. 

On  Dec.  27.  1906,  Mr.  Sober  married  (second) 
Hannah  Alvirda  Cummings,  daughter  of  James 
and   Mary   Rebecca    (Stover)    Cummings. 

Mr.  C.  K.  Sober  maintains  his  residence  at 
Lewisburg,  Pnion  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  has  a  pleas- 
ant  home,   whose  perfect,  appointments   show  his 


NTOKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


39 


attention  to  detail.  Every  pari  of  the  premises 
gives  evidence  of  In.-  careful  management,  and 
his  stables,  in  which  he  keeps  some  fine  horses, 

soi f  them  being  fast   trotters,  are  sufficiently 

neat  and  comfortable  for  the  habitation  of  human 
beings.  He  has  a  beautiful  summer  home  on  the 
large  estate  in  Irish  Valley  upon  which  his  won- 
derful chestnut  groves  mv  located. 

The    -ton    of    Mr.    Sober's    interest    in    chest- 

niii  growing  begins  in  his  boyb 1.     Brought  up 

mi  a  farm,  he  was  hut  twelve  years  old  when  be 
persuaded  In-  father,  who  was  grafting  fruit  tree-. 
ti>  let  him  graft  small  chestnut  trees.  His  father 
treated  the  matter  as  a  joke,  hut  the  hoy  clung  to 
it.  ami  though  it  was  not  until  forty-two  years 
later  that  he  put  his  ideas  to  practical  test  he  nev- 
er lost  faith  in  them.  Nor  were  his  theories  vain. 
The  result  of  In-  experiments,  the  Sober  Paragon 
chestnut,  has  attained  such  a  degree  of  perfection 
that  it  is  in  demand  everywhere  that  chestnuts 
find  a  market,  and  thousands  of  scions  and  trees 
from  Mr.  Sober's  tree-  and  uursery  stock  are  -old 
yearly.  Their  pedigree  is  id'  interest  as  showing 
the  beginnings  of  an  industry  that  has  already 
attained  uotable  proportions,  and  that  promises  to 
he   more   generally   engaged    in   as   its  advantages 

bee known.     Almost  thirty  years  ago   Mr.  W. 

L.  Shaffer,  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia. 
discovered  a  tree  growing  in  his  lot  from  an  un- 
known source — it  may  liave  been  from  a  foreign 
mil.  which  produced  the  Paragon  chestnuts. 
about  five  nme-  the  size  of  the  average  American 
chestnut.  Crisp  ami  sweet,  it  differed  from  the 
Italian  chestnut,  which  is  either  coarse  and  taste- 
less or  possesses  an  unpleasant  acorn  flavor.  The 
first  scions  used   in  grafting  the  Sober  trees  were 

of  Paragon  trees  obtai I   from  YV.  H.   Engle,  of 

Marietta.  Pa.  In  the  Irish  Valley,  six  miles  from 
Paxinos.  and  seven  miles  west  of  Shamokin,  Mr. 
Soher  has  a  property  comprising  about  eight  hun- 
dred acre-.  It  i-  a  beautiful  and  fertile  depres- 
sion, walled  in  mi  the  east  and  west  by  parallel 
spurs  of  the  Alleghenies,  whose  sloping,  rocky 
side-  were  originally  covered  with  oak.  sap  pine 
and  chestnut  timber.  About  half  of  tin-  is  now 
under  chestnut  cultivation.  The  pine  and  oak 
were  cut  down  vear-  ago,  and  subsequently  some 
of  the  chestnut  was  marketed.  A  second  growth 
of  chestnut  later  sprang  up.  Such  were  the  con- 
ditions mi  about  half  of  Mr.  Sober's  large  estate. 
Ordinarily  this  would  he  waste  mountain  land. 
soil  that  could  not  ho  utilized  profitably  even  as 
sheep  pasture.  In  the  fall  of  1896  he  cut  down 
the  standing  trees  on  the  land  where  his  first  at- 
T  ■  •  1 1 :  i  I-  at  chestnut  culture  were  to  he  made.  Bl 
spring  voung  shoots  hail  appeared  around  the 
stump-  of  the  fallen  trees.  These  shoots  were 
grafted  with  the  scions  of  the  Soher  Paragon  nut. 
before  mentioned,  which  had  been  cut  in  February 


laid 


awav  in 


sand  until  needed.     The  graft- 


ing was  begun  early  in  the  spring,  and  Mr.  Sober, 
with  the  assistance  of  a  farm  hand  or  two.  looked 
after  all  the  work  himself  the  first  year.  From 
this  modest  beginning  has  been  developed  an  in- 
dustry which  requires  a  considerable  working 
force  and  promises  to  make  the  land  as  profitable 
as*  it  would  he  under  ordinary  agricultural  condi- 
tions. The  principal  grove  stretches  alone-  the 
bordering  mountainside  for  over  a  mile  mi  one 
side  of  the  mountain,  and  comprises  ahoul  300 
acres,  the  southern  part  of  the  farm.  The  hill- 
side to  the  north  is  crowned  with  a  100-acre  grove. 
Then  there  are  three  hundred  thousand  Soher  Para- 
gon Registered  seedlings  and  grafted  tree-,  from 
one  to  three  years  old.  grown  from  the  Soher  Para- 
gon nut  ingrafted  with  the  scions  from  the  true 
Sober  Paragon  tree  in  bearing.  Over  two  hundred 
bushels  of  Soher  Paragon  chestnuts  were  planted 
in  the  -print;  of  1911,  thus  adding  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  million  seedlings,  which  will  he  graft- 
ed at  two  years  onto  young  chestnut  seedlings 
growing  on  what  would  he  waste  land.  The  pro- 
cess  "I'  establishing  a  grove  by  planting  nuts  would 
he  too  slow,  hence  Mr.  Soher  has  adopted  this 
method  of  gaining  time  in  the  production  of  val- 
uable i  fees 

In   this  country  the  popularity  of  the  chestnut 

as  a    f 1    is  still    in   its  initial   stages.     However. 

it  is  gaining  recognition  daily,  so  much  so  that 
arboriculturists  are  interesting  themselves  in  its 
culture  with  the  view  of  presenting  its  attractions 
to  owners  of  available  land.  The  fact  that  chest- 
nut trees  may  be  cultivated  successfully  on  land 
valueless  for  other  purposes  will  undoubtedly  in- 
fluence many  to  attempt  their  cultivation.  The 
interest  has  become  so  widespread  that  the  na- 
tional government  through  the  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  and  the  State  govern- 
ment through  the  Department  of  forestry,  and 
Chestnut  Tree  Blight  Commission,  have  seen  fit 
to  investigate  his  experiments  and  results  thor- 
oughly. Commission  President  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent, of  Philadelphia:  Commission  Secretary 
Harold  Pierce,  also  of  Philadelphia,  of  the  Chest 
nut  Tree  Blight  Commission;  Hon.  I.  C.  Williams, 
deputy  State  forestry  commissioner;  S.  B.  Det- 
wiler,  executive  officer  of  the  Chestnut  Tree  Blight 

c mis-ion:  Dr.  .1.  W.  Harshberger,  professor  of 

botany  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  ami  Dr. 
Haven  Metealf  and  Professor  Collins,  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  Department  of  Agriculture,  visited  the 
farms  and  chestnut  Sept.   7,  1911.      Mr.  ('. 

A.    Reed,    ;pa  ial  agent   of   I  nited    States   I  >epart- 
ment  of  Agriculture,  visited  the  farms  and  chesl 
uui  groves  on  Sept.  8,  L91 L. 

Not  long  after  commencing  this  work  Mr.  So- 
l,,.,-  realized  that  a  nursery  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness would  he  almost  a  necessity  if  other-  were  to 
profit  by  Ins  experience-,  ami  the  demand  for  iiul> 
ami  voung  trees  has  far  exceeded  the  supply.  Rows 


340 


x<  )i;thu.mi:  iulaxd  county,  pe  X  X  SYLYA  X  I A 


of  young  trees  have  been  grafted  to  the  Sober 
Paragon  nut.  ami  heavy  shipments  are  made  each 
season.  At  first  the  orders  were  mainly  from  the 
New  England  States.  Inn  now  they  come  from  all 
parrs  of  this  country  ami  even  from  Europe.  In 
1908  a  -olid  carload  of  tin-  Sober  Paragon  nut 
went  to  Seattle.  Wash.  In  the  summer  of  1910 
a  Seattle  man  who  had  an  ambition  to  enter  the 
business  on  a  Large  scale  offered  to  buy  Mr.  So- 
ber's entire  vield  for  that  year.  Several  carloads 
ol  raung  trees  are  sold  every  spring.  In  1910 
Mr.  Sober  shipped  ami  sold  to  one  concern,  Glen 
Brothers,  i  Rochester,  X.  V..  seven  carloads  of 
bearing  trees,  and  in  addition  to  this  shipment 
sold  t"  various  other  concerns  over  five  thousand 
grafted  tree-  (nursery  stock,  two  and  a  halt  to 
feef  high).  Id  191]  he  shipped  to  Glen 
ters  two  carloads  (one  shipment)  of  bearing 
s,  eighl  i"  twelve  feel  in  height,  ami  in  addi- 
tion to  the  same  concern  at  various  time- 
ten  thousand  trees. 

s.  i  much  fur  ill-.  Sober's  success  in  chestnut 
arrowing  as  .a  business  proposition.  A-  a  beneftl 
to  those  who  have  waste  land  i"  convert  into  pay- 
ing property  the  value  of  hi-  enterprise  is  inesti- 
mable.  Hi-  idea  for  the  reclaiming  of  waste  land, 
ni'  which  there  are  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
in  Pennsylvania  alone,  is  the  transplanting  there- 
on   'I1    i g    chestnut    seedlings.     The    grafted 

begin  bearing   I   i    - r  third  year,  the 

yield  increasing  annually.  There  is  comparatively 
little  expense  beyond  the  initial  cosl  of  grafting, 
but  care  expended  in  keeping  a  grove  in  apple-pie 
order  is  mure  than  repaid  in  results.  In  the  ci  se 
of  the  Sober  groves,  scientific  management  pre- 
vails even  in  attention  to  apparently  unimportant 
details.  Every  experiment  is  closely  watched,  and 
such  reliable  statistics  have  been  kept  that  the 
SuIht  Chestnut  plantation  lias  become  the  object 
of  observation  by  government  experts,  who  have 
invited  Mr.  Seller  to  contribute  to  the  department 
such  advice  and  instruction  as  lie  thinks  necessary 
for  the  guidance  of  those  about  to  undertake  chest- 
nut culture.  He  is  always  ready  to  give  others  the 
benefits  of  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired.  Spe- 
cial devices  which  he  has  developed  or  invented  in 
the  course  of  his  work  have  been  patented,  but 
he  i-  willing  to  explain  his  methods  in  any  branch 
of  the  business,  in  share  his  ideas,  to  assisl  an\ 
who  are  earnestly  interested  in  the  subject.  He 
invented  a  wax  for  holding  in  place  the  "tongue" 
or  "whip"  graft,  which  on  his  place  has  entirely 
superseded  the  old  wedge  graft,  and  has  published 
the  formula.  Mr.  Sober  has  this  wax  colored,  ar- 
ranging to  have  each  man  he  employs  at  grafting 
use  a  different  color,  thus  enabling  him  to  follow 
up  the  work  of  any  one  man.  when  necessary. 
Mr.  Sober's  early  experience*  with  the  wedge  graft 
were  so  discouraging,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he 
engaged   professionals  to  do  the  work,  that  he  de- 


termined to  give  the  whip  graft  a  thorough  trial, 
and  the  process  has  been  so  improved  that  90  per 
eeiit  of  the  grafts  are  now  successful. 

Mr.  Sober  has  devised  an  insect  trap  for  night 
use  that  does  notable  work.  He  has  made  a  close 
stmlv  of  the  various  insects  that  blight  or  destroy 
chestnut  trees,  and  has  originated  ways  of  exter- 
minating them  or  protecting  the  tree-  against 
their  ravages.  He  himself  keeps  a  large  flock  of 
game  chickens  which  he  allows  to  run  about  in  the 
groves  to  help  make  away  with  insect  pests,  and 
sheep  are  turned  to  pasture  in  the  groves  to  keep 
thi  -  iss  and  undergrowth  cropped  close.  The 
groves  are  protected  against  fire  on  two  sides  by 
— wide  avenues  denuded  of  timber  and 
then  burned  oven  Brush  and  debris  of  all  kinds 
are  gathered  and  burned  to  prevent  accumulation 
of  air,  was  er  that  might  endanger  the  trees 

in  case  of  lire:  and  the  employees  on  the  property 
are  fully  instructed  as  to  their  duties.  It  is  not 
always  -month  sailing.  In  1906  the  crop  was  al- 
most ruined  by  locusts,  but  one  of  the  result 
the  calamity  was  that  Mr.  Sober  applied  him- 
self more  earnestly  than  ever  to  the  study  of  this 
and  other  pests,  their  habits,  etc..  until  his  in- 
vestigations covered  the  field  thoroughly  and  yield- 
ed valuable  information.  There  are  other  ene- 
mies  of  the  chestnut,  thieves  for  instance,  which 
have  to  be  guarded  against,  but  with  all  these 
drawbacks  the  venture  has  paid  and  the  profits 
are  increasing  steadily. 

1     estnul  Grove  Stuck  Farm,  the  beautiful  mod- 
trm  of  which  the  chestnut  groves  are  a  lead- 
ing   feat  lire,   lias   been    described    as   "destined   to 

I e  of  the  most   famous  farms  in  the  United 

States."  There  is  an  abundant  water  supply  from 
never  failing  springs  located  "ii  the  tract,  twenty- 
five  <<(  them,  ami  one  situated  160  feet  above  the 
house  feeds  a  large  reservoir  from  which  the  dwell- 
ing ami  buildings  are  supplied  with  running  wa- 
ter. The  main  house,  a  beautiful  three-stor; 
frame  residence,  is  situated  to  the  north  of  the 
main  road  leading  to  Sunbury,  and  there  are  four 
modern  tenement  houses.  The  big  barn.  50  by 
125  'ci  in  dimensions,  and  75  feet  from  the 
ground  to  the  top  of  the  cupola,  is  a  model  of 
convenience.  Underneath  are  twenty  box  stalls 
of  the  most  approved  tvpe.  There  is  a  hay  shed 
of  loo  ton-  capacity,  comcribs  lined  with  galvan- 
ized wire  netting  ami  granaries  lined  with  iron. 
practically  rat-proof.  Farm  machinery  in  almost 
ess  variety,  for  performing  and  facilitating 
the  work,  is  at  hand,  ami  there  is  perhaps  no  bet- 
ter equipped  blacksmith  shop  in  the  region  than 
one  on  this  place.  There  is  a  large  acetylene 
gas  generator,  of  Mr.  Sober"s  own  manufacture, 
which  lights  the  house  and  barn,  and  all  the  other 
buildings  in  which  artificial  light  is  useful.  The 
chestnut  groves  border  that  part  of  the  estate  de- 
rated  to  ordinary  agricultural   purposes,   and   be- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


341 


Miles  there  are  thousands  of  bearing  fruit  trees 
mi  the  hind,  ranged  along  the  public  and  private 
thoroughfares  which  intersect  the  property,  apple, 
ehei  r\ .  peach,  pear  and  other  fruits,  all  tO  feet 
apart,  stretching  along  three  miles  of  highway. 
These  im  Lude  over  two  thousand  grafted  cherry 
trees. 

Mr.  Solid-  has  made  a  specialty  of  raising  high- 
bred  horses,  and  has  a  QumbeT  of    fine  pedigr I 

horses,  - with  excellent  track   records.     There 

is  a  I'u  1 1  half-mile  race  course  on  the  rami,  unique- 
ly located  on  a  knoll  a  slum  distance  south  of  the 
road. 

Mr.  Sober  has  made  numerous  experiments  on 
his  land,  and  lie  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  State 
to  become  interested  in  alfalfa.  He  lias  also  tried 
Alaska  wheat,  having  put  five  acres  under  culti- 
vation   in   the  latter  crop  < season  to   test    its 

possibilities  in  the  neighbor!) I.     He  grows  the 

finesl  cantaloupes  raised  in  this  region.  He  has 
demonstrated  in  numerous  ways  the  possibilities 
of  a  well  managed  farm  property. 

The  working  forci this  extensive  domain  lias 

naturallj  been  added  to  to  meej  requirements  as 
the  property  has  been  developed,  and  in  the 
month  of  October,  L910,  when  the  chestnuts  wen 
being  gathered,  Mr.  Sober  had  115  helpers  on  his 
[arm  payroll.  Ordinarily,  twenty-five  men  are 
employed  on  the  estate,  and  live  teams  of  horses 
and  mules  are  required  to  carry  on  the  work.  As 
previously  slated,  when  Mr.  Sober  began  grafting 
chestnuts  he  did  all  the  work  himself,  having  one 
or  two  farm  hands  to  help  him.  From  twenty  to 
forty  nurserymen,  who  graft  on  an  average  300 
to  500  tree-  per  day  cadi,  are  now  engaged  for 
several  weeks  in  the  spring.  The  property  is  un- 
der the  n gement  of  Mr.  Sober's  son. 

The  farm  has  been  the  object  of  wide  attention 
.-iiid  many  prominent  men  have  visited  the  prop- 
erty, particularly  to  investigate  the  chestnut 
proposition,  a  number  of  the  States  having  men- 
tioned the  Sober  groves  in  their  annual  agricul- 
tural reports.  Frequent  mention  is  made  in  the 
National  reports.  A  trip  to' this  place  is  not 
only  interesting,  but  instructive  in  the  highest 
degree.  There  have  been  n y  press  notices  re- 
garding it  in  the  papers  and  magazines.  A  writ- 
er who'  visited  the  estate  earl]  in  September,  1911. 
a  man  widely  traveled  and  familiar  with  the  beau- 
ties of  art  and  nature  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
after  a  drive  over  the  four  hundred  acres  of  bend- 
ing, bearing  trees  spoke  of  the  scene  as  one  pass- 
ing desi  ription.  At  the  season  when  the  green  of 
the  chestnut  burr-  was  changing  to  autumn  tints, 
it  was  a  picture  which  defied  the  best  efforts  of 
brush  or  pen. 

Mr.  Sober  is  the  inventor,  patentee  and  manu- 
facturer of  acetylene  gas  generators,  conducting 
this  business  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.  He  has  done 
much   to  popularize  this  method  of  lighting,  and 


the  gas  heme  also  usable  for  cooking  purposes, 
clean,  economical,  convenient,  the  business  is  ill 
thriving  condition. 

Mr.  Sober  has  always  beeD  a  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, ready  to  give  aid  and  encouragement  to  wor- 
thy enterprises  affecting  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity. He  has  been  active  in  promoting  agri- 
cultural   fairs,   and    has    I n    a    prominent    figure 

at  such  gatherings  for  year-,  not  only  as  a  land 
owner  and  stock  breeder,  bul  also  as  a  "drawing 
card"  in  his  capacity  of  expert  marksman.  This 
brings  us  to  another  side  of  bis  remarkable  ca- 
reer A  fine  shot  and  an  enthusiastic  huntsman 
from  In-  youth,  Mr.  Sober  has  gone  into  the  field 
of  sport  with  the  same  zeal  and  keen  inti  lligi  QCO 
that  he  brings  to  hear  in  all  bis  other  iutere  ts. 
So  be  has  not  only  become  an  expert,  but  h  has 
made  it  possible  for  others  to  enjoy  hunting  and 
similar  pastimes  under  the  most  Eavorabl  i  condi- 
tions. In  the  pursuit  of  bis  Lumbering  opera- 
tions, covering  a  period  of  forty  years.  Mr.  Sober 
lias  found  great  opportunities  to  familiarize  him- 
?eli  with  the  habits  and  habitat  of  game,  and  bis 
keen  powers  of  observation,  together  with  his  na- 
tural inclination  for  systematizing  his  knowle 
mi  any  subject,  have  made  him  a  reeogtli  ;ed  au- 
thority on  such  matters,  lie  took  the  position  of 
game  i  ommissioner  with  an  object.  In  this  offi- 
cial capacity  he  has  been  aide  to  influence  the  en- 
actment of  many  of  the  wisest  provisions  now 
embraced  in  the  game  laws  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
preservation  and  propagation  of  game  have  been 

unaided  carefully,  with  the  result   that  c In 

are  improving  steadily,  and  hunting  facilities  are 
increasing  yearly,  adding  much  to  the  enjoymenl 

of    those    wh lulge    in    this    recreation.      Mr. 

Sober  himself  has  purchased  large  numbers  of 
birds,  particularly  quail,  and  liberated  them  in 
different  localities  in  the  various  fertile  valley.-  of 
the  Susquehanna.  His  love  for  trout  fishing  has 
led    him    to  stock    numerous    streams  in    ('enter. 

<  'I i n 1 1 hi   and    Lyc og  counties  with    brook   and 

other  varieties  of  trout.  1  le  is  noted  as  a  bin 
throughoul  centra]  Pennsylvania,  in  whose  remot- 
est recesses  large  numbers  of  hear.  <\n-v  and  wild- 
cats are  still  to  he  found.  For  week-  during  the 
open  sea.-oti  he  w  id  deserl  Ins  office,  abandon  the 
industries  with  which  he  i-  connected,  and.  -eel, 
ing  the  seclusion  of  the  forests  or  mountains,  ac- 
companied usually  by  another  noted  sportsman, 
will  spend  a  large  poii ion  of  i he  hunting  season  in 
rudely  constructed  camps  far  from  the  haunts  id' 
men. 

A  number  of  years  ago  Ids  love  for  field  sports 
led  him  to  join  a  syndicate  composed  of  promi- 
nent Pennsylvania  capitalists  in  the  purchase  of  a 
large  game  preserve,  which  is  probably  unequaled 
in  the  imiin  advantages  it  possesses  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  syndicate  purchased  Wallop's  island. 
on  the  eastern  shore  of   \, ac  county.  Va..  ju-i 


XOETHTjMBERLAXD  COUXTY,   l'l-\\SYLVAM.\ 


south  of  Chincoteague  island.  Wallop's  island 
m  area  of  twenty-five  hundred  acres  and  is 
said  to  shelter  more  game  than  any  similar  spot 
in  the  south — a  section  of  this  country  which  is 
highly  favored  with  game — ami  the  island  lias  one 
of  the  finesl  sea  beaches  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  six 
miles  in  length.  The  men  have  on  the  island  a 
clubhouse  of  thirty  rooms  and  a  good  wharf;  and 
with  the  oysters,  fish,  all  varieties  of  shore  birds, 
waterfowl,  and  the  delightful  climate  for  which 
Wallop's  island  is  noted,  they  have  every  facility 
tor  enjoyable  outings.  Mr.  Sober  sold  his  inter- 
i  -i-  in  this  property  in  1911. 

Mr.  Sober's  record  as  champion  gunshot  of  the 
world,  a-  "wizard  of  the  gun,"  deserves  more  than 
passing  notice,  though  it  is  only  in  a  somewhat 
limited  manner  that  we  can  speak  of  his  marvel- 
ous skill,  for  his  wonderful  gun  teats  number 
over  two  hundred,  and  he  can  entertain  a  multi- 
tude of  spectators  three  full  hours  with  his  fancy 
shooting  alone.  It  is  but  just  to  say  of  him  thai 
he  is  not  only  the  champion  trick  (or  trap)  shot 
of  the  world,  but  the  champion  all-round  shol  of 
the  universe.  We  have  here  used  the  word  "trick" 
as  a  sort  of  colloquialism,  but  it  is  not  the  cor- 
rect term.  as.  in  truth.  Mr.  Sober's  feats  with  the 
gun  are  not  mere  "tricks."  but  the  effect  or  re- 
sult of  scientific  anil  skillful  calculation,  lie  says 
he  doe-  not  know  how  he  acquired  his  exper 
Inn  "guesses  it  was  born  in  him."  Indeed,  inheri- 
tance, as  ha-  already  been  mentioned,  has  no  little 
lo  do  with  this  astounding  skill  of  bis.  in  which 
he  has  no  rival  the  world  over,  and  this  same  in- 
heritance has  clung  to  him  from  early  boyhood, 
through  every  change  in  occupation  and  fortune. 
His  expertness  in  the  use  of  the  gun  has  been 
acquired  through  pure  love  of  the  sport.  When, 
as  a  boy,  be  began  to  handle  a  gun,  he  determined 
to  excel  in  its  use.  and  often  he  would  do 
farm  work  at  night  in  order  to  gain  time 
practice  in  the  woods  by  daylight.  Many  an  hour 
he  has  also  spent  at  night  in  practicing  some 
difficult  feat,  or  some  new  method  of  handling 
his  weapon.  With  such  persistenl  exercise  in  rapid 
and  accurate  use  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  does 
marvels,  ami  his  constant  travel  in  the  forest  in 
conned  ion  with  the  business  enables  him  to  con- 
tinue his  favorite  sport  almost  constantly. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  1875  he  was  but  little 
more  than  a  boy,  and.  to  show  that  he  has  from 
early  boyhood  been  a  prodigy,  we  cite  some  remark- 
able local  sweepstake  exhibitions  given  by  him 
een  September.  1875,  and  August,  1877.  Dur- 
ing  this  time  be  participated  in  various  contests — 
shooting  at  l.sl  live  pigeons,  and  killing  440.  an 
astounding  record  of  more  than  01  per  cent!  It 
must  be  remembered,  also,  that  these  birds  were 
killed  at  twenty-one  yards  rise — and  with  the  use 
of  only  one  barrel :  excepting  that  out  of  this  num- 
ber   he   shot   nineteen   doubles,    standing   midway 


between  the  traps  forty-one  yards  apart,  shooting 
one  pigeon  from  the  left  shoulder,  the  other  from 
the  right  shoulder. 

For  several  years  past  Air.  Sober  has  hunted 
lulled  grouse  only,  as  that  is  the  quickest  bird 
m  America  to  get  in  full  flight  upon  discovery, 
and  gives  him  the  rapid  work  which  he  enjoys. 
During  the  fall  of  IS90  he  -hot  thirty-two  of  the-,. 
birds  without  a  miss,  and  in  the  last  fifty  that  he 
killed  that  year  he  shot  at  fifty-five  only.  The 
■  ss  of  this  and  other  States  has  often  made  ex- 
tended mention  of  his  wonderful  feats,  and  from 
the  "American  Field"  of  Jan.  9,  1892,  we  glean 
the  following: 

"In  the  spring  of  1880,  he  -hot  537  wild 
pigeons  in  three  days  at  Kane.  Pa.,  while  the 
birds  were  flying  to  and  from  their  feeding 
"rounds,  ami  at  no  time  did  he  kill  more  than 
one  bird  at  a  shot,  for  a  number  of  war-,  how- 
ever, the  increased  pressure  ol  business  cares  has 
prevented  Mr.  Sober  from  attending  trap  shoot-, 
from  which  fact  some  people  think  he  cannot 
-hoot  over  a  trap,  but  his  scores  on  record  show 
he  had  no  difficulty  in  winning  when  he  did  at- 
tend, lb-  broke  15 "2  King-birds  straight,  at  the 
York  fair.  He  has  never  killed  100  live  pigeons 
straight,  but  he  killed  ninety-sis  out  of  ion.  at 
twenty-one  yards  rise,  using  one  barrel  only.  At 
a  match  at  twelve  live  bat-  to  each  man.  in  which 

seventeen  si ters  contested.  Mr.  Sober  won  with 

a  score  of  eleven  killed,  it  being  the  only  match 
at  bats  in  which  he  had  contested. 

"When  lie  attended  trap  -hoots  be  often  made 
clean  -core-  at  glass  halls.  King-birds  and  live 
lis.  often  making  from  fourteen  to  thirty 
straight  kills,  and  readily  defeated  all  who  shot 
against  him.  The  most  remarkable  exhibition-  of 
Mr.  Sober's  skill,  however,  are  in  trick  shooting, 
or  as  he  terms  n  'rough  and  tumble  shooting/ 
in  which  he  handicaps  himself  in  many  differenl 
ways,  shooting  from  all  sort-  of  positions  at  King- 
birds,  "lass  halls  or  live  pigeons  sprung  from  a 
trap,  in  which  his  scores  are  fully  equal  to  those 
made  by  many  trap  shooters  who  -hoot  from  the 
shoulder  and  are  not  in  any  way  handicapped. 
Through  Ion-  practice  of  these  feats — many  of 
which  he  originated — Mr.  Sober  has  become  so 
experl  that  be  can  perform  more  unique  shots  with 
the  double-barreled  shotgun  than  any  other  liv- 
ing man.  He  performs  over  two  hundred  feats, 
each  shot  being  more  marvelous  than  the  preced- 
ing one.  all  from  different  positions  or  under  new 
forms  of  handicap.  He  breaks  glass  balls  or  King- 
birds from  cither  shoulder,  with  handkerchiefs 
tied  around  both  barrels  of  bis  gun,  with  the  bar- 
rels thrust  through  objects  of  different  sizes,  vary- 
ing from  a  cigar-box  up  to  a  flour  barrel,  with 
his  gun  either  side  up.  and  in  many  other  ways, 
with  wonderful  accuracy*.  He  even  springs  his 
own   target    (single  or  double),   and   then   breaks 


X0BTHU1IBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;i:; 


the  targets.  He  shoots  from  almosl  every  con- 
ceivable position,  standing  or  lying,  holding  the 
.hum  over  Ins  head,  between  his  legs,  at  his  neck 
or  breast,  etc. 

"Mr.  Sober  commences  with  simple  shots,  single 
and  double,  and  goes  from  one  feat  to  another, 
handicapping  himself,  oot  onlj  as  we  have  de- 
scribed, Inn  in  many  other  ways.  At  Lewisburg, 
J'a..  in  the  fall  of  1886,  he  gave  his  fourth  public 
exhibition,  when  he  shot  at  130  glass  balls  from 
fifty-one  different  positions,  and  missed  but  eight. 
At  the  tournament  of  the  Elmira  i  X.  Y)  dun 
Club,  in  July,  1887,  Mr.  Sober  made  a  phenome- 
nal record.  He  shol  at  LOS  glass  balls,  from  sev- 
enty-nine difficult  positions,  and  missed  but  four- 
teen. 

"The  mosl  difficult  of  Mr.  Sober's  si ting  feats 

cannot  be  photographed  for  the  purpose  of  illus- 
tration, such  as  placing  his  gun  on  the  ground 
at  a  distance  of  eighteen  feet,  springing  his  own 
trap,  then,  after  running  and  picking  up  his  gun, 
breaking  single  or  double  targets — King-birds  or 
glass  balls.  In  many  of  the  feats  which  he  per- 
forms Mr.  Sober  can  turn  back  to  the  trap,  call 
'pull.'  pick  up  his  gun  with  the  box,  keg  or  barrel 
on  it.  as  the  ease  may  be,  turn  around  and  score 
'dead    bird'   OD   either  single  or  doubles. 

"He  can  break  double  King-birds,  one  with  bis 
gun  overhead  and  the  other  from  his  shoulder. 
or  one  from  between  his  legs  and  the  other  from 
the  shoulder.  Scoring  doubles,  one  from  each 
shoulder,  is  to  him  but  a  simple  pastime.  The 
feats  Mr.  Sober  performs  in  shooting  with  boxes, 
barrels,  tallies  and  similar  obstructions  around  his 
gun  barrel-  arc  rendered  successful  only  by  rea- 
son of  the  nicety  of  calculation  which  he  has  ac- 
quired by  long  practice.  Many  who  see  the  King- 
birds, glass  halls  or  live  pigeons  fall  before  his 
unerring  aim  wonder  how  he  had  got  sight  over 
or  under  such  obstructions.  He  docs  not  take 
sight,  for  that  would  be  impossible.  His  success 
i-  due  to  remarkably  accurate  calculations.  When 
it  is  re inhered  that  there  are  at  least  two  hun- 
dred differenl  trick  -hots  on  his  list,  many  of 
them  more  difficult  than  we  have  described,  and 
the  fact  i-  considered  that  Mr.  Sober's  challenge 
to  the  world  in  his  line  of  shootings  remained 
open  two  years,  and  that  be  has  never  been  de- 
feated in  that  line  in  a  match,  it  is  not  strange 
that  he  is  called  the  champion  of  the  world  by 
many  admirers  in  his  native  State." 

There    is   hardly  a   sportsman   in    the   State  of 
Pennsylvania    who   has   no!    seen    him   shoot,   and 
few    in    the    Tinted    State-    who   have    nol    read    of 
his    accomplishments    with    the    gun.      He    I 
pleasure    in    showing   the    world    what    perfection 

can   be  attai I    in  the  handling  of  the  shotgun, 

and  there  i-  scan  eh  an  i  shibition  of  importance 
in  the  Staf  to  which  he  is  not  invited. 


a    full   detailed    account  of  his  exhibitions   would     barrel 


-  anneeessarj  in  tin-  article;  but  his  achieve- 
ments cannot  by  any  means  he  passed  lightly  over. 
Mr.  Sober  has  proved  himself  to  he.  beyond  a 
peradventure,  the  champion  all-round  shotgun 
shol  of  the  world,  a  title  he  .Iocs  not  assume,  bul 
"hich  belongs  to  him  by  right,  and  l,\  virtue 
"I'  his  challenge  to  the  whole  world  to  enter  the 

lists    with    him.       This    challenge    has    never    1 n 

accepted:  but  a  critical  view  of  Mr.  Sober's  mar- 
velous shots  will  remove  all  doubts  a-  to  his  abil- 
ity to  vanquish  any  other  specialist  in  hi.-  line. 
The  case  -land-  a-  follows:  In  the  "Ainerii  an 
Field"  of  Feb.  23,  1889,  Mr.  Sober  "issued  a  chal- 
lenge to  any  man  in  the  world — Dr.  W.  f.  Car- 
ver preferred — to  shoot  an  exhibition  match 
against  him  with  a  double-barrel  shotgun  for  .< 
stake  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  side;  and  he  of- 
fered to  1 1 r i \  tla>  expenses  of  any  one  who  would 
meet  linn  and  -hoot  at  Siinbury.  Pa.,  the  follow- 
ing May."  Previously  Mr.  Sober  and  Dr.  Car- 
ver had  correspondence  through  the  columns  of 
the  "American  Field."  and  the  former  had  de- 
posited fifty  dollars  forfeit  as  an  earnest  of  his 
sincerity.  Subsequently  II.  < '.  Fuller  and  Mr. 
Sober  hail  some  correspondence  through  the  same 
medium,  hut  in  neither  case  was  a  match  made, 
and  Mr.  Sober's  iiinnc\  was  returned  to  him  after 
the  lap-e  of  a  couple  of  years.  In  tin-  connection 
it  must  he  borne  in  mind  that  be  is  not  a  pro- 
fessional shot,  nor  has  he  ever  posed  as  such,  not- 
withstanding his  well  known  ability:  ami.  more- 
oxer,  he  never  performs  lor  money,  his  public 
exhibitions  being  for  the  benefit  of  some  public 
charity,  or  to  aid  in  the  attraction  to  State  and 
county  fairs.  Grange  picnics,  Grand  Army  reun- 
ions, or  similar  affairs,  and  he  is  always  -lire  lo 
In-  a  "drawing-card"  a-  the  wonder-shot  of  the 
world,  thousands  of  delighted  spectators  witness, 
ing  with  interest  his  bewildering  feats.  What 
adds  a  charm  to  the  occasion  is  his  modest,  uu- 
assuming  manner.     He  comes  on  the  scene  with  a 

calmness   and    i btrusiveness    thai    at    i   win 

the  attention  of  the  spectators,  then  what  he  <\<«~ 
i-  square  business,  with  nothing  to  attract  but 
the  merits  of  the  ver\  fine  work  he  doc-  »  n  h  the 
shotgun.     Ad  article  iii  the  Meadville  Republican 

of  September   LO,   L894,  written  by  at (witness 

of  one  of  these  exhibitions,  covers  in  a  few  wo 
what  might  be  said  of  all  Mr.  Sober's  performan- 
ces, and  we  quote  therefrom  in  part:  "The  mem- 
bers of  the  Gun  Club  visited  him  in  large  num- 
bers, and  got  from  him  mam  points  of  insi 
turn,  which  be  seemed  rer\  much  pleased  to  im- 
part. His  -kill  with  the  -Jin  was  even  more  than 
■  i  i-ed.  lie  -hoi  with  effect  in  almost  every 
on,  and  the  gun  in  .  iety 

of  grasp  under  him,  over  him.  to  right,  to  left, 
sitting,  standing,  lying,  with  gun  above  hi-  head. 
between  his  led.  upside  down,  thrust  through 
larrels.    boxes,    tables,   and    in    every    position, 


344 


N:OKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


eepl  with  the  muzzle  in  his  hands.  Loud  applause 
greeted  Iris  numerous,  wonderful  shots."  Indeed, 
we  might  quote  page  after  page  of  similar  en- 
comiums, did  space  permit;  yet  a  just  tribute  to 
"creation's  greatest  shot"  we  plead  as  excuse,  were 
such  necessary,  for  dwelling  Longer  on  this  high- 
ly interesting  subject.  In  addition  to  newspaper 
and  other  extracts  in  this  article  we  quote  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"At  (enter  Hall,  in  L889,  Mr.  Sober  commenced 
shooting.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  regular  gale, 
and  uo  one  of  the  ten  thousand  visitors  expected 
to  see  more  than  a  few  plain  shuts.  Bui  Mr.  Su- 
iter is  net  built  that  way.  He  believes  in  giving 
every  piece  on  the  program,  gale  or  no  gale.  All 
the  fancy  shots  were  made,  and  in  all  his  shooting 
he  missed  bul  one  King-bird,  which  was  caught 
by  the  wind,  and  darted  down  in  such  a  manner 
as  i ake  it  impossible  to  hit  it.  Everybody  ex- 
pressed astonishmenl  at  the  remarkable  work,  no 
one  having  any  idea  that  it  was  possible  under  the 

circumstances;  and   i ie  will  believe  hereafter 

thai  there  is  a  man  on  the  face  of  the  earth  that 
can  compete  with  < '.  K.  Sober,  when  it  comes  to 
fancy  wing  si ting."— Mfflinburg  Telegram. 

"Dr.  Carver.  Buffalo  Bill,  Captain  Bogardus, 
and  many  other  renowned  marksmen  have  given 
exhibitions,  but  none  have  excelled  Mr.  Sober'-." 
— Elrnira  Daily  Advertiser,  July  2,  1887. 

"He  handles  a  shotgun  as  a  boy  would  a  tin  rat- 
tle—  is  as  quick  as  lightning  and  as  sure  as  fate. 
Ei  accomplishes  all-  even  the  rnosl  difficult — 
shots  with  the  greatesi  ease  and  grace,  and  by  the 
time  the  ordinary  marksmen  get  through  aiming 
Mr.  Sober  will  have  broken  a  barrel  of  Ming-birds." 
— Middleburg  (Snyder  County)  Post,  Sept.  24, 
L891. 

"But  the  greatesi  feature  of  the  day  was  the 
shooting  of  Mr.  Sober  and  his  son.  This  was  a 
revelation  to  the  visitor.-  to  the  fair.  Mr.  Sober 
i-  a  wonderful  marksman.  He  shot  ai  111  targets 
yesterday,  from  a  great  number  of  different  posi- 
tions, and  at  all  sorts  of  disadvantages,  yet  he  did 
not  miss  a  single  one.  This  is,  perhaps,  the  great- 
est exhibition  Mr.  Sober  ever  gave  and  this  is 
equivalent  to  saying  that  the  York  county  fair 
grounds  have  been  the  scene  of  the  greatest  shoot- 
ing ever  done  in  the  world.  Nothing  can  prevent 
him  from  scoring.  He  shoots  just  as  accurately 
with  the  gun  turned  upside  down  and  thrust 
through  a  flour  barrel  as  he  does  in  the  usual  po- 
sition."—York  Gazette,  October.  1S94. 

We  will  conclude  our  description  of  Mr.  So- 
lid -  trap  shooting  with  an  account  of  a  couple 
of  amazing  and  almost  incredible  shots  that 
he  made:  A  bird  is  thrown  from  the  trap  thirty 
yards  away  from  the  shooter,  who  stands  with 
his  side  toward  the  trap,  with  inverted  gun. 
the  barrel  of  which  is  passed  right  through  a 
wooden  box,  14xltj  inches  in  size,  the  gun   (with 


barrel  in  the  bos  as  described)  held  at  arm's  length 
directly  above  his  head.  Thus  handicapped,  the 
marksman  pulls  the  trigger  and  the  bird  drops 
to  the  ground.  This  feat  has  been  accomplished 
by  no  other  being,  and  reads  like  one  of  Baron 
.Munchausen's  fictions,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true 
in  every  particular.  Another  remarkable  feat  Mr. 
Sober  accomplishes  with  ease  is  to  spring  two 
King-birds  from  a  trap,  shoot  one  of  them  from 
between  his  legs  while  standing  with  his  back 
toward  the  trap,  then  turn  quickly  and  drop  the 
second  King-bird.  We  cannot  avoid  giving  special 
emphasis  to  the  lour  exhibitions  given  by  Mr.  So- 
ber  at  the  York  county  fair,  before  a  multitude 
of  titty  thousand  people,  where  he  shot  at  588 
targets  with  but  five  misses,  two  of  which  were 
made  on  his  first  day's  trial,  three  being  lost  on 
the  fourth  day  toward  the  close  of  his  final  ex- 
bibition.  At  one  of  Mr.  Sober's  shooting  enter- 
tainment- given  at  Brook  Park  (Lewisburg),  in 
October,  L897,  he  killed  65  pigeons  without  amiss 
and  broke  200  targets  without  an  error.  And  it 
must  he  borne  in  mind  that  not  ;i  -hot  was  made 
withoul  some  form  of  handicap — shooting  from 
both  shoulders;  gun  inverted,  ami  above  his  head: 
with  gun  thrust  through  powder  kegs,  flour  bar- 
rels, boxes,  etc. — yet  he  seemed  to  experience 
neither  hindrance  nor  inconvenience.  It  was  like 
the  legerdemain  of  some  great  wizard. 

for  several  years  past  Mr.  Sober  ha-  passed  most 
of  Ins  time  in  the  forest,  hunting  out  timber- 
lands,  and  superintending  lumber  operations. 
These  pursuits  have  rendered  it  possible  for  him 
to  mIIow  his  favorite  sport  of  shooting  ruffed 
-i"ii-'  (Bonasa  umbellus)  almost  uninterrupted- 
ly during  the  proper  season,  and  a  gentleman  who 
ha-  accompanied  him  on  such  expeditions  says 
that,  although  hi'  has  hunted  with  many  expert 
wing  shots,  if  has  never  been  his  privilege  to  meet 
any  one  in  field  or  cover  who  was  able  to  demon- 
strate  the  phenomenal  skill  which  Mr.  Sober  dis- 
plays at  different  time-  when  grouse  -hooting  in 
the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Sober,  it  would  seem,  shoots  by  instinct 
rather  than  by  sight.  The  number  of  ruffed 
grouse,  alone,  killed  by  him  during  the  last  few 
vears  is  astonishing.  In  18S4  he  shot  95;  in 
L885,  s;  ;  m  1886,  108;  in  1887,  40;  in  1888,  117; 
in  L889,  niC  to  Dee.  i:,.  1890,  lis:  to  Dec.  21, 
1891,  103;  in  1892,  105;  in  1893.  79:  in  1894, 
97;  in  L895,  84  :  in  1896,  92;  and  in  1897.  106— 
a  total  for  the  fourteen  years  of  1,377  birds,  or 
an  average  of  over  9S  each  season.  On  Nov.  5, 
1897,  he  killed  seven  ruffed  grouse  out  of  eight 
fired  at  and  many  a  day  he  shot  at  and  killed  every 
grouse  hi'  would  see.  In  a  two  days'  hunt,  in  De- 
cember. 1880.  at  the  foot  of  Shade  Mountain, 
near  Adamslmrg.  Pa.,  he  shot  sixteen  pheasants 
(ruffed  grouse),  twelve  rabbits,  four  wild  turkeys, 
and  one  gray  squirrel. 


»»<S?  ','  IK"  -  - 


iS>  bfjf*? 


7^<<iz5"' 


■ 


■^S^^^^  *^s« 


An  Unparalleled  i  i  h  :i  iordi 

Game  killed    by   C.K.  Sober— the  Champion  All-i'ou 
of  flie  World    Ln  a  two-days'  hunt  in  December.  188  0  a  I  fool  ade 

Mountain,  near  Ad.amsburg  Peiinsvlvania.-  Sixieen  pin        i  rits    twe 
rabbits,  four   wild  turhevs   and  one  jrav  s  qui  it  el 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


345 


Mr.  Sober  says  thai  mos1  of  his  birds  were 
killed  mi  Ins  own  lands  during  his  business  tramps, 
and  thai  one  of  bis  best  shots  he  ever  made  at  ruf- 
fed grouse  was  al  Eollows:  Be  had  been  on  the 
mountains  chestnutting  and  was  returning  home 
with  a  bag  of  chestnuts  on  one  shoulder,  his  gun 
with  a  baskei  hanging  from  the  barrels  slung 
over  the  same  shoulder,  with  an  ax  in  the  other 
hand;  while  walking  along  a  lumber  mad  a  raffed 
grouse  suddenly  Hushed  from  the  side  of  the  road. 
.Mr.  Sober  dropped  the  ax,  bag  and  basket  in  time 

to  -i the  bird.     Be  has  never  me1  any  one  who 

had  the  requisite  endurance  to  stay  with  him  an 
entire  day  in  held  or  cover  shooting  when  he  trav- 
eled at  the  gait  be  usually  lake-  while  bunting 
alone.  To  still  mere  fully  set  forth  the  wonderful 
ingenuity  of  our  subject,  it  is  proper  here  to  speak 
of  a  simple  device  be  invented  and  always  carries 
wuli  In  in  on  his  bunting  expeditions,  li  is  an 
implement  for  eviscerating  game  birds,  and  when- 
ever lie  Kill-  one  he  i n i mediately,  or  as  soon  after 
as  he  ma\  have  opportunity,  uses  the  little  instru- 
ment. 1 1  is  very  simple,  merely  a  little  twig, 
sharpened  at  one  end.  with  a  small  spur  near  the 
pointed  end.  This  he  inserts  under  the  tail  of 
die  bird,  then  gives  a  twist  of  the  arm  and  the 
entrails  are  ai  once  ejected.  The  larger  part  of 
the  game  he  kills  goes  to  the  tables  of  his  friend- 
anil  the  bedside  of  the  sick.  In  hunting  the  ruffed 
grouse  (which,  by  the  way.  he  claims  is  the  gam- 
es! bird  mi  America)  he  uses  pointer  dogs  trained 
by  himself  to  such  a  marvelous  degree  of  perfec- 
tion thai  their  intelligence  seems  almost  human. 
He  has  no  use  lor  setters  in  that  pursuit,  for.  as 
he  says,  the\  are  too  headstrong  and  fast  and  not 
sufficiently  cautious. 

\liout  bis  guns  we  must  also  say  something. 
The  first  one  he  used  was,  when  he  was  a  lad,  an 
old  "flint-lock"  owned  by  an  elder  brother,  and 
with  thai  the  boy  killed  squirrels  and  rabbits  by 
the  hundreds  (game  was  plentiful  in  Pennsylvania 
then),  and  with  it  he  downed  quails,  occasionally 
on  the  wing,  as  well.  The  first  gun  he  owned  lie 
bought   for  1.1.50  and  it  was  a  28-inch,  20-gauge, 

single   barrel  which  he  says  was  made   from    

metal  for  all  he  knows:  but  with  it  he  did  great 
work  on  quails  ami  pheasants  (ruffed  grouse)  on 
the  wing  and  be  still  has  that  old  gun.  Nex1  lie 
bad  another  single  28-inch,  14-gauge  gun  made 
to  order,  with  which  he  did  fine  shooting  also. 
Hi-  third  gun  was  a  double  barreled  (30-inch  bar- 
rel-). 14-gauge,  that  weighed  six  pounds,  and  with 
it  he  defeated  the  best  shots  in  Pennsylvania,  al 
the  trap  in  pigeon  shooting.  The  next  gun  be 
bought  was  a  Parker  Brothers  make.  He  still 
use-  their  guns,  and  savs  be  will  do  so  until  lie 
finds  a  better  arm  :  for  shooting  game  he  use  a 
cylinder-bore  28-inch  barrels,  of  either  10-gauge 
or  12-gauge  In  his  -den.'"  as  he  calls  it.  a  n 
which  he  has  appropriate*!  to  his  exclusive  use  m 


his  beautiful  home  111  Lewisburg,  there  are  sug- 
gestions, from  the  number  and  variety  of  guns,  of 
a  -mall  arsenal.  Bui  after  hum  experience  with 
various  makes  of  shotguns  he  has  arrived  at  the 
conclusion  that  American-made  arms  are  equally 
a-  good  as  and  he  believes  supei  [or  to,  those  i 
foreign  manufacture,  for  shooting  in  the  field  and 
,  n  er. 

KEEPER.  There  are  a  number  who  hear  ibis 
name  residing  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  North- 
umberland county,  m  and  about  which  region  the 
name  is  particularly  well  known  for  the  reputa- 
tion those  members  of  the  family  who  have  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  have  mad.'  for 
skillful  work  and  honest  construction.  In  this 
connection  the  Keefers  have  been  famous  in  their 
Ideality  for  many  years,  and  numerous  buildings 
— public  and  privah — and  bridge-  testify  to  the 
important  part  they  have  taken  in  the  material  up- 
building of  this  section  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, though  their  work  has  not  been  eon 
wholly  to  thai  neighborhood.  Moreover,  the  num- 
ber of  contracts  «  bich  come  into  their  hand-  -hows 
thai  their  work  has  stood  the  test  of  lime,  the 
confidence  of  their  fellow  citizens  being  well  de- 
served. At  the  present  time  four  of  the  familv, 
George  W..  Philip  W..  John  S.  and  Peter  R.  Ree- 
fer, are  established  as  contractors  and  builder-  in 
Sunlmry.  Jacob  -I.  Keefer,  owner  of  the  original 
homestead    farm,    of    Keefer's    station,    in    tippet 

Augusta    township,    is    a    cousin    of    the    three    tii-l 

named,  and  a  second  cousin  to  Peter  I.'.  Keefer. 

The  Keefer  family  came  to  Northumberland 
county  from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  Jacob  Kief- 
fer.  the  first  of  whom  we  have  record,  lived  in 
Richmond  town-hip.  near  Lyons,  owning  there  an 
excellent  farm  known  as  the  original  Kieffer  borne 
stead  and  now  the  property  of  ins  grandson,  Nich- 
olas Kieffer.  He  married  Annie  Sell,  and  to  their 
union  were  horn  :  Peter  :  Rebi  cca,  vi  fi  o1  Jonathan 
Bieber,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Maxatawny,  Berks 
county:  ami  Valentine,  a  farmer  of  Richmond 
township,  who  married  Maria  \l erkel. 

Peter  Keefer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bora  m   Berks 
county,    and    came    thence    to     Northumberland 

county  aboul    ISOfi-li;.  with   wile  and   two  children. 

He  was  among  tl arh,  setl lor-  in    Augusta   i  now 

Ppper   Augusta)    township,   where    for   the    remain 
der  id'  his  life  he  followed   farming  ami   prospered, 
owning  a  tract  at   Kerf,:'-  station  which  has  mm 
heen  in  t he  family  for  m er  one  hund red  years,  be- 
ing owned  at  present  l>\  Jacob  .1    Keefer.     He  died 

on  his  homestead  al t    1850,  and  is  buried  at  Sny- 

dertown.  He  married  in  Berks  county,  and  his 
children  were:  Daniel,  George,  Peter  (a  deaf  mute, 
wdm  lived  ai  Keefer's  station,  m  Northumberland 
countv),  John,  Catharine.  Molly,  Elizabeth  and 
Hannah.  Two  id'  the  daughters  married  and  lived 
in  Berks  conn; 


346 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  1 A 


The  following  interesting  article  concerning  the 
Keefer  farm  appeared  in  the  Sunbury  Daily:  "On 
Saturday,  Sept.  7,  1907,  the  Keefer  farm,  at 
Keefer's  station,  ahout  five  miles  from  Sunbury  on 
the  creek  road,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Keefer 
family  for  the  period  of  one  hundred  years,  a  fact 
demonstrated  by  deeds  shown  a  reporter  of  this 
r  by  Mr.  Calvin  Keefer,  one  of  the  attaches  in 
the  office  of  the  county  commissioners. 

"The  deed  of  this  tract  of  land,  amounting  to 
about  173  acres,  was  originally  issued  from  the 
surveyor  general's  office  of  tin-  Province  under  the 
Penns  in  1769  to  Samuel  Pearson,  after  whose 
death  it  descended  to  his  son  Gi  ot  ge,  who.  in  1  786, 
conveyed  it  to  William  Clark,  of  Catawissa  town- 
ship, and  in  the  same  year  Clark  deeded  it  to  Alex- 
ander Porter,  of  Harrisburg,  at  the  price  of  410 
pounds,  which  in  the  presenl  currency  would  be 
aboui  $1,693.  Porter  being  unable  to  pay  the 
whole  of  the  stipulated    prii  ai  I    ■■•■  as  a 

by  Sheriff  Martin  Withington  and  sold  at  sheriff 

sab Jan.  6,  1789,  to  Christopher  Reed,  of  Tul- 

pehocken  township.  Berks  county,  for  106  pounds 
and  H>  shillings  Ri  ed  h  Id  it  until  Sepl  7,  1807, 
when  he  deeded  it  to  Peter  Keefer.  for  the  sum 
of  1,100  pounds,  or  ahout  $5,346  in  present  cur- 
rency. It  was  in  this  way  that  one  hundred  years 
ago  this  well  known  property  came  into  possession 
of  the  Keefer  family,  remaining  in  that  ownership 
for  that   long  period   without  a   break.     In    1829 

Peter  Keefer I  it  to  his  son,  John  Keefer, 

who   retained    the  ownership   of  it   for   about   fifty 
ears   and   then   transferred    it  by  deed  to  Jacob 
Keefer.   grandson   of   the  original    Peter  Ki 
who  is  the  present  owner  and  occupant  of  the  land. 

•■This  farm  has  been  the  birthplace  of  a- num- 
ber of  generations  of  Keefers,  among  whom  were 
William.  David,  Eliza  (wifi  '  ph  Wolverton), 
Benjamin  F..  Charles  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom  are 
defeased,  and  surviving  are  Mrs.  George  W.  Stroh, 
of  Sunbury:  Amelia  McCloughan,  of  Rushtown; 
Peter  Keefer.  of  Mam  die.  and  Jacob,  who  now 
owns  and  occupies  the  old  homestead.  The  fourth 
generation  is  living  in  the  house,  which  was  built 
l,\  Christophei  Reed,  who  bought  the  land  at  sher- 
iff sale  m  1789,  making  it  one  of  the  oldesl  hous- 
es in  this  section  of  country." 

Daniel  Keefer,  son  of  Peter,  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  married  George  Bile  and  (second) 
Samuel  Savidge:  Elizabeth  married  Abraham 
Ruch  and  (second)  Benjamin  Kreigbaum;  Cath- 
arine married  Joseph  Savidge,  and  died  in  1909  in 
her  ninety-sixth  year:  Hannah  married  Fred 
Reigel  and  (second)  Thomas  Van  Kirk:  Julia 
married  Andrew  Hoover;  Samuel  died  in  the 
West;  Michael  died  in  Sunbury:  Margaret  married. 
Benjamin  Hoover,  brother  of  Andrew  :  Amelia 
married  James  Farnesworth:  Rosanna  married  Jer- 
i  miah  Weaver.     The  onlv  survivors  of  this  family 


are  Mrs.  Margaret  Hoover  and  Mrs.  Amelia 
Farnesworth. 

George  Keefer,  son  of  Peter,  was  bom  in  1796  in 
Oley  township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  came  to  V 
umhei'land    county    with    his    parents    when 

ear-  old.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Lower 
Augusta  township,  settling  near  Lantz's  Church, 
and  he  owned  three  farms  in  that  township,  bei 

n_  very  prominent  in  the  business  and  public  af- 
fair- of  his  locality.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and 
continued  to  follow  both  farming  and  milling  until 
1  86  1.  when  he  disposed  of  In-  gristmill :  he  farmed 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  16,  1879,  in 
Augusta  township,  when  he  was  eighty-two  Near- 
old.      He   is  buried  at  the   Lantz  Church,  having 

in  ai  bive  member  of  the  Reformed  cone  _. 
tion  of  that  church,  which  he  helped  to  build.  He 
d  many  years  as  trustee  and  elder.  He  was  a 
will  known  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and 
active  in  it-  councils  and  held  township  offices,  lie 
was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with    Re- 

iecca   Lantz.  daughter  of  Samuel,  by  which  mar- 
riage   there    were    six    children:    Hannah    ma: 
Isaac   Ubert;  Samuel  L.  is  mentioned  below;  Mar- 
garet married  Henrj  Arnold:  Molly  married  John 
Zimmerman;    Peter,   born    .March    3,    1838,    is  de- 
ceased;   Mary   died   young.      Mr.    Keefer',-   second 
marriage   was   to    Elizabeth    Weiser,   daughter  of 
Philip   Weiser.   who  served   as  a   lieutenant   in   the 
Revolutionary  war   from   Northumberland  county. 
There    were   also    six   children    by   this    i 
Catharine  married  William   Fegley;  George  V 
mentioned  below:  Philip  W.  is  mentioned  below: 
Sarah  J",  married  Jacob  Goss,  of  Sunbury:  John 
S     -  a  well  known  contractor  of  Sunbury;   Lucy 
Alice  married  Luther  Cooper. 

Sajiuel  L.  Keefer,  -mi  of  George  and  Rebecca 
i  Lantz  i  Keefer.  was  born  March  39,  1829,  in  what 
was  then  known  as  Augusta  (now-  Rockefeller) 
township,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life,  which  he  fol- 
lowed throughput  his  active  years.  Upon  his  re- 
tirement, in  1886,  he  moved  to  Sunbury.  win  n 
own-  the  property  at  Xo.  816  Market  street.  He 
still  spends  his  summers  in  Rockefeller  township, 
however,  owning  a  farm  of  fifty-six  acres  there. 
parr  of  the  old  original  homestead  of  in-  grand- 
i'.  Peter  Keefer.  Mr.  Keefer  always  preferred 
to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his  own  affairs. 
refusing  offices  at  various  times,  but  he  has  never- 
theless done  his  duty  as  an  intelligent,  public- 
spirited  citizen,  having  served  eight  years  as  school 
director  in   Rockefeller  township  and  two  years  as 

after  his  removal  to  Sunbury. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  in  religion  an  ac- 
tive member  of  tin-  Reformed  Church,  to  which  he 
ha-  uiveii  valuable  service  a-  deacon  and  elder  anil 
in  the  church  council.  He  helped  to  erect  the  par- 
sonage "f  the  Augusta  charge,  assisting  in  the  work 
to   a   considerable  extent.     His   family  have  also 


NOKTHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,   I'KXXSVLV 


\  M  A 


:;i; 


belonged  to  this  church.  Mr.  Keefer  joined  the 
P.  of  II.  grange  a1  Seven  Points. 

Jn  1850  Mr.  Keefer  married  Barbara  Ann  Sav- 
idge,  daughter  of  George  Savidge,  of  Plum  Creek, 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them:  William  G., 
who  died  m  infancy;  Amelia,  now  the  n  ife  of  John 
Rebuck,  of  Lower  Augusta;  and  Peter  K..  of  Sun- 
linrv.  mentioned  below.  The  mother  died  in  L861. 
Mr.  Reefer's  second  marriage  was  to  Harriet  Mal- 
ick,  daughter  of  William  Malick,  and  by  this  union 
there  were  five  children:  Jennie  (deceased),  who 
married  David  Wolf;  David  Franklin,  of  Sunbury; 
Charles  M..  of  New  York;  Harry  Otto,  who  is  en- 
gaged as  clerk  in  the  railroad  office  ai  Sunbury; 
and  Eva,  who  is  ai  home. 

Peter  R.  Keefer,  son  of  Samuel  L.,  was  horn 
Aug.  t.  1859,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  and 
lived  on  the  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen years.  He  then  began  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  George 
W.  Keefer,  working  as  journeyman  some  years  he- 
fore  he  formed  bis  partnership  with  Samuel  Ruth- 
raiilf.  The  firm,  known  as  Ruthrauff  &  Keefer, 
lasted  for  seven  years,  and  since  its  dissolution  Mr. 
Keefer  has  been  in  business  alone,  his  home  and 
business  being  in  Sunbury.  He  builds  from  five  to 
ten  bouses  yearly,  and  has  as  many  as  twenty-five 
men  in  his  employ.  Mr.  Keefer  frequently  does 
the  designing  and  drafting  as  well  as  the  construc- 
tion work  of  his  various  contracts,  and  there  are 
some  very  creditable  specimens  of  his  craft  in  this 
locality,  he  having  erected  the  Moses  Kauffman 
building  on  Markel  street  :  the  East  End  Hardware 
Company's  building;  the  Clemmer  building;  an  ad- 
dition to  the  "City  Hotel";  and  the  Lemuel  Rocke- 
feller home — a  large  private  residence  of  eighteen 
rooms. 

On  Feh.  21,  1881,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Emma  R. 
Crowl,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Huey) 
Crowl,  of  Sunbury,  formerly  of  Elysburg,  and  they 
have  had  one  daughter,  Mary  Belle.  Mr.  Keefer 
and  his  famih  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  Ins  political  prefer- 
em  es,  and  fraternally  belongs  to  several  local  or- 
ganizations, holding  membership  in  Fort  Augusta 
Lodu-e.  No.  620,  I.  0.  <».  F. ;  Maclay  Lodge,  No. 
r.:'.?.  V.  &  A.  M..  and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  all  of 
Sunbury. 

George  W.  Keefer,  eldest  son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Weiser)  Keefer,  has  been  established  in 
business  in  Sunbury  as  a  contractor  and  builder 
since  the  early  seventies,  and  has  made  a  wide  rep 
utation  in  that  line  of  work.  He  was  born  April 
22,  1845,  near  Lantz's  Church  in  Lower  Augusta 
(now    Rockefeller)    township,   and    there   received 

Ins  education  in  the  public  scl Is.     He  was  reared 

upon  his  father's  farm  and  continued  to  assist  with 
the  work  at  home  until  he  reached  the  age  ol  six- 
teen, when  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
working  four  rears  as  a  journeyman.     In   186 


engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  what  was 
known  as  "Hull's  -tore"  in  Lower  Augusta  (no\i 
Rockefeller  i  township,  be  and  his  brother  Peter 
doing  business  there  for  a  year  and  a  half,  at  I 
end  of  which  tune  they  sold  out  to  Jen  miah  Fa- 
old.  They  then  moved  to  Herndon,  when 
were  in  the  same  line  of  business  for  another  year 

and  a  half,  George  W.   Keefer  c ing  to  Sunbi 

in  1869.  'there  he  established  himself  in  business 
at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market  streets,  n 
be  was  located  for  nine  years,  but  within  a  com- 
paratively short  time  be  became  interested  in  what 
bas  proved  to  be  Ins  life  work,  taking  up  contract- 
ing and  building  in  1872.  The  important  con- 
tracts for  buildings  in  and  around  Sunbury  which 
he  has  filled  are  many,  and  he  ha  u  i  ed  espe 
rial  success  in  the  building  o1  bridges,  in  different 
section-  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  In  L881 
Mr.  Keefer  built  the  present  big 
in  Sunbury,  and  also  erected  the  Zion's  Luth- 
eran Church,  for  which  he  also  did  all  the  design- 
ing and  drafting;  the  Harrison  building,  now  the 
Fust  National  Hank  building  of  Sunbury,  is  of 
his  construction  :  as  are  the  Episcopal  ( Ihurch  and 
mam  fine  residences  in  and  around  Sunbury.  Mr. 
Keefer  has  built  nine  bridges  across  the  Juniata 
river;  the  Northumberland  bridge  across  the  Sus- 
quehanna (1876);  the  bridgi  across  the  Susque- 
hanna between  Milton  and  West  Milton ;  and  about 
one  hundred  other  bridges,  large  and  small,  in 
various  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  He  bas  built  a 
number  of  schoolhouses  in  Sunbury,  Altoona,  Bei 
wick  and  other  cities,  at  times  employing  as  mam 
a-  seventy-five  men.  He  is-still  active  In  the  con- 
tracting business,  and  does  his  own  designing  and 
drafting.  Meantime  he  has  also  acquired  other 
business  interests,  having  become  president  of  the 
Sunbury  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  upon 
it-  organization  in  1896  and  president  of  the  Sun- 
bun  Board  of  Trade  upon  the  organi  ation  oi  that 
body,  in  1891.  In  this  connection,  as  well  as  in  his 
capacity  of  chief  executive  of  the  borough,  a  p 
tion  he  filled  for  three  term-,  be  ha<  had  consider- 
able influence  in  the  progress  and  welfare  oi  S 
bury.  In  fact,  he  has  been  a  leader  in  almost  ev- 
ery line,  social,  political  or  business,  in  which  he 
has  taken  any  interest,  lie  i-  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, served  a  number  of  years  as  member  of  the 
town  council,  and  as  staled  was  chief  burgess  for 
terms;  be  and  his  family  worship  at  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sunbury,  where  he 
was  leader  of  the  choir  for  man)  rears.  Fratern- 
ally be  i-  a  Mason,  rig  membership  in  Sham- 
okm  Lodge,  No.  255,  F  &  \.  \l..  and  he  is  a  char- 
,  r  of  t  be  Temple  ( 'luh  at  Shamokin.  For 
•  "Hi inued  his  membership  in  vari- 
ous ocieties,  bul  of  late  years  has  re- 
linquished these  assoi  iat  ions. 

On   Nov.  16,   1869,  Mr.   Keefer  married    l-ahella 
M.  Zeigler,  daughter  of  George  W.  and   Mary  A. 


348 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


(MeQuistion)  Zeigler,  the  former  of  whom  was  at 
din'  time  a  prominent  attorney  at  Sunbury,  re- 
in nil;  im  1895.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keefer  have  ao  chil- 
dren. 

Philip  W.  Keeper,  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Weiser)  Keefer.  was  born  Nov.  22,  1846,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  attended  pub- 
lic   school.      Hi'   worked    mi    the    farm   until    he 

reached   the   age  of   sevi a,   when   he  came  to 

Sunbury  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  serv- 
ing  his  apprenticeship  with  Solomon  Brosins. 
Alter  remaining  in  his  emploj  -i\  years  he  went 
West,  for  a  year  working  in  Chicago,  111.,  whence 
he  wvni  in  Wisconsin,  in  which  State  lie  spent  six 
years.  Returning  to  Pennsylvania  in  1  s 7 < ;  he  set- 
tled ai  Sunburj  ami  followed  his  trade  ami  also 
tools  contracts  mi  Iris-own  account,  building- houses 
ami  bridges,  in  which  work  In-  is  still  engaged. 
Man}  fine  residences  in  Sunbury  axe  of  his  con- 
struction, and  lie  has  built  many  bridges  in   North 

umberland,    Mifflin    ami    Juniata    < ties,    this 

Siatc  In-  work  being  substantia]  ami  of  workman- 
like execution.  He  has  been  successful  from  a  fi- 
nancial standpoint  and  has  been  able  to  make  a 
number  oi  good  real  estate  investments  in  Sun- 
bury,  where  lie  owns  considerable  valuable  prop- 
erty.  Mr.  Reefer  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  fraternity.  In  religion  he  unites  with 
the  Reformed  <  'lunch. 

Mr.  Keefer  married  Annie  11.  Hemp,  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  who  died  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
sis  years,  and  is  buried  at  Sunbury.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  union  :  George  II. ,  of  Mount  Car- 
mel.  who  is  fully  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work:  and  Elizabeth  A.,  wife  of  Ernsl  F.  Beals,  of 
Sunbury  (they  have  three  children,  Georgiana, 
Cordon  ami  Manford  I. 

John  S.  Keefeb,  son  of  George  ami  Elizabeth 
(Weiser  i  Keefer.  was  horn  July  13,  1850,  in  Lower 
Lugusta  i  now  Rockefeller)  township,  ami  was 
there  reared,  lie  began  to  help  with  the  farm 
work  at  an  early  age.  ami  was  thus  engaged  until 
he  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  when  a 
young  man  of  eighteen,  lie  has  followed  this  work 
from  1868  to  the  present  time,  having  been  em- 
ployed as  a  journeyman  until  lsso.  when  he  be- 
gan  to  take  contracts  for  himself.  At  that  time  he 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  brothers  George 
W.  ami  Peter  and  Richard  (lass,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Keefer  Brothers  &  Cass.  This 
firm  built  and  operated  a  store,  which  they 
sold  out  after  three  years  to  C.  W.  Boss- 
ier, tin-  lnothers  George  W.  and  John  S. 
Keefer  continuing  the  contracting  and  building 
business.  Mr.  Keefer  has.  like  his  brothers,  done 
considerable  work  in  the  way  of  bridge-building  in 
his  (lav.  Among  his  contracts  have  been  the  annex 
to  the  •'Central  Hotel"  and  school  buildings  in 
Sunbury;  the  large  cap  factory  at  Northumber- 
land which  was  destroyed  bv  lire  in  1909:  and  oth- 


er important  structures.  He  has  aboul  twenty 
skilled  mechanics  in  his  employ.  Mr.  Keefer  has 
been  quite  active  in  a  number  of  movements  af- 
fecting the  progress  ami  upbuilding  of  the  borough. 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trade  or- 
ganized m  tin-  borough,  which  bod}  was  instru- 
mental in  influencing  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Com- 
pany to  establish  its  plant  in  this  place,  lie  is  a 
director  of  the  Sunbury  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  having  served  as  such  since  its  organ- 
ization, in  1896.  His  enterprise  ami  executive 
ability  have  made  him  a  factor  of  value  and  influ- 
ence in  encouraging  ami  promoting  movements  for 
the  advancemenl  of  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Keefer  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith  ami 
has  long  been  active  in  the  councils  of  the  party, 
having  served  a  number  of  times  as  ward  commit- 
teeman. He  served  two  terms  as  overseer  of  the 
and  iwo  terms  a-  councilman  from  the  Fourth 
ward.  At  one  time  tie  was  active  in  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows and   Knights  of   Pythias  fraternities. 

In  1871  Mr.  Keefer  married  Annie  Beidelspach, 
daughter  of  Judge  Isaac  Beidelspach,  of  Northum- 
berland county,  ami  two  children  have  I n  born 

io  them:  Maud,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Beck 
er,    of    Sunbury:    and    Edna    M..   at    home.      Mr. 
Keefer  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First 
Reformed  ( 'hurch  of  Sunbury. 


John      Keelel  .    -    of    lh,'    -oil-    of     Peter     Keefer. 

who  came  from  Berk-  county,  wa-  horn  in  Berks 
county  in  1801,  and  died  Aug.  T.  1882,  aged  eighty 

rears,  nine  i ths,  two  days.     By  his  first  wife. 

Mary  (Mart/,  i.  who  died  young,  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, David  ami  William.     His  sec I  wile.  Susan 

I  Martz),  a  sister  of  the  first,  died  July  ;.  is;:,. 
aged  sixty-six  years.  To  this  union  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Eliza,  who  married  Joseph 
Woherfoii.  of  Snydertown;  Sarah.  Mrs.  George  W. 
Stroh  :  Benjamin  1'.:  Jacob  .1.:  Amelia,  wife  of 
Samuel  McCloughan,  of  Rushtown;  Charles,  of 
Sunbury:  Joseph,  of  Sunbury;  and  Peter,  of  Dan- 
ville, I'a.  Jacob  J.  and  Peter  are  now  (1911)  the 
only  survn  ors. 

Capt.  i'.i.x.iAMix  F.  Ki:i:i'i:if.  son  of  John,  was 
horn  Aug.  •'!.  1838,  on  the  old  home  place  at 
Keefer's  station,  a  short  distance  from  Sunbury. 
When  a  young  man  he  went  to  Shamokin,  when  lie 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  upon  the  out- 
hreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  answered  the  first  call  for 
volunteers,  becoming  a  private.  He  served  as  such 
three  months.  Returning  to  Shamokin  be  re- 
mained there  only  a  short  time,  going  thence  to 
Muncy,  where  he  organized  Company  II,  I3ls1 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  going  to  the  front  in 
command  of  that  company.  He  served  nine 
months  with  credil  and  distinction,  being  mus- 
tered out  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  At  the  close 
of  this  period  of  service  he  returned  to  Muncy,  in 
1863,  ami  was  there  married  to  Caroline  Johnson. 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


349 


of  that  place.  They  moved  to  Sunbury  in  1865 
and  ever  afterward  made  their  home  in  that  bor 
ough.  Captain  Keefer  was  nol  only  a  carpenter 
and  contractor  of  recognized  ability;  but  also  an 
architect;  and  built  up  such  an  excellent  patronage 
in  the  borough  that  it  contained  many  evidences 
of  his  skill  in  Ins  chosen  field  of  work.'  He  was  a 
man  of  active  mind,  progressive  and  public-spir- 
ited, and  took  pan  in  the  affairs  of  the  municipal- 
ity Tor  mam  years,  serving  twelve  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  scl I  board  ami   from  1893  to  1896  as 

chief  burgess,  lie  was  influential  m  promoting 
many  of  the  most  beneficial  changes  in  the  admin- 
istration of  local  affairs  ami  was  instrumental  m 
the  advancement  of  the  local  school  system  to  an 
appreciable  extent.  A  man  of  cheerful  ami  sunny 
disposition,  inclined  in  look  on  the  bright  sale 
of  life  though  practical  in  his  habits,  warm  and 
sincere  in  hi-  f ricm Iships,'  genial  and  hospitable, 
his  death,  which  occurred  at  Ins  home  on  Spruce 
street,  in  November,  190?,  was  mourned  by  many 
beyond  Ins  family  circle,  lie  was  buried  in  the 
lower  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Captain  Keefer  was 
a  member  id'  the  0.  A.  R.  ami  of  Local  No.  838, 
Carpenters'  and  Joiners'  Union,  lie  was  survived 
by  his  wife  and  four  sous.  Clyde,  Harry.  Frank 
and  Edward,  all  residents  of  Sunbury. 

Clyde    Keefer,    son    of    ('apt.    Benjamin    F. 
Keefer,  was  horn    Nov.    Hi.  1864,  at  Muncy,  Pa. 

He   Wa-   educated    in    tile    pllhllc   Schools   of    SllllhurV, 

graduating  from  the  high  school,  and  when  six- 
teen veai-  old  began  doing  clerical  work  as  clerk 
in  a  genera]  store  conducted  by  I ».  11.  Snyder  & 
Co.  With  that  concern,  which  changed  ownership 
ami  style  several  times  during  this  period,  lie  con- 
tinued until  April,  1908,  when  three  of  the  old- 
est clerk-.  Mr.  Keefer  being  one.  bought  the  busi- 
ness. His  partners  arc  S.  11.  Snyder  and  T.  A. 
Layman,  and  they  are  associated  under  the  firm 
name  .if  S.  II.  Snyder  -v  Co.  Thus  Mr.  Keefer 
has  been  connected  with  the  same  establishment 
throughout  his  business  career.  The  firm  does  a 
large  general  business,  dealing  extensively  in 
country  produce,  groceries,  flour,  carpets,  rugs, 
etc..  and  employment  is  given  to  ten  people.  Mr. 
Keefer  i-  a  respected  citizen  of  Sunbury,  and  has 
served  four  years  as,auditor  of  the  borough,  lie 
is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

On  June  23,  1896,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Carrie 
DeHaven,  daughter  of  Jehu  ami  Mary  I  Douglass  i 
DeHaven,  and  they  have  one  son,  Harold  De- 
Haven,  horn  May  30,  L897,  now  a  student  at  the 
Sunbury  high  school.  The  family  reside  in  a  com- 
fortable home  at  Xc  L49  Chestnut  street,  Sun- 
bury. The}  are  members  and  supporters  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  Mrs.  Keefer  is  an 
active  worker. 


Jacob  .1.   Keefee,  son  of  John,  the  farmer  on 
the  original  homestead  ai   Keefer's  station,  in  Up- 


per Augusta  township,  was  horn  March    L2,   L840, 

at    the    place    where    he    m.w    lives.      Th mon 

schools  of  the  township  afforded  him  his  educa- 
tional privileges,  and  he  wa-  reared  to  farming, 
which  he  ha-  followed  at  the  same  place  all  his 
life.  He  purchased  the  property  in  1882,  after 
his  father's  death,  and  now  owns  102  acre-.  The 
present  house  was  erected  by  Christopher  Reed 
prior  to  1806.  The  ham  was  built  by  John 
Keefer  in  1844.  Jacob  .1.  Keefer  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful genera]  farmer  ami  is  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous ami  substantial  resident-  of  his  locality,  lie 
has  been  school  director  ami  Served  some  years  as 
overseer  of  the  poor. 

<>n  Feh.  I'.',  1867,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Susan 
NTeidig,  daughter  of  Michael  Neidig,  of  Kittle  Ma- 
haiiov  township,  whose  wife  wa-  a  Wagner.  On 
their  fortieth  wedding  anniversary  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Keefer  had  their  picture-  taken,  he  in  his  wedding 
inat  and  vest  and  -In-  in  her  wedding  dress,  in 
which  she  was  buried.  She  died  May  12,  1910, 
aged  sixty-seven  years,  five  months,  five  days,  and 
is  interred  near  Snydertown.  Four  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Keefer:  (1)  Howard  F.. 
horn  April  •'!.  1868,  assists  his  father  on  the  farm, 
lie  is  unmarried.  (?)  Calvin  P.,  hum  Aug.  16, 
1875,  look  a  husiness  course  in  the  Shamokill  bus- 
iness college  and  subsequently  began  clerking  for 
a  lumber  concern.  For  three  years  he  was  engaged 
as  clerk  in  the  county  commissioners'  office,  and  he 
is  now  employed  as  clerk  in  the  Susquehanna 
Silk  Mills  at  Sunbury.  lie  married  Mary  A. 
Pfahler,  who  was  a  school  teacher  before  her  mar- 
riage,   and    they    ha\ le   child.    Prances.      (3) 

Lloyd    C.    is   uieiili id    below.      (  1 )    Dennis    F.. 

born  Dec.  26,  1884,  received  a  public  school  edu- 
cation, graduating  in  KM)'?,  and  then  took  a  course 
af  the  Sunbury  high  school,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1906.  In  1908  he  was  appointed  reg- 
ular- letter  carrier  on  Routi    No.  ',.  in  Sunbury. 

Mr.  Keefer  and  his  family  are  members  of  St. 
John's  Eeformed  Church,  near  Snydertown.  ami 
he  has  been  elder  ami  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
church  for  years.  He  i-  -till  serving  as  elder  and 
also  a-  treasurer.     Politically  he  is  a  Demoi  fat 

Lloyd  C.  Keefeb  was  bom  Feh.  ;.  L882,  at 
Keefer's  station  iii  Upper  Augusta  township,  and 
obtained  In-  early  education  in  the  t"w  nship  pub 
lie  schools.  Later  he  attended  Susquehanna  \>ad 
envy,  at  Lewisburg,  from  which  he  wa-  graduated, 
and  then  for  several  terms  wa-  a'  student  at  the 
Freeburg  Music  Academy,  after  which  he  took  a 
course  at  Susquehanna  University,  Selinsgrove, 
Pa.  Meantime,  in  bis  eighti  enth  year,  In-  began 
t  each  i  nu  school,  in  his  native  township.  He  tan- hi 
ii\e  terms  in  all.  two  in  I  pper  Augusta  township, 
one  in  Rush  township  and  two  in  the  grammar 
school  ai  Snydertown.  In  the  spring  of  1906  he 
engaged  m  farming — with  which  he  has  been  fa- 
miliar  all    his   life — on    his  own    account    in    Rush 


350 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


township,  where  he  has  since  lived,  near  Klines- 
grove.  He  has  a  tract  of  150  acres,  upon  which 
arc  two  sets  of  new  buildings.  On  April  19.  1905, 
he  married  Grace  Eckman  Savidge,  daughter  of 
Harman  and  Clarissa  (Eckman)  Savidge  and 
niece  of  Judge  Savidge.  and  they  have  had  one 
daughter.  Dorothy  Gladys.  Mr.  Keefer  and  his 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  and  Methodist 
Churches.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith, 
and  socially  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  (  Sny- 
dertown  Lodge.  No.  527)  and  Modern  Woodmen 
(.Camp  No.  8678)   at  Snydertown. 

MURDOCK.  William  Murdo'ck,  the  progen- 
itor of  the  Murdock  family  of  Northumberland 
county,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  came  to  this 
countn  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, lie  served  under  General  Braddock  at  the 
time  of  his  defeat  at  the  hands  of  the  French  and 
Indians  in  1755.  He  was  afterward  a  member 
of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Augusta,  and  continued  to 
reside  there  after  his  term  of  service  had  expired. 
In  June,  1772,  he  was  one  of  the  men  employed 
by  Surveyor  General  Lukens  in  laying  out  the 
town  of  Sunbury.  In  the  earliesl  list  of  taxables 
of  Northumberland  county.  1774.  he  was  assessed 
owner  of  300  acre-  of  land,  probably  granted 
him  for  military  services.  From  1785  to  1790 
he  was  tyler  of  Lodge  No.  ".''.'.  Ancient  York  Ma- 
sons, at  Sunburv.  He  died  in  1790.  His  wife 
died  in  1793. 

Robert  Augustus  Murdock,  son  of  William  Mur- 
dock. was  born  at  Fort  Augusta,  IF-  was  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. In  1799  he  married  Mary  Fisher,  of  Chillis- 
quaque,  a  daughter  of  William  Fisher,  one  of  the 
early  Chillisquaque  settlers,  who  had  obtained  a 
patent  from  the  proprietaries  in  177  1  for  a  tract 
along  Chillisquaque  creek.  This  tract  he  after- 
ward -old  to  Samuel  Bond  and  in  1790  bought 
2414  acres  for  540  pounds,  known  at  the  present 
tine-  a-  the  Frederick  and  Kissel  farms.  William 
Fisher  was  second  lieutenant  in  the  Northumber- 
land county  militia  organized  m  1777.  IF'  al-n 
filled  various  township  offices  am!  was  one  of  the 
original  subscribers  to  the  Chillisquaque  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  died  in  1794.  IF' was  a  native 
of  Cumberland  county,  as  was  also  his  wife  Mary, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Murray,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Robert  A.  Murdock  continued  to  live  on 
nan  of  the  Fisher  farm,  where  be  followed  his 
trade,  that  of  cabinetmaker,  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1845.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  pol- 
itics and  filled  various  township  offices.  In  1834 
he,  with  a  number  of  other  Chillisquaque  men. 
vigorously  protested  against  the  removal  of  the 
public  deposits  front  the  Bank  of  the  United 
Stated.  His  wife.  Mary  Fisher  Murdock,  died  in 
ls"i".     They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children. 

Thomas  Murray  Murdoch,  second  son  of  Robert 


A.  Murdock,  was  born  in  Chillisquaque  township 
in  1803.  He  was  a  contractor  and  builder.  In 
1834  he  was  married  to  Eleanor  Wilson,  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Wilson,  Jr.  (17:9-1826),  who  lived 
near  where  Pottsgrove  now  is.  and  who  for  many 
years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  paymaster  in 
the  militia  (4Sth  Regiment),  and  whose  father. 
Nathaniel  Wilson.  Sr..  was  born  in  1717  and  died 
in  Chillisquaque  in  1807.  Nathaniel  Wilson.  Sr.. 
was  married  to  Eleanor  .McAllister  in  1774.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  Chillis- 
quaque Presbyterian  Church.  Nathaniel  Wilson, 
dr..  was  married  to  Sarah  Bond  (1781-1832),  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Bond  (17o4-1838)  who  emi- 
grated to  Chillisquaque  in  1790  from  Maryland, 
and  who  afterward  became  prominent  in  North- 
umberland county  politics,  being  commissioned 
justice  of  the  peace  in  17'.'7.  and  serving  as  county 
commissioner  from  1806  to  1809,  and  as  member 
of  the  Slate  Legislature  from  1S11  to  1813.  and, 
again,  representing  Columbia  county  in  the  Legis 
lature  from  1816  to  1818.  Samuel  Bond  was  a 
grandson  of  sir  Richard   Bond,  of  England. 

Thomas  M.  Murdock  was  politically  a  Demo- 
crat. In  1841  lie  rebuili  the  Susquehanna  river 
bridge,  which  had  been  swept  away  by  a  flood. 
Hi-  wife,  Eleanor  Wilson  Murdock.  died  in  1872. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children:  Sarah. 
wife  of  the  late  C.  W.  Tharp,  Esq.;  Robert  Ham- 
mond, who  is  still  living,  and  who  for  many  year- 
was  the  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com 
pany  at  Curry.  Pa.;  Jane,  wife  of  Williamson 
Marsh,  deceased:  Nathaniel  Wilson,  who  died  in 
1860,  in  bis  eighteenth  year;  Thomas  A.:  and 
Elizabeth  Ellen,  who  married  George  Barclay. 
of  Milton. 

Thomas  Augustus  Mubdock,  son  of  Thomas 
Murray  Murdock.  was  born  in  Milton  June  20, 
1847.  After  attending  the  Milton  Academy  for  a 
time  he  learned  telegraphy  and  went  to  work  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  in  1864,  and 
was  with  that  company  continuously  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  Dec.  3,  1909,  a  period  of  nearly  forty- 
six  years.  From  1866  to  fS7'^  he  was  located  in 
Sunburv.  when  he  was  made  station  agent  at  Mil- 
ton, which  position  he  filled  for  twenty  years,  after 
which  be  was  supervising  agent  of  the  division,  tin 
position  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
.Mr.  Murdock  was  a  staunch  Republican,  but  the 
only  office  he  ever  held  was  an  appointment  from 
the  judge  a-  school  director  in  1891.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  while 
living  in  Sunburv  was  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day  school.  He  was  retiring  in  disposition  and 
was  a  well  informed  man  and  pleasing  conversa- 
tionalist. He  was  a  member  of  the  International 
Association  of  Ticket  Agents.  He  founded  the 
Milton  Circle  of  the  Protected  Home  Circle  and 
was  its  treasurer  for  many  years. 

In    1870    Mr.    Murdock    married    Margaret    L. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NsV  I A  AN  I  A 


351 


Gray,  daughter  of  P.  W.  Gray,  a  merchant  of  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.  P.  W.  Gray  (  1816-189,4)  was  the  only 
son  of  William  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Watson)  Gray. 
William  M.  Graj  (1792-1858)  was  a  lieutenant 
in  the  war  of  1812.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Sunbury  and  engaged  in  merchandising.  In  L830, 
1831  and  1832  lie  was  worshipful  master  of  Lodge 
No.  22,  Ancieni  York  Masons.  In  1841  he  or- 
ganized the  first  Lutheran  Sunday  school  in  Sun- 
bury  and  was  its  first  superintendent.  William  M. 
Graj  was  the  son  of  Capt.  William  Gray,  who  was 
born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1750,  and  emigrated 
to  America  on  reaching  his  majority.  A  short 
time  before  the  Revolution  lie  settled  in  Sunbury, 
where  he  followed  his  profession,  surveying,  and 
where  for  a  time  he  kept  a  general  store.  In 
1776  he  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army  and  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  Aug. 
27,  1776,  and  on  the  8th  of  the  following  Decem- 
ber lie  was  exchanged  for  Lieutenant  Thompson 
of  the  26th  British  Foot,  lie  continued  in  active 
service  until  1781,  when  lie  returned  to  Sunbury. 
Captain  Gray  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
history  and  development  of  his  town  and  county. 
In  1778  lie  accompanied  General  Sullivan's  expe- 
dition, and  his  draft  of  Col.  William  Butler's 
march  and  a  letter  to  Robert  Erskine  are  printed 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives,  Second  Series.  Vol. 
XV.  He  was  made  paymaster  of  the  county  mili- 
tia m  1781  ;  collector  of  excise  in  1783;  and  dep- 
uty surveyor  in  1791  :  lie  was  auditor  of  Augusta 
township  in  1787  and  overseer  in  1791;  in  1796 
lie  was  one  of  the  trustees  appointed  to  purchase 
a  schoolhouse  for  Sunbury.  Captain  (tray  was  a 
Presbyterian  and  in  1781  he  and  Abraham  Scoot, 
representing  the  congregation  of  Sunbury,  united 
with  the  representatives  of  the  Northumberland 
and  Buffalo  congregations  in  extending  a  call  to 
Rev.  Hugh  Morrison,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Root,  Ireland,  who  had  been  admitted  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Donegal  in  1786;  this  call  resulted 
in  the  establishment  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Sunbury.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  and 
was  made  a  Mason  iii  Royal  Arch  Lodge  No.  3,  at 
Philadelphia,  dining  the  Revolution.  He  first  ap- 
pears in  Lodge  No.  22,  at  Sunbury.  as  a  visitor  on 
Aug.  31,  1781,  and  on  Jan.  7,  1784,  was  elected 
a  member  of  that  Lodge.  He  was  elected  worship- 
ed master  of  the  Lodge  Dec.  27,  1784:  Dec.  27, 
1791  ;  dune  '.'4,  1793;  Dec  28,  1795;  Dec  27, 
L797;  June  28,  1798,  and  Dee.  27,  1799.  He  was 
an  enthusiastic  Mason  and  some  of  the  meetings 
of  the  lodge  were  held  in  his  house,  which  was  a 
large  two-story  log  house  standing  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Second  and  Walnut  streets.  The 
tax  records  at  Sunbury  show  that  in  L795  he  was 
assessed  as  the  owner  of  ;fiO  acres  of  land,  sixty 
town  lots,  five  horses,  one  house  ami  lot  and  one 
slave.     Captain  Gray  was  drowned   in  the  Bloody 


Spring,  near  Sunbury,  Jul\  is.  L804;  he  had  been 
working  in  the  harvest  field  and  sustained  a  stroke 
of  apoplexy  while  leaning  over  drinking  from  the 
spring. 

('apt.  William  Gray  was  married  to  Mary  Brady. 
daughter  of  Capt.  John  Brady,  who  had  served 
in  the  French  and  Indian  ami  Revolutionary  wars, 
and  who  was  shot  by  the  Indians  near  MuncV  in 
1779.  Captain  Brady  was  a  son  of  Hugh  Brady. 
of  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  His  wile,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Quigley,  was  a  daughter 
of  James  Quigley,  id'  Cumberland  county. 

1'.  W.  Gray,  the  father  of  Mrs.  T.  A.  Murdoch, 
was  married  in  1S47  to  Margaret  Frantz,  of  Se- 
linsgrove,  Pa.,  who  was  horn  in  Reading,  Pa.,  in 
L819,  ami  died  m  Sunbury  in  1891.  Margaret 
Frantz  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Flicker)  Frantz.  Alter  her  mother's  death  in 
IS'.' I  she  was  taken  ami  raised  by  Mrs.  Simon 
Snyder,  of  Selinsgrove,  widow  of  ex-Governor 
Snyder,  and  a  friend  of  her  mother's.  John 
Frantz,  her  father  (1781-1834),  was  a  hotel-keep- 
er in  heading.  In  1805  he  married  Mary  Fricker, 
daughter  of  Anthony  and  Margaret  Fricker.  of 
Reading;  Mrs.  Margaret  Fricker  was  a  daughter 
of  Conrad  Weiser,  the  Indian  interpreter  of  Co- 
lonial Pennsylvania. 

Thomas  A.  and  Margaret  L.  (Cray)  Murdock 
were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Edna  C;  Helen 
Margaret,  married  to  William  B.  Godcharles,  of 
Milton  (they  have  two  children,  Charles  Augustus 
and  Margaret )  ;  Donald ;  William  G.,  and  Frances. 

William  (tray  Murdoch  was  born  in  Milton,  Pa.. 
July    '.'■;.    1881.      IF'  graduated    from    the    Milton 

high    s'cl I    in    1898    and    after    working   several 

vears  in  the  office  of  the  American  Car  &  Foundry 
Company  he  attended  Buclgiell  University  and 
Dickinson  Law  School:  was  admitted  to  the  liar 
in  1907,  ami  in  1909  succeeded  to  the  office  of  his 
preceptor,  the  late  Clarence  G.  Vbris,  Esq.  In  pol- 
itics Mr.  Murdock  is  a  Republican,  and  in  L910 
was  a  delegate  to  the  State  convention  which  nom- 
inated John  K.  Tener  for  governor,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  notification  committee.  On  Ma\ 
1(1.  1911,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Milton, 
lie  is  a  director  and  secretary  of  the  Mountain 
Water  Company,  ami  is  secretary  of  the  Milton 
Fair  and  Northumberland  County  Agricultural 
Association,  and  treasurer  of  the  Protected  Home 
Circle  of  .Milton.  In  L908  he  served  as  worship- 
ful master  of  Milton  Lodge.  X...  256,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  is  tin'  present  scribe  of  Warrior  Run  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch   Masons,  at   Watsontown.     lie  is  also 

; inhcr  of   Williamsport    Consistory   and    Adon- 

iram  Council  of  Williamsport  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Milton  Lodge  of  Elks  and  of  the  Sigma 
Alpha  Fpsilon  college  fraternity.  In  1908  he  pub- 
lished a  History  of  Freemasonry  in  Milton  and 
in  1909  a  Historj  of  the  Brady  Family.  lie  has 
written  a  number  of  articles  on  local  history  and 


352 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


is   a   contributor. to   the   ••Pennsylvania    German" 
magazine  and  the  "Sigma  Alpha  Epsilon  Record.55 

FRANK  1,1  X  E.  KlII'MM.  who  died  .Time  22, 
1910,  resided  on  his  farm  in  West  Chillisquaque 
township,  Nbrthumberland  county,  from  1874. 
until  his  death,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  active 
and  respected  citizens  of  that  section.  He  was 
a  native  of  Orange  township,  Columbia  Co.,  I'a.. 
burn  Dec.  10,  1831,  son  of  Jonas  Krumm  and 
grandson  of  Henry  Krumm.  the  latter  hum  in 
Northampton  county,  I'a..  whence  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  Columbia  county.  Henry  Krumm 
was  a  shoemaker,  and  followed  his  trade  through- 
out his  active  .mi-,  his  children  operating  the 
farm  which  he  own,. I.  Ee  married  Mary  Eliza- 
heth  Wertman,  ami  to  them  were  bom  the  follow- 
ing children:  Jonas.  Eli,  Daniel,  Philip,  .John. 
Benjamin,  Jacob,  Susan,  Lydia,  Kate.  Phoebe  and 
Annie. 

.lima-  Krumm,  -mi  of  Eenry,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county  and  accompanied  his  par- 
ents tn  Columbia  county.  After  assisting  his 
father  for  some  years  he  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  which  lie  followed  for  a  number  of 
years,  lie  then  farmed  for  some  time  in  Colum- 
bia county,  later  living  in  Montour  county,  and 
he  died  at  Turbutville,  Northumberland  county. 
His  wife,  Catharine  (Ernst),  was  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Ernst,  whose  wife  was  a  Gietner.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonas 
Krumm:  Franklin  E. ;  Henry,  who  died  ai  Bloom; 
Daniel,  who  died  in  Michigan;  Nathan,  deceased. 
who  lived  af  Catawissa,  I'a.:  Amos,  living  at 
Bloom;  George  M.,  deceased;  Lloyd,  who  lives  ai 
Danville.  Pa.:  and   John,  of  Turbutville. 

Franklin  E.  Krn»im  attended  public  school  in 
hi-  Dative  county  and  remained  with  In-  father  un- 
til he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  then 
learned  the  carpenters  trade,  at  which  he  was  en- 
gaged for  twenty-one  years,  assisting  in  the  con- 
struction of  most  of  the  important  buildings  at 
Williamsport,  I'a..  and  many  of  which  went  up 
in  his  own  district.  In  1860  he  helped  to  put  up 
a  fine  barn  for  his  future  father-in-law.  Joseph 
Frederick,  in  his  day  the  most  prominent  man  in 
this  part  of  Northumberland  county.  In  1ST  I  he 
located  on  the  farm  of  103  acres  in  what  is  now 
\\'e-t  Chillisquaque  township  which  was  ever  aft- 
erward his  home.  It  was  formerly  a  Nesbit  farm. 
Mr.  Krumm  was  as  successful  at  farming  as  he 
was  at  mechanical  work,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
most  esteemed  citizens  of  his  community,  having 
proved  himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  his 
fellowmen  in  all  the  associations  of  life.  He  was 
a  member  of  flic  Reformed  Church,  anil  in  pol- 
ities identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
died  June  22,  1910,  and  was  buried  at  Lewisburg. 

In  1873  Mr.  Krumm  married  Mrs.  Clara  A.  E. 
(Frederick)     Hottenstein,    daughter    of    Joseph 


and  Elizabeth  (Myers)  Frederick,  and  widow  of 
Rev.  Aaron  Hottenstein.  She  passed  away  in  Jan- 
uary. 19(19.  and  is  buried  at  Lewisburg.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Krumm:  Ida  C,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Zear- 
faus;  Sarah  A.  F...  who  married  John  DeFrain 
and  (second)  T.  H.  Hannah:  Bessie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Newton  Raup;  and  Frederick  Myers,  now 
engaged  in  farming  the  homestead,  who  married 
Mary  Snyder. 

IVAXHOE  STEES  HUBER,  cashier  of  the 
Shamokin  Banking  Company,  of  Shamokin,  was 
born  Oct.  t.  1845,  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  Co.. 
I'a..  -nil  of  Levi  and  Margarel  (Stackpole)  Huber. 

Mr.  Huber'-  great-grandfather  was  born  in  one 
of  the  German  Cantons  of  Switzerland,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  about,  1763  or  a  few 
years  later.  He  settled  in  Lebanon  county,  I'a.. 
where  he  was  married.  His  -on.  Michael  Huber, 
the  grandfather  of  Ivanhoe  S.  Huber.  was  horn 
April  28,  1769,  in  Tulpehocken  township.  Lebanon 
Co..  I'a..  and  followed  farming.  He  was  a  major 
in  the  State  Militia  and  took  a  very  active  part  in 
such  affairs.  He  married  Begina  Elizabeth  Uh- 
ler.  who  was  horn  in  Lebanon  county,  daughter  of 
Mi-,  ami  Mrs.  Christopher  Uhler.  Michael  Huber 
and  bis  wife  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  both  died  in  Pine  Grove  township, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  They  were  the  parents  of 
children:  John.  Jacob,  Michael.  George, 
Philip,  Solomon  and  Levi,  and  one  daughter  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Maj.  Levi  Huber,  sou  of  Michael  and  Regina 
Elizabeth  (Uhler)  Huber,  was  born  Nov.  9, 
1818.    in    Pine    Grove    township,    Schuylkill    Co.. 

I'a.     The  public  -e! I-  of   Pine  Grove  township 

and  the  Academy  of  Myerstown,  Lebanon  Co.,  I'a.. 
were  the  sources  through  which  he  obtained  his 
education.  Leaving  school  lie  learned  the  lailor's 
trade  at  Pine  Grove,  and  for  four  years  did  jour- 
ney work  in  New  York  City  and  Loudon.  Eng- 
land. In  1844  he  went  into  the  tailoring  business 
in  Pine  Grove  on  his  own  account,  continuing  i\ 
up  to  1849.  Meantime,  from  1847  to  1849.  he  was 
a  school  director.  For  five  terms,  from  1849  to 
1854,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  county, 
lie  was  town  clerk  from  1853  to  1857.  In  the 
spring  of  1854  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
but  bad  not  yet  completed  bis  term  when  he  was, 
in  1857,  elected  county  recorder  of  deed-,  etc., 
for  the  term  of  three  years,  having  been  nom- 
inated on  the  Democratic  ticket,  the  Republicans 
declining  to  name  an  opponent.  Shortly  after  his 
election  the  family  moved  to  Pottsville,  the  county 
seat.  He  was  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  war.  hav- 
ing been  mustered  into  the  service  as  second  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  P.  96th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  to  rank  from  Sept.  23, 
186]  :  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  June  '27.  1862: 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


353 


to  captain  July  30,  1862;  to  major  Jan.  18,  1864. 
He  participated  in  the  following  operations: 
Peninsular  Campaign,  Seven  Days  battles,  en- 
gagements at  Gaines's  Mill,  Chickahominy,  Savage 
Station,  Malvern  Hill,  South  Mountain,  Antie- 
lam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Salem 
Church,  Gettysburg,  Rappahanock  Station,  Wil- 
derness. Spottsylvania  (where  he  was  slightly 
wounded),  Bloody  Angle,  Cold  Harbor,  Peters- 
burg, Shenandoah  Valley  Campaign,  battle  of 
Winchester  and  others  of  lesser  note.  He  was 
mustered  out  Oct.  21,  1864.  After  coming  out 
of  the  service  he,  in  November,  1864,  accepted" a  po- 
sition in  the  extensive  establishment  of  D.  G. 
Yuengling  (  now  D.  G.  Yuengling&  Son),  as  office 
manager  and  confidential  agent,  which  position  he 
held  until  his  death,  April  '.'(i,  1900.  He  was  one 
of  the  incorporators  ami  a  director  from  1871  to 
L896  of  the  Shamokin  Banking  Company.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  lie  was  elected  a  school  director  of 
the  borough  of  Pottsville  and  served  continuously 
as  such  for  over  thirty  years,  and  fully  half  that 
time  as  president  of  the  board.  Upon  the  re-or- 
ganization of  the  National  Guard  id'  Pennsylvania, 
sonic  years  after  the  war,  lie  served  for  some  time 
on  the  stall'  of  Maj.  Gen.  J.  K.  Siegfried,  as  as- 
sistant adjutant  general  of  the  division.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to 
the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  ami  Knight-  Templars. 
in  both  of  which  he  passed  the  several  chairs;  to 
tin'  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  the 
Odd  Fellows,  lodge,  encampment  and  Patriarchs 
Militant:  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  an  ae- 
tive  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Union  Veterans 
Union,  and  Pennsylvania  Commandery  of  the  Mil- 
itary Older  ol'  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United 
States.  By  appointment  he  was  f0r  many  years 
the  D.  D.  G.  Master,  F.  and  A.  M..  of  District 
No.  11,  comprising  twelve  lodges  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.  Politically  Major  Huber  was  all  his 
life  a  1  >emocrat. 

On  Oct,  15,  18  11.  at  Pine  Grove,  Pa.,  Levi 
Huber  was  married  (Rev.  Aaron  Kern  perform- 
ing the  ceremony)  to  Margaret  Stackpole,  who 
was  horn  April  I.  1826,  in  McVeytown,  Pa., 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Stees)  Stack- 
pole,  and  died  at  1:3(1  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
Dec.  3  1.  L89  I  ;  she  was  buried  Jan.  2,  1895,  in  the 
Charles  Baber  cemetery,  of  Trinity  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  of  Pottsville.  They  had  chil- 
dren born  as  follows:  Ivanhoe  Stees,  Oct.  4, 
1845:  Regina  Elizabeth,  March  17,  1847  (wife  of 
P.  R.  Carpenter,  of  Bloomsburg,  Pa.):  Alice 
Ruth,  Aug.  12,  1849  (died  in  infancy);  Freder- 
ick Thomas,  Sept,  9,  1850  (who  married  Amelia 
M.  E.  Beyer,  daughter  of  George  Henry  Beyer,  of 
New  York  City,  and  died  in  New  York  City); 
Isabella,  Feb.  21,  1853  (who  was  a  public  school 
teacher  in  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where  she  died  Aug.  27. 
1876)  ;  Amelia  Rebecca,     March  29,     1857     (of 

23 


Kingston,  X.  Y..  wife  of  Prof.  John  E.  Shull)  ; 
Katharine  Louisa.  Nov.  13,  CS5S  (died  in  in- 
fancy) :  Sara  Margaret,  Jan.  16,  186G  (unmarried, 
living  at  Kingston,  N.  Y.).  The  two  last  named 
were  born  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  the  others  at  Pine 
Grove.  The  family  have  all  been  Presbyterians, 
except  Frederick  T.,  who  was  a  Lutheran. 

[vanhoe  Stees  Huber,  son  of  Levi  and  Mar- 
garet (Stackpole)  Huber,  lived  at  his  native  place 
until  1857.  when,  his  father  having  been  elected 
recorder  of  the  county,  the  family  removed  to  Potts- 
ville. He  received  his  early  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Pine  Grove  and  Pottsville.  In  1862 
he  entered  the  law  otliee  of  Hon.  Francis  W. 
Hughes,  at  Pottsville,  where  he  was  engaged  until 
December,  1864,  when  he  was  appointed  teller  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Mahanov  City,  Ta., 
filling  that  position  until  1868.  lie  then  became 
secretary  and  superintendent  of  the  Ringgold 
Coal  and  Iron  Company,  at  New  Ringgold, 
Schuylkill  county,  holding  this  position  ten 
months,  and  resigning  to  accept  the  appointment 
of  deputy  prothonotary  of  Schuylkill  county, 
which  he  occupied  until  Sept.  I.  1871,  when  he 
was  appointed  cashier  of  the  Shamokin  Banking 
Company,  of  Shamokin.  serving  as  such  continu- 
ously until  now.  He  also  was  for  many  years  a 
director  of  that  company.  Mr.  Huber's  interests, 
of  a  business,  social  and  religious  nature,  have 
been  varied  and  numerous,  and  all  looked  after 
in  the  capable  manner  for  which  he  is  noted. 
Since  1883  he  has  hern  ;t  director  and  treasurer 
of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Shamo- 
kin. and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Shamokin  Board 
of  Trade.  From  June.  1881.  to  1902  he  was 
treasurer  of  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  and  also 
served  as  member  of  the  school  hoard  from  1882 
to  1885,  acting  as  president  of  that  body  in  1883 
and  as  treasurer  m  1884.  His  ability  as  a  finan- 
cier is  so  generally  recognized  that  he  has  been 
intrusted  with  financial  responsibilities  by  almost 
every  association  with  which  he  lias  been  identified. 
For  many  year-  lie  was  treasurer  of  the  Shamokin 
Bible  Society,  and  treasurer  of  the  local  advisory 
hoard  of  the  Children's  Eome  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  denomination,  a  la\  reader  and 
warden  of  his  home  church — Trinity  in  Sham- 
okin, and  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  Laymen's  Club;  ol  the 
( Ihurch  club  ol'  the  I  (iocese  of  Earrisburg  |  Pa.), 
being  one  of  iis  founders;  and  of  the  Church  Sis- 
al Society;  is  a  member  of  the  si  am  ling  Com- 
mittee oi'  the  Episcopal  Diocese  of  Harrisburg 
and  has  hen  -iiar  its  organization,  in  November, 
1904  :  is  a  m  em  her  of  the  national  council  (United 
States)  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Si.  Andrew,  and 
president  of  the  Local  \-.mhh  of  the  same  of 
the  Archdeaconry  of  Williamsporl.  Other  organ- 
izations  in   which   he  holds   membership  arc   the 


354 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Pennsylvania  Forestry  Association,  the  Schuyl- 
kill County  Historical  Society,  the  American  Red 
Cross,  the  National  Geographical  Society,  the  Art 
Collectors'  Club  and  the  Shamokin  Fire  Depart- 
ment. In  politics  Mr.  Huber  is  a  Democrat.  In 
1863,  when  the  Confederate  army  under  Lee  in- 
vaded the  State,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  27th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Emergency  Men,  and 
set  \  ed  during  the  crisis. 

On  Sept.  8,  1869,  Mr.  Huber  was  married  at 
Columbia.  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Mary  Bloomfield 
Houston,  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Mary  Bloom- 
field  (Martin)  Houston,  of  Columbia.  She  was 
born  Jan.  10,  1815,  and  was  educated  in  tbe  pub- 
lic and  other  schools  of  Columbia,  Pa.,  taught 
school  in  Lancaster  county,  and  later  conducted 
a  select  school  in  Mahanoy  City  for  several  year-. 
Mr.  and  -Mrs.  Huber  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren: (1)  Levi  Houston  Huber,  born  at  Potts- 
ville,  Pa.,  Jan.  20,  1871,  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
hools  of  Shamokin,  leaving  the  high  school 
in  1888  to  enter  the  employ  of  the  Shamokin 
Banking  Company,  where  he  remained  until  May 
1.  1896.  Ee  enlisted  June  1  I.  1898,  in  Company 
E,  12th  Regimeni  P.  V  I.,  and  served  during  the 
Spanish-American  war.  In  1899  he  was  with  the 
United  Gas  Improvement  Company,  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  drug  clerk  at  various  places  until 
L903,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  Government 
Printing  office.  Washington,  D.  C.  He  attended 
Georgetown  University,  .Medical  Department, 
1902-1903,  and  entered  George  Washington  Uni- 
versity,  Medical  Department,  Washington,  D.  ('.. 
1903,  and  graduated  therefrom  June  6,  run;. 
He  was  appointed  Feb.  29,  1908,  physician,  in  the 
U.  S.  Indian  Service,  Fort  Peck  Agency,  sta- 
tioned at  Wolf  Point,  Mont.  He  married  at  Cul- 
bertson,  Mont.,  July  6,  L910,  Beulah  Ethel  Green- 
wald,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Greenwald, 
D.  D.,  and  Judith  (Bleiler)  Greenwald.  (2) 
John  Houston  Euber,  horn  at  Shamokin,  Pa.. 
Feb.  2,  1873,  graduated  from  the  Shamokin  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1891.  He  was  for  some 
time  in  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad  Company,  and  then  served  for  ten  years 
as  night  shipper  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at  Shamokin.  In  1906  he 
had  a  position  at  Seattle,  Washington,  and  the 
same  year  was  appointed  to  the  United  States 
Arsenal,  at  Pittsburg.  Pa.,  which  place  he  resigned 
in  1909  on  account  of  ill  health  and  came  back  to 
Shamokin.  where  lie  died  May  19,  1911.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Laymen's  Club,  Brotherhood  of 
St.  Andrew  and  Liberty  Hose  Company.  (3) 
Margaret  Elizabeth  Huber,  born  Dec.  IT.  1874, 
in  Shamokin.  Pa.,  graduated  from  the  Shamokin 
high  school,  class  of  1893.  and  attended  the  Acad- 
emy of  Fine  Arts.  Philadelphia,  in  1897  and 
1898.  She  was  married  Oct.  18,  1905,  to  William 
Kirk  Heffelfinger,  son  of  Elmer  and  Kate  (Cleav- 


er) Heffelfinger.  and  they  have  one  son,  William 
Kirk  Heffelfinger,  Jr.,  born  at  Shamokin,  Pa., 
March  22,  1907.  (4)  Mary  Bloomfield  Huber,  born 
Feb.  10,  1878,  at  Shamokin.  Pa.,  was  educated 
in  the  public  school-,  leaving  tbe  high  school  be- 
fore the  completion  of  the  course.  (5)  Gertrude 
Stees  Huber,  born  at  Shamokin.  Pa.,  duly  29, 
1885,  graduated  from  the  high  school,  class  of 
1904.  She  was  married  dune  17,  L909,  to  Thomas 
Francis  Downing,  Jr.,  son  of  Thomas  F.  and 
Sarah  (Forrest)  Downing,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Annette  Huber  Downing,  born  March 
16,  1910. 

In  the  maternal  line   Mr.   Holier  is  descended 

from  James  Stackpole.  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 

married   Dorcas   Holt,  a   native  of  England,  and 

they  had   the   following  children :     James,   Mar- 

,   Thomas  and   John.     All  this  family  were 

vterians  but  Margaret,  who  was  a  Methodist. 

Thomas  Stackpole.  son  of  James,  born  Oct.  3, 
1797,  one  mile  below  Waynesburg  (now  McVey- 
towni.  Mifflin  Co..  Pa.,  was  a  contractor.  He 
and  John  Stees  (his  brother-in-law)  were  the 
contractors  who  built  the  Union  railroad,  and 
it  was  in  the  trial  trip  that  he  met  his  death.  He 
was  a  jolly  fellow,  a  great  huntsman,  and  a  niem- 
I  the  military  company.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Whig.  He  married  dune  10,  1824,  Elizabeth 
Stees,  and  their  children,  all  horn  in  Waynesburg 
(now  McVeytown),  Wayne  township,  were:  Mar- 
garet, born  April  4.  1826;  Dorcas,  horn  Dec.  25, 
1828;  Frederick  (no  record  of  birth  or  death): 
and  Amelia  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  1,  1831.  Marg- 
aret, Donas  and  Amelia  were  Lutherans  condition- 
ally at  Pine  Grove,  the  two  former  afterward  be- 
coming Presbyterians.  Thomas  Stackpole  died  Nov. 
6,  L833.  lli-  death  was  caused  by  a  train  of  cars 
on  the  Union  railroad  between  Lorberry  and  Tine 
Grove,  Pa.  (at  a  point  two  to  two  and  a  half 
miles  above  Pine  Grove),  running  over  his  right 
li  a  .ii  the  knee  joint,  death  ensuing  almost  instant- 
ly. The  ears  were  drawn  by  horses  and  he  was  in 
the  act  of  getting  on  or  off  the  cars  when  he  met 
his  death.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Pine 
Grove  burial  ground  of  St.  Peters  Lutheran  and 
German  Reformed  Church,  Pine  Grove.  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  on  Nov.  8,  1833,  and  were  accompanied 
to  the  grave  by  the  military  and  a  large  concourse 
of  the  citizens.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  April 
26,  1852,  at  12  o'clock  at  night,  at  Pine  Grove, 
Pa.  Her  remains  were  deposited  in  St.  John's 
Lutheran  burial  ground.  Pine  drove.  April  29, 
1852.  Mrs.  Thomas  Stackpole' s  parents,  Fred- 
erick and  Barbara  (Moor)  Stees,  lived  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  where  their  children  were  born,  as 
follows:  Jacob,  Jan.  25,  1790;  John,  dan.  31. 
1792;  Frederick.  April  28,  1794;  Maria,  April  9, 
1796:  Benjamin.  July  16.  1798:  Catherine,  Sept. 
4,  1800:  Elizabeth,  dune  5,  1803  (at  Middleburg, 
Pa.).     All  of  the  Stees  family  were  Lutherans. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;:,:, 


John  Houston,  the  first  ancestor  of  Mrs.  Ivan- 
hoe  S.  Euber  of  whom  we  have  record,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  .]i-r(.nt,  came  to  the  United  - 
m  11  tO  from  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  settled 
in  the  Pequea  Valley,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
Be  had  eight  children,  among  them  Dr.  John 
Houston,  bom  in  i;  r\  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the 
American  army  during   the   Revolutionary  war. 

Dr.  John  Houston  married  May  6,  1773,  Su- 
sanna Wright,  born  Aug.  24,  1752.  They  had  a 
son,  James  Houston,  born   May  '.'1,  1779. 

James  Houston  married  Jan.  7,  1805,  Anna 
Rhoda  Wright,  and  they  had  two  children.  John 
Wright  Houston  (bora  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  Aug. 
12,  I  so;  )  and  Susan  Eleanor. 

John  Wright  Houston  on  Sept.  26,  1833,  mar- 
ried Mary  Bloomfield  Martin,  who  was  born  at 
Muncy,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1809,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  these  children:  Anna  Rhoda,  who  mar- 
ried Gen.  Lewi-  Merrill,  U.  S.  A.;  James  Wright, 
who  died  in  infanc]  :  George  Martin,  who  married 
Mary  May;  Eliza  Brown,  who  married  Capt. 
Charles  X.  Warner,  U.  S.  A.;  Emily  Wright,  who 
married  Col.  Richard  It.  Alexander,  IT.  S.  A.; 
Susan  Eleanor;  Sarah  Wright;  Mary  Bloomfield, 
who  married  Ivanhoe  S.  Huber;  Rachel  Vincent; 
.lames,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  Augusta, 
who  married  Laura  Detweiler;  and  Eleanor 
Wright,  who  married  Dr.  Carl  L.  Spethmann. 
John  Wright  Houston  in  early  life  was  a  drug- 
gist, and  later  on  a  civil  engineer,  having  helped 
to  lay  out  and  construct  the  Broad  Top  railroad 
near  Huntingdon,  Pa.  During  the  Civil  war,  he 
was  connected  with  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment of  the  "Merrill  Horse,"  a  noted  cavalry  com- 
mand. Mr.  Houston  died  July  24,  1869,  and  Mrs. 
Houston,  Aug.  31,  1878.  Her  grandfather,  Rob- 
ert Martin,  married  Mary  Bloomfield.  They  had 
a  son.  William  Augusta  Martin,  who  about  1806 
married  Eliza  Brown,  horn  Feb.  13,  1786,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  these  children:  George, 
Mary  Bloomfield,  Thomas  Williamson,  Edward. 
Robert  Davidson,  Courtland  Yardley,  Elizabeth 
Brown,  Sarah  Wright,  Rachel  Vincent,  William 
Augusta  and  Franklin  Wright. 

HARRY  R.  DEETER,  superintendent  of  the 
Lewisburg,  Milton  and  Watsontown  Passenger 
Railwav  Company,  at  Milton,  was  born  in  Para- 
dise, this  county,  April  11,  1872.  The  Deeter 
family  has  lived  in  Pennsylvania  for  several  gen- 
erations. 

Jacob  Deeter,  the  grandfather,  was  born  m 
Montour  county,  Pa.,  and  on  reaching  manhood 
took  up  farming  in  Chillisquaque  township, 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  died  in  1850. 
TTe  was  a  deacon  and  elder  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged. 
He  married  Eliza  Ann  Barr,  a  native  of  Lycoming 
countv.  Pa.,  born  April  3, 1821,  died  June  17, 1859, 


and  buried  at  Paradise  Church.  To  this  union  were 
'"'in  two  children:  William  A.,  mentioned  be- 
low: and  George  M..  who  died  unmarried.  After 
Mr.  Deeter's  death  his  widow  married  Daniel 
Karchner,  hern  March  26,  1814.  died  April  27, 
L889,  and  buried  at  Paradise  Church.  To  her 
second  marriage  were  born  Russell  K.,  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Reid  Tobacco  Company,  and  residing 
at  Milton;  Martha  J.:  Anna  R. :   Nora,  deceased. 

William  A.  Deeter,  son  of  Jacob  and  father  of 
Harrv  R..  was  born  in  Chillisquaque  township, 
dan.  19,  1S46,  and  followed  fanning  all  his  ai 
life.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  al- 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
party.  He  was  twice  a  candidate  tor  county  com- 
missioner, being  the  nominee  of  his  party  both 
times,  but  was  both  time-  defeated  by  small  ma- 
jorities at  the  polls.  He  served  as  tax  collector 
in  his  district.  Mr.  Deeter  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Lutheran  church  many  years.  In  1892  he  came 
i"  Milton  where  his  death  occurred  July  18,  1894, 
and  his  remains  were  interred  in  Paradise  ceme- 
tery. Tn  1871  he  married  Margaret  Gouger, 
bin  Miter  of  John  R.  Gouger  of  Montour  county. 
She  now  makes  her  home  in  Milton.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  two  children.  Harry  R.  and 
May  N. 

Harry  R.  Deeter  received  his  education  in  the 
local  schools  in  Paradise,  and  for  one  term  attend- 
ed the  Milton  schools.  For  five  years  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Reid  Tobacco  Company,  at  Milton, 
and  for  one  year  was  traveling  salesman  for  a 
Philadelphia'  house.  On  June  1.  1S99,  lie  entered 
the  service  of  the  L.  M.  &  W.  Passenger  Railway 
Co.,  as  chief  clerk,  and  was  advanced  to  superin- 
tendent on  Jan.  1.  1911. 

Politically  Mr.  Deeter  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
has  served  on  the  election  board  of  the  Second 
ward  of  Milton.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  His  fraternal  connections  are  with  Mil- 
ton Lodge,  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.:  Warrior  Run 
( lhapter,  No.  246,  R.  A.  M. :  and  the  Improved  0" 
der  of  Heptasophs. 

Mr.  Deeter  married  Ida  M.  Lowe,  daughter  of 
Thomas  .1.  Lowe.  ><(  Watsontown,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Margaret  R. 

MENGEL.  The  Mengel  family  with  which 
this  article  deals  is  a  Schuylkill  county  family  and 
many  of  its  members  still  reside  in  that  region, 
where  the  founder,  Adam  Mengel,  settled  upon 
coming  to  this  country.  Dr.  John  S.  Mengel,  or 
Trevorton,  Northumberland  county,  is  descended 
from  this  pioneer  through  his  son  Conrad,  and 
Frank  J.  Mengel,  of  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land county,  led  through  hi-  bob  John. 
Tin'  family  hold  reunions,  which  are  well  attended, 
and  the  officers  of  the  association  arc:  Dr.  J.  S. 
Mengi  1,  of  Trevorton,  Pa.,  president  ;  AI.  It.  Men- 
gel, i               lent;  II.  S.  Mengel,  secretary ;  W.  R. 


356 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Fehr.  treasurer;  J.  M.  Hoffman,  of  Reading,  Pa., 
historian.  The  second  reunion  was  held  on 
Labor  Day.  Sept.  0.  1909,  at  Bowen's  Park, 
Schuylkill  Haven,  Pennsylvania. 

Adam  Mengel,  the  first  of  the  family  in  this 
country,  came  from  Germany,  and  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  Port  Clinton  is  now 
located.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  and  or- 
ganizers of  the  "Id  Pine  Dale  church  there,  being 
one  of  its  original  members,  and  he  is  buried  at 
that  church.  His  children  were:  George  (who 
lived  to  the  age  of  ninety  years),  Conrad,  Adam, 
Philip.  John,  Jacob,  Barney  and  Catharine  (mar- 
ried Michael  Hartman). 

Conrad  Mengel,  son  of  Adam,  was  born  upon 
the  Mengel  homestead  in  Schuylkill  county  and 
followed  farming.  For  some  time  he  taught  pri- 
vate school.  His  wife  was  Susan  Rishel,  and  both 
died  when  about  seventy-seven  years  old.  They 
are  buried  at  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county.  They 
had  children  as  follow-:  Esther  married  Dewalt 
Pall':  William  I,',  did  in  Nebraska,  at  the  age  of 
ninety  years:  Sophia  married  Joseph  I1 
Kate'  married  George  Matz,  (second)  Adam 
v  ami  (third)  Abraham  Loose:  Benjamin 
married  Dorothy  Fink;  Peter  married  Mary 
Faust;  Manasses  is  mei  below;  Lucy  mar- 

ried Francis  Hoffman  and  has  children,  Rosie 
(wife  of  William  Affleck),  Jeremiah  M.  (who 
married  Laura  A.  Kantner),  Lillie  (married 
Lewi-;  A.  Mengel)  an!  >f  San  Francis 

Manasses   M  'ad.  was  born  in 

at  Auburn.  Schuylkill  count}7,  and  died  S 
(I.  1908.  He  was  employed  upon  the  canal  for  a 
time,  but  farming  was  lus  principal  occupation 
through  life,  ami  lie  purchased  a  farm  in  Bruns- 
wick township,  Schuylkill  county,  upon  which  he 
settled,  cultivating  that  place  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  there.  He  married  Angeline 
Seltzer.    daughter  ■        b    and    Mary    (Faust) 

Seltzer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mengel  are  buried  in  the 
the  Church  of  God,  at  Auburn.  They 
had  a  large  family,  as  follows:  Francis  S.  (bom 
in  1856,  died  in  1907)  married  Rebecca  Helm 
and  had  children,  Robert,  Oscar,  John,  Francis. 
Howard.  Walter  and  Edith:  John  S.  is  mentioned 
below;  Manasses,  who  resides  in  Reading,  Pa- 
married  Ida  Fahl.  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
Harvey  and  Eva.  and  (second)  Isabella  Schwartz. 
by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Clarence;  Ellen  married 
William  Fehr.  now  of  Easton,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
children.  Howard,  Bertha.  William.  Charles  and 
Lester:  George,  who  is  living  upon  the  homestead 
in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county,  married 
Lucy  Jamison,  and  they  have  children,  Charles, 
Amy.  Foster.  Minnie.  Elsie,  Jennie,  Aimer.  Lucy 
and  Dorothy;  Howard,  now  living  at  Friedens- 
burg.  Schuylkill  county,  married  Sallie  Peed,  and 
their  children  are  William.  Lester.  Ellen.  Amelia 
and  Irwin:  Minnie  J.  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Samuel 


G.  Smith,  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Trevor- 
ton,  and  they  have  children,  Carolyn.  William. 
Howard,  Herman  and  Esther:  Ida  (deceased) 
married  Reuben  Mengel,  her  second  cousin :  Al- 
len married  Jennie  Nagel  and  their  children  are 
Miriam  and  Delina :  Bertha  married  Milton 
Patchett  and  is  living  in  Schuylkill  county ;  Bessie 
married  George  Sheaffer  and  has  children,  Lillie. 
Edith,  Effie  and  Herman  (they  live  in  Schuylkill 
count]  i . 

Johx  S.  Mengel,  M.  D..  of  Trevoi 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  March  7,  1860, 
at  Auburn,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Later  he  attended  the  State  Nor- 
mal at  Kutztown.  Pa..  and  he  received 
his  medical  training  at  Jefferson  Medical 
I         ere,    Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he 

graduated  in  1887.  Locating  at  Greenbrier, 
Northumberland  county,  he  practiced  there  until 
In-  removal  to  Trevorton  in  1902,  Here  he  has  since 
continued  in  general  practice,  having  a  large  cir- 
cle of  patron-  in  the  town  and  surround ing  ter- 
ritory, and  he  also  has  the  only  drug  store  in  the 
place.  Dr.  Mengel  has.  by  his  useful  citizenship 
and  participation  in  the  affairs  of  the  community. 

ae  one  of  its  respected  and  influential  mem- 
He  is  well  known  among  the  fraternal  or- 
ders, belonging  to  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  (he  is  president 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall  Association  at  Trevor- 
ton),  the  P.  O.  s.  of  A.,  the  K.  G.  E..  the  F. 
and  the  W Imen  of  the  World.  The  Doc- 
tor has  been  very  active  in  the  Mengel  Family 
Association  ever  since  its  organization,  and  was 
its  firs  -  dent.  Its  first  reunion  was  held  at 
Friedensburg,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1908;  thi 
ond  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  in  1909;  and  the  third 
at  Landingville,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1910. 

O]     Fi        L6,  18  (2,    Dr.   Mengel    married   Mary 
E.  Geist,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Abbie  (Hepler) 

.  and  they  have  three  children:     Willard  C. 
1 i     and    Annie   G.      The   family   attend   the 
United  Evangelical  church. 


John  Mengel,  son  of  the  Adam  Mengel  who 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany  and  -ettled 
in  Schuylkill  county  as  above  related,  was  a  farmer. 
and  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Red  Church,  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  that  county,  and  he  is  buried 
at  that  church.  He  and  his  wife.  Elizabeth,  were 
advanced  in  years  when  they  died.  Among  their 
children  were:  John.  Adam.  Peter.  Joseph,  Seth 
and  Jacob. 

■  Mengel  record-  at  the  Red  Church  show  the 
following:  Johann  Phillip,  born  Nov.  9.  1771; 
parents  Conrad  and  Catharine.  Johanes,  born 
March  15,  1793;  parents  Adam  and  Elizabeth. 
John  Edwin,  born  April  2,  170!) :  parents  John 
and  Eliza!' 

John   Edwin   Mengel.   son  of  John  above,   was 


NOET]  [UMB  ERLAND  COUNTY,  PB  N  XSYI.V  AX  I A 


:;.->; 


bom  April  2,  1799,  and  lived  and  died  in  Wayne 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  had  a  farm  of  150  acres.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  served 
as  one  of  the  officers  of  that  church.  His  wife, 
Rebecca  (.Mover),  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Cather- 
ine Moyer,  was  born  Dec.  28,  1809,  and  died  Feb. 
8,  1897.  Mr.  Mengel  died  in  187.6,  and  they  are 
buried  side  by  side  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church  at  Reedsville,  in  Wayne  township, 
Schuylkill  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children,  namely:  Sarah,  who  married  Jos- 
eph Mover;  Dianah,  who  married  Henry  Ger- 
hard; Priseilla,  who  died  in  youth;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  J.  B.  Reber;  Emma,  wife  of  Seth  Lenhart; 
Louisa.  Mrs.  Daniel  Moyer;  Thomas;  Frank;  Ed- 
ward ;  John :  Daniel ;  and  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter, who  died  young. 

Rev.  Edward  Mengel,  son  of  John,  was  born 
May  6,  1837,  and  died  April  25,  1897.  He  is 
buried  in  the  eemeterj  of  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Mengel 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  owning  and  operating 
a  farm  of  ninety  acre-,  but  he  devoted  much  time 
to  religious  work,  being  noted  for  his  pious  and 
Godly  life.  He  was  a  leading  member  and  local 
minister  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  frequently 
preaching  sermons,  held  various  offices  in  the 
church  and  was  also  an  enthusiastic  Sunday 
school  worker,  serving  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school.  Mr.  Mengel  married  Priseilla  Ger- 
hard, who  was  horn  May  I,  L837,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Salome  Gerhard,  her  people  coming 
from'  the  Tulpehocken  Valley,  in  Berks  county. 
Mrs.  Mengel  died  Aug.  9,  1874.  Her  funeral  serv- 
ices were  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Leise.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  their  union :  Esther  A',  mar- 
ried John  Werner;  James  A.  is  a  resident  of 
Mount  Pulaski.  111.;  Annie  P.  died  in  1907,  un- 
married; Sallie  married  William  H.  Blackton; 
Thomas  E.  lives  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  Albeit 
M.  .lied  July  6,  1906,  at  Orwigsburg,  Pa.:  Emma 
L.  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Harry  Charles: 
Frank  J.  is  a  resident   of  Sunbury. 

Prank  J.  Men-gel,  son  of  Rev.  Edward, 
was  born  Dec.  '.'7.  1871,  in  Wayne  township. 
Schuylkill  county,  and  there  received  bis  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  spent  bis  early  life 
in  his  native  place,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm. 
When  seventeen  years  old  Mr.  Mengel  learned  the 
art  of  telegraphy  in  the  service  of  the  Reading 
Railway  Company,  at  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county. 
working  for  that  company  about  four  years.  In 
1892  he  changed  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company,  in  whose  employ  he  has  since  remained, 
and  he  has  been  located  at  Sunbury  since  1894. 
In  1902  he  was  promoted  to  his  present  position, 
that  of  train  dispatcher  at  that  point.  Mr.  Men- 
o-el  is  a  reliable  worker,  and  has  the  confidence  of 
his  superiors,  gained  by  conscientious  service  and 


trustworthiness  in  the  discharge  of  all  his  duties. 

Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Sunbury  Mr.  Men- 
gel has  traveled  very  extensively  m  North  America. 
In  19(11  he  crossed  the  continent  and  spent  some 
time  on  the  Pacific  coast,  visiting  the  Catalina  is- 
lands and  the  old  historic  bay  of  Monterey,  scal- 
ing .Mount  Lowe  in  California,  and  on  his' return 
tri])  ascending  Pike's  Peak  in  a  snowstorm  on  Aug. 
7th.  In  1906,  with  Ins  wife  and  daughter  Esther, 
made  a  trip  to  Canada.  In  190?  they  look  a 
trip  along  the  New  England  coast,  visiting  Bunk- 
er Hill  and  other  places  of  historic  interest.  In 
1908  they  made  a  trip  to  the  Gulf  of  .Mexico  and 
a-  far  west  as  Salt  Lake  City,  «n  July  1st  of  that 
year  sealing  Pike's  Peak,  where  Mr. 'Mengel  had 
his  second  experience  of  a  snowstorm  in  summer. 
In  1909  they  traveled  through  the  .Middle  Western 
States.  In  1910  business  matters  prevented  them 
taking  their  annual  trip.  It  has  been  Mr.  Men- 
del's aim  to  visit  and  study  the  marvels  of  North 
America  rather  than  go  abroad,  yet  he  would 
very  much  like  to  make  a  journey  to  Prussia,  the 
land  from  which  his  ancestors  were  exiled  for  their 
religious  activities  during  and  following  Luther's 
reformation. 

On  Dec.  11,  1902,  Mr.  Mengel  married  Laura 
Shipe,  daughter  of  Freeman  and  Mary  (  Mailman) 
Shipe  and  granddaughter  of  Solomon  Shipe,  of 
Rockefeller  township,  this  county.  Freeman  Shipe 
is  a  carpenter  and  lives  in  Sunburv.  .Air.  and 
.Mrs.  .Mengel  have  one  child,  Esther  Luella.  Mr. 
.Mengel  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Catawissa  Av- 
enue Methodist  church,  in  whose  life  he  has  been 
most  active,  lie  was  chairman  of  the  building 
committee  that  had  in  charge  the  rebuilding  of 
the  present  edifice,  in  1910,  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  and  teacher  of  the  men's  Bible 
class.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum and  in  political  connection  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, though  independent  in  his  support  of  can- 
didates. 

KLOCK.  The  first  ancestor  of  this  old  family 
in  America  was  Peter  Klock,  a  German  by  birth, 
who  came  to  this  country  about  1750.  His  ti i.-r 
locution  was  somewhere  in  Perks  eountv,  in  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  according  to"  some  in 
Bern  township,  according  to  others  near  Wbmels- 
dorf,  and  again  in  Oley  township.  It  is  probable 
that  the  last  named  location  is  more  nearly  the  cor- 
rect one.  At  any  rate.  Oley  township  was  the  home 
oj  -lie  Peter  Kluek  in  1756,  on  March  24th  of 
which  year  the  house  of  Peter  Kluek.  about  four- 
teen mile-  from  Reading,  was  set  on  lire  h\  the 
savages,  and  the  whole  family  killed.  (Berks 
ity  History.  1909,  says  Peter  Kluek  and  fam- 
ily, of  Albany,  were  killed  by  the  Indians  in  March, 
L756.)  While  the  flames  were  still  ascending  the 
Indian-  made  an  assaull  upon  the  house  of  one 
Linderman,   in    which    there   were   two   men   and 


358 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


one  woman,  all  of  whom  ran  upstairs,  where  the 
woman  was  killed  by  a  shot  which  went  through 
the  roof. 

John  Peter  Klock,  the  ancestor  of  the  Klocks 
in  Northumberland  county  of  whom  we  write,  was 
born  Jan.  1,  1743,  and  as  tradition  has  it  that  he 
came  to  America  when  seven  years  old  this  sub- 
stantiates the  date  of  1750  for  the  emigration  of 
Peter  Kluck,  whom  the  Indians  killed.  Rupp's 
History  makes  the  statement  that  tlje  "whole 
family  was  killed,"  which  is  probably  inaccurate, 
as  John  Peter  Klock  is  said  to  have  been  and  un- 
doubtedly was  a  son  of  Peter  Kluck.  He  died 
Dec.  9,  1817,  aged  seventy-five  years,  less  twenty- 
four  days.  His  wife,  Margareda,  born  April  10, 
1747,  died  April  4.  1832.  "They  had  the  follow- 
ing children :  John  Peter,  Jr.,  was  the  grand- 
father of  Dr.  Henry  A.  Klock,  who  died  at  Maha- 
noy  City,  Pa.,  in  1908,  aged  fifty-nine  years; 
George  had  a  son  Abraham,  who  is  buried  at 
St.  Peter's  church,  Mahanoy,  and  whose  son  Noah 
was  county  commissioner  of.  Northumberland 
county;  Henry  located  in  Indiana,  where  his 
descendants  still  live;  Jacob  settled  in  Virginia 
before  1790;  Valentine  is  mentioned  below;  Mrs. 
Peter  Starr  lived  near  Rough  and  Ready,  in 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  According  to  another 
account  there  was  also  a  son  David,  who  lived 
in  Pike  township,  Berks  county,  where  on  Aug. 
13,  1818,  his  son  David  K.  was  born.  On  Feb. 
25,  1793,  David  Klock  received  a  warranty  deed 
for  a  tract  of  343  acres  of  land,  called  "Beauty," 
located  on  the  Little  Mahantango  creek,  near  the 
line  of  Northumberland  and  Berks  counties.  The 
name  in  the  deed  is  written  Peter  Kluck,  but  in 
the  body  of  the  document  it  appears  as  Cluck.  It 
is  now  pronounced  as  if  written  Clock,  from  which 
we  obtain  the  spelling  Klock.  in  the  German 
style.  The  name  has  been  spelled  Kluck,  Cluck, 
Clock  and  Klock,  the  latter  being  the  commonest 
and  probably  the  correct  form.  The  descendants 
of  David  Klock  reside  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  Schuylkill  county  and  in  Washington  and  Jack- 
son townships,  Northumberland  county.  The  late 
Dr.  Henry  A.  Klock,  of  Mahanoy,  devoted  consid- 
erable attention  during  1907  to  tracing  the  fami- 
ly history,  but  he  died  during  1908  before  the 
completion  of  his  laudable  undertaking. 

In  the  foregoing  account  Valentine  Klock,  the 
ancestor  of  the  Klocks  to  which  this  article  is 
specially  devoted,  is  given  as  a  son  of  John  Peter 
Klock.  According  to  another  account  he  was 
probably  a  son  of  David  Klock,  St.  He  was  born 
March  27,  17S6,  lived  in  Jackson  township,  and 
was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  owning  a  tract  of 
many  acres,  which  has  since  been  divided  into 
different  farms.  Felix  Klock,  one  of  his  grand- 
sons, owns  forty  acres  of  this  old  homestead.  Val- 
entine Klock  was  engaged  in  hlacksmithing  near 
Mahanoy.     He  died  Sept.  11,  1870,  and  is  buried 


at  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Mahanoy,  of  which  he 
was  a  Lutheran  member.  His  wife,  Maria  Zerbe, 
was  born  Oct.  17,  1788,  and  died  May  30,  1866. 
They  had  children  as  follows :  Felix  died  unmar- 
ried; Peter  lived  near  Mahanoy  Church  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Felix  Klock  (he  married 
Esther  Schlegel  and  their  children  were  John, 
Daniel,  Frank,  Joseph,  David,  Harriet,  Clinton 
and  Andrew);  John  is  mentioned  below;  Daniel 
settled  in  Illinois;  Rebecca  married  a  Mr.  Krebs 
and  they  also  located  in  Illinois;  Catharine  mar- 
ried Jacob  Zerfing  and  they  lived  in  Washington 
township,  this  county;  Sallie  married  John 
Schlegel;  Judith  died  unmarried. 

John  Klock.  son  of  Valentine,  was  born  Aug. 
11,  1818,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  died 
Aug.  3,  1863.  He  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church, 
Mahanoy,  of  which  he  was  an  official  member.  Mr. 
Klock  owned  a  tract  of  twenty-seven  acres  in 
Jackson  township,  and  he  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
during  the  winter  time  working  in  his  shop.  He 
built  a  number  of  houses  and  barns,  and  had  a 
thriving  business,  teaching  the  trade  to  a  number 
of  apprentices  and  employing  as  many  as  five 
men  during  his  busy  seasons.  He  had  an  excellent 
reputation  as  a  mechanic,  and  was  known  to  all 
as  a  useful  citizen,  worthy  of  the  esteem  which 
he  enjoyed .  among  his  fellowmen.  On  Oct.  19, 
1862,  Mr.  Klock  enlisted  in  Company  D  (Capt. 
George  Ship,  Jr.),  172d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Militia,  for  nine  months'  service,  and  he  is  de- 
scribed as  being  five  feet,  ten  inches  in  height,  of 
dark  complexion,  and  with  gray  hair.  He  was 
discharged  from  the  service  Aug.  1,  1863,  at 
Harrisburg,  where  he  died  two  days  later,  Aug. 
3,  1863,  while  marching  with  his  regiment;  he 
is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  church  in  Mahanoy. 

Mr.  Klock  married  Elizabeth  Rebuck,  who  was 
born  June  8,  1826,  daughter  of  Peter  Rebuck;  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Stepp.  Mrs.  Klock 
died  Aug.  31,  1871,  the  mother  of  the  following 
named  children:  Felix  is  mentioned  below; 
Frank  R.  is  mentioned  below;  Sarah  Webster 
Leffler;  Galen  R.  is  mentioned  below;  Clinton  is 
deceased;  Wilhelmina,  unmarried,  lives  at  Ber- 
rysburg,  Pa.;  Miranda,  unmarried,  who  lives  at 
Sunbury,  has  been  an  invalid  since  1874;  Samuel 
is  a  resident  of  Washington  township. 

Frank  R.  Klock,  a  retired  farmer,  now 
living  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land county,  was  born  Oct.  30,  1849,  in  Jackson 
township.  He  attended  the  schools  at  Mahanoy, 
in  that  township,  and  from  his  earliest  years  was 
trained  to  farm  work,  which  he  continued  to  fol- 
low throughout  his  active  years.  Living  for  a 
time  in  Jackson  township,  and  then  for  three  years 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  in  1882  he  settled 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  has  a  tract 
of  seventy  acres,  his  son  Calvin  now  renting  and 
operating   this   place.      Upon    his   retirement,    in 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


::.-,!) 


1908,  he  moved  to  Sunbury,  where  his  home  is  at 
No.  80!)  East  Market  street,  owning  that  place 
and  another  piece  of  property  in  the  borough. 
Mr.  Klock  has  always  taken  an  interest  in  the 
puhlic  affairs  of  the  community,  and  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Lower  Augusta  township  he  served  three 
years  as  school  director.  In  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship he  was  constable  for  one  year.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  he  is  a  Luther- 
an, his  family  also  belonging  to  that  church.  Lur- 
ing his  residence  in  Lower  Augusta  township  he 
served  the  church  in  an  official  capacity. 

On  Feb.  29,  1882,  Mr.  Klock  married  Harriet 
Dunkelberger,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Malick)  Dimkeiberger  ami  granddaughter  of 
Christophel  Dunkelberger,  of  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship.  They  have  two  children:  Howard  1).,  of 
Lower  Augusta  township ;  and  Calvin  D.,  who 
farms  his  father's  old  place  in  Lover  Augusta 
township. 

Galen  B.  Klock,  a  farmer  near  Mahanoy, 
in  Jackson  township,  was  born  in  that  township 
April  18,  1853,  and  when  nineteen  years  old  com- 
menced to  learn  the  trade  of  miller.  After  follow- 
ing it  about  three  years,  he  went  to  Ogle  county, 
[U.,  in  is;  I.  and  there  remained  for  three  months. 
Proceeding  farther  west,  he  lived  at  Milton  Junc- 
tion, [owa,  for  three  years.  Eeturning  to  his  home 
m  Pennsylvania  Christmas  day.  1877,  he  soon 
went  to  Shamokin,  where  he  was  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness Eor  one  year,  and  then  for  two  years  he  re- 
turned to  the  occupation  of  his  youth,  farming, 
in  Jackson  township.  For  six  months  he  was 
I  nited  States  mail  driver  between  Dornsife  and 
Pitman,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  took  place 
m  1880,  he  worked  on  the  railroad  for  about 
six  years.  The  next  throe  years  he  was  an  eni- 
ployee  of  the  National  Transit  Company.  In  July, 
1895,  Mr.  Klock  purchased  the  J.  II.  Hoffman 
homestead,  near  Mahanoy,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home,  having  moved  to  this  place  soon  after 
it  came  into  his  possession.  This  farm  consists 
of  seventy-five  acres  located  along  the  State  road 
from  Herndon  to  Mahanoy.  Mr.  Klock  has  inter- 
ested himself  in  local  affairs  to  some  extent,  has 
served  six  years  as  supervisor,  was  roadmaster  for 
three  years,  and  is  at  present  overseer  of  the  poor. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith. 

In  1880  Mr.  Klock  married  Amanda  Agnes 
Kulp,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  daughter 
of  John  and  Caroline  (Bhoad)  Kulp,  of  Jackson 
township,  and  they  have  had  children  as  follows: 
Thola  M.,  who  married  Frank  Selgrath,  of  Maha- 
noy City;  Dora  J-  John  II.,  Mary  E..  George 
L  "  Katie  E.  and  Anna  M.,  all  of  whom  reside  at 
home.  Mr.  Klock  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  St.  Peter's  church, 
at  Mahanoy,  and  he  has  served  as  deacon  of  that 
organization. 

Felix   Klock,   a  farmer  near   Mahanoy.   now 


Bed  Cross,  in  Washington  township,  was  born  Jan. 
16,  1847,  on  the  farm  of  his  grandfather,  Val- 
entine Klock,  in  Jackson  township.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  and  in  his  twenty-first  year  went 
to  learn  shoemaking,  which  trade  lie  followed  for 
twenty-three  years,  in  Jordan  and  Jackson  town- 
ships.  In  1890  lie  began  farming  at  his  present 
home  in  Washington  township,  a  farm  of  145 
acres  formerly  owned  by  one  of  his  uncles.  It  is 
g 1  land,  and  under  the  management  of  the  pres- 
ent owner  has  yielded  an  excellent  income.  Mr. 
Klock  built  a  Large  frame  dwelling  house  there  in 
1903.  He  has  always  been  energetic  and  ambi- 
tions, and  for  sixteen  years  he  followed  threshing 
as  well  as  farming,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the 
besl  threshers  in  Lis  end  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. He  operated  an  up-to-date  outfit,  and  has 
threshed  as  much  as  47,000  bushels  of  grain  in 
one  season.  In  this  connection  he  became  par- 
ticularly well  known.  Mr.  Klock  is  a  Democrat 
and  served  one  term  as  school  director  of  Wash- 
ington township.  He  is  a  Lutheran  member  of 
St.  Peter's  church,  where  many  generations  of  the 
Klock  family  have  worshipped,  and  many  of  the 
name  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  there. 

On  May  16,  1869,  Mr.  Klock  married  Sarah 
Adelia  Bordner,  and  they  have  had  twelve  chil- 
dren: Alice,  wife  of  Jerre  Spotts;  Lizzie  M.,  who 
died  young;  Jonathan  E.,  of  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington; George  F.,  who  died  when  twenty- 1 'ne 
years  old,  leaving  three  children,  Charles  H.,  Wil- 
liam E.  and  George  F. :  Susan  B.,  wife  of  Francis 
W.  Hoffman;  Dorsey  L.,  of  Washington  township: 
Charlena  J.,  who  died  in  infancy:  Carrie  A.,  who 
married  George  Schaffer;  J.  Cleveland,  of  Hern- 
don, Pa.;  Francis  M.;  Minnie  A.,  who  has  been 
an  invalid  all  her  life,  and  William  A. 

Bordner.  The  Bordner  family,  to  which 
Mrs.  Felix  Klock  belongs,  is  descended  from  I'.al- 
thaser  (Baltser)  Bordner,  who  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-four years,  together  with  his  wife  Marilles, 
aged  thirty-seven  years,  and  three  children — 
Jacob,  Ilanna  and  Mela,  aged  ten,  eight 
and  seven  years,  respectively,  sailed  from 
Rotterdam  on  the  ship  "Adventurer,"  and  landed 
at  Philadelphia  Sept.  22,  L732.  Bal&aser  Bord- 
ner settled  in  Tulpehocken  township,  Lancaster 
(now  Berks)  county,  immediately  after  land 
and  died   there  in    L747. 

Jacob  Bordner,  son  of  Balthaser,  was  horn  in 
1722.  He  was  executor  of  his  father's  estate,  and 
on  \pril  L0,  1761.  was  naturalized  as  a  citizen  of 
Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  at  the  Su- 
preme court  of  Philadelphia.  On  June  20,  1761, 
lie  purchased  from  Thomas  and  Kiehard  Bonn 
the  present  Bordner  homestead,  which  had  been 
lea  cil  to  Jacob  Eoffman,  who  was  unable  to  pay 
his  rental.  Since  that  day  the  homestead  lias 
been  owned  by  a  son  of  eai  h  successive  generation. 
Jacob    Bordner    married    Sarah      Bait,    and      they 


3(30 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  X  S  Y  LVAN  J  A 


reared  a  family  of  seven  children :  Jacob  (2),  John, 
William,  Daniel,  Peter.  Anna  Maria  and  Barbara. 
The  father  died  in  1792,  and  by  his  will  the  home- 
stead passed  to  his  eldest  son,  Jacob  (2). 

Jacob  Bordner  (2),  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
1151.  and  spenl  Ins  whole  life  upon  the  home- 
stead. He  was  married  to  Anna  Maria  Brosz, 
seven  years  his  junior.  They  had  a  family  of  six 
children:  Jacob  (3),  John,  Catharine,  Elizabeth, 
Julian  and  Susanna.  Jacob  Bordner  (2)  died 
in  1837,  willing  the  homestead  to  his  eldest  son 
Jacob  (3).  The  widowed  mother  survived  her 
husband  two  years. 

Balthaser  Bordner,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Felix 
Klock,  was  of  this  stock.  He  was  born  in  the  Tul- 
pehocken  Valley,  in  Berks  county,  and  at  an  early 
date  settled  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county,  acquiring  a  large  tract  of  land, 
which  has  now  been  divided  into  four  farms.  The 
original  homestead  now  belongs  to  the  Hain  estate. 
Mr.  Bordner  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  He  was  born 
Feb.  21,  1778,  and  died  Jan.  13,  1853.  and  is  bur- 
ied at  /ion's  Stone  Valley  church.  His  wife,  Mary 
Magdelena  Emerieh,  daughter  of  Jacob  Emerich, 
a  pioneer  of  the  Tulpehocken  Valley,  was  also  ol 
old  Berks  county  stock.  She  was  born  April  22, 
L 782,  and  died  Nov.  1,1870.  Their  children 
were:  Jacob,  John,  Jonathan  (born  Nov.  23, 
1806,  died  Oct.  27,  isM  :  wife  Leah  Keihl,  born 
May  28,  1809,  died  May  10,  187"!  I,  Peter,  Molly, 
Elizabeth,  Lucy,  Catharine.  Joseph.  Isaac,  Philip 
(died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  and  is 
buried  at   Stone  Valley  church)  and  George. 

Jacob  Bordner.  one  of  the  sons  of  Balthasei 
and  Mary  Magd.  (Emerich)  Bordner.  died  Nov. 
23,  is  15,  aged  forty-one  years,  one  month,  four 
days.  lie  was  a  butcher  by  occupation.  His  wife. 
Magdalena  (Wolf),  died'  June  29,  1844,  aged 
thirty-six  years,  two  months,  twenty-nine  days. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children",  as  follows: 

(1)    G hi     is   mentioned    below.      ( '2 )      Lucian, 

born  Jam  20,  is-.';,  died  May  1.  1831,  and  is 
buried  at  Williamsville,  Erie  Co..  X.  Y..  from 
the  cemetery  at  which  place  many  of  the  dates 
in  this  article  have  been  obtained.  (3)  Augustus, 
born  Jan.  *J.  1829,  lived  at  Burr  Oak,  Mich.,  was 
a  cooper  and  mason  by  trade,  and  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  his  active  life  was  occupied  as  a  dray- 
man. He  died  April  13,  1909.  On  June  8,  1858, 
he  married  Catharine  Lavin,  born  Sept.-20,  1839. 
died  Jan.  14,  1905.  They  had  children:  George 
E.,  born  Aug.  15.  1859,  a  jeweler  of  Mason,  Mich., 
married  Nettie  Breed  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Lenigene;  Benjamin  F.,  born  April  18,  1861,  mar- 
ried Carrie  Beteher  and  they  have  one  daughter. 
Bazel.  (4)  Sarah,  barn  April  2,  1832,  in  Erie 
county,  was  married  July  8,  1850,  to  A.  N. 
Hill,  a  cooper,  who  lived  at  Three  Rivers,  Mich. 
She  died  Feb.  13,  1907.  Three  daughters  were 
born  to  this  union :   Martha,  wdto  married  John 


Packard  (a  cooper)  and  died  several  years  ago 
(no  children)  :  Emma,  unmarried,  who  lives  with 
her  father;  and  Ida,  who  married  Alex.  Hall,  a 
painter,  of  Three  Rivers.  Mich,  (they  have  no 
children).  (5|  William,  born  June  6,  1833,  died 
April  18,  1857.  (6)  Elias,  born  May  21,  1836, 
died  April  10,  lsis,  and  is  buried  at  Williams- 
ville. N.  Y.  (7)  Henry  is  a  farmer  at  Onawa, 
Monona  Co..  Iowa.  (8)  Benjamin  P.,  born  Aug. 
.'.  Is  11.  i-  a  farmer  by  occupation.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  served  in  Company  K,  11th  Michigan 
Infantry.  He  married  Mary  Dunlap,  who  was 
born  Oct.  28,  1842,  and  they  had  children:  Ralph, 
horn  Nov.  14.  1870.  a  farmer,  married  Viola 
Everet,  who  was  born  July  19,  1879,  and  they 
have  i  Idren,  Clare  (horn  Nov.  30,  Is:* ;  >. 
Zaila  (horn  April  •.',  1903)  and  Irene  (horn  Oct. 
'.'1.  1909);  Guy  D.,  horn  May  I.  L876,  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Hank  of  Hun  Oak.  .Mich.,  mar- 
ried   Vinnie  W Iman,  horn   Sept.  25,  1816.  and 

they  have  three  children,  Howard  (horn  July 
23,  1903),  Dorothy  (bom  Aug.  25,  1907)  and 
John  Benjamin  (born  Nov.  18,  1909);  Mark, 
born  ■  1 1 1 1  \  L9,  1879,  a  carpenter,  married  Mamie 
McKee,  horn  Dec.  30,  is;;,  and  they  have  two 
children.  Isabel  (bom  Jan.  20,  1903)  and  Rea 
(born   March   ;.   1906).      (9)    Martha,  born  July 

19,  1843,  married  Hiram  Pyle.  a  blacksmith,  of 
Burr  Oak,  Mich.,  ami  tiny  have  three  daughters, 
all  married:  Mr-.  Mary  Watson,  the  eldest,  lives 
in  Goldwater,  Midi.:  Mrs.  Sarah  Plant  lives  on 
a  farm  at  Burr  Oak.  Mich.:  Mrs.  Mina  Stewart 
lives  in  Sturgis,  Michigan. 

Ceoi'ge  liordner,  eldest  son  of  Jaeoh.  was  born 
Feb.  28,  1825,  in  Erie  county,  Pa.,  and  died  May 

20,  1903.  He  lived  at  Burr  Oak,  Mich.,  and  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  mason.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Freemason.  He  was  married  Sept.  29,  1850,  and 
his  wife.  Catharine  (Phillips),  died  July  19, 
1896.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Lucius  A.. 
born  Aug.  Hi,  1851,  died  June  1,  1852,  and  is 
buried  at  Williamsville.  X.  Y. :  William  1L.  born 
Dee.  l(i.  1853,  is  mentioned  below;  Charles  A., 
hom  June  ;,  1855,  lives  at  Pasadena.  Cal..  and  is 
engaged  at  manual  labor  (lie  married  Audra  Mor- 
gan) :  Hattie  C.  born  March  ;.  1859,  still  lives 
on  the  place  at  Burr  Oak,  Mich.,  where  she  was 
horn. 

William  II.  Bordner,  son  of  George,  was  born 
Dee.  lu.  1853,  at  Williamsville,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  is  a  blacksmith  and  machinist  of  Burr  Oak. 
Mich.  He  is  the  patentee  and  manufacturer  of 
the  "Hold-Fast"'  marsh  or  mud  shoe  for  horses, 
and  follow-  blacksmithing  in  all  its  branches, 
wo.h]  working,  and  machinists"  work  of  all  kinds, 
also  dealing  in  junk.  Mr.  Bordner  married  Ad- 
die  S.  Gregg,  who  was  horn  Nov.  ".';.  1854,  and 
they  have  three  children:  (1)  Mabel  ('..  born 
Nov.  29,  1879,  married  Harry  Van  Etta,  a  drug- 
gist,  born   July   21,    1869,   ami    their   home   is   at 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COU XT Y .   PENNSYLVANIA 


361 


Orland,  1  ml.  They  have  two  children:  Maxon, 
bora  July  29,  1904,  and  Richard,  horn  June  22, 
L908.  (■-')  Elmer  Lloyd,  horn  Dee.  21,  1883,  is  a 
machinist  and  is  now  in  Chicago,  111.  (3)  Gela 
B.,  horn  Aug.  7.  1888,  married  Alpheus  J.  Miller, 
a  farmer,  who  was  bora  March  1,  1887,  and 
the]    live  at  Sturgis,  Michigan. 

Jonathan  Bordner,  son  of  Balthaser,  and  his 
wife  Leah  (Keihl)  had  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Katie  married  [saac  Duttry;  Lizzie  married  Moses 
Heckerl  and  died  Sept.  15,  1910;  Sarah  died  un- 
married; Louise  married  George  Lahr;  Corlina 
married  Adam  Daniel;  John  married  Lovina 
Weary  (buried  at  Shamokin)  ;  Emanuel  married 
Marj  Dreigo  and  is  buried  at  Miser's  Church  in 
Snyder  county;  William  married  Polly  Derrick 
and  died  in  May,  Puis  (he  is  buried  at  /ion's 
Stone  Valley  Church;  his  widow  lives  in  George- 
town); Leah,  hum  Sept.  1.  1839,  married  John 
Tressler  (who  is  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Washington  township,  an  office  he  has  held  for 
the  past  fifty  years)  and  they  have  had  eleven 
children,  David  (bora  Oct.  12,  L858,  died  aged 
lour  months,  seven  days),  Mary  Ann  (horn  March 
17.  1860,  died  Nov.  12,  1863,  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Church).  Small  Alice  (horn  July  12,  1861,  died 
Nov.  23,  L863,  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church). 
Minnie  Minerva  (lmfrried  Daniel  Schlegel  and 
has  one  son,  Jay),  Adam  B.  (married  Amelia 
Stepp,  died  Oct.  6,  1908,  and  is  buried  at  St. 
Peter's  Church.  Mahanoy;  they  had  two  children, 
Curtis  C.j  of  Ti'cvoi'ton,  and  Gertrude  M.,  who 
lives  with  her  mother  at  Mahanoy — now  Red 
Cross),  Henry  (horn  Oct.  11.  1864,  married  Katie 
Harris  and  has  two  children,  Carrie  E.  and  Ann). 
Jacob  F.  (horn  Dec.  19,  1866,  married  Nora 
Byerly  and  has  five  children,  Charles  I.,  Daisy 
N.,  Mary  E.,  John  Jacob  and  Goldie;  of  these. 
Charles  1.  married  Mary  A.  Spotts,  granddaughter 
of  Felix  and  Sarah  A.  Klock,  and  they  have  three 
sons,  Norman  L.,  Luther  I.  and  an  infant),  Anna 
(born  Nov.  I.  1 8 70,  married  Maurice  Bower),  Al- 
meretta  (born  May  9,  1871,  married  John  Kris- 
singer  and  had  lour  children,  of  whom  Katie  died 
June  is,  1911,  Bertha  is  at  home  and  Edgar  is 
deceased);  Katie  S.  (horn  in  ISC',  died  Ma\  '.'I. 
L893,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's:  she  married 
Samuel  Diehl  and  had  three  children.  Harvey  E., 
Gertie  and  Mabel)  and  Charlie  J.  (born  July  15. 
1  s 7 ; ! ,  graduated  from  the  Kutztown  school  and 
taught  many  years,  and  is  now  cashier  of  the 
Sunbury  Trust  &  Sate  Deposit  Company;  he  mar- 
ried Louise  Geise). 

Isaac  Bordner,  son  of  Balthaser  and  Mary 
Magd  (Emerich)  Bordner,  was  born  May  : ,  L822, 
and  died  Aug.  15,  1899.  In  1849  he  married 
Mary  Magdelena  Eyster,  who  died  in  1871.  Their 
children  were:  John,  mentioned  below;  Amelia 
Catherine    horn    Sept.    26,    1853,    who    ha-    never 


married  and  has  always  made  her  home  with  her 
brother  John:  and  Henrietta,  born  Feb.  L0,  1857, 
who  married  Joseph  Kauffman  in  1873  ami  died 
Feb.  23,  is;:,.  All  these  children  were  horn  in 
Northumberland    county,    Pennsylvania. 

John  Bordner,  horn  Oct.  28,  1849,  was  a  farmer 
throughout  his  active  years,  on  the  place  now 
cultivated  by  his  sons  John  S.  and  William  H. 
Bordner.  and  he  and  his  wile,  sister  Amelia  and 
two  daughters  mm  live  jusl  a  halt  mile  from  that 
place.  In  1876  he  married  Catherine  Ann  Doh- 
mer,  and  they  have  five  children :  (  1  )  John 
S.j  horn  Peh.  23,  Is;;,  was  married  June  L0,  1908, 
to  Stanta  Dora  Lung.  ('.')  William  II..  born 
Sept.  1'.'.  1879,  is  in  business  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  John.  (3)  George  P.,  born  June  7. 
ISM,  married  Nov.  26,  1902,  Edna  May  Stuts- 
man, and  their  children  are  Russell  (born  Aug.  I. 
1903)  and  Kenneth  (horn  Dec.  15,  L906).  ill 
Ida  Elizabeth,  horn  Sept.  21,  1883,  and  (5)  Ma- 
bel Bernice,  horn  July  5,  L899,  reside  with  their 
parents.  All  the  children  and  grandchildren  of 
John  Bordner  have  been  horn  in  Elkhart  county, 
Ind.  John  S.  and  William  H.  Bordner  are  now  on 
their  father's  old  farm  at  Bristol,  that  county, 
engaged  in  scientific  agriculture,  specializing  in 
the  scientific  raising  of  farm  crops  and  also  of 
stock.  Their  place  is  known  as  The  Bordner 
Plant  and  Animal  Breeding  Station.  Both 
brothers  are  college  men,  John  S.  of  Indiana  and 
Michigan  Universities,  and  William  II.  of  Purdue. 
While  the  former  was  a  student  at  Indiana  Ohi- 
versity  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  several  fam- 
ilies of  Bordners  of  Brookston,  Ind.,  who  knew 
considerable  about  the  early  history  id'  the  family. 
They  claimed  the  Bordners  were  Swiss  Germans, 
and  said  their  brother,  a  professor  in  sonic  eastern 
Pennsylvania  College,  had  in  his  possession  the 
original  deed  received  h\  the  first  ancestor  on  this 
continent  and  his  bachelor  brother  (the  latter 
never  married).  The  land  was  located  in  one  of 
the  counties  south  id'  Northumberland. 

Joseph  Bordner.  son  of  Balthaser.  married  Su 
sauna  Michael  and  had  seven  children,  lour  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were:  Henry. 
a  sailor,  who  died  at  Harrisburg,  unmarried  ; 
Catharine,  wife  of  Joseph  Klock.  son  of  Peter 
Klock  (lived  at  Urban) ;  and  Susan,  who  married 
Daniel  Shappell,  died  at  shamokin.  and  is  buried 

at  St.    Peter's  Church,    Mahanoy. 

Molly  Bordner,  daughter  of  Balthaser,  married 
Paul  Lahr,  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Elizabeth  Bordner,  daughter  of  Balthaser,  mar- 
ried John  Doekey,  of  Stone  Valley,  ami  had  Beven 
children,  five  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Lucetta 
married  John  Michael,  and  died  in  1903;  John 
unmarried  in   L863. 

Lucy  Bordner,  daughter  of  Balthaser,  married 
Daniel    Michael,    a    blacksmith,    and    i-    buried    at 


362 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Zion's  Church,  Stone  Valley.  She  had  eight  chil- 
dren: Isaac,  John,  Daniel,  Emanuel,  Franklin, 
Henry,  Harriet  and  Elizabeth. 

Catharine  Bordner,  daughter  of  Balthaser, 
married  Eliah  Enderson,  lived  in  Snyder  county, 
and  is  buried  at  Chapman,  that  county.  She  had 
eight  children,  James  B.,  Mary  1'..  Sarah  A.,  Cor- 
nelia  J..  Josephine  B.,  Eveline  C,  Mahala  X.  and 
Benton. 

Peter  Bordner,  son  of  Balthaser,  born  Feb.  3, 
18/11,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  died  in  1904 
ami  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church.  He 
was  a  blacksmith.  His  wile.  Polly  (Hepner), 
born  in  1813,  'lied  in  July.  1876,  and  is  buried  at 
Stone  Valley  Church.  They  had  twelve  children: 
Sarah  married  Henry  Kemble;  Polly  married 
Hiram  Brown;  Rebecca  married  Jonathan  Bobb; 
Catharine  married  Jonathan  Hoffman;  Elizabeth 
died  in  infancy:  Jane  married  Daniel  Engle: 
Mary  married  John  Riehenbach;  Isaac  married 
Harriet  Riehenbach;  Benjamin  married  Sarah 
Rose:  Samuel  married  Ros  Deckel;  Henry  died 
in  infancy :  Frederick  married  Tillie  MeCurty. 
of  this  family.  Jonathan  and  Rebecca  (Bordner) 
Bobb  had  the  following  children:  Lewis,  a  farmer 
and  plasterer,  who  lives  at  Red  Cross  (formerly 
known  as  Mahanoy),  married  Alice  Rebuck  and 
r  children.  Calvin  E.  (married  Katie 
Ferster),  Annie  I-;,  (a  student  at  the  Lancaster 
business  college),  Edgar  E.  and  George  E.;  Meela- 
ta  married  Galen  Lahr.  lives  near  Dalmatia,  and 
has  seven  children:  Frank,  who  lives  at  Herndon, 
married  Lizzie  Long  and  they  have  five  children : 
John,  who  lives  at  Philadelphia,  married  Mary 
Rietz,  ami  they  have  had  four  children,  only  one 
of  whom  survives. 

George  Bordner,  youngest  son  of  Balthaser  ami 
Mary  Magd.  (Emerich)  Bordner,  was  a  tailor  by 
trade,  and  also  had  a  small  farm.  He  moved  West 
.  but  came  hack  to  Pennsylvania  to  live,  mak- 
ing hi-  home  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.  He  died  Sept.  21,  1897,  aged 
seventy-five  years,  four  months,  twenty-three  days. 
His  wife.  Susanna  (Phillips),  died  July  3,  1892, 
aged  sixty-three  years,  three  months,  thirteen 
days.  Ten  children  were  born  to  their  union, 
namely:  (1)  A  son.  horn  in  1847.  died  in  in- 
fancy, i '.' I  Sarah  Adelia,  horn  in  1849,  married 
Felix  Klock.  (3)  Henry  M..  horn  in  1853,  died 
in  1887.  lie  married  Sarah  L.  Seiler,  of  near 
Dalmatia,  and  had  six  children.  Lennie  (married 
James  Bogar),  Charles  X.  (married  a  Miss  Haas, 
of  near  Sunbury),  William  E.,  Susan  E..  George 
\*.  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  All  of  this  fam- 
ily are  now  deceased.  (4)  Mary  E..  horn  in  1855, 
married  .1.  W.  Kline,  and  is  living  at  Spokane, 
Wash.  They  had  eight  children:  Daisy  L..  de- 
ceased  ;  George  F. :  Susan  B..  wife  of  Dr.  Mitchell, 
of  Oregon:  Cora,  wife  of  Henry  Hummel,  of 
Waterville,    Wash.;    John,    deceased:    Frank,    of 


Spokane;  Clarence,  of  Spokane:  and  Nettie,  living 
at  home,  m  Spokane.  (5)  A  son,  born  in  1857,  died 
in  infancy.  (  6 )  Jeremiah  J.,  born  in  1859,  a  resi- 
dent of  Greene,  Pa.,  married  Matilda  Snyder,  of 
thaUplace.  (7  )  Isaac  E.,  born  in  1861,  married  An- 
na Enderson,  and  lives  at  Riverside,  Pa.  (8)  Lu- 
cian  0.  was  born  in  1863.  (9)  Lizzie  O,  born  in 
1865,  married  John  Phillips  and  lives  at  Plum 
Creek,  where  lie  is  engaged  in  farming  and  dairy- 
ing. He  also  owns  a  farm  at  Hickory  Corners,  this 
eminty.  ( lo )  Ceorge  Franklin,  born  in  1870, 
lives  in  Nebraska,  where  he  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  owning  a  large  farm.  He  married 
Mary   Heekerd.   of    Dalmatia. 

JOHN  J.  SMITH,  presenl  street  commissioner 
Sunbury,  has  been  a  popular  official  of  that  bor- 
ough for  many  years,  having  served  his  fellow 
citizens  in  various  important  capacities.  He  is 
>  and  favorably  known,  and  his  duties  of  a 
public  nature  have  brought  him  into  contact  with 
so  many  residents  of  the  place  that  few  citizens,  at 
any  rate  of  his  own  generation,  do  not  count  him 
among  their  acquaintances.  He  has  lived  in  Sun- 
bury since  the  close  of  his  service  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Smith"-  grandfather,  James  Smith,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Bucks  Jounty,  this  Stale.  He 
ed  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Pennsylvania  Provisionals,  and  the 
musket  he  used  in  the  Colonial  service  is  now  in 
i  of  one  of  his  grandsons — a  highly 
prized  heirloom.  In  1787  he  came  from  Bucks 
county  to  Northumberland,  being  a  pioneer  at 
Sunbury,  where  in  1796  he  built  a  hotel  on  the 
it  site  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Louisa  A. 
Moore  (daughter  of  the  late  Ira  T.  Clement),  con- 
duct in--  same  for  many  years.  His  grandson 
John  J.  Smith,  of  Sunbury,  has  the  board  upon 
which  the  year  the  hotel  was  erected,  1796,  ap- 
James  Smith  served  some  years  as  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  county  prothonotary.  In  his 
later  life  he  made  his  home  for  several  years  with 
•  -ui  James,  at  Reading,  Pa.,  but  he  returned 
to  Sunbury.  where  he  lived  with  his  daughter 
Catharine  (Mrs.  Withington)  until  his  death.  He 
is  buried  in  the  old  South  Fourth  street  cemetery. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His 
wife.  Barbara  Ann  (Yanholdt).  was  from  Bucks 
county,  her  people  living  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia and  in  Bucks  county.  An  oil  portrait  of  her 
now  in  the  possession  of  her  grandson,  John  J. 
Smith,  is  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation  and  highly 
valued  by  the  owner.  James  and  Barbara  Ann 
(Yanholdt)  Smith  had  quite  a  large  family,  hut 
a  number  of  their  children  died  when  small.  We 
have  record  of:  Jacob,  who  lived  and  died  at 
Selinsgrove.  Pa.;  James:  John,  a  farmer  of  Upper 
Augusta  township,  who  after  his  retirement  lived 
in    Sunbury,   where  he  died:   Catharine,   wife  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


363 


William  Withington;  Polly,  who  married  Robert 
Smith,  and  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  township ; 
and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Williams. 

James  Smith,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Sun- 
bury in  January,  1805,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  learned  the  tanner's  trade  in  Ms  native 
place,  whence  when  a  young  man  he  moved  to 
Berks  county,  this  State,  settling  near  Reading,  at 
Tuckerton,  in  Muhlenberg  township.  At  that  loca- 
tion he  remained  about  sixteen  years,  during  which 
time  he  married  and  all  his  children  were  born. 
Hi  turning  to  Northumberland  county  in  1846,  he 
settled  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed tanning  and  farming  some  years,  until  he 
bought  and  removed  to  a  farm  in  Point  township. 
He  cultivated  that  place  until  1871,  in  which  year 
he  came  to  Sunbury  to  make  his  home  with  his 
son  John  J.  Smith.  lie  died  at  the  home  of  this 
son  Jan.  1,  1880,  his  wife,  Catharine  (Medler), 
passing  away  at  the  same  place  May  31,  1875,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-live.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children:  George  W.,  Eormerly  a  merchant  at 
Sunbury,  moved  west  in  1882  and  died  at  Salina, 
Kans. ;  Catharine  died  in  infancy:  Mary  J.,  who 
is  unmarried,  makes  her  home  with  her  brother 
John  J.:  Calvin  died  in  infancy;  James  D.  is  a 
resident  of  Sunbury;  John  J.  is  a  resident  of  Sun- 
bur  v. 

John  J.  Smith  was  born  April  13,  1842,  near 
Reading,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  but  was  practically  reared 
in  Northumberland  county,  the  family  having  set- 
tled here  when  he  was  very  young.  Durijig  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  at  Philadelphia  in  Company 
H,  5th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  served  twenty 
months,  entering  the  service  as  private  and  being 
discharged  as  a  corporal.  He  was  wounded  April 
11,  1863,  in  the  second  battle  fought  near  Wil- 
liamsburg, Va..  being  shot  in  the  left  leg,  which 
was  amputated,  and  he  was  discharged  June  3, 
1863.  Coming  to  Sunbury.  he  took  a  six  months' 
course  in  a  private  school  and  then  learned  the 
tinsmith's  trade,  ai  which  he  worked  until  the  end 
of  the  year  1869,  when  he  went  to  Virginia  for  a 
short  time.  Returning  to  Sunbury,  he  was  hon- 
ored with  appointment  to  the  office  of  postmaster 
in  1871,  during  Grant's  administration,  and  filled 
the  position  lor  a  period  of  ten  years,  his  efficient 
services  giving  general  satisfaction.  Mr.  Smith 
was  then  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  old 
We-i  Ward,  serving  as  such  for  five  years.  In 
L884  he  was  elected  street  commissioner,  which 
office  he  held  for  ten  successive  years,  after  which 
he  was  engaged  as  inspector  of  paved  streets  and 
followed  contracting  on  his  own  account  until 
1909,  when  the  town  council  appointed  him  street 
commissioner.  His  long  experience  in  that  office, 
and  his  consequent  familiarity  with  the  streets 
of  the  borough,  make  him  a  most  efficient  and  re- 
liable man  for  this  work,  in  which  he  has  shown 
excellent  judgment  and  trustworthiness.     He  is  a 


popular  man  personally  as  well  as  in  official  cir- 
cles. Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  member  of  Xo.  1 
Steam  Fire  Company  since  its  organization,  and 
since  1878  has  been  president,  so  far  as  known  the 
oldest  president  of  a  volunteer  fire  company  in  the 
State  still  in  office. 

In  1871  Mr.  Smith  married  Lydia  S.  Diehl, 
daughter  of  William  Diehl,  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith of  Point  township,  this  county;  Mrs.  Diehl's 
maiden  name  was  Fry.  Four  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union:  William  J.,  who  is  a  sergeant 
in  the  United  States  army;  Jessie  J.,  at  home; 
Anna  E.,  wife  of  M.  D.  Grove  and  living  at  West 
Milton,  Pa. :  and  Mary  M.,  at  home.  The  family 
residence  is  at  No.  214  South  Fourth  street,  Sun- 
bury. Mr.  Smith  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sunbury.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  faith,  and  socially  a 
prominent  member  of  Lieut.  W.  A.  Brunei-  Post, 
Xo.  335,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  been  com- 
mander since  1905. 

WILLIAM  BEUCE  CLINGEE,  treasurer  of 
the  Milton  Manufacturing  Company,  in  the  bor- 
ough of  Milton,  is  one  of  the  native  young  men  of 
that  place  who  have  risen  to  position  and  sub- 
stance through  their  own  exertions.  He  entered 
the  service  of  the  Shimers,  who  control  that  com- 
panv.  in  the  capacity  of  typewriter,  and  the  im- 
portant work  now  intrusted  to  him  has  come  to 
him  as  the  reward  of  diligence  and  well  directed 
effort.  Mr.  Clinger  has  spent  all  his  life  in  Mil- 
ton, having  been  born  there  Sept.  15,  1874. 

Mr.  Clinger  is  of  the  sixth  generation  of  his 
family  in  America.  John  Clinger,  the  emigrant 
ancestor  of  his  family,  was  born  in  Germany, 
whence  he  emigrated  to  this  country  about  1745, 
settling  at  what  was  then  known  as  Chester 
Springs,  in  Chester  county.  Pa.  He  took  up  land 
in  thai  vicinity  and  followed  farming  there  the 
i!  -t  of  his  days.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Sloyer,  and  it  is  supposed  she  belonged  to  the 
family  of  that  Dame  who  came  from  Germany  to 
America  with  John  Clinger.  Both  are  buried  in 
Chester  county. 

John  (.'linger  (2),  son  of  John,  was  horn  at 
ter  Springs,  and  died  in  Chester  county, 
where  he  is  buried,  at  Homeville.  lie  was  a  miller 
a-  well  as  farmer.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a 
family,  as  follows:  Jacob,  who  died  at  Homeville, 
Pa.:  Henry;  Samuel,  who  died  at  Camden,  N.  J.: 
Dr.  Peter,  who  died  at  Conestoga  Center,  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.:  Edgar,  who  died  in  Chi 
county;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Rhoads;  Ann.  who  mar- 
ried Thomas  Pennington;  and  Hannah.  Mrs. 
Booth. 

Henry  Clinger,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of 
the  emigrant,   was  ter  of    Daniel   Clinger, 

of  Milton,     lb'  was  horn  Sept.  29,  1796,  in  Lime- 
stone   i  m  ash  p,     Lyi  iming    I  !o.,    Pa.,    and    i 


364 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


March  3,  1854,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  five  months, 
four  days;  he  is  buried  at  Collomsville,  in  Lime- 
stone township.  When  a  young  man  he  learned 
tanning  in  Berks  county  from  one  Peter  (..'linger. 
He  was  married  there,  and  in  18-2S  moved  to 
Limestone  township,  Lycoming  county,  where  he 
bought  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  his 
property  including  a  mill  site.  He  erected  a  tan- 
nery and  a  grist  and  saw  mill  along  one  of  the 
small  streams  in  that  township,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  best  known  men  in  all  that  set 
his  various  business  interests  bringing  him  into 
contact,  in  some  relation  or  other,  with  almost 
all  of  the  the  neighborhood.     He  con- 

tinued to  do  business  for  many  years,  and  mean- 
time served  also  as  county  commissioner   (IS 

ral  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  as  land 
surveyor  and  conveyancer.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics.  In  his  early  years  he  served  as  col- 
onel of  a  military  organization,  and  he  was  long 
an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in 
which  he  was  an  elder  for  many  years.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  a  Mason. 

On  Ma>    18,  1823,  Mr.  ('linger  was  married,  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  to  Susan  Wagner,  who  was  horn  Dec. 
25,  1803,  m  Berks  county,  daughter  of  Abraham 
and    Catharine    ( Greenwalt  I    Wagner,    an. I 
Oct.   25,   1896.     Nine  children  were  born  to  tins 
union,   namely:   Mary,  who  married   Michael   Sy- 
...    of    Antes    Fort.    Lycoming    county,    and 
who  is  now  living  at  Jersey  Shore,   Pa.,  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  C.  ('.  Bubb;  Catharine,  who  mar- 
Adam  Baker,   formerly   of   Winchester,    Va.. 
and   now       -        a    al    Newberry,   l'a. :    Susan    A., 
who  married  John  Knauti.  and  resides  at  Milton. 
Pa,;    John    W..    who    died    at    Winchester,    Va. : 
Abraham,  who  died  at  Williamsport,  l'a.:  Henry 
S  .    who   died   in  Limestone  township.   Lycoming 
county;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Limestone  township: 
Daniel:  and  Edgar,  who  died  aged  five  years. 
John  W.  dinger,  son  of  Henry,  was  horn  in  Ly- 
lig  county,    l'a..  hut  later  became  a  resident 
of  Winchester,  Va.,  where  he  died.     He  was  quite 
an  active  citizen  of  his  native  locality,  serving  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years  before  his  re- 
moval to   Virginia.     In  politics  he  was  a   stanch 
icrat.     He  married  Rebecca  Meixell.  a  native 
of  Union  county,  Pa. 

I,.  0.  dinger,  son  of  John  W..  was  born  Jan. 
31,  185?.  in  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  and  was  nine 
years  old  when  he  went  to  Union  county.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  at 
Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School.  He  first 
came  to  Milton  in  1865.  hut  a  few-  years  later 
went  to  Virginia,  where  he  remained  four  years, 
returning  to  Milton,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
bookkeeper  until  1883.  That  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed agent  for  the  Adams  Express  Company, 
which  position  he  continued  to  hold  until  his 
death. 


In  1871  Mr.  dinger  married  Sarah  Jane  Xagle, 
daughter  of  William  Xagle,  of  Milton,  and  to 
them  were  born  the  following  children:  John  Ben- 
ton, William  Bruce,  Sarah  Xagle,  Mary  and  Re- 

i    .i.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  dinger  were  members  of  the 

aan  Reformed  Church  of  Milton.     He  was  a 

Democrat   m  politics,  and  in  social  connection  a 

member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  belonging  to  the 

lodge  ai  Lewisburg. 

William  Bruce  dinger  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Milton.  In  1899  he  became  con- 
nected with  the  Milton  Mfg.  Co..  as  typewriter. 
Later  he  became  bookkeeper,  which  position  he 
filled  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  in  1907  being 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Milton  Manufacturing 
Company.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  rising 
young  --  men  of  Milton. 

(>n  Oct.  13,  1901,  Mr.  dinger  married  Minnie 
Angstadt,  daughter  of  Joseph  Angstadt,  and  to 
them  has  been  born  one  son,  Melchior.  Mr.  ding- 
er is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
of  Milton  Lodge,  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.:  Williams- 
Lodge  of  Perfection,  fourteenth  degree;  Wil- 
liamsport Consistory,  thirty-second  degree:  and 
Lodge  Xo.  80,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Milton. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  SYPHER,  now  residing 
near  Milton,  until  recently  a  prominent  young 
farmer  and  business  man  of  Turlmt  township, 
manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Turlmt  Telephone 
Company,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  Jacob  Sy- 
pher,  now  a  resident  of  Union  county,  and  a  meiii- 
bi  i  of  a  family  which  has  long  been  established 
in    Pennsylvania. 

The  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  the  first 
of  the  name  in  this  country  came  from  the  Rhine 
valley  during  the  early  part  of  the  seventeen  hun- 
dreds, and  settled  upon  the  Delaware  river  near 
what    is    now    Chester,    Pa.    -Abraham    Sypher 
(great-great-grandfather  of  William  Henry)   and 
five  brothers  served  in  the  Revolution,  participat- 
a  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandv- 
wine,  Gerniantown  and  Monmouth,  and   were  at 
Valley  Forge  with  Washington.     One  of  his  de- 
scendants, Gen.  J.  Hale  Sypher,  rose  from  private 
to  the  rank  of  general  in  the  Civil  war.  after  which 
-  i tied  in  the  State  of  Louisiana,  from  which 
he   was   sent  for  four  terms  as  representative  to 
.  ress. 
Capt.  Jacob  Sypher,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born 
in   Perry  county.   Pa.,  but  in  early  manhood  lo- 
cated   in    White    Deer    township,    Union    county, 
where  he  conducted  a  farm  and  built  and  operated 
a  sawmill.     He  earned  his  title  by  service  in  the 
ISC'.     He  married  Salome  Steece,  a  native 
of   Union   county   and  member  of  a  well  known 
pioneer  family. 

Abraham  Sypher,  son  of  Capt.  Jacob,  was  born 
m  November,  1821,  in  White  Deer  township,  and 
in   184!'    moved   to   Northumberland  countv.   Pa., 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


365 


where  he  spent  nine  years  engaged  in  farming. 
Returning  to  the  old  homestead,  he  operated  the 
sawmill  for  ten  year?,  and  in  1869  bought  the  es- 
tate in  Gregg  township.  Union  county,  where  Iris 
son  Henry  J.  Sypher  now  resides,  there  passing 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  remodeled  the  grist- 
mill which  stood  upon  the  place,  and  operated  it 
until  1892,  when  he  retired.  He  died  Oct.  9, 
1895.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  Mr. 
Sypher  married  Anna  Follmer,  who  was  born 
March  28,  1824,  in  Turbut  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  granddaughter  of  Michael  Foll- 
mer and  daughter  of  Henry  and  Eve  (Follmer) 
Follmer,  her  parents  being  second  cousins:  both 
passed  their  lives  in  Turbut  township,  where  Mr. 
Follmer  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and 
had  < it  I M ■[■  Imsine*-  interests,  including  gristmill- 
ing  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  firs.  Sypher 
died  Jan.  30,  1892,  a  devout  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  She  and  her  husband  had  two  chil- 
dren, Henry  Jacob  and  Leah  Ann,  the  latter  mar- 
rying John  W.  Bricker,  a  merchant  at  Spring 
Garden,  Union  county,  where  he  has  also  been 
postmaster;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bricker  have  had  three 
children,  Nathan,  Anna  and  Laura. 

Eenry  Jacob  Sypher  was  born  May  19,  1848,  at 
the  'dd  home  in  White  Deer  township,  Union 
county,  where  he  remained  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  He  assisted  his  father  mean- 
time on  the  farm  and  in  the  mill,  and  spent  sev- 
eral winters  at  work  in  the  woods,  receiving  only 
such  educational  advantages  as  the  country  schools 
of  the  time  afforded.  After  his  marriage  he  set- 
tled in  White  Deer  township,  where  he  operated  a 
sawmill  for  a  year.  In  1870  he  moved  to  Turbut 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
rented  a  farm  near  Follmer's  Church  for  twenty- 
three  years,  during  which  time  he  became  on 
the  best  known  and  most  respected  i  itizens  of  that 
locality.  During  the  greater  part  of  this  time  his 
agricultural   operations  were  carried  on  by  hired 

help,  under  his  supervision,  his  ti being  taken 

up  principally  by  his  practice  as  a  veterinary  sur- 
geon, in  which  work  he  is  still  principally  en- 
gaged. In  1881.  in  accordance  with  a  uevi  law,  he 
registered,  and  between  that  time  and  1892,  when 
he  gave  up  the  business  temporarily,  he  averaged 
one  sick  animal  a  day,  and  sometimes  had  as  many 
as  thirteen  under  his  care  at  one  time.  During 
one  year  he  spent  $350  for  remedies.  In  1892  he 
returned  to  Spring  Garden  to  take  charge  of  the 
mill,  which  had  been  left  him  by  his  father,  the 
Spring  Garden  Grist  Mill,  in  Gregg  township, 
which  is  kept  running  night  and  day,  so  steady  is 
the  demand  for  the  product.  He  has  -round  as 
much  as  155  bushels  of  grain  in  one  day.  He  has 
purchased  his  sister's  interest  in  his  fathi 
being  now  the  sole  owner  of  the  property.  Mr. 
Sypher  has  always  interested  himself  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  various  communities  with  which  he 


has  been  identified.  While  in  Turbut  township  he 
served  as  school  director,  and  he  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Turbut  Grange,  P.  of  EL,  from  the 
time  of  its  organization.  He  is  now  a  member  of 
Spring  Garden  Grange,  No.  32.  In  political  mat- 
ters he  is  independent,  giving  his  support  to  the 
best  candidate,  regardless  of  party. 

On  Jan.  14,  1869,  Mr.  Sypher  married,  at  New 
Columbia,  Pa.,  Julia  Ann  Berkheimer,  who  was 
born  Feb.  24,  1849,  in  Chillisquaque  township. 
Northumberland  county,  and  they  have  reared 
a  family  of  five  children:  Anna  M.,  who  mar- 
ried Harvey  J.  Sones,  of  Turbul  township,  North- 
umberland county,  a  teacher  by  occupation  (he 
has  held  tlie  office  of  township  assessor)  :  William 
Henry:  George  Abraham,  a  merehani  at  Spring 
Garden,  who  married  Ida  Kurtz  (hem  in  March, 
isM,  near  the  old  home  of  the  Sypher  family  in 
Northumberland  county,  daughter  of  Josiah  W. 
and  Sarah  Kurtz)  and  has  a  daughter,  Clara  M. ; 
Veronica  Idilla.  who  married  Bert  Casper  and 
lives  in  Williamsport ;  and  Bessie  Leah,  wife  of 
Leroy  Hunter,  whom  she  married  Dec.  23,  1897, 
at  Spring  Garden.  Mi-.  Sypher  and  her  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

William  and  Mary  Berkheimer,  grandparents  of 
Mrs.  Sypher,  were  born  in  Germany,  and  coming 
to  America  settled  on  a  farm  in  Northumberland 
county,  Pa.  Their  son.  George  Berkheimer,  was 
born  there.  In  1854  lie  removed  to  White  Deer 
township,  Union  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing and  the  trade  of  stonemason.  He  died  in 
. I  nne.  L893,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Hi-  wife, 
Mercy  (Stanart),  daughter  id'  Jonathan  and  Su- 
sannah Stanart,  formerly  of  Northumberland 
county  hut  later  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.  (where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brooms),  died  Feb. 
7,  lss,;.  aged  sixty-four  years,  four  days.  They 
had  children  as  follow-:  William  F.  and  Susannah 
died  in  childhood:  George  became  a  farmer  in 
White  Deer  township;  Mary  died  young;  Julia 
Ann  man  ted  Ik  nn  .1.  s>.  pher;  Jacob  became  a 
iii  of  Turbut  township.  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa. :  Sarah  E.  married  Dennii  II  i  er,  of  Wil- 
liamsport, Pa. ;  Andrew,  <  laroline  and  Lehr  died 
in  childhood  :  Samuel  became  a  farmer  iii  North- 
umberland count;  :  Lavina  married  John  B 
0f  Lj]  [le;   Rebeci  a   married   \\  Lilian)   Huff- 

man, of   Northumberland   county. 

William  Henry  Sypher  was  born  May  19,  1871, 
in  Turbut  township,  and  tl  ived  his  edu- 
cation in  the  local  public  scl Is.     He  Bpenl  one 

war  as  an  employee  iii  the  car  shops  at   Mill 
a,„l  iD  1901  bi  Turbul  township 

h  he  still  own-,  a  sixty-five 

very  valuable  land.  He  resided  there  until 
March,  1911,  when  he  moved  with  his  familj  to 
tne  fin'e  i,  near  Milton  -  ha-  pur- 

chased, n  -  farm.     He  is  qoh  engaged  in 

the  imp!       i  I  Mr.  Sypher  was  om 


360 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


irganizers  of  the  Turbut  Telephone  Company, 
of  which  he  is  a  director,  treasurer  and  manager; 
John  A.  Leinbach  is  president.  He  is  a  most  en- 
terprising  citizen,  one  of  the  rising  business  men 
of  his  q,   and   an  official   who   has   demon- 

strated  his  public  spirit  in  more  than  one  posi- 
of  trust,  having  served   as   constable  of  his 
township  continuously  since  1902,  and  as  member 
of  the  school  board   sine    1907.     He  is  now  serv- 

as  treasure]    o  >dy.     He  is  a  Democrat 

in  politics.  He  is  one  of  the  influential  and  en- 
thusiastic members  of  the  local  grange,  which  has 
its  hall  built  upon  his  farm.  In  religion  Mr. 
Syp  sa  Lutheran,  and  lias  served  his  church 

as  trustee  and  dea< 

Mr.  Sypher  married  Maggie  G.  Lahr,  daughter 
of  William  and  Sarah  E.  Lahr,  and  they  have 
had  three  children:  Morris  Henry,  born  Sept.  17. 
1895;  \iim,  M..  born  Feb.  25,  1898;  and  Estella 
M..  who  died  young. 

NATHAN  KASEMAN.  retired,  of  the  borough 
o     Shamokin,  was  born  Aug.   11.   1844,  in 
township,    this    county,    son    of    David    Kaseman 
and  grandson  of  "William  Frederick  Kaseman. 

William  Frederick  Kaseman  was  born  June 
8,  1760,  in  Nassau-Dilburn,  Germany,  and  when 
twelve  years  old  came  with  a  brother  and  - 
to  this  country,  landing  at  Philadelphia.  Little 
is  known  of  his  early  life  except  that  he  was  a  res- 
ident of  Berks  county  ft  om  17'  2  up  to  the  time  of 
his  coming  to  Northumberland  count),  about 
1815.  Ee  pure!  ised  a  tract  of  land  containing 
fifty  acres  in  what  is  now  Ralpho  towns 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  that  section  of  the 
county.  He  cleared  his  original  purchase,  and 
afterward  added  to  it  by  further  purchases,  being 
a  successful  farmer  and  excellent  business  man. 
In  Berks  county  he  married  Elizabeth  Huntzner, 
who  was  born  Aug.  20,  1771,  and  died  June  9, 
1S62.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Jacob,  who  died  in  Ohio:  John;  Joseph; 
Daniel :  David :  Lydia  A.,  who  married  John  Pen- 
syl;  Catharine,  who  was  twice  married,  the  sec- 
ond time  to  Gotleib  Fogle:  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Leonard  Pensyl.  William  Frederick  Kase- 
man lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  10?  years,  dy- 
ing Aug.  1,  186T.  Up  to  within  four  years  of  his 
death  he  continued  to  do  his  share  of  the  farm 
work.  In  fact.,  his  .great  physical  endurance  was 
proverbial  in  the  region  in  which  he  lived.  When 
he  first  settled  there  the  nearest  -tore  was  at  Sun- 
bury,  where  he  had  to  make  all  his  purchases,  and 
he  would  make  the  trip  barefooted.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  members  of  St.  Peter's  Re- 
formed Church,  served  as  elder,  and  was  buried  in 
the  old  graveyard  of  that  church. 

David  Kaseman.  son  of  William  Frederick,  was 
horn  in  Shamokin  township,  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  twentv-six  years. 


He  is  buried  at  the  Blue  Church.  To  him  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  (Adams),  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Boyer)  Adams,  were  born  two  children: 
Frederick,  who  died  in  1864.  and  Nathan. 

Nathan  Kaseman,  son  of  David,  was  reared  by 
al  grandfather.     On  Sept.  10,  1861,  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union  army,  becoming 
a  member  of  Company  F,  50th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Yolui  'id  he  served  in  the  West- 
ern Army  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  partici- 
pating   in    a    number    of    engagements:    he    was 
wounded  five  times  in  the  lower  limbs.     He  was 
honorably  discharged  April   23,   1865.     After  his 
o  to   Shamokin  Mr.  Kaseman  was  employed 
at  the  collieries  and  then  followed  railroading  for 
-.  -    bsei  uently  clerking  for  about  twenty 
years,  in  the  hardware   -i       ■     i  W.  R.  Kutzner, 
,ii(i'  &  Goodwill  and  Peter  Buck.     For  Two 
year-   he  served  as  United   S  2 auger  for  the 
Fourteenth    district,    after    which   he    was   watch- 
man at  the  Cameron  colliery  four  years,  retiring 
in  1906.     He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  Post 
Xo.  1  to,  G.  A.  1!..  of  Shamokin.  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Union  \              '  Onion.     His  religious  con- 

i  is  with  the  Blue  Church. 
Mr.  Kaseman  married  Sarah  Schmuck.  daugh- 

Si  muel,  and  she  died  in  1879,  I  u  mother  of 
the  following  children :  Bella  (Mrs.  Nicholas  Mul- 
len), Clara  M.  (unmarried).  Anthony  W.,  Hattie 
(Mrs.  John  Shipe),  William  F.  !).  Laura 

M.  (deceased  ).  and  two  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Kaseman's  second  marriage  was  to  Catharine 
.  « laughter  of  Thomas  Hoch,  who  was  killed 
while  serving  in  the  Civil  war.  By  this  union 
there  were  the  following  children:  Nora  (Mrs. 
Calvin  Maclure),  Nathan,  Freeman.  Walter, 
Ether,  Hobart,  and  twins  that  died  in  infancy. 

HAPPY  W.  CIIAMBERLIN,  of  Milton, 
Xorthumberland  county,  president  of  the  Milton 
National  Bank,  lawyer  and  present  borough  solic- 
itor, is  a  member  of  the  third  generation  of  his 
family  to  reside  in  that  place  and  most  worthily 
-  a  name  which  in  every  generation  within 
memory  has  had  notable  representatives.  In  both 
his  professional  association  and  his  relation  to 
the  bank  he  is  practically  the  successor  of  his 
grandfather,  W.  C.  Lawson,  with  whom  he  studied 
law  and  who  was  president  of  the  Milton  National 
Bank  for  many  years  from  its  organization. 
Thus,  though  he  had  many  advantages  of  position 
and  education,  instead  of  the  usual  difficulties 
which  confront  the  young  man  who  cares  to  make 
a  name  for  himself,  he  had  to  take  up  the  burden 
of -maintaining  a  standard  already  set.  That  he 
has  proved  himself  able  to  do  that  and  more  his 
-landing  in  professional  and  financial  circles  in 
Milton  to-day,  which  is  second  to  none,  clearly 
shows. 

Mr.    Chamberlin   was  born  Aug.    29,    1872,   in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;n; 


Milton,  son  of  William  B.  Chambeiiin.  His 
grand  rather,  Moses  Chamberlin,  was  born  in  Un- 
ion county.  I'a..  and  his  great-grandfather.  Wil- 
liam Chamberlin.  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
horn  Sept.  25,  1736,  in  Hunterdon  county.  Ee 
was  a  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  New  Jersey  mili- 
tia, and  served  as  such  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
I  l:r.  ing  a  soldier's  warrant,  about  1792  he  removed 
to  Buffalo  valley  and  purchased  six  hundred  a»  n 
of  laud  nt  what  is  Eoffa's  Mill,  in  what  is  dot 
Kelly  township,  Union  county,  where  he  lived  in 
prosperity  until  his  death.  The  original  mill 
there  was  erected  by  his  son  William.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
died  Aug.  21,  1817. 

William  Chamberlin  was  four  times  married. 
(in  June  8,  1758,  he  married  Elizabeth  Tinbrook, 
who  was  bom  Aug.  23,  11  tO,  and  died  April  29, 
L770.  This  union  was  blessed  with  the  following 
children:  Lewis,  born  April  16,  1759,  who  was 
killed  by  a  cannon-ball  at  the  battle  of  German- 
town,  while  "ii  a  visit  to  his  father  (his  knee  was 
shot   away,  and   in  that  day  of  primitive  su: 

the  injur}    proved  fatal);  Nellie,  borii 

Sept.  13,  1761,  who  died  July  3,  1811  ;  Ann,  horn 
April  18,  L763;  a  daughter,  horn  Nov.  12,  1764, 
who  died  Dec.  19,  1764;  Lucretia,  horn  Dec.  20, 
L765,  who  died  dan.  J.9,  IS  11:  John,  horn  April 
L0,  L768,  who  died  May  5,  1770;  and  William. 
born  April  20,  L770,  who  died  May  5,  1770.  On 
March  :;.  L771,  Colonel  Chamberlin  married 
ond)  Ann  Park,  born  May  20,  1754,  who  died 
Nov.  IV.  L779.  They  had  four  children:  Wil- 
liam, born  July  L7,  L772;  Enoch,  horn  Oct.  30, 
\:~,  I.  who  did  May  5,  1844  (according  to  a  head- 
stone in  the  graveyard  at  Fayette,  N.  Y..  he  died 
May  29,  L834)  :  Timbrook,  born  March  5,  1777; 
and  Sarah,  horn  May  19,  1779,  who  died  April  8, 
1829.  In  1782  Colonel  Chamberlin  married 
(third)  Margaret  Park,  who  was  born  in  1762  and 
died  April  29,  1791,  the  mother  of  four  children: 
['ria.  horn  dune  '.'I,  lis:;,  who  died  Feb.  4,  1853; 
Elizabeth,  horn  May  22,  1785  (Elizabeth  Mc- 
Crarv  died  March  22,  is?;  |  ;  Aaron,  horn  May 
21.  lis;,  who  died  Jan.  12,  1856;  and  Rachel, 
born  Sept.  16,  1789,  who  died  April  9.  1791.  Thi 
Colonel's  fourth  marriage,  on  Aug.  Hi.  1794,  was 
to  \nn  Mary  Kemble,  who  was  born  Nov.  28,  life1. 
and  died  March  I.  1859.  She  came  of  an  old  fam- 
ily, of  considerable  standing,  and  was  on  terms  of 
friendship  with  George  Washington,  Washington 
Irving,  and  other  people  of  note.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  a  devout  -in- 
dent of  the  Bible,  many  chapters  of  which  she  •  om 
mitted  to  memory.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Lawrence,  born  Aug.  4,  1795, 
who  died  in  1802;  John,  born  Feb.  8,  1797, 
died  April  IS.  1858;  James,  horn  Sept.  30,  1798, 
who  died  Aug.  30.  1801 :  Lewis  K..  horn  April  4. 
1803,   who  died   Aug.    10.   1889:   Mary  F.,  born 


Sept.  29,  1804,  who  died  April  3,  1865;  Joseph 
I'..  horn  Sept.  IS.  1806,  who  died  Feb.  13,  is".:;: 
James  D.,  horn  Oct.  29,  1809,  who  died  Oct.  11. 
1886;  and  Moses,  horn  Nov.  1?.  1812. 

William  Chamberlin,  eldesl  sou  of  William  by 
his  second  wife,  married  Nellie  Sutphen,  who  was 
born   Nov.   11.    L771,  and  they  had  childn 

-:  Anna,  Julv  15,  IVx',:  Mary,  March  L9, 

liiio:  John,  Sept.  1.  1796;  Nelly,  March  23,  1798; 

John.  Dec.  31.  1799;  Sarah.  Feb.  12,  1802;  Lil- 

len,  Jan.   22,  1804;   William.   May  3,    L808;  Lu- 

i,  June  15,  L810;  Aaron.  Sept.  12,  L812. 

Moses  Chamberlin,  son  of  Colonel  Chamberlin, 
was  born  Nov.  12,  1812,  in  Onion  county.  Pa.,  the 
youngest  of  his  father's  twenty-three  children. 
Ik'  was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead  and  re- 
el his  education  in  the  typical  schools  of  the 
period.  When  twenty  years  old  he  went  to  Lewis- 
burg,  where  he  served  a  three  years'  apprentice- 
ship at  the  tanner's  trade,  which,  however,  was 
never  his  principal  business.  In  1833  he  removed 
lo  Milton,  where  he  had  a  long  and  prosperous 
business  career.  He  was  a  merchant,  and  also  en- 
1  in  milling,  lumbering  and  farming,  con- 
tinuing his  active  life  until    is;  I.  after  which  he 

lived   retired.     Besides   conducting    these    var - 

enterprises  he  purchased  land  anil  laid  out  what 
is  known  as  the  Chamberlin  addition  to  Milton, 
and  also  laid  out  and  sold  the  land  upon  which 
ontown  is  situated.  His  long  and  useful  life 
ended  Julv  29,  1902.  Though  busy  with  his  per- 
sonal affairs  he  found  time  to  serve  in  several  bor- 
ough offices  and  also  to  he  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  he  served 
in  many  official  capacities,  being  trustee,  record- 
ing steward,  class-leader.  Sunday  -.ho,-!  super- 
i.  etc.  He  was  a  Republican  in  political 
sentiment. 

In  is:;.".  Moses  Chamberlin  married  (first) 
Mary  Ann  Corry,  daughter  of  George  Corr'y,  of 
Milton,  and  to  this  union  were  horn  two  children, 
Elizabeth  H.  (widow  of  William  Follmer,  of  Wat- 
sontown)  and  Mary  A.  Mrs.  Chamberlin  died 
Aim-.  15,  1838,  and  in  L840  Mr.  Chamberlin  mar- 
ried (second)  Mr-.  June  Hannah  (Wai 
Montgomery,  daughter  of  J. dm  Watson,  of  Wat- 
sontown.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  marriage, 
viz.:  William  B. :  Harriet,  deceased;  Caroline  W., 
M.rs.  A.  <».  Furst,  of  Bellefonte;  Mary  Jane,  de- 
ceased; James,  of  Harrisburg;  and  Frank,  an  at- 
tornev  of  Milton. 

William  B.  Chamberlin,  son  of  Moses,  was  boi  □ 
Dec.  19,  lsll.  at   Milton.  Pa.     For  years  he 

been  E  thi   n  itablj  sua  essful  business  men  of 

the  upper  end  of  I  i  nty,  having  been  from 
isi;;  to  1885  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  a1 
Northumberland  as  junior  member  of  the  firm  oi 
Chamberlin,  Frick  &  Co.  In  L885  he  became  con- 
,,i  u  ith  the  Reid  Tobacco  Company,  of  Mil- 
ton, of  which  corporation  he  is  vice  presideni  and 


36S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


he  makes  his  home  in  the  borough,  where  the  busi- 
ness with  which  he  is  identified  ranks  among  the 
most  important  concerns.  He  married  Margaret 
Sanderson  Lawson,  daughter  of  W.  C.  and  Han- 
nah (Sanderson)  Lawson,  and  they  have  had  three 
children,  all  sons,  namely:  William  L.,  a  mining 
engineer^  now  Located  at  Scranton,  Pa.;  Harry  W. ; 
and  James  S.,  who  is  connected  with  the  American 
Car  &  Foundry  Company  of  Manchester,  Eng- 
land. 

Harry  W.  Chamberlin  atterided  the  public 
schools  of  Milton,  graduating  in  1887,  after  which 
he  became  a  student  at  Lafayette  College,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1892.  He 
read  law  with  his  maternal  grandfather  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Northumberland  county  in 
1895,  since  which  time  he  lias  been  continuously 
engaged  in  legal  practice,  occupying  the  same  of- 
fice which  his  grandfather  had.  His  patronage 
has  been  steady  and  lucrative  from  the  beginning, 
and  the  able  manner  in  which  he  handles  legal 
work  has  drawn  a  high  class  of  such  business  to 
him.  His  inherited  and  developed  talent  for  the 
profession,  and  his  accomplishments  in  special 
cases,  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  the  most  skill- 
ful lawyers  of  his  day  in  his  section. 

On  Oct.  89,  1903,  Mr.  Chamberlin  married 
Miriam  A.  Bucher,  daughter  of  ex-.hidgo  ."Joseph 
C.  Bucher,  of  Lewisburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
his  wife.  Mary  (Walls),  daughter  of  Judge  Walls. 
Mrs.  Chamberlin's  grandfather  was  Rev.  Joseph 
C.  Bucher,  D.  D.,  a  well  known  clergyman  of  the 
Reformed   Church. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  is  a  high  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership in  Milton  Lodge,  No.  356,  P.  &  A.  M. ; 
Warrior  Run  Chapter,  No.  246,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Wat- 
sontown,  Pa.;  Mt.  Eermorj  Commandery,  No.  85, 
K.  T..  of  Sunbury;  Williamsporl  Consistory,  A.  A. 
S.  R..  and  Irem  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Wilkes-Barre.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Zeta 
Psi  fraternity,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  In  political  preference  he  is  a 
Republican. 

CHARLES  W.  NICKERSON   (deceased)  was 

for  a  number  of  years  prominent  in  business  circles 
in  Sunbury,  principally  in  his  connection  with  the 
Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of  which 
he  was  a  founder  and  president  from  the  time  of 
its  organization  until  Ins  death.  Mr.  Nickerson 
was  a  man  of  the  highest  standing,  and  he  was  a 
notable  example  of  what  men  may  attain  by  their 
own  efforts,  for  he  was  truly  self-made,  having  be- 
gun life  in  humble  circumstances  and  risen  to  hon- 
or and  affluence  through  hard  work,  perseverance 
and  executive  ability.  His  many  admirable  qual- 
ities won  him  the  respect  and  friendship  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Mr.  Nickerson  was  born  July  28,  1838,  in  Steu- 
benville,  Ohio.     His  parents,   who  were  of  Eng- 


lish descent,  died  when  he  was  but  eleven  years 
old,  and  he  was  thus  early  thrown  on  his  own  re- 
sources, having  made  his  own  way  in  the  world 
from  that  tender  age.  Remaining  several  years  in 
his  native  town,  he  went  thence  to  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  where  he  held  a  position  in  the  office  of  the 
city  register  for  some  time.  He  next  went  to  El- 
mira.  N.  Y..  where  he  was  engaged  in  various  pur- 
suits and  did  well,  holding  a  responsible  position 
at  that  point  as  an  employee  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  &  Western  Railway  Company.  It  was 
there  he  became  acquainted  with  the  late  Colonel 
Fonda,  of  Milton,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  who 
induced  him  to  locate  at  Danville,  Pa.,  just  across 
the  Northumberland  county  line,  where  he  was  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  train  dispatcher 
Eor  several  years.  From  there  he  went  to  the  bor- 
ough of  Northumberland,  in  this  county,  to  engage 
in  the  coal  business  as  the  special  agent  in  this  dis- 
trict for  the  W.  L.  Scott  Coal  Company,  of  Erie. 
1'a..  but  was  there  only  a  short  time  when  he  came 
to  Sunbury  in  the  same  capacity.  This  was  in 
1867,  and  Mr.  Nickerson  was  identified  with  the 
coal  business  until  1892,  when  he  sold  his  inter- 
ests m  that  line  to  W.  II.  Druckenrniller,  of  Sun- 
bury. and  retired  from  that  line.  Meantime  he 
had  become  active  in  another  field,  having  been  one 
of  the  organizers,  in  1890,  of  the  Sunbury  Trust  & 
Safe  Deposit  Company,  the  second  banking  insti- 
tution of  Sunbury,  for  which  he  and  his  associates 
saw  a  good  opening.  Mr.  Nickerson  was  elected 
president  of  the  mw  concern,  retaining  his  posi- 
tion as  it-  executive  head  until  his  death,  and  the 
immediate  and  continued  success  of  the  company 
proved  the  wisdom  of  his  judgment.  To  his  con- 
servative but  progressive  policy,  and  the  confidence 
he  enjoyed  in  commercial  circles  wherever  he  was 
known,  was  due  in  large  measure  the  high  stand- 
ing this  bank  took  in  the  financial  world  from  the 
start,  and  his  influence  has  had  a  permanent  effect 
on  its  conduct.  His  career  as  a  banker  was  one 
of  signal  success,  an  honorable  climax  to  lone-  years 
of  upright  business  dealings.  He  died  Aug.  23, 
190  1.  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  and  is  buried  in 
Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  lodge  and 
commandery  at  Elmira,  N.  V.  Mr.  Nickerson  saw 
active  service  in  the  Civil  war.  going  to  the  front 
with  a  company  from  Williamsport.  Pa.,  and  tak- 
ing part  in  several  important  engagements,  the 
most  notable  of  which  was  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg. 

On  Dec.  16.  1869,  at  Danville.  Pa.,  Mr.  Nicker- 
son married  Margaret  Elizabeth  Woods,  who  was 
horn  at  Milton,  this  county,  but  was  living  with  her 
parents  at  Danville  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  marriage,  namely: 
Herbert  and  Virginia  died  before  their  parents: 
Mary,  Gertrude  and  Ruth  live  at  the  old  home 
in  Sunbury,  at  No.  236  Arch  street,  a  fine  large  res- 


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NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


369 


Ldence  which  Mr.  Nickerson  erected  in  1877.  It 
was  there  he  died,  and  there  also  occurred  Mrs. 
Nickerson's  death,  Sept.  15,  1910,  after  a  linger- 
ing illness.  Mrs.  Niekerson  was  associated  with 
the  Methodist  Church  from  an  earlj  age,  and  to 
the  close  of  her  life  continued  to  be  a  regular  at- 
tendant a1  church  services  and  a  zealous  church 
worker.  She  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
Women's  \i<l  Society  connected  with  the  Mary 
M.  Packer  hospital,  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
was  also  deeply  interested  in  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  toward  the  maintenance  of 
which  in  Sunbury  she  contributed  liberally.  Broad 
and  charitable  in  her  views,  she  was  always  ready 

and  willing  to  help  any  g I  cause,  or  to  relieve 

cases  of  uecessit]  at  any  time,  but  she  was  as  un- 
ostentatious aliont  such  matters  as  she  was  generous 
and  sympathetic,  and  never  needed  the  stimulus  of 

publicity    to  enc age  her  in  good   works.     Her 

name  will  long  be  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  tnanj 
whom  she  aided  and  comforted  in  the  hour  of  need. 

ELIAS  BIEBER,  now  living  retired,  owns  one 
of  the  fines!  farms  in  West  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, Northumberland  comity,  upon  which  he  lias 
made  his  home  for  over  fifty  years,  lie  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  born  Sept.  1,  is:;;., 
in  Wolt  township,  son  of  John   Bieber. 

In  1768  three  brothers,  Valentine,  Jacob  and 
Michael  Bieber,  came  from  Zweibrucken,  not  far 
from  Frankfort,  Germany,  to  America.  Valentine 
who  settled  in  L783  in 'Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  bad 
three  son.  Nicholas.  Adam  ami  John,  of  whom 
Nicholas  was  the  grandfather  of  Elias  Bieber. 
Nicholas  Bieber  was  horn  m  Berks  county.  Pa., 
ami  was  a  youth  when  he  removed  to  Lycoming 
county.  There  he  purchased  a  farm  and  spenl  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  Val- 
ley Church  near  Muncy.  To  him  and  Ins  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Dimner,  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Valentine,  who  had  twelve  chil- 
dren; Annua.  Mrs.  Cotner;  Hannah,  whose  first 
husband  was  named  Arbot,  her  second  Good; 
Rachel,  Mrs.  Neufer;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Frantz;  and 

John. 

John  Bieber,  son  of  Nicholas,  was  born  in  179] 
Up0D  the  homestead  place  in  Lycoming  county, 
engaged  in  farming  upon  the  old  place,  and  there 
spent  all  In-  life,  dying  in  October,  L863.  He 
is  buried  near  Muncy.  He  served  as  scl I  direc- 
tor and  tax  collector,  and  was  a  well  known  man 
in  bis  section,  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Lu- 
theran m  religious  connection.  He  married  Ean- 
nan  Shaeffer,  of  Lvcoming  county,  a  native,  how- 
ever of  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.,  and  she  survived 
him  dving  in  Mav,  1869.  The  following  children 
were  bom  to  this  couple:  David.  George,  Reivoen, 
John,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  G 'ge  Opp),  Elias,  Ben- 
jamin (who  lived  in  East  Chillisquaque  township), 
Anna    (who  lived  in  Lycoming  county,  and  died 

24 


unmarried),  Charles  and  William  (living  at 
Clarkstown,  Lycoming  county),  all  now  deceased 
hut    Elias   and    William. 

Elias  Bieber  attended  the  old  Clay  school  in  his 

native  district     and    from      boyl I      assisted   his 

lather  with  the  farm  work,  which  he  continued 
to  follow  throughout  his  active  years.  In  L859  be 
bought  the  old  Benjamin  Troxel  farm,  a  tract  of 
130  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Wesl  Chillisquaque 
township,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  on  the  road 
between  Montandon  and  Pottsgrove.  All  the  im- 
provements on  this  place  are  his  work,  and  the 
farm  is  now  one  of  the  most,  desirable  properties 
m  that  section,  where  Mr.  Bieber  has  long  been 
regarded  as  a  leading  agriculturist.  He  is  still  in 
the  enjoyment  of  g I  health,  though  he  has  re- 
linquished arduous  work,  continuing,  however,  to 
make  his  home  upon  the  farm.  A  number  of 
years  ago  Mr.  Bieber  joined  Chillisquaque 
Grange,  P.  of  II.  lie  ha-  been  particularly  prom- 
inent in  his  township  in  connection  with- school 
affairs,  having  served   nine  years  a-  a   membi 

the  hoard,  of  which  he  has  also  I n  president.    If 

was  the  first  supervisor  of  his  township.  Politic- 
ally he  is  a  Democrat,  and  the  family  are  Luther- 
ans, still  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  church  at 
Lewisburg. 

On  Dec.  24,  1868,  Mr.  Bieber  married  Sarah 
F.  Martin,  daughter  of  Eugh  and  Hannah  (Maur- 
i  i  i  Martin  of  Montandon,  ami  granddaughter  of 
John  .Martin.  They  have  had  the  Eollowing  chil- 
dren: Howard  L.,  a  miller,  located  at  Montgom- 
ery, Pa.;  Woods  M..  a  farmer  in  Northumberland 
county ;  Florence  Bertha;  William  Ernst,  at 
home:  Charles,  who  died  young;  Annie  E.,  wife 
of  John  Kerr,  living  at  Sunbury ;  and  Rev.  Frank- 
lin B.  II..  a  Lutheran  minister  now  located  a1  Cen 
tei  Hall.  Center  <  lo.,  Pa.,  w  ho  ha-  five  charges 
(he  is  a  graduate  of  Bucknell  llniversity  ami  i 
tysburg  College  i. 

CYEtTS   BROWN,   for  many  years  one  of  the 
foremost    druggists    of    Northumberland    county, 
established   al    Milton,   founded   the  business 
i  arried  on  by  his  widow .     Ee  was  a  o    Sam- 

uel T.   Brown,  for  mam  years  a  lea<  ness 

man  of  t he  borough  and  the  promoter  of  son 
the  mo-t  important  local  enterprises.    'I    e  Browns 
descended  from  old   Puritan  stock-,  and  were  pio- 
neers in  White  I  leer  valley ,  in  1  Inion  county .  Pa., 
where  Samuel  T.   Brown   was  horn  duly   Is.    1798 

Samuel    T.     Brows     learned     the     trade    of 
tanner,  ami   on   coming    to    Milton,    Northum 
land    county,    in    1830,    pun  hased    I  lie    prop 
later  known  as  the  Milton  Tannery,  where  hi 
business   for  thirty  years.     Meantime  he  was  ac- 
tive  in  other   things  which   affected    the   growth 
of  the  town  and  enterprises  made  ne<  i 
of  it  For  ovi  :    I ".  enl     years   fie  was  a 

er  and  director  o  Norl  linn 


370 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  \  s V  L  VAX  1 A 


land  County  Bank,  and  he  was  an  organizer  and 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank,  continuing 
to  serve  as  'director  from  its  inception  until  his 
death.  On  June  18,  1819,  Mr.  Brown  married 
Nancy  Woods,  born  in  1796,  who  died  in  183G,  the 
mother  of  live  children,  three  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  Cyrus,  J.  Woods  and  Oliver;  all  are 
now  deceased.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Brown 
married  Elizabeth  A.  Young,  and  they  had  one 
child,  who  died  young.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A. 
(Young)  Brown  was  born  in  181'.',  and  died  in 
1881.  Mr.  Brown's  death  occurred  .lime  4,  1875. 
This  family  arc  buried  at.  Milton.  Mr.  Brown 
was  a  member  of  the  Firs!  Presbyterian  church 
of  Milton  and  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
citizens  of  his  day  in  the  borough,  noted  for  his 
sterling  traits  of  character  and  high  principles 
in  all  his  dealings,  lie  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
ties. 

Cyrus  Brown,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  T..  h;i- 
born  May  25,  1824,  in  White  Deer  valley,  Union 
county,  and  was  a  child  when  the  family  settled 
in  Northumberland  county.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Milton  ami  at  Lewisburg 
Academy,  learning  the  drug  business  in  a  drug 
store  in  Philadelphia.  Returning  thence  to  Milton 
in  1854,  he  was  in  the  business  on  his  own  account 
from  that  time  until  his  death,  a  period  of  almost 
forty  years,  during  which  he  earned  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  about  the  most  progressive  man  in 
his  line  in  the  county.  He  established  a  large 
business,  the  largest  drug  business  ever  conducted 
in  the  borough,  and  in  addition  to  the  regular 
lines  handled  white  lead  in  large  quantities  and 
was  the  inventor  and  for  many  years  the  manu- 
facturer of  the  Eed  Horse  powder.  His  store  was 
burned  out  in  the  great  fire  of  May,  1880,  his  in- 
surance falling  fifty  thousand  dollars  short  of  his 
losses,  but  he  rebuilt,  erecting  in  1882  the  fine 
store  on  Broadway  where  the  business  lias  since 
been  carried  on.  Mr.  Brown  was  enterprising  and 
farsighted,  and  he  was  an  extensive  advertiser  in 
the  days  when  advertising  was  not  generally  con- 
sidered a  necessary  investment.  But  the  results 
proved  the  wisdom  of  his  ideas,  and  he  built  up  a 
business  which  has  continued  to  maintain  its  su- 
premacy up  to  the  present  day.  Since  his  death, 
which  occurred  Sept.  II.  1893,  it  has  been  car- 
ried on  by  his  widow  with  the  assistance  of  able 
clerks.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  man  of  fine  character 
and  upright  life,  universally  respected.  He  serv- 
ed as  a  member  of  the  borough  council  and  proved 
himself  a  useful  citizen  in  other  capacities.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

In  1859  Mr.  Brown  married  Louisa  B.  Krauser, 
daughter  of  David  Krauser,  and  she  died  leaving 
one  daughter,  Hot  tie  L.  On  Jan.  1,  1876,  he  mar- 
lied    (second)    Mrs.  Eebecca  E.  Ehodes,  daughter 


of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (  Freeze  I  Hullihen,  and 
widow  of  Dr.  Charles  Ehodes. 

Thomas  Hullihen,  father  of  Mrs.  Brown, 
was  born  in  17  92  in  Northumberland  county,  Pa., 
son  of  Thomas  and  Abigail  (Hulling)  Hullihen. 
His  father  came  to  America  from  Cork,  Ireland, 
landing  at  New  York,  and  was  an  early  settler 
at  Milton.  Northumberland  county,  where  for 
many  years  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  cabinet- 
maker. He  died  at  Milton  and  is  buried  in  St. 
Joseph's  burial  ground  near  that  place.  He  mar- 
ried Abigail  Hulling,  of  Lycoming,  Pa.,  and  they 
had  four  children,  Thomas.  Huey,  \nn<\  and 
Mathias. 

Thomas  Hullihen  followed  farming  all  his  life, 
and  died  Nov.  6,  1849,  in  his  fifty-seventh  year, 
lie  married  Rebecca  Freeze,  who  was  born  in  1789, 
daughter  <>(  Simon  1'.  and  Sarah  (Garrison) 
I'n  •  :e,  and  died  Oct.  22,  1855,  aged  sixty-six 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family. 
eleven  children,  namely :  S.  Peter,  M.  I),  (late  of 
Wheeling,  W.  Ma.).  Richard,  Abigail,  Mary, 
Thomas.  Nancy,  James,  Hannah,  Eebecca  E.,  Lucy 
and  Rachel.  The  only  survivor  of  this  family  is 
Mrs.  Eebecca  E.  Brown,  of  Milton.  Her  first  mar- 
riage was  to  Dr.  Charles  Ehodes.  who  died  May 
;.  1856. 

ROBBINS.  The  Robbins  family,  now  repre- 
sented in  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  by  Jphn 
H.  Eobbins,  the  well  known  butcher  of  Pottsgrove, 
and  William  E.  Eobbins,  cigar  dealer  at  Milton. 
had  its  early  home  in  New  Jersey.  From  Hunter- 
don county,  that  state,  came  Daniel  Eobbins  and 
several  others  by  team  to  this  section.  He  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  had  inherited  all  the 
sturdy  characteristics  of  that  race.  He  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  what  is  called  the  Eidge 
(now  in  Montour  county,  though  at  that  time 
included  in  Northumberland).  In  1818  he  built 
a  house  there  which  is  still  standing,  and  in  good 
condition.  The  farm,  now  containing  about  110 
acres,  is  owned  by  John  Egg,  of  Lewisburg.  Mr. 
Robbins  was  a  blacksmith  by  occupation,  and  in 
connection  with  the  clearing  and  cultivating  of  his 
farm  also  carried  on  lumbering.  He  died  in  the 
one  hundredth  year  of  his  age.  His  children 
were:  Sarah  (married  John  George  Lesher), 
John.  Martin,  Catharine.  Daniel  W..  Jane.  Julia. 
Polly  and  Nancy.  In  the  old  Centre  Church  cem- 
etery, in  Liberty  township,  Montour  county,  are 
buried  the  following:  Samuel  Robbins,  born 
March  10.  1824,  died  May  ."..  1891;  his  wile 
Christiana,  horn  Feb.  16,  1833,  died  Dee.  30, 
L885.  Polly  Eobbins  died  May  26,  1896,  aged 
ninety-two  years,  two  months,  twenty-nine  days. 
Jane  Bobbins  died  March  16,  1872,  aged  seventy- 
two  years,  eleven  months,  twenty-eight  days.  Mar- 
tin Robbins  died  June  27,  1900.  aged   sixty-nine 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;:  L 


years,  six  months,  fifteen  days;  his  wife  Cathar- 
ine died  Jan.  5,  1890,  aged  fifty-four  years,  nine 
months,  thirty  days. 

John  Robbins,  son  of  Daniel,  married  Dec.  10, 
L83 1,  Jane  W W  illiams,  and  fchej  lived  at  Milton, 
Pa.  They  had  children:  Hannah,  burn  Sept, 
24,  1813,  who  never  married;  .lames,  horn  March 
9,  181  1  :  Daniel,  born  Aug.  26,  1816;  Julian,  born 
Feb.  13,  1820;  John,  horn  Jan.  29,  1822;  Mary 
B.,  born  April  26,  L824;  Ann  L.  and  Sarah  G. 
(twins),  born  Sept.  3,   1826. 

Martin    Robbins,   s f    Daniel,   was   born   in 

L795,  and  died  Feb.  17,  1834,  in  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  followed  farming.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Critz,  born  in  1796,  died  Oct.  27,  1853, 
and  both  are  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  at  Mil- 
ton. They  had  six  children,  namely:  Poll}-,  wdio 
married  Henry  Boyer,  and  has  two  children,  Wil- 
liam and  Elizabeth  (married  B.  C.  Lindner); 
Charles,  who  was  twice  married,  and  died  in  Ohio, 
leaving  one  son,  Huston  Taylor  Robbins;  Samuel; 
Jonathan,  who  died  in  the  West;  William,  who  was 
bitten  by  a  mad  dog  and  died  Sept.  22,  1837,  aged 
nine  veins:  and  Martin.  Adam  Critz,  father  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Critz)  Robbins,  was  born  in  1770, 
and  died  June  26,  1843,  and  his  wife  Susannah, 
born  in  1773,  died  March  18,  1S54. 

Martin  Robbins  (2),  son  of  Martin,  was  born 
near  Pottsgrove  in  1832,  and  died  in  June,  1902; 
he  is  buried  at  Centre  Church,  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, Montour  county.  He  w-as  a  saddler  by  trade 
and  followed  farming  for  some  time,  later  being 
employed  at  day's  labor,  lie  married  Catharine 
Heimbach,  daughter  of  John  Heimbach,  of  Berks 
county,  and  they  had  children:  John  H. ;  Eliza- 
beth, of  Pottsgrove;  Annie,  who  married  John 
Mowery,  of  Danville,  and  has  a  daughter,  Helen; 
Mary,  of  Pottsgrove;  Samuel,  a  butcher  of  Potts- 
grove, who  married  Essie  Muffly  (she  died  leaving 
two  children,  Elizabeth  and  Lawrence ):  George 
W..  a  butcher  at  Milton,  who  married  Amanda 
Bickel,  and  had  children,  Martin  (died  in  infan- 
cy), Carrie;  Mary,  Christine,  Jennie  and  Emma; 
William  Edward;  Harry  IT.:  and  Charles,  wdio 
died  aged  five  years. 

John  H.  Robbing  was  bum  near  Pottsgrove 
Dec.  16,  1855,  and  attended  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  began  as  a  boy  to  learn  the 
butcher's  trade,  and  was  but  eighteen  when,  as- 
sisted by  his  brothers,  he  engaged  in  the  business. 
In  1890  he  leased  the  property  at  No.  153  South 
Front  street,  Milton,  and  established  the  busi- 
ness known  as  Robbins  Brothers.  This  continued 
for  four  years,  and  one  brother  sold  to  another  un- 
til eventually  the  business  was  taken  by  Harry, 
who  conducted  it  for  six  years.  He  then  sold  it 
to  Samuel  and  the  tetter's  brother-in-law,  Asher 
Muffly.  Then  Samuel  in  turn  sold  to  his  brother- 
in-law,  and  the  latter  carried  it  on  a  short  time. 
On  Oct.   1,  1907,  John  H.  Robbins  installed  all 


new  machinery  and  made  the  place  entirely  up- 
to-date,  and  since  then  he  has  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness with  a  steadily  increasing  success.  He  has 
the  leading  trade  in  that  line  in  the  district,  and 
his  place  is  kept  in  a  thoroughly  sanitary  con- 
dition at  all  times.  Mr.  Robbins  resides  at  Potts- 
grove, where  all  his  killing  is  dune.  He  married 
Hat  tie  Ohl,  daughter  of  William  Ohl,  of  Colum- 
bia county.  Pa.,  and  has  three  children,  Mabel, 
Blanch  and  William.  Mr.  Robbins-  has  served 
his  townsmen  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and 
as  supervisor.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  prin- 
ciple, and  is  public-spirited  and  progressive  as  a 
citizen.  In  his  religious  faith  he  is  a  Lutheran. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  Artisans. 

William  Edward  Bobbins,  son  of  Mar- 
tin (2)  and  brother  of  John  IT.,  is  engaged  in  the 
retail  cigar  business  at  Milton,  Pa.  He  was  born 
in  Liberty  township,  Montour  county,  Oct.  1, 
1866,  and  received  his  education  in  the  locai 
schools.  As  a  young  man,  like  his  brothers,  he  en- 
gaged  in  the  butchering  business,  and  this 
he  followed  for  a  period  oi  seventeen  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1899  he  began  his  present  line  of 
business,  at  No.  19  Broadway,  Milton,  and 
on  Dec.  14,  1907,  moved  to  his  present  location, 
at  No.  21  Broadway.  He  carries  the  largest  line 
of  cigars  in  the  city,  and  dues  a  large  business. 
He  also  has  pool  and.  billiard  parlors,  all  new 
tables,  and  enjoys  a  good  patronage.  He  has  mam- 
friends  who  rejoice  at  his  success. 

Mr.  Robbins  married  Annie  C.  Evert,  daughter 
of  Philip  Evert,  and  they  have  two  children,  Hel- 
en P.  and  Mary  C.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Milton  Social  Gun  Club;  Milton  Rod  and  Gun 
Club;  Lodge  No.  913.  B.  P.  O.  E.,  of  Milton; 
Castle  No.  265,  l\.  G.  K..  of  Milton;  Command- 
erv  Mo.  27,  K.  of  M..  of  Milton;  and  the  I.  0.  O. 
F.  at  Pottsgrove.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Barry  IT.  Robbins,  son  of  Martin  (2),  was 
born  Dee.  21,  1869,  in  Montour  county,  Pa,,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  learned 
the  butcher's  business,  which  he  followed  about 
twenty  years.  He  married  Jessie  M.  Hess,  daugh- 
ter of  Wilson  Hess,  and  they  had  one  son,  Martin 
W.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Robbins  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  local  lodge  of  Elks  at   Milton,  Pa, 

JOSEPB  ALBRIGHT,  who  has  been  living 
retired  at  Watsontown  for  a.  number  of  years, 
has  had  his  residence  at  that  place  since  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war.  lie  was  hum  Jul}  6,  1836,  at 
Allentown,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  sun  of  Charles  S. 
Albright   and   grandson  of  Joseph   Albright. 

The  Albright,  family  has  had  mam  creditable 
associations  with  the  history  of  the  Dutch  in 
Pennsylvania.  Christian  Albright  emigrated  from 
Germany  and   settled    in   what    is   now   the  upper 


372 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


part  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  married  Elizabeth 
Kick,  and  had  children:  Peter  K.  (who  died  in 
Schuylkill  county),  Solomon  P.,  John  Christian, 
Henry  P..  Jacob  P.,  Daniel  P..  John  P.,  John 
George  and  Justus  Yost  P. 

John  Christian  Albright,  son  of  Christian,  was 
born  Feb.  26,  1748,  and  died  Feb.  28,  L820.  Be 
was  twice  married,  first  to  Maria  Elizabeth  Alt- 
e,  born  May  27,  1776,  died  in  May.  1799,  ami 
second  to  Maria  Kauffman.  His  children,  all  by 
the  first  marriage,  were:  .Maria  Catharine,  Anna 
Maria,  Annie  Magdalena,  George,  John  Jacob, 
John.  Solomon,  Gabriel  and  Elizabeth.  Of  these 
Maria  Catharine  married  George  Wagner  and  had 
children,  Daniel.  Benjamin,  Kate.  Eli  as,  Ceorge, 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Solomon,  William  and  Lucy. 
Anna  Maria  married  Jacob  Shartle,  and  had 
children,  George,  William,  Sallie,  Eliza.  Maria 
ami  Julian.  Aim i  Hagdalena  married  Gi 
Kauffman,  and  had  two  children,  Hettie  and  Sam- 
uel. John  Albright  married  Elizabeth  Ruby  and 
had  two  children.  Samuel  and  Leah.  Solomon 
Albright  married  (first)  Maria  .Miller  and  (sec- 
ond) Elizabeth  Shoemaker,  and  his  children  were: 
John,  Henry.  Gen.  Charles.  Mary.  Eliza.  Kate 
and  Earriet.  Elizabeth  married  Joseph  Kauff- 
man and  had  three  children.  William.  Han 
and   Kate  (Mrs.  John  Grime).     Jol  □  -1  mar- 

ried Maria  Shartle  and  hail  seven  children,  Sarah. 
William.  John.  Jacob  S.,  Daniel,  and  Moses  and 
Elizabeth   (twins). 


Joseph  Albright,  grandfather  of  Joseph  Al- 
bright of  Watsontown,  settled  in  Lehigh  county, 
Pa.,  and  is  buried  in  the  vicinity  of  Allentown. 
Ilis  wife's  maiden  name  was  Yund.  They  had 
children:  Mrs.  Biggert,  of  Allentown:  James, 
who  died  in  Allentown:  and  Charles  S. 

Charles  S.  Albright  was  horn  at  Allentown  and 
married  there,  lfe  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  hut  fol- 
lowed farming  for  many  years,  moving  to  a  place 
near  Catawissa,  Columbia  county,  where  he 
farmed  until  he  sold  out.  and  settled  near  Wash- 
ingtonville,  Montour  count}',  owning  a  seventy- 
five-acre  farm  on  which  he  died  in  1867,  ;it  the 
age  of  fifty-nine  years,  nine  months.  He  is  buried 
at  Strawberry  Ridge  Church.  He  was  a  Luther- 
an in  religion.  His  wife.  Esther  (Newhart),  who 
came  from  Lehigh  county,  died  in  1882,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children:  George  W.,  of  the  state  of 
Washington;  John  T..  who  died  at  Paradise. 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.;  Thomas  D..  who  en- 
tered  the  service  during  the  Civil  war  and  died 
while  a  prisoner  at  Florence,  S.  C. :  Joseph  :  Anna. 
Mrs.  Ramson  of  Iowa:  Charles  F.,  who  died  in 
Iow;i  :  Hettie.  who  was  married  three  times,  to 
Benson  Carl,  Christopher  Herr  and  Reuben  Clapp, 
respectively:  Henry  A.,  who  died  when  three- 


old:  Alexander,  deceased;  Catharine,  who  died 
aged  fourteen  years;  Elizabeth,  who  is  unmarried 
and  lives  with  her  sister.  Mrs.  Clapp;  and  Jacob, 
deceased. 

Joseph  Albright  was  educated  in  Columbia 
county,  and  was  twenty  years  old  when  he  com- 
menced to  learn  the  plastering  trade,  coming  to 
Northumberland  county  in  1856.  He  followed 
his  trade  until  the  Civil  war  period,  when  he  en- 
listed in  August,  1862,  in  Company  B.  131st 
I.'  jriment,  with  which  he  served  ten  months.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he  was  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  in  the  engagements  at  Monocacy,  South 
Mountain.  Antietam.  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville.  His  second  enlistment  was  in  Febru- 
ary, 1SG4.  in  Company  K,  112th  Regiment,  2d 
Pennsylvania  Heavy  Artillery,  fur  three  years, 
and  he  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  taking  part 
in  the   battles   of  the   Wilderness,    S]  ania, 

Cold  Harbor,  etc.  On  June  16-18,  1864,  the  com- 
mand was  established  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
where    he  I    two    bullet    wounds,    fighting 

hand  to  hand  and  standing  up  to  his  waist  among 

dead  and  wounded.  At  Cold  Harbor,  while 
he  was  reloading  his  rifle,  a  bullet  stripped  the 
skin  from  his  nose.  On  July  30th.  at  the  mine 
explosion,  he  was  captured,  and  was  held  eight 
months   in   the   prison    at    Danville,  rans- 

i  to  Libby  prison,  from  which  he  was  ex- 
changed March  1".  1865.  He  was  then  brought 
to  Lnnapolis,  mid  sent  to  Baltimore  hospital, 
where  he  remained  several  weeks  in  a  serious  con- 

ii.  weighing  less  than  sixty-five  pounds.  He 
was  brought  to  Sunbury  in  this  sad  condition,  and 
thence  to  the  "Huff  House"  at  Milton,  mure  dead 
than  alive:  be  laid  between  life  and  death  from 
April  2d  to  Oct.  2d,   1865,  but  eventually  reco  - 

.  though  his  improvement  was  very  gradual. 
II  -  army  experience  was  trying  and  full  of  hard- 
ships, and  he  saw  active  service  in  some  of  the 
most  important  battles  of  the  war.  At  Fredericks- 
burg his  brigade  was  nearest  to  the  heights  where 
the    Confederate   line   was   posted. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Albright  worked  at  his  trade 
for  a  year,  and  then,  having  some  property  at  Wat- 
sontown. he  engaged  in  business  there,  keeping 
a  livery  stable  for  eight  years.  Then  he  returned 
to  his  trade,  which  he  continued  to  follow  untd 
1881.  From  1883  until  1890  he  was  confined  to 
lied  or  chair,  with  illness  contracted  during  the 
time  he  was  in  his  country's  service,  but  he  has 
-mi  e  recovered.  Though  always  occupied  with 
his  business  affairs  during  his  more  active  years 
Mr.  Albright  found  time  to  serve  his  community. 
holding  tlie  uffices  of  overseer  of  the  poor,  con- 
stable and  collector  with  satisfaction  to  all  con- 
cerned. He  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith,  and 
in  religion  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
the  welfare  of  which  he  has  been  much  interested. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


373 


having  acted  as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  In-  church.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

In  December,  1858,  Mr.  Albright  married  Mary 
Ann  McCurle]  Tate,  of  Milton,  who  was  bora 
March  28,  1840,  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Holder)  Tate,  wlu>  lived  at  Milton.  Four  sons 
were  born  to  this  marriage:  David  T..  who  lives 
in  Milton;  John  S.  (of  Watsontown)  and  Elmer 
('.  (deceased),  twins,  and  William  \\.  of  Wat- 
sontown. Mrs.  Albright  was  killed  in  a  trolley 
anidont  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  26,  1902,  aged 
fifty-nine  years.  In  August,  1907,  Mr.  Albright 
married  (second)  Ella  Blue,  daughter  of  Isaiah 
and  Phoebe  Agnes  (Taggart)  Blue.  Isaiah  Blue 
married  foi  his  second  wife  Emma  Falls  Wetzel,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  David  and  Gertrude. 

CHARLES  M.  RISSEL,  a  retired  citizen  of 
EasI  Chillisquaque  township,  for  many  years  a 
farmer  and  previously  a  well  known  contractor 
in  that  region,  was  born  Jan.  7,  1838,  in  Montour 
county,  Pa.,  and  comes  of  a  family  which  has  long 
been  established  in  America.  Its  founder  in  this 
country  was  Heinrich  LTricb  Rishel  (as  many  of 
tin'  family  spell  the  name),  who  came  to  America 
with  his  family  in  1753  and  settled  in  Bucks 
county,  Pa.  He  had  six  sons — lacob,  Leonard, 
Ludwig,  Martin  Luther.  Michael  and  William— 
who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  William 
holding  the  rank  of  captain.  After  the  war  two 
of  the  sons.  Michael  and  Martin  Luther,  came  to 
Montour  county,  Pa.,  where  they  toon  up  land 
ami  made  permanent  homes,  Martin  Luther  set- 
tling in  Liberty  township.  Among  his  children 
were  Jacob,  John  and  Henry,  of  whom  we  have 
record,  descendants  of  John  Rishel  now  living 
in  West  Chillisquaque  township.  Martin  Luther 
Rishel  had  the  old  German  hymn  hook  brought 
by  the  family  from  Germany,  and  as  indicated  by 
this  the  family  were  Lutherans. 

Henry  Rissel,  son  of  Martin  Luther,  was  born 
March  1.  1784,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1830. 
He  and  In-  wives  are  buried  at  Chillisquaque 
Church.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Leah  Sechler, 
who  wa.s  horn  April  33.  1792,  he  had  two  children. 
John  (who  lived  to  be  ninety-two  years  old)  and 
Jacob  S.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Sarah 
Have-,  who  bore  him  five  children:  William 
lleiirv;  Martin,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-sis  years 
old:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Keefer;  Da- 
vid, and  Daniel. 

William  Henry  Rissel,  son  of  Henry,  was  horn 
April  12,  1811,  and  followed  farming  all  his  life. 
dying  March  12.  1844.  On  April  14.  1837,  he 
married  Mary  Hoover,  daughter  of  George  Hoover, 
of  Schuylkill  county,  horn  April  1.  181o, 
Nov  28  1871.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Charles  M.;  Daniel  W,  horn 
Dec.   26,   1840,   who  married    Amanda    (last   and 


had  children.  .Mary  (Mrs.  Harry  Haas),  Luther 
and  John:  Elizabeth,  horn  Jan.  •.':;.  L842,  who 
married  Thomas  Rissel;  William,  who  married 
Ali.e  Acor  and  ha-  a  -on.  Edward  M. :  and  M. 
Luther,  who  married  Sarah  Wolfe  and  had  eight 
children,  Daniel,  Louis,  Myra.  George,  Elizabeth, 
Drank.  Howard  and  Carrie. 

Charles  M.  Rissel  attended  public  school  and 
as  a  boy  worked  on  the  home  farm.  When  a 
young  man  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and 
soon  began  contracting  on  his  own  account,  build- 
ing many  houses  and  ham-  m  the  neighborhood 
of  In-  home.  He  was  a  popular  and  successful 
business  man.  and  was  considered  a  master  in 
his  line,  his  services  being  in  continuous  demand, 
but  in  1876  he  discontinued  work  at  his  trade,  de- 
voting  himself  thereafter  to  farming.  That  year 
he  erected  a  house  on  the  farm  in  East  Chillis- 
quaque township  which  he  had  purchased,  and  in 
1888  he  put  up  the  barn.  Always  a  progressive, 
thrifty  and  industrious  man.  he  prospered  and 
gained  the  esteem  id'  his  neighbors,  and  there 
are  many  substantial  evidences  of  his  mechanical 
.--kill  still  standing,      lie   is   now   retired   from  the 

more  arduous  work  of  farming,  making  his  li 

witll  his  son  dona-  at  the  old  place.  He  was 
married  Nov.  :!.  1864,  to  Mary  Ann  Koch, 
who  was  born  Jan.  4.  1838,  daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Leah  (Bachman)  Koch,  who  are  mentioned 
fully  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  died  Aim".  29, 
1905.  In  religion  she  was  a  Lutheran,  a-  is  also 
Mr.  Kissel,  holding  membership  in  the  church  at 
Pottsgrove.  Two  children  wen'  horn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kissel:  Jona-.  horn  June  '.':;.  1865,  who 
now  carries  on  the  old  home  farm,  married  Mar- 
garet Berger,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Susan  (.Alack) 
Berger,  and  they  have  had  two  sons.  George  Frank- 
lin and  Charles  Levi;  Jennie  E.,  horn  March  12, 
is;.;,  died  March  s.   1882. 

On  Aug.  9,  1862,  Mr.  Rissel  enlisted  in  the 
1'iiinii  service,  becoming  a  private  in  Company 
K.  131st  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  the  command  of  ('apt.  I.  B.  Davis 
and  Colonel  Allaboch.  lie  took  pari  in  the  battles 
of  Antietam  (Sept.  IK  1862),  Fredericksburg 
i  Dec.  11-1  1.  186-2),  and  Chancellorsville  i  Ma] 
i-l.  1863),  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Har- 
risburg,  May  27,  1863. 

WILLIAM  II.  FISH Khh  proprietor  of  Fisher's 
Iron  Foundry,  located  at  Kehuck.  in  Washington 
township,  is  a  member  of  a  family  which  has  been 
identified  with  Northumberland  county  from  the 
early  days,  though  not  continuously  in  this  branch. 
.as  horn  (lit.  28,  L851,  in  Dauphin  county, 
ai  (Iratz.  where  his  father  settled  and  lived  for 
many  years. 

Joseph  Fisher,  who  founded  this  family  in 
America,  was  bora  in  Germanyin  \pril,  1734,  and 
on  June  5,  1764,  married  Catharine  Minegar,  also 


374 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  August,  1746.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Cath- 
arine, who  married  Nicholas  Shipman;  Henry; 
Mary,  who  married  Samuel  Mutchler;  Hannah, 
who  married  Caleb  Farlee;  Elizabeth;  John; 
Moses;  David;  Jacob,  and  Joseph.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  parents  settled  near  the  site  of  Catawissa, 
in  what  is  now  Columbia  count}',  Pa.,  some'  time 
in  the  eighteenth  century,  but  prior  to  that  they 
evidently  lived  in  Bradford  county,  where  their 
oldest  son,  Henry,  was  born  July  25,  1767. 

Henry  Fisher,  born  in  Bradford  county,  Pa., 
July  25,  1767,  lived  for  some  years  in  Columbia 
county,  thence  removing  to  Northumberland 
county.  He  was  the  father  of  these  children : 
Jacob,  John,  Caleb,  Clotworthy,  Joseph,  Sarah, 
Elizabeth  and  Catharine.  He  located  upon  the 
land  later  owned  by  Peter  Leisenring,  where  he 
built  a  gristmill  and  tavern,  which  he  operated 
many  years.  He  also  owned  about  eighteen  acres 
of  land  adjacent  to  the  mill  and  hotel  property. 
His  death  occurred  about  1825,  after  which  all 
his  family  except  his  son  John  (born  Sept.  20, 
1800)  left  that  locality. 

Caleb  Fisher,  son  of  Henry,  lived  at  Bear  Gap, 
in  Coal  township  (Bear  Gap  is  now  included  in 
Ealpho  township),  Northumberland  county.  In 
early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  which 
he  followed  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active 
life,  operating  Fisher's  mill,  now  known  as  the 
Leisenring  mill,  at  Bear  Gap  for  many  years, 
succeeding  his  father  at  that  place.  Later  he 
moved  to  Sunbury.  Caleb  Fisher  was  an  able  and 
enterprising  business  man  and  at  one  time  quite 
well-to-do.  He  died  at  Sunbury  and  is  buried 
there.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Bird,  had  the  following  children :  Clinton,  who 
was  a  machinist,  lived  at  Danville  at  one  time  and 
was  also  a  resident  of  Muncv ;  John  I.,  a  molder 
by  trade,  lived  in  Sunbury;  Jared  is  mentioned 
later;  Albert,  a  printer,  lived  at  Danville:  Harri- 
son died  at  Sunbury ;  Henry  C,  a  foundryman, 
lived  at  Freeburg;  Jane  never  married. 

Jared  Fisher,  son  of  Caleb,  was  bom  at  Bear 
Gap,  and  died  during  the  eighties,  when  sixty-five 
years  old,  at  Grata,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  whither 
he  had  removed  in  1848.  He  is  buried  there.  Mr. 
Fisher  was  a  machinist  and  blacksmith.  At  one 
time  he  lived  in  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county, 
thence  going  to  Grata,  where  he  had  a  shop  of 
his  own  and  did  general  blacksmithing  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  prosperous  man,  and  owned  his 
own  home.  Politically^  he  was  a  Eepublican,  and 
during  the  Civil  war  was  an  active  Union  sym- 
pathizer, serving  in  that  war  under  two  enlist- 
ments. He  was  a  soldier  in  Company  I,  103d 
Eegiment,  for  nine  months,  and  reenlisted,  serv- 
ing until  the  close  of  the  struggle.  Mr.  Fisher 
was  a  member  of  the  Eeformed  Church  at  Gratz. 
Be  married  Elizabeth  Hetrich.  daughter  of  Jacob 


Hetrich,  of  Northumberland  count}',  and  she  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  in  1906,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two.  She  is  buried  by  her  husband's 
side  at  Gratz.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren: Mary  J.  (who  died  young),  a  daughter 
that  died  in  infancy,  William  II.,  Adam  M.  (de- 
ceased) and  Franklin  I.  (deceased). 

William  H.  Fisher  received  Ms  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  in  his  native  county. 
In  1S6S  he  began  to  learn  the  molding  trade  from 
his  uncle,  Henry  C.  Fisher,  being  located  at  Ee- 
buek,  and  remained  with  him  three  years.  Be- 
suming  his  studies,  he  attended  Freeburg  Academy 
for  three  terms,  and  later  was  a  student  at  Berrys- 
hurg  Academy,  in  Dauphin  county,  for  three 
terms,  after  which  he  was  granted  a  license  to 
teach.  He  followed  the  profession  for  three 
terms,  being  engaged  in  Washington  township, 
Northumberland  county,  until  in  1875  he  was 
taken  into  partnership  by  his  uncle,  Henry  C. 
Fisher,  who  moved  to  Freeburg,  where  they  built 
a  shop  and  established  an  iron  foundry.  They 
did  business  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  C.  &  W. 
II.  Fisher  for  two  years,  William  H.  Fisher  with- 
drawing from  the  association  in  1877  and  coming 
to  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
started  the  foundry  business  on  his  own  account. 
He  was  in  successful  business  there  for  four  years, 
in  1882  settling  at  Eebuek,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  During  his  first  four  years '  at  that 
location  he  rented  his  place  of  business  and  then 
purchased  the  property  he  now  occupies.  He  is 
a  practical  mechanic  and  a  foundryman  of  thor- 
ough experience,  and  is  the  only  man  in  the  busi- 
ness in  his  section.  However,  that  is  not  the  only 
reason  he  has  established  such  a  thriving  trade. 
His  work  is  reliable,  and  there  is  a  steady  demand 
for  the  products  of  his  plant,  plows  of  all  kinds 
and  common  agricultural  implements;  the  well 
known  Fisher  plow  is  his  specialty  and  has  an  ex- 
cellent reputation.  The  foundry  occupies  a  half 
acre  of  ground.  Mr.  Fisher  owns  a  tract  of  six 
acres  which  formerly  belonged  to  his  uncle  Henry 
C.  Fisher,  and  in  1897  he  purchased  the  old  Dr. 
Fred  Tryon  farm,  consisting  of  thirty  acres  at 
Eebuek,  upon  which  place  the  first  store,  hotel 
and  post  office  were  located.  The  hotel  was 
abandoned  by  Mr.  Fisher.  He  is  a  Eepublican 
in  politics  and  has  served  three  years  as  school 
director. 

On  Dec.  25,  1875,  Mr.  Fisher  married  Hannah 
S.  Kieffer,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Hannah  (Wel- 
ker)  Kieffer,  of  Washington  township,  earlier  of 
Jackson  township,  and  they  have  had  six  children : 
Elizabeth  died  unmarried  and  is  buried  in  the 
family  plot  at  the  Himmel  Church:  Nellie  J. 
married  Ira  Mattern  and  they  reside  at  Ashland; 
H.  Emma  married  William  Brosius  and  they  live 
at  Seven  Points ;  Katie  married  Henry  Hubler,  of 
Mahanoy  City,  Pa. :  Clara  S.  and  Walter  H.  com- 


NORTHUMBERLAN  D  COUNTY,   I  >  E  X  X  s  V  I  A'  ANIA 


375 


plete  the  family.  Mr.  Fisher  and  his  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  JLimmel  Church,  and 
he  is  especially  devoted  to  Sunday  school  work; 
he  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Union  Sunday 
school  of  that  organization  since  1909. 

WILLIAM  P.  WENDLE,  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  fur  more  than 
twenty-five  years,  was  first  elected  to  that  office 
in  1879,  and  with  hut  one  term  intermission  has 
held  it  continuously  to  the  present  time.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  respected  eitizens  of  the  borough, 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  well  known 
worker  in  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Wendle  was  born  July  16,  1840,  at  Mud.  v. 
Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  of  Dutch  descent,  his 
grandfather,  John  Wendle,  having  come  from  Hol- 
land. He  settled  near  Muncy  and  followed  farm- 
ing, dying  about  1838.     He  is  buried  at   Muncy. 

Peter  Wendle,  son  of  John  and  father  of  Wil- 
liam 1'.,  was  born  in  1802  in  Lycoming  county, 
Pa.,  and  died  in  1868.  By  trade  he  was  a  wagon- 
maker,  and  about  1838  had  a  shop  at  MeEwens- 
ville,  Northumberland  county,  later  removing  to 
Muncy.  He  was  a  prominent  Democrat  and 
served  as  county  commissioner  of  Lycoming  coun- 
lv.  also  holding  various  other  offides.  In  ire- 
I hi. in  be  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
He  married  Sarah  Buck,  who  was  born  in  Lycom- 
ing county  in  1801,  and  died  in  18-18,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Dan- 
iel B..  who  was  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia;  Wil- 
liam P. ;  Thomas  P.,  who  was  a  carriage-maker 
in  Philadelphia  (his  only  son,  George,  lives  in 
Williamsport,  Pa.);  Peter  E.,  a  cabinet-maker, 
who  lived  in  Williamsport;  Frances  I.,  who  mar- 
ried Alexander  Hall  and  has  six  children,  J.  A., 
P.  C,  William,  Alfred.  Mary  I!,  and  Etta;  Ellen 
<;..  who  married  Joseph  Gibson,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  has  three  children,  Alfred  and  Clara  and 
Millie;  Sarah  E.,  who  married  Jesse  Edgar  and 
has  four  children,  Harry.  Emily,  Harvey  and 
Grant;  Jane,  who  married  Silas  Axtel,  of  Iowa, 
and  has  two  children,  Zenis  and  one  daughter; 
her  second  husband  is  a  Mr.  Lee,  of  Kansas. 

William  P.  Wendle  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Muncy.  In  1856  he  went  West  to  In- 
diana, where  lie  learned  the  cabinet-makers 
trade.'  and  there  in  1861  he  enlisted  for  three 
years'  service  in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  E,  -.'nth  Indiana  Volunteer  In- 
fantry with  which  he  went  to  the  front.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Hatteras,  N.  C,  was  held  at 
Charleston.  S.  C  and  twice  at  the  notorious 
Libby  Prison,  before  securing  his  release.  Hav- 
ing been  captured  in  the  engagement  at  Hatteras 
he  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  oi  dis- 
ability May  26,'  1862,  and  returned  to  Muncy, 
where  he  engaged  in  business.  In  1871  he  again 
moved  to  Indiana,  remaining  in  that  State  until 


L81  I.  mii.c  when  he  has  made  his  home  at  Mil- 
ton, for  five  years  after  settling  in  Milton  Mr. 
Wendle  followed  his  trade,  and,  as  previously 
stated,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1879, 
being  honored  with  re-election  again  and  again. 
His  services  are  highly  valued  and  he  has  the 
esteem  of  all  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  represented  his  party  in  many 
conventions,  ami  socially  he  holds  membership  in 
Henry  Wilson  Post,  129,  G.  A.  I!.,  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle,  No.  265,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  1'.  II.  C.  He  and  his  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  1863  Mr.  Wendle  married  Ellen  J.  Blue, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Blue,  and  they  had  three 
children:  Carrie  Ida,  wife  of  Reverdy  J.  Bramble. 
of  Milton,  Pa.;  Nellie  T..  at  home:  and  Elizabeth 
M.,  wife. of  George  Bramble,  of  Cumberland,  Md. 
Mrs.  Wendle  died   March  12,  1910,  aged  seventy 

\  ear-. 

DANIEL  S.  SCHREFFLEE,  now  living  in 
partial  retirement  at  Leek  Kill,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  was  for  a  number  of  years  en- 
gaged successfully  in  farming  on  the  south  side 
..I  lane  Mountain,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  highly  esteemed  residents  of  that  sec- 
tion, where  he  has  passed  all  his  life. 

The  Schreffler  family  of  eastern  Pennsylvania 
claims  as  its  founder  in  America  Hcinrich 
Schfoffler,  who  settled  in  the  borough  of  Reading, 
Berks  county,  at  an  early  date.  His  will,  on 
record  in  Will  Book  A.  page  83,  in  the  Berks 
county  courthouse,  was  made  April  25.  1783,  he 
"being  old  and  weak  in  body,"  and  was  probated 
Sept.  6,  17S4.  Apparently  he  died  in  the  summer 
of  1784.  He  made  his  mark  on  the  document,  and 
his  sons  Christian  and  Godfriedl  las  the  name 
was  spelled  in  the  will)  were  appointed  executors, 
bnong  the  items  was  one  to  (he  ell'e.t  thai 
George  "shall  have  my  fine  stocking  weaver  loom, 
with  all  belongings.'"  The  son  Conrad  died  be- 
fore his  father,  and  his  son,  also  name. I  Conrad, 
obtained  his  father's  share  of  the  inheritance.  To 
lleinrich  and  Magdalena  Schroffler  were  born  the 
following  children:  Christian,  Henry.  Godfried, 
Carl.  George  ami  ( lonrad.  The  son  t  Irrisl  ian 
lived  in  the  borough  of  Reading  m  L790,  in  which 
year  lie  was  the  head  of  a  family  consisting  oi 
himself,  wife,  three  sons  under  sixteen  years  oi 
ami  the  i  daughters. 

Godfried  Schrefflei ,  son  of  I  [einrich  (  Henrj  i . 
was  a  farmer  in  Bethel  township,  Berks  county. 
lie  made  his  will  in  IMl  an. I  .lid  in  L812.  Tlie 
executors  of  his  will  were  his  sons  John  and  God- 
fried,  his  family  consisting  of  nine  children, 
namek  :  John,  Godfried,  Peter,  i  feorge,  I  lonrad, 
Catharine  (married  Simon  Smeltzer),  Polly 
i  married  John  Fochl  ).  Bets}  ( married  John 
(.'roll' i    and    Hannah   (unmarried  ). 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Godfried  Schreffler.  the  grandfather  of  Daniel 
s.  Schreffler,  was  a  farmer  in  Northumberland 
county,  owning  the  farm  in  Washington  township 
which  is  now  the  property  of  Andrew  Adams.  He 
is  buried  in  that  township,  at  the  Himmel  Church. 
and  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection.  He 
was  a  tall  man  and  dark  complexioned.  To  him 
and  his  wife  Eve  (Lebo)  were  born  children  as 
follows:  Joseph;  Godfried;  John;  Daniel;  Mrs. 
Michael  Docker:  Susanna.  Mrs.  John  Snyder; 
and  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Nicholas  Adam. 

John  Schreffler,  son  of  Godfried  and  Eve  (  Lebo  I 
.  was  born  in  1819  in  Dauphin  county. 
Pa,,  and  died  in  1894.  He  and  his  wife,  Salome 
(Rebuck),  who  died  in  1893,  aged  seventy-three 
years."  are  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church.  He 
owned  an  eighty-acre  farm  situated  on  the  - 
side  of  Line  Mountain,  in  Washington  township. 
to  the  cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  the  major 
part  of  his  life.  In  August,  1863,  he  enlisted  for 
nine  months'  service  in  the  Civil  war.  His  family 
was  a  large  one,  namely:  Harry  married  Ik 
Bergner;  Lovina  married  John  Falck :  Urias 
married  Mary  Perster;  Katie  married  Jai  es  3i 
er;  John  married  Amanda  Eetrich;  Hiram  mar- 
ried Malinda  Rebuck;  Nathan  married  Mary  Mil- 
ler: Mary  married  Joel  Mattern;  Fietta  married 
Enoch  Mattern;  Elias  is  unmarried:  Frank  mar- 
ried Malinda  Rebuck  and  (second)  Lydia  Drum- 
heller. 

Urias  Schreffler,  son  of  John  and  S:  (Re- 

buck) Schreffler.  is  a  farmer  in  Washington  town- 
ship, this  county.  11  is  children  are:  James, 
Charles.  Levi,  Jay  and  Ida. 

Daniel  Schreffler,  son  of  Godfried  and  Eve 
(Lebo)    Schreffler,  was  born  Sept.  '.'.   Is'.';.  in  the 

lower  seel »1    Northumberland  county,  and  was 

reared  in  Washington  township,  where  Andrew 
Adam  now  lives.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  for 
many  years  living  and  working  in  Upper  Maha- 
noy  township,  where  he  owned  the  tract  of  seventy- 
seven  acres  now  owned  by  Malinda  Schreffler.  He 
served  as  supervisor  of  his  township,  and  was  well 
known  in  fraternal  circles,  belonging  to  the  local 
organizations  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 
until  they  were  disbanded,  lie  and  his  family 
were  Lutheran  members  of  St.  John's  Church, 
where  he  ami  his  two  wives  are  buried.  His  first 
marriage  was  to  Sallie  Schankweiler.  who  was 
born  ( >ct  30,  1825,  ami  died  March  19,  1882.  His 
second  wife,  Dina  (Bohner).  was  born  Sept.  22, 
1833,  and  died  Dec.  26,  L907.  Mr.  Schreffler 
passed  away  March  4.  1908.  All  his  children  were 
horn  to  his  first  marriage,  viz.:  John:  William: 
Lizzie,  who  married  Silas  Lister:  James  S. ;  Mary, 
who  married  Joel  Reitz;  Andrew,  who  died 
young;  Daniel  S. ;  Sarah,  who  married  John  Kahl- 
er:  a  son  that  died  in  infancy:  Elias,  who  died 
young :  and  Henry. 

John  Schreffler.  eldest  son  of  Daniel  and  Sallie 


(Schankweiler)  Schreffler.  was  horn  in  1851.  He 
grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  attended  the  coun- 
try  schools.  After  his  marriage  to  Caroline 
Kieffer,  in  18T3,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Wash- 
on  township,  and  there  resided  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  following  agricultural  work.  He  was 
the  father  of  these  children:  Andrew,  who  mar- 
ried Martha  Rebuck:  Mima,  who  married  Cyrus 
Moyer;  Callie.  who  married  Lewis  Rebuck:  Sam- 
uel, who  married  Jemima  Demmoyer :  Etta,  who 
married  Samuel  Kieffer;  Katie."  who  married 
Adam  Drumheller;  Dora,  who  married  David 
Reitz;  Jane,  who  married  Daniel  Reitz:  David, 
Sallie  ami  Mazy,  all  three  deceased:  John  and 
Loy. 

Mr.    Schreffler   was   a   prominent   factor  in   the 

Eimmel     Lutheran    Church,    of    which    he    was 

trustee    I'm-   a   number  of   years.      He    was   school 

director  for  years,  also  supervisor  for  a  number  of 

-.     In  polities  he  was  a  Democrat. 

•lame-  S.  Schreffler,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sallie 
Schreffler,  was  horn  Sept.  2,  1854,  and  spent  his 
early  years  at  farm  work.  When  nineteen  he  be- 
gan to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed regularly  for  about  two  year-,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  work  at  it  off  and  on  ever  since.  In  the 
spring  of  1879  he  commenced  to  farm  at  his 
on  m  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  hav- 
n_  a  tracl  of  sixty-six  acres  along  the  south  side 
of  Line  Mountain,  at  the  head  of  Greenbrier  creek. 
It  was  formerly  the  property  of  Jacob  Shank- 
weiler,  who  built  the  house  and  barn  in  1852, 
burning  the  brick  he  used  from  clay  obtained  in 
the  meadow  above  the  house.  Mr.  Schreffler  has 
been  quite  active  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic 
party  m  his  section,  has  served  a-  election  officer, 
ami  was  a  member  of  the  township  school  board 
for  nine  years.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  at  St.  John's  Church 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  at  present  serving  as 
trustee:  he  was  formerly  a  deacon.  His  family 
aiv  also  identified   with  this  church. 

On  March  0.  1879,  Mr.  Schreffler  married  Sarah 
Jane  Falck,  and  to  their  union  have  been  born 
six  children,  as  follow-:  Daniel  0.  died  in  his 
eighth  year:  Mazy  C.  died  in  her  ninth  rear: 
Charles  M.  married  Xealla  Paul;  Katie  A.  married 
William  Fetherolf;  Edward  L.  is  a  school  teacher 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township:  Emma  A.  died  in 
her  sixth  year. 

Daniel  S.  Schreffler  was  horn  Dee.  26,  1860,  -on 
of  Daniel  arid  Sallie  Schreffler.  He  worked  with 
in-  father  until  he  attained  his  majority,  in  the 
spring  "f  iss->  becoming  a  tenant  farmer  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  where  he  remained  for  six 
vears.  Moving  across  the  Line  Mountain  into 
Washington  township,  he  farmed  near  Rebuck 
for  the  next  three  years,  in  the  spring  of  1890  pur- 
chasing his  uncle's  farm  of  Mt  acres,  good  land, 
where    he   lived    until    he   retired    from    the   more 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   i'KXXsYLV.\  \  I  A 


37' 


arduous  work  of  life.  He  built  the  dwelling  and 
summer  house  now  standing  on  that  property  and 
made  a  number  of  other  improvements  which  ma- 
terially added  to  its  value,,  having  a  well  kepi 
farm,  which  he  sold  in  the  fall  of  1909.  Ee  thru 
purchased  a  residence  in  which  his  father  lived 
and  died,  at  Leek  Kill,  and  moved  there  in  the 
spring  of  1910.  He  has  given  up  the  more  trying 
labors  and  is  no\*  spending  his  tune  in  partial  re- 
tirement. Mr.  Sehretller  has  taken  considerable 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  locality,  and  served 
efficiently  as  school  director  for  one  'term  of  three 
years  and  as  auditor  for  many  years.  In  politics 
he  i-  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran  member 
id'  St.  John's  Church,  in  which  his  family  also 
belong. 

In  issl  Mr.  Sehretller  married  Hattie  Eister, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Buhner)  Eister,  of 
Augusta  township,  this  county,  and  they  have  four 
children  :  Mary  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Lewis  Snyder; 
William  .1..  who  married  Jennie  Snyder  and  lived 
in  Upper  Mahano]  township;  Daniel  E.,  and 
Carrie  XL 

RISHEL.  Isaiah  C.  and  Joseph  C.  Rishel, 
brothers,  both  now  retired  farmers  living  in  Chil- 
lisquaque  township,  Northumberland  county,  are 
descended  from  a  family  which  has  long  been 
established  in  America.  Its  founder  in  this  coun- 
try was  Heinrich  Ulrich  Rishel,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  in  1753  and  settled 
in  Bucks  county,  Pa.     He  was  the  father  of  six 

sons,    Jacob,    Li ard,    Ludwig,    Martin    Luther. 

Michael  and  William,  all  of  whom  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  William  holding  .the  rank  of 
captain.  After  the  war  two  of  these  sons.  Michael 
and  Marim  Luther,  came  to  Montour  county.  Pa.. 
and  took  up  land.  Martin  Luther  Rishel  settling 
in  Liberty  township.  Two  of  his  sons  were  Jacob 
and  John,  and  there  were  evidently  other  children. 

John  Rishel,  son  of  Martin  Luther,  married 
Esther  Swartz,  and  a  little  later  moved  to  Colum- 
bia county,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farming.  This 
couple  had  the  following  children:  Jonathan.  Ben- 
jamin, Peter,  John,  Lydia  (married  Lewis  Kauff- 
man).  Hester  (married  Daniel  Bloom),  David, 
ami  Jeremiah  t  who  died  en  route  to  California 
in  1849). 

Jonathan  Rishel,  son  of  John,  was  born  July 
1-1.  1808,  and  during  his  boyhood  attended  pay 
school  in  the  home  locality.  When  a  young  man 
he  worked  on  his  father's  farm,  and  later  learned 
the  trade  of  wheelwright,  which  he  continued  to 
follow  all  his  life  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
died  March  38,  1886.  His  first  wife.  Ann 
(Cruel,  who  died  May  10,  1837,  aged  twenty- 
six  years,  nine  months,  twenty-two  days,  was  a 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Susannah  Crites,  the  form- 
er of  whom  died  in  1848,  at  the  age  of  seventj 
three,  the  latter  in  L854,  at  the  age  oi  eighty-one. 


She  was  the  mother  of  two  children,  Margaret 
Ann  and  Isaiah  C.  the  former  of  whom  became 
the  wife  of  Franklin  C.  Pardee.  XI  r.  Rishel's 
second  marriage  was  to  Rachel  Crossley,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Catharine  (Heinebach)  Cr — 
le\  :  Joseph  Crossley's  father  came  from  England. 
1  me  child  was  born  to  this  union.  Joseph  C. 

Isaiah  C.  Rishel  was  horn  Nov.  Is.  ix:;4,  in 
Liberty  township,  Montour  Co..  Pa.,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  His 
early  life  was  spenl  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in 
time  he  purchased   the   property   in   West   Chillis- 

quaque  township.  Northumberland  nty,  where 

he  has  continued  to  reside  to  the  presenl  time. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  and  served  many  years  as  mem- 
ber of  the  school  hoard,  has  been  assessor,  overseer 
of  the  poor  and  road  supervisor.  In  religious 
matters  he  and  his  family  arc  Lutherans,  belong- 
ing to  the  church  at  Pottsgrove.  On  Feb.  2,  L860, 
XIr.    Rishel   married    Christiann   Giffen,   who  was 

born    Nov.    89,    L834,   and    their   union    has    I n 

blessed  with  five  children:  Anna  Margaret  mar- 
ried M.  0.  Fairchilds  and  has  children,  B.  Miller. 
James  Rishel,  Elmer  Ellsworth  and  Margaret 
Christine:  Mary  married  Clarence  A.  Grove; 
James  Giffen  married  Maggie  Elizabeth  Pardoe; 
Ella  May  married  Hugh  Mack,  who  is  now-  de- 
ceased; Sarah  Alexander  married  Clarence  Pores- 
man  ami  has  one  child.  Mary  Predrica. 

James  Giffen,  grandfather  of  Airs.  Isaiah  C. 
Rishel,  was  horn  m  Delaware  county.  Pa.,  moved 
thence  to  Montour  county  and  later  to  Northum- 
berland county.  He  married  Sarah  Alexander. 
and  they  were  the  parent-  of  seven  children,  born 
a-  follows:  Nancy,  April  II.  1800  (died  in  1861  i: 
Robert  A..  Sept.?:;.  1801;  Margaret,  Oct.  1.  1803; 
John.  Nov.  23,  1805;  Mary,  Oct.  L6,  L801  I  mar- 
ried Daniel  Kerr):  James.  Sept.  :;.  L809  (died 
young)  ;  Thomas  XL.  Nov.   L7,   L812. 

John  Giffen,  born  Nov.  2::.  L805,  married  Mar- 
garet McMahan,  and  they  had  the  following  fam- 
ily:   Christiann.     Mrs.     Rishel:     Janus     ( )..    horn 

March  3,  1837,  who  died   Feb.  L0,  L! ;  .Line  XL. 

horn  Nov.  27,  1841,  who  married  Thomas  Watson 

and    (second)    Rev.    (diaries    Park;    Si tel    XIc- 

Xlahan.  horn  May  2,  Is  II.  who  lives  in  Michigan: 
and  John  Robert,  horn  May  '.'.  IS  pi.  who  lives  in 
Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  C.  Rishel  was  horn  Jan.  17,  1843,  in 
Liberty  township,  Montour  Co..  Pa.,  and  was 
reared   on    his    father's    farm.      His   education 

obtained  in  the  scl 1-  of  hi-  native  township,  and 

he  has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  for  eighteen 
years  he  cultivated  his  father's  land,  in  1881  pur- 
chasing the  place  of  in:;  acres  in  Easl  Chillisqua- 
que  township,  Northumberland  county,  which  he 
has  since  owned  and  occupied.  lie  bough!  this 
property  from  James  Frederick,  and  it  was  part 
of  the  large  tract  owned  by  the  hitler's  family. 
'I      Rishel  has  now   relinquished  active  work,  his 


378 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


son  John  operating  the  farm,  which  is  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  On  May  18,  1891,  the  dwell- 
ing, a  fine  brick  house,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
Mr.  Eishel  immediately  rebuilt,  upon  the  old 
foundation,  having  a  handsome,  up-to-date  home, 
which  is  a  great  improvement  on  the  property  and 
a  credit  to  the  locality."  He  and  his  wife  have 
always  taken  the  deepest  interest  in  everything 
; i tin  ting  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its 
advancement,  being  progressive,  intelligent  peo- 
ple, and  they  are  consistent  and  active  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  lie  has  been  an 
elder  for  some  years.  When  a  young  man  he  was 
ted  church  trustee,  and  he  served  as  a  mem- 
bi  i  of  the  building  committee  when  the  church  at 
Pottsgrove  was  erected.  He  has  served  his  town- 
ship as  school  director  and  overseer  of  the  poor, 
filling  the  latter  office  for  sixteen  years.  Political- 
ly he  is  a  I  lemocrat. 

On  Dec.  •.''..  L866,  Mr.  Rishel  married  Sarah 
Jane  Frederick,  daughter  q  [s  Frederick  and 
member  of  a  prominent  family  of  this  section,  and 
they  have  had  two  children:  (1)  Julia  married 
George  Fairehild  and  lias  five  children.  Sarah. 
Pearl,  George,  Kate  and  Lester.  (2)  John  mar- 
ried Ellen  Morrow  and  they  have  one  child,  Catha- 
rine. He  farms  the  homestead  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  young  citizens  of  the  township,  which 
he  has  served  as  school  director  for  one  term  of 

ei  ears  and  was  recently  reelected  for  a  similar 
period. 

LAHR.  The  Lain-  family  is  one  of  the  old 
families  of  Northumberland  county,  particularly 
numerous  in  the  counties  south  of  Line  Moun- 
tain, in  that  region  of  Pennsylvania,  and  well 
represented  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  this 
section.  But  its  origin  is  difficult  to  trace.  It  is 
believed  that  all  the  Lahrs  mentioned  in  this 
article  are  of  common  ancestry ;  at  any  rate  their 
forefathers  in  this  region  seem  to  have  been  of 
-line  stock,  although  it  is  impossible  from  the 
material  at  hand  to  ascertain  accurately  what  re- 
lation existed  between  them.  There  are  evidently 
three  distinct  branches  of  the  family  in  Northum- 
berland county,  the  posterity  of  Daniel,  Paul  and 
George  Lahr,  who.  according  to  tradition,  were 
related,  though  how  is  not  quite  certain.  Daniel 
and  George  were  probably  first  cousins,  and  Paul 
it  appears  was  the  brother  of  Daniel,  but  this  is 
not  corroborated. 

Paul  Lahr.  born  July  11.  1781,  died  April  3. 
1847,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  of  which  church  he  was  a  Lutheran 
member.  He  was  a  farmer,  living  near  Dalmatia, 
where  he  owned  a  tract  of  145  acres  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Nelson  Gayman,  of  Suhbury.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife.  Elizabeth .  was  either  Bubb  or 
Lenker.  anil  she.  too,  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone 
Valley  Church.     She  was  born  Nov.  2,  1TS6,  and 


died  April  30,  184';.  They  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Michael,  Paul,  John,  Nich- 
olas,  Isaac,  Benjamin,  Susanna  (died  unmarried) 
and  Elizabeth  (who  married  Abraham  Lenker). 
Of  these, 

Michael  Lahr  lived  in  Dalmatia.  He  was  mar- 
ried hut  had  no  family.  He  is  buried  at  Stone 
Valley  Church. 

Paul  Lahr  lived  near  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
is  buried.  He  married  Molly  Bordner,  and  their 
children  were:  Henry,  Paul,  Nicholas,  William, 
Frank  and  Kate. 

John  Lahr  lived  along  the  Susquehanna,  above 
Dalmatia,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  Schlegel 
brothers.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Schaffer, 
and  they  are  buried  at  Georgetown.  They  had 
children:  Elizabeth  married  Benjamin  Byerly; 
Sarah  married  Josiah  Schwartz. 

Isaac  Lahr.  born  July  7,  1820,  died  Sept.  4, 
L883,  and  is  buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church.  He 
lived  above  Dalmatia,  at  what  is  now  the  home  of 
his  son  John.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Michael), 
born  Jan-  36,  L817,  died  Jan.  10,  1885, 
the  mother  of  these  children:  Michael 
(horn  1849,  died  1862),  John,  Sophia  (mar- 
ried Isaac  Campbell)  and  Isaac.  The  son 
John;  born  in  1851  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
follows  in  his  father's  footsteps,  being  a  farmer, 
but  he  also  does  considerable  carpenter  work,  be- 
in-  an  excellent  mechanic  and  in  demand  as"  such 
in  his  neighborhood.  He  owns  the  old  homestead, 
and  is  identified  with  the  old  Stone  Valley  Church 
where  so  many  of  the  name  have  attended  re- 
ligious worship,  being  a  Lutheran  member  thereof. 
To  him  and  his  wife  Hannah  (Boyer)  have  been 
born  five  children :  Lizzie.  Annie,  Susan.  Mary  and 
John  A. 


Peter  Lahr  located  in  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  near 
Richfield.     He  had  a  number  of  children. 


Daniel  Lahr,  a  farmer,  lived  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, one  mile  south  of  Herndon,  owning  the  farm 
which  is  now  the  property  of  Robert  L.  Rieger. 
but  which  Mr.  Lahr  sold  to  Christian  Albert  and 
his  son  Isaac.  The  house  on  the  place  was  used 
for  hotel  purposes  during  the  building  of  the 
Northern  Central  railroad,  being  known  as  the 
'•Blue  Ball  Hotel."  Daniel  Lahr  died  on  this 
farm  Dec.  13,  1844,  and  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone 
Valley  Church.  His  wife  Sophia  (Brosius)  born 
July  1,  17S5,  died  Dec.  29.  1859,  and  is  buried  at 
Dalmatia.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Joseph, 
horn  May  20,  1S1G.  lived  where  Robert  L.  Eieger 
now  resides,  and  died  Oct.  2".  1855,  unmarried; 
George  B..  born  in  1823,  died  at  Dalmatia  in  190(5 
(his  wife  Louisa  Bordner.  born  in  1836,  died  in 
1903)  :  Daniel  W.  is  mentioned  below:  Catharine 
married  George  Shaffer;  Lydia  married  Jacob 
Shaffer. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


379 


George  B.  Lalir,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in 
1823,  in  Jackson  township,  and  was  brought  up 
on  the  farm.  But  when  quite  young  he  became 
a  woodsman,  and  he  continued  to  work  at  lumber- 
ing until  about  1880,  when  he  resumed  the  occu- 
pation of  his  youth.  When  a  young  man  he  walked 
to  Jersey  Shore,  in  upper  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  found  work  in  the  lumber  woods,  and  he  de- 
veloped considerable  ability  in  the  more  skilled 
branches  of  the  labor,  being  able  with  a  broadax 
i"  square  trees  into  shape  ready  for  building  pur- 
poses.  After  1880  he  purchased  Ash  island,  at 
Dalmatia,  which  he  farmed  until  his  death,  in 
1906.  He  accumulated'  considerable  property, 
owning  several  houses  and  a  farm  at  Dalmatia  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  he  was  enterprising 
and  thrift)'  in  the  management  of  his  affairs.  His 
wife,  Louisa  (Bordner),  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Bordner  (whose  wife  was  a  Kiehl),  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  was  born  in  1836,  and  died 
in  1903.  They  are  buried  at  Dalmatia.  Fourteen 
children  were  born  to  this  couple:  James  \\ .. 
George  EL,  Jonathan,  Jacob,  Daniel  (deceased), 
J.  Michael.  Eva  Elizabeth  (married  John  Het- 
rick),  Sarah  Alice  (married  George  Rutter),  Lou- 
isa (died  young),  triplets  (one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters) that  died  in  infancy,  and  two  others  that 
died  young. 

Jacob  Lahr,  son  of  George  B.  and  Louisa 
(Bordner)  Lahr,  was  born  Oct.  2,  1861,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  in  the  house  next  to  his  present 
home  at  Dalmatia.  He  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  at  home  in  Dalmatia  (then  better  known 
as  Georgetown),  working  on  the  farm  for  his 
father  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old.  For 
another  twenty  years  he  continued  to  engage  in 
farm  work,  but  since  1907  he  has  devoted  himself 
to  shoemaking  and  repairing  at  Dalmatia.  His 
home  at  that  place,  which  he  owns,  was  built  by 
himself  and  his  father  in  1894.  Mr.  Lahr  is  a 
respected  ami  industrious  citizen,  giving  all  his 
time  to  his  personal  affairs,  and  taking  no  part 
in  public  life,  having  always  refused  official  prefer- 
ment of  any  kind.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
a  member  'of  the  Jr.  O.  IT.  A.  M.  at  Dalmatia, 
and  with  his  family  holds  membership  in  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  Dalmatia  Church,  to 
which  his  father  and  mother  also  belonged.  They 
are  buried  at  that  church. 

On  July  18.  1885.  Mr.  Lahr  married  Sarah  C. 
Donev,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Sarah  (Campbell) 
Donev,  and  eight  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
namely:  Laura  L.  (married  Harvev  Geist),  Sarah 
E.  (married  to  Howard  Chubb),  Alice  L..  Emma 
V.  (died  young),  Mary  C.  Jacob  L.  George  E. 
(died  young)  and  Ralph  M. 

Daniel  W.  Lahr.  brother  of  George  B.  and  son 
of  Daniel  and  Sophia  Lahr,  was  born  March  31, 
1826,  in  what  is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  was  reared  to  farm  life.     At  an   early  age, 


however,  lie  became  a  boatman  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  canal,  which  ran  between  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  and  Havre  de  Grace,  Md.  It  was  while  en- 
gaged in  this  occupation  that  he  contracted 
rheumatism,  inflammatory  rheumatism  eventually 
causing  his  death.  After'  living  for  a  time  on  the 
place  now  occupied  hj  Robert  L.  Rieger  (his 
father's  old  homestead),  he  moved  to  Snyder 
county,  where  he  lived  for  some  years,  after  which 
he  crossed  the  Susquehanna  and  lived  on  the  prop- 
erty now  owned  by  Henry  A.  Carl.  He  died  at 
that  place  Sept.  13,  1858,  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  thirty-two  years,  and  is  buried  at 
Dalmatia.  His  wife,  Mary  (Albert),  daughter  of 
Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Boyer)  Albert,  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Freeburg,  Snyder  county,  died 
during  the  seventies,  and  is  also  buried  at  Dal- 
matia. They  were  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Franklin  A.;  George  W..  an  electric  light  en- 
gineer, now  of  Tacoma,  Wash.;  and  Sophia  J., 
who  died  when  eight  years  old. 

Franklin  A.  Lahr,  son  of  Daniel  W„  was  born 
May  18.  1853,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  iL: 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Jackson  township,  later  attended  the  academy 
at  Freeburg,  and  improved  himself  considerably 
!>',  study  at  home,  being  a  student  in  fact  to  the 
present  time.  After  leaving  school  he  worked  in 
the  sawmill  where  Robert  L.  Rieger  now  lives,  and 
followed  that  kind  of  work  for  ten  years,  in  dif- 
ferent counties  of  the  State,  during  which  time 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  little  finger  of 
his  left  hand,  which  was  sawed  off  while  he  was 
working  at  Shamokin.  He  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  at  Herndon  or  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  and  since  April  4.  1S93,  has  been  en- 
gaged as  bookkeeper  at  the  Herndon  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  a  large  industrial  concern  giving 
employment  to  sixty-five  men.  Besides,  he  i 
as  local  agent  for  the  Geiser  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, manufacturers  of  traction  engines,  thresh 
machines,  separators  and  portable  sawmills,  and 
he  has  held  a  i  om mission  as  notary  public  sinci 
1900;  he  was  firsl  appointed  by  Governor  Stone, 

later   by    Governor    Pennypacker.      He    has    I d 

■  -  public  for  the  Fir-)  Viti.mal  Bank  of  Hern- 
don since  its  organization. 

Mr.  Lahr  has  always  had  considerable  taste  for 
music,  and  through  his  own  efforts  has  bei 
proficient  on  several  instruments,  playing  the 
piano,  organ,  violin  and  cornet,  on  which  latter 
he  was  particularly  skillful  in  his  younger  man- 
.  when  he  gave  it  more  att<  ation.  In  1902 
n  orchestra  of  six  piei  es,  of  which  he 
is  the  es  are  in  constant 

demand  in  and  around   Herndon,   furnishing   the 
music  at  many  church  and  social  affairs. 
year-    ago    Mr.    Lahr   gave    much    of   his    time    to 
teaching  bands.     1 1  encj   and  high  stand- 

ing in  this  Held  are  highly  creditable,  for  he  lias 


380 


Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania 


acquired  all  his  knowledge  of  music  out  of  work- 
ing hours,  having  been  obliged  to  support  himself 
during  his  younger  years  when  he  first  took  up 
the  study.  The  same  may  be  said  of  his  educa- 
tional acquirements  in  other  lines,  for  he  has 
done  most  of  his  studying  at  night,  and  his  library 
is  the  best  evidence  of  his  inclinations.  He  is  a 
thorough  student  of  the  Bible,  and  liberal  in  his 
religious  views. 

Mr.  Lahr  has  been  identified  with  many  phasi  - 
of  the  life  of  the  borough  of  Herndon.  Besides 
his  business  and  musical  connections,  aire: 
noted,  In1  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  \<>. 
I--.'.  I'.  0.  S.  of  A.,  and  of  Polaris  Lodge,  No. 
765,  I.  0.  0.  V..  both  of  Herndon,  and  was  the 
first  noble  grand  of  the  latter  body.  lie  has 
served  as  clerk  of  the  town  council  since  its  in- 
corporation and  organization.  Politically  lie  is 
not  identified  with  any  partv,  voting  independent- 
l.v.' 


Samuel  Lahr.  grandfather  of  Prof.  M.  L.  W. 
Lahr.  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  owning  the  place  now  owned  by  Gilbert 
Bobb.  He  is  buried  at  Little  Mahanoy  Chun 
which  he  was  a  Lutheran  member,  ami  he  held 
office  in  his  congregation.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Ferster,  and  they  had  an  only  son.  Henry. 

Henry  Lahr  was  born  July  7,  1825,  and  died 
November  30,  1893,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  four 
months,  twenty-three  days.  He  is  buried  at  Union- 
town  (Pillow),  near  which  place  he  lived,  on  a 
farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  between  Union- 
town  and  Byerly's.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer, 
and  during  his  long  and  active  career  had  several 
large  farm-,  one  of  which,  a  valuable  property,  he 
sold  to  his  son.  Prof.  M.  L.  W.  Lahr.  The  place 
on  which  he  died,  previously  mentioned,  con- 
tained some  twenty  acres,  lie  was  a  progri  ■ 
man,  one  of  the  most  esteemed  and  valuable  citi- 
zens of  bis  community,  interesting  himself  in  ev- 
erything that  concerned  the  general  g 1.  Heserved 

a  number  of  years  on  the  school  board  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  was  one  of  its  most  use- 
ful members.  A  Lutheran  member  of  the  Union- 
town  Union  Church,  he  served  as  trustee  of  that 
church  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century.  His  wife. 
Catharine  (Wolf),  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary 
Magdalena  (  Latsha )  Wolf,  and  granddaughter  of 
Henrv  Latsha,  a  native  of  Colehrookdale  town- 
ship, Berks  Co..  Pa.,  died  Oct.  26,  1906,  at  Union- 
town,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
Three  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  to  this 
worthy  couple:  Lovina  married  Clinton  Campbell 
and  they  live  in  Ljniontown  :  Sophia  married  John 
Lesher  and  died  in  1886  (Mr.  Lesher  now  lives 
at  Reading,  Pa.)  :  Samuel  died  at  Valley  Falls. 
Kans. :  Mary  (deceased)  married  Charles  Shadel 
and  lived  at  Fountain  Spring.  Schuylkill  county : 
Elizabeth,    who    died    in    1903,    married    Monroe 


Wiest  ami  lived  at  Allentown  :  Prof.  M.  L.  W.  is  a 
resident  of  Sunhury;  Jacob  is  a  resident  of  Union- 
town. 

Pkof.  M.  L.  W.  Lviii;  was  born  June  Li.  1863, 
and  ha-  been  a  resident  of  the  borough  of  Sun- 
bury  since  the  fall  of  1900.  He  has  been  engaged 
m  educational  work  throughout  his  active  years. 
Having  received  an  excellent  foundation  for  his 
education  in  public  and  private  schools,  he  attend- 
ed what  was  then  known  as  Central  Pennsylvania 
College  (now  known  as  Albright  College),  at 
Myerstown,  Pa.,  and  later  became  a  student  at 
the  Ohio  Normal  University,  at  Ada,  Ohio.  When 
eighteen  years  old  he  had  begun  teaching,  in  his 
native  township,  and  he  has  been  thus  engaged 
ever  since,  at  present  filling  his  twenty-sixth  term. 
For  seven  terms  he  was  at  the  Dalmatia  high 
:  two  terms  at  the  Hniontown  high  school, 
ami  one  term  at  the  Mount  Carmel  high  school, 
before  be  came  to  Sunbury.  He  is  now  assistant 
principal  of  the  Sunbury  high  school,  to  which 
be  was  promoted  in  the  fall  of  1907,  ami 
put  in  charge  of  the  department  of  modern  lan- 
guages. Professor  Lahr  is  an  educator  of  high 
standing  and  proved  efficiency,  and  his  success  is 
due  to  conscientious  work  aid  di  ration  to  his  du- 
ties, in  which  lie  is  deeply  interested.  He  is  a  niein- 
tlie  O.  U  A.  M.  at  Sunbury,  and  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  community. 

In  1890  Professor  Lain-  married  Sevilla  Duben- 
dorf.  daughter  of  William  and  Julianne  (Wiest) 
Dubendorf,  who  lived  in  .Ionian  township,  this 
county.  They  have  a  family  of  live  children: 
Cardella,  who  graduated  from  tin-  Sunbury  high 
school  in  1909  and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching 
public  school  in  this  county:  Anna:  Melvin;  Tru- 
man, and  Helen.  Professor  Lahr  and  his  family 
worship  at  Zion  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury. 


George    Lahr    (also    recorded    as   Johan    G g 

Lahr).  born  July  5,  1799,  lived  in  the  territory 
now  embraced  in  Jackson  township  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  owning  a  farm  of  about  one 
hundred  acres  now  the  property  of  John  Riegel. 
He  was  a  fine  wood  worker,  and  his  services  in 
that  capacity  were  frequently  called  for.  He 
made  many  spinning  wheels  and  wool  wheels. 
coffins,  and  furniture  of  different  kinds.  He  died 
Nov.  1.  1866,  ami  was  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Church,  at  Mahanoy  (now  Led  Cross).  His  wife. 
Catharine  Dressier,  daughter  of  Jacob  Dressier, 
was  born  April  20,  1T98,  and  died  Oct.  8,  1881. 
Their  children  are  all  deceased  :  Jacob,  born  Aug. 
25,  1824,  lived  in  Jackson  township,  and  died  Jan. 
6,  1861;  Benneville;  Rebecca  married  Samuel  B. 
Smith:  Levi,  born  April  18,  1830,  lived  in  Jack- 
son township,  and  died  Jan.  6,  1896  (his  wife 
Man  Ann.  bom  Sept.  30,  1833,  died  Sept.  28, 
1888):  Elias  is  mentioned  below:  several  died 
vounff. 


NOETHUMBEKLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


381 


Elias  Lahr,  son  of  George,  was  a  farmer  and 
carpenter.  He  made  his  home  in  Washington 
township,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
for  many  years,  and  he  did  carpentry  in  that  and 
surrounding  townships,  building  a  number  of 
barns.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  locality, 
holding  various  township  offices  and  serving  as 
deacon  and  elder  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  ai  Maha- 
no\.  in  which  he  held  membership.  Politically 
be  was  a  Democrat.  He  is  buried  at  Herndon 
(we  have  record  of  Elias  T.  Lahr,  who  died  Jan. 
26,  1892,  aged  sixty-three  years,  one  month, 
eighteen  days,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  who  died  Feb. 
".'I.  I'M".  :i  nl  seventy-two  years,  seven  months). 
His  wife  Polly,  daughter  of  John  M.  Snyder,  is 
also  deceased.  They  had  seven  children:  Joriah 
S. :  Catharine,  who  died  in  her  ninth  year; 
Amanda,  who  married  duel  Rebuck;  and  four  who 
died  young. 

JORIAI]  S.  I. Mil;,  son  of  Elias  and  Polly  (Sny- 
der) Lahr,  was  born  Sept.  30,  1856,  in  Jackson 
township,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  He  worked 
with  his  parents  until  after  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, in  1874  commencing  to  farm  the  home- 
stead in  Washington  township  for  his  father,  and 
lie  was  engaged  there  four  years.  After  that  he 
conducted   the  "Parrish  Hotel."  at   Herndon,  for 

i  year,  but  with  this  exception  his  time  lias  been 

given  to  farming.  From  Herndon  he  moved  to  a 
I  mi-acre  farm  iii  Washington  township  which  he 
purchased,  and  lived  thirteen  years  on  that  place, 
after  which  he  was  a  tenant  at  Hebe  for  one  year 

and    in   the   Swabian  Creek  district   I'm year. 

lie  was  also  in  the  Lykens  valley  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  purchased  the  tract  of  eighty-seven 
acres  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  on  which  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  This  place  was  a  Winner 
homestead  for  many  years.  Mr.  Lahr  is  a  thrifty 
farmer  ami  one  of  the  substantial  and  respected 
citizens  of  his  neighborhood. 

In  1874  Mr.  Lahr  married  Mary  Eyster,  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Hannah  (Geise)  Eyster,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  thirteen  children:  John  mar- 
ried Katie  Miller ;  Jane  married  W.  K.  Bingaman; 
Geortm  married  Susan  A.  Eiegel;  Katie  married 
Irwin  Lesher;  Emma  married  Charles  Riegel ; 
Henrv  married  Bertha  Hoffman;  Louisa  lives  in 
Sunbury  with  the  family  of  Hon.  C.  B.  Winner: 
Edward,  Susan  and  Charles  are  unmarried  :  I 
died  young.  Mr.  Lahr  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  Pillow,  whicb  la- 
has  served  seven  years  in  the  office  of  deacos-.  He 
is  a  Democrat  m  political  sentiment. 

Doxey.     There  are  living  in   Northumberland 
conntv  many  of  the  posterity  of  those  Hessian  sol- 
diers who,  having   been  -old  to  England   to  a 
in  the  suppression  of  the  Revolution,  had  no  - 
to  return  to  a  country  and  a  ruler  which  had 
them  to  fight  the  Colonists  against  their  will,  and 


consequently  remained  in  this  country  at  the  i  lose 
of  the  war.  Among  those  who  settled  in  this  coun- 
try and  here  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
were  the  following,  who  are  buried  in  the  old  grave- 
yard at  Zion's  Church,  in  Stone  Valley:  Nicholas 
Bohner,  Heinrich  Hepner,  Adam  Dockey,  John 
Bingaman,  Johan  Lessman,  Jacob  Allman,  one 
Ossman  and  one  Gessner.  'The  following  are  buried 
at  Klinger's  Church,  which  i-  in  Schuylkill  count) 
near  the  Northumberland  county  line:  Johan 
Schwalm  (1752-1836),  Conrad  Dietz,  Andraes 
Schmeltz,  Johannes  Stang,  Peter  Stem,  and 
Yiind.  Among  other  Hessian  pioneers  in  this  sec- 
tion were  Michael  Roedel  (Radel),  a  Long,  a 
Dornsife,  and  others  whose  descendants  are  num- 
bered among  the  best  citizens  of  the  Common- 
wealth. 

Johan  Nickalas  Doney,  one  of  the  Hessian  sol- 
diers who  refused  to  return  to  his  native  land  after 
the  Revolutionary  war  ended,  was  one  of  the  large 
number  captured  by  Washington  at  Trenton.  Be- 
fore 1800  he  had  settled  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  where  he  married 
an. I  reared  a  creditable  family.  Hi'  was  one  of  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  his  section.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Abraham,  John  Adam  and  Anna  Maria 
(Mrs.  Peifer). 

Abraham  Honey,  son  of  Johan  Nickalas,  came 
with  his  father  from  Berks  or  Lebanon  county  to 
Northumberland  prior  to  1800.  He  married  Maria 
Zerbe,  and  they  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
where  they  were  farming  people.  The)  are  buried 
at  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church.  They  were  the 
parents  of  a  large  family,  namel)  :  Georgi  .  Adam. 
Peter,  John.  .La  oh.  Benjamin,  Abraham,  Israel, 
Polly,  Catharine.  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  Sallie  ami 
Rachel. 

Israel  Doney,  son  of  Abraham,  lived  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  followed  farming.  He 
and  hi-  v  ite  Sam  1 1  (Campbell)  are  buried  ai  Zion's 
Church,  in  Stone  Valley.     The)   were  the  parents 

of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  died  > ig,  the  sur- 

\  Ivors  being  :  John  \dam.  i  leorge  E.,  Benjamin 
II.  ami  Sarah  C.  (wife  of  Jacob  Lahr.  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township). 


1  in.  key*.  Adam  Ho.  ke) .  one  of  tin  Hessian 
soldiers  lmried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valle)  Church, 
also  founded  a  Ian  n-esented  to  tin-  day  in 

Northumberland  i  ounty.  lie  was  a  pioneer  resi- 
dent of  Lower  Mahanoy  town-hip.  and  fchtf 
-,,n  John  the  name  was  continued.  Elmer 
I  oiontow  n  (  Pillow  I,  Pa.,  is  a  conspic- 
uous member  of  this  family.  Adam  1  >  i  had 
one  -on  and  two  daughters :    John.  Elizabeth  t  who 

unmarried)    and  Catharine   (married   Sin 

l.cnk 

John     I'  a    0        \    am,     married     Mary 

Schaffer,  '  ■ 

i  en    membei  -    d    thi 


182 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mahanoj  church,  and  both  are  buried  at  that 
church.  Their  family  consisted  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, all  of  win  mi  readied  maturity  :  ( 1 )  Michael, 
born  March  2,  1813,  died  Nov.  12,  1889.  I  Susanna, 
who  died  May  26,  1900,  aged  sixty  years, 
ten  months,  thri  .  may  have  been  his  w 

He  had  I  and  three  daughters.     (2)  John, 

born  March  24,  1815,  died  Sept.  24,  1887.  His 
wife  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  27,  1815,  died  Feb. 
2,  1891.  They  had  one  daughter.  (3)  Mary. 
(4)  J  D         1.  1819,  died  Juh    7, 

His  wife  Catharine  (Hepner),  born  June  15,  lM'1. 
died  Oct.  27,  1891.  They  had  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  (5)  Elizabeth.  (6)  Joseph  had  two 
-  -  and  four  daughters.  (7)  Sarah.  (8)  Catha- 
rine. (9)  Magdalene  married  David  Under. 
and  they  had  fifteen  children.  (10)  Benjamin. 
horn  April  29,  1829,  lives  at  Pillow.  He  had 
two  sons  and  one  daughter.  (11)  Annie  never 
married.  (12)  Elias,  born  dime  21,  1833,  died 
Dec.  '..  1888.  His  wife  Efiza,  born  in  IS 
in  1S93.  They  had  two  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Nathan,  born  Dec.  11,  1830,  died  Oct.  ;. 
L833 

CHARLES  II.  McMAHAN,  of  Milton,  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county, 
which  has  been  located  in  the  Chillisquaque  Val- 
about  1771. 

The  family  originated  in  Scotland,  where  tin- 
name  was  MacMahan.  In  1650,  because  of  elan 
disturbances  on  account  of  religion,  they  left  their 
native  land  and  settled  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 
There,  between  1730  and  1740,  an  outbreak  oc- 
curred between  the  Presbyterians  and  the  Catho- 
lics,  and  the  MacMahans,  who  were  stanch  Pres- 
byterians, took  part  in  the  trouble.  At  a  battle 
fought  about  1732  fiye  brothers  were  serving,  and 
they  were  ever  after  separated.  One.  in  - 
manner,  was  carried  to  France,  and  he  became  the 
ancestor  of  the  celebrated  Marshal  MacMahon, 
who  served   a-  president  of  the  French  Republic 

In  1735  or  1736  John  McMahan,  another  of 
the  five  brothers,  and  the  ancestor  of  the  family 
in  this  country,  came  to  America  with  his  wife. 
whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Murray,  The 
Murrays,  Hewitts,  Irwins,  Chenneys  ami  Shaws 
rom  the  North  of  Ireland  about  the 
same  time.  They  all  settled  in  Sherman"-  Valley, 
in  Juniata  county.  Pa.,  in  the  section  then  known 
a-  Leek  township,  Cumberland  county.  John  and 
net  McMahan  brought  with  them  their 
eldest  son.  James,  then  two  years  old.  and  the 
following  children  were  born  in  the  new  home: 
John  (the  next  in  the  line  of  descent  we  are 
tracing),  Elizabeth,  Sara.  Margaret,  Rachel,  Ag- 
nes, Mary  and  Benjamin.  The  family  remained 
at  the  original  settlement  during  the  lifetime  of 
the  father,  who  passed  away  in  Cumberland  county 


in  lie;.  lie  was  a  man  of  property,  as  an  extract 
from  his  will  shows :  "As  to  what  worldly  goods 
the  Lord  has  blessed  me  with  I  dispose  of  in  the 
following  manner :  That  all  my  just  debts  be 
truly  and  immediately  paid.  Next.  I  leave  to 
Margaret,  my  beloved  wife,  and  to  her  four  young- 
est children,  the  use  of  my  whole  estate,  real  and 
personal,  till  said  Benjamin  is  at  the  age  of  ".'1 
years,  at  which  time  I  will  that  my  real  estate 
be  equally  divided  between  my  two  sons  exclusive 
of  the  place  my  son  James  lives  on.  which  I  leave 
to  him  free  of  any  incumbrance,  that  to  John  and 
imiii.  they  giving  to  my  beloved  wife  a  neat. 
comfortable  house,  separate  to  herself  if  de- 
mand. 

John  McMahan,  being  a  strong  Protestant, 
helped  to  lay  the  foundation  of  that  faith  in  the 
Cumberland  valley.  In  1769  -  -on  James,  in 
company  with  James.  William  and  John  Murray, 
Thomas  Hewitt.  Johnson  Chenney  and  William 
Fisher,   travel  8   erman's   Valley  to 

que  Valley,  where  they  took  up  land. 
about  three  hundred  aires  on  the  south  side  of 
Chillisquaque  creek,  later  owned  by  the  Voris 
family.  Hewitt  settled  on  a  tract  on  the  north 
side  of  the  creek,  wesi  of  the  Re_d  Bridge,  and  Mur- 
ray on  the  north  side,  east  of  Hewitt's  place 
and  north  of  McMahan's.  A  little  later  the  latter's 
younger  brothers.  John  and  Benjamin,  came  hither 
with  their  venerable  mother  and  settled  to  the 
of  James  McMahan's  place,  on  the  same  side  of  the 
creek,  on  land  where  Centre  church  now  stands. 
Here  the  two  brothers  and  their  mother  lived  to- 
r.  William  Fisher  settled  near  the  mouth  of 
reek,  and  built  a  mill.  Wilson's  mill.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Mahan was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  Chillis- 
quaque creek,  while  accompanying  young  James. 
her  12-year-old  grandson  (who  was  driving)  oi 
way  home  from  this  mill,  by  the  overturning  of 
their  wagon.  When  Benjamin  McMahan  became 
of  age  he  removed  to  Huntingdon  county.  Pa., 
where  he  lived  and  died. 

James  McMahan,  the  eldest  son  in  the  family. 
was  known  as  "Major,"  and  performed  service  in 
Revolutionary  war.  serving  under  Washington 
in  the  Battle  of  Fort  Duquesne.  He  married 
Mar1,-  Murray,  anil  they  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  (1)  John. the  eld.  -t  son,  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Reynolds,  and  built  a  house  on 
a  part  of  his  father's  farm.  This  burned,  and  he 
moved  to  New  York  S  .  settling  near  Lake 
Erie.  His  son  Thomas  married  Rebecca  Logan 
and  settled  in  Point  township,  Northumberland 
(  ....  Pa.,  near  Northumberland.  ( 2  I  Jane  mar- 
ried Thomas  Murray,  eldest  son  of  Col.  James 
Murray,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  .Tame-; 
Fisher  Murray,  who  married  Amelia  House!  and 
moved  to  Mississippi.  (3)  James  married  Mary 
McCord,  and  they  had  one  daughter.  Sarah 
Ann.     who     married     Austin     Smith,     of     May- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN N SYLVAN I A 


3S3 


ville,  X.  V.  (4)  Thomas  lived  and  died 
■'I  Albany,  X.  Y.  (5)  Samuel,  born  in 
1779,  married  Jane  Reed,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam    and     Mary     1,' 1     and     granddaughter    of 

William  and  Jane  (Mitchell)  Reed;  William  Reed, 
the  elder,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jane  McMa- 
han, married  Dolly  Letson,  and  died  in  Ireland,  his 
widow  and  live  children  coming  to  America.  Sam- 
uel and  Jane  (Reed)  McMahan  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children.  Mary,  Jennie  (Mrs.  James 
Blair),  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Samuel  Blair),  James  (who 
married  Mary  Hawthorn),  Margaret  (Mrs.  John 
Giifen  |,  \\  illiam  Reed  (  who  married  Sara  (lark 
and  moved  to  Bradford  county),  Sara  (who  died 
young),  Samuel  (who  married  Margaret  A.  Deif- 
fenbacher),  Eliza  Ann  (deceased),  John  (who 
married  Elizabeth  Hendrickson  and  moved  to 
Vineyard.  \ .  J.),  and  Thomas  (who  died  young). 

John  McMahan,  son  of  John  the  emigrant,  was 
the  great-grandfather  of  Charles  II.  McMahan. 
He  took  up  about  four  hundred  acres  of  hind  in 
Montour  county,  part  of  which  is  still  owned  by 
<  lharles  H.  McMahan  and  his  brothers  and  sisters. 
He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  later  mar- 
ried Jane  Murray,  daughter  of  John  Murray  and 
sister  of  Thomas  Murray,  Jr.  Six  sons  and  three 
daughters  were  horn  to  them,  as  follows:  Jan  i  5, 
who  married  Margaret  Murray,  daughter  of 
"Meeting  House"  John  Murray,  as  he  was  called; 
Peggy,  Mrs.  Van  Zant;  John;  Hannah;  Benjamin, 
who  married  Hettie  Brailey;  Thomas;  Polly:  Wil- 
liam, who  married  Sara  Simington  and  (second) 
Effie  Kerr:  and  Samuel.  The  father  of  this  family 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Chillisquaque 
Church. 

John  McMahan,  grandfather  of  Charles  II.. 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Liberty  town- 
ship. Montour  county.  He  married  Mary  (Molly) 
Simington.  and  to  them  were  born  children  as 
follows:  .lane,  who  married  Alexander  Clark; 
1,'ohert  S.  :  William:  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  John  Dur- 
ham; John,  who  moved  to  Sumner  county,  Kan.: 
Sara,  wifi  of  !  pb  K.  Murray  :  and  Thomas  B., 
who  moved  to  Sumner  county,  Kan.,  and  married 
there. 

William  McMahan,  father  of  Charles  II.  Mc- 
Mahan, was  horn  March  22,  1832,  and  died  July 
29,  1894.  He  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  his  na- 
tive township.  Liberty,  and  held  in  high  esteem 
there.  Although  the  district  was  strongly  Demo- 
cratic, and  he  was  a  Republican,  he  was  long  a 
member  of  the  township  school  board,  serving  for 
over  twentv  years,  and  he  was  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  that  body  for  many  years.  He  was 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Chillisquaque  church,  and 
served  as  elder  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Mi  Mahan  married  Selina  Mack,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Mack,  and  she  survived  him  several  years,  dy- 
ing March  19,  1901.  They  became  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:     Anna  Mary,  horn  Jan. 


20,  L863,  who  died  duly  12,  1889;  Charles  II. : 
Lizzie  Simington,  horn  May  3,  lsl".  who  died 
June  7,  1890;  Robert  Mack;  Lucy  II..  and  John 
A.,  the  three  last  named  living  in  Pottsgrove, 
Pennsylvania. 

Robert  Mack,  father  of  Mrs.  Selina  McMahan, 
was  bom  April  6,  18]  1.  and  died  Sept.  28,  L884. 
Hi-  wife.  Mary  A.  McFall,  bora  April  L6, 
1801,  died  Jan.  10,  1887.  Their  children  were 
horn  as  follow-:  Alpheus,  April  11.  L832  (i 
May  31,  1834);  Susan  P.,  March  1-1.  1833  (mar- 
ried Levi  Berger) ;  Usiah,  Jan.  9,  1835  (moved  to 
Joliet,  111.,  and  married  there):  Mary,  Nov.  1, 
is:;;  ;  Selina,  I'-  b.  26,  1839  i  married  William 
McMahan)  :  William  II..  March  L5,  L841  (died 
March  15,  1901  I  :  Anna.  July  24,  L843  i  married 
William  Voris) ;  Margaret,  Feb.  27,  1848;  Eliza- 
beth J..  June  22,  L850. 

Charles  11.  McMahan  was  horn  Aug.  16,  L865, 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Liberty  township,  Mon- 
tour county,  Pa.,  re  attended  the  public 
schools  during  his  early  boyhood.  Later  he 
a  pupil  at  the  Pottsgrove  Academy,  and  he  took 
the  dairy  course  at  the  Suite  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated.  For  some  3  iars  after  com- 
mencing life  on  his  own  account  Mr.  McMahan 
was  a  traveling  salesman,  during  this  time  spend- 
ing several  years  ou  the  Pacitie  coa  t,  traveling 
from  Southern  California  to  British  Columbia  as 
agent  and  manager  for  W.  -V.  Charles  &  Co.,  ad- 
vertisers. While  in  California  he  wired  the  dining 
room  of  the  Coronada  Peach  hotel,  which  contains 
over  eighteen  hundred  incandescent  lights  and 
-..me  sevent;  arc  lights. 

Mr.  McMahan  was  called  back  Last  by  the  death 
of  his  father,  and  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home 

in  his  native  sect  ton.     lie  spent   - i  I  In □ 

farm,  later  traveling  through  the  Southern  States 

as  representative  of  a  pump  ipany  until   L902, 

when  he  opened  a  grain  and  feed  store  al  Potts- 
grove,  I'u.     He  iniuiee  ate! 

ture  of  special   E Is,  known  as   McMa  lan's   Milk 

and  Muscle  Prodn  i  i  -  Mi  Mahan's  Concentrated 
Protein  Peed,  McMahan's  Special  Pig  (.rower  and 
1  'repared  Horse  Feed.  In  190'  he  opened  an  es- 
tablishment in  Milton,  Northumberland  county, 
which  he  equipped  with  mai  ie  manu- 

facture of  his  spei  ial  products.     I  Ie  des  gned  and 

made  the   i iiinerv  himself.     Smce  locating  in 

Milton  he  has  also  dealt  in  i  :  he  has  buill 

up  an   exi  h   lines:  there   i-  a 

steady  demand   for  his 

Mr.    McMahan    married    Anna    Cur:  tter 

of  \\  illiam  and  Rebi  i    a  Helen  |  Lew  ry  >  Curn 
Montour  county,  and  granddaughter  of  Judge  Cur- 
ancestors  i  ame  to  Monti  >ur  i  .cue 
the  Revolution,  tal  i  a   \  alley 

township.     The  fat  Mrs.   McMahan's  fa- 

ther owns  has  been  in  the  Curry  name  for  over  125 


:;s| 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLYAM  \ 


In  politics  Mr.  McMahan  is  a  Republican,  and 
while  in  Pottsgrove  he  served  as  committeeman  and 
for  five  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  while 
located  at  Pottsgrove  served  as  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  Chillisquaque  church,  founded  so  long  be- 
fore by  his  great-grandfather. 

MERRITT  S.  ADAMS,  undertaker  and  furni- 
ture dealer  a1  Watsontown,  Northumberland 
county,  has  been  a  resident  of  that  place  since 
1895  and  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account 
the  greater  part  of  the  time.  He  was  born  Feb. 
30,  1874,  at  Milesburg,  Center  Co.,  Pa.,  sou  of 
William  Adams  and  grandson  of  Matthew  Adams. 

Matthew  Adams  was  for  many  years  during 
his  active  life  prominently  associated  with  the 
iron  industry,  being  long  superintendent  of  the 
Curtin  Iron  Company  and  later  superintendent 
of  the  Valentine  Iron  Company.  Upon  his  retire- 
ment he  removed  to  Howard.  Pa.,  where  he  died. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Carpenter,  who  bore  him 
the  following  children:  Th as  died  in  Miles- 
burg, Pa.;  Weslej  died  a1  Milesburg;  Mary  mar- 
ried  Ahrani   Elder,  a  surveyor;  Jane  married  John 

T r  and.  after  hi-  death,  IV  Liggett;  Matthew 

died  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  William  i-  mentioned 
below;  Sarah   married  Benjamin   Liggett. 

William  Ai! a  11 1-  was  born  Aug.  V.  1  833,  in  Miles- 
burg,  Center  Co..  Pa.,  and  died'  Del.  1  8,  1879.  He 
was  a  contractor,  engaged  in  the  sinking  of  oil 
wells,  and  many  of  the  wells  in  Venango  county. 
Pa.,  were  drilled  by  him.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Wright  Forrester,  daughter  of  .lame-  Forrester, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Jennie  T. ; 
Mary,  who  died  young;  Merritl  S. ;  Annie  E. ; 
Elizabeth  W.,  who  married  Marshall  Cameron, 
of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  they  reside. 

Merritt  S.  Adams  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Milesburg.  He  learned 
cabinertmaking  with  Alfred  Green,  and  coming  to 
Watsontown  March  20,  1895,  was  for  four  vear- 
after  his  arrival  in  the  borough  employed  by  the 
late  Enos  Everitt.  in  the  furniture  and  mid. 
ing  business,  at  the  end  of  that  period  commenc- 
ing on  his  own  account.  In  1903  Mr.  Adams 
erected  the  substantial  building  on  Main  street, 
in  which  his  business  has  since  been  located,  and 
which  is  i.ui'  of  tin'  finest  structures  in  the  town. 
It  is  50  by  70  feel  in  dimensions,  three  stories 
ami  basement,  built  of  fine  pressed  brick  and  fin- 
ished in  mod. •rn  style,  steam-heated  and  equipped 
with  electric  lights.  The  third  floor  is  rented  to 
Watsontown  Lodge.  P.  &  A.  M..  which  has  fine 
quarters  there.  Mr.  Adams  carried  a  line  stock  of 
furniture  and  house  furnishings  of  all  kinds,  and 
he  is  well  prepared  to  handle  the  undertaking 
branch  of  the  business,  having  two  hearses  and  a 
number  of  carriages  as  well  as  all  the  modern  ap- 
pliances for  embalming,  etc.     He  is  an  energetic 


young  business  man,  and  has  prospered  deservedly. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  held  in  favorable  regard  through- 
out the  community,  ever  ready  to  assist  any  move- 
ment for  the  general  welfare,  for  he  considers  it 
no  hardship  10  serve  his  fellowmen  and  is  a  dis- 
interested worker  in  all  lines  which  promise  to 
promote  the  public  good. 

On  Oct.  -.''I.  1903,  Mr.  Adams  married  Ella  (,. 
Ileeh.  daughter  of  Rev.  Levi  Hech,  a  Methodist 
minister,  of  Lock  Haven.  Pa.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  son,  William  Hech.  Mr.  and 
ilrs.  Adams  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  he  has  for  four  years  been  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the  I.  0. 
o.  F.,  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M..  the  K.  G.  E.  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

EDWIN  L.  KEISER,  who  has  carried  on  a 
drug  business  at  Milton  since  L900,  was  born  Dec. 
20,  1  s 7 ? .  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Susan    (  Leinbach )    Keiser. 

The  Keiser  family  has  been  established  in  North- 
ampton county,  Pa.,  since  before  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Michael  Keiser.  the  first  known  ances- 
tor of  this  line,  lived  in  that  county  before  the 
war.  in  which  he  was  a  soldier.  One  id'  his  son-. 
Jacob,  who  was  born  in  Northampton  county  Feb. 
•-'ii.  1807,  came  to  Union  county  with  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name.was  Elizabeth  Elick,  and  pur- 
chased a  large  trail  of  land.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  Eoree  of  character  and  became  a  lead- 
er in  the  community,  where  he  filled  nearly  all  the 
local  offices  of  trust.  He  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics from  tin'  formation  of  the  new  party,  and  in 
religion  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died  Feb.  12,  L867, 
aged  fifty-nine  years,  and  his  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  Oct.  s.  L892.  She  was  horn 
Sept.  II.  1805,  in  Northampton  county,  daughter 
of  Christopher  Elick.  They  are  buried  in  Church 
Hill  cemetery,  in  Kelly  township,  Union  county. 
They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children:  (1)  Susan 
married  Solomon  Ranch  and  they  have  one  son, 
Harrison.  (2)  John  A.  married  (first)  Sarah 
Heilman,  daughter  of  John  Heilman,  of  Lycom- 
ing county,  and  she  died  in  November,  1860;  she 
i-  buried  in  Lycoming  county.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage, to  Sarah  J.  Dietrich,  he  has  had  two  chil- 
dren: Jane  Estella,  born  Feb.  8,  1863,  who  died 
Feb.  18,  1869;  and  Elmer  Edgar,  born  Feb.  7, 
1863.  now  a  physician  in  Tacony,  Pa.  ( .'! )  Caro- 
line died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  I  1  1  Har- 
rison married  Elizabeth  Wise,  daughter  of  John 
Wise,  and  they  have  six  children.  Laura.  Margaret. 
Ambrose.  Annie  R..  Sarah  and  Harry.  (5)  Reu- 
ben, twin  of  Harrison,  married  Elizabeth  Fores- 
man  and  has  four  children,  Brison,  Frederick. 
Grace  and  Estella.  ( <! )  William  married  F.  Alice 
Yarger  and  has  had  six  children.  Lewis  J.,  Annie, 
Morris,  Mary,  Lester  and  Hattie.  (  ^  )  Jacob  is  men- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:;s:, 


tioned  below.  (8)  Aaron  M.  died  young.  (9) 
Samuel  married  Carrie  Ruhl  and  they  have  had 
children.  Jennie,  Mabel,  Elizabeth  J.,  Clara,  Clem- 
ent C.  and  Grace  C.  Reese.  (10)  Benjamin  F. 
married  Mary  L.  Pawling,  daughter  of  John,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  James  L..  George  0.,  John 
R.  and  Bertha  A.  (11)  Melancthon  married  Em- 
ma Rothermel. 

Jacob  Keiser,  father  of  Edwin  L.,  was  born  in 
1840,  and  died  May  28,  1904.  He  married  (first) 
Rebecca  Dietrich,  who  died  leaving  one  daughter, 
Rebecca,  now  the  wife  of  William  G.  Kline.  His 
second  marriage  was  to  Susan  Leinbach,  of  North- 
umberland county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
five  children:  Edwin  L..  John  W.,  Amnion  H. 
and  Katherine  M..  all  of  whom  are  married;  and 
Earl  J.,  who  died  in  young  manhood. 

Edwin  L.  Keiser  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  home  place  and  attended  high  school 
at  Milton.  He  then  took  a  course  in  the  National 
Institute  of  Pharmacy  at  Chicago,  111.,  and  in 
1900  began  business  at  the  location  on  the  corner 
of  Front  and  Mahoning  streets,  Milton,  where  he 
has  since  been  established.  He  has  proved  him- 
self well  adapted  to  his  chosen  line  of  work,  and 
is  doing  well  in  a  business  way,  being  an  intelligent 
manager  as  well  as  a  careful  druggist.  He  stands 
well  with  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  borough. 

On  Oct.  21,  1898,  Mr.  Keiser  married  Anna, 
daughter  of  Elam  D.  and  Mary  (Goodman)  Deif- 
fenderfer,  of  West  Milton,  the  former  of  whom  is 
postmaster  at  that  place.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union,  Harold  D.  and  Edwin  Lee. 
i  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keiser  are  members  of  Trinity 
Lutheran  church  at  Milton.  They  occupy  the  old 
Dougal  home  in  Milton,  which  was  built  more 
than  a  century  ago.  Socially  lie  is  a  member  of 
Milton  Chapter.  Royal  Arcanum,  and  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden   Eagle. 

LAWRENCE  L.  LEWIS,  general  manager  of 
the  Watsontown  Boot  &  Shoe  Company,  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  borough  since  1892  and  through- 
out bis  residence  there  associated  with  the  same 
concern.  He  has  been  superintendent  since  1902. 
Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  I860  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
where  his  father,  Lawrence  L.  Lewis,  settled  upon 
coming  to  America.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Scotland  and  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  He  was 
quite  young  when  he  came  to  this  country,  and 
in  his  earlier  manhood  was  connected  with  the  oil 
business,  but  before  bis  death  was  interested  in 
towboats  going  down  the  Ohio  river.  He  had  poor 
health  for  several  years  before  he  died,  his  death 
occurring  when  his  son  Lawrence  was  still  young. 
He  is  buried  at  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Lewis  was  a  Pres- 
byterian in  religious  matters.  His  wife,  Hettie, 
was  born  in  America,  and  long  survived  him. 
They  had  quite  a  large  family,  namely :    William 

25 


of  Pittsburg:  May.  who  married  William  Cailey, 
a  contractor,  of  Brooklyn,  X.  Y. :  Hettie,  unmar- 
ried; Margaret,  who  married  Charles  Mason,  of 
Steubenville,  Ohio;  Andrew,  deceased;  Lawrence 
L. ;  and  several  wdio  died  young. 

Lawrence  L.  Lewis  began  to  learn  the  business 
of  shoe  manufacturing  at  an  early  age  in  his  native 
city,  in  the  employ  of  the  firm  of  J.  D.  Chantler 
&  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  six  years.  In  1892 
he  came  to  Watsontown,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
and  took  a  position  with  the  Watsontown  Boot 
&  Shoe  Company,  becoming  general  superintend- 
ent, of  the  plant  in  1902.  He  has  since  tilled  that 
responsible  position,  and  much  of  the  prosperity  of 
the  concern  during  the  intervening  years  is  due  to 
his  enterprise  and  excellent  management.  The  busi- 
ness is  established  on  the  main  street  of  Watson- 
innii.  in  a  three-story  brick  building  50  feet  wide 
and  165  feet  long,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  in- 
dustries in  the  borough,  giving  regular  employ- 
ment to  eighty  people.  The  company  was  estab- 
lished in  1870  and  the  business  has  been  conducted 
without  interruption  since,  and  a  general  line  of 
men's,  boys'  and  youths'  shoes  is  turned  out,  the 
specialty  being  a  line  of  heavy  shoes  in  demand 
among  lumbermen  and  prospectors,  sold  largely 
in  the  south  and  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  con- 
cern was  incorporated  in  1909  with  Penn  G.  Hast- 
ings as  president,  Estella  Westley  as  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  L.  L.  Lewis  as  general  manager. 
Mr.  Lewis  has  established  his  reputation  a-  a 
business  man  of  worth,  and  he  is  regarded  as  a 
reliable  citizen  in  Watsontown,  where  he  has  =erved 
the  community  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation. 

Mr.  Lewis  married  Mabel  Den-,  daughter  of 
Christopher  Derr,  of  Montgomery,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  four  children :  Helen.  Delroy,  Margorie  and 
Catharine. 

EDGAR  BLUE,  a  young  business  man  of  Potts- 
grove,  who  is  taking  bis  place  among  the  (Miter- 
prising  citizens  of    that  community,  was  born  Da 
24,  is:  I.  in  Liberty  township.  Montour  Co.,  Pa., 
son  of  Samuel  and  Clarinda  (Murray)  Blue. 

The  earliest  record  we  have  of  the  Blue  family 
in  this  section  goes  back  to  L775,  whi  i  1  rick, 
William  and  Samuel  Blue  were  taxables  in  Turbul 
township,  Northumberland  county.  In  1184  we 
find  Peter  Blue  had  removed  to  Montou 
where  he  paid  seven  shillings,  si 
we  find  bis  son  Samuel  lived  in  i:  township, 

and  the  latter'-  son    Frederick  purchased  a   fi 

in  Liberty  township,  that  county.     Fo  I  one 

heriff,  u  ben  Monton  ■  and  i  lolnmbia 
one  county,  and  he  was  also  countv  treasurer 
during  thai  period,  when   the  two  counties  were 
known   as   Columbia   county.      He  and    bis   ,, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Himmelreich,  are  buried 


386 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  the  old  Billnieyer  cemetery.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children :  Samuel, 
Martin  and  George. 

Samuel  Blue,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born  in  Mon- 
tour county  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  meantime 
attending  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship. In  his  young  manhood  he  was  engaged  in 
huckstering  there,  attending  the  Shamokin  market. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  a  farm,  which  he  culti- 
vated, and  he  also  established  a  coal  yard  and  grain 
and  hay  depot,  which  he  carried  on  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death  in  June.  1892.  He  was  active  in  the 
public  affairs  of  his  locality,  serving  for  years  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  in  187?  was  hon- 
ored with  election  to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  Mon- 
tour county,  which  he  filled  for  one  term.  Poli- 
tically he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  religious  faith 
a  Presbyterian,  holding  membership  in  the  Chillis- 
quaque  church,  of  which  he  was  an  officer  for 
years. 

Mr.  Blue's  first  marriage  was  to  Mary  Wofle, 
by  whom  he  had  one  .son.  Charles,  now  a  civil  en- 
gineer, located  in  New  York  City;  he  married 
Josephine  tori's.  Mrs.  Mary  Blue  died  shortly 
alter  the  birth  of  her  son.  By  his  second  marriage, 
to  Clarinda  Murray,  Mr.  Blue  became  the  father 
of  six  children:  Carrie,  who  married  1>.  Collins 
and  has  two  children,  Margaret  and  Willard;  Wil- 
fred, who  died  in  Dakota;  Frank,  who  died  in 
Connecticut;  George  Herbert,  who  died  in  Connec- 
ticut: Edgar;  and  Jennie,  who  lives  with  her 
mother  at  Montoursville,  Pennsylvania. 

Edgar  Blue  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm;  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at  Mexi- 
co, in  Liberty  township,  Montour  county,  finishing 
with  a  term  in  the  old  Pottsgrove  Academy.  Be- 
cause of  his  fathers  poor  health  he  came  to  Potts- 
grove  to  take  charge  of  the  business,  and  ai'tei 
his  father's  death  he  continued  the  coal  yard  and 
hay  business,  also  dealing  at  present  in  feed.  On 
March  1.  1906,  he  purchased  the  mil]  of  the  Potts- 
grove  Milium  Company  and  lias  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  high-grade  flour, 
one  of  his  special  brands  being  "Our  Latest."  for 
which  there  is  a  large  demand.  Mr.  Blue  is 
progressive  and  energetic,  and  lias  prospered  in 
the  various  branches  of  his  business.  Be  has 
d  several  terms  on  the  local  school  board  and 
is  at  present  president  of  the  board.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Chillisquaque 
Presbyterian  church,  which  he  is  serving  as  trus- 
tee. 

On  April  25,  1899,  Mr.  Blue  married  Eva  Bit- 
ter, daughter  of  Solomon  H.  and  Eliza  ( Miller) 
Kilter,  the  latter  the  daughter  of  Frederick  Miller. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blue  have  three  children.  Florence 
I.,  Irene  R.  and  Myron  L. 


lar  citizen  of  the  town  of  Milton,  is  a  native  of 
Center  county.  Pa,,  born  there  Jan.  16,  1871,  son 
of  John  G.  and  Nannie  (McWilliams)  Bailey.  He 
is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 

John  Bailey,  his  great-grandfather,  went  from 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  into  Center  county,  and  there 
became  the  founder  of  the  small  town  Baileysville, 
named  in  his  honor.  He  was  a  miller  and  merch- 
ant and  became  one  of  the  very  important  men  of 
his  time.  He  was  energetic  and  industrious  and 
became  very  well-to-do.  He  and  his  wife  had  a 
family  of  fifteen  children. 

John  Bailey  (2),  son  of  John,  followed  farming 
mi  (enter  county.  Pa.  He  married  Nancy  Goheen, 
and  both  are  buried  in  Graysville  cemetery.  Their 
children  were:  Armstrong,  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war:  Joseph,  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  Mat- 
Samuel;  Jane  A.:  John  G. :  William:  Mary; 
Scott;    Washington;    Warren    and    Esther. 

John  G.  Bailey,  son  of  John  (2),  was  born  in 
1845,  and  died  Dec.  26,  L909.  He  was  a  farmer, 
following  that  occupation  in  Ferguson  township, 
Center  county.  He  was  very  active  in  public  af- 
fairs as  a  stanch  Republican,  and  for  tw  i  terms 
held  the  office  of  county  commissioner,  his  funeral 
taking  place  the  day  Ins  second  term  of  office  ex- 
pired. He  was  a  director  of  the  Farmers'  .Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Centerhall,  and  was 
\m\  active  in  his  work  for  the  intere.-t  of  his' 
Company.  He  was  an  official  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  married  Nannie  McWilliams, 
daughter  of  Henry  McWilliams,  and  she  now 
makes  her  home  at  Fine  Grove,  Center  county. 
The  children  born  of  this  union  were:  Frank 
W. :  John,  living  on  the  old  homestead  ;  and  Mary, 
who  married  Hammel  Glenn,  son  of  Samuel  Glenn, 
and  member  of  a  prominent  Center  county  fam- 
ily. 

Dr.  Frank  W.  Bailey  attended  the  local  schools 
and  Pennsylvania  State  College,  and  completed  his 
education  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1900.  He  then 
b  iught  the  office  and  goodwill  of  the  late  Dr.  E.  E. 
(lark,  at  No.  34  Broadway,  Milton,  Pa.,  and  he 
has  through  his  skill  and  his  pleasant  manner 
won  many  friends  and  has  a  very  large  practice. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lycoming  Dental  Society. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  B.  P.  O.  E..  and  in 
bis  political  faith  he  is  a  Republican.  His  religi- 
ous convictions  are  those  of  the  Presbyterian  de- 
nomination. He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trade. 

Dr.  Bailey  married  Annie  W.  (Batdorf )  Clark, 
widow  of  Dr.  E.  E.  Clark,  who  died  Feb.  25,  1900. 
She  was  born  Nov.  28,  186'S.  Mrs.  Bailey's  father, 
A. lam  Batdorf,  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 


DR.  FRANK  W.  BAILEY,  who  holds  a  high  JOHN  YORIS  KREMER.  member  of  the  firm 
place  among  the  dental  practitioners  of  North-  of  Kremer  Brothers  (Harry  J.  and  John  V-  Krem- 
umberland  county,  and  is  a  well  known  and  popu-    er),  contractors  and  builders  of  Pottsgrove,  North- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


3s: 


uinberland  county,  is  one  of  the  well  known  busi- 
ness men  in  his  line  in  that  section,  where  Ins  fa- 
ther was  similarly  engaged  for  mam  years.  Mr. 
KJremer  was  born  Sept.  1.  1870,  in  Chillisquaque 
(now  East  Chillisquaque)  township,  son  of  Jacob 
Braucher  Kremer  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Kremer, 
who  founded  the  family  in  this  region. 

Jacob  Ere r  was  born  Aug.  34,  1794,  in  Al- 
bany township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Northumberland  county  in  1825.  He  settled  near 
Pottsgrove,  and  being  a  skilled  cabinetmaker  fol- 
lowed the  trade  all  his  life  with  great  success, 
many  pieces  of  the  fine  and  well-made  furniture 
he  tuned  Min  being  still  found  in  homes  all  over 
tin-  section.  He  was  the  pioneer  in  the  and  si-tak- 
ing business  in  his  district,  and  made  coffins  for 
a  dollar  a  foot.  He  died  at  his  home  near  Potts- 
grove, Sept.  13,  1858,  and  his  wife.  Catharine 
(Seaman),  who  was  born  in  Berks  county  in  1798, 
died  at  her  home  near  Pottsgrove  in  1870.  They 
are  buried  at  the  ('enter  Church,  in  Liberty  town- 
ship. Montour  Co..  Pa.  Five  children  were  born 
io  tlii-  pioneer  couple:  Jacob  Braucher;  Benja- 
min, who  died  at.  Danville.  Pa.  (his  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Crossley)  ;  Daniel,  who  resides  at  Ben- 
ton, Columbia  Co..  Pa.  (he  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  a  Foust,  his  second  a  Kerns)  ;  Ly- 
dia.  who  married  Charles  Irvin  (both  are  de- 
feased )  :  and  Caroline,  who  married  William  Fetzer 
(both  are  deceased). 

Jacob  Braucher  Kremer,  born  Nov.  27,  1827, 
learned  his  trade  with  his  father  and  in  time  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself,  following  contract- 
ing and  building  for  many  years.  Many  of  the 
substantial  houses  and  barns  in  this  section  are 
of  his  construction.  He  was  active  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  13,  1909;  he  is  buried  in  Har- 
mony cemetery  at  Milton.  After  buying  the  old 
J.  M.  Bucher  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  what  is  now 
East  Chillisquaque  township,  he  improved  the  prop- 
erty greatly,  erecting  all  the  present  buildings  on 
the  place,  and  there  his  widow  now  resides.  He 
was  an  energetic  man,  and  not  only  managed  his 
own  affairs  well  but  also  took  part  in  matters  of 
general  interest  to  the  community,  serving  as 
member  of  the  school  board  of  his  township,  and 
working  zealously  in  the  Center  Lutheran  church, 
of  which  he  was  a  leading  member  for  many  \ 
He  served  long  as  a  church  officer  and  was  also  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  continued 
his  active  connection  with  this  church  after  it- 
removal  to  Pottsgrove.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. 

On  Feb.  18,  1851.  Mr.  Kremer  was  married  m 
Montour  county  to  Anna  Catharine  Hendrickson, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
namely:  (1)  J-  Allison,  who  died  in  1!>iC>.  aged 
fifty-four  wars,  married  Vedilla  McGuigan,  who 
resides  in  Pottsgrove.  They  had  children:  Jacob 
L.,  Marion  ('..  Joseph  D.,  Eleanor  ('..  Edwin  and 


Charles.  (2)  George  Franklin  is  a  salesman  in 
the  employ  of  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Company, 
whose  offices  are  at  Harrisburg.  He  is  unmarried. 
(3)  Catharine  married  W.  D.  McWilliams,  secre- 
tary of  the  Milton  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, and  they  live  in  Milton,  Pa.  (4)  Elizabeth 
V.,  unmarried,  lives  at  home.  (5)  Harry  J.. 
who  is  in  partnership  with  his  brother  John,  mar- 
ried Jennie  Voris  and  their  children  are  Franklin 
II.  and  Robert.     (6)  John  Voris  is  living"  at  hoi 

John  Voris  Kremer  attended  the  public  schools 
at  Pottsgrove  and  later  Pottsgrove  Vademy.  With 
his  father  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  re- 
maining with  him  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  the 
sons  then  took  up  the  business,  which  they  have 
since  followed  in  partnership,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Kremer  Brothers.  They  command  a  large  pat- 
ronage, and  a  good  class  of  work,  having  put  up 
many  of  the  fine  buildings  in  this  section,  notably 
the  First  National  Bank  building  at  Milton,  erect- 
ed in  1909.  They  built  a  large  addition  to  the 
Schreyer  store  in  Milton.  They  have  done  consid- 
erable work  on  contract  lor  tin-  Milton  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  the  Shimers  and  the  (.'lingers,  of 
Milton — all  employers  of  high-class  labor,  an  as- 
sociation which  reflects  the  greatest  credit  on  their 
work.  Mr.  Kremer  is  a  man  of  high  standing,  an 
official  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Potts- 
grove, a  member  of  Milton  Lodge,  No.  256,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  lodge  at  Pottsgrove. 

Abraham  Hendrickson,  great-grandfather  of 
Mr.  Kremer  on  the  maternal  side,  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  coming  to  America  first  settled  in 
New  Jersey.  Later  he  removed  his  family  to 
Montour  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died.  His  wife. 
Amelia  Yandling,  is  buried  with  him  at  Danville. 
Their  children  were:  Sarah,  who  married  John 
Yoris:  Ann,  who  married  Nichols  Shires:  Adam: 
William:  John:  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried; 
Abraham;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas 
( lourspn. 

Adam  Hendrickson,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born' 
in  New  Jersey,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Mon- 
tour county,  Pa.,  where  he  died  Vug.  in.  1850. 
11,.  wa-  ;i  blacksmith  by  trade.  Hi-  w  ife,  Mary 
A.  (Moore),  died  in  1870.  Thej  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Elizabeth,  Mr-.  John  McMahan; 
Anna  Catharine.  Mrs.  Jacob  Braucher  Kremer: 
Harriet.  Mr-.  John  Singley;  William  ;  John  ;  Emi- 
ly, who  was  twice  married,  her  firs!  husband's 
name  being  Huyett;  Jennie,  Mrs.  I  nderwood 
Fisher:   Susan,  Mis.    Fish:   Frank   and    Marion. 

WILLIAM  'I'.  SUTER,  proprietor  of  the  Sun- 
ny Side  Farm  in  Gearhart  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  has  undoubtedly  the  finest  herd  of 
II,, 1st, -in  cattle   in   centra]    Pennsylvania  and  bis 

,i:Mii    products  are   in   steady  demand.     He   i<  a 

r    and    dairyman,    and    the 

success  of  his  methods  is  a  distinct  triumph  for 


388 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


modern  system  and  sanitary  devices.  Mr.  Suter 
was  born  in  1865  in  Gearhart  township,  and  has 
spent  all  his  life  there. 

John  H.  Suter,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  born  in  1831,  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  first  settling  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  whence  he  later  moved  to  Northumberland 
county.  He  made  his  home  at  the  place  now  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  William,  and  there  continued 
to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1884. 
His  wife,  Jemima  (Taylor),  daughter  of  Jacob 
Taylor,  was  born  in  1834  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  died  in  1890.  She  was  buried  in  Mount 
Vernon  cemetery,  at  Eiverside,  but  Mr.  Suter  was 
interred  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Danville, 
Montour  Co.,  Pa.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children :  Jacob  B.,  who  lives  in  Kansas ;  M. 
Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Deeter  and  has  had 
children.  John  S.,  William  T.,  May.  Mary.  Bessie 
(deceased)  and  Boyd;  Ann  Adelia,  Mrs.  Herbert 
Greenman  of  McGraw,  X.  Y..  and  William  T. 

William  T.  Suter  had  the  advantages  afforded 
by  the  public  schools  of  Gearhart  township.  As  a 
youth  he  was  energetic  and  willing  to  work  in  or- 
der to  make  his  way  in  life,  but  he  had  a  setback 
soon  after  commencing  on  his  own  account,  fire 
destroying  bis  home.  Though  this  calamity  left 
him  almost  without  means  he  started  again  un- 
daunted, rebuilding  without  delay,  anil  the  beau- 
tiful home  which  lie  now  occupies  bood  replaced  the 
one  which  had  been  laid  in  ashes.  He  had  pur- 
chased the  lot  of  nine  acres  upon  which  he  was 
born,  and  there  began  the  cultivation  of  small 
fruits  ami  garden  truck,  which  he  still  continues, 
though  he  has  enlarged  his  operations  until  he  now 
does  a  business  of  considerable  magnitude  in  that 
line.  Beint;-  a  great  reader,  and  believing  that  he 
could  improve  his  knowledge  of  farming  by  study 
as  well  as  by  actual  experience,  he  not  only  made 
a  success  of  his  original  branch  of  agricultural 
work,  but  became  interested  in  the  raising  of 
horses  and  cattle  and  the  production  of  first-class 
milk,  in  which  field  of  work  he  has  made  his  prin- 
cipal reputation.  Meantime  he  had  added  to  his 
nine-acre  lot  until  he  had  a  tract  of  eighteen  acres, 
but  as  that  was  all  required  for  his  gardening  he 
rented  adjoining  land  on  which  to  raise  feed  for 
his  cattle  and  horses.  When  the  adjoining  farm 
of  250  acres  was  for  sale,  in  1904,  he  purchased  it, 
and  he  now  has  both  his  places  well  stocked.  He 
has  built  large  siloes  on  both  places,  and  there 
are  other  evidences  of  the  modern  methods  he 
employs  to  bring  the  grade  of  his  stock  up  to 
the  top  mark,  the  healthy  appearance  and  condi- 
tion of  his  cattle  being  the  best  defense  of  his 
up-to-date  system.  His  herd  of  large  Holsteins 
is  considered  the  finest  in  central  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  equipment  is  regarded  as  model  in  every 
respect.  The  stables  are  all  planned  and  cared 
for  in  the  most  sanitary   manner,  everything  in 


fact  that  sanitation  can  do  to  keep  the  dairy  prod- 
uct-, particularly  pure  and  sweet  being  put  in  prac- 
tice, and  the  result  is  that  the  products  of  the 
Sunny  Side  Farm,  as  Mr.  Suter  has  named  his 
property,  are  in  demand  among  the  most  exacting 
class  of  patrons  at  the  Danville  markets,  where 
they  are  sold.  All  modern  appliances  for  the 
cleanly  care  and  handling  of  the  milk  are  found 
in  the  dairy,  which  had  all  the  advantages  to  be 
derived  from  an  abundance  of  good  running  water, 
ice  and  compressed  air  devices,  and  Mr.  Suter 
conveys  his  products  to  market  in  specially  con- 
structed wagons.  It  is  well  worth  any  one's  time 
to  visit  this  model  farm  and  have  Mr.  Suter  ex- 
plain the  work  in  which  he  has  done  so  well.  In 
his  extensive  travels  he  has  never  neglected  oppor- 
tunities for  further  study  and  observation,  so  that 
he  is  not  only  abreast  of  the  times,  but  a  leader  in 
many  ways  in  his  special  field.  He  is  a  self-made 
man,  in  that  he  has  accomplished  his  success  by 
his  own  efforts  solely,  and  he  is  looked  upon  as 
an  authority  on  dairy  cattle.  His  home  lot  is 
now  especially  devoted  to  the  raising  of  small 
fruits,  being  planted  with  plum,  peach  and  cherry 
trees  now  in  bearing. 

Mr.  Suter  married  Jennie  K.  Morrall,  daughter 
of  S.  H.  Morrall.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Suter  have  traveled  widely,  and  being 
people  of  keen  intelligence  have  gained  much  from 
their  opportunities  in  that  line.  They  are  Metho- 
dists in  religious  connection,  being  members  of 
Trinity  Church. 

GEOEGE  CALVIN  STAHL.  of  Milton,  dis- 
trict manager  for  the  Commonwealth  Casualty 
Company,  his  territory  embracing  about  seven 
counties,  has  been  in  the  insurance  business  since 
1905.  His  previous  experience  in  business  life  in- 
cluded several  years  as  merchant,  several  years  as 
a]  accountant,  and  service  in  various  local  of- 
In  his  earlier  manhood  he  followed  teach- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  and  also  did  newspaper 
work-. 

Mr.  Stahl  was  born  Aug.  24.  185S,  in  Paradise 
valley,  in  Lewis  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, son  of  George  Stahl.  grandson  of  Philip  Stahl 
and  great-grandson  of  John  Stahl.  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  Aug.  18,  1741.  The  last  named 
io  America  when  a  young  man  and  served 
under  Washington  in  the  Eevolutionary  war.  be- 
ing quartermaster,  captain  and  at  times  recruiting 
officer.  He  was  with  the  army  at  Valley  Forge 
during  the  memorable  winter  of  hardship,  and  at 
the  crossing  of  the  Delaware  Christmas  night. 
1776.  Being  a  skilled  mechanic,  his  services  were 
often  valuable  in  repairing  implements  of  war 
during  the  Eevolution.  After  the  war  he  (hav- 
ing already  married)  moved  to  Northumberland 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  took  up  four  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Lewis  township.    He  died 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


389 


Feb.  27,  1809.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1746, 
died  in  September,  1832.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Jacob,  born  Feb.  16, 
1776,  who  died  Sept.  3,  1796;  Philip,  born  Dec. 
i;,  1781.  who  died  March  24,  L832;  and  John 
George,  born  June  11,  1791,  who  died  Aug.  4, 
1820. 

Philip  Sudd,  son  of  John,  born  Dec.  17,  1781, 
was  a  lifelong  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth  B. 
Eshbach,  who  was  born  Dec.  15,  1776,  and  died 
March  9,  1844,  the  mother  of  six  children,  three 
of  whom,  William,  Thomas  and  Sarah,  died 
young:  the  others  were:  Elizabeth,  born  March 
9,  181  !,  died  March  17,  1844;  George,  born  Feb. 
25,  1814,  died  in  1894;  and  Catherine,  born  Oct. 
11,   1816,  died  May  10,  1844. 

Anthony  Eshbach,  father  of  Mrs.  Stahl,  made  a 
trip  from  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  with  Id 5  son 
Anthony  in  1804  to  Turbut  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  where  he  purchased  347  acres  of 
land  for  $26.50  per  acre.  Here  they  built  a  log 
house  10  by  20  feet  in  dimensions,  one  story  high, 
and  hither  Mr.  Eshbach  moved  with  his  wife, 
Barbara  (Romig),  and  family  in  1805.  The  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Jonathan,  David,  Jacob, 
John,  Anthony,  Catharine,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth 
B.  (Mrs.  Philip  Stahl). 

George  Stahl,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  Feb.  25, 
1814,  on  the  farm  where  he  afterward  made  his 
home,  and  received  his  education  in  the  local  pub- 
lic schools.  He  followed  farming  all  his  life, 
dying  there  in  1894.  He  was  quite  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  day,  being  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  political  matters  and  a  member  of 
the  Beformed  Church  on  religious  questions.  He 
served  six  years  as  school  director  and  filled  other 
township  offices  and  was  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
Paradise  church,  for  which  his  grandfather,  John 
Stahl,  in  company  with  Michael  Komi-  and  John 
Deiffenbacher,  had  purchased  two  acres  of  ground 
from  John  Christ  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds, 
and  on  that  plot  the  first  church  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  erected  in  1808.  Mr.  Stahl  was  a  man 
of  high  Christian  character,  respected  by  all  who 
knew'  him.  On  May  2.  1843,  he  married  Maria 
Deshler,  who  was  born  Sept.  26,  1817.  daughter 
of  Jacob  Deshler,  and  died  Jan.  16,  1860.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: William  J.,  who  married  Sarah  Watt  and 
bad  two  children,  Edwin  (living  in  Indiana)  and 
Alma:  Thomas  P.,  who  died  at  McEwensville,  Pa., 
in  July,  1911;  Mary  E.,  of  Aaronsburg,  Pa.;  Levi 
E.,  who  married  Kate  Mengis  and  had  a  family  of 
five  children:  Edwin  O.,  born  March  I.  1850,  who 
married  Mary  A.  Mengis  (born  June  21,  1861, 
died  Dec.  9,  1895)  and  had  four  children.  Fan- 
nie, George,  Pearl,  and  Xeta  ;  John  O..  who  dii 
young;  David  F.,  who  died  young:  and  George 
Calvin. 

George  Calvin  Stahl  received  an  excellent  edu- 


cation, attending  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township  and  later  entering  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1883.  He  received 
his  A.  M.  degree  from  that  college  in  1886.  For 
several  years  after  the  completion  of  his  college 
course  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  in  the  common 
and  normal  schools,  and  for  one  term  as  principal 
of  the  McEwensville  schools.  In  1885  he  settle! 
at  Milton,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
For  several  years  he  was  editor  of  the  Milton 
Economist,  and  meantime,  in  1886,  be  had  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  deputy  postmaster,  in 
which  position  he  served  until  1890.  In  the  latter 
year  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  carry- 
ing it  on  until  1894,  and  during  the  next  five 
years  did  special  accounting.  Having  been  elected 
county  auditor  in  1889,  he  entered  upon  the  du- 
ties of  that  position,  to  which  he  was  re-elected 
in  1902,  serving  six  successive  years.  Since  the 
<  lose  of  his  services  in  that  incumbency,  in  1905, 
he  has  followed  the  insurance  business,  being  now 
district  manager  for  the  Commonwealth  Casualty 
Company.  Mr.  Stahl  has  been  almost  constantly 
before  the  public,  in  one  capacity  or  another,  for 
years,  and  in  all  his  trusts  has  proved  himself 
worthy  of  the  confidence  he  enjoys.  In  L890  he 
was  elected   a  member  of  the   Milton  council  for 

one  term,     lie  ha-  1 0  a  stanch  member  of  the 

Democratic  party,  and  during  his  services  as  depu- 
ty postmaster  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic 
state  convention. 

On  Dee.  18,  1884,  Mr.  Stan!  was  married,  uear 
Tuihutville,  to  Lillie  B.  Whit?,  who  was  born  in 
Milton  July  9,  1859,  daughter  of  James  and  Isa- 
bella (Frymire)  White,  the  former  born  Jan.  15, 
1819.  in  Kempton,  Bedfordshire,  England,  the 
latter  a  native  of  McEwensville,  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stahl  have  had  one  daughter,  Isabella  D., 
born  Nov.  1".\  1885,  and  married  to  Daniel  L. 
Smith.  Mr.  Staid  and  bis  family  are  members 
of  the  Beformed  Church  at  Milton,  in  which  he 
has  been  an  earnest  worker,  having  served  the 
church  as  deacon  and  the  Sunday  school  as  teacher. 
Hi-  social  connections  are  numerous,  as  he  holds 
membership  in  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  fraternity;  the 

Royal    \roii :  the  I.  O.  0.  F.  (in  which  lie  has 

filled  all  the  chairs),  Encampment  and  Patriarchs 
-Militant;  the  Knights  of  I  be  Golden  Eagle,  in 
which  he  rank-  a-  brigadier  general  and  past  grand 
chief;  Milton  Lodge,  tfo.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.;  and 
William-port  Lodge  of  Perfection. 

JOHN  ITAIMMSON  CAWLEY,  lai '  Chillis- 

quaque  township.   Northumberland  county,  was  a 

er    in    the    eastern    part   of    that    township 

iughout  hi-    1         yearSj  and  was  prominent  in 

the  life  of  the  community  as  a  holder  of  local  offi- 
cio1 as  an  elder  in  the  church.    I  [e  was  a  credit 
able  citizen  in  all  respei  tsj  and   left  a  name  which 


390 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


will  be  honored  as  long  as  any  with  whom  he  had 
dealings  survive. 

Mr.  Cawley  was  a  native  of  Union  county,  Pa., 
torn  Nov.  14,  183S.  The  family  is  of  English 
descent  and  was  resident  in  Cheshire,  England, 
two  brothers,  Thomas  and  James,  coming  to  Am- 
erica in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
James  settled  near  Berwick,  Pa.,  while  Thomas 
took  up  land  in  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  died  in  1806.  From  a  letter  written  by  his  son 
John,  which  is  remarkable  for  its  beautiful  Eng- 
lish, to  his  Aunt  Anna,  wife  of  Charles  Babbing- 
ton,  we  learn  that  the  father's  name  was  also 
Thomas,  and  that  the  family  were  property  own- 
ers in  Winsford,  near  Middlewich,  Cheshire,  Eng- 
land. Thomas  Cawley,  Jr.,  had  one  son,  John, 
who  lived  at  Springtown,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  who 
was  the  father  of  five  children :  John,  Thomas, 
Jesse,  and  two  daughters. 

Jesse  Cawley,  son  of  John,  born  in  1786,  died 
Sept.  25,  1840,  aged  fifty-four  years.  He  married 
Margaret  Eowley  (born  in  1782,  died  Sept.  27, 
1840,  aged  fifty-eight  years),  and  in  1836  they 
moved  to  Union  county.  Pa.,  purchasing  a  farm 
of  three  hundred  acres  near  Winfield.  There  he 
continued  to  follow  farming  during  his  active 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Lewisburg, 
that  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  James  (1808-1S41),  Benjamin 
(1811-1887),  Dubious,  John,  Charles  (1827- 
1871),  Elizabeth  (1824-1862)  and  Mary  A. 
(1818-1888). 

James  Cawley,  eldest  son  of  Jesse,  was  born  in 
1808  in  Bucks  county,  and  died  at  the  compara- 
tively early  age  of  thirty-three  years,  in  1841.  He 
lived  near  Lewisburg,  Union  county,  where  he 
followed  farming.  He  married  Eva  Campbell, 
also  of  Bucks  county,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  five  children:  Elizabeth  married  Wilson  Hoov- 
er; Margaret  married  Henry  H.  Stout:  William 
C. ;  John  Harrison  is  mentioned  below ;  Mary  died 
in  infancy. 

John  Harrison  Cawley  came  to  Northumberland 
county  in  his  young  manhood  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  fifty  acres  in  the  eastern  part  of  Chillis- 
quaque  township.  He  erected  buildings  on  this 
property  and  followed  farming  there  to  the  end 
of  his  active  days.  Being  a  progressive  and  in- 
telligent man,  he  also  took  an  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community,  served  as  school  director, 
supervisor  and  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Chillisquaque  Presbyterian  Church 
for  about  thirty  years,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  July  19,  1903. 

On  Jan.  12,  1863,  Mr.  Cawley  married  Eliza- 
beth Koch,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Leah  (Bach- 
man)  Koch,  and  they  had  two  children,  James 
Benjamin  and  Florence  Jeanette.  The  latter  re- 
ceived her  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
home  neighborhood  and  at  Bloomsburg  State  nor- 


mal school,  also  attending  the  Williamsport  com- 
mercial college.  She  is  now  a  very  successful 
teacher. 

James  Benjamin  Cawley,  only  son  of  John 
Harrison  and  Elizabeth  (Koch)  Cawley,  was  born 
in  1866.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  Chillis- 
quaque, and  later  attended  Pottsgrove  Academy 
and  Bucknell  University,  from  which  latter  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1887.  He  then 
taught  in  the  Chambersburg  (Pa.)  Academy  and 
read  law  with  William  H.  Hackenberg,  of  Milton, 
but  what  promised  to  be  a  most  useful  and  suc- 
cessful career  was  cut  short  by  his  early  death, 
July  21,  1891. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Cawley 
left  the  farm  and  moved  with  her  daughter  to 
Milton,  where  they  occupy  the  house  built  by  Mr. 
Cawley,  on  East  Mahoning  street.  Mrs.  Cawley 
is  honored  and  beloved  by  the  many  who  know 
her. 

Jonas  Koch,  father  of  Mrs.  Cawley,  was  born 
in  Northampton  county  Dec.  26,  1807,  son  of 
Adam  Koch,  who  lived  at  Petersville,  Northamp- 
ton Co.,  Pa.,  where  for  many  years  he  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace.  Adam  Koch  married 
Elizabeth  Strauss,  and  their  union  was  blessed 
with  the  following  children:  Christianna,  Susan, 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Eeuben,  William,  Henry,  Jacob 
and  Jonas. 

In  1828  Jonas  Koch  moved  from  Northampton 
to  Northumberland  county,  purchasing  a  farm  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Chillisquaque  township,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  Feb. 
29,  1872,  near  Pottsgrove,  Pa.  He  married  Leah 
Bachman,  who  was  born  Aug.  23,  1814,  in  North- 
ampton county,  daughter  of  John  Frederick  and 
Catherine  (Cole)  Bachman,  the  former  born  Nov. 
3,  1783,  died  Jan.  2,  1845:  the  latter,  born  Feb. 
22,  1788,  died  July  16,  1852.  Mrs.  Leah  (Bach- 
man) Koch  died  Feb.  16,  1899,  and  she  and  her 
husband  are  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery,  at  Mil- 
ton, Northumberland  county.  They  had  a  family 
of  three  children:  Elizabeth  married  John  Har- 
rison Cawley;  Mary  A.  married  Charles  Eissel; 
William  H.  is  a  resident  of  Pottsgrove,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

DENNIS  LEH,  an  old  established  business  man 
of  Milton,  was  born  Feb.  2,  1846,  in  North 
Whitehall  township,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Jo- 
seph Leh  and  grandson  of  Henry  Leh. 

Henry  Leh  was  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pa., 
and  settled  in  Whitehall  township,  Lehigh  county, 
when  a  young  man.  following  farming  there  until 
his  death.  His  children  were:  Daniel,  Samuel, 
Eeuben,  Sallie.  Joseph,  Mrs.  Herbeling  and  Susan 
Wright. 

Joseph  Leh  was  born  in  1811,  and  died  in 
1868.     He  learned   boat-building,   which   he   fol- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


391 


lowed  for  about  twenty  years,  making  canal-boats, 
and  he  was  later  engaged  on  the  railroad  until  his 
retirement,  some  time  before  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried Polly  Rex,  daughter  of  Oeorge  Rex,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Sarah,  Josiah, 
Elias,  Francis,  Dennis,  Sabina,  Lucv,  John  and 
Josephine. 

Dennis  Leh  attended  school  in  North  Whitehall 
township,  Lehigh  county,  and  after  he  eommeni  ed 
work  was  employed  at  "driving"  on  the  Lehigh 
canal  for  nine  years.  He  then  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  followed  thirteen  years, 
in  1880  settling  at  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  has  .re- 
mained to  the  present  time.  Here  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  slate  business,  and  by  good  man- 
agement he  has  built  up  a  fine  trade,  now  main- 
taining two  yards,  one  on  Broadway,  in  Milton, 
and  one  at  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  depot 
at  Sunbury.  He  takes  contracts  for  slating,  and 
keeps  from  four  to  six  men  constantly  busy,  most 
of  tbc  churches  and  public  buildings  in  this  dis- 
trict having  been  slated  by  him.  He  is  himself  a 
gotod  mechanic,  and  always  endeavors  to  maintain 
high  slam  I  a  ids  of  workmanship  in  filling  his  con- 
I  raits,  a  fact  which  undoubtedly  accounts  for  the 
gteadj  stream  of  work  which  has  come  his  way. 
Mr.  Leh  was  also  for  a  time  the  owner  of  the 
Milton  Paper  Box  Factory,  located  on  Center 
alley,  Milton,  where  he  employs  about  ten  girls 
and  three  men,  the  product  being  all  kinds  of 
|ki|m<i-  boxes,  for  which  there  is  a  good  local  trade, 
though  large  quantities  are  also  shipped  else- 
where. Tin-  factory  he  sold  in  May,  1011.  Mr. 
Leh  has  given  many  evidences  of  his  enterprising 
and  prdgressive  disposition  since  settling  in  Mil- 
ton, where  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  valuable 
and  reliable  citizens  whose  prosperity  contributes 
as  much  I"  the  community  as  to  his  own  advance- 
ment. 

On  Fell.  17,  1873,  Mr.  Leh  married  Elmina 
Friese,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Polly  (Dengler) 
Friese,  ami  they  reside  at  No.  410  South  Front 
street.'  Thev  have  had  four  children:  (1)  Jose- 
phine married  William  Nesbit  and  lives  at 
Milton.  They  have  two  children,  Laura 
and  Helen.  (2)  Mary  married  Charles 
Walker  and  has  two  children.  Dorothy  and 
Catharine.  (3)  Deborah  married  Theodore 
Hendriv  and  has  three  children.  Dennis,  Lewis 
and  Mildred.  (4)  Harvey  married  Jessie  St. 
Clair  and  has  one  child.  Elmer. 

Mr.  Leh  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  C  hurch 
and  in  political  conviction  is  a  Republican. 

Amos  Friese,  father  of  Mrs.  Leh.  was  born  w 
Lowhill,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  in  1906  in  U- 
lentown,  that  county,  aged  seventy-eight  v, 
He  was  a  stonemason,  and  followed  that  trade  tor 
manv  years,  also  engaging  in  butchering  during 
the  fall  and  winter  seasons.  His  wile.  Polly 
(Dengler)     died   in   November.   1910.      Do  them 


were  born  fourteen  children,  twelve  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Benjamin,  Solomon,  James,  Uria, 
Henry,  Frank,  Amamla  (married  Willoughby 
Shoemaker).  Elmina.  Mary  (married  Llewellyn 
Bringer  and  is  deceased),  Lydia  (married  a  Mr. 
Heimbaeh).  Lucinda  (married  John  Fenster- 
macher),  Emma  (married  John  Leh.  brother  of 
Dennis),  Tewilla.  and  Isabella  (who  died  young). 

FRANK  E.  KIRK,  of  Watsontown,  has  been 
identified  with  the  Watsontown  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  has  recently  been  elected  president,  for 
over  twenty  years,  and  is  otherwise  prominently 
associated  with  local  commen  ial  and  industrial 
affairs;  being  president  of  the  Watsontown  Brick, 
('lav  &  Produce  Company,  which  gives  employ- 
ment to  about  sixty  men.  He  is  a  member  of  a 
family  which  was  in  Northumberland  county  in 
the  early  days,  but  he  himself  is  a  native  of  Mon- 
roe county,  N.  Y.,  born  Dec.  II,  1858. 

The  Kirk  family  has  been  in  America  since  be- 
fore the  Revolutionary  period.  Its  founder  in  Am- 
erica  came  from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  Moses  Kirk,  great-grandfather  of 
Frank  E.  Kirk,  was  born  in  Scotland  and  before 
1775  was  one  of  the  earliest  laxahles  in  what  was 
then  Turbut  township.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
having  settled  near  the  Warrior  Run  Church,  on 
the  farm  later  owned  by  Hiram  Dunkel.  He  died 
before  1779,  as  his  widow,  Mary,  was  in  Fort 
Fre'eland  with  her  ten  children  when  it  was  sur- 
rendered to  the  British  and  Indian  forces  that 
year.  She  was  evidently  a  woman  of  character  and 
unusual  resource.  During  the  conflict  she  was  one 
of  those  who  melted  pewter  and  plate,  all  the 
metal  that  could  be  had.  ami  made  it  into  bullets 
for  the  men  who  were  defending  the  fort.  When 
it  was  surrendered,  the  terms  were  that  the  women 
and  girls  could  go  free,  but  the  men  would  be  hold 
as  prisoners  of  war,  ami  in  order  hi  prevenl  any 
of  her  boys  being  retained  she  put  dresses  on  them 
and  passed  them  out  as  girls.  Eer  oldest  son  was 
sixteen  at  the  time.  The  mother  and  her  family 
reached  Fort  Augusta  safely,  and  after  peace  was 
declared  returned  to  the  old  home.  They  re- 
constructed the  buildings  and  under  her  guidance 
Cleared  the  land  ami  improved  it.  Mrs.  Kirk  died 
Nov.  1,  1804,  at  the  advanced  age  "!'  eighty-four 
years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Warrior  Run  cemetery. 
We  have  little  record  of  her  large  family,  of  only 
two  sons.  William  ami  James,  ami  tin'  daughter 
Mary,  who  died  in  1849.  Another,  Mrs.  ffimrod, 
moved  to  Eric.  Pennsylvania. 

of  the  two  sons  mentioned,  James  Kirk  was 
horn  in  Northumberland  county  and  there  re- 
mained.  lb'  married  Mary  Foster,  also  a  native 
of  Northumberland  county,  ami  they  had  a  family 
nf  ten  children,  all  now  deceased,  of  whom  James 
died  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years;  Esther 
died  in  1844,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two:  Silas  died 


392 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  1877,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine;  Catherine  mar- 
ried her  cousin,  John  M.  Kirk;  Thomas,  a  farmer, 
born  March  15,  1821,  in  Northumberland  county, 
died  in  1891  (he  was  a  member  of  the  Warrior 
Run  Church). 

William  Kirk,  son  of  Moses,  was  born  in  1763. 
In  1829  he  sold  the  farm  in  Northumberland 
county  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  father, 
and  the  old  deed  for  which  was  written  on  sheep- 
skin and  signed  by  William  Perm.  Moving  to  the 
vicinity  of  Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  lie  pur- 
i  based  a  farm  upon  which  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  June  8,  1842.  His  wife,  Jane 
(  Knox),  died"  in  May,  1862.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  James;  William,  of 
Monroe  county,  N.  Y. ;  George;  Moses,  who  died 
in  1829;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Keiser;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Burnett:  Nancy,  Mrs.  John  Marshall:  Jam 
Mrs.  Brooks :  John  M. :  and  Mary,  who  resided  in 
Michigan.  All  but  William  and  Mary  were  dead 
in  1890. 

John  M.  Kirk,  father  of  Frank  E.  Kirk,  was 
:  Oct.  14,  1815,  in  Northumberland  county, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
When  a  boy  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Mon- 
roe county.  X.  Y..  where  he  followed  farming 
throughout  his  active  years.  On  June  8,  1S43,  he 
married  Margaret  Burns,  daughter  of  Torrence 
Burns,  a  native  of  Ireland  who  came  to  New  York 
State  when  a  boy,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with 
five  children.  Myron  B..  William  T..  John  F.. 
Frank  E.,  and  Fit  a  L.  (deceased).  Mrs.  Kirk 
died  in  1872  in  New  York  State  and  Mr.  Kirk 
returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where  on  Oct.  28.  1873. 
he  married  his  cousin  Catherine,  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Foster)  Kirk.  Mr.  Kirk  died 
at  Watsontown  March  30,  1890:  Mrs.  Kirk  also 
died  at  Watsontown.  where  they  are  buried.  They 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
-  Frank  E.  Kirk  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Charlotte,  .Monroe  Co..  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
mained in  his  native  State  until  1884,  in  which 
year  he  settled  in  Watsontown.  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.  He  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
which  he  continued  for  three  years.  In  1887  he 
became  a  director  of  the  Watsontown  National 
Bank,  in  1900  was  elected  teller  of  that  institu- 
tion, and  since  June  15.  1909,  has  been  president 
of  the  bank,  succeeding  Mr.  Dentler.  who  died 
May  30,  1909.  after  a  brief  service  in  that  posi- 
tion, in  which  lie  bad  succ led  Thompson  Bower. 

He  is  also  the  head  of  the  Watsontown  Brick.  Clay 
&  Produce  Company  of  Watsontown.  manufactur- 
ers of  fire  brick  and  all  other  kinds  of  brick,  who 
give  employment  to  about  sixty  men.  Their  plant 
was  erected  in  1907  and  is  equipped  with  all  the 
most  modern  machinery.  This  is  one  of  tin-  mosi 
important  establishments  in  the  place  and  a  lead- 
ing factor  in  its  industrial  welfare. 

On  Nov.  11,  1896.  Mr.  Kirk  married  Mary  L. 
Frymeyer.  daughter  of  Potter  and  Ann    (Wolfe) 


Frymeyer,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one  daugh- 
ter, Margaret.  The  Kirk  family  are  Presby- 
terians, and  Mr.  Kirk  holds  membership  in  the 
Watsontown  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  Watson- 
town Lodge,  No.  401,  F.  &  A.  M. 

MENGES.  The  Menges  family  has  a  large 
representation  in  Northumberland  county,  whith- 
er Peter,  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  this  region, 
came  at  an  early  day,  settling  in  that  part  of  what 
was  then  Turbut  township  now  known  as  Lewis 
township.  The  tract  upon  which  he  settled  re- 
mains in  the  family  name  to  this  day,  being  now 
owned  by  bis  grandson.  X.  Jacob  Menges. 

In  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  (2d  Series,  Vol. 
XVII)  there  are  five  records  of  emigrations  of 
persons  of  the  name  of  Menges,  viz. :  ( 1 )  Conrad 
and  John  George  Menges,  the  first  of  the  name 
to  arrive  in  this  country,  came  from  Rotterdam 
in  the  ship  "Albany,"  Robert  Brown,  master; 
qualifying  Sept.  2,  1749.  (2)  Wilhelm  Manges 
(so  spelled)  came  in  the  •'Dragon."  Daniel  Nicho- 
las, master:  qualified  Oct.  17,  1749.  (3)  Peter, 
•  l.  i  onrad,  Hans  Peter,  Adam  and  John  George 
Men-.-  came  in  the  brigantine  "Sarah  and  Mary," 
Thomas  Broderick,  master,  from  Amsterdam; 
qualified  Oct.  26,  1754.  These  five  were  probably 
brothers  or  near  relatives,  and  are  likely  the  an- 
i  s  of  the  Menges  in  York  county,  Pa.,  as  in- 
dicated in  the  similarity  of  the  names  prevailing  in 
the  family  until  the  last  generation,  when  the  old 
family  names  were  dropped.  (4)  Heinrich  Men- 
ges came  in  the  ship  "Chance,"  Charles  Smith, 
captain,  from  Rotterdam,  last  from  Cowes,  and 
qualified  Nov.  1,  1763.  i")  John  George  Menges 
came  in  the  "Brittania,"  Thomas  Arnot,  captain, 
from  Rotterdam,  and  qualified  Sept.  26,  1764. 

The  will  of  one  Conrad  Menges,  of  Turbut 
township,  Northumberland  county,  on  record  at 
Sunbury,  was  made  July  27.  1813.  and  probated 
Aug.  17,  1813.  The  name  is  signed  in  German. 
His  son  Peter  and  son-in-law  Simon  Sim,  of  Tur- 
but township,  were  executors.  He  came  hither 
from  Northampton  county,  where  his  name  ap- 
pears on  the  tax  lists.  The  property  was  divided 
share  and  share  alike  among  all  his  children, 
namely:  Conrad.  Margaret.  Peter,  Jacob,  Chris- 
tian (son).  Mary,  Elizabeth.  John.  Solomon,  and 
Catharine,  the  last  named  (who  was  one  of  the 
older  members  of  the  family)  having  died  in  1813 
anil  left  eight  children,  who  received  her  portion, 
each  getting  $133.33. 

Conrad  Menges,  of  Northampton  county,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  in  the  1st  Company,  2d 
Pennsylvania  Battalion.  Col.  Arthur  St.  Clair. 

Peter  Menges,  previously  referred  to  as  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Northumberland  county, 
was  born  in  1771.  probably  in  Germany,  and  was 
in  Berks  county  for  some  time  before  settling  in 
Northumberland  county,  about  the  time  of 
the     American     Revolution.       It     is     said     that 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


393 


a     brother    of    this     Peter    Menges    settled    in 
Lyeoming  county,  Pa.,  in  the  vicinity  of  Muncy. 

lie  was  a  fanner,  and  owned  a  large  acreage. 
Paradise  Valley,  two  and  one  half  miles  long  and 
about  one  mile  wide,  embraces  four  thousand  acres 
of  very  fine  agricultural  land,  originally  taken 
up  by  Hunter  ami  Patterson,  pioneers  of  Turbut 
township.  Part  of  this  valley  is  now  embraced 
in  Lewis  township.  The  descendants  of  Peter 
Menges  still  retain  possession  of  his  lands,  about 
one  thousand  acres,  being  clustered  in  what  is 
known  locally  as  "Menges  Valley,"  which  forms 
the  western  portion  of  the  fertile  and  beautiful 
Paradise  Valley.  This  pioneer  died  Jan.  G,  1841, 
aged  seventy  years,  and  his  wife,  Anna  Elizabeth 
(Bausch),  died  Dec.  29,  1842,  aged  sixty-one 
vears,  seven  months.  They  are  buried  at  Tur- 
butville. Their  family  consisted  of  three  suns 
and  two  daughters,  all  now  deceased,  namely: 
Samuel;  Jacob;  Peter;  Catharine,  who  married 
Gideon  Beaver;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Hiram 
D.  Dreisbach. 

Samuel   Menges.    son    of    Peter,    was    born  in 
Northumberland  county  June  6,  1800,  and  died 
Aug.   12,  188S;  he  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at 
Turbutville.      In   every    respect    Samuel    Menges 
was  nne  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Turbut  town- 
ship in  his  day.    As  a  farmer  he  met  with  remark- 
able prosperity,  being  ranked  among  the  most  sub- 
stantial men  of  Ins  time,  for  he  acquired  posses- 
sion  of   eleven   farms,   giving  each   of  his   seven 
sons   a    large    tract.     He  was   the   money   lender 
of   his    district,    possessed  unusual    foresight    and 
business  ability,  and  showed  excellent  judgment  in 
all  his  investments.     He  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  served  as  supervisor  of  the  township.    In 
religious  connection  he  and  his  family  were  Luth- 
erans, and  he  was   influential  and  active  in  the 
church  as  in  all  other  things,  serving  as  dea 
elder,  trustee  and  treasurer.     All  his  ten  children 
were  born  to  his   first  marriage,  with   Catharine 
(  Rovenold),  daughter  of  John  Rovenold,  of  Lewis 
township,  she  dying  March  21,  1861,  aged   affr- 
eight vears.  seven  months,  three  days.     His  second 
marriage  was  to  Lucinda  Berkestock,  of  Turbut 
township.     We  have  the  following  record   of  his 
family:   (1)   Benjamin,  who  lived  in  Lewis  town- 
ship,'is  mentioned  in  full  below.      (2)    William 
lived  in  Lewis  township  and  died  Jan.  1,  1905, 
ao-ed   eighty-one   vears,   ten   months,   eight   days. 
His  wife.  Sarah  (Carl),  died  March  30,  1885,  aged 
sixty    vears,    eleven    months,    twenty-nine    days. 
They  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased, 
the  'survivor  being  Simon  Peter  Menges.  of  Tur- 
butville.     Susan    A.    Keller,    wife    of    Simon  1  . 
Menges,    died    dune    26,    1893,    aged    thirty-four 
vears.  eighteen   days.      (3)    Isaac,   born    Per.   24, 
is-' I    lived  in  Lewis  township,  and  died  .him-   ... 
pior'      lie    married    Mary    (Polly)    Smith,    horn 
Feb    6    1817,  died  Feb.  ^  1890,  and  they  had  a 


family  of  five  children:  Samuel,  John  (deceased), 
Michael     (deceased),    Catharine     (married    Levi 
Siahl)   and  .Mary   (married  Ed.  Stahl).     Of  this 
family,  Samuel  lived  ue  of  the  Menges  home- 
steads for  over  thirty  years,  engaged  in  farming, 
and  since  1907  he  has  been  located  on  his  present 
farm  of  eighty-five  acres  in  Montour  county.    He 
married  Elizabeth  Helwig,  and  their  children  are 
Fannie,  Isaac,    Paul,    George    and    Anna.     Paul 
Menges,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth   (Helwig) 
Menges,  was  bom  dan.  20,  1880,  on  the  homestead 
his   father  occupied   in   Lewis   township,   received 
his  early  education  in  the  local  schools,  graduated 
from  the   Turlmtville  high  school   in   1897,   and 
later  attended  the  Keystone  State  Normal  school  . 
at  Kutztown,  after  which  he  taught  for  two  terms 
in  Lewis  township.     On  March  4,  1905,  he  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Troxell,  daughter  of  George  and  Elmira 
(Levan)  Troxell,  of  Turbutville.     (4)  John,  who 
lived  in  Lewis  township  before  his  retirement,  is 
mentioned  fully  below.      (5)    Daniel,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Lewis  township,  died  Jan.  14,  1886,  aged 
fifty-four  years,  two  months,  fourteen  days.     He 
married   Sarah  Bender,  who  died  Oct.   29,   1S66, 
aged    twenty-seven    years,    nine   months,    twenty- 
nine  days,  the   mother  of  two  daughters,   Annie 
and  Emma  J.,  and  a  son  that  died  in  infancy.     (6) 
Peter    R.    is   mentioned   fully   below,      (ii    Jacob 
-ruled  in  Seneca  county,  N.  Y..  where  he  obtained 
part  of  his  father'-  farm,  the  whole  tract  compris- 
ing '.Ml  acres;  In-  sister  Susan  acquired  the  other 
part.     Jacob  Menges  married   Lucy  Ann  Ernst, 
and   their   family  consists  of   two  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Clymer,  William,  Flora,  Mary,  Annie 
and  Carrie.     (8)  Mary  married  Charles  Rohn  and 
both    are   deceased.      (9)    Susan    married    Gei 
l-'ratikenfield  and  they  settled  in  New  York  State. 
(lit)  One  daughter  died  in  infancy. 

The  farms  of  Benjamin,  Isaac,  John,  Daniel 
and  Peter  .Menges.  ami  of  their  sister  Mrs.  Mary 
Rohn,  adjoin,  and  all  were  part  of  the  holdings  of 
their  father.  Samuel,  who  owned  nearly  one  thou- 
sand acres,  in  what  is  popularly  known  as  Menges 
Valley. 

Benjamin  Menges,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born 
March  1.  1822,  in  Lewis  township,  on  the  farm 
where  Levi  Stahl  now  lives.  A  lifelong  farmer, 
he  owned  the  farm  of  sixty-seven  acres  in  Lewis 
township  where  bis  son  Edward  S.  Menges  now 
lives,  and  there  huill  the  barn  in  181  I  and  the 
brick  residence  in  1876.  lie  died  on  that  farm 
Feb.  i.  L910,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemeterv  at 
Turbutville.  Mr.  Menges  served  as  supervisor  of 
his  township,  was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  in  politic-,  and  originally  belonged  to  the 
Lutheran  Church,  later  joining  the  Reformed 
Ee  held  office  in  the  Lutheran 
ch.     His  wile,  whose  maiden   name  was   l-'i.-t  1  .a 

Rohn,  was  born   Ms     25,   L825,  and  died  Sept.  9, 

I  so:;,  tin'  mother  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom. 


394 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


however,  died  young.  The  youngest  two  survive, 
namelv:  Henrv  F.  (of  Bethlehem,  Pa.)  and 
Edward  S. 

Edward  S.  Menges,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
Feb.  8,  18-59,  on  the  farm  in  Lewis  township  which 
lie  is  still  cultivating,  making  his  home  on  that 
place.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Kiefertown,  and  he  was  reared  to  farming.  He 
has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
own  account  at  his  present  home  since  the  spring 
of  1888,  and  has  made  a  success  of  general  farm- 
ing, having  a  fertile  and  valuable  tract.  As  pros- 
perity enabled  him  he  has  added  to  his  holdings, 
being  now  the  owner-  of  150  acres,  and  his  wife 
owns  10?  aires.  He  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
the  enterprising  and  industrious  family  to  which 
he  belongs,  and  is  a  citizen  much  respected  in  his 
community. 

In  188?  Mr.  Menges  married  Ida  Ellis,  daugh- 
ter of  John  D.  and  Uranah  (Litchert)  Ellis,  of 
Limestone  township.  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  had  one  daughter.  Ella,  now  the  wife  of  John 
Plotz.  a  farmer  of  Lewis  township:  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Plotz  have  (me  daughter,  Grace.  Mr.  Menges  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Turbutville.  In  political  matters  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Johx  Mexges.  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  May 
'.'1.  1827,  on  the  homestead,  and  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  local  subscription  schools,  later  attend- 
ing the  free  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
continuing  to  work  for  his  parents  for  a  period 
(if  twenty-seven  years.  When  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account  it  was  on  one  of  his  father's 
farms  near  Paradise  Church,  and  he  later  obtained 
this  property  from  his  father.  It  consisted  of  106 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  he  continued  to 
cultivate  until  his  retirement  in  1894,  in  which 
war  he  moved  to  Turbutville,  his  son  Thomas 
Franklin  Menges  taking  charge  of  the  farm,  which 
he  rents  from  his  father. 

On  Jan.  1,  1856.  Mr.  Menges  married  Dianah 
Amelia  Frankenfield.  daughter  of  John  Franken- 
field.  of  one  of  the  lower  Pennsylvania  counties, 
and  they  have  had  four  children:  Daniel,  now  of 
Montgomery.  Pa.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  paper 
hanging  business :  John  S.,  who  died  Jan.  15, 
1893.  aged  thirty-three  years,  nine  months,  fifteen 
days:  Susanna,  wife  of  John  H.  Erdly,  of  Lewis 
township;  and  Thomas  Franklin,  who  farms  his 
fathers  homestead.  Mr.  Menges  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he 
is  a  prominent  worker,  having  served  the  congre- 
gation as  elder  and  treasurer.  He  was  formerly 
a  deacon  for  six  years  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
refusing  to  hold  office  longer.  Politically  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Henrv  Erdly.  grandfather  of  John  H.  Erdly. 
was  a  pioneer  resident  of  Liberty  township.  Tioga 
Co..  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farming  and  milling, 


building  a  gristmill  on  Blockhouse  creek  which  he 
conducted  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  about 
1ST0,  at  the  age  of  about  seventy-two,  and  is 
buried  at  Salem  Church  in  Liberty  township.  In 
religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Kratzer,  died  several  years  be- 
fore him,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Daniel  and  Betzy  (Mrs.  Milton  Phelps). 

Daniel  Erdly.  son  of  Henry,  was  born  in  1820 
on  the  homestead  in  Liberty  township,  and  died 
there  in  1876.  He  farmed  the  old  place,  which 
consisted  of  140  acres,  and  was  an  industrious 
man  and  a  useful  member  of  the  community,  hold- 
ing many  offices  at  Salem  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  Lutheran  member.  He  is  buried  at  that 
Church.  In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. His  wife.  Barbara  (Pick),  daughter  of  John 
Fick,  also  of  Liberty  township,  died  in  1903,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  children:  Mary.  Mrs.  Winton  Belford :  Wil- 
liam, wiiii  died  when  eleven  years  old:  John  H. ; 
Oscar,  of  Tioga  county:  Frank:  and  Edith  (de- 
ceased),  who  married  John  Haggerty. 

John  H.  Erdly  was  born  March  28,  18.58,  on 
the  homestead  in  Tioga  county,  where  he  was 
reared  to  farm  life.  He  began  farming  for  him- 
self in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county. 
where  he  remained  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
that  time  going  to  Milton,  where  he  lived  for 
several  years.  lie  then  came  to  his  present  place 
nf  sixty  acres  in  Lewis  township,  one  mile  east  of 
Turbutville,  having  lived  there  since  1900.  In 
August,  1882,  he  married  Susanna  Menges,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Menges.  and  they  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, Stella  M.  (wlio  died  aged  fourteen  vears), 
Edith  P.  Mabel  A..  Raymond  and  Charles  N. 
Mr.  Erdly  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church.  In  politics  he  is  an  independent 
Democrat. 

Peter  R.  Mexges,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  on 
the  homestead  in  Lewis  township  June  30,  1836. 
was  educated  in  the  township  schools  and  trained 
to  farm  life.  "Working  for  his  father  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  lie  then  mar- 
ried and  began  farming  for  himself  on  a  place  ad- 
joining the  old  homestead,  which  he  purchased 
from  his  father,  continuing  to  reside  there  until 
1883,  when  he  purchased  a  property  in  Turbut- 
ville and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  Aft- 
er conducting  same  about  twelve  years  he  sold 
out  and  retired,  continuing  to  live.  However,  on 
the  same  premises.  Until  October,  1890.  lie  was 
a  director  in  the  Farmers  National  Bank  of  Wat- 
sontown.  at  that  time  disposing  (if  his  stock  and 
on  Nov.  1,  189o.  organizing  the  firm  of  P.  R.  & 
R.  F.  Menges,  returning  to  the  general  mercantile 
business.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Turbutville  National  Bank,  and  is  one  of  the  heavy 
stockholders  of  that  financial  institution.  He  has 
lii-  farm  rented.     On  Aug.  11.  1900,  fire  totally 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


395 


destroyed  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Menges, 
who  escaped  with  nothing  but  the  clothes  they 
were  wearing.  Mr.  Menges  immediately  rebuilt, 
upon  the  same  foundation,  putting  up  the  comfort- 
able home  they  now  occupy.  He  is  a  man  of 
broad  views,  energetic,  intelligent  and  enterpris- 
ing, and  ha?  taken  an  active  part  in  the  lines  of 
interest  which  engage  his  attention.  He  has  filled 
several  public  positions,  having  served  at  least  two 
terms  in  the  borough  council,  as  overseer  of  the 
poor  many  years,  and  for  a  few  years  was  post- 
master at  Turbutville,  from  1885  to  1888.  In  po- 
litical affiliation  he  is  a  Democrat.  In  religious 
matters  he  and  his  wife  unite  with  the  Lutheran 
Church,  of  which  he  has  long  been  considered  one 
of  the  pillars,  having  served  as  deacon,  elder,  trus- 
tee and  treasurer,  and  he  was  treasurer  of  the 
building  committee  that  remodeled  the  church 
edifice  in  1910. 

On  Jan.  1,  1861,  Mr.  Menges  married  Mary  D. 
Bieber,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Deisher) 
Bieber,  of  Rockland  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
who  came  to  Lewis  township,  Northumberland 
county,  Mr.  Bieber  purchasing  a  farm  of  almost 
three  hundred  acres  upon  winch  he  lived  until 
his  death.  Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bieber,  namely:  Gideon;  Reuben;  Samuel; 
Benneville,  of  Iowa :  Levi  and  Joel,  twins ;  Amos, 
of  Watson.  Pa.:  Annie,  who  never  married:  Mary 
D.,  Mrs.  Peter  R.  Menges;  and  Sarah,  who  has 
never  married.  Benneville,  Amos,  Mrs.  Menges 
and  Sarah  are  now  the  only  survivors. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  R.  Menges  was  born  one 
child,  that  died  in  infancy. 


Jacob  Mengi  s,  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Elizabeth 
(Bausch)  Menges,  was  born  Feb.  15,  1803,  and 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years, 
dying  Aug.  30,  1890.  He  and  his  wife  Susanna 
(Rovenolt).  who  died  April  21,  1888.  aged  sev- 
enty-two years,  ten  months,  nineteen  days,  are 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Turbutville.  He  lived 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  Lewis  township  (the 
tract  is  now  an  area  of  105  acres),  a  part  of  the 
old  Menges  holdings,  which  comprised  nearly  one 
thousand  acres,  and  the  land  is  of  the  best  found 
within  the  limits  of  Northumberland  county.  He 
was  actively  engaged  in  farming  on  this  tract  un- 
til seventy-five  years  old,  after  which  he  built  a 
house  near  by  his  old  residence  and  there  lived 
until  two  weeks  before  his  death,  when  he  asked 
to  be  taken  back  to  the  homestead,  and  there  he 
passed  away.  He  was  a  carpenter  as  well  as  farm- 
er, and  handy  with  all  kinds  of  tools,  and  in  his 
very  last  days  showed  his  children  and  grandchil- 
dren how  to  cut  grain  with  a  sickle.  The  old  stone 
house  still  standing  on  his  farm. is  over  125  years 
old.  and  was  originally  used  by  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers as  a  fort  to  protect  them  from  the  Indians. 
The  masonry  work  is  very  strong,  and  had  an  old- 


fashioned  big  chimney,  the  stone  wall  of  which  is 
18  inches  thick  from  the  foundation  to  the  top. 
The  house  was  remodeled  by  Jacob  Menges,  who 
made  an  addition  to  it.  The  present  barn  on  the 
place  was  built  in  1822.  Mr.  Menges  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics  and  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
township.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  St. 
James  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  served  as 
deacon  and  trustee,  and  as  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee,  and  when  the  present  church  was 
constructed  he  furnished  all  the  timber  as  his 
contribution  toward  the  work.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children:  Elizabeth,  who  died  aged 
six  years;  Catharine,  who  married  Henry  Shell 
and  (second)  George  Walter;  Stephen  Peter,  now 
of  Turbutville,  to  which  place  he  moved  in  1911 
from  Montour  countv,  Pa.  (his  wife  Sarah  A., 
born  June  16,  1852. 'died  May  28,  1893);  Mary, 
who  married  William  Ernst  and  (second)  Levi 
Smith ;  Reuben,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  and  N.  Jacob. 

X.  Jacob  Menges  was  born  Oct.  26,  1853,  on 
the  original  Menges  homestead  in  Lewis  town- 
ship, where  he  has  spent  all  his  life,  being  now 
engaged  in  farming  there.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  locality,  and  worked  for 
Ins  father  until  twenty-five  years  old,  after  which 
he  carried  on  the  farm  work  on  his  own  account. 
The  place  is  now  known  as  Hillside  Farm.  The 
land  is  fertile,  well  located  in  what  is  known  as 
Paradise  Valley,  and  is  an  ideal  farm  property, 
which  under  the  management  of  its  present  own- 
er is  kept  in  first-class  condition,  its  appearance 
being  excellent  evidence  of  his  thrift  and  care., 
He  is  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  his  town- 
ship, and  highly  respected. 

On  Oct,  3,  1880,  Mr.  Menges  married  Sevilla 
Heffelfinger,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Pool) 
Heffelfinger,  who  were  born  in  Montgomery 
county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Menges  was  born  in  Reading, 
Berks  county,  and  came  to  Northumberland 
countv  with  her  parents  when  eleven  years  old. 
Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Menges :  Susan,  who  is  the  wife  of  Augustus  Rey- 
nolds: Francis  H..  of  Lewis  township;  Hattie  R. ; 
Roy  J. :  Elsie  S. :  Nora  P.:  and  Paul  and  Earl, 
twins,  who  died  when  four  weeks  old.  Mr.  Men- 
ges and  his  family  belong  to  St.  James  Lutheran 
Church  at  Turbutville,  and  he  has  been  a  trustee 
of  his  congregation  from  1902  to  the  present 
time.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

ANTHONY  E.  GAUGES,  late  of  Lewis  town- 
ship, resided  upon  the  fine  farm  near  McEwens- 
ville  now  carried  on  by  his  widow  and  daughter. 
He  was  born  Sept.  2,  1834.  at  the  family  home- 
stead in  Limestone  township,  Mountoui  Co..  Pa., 
son  of  Jacob  Gouger  and  grandson  of  John  Wil- 
liam  Gouger. 

John  William  Gouger.  the  grandfather,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Follmer.  and  thev  reared  a  family 


396 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  we 
have  the  following  record:  (1)  John  William 
Gouger,  the  eldest,  moved  with  his  brother  George 
to  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  Soon  John  William 
Gouger  moved  out  to  Joliet,  111.,  where  he  and  his 
wife  made  their  permanent  home  and  reared  a 
large  family.  He  settled  upon  a  large  planta- 
tion, which  he  improved  by  arduous  labor,  and  as 
the  Indians  were  likely  to  appear  at  any  time  in 
those  days  he  and  his  neighbors  often  worked  with 
their  rifles  at  the  end  of  the  furrow.  The  nearest 
flour    mill     was    sixty     miles    distant.       William 

iger  was  the  first  postmaster  in  the  vicinity, 

and  he  used  a  store  box  supplied  with  pigeon 
holes  for  the  few  papers  and  letters  which  went 
through  the  mail  at  that  early  day.  The  postage 
on  a  letter  was  twenty-five  cents.  (2)  George 
Gouger  had  al  least  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Lewis, 
and  one  daughter,  Jane,  who  married  Benjamin 
Lereh.  (3)  Nicholas  Gouger  settled  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  near  Limestoneville.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Bower  and  they  reared  one  sen  and 
four  daughters.  John  B.  (who  married  Sarah 
Billmyer),  Margaret  (Mrs.  Daniel  Dildine), 
Nancy  (Mrs.  John  Dildine),  Sallie  (Mrs.  Heits- 
nian)  and  Moriah  (Mrs.  William  McKee),  all  de- 
ceased Imt  Nancy,  who  is  now  (1910)  eighty-seven 
years  old;  she  lives  at  Horseheads.  \.  V.  (4)  Ja- 
coh  Gouger  and  his  family  arc  mentioned  below. 
(5)  Benjamin  Gouger  died  unmarried.  (6) 
John  Gouger,  Sr.,  married  Mary  Bower  and 
they  raised  a  family  of  four  children,  two 
sons  ami  two  daughters:  Elizabeth  married 
Jacob  Seidel,  of  Danville,  Pa.,  and  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters  (Lizzie  married 
Frank  Smith):  Susan  married  William  A.  Dean, 
Esquire,  and  had  one  child,  Ada  McFarland:  I). 
F.  married  Colonel  Dean's  daughter  Ursula  (no 
family)  ;  John  W.  died  when  about  eighteen  years 
of  age.  (7)  Daniel  Gouger  married  Susan  Bower, 
sister  of  Elizabeth  and  Mary  Bower,  his  brothers' 
wives,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  three 
sons  and  five  daughters:  Nicholas,  a  carpenter,  died 
at  Watsontown,  Pa.  (he  reared  a  family)  :  Jacob,  a 
tailor,  of  Milton,  also  reared  a  family:  Frank  mar- 
ried a  Gudikunst  in  Virginia:  Rebecca  married  a 
Mr.  Glace  in  Danville,  Pa. :  Kate  married  a  Lowry, 
of  Dewart,  Pa. :  Emma  married  Joseph  Seidel,  of 
Washingtonville,  Pa.,  and  has  a  family;  Ann  and 
Alice  are  at  home.  (8)  The  eldest  daughter  of 
John  William  and  Margaret  (Follmer)  Gouger 
married  Henry  Follmer.  Daniel  Follmer  and  Wil- 
liam Follmer.  Esq..  were  her  sons.  (9)  The  other 
daughter,  Mis.  William  Tobias,  also  had  a  family. 
Jacob  Gouger,  son  of  John  William  and  Mar- 
garet (Follmer)  Gouger,  died  at  the  home  of  Ins 
son  Anthony  E.,  near  McEwensville.  He  lived  in 
Montour  county,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his 
son.  John  William,  his  sons  conducting  the  farm, 
while  he  followed   his   trade,   that  of  blacksmith. 


After  becoming  lame  in  his  shoulder  he  had  to 
abandon  his  trade,  and  from  that  time  made  his 
home  with  his  sons.  He  married  Catharine  Esch- 
bacb.  daughter  of  David  Esehbaeh,  and  she  died 
when  quite  a  young  woman.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  two  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters; (1)  John  William  Gouger,  born  March  8, 
1827,  who  lives  in  the  vicinity  of  Milton,  North- 
umberland county,  married  Esther  Haag,  and  they 
have  bail  four  sons  and  four  daughters:  John 
A.,  a  lumber  manufacturer  of  Chicago,  111.,  had 
one  daughter,  now  the  wife  of  William  Easton; 
().  J.,  of  Sullivan,  111.,  also  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber,  married  Minnie  Seidel,  of  Dan- 
ville. Pa.,  and  bad  one  son  and  one  daughter:  W. 
1...  of  Danville,  Pa.,  imtmaster  there,  married 
Isabel  Derr,  of  White  Hall  (they  have  no  family)  : 
E.  L.,  of  Mace,  Idaho,  engaged  in  mining,  married 
a  lady  of  that  place  and  has  one  daughter,  Esther; 
Mary  ('.  married  Frank  Irvin,  and  died  at  Wil- 
liamsport,  Pa.:  Sarah  married  Daniel  Lerch,  of 
Warrior  Pun.  Pa.:  Cora  A.  married  Calvin  Derr, 
of  (  alifornia :  Gertie  H.  married  Tice  Feinour,  and 
died  in  1*!h;.  leaving  one  son,  John.  (2)  Anthony 
E.  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Eliza  married  Na- 
thaniel Wagner  and  (second)  William  Shires,  and 
she  had  two  daughters:  Mary  died  when  about 
eighteen;  Kittle  married  D.  W.  Smith  and  reared 
one  son.  Harry.  Mrs.  Shires  died  in  her  eighty- 
seventh  year.  (  t)  Barbara  married  Daniel 
Karchner  and  had  one  daughter,  Kate,  who  mar- 
ried  Mr.  Emmons.  (5)  Margaret  married 
Aaron  Heckman  and  had  four  children,  Sallie 
(wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Power).  Ida,  Harry  and  Luther. 
(6)  Catharine  died  unmarried.  (7)  Sarah  (de- 
ceased) married  William  Fox  and  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  one  daughter.  Rosa  Fox  mar- 
ried Sam.  Hagenhuch,  of  Constantine,  Mich.: 
Clara  Fox  also  married.  (8)  Martha  (Mattie) 
married  William  A.  Wagner,  ofdDes  Moines,  Iowa, 
and  has  sons  Allie  (superintendent  of  the  Des 
Moines  railway)  and  Willie,  both  of  whom  are 
married  and  have  families.  (9)  Susan  (deceased) 
married  A.  Miller  Waugh,  and  they  raised  one 
daughter  and  one  son,  both  lawyers  of  Chicago, 
111.,  one  being  the  famous  Catharine  Waugh  Mc- 
Culloch,  justice  of  the  peace  at  Evanston.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McCulloch  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. 

Anthony  E.  Ganger  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  He 
settled  in  Lewis  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty,  where  lie  owned  a  tract  of  fifty-eight  acres,  a 
valuable  farm  and  now  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion. There  he  died  April  16,  1901.  He  was  a 
Republican,  served  his  township  three  years  as 
school  director,  and  was  also  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
and  which  he  served  some  years  in  the  capacity  of 
elder. 

On   Feb.   15,   1857,  Mr.   Gauger  married  Mary 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


397 


Elizabeth  Klapp,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children:  (1)  Ella  D.  resides  with  her  mother  on 
the  home  farm,  which  they  now  carry  on.  She  re- 
ceived her  early  education  in  the  local  schools, 
later  attending  MeKwensville  Academy,  and  has 
developed  considerable  ability  as  an  artist,  having 
painted  a  number  of  successful  portraits  and 
landscapes  which  evidence  her  talent  in  this  line. 
(2)  Curtis  C,  who  lives  at  McEwensville,  married 
Hannah  Seibert  and  has  children,  George  A.,  Wil- 
liam ('.  and  Helen  E.  (3)  William  A.,  who  died 
Sept.  21,  1900,  aged  thirty-sis  years,  married  Nel- 
lie Rogers.     He  left  no  children. 

The  Klapp  (Klopp  or  Clapp)  family,  to  which 
Mrs.  Gauger  belongs,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
numerous  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  each  gener- 
ation has  produced  men  and  women  who  have 
lived  honorably  and  usefully  in  their  communities. 
The  Klapp  family  had  its  origin  near  Bingen  on 
the  Rhine,  Germany,  and  there  in  1906  still  stood 
a  castle  known  as  "Schlossklopp." 

Peter  Klopp  (Klop  or  Klopf)  was  a  Reformed 
member  of  the  Tulpehocken  church  in  1735. 
Later  he,  with  Rev.  Peter  Miller,  Godfried  Fidler, 
Conrad  Weiser,  and  others,  joined  a  church  at 
Ephrata,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  at  the  home 
of  Mr.  Fidler,  who  had  first  taken  up  land  in  Tul- 
pehocken township,  burned  the  Psalms,  catechisms 
and  other  good  books.  Before  the  house  of  the 
Tulpehocken  brethren  (German  Seventh  Day 
Baptists)  was  finished,  Conrad  Weiser,  Hans 
Michael  Miller,  Peter  Klopf,  Godfried  Fidler  and 
several  single  men  and  women  went  to  the  settle- 
ment at  Ephrata.  Of  these,  Weiser,  Miller  and 
Klopf  later  withdrew  from  the  Ephrata  settlement, 
but  not  so  the  daughter  of  Peter  Klopf,  who  re- 
mained steadfast.  Her  monastic  name  was  "The- 
cla"  and  is  so  listed  on  the  roster  of  the  Sister- 
hood. She  died  Oct.  6.  17  ts,  probably  at  Ephrata. 
Peter  Klop  died  in  1753. 

Of  this  same,  family  was  undoubtedly  John 
Klapp,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gauger.  He  was  a 
native  of  Berks  county  and  came  to  Northumber- 
land in  the  early  days,  farming  near  Turbutville. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Kline,  and  their  children 
were:  Thomas,  of  Muncy,  Pa.;  Daniel,  of  Muncy, 
Pa.:  Benneville,  who  died  in  Kansas;  Adam,  who 
lived  at  While  Deer.  Pa.:  John;  Molly,  who  mar- 
ried John  Raup;  Maria,  who  married  John  Lein- 
bach:  Sarah,  who  married  Philip  Raup;  and  Cath- 
arine, Mrs.  Hoy  (she  and  her  husband  went  west). 

John  Klapp.  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Kline) 
Klapp,  was  a  farmer  in  Lewis  township,  North- 
umberland county,  living  near  Turbutville.  and 
died  in  1880,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  He  married 
Maria  Glase,  wlio  died  June  L5,  IS  is.  aged  thirty- 
eight  years,  the  mother  of  the  following  children: 
William  S.,  Marv  Elizabeth  (widow  of  Anthony 
E.   Gauger),   Sarah  J.,  Margaret  ('.,  Thomas  L., 


Susan  E.,  Angeline,  Emeline  and  Caroline,  twins, 
John  D.  and  Maria  (died  in  infancy). 

N.  THOMPSON  MARSH,  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness man  of  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  was 
born  in  that  borough  in  1862,  youngest  of  the 
family  of  Daniel  Griggs  Marsh.  He  is  a  great- 
grandson  of  Isaac  Marsh,  the  founder  of  the  fam- 
ily in  this  county. 

Isaac  Marsh,  the  great-grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  Jersey,  and  there  married  Ellonanna 
Griggs.  He  resided  in  New  Jersey  until  1807, 
when  he  moved  to  Pennsylvania  with  a  number  of 
his  neighbors,  settling  in  Rush  township,  North- 
umberland county,  where  Mr.  Marsh  bought  a 
farm. 

Isaac  Marsh,  one  of  the  three  sons  of  Isaac  and 
Ellonanna  (Griggs)  Marsh,  was  horn  in  New- 
Jersey  Jan.  2-t,  1798,  and  came  to  Northumber- 
land county  with  his  parents.  In  1811  he  moved 
to  Turbut  township,  where  he  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  days,  dying  Jan.  31,  1874.  He  married, 
in  Rush  township,  Sarah  Gulick.  who  was  horn 
in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  in  1790,  and  died  in 
1867.  They  are  buried  in  the  upper  cemetery  at 
Milton.  To  them  were  born  five  children  :  Min- 
ner  G.,  born  April  9,  1821,  who  died  in  January, 
1911;  Mary,  born  in  1825,  who  married  Reuben 
Klapp:  Daniel  Griggs,  born  in  1830;  William- 
son, born  Feb.  12,  1832,  who  died  April  18,  1883; 
and  Ellen,  who  married  Emanuel  Haus. 

Daniel  Griggs  Marsh,  born  in  1830,  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  in  his  young  manhood  learned 
harnessmaking.  In  185K  he  opened  a  harness 
store  in  Milton,  on  Broadway,  where  Bound  av- 
enue now  intersects  that  thoroughfare,  and  he  con- 
tinued in  that  line  for  twenty  years.  From  that 
time  until  his  retirement,  in  1888,  he  was  in  the 
slice  business,  establishing  a  store  which  his  son 
still  conducts  and  which  is  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial enterprises  in  the  borough.  He  was  an 
industrious  and  intelligent  worker,  and  by  elpse 
attention  made  his  business  prosper,  accumulat- 
ing a  competence  in  its  pursuit,  and  winning  for 

himself  a  high  place  in  tl steem  and  confidence 

of  his  fellow  citizens. 

During  the  Civil  war,  on  July  1.  L863,  Mr. 
.Marsh  enlisted,  as  emergency  man.  for  service  in 
the  Union  army,  becoming  a  member  of  Company 
I.   37tb    Regiment,     lie  was  discharged  Aug.    I. 

L863.      Me    was   a    Whig   in    his   earlier   lnauli I. 

later  becoming  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Marsh  married  Lydia  A.  Myerly,  who  was 
born  Nov.  3,  1833,  at  Mooresburg,  Pa.,  ami  was  a 
resident  of  Milton   for  fifty-eight  years,  dying  at 

her  In hi  Broadway,  in  that  borough,  Aug.  20, 

1909.  She  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  M.  K. 
Church  and  a  woman  well  known  and  highly  es- 
teemed in  the  community.     She  was  buried  in  bhe 


398 


NORT  I  [UMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXS Y  L  Y  A  X I A 


Upper  cemetery  at  Milton,  where  Mr.  Marsh,  who 
passed  away  Aug.  30,  1905,  also  rests.  They  were 
the  parents  of  three  children:  (1)  Russell,  now 
a  resident  of  Wats  mtown,  married  Martha  Bellas, 
and  they  have  three  children.  May  Bellas  (wife  of 
Dr.  Charles  (  ooner,  of  Picture  Rock?.  Pa.),  Curtis 
M..  a  dentist  (who  lives  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.)  and 
Margarette.  (2)  Curtis,  who  married  Frances 
Waugh,  now  lives  in  San  Diego,  Cal.  (3)  ST. 
Thompson. 

X'.    I  son  Marsh  received  his  education  in 

the  public  si  ' Is  of  Milton,  and  was  only  a  boy 

when  he  began  clerking  in  his  fathers  shoe  store. 
In  1879,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  and 
when  his  father  retired,  in  1888,  he  took  charge 
of  the  store,  which  he  has  since  carried  on.  That 
the  business  has  continued  to  expand  under  his 
able  management  is  best  shown  in  the  fact  that  it 
has  twice  outgrown  it-  quarters.  In  1908  Mr. 
Marsh  refitted  the  large  and  handsome  store  room 
which  he  now  occupies,  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
borough,  commodious  and  convenient,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  his  extensive  trade.  Ee 
has  Keen  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  keep  his  busi- 
oess  and  the  store  itself  up-to-date  in  every  re- 
spei  i.  and  his  standards  in  dealing  with  his  pa- 
trons are  as  high  as  his  ambitions  to  have  a  cred- 
itable store  and  stock — creditable  not  only  to  him- 
self but  to  the  community  in  which  it  is  situated. 
He  is  one  of  the  successful  men  of  Milton,  and 
one  of  the  best  known,  though  he  lias  confined  his 
activities  strictly  to  business,  having  no  ambition 
to  enter  politics  or  hold  public  office. 

Socially  Mr.  Marsh  holds  membership  in  the 
-  of  Veterans,  Royal  Arcanum.  Loyal  Addi- 
tion and  Masonic  fraternity,  in  the  latter  connec- 
tion belonging  to  Milton  Lodge,  Xn.  256,  !■".  & 
A.  M.:  Warrior  Run  Chapter.  No.  1  t6,  R.  A.  M.. 
of  Watsontown :  Mount  Hermon  Commandery. 
No.  85,  EC.  T..  of  Sunbury;  Williamsport  Consist- 
ory, A.  A.  R.  S.,  thirty-second  degree;  and  Irem 
Temple,  A.  A.  Q.  X.  M.  S..  of  Wilkes-Barre. 

on  July  3.  1900,  Mr.  Marsh  married  Mary 
Topley.  of  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  they  have  had 
two  children.  Elizabeth  Ann  and  Thompson,  the 
latter  deceased.  Mr.  Marsh  and  his  family  attend 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  polities  he  i-  a  Re- 
publican. 

EDWARD  D.  FISHER,  who  has  been  engaged 
in  business  at  Watsontown  since  1892,  was  horn 
June  16.  1869,  at  Milton,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, son  of  William  Augustus  Fisher.  The  family 
has  been  settled  in  America  since  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  having  been  founded  here 
by  one  Joseph  Fisher. 

Joseph  Fisher  was  born  in  Saxony  in  April. 
1734.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  it  is  said,  he 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  a  trade,  and  according 
to    the   custom    of   the    time-    went   to    live   in   his 


master's  family.  This  family  emigrating  to 
America  in  1747,  Joseph  and  his  sister  Elizabeth 
accompanied  them,  and  they  settled  in  New  Jer- 
sey, where  the  sister  died  shortly  afterward.  Jo- 
seph Fisher  remained  in  West  Jersey  and  com- 
pleted his  apprenticeship,  and  on  June  5,  1704,  he 
married  Catharine  Minegar,  who  was  born  in  Hol- 
land Aug.  24,  1746.  After  their  marriage  the 
young  couple  located  in  what  is  now  Warren 
county,  X.  -I..  and  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
service  of  his  adopted  country. 
from  Morris  county,  tl  a1  State.  The  Fisher  home 
was  m  the  midst  of  the  scene  of  hostilities  and 
was  destroyed,  the  lands  being  laid  waste  by  the 
armies,  and  after  the  close  of  the  conflict  Mr. 
Fisher  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  a  new 
field.     Aci  he  moved   with  his  fann 

Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  in  1788,  on  April 
7th  id'  which  year  he  purchased  from  Samuel 
Reeder  a  tract  of  100  acres  along  the  Little  Roar- 
ing  creek.  .Mrs.  Fisher  died  in  1809,  and  was 
interred  in  the  old  burial  ground  attached  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Catawissa,  Pa.  Mr.  Fisher 
died  l»ec.  29,  1819,  after  a  short  illness,  and  was 
buried  Jan.  1.  1820,  beside  his  wife  at  Catawissa. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Catharine,  horn  June  'i'K  1765,  married  Xicholas 
Shipnian  :  Henry,  horn  July  23,  L767,  married 
Magdalene  Farley;  Mary,  born  Dec.  L8,  1769,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Mutchler;  Hannah,  horn  Jan.  V7. 
1772,  married  Caleb  Farley:  Elizabeth,  born  July 
21,  1774.  married  John  Reeder:  John,  born  June 

19,  1776,  i<  mentioned  below;  Moses,  horn  Sept. 
23,  1778,  married  Elizabeth  Rear:  David  was 
born  March  6.  1781:  Jacob,  born  Dee.  18,  1783, 
married    Margaret    EOmbpel;   Joseph,   born    May 

20,  1786.  married  Mary  Kimbpel. 

John  Fisher,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  June  19, 
17  76.  in  Sussex  county.  X.  J.  His  wife.  Eliza- 
beth i  Mauser),  was  born  in  177o  in  Bucks  county. 
Pa.,  and  died  in  1844  in  X'ohle  township.  Branch 
Co.,  Mich.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children: 
John  married  Lydia  Lazarus:  Catharine,  born 
June  13.  1801,  married  Thomas  Shane:  William 
was  horn  Oct.  19,  1806:  Elizabeth,  horn  Sept. 
19,  1809,  married  John  Ritter. 

William  Fisher,  son  of  John,  was  married  Dec. 
25,  1S?L  to  Eleanor  Blue,  who  was  horn  X.\.  22, 
1810,  in  Mahoning  township,  then  in  Columbia 
county,  Pa.,  and  .lied  Jan.  28,  1878.  in  Milton.  Pa. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  lived  for 
a  time  at  Danville.  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Fisher  was  em- 
ployed in  the  store  of  Peter  Baldy.  thence  remov- 
ing to  Milton  and  later  to  Lock  Haven.  Pa.,  where 
they  remained  for  seven  years.  From  there  they 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  resided  for  three 
years,  during  which  time  they  were  burned  out  in 
the  big  fire  of  l^  ift,  losing  everything.  Later  they 
returned  to  Milton,  where  Mrs.  Fisher  died  in 
ls7s,  after  which  Mr.  Fisher  made  his  home  with 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


399 


his  daughter  Margaret,  Mrs.  Glover.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fisher  were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  B. 
Frank,  born  June  15,  1829,  died  Oct.  12,  1m;;  ; 
Samuel  .1.  was  born  April  S,  1831:  William  A., 
born  Oct.  21,  L832,  was  the  father  of  Edward  1». 
Fisher;  John  K.  B.,  born  Sept.  2,  1834,  died 
April  12,  is  is;  .Marv  ]•;.  was  born  Oct.  8,  1836; 
Charlotte  .1.  was  born  March  25,  1840:  Margarei 
E.,  born  April  24,  1842,  married'  Thomas  Glover; 
Dudley  ],'..  born  Jan.  s.  L848,  died  Sept.  21,  1850; 
Dudley  R.  (2),  born  Sept.  25,  1850,  married  Sept. 

25,  1884,  Catharine  Ebright.  Of  this  family  the 
eldest  son,  B.  Frank  Fisher,  was  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  Reading,  Pa.  On  Jan.  28,  1858,  he  mar- 
ried Marv  1'..  Gift,  who  died  Feb.  24,  1878,  and 
they  had  these  children:  William  W..  horn  Feb. 
13,   I860,  of  Sunbury,   Pa.;  Flora  E.,  born    Feb. 

26,  L863;  Harry  B.,  who  died  in  1865;  and  B. 
Frank,  born  Sept.   16,  1806. 

William  Augustus  Fisher,  son  of  William,  was 
born  Oct.  21,  L832,  was  a  well  known  butcher, 
which  business  he  followed  several  years,  and  was 
also  a  stone  cutter.  On  Aug.  14,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E,  131st  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  •In- 
fantry, ('apt.  Isaiah  B.  Davis,  and  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  being  assigned  to  the  3d  Provisional 
Brigade,  Casey's  Division,  engaged  in  the  defense 
of  Washington.  The  command  was  afterward 
transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  the 
2d  Brigade,  3d  Division,  5th  Army  Corps.  On 
Sept.  18,  1862,  Mr.  Fisher  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  nf  Antietam,  was  in  the  Rappahannock 
campaign,  and  on  Dec.  13,  1862,  at  Fredericks- 
burg, was  severely  wounded  in  the  right  hip  by  a 
shell  at  the  action  on  Marye's  Hill.  From  April 
28  in  May  6,  1863,  he  was' in  the  Chancellorsville 
campaign,  ami  he  was  mustered  out  May  23,  1803. 
He  became  a  member  of  G.  A.  P.  Tost  No.  225, 
of  Watsontown.  Pa.  Returning  to  Pennsylvania  at 
the  close  of  his  army  service  Mr.  Fisher  settled  at 
Milton,  whence  in  1872  he  moved  to  Watsontown, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business.  He 
followed  this  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Watsontown  Sept.  s.  1885.  He  is  buried  at  Mil- 
ton. 

On  Dec.  5,  1853,  Mr.  Fisher  married  Christiana 
Varts.  who  was  born  Nov.  8,  IS-'!'.',  and  died  Oct. 
13,  1902.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children. 
namely:  William  ('..  born  Aug.  'M.  1854,  died 
\la\  It).  is.Vi;  Clarence  A.,  born  June  '?!).  Is:,;. 
died  Feb.  3,  1859:  Fred  B.,  born  Nov.  28,  1859, 
died  July  27,  1861  :  Marv  E.,  born  Feb.  28,  1862, 
died  Feb.  27,  1866;  Tilly  S..  horn  Feb.  23,  1865, 
died  Jan.  15.  1866;  Robert  D.,  born  Dee.  19,  1866, 
died  Sept.  5.  1868;  Edward  D.,  born  Jan.  16, 
1869,  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family. 

Edward  D.  Fisher  received  a  public  school  edu- 
cation and  learned  the  trade  of  saddler,  which  he 
followed  as  a  journeyman  for  about  eight  years. 
In  189*2  he  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account 


as  a  merchant  at  Watsontown.  dealing  in  sporting 
goods  ami  cigar-,  hut  making  a  specialty  of  the 
former  line,  in  which  he  has  built  up  a  wide 
patronage,  lie  gives  all  his  time  to  business,  and 
is  well  known  and  highly  respected  for  his  up- 
right methods  ami  ability  to  hold  trade  by  effec- 
tive efforts  in  please. 

On  Dec.  "I.  IS!)'.'.  Mr.  Fisher  married  Fannie 
M.  Miller,  daughter  of  William  H.  Miller,  of  Wat- 
sontown. They  have  had  two  children.  Edna  M. 
ami  Florence  F.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in 
religious  connection.  Socially  Mr.  Fisher  holds 
membership  in  Watsontown  Lodge,  No.  401,  F.  & 
A.  ML,  Warrior  Run  Chapter,  No.  -.Mi;.  I,'.  A.  M., 
Williamsport  Consistory  (thirty-second  degree), 
ami  in  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  votes  independ- 
ently. 

GEORGE  ROESLER,  a  retired  farmer  now 
making  his  home  at  Pottsgrove,  Northumberland 
county,  has  made  his  home  in  this  county  for  over 
half  a  century.  He  is  a  native  of  Wittenberg, 
Germany,  born  in  1830,  sun  of  Wendell  and  Bar- 
bara  Roesler. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wendell  Roesler  came  to  America 
with  their  family  in  the  year  1811.  The  voyage 
was  tedious,  occupying  eleven  weeks,  and  soon  aft- 
er landing  they  settled  in  Virginia,  where  Mr. 
Roesler  followed  his  trade,  that  of  blacksmith,  his 
sons  tilling  the  soil.  The  mother  did  not  survive 
many  years  after  the  family  came  to  this  country, 
dying  in  1855.  Their  family  consisted  of  four 
-nil-  and  one  daughter,  namely:  George,  Wendell, 
John,  Frederick  and  Kate,  all  the  sons  except 
George  living  and  dying  in  Virginia.  The  daugh- 
ter married  a  Mr.  Frymutte,  and  her  family  live 
in  Baltimore,  Md.  The  father,  who  was  born  in 
Wittenberg  in  1802,  died  in  1889,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-seven  years,  in  Northumberland 
county.  Pa.  His  father  was  of  such  small  stature 
that  he  was  known  as  "The  Little  Man." 

George  Roesler  has  led  an  eventful  life.  He  wa- 
in his  fifteenth  year  when  he  came  to  America,  and 
he  passed  the  next  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  Vir- 
ginia, tilling  his  father's  land.  In  1860  he  moved 
to  Pennsylvania,  settling  at  Milton,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  worked  fifteen  years  for 
ilr.  Gottlieb  Brown,  in  is; 5  purchasing  a  farm 
in  Chillisquaque  township  to  which  he  moved. 
There  he  followed  farming  until  the  year  1890, 
when  he  sold  his  stock  and  rented  the  land  I'm' 
two  years,  in  1892  resuming  farming,  which  he 
continued  until  he  was  seventy-five  years  old.  He 
has  since  lived  retired,  having  sold  the  farm  in 
1906  and  moved  to  Pottsgrove,  where  he  purchased 
the  home  he  now  occupies.  What  Mr.  Roesler 
sses  he  has  acquired  by  honest,  well  directed 
labor,  ami  it  was  by  hard,  energetic  toil  that  he  rose 
from  a  humble  German  apprentice  boy,  selling 
cakes  in  his  native,  land,  to  a  substantial,  prosper- 


400 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ous  landowner  in  the  New  World.  He  is  an  honor- 
able, upright,  conscientious  Christian  man,  and 
remembering  his  own  early  struggles  never  turns 
a  worth)'  person  in  need  from  his  door  without 
help.  He  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Milton,  and  although  past  eighty  he  has 
missed  only  two  sessions  of  the  Sunday  school  in 
over  three  years,  on  both  of  which  occasions  ill- 
ness kept  him  home.  He  has  to  drive  four  miles 
to  attend  church  and  Sunday  school.  In  politics 
Mr.  Roesler  i-  a  Republican,  and  he  served  two 
years  as  supervisor. 

Mr.  Roesler  married  Eliza  Feaster,  daughter 
of  Henry  Feaster,  of  Virginia  ;  her  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
was  given  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  in  recognition  of  his  services.  Mrs.  Roes- 
ler died  Feb.  2.  1900,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and 
is  buried  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Chillisquaque. 
Three  children  were  burn  to  this  union:  (1) 
Emma,  Mrs.  Foust,  bad  two  children.  Elmer  C. 
and  Delia  E.,  the  former  of  whom,  a  telegraph 
operator  at  Clearfield.  Pa.,  in  the  employ  of  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad  Company,  married 
Virginia  Beausigneur,  and  lias  one  child.  Jury 
Foust.  They  live  at  Clearfield.  (2)  Mary  died 
at  the  age  of  six  years.  (3)  Ella  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hendriek,  and  had  one  child.  Luther, 
who  is  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  New  York  Cen- 
tra] Railroad  Company  at  Jersey  Shore,  Pa.  He 
married  Ella  Mutchler  and  they  have  two  children, 
Roy  and  Catharine. 

IRA  T.  CLEMENT  PISSINGER  is  the  eldest 
child  and  only  surviving  member  of  the  happy 
union  of  David  Connor  and  Fannie  (Clement) 
Dissinger.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Ira  T.  (lenient,  the  man  who  accomplished  prob- 
ably more  than  any  other  one  man  for  the  up- 
building of  his  community.  John  Dissinger,  his 
paternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  Schaefferstown, 
Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  his  wife  Catherine  (whose 
maiden  name  was  Connor)  was  born  in  Ireland. 
They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  eight  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Of  tins  family  David  Con- 
nor was  the  youngest. 

David  Connor  Dissingee  was  born  in  Schaef- 
ferstown, Lebanon  Co..  Pa..  March  5,  1840,  and 
was  only  about  eleven  years  old  when  his  mother 
died.  Being  one  of  a  large  family  he  had  few 
early  advantages,  especially  for  acquiring  an  edu- 
cation, and  after  bis  mother's  death  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  learn  the  trade  of  tailor,  at  which  he  spent 
live  years.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went  to  Leb- 
anon, where  he  hired  out  for  four  years  to  the  stone 
cutter's  trade.  Just  before  the  expiration  of  this 
period  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  for 
a  three  months'  term  in  the  Union  service,  joining 
Company  E,  14th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infan- 
try.   At  the  end  of  this  time  he  returned  to  Schaef- 


ferstown, and  with  Capt.  John  S.  Long  recruited 
what  became  Company  F,  of  the  93d  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Camp  Coleman,  Leb- 
anon. Of  this  company  Mr.  Lung  was  made  cap- 
tain and  Mr.  Dissinger  first  lieutenant.  Their  first 
fighting  experience  was  at  the  battle  of  Williams- 
burg, Va..  where  in  the  absence  of  the  captain  the 
command  fell  upon  Lieutenant  Dissinger.  Their 
next  engagement  was  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  in 
which  Company  F  in  connection  with  Company  A 
of  the  93d  and  several  other  companies  served  as 
advance  picket  guards.  These  companies  were 
surrounded  by  the  enemy  on  the  first  day's  fight 
and  stood  in  great  danger  of  being  captured,  be- 
ing saved  only  by  the  remarkable  daring  of  Lieu- 
tenant Dissinger,  who  in  the  wild  panic  that  en- 
sued drew  his  revolver  and  with  wonderful  cool- 
ness ordered  the  terror-stricken  men  into  line; 
losing  no  time  he  himself  led  the  flight,  and  at 
night  arrived  safely  at  the  rifle  pits  with  more 
than  a  regiment  of  men.  For  this  gallant  and 
meritorious  exploit  young  Dissinger  received  the 
highest  encomiums  from  General  I'cck.  After  the 
seven  days'  fight  that  resulted  in  defeat  for  the 
Union  forces  at  Harrison's  Landing  Mr.  Dissinger, 
contracting  typhoid  fever,  was  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Washington,  and  three  months  passing 
without  much  progress  toward  recovery  he  resigned 
bis  position  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Lehanon, 
where  he  assisted  in  recruiting  a  company  for  the 
emergency  service. 

Alter  a  year  spent  in  Lebanon  in  the  book  and 
stationery  business  he  went  West  and  was  engaged 
at  bis  trade  for  about  six  months  in  Fort  Wayne 
and  Chicago.  He  was  present  at  the  Chicago  con- 
vention  which  nominated  General  McCIellan  for 
the  Presidency  in  1864.  Returning  to  Pennsvl- 
vania,  he  followed  his  trade  for  a  number  of 
years.  <>u  Sept.  24,  1865,  lie  came  to  Sunbury, 
opening  the  first  marble  business  in  the  town.  In 
April.  1st;;  or  1868,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Philip  11.  Moore  in  the  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  was  later  associated  with  Ira  T.  Clement. 
Mr.  Clement  buying  Mr.  Moore'-  interest.  In  1871 
Mr.  Dissinger,  in  company  with  Mr.  Moore,  erected 
the  line  hotel  on  Third  street  called  the  "Clement 
House."  named  in  honor  of  Ira  T.  Clement.  In 
i  he  same  year  they  erected  the  building  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Market  and  Third  streets  known  as  the 
Moore  &  Dissinger  block,  the  finest  business  block 
in  Sunbury.  Mr.  Dissinger  also  put  up  the  row  of 
eight  houses  known  as  Dissinger  row.  A  highly 
successful  business  man,  he  was  thoroughly  ad- 
mired and  trusted  by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  in 
L875  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Northumberland 
county  by  a  majority  of  85?  votes.  After  his  term 
as  county  treasurer  he  was  successfully  identified 
with  different  business  and  manufacturing  pro- 
jects. In  1881  his  name  was  presented  to  the  State 
convention  held  at  Williamsport  for  nomination  as 


/  /  / 


?~  - 


PUB'i 


AS'. 
TIL'       < 
R 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


401 


State  treasurer.  He  received  the  united  support 
of  the  interior  counties  of  the  State  and  was  only 
defeated  by  the  balance  of  power  held  by  Philadel- 
phia and  Allegheny  eonnties. 

On  April  10,  1866,  Mr.  Dissinger  married  Fan- 
nie ('lenient,  daughter  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  of  Sun- 
bury,  and  to  them  were  born  four  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Ira  T.  C,  Edward  W.,  Lou  Irene, 
Henry  Clement  and  John,  Ira  T.  C.  being  the  only 
survivor. 

David  C.  Dissinger  died  April  18,  1882,  and 
his  wife  Fannie  died  Aug.  12,  1893. 

Ira  T.  C.  Dissinger  was  born  in  Sunbury  Feb. 
7,  1867,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
completing  his  high  school  course  and  graduating 
as  valedictorian  of  his  class  in  1883.  This  class 
was  the  first  class  to  publicly  graduate,  thus  in- 
augural ing  the  commencement  exercises  of  the 
Sunbury  high  school.  Mr.  Dissinger  has  been  con- 
nected in  various  capacities  with  the  business  in- 
terests  of  the  late  Ira  T.  Clement,  his  maternal 
grandfather,  has  served  as  a  member  and  presi- 
dent of  the  borough  council,  was  city  clerk,  and 
secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  He  is  at  present 
prothonotarv  and  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Northum- 
berland county,  hi  which  honorable  and  respon- 
sible position  lie  was  elei  ted  in  11)07,  and  which  he 
has  efficiently  filled. 

As  was  his  father  before  him.  he  i-  a  Democrat 
in  political  connection.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Socially  affiliated,  he  is  a  Ma- 
son ill'  the  thirty-second  degree,  an  Elk,  Moose, 
Sim  of  Veteran,  member  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  and 
Temple  Club-,  and  one  of  the  famous  No.  1  Fire 
( lompany. 

Mi-.  Dissinger  is  devoted  in  every  sense  of  loy- 
alty in  hi-  alma  mater,  the  Sunbury  high  school. 
By  reason  of  this,  and  because  of  his  membership 
in  the  first  graduating  class,  he  is  and  has  been 
president  of  the  Alumni  Association,  numbering 
well  info  a  thousand  members.  This  position  Mr. 
1  lissinger  will  probably  occupy  until  the  time  of  his 
death. 

On  Oct.  8,  1880,  Mr.  Dissinger  married  Hattie 
Cooper,  daughter  of  Thomas  G.  and  Mary  Eliza- 
beth (Rohrbach)  Cooper.  Mrs.  Dissinger  died 
July  1  I.  1899,  the  mother  of  four  children:  Da- 
vid  Connor,  who  died  in  1897;  Charles  Edward: 
Ira  T.  ( 'lenient,  dr..  and  Mary  Elizabeth.  On 
June  7,  1905,  Mr.  Dissinger  married  Mary  E. 
Moore,  daughter  of  P.  H.  and  Catherine  (Smith) 
Moore. 

SIMON  P.  BEAVER,  of  Milton,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  cement  building 
blocks,  was  burn  in  1857  in  Snyder  county.  Pa., 
where  the  Beaver  family  has  long  been  settled. 

George  Beaver,  his  grandfather,  lived  and  died 
in  Snyder  county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Hi-  death  occurred  in  1860,  and  he  is  buried  at 

26 


Kratzerville.  To  him  and  his  first  wife  were  born 
the  following  children:  George,  Ellis  and  Michael. 
all  of  whom  lived  in  Snyder  county ;  John,  who 
lived  in  Northumberland  county;  Nathan,  who 
went  west  when  a  young  man :  and  Matthias,  fa- 
ther of  Simon  P.  Beaver.  He  married  (second) 
Anna  Hoffman,  and  they  had  one  son,  Henry  J. 

Matthias  Beaver  married  Salome  Conkel,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  namely : 
George,  who  went  west;  Absalom,  of  Snyder  coun- 
ty; Daniel,  of  New  Berlin,  Pa.;  Edwin,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  McCracken,  and  lives  near  Milton; 
John,  deceased;  Charles,  deceased:  Emanuel,  who 
died  in  the  army;  Catherine,  who  married  Jacob 
Parks,  of  Montandon,  Pa. ;  Sarah,  who  married 
Jacob  Bower :  Salome,  who  married  Noah  Ulrich ; 
and  Simon  P.  Five  of  the  sons  served  in  the 
Civil  war. 

Simon  P.  Beaver  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  spent  his 
early  life  on  a  farm.  When  a  young  man  he 
learned  the  trade  of  pumpmaking,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  removal  to  Milton,  in  1902.  In 
Milton  he  learned  the  heating  business  at  Shimers' 
mills,  but  he  gave  up  that  line  for  manufacturing 
in  1907,  when  he  commenced  his  present  business, 
the  making  of  cement  blocks.  There  is  a  growing 
demand  for  his  product,  and  his  enterprise  and  ju- 
dicious management  have  combined  to  popularize 
it  and  to  keep  the  trade  alive.  He  has  shown  ex- 
cellent ability  in  the  upbuilding  of  his  establish- 
ment, which  has  been  started  upon  a  substantial 
basis. 

On  July  4,  1S80.  Mr.  Beaver  married  Anna 
Catherine  Solomon,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Susan  (Beaver)  Solomon,  of  New  Berlin,  Pa.,  and 
they  have  had  six  children:  Maude  (who  married 
Elmer  Burkey  and  has  one  child.  Mildred),  Mabel 
(wdio  married  Cyrus  DeHart  and  has  one  child, 
Harry  W.),  Cora  (at  home).  Edward,  Ernest  and 
Rolliff.  Mr.  Beaver  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  United  Evangelical  church. 

ROBENALT  oi;  ROVENOLT.  This  name  is 
found  frequently  in  the  upper  end  of  Northum- 
berland county,  and  as  the  ancestors  of  it-  repre- 
sentatives treated  of  in  this  article  were  from 
Berks  county  it  is  likely  they  are  of  the  same  stock 
found  there  under  the  name  of  Raubenhold.  There 
arc  also  a  number  of  Raubenholds  in  Schuylkill 
county,  this  State. 

Johannes  Rabenold  (as  he  spelled  the  name). 
grandfather  of  Lewis  F.  Robenalt,  of  Lewis  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  was  probably  born 
in  Berks  county,  and  coming  to  Northumberland 
county  settled  in  Lewis  township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died  April  11.  1843,  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  ten  months,  seven  days,  and  his 
wife.  Barbara,  'lied  Sept.  21,  1859,  aged  seventy- 
six  years.     They  are  buried    in   the  old  Turbut- 


402 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ville  graveyard.  They  had  the  following  children: 
(1)  Michael  settled  at  Five  Point?,  in  Lewis  town- 
ship, and  followed  farming.  His  children  were : 
John,  Thomas.  William,  Jacob,  Mary,  Alice  and 
Annie.  (-2)  William,  who  lived  at  Muncy  Hills, 
was  a  laborer;  Ins  children  were  Jacob,  Samuel, 
Elizabeth.  Susan  and  Rachel.  (3)  John,  who 
lived  near  Schuyler  Station,  was  a  laborer.  He 
had  three  children:  Michael,  who  became  a  farmer 
in  Delaware  township,  this  county;  John,  who 
was  killed  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war:  and 
Mary.  (4)  Jacob  is  mentioned  below.  (5)  Susan 
married  Jacob  Menges.  (6)  Catharine  married 
Samuel  Menges,  brother  of  Jacob  who  married  her 
sister  Susan. 

Jacob  Raubenolt,  sun  of  Johannes,  was  born 
June  12,  1818,  in  Turbul  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  lived  and  farmed  in  Lewi-  town- 
ship, dying  on  his  farm  there  (the  place  now 
owned  by  II.  M.  Plotts)  March  3,  1891,  aged  sev- 
enty-three years,  six  months.  He  is  buried  in  the 
cemetery  at  Turbutville.  He  was  no!  only  a  good 
farmer,  but  also  a  mechanic  of  ability,  in  his 
earlier  life  following  the  trade  of  gunsmith,  mak- 
ing guns  of  excellent  design  and  showing  thor- 
ough workmanship:  like  old-fashioned  trade-men 
generally,  he  fashioned  every  part  of  the  gun  him- 
self, being  able  to  turn  out  the  complete  product 
with  his  own  hands.  Hi-  son  Lewis  had  a  gun  of 
his  father's  make  which  was  a  line  specimen  of  his 
ability  and  skill,  but  it  was  destroyed  in  the  great 
lire  which  -wept  Turbutville  Aug.'  11.  1900.  '  Mr. 
Ranbenolt  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
school  director  and  supervisor.  With  his  family 
he  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he 
was  much  interested,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  Hi-  wife,  Catharine  (Strause),  bom 
.Ian.  17,  1821,  daughter  of  Lewis  Strause.  of 
Straus. 'town  (now  Schuyler),  Pa.,  died  Aug.  10, 
1900.  Her  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Strausetown  was  so  named  in  his  honor. 
Nine  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Rauben- 
olt:  William,  who  lives  in  Ohio;  Anna.  Mrs.  John 
Steigerwald;  Lewis  I-'.:  Sarah.  Mrs.  Joseph  Rob- 
inson; Jacob,  of  Turbutville;  Elizabeth,  Mr-. 
Frank  Heffelfinger;  Emma,  Mr-.  William  Wolf- 
inger;  Samuel,  of  Ohio:  and  Susan,  .Mrs.  William 
I  lavis. 

Lewis  F.  Robenalt,  now  a  retired  citizen  of 
Turbutville,  was  born  in  Lewis  township  Feb.  13, 
1845,  sou  of  Jacob,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  loeality.  and  reared  to  farming 
Following  farming  until  1  s s  t .  he  that  year  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  at  Comly,  in 
Limestone  township.  Montour  Co..  Pa.,  where  he 
was  in  business  for  six  years,  until  his  removal  to 
Turbutville  in  1890.  For  the  next  ten  years  he 
conducted  a  general  store  there,  until  completely 
burned  out  in   1900,  with  a  loss  of  three  thousand 


dollars.  In  1901  lie  purchased  a  store  at  Schuyler 
Station,  which  he  carried  on  for  four  years,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  selling  out  his  stock,  good  will 
and  fixtures  to  his  son-in-law.  Frank  Ellis.  For 
the  next  three  years  Mr.  Robenalt  lived  on  a  small 
farm  at  Schuyler,  in  1908  settling  at  his  present 
home  in  Turbutville,  where  he  has  since  lived  in 
retirement.  He  is  a  respected  and  useful  citizen, 
taking  little  active  interest  in  public  affairs  but 
giving  In-  support  to  worthy  enterprises  and  his 
influence  to  all  movements  for  the  benefit  of  the 
community. 

<>n  June  ts.  1868,  Mr.  Robenalt  married  Alice 
Levan,  daughter  of  William  and  Peggy  (Fenster- 
er)  Levan,  of  Anthony  township.  Montour 
l  o.;  I'a.  They  have  three  children:  Xella.  mar- 
ried to  II.  M.  I'lotis.  a  fanner  in  Lewis  township; 
William,  of  Turbutville;  and  Ilattie.  married  to 
frank  Ellis.  Mr.  Robenalt  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  old  Lutheran  Church  at  Turbut- 
ville.    Politically  he  i?-  a   Democrat. 


George  Robenolt,  founder  of  another  branch  id' 
this  family  in  Northumberland  county,  was  the 
grandfather  of  (  harles  F.  and  Phineas  F.  Rovenolt. 
He  was  horn  in  Berks  county,  l'a..  and  came  to 
Northumberland  county  after  hi-  marriage,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  Lewi-  township,  in  the  lo- 
cality known  as  Menges  Valley.  He  did  laboring 
work.  He  died  before  the  Civil  war.  and  the  place 
of  his  burial  is  uncertain.  In  religion  he  was  a 
Lutheran.  Hi-  wife.  Kate  (Barber),  died  soon 
after  the  Civil  war.  at  the  home  of  her  son  Fred- 
erick, when  eighty-four  years  old.  and  is  buried 
at  Turbutville.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Amos  lived  at  "Speck  Berg,"  in  Luzerne  county. 
Pa.;  John  lived  near  Speck  Berg;  George  lived 
near  Speck  Here".  Peter  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Limestone  for  a  time,  later  moving  out  Wesl  : 
Frederick  is  mentioned  below;  Adam  lived  at  Dan- 
\  ille  for  many  year-,  later  moving  to  Williamsport, 
where  he  died  :  Daniel  lived  in  Delaware  township, 
this  county;  Kate  married  Jonas  Patterson  and 
they  lived  in  Danville  some  years,  later  moving  to 
Washingtonville,  Montour  county. 

Frederick  Rovenolt,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
1815  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Northum- 
berland county  before  his  marriage.  For  a  time 
he  lived  in  Limestone  township,  Montour  county, 
thence  moving  to  Watsontown,  where  he  died  in 
1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  In  his 
active  years  he  followed  farming,  living  in  retire- 
ment for  fifteen  years  before  his  death.  His  wife. 
Martha  (Love),  horn  in  1818,  died  m  1887.  Mr. 
Rovenolt  was  a  Lutheran,  holding  membership  in 
Follmer's  Church.  To  him  and  his  wife  were 
horn  thi'  following  children:  Catharine  died  in 
infancy:  Eliza  died  unmarried  (she  was  an  unusu- 
ally large  woman,  weighing  380  pounds)  :  Charles 
F.  and  Phineas  F.  are  mentioned  below;  M.  Jane 


N  ( HiTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PE  \  X  SYLVA  X  1 A 


Hi:: 


married  Thomas  Clayton,  of  Watsontown;  Wil- 
liam is  a  residenl  of  Danville,  Pa.;  Agnes  who  is 
unmarried,  lives  at  Watsontown. 

Cm  UILes    F.    Rovenolt,    farmer   and    extensive 
1:111.1  owner  of  Lewis  township,  was  born  Sept.  7, 

Is|:'-  in    Limest i  township,   Montour  Co.,   Pa.' 

ani1  was  edui  i I   in  the  public  schools.     He  was 

trained  to  farm  worl<  from  boyhood,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1861  began  that  occupation  on  his  own 
account  in  Derry  township,  Montour  county,  where 
be  continued  to  farm  for  five  years.  Moving 
thence  to  Delaware  township,  Northumberland 
county,  he  also  farmed  there  for  five  years,  at  the 
i  ad  of  which  time  he  settled  in  Lewis  township, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  occupied  his 
present  farm  since  Oct.  6,  L884,  moving  thither 
l'1'"111  near  Turbutville,  where  he  had  resided  for 
one  year.  Previous  to  that  he  occupied  a  farm 
about  one  mile  distant  from  his  present  place,  sell- 
in--  his  farm  stock,  etc.,  at  public  auction  at  the 
time  of  Ins  removal.  His  home  farm  consists  of 
L01  a.res.  ;m<|  he  owns  another  tract  of  1  15  ai  re- 
in Lewis  township,  now  occupied  and  worked  by 
his  son  Orban— both  fertile  and  valuable  tracts. 
He  also  has  a  pice  of  property  in  Turbutville. 
He  has  invested  in  two  lots  in  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla..  where  bis  son-in-law.  Charles  Cleman,  lives, 
engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Rovenolt  has  long  been 
identified  with  the  administration  of  local  public 
affairs,  having  held  the  office  of  auditor  longer  than 
any  other  man  in  his  township,  and  he  has  also 
served  as  tax  collector.  He  was  in  public  office 
for  eighteen  years  altogether.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the 
Turbutville  Church,  which  he  has  served  six  rears 
as  deacon,  lie  is  a  substantial  and  widely  known 
resident,  of  bis  locality,  and  is  everywhere  regarded 
with  respect  by  those  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Rovenolt  married  Clara  C.  Seidel,  who  was 
born  in  1848,  daughter  of  William  Seidel,  of  Derry 
township,  and  fourteen  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  William  A.  died  in  infancy;  Lizzie  A. 
married  Alfred  Snyder;  Mattie  L.  married  Frank- 
lin Menges;  Mazie  A.  married  E.  B.  Schuyler; 
Virgie  D.  married  X'.  I.  Smith;  Urban  is  a  farmer 
in  Lewis  township;  Seidel  C.  is  mentioned  below: 
Franklin  E.  lives  in  Lewis  township,  this  county; 
Corvie  Belton,  horn  in  1881,  die,!  in  1903.;  Avis  L. 
married  Charles  Cleman.  of  Exchange,  Pa.;  Melva 
married  John  Moser;  Ralph  lives  at  home:  Ara- 
bella and  Edna  are  unmarried  and  living  at  home. 
Seidel  C.  Rovenolt,  of  Turbutville,  son  of 
Charles  F.,  was  born  Now  ;,  1876,  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  and  worked  for  his  father  until  April  1, 
1003,  since  when  he  has  been  carrier  on  the  Rural 
Free  Delivery  Route  No.  2,  from  Turbutville.  cov- 
ering twenty-three  and  a  half  miles  per  day.  On 
March  2,  1904,  he  married  Amy  Lerch,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Lerch,  of  Lewis  township,  and  they 
have     three     children.     Milford,     Margaret     and 


Charles  S..  Jr.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rovenolt  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

Phineas  F.  Robenolt,  another  son  of  Freder- 
ick, a  retired  farmer  now  living  at  Turbutville, 
was  horn  Dec.  27,  1847,  in  Limestone  township, 
Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  township.  Tie  was  reared  upon  the 
farm,  and  in  the  spring  of  1871  commenced  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  Derry  township.  Montour 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  for  a  number 
of  years,  about  1880  removing  to  Lewis  township, 
Northumberland  county.  Here  he  bought  a  four- 
acre  lot  with  a  house  near  Turbutville,  and  made 
his  home  there  for  three  years,  next  moving  to 
one  of  the  Montgomery  farms,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  five  years.  IDs  next  move  was  to  the 
Joshua  Bowman  farm,  which  he  cultivated  on 
shares  for  ten  years,  in  1898  buying  bis  present 
property  in  Lewis  township,  150  acres  of  the  best 
land  in  Paradise  Valley,  all  limestone  soil.  There 
he  lived  and  farmed  until  1903,  after  which  he 
retired  but  continued  to  make  his  home  on  the 
farm  until  the  spring  of  1910,  when  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  Turbutville.  He  and  his  family  arc 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  political 
matters  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Tn  1869  Mr.  Robenolt  married  Catharine 
Stamm,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Anna  C.  (Dicf- 
fenbach)  Stamm.  who  lived  in  Montour  county, 
Mr.  Stamm  dying  in  Derry  township:  Mrs.  Roben- 
olt's  grandparents  were  Daniel  and  Catharine 
(Barnhardt)  Stamm.  Two  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robenolt:  Calvin  A.,  who  farms  bis 
father's  homestead,  married  Emma  Trick  and 
their  children  are  Domer  P.,  Elwood  ('..  Guy  F.. 
Alberta  C,  Helena  A.  and  Martha  T. :  Cora  I. 
married  Frank  Murray  and  they  live  in  Lewis 
township  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  Robenolt  place 
(their  children  are  Katie  A.,  Willard  P.,  Carrol 
E.  and    Hunter  L. ) . 

VALFXT1XF  S.  TKUCKENMILLER,  mer- 
chant miller  of  Delaware  township.  Nortbumber 
land  county,  is  a  native  of  the  district  in  which  be 
lives,  horn  Aug.  23.  1843.  His  ancestors  have  lived 
there  for  several  generations,  and  we  give  the 
family  record  from  the  time  it  was  founded  in  this 
country.  The  family  has  become  numerous  in 
eastern  and  central  Pennsylvania,  and  the  name  is 
often  found  corrupted  into  Druckenmiller,  the 
Berks  count)  branch  spelling  it  so.  The  ancestor 
of  the  Northumberland  Eamily,  Sebastian  Trucken- 
miller,  spelled  it  with  a  "T,"  however,  and  that 
seems    to   he  the  correct    torn 

Sebastian  Truckenmiller  came  to  America  on 
t|H.  pink  "John  and  William."  of  Sunderland. 
Constable  Tymperton,  master,  from  Rotterdam, 
which  qualified  at  Philadelphia  Oct.  U.  1732.  On 
the  original  list  of  passengers  (Pennsylvania 
Archives,  Vol.  KVII,  Second  Series,  pages  72-73) 


404 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


his  name  is  given  as  Sebastian  and  Bastian,  and  his 
wife's  name  as  Catarina,  In  a  sec  hided  spot,  in  a 
field  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Jacob  Nuss,  at  Koch's 
sehoolhouse,  in  Upper  Milford  township,  Lehigh 
Co.,  Pa.,  lie  the  remains  of  this  pioneer  and  Revo- 
lutionary war  soldier  and  his  wife.  He  is  called 
"( laptain"  Truckenmiller.  For  the  benefit  of  their 
many  descendants  a  verbatim  copy  of  the  inscrip- 
tions on  their  tombstones  is  herewith  given : 

Hier  ruhet 
Sebastian  Truckenmiller 
Geboren  den  1  Aug.  1715, 
Gestorben  den  1st  Feb. 
1795    Alt.  79  Jahr,  6  m. 
Leichten  Text  Elmaz  26,  19-20. 

Hier  ruhet 
Catharina  Truckenmiller, 
ein  geborene  Schmuck — 
brucken    geboren    den    1st    Jenner, 
1719  gestorben  d.  30  Sept. 
1793.    Alt  74  jahr  9  m. 
7  da.  Lied — Las  die 
todten  auferstehen   den 
letzen  tage. 
Text  2  Tim.  4-7  and  8. 

Among  the  many  children  of  the  pioneer  were 
John.  Jacob,  Christian,  George,  Charles  and  Fred- 
erick: there  were  also  daugl 

The  Federal  census  of  1790  mentions  a  number 
of  Truckenmillers.  Christian  Trickymillar  had 
died  by  that  time,  but  his  family,  eons  -ting  of  his 
widow  and  six  daughters  and  three  sons  who  were 
under  sixteen  years  old,  were  residents  6f  North- 
umberland county. 

George  Truckenmiller,  according  to  the  Federal 
1790,  was  a  resident  of  Hereford  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  his  family  consisting  of  himself 
and    wife,   one   son,   and   one   daughter. 

Charles   Truckenmiller,   according  to   the  same 

authority,  was  a   resident  of  Hereford   township; 

family  consisted  of  father  and  mother,  three  sons 

sixteen  years  of  age,  four  daughters,  and  one 

slave. 

John  Truckenmiller  (Jno.  Junior)  was  head  of 
a  family  of  Rockland  township,  Berks  county,  con- 
sisting of  himself  and  wife,  one  son  above  sixteen, 
and  two  under  sixteen,  and  three  daughters. 

(There  are  sons  bearing  these  three  names, 
George,  Charles  and  John,  in  Sebastian  Trucken- 
miller's  family,  bin  according  to  one  account  these 
tliree  are  said  to  be  the  sons  of  Johan  Michael 
Truckenmiller,  who  emigrated  in  1742,  coming  in 
the  ship  "Francis  and  Elizabeth.") 

In  1790  Sebastian  Truckenmiller.  the  emigrant, 
in  Upper  Milford,  Northampton  (now  Le- 
high) Co.,  Pa.,  had  wife,  but  no  children  left  at 
home. 

Jacob  Truckenmiller  the  same  year  lived  in  that 
place  and  had  family  consisting  of  himself  and 
wife,  two  sons  over  sixteen,  one  son  under  sixteen, 
and   two  daughters. 

There  also  lived  in  1790   in  Upper   Milford  a 


George  Trockemniller,  family  consisting  of  him- 
self and  wife,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

John  Truckenmiller  died  in  the  latter  part  of 
January,    1799,   in   Northumberland  count}',   Pa., 
an  account  of  his  estate  being  filed  Feb.  2,   i  i 
Michael  Meiser  was  named  the  administrator. 

In  1803,  among  the  list  of  taxable*  in  Mahan- 
tango  township.  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  appeared  the 
names  of  Valentine  and  Michael  Truckenmiller. 

Frederick  Truckenmiller  moved  from  Berks 
county  to  Perm  township,  Northumberland  (now 
Snyder)  county,  at  an  early  period.  He  died  short- 
ly before  March  29,  1796,  and  his  last  will  and 
testament,  on  record  in  Will  Book  1.  page  86,  pro- 
vides as  follows  for  his  "dearly  beloved  wife" 
Christina :  Ten  acres  of  land  on  north  side  of 
Middle  Creek,  one  hundred  pounds  of  lawful 
money,  choice  of  one  cow,  six  sheep.  The  exec- 
utors were  wife  Christina,  George  Motz  and  Adam 
Bohlander.  The  children  of  Frederick  and  Chris- 
tina Truckenmiller  were:  John  Frederick,  Peter, 
Mary.  Elizabeth.  Margaret,  Christina,  Catarina, 
Maghtalena  and  Barbarah. 

Jacob  Truckenmiller,  evidently  son  of  Sebas- 
tian, was  born  Aug.  29,  1759,  in  lower  Berks  coun- 
ty, and  came  to  Northumberland  count)'  before  the 
Revolution,  settling  in  Delaware  township,  where 
In-  descendants  -till  live.  He  was  the  pioneer  of 
the  family  in  this  immediate  locality,  and  being 
a  millwright  and  miller  by  calling  built  the  orig- 
inal Truckenmiller  mill,  selecting  the  site  now 
owned  by  his  great-grandson,  Valentine  S.  Truck- 
enmiller. lie  died  An--.  23,  L823,  at  McEwensville 
and  is  buried  there,  in  the  old  upper  cemetery.  In 
religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  His  account,  entered 
9,  is'.':;,  in  Will  Book  2,  page  443,  mentions 
-I'M-  Jacob,  Solomon,  George,  Samuel,  and ,  also 
Mrs.  Mary  Truckenmiller.  probably  his  wife.  The 
exec  i  S  lomon  Truckenmiller  and  Henry 

R      '  Chi    account  was  filed  in  the  Register's 

office.  As  shown  by  tombstone  records,  Jacob's 
wife  was  named  Annamaria,  and  she  was  born  Jan. 
16,  1763,  and  died  July  27,  1843.  Their  children 
were:  Solomon,  mentioned  below:  Jacob,  born 
March  22,  1790,  who  died  April  15,  1880  (his  wife. 
Sarah,  died  Oct.  3.  1873,  aged  seventy-six  years, 
one  month,  fifteen  days):  Georgi  :  and  Samuel. 
in  1803,  who  died  in  1883  (his  wife.  Surah, 
he in  m  1805,  died  in  1895  I. 

Solomon  Truckenmiller.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born 
June  11,  1785,  and  lived  in  Delaware  township. 
Northumberland  county,  near  McEwensville, 
where  he  had  a  farm  of  120  acres,  this  property  re- 
maining in  the  family  name  until  1903.  He  died 
on  that  place  Nov.  7.  1857.  Mi'.  Truckenmiller 
wa-  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  a  member  of  the 
elm reh  at  McEwensville,  which  lie  served  in  of- 
ficial capacities  for  many  years.  He  was  a  tall  man. 
of  medium  build,  and  light  complexion.  His  wife. 
Eve,  died  Sept.  21.  1864,  aged  eighty  years,  seven 


KOKTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


405 


months,  twenty-seven  days.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  Edmund,  Charles  and  Solomon  are  all 
mentioned  below;  Mary  (Polly)  married  John 
Clapp  and  they  lived  in  Lewis  township,  Northum- 
berland comity;  Susan  died  Dec.  25,  1895,  aged 
seventy  three  years,  six  months,  fifteen  'lays,  un- 
married; Rebecca  died  July  7,  1886,  aged  sixty 
years,  three  month-,  eleven  days,  unmarried  ;  Sarah 
married  Jonathan  Strause  and  lived  in  Montour 
county:  Elizabeth  married  David  Dieffenbacher 
ami  lived  in   Delaware  township. 

Edmund  Truckenmiller,  born  in  Delaware  town- 
ship, was  a  farmer  there  tor  many  years,  at  the 
time  of  In-  death  owning  two  farms,  one  of  145 
acres  ami  one  of  r.'o  acres.  He  was  enterprising 
and  intelligent  in  bis  agricultural  work,  ami  was 
noi  only  admired  for  his  ability  hut  esteemed  for 
the  many  sterling  traits  which  made  his  influence 
strong  in  the  community,  lie  was  a  Lutheran. 
active  in  church  work,  and  helped  to  build  the 
Union  church  at  McEwensville,  donating  liberally 
toward  the  expenses  of  its  construction,  lie  served 
as  deacon  and  elder.  Mr.  Truckenmiller  was  a 
resideni  of  McEwensville  the  Last  thirty  years  of 
his  life,  dying  May  16,  1889,  aged  seventy-eight 
years,  eleven,  months,  twenty-live  days.  Pew  citi- 
zens of  his  locality  were  more  generally  missed, 
ami  he  was  held  in  the  greatest  respect  h\  all  who 
knew  him.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  His 
wife,  Mary  (Sehmeck),  whose  family  came  from 
Berks  county,  died  Oct.  17,  1876,  aged  sixty-nine 
years,  two  months,  eighteen  days.  Eleven  children 
were  horn  to  this  couple,  of  whom  Eliza  died  un- 
married; Edmund  died  young;  Solomon:  Malinda 
married  Ephraim  Leinbach;  Daniel  live-  reined 
,ii  Watsontown;  Rachel  died  unmarried;  Dr.  Wil- 
liam is  at.  Allenwood,  Onion  Co.,  Pa.;  Calvin  is  a 
resident  of  Centerville,  Mich.;  Valentine  S.  lives 
in  1  (elaware  township. 

Valentine  S.  Truckenmiller  received  In-  early 
education  in  i  he  com  lie  >n  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, later  attending  McEwensville  Academy  and 
a  commercial  college  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  from  which 
In  was  graduated  in  1863.  Until  1874  Mr.  Truck- 
enmiller followed  the  business  of  cattle  broker,  be- 
ing thus  engaged  in  Chicago  and  other  western 
place-,  and  in  that  year  he  purchased  the  old 
Truckenmiller  mill  and  homestead  site  in  Dela- 
ware township,  near  Watsontown,  where  he  has 
since  been  established.  There  are  thirty-six  acres 
of  land  attached  to  the  mill  property.  When  lie 
purchased  the  mill  he  remodeled  it  throughout,  in- 
stalling the  most  modern  machinery  and  bringing 
the  capacity  up  to  one  hundred  barrels  daily,  and 
he  commands  the  principal  trade  in  his  line  in  the 
upper  part  of  Northumberland  county,  producing 
high-grade  flour,  which  he  ships  all  over  ea 
and  central  Pennsylvania,  the  demand  being  partic- 
ularly large  in  the  coal  regions.  The  popular 
brands  are  Satin.  Boss  and  Queen,  and   live  men 


are  kept  constantly  employed.  The  mill  is  now 
conducted  by  the  linn  id'  V.  S.  Truckenmiller  & 
Son,  Mr.  Truekeiimiller's  son  Frank  E.  being  in 
partnership  with  him.  They  also  deal  in  grain  ami 
mill  feed  of  all  kinds.  Mr.  Truckenmiller  has 
become  interested  in  other  business  matters  in  his 
section,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farm- 
ers National  Bank  of  Watsontown,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  director  ever  since.  Be  has  been  active  in 
various  projects  affecting  the  general  welfare  and 
is  a  leading  citizen  id'  his  section,  lie  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Watsontown,  and  so- 
cially belongs  to  Warrior  Run  Lodge,  No.  101,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Watsontown,  and  to  Warrior  Run 
Chapter.  1,'.  A.  M.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  during  the  Civil  war  be  was  in  the  Union  serv- 
ice, enlisting  from  Watsontown  in  186]  in  Com- 
pany B,  131st  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  hi'  served  nine  months. 

In  1870  Mr.  Truckenmiller  married  Sarah  E. 
Montgomery,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Caldwell)  Montgomery,  of  McEwensville,  and  to 
them  were  horn  two  children,  Frank  E.  and  Wil- 
liam S.  Mrs.  Truckenmiller  died  Nov.  7,  1890, 
aged  forty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  at  Watson- 
town. 

Frank  E.  Truckenmiller,  son  of  Valentine  S. 
Truckenmiller,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy,  and  conducted  a  drug  store 
at  Williamsport,  Pa.,  for  five  years.  He  sold  out 
on  account  of  his  health,  and  since  1  !)(>:>  has  been 
associated  with  his  father,  being  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  V.  S.  Truckenmiller  &  Son.  He  is 
a  thirty-second  degree  Mason. 


Charles  Truckenmiller,  son  of  Solomon,  was 
horn  Sept.  20,  1813,  and  lived  in  Delaware  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming.  lie  bail  an 
eighty-acre  propert)  near  McEwensville.  His 
wile.  Susanna  (Dieffenbacher),  born  Sept.  20, 
1820,  died  May  2,  1892.  Mr.  Truckenmiller  died 
Feb.  13,  1893.  They  bad  children  as  follows: 
Augustus,  of  Catawissa,  Pa.,  a  musician;  George, 
who  lives  in  Dakota;  Eenry,  of  Dakota;  Elizabeth, 
married  and  living  in  Seranton.  Pa.:  and  Ella, 
married  and  living  in  Dakota.  The  three  who  Bet- 
tied  in  the  west  have  all  done  well,  and  all  the 
members  of  the  family  are  in  prosperous  circum- 
stances. 

Solomon  Truckenmiller.  son  of  Solomon,  lived 
near  McEwensville,  in  Delaware  township,  where 
he  had  a  small  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married  Eliza  Strab,  and  they  had  two 
children:  Peter,  who  died  at  Milton,  Pa.:  and 
Isaac,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Trucken- 
miller died  i  let.  9,  L896,  aged  seventy-six  years. 
six  months,  nineteen  days:  hi-  wile  died  .Ian.  13, 
1892,  aged  sixty  years,  eight  month:-,  seven  days. 


Jai  ob  E.  Truckenmiller  (son  of  Jacob)  of  Com- 


106 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


pany  B,  131st  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
died  in  hospital  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  15, 
1862,  aged  thirty-five  years,  nine  month?,  twenty- 
two  days. 


As  previously  mentioned,  some  branches  of  the 
family  spell  the  name  Drnekenmiller.  Of  these. 
Michael  Drnekenmiller,  millwright,  of  Hereford 
township,  Berks  county,  was  said  to  be  a  descendant 
of  the  Charles  Truckenmiller  who  in  1790  lived 
in  Hereford  township.  Michael's  children  were: 
Daniel,  Enos,  Clara,  Hannah.  Lucy  and  Elizabeth. 

Enos  Drunckenmiller   (as  rote  his  name), 

son  of  Michael,  was  born  Dec.  14.  1821,  and  died 
March  29,  1899,  ai  Zieglersville  in  Upper  Milford 
township,  Lehigh  Co.,  l'a..  his  death  being  caused 
by  apoplexy.  He  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  ceme- 
tery at  that  place,  and  was  long  an  active  worker 
in  the  church,  in  all  its  departments,  serving  as 
elder  and  Sunday  school  teacher.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  building  committee  when  the  new  church 
was  erected.  For  many  years  he  was  director  of 
a  singing  school.  Mr.  Drunckenmiller  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  mechanic  all  his  life,  owning 
several  farms.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
■  I  nine  years  as  school  director  of  Hereford 
township,  Berks  county.  He  married  Eli 
X.  Desch,  daughter  of  George  and  Margerite  (  Mar- 
steller)  Desh,  and  they  had  a  large  family,  na 
ly:  Benneville  died  of  measles  and  brain 
when  twenty-two  years  old;  Rev.  Joel  settled  about 
1880  in  Michigan,  where  he  serves  a  charge  at 
Rogers  City ;  Tilghman  married  Barbara  Prey : 
Elizabeth  married  Milton  Kleinsmith;  Henry,  now 
of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  married  Ellen  Wagonhorst;  David 
married  Katie  Xuss  and  lives  at  Sellersville,  Pa.; 
Benjamin  D.  is  a  resident  of  Kutztown,  Pa, :  Em- 
ma died  of  diphtheria  in  her  ninth  year:  Mame 
married  William  Weiss  and  (second)  Hiram  Welk- 
er;  Susanna  married  Benjamin  Brey;  Rosa  mar- 
ried Allen  W.  Sheimer:  Sallie  married  John 
Sweitzer;  Georg  I1  s  a  Lutheran  minister ;  Mag- 
gie married  William  Shubert :  Laura  married 
Richard  Reese:  Annie  married  Allen  Snyder. 

Rev.  George  D.  Drnekenmiller,  son  of  Euos, 
graduated  from  Muhlenberg  College  in  1894,  and 
then  entered  Mount  Airy  Theological  Semi- 
nary, from  which  he  was  graduated  three  years 
later.  He  was  ordained  at  Lancaster  June  14, 
1897,  by  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  and  ad- 
jacent states,  and  in  July  of  the  same  year  took 
charge  of  the  Freeburg  parish,  in  Snyder  county, 
to  which  he  had  been  called.  Three  years  later 
he  received  a  call  to  the  Freemansburg  charge,  in 
Northampton  county,  in  May.  1900.  and  there  he 
had  a  very  successful  pastorate,  during  which  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected  and  the  membership 
greatly  increased.  On  Dec.  1,  1905,  he  accepted 
an  urgent  call  to  Nazareth,  where  a  $40,000  church 
was  erected  during  his  incumbency  and  325  new 


members  added  to  the  church  roll.  He  resigned 
to  accept  a  unanimous  call  to  Hamburg,  where  he 
took  charge  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  Sept. 
1,  1910.  He  has  made  many  friends  during  his 
brief  service  at  that  church.  Mr.  Druckenmiller 
married  Ellen  J.  Lerch,  of  Allentown,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

GEORGE  D.  HEDENBERG,  Milton,  a  coal 
merchant,  is  doing  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hedenberg  &  Son.  This  business  is  of  about 
ten  \ear-'  standing,  during  which  time  it  has 
grown  from  a  small  coal  yard  to  one  of  the  largest 
and  besi  equipped  plants  in  this  section. 

The  Hedenbergs  are  of  Swedish  descent,  the 
American  branch  having  come  to  this  country  in 
the  early  Colonial  days  and  settled  in  Perth  Amboy, 
X.  .1..  from  which  point  the  family  became  widely 
scattered. 

Charles  .1.  Hedenberg,  grandfather  of  George 
D.,  was  horn  in  Tennessee,  and  being  of  a  roving 
disposition,  resided  in  many  pails  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  active  in  the  Texan  Revolution 
against  Mexico,  as  well  as  in  the  Civil  war.  Shortly 
before  the  latter  period  he  came  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  he  died  in  Danville  in  1871.  To  him  and  his 
wife,  Mary  Ellen,  were  bom  the  following  chil- 
dren: Charles  .1..  .lam.-  M..  Mary  Augusta, 
Frances  V.  and  William  J.,  and  one  son  that  died 
in  infancy. 

James  M.  Hedenberg,  father  of  George  D.,  was 
born  in  Houston,  Texas.  Jan.  .'..  1847.  Coming 
north  with  his  parents,  he  resided  in  Philadel- 
phia. Pa.,  from  which  place  he  enlisted,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  in  Company  0.  192d  Regi- 
ment. P.  Y.  I.  After  the  war  he  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  to  study  medicine,  but 
on  account  of  ill  health  gave  it  up.  Later  he  went 
into  partnership  with  hi-  father  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  Danville.  Pa.,  continuing  there  until  1872, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railroad  Company.  He  was  stationed 
first  at  YVilliamsport.  Pa.,  being  transferred  thence 
to  Milton,  in  1873,  as  agent,  which  position  he 
rilled  for  twenty-five  years.  He  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  the  extension  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad  branch  into  the  center  of  the  town. 
In  1898  he  was  transferred  to  Philadelphia,  and  he 
served  there- until  his  resignation  in  1902  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health.  He  returned  to  Milton 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred Aug.  -.'ii.  1910. 

On  June  1,  1870,  James  M.  Hedenberg  married 
Susan  R.  Hiestand,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(Hoover)  Hiestand,  who,  with  two  children, 
_re  D.  and  Charles  L..  of  Madison,  Ga.,  sur- 
vived him.  He  was  a  member  of  Milton  Lodge, 
Xo.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Scottish  Rite  Consistory 
of  the  Valley  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  Post  No.  2, 
G.  A.  R.,  of' Philadelphia. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


407 


George  D.  Eedenberg  was  bom  Oct.  15,  1871, 
at  Danville,  Pa.  He  was  educated  at  the  Milton 
public  schools  and  started  work  in  the  employ  of 
the  United  States  Express  Company,  at  .Milton. 
Later  he  became  chief  clerk  in  the  Milton  station 
of  the  P.  &  I!.  Railroad.  In  the  year  1898  he  en- 
Listed  in  Company  C,  12th  Regiment,  P.  V.  I.  Aft- 
er the  close  of  the  Spanish-American  war  he 
re-entered  11 mploy  of  the  P.  &  R.  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  was  stationed  at  Port  Reading,  X.  J., 
being  later  transferred  to  Rutherford  Transfer, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  In  1903  he  came  back  to  Milton, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness. 

George  D.  Hedenberg  married  Nov.  20,  1902, 
Anna  M.  Eeinen,  daughter  of  Henry  .).  and  Anna 
(  Mann)  Heinen,  of  Milton.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, George  I)..  Elisabeth  M.  and  Juliette  L.  So- 
cially Mr.  I [edenberg  is  a  member  of  Milton  Lodge, 
No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Scottish  Rite  Consistory 
of  the  Valley  of  Williamsport,  S.  Hepburn  Pollock 
Camp,  No.  121,  S.  of  Y..  and  the  I!.  P.  0.  Elks 
Lodge,  No.  913. 

WILLIAM  A.  DEAN,  late  of  Watsontown,  had 
been  a  resident  of  thai  borough  only  a  few  years 
at  the  time  of  his  recent  death,  but.  he  was  a  well 
known  citizen  of  this  part  of  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  passed  the  latter  half  of  his  long 
life.  His  earlier  years  were  spent  in  the  adjoining 
section  of  Montour  county,  and  he  came  of  an  old 
family  of  this  region — upper  Northumberland 
county  and  the  adjacent  territory  of  what  i-  now 
Montour  county.  He  was  active  in  politics  and 
public  affairs  for  a  number  of  years,  and  had  given 
honorable  service  in  various  positions. 

Mi-.  Dean  was  horn  Oct.  27,  1827,  near  Washing- 
tonville,  Columbia  (now  Montour)  Co..  Pa.  The 
family  i-  of  English  origin,  and  In-  great-grand- 
father was  one  of  General  Wolfe's  aides-de-camp  at 
the  battle  of  Quebec,  in  1759.  At  the  close  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war  he  returned  to  England, 
where  he  died.  His  son.  Joseph  Dean,  grandfather 
of  William  A.  Dean,  was  impressed  on  board  an 
English  vessel,  and  brought  from  England  to 
America,  lie  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  and  after  its  close  married  Esther 
Florel.  and  settled  in  Montour  (then  Columbia) 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  Dean,  son  id'  Joseph  and  Esther,  was 
born  in  wdiat  is  now  Montour  county  in  1786,  and 
died  in  1S67.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  mid 
proved  himself  a  man  of  enterprise  and  intelli- 
gence in  business  matters,  accumulating  consider- 
able means.     He  was  an  influential  citizen  of  his 

dav.    serving   i   term    as   treasurer   of    Montour 

county  and  ten  years  as  associate  judge.  He  was 
a  strong  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religion  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he 
served  many  rears  as  elder.     Progressive  and  en- 


ergetic, he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  his 
time.  A  young  man  when  the  war  of  1812  broke 
out,  he  entered  the  service  and  attained  the  rank 
of  colonel,  lie  was  twice  married,  his  first  union 
being  with  Mary  Pollock,  daughter  of  James  Pol- 
lock, of  Anthony  township,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa., 
and  she  died  about  1822,  leaving  one  son,  Joseph. 
Mr.  Dean's  second  marriage  was  to  Adeline  C. 
<ole.  of  Fishing  Creek,  Columbia  Co..  Pa.,  and 
member  of  an  old  family  of  that  county.  She  had 
tine,,  brothers  and  one  sister,  as  follows:  Ezekiel, 
l-aiah,  William  (who  was  county  commissioner 
of  Columbia  county)  and  Helen  (Mrs.  Samuel 
Lowery).  Mis.  Adeline  C.  Dean  died  in  1858,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  She  and  her  husband 
are  buried  in  the  Derry  cemetery  adjoining  the 
church  of  that  name  in  Montour  county.  To  their 
union  were  horn  nine  children,  the  family  record 
being  a-  follows:  Joseph  married  Mary  Ann  Gehr- 
linger,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  Margaret. 
(Mr-.  James  Pollock)  and  Wallace  (who  married 
Ella  Foust),  and  by  his  second  wife.  Margaret 
(Corneleson),  he  had  five  children:  William  A.  is 
mentioned  below;  Jane  married  Russell  Sheddon 
and  had  one  son,  Clarence,  of  Gardner,  Kans. : 
Mary  married  William  Clingan  and  had  children. 
Charles  (of  Kansas  City,  Mo.).  Margaret  (wife 
of  A.  Brown,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.),  Jean  (Mrs.  Price. 
of  Galesburg,  111.)  and  Helen  (Mrs.  Pennfield.  of 
Connecticut);  Ursula  is  the  widow  of  Daniel 
Gouger;  Alice  married  F.  J.  Foster,  of  Kansas, 
and  had  children.  Dr.  Dean  Foster  (of  Stamford, 
Conn.).  Andrew  (an  electrician,  of  .Toplin,  Mo.). 
Hugh  (an  electrician,  also  of  Joplin,  Mo.),  Lloyd 
lot  Harper  county,  Kans.)  and  Peggie  (Mrs.  Ful- 
ton, of  Harper  county,  Kans.)  :  Martha  married 
('apt.  Samuel  Bryson  ami  had  children.  James.  Dr. 
Howard.  Nellie  and  Janctte:  Helen  and  Susan 
died  young;  Oliver  H.  is  a  member  of  the  law- 
linn  of  Warner.  Dean  \-  McLeod,  of  Kansas  Citv, 
Mo.  (Mr.  Warner,  the  senior  member,  is  United 
States  senator  from  Missouri). 

William  A.  Dean,  oldest  son  of  Joseph  by  his 
•ci  oiid  marriage,  was  reared  and  educated  in  Men 
four  county,  where  he  followed  farming  and  survey- 
ing until  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Lewis  township. 
Northumberland  county,  in  is?-.',  removing  there- 
on. He  lived  there  until  1884,  when  he  gave  up  ar- 
duous labor  and  settled  at  Milton,  making  his  home 
in  that  borough  until  1906,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  Watsontown,  at  which  place  he 
spent  hi-  remaining  days,  in  retirement.  He 
lived  on  Main  street,  above  First.  He 
died  June  9,  1910,  in  his  eighty-third 
Though  farming  was  his  principal  vo- 
cation during  his  more  active  years.  Mr.  Dean 
had  other  interests  of  importance  and  was  chosen 
to  a  number  of  public  positions,  in  which  his  serv- 
ices were  highly  satisfactory,  lie  served  over  twenty 
as    justice    of    the    peace,    in    Montour    and 


IDS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Northumberland  counties;  represented  the  district 
including  Northumberland  county  in  the  State 
Legislature  from  1886  to  1888;  was  school  director 
some  years,  and  for  three  years  secretary  of  the 
school  board:  was  deputy  sheriff  under  Robert 
Montgomery,  and  upon  his  death,  in  1892,  was  ap- 
pointed sheriff  to  complete  the  unexpired  term. 
He  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  Democrat,  and 
has  been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  and  State 
conventions.  He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Milton 
Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company  and  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  examining  hoard.  Mr.  Dean  was  made 
a  Mason  in  Danville  Lodge,  No.  '.".'1,  F.  &  A.  M., 
in  1850,  later  transferring  his  membership  to  Mil- 
ton Lodge.  No.  256,  to  which  he  belonged  until  his 
death.  He  and  his  family  were  associated  with  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Although  past  eighty  at  the 
time  of  his  decease,  Mr.  Dean  was  active  and  vig- 
orous for  one  of  his  years,  possessed  a  g I  memory, 

and  was  greatly  beloved  for  his  kindly  spirit  and 
admirable  disposition. 

On  Oct.  :!,  1853,  Mr.  Dean  married  Susan 
Gauger,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Billmeyer) 
danger,  of  Montour  county,  and  she  died  March 
3,  L881.  This  union  was  blessed  with  two  daugh- 
ters :  (1)  Mary  Ada  married  John  Z.  McFarland, 
of  Watsontown,  and  they  have  a  family  of  seven 
children  :  Dean,  who  is  a  mail  carrier  on  the  rural 
route  from  Watsontown:  John  Z.,  who  married 
Maggie  McGee,  of  McGees  Mills,  Clearfield  Co., 
Pa.,  where  they  reside  (they  have  two  children); 
Jessie,  who  graduated  from  Bucknell  University 
and  is  now  teaching  at  Altoona,  Pa.;  Sarah,  a 
student  at  Bucknell  University;  Oliver  H. ;  Fran- 
i'is:  and  George.  ('-')  Jessie  is  the  wife  of  George 
F.  Richmond,  of  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

On  .Ian.  8.  188  f.  Mi-.  Dean  married  (second) 
Louisa  McCurdy,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Ann 
(Day)    McCurdy,  of  Union  county,  Pennsylvania. 

JOHN  W.  BARR,  of  Watsontown,  Northumber- 
land county,  has  been  connected  with  the  Breon 
Table  Company  ever  since  his  arrival  at  that  place, 
having  come  there  in  the  spring  of  1903  to  take 
charge  of  the  plant,  which  he  purchased  four 
years  later.  It  is  one  of  the  important  local  indus- 
tries, and  Mr.  Barr  has  made  a  high  reputation 
as  a  manufacturer  and  as  a  business  manager  dur- 
ing his  comparatively  brief  residence  in  the  bor- 
ough, lie  has  had  a  varied  business  career.  Mr. 
Barr  was  born  March  25,  1872,  at  Degraff,  Logan 
Co..  Ohio,  son  of  Hugh  H.  Barr  and  grandson  of 
William  Barr.  The  latter  lived  in  Illinois,  where 
he  followed  farming,  and  died  about  1880.  He  is 
buried  in  that  state.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ex- 
traction   and    a    Presbyterian    in    religious    faith. 

Hugh  II.  Barr  was  born  April  14.  1815.  in  Ohio, 
where  his  parents  were  then  living,  and  was  reared 
in  Logan  county,  that  state.  He  was  only  sixteen 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  and  at  that  age  en- 


tered the  Union  service,  in  which  he  remained 
three  years,  being  a  member  of  the  13th  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry.  In  his  young  manhood  he 
read  law.  hut  the  legal  profession  did  not  appeal 
to  him  and  he  never  completed  the  course.  Im- 
mediately after  the  war  he  taught  school,  and 
through  his  own  efforts  has  become  a  man  of 
marked  intellectual  attainments,  reading  and 
study  having  always  been  his  delight  and  a  source 
of  keen  pleasure  to  him.  He  has  for  years  been 
successfully  engaged  as  a  general  contractor  and. 
builder,  employing  from  ten  to  twenty  men,  as  oc- 
casion requires,  and  has  done  considerable  govern- 
ment work  ami  built  many  bridges.  He  has  con- 
tinued to  reside  at  Degraff.  Logan  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
has  long  been  an  influential  citizen  of  his  commun- 
ity, having  served  a  number  id'  years  as  mayor  of 
bis  town  and  several  terms  as  county  auditor.  A 
Republican  whose  activity  and  influence  in  the 
party  have  made  him  widely  known,  he  has  served 
a-  delegate  to  a  number  of  state  conventions  and 
"lice  a-  a  national  delegate.  Mr.  Barr  married 
Mary  E.  Stilwell.  who  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  where  her  father,  Stephen  Stilwell,  lived  at 
the  time:  he  subsequently  moved  to  Kentucky, 
where  his  death  occurred. 

John  W.  Barr  received  his  common  school  edu- 
cation at  Degraff.  and  took  a  technical  cmrse  at 
Springfield,  Ohio,  leaving  school  to  engage  in  the 
steel  busines>  at  that  place.  After  two  years'  ex- 
perience in  that  line  he  went  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
in  the  fall  of  1889,  to  take  the  position  of  assistant 
to  the  manager  of  the  Whitley  Harvesting  Machine 
Company,  continuing  there  about  four  years,  until 
the  eastern  branch  was  removed.  His  next  employ- 
ment was  at.  the  photo  engraving  business  in  Balti- 
more, at  which  he  was  engaged  for  one  year,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  selling  out  and  moving  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  became  interested  in  architectur- 
al work.  During  the  several  years  of  his  residence  in 
that  city  he  built  nearly  three  thousand  houses,  do- 
ing  a  very  successful  business.  In  1901  Mr.  Barr 
removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was  engaged 
as  consulting  engineer  on  construction  work,  and 
during  1902-03  lie  built  a  considerable  part  of  the 
Coney  Island  resort.  In  the  spring  of  1903  he 
came  to  Watsontown,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  immediately 
took  charge  of  the  works  of  the  Breon  Table  Com- 
pany, and  after  four  years  as  manager  of  that  con- 
cern bought  it.  The  business  is  a  large  one,  the 
manufacture  of  dining  tables  being  its  special  fea- 
ture, and  the  product  finding  a  ready  market  all 
over  the  east,  the  demand  being  so  extensive  as  to 
keep  seventy  men  steadily  employed.  Mr.  Barr 
devotes  himself  almost  exclusively  to  business,  and 
he  has  gained  high  standing  in  local  circles,  where 
the  prosperity  of  his  establishment  is  regarded  as 
an  important  factor  in  the  industrial  situation, 
lie  is  a   Republican  in  political  matters. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


400 


Mr.  Barr  married  Virginia  M.  Cover,  daughter 
of  William  Cover,  of  Frederick  county,  Md:,  and 
iIh\  have  had  two  children,  Virginia  H.  and 
John   S. 

NIC  ELY.  There  are  in  the  county  of  Northum- 
berland, Pa.,  two  representatives  of  this  name,  Wil- 
liam A.  Nicely,  cashier  of  the  "Watsontown  Nation- 
al Bank,  and  Edward  V.  Nicely,  register  and  re- 
corder of  tin'  county,  worthy  ami  valued  citizens 
of  their  communities.  The  Nicelys  are  an  old 
Lancaster  county  family.  ( Iriginally  the  name  was 
spelled  Khisely.  One  of  the  ancestors,  probably 
the  great-great  great-grandfather  of  William  A. 
and  Edward  V.  settled  near  the  Dorry  station  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1725.  He  was  cue  of  the 
founders  of  the  Hanover  church  in  Dauphin  coun- 
ty,  this   Slate. 

Prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war  two  brothers, 
John  ami  Stephen  Nicely,  left  the  old  home,  going 
together  as  tar  as  Sunbury,  where  they  separated. 
John  going  up  the  north  branch  of  the  Susquehan- 
na river  and  settling  near  Shickshinny,  Pa.,  where 
he    reared    a    family. 

Stephen  Nicely  went  up  the  west  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  river  and  settled  at  Dewart,  Pa., 
where  he  took  no  '.'0(1  acres  of  land,  which  is  still 
owned  by  his  descendants,  and  remains  in  the 
Nicely  name.  Here  he  spent  his  entire  life,  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  farming,  and  here  his 
death  occurred.  He  is  buried  at  the  River  Church 
near  Dewart.  Among  his  children  were :  Joseph, 
John.  Mr-.  .I"lui  Staver,  Mrs.  Freimyer  and  Mrs. 
Oyster. 

Joseph  Nicely,  grandfather  of  William  A.  and 
Edward  V..  was  b'orn  on  the  old  homestead,  .Ian. 
12,  1807,  and  upon  the  death  of  his  father  received 
ion  acres,  half  of  Ins  father's, farm,  it  having  been 
divided  between  him  and  his  brother  John,  they  in 
turn  paving  their  sisters  their  share.  Mr.  Nicely 
was  a  prominent  Republican  and  served  his  com- 
munity as  associate  judge  from  Aug.  4,  1869,  to 
Nov.  30,  1875.  On  "March  15,  1837,  he  married 
Rebecca  Fox.  horn  Oct.  13,  1808,  and  they  reared 
a  large  family,  born  as  follows:  George  W..  Feb. 
22,  1828;  Margaret  E.,  Oct.  10.  1829;  Mahlon 
Augustus,  Oct.  ;.  1831;  Joseph  and  Rebecca 
(twins).  Sept.  30,  1833  (Rebecca  married  William 
Taylor):  Mary,  April  13,  1836  (married  William 
Brvson)  :  William,  March  24,  1838:  Sarah.  July 
8,  1840  (married  J.  Herbert  Nye):  Charles  Ste- 
phen. March  31,  1842  (lives  in  Kansas)  :  John  F., 
Feb.  2,  1845  (lived  in  Montoursville,  Pa.)  :  Alfred 
S.,  Feh.  13,  1847  (lives  in  Ohio)  ;  and  Oliver  I'.. 
Dec.  27,  1851  (lives  in  Williamsport,  Pa.).  Of 
these,  all  grew  to  maturity  but  Margaret  and  Wil- 
liam, who  died  young.  Only  three  now  survive: 
Charles  Stephen.  Alfred  S.  and  Oliver  P.  The  la- 
ther died  Dec.  It.  1877,  ami  the  mother  Feb.  22, 
isss.  ami  thev  are  buried  at  the  River  Church. 


Mahlon  Augustus  Nicely  was  born  Oct.  7,  1831, 
on  the  old  homestead.  He  married  Susan,  daugh- 
ter of  Valentine  and  Blanche  (Scheaffer)  Beeber, 
of  Lycoming  county,  and  moved  to  Lycoming  coun- 
ty, where  he  followed  farming.  Later  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead  ami  was  a  prominent 
dealer  in  grain  at  Dewart,  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nicely  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  William  Augustus;  Ida,  wife 
of  Reuben  Neyhard,  of  Elmsport,  Pa.:  Sara  E., 
wife  of  J.  H.  Baily,  of  Muncy,  Pa.;  Edward  V.; 
Carrie  M.,  Mrs.  Samuel  A.  Lowry;  Eva,  wife  of 
Ambrose  Hering,  of  Williamsport;  Luther  B.,  a 
dentist  at  Montgomery,  who  died  in  1009;  and  two 
sons  who  died  young.  Mr.  Nicely  died  in  Septem- 
ber,  1907,  and  is  buried  at  Muncy,  Pa.;  his  wife 
died  in  June.  1907. 

William  Augustus  Nicely  was  horn  Dec. 
'.'0.  1857,  in  Delaware  township,  Northumber- 
land Co..  Pa.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Lycoming  county,  the  Muncy  normal  and  Williams- 
port Commercial  College,  from  which  latter  he  was 
graduated  in  1876.  He  then  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  with  his  father,  after  which  he  went  west, 
and  on  his  return  accepted  a  position  in  the  Wat- 
sontown National  Bank,  at  its  organization,  Aug. 
0,  1880.  He  held  this  position  until  1000,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  cashier,  which 
he  still  retains,  lie  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Watsontown  Brick,  Clay  &  Produce  Company,  and 
is  treasurer  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Nicely  married  Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Rebecca  (Corson)  Mosley,  of  Muncy, 
Pa.,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  witli  three 
children:  Amey  P..  married  to  Davis  L.  Bly; 
Charles  A. :  and  Mable  A.  Mr.  Nicely  is  a  member 
of  the  Watsontown  Lodge,  No.  401.  F.  &  A.  M. : 
Warrior  Run  Chapter,  No.  246;  Mount  Hermon 
Commandery,  No.  84.  Irem  Temple.  A.  A.  O.  N.  M. 
S..  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  and  to  I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodge,  No. 
010,  and  Encampment  No.  294,  both  of  which  for 
many  years  he  has  served  as  treasurer.  Mr.  Nicely 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Watson- 
town, Pa.  He  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  pres- 
ent edifice,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  church 
council  for  twenty-six  years,  much  of  which  time 
he  served  as  treasurer  of  the  church  and  for  sev- 
eral years  as  president  of  the  council. 

Edward  Y.  Nicely,  son  of  Mahlon  A.,  and 
brother  of  William  A.,  was  born  upon  the 
homestead  May  17.  1865.  He  was  employed  with 
his  father  for  several  year-- and  farmed  in  Delaware 
township  for  fifteen  years.  In  L906  he  was  elected 
register  and  recorder  of  Northumberland  county, 
which  oflices  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politic-  ami  has  served  as  clerk  of  the  Orphans' 
court.  He  is  a  very  popular  and  well  liked  man 
in  the  county,  is  a  member  of  Maclay  Lodge,  No. 
632,  V.  &  A.  M.,of  Sunbury;  of  Bloomsburg  Con- 
sistory, 32°;  hem  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.'  S.,  at 


410 


xoKTPir.Miu:i;LA\i>  county,  Pennsylvania 


Wilkes-Barre;  I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodge,  No.  619,  of  Wat- 
sontown;  Artisans  Order  of  Mutual  Protection, 
Watsontown :  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  the  F.  0.  E.  at 

Milton.  Mr.  Nicely  was  married  in  August,  1890, 
to  I.  J.  Metitz.  ami  they  have  one  child.  Wood  M. 
The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 

WILLIAM  II.  ECKMAN.  a  fanner  .if  Wesl 
Chillisquaque  township,  is  a  member  of  the  fourth 
generation  of  his  family  to  reside  in  Northumber- 
land county,  while  this  branch  of  the  Eckmans 
has  been  represented  since  the  time  of  his  great- 
grandfather. Charles   Eckman. 

Charles  Eckman  was  born  in  1719  near  Blooms- 
bury,  N  d..  married  Margaret  DeWitt  in  1800  and 
spent  tiir  following  lew  years  in  the  homo  district. 
In  lso;  they  came  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in 
Northumberland  county',  where  Mr.  Eckman  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Snydertown.  In  1813  he  ex- 
changed tin-  trail  for  another  near  by,  which  be- 
came the  family  h estead.     There  he  lived  ami 

died,  ami  he  and  his  wil'e  are  buried  in  the  old 
Presbyterian  graveyard  near  Reed's  station.  They 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  eight  sons  and 
three  daughters,  and  we  have  record  of  the  follow- 
ing: Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  James.  John, 
Charles  (who  married  Elizabeth  J.  Kline),  Catha- 
rine ami  Naomi;  four  of  this  family  died  young. 

Jacob  Eckman,  -mi  of  Charles,  was  born  Sept. 
'.J'.'.  lso:..  in  New  Jersey,  ami  was  only  two  years 
old  when  his  parents  removed  thence  to  Northum- 
iii<1  county  and  settled  near  Snydertown.  He 
fallowed  fanning  and  became  a  well  known  citizen 
of  his  section,  and  at  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  L9,  L876,  m  Sunbury',  was  widely  mourned. 
In  Julv.  1826,  he  married  Emma  Gulick,  who  was 
horn  Dec.  6,  lso-.'.  am!  .lied  April  s.  1882.  Me 
have  tlie  following  record  of  their  family:  Wil- 
liam, hom  Nov.  27,  L826,  married  Didama  Sloan 
May  1".  1849  (he  died  Aug.  30,  1850)  ;  Matilda, 
horn  Julv  28,  1828,  married  Lorenzo  Mettler  May 
•.'1.  1863  ;  Peter,  hum  May  L0,  1831,  married  Ange- 
line  Shipe;  James  K..  horn  Lee.  16,  1833,  married 
Mary  Ann  Kline  Jan.  12,  L856 ;  John  G.,  born 
Oct.  7,  1836,  married  Margaret  Louisa  Hile  Si  pt. 
25,  1856;  Philip  H..  born  March  19,  1839,  was 
fatally  wounded  at  the  battle  oi  fair  Oaks,  near 
Richmond,  Va.,  May  31,  1862;  I  arles  W.,  born 
Lee.  3,  1841,  married  Alice  Clark  Aug.  21,  1862; 
Sarah  E.,  hem  Sept.  12,  1844,  married  Emanuel 
Z.  Shipe,  Jan.  14,  186'.*.  .lames  and  Charles  are 
now  residents  of  Kansas. 

The  following  letter  was  sent  to  Jacob  Eckman 
announcing  the  death  of  his  son  Philip: 

Headquarters,    Company    H,    93d    Pa.    Reg't 

Camp    Seven    Pines.     Near    Richmond,    Va., 

June  3d.   1862. 

Dear  Friends: — It  is  a  painful  task  for  me  to  write 

you  the  death  of  your  son  Philip  H.  Eckman,  who  fell 

on  the  battlefield  on  last  Saturday,  mortally  w-ounded, 

and  died  before  he  was  carried  from  the  field.     He  was 


shot  through  both  legs  near  the  groin,  by  the  enemy. 
He  was  standing  at  his  post  in  the  front  rank  when  he 
was  shot.  He  was  carried  part  way  from  the  field  by- 
Corporal  Weaver  and  myself,  and  the  other  part  by- 
Orderly  Goodrich  and  D.  R.  Eckman,  in  whose  hands 
he  died.  He  appeared  to  have  no  pain,  and  died  without 
saying  a  word  but  "God  save  me !"  It  was  a  long  and 
hard  battle ;  it  lasted  from  2  o'clock  p.  m.  until  dark 
when  we  were  outnumbered  and  outflanked  by  the 
enemy.  We  were  compelled  to  leave  our  dead,  among 
whom  were  our  poor  brothers  in  arms.  Philip,  Samuel 
Kertz,  A.  Reynolds  and  J.  Bear,  all  of  our  company. 
Early  on  Sunday  morning  we  received  reinforcements, 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field,  but  poor  Philip 
was  robbed  of  everything  he  had  in  his  pockets  by  the 
Rebels.  You  can  console  yourselves  by  knowing  that 
he  was  very-  nicely  buried  on  Monday  by  Charles 
Weaver.  A.  B.  Patton,  D.  R.  Eckman,  myself,  and 
several  others,  under  a  beautiful  cedar  tree  near  the 
r  iad.  We  made  as  good  a  coffin  as  possible  under  the 
circumstances,  and  buried  him  with  his  clothes  and 
blanket  around  him.  He  died  with  a  smile  on  his 
countenance.  The  loss  in  our  company  is  four  killed, 
two  missing  and  seven  wounded ;  the  loss  of  the  regi- 
ment is  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  the  de- 
tails of  the  battle :  you  will  doubtless  have  the  full  par- 
ticulars of  it  in  the  papers  before  you  get  this.  I  will 
have  to  close  for  the  present.  While  you  in  the  hour 
of  your  bereavement  have  the  sympathy  of  the  entire 
company,  we  deeply  feel  the  loss  of  a  friend  and  a 
faithful  soldier,  and  one  beloved  by  the  whole  com- 
pany. With  my  kindest  regards  to  all  inquiring  friends, 
I  close.  Yours  truly. 

Charles  W.  Eckman. 
2d  Lieutenant,  Co.  H., 
93d  Pa.  Reg't. 

Peter  Eckman,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  May  10, 
1831,  near  Klinesgrove,  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  and  there  resided 
until  he  was  about  twenty-one  years  old.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  near  Sunbury  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  moving  to  the  borough  about  1883  com- 
menced work  in  the  machine  -hop-  of  tin-  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  where  he  was  employed 
tor  a  period  of  eighteen  years,  being  placed  on  the" 
retired  list  May  31,  1901,  having  reached  the  age 
limit.  He  died  July  .'51.  1906,  at  his  home  at  the 
corner  of  Catawissa  avenue  and  Reagan  street. 
The  end  came  suddenly,  without  warning,  shortly 
after  he  arose  in  the  morning,  ami  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  slight  feeling  of  illm  --  vening  before 

he  had  been  in  his  usual  health.  He  was  buried 
in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  The  funeral  was 
held  from  the  Catawissa  Avenue  M.  E.  church,  of 
which  he  had  been  a  faithful  member.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  steward  of  the  church,  and 
had  previously  served  as  trustee.  A  lifelong  Metho- 
dist, he  was  sincere  in  his  profession,  and  tried 
to  live  so  closely  to  his  faith  that  a  friend  once  told 
him  he  was  too  honest  to  get  rich.  He  was  a  good 
citizen,  a  good  neighbor,  a  good  Christian,  beloved 
throughout  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. 

On  Nov.  23,  185?,  Mr.  Eckman  married  Ange- 
line  Shipe.  who  was  horn  in  1832  in  Shamokin 
township,    Northumberland    county,    and    survives 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


411 


him,  continuing  to  make  her  home  in  Sunbury. 
Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter 
Eckman  :  William  H.,  Elizabeth  "(who  died  in  in- 
fancy), a  son  that  died  in  infancy,  and  Joseph 
Warren. 

Johan  Heinrich  (or  John  Eenry)  Shipe,  grand- 
father nf  Mrs.  Peter  Eckman,  lived  in  Berks  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  in  his  earlier  life,  later  settling  in  Shamo- 
kin  township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
owned  aboui  two  hundred  acres  of  land  and  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died  upon  his  farm  and  is 
buried  at  the  Blue  Church  in  Shamokin  township. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Sherry  and  they  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  John,  Polly  (married  Valentine 
Hummel),  Henry.  Abraham,  Jacob,  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (married  Jacob  Persing). 

Michael    Shipe    (s f  John   Henry)    and  his 

wife  Judith  H.  had  a  large  family,  namely:  Wil- 
liam married  Elizabeth  Keefer,  and  their  children 
are  Charles  A.,  Martin  L.,  Jonathan  R.,  Arthur  B. 
and  Bessie  E. ;  Isaac  married  Elizabeth  Berger  and 
their  children  are  Mary  A..  Clara,  Angeline  and 
Tressa ;  Henry   11.     (deceased)     married     Louisa 

1! ler,   and    thej    had   four  children,   James  A., 

Michael  W.,  Emma  and  Anna:  Ira  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Louisa  Clark,  and  they  had  Edward,  Swartz, 
Harry  M..  Thomas  and  Jane;  Moses  married  Re- 
becca  Clark  and  hail  children,  Isaac,  George  and 
Herbert  ;  Michael  married  Kate  Barnhart  and  had 
Walter  and  Laura;  Emanuel  Z.  married  Sarah  E. 
Eckman;  Rev.  Jonathan  R.,  a  Methodist  minister, 
now  stationed  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  married  Mollie 
Besser;  Angeline  is  the  widow  of  Peter  Eckman. 

William  H.  Eckman  was  born  Aug.  7,  1855,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  and  there  attended 
school,  also  going  to  school  at  Sunbury.  He  has 
successful!}  followed  fanning,  and  is  now  located 
in  West  Chillisquaque  township.  He  purchased  a 
piece  of  property  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury  where 
lie  lived  for  some  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
connected  with  the  Pomfret  Manor  Cemetery  Com- 
pany. In  June.  1891,  he  bought  the  Bieber  farm, 
a  beautiful  tract  of  land  lying  near  Pottsgrove,  to 
which  he  removed  with  his  family  in  1893,  and 
this  has  since  been  their  home.  Mr.  Eckman  has 
built  a  handsome  and  comfortable  residence  on 
this  property  since  it  came  into  his  possession  and 
has  made  a  model  farm  of  the  tract,  which  is  a 
credit  to  the  community. 

On  March  1.  1888.  Mr.  Eckman  married  Sarah 
A.  Montgomery,  daughter  of  Hugh  R.  and  Sarah 
S.  (Moll)  Montgomery,  and  they  have  had  two 
children:  Clara"  A.,  horn  in  Sunbury  Aug.  14, 
1891,  and  Mae  Montgomery,  born  at  Pottsgrove 
Feb.  9,  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eckman  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Politically  he  is  a 
Prohibitionist. 

Joseph  Waeejen  Eckmax,  the  other  surviving 
son     of     Peter     Eckman.     was     born      Feb.      7, 


1866,  on  a  farm  near  Sunbury,  where  Pomfret 
Manor  cemetery  is  nowT  located.  He  was  educated 
in  the  local  public  schools,  and  lived  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
the  family  moved  to  Sunbury  and  he  there  studied 
stenography  and  typewriting  when  not  otherwise 
engaged,  continuing  thus  until  he  was  twenty-one 
fears  old.  He  then  accepted  the  position  of  ste- 
nographer at  the  Milton  Car  Works  (Murray, 
Dougal  &  Co.  Limited).  Milton,  Pa.,  Feb.  7, 
18S7,  continuing  to  bold  that  position  for  al- 
most seventeen  and  a  half  years,  until  July 
1,  1904.  Since  that  date  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Milton.  He  became  private  secretary  to  Hon.  C.  H. 
Dickerman.  president  of  the  hank,  and  on  Jan. 
1,  1907.  was  also  made  a  clerk  in  the  bank.  On 
Dec.  5.  L889,  Mr.  Eckman  was  married  at  Sunbury 
to  Lillie  Dale  Hile,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ira  Hile,  and  they  made  their  home  at  Milton, 
where  Mrs.  Eckman  died  of  typhoid  fever  March 
5.  1900.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  children:  Ira 
Walter,  born  Sept.  6,  1892 :  and  Rov  Eugene,  born 
Dec.  12,  1897,  who  died  Jan.  8,  1899.  On  Feb. 
^.  1901,  Mr.  Eckman  married  Maggie  Belle  Mover, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phaon  Mover,  of  Unity- 
\  ille,  Pa.  They  have  one  child.  Alice  Hanna,  horn 
Nov.  1,  1910. 


Emanuel  Z.  Shipe.  late  of  Sunbury,  was  born 
June  13,  1844,  near  Shamokin.  this  county,  and  in 
1866  began  working  in  the  Sunbury  shops  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed until  obliged  to  give  up  active  labor  because 
of  ill  health,  about  twelve  years  before  his  death.  At 
the  -hops  he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  his 
fellow  workers,  for  his  sturdy  Christian  character 
and  manly  life.  For  eighteen  years  before  bis 
death,  which  occurred  early  in  1908,  he  was  a  suf- 
ferer from  locomotor  ataxia,  and  during  the  last 
six  years  of  his  life  was  unable  to  walk.  In  De- 
cember, 1862,  Mr.  Shipe  joined  the  Mount  Pleas- 
ant Methodist  church,  and  after  moving  to  Sun- 
bury became  a  member  of  St.  John's  church,  with 
which  he  was  identified  until  the  organization  of 
the  Catawissa  Avenue  M.  E.  church.  He  was  a  trus- 
tee of  the  latter  for  many  years,  and  for  thirty- 
eight  consecutive  years  served  as  class  lead- 
er. His  funeral  was  held  from  the  Cata- 
wissa Avenue  church,  and  he  was  interred 
in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  On  Jan.  14. 
1869,  Mr.  Shipe  married  Sarah  K.  Eckman.  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children,  three  of  whom, 
with  Mrs.  Eckman.  survived  him,  namely:  Mrs. 
J.  I.  Creasy  and  John  E..  both  of  Sunbury;  and 
Eugene  A.,  of  Pittsburg.  One  child  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  the  daughter  Minnie  died,  several  years 
before  her  father.  Mrs.  Shipe  makes  her  home 
on  t  latawissa  avenue,  Sunbury. 


412 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


OBERDORP.  The  Oberdorf  family  has  been 
identified  with  that  part  of  Northumberland  county 
now  known  as  Upper  Augusta  township  since  the 
early  days,  and  there  was  born  Peter  ('.  Oberdorf, 
who  now  carries  on  an  extensive  real  estate  and 
insurance  business  in  Sunbury,  and  is  a  director  of 
the  Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company. 
Among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  that  township  at 
the  present  day  is  George  Forresl  ( >berdorf,  and  El- 
mer E.  Oberdorf,  now  living  retired  in  Sunbury, 
was  also  engaged  in  farming  until  recently. 

The  founder  of  the  Oberdorf  family  in  America 
after  emigrating  settled  in  Longswamp  township. 
Berks  Co..  IV,  where  apparently  he  died  compar- 
atively young,  or  in  middle  life.  One  Catharine 
Oberdorf,  probably  his  widow,  was  married  (sec- 
ond) to  Martin  Warfel,  of  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.  On  April  26,  1796, 
Martin  Warfel  and  Catharine,  his  wife,  of  Augusta 
township,  sold  In  Peter  Oberdorf.  Sr..  the  pioneer 
of  the  Northumberland  county  family,  a  tract  of 
306  acres  and  72  perches  of  land  then  in  Augusta 
(now  Upper  Augusta)  township.  Most  of  this 
land  is  still  in  the  family  nam.'. 

Peter  Oberdorf,  Jr.  (son  of  the  pioneer),  made 
his  last  will  and  testament  Sept.  17,  1S4-.':  sons 
Peter  (3)  and  George  were  appointed  executors. 
George  oberdorf  willed  bis  estate  divided  in  six 
equal  shares,  legatees  as  follows:  Brother  Peter,  of 
Augusta  town-hip.  Northumberland  Co..  l'a. ;  Ja- 
cob, of  Northumberland  county:  John,  of  Berks 
county:  Magdalena,  who  married  Jacob  Carl,  also 
of  Longswamp  township,  Berks  county:  Catharine, 
who  married  John  Hoffman,  and  lived  in  Rus- 
combmanor  township,  Berks  county:  and  my 
mother,  Catharine,  intermarried  with  Martin  War- 
fel, in  Augusta  township.  Peter  Oberdorf.  broth- 
er, and  George  Bright,  a  trusted  friend  of  Sun- 
bury borough,  were  the  executors.  This  will  was 
made  Jan.  3,  1800,  and  he  died  soon  afterward. 

Peter  Oberdorf  (evidently  the  son  of  the  pioneer 
referred  to  as  Peter,  Jr.),  the  great-grandfather 
of  Peter  C,  born  April  20,  1772,  lived  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his 
grandson,  George  Forrest  Oberdorf.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  was  known  in  the  locality  as  ''Little 
Peter,"  to  distinguish  him  from  his  son.  who  was 
known  as  "Big  Peter."  He  died  April  22,  1853, 
and  is  buried  in  the  old  South  cemetery  at  Sun- 
bury. His  wife,  Elizabeth,  born  April  3,  1766, 
died  Dec.  31,  1811.  They  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: John  settled  on  the  north  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  river:  Joseph  lived  in  New  York 
State:  Peter  .is  mentioned  below;  George  lived  and 
died  on  the  old  homestead;  Elizabeth  married 
Jonathan  Stroh;  Catharine  married  Abraham 
Moore ;  Margaret  married  Gilbert  Deals ;  Mrs. 
Brewer  moved  with  her  husband  to  New  York 
State  (they  had  sons  Peter  and  George  AY.). 

Peter  Oberdorf,  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth,  was 


a.  native  of  Upper  Augusta  township  and  is  buried 
at  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Klinesgrove.  He  was  a 
prosperous  fanner,  owning  three  valuable  tracts, 
one  of  247  acres,  his  homestead  farm  of  165  acres, 
and  what  was  known  as  the  Bakeoven  Hill  farm, 
adjoining  Pom  fret  Manor  cemetery,  which  con- 
sisted of  about  two  hundred  acres,  now  owned  by 
William  H.  Druckenmiller.  Mr.  Oberdorf  was  not 
only  enterprising  and  farsighted  in  business  but 
also  intelligent  and  public-spirited  in  matters  af- 
fecting the  welfare  of  the  community — a  trait  none 
too  common  in  those  days.  He  was  one  of  eight 
voters  in  his  township  to  advocate  by  ballot  the 
establishment  of  the  free  school  system  at  a  time 
when  free  education  was  a  most  unpopular  and 
misunderstood  cause,  his  fellow  voters  on  that  ques- 
tion being  Elijah  Kline.  Jacob  Clark,  Col.  John 
Snvdet.  Samuel  Bloom.  Samuel  Awl  and  two  oth- 
ers whose  names  have  been  forgotten.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  member  of  the  Zion  Church  at  Sunbury, 
and  has  a  monument  on  the  Oberdorf  family  burial 
plot,  wlnie  several  generations  of  the  family  are 
interred.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
lie  married  Mary  Hauser,  who  bore  him  children 
as  follows:  Samuel  is  mentioned  below;  Martin, 
mentioned  below,  settled  near  the  homestead, 
where  he  died  ;  Jeremiah,  who  was  a  school  teacher, 
died  in  young  manhood ;_  David,  who  never  mar- 
ried, lived  and  died  on  the  homestead;  Mary,  born 
Jan.  1.  L820,  died  Jan.  31,  1908,  unmarried;  Eliza, 
horn  June  25,  1825,  died  Feb.  6,  1883,  unmarried; 
Susanna  died  unmarried. 

Samuel  Oberdorf  was  born  April  27,  1815,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  and  died  June  10,  1884. 
He  is  buried  at  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Klinesgrove. 
He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  owning  one  of  his  fa- 
ther's three  farms,  a  tract  of  over  240  acres.  A 
Presbyterian  in  religious  connection,  he' joined  the 
church  at  Rushtown  in  his  earlier  years,  later  unit- 
ing with  the  church  at  Sunbury.  He  married 
Rhoda  C.  Campbell,  who  was  born  Jan.  22,  1818, 
daughter  of  Christopher  Campbell,  and  died  Sept. 
12,  1900,  in  her  eighty-third  year.  Twelve  chil- 
dren blessed  this  union,  namely :  Oliver  P.,  born 
June  !>.  1839,  died  while  serving  in  the  army; 
[saac  C.  born  May  9,  1841,  died  May  20,  1865.  'in 
Upper  Augusta  township:  Mary  E.,  born  March 
29,  1843,  has  never  married;  Peter  C,  born  Dec. 
7.  IS  14.  is  mentioned  below;  Victoria  Isabelle, 
born  March  13,  1847,  died  July  21,  1862;  Omar, 
born  Jan.  29,  1846,  died  March  29,  1846 ;  Joseph 
('..  born  March  1,  1849,  died  Jan.  28,  1882,  of 
typhoid  fever;  Marcv  Hamilton,  born  April  19, 
lS5t).  died  March  19,  1856;  Prof.  Charles  D.  is 
mentioned  below;  William  R..  born  April  29, 
1853,  a  merchant  of  Sunbury.  married  Olive  Wol- 
verton  and  has  two  sons,  Calvin  (who  graduated 
from  the  Sunbury  high  school  and  from  Bucknell 
College,  at  Lewisburg,  and  is  now  a  civil  engineer; 
he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.)  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


413 


Robert  (who  graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1911)  ;  Susanna  E.,  born 
Sept.  1,  1854,  married  E.  M.  Eckman,  of  Rush 
township:  Samuel  M.,  born  Dec.  25,  1856,  is  a  re- 
tired fanner  of  Riverside,  Pennsylvania. 

Peter  C.  Oberdoef  was  born  Dec.  7,  1844,  and 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  meantime  obtaining  his 
early  education  in  the  local  public  schools.  Later 
he  attended  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Williamsport, 
Pa.,  and  then  locating  at  Klinesgrove  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued for  a  period  of  six  years.  Thence  he  came 
to  Sunbury,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
P.  H.  Moore  and  D.  H.  Snyder,  under  the  firm 
name  of  D.  H.  Snyder  &  Co.  They  successfully 
conducted  a  general  store  on  Market  street  for 
nine  years,  the  business  being  carried  on  under  the 
original  style  until  clerks  bought  out  the  founders 
and  formed  a  new  association,  S.  H.  Snyder  &  Co. 
Mr.  Oberdorf  then  entered  the  brick  manufactur- 
ing business,  which  he  continued  until  the  silk 
mill  was  erected,  when  he  sold  his  ground  to  the 
company.  lie  was  in  the  brick  business  about 
eight  years  in  all.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  line,  in  which  he  has 
made  a  notable  success.  As  agent  of  the  Sunbury 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  he  has  built  up 
its  business  from  insignificance  to  profitable  pro- 
portions, having  taken  hold  of  its  business  when 
it  had  less  than  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  insurance  in  force ;  it  has  now  consider- 
ably over  a  million.  His  real  estate  and  insurance 
transactions  have  attained  large  proportions,  and 
he  is  interested  in  local  finance  as  a  director  of  the 
Sunbury  Trust  iV-  Safe  Deposit  Company. 

Mr.  Oberdorf  is  well  known  socially,  being  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the 
Temple  Club  of  Sunbury;  of  the  Amerieus  Club 
of  Sunbury;  and  of  the  Rolling  Green  Country 
Club,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Sunbury,  and  served  as  trustee  of  the  congre- 
gation for  a  number  of  years.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  has  served  as  auditor  of  the 
town. 

Chables  D.  Oberdorf,  son  of  Samuel,  was  horn 
July  17,  1851.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  on  Paid  Top,  near  Danville  afterwards 
teaehin.e  two  years  near  the  Odd  Fellows  Orphan- 
age in  Upper  Augusta  township.  For  the  next  two 
years  he  was  a  tutor  in  the  private  school  of  V 
Foster  Browne,  one  year  at  Sunbury,  and  one  in 
Lewistown,  preparing  at  the  same  time  for  col- 
lege. Entering  Princeton  University  in  the  fall 
of  187  1.  he  graduated  in  1878;  served  as  principal 
of  the  Mount  I  iarmel  high  school  for  the  next  three 
years,  and  was  then  elected  supervisory  principal 
of  the  Sunbury  schools,  serving  as  such  tor  twelve 
years.  He  was  then  elected  borough  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunbury  schools,  for  two  terms  of  three 
years  each.     Since  that  time,  from   1900  to   lull 


inclusive,  he  has  been  principal  of  the  Mount  Car- 
nal high  school.  On  July  15,  1905,  Professor 
Oberdorf  married  Olive  A.  Ruch,  of  Northum- 
berland, and  they  have  one  child.  Rhoda  Jane,  born 
Jan.  16,  1910.  He  is  a  member  of  Masonic  Lods;e 
No.  22,  of  Sunbury. 


George  Oberdorf,  son  of  Peter,  Jr..  was  born 
on  the  homestead  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
Aug.  19,  1807,  and  died  Feb.  28,  1866.  He  and 
his  wife  Charity  are  buried  at  the  Klinesgrove  M. 
E.  Church.  He  was  educated  in  the  old  pay 
school  of  his  day,  anil  trained  from  early  life  to 
farming,  which  he  began  for  himself  in  1855,  pur- 
chasing his  father's  place  from  the  estate.  He 
lived  there  all  his  life.  The  farm  then  com- 
prised 226  acres.  Originally  a  Democrat,  later  a 
Whig,  when  the  war  broke  out  be  became  a  fol- 
lower of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  helped  to  estab- 
lish the  first  public  school  in  the  township,  which 
was  built  by  subscription,  and  he  himself  did  much 
of  the  carpenter  work  on  this  school  building. 
He  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor,  in  short  he  was 
an  all-round  active  and  useful  citizen.  In  re- 
ligion a  Lutheran,  he  was  a  member  of  St.  John's 
Church,  and  was  in  the  church  council  some  years. 
Mr.  Oberdorf  was  married  twice,  first  to  Catharine 
Campbell,  daughter  of  Robert  Campbell.  She  was 
horn  Jan.  12,  1812,  and  died  May  30.  1835;  she  is 
buried  at  Klinesgrove.  By  this  union  there  were 
two  children:  Margaret,  horn  Jan.  11.  1834,  who 
died  Aug.  15,  1836:  and  Joseph,  horn  March  8. 
1835,  who  died  Aug.  4.  1835.  Mr.  Oberdorf s 
sei  nnd  marriage  was  to  Charity  Sowders,  on  Feb. 
16,  is:;:.  She  died  Aug.  5,  is';:,,  aged  fifty-five 
years,  eleven  months,  twenty  days,  the  mother  of 
five  children,  namely:  Harriet,  horn  July  5,  1838, 
married  Oscar  Heller,  and  they  lived  in  Rush  town- 
ship: Mary  C,  horn  Sept.  '.'•"'.  1841,  married  A. 
D.  Moon?  and  they  live  at  Klinesgrove,  Pa.:  Peter 
J.,  born  Nov.  13.'  1843,  died  April  21,  1887,  and 
is  buried  at  Klinesgrove  M.  E.  Church  (he  mar- 
ried Lyclia  A.  Reed,  who  died  Dec.  8,  1888,  aged 
thirty-nine  years,  six  months,  four  days,  and  their 
-in,.'  Frank  II..  horn  in  is;:;.  ,[,,,1  in  L894)  : 
George  Forres!  was  born  Ma\  2,  L846;  Elizabeth, 
born  April  25,  1848,  married  Joel  Rabuck,  and  they 
live  in  Rush  township. 

George  Forrest  Oberdorf,  farmer  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  at  Klinesgrove,  was  born  May 
2,  1846,  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies.  He  was 
educated  in  the  township  public  schools  and  reared 
as  a  farmer,  beginning  farming  for  himself  in  the 
spring  of  1887,  on  the  homestead  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  live.  In  March,  1887,  the  home 
stead  farm  passed  into  his  possession.  It  was  then 
a  tract  of  '-".',''  acres,  of  which  he  sold  oil'  forty- 
nine  acres,  subsequently  adding  thirty-three  acres. 
He  ami  his  brother  Peter  J.  at  first  owned  the  farm 
in  partnership  and  built  the  present  house,  to  which 


414 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


George  P.  Oberdorf  has  since  made  additions. 
The  old  house  which  Peter  Oberdorf  built  aboul 
1810,  on  this  tract,  is  still  standing  and  in  a  good 
stale  of  preservation.  It  is  a  log  house,  now 
weather-boarded.  In  1856  George  Oberdorf.  his 
son,  remodeled  ir.  and  tore  out  two  big  stone  chim- 
neys thai  extended  from  the  firsl  door  up.  It  is 
now  occupied  by  George  ('.  Oberdorf,  of  the  fourth 
generation.  In  1899  George  F.  Oberdorf  rebuilt 
the  barn,  and  in  1909  added  a  big  straw  shed. 
Hi-  land  is  fertile  and  adapted  to  general  tann- 
ine- as  well  as  fruit  growing.  He  has  a  peach  or- 
chard of  300  trees.  Mr.  Oberdorf  has  been  active 
in  various  interests  in  his  locality  and  is  one  o 
best  known  men  in  the  township.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  was  school  director  for  six  Mar-,  serving 

a  year  as  presidenl  and  the  same  length  of  t 

as  treasurer  of  the  board.  He  is  now  president  of 
the  Augusta  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
whos  ■  hear  quarter;  a1  :  in  Sin  "..  a  well  con- 
ducted company,  of  which  Saul  Shipman  i-  secre- 
tary and  David  Coo usurer.  The  board  con- 
sists of  six  directors.  Mr.  Oberdorf  is  an  Odd  Fel- 
low, belonging  to  Snydertown  Lodge,  No.  527,  of 
which  he  is  a  past  grand  and  at  one  tune  was  mos1 
active  in  its  work.  He  and  his  family  have  wor- 
shiped in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Klinesgrove  since  1876,  and  Mr.  Obefdorf  is  one 
of  the  pillars  of  the  church,  which  he  has  served 
officially  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  dan.  5,  1876,  Mr.  Oberdorf  married  Laura 
Alice  Mettler,  daughter  of  Carter  and  Mary 
(Haughawout)  Mettler,  of  Rush  township,  and 
they  have  had  a  Family  of  five  children:  Mary,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Harriet  M..  at  home:  William  P., 
at  home;  George  ('..  who  married  Ruth  A.  Camp- 
bell, and  lives  in  the  old  homestead  residence;  and 
Annie,  who  died  of  pneumonia  when  two  and  a  half 
war-    old. 


Martin  Oberdorf,  son  of  Peter,  was  borrj  in  Up- 
per Augusta  township,  and  was  a  farmer  owning 
a  farm  of  ninety  acres.  His  death,  which  occurred 
in  1871  in  Rush  township,  was  the  result  of  a 
cowardly  shooting.  He  is  buried  at  the  Meth- 
odist Church  at  Klinesgrove.  However,  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  as  was  his  wife. 
Susan  (Evert).  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Henry  M..  of  Stonington,  Pa.:  John  E..  of  Sun- 
bury. Pa.;  Mary  Eliza,  who  died  Nov.  21,  1870, 
aged  twenty-three  years,  six  months,  twenty-two 
days:  William,  of  tola.  Ixans. :  Peter,  who  died  at 
Berwick.  Pa.:  Philip,  who  died  at  Berwick;  and 
Elmer   F. 

Blmee  E.  Oberdokp  was  a  farmer  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  on  the  farm  of  his  grandfather, 
Peter  Oberdorf.  He  was  horn  Sept.  20,  1861,  in 
Push  township,  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
has  alwavs  lived  on  the  farm.  When  his  father. 
Martin  Oberdorf,  was  shot  he  went  into  the  fam- 


ily of  his  grandfather,  Peter,  when  only  ten  years 
old.  and  there  lived  with  them  until  they  died. 
In  the  spring  of  1907  he  obtained  tin1  homestead, 
where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Sunbury.  He 
cultivated  a  tract  of  185  acres,  and  conducted  his 
affairs  successfully,  also  taking  an  active  interest 
in  local  public  affairs.  Politically  he  i-  a  Repub- 
lican. In  the  spring  of  1911  he  came  to  Sunbury 
to  live,  making  his  home  on  Catawissa  avenue. 
on  Sept.  :;n.  1908,  Mr.  Oberdorf  married  Edith 
Shipman,  daughter  of  John  IF  and  Barbara 
t  Snyder)  Shipman,  and  granddaughter  of  Jacob 
Shipman.  both  the  Shipmans  being  from  Lower 
Augusta  township,  as  was  also  Barbara  Snyder, 
daughter  of  Col.  Thomas  Snyder.  Mr.  Oberdorf 
is  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection,  and  his  wife 
i<  a    Baptist. 

HARRY  <'.  BARNHART,  fanner,  who  has  a 
large  property  in  Point  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  located  along  the  north  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  river,  was  horn  Aug.  9,  1871,  in  Mon- 
tour county,  Pa.,  -on  of  Martin  P.arnhart  and 
grandson  of  M  ichael  Barnhart. 

Michael  Barnhart  was  horn  in  Rush  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  died  at  Shamokin 
('reek,  below  Sunbury,  when  sixty-eight  years  old. 
lie  i-  buried  at  Snydertown.  lie  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion.  His  first 
marriage  was  to  a  .Mi--  Keefer.  his  second  to  Sarah 
Elizabeth  (Neidig)  Fryling,  widow  of  Stophel 
Fryling.  The  following  named  children  were  born 
to  the  first  union:  John  settled  in  Ohio:  David 
he,  am.'  a  resident  .if  Sunhiirv.  Pa.:  Benjamin,  of 
Watsontown,  Pa.:  George,  of  Sacramento,  Cal. ; 
Martin  wa-  the  father  of  Harry  ( I.  P.arnhart :  Mary 
married  Jonas  Hollenbaeh;  Hannah  married  John 
Bowen;  Sophia  married  Mr.  Donavan;  Elizabeth 
married  Thomas  Rogers. 

Martin  Barnhart  wa-  horn  dan.  4.  1823,  in  Rush 
township,  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  for  many 
fears  owned  ami  lived  on  the  farm  in  Point  town-  « 
ship  now  occupied  by  his  son  Harry  C.  He  died 
. I  uiic  :',.  1898,  and  is  buried  at  Northumberland. 
Like  the  members  of  his  family  generally,  he  was 
a  Lutheran  in  religious  matters.  In  1845  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Elizabeth  Fryling,  who  was  horn  in  Oc- 
tober,  1826,  daughter  of  Stophel  and  Sarah  Eliz- 
abeth (Crissinger)  Fryling,  and  granddaughter 
of  Christopher  Fryling,  who  lived  along  the  Sham- 
okin creek  in  Northumberland  county.  Though 
now  in  her  eighty-eighth  year,  Mrs.  Barnhart  is 
well  preserved.  She  i-  the  mother  of  ten  children, 
horn  as  follows:  William.  1846;  Mary  Alice,  1849 
(died  in  1855)  ;  Anna  D.,  1852;  Hannah  J.,  1854 
(died  in  1855)  :  Sarah  Elizabeth,  1857;  Josephine 
Fee.  I860;  Angeline,  1862;  James  McCleUan, 
1865;  Emma,  1867;  Harry  C.  1871. 

Harry  C.  Barnhart  was  reared  to  farming,  and 
when   twenty-six  years   old  began   cultivating  Iris 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANL 


415 


lather's  farm  in  Point  township  on  his  own  ac- 
count. This  place  has  remained  in  the  family 
since  the  father's  death,  in  1898,  Earry  ('.  Barn- 
hart  now  owning  it,  and  he  has  operated  it  profit- 
ably, showing  himself  equal  to  the  responsibility 
of  so  large  a  tract.  The  place  contains  300  acres, 
located  on  the  north  branch,  and  its  level,  fertile 
fields,  of  productive  river  soil,  make  it  most  val- 
uable for  genera]  farming  purposes.  It  was  the 
old  Joseph  Bird  homestead  and  has  been  occupied 
for  several  generations.  A  number  of  Indian  relies 
have  been  found  on  the  place. 

On  Ma]  6,  L908,  Mr.  Hand, art  married  Minnie 
Morgan,  daughter  of  William  Morgan,  and  thej 
have  two  children,  Elizabeth  and  William.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Barnharl  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  is  a  Dei Tat  politically. 

MOSER.  The  -Mnsei-  family  hot*  well  known 
in  the  northern  portion  of  Northumberland  county 
is  descended  From  Peter  Moser,  a  native  of  Berks 
countv.  Pa.,  who  in  1838  came  to  Derry  township, 
then  in  Northumberland  county,  but  now  included 
in  Montour  county.  Ee  had  considerable  land  and 
was  a  lifelong  farmer,  being  succeeded  on  his  home 
place  by  his  son-in-law.  Gideon  Dietrich.  Ee  was 
an  early  live  stock  dealer,  and  was  a  prominent 
and  successful  man.  being  able  to  give  a  farm  to 
each  of  his  nine  children,  lie  is  buried  at  Wash- 
ingtonville  Church,  which  he  helped  to  build,  be- 
ing one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  there;  he  served  many  years  in  the 
church  council.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Ja- 
cob, Samuel.  John,  George,  Henry,  Fred.  Mrs. 
Samuel  Shirey,  Sallie  (wife  of  Samuel  Snyder). 
Susan  (wife  of  Gideon  Dietrich)  and  Margaret 
(married  Philip  Boyer). 

John  .Moser,  son  of  Peter,  was  horn  Jan.  19, 
1822,  near  Amityville,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  a  youth  when  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Derry  town-hip.  in  what  is  now  Montour  county. 
He  was  trained  to  agricultural  work  from  early 
life,  and  inheriting  a  tract  of  264  acres  from  his 
father  continued  to  cultivate  that  place  until  1897, 
when  he  removed  to  Turbutville.  In  1900  he  built 
the  line  home  there  (the  place  now  owned  by  his 
son  Henry)  where  he  died  Feb.  13,  1909,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Ee  is  buried 
in  the  Moser  family  plot  in  the  new  cemetery  at 
Turbutville.  Mr.  Moser  was  an  unusually  success- 
ful man.  and  as  he  dealt  in  horses  and  cattle  for 
many  years  in  addition  to  farming  he  became 
widely  known  throughout  this  region.  Though  he 
sii  ffered  a  loss  of  about  three  thousand  dollars  in  the 
Turbutville  lire  of  Aug.  11,  1900,  the  estate  which 
he  left  at  his  death  was  valued  at  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  and  he  had  distributed  a  much  larger 
amount  among  his  children  during  his  lifetime. 
Moreover,  his  means  were  all  accumulated  in  hon- 
orable business  transactions  and  not  by  penurious- 


ness.  for  he  was  very  liberal  in  his  charities  and  in 
his  gifts  to  religious  work,  giving  with  a  free  hand 
to  his  own  ami  to  all  other  churches.  In  Colum- 
bia county  he  donated  seven  hundred  dollars  to  the 
Madison  township  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  the 
oldest  resident  of  Turbutville  at  the  time  id'  his 
death,  and  his  funeral  was  largely  attended.  In 
l!Mi;  Ins  sons  John  Wellington  ami  Ilenn  Moser 
gave  a  line  memorial  window  to  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  at  Turbutville  in  his 
honor.  His  wife.  Margarel  (Cromly),  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Margaret  (  Evert  )  Cromly,  though  now 
in  her  eightieth  year  (she  was  born  Aug.  5,  l.s.'il  ), 
is  well  preserved,  and  still  makes  her  home  at  Tur- 
butville. Children  as  follows  were  horn  to  this 
honored  couple:  Henry.  Daniel  (id'  Montour 
countv),  S.  Anna  (who  died  young),  J.  Welling- 
ton, Catharine  (married  John  A.  Ellis  ami  died 
leaving  two  children.  Margaret  and  Ella),  William 
Hurley  and  Peter  (a  farmer  of  Lewis  township). 
Eeney  Moser,  son  of  John,  is  a  prominent  cit- 
izen and  farmer  of  Lewi*  township,  where  he 
owns  a  line  tract  of  eighty-four  acres  near  Tur- 
butville. He  was  bom  Sept.  -.'I,  1852,  near  Wash- 
ingtonville,  Montour  county,  and  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  beginning  work  meantime 
with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
leached  I  he  age  of  twenty-four  years.  He  then  be- 
gan  operations  on  his  own  account  in  Anthony 
township,  Montour  county,  where  he  farmed  on 
shares  lor  seven  years,  in  1884  coining  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Lewis  township,  Northumberland 
county.  It  is  a  fine  piece  of  limestone  soil,  for- 
merly the  old  Wykoff  homestead,  and  Mr.  Moser 
has  developed  its  resources  to  the  best  advantage, 
having  three  lime  kilns  on  the  place  which  are 
kept  going  nearly  all  the  year  round.  He  burns 
from  fifty  thousand  to  sixty  thousand  bushels  of 
lime  annually,  employing  five  men  {n  this  work 
alone.  An  able  manager  in  the  conduct  of  his 
husiness  affairs,  he  has  reached  a  substantial  place 
among  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  his  Locality,  hav- 
ing acquired  several  properties  in  Turbutville  and 
holdings  of  considerable  value  in  various  banks. 
Hi-  reliability  and  acumen  in  financial  matters 
have  been  recognized  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  wdio 
elected  him  to  the  office  of  township  treasurer  for 
many  years,  and  he  has  also  served  as  tax  collector. 
lie  votes  independently,  being  bound  by  no  party 

ties. 

In  1876  Mr.  Moser  married  Anna  E.  Carey, 
daughter  of  James  and  Rachel  (Hindershot)  Car- 
ey, of  White  Hall.  Montour  Co..  Pa.  They  have 
no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moser  are  members  of 
the  old  Lutheran  Church  at  Turbutville,  and  he 
has  served  as  trustee  thereof.  Socially  he  hold- 
membership  in  Warrior  Run  Lodge,  No.  401,  F.  & 
A.  M..  of  Watsontown,  and  in  Warrior  Run  Lodge, 
No.  645,  1.  i».  o.  F..  of  Turbutville. 

John  Wellington  Mosee,  son  of  John,  a  highly 


416 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


esteemed  resident  of  Turbutville,  was  born  Dec. 
4,  1857,  in  Columbia  count}-,  Pa.,  and  received  his 
schooling  at  White  Hall.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  and  began  farming  for  himself  in  the  spring 
of  1889,  for  the  next  eighteen  years  being  thus 
engaged  in  Limestone  township,  Montour  county. 
In  1907  he  built  the  home  at  Turbutville  which 
he  has  since  occupied,  renting  his  farm,  though 
he  occasionally  works  upon  it.  He  is  a  man  of 
the  most  honorable  standing,  widely  esteemed. 

On  March  7,  1889,  Mr.  Moser  married  Emma 
R.  Dietrich,  daughter  of  Daniel  Dietrich,  of  No. 
It ii  17  Franklin  street,  Reading,  Pa.,  who  died  Jan. 
10,  1911.  They  have  our  son,  J.  Alvin.  born  Aug. 
26,  1894.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  in  which  Mr.  Moser  takes  an  active 
interest,  being  a  member  of  the  building  commit- 
tee that  has  the  remodeling  of  the  church  in  hand 
at  present  (1910).    Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

William  Hurley  Moser,  son  of  John,  is  also  a 
highly  respected  resident  of  Turbutville.  He  was 
born  May  6,  1861,  at  the  homestead  in  Columbia 
county.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and 
assisted  with  the  farm  work  at  home  until  he  was 
thirty-three  years  old,  after  which  he  undertook 
the  cultivation  of  the  place,  which  is  near  White 
Hall,  on  his  own  account.  lie  continued  thus 
for  fourteen  years,  when  he  sold  out  his  farm  stock 
and  moved  to  the  borough  of  Turbutville.  He  has 
a  large  residence  on  the  main  street.  Mr.  Mosei 
retains  the  ownership  of  the  homestead  farm,  a 
trad  of  86  I  ai  res,  which  he  rents  out. 

On  Feb.  26,  1895,  Mr.  Moser  married  - 
Wolfe,  daughter  of  William  and  Martha  (Wolfe) 
Wolfe,  of  Derry  township.  Montour  county,  her  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  grandfathers,  George  '• 
and  Leonard  Wolfe,  having  been  second  cousins. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moser  have  oo  children.  They  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  ( Ihurch.  In  politics  he  is 
a   Republican. 


Jacob  Moser,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  l'a..  and  went  to  Montour  county  about 
two  years  after  his  father"-  removal  thither.  He 
followed  farming,  and  also  conducted  a  store  a1 
Mooresburg  for  eleven  years,  after  which  he  re- 
tired. He  died  at  Pottsgrove,  Northumberland 
county,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  is 
buried  in  Oak  Grove  cemetery.  Hi-  wife,  Justine 
(Boyer),  daughter  of  Jacob  Boyer,  of  Berks 
county,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  They 
had  children  as  follows:  Anna,  who  married  Jere- 
miah Fix:  Hettie,  who  died  unmarried;  Peter, 
who  died  at  Pottsgrove  in  1911;  Catharine,  who 
married  Daniel  Dietrich  :  Sarah,  who  married  Sam- 
uel Sanders;  David,  who  died  in  1861;  Mary,  who 
married  William  Sheets  and  (second)  Eli  Bickel ; 
Jacob  B. :  and  John,  deceased. 

Jacob  B.  Moses,  now  living  retired  in  the  bor- 
ough   of    Watsontown,    Northumberland    county. 


was  born  March  28,  1845,  in  Liberty  township, 
Montour  C  .,  Pa.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Justine  (Boy- 
er) Moser,  and  grandson  of  Peter  Moser.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  reared  to  farm- 
ing, also  assisting  his  father  in  the  general  store 
at  Mocesburg,  Montour  county.  In  1868  he  be- 
gan fa  ;ng  on  the  homestead  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, w  ere  he  lived  and  farmed  on  shares  for  six- 
i..ii  \i  ,rs,  his  parents  making  their  home  with 
him.  After  that  he  bought  a  tract  of  sixty  acres 
in  Liberty  township,  along  Mexico  Ridge,  and  a 
year  later  bought  another  sixty  acres,  adjoining, 
lie  continued  to  cultivate  this  property  for  nine 
years,  when  he  sold  it  and  moved  to  Limestone 
township,  where  he  had  a  170-aere  tract.  There  he 
also  farmed  for  nine  years,  and  he  still  owns  the 
place,  which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in 
that  district.  He  has  a  tenant  on  the  place  now. 
Mr.  Moser  also  owns  another  farm,  of  118  acres, 
in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county.  He 
is  now  living  retired  hi  Watsontown.  where  he  has 
occupied  his  fine  modern  residence  since  April. 
L908.  He  is  a  man  of  substance  and  sterling 
worth,  and  has  an  honored  place  in  the  community. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  new  Luth- 
eran (lunch,  and  he  was  deacon  and  elder  of  the 
church  at  his  former  home.  On  political  ques- 
tions he  is  a  Republican. 

In  1869  Mr.  Moser  married  Mary  Fensti  i 
macher,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Catharine  (Shu- 
maker)  Fenstermacher,  who  lived  in  Valley  town- 
ship, Montour  county,  where  he  had  a  farm  and 
also  followed  tanning.  To  this  union  have  been 
horn  the  following  children:  Ella  married  Allen 
Watson  and  they  live  in  Anthony  township,  Mon- 
tour county;  Warren  lives  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Turbut  township:  Laura  graduated  from  the  State 
Normal  school  at  Lock  Haven  and  is  engaged  in 
teaching;  Charles  lives  with  his  parents;  Clyde 
farms  his  uncle  Peter  Moser's  farm  in  Liberl 
township.  Montour  county;  Tina  married  Cortney 
Baird  and  they  live  in  Lock  Haven.  Pa.;  Catharine 
and  Ida  are  unmarried:  Jacob  farms  a  plao 
longing  to  his  uncle  Peter  Moser  in  Liberty  town- 
ship:  Mary  is  unmarried. 

WALTER  L.  WEIDENHAMER,  merchant  of 
Watsontown,  Northumberland  county,  belongs  to  a 
family  which  has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
from  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
The  progenitor  in  America,  Johannes  Weidenham- 
er.  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Nov.  11.  1726. 
In  1750  lie  married  Margaret  Magdalena  Eblinger, 
and  they  were  survived  by  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, twenty-seven  grandchildren  and  forty-eighl 
grandchildren.  Johannes  Weidenhamer 
died  Aug.  3.  1804,  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  his 
wife,  who  was  born  in  1729,  dying  in  April.  1812, 
when  eighty-three  years  old.  The  original  Weiden- 
hamer  homestead   was  about   three  quarters  of  a 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


417 


mile  north  of  Moselem  Springs,  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  on  the  Easton  road. 

John  Adam  (or  Johann)  Weidenhamer,  one  of 
the  sons  of  Johannes,  the  emigrant,  came  with  the 
family  from  Germany  and  lived  in  Maiden-creek 
township,  Berks  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing. He  married  Elizabeth  Danker,  an'  b  them 
were  born  children  as  follows:  Jacob;  B<  ijamin, 
who  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  died;  George,  who 
died  in  Maiden-creek  township,  Berks  county; 
John:  Susanna,  Mr-.  Daniel  Kauffman,  whose 
children  were  Mrs.  Charles  Hottenstein,  Mrs. 
Peter  Dunkle  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Hoffman;  .Maria, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Althouse;  Sarah,  who  died  unmarried; 
and  Betsy.  Mrs.  Williams. 

Jacob  Weidenhamer,  grandfather  of  Walter  L. 
Weidenhamer,  and  son  of  John  Adam,  was  horn  in 
1791  in  Berks  county.  He  married  Susanna 
Dreibelbis,  also  a  native  >■(  Berl  -  i  ounty,  horn  ( let. 
1,  lSDo.  daughter  of  Daniel  Dreibelbis,  of  Rich- 
mond township,  Berks  county.  In  1837  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Weidenhamer  moved  to  Montour  county,  this 
Slate,  settling  in  Limestone  township,  where  Mr. 
Weidenhamer  bought  a  valuable  farm  of  about 
two  hundred  acres.  Here  he  followed  farming  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  1803,  in  his  sixty- 
seventh  year.  He  was  also  interested  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Limestoneville.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  held  various  township  offices. 
His  wife  died  in  1887.  To  them  were  horn  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Wellington  D.,  who  lived  and  died 
in  Limestone  (he  was  a  tanner  by  occupation,  and 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace)  :  Sarah,  who  lived 
and  died  at  Limestoneville;  William,  who  died 
July  ;.  1910;  John  Adam:  Daniel,  living  at.  Mil- 
ton; and  Elizabeth  E.,  who  first  married  John 
Sheep  and  later  Emanuel  Mauser,  of  Liberty  town- 
ship. Montour  county  (or  maybe  of  .Milton),  and 
hail  three  children,  Edward  Sheep  (now  living  in 
Michigan)   and  William  and  Maude   Mauser. 

John  Adam  Weidenhamer.  son  of  Jacob,  was 
horn  April  "'.  1836,  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education.  When  fourteen 
he  began  clerking  in  his  brother's  store,  ami  for 
some  years  during  his  earlier  maul i  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Limestone  township,  Mon- 
tour' county,  whence  he  came  to  Dewart,  Northum- 
berland county,  in  1867,  buying  ('.  B.  Reifsnyder's 
genera]  store.  He  conducted  that  business  until 
his  removal  to  Watsontown  in  1882,  from  which 
time  until  about  six  months  before  his  death,  when 
lie  retired,  he  had  a  general  store  at  that  place.  He 
became  widely  known  in  that  connection  and  was 
a  respected  citizen.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
and  he  served  several  years  as  assessor  of  Delaware 
township.  He  died  in  1890  in  Sutton.  W.  Va., 
where  he  was  visiting  his  son.  Charles  D. 

On  Nov.  1.  1859,  Mr.  Weidenhamer  married 
Sarah  Ann  Deitzman,  of  West  Milton,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children:  Charles  D.,  Horace  G. 

27 


and  Y\  alter  L.  Mr.  Weidenhamer  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed, and  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder. 

Walter  L.  Weidenhamer  was  born  Sept.  9,  1870, 
at  Dewart,  and  there  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  early  began  to  assist  bis  father 
as  clerk  in  the  store,  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
1  893,  when  he  opened  his  present  business  at  Wat- 
sontown, carrying  a  line  of  stationery,  jewelry, 
sporting  goods,  cigars  and  tobacco,  as  well  as  news- 
papers. He  has  a  well  appointed  store  on  Main 
street,  between  First  and  Second,  and  by  enterpris- 
ing methods  has  built  up  a  prosperous  trade,  which 
has  increased  steadily. 

On  April  24,  1895,  Mr.  Weidenhamer  married 
Eva  Rissel.  daughter  of  Peter  Rissel  (formerly 
spelled  Rishel),  a  railroader,  and  they  have  had 
two  children,  Harold  R.  and  Alberta  May.  Mr. 
Weidenhamer  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  well  known  fraternally. 
holding  membership  in  Watsontown  Lodge,  No. 
619,  I.  0.  0.  F. :  Council  No.  51  1.  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.. 
at  Watsontown;  the  A.  0.  M.  P.,  No.  33;  and  Mil- 
ton Lodge,  No.  913,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  Milton,  this 
county.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has 
held  local  offices  at  Watsontown. 

EYERITT.  The  name  Everitt  was  for  over  forty 
years  closely  associated  with  business  interests  in 
Watsontown.  where  Enos  and  Enoch  Everitt.  twin 
brothers,  were  engaged  in  general  merchandising 
for  many  years,  were  foremost  in  the  organization 
of  the  Farmers'  National  Bank,  and  otherwise 
filled  a  useful  place  in  the  welfare  and  advance- 
ment of  the  community.  They  were  horn  in  De- 
cember, 1829,  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  sons  of 
James  Everitt.  The  father  was  horn  in  Easton. 
Northampton  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  married  a 
member  of  a  substantia]  family  of  that  county,  a 
woman  of  energetic  disposition  and  noble  char- 
acter. They  came  to  ( lolumbia  county  a  fter  several 
children  had  been  born  to  them,  and  there  followed 
farming.  Their  family  was  a  large  one.  viz. :  An- 
drew: William:  Moses;  Enos  and  Enoch,  twins; 
Hiram,  who  was  the  youngest:  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
Long;  Sarah,  Mrs.  John  Wells;  Martha;  Mary, 
who  died  out  West;  Susan,  who  married:  Lucy, 
Mrs.  Finas  Young. 

Enos  Everitt  spenl  his  early  life  in  his  native 
county.  In  1861  he  and  his  twin  brother  Enoch 
came  to  Watsontown.  Northumberland  county,  and 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  on  a  humble 

scale,  in  a  stone  house  which  st I  along  the  canal. 

B  close  application  to  business  and  excellent 
management  they  prospered,  accumulating  a  com- 
fortable  fortune  in  that  line  and  with  the  other 
interests  they  acquired   as   the  years   passed.     At 

.m    time  they  had  a  dry  g Is  business,  building  a 

large  brick  building  for  their  dry  goods  store  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Third  streets.  Watsontown. 


418 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


During  Lincoln's  administration  they  were  post- 
masters at  Watsontown  for  three  years.  After  giv- 
ing up  the  general  store  and  dry  goods  business 
I, mm-  Everitt  engaged  in  undertaking,  following 
that  line  for  many  years,  until  he  retired,  only  a 
few  years  before  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Farmers"  National  Bank,  and 
served  as  the  second  president  of  that  institution, 
being  succeeded  by  William  Nicely.  For  some 
years  during  his  earlier  manhood  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  the  Pardees  in  the  lumber  business, 
near  Muncy.  He  was  a  large  real  estate  owner, 
in  association  with  Drs.  Hall  and  Marr  owning  a 
number  of  fine  farms  in  Prince  George  county;, 
Md.  Mr.  Everitt  was  a  foremost  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  thai  congregation,  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  building  committee  when  the  church  was 
erected,  soliciting  the  greater  part  of  the  money 
subscribed  toward  its  cost  and  himself  contribut- 
ing liberally  toward  the  project.  He  served  as 
school  director  in  Watsontown.  Mr.  Everitt  was 
a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  died  at  Watsontown 
Dec.  1!'.  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  a 
citizen  honored  in  every  relation  of  life,  one  whose 
industry  brought  him  prosperity  and  whose  suc- 
cess was  shared  by  all  his  fellow  men,  his  useful 
life  benefiting  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him. 

Mr.  Everitt's  first  wife.  Catharine  Connor. 
i  .inn'  i'mm  Columbia  county.  She  was  born  in 
L832,  and  died  in  1870,  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren: Anna,  who  lias  never  married;  Alice,  wile 
of  George  Walters;  Lillian,  who  never  married: 
and  Grace,  wife  of  Albert  Bersinger. 

Mr.  Everitt  married  (second)  Mary  E.  Hill, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  (Achenback)  Hill,  of 
(enter  township,  Columbia  county,  and  four  chil- 
dren were  also  born  to  this  union :  Forest,  who  died 
in  1903,  aged  twenty-three  years:  Helen,  deceased: 
Elizabeth  B.,  who  is  unmarried  :  and  Ralph,  who  is 
a  college  student. 

Enoch  Everitt  was  so  closely  associated 
with  his  twin,  brother  Enos  that  their  lives  were 
much  the  same  in  many  respects.  They  were  in 
business  together  at  Watsontown  for  many  years, 
filled  the  office  oi  ster  jointly,  were  associ- 

ated in  the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  National 
Bank,  of  which  Enoch  Everitt  long  served  as  di- 
'.  and  always  had  interests;  in  common.  Like 
his  brother  Enoch  Everitt  was  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  and  helped  to  build  its 
house  of  worship.  He  died  July  H».  1901.  A  man 
of  the  highest  worth  and  usefulness,  he  will  long 
be  held  in  loving  remembrance  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Mr.    Everitt    by    his    first    marriage    had    three 

children:      Eva  .lane,  who   married  Wilson  Rem- 

Lorenzo,  who  died  Oct.  30,  1897;  and  a  son 

who  died  young.     In  1868  Mr.  Everitt  married, 

for  his  second  wife.  Catharine  M.  Barnfield.  and  to 


them  were  bom  two  children,  Agnes  and  Sarah 
H.,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Everitt, 
who  survives  her  husband,  is  one  of  the  oldest  res- 
i >li  iit-  of  Watsontown,  where  she  is  comfortably 
situated.  She  was  born  in  1828,  but  she  is  never- 
=ee  well  without  glasses,  and  reading 
is  her  favorite  pastime,  her  keen  fondness  for  good 
ure  affording  her  many  pleasant  hours. 
Edward  Barnfield,  father  of  Mrs.  Everitt.  was 
a  native  of  England,  whence  he  came  to  America 
before  his  marriage,  which  took  place  at  J< 
S  oi  .  Pa.,  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Nelson.  He  was 
a  school  teacher  and  possessed  of  some  means.  He 
had  a  sister.  Mrs.  Wahl.  who  also  came  to  America. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Barnfield  were  born  six 
children,  .as  follows:  Sarah  (wife  of  Horace 
I'.'  3s),  William  Nelson,  Benjamin,  John,  (ieorge 
ami  Catharine  M.  (Mrs.  Everitt).  By  her  sec- 
ond marriage  the  mother  had  another  son.  John 
X.  Slonacker. 

EDGAE  SUMMERS,  oi  Milton,  who  since 
mber,  L909,  has  conducted  a  restaurant  at 
No.  18  South  Front  street,  and  formerly  conducted 
the  restaurant  in  that  borough  now  carried  on  by 
his  brother,  is  a  member  of  the  third  generation  of 
his  family  to  reside  at  that  place,  and  was  born 
there  March  9,  186(5. 

John  1'.  Summers,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
180]  in  Philadelphia,  whence  he  came  to  Milton, 
in  an  early  day.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  and 
followed  farming  and  trucking  throughout  his 
active  years.  He  reached  an  advanced  age.  dying 
March  12,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years, 
seven  months,  twelve  days.  His  wife.  Rachel 
(Davis),  horn  in  1806,  in  Philadelphia,  died  April 
11,  1886,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  Lower  cem- 
etery at  Milton.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Sallie  married  Samuel  C.  Follmer:  Amanda  mar- 
ried Spencer  Kase;  Mary  J.  married  Levi  Truken- 
miller:  Emma  married  William  Schreyer  and 
(sei  nd)  Nathan  Noteston;  John  A.  was  the 
father  of  Edgar  Summit-. 

John  A.  Summers,  son  of  John  1'.  Summers, 
was  horn  Nov.  -.'4.  1839,  at  Milton,  and  died  there 
Feb.  24,  1899.  He  followed  the  huckster  business 
for  many  years  and  later  engaged  in  the  restau- 
rant business,  in  lsTo  establishing  himself  in  that 
line  on  Front  street  under  the  old  opera  hi 
where  he  remained  till  1880.  and  then  located  at 
the  site  of  ('.  Hull  Knauer's  shoe  store.  He  con- 
tinued the  restaurant  business  until  two  years 
before  his  death,  and  naturally  was  one  of  the  besi 
known  citizens  of  the  borough  and  the  surround- 
ing districts.  He  served  six  years  as  constable  of 
Milton,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  political  connec- 
tion. Mr.  Summers  married  Elizabeth  Smith, 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  ^Bastam) 
Smith,  and  four  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Spencer,  who  died  when  three  years  old:  Edgar: 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


419 


Clarence  A.,  now  proprietor  of  the  Summers  Cafe 
in  -Milton:  and  Carrie  M.,  who  died  when  twenty- 
four  years  old,  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Young. 

Edgar  Summers  received  his  education  in  the 
common  and  high  schools  of  Milton  and  when  he 
commenced  work  assisted  his  father,  with  whom 
he  was  in  business  until  the  latter's  retirement, 
after  which  lie  took  the  restaurant  himself.  On 
Feb.  I.  1896,  he  bought  the  old  Logan  property, 
at  Broadway  and  Elm  streets,  Milton,  which  he 
improved  l"  suit  the  needs  of  his  business,  and 
there  conducted  a  cafe  until  January,  1906,  when 
li'1  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother,  Clarence  A. 
Summers.  The  bitter  has  since  conducted  the  i  afe, 
and  the  name  of  Summers  is  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  restaurant  business  in  Milton.  As  pre- 
viously mentioned,  Edgar  Summers  has  had  a 
restaurant  at  No.  18  South  Front  street  since 
September,   f909. 

In  April,  1889,  Mr.  Summers  married  Mary 
/..  Martin,  daughter  of  David  and  Delilah  (Zell- 
ers)  Martin,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.  They  have  a 
beautiful  residence  at  No.  131  Broadway,  which 
Mr.  Summers  built  in  1905.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  Council  No.  758,  Heptasophs;  of  Castle 
No.  265,  K.  (1.  E.;  and  of  Lodge  No.  9,  B.  P.  0. 
Elks. 

HARRY  R.  SLIFER  has  been  located  at  Wat- 
sontown,  Northumberland  county,  since  1900  as 
auditor  of  the  S.  B.  &  B.  railroad,  and  he  has  be- 
come a  well  known  citizen  of  that  borough,  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  the  local  government,  in 
which  he  has  been  honored  with  the  highest  of- 
fices. He  was  born  Feb.  8.  1870,  in  Union  county, 
Pa.,  where  his  grandfather  settled  in  an  early  day. 

The  Slifers  are  of  German  extraction,  but  the 
family  lias  been  settled  in  America  for  over  two 
hundred  years.  The  first  ancestor  in  America  left 
the  Fatherland  in  1700  and  crossing  the  Atlantic 
made  a.  home  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  where  his  son 
Abraham,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Harry  R. 
SI  iter,  was  born.  Abraham  also  had  a  son  named 
Abraham,  whose  children  were  as  follows:  David 
married  Sarah  Ditcher  and  had  one  daughter, 
Mary :  Samuel  was  the  grandfather  of  Harry  R. 
Slifer;  Col.  Eli.  who  became  a  very  prominent 
man  in  Pennsylvania,  serving  in  both  house-  of 
the  State  Legislature,  as  State  treasurer  and  as 
secretary  of  the  State  under  Governor  Curtin, 
married'  Catharine  Frick,  and  they  had  a  large 
family,  John  Frick,  Samuel  H.,  Catharine  (mar- 
ried Andrew  B.  Dill),  Clara  (married  Robert 
Green),  William  II..  John,  Eli  and  Anna  Frick 
(married  William  Walls)  :  Jacob  married  Mary 
Carothers  and  had  two  children,  John  and  Aman- 
da; Mary  married  John  Adams. 

Samuel  Slifer,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  in 
1816,  in  Chester  county.  His  parents,  who  were 
of  the  sect  known  as  German  Baptists  (commonly 


called  Dunkards),  died  when  he  was  a  boy.  He 
learned  shoemaking,  and  followed  that  trade  for 
some  time,  both  before  and  after  his  removal  to 
Lewisburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.  There  he  became  pro- 
tector of  the  Lewisburg  bridge,  in  which  position 
he  was  retained  for  about  forty  years,  his  son 
George  M.  succeeding  him  in  that  work  in  1894, 
and  serving  until  the  time  of  his  death,  July  '.'". 
1910.  Thus  the  place  was  in  the  family  for 
over  half  a  century.  Mr.'  Slifer  married  Eliza 
Metzgar  (whose  mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Snyder),  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  George  M.,  Charles,  Alfred, 
Jacob,  Catharine,  Mary  and  Samuel. 

George  M.  Slifer,  son  of  Samuel,  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lewisburg. 
When  a  young  man  he  engaged  in  the  iron  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  continued  for  many  years,  for 
a  period  of  forty  years  running  the  furnaces  at 
Winfield,  Union  county.  'In  1894  he  moved  to 
Lewisburg.  that  year  succeeding  his  father  as  pro- 
tector  of  the  Lewisburg  bridge,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  until  his  death.  He  became  well  and 
favorably  known  in  that  place,  was  a  member  of 
the  borough  council,  and  a  notary  public.  He  at- 
tended the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Slifer  married 
\niia  P.  Rodenbaugh,  who  was  born  Aug.  5,  1839, 
daughter  of  Elder  Jacob  and  Susan  Rodenbaugh 
and  granddaughter  of  Isaac  Rodenbaugh,  of 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  who  was  born  Oct.  23,  1772, 
and  married  Margaret  Stillwagon,  who  was  born 
in  Delaware  county,  Pa..  May  19,  1772.  Elder 
Jacob  Rodenbaugh  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county  Feb.  12,  1812,  and  for  more  than  fifty  years 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slifer  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Frank  R.,  who  lives  in  Milton,  Pa. : 
Harry  R. ;  Jessie  M.,  wife  of  George  S.  Blood; 
and  Susan  R.,  who  is  unmarried. 

Harry  R.  Slifer  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  home  district,  supplemented 
by  a  course  at  the  Williamsport  commercial  col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  His 
first  employment  was  with  the  Reading  Railway 
Company,  which  he  served  as  operator  and  agent 
at  different  points.  In  1900  he  accepted  his  pres- 
ent position,  as  auditor  of  the  Susquehanna. 
Bloom-burg  &  Berwick  railroad,  and  has  since 
been  located  at  Watsontown.  Mr.  Slifer  has  token 
an  intelligent  and  active  interesl  in  borough  af- 
fairs for  several  years,  serving  as  councilman  three 
years,  was  secretary  of  the  council  for  two  years, 
and  in  1909  became  presidenl  of  that  body,  serving 
one  year.  His  political  affiliations  are  with 
the  Republican  party,  his  religious  affilia- 
ons  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
he  lias  been  an  efficient  worker,  serving  as  elder 
ani[  trustee  and  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  since  April.  1910.  Socially  he  is  a  High 
Mason,  belonging  to  Watsontown  Lodge.  No.   101, 


420 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


P.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  Master  in  1907 :  War- 
rior Pun  Chapter,  No.  346,  P.  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  was  High  Priest  in  1911 :  Mount  Hermon  Com- 
mandery.  No.  85,  K.  T. :  Williamsport  Consistory, 
thirty-second  degree:  and  Irem  Temple,  A.  A.  0. 
X.  M.  S.j  of  Wilkes-Barre.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  charter  members  of  the  Northum- 
berland County  Horticultural  Association,  of  which 
lie  is  the  first  treasurer.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  served  in  Company  1-'.  12th 
Regiment,  P.  V.  I. 

On  Oct.  1,  1902,  Mr.  Slifer  married  Jennie  S. 
Montgomery,  daughter  of  Oliver  P.  and  Priscilla 
(McKinney)  Montgomery,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Oliver  Montgomery  and  Anna  P.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Slifer  own  the  old  Montgomery  place, 
a  trad  of  205  acres  in  Lewis  township,  this  county. 

LEPCH.  The  Lereh  family  has  a  number  of 
representatives  in  the  northern  section  of  North- 
umberland county,  where  its  members  have  long 
ranked  high  as  intelligent  and  progressive  citi- 
zens, leading  useful  lives  and  raising  the  stand- 
ards of  the  community  by  their  example  and  in- 
fluence. Daniel  Lereh,  a  farmer  of  Delaware 
township,  and  his  brother,  the  late  Samuel  P. 
Lereh,  of  Lewis  township,  have  long  upheld  the 
family  reputation  for  high  character  and  civic  usi 
fulness,  both  having  served  ably  in  local  offices 
and  otherwise  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  life 
of   their   section. 

John  Lereh.  their  grandfather,  a  native  of 
Heidelberg  township.  Berks  Co..  1';,..  w&s  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  thai  county,  and  is  buried  there. 
In  1823  he  bought  a  farm  in  Lewis  township, 
Northumberland  county,  which  his  son  John 
farmed  on  shares  until  he  bought  it.  in  1832.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  John,  who  settled  in  New 
York  State:  David,  who  settled  in  New  York 
State;  Daniel,  who  lives  in  Berks  county,  near 
M.i  ins  Church:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Morris 
Evans,  of  Berks  county:  Sarah.  Mrs.  Ludwig; 
Katie,  Mrs.  John  Leib;  Susan,  who  died  unmar- 
ried :  ami   Samuel. 

Samuel  Lereh.  son  of  John,  was  born  in  1806 
in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  came  thence  to  North- 
umberland county,  settling  on  the  farm  of  Ml 
acres  in  Lewis  township  where  he  died  Sept.  '.'•".. 
is;:;,  aged  sixty-six  years,  two  months,  nineteen 
days.  His  death  was  caused  by  cancer.  He  was  a 
lifelong  farmer,  ami  prospered  in  his  work.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  held  the  office 
o  school  director.  His  wife.  Mary  (Raup),  who 
died  Nov.  19.  1882,  aged  seventy-two  years,  eight 
mouths,  twenty-seven  days,  was  a  daughter  <<\ 
Philip  and  Catharine  (Moll)  Raup,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  Lereh  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: John,  who  is  deceased:  Katie,  deceased; 
Sarah     Jane,     deceased:    Samuel      1'..     deceased: 


Susan,  wife  of  Thomas  Klapp :  Daniel :  Rachel, 
who  died  when  sixteen  years  old;  Clara,  wife  of 
I.  D.  Gresh :  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Samuel  P.  Leech  was  born  Oct.  23,  1839, 
on  the  homestead  in  Lewis  township,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  local  public  schools  and  at 
McEwensville  high  school.  He  was  reared  to  ag- 
ricultural work,  and  from  the  spring  of  1868  until 
his  death  farmed  on  his  own  account,  living  on 
the  homestead  in  Lewis  township  during  all  that 
long  period  but  five  years,  when  he  farmed  on  the 
place  in  Delaware  township  now  occupied  by  his 
brother.  The  brick  residence  on  the  place  was 
built  by  his  father  m  1852.  Mr.  Lereh  was  not 
only  recognized  as  a  progressive  farmer,  hut  as  an 
able  man  in  every  respect,  highly  regarded  for  his 
intelligence  and  good  judgment.  In  fact  he  was 
often  called  the  "Lewis  township  lawyer,"  because 
of  the  Erequency  with  which  his  advice  was  sought 
by  his  friends  and  neighbors  generally,  his  coun- 
sel being  found  so  valuable  that  his  opinion  was 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  served 
twelve  years  in  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor, 
to  which  he  was  elected  by  the  Republicans, 
though  he  himself  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
connection.  From  1870  to  1879  lie  was  school 
director.  He  was  also  prominent  in  church  work. 
worshipping  with  his  family  at  the  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  in  various  official  posi- 
tions, having  been  deacon,  elder  and  member  of 
the  council  of   Paradise  Church  for  fifteen  years. 

On  Nov.  28,  1867.  Mr.  Lereh  married  Margaret 
Fullmer,  daughter  of  Charles  Fullmer,  of  Para- 
dise Valley,  this  county,  and  to  them  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Rev.  Charles  ])..  :1  minister 
of  the  Reformed  church,  now  located  at  Mount 
Crawford.  Va.,  taught  school  in  Lewis  township 
for  two  years,  and  his  \\v<\  charge  was  what  is 
known  as  the  Mandales  charge  at  Danville,  where 
be  was  located  for  ten  years,  taking  bis  present 
charge  in  October,  1909  (he  was  married  in  Oc- 
tober,  1909,  to  Mary  James):  Samuel  E.,  who  is 
in  his  father's  employ,  married  Fannie  Menges 
and  has  children  Miriam  I.  and  Lent  L. ;  Mary  T. 
taught  select  school  four  summers;  Amy  F.  mar- 
ried Seidel  Rovenolt  and  has  children  Milford  L., 
Margaret  S.  and  Charles  S. ;  Sallie  F.  and  Maggie 
I.  ai'e  twins.  Mr.  Lereh  died,  very  suddenly, 
Nov.  9.  1910.  His  taking  away  left  a  vacancy  in 
the  business  and  social  circles  of  the  borough  which 
cannot  be  easily  filled. 

Daniel  Lerch,  of  Delaware  township,  was 
horn  Jan.  1.  1848,  on  his  father's  homestead  in 
Lewis  township,  and  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  local  schools.  Later  he  attended  the 
State  Normal  school  at  Millersville  for  six  months, 
and  took  a  commercial  course  at  the  Williamsport 
Business  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  L86-.  He  has  followed  farming  all  his  life, 
and   in   1874  began  farming  on  bis  own  account 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


421 


on  the  place  in  Delaware  township  where  he  has 
since  lived  on  a  L30-acre  tract  of  limestone  land, 
nicely  located  near  the  Warrior  Run  church.  Mr. 
Lerch  is  a  modern  agriculturist  and  has  prospered 

in  his  work,  which  he  has  carried  on  by  the  most 
approved  methods,  and  he  has  improved  his  prop- 
erty greatly,  lie  built  an  addition  to  the  dwelling 
on  the  place  and  remodeled  it  in  1904.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers'  National 
Bank  of  Watsontown,  which  he  served  as  a  director 
for  nun-  years.  He  has  taken  considerable  inter- 
est in  public  affairs  and  has  served  the  community 
in  various  offices  of  trust,  having  been  auditor  of 
the  township  nine  years,  school  director  six  years 
and  tax  collector  three  years.  In  political  connec- 
tion he  i-  a  Democrat.  Few  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship  have   been   more  faithful  to  their  duties  of 

citizenship.      Mr.   Lereh  has   also    I n   active   in 

church  work,  as  a  member  of  Trinity  Reformed 
church  at  McEwensville,,to  which  his  family  also 
belong.  They  now  hold  membership  at  Turbut- 
ville.  lie  has  served  this  congregation  as  deacon 
and  elder,  still  filling  the  latter  office,  anil  helped 
lo  build  the  present  church  edifice,  serving  as  treas- 
urer of  the  building  committee. 

On  Dee.  33,  1873,  Mr.  Lerch  married  Sarah  E. 
Gouger,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Gouger,  of  California, 
and  they  have  had  two  children,  Bertha  M.  and 
Donald  G. 

Donald  G.  Lerch,  M.  D..  received  his  literary 
education  in  the  McEwensville  high  school  ami  at 
franklin  and  Marshall  College,  graduating  from 
the  latter  institution  with  the  class  of  L900.  He 
entered  Hahnemann  Medical  College.  Philadel- 
phia, as  a  sophomore,  graduated  in  1903,  and  for 
the  next  fifteen  months  was  connected  with  a  pri- 
vate surgical  hospital  in  New  York  State.  From 
there  he  went  to  Allegheny,  now  the  north  side 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  served  three  years  in 
a  local  hospital,  and  he  is  still  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  its  surgical  staff  by  appointment  and  reap- 
pointment. He  has  proved  to  lie  an  able  general 
practitioner  as  well  as  a  skillful  surgeon,  was  po- 
lice surgeon  of  the  north  side  of  Pittsburg  for 
three  years,  and  has  contributed  to  various  Il- 
eal journal-.  His  activity  and  usefulness  in  pub- 
lic 'work  has  brought  him  considerable  promi- 
nence. 

AARON  S.  ROMIG,  who  owns  and  cultivates 
a  fine  farm  in  West  Chillisquaque  township,  North- 
umberland county,  has  lived  in  that  section  of  the 
county  since  1876.  He  is  a  native  of  Union  coun- 
ty, this  state,  born  May  8,  1840.  in  Kelly  town- 
ship, son  of  Thomas  Romig  and  grandson  of  Phil- 
ip Romig. 

Philip  Romig  was  horn  and  reared  at  Alburtis, 
Lehigh  Co..  Pa.,  lived  some  time  in  Union  county, 
and  died  at  Allentown,  Lehigh  county.  His  chil- 
dren were:     Thomas:  Mary,  Mrs.  Stiltz;  Charles: 


Benjamin:  Catharine,  who  was  twice  married,  her 
husbands  being  brothers,  named  Jacoby;  and  Su- 
sanna, Mrs.  Frederick-. 

Thomas  Romig,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  Le- 
high county,  anil  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-nine 
years,  five  days,  dying  in  West  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  at  the  home  of  his 
son,  Aaron  S.  Romig.  He  is  buried  at  Lewisburg. 
.Air.  Romig  learned  the  trade  of  tinner,  which  he 
followed,  and  later  farmed  in  Kelly  township, 
I  iiion  county,  having  moved  from  his  native  coun- 
ty when  sixteen  years  old.  His  wife,  Mary  A. 
(Weary),  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Weary.  Tin  \ 
had  three  children,  Benjamin,  Aaron  S.  and 
Augustus  W..  Aaron  S.  being  the  only  survivor  of 
the   family. 

Aaron  S.  Romig  attended  school  in  Kelly  town- 
ship. Union  county.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  his  active  years,  having  com- 
menced on  his  own  account  in  the  spring  of  1876 
in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, on  the  Cook  farm,  located  along  the  West  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna  river.  After  eight  years  on 
that  place  he  moved  to  the  Joseph  Rissel  farm 
in  East  Chillisquaque  township,  where  he  remain- 
ed one  year,  and  thence  to  the  Peter  Vonadia  farm, 
upon  which  he  lived  and  worked  for  eighteen 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  and 
moved  to  the  property  where  he  now  resides,  the 
Kinkad  farm,  a  tract  of  sixty  acres  in  West.  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  at  East  Lewisburg,  just  below 
the  iron  bridge.  Here  he  has  since  been  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits. 
The  place  is  a  very  desirable  one,  and  Mr.  Romig 
has  made  a  number  of  general  improvements  dur- 
ing his  ownership,  beside-  putting  up  an  addition 
— 30  by  18  feet  in  dimensions — to  the  dwelling. 
Outside  of  his  private  affairs  he  is  particularly 
interested  in  securing  the  best  educational  facil- 
ities possible  for  his  neighborhood,  and  he  has 
served  six  years  as  school  director  of  his  town- 
ship. He  has  also  been  elected  supervisor.  He 
is  a  useful  citizen,  and  has  the  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him. 

Mr.  Romig  married  Sarah  J.  Whitmeyer,  daugh- 
ter of  Amos  Whitmeyer,  of  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
and  they  have  two  children  :  Annie  M.,  the  daugh- 
ter, married  John  Haas,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  where 
they  reside,  and  they  have  four  children.  Lester, 
Raymond.  Sarah  ami  Dorothy:  Clyde  T.  married 
Mabel  Smith.  In  religious  matters  the  family 
are  identified  with  the  Lutheran  church. 

CHARLES  N.  MARSH,  of  Milton,  who  has 
carried  on  the  insurance  business  in  that  borough 
of  recent,  years,  has  been  identified  with  its  busi- 
ness life  for  some  time  and  with  its  public  affairs 
as  borough  treasurer,  in  which  office  he  is  now 
serving  his  second  term,  lie  has  also  followed 
surveying  throughout  his  active  years  and  has  con- 


422 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


siderable  reputation  in  that  line  of  work.  Mr. 
Marsh  comes  of  a  family  of  Scotch  origin  founded 
in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania  by  his  great- 
grandfather, Isaac  Marsh,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  member  of  a  family  long  settled  in  that 
state.  Isaac  Marsh  was  married  in  New  Jersey 
to  Ellonanna  Griggs  and  continued  to  live  there 
until  1807,  when  he  and  several  of  his  neighbors 
moved  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Rush  township, 
Northumberland  county.  There  he  bought  a  farm 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marsh  were  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Isaac,  Daniel  and  Griggs,  Daniel  remaining  in 
Hunterdon  county,  in  New  Jersey,  and  the  others 
coming  with  their  parents  to  Northumberland 
county.  Isaac  and  Griggs  Marsh  both  married  in 
Rush  township,  and  in  1811  moved  to  Turbut  town- 
ship, this  county.  The  descendants  of  Griggs 
Marsh  are  mentioned  elsewhere,  with  the  history 
of  the  Follmer  family. 

Isaac  Marsh,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and  married  Sarah  Gnlick,  a  native  of  North- 
umberland county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  'Charles  Gu- 
lick.  She  was  of  German  extraction,  her  ancestors 
coming  from  Gulick,  Wurtemberg.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marsh  had  the  following  children:  Minner  G. ; 
Mary,  who  was  married  June  9,  1864,  to  Reuben 
Klapp,  and  died  .Tan.  26,  1886,  leaving  no  chil- 
dren ;  Daniel  G. :  Williamson ;  and  Ellen,  who  mar- 
ried Emanuel  Haus.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  May  28,  1867,  the  father  Jan.    31,  1874. 

Minner  G.  Marsh,  born  in  Rush  township  April 
9,  1824,  married  Margaret  Follmer,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children,  Charles  N.  and 
Harriet,  the  latter  the  widow  of  Charles  Moll 
(she  resides  at  Pottsgrove,  Pa.).  Mr.  Marsh  en- 
gaged in  farming  during  his  active  years,  and  died 
Jan.  8,  1911.     He  was  buried  at  Milton. 

Charles  N.  Marsh  was  born  June  25,  1858, 
in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
township.  He  taught  school  for  ten  terms,  mean- 
time also  following  farming,  and  in  1897  he  took  a 
position  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Milton,  with 
which  he  was  connected  until  his  resignation,  in 
1908,  when  he  was  elected  a  director  of  this  bank. 
During  this  time  he  had  become  interested  in  the 
insurance  business,  to  which  his  attention  is  now 
principally  given.  He  has  by  his  success  in  the 
management  of  his  own  affairs  so  won  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  citizens  that  they  honored  him 
with  election  to  the  office  of  borough  treasurer, 
which  he  filled  two  terms.  Before  his  removal  to 
the  borough  of  Milton,  in  1897,  Mr.  Marsh  made 
his  home  for  sixteen  years  in  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, upon  his  own  farm,  and  there  he  followed 
surveying,  which  he  still  continues.  He  still  owns 
this  farm.  In  1890  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  that  district,  holding  the  office  until  he 


resigned  on  account  of  changing  his  home  to  Mil- 
ton. 

On  March  27,  1879,  Mr.  Marsh  married  Mary 
Montgomery,  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Sarah  (Moll) 
Montgomery,  and  they  have  one  son,  Hugh  Mont- 
gomery Marsh,  who  is  married  to  Ada  Yost  and 
has  two  children,  Hugh  Montgomery,  Jr.,  and 
Sarah  Grace.  Mr.  Marsh  and  his  family  reside  at 
No.  221  Broadway,  Milton.  They  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  a  rul- 
ing elder,  in  which  capacity  he  has  served  for  the 
last  twenty  years.  In  political  connection  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  and  presiding  officer  of  Northum- 
berland and  Montour  counties;  a  member  of 
Knights  of  Malta,  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  In  April,  1911,  when  the  Horticul- 
ture Association  of  Northumberland  county  was 
organized,  Mr.  Marsh  was  elected  its  first  president. 

WILSON  H.  REMLY,  a  resident  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Watsontown,  formerly  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  this  portion  of  Northumberland  county, 
was  born  Nov.  '.'1.  1854,  in  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
and  is  a  son  of  Michael  Remly  and  grandson  of 
John  Remly. 

John  Remly  came  to  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
from  one  of  the  lower  counties  of  the  State,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Mary  Kelchner, 
and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
William  died  out  West;  Henry  died  in  Columbia 
county.  Pa.;  John  lives  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.; 
Michael  was  the  father  of  Wilson  H.  Remly;  Sal- 
lie  married  George  Muffley,  of  Columbia  county, 
Pa. ;  Julia  married  a  Mr.  Bower ;  Kate  married 
Adam  Hill ;  Amanda  married  Stephen  Hill,  a 
cousin  of  Adam  Hill. 

Michael  Remly  lived  in  Center  township,  Co- 
lumbia county,  where  he  followed  farming.  He 
also  ran  a  coal  yard  at  McEwensville,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  he  died  on  his  birthday,  Jan. 
11,  1899,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He 
married  Mary  Hart,  who  now  makes  her  home 
at  Watsontown.  They  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely :  Wilson  H. :  Margaret,  Mrs. 
Charles  Beck,  deceased;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Albert  Alle- 
bach ;  Grant,  of  Berwick,  Pa. ;  Oscar,  deceased ; 
and  Sanderson,  deceased. 

Wilson  H.  Remly  passed  all  his  early  life  in 
his  native  county,  making  his  home  there  until 
his  removal  to  Northumberland  county,  in  1883. 
Settling  near  Turbutville,  in  Lewis  township,  he 
engaged  in  farming  there  for  two  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Warrior  Run,  in  Lewis  township,  where 
he  remained  for  eleven  years,  following  farming. 
Moving  across  the  Susquehanna  river  into  Union 
county,  he  farmed  there  for  the  next  six  years,  aft- 
er which  he  spent  two  years  in  Washington,  Ly- 
coming county,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


423 


In  1901  Mr.  Remly  returned  to  Northumberland 

county  and  settled  at  Watsontown,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  occupying  a  nice  home  built  by 
Enoch  Everitt,  father  of  Mrs.  Remly. 

On  Jan.  7,  1875,  Mr.  Remly  married  Effie  J. 
Everitt,  daughter  of  Enoch  and 'Martha  (Vance) 
Everitt,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three  children, 
namely:  Martha  married  Jacob  Wertman  and  re- 
sides in  Delaware  township;  they  have  one  son, 
Stewart.  Hurley  R.  is  mentioned  below.  Pleszie 
S.  married  Lloyd  Everitt,  and  they  reside  with 
her  parents;  they  have  one  child,  Donald.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Remly  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  in  whose  welfare  he  has  taken  an  active 
interest,  having  served  at  one  time  as  deacon. 

Hurley  R.  Remlv,  only  son  of  Wilson  H.  and 
Effie  J.  "(Everitt)  Remly.  was  born  July  7,  1879, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lewis  township.  He  is  engaged  in  farming,  cul- 
tivating his  father's  eighty-two-acre  property  at 
Springtown,  in  Delaware  township,  where  he 
makes  his  home.  He  married  Letitia  Clark, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Charlotte  (Baker)  Clark. 
am!  liny  have  had  three  children:  Mildred,  Flor- 
ence and    Htlie. 

CHARLES  E.  HOY.  a  merchant  of  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
born  in  that  part  of  Turbut  township  now  included 
in  Milton.  The  Hoy  family  is  an  old  one  in  Penn- 
sylvania, identified  with  Berks  and  Schuylkill 
counties.  The  first  member  of  the  family  men- 
tioned in  Berks  county  is  one  Ulrich  Hoy,  who 
paid  two  pounds  tax  in  1759.  From  Berks  the 
llovs  moved  to  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  lived  Philip  Hoy,  who  reared  a  large  fam- 
ily, viz.:  Joseph,  Henry,  Abram,  William.  John, 
Maria  (Mrs.  Wiltrout),  Susanna  (Mrs.  Izull)  and 
Sallie  (Mrs.  Gehret). 

John  Hoy,  the  grandfather  of  Charles  E.,  was 
horn  Dec.  20,  1805.  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  in 
1828  married  Sarah  Kimmel.  For  some  time  they 
lived  near  Orwigsburg.  In  1848  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county, 
to  which  he  moved  that  year,  and  where  lie  lived 
until  his  death.  May  3,  1894.  He  followed  farm- 
ing and  brickmaking.  Mr.  Hoy  filled  a  number 
of  township  offices,  and  in  political  connection  was 
a  Democrat.  In  religion  he  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  Church.  His  first  wife  died 
Sept.  22,  1862.  and  he  subsequently  married  (sec- 
ond) Mrs.  Sarah  (Miller)  Frailie,  widow  of  George 
Frailie.  Fourteen  children  were  born  to  the  first 
union-  Sarah  (who  married  Nathan  Fehr).  horn 
June  22,  1828,  died  Dec.  13,  1897;  Charles,  born 
Jan.  16,  1831,  died  Aug.  31,  1SS1 :  Hannah  (who 
married  Michael  Farley),  horn  April  5,  1833,  died 
Jan.  21,  1909;  Edward,  born  March  10,  1834,  died 
July  18  1892;  Lavina  (who  married  Thomas 
Karchner),  horn  Jan.  9.  1836,  died  Dec.  12,  1891; 


Hetty  (who  married  William  G.  Follmer)  lives 
in  Milton ;  Frank  moved  to  Kansas  and  is  still  liv- 
ing in  the  West;  John,  born  Dec.  2,  1840,  died 
Sept.  Mo.  1894;  Maria,  born  Nov.  8,  1842,  married 
William  B.  Wagner,  and  has  three  children,  Wil- 
liam II.,  Anna  M.  and  Emily  E. ;  Amanda  (who 
married  Jacob  Fries),  born  Dec.  17,  1844,  died 
March  12,  1900;  Samuel  was  born  Sept.  9,  1846; 
Elizabeth  (who  married  John  Noriconk)  was  born 
Sept.  9,  1848;  David  N.,  born  Nov.  28,  1850,  mar- 
ried Maggie  Harman  and  is  living  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Turbut  township:  William  died 
young. 

Edward  Hoy,  father  of  Charles  E.,  owned  a 
farm  east  of  Milton,  now  included -in  that  borough, 
and  there  made  his  home  and  followed  farming 
and  trucking  to  the  end  of  his  days.  His  death 
occurred  in  1892.  He  married  Rachel  Houtz,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Charles 
E.,  Emma  (who  married  Joshua  Kelly),  John, 
Gertrude  (married  John  Mast )  and  Lulu  (de- 
ceased). 

Charles  E.  Hoy  first  learned  the  trade  of  ma- 
chinist and  steamfitter,  beginning  work  in  that 
line  as  an  employee  id'  Charles  H.  Godcharles 
(predecessor  of  the  F.  A.  Godcharles  Company). 
He  next  worked  for  S.  J.  Shimer's  Sons  and  then 
for  the  American  Car  &  Foundry  Company  at  Mil- 
Ion,  from  which  he  changed  to  the  Philadelphia. 
&  Reading  Railway  Company  and  finally  to  the 
government  employ,  being  engaged  as  steamfitter 
for  the  war  and  navy  departments.  In  1894  he 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Milton, 
which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  is  a  thrifty  and 
substantial  citizen,  has  represented  his  ward  one 
term  in  the  borough  council,  and  is  a  creditable 
member  of  the  community  in  every  way.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church  of  Mil- 
ton and  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliation. 

On  Jan.  16,  1889,  Mr.  Hoy  married  Katie  L. 
Hause,  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Mary  A.  Hause, 
and  they  have  had  two  children,  Frank  Edward 
and  Marie  Ruth,  twins.  The  comfortable  family 
home  in  Milton  was  built  by  Mr.  Hoy  in  1893. 

ROBERT  M.  CUMMIXGS.  of  Montandon. 
Northumberland  county,  is  an  attorney  of  high 
reputation  and  standing  in  the  locality  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  practice  for  half  a  century 
and  more,  since  185'.).  and  his  son,  Herbert  W. 
Cummings,  who  lias  served  two  terms  as  district, 
attorney,  is  adding  distinction  to  a  name  which 
has  been  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  legal 
fraternity  in  this  region  for  an  unusually  long 
period.  The  father  was  born  Nov.  21.  1833,  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  where  he  has  passed  all 
his  life.     The  son   is  located   in   Siinlairv. 

The  Cummings  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  stock. 
John  Cummings,  the  first  ancestor  of  this  branch 
in  America,   was   born   in   Londonderry,   Ireland, 


cm 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  came  to  this  country  with  fifteen  brothers 
about  1760,  when  about  six  years  old.  They 
first  settled  in  Chester  county,  where  he  lived  for 
a  number  of  years,  serving  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  as  captain  in  a  Chester  county  regiment:  he 
was  at  Valley  Forge.  He  was  married  in  that 
county  to  Elizabeth  Church,  and  in  Kill  they  came 
to  Northumberland  county,  where  Mr.  Cummings 
purchased  between  350  and  400  acres  of  land 
which  had  been  taken  up  originally  by  Peter 
Boor,  in  1769.  This  tract  lies  along  the  Chillis- 
quaque  creek,  about  two  miles  east  of  Montandon. 
Here  Mr.  Cummings  remained  to  the  end  of  his 
days,  reaching  the  advanced  age  of  eighty.  He 
followed  farming,  built  and  conducted  a  distillery. 
and  being  a  man  of  judgment  and  acknowledged 
ability  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace  after  he  set- 
tled in  Chillisquaque  township,  serving  many  years 
in  that  office.  He  and  bis  wife  are  buried  in  the 
Northumberland  cemetery.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  (1)  Ann,  born  Sept. 
29,  17s-.',  married  Mr.  Foresman  and  died  Nov. 
89,  1821.  (2)  Thomas,  born  duly  7,  1784.  lived 
near  Jersey  Shore.  For  many  years  be  farmed 
one  of  the  Hall  farms  near  Montoursville,  Pa.  Mr. 
Robert  M.  Cummings  visited  him  in  June,  1843, 
when  a  severe  frost  killed  the  corn  and  all  fruit. 
(3)  .lames  born  Dee.  7.  178'6,  lived  on  the  Fair- 
ebild  farm  in  Chillisquaque  township.  (4)  Eliz- 
abeth and  (5)  Polly,  born  Jan.  10.  1790,  both 
died  in  infancy.  (6)  William,  born  Nov.  19,  1791, 
is  mentioned  below.  (7)  John  was  born  Oct.  5, 
1793.     (8)  Polly   (2)   was  born  dan.  11,  1799^.    '" 

James  Cummings,  a  brother  of  John  Cummings 
(father  of  the  above  family),  lived  in  Northum- 
berland county  and  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business. 

William  Cummings,  father  of  Robert  M.  Cum- 
mings, was  born  Nov.  lit.  1791,  and  died  in  1865. 
lie  settled  on  a  pari  of  the  homestead  and  there 
followed  farming  all  his  life,  improving  the  prop- 
erty as  prosperity  rewarded  his  efforts.  He  re- 
modeled and  enlarged  the  original  house,  part  of 
the  old  house  remaining  as  it  was  in  the  early 
days — made  of  log-  with  weatherboard  covering, 
lie  married  Hannah  R.  Erwin,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  (Emery)  Erwin.  and  she  survived 
him.  dying  at  Sunbury  in  1883.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  (1)  John  An- 
drew Jackson,  born  Feb.  15,  183'?,  was  born  with- 
out hands,  but  nevertheless  he  became  a  skilled 
penman,  and  having  received  a  good  education 
taught  school,  and  for  two  terms — 1861-67 — 
served  as  register  and  recorder  of  Northumber- 
land county.  In  1877  he  made  a  map  of  Northum- 
berland county,  and  be  also  published  maps  of 
Montour  and  Columbia  counties.  He  married 
Helen  M.  Sistv.  daughter  of  Mahlon  Sisty,  and 
they  had  two  children,  William  and  Annie.  (2) 
Robert   M.   is   mentioned   below.      (3)    Mary  Ann. 


widow  of  Thomas  T.  Baker,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  sixty-one  years,  resides  at  Montandon,  where 
she  is  now  postmistress.  They  had  children: 
Clara  A..  Elmer  E.,  Ella  J„  Carrie  M.  and  Han- 
nah Mary.  Mr.  Baker  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
county.  Pa.,  son  of  Jacob  Baker,  and  was  one  of 
ten  sons  who  served  in  the  Civil  war:  they  later 
moved  to  Roanoke.  Va.  He  was  a  member  of 
Company  1.  192d  1'.  V.  I.  He  was  a  foreman 
when  the  first  college  building  of  what  is  now 
Bucknell  University,  at  Lewishurg,  Pa.,  was  erect- 
ed. (I)  Sarah  Jane,  a  resident  of  Montandon,  is 
the  widow  of  David  Kingsbury,  of  Luzerne  county. 
('<)  Anna  C.  now  a  resident  of  Baltimore,  mar- 
ried Wesley  Auten,  who  was  prothonotary  of 
Northumberland  county  from  1879  to  L885.  They 
had  one  son.  John,  who  is  assistant  engineer  on 
the  We-t  Jersey  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road. (6)  Harriet  .1.  married  J.  W.  Taylor,  moved 
to  Kansas,  and  died  at  Meriden,  that  State.  (7) 
Margaret  Agnes  married  Amandus  Freize,  and  re- 
side- mi  the  old  homestead.  (8)  Eliza  T.  died 
when  seventeen  years  old.  William  Cummings, 
the  father  of  this  family,  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  in  politics  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

Robert  M.  Cummings.  second  son  of  William 
Cummings,  received  bis  early  education  in  his  na- 
tive  township,  attending  the  public  school  at 
Sodom.  Later  be  went  to  the  Lew  islmrg  Academy, 
which  was  then  taught  by  John  Randolph,  be- 
fore the  university  was  established.  He  studied 
law  with  George  F.  Miller,  of  Lewishurg,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Northumberland  county  bar  in  1859, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  practice  continuously 
since.  His  clientele  lias  been  a  large  one,  though 
his  work  ha-  been  confined  principally  to  Orphans' 
court  cases  and  real  estate  proceedings.  In  the 
latter  tield  he  is  regarded  as  art  authority  of  high 
value,  particularly  in  his  home  neighborhood, 
where  his  judgment  is  highly  regarded,  his  ad- 
vice being  sought  in  many  important  cases.  His 
knowledge  of  local  conditions  as  an  owner  of  and 
dealer  in  real  estate  has  brought  him  into  touch 
with  both  sides  of  this  question.  In  186.5  he  and 
his  brother,  John  A.  J.  Cummings,  purchased  land 
and  laid  out  what  is  now  Montandon.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  two  buildings  on  what  is  now 
the  site  of  the  thriving  town,  and  Mr.  Cummings 
showed  his  faith  in  it<  future  by  erecting  the  large 
brick"  residence  and  office  which  he  has  ever  since 
occupied.  He  lias  been  interested  in  various  other 
movements  materially  benefiting  the  village  and  his 
fellow  citizens  generally,  having  ,an  intelligent 
outlook  upon  public  affairs  which  make- 
him  a  most  valuable  citizen.  He  has  served  ten 
years  as  school  director,  throughout  that  period 
acting  as  secretary  of  the  board,  and  for  one  term 
was  justice  of  the  peace.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat  and    interested    in   the   success   of  the  party, 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


425 


taking  an  active  part  in  its  workings  in  the  locality. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church;  which  he 
has  served  in  an  official  capacity,  and  helped  ma- 
terially in  the  construction  of  the  presenl  church 
edifice.  As  an  Odd  Fellow  of  long  standing  he 
originally  joined  Mutual  Lodge,  No.  74,  at  Mil- 
ton, Pa.,  in  1868,  and  when  Montandon  Lodge, 
No.  Tit  i .  «ras  established,  became  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  that  organization.  He  was  the  first  officer 
of  thai  lodge,  and  he  has  served  as  distrid  deputy 
grand  master  of  Northumberland  county.  Few 
citizens  of  his  locality  have  been  more  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  various  phases  of  life  in  the  com- 
munity. 

On  Nov.  1  1.  1865,  Mr.  Cummings  married 
Man  !•:.  Albright,  daughter  of  John  Albright, 
late  of  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county, 
and  children  as  follows  were  born  to  them:  Helen 
Alton  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Clara  Eliza- 
beth married  Franklin  P>.  Irvin,  of  Brooklyn,  \. 
Y.  where  they  reside,  he  heme-  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  rate  departmenl  (they  have  had  children, 
Miriam,  Kathryn  E.,  Beulah  E.  Cummings  and 
Edna)  ;  John  William,  who  was  formerly  a  teach- 
er, is  now  freight  agent  for  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
way Company  at  Ozone  Park,  Brooklyn;  Herbert 
\V.  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  A.  is  at  home;  Har- 
riet .7.  married  Edward  Reitz,  and  has  children. 
Herbert  W.,  Lena  M..  Robert  C,  Elizabeth  ('.  and 
Wilson.  Mrs.  Cummings  died  April  11,  1908,  and 
is  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton,  North- 
umberland county. 

Herbert  W.  Cummings  was  born  at  Montan- 
don. After  graduating  from  the  Lewisburg  high 
school  he  read  law  with  his  father,  and  on  enter- 
ing upon  legal  practice  he  settled  at  Sunbury, 
where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Lewis  I  lew  art. 
He  has  risen  rapidly  in  the  profession,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1901,  was  honored  with  election  to  the 
office  of  district  attorney,  the  duties  of  which  he 
assumed  Jan.  1,  1902.  The  term  is  for  three 
years,  and  he  was  reelected  at  the  November,  1904, 
contest,  serving  two  successive  terms  with  dis- 
tinguished ability.  lie  enjoys  a  wide  general 
practice,  receiving  the  patronage  of  a  clientele 
whose  custom  is  a  distinct  acknowledgment  of  his 
talents  and  judgment  in  handling  important  legal 
work.  He  has  a  large  library,  and  is  considered 
one  of  the  best  informed  attorneys  at  the  North- 
umberland county  bar. - 

Socially  Mr.  Cummings  is  a  member  in  high 
standing  of  the  .Masonic  fraternity  and  the  B.  P. 
0.  Elks.  In  the  former  connection  he  unites  with 
old  Lodge  No.  22,  at  Sunbury,  with  Northumber- 
land Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  and  with  Bloomsburg 
Consistory,  thirty-second  degree.  As  an  Elk  he 
holds  membership  in  Lodge  X...  267,  of  Sunbury, 
which  he  is  at  present  serving  as  exalted  ruler. 

MASON  I.  HOOVER,  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, is  one   of   the   younger   agriculturists   id'  bis 


sect  urn  who  are  doing  good  work  in  modern  farm- 
ing, lie  has  a  pleasant  home  in  Hollowing  Run 
Valley,  where  he  has  resided  since  1907. 

This  Hoover  family  came  into  the  vicinity  of 
Northumberland  county  from  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  George  Hoover,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mason  I.  Hoover,  was  born.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  About  1835  he  moved  to  Snyder 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  died  some  time  before  1850, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-sis  years.  His  wife  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Rishel,  died  about  1868, 
aged  eighty-four  years,  and  they  are  buried  at 
Witmer's  Evangelical  Church  in  Snyder  county. 
They  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  Hannah  mar- 
ried John  Kantner:  Sarah.  Leah  and  Rachel  died 
unmarried:  Charles  is  mentioned  later:  George 
was  drowned  in  the  Susquehanna  when  forty-five 
years  old.  while  engaged  in  catching  logs;  Morgan 
died  at  Rockville.  Pa.;  Mary  married  Martin 
Rishel  ami  they  lived  at  Milton,  Pennsylvania. 

Charles  Hoover  was  born  in  1819  in  Berks 
county,  and  was  sixteeen  years  old  when  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Snyder  county,  where  he 
passed  most  of  his  life.  He  worked  on  the  farm, 
which  was  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, and  followed  milling  as  well  as  farming. 
being  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Yost  Mill, 
the  largest  gristmill  in  Snyder  county,  which  was 
huilt  by  John  Riehter  at  an  expenditure  of  $26,- 
doii.  Mr.  Hoover  operated  this  mill  for  twelve 
years,  when  he  retired,  and  thereafter  he  occupied 
one  of  the  three  houses  which  he  owned  at  that 
point  until  his  death,  duly  5,  189?,  when  he  was 
seventy-two  years,  nine  months  of  age.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  United  Evangelical  Association,  belonging 
to  the  Middle  Creek  Church,  which  he  served  offi- 
cially. He  was  an  upright,  conscientious  man,  a 
good  citizen  from  ever;  point  of  view.  His  wife. 
Molly  (Gougler),  died 'Dec.  18,  1907.  aged  eighty- 
three  years,  seven  months,  three  days,  and  they 
are  buried  at  Witmer's  Church.  They  bail  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Zacharias,  who  lives  at  Allen- 
town,  Pa.;  John,  of  Snyder  county;  Henry,  of 
Lycoming  county;  George,  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county;  Jeremiah:  Da- 
vid, of  Snyder  county;  Ira.  who  farms  on  Red 
Hoover  Island:  and  Agnes,  widow  of  Capt.  John 
Mover,  living  at  Selinsgrove. 

George  Hoover,  son  of  Charles  Hoover,  was 
horn  Oct.  20,  1854,  ill  Snyder  county,  and  in  1856 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Hoover  island,  in  the 
Susquehanna,  where  he  has  now  resided  I'm-  over 
half  a  century.  The  island  at  present  contains 
three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  was  originally 
much  linger.  Mr.  Hoover  has  been  very  -uccess- 
fully  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  a  valuable  farm 
stock.  Tie  married  Annie  Wiimvre.  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Caroline  (Krebs)  Witmyre.  and  they 
have  had  a  famih  of  nine  children,  viz.:  Mason 
I.:  Mary,  wife  of  Harry  Xey:  Raymond,  who  died 


426 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  infancy.  Osborne,  who  married  Agnes  Con- 
drum  ;  Eugene,  who  married  Jennie  Ziegler :  Hall : 
Marguerite:  George,  Jr.;  and  a  daughter  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hoover  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  and 
worship  at  what  is  known  as  the  Hoover  Church 
in  Snyder  county :  the  ground  upon  which  this 
church  is  erected  and  the  cemetery  land  adjoining 
were  donated  for  the  purpose  by  Charles  Hoover, 
father  of  George  Hoover.  Sr. 

Mason  I.  Hoover  was  torn  Nov.  5,  1879,  on 
Hoover  island,  and  there  spent  all  his  youth  and 
early  manhood,  making  his  home  there  until  he 
was  twenty-seven  years  old.  His  early  education 
was  received  in  the  common  schools,  and  later  he 
attended  a  summer  term  at  the  Herndon  normal 
school,  preparing  to  teach.  He  was  licensed  dur- 
ing Prof.  Benjamin  Apple's  term  as  county  super- 
intendent, ami  taught  his  first  term  on  Hoovers 
island  ( which  is  a  part  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship),  where  all  of  his  eleven  pupils  were  Hoovers 
like  himself,  and  all  related.  The  island  has  also 
been  known  as  "Red  Hoover  Island."'  because  of 

the  ruddy   complexion     ed  by  the  Hoovers 

generally.  Mr.  Hoover  taughl  nine  terms  in  all, 
all  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1007  commenced  farming  upon  his  present 
place  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  which  he  had 
purchased  the  year  previously,  moving  there  April 
:!.  1907.  It  i-  a  tract  of  seventy  acres  in  the  Hol- 
lowing Run  Valley,  formerly  the  homestead  of 
Washington  Brosius,  who  erected  the  present  build- 
ings on  the  property.  The  land  is  very  fertile,  and 
Mr.  Hoover  i>  doing  all  that  can  lie  done  with 
modern  implements  and  ideas  to  improve  it  to 
the  extent  of  it-  possibilities.  He  is  an  intelli- 
gent citizen,  ami  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
Though  he  has  not  held  any  public  offices  he  has 
been  active  in  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
helped  to  hold  the  elections  in  his  district. 

On  Feb.  20;  1907,  Mr.  Hoover  was  married  to 
Bessie  Brosius,  daughter  of  Washington  Brosius, 
late  of  Lower  Augusta  township.  The  ceremony 
was  performed  by  Rev.  Charles  II.  Brocious,  a 
cousin  of  Mrs.  Hoover,  who  is  now  a  missionary 
in  Africa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  have  two  chil- 
dren, Tamsie  Marguerite  and  Mary  Agnes. 

WILLIAM  P.  HOTTENSTEIN,  owner  of  the 
old  Hottenstein  homestead  in  Turhut  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  present  tax  receiver 
of  that  township,  was  burn  there  May  11.  1863,  son 
of  Charles  Hottenstein. 

The  Hottenstein  family  has  a  long  record  in  the 
Old  World,  its  history  beginning  A.  D.  380,  when 
fount  Reidbold  von  Hottenstein  lived  in  the  for- 
est of  the  Spessard,  in  what  is  now  Germany.  The 
name  signifies  ""Holy  Stone."  In  the  forest  men- 
tioned the  Count  annually  held  great  and  solemn 
court  upon  a  large   rock   under  a   spreading  oak. 


He  died  in  the  year  415.  His  wife,  Ilsseboda.  was 
a  daughter  of  a  Westphalian  count.  In  500  Al- 
lied, a  grandson  of  Count  Reidbold,  was  the  only 
living  representative  of  the  family,  and  he  was 
killed  in  a  battle  with  the  Frisian  warriors  in 
538.  His  wife.  Anna  von  Herboldseehe,  was  from 
Alsace.  He  hail  two  sons,  Sueno  and  Percival,  the 
latter  dying  in  the  monastery  at  Fulda.  Sueno 
was  a  warrior.  Upon  a  hill  where  his  ancestors 
had  resided  he  erected  a  strong  castle,  which  he 
called  Hottenstein.  He  married  Hirlanda  von 
Bremhorst.  Later  two  brothers.  Theobald  and 
Ausgar  von  Hottenstein,  resided  in  the  castle..  Aus- 
gar  married  Waldine  von  Elnfurt  and  died  in  887, 
leaving  a  son.  Filbert  von  Hottenstein.  who  at  his 
death  left  an  only  representative  of  the  family. 
Giselbert,  who  lived  in  the  castle  of  his  ancestors 
and  married  Kunnigunde  von  Velleres,  of  the 
French  province  of  Poitou,  died  in  1317.  leaving 
three  sons.  Two  brothers  dying,  the  other  be- 
came sole  heir  of  the  family  possessions,  and  mar- 
ried Lea  von  Daunenburg.  In  1524  the  castle  was 
burned  by  the  peasants.  Only  Kuno  von  Hotten- 
stein. who  was  in  the  German  army,  survived.  He 
married  Louisa  von  Berg,  and  died  in  1563.  His 
two  sons  were  Nicholas  and  Ernst.  The  latter, 
who  was  mayor  of  Esslingen.  married  and  left 
three  sons  who  came  to  America,  one  dying  in  Phil- 
adelphia, another  settling  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
where  some  of  his  descendants  still  live,  and  the 
t  hi  id.  Jacob,  was  the  Ancestor  of  the  Hottenstein 
family  of  Northumberland  county.  In  the  early 
days  the  von  Hottensteins  belonged  to  the  Frank- 
ish  knighthood. 

Jacob  Hottenstein  settled  about  IT-?"  in  Oley 
township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  in  1729  moving  to  Max- 
atawny  township,  that  county,  where  Nov.  18, 
1729,  he  purchased  from  Caspar  Wistar  116  acres 
for  forty  pounds,  twelve  shillings  (owned  in  1800 
by  Dr.  Edward  Hottenstein).  Later  he  purchased 
327  aires  more.  He  married  Dorothea  Reher,  by 
whom  he  had  these  sons  and  daughters:  Jacob. 
William,  David.  Henry.  Dorothea  and  Maria.  He 
died  March  23,  1753,  aged  fifty-six  years. 

David  Hottenstein,  son  of  Jacob,  had  three  sons 
and  two  daughters :  Jacob.  David.  Daniel,  Cath- 
arine (married  Jacob  Grim)  and  Dorothea  (died 
young) . 

David  Hottenstein.  son  of  David,  studied  medi- 
cine in  Philadelphia.  He  married  Elizabeth  Kline, 
and  their  children  were:  David.  Jacob.  Daniel, 
William,  Lane.  Henry,  Catharine  and  Sarah  (mar- 
ried Jonas  Trexler,  who  was  the  father  of  Jonas 
Trexler  and  grandfather  of  A.  R.  Trexler,  of  Sun- 
bury.  Pa.). 

William  Hottenstein.  son  of  David  and  Eliza- 
beth (Kline)  Hottenstein.  had  children  as  follows: 
David  H..  Charles  A..  Robert.  Henrv,  Edward 
(horn  Oct.  1.  1831).  Caroline.  Sallie  A.  and  Ma- 
tilda. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


427 


William  Hottenstein,  son  of  Jacob,  the  emigrant 
ancestor,  had  among  his  children  a  son  Henry. 

Henry  Hottenstein,  son  of  William,  purchased  a 
farm  in  Ontelaunee  township,  Berks  county,  where 
he  lived.  His  death  occurred  in  1844.  He  served 
one  term  of  three  years  as  county  commissioner. 
In  politics  he  was  independent.  To  him  and  his 
wife  Catharine  (Spohn),  who  died  in  1839,  were 
born  thirteen  children,  nine  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Mary,  William,  Abram,  Benjamin, 
Henry,  Daniel,  Catharine,  Sarah,  Philip,  Jacob, 
Isaac,  Charles  and  Esther. 

Charles  Hottenstein,  son  of  Henry,  was  born 
\l:iv  25,  1812,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  He  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the 
academy  in  Reading,  and  made  such  good  use  of 
his  opportunities  that  he  was  able  to  teach,  being 
the  second  German  considered  competent  for  that 
work  in  Ontelaunee  township.  He  continued  to 
teach  common  school  during  the  winter  season  in 
his  native  county  for  twelve  years,  and  in  the 
meantime  also  followed  surveying,  in  which  he  was 
very  proficient.  In  1840  he  moved  to  Montour 
county,  Pa.,  and  in  1845  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county,  to 
which  he  moved.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  community  in  his  day.  While  in  his  native 
county,  when  still  a  young  man,  he  was  elected 
township  auditor,  resigning  that  position  to  ac- 
cept that  of  clerk  of  the  county  poorhouse  for  one 
year.  In  1854  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  lie  continued  to  fill  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  Ins  life.  In  1855  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner  of  Northumberland  county,  served 
three  years  and  at  the  close  of  that  period  was 
elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature Later  lie  was  elected  county  auditor,  serv- 
ing from  1876  to  1878.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
was  treasurer  of  the  bounty  fund,  handling  about 
thirty  thousand  dollars  without  being  required  to 
furnish  bond.  In  politics  always  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat and  a  most  effective  worker  in  his  party's 
interests,  he  was  a  delegate  in  1860  to  the  national 
convention  held  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  which  ad- 
journed to  Baltimore,  where  Douglas  and  Breck- 
enridge  were  nominated.  He  attended  both  meet- 
ings, but  did  not  vote. 

Mr.  Hottenstein's  first  wife.  Veronica  (Kauff- 
man),  died  in  1877.  and  he  subsequently  married 
Caroline  Elwell,  of  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  who 
died  in  July,  1909.  By  his  first  marriage  there 
were  twelve  children  :  Allen  S.,  now  deceased,  who 
was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Milton,  lawyer,  post- 
master and  publisher;  Henry  and  Daniel,  both 
of  whom  still  live  in  Turbut  township;  Mary, 
who  married  Harrison  Hafer,  of  Union  county, 
Pa.;  Sarah,  who  graduated  from  the  Keystone 
State  normal  school  and  taught  four  years  in 
Scranton  before  her  marriage  to  Jacob  K.  Stahl, 
of  Union  county:  Susan,  who  married  Thomas  O. 


Long  of  Williamsport,  Pa. ;  Clara,  who  married 
Daniel  F.  Raup,  of  Turbut  township;  Abram  C, 
a  graduate  of  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lan- 
caster, class  of  1882,  who  moved  to  North  Caro- 
lina and  now  lives  at  Snow  Hill,  Md. ;  William 
P. ;  and  three  that  died  in  infancy.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  March  12,  1891.  ~  He  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
Paradise  Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee, 
deacon  and  treasurer. 

William  P.  Hottenstein  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  township  and  at  Lime- 
stoneville  Academy.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father 
he  purchased  the  family  homestead  in  Turbut 
township,  where  he  lives  and  works,  being  one  of 
the  substantial  and  worthy  citizens  of  his  commun- 
ity. He  takes  an  interest  in  all  movements  affect- 
ing the  public  welfare,  and  is  now  serving  his 
sixth  year  as  tax  receiver  of  his  township.  Like 
his  father  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation at  Paradise  church. 

Mr.  Hottenstein  married  Ida  Raup,  daughter 
of  William  Raup,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children.  Merrill  and  Wilfred. 

Philip  Raup,  the  founder  in  America  of  the  fam- 
ily to  which  Mrs.  William  P.  Hottenstein  belongs, 
came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation. 

Philip  Raup,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  Berks 
county  and  there  passed  his  early  life.  He  learned 
the  milling  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years.  When  a  young  man  he  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  In  his  native  county  he  mar- 
ried a  member  of  the  Moll  family,  and  about  1814 
came  to  Northumberland  county,  taking  up  about 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Lewis 
township.  There  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  dying  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-six  years, 
and  he  is  buried  close  to  the  Union  church  build- 
ing at  Turbutville.  His  children  were  as  follows : 
Leonard,  Jacob,  Philip,  Christopher,  John,  Henry. 
Katie  (married  Daniel  Derr),  Mary  (married 
Amos  Glase),  Polly  (married  Samuel  Lerch)  and 
Mrs.  Stephen  Glase  (Stephen  and  Amos  were 
brothers). 

John  Raup,  son  of  Philip  and  grandson  of 
Philip,  followed  farming  until  his  death,  owning 
120  acres  in  Lewis  township.  He  is  buried  at 
Turbutville.  He  married  Polly  Clapp,  daughter 
of  John  Clapp,  of  Lewis  township,  and  nine  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  A  son  that  died  young: 
William  and  John,  twins;  Daniel:  David;  Jere- 
miah; Adam:  Kate,  who  married  Joseph  Minse- 
moyer;  and  Emma,  who  married  William  Con- 
way. 

William  Raup,  son  of  John,  was  horn  Oct.  27, 
L839,  in  Lewis  township,  there  attended  school, 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  majoritv.     He  has  since  been  working  on  his 


428 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


own  account,  and  has  been  engaged  principally 
in  farming,  though  he  occasionally  works  at  the 
trade  of  stonemason.  For  seventeen  years  he  lived 
on  the  Daniel  Pollmer  farm  in  Turlmt  township, 
and  for  the  past  nineteen  years  he  has  been  located 
on  the  old  Peter  Vbris  farm  in  Basl  Chillisquaque 
township,  a  tract  of  140  acres.  He  is  at  present 
serving  as  supervisor  of  his  township.  Politically 
he  is  a  Demoerai  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  be- 
longing to  the  congregation  at  the  Follmer  church, 
lie  is  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  a  highly  respected 
citizen. 

Mr.  Raup  married  Sarah  E.  Follmer,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Lantz)  Follmer.  and  nine 
eh i Id ivn  have  been  born  to  them  :  Daniel,  who  mar- 
ried Clara  Eottenstein,  lives  in  Union  county. 
Pa.;  Elizabeth  married  Elmer  Strine  and  lives  at 
Milton;  Sallie  is  at  home:  Newton,  of  Milton, 
married  Bessie  Krumm;  Clarence,  of  Milton,  has 
been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  having  been  Nina 

Young,  his  see I  Florence  Wertz;  Frank,  now  of 

Rockford,  111.,  married  Cora  Miller;  Harvey  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at  home:  Ida  is  the  wife  of 
William  P.  Eottenstein,  of  Turlmt  township;  and 
Katie  i-  at  home. 

SWENK.  There  have  been  a  number  of 
respected  and  substantial  citizens  in  Northum- 
berland county  bearing  this  name,  among  them 
the  late  esteemed  Jacob  Harris  Swenk  and  his  son. 
the  present  Dr.  Charles  Eaas  Swenk.  of  Sunbury, 
and  Reese  H.  Swenk,  brother  of  Jacob  II. .  of  Tur- 
lmt township,  this  county,  descendants  of  Hans 
Michael  Sphwenk,  as  the  name  was  originally 
spelled,  the  family  being  of  German  origin.  The 
Schwenks  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  at 
or  near  the  Trappe,  prior  to  the.  Revolution. 

The  family  is  now  widely  scattered,  but  the  re- 
unions recentl]  held  have  revived  interest  in  the 
early  history  and  brought  many  of  the  members 
together. 

Hans  Michael  Sehwenk  was  born  in  Germany  in 
169fi,  and  a  letter  from  Germany  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  a  member  of  the  family  shows  that  they 
belonged  to  the  nobility  in  that  country  and  were 
considered  as  military  people.  One  of  the  family 
was  in  the  Royal  Guards.  He  emigrated  to  Ameri- 
ca with  his  family  in  1741,  coming  in  the  ship 
"Lydia,"  James  Allen,  master,  which  arrived  at 
Philadelphia  Sept.  20th,  and  the  list  shows  that 
Hans  Michael  Sehwenk  was  accompanied  by  his 
wife  Maria  and  sons  Nicholas,  Jacob  and  George. 
The  names  of  females  and  children  under  sixteen 
years  of  age  were  not  recorded.  On  May  8,  1757, 
(here  is  record  of  Michael  Sehwenk  and  his  wife 
Maria  Elizabeth  standing  as  sponsors  for  their 
grandson  Daniel,  born  Nov.  6,  1756,  son  of  Nicho- 
las and  his  wife  Anna  Barbara.  At  the  time  of 
his  death   Hans  Michael      Sehwenk     had     eleven 


grandchildren.  The  line  lh  which  we  are  inter- 
ested is  traced  through  Nicholas. 

Nicholas  Sehwenk.  horn  in  Germany,  died 
March  lit.  1808,  in  Salford  township.  Montgomery 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  blacksmithing  as  well 
as  farming.  He  and  his  brother  George  were  nat- 
uralized Sept.  24,  1755,  at  a  session  of  the  Su- 
preme court  held  in  Philadelphia.  On  June  9, 
1756,  he  bought  of  Adolph  Pennepacker  and  bis 
\\  ife  Susan  154  acres  of  land,  the  consideration  be- 
ing  £500.  On  Dec.  7,  1768,  he  purchased  of  David 
Strieb  and  his  wife  Susan,  of  Whitemarsh  town- 
ship, two  tracts  of  land,  containing,  respectively, 
twenty-three  acres,  120  perches  and  thirty  and 
three-quarters  acres.  One  of  these  properties  was 
a  hotel,  but  he  did  not  care  to  conduct  it  and  on 
M;i\  23,  L770,  sold  the  hotel  and  thirty-two  acres, 
sixty-seven  perches  of  land  to  Frederick  Dickens- 
heid.  for  £400.  He  sold  two  other  tracts  to  Chris- 
nan  Mover.  His  last  purchase  was  made  in  179".'. 
when  he  bought  the  lot  now  owned  by  Dr.  J.  K. 
Keeler.  He  owned  nearly  all  the  land  on  which 
the  village  of  Harleysville  has  been  built.  On 
Feb.  1.  179,8,  he  and  his  wife  Anna  Barbara  con- 
veyed  their  farm  to  their  son  George  for  £800. 

Nicholas  Sehwenk  was  a  prominent  man  in  his 
community,  filling  several  official  positions  in  the 
township.  Tradition  says  that  he  became  blind 
in  Ins  old  age.  His  will.  No.  loo.  recorded  at  Nor- 
ristown,  in  Will  Book  8,  page  18,  dated  March  7, 
L808,  proved  April  7.  isos.  refers  to  bis  children 
and  grandchildren.  His  sons  George  and  Jacob 
(the  latter  of  Upper  Providence)  were  the  exec- 
utors, and  some  time  after  the  father's  death 
they  obtained  the  consent  of  their  mother  in  writ- 
ing and  made  public  sale  of  her  lot,  which  was  sold 
to  Daniel  Ilarley  :  a  deed  conveying  same  was  ex- 
ecuted April  .'!,  1810.  To  his  wife  Anna  Barbara 
Nicholas  Sehwenk  willed  £10  in  gold  and  silver, 
various  articles  of  furniture,  clock  and  stove,  a 
lot  on  which  they  lived  (containing  two  acres.  120 
pen  hes  of  land)  and  the  lot  of  woodland  near  Sal- 
ford  meetinghouse  containing  four  acres,  ninety- 
eight  perches.  In  the  will  are  mentioned  his  sons 
George  and  Jacob;  his  deceased  daughter  Eliza- 
beth :  his  daughter  Mary  Magdalena,  wife  of  An- 
drew Campbell  :  his  granddaughter  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  John  Ziegler:  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Stone;  and 
his  grandson  Martin  Begar,  to  whom  he  left  £5. 
He  mentions  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Abraham  Mark- 
lev:  Mary,  wife  of  Michael  Wagoner,  and  Bar- 
bara Ott. 

It  is  probable  that  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Zieg- 
ler,  and  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Stone,  were  daugh- 
ters of  Andrew  Campbell;  Mrs.  Campbell  received 
the  income  of  £200. 

Elizabeth  Sehwenk.  daughter  of  Nicholas,  and 
her  husband,  Martin  Begar,  died  respectively, 
June     24,  1804     (aged     fifty-three    years,    eight 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


429 


months),  and  Jan.  IT.  1806  (aged  sixty-seven 
years,  seven  months,  twenty-six  days).  Mr.  Be- 
gar's  two  sons-in-law.  Abraham  Markley  and 
Michael  Wagoner,  settled  his  estate  The  three 
daughters  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  (Schwenk) 
Begar  were:  (1)  Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  23,  1779, 
died  April  5,  1830;  she  married  Abraham  Mark- 
ley  (sun  of  [saae  and  grandson  of  Jacob),  born 
Aug.  1,  1764,  died  Sept.  25,  1829,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  Lower  Salford  meetinghouse.  Their 
children  were  Elizabeth,  Sarah.  Samuel,  Martin, 
Isaac.  Abraham,  Mary,  Eli,  Catharine,  Joel,  Jonas, 
and  Abraham.  Abraham  Markley  was  a  saddler 
by  occupation,  and  lived  in  Upper  Salford  town- 
ship. (2)  Mary  died  Nov.  29,  1864,  aged  eighty- 
<>nv  years,  six  months,  twenty-five  days.  She  mar- 
ried Michael  Warmer,  who  died  June  1,  I860, 
aged  eighty-two  years,  three  months,  twenty-two 
days.  (3)  Barbara,  Mrs.  Ott,  died  April  8,  1813, 
aged  twenty-six  years,  one  month,  seven  days. 

Nicholas  Schwenk  was  a  resident  of  Harleysville 
for  over  fifty  years,  but  it  is  not  known  where  he 
and  his  wife  are  buried  nor  where  his  son  George 
and  wife  are  buried.  They  are  probably  buried  at 
the  Goshenhoppen  church  in  Upper  Salford  and 
have  no  regular  tombstones,  and  the  graves  have 
undoubtedly  been  sadly  neglected.  However,  in- 
terest in  family  history  and  the  preservation  of 
important  dates  have  received  much  attention  lately 
and  systematic  search  has  been  carried  on  by  the 
family  reunion,  resulting  in  the  discovery  of  many 
names  and  dates  from  the  Schwenkville,  Keelor, 
Leidy,  Goshenhoppen,  Six-Cornered.  Lower  Skip- 
pack  Mennonite,  Limerick  Center  and  St.  John's 
(at  Nbrristown)  graveyards.  There  are  a  number  of 
Schwenks  interred  in  the  Schwenk-Grob-ZiebleT 
burying  ground  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Samuel 
Faust  in  Frederick  township,  Montgomery  county, 
which  has  been  much  neglected,  though  the  fami- 
lies interested  contemplate  restoring  it  and  preserv- 
ing the  various  records,  straightening  the  tomb- 
stones, etc. 

Jacob  Schwenk,  son  of  Nicholas,  was  born  in 
Frederick  township,  Montgomery  county.  On 
April  10,  1783,  he  married  Elizabeth  Reimer,  only 
child  of  John  Reimer,  and  he  settled  at  T 
with  his  wife  and  two  children.  He  then  took 
possession  of  the  old  Muhlenberg  property,  which 
he  probably  purchased,  and  followed  farming  and 
tannine'.  After  giving  up  housekeeping  at  the 
Trappe  he  made  his  home  with  his  -on  Samuel  for 
several  years,  and  early  in  1828  moved  to  Milton. 
where  lie  died  about  a  year  afterward.  His  re- 
mains lie  in  Harmony  cemetery.  He  and  his  wife 
had  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  live  daughters. 
We  have  the  following  record  of  the  sons:  (1) 
John,  the  eldest,  married  quite  young,  aboui  IMC 
and  went  west  to  Pittsburg.  CM  Jacob  is  men- 
tioned below.  (3)  David  learned  the  trad.'  of  hat- 
ter under  his  brother  Jacob.    He  married  and  set- 


tled in  the  town  of  Limerick,  in  upper  Montgom- 
ery county,  later  removing  to  New  Berlin,  Union 

county,  and  from  there  to  Swinefordstown,  now 
Middleburg,  Snyder  county.  (4)  Henry  also 
learned  hatting,  hut  never  followed  the  trade.  He 
left  Trappe,  and  resided  until  his  death  with 
Abraham  Slifer,  a  hotel-keeper  at  Flourtown, 
Whitemarsh  township.  (5)  Edward  lived  and 
died  at  Trappe.  (6)  Samuel  followed  millwright- 
ing  while  he  resided  at  Trappe.  He  removed  to 
Conshohocken,  where  he  kepi  store  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  organiz- 
ing' building  associations.  He  married  and  had 
two  daughters.  Susan  and  Andora,  both  of  whom 
married  Jacob  Hunsicker. 

Jacob  Schwenk,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Trappe.  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
married.  He  was  a  hatter,  and  followed  that  trade 
ami  ropemaking  at  the  Trappe  from  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  about  1808,  until  his  removal  to  Mil- 
ton, in  1823  or  1824.  There  be  resided  until  his 
death.  He  was  largely  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  prod- 
uce, which  he  bought  in  large  quantities  and 
transported  by  means  of  several  canalboats,  which 
he  owned,  to  various  eastern  markets  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania canal.  On  the  return  trip  he  brought 
goods  for  the  different  merchants  along  the  route, 
railroad  facilities  at  that  time  being  few  and 
inadequate,  and  he  did  a  thriving  business.  He 
died  May  20,  1862,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Lewis),  died  Feb.  17, 
1828,  aged  forty-one.  Their  children  were,:  Jus- 
tus is  mentioned  below;  Col.  Thomas,  horn  Feb. 
::.  1812,  in  the  village  of  Trappe,  died  Nov.  T. 
1903,  aged  ninety-one  years,  nine  months, -four 
davs,  was  a  prominenl  man  of  his  day,  served  as 
auditor  of  Northumberland  county,  ami  was  a 
member  of  Governor  Pollock's  -tall':  William  and 
Franklin,  who  were  not  married,  lived  ai  Milton 
(William  died  Aug.  19,  1879,  aged  sixty-four): 
Thompson  died  March  22,  isiil  (aged  forty),  at 
Milton,  lea\  ing  a  wife  and  daughter,  now  deceased  ; 
Lewis  died  at  Milton  March  I  I.  1865,  aged  thirty- 
eight,  leaving  two  children,  both  of  whom  located 
in  the  west:  Susanna  married  Cephas  Girton  and 
they  resided  at    Milton. 

Justus  Swenk,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  at  the 
Trappe.  and  moved  to  Milton  with  bis  parents 
when  a  boy.  There  he  spent  nearly  all  his  active 
career,  a  lew  years  prioT  to  In-  death,  however, 
moving  to  Lock  Haven,  when  he  did  in  April, 
1887,  ai  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Early  in  life  he 
engaged  in  rope-making,  which  he  continued  suc- 
cessfully at  Milton  until  1861 .  and  lor  many  years 
he  was  associated  with  his  father  in  buying  and 
shipping  produce. 

Mi-.  Swenk  married  Hannah  Harris,  who  died 
in  is;  l.  at  the  age  of  sixty  one  years,  and  to  them 
born  ten  children,  seven  -on-  and  three  daugh- 
ters,   namelv:      Edward,    Henry.    Charles,    Justus 


430 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Straub,  of  Milton,  deceased;  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Frymier,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.:  Mrs.  An- 
na Deffenbach,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y..  deceased; 
Reese  H. :  Jacob  Harris,  deceased;  and  Thomas 
G.,  a  merchant  of  Muncy,  Pa.,  who  is  also  operator 
for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  at  that 
place. 

Reese  11.  Swenk,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Tur- 
but  township,  was  born  Oct.  14.  1841,  in  Milton. 
Northumberland  county,  son  of  Justus  Swenk. 
Ee  attended  school  in  his  native  locality,  and  when 
I  e  commenced  business  life  embarked  in  merchan- 
dising at  Milton,  following  that  line  until  is? 7. 
.Meantime,  in  1872,  he  had  located  on  his  present 
place  in  Turbut  township,  one  of  the  old  Irland 
homesteads,  which  contains  107  acres  of  valuable 
land  located  two  miles  east  of  Milton,  in  the  local- 
ity called  Pleasant  Valley.  He  now  devotes  his 
attention  to  the  care  of  this  property.  Mr.  Swenk 
is  a  well  known  citizen  of  his  locality,  served  nine 

years  as  scl 1  director  of  his  township,  and  is  an 

intelligent,  progressive  man  in  every  respi 

On 'Oct.  IS.  1871,  Mr.  Swenk  married  Harriet 
E.  Irland.  daughter  of  David  L.  and  Martha 
(Hayes)  Irland,  and  they  have  one  son.  David 
Irland  Swenk.  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Bell 
Telephone  Company  at  Kltoona,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swenk  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Milton. 

Irland.  The  Irland  family  of  Northumberland 
county  traces  its  line  hack  to  David  Irland.  who 
was  horn  in  174S  in  Scotland,  and  on  coming  to 
America  settled  in  Turbut  township,  this  county, 
where  he  took  up  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land. 
The  house  which  he  built  upon  his  farm  is  still 
standing  and  in  good  condition.  The  location  is 
known  as  Pleasant  Valley.  During  the  Indian 
troubles  he  and  his  family  were  obliged  to  lake 
refuge  at  Fort  Augusta,  at  Sunbury.  where  they 
remained  until  the  trouble  was  over,  returning  to 
the  home  in  Turbut  township  as  soon  as  it  was 
safe.  Mr.  Irland  died  June  16.  182?.  at  the  age 
of  eighty-nine  years,  and  his  wife  Lenora.  horn 
in  1739,"  died  June  16,  1799,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 
They  are  buried  in  the  Chillisquaque  cemetery. 
They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  this  pioneer  couple: 
Robert,  who  died  Oct.  31.  1st:.,  aged  eighty-three 
years  (his  first  wife,  Mary,  died  Aug.  12.  lsoS. 
aged  thirty-seven  years,  and  his  second  wife  Eliza- 
beth  died  Feh.  2,  1845,  aged  sixty-four  years); 
John;  William:  Mrs.  John  Ohesnutt:  David.  Jr.: 
Anna  E..  who  died  unmarried:  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  William  H.  Sanderson  (their  children 
were  William.  John  J..  Mrs.  Margaret  Brown,  and 
David). 

David  Irland.  Jr..  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Reese  H. 
Swenk.  was  horn  while  the  family  were  at  Fort 
Augusta,  m  1779.  He  died  upon  his  farm  in 
Turbut  township  in  1858,  aged  seventy-nine  years. 


He  was  a  well  known  man.  and  an  active  member 
of  the  militia  in  the  early  days.  His  first  wife, 
Sarah  Teitsworth.  born  Dec.  4,  1787,  died  in  1818, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years.  Her  parents,  John 
and  Mary  (Gallagher)  Teitsworth.  were  married 
Jan.  10,  1787,  and  their  children  were  born  as 
follows:  Sarah,  Dec.  4.  1?S?:  John.  Jan.  15. 
1790  (died  Nov.  2,  1804)  :  William.  Oct.  1'.'.  1792 
(died  Jan.  23,  1794);  Elizabeth,  June  1?.  1795; 
Maria.  Oct.  9,  1791/  (did  Sept  29,  1804)  :  Thomas 
<;..  Nov.  :;.  1800  (died  Sept.  22.  1803).  Mrs.  Man 
Teitsworth,  the  mother,  died  Oct.  9,  1804.  For  his 
second  wife  David  Irland,  Jr.,  married  Eleanora 
Sanderson,  horn  in  1770,  who  died  in  1842.  at  the 
of  seventy-two.  Mr.  Irland  and  both  his  wives 
are  buried  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  Miltou.  Four 
children  were  born  to  the  first  marriage:  David 
I..:  Sarah,  Mi-,  staddon:  Eliza  A.,  who  died  un- 
married in  1845,  aged  twenty-eight  years:  and 
Mary,  who  died  in  infancy.  No  children  were 
born  to  the  second  union. 

David  L.  Irland.  son  of  David.  Jr..  was  born  at 
the  homestead  in  Turbut  township  in  1807,  and 
in  bis  day  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  district, 
serving  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
followed  farming  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  his 
son-in-law.  Reese  II.  Swenk.  and  in  1854  built  the 
line  residence  thereon  which  i-  -till  standing.  He 
died  upon  the  farm  in  1873.  In  1843  Mr.  Irland 
married  Martha  Have-,  horn  in  1820  in  Gettysburg, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Martha  (Agnew)  Hayes. 
who  died  in  1904;  she  is  buried  at  Milton.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Irland  had  one  child,  Harriet  E.,  now  the 
wife  of  Reese  H.  Swenk.  She  is  the  only  represen- 
tative of  the  Irland  family  in  this  district  at  the 
present  time. 

Jacob  Harris  Swenk,  who,  in  his  long  service 
as  trainmaster  of  the  Sunbury  &  Shamokin  division 
of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  became  very  well 
known  to  the  citizens  of  that  region,  was  horn  Aug. 
18,  184G,  at  Milton,  son  of  Justus  Swenk.  He 
there  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  reached 
tlie  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  then  spent  five  years 
in  the  office  of  the  Miltonian,  in  that  borough, 
learning  the  printers  trade,  and  during  that  time 
also  mastered  telegraphy.  In  December,  1866,  he 
obtained  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railway  Company  at  Jersey  Shore.  Pa.,  as 
telegraph  operator.  After  only  two  weeks'  service 
there  he  was  transferred  to  Sunbury.  Pa.,  in  Janu- 
ary. 186?.  in  the  same  capacity.  In  1870,  after 
faithful  service  in  various  lines,  he  was  made 
train  dispatcher  and  division  operator  at  that 
point,  holding  such  position  for  thirteen  years,  and 
in  the  latter  part  of  1S83  was  relieved  of  his  duties 
as  dispatcher,  being  made  assistant  trainmaster, 
which  position  be  filled  along  with  that  of  division 
operator.  On  May  1.  1891,  be  was  made  train- 
master, which  incumbency  he  filled  until  bis  death, 
Feb.  4.  1911,  a  period  of  almost  twenty  years.    His 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


i:;i 


long  service  and  the  responsible  nature  of  his  work 
were  the  best  evidences  of  his  efficiency  and  of  the 
value  placed  upon  his  services.  He  was  one  of  the 
company's  oldest  employees.  Mr.  Swenk  had 
charge  of  over  four  hundred  men,  all  engaged  in 
responsible  duties. 

On  Nov.  '.'.  L871,  Mr.  Swenk  married  Clara 
Haas,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Zimmer- 
man )  Haas,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  had  Two  suns. 
Charles  Haas  and  Raymond.  Mr.  Swenk  was  for 
years  a  prominent  member  of  St.  Matthew's  Epis- 
copal church,  which  he  served  as  (junior)  warden 
for  thirty  years,  and  as  treasurer  of  the  parish 
house;  which  was  built  at  a  cosl  of  $35,000.  He 
had  charge  of  its  management.  Outside  of  his 
work  bis  greatest  interesl  centered  in  the  church, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  its  oldest,  vest  i; 
man.  Ee  was  also  member  of  the  choir  for  many 
years  until  a  few  weeks  before  the  close  of  his  life, 
anil  there  was  no  more  faithful  attendant  or  sincere 
worshipper  than  he.  As  a  member  of  the  Young 
Men's  club,  he  sought  by  this  means  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  church  and  to  build  up  an  interesl 
among  the  members  of  the  congregation.  He  gave 
liberally  of  his  time  and  money  for  the  support  of 
the  church,  and  no  matter  how  busy  he  might  have 
been,  was  always  ready  to  take  up  any  task  in  the 
service  of  the  church  that  might  fall  to  his  lot. 
The  following  ••appreciation"  gives  some  idea  of 
the  high  esteem  in  which  his  services  were  held: 

We,  the  Rector  and  Vestry,  of  St.  Matthew's 
Church,  desire  to  give  an  expression  of  our  gratitude 
to  Almighty  God  for  the  many  blessings  to  this  Parish 
through  the  life  and  service  of  Jacob  Harris  Swenk, 
and  also  of  our  grief  at  the  great  personal  loss  we 
have  each  sustained  in  the  death  of  our  very  dear 
friend. 

For  more  than  forty  years  Mr.  Swenk  has  been 
actively  identified  with  the  life  and  work  of  St.  Mat- 
thew's' Church ;  as  a  member  of  the  choir,  as  vestry- 
man and  vestry's  warden,  but  above  all  as  a  constant, 
unfailing  attendant  at  the  services  of  the  church,  he 
has  been  both  a  precept  and  example  to  the  whole  con- 
gregation. Eminently  wise  and  conservative  in  counsel, 
of  unfailing  courtesy,  most  even  tempered,  he  has 
largely  assisted  in  tiding  us  through  many  dark  hours 
in  the  years  that  are  past. 

He  had  the  unusual  honor  of  being  elected  account- 
ing warden  of  the  parish  in  the  same  year  in  which 
he  was  called  to  the  vestry,  so  that  for  twenty-nine 
years  he  has  had  oversight  of  the  property  and  finances 
of  the  church.  An  example  of  generous  and  faithful 
giving,  he  led  us  on  to  doing  more  than  ever  before 
for  the  Master's  cause,  and  by  his  unremitting  care  of 
the  property  of  the  church  during  times  of  prosperity 
and  stress, 'he  aided  materially  in  bringing  the  Parish 
to  its  present  condition. 

We  have  resolved  to  spread  this  expression  of  our 
appreciation  upon  the  minutes,  to  furnish  a  copy  to 
his  family,  with  the  assurance  of  our  warmest  persona 
sympathy,    and   to   request   its   publication   in   the   local 

papers. 

C.   M.   Clement 

W.  L.  Dewart 

H.  S.  Knight,  Committee. 

Mr.  Swenk  was  active  in  local  politics  to  the  ex- 


tent of  serving  two  terms  in  the  borough  council 
from  the  First  ward.  He  was  a  Republican  in  polit- 
ical sentiment,  and  served  as  borough  councilman. 
Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  Maclay  Lodge,  No. 
632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  in  Sunbury,  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  P.  &  E.  Railroad  Veterans'  Association, 
which  he  served  as  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee. A  tall  man  of  fine  physique  and  command- 
ing presence,  he  was  frequently  likened,  in  appear- 
ance  and  demeanor,  to  the  Late  President  McKin- 
ley.  He  was  calm  and  deliberate  in  spirit  and  man- 
qi  i.  and  held  the  esteem  of  social  and  business  ac- 
quaintances alike.  His  death  occurred  Feb.  4, 
1911,  at  his  home.  No.  208  Arch  street.  He  was 
buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery. 

Charles  Haas  Swenk,  M.  D.,  a  physician  of 
Sunbury,  who  has  been  located  in  practice  there 
since  1899,  is  a  native  of  the  borough,  born  Oct. 
20,  1872,  son  of  Jacob  H.  Swenk.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Sun- 
bury,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1889. 
He  then  attended  Bucknell  College  for  two  years, 
ami  took  his  medical  course  at  the  Medico-Chir- 
urgical  College,  in  Philadelphia,  graduating  from 
that  institution  in  the  year  J8!>?.  Dr.  Swenk  was 
at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  being  physician  in  the  Miners'  State  Hospital 
there  for  nine  months,  and  was  subsequently  in 
Luzerne  county  for  a  year,  returning  to  his  native 
place  in  1899.  He  has  fine  offices  at  No.  •.'[:! 
Market  Square.  Dr.  Swenk's  practice  has  grown 
steadily,  and  he  deserves  the  success  which  has  at- 
tended his  work,  for  he  is  faithful  to  the  besi 
ideals  of  his  profession  and  an  earnest,  conscien- 
tious physician  in  all  that  the  name  implies.  He 
is  surgeon  for  the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital,  and 
president  of  the  Sunbury  board  of  health.  His 
worth  has  been  recognized  by  his  fellow  practi- 
tioners, among  whom  he  has  excellent  standing, 
as  i-  demonstrated  by  his  official  connection  with 
the  Northumberland  County  Medical  Society  ami 
the  Medical  Society  of  Sunbury,  both  of  which  he 
i-  serving  as  treasurer:  he  has  held  that  position 
in  the  county  society  since  1902.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society 
and  of  tin-  American  Medical  Association.  Socially 
he  holds  membership  in  Maclay  Lodge.  No.  632,  F. 
e.  \.  M..  in  the  Alumni  Association  of  his  alma 
mater,  the  Americus  Club  and  the  Temple  Club. 
He  i-.i  vestryman  of  St.  Matthew's  Kpis.-npal 
Church,  in  the  work  of  winch  be  takes  an  active 
part. 

Dr.  Swenk  married  Catharine  Grant,  daughter 
of  the  late  William  T.  and  Rachel  A.  (Yoxtheimer) 
Grant,  of  Sunbury. 

Raymond  Swenk,  younger  son  of    Jacob     EL. 

ok,  graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school  in 

[903,  and   later   took   a   course  at   State  College, 

graduating  therefrom  in   1907.     He  has  taken  up 


432 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


civil  engineering,  and  is  at  present  engaged  as 
rodman  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
at  Pittsburg.  He  is  a  member  of  Maelav  Lodge, 
No.  632,  P.  &  A.  M. 

CAPT.  JAMES  BRYSON.  who  died  in  the 
prime  of  life  while  serving  his  country  as  a  cavalry 
captain  in  the  Civil  war.  was  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  prominent  old  families  of  Northumberland 
county.  The  Brysons  are  of  Scutch-Irish  descent 
ami   Presbyterians  in  religious  faith. 

Robert  Bryson,  the  Captain's  great-grandfather, 
horn  in  1727,  died  Sept.  39,  1769,  aged  forty-two 
pears.  He  lived  in  Delaware  township,  Northum- 
berland county.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Esther  Quigly,  was  born  in  1728,  and  died  in 
September,  1809,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  .lames.  Rev.  John, 
William  and  Samuel.  Of  these.  Rev.  John  Bry- 
son. horn  in  January,  1758,  in  Cumberland  county. 
Pa.,  dud  Aug.  •">.  L855,  in  his  ninety-eighth  year: 
he  married  Jane  Montgomery,  and  they  hail  five 
children,  Christian,  Jane,  John,  Robert  and  Eetty. 

James  Bryson,  son  of  Robert,  was  horn  Jan.  29, 
1757,  and  was  a  large  landowner  and  farmer  in 
Delaware  township,  where  he  died  April  5,  1847, 
in  his  ninety-first  year.  He  is  buried  at  Warrior 
Run  Church.  He  married  Esther  Graham, 
daughter  of  John  Graham,  on  June  22,  L780,  and 
the  following  children  were  horn  to  them:  Rob- 
ert, William  B.,  Mrs.  Reineansin,  Mrs.  Nickson 
and  a  daughter,  also  married,  whose  name  is  not 
known.  The  mother  of  this  family,  horn  in  1751, 
died  April  21,  1820,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 

William  li.  Bryson  was  horn  Nov.  30,  1794,  in 
Delaware  township,  where  he  died.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  blacksmith,  following  those  occupa- 
tions for  many  years.  On  Feb.  3;  1820,  he  married 
Rebecca  Caldwell,  who  was  bom  May  12,  1801, 
and  died  in  Watsontown.  They  are  buried  at  Mc- 
Ewensville,  Northumberland  county.  Fifteen 
children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mis.  William  B. 
Bryson,  namely:  Margaret,  horn  Nov.  10,  1820; 
('apt.  James,  born  Jan.  I,  Is?-.':  Esther  G.,  born 
Aug.  22,  1823,  who  married  Andrew  Russel  (a  son, 
William,  resides  at  Watsontown,  Northumberland 
county);  Mary  E.,  horn  Feb.  20,  1825,  who- mar- 
ried John  Easton,  of  Union  county.  Pa.:  Ella  R., 
born  Feb.  25,  1827,  who  married  Samuel  MeCarty; 
Rev.  Robert  C,  horn  Dec.  3,  1828;  John  ('..  horn 
Nov.  !»,  1830  ;  Hannah,  born  Aug.  16,  1832,  who 
died  in  1846,  aged  fourteen  years;  William,  born 
Oct.  2,  1833,  who  married  Mary  Eisley  (she  still 
resides  at  Watsontown.  Northumberland  county): 
Jane,  horn  Ma\  22,  is:;.".,  who  married  Samuel 
Russel;  Capt.  Samuel,  horn  Jan.  31,  1837;  Re- 
becca, born  Jan.  13,  1839,  who  married  William 
Wagner,  of  Winchester.  Va. ;  Sarah,  born  Sept. 
3,  L841,  who  married  William  Klopp ;  Martha,  born 


April  22,  1843,  who  married  Dr.  William  Truek- 
enmiller;  and  Priscilla,  born  Sept.  1,  1845. 

Capt.  James  Bryson  was  born  Jan.  1,  1822,  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Delaware  township,  North- 
umberland county,  and  though  he  died  in  the 
prime  of  life,  just  at  the  age  of  forty,  he  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  young  men  in  the  county. 
He  had  entered  the  Union  service  as  captain  of 
Company  D,  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  died  of 
fever  at  Louisville.  Ky.,  in  April,  1862,  while  on 
duty  ai  that  place.  His  death  was  a  shock  to  all 
wdio  knew  him  and  was  widely  mourned  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  his  home.  His  remains  rest  in  the  upper 
cemeten  a1  Milton,  Pa.,  where  a  fine  monument 
marks  his  grave. 

On  Jan.  1,  1852,  Captain  Bryson  married  Mar- 
garel  Montgomery,  daughter  of  William  S.  and 
Jane  (Caldwell)  Montgomery,  the  former  born 
Dec.  17,  1808,  the  latter  Aug.  13,  1808.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Montgomery  had  a  family  of  five  children: 
David  ('..  Robert  (of  McEwensvillej  Pa.),  Oliver 
(deceased).  Edward  L.  (of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.) 
and  Margaret. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Capt.  James  and 
Mrs.  Bryson:  Agnes  M.,  born  in  1854,  died  in 
1901  :  Clara  J.,  born  in  1856,  died  in  1902;  Re- 
becca,  born  May  1,  1858,  is  the  wife  of  William 
L.  Wilson,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Jersey  Shore. 
Pa.;  and  William  J.,  born  in  1861,  died  in  1864. 
Mrs.  Margaret  Bryson  makes  her  home  in  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  residing  on  Front  street. 

Rev.  Robert  C.  Bryson,  son  of  William  P..  born 
Dec.  ::.  1828,  died  April  13,  1873,  aged  forty-four 
years,  four  months,  ten  days.  IF'  was  a  Presby- 
terian minister,  and  was  located  at  Ashland.  Pa., 
for  some  years  as  pastor.  On  Aug.  25,  1859,  he 
married  Ruth  E.  Arnold,  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  I'.  (Yeager)  Arnold,  and  she  still  sur- 
vive:-, now-  making  her  home  at  Reading,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.  Four  children  were  bom  to  this  union: 
Charles  IF.  who  is  deceased;  Mvra.  married  to 
Gilbert  Voris  Russel;  Robert  ('..  who  married 
Lydia  A.  Moore,  and  died  in  1910;  and  Ruth,  at 
home. 

Capt.  Samuel  Bryson,  (he  eleventh  child  of  Wil- 
liam B.  Bryson,  bom  Jan.  31,  is::;,  died  Dec.  21. 
1879.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Early  in 
the  Civil  war  he  entered  the  Union  service  as  a 
private,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  D,  7th 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  ami  after  the  death  of  his 
brother,  ('apt.  James  Bryson,  of  that  company, 
was  promoted  to  its  command  to  till  his  place.  He 
served  nearly  four  years  in  the  war.  On  Dec.  23. 
1868,  he  married  Martha  W.  Dean,  daughter  of 
Judge  Joseph  Dean,  who  served  two  terms  as  as- 
sociate judge  of  Montour  county,  Pa.  The  Judge 
was  twice  married,  having  three  children  by  his 
li ist  wile,  whose  maiden  name  was  Pollock,  and 
eight    by   his   second.  Adaline   Coal.     To   Captain 


PT.    JAMES      BRYSON 


- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


433 


Bryson    and    his    wife    were    born    five    children: 

•  I" s;  I  Inward.  Janet,  and  Fannie  and  Ada   (both 

of  whom  are  deceased). 

JARED  D.  MAYES,  of  Milton,  Pa.,  manufac- 
turer and  importer  of  monumental  work,  was  born 
Feb.  5,  1876,  at  Lemont,  Centre  county,  Pa.,  son  of 
Jones  B.  and  Mary  Brown.  Jones  B.  Mayes  was 
also  engaged  in  the  above  business  at  Lemont,  Cen- 
tre county,  Pa.,  where  he  is  now  living  retired. 

Jared  D.  Mayes,  one  of  six  son?,  Learned  the  busi- 
ness under  his  father,  and  became  a  partner  of  his 
father  under, the  name  of  J.  B.  Mayes  &  Son.  at 
Lemont.  This  firm  continued  for  a  period  of  two 
years,  and  in  March,  1&04,  our  subject  located  at 
Watsontown,  where  he  established  a  business  in 
March,  1908,  buying  out  the  business  establishment 
of  W.  II.  Wetzel,  formerly  known  as  the  II.  N. 
Swart/  Steam  Marble  Works.  In  1909  Mr.  Mayes 
removed  to  Milton,  where  he  built  and  equipped  a 
fine  plant  located  at  No.  66  Bound  avenue.  This 
plant  is  fitted  up  with  electric  power  and  pneumat- 
ic appliances  of  various  kinds,  his  equipment  being 
adapted  for  the  production  of  the  best  work  known 
fo  tin'  trade. 

Mr.  Mayes  married  Sophronia  Segner,  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Christina  (Uault)  Segner.  They 
have  these  children:  Mary  Agnes.  Anna  Louisa 
ami  Jared  D.,  Jr. 

EDWIN  M.  CAMPBELL,  of  Milton.  Northum- 
berland county,  was  born  Dec.  7,  1867,  in  Shamo- 
kin  township,  and  comes  of  an  old  family  of  that 
section,  the  Campbells  having  been  settled  in  Rush 
township    for  several  generations. 

Joseph  Campbell,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  Push  township,  where  he  lived  and  died, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Push  Presbyterian  church. 
lie  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  wife,  Lovina, 
is  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  same  church, 
of  which  they  were  early  members.  Their  children 
were  the  following:  Richard,  who  was  drowned 
in  tin'  Susquehanna  river,  at  Danville:  William; 
Christopher,  who  died  in  Push  township;  Martha, 
Sallie  and  Chartie,  all  of  whom  died  unmarried. 

William  Campbell,  son  of  Joseph,  was  bora  Oct. 
10,  1810,  and  died  in  1884.  He  spent  all  his  life 
in  Rush  township,  engaged  in  farming.  In  March, 
1837.  he  married  Catherine  Johnson,  who  was  horn 
Dec.  15,  1  s  1  1.  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
John-mi.  and  died  in  1883.  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Camp- 
bell are  buried  at  the  Rush  Presbyterian  church. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children:  Elizabeth, 
born  Nov.  ::.  1838,  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  Moore 
and  makes  her  home  at  Snydertown;  Joseph  A., 
horn  April  10.  1840,  lives  at  South  Danville.  Pa.; 
John  I'.  is  mentioned  below;  Matilda,  born  Feb. 
15,  l.Slo.  married  Philip  Miller  ami  is  deceased; 
Martha  A.,  horn  Dec.  11.  1847,  married  John  Hen- 
dricks; Margaret,  born  April  11,  1852,  married 
28 


Daniel  Acker  and  lives  near  Pottsgrove,  Penn- 
s\  l\ania. 

John  P.  Campbell,  son  of  William,  born  ( >ct. 
13,  1842,  attended  the  schools  of  Rush  township 
and  there  passed  his  early  life.  He  remained  at 
home  with  his  father  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  when  he  bought  the  old  Mahlon 
Boughner  farm  in  Shamokin  township,  upon  which 
he  made  his  home  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. It  comprises  132  acres  of  excellent  land,  and 
there  he  carried  on  general  farming,  with  continu- 
ous success,  until  his  removal  in  1887  to  the  bor- 
ough  of  Snydertown.  He  built  a  fine  residence  at 
Snvdertown,  where  he  has  since  lived  in  retire- 
ment. He  is  a  Democrat  in  polities,  and  since 
settling  in  Snydertown  has  served  four  years  as 
roadmaster.  In  religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  hold- 
ing membership  in  Reed's  church,  of  which  he  has 
been  deacon. 

Mr.  Campbell  married  Mary  SholL  who  was  born 
March  18,  1843.  and  died  in  1879.  To  this  mar- 
riage was  born  one  son,  Edwin  M.  Mr.  Campbell 
married  for  his  second  wife  Emma  Hile,  daughter 
of  William  Hile,  of  Rush  township.  There  have 
been  no  children  by  this  union. 

Edwin  M.  Campbell  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  township  and  worked  with 
his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority.  At  that 
lime  he  commenced  farming  for  himself,  locating 
on  his  father's  farm  at  Snydertown,  which  con- 
tains 160  acres.  After  cultivating  that  place  for 
live  years  he  moved  to  his  wife's  farm  at  McEwens- 
ville.  Northumberland  county,  on  which  he  was  lo- 
cated for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  settling 
in  Milton,  where  he  has  lived  since  March  17,  1896. 
He  bought  a  line  residence  on  Walnut  streel  which 
he  and  his  family  still  oi  cupy,  and  since  taking  up 
his  residence  in  the  borough  has  been  employed 
in  the  car  shops,  where  he  has  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion as  an  intelligent,  industrious  worker.  He  is 
considered  a  substantial  citizen,  but  he  has  never 
taken  any  part  in  public  affairs,  lie  is  a  member 
of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  belonging  to  the 
lodge  at  Milton. 

On  Dec.  20,  1888,  Mr.  Campbell  married  Ella 
V.  Dreisbach,  and  they  have  had  two  children. 
Pearl  Elizabeth  ami  Emma  Mae.  Mr.  Campbell 
and  his  family  are  members  of  Christ  Lutheran 
church  at  Milton.  In  political  faith  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Daniel  Dreisbach.  ancestor  of  the  Dreisbach 
family  of  Northumberland  count]  i"  which  Mrs. 
Campbell  belongs,  married  Catharine  Grodurbel, 
and  they  came  to  tin-  county  from  Northamp- 
ton county,  where  his  father  kip!  a  hotel  and 
ed,  a1  Dry  Valley.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel 
Dreisbach  had  the  following  children :  (1)  George 
Washington.  (2)  Daniel.  (:'.|  Susan  married 
Charles  Leon,  son  of  Jonathan  Leon  and  grandson 
of  Dr.  Leon,  and  they  had  two  sons  who  died  young, 


434 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Elizabeth  (who  died  young),  Anna  Maria,  Cathar- 
ine (married  Levi  Buch)  and  Fyetta  (Mrs.  Hag- 
nour).  (4)  Elizabeth  married  Nicholas  Hower 
and  had  five  children,  George,  Alfred,  William, 
Aaron  and  Caroline.  (5)  Kate  married  Daniel 
Balliet  and  they  had  three  children.  Kate.  George 
and  Caroline.  (6)  Mary  married  David  Stahl- 
necker  and  had  five  children,  George.  Daniel.  Mary 
(Mrs.  Moye),  Julia  (Mrs.  James  Frederick)  and 
Sarah  C.   (Mrs.  Murray). 

George  Washington  Dreisbaeh,  son  of  Daniel, 
married  Sarah  E.  Acor,  a  descendant  of  Andrew 
Acor,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  from  New  Jersey 
and  settled  in  Montour  county :  he  was  between 
forty  and  fifty  years  of  age  at  the  time. 

THOMAS  SATTESON  was  at  the  time  of  his 
death  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  West  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  living  upon  what  is  known  as 
the  Mount  Zion  farm.  He  was  born  Oct.  10,  1833, 
in  Lebanon  county,  Fa.,  son  of  Jacob  F.  Satteson. 
His  grandfather,  who  was  of  German  extraction, 
lived  and  died  in  Lebanon  county. 

Jacob  F.  Satteson  removed  to  Northumberland 
county  when  his  family  was  young,  and  settled  in 
what  was  then  Turbut  township,  now  part  of  the 
borough  of  Milton.  He  did  day's  work  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  23,  1885.  when  he 
was  seventy-three  years,  five  months,  fifteen  days 
old.  He  is  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery,  at  Mil- 
ton. His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Kohr),  died  Nov.  8, 
1896.  aged  eighty-three  years,  one  month,  twenty- 
eight  days.  They  had  the  following  children: 
John,  who  died  at  Milton,  Pa.,  served  two  years 
and  eleven  months  during  the  Civil  war,  being  a 
member  of  the  5th  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  right  wrist  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness ; 
Sarah  married  Adam  Freymeyer  and  (second) 
David  Knauer :  James  L..  born  in  1838.  died  in 
100?  :  Jacob  F.  is  living  in  Milton.  Pa. :  Thomas  is 
mentioned  below;  one  daughter  died  young. 

Thomas  Satteson  attended  school  a1  Milton,  and 
when  a  young  man  followed  boating  upon  the  canal. 
He  was  thus  engaged  until  1868,  except  during  the 
time  he  was  in  the  Union  service,  having  enlisted  in 
Company  E.  74th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, with  which  he  served  six  months.  In  1868 
he  bought  the  old  Fidler  farm  of  ninety-five  acres, 
known  as  the  Mount  Zion  farm,  in  Chillisquaque 
(now  Wesl  Chillisquaque)  township,  and  ever  aft- 
erward gave  his  attention  to  its  cultivation.  He 
was  a  substantia]  and  intelligent  citizen,  well  in- 
formed upon  the  topics  of  the  day,  and  interested 
in  the  progress  of  local  events.  At  one  time  he 
voted  the  Republican  ticket,  but  he  was  subse- 
quently  identified  with  the  Prohibitionists.  In  re- 
ligious connection  he  was  formerly  a  Methodist, 
but  there  being  no  church  of  that  denomination 
in  his  neighborhood  he  was  long  a  member  of  the 


Evangelical  Association.  He  was  a  member  of 
Henry  Wilson  Post,  No.  129,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was 
a  Mason  for  over  forty  years,  having  joined  Milton 
Lodge,  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M..  in  1870. 

.Mr.  Satteson  married  Jane  McDaniel,  daughter 
Samuel  and  Tamer  (Harris)  McDaniel,  and 
they  had  the  following  children  :  William  married 
Susan  Snyder  and  has  two  children,  Jennie  and 
Homer:  Elizabeth  married  Edwin  Balliet  (they 
have  no  children  i  :  Louisa  A.  is  the  wife  of  William 
1-;.  Steiger  and  has  two  children,  Ruth  and  Harry: 
Harry  married  Sallie  Baumgardner,  and  their 
children  are  Grace,  Ralph,  Susan,  Thomas.  Bud 
and  Bruce:  Ella  J.- married  Calvin  Steiger  and 
has  children,  Robert.  Thomas.  Albert.  Mary  and 
Margaret;  James  F.  married  Elizabeth  Derr,  and 
their  children  are  Elizabeth,  Paul  and  Mary; 
Charles  L.  married  Annie  Fetzer,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Ethel  and  Franklin  :  Sarah  and  Annie  are 
unmarried  and  living  a me. 

Mr.  Satteson  died  Nov.  22.  1910,  and  in  the 
spring  of  loll  Mrs.  Satteson  removed  to  Milton, 
when'   she   makes   her   home   at    No.    fol    Cherry 

MAP  FREDERICK  A.  REEN,  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Watsontown  borough,  has  lived  there 
since  the  close  of  his  service  in  the  Civil  war,  in 
which  he  had  a  distinguished  record.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Liverpool,  Perry  Co.,  Pa.,  born  May  13, 
1839,  son  of  George  Reen. 

Mr.  Reen's  grandfather  came  from  Germany,  his 
native  land,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
spent  all  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  had  three  sons,  of 
whom  George  Reen  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in 
1  v,( 3.  When  a  young  man  George  Reen  moved  to 
Perry  county,  Pa.,  near  Liverpool,  where  he  owned 
a  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  through- 
out his  active  years.  He  died  in  1896,  at  the  un- 
usual age  of  ninety-three  years.  Mi'.  Reen  married 
Clarentine  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Perry  countv 
Feb.  19,  1806,  and  .lied  there  April  20.  1889.  -Mr. 
and  Mis.  Reen  are  buried  in  that  county.  They 
had  children  as  follows:  Samuel,  born  dan.  31, 
1831,  who  is  living  at  Newport.  Perry  county: 
Harriet,  born  June  2.  1834,  who  married 
Abraham  Grubb  and  lives  near  her  old 
home  in  Perry  county:  Christopher,  born 
dune  23,  1836,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war.  and 
died  in  Michigan:  Frederick  A.:  Anna  Maria,  born 
Dec.  -">.  1842;  and  Gilbert,  born  July  21.  is!.",, 
who  is  living  in   Sacramento,  California. 

Frederick  A.  Reen  received  his  education  in  the 
pay  schools  in  vogue  in  Perry  county  during  his 
boyhood.  He  assisted  his  father  with  the  farm  work 
until  his  enlistment.  May  4.  1861,  for  three  years' 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  at  which  time  he  became 
a  member  of  Company  B,  7th  Pennsylvania  Re- 
serves, which  command  was  organized  at  Liverpool, 
lie  was  in  active  service  as  a  private  until  the  sec- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


435 


ond  battle  of  Bui]  Run,  at  which  he  was  wounded, 
and  he  was  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate 
April  30,  1863.  Mr.  Reen's  second  enlistment,  Feb. 
20,  L864,  was  in  the  3d  Pennsylvania  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery. In  April,  1864,  the  L88th  Regiment  was 
organized  from  the  surplus  members  of  the  3d 
Pennsylvania  Heavy  Artillery.     Ii  took  the  field 

•  ii  once,  with  aboul  900  n,  a  large  proportion  of 

whom  were  veterans  who  had  served  in  other  regi- 
ments.  After  the  war  had  ended  its  enrollment 
was  increased  by  an  accession  of  men  from  the 
L99th  Pennsylvania  which  had  been  mustered  out, 
its  iv, mini-  being  turned  over  to  the  188th.  Tins 
was  one  of  the  three  hundred  famous  fighting 
regiments  of  the  Civil  war,  and  lost  124  in  killed 
and  456  in  wounded.  It  yas  attached  to  Durn- 
ham's  Brigade,  Brooks'  Division,  18th  Army  Corps, 
and  its  colonels  were,  successively,  George  K. 
Bowen,  John  G.  Gregg,  J.  C.  Brisi and  Samuel 

I.  Given.  The  fatalities  of  this  famous  command 
occurred  as  follows:  At  Proctor's  Creek,  Va.,  May 

II,  1862,  '.' ;  Proctor's  Creek,  Va.,  May  13,  1 ;  Fort 
Darling,  May  11.  2;  Fort  Darling,  Maj  L5,  18; 
Drury's  Bluff,  May  16,  25;  Cold  Harbor,  June  1, 

13,  June  .'.  6,  June  3,  33,  trenches,  3;  Petersburg, 
assault.  3,  mine,  2,  trendies,  1G;  Fort  Harris, 
Sepl.  29,  11:  Chapin's  Farm,  Sept.  30,  3.  The 
regimen!  was  also  at  Fair  Oaks.  Mr.  Reen  became 
a  second  lieutenant  March  31,  1864;  was  promoted 
to  first  lieutenant  July  22,  1864;  to  captain  Dec. 

14,  1864 ;  and  to  major  Nov.  26,  1865,  being  mus- 
tered  out  with  that  rank  Dec.  14,  1865.  At  Fort 
Harrison.  Sept.  29,  1864,  he  was  wounded. 

When  he  returned  to  civil  life  Major  Reen  set- 
tled at  Watsontown,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Later  he  be- 
came a  teacher,  following  that  profession  for  five 
years,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in 
various  lines  of  business,  in  1896  taking  the  posi- 
tion of  tax  receiver  of  the  borough,  which  he  con- 
tinues to  fill.  He  has  always  been  active  socially, 
being  well  known  in  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  Feb.  21,  186G,  in  Adams  Lodge, 
No.  319,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  New  Bloomfield,  Pa., 
and  on  March  22,  1871,  transferred  his  membership 
to  Watsontown  Lodge.  No.  401,  of  which  he  be- 
came secretary  in  1873,  serving  also  in  ISM:  he 
was  again  elected  to  that  office  in  1904  and  is  still 
serving.  He  is  a  member  of  Warrior  Pun  Chap- 
ter, No.  264,  P.  A.  M..  and  also  serves  as  secre- 
tary <>f  that  body.  As  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
he  belongs  to  Bryson  Post,  No.  225,  of  Watson- 
town. and  became  its  first  commander  Sept.  30, 
1881.  Major  Reen  has  long  been  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has 
filled  all  the  offices,  being  at  present  president  of 
the  board  of  trustees,  in  which  position  he  has 
served  many  years.  He  is  an  intelligent  and  well 
informed  man.  and  his  counsel  is  much  esteemed 
in  all  the  circles  in  which  he  is  known. 


On  July  12,  1866,  Major  Reen  married  Sarah  E. 
Knight,  who  was  born  Mary  10,  1S4G,  at  Liverpool, 
Pa.,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Berry) 
Knight,  the  former  of  whom  kept  hotel  at  Liver- 
pool for  many  years,  during  the  time  the  canal 
was  building;  he  died  there.  Mrs.  Knight's  father 
was  a  drummer  boy  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  one 
of  the  youngest  soldiers  enlisted  from  his  district. 
Major  Reen  and  his  wife  had  no  children.  No1 
long  after  settling  in  Watsontown  he  bought 
ground  on  Elm  street  upon  which  in  1869  he 
erected  the  pleasant  home  which  he  has  since  oc- 
cupied. 

REYNOLDS.  The  name  Reynolds  has  long 
been  a  respected  one  in  the  borough  of  Turbut- 
ville,  well  and  favorably  known  in  business  and 
public  circles,  and  two  of  its  worthy  representa- 
tives  there  at  the  present  time  are  Henry  Abram 
Reynolds,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  William  N. 
Reynolds,  merchant.  They  are  descendants  of 
John  and  Hester  (Foster)  Reynolds,  who  were 
married  in  October.  1797,  at  which  time  he  was  in 
his  ■'twenty-first  year  of  age"  ami  she  was  in  her 
"eighteenth  year  of  age."  Their  children  were 
born  as  follows:  William.  Jan.  20.  1799,  at  10  a. 
in. ;  Grace,  Dec.  30.  1801,  at  5:30  a.  m. :  George 
dune  12,  1803.  at  10  p.  m. :  Philip,  June  20,  1806, 
at  6  p.  m. :  Eliza.  Dee.  27,  1808,  at  7  p.  m. ;  Henry, 
Dec.  16,  1810,  at  11  a.  m. :  Hiram,  Oct.  3,  1812,  at 
4  p.  m.    Of  this  family.  Grace  died  June  26,  1805. 

William  Reynolds,  son  of  John,  born  Jan.  20, 
1799,  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  lived  for  some 
time  at  Willow  Grove,  in  that  county,  was  at  one 
time  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  later  came 
to  Turbutville,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
was  a  pioneer  innkeeper.  In  his  earlier  manhood 
he  bad  followed  farming  and  shoemaking.  Some 
time  before  his  death  he  moved  to  a  farm  in  An- 
thony  township,  Montour  county,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  lie  is  buried  at  the 
Warrior  Run  church,  lie  married  Hester  Barrel, 
and  they  had  the  following  children:  Ella  mar- 
ried Dr.  Cotner;  Man  married  Isaac  Reader,  (sec- 
ond) George  Christman  and  (third)  D.  H.  Dreis- 
bach;  John  lived  and  died  at  Turbutville:  Iliman 
lived  for  the  most  part  in  Turbutville,  where  he 
kepi  a  hotel,  later  lived  on  a  farm  in  Delaware 
township,  an.l  then  moved  to  the  Sulphur  Springs 
hotel,  in  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  where  be  died; 
George  is  mentioned  below;  William  was  a  hotel- 
:  -ii  Penns;  Ivania,  later  moi  ing  ou1  to  Ill- 
inois, where  lie  engaged  in  farming,  and  he  died 
at    Kingston,    I  "'     learned    Jacob 

Smith  and  they  lived  ami  died  at  Schuyler,  Pa.; 
I  |  ise  is  the  wile  of  I).  I'.  I  ireisbai  h  and  they  live 
;,i  Turbui  i  Llli  ;  Eliza  married  James  Leech,  a 
farmer,  and  they  moved  from  Montgomery  •  ounty 
I,,  Northumberland  county. 

George  Reynolds,  sou  ■■<■'  William,  was  bom  in 


436 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Northumberland  count}-,  and  passed  most  of  his 
life  at  Turbutville,  Northumberland  county,  where 
he  died  in  1876  and  is  buried.  He  did  laboring 
work  and  threshing,  and  was  an  industrious,  re- 
spected citizen,  his  fellow  citizens  showing  their 
confidence  in  him  by  electing  him  to  various  local 
offices.  He  was  constable  a  rmmber  of  '.ears,  coun- 
cilman, and  served  in  other  borough  offices,  giving 
faithful  service  in  every  capacity.  In  political 
affiliation  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  His  wife,  Rebecca 
(  Dreisbaeh  ).  daughter  of  Daniel  H.  Dreisbaeh.  still 
survives,  making  her  home  at  Turbutville.  She  is 
now  (1910)  sixty-three  years  old.  To  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  George  Reynolds  were  burn  the  following 
children-:  Daniel,  who  is  a  resident  of  Williams- 
port,  Pa.:  Lizzie,  married  to  Charles  Moser;  Wil- 
liam \. :  Augustas,  of  Turbutville:  and  George, 
a  lawyer,  who  is  now  a  prominent  member  of  his 
profession  in  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania. 

William  \.  Reynolds,  son  of  George,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Turbutville,  was  born  Feb.  14.  1872C, 
where  he  now  lives.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  borough,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1890,  after  which  he  learned  the 
trade  of  tinsmith  from  Fred  Heisler.  at  Dallast  nvn. 
York  Co..  Pa.  In  1898  he  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  at  Turbutville,  where  he  has 
since  been  located,  occupying  a  large  building  and 
carrying  a  full  line  of  stoves,  ranges,  heaters, 
pumps,  cream  separators,  paints,  gas  generators, 
and  other  things  in  the  same  line,  his  stock  being 
very  complete  and  up-to-date.  He  is  agent  for 
the  ©  I  olumbian  stoves,  ranges  and  fur- 

naces, made  by  the  Keelcy  Stove  Company,  of 
Columbia,  Pa.,  and  for  the  De  Laval  cream  sep- 
arators. He  deals  in  all  kinds  of  house  furnish- 
ing supplies,  including  a  large  assortment  of 
enamel  and  tinware.  He  installs  plumbing  and 
heating  apparatus,  also  doing  general  job  work,  in 
which  line  he  commands  a  wide  patronage,  keep- 
ing two  men  constantly  employed.     His  business 

ability   has   been   well   demonstrated    in   the  g ! 

judgment  he  has  shown  in  the  management  of  his 
establishment,  being  conservative  vet  progressive  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  wins  and  hold-  a  high  class 
of  trade.    Local  enterprises  have  r&  -  sup- 

port  and   encouragement,  he  having  been  one  of 
organizers  of  the  Turbutville  National  Bank  in 
0;  he  became  a  member  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors, and  is  vice-president.    Politically  he  is  a  Dem- 
at,  and  he  is  at  present  serving  on  the  school 
board  of  the   borough,  and    as   secretary   of  that 
body.      Fraternally   he   holds   membership   in    the 
Maccabees  and  the  Modern  \\ linen  of  America. 

On  June  24,  1897,  Mr.  Reynolds  married  Lillie 
Weaver,  daughter  of  Jacob  Weaver,  of  Watsontown, 
this  county,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  Earl. 
Gladys    (who    died    when   nineteen    months   old). 


Edna  and  Leona.    Mr.  Reynolds  and  his  family  are 
members    of  St.  James  Lutheran  Church. 


Henry  Reynolds,  son  of  John  and  Hester  (Fos- 
ter) Reynold-,  was  born  Dec.  16,  1810,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Willow  Grove,  Montgomery  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  his  brothers  George  and 
Hiram  also  learning  the  trade.  For  some  time  he 
lived  near  Turbutville,  in  Lewis  township,  North- 
umberland county,  later  moving  to  Lycoming 
county,  and  thence  to  Montour  county,  where  he 
continued  to  live  until  his  death.  He  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  but  was 
accidentally  killed  March  15,  1863,  at  Tur- 
butville, before  entering  the  army.  He  and 
his  wife.  Kitty  .-Von  (Barrel),  who  died 
March  28,  1880,  aged  sixty-three  years,  nine 
months,  eighteen  days,  are  buried  side  by  side  in 
the  old  grave  yard,  at  Turbutville.  She  was  a  sis- 
ter of  Hester  Barrel,  wife  of  his  brother  William. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Reynolds,  namely:  Theodore  lives  in  Anthony 
township.  .Montour  county:  William  is  a  resident 
of  Kingston,  Dekalb  Co.,  111.  (he  was  a  soldier 
throughout  the  Civil  war):  Charles  died  young: 
George  died  young;  Hiram,  who  served  as  a  sol- 
dier throughout  the  Civil  war.  died  when  past 
forty  in  Denver,  Colo.;  Mary  E.  married  John  T. 
Kamp  and  they  lived  most  of  the  time  in  Turbut- 
ville: Henry  Abram  is  mentioned  below:  Alex- 
ander Smith  lives  at  Kingston,  Dekalb  Co., 
Illinois. 

Henry  Abeam  Reynolds,  son  of  Henry,  was 
born  Nov.  ".'1.  1854,  in  Moreland  township.  Ly- 
coming Co.,  Pa.,  and  received  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  at  Turbutville,  Northumberland 
county.  In  his  younger  manhood  he  was  engaged 
for  twelve  years  in  school  teaching,  two  years  of 
tins  time  in  Northumberland  county  and  the  oth- 
ii  year-  in  Montour  county,  but  his  principal 
occupation  was  long  civil  engineering,  which  lie 
has  followed  for  the  most  part  in  his  native  State. 
He  was  thus  i  for  three  years  in   Florida, 

lb    lias   been  prominent  in  the  administration  of 
public   affairs    in   Turbutville.   serving  nine  years 
a-  assessor  of  the  borough,  and  two  years  as  mem- 
1       council,  and  in  February.  1906,  he  was 
e  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  still 
nues  to  fill.     He  is  a  man  of  ability  and  intel- 
ligence, and  his  high  character  has  won  him  the 
universal   respect   ol    his   fellow  citizens. 

On  M:!.  19,  L888,  Mr.  Reynolds  married  Mar- 
ia Butler  Wetz.el.  daughter  of  Henry  E.  Wet- 
zel, of  Montour  county.  Pa.,  and  granddaughter  of 
John  Jacob  Wetzel,  of  Montour  county.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union:  Fiances  Helen, 
John  Lloyd  and  Edward  Levering.  .Mr.  Reynolds 
and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  James  Lutheran 
Church. 


XOKTIir.MUKRLAXI)   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


i:;; 


DAVID  L.  BLY,  present  owner  and  conductor 
of  the  Watsontown  ferry,  is  engaged  in  a  business 
with  which  his  family  lias  been  connected  for  the 
p.iM  fifty-five  war.-.  The  ferry  has  been  owned 
in  the  family  since  1866.  Mr.  Bly  is  a  son  of 
James  C.  Bly  and  grandson  of  ('apt.  John  Bly, 
whose  father  lived  ami  died  in  Virginia.  He  was 
probably  a  farmer  by  occupation-  The  family  is 
of  Scottish  descent. 

Capt.  John  Bly  was  horn  Dec.  18,  1814,  in  Vir- 
ginia, ami  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  young  man- 
hood. He  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  at  Wat- 
sontown, Northumberland  county,  in  which  vi- 
cinity he  resided  for  over  fifty  years,  having  his 
home  in  White  Deer  township.  Union  county,  until 
1865,  when  he  came  across  the  river  to  Watson- 
town- He  was  'me  of  the  first  to  promote  the 
esfablishmenl  of  the  ferry  at  that  place,  across  the 
Susquehanna,  conducting  it  from  1861  until  his 
death,  lie  bought  it  in  1866.  For  about  fifteen 
years  he  \\a-  captain  of  a  eanalhoat  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania canal. 

In  1835  Captain  lily  married  Lydia  Rhoads, 
who  survived  him  I'm'  many  years,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1883,  when  he  was  within  sis  days  of 
his  seventieth  rear;  he  was  buried  at  Watsontown. 
Mrs.  Bly  died  July  24,  line.',  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight.  She  was  a  member  of  tbe  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  her  husband  gave  Liberally  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  church.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  I. 
0.  E.  M.  Ten  sons  were  bum  to  this  couple,  all 
growing  to  maturity  except  Edwin,  the  youngest, 
who  died  when  seventeen  months  old.  The  others 
were  as  follows:  Joseph,  of  Watsontown,  who  died 
in  April,  1896,  in  his  sixty-first  year:  David,  men- 
tioned below:  -Tames  C,  mentioned  below;  Wil- 
liam I,'.,  mentioned  below;  Manoah,  of  Watson- 
town; Charles,  of  Watsontown;  Alem,  of  Mon- 
toursville,  Pa.;  Phineas  (twin  of  Alem.),  of  Wat- 
sontown; and  John  A.,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y..  who  died 
near  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Four  of  the  sons,  Joseph, 
David,  -lames  C.  and  William  P..  served  in  the 
Civil  war.  Only  four  now  survive.  -lames  C, 
Charles.  Alem  and  Phineas. 

Joseph  Bly,  brother  of  Capt.  John  Blv.  lived  in 
White  Deer  township,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  a 
carpenter  by  occupation.  He  had  a  son  William. 
of  Eagerstown,  Md.,  and  daughters  TIattie  and 
Marv. 

Capt.  David  Bly.  son  of  Capt.  John  Blv.  was  at 
one  time  engaged  as  a  broker  at  Williamsport.  He 
saw  active  service  in  the  Civil  war.  enlisting  in 
Companv  (i,  11th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  when 
the  war' broke  out.  and  later  becoming  captain  of 
Companv  B.  131st  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He 
took  part  in  a  number  of  battles,  notably  Antie- 
tani.  second  Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville,  South 
Mountain  and  Fredericksburg.  He  died  at  Wil- 
liamsport in  1001,  quite  suddenly,  of  heart  dis- 
ease. 


William  P.  Bly.  son  of  Capt.  John  Bly,  was 
horn  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  at  White  Deer,  Dec.  1. 
1844,  and  when  thirteen  years  old  left  home  to  live 
with  a  relative  m  TuiTmt  township,  Northumber- 
land county.  When  seventeen  years  old  he  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  B  (commanded  by  his  brother 
David),  131st  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  on  Aug. 
1,  18,62.  He  served  nine  months  with  that  com- 
mand, subsequently  for  three  months  in  the  1:94th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  ami  for  one  year  in  the 
Tth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  On  his  return  to  civil 
life  he  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business  on 
White  Deer  creek,  after  which  he  purchased  the 
Bower  homestead  in  White  Deer  Valley.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  father,  in  1883.  he  purchased  the 
Watsontown  ferry  and  farm  property,  ami  oper- 
ated the  ferry  for  over  twenty  wars,  until  his  re- 
tirement, about  1905,  in  which  year  he  sold  the 
ferry  to  his  nephew,  David  L.  Bly.  He  died  at  his 
home  on  West  Third  street,  Watsontown,  Dee.  25, 
1908,  after  a  long  illness  ami  was  buried  at  Wat- 
sontown with  Masonic  rites,  having  long  held 
membership  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  Watson- 
town Lodge.  No.  401  :  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  C.  A.  R.,  belonging  to  Bryson  Post,  No.  225. 
His  religious  connection  was  with  the  First  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Watsontown.  Mr.  Bly  was  a  sub- 
stantial citizen,  and  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the 
Watsontown  National  Bank.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, the  first  time  I  tec.  '.J:!.  1869,  to  Mary  Bower, 
who  died  Feb.  7.  1884,  leaving  four  children:  Eliz- 
abeth. John,  Minnie  and  William.  His  second 
marriage,  on  Feb.  14,  1887,  was  to  Annie  M.  Wal- 
lize,  of  Watsontown,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Re- 
beeca  (Clark)  Walltze,  who  survives  him.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Rhoads,  now 
of  Houston,  Texas:  Minnie,  married  to  Harley 
Sterner,  of  Williamsport:  and  Elizabeth,  who  lives 
at  home. 

James  C.  Bly,  son  of  Capt.  John  Bly,  was  born 
in  White  Deer  township,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  16, 
1840,  and  attended  the  Leisz  school  in  his  home 
district.  In  his  younger  life  he  followed  sawmill- 
ing  and  lumbering  at  Williamsport  for  about 
seventeen  years,  after  which  he  farmed  for  eight 
years  in  Kelly  township,  Union  county.  He  then 
moved  to  White  Deer  township,  thai  county,  where 
he  lived  for  eighteen  years,  meantime  beginning 
railroad  work,  with  tin-  Philadelphia  &  leading 
Company.  He  was  employed  on  the  construction 
of  the  south  bound  track.  For  four  years  he 
worked  in  the  planing  mill  at  Watsontown.  His 
brother  David  having  purchased  the  White  Deer 
gristmill.  Mr.  Bly  assisted  him  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness for  nine  years.  In  1905  he  came  to  his  pres- 
ent location  on  Second  street,  in  Watsontown. 
along  thi'  river  bank,  where  he  has  a  home  of  his 
own!  On  Aug.  1.  1862,  Mr.  Blv  enlisted  in  Oom- 
panv  B,  131st  Pennsylvania   Volunteers,  at  Wat- 


438 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


sontown,  for  nine  months'  service,  his  captain  be- 
ing his  brother  David.  He  was  discharged  at  Har- 
risburg  May  25,  1S63.  Mr.  Bly*s  second  enlist- 
ment was  for  one  hundred  days,  in  Company  A 
(Capt.  George  H.  Jones).  194th  Regiment,  with 
which  he  was  connected  from  July  11,  1864,  until 
his  discharge  at  Baltimore  Sept.  9,  1864,  because  of 
his  third  enlistment,  Sept.  10,  1S64,  in  Company 
D,  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  for  one  year,  under 
Capt.  M.  BreckbUl.  He  was  discharged  June  IT, 
1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

On  Jan.  21,  1868,  Mr.  Bly  married  Mary  E. 
Campbell,  daughter  of  John  Campbell,  who  lived 
in  White  Deer  township,  and  she  died  in  1883,  aged 
thirty-two  years,  one  month,  eleven  days,  the 
mother  of  six  children:  Grace,  Mrs.  John  Lu- 
poid :  Bertha,  Mrs.  Elmer  Sanders :  David  L. ; 
Lillie  L.,  widow  of  Harry  Harding,  who  was  killed 
on  the  railroad  in  1904;  Mary,  who  is  unmarried; 
and  Charles,  a  traveling  railroad  telegraph  oper- 
ator. 

David  L.  Bly  was  born  Aug.  12,  1875.  in  Kelly 
township,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  White  Deer.  In 
1892  he  commenced  to  learn  telegraphy  at  White 
Deer,  and  followed  the  work  for  eleven  years  at 
that  point.  He  then  went  to  New  Haven.  Conn., 
where  he  was  engaged  as  assistant  car  distributor 
for  a  period  of  three  years.  In  July,  1905,  he 
bought  the  interests  of  his  uncle,  William  R.  Bly, 
in  the  Watsontown  ferry,  and  has  since  devoted 
himself  to  its  operation.  He  has  installed  a  com- 
plete new  equipment,  and  by  strict  attention  to 
business  is  making  a  success  of  the  institution 
which  has  so  long  been  associated  with  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Bly  family.  Mr!  Bly  has  a  fine  resi- 
dence at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Elm  streets, 
Watsontown.  which  he  and  his  family  have  occu- 
pied since  1908.  He  is  a  well  known  Mason  of 
his  locality,  being  a  member  of  Watsontown  Lodge, 
No.  401,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  lie  was  master  in 
1908,  and  a  member  of  Warrior  Run  Chapter.  No. 
346.  R.  A.  M. 

On  Nov.  25,  1908.  Mr.  Bly  married  Amy  R. 
Nicely,  daughter  of  William  A.  Nicely,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Ruth  Mozley. 

MAURICE  KEYSER.  a  truck  farmer  of  West 
Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  county, 
has  a  small  but  valuable  tract  in  that  township  and 
attends  the  Sunhury  markets.  He  was  born  Sept. 
25,  1863,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  and  comes 
of  a  family  which  has  been  settled  in  America 
since  early  Colonial  times. 

Dirck  Keyser,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  was  born  in  1635  at  Amsterdam,  Hol- 
land, son  of  Gerretts  Keyser,  who  married  Corn- 
elia, daughter  of  Tobias  Govertsz  Van  den  Wyn- 
gant.  a  Mennonite  minister.  Dirck  Keyser  landed 
;it   Philadelphia  in  16S8,  and  settled  in  German- 


town,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  manufacturer.  He 
died  there  Nov.  30,  1714.  His  descendants  are 
scattered  all  over  the  United  States. 

John  Keyser,  grandfather  of  Maurice  Keyser. 
was  born  Jan.  17,  1796,  in  Germantown,  and  died 
Feb.  '24,  1880.  When  a  young  man  he  settled  at 
what  is  now  Freeburg,  in  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  later 
coming  to  Northumberland  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  at  Chillisquaque,  in  the  township  of  that 
name.  There  he  bought  a  tract  of  land,  but  he 
followed  his  trade,  that  of  shoemaker,  during  most 
of  his  active  life.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Hack- 
enburg,  daughter  of  Peter,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Peter,  born  in  1822, 
died  in  New  York  State;  Samuel,  born  in  1823, 
died  in  Chillisquaque;  Jacob,  born  in  1826,  died  in 
Chillisquaque;  Daniel,  born  in  1828,  is  living  in 
Sunbury:  Mary,  born  in  1830,  died  in  1833;  Al- 
pheus  W..  born  in  1832,  died  in  New  York  State; 
Joseph  was  the  father  of  Maurice  Keyser. 

Joseph  Keyser,  born  May  24,  1835,  at  what  is 
now  Freeburg.  Snyder  county,  was  about  four 
years  old  when  brought  to  Chillisquaque  township, 
to  the  farm  he  occupied  until  his  death,  May  24, 
1911.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  his 
district,  where  he  was  well  and  favorably  known. 
Mr.  Keyser  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  trucker,  and 
attended  the  Sunbury  markets  as  such.  He  also 
followed  boating  upon  the  canal  to  some  extent. 
He  married  Maria  Garber.  daughter  of  Augustus 
Garber,  of  Union  county.  Pa.,  and  they  had  a  large 
family,  namely :  Annie,  Mrs.  William  Whalen ; 
Maurice:  Ada,  unmarried:  Ella.  Mrs.  Charles 
Hall ;  Sarah,  unmarried  :  Yirgie,  Mrs.  Boyer ;  Nor- 
mand,  who  lives  at  Montandon :  Augustus  G.,  of 
Montandon:  Joseph,  living  in  Chillisquaque:  and 
four  deceased,  Harry,  Elizabeth,  Carrie  and  Maria. 

Maurice  Keyser  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township  and  remained  with  his  fa- 
ther until  eighteen  years  old,  since  when  he  has 
been  engaged  in  trucking  on  his  own  account.  In 
1905  he  bought  his  present  farm  in  West  Chillis- 
quaque township,  twenty-two  acres  of  fine  land 
especially  adapted  to  truck  farming,  which  he  has 
since  followed  most  successfully,  finding  a  steady 
demand  for  his  products  in  the  Sunbury  markets. 
He  is  an  industrious  worker  and  a  good  business 
man.  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  cit- 
izens. In  1904  he  was  elected  school  director  and 
has  since  served  continuously  in  that  office;  for 
two  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  board.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views. 

Mr.  Keyser  married  Mary  Vandling,  daughter 
of  Peter  Vandling,  and  they  have  the  following 
children :  Lucy,  a  graduate  of  the  Montandon 
high  school,  who  has  been  teaching  the  Chillis- 
quaque school  since  1906:  Laura:  Clifford,  who 
is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1913  at  Bucknell  Col- 
lege. Lewisburg,  Pa. :  Lester :  and  Elizabeth.  The 
family  are  Lutherans  in  reliffious  connection. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


439 


FRANKLIN  S.  FRIES,  of  Montandon,  North- 
umberland county,  who  has  conducted  a  black- 
smith simp  at  that  point  since  1900,  was  born  Jan. 
1,  1861,  in  Lewisburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Fred- 
crick  Fries  and  grandson  of  Rev.  Jost  Heinrich 
Fries. 

Rev.  Jost  Heinrich  Fries  was  born  in  1777  in 
Germany,  where  he  received  his  classical  and  theo- 
logical education.  When  a  young  man  he  came 
to  America,  where  he  became  a  highly  success- 
ful preacher,  his  vigorous  mind  and  high  attain- 
ments, no  less  than  his  open  honesty  and  true 
character,  winning  him  a  high  place  in  the  minis- 
try. Though  blind  for  some  years  before  his 
death  his  astonishing  memory  enabled  him  to  con- 
tinue his  forceful  preaching,  and  he  commanded 
the  confidence  of  his  people  to  the  end.  He  was  a 
fearless  preacher  and  a  forceful  writer,  contribut- 
ing many  articles  to  the  press.  A  quotation  from 
one  of  Ins  sermons  shows  the  directness  with  which 
lie  addressed  his  remarks:  "Money  rules  the  world, 
ignorance  Brush  Valley.  Like  calves  I  have  led 
you  on,  like  oxen  I  now  leave  you.  Farewell.'"' 
His  death,  which  was  caused  by  blood  poisoning, 
<m  eurred  Oct.  9,  1839,  when  he  was  sixty-tun  years, 
five  months,  sixteen  days  old,  and  he  was  buried  in 
Mifflinburg  cemetery,  in  Union  county.  In  his 
last  illness,  in  lull  possession  of  his  senses,  he  re- 
fused  to  take  medicine,  saying  "I  wish  to  die." 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Cath- 
arine (Groff),  had  two  children.  His  second  wife, 
Susanna  (Groff),  bore  him  eleven  children.  One 
of  In-  sons  was  -fudge  Henry  W.  Fries,  who  died 
in  Wisconsin. 

Frederick  Fries,  son  of  Rev.  Jost  Heinrich  and 
Susanna  (Groff)  Fries,  was  horn  in  Union  county 
Sept.  7,  1826,  and  died  July  11,  1885.  He  was  a 
farmer,  living  near  New  Berlin.  A  consistent  and 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  he  served 
many  years  as  member  of  the  consistory,  and  also 
acted  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  He 
married  Elmira  Eassenplug,  who  was  born  Feb.  17, 
1829,  and  died  Jan.  26,  1907.  Five  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  Franklin  S.,  born  Jan. 
1,  1861 ;  Rachel  C,  born  March  3,  1863,  who  mar- 
ried William  H.  Smith,  and  died  Jan.  23,  1885;  a 
daughter,  born  Nov.  27,  1864,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Alexander,  born  Aug.  5,  1866;  and  Sue 
M..  born  April  6.  1868. 

Franklin  S.  Fries  attended  the  schools  of  New 
Berlin  and  Union  Seminary  at  that  place.  He 
served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  black- 
smith with  William  Derr,  near  Milton.  Northum- 
berland Co.,  Pa.,  and  subsequently  opened  a  shop 
of  his  own  in  that  vicinity,  where  he  remained  un- 
til his  removal  to  Montandon,  in  1900.  He  has 
built  up  an  excellent  business,  enjoying  the  good 
will  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  had  deal- 
ings, in  business  or  social  relations. 

Mr.     Fries    married    Adeline    Elizabeth    Berk- 


heimer,  daughter  of  Henry  Berkheimer,  and  they 
are  the  parent-  of  two  daughters,  Florence  Emma 
and  Pearl  Eva.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fries  have  also 
rea  reil  Harvey  Berkheimer,  who  married  Maggie 
MoKean  and  has  one  child,  Helen  E. ;  they  live  at 
Milton.  Pa.  The  entire  family  are  members  of 
the   Reformed  Church. 

William  Berkheimer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fries, 
was  horn  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  married  Mary 
Hillhart,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Samuel,  who  lived  at  White  Deer,  Pa.;  George, 
who  lived  at  White  Deer;  Frank,  who  died  in  Chil- 
lisquaque,  Northumberland  county:  Henry;  Jacob, 
who  died  in  Chillisquaque :  Mary,  who  married 
Andrew  Fetzer;  Margaret,  who  married  Daniel 
Keiser;  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Shannon. 

Henry  Berkheimer,  son  of  William,  was  born 
March  28,  1827,  and  married  Adeline  Haupt,  who 
was  horn  Oct.  28,  1831.  Their  children  were  born 
as  follows:  William  H..  Nov.  26,  1851;  Mary  M., 
Oct.  L-,  1853;  Sarah  J.,  April  20,  1856  (died  Nov. 
23,  1858)  :  Isabella,  March  23,  1858:  Charles  F., 
Aug.  V.  1860  (living  in  Jersey  City)  :  Clara,  Dec. 
11,  1862:  Adeline  F...  Feb.  17,  1865  (Mrs.  Fries) ; 
Horatio  S..  May  9.  1868;  .lamella.  .Tunc  111,  18T(>: 
.lames.  Jan.  24,  1875. 

JOHN  HOFFMAN,  a  retired  citizen  of  Wat- 
sontown.  Northumberland  county,  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  that  place  since  1884.  He  still  owns  two 
farms,  one  in  Lewis  township,  near  McEwensville, 
and  another  in  Delaware  township,  and  occasion- 
ally works  on  his  land,  but  he  gave  up  the  arduous 
duties  of  farming  many  years  ago, 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  horn  Nov.  6,  1832,  in  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Kauff- 
nian  i  Hoffman.  His  grandfather  died  a  number 
of  years  before  his  grandmother,  who  remarried, 
her  second  husband  being  a  Mr.  Stertzler,  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.  John  Hoffman,  the  father,  was  born 
in  1802,  lived  for  several  vein-  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  and  for  some  years  was  a  resident  of  Maiden- 
creek  township,  Berks  county,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged  in  farming  near  Halfway  House.  Thence  he 
moved  in  1844  to  Northumberland  county,  set- 
tling in  Turbut  township,  where  he  had  a  farm 
of  L21  acres  upon  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  dving  there  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.  He  is  buried  at  Paradise  Church,  in  Turbut 
township.  He  was  a  rugged  man.  apparently  able 
to  endure  anything,  and  in  the  winter  exposed 
himself  fearlessly  to  the  elements,  bul   his  hardi- 

I I   in  this  respeel   proved   his  undoing,  for  his 

death  was  caused  by  drinking  cold  water  while 
overheated  after  haymaking.     He  was  a  Lutheran 

■I    religious  faith,  s    Dei tral    in    politics.     Mr. 

Hoffman  married  Mary  KauHinaii.  who  was  born 
in  181  !.  daughter  of  Daniel  KauHinaii.  a  promi- 
nent public  man  of  Berks  county,  who  lived  at 
Leesport.     Mrs.  Hoffman  died  in  1893,  aged  se\ 


440 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


enty-nine  years,  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
drea:  Matilda  married  Thomas  Carl;  John  is  men- 
tioned below;  Susanna  married  Samuel  Clapp : 
Jacob  died  in  Montour  county;  Mary  married  Ed- 
ward Kerchner;  Adam  died  young. 

Jacob  Hoffman,  brother  of  John  Hoffman,  Sr.. 
died  near  Blandon,  Berks  county.  He  was  mar- 
ried, but  had  no  family. 

John  Hoffman  was  a  boy  when  his  parents  came 
to  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
there  he  attended  the  common  schools.  He  worked 
for  his  father  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  in  the 
spring  of  1855  beginning  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, on  shares.  After  eleven  years'  work  on  that 
basis  lie  bought  a  thirty-acre  farm  near  Paradise 
Church,  which  he  farmed  for  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  >elling  out  and  again  farming  on 
shares,  which  be  continued  for  another  three  years. 
Buying  a  ninety-one-acre  farm  in  Lewis  township, 
near  McEwensville,  he  farmed  that  place  for  four- 
teen years,  until  he  settled  in  Watsontown,  in  188  I. 
lie  still  works  on  his  farm  when  occasion  requires, 
hut  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  since  be  took  up  his  home  in  the  borough. 
In  addition  to  his  Lewis  township  property  Mr. 
Boffman  has  a  farm  of  103  acres  in  Delaware 
township,  which  lie  rents  out.  He  also  owned 
property  at  Springtown,  Northumberland  county. 
Mi.  Hoffman  lias  not  been  particularly  active  in 
public  affairs,  hut  he  is  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
community  and  has  served  six  years  ;i-  -ehool 
director,  lie  i-  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  re- 
ligious matters  he  and  his  family  are  Lutherans. 
Hr  served  a  long  term  of  years  as  deacon  of  the 
Paradise  Church. 

In  the  fall  of  1856  Mr.  Hoffman  married  Su- 
sanna E.  Kerschiier.  daughter  of  John  Kerschner, 
ami  she  died  May  9,  1909,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years ;  she  is  buried  in  the  family  plot  at  Wat- 
sontown, where  the  Hoffman  monument  has  been 
elected.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  had  no  children 
of  their  own.  hut  they  adopted  a  daughter,  Lizzie 
Ulrich.  who  came  from  Berks  county,  and  who 
lived  with  them  from  the  age  of  nine  years.  She 
is  now  the  wife  of  C.  .1.  Yagel,  who  is  engaged  in 
operating  a  gristmill  at  Exchange,  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Yagel  have  a  family  of  seven  children,  one  of 
whom.  George  II..  was  adopted  into  the  Hoffman 
family  when  a  mere  child  and  has  been  given  the 
name  Hoffman  legally;  he  was  born  in  the  Hoff- 
man home. 

George  H.  Hoffman  resides  with  his  foster  par- 
ents, and  i-  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  live  stock,  poul- 
try, etc.  11''  married  Florence  S.  Wertman,  daugh- 
ter of  Wesley  Wertman.  of  near  Turlmtville.  Mr. 
Hoffman  is  a  member  of  the  Artisans  Order  of 
Mutual  Protection  and  of  the  Knights  of  the  Gold- 
en Eagle,  and  lie  i-  a  Democrat  in  political  senti- 
ment.    Tie  owns  an  old  left-handed  sickle  of  a  by- 


gone style  Beldam  seen  nowadays,  even  among  curi- 
osities. 

HARVEY  M.  S'JAIIL.  superintendent  of  the 
Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Northum- 
berland county,  has  filled  his  present  position  since 
1899.  lie  has  previously  been  engaged  in  similar 
work  at  Lewishurg,  Union  county,  and  his  experi- 
ence  tit-  him  well  for  bis  responsibilities.  He  is  an 
excellent  manager,  showing  good  judgment  and 
in  all  the  details  of  his  duties  at  Pomfret 
Manor,  and  the  various  improvements  which  have 
originated  with  or  been  carried  out  by  him  have 
proved  that  he  has  marked  ability  in  his  line. 

Mr.  Staid  was  horn  Dec.  12,  1m;:;.  fn  Snyder 
county.  Pa.,  and  conn-  of  an  old  family  of  that 
section  of  the  State,  his  great-great-grandfather 
coming  from  Switzerland  and  settling  in  one  of  the 
lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania.  His  great-grand- 
father. Adam  Staid,  wa-  a  fanner  m  Union  town- 
ship, Snyder  county.  lie  was  a  Mennonite  in  re- 
ligious  faith,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at 
Witmer's    Evangelical  Church   in   Snyder  county. 

Frederick  Stahl.  son  of  Adam,  was  born  in  1801 
in  Union  township.  Snyder  county,  and  there 
passed  his  whole  life,  engaged  in  farming.  He  died 
in  Union  township  in  1881,  hut  is  buried  at  Win- 
Beld,  Pa.  Like  most  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Stahl  family,  he  was  a  Mennonite  in  religious 
faith.  His  wife.  Susanna  (Shotteberger),  of  Un- 
ion town-hip.  Snyder  county,  was  born  in  1803  and 
died  in  1884.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Peter.  Jacob,  John  and  William  all  lived  in  Union 
township;  Elias  is  mentioned  below;  Katie  mar- 
ried John  Sholly:  Mary  married  Joseph  Herald; 
Susan  married  Peter  Sholly,  brother  of  John. 

Elias  Stahl,  son  of  Frederick,  was  horn  in  1843 
in  Union  township.  Snyder  county,  and  engaged 
in  farming  at  Lewishurg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  is  hiiri.d.  He  died  July  1,  1903.  His  wife, 
Anna  (Miller),  still  makes  her  home  at  Lewis- 
hurg. where  several  of  their  children  also  reside. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elias  Stahl  had  children  as  follows: 
Alfred,  who  is  a  resident  of  Lewishurg:  MeClellan, 
of  Kelly  Point,  Pa.;  Harvey  M. ;  John,  of  Lewis- 
hurg: Sarah,  wife  of  Edward  Bondeman,  of  Read- 
ing. Pa.:  William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
t  i'ii  i  :  Adam,  of  Montandon.  Xorthumberland  Co., 
Pa. :  and  Frederick,  of  Lewishurg. 

Charles  Miller,  father  of  Mrs.  Anna  (Miller) 
Stahl.  was  horn  m  1801  and  died  in  1880.  He 
came  from  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  not  far  from 
Philadelphia,  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Kei-ei'- 
Church.  in  Union  township,  Snyder  county,  about 
1824.  Previous  to  his  removal  to  this  section  he 
nun  i  led  Eva  loiter,  and  they  had  one  child  horn 
in  Montgomery  county.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at 
Kei-ei"s   Church.      Their  children   were:   Levi,   of 


XOKTHUMBEKLAXD   COUNTY,   PE XX SYLVAN  iA 


441 


Shreiner's  Church,  m  Snyder  eountj  :  Sophia,  de- 
ceased ;  Ann, i.  M  re.  Stahl :  and  Matilda. 

Earvey  M.  Siahl  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  id'  his  home  locality  and  at  Freeburg  Acad- 
emy, lie  began  work  as  clerk  in  a  general  store. 
being  thus  employed  tor  six  years,  after  winch  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Compan}  for  a  time,  as  foreman  in  the 
freight  department  at  Shamokin.  In  L891! 
he  moved  from  Shamokin  to  Lewisburg,  where  he 
was  engaged  by  the  Lewisburg  Cemetery 
Company  until  his  removal  to  Sunbury,  in 
L899.  He  arrived  at  Sunbury  Aug.  20th, 
ami  has  since  been  superintendent  ul'  the 
Pomfrei  Manor  cemetery,  where,  at  that  tune. 
605  interments  had  hern  made.  Op  in  Oct.  1, 
r.iln.  the  number  was  1,756.  From  twelve  to 
twentj  men  are  employed  in  the  cemetery  work, 
according  to  the  season,  and  the  work  is  thought- 
fully planned  and  systematically  executed,  as  the 
first-class  condition  id'  the  grounds  shows.  Mr. 
Staid. lias  inaugurated  a  number  of  improvements 
in  the  manner  of  handling  the  care  of  the  ceme- 
tery, and  la  i-  at  present  contemplating  a  syste- 
matic record  of  burials,  etc.,  which  would  In-  val- 
uable to  all  interested.  His  energetic  and  me- 
thodical performance  of  all  the  work  at  Pomfret 
Manor  has  won  the  appreciation  of  all  concerned. 

(>n  Oct.  ■-''..  1887,  Mr.  Stahl  married  Ella 
Heintzleman,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Deborah 
(Beichenbach)  Heintzleman,  of  Union  township, 
Snyder  county,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Heint- 
zleman anil  his  wile  (who  was  a  Reigel),  also  farm- 
ing people  of  Snyder  county.  Mrs.  Stahl  is  one  of 
a  family  of  eighl  children:  Laura  married  S.  A. 
Dinger,  of  Shamokin;  Ella  is  Mrs.  Stahl:  Earvey 
married  Mi--  Monday,  of  South  Fork,  Pa.;  Katie 
married  Joseph  Shaffer,  of  Snyder  county;  John 
A.  married  Annie  Foltz,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Sny- 
der county;  Annie  C.  married  Charles  Seachrist, 
and  they  are  farming  people  ul'  Snyder  county, 
Charles  "married  Miss  Hopewell,  of  Northumber- 
land, Pa.;  Jennie  married  Clayton  Steffen,  and 
they  are  farming  people  in  Snyder  county. 

to  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Stahl  have  been  horn  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely : 
Stella  M.  l-  a  graduate  of  the  Sunbury  high  school 
and  of  the  commercial  department  of  Susquehanna 
University,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.;  Roy  E.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1911,  Sunbury  high  school  (he 
has  considerable  local  fame  as  an  athlete);  Nor- 
man W.  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1913,  local  high 
school.  Mr.  Staid  and  his  family  worship  at  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum. 

JAMES  J.  HOLLAND,  a  well  known  business 
man  of  Shamokin.  Pa.,  was  horn  at  Locust  Dale. 
Pa.,  .March  lit.  1866,  -son  of  Bichard  Holland. 

Richard  Holland  was  horn  in  County  Kilkenny, 


Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  1845,  settling  at 
Pottsville,  Pa.  He  became  an  employee  in  the 
mines  and  was  superintendent  of  mines  for  a 
while.  He  later  went  to  what  is  now  Brockville, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  in  company  with  George 
Clark  and  a  Mr.  Raisbeck  opened  up  a  mine  there. 
Then  they  went  to  Locust  Dale  and  opened  up  the 
old  Potts  colliery,  ami  later  the  Marion  colliery, 
which  is  about  three  miles  west  of  the  Potts  col- 
liery. He  was  employed  at  different  collieries 
until  1880,  when  he  accepted  a  position  with  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company,  being 
located  at  Tremont  till  1883.  At  this  time  he  wenl 
to  East  Franklin,  working  there  until  December, 
1885,  and  on  dan.  1,  1886,  he  became  superintend- 
ent of  the  Enterprise  colliery  for  the  late  Thomas 
Baumgardner,  continuing  there  the  remainder  of 
Ins  lite.  He  was  killed  Nov.  34,  1886,  near  Ex- 
celsior, by  the  Empire  freight  train  of  the  North- 
ern Central  railroad,  and  was  buried  at  Ashland, 
Pa.  He  was  an  energetic  and  industrious  man. 
whose  strict  integrity  and  indefatigable  devotion 
to  business  made  him  a  valued  employee. 

Mr.  Holland  married  Margaret  Monaghan.  wdio 
died  at  Frackville,  Pa.  They  had  thirteen  children, 
viz.:  Edward,  John.  Michael.  Mary,  Stephen. 
Richard  (assistant  superintendent  of  the  Susque- 
hanna Coal  Co.),  Ellen,  dames  .1..  Ann.  Lawrence, 
and  three  who  died  young. 

dames  J.  Holland  attended  the  public  schools 
<if  Locust  Dale.  Pa.,  ami  when  fourteen  years  of 
age  entered  the  office  of  the  Potts  colliery  as  a  mes- 
senger boy.  Here  he  remained  for  some  time  and 
then  went  to  Tremont  to  work  in  the  mines,  from 
issi  to  1886,  when  he  entered  the  office  of  the 
Enterprise  colliery  for  Thomas  Baumgardner,  tak- 
ing charge  of  the  pay  department.  When  this  col- 
liery wa-  sold  in  1S!>1  to  Hon.  W.  L.  Council  and 
others,  he  remained  with  them.  In  1893  he  took 
charge  of  the  Anthracite  Store  Company,  at  Ex- 
celsior, as  manager,  and  in  duly,  11*09,  he  was  also 
made  manager  of  the  Bernice  Store  Company,  in 
Sullivan  county.  Pa.  IK'  still  retains  these  posi- 
tions. 

Mr.  Holland  married  Feb.  36,  1889,  Clara  E. 
Wean,  daughter  of  l'ercival  and  Sarah  (Hen- 
oinger)  Wean.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Wean  Have  Lived  at 
Donaldson,  Schuylkill  county,  for  sixty-live  years. 
Mr.  and  Mr,-.  Holland  have  bad  children  as  fol- 
lows: Estelle,  nurse  at  the  State  Hospital  at  Scran- 
ton.  Pa.;  Margaret,  died  young;  Hilda,  graduated 
in  the  cla-s  of  1910  from  the  Shamokin  high 
school;  Richard,  a  student  at  tin'  high  school; 
Edith,  deceased;  and  Percival,  deceased.  Mr. 
Holland  is  an  independent  voter.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Lvnights  of  Columbus,  and  of  St.  Edward's 
( latholii    Church  of  Shamokin. 

EAEEISOK    RINGLEB,  of   Milton,  has  been 
,c  an  insurance  man  for  over  twenty-five 


442 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


years  and  has  established  a  fine  business  in  the  bor- 
ough and  surrounding  region,  his  territory  cov- 
ering about  five  counties.  Mr.  Ringler  was  born 
in  Milton  Nov.  14,  1842,  son  of  Eli  and  Margaret 
(Tobias)  Ringler. 

Eli  Ringler  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where 
the  Ringlers  have  been  settled  since  the  early  days. 
He  became  a  school  teacher  there,  later  removed 
to  Muricy,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  for  a 
time,  and  thence  came  to  Milton.  In  his  later 
years  he  did  day's  work.  He  died  at  an  advanced 
age,  at  Cogan  station,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 
buried  in  that  county.  His  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  namely  :  Rudolph  ;  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried to  John  Eumphreys;  Mary,  married  to  Sam 
Irvin:  Amanda,  who  died  unmarried:  William, 
of  Philadelphia:  Henry,  of  Philadelphia ;  Har- 
rison: and  Ella,  married  to  Milton  Potts,  of  Har- 
risburg. 

Earrison  Ringler  attended  school  in  Chillisqua- 
que  township,  this  county.  In  his  earlier  years  he 
worked  among  the  farmers,  later  drove  a  canal 
team,  and  in  1859  went  to  New  York  State,  where 
he  engaged  as  canal  boatman  upon  the  Erie  canal. 
hu ling  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Union  army 
for  three  years  as  a  member  of  Company  D,  164th 
New  York  Regiment,  Irish  Brigade,  enlisting  Aug. 
27,  1862;  was  wounded  May  18,  1864,  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  courthouse.  \'a..  and  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  his  injuries  dan.  2,  1865.  After  the  war 
he  located  at  Milton  and  was  employed  by 
the  American  Car  &  Foundry  Company  (then 
Murray.  Dougal  &  Co.)  there  for  nine 
years,  after  which  he  clerked  for  B.  K.  Haag, 
continuing  with  him  also  nine  years.  In  188"'  he 
began  the  insurance  business,  in  which  he  has 
established  a  large  and  constantly  growing  trade, 
doing  business  over  about  five  counties  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  office  is  in  the  Buoy  block.  His  busi- 
uess  has  prospered  through  systematic  care  and  in- 
telligent management,  and  he  enjoys  excellent 
standing  anions;-  those  who.  have  had  dealings  with 
him. 

Mr.  Ringler's  first  marriage  was  to  Lydia  Strine, 
who  died  in  Milton.  Pa.,  Aug.  3,  1891,  the  mother 
of  three  children :  Harry,  who  died  July  6,  1893, 
and  was  buried  at  Mifflinburg,  Pa. :  Grace.  Blanche. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Kinder  married  Lillian 
McCollin.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
the  Union  Veteran  Legion. 

MALICK.  Among  the  representatives  of  the 
Malick  family  in  Sunbury,  Northumberland 
county,  are  Charles  A.  and  Solomon  E.  Malick. 
both  of  whom  are  employees  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  holding  responsible  positions 
at  that  point.  They  are  sons  of  Solomon  Malick 
and  grandsons  of  David  Malick,  and  belong  to  one 
of  the  earliest  families  of  Northumberland  county, 


which  has  been  settled  in  this  region  since  before  or 
about,  the  period  of  the  Revolution.  The  Malicks 
are  of  German  extraction,  and  the  early  spelling 
of  the  name  was  Malick  or  Mehlig,  but  it  is  now 
found  in  various  forms,  Malick,  Malich,  Mellick, 
etc.  One  Jacob  Malick  and  five  brothers  came  to 
this  country  from  Germany,  four  of  the  brothers, 
among  whom  was  Jacob,  settling  along  the  Sus- 
quehanna river  in  what  is  now  Lower  Augusta 
township,  in  the  region  of  Sunbury.  They  were 
among  the  pioneers  in  that  section,  where  their 
descendants  are  now  very  numerous,  several 
branches  of  the  family  being  well  represented. 
There  is  record  of  three  brothers,  Peter,  Henry  and 
another  who  died  soon  after  his  marriage,  leaving 
a  widow  and  one  daughter.  This  does  not  quite 
agree,  however,  with  the  Federal  Census  Report  of 
L790,  which  records  Peter,  Henry  and  a  Widow 
Melich  as  heads  of  families  in  Northumberland 
county:  Peter  Malich  had  one  son  and  six  daugh- 
ters; Eenry  had  one  daughter:  the  widow  had  two 
daughters.  Among  the  taxables  of  Augusta  town- 
ship, in  17ii.s.  were  David  and  John  Malick. 

According  to  one  account,  the  Malicks  came  to 
Pennsylvania  from  New  Jersey,  settling  in  the 
woods  in  what  was  then  Northumberland  (now 
•  Columbia  I  county,  at  the  present  location  of  Light- 
street.  At  any  rate,  the  pioneer  Peter  Malick  lived 
there  until  the  time  of  the  Indian  scare  in  If 73. 
The  family  were  panic-stricken  at  the  report  that 
the  Indians  were  approaching,  on  the  warpath,  and 
the  men  hastily  got  the  horses  together,  the  women 
collecting  clothing,  etc..  which  they  tied  to  a  young 
mare.  The  animal  took  fright  at  its  unusual  bur- 
den and  ran  away,  and  was  shot  by  the  Indians. 
Eventually  men.  women  and  children  had  to  make 
their  way  on  foot  to  Fort  Augusta,  at  Sunbury, 
which  had  been  built  in  1756,  and  there  the  family 
remained  until  the  immediate  danger  was  over.  It 
appears  that  Jacob  Malick,  son  of  Peter  Malick, 
Jr.,  obtained  his  land  in  that  region  through  the 
family's  escape  to  the  fort  for  safety.  Peter  Mel- 
ick,  Sr.,  made  a  will,  but  we  have  not  found  it  on 
record  at  Sunbury.  Peter  Melick,  Jr.,  made  his 
will  March  6,  1789;  it  was  probated  June  5,  1789. 
He  bequeathes  to  his  wife  Mary  ''Mellick,"  and  to 
children:  Son  John  (double  daughter  Christiana 
shall  have)  :  son  Peter  (double  of  daughter  Char- 
ity)  :  son  Mickel  (double  of  daughter  Margaret)  ; 
son  Henry ;  son  David :  and  daughters  Cristana, 
Charity.  Margaret  and  Elizabeth.  Some  children 
died  young. 

One  David  Malick,  born  Oct.  4,  1759,  died  in 
1834.  His  old  family  Bible  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mrs.  William  F.  Keefer,  of  Sunbury,  a  dis- 
tant relative  of  the  Malicks,  her  mother  having 
been  a  Malick. 

Jacob  Malick,  son  of  Peter,  Jr.  (he  is  not  men- 
tioned in  will  among  children  of  Peter,  Jr.),  had 
a   number   of   brothers   and   sisters,   among  them 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


443 


Peter,  David  and  Maria  (who  died  Sept.  2,  1822, 
aged  nineteen  years,  eleven  months;  buried  at 
Augustaville  Union  Church).  Jacob  lived  near 
Seven  Points,  in  Rockefeller  township,  in  territory 
formerly  embraced  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
and  had  a  large  acreage  of  fine,  level  land,  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Levi  Shipe.  He  also  owned 
the  land  on  Shikellimy  Hill,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Susquehanna  river.  He  was  a  Lutheran,  a  member 
of  the  Augustaville  Stone  Church,  where  he  was 
buried,  and  in  the  construction  of  which  he  bore 
his  part,  helping  to  get  out  the  timber.  He  hewed 
the  main  girder  on  New  Year's  Day,  the  weather 
being  clear  and  favorable  for  the  work.  His  first 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Epler,  bore  him  chil- 
dren :  John,  Jacob,  Henry  and  Daniel.  By  his  sec- 
ond wife  he  had  children  as  follows:  Jeremiah  set- 
tled in  Iowa;  Mary  married  Jacob  Martz;  Char- 
lotte married  William  Raker,  a  merchant  of  Trev- 
oi  ton.  Pa. :  Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Dottery,  of  Mount 
Carmel,  l'a.:  Hannah  died  unmarried,  at  Hern- 
don,  this  county. 

Daniel  Malick  (Melick  according  to  tombstone 
records)  was  born  March  20,  1819,  in  Lower 
Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township,  and  died 
Feb.  8,  1891.  He  was  a  saddler  by  occupation,  and 
lived  about  a  mile  above  Seven  Points,  where  he 
owned  a  farm  of  about  one  hundred  acres.  He  is 
buried  at  the  Stone  Church  before  mentioned,  and 
was  long  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
•  gation  there,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee, 
whicli  latter  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  wife  Lovina  (Raker),  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Raker,  was  horn  Lee.  1.  1824,  and  died  Sept. 
23,  1884.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Alice, 
who  is  unmarried,  lives  at  No.  603  Catawissa  av- 
enue. Sunbury;  Emma  (deceased)  married  Jacob 
Shade,  who  lived  at  Paxinos,  this  county;  Darius 
i-  mentioned  below:  Wilson  died  aged  four  years. 
Darius  Malick,  carpenter,  of  Sunbury,  was  born 
Jan.  16,  1857,  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefel- 
ler) township,  and  there  attended  the  public 
schools.  When  twenty-one  years  old  he  went  .to 
learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  Seven  Points,  and 
he  has  been  engaged  at  carpentry  and  other  wood 
work  ever  since.  For  nine  years  he  was  employed 
in  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  shops.  His  home  has 
been  in  Sunbury  since  1887,  and  in  1891  he  built 
the  large  home  now  occupied  by  the  family,  at  No. 
601  Catawissa  avenue. 

Mr  Malick's  first  marriage  was  to  Susan  Con- 
rad, daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Bartholomew) 
Conrad,  and  to  this  union  verr  born  children  as 
follows":  Nelson  C,  who  married  Olive  McClow; 
Cordelia,  who  died  in  her  third  year :  Emmery  C,  of 
Philadelphia :  Laura  E. :  Annie  M.,  wife  of  William 
Gross,  foreman  of  silk  mills  at  Littlestown,  Pa. ; 
and  Cora,  who  was  adopted  by  Rev.  A.  J.  Stokes, 
a  United  Evangelical  minister,  who  had  no  family. 
By  his  second  marriage,  to  Lizzie  Hummer,  daugh- 


ter of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Kase)  Hummer,  farming 
people  of  Rush  township,  seven  children  have 
been  born:,  Effa,  Alma,  Preston  (who  died  in 
infancy),  Ruth,  Sadie,  Greta  and  Alton  W. 

This  family  belong  to  the  First  United  Evan- 
gelical Church  of  Sunbury,  of  which  Mr.  Malick  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  members  and  workers. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  congregation, 
and  when  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected  was 
a  member  of  the  building  committee.  When  it  was 
remodeled  he  was  again  a  member  of  the  committee, 
serving  as  its  foreman.  For  seven  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees.  Politically  he 
is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the  Carpenters' 
Brotherhood. 


David  Malick,  grandfather  of  the  brothers 
Charles  A.  and  Solomon  E.  Malick,  of  Sunbury, 
was  undoubtedly  of  this  stock.  He  was  born  in 
Rockefeller  township,  Northumberland  county, 
lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Augustaville,  on  the  farm 
later  occupied  by  Harry  Wolf,  and  was  a  lifelong 
farmer.  He  was  a  foremost  member  of  Mt.  Zion 
United  Brethren  Church,  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, which  was  also  called  Malick's  Church,  so 
named  after  him,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried 
at  that  church.  Their  children  were :  Sarah,  who 
married  George  B.  Conrad ;  and  Solomon. 

Solomon  Malick  was  born  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, Xorthumberland  county,  in  1832,  and  died 
March  20,  1882,  aged  fifty  years.  He  is  buried  in 
the  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery  at  Sunbury,  which 
was  formerly  a  part  of  the  old  South  Fourth  street 
cemetery.  During  his  early  boyhood  Mr.  Malick 
went  to  school  only  a  few  months  each  year,  spend- 
ing the  rest  of  the  time  at  farm  work,  at  home  or 
with  neighboring  farmers.  Later  he  became  a  pu- 
pil at  the  academy  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  county, 
where  he  met  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  Roush,  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Susan  (Adams)  Roush,  and  mem- 
ber of  a  pioneer  family  of  that  county.  Mr.  Roush 
taught  school,  and  Mr.  Malick  taught  music  and 
singing,  conducting  singing  schools  in  Selinsgrove, 
Sunbury,  and  other  places  in  the  adjacent  terri- 
tory. Later  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  George  C. 
Hill,  of  Sunbury,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Northumberland  county  and  became  associated  in 
legal  practice  with  George  W.  Ziegler.  He  was  in 
time  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  court  and 
became  a  prominent  attorney.  TIN  death,  which 
occurred  very  suddenly,  "was  caused  by  the  burst- 
ing of  a  blood  vessel  while  he  was  running  for  a 
train  at  Freeburg.  His  home  was  for  the  mosl 
part  in  Sunbury,  where  he  lived  many  years  in  the 
house  immediately  back  of  the  jail,  on  Arch  street. 
11,.  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  borough  ami 
filled  the  office  of  chief  burgess  for  two  terms.  A 
I  i  mocrat  in  politics,  he  was  well  and  favorably 
known  in  the  party,  was  a  member  of  Lodge  Nq. 
22    F.  &  A.  M...  of  Sunbury,  and  with  his  family 


444 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


was  identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  and 
his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  William  W.  was 
killed  in  a  collision  at  Weigh  Scale.-,  this  comity, 
June  '.'1.  1884;  E.  Laura  married  Gilbert  II.  Cobb, 
who  is  division  Ereighl  agent  for  Pennsylvania  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  and  they  live 

in  New  York  City:  Charles  A.  is  menti I  below; 

Solomon  E.  is  mentioned  below;  John  1-'..  a  loco- 
motive engineer,  resides  at  Pottsville,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Charles  A.  Malick  was  born  Feb.  24,  1SG4,  at 
Sunbury,  and  there  received  bis  education  in  the 
common  schools.  In  1879,  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
he  learned  telegraphy,  and  has  ever  since  been 
employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Company.  On  dan. 
6,  1880,  he  became  extra  operator,  being  engaged 
i-  ..  legrapher  until  he  was  made  train  dispatcher, 
in  1887.  He  Idled  that  position  until  promoted 
to  trainmaster,  in  L901,  at  Sunlmry.  on  the  Sun- 
bury  &  Shamokin  division  of  the  Pennsylvania 
road.  He  has  a  number  of  men  in  his  charge,  and 
has  proved  a  trustworthy  man  in  every  capacity. 
winning  his  promotions  by  efficient  and  consci- 
entious discharge  id'  all  his  duties.  He  is  a  well 
known  citizen  of  the  borough  and  has  several  so- 
cial connections,  belonging  to  Lewistown  Lodge, 
No.  203,  !•'.  &  A.  M.,  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and 
to  the  Temple  Club  of  Sunlmry. 

In  1890  Mi-.  Malick  married  Ida  Weiser,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Martha  (Potts)  Weiser,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Helen,  who  graduated  from  the 
Sunbury  high  school  with  the  class  of  1909.  The 
family  home  is  at  No.  24  North  Second  street. 
Sunbury.     They  attend  Zion*s  Lutheran   Church. 

Solomon  E.  Malk'K  was  born  Pec.  27,  1865,  at 
Sunbury.  and  there  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools,  lie  began  to  assist  in  the  support 
of  the  family  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  work- 
ing in  a  sawmill  for  about  a  year,  and  on  Dec.  13, 

1882,  taking  a  position  with  the  Pennsylvania  Pail- 
way  Company,  as  night  call  boy.     In  September. 

1883,  he  was  appointed  nigh'i  telegraph  operator 
at  .Mainvillc.  on  the  Pennsylvania  road,  later  was 
transferred  to  Catawissa  as  night  operator,  and  on 
July  1,  1-884,  was  transferred  to  the  D.  Y.  yard  at 
Sunbury.  on  account  of  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  his  brother.  William  R. 
Malick.  In  the  fall  of  1885  he  became 
telegraph  operator  in  the  superintendent's  of- 
fice at  Sunbury  and  was  promoted  until  he 
attained  the  responsible-  position  of  train  dis- 
patcher. In  May.  1888.  he  was  appointed  extra 
train  dispatcher,  afterward  night  dispatcher,  which 
position  he  filled  about  one  year,  on  Aug.  1.  1890, 
becoming  train  dispatcher  on  the  afternoon  trip. 
On  April  1,  1903,  Mr.  Malick  was  made  assistant 
trainmaster  on  the  Sunbury  &  Shamokin  division, 
with  jurisdiction  between  Sunbury  and  Lewis- 
town  Junction,  Sunbury  and  Mount  Carmcl.  Sun- 
bury  and    Wilkes-Barre.    Wilkes-Barre,   Pottsville 


and  Shenandoah  branch.  On  July  8,  1905,  he  was 
assigned  jurisdiction  over  the  passenger  trains  in 
this  territory,  this  being  his  present  responsibility. 
His  position  is  one  of  the  highest  importance,  and 
he  has  proved  himself  equal  to  its  demands  in 
emergencies  as  well  as  in  bis  regular  line  of  duties. 
Hi-  continued  promotions  are  the  best  evidence  of 
his  fidelity  and  its  appreciation.  He  is  a  Mason', 
belonging  to  Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Sunbury,  ami  is  a  member  of  the  Veterans  As- 
sociation id'  the  Sunbury  division  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania mad.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Temple  Club. 

On  Feb.  ".'(I.  1891).  Air.  Malick  married  Mary 
A1  delta  Sarvis,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Barbara 
(Wynn)  San  is.  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Florence  Louise,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1909.  The 
family  home  is  at  No'.  330  Chestnut  street,  Sun- 
bury. 

JOHN  K.  ERDMAN,  though  now  retired  from 
active  agricultural  pursuits,  still  makes  his  home 
on  his  farm  in  the  Irish  Valley,  in  Rockefeller 
township,  where  he  owns  a  large  and  valuable 
tract.  He  has  made  his  home  there  since  1885. 
Mr.  Erdman  was  horn  March  26,  1841,  in  Upper 
Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son  of 
George  Erdman  and  grandson  of  Johan  Georg 
Erdman. 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  family,  Johannes 
Erdman,  of  Pfungstadt,  Hessen-Darmstadt,  came 
to  America  in  1734.  Where  he  firs!  settled  has  not 
been  learned,  but  in  1750  he  was  on  the  property 
him  known  as  the  old  Erdman  farm,  near  Center 
Valley,  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.  His  wife's  name 
was  Anna  Catharine.  He  died  Oct.  30,  1760,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He  seems  to  have 
had  a  aumber  of  children,  but  the  lineage  of  onlj 
one  son.  Andrew,  has  so  far  been  ascertained  with 
certainty.  This  Andrew  (Andraes)  married  Anna 
Maria  Frederick,  and  they  had  nine  children, 
namely:  Jacob,  George,  Abraham,  Andrew,  John. 
Yost,  Catharine.  Sybilla  and  Anna  Margaret.  Of 
these,  Catharine  (wdio  married  Jacob  Barnhart). 
Anna  Margaret  (who  married  George  Sober)  and 
Abraham  removed  to  -  Armstrong.  Westmoreland 
<'>>..  Pa.,  at  an  early  day,  and  their  descendants 
have  been  lost  track  of.  Sybilla  married  Henry 
Bitz  and  removed  to  Lower  Mount  Bethel,  North- 
ampton Co.,  Pa.  Andrew  and  Yost  settled  in  Hill- 
town.  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  George  in  Upper  Sau- 
con,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  he  had  two  sons,  John  and 
Jacob.  The  Northumberland  county  branch  of 
the  family  is  descended  from  Andrew. 

Georg  Kidman,  grandfather  of  John  K.  Erd- 
man. was  a  native  of  Lehigh  county,  born  Feb. 
24,  lis;,  and  was  one  of  three  brothers,  Abraham, 
Andrew  and  Georg,  to  move  from  >that  locality  into 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  all  settling  near  Klingers- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


445 


town,  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  All  three  were 
fariTiri  s.  and  their  lands  adjoined.  Abraham  had, 
among  other  children,  Benjamin  ami  George ;  An- 
drew had  sons  Jacob,  George  and  John;  and  there 
were  also  Abraham  and  Elias,  sons  of  either 
Abraham,  Sr.,  or  Andrew. 

Georg  Erdman  had  a  large  farm,  upon  which  he 
built  a  house  and  a  barn,  and  his  son  Nathan  suc- 
ceeded him  there.  He  died  Aug.  5,  1858,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  buried  at  the  Salem  (Herb) 
( 'hurch,  at  Rough  and  Ready,  in  Schuylkill  county. 
He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  that  church.  He 
married  Anna  Catharine  Schneider,  who  was  bom 
July  6,  1792,  daughter  of  Johann  Nicholas  and 
Anna  .Maria  Schneider,  and  died  Aug.  20,  1842. 
They  bad  a  large  family:  Daniel;  George:  Sol- 
omon, born  March  19,  Is-.'-.',  who  died  Nov.  18, 
is.vi;  Elias,  born  Jan.  39,  1824,  who  died  Sept. 
24,  1856;  Nathan,  who  died  March  7,  1897,  aged 
seventy-one  years,  six  months,  eight  days  (bis  wife 
Rachel  died  Dec.  1,  1897,  aged  seventy-four  years, 
ten  months,  nineteen  days)  ;  William;  Lydia,  who 
married  William  Kehres;  Catharine,  who  married 
William  Kehres;  Polly.  Mrs.  Knorr;  Dina,  Mrs. 
Isaac  Etebuck;  Mrs.  John  Smith:  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
Michael  Brown ;  and  Harriet,  Mrs.  Moses  Hart- 
man,  who  survives. 

George  Erdman,  father  of  John  K.  Erdman, 
was  born  in  1818,  and  died  in  188"?,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  He  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church 
near  Paxinos.  He  lived  on  the  hill  road  leading 
from  Paxinos  to  Shamokin,  where  he  had  a  small 
farm,  and  he  owned  a  tract  of  125  acres  at  Bear 
Cap.  which  he  rented.  He  was  a  devout  church 
member,  and  held  the  office  of  deacon.  His  wife, 
Mary  (Knorr),  daughter  of  John  Knorr,  of  Ma- 
hantango  Valley,  bore  him  the  following  children: 
William  K.,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  active  in  Democratic  politics,  who  lived 
at  Shamokin;  Caroline,  who  married  Joseph 
Kaseman;  John  K. ;  Daniel;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried David  Startzel;  Catharine,  who  married  J. 
B.  Repley;  Mary  E.,  born  in  1852,  who  died  in 
1873;  Frank,  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  who 
lives  on  the  homestead  near  Weign  Scales  (he  is 
now  serving  bis  second  term  as  a  c t\  commis- 
sioner) ;  Ida.  who  died  young,  in  1863;  George; 
and  Albert. 

John  K.  Erdman  was  reared  on  the  farm. 
When  nineteen  years  old  be  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  in  Shamokin  township,  ami 
he  followed  that  calling  for  twelve  years,  a  tier 
which  be  returned  to  farm  life,  locating  in  Ral- 
phs township.  There  lie  lived  from  is;  1  In  1883, 
cultivating  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  which  he  sold, 
and  for  one  year  thereafter  lived  at  Stonington, 
where  be  tanned  as  a  tenant.  In  1885  be  came  to 
Rockefeller  township,  settling  on  the  farm  which 
he  has  since  occupied.  He  owns  212  acres,  well 
located,  of  which  115  acres  are  under  cultivation, 


devoted  to  general  crops.  Since  1902  Mr.  Erdman 
has  sold  his  produce  at  Trevorton.  Before  that 
lie  went  all  the  way  to  Sbamokin  to  market.  In 
1  Hi  is  lie  retired  from  active  labor,  but  he  contin- 
ues to  make  his  home  on  the  farm.  This  was 
formerly  the  John  Dunkelberger  homestead,  and 
earlier  owned  by  a  Yordy.  Mr. _  Erdman  is  a 
highly  esteemed  citizen,  and  has  received  many 
evidences  of  the  confidence  his  fellow  citizens  have 
in  his  ability  and  trustworthiness.  While  in 
Sbamokin  township  he  was  elected  overseer  of  the 
poor,  and  since  coming  to  Rockefeller  township 
he  has  been  chosen  to  serve  as  school  director  and 
supervisor.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  served  a  nine  months'  term 
as  member  of  Company  C,  131st  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  lie  and  his  family  worship 
at  the  Augustaville  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he 
has  been  deacon  and  elder. 

In  1867  Mr.  Erdman  married  Annie  Lewessa 
Reply,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  (Campbell ) 
Reply,  and  she  died  in  1878,  the  mother 
of  live  children:  Delia.  Rebecca  M.,  Joseph 
E.,  Charles  W.  and  Mary  R.  In  1880 
Mr.  Erdman  married  (second)  Mary  F. 
Vastine,  daughter  of  Hugh  Vastine,  of  Rush 
township,  this  county,  and  they  have  had 
nine  children:  Hattie  C.  Sallie  I..  Elenora  B., 
Alice  L.,  David  A.,  John  H.  R..  Peter  C,  Kimber 
II.  and  Frank  C. 

LUTHER  E.  ROAT,  of  Milton,  who  has  been 
a  merchant  in  that  borough  since  1894,  was  born 
in  1870  in  Liberty  township.  Montour  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  oldest  son  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Mut- 
hart)   Roat. 

Jacob  Roat,  Sr.,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  the  name  is 
commonly  found  with  the  original  spelling,  Roth. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  moved  to  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  Ilia 
life,  dving  about  1850.  He  was  twice  married. 
Jacob,  the  grand  father  of  Luther  E.  Roat.  being 
a  child  of  the  first  marriage,  while  David  and 
Mrs.  Cooper  (of  Danville.  Pa.)  were  born  to  the 
second  marriage.  Mr.  Roat's  second  wife  died  in 
Danville  aboul  1890,  at  the  advanced  age  of  aine- 
i\   years. 

Jacob  Roat.  Jr.,  was  born  in  Schuylkill  county, 
and  moved  to  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  thence  in 
is  12  removing  to  Libert]  township,  Montour 
county,  where  be  followed  fanning  until  bis  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  age  of  55.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Heimbach,  and  the]  were  the  parents  of 
seven  i  hildren  ;  (  I  )  Philip,  «  ho  died  in  1872, 
married  Kale  W'irtli.  (2)  Lewis,  who  died  in 
1907,  married  (first)  Miss  Jane  Auten,  who  died 
in    is::;,    leaving      two   daughters,    Margaret      and 

Edith,  and  oni ,  I  Harem  e.     II  is  second  wife. 

Kate  Stine,  was  the  mother  of  two  children.  Wil- 


•44G 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


liani  and  Edward.  (3)  Andrew  married  (first) 
Elizabeth  Blue  and  their  children  were  Frank  (of 
Milton,  Pa.),  Emma  (married  John  Billmeyer) 
and  Sarah  (married  William  Gearhart  and 
two  sons.  Charles  and  Harry).  For  his  second 
wife  Andrew  Roat  married  a  Miss  Dye,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son.  Grant,  who  married  Lottie  Diet- 
rich. (4)  Phoebe  married  Henry  Buss  and  died 
in  1908.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Robert, 
who  lives  in  Battl     I  .   Mich.:    Ramsey,  who 

married  a  Mi-s   Glase  and   had  a  son.  Clay,  who 
married   a   Mi—    Weaver;   Lewis,   who   married  a 
B  i    and    has    had    children.    Charles 

i  married  Carrie  Mohr  and  has  three  children, 
Gladys,  Edna  and  Mildred),  George,  Mame  (mar- 
ried John  Kissel  and  has  one  daughter,  Thelma) 
and  Grace  (married  to  Bruce  Gold)  :  Anne,  who 
lives  with  her  father;  Charlotte,  who  married  Al- 
Bare  and  has  two  sons :  Etta,  who  married 
David  Watt  :  and  Hurley,  who  married  a  M  5s 
Houtz.  (5)  Mahala  married  Peter  Billmeyer 
and  has  four  children,  Frank,  Emma,  Blanche  and 
Harry.  (6)  Elizabeth  married  John  Kelley  and 
had  children:  Elizabeth,  Audrey,  Eenry,  Pi 
Ida,  Mahala  and  Margaret.  (7)  II. m  is  men- 
tioned below. 

Henry  Roat,  youngest  son  of  Jacob  Roat,  Jr., 
married  Rebecca  Muthart,  daughter  of  William 
and  Lydia  (Martin)  Muthart,  natives  of  Berks 
county  who  later  settled  in  Montour  county.  Mrs. 
Roat  had  the  following  brothers  and  sisters  :  Mar- 
tha, who  died  in  1906;  Catharine,  who  married 
Joseph  Y.  Sechler;  Elmira,  who  married  Oliver 
Caldwell  (both  are  deceased)  :  and  Augustus,  win, 
married  Jane  Clemens  and  lives  in  Kansas.  1  -. 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Roat: 
Luther  E.;  William,  who  married  Julia  Hagen- 
bu'ch  and  has  one  son,  Paul  W. :  Lewis  H. :  George 
P.,  who  married  Elizabeth  St.  Clair:  Annie,  who 
married  Charles  Ruckle;  Augustus  M. :  Blanche 
M. :  and  Frank,  of  Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania. 

Luther  E.  Roat  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Montour  county,  at  Pottsgrove  Acade- 
my, and  Williamsport  (Pa.)  Commercial  School, 
preparing  to  enter  the  sophomore  year  at  Muhlen- 
berg College.  For  six  years  he  taught  school  in  his 
native  county,  in  1894  he  came  to  the  borough 
of  Milton.  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
opened  a  notion  store  in  the  Piper  block.  The 
next  year.  1895,  he  moved  his  business  to  the 
room  formerly  occupied  by  the  Reise  Clothing 
-  re,  and  was  there  established  until  1903,  mean- 
time, in  1898,  enlarging  the  store.  In  1903  he 
ived  to  the  adjoining  room,  where  he  still  has 
Ins  notion  business.  In  1905  Mr.  Roat  purchased 
from  J.  P.  Hackenberg  the  retail  china  store 
which  in  190?  he  removed  to  the  room  adjoining 
his  notion  store,  at  that  time  removing  the  parti- 
tion between  the  two  rooms  and  throwing  the 
into  one  large  room.     His  business  in  both 


lines  has  expanded  to  such  an  extent  that  he  now 
requires  the  services  of  nine  people  regularly,  with 
additional  help  on  Saturdays.  Mr.  Roat  has 
proved  himself  one  of  the  most  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  his  adopted  place.  He  has  not  only 
made  his  trade  prosper  to  his  own  advantage,  but 
decidedly  to  the  accommodation  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, and  he  has  the  universal  good-will  and  pat- 
ronage of  the  community.  As  a  substantial,  use-- 
ful  resident  of  Milton  he  is  respected  by  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Trinity  Luther- 
an church,  which  he  has  served  for  some  time  as 
membi  e  Council;  is  a   Republican  in  polit- 

ical sentiment,  but  not  active  in  party  or  public 
affairs;  and  socially  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Grand  Fra- 
ternity. 

In    February,    1896,    Mr.    Roat   married    Mame 

man,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Amanda  ( Shat- 
ter i  Hoffman,  who  had  a  family  of  seven  children: 
Ella;  Mame.  .Mrs.  Roat:  John,  who  married  Anna 

-.  who  died  in  May,  1895,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter. Mary,  who  lives  with  her  aunt.  Mrs.  Roat; 
William:  Harry,  who  married  Mary  Martz  and 
lias  two  children,  Florence  and  Willington:  Emma, 

who  married  Warren  W.  Moser  and   has  son, 

Ralph :  and  Charles,  who  married  Blanche  Co- 
teur  and  has  two  children,  Owen  and  Bernice. 

HORACE  L.  FOLLMER,  merchant  miller  at 
\\  atsontown,  Northumberland  county,  has  been  es- 
tablished in  business' at  that  place  only  a  short 
.  but  he  is  conducting  a  well  known  plant 
built  by  John  McFarland  and  operated  for  a  time 
by  Follmer,  Fowler  &  Co. 

Mr.  Follmer  was  born  April  12,  1872,  at  Wil- 
liamsport, Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  near  which  place 
his  grandfather.  William  Follmer,  owned  a  farm 
upon  which  he  lived  and  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  died  upon  his  farm.  Among  his 
children  were  Adam.  Peter  (who  is  living  on  the 
old  homestead),  William.  Amelia.  Susan.  Maggie 
and  Lydia. 

William  Follmer,  son  of  William,  was  born  on 
the  homestead  In  Lycoming  county,  and  followed 
farming  during  his  active  years.  He  died  at  Trout 
Run,  Lycoming  county.  March  27,  1910,  aged 
seventy-four  years,  an  honored  and  respected 
citizen  of  that  community.  He  was  elected  pro- 
thonotary  of  Lycoming  county  and  filled  that  office 
efficiently  and  creditably.  He  married  Catharine 
Biehl.  daughter  of  Peter  Biehl,  and  to  them  were 
born  children  as  follows:  Ella,  married  to  J.  C. 
Fowler:  Jennie;  Clayton  C,  deceased:  William. 
who  died  young:  Clemine,  who  married  Rev.  C. 
P.  Bastian  and  is  now  living  at  Keyser,  W.  Va.': 
Horace  L. ;  and  Margaret. 

Horace  L.  Follmer  attended  public  school  at 
Williamsport.  later  was  a  pupil  in  the  high  school 
at   Watsontown,  and  finally  took  a  course  at  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


447 


Williamsport  Commercial  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1892.  After  working  three 
months  in  the  mill  he  engaged  in  farming,  first 
with  his  father  and  later  on  his  own  account,  con- 
tinuing thus  for  thirteen  years  after  he  commenced 
his  independent  career.  During  this  time  he  was 
located  at  Trout  Run,  Lycoming  county,  whence 
he  came  to  Watsontown  to  enter  the  nullum'  busi- 
ness, lie  leased  his  mill,  winch  is  on  Eighth 
street,  along  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  June  1, 
L908,  from  his  father  and  widowed  sister-in-law. 
Mrs.  Clayton  C.  Follmer.  This  plant  is  equipped 
with  all  the  latest  and  most  desirable  machinery, 
having  the  full  roller  process,  and  has  a  capacity 
of  one  hundred  barrels  daily.  In  addition  to  mill- 
ing Mr.  Follmer  deals  in  flour,  grain  and  feed, 
and  he  does  a  thriving  lmshicss  in  both  lines,  his 
enterprise  aid  good  judgment  being  apparent  in 
all  hi-  transactions.  Mr.  Follmer  is  a  Pi 
terian,  belonging  to  the  church  at  Trout  Pun.  He 
is    unmarried. 

VAN  KIRK.  The  Van  Kirks  came  to  this  re- 
gion from  New  Jersey,  where  the  emigrant  an- 
cestors settled  upon  their  arrival  in  this  country 
early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  The  family  is 
of  Scotch  descent,  the  name  having  originally 
been  Kirk.  During  religious  disturbances  and 
clan  wars  the  family  left  Scotland,  fleeing  with 
others  to  Holland,  where  the  "Van"  was  pre- 
fixed to  the  name. 

Matthias  Van  Kirk,  from  whom  the  members  of 
the  family  mentioned  in  this  article  are  descended, 
lived  in  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Point  township, 
Northumberland  county.  He  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  freighter,  conveying  goods  from  Philadel- 
phia to  New  York  and  other  points.  His  children 
were  horn  as  follows:  Sarah,  July  16,  L792; 
Ralph,  Oct.  22,  1794;  Charity,  Oct.  23,  L796; 
Elizabeth,  Oct.  ft,  1798;  Mary,  dune  -it.  1800; 
Joseph.  Oct.  11.  1801;  William.  Jan.  14,  1803; 
Catharine.  Aim.  22,  1804;  Thompson,  Jan.  14, 
1805;  Panel.  May  Hi.  1808. 

Joseph  Van  Kirk,  son  of  Matthias,  was  born 
Oct.  14,  1801,  in  New  Jersey,  and  then;  in  young 
manhood  learned  tic  trade  of  shoemaker.  Coming 
to  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  he  settled  in  Point 
tow  Qship,  he  and  his  brother  buying  a  trait  of  land 
which  they  farmed  until  1860.  Joseph  Van  Kirk 
then  purchased  the  ••Washington  House"  in  North- 
umberland and  moved  thither.  After  a  lew  years 
he  purchased  the  site  ami  built  what  is. known  as 
the  "Van  Kirk  House"'  in  Northumberland,  the 
leading  hotel  there,  and  he  prospered  greatly  in 
this  business,  becoming  a  man  of  means.  Later 
he  purchased  what  was  known  as  the  "Mansion 
House"  in  Chillisquaque  township,  this  county, 
and  moved  thither,  passing  the  remainder  of  his 
life  at  that  location.  He  was  killed  by  a  train,  at 
Milton,  Pa.,  in   1885.     Mr.  Van  Kirk  was  twice 


married,  his  first  wife  being  Caroline  Hunsinger, 
his  second  Elizabeth  Perry.  By  his  first  union 
there  was  a  family  of  eleven  children:  William, 
John  M.  (who  died  young),  Harriet  (Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Robbins),  Daniel  B.,  Sarah  J.  (Mrs.  Daniel 
Lesher),  Mrs.  Joseph  Hein,  Mrs.  Caroline  Woods, 
Ellen  (Mrs.  Yoxtheimer),  Mary  and  Charles. 

William  Van  Kirk,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born 
Feb.  12,  1830,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Point  township.  He  was  a  farmer 
throughout  his  life  except  for  the  time  he  was 
in  the  Onion  service  during  the  Civil  war.  When 
i  he  war  broke  out  in  1861  he  enlisted,  and  served 
for  four  years.  He  was  first  with  the  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery at  Fnt ivss  Monroe,  later  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G,  188th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry. 
was  wounded,  and  was  in  hospital  at  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  After  the  war  he  resumed  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  he  continued  to  follow  until  his  death, 
July  4.  1901.  He  is  buried  at  Milton,  Pa.  Mr. 
Van  Kirk  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
lie  married  Mary  Perry,  daughter  of  James  Perry, 
of  Liberty  township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  their 
only  son  was  James  W.  Van  Kirk. 

James  W.  Van  Kirk,  of  East  Chillisquaque 
township.  Northumberland  county,  was  born  in 
1857,  in  Point  township,  and  there  received  his  pri- 
mary education.  Eater  he  attended  the  Philadelphia 
Art  School,  where  he  took  a  course  in  lettering  and 
ornamental  pen  work,  and  he  is  an  elegant  pen- 
man, his  work  being  exceptionally  fine.  He  finds 
considerable  to  do  in  that  line  for  the  various  col- 
leges  and  high  schools.  He  indexed  the  books  in 
the  county  offices  at  Sunbury.  Mr.  Van  Kirk  has 
attained  a  wide  reputation  in  his  line  and  his  serv- 
ice- are  in  general  demand.  He  makes  his  home 
in  East  Chillisquaque  township,  and  has  served 
that  township  as  school  director,  and  in  February, 
1910,  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of-  enumerators  when  the  cen- 
sus of  1900  was  taken.    Politically  he  is  a  Republi- 


can. 


In  August.  1891,  Mr.  Van  Kirk  married  Mary 
Ellen  Hariier.  daughter  of  Amos  Harner.  ami  they 
have  had  the  following  children:  Oley  II.,  Tam- 
emmd.  Zoe,  M.  S.  Quay  ami  Edna  D. 


William  II.  Van  Kirk,  son  of  Matthias  Van 
Kirk,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  L803,  and  came 
to  Pennsylvania  about  the  same  time  as  Ins  brother, 
settling  in  Northumberland  county  before  his  mar- 
riage. He  hail  attended  school  only  mo  days,  but 
by  thrift  ami  industry,  and  close  application  to  his 
work,  he  prospered  and  became  quite  successful, 
following  farming  all  his  active  years.  He  owned 
the  farm  in  Point  township  which  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  his  son  Charles  M.  He  and  his  wife,  Al- 
vina  (Hun! zinger),  daughter  of  Henry  Hunt- 
zinger,  are  buried  at  Northumberland,  Pa.  Mr. 
Van  Kirk  died  July  11,  188  1.  in  his  eighty-second 


448 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


year.  He  and  his  family  were  Presbyterians  in 
religious  connection.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  served  a  number  of  years  as  supervisor 
of  his  township.  Twelve  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Van  Kirk :  Mary  J., 
William.  Lucy  Ann.  David.  Susan  R..  John  T.. 
Emeline,  Joseph  W.,  Charles  C.  (who  died  when 
two  years  of  age),  Harriet  L.  Clara  E.  and 
I  1 1  irles  M. 

Chaeles  M.  Van  Kiisk.  a  farmer  of  Point 
township,  was  born  March  11.  1854,  on  the  farm 
he  now  occupies.  He  attended  public  school,  and 
subsequently  continued  to  reside  at  home,  work- 
ing for  his  father  until  the  Iatter's  death,  when, 
in  1885,  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account. 
He  has  remained  on  the  home  place  ever  since,  and 

1m-    M'i"'   i -   hi'  good   land,  devoted  to  general 

farming,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He 
attends  the  Northumberland  market.  Mr.  Van 
Kirk  has  taken  an  interest  in  the  general  welfare 
and  has  served  six  years  as  school  director  of  his 
township.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  matters. 
\-  a  citizen  he  has  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 
and  he  i-  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  resi- 
dents of  his  locality. 

On  April  3,  1880,  Mr.  Van  Kirk  married  Mary 
Minerva  Gougter,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Caro- 
line (  Kelly)  Coupler.  She  died  in  1893,  at  the  agi 
of  thirty-three  years,  the  mother  of  four  children, 
namely:  Ada  E.  married  Fred  Epler:  William  <  >. 
married  Sadie  QTner;  (Jem-;:,-  E.  married  Mary 
Neidig:  Lottie  A.  married  John  Baird.  In  1891 
Mr.  Van  Kirk  married  (second)  Ida  Bell  Gougler, 
a  cousin  of  his  first  wife,  and  daughter  of  Ceorge 
Go  igler,  who  lives  near  Port  Treverton,  Pa.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Mary  C. 
Dorothy  and  Charles  Richard. 

GEORGE  H.  DAGLE,  a  farmer  in  the  Tucka- 
hoe  Valley,   in  Point   township.   Northumberland 
county,  was  born  Feb.  29,  1868,  in  Chapman  town- 
ship,   Snyder    Co..    Pa.,    son    of   John    Fredi 
Dagle. 

John  Frederick  Dagle  was  born  April  8.  1S36, 
in  Germany,  and  came  to  America  when  sixteen 
year-  old.  Settling  at  Selinsgrove,  Snyder  I  o., 
Pa.,  he  lived  there  until  March,  1870.  when  he 
removed  to  Point  town-hip.  Northumberland 
county,  making  his  home  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  son  George  H.  DagL  II.  was  a  blacksmith, 
and  followed  his  trade  in  Snyder  county  and  also 
after  settling  in  Point  township,  where  he  was 
iccessful  farmer.  Mr.  Dagle  retired  in  1904, 
alter  which  he  lived  at  Milton,  Lewisburg  and 
Northumberland,  making  his  home  in  the  latter 
borough  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Oct.  30,  1910. 
He  was  always  willing  to  give  his  services  to  the 
promotion  of  the  general  welfare  and  was  an  ac- 
tive and  useful  citizen,  having  served  Point  town- 
ship as  school  director  and  overseer  of  the  poor, 


and  he  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil in  the  Lutheran  church,  to  which  he  belonged  as 
do  also  his  family.  In  political  sentiment 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Ertley,  who  was  born  June  15,  1838,  and 
died  Sept.  4.  1898,  in  her  sixty-first,  year: 
she  is  buried  at  Northumberland.  Six  chil- 
dren wrie  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dagle:  Mary 
married  H.  F.  Geise;  Snllie  married  F.  II.  Luck- 
hart:  John  is  a  resident  of  Augustaville,  Pa.: 
George  II.  is  on  the  home  farm  :  William  is  a  resi- 
I.  nt  of  Mount  Holly  Springs,  Cumberland  Co.. 
Pa. :  Charles  makes  his  home  in  Sunbury.  North- 
i  land  county. 

GeoTge  H.  Dagle  received  his  education  in- the 
public  schools  of   Point  township,  and  was  reared 
arming,    working    for    his   parents    until    he 
reached    I  rity.      After   that    he   continued 

at  home  until  twenty-live  years  old.  when  he  mar- 
ried and  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Point  township,  as  a  tenant  for  ten  years,  until  he 
was  in  a  position  to  buy  a  place  of  his  own.  In 
1904  he  pureha-sed  his  father's  farm  in  the  same 
township,  a  tract  of  145  acres  especially  adapted 
to  fruit  growing.  Here  he  has  since  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming,  and  his  thrift  and  industry  have  been 
well  reward cil. 

In  1894  Mr.  Dagle  married  Lillie  C.  Gibbons, 
daughter  of  James  and  Caroline   (Carman)    G 

1 <.  farming  people  of  Point  township,  and  to 

them   have  been  born  four  children:     Carrie  E.. 

-i  F..  Jane  A.  and  Mabel  0.     Mr.  Dagle  is  a 

member  and  official  of  Trinity  Lutheran  church, 

in  Point  township.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

GEORGE  c.  REESER,  contractor  of  Watson- 
town,  ami  one  of  the  most  enterprising  factors  in 
the  industrial  life  of  thai  1  ion  .ugh.  has  spent  all 
his  life  in  this  part  of  Northumberland  county. 
having  been  horn  Dec.  5,  1862,  at  Turlmtville,  son 
of  James  Reeser. 

Samuel  Reeser.  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Berk-  county.  Pa.,  and  moving  thence  to  Union 
county,  Pa.,  settled  in  the  White  Deer  Valley. 
when  1  a  farm  and  followed  farming 

until  his  death,  in  1876.  His  wife,  a  Miss  Fegley, 
also  a  native  of  Berks  county,  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced agi  -iity-four  years.  They  were  the 
ats  of  a  large  family,  viz.:  Samuel,  of  Lock 
Hi  in.  Pa.:  Manoah,  who  settled  in  Missouri: 
James;  PeteT  1'..  who  is  farming  the  old  home- 
stead place  in  White  Deer  Valley;  Rev.  Thomas 
A.,  a  Lutheran  minister,  who  was  drowned  at 
Salladasbnrg,  Pa.:  Isabella.  Mrs.  Jackson  Hart- 
raft:  Caroline.  Mrs.  Henry  Shannon;  Lizzie,  Mrs. 
William  Shade,  of  Williamsport.  Pa.:  and  Fine- 
line.  Mrs.  John  Gerhart. 

James  Reeser,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Feb.  16, 
1839,  in  Berks  county,  and  died  March  20,  1902, 
a1    Watsontown,    Northumberland    county,    where 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


440 


he  settle.]  in  1873.  He  had  moved  with  his  father 
to  Lycoming  county,  when  a  boy,  and  learned  the 
carpenterV  trade,  after  his  removal  to  Watson- 
town  rinding  work  with  the  Watsontown  Planing 
Mill  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his 
death,  at  which  time  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  em- 
ployees of  that  concern.  He  married  Mary  E. 
Prey,  who  was  born  Oct.  24,  L840,  in  Northumber- 
land comity,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Sarah 
(Sauter)  Frey,  and  died  March  15,  1892.  Mr. 
and  llr-.  Reeser  are  buried  in  the  Watsontown 
cemetery.  They  had  children  as  follows:  George 
('.:  and  William  H..  a  lumberman  of  Watsontown, 
who  married  Lottie  Rose  and  has  had  three  chil- 
dren, Edward  (who  died  aged  ten  years),  Helen 
and  Frederick. 

George  C.  Reeser  attended  the  elementary  and 
high  schools  of  Watsontown.  His  first  position 
was  with  the  Watsontown  Planing  Mill  Company, 
in  whose  employ  he  remained  until  the  mill  was 
burned,  in  1899.  He  had  been  engaged  in  con- 
tracting, and  when  the  firm  reorganized,  as  a  stock 
company,  the  same  year,  he  became  a  stockholder 
and  director,  the  business  being  from  that  time 
carried  on  under  the  name  of  the  Watsontown 
Door  and  Sash  Company.  Mr.  Reeser  is  still  en- 
gaged  in  contracting  at  this  mill,  where  about 
ninety  skilled  workmen  are  employed.  In  1904 
the  plant  was  again  destroyed  by  fire,  the  buildings 
being  a  total  loss  on  that  occasion,  but  they  have 
been  replaced  by  substantial  structures  and  the 
plant  is  a  large  and  well  equipped  establishment. 
The  company  enjoys  a  large  trade  in  the  leading 
cities  of  the  East.  Mr.  Reeser  has  other  large  in- 
terests, being  a  stockholder  in  the  Watsontown 
Brick,  ('lav  &  Produce  Company,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  original  promoters.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  substantial  business  men  of  the  borough, 
where  he  has  gained  high  standing  by  uprightness 
and  integrity  in  all  his  transactions.  He  has  ini- 
tiative and  ability,  and  has  made  a  success  by  the 
most  honorable  methods. 

Mr.  Reeser  has  no  special  political  affiliation-, 
voting  independently.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  socially  belongs  to  the 
Roval  Arcanum  and  the  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 

In  1887  Mr.  Reeser  married  Margaret  E.  Craw- 
ford, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Emily  (Guffy)  Craw- 
ford and  granddaughter  of  Elijah  Crawford. 
Jacob  Crawford,  her  great-grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Montour  county,  Pa.,  and  married  a  Miss 
Shirk,  from  England.  They  had  three  sons,  Eli- 
jah. Kim  and  Charles.  Elijah  Crawford  was  horn 
in  1796  in  Montour  county,  and  died  in  1868. 
Ali.nn  1827  he  moved  to  Packer'^  island,  where  he 
remained  until  1829,  in  which  year  he  settled  in 
Delaware  township.  Northumberland  county.  Be 
wa-  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mr.  Crawford  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Dim. 
war  of  1813  he  served  his  country  as  a  soldier.  He 
29 


married  Eleanor  Voris,  who  died  in  1883.  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  nme  children,  but  we  have 
record  of  only  five,  namely:  Jacob;  Priscilla 
May,  Mrs.  Daniel  Blue:  Sarah  Ann.  Mrs.  John 
Good:  Mary  Jane,  Mrs.  Henry  P.  Fullmer:  ami 
Thomas,  of  Turbut  township,  Northumberland 
county.  All  of  these  but  Jacob  were  living  in  1890. 
Jacob  Crawford,  son  of  Elijah  Crawford  and 
father  of  Mrs.  George  C.  Reeser,  married  El 
Guffy,  daughter  of  John  Cully  and  granddaugl  h  c 
of  Alexander  Guffy.  They  had  children  as  id- 
lows  :  Josephine,  wdio  married  John  Moyer :  Ellen, 
who  married  James  Schell :  Allen  C.  who  married 
Margaret  Sheep;  Ambrose,  who  married  Georgiana 
Taggert;  Margaret  E..  Mrs.  George  C.  Reeser;Lou, 
who  married  Al.  Cadwallader;  and  William. 

ADAM  BATDORF.  deceased,  who  was  a  dealer 
in  paints,  wall  paper  and  window  shades  at  Mil- 
ton, Pa.,  with  his  place  of  business  at  No.  11 
Broadway,  was  a  resident  of  that  town  for  nearly 
half  a  century,  and  in  that  time  proved  himself 
a  loyal  citizen  and  upright   man. 

The  name  Batdorf  was  originally  spelled  Bot- 
dorf.  Adam  Batdorfs  grandfather  came  to  Amer- 
ica from  Germany  and  settled  in  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.  Benjamin  Batdorf,  father  of  Adam,  was  ;, 
farmer  in  Lebanon  county,  and  from  there  came 
to  Milton,  later  moving  to  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, and  there  following  farming  and  teaming. 
He  died  at  Milton  in  1887,  and  was  buried  in  Har- 
mony cemetery.  He  married  Eva  Stine.  a  native 
of  Lebanon  county,  and  their  children  were:  John. 
Mary,  Samuel.  Amanda.  Levi.  Caroline,  Adam, 
James,  Catharine.  Matilda  and  William. 

Adam  Batdorf  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  was  first  employed  at  farm 
work.  He  nest  spent  one  summer  working  in  a 
brick  yard,  and  then  went  to  learn  the  painting 
and  paper  hanging  trade,  in  Milton,  and  this  en- 
gaged him  for  ten  years      ID  became  expert  in  his 

work,  and  his  time  was  full     d.     In  1873 

he  opened  his  store  as   a    dealer   in    paints,  wall 
paper  and  window  shades  on    \  ■■,  '■,   street.     'I 
after    the  great  fire,  in      1880  built  on     Elm 

street.     His  last  location  was  i      B        ivay. 

Mr.  Batdorf  was  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  war. 
He  enlisted  firs!  in  Company  K.  3d  Pennsylvania 
militia,  in  1862,  and  in  1863  '•<•  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  I.  37th  regiment  o 
men.  In  February,  L865,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  <  Ith  Pa.  Vol.  Inf..  for  one  year,  and  was  - 
to  Virginia,  where  he  ■  I  of 

the    time.      Hi  G.   A.   B. 

id  in  1908  v  i  I    i '  e 

Susquehanna  District  A    oi  the  G.  A.  If., 

and  i  in  1909.     I  [e  was  a  pas!  commander 

[ilton   Post,  No.   129,  G.    \.   I,'..  Iiavii      I 
I    to     !  I  He  was  a    p 

r  in  the  [.  0.  0.   V..  and  ai  the  time  of 


450 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


death  was  captain  of  the  Canton  of  that  body.  He 
married  Sarah  B.  Kauffman,  daughter  of  John  W. 
Kauffman,  of  Milton.  To  this  union  were  born : 
Maggie,  who  married  W.  E.  Eckbert:  Oliver  J.  0., 
manufacturer  of  the  Good  Samaritan  ointment. 
Eor  which  a  stock  company  lias  been  formed  and 
a  large  business  being  done;  Clarence  IV..  of  Mil- 
ton: Albert  H,  who  died  in  Chicago;  Annie  W., 
wife  of  Frank  W.  Bailey,  D.  D.  S.,'  of  Milton; 
Charles  A.,  of  Milton;  Spencer,  of  Milton:  and 
Harry  A.,  who  died,  aged  twenty-six  years.  Mr. 
Batdorf  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was  un- 
swerving in  his  allegiance  to  the  party — an  allegi- 
ance that  began  when  lie  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  died  May  9,  1911, 
aged  seventy-two  years. 

John  YV.  Kauffman,  father  of  Mrs.  Batdorf, 
was  born  in  1795,  and  died  May  7,  18S5.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife  Margaret 
was  born  m  1806,  and  died  Sept.  5,  1882,  and  both 
are  -buried  in  Harmony  cemetery.  Milton. 

BENJAMIN  F.  BOWER,  a  farmer  of  Wesl 
Chillisquaque  township  who  lias  a  valuable  place  oi 
150  acres  lying  along  the  wesl  branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, i-  a  native  of  Center  county.  Pa.,  born 
Aug.  23,  1863,  in  Rush  township.  The  Bower 
family  was  in  earlier  days  settled  in  Berks  county, 
this  state,  where  John  Bower,  the  great-grandfa- 
ther of  Benjamin  F.,  was  born.  He  died  in  Lycom- 
ing county.     His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bonn. 

Henry  Bower,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Bohn)  Bower,  was  born  in  1781  in  Berks  county. 
moved  to  Lycoming  county  when  a  young  man. 
and  followed  farming,  also  working  in  the  lumber 
districts.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  his 
locality.  In  White  Deer  township,  Union  Co.,  Pa., 
he  married  Elizabeth  Wertzler,  who  was  born  in 
1773  in  Berks  county,  daughter  of  Jacob  Wertz- 
ler (who  died  at  Reading.  Berks  county),  and  came 
to  Lycoming  county  when  a  young  girl.  Mrs. 
Bower  died  in  February,  1836,  aged  sixty-three 
years,  and  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Church  in  Brady 
town-hip.  Lycoming  county.  Mr.  Bower  died  in 
that  county  in  1866,  aged  eighty-two  years,  six 
months,  six  days,  ami  i-;  buried  there,  at  the  Brick 
Church  in  Clinton  township.  They  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Jona- 
than was  killed  by  the  cars  at  Montgomery.  Pa.: 
Abraham  was  killed  in  the  Civil  war;  Mary  A. 
(deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Aaron  Wentzel :  Jacob 
is  mentioned  below;  Sarah  (deceased)  was  the 
wife  of  Peter  Swartz,  a  farmer  of  Dakota:  Eliza- 
beth (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  John  Huntington 
and  they  lived  in  New  Mexico:  Lydia  died  un- 
married. 

Jacob  Bowei'.  son  of  Ileiirv.  was  born  April  12, 
1816,  in  Washington  township,  Lycoming  county, 
and   resided  with  his  parents  until   he  reached   the 


age  of  twenty-one  years,  meantime  attending  the 
local  subscription  schools  for  three  months  each 
winter  during  his  boyhood,  and  working  on  his 
father's  land  the  rest  of  the  time.  He  then  went 
to  Black  Hole,  also  in  his  native  township,  where 
he  was  employed  by  his  brother-in-law,  Peter 
Swartz.  in  a  distillery,  working  there  for  twelve 
years,  for  ten  dollars  a  month,  at  that 
time  considered  good  wages.  He  and  his 
brother-in-law  then  went  to  Clearfield  county 
and  purchased  a  sawmill,  which  they  oper- 
ated successfully  for  eleven  year-.  after 
which  Mr.  Bower  moved  to  Rush  township. 
(enter  county.  He  lived  there  for  several  years, 
thence  removing  to  Gregg  township.  Union  county, 
in  1866.  This  region  was  then  an  unbroken  wil- 
derness, wluie  wild  animals  still  roamed,  and  he 
shared  the  hardships  of  life  in  such  a  region  with 
other  hardy  settlers  who  made  a  home  there, 
in  time  becoming  a  prominent  farmer  of  his  dis- 
trict, where  he  is  well  and  favorably  remembered, 
lie  passed  the  remainder  of  his  long  life  on  his 
homestead  in  Gregg  township,  dying  there  Nov. 
3,  1900.  A  man  of  -toiling  integrity  and  the 
highest  character,  he  had  the  affectionate  regard 
of  all  who  knew  him.  and  was  greatly  respected 
throughout  bis  section,  lie  was  one  of  the  oldest 
members  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  Union 
county,  having  been  a  charter  member  of  Spring 
Garden  Grange,  No.  32.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  east  tor  Buchanan,  but  he  was  independ- 
ent on  political  questions,  supporting  what  he 
thought  was  right,  regardless  of  party.  In  religion 
tie  was  a  Baptist,  and  tilled  office  in  his  church. 
IP-  death  was- looked  upon  as  a  public  loss  in 
the  community. 

On  Feb  ''.  1851,  in  Morris  township.  Clearfield 
county,  Mr.  Bower  married  Elizabeth  Haas,  who 
was  born  Oct.  26,  1824,  in  Moreland  township, 
Lycoming  county,  and  died  Jan.  '>.  1!")!).  at  West 
Milton.  Union  county.  Her  parents.  John  and 
Mary  (Baker)  Haas,  spent  most  of  their  lives  in 
Northumberland  county,  hut  she  was  a  young  child 
when  her  father  died,  in  L828,  and  she  made  her 
home  in  the  family  of  Peter  Swartz  for  some  time. 
Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob 
Bower:  (1)  John  H.  born  July  30,  1851.  now  a 
resident  of  Danville.  Pa.,  married  Maggie  Gulich 
and  has  four  children,  Emma,  Miriam.  Elizabeth 
and  Charles.  (2)  Abraham  S..  horn  Oct  6,  1853, 
a  farmer  in  Gregg  township.  Union  county,  mar- 
ried Hannah  Gross  and  ha-  two  children,  Retta 
and  Elizabeth.  (3)  Lydia  E.,  born  May  .'!.  1855, 
in  Center  county,  Pa.,  married  J.  S.  Houser,  who 
operated  the  obi  Bower  homestead.  (4)  Charles 
\\ ..  horn'  Feb.  5.  1857,  a  lumberman  at  Allenwood, 
Pa.,  married  Tilla  Kolbe.  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren. Francis  E.,  George  M.  and  Elizabeth  G. 
(5)  Mary  M.,  born  Jan.  16,  1859,  married  Wil- 
liam Houser  (brother  of  J.  S.  Houser).  a  carpen- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


451 


ter,  and  they  reside  at  West  Milton,  Pa.  They 
have  one  son.  Franklin  B.  (6)  Benjamin  F.  is  the 
youngesl  of  the  family. 

Benjamin  F.  I'm. an-  received  his  education  in  the 

schools  of   the   home   neighborh I.      lie  worked 

lor  his  father  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven,  after  which  he  farmed  the  homestead  lor  Ins 
father  for  six  years.  For  the  next  seven  years  he 
was  on  i  ho  oh!  ( lharles  Wolfe  farm,  in  West  <  Ihil- 
lisquaque  township,  now  the  Fonda  estate,  along 
the  west  branch,  and  in  1902  ho  located  on  the 
tract  in  that  township  which  ho  has  since  tanned, 
oiio  of  the  Packer  farms,  lie  has  L50  acres  of 
g 1  land,  all  up-to-date  machinery  and  conveni- 
ences, and  is  an  intelligent  farmer,  keeping  abreast 
of  the  times  in  hi.-  work,  as  his  farm  shows.  Ho 
is  well  thought  of  in  the  community,  has  served 
three  years  as  school  director,  and  i>  a  substantial 
and  worthy  citizen,  deserving  the  respect  he  en- 
joys, lie  hauled  the  first  load  of  stone  for  the 
Montanilon  high  school.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, in  religion  a  Baptist,  holding  membership  in 
the  church  at  Milton. 

Mr.  Bower  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Huff,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Buff,  of  Union  county.  They  have 
six  children:  Florence  X..  wife  of  John  Reiser; 
Mary  E. :  Jacob;  Willard;  Homer  and  Carrie. 

WILLIAM  THOMAS  JOHNSTON,  D.  D.  S., 
a  popular  young  professional  man  and  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen  of  Milton,  was  born 
in  Williamsport,  Pa.,  in  August,  1877,  son  of 
Robert  G.  Johnston.  He  atteuded  the  William- 
port  public  schools,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  a  clerk, 
but  finding  his  tastes  led  him  rather  into  the  pro- 
fessional world,  he  again  turned  his  attention  to 
study,  and  entering  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  graduated  therefrom  in  1899  with  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  S.  In  the  spring  of  1900  he  lo- 
cated for  practice  at  his  present  place  in  the 
Knauer  building,  No.  43|  South  Front  street, 
Milton,  and  since  that  time  lie  has  been  kept 
steadily  busy  with  an  ever  increasing  practice.  He 
is  thoroughly  at  home  with  the  latest  improved 
methods,  anil  his  work  is  performed  conscientious- 
ly. He  is  a  member  of  Kirk's  Dental  Society. 
Fraternally  the  Doctor  is  a  Mason,  being  a  member 
of  Milton  Lodge  No.  --'56,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Wil- 
liamsport Lodge  of  Perfection,  14th  degree.  His 
religious  connection  is  with  the  Methodist  church. 
He'is  active  in  all  work  for  the  moral  well  being 
of  the  town. 

Dr.  Johnston  married  Hannah  Lundy,  daughter 
of  Ezra  B.  Lundy,  of  Williamsport.  They  reside 
at  Williamsport. 

OLTYER  S.  BARTO.  who  owns  and  conducts 
the  "Farmers  Hotel"  at  Watsontown,  has  been  the 
owner  of  that  establishment  since   1901   and   has 


managed  it  himself  suae  1902.  Though  he  had 
no  previous  experience  in  the  hotel  business  he 
has  made  a  success  of  the  enterprise,  so  that  the 
place  has  not  only  been  profitable  to  him,  but  a 
credit  to  the  borough.  Mr.  Barto  is  a  native  of  r 
Turbutville,  Northumberland  county,  born  Feb. 
L9,  1874,  and  comes  of  a  family  which  has  long 
been  established  in  Pennsylvania,  Berks  county 
having  been  the  home  of  his  ancestors  for  several 
generations. 

The  Bartos  are  of  French  Huguenot  extraction, 
the  French  form  of  the  name  being  Perdeau. 
Three  of  the  name  came  to  America  in  the  early 
days,  one  John  Barto  locating  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  in  1730,  Isaac  Barto  prior  to  1750  and  Nicho- 
las Barto  in  1773.  The  Isaac  Barto  mentioned 
via-  a  large  taxable  in  Oley  township,  Berks  coun- 
ty, in  1759,  in  which  year  he  paid  £14  tax.  His 
descendants  are  still  living  in  Washington  town- 
ship, that  county.  Some  time  prior  to  1735  Jean 
Peardeau  located  in  Colebrookdale  township,  Berks 
county,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  1770, 
leaving  a  numerous  progeny. 

Abraham  Barto,  great-grandfather  of  Oliver  S. 
Barto,  was  a  farmer  of  Colebrookdale  township, 
Berks  county.  His  children  were:  Isaac,  who  lived 
in  Oley  township,  that  county:  Benjamin;  and 
Susanna,  who  married  Daniel  Leinbach  and  lived 
at  Friedensburg,  in  Oley  township  (both  are  now 
deceased ). 

Benjamin  Barto,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  in 
1824,  in  Colebrookdale  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
and  lived  there  until  his  removal  to  Northumber- 
land county,  in  1857.  Here  he  settled  on  a  farm 
of  16"2  acres  in  Lewis  township,  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  from  Turbutville,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Jan.  29,  1898.  He  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  Turbutville.  Mr.  Barto  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church  and  a  Republican 
in  politics.  He  was  an  intelligent  man,  and  took 
an  interest  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  supervisor 
and  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his  district.  His  wife, 
Anna  (Deysher),  daughter  of  Jacob  Deysher,  of 
Pike  township,  Berks  county,  died  on  the  farm  near 
Turbutville  Jan.  29,  1863,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six 
years.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  of 
whom  we  have  the  following  record:  Abraham 
is  a  resident  of  Montgomery,  Pa.;  Augustus  D.  is 
the  father  of  Oliver  S.  Barto;  Benjamin  lives  at 
Eric.  Pa.:  Hon.  James  lives  at  Jetmore,  Fans., 
where  he  has  served  as  judge  (he  has  suffered 
the  loss  of  an  arm)  :  Morn-  died  (lei.  30,  1862, 
aged  seven  years:  Anna  married  Scott  Levan  and 
they  live  at  Watsontown  ;  Mary  married  Jacob  Rov- 
enalt  and  they  live  at  Turbutville;  Emma  married 
George  Williams,  of  Turbutville;  Amanda  married 
William  Phillips  and  lives  ai  Montgomery,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Augustus   D.   Barto  was  horn  Jan.   13.   1846,  in 
(dev    township.    Berks   Co..   Pa.,  and   received  his 


452 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


early  education  in  the  local  schools.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  there  and  in  Northumberland 
county,  coining  with  his  parents  to  Lewis  township 
April  4,  1857,  when  he  was  a  boy  of  eleven.  He 
worked  for  his  father  up  to  the  time  of  his  enlist- 
ment. Nov.  16,  1863,  at  Reading,  for  service  in  the 
regular  army,  joining  Company  F,  2d  Battalion, 
15th  United  States  [nfantry,  for  five  years.  During 
the  early  part  of  his  term  he  was  in  the  Civil  war, 
participating  in  Sherman's  famous  march  to  the 
sea,  from  April.  1864,  to  Sept.  1.  1864.  For  the 
last  eighteen  months  of  his  service  he  was  a  cor- 
poral, and  he  was  honorably  dis<  harged  Nov.  16, 
1868. 

Returning  home  at  the  close  of  his  military  ser- 
vice, Mr.  Barto  engaged  at  laboring  work  and  lime 
burning  until  1879,  after  which  lie  was  employed 
on  public  works  for  a  few  years.  From  Sept.  3, 
1883,  to  April  2.  1910,  he  worked  for  the  Wagner 
Planing  Mill  Company  at  Watsontown,  in  which 
borough  be  is  now  living  in  retirement.  He  owns 
his  home  there  and  is  comfortably  situated.  Mr. 
Barto  is  an  independent  voter,  and  in  religious 
matters  he  and  his  family  are  identified  with  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  member  of  Bryson 
Post,  No.  225.  <;.  A.   R.,  of  Watsontown. 

On  June  14,  1870,  Mr.  Barto  married  Caroline 
E.  Schook.  daughter  of  Philip  and  Susan  (Sandy) 
Schook,  whose  family  consisted  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, namely:  John,  who  is  deceased;  Benjamin, 
iif  Elmira,  V  V.:  Lewis,  of  Horseheads,  \.  Y. : 
David,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Philip,  of  Muncy, 
Pa.:  William,  id'  Watsontown;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam High:  Matilda,  Mrs.  Sol.  Stein:  Sarah  and 
Mary,  who  are  unmarried  and  live  together:  Caro- 
line ]•:..  Mrs.  Barto;  Susan,  deceased;  and  Cathar- 
ine, Mrs.  Jacob  Weaver.  Ten  children  were  limn 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barto:  Susan  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Merrcll  ami  they  live  at  Watsontown:  Sal- 
lie  is  married  to  Frank  Leform  and  lives  at  Mont- 
gomery, Pa.;  Oliver  S.  lives  at  Watsontown;  Isaac 
is  a  resident  id'  Williamsport,  l'a. :  Tillie  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Henshaw.  of  Newberry,  Pa.:  Harry  is  a 
resident  of  South  Williamsport;  Rachel  married 
Fred  Davis  and  they  live  ;it  Plymouth,  Pa.:  Ed- 
ward is  a  resident  of  Muncy,  Pa. :  Myrtle  married 
George  Hoff  and  lives  at  Milton,  Pa.:  Laura  is  un- 
married. 

Oliver  S.  Barto  was  educated  in  the  public  and 
high  schools '  of  Watsontown,  and  when  fifteen 
years  old  began  working  in  the  planing  mill  at 
Watsontown.  He  was  thus  engaged  For  about  four- 
teen years  in  succession,  and  since  1902  has  been 
engaged  in  conducting  the  "Farmers  Eotel,"  which 
he  purchased  in  1901  from  the  MeNulty  estate. 
Tin-  Imtel  is  located  on  upper  Main  street,  and  is 
an  old-established  stand.  It  contains  twenty- 
three  rooms,  comfortably  furnished  and  well  equip- 
ped, and  is  run  along  modem  lines.  Mr.  Barto  tak- 
ing a  genuine  interest  in  the  welfare  and  comfort 


of  his  guests,  who  show  their  appreciation  of  his 
solicitude  by  continued  patronage.  He  has  done 
well  in  this  venture,  to  which  he  has  applied  his 
best  energies,  and  is  widely  acquainted,  not  only 
in  a  business  way,  but  also  socially,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  a  number  of  organizations.  He  belongs  to 
the  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle,  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  and,  in 
business,  to  the  Liquor  Dealers  Association.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican. 

On  April  5,  1896,  Mr.  Barto  married  Carrie  L. 
Evans,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Croft) 
Evans,  late  of  Milton.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Wales.  Xo  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barto. 

SAMUEL  H.  WEISER,  of  East  Chillisquaque 
township,  has  lived  on  his  farm  near  Pottsgrove 
since  1906  and  has  been  a  resident  of  this  section 
of  Northumberland  county  from  boyhood.  He  was 
born  Aug.  29.  1871.  at  Buffalo  Cross  Roads,  Union 
Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Joshua  Weiser  and  grandson  of 
George  YY.  Weiser.  and  belongs  to  the  numerous 
posterity  of  the  celebrated  Conrad  Weiser,  well 
represented  in  this  region. 

George  W.  Weiser  lived  at  Red  Bank,  near  Mif- 
llinhurg.  in  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  is  buried  there, 
lie  bad  a  brother  Joshua,  but  further  than  that  we 
have  nothing  to  show  his  line  of  descent  from 
Conrad  Weiser.  On  Dec.  26,  1841,  George  W. 
Weiser  married  Susanna  Boiler,  and  their  children 
were  born  as  follows:  George  W.,  May  9,  1842: 
Joshua,  Nov.  18,  1844:  Hannah  C,  Dec.  21,  1845: 
Henry.  Sept.  18,  1SI?  (be  married  Jane  Oberdorf 
and  they  bad  two  children,  Amos  and  Gertrude, 
the  former  now  deceased:  they  reside  at  Mifflin- 
burg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.)  :  John,  May  17,  1849  ;  Abra- 
ham. Dec.  19.  1.850;  Benjamin  F.,  April  19,  1853; 
Anna  Maria,  Sept.  21,  1855. 

Joshua  Weiser,  son  of  George  W..  was  born  Nov. 
18,  1844,  in  Center  county,  Pa.,  was  engaged  at 
day  labor  throughout  his  life,  and  died  in  May, 
1904;  he  is  buried  at  Bull'alo  Cross  Roads,  Union 
county.  lie  married  Susan  Campbell,  who  died  in 
1900  and  is  buried  at  Buffalo  Cross  Roads.  They 
were  the  parents  of  children  a*  follows:  Abraham, 
Elmer.  Samuel  H.,  Sarah,  Jennie.  George,  Mazie 
(Mrs.  F.  A.  Raback),  Elizabeth  and  Cyrus  (died 
in  infancy). 

Samuel  H.  Weiser  attended  public  school  in 
Kelly  township.  Union  county,  and  after  coming 
to  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, was  a  student  at  Pottsgrove  Academy.  He  has 
always  followed  farming.  For  eight  years  he  did 
farm  work  for  John  W.  Frederick,  of  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  and  then  followed  farming  on 
his  own  account  for  eight  years,  on  the  W.  A. 
Montgomery  farm,  after  which  he  was  on  the  Wil- 
liam IT.  Koch  farm  before  coming  to  his  present 
place,  in  1906.     He  has  a  fine  farm  stock,  and  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


153 


property  is  in  excellent  condition,  showing  intel- 
ligent and   thrifty  management.     His  equipment 

18  "s  g 1  as  that  of  any  fanner  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Weiser  has  been  active  in  local  matters,  has 
served  as  inspector  of  elections,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Pottsgrove  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  the  pasi  ten  years. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Weiser  married  Annie  Mack,  daughter  of 
William  and  Catharine  (Frederick)  Mack,  and 
they  have  had  one  son,  George  M.,  who  died  Oct. 
29,  L909. 

Most  of  the  Weisers  in  Northumberland  county 
are  descended  from  the  celebrated  Conrad  Weiser, 
patriot,  statesman,  philosopher,  maker  of  treaties 
and  Indian  interpreter,  who  in  the  latter  capacity 
especially — he  was  official  interpreter  from  1732 
until  his  death — was  intimately  connected  with  the 
making  of  history  in  Pennsylvania  in  his  day.  A 
friend  of  the  Indian,  one  found  equally  worthy  of 
confidence  by  his  own  race,  with  the  necessary 
knowledge  and  qualities  of  leadership  required  to 
sustain  the  influence  he  gained  by  success  in  his 
early  transactions  between  the  two  races,  he  was 
line  of  the  comparatively  few  men  of  his  time  fa- 
miliar enough  with  the  Indian  character,  languages 
and  customs  to  carry  on  negotiations  intelligently 
and  efficiently,  and  at  the  same  time  possessing  a 
reputation  which  made  him  the  trusted  agent  of 
both  the  red  and  the  white  men.  His  work  has  a 
peculiar  \alue  in  the  early  settlement  ami  develop- 
ment of  this  region. 

Conrad  Weiser  was  born  Nov.  '.'.  1696,  ai 
Afstaedt,  a  small  village  in  the  county  of  Ilerren- 
berg,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  son  of  John  Conrad 
Weiser.  a  local  magistrate.  In  his  native  home  he 
acquired  a  general  education,  which  included  the 
principles  of  the  Christian  religion  according  to 
the  teachings  of  Martin  Luther.  In  Ins  fourteenth 
year  he  emigrated  to  America  with  his  father  and 
fauiilv,  which  included  seven  children  besides  him- 
self, landing  at  New  York  June  17,  1710.  At  that 
time  several  thousand  Germans  were  sent  to 
America  by  Queen  Anne.  Shortly  after  their  ar- 
rival they  were  removed  by  the  governor  of  New 
York  to  Livingston  Manor,  to  burn  tar  and  culti- 
vate hemp  to  defray  the  expenses  incurred  by 
Queen  Anne  in  conveying  them  from  Holland  to 
England  and  from  England  to  America.  John 
Conrad  Weiser  was  at  the  head  of  this  colony,  of 
four  thousand  Palatinates.  Under  the  direction 
of  commissioners  they  labored  in  the  employmeni 
mentioned  until  1713.  Then,  finding  that  they 
were  existing  under  a  form  of  bondage,  the}  pro- 
tested against  the  treatment  and  this  effected  then1 
release.  About  150  families  of  (hem.  including 
the  Weisers,  removed  to  Schoharie,  forty  miles 
west  of  Albanv.  Their  immediate  neighbors  were 
i  he  Mohawk  Indians,  with  whom  the  elder  Weiser 


was  frequently  m  communication.  A  chief  of  the 
tribe  who  took  a  liking  to  Conrad  proposed  that 
the  hoy  visit  the  .Mohawk  country  and  learn  the 
language,  and  accordingly,  when  in  his  eighteenth 
year,  he  went  to  live  with  the  Indians,  spending 
eight  months  at  a  Mohawk  town  eight  miles  south 
of  Schoharie.  In  this  period  he  acquired  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  language  and  customs  and 
was  adopted  as  a  member  of  the  tribe.  Though 
strong,  he  suffered  from  exposure  and  hardship 
during  this  experience,  having  scarcely  clothing 
sufficient  to  cover  his  body  during  the  trying  win- 
ter, and  he  was  frequently  threatened  with' death 
when  the  Indians  were  in  a  state  of  intoxication. 
Returning  to  his  father's  home  at  Schoharie  in 
duly,  1714.  he  lived  until  1729  within  two  miles 
of  the  town  referred  to,  engaging  in  farming  and 
continuing  to  increase  the  Indian  knowledge  he 
had  gained  by  acting  as  interpreter  between  the 
German  settlers  and  the  Mohawks.  In  the  spring 
of  1723  many  of  the  Palatinates,  including  Con- 
rad Weiser's  father,  moved  from  the  region  be- 
cause of  litigation  which  affected  the  titles  to  their 
lands,  and  settled  in  the  Tulpehocken,  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  Conrad  Weiser  followed  them 
thither  m  1729,  locating  near  Womelsdoi'f.  He 
was  soon  after  engaged  as  interpreter  by  the 
Provincial  government,  his  Brs1  services  in  this ' 
capacity  being  performed  in  1731.  Prom  that  time 
for  nearly  thirty  years  he  was  almost  constantly  en- 
gaged in  this  important  work,  and  previous  to  1760 
he  was  the  most  prominent  historical  character  in 
Berks  county.  He  was  the  principal  judge  of  the 
county  from  1752  to  1760.  Besides  acting  as  in- 
terpreter at  the  various  treaty  meetings,  he  was 
intrusted  with  important  missions  to  the  great 
council  at  Onondaga  and  to  the  Ohio  tribes,  and 
throughout  his  long  career  a-  agent  and  interpreter 
continued  to  enjoy  the  full  confidence  of  both 
Indians  and  English 

He  was  very  active  in  the  firsi  proceedings  for 
the  erection  of  Berks  county,  in  1738,  and  con- 
tinued his  influence  until  the  county  *vas  estab- 
lished, in  1752.  He  acted  as  one  of  the  first  com- 
missioners in  the  sale  of  town  lots  at,  Reading, 
which  was  laid  out  by  the  Penns  in  1748,  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  early  movements 
for  the  building  up  of  the  town  and  in  the  de- 
velopment of  its  business  interests.  In  till  he 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he 
filled  for  a  number  of  years:  and  when  the  county 

was  erected  he  was  appointed  i if  its  first,  judge-. 

acting  as  president  judge  of  the  courts  until  his 
decease,  in  1760.  Two  of  his  descendants,  both 
named  George  Weiser,  served  a-  associate  judges  in 
Northumberland  county. 

Weiser  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
the  French  ami  Indian  war.  in  which  he  served 
as  a  colonel,  and  In-  services  were  of  greai   value 


454 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


to  the  government  and  to  the  people  of  Berks  coun- 
ty. His  numerous  letters  indicate  his  zeal,  cour- 
age and  patriotism. 

During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  lived  mostly 
at  Reading,  but  he  died  on  his  Heidelberg  farm 
July  13,  1760,  and  his  remains  rest  in  a  private 
burying  ground  on  the  place,  near  the  borough  of 
Womelsdorf.  On  Oct.  30,  1907,  a  tablet  was  placed 
in  the  west  wall  of  the  Stiehter  hardware  store  on 
Penn  Square,  Reading,  by  the  Historical  Society 
of  Berks  county,  to  commemorate  the  site  of  the 
Weiser  building,  which  he  erected  at  that  point  in 
1751  and  where  he  often  met  the  Indians  in  con- 
ference. He  accumulated  a  large  estate,  consisting 
of  properties  at  Reading  and  lands  in  Heidelberg 
township  and  in  the  region  of  country  beyond  the 
Blue  Mountains. 

In  1720  Conrad  Weiser  married  a  young  woman 
of  Schoharie,  and  he  was  the  father  of  fifteen  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  seem  to  have  died  in  the  years 
of  their  minority.  His  wife  and  seven  children  sur- 
vived him:  Philip,  Frederick.  Samuel.  Benjamin, 
Peter,  Anna  Maria  ( who  married  Rev.  Henry  Mel- 
chior  Muhlenberg)  and  Margaret  (Mrs.  Pinker). 
So  many  generations  have  elapsed  since  their  day, 
and  the  posterity  has  become  so  numerous,  that  it 
would  be  a  laborious  and  difficult,  if  not  u 
sible.  task  to  compile  a  complete  record. 

Frederick  Weiser,  fourth  child  and  third  son  of 
Conrad  Weiser.  was  born  Dec.  24,  IT'S,  at  Scho- 
harie, N.  Y.,  and  was  baptized  by  John  Bernhart 
von  Duehren,  a  Lutheran  clergyman,  his  sponsors 
being  Nicklas  Feg  and  wife.  He  settled  in  Berks 
county,  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  is  buried  at  the  Klinger's  Church,  near 
Klingerstown,  in  the  western  part  of  Schuylkill 
county.  It  appears  that  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
however,  in  1796,  he  was  a  resident  of  Heidelberg 
township,  Berks  county.  He  and  his  family  were 
Lutherans.  One  of  the  foremost  men  of'his  day 
in  his  section,  he  served  as  "squire"  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  and  was  a  man  of  dignified  bearing 
and  rugged  honesty,  true  to  the  noble  teachings  of 
his  pious  parents.  He  became  possessed  of  consid- 
erable wealth,  being  one  of  the  most  substantial 
men  of  his  generation.  He  was  a  farmer  and  large 
land  owner  in  the  Mahantango  Valley.  His 
will  is  on  record  in  the  Berks  county  court- 
house. On  March  10,  1798.  the  Orphans' 
court  of  Berks  county  appointed  Richard  Lea, 
Joseph  Hiester  and  William  Green  auditors  of 
his  vast  estate,  which  they  found  amounted 
to  6,052  pounds.  11  shillings,  6  pence.  Dan- 
iel Levan,  of  Maxatawny  township,  was  one  of 
the  executors  of  Frederick  Weiser.  In  release  as 
executor  of  the  estate  of  his  father,  Frederick 
Weiser,  Conrad  Weiser  in  1707  was  given  clear 
title  by  his  four  sisters  (three  of  whom  were  mar- 
ried to  Kehls — the  latters'  relations  not  known). 
Bv  the  death  of  Frederick  Weiser  his  executors  be- 


came involved  in  a  lawsuit  with  Daniel  Womels- 
dorf over  a  mill  property  at  Womelsdorf,  in  Berks 
county,  bought  in  1774,  and  sold  in  1788.  A  large 
sum  of  money  was  involved,  and  the  case  was  bit- 
terly fought  by  the  ablest  legal  talent  in  Berks 
county,  the  suit  resulting  in  a  verdict  for  Daniel 
Womelsdorf  for  588  pounds,  14  shillings,  17-J 
pence.  A  balance  of  5,219  pounds,  12  shillings,  6 
pence  was  distributed  among  Frederick  Weisers 
heirs.  His  children  were:  Conrad,  John,  Peter, 
Eve  Collins  (who  was  a  widow  in  1797),  Catharine 
(wife  of  Jacob  Kehl),  Hannah  wife  of  George 
I   and  Sarah   (wife  of  John  Kehl). 

Conrad  Weiser,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born 
April  lii.  L753,  and  on  Nov.  12,  177.">.  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  dinger,  daughter  of  Philip.  He  died 
Sept.  19.  1804,  and  is  buried  at  Klinger's  Church. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Frederick,  Jacob, 
Philip.  Hannah.  Mis.  George  Hepner,  Catharine, 
Elizabeth  and  Sarah. 

Philip  Weiser,  grandson  of  Conrad,  was  born 
in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  May  13.  1787.  and  died 
Nov.  16,  1863.  He  is  buried  at  the  Plum  Creek 
Church,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township, 
Northumberland  county.  He  donated  the  land  up- 
on which  that  church  is  built,  and  which  was  in  the 
heart  of  his  possessions  in  that  section,  several 
hundred  acres  of  fine  land.  His  farm  contained 
the  best  land  in  the  township.  He  erected  the  set 
of  buildings  still  used  on  that  property,  and  they 
are  typical  of  the  substantial  structures  put  up  by 
the  descendants  of  Conrad  Weiser  wherever  they 
have  settled.  He  himself  did  much  of  the  work  on 
these  buildings,  and  he  was  an  industrious  man  in 
all  his  undertakings.  A  stanch  Lutheran,  he  was  a 
pillar  of  the  Plum  Creek  Church  and  its  foremost 
member,  being  an  elder  at  the  time  of  his  death.  A 
monument  marks  his  last  resting  place  there.  He 
was  a  tall  man,  well  proportioned,  raw-boned  and 
muscular  though  weighing  about  two  hundred 
pounds,  dignified  in  his  bearing,  possessed  a  reso- 
lute will  and  held  strong  convictions  of  right  and 
wrong,  was  educated  and  intelligent,  and  applied 
his  energies  to  such  good  purpose  that  he  became 
the  most  substantial  man  in  his  section.  His 
homestead  is  now  owned  by  John  Philips.  He  was 
a  Democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  type  and  served  as 
commissioner  of  Northumberland  county.  His 
wife  Catharine,  daughter  of  George  Malick,  was 
born  Aug.  24,  178S.  and  died  May  31.  1852.  They 
had  children  &?  follows:  George:  Catharine,  who 
married  Henry  Fasold :  Solomon :  Elizabeth,  who 
married  George  Kieffer :  Margaret,  born  Aug.  9, 
1815,  who  married  in  1814  John  Snvder  and  died 
March  19,  1856:  Sarah,  born  July  31,  1817,  who 
married  John  C.  Evert  and  died  Dec.  7,  1893. 

George  Weiser,' eldest  son  of  Philip,  was  born  on 
his  fathers  homestead,  as  were  all  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  there  spent  his  youth.  He  married 
Margaret  Malick,  who  lived  only  two  miles  from 


N  <  (RTHUMBERLAXD   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


455 


where  he  was  wared,  daughter  of  Peter  Malick,  of 
Lower  Augusta  township,  and  after  his  marriage 
moved  six  miles  west  of  his  father's  home,  in  the 
same  township,  settling  on  one  of  his  father's  fine 
farm.-.    This  place,  uow  comprising  three  hundred 

acres,  is  ow I  by  Peter  Weiser,  sun  of  George — of 

the  fifth  or  sixth  generation  from  Conrad  Weiser. 
This  farm  is  considered  one  of  the  very  best  tracts 
in  Lower  Augusta  township.  There  are  many  his- 
torical associations  about  the  place.  A  log  house 
formerly  stood  there  which  was  one  of  the  earliest 
buildings  in  the  section,  was  used  as  a  fort  or  re- 
treat from  the  Indians,  ami  was  conducted  as  a 
private  hotel,  many  travelers  resting  there  and  find- 
ing safety  as  well  as  shelter  under  its  roof.  Dur- 
ing the  French  and  Indian  war,  1753-1763,  it  fre- 
quent] v  afforded  protection  from  Indian  attacks, 
the  cellar  with  its  strong  wall  being  a  safe  place 
of  refuge  during  the  savage  onslaughts.  In  1857 
this  landmark  was  razed  by  George  Weiser,  who 
erected  the  -nine  year  the  spacious  brick  residence 
now  the  home  of  his  son  and  granddaughters.  It 
is  In  by  36  feel  in  dimensions,  with  an  addition 
15  feet-square  erected  since,  two  and  a  half  stories 
high  and  surrounded  with  commodious  porches. 
George  Weiser  was  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
his  section  and  one  of  its  foremost  citizens,  but 
though  a  leader  id'  public  thought  and  progress 
he  steadfastly  refused  to  hold  any  office  except 
that  of  school  director,  though  he  might  have  re- 
ceived many  honors  at  the  bands  of  his  fellow  cit- 
izens, lie  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  cause  of 
public  education,  was  prominent  in  local  church 
and  social  circles,  and  in  every  respect  a  worthy 
representative  of  a  noble  race.  Through  his  influ- 
ence the  New  Lutheran  Church  was  erected  in  the 
neighborhood  and  he  was  virtually  its  pillar,  pay- 
ing the  bills  as  they  came  in  and  helping  the  work 
along  in  many  ways.  lie  was  of  muscular  build, 
five  feet,  six  inches  in  height  and  ordinarily  weigh- 
ing lfiO  pounds,  all  bone  and  muscle.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion,  as  intimated,  a 
Lutheran,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  New  Lutheran 
Church,  known  as  St.  Peter's,  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  Dis  wife  Margaret,  born  Oct.  2,  1818, 
died  Oct.  30,  1858,  and  she  is  buried  at  Mount 
Zion  United  Brethren  Church  (known  also  as 
Malick's  Church)  in  Lower  Augusta  township:  she 
was  a  member  of  that  denomination.  George 
Weiser's  children  were  as  follows:  Sarah  Jane 
married  Augustus  Rebuek;  Mary  Catharine  mar- 
ried Carey  Batillion  :  Peter  is  mentioned  below  :  Je- 
mima is  the  widow  of  Charles  Fritz,  the  foremost 
citizen  of  Trevorton  for  many  years,  who  died 
there  in  the  spring  id'  1910,  aged  eighty-five  years; 
and  Margaret  Alice,  bom  in  1858,  died  in  1871. 
Peter  Weiser,  son  of  George,  was  born  Oct.  '.'7. 
1853,  at  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  He  was 
reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  obtained  his 
early  education  in  the  township  schools,  later  at- 


tending Missionary  Institute  (now  Susquehanna 
College)  at  Selinsgrove  and  normal  school  at  Elys- 
burg  When  nineteen  years  old  he  was  licensed  to 
teach  by  Prof.  Samuel  Shipman,  then  county  su- 
perintendent, and  for  six  terms  was  engaged  as 
teacher  in  the  local  schools.  But  when  his  father 
died  hi-  plans  were  changed,  his  sisters  requesting 
him.  as  the  only  son.  to  take  charge  of  the  farm, 
which  they  wished  to  keep  in  the  family  name,  and 
lie  accordingly  settled  down  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  be  has  since  followed.  The  property 
is  a  large  and  valuable  one,  an  ideal  modern  farm, 
with  model  barns,  the  most  up-to-date  and  trimly 
kept  in  the  section,  and  though  much  care  and 
time  have  been  bestowed  upon  appearances  the  bus- 
iness has  not  I. een  allowed  to  sutler  in  any  way,  the 
land  being  fertile  and  under  profitable  cultivation. 
Mr.  Weiser  suffered  a  heavy  financial  blow  in  1891, 
when  his  barn  and  sheds  were  totally  destroyed  by 
fire  on  Sunday  morning,  Sept.  1st:  the  big  bam 
was  filled  with  the  year'.-  crops. 

Mr.  Weiser  is  a  Democrat  ami  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  activities  of  the  party  in  this  county. 
but  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  hon- 
ors, the  only  office  which  he  wmtld  consent  to  ac- 
cept being  that  of  school  director,  which  he  has 
filled  for  twelve  years. 

On  Dec.  25,  1880,  -Mr.  Weiser  married  Emma  J. 
Riland,  daughter  of  .lames  and  Maria  (Wolver- 
ton)  Riland,  of  Upper  Augusta  township.  She 
died  Jan.  3.  1K!I4.  aged  thirty-seven  years,  ten 
months,  seventeen  days,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter"- 
\ew  Lutheran  Church.  Three  children  were  born 
to  this  union:  Cottie  May,  Anna  Laura  and  Em- 
ma Blanche.  The  two  first  named  graduated  from 
the  State  normal  school  at  Bloomsburg  in  1906 
and  are  now  engaged  in  teaching  in  Northumber- 
land county :  Emma  Blanche,  who  is  at  home,  took 
a  commercial  course  at  Susquehanna  University. 
ilr.  Weiser  and  his  family  are  members  of  St. 
Peter's  Lutheran  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee. 

SAMUEL  F.  PHILLIPS,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Phillips  &  Son.  proprietors  of  the  City 
Roller  .Mills,  manufacturing  high  grade  flour  and 
dealing  in  feed,  grain,  hay,  etc.,  at  Milton.  Pa.,  is 
one  of  the  truly  self-made  men  of  that  place,  and 
he  has  won  a  place  among  the  substantial  citizens 
of  the  countv.  He  was  born  at  Turbutville.  Pa.. 
Oct.  3,  1869,  son  of  Samuel  Phillips,  and  grand- 
son of  Adam  Phillips. 

Adam  Phillips,  the  grandfather,  was  born  Nov. 
1,  1810,  and  died  June  30,  1848.  He  early  left 
his  native  county  of  Berks  and  came  to  North- 
umberland count)  by  team,  settling  at  Turbutville. 
e  he  followed  farming.  He  married  Mary 
Wurtman,  of  Berks  county,  born  Aug.  25,  1810 
died  April  28,  1899.  Both  are  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Turbutville.     Their  children  were:     Sam 


I  .Ml 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


uel;  John,  who  married  Elizabeth  Leiser:  Israel, 
who  married  Susan  Weidel;  Daniel,  who  married 
Rachel  Derr;  Henry,  who  married  Mary  Strauss: 
Maria,  who  married  David  Fink:  and  Emma,  who 
married  George  Westlej'. 

Samuel  Phillips,  son  of  Adam  and  lather  of 
Samuel  F..  was  born  Dee.  16,  1830.  and  died  Oct. 
11,  1869.     Hi-  wife  Abbie  died  March  -.J:..  1872. 

Samuel  F.  Phillips  had  his  own  way  to  make  in 
i  le  world   from  early  childhood,  as  he  was  but  a 
lew  days  old   when   his   father  died   and   hut  two 
when  his  mother,  too,  passed  away.    He  was  reared 
is  inn  le  William  Strieby,  of  Lycoming  county, 
above  Williamsport,  and   there  lie  remained  until 
I  e  i  as  sixteen  years  old.     He  then  went  to  Wil- 
liamsport, and   learned  the  milling  business  with 
the  Noble  Milling  Company,  where  he  worked  for 
fears,  or  until  the]  sold  out  to  J.  II.  Hays  & 
<  '•>.     He  continued  three  yeai  -  with  i  he  succ<  ssoi  -. 
and  then  leased  the  EagL   mill  in  White  Deer  Val- 
ley, Lycoming  county,  which  he  operated  for  Mi- 
en  and   a   half  years.     IF-  sold  out  and   wenl    to 
Blank  &  Gottshall,  millers  a1  Sunbury,  with  whom 
continued   for  one  year.     In  January.  1907,  he 
to  Milton,  and  in  partnership  with  Charles 
II.    Witmer,   undei    tin-   linn   name  of  Phillips  & 
Witmei',    '  te  old  City   Roller   Mill,  one  of 

the  oldest   mills  in   this   pari    of   the   State.     Mr. 
Witmer  withdrew    from  the  firm   in  April.   1910, 
i  eorge   \'<..  son  of  S.  F.  Phillips,  became  his 
r's  partner.  They  replaced  the  machinery  with 
and   modern  build,  and  have  dene  a  thriving 
business,  both  merchant  and  exchange. 

Air.  Phillips  married  (  lara  Stahlnecker,  daugh- 

of   Benjamin  Stahlnecker,  and  they  have  one 

-  ii  living,  George  B.,  member  of  the  firm  of  S.  F. 

Phillips  &  Sen.     Mr.  Phillips  is  a  member  of  Wat- 

sontown  Lodge,  X".    101,  F.  &  A.  M. 

FREDEEN  K  SCHELL,  late  of  West  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  a  prosperous  farmer  who  also 
gained  <•  nsiderable  reputation  as  an  inventor,  was 
iminent  citizen  of  his  section,  where  he  passed 
all  his  life.  He  was  born  April  7,  1856,  son  of 
John  Sehell  and  grandson  of  Frederick  Schell. 

Frederick  Sehell,  the  grandfather,  horn  in  Ger- 
many in  1782,  came  to  America  with  his  family, 
i  ie  voyage,  which  was  made  on  a  sailing'  vessel, 
taking  sixteen  week-.  Th  settled  in  Northum- 
:  erland  county,  Pa.,  where  he  took  up  land,  hav- 
ing holdings  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 
mg  them  the  farm  owned  by  his  grandson,  the 
Pile   Fn  Si  hell.     The  tract  as  he  owned  it. 

ever,  i  omprised  135  aen  -.     Ai  that  time  there 

was  an  eid  lee-  hou- i  in.'  hum.  wherein  he  ami 

his  family  lived.  Late  in  life  Frederick  Schell  re- 
i  pari  ei  Turbut  township,  this  coun- 
ty, new  included  in  the  borough  of  Milton,  and 
there  he  died  in  L867.  IF-  wife,  Catharine,  horn 
in  Germany   in  1779,  died  ai   Milton  in  1865,  and 


they  are  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery  at  Milton. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Catherine  married 
Philip  Derr;  John  is  mentioned  later:  Margaret 
died  at  the  age  of  103  years,  unmarried:  Matilda 
married  .John  C.  Trinnel :  Michael  was  killed  dur- 
ing the  construction  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
through  this  district. 

John  Schell,  son  of  Frederick  and  Catharine 
Sehell.  was  horn  in  Germany  Oct.  29,  1819,  and 
died  Aug.  '!].  1876,  upon  the  farm  where  his  son 
Fred. -i  iik  afterward  lived.  Coming  to  America 
with  his  parents,  he  farmed  with  his  father  until 
le  was  twenty-seven  years  old.  when  the  father 
gave  him  his  105-acre  farm,  to  which  he  added 
twenty-six  acre-  by  purchase.  He  lived  on  this 
property  until  his  death,  improving  it  greatly,  built 
a  line  house  and  barn,  and  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  one  of  the  most  respected  citizens  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. His  wile.  Catharine  (Derr),  born  in 
1828,  died  in  1893,  aged  sixty-live  year-,  nine 
months,  twenty-two  days.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  (1)  Mary  married  Wil- 
liam Smith,  and  her  children  were  Catharine.  Car- 
rie, John,  Cleveland  and  Martin.  (2)  Frederick 
is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Catharine  married  Peter 
Bellas  and  ha-  a  son  George,  who  is  now  in  Cal- 
ifornia. (4)  Sarah  died  young.  (5)  John  died 
when  twenty-eighl  years  old.  (6)  Lizzie  A.,  bom 
March  26,  1863,  died  July  8,  1907.  (T)  Louisa 
married  Albert  Snyder,  and  they  have  had  chil- 
dren. May,  FA  a  (deceased),  Fred.  Jacob  and  Vel- 
ma.  (8)  Ida  died  when  sixteen  years  old.  (9) 
Charles  married  Laura  Wagner,  and  they  had  three 
children.  Pearl  (married  to  William  Osmer), 
Flora  and  Andrew  C.  (who  after  his  mother's 
death  was  reared  by  his  uncle  and  aunt.  Mr.  and 
Mr-.  Frederick  Schell).  For  his  second  wife 
Charles  Schell  married  Anna  Yarnison.  and  they 
have  had  three  children,  Robert,  George  and  Ralph, 
the  last  named  deceased. 

Frederick  Schell  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  continued  to  work  for  his  fa- 
ther until  the  latter's  death.  He  then  farmed  the 
old  place  three  years  for  hi-  mother,  and  in  1883 
bought  out  the  interests  of  his  brothers  and  sisters 
in  the  propertj',  which  afterward  belonged  to  him. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  farm  places  in  the  valley, 
consisting  at  present  of  about  125  acres,  under 
profitable  cultivation.  Mr.  SchelFs  farming  op- 
erations were  conducted  in  the  most  intelligent 
manner  approved  by  modern  agriculturists,  his  ex- 
cellent w.n-k  and  good  results  entitling  him  to  a 
place  among  the  leading  fanners  of  Ins  section. 
IF-  was  the  inventor  of  an  agricultural  implement 
known  as  Schell's  subsoiler,  a  plow  attachment  of 
obvious  value  simple  in  construction,  convenient 
to  use.  ami  also  possessing  labor-saving  qualities 
which  recommend  it  to  the  modern  farmer. 

On  June  12,  1878,'Mr.  Schell  married  Hannah 
L.   McWilliams,  daughter  of  Cruser  MeWilliams, 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


457 


and  they  have  four  children:  Harry  C.  married 
Emma  Fetter  and  lias  two  son-.  Frederick  and 
Harry  ('. ;  Susan  B.  attended  school  at  Bloom  and 
taught  three  terms  in  Montour  county,  and  she 
also  taught  three  terms  in  her  native  county,  teach- 
ing tli«'  local  school,  in  East  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, until  her  marriage,  April  18,  1911,  to  Clyde 
M.  Taylor;  Catharine  E.  attended  the  Pottsgrove 
Academy  and  Kelly's  Business  College,  at  Lewis- 
burg,  and  i-  now  at  home:  John  F.  married  Lizzie 
Springer,  and  they  are  now  living  at  Pottsgrove. 
The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  faith.  Mr. 
Schell  was  a  Democrat,  and  served  his  township 
three  years  irt  bhe  capacity  of  school  director.  He 
died  Dec.  27,  1909. 

John  McWilliams,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Schell, 
married  a  Miss  Cruser.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction.  Cruser  Mc Williams,  son  of  John,  mar- 
ried Susanna  Rissel,  daughter  of  Jacob  S.  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Diehl)  Rissel,  and  they  were  highl] 
spei  ted  farming  people  oi  thru-  community .  Thej 
had  children  as  follows:  John  W.,  of  Whitehallj 
Pa.;  Elizabeth  A..  Mrs.  Jonathan  Foust;  Jacob  R., 
wliu  died  when  four  years  old:  Hannah  L..  widow 
nf  Frederick  Schell  :  Michael  R.,  an  extensive  farm- 
er of  Nebraska,  owning  over  six  hundred  acres  of 
land  :  Mary  A.,  who  married  Benton  Runyeon,  and 
died  ;ii  Jersey  Shore,  leaving  one  son,  Raymond; 
William  I).,  secretary  of  the  Milton  Trusl  &  Safe 
Deposil  Company,  nf  Milton,  who  lives  in  Milton; 
Martha  E.,  deceased,  who  married  George  Hunty; 
and  Jennie,  who  is  married  to  John  Montgomery 
and  resides  a1  Pottsgrove. 

II.  BRYSOU  MONTGOMERY,  who  holds  an 
important  place  in  the  business  world  of  Milton, 
Pa.,  as  the  owner  of  one  nf  the  largest  sand  beds 
in  Northumberland  county,  comes  of  substantial 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 

James  Montgomery,  his  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive nf  tin'  North  nf  Ireland,  and  became  a  sea  cap- 
tain. After  some  years  spent  in  that  calling  he 
came  to  America,  about  1760,  and  became  the  own- 
er nf  a  tract  nf  land  in  Montour  county,  Pa.,  along 
tin-  Chillisquaque  creek.  He  was  an  energetic  man. 
active  in  work  fur  tin-  improvement  nf  hi-  county, 

and   he  hecai ne  of  the  founders  of  the  Chillis- 

quaque  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried to  a  Miss'Sheddon,  and  second  to  a  Mrs.  Burns 
(born  Harvey). 

Hugh  P.  Montgomery,  son  of  James,  was  horn 
in  Montour  county  in  1819.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  became  prominent  in  public  life, 
working  faithfully  with  the  Democratic  party.  For 
nearly  thirty  rears  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  he  was  also  overseer  of  the 
In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  lie  did 
in  1881,  survived  bv  his  wife.  Sarah  S.  Moll, 
daughter  of  Daniel  F.  and  Mary  (Seidell  Moll. 
Nine    children    were    horn    to    them,    as     follow-: 


dame-  R.,  a  physician  at  Buekhorn.  Pa.;  John  S., 
a  merchant  at  Pottsgrove;  Mary  E.,  who  married 
Charles  X.  Marsh,  of  Milton;  Sarah  A.,  who  mar- 
ried William  Eckman,  a  farmer  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  Northumberland  county;  Daniel  it.,  a 
merchant  at  Pottsgrove;  William  A.,  a  farmer,  the 
owner  of  the  old  homestead  ;  H.  Bryson  :  Clara  B. : 
and  Alice  Jane,  win.  married  Rev.  William  B. 
Sheddon. 

II.  Bryson  Montgomery,  son  of  Hugh  I.'..  was 
Vug.  37,  1868,  in  Liberty  township.  Montour 
Co.,  Pa.  lie  received  a  g 1  common  sc] 1  edu- 
cation, and  in  his  young  manhood  became  inter- 
ested in  p  iv,  a  line  he  followed  for  some 
years  in  Milton.  Naturally  artistic,  lie  soon  gained 
a  wide  reputation  for  good  work,  hut  some  time 
after  his  marriage  he  and  his  father-in-law — in 
1903 — purchased  the  island  located  between  Mil- 
ton and  West  Milton  from  Ex-Sheriff  John  Noir- 
eonk.  This  island  contains  about  seventy  acres, 
fifty  of  which  are  under  cultivation.  In  1906  Mr. 
Montgomery  bought  out  his  father-in-law's  inter- 
est, and  ha-  since  developed  the  sand  hank,  ship- 
ping from  250  to  300  carloads  of  -and  a  year.  He 
has  -old  out  his  photographic  studio,  Mi-.  Swanger 
becoming  his  successor,  and  now  devotes  all  of  In- 
time  to  Ins  sand  business.  Mr.  Montgomery  still 
owns  the  property  in  which  the  studio  is  located, 
and  he  has  other  real  estate  interests.  He  is  very 
prominent  in  local  affairs,  a  man  of  good  judgment 
and  of  fine  executive  ability. 

<»n  March  20,  1895,  Mr.  Montgomery  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Billmeyer,  daughter  of 
Henrj  and  Hannah  flora  Billmeyer.  They  have 
no  children. 

KOCH.  There  were  a  number  of  Kochs  in  Chil- 
lisquaque township  and  that  section  of  Northum- 
berland county  descended  from  the  brothers  Adam 
and  Daniel  Koch,  the  latter  of  whom  came  hither 
from  Northampton  county  in  the  early  days.  John 
Koch,  the  first  of  this  family  in  America,  came  to 
Northampton  county  in  1773,  settling  near  Easton. 

Adam  Koch,  grandfather  of  William  H.  Koch 
(a  retired  farmer  of  Chillisquaque  township  now 
living  at  Pottsgrove),  lived  at  Petersville,  North- 
ampton county,  and  followed  farming  for  some 
years.  He  was  an  intelligent  man.  well  read  for 
the  time-,  and  served  for  a  longtime  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  lie  had  three  brothers,  John.  Daniel 
and  Rev.  Henry.  Adam  Koch  married  Elizabeth 
Snanss.  a  native  of  Northampton  county,  who  sur- 
vived him  -nine  years,  hi-  death  occurring  m  (870. 
They  wen-  the  parents  oi  the  following  children: 
Christian,  Mr-.  Hoffman:  Mary  Ann.  Mrs.  Sel- 
Mrs.  Noll :  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  D.  Rice; 
Jonas:  and  Reuben,  William.  Henry  and  Jacob,  all 
of  whom  lived  iii  Northampto nty. 

.lona-  Koch,  -on  of  Adam,  was  horn  Dec.  '.V,, 
[807,  in    Northampton  county,  ami   was  baptized 


458 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


March   (i,   1808,   his  godparents  being  John  and 
Catherine  Koch.     When  a  young  man.  while  still 
residing  in  Northampton  county,  he  drove  a  four- 
horse    stagecoach,    carrying   mail    and    passengers 
between  the  towns  of  Bath,  Bethlehem.  Nazareth 
and   Siegfried.     This  was  before  there  were  any 
railroads  in  this  section.     Coming  to  Northumber- 
land county  in  1836  he  went  to  farming  in  Chillis- 
quaque   township,   where   he   remained    six   years. 
Mining  thence  to  Le\vi<   township,   same   county, 
he  lived  in  Fort  Rice,  where  his  son  William  was 
born.    lie  remained  there  seven  years.     In  1850  he 
moved  onto  the  Giffee   Earcn,  where  he  lived  one 
year,  and   in   1851  purchased  the  farm  in  Chillis- 
quaque    township    upon    which    he   spent    the   re- 
mainder of  his  days.     In  1856  lie  built  the  house, 
in  185?  the  barn,  and  in  1858  the  large  shed.    The 
buildings  have  since  been  enlarged  by  his  son  Wil- 
liam, the  present  owner  of  the  property.    Mr.  Koch 
was  a  progressive  man.  a  leader  in  his  community, 
served  as  school  director  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  filled  other  township  offices.    He  was  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Reformed  Church.     His  wife, 
Leah  (Bachman),  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Cath- 
erine  (Cole)    Bachman,  was  born  Aug.   23,  1814, 
and  died  Feb.  16,  1899.  The  Bachmans  were  natives 
of  Northampton  county,   Pa.,  where  the  ancestors 
of  the  familv  settled  about    1773.     John  F.  Bach- 
man was  horn  Nov.  3,  1783,  and  died  in  January, 
1845;  his  wife  Catherine  (Cole)  was  horn  Feb.  29, 
1788,  and  died  July   16,  1852.     They  came  with. 
their  family  to  Chillisquaque  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  in  1836.    To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonas 
Koch  were  horn  three  children:     Mary  Ann.  who 
married  C.  M.  Rissel  and  had  a  son  Jonas:  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  J.  H.  Cawley;  and  William  H. 
William  H.  Koch  was  horn  duly  28,  1845,  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  and  spent  his  early   life 
on  his  father's  farm.     His  early  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  township, 
and    he   later   attended   the    Milton    high    school, 
Limestoneville  Academy  (under  the  tuition  of  Rev. 
Mi-.  Court)  and  the  Milton  Academy  (under  Rev. 
Mr.  Wyley).     When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan teaching  school  in  his  native  township,  follow- 
ing the  profession   for   eleven   years  there,   after 
which  he  taught  one  term  in  Montour  county,  at 
the  Mexico  school  in  Liberty  township.     During 
the  remainder  of  his  active  years  lie  was  engaged 
in  farming.     Upon  the  deatli  of  his  father  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead,  which  contains  135  acres. 
In  1894  he  purchased  the  William  Waldron  farm. 
in  Turhut  township,  a  tract  of  135  acres.     In  1904 
he  bought  the  home  at  Pottsgrove  which  he  now  oc- 
cupies.   In  1906  he  relinquished  the  laborious  work 
of  farming  because  of  ill  health,  which  has  left 
him  somewhat  an  invalid,  but  notwithstanding  this 
he  retains  his  cheerful  disposition  and  takes  an  un- 
diminished interest  in  local  affairs  and  general  pub- 
lic doings.     As  a  farmer  he  was  wide-awake  and 


enterprising,  in  his  agricultural  work  as  in  other 
matters  being  a  recognized  leader  in  his  district. 
Mr.  Koch  has  served  his  township  six  years  as 
school  director  and  was  auditor  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  has  been  offered  other  offices,  but  de- 
clined. For  sixteen  years  he  was  an  elder  of  the 
Reformed  Church  at  Milton,  and  he  is  a  most  es- 
teemed citizen,  enjoying  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him. 

Mr.  Koch  married  Mary  L.  Everitt.  daughter  of 
Asa  and  Susan  (Adams)  Everitt,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  sons:  Jonas,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Frederick:  and  William  A.  C.  and 
Franklin,  who  are  at  home. 


Daniel  Koch,  one  of  the  brothers  of  Adam  Km  h. 
above,  was  horn  in  Northampton  county.  Pa.  When 
a  young  man  he  came  to  Chillisquaque  township. 
Northumberland  county,  following  farming  there 
until  his  removal  to  Milton,  where  he  died;  he  is 
buried  in  the  Upper  cemetery.  Mr.  Koch  married 
Christana  Bachman,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  .Joseph  went  out  West, 
where  he  died  :  Rachel  married  Samuel  Reichel- 
derfer;  Kate  married  William  Ritter;  Charles  is 
mentioned  below;  Samuel  died  at  Washingtonville, 
l'a. :  Levi  moved  to  the  West  and  died  in  Iowa: 
Priscilla  died  at  Muncy,  Pa.,  and  is  buried  at  Mil- 
ton :  Anna  married  Anthony  Hipp. 

Charles  Koch  was  born  in  Northampton  county. 
Pa.,  and  was  a  hoy  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Northumberland  county,  making  the  journey  with 
Conestoga  wagons.  lie  resided  upon  the  home 
farm  until  he  became  of  age,  when  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  continuing  to  follow  it  for  some 
years.  Later  he  began  contracting  and  building, 
in  Milton.  Pa.,  and  was  thus  engaged  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Koch  built  many  houses 
still  standing  in  Milton  and  the  surrounding 
towns.  He  did  a  large  business  and  employed  a 
number  of  men.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
became  overseer  of  the  poor  while  he  lived  in  Tur- 
hut township,  and  when  his  home  was  transferred 
to  the  borough  he  was  elected  overseer  of  the  poor 
there.  He  died  June  18,  1880.  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age,  as  the  result  of  exposure  during 
the  great  flood  of  that  month.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(Hill),  was  a  daughter  of  John  K.  and  Catherine 
(  Beck)  Hill,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Henry  Beck. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  they  are  buried  at 
Lewisburg.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Johannes 
Thomas  Beck,  who  came  to  America  in  1752,  and 
a  son  of  Henry  Beck,  horn  in  1748  in  the  old  count- 
ship  of  Hanau,  who  was  married  in  1775  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  to  Margaret  Wolfegang,  and  died  in 
1824;  they  are  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Mil- 
ton, Pa.  John  K.  Hill  was  one  of  a  family  of  four 
children:  Elizabeth  (Betsy).  Mrs.  Boshan;  Katie, 
Mrs.  Werline:  John  K..  and  Daniel.    John  K.  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


459 


Catherine  (Beck)  Hill  had  the  following  family: 
Mary,  who  married  Peter  Wenrich;  Eliza,  who 
married  Henry  Wesner ;  Rebecca,  who  died  unmar- 
ried;  Sarah,  horn  May  10,  1828,  Mrs.  Charles 
Koch,  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  family;  Henry; 
Elijah,  and  Daniel. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Koch  were  born  the 
following  children:  (1)  Samuel  H.  lives  in  Mil- 
ton. (2)  Mary  A.,  who  died  in  October,  1904,  was 
the  wife  of  Henry  A.  Moll.  (3)  Anna  ('.  married 
Meyers  Brautigam,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
Earry,  Charles,  Margaret,  Elizabeth  and  Ruth. 
(4)  Edward  died  young. 

Samuel  H.  Koch,  son  of  Charles,  was  born 
March  12,  1848,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  the  se- 
lect school  taught  by  Professor  Rhoad,  later  at- 
tending tin'  academy  at  Milton.  Then  he  taught 
school,  in  1868.  While  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  with  whom 
he  began  to  work  in  1869,  at  the  trade,  being  as- 
sociated with  lii tii  up  to  the  time  of  his  retirement, 
when  he  began  contracting  and  building  for  him- 
self. He  has  been  notably  successful,  having  built 
up  a  business  which  entitles  him  to  rank  among 
the  substantial  men  of  the  borough. 

In  1871  Mr.  Koch  married  Susan  E.  Strine, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Eleanor  Strine,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Matthias  and  Catherine  (Welchans) 
Strine.  Henry  Strine  died  Dee.  30,  1892,  aged 
eighty-two  years,  six  months,  eighteen  days;  bis 
wife  Eleanor  died  April  2,  1872,  aged  fifty-six 
years.  Matthias  Strine  died  Dee.  30,  1861,  aged 
eighty-five  years,  seven  months,  eight  days;  his 
wife  Catherine  (Welchans)  died  Feb.  23',  1860, 
aged  seventy-seven  years,  eight  months,  fifteen 
days.  Mrs.  Koch  died  April  1">,  1903,  the  mother 
of  one  child,  William  A.,  who  died  Jan.  12,  1903; 
he  had  married  Anna  Boyle,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  one  daughter,  Miriam  Eleanor.  Mr. 
Koch  reside^  witli  his  daughter-in-law  and  grand- 
child at  No.  309  Hepburn  street.  Milton.  Soci- 
ally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In 
political  faith  lie  adheres  to  the  principles  of  Dem- 
ocracy, hut  he  may  be  classed  as  an  independent 
voter. 

JAMES  H.  BEST,  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
truck  raiser  of  Chillisquaque  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  is  a  grandson  of  one  of  the  pi- 
oneers of  that  township  ami  himself  one  of  its  in- 
telligent and  respected  citizens.  His  son,  Samuel 
D.  Best,  is  established  in  business  in  the  borough 
of  Sunbury  as  a  dealer  in  general  merchandise. 

John  Best,  the  first  of  this  family  of  whom  we 
have  record,  was  born  June  15,  1759,  in  New  Jer- 
sey, probably  in  Hunterdon  county,  and  was  likely 
,.f  Scotch  descent.  He  had  brothers  James,  Wil- 
liam. Cornelius  and  Michael,  and  a  half-brother, 
Daniel.     On  Nov.  2.  1784,  he  married  Mary  Haas. 


who  was  born  May  10,  1767,  in  Germany,  and  it 
seems  reasonable,  though  it  is  by  no  means  certain, 
that  both  she  and  her  husband  were  of  foreign 
parentage.  However,  the  emigration  in  either  case 
or  both  may  have  taken  place  in  an  earlier  gener- 
ation. John  and  Mary  (Haas)  Best  had  children 
as  follows:  Mary,  born  June  6,  1788  (Mrs. 
Rush);  John,  April  3,  1791;  James,  April  23, 
1794;  Peter,  May  13,  1797;  William,  March  27, 
1800;  Eleanor,  Dec.  7,  1802  (Mrs.  Bond)  ;  Jacob, 
April  11,  1804.  This  family  gradually  scattered, 
seme  settling  in  New  York,  others  in  Ohio,  north- 
ern Indiana  and  southern  Michigan.  The  parents 
both  died  in  Pennsylvania,  Mrs.  Best  April  24, 
1822,  Mr.  Best  in  April,  1839.  They  are  buried 
in  the  graveyard  in  Chillisquaque,  Northumber- 
land county. 

James  Best,  son  of  John,  born  April  23,  1794, 
in  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.,  was  a  pioneer  in  Chil- 
lisquaque township,  this  county,  where  he  settled 
in  1812  on  a  large  farm  now  owned  by  one  J.  H. 
Work.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  lie  died  Sept. 
17,  1847,  and  was  first  buried  at  Williamsport,  his 
si m  John  later  interring  his  remains  in  Harmony 
cemetery  at  Milton,  this  county,  where  the  Best's 
have  a  family  plot.  He  was  an  Episcopalian  in 
religious  connection.  His  wife,  Sarah  (Kevitt), 
born  dune  36,  1790,  was  also  a  member  of  a  New 
Jersey  family,  her  father,  Henry  Kevitt,  having 
been  horn  there  Feb.  27,  17(57;  her  mother,  Cath- 
arine,  was  horn  Dec.  21,  1770.  To  James  and 
Sarah  (Kevitt)  Best  were  horn  six  children,  as 
follows:  Catharine  Ann,  born  Oct.  10,  1817; 
John,  Sept.  11,  181!);  Mary  E.,  Oct.  29,  1821; 
Henry  K.,  Jan.  24,  182  1  ;  Jacob  H.,  Oct.  8,  1826; 
Sarah  .lane.  Dee.  20,  1829  (who  died  in  January, 
1905,  at  the  home  of  her  nephew,  dames  H.  Best, 
in  Chillisquaque  township).  After  the  father's 
death  the  mother  of  this  family  purchased  a  farm 
of  seventy-six  acres  in  Chillisquaque  township, 
which  her  son  John  conducted  for  her  from  1851 
until  1860.  In  1855  she  sold  some  of  her  land  to 
the  Sunbury  &  Erie  Railway  Company  (now  the 
Philadelphia  &  Erie  Railway  Company)  for  $525. 
She  died  in  1868,  and  is  buried  in  the  family  pint 
in  Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton. 

John  Best,  son  of  James,  born  Sept.  11,  181!),  at 
Riverside,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  moved  theme 
with  his  parents  to  Lycoming  county,  this  State, 
where  the  family  settled  on  what  was  known  as  the 
Judge  Crier  farm.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  that  neighborhood 
and  later  attended  a  higher  institution  of  learning 
at  Williamsport,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  I  [e 
acquired  a  very  thorough  literary  training  for  thai 
day.  From  early  life  he  had  been  familiar  with 
farm  work,  and  he  was  thus  engaged  in  Lycoming 
county  until  he  came  with  his  mother  to  Chillis- 
quaque township,  Northumberland  county,  in  1851, 
from  which  time  until  I860  lie  cultivated  the  farm 


460 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAH  I A 


of  seventy-six  acres  which  she  owned.  He  then  re- 
moved to  the  Heburn  property  at  Milton  (now 
all  embraced  within  the  limits  of  thai  borough) 
and  there  lived  until  1863,  for  the  next  eight  years 
living  upon  a  farm  in  Point  township,  the  place 
now  owned  by  William  Martz.  In  1ST"^  he  removed 
thence  to  Paradise  valley,  in  Tiirbut  township, 
where  he  died  June  6,  181  1.  Mr.  Best  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  in  Point  township,  and 
served  as  treasurer  of  that  body.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics. 

On    Feb.    '.'.    1854,    Mr.    Be-t   married   Caroline 
Hilgert,  who  was  born  May  25,  1829,  daughter  of 
Peter  Hilgerl  and  sister  of  the  late  Philip  Hi  gi 
of  Williamsport.    The  Hilgert  family  hold  annual 
reunions,  and  in  1910  met  at  Milton.     Mrs.    Best 
died  dan.  20,  1896,  and  she  and  her  husband  rest 
side   by  side   in   the    Besl    family   plol   at    M 
They    were    members   of   the    Reformed    Church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  horn  as 
follows:    James  H.  and  Catharine  M..  twins,  Dec. 
8,  1855    (she  died  Jul]    29,    L856  i  ;   Man    Ellen, 
June  8,  L851;  ;  Martha  Jane,  dune  9,  1859;  3      i 
P.,  Dee.  8,   I860;  Roberl   R.,  Aug.  20,  1863;  Wil- 
liam W..  Oct.  13,  1865;  Elmer  1"  .  NTo      21,  1867. 

James  II.  Best  was  horn  Dee.  8,  1855,  on  the 
farm  in  Chillisquaque  township  where  lie  now 
lives,  and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  home  district.  As  his  health  was 
poor  his  studies  were  interrupted  considerably.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  which  he  followed  until 
the  spring  of  1877,  when  he  went  to  Texas  and 
found  work  with  W.JE.  Mayes,  in  a  mill,  grinding 
corn  and  ginning  cotton.  He  was  thus  employed 
until  August,  1882,  when  he  left  because  of  fail- 
ing health,  and  returning  to  Pennsylvania  he  again 
made  his  home  in  Chillisquaque  township,  where 
lie  was  engaged  as  an  engineer  in  the  F.  A.  God- 
charles  nail  factory  for  several  years.  After  fol- 
lowing farming  a  few  years  he  resumed  his  work 
gineer  in  the  nail  factory,  until  April  1.  1910, 
when  he  returned  to  farming.  He  lias  the  home- 
stead which  has  been  in  the  family  since  it  was 
purchased  by  his  grandmother.  Mrs.  Sarah  Best,  in 
1851,  and  upon  which  she  built  the  present  brick 
house  in  185"?.  It  consi-t-  of  seventy-six  acres  situ- 
ated midway  between  Milton  and  Mdntandon,  and 
Mr.  Best  has  the  land  under  profitable  cultivation, 
lie  is  an  intelligent  and  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
has  served  some  years  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his 
township.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views. 
He  ainl  his  family  are  Methodists  in  religious 
faith,  and  he  is  serving  the  church  at  present  as 
trusl 

iiu  Dec.  '.'I.  In",;.  Mr.  Besl  married  Mary  C. 
DeBolt.  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  and  Caroline 
(Houser)  DeBolt,  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa,,  and 
granddaughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (McClauehlin) 
DeBolt.  of  Lancaster.  To  their  union  have  been 
born   six   children,   namelv:     Hedlev.  married  to 


Mary  E.  Shuck  and  living  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  is  employed  by  the  Shipe  Lumber  Company: 
Mabel  C.  wife  ol  John  Fetter  and  living  in  Lew- 
isburg.  Union  Co..  Pa.;  Martha  J.:  Samuel  D. : 
Arthur  .X..  a  telegraph  operator;  and  Merrill  V. 

Samuel  D.  Best,  son  of  dames  H.  and  Marv  C. 
j  DeBoll  i  Best,  was  born  April  29,  1887,  in  Chil- 
lisquaque township,  and  there  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public  schools.  Later 
he  attended  the  Sunbury  Business  College  and 
Milton  Commercial  College,  taking  a  course 
in  stenography  at  Sunbury,  and  subsequently  be- 
came shipping  clerk  in  a  wholesa  i  stahlishment 
in  that  borough.     In  1906  he  engaged  in  bus 

ere  on  Ins  own  account,  first  settling  opposite 
his  present  location,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Ragan  streets,  where  he  erected  his  present  store 
in  1908.  He  has  a  large  building,  well  stocked. 
carrying  a  full  line  of  general  merchandise,  and 
has  built  up  a  fine  patronage  by  obliging  service 
and  fair  dealing.  His  business  has  prospered  from 
the  start,  and  his  standing  among  the  younger 
business  men  of  the  borough  has  been  won  by  en- 
terprise and  commendable  methods,  which  have 
been  well  rewarded. 

On  Aug.  8,  1906,  Mr.  Best  married  Bessie  Blank, 
daughter  of  Daniel  C.  and  Emma  ( Sensenbaugh ) 
Blank;  her  father  is  now  living  retired  in  Sunbury. 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Best  have  had  two  children,  I).  War- 
dell  and  Elvira  L.  Mr.  Best  and  his  family  wor- 
ship at  the  Lutheran  Church. 

WILLIAM  S.  (LAPP  (name  also  spelled 
Klopp  and  Klappi.  now  living  retired  at  Milton, 
Pa.,  is  a  native  son  of  Northumberland  county. 
years  of  active  work  have  placed  Mm  in  such 
substantial  position  that  his  declining  days  find 
him  free  from  care.  He  was  born  in  Lewis  (awn- 
ship  Oct.  1!'.  1835,  son  of  John  Klopp  (3). 

John  Klopp  (or  Klapp)  emigrated  from  France 
with  his  two  brothers,  the  latter  settling  in  the 
Noith  and  West.  He  himself  located  in  Bern  town- 
ship, Berks  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  became  a  large  land 
owner  and  where  he  died.  He  was  the  father  of  a 
large  family,  as  follows:  John  ('2):  Abraham. 
who  died  in  Berks  county:  George,  who  settled  in 
the  West:  Jacob,  who  died  young;  Daniel,  who 
died  at  Pottsville;  Peter,  mentioned  below;  Cath- 
arine, who  married  a  Snyder:  and  Christian,  who 
led  a  Xauel. 

Peter  Klopp,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  on  coming  to  Northumberland  county 
ed  at  McEwensville.  wdiere  he  engaged  in 
tanning  for  a  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
went  to  Union  county,  and  there  followed  fann- 
ing, and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  He 
i  led  in  Harmony  cemetery.  Milton.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Haair.  by  whom  he  had  fourteen 
children,  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters :  Reu- 
ben.  Jared,  Sophia.  William.  Sarah,  Kate,  Mary. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


n;i 


John,  Rebecca,  Daniel,  Samuel,  Charles,  Delia  and 
Ella. 

John  Klopp  (Klapp)  (2)  was  born  June  22, 
1784,  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  died  Oct.  1,  1828. 

About  1818  he  came  from  his  native  county  by 
team  to  Northumberland  county,  and  bought  a 
farm  in  Lewis  township,  near  Turbutville,  where 
he  made  his  home,  devoting  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  its  cultivation.  He  married  Elizabeth  Kline, 
born  Feb.  27,  1787,  who  died  July  15,  1836,  and 
they  are  buried  at  Paradise  Church.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Samuel;  John  (3);  Molly,  Mrs.  Raup; 
Benneville;  Daniel;  Kate,  Mrs.  Hoy;  Sarah,  who 
married  Philip  Raup:  Thomas;  Adam,  and  Maria, 
Mrs.  Leinbach. 

John  Klopp  (Klapp)  (3),  son  of  John  (2).  was 
born  in  Bern  township,  Berks  county.  Sept.  1.  1811, 
and  died  in  1880.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Northumberland  county  in  1818,  ami  as  a  young 
man  learned  the  carpenters  trade.  Later  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Lewis  township,  where  he 
died.  He  was  thrice  married.  In  1834  he  married 
(lir-t  i  Maria  Glase.  daughter  of  Peter  Glase.  and 
their  children  were:  William  S.,  born  Oct.  19, 
1835;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  10,  1836;  Sarah  J.,  Aug.  16, 
1838 ;  Margaret  C,  Nov.  4.  1839  :  Thomas  L„  Feb. 
11,  1841:  Anna  L,  Sept.  21,  1842  (died  July  16, 
1843);  Angeline,  Aug.  10,  1845;  Emeline  and 
Caroline,  twins.  Aug.  19,  1848;  John  D.,  Feb.  13, 
1850;  Maria.  April  10.  1851  (died  dune  11,  1851  )  : 
and  Mary  B.  In  1852  lie  married  (second)  Mary 
Truckenmiller.  who  died  leaving  no  children.  In 
1868  he  married  (third)  Mrs.  Mary  E.  McNinch, 
and  to  tins  anion  was  born  a  daughter,  Mabel. 
Mr.  Klopp  and  his  first  two  wives  are  buried  at 
McEwensville.  while  the  third  wife  is  buried  at 
Milton. 

William  S.  Clapp  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools,  which  he  attended  during  tin1  win- 
ter time,  but  as  he  was  the  eldest  of  a  large  fam- 
ily it  early  devolved  upon  him  to  assist  in  tin1  fam- 
ily'- support.  He  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  1861  in  Lewis  township,  but  the  next 
year  lie  removed  to  Delaware  township,  where  lie 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1879,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Lewis  township  and  took  up  his  abode 
on  the  old  familv  horne-tead.  There  he  continued 
until  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Milton  and  opened 
a  milk  business,  also  doing  some  teaming.  From 
1904  to  1007  he  was  employed  in  the  ear  shops, 
hut  since  then  he  lias  lived  retired  at  his  home  in 
Broadwav.  which  he  built  in  1895. 

In  1861  Mr.  Clapp  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Eshhach,  daughter  of  David  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Rishel)  Eshhach.  Two  daughters 
horn  of  this  union,  namely :  Minnie,  wife  of 
John  Y.  Buov.  a  prominent  merchant  at  Milton; 
and  Bessie  E.,  who  is  at  home.  Mr.  Clapp  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  served  as 
one  of  the  church  officials  while  in  McEwensville. 


In  his  political  belief  he  is  independent  of  party, 
voting  as  he  thinks  best.  For  three  terms  he  filled 
the  office  of  school  director  in  Lewis  township. 
and  two  term-  he  was  the  acceptable  overseer  id'  the 
poor  in  Milton.  He  is  a  citizen  who  has  won  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  bearing  an 
untarnished  reputation  for  honesty  and  integrity. 

LINDNER.  The  Lindner  family  is  of  English 
origin,  hut  the  branch  here  under  consideration  has 
been  at  borne  in  America  through  six  generations. 
It  is  now  well  and  worthily  represented  in  North- 
umberland county  by  Francis  W.  Lindner,  former 
county  commissioner  and  a  well  known  merchant 
now  retired  from  active  work  and  living  in  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  and  his  son  and  successor,  Har- 
vey  L.  Lindner,  dealer  in  agricultural  implements. 
wagims,  carriages,  harness,  fertilizers,  seeds,  etc., 
at  Milton,  with  a  branch  house  at  Pottsgrove. 

(  1  )  Thomas  Lindner,  born  in  England,  came  to 
America  long  before  the  advent  of  steamships. 
and  was  several  weeks  on  the  water.  He  married 
in  America,  and  later  returned  to  England,  where 
he  died.  His  wife  refused  to  take  the  voyage  across 
the  water,  and  so  remained  in  America.  Among 
their  children  was  a  son  Thomas. 

(II)  Thomas  Lindner  (2).  son  of  Thomas,  set- 
tled in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died. 

(III)  Samuel  Lindner,  son  of  Thomas  (2),  was 
a.  farmer  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  and  his 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  De  Fran,  are  buried. 
Their  children  were:  Martin.  Moses,  Israel. 
Charles,  Samuel,  and  Lydia  (married  John  Aret). 

(IX)  Israel  Lindner,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born 
in  Sclmvlkill  county  Jan.  9.  1827,  and  died  in 
Montour  countv.  Pa.,  in  1901 :  he  is  buried  at  Oak 
Crove  cemetery,  in  Liberty  township.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  an  occupation,  however,  he  did  not 
follow  long.  Later  he  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Lindnerville.  in  Rush  township.  Schuyl- 
kill countv.  and  there  built  a  stone  hotel  which  is 
still  standing.  He  carried  on  his  store  and  hotel 
until  in  1865,  when  he1  removed  to  Liberty  town- 
ship, Monti  air  countv.  where  he  bought  a  farm. 
following  agricultural  pursuit-  until  1883,  v 
he  removed  to  Pottsgrove,  and  there  lived  retired 
until  his  death.  In  politics  be  wa-  a  Democrat, 
and  in  Schuylkill  county  served  as  county  auditor 
and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  receiving  his  commis- 
sion from  Governor  Pollock,  late  of  Northumber- 
land countv.  He  married  Catharine  Messersmith, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Messersmith,  and  she  survives 
■  children  were:  Francis  W. :  Mary,  «  ho  mar- 
ried Hiram  Hagenbuch;  Benjamin  C;  Sarah  J.. 
u Ii,,  married  Frank  Coleman,  of  Milton ;  and  Jo 
seph.  "  bo  died  aged  tour  years. 

(  Y  i  Francis  W.  Lindner,  son  of  Israel,  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1852,  and  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Sclmvlkill  county,  remaining  with  his  father 
until  he  v  nty-one.     He  then  farmed  in   Lib- 


Hi? 


J5F0KT HUMB ERLA  X 1  >  ( OCX T  Y,  PEXN SYLYAXIA 


erty  township,  Montour  county,  for  six  years,  and 
in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, for  three  years.  In  1882  lie  entered  the  bus- 
iness world  as  a  dealer  in  farm  implements  at 
Pottsgrove.  This  business  he  carried  on  until 
1890,  when  he  was  elected  county  commissioner  of 
Northumberland  county,  and  served  two  terms,  or 
until  1896,  during  which  time  he  lived  at  Sunbury. 
Returning  at  the  end  of  that  time  to  Pottsgrove, 
lie  there  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  he  had 
established  seine  years  before,  and  this  he  contin- 
ued until  L899,  when  he  resumed  the  implement 
business,  conducting  establishments  at  Pottsgrove, 
Milton  and  Watsontown.  He  was  very  successful 
until  his  retirement,  in  1907,  his  son  Harvey  L. 
succeeding  him.  Thai  year  he  built  his  fine  resi- 
dence at  Pottsgrove,  equipped  with  modern  con- 
veniences that  contribute  much  to  the  material 
comfort. 

Mr.  Lindner  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in 
addition  to  his  service  as  county  commissioner,  re- 
ferred to  above,  he  has  been  assessor  of  his  town- 
ship, and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as  president 
of  the  East  Chillisquaque  township  school  board. 
In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Lutheran,  while  his  wife 
is  a  Presbyterian.  Fraternally  Mr.  Lindner  is  a 
member  of  tin >  1.  ().( t.  V.  ami  the  Artisans,  and  he 
was  a  charter  member  of  Sunbury  Lodge  of  Elks, 
Xo.  367. 

Mr.  Lindner  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  Alice  Van  Horn,  daughter  of  William  Van 
Horn,  died  in  1901,  and  is  buried  in  Oak  Grove 
cemetery.  To  this  marriage  were  born:  Harvey 
L..  mentioned  below:  Charles  \Y..  of  Muney.  who 
married  Cora  Hunter,  and  has  two  children.  Irwin 
and  Desna:  Alfred  R.,  a  salesman  at  Milton,  who 
married  Edith  Trego  and  has  a  son,  John:  James 
('..  a  bookkeeper  at  Milton,  who  married  Ida  Comp- 
ton  and  has  a  daughter.  Isabell;  Lee  E.,  of  Sham- 
okin,  a  telegraph  operator  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  who  married  Lena  Allender, 
and  has  one  child.  Alice:  Francis  YV..  a  clerk  at 
Milton,  unmarried :  and  Margaret,  who  married 
Albert  C.  Dieffenbach,  a  retired  navy  officer  at 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Lindner's  second  marriage  was 
to  Elizabeth  Moore,  daughter  of  John  and  Cath- 
arine (Yaris)  Moore.  She  taught  school  fur  four- 
teen terms,  and  is  an  artist  of  considerable  talent. 

(YI)  Harvey  L.  Lindner,  son  of  Francis  W., 
was  born  in  Liberty  township.  Montour  county, 
Sept.  24,  1876.  He  was  educated  in  the  Sunbury 
schools  and  graduated  from  the  high  school  there 
in  lS!i:>.  lie  began  his  preparation  for  the  com- 
mercial world  by  clerking  in  Sunbury  for  a  short 
time  and  then  engaging  as  a  traveling  salesman. 
spending  nine  years  as  salesman  for  machinery  and 
farm  implements.  He  bought  out  his  father's  bus- 
iness at  Milton  in  1907,  and  since,  that  time  has 
been  doing  a  large  business,  retaining  the  custom- 


ers who  had  so  long  known  his  father,  and  winning 
many  more  for  himself. 

Mr.  Lindner  married  Jennie  M.  Kent,  daughter 
of  Isaac  J.  Kent,  of  Milton,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Anice.  Socially  Mr.  Lindner  is  a  mem- 
ber'of  Milton  Lodge  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Wil- 
liamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree,  and 
Iran  Temple  A.  A.'  0.  X.  M.  S. :  of  the  B.  P.  O. 
E.;  Artisans,  and  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Reformed  Church. 

Isaac  J.  Kent,  father  of  Mrs.  Harvey  L.  Lind- 
ner, was  born  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  Aug.  22, 
L850,  -"ii  of  [saae  Kent  and  grandson  of  John 
Kent.  The  Kent-  were  of  English  origin,  but  the 
family  left  England  and  settled  in  Germany, 
whence  they  came  to  America.  The  great-grand- 
father of  Isaac  .1.  lived  in  Northampton  county. 
Pa.,  where  be  reared  a  family.  John  Kent,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  farmer  and  lived  and  died  in 
Northampton  county.  1IC  wife  was  a  Hubley, 
and  their  children  were:  Abraham,  Isaac.  Jacob. 
Eve,  John,  Mary,  Martin  ami  Solomon. 

Isaac  Kent,  son  of  John,  born  Nov.  10.  1804, 
died  July  6,  1872.  He  was  a  stone  mason  and 
came  to  Northumberland  county  in  1853.  locating 
in  Turbul  township,  two  miles  east  of  Milton.  In 
1863  be  moved  to  Milton,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  and  also  engaged  in  farming.  He  married 
Rosanna  Glass,  who  was  born  in  Northampton 
county.  Their  children  were:  Anna  M..  who  mar- 
ried William  T.  Crumb;  Elizabeth,  who  died  aged 
nineteen  years;  Joseph;  Charles  T. :  Henry  .1.: 
Thomas  W. ;  .lame-  1'.:  Amandus,  and  Isaac  J. 

Isaac  •!.  Kent  attended  the  schools  of  Turbut 
township,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  as  a 
young  man.  serving  his  apprenticeship  at  Milton, 
when'  he  worked  for  twenty  years.  lie  and  his 
brother  Charles  T.  engaged  in  contracting.  On 
Feb.  11.  1875,  he  married  Anna  C.  Martin,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Jane  Birch,  and  their  children 
were:  Jennie  M.,  born  May  25,  1877,  married 
Harvey  L.  Lindner,  of  Milton:  Blanche  E.,  born 
Sept.  12,  IS,!!,  died  aged  two  years,  five  months; 
James  E.  was  born  April  31.  1892. 

FRAXK  M.  VAX  DEVEXDER,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Northumberland,  Pa.,  on 
Sept.  16,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  in  early  life  was 
ambitious  to  be  self-supporting.  For  several  years 
he  was  engaged  in  farm  work  during  the  summer 
and  clerking  in  one  <>(  the  general  stores  during 
the  winter.  He  later  secured  a  minor  position 
with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at  North- 
umberland and  after  some  years  of  service  was 
advanced  to  the  position  of  chief  clerk  and  agent, 
of  the  Adams  Express  Company.  During  the  last' 
two  years  of  service  with  the  above  company  he 
was  engaged  in  special  work  covering  the  territory 


NORTHUMBERLAN I)   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


463 


between  Harrisburg  and  Renovo.  He  resigned 
his  position  with  the  railroad  company  Jan.  1, 
1901,  to  take  up  the  duties  of  register  and  re- 
corder of  Northumberland  county. 

The  Van  Devenders  have  long  been  resident  in 
Northumberland  county,  Mr.  Van  Devender's 
great-grandfather,  Richard  Van  Devender,  ha\ 
ing  been  a  farmer  in  Rush  township,  tins  county. 
where  he  is  buried  at  the  old  Rush  Presbyterian 
Church.  John  Van  Devender,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Rush  township  and  when  a  young  man 
moved  to  Point  township,  this  county;  there  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  lie  married  Mary  Morgan, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Morgan. 

Joseph  C.  Van  Devender,  his  father,  was  born 
Nov.  26,  1834,  in  Point  township.  In  Ins  boy- 
hood he  attended  the  public  schools  and  assisted 
in  the  farm  work,  but  in  his  young  manhood  lie 
went  to  Northumberland  and  learned  the  trade  of 
stonemason,  which  he  continued  to  follow  through- 
out his  active  life.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  workmen  at  his  trade.  Up  to  a  few  years 
ago  when  his  health  failed  he  was  exceptionally 
strong  and  healthy,  with  a  vigor  and  energy  which 
many  might  envy,  lie  was  probably  the  oldest 
Odd  Fellow  in  Northumberland  and  one  of  the 
oldest  members  of  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  404,  P.  & 
A.  M.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  I'm-  forty  years.  In  October,  1862,  he  mar- 
ried Harriet  E.  Gossler,  daughter  of  Henry  Goss- 
ler,  who  was  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county  in 
1840.  They  became  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Harry  ()..  cashier  of  the  Grange  National  Bank, 
Hughesville ;  John  E.,  bookkeeper  of  the  Milton 
National  Bank;  Prank  M.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Jennie  G.,  who  married  Harry  C. 
Holt,  of  Elrama,  Pennsylvania. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Van  Devender  oc- 
curred Sept.  2,  l!)lo,  following  a  stroke  of  ap- 
oplexy. The  funeral  was  held  from  his  late  resi- 
dence, and  he  was  buried  in  Riverview  cemetery. 
Honest  and  straightforward.  Mi'.  Van  Devender 
was  a  man  of  unquestioned  integrity  and  liked  by 
all  who  knew  him;  he  was  highly  esteemed  and 
respected  for  his  many  sterling  qualities. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  Van  Devender  is  an  anient  Dem- 
ocrat and  an  earnest  worker  in  the  ranks  of  his 
party.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Northumberland  borough 
council  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
even  though  his  town  is  strongly  Republican,  he 
was  elected  chief  hurgess — the  Borough's  highest 
honor  to  its  citizens — for  two  successive  terms. 
He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  hoard. 

In  1900  he  announced  himself  as  a  candidate 
for  the  office  of  register  and  recorder  of  North- 
umberland county.  In  November  of  the  same  year 
he  was  elected.  His  ability,  impartiality  and  per- 
fect fitness  for  the  position  were  fully  recognized 
by  the  J pie  of  the  county  in  his  three  years  of 


loyal  service  to  them  and  his  genial  personality. 
together  with  his  ability  to  make  and  keep  friends, 
found  him  at  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  a 
candidate  for  reelection.  He  was  nominated  by 
acclamation  ami  reelected  by  a  handsome  majority 
in  November,  L903.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term 
in  office  he  engaged  in  the  work  of  public  index- 
ing. 

Mr.  Van  Devender  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
196,  I.  < ».  (>.  P.,  id'  Northumberland ;  Sunbury 
Lodge.  No.  267,  B,  I'.  <  >.  E.,  of  Sunbury:  also 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to 
Eureka  Lodge,  No.  404,  of  Northumberland,  Sun- 
bury  Chapter,  No.  174,  of  Sunbury,  Mount  Ilerm- 
on  Commandery,  No.  85,  Sunbury,  and  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  hem  Temple,  Wilkes-Barre.  lie  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Northumberland  Bureau  of  In- 
dustry and  is  always  found  in  the  front  rank  when 
it  means  the  advancement  of  his  home  town. 

JOSEPH  S.  REITZ,  ..f  West  Chillisquaque 
township,  Northumberland  county,  has  been  en- 
gaged for  a  number  of  years  in  market  gardening, 
in  which  line  of  work  he  has  made  a  notable  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Eeitz  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
this  county,  .'an.  5,  1848,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
of  French  origin  now  numerous  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  it  has  been  established  almost  two  centuries. 

The  first  members  of  the  Reitz  family  to  come 
to  America  made  the  journey  in  1712  and  settled 
in  the  Schoharie  Valley.  Having  obtained  the 
title  to  their  lands  from  the  Indians  and  not  from 
the  New  York  government,  they  were  deprived  of 
their  holdings  in  1723,  and  some  thirteen  families 
came  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  what  was  then 
Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county.  Among 
these  were  tin'  families  of  George,  Peter  and  Jo- 
hannes Reitz,  supposed  to  have  been  brothers.  In 
1759  we  find  one  Daniel  Reitz,  Sr.,  paid  20  pounds 
tax,  and  another  Daniel  Reitz  paid  2  pounds  tax, 
in  Tulpehocken  township. 

In  1790  Michael  Reitz,  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
came  thence  to  Washington  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 
He  reared  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  lived  to  he  over  eighty  years  of 
age.  Among  these  were  Joseph  II.,  Samuel.  Henry 
and   Daniel. 

Joseph  H.  Reitz,  son  id'  Michael,  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Joseph  S.  Reitz.  He  was  a  farmer,  also 
conducted  a  butcher  business,  and  later  had  a  gen- 
eral store  at  Trevorton.  this  county,  until  he  died. 
about  1870.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  in  which  he  was  a  class  leader  to  the  close 
0f  his  life  He  married  Catharine  Siders.  like 
himself  of  Northumberland  county,  and  she  sur- 
vived him,  living  in  Shamokin.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  Ihe  following  children :  Susan  (de- 
ceased) was  the  wife  of  II.  ]j.  Rogers,  of  Sham- 
okiu;  Nathaniel,  who  became  a  merchant  of  Kan- 


461 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


sas  City,  Mo.,  married  Angeline  Wagner  and  (sec- 
ond) L.  Rothemal;  Joseph  S.  is  mentioned  below; 
Isaac  S.  married  Lydia  S.  Reed  and  had  children, 
Lizzie,  Emma,  Rebecca  and  Wesley :  Sedick  S.,  a 
lumberman  of  Juniata  county,  married  Judy 
Sholly;  Sarah  married  William  Zaring;  William 
married  Anna  Fidler;  Wilson,  merchant  and  cat- 
tle dealer,  formerly  of  Wyandotte  county,  Kans., 
now  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  married  a  Baker. 

Joseph  S.  Reitz  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  home  locality,  later  attending  the 
Union  College,  at  New  Berlin.  Pa.,  for  two  terms, 
after  which  he  taught  school  for  one  term.  Later 
he  removed  to  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  remained  eight  years,  during  which  time 
be  served  as  school  director  of  his  township.  In 
1876-77  he  ran  the  stage  between  Williamstown 
and  Tower  City.  For  two  years  prior  to  the  death 
of  his  father  they  were  associated  in  the  general 
store  business  at  Trevorton,  after  which  he  carried 
on  a  meat  market.  In  1893  he  came  to  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
commenced  market  gardening,  in  which  he  has 
proved  himself  a  master  hand,  his  success  being 
proverbial  in  the  neighborhood.  He  supplies  all 
the  vegetables  to  Bucknell  University.  Lewisburg, 
a  trade  which  he  has  held  for  fifteen  years.  Mr. 
Reitz  is  a  substantial  and  respected  citizen,  of  rec- 
ognized worth  in  his  community.  Outside  of  his 
private  interests  he  is  active  principally  in  the 
work  of  the  Methodist  Church  ;n  Montandon,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  faithful  member,  having  been 
class  leader,  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school  for 
many  years.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Reitz  married  Lena  ('.  Dunkelberger,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Dunkelberger,  of  Hegins,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
namely:  Kate  married  Adam  Stahl  and  has  chil- 
dren. C.  Edward,  Robert  and  Homer;  Edward  mar- 
ried Hattie  Cummings  and  has  children.  Herbert, 
Lena,  Robert.  Elizabeth  and  Wilson  ;  Jennie  mar- 
ried Elmer  Shaffer  and  has  two  children,  Alma  and 
Ethel;  George  married  Ida  Dawson  and  has  two 
children,  Edith  and  Dawson;  Allen  is  at  home: 
Howard  married  Esther  Owens. 

CHARLES  M.  LESHER,  a  foremost  citizen  of 
Point  township.  Northumberland  county,  was  born 
in  that  township  Aug.  28,  L836,  son  of  John  George 
Lesher.  The  family  is  an  old  one  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  name  is  of  French  origin,  having  been 
originally  written  LeShar,  LeChar,  Lescher  and 
LeShair.  The  family  was  a  numerous  one  and 
scattered  to  various  Protestant  countries  after  the 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  One  Jean  Le- 
Shair was  a  refugee  to  Ulster.  New  York,  prior  to 
1700.  Of  those  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  John 
Nicholas  Lesher  located  in  Skippack  and  Jacob 
Lesher  in  Providence,  both  in  1732.     From  one  of 


these  came  John  Lesher  (2),  who  located  in  Oley, 
Berks  county,  and  erected  extensive  iron  works  in 
1760.  Several  families  of  the  name  located  in 
Lancaster  county. 

Johan  Georg,  grandfather  of  Charles  M.  Lesher, 
was  a  descendant  of  Col.  John  Lesher  of  Oley 
township,  Berks  county,  and  was  born  in  that 
county  April  6,  1768.  He  settled  in  Chillisqua- 
que  town-hip.  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
followed  farming,  and  died  Nov.  1,  1823.  He 
is  buried  in  the  Fairview  cemetery,  in  this  county, 
and  the  inscription  upon  his  tombstone  reads: 

Adieu  my  friends,  dry  up  your  tears; 
I  must  lie  here  till  Christ  appears. 

On  June  25,  1788,  he  married  Anna  Flickinger, 
who  was  born  May  2,  1762,  and  died  Oct.  21,  1841. 
They  are  interred  in  Lot  23.  He  was  a  Lutheran 
in  religion.  Their  children  were :  Michael,  who 
settled  at  Newfane,  near  Loekport,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  had  an  eighty-acre  farm,  and  later  moved  West 
(he  had  children):  (.Tohn)  George;  William, 
whose  death  was  caused  by  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog 
(he  was  unmarried);  Mrs.  Kreitz;  and  other 
daughters. 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  1790  shows  the 
following  Leshers:  Jacob,  John,  John,  Jr.,  John, 
Jr.  (again),  John,  Sr.,  Michael  and  Nicholas.  Ja- 
cob Lesher,  of  East  Districi  township.  Berks  coun- 
ty, had  the  following  family:  three  males  over  six-' 
teen,  one  under  sixteen,  two  females.-  John  Lesher, 
of  Tulpehocken,  that  county,  three  males  over  six- 
teen, three  under  sixteen,  two  female-;  John  Lesh- 
er. Si.,  of  Oley  township,  same  county,  one  male 
over  sixteen,  one  under  sixteen,  three  females: 
Nicholas  Lesher,  also  of  Oley  township,  two  males 
over  sixteen,  seven  under  sixteen. 

(John)  George  Lesher  was  born  in  Northum- 
berland county,  and  spent  all  his  life  in  Point 
townsliip,  where  he  was  a  farmer  throughout  his 
active  years.  He  owned  240  acres  of  land,  of 
which  201  acres  are  still  in  the  family  name  and 
owned  by  his  son  Charles  M.  He  died  in 
Point  township,  on  what  is  now  the  farm 
of  his  son  Charles.  Jan.  6,  1866,  aged 
seventy-three  years,  two  months,  twenty-six 
days,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lesher  plot 
in  Fairview  cemetery.  lie  and  his  wife,  Cath- 
arine (Rohbins),  were  Presbyterians  in  religious 
belief.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Robbins  of 
Liberty  township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died 
Oct.  22,  1869,  aged  seventy-five  years,  seven 
months,  two  days.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesher.  as  follows:  Robert,  horn 
Oct.  19,  L817,  who  died  in  1903  (his  wife  Sarah. 
born  in  is:;:;,  died  in  1907):  Daniel,  born  Sept. 
8,  1819;  Lucy  Ann;  born  April  31,  1822;  Mary. 
born  April  2,  1824;  Sarah  J.,  born  Sept.  17, 
1826-;  George,  born  Nov.  28,  1828;  William,  born 
Feb.    14,    1831,  who   died   May    29,   1896:   John, 


I 

I  \riONS 

R  L 

,     ■, 1 


NOhTIirMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PEN :\  SYLVAN  I A 


465 


bom  A.ug.  L2,  1833;  and  Charles  M.,  born  Aug. 
".Js,  1836,  the  youngesl  being  now  the  only  sur- 
vivor. 

Charles  M.  Lesher  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality. 
Later  he  attended  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Wil- 
liamsport.  Pa.,  and  when  twenty-one  was  licensed 
to  teach,  following  that  profession  for  live  winters 
in  his  home  township  and  for  three  terms  in  Chil- 
lisquaque  township.  He  then  taught  the  high 
school  in  Northumberland  borough  for  three  years 
and  filled  unexpired  terms  in  the  same  borough 
two  other  years,  making  so  good  a  reputation  that 
he  was  made  a  candidate  for  the  position  of  county 
superintendent  of  public  schools.  He  was  de- 
feaieil  by  only  one  vote.     For  some  time  his  health 

Was  noi  g 1,  and  he  took  to  farming,  buying  the 

homestead  place  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
John,  with  whom  he  was  associated  for  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  out  to  his  brother, 
and  after  his  marriage  he  went  West,  living  sev- 
eral years  in  Pottawattamie  county.  Iowa,  where 
he  owned  eighty  acres  of  land  and  followed  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Lesher  always  feels  that  it  was  during 
his  experience  in  the  West  he  first  learned  to  rely 
entirely  upon  his  own  judgment  and  take  the  ini- 
tiative when  necessary,  and  he  brought  so  much 
of  the  Western  spirit  back  to  Pennsylvania  with 
him  that  he  was  dubbed  the  ••Western  farmer." 
In  1883,  learning  that  the  original  home-lead 
was  to  be  disposed  of  at  sheriffs  sale  for  a  judg- 
ment note  of  $300,  he  purchased  the  place  and 
brought  his  family  East  shortly  afterward,  in 
1885  settling  upon  the  homestead,  where  they  have 
since  remained.  Mr.  Lesher  has  not  only  carried 
on  general  farming,  but  has  also  made  a  specialty 
of  live  stock  raising  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
he  has  one  of  the  finest  apple  orchards  in  central 
Pennsylvania,  having  seventeen  acres  of  bearing 
trees  in  line  condition;  he  has  raised  and  picked 
over  four  thousand  bushels  of  apples  in  one  season. 
In  1908  he  erected  the  fine  modern  residence  now 
occupied  by  the  family,  situated  on  the  old  Straw- 
bridge  road  leading  from  Northumberland  to  the 
Strawbridge  settlement  in  Montour  county.  Pa. 
Mr.  Lesher  has  made  greai  progress  in  his  work 
by  adopting  the  most  approved  modern  methods, 
and  many  of  his  best  results  have  been  obtained 
by  the  carrying  out  of  his  own  ideas.  He  has 
good  business  insight  and  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions when  satisfied  that  new  systems  and  im- 
proved facilities  will  pay,  and  though  conservative 
he  is  willing  to  experiment  and  to  be  coin  meed 
of  the  worth  of  others'  opinions  before  passing 
judgment.  Se  is  regarded  so  highly  by  his  neigh- 
bors and  associates  that  his  counsel  is  sought  fre- 
quently. His  reputation  ami  character  are  above 
reproach,  and  his  life  has  been  such  as  to  merit 
the   confidence    he    enjoys    among   all    who    know 

him. 

30 


On  Dec.  16,  1874,  Mr.  Lesher  married  Edith 
Florence  Watson,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan- 
na (Stamm)  Watson,  of  Point  township,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  five  children:  (1)  Margaret.  W. 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  George  A.  Riggs  and  they  re- 
side at  Porto  Rico,  where  they  are  engaged  in  mis- 
sionary work  for  the  Baptist  Association.  Both 
are  graduates  of  Bucknell  University,  as  well  as 
of  other  educational  institutions.  (3)  Rev.  C.  By- 
ron graduated  from  Bucknell  University  and  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  is  at  present  engaged  as  a  missionary 
in  China.  (3)  Lena  Ruth  graduated  from  Buck- 
nell University  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.,  from  the 
musical  department  of  Valparaiso  University,  in 
Indiana,  and  is  an  accomplished  linguist.  (4) 
Harold  V.  graduated  from  Bucknell  University 
and  is  at  present  a  student  at  Harvard.  He 
taught  public  school  in  Idaho  for  a  time,  and  for 
three  years  was  supervising  teacher  in  the  Philip- 
pine Islands,  meantime  studying  the  native  speech 
as  well  as  Chinese.  Sociology  is  at  present  his 
chief  interest.  (5)  Grace  B.  graduated  from 
Bucknell  University  and  taught  school  in  Point 
township  and  for  one  year  in  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington. She  is  now  at  home  with  her  parents.  Mr. 
Lesher's  family  are  all  Baptists,  but  he  himself  is 
a  Presbyterian  in  religious  connection.  He  is  a 
man  of  temperate  habits,  never  using  spirituous 
liquors  of  any  kind.  This  sketch  would  not  be 
complete  without  giving  due  credit  to  Mrs. 
Lesher.  A  worthy  representative  of  her  English 
and  Quaker  ancestry,  she  has  contributed  largely 
to  the  welfare  of  the  family  by  her  assiduous  and 
intelligent  cooperation,  which  deserves  apprecia- 
tion. 


Robert  Lesheu,  a  contractor  of  North- 
umberland, was  horn  Dec.  1  f.  1845,  son  of  Robert 
Lesher,  mentioned  above  as  the  eldest  in  the  fami- 
ly of  (John)  George  Lesher.  lie  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  his  district  and  lived  in  Northum- 
berland until  he  moved  to  Union  county,  in  1861, 
there  learning  the  carpenter's  trade  and  continu- 
ing to  make  his  home  until  1868.  lie  has  fol- 
lowed his  trade  throughout  his  active  years,  and 
since  1892  has  been  contracting  on  his  own  ac- 
count, erecting  many  dwellings  and  other  build- 
ings in  Northumberland  and  the  surrounding  ter- 
ritory, lie  built  Trinity  and  Grace  Lutheran 
churches,  in  Point  township,  lie  is  a  prominent 
Democrat,  and  has  been  both  active  and  influential 
in  the  administration  of  local  affairs,  having 
served  si\  years  in  the  council  of  Northumberland 
borough,  and  twelve  years  as  asse-sor.  in  a  Repub- 
lican district.  He  has  served  at  different  times 
as  delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  is  the 
leading  member  of  No.  1  Fire  Company  of  the 
town,  and  its  oldest  active  fireman.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Lodge  No.   179,   K.  P. 


466 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


In  March,  IS 7 3.  Mr.  Lesher  married  Tu.de 
Bardsher,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catharine 
(Rothermel)  Bardsher,  of  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and 
they  have  two  daughters :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  T.  P. 
Dunham,  of  the  borough  of  Northumberland:  and 
Roberta,  who  is  attending  school.  Mr.  Lesher 
and  his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  Church. 

JOHN  M.  FARLEY,  a  lifelong  resident  of  Mil- 
Ton.  Northumberland  count}',  was  for  many  years 

iged  in  the  mercantile  and  millinery  bus 
there,  but  now  devotes  all  his  time  to  superintend- 
ing his  farms.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Milton  Board  of  Trade,  of  which  he  is  still  a 
member,  and  though  a  man  of  retiring  disposi- 
tion has  proved  his  worth  in  many  ways,  quietly 
but  effectively  advocating  plans  for  the  better- 
ment  of  the  borough  wheni  sible  and  usins; 

his  influence  without  assumption  but  wherever  his 
word  would  count. 

Mr.  Farley  belongs  to  a  family  which  has  been 
blished  in  America  from  earliest  Colonial 
times,  the  first  of  the  name  here  having  come  over 
in  the  "Ann."'  the  third  ressel  after  the  "Mayflow- 
er." In  England  it  is  of  ancient  record,  having 
been  i  the  time  of  the  Conquest.    The 

name,  originally  De  Falaise.  is  taken  from  Castle 
Falaise,  in  Normandy,  the  birthplace  of  William 
the  Conqueror.  When  Duke  Robert  of  Normandy 
went  on  his  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem  he  left  his 
te  in  the  custody  of  his  sons  Walter  and  Wil- 
liam, as  lords  of  Falaise:  and  upon  his  death  Wal- 
ter, being  the  elde-t.  became  the  lord  of  Falaise. 
William  was  "the  Conqueror"  of  historical  record. 
Walter  had  one  son.  William,  who  accompanied  his 
half-brother  to  England,  and  this  William  DeFal- 
aise  was  given  twenty-six  lordships  in  the  County 
of  Devon.  In  1200  the  name  became  Farley. 
Eleven  different  spellings  are  found:  DeFalaise, 
Ffarlea.  Ffarle.  Parle,  Farly,  Farlee,  Farleigh, 
Farley.  Farli,  Fairley,  Farlea. 

From  Williamus  DeFalaise  the  name  is  handed 
down  through  successive  generations  until  we  come 
to  Thomas  Farley,  of  Bristol,  who  married  Jane 
Hungerford,  of  Farleigh  Castle.  Somersetshire,  and 
they  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  George,  who  found- 
ed the  family  in  America,  both  emigrating  to  the 
New  World  among  the  earliest  colonists. 

Thomas     Fa>  son    of    Thomas    and     Jane 

(Hungerford),  was  born  in  1602.  With  his  wife. 
jane,  and  one  servant.  Nicholas  Shotter,  he  went 
out  to  Virginia,  landing  at  "Archer's  Hoop."'  a 
projection  of  land  opposite  Jamestown,  Feb.  1. 
1624.  They  made  the  voyasre  in  the  ship  "Ann." 
tlic  third  vessel  after  the  "Mayflower,"  and  they 
had  one  child,  born  either  on  the  ship  or  immedi- 
ately after  landing,  whom  they  named.  Anne  in 
honor  of  the  vessel  which  brought  them  over.  This 
child  was  -:   Farley  born  on  American  soil. 

George  Farley,  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane 


(Hungerford).  was  born  in  England  in  1615.  In 
1639,  because  of  religious  troubles,  he  left  his  na- 
tive land,  making  the  voyage  on  the  ship  "Lion," 
and  settled  in  Charlestown  or  Roxbury.  Soon  aft- 
erward, however,  he  moved  to  Woburn,  Mass., 
where  he  lived  until  1653,  the  year  of  his  removal 
to  Shawshin,  afterward  known  as  Billerica,  Mass. 
1 1  and  his  family  were  the  original  settlers  in  that 
ancient  village,  Id  Parley  home,  built  in 

1676,  is  still  standing.    At  Woburn,  Mass..  George 
Farley  married.  April  9,  1641,  Christian  Bii" 
S  10  came  i  -     luntry  on  the  same  ship 

as  he  did.  and  whose  father  hail  died  on  the  voy- 
igi  i  ,  L63  '  and  was  buried  at  sea.  To  George 
and  Christian  Farley  were  horn  children  as  fol- 
lows: James,  born  Nov.  23,  1643,  who  died  Dec. 
10,  1643;  Caleb,  horn  April  1.  Hit.".,  who  died 
March  16,  1712;  M  I         37,  1647,  who 

married  John   Sanders;  Timothy,  who  was  killed 

le  Indians  Aug.  '.'.  1675;  Elizabeth:  Samuel, 
born  in  March.  1654;  and  Mehittabell,  born  in 
May.  1656,  wl,  L672.    The  father  and 

son  Timothy  took  part  in  King  Philip's  war,  in 
which  the  son  was  killed,  at  Wickaboag  Point.  Mr. 
Farley  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
a  man  of  influence  in  Colonial  affairs. 

Caleb  Farley,  son  of  George,  born  April  1.  1645, 
married  (first)  duly  5,  1666,  B    lecea  Hill,  daugh- 

•  Ralph  Hill,  of  Woburn.  She  died  March  24, 
1669,  and  on  Nov.  3,  L669,  lie  married  (second) 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Golden  More.  She  died  Nov. 
pi.  1715,  surviving  .Mr.  Farley,  who  died  March 
16,  171'?.  They  are  buried  at  Billerica.  There 
ten  children  by  these  marriages,  two  by  the 
first   and   eight    by   the   second,   horn   as   follows: 

i,  dune  28,   1667;   Rebecca,   March   10,  1669 

ried  Thomas  Frost)  :  Lydia,  Sept.  27,  I'.;" 
(married  Zachary  Shed):  Hannah.  Oct.  8.  1671; 
Ebenezer,  April  ■'>.  1674  (married  dun.  6,  1703, 
Elizabeth  Shed)  :  George,  July  30,  1671  ;  Timothy, 
Julv  28,  Ins. i;  Joseph,  April  6,  1683  (married 
Mir.  s.  1712,  Abigail  Cook):  Benjamin.  Feb.  8, 
L685  (married  Oct.  29,  1707,  Ann  Dutton) ; 
Enoch,  Dec.  VI.  1688. 

Caleb  Farley  C-i.  son  of  Caleb,  horn  June  28, 
ICC,;,  married  April  S.  1686.  Sarah  Godfrv,  of 
Haverhill.  Mass..  who  died  Nov.  13,  1704.  Eis 
second  marriage,  on  Sept.  25,  L707,  was  to  Lvdia 
Haws.  On  April  6,  1706,  Mr.  Farley  sold  his 
property  to  his  brother  Joseph  and  with  his  broth- 
er   ge  moved  to  near  Bound  Brook.  N.  J.   Nine 

children  wen-  1'  >rn  to  his  first  marriage,  as  follows: 

3  .  Jan.  26,  1687  :  Caleb,  Jan.  6,  168S:  John, 
•Mav  22,  1690;  Sara,  Julv  27,  1692;  Mary,  - 
29,  1694;  James.  Sept.  8,  L697  :  Debora,  Feb.  20, 
L699:    Jonathan,    Oct.    2,    L701;    Samuel.    April, 

( leorge  Farley,  son  of  Caleb  and  brother  of  Ca- 
leb (2),  was  born  duly  30,  1677,  and  died  in  May. 
1720,  at  Bound  Brook.  N.  J.     As  stated,  he  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


467 


his  brother  Caleb  moved  to  New  Jersey  in  1706, 
and  in  L709  we  find  them  trustees  of  the  Ewing 
Presbyterian  Church,  near  Trenton.  \.  J.  G-eorge 
Farley  was  also  twice  married,  the  first  time,  July 
1  1.  1699,  to  Rebecca  ( lhamberlain,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam, and  widow  of  Thomas  Sterns.  His  second 
marriage  was  to  a  Miss  Pearson,  daughter  of  Corn- 
elius Pearson.  His  children  were  horn  as  follows: 
Lydia,  April  29,  L702;  Ann.  April  39,  1702; 
Enoch,  July  23,  L704  (died  Aug.  17,  1723)  ;  Es- 
ther, \la>  31,  \]<>:  (married  Jonathan  Baldwin  |  : 
Caleb,  L709  (died  in  1802:  married  Catherine 
Gray). 

Caleb  Farley,  grandson  of  Caleb  and  Rebecca 
<  Hill)  Farley,  was  born  about  1757.  When  the 
Colonies  gathered  their  scattered  forces  for  de- 
fense againsl  England  Caleb  Farley,  then  a  young 
man,  united  with  the  Revolutionary  patriots  and 
proved  a  gallant  fighter  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try. He  remained  in  the  service  until  the  end  of 
the  struggle  and  earned  for  himself  a  commission 
as  firsl  lieutenant.  After  the  war  he  married  Char- 
ity Pickle,  of  New  Jersey,  and  they  moved  to  Penn- 
sylvania,  settling  in  Union  county.  He  cleared 
several  tracts  of  land,  but  some  years  later,  through 
litigation  concerning  the  title  because  of  prior  en- 
tries, though  no  improvements  had  been  made  on 
those  entries,  he  Lost  his  first  tract.  He  then  pur- 
chased 120  acres  along  the  foot  of  the  White  Deer 
mountain,  which  he  cleared  and  improved  with 
buildings.  There  in  1789  he  erected  the  first 
gristmill  built  on  the  White  Deer  Hole  creek,  and 
he  remained  on  this  farm  to  the  close  of  his  long 
life.  To  Caleb  and  Charity  (Pickle)  Farley  were 
born  eight  children:  John,  Charity,  Jacob,  Bar- 
bara,   Catherine,    Elizabeth,   Abraham   and    Sara. 

Abraham  Farley,  son  of  Caleb,  was  the  grand- 
father of  John  M.  Farley,  of  .Milton.  He  was  born 
in  1791  in  White  Deer  township,  Union  county, 
and  died  in  1875  in  East  Buffalo  township,  that 
county,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
He  had  followed  farming  all  his  life,  with  great 
success,  owning  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres, 
which  he  divided  between  his  sons  Abraham  and 
Michael.  He  had  purchased  the  place  after  his 
marriage  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there. 
he  and  his  wife  both  dying  on  the  farm. 

On  March  29,  1824,  Mr.  Farley  married  Rebecca 
Wolf,  who  was  born  March  1!).  1804,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Catherine  (Smith)  Wolf,  wdio  reared 
a  family  of  ten  children.  Mrs.  Farley  died  Aug. 
27,  1878,  a  devout  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children: 
Catherine  died  in  infancy;  Caroline  married 
Daniel  Wolf  and  moved  to  Iowa  (they  reared  a 
family);  Michael  married  Hannah  Hoy.  Abra- 
ham, who  lived  on  the  old  homestead  in  Union 
county,  married  Susan  B.  Schrack,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  James  A.,  Anna  M.,  David  F.,  Wil- 
liam H.,  Molly  R..  Emanuel   P.,  Hiram   C,   Su- 


sanna B.,  Angeline  M.,  Clarence  B.  and  Maggie 
E.;  Charity  died  in  infancy;  Sarah  married  David 
Voneida;  John  married  Mary  Brown  (he  served 
in  the  Civil  War)  ;  Jacob,  who  lived  in  White  Deer 
i  iwnship,,  married  Mary  E.  Brown  (he  served  in 
the  Civil  war  and  was  wounded  in  battle)  ;  Eliza- 
beth died  in  infancy;  Wilson  died  in  infancy. 

Michael  Farley,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  April 
■">.  L829,  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  was  reared  upon 
a  farm,  and  attended  the  schools  of  Buffalo  Val- 
ley. Nothing  was  lacking  in  his  training  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  In  October,  1849,  he  re- 
ed to  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  first  lo- 
cating in  Turbut  township,  later  in  Milton,  and  in 
L859  locating  on  the  site  of  his  homestead  in  South 
Milton,  on  South  Front  street,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  Before  his  removal  to 
that  place  he  lived  on  the  present  site  of  the  Amer- 
ican Car  &  Foundry  plant.  In  connection  with 
farming  Mr.  Farley  carried  on  the  manufacture  of 
brick  for  twenty-four  years,  was  also  engaged  in 
butchering  for  twelve  years,  and  in  1855  estab- 
lished the  first  dairy  route  in  Milton,  continuing 
in  the  latter  line  of  business  for  many  years  as 
proprietor  of  the  South  Milton  dairy.  He  was  an 
enterprising  and  progressive  citizen,  was  a  director 
of  the  Milton  Water  Company,  and  served  in  a  few 
local  offices,  being  assessor  while  he  lived  in  Tur- 
but township  and  member  of  the  Milton  council 
after  the  borough  was  enlarged.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  furnished  two  substitutes  for  the  Union 
army  and  warmly  supported  the  Northern  cause. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  polities. 

In  March,  1857,  Mr.  Farley  married  Hannah 
Hoy,  who  was  horn  April  5,  1833,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Kennedy)  Hov.  of  Turbut  town- 
ship, and  granddaughter  of  Philip  Hoy.  To  this 
union  were  horn  three  children:  John  M. :  Wil- 
liam E.,  wdio  died  young;  and  Harry  M.,  born 
in  1869,  who  died  in  1898.  The  father  died  Feb. 
11,  1905,  the  mother  Jan.  21,  1909;  she  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  M.  Farley  was  horn  May  28,  1858,  in  Mil- 
ton, and  received  his  education  there  in  the  pub- 
lie  schools.  In  his  early  life  be  assisted  his  father, 
but  he  was  still  a  young  man  when  he  went  into 
the  mercantile  and  millinery  business  on  his  own 
account,  continuing  it  for  many  years,  until  1907, 
when    he   sold   out.     His    location   was   on    Front 

street.     Since   retiring    fr commercial   pursuits 

Mr.  Farley  has  given?  his  time  to  the  management 
of  his  agricultural  interests,  which  are  extensive, 
and  which  under  his  supervision  are  proving  very 
profitable.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  Milton 
Board  of  Trade,  in  which  he  still  holds  member 
ship.  Mr.  Farley  has  a  modesi  disposition,  but 
he  |10lds  the  re-peel  of  all  who  know  him.  So- 
he  holds  membership  in  Milton  Chapter. 
Royal  Arcanum. 

On  Aug.   1.  is;:.  Mr.   Farley  married  Ida  May, 


L68 


NORTH  I'M  B 1  ■: KLAXD  COUNTY,  PEN NSYLVANIA 


daughter  of  John  and  Roaseltha  (McPike)  Mar- 
tin, and  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Martin, 
whose  wife  was  a  Bryant  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Martin  were  natives  of  England  who  came  to  tins 
country  and  settled  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Two 
daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farley: 
Mabel  lives  at  home  with  her  parents;  Helen  mar- 
ried Newton  F.  Osmer.  an  attorney  of  Franklin. 
Pa.  Mr.  Farley  attends  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
Mis.  Farley  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
while  their  daughters  are  Presbyterians. 

Hakky  M.  Parley,  brother  of  John  M.  Farley, 
horn  in  1869,  received  a  good  practical  education 
and  graduated  from  the  Williamsporl  Commercial 
College  in  L888.  Though  he  died  in  1898,  he  had 
It,  Mini'  quite  prominent  in  this  section  of  North- 
umberland county,  particularly  in  politics,  and  his 
death  cut  short  what  promised  to  be  an  active  and 
useful  career.  He  was  a  committeeman  in  his 
ward,  member  of  the  borough  council  and  mem- 
ber of  the  school  hoard,  also  serving  as  secretary 
of  the  latter  body.  He  held  official  position  in  the 
P.  0.  s.  of  A. 

CHARLES  L.  HAUSE,  a  business  man  of  Mil- 
ton, where  he  has  been  established  in  the  plumb- 
ing and  heating  line  since  1896,  is  a  native  of 
that  place,  born  Nov.  22,  1870,  son  of  John  R. 
Hause. 

Mr.  Hause's  great-grandfather  was  born  in 
either  Berks  or  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  where 
he  lived  and  died.  He  was  a  farmer  b]  occupation. 
The  family  i-  of  German  extraction.  Among  the 
children  of  the  great-grandparents  were  the  fol- 
lowing: Mrs.  Jacob  Beck,  who  died  in  White  Deer 
Valley,  Lycoming  Co.,  l'a..  leaving  a  family  of 
eleven  children:  Frederick,  of  Catawissa,  a  mill- 
er, who  died  there  (he  had  a  small  family)  ;  Mrs. 
Seipe,  who  died  in  Northampton  county  (she  had 
one  son.  Lewis,  now  deceased  )  :  Peter,  who  lived 
and  died  near  Pluladelphia;  and  Henry  C. 

Henry  ('.  Hause,  grandfather  of  Charles  L..  was 
born  in  1796  in  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  and 
died  July  16,  1871,  at  Milton.  In  the  spring  of 
1834  he  came  to  Northumberland  county  and 
bought  a  farm  of  seventy  acres  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  which  he  cultivated  until  1850.  He 
sold  the  place  that  year  and  moved  to  Milton,  be- 
ing one  of  the  pioneer  builders  of  Shakespi 
which  is  now  included  in  Milton.  Fie  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion- 
faith.  His  wife,  Catharine  Matilda  (Youi 
daughter  of  Jacob  Young,  of  Northampton  county, 
died  May  22,  1866,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years, 
two  months,  seventeen  days.  Ten  children  were 
born  to  them:  ill  Jacob,  horn  Nov.  28,  1818, 
died  at  Milton  Sept.  29,  1903.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  Company  1  >.  112th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers.  He  married  Anna  Haupt,  and  they 
had    mx    children,    Edward.    John.    Harry,    Cath- 


arine. Lovina  and  Jane.  (  2 )  George  Henry  mar- 
ried Angeline  Foust,  daughter  of  Philip,  but  left 
no  children.  He  died  at  Milton  in  1861.  Farming 
was  his  occupation.  (3)  Hannah  married  Jacob 
H.  Ernst  and  is  still  living  in  Union  county.  Pa., 
in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  She  had  three  chil- 
dren, Henry.  William  and  Ida.  (4)  Sahina.  who 
died  at  Milton  April  11,  1860,  married  Benja- 
min Snyder  and  had  William  ()..  Joseph  H..  Cath- 
arine and  Ida.  (5)  Lewis  William  went  West  in 
1858  and  settled  at  Aledo,  111.,  where  he  died. 
His  family  are  in  the  West.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Clark,  daughter  of  William,  and  they  had 
a  family  of  six  children,  Catharine  E.,  Ida  M., 
Elizabeth,  Leota,  Emery  and  Clarence.  (6)  John 
R.  is  mentioned  below.  (?)  Conrad  P.  died  in 
Easton,  leaving  no  children.  He  married  Lydia 
Pursel.  (8)  Amandus  P.  married  Mary  Follmer, 
daughter  of  Henry  Follmer.  and  they  left  no  chil- 
dren. He  was  killed  in  1868  in  Bradford  county, 
Pa.,  by  the  (ailing  of  a  tree.  (9)  David  B..  horn 
May  31,  1839,  died  Sept.  1.  1904.  He  served  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Company  E, 
Cll-i  Regiment,  P.  V.  I.  He  married  Katie 
Striae,  daughter  of  William  Strine,  and  they  had 
one  daughter.  Jennie,  who  is  married  to  George 
( '.  Chapin,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Milton.  (10)  J.  Harrison,  born  Dec.  6,  1842,  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  county, 
is  now  Living  retired  in  Milton.  He  learned  coach- 
making,  and  followed  that  business  until  his  re- 
tirement, in  1903.  In  September,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  H.  51st  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, Col.  J.  F.  Hartranft,  and  on  Jan.  1.  1864, 
reeii listed  in  the  same  company  and  regiment.  He 
was  captured  at  Spottsylvania  May  12,  1864,  and 
was  held  prisoner  at  Andersonville  for  ten  months. 
He  was  exchanged  May  10,  1865,  and  mustered 
out  July  28,  1865.  He  served  as  second  sergeant 
of  his  company.  He  is  a  member  of  Henry  Wil- 
son Post,  No.  129,  G.  A.  1!..  of  Milton,  and  of 
uent  No.  108,  Union  Veteran  Legion:  he  also 
holds  membership  in  Lodge  No.  84,  1.  < ».  0.  F. 
On  Nov.  28,  1868,  he  married  Hannah  S.  Hulli- 
heii.  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (  Freeze) 
Hullihen,  and  they  have  had  one  son.  Edward  B.. 
now  ;>  dentist  of  Philadelphia  and  married  to  Cath- 
arine I  ),ii,  -i nan. 

John    I.',    li  ather  of  Charles   L.    Hause, 

born  March  11,  1830,  in  Northampton  county,  Pa., 
with  his  father  to  Northumberland  when  a 
small  boy.  He  followed  the  plasterer's  nan, 
many  years,  and  later  was  employed  in  the  car 
shops  at  Milton.  His  death  occurred  April  f'.\ 
189  1.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  and  in  poli- 
ties a  Republican  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  party  and  an  active  part  in  local  in- 
terests. IP-  married  Mary  A.  Stimmel,  daughter 
of  Jonas  and  Catharine  (Dry)  Stimmel:  she  had 
two   hrothers.    Israel    (who   lives   in    New   Berlin) 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


tea 


and  A.mos  (deceased).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  R. 
Hause  had  children  as  follows:  Amos,  who  died 
young;  William  T.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years;  Barry,  living  at  Hazleton.  I'a.;  Charles  L. ; 
Frank,  of  Milton;  Catharine  L.,  wife  of  C.  E. 
Hoy;  Anna,  wife  of  Samuel  Henry;  and  Mary, 
who  lives  with  her  mother. 

Charles  L.  Hause  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Milton.  In  1892  he  went  to 
Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  where  he  served  a  full  appren- 
ticeship at  his  trade,  and  in  1895  he  wen!  thence  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
aboul  seven  months.  Business  there  being  slack, 
he  came  to  Shamokin.  Northumberland  county. 
where  be  followed  his  trade  for  r-ix  months,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  returning  to  Milton,  where  he 
has  since  been  located.  On  March  ".',  1896,  he 
entered  info  partnership  with  E.  F.  Colvin,  and 
they  opened  ;i  place  of  business  at  No.  cm  South 
Front  street,  Milton.  This  partnership  was  dis- 
solved l>>  mutual  consent  the  2d  of  August,  fol- 
lowing, Mr.  Hause  purchasing -Mr.  Colvin's  in- 
terest and  continuing  the  business  at  the  same 
stand  for  several  years.  In  April.  1907,  he  moved 
into  the  new  home  which  he  had  built  at  No.  11!) 
Mlm  street,  his  new  storeroom  adjoining  his  resi- 
dence; the  store  is  neat  and  well  arranged,  and 
there  is  a  commodious  shop  at  the  rear  well 
equipped  lor  all  the  needs  id'  the  business,  lie  has 
built  up  an  excellent  and  profitable  trade  by  close 
application  to  business  and  satisfactory  work  for 
all  his  patrons,  and  he  is  a  self-made  man  in  the 
he-i  sense  of  the  word.  Fraternally  he  is  well 
known  in  the  neighborhood,  belonging  to  Lodge 
No.  isi.  I.  o.  0.  F.,  of  Milton;  to  the  Enights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle,  and  to  Lodge  No.  913,  1'..  1'.  0. 
Elks,  and  Milton  Lodge  .No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M. 

In  1!>02  Mr.  Hause  married  Bertha  Gibson, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Thomas)  Gibson,  of 
Limestoneville,  Pa.,  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Gib- 
son, great-granddaughter  of  Henry  Gibson  and 
great-great-granddaughter  id'  Joseph  Gibson.  Mi-, 
and  Mrs.  Hause  are  members  of  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church  at  Milton 

HARRISON  H.  HARTMAN.  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  Turbut  township,  Northumberland  county, 
occupying  the  home  place  where  his  father  set  I  led 

about'  tin |uarters  of  a  century  ago*  was  born 

there  March  5,  1866,  son  of  Jacoby  Hartman. 

George  Hartman.  his  grandfather,  was  bom  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  near  the  Lehigh  county  line, 
and  moved  thence  to  Columbia  county,  where  he 
made  his  first  settlement  in  Frosty  Valley,  near 
Buckhorn.  In  1838  he  bought  a  farm  in  Turbut 
township.  Northumberland  county,  near  Milton. 
property  now  owned  by  the  Heinens,  but  la-  never 
moved  to  this  place,  dying  in  Columbia  county, 
where  he  is  buried,  at  Bloomsburg.     His  children 


were:  William.  Joseph,  Jacoby,  Samuel,  Kate 
(married  Jacob  Hartzell)  and  Mrs.  Bissy. 

Jacoby  Hartman  was  born  April  21,  1816,  in 
Springfield,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  received  a  fair 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  home  local- 
ity. When  a  young  man  of  about  twenty  he  came 
to  Northumberland  county,  and  here  did  farm 
work  for  others  until  he  bought  a  place  of  his  own, 
a  line  farm  in  Turbut  township,  near  Milton,  on 
East  Broadway,  containing  ninety-six  acres  of  val- 
uable land.  lie  lived  on  this  place,  and  was  active- 
ly engaged  in  its  cultivation,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  !),  1879;  he  is  buried  in  Harmony 
cemetery  at  Milton.  Mr.  Hartman  was  self-made 
and  became  one  of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  of 
his  district,  where  he  was  universally  respected.  He 
was  deeply  interested  in  religious  matters,  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Firs!  Lutheran  Church  at 
Milton,  which  he  supported  liberally,  also  taking 
an  active  part  in  its  work  and  enterprises.  In  po- 
litical opinion  he  was  a  Republican,  but  not  active 
in  party  matters. 

On  Oct.  13,  1842,  Mr.  Hartman  was  married  in 
Northumberland  county  to  Elizabeth  Haag,  a  na- 
tive of  Berks  county,  horn  Nov.  13,  1823,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (  Knauss)  Haag.  Mrs. 
Hartman  died  Feb.  11.  1880,  the  mother  id'  the 
following  children:  William,  John.  Mary,  Emma, 
Sallie  A..  Ilettie  M.,  Harrison  II..  and  two  sons 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Harrison  H.  Hartman  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  worked  with  his  fa- 
ther until  the  tatter's  death,  giving  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  to  the  supervision  of  the  farm, 
which  has  been  well  kept  up  all  these  years.  The 
line  brick  residence  on  the  place,  now  occupied  by 
himself  and  his  two  sisters  Sallie  and  Ilettie.  was 
built  by  their  father  in  1878.  These  three  are  the 
only  surviving  members  of  this  large  family.  They 
are  among  the  most  respected  members  of  the  com- 
munity and  bear  worthily  a  name  which  has  long 
been  well  represented  in  this  section.  Through 
their  mother  they  are  descended  from  another  fam- 
ily worthy  of  mention,  a  brief  account  of  which 
follows. 

Hans  Haag.  the  progenitor  of  this  Haag  family 
in  America,  came  to  this  country  prior  to  1734,  and 
settled  in  Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county, 
where  he  paid  tax  and  quit  rent  in  1734.  In  1759 
he  was  still  a  taxpayer,  his  assessment  then  being 
eleven  pounds.  At  the  same  time  Andrea-  Haag 
was  a  taxable,  paying  twenty  pounds,  and  when  the 
Maxatawny  Church  at  Lowers  was  built,  in  1759, 
he  gave  one  acre  of  land  to  the  church  to  be  used, 
as  he  said  in  the  deed,  "as  long  as  the  sun  and 
moon  shines."  The  latler's  son,  Andrew  Haag,  al- 
so contributed  to  the  church;  he  was  (hen  a  young 
man.  He  was  the  father  of  John,  grandfather  of 
George  W.  Haag. 


•470 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Jolrn  Haag,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  near  Bow- 
ers, in  Berks  county,  Feb.  12,  1794.  In  1836  he 
moved  to  Northumberland  county,  settling  in  Tur- 
but  township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  160 
acres  from  the  Kelchner  estate.  There  he  made  his 
home  and  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Jan.  17,  1861.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Knauss,  also  of  Berks  county,  born  Jan.  21,  1795, 
who  died  March  21,  1869.  '  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haag 
were  members  of  the  Paradise  Lutheran  Church,  of 
Turbut  township,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cem- 
etery of  that  church.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  them:  John:  Catharine  (deceased),  who  mar- 
ried Peter  Klapp :  Beneville  K. :  Elizabeth  (de- 
ceased), who  married  Jacobv  Hartman;  Rebecca, 
who  married  William  Balliet  and  lived  in  Mon- 
tour county :  Hettie,  who  married  William  Gouger 
and  also  lived  in  Montour  county :  and  Sarah,  de- 
ceased. 

DAVID  C.  MYERS,  proprietor  of  the  Mansion 
farm  in  West  Chillisquaque  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  was  born  March  1,  1853.  near  the 
city  of  Lancaster.  Pa.,  son  of  Jacob  Myers. 

Jacob  Myers  was  born  in  1828  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  was  married  there  to  Fredericks  Geiger, 
also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg.  and  came  to  America 
with  his  wife  when  they  were  young  people.  They 
settled  at  Lancaster,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they 
lived  for  about  ten  years,  meantime  following 
farming.  Then  they  journeyed  up  the  canal  to 
Muncy,  Pa.,  and  thence  through  the  forest  to  Sul- 
livan county,  where  Mr.  Myers  bought  a  farm  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  there  in 
1897,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  became  a 
much  respected  citizen  of  that  locality.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jacob  Myers  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Louisa  (married  Albert  Deckert),  John, 
Jacob,  Henry,  David  C,  George  W..  Lafayette  and 
Maria  (twins,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Herbert  Done), 
William,  James.  Albert.  Charles,  Caroline  (who 
married  Ernest  Follmer),  and  two  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mary  Ann  and  Fred,  the  latter  dying  while 
the  family  were  on  the  voyage  to  this  country. 

David  C.  Myers  attended  school  in  Sullivan 
county.  Pa.,  and  remained  with  his  father  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  Learning  the  carpenters 
trade,  he  began  contracting  in  Lycoming  county. 
Pa.,  and  followed  that  line  for  about  fifteen  y 
meantime  also  engaging  in  the  lumber  business  and 
in  farming  in  that  county.  In  1890  he  came  to 
his  present  farm  in  West  Chillisquaque  township, 
\  rthumberland  county,  buying  this  land  from  the 
Van  Kirk  estate.  It  is  a  superior  tract  of  109 
acres,  and  sold  at  one  time  for  $30,000.  The  lo- 
cation is  considered  the  finest  in  the  county,  the 
water  supply  is  of  the  best  and  abundant,  and  the 
place  has  suffered  no  deterioration  in  Mr.  Myers's 
hands.  Besides  general  farming  he  is  extensively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  dairying,  keeping  all 


Jersey  cattle  and  selling  his  milk  as  far  as  Milton, 
supplying  a  daily  route.  He  is  regarded  as  an  ex- 
cellent citizen  in  his  township,  which  he  is  now 
serving  as  president  of  the  school  board,  elected  in 
1908.  There  are  seven  schools  in  West  Chillisqua- 
que, and  Mr.  Myers  is  giving  faithful  service  in  his 
present  capacity,  the  welfare  of  the  cause  of  public 
education  being  of  particular  interest  to  him. 
While  in  Sullivan  count}'  he  served  as  constable. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  In  religion  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Myers  married  Mary  J.  Feister,  and  they 
have  had  children  as  follows :  Yirgie,  who  mar- 
ried Fred  Burgenstock:  Carrie,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Burgenstock  (brother  of  Fred)  ;  Bertha,  wife 
of  A.  B.  Good:  Ethel  Clair,  who  is  still  in  school: 
and  Frank  P. 

Benjamin  Feister.  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Myers, 
was  of  German  origin  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
at  the  Muncy  creek,  in  Lycoming  county,  Pa,, 
where  he  took  up  a  large  tract,  several  hundred 
acres  of  fine  timbejland.  He  followed  lumbering, 
prospered,  and  left  a  large  estate.  He  was  buried 
above  Muncy.  He  and  his  wife  Mary  had  children 
as  follows:  Charles:  Margaret,  Mrs.  Jolm  P. 
Lake:  Jane.  Mrs.  A.  S perry :  George;  John  U. ; 
and  Harriet,  Mrs.  Daniel  Bubb. 

Col.  John  U.  Feister,  father  of  Mrs.  Myers,  was 
born  in  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer 
and  lumberman  by  occupation.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served  one  year  and  nine  months  in  the 
Union  army.  He  died  in  1882,  and  is  buried  in 
Edkin  Hill  cemetery,  in  Sullivan  count}-,  near  the 
Lycoming  county  line.  His  wife  was  Margaret 
Edkin,  daughter  of  Francis  Edkin,  of  Sullivan 
county,  and  they  had  the  following  children :  An- 
nie J.  married  James  Hartinir:  Mary  J.  is  the  wife 
of  David  C.  Myers;  Clara  M.  died  when  eighteen 
years  old :  Edward  died  young :  Bernley  C.  is  a 
resident  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa. :  Martha  married  Her- 
bert Bennette:  May  married  Samuel  Woodside. 
Two  children  died  young. 

JAMES  H.  WORK,  a  farmer  of  East  Chillis- 
quaque township,  has  lived  in  this  section  of  North- 
umberland countyr  all  his  life,  and  has  owned  his 
present  farm  since  1898.  He  is  of  Scotch  descent, 
his  grandfather.  William  Work,  having  been  a 
native  of  Scotland,  whence  he  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man.  Settling  in  Delaware  town- 
ship. Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  he  lived  and  died 
there,  following  farming.  He  is  buried  in  that 
township.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mc- 
Coy, was  also  from  Scotland,  bore  him  the  fol- 
lowing children :  James,  Henry.  Mody,  John, 
Isabella  (married  Jacob  Shultz),  Elizabeth  (mar- 
ried L.  Munsell)  and  Lillie  (who  lived  at  Lock 
Haven). 

John  Work,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  1812 
in  Delaware  township  and  there  followed  farming 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


471 


throughout  his  Long  life,  dying  in  1888  on  the  old 
homestead.  He  is  buried  at  the  River  Church, 
having  been  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congrega- 
tion of  that  church.  His  wife  was  Mary  Adams, 
of  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  and  their  children 
were:  Susanna,  who  married  Robert  Algert;  R. 
M..  living  at  Hagerstown,  Md.;  Christiana,  who 
married  Abe  Sterner:  ami  dames  H. 

.lames  H.  Work  was  born  July  13.  1851,  in  Del- 
aware township,  and  there  attended  the  public 
schools  in  his  boyhood.  Until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old  he  remained  at  home  working  with 
his  father.  When  he  commenced  farming  on  his 
own  account  he  located  in  Turbut  township,  this 
county,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural  operations 
for  about  ten  years.  In  1886  he  settled  in  East 
Chillisquaque  township,  where  in  1898  he  bought 
the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  which  for- 
merly belonged  to  Charles  Newhart,  ex-county 
commissioner  of  Northumberland  county.  It  con- 
sist- of  ninety  acres  of  good  land,  and  Mr.  Work 
has  not  only  cultivated  his  place  thoroughly  but 
has  also  improved  all  the  buildings,  making  ev- 
ery effort  to  keep  his  property  in  excellent  con- 
dition. He  is  a  conscientious,  thrifty  man,  well 
known  and  universally  respei  ted 

Mr.  Work  married  Priscilla  Sterner,  daughter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Loose)  Sterner,  and  to 
their  union  have  been  bom  the  following  children: 
Ambrose,  who  died  when  seven  years  old:  Cora, 
who  died  aged  six  years:  Lulu,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
William  II.!  at  home  with  his  father:  and  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  also  at  home.  Mr.  Work  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Milton.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  interested  in  the  success  of 
his  party,  and  he  faithfully  filled  the  office  of  town- 
ship auditor. 

MILLARD  M.  HOUGHTON,  proprietor  of  the 
"Eagle    Hotel"    at    Turhutville.    Northumberland 

countv.  i-  ;i  voung  business  man  who  is  making  a 
place  for  himself' among  the  enterprising  citizens 
..f  his  community.  He  was  born  Aug.  1.  1887,  at 
Pine  Summit,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  James 
Houghton,  and  his  ancestors  have  lived  in  that 
region  for  some  time,  his  great-grandfather.  Jo- 
seph Houghton,  having  been  a  pioneer  miller 
there.  He  lived  two  miles  from  Pine  Summit,  and 
conducted  a  gristmill  for  many  years.  Among 
his  children  were  John  and  William. 

William  Houghton,  son  of  Joseph,  lived  near 
Pine  Summit,  and  followed  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright, in  which  line  he  was  a  leading  mechanic 
of  his  section,  having  a  high  reputation  for  thor- 
ough and  excellent  work.  He  also  did  some  car- 
penter work  on  houses,  heme-  engaged  on  the  finer 
work  of  this  kind.  He  was  industrious  and  thrifty 
and  owned  his  own  home  and  land,  held  local 
township  office  -  and  was  a  useful  and  highly  re- 


spected citizen.  He  was  particularly  well  versed 
in  the  Scripture-,  hail  a  good  memory,  and  de- 
lighted in  explaining  the  Word  to  his  children  and 
dchildren.  In  political  faith  he  was  a  Re- 
publican. His  widow.  Mary  (Allen),  still  sur- 
vives, making  her  home  with  her  daughter.  Mrs. 
Matilda  Cressler,  who  lives  near  Pine  Summit:  she 
is  now  (1910)  past  eighty-two  years  ,,f  age,  and 
has  been  blind  since  1905.  Children  as  follows 
were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Houghton: 
David,  who  lives  near  Pine  Summit;  James:  Wil- 
liam, of  Exchange,  Pa.:  Matilda.  Mrs.  Lloyd 
I  ressler;  Phoebe,  married  to  David  Ware,  of  Mos- 
eow.  Lackawanna  Co..  Pa.:  Harvey,  proprietor  of 
the  "Ely  House"  at  Plymouth,  Pa.:  and  one  de- 
•  i  ased. 

Jame-  Houghton,  son  of  William,  was  born 
Jan.  1.  1860,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  place 
near   Tine   Summit.     In  his   earlier  manhood  he 

fan 1.   later  working  in  the  lumber  woods  and 

conducting  the  company  hoarding  house.  He  be- 
came an  all-around  lumber  worker,  contracting 
with  lumber  firms  to  cut  logs  and  peel  bark  during 
the  spring  of  the  year,  and  made  a  success  of  this 
line.  Since  1895  he  has  carried  on  the  Pine  Sum- 
mit Distillery.  Mr.  Houghton  married  Elmira 
Cox,  daughter  of  Montgomery  Cox.  of  Pine  Sum- 
mit, and  they  have  had  three  children:  Millard 
M..  McCoy  (deceased)  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Hough- 
ton and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  to  which  his  father.  William  Houghton, 
also  belonged.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

Millard  M.  Houghton  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  home  district  and  later  the  high 
school  at  Turhutville,  in  which  town  he  lived  for 
four  years  at  that  time.  For  several  years  he  was 
engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  farm  of  eighty 
acre-  at  Pine  Summit,  which  he  cultivated  from 
1906  to  1910.  in  September  of  which  year  he  took 
charge  of  the  "Eagle  Hotel"  at  Turhutville,  as  pro- 
prietor,   lb'  retains  the  ownership  of  his  farm. 

on  Dec.  '.'1.  1909,  Mr.  Houghton  married  Ruth 
D.  Watson,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Harriet 
(Smith)  Watson,  the  former  a  prominent  farmer 
i  in  en  of  Anthony  township,  Montour  county, 
where  he  owns  two  farms.  Mr.  Houghton  is  a 
member  of  Lairdsville  Lodge.  No.  986,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

HARVEY  WENZEL,  of  Montandon,  North- 
umberland county,  has  conducted  the  "Wenzel 
House"  at  that  point  for  a  number  of  years. 
previous  to  which  he  had  been  engaged  in  farming 
in  this  -cei:  in.  He  is  a  member  of  the  third 
generation  of  his  family  in  tin-  county,  and  of  the 
fourth  generation  in  America,  his  great-grand- 
father, a  native  of  Germany,  having  founded  the 
family  in  this  country.  He  settled  in  Berks  coun- 
tv. Pa.,  where  he  lived  ami  died. 

John  L.  Wenzel,  grandfather  of  Harvey  Wen- 
zel. was  born  in  Berks  nty,  and  when  a  young 


m 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


man  moved  to  Lycomirig  county,  this  State,  where 
lie  spent  i i i< >-T  of  liis  active  years.  The  last  sixteen 
years  of  his  life,  however,  were  -pent  near  Mc- 
Ewensville,  Northumberland  county,  with  liis  son 
John,  and  he  died  ami  is  buried  there.  His  chil- 
dren were:  John;  Daniel,  who  died  in  Illinois; 
•lames,  who  died  in  Michigan;  and  Barbara,  widow 
of  John  Smith,  living  at  Turbutville. 

John  Wenzel,  son  of  John  L.  Wenzel,  was  born 
.Ian.  12,  1826,  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
died  April  13,  1893.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
well  known  contractor  and  builder,  erecting  many 
of  the  mosl  substantia]  houses  and  barns  in  hi-  dis- 
trict, and  he  owned  a  tract  of  sixteen  acre-  in 
Delaware  township,  where  he  resided.  His  wife. 
Catharine  (Meixel),  was  born  dan.  30,  1833,  in 
Northampton  county,  and  died  Sept.  12,  1908,  at 
the  home  of  her  son  Earvey,  with  whom  she  had 
made  her  home  from  the  time  of  her  husband's 
death.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  John  Wenzel  were  married 
duly  4.  1858,  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  and  to  them 
were  born  the  following  children:  Mary  E.,  horn 
March  1'.'.  1859,  married  John  Yerich;  John 'C. 
was  horn  July  1.  1860;  Agnes,  horn  Aug.  17.  1861, 
married  Albert  llotfman:  Harvey  is  mentioned 
below;  W.  II.  was  killed  on  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road at  the  marsh  crossing,  near  Montandon,  in 
1900  (there  were  four  men  in  the  party,  and  the 
only  one  to  escape  with  his  life  was  Earvey  Wen- 
zel. who  received  only  a  I'm  bruises  I  ;  I  toy  0.  died 
in  infancy:  Elmer  J.  was  horn  April  15,  1872; 
Ida.  horn  Feb.  1.  ls;t.  married  Forresi  Earner; 
(In Mm.  I>..  born  Fch.  15,  1879,  is  an  express 
ageni  in  the  employ  id'  the  Adam-  Company,  run- 
nine  from  Philadelphia  to  Buffalo  and  Barrisburg 
i  .  Buffalo. 

Harvey  Wenzel  was  horn  dan.  15,  1863,  in  Del- 
awaie  township.  Northumberland  county,  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  of  the  township  and  also  at 
McEwensville,  and  remained  at  home  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  He  and  his 
her  John  C.  bought  a  farm  of  sixty-two  acres 
in  West  Chillisquaque  township,  along  the  river, 
and  farmed  the  place  for  five  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  they  sold  out.  Harvey  Wenzel  then 
moved  to  the  Daniel  Hartman  farm  near  Mon- 
tandon. where  he  engaged  in  trucking  for  two 
years,  thence  removing  to  John  Butlers  farm, 
where  he  was  located  for  three  years.  He  was  next 
on  the  Harry  Knauss  farm,  and  he  continued 
trucking  successfully  for  about  seventeen  years  m 
all.  attending  the  local  markets.  In  1894  he 
bought  the  hotel  at  Montandon  from  Stephen 
Dreisbach,  and  in  1895  held  a  sale  of  his  farm 
stock,  after  which  he  took  up  his  residence  at 
the  hotel,  to  the  management  of  which  he  has 
since  devoted  mosl  of  his  time  anil  attention. 
He  remodeled  the  hotel,  which  is  equipped  with 
all    modern    improvements,    and    all    id'   the   nine- 


teen rooms  are  supplied  with  steam  heat.  Mr. 
Wenzel  has  proved  a  highly  successful  hotel- 
keeper,  and  he  is  very  popular  with  the  towns- 
people and  with  the  public  generally.  The 
hotel  is  an  old  established  business  stand,  but  Mr. 
Wenzel  has  improved  it  in  many  ways  and  brought 
it  up  to  date,  and  he  has  erected  a  tine  barn  which 
i-  a  great  convenience. 

Mi-.  Wenzel  is  regarded  a-  a  public-spirited  cit- 
izen, lie  served  hi-  township  as  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  was  president  of  that  body  in 
1897,  when  the  fine  schoolhouse  at  Montandon 
was  erected;  lor  one  year  he  was  treasurer  of  the 
board.  He  has  twice  been  a  candidate  for  county 
commissioner  on  the  ticket  of  his  party,  the  Re- 
publican, in  1904  and  again  in  1907,  and  though 
the  tide  went  against  him  in  both  elections  the  sec- 
ond contest  was  very  close.  He  is  a  man  who  en- 
joys the  good  will  of  all  who  know  him.  for  his  up- 
right life,  both  private  and  public,  and  his  friends 
are  many.  Socially  he  is  an  Elk,  belonging  to  Sun- 
bury  Lodge,  No.  267.  The  family  adhere  to  the 
Reformed   faith. 

Mr.  Wenzel  married  Lucy  C.  Weaver,  daughter 
of  William  S.  and  Sarah  (YanXonneri  Weaver,  of 
Richfield,  Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  a 
family  of  four  children,  namely:  Lee  W.,  Ster- 
[eti  Mc,  Barren  V.  and  Lecene  C.  (who  died  in 
infancy  I. 

A  MAN  HI'S  FRIES,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
about  two  miles  east  of  Montandon.  Northumber- 
land county,  in  West  Chillisquaque  township,  has 
owned  and  occupied  that  place  since  1890,  but  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  1867.  He 
was  born  March  1,  1st!),  in  Albany  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  near  the  line  of  Lehigh  county, 
son  of  Samuel  Fries.  Hj<  grandfather  Fries,  who 
was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Lehigh  and  Berks  coun- 
ties, had  children  as  follows:  Harry.  Mary  and 
Samuel. 

Samuel  Fries  lived  in  upper  Berks  county  and 
also  in  Lynn  township.  Lehigh  county,  where  he 
died  in  1902.  He  is  buried  at  the  Corner  Church 
in  Albany  township.  Berks  county.  He  was  a 
butcher  by  occupation.  His  wife.  Elizabeth 
(Peltz).  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  where 
she  is  buried,  at  Tamaqua.  Their  children  were: 
Lewis.  Sarah.  Amandus,  Mary  and  Hannah. 

Amandus  Fries  attended  school  in  Lynn  town- 
ship. Lehigh  county,  and  in  his  youth  was  em- 
ployed by  Dr.  Shade,  at  Steinsville.  In  the  fall 
of  1861  he  came  to  Northumberland  county,  of 
which  he  has  since  been  a  citizen.  He  did  farm 
work,  and  in  1890  bought  his  father-in-law's  home- 
stead, the  tract  id'  forty-eight  acres  about  two  miles 
easi  oi  Montandon.  in  West  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, which  he  has  since  occupied  and  cultivated. 
Mr.   Fries  is  an  industrious  and   efficient    worker. 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND   COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


473 


ami  has  made  a  success  of  his  agricultural  oper- 
ations. Ee  i-  a  respected  resilient  of  his  com- 
munity. 

In  1869  Mr.  Fries  married  Margaret  A.  Gurri- 
tnings,  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Irwin) 
Cummings,  and  to  them  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth;  Robert  C,  deceased;  Emma. 
deceased;  Walter  G;  Eerman  1!.,  at  home;  and 
Harry  A.,  at  home. 

WILLIAM  L.  BBAUN,  a  practical  and  success- 
ful miller,  at  present  the  proprietor  of  Braun's 
mill,  near  Milton,  in  Turbut  township,  this  county, 
is  a  native  of  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  born  at  Nes- 
bit,  a  small  town  above  Williamsport,  in  1867,  son 
of  (i.  I-'.  Braun. 

Christian  Braun,  grandfather  of  William  L., 
lived  at  Spielberg,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  there  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
eight  years.  He  married  his  cousin.  Magdalena 
Braun,  ami  the}  had  several  children,  two  of 
whom,  Jacob  ami  (..  F..  came  to  America,  the 
others  living  young.  Jacob  settled  near  Buffalo, 
where  he  died  leaving  a  large  family,  who  still 
make  their  home  in  thai  \  trinity. 

6.  F.  Braun  was  bora  at  Spielberg,  a  little  town 
of  ahout  four  hundred  population,  Dec.  3,  1831, 
ami  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
this  country.  lie  hail  learned  the  miller's  and 
baker's  trades  in  his  native  land,  and  was  thus 
well  equipped  to  make  his  way  to  prosperity  in 
America.  He  had  married  in  Germany,  and  he 
and  his  wife  made  the  voyage  to  America  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel,  being  on  the  water  forty  days  before 
they  landed  at  New  Fork  City.  Their  first  settle- 
ment was  made  at  Buffalo,  X.  Y..  where  Mr.  Braun 
worked  as  a  miller,  lie  built  a  home  in  what  is 
now  a  very  bus]  pari  of  that  city.  In  1863  he  lo- 
cated at  Nesbit,  in  Lycoming  county,  where  he 
worked  at  milling.  In  1892  he  ami  his  two  sons, 
John  and  William  L..  bought  the  Milton  mill,  and 
conducted  it  under  the  name  of  (i.  F.  Braun  & 
Sons  until  the  death  of  John,  in  1902.  The  fa- 
ther still  resides  at  Xe-hit.  where  he  has  become 
very  well  known,  and  where  he  is  highly  respected. 
To  him  and  his  wife.  Annie,  were  horn  children  as 
follows:  Louisa,  Emma,  John.  Mary,  Charles. 
Tillie,  William  L.  ami  Flora. 

William  L.  Braun  attended  the  local  schools, 
and  under  his  father'-  careful  instruction  learned 
the  miller's  trade.  In  1907  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent property.  This  was  a  good  mill,  built  in  1874 
by  William'  Kemmerer,  a  native  of  Berks  county. 
The  roller  process  was  installed  when  Mr.  Braun. 
■his  father  ami  his  brother  John  bought  it.  It 
has  four  set-  of  mils,  and  is  modern  throughout  in 
it-  equipment.  Mr.  Braun  has  a  special  brand  of 
Hour  known  as  the  "Streight,"  which  has  a  verj 
wide  reputation,  and  all  hi-  goods,  in  fact,  find  a 
ready  sale. 


Fraternally  Mr.  Braun  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  84,  1.  <>.  ().  F..  and  Aerie  X...  1208,  F.  0.  E., 
of  Milton. 

JOHN  W.  LUPOLD,  train  dispatcher  at  Sun- 
bury  for  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  has  held  that 
position  since  L893 — the  longest  period  on  record 
in  Sunbury  that  any  one  man  ha-  served  in  that 
capacity,  lie  was  horn  Feb.  ::.  1867,  at  White 
Deer,  I  oion  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Samuel  Lupoid  and 
grandson  of  John  Lupoid. 

John  Lupoid  was  a  native  of  central  Pennsyl- 
vania. After  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Yoxtheimer 
lie  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Sunbury,  Northumber- 
land county,  for  a  time,  and  before  the  Civil  war 
wi  in  to  Clinton  county,  this  State,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  There  he  died  in  L878,  at  the 
age  of  about  eighty-one  years.  He  is  buried  in 
that  county.  His  children  were:  Samuel,  fa- 
ther of  John  W.  Lupoid:  William,  who  lived  near 
Lock  Eaven,  Fa.:  Henry,  who  lived  at  Loganton, 
Fa.  :  John,  who  moved  to  Nebraska  about  is;:'.-;  1  : 
ami  Solomon,  who  passed  all  his  life  at  Eastville, 
a  small  village  across  the  valley  from  Carroll, 
Clinton  county  (the  post  office  was  made  Loganton 
after  rural  free  delivery  was  instituted,  ami  the 
place  was  most  commonly  called  Winter  Side,  ly- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain,  where 
winter  snows  always  remained  longest),  where  he 
died  m  1905. 

Samuel  Lupoid  was  horn  in  18?J  in  the  vicinity 
of  S*unhury.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  engaged 
in  fanning  in  Clinton  county,  Pa.,  and  later  con- 
ducted a  sawmill  there,  near  Eastville.  subsequent- 
ly moving  to  Union  county,  where  he  kept  hooks 
for  a  lumber  concern  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  187  1.  at  Cooper's  Mill.  Union  county, 
lie  was  buried  at  Watsontown,  Northumberland 
county.  Mr.  Lupoid  was  an  ambitious  man.  and 
by  application  became  a  well  informed  man.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage  he  could  neither  read  nor 
write,  and  he  was  self  instructed,  his  practical 
attainments  being  best  indicated  by  the  position 
he  filled  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  Ee 
was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Lu- 
poid married  Susan  Kerstetter,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Hannah  (Banter)  Kerstetter,  of  Clinton 
county,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a  daughter  of 
George  Lamer  and  one  of  a  family  of  twenty-two 
children.  Mrs.  Susan  (Kerstetter)  Lupoid  died 
111  1886,  in  her  fifty-ninth  year.  She  was  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Catharine  died 
when  sixteen  years  old:  William  II.  is  a  resident 
of  Cameron  county,  Fa.:  Supera  married  Fli  F. 
Garner  and  lives  near  Eastville,  Pa.;  Fayette  mar- 
ried Hiram  Lefever,  of  Aurora.  \ehr.  :  Sarah 
married  William  II.  Lesher ;  Harriet  died  when 
four  war-  old.  of  poisoning ;  Minerva  married 
Daniel  J.  Huntington  ami  died  at  Williamsport. 
Fa.,  in   1887;  Man   died  in  infancy;  Samuel  A.. 


474 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


formerly  of  Montgomery.  Pa.,  is  now  a  resident 
of  West  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  is  in  the  bakery 
business:  John  W.  lives  in  Sunbury. 

John  W.  Lupoid  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  White  Deer  township.  Union 
county.  In  1882  he  learned  eigarmaking,  which 
In-  followed  for  several  years,  and  when  eighteen 
years  old  he  learned  telegraphy  at  White  Deer. 
He  has  since  been  engaged  in  railroad  work.  He 
was  employed  at  different  points  on  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  road  until  1889.  when  he  changed 
to  the  Sunbury  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  road, 
in  the  fall  of  1890  being  transferred  to  Sunbury 
and  given  a  position  in  the  superintendent's  office. 
He  was  engaged  as  message  operator  and  copier 
in  the  train  dispatcher's  office  until  promoted  to 
train  dispatcher  in  1893.  He  has  since  rilled  this 
responsible  position,  in  which  he  has  the  longest 
record  of  any  incumbent  at  Sunbury.  Mr.  Lu- 
poid has  hem  thoroughly  identified  with  local 
interests  since  he  became  a  resident  of  the  borough, 
and  in  1908  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education,  from  the  Seventh  ward:  he  was  a 
member  of  the  building  committee  which  had  in 
charge  the  erection  of  the  Francis  E.  Drumheller 
school,  erected  in  1910,  one  of  the  finest  school 
buildings  in  this  section  and  a  great  source  of 
pride  in  the  borough.  In  political  matter-  Mr. 
Lupoid  is  a  Republican,  with  independent  inclina- 
tions. 

In  1890  Mr.  Lupoid  married  Grace  M.  Bly, 
daughter  of  .lames  Bly,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Merrill,  who  was  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1911  nl'  tin-  Sunbury  high  school;  Martha  Esther; 
and  Ruth  Elizabeth.  In  1899  Mr.  Lupoid  built 
tho  comfortable  home  at  No.  J<»7  Catawissa  avenue 
which  he  has  sini  e  occupied  with  his  family.  They 
are  members  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of 
Sunbury,  which  he  served  as  an  official  for  some 
years.  Fraternally  he  unites  with  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum. 

JOHN  J.  HOWELL,  ticket  agent  at  Northum- 
berland for  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company, 
lias  held  his  present  position  since  May.  1872,  and 
is  one  of  the  respected  residents  of  that  borough. 
He  was  horn  Sept.  2(1.  1842,  at  Battle  Creek, 
Mich.,  son  of  David  W.  Howell  and  grandson  of 
David  W.  Howell,  and  belongs  to  a  family  of  Eng- 
lish origin  which  has  been  settled  in  America 
from  Colonial  times.  The  first  ancestor  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic  was  Edward  Howell,  who  was 
born  in  England,  baptized  July  22.  1580,  came  to 
America  about  1639-40  and  first  settled  at  Lynn. 
Mass.  Later  he  moved  to  Long  Island,  settling 
at  Southampton,  where  he  died.  John  J.  Howell 
is  directlv  descended  from  him. 

David  W.  Howell,  grandfather  of  John  J.  How- 
ell, lived  and  died  near  Morristown,  N.  J.  He 
married   Keziah   Pearson,  who   died  at  the  home 


of  her  son  David  in  Bergen,  Genesee  Co..  N.  Y., 
May  14.  1857,  and  they  had  children  as  follows: 
John  Pearson,  David  W..  Stephen  and  Arnold  A. 

David  W.  Howell,  father  of  John  J.  Howell, 
was  born  July  S,  1808,  near  Morristown,  N.  J., 
and  moved  West  in  183.'),  settling  at  what  is  now 
tho  site  of  Battle  Click.  Mnh.  When  a  young 
man  he  began  teaching  there,  hut  later  engaged 
in  farming,  upon  his  own  land,  which  is  now 
known  as  Morgan  park;  it  was  then  three  miles 
from  the  town.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Delia  Elmer,  was  horn  July  19,  1811,  and 
died  Dec  20,  1842,  at  Battle  (reck,  and  was  bur- 
ied there.  Mr.  Howell  subsequently  returned 
East  with  his  children,  settling  at  Bergen.  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  until  his  death.  May  2.  1877. 
The  children  were  all  born  at  Battle  Creek,  viz.: 
Elmer,  who  is  deceased  :  Phebe  A.,  deceased  ;  Wil- 
liam II..  wlm  i-  still  living  at  Bergen.  N.  Y. : 
and  John  J. 

John  J.  Howell  was  only  four  years  old  when 
his    father    settled    at   Bergen,    N.    Y..    where   he 

grew  to  manh 1.     lie  attended  public  school  and 

when  .'Id  enough  began  to  do  farm  work,  later 
supplementing  his  early  education  by  a  course  in 
commercial  work  and  telegraphy  at  the  business 
university  of  Rochester,  N.  V..  graduating  in  186.5. 
He  began  work  at  Bergen,  where  he  was  employed 
by  both  the  Western  Union  and  New  York  Central 
line-  before  his  removal  to  Williamsport, 
Pa.,  in  1869.  He  was  there  engaged  upon  the 
P.  &  E.  division  until  he  changed  to  Northum- 
berland. Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  in  May.  1872, 
where  he  has  since  remained  in  the  employ  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Company.  He  has  a  record  of  fidel- 
ity and  good  work  of  which  he  may  he  proud  and 
is  a  trusted  and  competent  employee.  Mr.  How- 
ell is  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment,  hut  he 
has  never  taken  any  active  part  in  politics  or  pub- 
lic matters.  He  ami  his  family  attend  the  Episco- 
pal Church. 

(>n  Nov.  38,  1873,  Mr.  Howell  married  Mary 
E.  Shuman,  daughter  of  Jacob  L.  Shuman,  of 
Catawissa.  Pa.  Her  two  brothers  are  living  in 
Shamokin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howell  have  had  one 
daughter.  Lucille,  now  the  wife  of  Arthur  Jame- 
son. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jameson,  who  reside  at  Roch- 
ester. X.  Y..  have  four  children.  John  J..  Philip 
11..  Charles  D.  and  Cecelia-  M.  (born  Dec.  2!'. 
1910). 

DANIEL  E.  SMITH,  of  Rebuck.  in  Washing- 
ton township,  has  been  engaged  at  his  trade  of 
blacksmith  at  that  point  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years,  and  he  also  owns  a  farm  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Smith  was  born  May  19,  1852,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy  township.  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
John  Smith  and  grandson  of  Michael  Smith. 

Michael  Smith  was  born  in  Oley  township. 
Berk-   Co..    Pa.,  whence  he  came  to  the   Swabian 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  475 

Creek  Valley,  in  the  eastern  end  of  this  county,  county  before  1810.  After  some  years'  residence 
in  1818  Among  his  children  were:  John;  George,  there  he  and  his  family  moved  to  Lykens  Valley, 
who  settled  m  Berrien  county,  Mich. ;  Peter,  who  in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  continued  to  live 
settled  in  Indiana  or  Illinois;  Mrs.  Joshua  Fetter  until  his  death,  May  30,  1835,  when  he  was  past 
and  Mrs.  Neidlmger,  both  of  whom  settled  in  fifty-five  years  of  age.  He  is  buried  in  the  Lykens 
Michigan-,  and  Mrs.  Peter  Rowe.  Valley.  Mr.  Schmeltzer  is  described  as  a  short- 
John  Smith,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  in  Oct-  set  man,  and  he  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  His 
ober,  1810,  in  Oley  township,  Berks  county,  and  wife,  Grace  (Shutt),  died  in  May,  1851,  when 
came  with  his  parents  to  Northumberland  county,  past  sixty  years  of  age,  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
settling  on  the  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  ship,  Northumberland  county,  and  is  buried  there, 
now  owned  by  .lelfcrson  Snyder.  He  was  a  black-  Eight  children  were  born  to  this  pioneer  couple: 
smith,  and  followed  his  trade  for  thirty-six  years  Sarah  married  John  Wolfgang:  Daniel  is  men- 
at  Rough  and  Ready,  Schuylkill  county,  and  he  tioned  below;  Elizabeth  married  Jacob  Fox :  Katie 
was  also  a  farmer  for  many  years,  following  that  married  George  Wolfgang;  Peggy  married  Jesse 
occupation  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  He  died  Ummel :  John  died  unmarried  ; "  Annie  married 
Aug.  28,  1901,  in  his  ninety-second  year,  at  Rough  John  Wolfgang,  who  was  a  brother  of  George 
ami    b'radv.  where  lie  is  Imried.     Mr.  Smith  was  a  Wolfgang. 

Lutheran  in  religion,  a  Democrat  in  politics.  His  Daniel  Schmeltzer  or  Smeltzer  was  born  Nov.  10, 
wife,  Rachel  (  Erdman ),  daughter  of  George  Erd-  1805,  in  Washington  township,  Northumberland 
man.  died  April  27,  1860,  in  middle  life.  Their  county,  was  a  laborer,  and  owned  a  small  farm.  He 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Mary,  March  6,  died  March  16,  1888,  at  Sunbury,  where 
1834;  William,  July  13,  1835;  Lydia,  Dec.  29,  he  was  visiting,  and  is  buried  at  the  old 
1836;  Elias,  Dec.  24,  Is:;;  ;  John,  Oct.  27,  1839;  Lutheran  Church  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  to 
Catharine,  March  17,  1842;  Nathan,  Oct.  16,  which  district  he  had  removed  in  1841.  He  held 
1843;  Elizabeth,  Oct.  15,  1846;  George,  Nov.  29,  various  church  offices,  serving  many  years  as  elder. 
1849;  Daniel  E.,  May  19,  1852:  Henry,  March  His  wife.  Catharine,  born  in  September,  1807,  was 
15,  1858.  a  daughter  of  Jonas  Wolfgang,  of  Deep  Creek 
Daniel  E.  Smith  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  Valley,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  in  June,  1881, 
blacksmith  in  1871  and  worked  six  years  at  this  in  her  seventy-fourth  year.  She  is  buried  by  the 
trade.  Then  he  married  Hannah  Smeltzer  anil  side  of  her  husband.  They  had  eight  children, 
moved  to  Hollowing  Run,  where  he  remained  for  namely:  Sarah  married  James  M.  Young;  Eliza- 
two  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  moving  on  his  beth  died  in  her  eighteenth  year:  Dinah  married 
father's  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  for  one  George  Leitzel ;  Elias  and  John  died  in  infancy; 
year.  He  then  moved  to  Leckkill  and  worked  at  Catharine  married  George  Leitzel  after  the  death 
his  trade  for  three  years,  next  moving  to  Klingers-  of  her  sister  Dinah;  Lovina  married  William 
town,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  worked  at  Buchner  and  after  his  death  Jacob  Haupt,  who 
his  trade  for  four  years.  In  1886  he  settled  at  Re-  is  also  deceased;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Daniel 
buck,  where  he  has  since  had  his  home.    Mr.  Smith  E.  Smith. 

has  continued  to  do  general  blacksmithing  through-  Mrs.  Hannah    (Smeltzer)   Smith  has  a  number 

out  this  period,  and  he  has  made  an  excellent  liv-  of  relics  which  belonged  to  her  immediate  ances- 

ing.     He  also  owns  a  farm  of  sixty-three  acres  in  tors,  some  old  dishes,  a  large  German  Bible  which 

Washington  township,  at  what  is  known  as  Cher-  belonged  to  her  grandfather,  John  Schmeltzer,  and 

rytown.      Mr.    Smith   has  taken   an   active  inter-  which  bears  the  date  1785,  and  an  old  grandfather 

est  in  public  affairs,  having  held  local  offices,  is  clock  that  was  made   in    1809   by  Josiah    Smith, 

a  Democrat   on   political    questions,  and   a  Luth-  the  case  being  made  by  John  Schmeltzer,  to  whom 

eran  in   religion,  he  and  his  family  being  mem-  it  belonged.     It  is  still  a  good   timekeeper,  and 

bers  at  the  Himmel  Church,  where' he  has  served  shows  the  date  and  movements  of  the  moon.     It 

as  elder.  descended  from  John  Schmeltzer  to  his  son  Dan- 

On  Jan.  28,  1877,  Mr.  Smith  married  Hannah  iel,  after  whose  death  it  came  into  the  possession 

Smeltzer,     daughter    of     Daniel     Smeltzer,     and  of  Mrs.  Smith, 
they  have  had  "one  daughter,   Sallie  Bixler,  now 

the  wife  of  Joseph  Fetterman.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fet-  JOSEPH  LEWIS,  a   retired    farmer  living  at 

terman  live  on  Mr.  Smith's  farm  in  Washington  Shamokin,  was  born  in  Shamokin  township  Aug. 

township.      They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  ehil-  15,  1829,  son  of  Mathias  Lewis  and  grandson  of 

dren-  John   E.,'  Daniel  L.,  William  E.,  Howard  Mathias    Lewis,    a    native    of    Switzerland.      The 

O     Charles  R.,  Joseph  R.,  Ella  B.,  Sarah  I.,  Ger-  grandfather  came  to  America  when  a  young  man 

tie' V    George  S.  and  David  C.  and    settled    in    New  Jersey.      Later    he   came   to 

John    Schmeltzer,   grandfather  of  Mrs.   Daniel  Irish  Valley,  in  Shamokin  township,  this  county, 

E    Smith   was  a  native  of  Bethel  township,  Berks  where  he  died,  and   he  is  buried   at    the   Summit 

Co      Pa      and    came    thence    to    Northumberland  Church.     His   wife.   Margaret    Mutzler.   is  buried 


476 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


at  the  same  place.  They  had  children:  Henry, 
John,  Ellis  and  Mathias. 

Mathias  Lewis,  son  of  Mathias,  was  born  in 
1794  near  Belvidere,  X.  J.  He  was  a  cooper, 
and  followed  bis  trade  in  Shainokin  township, 
where  he  was  also  engaged  in  farming.  He  died 
Jan.  19,  1890,  aged  ninety-fiye  years,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Summit  Church.  His  wife,  Elizabeth 
Mutchler,  daughter  of  John,  is  also  buried  there. 
Their  children  were:  Margaret  died  young;  John 
died  at  the  old  borne;  Jeremiah  is  living  in  Sha- 
inokin township:  Joseph  is  living  in  Shainokin 
township;  Catharine  married  a  Moody;  Amos  is 
deceased  :  William  is  deceased  :  Reuben  is  deceased  : 
Susanah  married  Henry  Richie. 

Joseph  Lewis  attended  the  old  pay  schools  in 
Shamokin  township  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm. 
He  learned  the  stonemason's  trade  with  Frank 
Teitsworth,  and  followed  this  work  till  about  1908, 
being  employed  aboul   the  collieries  and  his  own 

district.     He  resides  al   bis  homestead  in  Sha - 

kin  township. 

In  is.*,;  Mr.  Lewis  married  Susanna  Wikel,  who 
was  horn  in  1833  in  Cameron  township,  daughter 
of  John  and  Rebeca  (Derr)  Wikel.  Thev  hail  a 
large  family:  George  F.  died  when  five  years  old: 
Alfred  D.  is  living  in  Shamokin:  Emma  married 
Cameron  Bendel;  Elmer  is  Living  in  Shamokin: 
Charles  K.  lives  in  Shamokin  township:  Fraetta 
married  Pierce  Leiby;  Knibly  W.  Lives  in  Shamo- 
kin township:  Elizabeth  married  ('.  1'.  Gass;  Rosie 
B.  married  Harry  Clark  and  (second)  Freeman 
Lewis:  Josephine,  twin  of  Rosie,  died  in  infancy; 
Amanda  E.  married  C.  B.   Malick. 

JOHN  W.  FURMAN,  of  Stonington,  is  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  .1.  W.  Furman  &  Brother, 
truck  fanners  who  occupy  a  Leading  place  among 
the  business  men  in  their  line  in  Northumberland 
county.  Their  place  is  known  as  the  Hollis  Dale 
Market  Garden.  Mr.  Furman  was  horn  Aug.  1. 
1876,  in  Shamokin  township,  where  he  has  always 
resided. 

Samuel  Furman.  his  grandfather,  was  born  July 
6,  181H.  lived  in  Shainokin  township,  where  lie 
followed  farming  throughout  his  active  years,  and 
lie  died  upon  Lis  farm  there  Feb.  24,  1875.  His 
brother  William  lived  in  that  part  of  Augusta 
township  now  known  as  Rockefeller,  and  was  the 
grandfather  of  David  A.  Furman.  "I  Rockefeller 
township.  Samuel  Furman  married  Margaret 
Weeks,  who  was  horn  in  1814  and  died  Dec.  6, 
1897,  aged  eighty-three  years,  four  months,  three 
davs.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Jane  married 
William  Conrad ;  Mahala  married  Cornelius  Re- 
buek;  Kate  married  Charles  Chapman  and  (sec- 
ond) H.  M.  Yordv:  Rebecca  died  April  17.  lsr.it. 
aged  eighteen  years,  eleven  months,  thirteen  days: 
George  < ».  was  the  father  of  John  W.  Furman: 
Ida   married    Isaac   Kreeger;   Harriet   died    Sept. 


26)  1851,  aged  nine  years,  one  month,  ten  days: 
Mary  died  Sept.  26,  1851,  aged  one  year,  four 
month-,  seven  days;  John  I),  died  March  '.',  1847, 
aged  one  year,  five  months,  three  days. 

George  0.  Furman  was  horn  in  Shamokin 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  has  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  at  one  time  owned  the  old 
homestead,  but  is  now  located  at  Stonington,  in 
Shamokin  township.  lie  married  Hulda  Jane 
Willour.  daughter  of  Peter  Willour,  who  was  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing children;  John  W.;  Rosa  A.,  now  the  wife 
of  Michael  II.  Mowery  and  living  at  Gosstown, 
Northumberland  county;  Freeman  \Y..  member  of 
the  firm  of  J.  W.  Furman  &  Brother;  Lewi-  S., 
living  at  Stonington;  and  Theora  Maude,  who 
lives  in  Sunbury. 

John  W.  Furman,  horn  Aug.  1.  1876,  in  Sha- 
mokin township,  was  reared  there  and  has  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  In  1900 
lie  located  at  Stonington,  in  Shamokin  township, 
where  he  bought  the  old  Henry  Klase  farm.  Later 
owned  by  Peter  Willour.  this  trad  comprising 
twenty-one  acres  of  very  fertile  truck  land.  He 
has  made  vasl  improvements  on  the  propextj  since 
it  came  into  his  possession.  In  association  with 
his  brother,  Freeman  W.  Furman,  he  does  an  ex- 
tensive business  in  the  raising  and  marketing  of 
truck,  and  the  name  of  this  firm  stands  Eor  all 
that  is  progressive  and  up-to-date  in  that  line. 
J.  W.  Furman  &  Brother  attend  the  Shamokin 
markets,  where  there  is  a  steady  demand  Eor  their 
garden  stuff.  Their  work  is  carried  on  in  the  most 
intelligent  manner.  Their  land  is  irrigated,  they 
have  erected  a  fine  greenhouse,  and  everything 
about  the  place  betokens  the  enterprise  and  ad- 
vanced ideas  of  these  young  farmers,  who  have 
wnii  high  standing  among  agriculturists  in  their 
section. 

On  Dec.  4,  1900,  J.  W.  Furman  married  Emma 
Eister,  daughter  of  Jacob  luster,  of  Shamokin 
township,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  They  have 
three  children,  Andrew-  ()..  Mary  E.  and  Franklin 
F.  Mr.  Furman  is  a  member  of  the  Miller's  Cross 
Roads  Methodist  Church,  which  he  is  serving  as 
trustee  and  secretary  of  the  board.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  is  in  every  respect  one 
of  the  leading  young  men  of  his  township. 

Freeman  W.  Furmajj  was  born  Felt.  1  1.  1882, 
in  Shamokin  township,  and  was  reared  upon  the 
farm.  In  1906  he  joined  his  brother  in  the  truck- 
ing business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Miller's 
Cross  Roads  Methodist  Church  and  of  the  I.  O. 
o.   F. 

WILLIAM  II.  KUEBLER.  a  business  man  of 
Sunbury,  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  line, 
plumbing  and  heating,  ever  since  he  commenced 
work,  and  is  proficient  in  all  its  branches.  He 
carries  a   general   line   of  stoves  and  boilers  and 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


4T7 


does  contracting  in  plumbing  and  similar  work, 
finding  an  excellent  field  in  the  borough  and  sur- 
rounding territory.  Mr.  Kuebler  was  born  July 
16,  1877,  in  North  Manheim  township,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  George  E.  Kuebler  and  grand- 
son of  William  Kuebler. 

William  Kuebler  was  a  native  of  Wittenberg, 
Germany,  born  in  August,  1805,  and  served  as  an 
officer  in  the  German  army,  his  honorable  dis- 
charge papers  being  -till  in  the  family.  Coming 
to  the  United  States  m  1831,  he  first  located  at 
Sunbury.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed butchering  for  some  time.  His  next,  loca- 
tion was  at  Shaiiiokin.  where  he  also  worked  at 
that  trade  some  years,  and  in  February,  1844, 
he  settled  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  butchering  in  partnership  with 
John  Moser,  under  the  firm  name  of  Moser  & 
Kuebler.  This  association  lasted  for  many  years. 
Cater,  his  health  having  become  impaired'  by  ill- 
ness. Mr.  Kuebler  bought  a.  farm  to  which  he 
moved,  a  place  of  fifty-three  acres  in  North  Man- 
heim township,  Schuylkill  county,  which  he  culti- 
vated until  his  death.  However,  he  also  contin- 
ued the  business  of  butchering,  in  which  he  was 
succeeded  b\  his  son  .Jacob.  Mr.  Kuebler  was  a 
devout  Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  a  man  true 
to  all  his  obligations  in  life,  possessed  of  a  rugged 
honesty  which  won  him  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him.  He  married  Mary  Cass,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Cass,  and  she  survived  him  many  years,  dying  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine.  He  died  in  June.  1871. 
They  are  buried  at  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kuebler  had  children  as  follows:  John  died  in 
infancy:  John  .Jacob  lived  at  Pottsville;  Amanda 
died  when  fourteen  years  old;  Sophia  married 
Daniel  Mertz  and  both  are  deceased;  George  E. 
is  mentioned  below:  Harry,  who  was  engaged  as 
wholesale  aiiont  lor  a  hardware  firm,  died  at  Sha- 
mokin  in  the  winter  of  1909;  John  ( '.' )  died  at 
Snydertown  in  Shamokin  township,  after  his  mar- 
riage; Sarah  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  Potts- 
ville. 

George  E.  Kuebler  was  born  Dec.  20,  1843,  at 
Shamokin,  and  was  three  months  old  when  bis 
patents  moved  to  Pottsville,  in  which  city  and 
vicinity  lie  grew  to  manhood.  He  attended  the 
local  schools,  and  in  his  earlier  manhood  followed 
butchering  ami  carpentry  in  Schuylkill  county. 
eventually  settling  down  to  farming  there,  in 
North  Manheim  township,  where  be  remained  for 
Mime  years,  on  the  old  homestead.  Thence  be 
moved  to  Rockefeller  township,  Northumberland 
county,  in  1883,  buying  the  Krigbaum  homestead 
of  twenty-five  acres  upon  which  be  has  since  made 
bis  home.  Mr.  Kuebler  has  proved  an  intelligent 
and  useful  citizen  of  the  different  communities 
with  which  he  has  been  identified,  served  three 
years  a-  auditor  of  Schuylkill  county  and  held 
various  local  offices,  and  has  served  sixteen  years 


as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  Rockefeller  township. 
lb'  has  been  active  in  the  administration  of  public 
affairs  and  an  efficient  worker  in  the  Democratic 
party,  which  be  supports  with  his  vote  and  influ- 
ence. Mr.  Kuebler  joined  the  Masonic  fraternity 
ai  Schuylkill  Eaven,  Pa.,  being  made  a  Masoii 
m  Page  Lodge,  No.  370,  F.  &  A.  M. :  later  he 
became  a  charter  member  of  Cressona  Lodge,  No. 
I '.'U.  at  Cressona.  of  which  he  was  worshipful  mas- 
ter in  1879,  and  from  which  he  transferred  to 
Sunbury  Lodge,  No.  22.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  Philadelphia.  Formerly  be  was 
an  active  member  of  both  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
tin'  Red  Men.  in  which  he  passed  all  the  chairs, 
and  he  was  interested  in  the  work,  but  he  lias  drop- 
ped all  connections  of  this, sort  except  his  Masonic 
affiliations.  He  and  his  family  worship  at  the 
Plum  Creek  Lutheran  Church,  which  he  served 
for  a  number  of  years  in  the  church  council. 

hi  November,  1871,  Mr.  Kuebler  married  Sarah 
Fasold.  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catharine  (Weis- 
er)  Fasold,  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Philip  Weiser,  through  whom  she 
traces  her  descent  from  Conrad  Weiser,  the  cele- 
brated pioneer  and  Indian  interpreter.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kuebler  have  a  family  of  Ave  children:  Ger- 
trude E.,  wife  of  Dr.  Horatio  Warren  Gass,  a 
prominent  physician  of  .Sunbury:  R.  Ellen,  wife 
of  George  F.  Keefer,  a  civil  engineer  of  Sunbury : 
William  H. :  Emma  F..  unmarried  and  living  at 
home:  and  Margaret,  who  lives  in  Sunbury  with 
her  sister,  Mrs.  (  biss. 

William  H.  Kuebler  attended  public  school  in 
Rockefeller'  township  and  worked  for  his  parents 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  Meantime,  in 
1892,  he  bad  come  to  Sunbury  to  learn  the  trade 
of  tinsmith,  which  he  followed  for  three  years, 
alter  which  he  learned  plumbing  and  heating  in 
the  employ  of  Harry  Bastian  and  Isaac  Reitz.  In 
1903  and  1904  be  attended  the  New  York  Trade 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring 
of  the  latter  year,  in  the  departmenl  of  heating 
and  plumbing,  and  upon  bis  return  to  Pennsyl- 
vania he  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  II.  Mutseh- 
ler  in  Middleburg,  Snyder  county,  with  whom  lie 
was  in  business  from  April  1st  to  September  1st, 
1904,  when  he  sold  out  to  bis  partner  ami  came 
to  Sunbury.  Here  be  installed  the  heating  sys 
tern  in  the  cottage  houses  lor  the  converting  wot 
I'nr  George  II.  Keefer.  of  Mount  Carmel,  a  lead- 
ing contractor  of  Northumberland  county,  and  in 
1905  he  commenced  the  plumbing  ami  heating 
business    for    himself   at    No.    145    Market    street, 

at    which    location    he    remained   about    thiv 

In  1901  lie  built  bis  present  place  of  business  at 
\,i-.  19-51  Noi'ib  Sixth  street.  Mr.  Kuebler  em- 
ploy -  four  men,  ami  is  doing  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  built  up  by  the  mosl  creditable 
methods  ami  honorable  dealii 

On   Feb.    IS.    1909,    Mr.    Kuebler  married    Nellie 


478 


NOKTHUM  BEKLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Krebs,  daughter  of  Robert  F.  and  Mary  (Felker) 
Kivli-.  of  Sunbury,  and  they  have  a  son,  Roberl 
Edward.  Before  coming  to  Sunbury  Mr.  Kueb- 
ler  was  a  member  of  the  Plum  (.'reek  Lutheran 
Church  and  active  in  its  w<  ing  as  deacon 

and  as  secretary  of  the.  church  council.     He  and 
his    family    are    now    connected    with    the   Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.     Socially  he  beli 
to  the   Protected  Home  Circle. 

WILLIAM  11.  STRAUB,  now  successfully  en- 
i  in  the  hardware  business  at  Milton,  Pa., 
-  i  ae  of  the  irog  ■  ssive  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens of  Northumberland  county.  He  was  born 
near  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county,  Jan.  18,  1860, 
of  Jacob  Straub. 

Jacob  Stra  ib.  the  father,  was  a  native  of  Stutt- 
gart,   I ny,    who   came   to   America    in    1850, 

settling    in    I,  Pa.      In    a    short   time    he 

i  ed  to  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county, 
and   there   followed   hi-  if  tanner  and   cur- 

In  1861  he  wenl  to  Danville,  and  after 
twelve  years  came  to  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
ioyed  at  tanning  by  Win.  Reber.  He  died  in 
L900,  and  is  buried  at  Milton.  He  married  Leah 
Ebling,  a  native  of  Berks  county  who  died  in 
1902.  To  this  union  were  born  two  children. 
Pauline  and  William  II.  Anthony  Straub,  a 
brother  of  Jacob,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  came 
to  America  and  settled  at  Reading,  Pa.  Like  his 
brother  he  gave  his  services  to  his  adopted  country 
during  the  Civil  war.  and  he  died  at  the  National 
Soldiers'  Home,  Dayton.  Ohio.  Jacob  Straub  was 
a  sergeanl  of  Company  !■'.  167th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf., 
from  Nov.  1?.  1862,  until  Aug.  12,  1863,  under 
('apt.  Josiah  Groh,  and  Col.  Charles  A.  Enoderer. 

William  II.  Straub  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Danville,  spending  three  years  in  the  high 
school,  lie  came  with  his  parents  to  Milton,  and 
here  learned  the  painters  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  himself  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  In  July. 
1904,  he  bought  the  hardware  business  located  at 
No.  16  Broadway,  from  H.  Judson  Raup,  one  of 
the  leading  stor.es  of  the  district.  He  has  devel- 
oped the  business  on  a  broader  scale,  and  has  a  fine 
pal  ronage. 

Mr.  Straub  married  Mary  Bower,  daughter  of 
Harrison  Bower,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Leah,  who  graduated  from  the  Mil- 
ton high  school,  class  of  1911.  Mr.  Straub  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  With  his  family  be  attends 
the  Reformed  Church.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to 
Milton  Lodge,  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lodge  No. 
84,  I.  O.  (».  I'.:  and  Castle  No.  265,  K.  G.  E. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish  American  war  he 
was  appointed  captain  of  Co.  C,  Second  Bat- 
talion. 12th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  After  being 
out  twenty-four  hours  he  was  commissioned  major 
ol    the   regiment.     They  were  stationed  at  Camp 


Alger,  Virginia.     He  is  at  present  a  major  in  the 
12th  Regt..  X.  G.  P. 

FRANE  J.  MCDONNELL,  merchant  at  Locus! 
Gap,  Northumberland  county,  has  been  a  lifelong 
in  of  that  place,  having  been  born  there 
April  •">.  1873.  The  family  has  been  settled  in 
this  portion  of  Pennsylvania  for  about  seventy-five 
years. 

John  McDonnell,  Mr.  McDonnell's  great-grand- 
er, lived  and  died  in  Ireland.  His  children 
Patrick,  who  came  to  this  country  and  set- 
tled -  Si  tylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died: 
John,  who  died  at  sea  in  1843,  while  on  his  way 
to  America;  Michael,  who  died  at  Locust  i 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.;  and  I' 

Peter  .McDonnell,  son  of  John,  was  the  grand- 

,   of  Frank  J.  McDonnell.     He  was  born  in 

ud,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1838,  landing 

at  New  York  City.     Coming  thence  to  Pottsville, 

[kill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  billowed  mining  there  until 

L861,   in   which   year  he   located    at   Locust   Gap, 

Northumberland  county,  ai °   the  early  settlers 

at  that  place.  He  was  employed  in  the  mines  for 
some  years  and  then  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
(conducting  the  hotel  later  run  by  his  son) 
from  1865  until  the  year  of  his  death,  1875. 
Hi  :-  buried  at  Beaverdale,  this  county.  He  was 
an  intelligent  and  active  man.  and  took  part  in  the 
public  affairs  of  his  home  neighborhood  in  both 
Schuylkill  and  Northumberland  counties,  serving 
as  supervisor  of  Cass  township  while  a  residenl  of 
Schuylkill  county  and  as  school  director  and  audi- 
tor of  Mmint  Carmel  township  alter  settling  in 
Northumberland  county.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
(  atholic  Church.  His  wife.  Hannah  (Patton),  a 
native  of  England,  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Patton,  also  a  native  of  England,  who  settled  in 
Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1838;  his  sons 
ed  the  first  coal  mines  in  that  region.  Mrs. 
Mi  1  lonnell  died  in  1895.  Nine  children  were  born 
to  Peter  and  Hannah  (Patton)  McDonnell,  viz.: 
John.  Thomas.  Elizabeth  J.  (wife  of  Thomas  Pep- 
per, of  Ashland).  George,  Andrew.  Mary  (wife  of 
Jacob  R.  Betz),  Hannah  (wife  of  Henry  J.  Om- 
lor),  and  Catherine  and  Mary  A.,  who  are  de- 
ceased. 

John  McDonnell,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  Dec. 
■.';.  1840,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  reared 
.  at  Mine  Hill  Gap.  He  began  work  at  the 
mines  as  a  laborer,  and  came  to  Locust  Gap  in 
1860,  being  now  one  of  the  oldest  resident-;  at  that 
"Im,  After  about  nine  years'  employment 
around  the  mines  here  he  was  made  inside  fore- 
man at  the  Locusf  Gap  Colliery,  in  1869.  holding 
that  position  about  four  years,  when  he  was  given 
the  place  of  hoi -ting  engineer,  being  thus  em- 
ployed until  188v!.  For  the  next  ten  years  he  was 
in  the  hotel  business  at  Locust  Gap,  being  propri- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


479 


etor  of  the  "National  Hotel"  until  1892,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business,  in  which 
he  still  continues.  Though  aged  seventy  years, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  living  residents  of  Locust 
Gap,  Mr.  McDonnell  is  still  active  in  its  affairs  and 
looks  after  his  business  with  the  same  care  he  has 
always  given  to  its  management.  If  is  many 
since  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  n 
bu1  he  is  still  interested  in  that  leading  ind  i-m 
of  the  locality  and  has  many  interesting  remi- 
niscences of  his  experiences  in  the  old  days  when 
the  '-Molly  Maguires"  nourished.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  bis  political  views  and  a  Catholic  in  religion. 
He  served  thn  i  yeai  as  school  director  oi  Mount 
I  'ai  ini'l   low  oship. 

On  May  30,  1865,  Mr.  McDonnell  married  Cath- 
erine McCarthy,  who  was  born  Oi  t.  L2,  1839,  and 
died  Jan.  L0,  1899.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Fran- 
cis and  Ann  (  Lynch)  McCarthy,  both  of  w 
came  from  County  Longford,  Ireland.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McDonnell  were  born  eight  children: 
Peter  A. ;  Anna,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  deceased  : 
Frank  J.;  Mary,  who  married  Daniel  J.  Harvey; 
Agnes,  hum  Sister  Mareellian,  at  Port  Carbon, 
Schuylkill  county;  Catherine,  wife  of  James  V. 
McAndrew  ;  and  .i  ohn,  deceased. 

Peteh  A.  McDonnell,  eldest  son  of  John  Mc- 
Donnell, was  born  at  Locusl  (tap  Feb.  22,  1866. 
For  several  years  he  was  employed  as  a  telegraph 
operator  and  later  was  engaged  as  a  clerk' in  a  col- 
liery office  and  as  bookkeeper  in  Mount  Carmel. 
During  Mr.  Frank  VanDevender's  first  term  as 
register  and  recorder  he  was  employed  a-  a  clerk 
in  the  office,  being  retained  during  Mr.   VanDe- 

vendor's  s|.r,i]]i|   term.      He  resig 1   near  the  end 

of  that  term  to  accept  the  appointment  of  warden 
at  the  Northumberland  county  prison,  which  of- 
fice he  had  been  filling  two  years  at  the  time  of  his 
sudden  death.  Jan.  '.':'..  L908.  Mr.  McDonnell  suc- 
cumbed while  being  operated  upon  for  appendi- 
citis. To  quote  from  the  Sunbury  Daily  Item  of 
Jan.  2  I.  1908  :  "'As  jail  warden  be  displayed  great 
executive  ability  ami  during  his  time  of  service 
saved  the  county  $5,000,  even  though  be  had  more 
prisoners  under  his  care  than  ever  before  in  the 
history  of  the  jail.  Personally  be  was  possi 
of  those  qualities  which  won  for  him  the  lasting 
friendship  of  all  who  knew  him  and  but  to  know 
him  was  to  love  him.  Always  of  a  cheerful  dis- 
position, bis  life  was  one  bright  ray  of  sunshine 
which  was  helpful  to  everybody  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact  and  made  him  one  of  the  most 
companionable  of  men.  Of  sterling  worth  ami 
integritv.  he  was  always  upright  and  honest,  true 
and  steadfast  to  his  friends,  who  were  legion,  lie 
was  the  embodiment  of  all  that  was  good  and  right 
and  was  a  man  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word, 
whose  death  is  deeply  mourned  and  is  a  personal 
loss  to  the  entire  community." 

Mr.  McDonnell  married   Mary  Grathwhole,  who 


survives  him  with  five  children.  They  made  their 
home  on  North  Second  street,  Sunbury.  Mr.  Mc- 
Donnell was  a  member  of  the  Locust  Gap  Division 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  the  Mount 
Carmel  Lodge  of  Eagles  and  the  Mount  Carmel 
Lodge  of  Elks.  His  remains  were  taken  to  his  fa- 
ther's home  at  Locust  Gap,  where  the  funeral  was 
held  from  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church. 

Frank  J.  McDonnell  received  bis  elementary 
education  at  Locust  Gap  and  later  attended  St. 
Mary's  College  at  Emmitsburg,  Md.  Returning  to 
Locust  Gap,  he  became  a  clerk  for  .lames  A.  Mc- 
Carthy, continuing  with  him  ten  year-,  during  four 
years  of  which  time  he  was  manager  of  the  store, 
lie  (lien  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  which  he 
carried  on  four  years,  selling  out  in  1910.  Mean- 
time, m  .lime,  1909,  be  had  entered  the  general 
merchandise  business,  which  he  now  owns.  giving 
all  his  attention  at  present  to  that  line,  in  which 
he  has  met  gratifying  success.  He  has  a  full  line 
of  goods,  keeping  a  supply  in  advance  of  the  de- 
mands  of  his  customers,  whom  he  pleases  by  ex- 
cellent service  and  a  large,  well  selected  stock.  He 
is  on,-  nf  tin'  leading  citizens  of  Locust  Gap,  al- 
ways ready  to  lend  bis  aid  or  influence  to  projects 
lor  advancing  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

On  June  12,  1900,  Mr.  McDonnell  married 
Mary  Ruane,  who  was  born  in  Ireland.  They  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  socially  he 
holds  membership  in  the  Mount  Carmel  Lodge  of 
Elks,  the  A.  O.  11.  and  the  Foresters,  lie'  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  matters. 

L.  H.  GUYON,  who  conducts  an  old  established 
merchant  tailoring  business  in  Sunbury.  was  born 
Aug.  26,  L878,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  son  of  Lucian 
Joseph  Guyon. 

Joseph  Guyon,  his  great-grandfather,  lived  near 
Lake  Erie,  in  Xeu  York  State,  where  he  died.  His 
son,  Joseph  Guyon,  grandfather  of  L.  H.  Guyon, 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  Wayne  county.  Pa.,  where 
be  was  a  farmer.  He  died  there.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  A.  Jones,  and  they  bad  two  sons:  Charles, 
wdio  died  in  York  State;  and  Lucian  Joseph. 

Lucian  Joseph  Guyon  was  horn  in  Wayne  county, 
Pa.,  in  1844,  and  died  in  Sunbury.  in  July,  L899. 
11C  was  a  well  known  railroad  man  and  for  many 
years  was  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 

C pany,  first  as  engineer,  later  being  promoted 

to  road  foreman  of  engines.  In  1890  he  located  at 
Sunbury,  in  which  borough  he  remained  till  his 
death.  His  wife.  Margarel  (Hays),  died  m  1894, 
and  they  arc  interred  at  Earrisburg.  Mr.  Guyon 
was  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  chapter  and  com- 
mandery  at  Earrisburg,  and  of  Lit  Lu  Shrine,  at 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

L.  II.  Guyon  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg  and  for  two  years  was  a  student  at 
State  College.  He  then  came  to  Sunbury  and 
learned  the  machinist's  trade  in  the  Pennsylvania 


480 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


railroad  shops,  following  this  work  from  1896  to 
1901,  after  which  he  conducted  a  foundry  and 
machine  shop  for  a  time.  For  a  few  years  he 
'i-  with  the  Edison  Electric  Light  Company.  In 
1907  he  engaged  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business 
at  Market  Square,  taking  the  establishment 
founded  by  his  father-in-law.  T.  W.  Scott,  in  1881. 
He  has  managed  the  business  admirably,  the  trade 
being  in  a  thriving  state. 

Socially  Mr.  Guyon  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  Mr.  Northumberland  chap- 
ter. No.  11  t,  R.  A.  M..  Mount  Ilermon  Command- 
ery,  No.  85,  K.  'I'.,  and  Zembo  Temple,  A.  A.  0. 
N.  M.  S.,  of  Harrisburg.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  was  a  member  of  Company  E, 
12th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania   Volunteers. 

Mr.  Guyon  married  Mary  E.  Scott,  daughter  of 
T.  W.  Scott,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  have  a 
family  of  four  children:  Mary  F.,  Lucian  J., 
.Tames  T.  and  Hayes  S. 

ELMER  F.  SMITH,  of  Milton.  Northumber- 
land county,  has  made  his  home  in  that  borough 
from  boyhood  and  is  one  of  the  respei  ted  citizens 
of  the  place.  He  has  |„ni;  been  engaged  as  an  en- 
gineer  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad. 

Mr.  Smith  was  horn  May  1.  1855,  at  Fitchburg, 
Mass.,  son  of  Elijah  Smith  and  grandson  of  John 
Smith.  The  grandfather  was  a  native  of  New 
England  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  that  region, 
eventually  settling  at  Birdsboro,  Berks  Co..  Pa.. 
where  lie  followed  his  trade,  shoemaking,  until  his 
death.  His  children  were  Elijah.  Eliza  ami  Har- 
riet (who  married  John  Culp,  of  Reading). 

Elijah  Smith  was  horn  in  Massachusetts  and 
during  his  young  manhood  followed  farming  in 
his  native  State.  In  1869  he  came  to  Northum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  later  settling  in  Montour 
county,  where  he  carried  on  farming  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  He  died  May  I.  1893,  ami  was  buried 
at  the  Exchange  in  that  county.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  firs!  wife  being  Angeline  Walk-,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children:  Molly,  who  mar- 
ried John  •..  Coder,  a  contractor  of  Harrisburg  (he 
died  191D)  :  Adam,  who  is  living  in  Illinois:  El- 
mer E. :  Rebecca,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
David  Fry;  Howard,  living  at  Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa. :  Amies,  deceased;  and  Mil- 
ton, a  resident  of  Montour  county. 

Elmer  E.  Smith  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  'if  his  native  place,  and  coming  to 
Northumberland  county  with  his  father  when 
fourteen  year-  old  also  attended  school  at  Milton 
for  a  time.  lie  remained  with  his  father  until  he 
was  eigl  teen  years  old.  when  he  went  to  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade  at  Milton,  following  that  work 
for  a  period  of  five  years.  In  1872  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
<  lompany,  being  engine  house  man  for  a  few  years. 


until  he  commenced  as  fireman,  and  by  1876  he 
was  a  full-fledged  engineer.  He  has  been  engaged 
as  such  ever  since,  and  is  now  on  the  Milton  branch, 
running  the  Milton  annex.  He  is  one  of  the  well 
known  and  faithful  old  employees  of  the  company. 
justly  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated  in  his  many 
year-'  service  as  an  engineer. 

Socially  Mr.  Smith  holds  membership  in  the 
Knights  nf  Malta,  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles 
ami  the  Independent  Fire  Company,  and  he  is 
well  known  in  the  local  ranks  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  has  served  three  years  as  member  of 
i  tie  borough  council  of  Milton. 

On  Oct.  15,  1874,  Mr.  Smith  married  Annie  A. 
Fryer,  daughter  of  Jacob  Fryer,  of  Milton,  and 
they  reside  at  No.  220  Mahoning  street,  Milton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  hail  two  children:  Lot- 
tie, who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Kint  and  has  one 
child  Robert:  and  Charles  Franklin,  an  employee 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company. 
who  married  Grace  Reed. 

CHARLES  DOUGHTY  WHARTON,  Se.  (de- 
ceased),  was  an  active  and  well  known  figure  in 
the  business  life  of  Sunbury  for  many  years  as 
proprietor  of  what  was  in  his  day  known  as  the 
"Washington  Hotel."'  now  the  "Neff  House."  He 
conducted  one  of  the  best  hotels  in  the  district, 
where  few  men  enjoyed  wider  acquaintance  or  more 
deserved  popularity.  A  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  born  Feb.  -.'7.  1798,  Mr.  Wharton  when  a 
young  man  came  from  that  city  to  Sunbury,  of 
which  place  he  continued  to  be  a  resident  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  in  his 
prime.  June  lo.  1847.  On  Oct.  19.  1821.  he 
married  Maria  Donnel,  who  was  born  in  Sun- 
bury Oct.  1".  1803.  She  died  in  Sunbury,  and 
they  are  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Sunbury. 
Twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whar- 
ton, six  dying  unnamed.  The  others  were:  Mary 
Elizabeth,  horn  July  11.  1821.  who  married  Or. 
O.  W.  Shindel;  Henry  P..  born  Nov.  28,  1826; 
Charles  p..  born  May  5,  1829;  Edward  Gobin, 
born  Aug.  25,  1833;  Amelia  Donnel,  born  April 
15,  1839,  who  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Thomas 
0.  Gran!  :  and  Durell  Jordan,  horn  Sept.  is.  1843. 

Henry  lb  Wharton,  eldesl  son  of  Charles  Dough 
ry  Wharton,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Sunbury  Nov.  28, 
1826.  He  learned  the  trade  of  printer  under  Col- 
onel Best,  then  editor  of  the  Intelligencer,  at  Dan- 
ville. Pa.,  and  for  several  years  was  employed  in 
-■I'  the  Sunburj  American,  where  lie  was 
working  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  One  of 
the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  for  volunteers 
went  to  the  front  April  23.  1861,  as  a  member  of 
I  lompany  F  (  Capt.  Charles  J.  Bruner),  11th  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Regiment,  with  which  lie 
served  his  term  of  three  months.    At  its  expiration 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


481 


he  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  C  (Capt. 
J.  P.  S.  Coliin),  47th  Regiment,  and  he  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war.  having  reenlisted  at  the 
end  of  the  three  years,  in  the  same  command. 
His  record  throughout  was  our  of  faithful  and 
honorable  service. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Wharton  resumed 
his  trade,  having  heen  given  a  position  in  the 
government  printing  office  at  Washington.  Sev- 
eral years  later  he  was  transferred  thence  to  the 
interior  department,  afterward  to  the  subtreasury 
depart n n -n t  in  Philadelphia  and  eventually  to  a 
position  in  the  United  States  mint,  in  that  city, 
which  he  was  holding  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
Feb.  1,  1898.  However,  he  was  not  in  the  gov- 
ernment service  continuously  throughout  this  pe- 
riod. Under  Cleveland's  administration  he  shared 
the  fate  of  many  Republicans,  being  removed  from 
office,  but  he  was  reinstated  during  McKinley's 
second  term.  He  spent  various  periods  in  Sun- 
bury  between  his  terms  of  service  in  the  govern- 
ment employ,  and  for  several  years  was  employed 
as  clerk  in  the  office  of  Hon.  J.  B.  Packer,  for 
whom  he  had  the  warmest  friendship  and  admira- 
tion. He  had  many  friends  in  the  borough,  being 
a  man  of  kindly  disposition  and  genial  manners, 
always  cordial  in  his  meetings  with  friends  and 
acquaintances.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  during  his  residence  in  Sun- 
bury  identified  with  the  church  choir,  of  which 
be  was  an  interested  and  faithful  member.  A 
few  years  before  his  death,  while  engaged  at  a 
manufacturing  plant  in  Philadelphia,  he  was 
knocked  down  and  clubbed  by  a  robber,  his  inju- 
ries being  so  severe  that  he  never  wholly  recov- 
ered from  the  effect,  lie  was  at  work  in  the  mint, 
however,  up  to  within  a  few  days  of  his  decease. 
Mr.  Wharton  was  a  prominent  member  of  G.  A. 
R.  Post  No.  ■'.  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  body 
he  had  high  standing.  He  was  buried  in  Monu- 
ment cemetery,  lb'  was  twice  married,  but  left 
no  children. 

Charles  1).  Wharton.  Jr..  son  of  Charles  Dough- 
ty Wharton.  Sr.,  was  horn  May  5,  1829.  When 
the  war  with  Mexico  broke  oui  he  was  serving  in 
the  United  States  navy,  and  he  took  part  in  the 
operations  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  being  boat- 
swain and  one  of  a  small  number  who  rowed 
ashore  and  in  a  hand  to  hand  fight,  with  cutlass- 
es, drove  back  a  squadron  of  Mexican  lancers 
who  had  surrounded  Gen.  Phil.  Kearny,  whom 
they  succeeded  in  rescuing.  For  this  brave  act 
Congress  passed  a  special  vote  of  thanks,  a  copy 
of  wlii,  h.  bearing  the  seal  of  the  secretary  of  the 
navy,  Mr.  Wharton  preserved  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  as  well  as  a  document  showing  his  part  in 
the  affair.  He  also  received  a  sum  of  money  in 
consideration  thereof.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war  be  enlisted  in  Company  F,  11th  Penn- 

31 


sylvania  Volunteers,  afterward  enlisted  in  the  45th 
Regiment,     Pennsylvania     Volunteers     (Governor 

Beaver's  old  command),  was  in  Company  F,  36th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  in  Company  G, 
is  1th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  serving  until  dis- 
charged July  14,  1865,  by  reason  of  the  close  of 
the  war.  Among  the  principal  engagements  in 
which  he  took  part  were  Gettysburg,  Antietam, 
South  Mountain.  Falling  Waters  and  Petersburg. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  his  trade,  that  of 
molder.  On  March  11.  1K8(>.  he  entered  the  Penn- 
sylvania Soldiers'  and  Sailors"  Home  at  Erie, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1887,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  An  Erie  paper  -aid. 
in  an  obituary  notice: 

"He  was  a  grand  hero,  yet  his  gentle,  childish 
ways  would  never  give  the  impression  that  he 
had  fought  hand  to  hand  with  Mexican  lancers,  or, 
with  yardarm  locked  to  yardarm,  served  the  -nick- 
ing guns.  Probably  not  half  a  do/en  of  Ids  com- 
rades in  the  Home  know  his  record." 

Services  were  held  over  his  remains  at  the  1I< 
and  the  body  was  then  sent  to  his  -on  at  Sunbury 
for  burial  beside  his  wife,  who  had  died  some 
years  before.  A  detail  of  comrades  accompanied 
the  remains  to  the  railroad  station.  "lie  lived 
the  life  of  a  soldier,  and  the  good  deeds  he  did 
live  on  and  help  to  make  the  world  better." 

Mr.  Wharton  married  Mary  Irwin,  daughter  of 
Mai  tin  and  Rachel  (Irwin)  Irwin,  and  a  sister 
of  Jarid  0.  Irwin,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.  They  had 
these  children:  William  A.,  John  A..  Charles  M.. 
Mary  A.  and  Edith  E. 

Durell  Jordan  Wharton,  only  surviving  mem- 
ber of  the  family  of  Charles  Doughty  Wharton. 
Sr..  was  born  in  Sunbury  Sept.  18,  1843.  He 
learned  shoemaking.  and  has  followed  that  Trade 
all  his  life.  Like  his  brother,  he  served  his  coun- 
try faithfully  during  the  Civil  war.  becomii 
soldier  in  the  3d  Pennsylvania  Artillery.  On  dune 
s.  L868,  he  married  Isabella  Thompson,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Thompson,  oi  Sunbury.  and  she  died 
Dec.  10.  1910.  aged  fifty-nine  war-,  nine  month-. 
five  days.  By  this  union  there  were  three  chil- 
dren :  Annie  Jordan,  born  April  (i.  1870,  who  died 
April  1,  1871;  Mary  L.  hem  April  L6,  L872;  and 
Henry  Donnel,  horn  Jan,  I.  1874,  who  died  April 
•.':>.  is;;. 

Mary  L.  Wharton,  daughter  of  Durell  J.  Whar- 
ton, was  married  Feb.  23,  1911,  to  Charles  Cald- 
well, wdio  was  born  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  Sept.  5, 
is;:!,  a  -on  of  Joseph  II.  and  Emma  V.  Caldwell, 
residents  of  Columbia.  .Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Caldwell 
tllll|.  ,  ;  -.,.  wedding  trip,  through  the  South, 

visiting  among  other  places  Washington,  1 ».  C, 
and  Old  Point  Comfort.  Mr.  Caldwell  is  a  whole- 
sale dealer  in  cigars  in  Sunbury,  manufacturer 
of  the  well  known  brand  El-Serena,  and  does  a 
business.     Mrs.  Caldwell  is  an  active  worker 


482 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  highly  respected 
among  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 
She  owns  her  home  at  No.  242  Chestnut  street. 

HENRY  BILLMEYER,  lumberman  and  farm- 
er, of  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  has  car- 
ried on  operations  in  both  lines  on  an  extensive 
scale,  and  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  his 
section.  He  is  a  large  land  owner,  and  still  over- 
sees his  agricultural  work  and  does  custom  mill 
work,  but  does  not  undertake  as  large  contracts 
as  he  handled  in  his  younger  years,  though  he  has 
not  by  any  means  relinquished  business  activity. 
Mr.  Billmeyer  was  born  Oct.  17,  1842,  on  the 
old  family  homestead  in  Montour  county,  Pa. 
The  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  his  first 
ancestors  in  this  country  settled  at  Lewisburg, 
Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  were  among  the  pio- 
neers. Three  brothers,  Martin,  George,  and  Andrew 
Billmeyer,  moved  thence  to  what  is  now  Liberty 
township,  Montour  county,  where  they  took  up 
land  which  is  still  owned  by  their  posterity.  Of 
these,  Andrew  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Henry 
Billmeyer. 

Andrew  Billmeyer,  born  in  1756,  died  upon  his 
farm  in  Liberty  township  Feb.  2,  1825,  aged  sixty- 
eight  years,  two  months,  ten  days.  His  wife, 
Fanny  Brunei-,  born  in  1758,  died  Feb.  S,  is-.1::. 
aged  sixty-five  years,  five  months,  sixteen  days,  and 
they  are  interred  in  a  private  burial  ground  upon 
the  homestead.  Their  children  were:  Andrew,  Jr., 
George  (born  1779,  died  1853),  Martin,  Mrs.  Mary 
Lesher,  Mrs.   Benjamin  Knauss  and   Mrs.   Kelly. 

Martin  Billmeyer,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  in 
L771  in  Montour  county  and  there  passed  his  en- 
tire life,  dying  Dec.  6,  1855,  aged  seventy-eight 
years,  three  months,  twenty-eight  days.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  distiller  of  rye.  apples  and  peaches, 
and  was  a  prosperous  and  well  known  man  of  his 
time.  His  wife.  Margaret  (Himerich),  born  in 
1790,  died  .March  I.  1870,  aged  eighty  years,  twen- 
ty days,  and  they  too  are  buried  in  the  family 
plot  before  mentioned.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Jacob;  Polly,  who  married  John  Hower; 
Catharine,  who  married  Isaac  Blue:  John,  who 
died  unmarried;  Daniel,  born  in  1817,  died  in 
1884,  who  married  Christian  Cumings,  born  in 
is-.'-.',  died  180.3  (they  left  no  children);  Peter, 
who  married  Hailey  Roat :  Sarah,  who  married 
John  Gouger;  Martin,  who  married  Maria 
Kramm;  Fanny,  who  married  Benjamin  Gresh; 
Andrew  J.,  born  in  1831,  died  in  1906,  who  mar- 
ried Malinda  Bowers:  and  Harriet,  who  married 
Jackson  Moss. 

Jacob  Billmeyer,  son  of  Martin,  was  born  upon 
the  homestead,  and  died  there  May  30,  1881,  aged 
seventy-two  years,  six  months,  seventeen  days.  He 
followed  farming  throughout  his  active  years.  He 
married  Eliza  Hower,  who  \va-  horn  in  1813,  and 
died  Feb.  5,  187:5,  and  they  rest  in  the  family  bury- 


ing ground  on  the  old  homestead.  A  family  of 
seven  children  was  born  to  them,  namely:  Hon. 
Alexander  is  mentioned  below  :  Henry  is  mentioned 
below:  Sarah  married  Martin  Blue:  Mary  married 
Frank  Umstead.  of  Washingtonville,  Pa. ;  Margar- 
et married  David  Springer,  who  is  deceased,  and 
she  makes  her  home  in  Liberty  township;  Howard 
married  Kate  Luekens  and  lives  in  Montour  coun- 
ty; Daniel  is  living  in  Montour  county. 

Hon.  Alexander  Billmeyer,  son  of  Jacob,  is  a 
prosperous  lumberman  and  the  owner  of  fourteen 
farms,  thirteen  of  which  are  situated  in 
Montour  county.  On  Nov.  4.  1902,  he  was  elected 
Congressman  from  his  district,  the  Sixteenth,  and 
served  two  years.  He  married  Angelin  Blue, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Blue,  and  they  have  had  five 
children:  Ella  married  Glenn  Crawford:  Alice 
married  Thomas  Vincent,  of  Danville,  Pa.;  Mary 
married  Dr.  II.  A.  Sweigert,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.; 
•Hiram  married  Nellie  Jamson,  of  Danville;  Flor- 
ence married  Gilbert  <;.  Kulp,  of  Shamokin,  Pa. 
Mr.  Billmeyer  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
in  central  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Danville  National  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Dan- 
ville Asylum. 

Henry  Billmeyer  received  his  education  in  the 

pay  scl I-  conducted  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 

home  during  his  early  life,  and  at  a  tender  age 
commenced  to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm,  learn- 
ing the  practical  lessons  of  life  with  far  more 
thoroughness  than  was  considered  necessary  for 
literary  training.  When  he  was  about  twelve 
years  old  he  often  drove  an  old  yoke  of  oxen  (be- 
longing to  his  father)  for  bis  father  and  grand- 
father, who  lumbered  at  the  old  water  sawmill. 
He  was  young,  but  did  what  his  grandfather  told 
him  to  do.  When  a  large  cow  which  they  owned 
had  twin  calves,  it  was  decided  to  raise  them  for 
an  ox  team.  They  were  black,  with  white  faces. 
The  grandfather  told  Henry  he  would  give  him 
ten  dollars  to  break  them  and  the  hoy  took  the 
offer.  When  the  grandfather  took  sick  and  made 
his  will,  lie  willed  the  twin  oxen  to  Henry.  This 
proved  to  he  the  main  team  used  to  get  the  logs 
into  the  mill,  and  also  did  most  all  the  plowing 
work.  Hi-  sisters,  who  also  drove-them,  made  mus- 
lin fly  nets  for  them.  Henry  and  his  brother 
Alex  lumbered  with  them  until  Henry  was  almost 
twenty-one  years  old,  at  which  time  he  was  drafted 
for  the  Union  service  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war.  At  that  time  the  oxen  were  about  twelve 
years  old.  To  help  raise  money  for  a  substitute — 
he  had  to  hire  a  man  not  subject  to  draft  or  go 
himself — he  sold  them  to  his  uncles  in  Juniata 
county.  Jacob  and  George  Hower,  taking  them 
over  the  mountain  through  Northumberland  to 
Selinsgrove,  and  got  seventy-five  dollars,  which  was 
all  the  money  he  had.  He  rode  them  like  horses. 
He  had  to  report  at  Bloom  to  be  examined,  and 
was  found  fit  for  service.     He  and  bis  brother  Al- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


483 


exander  then  pledged  two  colts  and  a  buggy  which 
they  had  for  two  hundred  dollars — and  all  the 
money  they  had  was  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars.  Meantime  he  had  reached  his  majority. 
His  brother  advised  him  not  to  go  into  the  army 
at  once,  so  he  hired  a  substitute,  a  man  named 
George  Smith,  from  Canada,  for  $625.  He  prom- 
ised 1"  ciiinc  haclc  if  he  lived,  but  that  was  I  lie 
lasl  Mr.  Billmeyer  ever  saw  of  him.  Mr.  Bill- 
meyer  ha-  always  felt  thai  this  learn  of  twin  oxen 
which  helped  liini  in  his  early  lumbering  and  farm- 
ing operations,  ami  then  sold  for  enough  to  partly 
defray  Hie  expense  of  hiring  a  substitute  for  arm/; 
service,  contributed  much  to  the  beginning  of  his 
3uccess.  When  he  and  his  brother  Alexander  were 
young  men  they  left  the  cornfield  one  .lav  in  L863 
lo  buy  timber.  Their  capital  was  five  dollars  in 
gold,  and  they  gave  three  dollars  to  Andrew  Rob- 
inson for  a  line  dog  they  wanted,  paying  the  other 
two  down  on  some  timber.  Such  was  the  humble 
start  from  which  these  two  well  known  business 
men  built  up  their  prosperous  mill  and  lumber 
operations.  Mr.  Billmeyer  would  cut  the  timber 
and  haul  it  to  the  mill  in  the  daytime,  and  lie 
and  Ins  brother  would  saw  the  logs  with  an  up 
and  down  saw  run  by  water  power,  doing  this 
work  at  night  by  the  light  of  pine  knots.  In 
i. mie  they  leased  a  sawmill  from  Judge  Moore  and 
Mr.  Snyder,  of  Danville,  and  located  it  on  the 
Sinniigioii  farm,  in  Montour  county,  and  as  they 
prospered  they  were  able  to  buy  it,  paying  $3,000 
for  it.  It  was  a  thirty-horse  power  plant,  and 
ihe\  turned  out  a  large  amount  of  work  with  it. 
After  buying  it  they  moved  it  to  John  Watson's 
farm,  near  Washingtonville,  Montour  county,  and 
the  brothers  divided  the  work,  Henry  Billmeyer 
attending  to  all  the  teaming  and  cutting  of  the 
timber  and  Alexander  Billmeyer  looking  after  the 
Bawmill.  They  moved  it  still  later  to  George 
Smith's  farm.  'Mr.  Smith  being  an  untie  of  Mrs. 
Henry  Billmeyer,  and  here  the  accommodations 
were  at  first  si)  inadequate  that  they  had  to  sleep 
in  the  sheds  and  stables  until  they  could  build 
suitable  quarters.  For  about  two  years  before  dis- 
solving partnership  the  brothers  were  located  on 
a  large  tract  which  they  had  bought  from  James 
Lowery.  When  they  divided  their  interests  Henry 
Billmeyer  took  the  old  homestead  of  111  acres  in 
Liberty  township,  his  brother  continuing  the  mill 
alone,  still  selling  to  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
Company,  which  took  their  mill  output. 

After' the  old  homestead  came  into  his  posses- 
sion Henry  Billmeyer  improved  it  greatly,  putting 
up  an  entire  set  of  new  buildings,  and  he  also 
continued  milling,  buying  a  plant  ami  doing  -aw- 
ing for  his  brother.  His  mill  was  stationed  first 
at  Mooresburg,  in  Montour  county,  whence  he 
shipped  his  product  to  Wooden  &  Jackson,  of 
Berwick,  Pa.  Later  it  was  on  the  Frederick  farm 
in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  coun- 


ty, whence  he  moved  it  to  his  lower  farm  in  Mon- 
tour county,  its  present  location.  There  he  still 
continues  to  do  custom  work,  and  he  looks  care- 
fully after  his  agricultural  operations,  which  are 
extensive.  His  lower  farm  was  an  old  McMahan 
farm,  and  when  he  first  bought  it  contained  230 
acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added;  it  has  fine 
buildings.  The  soil  is  excellent,  and  the  place  is 
valuable  in  every  way.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billinewi 
spend  their  summers  there,  making  their  home 
in  Milton  the  rest  of  the  year.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  progressive  citizens  of  his  section,  and  his 
undertakings  have  not  only  proved  profitable  to 
him  but  also  a  benefit  to  every  locality  in  which 
he  has  had  interests. 

On  Jan.  17,  1869,  Mr.  Billmeyer  married  Han- 
nah Flora,  who  was  born  Dec.  30,  1851,  daughter 
of  James  and  Sarah  A.  (Smith)  Flora,  and  they 
have  had  three  children:  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  H.  B. 
Montgomery,  of  Milton;  Carrie  Ellen,  wife  of 
John  D.  Swanger,  of  Milton;  and  James  H.,  born 
Sept.  1,  187'?,  who  is  unmarried  and  assists  bis  • 
father  in  business. 

James  Flora,  fattier  of  Mrs.  Billmeyer,  was  born 
in  Montour  county.  He  followed  farming  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  later  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  at  Mausdale,  that  county,  maintaining  a 
high  reputation  for  integrity  and  strict  manage- 
ment. His  wife,  Sarah  A.  (Smith),  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Smith,  and  they  are  buried  in 
the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery,  at  Danville,  Pa.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children  :  Jane  E.,  Sallie, 
Mary  C,  William  G,  Hannah,  Caroline  and  one 
that  died  young.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in 
religious  belief. 

REUBEN  JOHN  GLICK,  attorney  at  law  of 
Shamokin,  Northumberland  county,  is  a  member 
of  an  old  Schuylkill  county  family,  being  a  de- 
scendant in  the  fifth  generation  from  his  emigrant 
ancestor,  John  Click,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  this  country  with  four  brothers  and  set- 
tled in  the  upper  part  of  Buck-  county,  in  what 
is  now  Lehigh  county.  Pa.  There  is  a  Johannes 
"Klick"  buried  at  Wessnersville,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
who  was  born  Oct.  29,  1715,  and  died  March  23, 
1781.  His  wife,  Magdalene,  was  horn  April  23, 
172-lj  ami  died  April  23,  179Q,  on  her  sixty-sixth 

birthday. 

John  Click.  Jr.,  son  of  the  emigrant,  and  the 
,i,,xt  ,„  line  to  Reuben  John  Click,  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Lehigh  county  and  passed  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  that  region,  tilling  the  soil  and 
owning  and  operating  a  distillery.  He  continued 
thus  until  he  reached  the  age  of  seventy,  when 
he  removed  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  living  there  in  retire- 
ment until  his  death. 

Reuben  Click,  son  of  John  Click.  Jr..  was  horn 
in  Lehigh  county,  on  the'  old  Click  homestead, 
March    19,   1809."      He   passed    all    his    life   there, 


484 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


engaged  in  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farming,  and 
died  Jan.  1.  1892.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  and  in  political  faith  was  an 
old-line  Whig  until  after  the  disruption  of  the 
party,  in  1858,  when  he  became  a  Republican.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Allen,  who  was  born  July  5, 
1807,  daughter  of  Moses  Allen,  the  latter  born 
Sept.  16,  1781,  of  English  descent;  Mr.  Allen 
lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  Warren  county. 
\.  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glick  had  six  sons  and  one 
daughter:  William  Wallace  C,  born  Dec.  19,  1830; 
Moses,  Dec.  35,  1833;  Hannah  Charity,  Sept.  S. 
1837;  JdBeph  Miller,  Aug.  13.  1840;  John  W.. 
Sept.  12,  1842;  Edward  A..  Feb.  Ki.  1845:  James 
Monroe,  Aug.  12,  1847. 

Joseph  Miller  Glick  was  born  Aug.  13,  1840, 
in  Lehigh  county,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
and  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  township. 
In  May,  1864,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union 
army,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  ('.  133d 
Regiment,  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he 
served  four  months.  In  1866  he  settled  at  Girard- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  becoming  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  that  place.  He  engaged  in 
the  shoe  business,  building  up  a  lucrative  trade 
in  that  line,  in  which  he  was  interested  until  his 
death,  meantime  also  acquiring  other  valuable 
business  interests.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Girard- 
ville  Savings  Fund  and  Loan  Assoi  iation,  the  Gi- 
rardville  Gas   Company  and  the  Palace  Theatre 

Company.     In  1875  he  was  one  of  tl rganizers 

of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank  of  Ashland  and 
d  as  a  director  from  that  time  until  his  death  : 
lie  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Girardville.  Mr.  Glick  was  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  before  Cleveland's  first  ad- 
ministration held  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Gi- 
rardville for  fourteen  year-.  He  also  served  as 
a  member  of  the  borough  council. 

(in  Aug.  '.'»;.  1866,  Mr.  Glick  married  Mary 
Margaret  Hower,  daughter  of  John  Hower,  of 
Girardville,  and  she  preceded  him  to  the  gTave, 
dying  in  October.  1887.  Mr.  Click  died  May  17, 
1894.  They  are  buried  at  Girardville.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  sons:  George  W..  born 
Feb.  2,  1872,  is  a  mail  agent  on  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  mad  and  makes  his  home  at  Shamokin ; 
be  married  Jennie  Traylore  and  they  have  one 
child,  Alma.  Reuben  J.  was  born  Aug.  15,  18T4. 
A.  Hower.  born  Dec."  9,  1883.  is  now  managing 
the  Gliek  shoe  store  at  Girardville;  he  is  unmar- 
ried. 

John  Hower.  Mrs.  Mary  Margaret  (Hower) 
Glick's  father,  was  the  first  settler  at  Girardville, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  built  a  hotel  which  he 
called  the  "Girard  Eouse"  in  honor  of  Stephen 
Girard,  who  often  stopped  there.  It  was  the  first 
public  house  at  the  place  and  Mr.  Hower  con- 
ducted  it  until  his   death,  which  occurred   there. 


He  married  Lucretta  Gable,  daughter  of  John 
Gable,  and  a  large  family  was  born  to  their  union, 
as  ollows:  Harriet,  who  married  Thomas  Cher- 
ington  (they  reside  at  Catawissa,  Pa.)  ;  Mary  Mar- 
garet. Mrs.  Glick;  Emma,  wife  of  George  W.  Barn- 
hart:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  S.  K.  Cleaver:  Clara,  wife 
of  John  W.  Mertz;  John;  Clinton,  deceased;  Wil- 
liam F. :  Albert  L. :  and  Thomas,  deceased. 

Reuben  John  Glick  was  born  Aug.  15,  1874,  at 
Girardville.  After  liis  preparatory  education  he 
attended  the  ,  Bloomsburg  normal  school,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1891.  He  then  entered 
Lafayette  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1895,  locating  in  Shamokin  July  31st  of  that 
year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Northumberland 
county  bar  July  30,  1898,  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  legal  practice.  Mr.  (Mick  has  gained  a 
lucrative  clientage,  anil  the  fact  that  he  is  solicitor 
for  the  poor  district  shows  that  he  has  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  citizens  generally,  his  high 
personal  character  being  his  best  recommendation. 
Mr.  Glick  has  his  office  in  the  McConnell  building. 

Mr.  Click  is  quite  prominent  in  local  politics 
as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  of  which 
he  is  a  firm  supporter.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  F.Iks  at  Shamokin.  As  a  wide-awake,  ener- 
getic and  disinterested  citizen  he  is  making  a  name 
and  place  for  himself  in  the  home  of  his  adoption 
which  is  but  the  just  reward  of  his  industry  and 
intelligent  efforts. 

HE1M.  The  Heim  family  of  Northumberland 
county  is  numerously  represented  in  this  portion 
of  Pennsylvania,  It  is  descended  from  George 
Heim.  one  of  three  brothers  from  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania  on  their 
arrival  in  America — John  in  Berks  county,  An- 
doni  (or  Andrew)  in  the  Buffalo  Valley  and  Geoi  s 
in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  that  section  now 
embraced  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  buried  at 
Klingerstown  in  Schuylkill  county,  his  grave  be- 
ing in  a  garden,  but  unfortunately  it  has  no  mark- 
er. He  w"as  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelli- 
and  o  good  education,  was  one  of  the  early 
schoolmasters  of  that  region,  and  also  followed 
surveying,  doing  all  the  surveying  required  in 
section  at  the  time.  He  purchased  consider- 
able land  from  the  Indians  over  which  there  was 
atly  litigation  with  the  Penns,  they 
claiming  title.  Heim  had  a  large  strip  of  land 
which  extended  from  the  Himniel  Church  ill  the 
direction  of  Klingerstown.  He  resolutely  op] 
the  window  tax  imposed  by  the  English  Crown 
upon  the  pioneers  during  the  Colonial  days.  He 
probably  was  single  when  he  came  to  America. 
His  wife,  however,  was  of  foreign  extraction,  being 
of  Irish  stock.  They  had  among  others  these  chil- 
dren:  John  (grandfather  of  William  II.  Heim. 
of  Sunbury),  George  (great-grandfather  of 
Charles  A.  Hime,  of  Jordan  township,  and  of  Dan- 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


485 


iel    I).   Heim,   of   Sliamokin),    Paul    (had   a   sob 
Paul ).  Peter  and  Matthias. 

John  Heim,  son  of  George,  was  born  in  1756,  in 
Upper  Mahanoy,  and  died  in  1884,  aged  sixty- 
eight  years.  He  is  buried  at  Klingerstown,  in  a 
garden.  He  was  a  prominent  schoolmaster  of  his 
da]  and  also  followed  farming,  having  consider- 
able land.  He  was  a  leading  and  respected  mem- 
ber nf  the  community,  doing  all  the  writing  and 
similar  business  for  his  section.  In  179<>  the  Fed- 
eral Census  records  him  as  a  resilient  in  that  sec- 
tion of  Berks  county  now  embraced  in  Schuylkill 
county,  in  the  Upper  Mahantango  Valley,  in 
which  Klingerstown  is  now  located.  He  then  had 
four  sons — all  under  sixteen  years  of  age — and  two 
daughters.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first 
union  hail  seven  children  (another  account  says 
hi'  hail  seven  sons  and  one  daughter  by  first  wife). 
His  second  wife  was  Sophia  Kohl,  who  remarried 
after  his  death  anil  died  about  1863,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  ai  St. 
John's  Church  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township. 
Bight  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely: 
Mnlh  man  led  Peter  Beisel :  Christina  married  a 
Straub :  John,  a  carpenter,  located  in  Richfield, 
Snyder  Co.,  Pa.;  George  lived  near  Heplers,  Pa.: 
Rev.  William  was  an  Evangelical  preacher  (he 
had  an  only  daughter.  Sallie.  who  married  Dr. 
Hensyl,  of  Howard.  Pa.)  :  Peter  lived  at  Watson- 
town,  Pa.  (he  had  a  son  John,  who  is  deceased, 
and  three  daughters);  Daniel  is  mentioned  later: 
Jonathan,  who  located  in  the  West,  had  a  large 
family,  now  located  in  Iowa  and   Indiana. 

Daniel  Heim,  seventh  child  of  John  and  Sophia 
(Kohl)  Heim,  was  born  Jan.  15.  1816,  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Northumberland  county.  His 
mother's  second  marriage  occurred  when  he  was 
about  twelve  years  old.  and  he  soon  afterward 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life  among  strangers. 
For  three  years  he  found  employment  anion"  tie 
farmers,  and  then  in  Union  county  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  followed  that  and  mill- 
wrighting  eighteen  years.  In  1850  he  engaged  in 
the  merchandise  business  in  his  native  township, 
at  Greenbrier,  and  followed  it  there  for  sixteen 
years,  building  the  large  brick  store  and  residence 
there  which  he  occupied.  Thence  he  came  to  Sun- 
bury  and  remained  one  year,  in  1867  moving  to 
Danville,  where  he  kept  the  '-Danville  Hotel"  one 
year.  In  1870,  in  partnership  with  his  son  John. 
he  embarked  in  the  hardware  business  at  Sunbury, 
a  business  still  carried  on  by  his  sons  at  the  old 
location.  John  Heim  retired  from  the  business  in 
1870.  after  which  Mr.  Heim  continued  to  conduct 
it  on  his  own  account  during  the  rest  of  his  life, 
signing  his  own  checks  until  two  days  before 
his  death.  The  large  brick  store  at  Xo.  415  Mar- 
ket street,  still  occupied  by  the  business,  was  built 
by  him.    Meantime  he  became  interested  in  a  man- 


ufacturing enterprise  in  the  same  line,  being  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Sunbury  Nail,  Bar  and 
Guide  Iron  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Sunbury. 
of  which  he  was  vice  president  from  its  inception. 
For  some  years  he  was  a  director  of  the  First  .Na- 
tional Bank.  He  prospered  throughout  his  busi- 
ness career,  and  at  the  time  of  Ins  death,  which 
occurred  April  17,  1895,  in  Sunbury,  he  was  in 
comfortable  circumstances.  He  was  buried  at 
Pomfret  Manor  cemetery. 

Mr.  Heim  served  one  year  (1871)  as  chief  bur- 
gess of  Dunbury,  elected  as  the  Republican  candi- 
date. He  was  a  Democrat  until  1860,  joining  the 
Republican  party  as  .me  of  Lincoln's  supporters. 
lie  was  always  interested  m  the  cause  of  free  edu- 
cation, being  its  most  active  advocate,  in  fact,  dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township. 
where  he  served  as  school  director.  In  his  earlier 
manhood  he  was  very  prominent  in  local  military 
affairs,  in  which  he  took  keen  enjoyment.  Before 
the  war  he  was  captain  of  militia  and  lieutenant 
of  a  volunteer  company,  and  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Johnston  was  commissioned 
major  of  a  uniformed  volunteer  battalion,  hold- 
ing that  rank  five  years.  Of  large  physique  and 
dignified  carriage,  he  made  a  most  impressive  ap- 
pearance in  his  military  capacity,  for  which  he 
seemed  particularly  well  fitted.  He  always  rode,  a 
line  horse.  Six  feet,  four  inches  in  height,  straight 
even  in  his  old  age,  his  was  a  commanding  pres- 
ence, and  a  picture  taken  when  he  was  seventy-nine 
years  old  shows  that  he  retained  his  aristocratic 
bearing  and  comeliness  to  the  end  of  his  days.  In 
fact,  he  was  generally  conceded  to  be  the  finest 
looking  man  in  his  section.  He  was  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him,  in  any  of  the  rela- 
tions of  life,  for  his  resolute  character  and  strict 
honesty.  He  was  well  known  in  Masonic  circles, 
belonging  to  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sun- 
bury. and  to  Northumberland  Chapter,  Xo.  174, 
R.  A.  M..  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  building  St.  John's  Church,  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  township. 

On  Oct.  23,  1863,  Daniel  Heim  married  in  his 
native  township  Mary  Hornberger,  daughter  of 
George  and  Polly  (Maurer)  Hornberger,  the  lat- 
ter a  sister  of  Felix  Maurer,  at  one  time  sheriff  of 
Northumberland  county.  She  died  in  October, 
1896.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heim  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren, namely:  John  H.,  of  Sunbury:  Lydia.  who 
married  Peter  Gonsor;  Hattie.  who  married  Sam- 
uel If.  Snyder,  and  died  in  July.  1909;  Sarah  A., 
horn  Nov.  o.  1843,  who  married  Charles  Schlegel, 
and  died  May  20,  1863  (she  is  buried  at  St.  John's 
Church  in  Upper  Mahanoy)  ;  Louise  Anna,  widow 
of  Albert  Haas,  of  Sunbury;  James  B..  who  lies 
in  the  National  cemetery  at  Baltimore,  having 
died  in  1865  on  his  way  home,  after  being  mustered 
on!  at  the  close  of  his  service  in  the  Union  army; 


486 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


George  W.,  of  Sunbury;  Capt.  William  Henry; 
Mary  Ellen,  who  died  in  1863 ;  and  Percival  Os- 
car, of  Sunbury. 

Capt.  William  H.  Heim,  son  of  Daniel,  was 
born  at  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
Sept.  13,  1855.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  township  schools,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
first  pupils  at  the  Sunbury  high  school,  then 
taught  by  one  Professor  Miller.  In  1869  he  went 
to  learn  the  job  printing  business  under  Young- 
man  &  Keefer.  and  one  year  later  became  associated 
with  his  father  as  clerk  in  his  hardware  store,  with 
which  he  has  since  been  identified.  After  the  death 
of  his  mother  the  business  was  purchased  by  his 
brother,  George  W.  Heim,  who  continued  with  it 
for  twelve  years,  William  H.  and  P.  Oscar  Heim 
meantime  entering  into  partnership  with  him.  In 
1899  William  H.  Heim  purchased  their  interests, 
and  he  now  conducts  the  business  as  D.  Heim's 
Son.  He  is  a  substantial-  business  man  and  highly 
respected  in  commercial  circles,  has  served  as 
school  director  of  Sunbury,  and  was  tendered  the 
nomination  as  representative  of  his  district  in  the 
State  Legislature,  but  refused  the  honor,  though  he 
takes  a  public-spirited  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  community.  He  has  been  active,  however,  in 
fraternal  life,  and  especially  prominent  in  local 
military  affaire.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of  Sunbury,  and  was  a  delegate 
to  the  meeting  in  California  in  1909 ;  is  a  member 
of  Lodge  No.  32,  F.  &  A.  M.  (pursuivant  for  many 
years),  Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174.  R.  A. 
M.,  and  Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85, 
K.  T.,  all  of  Sunbury,  Pa.:  of  the  West  Branch 
Consistory,  and  also  of  Irem  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  \ . 
M.  S. 

Capt.  Heim  has  been  connected  with  the  Nation- 
al Guard  since  1870.  He  saw  active  service  in  the 
railroad  riot  of  that  year.  He  first  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  E,  8th  Regiment,  which  company 
later  was  transferred  to  the  12th  Regiment.  In 
1877  he  organized  Company  E,  and  in  1898  or- 
ganized Company  C.  He  is  now  captain  of  Com- 
pany K,  12th  Regiment,  having  held  that  office 
since  June,  1898:  Companies  E  and  K  have  a  large 
armory  at  Sunbury.  The  Captain  is  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  holding 
membership  in  Zion's  Church  at  Sunbury. 

Captain  Heim  has  been  twice  married.  On  Oct. 
25,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Annie  L.  Eyster, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  Eyster,  of  Sunbury.  She 
died  June  30,  1895,  aged  thirty-eight  years,  the 
mother  of  two  children,  Daniel  Claud  (a  farmer 
above  Sunbury)  and  Mary  Mabel  (a  trained  nurse, 
of  Philadelphia).  In  1906  Captain  Heim  married' 
Daise  Rose  DeHaven,  daughter  of  John  DeHaven, 
whose  father  built  the  Northern  Central  railroad 
from  Harrisburg  to  York.  There  is  one  child, 
Lenora  DeHaven.  by  this  union. 

Percival  Oscar  Heim.  hardware  merchant  at 


Sunbury,  was  born  at  Greenbrier,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  Jan.  26,  1861,  son  of  Daniel 
Heim.  He  was  educated  in  Sunbury,  graduating 
from  the  high  school,  and  began  clerking  at  an 
early  age  in  his  father's  hardware  store.  For  three 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  his  brothers 
George  W.  and  Capt.  William  H.  Heim,  finally 
selling  out  to  Captain  Heim  and  opening  up  a 
store  of  his  own  at  No.  438  Market  street.  He  is 
still  established  at  that  location,  having  built  up 
a  profitable  trade.  Mr.  Heim  has  the  reputation 
for  business  sagacity  common  to  the  members  of 
his  family,  and  is  one  of  the  esteemed  citizens  of 
Sunbury  in  business  and  social  circles. 

In  1890  he  married  Ellie  Houghendobler, 
daughter  of  Zacharias  Houghendobler,  of  Milton, 
Pa.,  and  they  have  had  one  child.  Helen.  They 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  he  is  a 
Republican  in  politics. 


George  Heim  (2),  the  great-grandfather  of 
Charles  A.  Hime,  of  Jordan  township,  and  of  Dan- 
iel D.  Heim,  of  Shamokin,  was  a  son  of  the  George 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  as  previ- 
ously recorded.  He  was  a  resident  of  Mahanoy 
(now  Washington)  township,  and  was  probably 
buried  at  the  Himmel  Church.  He  had.  among 
other  children,  Philip,  who  it  is  said  was  a  preach- 
er and  lived  in  lower  Northumberland  county. 

George  Heim  (3),  son  of  George  (2),  was  born 
March  20,  1791,  and  died  Jan.  26,  1860:  his  wife. 
Susanna  (Herb),  born  April  18,  1794,  died  Oct. 
28,  1872.  They  are  buried  at  Himmel's  Church, 
of  which  he  was  a  Lutheran  member,  and  he  was 
engaged  as  a  laborer  on  the  construction  of  the 
old  stone  church,  wheeling  the  stones  up  an  in- 
cline. He  lived  near  this  church,  in  Washington 
township,  and  did  laborer's  work,  owning  but  a  few 
acres  of  land.  His  children  were :  John,  Harry, 
Jonas,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Isaac,  Anthony,  Hettie  (who 
married  twice,  her  first  husband  being  named 
Bohner)  and  Susan  (Mrs.  Kautz). 

Daniel  Heim,  son  of  George  (3),  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Daniel  D.  Heim  of  Shamokin,  Pa.  He  was 
born  in  1820,  and  died  aged  over  seventy  years. 
He  is  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  Lutheran  member.  Mr.  Heim  lived  in  Wash- 
ington township,  and  was  engaged  as  a  carpenter 
and  undertaker,  being  succeeded  in  the  business 
by  A.  Z.  Drumheller.  He  built  some  of  the  first 
coal  breakers  in  Schuylkill  county.  A  man  of  pro- 
gressive and  intelligent  mind,  he  was  one  of  the 
early  supporters  of  the  public  school  system  in  his 
section,  being  a  staunch  advocate  of  free  schools 
when  it  meant  something  to  stand  for  popular  edu- 
cation in  a  hostile  community.  He  believed  in  the 
education  of  children  and  carried  his  children  to 
school  when  the  snow  was  deep  rather  than  de- 
prive them  of  any  of  the  opportunities  he  valued 
so  highly.    He  served  as  school  director  and  also  as 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


487 


supervisor  of  his  township.     In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

Mr.  Heim  married  Harriet  Drumheller,  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  Drumheller,  and  she  lived  to  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  dying  in  1901.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Daniel  D. ;  Joel,  deceased;  Susan, 
married  to  Conrad  Hoffman ;  Emeline,  married  to 
Joel  Rebuck ;  Harriet,  married  to  Monroe  McKin- 
ney. 

Daniel  D.  Heim,  a  retired  contractor  of  Sham- 
okin,  was  born  in  Washington  township  May  18, 
1847.  He  worked  at  the  carpenters  trade  from 
youth,  and  when  only  in  his  sixteenth  year  left 
home  and  went  to  work  in  Schuylkill  county  at 
three  dollars  a  day.  Except  for  the  time  he  was  in 
the  mercantile  business,  at  Shamokin,  conducting 
a  flour,  feed  and  produce  store  for  three  years, 
Mr.  Heim  followed  the  trade  off  and  on  until  his 
retirement,  being  one  of  the  leading  men  in  his 
line  in  Shamokin,  where  he  was  given  many  im- 
portant contracts.  He  built  the  present  high  school 
of  Shamokin  (in  1894),  the  silk  mill  (in  about 
1900),  the  Weaver  building  and  the  Morgan 
Kearney  building,  all  in  Shamokin,  and  did  con- 
siderable work  outside  of  that  place.  He  employed 
as  many  as  seventy-live  carpenters  at  a  time,  and 
often  had  three  hundred  men  on  his  payroll.  As 
he  prospered  he  acquired  other  important  interests, 
being  one  of  the  five  original  owners  of  the  large 
silk  Hull  .it  Shamokin,  and  he  helped  to  start  and 
organize  a  number  of  enterprises  in  that  borough. 
Mr.  Hi'iin  is  a  Republican  and  at  one  time  wielded 
considerable  influence  in  local  political  matters.  He 
U;i.  once  a  candidate  tor  county  treasurer,  but  was 
defeated.  Fraternally  Mr.  Heim  affiliates  with  the 
Elks  at  Shamokin:  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  (charter  member  of 
Washington  Camp  No.  19)  at  Sunbury;  and  the 
Freemasons,  in  the  latter  connection  belonging  to 
Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  2....;  Shamokin  Chapter,  No. 
264;  Shamokin  Commandery.  No.  77;  Blooms- 
burg  Council;  Bloomsburg  Consistory;  and  the 
Shrine  at  Reading. 

In  1882  Mr.  Heim  married  Grace  Barnes,  ot 
Ashland,  Pa.,  and  six  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union:  Homer  B.,  now  of  Chicago,  111.; 
Erma  V..  at  home:  J.  Roy,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.; 
Ariel  M. :  Daniel  E.,  and  James  M.  Mr.  Heim 
and  his  family  worship  at  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Shamokin. 


Jacob  Heim.  son  of  George  (3),  was  a  resident 
of  Washington  township  and  a  blacksmith  and 
farmer  by  occupation,  following  his  trade  forty- 
six  years,  from  the  time  he  was  eighteen  years  old. 
He 'owned  a  small  tract  of  twenty-eight  acres  in 
Jordan  township  (now  owned  by  David  Geise), 
and  was  an  industrious,  respected  citizen  of  that 
township,  which  he  served  some  years  as  overseer 
of  the  poor.     He  died  Oct.  14,  1897,  aged  se 


two  years,  six  months,  eighteen  days.  His  wife, 
Anna  Anderson,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  and 
came  to  Northumberland  county  with  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Mary  Anderson,  who  married  for  her  second 
husband  a  Mr.  Kaufman.  Mrs.  Heim  died  Nov. 
18,  1902,  aged  seventy-three  years,  twelve  days.  She 
and  her  husband  are  buried  at  the  Schwartz 
Church,  at  Urban.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children:  Sarah  married  Fred  Kohl;  Emanuel 
settled  at  Omaha,  Nebr.;  William  died  on  the 
homestead  April  24.  1902,  aged  fifty-one  years, 
five  months,  eighteen  days;  Charles  A.  is  men- 
tioned below;  Louisa,  who  now  lives  out  West,  has 
been  twice  married,  first  to  a  Wormer;  Mary  is  the 
widow  of  Harry  Ladler;  Polly  married  Frank 
Troutman:  Daniel  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin;  Mag- 
dalena  died  unmarried;  Erisman  died  young;  Ella 
died  in  infancy. 

Chables  A.  Hime  (Heim),  son  of, Jacob,  was 
born  in  the  Swabian  Creek  district  in  Washington 
township,  Sept.  10,  1852.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life  from  early  boyhood,  his  educational  advantag- 
es, which  were  limited,  being  such  as  the  old  pay 
schools  afforded.  He  began  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade  when  a  mere  child,  and  followed  it 
at  home  with  his  father,  continuing  to  do  his  own 
blacksmith  work  to  the  present  day.  He  began 
farming  for  himself  in  1882  in  Jordan  township  at 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  his  property  being  a 
half  mile  east  of  Urban.  Here  he  also  began  house- 
keeping. Mr.  Hime  has  a  tract  of  forty-six  acres 
cleared  and  twenty-eight  acres  of  woodland  and  in 
addition  to  farming  dues  threshing  and  lumber 
sawing,  having  an  excellent  business  in  both  lines, 
lie  had  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand  sawed  off  by 
accident  in  May,  1904. 

Mr.  Hime  is  a  self-made  man,  having  attained 
the  prosperity  he  now  enjoys  by  industry  and  the 
most  honorable  methods.  He  is  thoroughly  re- 
spected and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all  his  friends 
and  neighbors.  He  served  his  township  a  number 
of  years  as  school  director  and  supervisor.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Schwartz  Church  at  Urban,  of 
which  he  has  been  deacon  and  trustee. 

In  1879  Mr.  Hime  married  (first)  Henrietta 
Schwartz,  daughter  of  Peter  Schwartz,  and  she 
died  Sept.  28,  1890.  aged  forty-eight  wars  eleven 
months,  six  days,  the  mother  of  five  children:  (1) 
Sarah  married  Amos  Lohr,  of  Mandata.  (2)  Ag- 
nes married  Robert  Kline,  of  Shamokin.  (3) 
Katie,  who  is  a  deaf  mute,  is  the  wife  of  Ed.  Lit- 
zenberger,  and  lives  at  Allentown.  (  1)  Ella  mar- 
ried Victor  Kieffer,  of  Shamokin.  (5)  Mamie 
is  unmarried  and  lives  at  home. 

In  1902  Mr.  Hime  married  (second)  Mrs.  Mary 
(Kieffer)  Wolfgang,  widow  of  William  Wolfgang, 
daughter  of  George  Kieffer,  and  to  them  has-been 
born  one  child.  Mildred   Viola. 

Jacob    Wolfgang,    the    grandfather    of    William 


488 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Wolfgang,  was  bom  Oct.  13,  1787,  and  died  Sept. 
10,  L860.  Hi'  and  a  number  of  the  family  are 
buried  at  St.  Jacob's  (Howerter's)  Church.  He 
had  a  number  of  children.  H>-  was  a  sun  of  Mich- 
ael and  Cristina  Wolfgang,  of  Berks  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  1'.  Wolfgang,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  died  July  8,  1898. 
aged  sixty-six  years,  seven  months,  twenty-eight 
clays.  He  is  buried  at  Hebe,  as  is  also  his  wife, 
Elisa  Ken  lni'-r.  who  was  born  -Tan.  11,  1835,  died 
Sept.  28,  1871.  Mr.  Wolfgang  was  a  Lutheran 
and  a  Democrat.  B\  occupation  lie  was  a  farmer. 
own  tig  land  in  Jordan  township,  Northumber- 
land county.  Hi-  famih  consisted  of  six  children: 
Henry  married  Eliza  Peiffer;  Catharine  married 
Henry  Shipe;  Lovina  married  John  Kimmel :  Wil- 
liam is  mentioned  below;  Elizabeth  married  Fe- 
lix Dieter  j  P0II3   married  George  Brosius. 

William  Wolfgang,  son  of  Jacob  P..  dud  .lam 
38,  L900,  aged  thirty-eighl  (rears,  ten  months,  twen- 
ty-sis days.  Hi-  was  a  native  of  Eldred  township, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  followed  farming  there. 
owning  a  seventy-acre  tract.  He  was  a  Democrat 
11  politics,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging 
to  Howerter's  (St.  Jacob's)  Church.  On  March 
28,    L880,  In-  married  Mary  Kief  bo  them 

were  horn  six  children:  Elizabeth  died  young; 
George  1-  in  thi  State  ol  Washington;  Anna  mar- 
Edwin  Stepp;  Cassie,  unmarried,  is  in  Ogden, 
Utah;  Sophia,  unmarried,  lives  at  Herndpn;  Wil- 
lie 1-  ;it  home. 

WILLIAM  PLUNKET,  who  presided  over  the 
count}'  courts  undei  '  Colonial  regime,  was  a 
physician  by  profession  and  education.  He  was 
the  first  resident  doctor  of  Northumberland  county. 
He  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  In  personal  appear- 
ance be  is  described  as  a  man  of  large  stature,  great 
muscular  development,  and  powerful  strength, 
while  an  imperious  disposition  was  among  his  dis- 
tinguishing mental  traits.  This  is  attested  by  sev- 
eral occurrences  in  his  career  which  yet  retain  a 

in  the  traditions  of  tin-  locality.  On  one  oc- 
casi  'ii.  with  several  boon  companions,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  some  hilarious  proceedings  at  an  Irish 
inn;  the  adjoining  room  was  occupied  by  an  Eng- 
lish nobleman,  who  had  a  curious  and  valuable 
watch,  which  he  sent  to  Plunket  with  a  wager  that 
he  could  not  tell  the  time  by  it;  that  gentleman 
•  <•  illy  put  it  in  his  pocket,  and  sent  a  message  to 
the  Englishman  to  the  effect  that  he  should  call 

him  in  person  if  he  wished  to  know  the  time. 
This  he  never  did,  evidently  out  of  respect  for 
Plunket's  well  known   physical   prowess,   and   the 

.  11  1-  -iid.  retained  tin-  watch  to  the  end  of 
his  life.    At  a  later  date  be  became  involved  in  an 

t  upon  an  English  officer,  in  which  the  latter 
lined  severe  bodily  injuries:  although  dis- 
guised, Plunket  was  n     ignized  by  hi^  stature,  and. 


in  imminent  danger  of  arrest,  was  smuggled  on 
board  a  vessel  in  a  barrel  or  hogshead.  Thus  he 
came  to  America,  and  located  at  Carlisle,  Cum- 
berland Co.,  Pa.,  then  the  western  limit  of  civili- 
zation. There  he  resided  during  the  French  and 
Indian  war.  in  which  he  served  as  lieutenant  and 
surgeon,  receiving  for  his  services  a  grant  of  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  "Soldier's 
Retreat";  it  was  situated  along  the  river  above 
Chillisquaque  creek.  He  was  residing  thereon  as 
early  as  1772,  as  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  Ins  im- 
provements are  mentioned  in  the  return  of  a  road 
in  that  year.  He  was  commissioned  a  justice  for 
Northumberland  county  on  the  24th  of  March, 
L772,  and  officiated  as  presiding  justice  through- 
out the  colonial  period.  Of  the  twelve  judges  com- 
missioned on  that  date  he  was  probably  the  only 
one  who  had  personal  knowledge  of  the  method-  of 
procedure  in  the  English  courts,  and  on  that  ac- 
count was  probably  chosen  to  preside.  In  admin- 
istering the  criminal  law.  his  sentences  were  char- 
acterized by  great  severity.  He  presided  over  the 
courts  for  tin-  las!  time  at  -May  session-.  L776.  In 
January,  1775,  he  was  a  representative  from 
Northumberland  county  in  the  Provincial  conven- 
tion at  Philadelphia,  and  in  December  of  that  year 
he  led  an  expedition  to  Wyoming.  During  the 
struggle  loi  American  independence  he  remained 
neutral  (through  fear  of  forfeiting  his  title  to 
Irish  estates,  it  is  said),  and  does  not  thereafter 
appear  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  county. 

While  a  resident  of  Carlisle  Doctor  Plunket  mar- 
ried Esther,  daughter  of  John  Harris,  of  Harris's 
Ferry,  father  of  John  Harris,  the  founder  of  Har- 
risburg.  They  were  the  parents  oi  tour  daughters, 
of  whom  Elizabeth,  born  in  1755,  married  Samuel 
Maclay,  associate  judge  of  Northumberland  county 
and  United  States  senator;  Isabella,  born  in  1760, 
married  William  Bell,  of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.: 
Margaret  married  Isaac  Richardson,  and  removed 
to  Wayne  county,  X.  Y. :  and  Esther  married  Col. 
Robert  Baxter,  a  British  officer,  and  died  about  a 
year  after  marriage.  The  Doctor  resided  for  some 
years  in  the  Maclay  house  at  Sunbury,  where,  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  Betty  Wiley  was  his  house- 
keeper. His  office,  subsequently  occupied  by  E. 
Greenough  and  David  Rockefeller,  was  on  the  site 
of  E.  W.  Greenough's  residence  on  Front  street, 
Sunbury.  He  became  totally  blind  in  the  later 
years  of  his  life,  when  a  rope  was  stretched  from 
his  residence  to  his  office  so  that  he  could  still 
go  back  and  forth  without  aid.  As  shown  by  his 
will,  which  is  dated  dan.  •'!.  1791,  and  proved  May 
25,  1791,  hi-  died  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  and  is 
buried  in  an  unmarked  grave  in  the  Sunbury  cem- 
etery. Dr.  R.  H.  Awl  had  one  of  his  medical 
works.  "Synopsis  Medieinae,  or  a  Summary  View 
of  the  wlmle  Practice  of  Physick,"  by  John  Allen, 
M.  D.,  F.  R.  S..  printed  at  London  in  1749. 


NOETHUMBEBLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


IS!  I 


HON.  JAMES  POLLOCK,  who  probably 
reached  higher  political  position  than  any  other 
native  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  was  the 
lasi  judge  to  preside  over  her  courts  by  appoint- 
ment of  the  governor.  He  was  born  at  Milton 
Sept.  11.  ism.  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Wil- 
son) Pollock,  natives  of  Chester  cmmty,  Pa.,  of 
Irish  extraction. 

Mr.  Pollock's  education  was  begun  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Milton  with  Joseph  I!.  Anthony  as 
his   first  teacher,  and  continued   at  the  academy 
of  Rev.  David  Kirkpatrick,  where  he  prepared  for 
the  junior  year  at  Princeton,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1831,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class, 
lie  then  began  the  study  of  law  under  Samuel  Hep- 
burn, of  Milton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Northumberland   county   on   Nov.    5,    is:!;;,      lie 
opened   an   office  at   Milton   in  April.   1834;  two 
years  later  he  was  appointed  deputy  attorney  gen- 
eral  for  the  county,  serving  in  this  position  until 
1839.     In    Is  11   he  was  elected  to  Congress  from 
the  Thirteenth   Pennsylvania  district  as  the  Whig 
candidate;  he  was  twice  reelected,  serving  in  the 
Twenty-eighth    Congress    on    the    committee    on 
Claims,  in  the  Twenty-ninth  on  the  committee  on 
Ten  itories.  and  in  the  Thirtieth  as  a  member  of  the 
Ways  and  Means  committee.    On  the  23d  of  June. 
1848,  he  introduced  a  resolution  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  to  report  upon  the  advisabil- 
ity and  feasibility  of  building  a  trans-continental 
railway,  and,  as  chairman  of  the  committee  so  ap- 
pointed, made  the  first,  favorable  official  reporl  on 
tin-   subject.     On   Jan.   16,   1851,  within   a  brief 
period   after  the  conclusion  of  his  third   congres- 
sional   term,    he    was    commissioned    as    president 
judge  of   the    Eighth  Judicial   district    (then   com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Northumberland,  Lycom- 
ing, Columbia,  Sullivan  and  Montour),  his  judi- 
cial incumbency  expiring,  by  the  terms  of  his  com- 
mission, on  Dee.  1.  1851,  after  which  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  law.     In  1854  he  was  the  candidate 
of  the  Whig  and  "Know-Nothing"  parties  for  gov- 
ernor, and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  thirty-seven 
thousand   over  his  principal  competitor,  William 
Bigler,   the    Democratic   candidate.     He   was   in- 
ducted into  office  in  January,  1855,  ami  served  the 
term   of   three   Years;   among   the  measures  of   im- 
portance  during  his  administration  were   the  in- 
auguration of  a  policy  of  retrenchment  in  the  fiscal 
affairs  of  the  Commonwealth,  the  sale  of  the  main 
line  of  the  public  works,   the  passage  of  laws  de- 
signed to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the  public  school 
system,  and  the  adoption  of  measures  by  which  the 
suspension  of  specie  payments  by  hanks  chartered 
in  the  Si.-ite  was  legalized  during  the  crisis  of  is;,;. 

In   isiil    he  was  a  member  of  the  Peace  C r- 

ence  which  assembled  at  Washington  and  presented 
the  Crittenden  compromise  measures  to  the  con- 
sideration of  Congress;  and  in  May  of  thai  year 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  director  of 


the  United  States  mint  at  Philadelphia.  He  re- 
tired from  this  office  in  1866,  hut  was  reinstated 
by  President  Grant  in  1869,  and  in  1873  became 
superintendent  of  that  institution.  The  legend, 
"In  Cod  we  trust,"  was  originally  suggested  by 
him  for  the  national  currency.  In  1879  he  was 
appointed  naval  officer  at  Philadelphia  and  held 
that  office  I  on  r  years.  His  last  official  position  was 
that  of  Federal  chief  supervisor  of  elections,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  in  1886.  He  died  at  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.,  April  l!l,  1S!M),  ami  his  remains  were 
interred  in  the  Milton  cemetery. 

In  personal  appearance  Governor  Pollock  was  of 
commanding  figure  and  somewhat  above  the  aver- 
age height,  with  dark  eyes  and  hair,  smooth-shaven 
laic,  and  a  countenance  expressive  of  intelligence 
and  benignity.  In  religious  affiliation  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  and  was  for  some  years  president  of 
the  board  id'  trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey at  Princeton,  by  which  the  honorary  degri f 

LL.  I),  was  conferred  upon  him  in  1855. 

As  an  attorney  he  was  a  better  advocate  than 
counselor.  He  was  in  regular  practice  in  the  courts 
of  Northumberland  county  from  1833  to  1S44,  ami 
at  intervals  in  his  official  career  after  that  time. 
While  his  judicial  incumbency  was  the  shortest  in 
the  history  of  the  county,  it  was  long  enough  to  se- ' 
cure  for  his  abilities  in  this  position  an  ample  rec- 
ognition. He  was  an  eloquent  speaker,  graceful, 
persuasive  and  convincing,  and  possessed  remark- 
able tact  in  gaining  the  sympathy  and  approval  of 
his  hearers.  Strong  conscientiousness  was  a  prom- 
inent element  in  his  character,  and  while  his  offi- 
cial acts  were  at  times  subjected  to  violent  criti- 
cism, the  honesty  of  his  intentions  was  conceded 
even  by  his  most  determined  opponents. 

ZI'^PBE.  The  Zerbe  or  Zerby  family  numerous- 
ly represented  among  the  substantial  and  creditable 
citizens  of  the  lower  end  of  Northumberland 
county,  particularly  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
are  the  descendants  of  the  brothers  Daniel  and 
Philip  Zerbe.  There  was  another  branch  id'  the 
familv  in  that  township,  now  extinct,  to  which 
belonged  John  Zerbe.  who  died  in  Lower  Mahanoy. 
unmarried;  and  Philip  Zerbe,  a  rafter  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna who  owned  a  tract  of  land  along  the 
river,  and  who  left  children,  Levi  (who  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war).  Isaac  (also  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war).  Reily  (a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war). 
Joel.  Susanna  (married  Isaac  Messncr),  Eliza-1 
heth  (married  John  II.  Seagrist,  of  Georgetown) 
and   Magdalene  (died  unmarried  i. 

In  1772,  in  the  first  h-t  of  taxables  of  Pine 
Grove  township,  then  a  par!  of  Berks  county  hut 
now  included  in  Schuylkill  county,  appear  the 
names  of  Benjamin,  Daniel  and  Philip  Zerby,  who 
were  lirofhcrs.  The  following  concerning  the  early 
representatives  of  this  family  in  America  is  taken 
from   a    recent   work  on    Berks  count]  ;      Zerbe — 


490 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Zerby  (also  Zerve,  Zerwe  and  Zerben). — The  Zerbe 
family  of  Berks  was  very  early  settled  in  America. 
The  original  home  of  the  family  was  in  France,  but 
owing  to  their  steadfast  loyalty  to  their  religious 
faith  they  were  obliged  to  find  homes  elsewhere, 
that  they  might  worship  as  they  thought  right.  On 
their  first  coming  to  the  New  World  they  settled 
in  New  York  State,  in  the  Schoharie  Valley,  and 
a  little  farther  south  at  Livingston  Manor,  from 
which  places  they  followed  the  migratory  tide  into 
the  fertile  valley  of  the  Tulpehocken.  Rupp  in  his 
"30,000  Names  of  Immigrants"  shows  a  Lorenz 
Zerbe  who  came  from  Schoharie  to  Tulpehocken  in 
1723,  and  in  addition  to  Lorenz  mentions  a  John 
Philip  Zerbe  and  a  Martin  Zerbe  among  those 
above  twenty-one  years  of  age,  who  passed  the 
winter  of  1710  and  summer  of  1711  in  Livingston 
Manor,  N.  Y..  and  who  may  have  come  to  Tulpe- 
hocken  at  a  later  period.  The  name  of  John  or 
Johan  has  been  a  favorite  one  in  the  family,  as 
appears  from  the  tax  lists  and  vital  statistics. 

Daniel  Zerbe,  ancestor  of  one  branch  of  this 
family  now  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  is  pre- 
sumed to  have  come  to  Northumberland  county 
from  the  vicinity  of  Tine  Grove,  now  in  Schuylkill 
county.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wertz, 
he  married  after  coming  to  this  region,  and  they 
are  buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church,  in  the 
township  where  they  lived.  He  was  a  farmer, 
owning  the  place  which  now  belongs  to  Jonathan 
Zerbe,  one  <>(  his  descendants.  Daniel  Zerbe  is  de- 
scribed as  a  tall  man.  His  children  were  as  fol- 
low-: John  married  late  in  life,  hut  had  no  pos- 
terity; lie  died  of  smallpox.  Daniel  died  unmar- 
ried in  Lower  Mahanoy  (there  is  a  Daniel  Zerbe, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Marie  E.,  who  was  horn  in  Aug- 
ust. 1811,  and  died  Feb.  8.  1861.  aged  forty-nine 
years,  six  months,  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church).  Thomas  is  mentioned  below.  Joseph, 
who  was  a  laborer,  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  and 
he  and  his  wife.  Catharine  (Meek),  are  buried  at 
Georgetown;  their  children  were  Elizabeth,  Henry 
(a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war).  Joseph.  Daniel, 
George,  a  daughter  who  died  unmarried,  Samuel 
(of  Millersburg)  and  Jonas  (of  Shamokin).  Re- 
becca married  David  Schwartz  and  they  subse- 
quently moved  West.  Elizabeth  married  Adam  All- 
man  and  they  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy.  George 
married  Phoebe  Spengel.  and  they  lived  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  and  are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church  :  they  died  of  smallpox:  their  children  were 
Jonathan  and  Ellen,  the  former  a  resident  of  Loy- 
alton.  Pennsylvania. 

Thomas  Zerbe.  son  of  Daniel,  spent  all  his  life 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  In  his  early  man- 
hood he  was  engaged  as  a  general  laborer,  but  he 
followed  farming  principally  after  commencing  on 
his  own  account,  and  about  1852  located  on  the 
place  now  occupied  by  his  son  Thomas,  buying 
the  farm  at  that  time.     In  1857  he  built  the  house 


still  standing  on  that  tract;  the  barn  was  built  by 
In-  son  Thomas  in  1870.  He  was  interested  in 
politics,  being  quite  active  in  the  interests  of  the 
Republican  party  in  his  locality,  and  was  also  zeal- 
ous in  church  work,  being  a  Lutheran  member  of 
the  Malta  Church,  where  he  is  buried.  He  served 
as  trustee  of  this  church  for  many  years,  and 
helped  to  build  it  in  1860.  He  died  March  23, 
lsiii.  aucl  tifty-cight  years,  two  months,  eighteen 
days.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  was  a  daughter  of  Mar- 
tin Carman,  who  married  a  Michael.  She  died 
June  27,  1894,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  three 
months,  ten  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zerbe 
had  the  following  children:  Josiah,  of  Al- 
ma. Nebr. :  Thomas;  Sarah,  married  to  Hen- 
ry Miller:  Rebecca,  married  to  (ieorge  Ileitzman  : 
Benjamin,  of  Beavertown,  Pa.:  Catharine,  mar- 
ried to  Elias  Paul ;  and  Elias  S.,  of  Altoona,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Thomas  Zerbe,  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  was  born  May  3,  1840, 
in  the  district  where  he  still  lives.  He  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  and  in  1862  began  to  operate 
the  place  on  bis  own  account.  This  is  the  prop- 
erty which  has  been  in  his  family  since  1852,  when 
his  lather  purchased  it,  and  which  was  formerly 
the  (ieorge  Snyder  homestead.  It  consists  of  fifty 
acre-,  besides  which  Mr.  Zerbe  owns  another  farm 
in  the  same  township  of  fifty-four  and  one  half 
acres  (formerly  the  Joseph  Shaffer  farm),  and 
three  islands  in  the  Susquehanna  with  a  total  area 
of  about  fifteen  acres.  His  agricultural  work  has 
been  highly  successful,  but  he  has  not  given  all 
his  time  to  this  branch,  being  engaged  to  some  ex- 
tent as  a  lumber  merchant  and  operating  a  port- 
able sawmill  :  he  has  employed  as  many  as  six  men 
in  this  line.  In  public  affairs  he  has  long  been 
one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  his  locality, 
lie  was  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his  district  for 
many  years,  and  in  1891  was  elected  county  com- 
missioner, in  which  office  he  served  two  consecu- 
tive terms,  six  years;  his  majority  was  1,180  in  an 
evenly  balanced  county,  which  speaks  well  for  the 
confidence  his  fellow  citizens  have  in  his  integrity 
and  ability.  Mr.  Zerbe  has  for  many  years  been 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  workers  in  the  Re- 
publican party  in  his  section.  Fraternally  he  is 
identified  with  the  Masons,  as  a  member  of  Sha- 
mokin Lodge,  No.  255J  F.  &  A.  M. :  Shamokin 
Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M. :  and  Shamokin  Com- 
mandery.  No.  77,  K.  T.  He  and  his  family  be- 
long to  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  the  Malta 
Church,  and  he  has  served  many  years  as  trustee. 

On  July  28,  1861.  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Catharine 
Messer,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Dockey) 
Messer.  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  seven  sons: 
Franklin  died  young:  Charles  A.  was  killed  in  a 
mine:  John  W.  is  postmaster  at  Shamokin,  Pa.; 
James  M.  is  a  resident  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Joseph 
H.   lives   at  Dalmatia:    Daniel  W.   is  located  at 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


491 


Bridgeport,  Pa.    (he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Philip- 
pines) ;  one  died  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Henry  Zerbe,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
March  19,  1870,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
there.  Later  he  attended  the  academy  at  Eliza- 
bethville,  in  Dauphin  county.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  took  up  telegraphy,  which  he 
learned  at  Paxton,  and  he  was  soon  given  a  sta- 
tion at  Mahantango,  where  he  remained  for  eight 
years,  being  transferred  thence  to  Dalmatia 
(Georgetown),  in  his  native  county,  where  he 
still  remains.  This  is  on  the  Northern  Central 
road.  Mr.  Zerbe  is  the  oldest  employee  of  his 
company  at  that  point.  He  has  become  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  affairs  of  the  locality  since  set- 
tling there,  and  has  served  six  years  as  a  school 
director,  acting  also  as  secretary  of  the  board. 
His  political  sympathies  are  with  the  Republican 
party,  in  which  he  is  a  zealous  worker,  has  been 
committeeman  of  his  township  for  two  years,  and 
has  been  chosen  delegate  to  various  county  con- 
ventions. Fraternally  he  holds  membership  in 
Millersburg  Lodge,  No.  364,  F.  &  A.  M.;  in  Com- 
mandery  No.  364,  Knights  of  Malta;  in  Council 
No.  854,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,  of  Dalmatia;  and  Di- 
vision No.  24,  of  the  Telegraphers  Union,  with 
headquarters  at  Williamsport. 

On  Feb.  7,  1890,  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Catharine 
Wright,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  E.  (Rape) 
Wright,  the  former  of  whom  came  to  America 
from  Ireland.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union :  Mary  Irene,  Catharine  Elizabeth, 
Thomas  Clarence  and  James  Henry. 


Philip  Zerbe,  founder  of  the  other  branch  of 
the  familv  now  so  well  known  in  Lower  Mahanoy, 
was  born  Dec.  17,  1776,  lived  between  County 
Line  and  Malta,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
owned  the  farm  now  the  property  of  Alexander 
Deppen,  a  large  and  valuable  tract.  He  died  Nov. 
19,  1857,  and  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  who  was 
born  Dec.  12,  1779.  and  died  April  14,  1837.  They 
had  children  as  follows:  Philip  P.,  born  Dec.  24, 
1808,  who  lived  and  died  in  Lower  Mahanoy  and 
is  buried  at  Vera  Cruz  (he  died  Jan.  24,  1862)  ; 
Peter,  who  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy.  and  died  at 
Tower  City  (he  had  a  daughter  Susan)  :  Joseph ; 
Benjamin,  who  never  married:  David;  Gabriel; 
and  Julia,  who  married  William  Lower  and  (sec- 
ond) Joseph  Schaffer. 

Joseph  Zerbe,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  there  owned  the  farm  now 
in  the  possession  of  William  Zyders,  which  he  sold 
upon  his  removal  to  Iowa,  in  1858.  There  he  re- 
sumed farming,  under  primitive  conditions  at  first, 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  living  to 
an  advanced  age.  He  died  in  Cedar  county.  Iowa, 
and   is   buried   there.      His   wife,    whose   maiden 


name  was  Heckert,  was  also  from  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  and  she  also  died  in  Iowa,  surviving 
her  husband  many  years.  Their  children  were  all 
born  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  viz. :  David, 
Philip,  John,  Albert  (who  died  out  West), 
Amanda  (Mrs.  Michael  Heckert),  Elizabeth  (who 
married  John  Tschopp  and  M.  T.  Wertz),  Catha- 
rine (married  William  L.  Schaffer),  Polly  (who 
was  married  in  California  to  a  resident  of  that 
State,  near  Los  Angeles)  and  Eve  (who  married 
in  Iowa). 

Philip  Zerbe,  son  of  Joseph,  enlisted  in  the 
Union  service  during  the  Civil  war,  in  July,  1864, 
and  was  fatally  shot  in  the  battle  of  Petersburg ; 
his  burial  place  is  unknown.  He  was  a  man  of 
about  thirty-six  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment. 
When  twenty-three  years  old  he  married  Polly 
Lessman.  who  was  born  March  4,  1824.  daughter 
of  John  Lessman,  one  of  the  Hessian  soldiers  who 
settled  in  this  region.  Mrs.  Zerbe  lived  at  Vera 
Cruz  to  the  end  of  her  days,  passing  away  Oct. 
30,  1908,  arid  is  buried  there.  She  was  the  mother 
of  the  following  children  :  William,  of  Tower  City, 
Pa. ;  Ambrose  L. ;  John,  who  died  young ;  Charles 
W. :  Sarah,  who  has  never  married  ;  B.  Frank ;  and 
Philip,  who  died  in  Tower  City. 

Ambrose  L.  Zerbe,  son  of  Philip,  was  born 
Aug.  13,  1853,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  The  day  before  his  father 
went  to  the  war  he  obtained  a  place  for  the  boy 
on  a  farm,  and  he  continued  to  hire  out  among 
farmers  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty,  after 
which  he  was  employed  in  the  lumber  business  at 
Williamsport  for  a  few  years.  He  also  learned 
the  trade  of  stonemason,  which  he  followed  for 
seven  years.  In  1882  he  purchased  his  present 
farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  a  tract  of  116 
acres  which  was  formerly  the  Jacob  Schneider 
farm  and  subsequently  owned  by  the  latter's  son 
Frederick  Schneider,  from  whom  Mr.  Zerbe  pur- 
chased it.  He  has  since  cultivated  and  improved 
this  place,  building  his  substantial  house  in  1887, 
and  he  has  attained  a  position  among  the  pros- 
perous agriculturists  of  his  section.  He  has  served 
six  years  as  school  director  of  his  township,  and 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation of  the  Vera  Cruz  Church,  in  which  he 
has  held  office  for  many  years,  having  been  deacon, 
elder  and,  at  present,  trustee.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican. 

In  1S75  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Sarah  Jane  Tschopp, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Zerbe)  Tschopp. 
the  latter  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Zerbe.  Five  sons 
were  born  to  this  union,  two  dying  in  infancy. 
We  have  the  following  record  of  the  others:  (i) 
William  Landis,  born  March  7.  1877,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  local  schools  and  at  the  Keystone 
State  normal  school  at  Kutztown,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  teaching  since  1895,  continually  in 
Lower   Mahanoy   township,   having   a   permanent 


492 


XOliTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY:   PENNSYLVANIA 


certificate  in  twenty-four  branches!  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  Sophia  Lahr,  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Boyer)  Lahr,  on  Nov.  6,  1902,  and  they 
lived  at  Dalmatia  from  May,  1903,  to  September, 
1908,  smcc  when  they  have  resided  on  a  proper- 
ty Mr.  Zerbe  purchased,  a  half  mile  north  of  Mal- 
ta (Vera  Cruz).  They  have  had  four  children: 
William  Ambrose,  Aug.  15,  L904  (died  Jan.  30, 
1905);  Katie  Alveeta,  May  26,  i:>'i;  (died  June 
26,  190?  )  :  Emmett  John,  May  27,  1009:  and  Irv- 
ing Herbert,  July  3.  1911.  Fraternally  Mf.  Zerbe 
belongs  to  Camp  No.  9074,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  Council  X".  854,  Jr.  O.  1".  A.  M., 
both  of  Dalmatia.  (2)  Charles  Henry,  burn  Aug. 
2,  1879,  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  at 
the  Central  State  normal  school,  at  Lock  Haven, 
Pa.,  and  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  since  1903, 
continually  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  having 
a  permanent  certificate.  In  1899  he  was  married 
to  Katie  Amelia  Shoffer,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
J.  and  Naomi  (Witmer)  Shoffer.  and  with  the 
exi  i  | > i i « > n  n]  a  six  months'  residence  at  Pillow  they 
have  lived  at  Malta,  now  occupying  a  substantial 
bouse,  formerly  owned  by  his  father  ami  his  grand- 
mother.  While  at  Pillow  Mr.  Zerbe  was  employed 
at  the  Pillow  Grange  store.     Three  daughters  have 

n  horn  to  him  and  his  wife:  Florence  Naomi, 

Sept.  16,  1899;  Arlene  Sarah.  Dee.  28,  1901,  and 
Clara  Miriam,  Oct.  6,  1910.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Zerbe  holds  membership  in  Dalmatia  Camp  X"o. 
:<i»;  i.  Madera  Woodmen  of  America.  (3)  Eob- 
ert  Blaine,  born  Jan.  17,  1892,  also  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  Freeburg  Academy,  was  li- 
censed to  teach  in  1909.  at  the  _  o  seventeen 
years,  and  taught  his:  first  term  in  West  Cameron 
township:  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township. 

Like  the  father,  this  family  is  identified  with 
the  Lutheran  Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  promi- 
nent in  the  Sunday  school,  the  sons  being  respec- 
tively superintendent,  secretary  and  organist,  as 
well  as  teachers. 

Charles  W.  Zerbe.  son  of  Philip,  was  born 
Nov.  12,  1857,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  has  passed  practically  all  his  life.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the 
Soldiers"  Orphans'  school  at  White  Hall.  Pa.,  and 
in  1880  obtained  a  license  to  teach  public  school 
from  County  Superintendent  W.  P.  Scharf.  of 
Snyder  county,  taking  his  first  position  in  the  fall 
of  that  year,  at  Aline.  Returning  to  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy in  1883,  he  was  examined  by  Professor  Wol- 
rerton,  then  superintendent  of  public  schools  in 
Northampton  county,  and  passing  was  installed 
at  tlie  Union  schoolhouse,  where  he  continued  for 
that  term.  He  taught  eight  terms  in  all  in  Lower 
Mahanoy,  and  two  terms  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship. Dauphin  county,  and  made  a  high  reputation 
in  the  profession  for  conscientious  and  efficient 
work.     For  the  next  seven  vears  Mr.  Zerbe  was 


engaged  at  different  vocations,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State,  and  in  1903  he  settled  down 
to  farming  in  his  native  township,  where  he  has 
since  remained.  The  farm  of  12?  acres  which  he 
cultivates  is  located  along  the  Mahantango  creek, 
and  is  in  excellent  condition,  giving  ample  evi- 
dence of  the  intelligent  care  bestowed  upon  it. 
He  carries  on  his  work  along  modern  lines,  and  in 
l.i(t  i-  progressive  and  aggressive  in  everything  in 
which  he  takes  an  interest.  He  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  citizens  to  an  unusual  degree, 
and  lias  been  intrusted  with  public  responsibilities 
of  various  kinds,  having  served  his  township  as 
auditor,  school  director,  tax  collector  and  asses- 
sor. He  is  still  holding  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector, his  experience  as  an  educator  making  him 
a  particularly  useful  man  in  that  position,  and 
he  is  giving  his  own  family  all  possible  advantages. 

On  Sept.  25,  I888j  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Mary  A. 
Messer,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susanna  (Zerbe) 
Messer,  of  Paxton,  Pa.,  whither  they  moved  from 
Lower  Mahanoy  in  1SS6.  Six  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zerbe:  Alva  M..  Susan  M.. 
Edith  F..  Sarah  K..  Charles  R.  am',  Isaac  M.  Mi'. 
Zerbe  ami  his  family  are  Lutherans,  belonging  to 
St.  Paul's  Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  which  he  has 
1  as  deacon.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

Aha  Messer  Zerbe,  son  of  Charles  W..  was  born 
June  1,  1889,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
at  Freeburg  Academy,  and  Pennsylvania  Business 
College,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  has  been  teaching 
school  since  1910  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
On  June  18,  1910,  he  married  Esther  Amelia 
Kopenhaver,  daughter  of  William  L.  and  Cora 
i  Snyder)  Kopenhaver.  and  a  son,  Clinton  Eugene, 
was  horn  to  them  Jan.  8,  1911.  Mr.  Zerbe  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  Sunday  school,  serving  the  latter  as  officer  and 
teacher:  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

B.  Fraxk  Zerbe.  son  of  Philip,  was  born  June 
;.  1862,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  is 
now  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  township  and  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  there,  when  eight  years  old  entering 
the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  school  at  White  Hall,  two 
miles  west  of  Harrisburg.  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  sixteen.  Returning  to  live  with  his  mother  in 
his  native  township,  he  worked  some  years  for  his 
brother  William,  from  1885  to  1900,  assisting  him 
in  the  plastering  business.  Since  1899  he  has  re- 
sided at  his  present  home,  west  of  Vera  Cruz,  hav- 
ing a  farm  of  twenty  acres  formerly  owned  by 
Jacob  Schroyer  and  earlier  by  the  Snyder  family. 
As  the  cultivation  of  this  place  does  not  occupy 
all  his  time  he  also  assists  neighboring  farmers, 
and  is  known  as  an  industrious,  reliable  man.  one 
who  has  made  his  way  by  his  own  efforts. 

On  Oct.  2,  ISO?.  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Annie  B. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


493 


Rothermel,  and  they  commenced  housekeeping  in 
1898  at  Georgetown,  the  following  year  removing 
to  their  present  home.  They  have  five  children: 
Tennye  May,  Bertha  Emelie,  Mark  Stanley,  Philip 
Andrew  and  Harry  Franklin.  Mr.  Zerbe  and  his 
family  are  Lutheran  members  of  the  Vera  Cruz 
Church,  which  he  is  at  present  serving  as  deacon, 
and  he  is  also  active  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday 
school.    In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mrs.  Annie  B.  (Rothermel)  Zerbe  is  a  grand- 
daughter of  Isaac  and  Lydia  Rothermel  and  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Zartman)  Rothermel, 
who  were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  George, 
Ida.  Oscar,  Annie  B.,  Charles,  Linda,  Emma, 
Alice  and  Adam. 


Lee  and  Maizie  I.  Mr.  Zerby  and  his  family  arc 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Church  at  Klingerstown. 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  three  terms  of 
two  years  each. 


David  Zerbe,  sun  of  Philip  (1776-1857)  and 
Elizabeth  Zerbe,  was  born  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  passed  nearly  all  his  life.  By 
trade  he  was  a  carpenter  and  postmaker,  and  he 
also  burned  lime.  He  was  well  known  in  his  vicin- 
ity, having  held  local  office,  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  ami  is  buried 
al  Sr.  Paul's  (Schwartz's)  Church  at  Urban.  He 
died  April  8,  1908,  aged  eighty-two  years,  two 
months,  fourteen  days.  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Lydia 
(Ressler)  Wetzel,  who  was  born  April  18,  1826, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Ressler,  and  first  married 
Solomon  Wetzel.  She  is  living  at  Trevorton,  in 
failing  health.  Three  children  were  horn  to  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Zerbe:  Frank,  a  resident  of  Trevorton; 
William  A.;  and  Mary,  wife  of  George  Trautman, 
of  Shamokin. 

William  A.  Zerby,  son  of  David  and  Lydia 
(Ressler)  Zerbe,  was  horn  March  18,  1864,  in  Jor- 
dan township.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  wink- 
ing for  his  parents  until  he  reached  his  majority, 
after  which  he  began  farming  at  his  present  home 
in  Jordan  township.  His  first  work  on  his  own 
account  was  as  a  lumber  merchant,  and  he  estab- 
lished a  sawmill  as  the  increase  of  his  business  de- 
manded, having  operated  same  since  L892  in  con- 
nection with  hi-  agricultural  work.  He  lias  lum- 
bered over  three  counties.  Northumberland, 
Schuylkill  ami  Dauphin,  selling  his  product  in 
the  coal  region,  and  employing  as  many  as  twenty 
men,  besides  teamsters  and  help  to  cultivate  his 
farm.  His  home  place  a moists  of  forty-eight  acres 
in  Jordan  township,  on  the  mad  leading  from 
Hebe  to  Klingerstown,  and  was  formerly  the  John 
Wiest  homestead.  It  is  only  part  of  a  much  larger 
tract  as  the  land  was  originally  laid  out.  Mr. 
Zerby  is  a  Democral  ami  has  been  active  in  tin1 
interest  of  hi-  party  in  lower  Northumberland 
county.  He  has  served  as  school  director,  and  is 
a  public-spirited  citizen  in  every  respect. 

On  June  12,  1888,  Mr.  Zerby  married  Emma 
Knorr.  daughter  of  Isaac  ami  Elizabeth  (Feth- 
erolf)  Knorr,  and  they  have  had  six  children:  Ed- 
ward, Charles  R„  Clarence  R.,  Lulu  A..  Homer 


Christian  Zerbe,  who  lived  in  Kelly  township, 
in  what  is  now  Union  county.  Pa.,  is  mentioned  in 
the  history  of  Union  county  as  a  trustee  of  the 
first  Lutheran  Church  there.  His  purchase  of 
land  There  might  have  been  recorded  in  the  North- 
umberland county  office.  He  married  Maria  Chris- 
tina Strauss,  daughter  of  John  Philip  Strauss, 
and  their  children,  as  recorded  at  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  Rehrersburg,  were  born  as  follows: 
John  George,  March  20,  1774;  John,  Feb.  15, 
L776;  Maria  Catharine.  Jan.  10.  1778;  Susanna. 
Jan.  31,  1780;  Jacob,  Feb.  8,  1782;  Mary  Chris- 
tina, Oct.  8,  1783:  Henry,  Nov.  11,  1785;  Mary 
Salome.  Oct.  29.  1787;  Elizabeth.  May  25,  1789; 
Anna  Mary,  April  26,  1792;  Samuel,  Mav  24, 
1795. 


David  Zerbe.  a  respected  farmer  citizen  of  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township,  was  born  Dec.  17,  1844,  and 
has  followed  farming  practically  all  his  life.  On 
Aug.  13,  1864,  he  enlisted  for  three  years  in  the 
Union  service,  becoming  a  private  of  Company  H, 
9th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  had  served  but  one 
year  of  his  term  when  discharged  because  of  the 
termination  of  the  war.  From  childhood  he  was 
employed  among  farmers,  continuing  thus  until 
twenty- four  years  old.  For  a  short  time  he  fol- 
lowed blacksmithing,  and  he  later  was  engaged  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native  township  for  ten 
years.  In  1870  he  began  farming  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  and  he  purchased  the  farm  of 
seventeen  aires  which  lie  now  occupies  in  the  year 
1902.  Tt  is  fertile  land,  located  along  the  Mahan- 
tango  creek,  and  was  at  one  time  the  home  of  Dan- 
iel Frantz.  Mr.  Zerbe  has  prospered  by  industry 
and  good  management,  and  lie  has  a  nice  home, 
acquired  by  his  own  efforts.  He  has  served  two 
years  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his  township. 

In  1868  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Sarah  Schaffer,  who 
was  horn  in  1844,  daughter  of  Franklin  and  Mary 
(Troutman)  Schaffer,  ami  -lie  died  leaving  no 
children.  On  Thanksgiving  Day.  1901.  Mr.  Zerbe 
married  Agnes  Klinger,  daughter  of  San 
Klinger,  of  Uniontown,  Pa.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Zerbe 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation  al 
Zion's    (Stone   Valley)    Church,  in  which   he   has 

1 n  a  prominenl  worker,  having  served  eighteen 

years  as  deacon,  and  fi\ ars  as  elder.    On  politi- 
cal questions  he  is  a  Republican. 

RTCHARD  H.  STMMOXS.  M.  D..  county  medi- 
cal inspector  for  Northumberland  county,  and 
physician-in-charge  of  Pennsylvania  Dispensary 
No.  53  at  Shamokin,  i<  one  of  the  most  popular 
medical  practitioners  of  this  county.     He  iv- 


494 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  X  SYLVAN  I A 


at  Xo.  116  South  Sixth  street,  Shamokin.  He 
was  born  in  Cornwall,  England.  July  5,  1869,  son 
of  George  T.  Simmons. 

Henry  Simmons,  grandfather  of  the  Doctor,  fol- 
lowed farming  in  England,  owning  two  farms.  He 
also  carried  on  a  hotel  business.  He  made  one 
visit  to  America  to  see  his  son,  then  living  in 
Michigan.  He  married  Mary  Bartle,  and  both 
died  in  England.  Their  children  were:  Henry, 
Richard  John,  William,  James.  Edwin,  George  T., 
Mary,  Joseph,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 

George  T.  Simmons,  son  of  Henry  and  father 
of  Dr.  Richard  11..  was  born  in  Cornwall,  England, 
Dec.  24,  1847.  He  came  to  America  in  May,  1869, 
landing  in  Xew  York  City.  He  spent  one  year  in 
Michigan,  and  came  to  Shamokin,  Pa.,  in  1869. 
At  first  he  engaged  as  a  miner,  but  later  opened  a 
grocery  store,  which  he  conducted  for  twenty-one 
years,  retiring  in  1903.  He  married  in  England 
Anna  Hocking,  a  native  of  that  country.  Their 
children  were:  G.  Clarence,  teller  in  the  Market 
Street  National  Bank,  at  Shamokin:  Zella  H.,  at 
home:  and  Richard  II. 

Richard  H.  Simmons  was  born  July  5,  1S69,  and 
was  but  eighteen  months  old  when  brought  to  Am- 
erica. He  attended  the  local  schools  of  Shamokin, 
and  later  the  high  school,  and  began  work 
clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  H.  A.  Shissler,  after 
which  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  William  Cliffe,  in  the  same  line  of  work. 
Ih  gained  a  practical  insight  in  the  business,  and 
finding  it  congenial  determined  to  enter  the  medi- 
cal profession.  In  1890  he  became  a  student  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1893  re- 
ceived his  degree  of  M.  D.  He  located  at  Shamo- 
kin, where  he  has  established  a  large  practice, 
having  risen  rapidly  in  his  profession;  he  has  held 
a  number  of  positions  that  have  proved  his  worth. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  filling  the  office  of  county 
medical  inspector,  appointed  by  Samuel  G.  Dixon, 
of  Harrisburg.  through  the  Pennsylvania  Health 
Department.  He  is  also  physician-in-charge  of 
Pennsylvania  Dispensary  No.  53.  Shamokin. 

Politically  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Reformed 
Church.  During  his  college  days  he  played  left 
end  on  the  football  team,  1891-92-93.  and  was  one 
of  those  who  helped  to  make  the  team  famous  dur- 
ing those  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Medical 
Club  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Engineer  Club  of 
Central  Pennsylvania,  located  at  Harrisburg.  Fra- 
ternally h<'  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  belonging 
to  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255,  1".  &  A.  M.,  of 
which  he  is  a  past  master:  Shamokin  Chapter,  No. 
264,  R.  A.  M.:  Shamokin  Commanderv,  Xo.  ". 
K.  T.:  and  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading. 

On  June  12,  1893,  Dr.  Simmons  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Cora  B.  Seiler,  daughter  of  Emanuel 
G.   Seiler.  of  Shamokin,  and  to  bless  this  union 


have  come  one  daughter.  Vera  S.,  and  one  son, 
Carl  B.,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Seiler.  The  Seiler  family  to  which  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons belongs  has  long  been  known  in  Northumber- 
land county.  John  Jacob  Seiler.  a  native  of  east- 
ern Pennsylvania,  of  German  extraction,  settled 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  became  known  for  his 
great  strength.  He  was  born  May  22.  1780j  and 
.March  12,  1866.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Kuntzman. 

Daniel  Seiler,  son  of  John  Jacob,  followed  the 
wheelwright's  trade  until  1845,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  en- 
I  in  its  cultivation  from  that  time  until  his 
death,  An_.  27,  L877.  He  was  one  of  five  who 
were  the  first  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  new 
Republican  party  in  his  township,  and  he  was 
always  active  in  politics.  He  held  the  offices  of 
deacon  and  elder  in  the  Reformed  Church.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Geist,  were  born  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  namely :  Jacob,  a  farmer  on  the  old 
homestead :  Emanuel  G. :  Mary  Magdalene,  widow 
of  John  K.  Haas,  of  Shamokin;  Daniel  G„  head 
of  the  commission  house  of  D.  G.  Seiler  &  Co., 
of  Shamokin ;  Sarah  Ann,  who  married  Aaron  H. 
Haupt,  of  Shamokin:  Aaron,  of  Shamokin;  Felix 
G.,  member  of  the  firm  of  D.  G.  Seiler  &  Co.; 
and  Isaac  G..  who  resides  at  Selinsgrove.  Snyder 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Emanuel  G.  Seiler,  son  of  Daniel  and  father  of 
Mis.  Simmons,  was  born  in  Mahanoy  township 
June  21,  1847.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
and  attended  the  township  schools  until  he  was 
about  eighteen  years  old.  After  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade  he  followed  that  occupation  for  sev- 
eral years  in  his  home  neighborhood  and  in  Shamo- 
kin. In  1869  he  came  to  Shamokin  and  opened  a 
small  store,  which  his  care  and  good  judgment  de- 
veloped into  a  good  paying  business.  In  1871  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  K.  Haas,  and  they 
opened  a  small  store  at  Pine  and  Second  streets, 
carrying  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries  and  con- 
fectionery. At  the  end  of  five  years  Mr.  Haas  re- 
tired taking  the  dry  goods  business,  and  Mr. 
Seiler  continued  the  grocery  and  confectionery  de- 
partments. The  business  was  gradually  enlarged 
and  in  1879  Henry  S.  Zimmerman  became  a  part- 
ner, the  firm  becoming  E.  G.  Seiler  &  Co.  By 
this  time  a  wholesale  jobbing  business  had  been 
added,  and  it  so  developed  that  the  retail  busi- 
ness was  sold.  Prosperity  seemed  to  choose  this 
firm  for  her  especial  protege,  and  the  business  has 
expanded  and  grown,  till  new  buildings  have  been 
erected,  new  members  admitted  to  partnership, 
warehouses  have  been  built.  The  present  style  is 
Seiler,  Zimmerman.  Otto  &  Co..  and  thirteen  men 
are  employed,  including  three  traveling  salesmen 
who  cover  all  territory  within  a  radius  of  three 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


495 


hundred  miles  of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Seiler  has  been 
gradually  retiring  from  the  active  work  of  the  busi- 
ness. He  has  proved  his  worth  by  his  efficient 
services  in  a  number  of  corporations  whose  very 
existence  has  meant  a  great  deal  to  the  develop- 
ment of  Shamokin.  He  is  vice  president  of  the 
Guarantee  Safe  Deposit  &  Trust  Company,  of 
which  he  was  an  organizer  and  first  treasurer; 
president  of  the  Shamokin  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany ;  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade ;  vice  presi- 
dent and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Anthracite 
Fire  Insurance  Company;  treasurer  of  the  West 
Ward  Building  &  Loan  Association;  treasurer  and 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Black  Diamond  Build- 
ing &  Loan  Association ;  and  a  leading  member  of 
the  Anthracite  Association,  which  was  organize'd 
in  1898  to  promote  the  sale  of  anthracite  "and  to 
secure  reasonable  prices  for  same.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  in  the  council.  He  is  an 
elder  in  St.  John's  Reformed  Church. 

In  1869  Mr.  Seiler  was  married  to  Caroline 
Bower,  daughter  of  Michael  Bower,  of  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township;  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  One  died  in  infancy;  Cora  B.  married 
Dr.  Richard  H.  Simmons,  of  Shamokin;  Lula  is 
at  home. 

CHAELES  H.  SHULTZ,  master  carpenter  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company  at  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county,  has  been  in  the  service 
of  that  company  continuously  since  1884,  and  has 
been  at  his  present  location  since  the  year  1901. 
He  was  born  July  24,  1846,  at  Orwigsburg, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Shultz, 
a  native  of  Womelsdorf,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  a 
descendant  of  an  old  and  distinguished  Berks 
county  family. 

The  Shultzes  (or  Schultzes)  were  among  the 
adherents  of  the  religious  sect  known  as  Schwenk- 
felders,  founded  by  Kaspar  Schwenkfeld  (1490- 
1561),  a  Silesian  nobleman  and  mighty  factor  in 
the  Reformation,  who  settled  in  Hereford  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  and  the  adjoining  region  of 
upper  Montgomery  and  western  Lehigh  counties. 
They  trace  their  lineage  to  one  Mathias  Schultz. 
who  was  born  in  1612,  lived  through  the  Thirty 
Years'  war  and  died  in  1682,  in  his  seventieth 
year,  at  Lower  Harpersdorf,  in  what  was  then  the 
principality  (now  a  government  district)  of 
Liegnitz,  Silesia.  His  son,  Melchior  Schultz.  is 
said  to  have  been  born  in  1647.  and  died  in  1708, 
leaving  among  other  children  two  sons,  Melchior 
(1680-1734)  and  Balthaser  (1682-1727).  Both 
of  these  sons  died  in  Saxony,  the  former  at  Ber- 
thelsdorf,  about  two  months  before  the  emigration 
to  this  country,  then  heing  contemplated.  Mel- 
chior Schultz  (1680-1734)  was  the  father  of 
George,  Melchior  and  Rev.  Christopher  Schultz, 
all  of  whom  married.  The  son  Melchior  married 
twice,  but  had  no  children  bv  either  wife.     De- 


scendants of  the  other  two  sons  still  flourish  in 
Berks  county.  The  widow  of  Balthaser  Schultz, 
Susanna  (Dieterich),  and  her  four  children, 
George,  Susanna,  Maria  and  Barbara,  accompanied 
;il»'in  forty  other  followers  of  Kaspar  Schwenkfeld 
i"  America  in  1734. 

The  Shultzes  here  under  consideration  come 
from  the  foregoing  source.  Governor  Shultz  of 
Pennsylvania  was  of  the  same  stock.  The  great- 
grandfather of  Charles  H.  Shultz  was  known  as 
"Squire"  Shultz  and  was  a  man  of  prominence  in 
his  day.  A  portrait  of  him  done  in  India  ink,  and 
in  typical  Colonial  style,  portrays  him  standing 
in  front  of  a  high  writing  desk,  goose-quill  in  hand, 
a  high  stool  by  his  side,  and  pictures  him  as  a  man 
of  dignified  and  honorable  mien.  This  portrait  is 
ii' '«  111  iln  possession  of  his  great-grandson, 
Charles  H.  Shultz,  of  Sunbury,  who  also  has  ex- 
eel  lent  likenesses  of  his  paternal  grandparents 
done  in  India  ink. 

Henry  Schultz,  grandfather  of  Charles  II..  lived 
in  the  vicinity  of  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county,  in 
what  was  known  locally  as  the  "Schmaltz  Goss," 
and  there  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  He 
is  buried  at  Womelsdorf.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  By  trade 
he  was  a  tailor,  and  he  also  acted  as  nurse  among 
the  sick,  occasionally.  His  wife,  Christian  (Mil- 
ler), long  survived  him,  living  to  be  nearly  ninety 
years  old.  They  had  the  following  family : 
Henry,  father  of  Charles  H.  Shultz;  Samuel,  a 
tailor  and  merchant,  who  lived  at  Schuylkill 
Haven ;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Hackman ;  Maria,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Shaner;  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Jacob  Snyder. 

Henry  Shultz  was  born  at  Womelsdorf,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  lived  for  many  years  in  Schuylkill 
county.  He  was  a  prosperous  carpenter  and  con- 
tractor at  Schuylkill  Haven,  that  county,  building 
a  large  number  of  houses,  churches,  schools  and 
ether  buildings  at  that  place  and  in  the  adjoining 
territory,  among  others  the  Methodist  and  Evan- 
gel leal  churches  at  Pine  Grove.  He  gave  employ- 
ment to  as  many  as  ten  men.  A  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Schuylkill 
Haven,  he  was  regular  in  attendance  en  church 
worship  and  served  as  trustee  of  thai  congregation. 
Mr.  Shultz  died  May  '.'it.  1909,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
in  his  eighty-seventh  year,  and  he  and  his  wife 
Catharine  (Geiger)  are  buried  in  the  Charles 
Evans  cemetery  at  Reading.  Berks  county.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Henry  ami  Catharine  (Moyer) 
Geiger,  of  near  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shultz  had  four  children:  Samuel, 
who  is  deceased;  Charles  II.:  John  A.,  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.:  and  Irvin,  who  died  in  infancy  in  1864. 

Charles  H.  Shultz  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  whither  his  parents  moved 
when  he  was  but  nine  months  old.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  lie  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  has  ever  since  followed,  since  1884  in  the 


496 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company.  He 

has  been  stationed  at  different  places,  having  been 
at  Eeading  and  Harrisburg  before  his  assignment 
to  Sunbury,  in  1901.  At  Eeading  he  was  as- 
sistant master  carpenter  for  a  period  of  sixteen 
years,  and  throughout  his  location  in  Sunbury  has 
been  master  carpenter  there,  having  a  force  of 
sixty  men.  He  has  a  high  reputation  as  a  me- 
chanic, and  in  the  discharge  of  his  present  re- 
sponsible duties  has  proved  himself  possessed  of 
excellent  executive  ability  as  well.  He  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  an  honorable  old  family  and 
thoroughly  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  At  the 
time  of  the  threatened  invasion  of  Pennsylvania 
in  the  Civil  war  he  was  in  the  Union  service  for 
ninety  days  as  a  member  of  Company  I.  39th  Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church. 

In  186T  Mr.  Shultz  married  Ellen  Koch,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Catharine  (Heiser)  Koch,  of 
Schuylkill  county,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
three  children:  (1)  Katie  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  An- 
drew Smith,  a  graduate  of  Franklin  and  Marshall 
College  and  theological  seminary,  and  now  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Reformed  Church,  stationed  at  York,  Pa. 
(2)  Harry,  who  died  Dec.  '20.  1010.  was  a  train- 
fnaster  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company  at  Harrisburg.  (3)  Mamie  died  when 
nine  months  old. 

FAIRCTIILD.  There  are  few  names  in  the 
uppeT  section  of  Northumberland  county  better 
known  than  that  of  Fairchild.  The  brothers  Sol- 
omon and  Abram  Fairchild.  the  former  now  liv- 
ing retired,  the  latter  recently  deceased,  were  for 
years  among  the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  Chil- 
lisquaque  township,  where  Solomon  Fairchild  still 
resides.  Farming  always  claimed  their  principal 
attention,  but  they  also  interested  themselves  in 
the  various  industrial  and  financial  institutions  of 
the  county,  so  that  they  were  associated  with  much 
of  the  progress  of  the  region  in  other  respects  a~ 
well;  and  they  made  and  maintained  a  high  repu- 
tation for  business  sagacity  and  judgment,  for  in- 
telligent foresight  and  enterprise  of  the  most  com- 
dable  quality. 

The  Fairchilds  are  of  a  Luzerne  county  family. 
John  Fairchild,  their  grandfather,  lived  and  died 
at  Newport,  Luzerne  county,  where  he  followed  his 
trade,  that  of  blacksmith.  He  married  Mary  Van 
Dine,  of  Holland. 

Solomon  Fairchild.  son  of  John,  was  born  Oct. 
17,  1783,  in  Luzerne  county,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  his  father,  which  was  his  occupation  for  many 
years.  He  also  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in 
1851.  On  Jan.  19,  1806,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Lutsey,  like  himself  a  native  of  Luzerne  county. 
born  May  33,  1789,  who  died  in  1839.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Solomon  Fairchild  reared  a  large  family,  as 


follows:  Polly,  born  June  28,  18i>?.  who  was  mar- 
ried April  3,  1821,  to  Daniel  Yandemark  and  died 
in  1826:  Annie,  born  May  31,  1809,  who  married 
Henry  Styer  in  L825  and  died  in  1844:  Margaret, 
born  May  14.  1811.  who  married  John  Rosenerantz 
m  March,  1830;  John,  born  Feb.  19,  1813,  who 
married  Martha  Line  in  ■  1830 :  Rosannah, 
born  May  21,  1815,  who  married  Cornelius 
Styer,  of  Montour  county,  in  1833:  "Wil- 
liam, born  .May  13,  1817;  Elizabeth,  born  May 
16,  1819.  who  married  Peter  Ktttz.  and  died  in 
1871;  Priscilla,  born  Aug.  31,  1821,  who  married 
Matthias  Raisley,  of  Butler  county,  Pa.;  Solomon. 
born  May  15.  1823;  Isabella,  horn  June  16,  1825, 
who  married  Ziba  Kramer,  of  Iowa:  Martha,  horn 
June  10,  1828,  who  died  in  1835;  Emily,  bora 
Dee.  29,  L830,  who  died  in  1834.  and  Abram, 
born  Dee.  25,  1832. 

SoLoirox  Faihchild  was  horn  near  Xan- 
tieoke,  in  Luzerne  county.  May  15.  1823.  was 
reared  in  Ins  native  county  and  received  his  edu- 
cation there  in  the  public  schools.  He  followed 
farming  throughout  his  active  years.  Moving  to 
Northumberland  county  from  Luzerne  in  1874,  he 
settled  at  his  present  home,  near  Milton,  purchas- 
ing the  Creasy  farm  from  Daniel  Fisher.  It  con- 
tains 114  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  there  Mr. 
Fairchild  lias  ever  since  made  his  home.  He  re- 
modeled the  buildings  soon  after  taking  pos-ession, 
and    has    made    numerous    improvements    on 

which  make  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  and 
valuable  country  homes  in  that  neighborhood. 
Throughout  his  active  years  as  an  agriculturist 
Mr.  Fairchild  stood  foremost  among  the  progres- 
sive farmers  of  his  locality,  his  success  being  recog- 
nized as  tin'  resull  of  tin-  must  intelligent  manage- 
ment backed  by  well  directed  energy.  He  may 
well  he  i  lassed  among  those  who  have  made  farm- 
ing what  it  is  today — the  most  valuable  practical 
ce  of  the  age.  Mr.  Fairchild  was  long  a  di- 
rector of  the  First  National  Rank  of  Milton,  and 
he  was  likewise  interested  in  the  administration 
of  local  public  affairs,  serving  as  school  director 
and  in  other  township  offices  in  Luzerne  county. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith.  Honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  know  him,  he  is  a  citizen 
whose  life  has  been  a  credit  to  the  community  in 
w  inch  it  has  been  : 

On  Dec.  23,  1852,  Mr.  Fairchild  was  married  to 
Emily  Lines',  daughter  of  Abram  Lines,  of  Luzerne 
county.  She  died  in  1853.  On  April  29,  1856, 
Mr.  Fairchild  married  Sarah  Robbins,  who  was 
born  in  1834,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Robbins,  of 
Luzerne  county,  and  died  in  1897.  Fight  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union:  Ambrose,  now 
living  in  Union  county,  who  married  Ada  L.  Dun- 
kel     (children :     Solomon,     Helen.     Blanch,     <le- 

i.  Edward,  Hunter.  Donald  and  Christine)  : 
Franklin  P. :  George  W..  who  married  Julia  Rishel 
(they  had  children.   Sarah.  Leo.  deceased,  Pearl, 


THE 


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TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS 


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NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


497 


George  A.,  Kate  and  Lester)  ;  Solomon  L.,  who 
married  Mar}  L.  Pontius  (they  had  children,  Roy 
P.  and  Sarah  I!.)  ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  who  married 
C.  C.  Brown,  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.;  Linda  May, 
at  home;  Minnie,  living  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.:  and 
Grace  D.,  who  married  Harry  Stein,  of  Lewisburg, 
Pa.  Mr.  Fairchild  and  his  family  belong  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Milton. 

Abeam  Fairchild  was  bom  Dec.  25,  1832, 
in  Luzerne  county,  and  was  there  reared  and  edu- 
cated. He  made  farming  his  occupation,  and  fol- 
lowed it  in  his  native  county  until  the  year  1874, 
when  he  removed  to  Northumberland  county  and 
settled  upon  the  farm  in  West  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, where  he  confined  to  make  his  home  until 
his  death.  He  followed  fanning  until  his  retire- 
ment, in  1905,  with  the  success  which  has  made 
this  name  a  synonym  for  all  that  is  best  in  agri- 
culture in  this  region.  Moreover,  lie  always  en- 
couraged, by  word  and  support,  enterprises  which 
promised  to  benefit  the  locality  generally,  as  his 
connection  with  various  important  local  institu- 
tions goes  to  show.  He  was  until  his  decease  a  di- 
rector of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Milton;  a  di- 
rector lit'  the  Union  National  Bank,  of  Lewisburg; 
a  stockholder  in  the  Milton  Knitting  Company; 
in  the  Milton  Trust  and  Sale  Deposit  Company, 
and  in  the  Milton  Driving  Park  and  Fair  Asso- 
ciation. No  man  in  the  district  was  more  prom- 
inently identified  with  its  progress,  and  his  per- 
sonal popularity  was  ample  evidence  that  his  efforts 
were  recognized  as  unselfish  and  appreciated  by 
his  fellow  citizens.  After  coining  to  Northumber- 
land he  took  no  part  in  public  life,  but  while  in 
Luzerne  county  he  served  two  years  as  supervisor, 
two  years  as  constable,  and  nine  years  as  township 
auditor.  He  was  a  Republican  in  political  matters. 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  his  family  also  belong.  He  died  May  20, 
1911,  and  was  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery,  Mil- 
ton. 

In  1854  Mr.  Fairchild  married  Hannah  Miller, 
wIki  was  born  in  1834,  daughter  of  Barnet  Miller, 
and  'lied  in  1905.  She  is  buried  in  the  Lower 
cemetery  at  Milton,  where  a  line  monument  marks 
her  resting  place.  Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fairchild:  (1)  Eudora  is  deceased. 
(2)  Elizabeth  married  E.  F.  Colvin  and  lives 
at  Milton,  Pa.  Their  children  are:  Abraham, 
who  married  Mary  Savage  and  has  two  children; 
Martin:  Ruth;  Dora,  who  married  William  Has- 
senkleck,  ami  has  one  child,  Colvin;  and  Dix  Col- 
vin. (3)  Annie  M.,  wife  of  John  D.  Derr,  of 
Steelton,  Pa.,  has  three  children,  Hannah.  Cramer 
and  Margaret.  (4)  Milton  0.,  a  farmer,  of  Union 
county,  Pa.,  married  Margaret  Rissel,  and  they 
have  four  children,  Barnet  (married  to  Mary  Grovi 
and  had  one  child,  Christine,  deceased),  James  R.. 
Elmer  and  Margaret.  (5)  Elmer  died  when  six 
years  old.     (6)"  Mary  married  Eyer  Spyker  and 

32 


lives  at  Lewisburg.  They  have  three  children, 
Maria,  Baker  and  Elizabeth.  (7)  Angus  A.,  win. 
lives  cm  the  homestead,  married  Annie  Auten.  a 
sister  of  Judge  Auten,  of  Northumberland  county, 
and  has  four  children,  Myron,  DeWitt,  Anna  ami 
Ahram,  Jr.  (8)  Clara  J.  married  0.  B.  Gran- 
cell,  and  they  have  two  children,  Fairchild  and 
Ruth.  (9)  Milo  Wesley  died  when  twenty-four 
years  old.  He  married  Mary  .1.  McCurdy  and  had 
one  son,  Thomas.  (10)  Benjamin  died  when 
three  years  old. 

CULLEN  FRAZER  SHIPMAN,  legal  practi- 
tioner of  Sunbury,  is  one  of  the  prominent  young 
men  of  that  borough,  where  he  has  become  well 
established  in  his  profession  during  the  compara- 
tively short  period  of  his  practice.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  foremost  fraternity  and  club  cir- 
cles of  the  city  and  enjoys  high  standing  among 
a  wide  acquaintanceship. 

Mr.  Shipman  was  born  Jan.  11,  1874,  in  Lower 
Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  was  reared  there.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  training  on  the  farm,  meantime  at- 
tending the  district  school,  and  at  the  early  age 
of  sixteen  he  began  teaching  the  school  in  which 
he  had  formerly  been  a  pupil,  in  the  home  neigh- 
borhood. During  the  several  terms  he  taught  there 
he  continued  his  studies,  by  himself  and  as  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Pennsylvania  State  normal  school,  at 
Millersville,  and  the  Missionary  Institute  at  Selins- 
grove,  Pa.,  which  he  attended  in  the  spring  terms, 
after  the  common  schools  had  closed.  In  the  fall 
of  1S94  he  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Susque- 
hanna University,  at  Selinsgrove  (formerly  known 
as  the  Missionary  Institute),  where  he  completed 
the  first  two  years  of  his  college  course.  He  then 
entered  the  junior  class  at  Bucknell  College,  where 
he  finished  his  classical  course,  graduating  in  1899, 
in  the  first  rank.  Immediately  afterward  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Hon.  S. 
P.  Wolverton,  in  Sunbury,  and  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  courts  of  Northumberland  county 
June  23,  1902,  since  when  he  has  devoted  all  his 
time  to  legal  practice.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Su- 
preme court  of  the  State  May  21,  190ii.  Eis 
office  has  been  at  Sunbury  throughout  this  time, 
and  be  has  built  up  an  extensive  patronage,  in 
general  legal  work,  receiving'  his  share  of  the  local 
law  business.  He  represented  the  appellant  com- 
pany in  the  case  of  the  Shamokin  Wagon  Works 
against  the  Ohio  German  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
in  which  a  point  of  law  not  formerly  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  on  question  of  agency,  was  decided 
in  favor  of  his  client.  Mr.  Shipman  is  a  member 
of  the  Northumberland  County  liar  Association. 
and  socially  he  is  a  member  and  secretary  of  the 
Bucknell  Alumni  Club  of  Sunbury;  member  and 
past  president  of  the  Americus  Club;  member  ol 
the    Sunbury   Board   of   Trade;    ami    member   of 


49S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Lodge  No.  22.  F.  &  A.  M„  of  which  he  is  a  past 
master ;  he  had  the  honor  of  opening  the  first  meet- 
ing of  that  lodge  held  in  the  new  Masonic  temple 
at  No.  220  Market  street,  in  April,  1910.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat. 

On  Jan.  25,.  1909,  Mr.  Shipman  married  Effa 
Savage,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  H.  and  Adelia  F. 
(Garinger)  Savage,  of  Sunbury,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  Charles  Garinger,  of  Sunbury,  who  con- 
ducted the  "Shamokin  Dam  House"  in  that 
borough. 

MASSER.     The   Masser  family,  to  which   the 

late  Dr.   Franklin  B.  Mass*       d    3unbury,  North- 

rland  county,  .  as  also  the  late  Jacob 

C.  Masser  and  his  younger  brother,  Felix  C.  Mas- 

both  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  the  latter 

still  engaged  in  farming  and  a  large  land  owner, 

was  established  in  Bi  rks  i  iunty,  Pa.,  in  the  latter 

d  the  i  ighteenth  century. 

Matthias  Masser,  the  first  of  this  family  to  come 
to  America,  was  a  nativi  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, and  in  an  early  day  settled  in  Alsace  town- 
ship,J3erks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  lie  followed  farming 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  a  plantation. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Barbara  Ber- 
g  r,  was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  they  are 
buried  side  tn  side  at  Zion's  church,  known  local- 
ly as  Alsace  Church.  His  death  occurred  July 
20,  1797,  in  Alsace  township,  lint  no  date  of  her 
is  given.  IIh  last  will  ami  testament. 
made  Dec.  12, 1795,  and  signed  "Mathias  Maaser," 
states  ■•[  am  old  in  years."  It  was  witnessed  by 
Jacob  Young  ami  John  Sp  .  ami  was  probated 
soon  alter  In-  death.  His  seven  children  were: 
Jacob,  Johannes,  Henry,  Abraham,  Maria.  F- 
and  Christian  (deceased  wife  of  Jacob  Clauser; 
they  had  one  i  bild  I. 

The  early  Massers  worshipped  witli  the  German 
Reformed  denomination  and  were  identified  with 
the  Spiess  and  Jacksonwald  Churches,  ,ii  which 
many  of  the  mime  are  buried.  The  family  is  still 
quite  numerous  in  Berks  county,  some  of  its  mem- 
bers  still  living  in  the  locality  where  the  emi- 
i  ancestor  settled,  and  in  1909  there  were  nine 
adult  members  of  the  family  in  the  city  of  Read- 
ing. Augustus  \\ .  Masser,  a  seed  merchanl  of  that 
i  bears  a  strong  physical  resemblance  to  Felix 
('.  Masser.  of  Northumberland  county. 

Johannes  Masser,  son     I  Matthias,  was  a  native 
of  Berks  county  and    -  estern  part 

of  Schuylkill  county,  l'a..  near  the  Northumber- 
land county  line,  taking  up  a  large  trad  of  land 
and  following  farming.  The  farm  now  owned  by 
Joel  Sehlegel,  in  Eldred  township.  Schuylkill 
county,  was  In-  property.  He  married  Margaretha 
Fick  i  Fickin  ),  also  a  native  of  Berks  county,  horn 
April  21.  1772,  who  died  Sept.  -'in.  1847,  and  she 
is  buried  at  St.  Jacob's  ill  iwerter's)  Church.  His 
burial  place  i-  not  known.     They  win1  both  Ger- 


man Reformed  members  of  St.  Jacob's  Church.  It 
is  known  that  Mr.  Masser  was  a  tall  man,  and  his 
wife  was  a  typical  member  of  a  family  noted  for 
strength.  They  had  the  following  children:  Fer- 
dinand, who  was  an  extensive  farmer,  lived  near 
Uniontown,  l'a.:  John,  who  was  a  very  rich  man 
at  one  tune,  lived  at  various  places  and  died  at 
Gratz,  l'a.:  Jacob  is  mentioned  below;  Maria 
'■•:  i  1802-1880)  married  Charles  Reiner  I  1799- 

1878). 

Jacob  Masser,  son  of  Jojiannes,  was  horn  Oct. 
29,  1812,  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  was  reared. 
He  lived  and  died  on  the  faun  now  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  his  miii  Felix  c.  Masser,  to  whom  he 
willed  it.  a  property  consisting  of  128  acres  of 
rolling,  fertile  land,  on  the  south  side  of  Line 
Mountain  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  a  half 
mile  from  the  Schuylkill  county  line.  This  place 
was  once  the  homestead  of  the  pioneer  Jacob  Wag- 
ner (1725-1802).  Jacob  Masser  was  not  only  a 
--ful  farmer  hut  also  an  excellent  mechanic, 
in  which  line  he  was  particularly  well  known.  He 
ieanad  the  carpenter's  trade  ami  being  called  upon 
ake  many  coffins  followed  undertaking  also, 
conducting  many  funerals  in  his  daw  lie  made 
considerable  furniture,  of  all  kinds,  and  his  son 
Felix  has  a  cupboard  of  Ins  make  which  is  a  most 
creditable  sample  of  his  workmanship.  He  made  a 
cupboard  tor  each  of  his  daughters.  I. ate  in  the  for- 
ties he  built  the  barn  which  stands  on  the  farm, 
and  he  also  built  a  part  of  the  present  residence 
there.  In  politics  he  was  a  well  known  Democrat 
anil  he  tilled  the  office  of  supervisor  in  his  town- 
ship. He  and  his  family  wen'  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  which  he  served  a  number  of  years 
as  deacon  and  elder,  holding  the  latter  office  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  died  Mac  29,  1895,  after  a 
life  of  over  eighty-three  years  in  which  he  had  en- 
joyed unusually  good  health,  having  been  sick  hut 
once,  shortly  before  his  death,  lie  was  a  well- 
built  and  vigorous  man.  a  good  walker,  and  ener- 
■    all  his  days. 

Mr.  Masser  married  Catharine  Christ,  who  was 
born  Met.  11.  1816,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Christ 
and  his  first  wife  Maria  (Hepler).  and  si<ter  of 
Emanuel  Christ  (1794-1831).  Mrs.  Masser  died 
D»  15,  1890,  the  mother  of  fourteen  children, 
of  whom  died  before  the  father:  Daniel, 
born  May  12,  1835,  who  died  Dec.  2,  1859;  Helena. 
born  Sept.  8,  1836,  wh..  died  July  22,  1860;  Jacob 
C;  Emanuel,  horn  June  23,  1840;  Polly.  John: 
Henry:  Gabriel,  bom  dune  1.  1848,  who  died  Oct. 
14.  1866;  Luzetta;  Charles;  Felix  ('. :  Alice,  who 
married  Frank  (hist:  Katie:  and  E.  Celesta,  born 
Aug.  20,  1861,  who  married  Rev.  W.  YYcicksel.  and 
died  dune   1.  1892. 

Jacob  t  Masses,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  dune 
8.  1838,  just  across  the  Northumberland  line  in 
Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  farmer  ami  stone- 
mason of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  living  on  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


499 


eighty-acre  trad  in  the  extreme  eastern  end  of  the  county.  He  is  an  intelligent  and  successful  farmer, 
mwiMnp,  on  the  smith  side  of  Line  Mountain,  one  who  has  the  entire  respect  of  his  fellow  citi- 
',  man  he  learned  his  trad,.,  which  he  zens  and  the  good  will  of  all  who  have  had  deal- 
nth  him.  A  prominent  and  active  member 
Jacob's  Union  Church  (which  is  located  in 
.  Upper  Mahanoy  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  near  the  Schuvlkill 
cownsinp  this  county.  Must  of  the  land  in  his  county  line),  he  was  a  deacon  of  the  congregation 
li""1  ^longed  to  his  father,  but  it  was  he  who  for  thirty  wars  and  has  given  faithful  service  in 
I""  "1'  phe  buildings  on  the  place,  after  his  mar-  everj  capacity.  His  family  are  also  identified  with 
ria.£e;     During  the  Civil  war  he  was  drafted  and    that  church. 

Paid  $300  for  a  substitute,     lie  died  .l„|v  i;.  1909;        In  1875  Mr.  Masser  married   Phebe  .lane  Zim- 
and,ls  buried  al   Howerter's  Church.  merman,  daughter  of  John. Zimmerman  and  a  de- 


n  lien  a  young  man  he  learned  his  trade,  which  he  zens  an, 

•dowel  lirst  at  Ashland  and  later  at  Lost   Creels  mgs  wii 

both    m    Schuylkill   county,   for  about   ten   years  of  St.  J 

after  his    marriage   working  in   Upper   Mahanov  Cpper 


Mr.  Masser  married  Catharine  Wagner,  daugh 
ter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Haas)  Wagner,  grand 
daughter  oi  Jacob  Wagner  and  great-granddaugh- 
ter   ol    Jacob    Wagner    (July    6,   -1725-Nov     30 


scendant  of  Bastian  Zimmerman.  Fourteen  chil- 
dren have  been  horn  to  this  union,  namely:  Em- 
ma. Mrs.  Wilson  Kuntzelman;  Bertha,  Mrs.  James 
Keim:    Phoebe  -lane,  horn  in   1880,  who  died  in 


1802)  and  his  wife  Lovina   (March  1,   1736-JuIy    1**1  I    Lillie,    wife    of    Isaac    Keim    (cousin    of 
'•  1827).     Three  children  were  born  to  Mr    and    James);   Charles,   a    fanner  of    Upper    Mahanoy 
■  Masser:     (1)  Richard  Masser  is  a  merchant    township;    Victor,  of    New   York   City;  Arthur; 


Polly;  Katie;  Raymond;  Frank;  dames,  who  died 
in  infancy;  ('lenient,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Claremont. 


justness  in  the  same  line.     In  1809  he  enlarged 
lis  business,  dealing  in  genera]  merchandise  there- 


"'  E?g™f>  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  (2)  Nora  Masser 
married  Moses  Trantman.  who  is  engaged  in  busi- 
Qess  :l<  a  merchant  in  Shamokin,  this  county 
(3)  Monroe  II.  Masses  was  formerly  a  public 
school  teacher,  having  taughl  for  six  terms  in  Henry  Masser,  another  son  of  Matthias,  the 
Upper  Mahanov  and  West  Cameron  townships,  emigranj  ancestor,  was  born  Feb.  11,  1775,  in 
this  county,  and  is  now  the  carrier  ,,n  Rural  Route  Oley,  Berks  Co.,  Fa.,  and  died  July  17,  1853.  Aft- 
No.  '-'.  from  the  postoffice  of  Pitman,  Schuylkill  er  learning  the  trade  of  tinsmith  he  engaged  in 
county.  He  also  conducts  the  homestead  farm,  business  for  a  short  time  at  Gettysburg  and  Har- 
where  he  and  his  mother  make  their  home,  and  risburg,  Pa.,  in  18<H  coming  to  Sunbury,  North- 
whieh  adjoins  the  property  of  his  uncle,  Felix  C.  umbcrland  county,  and  establishing  himself  in 
Masser. 

Mr.  Masser  was  a  Reformed  member  of  St.  Ja- 
cob's (Howerter's)  Church,  in  which  he  held  offi-  after,  and  he  continued  in  that  business  until 
eial  positions  for  fully  forty  years,  serving  as  1852 — shortly  before  his  death.  Throughout  this 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee:  he  was  filling  the  latter  long  period  he  was  at  the  one  location,  occupying 
office  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  family  also 
unite  with  the  Reformed  congregation  of  that 
church.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr. 
Masser  was  a  most  esteemed  citizen,  and  through- 
out his  lone  and  useful  life  upheld  the  best  tra- 
ditions of  an  lion,, red  name. 

Felix    C.    Masser,    son    of   Jacob   and    Cath- 
arine  (Christ)    Masser.   was  horn  April  20,    1855, 

and    fr young   manhood    has   been   engaged    in 

farming  in   Upper   Mahanoy   township,   where   lie 
now  has  extensive  interests,     lie  received  his  edu 


the  two-story  brick  building  on  the  south  side  of 
Market  street,  on  the  second  lot  west  of  Center 
alley,  lie  was  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of 
his  daw  serving  as  county  commissioner,  1808-11: 
as  county  auditor,  1813-14,  and  1820-22;  and  as 
justice  oi'  the  peace  for  many  years. 

On  Dec  5,  180-.'.  Henry  Masser  married  Mary 
Barbara  Baldy,  who  was  horn  at  Sunbury  July  11. 
1785,  daughter  of  Paul  Baldy,  and  died  at  that. 
place  June  '.'I.  1828;  her  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  from  the  text  Luke  1  :30.  Tiny  had  a 
cation  in  the  public  schools,  hut  his  advantages  family  of  twelve  children,  viz.:  Mary  Catharine, 
were  limited,  and  when  only  fourteen  he  began  born 'Aim.  31,  1803,  died  April  1.  1805;  Eliza- 
dri'ving  his  father's  team  to  market  at  Shamokin,  belli,  horn  June  15,  1805,  married  Rev.  Jeremiah 
once  or  twice  a  week,  lie  was  trained  to  farm  Shindell,  of  Allentown,  Pa.,  who  died  before  her: 
work  from  his  early  years,  and  after  working  for  William,  horn  Sept.  I.  1807,  was  a  farmer  and 
his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old  lived  near  Three  Rivers,  Mich.:  Henry  B., .bora 
began  farming  ,,n  his  own  account  in  Upper  Ma-  Aug.  17,  1809,  died  July  8,  L897,  is  mentioned 
hanov  township.  Northumberland  county,  in  the  below;  John  was  horn  dune  17,  1811  :  Mary  Ann. 
spring  of  1879.     He  has  since  lived  at  his  present    born    Ma\    6,    1813,    married    Francis   Buclicr.    ol 

home,  which  he  farmed  as  a  tenant  until  his  fa-    Sunbury,   whi  survived,    he-    deal :cur 

thers  death,  in  1895,  after  which  the  property  ring  Oct.  1.  1903;  Peter  B.,  born  April  11.  1815, 
passed  into  his  possession.  He  also  owns  two  other  died  NTov.  11.  1866;  Charles,  horn  Feb  II.  L817, 
farms,  one  the  original  Herb  homestead,  the  other  died  Aug.  1.  L841 ;  <  leorge  Washington,  bom  I'd,. 
the    Sebastian    Zimmerman    stand    in    Schuvlkill    22,   181!'.  died    March    13,   1870;  Jacob  1...  horn 


500 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Jan.  17,  1820,  died  Sept.  10,  1876;  Edward  Baldy, 
born  May  9,  1822,  died  Nov.  7,  1852;  Henrietta 
A.,  bom  Oct.  16,  1824,  died  Aug-.  10,  1832. 

Henry  B.  Masser,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  Aug. 
IT.  1809,  at  Sunbury,  and  there  received  his  early 
education  in  the  local  schools.  To  a  large  degree 
lie  was  self  educated,  or  at  any  rate,  he  obtained 
all  his  higher  education  after  he  began  to  depend 
upon  himself,  as  he  lefl  si  hool  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen to  take  charge  of  his  father's  store.  There- 
after he  pursued  the  study  of  the  classics  under 
Charles  G.  Donnel  and  Rev.  William  G.  Smith,  re- 
ceiving private  tuition,  and  he  studied  law  with 
Alexander  Jordan.  He  was  admitted  to  the  North- 
umberland county  bar  Nov.  5,  1833,  at  the  same 
time  as  James  Pollock,  Charles  W.  Hegins  and 
Samuel  P.  Johnson,  all  of  whom  became  president 
judges  in  Pennsylvania  (Pollock  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Hegins  in  Schuylkill  county  and 
Johnson  in  Warren  county)  and  Pollock  was  also 
governor  of  the  State.  "It  is  doubtful  whether 
four  men  of  equal  ability  and  subsequent  promi- 
nence were  ever  admitted  to  the  local  bar  at  the 
same  time  on  any  other  occasion."  Mr.  Masser 
having  long  been  one  of  the  distinguished  citizens 
of  his  State.  He  was  soon  firmly  established  in 
legal  practice  at  Sunbury,  and  in  lS3!i  was  hon- 
ored with  appointment  as  deputy  attorney  general 
for  Northumberland  county,  filling  that  office  with 
dignity,  efficiency  and  ability  for  a  period  of  six 
years.  During  that  time  he  never  had  an  indict- 
ment quashed — a  record  few  incumbents  of  the 
office  can  approach.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  the  oldest  resident  lawyer  of  Sunbury. 

However,  it  was  not  alone  in  legal  circles  that 
Mr.  Masser  gained  prominence.  His  natural  tal- 
ent as  a  writer  early  found  expression  in  contribu- 
tions to  the  local  papers  and  eventually  led  him 
to  devote  his  bi  ■  '  ts  to  journalistic  work.  In 
8  i ember,  1840,  as  the  result  of  unexpected  de- 
velopments in  the  rank-  of  the  Democratic  party, 
the  Sunbury  I,  rican  was  founded  by  him  and 
a   few  associates  in  th<  -t  of  Hegins's  cam-. 

paign,  and  though  the  first  demand  for  this  or- 
gan was  soon  a  thing  of  the  past  the  paper  con- 
tinue1 to  grow  in  strength  and  force  and  influ- 
ence, being  the  oldest  paper  in  continm  - 
ence  in  the  borough.  Ls  its  editor  and  publisher 
(for  the  most  part  alone)  for  a  period  of  almost 
twenty-nine  years,  he  occupied  a  place  among  local 
journalists  and  in  the  history  of  local  journalism 
which  makes  his  work  and  influence  of  perman- 
ent value.  His  executive  talents  insured  the 
material  success  of  the  papeT  once  it  was  fairly 
launched,  and  his  trenchant  pen,  progressive  ideas 
and  modest  but  forceful  expressions  commanded 
the  attention  of  thinking  people  in  all  classes  and 
parties.  A  sagacious  observer  of  the  political  and 
social  trend  of  his  day.  his  editorials  were  widely 
copied   as   embodying   conservative   and   unbiased 


opinions,  for  though  he  was  an  ardent  Democrat 
he  rendered  especially  effective  service  in  foster- 
ing the  growth  of  public  sentiment  toward  a  pro- 
tective tariff  and  supported  Pollock  for  Congress 
in  opposition  to  the  party  candidate  on  the  tariff 
issue.  Though  the  county  was  then  strongly  Dem- 
ocratic normally.  Pollock  received  a  majority  of 
several  hundred,  accountable  to  this  influence. 
Again,  a  Whig  candidate  for  a  position  on  the  Su- 
preme court  bench  received  a  majority  of  six  hun- 
dred in  Northumberland  county  mainly  because 
of  the  fact  that  he  received  the  support  of  the 
American  as  the  desirable  man  for  the  place. 
Early  in  Buchanan's  administration  it  became 
identified  with  the  "free  soil"  movement  in  the 
Democratic  party:  supported  Lincoln  shortly  aft- 
er his  first  election,  in  1860,  and  from  that  time 
on  became  a  stanch  Republican  organ.  The 
American  was  particularly  earnest  in  its  advocacy 
of  measures  designed  to  promote  the  development 
of  the  internal  resources  of  Pennsylvania,  with 
which  Mr.  Masser  was  especially  in  sympathy.  He 
was  not  only  prominent  in  public  affairs  but  also 
interested  in  various  business  enterprises  of  a  pri- 
vate nature.  After  giving  up  the  active  editorship 
of  the  paper,  early  in  1869,  he  continued  to  take 
a  deep  interest  in  educational  and  literary  mat-' 
ters.  For  a  number  of  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Sunbury  July  8,  1897,  when  he 
was  in  his  eighty-eighth  year,  he  lived  retired  in 
that  borough.  He  was  for  several  years  a  member 
of  the  vestry  of  St.  Matthew's  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

In  1812  Henrv  B.  Masser  married  Diana  M. 
Engle,  of  Sunbury,  who  died  May  7,  1862.  They 
had  two  children:  Henrv  (born  Feb.  1,  1843, 
died  Sept.  17,  1843)   and  Mary. 

Jacob  B.  Masser,  M.  D.,  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  Barbara  (Baldy)  Masser.  was  born  Jan.  17. 
is'.'o.  He  received  the  greater  part  of  his  literary 
ation  under  private  tutors,  graduated  from 
Jefferson  Medical  College  in  1841,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death,  a  period  of  thirty-five  yi 
was  a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  in  Sun- 
bury. He  served  one  year  as  a  surgeon  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war.  For  one  term.  1858- 
61.  he  was  _  -'  sr  and  reorder  of  the  count}'.  Dr. 
Masser  was  a  worthy  and  highly  esteemed  citizen 
of  the  borough,  and  his  death,  which  occurred 
10,  L876,  was  widely  mourned.  He  married 
Sarah  Heighler,  who  survived  him. 

Franklin  Bai  in:  Masser,  M.  1»..  late  of  Sun- 
bury. wa-  born  there  July  11.  1860,  son 
of  Dr.  Jacob  P>.  Masser,  and  died  in  bis 
native  city  Dec.  22,  1891.  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-one.  He.  received  his  early 
education  in  the  local  public  schools,  ami  gradu- 
ate,! from  the  Hahnemann  Medical  School,  at  Phil- 
adelphia, in  1SS1.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  had 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  R.  H. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


.-,111 


Awl,  and  after  completing  his  classical  studies  he 
took  a  course  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1884.  He  settled  down 
to  practice  at  Sunbury,  where  he  resided  until  his 
Midden  death,  from  pneumonia,  after  an  illness  of 
eleven  days.  Dr.  Masser  served  as  city  physician, 
was  a  member  of  the  hoard  of  pension  examiners, 
and  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Sunbury 
Medical  Association.  He  had  established  an  ex- 
cellent practice,  and  gave  every  promise  of  making 
a  record  worth)  of  the  brilliant  family  of  which  he 
was  a  typical  representative.  Dr.  Masser  was 
buried  in  the  family  plot  in  Pomfret  .Manor  cem- 
etery, lie  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
and  took  an  active  part  in  its  work.  Socially  he 
belonged  to  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Knights 
of  the  i  [olden  Eagle. 

On  April  8,  1885,  Dr.  Masser  married  Harriet 
E.  Houtz,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Harriet  i  Boob) 
Eoutz,  ol  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  who  died  at  Free- 
burg.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  marriage, 
Franklin  l>..  Sarah  E.  and  Geraldine  II.  Mr-. 
Masser  and  her  children  continue  to  make  their 
home  in  Sunbury.  She  is  a  member,  and  has 
been  secretary,  of  Fort  Augusta  chapter.  D.  A. 
R.,  which  has  a  membership  of  forty-nine. 

FRANK  ERDMAN.  county  commissioner  of 
Northumberland  countv.  was  born  in  Shamokin 
(now  Ralpho)  township  June  19.  1856,  son  of 
George  Erdman.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township,  and  then  worked  on  the 
farm  till  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  at 
which  time  he  went  to  Shamokin  and  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  under  R.  S.  Aucker.  Here  he 
remained  for  about  eight  years  and  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  business  of  building  and  con- 
tracting on  his  own  account,  building  many  homes 
in  Shamokin  and  throughout  the  countv.  and  also 
doing  contracting  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  erecting  stations,  etc.  He  continued  at 
this  business  with  success  until  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  county  commissioner,  in  1905.  Mr. 
Erdman  bought  the  homestead  in  what  is  now 
Ralpho  township  near  Weigh  Scales  in  1S91.  and 
he  has  improved  it  very  much,  his  place  being  one 
of  the  best  locations  in  the  countv. 

In  politics  Mr.  Erdman  is  a  Democrat.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  peace  of  his  township,  served  as 
school  director  for  six  years,  was  o.  the 

poor  for  six  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1905  was 
elected  to  the'  office  of  county  commissioner,  and 
again  elected  in  1908.  still  holding  that  position. 
He  is  a  good  official  and  has  proved  himself  h>  he 
an  efficient  and  capable  man.  He  has  served  as 
president  of  the  board  for  the  past  three  years. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Elvsburg  Lodge.  No. 
414  F  &  A.  M..  and  a  member  of  Bloomsburg 
Consistorv.  having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree: 


he  is  a  member  of  Shamokin  lodge  of  Elks,  No. 
355.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

Mr.  Erdman  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Marietta  Adams,  daughter  of  Daniel  H.  and 
Sarah  (Pensyl)  Adams/  After  her  death  he 
married  (second)  Catherine  R.  Goss,  daughter  of 
John  Goss,  nf  Ralpho  township.  They  have  three 
children:  Esther  E.,  Russell  D.  and  Charles  R. 

JACOB  A.  MARTZ,  a  farmer  of  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  is  a  member  of  the  Martz  family 
which  has  been  settled  m  Northumberland  county 
I'm-  at  least  a  century.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of 
Jacob  Martz,  brother  of  David,  who  came  with 
him  into  this  section  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Martz  (or  Mertz)  family  is  quite  numerous 
in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where,  in  Longswamp  town- 
ship, the  first  ancestor  to  come  from  Germany 
made  a  settlement.  The  name  is  perpetuated 
there  by  the  town  Mertztown,  in  Longswamp  town- 
ship, and  Mertz's  Church  in  the  same  section. 
Johannes  Martz  (also  Maertz),  the  founder  of 
this  family  in  America,  was  one  of  242  passengers 
on  the  ship  '■Ann.'"  which  sailed  from  Rotterdam, 
last  from  ( 'owes.  He  was  a  son  of  Johannes 
Maertz,  of  Stockhausen,  Wurtemberg,  about  thirty- 
five  miles  northeast  of  Frankfort-on-the  .Main,  and 
forty  miles  northeast  of  Coblentz,  in  Germany. 
Johannes  Maertz,  the  emigrant,  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia Sept.  28,  1749.  He  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lyons,  Berks  county,  and  the  church  located 
near  his  home  was  named  Mertz  Church  in  honor 
of  him.  The  births  of  his  first  four  children  are 
recorded  there.  On  May  24,  1756,  he  married 
Rosina  Hase,  daughter  of  Melchior  Hase.  Their 
children  were:  Johannes,  born  July  17,  1757; 
Anna  Maria.  Dec.  2,  1760:  Maria  Salome,  May 
24.  1763;  Melchior.  April  11,  1765:  and  Peter, 
March  9.  1769.  The  line  in  which  we  are  in- 
terested at  present  descends  from  either  Johannes 
or  Melchior. 

David  and  Jacob  Martz,  brothers,  moved  from 
Berks  or  Lancaster  countv  toward  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  settling  on  the  Shamokin 
creek,  three  miles  south  of  Sunbury,  in  North- 
umberland county.  Jacob,  however,  did  not  re- 
main long,  moving  to  the  Lykens  Valley,  in 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  died  and  is  buried. 
He  settled  near  Killinger,  in  the  Lykens  Valley. 
He  was  a  tailor,  and  followed  his  trade  I'm-  many 
years,  dying  at  an  advanced  age;  he  is  buried  at 
David's  Church,  at  Killinger.  He  prospered  and 
owned  his  own  home.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Jury  (she  being  a  sister  of  John  Jury, 
of  Lykens  Valley),  also  reached  advanced  age. 
Among  their  children  were:  Susanna  married 
Simon  Romberger;  Polly  married  a  Messer- 
schmidt;  Charles  lived   at    Killinger;  dona-  died 


502 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


at  Millersburg;  Daniel  died  at  Lykens ;  Jacob  is 
mentioned  below:  Amos  lived  in  Indiana;  Chris- 
tian Lived  at  Hanover.  Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  Martz,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  1815  in 
Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  and  died 
in  that  locality  in  1882,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 
He  is  buried  at  Killinger"s  (also  known  as  Dav- 
id's) Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed  mem- 
ber. He  was  a  butcher,  and  followed  his  trade 
among  the  farmers  in  his  neighborhood,  being  en- 
gaged every  day  during  the  season.  To  a  limited 
extent  he  also  carried  on  farming,  owning  a  small 
tract  of  three  acres,  while  his  wife  owned  fifteen 
acres.  Mr.  Martz  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
was  elected  supervisor  of  his  township,  serving 
several  years  in  that  office.  His  first  wife. 
Rachel  (Welker),  daughter  of  John  Welker,  died 
in  the  fall  of  1S60,  aged  fifty-one  years.  She  was 
the  mother  of  nine  children :  Uriah  married  Han- 
nah Miller;  Jacob  died  when  young:  John  W.  is 
mentioned  below;  Hannah  married  Adam  Nau- 
bringer  and  (second)  Elias  Witmer;  Sarah  mar- 
ried Henry  Kissinger:  Elizabeth  and  Amanda  died 
unmarried,  but  three  weeks  apart,  of  typhoid 
fever:  Mary  married  Jerry  Hoy:  Jeremiah  mar- 
ried Miss  Hoffman.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Martz  married  Sarah  (Weaver),  widow  of  Peter 
Schreffler,  and  by  this  marriage  there  were  two 
children :  Emma  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

John  W.  Martz.  son  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Wel- 
ker) Martz,  was  born  Aug.  13,  1834.  in  Upper 
Paxton  township.  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  there 
reared.  In  1852  he  came  to  Northumberland 
county,  locating  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  When  a  young 
man  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed after  settling  in  this  county,  living  for  five 
years  in  Georgetown,  whence  in  1861  he  came  to 
Vera  Cruz.  He  is  now  the  oldest  resident  of  that 
village.  Mr.  Martz  followed  tailoring  there  until 
1906.  when  he  retired  from  the  business,  now  giv- 
ing all  his  working  hours  to  the  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion as  postmaster,  wdtich  he  has  held  since  Dec. 
31,  1898;  the  post  office  name  is  Malta.  He  is  a 
much  respected  citizen,  one  who  has  always  held 
the  esteem  and  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens  by 
his  upright  life.  In  polities  he  is  a  Republican,  in 
religious  connection  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  which  he  has  served  of- 
ficially for  a  number  of  years,  as  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  While  living  at  Georgetown  he  held  the 
office  of  deacon  in  the  church  there  for  three 
years. 

On  Jan.  29.  1854.  Mr.  Martz  married  Mary  Ann 
Witmer.  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Phil- 
lips) Witmer.  and  ten  children  have  been  born  to 
their  union :  Sarah  Ellen.  William,  Jeremiah  P., 
Alice  A.  (unmarried).  Peter  L..  Mary  Lizzie. 
Jonathan  O..  Rachel  R..  Jacob  A.  and  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy. 


Jacob  A.  Martz,  who  is  a  farmer  along  the 
Mahantango  creek,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
was  born  July  18,  1862,  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  there.  When  a  young  man 
he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  his  native 
jDlace,  following  that  line  for  twenty  years,  during 
which  time  he  operated  a  portable  sawmill.  For 
five  years  he  had  his  mill  at  Peter's  Mt..  where 
he  manufactured  shingles,  staves  and  all  kinds  of 
lumber,  selling  his  product  in  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania and.  tii  some  extent,  in  New  Jersey.  Dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  he  carried  on  this  business 
he  had  from  ten  to  fifteen  men  in  his  emplov. 
Meantime  he  also  became  interested  in  farming, 
managing  a  farm  for  several  years  while  in  the 
lumber  business,  and  since  1896  he  has  given  all 
his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  his  present  farm 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  has  resided 
since  that  year.  This  place,  which  was  formerly 
Jacob  Snyder  farm,  contains  136  acres,  now 
owned  by  Charles  Snyder.  Mr.  Jacob  Snyder 
erected  all  the  buildings  on  the  propertv.  Mr. 
Martz  owns  a  farm  of  118  acres  located  along  the 
Susquehanna  river,  which  was  formerly  the  home- 
stead of  Joel  Engel,  and  before  his  time  was  owned 
by  Andrew  Ziegler;  it  was  long  in  the  Ziegler 
family. 

On  Sept.  15,  18S3,  Mr.  Martz  married  Emma 
Schaffer,  daughter  of  Durrell  and  Anna  (Snyder) 
Schaffer,  and  granddaughter  of  Isaac  Schaffer. 
Eleven  children,  five  sons  and  six  daughters,  have 
been  born  t"  this  union,  all  of  whom  survive, 
namely :  Martha  0..  wife  of  Frank  Witmer,  son 
of  Henry  Witmer.  of  Lower  Mahanoy;  Mary  A., 
married  to  Reuben  Wetzel,  a  baker,  at  Herndon, 
this  county :  William,  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
property  above  mentioned,  who  married  Stella  Wit- 
mer, daughter  of  Monroe  Witmer.  late  of  Lower 
Mahanoy :  Stella,  married  to  Clarence  E.  Witmer, 
son  of  Ephraim  Witmer ;  John  N. :  Clarence  E. ; 
Lloyd  J.:  Neda  Irene:  Telma  M. :  Charles  I.:  and 
Emma  K. 

Mr.  Martz  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  and  he  is  serving  as  a  deacon  of 
the  Vera  Cruz  congregation.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  views. 


William  Martz  was  born  in  eastern  Pennsvl- 
vania.  where  his  father,  a  native  of  Germany,  set- 
tled. He  lived  for  a  number  of  years  at  Snyder- 
town.  in  Northumberland  county,  where  he  owned 
the  farm  which  is  now  the  property  of  William 
Place,  and  in  addition  to  farming  he  followed  his 
trade  of  blacksmith.  He  was  a  tall  man,  and 
heavy  set.  When  about  sixty  vears  old  he  went 
out  to  Illinois  with  his  daughters  Sarah  (wife  of 
Leonard  Wagner)  and  Lydia  (wife  of  John 
Kline),  and  there  lived  at  Elmwood,  in  Peoria 
county,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was    about   seventy-five.     He  married   an    Evert, 


X  ORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  \  S  Y  I.V.\  X  I A  503 

wIki  Long  preceded  him  to  the  grave  and  is  buried  tain,    near    Pitman,    Schuylkill    county,    another 

al    Snydertown,   Northumberland   county.     They  brother  is  said  to  have  settled  a1  a  different  loca- 

had  ,mx  children,  namely:  (1)  John  is  fully  men-  tion  in  Schuylkill  c tty,  and   the  third  at  Dan- 

tioned  in  the  next  paragraph.  (2)  Kate  married  ville,  Columbia  (now  Montour)  county.  Ludwig 
John  Miller.  (3)  Lydia  married  John  Kline.  Byerly  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  whose 
(4)  Sarah  married  Leonard  Wagner.  (5)  Dan-  maiden  nam.-  was  Beisel,  being  from  the  Mahan- 
iel,  who  lived  and  died  at  Sunbury,  had  children  tango  Valley,  where  she  also  died.  She  was  the 
William  J.  and  Mary.  ((i)  .Jamb  settled  in  mother  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 'Eliza  (mar- 
southern  Missouri,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  farm-  ried  Benjamin  Leitzel),  Samuel  and  Elijah.  Alt- 
er by  occupation.  His  children  were  Lizzie,  Belle,  er  his  second  marriage,  which  was  to  a  Miss  Delp, 
Charles,  Hattie,  Fletcher.  Maggie  and  Emma.  lie  moved  about  1825  to   Red   Hank,  in  Jefferson 

John  Martz,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  De-  county,  where  he  followed  farming  and  lumbering, 

cember,    1818,    at    Snydertown,    Northumberland  and  he  lived   to  the  age  of  about    eighty.     He  is 

county,  and  there  passed  his  long  life,  dying  Jan.  buried  in  the  vicinity  of  Red  Bank.     Five  sons  and 

31,  1ND2.     He  is  buried  in  the  Martz  family  plot  several  daughters  were  born  to  his  second  union, 

at  Snydertown.     lie  owned  110  acres  of  land,  and  the  son-,  being:    Ludwig,  George,  Henry.  Emanuel 

farmed    all   his  life,  hut  was  also  engaged  as  an  and  Solomon. 

employee  on  the  Pennsylvania   railroad   for  some        Samuel  Byerly,  eldest  sou  of  Ludwig.  was  born 

years.     Though  lie  did  not  care  to  hold  office,  he  in   1811  in  the  Mfchantango  Valley,  in  Schuylkill 

was  prevailed  upon  to  serve  two  terms  as  overseer  county,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  active 

of  the  poor  of   Shamokin   township,  an   office   he  life  in  .Jordan  township,  Northumberland  county, 

filled   with   intelligence   and   ability.      He  was  an  where  he  died  July  3, 1887,  aged  seventy-five  years, 

active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  six  months,  ten  days.     I'm-  a  number  of  years  in  his 

hi'  served  as  deacon  and  elder.     Mr.    Martz  mar-  earlier  manhood  he  hired  out  among  farmers,  later 

ried    Elizabeth    Kaseman,   daughter  of  John  and  purchasing    a    small    farm    in    . Jordan    township, 

Elizabeth   (Eeichard)   Kaseman.  and  they  became  which,  however,  he  -non  sold,  thereafter  going  to 

the  parents  of  four  children:  Franklin  P.  lives  in  work  for  his  brother   Elijah.     When  he  again  be- 

Ralpho  township;  William  E.  is  mentioned  below:  gan  farming  on  his  own  account  he  was  a  tenant 

Clara  married    David    Snyder    and    they    live  in  at  different  places   for  nine  years,  ami  at  the  end 

Snydertown,  this  county;  Elizabeth  married  Wil-  of  that  period  purchased   a  tract   of   mi;  acre-;  in 

Haiti  .1.  Barrel!  and  they  live  at  Shamokin.  .Ionian  township,  near  Urban,  where  he  had  lived 

William  E.  Martz  was  born  Jan.  27,  1857,  at  as  a  tenant  for  three  years.     Alter  he  had  owned  it 

Snydertown,    Northumberland    county,    and    was  lor  lour  year-  he  sold  out   at  a  profit  and  moved 

reared  on  the  farm,  working  for  his  parents  until  to  Washington  township,  where  he  lived  for  sev- 

he  attained  his  majority.     In  1891  he  began  farm-  era]   years,    then   purchasing   what    was   known   as 

ing  the  homestead  on  his  own  account,  and  con-  the   Schreffler   farm   of    1'.'!)   acres  on   the  Middle 

tinned  to  cultivate  it  for  eight  years,  in  1899  mov-  creek,  at  the  Hinnnel  Church.     Eventually  he  sold 

ing  to  the  place  in  Rockefeller  township  he  has  this  place  and  returned  to  Jordan   township,     lie 

since  occupied  and  cultivated.     This  was  formerly  married    Sarah    Schaffer,   daughter   id'   .John    and 

part  of  the  William   Miller  homestead   and    is  a  Christina    (Lenker)    Schaffer,    and    she    survived 

Valuable    tract   of   fifty-eight   acres,   at   the   head  him  a  number  of  years,  dying  in  September,  1900, 

waters    of    Plum   creek.    "All   the    buildings   now  aged    eighty-seven    years,    three    months,    twenty 

standing  on  this  property  were  erected   by    Mr.  days.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byerly  are  buried  at  St.  Paul's 

Martz   he  having  built  the  barn  in  1895  and  the  Church,  Urban.     They   had   children   as   follows: 

house  in  1S98    &His  place  is  a  model  of  comfort  Jacob:  Henry  S. :  Samuel,  of  Shamokin:  Harriet, 

and  convenience  as  a  country  home,  and  he  keeps  who  married   David   Adams,   both    now    d,eceased; 

it   in    an   excellent   state    of   cultivation,   looking  Annie,  who  died  young;  Dinah,  who  died  young; 

after  all  the  details  carefully  and  intelligently.  John  S. :  and  Sarah,  who  married  Nathan  Guth- 

On   Feb    17    1S91    Mr.   Martz  married    Sarah  man.  of  Mahantango   Valley. 
-Ann  Miller  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Strick-       Jacob  Byerly,  son  ol  Samuel,  lives  at  \\  iconiseo, 

Jand{  Miller    of  Rockefeller  township.     Mr.  and  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.     He  was  formerly  a  fanner.    In 

Mrs    Martz  have  no  children.     He  is  a  Lutheran  politics   he   is  a    Democrat    and    he  is   at  present 

in  religious  matters,  his  wife  a   member  of  the  serving    as    supervisor       He    married    Catharine 

■d  f        a  r>'„r„t,  Schaffer,  of  I  man,  who  ts  now   deceased,  and  to 

Kelormea  unurcn.  |h||  ^^  bon]  ( ,  ^  n  (.|||M|V|1 .     Kl^nu  Samuel, 

BYERLY     The  Byerly  family  of  the  lower  end  Gordon,  George,  William,  Clara,  three  other  daugh- 

of  Northumberland  county  is  descended  from  one  tc>    and  two  deceased. 
LudwS  Byerly,  one  of  three   brothers   who  came       Henry  S    Byerly,  son  of  Samuel,  attended  the 

from   Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  located  to  the  north  old-time  subscription    -   ot    Lowe-    Men, 

,       ,.      ,  le  mountains.    He  settled  at  Line  Moun-  township,   and    late-   went    to    school    m    .lack,,,,, 


504 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


township.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  con- 
tinued to  work  for  his  father  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years,  after  which  he  was  hired 
on  the  farm  for  a  year  and  for  another 
year  burned  lime  for  his  uncle,  Josiah 
Schaffer.  In  1864  he  engaged  in  the  lime 
burning  and  hauling  business,  being  encour- 
aged  to  make  this  venture  by  his  uncle,  Mr. 
Si  Killer,  and  be  carried  it  on  successfully  for  sev- 
eral years.  Meantime,  in  1865,  he  purchased  a 
small  farm  near  Hebe,  in  the  Mahantango  Valley, 
where  he  lived  one  year,  after  which  he  and  his 
uncle,  Josiah  Schaffer,  purchased  a  118-acre  farm 
m  Jordan  township,  in  partnership.  This  was 
formerly  the  Jacob  Bolmer  place.  Here  Mr.  By- 
erly lived  for  twenty  years,  in  1885  moving  to  a 
113-acre  tract  in  Jackson  township,  to  which  he 
added  until  he  had  1">4  acres.  Here  he  lived  until 
his  retirement,  in  1898,  since  which  time  he  has 
made  his  home  at  Herndon.  He  owns  consider- 
able real  estate,  all  of  which  he  has  acquired 
through  bis  own  efforts,  bi  ing  a  self-made  man. 
who  has  worked  hard  all  his  life,  lie  has  always 
active  in  public  affairs  and  in  church  life, 
being  a  man  whom  his  fellow  citizens  instinctively 
-i  with  mailer-  affecting  the  general  welfare. 
For  sis  years  he  was  school  director  of  Jordan 
township,  during  that  time  also  serving  as  treasur- 
er of  the  board.  In  Jackson  township  he  was  over- 
seer of  the  poor  several  years  and  tax  collector  for 
two  years.  Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Herndon 
as  served  three  years  as  councilman.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion. 
He  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of 
the  church,  is  at  present  serving  as  treasurer,  and 
i  as  been  trustee,  deacon  and  elder. 

<>n  July  •"'.  1864,  Mr.  Byerly  married  Abigail 
,  who  was  burn  Jan.  8,  1840,  daughter  of 
John  <>tin  (whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Groh), 
and  d  ed  Feb.  32,  L909;  she  is  buried  at  Hern- 
don. Eight  children  were  burn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Byerly:  Luzianna  married  William  Steel,  and 
they  have  had  three  children,  Lura  (deceased), 
Eugene  and  Beulah  (they  live  in  Jackson  town- 
ship) i  Sarah  A.  1!.  married  Edw.  Steel,  a  brother 
of  William  Steel,  and  they  live  at  Dalmatia  :  Cora 
Ellen  is  the  wife  of  William  Wayne,  a  resident  of 
Herndon,  and  they  have  three  children.  Flos 
Alva  and  Charles:  Catharine  Lura  died  in  infancy: 
one  son  died  in  infancy;  John  <»..  of  Dalmatia. 
married  Flora  Trautman  and  they  have  one  child, 
Oscar:  Lydia  married  Penrose  Miller,  of  Hern- 
den,  and  they  have  one  child,  Mary:  Henrietta  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Kehler,  of  Herndon  (they 
have  no  children).  Mr.  Byerly,  the  father  of  this 
family,  though  now  (1910)  seventy  years  of  age. 
i-  a  well  preserved  man.  and  he  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known. 

John  S.  Byerly,  son  of  Samuel,  is  engaged  in 
farming  near  Urban,  in  Jordan  township.    He  was 


born  May  3,  1850,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  old  pay  schools  conducted  during  his  early 
boyhood,  attending  only  two  and  a  half  days  at 
the  lice  school.  His  boyhood  was  passed  under 
the  parental  rout,  and  he  acquired  a  practical 
knowledge  of  farm  work  assisting  his  father,  for 
whom  he  worked  until  lie  attained  his  majority. 
He  afterward    hired   out   as  a  laborer  for  several 

-  until  he  began  farming  for  himself  in  Wash- 
nj     ii  township,  on  a  forty-acre  tract  where  he  re- 

ii  d  for  two  years.  He  moved  thence  to  anoth- 
er farm  in  the  same  township,  where  he  lived  for 
twelve  years,  on  April  5,  1888,  settling  in  Jordan 
township,  on  the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided. 
This  place,  which  contains  about  forty  acres,  for- 
merly belonged  to  Peter  Schwartz,  from  whom 
Mr.  Byerly  purchased  it  in  partnership  with  his 
elder  brother,  Henry  S.  Byerly.  and  he  lias  made 
a  success  of  his  property.     However, 

he  is  particularly  well  known  as  a  horsedealer  and 
veterinary  surgeon.  For  thirty-one  years  he  has 
kept  stock  horses,  and  he  has  always  prided  him- 
self upon  the  quality  and  fine  condition  of  the  an- 
imals he  handle-,  being  considered  the  most  reli- 
able man  in  that  line  anywhere  in  this  section.  He 
a  course  in  veterinary  medicine,  but  he 
p  issesses  a  natural  gift  which  enables  him  to  di- 
agnose  and  treat  animal  ailments  successfully,  and 
he  has  saved  many  valuable  animals  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, those  who  know  him  having  the  greatest 
confidence  in  his  ability  and  skill.  He  has  not 
only  been  a  useful  citizen  of  his  community,  but 
one  who  has  made  so  many  friends  that  he  is  liked 
and  welcomed  everywhere.  He  is  a  tall  man,  with 
a  pleasant  disposition  and  a  jovial  word  for  all, 
and  his  popularity  is  well   i  During  the 

winter  mouths  he  always  keeps  a  good  supply  of 
cider  on  tap.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
lias  served  three  years  as  school  director.  He  and 
his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  he  has  served  as  trustee,  and  is  at 

nt  holding  the  office  of  elder. 
In  the  summer  of  1870  Mr.  Byerly  married 
Mary  Sehreffler,  daughter  of  Gottfried  and  Jestina 
(Hepiier)  Sehreffler.  and  they  have  three  daugh- 
ters :  Emma  J.  is  the  wife  of  John  Phillips  and 
has  two  children.  William  and  Gertie:  Nora  E. 
married  Jacob  Tressler  and  has  children,  Charles. 
Daisy,  Mary,  John  and  Goldie;  Miranda  M.  mar- 
ried Andrew  Sehlegel  and  has  two  children,  J. 
Charles  and  Elmer  D. 


Elijah  Byerly,  the  younger  son  of  Ludwig  Byerly 
by  his  first  marriage,  was  born  Oct.  5,  1813,  and 
was  a  lifelong  farmer.  lie  began  farming  on  his 
own  account  at  the  place  where  his  grandson,  Jon- 
athan  M.  Byerly,  now  lives,  in  Jordan  township. 
He  married  Mary  Bower,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bower 
and  granddaughter  of  Matthias  Bower,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.     Matthias  Bow- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


505 


ei  owned  the  farm  which  later  became  the  property 
of  Elijah  Byerly,  who  began  to  farm  there  upon 
bis  marriage.  Later  his  wife  was  given  ninety- 
nine  acres  of  the  large  Bower  homestead,  and  there 
Elijah  Byerhj  erected  a  set  of  buildings  and  made 
his  permanenl  home.  He  prospered,  purchased  ad- 
jacent land,  until  the  farm  comprised  over  two 
hundred  acres,  also  starting  a  hotel  which  to  this 
day  is  known  as  Byerly's,  and  which  in  the  earlier 
days  \\ ; i  -  a  great  business  center.  Many  cattle 
dealers  used  in  stop  there,  and  the  place  became 
known  far  and  wide,  it  was  conducted  by  Elijah 
Byerly's  son  Josiali  until  1900.  Elijah  Byerly 
died  March  L9,  1873,  and  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Valley  (/.ion's)  Church.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
Jan.  22,  L81  I.  died  dune  -.'1.  1886.  Their  children, 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  were:  Elias, 
Benjamin,  Henry,  Frank.  Josiah,  Adam,  Sovana 
(died  in  infancy).  Ella  (married  Penrose 
Shadle),  Maggie  (married  Adam  Binghaman)  and 
Emma  (  married  Simon  Reed  i. 

Elias  Byerly,  son  of  Elijah,  was  born  June  L6, 
is;!:;,  where  In-  son  Jonathan  M.  Byerly  now  lives. 
Throughout  his  life  he  followed  farming  success- 
fully, and  at  different  times  lie  was  also  engaged 
in  hotel-keeping,  during  the  Civil  war  conducting 
the  "National  Hotel"  at  Pillow.  Dauphin  Co..  I'm. 
He  held  local  offices,  serving  as  school  director  ami 
tax  collector,  and  was  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  ami 
attending  divine  services  faithfully,  be  missed  but 
one  communion  in  twenty  years.  He  died  Oct.  5, 
1909,  ami  is  interred  in  the  family  plot  al  the 
Stone  Vallej  Church.  His  widow,  Elizabeth  (Rad- 
el).  daughter  of  .Michael  and  Catharine  ( Bona- 
witz)  Radel,  was  born  Oct.  4,  1834,  and  though  in 
her  seventy-seventh  year  is  well  preserved.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple:  Jona- 
than M.,  Mary  A.,  Josephine  E.,  James  M.  (died 
in  infancy),  Senora  C,  Ivy  (who  died  in  infancy, 

she  and  .1 s  M.  both  living  to  be  ten  months, 

fourteen  days  old),  Michael  E.  and  Eva  (wile  oi 
J.  C.  Hover  I.  Jonathan  M..  Michael  E.  ami  Eva 
are  the  only  survivors  of  this  family. 

Jonathan  M.  Byeklt  was  born  June  26,  1858, 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  there  received  bis 
early  education  in  the  local  public  schools,  later  at- 
tending a  select  school  at  Pillow.  Dauphin  county. 
In  1880  he  received  a  license  to  teach  from  Pro- 
fessor Bowl,  then  superintendent  of  schools  in 
Northumberland  county,  and  began  his  career  as 
an  educator  in  Washington  township,  where  he 
taught  for  two  terms.  Later  he  taught  I  wo  terms 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  he  made  a  repu- 
tation as  a  good  disciplinarian  as  well  as  a  consci- 
entious instructor.  From  boyhood  he  had  been  ac- 
customed to  farm  work,  and  be  began  fanning  for 
himself  ,„  1882  in  Lower  Mahanoy.  where  he  re- 
mained  until  hi-  removal,  in  1901,  to  his  present 


farm  in  Jordan  township,  lie  Mill  owns  the  place 
in  Lower  Mahanoy,  which  qow  comprises  114  acres 
of  valuable  land  which  he  bought  from  the  estate 
of  his  uncle,  Benjamin  Byerly.  The  latter  bought 
;i  Wetzel  tract  of  twenty-five  acres  to  which  he 
added  until  the  farm  reached  its  present  propor- 
tions. Jonathan  M.  Byerly  farmed  that  place  un- 
til he  removed  to  his  present  home,  which  he 
bought  in  the  fall  of  1900,  from  Michael  Emerich. 
and  which  is  a  most  desirable  property  of  13  l  ai  res 
of  limestone  soil.  •  This  place  has  been  scientifically 
fertilized  under  his  management,  and  he  has  made 
a  number  of  improvements  which  have  materially 
enhanced  the  value  of  the  property.  Mr.  Byerly  is 
one  of  the  intelligent,  progressive  and  influential 
men  -'I'  Ins  district,  where  by  his  useful  life  he  has 
won  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  lias  served   as  school  director,  and  has 

long  1 n  an  active  church  worker,  being  one  of  the 

leading  members  of  Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church, 
where  he  ami  his  family  belong  to  the  Lutheran 
congregation.  He  has  served  many  years  as  deacon 
and  elder,  ami  was  chur<  h  treasurer  for  ten  years. 
On  Jan.  8,  1882,  Mr.  Byerly  married  Louisa 
Emmerich,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Hannah 
(Tressler)  Emmerich.  They  have  had  children 
us  follows:  Benedict  Beecher,  who  died  when  ten 
months,  four  days  old;  Naomi  Josephine,  wife  of 
John  A.  Latsha;  Claudia  Alveretta,  wife  of  C.  C. 
Miller:  Hannah  E. :  Elias  M..  married  to  Lizzie 
Paul:  Ellen  Salome:  Isaac  Theodore:  Maud 
Helena,  who  died  in  her  sixth  year:  and  Mark 
Jonathan,  who  died  when   ten   months  old. 

Josiah  Byerly,  son  id'  Elijah,  was  born  Dec.  28, 
L843,  at  Byerly's,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
this  county,  and  obtained  a  rather  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  pay  schools  which  were  then  the  only 
institutions  of  learning  in  the  locality.  He  world 
for  his  father  until  lie  was  ^f  age,  and  about  1882 
began  farming  at  the  place  in  Jordan  township 
where  he  now  lives,  having  a  farm  of  145  acres 
which  belonged  to  his  mother,  having  formerly 
been  a  Bower  tract.  On  this  place  stand-  a  large 
Swiss  barn  which  was  built  in  is."):;  by  Elijah 
Byerly;  it  is  100  by  15  feet  in  dimensions,  and  is 
an  attractive  feature  of  the  property. 

On  Nov.  22,  1868,  Mr.  Byerly  married  Catharine 
Snyder,  daughter  of  John  ami  Anna  Barbara 
(Wert)  Snyder,  and  to  them  have  been  horn  eight 

children,    five   -on-   and    llir laughters,   nanielv  : 

Harry  E.,of  St.  Louis.  Mo.:  [saiah  P.,  who  lives  at 
home:  Walter  ('..  who  lives  near  his  parents; 
George  C. ;  Jeremiah:  Annie,  who  dieil  young: 
Martha,  wife  of  J.  Lengert  ;  and  Mary.  Mr.  By- 
erly and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of 
Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church,  which  he  formerly 
,  in  the  official  capacities  of  deacon  and 
,  |,|rr.  anci  he  is  at  present  a  trustee,  which  office 
he  has  held  six  years.  Politically  lie  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


506 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


EDWARD  EARLEY.  of  Shamokm.  business 
man  and  member  of  the  borough  council,  which  he 
served  one  year  as  president,  has  a  high  reputa- 
tion for  personal  worth  which  has  been  consider- 
ably augmented  of  recent  years  by  his  efficient 
work  in  the  governing  body  of  the  municipality. 
His  public  spirit  and  ability  won  him  the  name 
of  being  one  of  the  most  useful  officials  Shamokin 
has  ever  had. 


Mr.   Earley  was  born  Oct. 


1859,  at  Tama- 


qua, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  ot  Patrick  Earley,  a 
native  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  who  came  to 
America  in  1851.  For  a  number  of  years  after 
coming  to  America  Mr.  Earley  was  settled  at 
Tamaqua,  where  he  followed   farming,  thence  re- 

ving  to  Carbon  county,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  the 

rest  of  his  life.  For  several  years  he  was  super- 
visor of  Banks  township,  that  county.  He  died 
there  Nov.  26,  1895.  Mr.  Earley  married  Bridget 
McOill,  who  survived  him,  dying  Sept.  6,  1908, 
and  they  are  buried  in  St.  Ann  cemetery,  at  Drift- 
on.  l'a.  Eight  children  were  born  to  their  union: 
Annie  (deceased)  married  Thomas  North:  Mar] 
died  in  infancy;  Edward  is  mentioned  later; 
Bridget  married  John  F.  Cannon  and  resides  at 
Locust  Gap,  Northumberland  county  (Mr.  and 
Mr-.  Cannon  have  had  seven  children,  Agnes,  who 
is  a  trained  nurse,  located  at  Reading,  l'a.:  Ray- 
mond; John:  William:  Anna:  Mary,  and  Cath- 
arine) :  William  lives  in  Carbon  county.  Pa.;  John 
lives  m  South  Bethlehem,  Pa.;  -lame-  is  deceased; 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Hugh  C.  Boyle  and  lives 
at   Coatesville,  Pennsylvania. 

Patrick  Farley  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  his  brothers  and  sisters  being:  John, 
.lame-.  Joseph,  Mary.  Catherine  and  Bridget.  Of 
this  family,  Joseph  served  in  the  Civil  war.  and 
two  of  his  sons  ton-lit  in  the  Spanish-American 
war. 

Edward  Farley  began  work  when  but  seven 
years  old  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  mines  at  Locus! 
Cap.  this  county.  He  moved  with  the  family  to 
Carbon  county,  where  he  continued  to  work  as  a 
slate  picker  until  he  became  a  regular  miner,  fol- 
lowing that  line  of  work  for  twenty  years.  During 
the  great  strike  of  1887  he  was  a  prominent  work- 
er in  the  Knights  of  Labor.  He  then  gave  up 
mining,  and  going  to  Wilkes-Barre  found  work 
with  the  Sheldon  Axle  Company,  with  which  he 
remained  until  bis  removal  to  Shamokin.  in  1889. 
Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  brother-in-law, 
W.  A.  Kearney,  who  was  in  the  wholesale  liquor 
business,  being  associated  with  him  until  he  with- 
drew to  engage  in  business  on  bis  own  account,  in 
1898.  He  has  ever  since  been  located  at  No.  14? 
Market  street.  Shamokin.  ami  has  built  up  a  profit- 
able trade.  Besides,  he  is  local  agent  for  the 
Kaier  Brewing  Company,  of  Mahanoy  City.  Mr. 
Earlev*s  perseverance  and  executive  ability  have 
won  him  success  but  his  industry  and  faithful  at- 


tention to  detail  have  been  no  less  factors  in  his 
prosperity,  which   he  well  deserves. 

That  Mr.  Farley  has  high  standing  in  the  city 
of  his  adoption  is  shown  by  the  honors  he  has  re- 
ceived at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In  Oc- 
tober,  1905,  lie  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  Patrick  .1.  Glennon.  as  councilman  from 
the  Fourth  ward,  ami  at  the  next  election  he 
was  a  regular  candidate  for  the  office,  elected  on 
the  Democratic  ticket  and  indorsed  by  the  Re- 
publicans.  In  March,  1909,  he  was  the  success- 
ful candidate  for  president  of  the  council,  which 
office  he  tilled  for  one  year,  with  the  highest  effi- 
ciency. The  amount  of  business  transacted  by 
!  council  during  his  year  as  presiding  officer, 
and  the  many  excellent  measures  acted  upon,  are 
creditable  to  the  entire  body,  which  won  universal 
public  approval  for  services  "f  a  high  order.  Mr. 
Earley  is  president  of  the  local  lodge  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  Hibernians  (No.  3)  and  also 
county  president  of  that  fraternity.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Si.  Edward's  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Earley  married  Cecelia  Kearney,  daughter 
of  Patrick  Kearney,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  have 
had  four  children  :  .Mary,  who  died  when  four 
years  old;  Edward  P..  a  telegraph  operator; 
I'  lei  n  Y..  a  graduate  of  the  Shamokin  high  school, 
class  of  L909;  and  Catherine  K..  a  graduate  of 
the  Shamokin  high  school,  class  of  1911. 

FETTER.  There  are  two  branches  ,,f  the  Fet- 
ter family  quite  numerously  represented  in  North- 
umberland county  with  which  this  article  is  con- 
cerned,  those  descended  from  the  brothers  Hein- 
rich  and  Frederick  Fetter,  who  came  hither  from 
Berks  county  in  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  They  are  all  of  the  posterity  of  Philip 
Fetter,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many. Isaac  0.  Fetter,  of  Sunbury,  who  has  been 
prominently  associated  with  business  interests 
there  for  some  years  as  an  extensive  contractor  and 
builder :  Nathan  E.  Fetter,  of  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  now  serving  his  sixth  term  as  justice  of 
the  peace  and  otherwise  active  in  the  affairs  of  his 
locality :  and  Elias  Fetter,  farmer  of  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township,  a  man  of  conspicuous  intelligence 
and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  community. 
are  all  of  this  stock.  We  give  the  record  of  the 
early  generations  from  the  emigrant  ancestor. 

Philip  Fetter,  a  native  of  the  Rheinpfalz.  Ger- 
iiinnv.  landed  at  Philadelphia  in  the  fall  of  1751, 
and  settled  in  Maxatawny  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 
His  wife.  Anna  Maria  (Fissler),  was  also  from 
Germany,  but  according  to  family  tradition  he  was 
unmarried  when  he  came  to  this  country.  Among 
his  children  were  the  following  sons:  Jacob.  Adam, 
Philip  and  Conrad  all  settled  west  of  the  Susque- 
hanna river,  in  Snyder  and  Union  counties.  Pa. ; 
George  settled  in  Northumberland  county :  John 
settled  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county :  Heinrich 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


507 


ami  Frederick  settled  in  Northumberland  county. 

Heinrich  Fetter,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  Sept. 
6,  1779,  in  Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county, 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  Philip  Jacob  Michael,  at 
Ziegel's  Church,  in  Weisenburg  township,  in  what 
is  now  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  and  was  confirmed  by 
Rev.  Jacob  Lupoid,  at  the  same  church.  He  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  engaged  principally  in 
farming.  Coming  from  Berks  county  to  North- 
umberland county  in  1S10,  he  first  settled  on  the 
farm  where  Elias  Rebuck  now  lives,  later  locating 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  David  S.  Paxil.  He  is  buried  at  the 
Salem  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  near  the  Northumberland  county  line. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Hartman),  was  born  Oct. 
19,  1781,  in  Whitehall  township,  Northampton 
Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Johan  Dietrich  and  Catha- 
rine (Ruchin)  Hartman,  and  died  March  3,  1847, 
aged  sixty-five  years,  four  months,  fifteen  days. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seventeen  children,  three 
of  whom  died  young,  thirteen  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter reaching  maturity,  viz.:  Joshua,  who  went 
West;  Heinrich :  David:  Mary,  who  married  Sam- 
uel Rebuck:  [saac;  Daniel:  Elias,  who  married  a 
Miss  Bush;  Moses:  Levi:  Philip:  John,  who  was 
blind;  Solomon;  Jonas,  who  died  young:  and  an- 
other son  whose  name  is  forgotten. 

David  Fetter,  son  of  Heinrich,  was  born  Jan.  18, 
1808,  in  Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county,  and 
was  two  years  old  when  the  family  came  to  North- 
umberland county.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  German  subscription  schools  which  afforded 
the  young  their  principal  educational  advantages 
during  his  childhood,  and  acquired  more  than  the 
average  literary  training  for  the  time,  being  an 
excellent  reader  and  writing  a  good  German  hand. 
He  was  a  carpenter,  following  that  trade  during 
his  earlier  manhood  and  later  engaging  in  farm- 
ing, having  a  forty-seven-acre  farm  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township.  A  well  known  man  in  his  com- 
munity, partly  because  of  his  superior  education, 
he  was  active  and  influential  in  local  politics  as  an 
ardent  Democrat,  helped  to  hold  many  elections, 
and  himself  served  as  supervisor,  overseer  of  the 
p'oor  and  auditor  of  his  township.  He  married 
Maw  Erdman,  who  was  born  March  12,  1817.  at 
twelve  o'clock  midnight,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Erdman,  and  died  Sept.  12,  1904,  at  the  same 
hour.  Mr.  Fetter  died  Nov.  10.  1890.  m  his 
eighty-third  year,  and  both  are  buried  at  Salem 
Church,  where  they  and  their  family  worshipped 
with  the  Lutheran' congregation.  He  was  a  trus- 
tee of  that  church  at  the  time  of  his  incorporation. 
Thirteen  children  were  born  to  David  and  Mary 
Fetter,  as  follows:  Henry  died  young;  Elizabeth 
married  David  Ochs;  Harriet  married  Elias  Groh 
and  (second)  John  Kleinginni :  Lydia  married 
Andrew  Mover:  Catharine  married  Peter  Lueus : 


Adam  married  Sarah  Paul;  David  died  young; 
Marcus,  who  was  blind,  died  young;  James  and 
Jonathan  died  young ;  Edwin  died  young ;  Nathan 
E.  is  mentioned  below;  Polly  died  young.  Sev- 
eral of  the  children  died  of  diphtheria,  within  a 
short  time. 

Nathan  E.  Fetter,  son  of  David,  was  born 
Feb.  24,  1852,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  and  free  schools,  later 
attending  Freeburg  Academy,  in  Snyder  county. 
\\  In n  nineteen  years  old  he  was  licensed  to  teach, 
and  was  first  assigned  to  Delp's  school,  No.  6,  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  following  his  profes- 
sion tor  twenty-two  successive  terms,  all  in  the 
same  township,  a  record  which  speaks  volumes  for 
his  efficiency  and  popularity.  He  is  engaged  in 
farming,  and  for  many  years  has  been  one  of' the 
leading  figures  in  local  public  affairs.  He  is  town- 
ship clerk,  a  position  he  has  filled  for  the  past 
twenty  years;  and  since  1882  has  served  continu- 
ously as  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  capacity  he 
Las  settled  many  controversies  in  his  ditsrict,  offi- 
cially and  unofficially.  He  has  been  Democratic 
committeeman  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township  for 
the  past  thirty  years  and  has  served  as  delegate 
to  various  county  conventions,  in  which  he  takes 
the  greatest  interest.  Few  citizens  are  better  or 
more  favorably  known.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation  at  Salem  Church,  and 
served  the  church  consistory  as  secretary  for  two 
years.  Mr.  Fetter  lives  on  the  road  between  Leek 
Kill  and  Rough  and  Heady.  In  his  early  man- 
hood he  was  afflicted  with  a  running  sore  which 
eventually  caused  him  the  loss  of  his  left  leg,  but 
he  has  never  allowed  this  misfortune  to  interfere 
in  anv  way  with  his  ambition  or  usefulness. 


Daniel  Fetter,  son  of  Heinrich  and  grandson  of 
Philip,  was  born  Aug.  27,  1 8 1  - » .  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  there  passed  his  life,  dying 
March  1,  1878.  He  occupied  the  place  where  his 
son  Elias  now  lives,  cultivating  his  farm  of  fifty- 
odd  acres  and  following  his  trade  of  shoemaker, 
plying  his  craft  in  the  shop  now  used  for  weav- 
ing. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a 
Lutheran,  he  and  his  family  belonging  to  the 
Salem  Church  with  which  so  many  of  the  name 
have  been  identified.  His  wife,  Sarah  (Monte- 
lius),  daughter  of  Peter  and  Rebecca  (Stitzer) 
Montelius,  was  born  July  13,  L820,  and  died  May 
26,  lso:!.  Their  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  were  as  follows:  Eenry  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty-two  years;  Peter  is  mentioned  below; 
Harriet  married  Benneville  Reiner  and  they  live 
at  Tower  City.  Pa.:  Adam  (deceased)  lived  near 
Trevorton,  this  county;  Emma,  who  is  unmarried, 
lives  with  her  brother  Elias:  Charles  died  in  his 
thirty-second    year;    Elias    is    mentioned    below: 


508 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Sarah  (deceased)  married  Daniel  Stitzer.  The 
parents  and  all  their  deceased  children  except 
Peter  are  buried  at  the  Salem  Church. 

Peter  Fetter,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1843 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  like  his  father 
became  a  "cobbler,"  but  he  also  worked  in  the 
lumber  woods.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as 
a  soldier  in  Company  A.  7th  Regiment.  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  and  in  the  course  of  his  army 
life  he  contracted  disease  from  which  he  never  re- 
covered, and  which  eventually  was  the  indireel 
cause  of  his  death.  His  hearing  was  affected,  and 
he  was  killed  by  a  fast  train  on  the  railroad  above 
Dalmatia  while  walking  along  the  trade,  being  un- 
able to  hear  its  approach.  The  accident  happened 
in  September.  1898,  when  he  was  fifty-five  years 
old.  He  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  (Zion's) 
Church  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  and  his 
family  were  Lutherans  in  religion.  Mr.  Fetter 
married  Annie  Yeagley,  who  survives  him,  making 
her  home  at  Dalmatia.  The  following  children 
were  born  to  their  union :  Isaac  0. ;  Lizzie,  wife 
of  Harry  Klinger  and  living  at  Tower  City,  Pa.: 
Charles.  <>f  Tremont,  Pa.:  Frank,  of  Sunbury,  this 
county;  Adam,  who  died  when  lour  year-  old: 
Kate ;  and  Samuel,  of  Philadelphia. 

Isaac  0.  Fetter,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  March 
28,  1872,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  re- 
ceived  a  common  school  education.  When  nineteen 
years  old  he  went  to  Shamokin  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  serving  his  apprenticeship  with  R. 
S.  Aneker.  and  remained  in  that  borough  sis  years. 
in  1897  coming  to  Sunbury.  where  he  has  since 
been  located.  Not  long  after  settling  here  he  be- 
gan contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account, 
and  has  followed  the  business  with  increasing  suc- 
cess up  to  the  present  time,  being  now  one  of  the 
leading  men  in  that  line  in  the  borough.  He  em- 
ploys as  many  as  twenty-five  men.  and  up  to  date 
lias  over  a  hundred  buildings  in  Sunbury  to  his 
credit  as  a  builder.  Among  those  of  his  construc- 
tion may  he  mentioned  the  Gen.  C.  M.  Clement 
residence;  the  Sunbury  National  Bank  building; 
the  First  National  Bank  building  at  Herndon :  the 
\V.  H.  Druckenmiller  residence :  the  E.  S.  TVeimer 
residence :  the  addition  to  the  First  Evangelical 
Church  edifice :  two  steel  frame  buildings  for  the 
Kevstone  Forging  Company  at  Northumberland, 
one  of  which  is  100  by  150  feet  in  dimensions;  C. 
S.  Miller's  ice  plant :  the  M.  L.  Swab  residence  on 
East  Market  street  (which  he  also  designed)  :  the 
F.  A.  Witmer  residence,  in  the  same  section,  which 
he  designed  as  well  as  erected :  the  F.  H.  Conrad 
residence;  and  various  other  buildings.  Except 
where  otherwise  specified,  all  these  are  in  Sun- 
bury. In  1905,  for  greater  convenience  in  the 
transaction  of  his  business  and  carrying  out  his 
contracts.  Mr.  Fetter  established  the  planing-mill 
and  lumber  yard  on  South  Tenth  street,  in  the 
East  End   of  Sunbury,  which  he  has  since  con- 


ducted. This  plant  is  situated  between  the  tracks 
of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
railroads,  and  covers  an  area  of  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand  square  feet.  The  mill  is  thoroughly  equipped 
with  the  most  approved  modern  appliances  for 
producing  the  highest  grade  of  work,  carefully 
selected  lumber  is  used  in  filling  all  orders,  and  the 
establishment  has  a  reputation  for  reliable  and 
well  finished  products  which  accounts  for  its  popu- 
larity. All  classes  of  work,  from  the  most  in- 
expensive to  the  most  elegant,  are  undertaken,  and 
a  force  of  twenty-five  hands  find  steady  employ- 
ment. Electric  power  is  the  motive  force,  and  the 
plant  is  up-to-date  in  every  detail.  Mr.  Fetter's 
ne  (  hanical  skill,  combined  with  unusual  executive 
ability,  has  made  his  success  possible  within  a 
comparatively  short  time.  Though  busy  with  his 
own  interests  he  has  found  time  for  service  on  the 
school  board,  having  been  director  from  the  Ninth 
ward  since  1905,  and  he  is  the  present  treasurer 
of  the  board.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views. 

On  March  6,  L897,  Mr.  Fetter  married  Hattic 
Susanna  Bpgar,  daughter  of  Paul  S.  and  Matilda 
i  Musser)  Bogar,  of  Adam-  township,  Snyder  Co.. 
Pa.,  and  granddaughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan 
i  Sampsel)  Bogar,  also  of  Snyder  county.  Mr.  and 
Mr-.  Fetter  reside  in  the  handsome  home  at  No. 
170  South  Tenth  street,  adjoining  his  mill  prop- 
erty, which  he  designed  and  erected  in  190:!.  a 
substantial  brick  dwelling  which  is  an  ornament 
to  the  locality  and  much  admired.  They  are  mem- 
bers  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Elias  Fetter,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  July 
".'I.  1855,  on  the  homestead  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  and  received  his  education  in  the  free 
schools  of  the  locality.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
and  in  his  earlier  years  did  laboring  work 
for  others,  until  he  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, in  1879.  From  that  time  to  the  present  he 
'armed  his  father's  old  place,  to  which  he  has 
added  eighteen  acres  and  which  he  has  improved  in 
many  ways,  having  a  most  desirable  property  on 
the  road  between  Leek  Kill  and  Rough  and  Ready, 
near  the  Schuylkill  county  line.  His  father  built 
a  residence  on  the  place  in  1866,  and  Mr.  Fetter 
erected  his  present  home  thereon  in  1901.  He 
is  a  man  of  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  one  whose 
opinion  on  matters  generally  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard, and  he  is  a  prominent  man  in  his  township 
in  many  respects.  He  has  long  been  actively 
identified  with  the  work  of  the  Democratic  party, 
having  helped  to  hold  a  number  of  township  elec- 
tions, and  served  twelve  years  as  auditor  of  the 
township.  He  has  also  been  a  valued  member  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Salem  Church,  where 
he  and  his  wife  belong,  having  served  as  deacon 
and  at  present  holding  the  office  of  trustee. 

In  1898  Mr.  Fetter  married  Lovina  Heim, 
daughter  of  John  and  Lydia    (Shott)    Heim,  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


509 


Washington  township,  this  county.    They  have  no 

family. 


Frederick  Fetter,  son  of  Philip,  the  emigrant, 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  He  came  thence 
to  Northumberland  county  about  1815,  from  what 
township  is  not  definitely  known,  but  his  grand- 
son, John  Fetter,  thinks  it  was  Heidelberg,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  some  eighty  acres  at  Leek 
Kill,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  He  followed 
farming  throughout  his  active  years,  and  was  not 
an  old  man  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  adhered 
to  the  Keformed  faith,  and  is  buried  at  Howerter's 
Church.  His  wife,  Catharine  (Schmidt),  was 
like  himself  from  Berks  county,  and  their  eldest 
cli i Id,  George,  was  born  there.  Besides  this  son 
they  had  four  daughters,  namely :  Hannah  died  un- 
married ;  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  2,  1798,  died  Aug. 
20,  1865,  unmarried;  Sallie  was  an  invalid; 
Catharine  married  John  Brown. 

George  Fetter,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born  July 
4,  1801,  in  Berks  county.  He  succeeded  his  father 
in  the  ownership  of  the  homestead  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  resided  thereon  some  years, 
thence  moving  to  a  farm  of  118  acres  north  of  that 
property;  this  latter  place  is  now  the  property  of 
one  of  his  grandsons,  Charles  H.  Fetter.  George 
Fetter  served  his  township  as  overseer  of  the  poor. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of 
the  Keformed  Church  in  religious  matters,  uniting 
with  the  Howerter  Church,  where  he  is  buried. 
His  wife  Catharine  (Mertz),  daughter  of  John 
Mertz.  of  Berks  county,  was  born  April  19,  1803, 
and  died  Dec.  24,  1876,  and  Mr.  Fetter  died  July 
17,  1878.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Charles 
lived  at  Pine  Grove.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.:  Daniel, 
born  Nov.  27,  1825.  died  Dee.  30,  1864.  unmar- 
ried; John  is  mentioned  below:  Benneville  is  men- 
tioned below;  Catharine  married  Charles  Kahler, 
and  died  Aug.  1,  1908,  aged  seventy-three  years; 
Esther,  bom  Sept.  3,  1836,  died  Feb.  27.  1872. 

John  Fetter,  son  of  George,  now  a  venerable 
resident  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  was  born  in 
that  township  Feb.  2s.  1832,  and  has  passed  all 
his  long  life  there.  He  was  reared  to  farming  and 
gave  all  his  active  years  to  that  vocation,  owning 
and  cultivating  bis  father's  old  place  for  seven- 
teen years.  Reselling  this  tract  to  his  father,  he 
purchased  his  present  place,  a  tract  of  107  acres,  in 
1869,  and  has  since  resided  there.  This  was  the 
old  Michael  Braun  homestead,  and  Mr.  Braun  in 
1829  built  the  stone  house  which  still  stands  on 
the  property  and  is  occupied  as  a  residence.  Mr. 
Fitter  retired  from  farming  in  1908.  lb'  is  a 
member  of  St.  John's  Church,  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  which  he  has  sewed  officially  as  elder. 

In  1S75  Mr.  Fetter  married  Sarah  Ann  Runkel, 
who  was  bom  in  1842,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Susanna  (Cherry)  Eunkel,  and  they  have  had  two 
children :    William  is  a  farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy 


township :  Farietta  married  Landis  Brosius,  who 
farms  the  homestead  for  his  father-in-law,  Mr. 
Fetter. 

Benneville  Fetter,  son  of  George,  was  bom  April 
'.'1.  1841,  on  the  homestead  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  owning 
and  living  upon  his  father's  place,  which  is  now 
the  property  of  his  son  Charles  H.  He  died  Jan. 
6,  18S7,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty- 
five  years,  and  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Church, 
where  he  and  his  family  united  with  the  Reformed 
congregation,  and  he  was  serving  as  deacon  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Fetter  had  a  harrowing  ex- 
perience with  the  Molly  Maguires,  who  terrorized 
the  coal  regions  for  a  number  of  years,  being 
robbed  by  them  of  two  hundred  dollars  while  he 
was  going  across  Broad  Mountain.  He  was  a 
huckstered  and  was  on  the  road  between  Pottsville 
and  Minersville.  He  married  Louisa  Malick, 
daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Leitzel)  Malick, 
and  four  children  were  born  to  them:  Wilson 
M.,  Charles  H.,  John  F.  and  George  M.,  the  last 
named  dying  in  childhood. 

Charles  H.  Fetter  was  born  duly  19.  1867,  on 
the  homestead,  and  there  worked  for  his  parents 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  When 
his  father  died  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  of  118 
acres,  which  he  has  since  cultivated.  It  came  into 
his  possession  in  1888.  He  disposes  of  his  produce 
in  Shamokin.  Mr.  Fetter  has  been  quite  interested 
in  local  affairs,  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor  in  his 
township  since  1905  and  was  supervisor  for  three 
terms.    He  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

On  Nov.  9,  1890,  Mr.  Fetter  married  Lizzie  A. 
Beissel.  daughter  of  Daniel  H.  and  Abbie  (Horn- 
berger)  Beissel.  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and 
they  have  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Sadie  Maizie,  Harry  D.,  Clyde  K,  Welling- 
ton C.  George  C,  John  C,  Cally  L..  Dora  W., 
Katie  A..  Jennie  L.  and  Lydia  E.  Mr.  Fetter  and 
his  family  worship  at  St.  John's  Church,  where 
the]  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  congregation, 
ami  he  has  been  very  active  in  the  work  of  that  or- 
ganization, having  served  as  deacon  eleven  years  in 
succession,  as  superintendenl  of  the  Sunday  school 
for  three  terms,  and  since  1901  as  elder,  lie  takes 
a  keen  interesl  in  all  the  activities  of  the  congre- 
gation and  is  one  of  its  most  valued  workers.  He 
is  ,i  member  of  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  260,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
of  Leek  Kill. 

John  F.  Fetter,  sun  of  Benneville,  was  born 
Nov.  Hi.  1871,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  town-hip.  where 
iceived  his  education,  attending  -clii.nl  al  Leek 
Kill.  Leaving  school  ai  Hie  age  of  eighteen  years, 
he  weiii  to  Mount  Carmel  to  Learn  the  carpenter's 
trade  when  lie  attained  his  majority,  ami  has  hen 
engaged  al  thai  work  ever  since,  being  established 
in  his  native  township.  Sin,,'  the  spring  of  1909 
he  has  also  ' □  engaged  in  farming,  owning  forty- 
nine  acre-    located   along  Line   Mountain.     This 


510 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


was  formerly  the  Solomon  Enderliue  homestead 
and  subsequently  owned  by  E.  B.  Tschopp,  who 
built  the  present  frame  residence  in  1893.  Mr. 
Enderline  operated  a  tannery  there  for  many  years. 
On  Dec  30,  1893,  Mr.  Fetter  married  Annie 
Brosius,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Katie  (Bush) 
Brosius.  and  they  have  had  two  children.  Katie 
L.  and  Lloyd  A.  All  this  family  are  members  of 
the  Reformed  Ration  at  St.  John's  Church. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Fetter  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  socially  he  affiliates  with  Mount  Carmel 
inandery,  No.  22,  Knights  of  Malta,  and  with 
-  and  joiners  organization.  Xo.  Til, 
at  Mounl  ( larmel. 

DANIEL  s.  SCHWARTZ,  oi  leading 

substantial    farmer  citi       •   i      Jordan  town- 
ship,  was   born    on    the"  Schwartz   homestead    I 

owner  of  I 
I!'-     -  andson    of    Peter    Schwartz,   the 

founder  of  th  in  Northumberlani 

who  came  hither  from  tils  native  county,  Bei 

The  emigranl  ancestor  of  this  old  Pennsylvania 
family  was  one  Nicholas  Schwartz,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  early  residents  of  Longswamp  township, 
B  -  Co.,  I'a.  (There  was  another  Nicholas 
Schwartz  in  Berks  county,  a  much  earlier  settler 
there.)  In  1759  tie  was  assessed,  paying  fourteen 
pounds  tax,  and  one  Danii  Si  wartz,  who  paid 
two  pounds,  is  said  to  have  been  his  brother.  In 
the  tax  list  the  name  is  spelled  Swartz.  but  in  his 
last  will  and  testament  Nicholas  wrote  the  name 
Schwartz  in  legible  German.  In  this  document, 
which  is  on  record  in  Will  Book  2,  page  336,  in  the 
Berks  county  courthouse,  be  gives  his  occupation 
as  shoemaker.  On  May  !>.  1. 778,  during  I 
ress  of  the  American  Revolution,  letter-  of  ad- 
ministration were  granted  to  his  wife,  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Schwartz,  and  their  sons  John  and  Samuel. 
Nicholas  Schwartz  made  ample  provision  for  his 
beloved  wife,  who  was  to  receive  annually  18 
bushels  of  good  wheat.  100  pounds  of  p  >rk,  50 
pounds  of  heel'.  6  pounds  o  good  wool,  10  pounds 
of  "heckled"  flax,  8  pounds  of  hemp,  2  barrels  of 
:■  and  3  gallons  "oyl."  The  children  of 
Nicholas  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Schwartz  v 
in  number,  five  sons  and  two  daughters:  John. 
Samuel.  Daniel.  Christian.  Nicholas.  Sarah  and 
Mary  Elizabeth.  The  estate  being  a  large  one.  all 
received  Considerable  for  that  day,  John  and  Sam- 
uel obtaining  land:  the  ad  it  appears 
was  divided  into  two  parts,  John  receiving  that 
part  on  which  stood  the  original  set  of  buildings. 
Daniel  received  a  tract  of  land  and  twenty-five 
pounds  in  money.  Christian  was  to  receive  200 
pounds  in  money  and  a  mare  not  over  ten 
old.  Nicholas  received  200  pounds  in  money. 
Sarah  a  like  amount,  and  Mary  Elizabeth  100 
pounds  in  money. 

When  the  first  Federal  Census  Report  was  taken, 


in  171  I  Sa  Quel  Schwartz  lived  in  Longswamp 
township,  Berks  count}',  was  a  tanner,  and  head  of 
a  family  consisting  of  himself  and  wife,  a  son  then 
over  sixteen  years  old,  and  four  sons  under  six- 
teen, as  well  as  three  daughters.  It  was  his  eldest 
son.  I '■  i  iorn  L763,  died  1831,  who  founded  the 
family  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Jordan 
township,  Northumberland  county,  he  having 
tied  near  Urban,  the  business  e  i  the  town- 

ship. 

'I  here  were  a  number  of  other  Swartzes  in  B 
ty  at  this  period,  the  following  wills  being  of 
B    ik    I!,  page   20  -    artz, 

L787  (exei  J  and   Leonard  Swartz  i  : 

Rook  A.  pag   383,  Jacob  Swartz,  died  1798  (exec- 

Philipina  Swaitz)  ;  Book  1,  page  169,  Leon- 
ard Swartz.  died  1  eutors  Ludwig  Swartz 
and  lleiny  Kruno  :  Rook  1.  page  TIC.  John 
Swartz.  e  1  i  fecutors  Rachel  Swartz  and 
John  Cap 

Pet     -  Samuel  and  grand- 

,is.  was  born   in   Longs  town- 

ship, Berks  county,  and  upon  his  removal  to 
Northumberland  county  settled  in  what  is  now 
Jordan  township.  He  took  up  and  bought  over 
three  hundred  acre-  of  land;  i    in  the  vicinity 

of  Urban,  which  village  was  founded  by  his  son 
Daniel  on  land  originally  belonging  to  P 
Schwartz.  The  latter  was  a  farmer  by  vocation, 
and  he  was  a  man  of  progressive  and  enterpris- 
disposition,  erecting  a  number  of  buildings 
and    materially   improving  his   holdings.      He  be- 

d     to     the     Reformed     congregation     of     St. 
t  burch   at    Mahanoy   and    was  active  in 
every   phase   of  the   church   life,   holding   all  the 
church  offices  and  assisting  liberally  in  the  finan- 
cial support  of  the  organization  as  well  as  in  the 

on  of  the  church  edifice.  He  is  buried  at 
that  church,  a-  -  also  his  wife,  who  was  a  native 
of  Berks  county  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  old- 
esl  and  mosl  representative  families  of  that  re- 
gion, the  Hochs.  The  inscriptions  on  their  tomb- 
stone- read  as  follows  : 

Hier   ruhet 

der   Leib   von 

Peter  Schwartz 

Geboren  Sept.  den  19ten 

1763 

Starb  July  den  2ten  1831 

Sein  alter  war  70  yahre 

T  monate  und  1-t  tage 

Hier   ruhet 

der  Leib  von 

Debora  Schwartz 

Geborne  Hochein 

war  gebohren  April  den  12ten 

1761 

Starb  Sept.  den  7ten  1S33  : 

Ehr  alter  war  72  yahre 

i  monate  und  26  tage 

Peter    Schwartz    and    his    wife    hail    three    sons 
and  two  daughters,  viz.:  Daniel:  Samuel,  a  school 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


511 


teacher,  who  moved  to  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  and 
who  married  a  Schaffer  (he  had  a  sod  Jonas); 
Peter;  Catharine,  married  to  George  Geise;  and 
Hannah,   married   to    Elias   Leitzel. 

Daniel  Schwartz,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  Dec. 
'•'■  1794,  in  Berks  county,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Northumberland  county,  where  he  be- 
came a  prominent  citizen  of  his  section.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  merchant,  owned  the  farm  of  L60 
acres  now  belonging  to  ins  grandson  Daniel 
Schwartz,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  village  of 
Ci-han    (so    nan  the   government  when   the 

posl  office  was  established),  erecting  the  firsl 
building  and  starting  the  first  store  and  hotel 
there.  His  establishment  was  the  principal  busi- 
ness center  in  the  township,  and  he  continued 
in  successful  business  for  many  years,  during 
which  time  lie  was  also  active  in  many  ways  in 
promoting  the  general  welfare  of  the  community. 
He  was  a  valuable  member  of  society.  The  pub- 
lic school  system  received  substantial  encourage- 
ment from  him  and  he  helped  to  establish  it  in 
his  district.  He  donated  the  ground  upon  which 
St.  Paul's  (the  Schwartz)  Church  ai  Urban  is 
erected,  and  contributed  liberally  of  both  time  and 
money  toward  it-  erection,  was  a  zealous  member 
of  the  Reformed  congregation  there,  holding  all 
the  church  offices,  and  participated  in  all  the  work 
of  that  organization.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. His  wife,  Rachel  (Beisel),  daughter  of 
Peter  Beisel,  was  born  July  11.  17M7.  and  died 
Dec.  89,  1862.  Mr.  Schwartz  died  Sept.  30,  L857. 
They  were  tin-  parents  of  the  following  children: 
David:  Josiah,  who  married  Anna  Shaffer  (-la- 
was  horn  May  38,  1826,  and  died  Oct.  1.  1861); 
Elias;  Rachel,  Mr-.  Smith  (she  and  her  husband 
moved  to  Indiana):  Hannah.  Mrs.  John  Daniel: 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Elias  Shaffer;  ami  Sarah,  who 
married  John    Knierich    (1831-1872). 

Peter  Schwartz,  son  of  Peter  and  Debora 
illoch)  Schwartz,  born  Aug.  9,  L805,  died  Jan. 
I.  L885,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Paul's  Church.  He 
remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Urban,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  merchandising,  owning  a  tract 
of  aboui  one  hundred  acres  (now-  the  property 
of  Charles  Heim  and  John  Byerly)  which  he  cul- 
tivated, and  for  several  years  carrying  on  a  mer- 
cantile business  east  of  Urban.  He  Mas  twice 
married,  his  wives  being  sisters  named  Merkel. 
and  the  Eollowing  record  found  in  the  cemetery  of 
St.  Peter's  Church  at  Mahanoy  probably  refers 
to  his  first  wife:  Hannah  Mercklin.  wife  of  Peter 
Schwartz,  horn  Dec.  11.  1806,  died  May  20,  1817. 
His  second  wife.  Elizabeth  Merkel,  born  Pec  23, 
1823,  died  July  on.  1887.  His  children  were: 
Daniel  M.  and  Harriet,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
Charles  Heim. 

Daniel  M.  Schwartz,  son  of  Peter,  was  an  es- 
teemed schoolmaster  of  his  day.  teaching  at  and 
around  Urban,  where  he  was  also  a  merchant  for 


some  years.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Jordan  township  for  many  years,  and  was  active 
in  the  public  affairs,  church  and  social  life  of  the 
district.  Later  he  moved  to  Sunbury,  where  he 
died  Dec.  If.  1903,  aged  seventy-three  years, 
four  months,  twenty-seven  days;  he  is  buried  at 
!  fban.  In  political  connection  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, lie  married  Susan  Coleman,  and  they  had 
two  daughters,  .Mary  and  Jane. 

David  Schwartz,  son  of  Daniel  and  Rachel 
(Beisel)  Schwartz,  was  born  July  28,  1819,  be- 
came  a  farmer  and  the  owner  of  the  homestead, 
now  owned  by  his  sou  Daniel  S.  Schwartz.  The 
property  now  comprises  101  acres.  In  1873  he 
built  the  barn  now-  standing  on  this  tract,  and  be 
as-isted  in  the  erection  of  the  house,  which  was 
put  up  about  1856.  lie  owned  another  farm,  of 
L30  acres,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township.  Mr. 
Si  hwartz  was  an  industrious  and  prosperous  man. 
and  nof  only  looked  well  after  his  own  affairs, 
but  found  tune  to  serve  his  fellow  citizens,  hold- 
ing  the  offices  of  school  director  and  supervisor  of 
In-  township.  lie  was  also  active  in  church  af- 
fairs as  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  St.  Paul's  Church,  holding  all  the  church  of- 
fices, in  fact  he  was  serving  the  church  in  an 
official  capacity  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
adult  life.  He  died  June  5,  1887.  and  is  buried 
at   St.   Paul's  Church. 

In  1843  Mr.  Schwartz  married  Elizabeth  Schaf- 
fer. who  was  born  Feb.  3,  L822,  daughter  of  Mich- 
ael Schaffer,  and  died  Dec  25,  L887.  They  had  a 
family  of  four  children:  Catharine,  who  died 
young;  Daniel  S. ;  Rachel,  Mrs.  Durell  Schaffer; 
and  Amanda.  Mrs.  Daniel  Wert. 

Daniel  S.  Schwartz  received  his  education  in 
public  schools  of  Jordan  township,  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  and  has  continued  to  follow  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  being  the  present  owner  of  the 
Schwartz  homestead  near  Urban.  He  is  a  thor- 
oughh,  respected  resident  of  that  locality,  has  held 
the  office  of  tax  collector  of  his  township,  and  has 
served  the  Schwartz  Church  in  various  official  ca- 
pacities, having  been  elder  and  trustee.  Politically 
be  i-  a  Democrat.  He  now  resides  with  his  son. 
J  nines   Morris    Schwartz,  on  the  old   home  place. 

In  1869  Mr.  Schwartz  married  Lydia  Geist,  who 
was  born  Feb.  (5,  1814.  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Elizabeth  (Hepler)  Geist,  and  died  Sept.  7.  L907. 
'1',,   tins    union    was   horn   one   -on.   James    Morris. 

James  Morris  Schwaktz,  horn  March  7.  1870, 
on  bis  grandfather's  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  received  his  early  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  Later  lie  intended  the  commercial 
college  al  Wllliamsport,  from  which  hi'  was  grad- 
uated in  L894.  Meantime,  in  1890,  he  had  re- 
ceived his  license  to  teach  public  school  from  Prof. 
William  Bloom,  and  he  later  received  a  license 
from  Prof.  Ira  Shipman,  under  whom  lie  was 
o-ranted  a  professional  certificate,     lie  also  took 


512 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


an  examination  under  Prof.  Benjamin  Apple.  His 
first  term  was  taught  in  Jordan  township  in  1890, 
at  the  Hebe  school,  where  he  also  remained  for 
a  second  term,  and  his  third  term  was  at  the  For- 
est school.  For  the  next  four  terms  he  was  en- 
I  at  the  Urban  school,  then  for  two  terms  at 
the  Linden  school  in  the  same  township,  and  his 
last  term  was  taught  in  "Washington  township — 
ten  terms  in  all.  He  met  with  continued  success 
as  an  instructor,  keeping  up  the  traditions  of  the 
Schwartz  family,  which  has  had  a  teacher  in  ev- 
ery generation  on  record.  He  has  the  retentive 
memory  and  active  mind  characteristic  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  his  conscientious  work  made  his  services 
as  an  educator  highly  valued.  Mr.  Schwartz  is 
now  residing  with  his  father  on  the  old  homestead 
and  devoting  himself  to  its  cultivation,  and  he 
succeeded  his  father  in  the  office  of  tax  collector 
of  .Ionian  township,  which  responsible  position  he 
lias  Idled  without  interruption  since  1894.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  like  so  many  other 
members  of  the  family  a  Reformed  member  of 
the  Schwartz  (St.  Paul's)  Church  at  Urban,  to 
which  his  family  also  belong.  He  has  been  sec- 
retary of  the  church  council  since  1906.  Mr. 
Schwartz  is,  indeed,  a  representative  member  of 
an  old  and  honored  family  of  Jordan  township, 
one  of  the  most  influential  in  that  section  of 
Northumberland  county,  substantial  and  valuable 
eitizens  who  have  proved  their  worth  in  every 
generation.  They  are  still  interested  in  the  Ur- 
ban store  property,  and  have  other  valuable  in- 
terests. 

On  March  29,  1905,  James  Morris  Schwartz 
married  Bertha  Kauffman,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  (Burns)  Kauffman,  of  Sunbury,  earlier  of 
Upper  Mahanoy  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schwartz 
have   an   only   son.   Daniel    K. 

LONG.  There  are  three  Long  brothers,  all  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Rockefeller  township,  North- 
umberland county,  sons  of  Samuel  S.  Long  and 
grandsons  of  Daniel  Long,  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  where  the  family  has  been  settled  since 
the  early  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  On  Anur. 
30,  1737,  the  brothers  Jacob  and  Johan  Nicholas 
Long,  who  were  from  the  Rhine  country,  Ger- 
many, arrived  in  America  on  the  ship  "Samuel." 
of  London.  Hugh  Percy,  captain,  from  Rotterdam, 
last  from  <  !owes 

This  Johan  Nicholas  Long  was  the  ancestor  of 
the  Northumberland  county  family  with  which 
this  article  is  to  deal.  He  settled  in  Rockland 
township,  Berks  county,  at  an  early  date,  and  died 
there  in  1782,  survived  by  his  wife  Elizabeth  and 
children:  Mary  Appolonia,  who  married  John 
Kercher;  Jacob;  Nicholas:  John,  and  Henry. 
The  three  last  named  were  under  age  at  the  time 
of  their  father's  death.     His  will  was  witnessed  by 


his  brother  Jacob,  and  Paul  Grosscup.  the  ances- 
tor of  the  Chicago  jurist,  Peter  Grosscup. 

Daniel  Long  was  born  in  Berks  county  dune  '.'. 
180  L  He  had  no  brothers,  and  but  one  sister,  who 
died  young.  His  father  died  in  Berks  county 
when  yet  a  young  man,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Krissinger,  then  came  to  North- 
umberland county,  Pa.,  where  she  married  (sec- 
ond) Jacob  Raker,  of  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rocke- 
feller) township.  To  her  second  marriage  were 
born  children  as  follows:  Solomon,  George,  Ja- 
cob. Lovina  ( Mrs.  Daniel  Malich),  Mrs.  Harry 
Koiser  and  Mrs.  John  Hoover. 

Daniel  Long  made  his  permanent  home  in 
Northumberland  county  after  coming  hither  with 
his  mother.  He  lived  in  Rockefeller  township, 
and  owned  two  farms,  one  the  place  now  owned 
by  his  grandson  William  E.  Long  and  the  other 
owned  at  present  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Permelia 
.1.  Conrad.  He  was  a  maker  of  planes,  using 
wood  in  their  manufacture.  Here  he  mar- 
ried Catharine  Shipe.  who  survived  him.  his  death 
occurring  Sept.  in.  1876,  hers  on  Feb.  10,  1887, 
when  she  was  seventy-eight  years,  nine  months, 
twenty-two  days  old.  They  are  buried  at  the 
Augustaville  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Barbara  Ann  mar- 
ried John  Martin  and  they  lived  in  Shamokin 
township;  Elizabeth  Ann  married  Thomas  Wolf 
and  they  lived  at  Tamaqua,  Pa.:  Samuel  S.  is 
mentioned  below:  Sarah,  born  in  1833,  died  in 
is:;s:  Catharine  Ann  married  Solomon  Miller  and 
(second)  Andrew  Snyder,  and  lived  at  Williams- 
port.  I';i.:  Mary  Ann  married  Peter  Reeser  and 
they  lived  at  Trevorton,  this  county;  Catharine: 
Permelia  J.  married  Nathaniel  Conrad:  William, 
bom  May  1.  1812.  died  Sept.  1.  1844. 

Samuel  S.  Long,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  March 
27,  1837,  m  Rockefeller  township,  and  died  Jan. 
-.".•.  1904.  He  is  buried  at  the  Augustaville 
Church  previously  mentioned,  where  he  was  a  Re- 
formed member  and  active  in  church  work,  serv- 
ing many  years  in  the  church  council.  Mr.  Long 
followed  farming,  owning  the  place  now  in  the 
ssi  ii  of  hi-  son  William  E.  Long,  who  is  the 
third  in  direct  line  to  own  it.  He  was  not  only 
a  good  farmer,  but  a  man  of  rare  mechanical  gifts, 
making  shoe-,  planes  (many  of  which  are  still  in 
m  this  section),  harnesses,  etc.,  could  do 
m-work,  and  in  fact  almost  anything  he 
turned  his  hand  to.  He  served  his  townshi 
school  director.  Mr.  Long  married  Mary  Conrad. 
daughter  of  Daniel  P.  and  Lydia  ( Kreeger)  Con- 
rad, and  she  survives  him.  continuing  to  live  on 
the  homestead.  She  celebrated  her  seventy-third 
birthday  Jan.  1,  1911.  Three  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long.  Daniel  C,  George  M.  and 
William  E. 

Daniel  C.  Long  was  born  May  4.  1803.  was 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


>13 


reared  to  [arming,  and  has  followed  that  voca- 
tion all  his  life  in  Rockefeller  township.  He 
worked  for  his  parents  until  his  twenty-fourth 
year,  in  1886  commencing  to  farm  at  his  present 
location  in  Rockefeller  township,  working  ii  on 
shares  until  he  purchased  the  property,  some  years 
later,  when  the  owner,  Isaac  Mart/.,  went  to  Da- 
kota. This  was  formerly  the  homestead  of  Peter 
Reeser,  who  erected  the  present  set  of  buildings 
on  the  place.  It  consists  of  forty-sis  acres  in 
Rockefeller  township,  which  contains  the  most  fer- 
tile land  in  the  township,  and  in  addition  Mr. 
Long  owns  a  tract  of  thirty  acres  which  formerly 
belonged  to  John  R.  Malick.  There  is  a  good 
sei  of  buildings  on  that  tract  also.  Mr.  Long  has 
served  six  years  as  school  director.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  in  religious  connection  he 
am!  his  family  are  Reformed  members  of  Zion's 
Union  Church  at  Augustaville,  which  he  has 
served  as  deacon  since  1902. 

On  Dec.  15,  1887,  Mr.  Long  married  Laura 
Bloom,  sister  of  Trias  Bloom,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  ill  this  work,  and  they  have  hail  ten 
children,  namely:  One  that  died  in  infancy;  J. 
Harold:  Samuel  \V.,  who  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  the  Bloomsburg  State  nor- 
mal school  and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  pub- 
lic school  in  Northumberland  county:  Albert,  who 
died  in  infancy.  Marguerite;  Gertrude;  Leon  ('.: 
Edna  :  -lean,  and  Laura. 

George  M.  Long  was  horn  Dec.  10,  1865,  on 
the  homestead  rami,  where  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood. When  seventeen  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  painter  and  paper  hanger,  which  he 
continued  to  follow  for  nine  years  in  Shamokin 
and  Williamsport.  For  ten  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Augustaville,  and  for 
two  years  was  interested  in  the  same  line  in  Sun- 
bury.  In  the  spring  of  1901  he  began  farming 
in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  now  lives,  hav- 
ing a  tract  of  seventy-two  acres  which  was  for- 
merly the  William  M.  Miller  homestead.  Mr.  Long 
is  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  his  district,  and  his 
land  is  in  excellent  condition  and  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

On  Jan.  IT,  1887,  Mr.  Long  married  Annie 
.1.  Wolf,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Yor- 
dy)  Wolf,  who  lived  in  Rockefeller  township. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  marriage: 
Herman  M.,  who  met  an  accidental  death,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  wars,  six  months;  John  Adam: 
George  William:  Harry  Elmer,  and  Man  Jan- 
etta.  Mr.  Long  and  ins  family  worship  at  the 
Augustaville  Church,  where  they  are  members  of 
the  Reformed  congregation.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  esteemed  and  intelligent  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity . 

Wi i'.i.i  \ \i    K.  Loxg  was  horn  Feb.  8,   1ST"',  on 
the   Long  homestead,  and  there  grew  up,  receh 
in"'    his    education    in    the    local    public    schools. 


Farming  has  always  been  his  occupation,  and  he 

is  now  the  owner  of  the  homestead,  1  10  acres  of 
f ei tile  land,  well  located,  in  the  southeastern  por- 
tion of  the  township,  lie  has  never  been  away 
from  the  place.  Us  buildings  are  in  substantial 
condition.  The  house  was  I  mi  It  in  1873  by  his 
father,  who  did  nearly  all  the  carpenter  work  him- 
self, leaving  many  evidences  of  his  workmanship 
and  artistic  as  well  as  mechanical  ability,  for  he 
put  in  considerable  ornamental  woodwork,  all 
specimens  of  his  own  handicraft.  He  also  built 
the  barn.  The  soil  of  this  farm  is  red  gravel  and 
well  adapted  for  general  crop-.  Mr.  Long  also 
making  a  specialty  of  truck,  as  did  his  father. 
Me  sells  his  produce  at  Trevorton,  where  his  father 
also  went  to  market  for  years.  Mr.  Long  having 
customers  wdto  have  relied  on  the  Longs  for  their 
vegetables  and  fruit  for  thirty  years.  He  is  a 
typical  member  of  his  family,  industrious,  wide- 
awake, thrifty  and  enterprising,  and  is  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him. 

On  Dec.  •-'.  1893,  Mr.  Long  married  Daisy  1). 
Kov.  and  they  have  had  two  children.  Mildred 
('.'and  Ethel  May.  The  Longs  attend  Zion's 
Union  Church  at  Augustaville,  Mr.  Long  being  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  and  Mrs. 
Long  identified  with  the  Reformed  congregation. 
He  has  served  as  member  of  the  church  council. 

The  Foy  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Long  belongs, 
came  to  Northumberland  county  from  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  early  settled  in  what  was  originally 
Augusta  (now-  Rockefeller  and  Upper  and  Lower 
Augusta)  township.  The  firsi  of  the  name  to 
come  hither  was  Samuel  Foy,  who  was  horn  in 
New  Jersey  in  1751  and  died  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship in  1826.  His  wife,  Osila,  died  July  5,  1851, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  eight  months,  four  days. 
These  pioneers  are  buried  side  by  side  at  the  stone 
church  at  Augustaville.  They  had  nine  children. 
among  whom  were  sons  (diaries  and  John. 

John  Kov.  son  of  Samuel,  owned  and  cultivated 
his  own  farm  in  Rockefeller  township.  He  and 
his  wife  are  buried  there,  at  the  Ebenezer  Meth- 
odist Church,  of  which  they  were  members.  (We 
have  re,  ord  of  John  Foye,  died  April  6,  1883, 
aged  seventy-seven  years,  five  months,  twenty-two 
days,  and  wife  Hannah,  died  July  7,  1886,  aged 
eighty  years,  -even  months,  twenty-eight  days, 
buried  a't  the  Ebenezer  Methodist  Church  in  Rock- 
efeller township.)  Their  children  were:  Samuel 
<;.:  Catharine,  who  married  Samuel  Shipinan  : 
Mary,  who  married  Jonathan  llariii.in  and  (sec- 
ond) Samuel  Reeder;  Daniel  I'..:  and  Harriet,  who 
ii, anied  Jacob  S.  Snyder. 

Samuel  G.  Foye  (as  he  wrote  his  name),  son 
,,r  John,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  early 
life  and  followed  il  for  a  number  of  years.  For 
some  years  he  was  mine  boss  at  Bear  Valley  col- 
liery. Later  in  life  he  was  a  farmer  in  Lower 
Auuu-ta   township,  where   he  owned   a   large   farm. 


514 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


His  first  wife  was  Dinah  Bloom,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Bloom,  ami  they  are  buried  at  Malielr's 
CTnited  Brethren  Church,  of  which  they  were  con- 
Among  their  children  was  a  -  m 
Isaac  F..  who  lives  in  Rockefeller  township:  lie 
married  Lydia  Hassinger,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren,. William    IF.    Lizzie    G.,    Peter,    Daisy   and 

ce  I.     By  nd   wife,  E .   Samuel 

G.  Foye  had  these  children:  John  Wesley,  born 
March  22,  1855,  who  died  in  West  Virginia  Dec. 
18,  1897:  Raymond;  and  several  othi    - 

Daniel  B.  Foy,  son  of  John,  lived  and  died  in 
Rockefeller  township.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first   wife,  Maria    (i         ad),  being  the  mothi 

children:  Fannie:  John;  William:  Mrs.  Eis- 
ter;  and  Daisy  D.  who  married  William  E.  Long. 
Fur  his  second  wife  lie  married   S  M.  Rebuck. 

by   whom   he   had   six   children:     Katie,   wifi 
Charles  II.  Brosious;  Harry,  who  married  Daisy 
Foy  :  Andrew  C. ;  Lean:  Paul,  and  Dona  A". 

GEORGE  W.  CRAMER,  a  -  d  farmer 
citizen  of  Wesl  Chillisquaque  township,  who  owns 
a  fine  farm  at  Montandon,  was  horn  duly  16,  1847, 
in  Monroe  township,  S  i         |r      son  of  Na- 

than t  Irani*  ;•  and  s  Georgi    fl     I  ramer. 

rhe  came  to  this  section  from  Bucks 

or  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  took  up  land  in  Mon- 
He  came  I  i  bis  death  by  foul  play. 
being  found  dead  in  a  strip  of  woods  with  a  wound 
in  his  head.  His  cl  ildren  were:  Reuben,  win 
came  a  successful  fanner,  owning  four  farm-  in 
Snyder  county,  near  Middleburg;  Sallie,  who  mar- 
i  led  John  Gingrich:  and   Nathan. 

Nathan    I  ramer   was    born    in    1818    in    Snyder 
county,  and  died  in  1880;  lie  is  buried  at  No 
nmberland.     He  worked  by  the  day.  engaged  in 
fishing   on    the    Susquehanna,    and    :    -  ed    as 

pilot  on  that  river,  becoming  a  well  and  favor- 
ably known  man.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Susanna 
ber),  were  horn  children  as  follows:  Henry. 
now  living  at  Danville.  Pa.:  Amelia,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen:  Frederick,  a  resident  of 
Northumberland,  who  died  May  12,  1911;  George 
W. :  Jolin'F.,  a  plasten  .  Danville;  and  Mary, 
who  married    I  jjhton  and  has  sons 

Charles  and  Fred. 

George  W.  Cramer  remained  in  Snyder  county 
until  186L  in  which  year  he  came  to  Point  town- 
Northumberland  county.  He  continued  to 
follow  farm  work,  to  which  he  had  been  reared. 
From  Point  township  he  went  to  Big  Island,  and 
then  up  the  north  branch,  where  he  was  employed 
for  two  years,  from  there  moving  to  Chillisquaque 
township,  where  he  farmed  ten  years  for  Gilbert 
Vbris.  For  the  next  three  years  he  was  on  the 
Dr.  Mac-lay  farm  in  Turbut  township,  this  county, 
in  1898  moving  onto  the  D.  M.  Nesbit  farm,  where 
lie  was  occupied  for  two  years.  In  19D0  he  bought 
the  tract   of  eighty-seven  acres,  thirteen  perches, 


at   Montandon,   in    Wesi    Chillisquaque  township, 

which  has  since  been  his  home,  this  having  been 
part  of  the  Nesbit  farm.  He  i-  a  hard-working 
man.  and  has  won  success  by  his  own  efforts,  be- 
ing respeeted  by  all  who  know-  him  for  his  upright 
and  honorable  life.  He  has  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  whom  he  has  served  for  three  years 
in  the  capacity  of  school  director.  Politically  he 
is  a   D  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  a  mem- 

ber of  St.  John's  church  at  Northumberland, 
which  he  helped  to  build.  His  fine  farm  is  a 
credit  to  the  locality. 

Mr.  Cramer  married  Lueinda  Brouse,  daugh- 
Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Dark)  Brouse.  ol 
Snyder  county.  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Minnie  M.  ol  Frank  Hum- 
,  \\  illiam  F..  Wesley  I..  Albert  .1..  Martin 
L,  B  hi  e  S.,  1  I  I.  ttie  M.,  Flattie  B.  and 
Jennie  Gertrude. 

JOHN    W.    HOI  II.    proprietor    of    the    "City 
at  Milton,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Beaver  Springs, 
Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  7,  1859,  son  of   V.  S    II 
now    residing   at    New    Berlin,   Union    Co.,   Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mr.    Hoi        -         German   aneestrj-,   his    e 

ndfather  having  been  tin    firs  fam- 

ily to  come  from  the  Fatherland.  Samuel  Hoch, 
the  great-grandfather,  a  farmer  in  Snyder  county, 
died  at  a  comparatively  early  age  leaving  a  large 
family  of  children,  of  whom  John  Hoch.  grand- 
father of  John  W.,  was  among  the  oldest.  The 
family  was  separated  after  this  bereavement,  and 

i  .  then  quite  a  small  boy,  was  hired  out  to 
a  farmer,  an  entire  stranger,  no  provision  being 
made  for  his  schooling,  which  was  limited  to  a 
few  months  snatched  at  intervals  in  his  work. 
V.  sixteen  be  began  an  apprenti(e-hip  to  a  car- 
penter, Albright  Swineford;  e  Iris  hoard 
and  clothes,  and  this  busines  ..wed  at  Mid- 
dleburg, Pa.,  through  his  active  life.  He  retired 
from  business  at  the  agi  of  fifty-seven,  and  the 
-  of  his  ]ii.  •  .ent  in  Mifflinburg, 
his  death  occurring  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 
Hi-  wife,  Elizabeth  Swineford,  a  daughter  of  his 
former  employer,  died  at  New  Berlin.  Pa.,  and 
both  were  buried  at  Middleburg,  her  birthplace, 
and  their  home  during  the  greater  portion  of  their 
married  lite.  She  was  a  Lutheran  in  faith,  and 
Mr.  Hoch  belonged  to  the  Reformed  Church.  He 
held  various  offices  in  the  church  at  Middleburg, 
and  at  one  time  saved  the  edifice  being  -old  by 
the  sheriff,  raising  a  subscription  for  this  pur- 
I Hi-  task  was  undertaken  on  foot  through 
Centre  and  Union  counties,  and  many  weary  miles 
were  traversed  before  the  object  was  accomplished. 
Politically  he  was  a  -ranch  Republican,  and  held 
a  few  minor  offices.  He  was  a  hard  worker  and 
during  his  time  accumulated  two  competencies, 
irst  having  been  lost  through  the  dishonesty 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


5 1 :. 


of  others.  He  had  three  children:  A.  S. ;  Mary 
M..  who  married  Samuel  E.  Long,  of  Butler  Co., 
Pa.;  and  Abraham,  who  died  in  infancy. 

A.  s.  Hoch  was  born  June  11.  1836,  at  Middle- 
burg,  and  there  acquired  his  schooling.  While 
still  a  bo?  lie  was  compelled  1>\  his  father's 
verses  to  assisi  in  the  support  of  the  family,  as 
he  could  earn  fifty  cent-  per  day  at  carpentering. 
IM-  hard  work  as  a  bo}  undermined  his  health, 
and  as  he  could  no  longer  work  as  a  carpenter,  he 
accepted  a  position  as  clerk  for  Daniel  J.  Bogar, 
of  Middleburg,  a1  ten  dollars  per  month  and 
board  After  a  short  time  .Mr.  Bogar  failed,  and 
Mr.   II-'  ed   for  two  years  for  Reuben  Kel- 

ler, ai  Adamsburg.  In  1860  he  established  a  busi- 
ness of  hi?  own  ai  Margaret's  Mill-.  In-  capital 
amounting  to  $39  ai  the  time.  He  had,  how 
ilie  confidence  of  monied  men.  who  assisted  him, 
and  in  1861  lie  transferred  In-  business  to  Ivli\ 
Cross  Roads,  ami  later  opened  another  store  at 
Kelly  Point,  where  lie  was  the  first  merchant.  He 
built  up  a  large  trade  at  both  places  and  was  in- 
strumental in  having  a  posl  office  established  at 
each  place.  In  March,  1888,  la'  moved  in  New 
Berlin,  where  his  son  was  in  business  a-  senior 
member  of  the  linn  of  Hoch  &  Kline  and  by 
purchasing  Mr.  Kline's  interest  entered  the  firm 
which  then  became  Hoch  &  Sou.  Five  years 
later  he  retired,  and  the  linn  became  Hoch  &  Oldt. 
Mr.  Hoch  i-  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
in  which  he  has  twice  been  elder,  and  for  two 
years  was  president  of  the  Christian  Endeavor 
Society.  Fraternally  lie  is  a  Mason,  belonging 
to  tin  Lewisburg.     On  April   16,  1857, 

Mr.  Hoch  married  (first)  Amelia  Saltzman,  born 
in  November,  1838,  in  Adamsburg,  Pa.,  daughter 
of  William  and  Catherine  Saltzman.  She  died 
■  Line  18.  1884,  and  was  buried  in  the  Lutheran 
cemetery  in  Kelly  township.  Union  county.  To 
this  union  came  two  children,  id'  whom  Lizzie 
died  in  childhood-,  and  John  W.  was  the  other. 
On  Oct.  L6,  1888,  Mr.  II.. eh  married  (second)  in 
White  Deer  township,  Onion  county.  Ida  M. 
Keefer,  born  in  Union  county,  daughter  of  Mar- 
tin and  (Ttiea  (Herman)  Keefer.  Mr.  Hoch  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  been  assessor,  overseer  of  the 
poor,  school  director,  and  while  in  New  Berlin  a 
member  of  tin:'  borough  council  and  its  president 
lor  thro,    |  ears. 

John  W.  Hoch  attended  the  schools  near  bis 
home  and  improved  his  time  by  study  at  home. 
He  taught  school  for  fifty-four  months,  forty-sis 
of  which  were  passed  in  one  building  in  Kelly 
township.  Union  county.  Later  he  entered  the 
mercantile  business,  and  was  successfully  engaged 
in  that  line  for  twenty-one  years,  at  New  Berlin. 
selling  out  in  1906.  He 'then  retired  from  active 
work.'  hut  idleness  did  not  suit  him  and  on  Feb. 
8,  1908,  he  bought  out  C.  A.  Hood  at  Nos.  112- 
11  I  Front  street,  Milton,  where  he  has  a  fine  up- 


to-date   restaurant.      All    the   work    is   done   under 
Ins  personal  supervision,  and   to  those  who  |  ■ 
him  that  -peaks  for  first  class  sen  u  e. 

Mr.  Hoch  married  Ida  C.  Stahl,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Stahl,  of  Union  county,  and  the]  have 
had  children  as  follow.-:  Joyce  married  the  Rev. 
W.  E.  Petfiey,  a  minister  of  the  Evangelical  faith 
stationed  at  Scranton;  Albright  S.  and  Elmer  E. 
are  at  home.  Politically  Mr.  Hoch  i-  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  for  eleven  year-  he  served  as  post- 
master at  \'e»    Berlin.     He  was  a  member  of  the 

scl I   hoard   for  six  years,  and   for  a  time   was 

president  of  the  borough  council.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Mifflinburg  Lodge,  No.  370,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  Lodge  \o.  163,  I.  O.  O.  F..'  of  New  Berlin. 
He  i-  a  man  of  good  business  and  executive  abil- 
ity, and  is  strictly  honest  and  upright  in  all  his 
dealings. 

FRANK  1'.  WALDRON,  farmer  of  Turbut 
township,  was  born  in  that  township  Sept.  25, 
1852,  and  ha-  passed  all  his  life  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Waldron's  first  ancestor  in  this  region  was 
his  great-grandfather,  Cornelius  Waldron.  The 
family  has  been  established  in  America  from  Co- 
lonial days,  and  i-  of  Dutch  origin,  its  founder 
in  this  country.  Baron  Waldron,  having  come 
from  Holland  to  what  was  then  New  Amsterdam, 
now  New  York,  in  1660.  After  the  English  too 
possession  of  New  Amsterdam  the  family  moved 
io  New  Jersey-,  and  Cornelius  Waldron.  above 
mentioned,  moved  from  Hunterdon  county,  N.  .1.. 
io  Pennsylvania  in  KSJ.  His  first  location  was 
near  Muncy,  in  wdiat  is  now  Lycoming  county, 
ami  afterward  he  bought  a  farm  in  Brady  town- 
ship, thai  county,  still  later  buying  land  at  the 
moinh  of  Muddy  run.  in  Northumberland  county. 
He  moved  his  family  to  this  place,  where  he  was 
accidentally  killed  while  felling  a  tree,  lie  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  old  Warrior  Run  burying 
-round.  Cornelius  Waldron  served  a-  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  after  it-  close  was 
captain  of  a  military  conipanv. 

Laffert  Waldron,  son  of  Cornelius,  was  horn  in 
IX  in  Hunterdon  county,  N.  .1..  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania with  his  lather,  and  purchased  the  farm 
mi  Muddy  run.  But  he  soon  -old  it  and  bought 
a  place  about  a  mile  east,  in  Turbut  township, 
from  the  Kellehner  estate-  the  place  afterward 
occupied  by  his  son  William.  There  he  passed 
the   remainder  of  his   life.   ,  •  ,   hi.-   farm  in 

1837.  Hi-  wife,  Hannah  (Webb),  died  in  1832, 
and  they  are  buried  at  the  Warrior  Run  Presby- 
terian Church.  The  family  attended  services 
there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waldron  had  the  following 
children:  John,  Cornelius.  Richard,  William, 
Charles,  David,  M.  D.,  Mary  (Mrs.  Sloat),  Sara 
(Mrs.  Sloat),  Jane  and  Hannah.  Lafferl  Wal- 
dron was  a  line  penman,  and  some  of  his  work 
,,,,»   I,,  the  possession  of  hi-  grandson,  Charles  I.. 


516 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Waldron,  of  Milton,  shows  unusual  ability;  though 
it  is  over  a  century  old  it  is  not  faded,  and  it 
is  well  eared  for  by  the  present  possessor,  who 
prizes  it  highly. 

William  Waldron,  sun  of  Laffert,  was  born 
Sept.  17,  183  I.  "ii  the  old  farm,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  township  schools.  He  folio 
farming  all  his  life  and  prospered  by  dint  of  in- 
dustry, winning  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him 
because  of  In-  upright  methods  and  high  Chris- 
tian character.  Though  his  own  "affairs  demand- 
ed constant  attention  he  was  progressive,  and  rec- 
ognized the  fad  that  a  citizen  owes  his  dutj  to 
his  community  as  much  as  to  his  immediate  per- 
sonal interests,  anil  he  did  his  share  in  local  mat- 
ters, filling  various  township  offices  and  serving 
ii  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  The  cause 
of  public  education,  not  a  particularly  popular 
one  in  his  early  manhood,  also  received  his  ear- 
nest support,  and  all  his  children  received  good 
advantages.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the 
Turbut  Grange,  1'.  of  11..  and  an  original  stock- 
holder of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Milton,  giv- 
ing his  influence  and  support  to  all  institutions 
which  in  his  opinion  would  be  of  general  benefit. 
In  religious  connection  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  an 
active  and  consistent  membes  of  the  Milton 
Church.     He  died  in  1901. 

In  1841  William  Waldron  married  Anna  Hil- 
gert,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherine  Hilgert, 
oi  Chillisquaque  township,  and  she  died  in  1900, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Ten  children  were  born 
to  this  union:  Philip  H..  who  served  during  the 
Civil  war  in  Company  B,  131st  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers;  William  A.,  of  Michigan:  Charles 
Laffert,  of  Milton:  Frank  P.:  George  W.,  who 
married  Ida  Brobst;  John  C,  who  married  Mary 
Kin  :  .lane-  M..  who  graduated  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  College,  became  a  civil  engineer, 
was  formerly  in  Georgia  and  is  now  engaged  in 
the  construction  of  the  subway  and  tunnels  in 
\"e\\  York  City:  Hannah  J.,  who  married  Eph- 
raim  Deitch,  of  Wiiliamsport :  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried .lame-  Marsh,  of  Michigan:  and  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth, of  Sunbur\ .  Pennsylvania. 

Frank  I'.  Waldron  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  the  home  township,  and  was  em- 
ployed with  his  father  until  he  reached  the  agi 
ot  twenty-five  years.  From  that  time  on  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  in  West 
Chillisquaque  town-hip.  where  he  was  situated 
until  1904,  the  year  in  which  he  removed  to  Tur- 
luii  township  and  settled  upon  his  present  farm. 
This  was  the  old  William  Marsh  farm.  It  con- 
tains 134  acres,  and  is  now  known  as  "Meadow 
View  Farm.'"  It  is  a  fine  tract  of  limestone  soil, 
plentifully  supplied  with  good  water,  and  Mr. 
Waldron  has  been  decidedly  successful  in  his  agri- 
cultural operations.  He  ha-  been  a  public-spirited 
n.  wherever  found,  and  during  his  residence 


in  Chillisquaque  township  served  seven  years  as 
member  of  the  board  of  school  directors,  was 
chosen  treasurer  of  that  body  three  times  and 
served  one  year  as  president.  At  present  he  is 
ng  as  auditor  of  Turbut  township.  He  has 
been  as  faithful  and  conscientious  in  the  admin- 
istration of  its  affairs  as  he  is  in  the  dischargi  o 
his  persona]  obligations  ami  hi-  services  have  been 
greatly  appreciated.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religious  matters  he  is  identified  with  the 
Reformed  denomination,  belonging  to  the  church 
at  Milton. 

On  Jan.  18,  1877,  Mr.  Waldron  married"  Susan 
M.  Hummel,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah 
(Lantz  I  Hummel,  and  they  have  had  children  as 
follows:  Sarah  E.,  who  is  at  home:  William  C, 
now  living  at  Reading,  who  married  Grace  Run- 
ileo.  and  ha-  a  son,  Frank  P.:  Annie  M.,  unmar- 
ried; John  L. :  Henry  H.,  who  died  when  six 
i-ears  old:  ami  George  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve. 

John  Hummel,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Waldron, 
followed  farming  near  Freeburg,  Snyder  county, 
where  he  died.  He  married  Susan  Hilbish.  and 
they  had  children:  Henry,  John,  Caroline  (Mrs. 
Charles  Rhode)  and  Susan  (Mrs.  Benjamin 
Rhine). 

Henry  Hummel,  son  of  John,  was  born  iu  Sny- 
der county,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Northumberland 
county,  at  Milton.  Nov.  1.  1900,  aged  seventy 
years,  seven  months,  thirteen  days.  All  his  life 
ollowed  farming,  owning  a  farm  place  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  along  the  Susquehanna 
river.  Fifteen  years  before  his  death  he  removed 
to  the  hi. rough  of  Milton,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  To  him  and  hi-  wife  Sarah 
(Lantz),  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Magdaleiia 
(Martz)  Lantz.  were  horn  children  as  follows: 
Susan  M..  Mrs.  Frank  P.  Waldron:  Sarah  J., 
Mrs.  Ogden  Brown,  living  in  Union  county,  Pa.: 
Catharine  A.,  who  married  Irwin  Romig;  Wil- 
liam E.,  who  makes  his  home  with  his  sisters  Mrs. 
Waldron  and  Mis.  Brown;  and  John  S.,  who  mar- 
ried Anna  Gillinger  and  has  one  son.  Jackson. 

HAAS.  The  Haas  family  has  had  many  wor- 
thy representatives  in  Northumberland  county  in 
the  last  century  or  so,  ami  the  late  Dr.  Joseph 
Haas,  fur  \iar-  a  familiar  and  beloved  figure  all 
over  tlie  Mahanoy  Valley,  where  he  practiced 
medicine  for  over  fifty  years,  ha-  lefl  several  sons 
to  perpetuate  an  honorable  name.  The  only  one 
who  followed  in  his  footsteps  in  the  choice  of  a 
life  work  is  Dr.  Richard  P.  Haas,  of  Williams- 
town.  Dauphin  county:  hut  the  other  three  are 
still  residents  of  their  native  county.  John  P. 
I  la. i-  engaged  as  a  merchant  at  Shamokin,  Ed- 
ward L.  Haas  occupying  the  old  homestead  in 
Jackson  township,  and  William  H.  Haas  engaged 
as  a  farmer  at  Dornsife.     The  late  John  B.  Haas. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVA  \  I  \ 


511 


long  engaged  as  a  merchant  at  Sunbury,  was  also 
d  this  family,  liis  father,  Daniel  Haas,  having 
been  an  uncle  of  Dr.  Joseph  Haas. 

The   earliest    of    this    name   at   Sunbury,    from 

which    section    the    mbers    of   the    family   have 

scattered  to  different  locations,  was  Frederick 
Haas,  who  .lied  late  in  November,  L813,  and  was 
buried  in  the  old  Smith  Fourth  street  cemetery. 
Hi-  son  John  was  his  administrator.  He  had.  a 
brother  Henry,  who  departed  this  life  in  January, 
1805;  and  another  son,  Lawrence,  who  had  been 
a  resident  oJ  Jackson  township,  died  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1803.  In  1814  John  and  William  Haas 
were  taxable  residents  of  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, this  county. 

John  Haas,  the  great-grandfather  of  John  J'. 
Haas,  of  Shamokin,  was  also  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Sunbury.  He  came  from  the  Trappe,  in  Mont- 
gomer)  count)',  Pa.,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  with  Paul  Baldy.  He  first  engaged 
in  business  a-  a  distiller,  having  built  a  small  dis- 
tillery on  the  Center  turnpike,  two  miles  east  of 
Sunbury,  and  after  discontinuing  operations  there 
■erected  a  sawmill  mi  the  land  later  owned  by  Dr. 
It.  II.  Awl.  But  the  dam  was  twice  washed  away, 
and  he  was  ruined  financially,  being  obliged  to 
begin  business  again  on  borrowed  capital — a  thou- 
sand dollars  loaned  to  him  by  one  of  his  boy- 
hood friend-.  Joseph  Heister,  of  Reading,  who 
served  a-  governor  of  Pennsylvania.  lie  was  thus 
enabled  to  engage  as  a  merchant  at  Sunbury, 
where  he  wa-  located  before  1802  in  a  small  log 
building  on  the  north  side  of  Market  street,  where 
the  building  of  the  Sunhurv  Trust  &  Safe  De- 
posit Company  is  now  located.  Before '1808  he 
erected  the  brick  house  near  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Market  and  Fourth  streets  where  lie  con- 
tinued in  luiMiic-s  for  some  years.  In  1X14  he 
purchased  twenty-three  acres  of  land  and  built  the 
old  stone  mill  known  as  "Haas's  Stone  Mill"'  on 
Little  Shamokin  creek,  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, just  east  of  Sunhurv.  operating  this  mill  in 
connection  with  hi-  store  and  becoming  quite  pros- 
perous. Mr.  Haas  was  born  in  1764,  died  dan.  17, 
1828,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  South  Fourth 
si  rem  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  Hi-  wile.  Maria  Eliza- 
beth (Druckemiller),  horn  May  2,  1770,  died  Nov. 
Hi.  1S4.C  They  were  tlie  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Henry  lived  and  died  at  Sunbury, 
where  he  wa-  proprietor  of  the  "Central  Hotel"; 
Frederick  is  mentioned  below;  Daniel  always  lived 
in  Sunbury,  where  he  was  born  in  1806,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  native  resi- 
dent of  that  borough;  George  died  Nov.  3,  1835, 
aged  thirty-six  years;  Margaret,  married  John 
Shannno  and  they  lived  at  Millersburg,  Fa.,  until 
their  removal  to  Rockford.  111.  (Mrs.  Shammo  s 
nephew,     Charles     Haas,  visited     them  there     in 


L872)  ;     Catharine    married    John    Boulton     and 
they  made  their  home  in  Sunhurv. 

Frederick    Haas,    son    of   John,    was    horn    in 
Sunhurv  July  31,  1796,  conducted   the  Haas  mill 
for  some  years,  and   was  a   popular  and  estei 
citizen  of  In-  day,  well  known  all  over  the  coun- 
ty,    lie  was  a   Dei a-at   in   polities   (as  were  all 

his  sons)  and  stood  favorably  in  the  party.  Hav- 
ing been  chosen  to  fill  an  unexpired  term  as  county 
commissioner,  he  was  al  the  end  of  the  term  elect- 
ed to  serve  a  full  three  years,  1856-59,  discharg- 
ing his  duties  with  the  highest  intelligence  and 
efficiency.  -Mr.  Haas  married  Sarah  Zimmerman, 
who  was  horn  June  20,  1798,  and  died  Sept.  -'in. 
1862,  a  little  over  a  year  after  In-  own  death, 
which  occurred  Aug.  19,  1861.  They  are  buried 
in  the  famil)  plot  in  the  South  Fourth  street 
cemetery.  M  r.  and  Mrs.  Haas  were  members  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  was 
long  a  zealous  worker,  holding  various  offices  and 
attending  services  with  great  regularity.  He  took 
his  children  with  him  to  Sunday  morning  wor- 
ship and  sat  among  them,  ami  though  a  strict 
parent  he  was  a  most  loving  one.  He  had  a  large 
family,  twelve  children,  as  follows:  John  (July 
C.  1819-Feb.  20,  1846),  Mary  Elizabeth  (Aug. 
20,  1820-May  9,  1845,  wife  of  John  Hower),  Wil- 
liam. Deborah,  Sarah.  George  (Dec.  17,  1821 
March  31,  1845),  Dr.  Joseph,  Catharine  and  Mar- 
garel   (twins),  Charles,  Henry  and  Amelia. 

Joseph  Haas,  M.  D.,  son  of  Frederick,  was 
horn  Jan.  17,  1830,  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
near  Sunhurv.  and  was  there  reared  on  the  farm, 
receiving  his  early  education  in  the  local  schools, 
lie  also  learned  milling  with  his  father,  hut  ai 
i  he  age  of  nineteen  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  4.  W.  Peal,  of  Sunhurv.  completing 
his  course  al  Jefferson  Medical  College.  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  was  graduated  in  1852.  From 
that  time  until  his  death,  for  over  fifty  years,  he 
was  located  at  Mahanoy.  in  Jackson  township,  and 
had  an  extensive  practice  in  the  Mahanoy  Valley, 
where  his  long  and  faithful  ministrations  caused 
him  io  hi'  venerated  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.     His  record  is  one  id'  remarkable  devotion  to 

his    chosen     life    work.       Xo    Weather    was    rwr    too 

inclement  to  serve  him  as  an  excuse  for  not  at- 
tending a  patient,  and  though  lie  wa-  in  In-  -r\ 
entv-lifth  year  al  the  time  of  his  death.  Jan.  30, 
1905,  he  wa-  on  his  way  Io  respond  to  a  profes- 
sional call  when  heart  failure,  brought  on  by  cold 
and  exposure,  suddenly  brought  In-  useful  life 
to  il-  close.  lie  had  started  out  in  his  sleigh 
over  a  cold  country  road,  and  a  passing  traveler, 
noticing  his  position  ami  stopping  io  investigate, 

found    him    lifeless.       He    was    only    about    half    a 

mile   fr his   homo  al    the  time.      Few   men  have 

been     more    widely     mourned,    or    more    keenl) 
missed,  for  hi-  friend-  and  patients,  particular!) 


:,  1 8 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  I A 


in  the  country  districts  in  the  southwestern  part 
i if  the  ii unity,  were  numerous.  He  was  buried 
at  St.  Peter's  church.  Dr.  Haas  owned  a  farm 
of  aliniit  two  hundred  acres  in  Jackson  township, 
ami  looked  after  its  cultivation,  which  he  found 
quite  profitable.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
am!  though  nut  active  in  public  matters  with  any 
idea  of  obtaining  favors  lor  himself  took  an  in- 
terest in  -ucli  things  a-  affected  the  general  wel- 
fare. Ee  was  instrumental  in  the  establishment 
uf  the  free  school  system  in  his  township  and 
served  as  a  member  of  the  first  school  board.  So- 
cially he  was  a  Mason,  holdirlg  membership  in 
Lodge  No.  22,  V.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury. 

On  (tet.  23,  is;,.",.  Dr.  Eaas  married  Mary 
Frances  Peal,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  \V.  Peal,  of 
Sunbury,  and  they  were  looking  forward  to  the 
celebration  of  the  golden  anniversary  of  their  mar- 
riage when  he  was  so  suddenly  taken  away.  Mr-. 
Eaas,  who  is  now  (1910)  eighty-one  years  old. 
lives  at  the  old  homestead  witlt  her  son  Edward; 
she  has  been  Mind  since  November,  1904.  Pour 
sons  were  bora  to  Dr.  and  Mr-.  Baas:  Dr.  Richard 
P.,  of  William, tow  n.  Pa.;  John  1'.:  Edward  L. ; 
and  William  II..  a  farmer  at  Dornsife,  Northum- 
berland county. 

John  1'.  ll\\s.  son  of  Dr.  Joseph,  was  horn 
Sept.  I.  1858,  m  Jackson  township,  where  he  was 
reared.  He  began  his  education  in  the  local 
schools,  later  attending  Dickinson  Seminary,  at 
Williamsport,  Pa.  Returning  to  Jack-on  town- 
ship, he  worked  upon  the  home  farm  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Shamokin.  He  began  life  here  as 
a  clerk,  and  after  gaining  the  necessary  experi- 
ence embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account,  in 
1893,  establishing  himself  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  Sixth  and  Spruce  streets,  where  he  is  still 
■  Miiicd.  He  decs  a  large  business,  being  one  of 
the  foremost  merchants  in  his  line  in  the  West 
End  uf  Shamokin.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Market 
Street  National  Bank  and  of  the  West  and  Black 
Diamond  Building  and  Loan  Associations.  His 
business  affairs  have  prospered  under  judicious 
management,  and  he  is  a  substantial  and  respect- 
ed citizen,  giving  all  his  time  to  his  private  in- 
terests and  taking  no  part  in  public  matters.  He 
is  a  Democrat  politically,  and  fraternally  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  0.  0.  F..  Royal  Arcanum  and  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  His  religious  connection  is 
with  the  United  Evangelical  Church. 

Mr.  Haas  married  Sarah  A.  Zartman,  and  they 
have  had  a  family  of  seven  children:  Charles  W. 
died  in  infancy;  F.  May  graduated  from  the 
Shamokin  high  school  in  1900  and  has  taught 
public  school  in  that  borough  eight  vears ;  Howard 
R.  graduated  from  the  Shamokin  high  school  in 
l.iol  and  is  now  in  the  office  of  Kearney  &  Ra- 
ker, attorneys  (he  married  Estella  E.  Zaring)  ; 
Clarence   R.   graduated    from    the   high   school   in 


1906  and  is  now  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  the 
Shamokin  Lumber  &  Manufacturing  Company; 
Willard  F.  died  in  infancy:  Chester  A.  and  Grace 
Z.  are  still  in  school. 

Mrs.  Sarah  A.  (Zartman)  Haas  was  horn  Nov. 
1'.'.  1857,  in  Jackson  township,  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Catharine  (Seiler)  Zartman,  and  grand- 
daughter of  .Martin  Zartman.  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  who  on  removing  to  Northumber- 
land county  settled  in  Jackson  township.  He  is 
buried  at  Kncass  station,  in  that  township.  His 
children  were  Daniel.  Samuel.  1-aac  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

Daniel  Zartman,  father  of  Mrs.  Haas,  followed 
farming  upon  the  homestead  in  Jackson  township, 
where  he  died.  His  children  were:  Harriet  died 
aged  twenty-one  years ;  Daniel  died  when  five  pears 
old:  Csaac  married  Elizabeth  Daniel,,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  forty-three:  Mary  is  the  widow  of 
David  Knorr:  Rebecca  married  H.  B.  Longsdorff; 
Samuel  married  Susan  Fenstermacher :  Elizabeth 
married  H.  S.  Zimmerman:  Sarah  A.  is  the  wife 
if  John  P.  Eaas,  of  Shamokin. 

EnwAitD  L.  Eaas,  son  of  Dr.  Joseph,  was  born 
Nov.  L0,  I860,  mi  the  farm  in  Jackson  township 
where  he  now  resides,  near  Mahanoy.  He  ac- 
quired his  early  schooling  in  the  town-hip.  and 
later  was  a  .-indent  at  Berrysburg  Academy  and 
the  State  normal  school  at  Lock  Haven.  Pa.  Mr. 
Eaas  has  always  followed  farming,  working  for 
his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  In  tin-  spring 
of  1910  he  purchased  his  father's  homestead  place, 
a  tract  of  forty-six  acres,  upon  which  he  lives, 
and  which  formerly  belonged  to  Sylvester  Hilbush, 
earlier  to  his  father.  Jacob  Hilbush,  who  built  the 
present  barn  (Aug.  13,  1S:i!i|  and  the  large  brick 
house  (1855).  Mr.  Haas  is  an  industrious  farm- 
er, intelligent  in  his  business  transactions  and 
hearing  the  highest  reputation  for  integrity  and 
solid  worth.  He  has  served  his  township  a-  school 
director,  and  has  also  been  quite  active  in  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  St.  Peters  Church  at 
Mahanoy.  where  he  and  his  family  worship  and 
of  which  he  has  been  deacon  two  Mars.  He  is 
:i    Democrat  in  his  political  views. 

On  Nov.  '.'it.  1888,  Mr.  Haas  married  Clara 
Raker,  daughter  of  D.  Z.  and  Annie  (Dornsife) 
Raker,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township.  They  have 
had  four  children:  Claud  (who  died  of  typhoid 
fever  May  IS,  1906,  aged  seventeen  years),  Effie, 
Lester  Lemv  and  Willie  Raker. 


Charles  Eaas,  who  is  now  living  retired  in 
Sunbury.  was  horn  Jan.  6,  1835,  at  "Haas's  Mill," 
where  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  were  born.  He 
learned  the  milling  business  from  his  father  and 
continued  to  follow  it  for  seventeen  years,  after 
which,  until  his  retirement,  he  was  engaged  at 
various  vocations.  He  filled  various  township  of- 
fices, and  for  ten  years  was  janitor  of  the  First 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


519 


Presbyterian  Church,  giving  up  that  work  in  the 
spring  of  L910.  \\y  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  a  venerable  and  esteemed 
resident  of  the  borough  in  which  he  makes  his 
home. 

Mr.  Haas  married  Small  Houck,  who  was  born 
Jan.  I.  L830,  and  died  April  16,  1894.  She  is 
buried  in  the  South  Fourth  street  cemetery.  Sev- 
en children  were  born  to  this  union:  David.  John 
C.  (deceased),  Henry  E.  (deceased),  Mary  A., 
Franklin  C,  Samuel  E.,  and  Emma  J.  (deceased). 


Daniel  Haas,  -mi  of  John,  was  a  native  of  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.,  horn  in  1806,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Jan.  9,  L891,  was  the  oldest  native  resi- 
dent of  thai   1 ugh,  where  he  spent  all  his  life. 

lie  was  a  i •aliinetinaker,  and  had  an  establishment 
in  Sunbury,  which  la1  long  conducted  in  partner- 
ship wiih  George  Renn.  They  did  an  extensive 
business  in  their  day,  making  furniture  and  bed- 
Fteads,  and  also  carried  on  an  undertaking  busi- 
ness. 1  lam. 'I  Haas  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  his  wife  Margarel  (Zimmerman)  when  sev- 
enty-five pears  old.  They  are  buried  in  the  old 
South  Fourth  street  cemetery.  Six  soib  and  six 
daughters  were  born  to  the  couple:  Peter,  now 
(1911)  seventy-eight  years  old.  lives  in  Sunbury; 
Samuel  died  in  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa  (he  became 
very  wealthy,  making  his  fortune  in  cattle  ranches, 
and  in  the  packing  business;  he  left  a  family 
who  still  live  out  there,  his  sons  Harry  and  Charles 
being  at  Council  Bluffs);  John  B.  is  mentioned 
below;  Albert  died  at  Sunbury,  where  his  widow, 
Lucy  (lleini),  is  still  living;  William,  who  died 
m  Sunbury,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war:  Jerry 
was  killed  while  in  active  service  in  the  Civil 
war:  Elizabeth  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Sunburj 
in  her  twentieth  war:  Miss  Harriet  Haas  lives 
at  No.  '.'•".I  South  Fourth  street.  Sunbury,  she 
and  her  brother  Peter  making  their  home  together: 
Clara  married  Jaceb  Swank,  train  dispatcher  of 
Sunbury,  Pa.,  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Com- 
pany; Catharine  married  Dr.  Elijah  Franklin  Or- 
ser,  and  she  lives  with  her  sister  Harriet  and 
brother  Peter:  twin  .laughters  died  small.  The 
six   sons  wore  born   first,  then  the  six  daughters. 

John  1>.  Haas  was  horn  m  Sunbury  Dec.  6, 
1835,  and  was  there  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  became  a  grocer  and  fruit  dealer  in  Sunbury, 
handling  large  quantities  of  fruit,  and  also  dealt 
extensively  in  potatoes.  Inlying  apples  and  pota- 
toes by  the  carload.  He  bought  beans  in  large 
quantities  from  New  York,  where  entire  fields 
were  devoted  to  their  cultivation,  and  throughout 
his  life  was  a  successful  business  man.  widely 
and  favorahlv  known.  His  business  establishment 
\\a^  „ear  the  First  National  Bank,  and  the  prop- 
erty at  No  242  Market  Square  still  belongs  to 
bis  widow.  His  home  was  at  X...  320  Arch  street 
for  thirtv-eight  years. 


On  li.v.  28,  1868,  Mr.  Haas  was  married,  after 
a  romantic  courtship,  to  Emma  Thayer,  daugh 
ter  ..f  .lames  and  Zenecia  (Bassett)  Thayer,  via. 
lived  m  Yates  county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Haas  had  gone 
to  New  York  to  buy  apples,  and  thus  came  to 
deal  with  -lames  Thayer,  whose  daughter  Emma 
lie  subsequently  married.  It  was  a  case  of  love 
at  first  sight  between  these  young  people,  and  a 
happier  union  never  was  known.  She  is  of  ••Yan- 
kee" origin,  being  a  descendant  in  the  ninth  gen- 
eration from  the  famous  linger  Williams,  the 
founder  of  Rhode  Island.  The  Eddy  family,  to 
which  Zenecia  Bassett,  her  mother's  mother,  be 
longed,  intermarried  with  the  Williams  family. 
Mis.  Haas  is  a  member  of  Fort  Augusta  Chapter, 
l>.  A.  i;..  of  Sunbury,  and  is  the  present  secre- 
tary of  that  organization,  of  which  she  was  treas- 
urer the  years.  She  is  a  prominent  member  ot 
the  Iris  Literary  Club  of  Sunbury.  of  which  -ho 
is  I  he  librarian.  This  club,  which  has  a  member- 
ship of  fifty,  meets  once  a  week  at  the  horn,,  of 
Judge  Savi.lge,  whose  wife.  Mrs.  C.  R.  Savidge, 
is  president.  It  subscribes  to  a  traveling  histori- 
cal library  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  and  has  proved  a  most  in- 
teresting organization  as  well  as  an  avenue  of  cul- 
ture to  all  who  enjoy  its  privilege-. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haas  were  horn  three  daugh- 
ters: Eva  Thayer  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  .1.  B.  Cress- 
inger,  a  prominent  physician  of  Sunbury:  Cora 
B.  married  Pert  S.  Hopkins,  a  jeweler  and  op- 
tician, and  they  live  at  Penn  Yan,  X.  Y..  where 
Mrs.  John  P..  Haas  spends  her  summers:  Mary 
died  ..f  diphtheria  in  1881,  aged  six  years.  Mr. 
Haas  was  an  Episcopalian,  like  the  other  members 
of  his  family. 

BENJAMIN  F.  W.  LATSHAW,  a  retired  farm- 
er of  Jackson  township,  in  his  active  years  ..ne 
of  the  prominent  citizens  and  business  men  of 
his  section,  was  born  there  May  1!),  184.").  m  the 
house  built  by  his  great-grandfather,  Henry  Lat- 
sha,  and  which  he  and  his  son  still  occupy. 

Henry  Latsha  and  his  brother  Johannes  (grand- 
father ..f  the  laie  Frederick  W.  Latsha.  of  Wash 
ington   township  l    wore   the   founders  of   the    l.ai 

-ha   ..r   Latshaw    family   now    represented    a ag 

iho  Lest  citizens  of  this  part  of  Northumberland 
county.  They  were  pioneers  in  ibis  region,  and 
both  are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  si.  Peter's 
Church  at  Mahanoy.  Tin-  earlier  home  of  the 
family  in  this  country  was  in  Berks  county,  Pa.. 
and  we  give  something  of  its  historj  as  found 
in  a  recent  Perks  county  work.  One  Frantz 
(John  Francis)  Latshar,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
came  to  America  on  the  "Mortonhouse,"  which 
qualified  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  24,  L728.  On  the 
list  of  passengers  his  name  is  spelled  "Fran-  Lat- 
show."  Hi-  first  settlement  in  Pennsylvania  was 
near    a    place   called    rpland.    in    Chester    county. 


520 


NORTH  IMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


where  he  remained  a  few  years,  and  then  went 
to  Oley,  Berks  county,  later  settling  in  the  Tulpe- 
hoeken  Valley  in  the  latter  county,  where  lie  died. 
He  made  a  permanent  home  in  Colebrookdale 
township.  His  last  will  and  testament,  made  in 
1781,  was  probated  Oct.  29,  1795.  He  was  twice 
married,  the  firsl  time  in  Switzerland,  and  tradi- 
tion says  his  first  wife  died  leaving  him  a  num- 
ber of  small  children  and  no  one  to  help  in  the 
house.  Accordingly  he  went  to  Philadelphia  (as 
the  pioneers  were  obliged  to  do  in  those  days  for 
merchandise  or  help)  for  a  woman  to  look  after 
his  home  and  children,  lie  was  told  of  a  young 
woman  of  good  repute  whose  husband,  a  Mr. 
(label,  hail  died  on  the  voyage  to  America,  leav- 
ing his  wife  with  two  small  children.  At  Phila- 
delphia sin.'  began  a  struggling  life  with  her  chil- 
dren, finding  a  place  as  servant  in  a  Germantown 
family.  Mr.  Latshar  became  acquainted  with  her, 
persuaded  her  to  accompany  him  home  as  house- 
keeper, and  later  they  were  married.  Her  son, 
Eenry  Gabel,  was  taken  along  with  them,  and 
early  in  life  was  taken  into  the  Rutter  household, 
the  Rutters  being  the  early  ironmasters  of  Cole- 
brookdale, and  he  fell  heir  to  some  of  the  Rutter 
money,  also  being  remembered  in  his  stepfather's 
will.  He  was  a  Mennonite,  and  is  buried  at  Boy- 
ertown;  his  birth  occurred  in  1734.  Frantz  Lat- 
shar and  his  second  wife  had  children  also.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Sowers,  and  she  was  from  the 
Tulpehocken  Valley,  in  Berks  county.  He  left 
a  large  estate,  which  he  divided  equally  among 
his  children,  those  mentioned  in  his  will,  as  re- 
corded in  Book  B,  page  398,  being  John,  Frantz, 
Abraham.  Jacob,  Mary  Lantes  (Landis),  Henry 
Gabel  (step-son).  Rebecca  Shelly  (deceased,  tin' 
mother  of  six  children),  and  Catharine  Lantz 
(step-daughter),  of  whom  Abraham  lived  on  the 
Hereford  township  (Berks  county)  farm  and 
Frantz  elsewhere  in  the  -aim-  township.  We  have 
the  following  account  of  the  sons. 

John  Latsha  lived  in  Colebrookdale  township, 
where  he  died  in  179-1.  He  made  his  will  in 
1787  (Will  Book  B,  page  360),  dividing  his  es- 
tate among  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  made 
his  home  with  his  brother  Jacob,  and  if  he  was 
married  he  had  no  children. 

Frantz  Latshar  (Latchar)  made  his  will  April 
1,  1802,  and  it  was  probated  July  1st  of  the  same 
year.  His  wife  Esther  survived  him  and  was 
given  -ton  pounds  in  gold.  They  had  three  sons, 
Frantz  and  Jacob  receiving  all  the  land  in  Here- 
ford township,  and  John  the  homestead. 

Abraham  Latshar  lived  in  the  section  of  Cole- 
brookdale township  now  included  in  Washington 
township.  He  died  in  181 1.  His  will,  in  English 
script,  hut  German  words,  is  on  record  in  Volume 
I.  page  114.  His  children  were:  Samuel.  Johan- 
nes, Jacob,  Anna,  Elizabeth,  Catharine,  Heinrich, 
Alexander  and  Abraham.     The  record  from  which 


this  is  taken  says  Heinrich  (Henry)  lived  for  a 
time  in  Clayton.  Berks  county,  and  then  left  for 
parts  unknown.  Evidently  he  is  the  Henry  Lat- 
sha who  founded  the  Northumberland  county 
branch  of  the  family  with  which  this  article  deals. 
and  Henry  and  Johannes  (born  in  Washington 
township,  Berks  county,  1756,  died  1810)  Latsha 
were  brothers  and  sons  id'  Abraham  Latsha  (Lat- 
shar). According  to  the  family  Johannes  was  a 
son  of  the  emigrant,  but  that  does  not  agree  with 
the  more  complete  account,  and  as  John  the  son 
of  Frantz  received  his  father's  homestead  it  seems 
more  likely  Johannes  was  the  son  of  Abraham. 
And  further,  it  is  said  that  among  his  father's 
children  were  also  Henry,  who  settled  in  Maha- 
noy township  (which  then  included  a  large  part 
of  the  lower  end  of  Northumberland  county)  lie- 
fore  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  Abraham,  who 
settled  in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumber- 
land county. 

Henry  Latsha.  recorded  as  son  of  Abraham  and 
Catharine  (Saner)  Latsha,  was  born  Aug.  21, 
1754,  in  this  country,  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Duppendorf,  and  confirmed  by  him.  when  twenty- 
sex  en  years  old,  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  He  was  early  in  Northumber- 
land county,  his  name  appearing  in  the  list  of 
taxables  of  Mahanoy  township  for  1778.  He 
took  up  373  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Jack- 
son township,  near  Mahanoy,  on  the  Mahanoy 
creek,  by  warrant  from  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania dated  July  11.  1769,  and  ninety-five  acres 
of  tin.-  tract  have  never  been  in  any  other  name. 
It  is  now  owned  by  B.  F.  W.  Latshaw,  great- 
grandson  of  Henry  Latsha.  The  Latsha  pumping 
station  is  built  on  the  land  taken  up  by  Henry 
Latsha.  The  first  house  which  he  built  stood 
about  sixteen  feet  due  east  from  the  present  resi- 
lience, and  was  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire  short- 
ly  before  1798,  in  which  year  the  dwelling  which 
still  stands  was  erected.  It  was  built  of  logs,  now 
weather-hoarded,  and  is  still  in  fine  condition, 
being  occupied  by  Benjamin  F.  W.  Latshaw  and 
his  son  B.  B.  Latshaw  and  family.  Thus  the 
sixth  generation  eats  and  sleeps  in  the  house  which 
sheltered  the  pioneer  Henrv  Latsha.  who  died 
there  Aug.  7.  18-23.  He  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Church.  Mahanoy.  Henry  Latsha  followed  farm- 
ing, and  had  all  the  experiences  which  confronted 
the  adventurer  into  these  regions  in  those  primi- 
tive days.  The  Indians  were  his  neighbors;  he 
shot  many  a  deer,  and  wolves  and  bears  were  not 
uncommon  in  this  section  then:  the  creeks 
swarmed  with  fish,  which  the  coal  dirt  and  sul- 
phur attendant  upon  modern  industrial  operations 
have  killed.  A  man  of  more  than  ordinary  educa- 
tion, he  conducted  a  typical  subscription  school 
of  the  time,  the  "Lehrer"  receiving  two  or  two 
and  a  half  cents  per  pupil  daily  in  exchange  for 
the  elementary  educational  privileges  then  afford- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


521 


ed.  A  family  or  baptismal  record,  10  by  is  inches 
in  size,  printed  on  heavy  paper,  in  red  ink,  made 
by  Henry  Latsha,  is  a  tangible  testimonial  of 
his  skill  and  acquirements,  and  is  a  highly  prized 
possession  of  In-  great-grandson,  Benjamin  F.  W. 
Latshaw.  He  was  nearly  six  feet  in  height,  well 
built,  weighing  about  one  hundred  and  ninety 
pounds,  and  possessed  the  endurance  aecessary  for 
a  successful  battle  with  the  conditions  of  those 
early  days,  lie  used  to  walk  to  and  from  Wash- 
ington township,  Berks  county,  where  hi-  people 
lived,  and  while  making  the  trip  one  winter  losl 
his  path  on  the  Broad  (  Blue)  mountain;  in  order 
in  keep  from  Freezing  to  death  he  forced  himself 
I"  walk  all  night  around  a  big  tree,  hut  in  spite 
iif  his  heroic  efforts  the  toes  of  both  feel  had  to 
be  amputated. 

<>n  Aug.  30,  1781,  Henry  Latsha  married  Mrs. 
Catharina  Fredericka  (Sehott)  Emrich,  Rev.  Mr. 
Enderlein  performing  the  ceremony.  One  son, 
Henry,  was  born  to  this  union.  Mrs.  Latsha  was 
born  May  s.  LI  15,  at  Dorrenbach,  Germany,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Mary  Margaretha  (Kunst)  Sehott, 
and  was  baptized  by  Rev.  John  Daniel  Engel, 
her  sponsors  being  Conrad  Rab  and  Ins  Ulle  Cath- 
arina Frederica  Irbach.  She  was  brought  to  this 
country  in  1"">1  and  confirmed  in  175!)  by  Pastor 
Kurtz.  Hi  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and 
on  April  11.  1765,  she  became  the  wife  of  Valen- 
tine Emrich,  Rev.  Mr.  Kurtz  marrying  them. 
Pour  sons  and  one  daughter  were  horn  to  her 
union  with  Mr.  Emrich.  Mrs.  Latsha  died  March 
17,  1811. 

Henry  Latsha,  only  son  of  Henry,  was  born 
March  3,  L783,  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
became  a  tanner,  owning  the  farm  which  now 
belongs  to  his  grandson,  Benjamin  P.  W.  Latshaw. 
lb'  also  engaged  in  merchandising,  owning  the 
first  store  in  his  section  of  the  county,  his  busi- 
ness establishment  standing  opposite  the  present 
home  of  Elias  Hilbush,  near  the  Latsha  pumping 
station.  Mr.  Hilbush's  farm  was  part  of  the  tract 
of  373  acres  taken  up  by  Henry  Latsha.  A  hollow- 
is  now  the  only  indication  of  the  site  of  the  stoic. 
Mr.  Latsha  obtained  his  merchandise  by  team 
from  Philadelphia  or  Reading,  whither  In1  also 
hauled  what  he  had  to  sell  or  exchange.  Like 
his  father  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intellectual  acquirements  lor  the  day.  and  he  was 
a  substantial  and  influential  citizen.  He  died 
Pel..  -.'1.  1863,  when  only  a  little  less  than  eighty 
wears  old.  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church. 
Mahanov.  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed  member. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  Michael 
Emrich  (horn  in  1757),  was  born  Aug.  11.  L785, 
ami  died  June  29,  1861.  They  had  three  sons 
and  three  daughters:  Catharine  died  unmarried; 
Henry  married  a  Miss  Blasser  and  (second)  Re- 
becca Leasee  Jacob  married  Eliza  Grissinger; 
Sallie  died  unmarried  ;  Elizabeth  married  Henry 


Rodger;  Michael  was  the  father  of  Benjamin  P. 
W.  Latshaw. 

Michael  Latsha,   si f    Henry,  was  horn   Oct. 

21,    1813,    te    part    of    the    homestead    farm. 

and  himself  became  a  farmer,  owning  eighty-four 
acres  of  the  tract  of  373  acres  taken  up  by  his 
grandfather.  One  John  Daniel  now  owns  the 
84-acre  farm.  Michael  Latsha  had  a  coal  yard 
ai  Latsha  pumping  station  and  dealt  in  coal  tor 
many  year-:  owned  and  operated  the  gristmill  on 
the  .Mahanov  now  owned  and  operated  by  S.  .1. 
Wilkinson;  engaged  in  butchering;  anil  in  Ids  vari- 
ous undertakings  proved  himself  a  man  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  business  ability.  lie  served 
as  supervisor  and  in  other  township  offices,  and 
was  active  in  the  work  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  at 
Mahanov,  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran congregation,  which  he  served  in  every  official 
capacity.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  at  divine 
services,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  faith- 
ful supporters  and  workers  of  that  church.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Latsha  died  July 
12,  1868,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's.  His  wife. 
Sarah  (Wolf),  was  born  March  IS.  181G,  and  died 
Dee.  13.  1885.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Anthony 
Wolf,  wdiose  wife,  nee  Kneiss,  was  captured  by  the 
Indians  when  quite  young  and  held  in  captivity 
for  six  years.  To  Michael  and  Sarah  (Wolf)  Lat- 
sha were  born  children  as  follows:  Henry,  born 
Oct.  22,  1838,  died  July  29,  1879,  married  Eliza- 
beth Kobel,  born  Aug.  25,  1840,  died  April  4, 
1892;  Daniel  married  Mary  Reitz ;  Mary  married 
Andrew  Geist;  Hannah  married  Peter  Keiffer; 
Benjamin  Franklin  W.  is  mentioned  below:  Sarah 
married  John  Brower,  Sr. ;  Lovina  married  Adam 
Trautman;  William  married  Mary  Treon;  Galen 
married  Alice  Zartman. 

(N.  P.:  One  Henry  Latsha  bad  another  tract 
of  land  in  Jackson  township  which  extended  west- 
ward from  the  farm  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Charles 
Smith,  located  on  the  road  between    Mahanoy  and 

Mandata.     This  tract    was  and   a   half  miles 

long  ami  extended  east  and  west  from  one  moun- 
tain to  the  other,  embracing  the  whole  valley. 
This,  however,  he  sold.  Either  Henrj  the  pioneer 
or  his  son  owned  this  valley. ) 

Benjamin  P.  W.  Latshaw  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  and  during  his  father's  lifetime  also  assisted 
in  the  mill  and  the  coal  yard,  later  conducting 
the  coal  yard  which  his  father  had  established. 
He  has  sold  large  quantities  of  coal  in  his  time. 
Mr.  Latshaw  had  a  successful  luisiness  career,  from 
which  he  retired  in  L904,  and  he  has  ever  since 
made  his  home  with  his  son.  1!.  Ik  Latshaw.  and 
family.  He  is  a  tall  man.  sis  led  in  height,  and 
stout,  weighing  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  and 
he  enjoys  robust  health  and  a  good  memory,  be- 
ing thoroughly  conversant  with  (he  early  historj 
of  his  district  as  well  as  with  the  genealogy  of 
his  fainilv.  in  which  he  is  much  interested.     In 


..-.'■.' 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  ha?  served  as  sup- 
ervisor of  Jackson  township.  He  and  his  family 
have  long  been  Lutheran  members  of  St.  Peter's 
Church  at  Mahanoy,  in  whose  work  he  has  been 
active,  having  served  as  deacon,  elder,  trustee  and 
treasurer. 

On  March  29,  1874,  Mr.  Latshaw  married  Wil- 
helmina  Schweinhart,  daughter  of  dames  Schwein- 
harl  (whose  wife  was  a  Kobel),  and  she  died 
June  11.  190-1,  aged  fifty-five  years,  six  months, 
six  day-.  She  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Church,  at 
Latsha  station. 

Buklixgton  i  »i  \ .t  \ vi  in"  Latshaw.  only  child 
of  Benjamin  F.  W.  and  Wilhelmina  (Schwein- 
hart) Latshaw,  was  born  Aug.  27,  1877, 
in  the  old  Latsha  home  where  he  still  lives.  He 
worked  on  the  pipe  Line  for  some  years,  but  since 
1904,  when  his  mother  died  and  his  father  retired, 
he  has  beerj  farming  the  homestead  place.  He  is 
a  substantial  and  farmer  of  his 

community.  Ob  Aug.  27,  L896,  he  married  Sarah 
Stetler,  daughter  of  Rev.  D.  M.  Stetler,  formerly 
of  Mahanoy,  now  the  Lutheran  pastor  at  Trevor- 
ton.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
Millie  (deceased),  Ralph,  Anna.  Luther.  Paul, 
Fred  and  Daniel. 

WITMER.  The  Winner  family,  which  has 
many  representatives  in  Northumberland  county 
at  this  day,  was  founded  there  by  Christophel 
Winner,  who  by  his  wife  Christina  had  children 
Hows:  Christophel  (1762-1825),  Sarah  (1767- 
1852),  Heinrich  (1758-1825),  Mathias  (dun 
L757-May  5,  1824)  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Zerbe.  The 
Winners  with  which  this  article  deals  are  descend- 
ed from  the  sons  Mathias  and  I        -      ihel. 

Mathias  Winner,  son  of  Christophel,  was  horn 
dune  10,  1757.  and  died  May  5,  1824.  His  son 
Johannes^  born  March  12,  1797,  died  Oct.  12, 
1823. 

Daniel  Witmer,  son  of  Mathias.  was  an  exten- 
sive farmer,  owning  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
property  of  Joel  Lahr.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his 
life,  lie  is  buried  at  the  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church.  He  was  three  times  married,  by  his  first 
wife  having  children  as  follows:  Jacob,  Fannie. 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (wife  of  Elias  Hoover). 
(At  the  Stone  Valley  Church  is  buried  Susana, 
wife  of  Daniel  Witmer.  born  Oct.  29,  1798,  died 
Jan.  15,  1831.) 

Jacob  Winner,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  Feb.  7. 
180?,  and  died  Sept,  23,  1885.  He  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  also  followed  farming,  living 
on  and  working  the  place  now  occupied  by  his 
son  Isaac,  having  the  forty-acre  tract.  He  held 
local  office,  serving  as  tax  collector,  and  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  which  he 
served  in  various  official  capacities.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife,  Sallie,  daughter  of  Hein- 


rich Hepner,  born  April  1">.  1809,  dying  Feb.  6, 
1864.  His  second  wife  was  Catharine  (Bonawitz), 
widow  of  Michael  Radel.  All  his  eleven  children 
were  born  to  the  first  union :  Kate.  Benneville. 
j,  Anna,  Amanda,  Mary,  Li  ■      ■     Sarah, 

Isaac  II.  and  Lizzie. 

Isaac  EL  Wjtmek.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  dan. 
13,  1849,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northum- 
berland county.  lie  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
working  for  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, since  when  he  has  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  on  his  own  account.  For  five  ears  b 
ire  sett    ug   on  the  place  where  he  has  made  his 

-nee  March,   1881,  he  was  a  tenant  in  this 

district.  His  forty-acre  traci  is  located  a  mile 
west  of  Uniontown  (Pillow),  near  the  Winner 
schoolhouse,  and  formed  a  part  of  the  old  Daniel 
Winner  hi  Since   1886   Mr.  Witmer  has 

done  business  as  a  huckster,  selling  his  produce  in 
Shamokin,  to  which  borough  he  makes  Meekly 
trips.  Fie  is  a  substantial  and  respected  citizen 
of  his  neighborhood. 

(in  An-.  18,  1873,  Mr.  Winner  married  Lui 
Lenker,  daughter  of  Isaac  Lenker.  and  they  have 
had  one  daughter.  Clara,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Mollis  Snyder,  of  Uniontown.  Mr.  Witmer  and 
his  family  are  Reformed  members  of  Zion's  S 
Valley  Church,  which  he  is  serving  as  trustee. 
The  church  is  the  third  on  that  -ire.  the  first 
house  of  worship  there  having  been  erected  in 
1775,  the  second  in  1 7f*G  and  the  presenl  edifice 
in  1900.  In  politics  Mr.  Witmer  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  has  served  his  township  as  school  director. 


Christophel  Witmer  (2),  son  of  Christophel. 
was  born  in  176'?  and  died  in  IS."?").  He  is  buried 
at  the  Stone  Valley  Church.  He  lived  near  Malta 
(Vera  Cruz)  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  own- 
rig  the  farm  which  is  still  in  the  family  name, 
it  having  been  acquired  after  his  death  by 
Elias  Witmer.  whose  son  Harvey  C.  Witmer 
now  owns  it.  The  place  comprises  136  acres,  and 
Christophel  Winner  (2)  probably  built  the  present 
dwelling  thereon.  It  was  he  who  built  the  old 
100-fool  log  barn,  which  was  razed  in  1855,  the 
nt  barn  on  the  property  being  the  third.  He 
married  a  Miss  Reed,  and  they  had  children  as  fol- 
low-: John:  George;  Michael:  and  daughters 
Sally  (married  Dietrich  Snyder).  Christiana, 
(married  Peter  Heckert),  Elizabeth  (married 
Casper  Heckert).  Mary  (married  Nicholas  Binge- 
man),  and  Catharine  (married  Samuel  Borrel). 

John  Witmer.  son  of  Christophel  (2),  and 
grandfather  of  Hon.  Charles  B.  Witmer.  of  Sun- 
bury,  was  believed  to  be  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Peter  Witmer.  one  of  four  brothers — Michael,  TT1- 
rieh,  Peter  and  John — who  came  from  the  Canton 
of  Zurich.  Switzerland,  crossing  the  ocean  in  the 
ship  "Hope  of  London."  which  arrived  at  Phila- 
delphia in  August,  1733.     On  Aug.  28,  1733,  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COD  N7TY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


523 


older  brothers  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  All  four 
brothers  settled  m  Lam  asti  r  county,  Peter  later 
removing  to  Lebanon  county,  where  he  died.  The 
Witmers  removed  to  Northumberland  county  Erom 

!■'  bai county,  as  did  also  the  Lenkers,  to  which 

family  belonged  John  Witmer's  wife,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Anna  Maria  Lenker.  She  was  bora 
m    1797,  daughter  of  Adam   Lenker.  and  died  in 

L865.     John    Wit r  was  born  Aug.   ?.    1792,   in 

Lower  Mahanoj  township,  and  died'  Dee.  1,  I8*t  Z. 
He  was  a  Parmer,  owning  and  cultivating  a  100- 
acre  place,  and  was  well  known  in  the  Reformed 
Church,  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  Zion's 
Stone  Valle\  ( Ihurch,  in  which  he  held  vat  ious  ol 
flees.  Hi-  children  were  David,  Isaac  L..  Polly 
and  William.  The  three  sons  died  within  a  period 
of  sis  months. 

David  Winner,  son  of  John,  was  born  on. his 
father's  bomestead.  In  young  manhood  he  was 
a  teiiani  farmer,  but  he  prospered  and  died  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  owning  a  l!»l-acre 
farm  in  .Ionian  township.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
fluence and  intelligence,  active  in  promoting  the 
general  welfare  as  well  as  successful  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  personal  interests,  served  twenty-five 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was  supervisor,  and 
filled  other  local  offices.  In  political  affiliation  he 
was  a  Democrat.  In  religion  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  he  was  active  in  the  church  at 
Uniontown,  where  he  belonged,  serving  as  a 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  assisting  in  the  erection 
of  the  presenl  church  edifice,  and  proving  himself 
a  valuable  church  worker  in  many  capacities.  He 
married  Polly,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hoffman  (who 
married  a  Weiser),  ami  of  the  seven  children 
horn  to  them  live  died  in  infancy  or  early  child- 
hood, the  survivors  being  John  fl.  and  Jacob  F. 

John  11.  Wither,  -on  of  David,  was  horn  May 
8,  IS.".  1.  on  the  farm  of  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Hoffman.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
subscription  and  free  schools  which  flourished  dur- 
ing his  boyhood,  and  was  reared  to  farming  from 
the  time  he  was  old  enough  to  work,  assisting  his 
parents  until  he  reached  his  majority.  It  was  in 
the  spring  of  Is; 7  that  he  commenced  farming  in 
Lower  Mahanoy,  the  township  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  His  place  is  a  valuable  tract  of 
in;  acres  located  on  the  road  from  Vera  Cruz 
(Malta)  to  Hniontown  (Pillow),  and  was  formerly 
the  Peter  Rcitz  homestead,  after  his  day  bavins; 
been  owned  by  Michael  Radel,  who  built  the  pres- 
ent barn.  Mr.  Witmer  owns  a  farm  adjoining 
his  home  place,  originally  the  David  Lenker  home- 
stead and  later  owned  by  Henry  Lahr.  consisting 
of  143  acres.  His  sound  business  judgment  ami 
thrifty  management  have  brought  him  prosperity, 
and  lie  has  shown  an  intelligence  in  conducting 
his  affairs  which  has  won  him  general  respect  and 
confidence  among  his  neighbors.  Moreover,  he  has 
been  a  useful  man  in  the  administration  of  local 


public  affairs,  having  held  the  offices  of  school  di- 
rector ip  rvisor  and  assessor,  his  services  cov- 
ering man)  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Hniontown 
Reformed  Church,  hut  he  has  not  been  particular- 
ly active  in  its  work,  having  declined  office. 

On   Oct.   9,    1ST.,.   .Mr.   Witmer  was  married  to 
Catharine    Hoke,    daughter    of    Elias    and    Sarah 

i'; Iman)     Eoke,    of    .Ionian    township.       |. 

children  have  been  born  to  them:  Joseph,  unmar- 
ried, lives  a;  home;  Uzzi,.  is  the  n  tfi  of  John 
Adam  Snyder,  a  farmer  in  Lower  Mahanov  town- 
ship; .Mar\  Etta  married  Daniel  T.  Heckert, 
ol  Emanuel  Heckert,  and  they  live  on  a  farm  ad- 
joining her  father'-:;  John  E.,  who  married  Susan 
Deppen,  daughter  of  Samuel  Deppen,  is  a  stenog- 
rapher and  typewriter,  and  also  taught  school 
a  number  of  years. 


1-aae  L.  Winner,  son  of  John,  was  born  <  >ct.  '.'I. 
1826,  and  died  Oct.  9,  1895.  He  married  Annie 
Bubb,  .laughter  of  Michael  Bubb  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  Philip  Bubb,  who  came  to  America  from 
Germany  when  sixteen  years  old  and  settled  in 
Mahanov  township.  Northumberland  county.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  L.  Witmer  were  born  thirteen 
children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

Charles  B.  Wither,  son  of  Isaai  I.,  and  Annie 
(  Bubb)  Witmer,  was  bom  April  18.  1862,  in  Lower 
Mahanov  township,  and  there  spent  his  early  life 

on  his  father's  farm,  attending  scl I  during  the 

winter   and   helping   with   the  farm   work   in    I  he 

sun >r  season.     In  the  fall  of  ISTii  he  became  a 

student  in  the  Uniontown  select    scl 1,  and   the 

same  year  was  licensed  to  teach,  taking  the  school 
at  Georgetown.  Northumberland  county.  When 
the  term  ended  lie  entered  the  Millersburg  high 
-el I  and  also  attended  the  Berrysburg  Teach- 
ers' normal  for  several  week-,  lie  next  taught  in 
hi-  Dative  township,  and  m  the  spring  of  1881  en- 
tered Union  Seminary  (now  Central  Pennsylvania 
College)  ai  New  Berlin,  1'a.  Meanwhile  he  sup- 
ported himself  by  teaching  ami  other  work  until 
his  graduation  from  thai  institution,  in  1883  fhi 
next  year  he  became  principal  of  th<  Georgetown 
high  school.  In  the  fall  of  1 SS  1  he  took  the  pre- 
liminary examination  and  began  the  stud]  of  law 
under  the  tutorage  of  the  late  ( '.  (,.  Voris,  who  at 
that  time  was  locale, I  ai  Sunbury.  Alternating  bis 
studies  with  educational  work,  In-  u,i-  in  the  sum- 
mer ol'  1886  principal  of  the  Snyder  County 
Teachers'  Normal  Institute.  In  February,  1887, 
he  was  admitted  f,  the  Northumberland  county 
bar,  ami  ai  once  op,  n,,l  an  office  in  Sunbury.  In 
the  spring  of  1889  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Supreme  courl  of  the  stale,  and  the  same  year 
he  was  appoint,', I  solicitor  lor  Northumberland 
county,     (hi  An,-,  -.'if   1889,  he  wa-  chosen  a?  the 

Republican   ninee  for  the  office  of  district  at- 

I  I  ■-    next     honor    was    as    dele-ate    h,    if, 


524 


NOBTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Constitutional  convention  from  the  Twenty-sev- 
enth Senatorial  District,  comprising  Northumber- 
land, Union  and  Snyder  counties.  Following  he 
served  six  years  as  county  solicitor.  In  lfMH  he 
was  the  Republican  nominee  for  president  judge 
of  the  Northumberland  county  courts,  but  was  de- 
feated bj  the  small  majority  of  68  votes  after  a 
heated  contest.  This  remarkable  campaign,  how- 
ever, had  the  effect  of  bringing  him  prominently 
before  the  people,  and  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent he  lias  been  the  leader  of  liis  party  in  North- 
umberland county.  In  1902  he  was  appointed  As- 
sistant Attorney  in  the  United  States  Department 
ii  Justice,  at  Washington,  D.  ('..  assigned  to  the 
defense  of  the  government  against  claims  arising 
out  of  the  Spanish-American  war,  settled  by  the 
Spanish  Treaty  Claims  Commission,  lie  held  that 
position  until  he  resigned,  in  1901,  to  assume  the 
duties  of  chiei  counsel  for  the  Dairy  and  Food 
Department  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
February,  L905,  he  was  promoted  to  the  auditor 
general's  department,  as  spei  ia]  counsel  for  same. 
In  1906  lie  was  appointed  by  Presidenl  Theodore 
Roosevelt  United  State-  marshal  for  the  Middle 
District  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1908  he  resigned  that 
office,  receiving  from  Presidenl  Roosevelt  that  year 
his  appointment  as  United  States  district  attorney. 
On  tlie  8th  of  March,  1911,  he  \\a-  appointed,  by 
President  \Y.  II.  Taft,  United  State-  District 
judge.  It  is  a  generally  recognized  fact  that  Mr. 
Witmer's  advancement,  professionally  and  offici- 
ally, i-  due  to  hi-  own  efforts,  and  he  is  all  the 
more  honored  because  of  this  fact,  lie  lias  made 
his  way  against  obstacles  of  many  kinds,  and  has 
pursued  his  ambitions  in  spite  of  the  opposition 
which  confronts  the  self-made  man.  only  serving 
to  stimulate  him  in  following  hi-  ideal-  to  their 
realization.  The  high  position  he  now  hold-  and 
which  he  has  long  enjoyed  in  the  councils  of  the 
Republican  party  proves  that  he  not  only  makes 
friends,  hut  has  the  faculty  of  holding  them,  and 
the  ability  to  make  good  in  whatever  position  he 
is  placed. 

Mr.  Witmer  i-  prominent  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  i-  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows. 
the  S.  P.  K.  and  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  lie  has  held 
official  position  in  all  the  orders  to  which  he  be- 
longs.  Hi-  religious  connection  is  with  the  First 
Reformed  Church  of  Sunbury,  which  he  has  long 
served  as  a  member  of  the  official  hoard:  he  also 
was  formerly  prominently  identified  with  the  Sun- 
day school  work. 

On  Oct.  17.  1885,  Mr.  Witmer  married  Mollie 
Beaver,  daughter  of  Isaac  Beaver,  of  Middleburg, 
Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  namely:  John,  who  is  now  a  college  stu- 
dent; and  Catharine  and  Isabella,  both  of  whom 
are  attending  public  school.  Mr.  Witmer  is  de- 
voted to  his  home  and  family,  with  whom  he  spends 
much  time,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  noted  for  their 


kindliness  and  hospitable  disposition,  enjoying  the 
good-will   of  a   host   of  friend-. 

Fkajjcis  A.  Wither,  son  of  Isaac  L.  and  Annie 
i  Bubb)  Witmer.  was  horn  Oct.  Vs.  1877,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  obtained  his  early 
education.  Later  lie  attended  a  summer  school  at 
Elizabethville,  and  the  Central  Pennsylvania  Col- 
legi  at  Xew  Berlin,  and  when  seventeen  he  taught 
for  part  of  a  school  term  at  Washington,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  After  the  death  of  his  father. 
in  L895,  he  came  to  Sunbury  and  lived  with  his 
brother,  Charles  B.  Witmer.  meantime  attending 
the  high  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1897.  Be  then  took  a  special  course  at  Bucknell 
University,  Lewisburg,  I'a..  and  in  .lime.  lsim. 
registered  a-  a  law  student  in  his  brother's  office, 
studying  law  and  teaching  school,  hem-  thus  en- 
gaged for  two  terms  at  the  Gass  schoolhouse  in 
Upper  Augusta  township.  On  .Line  16,  1902,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar:  on  May  22,  1905,  to  the 
Supreme  court:  and  he  has  also  been  admitted  to 
i  i  I  nited  States  Superior  and  Circuit  courts.  He 
is  now  in  partnership  with  his  brother  as  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Witmer  &  Witmer  and  en- 
gag<  d  in  successful  practice  at  Sunbury.  Mr.  Wit- 
mer is  a  member  of  the  Northumberland  Bar  A-- 
so.  iation,  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  Lodge  No.  267,  and 
o  Friendship  Hose  Company.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church  and  has  been  active  in 
■    •'     of  its  interests,  having  been  chairman  of  the 

publicity  commitl f  the  Laymen's   Missionary 

committee  of  the  Eastern  Classis  held  in  1910. 
Politically  he  is  a   Republican. 

In  September,  1907,  Mr.  Witmer  married  Lula 
O.  Yoder,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Mil- 
ler) Yoder,  of  Hegins.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and 
they  have  two  daughters,  Lillian  M.  and  Annie  E. 
The  family  home  is  at  No.  1132  Fast  Market 
street. 


Michael  Witmer.  son  of  Christophel  (2),  was 
horn  March  29,  1804,  and  died  Jan.  28,  1842.  He 
is  buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church.  He  was  a  man 
of  large  build,  weighing  240  pounds,  and  was 
strong  and  muscular,  being,  in  fact,  the  physical 
champion  of  his  district.  All  his  life  he  followed 
farming  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  On  April 
6,    ls'.J4.  he  married  Catharine  Phillips,  who  was 

born  April  9,  180.5.  daughter  of  G ge  Phillips, 

of  Berks  county,  and  died  Sept.  30,  1889.  Their 
children  were  horn  as  follows:  Anna  Juliana. 
Feb  23,  L825  (died  young);  Benneville,  Sept.  28, 
1826;  Michael,  March  18,  1828;  Anna  Maria,  Feb. 
12,  1830;  Flias.  Oct.  14.  1831;  Sarah.  Aug.  55. 
1833  (died  young);  Edward,  Jan.  3,  1836  (died 
young)  :  Susanna  and  Catharine,  twins,  Feb.  3, 
1838  (Catharine  died  young)  :  Ephraim.  April  21, 
1839:  Isaac,  July  11,  1841  (lives  in  Perry  county, 
Pa.). 

Ephraim    Witmer.    son    of    Michael,    was    born 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


April  21,  1839,  on  the  Christophel  Witmer  home- 
stead hi  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  was 
trained  to  farm  work  from  his  earliest  boyhood, 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account  at 
an  earh  age.  During  the  early  sixties  he  moved 
to  Hickory  Corners,  in  Stone  Valley,  and  therefor 
thirty-two  years  engaged  in  farming  for  his  fa- 
ther-in-law, David  Hain.  afterward  fanning-  the 
same  place  for  himself  four  years.  During  this 
period  he  was  also  largely  engaged  in  dealing  in 
horses  Eor  twenty-five  years.     He  began  by  buying 

and  selling  horses  in  his  In county,  but  later 

wen!  West  ami  bough!  I>\  the  carload,  disposing 
of  the  animals  at  public  sale  in  lower  Northum- 
berland county,  where  he  was  the  first  to  hold  a 
liorse  sale,  being  really  the  pioneer  in  that  trade 
in  his  seel  ion.  lie  handled  as  many  as  225  head 
of  dorses  in  one  year.  Though  now  one  of  the  old- 
est residents  of  his  district  he  has  a  clear  mem- 
ory, and  takes  particular  pleasure  in  recalling  its 
early  days.  He  is  a  man  of  small  stature,  but  re- 
tains all  the  energy  which  characterized  his  active 
career.  In  his  day  he  has  been  active  in  local 
religious  affairs  as  well  as  in  business,  having  long 
been  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
/ion's  Church,  to  which  his  children  also  belong. 
lie  has  held  the  offices  of  deacon,  elder  and  trus- 
tee, and  is  now  serving  as  janitor. 

Mi'.  Witmer  married  Harriet  Hain,  who  was 
horn  May  31,  1841,  daughter  of  David  and  Re- 
becca  (Dreibelbies)  Ham.  the  latter  a  daughter 
of  Isaac  Dreibelbies,  who  came  from  Berks  county. 
Mrs.  Winner  died  April  8,  1899,  on  the  David 
Hain  farm,  and  was  buried  at  Stone  Valley 
Church.  Shortly  thereafter  Mr.  Winner  and  his 
daughters  moved  onto  the  Zion's  Church  prop 
erty,  where  they  have  made  their  home  since  L900. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witmer  was  horn  a  large  family. 
viz.:  David  If.  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  mar- 
ried Edwin  Bademan,  and  they  are  farming  people 
in  Shamokin  township ;  Jonathan  II.  is  mentioned 
below  :  Pietta  married  William  Welker  and  they 
live  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin:  Sal  lie  married 
Daniel  Hai-ris,'and  they  live  in  Mandata,  this  coun- 
ty; William  S.  died  when  two  years  old;  one  son 
died  in  infancy:  Ida  married  Charles  Wiesl  and 
they  live  in  Sunbury;  Cora  married  Rev.  George 
Koppenhaver  and  they  live  at  Mahanoy,  where  he 
ha-  charge  of  the  Reformed  congregation:  Charles 
died  aged  fifteen  war-:  Wilhelmina  Malimhi.  who 
is  unmarried  and  keeps  house  for  her  father,  has 
been  chorister  and  organist  of  Zion's  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  Church,  at  Stone  Valley,  since  1900, 
and   is  an  estimable  and  intelligent  woman,  a  most 

useful   iiiher  of  church  and  society;   Lizzie  was 

awarded  a  teacher's  provisional  certificate  in  1901, 
and  after  she  had  taught  three  years  was  given 
(in  1908)  a  professional  certificate,  her  school 
work  covering  five  terms  in  the  public  schools, 
hut  she  is  now  stenographer  in  the  office  of  Dr. 


M.  L.  Emerick,  of  Hickory  Corners,  and  works  as 
an  artist  during  the  summer  season;  Harriet,  un- 
married, live-  at  home;  Francis  died  aged  two 
years. 

David  II.  Witmer,  son  of  Ephraim,  was  horn 
May  31,  1860,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Like 
his  father  lie  was  trained  to  farm  work,  and  until 
he  was  of  age  he  worked  for  his  grandparents, 
making  his  home  with  his  maternal  grandfather, 
David  Hain.  from  the  time  he  was  three  years  old, 
until  Mr.  Hain's  death.  After  that  he  bought  the 
property  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  near  Dal- 
niatia, where  he  has  since  lived  and  worked.  It 
was  formerly  the  Charles  Brosius  homestead,  and 
consists  of  forty-five  aires;  the  original  farm  was 
much  larger.  Though  a  highly  successful  farmer. 
Mr.  Witmer  devoted  much  time  in  his  earlier  years 
to  teaching.  He  received  an  excellent  education, 
supplementing  his  public  school  training  by  study 
at   Berrysburg    Academy    and    a    select    school    at 

(• getown    (Dalniatia  ).    at    which    latter    place 

he  was  under  the  instruction  of  Prof.  Charles  B. 
Witmer.  now  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Sunbury  and 
the  leader  of  the  Republican  party  in  Northum- 
berland county.  In  1880  David  H.  Witmer  re- 
ceived his  license  to  teach  fnun  William  Boal.  then 
county  superintendent.  His  first  experience  was 
gained  at  the  McKee  school  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  lie  taught  in  all  three  successive 
terms.  Then  for  one  term  he  did  not  teach,  and 
again  attended  school,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
a-  teacher  fur  three  more  terms,  all  in  Lower 
Mahanoy.  He  had  ungraded  schools.  Mr.  Wit- 
mer was  much  esteemed  as  an  instructor,  and  met 
with  uniform  success  in  his  school  work.  He  has 
been  a  useful  citizen  of  his  community  in  other 
ways,  having  served  hi-  township  a-  school  di- 
rector, auditor  and  treasurer,  and  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  faith.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  holding  membership  in 
Grange  No.  1367,  at  Hickory  Corners.  Like  the 
members  of  the  Witmer  family  generally  he  is 
a  Reformed  member  of  the  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church. 

.loNAiii  \\  II.  \\ 'i timer,  .-on  of  Ephraim,  now  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
was  horn  in  that  township  Dec  18,  1863.  He  re- 
,  eived  hi-  education  in  the  local  public  schools  and 
has  always  followed  farm  work,  continuing  to  work 
for   his   parents    until    he   was   thirty  years    old, 

having   remained   at    I ie    for  two  war-   after  his 

marriage.  In  the  spring  of  1893  he  began  farming 
near  Dalniatia.  remaining  there  one  year  as  a  ten- 
ant, and  was  afterward  on  a  nearby  farm  for  two 
war-.  His  next  removal  was  to  the  David  Hain 
.inn  near  Hickory  Corner-,  where  he  farmed  six 
years,  thence  moving  to  the  Daniel  Schaffer 
farm,  in  the  same  township,  where  he  lived  Eor 
three  years.  The  year  before  he  settled  on  his 
present   place  he  and  his  family  lived  at  Hickory 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PEN N SYLVAXIA 


Corners,  eino  ing  to  the  present  home  in  the 
spring  of  1906.  Mr.  Witmer  purchased  this  place 
in  1909.  It  was  the  old  George  Harris  homestead 
(Mr.  Harris  being  a  pioneer  from  Montgomery 
count}-),  and  contains  I  ocated  near  Hick- 

>[>  Corners.  After  the  death  of  George  Harris  it 
was  owned  by  his  son  Martin  Harris.  The  land  is 
fertile,  and  near  the  house  is  a  very  fine  spring. 

Mr.   Witmer  has  .lite  prominent  in  the 

irests  of  tlie  Democratic  party  and  has 
•  I  a  number  of  years  as  judge  of  elections. 
He  has  held  the  office  oi  assessor  of  bis  township. 
He  and  Ins  family  are  prominent  in  the  work  of 
Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church  as  members  of  the 
Reformed   congregation,   which    Mr.    Witmer  has 

served  as  dei auously  since  1898;  he  has 

er  of  the  church  choir  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years. 

On  Nov.  VI.  1889,  Mr.  Winner  married  Lizzie 
Ellen  Koppenhaver,  daughter  of  John  and  Han- 
nah (Mover)  Eoppenhaver,  and  granddaughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Catharine  (Hepner)  Eoppenhaver. 
Four  i  hildren  have  been  born  to  them :  Mark 
Nevin,  who  began  teaching  school  when  seventeen 
years  old  and  is  now  a  student  at  the  West  Chester 
State  Normal:  May  Pauline;  Maud  Evangeline, 
and  Leah  Charlotte. 


Elias   Witmer,   son   oi    M  ichai  I,   h  as   born  Oct. 
14,  1831,  on  the  old  hoi  and  died  July  15, 

1909.  A  lifelong  farmer,  be  obtained  the  original 
Witmer  homestead  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
and  built  thereon,  in  1893,  the  present  barn,  re- 
placing one  that  had  been  destroyed  by  lightning. 
The  farm  consists  of  136  acres.  Mr.  Witmer  was 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  Beformed  met 
of  St.  Luke'-  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church  at 
Vera  Cruz,  which  he  served  many  years  as  trustee. 
Hi-  family  also  belonged  to  that  church.  He  was 
a  public-spirited  citizen  and  gave  nearly  two  acres 
of  land  mar  Vera  Cruz  for  park  purposes,  this 
tract  being  now  known  as  Vera  Cruz  Hill  park: 
it  was  planted  with  maple  and  other  trees  by  the 
Reformed  Sunday  school  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Witmer'-  first  wife,  Hannah  Mertz.  daugh- 
!  Jacob  Mertz,  died  one  year  after  their  mar- 
riage, leaving  one  son,  Harvey  C.    His  second  mar- 
was  to  Sarah  Oxenreider,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Oxenreider,  and  to  them  was  born  one  daughter, 
^gnes,  now  the  wife  of  William  S.  Engel. 

llvKvr.Y  C.  Witmer,  son  of  Elias,  was  born 
June  21,  1863,  on  the  farm  where  he  still  lives. 
He  has  always  followed  farming,  which  he  com- 
menced on  his  own  account  after  attaining  his 
majority,  being  a  tenant  on  the  original  homestead 
ars,  .it  the  end  of  which  period  he 
moved  to  an  adjoining  place,  the  one  on  which  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  This  place,  which  com- 
prises fifty-sis  acres,  formerly  belonged  to  Harry 
Weaver,    his    father-in-law.    and    Mr.    Witmer   re- 


modeled the  dwelling,  having  a  comfortable  home 
and  fine  property.     He  has   prospered  in  his     s 
rieultural  work,  and  owns  the  homestead  of  136 
acres  in  •addition  to  his  fifty-six-acre  farm.     He  is 
local     agent     for     several     fertilizer     companies. 

I  tgh  he  has  given  his  work  all  the  attention 
tiecessar;  to  make  it  profitable,  he  has  found  time 
for  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  local  public 
affairs,  has  been  roadmaster  for  the  past  rive  years, 
and  served  seven  years  as  school  director.  "Hap" 
Witmer,  as  he  is  generally  called,  is  well  known 
and  respected  in  his  seci  on.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Be- 
formei  m   at    Vera   Cruz,  of  which  he 

was  deacon  eight  years,  lie  -  a  member  of  the 
Jr.  ().  U.  A.  M.  at  Dalmatia. 

'Mi  March  8,  1882,  Mr.  Witmer  married  Susan 
1'..  Weaver,  daughter  of  Harry  and  Anna  I  Bon- 
awitzi  Weaver,  of  Lykens  Valley,  Pa.,  and  eleven 
children  have  been  horn  to  their  union:  Annie, 
who  i-  the  wife-  of  John  l.ahr  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, Mary  E.,  Adda  A.  and  Cloyd  A.  (they  live 
neai'  Dalmatia);  William  H.,  who  married  Grace 
n  :  Nora;  Stella:  Cloyd.  who  died  young; 
Harvey;   Forest,  who  died  when  young;  Warren; 

U  Alice  :  John,  and  Marian. 


Benneville  Witmer,  son  of  Michael,  was  born 
Vs.  1826,  in  Lower  Mahano\  township.  He 
>  .!-  an  enterprising  business  man.  and  prospered 
steadih  in  bis  undertakings,  acquiring  considerable 
b\  lu-  industrious  and  thrifty  methods. 
For  about  seven  years  lie  was  engaged  as  a  hucks- 
ter, after  that  entering  the  mercantile  business 
at  County  Line,  where  he  was  located  for  a  few 
II  then  bought  what  was  formerly  the 
Josiah  Snyder  farm  at  Vera  Cruz,  a  tract  of  146 
ai  res,  now  divided  into  two  farms,  on  one  of  which 
he  lived,  and  both  of  which  are  now  owned  by 
In-  -on.  Ephraim  D.  Witmer.  One  part  of  this 
146-acre  farm  was  at  one  time  the  Jacob  Witmer 
homestead.  The  land  is  fertile  and  in  a  high 
-tate  oi'  cultivation,  equipped  with  good  buildings, 
and  :n  every  way  desirable  and  valuable  property. 
In  addition  Mr.  Witmer  owned  an  adjoining  place 
of  eighty-sb  acres,  the  John  Deppen  homestead. 
He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Reformed  de- 
nomination in  his  district,  and  wa-  instrumental 
in  the  establishment,  in  1860,  of  St.  Luke's  Luth- 
eran ami  Reformed  Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  serving 
a-  a  member  of  the  building  committee  at  the  time 
the  church  was  erected.  He  was  always  one  of 
the  pillars  of  the  congregation,  liberal  in  his  sup- 
porl  of  the  church  and  its  work,  served  as  an 
officer  many  years,  and  with  his  family  took  an 
active  part  in  furthering  all  its  enterprises  and  re- 
ligious work  generally.  In  ]>olitics  lie  was  a  Be- 
publiean,  and  he  served  his  township  as  school 
director. 

Mr.    Witmer   married   Lvdia   Deppen,   daughter 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


of  William  Deppen.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witmer 
are  buried  in  the  Vera  Cruz  Union  cemetery. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  namely: 
Kniina  J.  married  Joseph  Hepner;  Serenus,  who 
was  engaged  as  a  public  school  teacher,  died  un- 
manied  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  ;  Mary  M.  mar- 
ried Elias  Kebach  ;  Caroline  died  aged  seven  years; 
Ephraim  1>.  is  mentioned  below;  Susan  died  when 
thirty-seven  years  old;  William  D.  is  mentioned 
liclnu  ;  James,  also  a  school  teacher,  died  when 
thirb  years  "Id.  only  five  days  after  his  marriage 
in  Lizzie  Bingaman,  who  survives  him  with  their 
-mi.  James  M.  (he  bad  been  active  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  Republican  committee  of  his  town- 
ship, ami  had  been  spoken  of  I'm-  high  public  of- 
fice) ;  Joseph  W.  is  mentioned  below;  Jennie  L. 
is  unmarried  :  ma'  daughter  died  in  infancy. 

Ephraim  0.  Witmer,  son  of  Benneville,  was 
born  July  29,  1862,  mi  the  farm  where  he  still 
resides,  situated  mar  Vera  Cruz,  in  tin'  extreme 
southwestern  part  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
lie  was  reared  to  farming  ami  has  followed  that 
calling  all  his  life,  purchasing  the  homestead  from 
the  estate  after  his  father's  death.  In  addition 
he  owns  an  adjoining  farm,  which  was  also  the 
property  of  his  father.  -Mr.  Witmer  has  made 
numerous  improvements  in  his  buildings  ami  mi 
In-  property,  ami  has  done  well,  meeting  with 
success  in  In-  operations,  which  are  conducted  mi 
intelligent  lines.  He  i-  a  substantial  and  es- 
teemed citizen  of  In-  township,  which  ho  has 
served  in  the  office  "I'  school  director.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 

On  Nov.  28,  1887,  Mr.  Winner  was  married  to 
Laura  E.  Ivoppenhaver,  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Mover)  Koppenhaver  and  granddaugh- 
ter nl  Jonas  and  Catharine  (Hepner)  Koppenhav- 
er  and  of  Daniel  Moyer,  the  latter  of  Lykens  Val- 
ley. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witmer  have  had  two  children, 
William  C.  i  who  died  in  infancy)  and  Clarence  E. 
The  family  an-  Reformed  members  of  St.  Luke's 
Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  Mr.  Witmer.  who  has 
n  fine  bass  voice,  was  chorister  nl'  that  church 
for  luviiii  war-,  being  still  a  member  of  the 
choir.     Hi-  -mi   is  also  musically  inclined. 

Clarence  E.  Winner,  son  of  Ephraim  O..  was 
born  May  30,  L889,  ami  lias  been  well  educated, 
having  begun  his  education  in  the  local  public 
schools  and  later  attended  Union  Seminary,  ai  Mew 
Berlin,  and  Franklin  ami  Marshall  College,  at 
Lancaster.  He  i-  now  assisting  his  father  with 
the  farm  work.  He  married  Si. 41a  T.  Mart/,  and 
thev   have  one  daughter,   Ethel   M. 

William  1>.  Witmeb,  son  of  Benneville,  limn 
I',!,.  25,  1867,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  re 
ceived  In-  education  there  in  the  common  schools. 
Me  worked  for  his  lather  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  "Id.  mi  the  farm  and  in  the  sawmill. 
and  then  marrying  settled  in  Dalmatia  (George 
town),  where  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months, 


during  which  he  was  with  his  family  at  Sunbury, 
lir  lias  -line  had  his  home.  Upon  coming  to  this 
locality  he  began  work  for  his  father-in-law.  [saac 
Fenstermacher,  upon  the  farm,  continuing  thus 
for  twelve  years.  Ai  the  end  of  that  time  he  be 
gan  the  manufacture  and  bottling  of  soft  drinks, 
for  which  he  found  a  ready  sale  throughout  the 
eastern  end  of  Northumberland  county.  .Mr.  Wit- 
me:  has  prospered  to  such  an  extent  that  he  aov 
owns  his  own  Inline  and  place  of  business,  Ins 
establishment  being  equipped  with  all  modern  ma- 
chinery fur  the  facilitation  of  the  work',  which 
has  grown  to  considerable  proportions.  He  ships 
his  goods  tn  various  towns.  Mr.  Witmer  lias  been 
much  interested  in  the  local  public  welfare,  par- 
ticularly the  matter  of  public  education,  and  was 
serving  as  school  director  at  the  time  of  the  elec- 
tion of  the  modern  two-story,  four-room  building, 
in  IS!)  I.  lie  has  been  quite  active  m  the  local 
affairs  of  the  Republican  party,  and  ha-  served  as 
delegate  to  the  county  convention.  While  living  at 
his  early  home  Mr.  Winner  served  as  organist 
tur  i  he  Reformed  congregation  of  the  Vera  Cruz 
Church,  and  for  some  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  choir  nf  the  Reformed  congregation  at  Dal- 
matia, of  which  he  is  a  member;  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  nf  the  same 
church. 

In  January,  1891,  Mr.  Witmer  married  Lizzie 
A.  Fenstermacher,  daughter  nf  Isaac  and  Lena 
(Reitz)  Fenstermacher,  ami  four  daughters  have 
been  born  tn  them  :  Lena  A..  Oct.  10,  1891  ;  Anna 
M..  June  19,  1896;  Mary  II..  July  31,  1901,  and 
Elsie  M.,  dan.   17,   L904. 

Joseph  Witmer,  son  of  Benneville,  was  born 
Jan.  1.  1871,  mi  his  father's  homestead,  ami  was 
there  reared  tn  farm  life.  After  leaving  the  farm 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Vera  Cruz 
:i-  successor  to  W.  S.  Schwartz  &  Co.,  entering 
iln-  line  in  February,  1897,  on  his  own  account. 
II,.  has  since  continued  the  business  successfully, 
and  is  one  nf  the  besl  known  merchants  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  carrying  a  full  line  nf  general 
merchandise  and  also  dealing  in  county  produce 
and  poultry.  Mr.  Witmer  has  been  active  in  poli 
tics  as  a  stanch  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
ami  has  considerable  influence  in  his  locality;  he 
has  been  delegate  in  county  convention.  He  and 
liis  family  are  Reformed  members  of  the  Union 
Church  at  Vera  Cruz. 

On  May  17,  1896,  Mr.  Winner  married  Jennie 
M.  Snyder,  daughter  nf  Alexander  ami  Elizabeth 
(Holshue)  Snyder,  nf  Vera  Cm/,  late  of  Jackson 
township,  and  they  have  had  u\o  children.  K. 
Stanley  and  Frederick  Edison,  the  latter  nf  whom 
died  in  infancy. 


Samuel  Witmer  \\a-  born  Nov.  (i.  1811,  and 
died  Ma\  '.'.  1875,  aged  sixty-three  years,  five 
months,  twentv-six  days,     lie  i-  buried  ai   Zion's 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Stone  Valley  Church.  Mr.  Winner  was  a  farmer 
throughout  his  active  years,  living  upon  and  own- 
ing the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  sun  Henry  S. 
He  served  as  tax  collector  of  his  district. 
Mr.  Witmer  married  Sarah  Spots,  born  Jan. 
11.  1811,  died  Sept.  L2,  1869,  and  they  had 
a  family  of  four  children:  John,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight ;  Emanuel,  deceased,  who  was 
a  fanner  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township;  Cornelius. 
who  died  in  Missouri,  where  he  i-  buried;  and 
Henry  S. 

II  i:\uy  S.  Witmer,  son  of  Samuel,  now  a  re- 
tired farmer,  was  horn  Ma\  '.'.  18M,  on  the  farm 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  two  miles  south  of 
Dalmatia,  where  he  is  still  living.  He  has  been 
a  lifelong  farmer,  and  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements upon  the  property  during  his  active 
career,  building  the  north  end  of  the  barn,  which 
was  erected  by  his  father,  and  putting  up  the 
nt  dwelling  on  the  place  during  the  eighties. 
The  farm  contains  109  acres  of  excellenl  land. 
well  watered,  there  being  an  excellent,  never-fail- 
ing spring  near  the  house.  Mi'.  Witmer  has  served 
as  township  school  director.  He  i<  a  Republican 
in  political  matters  ami  in  religion  a  member  of 
th.'  Reformed  denomination,  belonging  to  the  Re- 
formed congregation  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church,  his  wife  uniting  with  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation at  that  church. 

In  1869  Mr.  Witmer  married  Phoebe  Zartman, 
daughter  of  Adam  Zartman,  and   to  their  union 

have    been    horn    seven    children,    thr< t     whom 

died  young.  The  survivors  are:  Frank  G.  married 
Martha  Mertz;  Addie  married  George  Emeriek; 
Emma  married  John  M.  Engel;  Katie  is  un- 
married. 

WEIDENHAMER.  The  progenitor  of  this 
family  in  America  was  Johannes  Weidenhamer, 
a  oative  of  Germany,  born  Nov.  14.  1 T "^ <> .  In  1750 
he  married  Margaret  Magdalena  Eblinger,  and 
they  were  survived  by  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, twenty-seven  grandchildren  and  forty-eight 
great-grandchildren.  Johannes  Weidenhamer 
died  Aug.  •'>.  1804,  in  his  seventy-eighth  year.  His 
wife,  who  was  horn  in  1729,  died  in  April,  181"?. 
when  eighty-three  years  old.  The  original  Weiden- 
hamer homestead  in  this  county  was  aboul  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  Moselem  Springs, 
Berks  count}',  Pa.,  on  the  Easton  road. 

John  (or  Johann)  Adam  Weidenhamer.  one 
of  the  sons  qf  Johannes,  the  emigrant,  came  with 
the  family  from  Germany.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Danker,  and  they  lived  in  Maiden-creek  town- 
ship. Berks  county,  where  he  followed  farming. 
To  them  were  born  children  as  follows:  Jacob; 
Benjamin,  who  moved  to  Ohio,  wdiere  he  died: 
_re,  who  died  in  Maiden-creek  township. 
I''  -  county:  John;  Susanna.  Mrs.  Daniel  Kauff- 
man.  whose   children   were   Mrs.   Charles  Hotten- 


stein,  Mrs.  Peter  Dunkle,  Mis.  Jacob  Hofifman; 
Maria.  Mi-.  Daniel  Althouse;  Sarah,  who  died 
unmarried,  and  Betsy.  Mrs.  Williams. 

Jacob  Weidenhamer.  grandfather  of  Edward 
Weidenhamer,  and  son  of  John  Adam,  was  horn 
in  1797  m  Berks  county.  He  married  Susanna 
Dreibelbis,  horn  Oct.  1,  1805,  who  died  Dec. 
?.  ls>;.  She  was  a  native  of  Berks  county  and 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Dreibelbis,  of  Richmond 
township,  that  county.  In  183?  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Weidenhamer  moved  to  Montour  county,  this 
Male,  and  settled  in  Limestone  township,  where 
Mr.  Weidenhamer  bought  a  valuable  farm  of  about 
two  hundred  acres.  Here  he  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1863,  in  his 
sixty-seventh  year.  To  him  and  his  wife  were 
born  children  as  follow-:  Wellington  D.,  who 
and  died  at  Lime-tone:  Sarah,  who  lived 
and  died  ai  Limestone;  William:  Daniel,  now  liv- 
ing in  Milton;  John  A.,  who  died  in  Watsontown; 
and  Elizabeth  E..  who  first  married  John  Sheep 
and  later  Emanuel  Mauser,  ami  hail  two  children. 
Edward  Sheep  and   May  Mauser. 

William  Weidenhamer.  father  of  Edward 
Weidenhamer,  was  horn  dan.  ".".».  1831,  in  Berks 
county,  ami  died  July  7.  1910,  near  Milton.  North- 
umberland county.  He  married  Margaret  Kutz, 
born  Feb.  8,  L836,  died  Aug.  Hi.  1887.  She  was 
the  daughter  oi  George  Kutz.  horn  June  8,  L798, 
died  Dec  25,  1863,  and  his  wife.  Anna  (Kilpat- 
rick),  horn  .Ian.  9,  1803,  died  July  1'.'.  1876.  Wil- 
liam Weidenhamer  and  his  wife  bough!  the  farm, 
one  mile  ea-t  of  Milton,  on  which  they  lived  for 
over  forty  years.  They  were  industrious,  respected 
and  influential  citizens  in  that  community.  Mr. 
Weidenhamer  was  one  of  the  original  directors  of 
the  Pleasanl  Valley  Creamery  and  Milton  Fair 
Association  and  tilled  many  other  responsible  po- 
sitions. Eight  children  was  horn  to  his  marriage. 
a-  follow-:  Clarence  A.  married  Lou  Piatt,  and 
has  four  children,  May,  Florence,  Frank  and  Clar- 
ence: Harry  married  .lane  Sei  -  ami  has  five 
children,  Gertrude,  Lloyd.  Sidney.  Margaret  and 
Alice;  Thomas  S.  lived  ami  died  at  Milton,  pass- 
ing away  in  his  forty-ninth  year:  William  married 
Sarah  Biddle  and  lives  in  Altoona;  Edward  is 
mentioned  later:  Ada  G.  married  Lloyd  Cooper 
and  lives  m  Altoona:  Ellis  C.  married  Clara  Bur- 
ton and  has  two  children.  Norma  ami  Burton: 
i.  irgi  S.  married  Ella  Smith  and  has  four  chil- 
dren. William.  Viola.  Edward  and  i"  >rge,  dr. 

EmvAHD  Wkiukxiiamki;.  son  of  William, 
was  horn  dan.  31,  1866,  in  Turbut  township, 
Northumberland  county,  near  the  borough  of  Mil- 
ton. Pa.  His  early  education  was  neglected  he- 
cause  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  work  on  his 
father's  farm.  Before  he  was  twelve  years  old  he 
drove  team  regularly  and  made  a  full  hand  haul- 
ing building  stone  from  tin-  farm  to  Milton.  At 
the  ape  of  eighteen  his  father  allowed  him  to  leave 


'    I    ■ 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


529 


home  and  rani  his  own  living.  He  then  worked 
mornings,  evenings  and  Saturdays  for  his  board, 
and  walked  lour  miles  each  .lay  to  attend 
school.  Ee  was  a  faithful  student  and  his  progress 
in  Ins  studies  was  rapid.  Durum  the  winter  of 
1887  and  l.sss  he  taught  school  six  months  in  Tur- 
but  township  at  the  maximum  salary,  thirty  dollars 
a  month.  In  April,  L888,  he  entered  the  junior 
class  of  the  Central  State  normal  school  at  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.,  using  the  money  he  had  saved  to  ad- 
vance iii-  education,  and  in  June  passed  the  exam- 
ination admitting  him  to  the  senior  class  of  that 
school.  That  fall  he  again  taught  school  in  Turbut 
township,  at   an    i  □    salary.     In    L889   he 

entered  the  senior  class  of  the  Central  State  nor- 
mal school  and  graduated  in  June,  1890,  at  the 
head  of  his  class.  He  was  immediately  elected 
principal  of  the  Fourth  Ward  schools  of  Lock 
Eaven,  Pa.,  and  held  this  position  until  the  fall  of 
1892,  when  he  entered  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle, 

Pa.     During  the  - mer  of  1893  he  began  to  work 

for  Ginn  &  Company,  school  hook  publishers,  and 
by  working  for  them  during  each  vacation  he 
earned  enough  money  to  pay  his  expenses  the  fol- 
lowing year  at  college.  In  June.  1896,  when  he 
graduated,  President  George  E.  Reed  of  Dickin- 
son College  said:  "Mr.  Weidenhamer  has.  in  my 
judgment,  every  qualification  tor  any  position  to 
which  lie  may  aspire,  and  will  be  sure  to  give  sat- 
isfaction. I  knen  of  no  man  whom  I  could  more 
heartily  recommend." 

Since  graduating  Mr.  Weidenhamer  has  given 
all  his  attention  to  the  book  business,  in  which  he 
has  been  very  successful,  being  at  present  general 
ag(  hi  for  (linn  &  Company,  with  fifty-three  coun- 
ties  in  Pennsylvania  tinder  his  charge.  He  is  him- 
self the  author  of  a  well-known  textbook.  "Weid- 
enhamer's  Mental  Arithmetic."  nearly  500,000 
rnpir-  of  which  ha\e  already  been  sold  throughout 
the  United  State-.  Mr.  Weidenhamer  has  been  a 
useful  citizen  in  .Milton,  where  he  has  served  as 
president  of  council  and  in  many  other  prom- 
inent positions.  Ee  is  a  member  of  Milton 
Lodge.  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Williamsport 
Consistory,  thirty-second  degree. 

In  February,  1901,  Mr.  Weidenhamer  married 
Alice  M.  Hanna.  daughter  of  W.  B.  Ilanna.  of 
Lock  Haven,  Pa.  They  have  one  daughter,  Helen. 
born    in    August,    1902. 

JOHN  GOSS  has  lived  on  his  present  farm 
in  Ralpho  township  since  he  bought  the  property. 
in  1890,  and  he  has  made  a  number  of  valuable 
improvements  there  during  that  time.  He  is  a 
son  of  J; -  Goss  and  grandson  of  William  Goss. 

James  Goss  was  a  shoemaker  and  followed  that 
trade    in    Shamokin,   this   county,   later   removing 
to  what   is  now    Ralpho  town-hip,  where  he  i 
Dec.     30,     1854,    aged     forty-seven    years, 
months.      He   is  buried  at  the  Blue  church.     Eis 

34 


wile.  Mary  M.  (Dunkelberger),  daughter  of  Henry 
Dunkelberger,  survived  him,  and  died  near  Pax- 
inos,  in  Ralpho  township.  She  remarried,  becom- 
ing the  wife  of  James  Van  Horn.  Five  children 
"civ  born  to  her  union  with  James  doss:  Benne- 
ville,  Elizabeth,  William.  John  and  Reuben.  I'.; 
marriage  to  Mr.  Van  Eorn  she  hail  three 
children:  Franklin  P.,  Monroe  D.  and  Mary. 

John  Goss  was  horn  Aim.  27,  1848,  in  Shamo- 
kin, and  he  received  his  education  in  the  public 

pel I-   near  his   boyhood    home.     When   a   young 

man  he  learned  blaeksmithing,  but  he  followed  the 
trade  only  a  short  time,  encaging  in  farming.  La 
1890  lie  bought  tin'  property  he  now  owns  in 
Ralpho  township.  In  1896  he  built  the  present 
dwelling  on  that  place,  where  he  ha-  also  erected 
other  buildings,  having  brought  the  farm  into  ex- 
cellent condition,  both  as  to  land  and  improve- 
ments. Though  .i  busy  man  he  has  found  time 
to  serve  the  township  a-  school  director,  and  he 
has  also  Keen  an  active  member  of  the  Blue  Church, 
in  which  he  has  been  elder.  Politically  he  is  a 
I  lemocrat. 

Mr.  Goss  married  Mary  M.  Bear,  daughter  of 
William  and  Susanna  i  Rothermel)  Bear,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Ada  L.  married  Thomas  W. 
Smith  and  has  a  son,  Frank  L. ;  Catharine  R.  is 
the  wile  of  Frank  Erdman,  at  present  serving  as 
county  commissioner  of  Northumberland  county: 
and   Anna  C.  is  the  wife  of  Aumond  J.  Startzel. 

LATSHA.      The    Latslia    or    Latshau     family. 
which  has  many   representatives   among  the   best 
citizenship  of  Northumberland  county,  i-  descend- 
ed   from  one  Frantz    (.hem    Francis)    Latshar,   a 
native  of  Switzerland,   who  came  to  America  on 
the  "Mortonhouse,"  which . qualified  at  Philadel- 
phia Aug.   24,   1728.     <>n   the  li-t  of   passengers 
ins  name   is   spelled    ■■Fran-    Latshow."      Eis    first 
settlement  in  Pennsylvania  was  near  a  place  called 
Upland,  in  t  'lio-ier  county,  n  here  In-  remaini 
few  years,  and  then  went    to  Oley,   Berks  county, 
later  settling   m   the  Tulpehocken    Valley  in  the 
latter  counts,  where  he  died.     He  made  a   pen 
iiein   home  in  Colebrookdale  township.     Eis   last 
will  and  testament,  made  iii   1781,  was 
t  let.  29,   1  795.     lie  was  tu  ice  married, 
lime   in    Switzerland,   and   tradition    says    his    first 
wife  died  leaving  him  a  number  of  small  children 
and  no  one  to  help  in  t lie  house.     A'  cordingly  he 
w  ,111    to    Philadelphia    I  a-   the   pionei  rs   « ere  ob 
r]  io  do  in  those  days  for  merchandise  or  help  I 
for  a  woman  to  look  after  his  home  and  childt 

lb-  was  told  of  a  young  « i t   good    repute 

from    the  Tulpehocken    Valley,   in    Berks 
whose   hu-hand.   a    Mr.    Gabel,   had   died    on 
voyage  to  America,  leaving  his  wife  with  two  small 
children.    At  Philadelphia  she  began  a  struggling 
life  with  her  children,  finding  a  place  a-  servant 
in    a    Germantown    familv.      Mr.    Latshar   bet 


530 


NORTHUMBERLAND  I'ulWTY.   PENNSYLVANIA 


acquainted  with  her,  persuaded  her  to  accompany 
liim  home  as  housekeeper,  and  later  they  were 
married.  Her  son,  limn  Gabel,  was  taken  along 
with  them,  ami  early  in  life  was  taken  into  the 
Rutter  household,  the  Rutters  being  the  early  iron- 
masters of  Colebrookdale,  ami  he  fell  heir  t  i  some 
of  the  Rutter  money,  also  being  remembered  in 
hi-  stepfather's  will.  He  was  a  Mennonite  ami  is 
buried  at  Boyertown;  hi-  birth  occurred  in  1734. 
Frantz  Latshar  and  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sowers,  had  children  also.  He  left  a 
large  estate,  which  is  divided  equally  among  his 
children,  those  mentioned  in  his  will,  as  recorded 
mi  Book  1'..  page  398,  being  John,  Frantz.  Abra- 
ham, Jacob,  Mary  Lantes  (Landis),  Henry  Gabel 
(stepson),  Rebecca  Shelly  (deceased,  the  mother 
"I'  six  children)  ami  Catharine  Lantz  (stepdaugh- 
ter), ol  whom  Abraham  lived  on  the  Hereford 
township  (Berks  county)  farm  ami  Frantz  else- 
where in  tin  same  township.  Wo  have  the  follow- 
in"  ai  i  ounl  of  tho  sons. 

John  Latsha  lived  in  Colebrookdale  township, 
where  lie  die.!  in  i::>4.  He  made  his  will  in 
lis;  (Will  Book  B,  page  360),  dividing  his  es- 
tate among  his  brothers  ami  sisters.  He  made  his 
e  with  his  lu'other  Jacob,  and  if  he  was  mar- 
ried he  had  no  children. 

Frantz  Latshar  (Latehar)  made  bis  will  April  1. 
1802,  and  it  was  probated  July  1st  of  the  same 
vi  ai\  llw  wife  Esther  survived  him  and  was  given 
100  pound-  in  gold.  They  had  three  -mis.  Frantz 
and  Jacob  receiving  all  the  land  in  Hereford 
town-hip.  ami  John  the  homestead. 

Abraham  Latshar.  half  brother  of  John  (men- 
tioned just  below),  served  several  years  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  holding  the  rank  of  major. 
Jacob  Latsha,  lull  brother  of  Abraham,  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  tin-  Revolution,  in  which  lie  served  a 
number  of  years.  Abraham  Latsha  lived  in  the 
section  of  Colebrookdale  township  now  included  in 
Washington  township.  He  died  in  1814.  His 
will,  in  English  script,  hut  German  words,  is  on 
record  in  Volume  4,  page  114.  His  children  were: 
Samuel,  Johannes,  Jacob,  Anna.  Elizabeth,  Cath- 
aiine,  Heinrieh  (who  lived  for  a  time  in  Clayton 
ami  then  loft  for  parts  unknown  i.  Alexander  ami 
Abraham. 

The  founder  of  tin-  branch  ol'  the  family  in 
Northumberland  county  with  which  this  article 
i-  concerned,  John  or  Johannes  Latsha  (  Latshaw  i. 

i-   undoubtedly  immediately  connected  with  the 
Latshas    referred    to   above,   having  been   horn    in 
1756  in  Washington  township,  Berks  county.     Ac- 
cording to  the  lainiU  be  was  a  son  of  the  emigrant, 
■  in    thai    does   not   agt ee   with  the   more  com  i 

i unt.  and   as  John  the  .-on  of   Frantz  received 

'-  homestead  n  seems  more  likely  he  was 

-  m  ol    Abraham.     It  is  said  that  among  his 

father's  children  were  also   Henry,  who  settled   in 

Mahanoy   township,    Northumberland    county,   be- 


fore the  Revolutionary  war.  ami  Abraham,  who 
settled  in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumber- 
land county  (evidently  the  Abraham  referred  to 
above ) . 

Jolin  Latsha,  born  in  1756,  died  in  1810,  and 
is  buried  with  two  of  his  -en-.  Joseph  and  Gideon, 
in  a  private  cemetery  on  the  farm  where  he  lived 
and  died.  If  not  the  first  settler  in  what  is  now 
.Mahanoy    town-hip.    Northumberland    county,    he 

was    a Dg    the    \  ei y    first,   as    he   had    three   acres 

Hi  In-  land  cleared  for  farming  before  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  He  took  up  a  tract  of  304  acres 
from  the  Commonwealth,  erected  the  first  set  of 
buildings  on  the  land  (these  in  later  years  giving 
way  to  more  modern  structures),  and  followed 
farming  there,  hi-  home  being  near  Mahanoy 
Church,  where  he  died.  He  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  according  to  one  account  under  Cap- 
tain Fanner,  ami  after  his  discbarge  had  two 
thousand  dollars  coming  to  him.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania Archive-.  5th  Series,  Volume  II.  page  111. 
record  one  John  "Latcha"  a  private  in  ('apt.  Lewis 
Fanner',-  Company.  Pennsylvania  Rifle  Regiment, 
1776;  Samuel  Miles,  colonel. 

John  Latsha's  wife,  Catharina  (Daniel),  was 
horn  in  Tulpehoeken  township,  Berks  county,  .Ian. 
28,  1763,  and  died  Oct.  31,  1852,  in  her  ninetieth 
war.  (  N.  P.:  These  dates  are  given  for  Susanna. 
nee  Daniel,  wife  of  Johannes);  -in  i-  buried  in 
me  graveyard  at  Mahanoy  Church.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  pioneer  couple:  John,  Jo- 
hann  Henry,  Frederick,  Daniel,  Catharine,  Mada- 
lena  and  Elizabeth.  Of  these,  John  was  a  farmer 
and  lived  in  Washington  township.  His  wife, 
Maria  Catharine  Sliutt,  bore  him  children  as  fol- 
lows: John,  Wemlel  (born  March  4.  1811,  died 
March  4.  1876;  wile  Susanna  Gonser,  horn  March 
28,  1815,  died  Dec.  17,  1892),  [saac,  George,  Dan- 
iel, Bevvy  and   Kettv. 

Joban  Friederich  Latsha,  son  of  John  and  Cath- 
arina (Daniel),  was  born  Aug.  27,  1788,  was  a 
farmer,  and  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  in  Wash- 
ing! ii  township  now  owned  by  William  M.  Lat- 
sha; this  was  the  old   h -i.nl.  and  at  the  lime 

of  his  ownership  it  comprised  133  acres.  His 
home  wa-  a  log  cabin.  He  died  July  8,  is;:.. 
when  ovi  r  i  :^!it\-si\  years  old.  and  his  wife.  Mag- 
dalena  (Wagner),  born  March  L8,  L797,  died 
April  •.'■;.  1871,  when  seventy-four  years  old.  They 
.i'1  children  as  follow-:  Betzy,  1h.hi  in  1817,  died 
i  1848,  unmarried;  John  died  unmarried:  Polly 
man  ied  Daniel  Kiehl :  Magdalena  married  Dan- 
iel Kiehl:  Marx  Ann  died  unmarried:  Isaac  mar- 
ried Harriel  DeTurek  and  (second)  Susan  Schoff- 
stall:  Catharine  died  unmarried;  Frederick  W.  is 
mentioned  below;  Adam  W.  married  Wilhelmina 
Fee-lev.  All  this  family  lived  in  the  region  about 
Mahanoy  church. 

Frederick  W.  Latsha  was  born  Jan.  7,  1837, 
on  the  Latsha  -    .id.  and   received  such  lim- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


531 


ited  advantages  as  the  subscription  schools  of  bis 

boy] (I  days  afforded.    He  was  reared  to  farming, 

which  he  Eollowed  all  his  life,  beginning  on  his 
own  account  after  his  marriage,  and  in  1st;  he 
came  to  the  place  in  Washington  township  where 

be    resided    at    the  ti f  his  death,   owning  a 

highly  cultivated  tract  of  sixty-seven  acres.  His 
death  occurred  May  18,  1910.  Mr.  Latsha,  with 
his  family,  was  a  most  active  member  of  the  Re- 
formed congregation  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  which 
he  served  officially  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee, 
and  be  and  his  family  donated  a  memorial  win- 
dow to  that  church.  The  Latshas  have  erected 
handsome  monuments  on  their  family  burial  plot. 
Mr.  Latsha  was  a  Democrat  in  political  connec- 
tion. He  was  a  highly  esteemed  member  of  the 
community,  when-  his  widow  is  no  less  respected 
as  a  woman  of  sterling  qualities.  In  1862  Mr. 
Latsha  married  Mary  Reitz,  daughter  of  Simon 
and  Catharine  (Reed)  Reitz,  and  they  had  a  fam- 
ily of  six  -on-:  Levi  R.,  a  farmer  of  Washington 
township;  Edward  R.,  a  blacksmith,  of  Dniontown 
(he  has  a  daughter,  Mabel  Ellen)  ;  John  Charles, 
who  operates  a  threshing  machine;  Henry  Reuben, 
a  fanner,  wlm  assisted  his  father  until  the  latter's 
recenl  death:  George  H.,  a  merchant;  and  Daniel 
Lewis,  a  blacksmith,  at  Mahanoy. 

Lev]  R.  Latsha.  son  of  the  late  Frederick  W. 
I. at -ha.  was  born  July  10,  1862,  and  has  always 
followed  farming.  He  owns  a  valuable  tract  of 
ninety-two  acres  in  Washington  township,  an  old 
Hoffman  farm,  and  has  proved  himself  intelligent 
and  thrifty  in  his  cultivation  and  management  of 
the  place.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Perster,  who 
was  born  March  25,  1866,  ami  died  May  29,  1905, 

the  ther  of  two  children:  Willard  Wesley,  born 

Sept.  17,  1901  :  and  Mary  Edna  Dianna.  who  died 
aged  ten  months,  eleven  days. 

Geoege  H.  Latsha,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  ( leorge  11.  Latsha  &  Brother,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington township  -Ian.  22,  1881,  son  of  the  late 
Frederick  W.  Latsha.  He  was  educated  in  the 
local  public  schools,  which  lie  continued  to  attend 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  was  trained 
t.)  farm  work  from  boyhood,  being  only  fourteen 
when  he  commenced  to  run  a  huckster  wagon. 
For  fourteen  years  he  continued  thus  and  also 
look   lii-  to  market,  gaining  considerable 

valuable  experience.  On  Dee.  :>.  1908,  he  and  his 
brother  Daniel  L.  Latsha  formed  a  partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  George  H.  Latsha  & 
Brother,  renting  the  old  established  store  and  ho- 
tel stand  a:  Rebuck  which  they  now  conduct,  one 
(li  i  ;,  old  places  in  the  district.  The  brothers 
have  been  verv  successful.  George  H.  Latsha.  the 
active  member  of  the  firm,  lias  proved  his  business 
ahilin  in  the  management  of  the  store  and  hotel, 
ami  has  made  an  assured  place  for  himself  among 
the  substantial  voting  men  of  the  township.  He  is 
„    |,,  and    ],,-    fellow   citizens   have   shown 


their  confidence  in  him  by  electing  him  treasurer 
of  Washington  township,  which  office  he  is  filling 
at  present.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the 
Reformed  congregation  of  the  Himmel  Church. 

In  1900  Mr.  Latsha  married  Bruella  Saehoff- 
stall,  who  died  dan.  I.  L907,  aged  twenty-three 
years,  ten  months,  sixteen  days,  and  they  had  three 
children.  Irene,  David  and  Fred.  <>n  May  30, 
1909,  he  married  (second)  Fietta  Schreffler, 
daughter  of  Nathan   Schreffler. 

Daxiel  Lewis  Latsha,  youngesf  son  of  Fred- 
erick W.  Latsha,  was  horn  duly  L2,  1883,  in  Wash- 
ington township,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. When  eighteen  years  old  he  learned  his 
trade  from  bis  brother  Edward,  a  blacksmith,  and 
in  190-3  engaged  in  business  for  himself  at  Maha- 
noy, in  Jackson  township,  where  he  has  ever  since 
been  located.  He  has  built  up  a  large  trade  in 
general  blacksmithing  and  whcelw  righting,  em- 
ploying a  wheelwright  for  that  branch  of  the  work. 
He  has  a  half  interest  with  his  brother  George  H. 
Latsha  in  the  linn  of  George  II.  Latsha  &  Broth- 
ers, owners  of  the  store  and  hotel  stand  at  Rebuck, 

in  Washington  township,  conducted  hy  (i 'ge  II. 

Latsha,  and  though  they  have  not  been  proprietors 
long  the  business  is  thriving  satisfactorily.  On 
Nov.  ■-'.  1907,  Mr.  Latsha  married  Amelia  A. 
Tressler,  daughter  of  Adam  Tressler,  id'  Jackson 
township,  ami  they  occupy  their  own  home  at 
Mahanoy.  Mr.  Latsha  is  a  Reformed  member  of 
.St.  Peter's  Church  at  Mahanoy.  his  wile  belonging 
to  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat,  hut  though  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  party  ha-  u.it  been  particu- 
lar! v   active. 


John    Henry   Latsha,   second    s f  John   and 

Catharina  (Daniel)  Latsha.  was  horn  May  15, 
1785,  and  died  dune  30,  1859.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter, and  followed  that  trade  as  well  as  farming. 
living  at  tin1  place  in  Mahanoy  township  occupied 
by  the  late  Frederick  W.  Latsha.  in  which  section 
he  wa-  well  and  favorably  known.  His  wife.  Mary 
Ann  (Eirich),  born  Dei-,  in.  L821,  did  Sept.  9, 
1888,  aged  eighty-six  years,  eight  month.-,  twen- 
ty-three days.  They  had  children  as  follow.-:  Adam. 
Henry,  Abraham,  Eva,  Mary  Ann  and  Kate  (wife 
oi  Henry  Wear),  all  residents  of  the  borough  of 
Shamokin. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  (Eirich)  Latsha's  grandfather 
fought  under  Washington  in  the  Revolution,  and 
witii  several  other  soldiers  wa-  killed  while  cross- 
ing the  Delaware  river.  He  married  Mar)  A.  V*  il- 
s,,'n.  vvho  after  In-  death  became  the  wife  of  Abra- 
]K,in  viussi  r.  Jacob  Eirich,  sod  of  this  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  lived  in  York  i  ount} .  Pa.,  lor  a 
time,  thence  moving  to  Philadelphia,  later  to 
Schuvlkill  county,  and  eventually  to  Northumber- 
land county,  settling  near  Shamokin.  By  trade 
l„.  wa-  a  weaver,  later  finding  employment  in  the 


532 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COD  XTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


mines.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1ST?.  Jacob 
Eiricli  died  in  an  old  log  house  near  Shamokin  in 
1861,  when  ninety-two  years  old.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Haag,  whose  father  was  drowned  at 
Columbia,  I'a..  while  crossing  the  Susquehanna 
river.  Their  children  were:  John:  Mary  Ann. 
Mrs.  Latsha;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Enoch  Cole:  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Isaac  Latsha:  Susan.  Mrs.  Martin; 
Jacob,  who  sewed  in  Company  K  (Captain 
Strauss),  t8th  Regiment,  during  the  Civil  war: 
Henry,  wl  in  the  same  company  and  regi- 

ment and  svas  killed  in  the  mines  m  1863  shortly 
after  his  return  from  the  service;  and  Hester,  who 
married    Ignatius   Ditman.  a  coal  operator. 

\ i>  \  m  Latsha,  son  of  John  Henry  Latsha,  was 
born  m  December,  1814,  in  Jackson  township, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  brother  Abraham  at  Shamokin.  He  has 
been  engaged  about  the  mine-  for  many  years.  For 
fifteen  years  be  followed  mining,  and  since  1882 
bas  been  a  carpenter  in  the  employ  of  the  Ship- 
man  Coal  Co  i  II  s  a  highly  respected  cit- 
izen, and  one  of  the  well  known  residents  of  the 
borough.  Mr.  Latsha  was  made  a  Mason  in  1882 
in  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which 
he  still  holds  membership. 

Abrah  \m  Latsha,  son  of  John  Henry  Latsha, 
was  born  in  Washington  township  May  27,  1854, 
and  has  long  made  his  home  at  Shamokin.  "When 
,i  youth  In  i  immenced  picking  slate  at  the  break- 
ers, and  later  followed  mining  for  many  years.  In 
1905  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  making 
candies,  in  which  line  he  has  built  up  a  remark- 
ably good  trade,  his  goods,  all  homemade  and  pure, 
finding  popular  sale  in  the  borough.  His  store 
i-  .it  No.  943  West  Arch  street.  Mr.  Latsha  has 
proved  himself  an  admirable  manager  and  a  man 
iitive  ability,  and  the  extensive  trade 
lie  now  enjoys  has  come  as  the  result  of  honorable 
methods,  honest  dealing  and  a  sincere  effort  to 
please  his  patrons,  who  are  numerous.  He  is 
deeply  interested  in  the  family  history  and  the 
early  history  of  Mahanoy  and  surrounding  town- 
s,  upon  which  he  has  informed  himself  thor- 
oughly". 


William  M.  Latsha,  a  farmer  of  Washington 
township,  was  born  April  30.  1878.  son  of  Adam 
W.  and  Wilhelmiha  (Fegley)  Latsha  and  grand- 
son of  Johan  Priederich  and  Magdalena  (Wagner) 
Latsha.  He  was  educated  in  the  township  schools 
and  brought  up  to  farming,  working  for  his  par- 
ents until  1905,  in  which  year  he  purchased  the 
old  homestead,  which  had  been  in  the  Latsha  name 
for  three  generations  previously,  having  been 
owned  by  his  great-grandfather,  Johannes,  by  his 
grandfather  and  by  his  father.  His  great-grand- 
i  r  originally  took  up  over  three  hundred  acres, 
but  the  133-acre  tract  owned  by  William  M.  Lat- 
sha was  the  homestead  place.     Tart  of  the  balance 


is  now  owned  by  Isaac  Latshaw,  and  parr  of  what 
i-  now  the  John  SchrefBer  farm  was  also  included 
in  the  ancestor's  possessions.  The  late  Frederick 
Latsha  owned  several  fields  which  were  also  in- 
cluded in  the  land  taken  up  by  Johannes.  Johan 
Friederich  Latsha,  grandfather  of  William  M.. 
built  the  house,  ham  and  cider  house  now  standing 
on  the  latter's  farm :  the  weaver's  shop,  where  all 
kinds  of  weaving  could  be  dune,  and  which  has 
four  rooms,  was  built  by  the  pioneer  Latsha.  Wil- 
liam M.  Latsha  owns  his  grandfather's  clock.  He 
i-  a  modern  farmer,  progressive,  using  the  most 
ved  implements  and  methods,  attends  the 
Shamokin  markets  weekly,  and  is  a  substantial  cit- 
<h  Like  bis  forefathers  he  is  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, and  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Church. 

On  Aug.  1*',.  1903,  Mr.  Latsha  married  Laura 
M.  Kehres,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ann 
(Drumheller)  Kehres,  and  they  have  had  three 
children:  Goldie  M . :  Guy  L..  who  died  in  in- 
fain  3  :  and  Raymond  A. 


Johx  F.  Latsha,  farmer  of.  Washington  town- 
ship, was  burn  June  '.' f.  1875,  on  the  homestead 
farm  in  that  township,  attended  the  local  schools 
and  passed  his  boyhood  in  the  usual  manner  of 
farmers'  sons,  remaining  at  home  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-four.  Since  the  spring  of  1901 
he  has  been  farming  at  his  present  place,  owning 
what  was  formerly  the  Michael  Smith  farm,  of 
ninety-five  acres,  advantageously  located  on  the 
mad  between  Mahanoy  and  Rebuck.  The  barn 
was  built  in  1883,  the  buildings  arc  all  substan- 
tial, and  the  land  is  in  good  condition.  Mr.  Lat- 
sha is  local  agent  for  a  fertilizer  company.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  -  is  in- 
or  of  his  district. 

In  1900  Mr.  Latsha  married  Agnes  Smith, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Seville  (Hetrieh)  Smith, 
and  they  have  had  five  children:  Beulah  (de- 
•  d  in  infancy).  Samuel,  Frederick.  Gertie,  and 
Anna  (who  died  in  infancy).  Mr.  Latsha  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
which  lie  served  four  year-  a-  deacon. 

MOSES  II.  TROUTMAN,  general  merchant  of 
Shamokin,  was  born  July  1.  1869,  in  Jordan  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Shamokin  since  he  left  the  farm  upon  at- 
taining his  majority.  He  has  a  well  established 
business  at  No.  22  South  Second  street,  where  he 
lias  been  located  since  L901. 

Jacob  Troutman,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  the  Tulpehocken  Valley  in  Berks  county. 
and  we  give  some  general  early  history  of  the 
Troutmans  of  that  section.  The  Troutman  family 
'i  western  Berks  county  had  settled  prior  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county,  in  1753,  in  Tulpehocken 
township,  where  Hieronimus  Troutman  on  Oct.  13, 
L752,  obtained  two  warrants,  each  for  twenty-five 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ool] 


acres  located  in  that  part  of  Lancaster 

county  now  embraced  in  Lebanon  county.  On 
March  '.':;.  1802,  he  and  Abraham  Troutman  (a 
relative)  jointly  obtained  a  warrant  for  152.80 
acres  of  land  in  Northumberland  county.  The 
records  s1iot\  thai  at  this  time  he  was  a  taxable  in 
Tnlpehockerj  township,  Berks  county,  the  Penn- 
sylvania Archives  recording  the  following  in  1768: 
"Peter  Troutman,  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Tulpe- 
hocken;  Philip  Troutman,  100  acres;  Valentine 
Troutman,  sis  acres;  and  Michael  Troutman,  211  ', 
acres."  Previously,  in  1759,  one  John  Troutman 
paid  eL  .en  pounds  tax  in  Tulpehocken  township. 
In  1779  the  tax  lists  show:  "Valentine,  single- 
man;  John,  singleman  and  tailor,  and  Peter, 
weaver."  In  1779  Michael  Troutman  owned  275 
acres  of  land,  six  horses,  six  cattle,  and  paid  seven 
pounds,  thirteen  shillings  tax,  showing  that  he  was 
a  large  property  owner.  It  is  traditional,  and  rec- 
ords  confirm  it,  that  Hieronimus  Troutman  had 
these  sons :  M  ii  hael,  born  Nov.  8.  1746,  died  Nov. 
1.  1804  ;  Valentine,  born  June  17,  1752,  died 
April  1!'.  1823:  Johannes,  born  Feb.  4,  1755,  died 
Feb.  2,  L823;  Johann  Philip,  horn  Aug.  9,  1758, 
died  Feb.  23,  1830. 

Michael  Troutman,  the  eldest  of  this  family, 
made  his  will  Aug.  3,  1804,  and  died  about  three 
months  later.  In  the  will  he  mentions  his  wife 
Susanna,  who  was  to  receive  the  property  in  Tul- 
pehocken  township  on  which  they  lived,  besides 
other  items.  ^.mple  provision  was  made  for  her. 
They  had  no  issue.  After  leaving  a  bequest  to 
Hosl  Church  of  twenty  pounds,  to  care  for  his 
grave,  Michael  Troutman  divided  the  rest  of  his 
estate  among  his  brothers,  whom  he  mentioned 
finis :  Valentine.  John  who  had  a  son  Michael,  and 
Philip. 

Valentine  Troutman  served  during  the  Revo- 
lution in  September,  1776,  in  Capt.  Michael  Fur- 
rer's  company,  and  was  sent  to  Lou-'  Island.  He 
married,  and  among  Ins  children  was  a  daughter, 
Eva  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  K85  and  died 
unmarried   in    1804. 

Philip  Troutman  married  Magdalena,  a  born 
Troutman.  possibh  a  descendant  of  Abraham,  who 
was  a  relative  of  Hieronimus.  She  was  born  Feb. 
16,  1753,  and  died  Dec.  29,  1834,  aged  eighty-one. 

All  of  rhe  above  Troutmans  are  buried  at  Host 
church,  in  the  old  graveyard  adjoining'  it  on  the 
southwest.  Many  of  the  gravestones  are  brown 
sandstones,  and  the  inscriptions  on  them  were  de- 
i  iphered  with  some  difficulty  by  William  J.  Diet- 
rich, of  Reading,  and  Squire  Frank  W.  Trout- 
man, ol  Stouchsburg,  Berks  county.  Immediately 
hack  of  the  church  is  an  old  sandstone  on  wl 
appears  the  following  inscription: 

"Eva  Elizabeth  Troutman  Sei  ist  gaboren  den 
6  Januar,  im  vahr  UK'.,  unci  starb  am  1  Januar  in' 
valrr  1794.     Bracht  ehr  alter  zu  78  yahr.  4-  monat, 
unil  3  taj.'."    This  possibly  was  the  wife  of  the  an- 


cestor Hieronimus  Troutman,  and  the  mother  of 
the  sons  before  mentioned. 

Johannes  Troutman,  son  of  the  ancestor,  was 
born  in  1755  and  died  in  1823.  He  was  married 
(first)    May   13,   1787,  to  Maria   Elizabeth  Hoff- 

"l;m-  and  (sec 1 1  to  Sybilla  Himmelberger,  who 

was  born  Jan.  7,  L774,  and  died  Nov.  29,  1858. 
Among  his  children  were:  Michael,  born  Aug.  V. 
L788,  died  July  19,  1840:  John  Jacob,  born  Slav 
18,  1791,  died  March  6,  1862;  Elizabeth,  horn  in 
L796,  died  in  1866. 


Jacob  Troutman.  who  was  horn  in  the  Tulpe- 
hocken Valley  in  Berks  county;  had  children. 
Moses,  John,  Peter  and  Cornelius.  (From  fchi 
St.  David's  Church  records  and  Bonner's  Union 
cemetery,  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  we  find  that  a  Ja- 
Troutman,  horn  dan.  13,  1792,  died  Aug.  15, 
1854:  his  wife  Magdalene,  horn  May  21,  1794, 
died  Sept.  28,  1877.  This  is  on  a  large  marble 
monument  in  Bohner's  cemetery,  and  from  the 
same  s  airce  we  find  that  Cornelius,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Magdalena,  born  March  12,  ls->.  died  dune 
I.  Ins;  :  his  wife  Esther,  horn  Sept.  If.  1830,  died 
Feb.  21,  1877.  These  records  may  pertain  to  Ja- 
cob and  his  children.  The  ones  we  have  jusr  given 
seem  to  be  n  ithout  doubt  their  records  of  birth  and 
death.  Tiie  following  may  pertain  to  the  sons 
John  and  Peter.  John,  horn  dune  11.  L817,  died 
March  22,  1901;  wife  Sarah,  born  Oct.  1'.'.  1817, 
died  April  1,  1841.  Peter,  born  dan.  IV.  L831, 
died   Dec.  31,  1891.) 

.Moses  Troutman,  son  of  Jacob,  followed  farm- 
ing m  flic  Maliaim\  Valley,  living  in  Jordan 
township.  Northumberland  county,  and  he  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  (Bohner)  are  buried  al  the  Union 
church  near  Pillow.  Their  children  were:  Sol- 
omon; Gilbert,  living  at  Millersburg;  and  Jacob, 
also  a  resident  of  Millersbui 

Solomon  Troutman,  son  of  Moses,  was  horn  Dec. 
25,  1846,  and  .lid   in    L891    in   Si     nylkil    co 
being  buried  at  Leib,  thai  county.     While  a  resi- 
dent of  .Ionian  township  he  Eollowed   Earn 
was  a  well  known  and  respei  ted  citizen  of  hi-  com- 
munity, mo\  ing  then  e  to  Si  Iruy  Ikill  court 
:ie  coni  Mined  in  farm  l  :ie  re-i    i  i ;  -.      I  |e  mar- 

ried Sarah  Lesher,  who  died  in  1893,  and  both 
were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  El 
wife  of  William  Masser;  Moses  EL :  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried Louis  Herring  ami  (second)  John  Peard; 
William:  Amanda,  wife  of  Cyrus  ECnerr:  Jacob; 
Emma,  who  died  aged  t\?  en1 ;  two  ars ;  ( Ik]  ton, 
of  Shamokin;  Agnes,  wile  of  John  Beyler;  and 
I larrv.  who  lives  at  Fn        i  P     asylvania. 

Moses  II.  Troutman  attended  the  schools  in  Hie 
neighborhood  of  his  early  home  and  worked  upon 
the  farm  until   lie  rea<                         of  twenty-one. 
which  tii       :         '     made  h        in  Sham- 
okin.    Ifi<  firsl  position  in  the  borough  was  with 


53  I 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Burd  &  Rogers,  for  whom  he  clerked  eleven  years, 
remaining  with  this  well  known  firm  until  he  com- 
menced business  on  his  own  account,  in  1901.  He 
lias  a  fine  store  at  No.  32  Smith  Second  street, 
-i  icked  with  a  good  line  of  general  merchandise, 
and  has  done  a  steadily  growing  business,  ranking 
with  the  prosperous  men  in  his  line  in  the  bor- 
ough. Ilo  is  a  member  of  the  Business  Men's  As- 
sociation, anil  m  that  connection  ami  other  ways 
lias  shown  his  public  spirit  and  loyalty  to  the  gen- 
era] interesl  and  welfare.  Outside  of  business  his 
particular  interesl  is  in  the  Evangelical  ( Ihurch,  of 
which  he  is  an  earnest  member;  he  is  at  present 
serving  as  membi  r  ol  the  board  of  trustees,  and  he 
was  long  active  in  the  Sunday  school,  being  a 
teacher  I'm-  twelve  years.  Fraternally  he  holds 
membership  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

(in  Dec.  11.  is:1'.'.  Mr.  Troutman  married  Nora 
Wasser,  daughter  of  Jacob  ami  Catharine  (Wag- 
ner)  Wasser,  el'  Mahantango  Valley,  ami  they  have 
eight  children,  namely:  Catharine.  Roy,  Russel, 
Mernle.  Beulah,  Leonard,  Elizabeth  and  Leon  Ed- 
ward. The  older  children  are  assisting  their  fa- 
ther in  i In'  store. 

MALICK.  The  Malick  family,  which  was  one 
nt  the  earliest  families  in  Northumberland  enmity. 
having  been  settled  in  this  region  since  before  or 
about  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  is  el'  German 
extraction.  The  early  spelling  of  the  name  was 
Melick,  er  Mehl.ig,  hut  it  is  now  found  in  various 
forms,  Malick.  Malich,  Mellick,  etc.  One  Jacob 
Malick,  with  whose  descendants  we  are  concerned 
in  this  article,  ami  five  brothers  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Germany,  four  of  the  brothers,  among 
whom  was  Jacob,  settling  along  the  Sus- 
quehanna river  in  what  is  now  Lower  Aug- 
usta township,  Northumberland  county,  in 
the  region  el'  Sunbury.  They  were  among 
the  pioneers  in  that  section,  where  their 
descendants  are  now  very  numerous,  several 
branches  of  the  family  being  well  represented. 
I  re  is  record  el'  three  brothers,  Petit.  Henry  and 
another  who  died  soon  alter  his  marriage,  leav- 
ing a  wiilew  ami  one  daughter.  This  does  not 
quite  agree,  however,  with  the  Federal  Census  Re- 
port of  1790,  which  records  Peter.  Eenry  ami  a 
Widow  Melieh  as  heads  of  families  in  Northum- 
berland county.  Peter  Melieh  had  one  -on  and  six 
daughters;  Henry  had  one  daughter;  the  widow 
had  two  daughters.  Among  the  taxables  ol'  Au- 
gusta township,  in  1788,  were  David  and  John 
Melick. 

According  to  account,  the  Malicks  came  to 

Pennsylvania  from  New  Jersej',  settling  m  the 
woods  in  what  was  then  Northumberland  (now 
Columbia)  county,  at  the  present  location  of  Light- 
street.  At  any  rate,  the  pioneer  Peter  Malick 
lived  there  until  the  time  of  the  Wyoming  mas- 
sacre.    The  family  were  panic-stricken  at  the  re- 


port that  the  Indians  were  approaching  on  the  war- 
path, and  the  men  hastily  got  the  horses  together. 
the  women  collecting  clothing,  etc.,  which  they 
tied  to  a  vottng  mare.  The  animal  took  fright  at 
its  unusual  burden,  ran  away  and  was  shot  by  the 
Indians.  Eventually,  men.  women  and  children 
had  to  make  their  way  on  foot  to  Fort  Augusta,  at 
Sunbury,  which  had  been  built  in  1756,  ami  there 
the  family  remained  until  the  immediate  danger 
was  over.  It  appears  that  Jacob  Malick,  son  of 
Peter  Malick.  Jr.,  obtained  his  land  in  that  region 
through  the  family's  escape  to  tin'  fori  for  safety. 
Peter  Melick.  Sr.,  made  a  will,  hut  we  have  not 
I  it  mi  record  at  Sunbury.  Peter  Melick,  Jr., 
of  Wyoming  township,  made  his  will  March  6, 
1789;  it  was  probated  June  •">.  1789.  He  be- 
queaths to  lii-  wife  Mary  ••Mellick."  and  to  chil- 
dren: son  John  (double  daughter  Christiana 
shall  have)  :  son  Peter  (double  of  daughter  Char- 
it]  i  :  >oii  Mickel  (double  of  daughter  Margaret)  : 
-mi  Henry;  -on  David;  and  daughter-  Cristana, 
Charity,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth.  Some  children 
died  young. 

One  David  Malick,  horn  Oct.  1.  1759,  died  in 
is:!l.  His  eld  family  Bible  is  new  in  the  posses- 
sion "f  Mrs.  William  V.  Koofer.  of  Sunhury.  a  dis- 
tant  relative  of  the  Malicks. 

The  Jacob  Malick  above  mentioned  a-  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  what  is  now  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  lite  and  died  there.  His  son  Peter, 
horn  in  that  township,  was  a  well  known  man  of. 
his  day  ami  a  large  land  owner,  having  about  five 
hundred  acres.  He  died  in  is:  l.  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-live years,  and  is  buried  at  a  church  in  Low- 
er Augusta  township.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Reeser,  was  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county.  They  had  children  as  follows:  William; 
John  P.:  David-;  Peter:  Jeremiah,  who  died  in 
L872,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years;  Samuel;  Dan- 
iel: Esther,  horn  Aug.  28,  1828,  who  died  in  1909 
i -lie  was  the  wife  .if  Adam  Renn  and  lived  in 
Sunhury)  :  Harriet,  who  married  Alexander  Zort- 
man  :  Mary  A.,  who  married  Jere.  Ifenn.  brother  of 
Adam,  and  settled  in  Iowa. 

William  Malick.  son  of  Peter,  was  horn  in  the 
old  home  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  He  became 
an  early  contractor  and  builder  in  his  district,  be- 
ginning that  business  when  he  had  to  do  all   the 

work,  from  the  hewing  of  the  timber  in  the  w Is 

to  the  very  completion  of  the  houses  and  ham 
constructed.  Many  buildings  in  the  neighborhood 
ami  in  adjoining  localities  wore  of  his  construc- 
tion. He  died  in  1888,  and  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Church  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  His  wife. 
Hannah  (Heilman).  daughter  of  Daniel  Heilman. 
here  him  children  as  follows:  Dr.  Hiram  died  in 
1889;  Harriet  married  a  Keifer  and  has  children, 
Peter.  Frank,  Harry  ami  Jennie:  Maria  is  the 
widow  of  Jacob  Wolf  (they  had  a  sou  Clement)  : 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


53.3 


S 11    P.   is   mentioned  below;   William   married 

a  Waid  (they  have  Arthur  and  Melvin). 

Simos  P.  Malice,  a  well  known  general  con- 
tractor and  builder,  was  born  Aug.  1.  1848,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  son  of  William  Malick. 
He  received  bis  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  when  a  young  man  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  under  bis  father's  instruction,  remaining 
with  him  until  lie  reached  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  After  that  he  found  employment  in  sur- 
rounding towns  until  be  came  to  Sunbury  in  is;  I. 
engaging  in  business  for  himself.  From  1873  to 
L878  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  as  a  carpenter,  and  he  then  re- 
turned to  contracting  and  building  on  his  own  ac- 
count. Many  of  the  buildings  in  Sunbury  have 
heeii  erected  by  him,  and  he  has  -,  mill  mi  Tenth 
siieei  where  he  gives  employment  to  from  forty 
to  fifty  mechanics,  lie  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
nii'iii  citizens  of  Sunbury,  not  only  as  a  business 
man  but  also  in  the  conduct  id'  public  affairs,  for 
he  has  served  as  councilman  and  served  as  chief 
burgess  of  East  Sunbury  borough,  lie  was  one  of 
the  organizers  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Sun- 
bury  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  was 
also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Sunbury  Trust 
and  Sale  Deposit  Company,  of  which  lie  is  still 
serving  as  a  director,  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
ties and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging  to 
/ion's  Church,  which  he  served  many  years  as 
deacon   and   elder. 

Mr.  Malick  married  Julia  Bloom,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Julia  (Bartholow)  Bloom,  and  they 
have  had  three  children :  Bessie  married  Robert 
Messimer  and  has  three  children.  Hazel,  Julia  and 
Robert  W.  :  Elmer  V.  is  mentioned  below;  Emma, 
who  lives  with  her  parents,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Williamsport  Academy,  class  of  1906.  The  fam- 
ily occupy  a  handsome  residence  on  Catawissa  av- 
enue, Sunbury. 

Elmer  V.  Malick  has  passed  practically  all 
bis  life  in  Sunbury,  where  he  was  bom  April  1".', 
1871.  He  received  his  education  there,  being  a 
member  of  the  first  class  which  graduated  from 
the  higb  school  in  East  Sunbury,  in  1889.  That 
spring  he  received  a  license  to  teach  public  school 
from  Prof.  William  Bloom,  and  be  had  his  first 
experience  in  Ralpho  township,  this  county,  at  the 
Pocahontas  school.  After  assisting  his  father  tor 
some  time  in  his  planing  mill  and  building  oper 
ations,  he  look  the  .-nil  service  examination  for 
letter  carrier  in  Sunbury,  in  a  class  of  forty-two. 
and  was  the  second  carrier  appointed  in  the  bor- 
ovigh,  He  served  iii  that  capacity  for  seven  years, 
until,  in  L908,  he  began  In-  present  general  mer- 
cantile business  at  No.  256  Catawissa  avenue.  He 
opened  his  store  Feb.  17th.     Mr.  Malick  carries  a 

large  stock  and  has  bad  a  profitable  trad.'   h 

the  start.     He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  abil- 


ity ami  upright  methods,  ami  ha-  succeeded  in 
holding  his  patronage  by  honorable  dealing,  lie 
own-  his  own  home,  a  Large  and  comfortable  resi- 
dence at  \o.  303  Catawissa  avenue.  Socially  Mr. 
Malick  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. 

On  June  19,  1900,  Mr.  Malick  married  Clara  M. 
Messimer,  daughter  of  -I .  T.  Messimer,  of  Sun- 
buiy.     They   have   no   children. 

Jacob  Messimer.  grand  father  of  Mr-.  Malick. 
wa-  a  Dative  of  Center  township.  Perry  Co..  Pa., 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  when  his 
son  John  T.  was  two  years  old  ;  he  is  buried  in  an 
old  graveyard  at  Bloomfield.  lie  married  Margar- 
et Mar-hall,  who  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-seven years.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  deceased;  Robert. Wilson.  James,  Mag- 
gie and  John  T. 

John  T.  Messimer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
November,   184(i.  and   died   in   1902.     He   was   a 

>l maker  by   trade,  but    for  the   last   thirty   wears 

of  his  life  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railway  Company  as  gang  boss.  While  in  Perry 
county  be  served  as  tax  collector,  and  he  removed 
thence  to  Sunbury  in  1881,  passing  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  the  borough.  His  wile.  Emma  Wet- 
zel, daughter  id'  George  Wetzel,  of  Perry  county, 
died  iii  1905,  at  the  aye  of  ti ft y-se\ on  years.  They 
had  children  as  follows:  Robert,  William,  Mary 
(Mrs.  Samuel  Willits),  Clara  M.  (Mrs.  Elmer 
V.  Malick).  Rebecca  (unmarried),  Seymour,  Wil- 
son and  Charles. 


Henry  Malick,  the  grandfather  of  Emanuel 
Malick,  of  Shamokin,  came  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Northumber- 
land   county,   on    a    farm    al 1    two   and    a    half 

miles  from  the  Susquehanna  river.  He  had  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which  later  was  divided  into  two 
farms.  "When  the  Miles  Run  United  Brethren 
Church  was  organized,  at  the  schoolhouse  of  that 
name,  in  the  winter  of  183."),  it  was  through  the 
efforts  of  Henry  and  his  brothel",  Peter  .Malick. 
Henry  Malick  is  buried  at  Malick  Church,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township.  His  children  were: 
John  W.,  David.  Henry.  Harriet  (married  Peter 
Zimmerman),  Hettie  (married  Peter  Sheaffer), 
Lucy  (married  Joseph  Arnold)  and  Elizabeth 
(married  John  Henninger  I. 

John  W.  Malick,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  in 
1812,  and  died  in  I860.     He  was  a  lifelong  farmer. 

owning  part  of  tl riginal   homestead,  and  also 

owned  and  conducted  a  sawmill.  He  -old  this 
farm  before  his  death  and  removed   to  Limestone 

Vallev.  about  half  a  mile  from  tl Id  home  place, 

where  be  died.  He  married  Susan  Heini,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Ileim.  and  liny  had  children  as 
follows :  Samuel,  deceased  ;  Emanuel :  Hiram,  liv- 
ing at  Williaiustowii.  Dauphin  county;  Isaiah,  liv- 


536 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ing  m  Shamokin,  Pa. :  John  L..  also  of  Shamokin: 
William,  deceased;  and  Emma  J.,  wife  of  John 
Lindermau,  of  Shamokin. 

Emanuel  Malice,  son  of  John  W.,  was  born 
May  "..  LS49,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  township.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  farm  work  at  home,,  and  in  1864  he  came 

Shamokin,  where  he  began  work  in  the  mines, 
following  this  line  for  about  nineteen  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  general  store  business  in  part- 
nership with  W.  H.  Malick  and  Flora  Slmman, 
after  six  years  buying  out  the  interest  of  his  part- 
Mi  rs  and  taking  over  the  business  entirely  on  his 
own  account.  He  continued  it  until  1000.  when  he 
engaged  in  the  restaurant  business,  which  he  has 
since  followed,  and  in  connection  with  which  he 
is  a  cigar  jobber  and  confectioner.  He  lias  two 
places  of  business,  one  on  Spruce  street  and  an- 
other at  Shamokin  and  Commerce  streets,  in  Sham- 
okin, and  he  is  making  a  si  ioth  establish- 
ments. Mr.  Malick  married  Hannah  Diliplain, 
|  iter  of  Ezekiel  Diliplain,  and  five  children 
have  been  born  to  them :  Katie  is  married 
to  C.  C.  Malick  and  has  a  son  Robert; 
Andrew  died  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-six   years,    leaving    two    children,    Leon    and 

William    died    when    twenty-two 
old;    Frederick,    a    graduate    of    Dickinson    Col- 
lege,  Carlisle,   Pa.,   is  now   vice  principal  of  the 
!■  I  Del.  I    \  :  Flora  0.  is  unmarried  and 

resides  at  home.  The  family  reside  at  No.  508 
Market  street. 

Mr.  Malick  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  in  fraternal  connection  he  holds 
membership  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encampment 
and  also  in  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  for  a  number  of  years  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  local  affairs,  having  served  many  years 
as  assess  of  <  oal  township,  six  years  as  school 
director,  and  for  six  years  as  member  of  the  poor 
board  of  Coal  township,  giving  excellent  satisfac- 
tion in  every  capacity. 


Geobge  W.  Malick.  a  successful  young  busi- 
ness man  of  Herndon,  is  descended  through  the 
line  of  Henry,  one  of  the  emigrant  brothers  named 
as  progenitors  of  this  family. 

John  Malick.  great-grandfather  of  George  W., 
lived  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  is  buried  in 
that  section.  His  son  Henry,  who  was  a  miller  in 
Mahantango  Valley,  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Church,  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland 
county.  Among  his  sons  were  John  and  G 
Henry,  besides  others  who  died  young  and  are 
buried  at  Himmel's  Church,  near  Rehuck. 

George  Henry  Malick,  father  of  George  W..  was 
a  miller  in  his  early  life,  later  becoming  a  drover 
and  butcher.  While  engaged  in  that  line  he  lived 
at  Lake  Hill,  but  he  afterward  became  engaged  in 
farming  at  Herndon.  owning  175  acres.     He  died 


Aug.  31,  1908,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Sham- 
okin. His  death,  which  occurred  at  the  Miners' 
hospital,  was  caused  by  gangrene  of  the  foot, 
brought  on  by  cutting  a  troublesome  corn.  Mr. 
Malick  was  a  well  known  man  of  his  day,  having 
held  several  township  offices,  and  was  originally  a 
Democrat,  later  a  Republican,  in  politics.  He 
married  Caroline  Heppler,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Heppler,  of  Hepler,  Pa.  They  had  a  family  of 
six  children:  Jane  married  George  L.  Snyder; 
Lizzie  married  Lewis  Ileim:  Kate  (deceased) 
married  John  Lyon  and  (second)  Daniel  Sehleif; 
Carrie  married  E.  C.  Fouil :  Francis  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  years,  of  diphtheria,  at  Girardville; 
.■■   \V.  is  mentioned  below. 

rge  W.   Malick  was  born  May  19,  1SS0,  at 

Herndon,  and  was  seven  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents moved  thence  to  Shamokin,  where  he  received 
the  greater  part  of  his  education.  When  old 
enough  he  took  up  dentistry  with  U.  S.  G.  Moore, 
of  Shamokin,  but  after  two  years  he  gave  up  the 
idea  of  following  that  profession  and  entered  the 
employ  of  I.  W.  Forry  &  Son,  hosiery  manufac- 
turers, lie  was  with  them  for  three  year-,  after 
which  he  was  employed  by  Ressler  &  Co.,  hosiery 
manufacturers,  until  that  firm  discontinued  busi- 
ness. He  then  opened  a  mill  for  Madeira  &  Wan- 
ner, at  Lyon  Station,  Pa.,  continuing  there  for 
one  year,  when  the  establishment  was  moved  to 

twood.     Mr.  Lyon  embarked  in  the  bus 
on  his  own  account  at  Lyon  in  November.  100-?, 
and  was  there  for  two  years,  late  in  1904  removing 
to  Herndon,  where  he  has  -  q  located.    He 

has  a  two-story  building  58  by  38  feet  in  dimen- 

=,  where  he  runs  twenty-live  machines,  giving 
employment  to  thirty-five  people,  and  he  also  op- 
erates a  mill  across  the  Susquehanna  river,  at 
Port  Treverton.  where  twenty  machines  are  oper- 
giving  employment  to  twenty-five  people. 
Mr.  Malick  i-  sole  proprietor  of  both  establish- 
ments, the  one  at  Port  Treverton,  however,  being 
under  the  management  of  Henry  Morrow.  A  i 
market  is  found  for  the  product,   which   has   an 

llent  reputation  among  dealer-. 
In  1899  Mr.  Malick  married  Priscilla  Rhoades, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Lila    (Levan)    Rhoades, 
S   .i "  okin,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Ir- 
win George  Henry  and  Lila  Priscilla,     Mr.  Malick 
and    his    family    are    member-    of    the    Reformed 
Church.     He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
holding    membership    in    Lafayette    Lodge,    No. 
L9  1.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Selin's  Grove,  Pa.,  and  to  the 
Modern   Woodmen  of  America,  belonging  to  the 
lodge  at  Herndon.     He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
-.  and  is  serving  at  present  as  member  of  the 
Herndon  school  board. 

John  Malick,  brother  of  George  Henry  and  uncle 
of  George  W..  was  the  historian  of  the  "family.  He 
was  educated  for  the  medical  profession,  but  never 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


537 


engaged  in  practice.  In  early  life  he  was  inter- 
ested in  the  milling  business,  but  discontinued  it 
and  took  up  farming  at  Lake  Hill,  where  he  made 
his  home,  Ee  sold  musical  instruments  and  dealt 
in  various  other  commodities.  He  was  married 
twice,  and  was  the  father  of  one  child.  Mr. 
Malick  died  in  1897  and  is  buried  at  Lake  Hill. 
The  day  of  In-  death  he  walked  twelve  miles.  He 
had  foretold  the  event,  and  called  neighbors  to  his 
assistance,  giving  them  instructions  about  his 
funeral  and  burial. 

JOSEPH  1'.  KNAPP,  outside  superintendent 
of  mines  I'm'  the  Mount  Carmel  and  Shamokin 
collieries,  with  residence  ;il  V,..  :;  I  North  Sham- 
okin street,  Shamokin,  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  Pennsylvania  coal  fields,  as  well  as  one 
of  (he  most  widely  experienced,  lie  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  May  11,  1846,  son  of 
( Iregory  Knapp. 

Gregory  Knapp,  the  father,  came  from  ( lermany 
to  America  in  1840  and  located  at  Minersville, 
Selun  lkill  county,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
and  in  1851  lie  moved  to  Trevorton,  following  his 
trade  oi  carpenter.  He  died  at  Trevorton  in  Oc- 
tober. 1-'.  !  •  '  fifty-five  years.  His  wile.  Mary 
B.  Peters,  bore  him  fourteen  children,  of  whom 
five  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Joseph  P..  John 
T.,   Mary,  Gregory  and  Frank. 

Joseph  P.  Knapp  accompanied  his  father  to 
America  in  1849,  and  as  a  boy  worked  as  a  slate 
picker  at  the  old  Trevorton  colliery.  In  1861  his 
parents  re ved  to  Ashland,  and  there  he  con- 
tinued the  same  work  for  two  years,  after  which 
he   took   up   -team   engineering.     "While  there  the 

Civil  war  brol ut.  and  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted 

countn  showed  in  his  enlistment  March  18,  1864, 
in  Company  A.  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  for 
three  years.  This  company  was  recruited  in 
Schuylkill  county,  and  was  sent  to  the  South,  in 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  playing  a  brave  part- 
in  the  battle  at  Selma,  Ala.,  April  2,  1865.  After 
serving  eighteen  months  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, the  war  closing.  Mr.  Knapp  returned 
to  In-  home  in  Trevorton,  and  for  two  years 
employed  as  an  engineer  at  the  powder  mill.  From 
it,  tober.  1865.  to  April  2,  ism;,  he  was  engaged 
at  powdermaking,  but  on  the  latter  date  the  null 
was  blown  no  an'd  be  was  badly  injured  and  was 
unde:  ihysician's    care    for    several    months. 

Tin-  null,  owned  by  Kline  &  Heiin.  was  at  Fisher's 
Mill,  below  Shamokin.  After  recovering  his 
strength  Mr.  Knapp  worked  at  mining  tor  some 
nine  months,  .and  then  again  took  up  powder- 
making,  following  it  for  two  and  a  half  years,  lie 
then  spent  six  months  in  Sunbury  in  the  employ 
of  Ira  '1'.  Clement,  at  the  end  of  that  time  return- 
ing lo  Trevorton  to  engage  in  mining  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  No.  1  slope.  For  some  time  he 
the  boilers,  and  then  became  engineer.    In  August, 


1874,  he  left  Trevorton  and  went  to  Locust  Dale 
to  run  the  bull  pumps  at  the  Keystone  colliery,  a 
position  he  held  for  three  and  a  half  years.  In 
1878  he  was  appointed  outside  foreman  of  the 
North  Ashland  colliery,  and  served  in  that  position 
for  lour  and  a  half  rears,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  the  bottling  business  at  Ashland  for  a"  very 
short  time.  When  he  sold  out  his  bottling  busi- 
ness ii  wa-  to  become  boss  at  the  Knickerbocker 
colliery,  near  Shenandoah,  Pa.,  of  which  he  took 
charge  in  February,  1882,  and  continued  in  that 
position  until  Dec.  1,  1903,  when  he  was  made 
outside  superintendent  of  the  Mount  Carmel  and 
Shamokin  collieries,  consisting  of  seven  breaker-. 
On  Nov.  24,  1874.  Mr.  Knapp  was  married  to 
Susan  Yeitli.  daughter  of  former  mine  superin- 
tendent John  Veith.  a  native  of  Bavaria.  Seven 
of  the  thirteen  children  horn  of  this  union  are 
living,  namely:  Charles  I;..  Minnie  M„  Catherine 
B.,  J.  Frederick,  Leo  W.,  Alphonso  J.  and  Gregory 
A.  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  member  of  St.  Edward's 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  has  reared  bis  fam- 
ily in  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  His  only 
fraternal  connection  is  with  Lincoln  Post,  No. 
L40,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

OTTO.  The  Otto  family  has  had  many  credit- 
able representatives  in  Northumberland  county 
since  its  establishment  here  early  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  by  Conrad  Otto,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Abraham  L.  Otto  and  Edward  J.  Otto, 
brothers,  the  former  now  postmaster  at  Herndon, 
the  latter  station  agent  and  men  hunt  at  Otto, 
named  after  this  family.  John  B.  Otto,  who  is 
now  living  retired  at  Trevorton,  Northumberland 
county,  after  a  busy  and  successful  life,  is  a 
grandson  of  Conrad  Otto. 

Conrad  Otto,  born  about  1766,  came  to  North- 
umberland county  from  Berks  county  and  was  an 
early  settler  in  what  is  now  Jackson  township,  lie 
was  one  of  the  early  schoolmasters  in  that  locality, 
and  also  worked  a-  a  laborer.  It  is  said  that  drn 
ing  the  earlier  part  of  bis  resideni  em  this  county 
he  lived  at  Trevorton,  but  he  passed  the  greatet 
part  of  his  long  life  in  tin  o     Mahanoy 

and  died  in  Jackson  township  at  an  advanced 
His  wife,  Barbara  (Seiler),  bom  March  24,  L769, 
died  Jan.  20,  1857.  They  are  buried  at  Mahanoj 
church  (Si.  Peter's).  Their  children  were:  John; 
Adam:  Elizabeth,  wdio  died  in  Jackson  township; 
and  Bevvy,  who  became  Mr-.  Peifer  and  bad  om 
Alter.  Bet.xy.  who  married  a  man  named 
Michael  t  Hew  v  and  her  dauj  d  in  Illinois). 

The  Federal  Census  report  of  L790  records 
Henry  and  George  Otto  as  residents  of  Northum- 
berland county  and  head-  of  families,  Henry  hav- 
ing i. en  sons  under  sixteen,  an'1  I  leo]  ;e  having 
one  daughter. 

Johan  C.  Otto,  bom  Jan.  22,  1770,  died  Nov. 
:..  1854,  and  buried  ai  St.  Peter's  church  at  Maha- 


538 


X  OUT  HI"  M  I'.KRLA  N  1  >  COU  XTY,  PEXXSYLYAX I A 


ikiv.  was  undoubtedly  a  brother  of  Conrad   Otto, 
mentioned  above. 

John  Otto,  son  of  Conrad,  was  the  grandfather 
of  Abraham  L.  and  Edward  J.  Otto.  He  was  bora 
May  7,  1804,  in  Berks  county,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  his  father  at  an  early  age.  Be  was  a 
cobbler  by  trade,  hut  later  fanned  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  he  owned  a  tract  of  land,  and  he  was 
engaged  as  a  workman  on  the  construction  of  the 
Schuylkill  canal.  lie  lived  retired  at  Herndon  for 
nearly  twenty  years  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred there  Aug.  3,  1886.  John  Otto  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Rebecca  Groh,  who 
was  horn  Oct.  28,  1810,  and  died  Dec.  20,  1st:.. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Washington  is  men- 
tioned below;  Caroline,  who  is  now  over  31 
years  old,  married  Gabriel  Adams  and  lives  at 
Mandata,  l'a.:  Harriet,  now  living  at  Hickory 
Corners,  Northumberland  county,  married  Josiah 
Schaffer;  Abbie  (deceased)  married  II.  S.  Byerly; 
William  C.  i-  deceased.  Mr.  Otto's  second  mar- 
was  to  l.vdia  Leader,  who  was  born  Nov.  23, 
1807,  and  died  March  12,  1889.  They  had:  Re- 
becca married  Isaiah  Snyder,  of  Millersburg,  Pa. ; 
S,  in  mo!   died   at    Verdon,    Nebr.,   April    18,    L907. 

Washington  Otto,  sou  of  John,  was  born  May 
1.  Is:!:',,  in  Cameron  township.  Northumberland 
county,  and  died  dune  24,  1897,  at  Mahanoy;  he 
is  buried  there,  at  St.  Peter's  church.  He  was 
ged  as  a  plasterer  and  stonemason  in  hi-  ear- 
lier manhood,  later  following  farming,  having  a 
valuable  tract  of  1  l'1  acres.  He  also  established 
the  coal,  bark  and  lumber  business  at  Otto  station 
1  named  in  his  honor),  on  the  Herndon  branch  of 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road,  building  up  an 
extensive  and  profitable  trade,  to  which  Ids  sou 
Edward  -1.  has  since  succeed., I.  He  was  serving 
,1-  trustee  of  St.  Peter's  Church  at  the  time  of  his 
d<  ath. 

On  Aug.  ■-'.  1860,  Mr.  Otto  married  Harriet 
Bower,  and  to  them  were  horn  twelve  children. 
of  whom  we  have  the  following  record:  (1)  Wil- 
liam H.  IE.  horn  Oct.  31,  1863,  died  March  31, 
1902.  He  settled  al  Shamokin,  this  county,  w 
lie  became  a  prominent  merchant  in  the  who 
grocery  and  confectionery  line.  (2)  Abraham  L. 
is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Agnes  is  unmarried. 
(  1)  George  L..  who  died  dan.  1.  1908,  aged  forty 
years,  was  long  an  invalid.  (5)  Mary  married 
K.  S.  Hibush,  a  farmer,  and  they  live  near  Otto 
station.  (6)  Lydia  married  D.  P.  Russell,  of  Otto, 
who  is  engineer  at  the  pumping  station  there.  1  ',  1 
John  ('..  horn  in  1874,  died  Nov.  3,  1899,  and  was 
buried  on  his  twenty-fifth  birthday.  (8)  Edward 
J.  is  mentioned  below.  (9)  Cora  married  George 
S.  Wilson,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Standard 
'  >il  Company,  and  they  live  at  Barto,  Pennsylvania. 

Abraham  L.  Otto,  son  of  Washington,  was  born 
April  22,  I860,  in  Jackson  township,  Northumber- 


land county.  He  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  school-,  later  attending  Union  Semin- 
ary, at  New  Berlin,  Pa.,  and  in  188?  began  teach- 
ing, being  thus  engaged  for  three  terms  in  Jack- 
son township.  He  was  reared  to  farmings  but  has 
not  followed  1  1  ipation  since  he  began  life 
on  his  own  account.  In  1891  he  settled  at  Hern- 
don. in  Jackson  town-hip.  where  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  and  sawmill  bus  ness,  Eollowing  that  line 
for  eleven  years.  He  did  a  good. business,  giving 
employment  to  twelve  men,  and  he  is  still  inter 
ested  in  same,  having  been  a  director  of  the  Sha- 
mokin Lumber  &  Manufacturing  Company  sinei 
1905,  and  being  also  a  stockholder  in  the  W.  P. 
Zartman  Lumber  Company.  He  is  interested  m 
the  Auburn  Shah'  Brick  Company  of  Schuylkill 
county,  and  in  these  various  relations  keeps  well 
in  touch  with  commercial  affairs.  ]n  1897  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  ai  Herndon  by  President 
Mi  Kinlcv.  and  has  filled  that  office  continuously 
h  1-  an  office  of  the  fourth  class.  He  1- 
if  the  best  known  men  in  his  section,  a  sub- 
stantial citizen  in  a  business  waj  and  respi 
by  all  who  have  had  dealings  with  him.  in  any 
of  the  relations  of  life. 

In  1891  Mr.  Otto  married  Mary  Brower,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Brower,  Sr.,  of  Herndon.  and  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  family  formerly  of  Chester  county, 
this  State,  whence  Nathan  Brower  came  to  North- 
umberland county,  settling  in  Jackson  township: 
he  was  a  miller  and  farmer  by  occupation.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Otto  have  no  children.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  which  he  has  served 
as  deacon.  Politically  he  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

Ki<n  \ki>  .1.  Otto  was  born  Feb.  11,  1877,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  His  father 
trained  him  to  business  life,  it  being  his  wish 
that  bis  sons  Edward  and  John  should  succeed 
him  in  his  mercantile  enterprises.  John  died  at 
ige  ol  twenty-five,  as  previously  recorded,  and 
the  management  of  the  business  fell  upon  the 
shoulders  of  the  younger  brother,  Edward,  who 
continues  to  carry  on  the  various  lines  established 
by  his  father,  comprising  the  trade  in  coal,  bark 
and  railroad  ties.  The  various  other  branches  of 
his  business  he  has  added  himself. as  opportunity 
offered  or  demand  warranted,  and  he  now  has  an 
excellent:  patronage  in  the  original  Lines  and  also 
in  grain  and  allied  commodities.  He  handles 
from  150  to  200  carloads  annually  of  the  various 
products  be  carries,  his  place  being  the  business 
center  for  a  wide  territory.  His  lumber  is  shipped 
largely  into  the  coal  regions,  for  use  at  the  mines. 
In  addition  to  other  things  he  handles  farm  imple- 
ments. He  keeps  three  men  employed  regularly 
to  assist  him  in  looking  after  the  numerous  de- 
tails of  his  various  interests.  He  has  been  station 
agent  at  Otto  for  some  time,  having  succeeded  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


539 


brother  Abraham  L.  (who  was  the  first  agent  at 
the  station)  in  that  position.  Mr.  Otto  owns  his 
father's  old  homestead  farm  of  140  acres,  located 
at  Otto  (in  Jackson  township),  and  he  cultivates 
this  land.  In  the  spring  of  1904,  because  of  fail- 
ing health,  he  gave  up  the  farm  work,  selling  his 
large  farm  stock,  bul  having  regained  his  health 
he  resumed  the  management  and  operation  of  the 
place  in  the  spring  of  L909.  He  erected  his  beauti- 
ful residence  at  Otto  iii  1903.  There  are  few  citi- 
zens of  the  locality  busier  than  he,  but  he  has 
nevertheless  found  time  t"  serve  his  fellow  citizens 
in  local  office,  having  been  tax  collector  from  L906 
to  L909,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he 
was  elected  roadmaster  of  ■!  ail -mi  township. 

On  April  16,  1903,  Mr.  Otto  married  Sallie 
Shipman,  daughter  of  Selesia  and  Lydia  (Dunkel- 
berger)  Shipman,  farming  people  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  this  county,  and  they  have  had  one 
son,  named  John  William  in  memory  of  his  two 
deceased  uncles.  Mr.  Otto  and  his  family  are 
members  of  St.  Peter's  Reformed  Church  at  Ma- 
hanoy, and  socially  he  unites  with  Lafayette 
bodge,  No.  194,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  11«'  is  a  Re- 
publican in  political  matters. 


Adam  Otto,  son  of  Conrad,  was  horn  March  1, 
1808,  in  Jackson  township,  and  followed  farming 
throughout  his  active  years.  Moving  oul  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
there  for  about  twenty  years,  prospering  in  all  he 
undertook.  Returning  to  his  native  township,  he 
was  killed  by  a  train  at  Herndon,  Feb.  27,  1861. 
His  wife,  Susan  (Burkert),  also  met  a  tragic 
death,  being  fatalh  burned  in  Cameron  township, 
this  county,  when  her  son  John  was  but  three 
months  old.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: George,  who  went  West  when  a  young  man 
and  served  three  years  in  the  army  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  heavy  artillery;  Sarah,  who 
married  Josiah  Henry,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.;  and 
JonnB. 

John  B.  Otto  was  born  Aug.  26,  1837,  in  Lit- 
tle Mahamo  township,  this  county,  and  was  reared 
by  his  uncle.  Jonathan  Dunkelberger,  who  lived 
in  that  township,  remaining  with  him  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty  years.  He  attended 
school  in  that  neighborhood,  and  learned  the  brick 
business.  On  Sept.  2,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C.  47th  Regiment,  P.  Y.  I.,  and  during  Ins 
long  service,  which  covered  over  four  veins,  took 
pari  in  the  following  battles  of  the  Civil  war: 
Fort  Fiiniee.au.  St.  John'.-  Bluffs,  Pocotaligo,  S. 
O,  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  Pleasant  Hill,  Can  Run, 
Mansura,  La..  Berryville,  Ya.,  Opequan  Creek, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek.  Yi.  He  receive.! 
an  honorable  discharge  Jan.  11.  1866,  having  made 
a  creditable  record  for  faithful  service,  and  he 
has  many  interesting  reminiscences  of  the  army 
days. 


After  tin'  war  Mr.  Otto  returned  to  hi-  uncle, 
with  whom  he  remained  three  years  longer,  en- 
gaged hi  -aw  in-  lumber.  He  then  began  lumber- 
ing on  his  own  account  in  Cameron  township, 
where  he  was  engaged  until  1896,  the  \,,n-  0f  his 
removal  to  Trevorton.  Mr.  Otto  is  one  of  the  well 
known  and  esteemed  citizens  of  his  section,  lie 
engaged  m  the  mercantile  business  at  this  |„lM1, 
for  several  years  before  In-  retirement,  and  as  a 
business  man  has  always  maintained  a  high  repu- 
tation for  integrity  and  straightforward  dealing. 
Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Zerbe  township  he 
ha-  served  as  supervisor  and  tax  collector  for  a 
period  id'  five  years.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  socially  belongs  to  Post  No.  1  10,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Shamokin.  Mr.  Otto  is  very  fond  of  hunting 
and  fishing,  in  which  recreations  he  indulges  as 
frequently  as  oppoi  tunity  offei  - 

In  1869  Mr.  otto  married  Charlotte  Sweinert,. 
daughter  of  George  Sweinert,  of  Little  Mahanoy 
township.  She  died  Aug.  23,  1908,  and  is  buried 
in  the  Lutheran  cemeterj  at  Little  .Mahanoy.  No 
children  were  horn  to  this  marriage.  Mr.  Otto 
makes  his  home  at  Coal  and  Eighth  streets,  Trev- 
orton. 


The  Otto  family  in  Berks  county  is  descended 
f Or.  Bodo  Otto,  wdio  was  the  rnosi  distin- 
guished physician  and  surgeon  at  Reading.  Berks 
county,  from  Hid  to  1787.  He  was  horn  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  in  1709,  and  was  thoroughly  edu- 
cated as  a  physician.  He  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try on  account  of  political  dissensions  and  revolu- 
tion, landing  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia  Nov. 
in.  1755.  After  practicing  his  profession  at  Phil- 
adelphia until  1773  he  removed  to  Reading,  and 
i  he  spirit  of  revolution  beginning  to  asserl  itself 
in  the  community  he  distinguished  himself  by  his 
patriotic  devotion  to  the  cause  of  freedom.  He 
was  conspicuously  engaged  as  surgeon  general 
during  the  whole  period  of  the  Revolution,  from 
L776  to  1783.  lie  died  at  Reading.  Hi-  Las!  will 
ami  testament,  made  Feb.  •J'.'.  1780,  was  probated 
Jul\  26,  1787,  and  is  on  record  in  Will  Book  B, 
page  207.  He  made  ample  provision  for  hi-  wifi 
Margaret,  bequeathing  her  the  pewter,  brass  and 
copper  utensils.  He  was  thrice  married,  and  had 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  thosi 
named  in  the  will  being  Frederick  Christoph, 
John  Augustus,  Or.  Bodo  (deceased)  and  Maria 
Elizabeth  Marx  (en),  of  these,  Frederick  died 
in  1827,  and  his  German  will  is  on  record  at  the 
Berks  county  courthouse  in  Will  Hook  ii.  page  121. 
The    executor-    were    Daniel     Merkel    and     Samuel 

Kindt. 

Dr.  John  Augustus  Otto,  -mi  of  Or.  Bodo  Otto, 
was  horn  in  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1751,  and  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Pennsylvania  when  they 
emigrated'  in  1755.  He  was  thoroughly  educated 
in  [he  -i  1 1-  of  Philadelphia  and  read  medicini 


540 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


under  his  father.  He  settled  in  Reading  in 
IT  To  and  carried  on  an  active  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice until  his  decease  in  1834.  He  was  prominent- 
ly engaged  in  the  Revolution  as  a  surgeon,  and 
tilled  various  public  positions  with  distinction. 
His  last  will,  made  in  1833.  was  probated  Jan.  1. 
1835.  His  wife  Catharine  (Hitner)  (daughtet  o 
George  Hitner.  of  Marble  Hall,  in  Philadelphia — 
now  Montgomery — county),  whom  he  married  in 
lilt;,  was  amply  provided  for  in  the  will,  which 
is  "ii  record  in  Will  Book  1.  page  '.'II.  He  speaks 
of  these  children:  Margaret,  who  married  Benja- 
min Whitman:  Mary,  who  married  Gabriel  Hies- 
ter,  a  prominent  local  and  State  official :  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Hon.  Henry  M.  Richards,  of  Reading. 
and  had  a  son  Washington;  Sarah,  who  married 
Jonathan  D.  Hiester,  attorney  of  Reading;  John 
Bodo,  who  married  Esther  Green  Witman;  and 
Daniel  Hitner,  who  married  Sarah  Whitman.  A 
granddaughter,  Catharine  Elizabeth  Otto  Wood, 
was  a  legatee:  it  appears  her  mother.  Maria,  who 
married  Joseph  Wood,  was  deceased.  Of  this  fam- 
ily. John  Bodo  Otto  died  in  1858;  his  will  is  on 
record  in  Will  Book  10,  page  4S9.  and  his  son 
:  A.  Otto  and  others  were  executors. 

SILAS  H.  l',\  i;K.  a  substantial  farmer  and  land 
owner  of  Wesl  Chillisquaque  township,  was  born 
there  Oct.  1.  1864,  son  of  James  Park.  The 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  county,  James  Park, 
came  from  New  Jersey  ami  settled  near  what  is 
now  the  borough  of  Northumberland.  His  son 
John  settled  in  Chillisquaque  township  and  pur- 
chased a  farm.  He  married  Annie  Stillson,  and 
they  reared  children  as  follows:  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried William  Painter:  Elsie;  James:  Mary,  who 
married  James  Park,  of  New  York  State:  J.  S. ; 
and  Hezekiah,  who  married  a  Miss  Van  Devender. 

James  Park,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  1825, 
married  Araminta  Brees.  and  died  in  1908.  Four 
children  were  born  to  this  couple:  John  Minard, 
\in\   (deceased),  Ira  (deceased)  and  Silas  B. 

John  Minard  Park,  son  of  James,  was  born 
Dee.  15,  1855,  married  Clara  Huntingdon  Noss, 
and  has  the  following  children:  Isabella  C,  born 
Feb.  1'.'.  1882,  who  married  Daniel  Smith  and  has 
one  sod.  John  M.:  James  T.,  born  Oct.  :.  1883: 
David  J.,  bom  July  20,  1885;  Amy  J.,  horn  Oct. 
21.  1881  :  Elsie  M.,  born  Dec.  10.  1889;  William 
L..  bom  Aug.  6,  1893;  Olive  M.,  born  Jan.  15, 
L895;  and  Mary  R.,  born  Feb.  '.'1.  L900. 

Silas  B.  Park  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  locality  and  later  was  a  student  at  Bucknell 
Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  In  1894 
lie  bought  part  of  the  old  homestead  farm  in  West 
Chillisquaque  township,  in  1004  purchasing  an- 
other part  and  in  100!)  a  third,  the  latter  portion 
comprising  100  acres.  He  resides  on  the  adjoin- 
ing tract  of  fifty  acres,  which  i-  good'  farming 
land  and  well  cultivated.     Mr.  Park  is  thrifty  in 


the  management  of  his  own  work  and  an  excel- 
lent citizen  in  his  relation  to  the  community,  sup- 
porting all  progressive  movements  and  taking  par- 
ticular interest  in  the  question  of  free  education, 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Park  married  Estella  E.  Zarr.  daughter  of 
Lloyd  T.  Zarr,  of  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  had  two  children.  Harold  E.  and  Lloyd  T. 

JOSIAH  RHOADS,  who  has  been  superin- 
tendent at  the  Greenough  colliery,  at  Locust  Gap, 
lor  the  past  ten  years,  has  been  a  miner  all  his 
having  begun  work  at  the  mine-  in  the  humb- 
capacity  and  worked  his  way  forward  to  re- 
sponsible position.  He  is  a  native. of  Shamokin, 
born  Jan.  '.'ii.  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Rhoads. 
IN-  grandfather  lived  in  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
ami  died  there.  One  of  his  sons,  Jacob,  was  killed 
in  the  Civil  war. 

Henry  Rhoad^  was  horn  Jan.  30,  1821,  in  Col- 
umbia county,  and  came  to  Shamokin  among  the 
early  residents  of  the  borough.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter, and  followed  his  trade  throughout  his  active 
years  in  this  section,  building  breakers  and  later 
doing  house  carpentry.  He  died  at  Shamokin 
March  28,  1891,  and  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin 
cemetery.  Mr.  Rhoads  married  Annie  Adam-. 
member  of  an  old  family  of  Ralpho  town-hip.  this 
county,  born  Nov.  24;  1824,  died  March  15,  1893. 
Nine  children  were  horn  to  them:  Frank,  who 
lives  in  Shamokin;  Isaiah,  deceased:  William,  de- 
-  easi  d  :  Louisa,  deceased  :  Henry,  a  resident  of  Sha- 
mokin :  Theodore,  of  Shamokin;  Josiah:  Daniel, 
deceased:  and  Amos,  whose  home  is  in  Missouri. 

Josiah  Rhoads  attended  the  public  schools  for 
a  few  years,  but  he  was  only  a  boy  of  ten  when 
he  commenced  picking  slate  at  the  Buck  Ridge 
colliery,  continuing  at  that  work  for  four  years. 
lie  then  commenced  mining  at  the  Henry  Clay 
colliery,  where  he  was  employed  about  five  years, 
after  which  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at 
which  he  was  engaged,  about  the  breakers,  for 
seven  years.  II is  next  work  was  as  boss  at  the 
Union  colliery,  and  after  ten  years  there  he  came 
to  the  Greenough.  in  May.  1000,  as  superinten- 
This  colliery,  located  at  Marion  Heights. 
is  one  of  the  best  known  in  the  coal  region,  about 
550  men  and  boys  finding  employment  there.  Mr. 
Rhoads's  reputation  for  faithful  and  intelligent 
work  is  well  deserved,  and  lie  has  the  thorough 
espei  I  "i  In-  employers  and  of  the  many  workers 
in  bis  charge. 

(»n  May  VI.  L887,  Mr.  Rhoads  married  Mary 
Luke,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Harris) 
Luke,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  have  had  five  chil- 
dren: Adam  Stanley,  Josiah  H..  Ruth  E.,  Claude 
A.,  and  a  son  that  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rhoads  is  independent,  voting 
for  the  candidate  he  prefers,  regardless  of  partv 
affiliation.      He    is    a    member    of   the    Reformed 


NOBTHUMBERLA  N  I  >  COU  XTV.  PENNSYLVA  N  I A 


541 


Church,  ami  socially  holds  membership  in  the 
I.  o.  o.  V.  and  Encampment  and  the  B.  P.  0. 
Elks. 

THOMAS  L.  BRENNAN,  proprietor  of  the 
"Kellagher  Eotel"  at  Locust  Gap,  in  Mount  Car- 
mel  township,  lias  but  recently  settled  at  that 
place,  and  until  lie  took  charge  of  the  hotel  was 
engaged  in  mining,  lie  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  born  April  14,  1871,  at  Pottsville, 
and  is  of  Irish  descent,  his  father.  John  Bren- 
miii,  having  been  born  in  Ireland. 

John  BrennaD  came  to  the  United  Stales  when 
a  young  man.  and  settled  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  He 
was  a  shoemaker,  and  followed  his  trade  there  un- 
til Ins  death,  which  occurred  in  is';;!.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Colby,  who  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  in  L899,  and  they  arc  buried  at 
Pottsville.  They  had  a  large  family,  namely: 
Patrick,  Annie  Elizabeth,  Michael.  William, 
James,  Catherine,  Mary.  Margaret,  Johp  and 
Tl as  Ij. 

Thomas  I..  Brennan  attended  the  public  schools 
of  I'nllsxillr  and  began  work  at  the  mines  when 
mil\  a  buy,  picking  slate.  Later  lie  became  a 
regular  miner,  and  on  coming  to  Locust  (lap,  in 
February,  L908,  was  employed  at  tunnel  work  for 
a  year  al  the  Locust  Spring  colliery.  On  Feb. 
■.':;.  1909,  he  took  charge  of  the  "Kellagher  Hotel,"- 
a  well  known  and  old  established  lintel  stand  in 
ibis  region,  which  he  lias  since  successfully  man- 
aged, lie  ha-  an  obliging  disposition  which  wins 
and  holds  custom,  ami  bids  fair  to  continue  the 
popularity    the  bote!  has  always  enjoyed. 

On  Feb.  23,  1909,  Mr.  Brennan  married  Mrs. 
Margaret  (Brown)  Kellagher,  widow  of  Michael 
Kellagher.     They  have  do  children. 

MICHAEL  KELLAGHER  was  horn  Nov.  '.'1. 
1857,  ai  Forestville,  Schuylkill  0".,  Pa.,  son  of 
Patrick  and  .lane  ( Lynch  j  Kellagher,  natives  of 
Counties  Fermanagh  and  Cavan,  Ireland,  respec- 
tively, who  came  to  America  in  1840.  They  set- 
tled in  Schuylkill  county,  where  the  father  began 
work  in  (he  mines,  following  that  occupation 
thfoughoui  his  active  wars.  In  the  laic  sixties 
he  removed  to  Locust  Gap,  where  he  made  a  per- 
manent borne  and  died.  He  and  his  wife  had  a 
family  id'  twelve  children,  (wo  of  whom  died 
young,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Michael.  Mary 
(Mis.  John  McHugh),  William.  Jane.  Robert, 
John.  Anna.   Kate,  Susan  and  Elizabeth. 

Michael  Kellagher  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  only  nine  when  he  began 
work  at  a  coal  breaker,  ami  continued  work  at 
the  mines  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
when  he  established  himself  as  proprietor  of  the 
"Locust  Summit  Hotel''  at  Locust  Gap.  He  was 
successful!)  engaged  as  a  hotel-keeper  there  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  19,  1902.     Mr. 


Kellagher  was  not  only  a  good  business  man,  but 
one  of  the  best  known  citizens  in  public  life  in 
Ins  end  of  Northumberland  county,  and  a  man 
highly  respected  by  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
him.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  served  as 
school  director  of  Mount  Carmel  township,  and  in 
lssi  was  elected  county  commissioner,  in  which 
office  he  served  two  successive  terms. 

On  April  II,  1887,  Mr.  Kellagher  married 
Margaret  Brown,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Mary 
(Casey)  Brown,  of  Danville.  Pa.,  and  to  them 
were  horn  live  children,  namely:  Jennie,  who  was 
a  public  school  teacher  before  her  marriage  to 
Raymond  Everett  :  Florence,  who  is  engaged  as  a 
teacher  in  Mount  Carmel  township;  Margaret; 
William,  and  Helen.  Mr.  Kellagher  was  a  Catho- 
lic in  religious  faith. 

JACOB-IRVIN    McCOLLUM,  of    Shamokin, 

has  for  the  past  few  years  been  interested  in  the 
livery  business  there  in  partnership  with  E.  H. 
Martz,  under  the  linn  name  of  Martz  &  McCol- 
lum.  For  a  number  of  years  before  he  became 
engaged  in  that  line  he  was  employed  at  the  col- 
lieiics.  Mr.  McCollum  is  a  native  of  Union  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  horn  .lime  27,  1862,  near  Wmfield,  son 
of  Ephraim  S.  McCollum  and  grandson  of  George 
McCollum. 

The  McCollum  family  is  of  Scottish  origin,  its 
founder  in  tins  country  coming  from  Scotland  at 
an  early  date.  Peter  McCollum,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Jacob  I.  McCollum,  lived  at  New  Hol- 
land. Lancaster  Co..  Pa.,  at  which  place  his  son 
George  McCollum  was  horn.  In  his  early  life  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits,  later  learning  the 
trade  id'  millwright  in  his  native  county.  He  fol- 
lowed    it    at    illli'el'elll     times,    but     not    exclusively. 

Moving  to  Northumberland  county  with  hi-  wife 
and  eldest  son.  he  located  in  Point  township,  where 
he  was  employed  at  farm  work  by  Squire  Gale, 
lie  then  went  to  Union  county,  where  lie  lived 
for  many  years,  and  was  there  employed  at  his 
trade  by  Squire  Shannon,  repairing  mills.  His 
closing  years  were  spent  in  retirement  at  the  home 
of  his  sou  Ephraim  S..  in  Trevorton,  Northum- 
berland  COUnty,  Where   he  died,    lie   1-   buried    there. 

His  wife.  Julia  (In-iii),  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  died  iii  1'nion  county.  They  had  children 
as  follows:  Uriah  did  in  Union  county;  Samuel 
died  in  Union  county;  Mar}  married  Jacob  Mein- 
er  and  died  at  Danville,  Pa.;  William  died  at 
Danville.  Pa.;  Jane  married  Edward  ('lark:  Eph- 
raim s.  is  mentioned  below;  Julia  married  Charles 
Mills:  George  died   in   Union  county;  Alexander 

is  living  in  the  borough  of  Sha kin. 

Ephraim  S.  McCollum,  son  of  (I ge,  was  horn 

Nov.  17,  l<s:;s.  in  Buffalo  Valley,  1'nion  Co.,  Pa., 
;m,l  attended  the  local  schools  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twelve  years.  For  the  nexl  five  years 
he  was  employed  at  the  iron  ore  mines,  after  which 


543 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


he  was  engaged  at  the  ironworks  at  Union  Fur- 
nace, Union  r-mmv.  for  some  time.  There  he  en- 
listed, in  1864,  for  service  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  joining  Company  M,  13th 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  for  one  year.  After  the 
war  he  came  to  Northumberland  county,  being 
firsl  at  Shamokin,  and  followed  work  at  the  mines 
until  his  retirement,  being  employed  in  both  the 
rock  ami  coal  mines.  Sim,-  1909  he  has  not  done 
any  laborious  work,  lie  lived  at  Trevorton  several 
-.  and  now  resides  in  Shamokin. 

Mr.  tfcl  o  am  married  Sarah  Allvord,  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  daughter  of  George  All- 
vord, nf  Williams  Valley,  that  county.  She  died 
June  29,  1881,  at  Trevorton,  Northumberland 
county,  the  mother  of  three  children:  Jacob  I.: 
•  lane,  who  married  John  A.  Weaver,  ol  S 
kin:  and   Frederick,  living  at  Burnside. 

Jacob  I.  MeCollum,  son  of  Ephrain:  S.,  received 
bis  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Trevorton. 
lie  began  Murk  at  the  North  Franklin  colliery. 
No.  lo.  where  he  continued  to  be  employed  for 
ali mt  ten  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came 
tn  Shamokin  and  went  to  work  at  the  Henry  (lay 
colliery,  where  he  remained  one  year  and  three 
months.  From  there  In-  changed  to  the  Burnside 
colliery,  where  he  was  employed  continuously  for 
the  long  period  of  twenty-two  years.  On  Dei 
1909,  Mr.  MeCollum  returned  to  Shamokin  and 
funned  his  pres  n1  --  iciation  with  his  son-in-law, 
E.  H.  Martz,  engaging  in  the  liver}  business  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Martz  i  MeCollum.  They, 
have  established  a  large  and  paying  business,  and 
have  a  reputation  for  reliability  which  attracts 
and  holds  their  patrons. 

Mr.  MeCollum  has  become  well  known  in  va- 
rious connections.  He  has  been  active  in  the  local 
interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and  for  three 
years    served    as    register    assessor    nf    the    S 

District.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in 
Shamokin  Lodge,  1.  ( >.  0.  F..  Shamokin  Lodge, 
B.  P.  0.  F..  the  K.  G.  E.,  the  Red  Men  and 
the  Conclave,  S.  P.  K.  He  belongs  to  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  For  some  time  he  was  a  member 
of  the  old  Trevorton  band. 

On  July  24,  1883,  Mr.  MeCollum  married  Mary 
Haupt,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  -and  Sarah 
(  Frame)  Haupt.  and  they  have  had  a  large  fam- 
ily, nami  Sa  ih  May,  wife  of  E.  H.  Martz: 
John  W.:  Eettie  A.:  Frederick  F:  Ivanhoe; 
George  I  .;  Samuel  1. :  Ralph  W.;  Theodore  R.. 
and  Mary  J. 

SPOTTS.      There    are    two    branches    of 
ts   family  in  Lower  Mahanoy  towns       .  both 
S     i  -nan  Spat,  the  ancestor  of  a 
numerous  family,  who  was  burn  on  the  ship  while 
-     reri    -       routi      o    \  n    rica,   Feb.    25, 
They   were   natives   of   Wurteu  berg,    Ger- 
many.    After  landing  at  Philadelphia  they  pro- 


ceeded to  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  they  made  a 
permanent  home,  and  where  Sebastian  Spat  passed 
his  youth  and  early  married  life.  All  his  chil- 
dren were  born  there.  He  brought  his  family  to 
Northumberland  county  in  an  early  day.  settling 
in  that  part  of  Mahanoy  township  now  known  as 
Lower  Mahanoy,  where  he  died  March  26,  1802. 
lb  was  a  large  land  owner,  his  property  being  lo- 
cated in  the  Stone  Valley,  which  region  was  wild 
when  he  located  there.  The  Indians  were  his 
neighbors.  Among  his  children  were  Johannes, 
Adam  ami  Matthias.  The  last  named  lived  in 
the  vicinity  of  Selinsgrove,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
-  buried,  and  the  Spotts  family  of  that  region 
are   his    descendants.      He   was    a   blacksmith   by 

Johannes  Spatz   (as  he  spelled  the  name),  son 

of  Sebastian,  was  bora  May  24,  L762,  in  Berks 
county  (probably  in  Bern  township),  and  died 
Nov.  24,  1856,  when  over  ninety-four  years  old. 
Bis  tombstone  is  in  the  old  part  of  the  grave- 
vard  "1  Stone  Valley  church.  He  married  Anna 
Maria  Keiser  (1765-1834),  also  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  and  they  tame  to  Northumberland  county 
soon  alter  their  marriage,  carrying  all  their  be- 
longings  in  a  bundle.  This  was  about  1784.  Tak- 
md  ii  Stone  Valley  now  embraced  in  the 
farm  nf  John  11.  Spotts,  a  descendant,  they  erect- 
ed a  fog  hut  near  the  line  spring  which  still  makes 
that  trad  famous  in  the  vicinity,  it  being  one  of 
strongest  and  purest  in  the  State.  The  land 
has  remained  in  the  family  name  continuously 
since — a  period  nf  over  126  years.  The  country 
was  in  its  primitive  state  at  the  time  of  their  set- 
tlement here.  Wolves  and  bears  often  visited  their 
clearing,  and  bears  several  times  killed  pigs  in 
the  p;  ii  .  om  i  i  he]  lii  ked  out  the  kettles  in  which 
••Mother"  Spatz  cooked  the  mush.  Johannes 
Spatz  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  but  healthy,  ro- 
bust and  industrious,  and  he  was  a  proficient 
blacksmith,  following  the  trade  fur  forty  years, 
and  only  abandoning  it  eventually  because  of  a 
disabled  arm.  He  made  hinges,  lock-,  etc.,  and 
found  his  mechanical  skill  very  useful  in  the  new 
country.  In  those  days  the  pioneers  in  this  local- 
ity had  to  take  their  -'rain  to  Reading  to  be 
ground,  and  they  had  to  buy  all  their  market 
pjoods  ai  the  same  point,  where  what  little  pro- 
line had  to  sell  or  exchange  was  also  dis- 
of.  In  _  i  _  >wn  the  steep  hills  they  were 
obliged   t"    improvise    brakes    for    their    wagons, 

which    they    did    by    i1 -    down    trees   which 

(with  all  their  branches)  they  fastened  by  chains 
to  the  back  of  the  wagon.  Among  the  possessions 
of  Johannes  Spatz  and  his  wife  which  have  come 
down  as  treasured  heirlooms  to  the  present  gen- 
eration are  a  walnut  bureau  made  1"  one  John 
Schmidt  and  now  owned  bv  Henn  Spotts,  grand- 
es  Miss  Fietta  Spotts,  of  Dalmatia, 
has  chinaware  that  belonged  to  them,  red  and  blue 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


543 


dishes  thai  are  unusually  beautiful  and  highly  val- 
ued. 'I  in-  pioneer  couple  were  German  Reformed 
members  of  the  Stone  Valley  Church,  which  he 
eerved  as  rider  man}  years.  Ee  was  well  informed 
concerning  the  Scriptures,  and  during  his  later 
years  spent  much  time  in  their  perusal.  His  family 
consisted  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters:  Eliza- 
beth (Betz),  Mrs.  Kemp;  Catharine,  Mrs.  Jo- 
hannes Brosius;  Mrs.  Adam  Herb;  Mrs.  Philip 
Spayd;  Johannes,  born  Sept.  15,  1786,  who  died 
Feb.  3,  1810,  from  the  effects  of  his  efforts  in  a 
jumping  match  in  which  the  boys  and  young  men 
of  his  district  participated  one  Sunday;  and  Ja- 
cob 

Jacob  Spotts,  son  of  Johannes,  was  born' June 
II.  L788,  m  what  is  now  Lrnver  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  died  on  bis  farm  there  June  16,  1852. 
He  owned  the  farm  which  was  formerly  his  fa- 
ther's, and  in  the  ownership  of  which  Jacob  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Jacob,  the  hitter's  son  Uriah 
next  obtaining  possession  of  it.  and  John  H. 
Spotts,  the  present  owner,  being  EJriah's  son.  Ja- 
cob Spotts,  Sr.,  built  the  present  barn  on  the  place 
and  pan  of  the  house.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  skillful  in  turning  out  various  pro- 
ducts, making  nails,  iron  s] ns,  etc.  His  grand- 
daughter, Fietta  Spotts,  has  a  frying  pan  that  he 

i le  with  a  hammer,    lb-  was  a  man  of  fairly  e 

education,  all  in  German,  lie  took  an  active  part 
in  church  work,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  of 
Stone  Valley,  which  lie  served  as  trustee  ami  elder 
Hi-  wile.  Sarah  Maria  (Emericli),  bora  April  23, 
1780,  daughter  of  John  Michael  Emericli,  died 
Dec.  14.  1872  or  is;::.  Ten  children  were  horn  to 
this  couple:  Jacob;  Adam,  who  died  when  twenty 
years  old:  John:  Elizabeth,  who  married  John 
Seller;  George;  Philip;  Catharine,  who  married 
Esaac  Schaffer;  Michael:  Henry;  and  William, 
"who  died  in  youth. 

11i:m."i  Spotts,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  June  1".'. 
1831,  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
Township,  and  has  passed  all  but  seven  years  of 
his  life  in  this  section.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  commenced  to 
learn  the  trade  of  saddler  from  a  man  named 
Kemp,  who  came  from  Berks  county.  He  followed 
his  trade  in  various  localities.  Moving  out  to 
Ohio,  he  lived  there  for  seven  years,  m  Now  Pitts- 
burg, Wayne  county,  where  he  followed  his.  trade, 
conducted  a  hotel,  and  for  two  years  engaged  in 
butchering.  For  eleven  year-  Mr.  Spotts  was  en- 
gaged in  hotel-keeping  at  McKees  Half  Falls, 
where  he  also  lived  for  five  years  more,  and  he 
also  conducted  a  hotel  at  Shamokin  Dam.  w 
he  lived  lor  three  years.  When  seventy-five  years 
old  he  mad.'  a  double  set  of  harness  which  his 
daughter  Fietta  own-  and  prize-  greatly.  He  has 
always  been  regarded  a-  a  reliable  and  valuable  cit- 
izen, in  every  community  with  which  lie  lew  been 
identified,   though   except    for  a   year's   - 


supervisor,  while  in  Ohio,  he  ha.-  never  taken  anv 
active  part  in  public  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  belongs  to  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  Stone   Valley  Church. 

In  1856  Mr.  Spotts  married  Emma  Jane  Binga- 
nian.  who  became  the  mother  of  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Fietta; 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Peter  If.  Daubert;  John 
<)..  of  Port  Treverton,  Pa.;  and  William  C,  of 
shamokin  Dam.  Pa.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Spotts  married  Aura  M.  Bubb,  by  whom  he  has 
three  son<:  G ge  Clarence  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing the  land  of  Ins  sister  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship: Leon  lives  in  Mahanoy  til \  i  he  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Philippines  during  the  Spanish-American 
wan;  Philip,  who  i-  a  railroader,  lives  at  Sun- 
leu  y,  tin-  county. 

Mis^  Fietta  Spotts  owns  a  farm  id'  seventy- 
lour  acre-  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  which  her 
brother  i-  farming.  She  made  her  home  in  Dal- 
matia,  where  she  had  a  nice  residence,  comfortable 
and  well  equipped,  until  her  recent  removal  to 
Harrisburg,  Pa.    She  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 

gregation  of  the  Dalmatia  Union  Church,  and 

for  a  number  of  years  was  active  in  the  Sunday 
school  work  of  that  organization. 


Adam  Spotts.  another  son  of  Sebastian  Spat. 
the  pioneer,  was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and 
lived  tin-re  until  after  his  marriage.  About  1806 
he  came  to  what  is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  township.! 
Xoitlminherland  county,  settling  on  the  farm  along 
the  Mahantango  creek  now  owned  by  John  H. 
Winner.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  as  were 
two  of  his  brothers,  one  settling  near  Northum- 
berland, and  the  other  two.  Johannes  and  Adam, 
in  Mahanoy  (now  Lower  Mahanoy)  township. 
Adam  Spotts  i-  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church, 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  His  wife,  Barbara 
I  Fritz),  wa-  from  Lititz,  Lancaster  Co..  Pa.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Elizabeth  married  John 
Spavd  :  Man  Magdalena  married  Daniel  Radel; 
Sally  married  Samuel  Winner:  Lydia  married 
Xicholas  Bohner;  Joseph  married  Sarah  Shutt; 
Michael  married  Catharine  Bohner;  John  married 
Lydia    Hepner. 

John  Spot!-,  son  of  Adam,  was  a  farmer  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  owning  the  place  which 
n,,w-  belongs  to  Hem  \  Kiehl.  lb'  wa-  nicknan 
"Monty."  Mr.  Spotts  nr.nl,-  the  old  kind  of  wood- 
en pumps,  and  he  wa-  noted  for  In-  -kill  and  reli- 
ability a-  taker,  lie  married  Lydia  Hep- 
ner. and  his  children  were:  Samuel,  Esaac,  Elias, 
Joel,   h'rank.  Benjamin,   Eliza  and  Sophia. 

.1  nseph  -  '    Vdam,  was  known  a-  "Lo- 

cust" Spott-.     lb-  was  a  well  known  merchant  at 
Mountain,  in   Lower   Mahanoy .     II.-  married 
Sarah    Shutt,   and    they    had    children:      William, 
t  'atliai  mi'.   Polly,   Hannah  and  John. 

M  ichael   Spotts,  soi  Warn,  was  the  progen- 


544 


XORTHT  MliKRLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


itor  of  the  line  in  which  we  are  ai  present  inter- 
ested. Like  his  brothers,  he  had  a  nickname,  be- 
in-  well  known  as  "Pinky"  Spotts.  He  jvas  an  ex- 
pert miller,  and  followed  his  trade  for  many  years, 
living  at  different  mills.  Born  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  he  ended  his  days  in  the  same  vicinity, 
dying  at  Pillow  (Uniontown)  Feb.  L7,  1901,  aged 
eighty-three  years,  four  months;  lie  is  buried  at 
that  place.  His  wife,  Catharine  (Bohner),  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Bohner,  died  May  10,  1897,  aged  sev- 
enty-six years,  two  m  >nt;is.  twenty-one  days.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Henry: 
John:  Aaron;  Mary  (Polly),  Mrs.  Henry  Searer; 
Adam:  Sarah,  Mrs.  Fred  Wiest;  Andrew;  Louisa, 
Mrs.  Emanuel  Michael;  Benneville;  Ellen,  Mrs. 
Leon   Martz  :  Michael. 

Aaron  Spotts,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  Feb.  6, 
1844,  on  the  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township 
now  owned  by  Pierci  Boyer,  and  he  was  reared  in 
thai  township.  During  his  early  life  lie  foil 
farming,  to  which  lie  had  been  trained  from  early 
boyhood,  and  for  a  number  of  years  lie  was  a  tru- 
ant farmer.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  Company 
D.  1:6th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  during 
the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  for  three  years,  and 
had  served  eig  onths  of  his  term  when  the 

war  closed.  In  1872  he  purchased  twenty-five 
acres  of  land,  part  of  the  Samuel  Miller  farm,  and 
there  he  has  since  resided,  cultivating  his  land  and 
engaging  in  other  work.  He  built  his  house  in 
1873  and  his  barn  in  1887.  For  some  years  Mr. 
-  ollowed  carpentering,  and  for  five  year- 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  working  on  bridges.  He  has  been 
quite  active  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  commun- 
ity, served  two  terms  as  constable,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent one  of  the  road  commissioners.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican. 

On  Oct.  3,  1867,  Mr.  Spotts  married  Sarah  Jane 
iffer,  who  was  born  in  181".  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Elizabeth  I  Reed  i  Shaffer,  and  died  Feb. 
22,  1889.  She  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  union. 
two  of  whom,  one  son  and  one  daughter,  died 
young,  the  others  being:  Harry  E. ;  Lizzie.  Mrs. 
Elmer  I.  Radel;  Eva  J..  Mrs.  Jere  YV.  Lenker: 
and  Rev.  George  W.,  a  Reformed  minister  now 
living  at  Tremont,  Pa.,  who  married  Pauline 
Si  hock.  Mr.  Spotts  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Eeformed  congregation  of  the  Stone  Valley 
Church,  and  he  has  served  as  deacon. 

Harry  E.  Spotts.  son  of  Aaron,  was  born  Oct. 
ii.  1872,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  farming.  He  worked  for  his 
parents  until  he  became  of  age.  meanwhile  receiv- 
ing a  good  practical  education  in  the  local  public 
schools  and  a  thorough  training  to  farm  work. 
In  the  spring  of  1893  lie  began  farming  as  a  ten- 
ant   in   his   native    township,    renting    land    until 


the  spring  of   1910,   when  he  purchased  the  old 

Samuel  Hepner  homestead  there.  This  property 
consists  of  thirty  acres,  lying  on  the  road  between 
Hickory  Corners  and  Pillow.  Mr.  Spotts  is  par- 
ticularly interested  in  poultry  raising.  He  has 
various  other  business  affairs  to  occupy  his  time 
ami  attention,  being  associated  closely  in  business 
matters  with  Dr.  M.  L.  Emerick,  for  whom  he  is 
private  secretary,  also  looking  after  the  Doctor's 
financial  interests  to  a  large  extent.  Mr.  Spotts 
has  property  in  Washington.  D.  ('..  which  he  owns 
individually,  and  besides  has  large  holdings  in  the 
al  Realty  Company  and  in  the  Keystone 
Realty  Company,  both  of  Washington,  D.  C  III- 
real  estate  transactions  have  reached  considerable 
proportions,  and  he  has  handled  them  ably  and  in- 
telligently, proving  himself  a  man  of  ability  in 
in-  different  undertakings. 

On  Si  L,  ls:e.'.  Mr.  Spotts  married  Mary  E. 
Radel,  daughter  of  Isaac  ami  Mary  i  Lenker) 
Radel,  and  to  them  have  been  born  thirteen  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  deceased,  the  survivors  he- 
me: Cordelia  May,  Mary  Jane.  Lottie  Fay.  Ed- 
na M..  Harry  A..  Stella  and  Marian.  Mr.  Spotts 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Stone  Valley 
Church,  belonging  to  tin,1  Reformed  congregation. 
Politically  Republican,  and  he  has  taken 

derable  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party  in 
in-  locality;  he  has  served  a-  register  assesso] 

FREDERICK  I.'.  DOENSIFE,  merchant  and 
proprietor  of  the  "Hotel  Dornsife'"  at  Dornsife, 
this  county,  was  horn  in  Little  Mahanoy  township 
Jan.  15,  L871,  -on  of  Samuel  H.  and  Harriet 
( Raker  i  Dornsife.  The  family  has  long  been 
established  in  that  section.  Daniel  Dornsife,  grand- 
father of  Frederick  R.  Dornsife.  having  lived  there 
on  the  farm  later  owned  by  his  son   Samuel  and 

now  in  the  possession  of  Henry   I.' I.  son-in-law 

of  Samuel  H.  Dorn- 

Daniel   Dornsife  was   born    Oct.    27,    1792,   and 

died    Aug.    ■.'.    1859.    aged    sixty-six    years,    nine 

months,  six  days.     He  and  his  wife  Anna  (Herb) 

are  buried  at  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  of  which 

they  were  Lutheran  members.     By  occupation  he 

farmer.     He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 

L812.       The    children    of    Daniel    and    Anna 

(Herb)    Dornsife   were:      Susan   married   Conrad 

Raker;  Anna   married    Daniel    Raker;   Lydia   II.. 

horn  (Kt.  29,  L837,  died  unmarried  Aug.  25,  1S63; 

Rebecca  married  John   Raker:  Isaac  lived  in  Ma- 

City;  Harry  (Henry)  lived  in  Kansas  City: 

Samuel  11.  is  mentioned  below;  Dr.  Daniel  lived  at 

Xantici  ike,  Pennsylvania. 

Henry  Dornsife.  brother  of  Daniel  (above),  was 
horn  June  9,  1794,  and  died  Sept.  3,  1867;  his 
wife.  Mary  Elizabeth  (Fasold),  horn  Dec.  18, 
1799,  died  Aug.  EC  18T3.  They  were  farming 
people    and    lived    in    Little    Mahano        iwnship. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


a  1 5 


Their  children  were:  John,  William,  Elias,  Levi, 
Henry,  Jonathan  (died  young),  Mary  (Polly), 
Elizabeth,  Catharine  and  Susanna. 

These  brothers  Daniel  and  Henry  Domsife  were 

the  sons  of  o I'  the   Hessian  soldiers  brought 

over  to  fight  in  the  King's  army  during  the  Revo- 
lution. Like  many  of  his  countrymen  he  remained 
in  America,  settling  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  where  lie  died  at  a  comparatively 
early  age;  lie  is  buried  there.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth Kahwel,  who  was  burn  March  20,  1761,  and 
died  Sept.  3,  is-.';,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county,  whither  she  and  her 
two  sons  Daniel  and  Henry  moved  after  her  hus- 
band's death.  Eere  she  married  (second)  John 
Dunkelberger  (  IS  15-1818),  and  they  are  buried  in 
a  private  burial-ground  on  the  old  John  Dunkel- 
berger homestead.  Her  sons  Daniel  and  Henry 
(locally  known  as  "Henner")  Domsife  are  buried 
at  Little  Mahanoy  Church:  they  were  nicknamed 
"die  <  trumbera  Hesse." 

Samuel  H.  Domsife,  son  of  Daniel  Domsife, 
was  burn  May  '.'it.  1825,  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  and  died,  passing  away  April 
t,  1889.  His  birth  and  death  took  place  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  bis  son-in-law,  Henry  Heed, 
in  the  western  part  of  Little  Mahanoy.  though  the 
trad  was  larger  in  bis  day,  and  he  not  only  fol- 
lowed tanning  but  blacksmithing  and  tanning. 
having  a  small  tannery  in  which  he  made  leather 
for  his  own  use.  He  also  hewed  millstones,  and 
was  an  all-around  mechanic,  quite  famous  in  the 
locality  for  bis  skill.  His  wife  Harriet,  daughter 
of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman)  Raker,  of 
Little  Mahanoy  township,  died  March  19,  1902, 
aged  sixty-live  years,  eight  months,  eighteen  days. 
the  mother  of  a  large  family,  namely:  Anna,  wife 
of  Henn  Reed;  Daniel,  of  Shamokin;  Katie,  wile 
of  Jacob  Lenker;  Samuel  R..  who  died  Jan.  22, 
1901,  aged  thirty-one  years,  eight  months,  fifteen 
days;  Frederick  I!.:  Susan,  who  died  Sept.  23, 
1890,  aged  seventeen  years,  eight  months,  twenty- 
eight  days;  Henrj  :  Reilly;  a  son  that  died  in  in- 
fancy; .Mary,  wife  of  Anthony  Dice:  David,  and 
Felix. 

Frederick  1.'.  Domsife  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality,  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  ami  when  eighteen  began  to  learn 
the  Hade  of  painter  and  paper  hanger.  He  con- 
tinued to  follow  that  occupation  until  1900,  in 
which  year  he  became  proprietor  of  the  "Never 
sink  Hotel"  at  Trevorton.  Pa.,  conducting  that 
establishment  for  three  years.  On  June  •">.  1904, 
Mr.  Domsife  came  to  Dornsife,  where  be  has  since 
been  successfully  engaged  in  business,  conducting 
the  store  ami  hotel."  of  which  latter  be  is  owner 
as  well  as  proprietor.  Since  loo;  he  has  also  been 
postmaster.  Besides  a  full  line  of  general  mer- 
chandise, for  which  he  has  an  extensive  local  trade. 
Mr.  Domsife  deals  in  coal,  salt,  railroad  ties,  bark 
35 


and  lumber,  giving  employment  to  two  men  and 
doing  considerable  of  the  work  himself.  He  has 
become  prosperous  through  his  industry  and  good 
management,  and  is  a  creditable  representative  of 
a  family  always  honored  in  this  district.  The  vil- 
lage of  Dornsife,  a  settlement  of  about  one  hun- 
dred people,  was  named  for  Henry  Dornsife  (un- 
cle of  Frederick  R.  Dornsife).  who  was  a  miller 
and  had  a  gristmill  near  by,  on  the  Mahanoy 
creek,  in  successful  operation.  Dornsife  is  a  sta- 
tion on  the  Herndon  branch  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  road. 

In  September,  190-,  Mr.  Dornsife  married  Cas- 
•ii'.  daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  M.  Zartman  and 
his  wife  Lena  (1'eifer).  of  Dornsife.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union:  .  Goldie  May. 
Robert  Raynold  and  Lena  Catharine. 

Mr.  Dornsife  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 
lodge  at  Trevorton  and  of  Lodge  No.  355,  B.  P.  0. 
Elks,  of  Shamokin.  He  is  independent  in  politics 
and  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  local  affairs, 
baying  held  various  public  offices.  At  present  he 
is  serving  as  tax  collector  of  Little  Mahanoy 
township. 

ROSS.  The  Rosses  of  Lower  Augusta  and 
Rockefeller  townships  in  Northumberland  county 
belong  to  the  historic  family  of  Scottish  origin 
founded  in  this  country  about  1756  In  four  broth- 
ers. George,  William,  John  and  Joseph  Ross,  na- 
tive- of  Scotland,  all  of  whom  served  with  distinc- 
tion in  the  Revolution,  making  long  and  mer- 
itorious records  as  supporters  of  the  cause  of  free- 
dom. They  were  personally  acquainted  with  Gen- 
eral Washington.  Betsy  Ross,  the  Philadelphia 
damsel  who  made  the  first  American  flag,  adopted 
by  Congress  at  Washington'-  suggestion,  was  of 
this  family,  a  daughter  of  one  George  Ross,  who 
settled  at  Philadelphia  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution. 

The  Pennsylvania   Archives,  Vol.    1.   page   385, 

-Imw  that   <i ge   Ross  was  the  owner  of  a  ship 

known  as  the  brig  "Mary,"  fifty  tons,  registered 
Nov.  23,  1762.  On  Jan'.  11.  1776,  George  Ross 
was  appointed  adjutant  of  Col.  Arthur  St.  Cla 
2d  Pennsylvania  Battalion,  which  was  in  service 
from  January.  1776,  to  January.  1777.  He  re- 
signed  this  commission  July  1.  1776,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  lieutenant  of  marines  with  the  rank  of 
M.  On  July  1.  1776,  deL  gates  from  the  As- 
sociated Battalions  held  a  convention  al  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  w  hen  two  brigadier  generals  si  ere  elected,  and 
George  Ross,  who  was  presidi  i  te  convention 

i  [ ».   t'li  nier  w  .i-    - i;ir\  i.   received    trine   ro 

Then  weri  eight  candidates  for  the  position-. 
Daniel  Roberdeau  and  James  Ewing  being  the 
two  successful  contestants.  One  of  the  resolutions 
adopted  at  this  convention  reads  : 

Resolved,    That    Col.    Geoi         R  Lieut.    Col. 

Daniel  Clymer  and  Capl    Sharp   Delanej    be  a   > 


516 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


mittee    to    review    and    correct    the    minutes    of    the 
proceedings  of  this  day.  and  they  are  hereby  desired 
to   publish    them   in   the   several    newspapers   of   the 
Colony,  and  that  they  be  signed  by  the  President. 
D.  Clymer.  George  Ross. 

Secretary.  President. 

Lancaster,  July  4. 

In  the  summer  of  1776  George  Ross  was  com- 
missioned a  colonel  of  a  company  from  Lancaster 
county.  Hi-  also  served  the  aforesaid  county  as 
deputy  quartermaster  general.  In  the  summer  of 
L776  lie  issued  a  regimental  order  to  which  he 
signed  his  name  "George  Ross,  Colonel."  On  page 
1").  Vol.  VII.  of  the  oth  Series  of  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  i>  an  account  of  moneys  expended  by 
Michael  Dii  fenderfer  for  the  support  of  the  v 
and    children   of   militiamen    belonging   to    Capt. 

1 30     \i  ■    company   in   Col.   Georg      Ross's 

battaliou  of   Lancaster  county. 

G»  i]  _■  Ri  i--.  •'  v..  sou  ol  ( teoi  g  Ri  --.  above,  in 
L776  was  a  lieutenant  of  the  11th  Pennsylvania 
Regimeu  .  i  ontinental  Line,  and  on  Sept.  30, 
1776,  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  a  com- 
pany of  Col.  Richard  Humpton's  regiment,  known 
as  the  "Old  Eleventh."  On  June  11, 1777,  ( lolonel 
Bumpton,  while  in  camp  at  Mount  Pleasant.  N. 
J.,  makes  a  report  of  his  eig  ;  compani  -.  Cap- 
lain  Ross  had  a  a  men  in  camp,  thirteen  at 
Philadelphia,  one  a  prisoner  of  war,  two  claimed, 
seven  deserted;  total,  thirty-two  men. 

John    Ross,  another  of  the   four  brothers  men- 
id,    settled    in    Lancaster    county.    Pa.,    from 
which  territory  he  served  in  the  Revolution,  mak- 
ing an  excellent  and  honorable  record. 

Joseph  Ross,  another  of  the  four  brothers,  and 
his  son,  Joseph  Ross,  Jr.,  both  served  with  credit 
in  the  Revolution.  After  the  Revolution  he  set- 
tled in  New  York  State,  where  his  descendants 
still  reside.  Some  of  his  grandsons  became  drov- 
ers, and  in  the  course  of  their  journeyings  as  such 
met  and  talked  with  the  descendants  of  William 
Ross,  the  other  brother  of  the  four,  who  then  lived 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

William  l!"-s,  to  whom  the  Northumberland 
county  family  traces  back,  in  a  list  of  miscel- 
eous  officers  is  given  as  a  captain  of  a  company 
in  the  Revolution  (Pennsylvania  Archives.  5th 
Scries.  Vol.  IV,  page  205).  The  same  authority 
mentions  him  as  a  private  in  the  Continental  Line 
earlier  in  the  war.  In  July.  17".  he  was  a  pri- 
vate of  th''  5tb  Battalion,  and  in  September,  1 T 7 T . 
he  was  a  private  of  the  4th  Battalion,  to  which  he 
had  been  transferred.  From  Aug.  1  i"  Sept.  3, 
L781,  he  was  a  private  in  ('apt.  Samuel  Holliday's 
company.  Later  in  the  same  year,  for  twenty-six 
-.  he  was  on  the  pay  roll  as  a  private  of  (apt. 
William  Huston's  company.  Late  in  1781  he  was 
enlisted  as  a  private  of  the  first  class  in  Col.  Al- 
exander Brown's  regiment.  In  the  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  5th  Series,  Vol.  VII,  page  •">.  he  was  re- 


corded as  a  lieutenant.  Oct.  '.'•">.  1777.     Be  served 
nine  years  anil  eleven  montl  - 

There  was  a  .lames  Ross  who  lived  in  Lancaster 
county7  and   was  related  to  the   four   brothers,  hut 

relationship  is  uncertain.  He.  too,  made  a 
most  creditable  Revolutionary  record. 

William  Ross  first  settled  in  Lancaster  county, 
later  coming  to  Sunbury,  where  he  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land.     At  the  time  of  the  Whiskey  Insur- 

>n.  in  Kill,  he  was  again'  in  the  service  for 
months,  and   is  said  to  have  been  killed  at 
me.     Be  had  an  only  sou.  William. 
William  Ros>.  only  son  of  William,  was  a  mere 
chilil  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  he  was 
bound  out  at  Lancaster,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  hatter.     Returning  to  Sunbury.  he  was  married 
there  to  Betsy  Michum,  whose  people  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  Muncy,  Pa.    After  several  years,  in 
L807,  he  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in  wdiat  is  now 
Lower  Augusta  township.   Northumberland   coun- 
ty, now  owned  by  John  Haupt.    But  he  lived  there 
only  a  short  time,  in  1808  moving  to  the  locality 
where  his  grandson  William    Ross  lived   until   his 
ah.  this  homestead   having  now    been  in 
tiie  Ross  name  for  over  one  hundred  years.     When 
the    pioneer   William    Ross    located    thei i    only 

-quai  ters  of  an  acre  had  lie 
patch  made  by  the  early  hunters  to  help  them 
catch  the  animals  easily.  Salt  was  spread  on  the 
ground  for  the  deer  to  lick,  and  it  was  a  compar- 
atively easy  matter  to  shoot  them  once  they  were 
in  the  clearing.  The  Daniel  Levi  warrant  or 
survey  for  this  tract,  which  calls  for  349  ai 
bears   the  date    1793.      It    was   purchased   by   Au- 

is  T..  William  and  James  Ross,  sons  of  Wil- 
liam h'o>s.  Jr..  who  had  also  a  son  John  and  two 
daughters,  Betsy  and  Polly,  and  all  this  family 
lived  and  died  there  except  Augustus  T..  who  died 
in  Lopez,  Sullivan  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  is  buried. 
William  Ross,  Jr.,  followed  hatting  while  living 
in   Lower   Augusta   township.    He  died    in   middle 

and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  River 
cemetery  at  Fisher's  Perry,  but  there  is  no  tomb- 
stone to  mark  the  spot. 

William  Ross,  one  of  the  four  s  ins  of  William 
R  iss,  Jr..  was  born  Oct.  6,  1806,  at  Sunbury,  and 
was  in  his  infancy  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  passed  all  his 
life.  He  lived  on  the  same  mound  later  owned  by 
his  sou  William,  having  a  tract  of  1'.''.'  acres, 
mostly  woodland,  and  in  1850  he  built  a  >t  >ne 
house  which  was  torn  down  by  his  son  William  in 
ism.  In  1850-51  he  also  built  a  barn,  which  his 
son  William  rebuilt  in  1896.  When  he  built  the 
present  large  brick  house,  in  1875,  he  made  the 
bricks  himself,  he  and  a  neighbor.  Aaron  Wilkin- 
son, who  also  put  up  a  brick  house,  making  the 
bricks  together  in  187  1  and  putting  up  their  ho  -  - 
the  following  year.  Mr.  Ross  was  a  typical  pioneer 
woodsman,    and    he    was    handv    with    many    tools 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


but  particularly  skillful  as  a  w Iworker.     There 

were  no  sawmills  in  the  vicinity  in  his  early  life, 
so  lie  shaved  shingles  by  band,  made  bandies  for 
pickaxes,  hammers,  etc.,  and  was  an  all-around 
useful  mau  ai  mei  hanical  labor.  He  helped  to 
build  the  firsl  Shamokin  dam  at  Sunbury,  and 
helped  to  clear  much  land  in  this  vicinitv.  His 
death  occurred  April  13,  Ins:.,  and  he  is  buried 
at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife 
Sarah  (  Renri  I,  born  in  March,  1818,  died  in  .lime, 

1879,  aged  sixty-one  years,  three  months,  twenty- 
six  days.  Her  parents,  Philip  and  Rachel  Renn, 
hail  children  a-  follows:  Henry,  win,  located  in 
Decatur  i  ounty,  fnd. :  John,  who  located  in  Lower 
Augusta  township;  Betsy,  Mrs.  Jolm  Cornell; 
Sarah,  Mi--.  Ross;  an.]  Tiny,  Mis.  John  Flem- 
ming.  To  William  anil  Sarah  (Renn)  Ross  were 
horn  the  following  children:  Amos,  who  was  born 
on  the  forty-fourth  anniversary  of  his  father's 
birth,  died  March  26,  1884,  aged  thirty-three  years, 
five  months,  twenty  days;  William  is  mentioned  be- 
low;   Sarah    Elizabeth    died    unmarried    Jan.    20, 

1880,  aged  twenty-three  years,  seven  months,  twen- 
ty-one days;  .lane  died  unmarried  just  three  weeks 
after  her  sister,  on  -Ian.  20,  1880. 

William  Ross,  son  of  William  ami  Sarah 
(Renn)  Ross,  was  horn  May  24,  1s.">:'>.  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  where  he  passed  all  his  life. 
Ill-  educational  advantages  were  rather  limited, 
but  what  hr  lacked  in  that  kind  of  training  he 
made  up  for  in  practical  experience.  In  early 
life  he  learned  his  father"-  trade,  making  shingles 
and  handles  b\  hand,  giving  hi-  attention  chiefly 
to  tie-  production  of  handles  of  all  kinds.  He  also 
helped  to  clear  three  different  tracts  of  land,  so 
that  he  knew  considerable,  by  personal  experience, 
-of  the  work  of  developing  land  for  cultivation.  His 
last  work  of  this  kind  was  the  clearing  of  five  acres 
of  timber,  in  the  fall  of  1909,  of  the  130-acre  tract 
which  hi'  owned  on  the  top  of  Mahanoy  mountain, 
where  he  built  a  house  for  his  son  William  AW 
Ross.  Id  gave  to  each  of  his  sons.  George  E.  and 
William  W..  thirty  acres  of  this  130-acre  tract. 
For  a  number  of  years  lie  followed  lumbering,  hut 
be  was  most  extensively  interested  in  agriculture, 
at  the  tii I  his  death  owning  about  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  including  the  homestead  in 
Lower  Augusta  township.  He  owned  the  first  tract 
of  hind  cleared  and  settled  in  this  section  of  the 
county,  still  known  as  the  '-Rev.  Risen  tract."  Rev. 
Mr.  Risen  was  a  Methodist  minister  and  prob- 
ably the  first  settler  in  his  part  of  Northumberland 
county,  the  house  he  occupied  standing  near  a 
good  spring.  He  planted  locust  trees.  The  Tul- 
pehocken  road,  the  first  road  leading  to  Sunbury 
from  heading  and  Berks  county,  and  from  New 
York  State,  was  later  laid  out  through  this  land. 
Conrad  Weiser  and  the  Indian-  passed  this  way 
in  their  journeyings.  When  the  New  Jersey  pi- 
oneers  who   settled    in   this   section   were   ready   to 


plant  they  obtained  their  first  seed  wheat  from  Rev. 
-Mr.  Risen.  Though  an  active  man  Mr.  Ross  de- 
voted all  his  time  to  hi-  own  affairs,  always  refus- 
ing official  honors.  In  politic-  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, in  religion  a  Presbyterian,  and  he  helped  to 
build  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.  He  died 
at  hi-  home  at  Augustaville  Nov.  II.  1910,  and 
was  buried  at  that  place.  He  was  not  only  prom- 
inent a-  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  bis  home  section. 
hut  was  also  well  known  in  Sunbury,  and  was  uni- 
versally respected,  hi-  death  being  regarded  a-  a 
loss  to  the  whole  community. 

<»n  Match  16,  1880,  Mr.  Ross  married  Hannah 
•  I.  Strasser,  daughter  of  Henrv  Strasser,  and  to 
them  were  horn  six  children:  George  K. :  William 
W..  who  married  Ruth  Sehwenk ;  Clara  E.,  who 
married  Ernest  Metz  and  died  not  long  afterward ; 
Sarah   G.  ;   Laura   A.,  and   M.    Ella. 

The  Ross  family  ha-  a  wooden  chest  bearing 
the  date  1776  which  was  made  in  Germany  am! 
was  brought  to  America  by  a  Derr,  who  settled  in 
Little  Mahanoy  township,  tin-  county. 


John  K'o-s.  previously  mentioned  as  one  of  the 
sons  of  William  Ross,  dr..  was  horn  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  ami  followed  farming  and  la- 
boring  work  generally,  making  pick  handles  to 
eke  out  his  income.  lie  owned  a  large  tract  ol 
land  mi  the  northern  slope  of  the  Mahanoy  moun- 
tain. He  i-  buried  at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian 
Church,  where  his  wife.  Mary  Elizabeth  (Smith), 
al-o  rests.  They  had  children  a-  follow-:  Eman- 
uel: Augustus,  who  is  deceased:  Alexander,  John 
and  Frank,  all  of  whom  live  at  Shamokin;  ami 
Emma  J.,  who  married  Ed.  Badema'n,  of  Sunbury, 
and  died  about  a  year  afterward. 

Emanuel  Ross  was  horn  July  28,  1847,  in  Low- 
er Augusta  township,  where  he  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived bis  education.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age 
he  continued  to  work  on  the  farm,  and  then  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years  followed  railroading,  dur- 
ing this  time  making  his  home  in  the  borough  of 
Shamokin:  he  has  since  made  his  home  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  and  from  ls.s;  to  the  present  time 
has  occupied  his  present  farm  there.  Ii  consists  of 
103  acre--,  and  was  formerly  the  homestead  of  Se- 
bastian Zimmerman,  who  erected  the  ham  in  1892. 
Mr.  h'o>s  has  owned  the  property  since  1894,  hav- 
ing hi  en  a  tenant  during  the  firsl  few  years  of 
his  residence  there.  He  is  a  progressive  farmer. 
;iini  one  of  the  substantia]  citizens  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, a  valuable  and  respected  member  of  the  com- 
munity and  a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored 
old  family. 

In  November,  1870,  Mr.  Koss  married  Sarah 
Bixler,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Maria  (Wolfgang) 
Bixler,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  have  had  the  follow- 
ing named  children:  Charles  E.,  who  married 
Eva  Eister,  lives  in  Rockefeller  township;  Emma 
died   at    the  age  of  thirty  years,   unmarried:    liar- 


548 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


vey  \V..  who  married  Emma  Yeager,  lives  in  Sun- 
bury;  William  .1.  is  a  carpenter  by  trade;  Alex- 
ander and  Jackson  Live  at  home;  Stella  A.  died 
when  four  years  old.  Mr.  Ross  and  his  family  at- 
tend the  Methodist  Church.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Democrat. 


James  Ross,  son  of  William  Ross,  Jr.,  was  born 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  died  in  thai 
tion  about  1857,  aged  fifty-two  years.  He  is  buried 
at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  huckster,  selling  his  produce  at  Potts- 
ville  and  Minersville,  and  was  a  skillful  wood- 
worker, making  grain  cradles,  handles  for  miners' 
tools,  etc.  He  had  a  third  interest  in  a  200-acre 
tract  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  lived  on 
his  part.  This  tract  is  now  owned  by  Henry  En- 
ter and  adjoin-  tin'  farm  of  Wellington  Ross,  son 
of  James  Ross.  An  enterprising  and  intelligent 
man.  he  occupied  an  honorable  place  among  his 
fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Eos-  married  Harriet  Col- 
dren,  daughter  of  Solomon  Coldren,  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta  township,  whose  wife's  name  was  Minnier. 
Sis  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Edward 
died  in  LOCH  in  Ohio  and  is  buried  there,  in  Otta- 
wa county;  David  A.  lives  near  Herndon,  in  Jack- 
son township,  tin-  county;  Marion,  who  died  when 
thirty-nim  rears  "Id.  was  a  charcoal  burner  in 
Lower  Augusta  township;  Nelson  was  a  farmer  for 
some  time  in  the  State  oi  Ohio  aud  died  in  Ten- 
nessee: Wellington  is  mentioned  below:  Mary  Jane 
lives  in  Northumberland  county  (she  i-  a  deaf 
mute).  For  her  second  husband  Mrs.  Ross  mar- 
ried William  Shipman,  who  died  in  Snydertown 
borough.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
namely:  William  H,  Elliot  A..  Jefferson,  Malin- 
da,  Emma,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Shipman  died  in  duly.  1902,  aged  seventy-five 
years,  and  is  buried  at  the  Mountain  Presbyt 
( 'hutch. 

Wellington  Ross,  -en  of  James  Ross,  was  born 
May  1.  1S54,  on  his  father's  farm  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  and  there  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farming. 
and  in  his  early  manhood  learned  powder-making 
from  A.  s.  Speece,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
which  he  followed  there  for  four  years.  In  the 
spring  :  1880  hi  bi  .an  farming  on  the  tract  he 
-till  occupies  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  his  prop- 
erty consisting  of  seventy-three  acres  lying  along 
the  north  side  of  Mahanoy  mountain.  Mr.  Ross 
erected  the  dwelling  he  occupies  in  1881,  and  the 
barn  was  built  by  the  previous  owner.  John  Ful- 
ler: tl riginal  owner  of. this  place  was  one  Isaac 

Rogers,  a  pioneer  of  tin-  section,  after  whom  Levi 
Barrett  ov  ued  it.  Mr.  Fuller  succeeding  him.  The 
situation  is  admirable,  the  view  of  the  surrounding 
country  from  tin-  location  being  particularly  fine, 
and  tin1  property  is  valuable  for  its  productive 
qualities,  Mr.   Ross  raising  i  msiderable  grain  and 


truck  and  making  a  specialty  of  fruit,  growing 
\ arii in-  kind-,  in  abundance;  he  has  two  acres  of 
raspberries.  He  take-  his  truck  to  the  Shamokin 
markets,  where  it  finds  a  ready  sale. 

In  1878  Mr.  Ross  married  Sarah  Eister,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaiah  and  Lovina  (Reitz)  Eister,  and  to 
this  marriage  were  horn  four  children:  Laura, 
of  Charles  Burrell  (they  live  in  Shamokin)  ; 
Henry,  who  died  young:  Mary,  married  to  John 
Raker  (they  live  at  Philadelphia  I  :  and  Elmer,  who 
died  young.  Mrs.  Ross  died  dan.  31,  1888,  aged 
twenty-nine  years,  two  months,  live  days,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.  In 
1890  Mr.  Ross  married  (second)  Annie  Reader, 
daughter  of  Robert  R.  Reader,  and  they  have  had 
children:  Lewis  (who  died  young),  Her- 
man. Bertha,  Elsie,  Walter.  Enna  and  Rosa.  Mr. 
Ross  and  bis  family  are  n  i  mb  •  the  Mountain 
Pri  sbyterian  Church. 

JACOB  W.  STROHECKER,  a  prominent  farm- 
er of  the  southern  portion  of  Jordan  township,  was 
born  Nov.  5,  1850,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives, 
son  of  William  and  Sallie  (Wie-ti    Strohecker. 

John  and  Elizabeth  (Williams)  Strohecker.  his 
grandparents,  were  natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  the  Strohecker  family  has  been  established 
from  an  early  date.  Coming  to  this  region,  John 
Strohecker  died  when  a  comparatively  young  man, 
in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  is  buried  at  How- 
erters  Union  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed 
member.  He  is  described  as  a  tall  man.  with  dark 
hair  and  brown  eyes.  His  widow  married  a  Wil- 
liamsport  man.  by  whom  she  had  five  children,  and 
-  buried  at  Williamsport.  By  her  marriage  to 
John  Strohecker  she  had  two  children:  William 
and  John,  the  latter,  who  was  a  mason,  settling  in 
the  Lykens  Valley  and  reared  a  family  still  living 
in  that  section. 

Daniel  Stroheclcer,  th<  gr<  it-grandfather  of  Ja- 
cob \\  .  Strohecker,  died  prior  to  June  19,  1826,  the 
date  papers  of  administration  were  filed,  Jacob 
inger  being  administrator  of  his  estate.  The 
d  is  found  in  Will  Book  2,  page  517,  at  the 
Northumberland  count)   cot       ousi 

William  Strohecker,  son  of  John.  «,i-  born  Jau. 
7,  i  sit.  in  Upper  Mahantango  township,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  and  farmed  practically  all  his  life 
in  Jordan  township.  Northumberland  county,  part 
of  his  farm  being  now  owned  by  his  son  Jacob  W. 
Strohecker.  the  rest  by  William  L.  Troutman.  He 
made  frequent  trips  to  Reading,  at  which  place  the 
farmers  of  the  section  did  most  of  their  marketing 
then,  and  he  also  drove  a  huckster  team  to  Potts- 
ville.  lie  was  a  popular  man  among  his  neigh- 
bors, served  two  years  as  supervisor  of  Jordan 
town-hip.  and  in  polities  was  identified  with  the 
Democratic  partv.  His  death  occurred  July  21, 
1889,  and  lie  is  buried  at  St.  David's  Church, 
Hebe,  where  his  wife  also  rests.     Mr.  Strohecker 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


549 


married  Sallie  Wiest,  who  was  born  Feb.  21,  1S16, 
daughter  of  John  Wiest,  and  they  were  the  parents 
"I  sixteen  children,  namely:  John  (deceased), 
•George  (deceased),  Harry,  William  (born  in 
1836,  died  in  1845),  Sallie,  Samuel  (deceased), 
Louisa  (deceased),  Joel,  Tobias  (deceased).  Dan- 
iel,,I  aeob  W.j  MoseSj  James,  Polly  (deceased),  Da- 
vid and  Hannah. 

Jacob  W.  Strohecker  received  his  education  in 
the  pay  schools  which  were  conducted  in  the  home 
neighborhood  during  bis  boyhood,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents,  as  was  cus- 
tomary, until  he  became  of  age.  In  1872  he  began 
farming  on  the  homestead  on  his  own  account, 
having  purchased  sixtj  acres  of  his  father's  prop- 
erty, and  in  1885  be  purchased  another  tract,  of 
tun  acres,  lie  farmed  all  this  himself  until  his 
recent  retirement,  in  the  spring  of  1909,  since 
which  time  be  has  made  bis  home  at  Hebe,  where 
be  owns  his  nice  residence  and  a  small  piece  of 
ground.  In  the  spring  of  1910  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  fifteen  acres  near  that  place,  and  he  is  one 
ill'  tin'  substantial  residents  of  the  region,  where 
Ik  i-  much  respected  lor  bis  industrious  career  and 
usefulness  as  a  citizen.  He  was  successful  and 
prosperous  during  his  active  years  as  the  result 
of  hard  work,  and  he  gained  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing mi  i\i  ill, nt  manager.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  has  been  quite  influential  in  the  local  councils 
of  tbr  Democratic  party  and  he  has  held  various 
public  offices,  having  given  able  service  on  the 
school  board,  of  which  be  was  a  member  for  fif- 
teen years,  twelve  years  consecutively,  and  be  was 
super  isor  for  five  consecutive  years.  He  has  also 
been  active  in  church  work  as  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed congregation  of  St.  David's  Church,  at 
Hebe,  to  which  his  family  also  belong;  he  has  held 
all  tli.'  church  offices,  having  been  deacon,  trustee 
.at  the  time  the  present  church  was  remodeled,  ami 
elder,  which  office  he  siill  holds. 

On  Jan.  i.  1870,  Mr.  Strohecker  married  Eliza- 
beth Wiest,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  (Beissel) 
Wiest,  of  Jordan  township,  and  tiny  have  three 
children :  John,  who  is  now  a  lumberman  in  Cow- 
litz county,  Wash.,  is  married  and  has  two  cliil- 
•dren:  Cassie  married  Frank  Hoffman  ami  thej  are 
farming  people,  living  mi  the  Strohecker  farm  in 
Jordan  township,  where  they  have  been  located 
since  tin-  spring  of  19"!'  (they  have  had  fourteen 
•children,  five  of  whom  are  deceased):  Mary  mar- 
ried Harry  Buyer,  an  engineer,  and  they  reside  in 
Oregon  (they  have  bad  one  daughter,  who  died  in 
infancy). 

KLINGEE.  The  oldest  resident  in  his  section 
is  David  S.  Klinger,  of  Klingerstown,  who  has 
lived  at  that  place  for  sixty  vears  and  in  the  neigh- 
borhood all  hi-  life.  Henry  C.  Klinger.  a  well 
known  young  ciiizen  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county,  is  a  member  of  the  same 


family,  which  has  been  established  in  this  region 
for  many  years. 

The  Klinger  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  its 
first  representative  in  this  country,  Johan  Philip 
Klinger,  was  horn  duly  11,  1723,  in  Germany.  He 
and  his  wife  came  in  America  and  settled  in  Read- 
ing, Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  she  died,  without  issue, 
1  loing  back  to  Germany,  lie  remarried  there,  and  on 
his  return  In  America  again  made  his  home  at 
Reading,  where  all  his  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter  burn  in  the  second  union,  were  born.  Mov- 
ing thence  to  what  is  now  Hublev  township. 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  took  up  one  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  the  neighborhood  about  Klinger's 
Church,  and  there  lived  and  farmed  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Sept.  30,  1811,  when  he  was 
over  eighty-eight  years  old.     lie  donated  the  land 

u) which  the  first   Klinger'-  Church  was  built, 

and  it  was  so  named  in  his  honor.  The  children 
born  to  him  and  his  wife  Anna  were:  George, 
John  Philip,  Alexander,,  Peter  and  Elizabeth.   The 

daughter  married  Conrad  Weiser,  - E  Frederick 

Weiser  and  grandson  of  Conrad  Weiser,  the  not- 
ed Indian  interpreter.  Philip,  George  and  Alex- 
ander Klinger  are  mentioned  in  the  marriage  cer- 
tificate of  Conrad  Weiser.  Jr..  Nov.  I'-.  L775. 
George  Klinger,  Esq.,  drew  up  an  agreement  in 
regard  to  the  estate  of  Conrad  Weiser,  deceased, 
Mahanoy  township.  Of  the  four  <nns  of  Johan 
Philip  Klinger,  the  emigrant,  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing account. 

George  Klinger  was  married  twice,  the  maiden 
name  of  one  of  his  wives  being  Brosius.  lie  had 
children  by  both  marriages,  viz.:  Philip.  Alexan- 
der. John,  Peter.  Barbara  (Mrs.  Zerbe)  and  Mrs. 

I  ieurge    Klock. 

John  Philip  Klinger  lived  on  a  farm  now  owned 
by  Emanuel  Deibert,  and  later  moved  across  the 
Susquehanna  river  to  the  location  in  Snyder  coun- 
ty where  he  died.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Snyder,  and  they  had  children.  (Al  Klinger's 
Church  is  buried  Philip,  "son  of  Johann  Philip 
and  Anna  Klinger,"  born  March  11,  1792,  died 
March  30,  1854.) 

Alexander  Klinger,  hum  at  Reading  Feb.  C 
1767,  died  April  6,  1839,  and  is  buried  at  Kling- 
er's Church.  He  married  Magdalena  Haag,  who 
was  horn  in  1770  and  died  in  1846,  and  to  then 
were  torn  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Alex- 
ander, George,  Catharine,  Eve  and   Anna   Maria. 

Peter  Klinger,  born  Nov.  3,  1773,  died  Aug.  10. 
L858,  and  is  buried  at  Klinger's  Church.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Steinbruch,  who  was  born  May  3, 
L774,  and  died  Sept.  21,  1845,  and  the  following 
children  were  hum  to  this  union  :  Peter,  3  ohannes. 
Jacob.  George,  Daniel.  Alexander,  John  Adam. 
Philip.  Eve  (married  Samuel  Wiest),  Hannah 
(married  .Michael  Dietz)  and  Mrs.  John  Reis- 
ingcr. 

Alexander  Klinger,  - if  Alexander  and  grand- 


550 


XORTHLMBEKLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


son  el'  the  emigrant  ancestor,  married  Elizabeth 
Schwalm,  daughter  of  John  Schwalm,  the  Hessian 
soldier,  and  they  were  fanning  people  all  their 
lives.  To  them  were  born  three  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Amy.  John,  Samuel  and  David   S. 

David  S.  Klixger,  son  of  Alexander  and  Eliza- 
beth (Sehwalm)  K linger,  was  born  May  15.,  1827. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  millwright,  and  has  had 
a  busy  and  successful  career,  all  of  which  has  been 
passeS  in  bds  native  locality.  In  1851  he  settled 
in  Klingerstown,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and 
he  has  a  comfortable  home  and  many  other  things 
which  go  i"  make  life  pleasant.  He  has  accumu- 
lated considerable  property,  having  a  150-acre 
farm  in  Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
a  ten-acre  tract  in  Klingerstown,  and  a  tract  of 
sixteen  acres  two  miles  from  Klingerstown,  in  Ma- 
hantango township.  Though  long  past  the  age  of 
eighty  Mr.  Klinger  has  an  active  mind  and  a 
clear  memory,  and  the  family  history  used  in  this 
article  was  all  contributed  by  him.  He  and  all 
his  family  are  of  the  Reformed  faith.  Mr.  Klingi  i 
being  a  Reformed  member  of  the  Union  Church 
at  Klingerstown.     His  father  was  a  Lutheran. 

In  1851  Mr.  Klinger  married  Barbara  Wiest, 
daughter  of  John  and  Catharine  (Merkel)  Wiest, 
and  eleven  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Pres- 
ton, Francis,  Ottis,  Calvin,  Alexander,  Amelia. 
Barbara,  Catharine,  Christian,  and  two  who  died 
young.  The  family  is  highly  respected, 
numbered  among  the  progressive  members  of  the 
i   immunity. 

The  Klinger  name  has  been  perpetuated  in  the 
town  ami  postoffiee  bearing  the  name  Klingers 
town,  sn  called  in  honor  of  Jolm  Klinger,  as  well 
as  in  the  Klinger  Church  and  Klingerstown 
Church,  and  Klingerstown  Cap.  which  is  in  the 
Mahantango  mountains:  the  town  anil  gap  are  ai 
the  corner  of  Schuylkill.  Dauphin  and  Northum- 
berland counties,  on  the  Schuylkill  county  side. 


George  Klinger,  great-grandfather  of  Henry  C. 
Klinger,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  was  a  grandson  of  Johan  Philip 
Klinger,  i  he  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  family.  Ac- 
cording to  the  above  record,  the  emigrant's  sons 
Alexander  and  Peter  each  had  a  son  named  George 
He  owned  a  farm  and  followed  farming  near  Gratz, 
in  Dauphin  countv.  and  he  i>  buried  at  Klingers 
Church.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  (There 
are  two  George  Klingers  buried  at  Klinger's 
Church:  George  P.,  bom  Jan.  7,  1798,  died  Sept. 
6,  1880;  wife  Elizabeth,  bom  Feb.  20,  1805,  died 
Sept.  IV.  1885.  George,  born  March  17,  1795, 
died  Sepi.  L8,  L866;  wife  Eve,  born  Jan.  20,  1798, 
died  Aug.  36,  1863.)  To  George  Klinger  and  his 
wife  were  horn  children  as  follows:  Daniel,  who 
lived  at  Seven  Points,  Pa. :  William,  a  farmer  in 
tic  Lykens  Valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  who  died 
at   Gratz;  Elias;  and  Mary,  wife  of  John  Shade. 


Elias  Klinger,  son  of  George,  was  a  farmer  in 
the  Lykens  Valley,  near  Gratz.  where  he  is  buried. 
He  died  in  1855,  when  yet  a  young  man.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Lutheran.  His  widow.  Sarah 
i  Kissinger),  remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of 
Elias  Bush.  To  Iter  marriage  with  Mr.  Klinger 
were  born  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: Caroline,  who  married  Joel  Daniel:  John. 
who  died  aged  seventeen  years:  Frank,  of  Gratz; 
Emanuel;  and  Catharine  who  married  Urich 
Trautman. 

Emanuel  Klinger,  son  of  Elias.  wa-  born  May 
25,  1818.  and  was  reared  to  farming.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  only  eight  years  old.  and  he 
worked  for  his  mother  until  he  was  over  twenty- 
one.  After  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  1870, 
he  began  farming  at  Hebe  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  William  Bonner,  remaining  there  for  two  years. 
He  then  lived  two  years  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  thence  moving 
to  Elias  Boyer's  farm  for  a  year  and  later  "to 
Abraham  Boyer's  place.  After  several  removals 
he  located  on  the  Jacob  Hilbush  farm,  near  Maha- 
noy, in  Jackson  township,  where  he  lived  and 
farmed  for  eleven  years,  in  18110  returning  to  the 
farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy.  This  farm  ha-  since  been 
hi-  home.  It  consists  of  one  hundred  aero,  lo- 
cated about  two  mile-  northeast  of  Hickory  Cor- 
im  rs,  and  Mr.  Klinger  purchased  it  from  Benja- 
min Buyer.  He  and  hi-  family  are  members  of 
Zion's  Church  of  Stone  Valley,  and  in  political 
matters  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Klinger  married  Elizabeth  Bonner,  daugh- 
ter of  Jolm  and  Hettie  (Troutman)  Bonner,  of 
Jordan  township,  and  they  have  had  a  large  fam- 
ily: Monroe,  who  was  drowned  in  infancy:  Hat- 
tic  who  married  David  Bordner;  Elias.  of  Jordan 
township j  John,  of  Sunbury.  Pa.:  Penrose,  of 
Lower  Mahanoy.  Charles,  oi  EEerndon,  Pa.:  Jacob. 
of  Urban,  Pa.:  Henry  C. :  and  Lizzie,  who  is  un- 
married and  living  at  home. 

Henry  C.  Klinger,  son  of  Emanuel,  was  born 
•  bin.  !.  1885,  in  Jackson  township.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  in  tin-  vicinity 
of  home,  and  for  five  terms  attended  a  summer 
normal  school  conducted  at  Herndon.  He  was 
licensed  to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  North- 
umberland county,  by  Prof.  I.  A.  DeWitt.  then 
county  superintendent,  and  began  teaching  in  the 
lull  of  1904,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town-hip.  where 
he  taught  one  term.  For  the  next  two  terms  he 
was  engaged  in  Jackson  township,  returning  at 
the  end  of  that  time  to  Lower  Mahanoy.  where 
he  has  taught  for  the  past  three  terms.  In  1907 
he  was  granted  a  teacher's  professional  certificate. 
lb  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  a  successful  in- 
structor and  disciplinarian  and  is  well  thought  of 
in  the  localities  where  he  is  known.  In  1907  Mr. 
Klinger  wa-  elected  assessor  of  his  township,  and 
reelected    at   the   end   of  his   term,   being  still   the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


incumbent  of  the  office — the  youngest  assessor  his 
township  has  ever  had.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  been  active  in  the  interests  of  his 
party  in  this  locality  for  a  number  of  years,  doing 
effective  work  in  the  local  organization.  He  is 
considered  one  of  the  enterprising  young  men  of 
his  section,  and  holds  the  respect  of  all  who  know 


JOHN  II.  GEIST,  a  retired  citizen  of  Sunbury, 
was  born  Jan.  5,  1838,  at  Northumberland,  North- 
umberland   county,   and    is   a   member   of   an   old 

Pennsylvania  family  lir-t  settled  in  Berks  county, 
being  a  great-grandson  of  Conrad  Geist,  who  came 
from  Germany  about  1760  and  located  in  that 
county.  There  is  also  a  large  family  of  Geists  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  descended  from  one 
Christopher  Geist,  and  there  were  others  in  Ches- 
ter county.  In  1790  there  lived  in  Lancaster 
county    the   families  of   George  and   Jacob   Geist, 

and    in   the   sa year  the   families  of  John  and 

Matthew  Geisl  lived  in  Montgomery  county.  In 
1790  Conrad  Geist,  of  the  borough  of  Reading, 
had  three  sons  over  sixteen  years  old;  two  daugh- 
ters; and  wife.  The  same  year  there  is  record 
ot  George  Geist,  of  Longswamp  township,  Berks 
county,  with  one  son  under  sixteen  years  of  age, 
one  daughter,  and  wife;  and  of  Valentine  Geist, 
if  Longswamp  township,  with  one  son  under  six- 
teen, two  daughters,  and  wife. 

John  Geisi  I -on  of  Conrad,  who  came  from 
Germany  about  L760)  was  the  grandfather  of  John 
II.  Geist,  of  Sunbury.  lie  ami  his  wife.  Elizabeth 
(Koch),  were  both  from  Berks  county,  and  lived 
in  that  section  of  Northumberland  county  now 
embraced  in  Snyder  county,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  spoke  German.  The  date  of  his 
wife's  death  is  not  known,  hut  his  occurred  in  the 
rear  ISC'.  Anion-  their  children  were:  Daniel, 
who  was  a  Ear r  in  Montour  county,  Pa.:  Hen- 
ry, who  located  in  the  West;  Conrad,  wdio  died  in 
Dauphin  count  v.  Pa. :  John  :  ami  Peggy,  who  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Dentler  and  lived  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  this  county. 

John  Geist,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Koch) 
(ieist.  was  born  Sept.  29,  1801,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  trade  of  tanner  with  a  Mr.  Ziegler, 
in  Sunbury.  lie  engaged  in  the  business  on  his 
own  account  ai  Northumberland  until  the  old 
State  canal  was  built,  when  he  sold  out,  the  canal 
passing  through  the  property.  He  then  bought  a 
hotel  in  the  borough  of  Northumberland  and  con- 
ducted it  for  some  years,  after  which  he  bought 
a  boat  and  team  ami  engaged  in  boating  for  a 
few  vears.  Selling  out.  he  became  a  lock  tender 
at  Chapman,  Snyder  county,  during  the  Civil  war 
period,  tending  the  locks  there  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  foil  tender  at  the  North  Branch,  at 
Northumberland  borough,  for  eleven  wars,  lie 
died   on   North    S ad    street.    Sunbury,   .Ian.    8, 


1880,  and  is  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery. 
On  Dee.  12,  1824,  at  Millersburg,  Dauphin  coun- 
ty, he  married  Susanna  Frederick,  who  was  horn 
Nov.  25,  1805,  and  died  Feb.  5,  1894.  She  was 
a  member  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  and  her 
parent-  were  living  in  Philadelphia  when  the 
British  entered  that  city,  being  obliged  to  take 
refuge  in  their  cellar  until  the  danger  was  ■• 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mi-.  John 
Geist:  William  P..  born  Sept.  vs.  1825,  died  at 
Pottsville,  Pa.,  in  1910;  Margaret  E.,  horn  Jan.  ti, 
1828,  married  John  Clark:  Frederick,  horn  in 
1833,  died  in  infamy:  Amelia,  born  Feb.  28, 
L835,  married  H.  II.  Hetzel  and  they  live  in  Wil- 
liamsport,  Pa.;  John  If.  is  mentioned  below; 
Catharine,  born  June  1.  1840.  married  Hun 
Clement  and  died  Aug.  is.  1899:  Michael  |-\. 
horn  Oct.  22,  1842,  died  in  infancy:  Caroline,  horn 
Sept.   26,   1846,  died  May  9,  1851. 

John  II.  Geist  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blai  k 
smith,  and  in  I860  entered  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railway  Company  as  a  tool  dresser, 
being  in  the  same  employ,  in  that  capacity,  for 
about  thirty  years,  until  he  was  retired  anil  pen- 
sioned at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Veterans  Association  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Company  and  wears  a  veteran's  button.  Mr. 
Geist  is  an  honorable  ami  respected  citizen  and 
enjoys  the  good  will  of  all  who  know  him. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Geist  was  in  the 
Union  service  eleven  months,  having  enlisted  at 
Northumberland  in  the  hand  of  the  5th  Regiment, 
was  one  of  the  emergency  men  of  the  20th  Regi- 
ment, a  member  of  the  13th  Pennsylvania  Militia, 
and  also  in  the  construction  corps  in  Sherman's 
army.  He  is  a  member  of  Brunei-  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  an  honorary  member  id'  the  Odd  Fellows  ai 
Sunbury.  In  religious  connection  Mr.  G'eist  is  a 
Methodist,  and  he  served  several  terms  as  steward 
of  the  church  during  his  more  active  years. 

In  February.  1867,  Mr.  Geist  married  Anna 
Elizabeth  Kline,  who  was  born  Dec.  '.'■'!.  1844, 
daughter  of  Dewitt  Kline,  ami  died  Oct.  ■.':;.  1891, 
the  mother  of  three  children,  namely:  (  I  i  Clinton 
I),  conducts  a  papering  and  painting  business  in 
Sunbury.  He  married  Florence  Niece  ami  has  a 
son.  Homer  J.  (2)  Laura,  who  was  an  invalid, 
died  unmarried.  (3)  Harry  C.  lives  in  Sunbury, 
where  he  is  engaged  as  agent  for  the  Prudential 
Insurance  Company,  lie  married  Bessie  Stuari 
and  has  children.  Mildred.   Earold  and   Edna. 

IRVIN  K.  WETZEL,  proprietor  of  the  "Man- 
sion Hon-'"  at  Shamokin,  one  of  the  besl  located 
hotels  in  thai  borough,  has  been  in  business  al  (hat 
stand  since  January.  Can;.  ||,.  has  been  a  ho 
kei  per  in  Shamokin  ami  MounI  CaTmel  Bince  L894, 
and   is  well  known  to  the  traveling  public. 

Mr.   Wetzel  was  born   May   16,  1868,  in   Eldred 


55.2 


NORTHUMBERLAND  C( U'XTY.  PEXXSYLYAX IA 


township.  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  family 
has  been  located  for  some  generations.  His 
grandfather,  Peter  Wetzel,  followed  farming  in 
that  township  and  died  there.  His  farm  is  still 
in  the  family.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sny- 
der, and  their  children  were  as  follows:  Pi 
Daniel,  Charles,  Elias  (living  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Schuylkill  county),  Polly  (married  Ben- 
jamin Herring),  Sarah  (married  Cornelius  Her- 
ring), Lydia  (married  Elias  Morgan)  and  Mrs. 
Ephraim  Neiswelter. 

Daniel  Wetzel,  father  of  Irvin  K..  was  born  in 
L835  at  the  homestead  in  Eldred  township,  and 
died  there  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years. 
He  was  well  known  in  his  neighborhood,  where 
he  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade  all  his  active 
life.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  took  an 
active  part,  and  he  was  a  Bepubliean  in  political 
opinion.  A  good  man.  industrious,  thrifty  and 
honorable,  he  was  highly  respected.  He  married 
Catharine  Kehler,  daughter  of  John  Kehler  and 
granddaughter  of  Johnston  and  Catharine 
(Knarr)  Kehler,  farming  people  of  Schuylkill 
county.  Mrs.  Wetzel  survived  her  husband  mam- 
years,  dying  July  7,  1908,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Catharine,  who 
lives  at  Ashland.  Pa.,  is  the  wife  of  William  Ma 
tern  and  has  had  children,  Vertie  (deceased),  Ira, 
Herbert,  Elizabeth.  Maud,  and  William  (de- 
ceased) ;  Helen,  who  lives  at  Shamokin.  is  the 
wife  of  Simon  P.  Dunkelberger  and  has  children, 
Walter.  Estella,  Joseph,  Mabel  and  Golden ; 
Minerva  married  William  Snyder  and  lives  at 
Allentown  (they  have  had  a  large  family,  George, 
Howard.  Beatrice.  Eugene,  Lin  ale.  Tureie,  and 
three  who  died  young)  ;  Elsworth,  a  plasterer  by 
trade,  who  died  when  twenty-eight  years  old.  mar- 
ried Ida  Costerter  and  they  had  two  children, 
Katie  and  Eva:  Irvin  K.  is  mentioned  below: 
Harriet  was  married  Feb.  22,  1886,  to  Jefferson 
C.  Daniel,  who  was  born  in  Eldred  township. 
Schuylkill  county,  and  they  reside  at  Shamokin 
(they  have  two  children.  Lamor  and  Daniel)  : 
Susanna,  twin  of  Harriet,  lives  in  Camden,  X.  J.. 
the  wife'  of  George  Rudolph,  and  they  have  had 
four  children,  Raymond,  Edna.  Clayton,  and 
Matilda  (deceased)  :  Oscar  K..  horn  Sept.  30.  1873, 
is  a  well  known  merchant  at  Market  and  Arch 
streets.  Shamokin  (he  marrried  Carrie  May  Foulk 
and  they  have  one  son,  George  Albert,  who  is  at 
school)  ;  Elizabeth  died  in  infancy :  May  married 
Lester  Wetzel,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  have  had 
three  children.  Franklin,  Catharine  L..  and  Myron 
(deceased). 

Irvin  K.  Wetzel  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  home  neighborhood.  Be- 
ing so  young  when  his  father  died  he  went  to  live 
in  Schuylkill  county  with  his  maternal  uncle, 
Franklin    Kehler.    by    whom   he    was   reared,    re- 


maining there  until  he  attained  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen. Having  learned  the  trade  of  butcher  he  fol- 
lowed it  for  six  years,  and  then  for  five  years 
conducted  a  general  store  which  he  had  purchased. 
In  1894  he  entered  the  hotel  business,  to  which 
he  has  since  devoted  his  attention.  On  Aug.  14th 
of  that  year  he  began  keeping  hotel  on  North 
i<;  street,  in  Shamokin,  continuing  at  that  lo- 
cation for  two  years  and  three  months,  at  the 
of  which  time  he  went  to  Mount  Carmel  and 
took  charge  of  the  ""Locust  Mountain  Hotel." 
three  years  later  purchasing  that  property,  which 
-  ill  owns,  and  which  he  himself  conducted 
for  eight  years  in  all.  In  January.  1906,  he  came 
tokin  and  leased  the  ""Mansion  House," 
one  of  the  oldest  hotels  in  the  city,  purchasing  it 
Nov.  ;.  1909,  in  partnership  with  Augustus  Kehl- 
er. A  few  months  later  Mr.  Wetzel  bought  out 
Mr.  Kehler.  This  house,  located  at  Market,  Lin- 
coln and  Arch  streets,  near  the  Soldiers'  monu- 
ment, occupies  one  of  the  best  and  most  conven- 
ient site-  in  the  city,  and  the  accommodations  it 
offers  attract  a  good  class  of  patrons.  There  are 
fifty  rooms,  and  the  place  is  well  equipped  with 
the  comfort-  and  conveniences  which  go  to  make 
a  desirable  stopping  place  for  travelers.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  profitable  stand  Mr.  Wetzel  owns  the 
well  known  ""Maysville  Hotel,-'  about  three  miles 
from  Shamokin,  which  he  bought  in  May,  .1909. 
He  also  engages  quite  extensively  in  dealing  in 
horses,  and  in  both  lines  of  business  he  bears  a 
reputation  among  his  customers  and  associ- 
ates, his  success  having  been  won  by  straightfor- 
ward methods  and  unimpeachable  transactions. 

On  Nov.  20,  1886,  Mr.  Wetzel  married  Ida  M. 
Snyder,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Wetzel) 
Snyder  and  like  himself  a  native  of  Eldred  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county.  They  have  had  children 
as  follows:  Beulah  (who  is  married  to  Ray 
Schoener  and  lias  two  children,  Ruth  and  Irvin). 
Walter  (who  is  studying  at  Dental  College  in 
Philadelphia),  Robert  (who  died  young),  Lottie, 
Edith.  Clayton,  and  Palmer  (who  died  young). 

Mr.  Wetzel  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  and  fraternally  of  the  F.  O.  E.,  the  Red 
Men.  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. :  he 
also  belongs  to  the  Independent  Fire  Company  of 
Shamokin.    In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

JOHX"  H.  DEPPEX".  who  is  a  resident  of  Jor- 
dan township  and  well  known  in  his  section  of 
Xi.rtliumberland  county,  is  a  carpenter  by  trade 
and  has  also  engaged  in  farming,  and  he  is 
widely  known  in  his  connection  with  the  official 
life  of  the  county.  He  was  born  .Tan.  9.  1S65, 
at  Hebe,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  W.  Deppen,  who 
was  born  in  Jordan  township  and  passed  all  his 
life  there,  dying  at  the  home  of  his  son  Charles, 
at  Hebe,  Oct.  20.  1902.  aged  sixty-eight  years,  one 
month,  two  da  vs.     He  followed  his  trade,  that  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  553 

earpenti  r.  in  his  own  and  surrounding  neigh-  is  a  carpenter  and  lives  with  his  parents  at  Hebe. 
borhoods,  and  was  employed  as  such  for  over  twen-  Mr.  Deppen  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
t\  years  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Lutheran  Church  at  Hebe,  and  he  has  been  one 
Company.  He  owned  a  forty-acre  farm  in  Jor-  of  its  most  useful  workers.' having  held  the  offices 
dan  township,  and  cultivated  it  for  some  years,  of  deacon  and  elder  and  at  present  serving  as 
meantime  also  continuing  his  trade.  He  held  a  trustee.  He  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and 
number  of  local  offices,  serving  as  school  director  respected  residents  of  his  township. 
and   assistant  assessor,  and  lie  held  the  offices  of 

el. lei-  and  deacon  in  the  Lutheran  congregation  CHARLES  SHIFFER,  of  Sunbury,  dealer  in 
of  St.  David's  Church  at  Hebe,  to  which  he  and  patent  medicines,  toilet  articles,  etc.,  was  born 
his  wife  belonged.  They  were  faithful  members  Dec.  S,  1847,  at  Effort.  Monroe  Co..  Pa.,  son  of 
of  that  church  and  deeply  interested  in  its  wel-  Abraham  and  grandson  of  Conrad  Shiffer.  The 
fare.  Mr.  Deppen  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  name  was  originally  spelled  Schiffer. 
He  married  Amanda  Lettich  (Lettig),  whose  pa-  Conrad  Shiffer  lived  at  Brodheadsville,  Mon- 
rents  tven  esidents  of  near  Elizabethville,  in  roe  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  he 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  she  is  buried  at  Pleasant  Valley  Church  in  that  coun- 
dicd  several  years  before  .Mr.  Deppen.  on  Aug.  ty.  He  and  his  wife  had  a  large  family,  among 
lit,  1896,  aged  forty-nine  years,  eighl  months,  their  children  being:  George,  Conrad.'  Charles, 
one  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deppen  are  buried  side  Jacob,  Abraham,  John  and  Sally  Ann  (who  mar- 
ie side  at  St.  David's  Church.  They  were  the  vied  John  Kresge  and  lived  at  Brodheadsville). 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Elizabeth,  de-  Abraham  Shiffer  was  born  May  18,  1823.  and 
ceased,  wife  of  William  Kopenhaver;  William  died  May  5,  180?.  just  before  the  close  of  his 
Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy:  Sarah,  who  mar-  sixty-ninth  year.  He  lived  at  Brodheadsville. 
ried  Charles  Ludwig;  John  II.:  Emma,  wife  of  Monroe  county,  and  was  a  man  well  known  in 
Henry  Schwann;  Samuel,  of  Elizabethville,  Pa.:  bis  vicinity,  having  taught  school  for  many  years, 
Salarah,  married  to  Wilson  Knorr;  Charles,  of  and  later  engaged  as  a  huckster,  butcher  and 
Hebe:  Daniel,  of  Hebe:  Arthur,  who  died  aged  farmer,  owning  a  farm,  upon  which  he  made 
eleven  year-:  and  Harvey,  who  died  in  childhood,    his  home.     He  was   a  member  of  the  Reformed 

John  H.  Deppen  received  his  education  in  the  Church  and  is  buried  at  Brodheadsville.  His 
public  school-,  of  Jordan  township  and  when  six-  wife.  Julian  Searfos  (daughter  of  "William  Sear- 
teen  years  old  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  fos).  was  born  in  1829  and  died  in  February. 
He  followed  it  for  about  three  years,  and  for  an-  1891.  They  had  one  son,  Charles, 
other  three  years  was  an  employee  of  the  Phila-  Charles  Shiffer  received  his  education  in  the 
delphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company,  later  com-  public  schools  in  the  home  neighborhood.  He 
mencing  to  farm  in  Jordan  township,  near  Hebe,  was  trained  to  farm  work,  which  he  followed  dur- 
wherc  lie  was  thus  engaged  for  a  period  of  fit'-  ing  his  earlier  years,  and  was  later  employed  in 
teen  years.  Mr.  Deppen  has  had  numerous  public  the  lumber  industry  for  sixteen  years,  on  the 
responsibilities,  having  served  the  township  ef-  Lehigh  river  in  Luzerne  (now  Lackawanna)  coun- 
ficiently  as  school  director,  auditor  and  election  ty,  taking  different  contracts  and  at  times  em- 
ollieer,  and  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Hebe  ploying  his  own  help.  He  assisted  the  Drum 
during  the  Harrison  administration,  under  Post-  Brothers  in  the  mercantile  establishment,  and 
master  General  Wanamaker.  He  continued  to  hold  also  worked  in  their  clothes-pin  factory,  being  in 
the  position  twelve  years,  resigning  when  he  re-  their  employ  about  four  years,  a  tier  which  lie  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  turnkey  at  the  North-  turned  to  farming  for  a  year.  He  was  next  lo- 
umberland  county  prison.  He  gave  highly  satis-  cated  at  Freeland,  Luzerne  county,  where  he  Pol- 
factory  service  in  that  capacity  under  George  Han-  lowed  the  carpenter's  trade  about  eight  years,  the 
cock  for  three  years.  In  1900  he  was  census  enu-  last  four  years  of  that  period  in  the  employ  of 
merator  of  Jordan  township,  and  was  again  ap-    Eckley  B.  Cox,  coal  operator.  In  September.  1893, 

pointed  in  1910.     For  manv  vears  he  has  1 none    he    went    to    Jamison    City.    Columbia    Co..    Pa., 

of  the  active  workers  of  the' Republican  party  in  where  he  and  the  Drum  Brothers  (previously 
the  lower  end  of  the  county,  was  committeeman  mentioned)  purchased  the  company  store  at  that 
of  the  party  in  his  township  for  twelve  successive  place  from  the  Union  Tanning  Company.  Mr. 
vears.  has  been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  Shiffer  was  engaged  there  for  two  and  a  half 
conventions  and  in  1907  served  as  delegate  to  the  years,  thence  removing  to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  where 
Stat.-  convention,  when  John  O.  Sheetz  was  nom-  he  was  located  for  two  years,  conducting  a  gro- 
unded for  the  office  of  State  treasurer,  to  which  eery  store.  In  February.  ISO!),  he  came  to  Sun- 
he  was  elected  bury,  where  he  has  since  been  established  in  his 

In'lSSl  Mr.  Deppen  married  Catharine  Trout-  present  line  of  business  at  No.  IS  North  Third 
man  daughter  of  Simon  and  Sarah  (Shadel)  street,  between  the  Pennsylvania  depot  and  Mar- 
Troutman    and  they  have  one  son.  Allen  S.,  who    ket  Square.     Mr.  Shiffer  carries  a  large  and  com- 


554 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


plete  Hue  of  patent  medicines,  toilet  articles, 
snaps,  and  allied  commodities,  for  which  he  has 
found  a  ready  market  in  the  borough.  He  has 
enjoyed  an  excellent  trade  from  the  beginning, 
and  has  steadily  enlarged  his  circle  of  patrons, 
being  an  accommodating  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness man.  who  knows  how  to  anticipate  the  wants 
of  his  customers  and  keep  his  stock  in  advance 
of  the  demand  as  well  as  equal  to  it. 

In  187]  Mr.  Shifter  married  Savanna  Wil- 
liams, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Work- 
heiser)  Williams,  who  then  lived  at  Gouldsboro, 
Luzerne  (now  Lackawanna)  county.  They  have 
had  two  children:  Euberl  F..  now  engaged  as  en- 
gineer at  the  Union  Tannery,  in  Jamison  City. 
Columbia  county,  married  Esther  Sutliff  and  has 
one  child.  La  Rue;  Raymond,  manager  lor  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  at  Sunbury, 
married  Alice  Orner,  and  has  children  Eleanor 
and  Eugene.  Mr.  Shifter  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Sunbury. 

WALT.  The  Walt  or  Wald  family  is  well 
known  along  the  Susquehanna  in  the  southwest- 
ern [Minion  of  Northumberland  county,  several 
of  its  members  residing  at  Herndon  and  Dalmatia. 
Solomon  /..  Walt,  a  thrifty  business  man  and 
farmer  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  William  A. 
Walt,  a  resident  of  Eerndon,  who  has  been  track 
foreman  of  the  Herndon  branch  of  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  road  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
Joshua  Wald.  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Dal- 
matia. arc  all  of  tin-  same  stock,  descendants  of 
Solomon  Walt  or  Wald. 

Solomon  Walt  (or  Wald)  was  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  Pa.,  where  he  owned  a  fine  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Late  in 
life,  in  about  1839,  he  removed  to  this  section 
with  his  family,  settling  at  Uniontown,  which  is 
across  the  river  in  Dauphin  county.  There  he 
died,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  and  there  he  is  buried. 
He  led  a  retired  life  after  coming  to  Uniontown 
(also  called  Pillow),  and  for  some  years  before 
'us  death  was  blind.  He  was  a  man  of  medium 
size.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Underkoffler),  also 
lived  to  an  advanced  age.  and  we  have  the  follow- 
ing record  of  their  family:  Willoughby  and  David, 
both  of  whom  lived  at  Dalmatia,  are  more  fully 
mentioned  below:  Henry,  who  was  a  boatbuilder 
and  carpenter,  lived  at  Liverpool.  Perrj  Co..  Pa., 
where  he  died  when  comparatively  a  young  man 
and  where  he  is  buried  (his  wife.  Rebecca  Borrell, 
hole  him  three  children.  Jonathan,  Jane,  who  is 
married  and  lives  at  Saint  George's  Lock,  Del., 
and  Rebecca,  who  died  youog)  :  Catharine  (  Kate) 
married  Abraham  Ziegler.  of  Herndon:  Susanna 
died  unmarried:  (.'aniline  lives  in  Montgomery 
county:  Sallie  married  Adam  Gottshall  and  they 
lived  at  Pillow.  Dauphin  county:  Betzy  married 
Abraham    Herman:  Lovina  married  Henry   Frey 


(after  a  short  residence  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty they  returned  to  Montgomery  county). 

Willoughby  Walt,  son  of  Solomon,  was  born 
near  Sehwenkville,  in  Frederick  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  came  t,,  Northumberland 
county  about  1839-40.  lie  died  at  Dalmatia  when 
eighty-two  years  old,  and  i-  buried  at  the  Stone 
Valley  Church.  His  wile.  Helena  (Ziegler),  of 
Montgomery  county,  was  also  about  eighty-two 
at  the  timi  of  her  death.  Eleven  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  Catharine  married  Joel 
tingle ;  Abraham  died  young;  Polly  (Mary)  mar- 
ried Reuben  Aucker;  Alfred  died  young;  Wil- 
loughby  C.  is  mentioned  below:  Benneville  died  in 
the  Civil  war:  Peter  lived  at  Dalmatia,  Pa.;  Solo- 
mon Z.  is  mentioned  below;  three  died  young. 

Willoughby  C.  Wall,  son  of  Willoughby,  is  a 
native  of  Dalmatia  (Georgetown),  Northumber- 
land county,  born  April  17,  1841.  In  his  earlier 
manhood  he  followed  faun  work,  in  June.  1869, 
beginning  work  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
railroad  as  a  section  hand.  In  1877  he  became 
section  foreman  on  the  Eerndon  branch,  a  posi- 
tion he  held  for  over  twenty  year-,  during  which 
nine  he  came  to  he  regarded  as  one  of  the  capable 
employees  of  the  company.  Since  19(H)  he  has 
retired  from  active  work  of  a  laborious  na- 
ture, lie  has  served  four  years  as  supervisor  of 
Eerndon,  and  has  been  a  useful  citizen.  During 
(he  Civil  war  he  was  a  private  in  Company  A, 
208th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, with  which  he  took  part  in  the  engagement 
at  Fort  Steadman,  in  1865,  and  at  the  taking 
of  Fort  Mahone,  April  i.  1865.  Ee  made  a  cred- 
itable record  in  the  army  for  faithful  and  honor- 
able service.      In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

In  1866  Mi.  Walt  married  Amanda  Sultzbach, 
daughter  of  Jacob,  of  Dauphin  county,  and  they 
have  had  live  children:  Mary  married  C.  W.  Fni- 
lioltz  and  they  live  in  Philadelphia:  William  Au- 
gustus is  mentioned  below:  Katie  married  Charles 
Bogar,  of  Eerndon;  Henry  was  drowned  in  1871, 
when  eighteen  months  old;  Reuben  was  killed 
while  playing  baseball  in  Herndon.  in  1906.  Mr. 
Walt  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
( 'hureh. 

William  Augcstos  Walt,  son  of  Willoughby 
C.  Walt,  and  his  father's  successor  as.  track  fore- 
man on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road,  was 
horn  at  Herndon  Aug.  31,  1871,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
began  working  for  the  railroad  company  when 
twenty-one  years  old.  ami  on  April  19,  1900,  was 
made  track  foreman  of  the  Herndon  branch,  in 
which  position  he  has  since  served.  He  has  two 
men  working  under  his  supervision.  His  section 
extends  from  Herndon  to  Latsha.  Mr.  Walt  has 
taken  considerable  interest  in  local  politics  and 
public  affairs,  having  served  as  school  director 
of  the  borough  of  Herndon  and  as  election  officer. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party. 

In  1895  Mr.  Willi  married  Sarah  Bordner, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Heckel)  Bord- 
ner, formerly  of  Dalmatia,  I  his  county.  They 
have  had  four  children,  Katie  A.,  Gertrude  A., 
M.  Arline  and  Mary  M.  Mr.  Walt  and  his  fam- 
ily belong  tn  the  Reformed  congregation  of  the 
Herndon  Union  Church. 

Solomon  /..  Walt,  sun  of  Willoughby  Walt, 
was  horn  April  1.  isis,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  In  his  youth  he 
was  trained  1"  farm  work,  but  when  a  young  man 
he  took  up  the  miller's  trade,  completing  his  ap- 
prenticeship when  twenty-two  years  old.  He  had 
learned  the  business  a1  Uniontown  (Pillow)  and 
Lewisburg,  I'a..  and  worked  at  it  on  his  own  ac- 
count one  year,  operating  the  Mandata  mill,  in 
Jordan  township.  For  a  number  of  years  he  fol- 
lowed wheelwrighting  in  connection  with  farming, 
beginning  agricultural  pursuits  in  association  with 
his  father,  but  in  the  spring  of  L875  starting  out 
for  himself,  on  the  thirty-three-aere  tract  in  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township  where  he  now-  lives.  It  is 
one  mile  southwest  of  Dalmatia,  in  the  indepen- 
dent school  district.  Mr.  Walt  has  an  attractive 
home  and  a  valuable  piece  of  property,  lie  has 
a  man  to  look  after  the  farm  work,  he  himself 
conducting  a  wheelwright  establishment,  which  is 
well  patronized  by  his  neighbors.  He  is  an  ex- 
cellent mechanic,  not  alone  in  thai  line,  hut  able 
to  perform  the  work  of  various  trades,  and  he 
does  a  thriving  business,  his  services  being  in 
constant  demand. 

In  1871  Mr.  Walt  married  Polly  Zartman, 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Eorney)  Zartman, 
and  they  have  an  only  daughter,  Lena  Susan,  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  S.  Deppen.  Mr.  Deppen  was 
born  March  24.  1874,  son  of  William  and  Susan 
(Shaffer)  Deppen,  grandson  of  William  Deppen 
and  great-grandson  of  Christian  Deppen.  He  is 
engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman,  and  is  an  intelli- 
gent ami  substantial  citizen  el'  his  community, 
one  who  enjoys  excellent  standing.  Mi.  ami  Mrs. 
Deppen  have  had  two  children,  Ivy  Thelma  and 
Stena  Reba. 

Mr.  Walt  and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  re- 
ligion, and  worship  at  Zion's  Church  in  Stone 
Valley.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has 
served  as  clerk  of  his  township. 


David  Wald.  son  of  Solomon,  was  horn  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  when  a  young  man 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  followed 
while  living  in  his  native  county.  About  three 
years  after  liis  second  marriage  he  moved  to 
Northumberland  county,  settling  at  Georgetown 
(now  Dalmatia),  where  he  continued  to  work  at 
his  trade.  For  thirty  years  he  was  engaged  as  a 
carpenter  in  the  boat  yards  at  Mahantango,  Liv- 


erpool and  Northumberland,  and  for  thirteen 
years  he  and  Augustus  Arnold  rented  a  boat  yard 
and  repaired  boats.  During  this  time  Mr.  Wald 
and  his  family  lived  at  Mahantango.  Juniata 
county,  lie  then  retired  to  Georgetown,  where 
he  died  and  is  buried.  His  first  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Neiman,  was  from  Montgomery 
county,  and  they  had  a  son  Augustus,  who  died 
at  Herndon  .ami  is  buried  at  Georgetown,  lli- 
second  wile,  Rebecca  (Eegley),  was  from  his  own 
neighborhood  in  Montgomery  county,  and  to  them 
"civ  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: William,  Joshua,  David,  Elmira  (martied 
•lames  M.  Wiest)  and  Elizabeth  (married  Ceorge 
Bingaman).  The  family  were  Lutheran  mem- 
bers of  the  Georgetown  Church,  and  they  are 
buried   at   that   church. 

Joshua  Wald,  son  of  David,  was  bom  Aug. 
is,  184.6,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  re- 
ceived  his  education  in  the  pay  schools  in  vogue 
during  Ins  boyhood,  lirsl  attending  school  in  his 
native  township  and  later  in  Juniata  county. 
When  only  eight  years  old  he  began  driving  a 
mule  on  the  towpath  of  the  Susquehanna  canal, 
ami  after  a  few  years  commenced  boating,  which 
he  followed  fur  seventeen  seasons  all  told,  two 
years  before  his  service  in  the  Civil  war.  and 
fifteen  years  after.  He  was  only  a  youth  when 
he  enlisted  at  Harrisburg  in  Company  K,  83d 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  for 
a  year's  service,  but  he  was  mustered  out  at  the 
end  of  eight  months,  by  reason  of  the  war  clos- 
ing. Among  his  active  engagements  were  the 
action  at  Hatcher's  Pun  and  the  operations  be- 
fore Petersburg,  besides  it  number  of  skirmishes. 
Resuming  civil  life,  he  continued  boating  until 
ls;s,  in  which  year  be  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness id  Georgetown.  After  about  five  years  in 
that  line  he  went  into  the  lumber  business,  in 
1884,  near  Sunbury,  contracting  for  logs  and  lies 
and  peeling  baric,  and  he  was  thus  engaged  for 
two  years,  in  iss;  commencing  farming.  That 
year  he  purchased  a  seventy-live-acre  farm  ill. 
Hickory  Corners,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
which  place  he  cultivated  for  nine  years.  This 
farm  was  formerly  the  property  of  William  Schaf- 
fer  and  is  now  owned  by  Elmer  I.  Radel.  In 
1899  Mr.  Wald  settled  in  Georgetown  (Dalmatia), 
where  he  owns  a  tine  residence  and  has  since  lived 
in  practical  retirement,  though  he  occasionally  en- 
gages in  coal  digging  in  the  Susquehanna.  He 
is  a  respected  citizen  ami  is  trusted  by  bis  fellow 
citizens,  hut  he  has  never  cared  lo  undertake  the 
duties  of  public  office.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

In  is;:,  Mr.  Wald  married  Alveretta  Heckert, 
daughter  of  William  and  Lydia  J.  (Pavinger) 
Heckert,  who  had  three  children.  Alveretta,  Polly 
(unmarried)  and  Benry  (unmarried,  who  lives 
at    Millville,    l'a.).     Jacob   Heckert,   grandfather 


556 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  Mrs.  WaW,  was  a  farmer  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  His  children  w-ere  Catharine.  (Mrs. 
George  Doney),  Jacob,  William  and  Jessie.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wald : 
Jennie  Lueretia,  who  died  when  fourteen  months 
old;  and  Edward  M..  who  died  when  three 
months  eld. 

GEOEGE  11.  KEEFER,  general  contractor  at 
Mount  Carmel.  has  been  in  business  there  since 
1895.  He  was  born  in  1872  in  Milwaukee..  Wis., 
-on  of  Philip  W.  Keefer,  grandson  of  George 
Keefer,  Mini  great-grandson  of  pioneers  who  came 
ic  Northumberland  county  from  Berks  county, 
this   Stat". 

The  great-grandfather,  a  native  of  Oley  town- 
ship. Berks  county,  came  to  Northumberland 
county  when  a  young  man.  bringing  his  wife  and 
two  children,  and  settled  in  Shamokin  township. 
He  prospered,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  namely:  Daniel,  ('Corge,  John,  Peter, 
Catharine,  Mollie,  Elizabeth  and  Hannah. 

George  Keefer  was  born  in  1796  in  Oley  town- 
ship. Berks  county,  and  was  eight  years  old  when 
the  family  settled  in  Shamokin  township,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  After  his  marriage  he 
moved  to  Lower  Augusta  township,  near  Lantz's 
Church,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  and  milling  until  1864.  lie  then  dis- 
posed of  the  mill,  but  continued  to  farm  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  this  county  Oct.  16, 
1879.  He  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  prominent  in 
the  political  affairs  of  his  section  and  influential 
in  the  councils  of  his  party,  and  was  chosen  to 
several  township  offices.  He  was  also  prominent 
in  the  religious  life  of  the  community  as  a  faith- 
ful member  of  Lantz's  German  Reformed  Church, 
which  he  helped  to  build  and  which  he  served 
as  trustee  and  elder  for  many  years.  He  was 
i  wire  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Lantz,  had  five  children:  Samuel 
L..  born  March  28.  1828;  Peter,  born  March  3, 
1838:  Margaret;  Hannah,  and  Mary  M.  By  his 
second  marriage,  to  Elizabeth  Weiscr.  there  were 
six  children:  Catharine.  George  W..  Philip  W.. 
John  S.,  Jennie  and  Lucy  A. 

Philip  W.  Keefer.  son  of  George,  was  horn  Nov. 
22,  1846,  and  married  Annie  A.  Kemp. 

George  H.  Keefer.  son  of  Philip  W.  Keefer. 
came  to  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  with 
his  father  when  five  years  old.  and  attended  school 
there.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  under 
his  father,  and  architecture  under  his  uncle, 
George  W.  Keefer.  and  in  1890  engaged  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  Sunbury,  where  he 
built  the  Armory  and  the  Northumberland  Na- 
tional Bank  building.  In  October,  1895.  he  set- 
tled  in   Mount  Carmel,  during  the  early  part  of 


his  residence  here  carrying  on  the  wholesale  and 
retail  lumber  business.  His  first  building  eon- 
tracts  were  for  the  residences  of  William  Kiefer, 
Judge  Lincoln  8.  Walter,  and  P.  A.  Vought;  as 
his  patronage  widened  and  his  business  increased 
he  Mas  intrusted  with  more  and  more  important 
work,  the  Masonic  temple,  the  Donohue  building 
and  the  George  Lamskey  building  being  all  of  his 
construction.  He  has  also  had  many  contracts 
outside  of  his  own  community,  having  built  the 
waterworks  at  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  the  filter  plant 
at  Oklahoma;  the  waterworks  at  Wmfield,  Kans. : 
ih'-  -ilk  mills  at  Marion,  Ohio,  and  at  Lewistown 
and  Sunbury,  Pa.,  for  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Com- 
pany ;  the  converting  works  at  Sunbury.  for  the 
same  concern:  and  a  silk  mill  for  the  Schwartz- 
enback  Huber  Company,  Juniata,  Pa.  A  mere 
lisi  "f  his  contracts  is  sufficient  evidence  of  his 
standing,  and  the  many  substantia]  structures  of 
his  construction  testily  to  the  value  and  solidity 
of  his  work,  as  well  as  to  his  intelligent  ideas  on 
modern  building  and  convenience  in  arrangement 
of  space.  He  has  held  the  respect  and  good  will 
of  his  various  patrons  to  an  unusual  extent.  Mr. 
Keefer  is  president  of  the  Mount  Carmcl  Coal  & 
Coke  Company  of  West  Virginia.  He  is  well 
known  in  hi-  connection  with  the  State  National 
Guard,  and  during  the  Spanish-American  war  en- 
listed in  Company  E,  J  '2th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  serving  nine  months.  Socially 
he  belongs  to  the  Elks,  Lodge  No.  356,  of  Mount 
Carmel. 

On  June  16,  1S96,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Maude 
Foye,  daughter  of  Landis  and  Harriet  (Wolf) 
Foye.     They  have  no  children. 

JOHN  H.  MAI  LEV.  postmaster  at  Northum- 
berland, Northumberland  count  v.  was  born  Feb. 
6,  1861,  at  AVest  Fairview.  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
son  of  William  Mailey  and  grandson  of  Peter 
Mailey.  The  latter  was  a  resident  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  Among  his  children  were  John,  Eli, 
William  and  Annie. 

William  Mailey.  father  of  John  H.  Mailey, 
was  born  in  1830,  and  died  in  October.  1867.  in 
Harrisburg.  He  learned  the  trade  of  iron  work- 
er, which  he  followed  all  his  life.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Heffley).  daughter  of  Leonard  Hefney. 
still  survives  him,  and  makes  her  home  in  Har- 
risburg. They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Abner.  Amos,  David,  John  H., 
Emory  and  George  B. 

John  11.  Mailey  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Duncannon,  Perry  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  reared, 
having  gone  there  in  1867.  the  year  of  his  father's 
death.  He  learned  the  nailing  business,  which  he 
continued  to  follow  until  his  removal  to  the  bor- 
ough of  Northumberland  in  1890,  after  which  he 
was  employed  by  Taggart  &  Howell  for  one  year. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


For  the  next  sixteen  years  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  beginning 
as  brakeman  and  advancing  until,  when  he  left 
the  road,  be  had  become  extra  conductor.  In 
L901  be  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Northum- 
berland, and  he  lias  since  devoted  all  his  time 
l"  the  duties  of  that  position,  in  which  his  ser- 
vices are  proving  -i  satisfactory.  Ee  was  re- 
appointed Feb.  23,  L911.  The  oilier  is  at  present 
of  the  second  class.  Mr.  Mailey  is  an  esteemed 
and  well  known  citizen  of  the  borough,  where  he 
has  taken  considerable  part  in  politics,  as  lie  did 
also  ai  his  previous  location,  Duncannon.  Ee 
was  elected  chief  burgess  of  Duncannon  in  18S9. 
Since  his  removal  to  Northumberland  county  be 
has  served  twelve  years  as  borough  committeeman 
of  the  Republican  party.  When  the  Northum- 
berland Gas  Company  was  organized,  in  L911,  Mr. 

Mailey  became  o I  the  original  directors,  and 

is  serving  as  general  manager. 

On  June  26,  L884,  Mr.  Mailey  married  Matil- 
da C.  Eshejman,  daughter  of  Jacob  Eshelman,  of 
Duncannon,  and  they  have  bad  four  children: 
Eva,  wife  of  M.  I'.  Tierney,  an  attorney  at  law 
of  Northumberland  borough;  Nora;  William,  who 
married  Ruth  Burns,  of  Sunbury:  ami  Charles. 
Mr.  Mailey  and  his  family  hold  membership  in 
the  Methodist  Church. 

B.  FRANKLIN  EECKERT,  attorney  at  law 
of  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  associated 
in  practice  with  George  B.  Reimensnyder,  was 
born  in  thai  borough  Aug.  I,  1876.  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  Northumberland  county  Family,  be- 
ing a  descendant  of  Michael  Eeckert,  wdio  emi- 
grated  from  Germany  some  time  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  settled 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  in  the  early  days. 
He  owned  a  considerable  body  of  land,  some  of 
which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  posterity, 
who  are  still  numerous  in  this  county  and  also 
well  represented  in  the  Western  States.  Michael 
Heckert's  sons  were  Francis.  Yost,  Peter  and 
John;  and  he  had  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Jacob  Miller  and'  moved  to  Armstrong 
Valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  The  sons  Fran- 
cis and  Yost  went  West.  There  may  have  been 
other  children. 

Peter  Heckert,  I'  the  sons  of  Michael  '.vho 

remained  in  the  home  neighborhood,  lived  in  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township,  having  taken  up  farm 
lands  there.  He  died  at  Sunbury.  He  served 
in  the  war  of  1st'.',  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  received  two  tracts  of  bounty  land  for  his 
services  in  the  war.  He  married  Hannah  Wit- 
mer,  and  their  children  were:  George;  Michael; 
Peter,  who  settled  ami  lived  in  Northumberland 
county  and  bad  two  sons,  Jacob  (who  is  a  marble 
cutter  in  Millersburg,  Pa.)  and  Willis  (who  is 
a    railroader,    living    in     Georgetown — Dalmatia, 


I'a.)  ;  Elias,  who  settled  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, ami  hail  ten  children,  all  living,  Henry  A. 
(residing  in  Repsas  City,  Mo.).  Emma  E.  (Mrs. 
I-  -I.  Shroyer,  formerly  of  Shamokin,  now  of 
Dauphin  county).  Riley  W.  (farmer  in  North- 
umberland county),  John  W.  (a  merchant  in  Be- 
gins, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.),  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  John 
K.  Mauier.  of  Schuylkill  county.  I'a.),  Sarah  J. 
(  Mrs.  Jacob  Maurer,  of  the  same  county),  Joseph 
L.  (a  baker  in  Girardville,  I'a.).  Lydia  A.  (Mrs. 
John  W.  Bahner,  residing  near  Stonington,  North- 
umberland county).  Lizzie  A.  (Mrs.  Elmer  A. 
Bohner.  of  Northumberland  county)  and  Eli  P. 
(the  principal  of  schools  ai  Schuylkill  Haven, 
I'a.);  [saac;  Benjamin;  Joseph,  who  resided  in 
Perry  county  and  who  became  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  during  which  he  was  shot  while  re- 
lieving a  picket,  who  did  not  recognize  him; 
Riley;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Isaac  Lenker;  Polly,  Mrs. 
Ilarrv  Weaver,  who  has  a  son  George,  living  in 
Shamokin.  Pa.;  Sallie;  Catharine.  Mrs.  Jacob 
W'enlzel.  who  resided  in  the  State  of  Indiana : 
Christina,  Mrs.  Aaron  Conrad,  who  resided  in 
Perry  county  (Mr.  Conrad  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war  and  died  of  typhoid  after  a  forced 
march  to  Gettysburg  in  L863,  after  his  enlistment 
bad  expired);  Hannah.  Mrs.  John  Christ;  and 
two  others,  who  died  in  youth.  Of  this  family. 
Elias,  now-  (1911)  eighty-four  years  of  age,  ami 
Eannah  (Mrs.  John  Christ)  are  the  only  ones 
living,  and  both  reside  in  Northumberland  county. 

Benjamin  Heckert,  the  twelfth  in  order  of 
birth,  was  horn  Aug.  14,  L835,  in  Butler  county. 
I'a..  and  greV  to  manhood  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  be  received  his  education  in  the 
local  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet- 
maker there  and  at  Sunbury.  to  which  place  he 
came  when  a  young  man.  and  where  he  was  for 
eight  years  in  the  employ  of  Sebastian  Haupt. 
In  1862  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  at  Northumberland,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  removal  to  Sunbury,  in  1871. 
There  he  was  in  business  for  many  wars  as  a 
funeral  director  and  furniture  dealer,  having  the 
largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  borough 
in  his  day  and  employing  a  number  of  clerks. 
His  progressive  and  enterprising  methods  kept 
him  ai  the  head  of  the  trade  throughout  hi-  ac 
live  career.  He  retired  some  years  before  his 
death,  which   occurred  July  li.  1906. 

In  1859  Mr.  Eeckert  married  Sarah  Jane  Durst. 
who  was  horn  May  •">.  1838,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Nancy  (Mahany)  Durst,  of  Sunbury,  ami 
died  Sept."  13,  1903.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heckert  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  ami  fraternally 
hi  held  membership  in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  lodge  at 
Sunbury.  He  was  independent  in  politics.  Six 
children  were  born  to  'Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Eeckert:  William  \.  died  in  infancy;  Rev. 
Charles   G.    graduated    from    Wittenberg   College, 


ooS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Springfield,  Ohio,  became  president  of  that  insti- 
tution and  a  clergyman  of  the  Lutheran  Church; 
Emma  D.  married  William  G.  Savidge,  of  Sun- 
bury:  Jennie  M.  married  Sharon  Stevens,  of  Har- 
risburg;  B.  Franklin  was  a  twin  of  Harry  N., 
who  was  drowned  in  the  Susquehanna  river  when 
fourteen  \  ears  old. 

B.  Franklin  Eeckerl  received  his  early  literary 
education  in  Sunbury,  graduating  from  the  high 

11    1S93.     He  then  took  a  coui  - 

Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1S9T,  after  which  he  had  a  year's  study  at 
Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg,  Pa.  He  read 
law  with  George  B.  Rehnensnyder,  the  foremost 
attorney  of  Northumberland  county,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  this  county  in  1900,  and  to  practice 
m  the  Superior  and  Supreme  conns  m  1902. 
Since  his  admission  to  the  bar  lie  lias  been  as- 
sociated in  practice  witli  his  preceptor,  Mr.  Reim- 
ensnyder,  who  makes  a  specialty  of  the  civil  branch 
of  the  law.  His  personal  ami  professional  stand- 
ing and  associations  are  most  propitious. 

Mr.  Heekert  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Sunbury  and  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  holding  membership  in  Lodge 
Xo.  22,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury,  of  which  he 
was  worshipful  master  in  1909:  in  Northumber- 
land Royal  Anil  Chapter,  Xo.  174  :  in  Mount  Her- 
mnii  Commandery,  Xo.  85,  K.  T.,  of  Sunbury; 
in  Williamsport  Consistory;  and  in  Irem  Temple, 
A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S..  of  Wilkes-Barre.  He  also 
the  Americus  ami  Temple  clubs  of 
Sunbury. 

JOHN  GLOW  A  is  connected  with  several  of  the 
most  important  business  enterprises  of  Shamokin. 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  has  been  well 
known  in  commercial  circles  for  a  number  of  years, 
though  In-  did  not  establish  a  permanent  home  in 
that  city  until  L906.  He  is  a  self-made  man.  one 
whose  excellent  judgment  and  well  directed  ex- 
ecutive ability  have  made  him  successful  in  bis 
various  undertakings. 

Mr.  Glowa  was  horn  June  21.  I860,  in  Galicia, 
Austria,  in  which  country  his  father.  Mathew 
I.  followed  farming.  He  died  there.  John 
Glowa  attended  school  in  bis  native  country,  where 
srre\i  to  manhood,  coming  to  this  country  in 
1882.  He  landed  at  New  York  City  Nov.  18th. 
and  made  his  first  location  at  Danville.  Pa.,  where 
be  found  employment  in  the  rolling  mill,  working 
there  three  months.  He  was  next  employed  on  the 
construction  of  the  railroad  from  Snydertown  to 
Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  after  following  this  work  a 
short  time  entered  the  employ  of  the  Excelsior 
Coal  Company,  at  Excelsior.  Northumberland 
county,  continuing  with  them  for  a  period  of  seven 
years.  In  1889  he  located  in  Shamokin.  where  he 
ined   for  the  next  three  vears,  after  which  he 


opened  a  general  store  in  Excelsior,  keeping  a  mis- 
cellaneous stock,  anything,  in  fact,  that  there  was 
any  call  for.  It  was  this  liberal  policy  of  catering 
to  the  wants  of  bis  customers  that  made  his  busi- 
ness 30  successful,  and  he  continued  it  until  1906, 
when  he  moved  his  residence  to  Shamokin.  Here 
be  has  -nice  lived,  at  Xo.  321  North  Shamokin 
street.  Ee  still  has  mercantile  interests,  being 
president  of  th(  Russian  Mercantile  Company,  of 
S  mokin,  in  which  line  bis  long  experience  has 
litted  him  for  valuable  executive  service.  Mr. 
Glowa  was  one  of  the  original  directors  of  the 
Market  Street  National  Bank,  of  Shamokin,  and 
-  -  il  serving  in  that  capacity:  he  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Shamokin  and  Coal  Township  Light 
and  Power  Company,  in  the  Hoven  Mercantile 
Company  of  New  York  City  and  in  the  Connell 
Powder  Company  of  Scranton.  He  is  a  very  pop- 
ular citizen  of  Shamokin.  and  stands  well  among 
bis  own  countrymen  there,  being  president  of  the 
Ruthenian  Catholic  Church,  of  which  be  was  one 
of  the  founders.  In  his  native  land  he  was  a 
member  of  the  choir  in  his  church  until  he  left  for 
\  oieriea. 

Mr.  Clown's  first  marriage  was  to  Catherine 
Chlebowsky,  who  died  May  9,  1907,  and  is  buried 
at  Shamokin:  she  was  a  native  of  Austria.  His 
present  wife  was  Ella  Emck.  Five  children  were 
born  to  the  first  union:  Mar}f,  Michael,  Mathew. 
Walter  and  Antiona. 

SNYDER.  David  L.  and  Harry  E.  Snyder, 
brothers,    residents,    respectively,    of    Ralpho    and 

Shamokin  townships,  the  former  postmaster  at  Ca- 
in], aie  -mi-  <d'  David  H.  Snvder  and  grandsons 
of  Joseph  Snyder,  the  pioneer  hotel-keeper  in  the 
borougb  of  Shamokin. 

John  Snyder,  the  first  of  this  family  in  America, 
came  from  Germany  and  settled  at  Trenton.  N.  J. 
(omine  to  Northumberland  county..  Pa.,  he  was 
one  id'  the  early  residents  of  Rush  township,  where 
he  dud.  He  married  Ellen  Witlock,  and  their 
children  were:  Joseph:  Jacob,  who  died  at  Frack- 
ville,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.;  Reuben,  who  died  at 
Snufftown,  Northumberland  county;  and  Sallie. 
M  1  -.   'Feat-. 

Joseph  Snvder.  son  of  John,  was  born  at  Tren- 
ton. X.  J.,  (let.  lo.  1796,  and  grew  to  manhood  at 
bis  native  place,  receiving  an  ordinary  schooling. 
He  married  Annie  Heller,  a  native  also  of  New 
Jersey,  born  Sept.  is.  1794,  and  in  1818  came  to 
Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Rush  township.  North- 
umberland eount\'.  where  he  began  farming.  Some 
time  later  he  opened  a  hotel  at  Snufftown.  in 
Shamokin  township,  and  thence  in  1835  went  to 
Shamokin.  intending  to  engage  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ii'  --.  But  the  outlook  was  not  encouraging,  and 
he  returned  to  his  old  location  for  a  short  time.  In 
i"  SG  he  again  went  to  Shamokin.  where  be  began 
keeping   hotel    in    a   building  which   subsequently 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


559 


an  of  the  old  "Yanderbilt  Hotel,"  on  the 
present  site  of  the  "Hotel  Graemar."  He  con- 
tinued the  business  with  great  success  for  several 
years,  and  then  accepted  the  position  of  resident 
land  agent,  to  the  duties  of  which  he  devoted  his 
time  for  many  years.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ralpho  township  (the 
propeity  later  owned  by  his  son  John  11.)  and  re- 
mained there  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
lie  returned  to  Shamokin.  He  died  there  Feb.  1, 
L867.  Mr.  Snyder  was  a  Democrat  and  Idled  vari- 
ous local  offices,  being  the  firsi  constable  of  Sham- 
okin, tax  collector,  etc.  He  was  active  in  Church 
work,  having  been  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Fiist  Presbyterian  Church  of  Shamokin  and  large- 
ly instrumental  in  the  erection  of  its  edifice  in 
is  in.  A  good  citizen,  reliable  and  straightforward 
in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellowmen,  he  was  high- 
ly respected  wherever  known.  Hi-  widow,  who 
died  Aug.  6.  1881,  iii  her  eighty-seventh  year,  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Amelia  tnanied  Joseph  Enoch  and  (second)  Jon- 
athan Farnsworfh:  Harmon  died  in  Shamokin; 
Rachel  became  the  wife  of  Alem  Sechler;  Eleanor, 
now  the  only  living  member  of  her  generation,  is 
unmarried  and  resides  in  Shamokin;  David  IT.  is 
mentioned  below;  John  Boyd  was  horn  April  :!. 
L836,  the  first  white  child  born  within  the  limits 
of  what   i-   n<>\\    Shamokin   borough. 

John  Boyd  Snyder,  son  of  Joseph,  learned  the 
trade  of  plasterer,  which  he  followed  in  connection 
with  farming.  On  .Ian.  1.  1857,  he  married  Mary 
M.  Mowery.  who  was  born  Dec.  '••.  1836,  daughter 
of  Daniel  M"\\n\.  of  Shamokin.  ami  died  May  1. 
1911.  The  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Charles,  who  died  when  six  years  old:  Anna  (de- 
ceased), who  married  Matthias  Neely;  George  Me- 
ridian, who  married  Priscilla  Swoyer;  John  H., 
now  clerk  of  the  "Hotel  Graernar";  Edwin  A., 
who  died  young;  Elizabeth;  Florence  Rebecca, 
who  married  John  Tyler:  Emma;  and  Joseph  W., 
who  married  Gertrude  Yost.  The  father.  John 
Boyd  Snyder,  died  in  Shamokin  in  February, 
1903.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  frater- 
nally a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  K. 
A-  A.  M. 

David  11.  Snyder,  sun  of  Joseph,  was  horn  in 
November,  1834,  at  Rushtown,  Northumberland 
county,  and  when  a  boy  learned  the  trade  of  sad- 
dler, which  he  followed  throughout  his  active 
years.  Before  hi-  marriage  he  taught  school  for 
three  terms  in  Little  Mahanoj  township,  this  coun- 
ty. He  was  located  at  Catawissa,  Shamokin  and. 
eventually,  at  Cabel,  in  Ralpho  township,  this 
county,  also  following  farming  to  some  extent,  on 
a  -mall  tract  which  he  owned.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  m  the  Union  service  for  nine  month'-. 
and  returned  home  in  poor  health,  never  entirely 
recovering  hi-  strength  after  his  army  experience. 


A  Democrat  in  political  opinion,  he  took  consid- 
erable interest  in  politics  and  public  affairs;  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  ami  fraternally 
belonged  to  the  I.  0.  <>.  F.  lie  died  Nov.  9,  1878, 
aged  forty-four  years,  and  is  buried  in  Oak  Grove 
cemetery,  in  Ralpho  township. 

On  He..  25,  1856,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Mary  J. 
Campbell,  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Hannah  (Yo- 
ciun)  Campbell,  ami  granddaughter  of  Obediah 
Campbell.  She  now  makes  her  home  ai  Cabel,  in 
Ralpho  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  had  the 
following  children :  Amy  A.  married  S.  F.  Bough- 
tier  and  lived  in  Ralpho  township  (she  died  in 
July,  1901);  Rosella  married  William  O.  Hoff- 
man and  they  are  living  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa..;  Jo- 
seph N.  married  Elizabeth  Frederick  and  their 
home  is  in  Shamokin  township:  Clark  W.,  of  Mil- 
ton, Pa.,  married  Annie  Rice  and  (second)  Kate 
— ;  David  L.  is  mentioned  below;  Minnie 
married  \V.  L.  Eisele  and  is  living  at  Williams- 
port;  Harry  E.  is  mentioned  below;  Calvin  N.. 
who  was  a  telegraph  operator,  died  at  the  age  of 
twentv-six   years. 


David  L.  Snyder  was  born  <  let. 


1861 


Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
learned  the  saddler's  trade  with  his  brother  Jo- 
seph, at  Cabel,  remaining  with  him  about  ten 
years,  until  he  commenced  business  for  himself. 
His  patronage  is  extensive  and  drawn  from  a  wide 
territory.  Mr.  Snyder  also  manufactures  harness, 
and  since  1904  has  been  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
farm  implements.  He  is  a  most  enterprising 
man.  and  is  interested  in  the  timber  business,  sup- 
plying the  mines.  In  1909  he  bought  the  old 
Snyder  homestead  at  Cabel.  in  Ralpho  township,  a 
tract  of  seventy-six  acres — good  land  and  valuable 
timber.  The  farmhouse  on  the  property  was  at 
one  time  known  as  the  '•Red  Tavern."  a  hotel  hav- 
ing been  maintained  there  many  years  ago,  and  it 
is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  tin-  section.  On  June 
1.  1902,  Mr.  Snyder  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Cabel,  where  his  brother  Joseph  and  his  mother 
have  also  officiated,  in  the  same  capacity.  He  i- 
a  progressive  citizen,  thoroughly  identified  with 
local  interests,  anil  is  a  member  of  the  P.  0.  S.  of 
A.,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  En- 
dependent  Firi'  Company.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 

(in  June  ', .  1896,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Estella 
Moody,  daughter  of  Allen  Moody.  She  died  one 
vcar  afterward,  at  the  earlj  age  of  twenty,  the 
mother  of  a  daughter,  Estella.  Mr.  Snyder's  sec- 
ond marriage,  which  look  place  in  dune.  L898,  was 
to  Annie  M.  Mover,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Mover. 
,,[  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  -he  died 
Sept.  '.'ii.  1909,  leaving  the  following  children: 
Charles.  Elsie,  Leon.  Annie  and  Chester.  Mr. 
Snyder  has  since  married  (third)  Gertrude  Cham- 
berlin.  widow    of   Edw.  Cbamberlin.  and  a  daugh- 


560 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ter  of  Luther  Sober.  The  family  arc  Methodists 
in  religious  connection. 

Hakky  E.  Sxydeb  was  born  May  12,  1872,  in 
Ralpho'  township,  Northumberland  county,  was 
reared  upon  the  farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality.  For 
two  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  milk  business  at 
Weigh  Scales,  his  next  location  being  at  Seven 
Points,  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  carried 
on  a  mercantile  business  for  one  year.  Tn  1906  he 
boughl  the  old  Amandus  Miller  homestead  in 
Shamokin  township,  consisting  of  seventy-four 
acres,  where  he  devoted  himself  to  farming  until 
his  removal  to  Shamokin,  in  April,  1911  ;  he  re- 
sides at  No.  623  West  Pine  Street.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  energetic  disposition,  intelligent  in  his 
work    and    enterprising    in    his    methods,    and    his 

farm  showed  the  effecl  of  g 1  management.     He 

had  good  buildings  and  kept  hi-  property  in  ex- 
cellent condition. 

In  llinl  Mr.  Snyder  married  Lulu  A".  Miller, 
daughter  of  Amandus  Miller,  late  of  Shamokin 
township,  ami  they  have  four  children:  Ernest 
M.,  R.  Merrill.  Mary  II.  and  Rosella  F.  Mr. 
Snyder  i>  a  member  of  the  Oak  Grove  Methodist 
Church  in  Ralplm  township,  and  socially  belongs 
to  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  In  political  matters  he 
votes  independently. 

JARID  C.  IRWIN,  a  venerable  citizen  of  Sun- 
liurv.  has  had  a  long  and  useful  life,  one  of  un- 
usual activity,  and  few  residents  of  the  borough 
are  any  better  known  in  the  community.  For 
many  years  he  was  identified  with  its  public  af- 
fairs, having  served  several  years  in  the  borough 
council,  as  member  df  the  school  board  for  the  re- 
markable period  of  twenty-one  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  never  absent  from  a  meeting  of  the 
board,  and  was  chairman  of  the  building  committee 
who  superintended  the  erection  of  the  present  high 
school  building,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  from 
ls!i?  i,i  1897  as  postmaster  of  the  borough. 

Air.  Irwin  is  a  son  of  Martin  Irwin,  who  came 
to  Sunbury  early  in  1830  from  Chester  county.  Pa.. 
where  he  was  born  April  1,  1804.  He  followed 
shoemaking  throughout  his  working  years,  and 
was  an  industrious  and  intelligent  man.  one  who 
had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him.  For  some  years  he  sewed  as  court  crier,  and 
in  1848  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  register  and 
recorder  of  Northumberland  county,  which  he  was 
filling  at  the  time  of  his  death.  June  13,  1849, 
in  Sunbury.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  quite  ac- 
tive in  polities.  Air.  Irwin  married  Rachel  Irwin, 
who  was  horn  in  1808  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
daughter  of  James  Irwin,  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  where  he  is  buried;  lie  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety-three.  James  Irwin  had  the  following 
sou-:  George,  James.  Samuel,  Joseph.  Jarid  and 
Fenius.     Nine  children  were  born  to  Air.  and  Airs. 


Martin  Irwin:  Jarid  ('..  born  March  13,  1830; 
James  I'..  horn  in  1832;  Alary,  horn  in  ISM  1.  who 
married  Charles  1).  Wharton;  S.  Elizabeth,  born 
in  1836,  who  married  Dr.  Daniel  Shindel;  Isabella, 
horn  in  1838.  who  married  Joseph  Bright;  Amelia 
Alice,  born  in  1842,  who  married  John  Olson;  1!. 
Marian,  born  in  1843,  who  died  young;  Jane  P.? 
born  in  1846,  who  married  Edward  Israel :  and 
Samuel  P..  born  in  1849,  who  married  Miss  Val 
Elexander,  and  died  in  1908.  The  parents  of 
this  family  are  buried  at  Sunbury,  in  the  lower 
l  Fourth  street)  cemetery.  They  were  Episcopal- 
ians in  religious  connection  and  active  in  church 
life.  After  the  father's  death  the  mother  married 
(second)  Frederick  Lazarus,  whom  -he  also  sur- 
vived, he]-  death  occurring  in  1895. 

Jarid  C.  Irwin  was  horn  Maxell  13,  1830,  in 
Sunbury,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  there 
he  has  always  made  hi-  home.  lie  learned  shoe- 
making  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  worked 
from  an  early  age.  beginning  the  trade  in  the  days 
when  custom  work  was  the  rule:  when  the  work 
was  all  done  by  hand;  and  when  shoes  were  made 
on  straight  lasts,  not  rights  anil  lefts  as  at  present, 
and  worn  on  either  foot,  being  changed  about 
daily  to  keep  heels  and  soles  from  becoming 
crooked.  Air.  Irwin  followed  this  business 
throughout  his  active  years,  and  prospered.  It 
is  his  public  career,  however,  that  lias  brought 
him  into  special  prominence,  In-  services  having 
red  many  years,  during  which  he  filled  various 
offices  with  ability,  showing  conscientious  devo- 
tion to  the  duties  intrusted  to  him.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  borough  council  for  two  terms.  For 
twenty-one  years  he  served  on  the  school  board, 
for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  one  man  in 
Sunbury,  and  in  all  that  time  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing of  the  board,  was  secretary  of  that  body  for 
twelve  years,  treasurer  four  years,  and  president 
for  a  time,  and  always  known  as  one  of  the  most 
effectivi  ..oilers  in  the  borough  in  the  cause  of 
public  education.  On  April  14,  1890,  he  was  ap- 
pointed justice  oi  the  peace  by  Governor  Beaver, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  A.  N. 
Price.  At  the  close  of  his  appointive  term,  first 
Monday  in  May.  1801.  he  was  elected  for  five 
years,  but  in  1892  resigned  his  office,  having  been 
in  the  meantime  appointed  postmaster,  when  Hon. 
John  Wanamaker  was  postmaster  general.  He 
held  that  office  until  1897. 

Mr.  Irwin  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican. 
and  he  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war  under  three  enlistments.     In  1861  he  became 

a  priv; f  Company  F.  11th  Pennsylvania  Regi- 

nieiii.  with  which  In1  served  three  months,  in  Alary- 
land  and  Virginia,  taking  part  in  the  first  fight 
at  Falling  Waters,  A"a. :  his  second  term  of  sei  i 
was  as  a  private  in  the  45th  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ment, with  which  he  remained  a  little  over  a 
year,  during  that  time  taking  part  in  the  battles 


'rf  >/c/ 


?"IJL?(A-^ 


PUB 


ASTOft.  LE 
TILDEN  : 
R 


NORTH  I'M  BERLAND  COIXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


561 


of   James   Island    (S.   C),  Anttetam   ami    South 

Mountain',  later  he  served  a  year  as  a  private  of 
Company  •'.  47th  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  If'1 
is  a  leading  member  of  William  A.  Brunner  Post, 
No.  335,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Sunbury,  which  he  helped 
to  organize,  being  one  of  the  charter  members, 
and  is  a  past  commander.     For  the  past  fourteen 

year*    Mr.    [rwin  has  acted   for  the  county  c 

missioners  in  the  matter  of  looking  after  indigenl 
Civil  war  veterans,  seeing  that  decent  burial  is 
provided  for  such  as  die  without  sufficient  means 
and  that  headstones  arc  erected  to  mark  thru' 
graves  properly.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religion,  like  his 
parents,  he  is  an  Episcopalian. 

M  i'.  I  rwin  can  look  back  over  a  most  interesting 
period  of  Sunbury's  development,  and  he  has  em- 
bodied his  memories  in  a  book  of  Reminiscences, 
which  he  completed  and  published  in  1910,  when 
past  the  age  of  eighty.  The  edition  of  three  hun- 
dred copies  was  intended  chiefly  for  distribution 
among  his  friends,  but  it  is  a  substantial  and  valu- 
able addition  to  the  history  of  the  borough  and 
of  Northumberland  county,  though  the  author  him- 
self claimed  no  such  distinction  for  it.  The  work 
was  a  labor  of  love,  accomplished  in  his  leisure 
hours,  and  the  accuracy  of  his  recollections,  to- 
gether with  the  care  and  thought  which  he  be- 
stowed  upon  this  collection  of  "fugitive  fact-"  con- 
cerning the  early  days  in  which  all  are  interested, 
not  only  evidence  the  remarkable  clearness  and 
vigor  of  mind  which  this  octogenarian  has  re- 
tained, but  show  a  true  gift  for  the  grasping  of 
those  thing-  most  characteristic  of  the  times  he 
depicts  and  a  faculty  for  presenting  them  which 
entitles  the  book  to  more  than  local  recognition. 
The  cold  facts  of  history  stand  in  little  danger  of 
being  lost  in  these  days  of  daily  records,  and  the 
increasing  appreciation  of  the  value  of  statistics. 
II  is  the  doings  and  incidents  typical  of  the  early 
days  of  the  borough  which  may  too  readily  slip 
into  oblivion  unless  rescued  in  time  by  the  hand  of 
one  who  has  the  necessary  knowledge  and  oppor- 
tunity to  record  them.  The  book  contain-  so  many 
entertaining  recitals  of  life  and  conditions  in  the 
early  days  of  the  borough  that  it  might  furnish 
"local  color"  for  many  other  works,  incidents  of  all 
kind-  being  set  forth  in  most  attractive  and  read- 
able form,  and  with  a  regard  for  facts  that  en- 
hances the  worth  of  the  volume  appreciably.  _  The 
people  who  have  known  and  loved  Sunbury  feel  a 
personal  sense  of  gratitude  toward  him  for  the  oc- 
eurrences  he  has  perpetuated  in  this  work.  The 
customs  and  practices  of  Sunbury  people  sixty  and 
more  years  ago  he  recounts  from  his  personal  ex- 
periences and  recollections.  Beginning  with  a 
brief  reference  to  the  founding  of  the  borough, 
a  little  before  his  time,  he  gives  two  quotations 
from  an  old  newspaper,  which  present  in  -harp 
contrast  with  the  present  the  days  when  Sunbury 
36 


bad  no  c munication  with  the  outside  world  ex- 
cept by  means  of  (he  turnpike  and  canal.  One 
notes  the  return,  April  3,  1835,  of  the  canal  boat 
"Augusta"  from  Philadelphia;  the  other  the  ar- 
rival of  two  cars  of  coal  from  Shamokin  in  1S36, 
the  year  the  railroad  between  Sunbury  anil  Sham- 
okin was  completed.  At  this  time  there  were  eight 
hotels  or  taverns,  a-  they  were  then  called,  in  the 
town,  some  of  them  on  sites  still  occupied  by 
hotels.  In  1842  the  population  was  only  1,108, 
and  at  that  time  there  was  not  a  house  in  sight 
north  of  Race  street,  or  south  of  Spruce,  or  east 
of  what  is  now  known  as  Spring  Run.  In  1848 
the  entire  tax  levy  of  the  borough  amounted  to 
$1,294.63.  The  public  schools  were  opened  in 
1834,  and  the  school  tax  for  the  first  year  was 
$554:938;  the  first  building  especially  erected  for 
school  purposes  in  Sunbury  was  opened  in  De- 
cember,  1837. 

Of  interesting  fads  concerning  the  changes  in 
the  physical  features  of  the  town  there  are  many, 
some  scarcely  comprehensible  to  the  present  gen- 
eration. The  present  site  of  the  Reading  railroad 
depot  was  an  old  basin  which  was  a  favorite  re- 
sort of  skaters  in  the  winter  season:  Shamokin 
creek  was  once  a  "fisherman's  paradise":  the  part 
of  town  extending  from  the  upper  basin  to  beyond 
the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  shops  was  practically  a 
swamp,  covered  with  a  dense  wild  growth  of 
shrubs,  bushes  and  vines;  and  allusion  is  made  to 

1 1 Id  picnic  ground,  "which  was  a  dense  growth 

of  trees,  south  of  the  eastern  extension  of  Walnut 
-iivet.  and  cast  of  Spring  run,  extending  along 
Shamokin  creek,  quite  up  to  the  old  town  mill."' 
In  these  days  a  bo]  could  not  earn  more  than 
twenty-five  cents  a  day.  a  levy,  or  twelve  and  a 
half  cents,  being  the  average,  and  fifty  cents  daily 
was  the  regular  price  paid  for  a  man's  labor. 
There  was  little  opportunity  for  girl-  to  make 
money. 

Tothe  social  pleasures  of  the  day  ami  humorous 
happenings,  many  of  which  have  become  historic. 
Mr.  Irwin  devotes  considerable  space,  lie  tell-  of 
the  annual  training  days,  when  the  militia  met  at 
Sunbury  for  drill:  of  the  fights  and  festivities 
which  marked  these  occasions:  the  hucksters  busi- 
U  engaged  in  the  -ale  of  (he  ginger  cakes,  root 
beer  and  other  refreshments  in  popular  demand; 
and  the  dancing,  usually  at  the  "Blacl  Sorse 
Hotel,"  the  '-Ferry  I  louse"  and  the  -'('ro-s 
Keys."  One  of  the  most  amusing  incidents 
related  was  the  expedition  made  by  the 
Sunbury  Grays  to  ou-t  a  negro  family  squatted 
on  an  island  in  the  river.  One  day.  the 
drum  corps  being  shorl  of  a  lifer,  a  celebrated 
whistler  in  the  town  agreed  to  furnish  the  music 
for  the  parade,  and  kept  his  word.  The  horse 
races  so  keenly  enjoyed  in  the  early  clays,  the 
feud  between  the  Sunbury  and  Northumberland 
bovs,    and    numerous    other    rhings    recalled    with 


562 


NOKTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


zest  by  most  of  the  older  inhabitants  have  been 
set  down  with  a  pen  moved  by  the  spiril  of  the 
tinies,  and  the  volume  has  been  received  with  de- 
light. A  number  of  illustrations  accompanv  the 
text. 

<tn  Feb.  15,  1851,  .Mr.  Irwin  married  in  Dan- 
ville, Pa.,  Ann  S.  Kiehl.  who  was  burn  in  is:;:;. 
daughter  of  George  W.  Kiehl,  of  Sunbury,  at  one 
time  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county.  'She  died 
March  9,  1910.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  had  four 
children,  namely:  Marian,  who  died  young; 
Georgia  Anna,  who  married  Sharon  Stephen.,  of 
Harrisburg,  where  she  died,  leaving  two  children, 
Fred  II.  and  Bessie;  William,  who  died  young,  and 
Martin,  who  died  young. 

REV.  A.   11.   BLEISTEIN   has  been   pastor  of 

St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church  at  Trevorton,  North- 
umberland county,  since  1902,  and  the  church  and 
its  work  have  prospered  steadily  under  his  wise 
and  efficient  administration.  He  was  born  March 
6,  1874,  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  where  his  father,  John 
Bleistein,  a  native  of  Germany,  settled  upon  com- 
ing to  this  country.  The  lather  was  a  furnaceman 
and  .  mployed  a.-  such  throughout  his  active  years, 
lie  died  at  Lebanon  Mav  20.  1874.  Hi-  widow. 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Host,  is  now 
h\  ing  with  her  -.I,.  Father  Bleistein,  at  Trevor- 
ton.  She  is  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 
Xine  children  were  horn  to  Mr,  and  Mrs.  John 
Bleistein,  namely:  Frank,  who  died  young;  Jo- 
seph, a  resident  of  Lebanon:  Carl,  who  died 
young;  John;  William,  of  Lebanon;  Charles,  liv- 
ing a!  ( ihester,  Pa. :  Philip,  a  resident  of  Lebanon  ; 
Mary,  deceased  ;  and  A.  H. 

A."  II.  Bleistein  received  his  early  education  in 
the  parochial  schools  at  Lebanon,  and  in  Vincent 
College,  located  at  Latrobe,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa. 
In  1892  he  entered  Mount  Saint  Mary's  College, 
at  Emmitsburg,  Md.,  from  which  institution  he 
was  graduated  in  1897.  For  the  next  two 
he  pursued  the  theological  course  then',  and  for 
one  year  was  a  student  at  Si.  Charles  Seminary 
(the  Philadelphia  Theological  Seminary  of  St. 
Charles  Borromeo),  at  Overbrook,  Pa.,  after  which 
he  began  bis  work  as  assistant  to  Father  Christ. 
St.  Joseph's  Chureb.  at  Lancaster,  Pa.  His 
next  location  was  at  Xew  Freedom,  York  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  one  year,  from  June,  loo], 
to  .Line.  1902,  at  which  time  he  was  transferred  to 
Trevorton.  Here  he  has  since  had  charge  of  St. 
Patrick's  Church.  He  has  been  \en  successful 
throughout  bis  pastorate,  and  the  affairs  of  the 
congregation  are  in  a  thriving  condition. 

St.  Patrick's  Church  was  founded  soon  after  the 
opening  id'  the  coal  mines  al  Trevorton.  A  large 
proportion  of  the  Irish  and  German  miner-  were 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  Rev.  Michael 
Shen. km.  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  at  Dan- 


ville, was  requested  to  pay  them  a  visit.  He  cele- 
brated the  tiist  ma>s  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Comp- 
ton.  and  the  first  baptism  and  marriage  recorded 
in  the  church  records  h\  Father  Sheridan  are 
dated  Oct.  1,  is:.!.  It  is  very  probable  be  com- 
menced    visiting    the    town    ahoiii    that    time.       In 

L851    he  was  succ led    by    Rev.   George   Gosten- 

sehnigg,  pa-tor  at  Milton,  w] -.unitized  the  con- 
gregation and  at  once  commenced  collecting  mon- 
ey for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  Father 
George,  as  he  was  familiarly  known,  continued 
collections  over  the  county  until  Mav.  1859, 
when  the  contract  was  let  for  the  church  building, 
a  white  sandstone  structure  35  by  65  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, still  in  use.  The  edifice  was  completed  in 
May,  1860,  and  was  dedicated  on  the  20th  of  that 
month  by  Bishop  Neuman,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
placed  tinder  tin-  patronage  of  St.  Patrick.  A 
large  assemblage  was  present  at  the  services,  but 
the  pastor  who  had  worked  so  hard  to  accomplish 
all  this  had  not  lived  to  see  the  ceremony.  While 
making  preparations  for  the  event  Father  Gosten- 
schnigg  became  overheated,  and  be  died  at  Mil- 
ton May  '.'.  1860,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Joseph's 
parochial  lot  af  that  place.  I Ls  successor,  Rev. 
M.    Muhlberger,    served    until    1861,    when    Rev. 

Flllil  SteilZel  became  pa-tor.  Ill  1862  be  was  suc- 
ceeded h\  Rev.  Edward  Murray,  and  in  Novem 
ber.  1863,  Rev.  -1.  -I.  Koch,  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's 
Church  at  Milton.  was  transferred  to  this  charge 
In  1866  Father  Koch  was  appointed  first  resident 
pastor  of  St.  Edward's  Church  at  Shamokin,  but 
also  continued   to  minister  to   St.    Patrick's   until 

1878,  during  which  time  ! nlarged  the  church 

building,  bad  the  interior  lie-coed,  paid  off  the 
debt-,  and  placed  the  affairs  of  the  congregation 
on  a  sound  financial  basis,  for  four  year-  after 
Father  Koch's  pastorate  Rev.  August  Schlue- 
ter.  formerly  of  Locust  (lap.  was  m  charge  at 
Trevorton,  be  being  followed  by  Rev.  Henry  Kelt. 
the  first  resident  pastor.  Father  Kelt  built  a  two- 
story  parochial  residence  m  1882.  In  1889  Rev. 
Francis  L  Breckel  was  placed  over  this  charge, 
which  he  continued  to  serve  until  the  fall  of  1900, 
when  Father  George  Seubert  came  hither  from  St. 
Anthony's  church  in  Lancaster,  Pa.  In  the  spring 
of  l!i(il  the  present  chureb  site  was  purchased,  and 
preparations  made  to  build.  The  first  services  in 
the  new  structure  were  held  in  the  basement 
Christmas  Day,  1901.  Father  Seubert  continued 
in  charge  until  the  present  pa-tor.  Rev.  A.  II. 
Bleistein.  wa-  transferred  hither  in  .Line.  1902. 
Mam  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  membership 
of  the  church,  which  decreased  for  a  time  as  the 
suspension  of  the  coal  business  caused  many  fam- 
ilies to  move  from  the  vicinity.  The  congregation 
now  numbers  about  one  hundred  families,  prin- 
cipally German,  and  there  is  a  flourishing  Sunday 

-.  hook 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


563 


JOHN  T.  CROMPTON,  of  Mount  Carmel,  lias 
been  identified  with  the  industrial  interests  of  that 
place  since  he  came  there  in  1906  to  take  charge 
of  the  hosier)  mills,  the  leading  manufacturing 
establishmenl  of  the  place.  For  three  years  before 
he  was  sent  to  Mount  Carmel  he  was  at  Shamokin 
in  the  einplo)   of  the  same  concern. 

Mr.  Crompton  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
bom  in  1861.  Bis  father,  John  T.  Crompton,  was 
boi  i!  in  England,  n  hence  he  came  to  America  in 
18 11  in  a  sailing  vessel.  The  voyage  took  sis 
months.  Be  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
found  employment  with  a  cousin  of  the  same  name 
in  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes,  emu  inuing  to 
follow  this  work  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1873.     Bis  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 

( lould,  died  onl)   a   few  iths  before  him.    They 

were  the  parents  of  four  children,  namel)  :  Georgi- 
ana.   who  died   young;  John   T. ;  Georgiana,  who 
lives  in  Gloucester,  V  J.;  and  William,  of  Phil- 
adelphia. 
■  John  T.  i  'rompton  rei  eived  his  educat  ion  in  t  he 

scl Is  of  his  native  city.     Be  began  work  early. 

in  a  stocking  mill,  but  alter  a  slum  period  of  em- 
ployment there  went  to  the  State  of  Delaware, 
where  he  was  engaged  at  farm  work  four  years.  In 
1881  he  located  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  also  fol- 
lowed farm  work,  and  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
for  fifteen  years  on  his  own  account  before  he 
commenced  commercial  life.  Be  embarked  in  the 
commission  business  in  Philadelphia,  at  No.  30a 
i'roni  street,  where  he  continued  for  three  years, 
lie  has  since  bei  n  employed  with  the  W.  F.  Tauble 
(Inc.)  Hosier)  Mills.  His  first  work-  for  this 
concern  was  in  New  Jersey,  in  the  dye  house,  and 
in  l!tO:J>  he  was  sent  to  Shamokin.  Pa.,  to  take  the 
position  of  assistant  superintendent.  On  Sept.  13, 
L906,  he  came  to  Mount  Carmel  to  take  charge  of 
the  mill  at  that  point,  where  two  hundred  and 
fift)  hand-  are  steadily  employed.  The  mill  is  the 
leading  industrial  establishment  in  Mount  Carmel. 
and  as  such  occupies  an  important  place  in  de- 
termining the  local  wd  tare.  Mr.  Crompton,  in  his 
capacit)  of  superintendent,  has  shown  himself  to 
be  a  man  of  ability  and  resource,  and  possessed  of 
excellent  judgment,  anil  lie  i<  a  respected  citizen 
of  his  community. 

()n  June  3,  1886,  Mr.  Crompton  married  Mary 
Lovell,  and  thev  have  three  children.  John,  Ida  and 
George.  Thi  family  reside  at  No.  305  West  Third 
street.  Mi'.  Crompton  i-  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Malta  commandery  at  Mount  Carmel,  and  while 
in  New  Jersev  he  joined  the  T.  0.  M.,  Jr.  0.  U.  A. 
M.  and  P.  <").'  S.  oif  A. 

HERBERT  J.  STANNERT,  a  leading  business 

man  of  the  borough  of  Northumberland,  and  the 
only  lumber  merchant  at  that  point,  is  carrying  on 
the  business  established  by  his  father  and  occupies 
an    important    position    in   the  commercial   lite  of 


his  section,  lie  gives  employment  to  a  large  num- 
ber id'  men.  having  a  variety  of  interests  which 
keep  him  busy  ami  attract  capital  to  the  town. 

The  Staniiert  family  has  been  settled  in  North- 
umberland county  from  the  tune  of  hi.-  grandfa- 
ther, Jonathan  Stannert,  back  of  whose  time  we 
have  little  definite  record.  The  name  Stannerl  i- 
of  French  origin,  but  as  many  English  have  French 
names,  through  the  thousands  of  Normans  who 
went  over  to  England  with  the  Conqueror,  it  can- 
not he  stated  of  what  nationality  the  earl)  mem- 
bers of  the  family  in  America  were.  At  the  Revo- 
cation of  the  Edict  of  Xante-  over  one  hundred 
thousand  Buguenots  tied  to  England  and  hundreds 
of  their  sons  came  to  Pennsylvania  as  English. 
Again,  William,  I'i  nice  of  Orange,  had  a  w  hole  bri- 
gade of  Buguenots  with  his  army  at  the  battle 
of  the  Boyne  (1690)  in  Ireland,  most  of  whom 
stayed  in  Ireland  after  the  victory,  and  man)'  of 
them,  or  their  -on-,  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  the 
Scotch-Irish.  For  this  information  we  are  indebt- 
ed to  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Stapleton,  who  thinks  tin-. 

Stannerts   may   have  ci :  to    Pennsylvania    from 

New  Jerse) — probably  the  second  or  third  gener- 
ation in  this  country,  there  being  many  such  fam- 
ilies in  Pennsylvania.  General  Stannert,  of  the 
( 'i\  d   war.  was  fr New  Jersey. 

Jonathan  Stannert.  great-grandfather  of  Her- 
bert J.  Stannert,  lived  at  Conshohocken,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  a  successful  business  man,, a  miller  and 
merchant,  and  also  had  a  farm,  lie  had  a  number 
of  children,  who  settled  in  the  lower  counties  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  among  them  was  a  son  Jon- 
athan, who  was  born  in  ( lonsln  ihocken. 

Jonathan  Stannert.  son  of  Jonathan,  came  to 
Chillisquaque  township.  Northumberland  count)-, 
in   lS'.'!i  or   1830,  and   there  passed   the  rest   of  his 

active  years,  engaged  in  farming,  at  Sod Orig 

inally  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  Some  years 
before  his  death  he  retired  to  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  where 
he  died  and  is  buried.  In  religious  faith  he  was 
a  Presbyterian.  His  wife.  Sarah  (Sedginger),  who 
haded  from  Conshohocken,  died  two  years  before 
him.  They  wen'  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Samuel.  Massey,  Dorothy,  William.  Har- 
riet. Bannah,  John  11.,  and  two  who  died  young. 

John  11.  Stannert.  son  of  Jonathan,  was  horn 
June  10,  1833,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  and  at- 
tended the  eight-cornered  schoolhouse  -till  stand- 
ing in  the  central  part  of  Chillisquaque  township. 
Until  eighteen  he  was  employed  at  farm  work-,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  entered  the  t'nion  sen  ice  during  the 

Civil   war.     In   1862   I alisted    in   Company   I). 

150th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  with 
which  he  served  one  year,  becoming  second  ser- 
geant of  his  company.     He  was  discharged   from 

Turness  Lane  hospital  the  sec I  day  of  the  battle 

of  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863,  hut  reentered  the 
service  and  was  superintendent  of  commissary  tin- 


:,i;i 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


til  Lee's  surrender.  After  the  war  lie  was  engaged 
in  boating  grain  tor  a  time,  and  later  carried  on 
oal  business  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  in  1881  coming 
tn  tin-  borough  of  Northumberland,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  dredged  sand  from  the 
wrest  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  for  twenty  years, 
until  his  retirement,  in  1905.  when  he  turned  the 
business  over  to  hi-  -on.  who  has  since  continued 
the  original  line  and  added  other  branches,  now 
havin'g.a  large  establishment.  Mr.  Stannert  has 
long  been  one  of  the  most  respected  residents  of 
Northumberland,  and  aside  from  business  has  be- 
particularly  well  known  for  his  active  asso- 
ciation with  religious  work.  He  is  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  has  served  as 
class  leader,  exhorter  and  trustee,  and  has  endeav- 
ored  to  lead  an  exemplary  Christian  life.     He  has 

been   of  the  pillars  of  his  church  for  many 

years. 

In  1854  Mi'.  Stannert  married  Mary  Paul, 
daughter  of  Sampson  Paul,  of  Lewisburg.  and  they 
had  eleven  children  :  Ella  (deceased),  Thom- 
as. Wilson  P..  Lawrence,  Mary.  Clara,  Harry.  Wil- 
liam (deceased  I,  Herbert  J.,  a  daughter  that  died 
in  infancy,  ami  Xellie. 

Eerbert  J.  Stannert  was  born  Nov.  12,  1871, 
and  received  hi.-  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lewisburg,  later  attending  the  North- 
umberland high  school  and  Williamsport  Business 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1894. 
Prom  that  time  he  assisted  his  father,  who  was 
engaged  principally  in  the  sand  business,  succeed- 
ing him  in  1905.  Mr.  Stannert  not  only  deals  in 
lumber,  brick,  slate  and  sand,  but  also  handles  all 
kinds  of  mill  work.  His  business  has  reached  large 
proportions,  forty  men  being  now  given  employ- 
ment in  the  conduct  of  its  various  branches.  Mr. 
being  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  success- 
ful men  in  the  borough.  He  has  taken  contracts  of 
all  kinds,  having  put  up  a  number  of  buildings. 
including  several  dwellings,  in  Northumberland, 
does  all  kinds  of  cement  work,  and  is  daily  in- 
creasing the  extent  and  importance  of  his  interests. 
He  came  to  enter  the  lumber  business,  now  his 
principal  line,  through  contracting.  Mr.  Stan- 
nert has  given  his  influence  and  aid  to  the  pro- 
motion of  various  enterprises  of  importance  to  the 
genera]  welfare  of  his  locality.  His  standing  in 
the  community  has  been  gained  by  able  adminis- 
tration of  bis  numerous  undertakings,  and  his  in- 
tegrity and  honorable  methods  are  recognized  by 
all  who  have  been  associated  with  him.  His  con- 
nection with  the  public  affairs  of  the  borough  has 
heei]  continuous  from  his  young  manhood,  he  havL 
ing  been  a  member  since  1  895  of  the  borough  coun- 
cil, of  which  body  he  was  president  for  some  years. 
He  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Republican  party  in 
his  section,  has  been  Republican  borough  chair- 
man since  1909,  and  was  prominently  mentioned 
for  the  senatorship  of  his  district  until  he  himself 


discouraged  the  movement  in  his  favor.  Frater- 
nally  he  holds  membership  in  Eureka  Lodge.  No. 
tot;  E.  &  A.  M..  and  Lodge  No.  196,  I.  0.  0.  F.. 
both  of  Northumberland  :  and  in  Chapter  Xo.  1?4, 
E.  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury. 

nil  lie,.  25,  189.3.  Mr.  Stannert  married  Ida  H. 
Steffen,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Dangler) 
Steffen,  of  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  and  they  have 
one  daughter.  Mary  Margaret. 

GE0BGE  M.  EOWELL,  general  merchant,  is 
a  resident  of  the  borough  of  Northumberland. 
Xorthumberland  county,  where  he  has  his  principal 
ishment.  He  began  the  business  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father.  Charles  M.  Howell,  as  junior 
member  of  the  linn  of  ('.  M.  Howell  &  Son.  and 
still  does  business  under  that  name. 

The  Howell  family  is  of  English  origin  and  has 
been  settled  in  America  from  early  Colonial  times, 
the  first  ancestor  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  hav- 
ing been  Edward  Howell,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land,  baptized  Jul]  •.".'.  1580,  came  to  America 
about  I'll  in  and  first  settled  at  Lynn,  Mass. 
ed  to  Long  Island,  settling  at  South- 
ampton, where  he  died.  George  M.  Howell  is  di- 
rectly descended  from  him. 

(  harles  Muirheid  Howell,  father  of  George  M. 
Unwell,  was  born  July  IT.  1851,  at  Van  ('amp. 
i  olumbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1S89  settled  with  his 
family  at  Xorthumberland.  Pa.,  where  he  became 
of  the  foremost  men  of  his  day.  He  was  a  lead- 
ing business  man  of  that  place,  and  in  his  later 
took  his  son  George  M.  Howell  into  partner- 
ship,  under  the  firm  name  of  ('.  M.  Howell  &  Son. 
He  died  at  Xorthumberland  July  4.  1907.  Mr. 
Eowell  married  Frances  I-'..  McCollum,  who  sur- 
vives him  and  continues  to  make  her  home  at 
Northumberland,  and  to  them  were  born  children 
as  follows :  Maude,  wife  of  W.  L.  Gutelius,  of 
Washington,  1  >.  C. ;  Edna,  wife  of  Herbert  W. 
i  iimmings,  of  Sunbury.  Pa.,  ex-district  attorney  of 
Xorthumberland  county:  George  M. :  Charles  M.. 
a  graduate  of  Bucknell  University,  now  a  civil 
engineer ;  and  Edward  L.,  a  student  at  Bucknell 
University. 

George  M.  Howell  was  born  Dec.  19.  181 G,  at 
Eckley,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Fayette  county,  this  State. 
whither  his  parents  moved  in  1881.  He  also  at- 
d  Bucknell  University  and  State  College, 
meantime  moving  with  the  family  to  the  borough 
of  Xorthumberland.  His  school  days  over,  he  en- 
tered into  business  life  as  his  father's  partner, 
under  the  firm  name  C.  M.  Howell  &  Son.  Since 
the  death  of  his  father  he  has  continued  the  busi- 
ness under  the  same  name,  and  he  still  has  his 
main  office  at  Xorthumberland.  where  he  has  the 
leading  general  store  in  the  place.  He  conducts 
two  branch  stores,  one  at  Oneida,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  and  the  other  at  Fern  Glen   (Gowen  post  of- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


565 


Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  all  under  his  personal  man- 
agement, Mr.  Howell  lias  been  a  highly  success- 
ful business  man.  applying  the  most  modern  meth- 
ods to  the  operation  of  his  stores,  all  of  which  are 
run  on  a  profitable  basis.  He  is  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Northumberland,  and  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  holding  membership  in  Eureka 
Lodge,  No.  404,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Bloomsburg  Lodge 
of  Perfection,  fourteenth  degree;  and  Bloomsburg 
Consistory,  thirty-second  degree.  He  is  a  member 
of  tlir  Phi  Gamma  Delta  college  fraternity. 

On  March  15,  1902,  Mr.  Howell  married  Jennie 
L.  Eckert,  daughter  of  H.  T.  Eckert,  of  Sunbury, 
and  they  have  had  one  son,  George  M.,  Jr.,  born 
Aug.  1.  1904.  The  family  are  Presbyterians  in  re- 
ligious association. 

.1.  1 1;\"  I  \  STEEL,  -I  i,\.  of  Shamokin,  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Shamokin  Daily  Herald,  is  a  news- 
paper man  "by  inheritance/'"  his  father  and  broth- 
ers  having  all  been  successful  publishers.  His  fa- 
ther, J.  [rvin  Steel,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Huntingdon, 
Pa.,  died  May  29,  1904,  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  resided  for  forty  years.  He  started 
the  Ashland  Advocate,  later  known  as  the  Ev- 
ening Telegram,  and  also  owned  the  Shamokin 
Dispatcfi.  ■  Hi-  wife,  .Mary  (Gwinn),  died  in  Ash- 
land twenty  years  ago.  They  had  sons  Charles  E. 
Steel,  of  Minersville,  Pa.,  cashier  of  the  Union 
National  Bank;  W.  A.  Steel,  newspaper  man  in 
Seattle,  Wash.,  and  Cordova,  Alaska:  J.  Irvin 
Steel,  of  the  Shamokin  Herald;  Stewart  Steel,  of 
Ashland,  printer:  and  Harry  G.  Steel,  of  Cordova, 
Alaska,  a  newspaper  man. 

J.  Irvin  Steel,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1865  at  Ashland, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  educated.  Com- 
ing to  Shamokin  eighteen  years  ago,  he  was  asso- 
ciated during  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  the 
borough  with  his  father,  who  owned  the  Daily  Dis- 
patch. <  Ine  year  later  he  joined  his  brothers,  Har- 
ry G.  and  Charles  E.  Steel,  as  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Daily  Herald,  a  newspaper  originally 
established  in  1862  and  published  continuously 
since.  It  has  been  issued  daily  since  1888.  About 
eight  years  ago  Mr.  Steel  bought  out  his  brothers' 
interests,  becoming  sole  proprietor,  and  still  con- 
tinue as  such.  His  only  child,  William  A.  Steel, 
is  city  editor  of  the  Herald.  The  business  is  lo- 
cated at  No.  712  North  Rock  street,  and  a  profit- 
aide  printing  business  has  been  established,  book, 
legal,  general  job  and  commercial  work  of  all 
kinds  being  turned  out.  On  Jan.  1i.  I'M  1 .  Mr. 
Steel  was  appointed  transcribing  cleric  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Senate.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
355,  1'..  P.  0.  Elks.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  i-  considered  a  high  authority  in  the  local 
political  field,  prominent  in  the  councils  of  his 
party  in  Northumberland  county. 

JAMES  B.  EXT,  a  farmer  of  Ralpho  township. 
Northumberland    county,   was   born   at   the  place 


he  now  resides  Dec.  16,  1859,  and  has  followed 
general  farming  and  trucking  all  his  life.  He  was 
the  first  tax  collector  elected  in  his  township,  and 
lias  the  reputation  of  being  a  reliable,  intelligent 
man.  a  valuable  citizen  of  the  district  in  which  he 
makes  his  home. 

Peter  Ent,  great-grandfather  of  James  B.  Ent, 
was  a  native  of  Jersey,  horn  dan.  11.  1749,  and 
died  Feb.  28,  Is'.'!),  aged  eighty  years,  one  month, 
seventeen  days.  He  served  as  a  flag  bearer  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Ri<  wife,  Sarah  (Kent), 
born  Feb.  11,  1755,  died  May  14,  L821,  aged  sixty- 
six  years,  three  months,  three  days.  Their  daugh- 
ter Susanna,  who  married  William  Brewer,  was 
horn  May  16,  1784,  ami  died  Nov.  21,  1854,  aged 
seventy  years,  six  months,  the  day-. 

Charles  Ent,  grandfather  of  .lame-  B.  Ent,  lived 
and  died  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  owning  two  large  farm-  there,  in 
Roaring  Creek  Valley.  He  was  born  June  25, 
1788,  and  died  Jan.  1,  1S49.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Mears,  and  his  children,  all  now  deceased, 
were:  Peter.  John,  Jackson.  Daniel,  Charles, 
Thomas,  George,  Samuel.  Sarah,  Angeline,  Caro- 
line and  Mary. 

Samuel  Ent.  son  of  Charles  Ent.  was  born  Feb. 
13,  1813,  in  Columbia  county,  and  died  Nov.  9, 
L869.  In  his  earlier  manhood  he  followed  cabinet- 
making  and  the  undertaking  business  and  later 
engaged  at  the  carpenter'-  trade,  many  of  the  old 
structures  around  Elysburg  having  been  built  by 
him.  In  1865  he  erected  the  old  Elysburg  Acad- 
emy building,  now  known  as  Odd  Fellows  Hall, 
lb  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  served  as  commissioner  of  Northum- 
berland county  in  1858-59-60-61.  A  member  of 
the  I.  0.  ().  P..  he  originally  belonged  to  Mount 
Tabor  Lodge,  at  Shamokin.  which  he  served  as 
noble  grand,  and  when  Elysburg  Lodge  was  or- 
ganized lie  became  a  charter  member.  In  various 
ways  he  was  considered  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  district, 

(Hi  March  30,  183';.  Mr.  Ent  married  Lucy 
Clayton,  daughter  of  William  Clayton.  She  was 
born  Dee.  17,  1814.  and  died  March  31,  1883,  and 
she  and  her  husband  are  buried  at  St.  Jacob's 
(Reed's)  church  in  Ralpho  township.  .They  had 
children  as  follows:  Elizabeth  married  Luther 
Hoover,  and  died  in  1869,  aged  thirty-one  years; 
Ellen  S..  born  in  1840,  died  in  1863;  William 
Clayton,  born  in  1843,  died  m  1869  (he  served 
during  the  Civil  war  in  Company  I-'.  in  1th  Regi- 
ment. Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Reserves);  Louisa 
married  Freeman  Haas;  Adeline  is  living  with  her 
brother  James  B. :  Charles  W.,  born  Feb.  19,  1850, 
Nov.  2,  1869  :  George  P...  hem  April  19,  1853. 
died  March  7,  is;:',;  Dora  married  Simon  (i.  Ease: 
James  is  residing  on  the  old  home  place. 

James  B.  Ent  attended  the  local  public  schools 
and  Elysburg  Academy,  and  throughout  his  active 
life  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.   He 


566 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


now  owns  his  father's  Farm,  a  trad  of  seventj  ai  res 
near  Elysburg,  and  take?  his  produce  to  the  Sham- 
okin  markets,  where  he  finds  a  ready  sale  for  his 
crops.  Mr.  Km  has  prospered  by  dint  of  perse- 
vering Industry  and  devotion  to  his  work.  He  is 
a  man  of  solid  worth,  possessing  the  courage  of  his 
convictions,  and  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket,  and 
has  served  upon  the  local  election  board.  Ee  was 
the  first  tax  collector  of  Ralpho  township.  In  re- 
ii  he  is  identified  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  be- 
ing one  of  its  active  members,  and  socially  he  be- 

ags  to  the  1.  0.  0.  F.  and  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 

On   Nov.  2,   L881,   Mr.   Ent  married  Ida  Grim, 

daughter  o     \ s  am     I  (I  rilberl  )   Grim, 

of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three 
children:  Bertha,  married  to  S.  Kimber  Fahr- 
inger  (they  reside  at  Tamaqua,  Pa.):  Harry,  who 
d  ied    in   inl'ancv  :  and  Lucy. 

\\  EBSTEE  HEEB  YODEB,  -hoe  merchant  at 
Mount  Carmel,  has  been  established  in  his 
ent  line  of  business  in  that  borough   for  several 
years  and  has  madi   i    success  of  his  venture,  b 

i  of  the  ni< i       irogress  oung   business  men 

of  the  community,  one  whose  enterprise  and  per- 

erance   deserve  the  reward  of  prosperity.      IF 
is   a   public-spirited    citizen,    ready    to   enter 
projects   affecting   the  general   welfare  as   well   as 
his   own  tv.      Mr.    Yoder   is   a   nativi 

Schuylkill  county,'  Lorn   Dec.  24,  1877,  in   Eldred 
ship,   son   of   Lewis   K.   Yoder.  grandson   of 
Peter  and  great-grandson  of  Anthon]    5 

The  first  of  er  (sometimes  spelled  Yod- 

der  and  Yotter  in  the  German)   name  in  America 

were   Yost  and   Hans   (or   Hanee),  brothers,  who 

i   refuge  in   England  from  the  religious  per- 

ions    suffered    in    their    native    Switzerland. 

brought  little  with  them  to  America  bes 

their  Bible.    Upon  their  arrival  in  the  New  World 

shed  on  into  the  wilderness  beyond  Oli 
hills,  and  finally  settled  on  the  Manatawny.  Yos 
Yoder  was  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  early 
frontiersmen  of  Pennsylvania.  His  chief  occupa- 
l  and  trappings  wliich  he  always 
combined  with  farming,  or  rather  with  the  "clear- 
ing and  cultivation  of  a  plantation."  It  is  cer- 
tain that  he  and  his  brother  were  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania befori  L714.  Nine  children  were  born 
to  Yosf  Yoder,  and  of  seven  of  these  the  n 
is  .i-  Eollows:  (1)  Johannes  Yoder.  often  called 
Yost,  was  born  in  1718.  After  1752  he  removed 
to  Reading,  where  he  died  April  7.  1812,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  on  his  father's  land  at  Yot- 
tersville  (Yodersville),  named  after  his  family. 
now  Pleasantville,  in  Oley  township.  Berks  county. 
The  following  inscription  mark-  his  grave:  "II  li 

Rhuet  Johann-es   Y r.     Erwurde  geboren  1718. 

Veivliehte  sich  mil  Catharina  Lyster  (Lesher) 
L7  17  und  zeughte  1  solrne  unci  5  toehtern.  Starh 
den   7th   April,  1812,  nach  seiner  66  yahr  in  der 


ehe  -••'< 'i't  hatte  war  alt  warden  91  yahr  und  14 
tag  In    1 74 T    he    married    Catharine    Lyster 

(Lesher),  and  her  tombstone  records  "b.  1730,  d. 
L812,  having  lived  married  66  years  und  aged  82 
years."  (2)  Jacob  Yoder  removed  to  the  western 
side  of  the  Schuylkill.  <  hi  Nov.  6,  1757,  ai  the  agi 
of  twenty-two  year-,  i  i  i  listed  in  the  Provincial 
service  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  saddler  three 
years  in  ('apt.  John  Nicholas  Weatherholt's  com- 
pany. He  was  stationed  in  Heidelberg  town-hip. 
Northampton  county,  in  March  an. I  April,  1758 
|  Pa.  Arch..  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  11].     IF    ■  n  the 

American  Revolution  as  a  private  in  Peter  Nagle's 
company,  and  later  in  Capt.  Charles  Gobin's  com- 
pany, 6th  Battalion,  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was 
in  a  detachment  of  the  6th  Battalion  to  guard 
prisoners  Hessi       camp  a     Read- 

ing  to    Philadelphia.     He  married    Maria    K 
(3)   Samuel  Yoder  settled  on  a  "plantation"  near 
Lobaehsville,  aboul  one  and  one  half  miles  from 
which   he   received    from   his   father. 
He  ha  John,  Jacob,  Samuel  and  Cath- 

(4)   Mary  Yoder  married  Daniel  Berl 
(5)     Catharine    Yoder    married    John     Reppert. 
el    Elizabeth    Yoder   was   the   wife   of   Mathias 
Rhode  and   they  had  children:  Jacob,  John,  -1"- 
eph,  Abraham,  Catharine.  .Maria  and  Esther.     I  ".  | 
Esther  Yoder  married  a  man  named  Cunius. 
The  wolves  in  Oley  wrought  great  injury  among 

-  teep  and  hogs  of  the  settlers.     It  was  custo- 
mary to  make  pitfalls  and  thus  trap  them.     Many 

if  Yost  Yodels  . i  forts  at  their 
extermination.     He  sometimes  disposed  of  five  in 
night.      Hi     was    a    man    of   remarkable 
strengl  i  and  powers  ol   endurance,  and  poss 
famoi  He   made   customary   hunting 

trips  all    into    the    Flue    Mountains   with 

his  trusty  rifle  and  faithful  dog.  On  his  trail  at 
different   -  his  journeys  he  had  plan  ■ 

-  t  for  supplies  iii  hollow  tri 

Yoder  Bible,  dated  1530,  was  printed  dur- 
ing the  lifetime  of  .Martin   Luther.     It  was  held 

nuously  by  the  family  until  as  late  as  1860, 
and  is  now  the  of  Mary  B.  Yoder,  daugh- 

i   David,  son  of  Daniel.     It  is  well  preser 
though   unfortunately   the   lid    and   date   are   torn 
This  priceless  treasure  of  their  faith  from 
thi'   Fatherland  was  "a-   a   lamp  unto  their  feet" 
in  their  flight  to  America,      ["hi    Yi    ers  ol    B 
extended  into  New  York  ami   the  West.     In 

-:    -     epresi  ntatives  in  the  Fiftieth  United  States 
Congress  was  S.  S.  Yoder,  of  Lima.  Ohio. 

Hans  (or  Hanee)  Yoder.  the  emigrant  brother 
of  Yost,  was  the  builder  and  owner  of  what  is 
now  known  as  Griesemers  mills  (burned  in  1847, 
and  rebuilt  the  same  year).  This  property  in 
the  early  days  was  the  homestead  of  the  Yo'ders 
of  Oley.  The  survey  of  the  plantation  under  pro- 
prietary  warrant  to  Hanee  Yoder  was  returned 
March  25,  171  1.     At  thai  time  Oley  township  was 


X  ( )  l,T 1 1 1 '  M  BERLA  \  I )  COUNTY,  PEN  X  s V  LVANIA 


561 


the  haunl  of  Indians,  and  of  wolves,  bear  and 
other  wild  game.  The  wives  of  the  German  set- 
tlers also  bore  their  pari  in  the  subjugation  of  the 
wilderness.  One  <\;>\  while  at  work,  extending 
their  clearing  in  the  forest,  they  having  shut  their 
children  in  the  cabin  as  a  protection  from  the 
beasts  which  roamed  over  their  land,  they  were 
suddenly  aroused  by  the  report  of  a  rifle  in  the 
direction  of  then-  cabin.  As  it  was  not  unusual 
for  predator}  bands  of  bloodthirsty  Iroquois  from 
the  north  to  roam  over  the  country  they  hastened 
in  the  direction  of  the  shot  to  see  their  cabin 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  drunken  savages,  who 
having  been  refused  admittance  by  the  terrified 
children  within  retaliated  by  firing  through  the 
d  door.  Mr.  Yoder  al  once  made  an  attack 
with  a  singletree,  and  soon  put  them  to  flight 
with  threats  of  revenge.  Returning  with  increased 
□umbers    thej    demanded    satisfaction,    but    Mr'. 

Coder's  Iness  won  him  friends  among  them  who 

forced  the  others  to  desist.     Eans  (Hanee)   Yoder 

was  the   father  of   E ■  sons:  Hans   (2),  Samuel, 

Peter  and  Daniel.  The  last  named,  born  in  1718, 
died  Aug.  21,  1749,  aged  thirty-one  years,  eight 
months,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  al  Pleas- 
ant ille. 


Anthonj  Yodei",  great-grandfather  of  Webster 
II.  Yoder,  lived  in  the  Mahantango  Valley  in 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  farming. 
Ill-  wife  was  Sarah  Howerter,  and  they  are  buried 
at  the  Howerter  church  in  that  valley.  They  had 
children  as  follows:  Polly  died  unmarried;  Eliza- 
beth married  George  Mdyer;  Judith  married  Sam- 
uel Neiswender;  Susan  married  Daniel  Wetzel: 
Eva  married  Daniel  Stitzer;  Kate  married  Henry 
Hoffman;  Sybilla  married  Jacob  Zimmerman; 
Sarah  married  Jonas  Coppenhafer;  Peter  is  men- 
tioned below;  Harrison  and  Reuben  died  in 
Schuylkill  county. 

Peter  Voder,  son  of  Anthem .  was  born  in  1821 
and  died  May  16,  1868,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county.  He  lived  in  the 
Mahantango  Valley  for  many  year-,  and  was  a 
stonemason  by  occupation.  He  married  Harriet 
[Hock,  who  after  his  death  became  the  wife  of 
Sebastian  Zimmerman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmerman 
being  new  residents  of  Sunbury,  this  county.  To 
Peter  and  Harriet  (Klock)  Voder  were  born  these 
children:  Mary  E.  died  young;  Lewis  K.  is  men- 
tioned below;  Emma  married  Joel  Hepler,  who  is 
deceased;  Julia  married  (first)  Benjamin  Fertig 
and  (-ee.ui.h  John  SingmeisteT;  Christiana  mar- 
ried George  Bennett;  William  H.  died  young; 
Peter  is  living  at  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

Lewis  K.  Voder,  father  of  Webster  H.  Voder, 
was  born  Feb.  28,  1856,  in  Eldred  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  near  the  Northumberland  coun- 
ty line.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  shoemak- 
ing,    and     has    followed    that    trade    principally 


throughout  his  active  years,  except  for  a  iVu  years 
when  he  worked  in  the  mines.  In  1884  he  made 
his  heme  in  Mount  Carmel,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  married  Sarah  Herb,  daughter  of 
William  and  Catharine.  (Kehler)  Herb,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  -i\  children,  namely:  Webster 
II.  i-  mentioned  below;  Elmer,  horn  Od  7,  1879, 
lives  in  Mount  Carmel:  Frank,  born  Nov.  21, 
1881,  lives  in  Pottsville;  Alice,  born  Sept.  22, 
1888,  is  now  clerking  for  her  brother  Webster; 
Jennie,  twin  of  Alice,  is  engaged  as  a  teacher  in 
-Mount  Carmel;  Helen,  hern  Jan.  12,  1897,  is  at- 
tending school. 

Webster  Herb  Voder  was  a  men/  hoy  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Mount  Carmel.  so  that  he  has 
practically   been   a    resident    of  that    place  all 

life.     He  attended  the  local   public  scl I-  and 

when  eleven  years  old  began  work  as  a  slate  pic. 
working  as  such  for  two  years.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  Daniel  D.  Bolieh,  with  whom  he 
continued  for  ten  and  a  half  years,  learning  the 
shoe  business  thoroughly.  For  a  short  time  aftet 
ward  he  was  in  the  service  of  Gimbel  Brothers, 
at  Philadelphia,  on  Dec.  30,  L902,  embarking  in 
business  in  Mount  Carmel  on  his  own  account. 
He  has  been  at  the  same  location,  No.  22  South 
Oals  street,  ever  since,  and  has  built  up  a  hue. 
business  as  a  shoe  dealer,  making  a  spa  ialty  of 
the  Crossett  shoe  for  men.  the  LaFrance  for  ladies, 
and  the  Educator  shoe,  "for  the  whole  family." 
Mr.  Voder  keeps  up  with  thi  times  in  the  changes 
which  occur  in  his  line  of  business,  and  is 
readv  to  adopt  new  styles  and  new  methods  which 
promise  satisfaction  to  his  customers,  who  by  long 
continued  patronage  show  their  appreciation  of  his 
efforts.  He  i-  secretary  of  the  Retail  Merchants' 
Protective  Association  of  Mounl  Carmel,  and  holds 
the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  of  all  classes  who 
have  had  dealings  of  any  kind  with  him. 

On  Oct.  6,  L906,  Mr.  Voder  married  Isabella 
Anderson,  daughter  of  George  D;  Anderson.  He 
is  ;m  active  membeT  ol  the  Church  of  God,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  he  has  been  coun 
retary  of  the  Northumberland  County  Sunday 
School  Association  for  the  past  six  years.  Socially 
he  i-  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  630,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
(of  which  he  is  a  past  grand),  of  Camp  No.  231, 

P.    0.    S.    of   A.,   and    of   the    Modern    W Imen 

Camp  \".  8207.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a 
Republican,  but  his  activity  doe-  no!  go  beyond 
thi    .  asting  of  his  ballot. 

HENRY  A.  WOLF,  a  farmer  of  Jordan  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  has  passed  all  his 
life  there.  He  was  horn  in  that  township  in  June. 
1853,  son  of  Henry  Wolf,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
which  was  settled  there  in  1778,  when  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township  was  formed  from  Mahanoy,  which 
formerly  included  all  the  territory  in  Northumber- 
land county  south  of  Line  Mountain. 


568 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Jonathan  Wolf,  the  first  of  this  line  of  whom 
we  have  record,  was  a  taxable  of  this  district  at 
the  time  of  the  separation,  in  1778. 

Anthony  (Andoni)  Wolf,  son  of  Jonathan,  was 
born  Nov.  16,  1768,  and  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers in  Jackson  township,  living  where  Michael 
later  resided.  This  homestead  farm  is  near  Peif- 
ers  Evangelical  meeting  house,  and  is  now  owned 
by  Isaac  Wolf,  son  of  Michael.  Anthony  Wolf 
d'ied  March  29,  1852,  and  is  buried  at  St.  "Peter's 
Church,  Mahanoy. 

Michael  Wolf  (nephew  of  Anthony)  was  born 
Dee.  9,  1801.  and  died  March  1,  1862.  He  was 
a  farmer,  owning  the  property  which  now  belongs 
to  his  son  Isaac.  His  wife.  Mary  M..  born  Feb. 
■J  I.  1795,  died  Feb.  7,  1882.  They  are  buried  at 
SI  Peter's  Church,  Mahanoy.  Their  children 
were:  Isaac,  who  is  now  (1910)  one  of  the  oldest 
re-idents  of  Jackson  township;  Samuel,  born  Nov. 
18,  1830,  who  died  May  10.  1902  (his  wife  Sarah, 
born  July  6,  1841,  died  Jan.  20,  1885):  Sophia; 
and  Catharine,  who  married  Jacob  Hepner. 

George  Wolf,  son  of  Anthony,  was  born  in  the 
lower  end  of  Northumberland  county,  and  made 
his  home  in  Jordan  township,  where  Edward 
Schlegel  now  lives.  The  buildings  which  stood 
on  the  property  in  his  time  have,  however,  all 
been  destroyed.  He  was  a  wool  hat  maker  by 
trade.  He  died  from  the  effects  of  a  cold  which 
he  contracted  after  having  a  tooth  extracted.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  Esther  (DeTurck).  were  born 
the  following  children :  Catharine,  who  married 
Jacob  Merkel  and  lived  in  the  Mahantango  Val- 
h\  :  Hettie,  who  married  Daniel  Weaver  and  lived 
in  Juniata  county.  Pa.:  Jeremiah,  who  lived  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township ;  Henry :  and  George,  a 
farmer  of  Jordan  township,  whose  children  were 
I.  etta,  Alice.  Amos  D.  (1S60-1892),  George, 
Nathaniel,  Henry,  Morris.  Minerva.  Kate  and 
William.  Mrs.  Esther  (DeTurck)  Wolf  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Isaac  DeTurck.  a  French 
Huguenot,  who  came  to  New  York  about  1709-10 
and  in  IT  12  became  the  first  settler  in  what  is 
now  Oley  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Henrv  Wolf,  son  of  George,  was  born  in  Jordan 
township  Oct.  21,  1823,  and  died  March  19,  1896. 
By  trade  he  was  a  stonemason.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  lived  with  his  son  Henry  A.  His  wife, 
Rebecca  (Adam),  was  born  in  1826,  daughter  of 
John  Adam  (whose  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Herbi.  and  died  in  1907,  aged  eightj'-one  years, 
six  months,  twenty-two  days.  They  are  buried  in 
CTrhan  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  to  which  both  be- 
longed, Mr.  Wolf  being  a  Lutheran  and  his  wife 
a  Reformed  member  of  that  church.  He  served 
as  elder  for  a  number  of  years.  Twelve  children 
were  born  to  this  couple :  Hettie,  who  died  young ; 
John  and  William,  twins,  the  former  of  whom  is 
iated  with  his  brother  Henry  in  farming, 
Henrv   A.   having  a   two-thirds  interest.   John   a 


one-third  interest,  in  the  properties ;  Henry  A. ; 
Lydiann ;  Daniel,  who  lives  on  the  tract  belonging 
to  his  brother  Henry  ( he  married  Emma  Leffler 
and  has  two  sons,  Edwin  and  John)  ;  Elias :  Re- 
becca Mary :  and  four  who  died  young. 

Henry  A.  Wolf  attended  the  pay  schools  con- 
ducted in  the  home  district  during  his  boyhood 
and  later  the  free  schools,  and  he  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  began 
farming  lor  himself,  having  had  unusual  training 
of  the  most  practical  kind.  He  was  only  eleven 
when  hired  by  his  uncle,  Gabriel  Adams,  for  whom 
he  continued  to  work  until  he  was  eighteen.  He 
farmed  the  property  of  his  uncle  Gabriel  for  twelve 
years,  and  meantime  also  burned  and  hauled  lime. 
In  the  spring  of  1881  he  came  to  his  present  place, 
a  farm  of  136  acres  in  Stone  Valley,  in  Jordan 
township,  formerly  known  as  the  Una.  Wentzel 
farm,  and  there  he  has  since  lived  and  worked. 
following  general  farming  with  steady  success. 
He  has  prospered,  and  acquired  other  property, 
owning  a  tract  of  thirty  acres,  also  in  Jordan 
township,  which  was  formerly  the  farm  of  Henry 
Winner,  and  a  third  piece,  of  forty  acre-,  n 

-  the  John  Wentzel  home.  All  of  his  tracts 
are  limestone  soil  and  very  productive  under  his 
management,  which  is  thoroughly  up  to  date.  Mr. 
Wolf  is  a  hard  worker  and  deserves  the  success 
which  has  attended  his  efforts,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  most  esteemed  citizens  of  his  locality.  He 
has  served  as  supervisor,  and  is  at  present  one 
of  the  auditors  of  his  township.  He  has  also 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation at  St.  Paul's  Church,  Urban,  to  which  his 
family  also  belong.  Mr.  Wolf  is  now  serving  as 
elder  of  the  church,  and  is  also  one  of  the  trustees. 
Though  he  has  never  had  any  instruction  in  music 
he  plays  very  well,  and  for  twenty-three  years 

anist  of  his  church,  his  daughter  Mrs. 
Baum  succeeding  him.  In  politics,  like  all  of  his 
family,  Mr.  Wolf  is  a  Republican. 

In' 1884  Mr.  Wolf  married  Emma  Dubbendorf, 
daughter  of  William  and  Julianna  (Wiest)  Dub- 
bendorf, and  they  have  had  five  children,  one  of 
whom  is  deceased.  The  survivors  are:  Mary  F., 
wife  of  Edwin  Baum,  who  has  one  child,  Charles 
Edward :  William  Oscar,  who  married  Beulah 
Brosus  May  30.  1009,  and  has  one  child.  Melvin 
Stanley:  Harvey  E.,  who  married  May  Schlegel 
Jan.  1.  1910,  and  has  one  child.  Nevin  Lee:  and 
Nora  S. 

JOHN  P.  CARPENTER,  present  solicitor  for 
tiie  municipality  of  Sunbury,  and  formerly  just- 

ci  of  the  peace  of  that  borough,  is  an  attorney 
who  has  risen  steadily  in  his  profession  since  he 
commenced  practice,  in  1S03.  He  has  been  a  hard 
worker,  zealous  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  du- 
ties and  successful  in  the  conduct  of  Ms  private 

ases.     Mr.  Carpenter  is  a  native  of  Snyder  coun- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


569 


ty,  Pa.,  bora  Oct.  IS.  1867,  at  Beavertown,  son 
of  Alvm  M.  Carpenter  and  grandson  of  Giles 
( larpenter. 

Giles  Carpenter  was  a  uative  of  Germany  and 
was  one  'if  three  brothers  who  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. II'-  was  a  wheelwright  and  miller  by  occu- 
pation; and  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  a 
mill  at  Ephrata,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  lie 
reared  hi-  family.  He  married  .lam  E.  McClin- 
tick.  who  was  bora  and  brought  up  in  Mifflin 
county,  Pa.,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen i  I'  Idn  'i.  only  four  of  whom  survive,  namely: 
Amanda  (deceased),  Martha  (deceased),  Margaret 
(wife  of  Philip  Lash:  they  live  in  Michigan), 
.lame-    i  i .    Belinda    i  wile    of    Amos    E. 

Sellers  and  living  in  Lancaster,  Pa.),  Hiram  (who 
died  young),  Sylvester  (deceased),  Arabella  (de- 
ceased), Cincanna  (who  died  young),  Louisa 
(who  died  young),  Akin  M.,  Samuel  L.  (of  Lan- 
caster, Pa.),  and  one  that  died  young.  Two  of 
the  children  died  of  scar-let  fever  while  the  fam- 
ily lived  at  Ephrata. 

Alvin  M.  Carpenter,  son  id'  Giles,  was  born 
An-.  21,  1841,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
reared  principally  on  the  farm.  When  sixteen 
years  old  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of 
cabinetmaker,  which  he  continued  to  follow  for 
fifteen  pars,  meantime  locating  in  Adamsburg, 
Snyder  county.  He  then  began  farming  in  that 
county,  being  thus  engaged  in  Beaver  township 
for  a  period  of  thirty  years,  and  in  connection 
with  agricultural  work  he  follows  huckstering, 
Inlying  and  selling  produce,  in  which  line  he  has 
established  a  profitable  trade.  Occasionally  he 
does  carpenter  work  and  painting,  being  an  ex- 
cellent mechanic  and  an  all-around  thrifty  man. 
For  eighteen  years  Mr.  Carpenter  taught  singing- 
classes,  and  in  that  connection  is  widely  known 
to  young  and  old  in  his  locality. 

On  July  29,  1866,  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Ellen 
Feese,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Eliza  (Middle- 
werth)  Feese,  of  Beavertown,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
had  a  family  of  eight  children:  John  P.  is  men- 
tioned fully  below:  Gertie  May  is  deceased: 
Charles  1-:.  lives  in  West  Virginia:  Rev.  Sanford 
i-  a  well  known  minister  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran denomination,  at  present  located  at  Carthage, 
111.;  Elsie  married  George  C.  Walker,  and  they 
are  farming  people  at  Beavertown:  Harry  M.  is 
deceased:  Ira  J.,  of  Sunbury.  is  engaged  in  rail- 
roading: Bessie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Roy  E.  Eisen- 
hour,  of  Sunbury.  Mr.  Carpenter  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church, 
in  which  he  has  long  been  a  prominent  worker, 
having  served  as  elder  and  trustee,  and  for  a  num- 
bei  of  years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

John  P.  Carpenter  received  his  early  educa- 
tion  in   the  public    schools,    later    attending  the 


State  normal  school  at  Bloomsburg  and  Susque- 
hanna University,  at  Selinsgrove,  from  which  lat- 
ter institution  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1891.  During  the  next  two  years  he  taught  school 
iu  Rockefeller  township,  Northumberland  county, 
meanwhile  reading  law  in  the  office  of  C.  B.  Wit- 
mer.  In  fact,  he  gained  most  of  his  advanced 
education  while  supporting  himself  by  teaching, 
having  taught  a  number  of  terms  before  his  grad- 
uation from  the  university,  two  in  Lower  Maha- 
noy  township,  this  county.  In  1893  he  was  admit- 
ted to  practice  before  the  Northumberland  county 
bar.  and  he  is  now  qualified  to  practice  before  the 
Supreme  court  (to  which  he  was  admitted  in 
1898),  the  Superior  court  (since  1909)  and  the 
Superior  and  Circuit  courts  of  the  United  States. 
His  public  honors  came  to  him  unusually  early 
in  his  practice.  In  1899  he  became  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  continuing  to 
hold  that  office  for  two  successive  terms,  until 
1909,  and  he  is  the  present  solicitor  for  the  bor- 
ough of  Sunbury,  having  held  that  position  since 
190?  :  in  March,  1911,  he  was  reelected  to  succeed 
himself  for  another  term  of  three  years.  In  that 
capacity  he  defended  the  borough  in  the  case  of 
Cake  versus  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  in  which  a 
new  principle  of  law  was  involved,  and  had  the 
case  decided  in  favor  of  the  borough.  His  pro- 
fessional work  is  above  reproach,  and  his  patron- 
age comes  front  a  substantial  class  of  clients,  whose 
confidence  is  a  gratifying  recognition  of  ability. 

From  young  manhood  Mr.  Carpenter  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Republican  party,  in 
whose  councils  he  is  quite  influential.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  district  convention  that  nomin- 
ated Dr.  E.  W.  Samuel,  of  Mount  Carmel,  for 
( longress. 

In  1894  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Hannah  Min- 
erva Witmer,  daughter  of  Isaac  L.  Witmer.  of 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  ami  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Anna  Ellen  and  Alvin  Witmer.  The  family 
are  active  in  church  work  in  affiliation  with  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Carpenter  holds 
membership;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  church 
choir  since  1891.  Fraternallv  he  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  167,  B.  P.  0.  Elk-,  of  Sunbury,  and 
of  Col.  James  Cameron  Camp,  Sons  of  Veterans. 
a  I -i  i  of  Sunbury. 

DAVID  J.  JONES,  who  i-  engaged  in  business 
at  Shamokin.  Northumberland  count}',  as  a  coal 
dealer  and  contractor,  has  lived  in  the  borough 
from  boyhood  and  has  made  his  own  way  to  a  sub- 
stantial and  respected  position  in  the  community, 
lie  is  one  of  the  foremost  contractors  of  this  sec- 
tion, where  much  of  his  work  is  in  evidence. 

Mr.  Jones  wa-  born  dan.  25,  1871,  in  Danville. 
Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  of  Welsh  descent,  his 
grandfather,  a  native  of  Wales,  having  brought  his 


ro 


\i  iRTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


family  in  America  and  settled  near  Danville.  He 
was  employed  in  the  ore  mines,  and  died  at  Dan- 
ville, where  lie  i-  buried. 

John  '1'.  Jones,  lather  of  David  J.  Jones,  was 
horn  in  Wales  in  ls:,!:i  and  was  fourteen  years  old 
when  he  came  with  his  father  to  this  country,  lie 
leai  tied  shoemaking,  and  in  time  became  a  shoe 
merchant  at  Danville,  where  he  was  a  leading  busi- 
ness man  for  a  number  of  years.     At   the  ti >f 

the  construction  of  the  Reading  railroad  he  made 
the  shoes  for  the  men  employed  in  that  work,  lie 
died  at  Danville  March  28,  1874,  at  the  compar- 
atively early  age  of  forty-one  years.  Mr.  Jones 
married  Elizabeth  -1.  William-,  daughter  of  Thom- 
as R.  Williams,  and  she  died  Feb.  I.  1886, 
mother  of  nine  children,  \  iz. :  The  firs!  three 
died  young;  Sarah  is  deceased;  Margaret  married 
(first)  William  Humphrey  and  (second)  Hugh 
Wier ;  May  married  (first)  Ham  Young  and  (sec- 
ond) 11.  P.  Ridel;  David  J.  is  mentioned  below: 
ibeth  is  the  wife  of  John  Tasker,  of  Shamokin, 
l'a. ;  John  is  deceased. 

David  J.  J  one-  was  eight  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Shamokin,  and  when  he  was  nine  he  eommi 
work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Sterling  colliery. 
Later  he  was  employed  by  Qruikshani  &  fane-  for 
a  time  and  after  that  h\  Thomas  Baumgardnei  at 
the  Enterprise  colliery,  as  d  lining 

at    the   latter  work-   until  eai     id   the  agi 

nty  years.  II-  then  spent  a  year  at  the  I  a 
.,n  colliery.  In  September,  1893,  lie  turned  to 
teaming,  on  bis  own  account,  and  soon  was  inter- 
ested in  contracting,  which  he  has  since  followed, 
having  now-  one  of  the  most  extensive  contracting 
businesses  in  Shamokin.  His  combination  of  La- 
sts has  proved  very  profitable,  the  various 
branches  of  work'  he  carries  on  giving  constanl 
employment  to  his  men  and  team-.  Hi-  interests 
now  include,  besides  coal  dealing  and  contracting, 
moving  (for  which  he  has  a  large  dray)  and  ex- 
cavation work  of  all  kinds.  II-'  did  the  excavation 
work  for  the  building  of  the  new  Dime  Trust  & 
Safe  Deposit  Company.  His  business  i-  located 
at  No.  132  Kast  Arch  street.  The  fact  that  he 
constructed  five  and  a  quarter  miles  of  the  3 
road  from  Shamokin  to  Paxinos  gives  some  idea 
of  the  magnitude  of  his  undertakings,  lie  has  the 
confidence  of  a  wide  circle  of  patrons  and  is  con- 
sidered a  reliable  and  intelligent  citizen,  being  well 
known  among  the  -olid  business  men  of  the  bor- 
ough. Many  dwellings  there  are  of  his  construc- 
tion. 

On  Dec.  26,  1892,  Mr.  Jones  married  Bessie 
Maude  Ivi-ei.  daughter  of  Reuben  Reiser,  ami 
they  have  had  the  following  children:  David  (de- 
ceased), Sarah.  George,  May,  Mamie.  Paul,  John 
(deceased)  and  Fred.  The  family  home  is  at  No. 
132  East  Arch  street.  Mr.  Joins  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  has 
an  enthusiastic  worker,  having  served  four- 


teen years  as  deacon,  the  same  length  of  tin 
trustee,  sixteen  years  as   leader  of  the  choir,  and 
nineteen   years  as   superintendent   of   the   Sunday 

-i  ! i.     He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  socially 

a  member  of  Garfield  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F. 


Henry  Keiser,  great-grandfather  of  Mr-.  David 
.1.  .lone-,  was  of  German  origin  and  was  horn 
June  25,  1784.  He  moved  from  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  to  Union  county,  and  thence  to  Nbrthun 
land  county,  finally  settling  in  the  Irish  Valley. 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  to  t  ie  end  oi  bis 
H,-  ,1km i  \o\.  13,  1864,  and  his  wife,  who  was  horn 
An-.  :».  1781,  died  Oct.  I  1.  185.2, 

Henri  Kci-er.  son  of  Henry,  was  born  in  1811 
and  passed  all  his  lif,.  in  Northumberland  count)', 
dying  in  fs;::.     lie  settled  in  Shamokin.  where  he 

Ci 1  on  ,:  general  mercantile  business.     He  was 

a    member   of   the    Evangelical    Church.     He  and 
in-  wife,  I  t;       er),  had  a  family  oi   -■  ■ 

childri  n 

Reuben    lv  iser,    -on   of    Henry   and   Cathi 
i  leaker)    Reiser,  was  horn  in  Shamokin  May  15, 
1852,  and   i-  now  living  there  in  retirement.      He 
was  loin:'  employed  as  a  clerk  in  his  broth 
following  this  work  about  twenty-eight  years.     lb' 
married    Sarah    II  er,    daughter    of   John 

Ike rger,   of   Minersville,   Schuylkill  Co.,    Pa., 

and  a  family  of  ten  children  was  born  to  this  un- 
ion, namely:     Harry,  Bessie  Maude  (Mrs.  Jon 
i        .    Reuben,   G.    Bert,   Helen.   Hazel.   Win 
on!  Frank. 

JOHN    PHILLIPS,  a   sperotis  tanner  of  the 

Plum  Creek  district  in  Rockefeller  township,  was 
hom  June  26,  1868,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  towi 
Northumberland  county,  son  of  Jacob  Phillips. 

This  Phillips  family  is  of  old  Berks  county 
i  l'a.)  stock,  the  progenitors  of  the  line  in  this 
country  having  settled  in  that  part  of  Bern  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  now  embraced  in  (enter  town- 
ship, that  county.  From  this  locality  came 
eial  of  the  name  to  Northumberland  county,  set- 
l  in  Mahanoy  township.  Mr.  John  Phillips 
i  out  from  the  early  Berks  eountj  sel 
tiers  through  two  lines,  his  father'-  mother.  Su- 
sanna (Phillips),  having  been  a  daughter  o 
Phillip-,  the  first  of  his  line  to  come  to  tin-  coun- 
tv.  He  was  born  in  Berks  county  March  24.  177 1. 
and  .lad  April  8,  1852.  His  wife.  Sarah  (  Fui 
died  Sept.  25,  1836,  aged  sixty-one  years,  three 
month-,  twenty-six  days.  They  arc  buried  at  Zi- 
on's  (Stone  Valley)  Church  in  what  is  now  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township.  Their  children  were:  John  : 
Heinrich  (horn  Jan.  9,  L803,  died  Oct.  -.':?.  1853)  ; 
Marieha,  who  married  Peter  Brosius;  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Peter  Witmer;  Catharine  (horn  April 
9,  1805,  did  Sept.  30,  1889),  who  married  Mich- 
ael Witmer  (born  March  29,  1804,  died  Jan.  28, 
1842);  Sally,  who  married  Heinrich  Fox:  Chris- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


571 


I  me  h  ho  died  unmarried  :  and  Susanna,  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Phillips. 

Solomon    Phillips,  the  progenitor  of  the  family 

in    America,    ca to    tins   country    in    the   ship 

"I'l nix,"   ('apt.   John   .Mason,  which  arrived   at 

Philadelphia.  Pa.,  An::.  38,  1750,  he  being  the  only 
Phillips  anion-  the  339  passengers.  He  settled  m 
Bern  (new  Center)  township,  where  many  of  (he 
name  now  reside,  and  lived  to  advanced  years,  as 
did  his  son  Michael.  !!<■  reared  a  large  family, 
two  of  lii-  sons  being  Michael  ami  Eeinrich.  Mich- 
ael's son.  John  II..  attained  the  age  of  L05  years, 
ami  the  latters  son  Jacob  lived  to  he  ninety-two 
'  ears  old. 

I  leini'icli  Phillips  resided  near  Belleman's 
Church,  where  he  and  his  wife  Esther  (Mogel)  lie 
buried.  They  reared  children  as  follows:  Peter. 
Jacob,  John,  Samuel,  John  Adam  and  several 
daughters. 

Jacob  Phillip-,  father  of  Jacob  Phillips  and 
grandfather  of  John  Phillips,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county  when 
eighteen  years  old.  He  settled  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  found  work  among  farmers, 
one  of  whom  was  Georg  Phillips,  whose  daughter 
Susanna  he  afterward  married.  After  his  mar- 
riage he-commenced  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Lower  Mahanoy,  where  he  remained  a  number  of 
years,  moving  thence  to  a  farm  he  purchased  in 
Jordan  township,  the  property  now  owned  by  his 
son  Elias.  He  cultivated  this  place  Eoi  several 
years,  later  purchasing  the  George  Phillips  farm 
in  Lower  Mahanoy,  to  which  he  moved,  making  his 
home  thereon  until  his  death,  which  occurred  there 
April  20,  1862,  when  he  was  fifty-four  years,  ten 
months,  four  days  old.  So  well  had  he  prospered 
by  steady  industrj  that  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  owned  the  two  farms  mentioned  and  one  in 
Snyder  county,  and  had  several  thousand  dollars 
in  money.  He  and  his  wife  Susanna,  who  died 
Aug.  16,  1892,  ai  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  eight 
months,  twelve  days,  arc  buried  at  the  Zion's 
(Stone  Valley)  Church.  They  were  the  parents 
of  fourteen  children,  seven  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, viz.:  Isaac.  Elias,  Benjamin,  John,  William, 
George,  Jacob,  Sarah  (who  died  May  15,  1895, 
aged  lihv-oiihi  years,  nine  months,  six  days,  mar- 
ried William  Schaffer,  who  died  May  6,  1895,  aged 
fifty-nine  wars,  one  month,  twenty-four  days), 
Ann  (married  Samuel  Spotts),  Catharine  (mar- 
ried [saac  Spotts.  brother  of  Samuel,  who  married 
her  sister  I,  Malinda  (married  Isaac  Trego),  Su- 
sanna (married  Emanuel  Boyer),  Lizzie  (married 
Prank  Dreibelbis)  and  Emma  J.  (died  young). 

Jacob  Phillips,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township  and  there  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  In  aboui  Wt  t-75  he  lived  at  Rich- 
field, on  the  border  of  Snyder  county,  returning 
to  his  native  township,  where  he  farmed  through- 
out his  active  years.     He  still  owns  a  farm  in  that 


township  which  he  has  rented  to  his  son  Monroe. 
In  1908  he  retired  from  hard  work  and  ha-  since 
made  his  home  at  Hickory  Corners,  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township.  Mi'.  Phillips  has  served  as  over- 
seer of  the  ] r  and  a-  supervisor,  lie  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat  in   politics,  ami   a    Lutheran  in  religion,  he 

and  his  family  belonging  to  the  Luthera gre 

"ale m  of  Zion's  Church,  al  Stone  Valley,  which  he 
ha-  served  as  member  of  the  church  council,  lie 
married  Hettie  Leister,  daughter  of  John  Leister, 
late  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  They  have  had 
live  children:  Frank,  who  lives  hi  Lower  Maha- 
noy; John:  George,  of  Philadelphia:  (  harles,  of 
Sunbury;  and   Monroe,  of  Lower  Mahanoy. 

John  Phillips  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
worked  lor  Ins  parent-  until  twenty  years  old.  He 
then  moved  to  Upper  Augusta  township,  when 
i  farmed  for  aboui  twelve  years,  in  190.2  pur- 
chasing his  present  farm,  in  Rockefeller  township. 
which  was  formerly  the  old  Philip  Weiser  place. 
It  contains  121  acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  valley, 
and  has  1 n  highly  improved,  Mr.  Phillips  him- 
self having  made  many  chances  which  have  ma- 
terially increased  its  value.  In  1909  he  built  the 
residence,  and  the  two  wagon  sheds  and  silos,  etc., 
are  also  of  his  construction.  rV  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming  he  specializes  in  dairying,  keeping 
on  an  average  twenty-five  milch  cows  and  having 
always  from  ten  to  fifteen  young  cattle.  His  milk 
team  goes  to  Sunbury  daily.  Everything  aboui 
his  property  indicates  progress  and  intelligent 
management,  good  judgmenl  and  the  best  of  care, 
and  the  returns  have  amply  repaid  him  for  all  his 
trouble.  -Mr.  Phillips  is  a  public-spirited  citizen. 
willing  to  assume  hi-  -hare  id'  the  duties  of  gov- 
ernment, and  is  at  present  serving  as  overseer  of 
the  poor.     He  is  a    1  lemocrai    in  politics. 

On  March  24.  1887,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Liz- 
zie Bordner,  daughter  of  George  and  Susanna 
(Phillips)  Bordner,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  seven  children  have  been  horn  to  them,  a-  fol- 
low,-: Julius  Augustus,  Mary  M.,  Maude  E., 
(diaries  X.  (Boyd),  John  E.,  Lottie  I.  ami  Verna. 
Mr.  Phillips  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Chun  h. 

JOHN  U.  HOPEWELL  (deceased)  was  a 
farmer  of  Point  (own-hip.  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, during  thirty  years  of  his  active  life,  and  his 
son.  the  late  John  ( '.  Hopewell,  was  a  native  of 
that  township,  where  he  passed  all  his  life.  This 
family  is  descended  from  John  Hopewell,  a  native 
nf  Xcw  Jersey,  who  came  (hence  to  Pennsylvania, 
•eii  line-  in   Xoi  thuniberland  county. 

James  Hopewell,  -on  of  John,  was  horn  in  New 
Jersey  in  Kill  and  came  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty with  his  parents,  spending  (he  remainder  of  his 
life  in  this  region.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
clerk  in  Cowden's  store,  al  Northumberland  bor- 
ough,   Where     he    died    Jail.     -.".I.     1SJ!I.        Hi-    wife. 


572 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Elizabeth  Ulp,  was  born  iu  December,  1800,  and 
died  -l\ily  18,  1850.  They  made  their  home  at 
Northumberland.  Their  children  were  as  follows : 
Mary  E.,  born  in  1823,  married  Daniel  Voris,  and 
died  in  1848;  Elsie,  born  in  1825,  married  Capt. 
William  Gray,  and  died  in  1847;  Rebecca  B.,  bora 
in  1827.  married  Hiram  Young,  and  died  in  1850  : 
John  U.  is  mentioned  below:  James  BL,  born  in 
1834,  died  in  1S96  (his  family  live  at  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania). 

John  U,.  Hopewell  was  born  Dec.  4,  1829,  at 
Northumberland,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Third  streets.  He  followed  various  occupations. 
For  some  year-  he  was  engaged  as  a  boatman,  later 
carried  on  the  coal  business,  was  engaged  in 
butchering  for  a  time,  and  for  thirty  years  followed 
farming  in  Point  township,  where  he  owned  over 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  was  not  only  suc- 
cessful in  the  management  of  his  own  affairs  but 
took  an  interest  in  the  direction  of  public  matters 
in  the  locality,  serving  as  supervisor,  school  direct- 
or and  overseer  of  the  poor.  An  all-around  use- 
ful citizen,  he  was  respected  throughout  the  com- 
munity, and  was  a  pillar  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  he  was  an  active  member  and  for  some 
years  an  exhorter.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republi- 
can.    He  died   Nov.  11.  l!>08. 

On  May  25,  1854,  Mr.  Hopewell  married  Sarah 
C.  Young,  who  was  horn  Dec.  7,  1834.  and  who 
survives  him.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to  their 
union,  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  born  in  1855,  mar- 
ried James  Smith:  Rebecca,  born  in  1857,  mar- 
ried John  P.  Mertz;  Margaret  (i..  born  in  1858, 
married  John  F.  Hummel;  Sarah  IT.  J.,  horn  in 
1860.  married  Michael  ]■"..  Sander? ;  Eliza  J.,  born 
in  1861,  married  William  Botts,  and  died  in  1910; 
William  Y..  horn  in  1863.  married  Margaret  Lon- 
don, and  died  in  1897:  John  C,  born  in  1866,  is 
mentioned  below  :  James  H.,  born  in  1868,  married 
Harriet  Yoxtheimer;  Hiram  B.,  born  in  1870,  mar- 
ried Hannah  P.  Renner;  Robert  V.  G.,  born  in 
187-2.  married  Jennie  Sampsel :  Minnie  R.,  born  in 
1873,  married  Charles  O.  Heintzelman :  Bessie 
M.',  born  in  1876,  married  Georg  I  Si  iaffer;Ella 
C,  horn  in  187S.  died  in  1881. 

John  C.  Young,  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  C. 
(Young)  Hopewell,  was  born  Aug.  5,  1789.  and 
died  Oct.  11,  1845.'  His  wife,  Margaret  C.  (Phil- 
Young,  horn  April  5,  1802,  died  Sept.  11, 
1878.  They  were  farming  people,  and  lived  in 
Union  county,  but  both  are  buried  in  the  River- 
view  cemetery,  at  Northumberland.  Their  chil- 
dren were  horn  as  follows:  Philip.  Nov.  25,  1820: 
ge,  Oct.  19,  1822  :  Hiram.  Dec.  6.  1824:  John. 
Jun.-  14,  1827;  David.  Oct.  30,  1830;  Mary  E., 
Oct.  10.  1832:  Sarah  (.'..  Dec.  7,  1834:  Rebecca, 
Oct.  16,  L836;  Peter,  Sept.  29.  1838:  William, 
June  23,  1841;  Eliza  J.,  Dee.  3,  1844. 

John  C.  Hopewell,  son  of  John  U.  Hopewell, 
was   :  Oct.  14,  1866,  in  Point  township,  and 


spent  his  youth  upon  the  farm,  obtaining  his  edu- 
cation in  the  local  public  schools.  When  four- 
teen years  old  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  nailer 
at  the  Johnson  mills,  and  followed  that  calling  for 
some  time,  but  for  three  years  he  was  in  such  poor 
health  that  he  was  able  to  do  little  manual  labor. 
After  that  he  bought  a  coal  digger,  and  for  the 
three  years  before  his  death  was  engaged  in  dig- 
ging coal,  finding  this  business  quite  profitable. 
M  r.  Hopewell  died  Sept.  20,  1909,  and  is  buried 
in  Riverview  cemetery.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
Church,  in  which  he  was  quite  active,  serv- 
ing as  steward.  His  family  also  belong  to  that 
church. 

On  Feb.  12,  1888,  Mr.  Hopewell  married  Cath- 
arine E.  Miller,  daughter  of  Joseph  E.  and  Cath- 
arine (Herr)  Miller,  and  two  children  were  born 
to  them :  Catharine  G.  is  a  milliner  and  dress- 
maker, assisting  her  mother,  who  is  engaged  in 
-  making:  and  Beatrice  E.  is  attending  school. 

Joseph  E.  Miller,  father  of  Mrs.  Hopewell, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  Sept.  5.  1840, 
and  his  family  is  an  old  and  honored  one  in  that 
county.  Henry  Miller,  Ms  grandfather,  was  one 
of  three  brothers  who  settled  near  Salunga  about 
the  time  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  large  land 
owner,  a  successful  farmer,  and  a  member  of  the 
Old  Mennonite  Church.  He  lived  to  be  nearly 
seventy  years  old,  and  always  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  the  entire  community.  He 
married  a  Miss  Shenk,  whose  father  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  in  the  vallev  of  the  Chick- 
ies,  near  Salunga,  where  he  preempted  and  pat- 
ented several  large  tracts  of  land  and  built  two 
mills  upon  the  stream  named.  One  of  these  is 
still  known  as  the  Shenk  mill,  the  other  as  the 
Garber  mill.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Miller  six 
children  were  born.  The  eldest,  John  Miller,  was 
lather  of  Joseph  E.  Miller.  He  was  born 
Oct.  15,  1797,  and  died  Sept.  23,  1850,  a  farm- 
er and  a  man  of  influence.  He  was  long  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  served  for  many  years 
-  supervisor.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and, 
like  his  father,  a  Mennonite  in  religious  faith. 
On  March  22,  1825,  he  married  Elizabeth  Erb, 
who  was  born  Nov.  9.  1904,  and  died  Aug.  29, 
1863.  They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children: 
Emanuel,  born  Jan.  11.  1826.  died  in  infancy; 
Daniel,  born  May  22,  1827.  died  Oct,  23,  1895, 
.-a  Elizabethtown,  Pa.,  where  he  had  been  first  a 
farmer  and  then  for  many  years  an  innkeeper: 
Susanna,  born  Feb.  19.  1829,  married  David 
Weaver,  of  Manheim;  Henry  E.  died  at  Lititz, 
Lancaster  county,  where  he  was  a  very  promi- 
nent citizen:  John  E.,  born  Aug.  22,  1823,  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tailor  and  is  engaged  as  a  cutter 
at  Portsmouth,  Ohio:  Andrew,  born  April  8,  1836. 
died  when  one  month  old :  Elizabeth,  born  April 
29,   1837,  died   Feb.  16,  1839:  Joseph  E.  is  men- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


573 


tioned  below;  Reuben  K..  born  Oct.  11.  L842,  is 
a  laborer  at  Salunga;  Catharine,  born  Oct.  21, 
1844,  married  Levi  Ji.  Zook,  a  fanner  living  near 
Lititz;  Elizabeth,  born  Feb.  ;.  1847,  died  big. 
22,  1863. 

Joseph  E.  Miller  lived  at  Landisville  and  was 
a  farmer  in  his  native  county  until  1893,  in  which 
year  he  came  with  his  family  to  Point  township, 
Northumberland  county.  For  nine  years  he 
farmed  the  Thomas  Baumgardner  property  of  220 
acres  there,  at  the  end  of  that  time  returning  to 
Lancaster  county.  He  and  his  wife  Catharine 
(  Hern,  daughter  of  Abraham  Urn-,  now  live 
Columbia,  Pa.,  engaged  in  farming.  They  have 
had  children  as  follows:  Mary  married  .lames 
Probst;  Catharine  E.  married  John  ('.  Hopewell; 
Joseph  G.  is  a  resident  of  Columbia,  Pa.;  Earry 
G.  lives  with  his  parents:  Frances  A.  (deceased) 
married    Han1)    Beats;  two  children   died  young. 

CHARLES  C.  LARK,  a  very  successful  prac- 
titioner ai  the  Northumberland  county  bar,  ami 
a  man  of  high  ideals  ami  sterling  integrity,  was 
born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  March 
12,  is;  |.  son  of  Emanuel  S.  Lark. 

The  Lark  family  is  of  Swiss  origin.  George 
Lark,  great-grandfather  of  Charles  ('..  was  hum 
in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county,  ami  became 
a  farmer  there.  Ee  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
nine  years,  and  is  buried  at  Burlington  church 
in  his  native  township.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Enterline,  who  married  (second)  Captain  Snyder, 
of  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county.  After  the 
death  of  he:-  second  husband  -lie  made  her  home 
with  her  .-in  George,  ami  died  there  aged  seventy- 
five  year.-.  To  George  and  Elizabeth  Lark  were 
born  four  children:  Amos  and  Elizabeth,  who  died 
young;  John:  ami  George,  who  settled  at  Berrys- 
burg,  as  a  merchant,  and  was  the  father  of  Leon, 
Elizabeth,  Edward.  William  B..  Mamie,  Annie  and 
Clara. 

John  Lark,  son  of  George,  was  horn  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Mifflin  township  Feb.  1.  1826.  He 
learned  the  stonemason's  trade  as  a  young  man. 
hut  never  followed  it.  He  devoted  his  time  to 
farming,  and  died  in  Salina.  Saline  Co..  Kans., 
.  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  is  buried  there.  He 
married  Leah  Shoop,  daughter  of  Jacob  Shoop, 
and  they  had  two  children:  George,  who  died  in 
infancy:  and  Emanuel  S. 

Emanuel  S.  Lark,  son  of  John,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  town-hiii.  on  the  same  farm  on  which  both 
his  father  and  grandfather  were  born,  Feb.  S. 
1853.  He  attended  the  local  schools,  Freeburg 
Academy,  in  Snyder  county,  Berrysburg  Seminary 
and  Millersburg  Academy.  He  taught  ten  terms 
of  school  in  Dauphin  and  Northumberland  coun- 
ties, and  was  very  successful  as  an  instructor. 
Turning  his  attention  to  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead,   lie   remained   there    for   three   years,    after 


which  hi'  farmed  for  one  year  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  and  then  lived  two 
years  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northumber- 
land county.  In  1880  he  came  to  Shamokin,  and 
found  employment  in  the  mines,  where  he  re- 
mained about  six  years.  The  next  five  years  he 
passed  in  a  general  hauling  business,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding five  years  as  conductor  on  a  freight  train 
for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany. On  Oct.  1.  L903,  he  assumed  the  duties 
of  his  present  position,  that  of  superintendent  of 
the  Shamokin  cemetery,  and  his  efficiency  is  well 
attested  by  the  carefully  kept  condition  of  that 
beautiful  city  of  the  dead.  His  residence  is  at 
Xo.  5:!  Marshal]  street.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
John'-  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Lark  has  been 
twice  married.  In  1873  he  married  Emeline 
Boyer,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Catharine 
(Stine)  Boyer,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  of  French  Euguenot  ancestry, 
later  settling  m  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county.  Mrs.  Lark  was  horn  Oct.  21, 
1847,  and  died  April  9,  1895,  and  was  buried  in 
Shamokin  cemetery.  The  children  born  of  this 
union  wire:  Charles  C. ;  Carrie  C,  who  died  aged 
eighteen  year-:  John  1!..  a  physician,  located  at 
Trevorton,  Pa.:  Leah  B.,  still  living  with  her 
father;  II.  Wilson  and  Thomas  F.,  overall  man- 
ufacturers at  Shamokin.  trading  as  Lark  &  Lark: 
and  Edward  II..  a  -ale-man  for  Lark  &  Lark. 
Emanuel  S.  Lark  married  (second)  Nov.  12, 
Cms.  Mrs.  Margaret  Umpleby,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Susan  Weitzel. 

Charles  C.  Lark  was  hut  six  year-  of  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  Shamokin.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Shamokin  high  school  with  hon- 
ors in  1893,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  for  four  years  being  principal 
of  the  Coal  township  school-.  In  1894  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  Quincy 
Adams.  Esq.,  and  was  ad  m  it  fed  to  the  North- 
umberland county  bar  in  1898.  During  his  prep- 
aration for  his  profession  he  engaged  in  teaching. 
In  1898  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Frederick 
1!.  Moser,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lark  &  Moser, 
which  was  dissolved  in  October,  1906.  Mr.  Lark 
has  also  been  admitted  to  practici  before  the  Su- 
preme and  Superior  courts  of  the  State,  and  the 
Tinted  State-  District  and  Circuit  courts.  He  has 
been  employed  in  a  large  number  of  important 
cases  tried  in  Northumberland  and  other  counties 
his  admission  to  the  bar,  among  which  de- 
serving special  mention  are  Bucher  vs.  Northum- 
berland County,  ami  Commonwealth  vs.  Angelo 
Molignani. 

The  former  of  these  cases  involved  the  liability 
0f  ,1,,-  count)  lor  alleged  negligence  on  the  part 
,  the  county  commissioners  in  failing  to  keep 
in  good  condition  the  sidewalks  in  the  public  street 
adjoining  the  courthouse  at  Sunbury.     In  the  de- 


574 


north cm rerland  ciu'.xtv,  Pennsylvania 


i  se  oi  the  county  he  contended  that  there  was 
no  liability;  ami  even  though  owners  have  been 
held  responsible  for  their  negligence  in  not  prop- 
erly maintaining  the  sidewalks  abutting  on  their 
perties  under  similar  circumstances,  Mr.  Lark 
w;i-  successful  in  convincing  the  Supreme  court 
of  Pennsylvania  that  the  county  is  a  quasi  munic- 
ipal corporation,  a  political  subdivision  and  the 
agent  of  the  State  in  the  erection  and  mainte- 
nance oi  the  courthouse  and  its  appurtenances,  and 
the  State  not  being  liable,  its  agent,  the  county, 
i  annot  be  either.  Tin-  case  at  the  nun-  attracted 
wide  attention  and  was  commented  upon  editori- 
ally by  the  large  metropolitan  newspapers;  it  was 
the   first   of   its  kind   in    Pennsylvania. 

The  case  against  Molignani  was  one  in  which 
defendant  was  charged  with  murder.  On  the 
fifth  da j  alter' the  commission  of  the  crime  the 
trial  was  begun,  and  it  was  very  generally  pre- 
dicted that  the  defendant  would  have  to  answer 
n  nil  his  life.  The  jury,  after  having  deliberated 
for  five  full  days,  dei  ided  that  the  defendant  was 
not  guilt}  of  first  degree  murder.  Mr.  Lark's 
address  to  the  jury  in  behalf  of  Molignani  is  said 
to  have  been  one  of  the  mosl  logical  and  finest 
iratorical  efforts  heard  in  the  local  courts  in  years. 
He  i-  regarded  as  a  resourceful  lawyer,  and  as 
an  eloquent  pleader  before  a  jury.  He  is  faith- 
ful tn  the  trust  his  client-  repose  in  him.  and 
is  honorable  in  his  dealings.  In  1903-05  he  held 
the  office  of  county  solicitor. 

Mr.  Lark  has  been  active  in  politics,  has  fre- 
quently appeared  as  a  delegate  in  Republican  coun- 
ty conventions,  and  in  1901  was  a  delegate  to  the 
State  convention. 

Mr.  Lark  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Refort I 

Church  and  was.  I'm-  a  number  of  years,  a  mem- 
ber nl  its  consistory  and  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday  school.  Fraternally  he  is  a  thirty-seeond- 
degree  Mason,  belonging  to  Shamokin  Lodge,  No. 
255,  F.  &  A.  M.;  and  Caldwell  Consistory,  thirty- 
second   degree,  at    Bloomsburg.     He  also  belongs 

to  -I, -  A.  Garfield  Lodge,  No.  1061,  I.  0.  0.  P.; 

Camp  Nil  30,  P.  <>.  S.  nl  A.:  the  Royal  Arcanum  : 
and  Independence  Fire  Company.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber ot  the  Temple  Club. 

In  the  spring  of  1910  Mr.  Lark  began  organiz- 
ing the  Lime  Trust  and  Sate  Deposit  Company. 
with  a  capital  of  $125,000,  and  a  surplus  of  $125,- 
000.  He  was  successful  in  his  efforts  and  on  May 
16,  1910,  this  institution  was  opened  for  business, 
and  on  April  1.  1911,  moved  into  its  handsome 
five-story,  fireproof  building  at  the  comer  of  Inde- 
pendence and  Market  streets,  Shamokin.  Tn  its 
directorate  are  some  of  the  best  and  most  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  Shamokin.  The  building 
occupied  by  this  institution  is  without  doubt  the 
finest  in  Pennsylvania  outside  of  the  large  cities 
Ever  since  its  opening  day  the  Dime  Trust  and 
Sale   Deposit  Company  has  been  gradually  grow- 


ing, and,  although  the  youngest  financial  institu- 
tion of  Shamokin.  it  enjoys  the  unqualified  con- 
tidciicc  of  its  patrons.  Mr.  Lark  is  a  director  and 
solicitor  for  this  institution.  He  is  also  a  director 
and  solicitor  for  the  Central  Building  &  Loan  As- 
sociation of  Shamokin.  as  well  as  a  number  of 
other  corporations. 

On  Nov.  5,  L896,  Mr.  Lark  was  married  to 
Lucy  Cornelia  Hamilton,  daughter  of  the  late 
Maj.  E.  C.  Hamilton,  of  shamokin,  and  they  have 
three  children.  Cornelia  E.,  Leah  II.  and  Mir- 
iam  h'. 

HAUPT.  The  llaupt  family,  which  now  has 
a  number  of  representatives  in  Shamokin.  was 
founded  in  this  country  by  Conrad  Haupt,  a  na- 
tive of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  settled  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.  He  had  five  -mis:  Conrad, 
who  settled  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  North 
nmberland  county;  Daniel,  who  settled  in  Belle- 
fonte,  tenter  county;  Samuel,  who  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county:  John,  who  settled  in  the  west- 
ern pai't  of  the  Stale:  and  Henry,  the  ancestor 
nl'    the    llaupt    family    here   under   consideration. 

Henry  llaupt.  -on  of  Conrad,  the  emigrant  an- 
cestor,  was  born  inward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  came  from  Berks  county  to  North- 
umberland when  a  young  man  and  was  a  pioneer 
in  the  Mahanoy  valley,  settling  in  Coal  (how 
Cameron)  township:  he  had  about  four  hundred 
acre-  of  land  in  the  valley.  He  served  five  Mar- 
in the  Revolutionary  war  and  after  its  close  was 
engaged  in  fighting  the  Indians  for  two  years; 
he  w:;,-  a  private  in  ('apt.  Michael  Hoelnian's 
company,  Chester  county  militia,  in  17sl  [page 
858,  Vol.  V.  5th  Series,  Pennsylvania  Archives]. 
Ai  one  lime  during  the  war  he  had  nothing  to 
eal  for  three  days  hut  a  chicken  hawk  and  a  rat- 
tlesnake.  He  died  about  ls4,.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics  and  quite  active  in  the  affairs 
of  his  locality,  filling  a  number  of  minor  town- 
ship offices:  in  religious  belief  he  was  a  Lutheran. 
His  children  were;  Jacob,  who  died  in  the  Ma- 
hanoy Valley;  Benjamin,  who  died  in  the  Maha- 
noy Valley;  John;  George,  who  died  in  Lower 
Aiigusta;  Susanna.  Mrs.  George  Kreamer;  Annie. 
Mrs.  Samuel  Derr;  Mary,  .Mrs.  Henry  Kloek;  Mrs. 
Daniel  Kreamer,  of  Schuylkill  county:  Sarah.  Mrs. 
George   Derk;  and    Hetty,   Mr-.   Gideon  Derk. 

John  Haupt,  son  of  Henry,  was  bora  April  '.'(i. 
1808,  in  Cameron  township,  and  grew  up  on  the 
homestead,  lie  learned  the  trade  of  stonemason, 
•which  he  followed  in  connection  with  farming, 
and  was  a  substantia]  citizen  of  his  day.  He  held 
various  township  offices,  and  was  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  in  religion 
with  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  was  an 
active  member  and  liberal  supporter,  and  in  which 
he  held  the  office  of  elder.  He  died  in  November, 
1873,    and    i-    buried    at    the    White   church    near 


KOKTHUMBERLAJSTD  COUNTY,  PEjS!  XSYLVAXIA 


Gowen  City.  Mr.  Haupl  married  Catherine  Maur- 
er,  like  himself  a  native  of  Cameron  township,  and 
a  daughter  of  Philip  Maurer,  and  she  survived 
him,  making  her  home  with  her  son  John.  Eight 
children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haupt:  Sarah, 
Mrs.  William  Yoder,  living  in  Jefferson  county, 
I'm.:  Catherine,  win.  lives  in  Philadelphia;  Mary, 
wIki  married  Washington  Smink  and  (second) 
John  Bohner;  Benjamin;  Annie,  Mrs.  Jared  Hov- 
erter;  Philip,  a  resident  of  Cameron  township; 
John,  n!'  Cameron  township;  and  William,  of 
Shamokin. 

Benjamin  Haupt,  son  of  John,  was  born  .Ian. 
15,  1841,  in  Cameron  township,  and  was  reared 
upon  the  farm  settled  by  his  grandfather,  remain- 
ing1 there  until  he  entered  the  government  service 
during  the  Civil  war.  lie  was  drafted  in  1862 
ami  assigned  to  the  L72d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Militia,  serving  nine  months.  Alter  his  army 
service  he  engaged  in  mining,  which  he  followed 
for  seventeen  years,  in  1880  engaging  in  the  butch- 
er business  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  lie  re- 
moved from  In-  first  stand  after  several  years  to 
the  place  where  he  was  located  many  years,  then 
located  two  doois  beloWj  buying  out  Joseph  Reitz, 
and  in  L893  came  to  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Mulberry  streets,  lie  died  (let.  6,  1902.  lie  was 
a  much  respected  citizen  of  Shamokin.  where  he 
served  a-  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  and 
was  also  quite  active  in  church  work,  hem-  a 
trustee  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Shamokin. 
in  which  he  held  membership.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  political  matters. 

In  1863  Mr.  Haupt  married  Catharine  Hen- 
ninger,  daughter  of  Thomas  Henninger,  and  five 
id'  the  eight  children  horn  to  this  union  survive, 
namely:  Joseph  11..  Elizabeth  (married  George 
I-:.  Lmi-).  Jennie  (wife  of  \.  E.  Stepp),  William 
T.  and  Harrison  E.  Augustus  died  in  1903.  The 
mother  of  thw  family  died  in  1880,  and  in  1882 
Mr.  Haupi  married  Elizabeth  Daniel,  daughter  of 
Elias  Daniel,  of  Schuylkill  county,  l'a.  One  child 
was   horn  to  this  union.  Charles   I ». 

Joseph  If.  Hai  pt,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  horn 
May  If.  1866,  ai  Bell's  Tunnel,  near  Mount  Car- 
mei,  this  county,  and  came  to  Shamokin  with  his 
parents    in    childhood.      He    attended    the    public 

-el Is.  and    began   work  as  a  slate  picker,   being 

employed  at  the  mines  until  he  readied  the  age 
of  eighteen.  He  ha-  -nice  followed  the  butcher 
business,  and  -nice  Februarj',  1904,  has  had  a 
store  id'  his  own.  at  present  conducting  two  estab 
lishments  in  Shamokin.  one  on  Eighth  street  and 
one  on  Independence  street.  He  has  built  up  a 
lucrative  trade,  which  is  constantly  on  the  in- 
crease, and  his  satisfactory  service  and  sincere  de- 
sire to  please  customers  have  had  their  reward 
in  the  long  continued  patronage  of  many  who  havi 
dealt  at  Ins  establishments,  lie  is  a  very  favor- 
ably known  citizen  of  the  borough,  and  though  not 


particularly  active  in  local  matters  outside  of  busi- 
ness he  is  interested  in  the  success  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  has  served  as  delegate  to  county 
convention. 

Mr.  Haupt  married  Emma  R.  Williams,  daugh- 
ter of  .lames  Williams,  of  Shamokin,  and  they 
have  one  son.  W.  Earle,  who  is  now  a  high  school 
pupil.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  220  Suubury 
street. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Haupt  had  a  remarkable 
escape.  He  and  Judge  L.  S.  Walter,  of  Mount 
Carmel,  were  passengers  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  rail- 
road train  wrecked  at  Dunellen,  N.  .1..  -Ian.  9, 
L899,  and  though  seventeen  persons  in  the  ™n  h 
in  which  they  rode  were  killed  They  were  unin- 
jured. 

William  T.  Haupt,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  horn 
at  Shamokin  April  ','fi.  1876,  ami  there  received 
his  education  in  tin1  public  schools.  Me  learned 
the  butcher's  trade  with  his  father,  but  for  some 
years  during  his  early  life  was  engaged  at  slate 
picking  in  the  summer  months,  finding  employ- 
ment at  the  mines  for  a  number  of  years.  How- 
ever,  butchering  has  always  been  his  principal  oc- 
cupation, and  he  was  engaged  with  his  father  until 
1902,  in  which  year  he  and  his  brother,  Harry  E. 
Haupt,  engaged  in  business  mi  their  own  account. 
They  occupy  their  father's  old  stand  at  No.  259 
South  Market  street.  Shamokin,  a  building  which 
was  erected  in  1896.  The  Haupt  homestead,  next 
door,  was  erected  in  1869.  The  firm,  which  is 
known  as  Haupt  Brothers,  doe-  a  thriving  busi- 
ness, carrying  both  meats  and  groceries,  and  the 
trade  is  large  ami  steadily  increasing,  thank-  to 
the  Haupts'  commendable  methods  and  judicious 
catering  to   the   wants  of  their  customers. 

Mr.  Haupt  married  Jennie  Miser,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Miser,  of  Snyder  county,  l'a.  The] 
have  no  children.  He  i-  a  Republican  in  politic-. 
and  socially  holds  membership  in  the  Son-  of  \  el 
erans,  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
K.  of  P.,  and  the  local  lodge  of  the  II.  1".  ( ).  Elks. 

YOCUM.  The  Yoouni  family  of  Nbrthumbet 
land  county  to  which  Adonijah  F.  Ymuni  and 
George  W.Yocum,  cousins,  belong  was  founded 
here  by  their  grandfather,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  old  Berks  county  ( l'a.)  family  of  Yocum  or 
Ybeom.  The  name  ha-  long  been  familiar  to  the 
inhabitants  of  that  section  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
family  is  particularly  prominent  in  the  lower 
end  of  Berks  county.  The  earlier  generations  were 
identified  with  Oley  township,  hut  Nicholas  Yo- 
com,  who  founded  the  family  in  Cuniru  town- 
ship, settling  there  about  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century,  came  from  Douglassville. 

Late  in  the  seventeenth  century  a  colony  of 
swede-  settled  at  the  Wissahickon,  near  Philadel- 
phia. In  1701  a  number  of  these  Swedes,  among 
h-hom  were  three  "Yocom"  brothers,  settled  along 


576 


XOETHU  M  BEELAND  COUNTY,  PEXX  SYLYAXIA 


the  eastern  bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  in  the  locality 
of  Douglassville,  Berks  county.  Surveys  for  land 
for  these  pioneers  were  made  Oct.  31,  1701,  and 
patents  were  issued  between  1704  and  1705  for 
these  lands.  One  J.  Jonas  ".10011111"  (then  "Yo- 
comb,"  also  spelled  Yokham,  Yocum  and  now  Yo- 
com),  youngest  of  these  brothers,  had  a  patent 
granted  him  by  the  Penns  for  350  acres  in  Amity 
township,  (tn  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Schuylkill 
where  the  Douglassville  bridge  spans  the  river,  is 
an  historic  -tone  house  erected  in  1716  by  Mounce 
•Tones.     1!  son-in-law  of  J.  Jonas  Yocom, 

and  was  an  executor,  with  Peter  Yocum,  of  the 
will  ni'  .1.  .Inn,]-  Yocurh.  This  document  was 
made  Aug.  S,  L757,  and  was  witnessed  by  Morde- 
cai,  Thomas  and  Joseph  Millard,  Quaker  people 
of  Union  township.  The  will  was  entered  in  Berks 
county  courthouse  for  probate  Dec.  ".'7.  1760,  and 
he  hit  a  large  estate,  equitably  divided  among 
the  following  children:  Peter,  who  obtained  one 
of  the  homesteads:  Judith  Mary:  Margaret,  and 
John.  At  the  making  of  the  will,  the  ""beloved"'" 
wife  nf  the  ancestor  was  still  living.  Tin:'  son 
John,  who  had  died  prior  to  the  making  of  his 
aged  father's  will,  left  his  widow  Margaret  and 
-hi-.  Jonas,  Peter  and  John,  the  youngesl 
child  born  after  the  father's  death.  The  anci 
amply  provided  for  his  widowed  daughter-in-law. 

Mioses  Yocom,  of  Douglass  township,  a  descend- 
ant of  -l.  Jonas,  made  his  will  May  20,  1823; 
it  was  probated  File  '.'s.  L824,  and  is  recorded 
in  Will  Book  D,  page  -±19.  His  wife  Susanna  sur- 
!  him.  The  executors  of  the  will  were  Daniel 
Yocom  and  Jacob  Fritz.  His  children  were: 
Moses,  John,  Peter,  George,  Mary,  Ann  and 
Hannah. 

The  will  of  Maria  Yocom,  of  Douglass  town- 
ship, probated  111  1829,  provides  that  each  of  the 
legatees  of  her  will  shall  buy  a  large  family  Bible 
tor  each  of  their  children.  Her  children  were: 
Ann.  who  married  Jonas  Yocom:  Rachel  Ragsize, 
who  had  a  daughter  Mary:  and  Daniel  Yocom. 
Daniel  Yocom.  son,  and  Jonas  Yocom,  son-in-law. 
executors  of  the  will. 

John  Yocom  (son  of  John,  and  grandson  of 
J.  Jonas)  was  born  in  1749  and  died  Oct.  14. 
L823.  He  had  a  son  Moses,  born  on  the  homestead 
in  Amity  township  Oct.  11.  1780.  who  died  A  e 
30,  1850.  Moses  Yocom  was  married  to  Susanna, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Weaver,  who  were 
the  parents  of  Peter  Weaver,  who  was  tin  father 
of  Col.  Jeremiah  Weaver.  Susanna  (Weaver)  Yo- 
com was  born  Aug.  18.  1791.  and  died  May  19, 
1872.  Moses  and  Susanna  Yocom  had  a  son  Wil- 
liam, horn  Jan.  23,  1817.  He  married  Mary  B, 
Kline,  a  daughter  of  George  Kline,  and  they  had 
a  son  William  B.  Yocom,  a  prominent  man  of 
Amity  township. 

The  grandfather  of  Adonijah   F.   and   George 
W.  Yocom  was  undoubtedly  of  this  stock.     Mov- 


ing from  Berks  county  after  his  marriage  to 
umherland  county,  he  settled  in  Shamokin 
township  at  the  present  location  of  Paxinos.  He 
and  his  wife  are  interred  in  the  old  Presbyterian 
burial  ground  near  Reed's  station.  Their  chil- 
dren wen:  Alexander.  Peter,  Daniel.  Michael, 
Mrs.   I  lei  tie  Carr  and  Mrs.  Boughner. 

Alexander  Yocom  was  born  May  19,  1824,  at 
Paxinos.  Xorthumberland  county,  and  learned  the 
miller's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  time, 
in  all  about  eighteen  years,  first  at  Klinesgrove. 
later  at  Powers"  mill  and  subsequently  at  Roar- 
ing Creek.  He  then  bought  the  Adam  Gilger  farm 
of  109  acres,  in  what  is  now  Ealpho  township, 
now  owned  by  his  son  George  W.,  and  at  that 
devoted  himself  to  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  24,  1893.  He  is  buried 
at  the  Methodist  church  at  Bear  Gap,  in  which 
church  he  held  membership  and  served  as  deacon. 
To  him  and  his  wife  Martha  .lane  (Lot)  were 
horn  children  as  follows:  Mary  J.,  who  is  de- 
ceased;  Anna  E..  wife  of  William  Fisher:  Clara 
1!..  wife  of  John  Unger;  Sarah  F.,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam  F.  Adams:  and  George  W. 

1  obge  W.  Yocom,  son  of  Alexander,  is  a  well 
known  farmer  of  Ralpho  township,  horn  Feb.  22, 
;^'  .at  the  place  where  be  now  resides.  He  ob- 
tained  his    schooling   in   the   locality,   and   for   a 

time   after   hi-    5el :    days   wen    over   was   em- 

ployed  at  the  farm  work  with  bis  father.  Going 
to  Shamokin,  he  was  engaged  in  railroading  three 
years  and  for  one  year  be  was  clerk  in  the  gro- 
cery of  Amos  Mengel,  at  Shamokin.  Returning 
to  farm  work,  he  spent  two  years  cultivating  dif- 
ferent farms  and  in  1891  located  on  the  honie- 
.  whereon  he  has  since  lived.  He  purchased 
iroperty  in  1908.  Many  improvements  have 
been  made  on  the  place  during  his  occupancy. 
He  i-  enterprising  and  thrifty,  attends  the  Sha- 
mokin markets,  and  conducts  his  work  in  a  husi- 
■  -ike  manner.  Mr.  Yocum  has  taken  an  inter- 
est in  the  public  administration  and  lias  served 
as  overseer  of  the  poor  of  Ralpho  township.  I» 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a 
Lutheran,  being  a  member  of  Blue  Church. 

In  1885  Mr.  Yocum  married  Sallie  A.  Pen- 
syl. and  they  have  a  family  of  five:  Martha  S.. 
Edward  B.j  S.  Alexander.  William  C.  and  Caro- 
line G. 

George  Pensyl,  Mrs.  Yocnm's  grandfather,  mar- 
ried Mary  Keller,  and  they  had  a  large  family: 
Solomon.  Jacob,  Jeremiah,  George,  Daniel.  John, 
Henrv.  Leah.  Pollv,  Hannah.  Susanna  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

Solomon  Pensyl.  son  of  1  -  s  was  a  farmer 
and  merchant  and  a  well  known  man  of  his  dis- 
trict, serving  as  tax  collector  ami  in  other  town- 
ship offices.  He  died  at  Riverside  May  24.  1904, 
and  his  widow.  Caroline  (Epler).  is  still  living 
at  that  place.     Their  children  were:  Mary  Ellen, 


\  I  >RTH  I'M  BERLAN I  >  COD  XTY.   PES  N  SYLYA  N  1 A 


deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  E.  B.  Vought; 
Sallie  A.,  Mrs.  Yoeum;  Harriet  S..  wife  of  John 
Clingman;  and   II.  Willington,  who  died  young. 


Michael  Yocum,  brother  of  Alexander,  above, 
was  born  at  Paxinos,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  , 
followed  farming  all  his  life.  Ee  died  at  the 
Ridge,  in  Shamokin  township,  in  1845,  and  is  in- 
terred in  the  old  Presbyterian  burial  ground  near 
Reed's  station,  in  Ralpho  township.  His  wife, 
Anna  (  Fahrensworth) ,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years,  and  is  interred  in  the  Baptist  burial 
ground  in  Shamokin  township.  They  had  chil- 
dren :  John  lives  in  Trevorton,  this  county;  Sarah 
.1..  widow  of  Michael  Yarnold,  lives  at  Sunburv: 
Susanna,  widow  of  Hiram  Till,  lives  in  Shamo- 
kin township;  Adonijah  F.  is  mentioned  below; 
Francis  died  young. 

Adonijah  F.  Yocum,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
teaming  business  at  Shamokin.  was  born  dan.  1, 
1844,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  received  his  ed- 
ucation   in   the   public   schools.      He   assisted    his 

mother  as  si as  he  was  able,  his  father  having 

died  when  he  was  an  infant.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served  nine  months  in  the  Union  army. 
enlisting  in  Company  C,  131st  Regiment.  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers.  Subsequently  he  spent  one 
year  at  Trevorton,  in  1864  moving  to  Shamokin 
and  locating  at  the  place  where  he  still  resides, 
No.  38  South  Shamokin  street.  For  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years  he  followed  mining,  and  he  thru 
engaged  in  the  hauling  business,  in  which  he  has 
established  quite  a  profitable  patronage.  E'i  is 
a  steady-going,  reliable  man.  and  has  the  respect 
of  in-  felloe  citizens.  In  polities  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, in   religion  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Yocum  married  Harriet  Fegley,  daughter 
of  John  Fegley.  She  died  March  24,  1905*  and 
is  buried  at  Shamokin.  The  following  children 
were  born  to  this  union:  Hannah  E.,  William  and 
Bertha  all  died  young;  George  C,  who  is  a  me 
chant  and  has  other  business  interests  at  Shamo- 
kin. married  Clara  Haupt  and  (second)  Anna 
diil i us:  Harry  E.,  who  is  associated  in  the  store 
with  his  brother  George,  married  Gertrude  Crason 
and  their  children  are  Marion,  David,  Harry  ancl 
Edward;  Benneville  married  Annie  [saacs,  ami 
died  in   L910. 

.lullN  J.  LAUGHLIN,  express  agenl  at  Mount 
Carmel.  Northumberland  county,  until  recently 
station  agent  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  &  Pennsyl- 
vania Railway  Company  at  that  point,  was  born 
Dec.  28,  1862,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  son  of 
Lawrence  Laughlin.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man. 
settling  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  a  contract- 
or at  the  mines  and  also  did  railroad  contracting, 
and    he    met    an    accidental    death    at    Ashland. 

37 


Schuvlkill  county,  when  only  twentv-seven  years 
old. 

John  J.  Laughlin  attended  school  at  Ashland 
and  there  began  work  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ 
of  the  railway  company  with  which  he  is  still  con- 
nected, in  1879.  Ee  was  the  firs!  agent  at  Ash- 
land, whence  he  was  transferred  to  Centralia, 
Columbia  county,  and  thence  to  Girardville, 
Schuvlkill  county.  He  was  also  at  Lost  Creek, 
Schuylkill  county,  for  a  time  before  receiving  his 
position  as  station  agent  at  Mount  Carmel.  in  the 
fall  of  1898.  This  is  an  important  station,  and 
nine  clerks  are  engaged  here.  The  first  railroad 
opened  to  Mount  Carmel  was  the  old  Northern 
Central,  in  1854,  and  the  next  was  the  Lehigh 
Valley,  in  1866.  The  present  Lehigh  Valley  & 
Pennsylvania  station  at  that  point  was  constructed 
in  1907.  Mount  Carmel  i-  a  great  shipping  point, 
and  there  has  been  a  steady  increase  of  business 
which  greatly  enhanced  its  consequence  during  Mr. 
Laughlin's  incumbency  of  the  position.  He  proved 
a  competent  and  resourceful  man  in  the  place,  pos- 
sessing good  judgment  in  the  transaction  of  the 
business  of  the  station,  and  gained  and  held  the 
respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  his  adopted  place. 

On  Nov.  1,  1010,  he  resigned  as  joint  agent 
to  accept  the  agency  of  the  Adams  and  Southern 
Express  Companies  at  Mount  Carmel.  While  liv- 
ing in  Columbia  county,  Pa..  Mr.  Laughlin  was 
cldded  justice  of  the  peace  for  two  terms,  on  the 
People's  ticket. 

On  Sept.  10.  1890,  Mi'.  Laughlin  married  Cath- 
erine Flanagan,  daughter  of  Peter  Flanagan,  a 
merchant  of  Ashland.  Pa.,  and  they  are  the  par- 
nit-  of  six  children,  namely:  Howard.  Mary. 
Margaret,   Nellie,  Lawrence  and  John. 

Mr.  Laughlin  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  faith 
and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  having  been  the  first  grand  knight  of 
the  Mount  Carmel  organization.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  local  lodge  of  Elks. 

PROF.   WILLIAM   MENDON   KLECKNER, 

an  educator  of  several  years'  standing  in  Sunburv. 
founder  and  principal  of  the  Sunbury  Commercial 
College  and  in  charge  of  the  eon rcial  depart- 
ment of  the  Sunbury  high  school,  has  made  a  high 
reputation  in  his  special  held  and  has  become 
widely  known  in  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen  calling. 
Taylor  Kleckner,  hi-  father,  was  a  native  of 
New  Berlin.  Pa.,  horn  in  1848,  and  died  May  29, 
1904,  in  Lewisburg,  Union  county,  aged  sixty-six 
vears.  In  his  earlier  die  lie  Eollowed  fanning. 
'later  becoming  a  salesman  for  the  Champion 
Reaper  Company,  for  whom  he  traveled  twenty- 
lour  years,  his  territory  covering  Union,  Snyder 
and  Northumberland  counties.  II.-  was  a  Luth- 
•ran  and  an  active  church  member,  serving  some 
as  deacon  of  the  Dreisbach  Church.     Politi- 


o78 


NOETHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


eally  he  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Angeline 
Spotts,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (  Derr) 
Spotts,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them :  Wil- 
liam Mendon  and  a  daughter,  the  latter  dying  in 
infancy. 

William  Mendon  Ivleckner  was  born  Nov.  9, 
1872,  at  Vicksburg,  Union  Co.,  1'a..  and  obtained 
In-  raily  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
locality.  Lain-  he  became  a  student  at  Bucknell 
University,  after  which  he  entered  the  Williams- 
port  Commercial  College,  at  Williamsport,  Pa., 
from  which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1900.  Receiving  a  license  to  teach  public 
school,  he  took  charge  oi  the  commercial  depart- 
ment of  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1902,  and 
has  since  continued  to  fill  that  responsible  posi- 
tion. The  department  lias  attained  a  high  stand- 
ard of  efficiency  under  his  management,  and  the 
importance  of  his  work,  together  with  the  able 
manner  in  which  he  has  handled  it.  has  gained 
him  many  admirers  among  pupils  and  patrons. 
In  190.2  lie  founded  the  Sunbury  Commercial  Col- 
lege, locate]  .,n  Fairmount  avenue,  which  has  had 
a  continued  career  of  prosperity,  the  average  at- 
tendance being  one  hundred  student-.  Professor 
Kleckner  is  a  conscientious,  untiring  worker,  de- 
voted to  his  calling  and  sparing  neither  ±ime  uor 
pains  m  Ins  efforts  to  bring  the  best  in  his  pupils 
to  the  surface,  and    his  success  has  been  marked. 

On  Aug.  6,  L905,  Professor  Kleckn'er  married 
Ida  Mussina,  daughter  el*  Henry  B.  and  Eve 
(Hoover)  Mussina,  of  Mount  Carrnel,  Northum- 
berland county.  They  worship  at  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  socially  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Model  ii  Woodmen  of  America.  In  political  sen- 
timent  he   is  a    Republic  an. 

LONG.  The  Longs  of  Northumberland  county. 
descendants  of  (dome  Lone,  have  been  represent- 
ed principally  in  the  prosperous  agricultural  class. 
but   at   present  one  member  of  the  family,   Peter 

1).  hong,  is  a  well  known  shoe  merchant  of  Sun- 
bury. where  bis  uncle.  Benjamin  C.  Long,  is  now 
living  in  retirement  after  a  long  and  active  life 
as  a  farmer.  David  D.  Long,  brother  of  Peter 
1>.  Lmig.  is  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Little  Maha- 
iiov  township.  We  give  the  line  of  these  from  the 
emigrant  ancestor. 

George  Long,  a  native  of  England,  settled  on 
the  farm  near  Augustaville,  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, now  owned  by  A.  J.  Smith,  and  formerly 
by  Andrew  Gonser.  Mr.  Long  took  up  the  land 
by  warrant  from  the  government  of  Pennsylvania. 
Here  he  lived  and  died,  and  he  is  buried  at  the 
Augustaville  Stone  Church.  He  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  and  made  great  improvements  on  this 
property.  The  original  set  of  buildings  on  the 
place  were  located  on  the  road  leading  from  A.  .1. 
Smith's  to  the  old  Shipman  mill,  in  what  is  now 
the    meadow    about    two    hundred    rods    north    of 


Mr.  Smith's  home:  all  have  been  razed.  George 
Long  served  in  the  war  id'  LSI".'  on  the  American 
side,  and  he  may  have  been  a  soldier  in  King 
George's  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Perhaps  he  was  better  known  by  the  name  id'  John 
George  Long.  He  was  a  member  of  the  church 
at  Augustaville.  which  be  helped  to  build,  lie 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  in  middle 
age.  and  she  was  the  mother  of  all  his  children. 
namely:  George,  a  farmer,  who  lived  in  Upper 
Mahano\  town-hip.  and  who  had.  among  other 
children,  sons  Henry.  John,  Samuel  and  William 
(who  was  killed  by  a  train,  at  Paxinos) ;  Henry, 
who  was  a  cripple  and   never  married:  ami  John. 

John  Long,  -on  of  George,  was  horn  in  1805 
n  Rockefeller  township,  this  county,  and  died  in 
Montandon,  May  20,  1888,  aged  eighty-two  years, 
six  months,  one  day.  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Seabolt.  lie  was  a  farmer  in  Rockefeller 
township,  owning  and  cultivating  the  place  which 
i-  now  the  property  of  Albert  Winner.  In  stat- 
ure he  was  comparatively  small,  five  feet,  five 
inches  in  height,  but  be  was  vigorous,  as  may 
be  judged  by  the  advanced  age  he  attained.  His 
wife,  Anna  Camp,  horn  Oct.  Is.  L808,  died  March 
27,  1880,  and  they  are  interred  at  the  Ebenezer 
Methodist  Churfch  in  Rockefeller  township,  of 
which  Mr.  Long  was  a  member.  Their  children 
were  as  follows';  Elizabeth,  Samuel  ('..  Catharine, 
lleiirx  (of  Trevorton,  Pa.),  .lane  (married  Wil- 
liam Zimmerman),  John  (died  in  February,  1888, 
in  Indiana).  Julia  (married  John  Seabolt).  Ben- 
jamin ('.  and  Lucinda  (unmarried,  who  lives  in 
Mifflinburg,    Pa.). 

Samuel  C,  Long,  -on  of  John,  was  horn  Lee. 
22'.  1828,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township. 
died  Apnl  28,  1890,  aged  sixty-one  years, 
four  months,  six  days.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
milter,  which  he  followed  for  aboul  fifteen  years, 
dprmg  thai  period  operating  what  was  known  as 
John  Dunkelberger's  mill,  on  Mahano  ci  .  for 
a  lime:  lie  had  learned  the  business  there.  He 
next  weni  to  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  did 
Milling  lor  Hiram  Miller,  and  be  also  followed 
the  hiii,  her  tiade  in  that  township  lor  some  yi  ars 
|n  1861  he  returned  to  Little  Mahanoy  township 
i  ml  began  farming  on  the  David  Dunkelberger 
aim.  which  be  purchased,  and  which  then  com- 
prised 170  acres.  He  continued  to  make  his  home 
there  to  the  end  of  bis  day-.  Mr.  Long  was  a 
man  who  took  an  intelligent  part  in  the  inter- 
ests oi  his  i  oinniunity.  served  his  town-hip  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  supervisor,  and  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Lutheran  Church,  of 
winch  hi'  was  elder  ami  trustee.  Politically  he 
was  a    I  (eurocrat. 

In  1854  Mr.  Long  married  Lydia  Dunkelberger, 
wdm  was  horn  in  1833,  daughter  of  David  and 
Anna  Marie  (Smith)  Dunkelberger,  and  died 
Sept.    is.    1907,  aged    seventy-three  years,  eleven 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


581 


months,  nineteen  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Lon*ller) 
buried  at  the  Little  Mahanoy  Lutheran  Cb'e  had 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  ehiPIaria 
Peter  D.;  Mary,  who  died  young;  Elizabeth sniP > 
married  Frank  Bobh  |  lie  is  deceased  |  ;  Phoe'  Sim~ 
who  married  Joseph  D.  Wagner:  David  I>.  rman 
Louisa,  wlm  died  when  two  years  old.  ridow 

Peter  I>.  Long,  son  of  Samuel  ('..  was  cnil" 
Dec.  6,  is:,  i.  ii,.  was  i,,;,,,,,!  Ml  Rockefeiier  Rock- 
ship  until  his  parents  settled  in  Little  Man'8™; 
in  1867,  and  there  he  worked  on  the  farm  \nn7: 
In-  father  purchased  from  his  maternal  gsniPJ 
father,  David  Dunkelberger.  He  remained  ve  m 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-two  yea.a£ene 
which  time  he  unit  to  Shamokin  to  lean 
blai  ksmith's  trad,',  which  lie  followed  then 
three  years.  II. ■  next  went  to  Clinton  county,  law> 
entering  the  shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Raia  na" 
Company  at  Renove,  ami  he  continued  in  x^e  a 
for  that  company  for  twelve  years,  thouglre  an 
diil  nut  continue  at  his  trade.  Beginning  u.'s  °f 
freight  service,  he  was  engaged  in  that  br>-  12' 
lor  six  years,  alt, a-  which  he  was  changed  to 
passenger  service,  and  during  the  last  three  \-  ^n 
of  the  period  mentioned  he  was  conductor  o™^? 
passenger  train  between  Renovo  ami  Erie.  ne.v- 
began  as  brakeman  ami  rose  bj  merit  to  the''  w" 
sponsible  position  of  passenger  c luctor.    At11616 


time  he  left  the  Pennsylvania  service  h 


,.„„  and 


fered  .m  appoint m   in  the  passenger  service*6** 

the  Ball  impre  •&  Ohio  Company .  but  be  had  lree 
i  ided  to  begin  business  on  his  own  account.  aTen 
he  has  never  had  reason  to  regret  his  choars> 
In  189.0  ho  came  to  Sunbury,  where  Ik-  bouj'  to 
out  the  good-will,  stock  ami  fixtures  of  Jasi*8^" 
Slaymaker,  who  conducted  a  shoe  findings  aore 
harness  manufacturing  business,  lie  carried  tl'e^ 
on  successfully  for  a  few  years,  but  in  the  meacn 
time  be  had  discovered  a  more  congenial  and  pr<  'D' 
i table  field  in  the  -hoc  dealing  line,  and  he  ac- 
cordingly sold  out,  in  189:3,  to  Frank  Simpsors 
(who  lias  since  died).  That  year  he  opened  hn" 
present  store  at  No.  733  Market  street.  Sunbury"11 
where  hi  i-  engaged  exclusively  as  a  shoe  dealer'- 
■carrying  the  largest  line  of  footwear  in  the  hor10 
ough.  He  handles  all  the  leading  makes,  anc'e 
doing  a  business  of  large  proportions  is  able  i.s 
keep  a  very  complete  line,  being  the  leading  mer-s 
chant  of  his  kind  in  Sunbuiy.  His  customers' 
come  from  a  wide  territory  around  Sunlmrv. 

Mr.    Long   is    best   known   as   a    -I merchant 

in  and  around   Sunlmrv.  hut  he  has  not  confined 

his  energies  to  tl ne  line  by  any  means,  being 

connected  with  various  other  local  enterprises  of 
importance  to  the  community,  lie  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association,  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Sunbury  National  Bank 
-line  1909,  and  ha-  to  some  extent  engaged  in 
real  estate  dealing,  winning  a  reputation  for  good 
judgment  in  all  his  ventures.     He  has  served  nine 


St.  Joseph  cemetery,  at  Danville,  Pa.  Eleven 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely :  Patrick. 
James,  Mary,  Thomas,  Minnie  "(deceased), 
Michael  P.,  Sue,  Catherine,  John,  Harry  and 
Daniel.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Catho- 
lic Church  at  Sunbury. 

Michael  P.  Tierney  received  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  borough  of  North- 
umberland, graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1901.  In  1903  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  employ 
of  the  Trolley  Company  in  the  office  of  S.  P.  Wol- 
verton,  at  Sunbury,  and  in  time  began  readme 
law  in  the  same  office,  being  admitted  to  the 
Northumberland  county  bar  Oct.  1'.'.  1907.  Mean- 
time, in  February,  1907,  he  had  been  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  the  borough;  in  190S  he  was 
elected  attorney  for  the  borough,  and  is  also  bor- 
ough solicitor.  Thus  he  found  a  field  immediately 
for  legal  practice,  and  in  addition  to  his  public 
duties  he  has  had  considerable  private  work,  ha\  ing 
a  steadily  growing  patronage.  He  has  his  office 
in  the  Morgan  building  at  Northumberland.  Hard- 
working and  enterprising,  he  has  even-  prospect  of 
an  active  future. 

On  July  18,  1910,  Mr.  Tierney  married  Eva 
Mailey,  daughter  of  John  H.  Mailey,  postmaster 
of  Northumberland.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mi- 
chael's Catholic  Church  at  Sunlmrv. 

JOHN  X.  HETEICK,  who  lives  near  the 
Wolf's  Cross  Road  Church  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, has  been  a  prosperous  farmer  and  well  known 
office  holder  of  that  township  for  many  years.  He 
was  born  May  39,  1851,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, this  county,  and  belongs  to  an  old  Pennsyl- 
vania family.  His  remarkable  memory  has  en- 
abled him  to  learn  by  heart  the  complete  record 
of  the  family  from  the  time  of  his  great-grand- 
father. Philip  (or  John  Philip)  Hetrick. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  early  Hetrick  or 
Hetrich  family  of  Northumberland  county,  Pa., 
was  first  located  in  Berks  county,  this  State!  where 
in  1759  one  William  Hettrich  was  a  taxable  of 
Bern  township,  paying  a  Federal  tax  of  eight 
pounds.  It  is  likely  that  this  William  Hettrich 
was  the  rather  or  an  elder  brother  of  Philip  He 
rich  (Hettrich),  a  pioneer  of  Washington  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  It  is  certain  the 
family  is  one  of  long  standing  in  Pennsylvania. 
as  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  record  the  names 
of  Christopher  and  Nicholas  Hettrich  among  the 
immigrants  to  the  Province  before  1750.  The 
probability  is  that  Christopher.  Nicholas,  William 
and  Philip  were  brothers,  and  that  they  first  set- 
tled in  Berks  county.  William  remaining  there. 
In  1778.  in  the  list  of  taxables  of  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, which  then  embraced  all  that  part  of  North- 
umberland county  south  of  Line  Mountain,  are 
found  the  names  of  Nicholas  and  Christopher 
Hettrich.  natives  of  Germany. 


o78 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


cally  he  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Angeline 
Spotts,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  i  Derr) 
Spotts,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them:  Wil- 
liam Mendon  and  a  daughter,  the  latter  dying  in 
infancy. 

William  Mendon  Ivleckner  was  born  Xov.  9, 
1872,  at  Vicksburg,  Union  Co..  Pa.,  and  obtained 
his  rarh  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
locality.  Later  he  became  a  student  at  Bucknel! 
University,  after  which  he  entered  the  Williams- 
port  Commercial  College,  at  Williamsport,  Pa.. 
From  which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated 
ii  1900.  Receiving  a  license  to  teach  public 
school,  he  took  charge  of  the  commercial  depart- 
menl  of  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1902,  and 
has  since  continued  to  fill  that  responsible  posi- 
tion. The  department  has  attained  a  high  stand- 
ard of  efficiency  under  his  management,  ami  the 
importance  of  his  work,  together  with  the  able 
manner  in  which  he  has  handled  it.  has  gained 
him  many  admirers  among  pupils  and  patrons. 
In  1902  lie  founded  the  Sunbury  Commercial  Col- 
lege, located  on  Fairmount  avenue,  which  has  had 
a  continued  career  of  prosperity,  the  average  at- 
tendance being  one  hundred  students.  Pri  essot 
Kleckner  is  a  conscientious,  untiring  worker,  de- 
to  I  -  calling  and  sparing  neither  time  nor 
pains  in  his  efforts  to  bring  the  best  in  his  pupils 
to  the  surface,  and  his  success   has  been  marked. 

On  Aug.  ii.  1905,  Professor  Kleckner  married 
Ida  Mussina,  daughter  of  Henry  ]!.  ami  Eve 
(Hoover)  Mussina,  of  .Mount  Carniel,  Northum- 
berland  county.  They  worship  at  the  Methodist 
Church,  an.l  socially  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Moi  0       Imen  of  America.      In  political    • 

timent  he  is  a  Republican. 

LONG.  Tie  Longs  of  Northumberland  county, 
descendants  of  George  Long,  have  been  represent- 
ed principally  in  the  prosperous  agricultural  class, 
but  at  present  one  member  of  the  family,  Peter 
I>.  Long,  i-  a  well  known  shoe  merchant  of  Sun- 
bury. where  In-  uncle.  Benjamin  ('.  Long,  i>  now 
living  in  retirement  after  a  long  and  active  life 
a-  a  farmer.  David  1  >.  Long,  brother  of  Peter 
D.  Long,  -  a  well-to-do  fanner  of  Little  Maha- 
noy  township.  We  give  the  line  of  these  from  the 
ant  ances 

George  Long,  a  native  of  England,  settled  on 
the  farm  near  Augustaville,  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, now  owned  by  A.  .1.  Smith,  and  formerly 
by  Andrew  Gonser.  Mr.  Long  took  up  the  land 
by  warrant  from  the  government  of  Pennsylvania. 
he  lived  and  died,  and  he  is  buried  at  the 
Augustaville  Stone  Church.  lie  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  and  made  great  improvements  on  this 
property.      The   original    sei    of    buildings   on   the 

place  wer ted  on   the  road   leading  from  A.  .1. 

Smith's  to  the  old  Shipman  mill,  in  what  is  now 
the    meadow    about    two    hundred    rods    north    of 


Mr.   William    i-   out   West.      Charles   was   another 

side,  non  Pi  b  c  Kerstetter,  -on  of  Leonard  (2)  and 
Geor^lson  of  Leonard,  was  horn  June  3,  1SI0, 
Perhispent  most  of  his  life  in  Cameron  town- 
i  ,,-,,i:  working  in  the  eoal  mines.  On  April  15, 
at  A  lie  married  Elizabeth  Hingham,  and  of  their 
was  t  children  three  arc  deceased,  the  survivor, 
agi .  imin  Franklin  Kerstetter,  being  a  farmer.  He 
naini  the  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  and  moved  onto 
Malta  property  in  Cameron  township.  Benjamin 
child  irks  at  the  coal  mines  and  on  his  small  farm. 
(whonarried  R.  Ague-  Long,  and  their  children 
who    Elizabeth,  Lloyd,   George,   Francis  and  Tre- 

J,i  now  dei  eased  ). 
in   Ri 

MontixJAiux  C.  Lokg,  son  of  John,  was  born  Dec. 
six  nl841,  and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  near 
Mrs.ustaville  now  owned  by  Albert  Witmer.  He 
towrced  for  bis  parents  until  he  was  twenty-two 
i-  Q«s  old,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  the  place 
ure  lis  father-in-law.  Samuel  Kelly,  in  Plum 
iiichk  valley.  He  lived  and  farmed  there  from 
n  j!  until  his  retirement,  in  1901,  a  period  of 
wifety-eight  years,  during  which  he  prospered  and 
27,  tired  the  farm,  which  consists  of  120  acres  of 
Metiable  land  in  Rockefeller  township.  This  tract 
wiirll  fertile,  level  land,  and  the  place  is  equipped 
weih  fine,  large  buildings,  erected  bj  Samui  I  Kel- 
II, ■! who  was  one  of  the  thrifty  farmers  of  his  day 
liaithat  vicinity:  lie  was  a  man  of  means  and  in- 
m  'lice  in  his  neighborhood,  owning  considerable 
jarod  land,  including  the  farm  of  130  acres  ad- 
Mining  the   120-acre  tract   above  mentioned.     In 

,tl.  when  he  gave  up  arduous  labor.  Mr.  Long 
22  >\ed  to  Sunbury,  where  he  lias  since  made  his 
an  me.  but  he  Mill  retains  the  ownership  of  the 
form,  which  he  rents  to  his  son   Samuel  E.     He- 

so  owns  In-  residence  at  No.  209  Catawissa 
dreiiue.  Sunbury. 

.1  Mr.  Long  has  been  prominent  and  active  in 
a  .mrch  work  and  local  public  affairs.  He  served 
nineteen  consecutive  year-  as  school  director  of 
i  tockefeller  township,  having  been  elected  for  seven 
terms  (twenty-one  years),  hut  gave  up  the  last 
[wo  years  of  hi-  seventh  term  upon  his  removal 
no  Sunbury.  He  served  as  tax  collector  at  a  pe- 
riod when  nearly  all  the  bills  were  paid  in  silver, 
and  when  out  on  a  collecting  trip  would  put  the 
money  in  a  bag  under  the  seat  of  his  buggy.  He 
and  his  family  were  long  leading  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Plum  Creek,  hut  since  re- 
moving to  Sunbury  have  joined  the  church  there. 
Mr.  Long  has  held  many  church  offices,  and  has 
served  a  number  of  terms  in  the  church  council. 
Wherever  he  is  known  his  opinion  is  valued  and 
his  advice  sought,  and  he  is  much  esteemed  by 
his  assoi  iati  -  in  every  relation  of  life. 

In  1862  Mr.  Long  married  Rosanna  H.  Kelly, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


581 


daughter  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Maria  (Miller) 
Kelly,  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  they  have  had 
.a  family  of  nine  children,  namely:  Anna  Maria 
married  Charles  Heckert,  of  Rockefeller  township; 
Clara  E.  married  George  M.  Hoffman,  of  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.:  Charity  L.  married  Calvin  N.  Furman 
.and  they  live  in  Sunbury;  Emma  T.  is  the  widow 
of  A.  Johnson  Savidge  and  lives  with  her  chil- 
dren in  Sunbury;  Samuel  E.  is  a  residenl  of  Rock- 
efeller township,  cultivating  his  father's  farm; 
Edna  P.  married  Harvey  Troutman,  of  Sunbury; 
John  F.  is  a  farmer  of  Rockefeller  township; 
Edith  married  Charles  Malick  and  they  live  in 
Upper  Augusta  township;  Olive  married  Eugene 
Thomas  and  they  live  in  Sunbury. 

MICHAEL  P.  TIERNEY,  attorney  at  law. 
and  borough  solicitor  of  Northumberland,  is  a  na- 
tive of  that  place  who,  though  young,  has  made  a 
good  start  in  his  profession  and  bids  fair  to  take  an 
honorable  place  among  the  successful  lawyers  of 
his  section.  He  was  born  in  the  borough  Jan.  12, 
1S84,  son  of  Michael  Tierney. 

Michael  Tierney  was  born  Oct.  10,  1843,  in 
'County  Galway,  Province  of  Connaught,  Ireland, 
son  of  Patrick  and  Winifred  (Comer)  Tierney. 
In  1870  he  came  to  America,  making  his  first  lo- 
cation at  Danville,  in  Montour  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  employed  in  the  iron  works,  living  and 
working  there  for  a  year  and  a  half.  He  next 
went  to  Seranton,  where  he  remained  only  three 
months,  however,  thence  going  to  Oxford,  Warren 
( !o.,  \  .  J.,  where  he  was  employed  for  three  years, 
until  a  strike  broke  out.  It  was  then  he  came  to 
Northumberland,  in  1876,  his  father-in-law,  Pat- 
rick Carroll,  living  near,  at  New  Berlin.  Pa.  Here 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  When  he  settled 
in  Northumberland  he  had  a  little  money,  which 
he  lost,  however,  through  no  fault  of  his  own, 
lending  it  to  a  man  who  was  sold  out  before  Mr. 
Tierney  could  make  his  claim.  For  fifteen  years 
Mr.  Tierney  worked  for  the  Van  Alens,  iron- 
masters, as  a  puddler,  after  which  he  was  given 
charge  of  the  Taggart  mill  at  Northumberland, 
•continuing  there  until  Mr.  Taggart  died  and  the 
concern  dissolved.  Mr.  Tierney  took  advantage 
■of  his  respite  from  work  to  make  a  visit  to  his 
aged  mother,  who  was  then  about  eighty  years 
old,  but  after  he  had  been  back  home  only  two 
weeks  he  was  summoned  to  return  to  Northumber- 
land, where  he  was  appointed  watchman  at  the 
cap  factory.  This  establishment  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1909,  since  when  he  has  lived  retired. 
He  and  his  family  occupy  a  nice  residence  at  the 
■corner  of  Second  and  Orange  streets,  Northumber- 

'  In  1873  Mr.  Tierney  married  Annie  Carroll, 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Susan  (Doonen)  Car- 
roll  of  New  Berlin,  Pa.  She  died  in  June,  1907, 
at  the  ao-e  of  fifty-two  rears,  and  was  buried  rn 


St.  Joseph  cemetery,  at  Danville,  Pa.  Eleven 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely  :  Patrick. 
James,  Mary,  Thomas,  Minnie  (deceased). 
Michael  P.,  Sue,  Catherine,  John,  Harry  and 
Daniel.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Catho- 
lic Church  at  Sunbury. 

Michael  P.  Tierney  received  his  literarj  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  borough  of  North- 
umberland, graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1901.  In  1903  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  employ 
of  the  Trolley  Company  in  the  office  of  S.  P.  Wol- 
verton,  at  Sunbury,  and  in  time  began  reading 
law  in  the  same  office,  being  admitted  to  the 
Northumberland  county  bar  Oct.  12,  1907.  Mean- 
time, in  February,  1907,  he  had  been  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  the  borough :  in  1008  he  was 
elected  attorney  for  the  borough,  and  is  also  bor- 
ough solicitor.  Thus  he  found  a  field  immediately 
for  legal  practice,  and  in  addition  to  his  public 
duties  he  has  had  considerable  private  work,  having 
a  steadily  growing  patronage.  He  has  his  office 
in  the  Morgan  building  at  Northumberland.  Hard- 
working and  enterprising,  he  has  every  prospect  of 
an  active  future. 

On  July  18,  1910.  Mr.  Tierney  married  Eva 
Mailey,  daughter  of  John  H.  Mailey.  postmaster 
of  Northumberland.  He  is  a  member  of  Si.  Mi- 
chael's Catholic  Church  at  Sunbury. 

JOHN  K.  HETRICK.  who  lives  near  the 
Willi's  Cioss  Road  Church  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, has  been  a  prosperous  farmer  and  well  known 
office  holder  of  that  township  for  many  years.  He 
was  born  May  29,  1854,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, this  county,  and  belongs  to  an  old  Pennsyl- 
vania family.  His  remarkable  memory  has  en- 
abled  him  to  learn  by  heart  the  complete  record 
of  the  family  from  the  time  of  his  great-grand- 
father, Philip  (or  John  Philip)  Hetriek. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  early  Hetriek  or 
Hetrieh  family  of  Northumberland  county,  Pa., 
was  first  located  in  Berks  county,  this  State,  where 
in  1759  one  William  Hettrich  was  a  taxable  of 
Bern  township,  paying  a  Federal  tax  of  eight 
pounds.  It  is  likely  that  this  William  Hettrich 
was  the  father  or  an  elder  brother  of  Philip  Het- 
rieh (Hettrich),  a  pioneer  of  Washington  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  It  is  certain  the 
family  is  one  of  long  standing  in  Pennsylvania. 
as  the  Pennsylvania  Archive-  record  the  names 
of  Christopher  and  Nicholas  Hettrich  among  the 
immigrants  to  the  Province  before  L750.  The 
probability  is  that  Christopher.  Nicholas,  William 
and  Philip  were  brothers,  and  that  they  first  set- 
tled in  Berks  county.  William  remaining  there. 
In  1778,  in  the  list  of  taxables  of  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, which  then  embraced  all  that  part  of  North- 
umberland county  south  of  Line  Mountain,  are 
found  the  names  of  Nicholas  and  Christopher 
Hettrich.  natives  of  Germany. 


582 


N-OBTHUMBEBLA  XI  >  c<  HJNTY,   PFXXSYLVA  X  I A 


Philip  Hetrich  (Hettrich)  was  a  pioneer  of 
what  is  now  Washington  township,  where  the 
family  has  since  been  well  represented.  In  the 
communion  list  (April  12,  1818)  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  of  the  Himmel  Church  there  the 
name  is  conspicuous.  It  is  likely  Philip  was  one 
of  the  four  Eettrichs  above  mentioned  and  the 
same  person  who  landed  at  Philadelphia  from  the 
ship  -Louisa"  Oct.  :!.  1753. 

John  Philip  Hetrick,  great-grandfather  of  John 
K.  Hetrick,  was  born  July  24,  1785,  and  died 
March  1.  1853.  He  lived  in  what  is  now  Washing- 
ton township.  Northumberland  county,  owning 
and  occupying  the  property  where  his  grandson, 
Daniel  Hetrick,  later  resided,  now  owned  l>\  Henry 
Kabel.  He  ami  his  wife,  Catharine  (Reitz),  born 
Oct.  34,  1786,  died  June  25,  1854,  arc  buried 
in  the  old  cemetery  at  the  Himmel  Church  in  that 
township.  Among  their  children  were:  Michael. 
Nicholas,  Mrs.  Abraham  Deppen,  Mrs.  Henry 
I  [offrnan  and  Daniel. 

John  Hetrick.  son  of  John  Philip  Hetrick,  was 
a  native  of  Washington  township,  followed  farm- 
ing, owning  the  property  where  Charles  Hetrick 
iinu  lives,  and  shortly  lief. ire  his  death  retired. 
moving  to  the  Himmel  Church  locality.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years  and  is  buried  at 
Himmel's  Church.  His  first  wife,  Catharine 
(Snyder),  died  long  before  him.  and  be  subse- 
quently married  her  sister  Elizabeth.  All  his  chil- 
dren were  by  the  first  marriage,  namely:  Daniel: 
Peter,  of  Punxsutawney,  Pa.:  John,  who  died  on 
the  homestead;  William,  who  died  in  Washington 
township:  Samuel,  oi  rjpper  Mahanoy  township: 
and  Snrali.  who  married  John  Hoffman. 

Daniel  Hetrick.  -on  of  John,  was  horn  in  what 
is  now  Washington  township,  and  there  passed 
all  his  life,  owning  and  living  upon  the  farm 
which  is  now  the  property  of  Henry  Kabel.  He 
had  a  tract  of  121  acres.  .Mr.  Hetrick  was  a  tan- 
ner as  well  as  farmer,  having  a  tannery  on  his 
farm  which  lie  conducted  for  many  years.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  and  is  buried  at  the 
Himmel  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Lutheran 
member.  For  ten  years  he  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  he  was  one  of  the  firs!  board  of 
school  directors  of  Washington  township,  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  that  position  when  the  public 
school  system  of  the  township  was  established,  in 
1870.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife. 
Susanna  I  Kramer),  died  about  two  years  before 
him.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children: 
James  was  an  invalid  and  lived  at  home  until  his 
death:  John  K.  is  mentioned  below;  Clara  M. 
married  Wilson  Rebuck;  Charles  died  in  Wash- 
ington township:  Frank  met  his  death  in  the 
Klondyke,  where  he  was  frozen  to  death  with  nine 
other  men:  Elizabeth  (deceased)  married  F.  L. 
Kehres;  Catharine  is  the  widow  of  Eobert  Gar- 
man:   Ellen   married   Martin   Kehres:   Lewis  is  a 


resident  of  Sunbury,  Pa.:  Daniel  lives  in  the 
borough  of  Northumberland ;  Ida  died  in  infancy. 

John  K.  Hetrick  worked  for  his  father  in  the 
tannery  and  on  the  farm.  When  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  plasterer, 
which  he  has  followed  off  and  on  ever  since,  at 
present  taking  contracts,  in  the  fulfillment  of 
which  he  liives  employment  to  several  men.  His 
work  in  that  line  is  principally  in  Sunbury  and 
the  vicinity.  After  his  marriage  he  went  to  work 
for  his  uncle  Elias  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
in  the  tannery,  where  he  had  been  employed  for  two 
\ears  when  his  uncle  died.  He  has  since  resided 
in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  own-  two  tracts 
of  land,  the  smaller  comprising  twelve  acres,  upon 
which  his  buildings  are  located.  The  other  con- 
tains forty  acres,  near  by.  In  190*3  Mr.  Hetrick 
remodeled  his  residence,  and  he  has  made  many 
improvements,  of  various  kinds,  upon  his  property. 
II.  is  a  thrifty  and  systematic  worker,  and  has 
prospered  deservedly  in  his  undertakings.  Though 
busy  with  his  own  affairs  he  has  found  time  to 
take  part  in  the  work  of  the  Demo,  ratio  party 
in  his  locality  and  has  also,been  called  upon  to 
fill  a  number  of  public  positions,  having  served 
six  years  as  school  director  and  eighteen  years  coh- 
secutively  as  assessor.  With  his  family  he  belongs 
to  the  Emanuel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at 
Wolf-  id.  in  the  work  of  which  he  has  long 

been  active,  having  served  in  the  church  council 
and  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time. 

On  May  29,  1872,  Mr.  Hetrick  married  Amanda 
Kehres,  daughter  of  William  and  Catharine  i  Lid- 
man)  Kehres,  of  Washington  township,  and  four 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  Theda  V. 
married  Curtis  Hummel  and  died  about  one  year 
after  her  marriage;  Rosa  F.  married  char).-  E. 
Schreffler  and  they  live  in  Rockefeller  township: 
Sapora  married  Charles  Bobb  and  they  live  in 
Sunbury;  Samuel  ( >.  died  when  six  month-  old. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hetrick  have  adopted  and  reared 
(ice  other  children:  William  Sultzbach,  who  is 
now  in  Nebraska;  Galen  Hoffman  and  William 
Kehres,  both  now  in  Sunbury:  Dean  Brosius,  born 
April  15,  1895,  who  still  lives  with  them :  and 
Margaret  Greggson,  who  i^  ^till  in  their  hospitable 
home. 

HIRAM  M.  HAAS,  of  Sunbury,  farmer,  trucker 

and  florist,  is  a  prosperous  business  man  who  has 
been  active  in  various  lines  during  his  busy  life 
and  has  made  a  substantial  success.  He  has  serv- 
ed in  various  public  offices  and  lias  proved  a  good 
citizen  in  every  capacity  in  which  his  ability  and 
integrity  have   been   tested. 

Mr.  Haas  is  a  grandson  of  Lawrence  Haas,  who 
lived  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. He  was  possessed  at  one  time  of  considerable 
means,  nearly  all  of  which  he  lost  jroing  security 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


583 


for  supposed  friends.  He  died  early  in  August, 
1803,  and  his  administrator  was  one  Daniel  Haas. 
probably  a  son.  Among  his  children  were:  John 
S. ;  Isaac  who  lived  and  die.]  m  Jackson  town- 
ship; Daniel,  who  was  a  miller  and  farmer  in 
New  York  Stud.;  Mrs.  Smith:  and  Harriet,  who 
married  Jacob  Bower. 

John  S.  Haas,  sun  of  Lawrence,  was  horn  May 
(i.  L810,  in  Northumberland  county  and  received 
a  common  school  education,  lie  resided  in  Ma- 
hanoy  and  Jackson  townships  until  1850,  when  he 
moved  t<>  Upper  Augusta  township  and  there  in 
1856  purchased  the  McCarthy  &  Davis  mill,  then 
known  as  the  Sunhurv  mill  prqperty,  hut  since 
known  as  Haas's  mill.  There  lie  lived  the  re- 
mainder id'  his  days,  following  milling  and  also 
farming,  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  until  his 
retirement,  and  accumulating  a  comfortable 
property  by  industry,  good  management  ami  hon- 
orable dealing.  He  was  unassuming  and  mingled 
little  with  his  fellowmen,  but  he  was  universally 
respected,  ami  he  held  several  local  offices,  serving 
as  school  director  and  tor  mam  years  as  overseer 
id'  the  poor.  When  a  young  man  he  joined  a  militia 
com] y  ami  became  quite  prominent  in  that  con- 
nection, rising  to  the  rank  of  major  and  later  to 
thai  of  colonel;  he  made  a  commanding  appear- 
ance, especially  upon  horseback,  and  attracted 
much  attention  upon  public  occasions.  His  death, 
which  was  caused  by  paralysis,' occurred  Nov.  30, 
1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 

On  Dec.  6,  1835,  Mr.  Haas  married  Margaret 
Deppen,  who  was  horn  March  I.  1812,  near  Wom- 
elsdorf,  Berks  Co..  Da.,  and  died  Dec  13,  1887. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haas  were  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. Socially  he  belonged  to  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  lie  and  his  wife  are  buried 
in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy 
except   Hiram    M. 

Hiram  M.  Haas  was  born  March  1.  1846,  in 
Jackson  township,  ami  was  in  his  fifth  year  when 
his  parent-  settled  at  the  Mill  property  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sun- 
bury,  lie  received  bis  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  borough  and  at  the  Missionary  Insti- 
tute at  Selinsgrove,  this  county,  which  he  left  in 
1867,  later  attending  the  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege at  Poughkeepsie,  EST.  V..  for  five  months.  From 
early  life  he  assisted  his  father  and  was  long  as- 
sociated witli  him  in  the  management  of  his  affairs, 
also  conducting  the  mill  for  a  time  on  his  own 
account.  It  was  equipped  with  a  full  roller  system 
and  known  as  the  Sunhurv  Roller  Mills.  After  his 
father's  death  he  leased  the  mill  and  again  took 
up  farming:,  in  which  he  had  been  previously  in- 
terested, subsequently  operating  the  mill  again  in 
connection  with  his  agricultural  operations,  making 


high-grade  Hour  by  steam,  water  and  roller  pro- 
cesses. He  found  the  mill  very  profitable,  there 
being  a  ready  market  for  the  products,  which  had 
an  excellent  reputation.  Mr.  Haas  lives  in  East 
Sunhurv,  mi  Haas  avenue  (named  in  his  honor), 
where  he  built  the  •'Haas  mansion"  in  1890,  and 
he  ha-  large  interests  in  and  out  of  the  borough. 
He  has  seventy-five  acres  of  land  to  the  east  of 
Sunhurv.  most  of  it  now  included  in  the  borough, 
and  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  same  as  a 
general  farmer,  truck  gardener  and  florist.  The 
Susquehanna  Silk  Mills  arc  located  on  this  proper- 
ty, lie  also  has  a  farm  of  165  acres  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  which  he  rents.  His  interests 
are  extensive  and  he  devote-  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  to  (heir  management,  being  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  of  his  section  of  Sunhurv. 
which  was  formerly  known  as  Purdytown  and 
formed  an  independent  borough  before  its  annex- 
ation. His  home  is  included  in  what  is  now  the 
Ninth  ward.  However,  with  all  his  numerous  pri- 
vate interests,  he  has  found  time  for  valuable 
public  service,  having  served  three  terms  as  school 
director  of  what  was  then  Purdytown,  a  member 
f"i-  two  terms  of  the  East  Sunhurv  council,  town- 
ship auditor  three  successive  term-,  and  recorder. 
In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Democrat,  with  in- 
dependent inclinations.  Mr.  Haas  was  for  some 
years  affiliated  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  oi 
Pythias  and   Royal  Arcanum  at  Sunhurv. 

In  1870  Mr.  Haas  married  Luzetta,  daughter 
of  John  Hull,  a  merchant  of  Snydertown,  this 
county,  and  to  them  have  been  horn  children  as  fol- 
lows: John  V..  nf  Suiihiirv.  who  married  Harriet 
0.  Detrich.  of  Sunhurv;  Edward  L,  of  Sunhurv. 
who  died  in  August.  1910,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years;  Isaac  .1.,  of  Sunhurv,  married  to  Amy 
E.  Pasold,  of  that  borough;  Bessie  May;  Iliram 
W.,  of  Sunbury;  Mary  Margaret:  Essie  Mabel; 
Nellie  Jane,  and   Marian   Valeria. 

DANIEL  ST.  CLAIR  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
ami  came  to  America  when  twelve  years  old.  He 
was  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  in  which  lie  was 
drum  major,  and  the  four  lingers  of  his  left 
hand  were  shot  off  in  the  war.  He  was  a  scholar 
and  a  good  penman  ami  taught  school.  Ilis 
wife  had  a  property  in  Lower  Augusta  township 
which  Jink  Smith  now  owns,  and  William  Wynn 
owns  another  part  of  the  old  St  Clair  holdings. 
Mr.  Si.  Clair  married  Isabella  Auchmudy,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Arthur  ami  Sarah  (Mills)  Auchmudy,  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  Daniel  and  [sabella  St.  Clair 
are  buried  at  Fisher's  ferry.  Their  children  were: 
Daniel,  David.  Casper,  George,  Abraham.  Sarah. 
Anna,   Lydia,  and  a  son  whose  name  is  forgotten. 

Daniel  St.  Clair  lived  on  rented  land.  He  is 
buried  in  upper  Dauphin  county.  By  his  lir-i 
wife.    Katie    Hubb,   he  had   two  children,   Sarah 


58  1 


XORTHUMBEP.LAXD  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


ami  'Walter.  To  his  second  union,  with  Betzy 
Dietrich,  were  born:  Hiram,  Washington,  Isa- 
bella, and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

David  St.  Clair  lived  and  died  at  the  Cart 
House.  He  was  well-to-do.  He  married  Amelia 
Reider,  and  they  had  a  son  George. 

Casper  St.  Clair  married  Mary  Clymer,  from 
Berks  county,  Pa.  For  a  time  they  rented,  and 
later  lived  along  the  mountain  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  They  are  buried  at  the  Methodist 
Church.  Tiny  had  children  as  follows:  Jeremiah 
died  in  Shamokin;  Isabella,  born  Oct.  11,  1823,  is 
still  living,  the  widow  of  Robert  Smith;  Sarah 
Jane  married  Charles  Reader:  Mary  E.  married 
Alvin  Reader;  Andrew  J.  died  in  Custer  counts-, 
Pa.,  in  October,  1909,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

George  St.  Clair  lived  in  Schuylkill  County,  Pa., 
and  St.  Clair,  in  that  count}",  was  named  after 
him.  He  married  Polly  Dietrich,  and  among  their 
children  were  Matilda  and  Mary. 

Abraham  St.  Clair  lived  at  Wilkes-Barre.  He 
entered  the  army  and  sold  his  property  for  $1,500, 
though  it  was  worth  much  more,  being  rich  coal 
land.  His  wife  was  Ellen  Courtright,  and  their 
youngest  child  was  Butler  St.  Clair. 

JOHN  JACOB  PEIFER,  late  of  Shamokin, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  leather  and  boot  and  shoe 
business  at  the  corner  of  Arch  and  Market  streets, 
had  an  extensive  trade,  supplying  most  of  the  shoe- 
makers in  his  section.  He  was  a  substantial  busi- 
ness man  and  a  respected  citizen,  one  of  the  best 
known  residents  of  the  western  section  of  the  bor- 
ough. 

Mr.  Peifer  was  the  third  of  his  name  in  direct 
line,  being  a  son  of  John  Jacob  Peifer  and  a  grand- 
son of  John  Jacob  Pfeifer  (as  the  name  was  orig- 
inally spelled),  who  was  born  Feb.  28,  1809,  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in 
1852,  making  the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel.  He 
was  married  in  Germany  to  Barbara  Ziegler,  a 
native  of  that  country,  born  Jan.  19,  1806,  and 
his  wife  and  family  accompanied  him  to  the  United 
States.  They  landed  at  Xew  York,  later  com- 
ing to  Pennsylvania  and  locating  in  Shamokin, 
where  Mr.  Pfeifer  found  work  at  the  mines.  For 
some  time  before  his  death  Mr.  Pfeifer  had  his 
home  at  Weigh  Scales,  near  Shamokin.  where  he 
died  June  20.  1S63 :  his  wife  died  Dec.  3,  1868, 
and  both  arc  buried  at  the  Blue  Church,  of  which 
they  were  members.  Their  children  were  John 
Peter,  John  Jacob,  Barbara  and  Magdalena  (mar- 
ried Patrick  Maekin). 

John  Jacob  Peifer,  son  of  John  Jacob,  was  born 
Nov.  19,  1835,  at  the  town  of  Beringer,  in  Wurtem- 
berg, Germany.  He  was  in  his  seventeenth  year 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  and 
he  was  employed  at  Shamokin  and  at  Allegheny 
City  before  settling  at  Weigh  Scales,  near  Shamo- 
kin. where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pennsyl- 


vania Railroad  Company.  He  began  as  a  repair- 
man, later  became  a  fireman  and  in  time  an  en- 
gineer, being  employed  in  the  latter  capacity  until 
he  met  his  death,  May  6,  1869,  at  Brad)',  this 
county.  The  boiler  of  his  engine  exploded,  throw- 
ing him  into  the  adjacent  bushes,  and  life  was  ex- 
tinct when  he  was  found.  He  was  a  popular  and 
well  liked  man,  and  had  proved  a  loyal  citizen  of 
liis  adopted  country,  serving  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Anna  Maria  Bader,  who 
was  born  Sept.  IS,  1842,  near  the  town  of  Dettin- 
gen,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  daughter  of  John 
George  and  Christina  (Bossart)  Bader,  and  came 
to  America  when  nineteen  years  old.  Three  cliil- 
dren  were  born  to  this  union :  John  Jacob  ;  Mary 
Christina,  born  Aug.  27,  1866,  who  married  Peter 
Maus  and  has  one  child,  Dr.  John  P.;  and  Anna 
Dorothy,  born  Nov.  21,  1S68,  who  married  Charles 
Martin.  After  Mr.  Peifer's  death  his  widow  mar- 
ried John  Michael  Sheese  (Schiesc),  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  died  at  Shamokin  Feb.  5,  1877.  Mrs. 
Sheese  still  survives,  making  her  home  in  Shamo- 
kin. By  her  second  marriage  she  had  children  a ; 
follows:  Elizabeth  C,  who  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Long;  Rev.  George  F.,  a  Presbyterian  minister 
formerly  located  at  Montgomeiy,  Pa.,  who  recently 
moved  to  Oklahoma,  where  he  is  engaged  as  a 
printer,  and  Fredericka  Matilda,  married  to  John 
Henry  Weitenhafer. 

John  Jacob  Peifer  was  born  Oct.  27,  1864,  at 
Mount  Carmel,  Xorthumberland  county,  and  he 
began  work  as  many  boys  in  this  region  have  done, 
picking  slate  at  the  mines.  He  was  thus  engaged 
during  the  summer  season,  in  the  winter  months 
attending  public  school.  When  fifteen  years  old 
he  went  to  learn  s"hoemaking,  which  trade  he  fol- 
lowed from  that  time  until  1884,  in  which  year 
he  returned  to  the  mines.  But  after  a  comparative- 
ly brief  experience  in  his  former  line  he  resumed 
shoemaking,  in  which  he  was  ever  after  interested. 
In  1S9S  he  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
as  a  boot  and  shoe  dealer  and  manufacturer,  and  he 
established  a  large  business,  having  all  the  most 
modern  equipment  and  conveniences  I'm'  facilitat- 
ing his  work.  He  also  dealt  in  leather  and  find- 
ings, supplying  almost  all  the  shoemakers  in  this 
section. 

His  profitable  and  constantly  widening  trade 
was  the  best  comment  upon  his  business  methods. 
Mr.  Peifer  died  April  23,  1911.  and  was  buried 
in  Shamokin  cemetery. 

Mr.  Peifer  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  ac- 
tive in  borough  affairs,  having  served  nine  years 
as  councilman,  and  as  school  director  for  some 
time,  from  the  Third  ward.  Socially  he  belonged 
to  the  Knights  of  Malta,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  Sons  of 
Yeterans,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Maccabees.  He  was  a 
member  of  St.  John's  German  Reformed  Church, 
and  a  member  of  the  choir.     A  man  of  genial  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


585 


charitable  disposition,  he  enjoyed  the  friendship 
and  good  will  of  a  wide  circle. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Isabella  Otto,  granddaughter 
of  William  Otto,  a  farmer  of  Schuylkill  county, 
who  died  in  1830;  his  wife  was  Margaret  Kessler. 
Henry  Otto,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Schuyl- 
kill county  Jun.'  21,  1S25.  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Shamokin.  He  married  (first)  Catharine  Artz, 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  and  by  his  second 
union,  to  Mary  Fager,  he  had  a  family  of  eleven, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Peifer  was  one. 

JEREMIAH  LOWER,  a  retired  citizen  of  Sun- 
bury,  has  been  a  resident  of  that  borough  for  the 
past  twenty  years,  and  until  his  retirement  in  1906 
was  a  successful  business  man.  He  is  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county,  born  near  the  Northumberland 
county  line  '  >ct.  2,  L845. 

Michael  Lower  i  Lauer),  In-  grandfather,  a  na- 
tive nf  Schwartzwald,  Germany,  was  one  of  four 
brothers,  ;ill  then  unmarried,  who  came  to  Ameri- 
ca, ami  he  located  in  Dauphin  county;  another 
brother  settled  near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  another  in 
the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  while  of  the  fourth 
nothing  was  ever  known  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country.  Michael  Lower  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  the  north  side  of  Mahantango  mountain,  near 
Malta  (Vera  Cruz),  aud  there  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  re- 
ligion, aud  is  buried  at  Zion's  (Stone  Valley) 
Church.  (One  Michael  Lauer,  buried  at  that 
church,  was  born  Feb.  1,  1781,  and  died  July  13, 
L834.)  His  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  William  was  the 
father  of  Jeremiah  Lower;  Jacob  settled  in  Juniata 
county,  Pa.;  Michael  died  near  Mahantango,  Pa.; 
Daniel  located  at  Brookville,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  died;  John  died  in  the  Lykens  Valley  March 
C,  1904,  aged  ninety-two  years,  eight  months, 
three  days  (his  wife.  Elizabeth,  died  Sept.  28, 
1891,  aged  seventy-four  years,  sixteen  days)  ;  Eliza- 
beth married  John  A. 'Snyder;  Rebecca  married 
(first)  Abraham  Frymoyer  and  (second)  John  A. 
Snyder,  whose  first  wife  was  her  older  sister,  Eliza- 
beth :  Polly  married  John  Chroyer. 

William  Lower  was  born  in  1815  and  died  in 
August,  1849,  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religious  faith  and  is  buried  at  the 
Stone  Valley  church.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  which  lie  followed,  and  also  farmed  on 
the  old  homestead.  His  wife,  Julia  Zerbe,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Zerbe,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
died  Feb.  28.  1904,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  children,  Jeremiah  and 
Matilda,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Jeremiah  Lower  received  his  education  m  the 
public  schools  of  the  locality  where  he  had  his 
early  home  and  at  the  Missionary  Institute,  Selins- 
grove.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  reached  the  age  of  forty-one  years, 


cultivating  land  in  Northumberland  county ;  mean- 
while he  also  conducted  a  butcher  business  for  some 
time  in  the  village  of  Vera  Cruz,  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township.  When  he  gave  up  farming  he 
settled  at  Weigh  Scales,  this  county,  at  which 
place  he  conducted  the  "State  Road  Hotel"  (then 
known  as  "HensyPs  Hotel")  for  about  two  years, 
in  1889  moving  to  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  was  proprietor  of  the  "Central  Hotel" 
for  a  year.  In  March,  1890,  he  settled  in  Sunbury, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  For  seven 
years  he  conducted  the  "Packer  House"  in  this 
borough,  in  1896  buying  the  saddlery  and  hard- 
ware business  to  which  he  subsequently  gave  his 
attention  until  his  retirement,  conducting  same 
for  a  period  of  nine  years.  Mr.  Lower  manufac- 
tured and  dealt  in  all  kinds  of  custom  and  factory 
made  harness,  saddlery  hardware  and  shoe  find- 
ings, handling  a  superior  line  of  goods.  Those  of 
his  own  manufacture  were  of  the  highest  grade. 
He  made  any  kind  of  harness,  doing  the  work  in 
the  most  approved  manner  and  the  mounting  as 
desired,  and  carried  a  most  comprehensive  stock — ■ 
everything  needed  in  the  stable.  He  gave  special 
attention  to  repair  work,  and  enjoyed  an  excellent 
patronage.  His  store  was  at  No.  506  Market 
street.  Mr.  Lower  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  adopted  home,  and  has  served  two 
years  in  the  borough  council.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  political  opinion. 

In  18S6  Mr.  Lower  married  Wilhelmina  Witmer, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Witmer,  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  and  six  children  have  been  born  to 
them :  William  R.  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury : 
Julia  V.  married  James  R.  Brosius  and  after  his 
death  married  (second)  G.  W.  Floyd,  who  is  in  the 
Federal  service,  and  they  live  at  Capitol  Heights. 
Md. ;  Sarah  A.  is  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Kauffman  and 
they  live  in  Rockefeller  township,  this  county; 
Mary  E.  married  Frank  Weiser,  of  Sunbury ; 
Susan  E.  and  Laura  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Lower  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
New  Lutheran  Church  in  Sunbury.  He  has  al- 
ways been  an  interested  church  worker,  and  has 
given  many  years'  service  in  the  councils  of  the 
different  churches  with  which  he  has  been  iden- 
tified at  the  various  places  in  which  he  has  re- 
sided . 

JOHN  W.  ZERBE.  postmaster  at  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  bears  a  name  which  has 
been  known  in  this  section  from  the  time  his 
grandfather  came  hither  out  of  Berks  county. 
founding  a  family  which  has  ever  since  been  count- 
ed among  the  worthy  citizens  of  the  region  and 
in  whose  honor  a  township  has  been  named.  Zerbe 
valley  and  Zerbe  run  also  help  to  perpetuate  the 
name,  and  there  is  a  Zerby  in  Center  county  doubt- 
less  of  the  same  origin.  The  Zerbe  Valley  Rail- 
road, a  line  fifteen   mill's  long,  was  incorporated 


586 


NORTHUMBERLAN D  CI  ITJNTY,  PEN  XSVLVAMA 


Sept.  7,  1867,  and  became  a  part  of  the  Philadel- 
phia cY.    Reading  system   in   1871. 

Among  the  registered  passengers  who  came  over 
in  the  early  days  appear  the  name?  of  John  Philip 
Zerbe,  Martin  Zerbe  and  Lorenz  Zerbe,  brothers, 
who  according  to  Rupp's  "30,000  Immigrants" 
made  the  passagi  together  in  1710,  coming  across 
with  the  Huguenots.  Lorenz  Zerbe  settled  that 
year  at  Schoharie,  X.  Y..  and  in  1720-22  was  one 
of  those  who  emigrated  thence  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  settled  on  the  Tulpehocken  creek,  be- 
tween what  are  now  Womelsdorf  and  Bernville, 
Berks  county,  lie  had  one  son  who  i-  of  record, 
John  Zerbe.  who  in  1761  built  a  null  on  the  Tul- 
pehocken creek  which'  was  in  operation  until  burn- 
ed, about  live  years  ago  (the  letter  from  which 
most  of  this  information  was  taken  was  written 
Nov.  23,  1909)  :  the  corner  -tour  Inarm-  the  date 
was  still  in  the  wall  a  shori  ti ago. 

It  is  the  general  contention  of  those  who  have 
been  collecting  family  records  that  all  of  the 
Zerbes  in  this  country  are  descended  from  this 
John  Zerbe  (son  of  Lorenz)  and  his  two  wives 
(he  married  Catarina  Stup  June  1.  1744),  his 
children  numbering  twenty-four  in  all,  twenty 
sons  and  four  daughters.  Some  hold  that  the 
Zerbes  are  Dot  all  his  descendants,  but  that  they 
come  from  the  three  immigrant  brothers  men- 
tioned; but  up  to  this  time  no  record  has  been 
unearthed  to  show  that  John  Philip  and  Martin 
Zerbe.  the  two  brothers  who  accompanied  Lorenz. 
were  ever  married.  A  great  number,  however, 
from  \arious  States,  have  been  traced  back  to  the 
twenty  sons  of  John,  and  though  many  spellings 
of  the  name  arc  found  in  the  different  branches 
of  the  family — Zerbe.  Zerbey,  Zerbv.  Zerbo,  Zerba, 
Zerbee — all  who  bear  it  are  supposed  to  be  his 
posterity.  In  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury many  of  the  name  went  \\  est;  settling  in  <  »hio, 
Michigan,  Illinois.  Indiana.  Iowa.  Kansas,  eti  .  so 
that  its  representatives  are  now  scattered  well  i 
the  country,  and  they  are  found  in  the  professions 
as  well  as  among  agricultural  and  mechanical 
worker-.  As  to  the  origin  of  the  name,  it  is  found 
m  France,  spelled  Zerbo:  and  in  1505  one  Gabriel 
Zerbi,  an  Italian  anatomist,  wrote  a  work  entitled 
"Anatomy  of  the  Human  Body,"  a  copy  of  which 
may  be  found  in  the  Astor  Librarv,  in  New  York 
cm. 

Daniel  Zerbe,  great-grandfather  of  John  W. 
Zerbe,  of  Shamokin,  came  to  this  region  from  Berks 
county  by  wagon  and  was  among  the  early  settlers 
in  what  is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He 
lived  about  two  miles  from  what  is  now  Dalmatia. 
He  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  church  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  To  him  and  his  wife.  Alalia. 
-  born  eight  children:  Thomas,  the  grand- 
father of  John  W.  Zerbe;  Joseph,  who  died  in 
Dalmatia,  Northumberland  county;  John,  who 
died  in  Stone  X  alley  (he  left  no  posterity)  :  Daniel. 


who  died  unmarried:  George,  who  died  at  rge 

town.  Northumberland  county  (he  married  Fibbie 
gel,  and  two  of  their  children  survive.  John 
and  Ellen)  :  Rebecca,  who  married  Adam  Bowman 
and  moved  to  Illinois,  where  she  died;  Catharine, 
who  married  David  Schwartz,  both  dying  in  Michi- 
gan; and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Adam  Alman. 

Joseph  Zerbe,  son  of  Daniel,  married  Catharine 
Meek,  and  they  had  thirteen  children:  Henry, 
of  Shamokin.  who  married  Fibbie  Alman  (he 
served  three  years  during  the  Civil  war  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  L,  Kith  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 
entering  as  a  private,  and  receiving  promotion  to 
the  rank  of  corporal):  Joseph,  a  miner,  living 
at  Mount  Carmel ;  George,  who  died  in  1908;  Dan- 
iel, a  resident  of  Dalmatia:  Samuel,  who  lives  at 
Millersburg,  Pa.;  Jonas,  of  Shamokin;  Elizabeth, 
married  to  Andrew  Campbell;  Catherine,  married 
to  Jacob  II.   Bright;  ami  others  who  died  yoUng. 

Thomas  Zerbe.  -on  of  Daniel,  was  a  fanner  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  this  county,  where  he 
lived  and  died.  He  married  Elizabeth  Gorman, 
ami  they  had  children  as  follows:  Jesse  was  kill- 
ed by  a  bull  while  at  work  at  his  barn,  in  Kansas; 
Thomas  is  the  father  of  John  W.  Zerbe;  Benjamin 
at  Beavertown,  Snyder  Co..  Pa.;  Elias  lives 
at  Altoona.  Pa.;  Sallie  is  married  to  Henry  Mil- 
ler, and  they  live  in  Shamokin:  Rebecca  married 
George  Heitzman,  of  Kansas;  Katie  married  Elias 
Paul,   who   died    in    Shamokin. 

Thomas  Zerbe,  -on  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  came  to  Shamokin  when  a  young  man. 
finding  employment  at  the  mines.  Later  he  set- 
tled on  his  father's  homestead  in  his  native  town- 
ship, taking  over  the  farm,  which  he  is  still  culti- 
vating. He  has  not  only  been  a  prosperous  farmer. 
Ian  he  is  a  well  known  man  in  the  county,  which 
he  has  served  two  terms  as  commissioner  in  the 
lit  and  efficient  manner.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  Lutheran  in  reli- 
matters.  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Catherine  Messner, 
daughter  of  Philip  Messner,  and  to  them  were 
born  seven  children:  A  son  that  died  in  infancy: 
Charles,  deceased;  John  W. :  James,  of  Reading, 
Berks  Co..  Pa.:  Joseph,  of  Dalmatia.  Northumber- 
land county;  Webster,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, this  count}  :  and  another  -on  that  died  in 
infancy. 

John  W.  Zerbe.  son  of  Thomas,  was  bom  Feb. 
16,  1864,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  re- 
ed his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
home  locality.  While  yet  a  boy  he  began  to  work 
in  the  mines,  continuing  thus  until  he  was  in 
his  twenty-eighth  year,  when  he  was  given  a  posi- 
tion in  the  police  department  of  Shamokin.  and 
he  remained  with  that  department  for  twelve 
and  a  half  years,  until  appointed  to  the  postmaster- 
ship,  in  the  year  1903.  He  has  proved  a  capable 
and   faithful  official   and  has  given   general  satis- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


58  "t 


fact  ion  in  the  office.  His  standing  in  the  borough, 
both  personally  and  as  public  servant,  is  unques- 
tionably good.  Fraternally  he  unites  with  the 
P.  <).  s.  of  A.  and  the  Knights  of  Malta,  and  in 
church  connection  he  is  a  Lutheran. 

In  1886  Mr.  Zerbe  married  Clara  Kerkaui. 
daughter  of  Wilhelm  and  Elizabeth  Kerkam,  the 
former  a  well  known  business  man  of  Shamokin. 
They  have  bad  three  children,  but  only  one  sur- 
\  tves,  May. 

EDWARD  S.  MILLER,  late  of  Eerndon, 
Northumberland  county,  was  a  resident  of  that, 
place  for  a  number  of  years  before  his  death,  com- 
ing to  Northumberland  county  in  1882  or  1883. 
lie  was  a  native  of  Strausstown,  Berks  ('<>..  Pa.. 

horn  July  ".'I.  1851,  - I'  Michael  and  Catharine 

I  Klahr)' Miller. 

I'pon  bis  removal  to  Northumberland  county  Mr. 
Miller  located  at  Eerndon,  where  he  made  his 
home  t<>  tin'  end  of  his  days,  dying  there  Feb.  14. 

1890,  at   the  age  of   forty-four  years,  sis   ntlis. 

twenty  days,  lb'  is  buried  at  Eerndon.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  a  traveling  salesman  for  the 
shoe  house  of  Smith.  Sehaeller  &  Co.,  id'  Philadel- 
phia, his  territory  being  in  Snyder,  Dauphin. 
Schuylkill,  Northumberland  and  Juniata  counties. 
Pa.  lie  was  a  successful  business  man  and  well 
liked  wherever  known.  Politically  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  his  family 
also  belonging  to  that  church. 

In  1894  Mr.  Miller  married  Lydia  A.  Snyder, 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Deppen)  Snyder, 
of  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  county,  in  which 
locality  Mr.  Snyder  was  horn.  Mrs.  Miller  was 
left  in  comfortable  circumstances,  ami  made  her 
home  al  Eerndon  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
May  5,  1910.  Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Snyder:  Alexander,  who  lived  in  the  Mahan- 
tango  Valley,  and  died  in  1910;  Charlotte,  widow 
of  Peter  Ziegler;  William,  deceased,  who  lived  in 

Snyder  c n  ;  Mary,  who  married  William  Otto, 

both  being  now  deceased;  .lame-  I-'.,  a  resident  of 
Jackson  township.  Northumberland  county;  Isa- 
iah, of  Millersburg,  Pa.;  and  Lydia  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Edward    S.   Miller. 

James  F.  Snyder,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
December,  1844,  and  followed  farming  all  hi-  ac- 
tive life.  He  married  Anna  Winner,  .laughter  of 
Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Rehrer)  Witmer,  and  they 
have  five  children,  Maggie  (married  Grant  Lem- 
on). Anna  (married  David  Lower).  William, 
(diaries  and   Clarence. 

REITZ.  Among  the  representatives  of  the 
Reitz  family  in  Sunbury  are  Benjamin  F.  Reitz, 
deputy  prothonotary  of  Northumberland  county, 
and  the  brothers  James  and  Isaac  J.  Reitz.  cousins 
of  Benjamin  F..  all  of  whom  are  numbered  among 
the   most   respected    residents     of   that     borough. 


Their  lathers  were  brother-,  sons  of  Jacob  Reitz 
and  grandsons  of  Andreas  Reitz.  The  family  is 
of  French  origin  and  is  now  numerous  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Andrea-  (Andrew)  Reitz  came  from  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Upper 
Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  county. 

Jacob  Reitz,  son  of  Andreas,  was  born  Jan.  30, 
1782,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  in  territory 
now  embraced  in  Washington  township.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  a  prosperous  one.  owning  what  are 
now  the  farm-  of  Andrew  L.  Bueher  and  Emanuel 
Kiebl.  of  Jackson  township.  On  the  latter  proper- 
ty be  built  a  sawmill  which  I perated  success- 
fully for  sonic  wears,  lie  died  Sept.  ~'t'>.  1838,  and 
was  buried  at  St.  Peter's  church,  in  Jackson,  near 
Washington  township.  His  wife.  Anna  .Maria 
(Hepler),  a  native  of  Hepler,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
is  buried  at  the  Stone  Church.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children:  Jacob 
lived  in  Jefferson  county,  Pa.;  Benjamin  (horn 
July  in.  1808,  died  Jan.  11, 1838)  lived  in  Wash- 
ington town-hip:  Isaac  II.  is  mentioned  below; 
/etic  (born  1829,  died  L855)  is  buried  at  Himrnel's 
Church;  Joseph  lived  at  Trevorton,  Northumber- 
land county:  Samuel  is  mentioned  below:  Daniel 
was  a  fanner  of  Little  Mahanoy  township:  Katie 
(deceased)  was  the  wife  of  John  Fegley;  Marieha 
married  George  Miller  and  they  lived  in  Jefferson 
county,  Pa.;  Lydia  married  Henry  Dressier  and 
they  lived  in  Center  county,  Pa.:  Mrs.  Seiler- lived 
in   Schuylkill  county. 

Isaac  IT.  Reitz,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  Sept.  10, 
isis.  mi  tin'  old  Reitz  homestead  near  Mahanoy 
Church,  now  owned  by  Andrew  L.  Bueher.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  house  carpenter,  which  he 
followed,  but  he  wa-  better  known  in  his  capacity 
of  undertaker,  having  been  the  only  one  in  thai 
business  for  miles  around  his  home,  which  was 
near  the  Mahanoy  Church.  The  Mahanoy  ceme- 
tery was  once  pari  of  his  land.  He  conducted 
many  funerals  in  his  time.  He  was  also  known 
a-  an  extensive  dealer  in  cattle  and  horses,  having 
been  thus  engaged  for  fifty-three  years,  buying 
cattle  west  of  the  Alleghenies  and  bringing  them 
overland  to  Northumberland  county,  where  be 
found  a  market  for  them.  He  sold  herds  in  Berks 
countv  at  private  sales.  A  prosperous  man  in 
all  hi-  enterprises,  he  owned  the  farm  which  1- 
now  the  property  of  his  son  Galen  and  also  his  own 
homestead,  another  tract  comprising  seventy-three 

,n  res,    and     several     acres    of    woodland.      He     was 

active  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  day.  serving  as 
i-seer  of  the  noor,  scho  il  director,  constable  and 
assessor,  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member 
oj  St.  Peter's  church  at  Mahanoy,  which  he  served 
officially.  He  was  also  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  for  many  years.  Mr.  Reitz  died 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  had  passed  all  his 
life   Nov.   II.    L894,   aged   seventy-six  years,   two 


58S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


months.,  four  days,  and  is  buried  at  Krebs  (St. 
Peter's  i  Church.  "Krebs"  is  the  local  name  for  this 
church,  and  "St.  Peter's"  is  the  corporate  name. 

Mr.  Reitz  was  twice  married.  His  first  marriage 
was  to  Lydia  Lenker,  of  Stone  Valley,  who  was 
bom  Juh  18,  L825,  and  died  March  5,  1S52.  She 
is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Mahanoy. 
Three  children  were  born  to  this  union,  two  sons 
and  one  daughter,  namely:  Gilbert,  who  died  at 
Mt.  Carmel;  Caroline  (deceased),  who  was  the 
wife  of  Levius  Keeler.  of  Freeburg,  Snyder  county  : 
and  Lewis,  who  died  at  Olean,  N.  Y.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Reitz  married  Susan  Miller, 
daughter  of  John  Miller,  of  Gratztown.  Lvkens 
Valley,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  who  died  June  24,  1899, 
aged  seventy-one  years,  seven  months,  thirteen 
days.  Hi-  children  by  this  marriage  were  as  fol- 
lows: Reuben  is  deceased:  Lovina  married  (first) 
Edward  Kantz,  and  (second)  Morris  Reitz,  and 
they  live  in  Sunbury;  Galen  is  mentioned  below; 
Lydia  married  William  Kiehl  and  they  live  at 
Tower  City.  Pa. :  John,  who  lives  at  Harrisburg. 
married  Alice  Bingaman :  Jane  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Isaiah  Wetzel  and  lived  in  Shamokin;  Benja- 
min Franklin  is  mentioned  below :  Ellen  married 
Benjamin  W.  Stepp,  of  Washington  township;  and 
Samuel  died  young. 

(i  w.i  \  l!i  i  iv.  sou  of  Isaac  H.  Reitz,  was  born 
June  19,  1857,  in  Washington  township,  this  coun- 
ty, where  he  still  lives.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life  and  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  after  which  he  began 
farming  near  Mahanoy  Church,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  has  a  forty-six-acre  farm,  the 
produce  of  which  he  markets  at  Trevorton,  where 
he  makes  a  weekly  trip.  His  property  is  well  culti- 
vated and  valuable,  and  has  good  buildings,  the 
barn  built  in  1877  and  the  house  in  1S90.  He  has 
served  six  years  as  school  director  of  Washington 
township  and  since  1906  as  overseer  of  the  poor, 
and  he  is  much  respected  in  the  neighborhood 
for  his  intelligent  public  services  as  well  as  his 
able  management  of  his  private  affairs.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Reitz  and  his  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Mahanoy  church,  which 
he  has  served  as  deacon,  elder  and  (for  four  years  I 
trustee. 

On  Dec.  18,  1876,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Lucinda 
Shipe,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hettie  (Herner) 
Shipe,  the  former  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and 
granddaughter  of  Jacob  Shipe,  who  was  a  farmer 
of  Lower  Augusta  township.  Ten  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reitz:  Emma,  married 
to  Jefferson  Wynn,  of  Lower  Augusta  township : 
Minnie  I.,  unmarried:  Isaac  S..  who  married  Han- 
nah Griegi  and  resides  in  Harrisburg:  Mary  A.;. 
Selvia  M. :  Frances  I.;  Earvey;  and  Samuel,  Ber- 
tha and  Claude,  all  three  of  whom  died  young. 

Bex.ta^iix  F.  Reitz  has  been  deputy  prothono- 
tary  of  Northumberland  county  since  1906,  and  in 


that  capacity  has  become  particularly  well  known 
in  official  circles,  his  able  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  his  position  having  won  him  the  favorable 
recognition  of  all  who  have  come  in  contact  with 
him.  Mr.  Reitz  was  born  in  Washington  township 
Sept.  8,  1>iis.  and  there  began  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  Later  he  was  a  pupil  at  the 
old  Freeburg  Academy,  in  Snyder  county,  also 
attending  a  select  school  at  Milton,  where  he  was 
under  the  tuition  of  Professors  Wolverton  and 
Goho.  He  was  next  engaged  at  teaching  for  three 
terms  in  the  public  schools,  and  two  summers  in 
a  select  school  at  Elysburg,  this  county,  after  which 
he  took  a  course  at  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Kutztown,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1S90. 
For  the  next  two  years  he  taught  at  Landingville, 
Schuylkill  county.  Then  he  went  to  the  Eastman 
Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y..  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1892,  after  which  he  was  en- 
gaged  for  some  time  as  clerk  at  the  Broad  street 
station,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Returning  to  Elys- 
i  lie  taught  for  seven  years  or  until  1900.  when 
as  appointed  assistant  clerk  in  the  commis- 
sioners' cilirc.  in  1903  receiving  appointment  as 
clerk  in  the  prothonotary's  office.  In  January. 
1906.  he  was  appointed  deputy  prothonotary  under 
Thomas  Lawler,  and  was  re-appointed  by  the  pres- 
ent incumbent,  Ira  T.  C.  Dissinger,  having  filled 
the  position  with  fidelity  and  skill,  and  he  is  now 
bookkeeper  Eor  the  Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit 
Co.  Mr.  Reitz  is  well  and  favorably  known  in 
the  local  councils  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at  Elysburg  and 
to  the  Encampment  at  Sunbury,  and  in  religion 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  the 
old  Reitz  family  Bible. 

On  Dec.  31,  1901,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Emma  L. 
Reed,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Trego)  Reed, 
of  Elysburg,  and  granddaughter  of  Jacob  Reed. 
They  have  an  adopted  son.  Clvde.  who  was  born 
in  1901. 


Samuel  Reitz,  father  of  James  and  Isaac  J. 
Reitz,  of  Sunbury,  lived  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship,  in  Hollowing  Run,  and  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
and  later  in  Little  Mahanoy,  which  was  his  home 
.mi  the  time  of  his  death.  He  followed  farming, 
and  iu  connection  therewith  worked  at  his  trade, 
shoemaking.  He  died  in  Little  Mahanoy  township 
at  the  home  of  his  brother  Daniel,  whom  he  was 
visiting,  and  i-  buried  at  Little  Mahanoy  Church. 
Mr.  Reitz  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Kate  Reed,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  Kit- 
tie.  Mary  anil  Daniel,  bis  second  wife  being  Har- 
riet Jones,  daughter  of  Capt.  William  R.  Jones, 
who  was  postmaster  at  Fishers  Ferry  for  some 
years.  She  died  Sept.  13,  1883,  aged  sixty-three 
years,  five  months,  twenty-eight  days,  and  is  buried 
in  the  River  cemetery,  at  Fisher's  Ferry.  They 
had  two  children,  James  and  Isaac  J. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


589 


James  Reitz,  son  of  Samuel,  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness man  of  Sunbury.  was  born  July  1,  1857,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  spent  his  early 
boyhood  days.  From  the  age  of  seven  he  has  lived 
in  Lower  Augusta  township  and  Sunbury.  After 
reaching  manhood  he  learned  the  trade  of  "tinsmith, 
which  lie  followed  in  Sunbury  for  seven  years, 
later  taking  up  slating,  to  which  he  now  devotes 
most  of  his  time.  He  is  engaged  in  job  work  and 
contracting  in  Sunbury  and  the  vicinity,  where 
he  has  built  up  a  profitable  trade.  Mr.  Reitz's 
experience  as  a  tinsmith  aids  him  considerably 
in  his  present  line  of  work,  and  he  has  a  particular- 
ly   - I  reputation  as  a  reliable  roofer.     He  is  a 

Democrat  in  political  opinion,  but  not  active  in 
politics. 

[saac  J.  Reitz,  an  energetic  ami  enterprising 
citizen  of  Sunbury,  whose  various  business  inter- 
ests bring  him  into  contact  with  a  large  proportion 
of  the  residents  of  that  borough,  was  born  July  1, 
1863,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  this  county. 
He  spent  his  youth  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
where  he  attended  public  school,  and  when  eighteen 
commenced  to  learn  the  plumber's  trade  at  Sun- 
bury. where  he  has  followed  it  continuously  since. 
His  business  ha.-  extended  until  he  not  only  is 
fully  equipped  to  fill  plumbing  and  heating  con- 
tracts of  all  kinds,  but  also  does  a  large  business 
as  a  dealer  in  stoves  and  tinware,  carrying  the  larg- 
est and  most  complete  stock  of  tinware  in  the  town 
at  his  store.  No.  515  .Market  street.  He  has  always 
been  a  leader  in  the  plumbing  business,  and  in  that 
line  alone  e,ives  regular  employment  to  four  men, 
having  in  all  ten  men  employed  in  the  conduct  of 
his  various  branches  of  business.  He  has  the  local 
selling  agency  for  the  Mitchell  automobile,  his  ter- 
ritory covering  Northumberland,  Snyder.  Union 
and  Montour  counties,  and  in  this  connection  con- 
ducts a  garage  at  No.  i35  Market  street,  in  Sun- 
bury. Mr.  licit/  was  the  first  to  introduce  mov- 
ing pictures  in  Sunbury,  and  he  owns  and  con- 
duets  the  Lyric  theatre,  one  of  the  leading  estab- 
lishments id'  the  kind  in  the  borough,  which  he 
has  found  a  profitable  investment.  He  is  a  large 
owner  of  real  estate.  Mr.  Peitz  is  thorough  in  ev- 
erything lie  undertakes,  and  has  shown  himself 
progressive  in  every  line  of  work  he  has  entered. 
'['he  fact  that  he  engaged  in  the  moving  picture 
and  automobile  lines,  and  made  a  success  of  both, 
is  sufficient  evidence  that  he  has  an  intelligent 
comprehension  of  the  needs  of  the  day.  The  man- 
ner in  which  he  lias  developed  his  original  line  of 
business  would  he  a  credit  to  any  workman.  In 
both  mercantile  ami  mechanical  lines  he  has  fol- 
lowed its  possibilities  to  the  limits  of  usefulness 
and  convenience,  to  his  own  profit  and  the  benefit 
of  hi-  townspeople. 

Mr.  Eeitz  has  represented  the  Ninth  ward  in  the 
town  council,  and  is  a  Democrat  in  political  con- 
nection.    He   is  a   member  of  the  Elks  and  the 


Freemasons,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  22,  P.  &  A. 
M..  Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174,  It.  A.  M.. 
ami  Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K.  T., 

all  of  Sunbury:  and  to  Lodge  No.  237,  ]'..  P.  0. 
Elks,  also  of  Sunbury. 

On  June  1.  188V.  Mr.  Peitz  married  Annie 
Arnold,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  I  Keefer) 
Arnold,  of  Lower  Augusta  township.  They  have 
had  one  daughter,  Maud  May,  now  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Conrad,  a  clerk  in  the  Sunbury  National 
Bank.  Mr.  Peitz  and  his  family  arc  members  of 
the  Reformed  Church. 

KEARNEY.  This  is  a  name  which  ha-  been 
represented  in  Shamokin,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, since  1865,  when  Matthew  Kearney,  father  of 
the  brothers  Matthew  A.  and  William  E.  Kearney, 
both  of  whom  are  now  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness in  that  borough,  made  a  permanent  home 
there.  Though  he  died  but  a  few  years  later  he 
became  a  very  well  known  resident  of  the  place, 
and  his  son>  have  all  been  useful  and  successful 
citizens,  all  but  one  still  residing  in  Shamokin. 

The  Kearney  family  is  of  Irish  origin.  Patrick 
Kearney,  the  grandfather  of  Matthew  A.  and  Wil- 
liam E.  Kearney,  having  been  born  in  County 
Mayo,  Ireland.  Matthew  Kearney,  son  of  Patrick, 
was  Imrn  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  the 
early  part  of  1817  with  his  mother,  wife  and  three 
sisters.  He  first  located  in  Clintonville,  Mass.,  but 
soon  moved  to  the  anthracite  coal  regions  of  Penn- 
sylvania, living  for  a  time  in  Luzerne  county,  later 
in  Carbon  county,  and  in  1850  coming  to  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  made  his  home  at 
Trevorton  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1865  he 
removed  to  Shamokin.  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  hi-  days.  He  was  a  miner  and  con- 
tractor, driving  tunnels  in  connection  with  the 
minim:  of  coal,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being 
an  expert  in  thai  line,  having  driven  many  of  the 
large  tunnels  in  the  early  development  of  the  coal 
industry  in  the  vicinity  of  Shamokin.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  Ml.  Is7<).  he  was 
serving  as  tax  collector  of  Shamokin.  having  been 
elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Mr.  Kearney  married  Ann  Devitt,  who  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  March  25,  1889,  and 
they  are  buried  at  Shamokin.  They  had  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  survive:  Matthew 
A ;  William  E. ;  Daniel,  a  detective,  who  has  long 
been  connected  with  the  police  force  iu  Chicago, 
111.:  Annie,  wife  of  J.  F.  McLaughlin,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa.:  James  J.,  attorney  at  law.  of  Sham- 
okin: and  Bridget,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Matthew  A.  Keakxey,  son  of  Matthew  and 
Ann  (Devitt)  Kearney,  was  burn  Aug.  1!».  1856, 
at  Trevorton.  Northumberland  county.  He  re- 
I  his  education  in  the  school.-  of  Coal  town- 
ship. When  a  boy  he  commenced  work  as  a  slate 
picker  at  the  breaker,  in  time  becoming  a  miner. 


590 


\"( MM' BUMBERLAXD  C<  H'NTY.   l'KN  N sv IA'A N  1 A 


and  lie  worked  as  such  in  the  collieries  about  Sham- 
okin  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  lias  since 
been  interested  in  the  hotel  business  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  three  years  during  which  he  lived 
ed.  Bis  first  venture  in  this  line  was  the 
"Keystone  Bo  -  ."  which  lie  conducted  for  - 
time,  later  becoming  proprietor  of  Kearney's  Cafe. 
■  hi  independence  street,  Shamokin,  opposite  the 
Philadelphia  &  Heading  railroad  Btation.  He 
ran  this  establishment  for  four  years,  after  which 
he  lived  retired  for  three  years,  in  July,  1908,  be- 

ag  proprietor  of  the  "Exchange  Hotel."  « 
he  still  conducts,  togetlier  with  an  excellent  cafe, 
hotel  enjoys  a  large  patronage,  which  under 
Mr.    Keart       ■  nenl    has    widened    to    an 

appreciable  degree.  Be  has  thirty-five  room-,  and 
the  house  is  well  equipped,  to  cater  to  those  who 
value  comfort  and  good  service.  Mr.  Kearni 
the  disposition  necessary  to  success  as  a  hotel  land- 
lord, anticipating  the  wants  of  his  guests  and  be- 
ing >mosl  accommodating  in  supplying  them.  Be 
is  affable  and  courteous  in  his  i  eal  rigs  with  his 
guests  and  thoroughly  business-like  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  their  well-being.  Be  is  a  Democrat,  a 
member  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic  Church,  of  the 
3  '■•'kin  Lodge  of  Elks  and  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of   II  iliernians. 

In  1890  Mr.  Kearney  married  Ellen  Mose  . 
daughter  of  Benn  Moser,  of  Philadelphia,  who  fol- 
lowed a  seafaring  life:  he  was  a  member  of  the 
VI  r  family  that  had  valuable  land  holdings  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kearney  have  had  three  children:  Loretta,  horn 
in  189->:  Matthew,  horn  in  1894;  and  Lillian,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

\Yii.uam    E.    Keakxet,    son    of    Matthew    and 

Ann  (Devitt)  Kearney,  was  horn  Jan.  11.  1859,  in 

Trevorton.  Northumberland  county.     He  received 

education  in  the  public  schools  of  Shamokin, 

and   for  several  years  after  commencing  work  was 

»ed  at  the  mine-,  beginning  as  a  slate  picker 

and  rising  through  the  various  positions  until  he 

_ed  miner,  in  which  capacity  he 

for  two  years.     He  was  not  content, 

however,  and   in   August,    1881,  he  went   to   New 

York  City  in  the  hope  of  finding  more  congenial 

employ  ment.     Be  - i  became  an  apprent  i<  i  .it  the 

barber's  trade,  which  he  not  only  learned  in  all 
the  ordinary  branches  but  also  that  of  hair  dress- 
ing, as  well   as  the   manufacture  of  hair  jewelry. 

p;s,  etc.  After  two  years  in  New  York  City  he 
returned  to  Shamokin.  where  he  started  in  the 
business  on  his' own  account,  conducting  a  large 
hair  dressing  establishment  and  also  making  wigs 
and  all  kinds  of  hair  jewelry  and  ornamental  work. 
Be  built  up  a  large  trade,  having  a  reputation  for 
supei  ioT  and  conscientious  work  which  brought  him 
a    mo  table    patronagi        Meantime,    as    he 

prospered,  he  acquired  large  real  estate  interests 
in  the  borough  of  Shamokin  and  the  surrounding 


iborhood  of  Coal  township,  and  he  has  dealt 

ly  in  real  estate  in  this  Locality  on  his  own  ac- 
count and  in  the  interest  of  other-.  In  the  fall  of 
1898  he  was  awarded  the  contract  by  the  borough 
of  Shamokin  for  the  paving  of  Independence  street, 
its  principal  thoroughfare,  the  contract  amounting 
to  about  twenty  thousand  dollars.  In  March.  188 
Mr.  Kearney  and  his  brother  Matthew,  in  assoi 
ation  with  \V.  E.  Deibert,  organized  the  Shamokin 
Lock  &  Novelty  Manufacturing  Company,  a  con- 
cern which  has  had  a  most  prosperous  existence. 
In  1905  Mr.  Kearney  purchased  the  "Edgewood 
Botel,"  in  Shamokin.  which  has  since  enjoyed  a 
large  patronage,  and  in  L909  he  leased  and  opened 

'Loraine  Bote!,"  at  the  corner  of  Spruce  and 
Market  streets,  in  the  same  borough.  His  suc- 
cess ui  this  line  ha-  been  gratifying,  and  since  he 
has  had  both  establishments  he  ha-  had  special  fa- 
cilities for  catering  to  the  comfort  of  hi-  guests, 
who  appreciate  his  obliging  service  and  -how  their 
appreciation   by  their  continued   support. 

In  1909  Mr.  Kearney  entered  into  a  new  branch 
of  business,  one  entirely  different  from  anything 
else  he  had  undertaken,  hut  in  which  he  has  met 
with  the  same  success  which  has  attended  his  pre- 
vious enterprises.     He  began  the  growing  of  mush- 

-.    io   the   cultivation    of   which    he    now    lias 
about  6,000  feet  of  -round  devoted,  finding  a 
demand    for    hi-   output    in    the    Philadelphia    ami 
New  York  Citv  market-  as  well   as  a   good   local 
trade. 

As  may  he  judged  from  a  mere  mention  of  the 
various  lines  in  which  he  has  been  interested.  Mr. 
Kearney  has  always  been  a  very  busy  and  enter- 
an,  for  he  has  worked  industriously  and 
intelligently  to  make  his  undertakings  successful. 
ami   :  ded.     Moreover,  he  has  found  time 

i"  interest  himself  in  politics  and  public  affairs. 
having    long    been   an   enthusiastic   worker   in   the 

1       icratic  party,  taking  active  part  in  local.  S 
and  national  conventions,  and  serving  n-  deli  . 
in  the  convention  which  nominated  Jenks  for  s 
ernor  of  Pennsylvania  and  as  alternate  to  the  con- 
vention which  nominated  Polk  for  Congress.     In 
1890  Mr.  Kearney  was  elected  justice  of  the  pi 
in  which  office       -         I  two  successive  terms,  until 

<»n  April  'is.  1892,  Mr.  Kearney  married  Mar- 
garet Sweeney,  and  to  their  Union  have  been  born 
live  children:     Matthew  Wilfred  A.:  Daniel  Wi 
ster:  Mary  Margaret  Adela;  Louise,  and  Loraine. 

FKANK   11.  STROUSS,  attorney  at  law.  a  citi- 

ol    the   I ugh   of   Mount    Carmel,  was  born 

there  Feb.  '.'1.  1878,  - if  Solomon  Strouss.    The 

Strouss  family  has  been  settled  in  this  section  of 
Pennsylvania  since  the  time  of  his  great-grand- 
father, Jacob  Strouss,  who  was  horn  near  Strouds- 
burg,  Monroe  county,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Mon- 
tour  county,    settling    about    two   miles    from   the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


591 


town  of  Exchange.  He  was  a  millwright,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  sonic  time,  but  farming  was 
his  principal  occupation  in  this  region,  and  he  be- 
came very  prosperous,  owning  three  farms.  He 
lived  retired  many  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  March,  L868,  when  he  was  ninety-two 
years  old.  His  wife  was  Catherine  Newhart,  and 
they  arc  buried  at  Turbutville,  Northumberland 
county.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Charles, 
David,   Jonathan,    Levi,    Aaron,    Annie    (married 

Henry     si pi     and     Rebecca     (married     Jacob 

Springer). 

Jonathan  Strouss,  son  of  Jacob,  born  in  1816, 
lived  in  Montour  county,  for  some  time  at  Comly. 
By  oci  upal  ion  he  «  as  a  farmer.  He  died  at  ( !om- 
ly  Oct.  9,  1888,  aged  seventy-two  year-,  seven 
months,  and  lus  wife,  Sarah  Truckenmiller,  hum 
in  1818,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Man 
(Schwartz)  Truckenmiller,  passed  away  Sept.  6, 
1902,  aged  eighty-four  years,  nine  months,  twenty- 
six  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strouss  are  buried  at  Tur- 
butville, this  county.  Their  children  were:  Ja- 
cob Henry  married  Esther  Reedy  and  they  live  at 
Muncy;  David  is  In  mil;  at  Muncy;  Solomon  is 
mentioned  below;  John  E.  married  Martha  Cal- 
I  ins :  Mary  married  John  Koons. 

Solomon  Strouss  was  horn  in  Lewi-  township. 
Northumberland  county,  in  1845.  He  received 
only  a  common  school  education  and  learned  the 
butcher's  trade,  which  lie  followed  ahoul  three 
rears  al  Mounf  Carmel.  His  nexl  employment 
was  as  shipping  clei  k  at  the  Alaska  collier; .  ami  he 
was  later  at  the  Reliance,  remaining  in  the  employ 
of  the  Reading  Company  aboul  twenty-eight  years, 
during  which  long  service  he  became  one  of  the 
trusted  men.  He  died  in  1909  and  is  buried  at 
the  Alaska  cemetery.  Mr.  Strouss  married  Chris- 
tian Reinard,  of  Mount  Carmel,  where  she  still 
resides.  They  had  the  following  children:  Frank 
II..  Ida  M.-,  Carrie  G.  ami  Grorer  Shindel. 

Frank  II.  Strouss  is  a  -elf-made  man.  having 
gained  In-  education  ami  attained  his  present 
standing  through  his  own  efforts.  Beginning  as 
a  .-late  picker  at  the  collieries,  he  continued  his 
studies  in  the  local  schools  and  graduated  at  the 
Mount  Carmel  high  school  in  1896,  after  which 
he  entered  Dickinson  Law  School,  at  Carlisle, 
where  he  wa-  graduated  in  1898,  with  the  degree 
of  LL.  B.  He  al-o  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
\ 'ni  i-  Aiiten.  at  Mount  Carmel.  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Northumberland  county  Dee.  I.  1900, 
and  to  practice  m  the  Superior  court  dan.  5,  1903. 
On  dan.  1.  1903,  he  began  his  practice  at  Mount 
Carmel  m  the  1'.  O.  S.  of  A.  building,  where  he  is 
still  located.  I  inline'  hjs  school  and  college  days 
Mr.  Sti'oti-s  continued  to  work  at  the  collieries  at 
different  time-  until  1900,  from  which  time  until 
L903  lie  was  in  the  prothonotary's  office  at  Sun- 
luirv.  He  ha-  obtained  a  most  creditable  clientele 
in  the  locality,  served  a-  solicitor  of  Mount  Carmel 


borough  in  1908,  ami  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his 
friends  and  fellow  citizen-  generally,  his.  success 
heme'  recognized  as  the  well  earned  reward  of  earn- 
est endeavor  and  conscientious  devotion  to  duty. 
Mr.  Strouss  man  led  Gertrude  Morse,  daughter 
of  George,  of  Mount  Carmel,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Carleton  M.,  horn  Sept.  30,  1906.  Socially 
Mr.  Strouss  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  378,  F.  & 
A.  M..  of  Mount  Carmel.  of  the  F.  0.  E.,  and  of 
the  Bar  Association.  In  religion  he  is  a  Luth- 
eran, and  in  politics  a  Democrat,  quite  active  in 
his  partj . 

CHARLES  A.  BARRON,  who  lias  been  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Shamokin  suae 
1883,  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  his  line  in 
that  part  of  Northumberland  county.  His  trade 
is  large  and  well  established  and  Ins  reputation 
a-  a  druggist  and  in  a  business  way  is  of  the  high- 
est. 

Mr.  Barron  wa-  horn  June  22-,  1855,  at  Potts- 
\ille.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  -on  of  Daniel  Barron. 
Hi-  paternal  grandfather  brought  his  family  from 
France  to  America  and  settled  in  Pine  valley,  near 
Hegins,   Schuylkill   county.     There   he  died. 

Daniel  Barron  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents. He  became  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  ami  while 
living  at  Pottsville  engaged  in  wagonmaking, 
gaining  considerable  fame  and  success  in  that  line. 
Later  he  settled  at  Elysburg,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  followed  farming  as  well  as  gen- 
eral blacksmithing,  prospering  by  industry,  con- 
tinued to  the  end  of  hi-  active  days.  He  served 
as  captain  of  a  military  company  of  Schuylkill 
county.  Mr.  Barron  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mr-.  Kelley, 
ami  his  wife.  Margaret,  died  dan.  1.  1893,  aged 
sixty-nine  years,  ten  months,  eighi  days:  they  are 
Hiried  at  Reed's  church.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  Theodore  F..  who  is  in  the  insurance  and 
real  estate  business  at  Ashland.  Pa.:  Curtis  II. . 
who  went  West  when  a  young  man  and  i-  now  liv- 
ing in  South  Dakota,  practicing  as  an  attorney  at 
law;  Clara  E.,  wife  of  William  Krause;  Charles 
A.:   and    Mrs.    Kellev.   wife   of    Dr.   .1.   J.    Kelley. 

Charles  A.  Barron  attended  public  school  at 
Elysburg  and  in  1872  came  to  Shamokin,  where 
I,,,  has  i  ontinued  to  make  his  home  to  the  present 
time,  lie  began  work  a-  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of 
the  late  William  R.  Kutzner,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained eleven  years,  until  1m  went  int..  business 
for  himself.  In  September,  1883,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Dr.  Robins  and  Dr.  Weaver,  the 
linn  being  known  as  C.  A.  Barron  &  Co.  This 
association   lasted   for  nine  years,  when  the   firm 

beca Barron    &    Robbins,   continuing   as   such 

until  L908,  when  Mr.  Barron  became  sole  pror 
ir.  His  well  known  store  is  at  No.  610  North 
Shamokin  street.  Mr.  P.arron  is  a  director  of  the 
Shamokin  Banking  <  'ompany. 


592 


ISiOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,   L'KWSYLVANIA 


On  May  1.  1882,  Air.  Barron  married  Mary  E. 
Jones,  daughter  of  the  late  Enoch  Jones,  and  a 
member  of  a  family  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  Shamokin.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union:  Howard  Curtis,  an  attorney  at  law. 
now  located  at  Wheeling,  W".  Va. :  Charles  A.,  Jr.. 
a  druggist,  who  is  with  his  father:  and  Euth  Eliza- 
beth. 

Air.  Barron  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  355.  B. 
P.  0.  Elks,  of  Shamokin.  and  of  the  following  Ala- 
sonic  bodies:  Shamokin  Lodge,  Xo.  '255.  P.  £  A. 
AI. :  Shamokin  Chapter.  No.  264,  B.  A.  AI. : 
Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  TT.  K.  T. ;  and  Eajah 
Temple.  A.  A.  <».  \.  M.  S.,  of  Beading. 

AMOS  K.  DEIBLEE,  district  attorney  of 
•Northumberland  county,  has  been  engaged  in  legal 
practice  at  Shamokin  since  1902.  and  was  elected 
to  his  preseni  position  in  1907.  Air.  Deibler  was 
born  Feb.  11,  1869,  in  Shamokin  township,  this 
county,  where  his  grandfather.  George  Deibler, 
was  a  pioneer  settler. 

George  Deibler  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county  about 
1812,  locating  in  Shamokin  township,  where  he 
purchased  land  in  1813  and  followed  farming  the 
remainder  of  his  active  days.  He  was  one  of  the 
substantial  and  respected  residents  of  his  section, 
and  Deiblers  Station,  in  Shamokin  township,  was 
named  for  him.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Bastian,  are  buried  at  the  Brick  Church. 

at   R I's  Station.     They  had  children  as  follows: 

Daniel,  William.  Jonathan.  John.  George,  Susan, 
Hannah.  Bebecca,  Harriet  and  Catharine. 

John  Deibler,  sou  of  George,  was  horn  in 
Shamokin  township  in  1836.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  -tone  ami  brick  mason,  which  he  followed 
until  he  was  about  forty  years  old,  after  which 
he  devoted  himself  to  farming,  on  property  he 
still  owns,  about  a  half  mile  south  of  Deib 
station.  He  retired  in  the  year  1903.  moving  to 
Snydertown,  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  Air. 
Deibler  has  long  been  a  stanch  Eepublican  in  po- 
litical sentiment,  and  he  served  the  Union  as  a 
soldier  during  the  Civil  war.  He  was  township 
treasurer  before  his  removal  to  Snydertown.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Reed),  daughter  of 
John  I.  and  Sarah  (Arter)  Reed,  have  been  born 
nine  children,  namely:  Grant,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Almeda.  married  to  Frank  Wighington, 
of  Snydertown :  Amos  K. :  William  F..  who  is  now 
superintendent  of  boiler  works  at  San  Francisco, 
Cal. :  John  F..  a  contractor  and  builder,  of  South 
Carolina:  H.  S.,  living  in  Sunbury.  this  county; 
Thomas  J.,  of  Snydertown;  George  W.,  and  Agnes. 
The  two  last  named  are  still  living  with  their 
parents. 

Amos  K.  Deibler  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality.  Later 
he  attended  Bucknell  University,  from  which  he 


was  graduated  in  1899,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
and  for  a  year  after  he  taught  the  high  school 
at  Turhutville,  meantime  reading  law  with  C.  B. 
Witmer,  Esq.,  at  Sunbury.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  June,  1902,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
established  himself  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin. 
Eis  offices  are  in  the  Masonic  Temple  building. 
At  the  election  held  Nov.  7,  1!"':.  Air.  Deibler  was 
chosen  to  if  district  attorney  by  a  ma- 
jority of  2,265,  and  had  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  successful  Eepublican  candidate  for  the 
office  in  thirty-sis  years.  This  circumstance  alone 
would  indicate  the  measure  of  his  popularity  and 
mfidence  in  which  he  is  held  by  those  among 
whom  he  is  pursuing  his  life  work. 

Air.  Deibler  is  very  well  known  in  the  fraternal 
bodies  in  Shamokin.  holding  membership  in  Sham- 
okin Lodge.  No.  255,  Y.  X  A.  AI.:  Shamokin 
Chapter,  No.  265,  R.  A.  AI.:  in  Bloomsburg  Con- 
sistory,  thirty-second  degree:  in  the  Temple  Club; 
the  I.  <».  O.  F. :  the  Red  Men;  the  Sons  of  Veter- 
an-: the  Y.  0.  K.:  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  His 
religious  connection  is  with  the  Alethodist  church. 

On  April  24,  1901,  Air.  Deibler  married  Ella 
Farrow,  daughter  of  William  and  Isabella  (Wil- 
kensoD  I  I  at  row,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter,. 
I  sabella. 

SAMUEL  H.  EUTHEAU FF.  one  of  the  leading 
contractors  of  Sunbury,  Northumberland  count}', 
lias  been  a  resident  of  that  borough  since  1882. 
II,  began  business  on  his  own  account  in  1894,  and 
has  been  identified  with,  a  number  of  important 
buildi)  s  ■  rations,  his  work  standing  the  tests 
for  substantial  and  reliable  construction.  Air. 
Ruthrauff  was  horn  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  on 
Little  Buffalo  creek.  Oct.  12,  1845,  and  is  a  son 
of  Daniel  Ruthrauff  and  grandson  of  Henry  Ruth- 
rauff. 

Henry  Ruthrauff  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania 
Sept.  11.  1767,  and  spent  his  earlier  life  in  his 
native  State.  Going  to  Baltimore.  Aid.,  he 
learned  shipbuilding,  and  continued  to  live  there' 
until  about  1795,  when  he  settled  in  Union  county. 
Pa.,  at  the  junction  of  Little  Buffalo  and  Big 
Buffalo  creeks.  He  moved  from  Baltimore  by 
wagon,  and  was  considered  a  wealthy  man  in  his 
day.  having  two  "•kegs"'  full  of  gold  money  when 
he  came  into  this  region.  He  had  a  tract  of  about 
three  hundred  acres  in  White  Deer  township,  and' 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  district.  He 
followed  farming  the  remainder  of  his  life,  cleared 
all  his  land,  built  a  barn  on  his  place,  and  about 
1815  put  up  a  frame  house  thereon,  which  is  still 
standing  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  Air. 
Ruthrauff  died  June  3.  1824,  quite  suddenly, 
while  engaged  in  hewing  a  watering  trough  out 
of  a  log.  His  wife,  Alagdeline  Eenninger,  a  native 
of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  born  May  20,  1768, 
died  June   5.   1838,   and   they  are  buried  at   oldi 


I 


I  Till      ' 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


593 


White  Deer  Church.  Ee  was  a  Lutheran,  a  mem- 
ber and  supporter  of  White  Deer  Church,  and  a 
strict  man  in  his  own  life  and  in  the  discipline 
i'l'  his  children.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  a  family  of  fourteen,  several  of  whom  died 
young,  of  smallpox,  and  were  buried  in  the  garden 
near  the  home.  We  have  record  of  the  following : 
Elizabeth  married  John  High;  Henry  married 
Elizabeth  Seibert,  and  after  living  for  a  time  in 
Union  county  they  moved  to  Seneca  Falls,  where 
he  died;  Sallie  married  William  Dieffenbaeher, 
and  they  lived  near  Salladasburg,  Pa.:  David 
lived  m  New  York  State;  Samuel  'married  a  Miss 
Pontius  and  they  lived  near  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y. : 
Nancy  married  Jacob  Buser  and  they  moved  to 
Warren,  111.  (she  lived  to  be  ninety-three  years, 
six  months  old):  Solomon  married  Lydia  Mill- 
house  and  moved  out  to  Freeport,  111.,  where  he 
accumulated  a  large  fortune;  Hannah  married 
George  Matthews,  and  they  lived  and  died  at 
Canoga,  N.  Y. ;  Daniel  was  the  father  of  Samuel 
H.  Ruthrauff. 

Daniel  Ruthrauff  was  born  May  29,  1813,  in 
Union  county,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  becoming  a  skillful  woodworker. 
He  had  an  inventive  mind  and  possessed  mechani- 
cal genius  of  a  high  order  and  a  good  intellect. 
Inn  he  never  developed  his  abilities  to  any  extent 
or  made  great  profits  out  of  his  undoubted  talents, 
lie  invented  the  fly  net  cutting  machine,  and  hav- 
ing shown  it  to  a  family  who  foresaw  its  possi- 
bilities was  asked  to  let  them  keep  it  a  few  days. 
They  stole  the  invention,  had  it  patented,  and  be- 
came rich  in  its  manufacture.  Mr.  Ruthrauff  was 
a  useful  citizen,  taking  an  intelligent  interest  in 
all  the  affairs  of  his  day,  in  which  he  was  some- 
thing of  a  leader,  being  a  lieutenant  of  the  Mc- 
Ewensville  Light  Horse  Cavalry  in  its  palmiest 
days,  and  the  last  captain  of  the  old  State  militia. 
He  was  courageous,  patriotic  and  public-spirited, 
a  man  who  held  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 
In  his  earlier  life  a  Whig,  he  became  a  Republican 
upon  the  organization  of  the  new  party,  and  in 
religion  he.  was  a  Methodist.  lie  served  many 
years  as  school  director  of  White  Deer  township. 
Mr.  Ruthrauff  married  Judith  Ann  High,  who 
was  horn  Jan.  6,  1815,  daughter  of  Samuel  High, 
and  died  Nov.  21,  1902,  on  the  sixty-third  anni- 
versary of  her  marriage.  Mr.  Ruthrauff  died 
Nov.  '::,  1876,  and  they  arc  buried  at  Pomfret 
Manor  cemetery,  Sunbury.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  William  IT.  IT.  died  in  infancy; 
Mary  C.  married  Joseph  Nieklin  (he  was  cap- 
tured while  serving  in  the  Confederate  army  and 
taken  to  Elmira,  where  he  remained  until  ex- 
changed, after  which  he  fought  in  a  New  York 
regiment)  :  Samuel  II.  is  mentioned  below:  David 
L.°died  when  four  years  old  :  Annie  married  John 
W.  Hummer  and  lived  in  Rush  township,  North- 
umberland county  (she  died  July  It;.  1886,  the 
38 


mother  of  Mother  L.,  Dora  A.,  M.  Alibi,-.  Morris 
ami  Virginia)  :  Daniel  R.,  who  is  now  an  invalid. 
In  ing  in  Sunbury,  married  Sarah  Dock,  of  Snyder 
county,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Ida  L. ;  Didama 
I',  is  unmarried. 

Samuel  II.  Ruthrauff  was  born  and  reared  on 
the  old  Ruthrauff  homestead  and  received  his 
education  in  the  country  schools  of  the  locality. 
Me  "as  trained  to  carpentry  from  early  boyhood, 
and  when  twenty  years  old  began  to  follow  it  as  a 
journeyman,  in  the  oil  regions  in  Yenango  county, 
this  State.  In  1882  he  came  to  Sunbury  and  be- 
i  nine  foreman  for  George  Keifer.  contractor,  for 
whom  he  worked  a  number  of  years,  in  189T  be- 
ginning to  take  contracts  on  his  own  account. 
Since  that  time  he  has  filled  many  important  con- 
tracts. Hi'  has  built  the  two  United  Evangelical 
churches;  the  Catholic  church  and  rectory;  the 
A.  W.  Pontius  store  and  residence:  the  fine  resi- 
dences of  the  two  members  of  the  firm  of  Blank 
A  flottshall;  two  of  the  leading  school  buildings 
of  the  borough — the  Lloyd  T.  Rohrbach  building 
(1909),  and  the  Francis  E.  Drumheller  building 
(1910),  said  to  be  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
i he  eastern  part  of  the  State:  and  many  other 
structures — about  four  hundred  all  told.  While 
in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Keffer  he  worked  all  over 
the  State,  but  his  work  has  been  principally  in 
Sunbury  since  he  began  business  for  himself.  lie 
is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  energetic  busi- 
ness men  in  the  borough,  thoroughly  up-to-date 
in  his  line,  in  which  he  is  considered  a  most  reliable 
authority.  He  served  nine  years  as  a  member  of 
the  council  from  the  Eighth  ward,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  street  committee  three  years,  a  posi- 
tion for  which  he  proved  himself  highly  qualified. 
Mr.  Ruthrauff  has  had  a  most  successful  career, 
ami  his  prosperity  has  been  brought  about  by  (he 
most  honorable  methods  and  creditable  trans- 
actions, gaining  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  patrons  and  all  who  know  him. 

On  Dec.  23,  1S75,  Mr.  Ruthrauff  married  Lydia 
Hummer,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hummer  (who  came 
from  New  Jersey)  and  sister  of  John  W.  Hummer. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruthrauff 
worship  at  the  Methodist  Church,  and  socially  he 
belongs  to  Lodge  No.  96,  B.  P.  0.  E..  Lodge" No. 
620,  I.  <).  <>.  F..  and  the  Knights  of  Malta 
(charier  member),  all  of  Sunbury.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican.  His  home  is  at  No.  l^l  Cala- 
n  issa  avenu 


Rev.  John  F.  Ruthrauff  (brother  of  Henry 
Ruthrauff,  mentioned  above  as  grandfather  of  Sam- 
uel II.  Ruthrauff,  of  Sunbury)  was  a  pioneer  mis- 
sionary minister  and  head  of  a  famous  family  of 
American  Lutheran  pastors,  bis  sons  Frederick  and 
Jonathan  becoming  eminent  preachers  (the  former 
serving  congregations  in  southeastern  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland  for  nearlv  forty  years,  and  the  latter 


-VI) 


NTORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY.   PEXXSYLYAXIA 


serving  for  twenty-five  years),  and  Tiis  grandson 
William  P.  filling  important  pulpits  in  Ohio  and 
Indiana  :  his  great-grandson,  Rev.  J.  M.  Ruthrauff, 
D.  !>..  was  the  honored  president  of  Carthage  and 
Wittenberg  Colleges. 

John  F.  Ruthrauff  was  bom  dan.  14.  1764,  in 
Northampton  county.  Pa.,  and  his  parents  were 
pious  German  immigrants  who  early  impressed  him 
with  religious  truths.  He  did  not  commence  his 
regular  theological  training,  however,  until  1790, 
and  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in  1793.  During 
the  nexl  two  years  he  had  charge  of  several 
churches  in  York  county,  and  subsequently  preach- 
ed for  a  season  at  Carlisle.  His  biographer  tells 
ns  that  in  June,  1795,  "he  received  and  accepted  a 
call  for  the  Green  Castle  congregation  and  several 
others,  in  some  of  which  he  labored  upwards  oi 
forty  year-."  His  charge  embraced  McConnells- 
burg,  Loudon,  Mercersburg,  Waynesboro,  Quiney, 
Smoketown,  Jacob's  Church  and  several  in  Wash- 
ington county,    Md.      He    also    preached    in  the 

neighborh 1  of  Emmitsburg,  Md..  and  for  a  time 

at  Chambersburg,  and  continued  to  supply  the 
congregation  at  Carlisle  and  another  about  twelve 
miles  from  Harrisburg.  This  was  distant  from 
his  home  about  fifty  miles,  and  he  made  the 
journey  once  every  month.  S e  of  his  congre- 
gations were  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  apart,  and  a 
high  mountain  separated  two  of  the  churches  he 
had  to  serve  on  the  same  Sabbath.  As  soon  as  he 
left  the  pulpit  he  mounted  his  horse,  with  his  din- 
ner in  his  hand,  that  he  might  be  able  to  meet  the 
second  appointment  of  the  day.  ITe  had  a  vigorous 
constitution  and  great  powers  of  endurance,  so 
that  he  was  well  fitted  for  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sionary pioneer.  A  score  or  more  ministers  a  i 
now  engaged  in  serving  the 'field  which  Mr.  Ruth- 
rauff then  occupied  alone.  This  devoted  servant 
of  the  Master  continued  his  labors  as  pastor  until 
the  year  before  his  death.  He  died  Dec.  is.  1837, 
in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age.  His  Last 
words  were  "Victory,  victory,  the  Lord  is  here." 

—The  above  i-  taken  from  the  '"Lutheran  Woman's 

Work,"  September,  1909. 

MARK  L.  SWAB,  of  Sunbury,  deputy  county 
treasurer  of  Xorthumberland  county,  lias  been 
serving  in  his  present  position  since  Jan.  1.  1909, 
under  Treasurer  William  M.  Lloyd.  Previously 
lie  had  made  a  high  reputation  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness and  ranked  among  the  most  progressive  and 
successful  young  business  men  of  the  borough, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1902.  Mr.  Swab  is  a 
native  of  Dauphin  count}',  Pa.,  horn  dan.  is,  is.sn. 
at  Elizabethville,  and  comes  of  an  old  family  of 
that  section  whose  members  have  occupied  high 
place  in  business  and  political  circles  for  many 
\  ears. 

Eli  Swab,  son  of  John  Jacob  Swab  and  -rand- 
father  of  Mark   L.   Swab,   took  a   very  prominent 


part  in  the  affairs  of  Dauphin  county.  He  served 
several  terms  as  county  commissioner  and  was 
known  as  Republican  leader  of  the  upper  end  of 
the  county.  One  of  his  sons.  Philip  C.  Swab, 
tilled  the  office  of  register  and  recorder  for  two 
terms  and  was  otherwise  identified  with  public 
matters  in  Dauphin  county  during  his  residence 
there.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Hartranft, 
Tenn..  where  he  became  interested  in  the  coal  and 
mining  business,  In-  -on.  Daniel  ('.  Swab,  becom- 
ing hi-  associate  in  that  line.  The  latter  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  attained  an  eminent  posi- 
tion, being  now  Stat'-  senator  from  Tennessee. 

Allen  Swab,  son  of  Eli,  was  bom  March  17, 
1845.  lie  i-  a  prominent  citizen  of  Elizabethville, 
Dauphin  county,  and  connected  with  some  of  the 
most  important  industrial  and  financial  institu- 
tions of  hi-  region,  being  treasurer  of  tin'  Eagle 
Tannin-  Company,  of  Elizabethville,  ami  a  direc- 
tor of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Millersburg, 
that  county.  He  was  formerly  president  of  the 
Lykens  Valley  Hank  of  Elizabethville.  He  is  a 
large  owner  of  real  estate,  his  holdings  including 
part  of  the  original  Swab  homestead  in  the  Lykens 
\alley.  in  Dauphin  county,  upon  which  the  pioneer 
of  the  family  in  that  section.  Jacob  Schwab,  lo- 
cated about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  coming 
from  Reading,  Berl  -  county.  Mr.  Swab  owns  100 
acre-  of  the  homestead  place,  which  was  a  tract 
of  '.Ml  acres,  for  which  hi-  ancestor  paid  nine 
hundred  pounds  in  English  money.  He  i>  a  man 
of  proved  ability,  conservative  but  progressive, 
one  who  holds  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi  ens 
ami  is  looked  upon  as  a  substantial  and  reliable 
member  of  the  community  in  every  respect,  lie 
i-  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  a  number  of 
local  public  offii  i  - 

Mr.  Swab  married  Ann  Eliza  Lehman,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Dinah  (Koppenhaver)  Lehman. 
the  former  a  farmer  id'  Mifflin  township.  Dauphin 
county,  and  they  have  had  three  children:  Laura 
M.,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  W.  Penn 
Barr,  of  Weatherly,  ( larbon  ( lo.,  Pa. ;  Elenora,  mar- 
ried to  I.  W.  Matter  ami  living  in  West  Fairview, 
Cumberland  Co..  Pa.;  and  Mark  L. 

Mark  L.  Swab  lived  on  the  old  Swab  homestead 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  and  received  his 
early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Eliza- 
bethville. lie  subsequently  entered  the  University 
of  Philadelphia,  where  he  took  the  business  course. 
graduating  in  1899,  and  was  later  a  student  at  the 
Banks  Business  College  in  Philadelphia.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Swab  was  in  the  employ  of  the  United 
States  Express  Company  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  as 
billing  clerk,  and  for  three  years  after  completing 
his  commercial  training  he  was  with  the  Eagle 
Tannin^  Company  at  Elizabethville,  as  secretary. 
Selling  out  his  interests  in  that  concern,  he  came 
to  Sunbury  in  1902,  and  for  about  a  year  there- 
after was  engaged  bv  the  Susquehanna  Silk-   Mill 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


595 


as  bookkeeper.  He  thru  entered  the  milling  busi- 
ness, leasing  the  historic  old  Haas  mill,  which  he 
conducted  for  a  period  of  five  and  a  half  years  as 
the  Sunbury  Roller  .Mills,  making  a  decided  suc- 
cess of  the  venture.  This  mill  was  built  in  is:;; 
li\  McCarty  &  Davis,  in  the  extreme  eastern  end 
of   Sunbury  near  Shamokin  creek,  near  the  site 

where,    before    1 ; i  I.   si I    the   first    mill   erected 

within  the  presenl  limits  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. It  is  a  substantial  brick  structure,  and  the 
milling  was  done  originally,  perforce,  by  water 
power.  The  equipment  was  changed  from  time  to 
time  to  keep  up  with  the  progress  of  the  day,  and 
in  ls.s",  was  remodeled  to  a  modern  system.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Swjab's  ownership  il  had  all  facilities 
necessary  for  an  up-to-date  flour  mill,  and  the 
capacity  was  -i\iv  barrels  daily.  His  product  had 
a  high  reputation  ami  was  iii  steady  demand. 

Mr.  Swab,  like  most  of  his  family,  has  been 
active  in  politics,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
hieal  leaders  of  the  party,  for  which  he  has  worked 
faithfully  in  many  contests.  He  served  two  years 
as  member  of  the  borough  council  of  Sunbury.  and 
durum'  his  second  year  was  president  of  that  body, 
being  chosen  to  that  honorable  position  after  a 
fierce  fight  between  the  two  factions.  He  is  at 
present  giving  Ins  energies  to  the  duties  of  deputy 
county  treasurer.  Mr.  Swab  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  young  men  in  Sunbury.  well  known  so- 
cially as  well  as  in  business  and  official  circles.  He 
is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sun- 
burn :  Northumberland  chapter.  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.; 
Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K.  T.; 
Lodge  No.  267,  I'..  P.  0.  Elks.  Sunbury;  and  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen.  He  and  his  family  belong 
to  the  Lutheran  Church. 

On  .May  25,  1904;  Mr.  Swab  married  Kate  A. 
M.  Stanley,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  G.  Stanley,  of 
Lykens,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter, 
Arlene  May. 

GEORGE  <>.  ROBERTS,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Sham- 
okin. practicing  dentist  ami  secretary  of  the  Sham- 
okin Dental  Protective  Society,  is  well  known  to 
the  public  and  the  profession  in  his  chosen  line  of 
work.      He   has    been    located    in    Shamokin    since 

1901. 

Dr.  Roberts  was  born  Nov.  13,  1868,  at  Savan- 
uah,  Ga.,  where  hi-  lather  and  grandfather  lived 
and  died.  Henry  Roberts,  his  father,  was  a  well 
known  business  man  of  Savannah,  being  the  lead- 
ing spirit  of  the  Savannah  Brick  Manufacturing 
Company;  the  grandfather  was  also  a  brick  manu- 
facturer. Ilenrv  Roberts  died  in  September,  1901, 
al  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  wife.  Mary 
(  Puder),  a  native  id'  New  Orleans,  La.,  still  makes 
her  home  in  Savannah.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts 
had  six  children:  William  II..  who  is  now  in  .You 
Fork;  George  <>. :  Lottie,  wife  of  Dr.  E.  H. 
Rawles,  living  in  North  Dakota:  Ada.  wife  of  W. 


('.  Gugel,  id'  Mobile,  Ala.:  Nellie,  Mrs.  Kahler.  of 
Jacksonville,   l-'la.:  and  Josephine,  at  home. 

George  (>.  Roberts  received  bis  preparatory 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city.  For  his 
professional  training  he  went  to  the  Baltimore 
College  of  Dental  Surgery,  from  which  institution 
be  graduated  in  1891.  lie  began  practice  at  Ashe- 
ville,  N.  ( '.,  where  be  was  located  for  seyen  years, 
spending  the  next  three  years  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.  lie  also  spent  some  time  at  Balti- 
more ami  Williamsport  before  settling,  in  Septem- 
ber. 1901,  at  Shamokin.  where  he  succeeded  to  the 
practice  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Lay.  Dr.  Roberts  does  all 
kinds  of  mechanical  ami  operative  dentistry,  be- 
ing thoroughly  skilled  in  all  the  branches  of  bis 
profession,  as  the  result  of  both  training  and  ex- 
perience. He  devotes  all  his  time  ami  attention 
to  its  duties,  and  has  built  up  a  remarkably  good 
practice,  his  work  having  the  highest  reputation, 
lie  has  tine  offices  in  the  Llewellyn  building,  and 
bis  equipment  is  modern  and  complete.  The 
Doctor  is  up-to-date  in  all  that  pertains  to  his 
work,  and  the  Shamokin  Dental  Protective  So- 
ciety was  organized  in  bis  office;  be  is  serving  as 
secretary  of  that  body.  The  Doctor  is  lecturing 
knight  for  Shamokin  Lodge  of  Elks,  No.  355,  of 
which  he  is  a  prominent  member. 

In  1907  Dr.  Roberts  married  Jeanne  May. 
daughter  of  the  late  Mai.  .lames  May,  of  Shamo- 
kin, and  they  have  one  daughter.  Louisa.  They 
reside  at   No.  223   Franklin  street. 

WILLIAM  .1.  HIGGINS,  of  Mount  Carmel, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  furniture,  un- 
dertaking and  livery  business  for  almost  thirty 
years,  is  undoubtedly  one  id'  the  best  known  citi- 
zen- of  his  section  of  Northumberland  county. 
During  his  long  residence  in  the  borough  he  has 
become  interested  in  other  lines  of  business,  hav- 
ing since  1905  been  a  director  of  the  Guarantee 
Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  and  he  has 
numerous    social    connections. 

Mr.  Higgins  is  a  grands if  William    Higgins, 

a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man.  some  ninety  years  ago  and  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  at  Tamaqua,  that  region  being  in  its  primi- 
tive condition  when  he  first   made  his  home  there. 

John  F.  Higgins,  son  of  William,  was  born  in 
is:;;  in  Tamaqua,  ami  was  long  a  well  known 
resident  of  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  died  in  IS!):!,  lie  learned  the  Hade  of  molder, 
which    be    followed    lor   some  years,    later,    however. 

engaging  in  the  shoe  business,  lie  served  as  tax 
collector  of  Shenandoah  in  L891  and  L892,  and 
was  ipiite  active  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  his  locality.  He  married  Margaret 
France,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  Alice,  wife  .if  Edward  Ratchford, 
,,l   Shenandoah.    Pa.;  William  .1.:  John   P.,  dr..  31 


596 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


Shenandoah,  who  served  as  State  senator  from 
the  Thirtieth  Senatorial  district;  George  J.,  of 
Shamokin,  local  agent  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing road  and  also  agent  of  the  United  States  Ex- 
•  3S  Company;  Melissa  M.;  James  C. :  Nellie  E. : 
Eate  M.;  Charles  < '. :  and  Julia  A.  Most  of  this 
family  live  in  Shenandoah,  Pennsylvania. 

William  J.  Higgins  was  born  Dec.  11.  1861,  at 
Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  count}',  where  he  received 
his  early  education.  He  then  entered  Yillanova 
College,  near  Philadelphia,  and  in  1881  came  to 
Mount  Carmel,  where  he  has  since  been  located. 
He  embarked  in  the  furniture,  undertaking  and 
livery  business,  being  one  of  the  first  in  the 
borough  to  engage  in  undertaking,  which  has  to 
the  present  been  his  specialty.  He  did  not  long 
continue  the  furniture  line.  During  the  thirty 
years  he  has  been  located  in  Mount  Carmel  he  has 
conducted  about  thirty-five  hundred  funerals.  He 
built  his  place  of  business,  at  No.  40  South  Mar- 
ket street,  in  1882,  and  his  residence  is  next  door. 
Mr.  Higgins's  business  has  brought  him  into  con- 
tact with  man]  citizens  of  this  vicinity,  in  all  the 
walks  of  life,  and  his  efficient  services  and  pro- 
sive  methods,  no  less  than  his  estimable  per- 
sonality, have  wnii  him  the  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  had  dealings  in  any  of  the  relations 
of  life.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Anthracite  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association,  the  oldest  institution  of 
its  kind  in  Mount  Carmel,  and  since  1905  has 
been  i  onni  ed  with  the  Guarantee  Trust  and  3 
Deposit  Company  in  the  same  capacity.  He  has 
served  in  the  council  as  representative  from  the 
Third  ward.  Inning  been  elected  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  Mr.  Biggins  is  treasurer  of  the  local 
organization  of  the  Foresters;  treasurer  of  Aerie 
No.  U44.  P.  ( I.  E. :  member  of  the  Eagles  Home 
Lssoeiation;  of  the  A.  0.  H.;  the  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans: and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  is  i 
Catholic  in  religious  faith  and  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Society. 

On  Sept.  14.  L887,  Mr.  Higgins  married  Mary 
McGailey,  and  to  them  have  been  born  seven  chil- 
dren :  Margaret,  William.  Aloysius.  Ignatius.  John, 
Mary  and  Sarah. 

DAVID  C.  WOLF,  senior  member  of  the  Sun- 
bury  Construction  Company,  contractors  and 
builders  of  the  borough  of  Sunburv.  was  born 
Dec.  23,  1864,  in  Rockefeller  township,  North- 
umberland county,  on  the  old  Wolf  homestead. 

Mr.  Wolfs  first  direct  ancestor  in  this  county 
was  his  great-grandfather,  Nicholas  Wolf,  but 
there  is  earlier  record  of  those  of  the  name  here, 
one  John  Wolf,  who  lived  in  Mahanoy  township, 
having  made  his  last  will  and  testament  March  T. 
KM.  and  died  in  April.  1784.  His  brother 
George  and  Robert  Martin.  Esq..  were  his  execu- 
tors, and  it  appears  that  John  had  no  children. 
but  left  all  his  estate  to  the  children  of  his  brother 


George,  namely:  Henry,  John,  George  and  Philip. 
If  these  Wolfs  were  of  the  same  family  as  the 
forefathers  of  David  ('.  Wolf  the  record-  at  hand 
do  not  show  the  connection. 

Nicholas  Wolf  was  a  native  of  Lehigh  county> 
where  he  lived  upon  and  owned  land  in  White 
Hall  township  upon  which  the  Lehigh  county  alms- 
house is  located.  It  is  considered  to  be  among 
-i  agricultural  land  in  that  county.  About 
1812  he  brought  his  family  from  Lehigh  county 
to  Northumberland  county,  settling  near  Seven 
Points,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  on  a 
farm  later  owned  by  Peter  Oyster.  On  May  22, 
L815,  Nicholas  Wolf  agreed  to  pay  Philip  Weiser 
$113.35  on  or  before  May  1,  1820,  five  year  judg- 
ment note:  under  same  date.  May  22,  1815,  ap- 
3,  Nicholas  Wolf,  $225,  judgment  note,  dou- 
ble: another.  $775.52.  Nicholas  Wolf  and  his 
family  were  Lutherans,  and  are  buried  in  the  old 
Lantz's  church.  The  older  children — 
if  not  all — of  the  family  were  born  in  Lehigh 
county,  before  the  removal  to  Northumberland. 
We  have  the  following  record  of  the  family: 
Abraham  was  the  grandfather  of  David  C.  Wolf 
and  is  mentioned  below;  Joel,  born  Aug.  "??.  1805, 
was  a  fanner,  and  lived  near  the  Cross  Road 
church  in  Rockefeller  township,  and  he  is  buried' 
at  that  church,  where  the  record  shows  that  he 
died  Jan.  25,  L895  (his  wife.  Mary  M..  born  Aug. 
1.;.  L811,  died  Feb.  20,  1901  |  ;  John  lived  in 
Hollowing  Run.  in  Lower  Augusta  township; 
Thomas  !'...  born  Feb.  26,  1809,  lived  in  R< 
feller  township,  died  April  2,  1864,  and  is  buried 
at  Wolfs  Cross  Road  church  (his  wife,  Susanna, 
died  Nov.  28,  1887,  aged  seventy-five  3 
months,  sixteen  days):  Henry  settled  at  Red 
Bank.  Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.;  Polly  was  Mrs.  Bacon; 
another  daughter  married  Israel  Steffen;  Betsy 
married  William  Bartholomew:  Hannah  married 
Daniel  Conrad :  Christian  married  John  Cris- 
singer. 

Abraham  Wolf,  son  of  Nicholas,  was  horn  Jan. 
22,  1794,  m  Lehigh  county,  came  with  the  family 
to  Northumberland  county,  and  became  a  farmer. 
living  near  Seven  Points,  on  a  place  of  about  1-"'" 
-  which  he  owned  and  which  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Era  B.  (lenient.  He  died  Aug.  26,  L881, 
and  is  buried  at  Lantz's  church.  He  was  a 
Lutheran,  as  was  also  his  wife,  S  sauna  (Fasold), 
who  was  born  Oct.  8,  1798,  at  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  was  baptized  Oct.  18th,  same  year,  in 
the  Lutheran  faith,  sponsors  Johannes  Slichter 
and  his  wife  Dorothea,  and  died  Jan.  24.  i 
Their  children  were  as  follows :  John  died  in  Rock- 
efeller township:  Lydia  married  Henry  Malich; 
Jonathan  died  July  14,  1874,  aged  forty-six  years, 
eight  months,  twenty-fiye  days,  and  is  buried  at 
Wolfs  Cross  Road  church:  Maria  married  Henry 
Bloom;  Eeuben  is  mentioned  below;  Gideon,  born 
Feb.   13,   1832,  lived  in  Sunburv,  and  died  June 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


597 


•24,  1909  (his  wife  Eebecca,  bom  June  22,  1828, 
■died  May  24,  1909,  and  they  arc  buried  at  the 
i  ross  Road  church)  ;  Aaron:  Peter;  Samuel  mar- 
ried Eliza  Zai'tiuan  ami  they  live  in  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.;  Hi  in,  i-  unmarried  ami  lives  at  Stella, 
\ebr. :  Louisa  married  Theodore  Chester,  of  Snn- 
hury. 

Reuben  Wolf  was  born  Jan.  21,  1S30.  mi  his 
father's  farm  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Eockefel- 
ler) township,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  his 
.life  on  that  place,  which  had  been  in  the  Wolf 
name  for  many  years.  It  is  located  in  what  is 
now  Rockefeller  township,  five  miles  east  of  Sun- 
hury,  and  contains  130  acres  of  valuable  land. 
which  Mr.  Wolf  cultivated  profitably,  being  a 
prosperous  farmer  throughout  his  active  years. 
Some  three  years  before  his  death  he  retired  and 
moved  into  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  where  he 
died  Oct.  8,  1910,  when  over  eighty  years  old.  He 
is  buried  in  the  new  cemetery  at  Lantz*s  church, 
■of  which  church  he  was  in  his  later  life  a  Lutheran 
member. 

M  r.  Wolf  married  Harriet  Zartman,  who  died 
young,  and  is  buried  al  Lantz's  church.  By  this 
nil  mil  iii-  were  two  children:  A  daughter  who 
•  died  when  small :  ami  Mary  Alice,  wife  of  John 
Martz.  of  Sunbury.  Mr.  Wolf  married  Mary 
ilauek.  who  was  born  in  1831,  daughter  of  David 
ami  Anna  i  Lantz)  Hauek,  of  Eockefeller  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Wolf,  now  (1911)  in  her  eighty-first 
year,  make-  her  home  in  Sunbury  with  her  son 
David.  The  following  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage:  Clara,  living  in  Sunbury.  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Km-  (she  had  children.  Lloyd.  Clayton, 
Algie  and  Anthony);  David  C. :  Amnion,  who 
died  in  childhood ;  Maggie,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Gass  (she  had  children,  Herman, 
Daisy,  Irwin.  Margaret  and  Clara)  :  Anthony,  de- 
■ceased.  who  married  Emma  Fasold  (left  six  chil- 
dren. Harry,  Esther,  Mary.  Joseph.  Florence  and 
Ruth) :  Amelia,  wile  of  Irwin  Hornberger,  of 
Eockefeller  township  (had  children,  Dolan.  Ada 
and  Grace)  ;  ami  S.  Gilbert,  of  Sunbury  (who  has 
a  son  Charles  i . 

'  David  C.  Wolf  attended  the  public  schools  of 
the  home  locality  ami  worked  on  the  farm  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  At  that 
time  he  took  up  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
learned  under  John  Schreffler,  ami  continued  to 
follow  that  calling  as  a  journeyman  until  he 
formed  his  present  partnership  with  William  B. 
Lister,  in  the  year  1905.  They  do  business  under 
the  firm  name'  of  the  Sunbury  Construction  Com- 
pany. Besides  general  contracting  ami  building, 
they  deal  in  lumber  and  building  material  and 
engage  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  cement 
block  business.  The  office  and  yard  is  at  No.  128 
Awl  street,  Sunbury.  The  Sunbury  Construction 
Companv  has  erected  a  number  of  residences  in 
the  borough,  as  well  as  buildings  of  other  kinds. 


including  the  "Aldine  Hotel,"'  and  has  consider- 
able repair  work.  The  business  has  developed 
so  that  twenty  men  are  given  steady  employment, 
and  the  firm  is  gaining  a  high  reputation  for  sub- 
stantial and  workmanlike  construction  ami  thor- 
ough reliability  in  the  completion  of  all  contracts. 

Mr.  Wolf  is  well  known  in  local  fraternal  cir- 
cle-, being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  131,  Woodmen 
of  the  World;  of  Circle  No.  28,  an  auxiliary  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World:  and  of  Tribe  No.  186,  1. 
0.  R.  M.    He  attends  the  Reformed  Church. 

In  1891  Mr.  Wolf  married  Jennie  H.  Keefer, 
win.  was  horn  in  1866,  daughter  of  Samuel  Reef- 
er, and  died  in  1899;  she  is  buried  at  Lantz's 
church.  In  1905  he  married  (second)  Nora  Start  - 
zel,  of  Snydertown,  this  county,  who  died  in  1907, 
at  (lie  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  ami  was  buried 
at  Snydertown.     He  has  no  family. 

PRANK  J.  G.  SMITH,  general  superintendent 

of  the  Mount  Carmel  factory  of  the  Cumberland 
Shirt  Manufacturing  Company,  is  a  young  man 
of  enterprise  and  ability  and  worthy  of  the  re- 
sponsible position  in  which  he  has  been  retained 
for  several  years.  The  business  of  the  company 
has  more  than  quadrupled  since  he  first  came  to 
Mount  Carmel  in  its  interest,  but  he  has  shown 
himself  able  to  meet  the  increased  demands  and 
ha-  not  only  kept  peace  with  the  business  hut  an- 
ticipated  many  important  changes. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  Oct.  27,  1874,  at  Ashland, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Joseph  G.  and  Margaret 
T.  (  Ney)  Smith.  His  father  was  born  March  IS. 
LSI!),  in  Pottsville,  that  county,  and  lived  there 
uiiiil  -ix  months  after  he  attained  hi.-  majority. 
In  1870  he  located  at  Ashland,  where  he  found 
employment  with  Wesley  Mauley,  under  whom  he 
learned  carriage  building  ami  wagon  making.  On 
March  18,  IS74,  he  engaged  in  that  luisiness  at 
Ashland  on  his  own  account,  and  ha-  continued 
same  to  the  present,  being  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantia] ami  respected  citizens  of  that  place.  He 
has  been  elected  to  various  local  offices,  having 
served  as  councilman,  school  director  ami  tax  col- 
lector of  the  borough,  filling  the  latter  office  (to 
which  he  was  elected  in  1890)  three  years.  He 
is  vice-president  of  the  Tax  Payers'  Association, 
and  has  long  been  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Washington  Fire  Company,  which  he  joined  in 
L876  and  which  he  has  served  as  president,  being 
now  vice-president  of  the  company.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Church  ami  a  Democrat  in 
political  opinion. 

On  Jan.  8,  ISM.  Mr.  Smith  married  Margaret 
T.  Ney,  who  was  horn  March  30,  1854,  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  I'a-.  daughter  of  Jacob  Ney,  and  died 
-Vug.  15.  190:1.  There  were  twelve  children  by  this 
union,  born  as  follows:  Frank  J.  <!..  Oct.  27. 
1874:  Barbara  M..  June  10,  1876;  Anna  J.. 
March  17.  1878;  William  A..  Aug.  II.   1879  (died 


598 


NORTHFMBKh'LANl)  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


young);  William  L..  Dec.  31,  1880;  Stella  '1'.. 
Sept.  30,  1882  (died  young);  Margaret  R.,  April 
11.  1885  (entered  the  convent  April  24,  1808,  and 
is  now  known  as  Sister  Rufenia)  :  Josephine  M.. 
April  26,  1888;  Joseph  IF.  March  24,  1890:  Stella 
\'..  Feb.  18,  1892;  John  L..  Nov.  IT.  1893;  Lucy 
A..  Jan.  14.  1896. 

Frederick  Smith,  grandfather  of  Frank  J.  G. 
Smith,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  Am- 
erica in  1848,  when  twenty-four  years  old.  He 
settled  in  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  was  one  of  the  early 
miners  at  that  point,  where  lie  died  when  r-ixty- 
seven  years  old.  Hi-  wife,  Barbara  M.  Taan,  was 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  ami  they  had  a  family 
of  li\e  children,  viz.:  Joseph  G.,  Adam  R.,  Mary 
T.,  Theresa  J.  and  Lebold  C. 

Prank  .1.  G.  Smith  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Ashland.  After  commencing  work  in 
earnest  he  was  with  his  father  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  was  employed  by  John  Hence,  selling 
leathers  for  a  time.  He  was  later  in  the  employ 
of  the  Light  Company  at  Ashland  for  four 
before  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  concern  with 
which  he  has  since  been  associated.  He  was  with 
the  company  at  Ashland  until  transferred  to  Mount 
Carmel,  in  March.  1905.  When  he  first  came  here 
the  factory  was  a  comparatively  small  affair,  at 
Sixth  and  Oak  streets,  with  equipment  and  ac- 
commodation for  sixty  hands.  In  190?  the  pres- 
ent factory.  F~>  by  80  feet  in  dimensions,  and  three 
stories  in  height,  was  erei  ted,  and  here  three  hun- 
dred ami  fifty  hands  are  constantly  employed  in 
the  manufacture  of  shins  with  attached  collars. 
An  establishment  which  affords  profitable  employ- 
ment to  so  large  a  number,  in  a  community  of  the 
size  of  Mount  Carmel.  is  naturally  of  the  utmost 
importance,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  factory  has 
a  direct  influence  on  the  prosperity  of  the  bor- 
ough. Mr.  Smith,  as  general  manager  of  thi-  i  ■- 
tensive  plant,  not  only  occupies  an  important  rela- 
tion to  us  owners,  hnt  to  the  local  industrial  situa- 
tion and  his  fellow  citizens  in  Mount  Carmel  gen- 
erally. His  stability  and  thorough  efficiency  have 
won  him  good  standing  among  business  men.  and 
personally  he  holds  the  respect  of  all  who  know 
him. 

On  April  27,  1896,  Mr.  Smith  married  Rosie 
Seltzer,  and  they  have  the  following  children: 
Joseph,  Francis.  May.  Raymond,  Frederick'.  Rosie 
and  Hilda. 

In  religions  connection  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Catholic, 
and  fraternally  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Red  Men.  in  which 
latter  order  he  is  quite  prominent,  having  served 
as  district  deputy.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
sympathy,  hut  takes  no  active  part  in  politics  or 
public  affairs. 

HOOVER.  The  name  Hoover,  well  known  in 
various  parts  of  Northumberland  county,  was  or- 


iginally Hither,  and  according  to  Professor  Knhns 
is  derived  from  an  old  German  word,  "hutre."  im- 
plying possession  of  a  small  tract  of  land  or  a 
farm,  which  would  indicate  that  the  family  are 
descended  from  a  sturdy  race  of  Swiss  fara 
the  original  home  of  the  Hubers  having  been  in 
the  Canton  of  Zurich.  Switzerland.  Their  records 
date  hack  eight  hundred  years.  In  America  the 
name  has  undergone  various  changes  in  spelling, 
and  we  have  Iluver.  Hover.  Hoober  and  Hoover. 

Nearly  fifty  Hubers  landed  at  Philadelphia 
prior  to  the  war  for  independence.  Twenty-five 
mole  came  to  America  (landing  at  Philadelphia) 
before  1749,  the  first  being  Hans  Finch  Huber, 
who  landed  Aug.  19,  L729.  On  Sept.  21,  1732, 
there  arrived  four  brothers,  Christian,  Hans.  Han- 
Martin  and  Jacob,  the  two  hist  named  being  under 
sixteen  years  of  age.  Jacob,  the  youngest,  set- 
tled in  Bucks  county,  and  there  i-  record  of  a 
deed  for  property  in  Plumstead  township,  that 
county,  to  Jacob  Hither.  1748.  In  1751  a  son,. 
Henry,  was  born  to  him. 

Henry  Hnber.  horn  in  1751,  son  of  Jacob,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Kern,  and  they  lived  somewhere 
in  Hilltown  township,  Bucks  county,  where  five 
children  were  born  to  them  :  Christian.  Jacob,  Phil- 
ip. Flisand  Mary.  In  1791  Henry  Huber  moved  to 
Gwynedd  township  (now  Montgomery  county), 
settling  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  which  he 
bought  of  George  Maris  for  eighteen  hundred 
pounds.  After  his  death,  which  occurred  April  !>. 
1809,  the  farm  was  divided  into  two  tracts,  of  one 
hundred  acres  each,  the  old  homestead  part  go- 
ing  to  the  son  Philip,  the  other  to  the  son  Jacob. 
Margaret  (widow  of  Henry)  died  \,,\.  27,  1813, 
aged  sixty-one  years,  nine  months.  29  days.  The 
'laughter  Elis  married  .Film  Rile;  the  daughter 
Mary  married  William   Kneedler. 

Philip  Hoover,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  July 
'.'ii.  1782,  and  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  day. 
lie  was  involved  in  the  rebellion  precipitated  by 
the  Alien  and  Sedition  laws  passed  during  the 
V'Lini-  administration,  and  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  lie  was  a  captain  of  volunteers  when  only 
eighteen  years  old,  was  elected  colonel  of  a  regi- 
ment of  militia,  served  as  a  member  of  tin  State 
Legislature,  and  was  a  prominent  church  man. 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  Bochm's  Church, 
which  he  served  as  elder  from  1S03  to  180!'.  - 
deacon  from  1810  until  1823,  ami  after  1823  again 
as  elder.  On  Nov.  13,  1804,  he  married  Mary 
Conrad,  who  was  born  Aug.  ?:!.  1785,  daughter 
of  Hon.  Frederick  Conrad  (member  of  Congress 
for  four  war- i.  and  died  Oct.  17,  1868.  To  them 
were  born  thirteen  children,  only  ,-i\  of  whom, 
however,  reached  maturity.  The  record  of  this 
family  is  as  follows:  Frederick  W.,  born  Jan.  17,. 
1806;  Julian.  Sept.  25.  I80'i  (died  Nov.  30, 
1808);  Susanna.  July  14.  1S09  (died  May  25, 
1810);    Maria.  April    13,   1811;  Henry  C.  April 


XORTHUM  BERLA  X  I >  ( !OUNTY,   PEX  X  SYLVAN  I A 


599 


5,  L813  (died  Feb.  7,  1816);  twin  sons,  July  6, 
1815  (lived  only  three  days);  a  daughter,  Aug. 
25,  1811  (lived  only  four  thus)  ;  Ann  Catharine, 
March  5,  1819  (died  Aug.  20,  1820)  ;  Hiram  Con- 
rad, Oct.  23,  1822;  Albert  C,  April  5,  1825;  Ann 
Elizabeth  Dec.  11.  1826;  Andrew  .1..  Nov.  13, 
1828. 

Jacob  Huber,  son  of  Henry,  born  Oct.  28, 
1787,  came  to  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  after  his  marriage,  about  1813, 
settling  on  a  traci  of  161  acres,  the  farm  of  the 
late  Benjamin  Hoover,  but  now  the  property  of  the 
Odd  Fellows'  Orphans'  Home  Association,  to 
which  it  was  sold  in  1898.  Jacob  Huber  was  a 
lifelong  farmer.  He  ami  his  wife  Sarah,  horn 
Oct.  '.'I.  1788,  are  buried  at  St.  Luke's  Church, 
Snydertown.  They  were  Lutherans  in  religious 
la i ill.  We  have  the  following  record  of  their 
eight  children:  Harriet,  born  Dec.  12.  1811,  mar- 
ried William  Martz  ami  had  ten  children  ami 
thirty-one  grandchildren;  Margaret,  born  Ana.  25, 
1813,  married  George  Shipe  ami  had  eleven  chil- 
dren and  twenty-three  grandchildren;  Thomas, 
burn  .Ian.  16,  1816,  died  young;  Jonathan,  limn 
.March  V-).  1818,  had  ten  children  and  twenty- 
seven  grandchildren;  Andrew,  horn  Jan.  16,  1821, 
had  ten  children  and  eleven  grandchildren;  Catha- 
rine, born  June  1,  1823,  married  Peter  Stroh,  and 
had  eight  children  ami  Sfteen  grandchildren; 
Benjamin,  born  Feb.  'i,  1827,  hail  ten  children 
and  seven  grandchildren;  Sarah,  born  dune  28, 
L830,  died  young.  This  family  changed  the  spel- 
ling nf  the  name  to  Hoover  between  1843  and 
1845. 

Benjamin  Huber  or  Hoover  was  bom  Feb.  2, 
L827,  and  passed  all  his  life  on  the  same  farm  in 
Upper  AuguMa  township,  living  and  dying  at  the 
place  of  his  birth.  He  purchased  the  homestead 
about  1855,  and  throughout  his  life  was  engaged 
in  farming,  in  which  be  was  successful.  He  was 
the  first  man  to  run  a  milk  wagon  in  Sunbury. 
He  was  one  of  the  active  citizens  of  his  community, 
serving  a  number  of  years  as  road  supervisor 
(which  office  he  was  filling  at  the  time  of  his 
death)  ami  also  acting  as  school  director;  he 
helped  tn  build  the  Evert  schoolhouse.  Politically 
he  was  a  Republican,  lie  ami  his  wife  Margaret 
(Keefer),  daughter  of  Daniel  Keefer,  had  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children:  Catharine,  Reuben  F.,  Annie 
E.,  Alice.  Elizabeth,  Maggie  Lettie,  William  A. 
J.,  George  and  Clement. 

William  A.  J.  Hoover,  son  of  Benjamin,  was 
burn  May  28,  1863,  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
ami  received  his  education  in  the  local  schools. 
He  was  reared  to  farming,  but  for  seven  years 
was  engaged  in  railroading  on  the  Reading  road, 
becoming  an  engineer,  lie  resigned,  however,  lor 
the  good  of  his  health,  and  bought  the  old  Coter- 
man  homestead  of  173  acres  in  Upper  Augusta, 
upon  which  place  lie  has  fanned  since  April.  1899. 


lie  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  dairy  business  as 
well  as  in  general  agricultural  work,  and  has  taken 
considerable  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  locality. 
Inning  served  as  roadmaster  since  1903.  He 
served  two  terms  as  school  director,  resigning  from 
that  oltiee.  Mr.  Hoover  is  a  Republican  in  political 
opinion.  He  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in 
Shaniokin  Lodge,   No.  255,   F.  &  A.  M. 

In  1888  Mr.  Hoover  married  Laura  ('.  Mc- 
YVilliams.  sister  of  Curtis  Q.  McWilliams,  of 
Shaniokin.  and  a  native  of  Paxinos,  Northumber- 
land county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  limner  have  had  nine 
children:  Blanche  E.,  who  married  Howard  Em- 
rich,  of  Shaniokin:  Benjamin  S..  deceased  in  in- 
fancy; Alma  C;  Curtis  McW.;  Eva  M.;  Lettie  I,'.. 
deceased  in  infancv;  William  Paul:  Walter  R. ; 
and   Mary  E. 


John  Hoover,  possibly  of  the  same  origin  as  the 
Hoovers  previously  mentioned,  was  horn  in  one  of 
the  lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania  in  1780  ami 
lived  for  many  years  in  Northumberland  county. 
dying  near  Reed's  station,  in  Shaniokin  township. 
Oct.  11,  1854.  He  was  a  fanner  and  very  sue- 
cessful,  owning  three  farms,  one  of  which  is  now 
i  lie  propertj  of  R.  S.  Aucker  and  another  owned 
by  a  Duttinger.  He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of 
the  "Brick"'  (Reed's)  Church,  where  both  his 
wives  are  buried.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Mar- 
garet Ritter,  who  died  Nov.  11,  1828,  aged  forty- 
Eour  years,  the  mother  of  eight  children:  Samuel 
is  mentioned  later  in  this  article;  Joseph  married 
Mattie  Katerman  and  had  eight  children;  John 
married  Elizabeth  Wolverton  and  had  four-chil- 
dren; Annie  married  George  Krick  and  had  six 
children:  Thomas  married  Katie  Krigbaum  and 
had  four  children:  Rebecca  married  George  Keller 
and  had  two  children;  William  married  Louisa 
Baldy  and  had  sis  children:  Solomon  married  El- 
len Brooks  and  (second)  Sadie  Fredericks  and  had 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Hoover  married  Marc 
Harman,  who  died  Nov.  25,  L883,  aged  eighty-four 
wars.  -i\  months,  twelve  days;  her  mother,  Eliz- 
abeth, lived  in  the  neighborhood  above  Blooms 
burg.  Eight  children  were  horn  to  John  and  Man 
(Harman)  Hoover,  \  iz. :  Louisa  married  Daniel 
Yo-t  ;  .1.  Harman  lived  at  Pottsville,  later  at  Ash- 
land and  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.;  Henry  is  a  resi- 
•  li  ni  of  Shaniokin.  Pa.;  Isaac,  of  Bolton,  Kan-.: 
Luther,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  George,  of  Eolton, 
Kan-.;  Francis  is  mentioned  below;  Amelia  mar- 
ried Azariah  ( 'ampbell. 

Francis  Hoover,  insurance  broker  of  Shaniokin. 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  Aug.  s.  1842, 
in  Shaniokin  township,  and  there  grew  to  man 
hood.  ID  received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the 
local  public  schools,  hut  he  i-  a  self-made  man. 
having  made  his  own  way  from  boyhood  and  risen 
to  a  substantial  position  through  his  own  efforts. 


600 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


In  1859  he  commenced  to  learn  carpentering, 
which  he  followed  for  eight  years  in  all.  and  for 
another  eight  year?  was  engaged  at  pattern-mak- 
ing. For  the  next  sixteen  years  he  had  a  sto 
No.  19  North  Shamokin  street,  in  the  borough  of 
Shamokin,  carrying  on  a  mercantile  business,  but 
he  was  obliged  to  abandon  that  line  on  account  of 
his  health,  withdrawing  from  it  in  189"?.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  engaged  in  city  work,  being  clerk 
of  the  poor  district  and  for  eight  years  health  in- 
spei  tor,  and  in  1909  he  entered  the  fire  insurance 
business,  in  which  he  has  established  a  profitable 
patronage. 

Mr.  Hoover  has  been  active  in  the  various  or- 
ganizations of  a  social,  fraternal  or  religious  na- 
ture with  which  he  has  been  identified.  He  is  a 
Methodist  and  served  many  years  as  trustee  of  the 
church,  being  long  secretary  of  the  board  of  I 
tees.  He  is  one  of  the  two  surviving  charter  mem- 
iers  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  664,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  since  1865,  and  he 
also  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  Encampment.  Po- 
litically he  is  an  independent  Republican. 

On  Dec.  34,  1865,  Mr.  Hoover  married  Mary  E. 

Lewis,  da  William  and  Elizabeth  (Douty  i 

Lewis,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  they  had  a  family 

seven   children:     Charles,  burn   Feb.   4.    1867, 

■  lied  June  1,  1m;;  :  I rge  W.,  born  Sept.  11,  1869, 

died  in  April.  1870:  John  Frederick,  born  May 
23,  1874,  died  Aug.  7,  L874;  Mary  K..  born  Oct. 
10,  1876,  married  G.  A.  Buck,  who  is  station  agent 
i  Sunbury;  Elmira  R..  bom  Sept.  7,  1879,  mar- 
ried J.  T.  Shoener,  a  printer  at  Shamokin:  Bes- 
V.  born  April  28,  1883,  is  unmarried  and 
keeps  lmuse  for  her  father:  Raymond  F.  is  men- 
tinned  below.  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
Dec.  15,  1907,  aged  sixty-three  years,  three  months, 
three  days. 

Raymond  F.  Hoover,  son  of  Francis,  was  born 
Nov.  22,  1887,  and  acquired  his  education  in 
Shamokin.  attending  the  high  school.  When  - 
enteen  years  old.  on  Jan.  6,  1905,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company  at  Sunbury,  as  clerk,  and  on  May  14. 
1909.  received  promotion  for  merit  to  his  present 
position,  that  of  chief  clerk  at  the  Reading  freight 
station  in  Sunbury.  Four  men  are  employed  at 
the  station.  Mr.  Hoover  has  proved  himself  a  re- 
liable young  man,  and  he  is  respected  for  his  in- 
dustry and  capability. 

On  Sept.  14.  1909.  Mr.  Hoover  married  Lillie 
M.  Wetzel,  daughter  of  Nathan  G.  and  Kate 
(Eyster)  Wetzel,  of  Sunbury.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hoover  are  members  of  the  First  United  Evangel- 
ical Church  at  Sunbury. 


Samuel  Hoover,  son  of  John  and  Margaret 
(Ritter)  Hoover,  was  born  Aug.  26,  1806,  in 
Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
in  his  early  life  followed  the  cooper's  trade.    Later 


he  was  engaged  in  tanning  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  Joseph,  doing  business  in  Shamokin 
township  for  thirty  years.  After  selling  his  in- 
terest in  the  tannery  to  Samuel  Joseph  settled  at 
Bushnell,  111.,  where  he  is  buried.  In  1867  Sam- 
uel Hoover  sold  out  bis  interest  in  the  tanning 
business,  which  is  now  owned  by  William  F.  Kline. 
and  bought  a  farm  upon  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
d  energetic  and  successful  man.  active  in  lo- 
cal affairs,  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor. and  in 
many  other  township  offices,  and  was  a  member 

generous  supporter  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

ernally  he  was  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to 
the  lodge  at  Snydertown.  He  married  Sarah  Lee. 
who  was  from  the  Swabian  Creek  district,  born 
Nov.  12,  1804,  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
died  March  27,  l.^T?.  just  a  month  after  her  hus- 
band, whose  death  occurred  Feb.  26,  1872.  II.  is 
buried  at  Snydertown.  Nine  children  were  born 
i"  this  couple,  as  follow-:     Sarah,  born  March  24, 

.  married  William  Reed,  a  farmer,  and  they 
lived  at  Reed's  station,  in  Shamokin  township; 
John,  born  Aug.  27,  1S34.  is  deceased:  Jacob, 
born  April  11,  1836,  married  Ella  Shrives  and 
lives  in  Bushnell,  111.,  a  retired  hardware  mer- 
chant and  farmer:  Margaret,  born  March  13,  1838, 
married  Lafayette  Savidge,  and  they  lived  at  Plum 
1  '■:  and  later  at  Snydertown.  where  she  died, 
Mr.  Savidge  afterward  continuing  to  make  his 
home  at  that  place  (they  are  buried  at  the  Eden 
Church)  :  Mary  Ann.  born  Jan.  10.  1840.  married 
Ei  son  Wblverton  and  lives  at  Holton.  Kans. : 
i  in  March  28,  1842,  was  the  second  wife 

of  Lafayette  Savidge,  and  is  also  deceased:  Eli, 
born  March  16,  1844,  married  Emma  Wolverton 
and  lived  across  the  river  at  Riverside.  Pa.,  where 
he  died  (he  is  buried  at  Danville)  :  David,  born 
Oct.  Kb  1846.  a  retired  farmer  and  carpenter  of 
Snydertown.  lives  on  the  old  homestead:  Harriet. 
born  Jan.  31,  1849.  is  unmarried  and  living  in 
Snydertown. 

John  Hoover,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  at  Sny- 
dertown Aug.  ■.';.  1834,  and  before  his  marriage 
moved  out  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1873  at  the 
comparatively  early  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  He 
is  buried  at  Bloomingville,  to  which  place  he  had 
first  moved  and  where  he  married  Hannah  Mead, 
and  they  lived  near  North  Monroeville,  known  as 
"The  Prairie,'"'  in  Erie  county,  later  locating  at 
Wales  Corner,  four  miles  east  of  Clyde,  in  San- 
dusky county.  He  followed  farming.  He  died 
at  Wales  Corners,  of  typhoid  fever.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Oliver,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Riv- 
erside, Pa.:  Wallace  A.:  Lillian,  of  Clyde,  Ohio, 
married  to  Frank  Deck  (they  have  no  children)  : 
Cora,  married  to  Elbert  Crockett  and  living  at 
Marshall.  Mo.  (they  are  farming  people):  and 
Sarah  (called  Kith),  unmarried,  of  Tonto<ranv. 
Ohio. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  601 

Wallace    A.    Hoover,   lumber   merchant   and  farms.    That  part  where  Abraham  Kerstetter  now 

planing  mill  operator  at  Riverside,  Pa.,  was  born  makes  his  home  was  the  homestead;  another  son, 
March  11.  L866,  near  North  Monroeville,  Ohio,  Adam,  had  a  second  part,  which  he  sold  to  Na- 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Wales  than  Latshaw ;  and  Elias  Derk,  a  son-in-law,  has 
Corners.  He  assisted  with  farm  work  until  he  the  third  part.  Mr.  Kerstetter  was  a  leading  man 
was  fifteen  years  old,  at  which  time  lie  commenced  among  the  early  settlers  in  that  region.  Physi- 
t"  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  following  that  cally  he  was  tall  and  slim.  He  is  buried  at  St. 
calling  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty.  Com-  Paul's  Church  in  Cameron  township,  of  which 
ing  i"  Snydertown,  Pa.,  he  worked  for  his  uncle-  church  he  was  a  Lutheran  member  and  active  in 
Eli  and  Oliver  at  carpentering,  being  thus  en-  its  work,  serving  in  the  church  council.  To  him 
gaged  for  five  years.  He  then  became  a  partner  and  his  wife  Polly  (Raker)  were  born  children 
of  the  firm  of  Oliver  Hoover  &  Co.,  contractors  as  follows:  John  F.,  of  Cameron  township,  who 
and  builders,  and  besides  conducting  a  planing  had  a  large  family;  Simon;  Salome,  who  married 
mill  manufactured  beehives.  This  firm  did  busi-  Jacob  Weikel;  Susan,  who  married  George  Lat- 
ness  at  Snydertown  for  six  years,  at  the  end  of  shaw :  Catharine,  who  married  Elias  Derk:  Eliza, 
that  period  moving  to  Riverside,  where  the  busi-  who  married  Daniel  Kobel :  Adam  of  Coal  town- 
was  carried  on  under  the  same  style  four  ship:  and  Abraham,  of  Cameron  township. 
years  longer.  .Mr.  Eoover  and  his  brother  Oliver  Simon  Kerstetter.  son  of  John,  was  born  Jan. 
then  bought  tin.'  business,  which  they  conducted  17,  1825,  in  what  is  now  Cameron  township,  where 
as  Soover  Brothers  for  eleven  years,  Mr.  Wallace  he  grew  to  manhood  and  resided  until  ISfiO.  farm- 
A.  Eoover  becoming  sole  proprietor,  by  purchase,  ing  on  his  father's  land.  Be  learned  the  trade 
in  March,  1906.  He  has  since  continued  the  busi-  of  stonemason,  which  he  followed  during  his 
nr--  alone,  ami  gives  employment  to  twenty  men.  earlier  manhood.  From  1860  he  farmed  in  Rock- 
Mr.  Hoover  does  general  contracting  and  build-  efeller  township,  owning  and  residing  upon  the 
ing.  and  has  the  only  lumberyard  on  the  south  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  George  M.  Kerstet- 
sidi  of  the  river:  his  post  office  is  Riverside,  and  ter,  a  fertile  tract  of  sixty  acres  situated  in  the 
he  resides  on  Gearhart  street,  in  that  borough,  Plum  creek  valley.  There  he  resided  for  forty- 
where  he  is  regarded  as  a  substantial  and  val-  four  years,  dying  March  1.  1904.  He  is  buried 
uable  citizen.  He  is  at  present  serving  a-  school  at  the  Emanuel  Evangelical  Church  at  Wolfs 
director,  and  while  living  at  Snydertown  filled  Cross  Road  in  Rockefeller  township.  During  the 
the  office  of  assessor.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem-  Civil  war  he  served  on  the  Union  side  as  a  raem- 
oeiat.  Fraternally  Mr.  Hoover  holds  membership  ber  of  Company  11.  I72d  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
in  Danville  Lodge,  No.  '.''.'I.  Y.  &  A.  M.,  Dan-  teer  Regiment.  His  wife,  Hannah  ( Maurer),  was 
wile  Chapter,  No.  •?■">!>.  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  born  May  20,  1825,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Sar- 
Calvary  Commandery,  No.  37,  K.  T.,  also  of  Dan-  ah  (Hornberger)  Maurer,  of  Little  Mahanoy 
ville.  township,  and  died  May  4.  1896.     They  were  the 

Mr.  Hoover  married  Emma  C.  Deibler,  daughter  parents  of  one  child,  George  M. 

of   Jonathan   and    Elizabeth    (Reed)    Deibler,    of  George  if.   Kerstetter  was  ten  years  old  when 

Snydertown.     They  have  no  children.  he   came   with   his   parents   to    Rockefeller  town- 
ship,  where   he   has   since   resided.      He   obtained 

GEORGE  M.  KERSTETTER,  a  farmer  in  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  Ker- 
the  upper  Plum  creek  district  of  Rockefeller  stetter  inherited  his  father's  farm,  which  he  has 
township,  Northumberland  county,  was  born  Oct.  carried  on  successfully,  and  has  improved  the 
5,  1850,  in  Cameron  township,  where  his  father  property  in  various  ways  since  it  came  into  his 
was  born  and  where  his  grandfather  settled  at  an  possession,  bringing  it  up  to  date  and  using  mod- 
early  day.  era  methods  in  its  cultivation  and  management. 

One    Georgi     Kerstetter    came   to   this    country  lie   is  not   only  a  good   farmer  but  possessed  of 

from    Germany,    and    settled    near    Shamokin,    in  considerable  mechanical  ability,  ami  does  his  own 

Northumberland    county,    where    he    owned    250  shoemaking.     He  is  a   substantial   and    respected 

acre-  of  valuable  land  at   what  is  now  Ferndale,  citizen  of  his  community,  a  creditable  representa- 

where  he  died.     The  old  Nelson  and  Last  Chance  five  of  a  name  old  ami  honored  in  Northumber- 

collieries  were  located  upon  this  tract,  which  at  land  county, 

one  time  was  valued  at  six  million  dollars.  On  July  '-'.  1871,  Mr.  Kerstetter  married  Sarah 

John    Kerstetter;    -on   of   George,   was   born   at  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Sebastian  and  Elizabeth 

what  is  now    Ferndale,  near   Shamokin,   in   Coal  (Schlobig)  Zimmerman,  of  Mahantango  township, 

township,   and    lived    in   that   township   until   his  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 

removal   to    Cameron    township.      His   homestead  dren:   Mary,   who   died   in   infancy:   William,  of 

there  is  now  occupied  by  his  son  Abraham.     He  Plum  Creek:  and  Emma  J.,  who  married  W.    I', 

was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  followed  farming.  Bittinger,   of   Sunbury.     Mr.   Kerstetter   and   his 

owning  considerable  land,  now  divided  into  three  family   are  Lutherans,   members  of  Wolf's   Gross 


602 


X  OUT  1 1  CM  B  ERLA  X I  )  Cl  ITJ  N  TY,  P  E  X  X  s  Y  LVA  X  I A 


Road  Church,  which  he  served  officially  for  many 
years  as  member  of  the  church  council. 

Abraham  Kerstetter,  son  of  John  and  Polly 
(Baker)  Kerstetter,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
farm,  and  was  reared  to  farming.  Soon  after 
he  was  twenty  years  old  he  began  to  work  in  the 
coal  mine-  at  Shamokin,  and  he  lias  become  an 
experienced  miner,  having  continued  to  follow  the 
work  for  a  number  of  years.  He  helped  to  build 
die  Burnside  breaker,  and  worked  at  that  col- 
liery as  well  as  at  Rear  Valley  and  Trevorton. 
When  quite  young  he  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker, which  he  followed  for  -nun-  years  in  Cam- 
eron township,  while  living  on  the  homestead. 
He  now  lives  on  part  of  bis  father's  property, 
in  Cameron  township,  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, was  supervisor  of  Cameron  township  for 
many  years,  and  has  been  prominent  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
in  Cameron  township,  of  which  he  and  his  fam- 
ily are  member-,  and  m  which  he  has  held 
for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Hi>  wife,  Lydia 
Ann  Derk  (Derek),  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
(Wheary)  Derk.  farming  people  of  Cam- 
el.in  township;  Mr.  Derk  was  also  a  gunsmith 
and  a  man  of  general  mechanical  ability,  having 
a  little  shop  for  his  work  of  this  kind.  Nine 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham Kerstetter;  Katie,  who  is  unmarried;  I 
■  is;  Emeline,  who  died  when  eighteen  years  old; 
Peter,  of  Cameron  township;  Harry,  of  Cameron 
township;  Franklin  D.,  of  Cameron  township; 
llettie.  Mrs.  George  Wheary:  John  I).,  of  Cam- 
eron township;  and  Sallie.  who  died  aged  thir- 
teen years. 

Francis  Kerstetter,  son  of  Abraham,  was  horn 
Nov.  13,  L865,  in  I  ameron  township,  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  has  made  bis  living  practically 
since  he  was  eight  years  old.  At  that  tender  age 
he  began  work  about  the  coal  mines  as  slate  pick- 
er, then  looked  alter  the  feeding  gates,  oiled  wag- 
ons, drove  mules  and  eventually  became  a  con- 
ductor on  the  "dinkey"  engine,  bringing  coal  from 
the  mines  to  the  breaker.  He  then  drove  inside 
and  brought  coal  out  of  the  earth:  drove  wagons 
outside,  and  dumped  wagons,  working  around  the 
mines  lor  twenty-four  years  in  all.  during  which 
he  was  a  regular  miner  for  many  years.  When 
about  sixteen  he  was  earning  a  man's  wages.  In 
the  spring  of  1898  Mr.  Kerstetter  settled  down  to 
mg  on  the  place  he  has  since  occupied  in 
Rockefeller  township,  having  ninety  acres  (for- 
merly the  Peter  M.  Reitz  farm)  in  a  high  state 
..f  cultivation.  lie  is  an  energetic  man.  profi- 
cient in  tiie  use  of  tools,  makes  his  own  harness 
and  also  does  his  own  shoemaking,  and  frequently 
does  work  in  the  latter  line  for  neighbors.  Sine.; 
he  has  also  acted  a-  agent  lor  a  fertilizer 
company,  selling  ninety  tons  of  fertilizer  per 
annum. 


In  November,  1888,  Mr.  Kerstetter  married 
Sarah  S.  Henninger,  daughter  of  Nathan  Hen- 
uinger,  of  Cameron  township,  and  they  have  had 
seven  children:  William  and  Harvey  (twins,  the 
latter  dying  in  infancy),  Nathaniel.  Bertha  S., 
Milton.  Arabella  and  Rosa  Edna.  Mr.  Kerstet 
ter  and  his  family  worship  at  tin  Emanuel  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon.  Politically  be  is  a  Democrat,  with  inde- 
pendent proclivities. 

BENJAMIN  A.  BEALOB,  M.  1)..  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Shamokin. 
X'ii  thumberland  county,  was  horn  April  19,  1879, 
at  Ilerndon.  this  county,  and  is  the  eldest  son 
of  a  distinguished  medical  practitioner  of  this  sei 
tion,  John  W.  Bealor.  lie  i-  a  member  of  an 
old  Pennsydvania  family  long  ago  identified  with 
Bet  -  county  and  for  several  generations  with 
Perrj   comity. 

Mark  Bealor,  the  first  of  this  family  of  whom 
we  have  record,  lived  in  Germany  until  his  im- 
migration to  America.  He  firsi  settled  in  Berks 
count\r,  Pa.,  theme  moving  to  I',  in  county,  where 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  engaged  in 
farming.     He  served    in  the  Mexican  war. 

■dim  Bealor,  -on  of  Mark,  and  the  next  in  the 
line  of  descent  to  Dr.  Bealor,  moved  with  his 
father  from  Berks  county  to  Perry  county.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

Benjamin  F.  Bealor.  son  of  .John,  was  born 
in  Perry  county,  and  like  his  father  and  grand- 
father became  a  farmer.  He  followed  agricul- 
tural work  until  his  health  failed,  when  he  re- 
1  to  Virginia  in  the  hope  of  regaining  his 
strength,  hut  the  change  did  not  benefit  him  as 
and  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
settling  in  Philadelphia.  He  lived  retired  there 
until  his  death,  in  the  fall  of  1897.  lie  mai 
Elizabeth  Weibley,  and  they  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  five  -on-  and  seven  daughters. 
Mr.  Bealor  was  a  Democrat  and  active  in  the 
polities  of  his  locality,  serving  as  overseer  of  the 
pool-  for  two  terms;  in  religion  lie  was  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church  and  a  worker  in  the 
congregation,  serving  a  number  of  years  as  deacon, 
■lohn  W.  Bealor.  son  of  Benjamin  F..  was  born 
March  If).  1854,  in  Perry  county,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  preparatory  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  New  Bloomfield  Academy,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  LSI.".,  lie  then  be- 
gan to  study  medicine  under  Dr.  6.  A.  Richard- 
son,   of     Newport,     Perry    county,    and    took   the 

course  at  the  College  of  Physician-  and   Sing i-. 

at  Baltimore,  Md.,  graduating  therefrom  with 
high  honor-  in  1876.  His  first  location  for  prac- 
tice was  at  Elliottsburg,  Perry  county,  where  he 
remained  for  years,  after  which  be  was  at  Locust 
Gap,  Northumberland  county,  a  year  and  a  half 
before  settling  in  Shamokin.  in  May,  1882.     Here 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


603 


lit-  at  oner  entered  into  a  most  lucrative  general 
practice,  both  medical  and  surgical,  and  in  addi- 
tion established  a  large  drug  store,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  his  own  patrons  and  also  for  general 
prescription  work  and  the  sale  of  pure  drugs  and 
druggists'  sundries  of  all  kinds.  His  reputation 
as  a  physician  and  druggisi  is  second  to  none, 
and  his  high  personal  standing  has  been  won  by 
years  of  conscientious  service  to  bis  fellow  men. 
Dr.  Bealor  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Northum- 
berland County  Medical  Society,  and  socially  he 
is  well  known  as  a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge, 
No.  664,  I.  0.  <>.  P.;  Washington  Camp,  P.  0. 
S.  of  A.:  and  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks.  Ee  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  political  faith. 

Dr.  Bealor  married  Mary  ('.  Albert,  daughter 
of  George  Albert,  and  six  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely:  Benjamin  A.,  Florence  E.,  Quilla 
E.,  Ileiirv  Mark,  Helen  Mary  and  John  Watt, 
the  last    named   dying  when   two  years  old. 

Benjamin  A.  Bealor  attended  public  school  in 
Shamokin,  including  one  year  in  high  school,  and 
graduated  in  1893  from  the  Shamokin  Business 
College.  For  three  years  he  was  a  student  at  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  Balti- 
more   University    School    of    Medicine,   at    Balti- 

v.  Md..  in 1 1 n  which  he  was  graduated  in  Bum;. 

subsequently  taking  a  post-graduate  course  at  the 
Atlantic  Medual  College,  at  Baltimore,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1909.  Returning  to 
Shamokin  at  the  completion  of  his  course  he  lo- 
cated at  No.  51  North  Second  street.  He  is  do- 
ing excellent  work  in  his  profession,  and  bis  pat- 
ronage during  bis  short  period  of  actual  practice 
has  been  most  gratifying.  Dr.  Bealor  is  well 
known  among  the  local  fraternal  bodies,  belong- 
ing to  the  Elks,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church  and  a  Republi- 
can in  political  sentiment. 

On  July  30,  L908,  Dr.  Bealor  married  Mabel 
A.  Roberts,  only  daughter  of  E.  E.  Roberts,  of 
Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  they  have  a  son.  John  Albert, 
bom  May  26,  1910. 

DODGE.  At  Northumberland,  this  county,  re- 
side the  lirothers  Charles  H.  Dodge  and  William 
Benry  Dodge,  both  of  whom  are  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  that  borough  and  included  among  its  sub- 
stantia] citizens.  They  are  sons  of  Joseph  It. 
Dodge  and  grandsons  of  David  Stone  Dodge. 

David  Stone  Dodge  was  bom  in  1783  in  the 
State  of  \ew  Hampshire,  and  went  from  bis  na- 
tive State  to  Kentucky,  where  he  lived  until  1824. 
From  there  he  went  to  New  Jersey  and  eventu- 
ally to  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  keeping  a 
store  at  Elysburg  some  years  and  thence  moving 
to  Northumberland.  At  the  latter  place  lie  had 
a  rope  manufactory,  which  he  carried  on  until 
his  death,  employing  some  thirty  men  in  hi-  es- 


tablishment, which  was  the  leading  industrial  con- 
cern in  the  borough  in  its  day.  He  served  a  num- 
ber  of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  after  coming 
to  Northumberland  ami  was  a  substantial  citizen 
here  as  elsewhere;  lie  had  valuable  property  hold- 
ings  at  one  time,  and  left  an  estate  in  Kentucky 
valued  at  over  $45,000,  which  his  heirs  were  ttn- 
able  to  secure  possession  of  because  of  the  lack 
of  legal  proof  of  their  claims.  Fie  was  a  Whig 
in  politics  and  a  Presbyterian  in  religion.  "Squire" 
Dodge  was  first  married  to  a  Kentucky  woman 
and  the  second  time  (in  New  Jersey  or  Pennsyl- 
vania) to  Mary  Anderson.  To  tlie  first  union 
were  l„, ni  eleven  children,  who  are  now  scattered 
all  over  the  eastern  part  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. B\  his  second  marriage  there  were  two  sons 
and  one  daughter,  Emeline,  Stephen  B.  and  Jos 
eph  R.  Stephen  B.  Dodge  was  a  resident  of 
Northumberland,  and  died  in  1906  ;1t  the  age  of 
Seventy-four  years:  his  children  were  David  S.. 
John,  Alice,  Heinline  Stone,  Sallie,  Harry.  Ed- 
ward. William  F.  ami  Fannie.  "Squire"  Dodge 
died  iii  1850,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  year-,  and 
i-  buried  in  Riverview  cemetery,  at  Northumber- 
land.    The   Dodge   family  is  of  English  descent. 

Joseph  It.  Dodge  was  born  Jidy  31,  1836,  at 
Northumberland,  where  be  still  makes  his  home. 
lie  received  his  education  in  the  local  seh, nils, 
and  at  an  early  age  began  working  in  his  father's 
rope  factory,  spinning  twine  before  he  was  twelve 
years  old.  In  1868  be  became  a  puddler,  working 
for  the  Van  Alen  Company  as  an  iron  worker 
for  thirteen  years,  until  he  met  with  an  accident 
which  crippled  his  left  band.  He  then  built  him- 
self a  store  at  the  corner  of  Queen  and  Second 
-Meet-,  in  the  borough  of  Northumberland,  and 
engaged  in  business,  dealing  in  tobacco,  confec- 
tionery, flour  and  wheat  for  many  years,  finally 
selling  out.  For  two  years  thereafter,  L893-94, 
be  was  jury  commissioner  of  the  county,  was  then 
engaged  lor  some  tune  as  agent  of  the  Prudential 
Insurance  Company,  and  in  1905  began  driving 
a  bakery  wagon  for  bis  son.  William  II.  Dodge, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  baking  business  in  North- 
umberland. Mr.  Dodge  has  always  been  a  Repub- 
lican, and  at  one  time  was  quite  active  in  the 
party  and  in  local  public  affairs,  serving  nine 
years  as  constable  of  the  county,  eight  years  as 
overseer  of  the  poor,  one  year  as  supervisor,  and 
three  years  as  councilman  in  his  borough.  He 
has  given  efficient  and  public-spirited  service  in 
everj  capacity,  and  is  a  well  and  favorably  known 
citizen,  commanding  the  esteem  of  all  wdio  know 
him. 

On  Dec.  17,  1857,  Mr.  Dodge  married  Mary  A. 
lime,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Hulli- 
gan)  Iline,  of  Northumberland,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  had  six  children:  Emma,  who  died  when 
small:  Mary  J.,  who  died  when  small :  Charles  II. : 
"William    Henry:    Florence    M..    who   died    small: 


€04 


XORTHUMBERLAN  I )  (  Hi   XTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  Harvey   0.,   of   Baltimore.     Mr.   Dodge  and 
hi?  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Charles  H.  Dodge,  dealer  in  real  estate  and 
insurance  at  Northumberland,  where  he  ha?  built 
up  a  creditable  business,  to  which  he  now  gives 
all  his  time,  was  born  in  the  borough  of  North- 
umberland Sept.  17.  1867.  He  attended  public 
school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  began  work  in  the  Van  Alen  nail  mill  at 
Northumberland,  where  he  was  employed  until 
sixteen.  At  that  time  he  became  a  pupil  at  the 
Williamsport  Commercial  College,  graduating 
from  that  school  in  1885.  Returning  home  he 
tools  a  position  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company  in  1887,  in  the  clerical  department  at 
Sunbury,  making  bis  residence  at  Northumber- 
land. He  remained  with  that  company  until 
June.  1909,  when  he  gave  up  bis  position  to  de- 
vote all  his  time  to  his  real  estate  and  insurance 
interests.  His  office  is  at  No.  328  Queen  street. 
Mr.  Dodge  had  commenced  this  business  some 
time  previously,  gradually  building  up  a  patron- 
age which  has  come  to  require  all  his  time.  He 
began  selling  insurance  first,  later  dealing  in  real 
te,  and  he  now  has  a  lucrative  business  in 
both  lines.  He  is  at  present  handling  the  Priest- 
ly Terrace  property,  which  is  very  well  loi 
near  the  borough,  and  which  he  has  been  quite 
successful  in  selling.  Mr.  Dodge  lias  filled  the 
office  of  town  clerk  of  Northumberland  for  the 
past  fifteen  years.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  P.,  and.  with  his  fam- 
ily, ed  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  June.  1887.  Mr.  Dodge  married  Bella  Ja- 
coliv.  daughter  of  E.  R.  Jacob}',  of  Northumber- 
land borough,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Florence,  Ezra  and  Mary. 

William  Henry  Dodge,  who  has  been  engaged 
in  the  bakery  business  in  Northumberland  bor- 
ough since  1905,  was  born  Feb.  1,  1871,  at  the 
place  where  he  now  lives,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  local  public  schools.  When  fifteen 
years  old  he  began  working  in  the  nail  mill, 
where  he  was  employed  six  years,  until  an  acci- 
dent caused  the  loss  of  his  right  eye.  From  that 
time  until  1808  he  teamed  and  hauled  freight. 
and  for  the  next  live  years  was  in  the  emplo 
Persing  &  Cooke,  at  Arters.  this  county.  He 
operated  a  coal  digger  for  Simcox  &  Dodge  for 
two  years,  and  for  about  two  years  was  engaged 
as  a  janitor,  in  1905  purchasing  the  stock,  good 
will  and  fixtures  of  Ralph  Mertz,  baker,  at  North- 
umberland, where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business.  The  establishment  is  known  as  the 
ral  Bakery,  located  at  Church  and  Orange 
streets,  and  Mr.  Dodge  now  owns  the  building 
in  which  he  i-  located.  Though  he  started  with 
almost  nothing,  he  has  managed  so  thriftily  and 
ted  the  business  so  successfully  that  he  is 
now    considered    one    of    the   prosperous   business 


men  of  the  borough,  where  he  has  the  leading  trade 
in  his  line.  He  has  the  most  modern  appliances 
and  equipment,  and  his  trade  has  become  so  ex- 
tensive that  he  employs  five  men  constantly  and 
is  three  teams  busy.  Mr.  Dodge  has  also  be- 
come interested  in  the  artificial  ice  business,  run- 
ning a  team  the  year  round.  He  is  a  well  known 
man  in  this  section,  a  member  of  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 
Camp  No.  622,  at  Northumberland,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  141,  of  the  Beavers.  Politically  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  1896  he  served  as  supervisor  of 
streets  in  Northumberland. 

On  Nov.  11.  1891,  Mr.  Dodge,  married  Mary 
J.  House!,  daughter  of  Jacob  B.  and  Harriet  L. 
(Gibb  •  i  Eousel,  of  Northumberland.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  bom  to  them:  Joseph  R.,  who 
is  head  baker  for  his  father :  Margaret  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Martha  H. :  George  I  >. :  William 
md  Mary  E.  Mr.  Dodge  and  bis  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

JOSEPH  II .  .1 1  >B  X  SON,  one  of  the  young  suc- 
1  and  enterprising  business  men  of  Milton, 
Pa.,  who  has  ""made  good"  in  every  position  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  fill,  now  presiding  with 
marked  ability-  and  impartiality  as  president  of 
the  town  council,  was  born  in  that  town  Nov. 
son  of  Edward  W.  and  Sallie  S.  (Hous- 
el  i   Johnson. 

The  early  home  of  the  Johnson  family  was  in 
Northampton.  England,  and  there  in  the  village 
of  Guisborough  was  born  James  Johnson,  Jan. 
24,  1774.  He  died  in  Northumberland  county. 
Pa.,  Aug.  31,  1834.  His  wife  Ann.  whom  he  mar- 
in  England,  was  born  at  Naseby  April  2, 
1776,  and  died  at  Northumberland  March  31, 
L865.  They  came  to  America  shortly  after  their 
marriage,  and  settled  in  tins  county,  where  they 
reared  their  children.  These  children  were:  John, 
Thomas,  George.  Samuel.  William.  James.  Eliza- 
beth and  Phoebe.  Of  these,  Samuel  served  in 
Company  B,  5th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and 
died  at  Annapolis  Dec.  19,  1864,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  year-. 

Thomas  Johnson,  son  of  James,  was  born  in 
L808,  and  died  in  1877.  He  followed  farming 
in  Point  township,  and  also  operated  a  saw  and 
grist  mill,  becoming  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  his  district.  He  married  Sophia  Gibbons,  torn 
1804.  died  1876.  and  both  are  buried  in  North- 
umberland county.  Their  children  were:  Amos: 
Isaiah:  Reuben,  born  in  1834,  living  in  this  coun- 
ty: Albert;  Edward  W. :  Josiah;  and  Hester,  who 
married  Joseph  Wertz. 

Amos  Johnson,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
1831,  and  followed  farming  in  Point  township, 
owning  a  farm  of  170  acres.  He  died  there  in  1860, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Northumberland  cemetery. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.     To  him  and 


.VORTHFMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


605 


his  wife  Mary  (Willard)  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Edward  \V. :  Abbie  E.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Clement  Wallace;  Ward  W. ;  Amelia, 
who  married  William  Warren  and  died  Aug.  9, 
189]  :  ami  Daniel,  who  is  now  living  in  Oakland, 
California. 

Edward  W.  Johnson,  son  of  Amos,  was  horn 
in  1'uini  township,  this  county,  Feb.  1.  L853,  and 
died  at  Milton  Nov.  6,  1905;  he  is  buried  at 
Northumberland.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  township,  bul  later  weni  to  Northumber- 
land and  clerked  in  a  general  store  for  a  few 
years,  alter  which  he  came  to  Milton,  and  for 
some  years  was  employed  in  the  mills  as  a  nailer. 
Failing  health  necessitated  a  change  of  work,  and 
he  bought  out  William  P.  Hull's  coal  yard  in 
1897.  This  yard  had  been  established  by  Thomas 
Hull,  lather  of  William  P.,  and  was,  as  now,  lo- 
cated at  No.  55  Centre  street.  Here  Mr.  John- 
son carried  on  a  successful  business  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  man  of  upright  business  prin- 
ciples, and  had  a  genial  manner  that  won  him 
many  friends.  He  was  enterprising  and  keenly 
alive  to  the  needs  of  the  town,  and  his  death  was 
regarded  as  a  loss  in  the  whole  community.  He 
married  Sallie  S.  Housel,  who  resides  in  .Milton. 
This  union  was  blessed  with  but  one  son.  Jos- 
eph  II. 

Joseph  If.  Johnson  attended  the  local  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  Milton  high  school  in 
1001.  IIi'  then  entered  Dickinson  College  at 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  where  he  was  a  member  of  the  Sig 
ma  Alpha  Epsilon  fraternity,  and  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1905.  He  had  taken  up  the 
study  of  medicine  at  Philadelphia,  but  after  a 
\\:\v  months  was  summoned  home  by  his  father's 
illness,  and  he  was  obliged  to  take  charge  of  the 
business.  On  tin1  death  <>f  the  father  he  assumed 
full  control,  and  he  has  built  up  a  line  trade. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he 
has  been  very  active  in  work  for  his  chosen  party. 
In  1908  he  was  elected  for  a  three-years'  term  in 
the  town  council,  and  in  1909  was  made  presi- 
dent nt  same.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  is  at  the  present  time  serving  as 
steward.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  T.  O.  (). 
F.  and   I  he  B.    P.  O.K. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  1901  to  Kathar- 
ine Hobbs,  daughter  of  II.  Clay  Hobbs,  who  now 
resides  at  Denton.  Caroline  Co.,  Md.  Her  grand- 
father, Saulsbury  Hobbs,  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  day,  and  his  name  was  given  to  the  town 
of   Hobbs   in  Maryland. 

WILLIAM  BENSON  BIRD.  late  of  Shamo- 
kin.  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
families  of  Northumberland  county  and  himself 
one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  the  borough  in 
which  he  made  his  home,  having  for  twenty-six 
years   held    the   responsible   positions   of  assistant 


weighmaster  at  the  Weigh  Scales  and  chief  clerk 
ai  the  Shamokin  station  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Railway  Company.  He  was  also  prominent  in 
G.  A.  R.  circles,  having  been  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  Lincoln 
Post.  No.  140,  of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Bird  was  born 
in  Lst?  on  Commerce  street.  Shamokin,  son  of 
Pemberton  Bird,  and  was  a  member  of  the  fourth 
generation  of  his  family  to  reside  in  this  county. 
The  history  of  its  early  settlement  here  and  sub- 
sequent  activitj  in  local  affairs  is  an  interesting 
reeon  I . 

.lames  Bird,  his  great-grandfather,  a  native  of 
Warren  county.  N.  J.,  came  to  Pennsylvania  and 
settled  in  Rush  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, remaining  on  the  farm  where  he  then  located 
until  his  death.  \n  New  Jersey  he  married,  and 
his  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  as  follows: 
John,  Rachel  (Mrs.  Jacob  Shipman),  Sarah  (Mrs. 
Scott).  Susanna  (Mrs.  William  Kimball).  Ziba, 
.lames.  Joseph,  William  and  Sylvanus. 

Sylvanus  Bird,  youngest  -on  of  James  Bird,  was 
born  in  1796,  and  died  in  March.  1856.  He 
was  reared  in  Rush  township,  spending  his  early 
life  on  the  farm,  ami  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, at  which  be  was  employed  by  his  brother 
Ziba.  who  was  superintendent  for  John  C.  Boyd, 
the  founder  of  shamokin.  He  located  at  Shamo- 
kin in  1838  ami  there  made  his  home  to  the  end 
of  his  days,  building  many  of  the  early  houses 
there.  He  was  also  well  known  as  postmaster, 
serving  as  such  from  1852  until  his  death,  ex- 
cepting from  January  to  December,  1855;  he  also 
served  twenty  years  as  justice  of  the  peai  e. 

In  1816  Mr.  Bird  married  Lena  Tietsworth, 
daughter  of  Robert,  and  to  them  were  born  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Pemberton,  Eliza,  John  W.. 
William  W..  Joseph  F..  Angelina  (widow  of 
George  W.  Raver),  Matilda  (wife  of  Peter  Heim), 
Robert  T..  Josiah  F.  (of  Shamokin)  and  Sarah 
J.,  all  now  deceased. 

Pemberton  Bird,  eldest  son  of  Sylvanus  Bird, 
was  born  in  Shamokin  township  in  1S1T.  and  died 
in  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  lie  received 
an  elementary  English  education  in  his  native 
place,  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which, 
however,  he  did  not  follow  to  any  great  extent. 
He  was  clerk  for  Boyd  &  Rosser  eight  years,  for 
Joseph  Bird  ten  years  and  for  the  Bird  Coal  & 
Iron  Company,  attaining  high  responsibility  with 
the  latter  concern,  of  which  he  was  president  for 
six  years,  later  serving  as  vice  president,  during 
In-  declining  years.  lie  was  prominent  in  the 
local  civil  administration,  serving  as  a  member  of 
the  borough  council,  borough  clerk  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  school  director.  Religious  matters 
also  claimed  a  large  share  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion. He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Shamokin.  in  184? 
was   ordained    a    local    preacher,   and    in    is  lit   was 


606 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


appointed  to  the  Elysburg  circuit  1>\  the  Baltimore 
Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  continuing  in 
the  active  ministry  eleven  years,  ai  various  points. 
In  politics  he  was  a   Republican. 

In  1838  Mr.  Bird  married  Mary  Arnold,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Arnold,  of  Snydertown,  and  five 
children  were  born  to  them:  William  Benson;  An- 
nie, widow  of  ('.  W.  Young;  Sylvanus,  deceased; 
•  loseph  F..  of  Colorado;  ami  Charles,  of  llarris- 
burg. 

William   r>en-nn   Bird    rived  his  education  in 

ili''    ?cl I-   of   Shamokin.     A   youth   of  nineteen 

when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  Aug.  13,  L861,  under  Capt.  Cyrus 
Strouse,  as  a  member  of  Company  K.  46th  Reg 
mint.  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry-,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  United  State-  sen  Si  it.  16, 
1861,  at  Barrisburg,  lor  three  wars.  He  was 
honorabh  -  ged  from  active  sen  ei  Sept.  13, 
1864,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment. 
Compaq  K.  largely  recruited  from  Shamokin  and 
vicinity,  took  pari  in  the  following  battles:  Win- 
Chester,  Va. ;  Middleton,  \'a. :  Winchester,  Va. 
(second  battle);  Cedar  Mountain.  Va.,  Aug.  9, 
1862;  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  Aug.  21  :  South 
Mountain,  Md.,  Sept.  11:  Antietam,  Sept.  17; 
Chancellorsville,  Mav  1.  v.  3,  1863:  Gettysburg, 
July  1.  2,  3;  Resaea,  (hi..  Mav  19,  1864  :  Dallas, 
(hi..  Mav  25;  Pine  Knob,  (hi.,  dune  9:  Culp's 
Farm,  dune  22;  Peach  Tree  Creek.  July  20;  At- 
lanta. Sept.  6;  Cypress,  (.a..  Dee.  8;  Savannah, 
Dec.  21;  (      •  S.  ('..  March  2,  1865;  Coon 

I;  q.  V  C,  April  10;  Avervsboro,  X.  C,  March 
1  1  :  and  Bentonville,  X.  C,  March  in.  Mr.  Bird 
was  wounded  three  times  while  in  the  service, 
having  been  shot  through  the  arm  anil  leg  at  I 
Mountain,  while  his  company  was  operating  as 
of  tin'  Army  of  Virginia,  under  General  Pope, 
Bank-  Division.  Company  K  went  into  this  bat- 
tle with  forty-eight  men  and  came  out  with  twen- 
ty-four, eleven  being  killed  and  thirteen  wounded. 
Tin'  wounds  received  at  Cellar  Mountain  disabled 
him  for  active  service,  and  necessitated  hi-  con- 
finement in  the  Saint  John's  College  hospital.  An- 
napolis, Md.,  for  many  months.  Upon  recovery 
lie  was  commissioned  to  do  secretary  duty  in  the 
medical  department  of  tin  is  al,  which  pi  - 
tiou        i  reditably  filled  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Bird's  interest  in  military  affairs  remained 
with  him  to  the  close  of  hi-  days.  11''  was  one 
le  organizers  of  Lincoln  Post.  No.  140,  0.  A. 
I.'.,  of  Shamokin.  serving  that  organization  several 
times  a-  commander,  his  valued  services  as  adju- 
tant also  being  frequently  sought  by  other  com- 
manders. Ever  one  of  the  post's  mosl  useful  and 
active  members,  his  death  caused  a  gap  in  the  ranks 
hard  to  fill.  On  Sept.  9,  1892,  following  In-  di 
mise,  a  handsomely  framed  crayon  portrait  of  the 
deceased  was  presented  to  the  post  by  his  former 
comrades,  an   unusual   mark  of  devotion   and    re- 


for  the  departed.  The  crayon  occupies  a 
prominent  position  on  the  wall  in  the  rear  of  the 
desk  of  the  adjutant,  which  office  Mr.  Bird  held 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Under  Commander 
Samuel  Harper.  Department  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
1887,  !e'  wa-  commissioned  chief  mustering  officer 
of  the  State.  With  Ins  felloM  officers  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  he  was  the  special  guest  of  the  Philadelphia 
Union  League,  Oct  18,  1887,  on  the  occasion  of 
the  unveiling  of  the  monument  to  General  Meade. 
National  Commander  Russell  A.  Alger,  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  lS!io  selected 
him  as  our  of  the  aides  de  camp  of  his  personal 
stall'.  The  Pennsylvania  State  encampment  hon- 
ored him  at  differen!  times  as  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional encampment-,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Milwaukee,  W  is.,  and  Erie,  Pa.  In  all  of 
-  of  high  responsibility  he  did  credit 
to  himself  and  to  those  who  chose  him.  Mr.  Bird 
was  also  a  chief  factor  in  the  organization  and 
upbuilding  of  Linco  I'  si  Corporation,  of  Sha- 
mokin. which  i'" es  ■  oi   the  mo-;   valuable 

properties  owned  exclusively  by  0.  A.   I!,  men  in 
the  State,     lie  was  also  one  of  the  active  organiz- 
al    branch  of  the   Royal   Arcanum, 
serving   that    beneficial    society   as    regent   at 
time  '  -        ath. 

Not  long  after  his  return  to  civil  life,  upon  the 
close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Bird  became  associated  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  continuing 
in  its  employ  lor  a  consecutive  term  of  twenty- 
six  years,  marked  for  efficient  service  and  intelli- 
gent disi  barge  of  hi-  responsible  duties,  lie  nat- 
urally made  many  friends  and  acquaintances  in 
this  connection,  and  few  men  in  Shamokin 
more  widely  or  favorably  known.  He  died  June 
1.  1892,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty- 
nine  years.  Mr.  Bird  was  an  attendant  of  the 
i        idist  Church. 

In  1  ST  l  Mr.  Bird  married  Clara  E.  John,  who 
-iir\i\es  him.  Sin-  i-  a  member  of  the  Lincoln 
i  Methodisl  Episcopal  Church  and  ha-  long 
taken  an  active  part  in  church  and  Sunday  school 
work-,  having  served  twenty-nine  years  as  organist 
of  the  infant  department  of  the  Sunday  school. 
children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird: 
Cora  Blanche,  who  lives  at  home:  Samuel  John, 
now  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Shamokin 
Banking  Company;  William  Carlton,  deceased; 
and  Rutherford  Town-end.  deceased.  Samuel 
John  Bird  in  1902  was  married  to  Rosella  Cooper, 
daughter  of  Luther  S.  and  Alice  (  Keefer)  Cooper. 
of  Snydertown,  Pa.  To  them  have  been  horn  three 
children:  John  Cooper,  and  William  and  Bobert, 
twins. 


Samuel  John,  father  of  Mrs.  i  lara  E.  (John) 
Bird,  was  a  pioneer  resident  of  Shamokin.  where 
he  lived  from  1839  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
native    of    Shamokin     (now     Ralphoi     township. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


601 


NortHumbei  [and  county,  born  Feb.  27,  1807,  sev- 
enth son  of  Abia  and  "Martha  John,  who  settled 
in  this  county  in  1795,  and  passed  his  early  youth 

"ii  the  ! istead  farm,  continuing  to  reside' there 

until  his  removal  to  Sharnokin,  in  April,  1839. 
He  followed  farming,  to  which  occupation  he  was 
trained  from  boyhood,  operated  the  old  forge  be- 
low Sharnokin,  and  also  did  surveying,  convey- 
ancing, etc.  When  be  settled  in  Sharnokin  he 
engaged  in  merchandising,  in  connection  with 
which  he  had  so  manj  other  interests  that  he  was 
a  wn  mm-\  man.  tie  operated  what  was  then 
known  as  the  Buck  Ridge  colliery,  and  conducted 
the  Sharnokin  foundry,  manufacturing  plows, 
stoves,  hollow  ware,  etc.,  an  ambitious  enterprise 
in  that  da\ .  [n  181-1  be  was  appointed  postmaster, 
holding  that  office  two  years.  He  assisted  Himber 
Cleaver  in  locating  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Eastern  railroad,  and  was  active  in  procuring  the 
southern  outlet  to  Baltimore,  to  transport  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  Sharnokin  coal  field  to  the  South  by 
rail.  In  1861  be  was  one  of  those  wdio  secured 
a  charter  for  a  railroad  between  Sharnokin  and 
Trevorton.  Having  leased  the  Green  Ridge  col- 
liery, which  he  called  the  ( Ireen  Mountain  colliery, 
he  decided  that  the  Western  markets  would  be  the 
best  for  the  output  and  be  accordingly  assisted 
in  procuring  a  charter  for  the  Enterprise  railroad. 
Both  these  roads  are  now-  owned  and  operated  as 
parts  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  system.  His 
part  in  the  development  of  the  Sharnokin  coal 
.field,  and.  in  that  connection,  of  the  local  trans- 
portation facilities,  was  an  important  one,  and  his 
interest  in  these  lines  was  awakened  early,  for  he 
was  recogrj  ed  as  a  leader  in  such  operation-  as 
far  back  as  1832,  in  which  year  the  Legislature 
appointed  him  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
Danville  >\  Pottsville  railroad.  Moreover,  he  was 
a  director  of  the  Sharnokin  Town  Lot  Association, 
which  had  for  its  object  the  promotion  of  manu- 
facturing industries.  He  continued  his  mercantile 
interests  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  having 
a  general  store  in  Sharnokin  for  year-,  and  op- 
erating stores  at  Mount  Comfort  and  Mount  Car- 
mel.  Local  banking  interests  also  had  him  among 
their  most  prominent  supporters,  he  having  served 
at  one  time  as  cashier  of  the  Sharnokin  Bank 
and  for  year-  as  a  dire,  tor  of  the  Sharnokin  Bank- 
ing Company,  the  only  hank  in  the  borough  which 
withstood  the  panic  of  1877.  He  was  the  founder, 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Sharnokin  Register, 
the  second  newspaper  published  in  the  borough. 
In  fact  there  were  few  phases  of  the  life  of  the 
community,  particularly  those  designed  to  benefil 
the  general  welfare,  which  did  not  elicit  his  sup- 
port and  encouragement.  He  took  a  deep  inter- 
est   hi    establishing   and    maintaining   the   public 

scl I   system  and   served  many  rears  as  a  school 

director  in  Sharnokin  township.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Sharnokin  Lyceum  and  took  part  in  its 
disi  H--M1I-. 


In  politics  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  Mr. 
John  took  little  active  part  in  political  affairs  and 
never  sought  office,  his  appointments  as  postmaster 
and  justice  of  the  peace  coming  to  him  entirely 
unsolicited,  lie  resigned  both  offices  after  cred- 
itable service.  He  was  once  a  candidate  for  Con- 
gress in  this  district,  but  the  nomination  went  to 
a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  did  consid- 
erable toward  establishing  an  almshouse  in  Coal 
township. 

Though  a  busy  man  until  he  died.  July  23,  1877, 
in  his  seventy-first  year.  Mr.  John  bad  robusl 
health,  which  he  attributed  to  bis  abstemious  hab- 
its and  regular  life.  He  was  a  thorough  business 
man.  making  the  most  of  all  his  undertakings 
and  expecting  those  with  whom  lie  had  dealings 
to  till  their  contracts  to  the  letter,  but  he  was 
equally  particular  about  discharging  his  own  ob- 
ligations. Fraternally  he  was  a  Mason,  lie  was 
of  direct  Quaker  descent. 

When  twenty-six  years  old  Mr.  John  married 
Angelina  John,  second  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Mary  John,  of  Catawissa  township,  Columbia 
county,  of  the  same  name  but  not  related.  She 
survived  him.  dying  Sept.  5,  1894.  Five  sons 
and  five  daughters  were  born  to  this  marriage, 
namely:  Laertes  P.,  who  is  deceased;  U.  !•'..  a 
lawyer  of  Sharnokin,  deceased;  Kersey  T.  a  mer- 
chant of  Mount  Carmel.  deceased;  J.  M..  de- 
ceased; Samuel  I,.,  deceased;  Vienna  A.;  Clara 
E.,  whIow  of  William  B.  Bird,  of  Sharnokin; 
Angelina  b'..  deceased  wife  of  William  H.  Shipe, 
of  Minnesota;  Mary  A.,  who  married  William  E. 
Raver,  now  deceased,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles   A.    Smith,   of   Sharnokin;   and    Sarah    L. 

CHARLES  A.  HARTMAN,  of  Sunbury,  furni- 
ture dealer,  (bus  a  leading  business  in  his  line. 
having  a  trade  which  extends  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  borough  all  over  the  territory  of  which 
that  place  is  the  center.  lie  ha-  lived  in  Sun- 
hurv  since  1895,  and  has  been  in  business  on  his 
own  account  since  1904. 

Mr.  Ilarlman  is  a  native  of  Snyder  county  and 
a  member  of  a  family  of  long  .-landing  there 
John  Hartman,  bis  great-grandfather,  was  born 
An-.  13,  1782,  and  died  July  31,  1854  :  he  is 
buried  in  the  private  burial  ground  of  the  Ilarl- 
man family  at  Sharnokin  Dam.  Snyder  county. 

John  Hartman,  son  of  John,  was  born  at  Sha- 
rnokin Dam.  ami  followed  fanning  throughout  his 
active  life.  lie  married  Mary  Keefer,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  Mr.  Hartman 
reaching  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  They  are  Ln- 
terred  in  the  Ilarlman  eemeter  at  Sharnokin 
Dam.     Their  children  were  :  Samuel  :  Marx  :  TheO 

dosia,  who  married  Theodore  II nel;  Mary,  who 

married    Philip  Gibbons  ;  and    Newton    E. 

Wwton   E.  Hartman.  father  of  Charles  A.   Hart 
man.  was  horn  April    Hi.   1849.      During  his  active 
vears  he  was  engaged   in  farming  and   lumbering 


COS 


X ORT HUMBERLAND  L'OU X TY,  1'KX NSYLVANIA 


at  Mifflinburg,  Union  county,  but  for  a  number 
of  years  past  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Shamokin 
Dam,  of  which  place  he  is  a  well  known  citizen. 
He  is  a  Republican,  and  for  ten  years  held  the 
office  of  supervisor  of  Monroe  township.  Snyder 
county.  On  July  4.  1871,  he  married  Alice  Len- 
'hart,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (  Sampsel)  Len- 
hart  and  granddaughter  ol  George  Lenhart,  and 
they  have  had  two  children,  Charles  A.  and  Em- 
ma, the  latter  the  wife  of  Arthur  Heiser  and 
living  at  Shamokin  Dam.  The  Hartman  family 
are  Methodists  in  religious  connection. 

Charles  A.  Hartman  was  born  Oct.  5,  1877,  in 
Monroe  township  (at  Shamokin  Dam).  Snyder 
county .  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Later  he  at- 
tended Susquehanna  University,  at  Selinsgrove. 
lie  then  began  to  learn  the  hardware  business,  a1 
which  he  was  employed  for  a  year  in  Philadelphia, 
thence  coming  to  Sunbury,  in  1895.  For  the  next 
nine  years  he  was  in  the  employ  oi  George  W. 
Ilackett.  a  leading  hardware  merchant  of  this 
place,  remaining  with  him  until  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Mr.  ('.  J.  [ves,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Ives  &  Hartman.  On  June  28,  1904,  they 
opened  a  new  furniture  and  undertaking  estab- 
lishment in  the  two-story  building  at  Nbs.  421-423 
Market  street  where  Mr.  Hartman  is  still  loe: 
putting  in  a  fine  stock  of  furniture  and  house 
furnishings  of  all  kinds,  and  all  modern  appliances 
for  the  conduct  of  an  up-to-date  undertaking  de- 
partment. They  continued  in  partnership  until 
January,  1910,  when  the  association  was  dissolved 
by  mutual  agreement,  Mr.  Eartman  buying  his 
partner's  interest  in  the  furniture  business.  He 
lias  since  added  materially  to  his  stock,  which  in- 
cludes the  finest  furniture  in  the  market,  and  con- 
tinues to  do  a  thriving  business,  his  customers 
coming  from   a   wide  radius  around   Sunbury. 

Though  his  business  interests  have  always  re- 
ceived the  most  conscientious  attention.  Mr.  Hart- 
man has  found  time  for  participation  in  local  pub- 
lic affairs,  was  auditor  of  the  borough  two  terms, 
and  member  of  the  council  from  the  First  ward 
three  years.  He  has  been  an  efficient  worker  in  the 
Republican  organization  for  years,  having  been  bor- 
ough chairman  for  two  terms,  and  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  workings  of  the  party  in  city 
and  county. 

On  June  8,  1898.  Mr.  Hartman  married  Ger- 
trude S.  Savage,  'laughter  of  Martin  L.  and 
Mary  (Batchler)  Savage,  of  Northumberland. 
They  have  one  daughter.  Mary  Helen. 

Mr.  Hartman  has  been  a  member  of  Lodge  Xo. 
267,  B.  P.  0.  E..  of  Sunbury.  since  1898.  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Conclave. 

GEORGF.  W.  SCOTT,  of  Mount  Carmel,  teller 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  place,  member 
of  the  borough  council,  is  a  type  of  the  best  citizen- 


ship this  region  affords.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Thomas  Si  ott,  than  whom  there  was  no  more  pro- 
gressive  resident  of  Mount  Carmel  in  bis  day. 

John  and  Mary  (Patton)  Scott,  grandparents 
ol  George  W.  Scott,  came  to  America  from  Eng- 
land in  1837.  They  first  settled  at  Mine  Hill  Gap, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Scott  was  engaged 
in  mining  for  ten  years.  He  then  moved  to  what 
was  then  known  as  Payne's  Patch,  where  he  sunk 
the  second  slope  in  the  valley  and  remained  for 
seven  years,  thence  moving  to  Plymouth,  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.  There  he  also  spenl  seven  years,  as  su- 
perintendent of  mines,  was  located  at  Hazleton, 
same  county,  for  a  short  time,  and  in  1861  came 
to  Locus!  Gap,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
was  superintendent  of  mines  until  his  death,  in 
1869.  His  family  consisted  of  five  children, 
Thomas,  Man  A.  (Mrs.  Henry  Eckman),  Eliza- 
beth    (Mrs.    George    Roudenbush),    I rge    and 

.1  amies. 

Thomas  Scott,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Pat- 
ton)  Scott,  was  bom  Feb.  24,  [836,  in  Northmn- 
berlandshire,  England,  and  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica by  his  parents  the  uext  year.  In  1861  he,  too, 
settled  at  Locust  Gap,  where  he  was  engaged  at 
the  mines  as  outside  superintendent  of  a  breaker 
for  three  years.  He  next  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  there,  continuing  same  until  he  sold  out 
in  .Tune.  1867,  at  which  time  he  settled  down  to 
farming  in  New  Britain,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  He  was 
thus  engaged  eighteen  month-,  in  1869  taking 
his  resilience'  in  Mount  Carmel.  For  fifteen  years 
he  carried  on  a  hotel  business  in  the  borough,  in 
the  spring  of  1885  giving  up  that  line  to  enter  the 
wholesale  liquor  business,  in  which  he  was  inter- 
ested  the  rest  of  his  active  life.  In  June,  1889, 
when  the  Progress  Hat  and  Cap  Manufacturing 
Company  was  established,  he  became  president 
and  treasurer,  and  he  was  also  associated  with 
other  local  enterprises,  having  been  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  the  Mount 
Carmel  Water  Company,  of  which  he  was  a  char- 
ter member,  and  which  he  served  a-  superintend- 
ent from  the  beginning,  lie  was  a  director  of  the 
Citizens"  Building  ami  Loan  Association  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  Edison  Electric  Illuminating 
Company.  He  proved  himself  a  leader  in  all  his 
undertakings,  and  he  is  remembered  as  one  of 
the  most  useful  citizens  the  borough  has  known. 
Me.  Scotl  'lied  Aug.  28,  L905.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  a  Republican  in  political 
conviction. 

In  1862  Mr.  Scotl  married  Sarah  A.  Gunsett, 
daughter  of  Christian  Gunsett,  of  Locust  Gap, 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  name- 
ly: Minnie:  Oscar  J.,  a  furniture  manufacturer 
and  dealer  of  Mount  Carmel:  Frank:  Alexander: 
George  W.;  Katie,  and  Sallie. 

George  W.  Scott,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  A. 
(Gunsett)    Scott,    was    born    Feb.    -.'1.    18??.    in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COl  XTV.   PENNSYLVANIA 


609 


Mount  Carmel,  and  tliere  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  was  employed  as  clerk 
and  bookkeeper  by  Thomas  M.  Righter  &  Co.  for 
several  years  before  assuming  his  present  connec- 
tion, on  April  L3,  Ism;.  He  began  as  clerk  at  the 
bank,  and  in  1900  was  made  teller,  which  position 
he  has  since  Idled.  He  is  a  substantial  and  re- 
spected citizen,  and  has  been  serving  in  the  bor- 
ough council  for  the  past  few  years,  having  been 
elected  to  that  body  in  1908.  In  1909  he  was 
chosen  president  of  the  council,  in  which  honorable 
position  he  sustained  well  the  reputation  his  fam- 
ily has  made  lor  intelligent  and  efficient  public 
service.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  Socially  he  is  a  well  known  Ma- 
son, being  a  member  and  past  master  of  Mount 
Carmel  Lodge,  No.  378,  P.  &  A.  M. :  member  of 
Griscom  '  lhapter,  NO.  219,  R.  A.  M.:  of  Prince  of 
Peace  ( lommandery,  l\.  T..  Ashland  ;  and  of  Rajah 
Temple.  A.    V  0.  X.  M.  S..  Reading. 

On  June  1.  1905,  Mr.  Scott  married  Mary  M. 
Ferguson,  daughter  of  Rev.  W.  ( i.  Ferguson,  a 
Methodist  minister,  formerly  of  Harrislmrg,  Pa., 
who  died  ;it  Milton.  Pa.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers oti  be  Episcopal  Church. 

ADAMS.  The  ancestor  of  the  Adams  family, 
of  Ralpho  township,  Northumberland  county,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  that  section.  His 
descendants  are  still  numerous  there,  among  them 
being  1).  Alonzo  and  Allison  C.  Adams,  brothers, 
and  their  cousin.  Genera]  G.  Adams,  who  is  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Elysburg  Hotel."  We  give  some 
account  of  the  earlier  generations  in  this  country. 

Casper  Adams,  their  great-grandfather,  was  the 
first  of  the  family  in  this  country.  He  was  born 
April  25,  1755.  at  Langendiebach,  Offenburg, 
Germany.  Little  is  known  of  his  early  life.  On. 
coming  to  this  country,  he  lived  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  before  coming  to  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
in  Ralpho  township,  owning  several  hun- 
dred acre-  of  hind  there.  He  cleared  some 
of  his  land  and  followed  farming.  He  died 
Jan.  26,  1832,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  (the 
Blue)  church  in  Ralpho  township.  Casper  Adams 
married,  in  Berks  county.  Elizabeth  Hinkle,  of  that 
county,  and  they  had  a  large  family,  six  sons  and 
six  daughters,  namely:  Frederick  (1792-1853), 
John,  Samuel.  Casper,  Leonard,  Peter,  Nellie. 
(married  George  Startzel),  Susanna  (married 
Samuel  Startzel),  Elizabeth  (married  Gilbert 
Liby),  Polly  (married  Peter  Strausser),  Maria 
(married  Jacob  Krcher)  and  Catharine  (married 
Samuel  Anspach). 

Casper  Adam-,  fourth  son  id'  Casper  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hinkle)  Adams,  was  born  April  10,  1796, 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  arid 
was  there  reared  to  farm  life.  When  he  became 
of   age   his    father   deeded    100   acres   of   land    in 

39 


Ralpho  township  to  him.  this  being  tie'  farm  aft- 
erward occupied  by  his  son  George  C,  near  the 
Pine  church.  .Mr.  Adams  was  a  man  of  active 
mind,  one  who  interested  himself  in  the  general 
welfare  as  well  as  in  the  promotion  of  his  own 
interests,  and  he  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of 
his  locality  for  many  years,  well  known  as  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  supporters 
of  the  Blue  church,  with  which  he  was  identified 
all  his  life:  he  served  as  elder  of  that  church  and 
was  one  of  the  most  generous  contributors  toward 
tin-  erection  of  the  church  edifice.  He  married 
Susanna  Startzel  (daughter  of  John),  who  was 
horn  March  14,  1800,  and  died  Jan.  22,  L873;  Mr. 
Adams  died  Jan.  28,  188?.  and  is  buried  at  the 
Blue  church.  Their  children  were:  Benjamin, 
who  died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years 
(his  children  were  Edward,  William  F.  and  Lucin- 
da):  Daniel  H. :  Casper,  deceased;  George  C. ; 
David,  bom  in  1830;  Jacob,  horn  in  ]s:\:\.  who 
died  in  1895;  Samuel,  deceased:  William:  Eliza- 
beth (deceased),  who  married  William  Smith:  Su- 
sanna (deceased),  who  married  William  Klase; 
Polly,  Mrs.  Fry.  deceased;  Angelina,  who  married 
William  Smith  (both  were  suffocated  in  a  well 
in  Cleveland  township.  Columbia  Co..  Pa.);  and 
Harriet,  deceased. 

Daniel  H.  Adams,  son  of  Casper  and  Susanna 
(Startzel)  Adams,  was  born  in  1822  on  the  old 
homestead  near  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township. 
He  followed  farming  all  his  life,  owning  a  tract 
of  about  fifty  acres  near  the  Blue  church,  and  in 
connection  with  his  agricultural  work  engaged  in 
lime  burning.  He  died  June  20,  1892.  Mr. 
Adams  married  Sarah  A.  Pensyl,  who  was  horn 
in  1829,  daughter  of  Leonard  Pensyl.  and  died 
dan.  I.  1908.  They  are  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 
Twelve  children  were  horn  to  their  union,  viz.: 
Francis  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin;  John  is  de- 
ceased; llenrv  X.  lives  near  Rear  Gap,  in  Colum- 
bia county,  Pa.:  D.  Alonzo  is  mentioned  below; 
Leonard  M.  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin:  Nathan  G. 
is  located  ai  Pasinos;  Allison  C.  is  mentioned  be- 
low: Marietta   (deceased)   was  the  wife  of  Frank 

Erdman,  c oissi sr  of  Northumberland  county  : 

Emma  married   George   Erdman;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried   Philip  Richard    and    they   live   at    Elysburg, 
Northumberland  county;  Lyd'ia  married   Thoi 
Boughner,  of  Ralpho  ;  <  iasper  died  young. 

1 1,  Alonzo  Adams,  a  respected  resident  of  Ral- 
pho township,  engaged  in  fanning  on  the  old  home- 
stead, ai  the  Blue  church,  was  horn  there  Oct.  ;. 
is:.  I.  He  received  his  early  training  in  the  local 
schools,  later  attending  Elysburg  Academy,  and 
for  ;i  -hort  time  was  engaged  in  tea<  hing  school, 
having  Kaseman's  school  for  two  term-;  and  Mount 
Union  school,  in  Ralpho  township,  one  term.  For 
eighteen  years  I  hereafter  he  was  an  employee  of 
tin.  Pennsylvania  and  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad    C panies,   at    the  end  of   that  period 


till! 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.   PEN S SYLVAN  I A 


starting  the  mercantile  business,  al  Bear  Gap.  Aft- 
er ten  years  in  thai  line  he  sold  out  to  his  brother, 
Nathan  G.  Adams,  and  locating  at  Paxinos  lived 
retired  for  a  time.  Thence  he  removed  to  Sun- 
bury,  "here  he  was  in  the  restaurant  business 
one  year,  a  quently  had  a  store  at  Shamokin 

one  year.  Eaving  boughl  the  old  homestead,  his 
present  trad  of  fifty-one  acres  in  the  vicinil 
the  Blue  church,  he  removed  to  that  place  in  1907, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  He 
is  a  man  who  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  local 
affairs,  and  is  at  presenl  serving  .1-  supervisor  of 
In-  township;  previously  he  served  as  auditor.  In 
polities  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  church,  and  socially 
belongs  to  the  P.  0    S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Adams's  firsl  wife,  Dora  A.  (Knobel), 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  (Ivaseman) 
Knobel.    died    June    9,     1908,    aged    thirty-nine 

-.    and    is    buried    ai    the    Blue   church, 
was  the  mother  of  two  children:     Thomas   I.,  a 
painter    by    trade,    and    Katie    ML,    both    of    w 
live   at   hom,..      For   his   second   wife    Mr.    Adams 
married  Sad      Loss. 

Allison  C.  Adajis,  also  a  farmer  of  Ralpho 
township,  was  born  Feb.  1".  1872,  on  the  old  home- 
stead near  the  Blue  church.  His  early  education 
was  gained  at  the  Ivaseman  scl 1  and  he  re- 
mained with  In-  father  until  aboul  twenty-.three 
years  old.  After  working  ai  milling  about  one 
-  mar  Danville,  Montour  county,  he  boughl 
the  old   Haas   farm   from  his  brother,  Nathan  G. 

Adams,  this  place  c prising  seventy   acres  along 

the  Center  turnpike.     Ii  came  into  hi-  poss  • 
in  1902.  and  he  has  since  lived  there  and  devoted 

his  time  to  farming,  in  which  he  lias  been  suei 

t'11 1 .  He  is  a  man  of  active  disposition,  identified 
in  various  ways  with  local  affair-,  holding  various 
offices  with  distincl  credil  to  himself  and  satis 
tion  10  his  fellow  citizens.  He  has  been  auditor 
and  school  director  of  his  township,  and  1-  a1 
em  serving  h  -  second  term  as  township  treasurer: 
he  i-  also  filling  the  office  of  township  clerk.  Mr. 
Adams  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  his 
township,  but  nevi  set  d.  In  politics  a  stanch 
Democrat,  lie  has  taken  considerable  interest  in 
the  workings  of  the  party,  and  has  acted  a-  ba- 
il elections.  He  is  a  member  of  the  P. 
0.  S.  of  A.,  of  the  Patriotic  Order  of  Americans, 
and  of  the  Paxinos  Band,  in  the  organization  of 
which,  in  July.  1907,  lie  had  an  active  part.  II 
was  one  of  The  organizers  of  the  Keystone  Band, 
made  up  of  young  men  of  Ralpho  township,  and 
continued  to  play  with  that  hand  for  seven  years. 
In  religion  he  belongs  to  the  Reformed  denomina- 
tion, being  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Congrega- 
tion of  tin-  Blue  Church. 

Mr.  Adams  married  Emma  Gelnett,  daughter  of 
Hi  ury  B.  Gelnett,  of  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  four  children:  Verda  M.,  Olive 
M..   Helen  f.  and  Oren  A. 


George  C.   Adam-,  .-on  of  Casper  and   Susanna 

(Startzel)   Adams,  was  born  Aug.  17.  1826,  u] 

the  homestead  in  what  is  now  Ralpho  township. 
He  received  such  education  as  was  obtainable  in 
the  schools  of  the  period,  and  after  reaching  ma- 
turity 1  agag  id  in  railroad  work,  for  some  years 
1-  al-o  employed  in  the  huckstering  business 
and  at  farming  for  his  father-in-law.  In  1863  he 
purchased  the  old  homestead  property,  where  he 
continued  to  follow  general  farming  throughout 
his  active  year-.     He  died  June  1".'.   1897,  and  is 

buried    at    the   Blue  church.      His    relig -    faith 

wa-  that  of  the  German   Reformed  denomination, 
and   he  served   as  elder  of  his  congregation.      In 
polities  he  was  a  Democrat,  hut  though  interes 
in  the  success  of  the  party  look  no  pari   in  its  ac- 
tivities. 

On  Sept.  1'.'.  1855,  Mr.  Adam-  married  Susanna 
Klase,  daughter  of  Valentine  Klasr.  of  Shamokin, 
-he  iiiiw  resides  with  her  son  General  G. 
Adams,  in  Ralpho  township.  Four  children  were 
born  10  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Adams:  Alvin  A.,  who  was 
killed  on  a  railroad  at  Weigh  Scale-,  when  twenty- 
four  years  old:  Leanha,  who  is  married  to  Fram  - 
T.  Borrell  and  resides  in  Reading,  Pa.:  Mahala, 
wife  id'  Charles  Paul,  of  Paxinos.  and  General  G. 

1 1  s'ERal  (i.  Adams,  proprietor  of  the  "Elvsburg 
Hotel."  wa-  born  March  '.».  1867,  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Ralpho  township,  son  of  George  C.  Adams, 
lie  attended  il),>  Kaseman  school  there  in  his  boy- 

! I.   and   later  assisted   his   father   Willi   the   work 

at  home,  remaining  with  him  until  his  death.  Aft- 
er thai  he  bought  the  farm,  which  had  been  owned 
successively  by  his  grandfather  and  father,  and 
which  comprises   100  ai     -  aluable  land.     He 

continued  to  cultivate  it  for  another  year,  until  he 
embarked    in    the    mercantile   husiness   at    Snyder- 
town,  where  he  was   in   business   lor  four  and  one 
half  years.     Returning  to  the  farm,  he  conducted 
r  eight  years,  at    the  end   of  that   pen  id    re- 
ng  to  Paxinos.  where  In-  engaged  111  the  hotel 
husiness.  carrying  on   the  hotel      there   for     three 
-nth-.      In    1910   hi      oughl    the 
well    known    "Elvsburg    Hotel."    to   which    he 
moved  April  9,  1910.     Mr.  Adams  has  made  great 
improvements  in  this  property,  having  an  up-to- 
date  establishment,  with  all  the  modern  eonveni- 
-  and  facilities  for  making  his  guests  comfort- 
able.    The  rooms  are  all  airy  and  desirable,  and  he 
prides  himself  on  his  table,  making  a  specialty  of 
catering    to   parties,    for  dinners,   etc.      His   place 
fair  to  he  well   patronized  under  the  present 
efficient   management. 

Mr.  Adam-  married  Sadie  A.  Miller,  daughter 
of  Christian  Miller,  who  was  killed  in  a  powder 
mill  when  his  daughter  Sadie  was  only  three 
months  old.  One  son.  George  H..  has  been  horn 
to  this  union. 

In  polities  Mr.  Adams  is  a  Democrat,  and  while 
living  at  Snydertown  he  took  an  active  inten  -t 
in  public  matters,  serving  a-  member  of  the  school 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVAN]  \ 


(ill 


board  and  in  other  nil,,,-.  Socially  lie  belongs  to 
tli"  I.  (>.  O.  F.  at  Snydertown.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Valentine  Klase,  maternal  grandfather  of  Gen- 
eral C.  Adams,  was  a  rainier  by  occupation.  He 
died  at  the  old  home  near  Snydertown  when  over 
seventy  years  old,  ami  was  buried  at  Snydertown. 
His  wife,  Man  (Baker),  of  Berks  County  (Pa.) 
stock,  was  ninety  years,  five  days  old  at  the  time 
of  her  death;  she  was  a  large  woman,  weighing 
about  three  hundred  pounds.  Their  children  were 
as  follow-:  Catharine  married  Abraham  Riniert; 
Eva  married  George  W.  Lerch;  John  married 
Margaret  Evert;  William  married  Susanna  Adams 
and  (second)  Lena  Dunkelberger ;  Lovina  married 
I  >aai  Boughner ;  Sarah  married  Noah  Ware;  Val- 
entine mai  rie<|  Sophia  Evert;  Hannah  married 
Daniel  Donbach;  Susanna  married  George  C. 
\dains. 

JAMES  F.  KENNEDY,  a  retired  resident  of 
Milton,  was  engaged  in  the  plumbing  and  tinning 
business  in  that  borough  for  fifteen  years  before 
his  retirement,  conducting  the  establishment  now 
carried  on  by  his  son,  John  ('.  Kennedy.  Though 
not  an  old  resilient  of  the  place,  comparatively 
speaking,  he  has  been  thoroughly  identified  with 
its  best  interests  and  i-  a  man  of  substantia]  worth, 
esteemed  bv  all  who  know  him.  lie  is  a  native 
of  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  born  Dee.  13,  184  I 

Rev.  James  Kennedy,  bis  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  ami  came  thence  to  America  when  a 
voting  man,  settling  firsl  at  Lewistown,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  the  firsl  Presbyterian  minister  in  that  sec- 
tion. Later  la-  located  at  Brookville,  Clearfield 
county;  where  he  continued  to  follow-  his  profession, 
and  he  died  there,     lb-  hail  a  family  of  four  -on-. 

James  Kennedy,  son  of  Rev.  .lane--,  was  hen 
at  Lewistown,  ami  became  a  well  known  lumber- 
man, engaging  in  sawing  and  rafting  throughout 
his  active  years.  He  died  in  1847.  He  married 
Margaret  R.  Bradford,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
granddaughter  of  Samuel,  early  settlers  at  the 
Trappe,  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.  Two  children 
were  horn  to  tin-  union.  James  F.  and  Mary  .Ian.-. 
the  Filter  of  whom  married  John  Jackson,  of 
Kent  county.   Delaware. 

James  F.  Kennedy  received  his  education  in  the 

sel I-  of  In-  native  district,   firsl   attending  the 

old-fashioned  pa\  schools  and  later  the  public 
schools.  Subsequently  he  was  engaged  in  farm 
work  until  his  enlistment,  in  1861,  in  Battery  F. 
1st  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery,  which  was  known 
as  Rickett's  Battery.  He  served  as  corporal,  and 
was  hi  tin-  principal  battles  included  in  tin-  opera- 
tion- of  tin-  Army  of  the  Potomac  during  his  long 
service,  escaping  with  hut  <>ne  slight  injury,  on 
the  righl  side  of  his  neck,  which  was  made  a  trifle 
I, hick'  bv  a  passing  bullet.  He  lias  a  line  army 
rend.      Mr.   Kennedy  was  mustered   out    in  July, 


1865,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  alter  which  he  located 
in  Blair  county,  tin.-  State,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing for  several  years.  In  1871  he  moved  thence 
to  the  West,  making  a  settlement   in  (day  county, 

Kans.,  where  be  was  oi f  the  pioneers.     He  took 

up  land  there,  which  he  improved,  and  continued 
to  farm  in  that  section  for  twenty-two  and  a  half 
years,  returning  East  in  1892.  His  home  has 
since  been  in  the  borough  of  Milton.  Northumber- 
land county.  Here  In-  engaged  in  the  plumbing 
and  tinning  business,  which  be  followed  with 
steady   success   until    his   retirement,    in    1907,    a1 

which   ti he  sold  out  to  his  son.  John  C.     By 

honorable  dealing  ami  good  management  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy made  his  business  profitable,  and  In-  is  now 
enjoying  the  rewards  of  a  long  life  of  industry 
and   well  directed  effort. 

Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  Methodist  and  was  at 3  tune 

quite  active  in  church  work.  He  was  among  the 
firsl  to  help  organize  a  Presbyterian  church  in 
northern  pari  of  Dickinson  county.  Kans..  ami 
-mi  id  several  years  as  elder  of  same.  But  the 
distance  from  bis  home  was  so  great  he  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  and  assisted 
in  building  the  first  M.  E.  church  in  thai  section. 
Socialh  he  belongs  to  the  Union  Veteran  Legion 
and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

On  Dec.  25,  1866,  Mr.  Kennedy  married  (first) 
Isabella  (dark,  daughter  of  John  (dark,  of  Blair 
county,  Pa.,  and  her  death  occurred  in  Kansas 
March  28,  1878.  To  this  union  were  horn  two 
sons:      William    ('..    who    has    taken    up    land    in 

.li-r e.  Lincoln  county.  Idaho,  and  i-  engaged  in 

farming;  and  John  C.  horn  Jan.  Hi.  1874,  in 
Dickinson  county,  Kan.-.,  who  learned  the  plumb- 
ing business  witii  his  father  and  succeeded  him  in 
190'  the  married  Elsie  Austin,  of  Bellefonte,  l'a.. 
and  has  three  children.  James  K..  William  1-:.  and 
Margaret).  By  hi-  second  marriage,  on  Nov.  26, 
1890,  to  (lata  R.  Shearer.  Mr.  Kennedy  has  no 
children. 

While  111  Kansas  Mr.  Kennedy  served  in  various 
public  offices,  being  school  director  of  Athelstane 
township,  Clay  county,  for  sixteen  years,  road- 
master  eight  year-,  and  justice  pf  the  peace.  Ib- 
is a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 


Maj.  James  Shearer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  James 
F.  Kennedy,  was  born  in  1789,  wa-  a  farmer  in 
Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland  county. 
and  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy  five  years,  <h  ing 
April  12,  1864,  ai  Lewisburg.  He  wa-  a  member 
of  Milton  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married  Rebecca 
Rupert,  born  Sept.  26,  1796"  died  May  '.'I.  L852, 
and  the\  are  buried  at  Milton.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  (diaries  R.,  Leonard  I,'..  Hiram 
R.,  Harry  R-  (who  wenl  West),  Elizabeth  (married 
Col.  Joseph  Fisher,  oi  the  5th  Reserves),  Sarah 
(married  Charles  Bartholarnew,  Susan  (married 
William   Nolon  and   i>  now  living  at   Harrisburg, 


GVi 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Pa.),  and  Mary  (married  Joseph  Mellinger,  of 
Washington  borough,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
they  lived  many  years;  she  is  now  living  in  Phila- 
delphia with  her  three  children,  Preston,  Lillian 
and  Triad). 

Charles  R.  Shearer,  son  of  Maj.  James,  was  the 
father  of  Mbs.  Kennedy.  He  was  born  April  26, 
1819,  and  followed  contracting  and  building  at 
Milton  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  22, 
1864.  Socially  he  was  a  Mason  (member  of  Milton 
Lodge,  P.  &  A.  M. )  and  Odd  Fellow.  He  married 
Mary  Ann  Alexander,  born  in  1819,  who  long  sur- 
vived him,  dying  in  1882,  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children,  William  A.  (who  is  living  in  Mil- 
ton), Clara  1!.  (wife  of  James  F.  Kennedy)  and 
Rebecca   i  who  died  in  infancy  ). 

John  Alexander,  Mrs.  Kennedy's  maternal 
grandfather,  was  born  at  Mooresburg,  Montour 
Co.,  Pa,,  and  followed  the  trade  of  wagonmaking. 
He  is  buried  in  Chillisquaque  cemetery.  His  wife, 
Mary  (  House!  |,  was  a  member  of  an  early  family 
of  this  district.  Their  children  were:  Philip; 
William  :  .lane  w  bo  married  John  Miller,  of  Lewis- 
burg;  .Mary  Ann.  who  married  Charles  B.  Shearer; 
ami  Sarah,  who  married  Asbiiry  Donachy  and  lives 
at  Lewisburg. 

PATRICE  J.  GLENNAN,  a  citizen  of  Shamo- 
kin  borough  who  has  become  well  known  for  his 
efficient  service  in  various  public  capacities,  was 
born  June  IS.  1S64,  at  Locust  Dale,  Pa.,  son  of 
Thomas  Glennan. 

Thomas  Glennan  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born 
in  1818,  and  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1840, 
landing  at  New  York  City.  He  continued  his 
journey  to  Pennsylvania  at  once,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  end  of  his  active  years  followed  coal 
mining  in  Schuylkill  and  Northumberland  coun- 
ties In  lSil  be  -ettled  in  Shamokin.  where  he 
died  at  his  home.  No.  186  West  Willow  street.  Dec. 
28,  L891.  lie  was  married  at  Pottsville,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  to  Mary  Fougerty,  like  himself  a  na- 
me of  I  i-i 'land,  who  came  to  America  when  a  young 
girl  and  lived  at  Pottsville  until  her  marriage. 
She  died  April  17.  1891.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glennan 
were  members  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: John;  Patrick,  who  was  killed  at  the  Potts 
colliery,  at  Locust  Dale,  when  fifteen  years  old; 
James;  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Brennan;  Mary. 
wife  of  Patrick  E.  Brennan:  Eliza,  who  died 
young:  Thomas,  who  died  young:  Patrick  J.: 
Annie,  who  married  Patrick  Wallace;  Thomas  F. : 
and  Ellen,  deceased. 

Patrick  J.  Brennan  attended  the  schools  of  Coal 
township,  Northumberland  county,  but  not  for 
the  length  of  time  now  required.  He  was  but  ten 
years  old  when  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  break- 
ers, and  when  sixteen  he  began  mining,  which  work 
he  continued  to  follow  until  1905.    During  all  this 


time  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Company.  In  1905  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  and  served  three  years  in  that  office, 
making  a  high  record  for  public-spirited  and  in- 
telligent service.  He  has  also  served  his  ward — 
the  Fourth — as  councilman,  and  he  is  a  well  known 
and  respected  figure  in  local  public  matters.  In 
1909  he  was  appointed  by  W.  H.  R.  Smink,  bur- 
gess of  Shamokin,  as  inspector  of  the  street  paving, 
also  looking  after  the  crossings  and  supplies.  Dur- 
ing 1909  he  also  served  as  mercantile  appraiser 
of  Northumberland  county.  Mr.  Glennan"s  wide 
experience  has  made  him  a  practical  authority 
on  borough  affairs,  and  he  is  considered  a  valued 
counselor. 

Mr.  Glennan  holds  membership  in  a  number  of 
the  local  fraternal  bodies,  belonging  to  the  Elksr 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  Ancient  Order  of  Hi- 
bernians and  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  he  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  West  End  Fire  Company. 
He  is  a  Catholic  in  religion,  belonging  to  St.  Ed- 
ward's Church. 

On  May  12,  1891.  Mr.  Glennan  married  Mary 
E.  Golden,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Clark) 
Golden,  and  they  have  had  seven  children  (of 
which  five  are  living),  namely:  Thomas,  Maria. 
James.  Ellen,  Edward  (deceased).  Madeline  and 
( 'atherine  i  deceased  I. 

DAVID  W.  COOPER,  who  is  living  retired  at 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  in  Upper  Augusta  township  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  for  nine  years  a  resident  of  East 
Lewisburg.  this  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Upper 
Augusta  township,  born  Aug.  3,  1S44.  and  accord- 
ing to  tradition  the  family  has  been  settled  in  that 
section  sinee  early  in  the  nineteenth  century. 

John  Cooper,  grandfather  of  David  W.  Cooper, 
lived  in  New  Jersey  before  he  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania with  his  family,  about  1S04,  settling  in  Au- 
gusta township,  Northumberland  county.  It  is 
thought  some  of  his  children  were  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  is  said  to  have  been  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. Hi-  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  the  old 
-tone  church  at  Augustaville,  but  they  have  no 
tombstones.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons 
a iii  1  t  wo  daughters  :  Israel,  who  located  in  Indiana, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming;  Jacob,  who  also  lo- 
cated in  Indiana;  Henry,  who  lived  at  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa.  (his  son  Charles  lives  in  Shamokin,  this 
county);  John;  Mary,  Mrs.  Philip  Renn;  and 
Mrs.   Barrett. 

John  Cooper,  son  of  John,  was  born  Aug.  19, 
1807,  in  Northumberland  county,  and  passed  his 
life  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  dying  on  his  farm 
there  Sept.  3,  1879;  he  is  buried  in  the  old  south 
(Fourth  street)  cemetery.  Mr.  Cooper  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  owning  the  property  of  245  acres 
which  now  belongs  to  his  son  David  W.,  and  he 
took  an  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  town- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.   PENNSYLVANIA 


613 


ship,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in 
religion,  holding  membership  in  Zion's  Church 
at  Sunbury.  His  wile.  Catharine  (Snyder),  of 
Upper  Augusta  township,  was  born  April  13,  1809, 
and  died  Sept.  19,  1893.  She  is  buried  at  her  hus- 
band's side  in  the  old  smith  cemetery.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  burn  as  follows: 
Hiram  P.,  Sept.  23,  1S30;  Jeremiah,  Aug.  23, 
1832;  Isaac  N.,  July  29.  1834;  Thomas  G.,  Nov. 
15,  1836;  Harriet  S.,  Oct.  8.  L838;  John  L., 
Dec.  19,  1810;  Simon,  July  1,  1812;  David  W., 
Aug.  3,  1841  :  Mary  C  Oct.  4.  1846;  Dr.  Joseph, 
Feb.  1,  1849:  Luther  S.,  May  3,  1851. 

David  W.  Cooper  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  home  locality,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority  and  remaining  at  home  until 
he  was  twenty-seven  years  old.  He  taught  school 
in  his  native  township  for  three  years,  1870-71-72. 
Mr.  Cooper  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership 
of  the  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  1902,  when 
he  retired  and  settled  in  Sunbury.  Meantime, 
however,  he  was  away  from  the  place  for  nine 
years,  during  which  time  he  resided  in  East  Lewis- 
burg.  On  his  removal  to  Sunbury  he  built  the 
■comfortable  residence  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Church  streets,  in  1902-03,  which  he  and  his  wife 
have  since  occupied.  Mr.  Cooper  lias  always  been 
a  public-spirited  citizen,  willing  to  work  in  a  cattse 
for  the  general  good,  and  he  served  six  years  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors  in  Up- 
per Augusta  township,  which  was  the  first  town- 
sbi|>  in  Northumberland  county  to  adopt  the  free 
textbook  plan;  this  change  was  made  during  his 
service.  Ee  was  treasurer  of  the  board  for  a  time. 
He  has  always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  was  committeeman  of  his  town- 
ship Tor  a  number  of  years.  In  1897  Mr.  Cooper 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Farmers-  National 
Congress,  by  the  late  Gov.  Daniel  H.  Hastings, 
the  meeting  being  held  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Mr. 
Cooper  attended  ibis  congress  with  thirty-three 
other  delegates  of  Pennsylvania,  and  he  is  now  a 
life  member.  He  is  the  vice-president  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania delegation.  For  some  years  lie  held  mem- 
bership in  i  lie  in.  O.  F.  and  the  Conclave. 

On  Feb.  15.  1872,  Mr.  Cooper  married  Hannah 
Fasiild.  dauu'liter  ..I'  Jonathan  Fasold,  of  what  is 
now  Rockefeller  township.  She  died  Feb.  23,  188!, 
aged  thirty-eight  years,  the  mother  of  one  child, 
George,  who  was  accidentally  shot  when  seventeen 
years  old.  On  March  29,  1888,  Mr.  Cooper  mar- 
ried (second)  Emma  Lesher.  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Sarah  (Vandling)  Lesher.  of  Blue  Hill,  Sny- 
der Co.,  Pa.,  and  granddaughter  of  George  Lesher. 
They  had  one  daughter,  Catherine  P.,  who  died  at 
the  acie  of  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  worship  at  Zion's  Luther- 
an Church.  Sunbury.    While  living  at  East  Lewis- 


burg  he  was  identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  Lewisburg,  and  served  as  trustee  of  that  con- 
gregation. 

REISER.  The  Keiser  family  has  been  repre- 
sented in  Northumberland  county  for  several  gen- 
erations having  been  founded  in  this  section  by 
Henry  Keiser,  a  native  of  Berks  countv.  Pa.,  who 
had  several  brothers,  Daniel,  John  and' Reuben  all 
locating  in  central  Pennsylvania.  Reuben  even- 
tually went  West.  Daniel  was  a  tanner  and  tobac- 
co grower  in  the  vicinity  of  McEwensville,  and  is 
buried  in  that  vicinity.  He  had  children  :  Judiah, 
Henry,  and  a  daughter  now  deceased,  and  Susan, 
who  married  John  Bender  and  lived  near  Milton, 
Northumberland  county. 

Henry  Keiser  was  born  June  25,  1781,  in  Berks 
county,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county  after 
his  marriage.  Locating  in  Lower  Augusta  (now 
Rockefeller)  township,  on  a  large  tract  of  land, 
he  followed  farming  as  well  as  his  trade  of  carpen- 
ter. The  Keiser  homestead  is  now  owned  by  the 
Nelson  Miller  estate,  and  the  log  house  built  there- 
on by  Henry  Keiser  is  still  standing  (1911).  He 
cleared  his  land  and  remained  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Nov.  13,  1861.  He  is  buried  in 
the  now  abandoned  Dunkelberger  U.  E.  Church 
graveyard  and  was  a  devout  and  active  member  of 
that  church.  The  church  itself  has  been  torn 
down  and  the  cemetery  is  in  a  sadly  neglected 
state.  Mr.  Keisers  first  marriage  was  to  Eva  Zim- 
merman, born  Aug.  5,  1781,  who  died  March  11, 
185'.'.  ami  bis  second  was  to  Mrs.  Anna  (Chamber- 
lin)  Morey.  His  children  were  all  by  the  first 
union,  namely:  George  is  mentioned  below;  Han- 
nah married  John  Foy;  Polly  married  Nathaniel 
Lytle;  Daniel,  who  married  Mahala  Lytic,  lived 
for  many  years  in  Shamokin  township,  but  died 
at  Mount  Carmel;  Isaac  died  in  1894  at  Mount 
Carmel,  where  his  widow,  Susan  (Kerr),  now 
lives:  Henry  is  mentioned  below;  Christina  mar- 
ried Asa  Morey  and  they  lived  in  Potter  county. 
Pa. :  one  daughter  married  Jonathan  Smith:  Teina 
married  Mr.  Morey. 

George  Keiser,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  Feb.  16, 
1810,  in  Rockefeller  (then  Lower  Augusta)  town- 
ship, and  became  a  farmer,  occupying  part  of  his 
father's  original  tract,  where  he  died  Aug.  24, 
1877.  He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  the  Augusta- 
ville  Stone  Church.  Mr.  Keiser  married  Magda- 
lena  Bloom,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bloom,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  five  children  :  we  have  record 
of  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Wesley  Haupt),  Absalom  B. 
and  Harriet  (who  was  choked  to  death  by  a  bean). 
His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bloom,  sister  of  the 
first,  born  Nov.  9,  1813,  died  Sept.  '-'.  L901.  Sev- 
eral children  were  born  to  this  marriage:  Hulda 
married  George  B.  Conrad  :  Jacob  S.  married  Polly 
Ruppert  ;  Albert  married  Pauline  Lereh.  who  lives 
in  Hollowing  Run.  in  Lower  Augusta  township; 


614 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Ji  tome  is  out  West,  in  the  gold  fields;  .Mary  mar- 
ried M.  Luther  Conrad  and  they  live  on  the  George 
Keiser  homestead  :  Aaron  ]!.  is  a  resident  of  Mount 
Carmel.     Some  children   died  when  young. 

Absalom  B.  Keiseh,  now  a  retired  resident  of 
the  borough  of  Sunbury,  was  born  duly  17.  1839, 
in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller) township, 
sun  oi  George  Keiser.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm 
until  of  age.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a 
member  of  Company  II.  172d  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Drafted  Militia,  into  which  he  was  sworn 
for  nine  months  or  to  the  end  of  the  war,  and  he 
reached  the  rank  of  corporal.  At  the  close  of  his 
term,  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  he  returned 
to  Lower  Augusta  township  in  August,  L863,  and 
until  1865  cultivated  Ins  father-in-law's  farm  in 
thai  township,  hi  I860  he  settled  in  Sunbury, 
where  thai  year  he  bought  a  pieci  oi  ground  con- 
taining one  and  a  half  acres  upon  which  he  built 
a  small  house,  on  Catawissa  avenue.  His  wife  had 
agreed  to  have  a  home  anywhere  but  in  the  flat. 
When  he  drove  his  well  he  went  down  fifty  feei 
and  came  to  rock,  finding  plenty  of  water,  but 
as  other-  dug  wells  the  supply  was  not  so  plentiful 
and  he  went  down  seven  feei  through  the  rock. 
with  satisfactor3  results.  In  course  of  time  he 
enlarged  his  house,  and  there  he  has  remained  to 
the  present  time,  being  now  the  oldest  resident  of 
his  pari  of  the  borough.  His  land  has  greatly 
increased  in  value.  For  the  first  two  years  after 
his  removal  to  Sunbury  he  burned  lime  and  drove 
team,  and  he  continued  to  follow  hauling  and  dray- 
ing  throughout  his  aetive  rears,  until  his  retire- 
ment m  1907.  lie  prospered  by  thrifty  manage- 
ment and  industry,  and  now  owns,  besides  his 
home  property,  a  house  in  Augusta  street  and  sev- 
eral lots. 

On  April  8,  1862,  Mr.  Keiser  married  Mary 
Ann  Gass,  who  was  horn  July  29,  1840,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Cass,  of  Plum  Creek  Valley,  and  died 
Sept.  is.  1901.  She  is  buried  in  the  family  plot 
in  Pomfrei  Manor  cemetery.  Six  children  were 
horn  to  this  union:  Martin  L.  died  young;  Delia 
married  Henry  Heckeri  and  has  children.  Lottie. 
Harry,  Roy  ami  Sarah;  George  died  young;  Maria 
G.  married  Frank  Houghton  (they  have  no  chil- 
dren) ;  William  died  young;  Elizabeth,  who  is  un- 
married, keeps  house  for  her  father. 

Mr.  Keiser  is  a  Democrat  in  political  matters, 
and  he  has  taken  some  part  in  local  affairs,  having 
served  several  term-  in  the  council  of  East  Sun- 
bury: a  few  terms  as  constable  of  the  borough  of 
Sunbury;  and  four  years  a-  supervisor  of  Opper 
Augusta  township.  He  is  a  citizen  who  has  always 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fel- 
lowmen,  and  his  upright  life  and  faithful  public 
services  have  gamed  him  many  well  wishers.  He 
was  catechised  at  the  Augustaville  Stone  Church, 
anil  he  and  his  family  have  been  identified  with  the 
Lutheran  Church   in  Sunbury. 


Henry  Keiser.  son  of  Henry  the  pioneer  in 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  in  May,  1811, 
in  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  grew  up  on 
the  home  farm.  He  assisted  his  father  with  the 
agricultural  work,  and  also  learned  how  to  make 
spinning  wheels,  at  which  he  was  engaged  for  some 
time.  He  then  bought  a  tract  of  land  at  Trevor- 
ton,  which  he  cleared,  but  in  time  he  sold  it  and  in 
183  I  removed  to  Shamokin",  being  one  of  the  pio- 
neer- of  that  now  thriving  borough.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  followed  contracting  and  teaming,  in 
1856  entering  the  mercantile  business  in  partner- 
ship with  Joseph  Porter.  This  venture  did  not 
last  lone,  however,  as  they  were  obliged  to  discon- 
tinue after  a  year,  during  the  panic,  and  Mr. 
Keiser  turned  to  a  new  industry,  being  one  of  the 
first  men  to  contract  timber  to  the  mines  in  this  sec- 
tion, lie  died  at  Shamokin  in  June.  1872,  of 
smallpox.  Mr.  Keiser  was  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church.  He  married  Catherine  Raker, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Maria  married 
David  Fisher:  [saac  R.  became  the  father  of  Jos- 
eph A.  Keiser;  Harner  married  John  U.  Bough- 
tier;  Jacob  R.,  born  May  1.  1845,  is  deceased: 
Henry  II.  was  tor  many  years  a  prominent  mer- 
chant at  Shamokin:  Reuben  is  living  in  Shamokin. 

fsaac  R.  Keiser,  son  of  Henrv.  was  born  June 
•'in.  L839,  and  died  March  29,  L901,  ai  tin  age  0 
sixty-two  years.  He  was  for  a  Dumber  of  years 
a  well  known  merchant  of  Shamokin,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  business  in  1869  ami  continued  until 
L880,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Mount  Carmel. 
He  followed  the  same  line  there  until  hi-  demise. 
Mr.  Keiser  married  Elizabeth  Wolfgang,  daughter 
of  George  Wolfgang,  ami  she  still  resides  in  Mouni 
Carmel.  continuing  the  bu-iness  formerly  owned 
by  her  husband.  Four  children  were  horn  to 
them:  Joseph  A.:  Missouri,  who  married  Harry 
I  faas  -  George  II..  of  Mouni  Carmel ;  ami  [saac 
\..  of  Akron.  Ohio. 

Joseph  A.  Keiser,  -on  of  [saac  R.  Keiser,  was 
'"in  Fell.  In.  1862,  in  Shamokin,  and  there  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  Shamokin  Academy, 
graduating  from  the  latter  institution.  In  1  s?t» 
lie  went  to  Joliet,  111.,  where  lie  spent  some  time, 
and  returning  home  assisted  his  father  in  the  gro- 
cery business  which  he  had  meantime  established 
in  Mount  Carmel.  He  has  since  continued  in  this 
line,  bis  location  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Maple 
streets  being  well  known  and  well  patronized.  His 
excellent  lui-itiess  methods  anil  honorable  dealing 
have  gained  him  a  large  custom,  which  he  retains 
by  accommodating  hi-  patrons  in  every  possible 
way.  He  is  well  known  in  various  associations  in 
the  borough,  being  president  of  the  school  board 
at  the  present  time,  is  a  director  of  the  Anthracite 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  member  and  chap- 
lain of  Mount  Carmel  Lodge.  No.  378,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  member  and  recorder  of  the  local  organiza- 
tion  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.     He  also  belongs  to 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


61; 


the  P.  ().  S.  of  A.,  and  is  secretary  of  the  Loyal 
Association.  Mis  activities  have  also  extended'  to 
church  life,  Mr.  Keiser  being  a  Leading  member 
of  the  United  Evangelical  Association  and  at  pres- 
ent sen  ing  as  trustee  of  same.  In  political  matters 
he  is  a  Republican. 

On  April  6,  1886,  Mr.  Keiser  married  Alice  J. 
Herb,  daughter  of  Rudolph  Herb,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Emma  E.,  who  is  a  student  at  Buck- 
nell  University,  member  of  the  class  of  1912. 

George  Henri  Keiser,  son  of  Isaac  R.,  was 
born  in  Shamokin,  Pa.,  Nov.  3,  1867.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Shamokin  and  afterward 
clerked  in  his  father's  store,  moving  with  his  par- 
ents to  Mount  Carmel  where  he  continued  in  his 
lather's  employ  until  the  hitter's  death,  when  his 
mother  continued  the  business,  which  is  conducted 
by  the  two  sons,  Joseph  A.  and  George  Henry. 

Mr.  Lveiser  was  married  .May  28,  1890,  to  Ella 
II.  Swank,  daughter  of  Jacob  Swank.  Socially 
Mr.  Keiser  is  a  member  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodge  No. 
1150,  of  Mount  Carmel.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  in  polities  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  People's  Building  and  Loan 
Association. 

HON.  JOHN  T.  McMULLEN,  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  present  representative  of 
ids  district  in  the  State  Legislature  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, is  an  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway* 
Company  and  well  known  among  his  fellow  work- 
ers as  well  as  in  local  public  affairs.  Tie  was  horn 
May  (i.  1877,  in  Montour  county.  Pa.,  son  of  Sam- 
uel McMullen,  who  has  become  well  known  in 
both  Montour  and  Northumberland  counties  in 
various  connections. 

Samuel  McMullen  was  horn  in  lsi;  in  Montour 
county,  and  during  his  early  life  became  familiar 
with  farm  life.  But  when  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  con- 
tractor at  Danville,  Montour  county,  employing 
six  men.  hut  since  1893  he  has  been  carpenter 
foreman  at  the  Natalie  colliery,  at  Natalie.  North- 
umberland county.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican,  has 
served  as  county  commissioner  and  jury  commis- 
sioner of  his  native  county,  and  while  a  resident  of 
Danville  was  prominent  as  an  Odd  Fellow, 
filling  all  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  His 
wife,  Mary  Alice  (Geist),  is  a  daughter  of 
David  Geist,  of  Catawissa,  Pa.,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  eight  children:  John  T. :  Truman  P., 
Florence  C,  David  and  M.  Frances,  all  of  whom 
reside  with  their  parents  at  Natalie:  and  three  who 

are  deceased. 

John  T.  McMullen  received  a  public  school  ed- 
ucation, attending  the  borough  school  at  Danville 
for  four  years,  and  night  school  at  Xatalie  for  one 
year.     When  sixteen   years  old   he  commenced  to 


learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
three  years,  subsequently  finding  employment  about 
the  coal  mines.  In  1900  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  with  which 
he   has  since  been   engaged   at    railroad   work. 

Mr.  McMullen  is  a  veteran  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  in  which  he  served  as  a  member 
of  Company  F.  12th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers;  he 
is  a  member  of  Aerie  No.  534,  F.  0.  E.,  at  Sham- 
okin, and  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Railway  Train- 
men, which  he  has  served  as  secretarj  of  the  Gen- 
eral Grievance  committee  since  1902.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  active  in  the  local 
affairs  of  the  party,  on  whose  ticket  he  was  elected 
Nov.  S.  1910,  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State 
Legislature,  his  plurality  being  260  votes.  This 
was  his  first  candidacy  for  county  office.  He  is 
favorably  regarded  in  the  party  and  in  his  com- 
munity, where  he  has  many  friends. 

On  June  11.  1898,  Mr.  McMullen  married  Pay 
E.  Ditty,  daughter  id'  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Tail- 
or) Ditty,  whose  ancestors  were  from  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  this  county.  Three  children  have 
been  horn  to  this  union,  namely:  Ruth  R.,  Thom- 
as S.  and  Alice  B.  Mr.  McMullen  has  made  his 
home  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin  since  1900. 

GEORGE  W.  HARTLEIN,  of  No.  430  West 
Pine  street,  Shamokin,  has  been  secretary-treasurer 
of  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America  in  Dis- 
trict No.  9  since  its  organization,  in  1S99,  his 
work  covering  four  counties  and  about  fifty-one 
thousand,  two  hundred  mine  workers.  His  long 
retention  in  the  office  is  the  best  evidence  of  his 
satisfactory  services.  He  is  a  native  of  Shamokin, 
born  June  '.'1.  1865,  son  of  Joseph  Hartlein  and 
grandson  of  George  Hartlein,  and  comes  of  old 
Berks  county  stock,  the  Hartleins  or  Hartlines 
having  lone  been  prominent  in  that  section.  The 
family  is  of  German  origin  and  has  been  a  part  of 
the  substantial  German  element  of  Pennsylvania 
citizenship  since  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

John  Jacob  Hartlein  was  born  Sept.  s,  1699,  in 
Saxony.  German}',  son  of  Nicholas  and  Dorotha 
Hartlein.  as  indicated  by  the  Hill  Church  record-. 
<iii  Sept.  28,  1726,  he  married  Julia,  daughter  of 
John  Christian  and  Appolonia  Dressier,  born  July 
I.  1694.  They  came  to  America  in  17:!".'.  and  set- 
tled in  Earl  township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.  To  them 
were  horn  six  children:  John  Jacob  and  Jacob 
both  dieil  young;  Margaret,  horn  in  1729,  married 

John ;  George  was  bom  in  1732;  Anna 

Dorotha.   horn   in   1734,  died    in    1736;    Nicholas. 
horn  in  1736,  died  in  1741. 

George  Hartlein,  son  of  John  Jacob,  was  bom 
in  Saxony,  Germany,  in  17:!',.'.  shortly  before  the 
emigration  of  his  parents  to  the  New  World.  In 
1750  he  was  a  taxable  in  District  township.  Berks 
county,  a-  was  also  Oeorge,  Jr.     In   1755  he  mar- 


616 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


ried  Maria  Catharine  Boclim  (Boelini),  who  was 
born  in  1730,  daughter  of  Conrad  Boehm.  a  native 
of  Fehrfeld,  Wurteinberg,  Germany,  born  about 
1  if)."),  who  came  to  America  in  1732.  George  Hart- 
lein  and  wife  had  the  following  children:  Jost 
(or  5Tos1  i.  born  Jan.  S,  1767,  died  Dec.  21,  1852, 
and  is  buried  at  Oley  church,  and  by  his  side  5s 
buried  Sarah  Hartlein,  born  Oct.  18,  1780,  died 
Sept.  24,  1873  (it  is  not  known  whether  she  was 
his  wife  or  his  sister)  ;  George,  Jr.,  was  born 
Jan.  11.  1781.  There  were  perhaps  other  chil- 
dren, but  the  names  of  these  two  alone  are  of 
certain  record. 

George  Hartlein  (the  name  George  is  very  com- 
mon in  this  family),  grandfather  of  George  W. 
Hartlein.  was  a  farmer  in  Berks  county,  where  he 
died,  at  Spangsville.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mosser,  bore  him  the  following  children: 
Isaac,  who  died  in  Michigan:  Joseph;  Jared; 
George,  living  in  Philadelphia ;  and  Mary,  who 
married  Samuel  Brosius  and  is  living  at  Stoning- 
ton,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  Hartlein  was  born  Dec.  15,  1829,  in 
Berks  county,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to 
\  o] -thumberland  county,  settling  in  the  Mahantan- 
go  Valley.  He  was  a  wheelwright,  and  followed 
the  trade  for  many  years,  in  time  moving  to  Paxi- 
nos,  where  he  lived  for  a  while  before  coming  to 
Shamokin.  After  settling  in  the  latter  borough 
he  followed  mining  and  the  lumber  business  until 
1890,  from  which  time  until  his  death  he  lived 
retired.  He  married  Lydia  Rebuck,  who  was 
from  the  Mahantango  Valley,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Maurer)  Rebuck,  and  she  died 
Nov.  28,  1881.  Mr.  Hartlein  died  July  9,  1893, 
and  both  are  buried  in  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 
The]  had  a  large  family,  viz. :  Mary  married  Ga- 
briel Snyder  and  they  live  in  Shamokin:  they  have 
had  seven  children.  Amelia  married  Harvey 
Maurer,  of  Shamokin,  and  has  had  sixteen  chil- 
dren. Abbie  married  Charles  Kerstetter.  of  Sham- 
okin, and  has  had  fifteen  children.  Jared  died 
in  infancy.  Elmira  married  John  Drurnheller,  of 
Shamokin,  and  has  had  twelve  children.  Mar- 
garet married  August  Ross  and  they  are  living  at 
Shamokin;  they  have  had  ten  children.  Harry 
died  in  infancy.  George  TV.  is  mentioned  below. 
Alice,  who  died  in  Shamokin  in  1S95,  was  the  wife 
of  Frank  Sheetz  and  had  five  children.  Frona, 
who  lives  in  Indiana  county.  Pa.,  married  Joseph 
Powell  and  has  had  eight  children. 

George  W.  Hartlein  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Shamokin,  but  his  educational 
advantages  were  limited,  for  when  only  seven 
years  old  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  Bear  Val- 
ley breaker.  He  continued  this  work  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  commenced 
mining,  at  which  he  was  engaged  until  1900. 
Meantime,  on  Oct.  21,  1899,  the  United  Mine 
Workers    of    America    organized    in    this    district 


(No.  9)  at  Mount  Carmel,  forming  District  No. 
9,  which  includes  the  counties  of  Northumberland, 
Schuylkill,  Dauphin  and  Columbia,  with  the  main 
office  at  Shamokin.  Mr.  Hartlein  was  elected  sec- 
retary-treasurer at  the  time  of  the  organization, 
and  has  filled  that  office  continuously  since.  As 
there  are  over  fifty-one  thousand  mine  workers  in 
the  district,  his  duties  are  varied  and  heavy,  but 
lie  has  discharged  them  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  Besides  his  membership  in  the  mine 
workers'  body  he  is  associated  with  the  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.,  having  been  a  charter  member  of  Camp  Xo. 
L81   and  later  transferred  to  Camp  No.  149. 

Mr.  Hartlein  married  Elma  Drurnheller,  daugh- 
ter of  Levi  T.  and  Lydia  (Daniels)  Drurnheller, 
of  Northumberland  county,  and  they  have  had  six 
children:  Grover  C,  who  died  in  infancy;  Lydia. 
who  died  in  1902,  when  sixteen  years  old;  Clar- 
ence W.,  of  Shamokin,  who  married  Hattie  Nei- 
hart ;  Xola,  at  home;  George  O.,  at  home;  and 
a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hartlein 
has  three  grandchildren. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Hartlein  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  he  votes  independently.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Reformed  Church. 

MILLER.  The  brothers  John  L.  Miller  and  J. 
Adam  Miller,  of  Sunbury,  are  natives  of  Germany 
who  came  to  this  country  in  boyhood,  the  former 
taking  up  his  residence  in  the  borough  in  1879,  the 
latter  in  1890.  The  family  came  to  America  in 
1860,  landing  at  Baltimore.  Md.,  after  a  most 
thrilling  experience.  They  had  taken  passage  for 
New  York-,  but  were  captured  en  route  by  a  man- 
of-war  and  taken  to  the  island  of  Samt  Thomas. 
one  of  the  West  Indies,  where  they  were  obliged 
to  pay  three  hundred  dollars'  ransom  before  re- 
leased. The  Millers  proceeded  from  Baltimore  to 
Ashland,  Pa.,  where  the  family  settled,  the  father. 
Andrew  Miller,  finding  work  in  the  coal  mines,  as 
did  also  his  son  John.  As  soon  as  they  became 
old  enough  the  sons  all  had  to  work  in  the  mines. 
There  the  mother  died  in  1S62,  and  the  family 
of  six  children  consequently  became  scattered. 

Joiix  L.  MiLLEK,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born 
March  19,  1848.  in  Wiirzburg.  Bavaria.  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  with  the  family  as  re- 
lated. Though  only  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  service,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  H.  79th  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  with  which,  among  other  experi- 
ences, he  participated  in  Sherman's  famous  march 
to  the  sea.  Upon  his  return  to  civil  life  he  began 
to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  Williamsport, 
Pa.,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Sunbury  in  1879. 
He  has  been  connected  with  a  number  of  important 
business  enterprises  in  the  borough  during  the 
thirty  and  more  years  of  his  residence  there.  He 
has  been  extensively  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building,  and  became  senior  partner  of  the  firm 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Gir 


of  Miller  &  Eeim,  manufacturers  of  extension 
tables.  Mr.  Miller  has  had  many  large  and  re- 
sponsible contracts  in  Sunbury  and  the  surround- 
ing territory,  among  others  the  interior  fitting  of 
the  present  First  National  Bank  building.  Mr. 
Miller  has  acquired  extensive  interests  in  the 
Adams  Clay  Mining  Company,  of  New  Jersey, 
which  operates  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of 
butt'  brick,  and  he  has  been  a  director  of  the  concern 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  activity  and  success 
have  made  him  an  influential  member  of  local  com- 
mercial circles,  his  ability  having  been  demon- 
strated in  a  number  of  prosperous  undertakings. 
Moreover,  he  has  taken  prominent  part  in  other 
local  affairs  of  interest  to  those  who  have  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  at  heart,  having  served 
most  efficiently  as  school  director.  During  his  serv- 
ice the  schools  of  East  Sunbury  were  raised  to  a 
high  standard,  and  his  good  judgment  and  disinter- 
ested labors  were  highly  appreciated  by  his  fellow 
•citizens.  Mr.  Miller  also  took  a  conspicuous  part 
is  securing  the  establishment  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Orphans"  Home  near  Sunbury,  and  in  1697  became 
its  first  president  and  superintendent,  resigning 
that  position  in  1901  when  his  duties  in  connection 
with  the  Adams  Clay  Mining  Company  demanded 
so  much  of  his  attention  that,  he  did  not  feel  he 
could  do  justice  to  both. 

Mr.  Miller  is  also  widely  acquainted  in  Masonic 
circles,  being  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and 
he  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
fraternity.  At  the  Odd  Fellows  convention  held  in 
Sunbury  April  26,  1905,  he  was  grand  marshal, 
and  as  such  deserves  high  credit  for  the  successful 
manner  in  which  the  affair  was  conducted. 

J.  Adam  Miller,  son  of  Andrew  Miller,  was 
born  Aug.  11,  1853,  in  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  and  attended  school  there  for  six  months 
before  the  family  came  to  America.  Since  his 
mother's  death  he  has  lived  in  Northumberland 
and  Lycoming  counties.  Pa.,  principally  the  form- 
er, however.  He  acquired  an  excellent  practical 
education,  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  enter  the 
teaching  profession,  which  he  began  in  Shamokin 
township,  ibis  county,  in  1872.  He  taught  six- 
teen terms  in  all,  fourteen  in  Northumberland 
county  and  two  in  Lycoming  county.  For  ten  terms 
he  was  engaged  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he 
was  licensed  by  Prof.  Saul  Shipman.  For  one 
term,  after  he  began  teaching,  he  was  a  student  at 
Dickinson  Seminary.  Williamsport.  Mr.  Miller 
carried  on  farming  in  Rockefeller  township  for  two 
years  before  his  removal  to  Sunbury,  in  1890,  at 
which  time  he  took  a  position  in  the  clerical  de- 
partment of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  fourteen  years,  giving 
up  the  work  on  account  of  his  health,  and  for  a 
time  solicited  insurance.  Then  for  six  years  he 
was  employed  at  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills,  in 


Sunbury,  in  May,  1910,  commencing  the  grocery 
business  in  which  he  is  now  interested. 

Mr.  Miller  has  always  taken  the  interest  of  a 
public-spirited  citizen  in  matters  affecting  the 
general  good,  served  as  assessor  for  three  years 
while  a  resident  of  Eockefeller  township,  and  since 
settling  in  Sunbury  has  served  as  borough  au- 
ditor. He  does  not  give  his  allegiance  to  any  par- 
ticular party,  voting  for  the  candidates  he  considers 
most  suitable.  Socially  Mr.  Miller  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Knights  of  Malta  at  Sunbury. 

While  in  Eockefeller  township  Mr.  Miller  met 
Miss  Conrad,  whom  he  married.  They  have  had 
one  daughter,  Mabel  Grace,  who  is  at  home.  Mr. 
Miller  and  his  family  are  Lutherans,  and  while  liv- 
ing in  Eockefeller  township  he  served  as  deacon 
of  the  Eden  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

WILLIAM  KNAPP  is  engaged  in  the  furniture 
and  undertaking  business  at  Trevorton,  ■  carrying 
on  the  business  established  some  fifty  or  more  years 
ago  there  by  his  father,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
men  in  his  line  to  settle  at  the  place.  Mr.  Knapp 
was  born  in  1S-13  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  son 
of  John  Michael  Knapp,  who  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1857.  The  voyage  was  made  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  and  they  landed  at  New  York  after 
a  voyage  of  forty-three  days.  Locating  in  Trevor- 
ton,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Knapp,  who 
was  a  skilled  cabinet-maker,  followed  cabinetmak- 
ing  and  undertaking,  being  one  of  the  first  here  to 
pursue  that  kind  of  work.  He  was  successful,  and 
was  so  engaged  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
December,  1871.  He  married  Margaret  Ebbling, 
and  they  had  the  following  children:  Michael, 
Fredericka,  Christiana.  Margaret  and  William. 

William  Knapp  came  to  America  with  the  fam- 
ily and  has  lived  in  Trevorton  ever  since.  Under 
his  father's  able  instruction,  he  learned  the  trade 
of  cabinetmaker,  and  upon  the  death  of  his  father 
himself  assumed  the  business.  At  one  time  he 
made  all  the  caskets  himself,  but  of  late  years 
he  has  obtained  them  from  the  factories.  Under- 
taking is  his  specialty,  but  he  also  deals  in  furni- 
ture, of  all  kinds,  and  has  a  lucrative  patronage 
in  both  lines,  being  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  the  town.  His  store  is  located  on  Shamo- 
kin street.  He  is  a  citizen  who  holds  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen,  and  has  been 
chosen  to  fill  various  local  offices,  having  served 
as  school  director,  tax  collector  and  overseer  of 
the  poor  of  Zerbe  township.  Politically  he  is  as- 
sociated with  the  Republican  party. 

In  18G9  Mr.  Knapp  married  Eva  Eosina  Pfes- 
terrer,  who  was  born  June  29,  1845,  in  Germany. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr. -and  Mrs.  Knapp  are 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Joux  David  Pfesterrer,  father  of  Mrs.  Knapp, 
was  born  Aug.  11.  1810,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 


618 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


and  came  to  America  in  1854,  making  the  voyage 

in  a   sailing   vessel    which   brought   him   to    New 

York  City.     His  first  location  in  the  New  World 

was  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  from  which 

place  he  came  to  Trevorton   in  the  early  days  of 

that  town.     Bere  he  followed   his  trade,  thai   of 

carpenter,   and    was  an   industrious  and   respected 

citizen   until    his   death,   which   occurred    May   6, 

1889.     His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susanna 

Margareta  Ott,  followed  him  to  America  in   1856 

with   four  of   their  children.      She  died   in    1890. 

They  had  the  following  family :     John  George  is 

living    at    Trevorton ;    Maragreta    married    John 

Ross;  Christiana  married  George  Walter,  who  was 

killed  at  a  breaker  at  Trevorton;  John  David  was 

killed   in  the  mines  at  Trevorton;   Eva    Rosina   is 

the  wife  of  William  Knapp. 
i 

JAMES  COOPER,  proprietor  oJ  the  well 
known  ^-'Cooper's  Hotel"  at  Trevorton,  is  conduct- 
ing practically  the  same  business  which  his  father 
entered  fortj  years  ago,  and  i-  a  worthy  successor 
of  that  much  respected  citizen  of  Trevorton.  His 
son,  Alexander  Cooper,  is  engaged  in  the  bakery 
and  genera]  store  business,  and  has  been  other- 
wise prominent  in  the  life  of  the  town,  where  the 
name  is  associated  with  public-spirited  citizenship 
in  all  that  term   implies. 

William  and  Susan  (Jones)  Cooper,  grand- 
parents of  James  Cooper,  never  came  to  America. 
Their  -nil.  .lames  Cooper,  born  dan.  '.'il.  ISIS,  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  Lived  in  his  native  land 
until  L863,  following  mining  from  the  age  of  ten 
years.  Coming  to  America  in  the  year  named, 
with  his  family,  he  landed  at  New  York  City  and 
was  soon  settled  al  Trevorton,  Northumberland 
Co..  Pa.,  where  he  found  work  at  mining.  Later  he 
removed  to  Shamokin,  this  county,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  mines  until  1869,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Trevorton,  working  at  the  mines.  In 
1870  lie  went  to  Mahanoy  City,  hut  the  following 
year  came  hack  to  Trevorton.  in  1872  becoming 
proprietor  of  the  hotd  known  as  "The  House  of 
All  Nations."  which  he  had  bought  in  1869. 
From  that  time  until  his  death  he  was  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  becoming  one 
of  the  best  known  men  in  his  section.  He  was  one 
of  the  oldest  miners  of  the  region,  a  man  respected 
and  trusted  by  all  who  knew  him.  served  a-  super- 
visor of  Zerbe  township,  ami  stood  high  in  the 
community  as  a  man  of  sterling  qualities.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  ami  socially  held 
membership  in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the  K.  of  P. 
lie  died  in  1899. 

On  Nov.  15,  1845,  .Mr.  Cooper  married  dam' 
Sunderland,  of  England,  who  died  May  36,  1885. 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  all  now  deceased 
hut  James  and  Mary  A.,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
Otto  Lout,  of  Trevorton.  On  Nov.  IT.  1885.  Mr. 
Cooper   married    (second)    Mrs.   Betsy   Whittle,  a 


native  of  England,  whose   parent-.  Abraham  and 
Jane   Roper,  were  also  born   in   that  country. 

.Tames  Cooper,  -on  id'  dame-  and  Jane  (Sun- 
derland) Cooper,  wa-  horn  Nov.  is.  1850,  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  and  came  to  America  with 
Ins  parent-.  At  an  early  age  he  commenced  min- 
ing, ami  in  1879  he  made  a  prospecting  tour  in 
the  Black  Hills,  where  he  was  associated  with 
Colonel  Cody  ("Buffalo  Hill")  and  had  mam  in- 
teresting experiences.  Bui  he  returned  to  min- 
ing in  Pennsylvania,  being  long  in  the  employ 
of  Baumgardner  &  Douty,  at  Shamokin.  In  1899, 
after  the  death  of  bis  father,  he  took  over  the  hotel 
business,  which  he  had  purchased,  and  this  busi- 
ness hi'  lias  since  continued.  For  some  time  Mr. 
Cooper  was  in  Clearfield  county,  this  State,  en 
gaged  in  the  horse  business,  and  he  is  >till  inter- 
ested in  thai  line,  which  he  carries  on  in  connec- 
tion with  his  hotel  business.  Mr.  Cooper  ha-  a 
notably  fine  array  of  mounted  bird-,  the  collec- 
tion of  which  has  been  a  hobby  affording  him 
much  interest  and  pleasure,  lie  is  a  member  oi 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Malta,  and  in  political  matter-  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Cooper  married  l-ahella  Matheason,  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  Matheason,  and  they  had  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children:  Alexander:  dames  W..  who 
i-  employed  at  the  North  Franklin  Colliery  (he 
i-  a  leading  member  of  Trevorton  Fire  Company 
No.  1.  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  id' 
the  Trevorton  band);  Isabella,  deceased:  Jennie, 
deceased;  Clara  E. ;  Bertha  M..  ami  Charles.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  April  I.  1909,  and  is 
buried  at  Trevorton. 

Alexander  Cooper,  eldest  child  of  James  and 
l-ahella  (Matheason)  Cooper,  was  born  at  Trev- 
orton March  10,  1872,  and  there  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  Like  his  forefathers 
In  began  work  in  the  mine-,  as  a  slate  picker,  and 
continued  to  follow  mining,  of  both  soft  and  hard 
coal,  until  1904.  In  1905  he  bought  out  the  bak- 
ing hiisin<>>  of  A.  C.  Fisher,  who  is  now  cashier 
of  the  Trevorton  Bank,  and  he  has  continued  this 
business  to  the  present  time,  having  a  large  and 
steadily  developing  trade.  In  addition,  he  has 
dealt  m  groceries,  notions  and  general  merchan- 
dise, building'  up  a  profitable  trade,  which  reflei  I- 
great  credit  upon  his  management  ami  enterprise. 
He  is  considered  one  of  the  live  business  men  of 
the  town,  and  has  the  good  will  and  respect  of  his 
many  patrons  and  friends. 

Outside  of  his  private  business  concerns,  Mr. 
Cooper's  special  activity  has  been  in  the  interesl 
of  tlie  Trevorton  Fire  Company,  which  he  organ- 
ized in  1900,  being  its  chief  promoter  anil  becom- 
ing its  firsl  president  and  first  chief.  It  is  prac- 
tically through  his  efforts  that  the  town  is  able  to 
boast  of  so  efficient  an  organization,  and  he  is  still 
its  leading  member.     It  is  a  valuable  factor  in  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


619 


business  life  of  the  town,  and  is  thoroughly  appre- 
ciated by  all  the  progressive  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Cooper  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Firemen's  Association.  Be  assisted  in  organiz- 
ing the  Trevorton  business  men's  association  in 
1906,  and  has  served  as  its  president  ever  since, 
lie  is  quite  prominent  in  local  fraternal  circles, 
being  a  past  officer  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  In  politics 
he  is  ;i   Republican. 

On  I  tee.  28,  1904,  Mr.  Cooper  married  Jennie 
('.  Zartman,  daughter  of  S.  S.  Zartman,  of  Sham- 

okin,  this  county.     They  ha\ ie  daughter,  Mav 

Elizabeth. 

JACOB  !.'.  DEIBLER,  who  follows  farming  in 
Shamokin  township,  having  a  line  property  at 
Snydertcwn,  is  a  well  known  member  id'  a  family 
which  has  been  settled  in  that  section  of  North- 
umberland county  I'm'  several  generations.  lie 
was  born  in  Shamokin  township  March  6,  1857, 
son  of  Jonathan  Deibler,  and  grandson  id'  George 
Deibler,   the  pioneer  settler   here. 

George  Deibler  was  horn  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county  about 
1812,  locating  in  Shamokin  township,  where  he 
purchased  land  in  1813  and  followed  farming 
the  remainder  of  his  active  days.  He  was  one  of 
the  substantial  and  respected  residents  of  his  sec- 
tion, and  Deiblers  Station,  in  Shamokin  township. 
svas  named  for  him.  He  and  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Bastian,  are  buried  at  the 
Brick  church,  at  Reed's  station.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Daniel.  Mary,  Jonathan,  Han- 
nah. George,  William,  John.  Catharine.  Eliza- 
heth.   Harriet  and    Rebecca. 

Jonathan  Deibler,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
is-.'.")  on  the  old  homestead  ai  Deiblers  station, 
which  farm  is  now  owned  by  R.  S.  Aucker,  of 
Shamokin.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  and  always 
followed  that  vocation,  becoming  a  well  known  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  his  district.  He  died 
Aug.  '.';.  1887,  ai  I  lie  age  of  sixty-two  years,  and 
is  buried  ai  Reed's  church  in  Ralpho  township. 
His  widow.  Elizabeth  (Reed),  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Hannah  (Duttinger)  Reed,  now  (1911) 
eighty-three  years  "Id.  makes  her  home  with  her 
son  Jacob  al  Snydertown.  Three  children  were 
horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonathan  Deibler,  namely: 
Flora  A.,  who  is  married  to  S.  Ellis  Klase  and 
lives  in  Snydertown  :  Jacob  R. :  and  Emma  C,  who 
is  married  to  Wallace  Hoover  and  lives  ai  River- 
side, this  county. 

Jacob  I!.  Deibler  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  home  locality.  When  a  young 
man  he  taught  for  one  term,  at  the  American 
school  in  Shamokin  township,  hut  he  did  not  care 
for  the  ] i ro fission  and  decided  to  devote  himself  to 
farming,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
II,.  bought   the  old  Jones  homestead,  at  Snyder- 


town, having  a  tract  of  135  acres  under  excellent 
cultivation.  Mr.  Deibler  has  been  progressive  and 
thrifty,  and  has  shown  such  good  judgment  in  the 
management  of  his  own  affairs  that  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  participate  in  the  administration  of 
public  matters,  having  served  as  township  auditor. 

-'I I  director  and  borough  councilman:  he  is  still 

tilling  the  latter  office,  which  he  has  held  for  seven 
years.  He  has  taken  an  active  pari  in  the  work  of 
I  he  school  board  and  council,  having  been  presi- 
dent of  the  former  and  secretary  of  the  latter 
body.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  In  religion 
he   is  a   Lutheran. 

Mr.  Deibler  married  Rachel  A.  Zimmerman. 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Fasold)  Zimmer- 
man, and  they  have  had  four  children:  Helen 
E.,  Wallace  II.,  Luther  E.  (who  died  in  infan<  \  | 
and  Warren  E. 

JOHN  CUMMINGS  MOOEE  is  the  foremost 
dealer  in  his  line,  confectionery  and  cigars,  in 
Shamokin.  conducting  an  up-to-date  establishment 
on  Independence  street,  in  the  Parmley  building, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  popularly  patronized 
places  in  the  borough.  His  quick  perception  of  the 
demands  of  the  public,  his  readiness  to  adopt  new- 
lines  and  install  new  conveniences  for  the  satis- 
factory service  of  his  patrons,  have  brought  him 
the  best  and  largest  trade  in  Shamokin.  Though 
handicapped  by  a  lack  of  early  advantages  he  has 
made  his  way  to  the  front,  and  be  has  made  up  in 
ability  and  enterprise  for  any  such  deficiency. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  March  20,  1871,  at  Selins- 
grove,  Snyder  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  Henry  and  Annie 
M.  (Ranch)  Moore,  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
Amos  Rarieh,  of  Snyder  county.  His  father  was 
born  at  Selinsgrove  in  1850  and  died  there  in 
is?:;.  He  was  a  saddler  by  trade.  John  ('. 
Moore  was  a  child  when  he  and  his  mother  moved 
to  Shamokin.  and  here  he  attended  public  school 
until  be  commenced  work,  as  a  slate  picker  at  the 
mines.  He  was  employed  about  the  collieries  for 
about  fifteen  years  in  all.  and  then  commenced 
railroading  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Company,  with  which  he  continued  for 
a  period  of  twelve  years.  Having  mel  with  an 
accident,    Aug.     17,    1891,    at     Locust     Su lit. 

whereby  he  lost  his  left  hand,  he  began  his  pre- 
ent  business  on  a  humble  scale  the  following  year, 
and  throughout  his  business  career  has  been  lo- 
cated in  the  same  block  on  Independence  street, 
his  preseni  number  being  L32,  in  the  Parmley 
block.  He  has  been  there  since  1903.  His  line 
of  business  naturally  makes  Mr.  Moore  one  of  the 
besl  known  men  in  Shamokin.  but  it  is  bis  ex- 
cellent  methods  and  high-class  management   which 

make   him   one  of   the   si    popular.      lie    has   an 

attractive  and  modern  -lore,  well  equipped,  his 
soda  fountain  being  the  finest  in  Shamokin.  and 
he    is   constantly    making   changes    and    improve 


6-20 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ments  to  facilitate  the  work  of  his  employees  or 
increase  the  conveniences  of  the  establishment. 
His  stock  of  confectionery  and  cigars  is  complete 
and  attractively  arranged,  and  everything  about 
the  store  betokens  the  management  of  a  man  who 
foresees  the  demand  of  his  patronage  and  is  willing 
to  forestall  it.  It  is  this  faculty  which  has 
drawn  to  him  the  best  class  of  trade  in  the  city. 
His  windows  are  always  the  best  dressed  in  town, 
and  all  the  appointments  al  Moore's  are  typical  of 
the  proprietor.  In  addition  to  this  place  he  con- 
ducts the  cafe  at  Edgewood  Park,  and  there,  too, 
lias  made  a  fine  reputation,  for  the  excellence  of 
his  meals  and  service.  He  deserves  all  his  success, 
for  ii  l-  the  result  of  his  individual  efforts,  and 
he  is  a  credit  to  his  community  as  well  as  to  him- 
self. 

Mr.  Moore  is  quite  prominent  in  the  ranks 
the  Republican  party  in  Shamokin,  served  five 
years  as  jury  commissioner  and  was  committeeman 
of  the  Eighth  ward  for  ten  years.  He  is  a  well 
known  member  of  the  Elks  and  Odd  Fellows  fra- 
ternities. 

On  Jan.  12,  1892,  Mr.  Moore  married  Mary 
Walker,  daughter  of  Thomas  Walker,  of  Sham- 
okin, and  they  have  one  daughter,  Dorothy,  who  is 
now  in  school.  The  family  belong  to  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 

WILLIAM  R.  KUTZNER,  late  a  successful 
and  enterprising  merchant  of  Shamokin,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Sunbury,  Northumberland  •'"..  Pa.,  Dec. 
18.  1835.  and  died  in  Shamokin  May  '.J4.   1885. 

Edward  A.  Kutzner,  father  of  William  R.,  was 
a  well  known  citizen  of  Northumberland  county. 
He  was  three  times  married.  By  his  first  wife, 
Anna  Rollins,  who  died  at  Minersville,  he  had 
three  children,  Rebecca,  William  R..  and  a  son 
that  died  in  infancy.  His  second  marriage  was  to 
Susan  Lawrence,  of  Sclnrylkill  county,  and  they 
had  two  children,  Mary  and  George.  He  married 
(third)  Margaret  Simington,  who  died  at  Prince- 
ton, Mo.,  in  1908,  the  mother  of  Gertrude,  Sim- 
ington, Preston  and  Harriet.  Mr.  Kutzner  died 
aged  ninety -one  years,  eight  days. 

William  R.  Kutzner  was  but  twelve  years  old 
when  his  parents  went  West,  and  in  his  Missouri 
home  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  first  employment 
was  at  clerking.  In  1857  he  returned  to  North- 
umberland county,  and  locating  in  Shamokin  the 
following  year  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
little  city.  He  clerked  in  a  drug  store,  and  later 
was  a  member  of  a  drug  firm.  In  the  spring  of 
1861.  with  John  B.  Douty  as  a  partner,  he  entered 
upon  a  drug  ami  general  store  business  which  I 
carried  on  until  1864,  when  the  partnership  was 
dissolved.  Mr.  Kutzner  then  conducted  on  his 
own  account  a  drug  and  hardware  store  until  Au- 
1883,  when  he  sold  out  to  Peter  E.  Buck 
and  retired.     He  had  amassed  a  considerable  for- 


tune in  his  business,  and  his  investments  had 
proved  his  farsightedness.  At  his  death  he  left  his 
family  in  very  comfortable  circumstance-. 

On  June  12,  1861,  Mr.  Kutzner  was  married  to 
Anna  M.,  adopted  daughter  of  John  B.  Douty,  and 
she  is  still  a  resident  of  Shamokin.  The  children 
born  of  this  union  were:  William  R.,  who  died 
in  infancy:  John  D.,  who  lives  at  Wilkes-Barre, 
Pa. :  Anna  Laura,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Maurer,  of 
Shamokin:  Lavinia  G..  who  died  unmarried: 
Kathrina.  wife  of  Edward  K.  Evert,  of  Shamokin; 
William  Edward,  who  died  in  West  Virginia,  in 
1909,  aged  forty  years,  leaving  a  daughter.  H. 
Ethel;  Harriet  S..  who  married  Howard  Bertolette, 
and  lives  in  West  Virginia:  Edith  ('..  of  Sham- 
okin. Pa. :  Charles  P.,  who  was  superintendent 
of  three  collieries  at  Lansford.  Pa.,  now  with  the 
Mineral  Railroad  &  Mining  Company,  of  Sham- 
okin, Pa.  Politically  Mr.  Kutzner  was  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  while  he  was  never  active  in  poli- 
tics he  was  nevertheless  greatly  interested  in  the 
public  welfare.  He  was  a  member  of  tin-  Penn- 
sylvania National  Guard,  and  during  the  labor 
riots  of  1877  held  the  rank  of  major.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  in  religious  faith.  Fraternally  he 
was  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Shamokin  Lodge.  No. 
255,  P.  &  A.  M.  As  a  man,  both  in  the  business 
world  and  in  private  life,  he  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  death  was  sin- 
cerely mourned. 

HENRY  MILLER,  a  farmer  of  Shamokin 
township,   has  owned  his  present  farm  for   over 

a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  has  been  particularly 
active  in  public  affairs  in  his  connection  with  the 
school  board,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since 
1896.  and  is  also  assessor  of  his  township,  where  he 
is  a  much  respected  citizen. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  Jan.  5.  1842,  son  of  Isaiah 
Miller  and  grandson  of  Isaiah  Miller,  who  was  one 
of  three  brothers.  Isaiah.  Daniel  and  Jacob,  who 
to  Northumberland  county  at  an  early  date. 
Daniel,  who  settled  in  Shamokin  township,  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade;  he  died  unmarried.  Jacob, 
who  also  settled  in  Shamokin  township,  where 
he  died,  married  Mary  Savior,  a  sister  to  his  broth- 
er Isaiah's  wife,  but  left  no  children.  The  family 
-  o  German  origin,  and  the  first  of  its  members 
une  tc  America  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa., 
before  the  Revolution. 

Isaiah  Miller,  grandfather  of  Henry  Miller. 
came  to  the  site  of  Snufftown.  near  Paxinos,  in 
what  is  now  Shamokin  township,  in  1800,  making 
the  journey  from  Berks  county  by  team,  and 
bought  forty-eight  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared 
and  cultivated.  In  Berks  county  he  had  learned 
the  trade  of  tailor,  which  he  continued  to  follow 
in  connection  with  farming,  and  he  became  one  of 
best  known  residents  of  his  section.  Upon 
arm  he  built  a  stone  house  in  1814,  and  it  i3 


XORTHUMBERLAN  I)  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


621 


still  standing  and  in  good  repair,  though  the  oldest 
house  in  the  district  at  present.  He  died  upon  his 
farm  in  May.  1861,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and 
is  buried  in  Ralpho  township  at  the  Blue  church, 
iu  whose  welfare  he  was  deeply  interested.  He 
was  a  member  and  official  of  the  Reformed  con- 
iticn  there,  and  helped  to  build  the  church. 
In  politic-  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife,  Susanna 
(Savior),  born  in  1787,  died  in  April,  1878,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Daniel,  who  died  young;  Isaiah; 
Susan.  Mrs.  Samuel  Schrock;  Jacob,  who  died  in 
Ralpho  township:  Mary,  Mrs.  John  Rothermel; 
Peter,  who  died  in  Shamokin,  Pa.:  and  Godfrey, 
who  died  at  the  old  homestead. 

Isaiah  Miller,  son  of  Isaiah,  was  born  in  the 
stone  house  upon  his  father's  farm  in  1817,  and 
died  June  1'.',  1853,  at  the  comparatively  early  age 
of  thirty-six.  He  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church. 
Mr.  Miller  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which 
he  followed  in  Shamokin  township,  and  I'm-  a  year 
before  his  death  carried  the  mail  from  Shamokin 
to  Mouni  Carmel,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  which 
he  walked;  for  this  service  he  received  eight  dol- 
lars a  month.  He  married  Sarah  Himmel,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  and  Barbara  (Hoffman)  Himmel, 
and  In  them  were  bom  these  children:  Daniel, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  in- 
I'aiK  \  :  Mary  J.,  who  married  Charles  Brown;  Su- 
sanna, wife  of  George  Dentzer;  Henry;  John  J., 
living  at  Mount  Carmel;  Maria,  who  married  Ja- 
cob Farnsworth;  and  Charles  W..  who  died  in 
Brooklyn. 

Henry  Miller  attended  the  township  schools,  lie 
lived  with  his  grandfather  until  twenty-two  years 
old,  meantime  working  lor  his  clothes  and  board, 
and  then  wenl  to  Shamokin,  where  fur  Two  years 
he  was  employed  around  the  old  Lambert  colliery. 
For  the  next  seven  years  he  was  engaged  in  re- 
pair work  mi  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  In  1883  he 
bought  the  old  homestead,  which  he  has  since  cul- 
tivated. He  now  has  seventy-nine  acres  of  land, 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  trucking,  attending  the 
Shamokin  markets.  His  success  has  been  the  re- 
ward of  well  directed  industry  anil  the  exercise  of 
good  judgment  in  his  work,  and  lie  is  regarded  by 
his  neighbors  as  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability. 
His  barn  was  built  in  1868,  and  is  in  first-class 
condition,  in  keeping'  with  everything  else  about 
his  property. 

Mr.  Miller  has  held  various  local  offices,  having 
served  as  road  supervisor  and  assessor,  which  lat- 
ter position  he  still  lwlds.  In  1896  he  was  elected 
to  the  school  hoard,  and  has  done  good  work  for 
the  community  in  his  capacity  as  a  member  of  that 
body,  which  he  has  served  as  secretary,  treasurer 
and  president,  at  present  filling  his  second  term  as 
president.  The  cause  of  education  and  proper 
public  school  facilities  have  always  been  pet  ob- 


jects of  his  attention  and  have  been  measurably 
benefited  by  bis  devotiou.  He  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  made  many 
friends  in  all  the  associations  of  life. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Sarah  A.  Price,  daughter 
of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Weeks)  Price,  and  they 
have  five  children:  Ezra,  member  of  the  firm 
of  Mifflin  &  Miller  (his  partner  being  J.  W. 
Mifflin),  manufacturers  of  brick  at  Paxinos,  where 
he  resides,  married  Malissa  Slegel :  Charles  G. 
lives  at  Paxinos;  Jackson  makes  his  home  in  Fort 
Wayne,  hid. :  George  L.  lives  in  Ralpho  township, 
Northumberland  county:  Nora  married  W.  E. 
Snyder  and   lives  in  Shamokin  township. 

DANIEL  X.  BERKHEISER,  who  is  engaged 
in  business  at  Trevorton  as  hotel  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Pleasant  View  Poultry  Yards,  was 
born  at  that  place  Oct.  16,  1860,  son  of  Isaac  Berk- 
heiser.  As  Isaac  Berkheiser  died  when  his  children 
were  young,  Daniel  being  a  boy  of  ten  at  the  time, 
little  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  the  family, 
except  that  it  is  of  German  origin. 

Isaac  Berkheiser  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
at  Trevorton,  and  was  a  miner  by  occupation.  He 
met  his  death  when  fifty  years  old  in  1870,  during 
the  time  of  the  W.  P.  A..'  at  the  hands  of  the  Mol- 
lie  Maguires,  being  shot  while  sitting  up  at  night 
with  a  sick  friend.  The  first  shot  fired  struck  the 
window  sill,  but  the  second  hit  Mr.  Berkheiser  in 
the  head  ami  killed  him.  He  is  buried  at  Augusta- 
ville.  Mr.  Berkheiser  was  a  soldier  during  the 
Civil  war.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Haupt),. daugh- 
ter of  George  Haupt,  of  Irish  Valley,  Northum- 
berland county,  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
in  L900  at  Trevorton.  where  she  is  buried,  in  Green- 

w I    cemetery.     They   had  children   as  follows: 

Josephine,  who  was  drowned  in  a  spring  when  a 
child:  George,  who  lives  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  Co.. 
Pa.;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  who  was  the  wile  of  Al- 
bert Brosious;  Daniel  X.:  Alice,  wife  of  Frank  K. 
Getche;  and  William,  of  Pittsburg.  Pa.,  who  is 
yard  foreman  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company. 

Daniel  X.  Berkheiser  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  When  a  boy  he  began  picking 
-Lite  at  the  North  Franklin  colliery,  and  subse- 
quently, in  turn,  was  employed  at  door  tending  and 
driving,  loading  cars  ami  mining,  remaining  at  the 
same  colliery  for  a  period  of  about  twenty  years, 
from  the  age  of  ten  until  he  was  thirty.  Since 
then  he  lias  been  in  business  on  his  own  account. 
For  about  fifteen  years  after  giving  up  mining  he 
had  a  store,  dealing  in  groceries,  fish,  oysters,  etc., 
and  enjoyed  a  profitable  trade.  For  five  years  he 
conducted  the  "Central  Hotel"'  at  Trevorton,  sell- 
ing it  in  June.  1907.  In  1008  he  put  up  a  fine, 
substantial,  four-story  building  at  Trevorton  for 
hotel  purposes,  containing  twenty-one  rooms  with 
modern     improvements     and     conveniences.     Mr. 


622 


X  <  >RT  1 1  DM  BERLA  N I )  i  'OUXTY,  PE  X  X  SY  LVAXIA 


Berkheiser  is  also  interested  in  the  poultry  busi- 
ness as  proprietor  of  the  Pleasant  View  Poultry 
Yards,  breeding  the  single  comb  Rhode  Island 
reds,  and  has  met  with  considerable  success 
this  line,  as  he  has  in  his  various  ventures.  Ho  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Trev- 
orton,  and  by  his  industry  and  excellent  manage- 
ment has  become  one  of  the  substantial  residents 
of  that  place,  where  he  is  highly  respected  for  his 
integrity  and  honorable  life.  Politically  be  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  1908  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  school  directors  of  Zerbe  township. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Methodist,  in  fraternal  connec- 
tion a  member  of  the  I.  t  >.  0.  F. 

On  May  '.;<h  1887,  Mr.  Berkheiser  married  Anna 
M.  Edwards,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine 
(Pengalhy)  Edwards,  the  former  of  whom  came 
from  England  May  26,  1881.  Mrs.  Berkheiser  was 
hern  in  England,  and  was  twelve  years  old  when 
accompanied  her  parents  to  America.  Mr.  and 
Mi-.  Berkheiser  reside  next  dour  to  his  hotel  prop- 
erty above  mentioned.  They  have  no  children. 
Her  parents  had  a  family  of  six:  Richard  II. 
(of  Trevorton),  John.  Margaret,  William,  Jesse 
and  Mary  A. 

HARVEY  SHIXDEL  ROBIXS,  now  living  re- 
tired at  Mount  Carmel  after  a  long  life  of  busi-' 
i  --  activity,  was  for  many  years  identified  with 
the  coal  industry,  in  West  Virginia,  the  leading 
characteristic  industry  of  that  section.  But  the 
members  of  the  family  generally  have  been  special- 
ly noted   for  their  honorable  connection  with  the 

medica     ssion.     Mr.    Robins's  father  was  the 

first  physician  to  settle  permanently  at  Elysburg, 
this  county,  and  three  of  his  brothers  adopted  the 
profession. 

Aaron  Robins,  grandfather  of  Harvey  S.  Robins, 
was  a  bricklayer  and  followed  his  trade  at  Sun- 
bury,  where  hi'  lived  and  died.  He  is  buried  I 
He  married  Rebecca  Richardson,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children,  namely:  William.  Joseph  Crav- 
en. David  (who  died  near  Dnion  Corners,  this 
county,  and  whose  son  died  at  Burlington.  Iowa), 
John  K.  and  Anna,  (who  married  Ed.  kutzner  and 
lived  at  Milton,  this  county).  Three  of  the-,  sons 
became  physicians,  William.  Joseph  Craven  and 
John  K. 

Dr.  William   Robins,  horn  at  Sunbury  in  1804, 
received   his  academic  education   at   Northumber- 
land under  Robert   Cooper  Crier,  anil  at  the  agi 
of  eighteen  years  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.    John    Kennedy,      lie    furthered    his   medical 
studies  at  the   Dniversity  of   Pennsylvania,  began 
a1  Sunbun  shorth  after  attaining  his  ma- 
jority,   and    remained    there    for    eighteen    years, 
ding  up  an  excellent   patronage.     Thereafter, 
until  bis  death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1863, 
settled   at   Minersville.   Schuylkill  county. 
He  married  three  times,  and   had   seven  children. 


Dr.  John  K.  Robins  was  the  first  resident  physi- 
cian of  Shamokin  after  that  place  assumed  the 
proportions  of  a  village,  lie  was  horn  at  Sunbury 
April  11.  ls'.'o.  and  began  the  study  of  medicine 
at  th>  agi  of  twenty,  graduating  from  Jefferson 
Medica]  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1st?.  In  April 
of  that  year  he  began  practice  at  Shamokin.  where 
he  was  located  for  nearly  four  years,  them. 
moving  to  Catawissa,  Columbia  county,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1846.  lie  made  a  permanent  home  there  and 
ilished  a  lucrative  practice,  following  his 

--hi  there  until  hi-  death.  He  had  two  sons 
and  three  daughters,  William,  Joseph,  Mary.  Ada. 
and  another  daughter. 

Dr.  Joseph  Craven  Robins,  -on  of  Aaron,  was 
born  at  Sunbury  June  1.  1806,  and  there  attended 
the  common  schools,  later  going  to  the  academy 
at  Northumberland,  which  was  then  conducted  by 
Robert  C.  Grier.  He  (irsl  read  medicine  with  his 
brother  William  at  Sunbury,  completing  his  pro- 
fessional preparation  at  the  Dniversity  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1828  began  practice  at  Sunbury. 
The  following  year  he  removed  to  Elysburg,  at 
which  point  he  was  the  first  physician  to  locate 
permanently,  and  he  was  in  active  practice  there 
lor  forty-two  years,  his  held  covering  all 
era  pari  of  Northumberland  county  ami  the  ad- 
joining portions  of  Montour.  Columbia  ami 
Schuylkill  counties.      He  was  n  !   "saddle- 

bag"  i  oci  il'S,   and    in    spite  of   the   hardships   of   a 
sician's  life  in  his  day  survived  all   his  fellow 
practitioners  who  were  in  practio  i    time  his 

career  began,  living  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.     Hi-  retired   from  active  professional 
-  aboul    1870,  and  in  1*77   removed  to  Sha- 
d    until    his   wife's   dei 
:n    1881.      After  that    la-  lived   among  his  children, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  Harrisburg  in  1893,  at 
tome  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Swallow.     He  was 
buried    in   the  family  plot   at   St.  Jacob's  church. 
at    h'eed's  station,    Northumberland   county.     Dr. 
Robins  was  one  of  the  most  widely  known  men  in 
the  county  in  his  day.  and  his  reputation  extended 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  community.     Ik 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Elvsburg  I . 
Xo.   n  |.  F    a   A.  M. 

Dr.  Robins  married  Leah  Shindel.  daughter  of 
v  indel,  and  to  their  union  were  born  seven 
children,  five  son>  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
Galen  S..  Edwin  S..  Harvey  S..  Annie  M.  (who 
died  shortly  after  her  marriage  to  S.  A.  Bergres- 
?er),  Lorenzo  D..  Rebecca  (wife  of  Rev.  Silas  C. 
Swallow,  a  prominent  Methodist  minister  at  Har- 
-  irg,  Pa.)  and  Joseph  (who  died  young).  Three 
of  thi    ■  i  ame  physicians,  and  we  give  a  brief 

record  of  their  live-. 

Galen  S.  Robins  was  horn  Oct.  1.  L830,  began 
to  read  medicine  with  his  father,  and  completed 
the  course  at  the  Pennsylvania  College  of  Medi- 
cine,   from    which    institution    he   was    graduated. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


623 


After  a  yeai's  practice  at  Elysburg  he  located  at 
Shamokin,  in  1852,  and  was  there  in  active  and 
successful  practice  until  his  early  death.  Oct.  9, 
1556.  He  was  for  a  time  associated  in  practice 
there  with  Dr.  .1.  .1.  John,  and  afterward  with 
his  brother,  Dr.  Edwin  S.  Robins,  who  at  the 
time  nf  his  death  was  the  oldest  physician  at 
Shamokin. 

Edwin  S.  Robins,  M.  D.,  was  born  June  :!,  1832, 
in  Elysburg,  and  (here  grew  to  manhood,  receiving 
his  earl}  education  in  the  common  schools.  Later 
he  attended  Dickinson  Seminar)-,  at  Williamsport, 
I'a..  returning  to  his  native  place  in  1851,  when 
he  began  reading  medicine  with  his  father.  In 
1852-53  he  attended  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Maryland,  Baltimore,  ami  in  1853-54  attended 
lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia, 
From  which  institution  In'  was  graduated  March 
in.  1854.  He  commenced  practice  a!  Elysburg 
with  his  father,  in  October,  1855,  settling  at  Sha 
mokin,  where  he  was  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Dr.  Galen  S.  Robins,  until  the  latter's 
death  in  1856.  Dr.  Robins  built  up  a  large  prac- 
tice, anil  held  a  creditable  place  an g  the  pro- 
gressive members  nf  his  profession,  being  one  of 
the  most   successful   physicians  of  hi-  county  and 

i      of      tin1      best       known      medical       men       in 

Ins  section  of  the  State.  He  made  a  par- 
ticularly line  reputation  as  a  surgeon,  per- 
forming Successfully  -nine  of  the  l!lo-t  diffi- 
cult amputations,  and  In-  services  in  this 
branch  of  practice  were  in  wide  demand.  lie 
served  as  surgeon  oi  the  7th  Regiment,  National 
i. nan!  of   Pennsylvania,   for  several  years  during 

1 1 raor  Hartranft's  adminisi ration.     Few  men  in 

any  line  of  work  enjoy  a  longer  career  of  unbroken 
activity  than  did  Dr.  Robins,  who  continued  his 
practice  to  an  advanced  age.  He  died  in  1907. 
»)n  Oil.  in.  1853,  he  married  Matilda  Gulick, 
■daughter  of  William  Gulick,  of  Elysburg,  and  they 
had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  readied  maturity. 
namely:  Frank  A..  Lizzie  (wife  of  F.  A.  Thomas), 
Ella  (wile  of  William  Brice),  Edwin  S.  and  Jos'- 
ephine.  The  family  belong  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.  The  Doctor  was  a  Democrat  in  polities 
ami  a  Masen  in  fraternal  affiliation. 

Lorenzo  1 1.  Robins,  M.  Ik.  began  practice  with 
his  father  at  Elysburg.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  Union  army,  and 
at  the  elo-e  of  dial  struggle  returned  to  Elysburg, 
where  he  continued  in  practice  until  his  death, 
in   is;.".. 

Harvey  Shindel  Robins,  ilrinl  son  of  Dr.  Joseph 
('raven  Robins,  was  horn  July  5,  1836,  at  Elys- 
burg, ami  obtained  his  schooling  in  thai  locality. 
For  a  time  after  he  began  to  make  his  own  way 
he  was  employed  at  farm  work,  was  later  engaged 
a-  clerk  by  donas  Stine,  when  only  a  hoy  of  four- 
teen, and  then  began  farming,  in  1859.  Later  he 
ensasred  in  merchandising  on  his  own  account,    lie 


came  to  Mount  Carmel  March  26,  1885,  ami  in- 
vesting in  considerable  land  became  extensively  en- 
gaged in  real  estate  dealing,  in  that  connection 
building  a  number  of  houses.  He  made  a  success 
id'  this  line,  as  he  did  also  in  the  coal  business. 
With  his  son  Joseph  he  became  interested  in  the 
sofi  coal  business  in  West  Virginia,  ami  he  named 
the  field  of  their  operations  in  Fayette  county. 
iliai  State,  Alaska.  He  was  also  associated  with 
i  ho  Lawtons  and  Brown  in  the  Greenwood  Coal 
&  Coke  Company,  of  Lawton,  W.  Ya.,  and  met 
with  considerable  success-  before  he  sold  his  inter- 
ests mi  this  cone, tii.  Though  he  has  now  retired 
from  active  business  pursuits  Mr.  Robins  still  re- 
tains his  place  mi  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Union  National  Bank  of  Mount  Carmel.  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  original  direct- 
ors. He  has  done  much  traveling  in  his  day.  and 
in  1900  made  a  trip  to  California.  He  has  long 
ranked  among  the  ino-t  intelligent  and  progressive 
citizens  of  his  portion  ,,(  Northumberland  county, 
a  worthy  representative  of  a  name  which  has  for 
almost  a  century  been  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
here. 

In  April.  1859,  Mr.  Robins  married  Elizabeth 
Herley,  daughter  of  Charles  Heflev,  at  one  time 
a  merchant  of  Bloomsburg,  Columbia  county.  Mis. 
Robins  died  Dec.  10,  1901,  the  mother  of  three 
children:  (li  Josepb  graduated  from  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and  is  now  located 
in  practice  at  Charleston,  W.  Va..  where  he  js  a 
prominent  citizen,  being  president  of  the  National 
City  Bank  of  that  place.  He  married  Anna  Knapp 
and  they  have  three  children.  Margaret,  Joseph 
E.  and  Hugh  B.     ('.'I  Margaret,  who  died  in  Sep- 

mber,  L908,  was  the  wife  of  II.  Ik  Young,  of 
Mifrlinburg,  Union  Co..  I'a..  ami  the  mother  of 
two  children.  William  R.  and  Harvey.  ( :l  i 
Charles  II..  who  li\es  at  Mount  Carmel.  is  in  the 
real  estate  business.  He  married  Cynthia  Hughes, 
of  West  Virginia,  ami  they  have  had  four  children. 
Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Harvey  ami  Charles. 

Socially  Mr.  Robins  holds  membership  in  the 
Elks  and'in  Elysburg  Lodge,  No.  til.  F.  &  A.  M.. 
having  been  made  a  Mason  in  1870.  lie  i-  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment  ami  a  Presbyter- 
ian in  religious  connection. 

CLAYTON  S.  SCOTT,  managing  editor  of  the 
Shamokin  Dispatch,  was  born  Dec.  1.  1858,  in 
Wilson.  Niagara  Co..  N.  Y,  almost  within  the 
sound  of  the  mar  of  Niagara's  world-famous  cat- 
aract. Rev.  Milo  Scott,  his  father,  at  that  time 
.me  of  the  prominent  Methodisf  clergymen  of 
western  New  York,  came  from  Pennsylvania 
.  being  a  son  of  Cephas  and  Polly  (Winslow) 
Scott,  of  Smethport,  McKean  Co..  I'a.  His  moth- 
er, Ann  Eliza  Barrett,  was  a  native  of  New  York 
State  hut  came  I'roin  the  stanch  old  New  England 
Barrett  family,  which  settled  in  Vermont,  and  who 


624 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


were  in  direct  line  of  descent  from  the  Barretts 
of  England.  Rev.  Milo  Scott  died  in  1864,  when 
his  son  was  Imt  five  years  of  age,  and  his  mother 
a  few  years  later  located  at  Broekport,  X.  Y.. 
where  is  located  one  of  New  York  State's  most 
prominent  normal  school-,  from  which  Mr.  Scot! 
was  graduated  m  1879,  after  which  for  several 
years  he  engaged  in  public  school  work  in  his 
native  State,  filling  high  school  principalships  at 
Byron.  Churchville  and  Cohocton.  While  locate! 
at  Cohocton  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Etta 
M.  Eaynes,  of  Binghamton,  X.  Y..  who  was  also 
a  graduate  of  the  State  normal  school  at  Brock- 
port  and  was  the  preceptress  of  the  Cohocton  high 
school,  of  which  Mr.  Scott  at  the  same  time  was 
principal.  Their  marriage  occurred  June  24,  1  NS  !. 
at  Binghamton. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Scott  embarked  in  news- 
paper work,  locating  at  Owego,  X.  Y..  the  county 
seat  of  Tioga  county,  where  he  purchased  the 
Tioga  County  Record,  a  well  established  weekly 
paper.  A  year  later  he  sold  a  half  interest  in  the 
business  and  a  daily  edition,  called  the  Owego 
PaiJi/  Record,  was  started,  which  from  the  first 
was  a  marked  success  and  so  continued  tor  twenty 
years  under  the  same  firm  of  publishers,  Scott  & 
Watros,  until  their  sale  of  the  business  on  Oct. 
1.  1906.  Mr.  Scott  remained  with  the  new  owner 
as  managing  editor  <>(  tin-  paper  until  May  1.  1907, 
when  he  resigned,  and  after  a  few  months'  rest 
'Hue  to  Shamokin  and  began  his  duties  as  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Shamokin  Dispatch,  the  oldest 
daily  newspaper  in  the  borough.  It  is  issued  daily 
except  Sundays.  In  1910  Mr.  Scott  became  one 
of  the  stockholders  of  the  Leader  Publishing  Com- 
pany, which  corporation  publishes  the  Dispatch, 
and  at  the  company's  annual  meeting  that  year 
he  was  elected  it-  secretary. 

While  a  resident  of  New  York  State  Mr.  Scot! 
was  one  of  its  most  prominent  members  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  filling  the  Master's  chair  five 
years,  for  nearly  twenty  years  he  was  almost  con- 
tinuously a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  that 
State,  serving  on  the  staff  of  eight  of  its  Grand 
Masters,  filling  the  otfices  of  District  Deputy  Mas- 
ter. Grand  Standard  Bearer,  and  other  important 
positions.  He  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  with 
the  rank  of  Past  High  Priest,  and  a  member  of 
Malta  Commandery,  No.  21,  Knights  Templar,  of 
Binghamton.  New  York. 

EOBEET  MUIR,  of  Mount  Carmel,  is  a  leading 
business  man  of  that  place  and  also  has  important 
rests  elsewhere.  His  connection  with  the 
financial  affairs  of  the  borough  has  extended  over 
a  long  period,  and  he  has  been  prominent  in  the 
establishment  of  a  number  of  local  institutions 
which  have  not  only  afforded  opportunities  for 
the  profitable  investment  of  local  capital,  but  have 
pri    ed   highly  beneficial  to   the  general   welfare. 


He  was  born  in  1856  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
and  is  of  Scottish  descent,  his  grandfather.  David 
Muir,  having  lived  and  died  in  Scotland.  He  had 
three  sons  who  came  to  America,  William,  Michael 
and  David. 

Michael  Muir,  father  of  Robert  Muir.  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  came  to  America  in  1851  with 
his  wife  and  family,  which  then  consisted  of  three 
children.  Locating  at  Branchdale,  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  engineer. 
Before  the  Civil  war,  however,  he  moved  to  Mount 
Carmel,  where  be  was  among  the  early  residents, 
and  there  he  followed  mining  as  well  as  engineer- 
ing, lie  also  lived  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  death  occurred  in 
March.  1885,  at  Mount  Carmel,  and  he  is  buried 
in  the  Shamokin  cemetery.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  served  as  a  private  in  Company  E.  48th  Regi- 
ment. Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Michael  Muir 
married  Elizabeth  Muir,  daughter  of  Robert  Muir, 
also  of  Scotland,  and  they  had  a  large  family, 
namely:  (f)  Elizabeth  married  Thomas  War- 
drop,  and  their  children  are  Thomas.  Mary  E., 
David,  John,  Robert.  Elizabeth,  Walter.  Andrew, 
Agnes,  Isabella  and  Jean,  (2)  Mary  died  young. 
(3)  David  married  Annie  Fulton,  daughter  of 
David  Pulton,  and  thej  reside  in  Shamokin.  Their 
children  are  David.  Gilbert,  Robert,  John,  Anna, 
Donald,  Elizabeth,  Marion.  Laura  and  Mary.  (  t) 
Margaret  died  young.  (5)  Robert  is  mentioned 
later.  Mi,  William  died  at  Scranton,  Pa.  |  i  | 
Andrew  is  living  in  Colorado.  (8)  John,  of 
Shamokin,  married  Jennie  Anderson  and  their 
children  are  Helen.  Andrew.  John  aud  Jean.  (9) 
Jean  married  Harry  Minnier  and  their  children 
are  Allen.  Russell  and  Grace.  (10)  Dal.  died 
when  two  years  old. 

Robert  Muir  attended  school  at  Mount  CarmeL 
In  early  boyhood  he  began  picking  slate  at  the 
1 'leaker,  and  was  employed  about  the  mines  for 
several  years.  In  the  spring  of  1ST?  he  went  West. 
lecting  for  a  time  in  the  Black  Hills  and  in 
Colorado,  and  then  proceeding  to  California.  He 
remained  in  the  Wot  about  seven  years,  and  upon 
his  return  to  Mount  Carmel  engaged  in  mining 
at  the  Green  Ridge  colliery,  near  the  borough.  He 
continued  mining  until  1891.  since  which  year 
he  has  given  much  of  his  time  to  the  real  estate 
business,  in  which  line  he  has  interests  at  Mount 
Carmel.  in  Hazleton.  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  The  greater  part  of  his  attention 
is  given  to  a  large  tract  of  land  which  he  owns  at 
Hazleton,  known  as  Hazleton  Heights,  the  develop- 
ment of  which  property  is  in  a  most  promising 
condition.  Various  local  enterprises  have  had  his 
influence  and  support.  He  was  oue  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Mount  Carmel  Iron  Works,  of  which 
he  is  now  president:  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the    Mount    Carmel    Gas    Works,   of   which   he   is 


OlMt  L«l 


THE  "RK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,   LENOX   AND 
T1LDEN  FOUNDATIONS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


625 


now  vice-president;  and  is  a  director  of  the  Guar- 
antee Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of  Mount 
Carmel,  of  which  he  was  the  first  secretary.  Mr. 
Muir  lias  taken  considerable  interest  in  the  admin- 
istration of  borough  affairs,  for  thirteen  years 
served  as  tax  collector  of  Mount  Carmel  and  is  now 
borough  treasurer.  His  fellow  citizens  have  the 
fullest  confidence  in  his  judgment  and  integrity, 
and  his  services  have  in  every  way  justified  their 
high  opinion  of  him. 

On  April  25,  1883,  Mr.  Muir  married  Mary  S. 
Jeffrey,  daughter  of  Andrew  Jeffrey,  who  came 
from  Scotland.  Mrs.  Muir  was  born  in  California. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Muir.  namely:  Helen;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seven  years;  Anna;  Roy,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  and  Robert,  Jr.  Mr.  Muir  and  his  family- 
unite  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican on  political  questions. 

SIM  OX  P.  SAVIDGE,  of  Sunbury,  at  present 
serving  the  borough  as  tax  collector,  is  one  of  the 
respected  residents  of  his  community,  a  faithful 
official  and  a  useful  citizen.  He  was  born  Nov. 
22,  1847,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  this  county, 
son  of  Henry  Savidge,  and  is  a  great-grandson  of 
George  Savidge,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
Northumberland  county. 

George  Savidge  probably  came  from  New  Jer- 
sey, and  settled  in  this  county  in  pioneer  times, 
living  in  what  was  then  Lower  Augusta  (now 
Rockefeller)  township,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Plum 
Creek  Church.  He  was  a  farmer  and  stonemason, 
and  built  the  present  stone  church  at  Augusta- 
ville,  receiving  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars 
for  his  work.  The  excellent  condition  in  which 
the  walls  of  this  church  are  still  found  is  the  best 

testi \    a-   in  the  honesty  and  thoroughness  of 

his  work  and  mechanical  skill.  He  was  a  Lutheran, 
and  is  probably  buried  at  that  church.  He  had 
the  following  children:  George,  grandfather  of  Si- 
mon P.  Savidge;  Zinn,  who  was  drowned  while 
building  the  Sunbury  dam  in  the  Susquehanna 
river:  Valentine,  an  able  penman  and  school  teach- 
er, who  moved  into  Lancaster  or  one  of  the  other 
lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania;  Joseph,  who  be- 
came a  farmer  in  Upper  Augusta  township:  Sam- 
uel, a  fanner,  who  lived  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship: Lydia,  Mis.  McGee  (she  and  her  husband 
were  Catholics  and  lived  on  the  priest's  farm  in 
Chillisquaque  township)  :  and  John,  lived  in  Low- 
er Augusta  township  and  was  a  fanner  (he  died 
upon  his  farm  and  was  buried  at  Eden  Church). 

George  Savidge,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  a  farm  of 
almost  three  hundred  acres,  located  near  the  Plum 
(icek  Church.  He  was  a  leading  man  in  his  dis- 
trict, and  managed  his  business  affairs  so  well 
that  in  his  time  he  ranked  third  among  the  most 

40 


substantial  citizens  of  Rockefeller  township.  He 
dieil  in  October,  lS(i?.  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
five  months,  sixteen  days,  and  is  buried  in  Plum 
Creek  at  the  Eden  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
foremost  member,  serving  as  elder  for  many  years, 
lie  married  Catharine  Raker,  who  died  Dec.  20, 
1870,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  eleven  months,  seven 
days,  and  to  them  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Henry:  William,  who  died  aged  eighteen  years; 
Dr.  Aaron,  who  lived  in  Chester  county,  Pa.; 
Hiram,  horn  Nov.  27,  1832,  who  was  a  farmer 
of  Rockefeller  township  and  died  Aug.  30,  1909 
(his  wile.  Mary  A.,  born  July  30,  1842,  died 
June  30,  L875;  lour  id'  their  children  were  Irene, 
1864-1887;  Johnson;  Minnie,  1868-1890;  and  Ol- 
iver, 1871-1895)  ;  Lafayette,  a  farmer  of  Rockefel- 
ler township,  who  lived  retired  some  years  and  died 
April  23,  1900,  aged  sixty-five  years,  two  months, 
ten  days  (his  wile,  Margaret,  died  Dec.  16,  1888, 
aged  titty  years,  nine  months,  three  days;  they 
have  a  large  monument  in  the  Eden  ( Ihurch  ceme- 
tery)  ;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Samuel  L.  Keefer,  who  died 
early  in  the  sixties:  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Reuben  Sholl. 

Henry  Savidge,  son  of  George  anil  father  of  Si- 
mon P.  Savidge,  was  born  Dec.  14.  1S'2"?.  on  the 
homestead  farm,  and  died  Oct.  21,  1878.  He  was 
a  potter  by  trade,  and  carried  on  a  pottery  for 
many  years,  turning  out  all  kinds  of  earthenware, 
colored  as  well  as  wdiite,  and  earthen  ornaments 
of  various  kinds.  He  owned  a  farm  which  he 
cultivated,  and  was  an  energetic  and  successful 
man.  prosperous  in  his  business  and  useful  in  all 
the  associations  of  life.  A  prominent  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  he  and  Judge  Abraham 
Shipman  were  the  leading  political  factors  of  that 
faith  in  this  district  in  their  day.  deciding  its 
policies  for  many  years  and  wielding  a  wide  influ- 
ence in  this  region.  Mr.  Savidge  was  also  promi- 
nent in  church  work  as  a  member  of  the  Eden 
Church  at  Plum  Creek,  where  he  tilled  all  the 
offices,  serving  many  years  in  the  church  council. 
He  is  buried  at  that  church.  His  wife.  Gertrude 
(Heilman),  bom  Nov.  28,  1823,  died  Jan.  26, 
1901,  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Heilman,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely: 
Maria  married  Andrew  Burns  and  (second)  Dr. 
David  Shipe;  Catharine  married  William  Clark: 
Simon  P.  is  mentioned  below;  George  W.  died  in 
Rush  township;  Isaac  lived  on  the  original  Sav- 
.1  ;e  homestead;  Elizabeth  married  Ira  Reed  and 
they  lived  out  West  (she  died  1883)  :  Morris  A. 
is  of  Mount  Carmel;  Daniel  II.  lives  at  Shamokin, 
Pa.;  Russia  married  Earry  Harbold,  of  Mount 
Carmel;  Wilson  A.  is  a  resident  of  Dornsife, 
Northumberland  county. 

Simon  P.  Savidge  received  a  common  school 
education  and  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  stone- 
mason, at.  the  age  id'  eighteen  years.  He  also 
learned   stone-cutting,  and    with   the  exception  of 


626 


N OET H  I'M BERLAN  D  COUNTY.  PE N  X  SYLVA  X  I A 


twelve  years  during  which  he  was  employed  as 
clerk  in  a  store  at  Sunbury  he  has  followed  his 
trade,  in  which  he  has  made  a  high  reputation  as 
a  skillful  and  reliable  workman.  In  August,  L906, 
Mr.  Savidge  was  appointed  tax  collector  of  Sun- 
bury  by  the  court,  served  three  years  under  that 
appointment,  and  was  then  elected  to  the  office, 
the  present  (1910)  being  the  second  year  of  his 
term.  He  had  had  considerable  previous  experi- 
in  this  line,  having  held  that  office  in  Rush 
township  for  two  years,  and  served  as  tax  colli 
in  East  Sunbury  during  1893-94-95-96.  11.  is  a 
member  ol  Aiigustaville  Lodge.  I.  0.  <».  !•'..  and 
in  religious  connection  belongs  to  Zion's  Lutl  ■ 
Church,  with  which  his  family  are  also  idenl 

Mr.  Savidge  married  Jane  Isabella  Evert,  daugh- 
ter of  John  C.  and  Sarah  (Weiser)  Evert,  farm- 
ing people,  who  lived  near  the  Plum  Creek  Church. 
Mr.  and  Mr-.  Savidge  have  had  two  children:  (1  ) 
Eugene  M    31  il  and  a  half  years  a-  clerk 

in  the  register's  and  recorder's  office  at  the  court- 
house. Sunbury,  and  i-  now  money  order  clerk  in 
the  Sunburv  post  office.  He  is  a  member  id'  Mac- 
lav  Lodge' X, 1.  632,  V.  ,V  A.  M..  the  Conclave, 
and  the  Temple  Club.  He  married  Mary  E.  De- 
Haven.  (2)  Mary  M.  married  0.  X.  Conrad  and 
they  reside  at  Johnstown,   Pennsylvania. 

PROF.  NORMAN  W.   II.  SCHAFER,  teacher 

of  piano,  organ  and  theory  at  Shamokin,  Pa.,  and 
a  man  well  known  to  the  musical  profession  as  a 
thorough  musician  and  conscientious  instructor,  is 
0110  of  Pennsylvania's  own  sons.  He  was  horn 
at  Petersville  Church.  I'.  ersville,  Northampton 
Co.,    Pa.,    -on   of   John    1».    §  uanist    and 

teacher. 

Pro    -        §  r  is  of  French  and  German  ex- 

traction. Valentine  Schafcr.  his  great-great- 
grandfather, came  to  America  from  Germany  early 
ntii  century,  and  settled  in  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  his  home  being  near  Maeungie,  along 
the  Little  Lehigh.  He  became  a  very  prominent 
man  in  his  district,  and  in  1750  assisted  in  the 
building  of  the  Little  Lehigh  church  at  Mai  imgii 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers.  He  is 
buried  there.  He  married  Margaret  De  Schotte, 
who  came  from  France.  They  had  nine  children, 
among  whom  wen   G  orge,  Peter  and  John. 

John  Sc-hafer,  son  of  Valentine,  was  born  in 
November.  1773,  near  Klecknersville,  and  became 
a  largo  landowner.  He  was  quite  prominent  and 
held  justice   of  the   peace.     During 

L812  he  held  a  captain's  commission. 
He  died  in  November,  1831.  His  wife,  Sarah 
Billheimer,  lx>rn  July  1.  1779,  died  in  November, 
is:;-.',  and  both  are  buried  at  Moorestown.  Their 
children  were:  Catharine,  born  May  f !.  1803,  who 
May  1  t,  1898;  Elizabeth;  Jacob:  Dewalt; 
Peti  Solomon. 

Ja<       -        er.  son  of  John,  was  born  in  North- 


ampton county  in  1807.  In  early  life  he  learned 
the  stonemason's  trade,  and  for  many  years  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Moore  township. 
Northampton  county.  He  died  in  1870.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Michael,  of  Northampton  county,  and 
they  are  both  buried  at  Moorestown.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Jacob;  Sarah:  John  I).:  Mary;  Ste- 
phen, a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  who  suffered  in 
1.  prison  and  died  of  weakness  shortly  after 

hi-  release:  and  Francis,  living  at  Kreidersville, 
I  'ennsylvania. 

John  D.  Schafer,  -on  of  Jacob,  was  born  May 
i:;.  1834,  at  Klecknersville.  He  taught  school  in 
early  life,  and  served  as  organisi  al  Petersville 
and  Indianland,  and  Cherryville.  in  Northampton 
county.     lb-  wa-  the  of  the  Heimback 

Slate  Company  (which  is  still  in  existence),  and 
al-o  of  a  -late  mine  at  Walnutport,  of  which  he 
was  president  and  superintendent.  He  opened  six 
quarries.  He  i-  very  well  informed  in  this  work. 
ami  is  now  often  consulted,  though  he  has  been 
retired  from  active  business  since  1900.  He  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  at  Danielsville,  Northamp- 
county.  In  politics  he  i-  a  Democrat,  and  he 
lia^  served  as  trustee  of  -,j 1-  m  the  Walnut- 
port  and  Danielsville  districts.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Schafer  married 
Mary  L.  Henry,  who  was  born  -Ian.  •">.  1839,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Henry;  her  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Brown.  Mrs.  Schafer  died  Jan.  ■.'.  1896,  and 
i-  buried  at  Slatington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schafer 
had  children  -:  Norman  W.  H. ;  Laura 
•'..  deceased  wife  of  Nathan  Haas;  Augusta  L.. 
I'  [Tenner  :  ( 'harles  <  teborne,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  David  II..  a  merchant  at 
1  >aniels\  ille,  Pennsylvania. 

Prof.  Norman  \Y.  II.  Schafer  was  reared  in  an 
atmos  1  1   music,  his  first  teacher  having  been 

Ins  fat  ier.  Later  he  studied  with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Old  anil  Professor  Benkhardt,  an  old  Leipsic  grad- 
uate. In  1  s;  T  be  went  abroad,  and  entered  the 
Royal  Conservatory  at  Stuttgart.  Germany,  where 
under  Professors  Sehuler,  Krueger  and  Speidel  he 
ie  piano:  under  Professor  Fink,  the  or- 
gan; and  under  I'  81  erlen,  theory.  He 
ral  years  studied  harmony,  counter- 
point, fugue,  canon  ami  composition  under  Dr.  S 
X'.  Penfield,  of  New  York  City.  After  his  return 
from  Europe  he  accepted  the  position  of  director 
of  music  at  Pennington  Seminary,  Penning!  >n.  X. 
•'..  where  he  remained  four  years.  He  then  ac- 
'1  a  similar  position  at  the  Danville  (  Va.  1 
College  for  Young  Ladies,  also  acting  as  organist 
for  the  Main  Street  Methodisi  Episcopal  Church 
of  that  town.  At  the  end  of  six  years  he 
obliged  to  resign  on  aeeounl  of  ill  health  and  re- 
turn North.  He  came  to  Shamokin  in  1873,  and 
1895  lias  been  organist  of  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  besides  conducting  a  large  private  class. 
He  has  given  a  large  number  id'  high-class  organ 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


62 


recitals,  and  was  the  organizer  of  the  Shamokin 
Choral  Society,  which  under  his  direction  has  giv- 
en a  number  of  oratorios.  As  the  former  presi- 
dent of  Danville  (Va.)  College,  Prof.  R.  H.  Sharp.. 
.M.  A.,  wrote  of  him:  "Scrupulously  conscientious, 
lie  will  work  beyond  his  strength  rather  than  neg- 
lect any  known  duty.  With  such  a  spirit  to  ani- 
mate him,  ii  i-  nut  surprising  that  he  achieved 
a  success  with  u-  beyond  anything  known  before 
in  our  music  department."     Professor  Schafer  has 

als ade  his  mark  as  a  composer. 

In  1881  Professor  Schafer  married  Emma  C. 
Cable,  daughter  of  ('apt.  William  Gable;  and  the 
following  children  have  been  horn  to  them:  Myr- 
tle, who  married  William  Albert  Moore,  in  busi- 
ness in  Philadelphia;  Norman  W.  II..  Jr.,  a  grad- 
uate of  Shamokin  high  scl I.  1903,  Lehigh  Uni- 
versity, 1907,  now  a  civi]  engineer  stationed  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  as  supervisor  of  the  W.  &  \.  branch 
of  the  Reading  railroad  (he  is  a  member  of  the 
University  fraternity);  Clara,  who  died  in  infan- 
cy; Pauline:  Carolyn  G.,  and  John  R.  Prof. 
Schafer  was  made  a  .Mason  in  Cyrus  Lodge.  No. 
I  is.  at  Pennington,  X.  J.,  and  transferred  his 
membership  to  Roman  Eagle  Lodge.  Xo.  121,  at 
Danville,  Va.  He  belongs  to  the  Temple  Club  at 
Shamokin.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  personality. 
enthusiastic  in  Iris  profession,  and  thorough  in  all 
that  he  undertakes.  Thomas  Hanlon,  I ».  D.,  LL. 
I).,  president  of  Pennington  Seminary,  said  of 
him:  "He  is  very  competent,  very  trustworthy. 
faithful,  a  Christian  gentleman."  and  it  is  sale  to 
say  that  such  high  praise  is  fully  approved  by 
those  who  have  long  known  him  in  Shamokin. 

JOHN  A.  SIPE,  of  Herndon,  is  a  resident  and 
business  man  of  long  standing  there,  being  the 
senior  member  of  the  linn  of  Sipe  &  Son.  tailors. 
who  have  the  only  tailoring  establishment  in  the 
borough  and  do  an  extensive  business,  having  a 
large  patronage  in  the  territory  from  Sunbury  to 
Millersburg.  He  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
in  which  his  father  also  served,  dying  of  starva- 
tion in  Libby  Prison  in  1864.  Mr.  Sipe  is  a 
native  of  York  Springs,  Adam-  Co.,  Pa.,  born 
May  .">.  1847.  The  family  is  of  German  extraction. 
his  grandfather,  Martin  Sipe.  having  been  horn  in 
Germany,  whence  he  came  to  America  before  his 
marriage,  locating  at  Clear  Springs,  in  Adams 
county.  Pa.  He  was  a  laborer  and  owned  a  small 
home  in  a  glen.  His  wife,  Sarah,  was  from  White 
Hill.  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  lived  to  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  twenty 
children.  Martin  Sipe  being  her  second  husband. 
Her  children  by  him  were:  Jacob,  refer,  Sallie, 
Leah.  Jeremiah.  Hettie,  Maria,  William  and  Lena. 
Jeremiah,  now  (1910)  seventy-six  years  old,  lives 
at  Mechaniesburg,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  He  served 
in  the  Civil  war  under  two  enlistments,  in  the 
43d   Pennsylvania  Infantry  and  the  17th  Pennsyl- 


vania Cavalry.  He  was  captured  at  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness  and  was  held  at  all  the  noted  Rebel 
prisons.  When  he  went  into  the  service  he  weighed 
over  two  hundred  pounds,  but  his  weight  when 
discharged  was  only  seventy-one  pounds.  His  sis- 
ter Leah's  husband.  Nelson  Day,  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  service  he  died. 

Jacob  Sip,-,  son  of  Martin,  was  born  in  1819 
m  Adams  county.  Pa.,  and  lived  near  York 
Springs.  He  was  a  laborer,  and  owned  a  small 
home  in  Latimore  township.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  drafted  for  the  Union  service,  but 
he  said  he  would  never  go  to  the  front  as  a  drafted 
man  and  accordingly  enlisted.  He  was  drafted 
one  Thursday,  and  was  to  report  at  Gettysburg 
the  following  Monday.     On  Sunday  night  he  bade 

bis    family    g l-bye   and    walked    to    Harrisburg, 

where  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  13th  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  asking  to  be  credited  to  his  native 
town-hip  as  a  volunteer.  He  had  been  in  the  serv- 
ice only  three  weeks  when  captured  at  Sulphur 
Springs,  Va..  and  thrown  into  Libby  Prison,  where 
he  died  in  lSCI.  after  fourteen  months'  confine- 
ment, lie  is  buried  among  the  other  unfortunate 
soldier-  who  perished  there.  His  wife.  Ruth,  was 
a  daughter  of  Nelson  Day,  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  who  lived  to  he  ninety-six  years  old. 
By  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Sipe  had  a  son.  Wil- 
liam [ekes,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  96th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  To  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Jacob  Sipe  were  horn  children  as  fol- 
lows: Jacob  11.,  who  served  during  the  Civil  war 
in  Company  I.  165th  Pennsylvania  Regiment  (he 
was  corporal);  John  A.:  Jennie,  who  married 
Monroe  Chronster  and  lived  at  Hampton.  Adams 
county  (he  wa-  a  veteran  of  the  93d  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers)  ;  Adaline,  who  married  Hiram  Jacobs 
and  lives  at  York  Springs  (he  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war,  serving  with  the  90th  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  )  :  Annie,  who  married  Emmerson  Fickel 
and  lived  at  Lattimer,  Pa.  (he  is  now  deceased)  ; 
and  three  who  died  in  infancy.  Mis.  Ruth  (Day) 
Sipe  died  in  1881,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  six 
months,  four  days. 

John  A.  Sipe  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  the 
vicinity  of  York  Springs,  working  thus  until  he 
was  thirteen  years  "Id.  when  he  began  to  learn  the 
tailor's  trade,  lie  served  his  apprenticeship  in 
the  old-fashioned  way,  doing  anything  around  his 
employer's  bouse  that  was  to  be  done,  for  the  first 
six  months  of  his  term,  cutting  wood,  looking  after 
the  children,  or  attending  to  any  other  work  given 
to  him.  Then  another  new  apprentice  came,  and 
he  commenced  work  at  the  bench,  after  his  three 
years  of  service  doing  journeyman  work  at  vari- 
ous places  in  this  State.  Pittsburg,  Altoona,  Hol- 
lidaysburg,  Newport,  Harrisburg.  Baltimore,  Car- 
lisle. Shippensburg,  and  Church  (Cumberland 
county),  where  he  remained  seventeen  months 
wilh    a    GerrQan    named    Cooney    Draker.      From 


628 


NORTHUMBERLAXD  COPXTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


there  lie  came  to  Georgetown  (Dalmatia),  North- 
umberland county,  and  thence  after  a  seven 
months'  stay  to  Herndon,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  arrived  in  Northumberland  county  on 
Whitsunday,  1867,  and  he  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  at  Herndon.  which  was  then  all  wood- 
land, lb  i-  one  of  the  four  oldest  residents  of 
the  town.  Mr.  Sipe  has  seen  many  changes  in 
domestic  as  well  as  civil  life  in  his  day.  When 
he  learned  his  trade  the  sewing  machine  was  un- 
known, and  he  purchased  the  first  sewing  machine 
brought  to  Herndon.  His  business  underwent  the 
various  changes  of  custom  work  and  merchant  tail- 
oring, and  he  has  always  kept  abreast  of  the  times 
in  his  line,  being  a  first-class  tradesman.  In  1902 
he  admitted  his  sun  Harry  to  a  partnership  in  the 
business,  and  Sipe  &  Son  enjoy  the  best  trade 
between  Sunbury  and  Millersburg.  They  are  the 
only  tailors  at  Herndon.  By  industry  and  good 
management  of  his  affairs,  honorable  dealing  and 
intelligent  use  of  his  opportunities,  Mr.  Sipe  has 
become  a  substantial  man,  and  his  prosperity  has 
been  wholly  the  result  of  his  own  efforts.  He 
began  his  career  at  Herndon  in  the  most  modest 
way,  commencing  housekeeping  in  a  one-room 
house  16  by  16  feet  in  dimensions,  and  advancing 
his  fortunes  by  diligence  and  commendable  thrift. 
He  was  married  Oct.  24,  1869,  to  Eve  Yanaman, 
daughter  of  George  and  Annie  (Comfort)  Yana- 
man. formerly  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  later  of 
Jersey  Shore.  Lycoming  county,  and  finally  of  Re- 
ward,  Perry  county,  where  Mr.  Yanaman  lived  for 
fifty-four  years  in  one  house,  dying  Dec.  3,  1899, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years:  he  is  buried  near 
that  plao  ,  as  -  also  his  wife.  Mr.  Yanaman 
was  a  molder  by  occupation.  His  father.  Jacob 
Yanaman.  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  and 
moved  to  Jersey  Shore  on  a  canal  boat,  living 
there  the  rest  of  his  life;  he  followed  the  trade 
of  molder.  Three  of  George  Yanaman's  sons 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  Thomas,  George  and 
David,  one  in  the  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sipe  were  born  children  as 
follows:  George  died  aged  eighteen  months, 
four  days:  Annie  E.  died  in  infancy:  Ma- 
mie died  in  infancy;  Bessie  V.  married  C.  M. 
Troutman  and  they  live  on  Mr.  Sipe's  farm  in 
Jackson  township;  Harry  C.  horn  April  1,  1882, 
at  Herndon,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
ami  a1  t  entral  Pennsylvania  College,  which  he  at- 
tended for  four  terms,  afterward  learning  the  trade 
of  tailor  under  his  father,  with  whom  he  is  now 
lartnership  a  member  of  Lodge  Xo.  267, 

P.  B.  (>.  Elks,  Sunbury;  of  Polaris  Lodge.  No. 
<65,  1.  0.  0.  I'.:  General  Sickles  ('amp.  No. 
51  :  and  .Tolm  B.  Packer  Council.  No.  154,  Jr.  0. 
V.  A.  M.;  be  married  .   1904,  Jennie  A. 

High,   daughter   of   W.   II.   High,  and  they  have 
■  children.  Carrie  V.,  Mildred  M..  and  one 
that  died   in  infancv);  Jennie  A.  married  Harry 


A.  Glace,  wdio  is  a  weaver  in  the  silk  mills  at 
Sunbury,  where  they  reside,  and  they  have  one- 
child.  Geraldine. 

During  the  Civil  war,  though  only  a  hoy.  Mr. 
was  very  patriotic,  and  he  ran  away  from 
to  Chambersburg  three  times  trying  to  en- 
list, when  only  sixteen.  He  was  refused  because 
he  was  under  size  and  too  light,  but  later,  when 
troops  were  needed  and  the  conditions  were  not 
so  rigid,  he  managed  to  get  into  the  service,  join- 
ing Company  1.  205th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
v.  Aug.  ".'.  1864,  at  Harrisburg,  where  Camp 
Cttrtin  was  established.  He  was  discharged  June 
;.  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Sipe  saw 
onsiderable  acl  •  sen  ice,  participating  in  the  op- 
erations at  Fort  Steadman,  \"a..  March  25,  1865; 
and  was  with  his  regiment  when  it  led  the  charge  of 
th(  2d  Brigade,  3d  Division.  9th  Army  Corps,  on 
Fort  Mahone,  April  2,  1865.  in  front  of  Peters- 
on Dec.  10,  1864,  the  3d  Division  of  the 
9th  Corps  made  a  raid,  called  the  Weldon  raid, 
on  Hatcher's  Pun.  having  several  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy.  He  served  under  Capt.  J.  C.  Machan, 
of  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Walters,  of  Lancaster  county.  He  is  a  member  of 
John  J.  Arnold  Post.  tfo.  407,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of 
the  Sons  of  Veterans  at  Herndon  (Sickles  Camp, 
No.  57  i.  and  he  is  also  associated  fraternally  with 
Lodge  No.  551,  I.  O.  0.  F. 

SPENCEE     If.  DREHER,  of  Shamokin,  who 

is  interested  in  the  coal  business  but  not  a.s  a  local 
operator,  was  born  in  that  borough  Sept.  8.  1858, 
and  comes  of  a  family  of  German  origin  which 
was  founded  in  Pennsylvania  during  the  early 
days.  His  paternal  great-grandfather  lived  in 
both  Schuylkill  and  Northumberland  counties,, 
and  died  in  Sunbury.  in  Northumberland  county; 
he  is  buried  at  I  i  Stone  church.  His  family  con- 
ehildr^n,  viz.:  John,  who  is  men- 
tioned below :  Samuel  and  Joseph,  who  died  in  the 
West;  Isaac,  who  died  in  Shamokin  township; 
Sophia,  who  married  George  Falck:  Sallie,  Mrs. 
Fasold;  Tyson;  Susan.  Mrs.  Kenn :  Rachel.  Mrs. 
Kramer:  Polly,  Mrs.  Joseph  Shipman. 

John  Dreher  was  horn  in  1801  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  while  a  resident  of  that  county  fol- 
ed  farming  and  was  engaged  on  the  old  canal- 
boats,  hi  1855  lie  moved  to  Mount  Carmel.  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  was  employed  at  the 
collieries,  and  there  he  died  in  1873.  His  wife. 
Sarah  (Kreiger),  daughter  of  Christian  Kreiger, 
in  1868,  and  both  are  buried  in  the  Mount 
Carmel  cemetery.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
.Mary  A.  married  Pied  Fahrian  and  died  in  Mis- 
souri; Jacob  is  mentioned  below;  Andrew  J.  was 
killed  by  the  Molly  Maguires,  it  is  supposed,  he 
having  disappeared  from  Mount  Carmel  and  never 
been  heard  from  afterward  ;'Edward  died  in  Mount 
Carmel;  Daniel  died,  in  the  West:  John  died  near 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


629 


Richmond,  Ya.,  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war; 
Sarah  J.  married  John  Roup  and  is  living  in 
Mount  Carmel ;  Aaron  is  a  resident  of  Mount 
Carmel;  Eliza  married  William  Stillwagner  and 
ds  living  in  St.  Louis;  Eli  lives  at  Mount  Carmel. 

Jacob  Dreher,  son  of  John,  was  born  March 
12,  1830,  at  Plum  creek,  near  Stonington,  North- 
umberland county,  in  Shamokin  township.  He 
was  well  educated,  and  followed  teaching  during 
his  earlier  manhood,  being  thus  engaged  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years,  in  Shamokin  and  Mount 
Carmel.  Later  he  became  inside  foreman  at  the 
Cap  colliery  (where  David  Llewellyn  was  then 
outside  foreman)  and  was  employed  there  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  died  Oct.  8,  1865,  at  his  home  in 
the  Irish  Valley,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  was 
buried  at  the  Summit  church  in  that  township. 
An  intelligent,  industrious.  Christian  citizen,  he 
was  a  leader  in  his  community  and  thoroughly 
n  -i"  i  ted  for  his  upright  life.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Sober,  daughter  of  Michael  M.  Sober,  and 
-she  survived  him,  after  his  death  marrying  Lewis 
Chamberlin,  of  Shamokin  township.  She  passed 
away  April  8,  L905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one 
re,  and  is  also  buried  at  the  Summit  church. 
To  Jai  ob  and  Elizabeth  (Sober)  Dreher  were  born 
the  following  named  children:  Mary  F..  wife  of 
Lemuel  Tharp;  Harris  M..  who  is  living  in  Sham- 
okin town-hip-.  Spencer  II.:  William  H..  of  Sham- 
okin township:  Clara,  wife  of  0.  C.  Wilson,  of 
Philadelphia:  and  Jacob  G.,  a  teacher,  of  Sham- 
okin township. 

Spencer  H.  Dreher  attended  school  in  Shamokin 
township  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm.  When  he 
started  work  on  his  own  account  he  followed  farm- 
ing in  that  township  and  also  engaged  to  some  ex- 
tent in  the  dairy  business,  owning  a  fine  tract  of 
100  acres  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Summit 
church,  upon  which  property  he  erected  a  fine 
residence  in  1898.  In  time  he  sold  this  farm  to 
Mr.  Yordy,  the  present  owner,  and  on  Oct.  22, 
1908.  he  settled  in  Shamokin.  where  he  has  es- 
tablished his  home.  Since  1894  he  has  been  in- 
ii  rested  in  the  coal  business,  as  part  owner  of 
three  collieries  in  Q.uinnimont,  W.  Ya.,  all  of 
which  are  in  a  thriving  condition,  yielding  an 
-abundance  of  soft  eoal  for  which  a  ready  market  is 
found. 

Mr.  Dreher  married  Hannah  Lawton,  and  they 
have  one.,  son,  Charles  Edgar,  who  is  a  member  of 
the  class  of  1912  at  Bucknell  University,  at  Lewis- 
hurg.  Pa.  Mr.  Dreher  is  a  Republican  in  polities 
and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Joseph  Lawton,  father  of  Mrs.  Hannah  (Law- 
ton)  Dreher,  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
America  when  a  young  man,  and  lived  for  a  time 
in  the  Irish  Valley  in  Northumberland  county. 
He  became  interested  in  the  coal  business  in  West 
Virginia  and  met  with  success  in  that  line.     In 


1893  he  moved  to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  where  he  made 
his  home  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He  died  while 
making  a  trip  to  his  West  Virginia  mines,  in 
189G.  His  wife,  Mary  (Mathews),  died  in  1910, 
ami  they  are  buried  at  Carlisle.  The  following 
children  survive  them:  Catherine,  William, 
George,  Hannah  (Mrs.  Dreher),  Elmer.  Sallie, 
Walter  ami  Albert. 

THOMAS  M.  LAWLER,  late  of  Sunbury,  was 
filling  the  office  of  prothonotary  of  Northumber- 
land county  at  the  time  of  his  death.  June  5,  1907. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  that  com- 
munity, a  typical  representative  of  his  race,  genial, 
sociable,  friendly,  known  to  many  and  liked  by 
all  who  met  him. 

Mr.  Lawler  was  born  Nov.  30,  1857,  in  County 
Wicklow,  Ireland,  son  of  William  Lawler.  a  na- 
tive i'!'  the  same  country,  who  came  to  America 
with  his  family  in  the  year  186;.  Thomas  M. 
Lawler  was  ten  years  old  when  brought  to  America 
by  his  parents,  the  family  settling  in  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  boy  attended 
public  school.  When  twelve  years  old  he  started 
to  learn  the  printing  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Sun- 
bury American,  at  that  time  owned  and  edited  by 
Emanuel  Wilvert,  and  he  completed  a  five  years' 
apprenticeship  with  the  Northumberland  County 
Democrat  ami  Sunbury  Daily  in  lSvo.  The  next 
two  years  he  spent  in  Pittsburg,  returning  to 
Sunbury  to  become  foreman  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Democrat  and  Daily,  which  he  held  for  over 
ten  years,  until  March,  1888.  For  the  following 
years,  until  October,  1898,  he  was  in  the  Gov- 
ernment printing  office  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
after  which  he  was  engaged  on  the  Washington 
Post,  having  charge  of  the  mechanical  work  on  the 
advertisements.  In  September,  1894,  during 
Cleveland's  second  administration,  he  was  appoint- 
ed foreman  of  the  night  bill  force  in  the  printing 
office.  He  received  the  appointment  on  recognized 
merit  and  ability,  and  held  it  until  the  administra- 

ii :hanged.     Though  he  had  done  well  at  the 

printing  business,  Mr.  Lawler  upon  his  return  to 
Sunbury  did  not  return  to  that  occupation,  but 
entered  into  the  restaurant  business  on  Market 
Square,  the  Park  Restaurant  being  one  of  the  most 
popular  places  of  the  kind  in  Sunbury.  Mr.  Law- 
ler was  "'Tom'"  to  the  many  who  knew  and  loved 
him.  and  his  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  extended 
beyond  the  limits  of  Northumberland  into  neigh- 
boring  counties.  His  personality  will  not  be  readi- 
ly forgotten.  The  Sunbury  Daily  Item  of  June 
5.  1907,  said  :  "He  was  a  man  whom  you  liked  to 
meet:  be  put  sunshine  into  the  day  by  his  kindly 
greeting  and  enjoyed  a  bit  of  pleasantry  that  eased 
many  a  heart  with  his  ready  wit  and  humor."  His 
genial  disposition,  thoughtfulness,  fidelity  to  his 
friends,  sincerity  ami  naturalness  won  him  a  last- 


630 


NORTHUMBERLAND  ( IOUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ing  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  with  win  mi  he  came 
in  contact. 

Mr.  Lawler  was  a  stanch  iDemocrat  and  always 
active  in  polities,  and  on  Juno  12,  1905,  he  was 
nominated  for  the  office  of  prothonotary,  to  which 
he  was  elected  the  following  November.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  had  served  seventeen  months 
of  his  term  of  three  years.  He  filled  the  office 
with  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  constituents, 
though  foT  some  time  he  suffered  so  with  rheuma- 
tism thai  he  was  unable  to  attend  to  it-  duties 
personally.  However,  he  recovered  sufficiently  sev- 
eral months  before  his  death  to  return  to  its  ac- 
tivities, and  although  he  was  far  from  being  a 
well  man  he  kept  up  so  well  that  his  friends  were 
hopeful  his  recovery  would  be  complete.  But  he 
succumbed  to  a  sudden  relapse  and  grew  rapidly 
worse  until  his  death.  The  Evening  Standard  id' 
Milton,  this  county,  in  an  editorial  written  by  one 
of  Mr.  Lawler's  friends,  -aid  : 

"Few  people  perhaps,  either  in  public  or  private 
life,  in  centra]  Pennsylvania,  were  more  generally 
known  or  more  universally  beloved.  In  many 
respects  he  was  a  most  remarkable  man.  Of  com- 
manding presence  and  genial  disposition,  he  quick- 
ly enlisted  the  lasting  g 1  will  of  all  with  whom 

he  came  in  contact.  Endowed  with  a  high  order 
of  natural  intelligence,  his  acquired  information, 
coupled  with  that  unfailing  fund  id'  humor  so 
characteristic  id'  the  people  of  his  race,  attracted 
to  him  a  multitude  of  friends  and  admirers. 

"His  open  handed  charities  (oft  abused)  were 
dispensed  with  a  lavishness  wholly  disproportioned 
to  bis  means.  A  partisan,  in  political  warfare, 
powerful  personality  was  a  tower  of  strength  to 
those  whose  cause  he  so  unselfishly  espoused.  But 
when  the  storm  of  conflict  subsided,  if.  as  some- 
times occurred,  his  was  the  portion  of  the  van- 
quished, he  never  failed  to  greet  the  victor  with 
a  warmth  of  feeling  that  at  once  established  an 
'entente  cordiale'  which  no  future  embroilments 
could  dissolve.  His  public  life  was  characterized 
by  the  same  distinguishing  traits  that  made  him 
such  a  conspicuous  figure  in  private  life.  His  cap- 
tivating manners  and  graceful  courtesy  made  him 
easily  approachable  at  all  times 

■■Fidelity  to  duty,  strict  integrity  and  thorough- 
ly ss  in  method  in  his  official  duties,  establishes  a 
record  in  the  important  department  over  which 
he  was  called  to  preside.  :::  *  *  'the  standard 
of  his  sterling  manhood  was  never  lowered.  Purity 
of  thought  and  action  were  the  high  ideals  ever  be- 
fore him,  such  indeed  was  the  active  principle  of 
his  life,  the  shrine  of  bis  devotion. 

"To  the  bereaved  wife,  the  venerable  mother. 
tin  sorrowing  sister  and  brothers,  the  full  measure 
'd'  public  sympathy  will  go  forth.  Some  solace 
for  them  will  be  found  in  the  knowledge  that  an 
etitne    community    -hares    their   grief,   and    most 


profoundly  regret  the  passing  of  one  whose  like 
they  "ill  never  see  again."' 

Mr.  Lawler  was  a  member  of  the  Elks,  the 
Eagles,  the  Typographical  Union,  Good  Intent 
Fire  Company  and  the  Board  of  Trade,  which  lat- 
ter body  had  been  newly  organized  just  before  his 
death  and  with  which  he  hail  been  actively  iden- 
tified. Hi-  active  association  with  labor  organiza- 
tions began  in  1875,  when  he  joined  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  and  he  was  mainly 
instrumental  in  starting  the  Knights  of  Labor  in 
Sunbury  in  1876,  serving  as  first  president  of  the 
local  organization.  No.  tOO.  He  was  a  regularly 
commissioned  organizer  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion "i  Labor.  Fur  two  term-  he  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Washington  Typographical  Union, 
which  he  represented  at  Louisville.  Kv..  in  1894, 
and  just  before  his  death  he  had  been  chosen  a-  a 
del. rate  tn  the  approaching  convention  of  the 
Union  to  lie  held  at  Hot  Springs.  Ark.,  in  August; 
1907. 

In  1886  Mr.  Lawler  married  Virginia  Mills, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Brown)  Mills,  the 
former  a  native  of  England,  who.  at  the  age  61 
sixteen,  upon  coming  to  this  country,  first  settled 
in  Baltimore.  Md.,  in  1 S 7 -" "> .  coming  to  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1886. 
Mis.  Mill-  is  also  deceased,  and  they  are  interred 
in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery.  They  were  the  par- 
ents nf  eight  children,  all  of  whom  died  young 
■  1  Virginia,  Mrs.  Lawler.  Mr.  Lawler  was 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  to  which  his 
widow  also  belongs.  He  is  buried  in  Pomfret 
Manor  cemetery. 

Besides  his  wife.  Mr.  Lawler  was  survived  by 
his  mother,  sister,  Mi--  Mary  Lawler,  and  broth- 
ers William.  John,  (diaries  and  James  Lawler.  all 
of  Sunbury. 

SMITH.  This  family  ha-  been  identified  with 
Lower  Augusta  township  and  that  vicinity  for  over 
eighty  years.  Robert  Smith,  whose  parents  eami 
from  Ireland,  lived  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  then  called 
"Derrstown/5  until  1830,  when  he  came  to  Lower 
Augusta  township.  Northumberland  county. 
Here  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  born  in  1777,  anil 
died  Sept.  '.'  1,  1844,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He 
was  a  tall,  heavily  built  man.  verj  strong,  and  was 
engaged  as  a  boatman.  His  wife,  Mary,  died  .Tan. 
l-'i.  1861.  aged  sixty-six  years,  nine  months,  three 
days.  They  are  buried  at  the  Mountain  Presby- 
terian church  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  Mary 
Smith  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Barbara  Ann 
(Weinhold)  Smith,  both  natives  of  Berks  county. 
They  were  Germans,  and  spoke  German.  Robert 
and  Mary  Smith  bad  children  as  follows:  James. 
Washington,  William,  Sarah,  Charles,  Robert, 
Mary,  Barbara  Ann  and  John. 

Robert  Smith,  sod  of  Robert,  was  born  at  Lewis- 


NORTHIMRHRLAXD  C'OCXTY.    I'FX  XSYLVANIA 


C31 


burg,  Pa.,  An-.  80,  1822.  When  he  was  eight 
veins  old  his  parents  settled  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and 
there  later  he  purchased  300  acres  of  land.  This 
Inn  now  been  divided  into  a  number  of  tracts, 
some  of  which  are  still  in  the  family  name.  He 
was  a  stonemason,  ami  reputed  to  have  been  one 
of  tin'  very  best  mechanics  of  his  time.  He  built 
the  ( lountj  jail  at  Sunbury,  the  law  since  of  Simon 
I'.  Wolverton,  Esq.,  the  resilience  of  the  late 
Judge  Rockefeller,  ami  many  more  of  the  most 
notable  structures  in  Northumberland  and  sur- 
rounding counties.  In  Connecticut  he  erected  a 
large  granite  railroad  bridge,  lie  died  .Ian.  1, 
1896,  in  bis  seventy-fourtb  year,  ami  is  buried 
at  Mount.  Zion  1'.  B.  church,  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  His  wife,  Isabella  St.  Clair,  was  born 
Oct.  I  1.  is?:;,  and  i-  still  living,  the  oldest  woman 
in  her  township.  She  has  her  home  with  a  son. 
She  is  exceptionally  well  preserved,  ami  has  a  re- 
markably clear  memory.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Casper  St.  Clair  ami  granddaughter  of  Daniel  St. 
('lair,  who  was  a  Drum  Major  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Robert  ami  Isabella  (St.  Clair)  Smith  had 
eleven  children:  Charles  (a  stone  mason),  Kate, 
.lames  II..  Henry  C,  Newton,  Wellington  (who 
died  in  infancy)  and  Oliver  (a  stonemason),  twins, 
Matilda,  Andrew  J.,  William,  Henrietta  (the  two 
last  named  died  in  infancy  | . 

Andrew  .1.  Smith,  son  of  Robert,  Jr.,  was  born 
Feb.  '.'it,  1861.  When  he  was  seventeen  years  old 
he  began  teaching  school,  ami  in  188!>  began  work- 
ing at  Iloiic\  Tot  Scales,  at  Xanticoke.  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  with  which  he 
remained  in  all  fourteen  years,  being  their  chief 
clerk  there  eight  years.  In  1903  he  moved  to  one 
of  his  farm-,  a  tract  of  1  Hi  acres  located  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  formerly  the  Andrew  Gfonsor  home- 
stead. Mr.  Smith  has  another  farm  of  120  acres, 
near  Fisher's  Ferry  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
Me  ami  his  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church,  lie  married  Carrie  E.  Heil- 
iiiiiii,  ami  they  have  a  family  of  nine  children: 
Ada  (a  school  teacher).  Edna,  Harold.  Maud, 
Helen,  Robert,  Walter,  Lillian  and  Albert. 

James  II.  Smith,  -on  of  Robert,  dr..  was  horn 
Xov.  •.'(>,  1847.  He  worked  for  his  parents  until 
twenty-one  years  old,  and  then  for  eleven  years 
farmed  on  shares  in  Lower  Augusta  township 
where  he  has  always  lived.  In  February,  188?,  he 
purchased  his  present  120-acre  farm,  which  was  the 
Joseph  Shipman  tract.  For  the  past  thirty-eight 
years  Mr.  Smith  has  attended  the  Sunbury  mark- 
ets. He  is  a  Republican,  was  school  director  for 
twelve  years,  and  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor  for 
the  past  twelve  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church,  which 
he  has  served  officially  for  the  past  twenty  years. 
Tn  1871  he  married*  Matilda  Snyder,  and  they 
have  the   following  ten  children:   Martha,  Benja- 


min, Cora,  Lottie,  Florence,  Peter,  .1111110-.  Mary, 
John  and  Sarah. 

HENRY  .1.  MAIER,  merchant  at  Locust  Cap, 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  July  27,  1867, 

at  St.  (lair.  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  but  has  lived  at 
Locust  Cap  from  early  boyhood.  His  father.  Henry 
Maier,  came  from  Breitenbach,  Germany,  when  a 
young  man  and  settled  first  in  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  followed  mining  at  Si.  (Hair  and  Girard- 
ville  before  his  removal  to  Locust  Cap,  in  1871. 
There  be  also  followed  mining.  He  died  in  1887 
at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  and  his  wife, 
Margaret  (Schwartz),  died  in  1880.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  Louisa  (Mrs.  John  Ivnauf), 
Jacob,  Mary.  Margaret,  Henry  J.,  Frank.  John. 
Nicholas,  Elizabeth  (deceased)  and  Peter  (de- 
ceased). 

Henry  .1.  Maier  was  reared  and  educated  at. 
Locust  Gap.  When  only  fourteen  months  old  he 
met  with  a  misfortune  which  disabled  him  phys- 
ically, a  doctor  administering  medicine  which  was 
too  strong  for  him  and  which  so  affected  his  nerves 
that  the  greater  part  of  his  body  is  paralyzed, 
though  lie  does  not  suffer.  He  has  the  use  of  his 
right  arm  and  left  leg,  however,  and  he  has  not  al- 
lowed the  unfortunate  accident  to  check  his  am- 
bition or  impair  his  usefulness  to  society  in  any 
way.  In  1888  he  began  the  grocery  business  on 
in-  own  account,  in  the  basement  of  the  MeCartln 
hotel,  and  later  removed  to  his  present  location, 
carrying  a  well  selected  and  comprehensive  general 
-lock-,  chosen  to  meet  the  demands  of  his  trade, 
which  has  increased  steadily.  In  1905  he  built  his 
home  at  Locust  (hip.  and  he  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial and  respected  citizens  of  that  place.  His  fel- 
low citizens  have  shown  their  confidence  in  his 
integrity  and  ability  by  electing  him  to  various 
local  positions  of  trust,  he  having  served  Mount 
Carmel  township  seven  years  as  school  director 
ami  tilled  all  the  offices  of  the  hoard,  and  he  was 
township  auditor  for  a  term.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  connection  and  a  Catholic  in  religion, 
belonging  also  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
Holy  Name  Society  and  the  Foresters. 

On  April  21,  1904,  Mr.  Maier  married  Mary 
Ruffing,  daughter  of  Lambert  Ruffing,  and  they 
have  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom.  Catherine. 
Helen.  Estella  ami  Henry  Joseph,  Jr.  (who  died 
July  '.'.  1910),  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are: 
Florence,  Mary  and  Margaret. 

JOHN  WESLEY  TIENRIE,  of  Shamokin. 
Northumberland  county,  manager  and  part  owner 
of  the  "Windsor  Hotel,*'  is  well  known  to  the  local 
and  traveling  public  there  in  that  connection  as- 
well  as  in  his  capacity  of  assessor,  in  which  position 
lie  has  served  for  the  past  twelve  years,  from  the 
Second  ward.  Mr.  Henrie  is  a  native  of  Shamokin. 
born  March  0.  1870,  at  the  old  family  home.  No. 


63*2 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


120  North  Shamokin  street.  His  father,  Harrison 
Henrie,  was  a  well  known  contractor  and  builder 
of  the  city  in  his  day,  and  his  grandfather  came  to 
this  county  many  years  ago. 

George  Henrie,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  one 
of  the  lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  com- 
ing to  Northumberland  county  settled  near  Elys- 
burg.  He  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
thirty-five  years.  He  and  his  wife,  Kate,  had 
six  children:  Samuel,  Harriet  (married  Jacob 
Swank),  Margaret  (married  a  Mr.  Kelly  and  a 
Mr.  Startzel),  Harrison.  William  and  George. 

Harrison  Henrie,  son  of  George,  came  to  Sha- 
mokin  when  a  young  man  and  here  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  began  his  business  career 
following  his  trade,  that  of  bricklayer  and  plas- 
terer, and  in  time  became  a  contractor,  building 
many  of  the  substantial  residences  and  churches 
in  that  place.  He  was  a  prominent  Democrat, 
and  in  1875  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
commissioner,  being  re-elected  in  1877,  at  the 
close  of  his  first  term.  But  he  died  shortly  after- 
ward, and  Philip  Hile  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Mr.  Henrie  married  Mary  J.  Bird,  daughter  of 
Ziba  Bird,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Margaret,  wife  of  Charles  F.  Huth.  an 
attorney  practicing  at  the  Northumberland  county 
bar  :  Edward,  who  died  young  :  William,  of  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa. ;  George,  of  Trenton,  N.  J. ;  Emma,  wife 
of  William  Mutchler;  Samuel,  who  died  in  infan- 
cy ;  John  W. :  Edna,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and 
Jennie,  wife  of  William  Harpel,  of  Eochester.  New 
York. 

John  Wesley  Henrie  received  his  education  in 
the  common  and  high  schools  of  his  native  place. 
After  commencing  work  he  was  employed  by  the 
Philadelphia  &  Beading  Company  for  a  period  of 
six  years,  part  of  this  time  in  the  office  of  the 
superintendent.  He  then  engaged  in  business,  as 
a  dealer  in  men's  furnishings,  continuing  thus 
until  May  1'.'.  1902,  when  his  connection  with 
the  "Windsor  Hotel"  began.  He  was  clerk  for 
several  years,  until  the  Windsor  Hotel  Company 
of  Shamokin  was  incorporated.  April  16,  1906, 
when  he  became  a  member  of  the  company  and 
manager  of  the  hotel.  His  success  in  this  incum- 
bency lias  been  sufficient  evidence  of  his  fitness 
for  the  work.  He  is  popular  with  the  traveling 
public  as  well  as  with  his  fellow  townsmen,  both 
for  his  enterprise  in  conducting  a  satisfactory  ho- 
tel, one  that  is  a  credit  to  Shamokin,  and  for  his 
high  character  as  a  man.  Socially  he  is  w^ell 
known,  having  been  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Clover  Club,  in  1888,  and  a  charter  member,  and 
be  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  that  body.  He  is  a 
member  of  Elks  Lodge  No.  355  and  of  the  Lib- 
erty Fire  Company  and  for  a  time  served  as  pres- 
ident of  the  Liberty  Hose  Company;  he  is  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Firemen's  Associa- 
tion. In  politics  Mr.  Henrie  is  a  Bepublican,  and 
for  the  past  twelve  years  has  been  assessor  of  the 
Second  ward  of  Shamokin. 


The  Bird  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Mary  J.  (Bird) 
Henrie.  widow  of  Harrison  Henrie,  belongs,  has 
been  quite  numerous  and  well  known  in  this  re- 
gion since  her  grandfather,  James  Bird,  came  hith- 
er from  New  Jersey. 

•lames  Bird  was  born  in  Warren  count}",  N.  J., 
and  was  married  in  his  native  State,  moving  to 
Northumberland  county  with  his  family  and  set- 
tling in  Bush  township  in  its  pioneer  days.  He 
purchased  a  large  and  uncultivated  tract  of  land 
on  Little  Bearing  creek,  and  died  in  Bush  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  wdiere  he  first  settled.  His 
children  were:  John,  Joseph,  James.  William,  Syl- 
vanus  (born  in  1796),  Ziba,  Susan  (married  Wil- 
liam Kimball),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Scott),  Bachel  (mar- 
ried Jacob  Shipman)  and  Nancy. 

Ziba  Bird,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  N.  J.,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  North- 
umberland county.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the 
opment  of  the  farm  in  Bush  township  and 
also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  followed 
farming  for  a  time  on  Little  Bearing  creek,  but 
later  went  to  Shamokin  to  take  charge  of  the 
mining  operations  there  of  John  C.  Boyd,  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Danville,  and  he  became  quite 
prominent  in  the  early  days  of  the  town.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  there,  and  erected  the  first 
two  buildings  in  what  is  now  Shamokin.  He 
also  did  considerable  building  later,  two  double 
houses  on  the  smith  side  of  Commercial  street, 
between  Franklin  and  Pearl,  and  probably  others, 
being  of  his  construction.  He  continued  to  be 
interested  in  coal  operations  for  several  years,  but 
retired  from  that  line  when  the  town  and  busi- 
ness began  to  settle  down  to  a  level  after  the 
first  wave  of  prosperity,  and  he  then  returned  to 
Bush  township,  where  he  established  himself  as 
a  farmer.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Bed  Point, 
on  the  Susquehanna  river,  just  on  the  Montour 
and  Northumberland  county  line,  below  Danville, 
purchasing  a  home  there  in  which  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  there  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five.  His  activity  and  usefulness  in  pro- 
moting Shamokin's  interests  in  the  early  days  of 
the  town  entitle  him  to  be  classed  among  the  real 
founders  of  the  place. 

Mi'.  Bird  married  three  times,  and  had  in  all 
nineteen  children.  His  first  wife,  Hannah  Metz 
(Mentz  or  Metze),  was  the  mother  of  six  children: 
Annie;  Joseph,  born  in  1814;  Catharine;  Sarah: 
Elizabeth,  born  in  ISIS,  who  married  William 
Burkenbine  and  is  still  living,  making  her  home 
in  the  borough  of  Northumberland :  and  James, 
who  died  in  infancy.  By  his  second  wife,  Eliza- 
beth  Parley,  Mr.  Bird  had  the  following  children: 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


G33 


John,  Hannah,  Ziba,  Jr.,  Kellop  (who  died  in 
infancy)  and  Susanna  (who  died  in  infancy).  His 
third  marriage  was  to  Margaret  Mutchler,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children :  Mary  J.  (widow  of 
Earrison  Henrie,  of  Shamokin),  William,  Nelson, 
Montgomery,  Eliza,  Emma,  Samuel  and  Margaret. 
Mrs.  Mary  J.  Henrie,  widow  of  Harrison  Hen- 
rie, was  the  first  girl  born  in  Shamokin,  one 
John  Snyder  being  the  first  boy.  She  was  born 
Oct.  14,  1835,  at  the  corner  of  Commerce  and 
Shamokin  streets. 

WILLIAM  DALIUS,  who  lived  from  early  man- 
hood until  his  'Lai  1 1  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county,  was  born  Feb.  16,  1800, 
in  Berks  county.  1'a.  On  coming  to  this  county 
he  settled  on  a  small  farm,  a  tract  of  eighteen 
ai  res,  which  he  cultivated,  and  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  long  life,  dying  April  21, 
L882,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  two  months, 
live  days,  lie  is  buried  at  Lantz's  church.  He 
was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  Mr.  Dalius 
married  Elizabeth  (Betsy)  Arnold,  who  was  born 
Aug.  11,  1805,  in  Berks  county,  and  whose  father 
died  when  she  was  a  child.  She  was  reared  in 
the  family  of  her  elder  sister.  Mrs.  Komp.  Mrs. 
I 'alius  died  Dec,  L0,  1869,  aged  sixty-four  years. 
three  months,  thirty  days.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  their  union:  (1)  Caroline,  born  April  1, 
1827,  died  July  26,  1896,  unmarried,  and  she 
a  in  I  her  sister  Sarah  are  buried  in  Pomfret  Man- 
or cemetery,  at  Sunbury,  where  a  large  monument 
has  been  erected  to  their  memory.  (2)  Sarah, 
born  May  3,  1830,  died  Aug.  23,  1896,  unmarried. 
(3)  Eliza  married  Benjamin  Lake  and  lives  at 
Shamokin,  Pa.  (-1)  Mary,  who  resides  at  No.  324 
Market  street.  Sunbury,  is  a  member  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  in  that  borough.  (5)  Louisa 
died  when  thirteen  years  old.  (6)  Catharine  and 
(7)  Margaret,  twins,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dalius  also  reared  another  girl,  Louisa,  who 
took  their  name  ami  made  her  home  with  them. 
On  Aug.  28,  1893,  she  was  married  in  Buffalo, 
X.  Y.,  to  Walter  T.  Keiner,  and  their  home  is  in 
Sunbury,  Miss  Mary  Dalius  residing  with  them. 
Mrs.  Keiner  became  the  legatee  of  the  Dalius  es- 
tate. 

Waltki;  T.  Kiin'er  was  horn  in  Danville,  Mon- 
tour Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  for  a  number  of  years  been 
engaged  as  a  hotel  clerk.  He  was  formerly  con- 
nected witli  the  "Aldine  Hotel,"  in  Sunbury,  in 
that  capacity,  and  is  now  at  the  "Hotel  Norman- 
dy," in  Philadelphia.  He  also  conducted  the 
"Westmount  Hotel."'  at  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  for 
one  war.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keiner  have  no  family. 

THOMAS  J.  McCAFFERY,  of  Shamokin,  a 
teacher  of  almost  forty  years'  experience  in  Coal 
township,  Northumberland  county,  is  naturally 
one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  that  region.    He 


holds  the  respect  and  friendship  of  a  wide  circle, 
including  his  fellow  educators  and  those  who  have 
come  under  his  instruction. 

Mr.  McCaffery  was  born  in  1853  at  Pottsville, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Dennis  and  Elizabeth 
(Doyle)  McCaffery,  natives  of  Ireland,  the  former 
of  whom  came  to  America  when  a  young  man, 
in  1846,  the  latter  when  she  was  a  girl  of  fifteen. 
Dennis  McCaffery  first  located  at  Pottsville,  in 
1853  coming  to  Shamokin,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  followed  mining,  and 
was  killed  at  the  mines  Oct.  7,  1863.  His  wife 
survived  many  years,  dying  at  Shajnokin  in  1906. 
She  left  many  friends,  being  particularly  well 
known  among  the  older  residents  of  the  borough. 

Thomas  J.  McCaffery  was  the  only  child  of  his 
parents.  He  attended  public  school  in  Shamokin, 
hut  began  work  before  his  school  days  were  over, 
as  a  slate  picker.  Later  he  followed  mining  for  a 
time,  but  his  mind  turned  to  more  congenial  oc- 
cupation; and  he  took  up  his  studies  again,  going 
to  the  Eastman  Business  College,  at  Poughkeep- 
sie,  N.  Y.,  and  also  -to  the  State  normal  school 
at  Millersville,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He  be- 
gan teaching  in  1872,  and  has  followed  that  pro- 
fession ever  since,  having  been  engaged  in  Coal 
township  throughout  that  long  period.  He  is  one 
of  the  teachers  at  the  Morse  building.  Mr.  Mc- 
Caffery resides  at  the  old  family  home,  No.  429 
West  Spruce  street,  Shamokin.  He  is  a  Democrat 
and  has  done  some  local  party  work,  and  for  three 
year-  he  served  his  ward  as  member  of  the  .bor- 
ough council. 

On  May  27.  1884.  Mr.  McCaffery  married  Mary 
Sweney,  of  Shamokin,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Mary  (Mitchell)  Sweney,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter. Elizabeth,  who  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 
Mr.  McCaffery  is  a  member  of  St.  Edward's  Cath- 
olic Church  and  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

HENRY  WILSON  LARK,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Lark  &  Lark,  manufacturers  of  over- 
alls, shirts  and  coats,  of  Shamokin,  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  young-  business  men 
of  Northumberland  county. 

Mr.  Lark  was  born  in  this  city  May  9,  1881, 
son  of  Emanuel  S.  Lark,  sketch  of  whom  is  given 
in  full  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  attended  the 
public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school 
in  1899.  For  a  short  time  after  leaving  school 
he  did  clerical  work,  and  then  became  a  traveling 
salesman  for  D.  K.  Haas  &  Co.,  with  whom  he 
continued  for  four  years.  After  leaving  the  road 
he  was  bookkeeper  for  the  Shamokin  Hardware 
Company  until  April  18,  1903,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  C.  C.  Malick,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Lark  &  Malick,  for  the  manufacture  of 
overalls,  coats  and  shirts,  and  they  established  their 
factory  at  No.  27  Carbon  street.  In  1908  Mr. 
Malick  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and  Mr.  Lark's 


634 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


younger  brother,  Thomas  F.  Lark,  was  admitted 
in  his  stead,  the  firm  name  becoming  Lark  & 
Lark.  The  business  has  been  continued  with  a 
steadily  increasing  trade,  and  from  thirty-five  to 
forty  people  are  now  employed  all  the  year  round. 
Mr.  Lark  married  Grace  A.  Aueker.  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Sallie  (Deibler)  Aueker.  of  Shamo- 
kin,  and  their  children  are:  Henry  W.,  Jr..  Erne- 
line  Buyer.  Sarah  Elizabeth.  Jacob  Aueker  and 
Frederick  Emanuel.  Mr.  Lark  is  a  member  of 
Si.  John's  Reformed  Church,  ami  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  consistory.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Central  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Shafn- 
okin,  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  original  di- 
rectors of  the  new  Dime  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit 
Company,  of  Shamokin,  and  is  looked  upon  a-  one 

e  substantial  citizens  of  thai   b ugh,  highly 

i  ted  by  all  who  know  him. 

THOMAS  PBEDEEICK  LARK,  junior  mem- 
ber id'  the  firm  of  Lark  &  Lark,  manufacturers  of 
overalls,  coats  and  shirts,  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
business  men  of  Shamokin.  He  was  born  in  that 
city  April  18,  1883.  sun  of  Emanuel  S.  and  Erne- 
line  (Boyer)  Lark,  his  father  being  the  presenl 
superintendent  of  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 

Mr.  Lark  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
attending  until  the  close  of  his  second  year  in  high 
school,  lb1  then  began  the  serious  business  of  life 
as  a  bookkeeper  fur  Warren  Unger,  with  whom 
remained  for  a  period  of  seven  years.  In  May. 
L906,  he  entered  the  firm  of  Lark  &  Malick,  and 
in  1908,  on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Malick,  the 
name  was  changed  to  Lark  &  Lark.  Mr.  Lark 
has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  business,  and  he 
is  highly  regarded  by  those  who  have  come  in 
contact  with  him.  He  lias  high  principles,  and 
is  careful  and  conscientious  in  his  dealings. 

Mr.  Lark  was  married  to  Blanch  H.  Sowers, 
daughter  id'  ('.  L.  Sowers,  a  well  known  merchant 
at  Shamokin.  To  this  union  have  been  born  two 
children,  Thomas  Chester  and  Dorothy  Blanche. 
Mi-.  Lark  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
i  I  >dd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Triple  Links  (dub.  His 
religious  connection  is  with  St.  John'-  Reformed 
Church. 

DAVID  H.  SNYDER,  who  has  resided  in  the 
borough  of  Snydertown  since  he  gave  up  farming, 
in  1909,  was  born   Sept.   25,   1845,   in   Schuylkill 
count)',   Pa.,   and    comes   of  a   family  of   German 
ii  which  has  Ion-  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
derick    S  grandfather    of    David    H. 

ler,  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  and  died  in  Eld- 
red   township,   Schuylkill   county.      He  was  twice 
married,    and    among   his    children    were    Gideon, 
.  Samuel.  Peter.  Bonneville.  Israel,  and  some 
daughters. 

[saac  Snyder,  -on  of  Frederick,  was  born  Jan. 
9.   1816,   in    Eldred    township.    Schuylkill   county, 


and  there  passed  hi-  youth  and  early  manhood. 
About  the  year  1855  he  came  to  Northumberland 
county,  locating  in  Ralpho  township,  where  he 
bought  the  old  Daniel  Haas  farm  of  136  acres, 
besides  121  acres  of  woodland  known  as  the  Little 
Mountain.  His  farm  was  near  the  Blue  church, 
lie  earned  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  upon  his  farm  March  31,  1886, 
when  he  was  aged  seventy  years,  two  months, 
twenty-two  days.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Herb), 
dau-hter  of  Daniel  Herb,  was  born  in  Schuylkill 
county  near  the  Northumberland  county  line.  Oct. 
3,  1819,  and  died  Dee.  23,  L! The)  had  chil- 
dren a-  tollow-:  Hannah,  who  married  Samuel 
Savidge";  Lydia,  who  married  Fisher  Klase:  David 
II.:  Amelia;  Gabriel;  Joseph;  Charles;  Mary  P.. 
who  married  .1.  E.  Pensyl;  and  Sarah  J.,  who 
married  Isaac  Klase. 

David  II.  Snyder,  son  of  [saac,  remained  with 
In-  father  until  he  attained  his  majority,  mean- 
while obtaining  his  education  in  the  local  public 
M  hools.  For  the  next  four  years  he  was  in  the 
emplo)  oJ  Boughner  &  Fredericks,  making  powder, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  began  farming,  buying 
part  of  the'  old  homestead,  a  tract  of  seventy  acres 
upon  which  he  settled,  following  farming  there 
until  a  short  time  ago.  He  made  a  success  of  his 
am  [cultural  operations,  and  was  a  citizen  of  stand- 
ing and  enviabl,e  reputation,  active  in  the  affairs 
of  his  township,  which  he  served  as  school  director 
and  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  was  also  well  known 
in  his  connection  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
which  he  served  a-  class  leader  for  a  period  of 
twenty  years.  In  politics  he  gives  his  support 
to  the  Prohibitionist  party.  In  1909  Mr.  Snyder 
gave  up  active  farm  work  and  moved  into  the  bor- 
ough of  Snydertown. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  Ursula  Repley,  who 
born  Sept.  26,  1845,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
E.  (Scout)  Repley,  and  died  Nov.  12,  1907;  she 
is  buried  at  the  Oak  Grove  church.  One  daughter 
was  bom  to  this  union.  Eulalia,  wife  of  George 
W.  took:  they  reside  in  Ralpho  township.  On 
13,  1910,  Mr.  Snyder  married  (second) 
Clara  P.  Martz,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
i  Kaseman  i  Martz. 

BERNARD    E.    ADAMS,    proprietor    of    the 

••Anthracite    Hotel."    at    No.    118    South    Market 

3  lamokin,  and  one  of  the  best  known  resi- 

-  of  that  busy  city,  was  born  in  Upper  Ma- 

hanoy  township,  Northumberland  county,  in  18  17, 

son  of  Gideon  and  Sarah  (Eshman)  Adams. 

There  are  numerous  representatives  of  the 
Adam  or  Adams  family  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. Its  history  in  America  goes  back  to  the  first 
half  of  the-  eighteenth  century,  when  Anthony 
Adam,  a  potter  by  trade,  emigrated  to  these 
He  sailed  from  Rotterdam  on  the  snow 
•"Molly."  commanded  by  ('apt.  John  Cranch.  which 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


635 


vessel  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  passengers, 
having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  English 
Sovereign,  were  qualified  to  land  Oct.  26,  1741. 
Anthony  Adam's  age  is  entered  on  the  passenger 
list  as  twenty-five  years,  and  one  accounl  -ays  he 
was  born  in  the  Fatherland,  another  that  he  was  a 
French  Euguenot.  On  Feb.  7,  1748,  he  received 
from  the  proprietaries  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  136  acres.  146 
pefchi  -  of  land  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county. 
then  a  part  of  Philadelphia  county.  This  land  was 
surveyed  Eor  him  by  the  surveyor  general  of  the 
Province,  dune  6,  1752.  It  is  probable  that  he  set- 
tled in  Albany  township  immediately  after  his  ar- 
rival in  the  New  World,  as  he  was  a  settli  r  there 
in  1752,  and  he  witnessed  and  participated  in  the 
trying  times  of  the  French  and  Indian  wars.  His 
farm  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Nathan  Weisner, 
of  Round  Top,  Albany  town-hip.  Berks  county. 
On  Feh.  7,  L748,  he  also  received  a  warrant  for 
a  trad  of  L35  acres,  K  perches  "above  Maxa- 
tawny."  and  in  1761  he  sold  1  10  acres  of  his  land 
in  Albany  township  to  John  Reinhard.  He  was 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  Albrechl  Stimmel, 
of  Albany  township,  in  1766,  being  the  chief  cred- 
itor. Hi-  administration  accounl  was  audited  and 
approved  in  December,  1768.  The  date  of  death 
of  Anthony  (or  Andoni,  as  he  wrote  his  name) 
Adam,  of  Albany  township,  is  not  known.  Neither 
do  we  know  the  name  id'  his  wife,  but  it  is  known 
that  he  hail  -on-:  Abraham,  Anthony  and  Bern- 
hard,  who  moved  t<>  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.:  and 
Peter. 

Nicholas  Adam,  the  ancestor  of  a  large  number 
of  this  name,  possibly  another  son  of  Andoni,  was 
a.  native  of  Berks  county,  born  duly  5,  1756,  and 
coming  i"  Northumberland  settled  in  the  Swabian 
Creek  district,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Washing- 
ton township.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  the  farm 
which  later  became  the  property  of  Isaac  Tryon, 
a  large  tract,  and  he  also  owned  what  are  now  the 
farms  of  Nathan  Adam-.  Mrs.  James  Troutman, 
Cornelius  Adams  and  Galen  Stepp,  besides  land 
alone'  the  deep  creek.  In  fact,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  extensive  landowners  in  his  section.  He  died 
April  11.  1826,  and  is  buried  at  HimmeFs  church. 
IF-  death  wa-  caused  by  consumption.  His  wife, 
Anna  Maria,  nee  Kaler,  born  March  3.  1763,  died 
Aug.  4,  1830.  His  sons  were:  John,  who  left 
children.  Gabriel  and  Nathaniel;  Gideon;  Absa- 
lom, mentioned  below:  Nicholas,  who  left  chil- 
dren, Abraham,  Nicholas,  Adam  and  daughters: 
Adam,  who  died  unmarried:  Bernhard;  and  sev- 
eral daughters. 

Absalom  Adam,  grandfather  of  Bernard  E. 
Adam-,  was  evidently  a  -on  of  Nicholas,  was  born 
at  Greenbrier,  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  dy- 
ing about  1819.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  prop- 
en  v  which   is  still   in  the  familv  name,  the  farm 


now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Nathan  Adams.  He 
was  a  pioneer  in  Washington  township,  where  he 
came  to  live  when  the  land  was  nearly  all  covered 
with  timber,  settling  in  the  hills'  because  he 
thought  good  hay  could  be  grown  in  the  valleys. 
The  house  in  which  he  lived,  near  the  mountain, 

-i I  foT  man;;  years,  being  torn  down  by  Nathan 

Adam-  in  r.ios.  Mr.  Adam  and  his  family  are 
buried  at  the  Himmel  church.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden   name  was   Wentzel,  died  before  him,  be- 

n_  stricken  with  paralysis  while  engaged  in 
sweeping.  She  was  advanced  in  years  at  the  time. 
Ten  children  were  horn  to  this  couple:  Leah 
married  Mr.  Williams:  Eliza  married  James 
Anders,  of  Mrinersville ;  Rebecca  married  Abraham 
Bressler;  Sallie  married  Peter  Howerter:  Jestina 
married  Peter  Baer;  Hannah  married  Henry 
Schroeder;  Gideon  lived  in  the  Mahantango  Val- 
ley, hut  died  in  Shamokin,  when  over  eighty  years 
old:  Nicholas  is  mentioned  elsewhere:  Adam  lived 
many  years  in  Shamokin.  where  he  died  when 
nearly  seventy:  John,  who  had  lived  in  Illinois. 
died  on  the  field  of  battle  during  the  Civil  war. 

Gideon  Adams,  -mi  of  Absalom,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  1807,  and  died  at  Shamokin  in  1890. 
I  fi  came  to  Shamokin  about  1866,  and  led  a  retired 
He  married  Sarah  Eshman,  who  died  aged 
sixty-five  years.  Their  children  were:  John  H., 
mentioned  below;  Bernard  E. :  N.  Albert;  Harriet; 
Elizabeth,  and  Charlotte,  all  now  deceased  except 
Bernard. 

Bernard  F.  Adams  has  been  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  home 
farm,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to  live 
with  Jacob  Maurer  as  hired  boy.  and  nine  months 
later  came  to  Shamokin,  where  he  found  work  at 
the  mason's  trade,  building  bridges  for  the  North- 
ern Central  Railroad  Company  between  Mt.  Car- 
mel  and  Sunbury.  He  next  went  to  Stone  Valley, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  lime  quarry,  after 
which  he  worked  for  Gabriel  Herb  for  some  time. 
For  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  huckstering. 
In  1873  he  went  to  Locust  Gap,  and  there  worked 
at  the  stone  mason's  trade  until  he  came  to  Sham- 
okin in  1865.  From  1867  to  1876  he  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Freeburg.  For  thirty-five  years  he 
has  been  in  the  hotel  business  at  Shamokin.  and  is 
justly  popular  with  his  patrons.    He  also  operated 

in    of  the  largest   marble  yards  in  Shamokin  for 
several  years. 

Tn  1862  Mr.  Adams  enlisted  in  his  country's 
service,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  K,  172d 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  served  ten  months. 
He  is  a  member  of  Lincoln  Post,  G.  A.  R. :  Sham- 
okin Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Shamokin  Chap- 
ter. No.  '.'lit.  R.  A.  M.;  Shamokin  Comniandery. 
No.  "t"i.  K.  T. :  Blopmsburg  Consistory,  thirty-sec- 
ond degree;  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S..  of 
Reading;  and  the  lied  Men.     Tn  politic-  he  is  a 


636 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


E?i  publican.     With  his  family  he  attends  the  Re- 
formed Church.     His  home  is  on   South   Market 
eet. 

On  Feb.  22.  1858,  Mr.  Adams  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Anna  Arnold,  a  native  of  Snyder 
county.  Pa.,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  Arnold, 
of  that  county.  Eleven  children  blessed  this  un- 
ion :  Henry  Franklin,  deceased ;  Arthur  R.,  at 
home:  Percival  A.,  deceased:  J.  Elmer,  deceased; 
Charles  0..  a  carpenter  in  Philadelphia:  William 
(  ly.le,  who  died  April  3,  1911 :  Bernard  E.  Jr.,  of 
Portland.  Oregon;  Sylvia,  who  married  W.  H. 
Dapper:  Warren  E. :  Anna  J.,  wife  of  Howard 
Knapp,  of  Portland,  Oregon;  and  Mabel  P.,  who 
married  Merton  K.  Sausser,  of  Shamokin.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  May  9,  1911,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  Shamokin  was  her  home 
for  over  fifty  years,  and  she  was  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  respected  residents  of  that  borough,  well 
known  to  many  and  beloved  of  all  who  enjoyed 
her  acquaintance.  She  was  a  member  of  Chapter 
No.  77.  0.  E.  S..  of  Milton,  of  the  Ladies  Auxili- 
ary of  the  Knights  Templar,  and  of  Trinity  Luth- 
eran church.  She  left  twenty-five  grandchildren 
and  thirteen  great-grandchildren. 

Johx  H.  Adams,  elder  brother  of  Bernard  E., 
was  born  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  in  1834,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  From 
1857  to  1863  lie  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  but  in  the  latter  year 
he  moved  to  Freeburg,  Snyder  county,  and  became 
a  traveling  salesman  for  John  S.  Lentz,  whole- 
sale liquor  dealer.  In  1871  he  came  to  Shamokin, 
and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  a  mercantile 
business.  He  then  became  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Adams.  Haldemau  &  Co.,  wholesale  liquor  deal- 
ers, of  Philadelphia,  and  in  this  he  continued  for 
five  years.  In  1878  he  again  came  to  Shamokin, 
and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  part  of 
the  time  alone  and  part  with  partners,  being  thus 
engaged  until  he  sold  out  intending  to  retire.  In 
a  short  time  he  again  found  himself  drawn  into  the 
business  world,  and  after  a  brief  connection  with 
the  wholesale  liquor  firm  of  Charles  F.  Stadiger 
&  (*"..  of  Philadelphia,  he  established  a  business 
of  his  own  on  Market  street.  Shamokin,  where  he 
continued  until  his  death. 

In  1856  Mr.  Adams  married  Ellehna  H..  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Beisel,  and  they  had  three  children : 
Q.,  attorney  at  law.  now  deceased:  Emma 
R.,  widow  of  Thomas  F.  Foltz :  and  Martha  J.. 
wife  of  Francis  A.  Miller.  Mr.  Adams  was  a 
stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace.  On  June  6,  1859,  he  was 
commissioned  a  major  in  the  State  militia.  So- 
cial] v  he  belonged  to  Sunburv  Lodse.  No.  22,  F. 
&  A.  M. :  Shamokin  Chapter,"  No.  264.  R.  A.  M. : 
and  Prince  of  Peace  Commandery.  K.  T.,  of  Ash- 
land, Pennsvlvania. 


SAV1DGK.  Benjamin  Savidge  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  came  to  this  part  of  Pennsylvania 
at  an  early  period,  settling  in  Montour  county, 
below  Washingtonville.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. In  church  connection  he  was  a  Baptist 
and  he  is  buried  at  Turbutville.  His  wife,  Esther 
Bond,  came  with  him  from  New  Jersey.  They 
were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children:  Hunter, 
John,  Samuel.  William,  Thomas,  Robert,  Cath- 
arine (married  Lambert  Jarett).  Charlotte  (mar- 
ried James  McCarthy),  Margaret  (married  Al- 
■  fred  Haycock),  Nancy  (married  James  Watts), 
Maria  (who  never  married),  and  three  who  died 
young 

William  S  dge,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
Washingtonville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died 
in  July,  187 <*>.  He  was  a  merchant  at  Turbutville 
many  years,  having  begun  clerking  at  Milton  and 
later  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  following 
the  same  line  until  four  years  before  his  death.  He 
also   -  ister.     In  politics  he  was  a 

Democrat,  and  served  as  school  director.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank 
at  Milton,  and  served  as  director  of  same  until 
his  death.  In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Staton),  was  a  daughter  of  John  Sta- 
ton.  Her  death,  in  September,  1870,  was  caused 
by  a  lamp  explosion  in  their  residence  at  Turbut- 
ville. her  clothing  catching  fire;  she  died  four 
hours  later.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Savidge  had  three  chil- 
dren: Sarah,  who  married  P.  W.  Opp  (both  are 
deceased);  Benjamin:  and  Esther  II..  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  McFarland. 

Benjamin  Savidge,  son  of  William,  is  a  well 
known  merchant  of  Turbutville  and  a  director  of 
the  Turbutville  National  Bank.  He  was 
born  Aug.  20,  1852.  was  educated  in  the  local 
schools  and  began  clerking  in  his  father's  store  at 
an  early  age.  After  assisting  him  until  1886  he 
began  business  for  himself,  succeeding  Iris  fa- 
ther at  Turbutville  in  the  general  mercantile  es- 
tablishment, and  he  now  has  the  leading  store 
and  stock  in  town.  He  has  the  homestead  prop- 
erty  at  Lewistown  of  200  acres,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  his  district.  In  1910  he  helped 
to  organize  the  Turbutville  National  Bank  and  is 
one  of  it-  directors;  he  is  also  a  director  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Milton,  Pa.  Mr.  Savidge 
is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  borough  auditor. 
He  and  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  many  years. 

In  May,  1879,  Mr.  Savidge  married  Sophia 
Runyon,  daughter  of  G.  B.  Runyon,  of  Limestone 
township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had 
six  children:  Elizabeth.  Barton  R.,  William. 
Hunter.  Ruth  and  Myron. 

HENRY  RICHARD,  of  Ralpho  township,  has 
passed  practically  all   his   life  on  the  farm  near 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


03  r 


Elysburg  where  lie  still  makes  his  home.  It  has 
been  owned  by  three  successive  generations  of  the 
Richard  family,  his  grandfather,  Andrew  Richard, 
having  owned  and  lived  on  the  place  before  this 
-cci urn  was  known  as  Ralpho  township.  He  had 
a  trad  of  120  acres,  followed  farming  successfully, 
and  was  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  day. 
lie  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship. 

George  Richard,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  in 
L802  in  what  is  now  Ralpho  township,  and  spent 
all  Ins  life  upon  the  farm,  dying  in  1875.  His 
wife  Mary  (Polly)  Kulp,  born  in  1811,  died  in 
1883,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  the 
Blue  church,  where  both  were  members.  They 
bad  children  as  follows:  Sallie,  William,  David, 
Mary  .lane.  Lettie,  George,  Henry,  John,  Hannah 
and   Elizabeth. 

Hemy  Richard,  sou  of  George  and  Mary  (Kulp) 
Richard,  was  born  July  8,  1833,  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship, near  where  he  now  resides.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  his  native  township  and  remained 
upon  the  farm  with  his  father  until  the  latter's 
death,  after  which  the  property  came  into  his  pos- 
session. Ee  is  a  well  known  and  highly  respected 
man,  one  of  the  oldest  farmers  in  his  township, 
and  has  the  good  will  and  friendship  of  all  with 
whom  be  associates.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Richard  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  taken  any 
active  pari  in  party  affairs  or  public  matters.  He 
has  never  married. 

LORENZO  D.  CHERRY,  who  has  a  butcher 
business  and  farm  at  the  Weigh  Scales,  in  Sham- 
okin  township,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Alba  B.  Cher- 
ry, who  founded  the  butcher  business  and  carried 
it  on  for  twenty  years.  Mr.  Cherry  was  born  in 
Shamokin  township  Feb.  ".'.  1873.  His  great- 
grandfather came  to  America  in  the  early  days  of 
the  development  of  this  region  and  settled  in  the 
lower  part  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  passing 
the  remainder  of  his  life  here.  Beyond  the  fact  that 
he  died  when  a  young  man  little  is  known  concern- 
ing him.  His  son,  John  Cherry,  was  the  grandfa- 
ther ol  Lorenzo  I).  Cherry.  There  was  also  a  son 
James,  who  -ettled  in  Center  county.  Pa.,  besides 
two  daughters,  Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

John  Cherry  lived  at  Hollowing  Run,  near 
Fisher's  Ferry,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  North- 
umberland county,  and  there  followed  his  trade, 
that  of  blacksmith,  throughout  his  active  years. 
He  died  there  when  comparatively  a  young  man, 
and  is  buried  along  the  river  bank  near  Fisher's 
Ferry.  II is  wile.  Elizabeth  (Persing),  died  Feb. 
22,  1876,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  three  months, 
thirteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church 
in  Ralpho  township.  Her  father,  Philip  Persing, 
lived  to  be  101  years  old.  The  Persing  family  is 
an  old  ami  prominent  one  in  Northumberland 
county.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Cherry  had  the  fol- 


low mg  children:  Catharine  married  David  Mover 
and  bad  children,  Mahlon  (deceased),  John  (de- 
ceased), Mary  A..  Clara,  Sarah  and  Henry:  Eliz- 
abeth married  Jonas  Himmel  and  had  children, 
Mary  A.,  Alice,  Sarah,  Isabella,  John  and  Grant: 
Hannah  married  Solomon  Haas  and  they  had 
children,  Annie.  Hattie,  Ella,  Louis,  Ben,  Fienna, 
Charles  and  John;  Jemima  married  .Tared  Kating 
and  their  children  were  Thomas.  John.  Annie, 
Mary,  James.  Joseph,  Laury  and  Alice  (they  re- 
moved to  I  Mi-bore,  in  Sullivan  county.  Pa.)  :  Sol- 
omon married  Mary  Krick  and  they  had  Agnes, 
Dellie.  Mazie,  Solomon  and  Grant:  Samuel  mar- 
ried Salina  Campbell  and  (second)  Maria  Hig- 
gins,  ami  there  were  three  children  by  the  first 
union,  Theo,  John  and  Elizabeth  :  Alba  B.  was  the 
father  of  Lorenzo  D.  Cherry. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  history  of  North- 
umberland county  published  some  years  ago:  "The 
('berry  family  was  early  represented  in  this  local- 
ity (  Shamokin),  and  is  said  to  have  suffered  in  the 
Indian  depredations  of  the  Revolutionary  period. 
The  name  of  James  Cherry  appears  as  a  taxable  in 
Shamokin  township  in  1788;  lie  was  probably  the 
first  settler,  and  cleared  land  at  Luke  Fidler, 
Springfield  and  elsewhere,  residing  at  a  house  sub- 
sequently known  as  Irich's.  By  the  division  of  the 
Clark  tract  in  1803  John  Cherry  was  assigned  the 
lower  or  western  portion.  Joseph  Cherry  settled 
on  tlie  plat  near  Eagle  Run  brewery,  where  ves- 
tiges ol  his  improvements  were  visible  long  after 
his  residence  there  had  terminated.  Prior  to  the 
war  of  181".'  Abraham  Cherry  built  a  sawmill  on 
Shamokin  creek  opposite  the  Cameron  colliery, 
and  near  it  stood  an  old  dwelling  house,  for  many 
years  a  land  mark  in  this  section.  Another  mcm- 
ber  of  this  family  had  a  distillery  on  the  hill  east 
of  Shamokin." 

Alba  B.  Cherry,  son  of  John  Cherry,  was  born 
in  1834,  and  'lied  April  25,  1905,  aged  seventy 
years,  nine  months,  nineteen  days,  in  early  life 
he  followed  railroading,  and  later  engaged  in 
farming  in  Irish  Valley,  in  Shamokin  township, 
where  about  1870  he  commenced  the  butcher  busi- 
ness now  conducted  by  his  son.  He  himself  carried 
it  on  until  1890,  after  which  he  resumed  farming, 
devoting  all  his  time  to  that  calling  until  his  death. 
He  married  Lavina  Mover,  who  was  born  in  1831, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Mover,  of  Shamokin  township, 
and  died  May  30,  1900,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  ten 
months,  twenty-one  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cherry 
arc  buried  at  the  Upper  Methodist  church  in 
Shamokin  township,  of  which  church  they  were 
active  members.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Malissa,  Emma,  Edward  and  Lorenzo 
I).,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  except  Lorenzo. 

Lorenzo  D.  Cherry  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township  and  subsequently  learned 
the  butcher's  trade  with  his  father.  In  1890  he 
took   charge  of  the  business,   which  he  has  since 


638 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


continued,  having  a  general  wholesale  and  retail 
trade  which  lias  shown  a  steady  increase  under  his 
efficient  management.  In  1909  he  bought  the 
Isaac  Herb  farm,  upon  which  his  shop  is  located,  at 
Weigh  Scales  along  the  Paxinos  road  (his  post 
office  is  Paxinos).  All  the  buildings  upon  the 
property,  including  the  butcher  shop,  are  up-to- 
date  and  a  credit  to  the  owner.  Mr.  Cherry  is  an 
able  business  man.  and  he  has  worked  hard  to 
achieve  his  success,  which  is  well  deserved. 
On  Oct.  11,  1S'.'-.J.  Mr.  Cherry  married  Clai 
M.  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Clar- 
issa (Snyder)  Zimmerman,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Francis  E.,  Mary  E.  and  Dewej  A.  Mr. 
i  ieri  rotes  independently,  giving  his  support  to 
the  men  and  measures  he  likes  best.  He  is  a 
niembi  e  United  Brethren  Church. 

LEVI  M.  SHOOP,  grocer  and  dry  goods  mer- 
chant of  Sharnokin,  is  a  native  of  that  city  and  has 
spent  almost  all  of  In-  business  years  there.  He 
has  had  his  present  establishment  since  1897,  and 
i-  now  the  leading  merchant  in  the  west  end,  where 
bis  honorable  ami  progressive  methods  have  gained 
him  favorable  standing. 

Mi-.  Shoop  i-  a  great-grandson  of  Michael 
S  oop,  who  was  bom  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  there  followed  farming. 
lb  died  at  Berryshurg,  in  Dauphin  county. 
Mid  8  p  married  Elizabeth  Kanarr,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.   George  Kanarr.  an  Evangelical 

who  hail  two  -on;.  Isaiah  and  Josiah,  who 
were  also  ministers.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoop  were 
born  children  as  follows:  Eli  died  at  Berrysburg, 
Pa.:  Caroline  married  Israel  Reed  and  residi 

raska;  Levi  was  the  grandfather  of  Levi   M. 
-    iop. 

Levi    Shoop,    son    of   Michael,   was    born    Sept. 
13,   1830.    in    Dauphin   county,   Pa.,  and  died   in 
December,    1891,   in   Shamokin.  Pa.,  where  he  is 
buried.     He  came  to  Shamokin  in  1859  and  fol- 
lowed the  plastering  --  as  a  contractor,  build- 
ing up  a  steady  patronage  in  that  line,  in  which  he 
was  long  successfully  engaged.    He  was  well  known 
among  the  older  residents  of  Shamokin.  where  he 
had  many    friends.     In   1S8I  he  erected  a  hand- 
home,  now  occupied  by  his  grandson.  Levi 
M.   S  oop,       iine  three-story  building  at  tin 
ner  of  Pine  and  Markel   streets.     For  a  time  he 
.    _        n  mercantile  pursuits  in  connection 
with  his  other  business.     In  polities  he  was  a  Re- 
publican and  interested  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
-  ant  burgess  of  Shamokin  and  also  as  a  mem- 
iineil.     He  was  a  liberal  contributor 
To   the   support   of   the    Evangelical    Church,   and 
rnally   was  a   Mason,  belonging  to  Shamokin 
.   \'o.  255,   F.  &  A.  M..  and  also  a  member 
el.  0.  0.  F. 
On    .Ian.    4,    1854,    Mr.    Shoop   married    Lydia 
lb  pier,  who  was  born  iu  the  Mahantango  Valley, 


in  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Rev.  .John  and 
Elizabeth  (Dinger)  Hepler,  and  a  descendant  of 
Casper  Hepler.  who  came  to  America  from  Ger- 
many ami  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  Casper 
lb  piir-  children  were:  Henry.  George,  Stoffel 
and  John.  John  Hepler,  son  of  Casper,  had  the 
following  children:  John.  Jacob.  George,  Peter, 
Sarah.  Lydia,  Eliza  and  Mary.  Rev.  John  Hep- 
J  ilui  and  grandson  of  Casper,  married 
Elizabeth  Dinger,  and  they  had  children  as  fol- 
lows :  Emanuel,  John.  Madeline.  Susan,  Eliza- 
beth. Rebecca,  Catherine.  Lydia  (Mrs.  Levi  Shoop) 
and  Rachel. 

To  Levi  and  Lydia  (Hepler)  Shoop  were  born 
eight  children,  viz.:  Emma  Jane  died  when  eight 
year-  old;  Rev.  James  M.  is  the  father  of  Levi  M. 
-  iop;  Small  A.  married  David  Zaring,  and  died 
at  Philadelphia;  Elizabeth  E.  (twin  of  Sarah  A.) 
died  when  three  years  obi:  George  0.,  who  lives 
with  his  mother.  d   in  the  tire  insurance 

ami  real  estate  business  at  Shamokin:  Charles  0.  is 
i-  a  plasterer  at   Shamokin:  William    E. 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years;   Robert  C.  is 
in  the  insurance  business  at  Shamokin. 
A-    i  .   the  mother  of  this  family  is  still 

living,  at  tin-  age  of  seventy-six  years,  making  her 
home  with  hei   son  George  0.  in  Shamokin. 

Rev.  James  M.  Shoop  was  born  Aug.  14,  1854,  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  at  Valley  View.  He  began 
to     attend  pub  e  c; to  Sham- 

okin with  ids  parents,  when  nine  years  old.  and 
here  continued  hi.-  education,  later  studying  at  the 
\ew  Berlin  Seminary,  from  which  he  wa-  gradu- 
The  Evangelical  Board  sent  him  to  Marshall- 
town.  Iowa,  on  his  first  charge,  and  he  returned 
East  after  a  year  there.  He  has  since  been  loi 
at  different  stations  of  the  church  in  Dauphin, 
Schuylkill  and  Berks  counties,  being  now  at  Dau- 
phin, Dauphin  county,  about  eight  miles  from 
Harrisburg.  He. still  has  interests  in  Shamokin. 
being  a  large  property  holder  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Shoop  married  Lillie  A.  Werntz,  of  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  they  have  had  five  children:  Levi 
M..  of  Shamokin:  Catharine,  wife  of  Rev.  Wal- 
gelnxuth,  a  Lutheran  minister  of  Fairfield, 
Iowa:  John  E.,  a  mining  engineer  of  Shamokin, 
sing  young  men  of  that  city  (he  is  a 
member  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A. 
M.  I  :  Effie.  who  died  in  1891,  aged  ten  years:  and 
Frederick,  who  -  gaged  in  the  piano  business  in 
Uniontown,  Pennsylvania. 

Li  >!  M.  Shoop  was  born  at  Shamokin  Nov.  19, 
1875.  He  attended  public  school  at  the  different 
places  in  which  his  father  was  stationed.  His  first 
work  was  in  a  squire's  office  in  Shamokin.  where  he 
was  employed  as  stenographer,  and  after  nine 
months  in  that  position  he  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business.  (Inly  six  months  later  he  received 
promotion,  becoming  assistant  superintendent  for 
the  Prudential  Company,  in  which  capacity  he  was 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


639 


located  ;ii  Sunbury  for  a  period  of  fourteen  months. 
He  has  since  been  in  the  grocery  and  dry  goods 
business,  which  he  began  in  1897,  and  which  in 
the  intervening  years  he  has  built  to  profitable  pro- 
portions, his  trade  being  constantly  on  the  in- 
crease, lie  i-  qow  the  Leading  merchant  in  his 
line  in  the  wesf  end  of  the  city,  and  is  very  well 
known.  Still  a  young  man.  lie  has  made  a  reptt- 
i, n ion  which  should  pave  the  waj  for  continued 
success. 

Mr.  Shoop  married  Gertrude  Seitz.  daughter,  oi 
William  A.  and   Eliza  M.  Seitz,  ami  the]   ha  i 
family  of  three  children:      Walter  A..  Holden  B. 
and   Russel  S. 

Fraternally  Mr.  si p  is  a  prominent  Mason, 

being  a  past  master  of  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255, 
I-'.  &  A.  M.;  pasl  high  pries!  of  Shamokin  Chap- 
ter, No.  '.Jti4.  I;.  A.  M.;  past  eminent  commander 
of  Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  J"i .  K.  T.;  a  mem- 
ber of  Williamsporl  Consistory  (thirty-second  de- 
gree); a  member  of  Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  X. 
M.  S. ;  and  a  member  of  the  Temple  Club,  of 
Shamokin.  and  of  the  Acacia  Club,  of  Williams- 
port.  Pa.  Mr.  Shoop  had  the  unusual  honor  of 
making  his  father,  an  uncle  and  a  brother  Masons. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  P.,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Red  Men. 

SAMUEL  L.  GARINGER,  deceased,  contractor 
of  SunbUry,  had  a  number  of  contracts  for  public 
works  in  that  borough,  and  served  a-  street  com- 
missioner, a  position  tor  which  his  special  ex- 
perience well  qualified  him.  He  was  a  native  of 
Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county,  born  Oct.  1. 
1852,  son  of  Charles  Garinger  and  grandson  of 
Samuel  Garinger.  He  died  in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  Jan. 
3,  mil. 

Samuel  Garinger  was  born  duly  3,  1799,  in  Al- 
bany township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  an  early 
day  came  to  Northumberland  county  with  one 
Michael  Arnold.  lie  lived  in  what  is  now  Upper 
Augusta  township,  having  a  farm  of  over  one 
hundred  acres  at  the  end  of  the  Narrows,  where 
iie  caught  many  shad,  which  were  plentiful  there 
in  his  day.  He  died  Oct.  22,  1876,  on  his  farm 
near  Lantz's  Church,  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller 
township.  Mr.  Garinger  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, served  as  supervisor  of  his  township,  and  was 
a  popular  man  in  his  district:  he  was  a  Lutheran, 
and  an  official  member  of  Lantz's  Union  Church. 
His  wife,  Sarah  (Conrad),  born  Sept.  22,  1801, 
died  Nov.  20,  1855.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
(  1  i  Reuben,  born  Dec.  -.'■'!.  1822,  lived  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  where  be  developed  and  im- 
proved the  farm  he  owned,  putting  up  the  build- 
ings on  that  property,  which  is  now  owned  by 
Elias  Buyer.  Fie  married  a  Miss  Malick.  and 
their  children  were  Thomas  (who  was  drowned). 
Ira.   dane.   Julia    and    Frank.      Reuben    Garinger 


met  an  accidental  death  April  '.'1.  1878,  falling 
through  the  Shamokin  bridge,  below  Sunbury.  on 
bis  way  home  from  council  meeting  at  Sunbury. 
(2)  Charles  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  John  lived 
in  Rockefeller  township.  (4)  Samuel.  (5)  Mrs. 
George  McCarthy.  (6)  Hettie  married  John 
Shipe,  of  Rockefeller  township.  (7)  Susan  mar- 
ried Lafayette  Haas,  of  Danville. 

Charles  Garinger  was  born  in  June,  1822,  in 
Rockefeller  township.  Locating  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  he  followed  milling  for  a  time, 
and  later  became  a  contractor,  making  a  great 
success  of  his  business,  which  reached  important 
proportions.  He  was  given  many  large  contracts. 
doing  considerable  railroad  work  and  much  pub- 
lic construction  work,  including  the  Northern 
Centra]  double  track  from  Sunbury  to  Selinsgrove, 
the  Pine  Grove  bridge,  bridges  in  Connecticut  and 
other  large  undertakings.  In  1851  he  was  engaged 
in  railroad  building.  He  gave  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  men.  and  while  at  work  in  Con- 
necticut kept  fifty-six  horses  for  the  work  in  hand, 
besides  lour  or  five  yoke  of  oxen:  it  cost  him 
thirty  thousand  dollars  to  start  his  work  there. 
Mr.  Garinger  was  a  man  of  forceful  character  and 
energy,  and  he  continued  in  active  business  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  December.  1880.  He 
made  his  home  in  Sunbury  for  a  number  of  years, 
served  as  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  and 
was  at  one  time  a  nominee  for  county  sheriff,  hut 
withdrew  his  name.  In  politics  originally  a  Dem- 
oi  rat,  lie  eventually  became  a  Republican,  and  he 
was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  Mr.  Garinger 
married  Deborah  Haas,  daughter  of  Frederick 
Haas,  ami  she  survived  him  but  two  weeks,  her 
death  occurring  in  the  year  1881.  They  bad  chil- 
dren as  follows:  George  I".:  Emma  Alice,  who 
married  R.  A.  (hi--,  of  Purdytown,  this  county: 
Samuel  L. :  Mary  Catharine,  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Wesley  W.  Jarrett,  of  Sunbury:  two 
who  are  deceased:  Charles  A.,  of  Sunbury;  Mar- 
garet L.,  married  to  J.  William  Bartholomew : 
Adelia  Flora,  wife  of  Dr.  R.  H.  Savidge,  dentist, 
of  Sunbury;  and  Sarah  .)..  deceased,  who  married 
Amnion  Aurand. 

George  F.  Garinger,  M.  !>..  was  born  March  5, 
1850,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  and  received 
his  literary  education  in  the  Sunbury  schools.  He 
began  reading  medicine  there  with  Dr.  D.  W. 
Sbindel.  and  later  attended  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia,  graduating  in  1873,  since  when 
he  has  practiced  his  profession  with  continuous 
success.  He  first  located  for,  a  short  time  in  Sny- 
der and  Lebanon  counties,  settling  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  in 
L876.  In  1873  he  married  Sadie  Smith,  daughter 
lit'  George  Smith,  of  Troxelville,  Snyder  county, 
and  they  have  had  one  child.  Mary  Adia.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


640 


iSTORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Samuel  L.  Garingei  attended  the  public  schools 
and  Sunbury  Academy,  spending  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Sunbury,  where  the  family  settled  when 
he  was  very  young.  In  young  manhood  he  learned 
the  butcher's  trade,  which  he  followed  Fur  about 
ten  years  in  Sunbury,  but  in  1881  he  took  up 
contracting,  which  he  has  followed  successfully 
ever  since.  The  substantial  qualities  of  his  work 
have  bees  well  proved  in  the  numerous  public 
contracts  lie  has  tilled  m  his  home  locality.  In 
1892  he  built  the  Biver  Bank  in  Sunliury.  an  im- 
mense undertaking,  over  nine  thousand  perches 
of  stone  having  been  used  in  the  construction  work. 
He  built  the  Sunbury  reservoir,  in  which  work  he 
employed  eighty-five  men.  twenty-six  horses  and 
carts  and  a  six-horse  plow.  Most  of  the  streets  in 
Sunbury  have  been  improved  by  him;  he  built  two 
streets  for  the  borough  by  contract,  and  has  done 
the  rest  of  that  kind  of  the  public  work  by  the  da] . 
At'Eiverside  he  was  given  the  large  contract  for 
cutting  away  the  hillside,  in  which  he  employed 
as  many  as  seventy-five  men.  Besides,  he  has  had 
many  lesser  jobs,  has  built  two  double  houses  and 
one  single  residence  for  himself,  and  has  left  many 
creditable  evidences  of  his  ability  and  reliability 
in  construction  work  all  over  this  vicinity.  The 
nature  of  the  contracts  intrusted  to  him  shows  the 
confidence  he  has  won  in  his  honorable  fulfilment 
of  every  enterprise  he  undertakes.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican  in  politics  and  has  served  as  street  com- 
missioner in  Sunbury. 

Mr.  Garinger  married  Mary  Louisa  Miller, 
daughter  of  John  C.  Miller,  of  Sunbury.  They 
had  no  children.  Mrs.  Garinger  died  in  1891,  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  years,  and  is  buried  in  Pom- 
Eret  Manor  cemetery.  He  died  Jan.  3,  1911.  and 
is  buried  beside  his  wife. 

BYEON  W.  KEINEE,  of  Mount  Carmel, 
Northumberland  county,  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  cen- 
tral Pennsylvania  and  engaged  in  the  business 
world  as  private  secretary  to  William  P.  Peinhardt, 
superintendent  of  the  Mineral  Pailroad  &  Min- 
ing Company,  whose  offices  are  at  Shamokin.  Mr. 
Kriner  was  born  Sept.  9,  1860,  at  Williamsport, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  Wilson  Kriner  and 
grandson  of   Henry  Kriner. 

Henry  Kriner  came  to  this  country  from  Eng- 
land and  located  in  the  Warrior  Pun  Valley,  in 
Delaware  township.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa., 
where  he  followed  farming.  He  died  in  1878, 
aged  eighty-two  years,  and  is  buried  at  the  historic 
Warrior  Run  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was 
a  member.  His  wife  died  when  yet  a  young 
woman,  and  Byron  W.  Kriner  has  two  silver  spoons 
which  he  treasures  as  mementoes  of  his  grand- 
mother, both  bearing  the  letter  "C,"  one  of  the 
initials  of  her  name.  Four  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heurv  Kriner:    Richard,  who  lives 


near  McEwensville ;  Anna  (deceased).  Mrs.  Ham- 
mond McKee;  Mrs.  Scott,  whose  husband  and 
family  live  in  Ohio:  and  Hugh  Wilson. 

Hugh  Wilson  Kriner  was  born  in  1834  in  the 
Warrior  Pun  district,  near  Muncy  Hill,  and  is 
jokingly  called  by  his  children  the  "Muncy  Hill 
scout."  With  the  exception  of  two  years,  he  has 
lived  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa'.,  since  1869. 
Learning  the  trade  of  carpenter  in  his  early  life, 
lie  has  continued  to  follow  it.  from  1869  to  1877 
being  foreman  at  the  William  Buechley  planing 
mills  at  Pottsville.  He  then  moved  to  Williams- 
port,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  old  Otto 
mills  in  the  same  capacity  two  years,  at  the  end 
of  that  period  returning  to  Pottsville  to  start  up- 
the  machinery  of  the  Saylor  planing  mill.  Later 
in  the  same  year  he  set  up  the  machinery  of  the 
car  building  department  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  and  Iron  Company's  Pottsville 
-Imp-  and  assumed  charge  of  same,  and  has  been 
thus  engaged  continuously  since.  Mr.  Kriner 
make-  his  home  on  Eighth  street.  Pottsville.  He- 
is  a  man  of  the  highest  personal  standing,  a  good 
citizen,  and  held  in  universal  estsem.  At  one- 
time he  held  membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Mr.  Kriner  married  Susan  Wise,  who  was  horn 
Jan.  22,  1834,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(<>it)  Wise,  of  Williamsport,  and  died  Nov.  7, 
1895.  She  is  buried  at  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kriner  had  a  faniih  of  three  children:  Jennie,, 
married  to  John  P.  Mortimer,  who  has  charge 
of  the  job  printing  department  of  the  Eagle,  at 
Reading,  I'm.:  Byron  W. ;  and  Henry,  who  died 
when  eighteen  months  old. 

Byron  W.  Kriner  was  educated  in  the  public 
school-;  of  Pottsville  and  at  Dickinson  Seminary, 
Williamsport.  after  which  he  began  work  as  ship- 
per at  Pottsville  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  and  Iron  Company.  He  was  then  private 
secretary  to  1-;.  P.  C.  Davis,  mechanical  engineer 
of  the  same  company,  for  some  years,  and  when  the- 
management  changed,  in  1891,  he  continued  in 
the  same  capacity  with  John  Wood,  the  present 
superintendent  of  tin-  company's  shop,  until  1893. 
In  that  year  he  was  appointed  purchasing  agent 
of  the  Union  Coal  Company,  being  thus  engaged 
until  that  company  was  absorbed  by  the  Susque- 
hanna Coal  Company,  in  1904,  when  he  became 
private  secretary  to  Mr.  Peinhardt.  He  has  served 
in  that  capacity  since,  his  long  experience  and  effi- 
ciency making  him  a  valuable  assistant:  The  office 
of  the  company  is  at  Shamokin.  but  Mr.  Kriner 
makes  his  home  at  Mount  Carmel.  He  served  in 
the  capacity  of  School  Director  of  his  town  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years  from  1897,  being  president 
of  the  hoard  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Krinei's  activity  in  the  Masonic  fraternity 
has  made  him  widely  known  in  central  Pennsjd- 
vania.  He  is  a  member  ami  past  master  of  Mount' 
Carmel  Lodge.  No.  :;;s.  p.  &  a.  M..  was  secretarj 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  NSYLVAN1A 


641 


of  that  lodge  for  six  years  and  from  1904  to  1911, 
when  he  resigned,  was  secretary  of  the  Fraternity 
Chili,  in  which  he  has  held  membership  since  1904. 
He  is  also  president  of  the  Masonic  Hall  Associ- 
ation, holding  that  position  from  the  first  meet- 
ing hold  to  talk  over  the  building  project.  He  is  a 
member,  past  high  priest,  and  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Shamokin  Chapter,  No.  264,  If.  A. 
M. ;  member,  past  eminent  commander  and  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Shamokin  Com- 
mandery,  No.  77,  K.  T. ;  a  member  of  Adoniram 
Council.  No.  26,  K.  &  S.  M.}  of  Williamsport,  Pa.; 
a  member  of  Williamspori  Consistory,  No.  4,  thir- 
ty-second degree;  a  member  of  Rajah  Temple, 
A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Reading;  and  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Temple  Club  of  Shamokin.  He  was 
appointed  to  office  in  the  consistory,  but  could  not 
serve  because  of  the  inconvenient  location.  In 
1909,  at  Lancaster,  he  received  appointment  as 
grand  marshal  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Penn- 
sylvania from  R.  W.  Grand  Commander  John  F. 
Laedlein.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the  Elks  and 
the  Odd  Fellows,  being  a  past  grand  of  Miners 
Lodge,  No.  20,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Pottsville,  and  past 
chief  patriarch  of  Franklin  Encampment,  No.  4,  of 
Pottsville,  and  he  was  elected  exalted  ruler  of 
Lodge  No.  355,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  of  Mount  Carmel, 
at  its  institution. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mount  Carmel 
counts  Mr.  Kriner  among  its  active  workers,  he 
being  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  at  the 
present  time.  The  ceremonies  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner  stone  of  this  church,  which  were  public, 
were  held  Oct.*27,  1907,  and  were  largely  attended, 
the  affair  being  one  long  to  be  remembered;  the 
corner  stone  was  laid  by  Lodge  No.  378,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Hon.  Frederick  A.  God- 
charles  acting  as  I!.  W.  Grand  Master  on  this  oc- 
casion, and  Mr.  Kriner  as  deputy. 

In  1884  Mi-.  Kriner  married  Kate  Geier,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Lavina  Geier,  of  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  and  they  hail  one  child,  Thomas,  who  died  in 
1886.  Mrs.  Kriner  died  Jan.  3.  1890,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-nine  years,  and  she  and  her  son  are 
buried  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery  at  Potts- 
ville. In  1893  Mr.  Kriner  married  (second)  Mar- 
garet S.  Cascaden,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Sproul)  Cascaden,  of  Phoenixville,  Pa. 
They  have  had  three  children.  George  C,  Eleanor 
W.  and  Margaret  E. 

George  Cascaden  Kriner,  horn  at  Mount  Car- 
mel May  25,  1894,  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  place  and  was  a  member 
of  the  1911  graduating  class — the  first  elass  under 
a  four  years'  term. 

On  April  20th  a  competitive  examination  was 
held  at  Bloomsburg  for  candidates  for  the  Naval 
Academy  at  Annapolis,  and  George  won  the  ap- 
pointment of  principal.     His  parents  sent  him  to 

41 


YVerntz  preparatory  school  at  Annapolis,  where 
he  had  six  weeks  of  preparatory  work,  and  on 
June  21,  22,  23  and  24  underwent  a  most  rigid 
mental  examination,  on  July  3d  finishing  with 
his  physical  examinations,  both  of  which  he  passed 
successfully  and  entered  the  Naval  Academy  July 
5,  1911,  as  a  midshipman.  He  is  a  fine  specimen 
of  manhood,  six  feet,  one  inch  in  height  and  weigh- 
ing 170  pounds. 

FRANK  ZIMMERMAN,  a  representative 
young  business  man  of  Shamokin,  was  horn  Oct. 
3D.  1868,  in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa. 
He  is  the  son  of  Abraham  Zimmerman,  Jr.,  and 
grandson  of  Abraham  Zimmerman,  Sr..  both  de- 
ceased. 

Among  those  who  emigrated  to  America  from 
Germany  in  the  Colonial  period  was  one  Michael 
Zimmerman,  the  present  Mr.  Zimmerman's  great- 
grandfather. He  settled  in  the  upper  part  of 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  lived  in  that  section  until 
his  death.  There  Abraham  Zimmerman,  Sr.,  son 
of  Michael,  was  born.  Later  he  removed  from 
Berks  county  to  Schuylkill  county,  locating  at 
what  is  known  as  Sculp's  Hill,  this  locality  being 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Landing- 
ville.  In  later  years  the  Zuber  family  came  into 
possession  of  the  Zimmerman  farm.  Both  Abra- 
ham Zimmerman  and  his  wife,  who  before  mar- 
riage was  Maria  Greenawalt,  are  buried  in  the 
Red  Church  cemetery,  situated  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  Schuylkill  county.  Seven  children 
blessed  the  home  of  this  couple,  viz.:  Polly,  who 
became  Mrs.  Daniel  Dewalt;  Fiaetta,  who  became 
Mrs.  Daniel  Freeman;  Caroline,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Warmkessel:  Sarah,  wife  of  Hiram  Mov- 
er; Isaac,  who  died  in  Schuylkill  county;  Daniel, 
whose  death  occurred  in  Upper  Bern  township, 
Berks  county:  and  Abraham,  Jr. 

The.  last  named  was  horn  Feb.  3,  1818,  and 
died  .May  28.  1897.  His  vocation  was  that  of 
cobbler,  at  which  occupation  he  worked  during  his 
entire  active  life.  Eliza  Weaver,  whom  he  mar- 
ried, was  born  July  5,  1838,  and  died  Feb.  6. 
1897.  They  are  buried  at  Auburn.  Schuylkill 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Frank,  referred  to  in  the  following  para- 
graphs; Charles,  of  Shamokin,  married  to  Susan 
Berger  and  father  of  two  children,  Vesta  and 
Lottie;  and  Susana,  wife  of  William  H.  Ketner, 
of  Shamokin,  and  mother  of  two  sons,  John  H. 
Ketner,  city  editor  of  the  Shamokin  Dispatch,  and 
Clyde  F.  Ketner,  a  reporter  on  the  Shamokin 
News. 

Frank  Zimmerman,  referred  to  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  article,  came  to  Shamokin  in  1887, 
from  Landingville,  Schuylkill  county,  and  entered 
the  employ  of  W.  J.  Feldhoff,  wholesale  liquor 
dealer,  as  a  clerk  and  bookkeeper,  serving  his  em- 


642  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 

plover  always  faithfully,  conscientiously  and  to  the  largest  of  Shamokin's  business  structures,  is  one 

best  of  his  ability.     He  occupied    bis  spare   time  of  the  handsomest. 

and    evenings   studying    business    methods    in    the  Mr. .Zimmerman  is  also  a  member  of  the  board 

Shamokin  business  college.     This  time,  which  was  of  directors  of  the   Dime  Trust   and   Safe   Deposil 

so   valuably  passed,  yielded   an  ample  reward   in  Company,  one  of  Shamokin's  solid  banking  insti- 

later  years.     The  young  bookkeeper  soon  won  the  tutions,  and   is  an  active  worker  in  the   interests 

favor  and  confidence  of  bis  employer  through  bis  of  this  company. 

progressive  tactics,  and  by  dint  of  bard  toil,  faith-  He  married  Katie,  daughter  of  Simon  Dunkel- 

fnl  and  diligent  application,  and  business  acumen,  berger,  and   has  five  bright  children,  Helen,  Lee. 

a  combination  of  qualities  destined  to  make  itself  George,  Ralph  and  Catharine.     The  I'aniiU   attend 

felt  in  the  Shamokin  business  world  within  a  few  the  Lutheran  Church. 

short  years.     This  constant  attention  to  business  Fraternally    Mr.   Zimmerman    is   affiliated    with 

warranted   the  young  man'.-   employer   in    placing  Shamokin   Lodge,   No.  255,   V.  &  A.   M.;   Shamo- 

suffieient  confidence  in  him  to  make  it  his  last  re-  kin  Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M. ;  the  Temple  Club ; 

quest  that  his  business  should  he  continued  under  Lodge   No.   355,   B.   1'.  0.    E. ;  Tahgahjute  Tribe, 

Mr.  Zimmerman's  management,  making  him  the  No.  415,  Improved  < >.  R.  M. ;  and  Cam])  No.  30, 

responsible  manager  of  the  business.     In  1895  Mr.  1'.  <>.  S.  of  A. 

Feldhoff  died   and    his   interests   have  since   been 

retained  by  his  widow,  who  at   present  reside-  at  KETNER.     The  records  of  Zion's  Kirche  (the 

Allentown.     Mr.  Zimmerman  was  then  admitted  Red     Church),     in     West     Brunswick     township, 

as   a    partner,   the   duties   id'   the    management    de-  Schuylkill  county,  one  and  a   halt'  miles  southwest 

voicing  upon  him.     The  firm   is  known  a-    Feld-  of  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county,  tell  of  the  firing, 

boll' &  Zimmerman.  in   1755,  by  the  Indians,  of  the   first   log  church 

During  the  administration  of  the  new  partner's  just  completed  by  the  settlers,  the  massacring  of 

employer,  the  establishment   hail   been  known    I'm'  the  people  and  the  laying  of  their  homes  in  ashes, 

its  excellent    facilities,   its   reliability  and   complete  Those    who    could    escape,    among    them     llenrich 

line  ol   stock.     However,  it   was  only  a  short  time  Adam   Ketner  and   his  wife  Katharine,  who  came 

before   the    new    manager    made   decided    improve-  there    in     1755,    fled    across    the    Blue    mountains 

ments.     A  heavier  and  more  complete  stock  of  im-  into    Berks   county;   subsequently    returning   with 

ported- and  domestic  wines,  gins,  brandies,  cordials,  others,    they    built    the   church    and    reestablished 

straight  and   blended   whiskies,  etc.  was  secured,  their  homes.     It   was  at  this  date  that  a   frightful 

and  the  facilities  were  made  the  very  best,  enabling  massacre  occurred  at  the  site  of  what  is  now   Or- 

tbe    firm    to    supply    the    constantly    and    rapidly  wigsburg.     The  old  Red  church,  near  Orwigsburg, 

glowing   nade   in    the   largest    quantities   on   the  was  built  in  1754,  and  has  since  .been  rebuilt  four 

shortest    notice,    and    to    quote    price-    and    term-  different  time-. 

which  made  it  possible  for  Mr.  Zimmerman  to  John  D.  Ketner.  a  moderately  wealthy  resident 
canvass  this  section  of  the  State  and  vie  with  of  Pueblo,  Colo.,  is  a  descendant  of  these  pioneers. 
the  largest  and  be.-t  houses  in  Pennsylvania  with  One  of  bis  son-.  William  II.  Ketner.  resides  in 
bis  stock  of  goods.  The  trade  now  extends  over  Shamokin.  l'a.  The  son  of  the  latter.  John  II. 
a  radius  of  one  hundred  mile-  from  Shamokin.  Ketner.  is  at  present  employed  in  the  capacity 
covering  all  the  territory  in  tin-  section  of  the  of  city  editor  of  the  Shamokin  Dispatch.  An- 
State.  The  house  has  been  so  long  established,  other  son.  Clyde  F.  Ketner.  is  doing  reportorial 
and  the  linn  name  so  well  known,  that  it-  repu-  work  on  the  Shamokin  Neps.  Both  are  graduates 
tation  a-  to  reliability,  to  the  age,  value  and  qual-  of  the  Shamokin  high  school,  the  former  leaving 
ity  of  its  supplies  to-day  is  accepted  without  ques-  that  institution  in  1909  and  the  latter  in  1911. 
fcion  by  many  who  have  dealt  with  the  establish-  Mrs.  W.  II.  Ketner  is  a  sister  to  Frank  Zimmer- 
men! for  years.  In  this  State  the  house  has  a  man  of  the  linn  of  Feldhoff  &  Zimmerman,- Sha- 
reputation  second  to  none.  mokin,  Pennsylvania. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  Zimmerman's  business  in-  These  are  the  only  Ketner-  in  Shamokin.  with 
F-tincI  made  him  realize  that  the  quarters  occupied  the  exception  of  a  Robert  Ketner.  a  distant  rela- 
tor so  many  years  by  the  firm,  the  site  of  the  tion,  who  lives  with  a  Van  Ormer  family,  at  the 
present  federal  building,  were  inadequate  to  meet  corner  of  Chestnut  ami  Market  streets,  and  Mrs. 
the  growing  demands  of  the  business.  He  accord-  C.  C.  Leader,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ketner 
ingly  negotiated  a  deal  whereby  be  purchased  the  and  who  is  a  relative  of  W.  H.  Ketner.  Miss 
large  three-story  brick,  brownstone  front  building  Carrie  Ketner,  sister  of  Mrs.  C.  C.  Leader,  resides 
and  other  valuable  property.  Here  it  was  possi-  at  Mount  Carmel.  Other  Ketners  are  scattered 
hie  to  carry  out  more  thorough  ideas,  to  modern-  thoughout  Schuylkill  and  Berks  counties,  a  niiiu- 
ize  and  greatly  increase  the  business,  'the  brown-  her  of  them  being  located  in  Reading,  Pottsville, 
front  building  is  located  at  No.  326  Hast  Orwigsburg.  Hamburg,  Auburn.  Pinedale  and  oth- 
Siinhiirv   street,   ami.   as   well    a-   being   one  of   the  er  place-.     Several  are  owners  of  industrial  plants. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


643 


The  original  I i'  W.   II.   Ketner  and  family 

is  ai  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county,  from  which  place 
they  came  to  Shamokin  aboul  1896. 

BARRY  LANDAU,  who  has  been  superintend- 
ent  of  the  Sunbury   Water  C pany  since  1909, 

is  a  native  and  lifelong  resident  of  that  borough. 
II'  vvas  bora  Dec.  12,  1870,  son  of  .John  I'.  Lan- 
dau, and  grandson  of  John  Landau.  His  father, 
a  contracting  bricklayer  of  Sunbury,  is  fully  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  tins  work. 

Harry  Landau  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  el'  Sunbury,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  1888.  The»following  year  he  became 
chief  clerk  for  the  Sunbury  Water  Company,  with 
which  concern  lie  has  since  been  identified,  in  1909 
heme  made  superintendent.  .Mr.  Landau  is  a  cit- 
izen of  recognized  ability  ami  trustworthiness,  and 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  has  been  shown 
in  Ins  selection  as  city  cleric,  in  which  capacity  he 
ha,-  served  Sunbury  for  a  period  of  six  years. 

Mr.  Landau  married  Gertrude  L.  Hard,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Hard,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  have  one 
son.  .lames   Hard. 

Socially  Mr.  Landau  is  a  member  id'  the  Mod- 
era  Woodmen  of  America,  which  he  is  serving  as 
trustee  and  secretary,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of 

the  \\ linen  of  the  World.     On  political  quesl  ions 

bo  is  a  Republican,  lie  holds  membership  in  Zi- 
on's  Lutheran  Church,  and  has  been  active  in  its 
work   a-  a    teacher   in    I  he   Sunday   school. 

DAVID  E.  SHUSTER,  business  man  and  for- 
mer chief  burgess  of  Sha km.  was  horn  in  lluni- 

melstown,  Dauphin  Co.  Pa.,  Dee.  VI.  1845,  son  of 
Dr.  John  A.  and  Mary  A.  (Brefore)  Sinister.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Germany  and  France,  re- 
spectively. 

When  Mr.  Sinister  was  seven  years  old  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Shippensburg,  Cumberland  Co., 
Pa.,  whore  ho  was  reared,  securing  such  education 

as  the  scl Is  of  the  village  afforded.     Contrary  to 

the  wishes  of  his  parents,  who  desired  to  educate 
him  for  the  medical  profession,  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  his  uncle,  John  Preston,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  shoemaker,  and  completed  his  trade  with 
II.  V.  Snyder,  at  Newville,  I'a.  In  1863  he  went 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of 
George  M.  Groff,  continuing  to  Work  at  his  trade 
until  1869,  m  which  year  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Northern  Central  Railway  Company,  fill- 
ing  tlid'  position  of  passenger  brakeman  between 
Harrisburg  and  Sunbury.  Ho  was  shortly  trans- 
ferred to  the  Shamokin  Valley  &  Pottsville  di- 
vision, and  promoted  to  baggage  and  express  agent, 
which  position  ho  filled  until  1871,  when  ho  was 
promoted  to  passenger  conductor  upon  the  same 
division.  This  position  he  tilled  with  credit  to 
himself,  making  hosts  of  friends  among  the  trav- 
eling people,  who.  as  a  mark  of  their  appreciation 


for  his  courtesy  and  attention  while  filling  this 
position,  presented  him,  Nov.  27,  1875,  an  eleganl 
gold  watch  as  a  testimonial  of  their  regard.  Mr. 
Sinister  became  a  resident  of  Northumberland 
county  in  1869,  locating  at  Mount  Carmel.  In 
L876  he  resigned  his  position  with  the  Northern 
Central  Railway  Company,  removed  to  Shamokin, 
and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness of  .1.  M.  Shuman  &  Company.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged as  special  agent  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Life 
Insurance  Company  of  Newark.  N.  .1.  He  has 
been  a  warm  friend  to  the  cause  of  education. 
which  he  has  aided  by  his  influence  and  means, 
and  served  as  a  member  id'  the  school  hoard  eight 
years,  being  president  of  the  same  in  1888.  In 
1881  he  served  as  councilman  of  Shamokin  bor- 
ough, and  in  1903  he  was  elected  chief  burgess,  be- 
ing honored  with  reelection  m  1904  and  1905.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  In  his  religious  prefer- 
ence- he  is  a  Presbyterian,  ho  and  his  family  at- 
tending   the    church    of    that    den ination  ;    Mr. 

Sinister  organized  the  choir  and  served  as  chor- 
ister a  number  of  years.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  the  I'.  ().  S.  of  A.  and  the  B.  P.  ().  Elks.  Ho 
is  interested  in  the  Hamilton  Car  and  Wheel  Man 
ufacturing  Company  of  Catawissa,  I'a..  and  is  one 
of  tin:  directors  of  the  same. 

In  1876  Mr.  Sinister  married  Kate  Weaver,  who 
was  bora  Oct.  13,  1850.  died  Nov.  30,  1904.  \\\ 
this  union  there  wore  two  children,  William  W. 
and  Lulu  1!.  The  latter  married  John  F.  Oram, 
an  attorney,  and  they  have  children.  Louise,  John 
and  James. 

William  W.  Sinister,  son  of  David  E.  Sinister, 
was  horn  Dec.  ?:;.  1883.  lie  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Shamokin  public  schools,  graduating  in 
190].  after  which  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railway  Company  in  the  motive 
power  department,  at  Sunbury.  After  fifteen 
months'  service  ho  resigned  said  position,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1902,  to  enter  Lafayette  College,  at  East- 
on.  La.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1906,  with  the 
degree  of  civil  engineer:  Then  he  again  entered 
i  hi'  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Com- 
pany, July  5,  1906,  as  rodman  in  the  assisiant  en- 
gineer's office  on  the  Sunbury  division,  being  lo- 
cated in  Sunbury.  Ho  was  transferred  Nov.  1, 
1909,  to  the  Renova  division,  in  the  division  en- 
gineer's office,  at  Renova,  and  having  served  ten 
months  in  this  office  was  transferred  to  the  prin- 
cipal assistant  engineer's  office,  of  the  Erie  Grand 
division,  located  at  Williamsport,  I'a.  On  March 
15,  1911,  ho  was  promoted  to  transitman  at  Phil- 
adelphia, in  the  office  of  the  engineer  of  mainte- 
nance of  way. 

THOMAS  LEMON,  m f  the  lirsi  settlers  in 

Point  township  and  one  of  the  first  justices  com- 
missioned for  Northumberland  county,  was  horn 
on  the   Atlantic  ocean  while   his   parent-   wore  on 


(jU 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


route  from  Scotland  to  America,  two  weeks  be- 
fore they  landed.  They  settled  at  Winchester,  Ya. 
They  reared  two  sons.  Robert  and  Thomas. 

Thomas  Lemon  married  Margaret  Haugh,  of 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Matthias  and  Mary 
Haugh.  who  in  17(50  deeded  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  the  North  Branch  valley  to  Thomas  and  Mar- 
garet Lemon.  They  settled  near  that  river  about 
five  miles  above  Northumberland,  in  and  around 
which  borough  are  found  a  number  of  their  de- 
fendants. Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Joseph 
Engle.  of  Philadelphia.  Three  of  the  sons  removed 
to  the  Genesee  \  alley,  in  New  York,  and  John, 
the  only  one  who  remained  in  this  county,  became 
the  owner  of  the  parental  estate  in  Point  town- 
ship, his  home  being  on  the  site  of  Cameron  sta- 
tion. He  married  Rachel  Fleming,  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  Fleming,  of  Middletown,  Pa., 
and  his  death  occurred  in  1S10.  .His  children 
were:  Fierce.  Thomas,  James,  William.  Martha, 
Rachel.  Rebecca  and  Margaret.  Of  these,  Martha 
was  twice  married,  first  to  William  Cooke,  son  of 
the  first  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county;  and 
after  his  death  to  Jesse  C.  Horton,  well  known  as 
a  stage  proprietor  and  for  some  time  prominent 
in  the  politics  of  the  county. 

MONTGOMERY.  Robert  Montgomery,  the  pro- 
genitor of  a  numerous  and  respected  family  of 
the  northern  part  of  Northumberland  county,  lived 
in  Paradise  Valley,  and  the  stone  residence  he 
built  on  bis  homestead  place  there  in  1799  is  still 
standing,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and 
now  tenanted  by  the  sixth  successive  generation  of 
Montgomervs.  The  walls  are  eighteen  inches  thick. 
The  original  Montgomery  tract,  taken  up  by  his 
father.  John  Montgomery,  consisted  of  900  acres, 
and  belonged  formerly  to  an  Indian  reservation. 
John  died  July  26,  1792,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 
Of  Robert's  children,  we  have  record  of  John  and 
David,  the  former  having  been  the  father  of  the 
late  Robert  Montgomery,  who  died  June  18,  1892, 
while  sen  ing  as  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county. 

Robert  Montgomery  was  born  June  1,  1830,  on 
the  old  homestead  of  the  family  in  Lewis  town- 
ship. He  was  educated  partly  in  the  local  scl 
later  attending  the  Tuscarora  school,  in  Juniata 
county,  and  si  ill  later  the  military  school  at  Har- 
risburg,  receiving  a  liberal  training.  Returning  to 
farm,  be  followed  agricultural  work  all  his  life, 
and  owned  the  homestead,  which  now  contains 
some  eighty  acres.  The  stone  house  previously 
mentioned  stands  on  this  tract. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  from  1870-1872,  and  was  school  direct- 
or of  Lewis  township  for  thirty  years.  In  fact,  he 
was  the  foremost  man  of  his  district.  In  1890 
he  was  electee  I   of  the  county,  holding  the 

office  until  his  death.     He  was  an  active  politician 


and  served  as  delegate  to  a  number  of  State  con- 
ventions. In  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian  and 
attended  Warrior  Run  Church.  He  is  buried  at 
M<  Ewensville.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  Vincent,  born 
Sept.  17,  1833,  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Vincent,. 
of  near  Watsontown,  who  owned  and  operated  the 
Vincent  Mills  (now  Pioneer  Mills)  near  Watson- 
town. Mrs.  Montgomery  died  in  July  (the  17th 
or  22d),  1902,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  She  was  the 
mother  of  three  children.  John.  Grace  (married 
Robert  McKee.  and  they  Live  in  Delaware  township, 
near  Dewart)  and  Harry  B. 

Harry  B.  Montgomery,  born  Jan.  12,  1863,  on 
the  homestead,  was  married  in  1888  to  Nettie  L. 
Pardo,  daughter  of  Frank  and  Margaret  (Rissel) 
Pardo.  of  Chillisquaque  township.  She  died  in 
February.  1910.  aged  seventy-two  years.  Mr. 
Montgomery  is  a  farmer  on  the  homestead,  which 
property  he  and  his  brother  John  own.  His  fam- 
ily consisted  of  six  children:  Margaret,  Robert 
(died  young),  Elizabeth.  Rebecca,  Grace  and  Don- 
ald. Mr.  Montgomery  and  his  family  are  Presby- 
terians in  religious  faith.  He  served  several  terms 
as  auditor  of  Lewis  township  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  school  directors  since  1906. 

John  Montgomery,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
I  Vincent )  Montgomery,  is  a  farmer  of  Lewis  town- 
ship. He  was  born  on  the  homestead  March  24, 
L855,  and  like  his  brother  Harry  had  the  advan- 
tages of  an  academic  education.  For  six  years  he 
taught  school  in  Lewis  township.  He  was  deputy 
iff  for  four  and  one-half  years,  two  years  under 
bis  father:  was  deputy  warden  at  the  Sunbury 
jail  for  three  successive  years,  and  has  since  served 
as  such  off  and  on  for  several  years.  He  has 
assessor  of  Lewis  township  since  1906.  He 
is  one  of  the  active  and  representative  Democrats 
of  the  upper  end  of  the  county,  popular  in  his 
locality,  and  frequently  mentioned  for  public  office. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Grange. 


David  Montgomery,  another  son  of  Robert  (who 
built  the  old  stone  house  on  the  Montgomery 
homestead),  lived  in  Paradise  Vallev,  Lewis  town- 
ship,  and  was  a  fanner  by  occupation.  His  wife 
was  Agnes  Shaw,  and  their  children  were:  Da- 
vid B.,  who  became  a  prominent  public  man: 
John  G.,  Esq.,  of  Danville.  Pa.,  who  was  a  prom- 
inent. Democrat  and  was  elected  to  Congress  but 
never  served,  having  been  one  of  several  who  were 
poisoned  while  attending  the  inauguration  of  Pres- 
ident James  Buchanan:  William  Shaw:  Caroline, 
Mrs.  Edward  Lyon:  Margaret,  Mrs.  Robert  Mont- 
gomery (she  married  a  cousin)  :  Nancy.  Mrs.  Jo- 
seph  Nesbit;  and  Mrs.  Robert  MeCormick. 

William  Shaw  Montgomery  was  born  in  1S09  on 
the  homestead  and  he  died  in  Milton  in  188'?.  in 
his  seventy-fourth  year.  He  is  buried  in  the  upper 
cemetery  at  Milton.  His  wife  was  Jane  S.  Correll 
(or  Caldwell),  born    L808,    lied  1896.     They  were 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


645 


(farming  people,  and  he  was  a  prominent  man  in 
his  locality.  He  had  considerahle  valuable  land, 
which  he  superintended.  His  home  was  in  Lewis 
township.  His  children  were:  David  C.  lived  in 
Minnesota  several  years  and  later  in  Colorado, 
where  he  died  ;  Margaret  married  Capt.  James  A. 
Brison:  Robert  C.  is  mentioned  below;  Oliver  P., 
born  in  1839,  lived  on  the  homestead  and  there 
■died  in  1880;  Edward  is  a.  resident  of  Grand  Bap- 
ids.  Michigan. 

Robert  C.  Montgomery,  of  McEwensville  bor- 
ough, was  born  Dec.  24,  1836,  and  was  educated 
i ii  McEwensville  Academy.  He  was  a  farmer  in 
his  active  years,  and  for  thirty  years  lived  on  a 
100-acre  farm  one  and  one-half  miles  from  Mc- 
Ewensville, in  Lewis  township.  He  has  another 
tract,  where  lie  now  lives,  of  the  same  acreage,  and 
there  i-  no  better  land  in  the  county.  He  is  a 
Republican;  was  school  director.  He  and  family 
■are  Presbyterians :  was  trustee. 

Mr.  Montgomery  married  Mary  Lowry,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Helen  (Cole)  Lowry,  and  they 
have  had  six  children:  William,  who  is 
deceased;  Eelen,  .who  married  George  Marr 
■and  lives  at  Swarthmore,  Philadelphia;  Low- 
rie,  of  Philadelphia,  an  attorney.  Fannie, 
a  school  teacher,  who  has  taught  in  the 
high  school  of  Bryan,  Ohio,  for  five  years;  Jennie, 
who  is  at  home,  ami  Margaret  B.,  at  home. 

JOHN  H.  EISENHART,  a  well  known  mer- 
chant of  Shamokin,  Pa.,  has  long  been  a  factor  in 
the  commercial  world,  and  before  entering  busi- 
ness 0Ii  hi.  own  account  had  a  long  experience  in 
the  line  in  which  lie  has  made  so  distinct  a  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Eisenhart  was  born  in  Snyder  county. 
Pa.,  Oei.    is.   1869,  son  of  Daniel  Eisenhart. 

Jonas  Eisenhart,  grandfather  of  John  H.,  was 
born'  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  there  followed 
farming  until  about  1800,  when  he  came  to  North- 
umberland county,  settling  at  Leek  Kill.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
also  engaged  in  tanning.  There  his  children  grew 
up.  He  made  his  home  at  Port.  Treverton,  along 
the  river,  and  there  he  died  in  1883.  He  is  buried 
at  Leek  Kill.  He  married  Polly  Geist,  daughter 
mi  \ndrew  and  Christina  (Snyder)  Geist.  and  she 
died  at  Leek  Kill,  and  is  buried  there.  They  had 
sixteen  children,  namely:  William,  who  died  in 
Jefferson  county;  Daniel:  John,  who  died  in  Ne- 
braska: Jonas,  who  died  in  Central  America:  Ga- 
briel, who  died  in  Snyder  county,  Pa.:  Emanuel, 
living  in  Philadelphia;  Lewi-,  who  died  in  Sham- 
okin; Edward,  who  died  young:  Lncina,  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Shankweiler,  and  died  at  Shamokin; 
Sarah.  Mr-.  Starr,  who  died  near  Leek  Kill;  Car- 
oline, who  married  John  Eyster;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried John  Diehl.  and  died'  in  Indiana :  Harriet, 
Mrs.    Snvder:    Catharine,    who    married    Daniel 


Thomas;  Amelia,  who  married  John  Cooper:  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Jonas  Eisenhart  had  two  brothers,  Stephen  and 
Reuben,  who  both  died  in  Shamokin.  Andrew 
Geist  and  wife,  Christina  Snyder,  parents  of  Mrs. 
Jonas  Eisenhart,  had  children  a-  follows:  John, 
George,  Andrew,  Daniel,  Josiah,  Peter.  Abraham, 
Elizabeth  (married  Isaac  Sheaffer),  Christina 
(married  Paul  Gerhart),  Susan  (married  Fred- 
erick Kohler),  Lydia  (married  Mr.  Bixler),  Polly 
(married  .Tunas  Eisenhart),  Sallie  (married  Sol- 
omon  Falck),  Rebecca  M.  (married  Solomon 
Shankweiler)  and  Molly  (married  Joseph  Feger). 
Mr.  Geist  reared  his  family  at  Greenbrier,  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  lived  and  died. 

Daniel  Eisenhart,  son  of  Jonas  and  Polly,  was 
born  at  Leek  Kill  Sept.  6,  1830,  and  died  in  Sham- 
okin Jan.  13,  1906.  He  was  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Leek  Kill  with  his  father-in- 
law,  Peter  Beisel,  their  successor  being  D.  S.  Leit- 
zel.  When  Mr.  Eisenhart  moved  to  Snyder  coun- 
ty iie  bought  out  John  Diehl,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, and  was  engaged  in  business  there  until 
1876,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Snyder  coun- 
ty. During  the  three  years  he  held  that  office  he 
lived  at  Middleburg.  During  his  incumbency  the 
murderers  of  Mr.  Kintzler  were  apprehended  and 
convicted.  Mr.  Eisenhart  came  to  Shamokin  dan. 
1.  1879,  and  engaged  in  business  with  his  son.  R. 
G.  Eisenhart,  under  the  firm  name  of  D.  &  R. 
G.  Eisenhart.  This  association  continued  until 
1882,  when  he  sold  out  to  Haas  &  Sowers  and  re- 
tired from  active  work.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Shamokin;  of  the  Shamokin 
Street  Railroad  Company:  of  the  Shamokin  Light, 
Heat  &  Power  Company  (of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  organizers  i  :  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  build- 
in-  i  ommittee  in  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  pres- 
ent St.  John's  Reformed  Church  building.  He  was 
made  a  Mason  in  Selinsgrove  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. 
Air.  Eisenharfs  wife  was.  in  her  maidenhood,  Sar- 
ah Beisel,  born  Feb.  17,  1830,  died  Dec.  31,  1887, 
daughter  of  Peter  Beisel.  Mr.  Eisenhart  and  his 
wife  are  buried  in  Shamokin  cemetery.  Their 
children  were:  R.  G. ;  Amelia,  who  married  N. 
C.  Wolverton,  deceased,  and  resides  at  Shamokin; 
Emma  C.  who  married  B.  Y.  Stroub,  and  lives  in 
Snvder  county:  Alice,  who  married  G.  M.  Shindel. 
prothonotary  of  Snyder  county;  Ella;  Martha  .1., 
who  married  d.  A.  Wert,  a  merchant  at  Shamokin; 
and  John  EL 

John  H.  Eisenhart  was  born  Oct.  18.  1869,  in 
Snvder  county,  and  came  to  Shamokin  with  his 
father.  He  attended  the  local  school-,  and  in 
|s>;  he  became  a  clerk  for  his  brother-in-law,  J. 
A.  Wert,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1893. 
From  that  time  until  1899  he  was  engaged  in  the 
book  and  stationery  business  at  Shamokin  on  his 
own  account,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  returned 


646 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


to  his  brother-in-law's  store,  n  maining  until  1904. 
He  then  bought  out  his  sister,  Mrs.  Wolverton,  at 
Spruce  and  .Market  streets,  and  he  has  since  con- 
ducted a  genera]  grocery,  having  an  old  establ 
stand,  and  doing  a  large  business.  He  is  also 
engaged  in  job  printing.  Mr.  Eisenhart  is  one 
of  tin-  rising  young  business  men  of  the  town,  and 
is  very  popular  with  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

In  1895  Mr.  Eisenhart  married  Elsie  M.  Rupp, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Rupp.  She  was  horn  at 
Mount  Carmel.  One  son.  Leon  I).,  has  blessed 
this  union.  Socially  Mr.  Eisenhart  is  a  member  of 
the  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  the  K.  of  P.  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen.  His  religious  connection  is  with  St. 
John's  Reformed  Church. 

JOHN  A.  WEAVER,  of  Shaniokm,  distribut- 
ing agent  for  the  E.  I.  1  Hi  Pont  de  Nemours  Pow- 
der Compan)',  which  has  two  magazines  in  this 
locality,  one  at  Paxinos,  Northumberland  county, 
and  one  at  Alaska,  Northumberland  county,  has 
been  connected  with  this  line  of  business  for  twen- 
ty-five years.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the 
most  citizens  of  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  having 
served  two  terms  as  chief  burgess,  and  as  some  not- 
able nents  in  the  management  of  munici- 
pal affairs  were  inaugurated  under  his  regime  he 
may  be  said  to  have  made  a  permanent  impression 
on  the  life  of  the  place. 

The  Weaver  family  is  an  old  one  in  Northum- 
berland county,  having  been  founded  here  by  Mr. 
Weaver's  great-grandfather,  Michael  Weaver  (the 
name  was  originally  spelled  Weber),  a  native  of 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
about  1769.  lie  firs!  located  in  Brecknock  town- 
ship, Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  later  in  Berks  county,  and 
in  1770  in  Northumberland  county,  near  Liberty 
Pole.  Rush  township,  upon  land  subsequently 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Peter  Hughawaut.  There 
he  died  in  1834  and  was  buried  upon  the  farm.  He 
was  a  taxable  in  Shamokin  township  in  1788.  He 
joined  the  American  army  during  the  Revolution, 
in  which  he  served  seven  years  under  Washing 
He  married  before  coming  to  this  country,  and 
■a  a-  the    father  of  thirteen   children. 

Martin  Weaver,  fourth  son  of  Michael,  was  born 
in  1TT0  in  Rush  township,  and  died  in  1844.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  also  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business,  being  for  many  years  propri- 
etor of  one  of  tiie  old-time  taverns  in  Shamokin 
township,  situated  eight  miles  east  id'  Sunbury. 
Hr  was  twice  married,  first  to  a  Miss  Hirsh.  of 
Rush  township,  by  whom  he  hail  three  children: 
Joseph,  who  died  in  Shamokin:  Catharine,  widow 
of  Enoch  Howell:  and  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Jonathan  Yarnel  (both  are  deceased).  There 
were  live  children  born  to  his  second  marriage. 
to  Catharine  (Lodsleger?)  :  Mary,  who  married 
Daniel  Evert  and  is  deceased;  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried   Daniel    Bote  and   i-  deceased:   William    M. : 


Rosetta,  deceased:  and  Solomon,  a  residenl  of 
Sunbury. 

William  M.  Weaver,  -mi  of  Martin,  was  con- 
sidered the  best  known  citizen  of  Northumber- 
land county  in  his  day.  and  in  his  death  this  sec- 
tion lost  a  valuable  man.  He  was  horn  in  Sham- 
okin township  Aug.  -'In.  1816,  was  reared  upon  the 
homestead  farm,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  agri- 
cultural work.  He  also  learned  harnessmaking, 
which  he  followed  for  some  time.  In  1837,  as- 
sociated with  his  brother-in-law,  lie  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Snydertown,  Pa.,  continu- 
ing in  that,  line  until  is 1 1.  when  he  returned  to 
the  homestead  and  resumed  farming,  remaining 
until  1844.  In  1845,  removing  to  what  was 
then  the  village  of  Shamokin.  he  leased  the  "Sham- 
okin Hotel."  later  known  as  the  "United  S 
Hotel"  and  the  "Hotel  Vanderbilt/'  now  the 
"Graemar,"  and  conducted  that  house  for  live 
('ears.  He  then  purchased  what  was  known  as 
"Weaver's  National  Hotel."  being  it-  proprietor 
1851  until  his  election  to  the  office  of  sheriff. 
in  1863.  After  serving  his  term  of  three  years 
he   resumed   thi  business,    in    the   spring   of 

1867,  continuing  it  until  he  was  again  elected 
sheriff,  in  1878.  Upon  the  expiration  of  hi.-  sec- 
ond term  he  again  look  charge  of  his  hotel,  con- 
ducting it  until  1886,  after  which  he  lived  in  re- 
tirement until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  De- 
cember, 1896,  at  his  home  in  Shamokin.  on  the 
:   of   Pearl  and  Commerce  streets. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  one  of  the  ol<  lents  o 

Shamokin.  and  he  took  an  intelligent  interest  in 
promoting  the  development  and  prosperity  of  the 
city  throughout  hi>  active  career.  In  1858,  in  as- 
sociation with  t'.  P.  Ilelfenstein  and  William  II. 
Marshall,  he  undertook  a  work  for  which  he  will  he 
remembered  with  gratitude  by  many,  assuming  a 

amount   of   unpaid    rtgages    which    were 

upon  nearly  all  the  homes  in  different  parts  of  the 
borough  and  preventing  many  foreclosures, 
obviating  considerable  loss  and  distress.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Northumberland 
County  Bank,  and  interested  in  various  other  en- 
terprises of  local  importance,  among  them  the 
purchase  and  laying  out  of  the  Shamokin  ceme- 
tery. In  politic-  always  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  was  a  Mason  in  fra- 
ternal connection,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  255, 
F.  &  A.  M. 

()n  Aug.  •.'(;.  1843,  Mi-.  Weaver  married  Lydia 
Smith,  wdio  was  horn  April  15.  1823,  m  Shamo- 
kin township,  daughter  of  John  Smith.  ofSnyder- 
town.  Pa.,  ami  she  died  in  Shamokin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weaver  are  buried  in  the  Shamokin  ceme- 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children:  Mary 
E. :  Martin,  deceased;  Catharine  E..  horn  Oct.  13, 
1850,  who  married   David    P..   Sinister   (ex-bu 

S  lamokin,  where  he  still  reside-)  and  died  Nov. 
30,    1904:   John    A.;    Clara   J.,   widow   of    Frank 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  (  OUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


hi; 


Daniels,  living  with  her  brother  John;  and  Ro- 
si'ttn.  deceased. 

John  A.  Weaver  was  born  Oct.  15,  1847,  at  his 
father's  "United  Stales  Hotel"  ( located  at  the  pres- 
eiit  -lb  of  the  "Graemax")  in  Shaniokin,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Until  1879  he  remained  associated  with  his  fa- 
ther, in  the  manage il  of  the  hotel,  and  lie  then 

entered  the  employ  of  the  .Mineral  Railroad  & 
Mining  Company  as  their  representative  in  the  coal 
and  iron  police,  filling  that  position  until  Sep- 
tember, 1885.  It  was  during  this  time  that  the 
notorious  Molly  Maguires  infested  the  mining 
region.  Resigning,  he  took  the  position  of  su- 
perintendent with  II.  A.  Weldy  &  Co..  manufac- 
turers of  explosives  ami  powders,  who  carried  on 
business  lor  some  lime  at  the  old  Paxinos  powder 
mill  ami  later  discontinued  the  manufacture  of 
powder.  The  concern  underwent  a  change  in  1908, 
becoming  part  of  the  Duponi  Company,  which 
has  two  plants  in  this  region,  one  at  Paxinos  and 
one  at  Alaska.  Mr.  Weaver  acts  as  distributing 
agent,  a  position  he  has  shown  himself  well  qual- 
ified to  fill,  his  business  and  personal  standing 
having  been  won  b\  long  and  efficient  service,  and 
he  has  shown  ability  in  the  discharge  of  even 
responsibility  with  which  hi'  has  been  intrusted. 

Mr.  Weaver's  connection  with  the  municipal  ad- 
ministration began  in  1875,  when  he  wa-  elected 
councilman,  serving  mam  years  as  such.  In  1881 
lie  was  elected  chief  burgess,  to  which  office  he  was 
again  elected  iii  L889.  During  his  administra-. 
i  urn  many  changes  were  made  in  the  conduct  of  the 
various  borough  offices,  and  several  particularly 
valuable  ideas  were  put  into  practice,  which  gained 
him  the  esteem  and  support  of  a  large  number  of 
the  best  citizens  of  Shaniokin.  The  first  uni- 
formed police  force  was  established  during  his 
term.  He  showed  his  progressive  spirit  in  num- 
erous ways,  winning  universal  good  will  by  his 
public-spiritedness  and  loyalty  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  borough. 

In  June,  1872,  Mr.  Weaver  married  Clara  A. 
Ilanlev.  daughter  of  N.  A.  Hanley,  of  Shamokin, 
and  they  have  had  two  children:  Charles  Ray- 
mond, wdio  is  now  assisting  his  father:  and  Cath- 
arine M..  who  died  when  eight  years  old.  The 
family  are  Presbyterians  in  religious  faith.  Mr. 
Weaver  is  a  Demo,  rat  in  politics,  and  socially 
hold-  membership  in  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255, 
V.  &  A.  M. 

CELESTE  MENAPACE,  proprietor  of  the 
"Austrian  Hotel"  at  Atlas,  near  Mount  Carmel, 
Northumberland  county,  is  the  leader  of  his  coun- 
trymen in  his  district  and  well  deserves  his  pop- 
ularity, which  is  not  confined  to  those  of  his  own 
nationality.  He  is  a  native  of  Tuenno,  Austria, 
horn  April. 13,  1861,  son  of  Bonifacio  Menapace, 
who  was  a  teamster  by  occupation.    Both  his  par- 


ents died  in  Austria,  his  father  in  1904,  his  moth- 
er in  November,  1 909; 

Mr.  Menapace  was  in  his  twenty-sixth  year 
when  he  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York 
June  16,  1886.  He  immediately  proceeded  thence 
to  Pennsylvania,  settling  at  Green  Ridge,  in  Mount 
Carmel  township.  Northumberland  county,  where 
be  followed  mining  two  years.  For  the  next  five 
years  he  was  engaged  at  that  occupation  in  Lu- 
zerne county,  this  State,  at  the  end  of  that  period 
locating  in  Shenandoah.  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years,  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cerj  business.  He  then  established  himself  in  the 
mercantile  business  m  Shamokin.  Northumber- 
land county,  at  Spruce  and  Market  streets,  and 
from  that  borough  removed  to  Mount  Carmel. 
where  he  was  similarly  engaged  on  Oak  street.  In 
1898  he  built  his  home  a!  Atlas,  near  Mount  Car- 
mel. moving  there  May  30th  of  that  year.  His 
residence  was  the  third  to  he  built  in  the  town. 
Mr.  Menapace  carried  on  the  grocery  business 
there,  for  two  years,  having  a  thriving  and  stead- 
ily increasing  trade  from  the  start.  He  secured 
a  hotel  license  in  1901  and  since  then  has  con- 
ducted an  up-to-date  and  well  furnished  hotel  at 
No.  '.'mi  Columbia  avenue.  On  the  night  of  Oct. 
is.  1910,  Mr.  Meiiapace's  old  hotel  building,  to- 
gether with  eight  tenement  house's  owned 
by  him.  was  destroyed  by  tire,  hut  a  larger  and 
more  modern  hotel  was  immediately  erected  on 
the  same  site,  and  two  block-  of  the  houses  have 
also  been  rebuilt.  In  addition  to  conducting  his 
hotel  business,  Mr.  Menapace  deals  in  cigars  and 
chewing  gum  in  a  wholesale  way,  and  is  a  build- 
ing contractor.  He  is  a  substantial  and  esteemed 
citizen  of  his  section. 

Mr.  "Menapace  is  a  prominent  member  id'  Si. 
Peter's  Catholic  Church,  being  president  and  a 
trustee  of  the  congregation,  and  he  was  one  id' 
the  leaders  in  the  construction  of  the  present  line 
church,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee, lb-  is  a  member  of  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles,  being  especially  active  in  that  fraternity, 
serving  as  director  of  the   Eagles   Home  Associa 

i :  in    assisted  in  the  building  of  the  Home,  in 

which  he  takes   deep   interest.      He   is  a   din 

of  the  Miners*  anil  Laborers'  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  and  in  that,  as  in  every  other  trust, 
has  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  responsibility 
committed    to    him. 

On  Aug.  in.  1887,  Mr.  Menapace  married  Ce- 
lesta Pasquin,  and  to  their  union  has  been  born  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  li\- 
ing,  namely:  Frank  (who  assists  his  father  and 
is  also  engaged  as  a  contractor).  Julia,  Richard, 
Robert,  Mary,  Rudolpk,  Charles.  Anna  and  Ed- 
ward. 

REV.  JOHN  CH.  KONSTANKEWICZ,  rec- 
tor of   tin:    Ruthenian   Catholic  Church  at  Sham- 


648 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


okin.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  was  born  June 
10,  185!).  He  received  bis  education  in  Austria. 
completing  the  course  of  four  lower  normal  (lass- 
es in  Przemysl  and  eight  gymnasial  classes  in 
Lemberg,  and.  passing  an  examination  of  maturity, 
entered  the  theological  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Lemberg.  Completing  the  theological 
course  in  four  years,  lie  was  ordained  by  die  Bishop 
of  Przemysl,  and  then  served  one  year  as  soldier 
in  the  Austrian  army,  in  compliance  with  the 
laws  of  the  country. 

Becoming  assistant  in  a  church  of  Jaroslaw,  he 
was  also  appointed,  by  the  minister  of  war,  to  the 
office  of  army  chaplain  with  the  20th  Regiment. 
Infantry,  holding  that  office  for  three  years.  Then 
he  assumed  charge  of  a  parish  in  the  village  of 
Lalin.  where  he  remained  eight  years.  Coming 
to  the  United  States  on  April  30,  1893,  he  has 
since  had  charge  of  the  Ruthenian  Catholic  Church 
at  Shamokin.  The  following  history  of  the  church 
and  comments  on  the  Ruthenians  were  contributed 
by  him: 

John  Madzelan,  Moses  Domczko,  Phillip  Murd- 
za,  John  Glowa  and  Anthony  Luczkowee  were  the 
first  immigrants  who  came  to  Shamokin,  Pa.,  from 
Galicia,  Austria,  in  the  year  1880.  A  little  later 
a  few  more  came  over.  Their  number  being  very 
small,  they  were  not  able  to  build  a  church  of  their 
own  and  for  that  reason  they  joined  the  St.  Stan- 
islaus Kostka  Polish  Church  and  for  some  time 
financially  assisted  this  church  and  helped  to  main- 
tain the  priest  thereof.  When,  somewhat  later, 
more  Ruthenians  made  their  home  here,  they  pur- 
chased lots  on  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Pine 
streets,  and  there  in  the  year  1882  built  a  church, 
a  small  wooden  building,  which  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  John  Wolanski,  the  first  Ruthenian  Catholic- 
priest  in  America,  at  that  time  holding  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Ruthenian  Catholic  Church  of  Shen- 
andoah. Pa.  He  administered  to  this  church  un- 
til 1890. 

With  the  growth  of  the  parish  the  church  proved 
too  small  to  hold  all  its  members  and  it  was  then 
decided  that  a  new  and  larger  structure  should  be 
built.  The  site  of  the  old  church,  however,  was 
not  suitable  for  the  intended  new  edifice.  There- 
Mi  L897,  two  lots  on  North  Shamokin  street 
were  purchased  from  John  Mullen  for  the  sum  of 
$8,000.  On  March  11,  1905,  a  contract  was  drawn 
w  itli  the  East  End  Lumber  Company  of  Shamokin. 
which  company  undertook  to  build  the  church  for 
$46,000.  The  plans  for  the  structure,  which  is  in 
the  Byzantine  style,  were  drawn  by  Messrs.  E.  E. 
Quaife  and  Howe,  architects,  whose  offices  are  in 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.  The  marble  granite  of  which 
the  church  is  constructed  was  obtained  from  the 
Rylston  Stone  Company  of  Gouverneur,  N.  Y. 
Horsh  &  Brother,  of  Allentown,  Pa.,  supplied  the 
copper  with  which  the  domes  and  cornices  are  cov- 
ered.    The  building  has  come  up  to  the  highest 


expectations,  and  the  success  of  its  adequate  com- 
pletion is  due  largely  to  the  efforts  of  the  East 
End  Lumber  Company  and  especially  of  general 
manager  Mr.  A.  P.  Reitz.  When  the  church  is 
completed  it  will  cost  around  $80,000.  In  1908 
a  deal  was  closed  with  Miss  C.  May  for  $13,000, 
whereby  the  property  across  from  the  church 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  congregation,  to  be 
as  the  parish  house.  Those  who  by  their  ef- 
forts have  helped  the  progress  of  the  new  church 
most  are :  John  Glowa,  Theodore  Talpash,  Julian 
Kopyscianski,  John  Xowak,  Alex.  Sharshon.  Cab. 
Malinak,  Nik.  Tehanski,  Michael  Stelma  (de- 
ceased) and  a  few  others. 

The  first  permanent  rector  of  the  Ruthenian 
Catholic  Church  of  Shamokin  was  Rev.  Theo. 
Obushkewiez,  who  had  charge  from  1890  to  1891. 
On  May  1,  1893,  Rev.  John  Ch.  Konstankewicz 
took  charge  of  the  parish  and  is  the  present  rector. 
In  closing,  two  brief  explanations  should  be  made: 

(1)  Here  in  America  the  Ruthenians  are  often 
erroneously  styled  "Greeks."  They  are  not 
Greeks,  and  among  the  laboring  people  not  one 
understands  a  single  word  of  Greek.  They  are  a 
branch  of  the  great  Slavonic  race  and  the  name  of 
the  nationality  is  Ruthenian.  There  are  thirty- 
two  millions  of  these  people,  out  of  which  num- 
ber 2,700,000  inhabit  Galicia  under  the  dominion 
of  Austria:  over  600,000  northern  Hungary,  ad- 
joining the  borders  of  Galicia,  and  29,000,000  all 
of  southern  Russia,  under  the  dominion  of  the 
"White  Czar."  The  Russians  call  the  Ruthenians 
the  "Little  Russians."  thereby  endeavoring  to  as- 
similate  them  with  themselves  and  show  the  world 
what  a  great,  nation  Russia  is.  But  such  assimi- 
lation has  no  historical  foundation  whatever. 

The  reason  they  are  called  Greeks  arises  un- 
doubtedly from  the  fact  that  the  first  immigrants 
were  unable  to  understand  the  English  language, 
either  in  whole  or  in  part,  and  upon  being  ques- 
tioned as  to  whom  they  were  they  would  answer, 
"Creek  Catholics.''"  But  the  word  Greek  pertains 
only  to  the  form  of  their  church,  because  the 
Ruthenians  belong  to  the  Eastern  Church,  just  as 
other  nationalities  inhabiting  Europe  belong  to  the 
Western  (or  Roman  Catholic)  Church.  A  German 
or  Frenchman,  or  any  other  European,  belonging 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  might  similarly, 
on  coming  to  this  country,  in  his  ignorance  of 
the  English  language  describe  himself  as  a  Roman 
Catholic,  but  he  would  not  be  a  Roman  any  more 
than  a  Ruthenian  is  a  Greek. 

( 2 )  Many  people  do  not  know  the  meaning  of 
the  three-armed  cross  which  surmounts  the  Ruth- 
enian Church.  In  that  cross  are  two  crosses :  one 
upon  which  the  Lord  Christ  was  crucified,  the 
other  upon  which  was  crucified  the  Saint  Apostle 
Andrew,  brother  of  the  Saint  Apostle  Peter.    The 

ross  of  Apostle  Andrew  is  in  the  form  of  an  X. 
Saint  Andrew,  before  his  crucifixion,  begged  that 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


649 


he  be  aailed  to  the  -Uniting  cross,  because  he  felt 
unfit  to  hang  from  such  a  cross  as  the  one  upon 
which  his  God  and  Master  was  hanged.  Saint 
Andrew  was  that  Apostle  who  first  carried  the 
word  and  wisdom  of  Christ  into  the  north  and 
penetrated  to  the  place  upon  which  to-day  stands 
the  great  city  of  Kiev,  the  capital  of  the  Kuthen- 
ians,  and  there  on  the  hills  of  Kiev  he  planted  the 
cross  of  Christ.  Therefore  the  Etuthenians  con- 
sider him  their  patron  saint  and  apostle,  and  his 
cross  was  joined  with  the  cross  of  Christ,  the  com- 
posite cross  being  erected  on  the  domes  of  the 
new  church. 

JOSEPH  s.  KOWALESKI,  M.  IV  of  Shamo- 
kin. a  young  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  bor- 
ough who  has  already  established  a  good  prai 
was  horn  there  July  2,  1887,  3on  of  Michael  Kow- 
aleski  and  grandson  of  the  late  Francis  Kowa- 
lcski. 

Francis  Kowaleski  was  a  farmer  and  landowner 
in  Poland,  where  he  died  in  1882.  Tlis  family 
consisted  of  tu"  sons  and  five  daughters,  the  sons 
being  Michael  and  George. 

Michael  Kowaleski  was  born  Sept.  29,  1859,  in 
Russian  Roland,  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm. 
Coming  to  America  in  May.  1882,  he  landed  at 
Xew  York  City,  where  lie  remained  but  three 
days,  liowever,  continuing  bis  journey  to  Shamo- 
kin,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  After  working  at  mining  for 
twelve  years  he  engaged  in  the  store  business, 
which  he  conducted  about  five  years,  and  meantime, 
in  1892,  he  entered  the  hotel  business,  which  he 
has  followed  successfully  to  the  present  time.  His 
location,  at  No.  710  North  Shamokin  street,  is 
well  and  favorably  known,  and  be  has  a  good 
trade. 

Mr.  Kowaleski  married  Catherine  Sinkszda.  and 
to  them  have  been  born  six  children,  only  three 
of  whom  are  living:  Joseph  S. :  Volley,  who  is 
a  clerk  in  the  recorder's  office  at  Sunbury,  this 
enmity;  and  Stanley,  at  school. 

Joseph  S.  Kowaleski  attended  public  school  at 
Shamokin  and  in  1903  was  a  student  at  Detroit 
College.  He  then  went  to  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  at  Baltimore.  Md„  in  1906, 
changing  from  that  institution  to  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1907.  He  continued  his  studies 
abroad,  entering  the  University  of  Vienna.  Austria, 
where  he  received  his  diploma  in  1908.  Returning 
home,  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  general  prac- 
tice in  Shamokin.  being  located  at  No.  113  Spurz- 
heim  street.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Northum- 
berland County  Medical  Society  and  is  a  man  of 
excellent  standing  both  personally  and  profession- 
ally throughout,  this  district.  He  is  a  member  of 
the    Si     Stanislaus  Kostka  Catholic  Church. 

Dr.     Kowaleski     married     Annie     Willoughby, 


daughter  of  John  Willoughby,  of  Shamokin,  and 
they  have  one  child.  Meriam. 

MOSES  SHIPE,  a  retired  citizen  of  Sunbury, 
belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Northumberland 
county.  The  name  is  also  found  spelled  Shive, 
Scheib,  and  Sheib,  and  the  family  has  been  long 
established  in  Pennsylvania,  where  there  are  num- 
erous representatives  at  the  present  day.  One  Jacob 
Shive  (now  spelled  Shipe)  died  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  in  June,  1815,  leaving  a  widow,  Mary, 
and  some  children.  One  Barbara  Shive  died  in 
June,  1850.  The  executor  of  the  will  she  made 
was  John  Shive,  and  she  mentions  her  sons  Jacob 
and  John  Shive  and  refers  to  her  other  children. 

Henry  Shipe,  grandfather  of  Moses  Shipe,  was 
born  Sept.  27,  1798,  and  lived  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, this  county,  having  a  farm  at  Weigh  Scales, 
in  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  that  town- 
ship. This  farm  later  came  into  the  possession 
of  William  Persing.  Mr.  Shipe  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  died  Feb.  13,  1879,  and  his  wife, 
Mary,  died  June  3,  1862,  aged  sixty-seven  years, 
two  months,  seven  days.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  John,  Henry,  Michael.  Abraham,  Jacob, 
Betsy  (married  Jacob  Persing)  and  Polly  (mar- 
ried Valentine  Hummel). 

Michael  Shipe,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  June  4, 
1807,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  died  Oct.  7, 
1878,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  where  he  is 
buried,  at  the  Mount  Pleasant  church,  as  is  also 
bis  wife.  He  was  a  Methodist  in  religious  faith. 
By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter,  and  he  helped  to  cut 
down  and  chop  timber  in  the  forest.  He  married 
Judith  Hinterleiter,  born  Feb.  9,  1806,  whose 
people  came  from  Berks  county  and  settled  in 
Mahanoy  township.  She  died  March  27,  1885. 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  namely :  William. 
who  lives  in  Sunbury,  Pa. :  Isaac,  of  Upper  Au- 
gusta township  (his  wife  Elizabeth  died  Dec.  2T. 
190(i.  aged  sixty-eight  years,  eleven  months,  eleven 
days,  and  is  buried  at  the  Mount  Pleasant 
church):  Henry,  deceased:  Angeline,  Mrs.  Peter 
Eekman;  Ira,  deceased:  Moses:  Michael,  of  Vir- 
ginia; Emanuel,  deceased:  and  Rev.  Jonathan  R., 
a  Methodist  minister,  of  York,  Pennsylvania. 

Moses  Shipe,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  Dec.  27, 
1837,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  was  only  a  child 
when  the  family  settled  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  he  received  his  education  in  the  "red 
schoolhouse."  He  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  S.  P. 
Wolverton's  Company  (E).  18th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Reserves,  in  1862,  and  was  in  active  serv- 
ice. During  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life 
he  was  engaged  as  a  railroader,  beginning  work 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Company  in  August,  1865, 
and  working  for  them  continuously  until  his  re- 
tirement, in  December,  190S.  a  period  of  over 
forty-three  years.  He  has  made  his  home  in  Sun- 
burv  since  May,  1865,  his  residence  being1  at  No. 


650 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


907  East  Market  street.  Mr.  Shipe  is  a  much 
respected  resident  of  the  borough,  a  zealous  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  he  served 
for  over  fifteen  years  in  various  offices,  for  some 
years  as  steward.  He  is  independent  in  politics, 
voting  as  he  sees  tit. 

On  Dec.  31,  1m'.:!.  Mr.  Shipe  married  Rebecca 
Clark,  daughter  of  John  ami  Margaret  (Thomas) 
Chirk,  ami  they  have  had  three  children:  [saac 
1'..  now  deceased:  George  A.,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.: 
and  Herbert  ( '..  of  Monongahela  City.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

.inllX  W.  TIMMES,  attorney,  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  is  one  of  the  younger  ele- 
ment in  that  borough  who  have  been  commendably 
active  in  public  affairs.  He  is  building  up  a  cred- 
itable law  practice,  is  als  i  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance and  real  estate  business,  ami  is  well  known 
in  local  Democratic  circles  and  for  his  services  in 
the  borough  council.  lie  was  born  in  Shamokin 
Aug.  25,  1881. 

Joseph  Tunnies,  grandfather  of  John  W.  Tim- 
mi  -.  was  born  dan.  '.'•'!.  1826,  in  Prussia.  Germany, 
and  coming  to  America  while  a  young  man  was 
among  the  early  settlers  at  Shamokin.  Pa.  In 
1864  he  bought  the  hotel  property  at  the  corner 
oi  Shamokin  and  Independence  streets,  from  Wil- 
liam Atwater  and  wife,  and  there  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  from  that  time  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Shamokin  Jan.  16,  1  ^ 7 •  '> .  He 
also  dealt  extensively  in  real  estate,  and  was 
man  who  succeeded  in  all  his  undertakings, 
sessing  intelligence  and  ability  above  the  average. 
Hi-  wife.  Mary,  born  in  1830,  survived  until  1887. 
They  were  members  oi  St.  Edward'-  Catholic 
Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Timm.es  had  three  chil- 
dren who  reached  maturity:  John  M.,  Joseph  (who 
lives  in   Philadelphia)   and  Mary. 

John  M.  Timmes,  son  ol  Joseph,  was  born  in 
1856  in  Shamokin,  and  there  passed  his  entire 
life,  dying  in  April.  1883,  in  the  prime  of  his 
young  manhood.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  succeeded  him  in  the  hotel  business,  which  he 
followed  until  his  own  death.  He  married  Mary 
Hennes,  and  they  had  two  children.  Catherine  and 
John  W.  Tin-  mother  is  now  the  wife  of  M.  G. 
f,  of  Shamokin. 

John  W.  Timmes  reci  red  his  preparatory  edu- 
cation in  the  parochial  schools  of  Shamokin  ami 
took  his  college  course  at  Georgetown  (D.  C.) 
University,  graduating  from  that  institution  in 
1901.  He  then  entered  the  law  school  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  where  he- 
was  graduated  in  1904.  Returning  to  Shamokin. 
he  entered  the  office  of  W.  11.  M.  Oram,  attorney, 
with  whom  he  remained  two  years,  meantime,  mi 
1905,  being  admitted  to  the  liar  of  Northumber- 
land county.  In  1906  lie  established  offices  of 
ivn    in   the   Timmes   block,   on    Independence 


street,  where  he  has  since  been  located,  following 
his  profession  and.  in  connection  therewith,  the 
insurance  and  real  estate  business. 

Mr.  Timmes  has  been  quite  active  in  the  Demo- 
cratic part}',  served  as  secretary  of  tin-  county 
committee  for  four  years,  and  on  Feb.  10,  1910, 
was  elected  chairman  id'  that  committee,  an  honor 
he  lias  earned  by  efficient  and  disinterested  serv- 
ice. In  190?  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  bor- 
ough council,  in  which  he  served  until  1910. 

Socially  Mr.  Timmes  holds  membership  in  the 
Cresco  Club  id'  Shamokin    (of  which  be  is  sec    e- 

i.  the    Kaprian   ( 'lul getown    Univer- 

ihe  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks 
and  the  I.  <  >.  R.  M.j  he  has  served  the  latter 
organization  as  sachem  of  Sham-O-Kin  Tribe.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  Ed- 
ward's Church,  of  Shamokin. 

SHOTZBERGER   (S  Schotsbi    ger). 

The  Shotzbergers  are  a  Snyder  county  family,  but 
Galen  Shotsberger  is  well  known  in  Sunbury  as 
one  of  the  proprietor-  of  the  "Fairmount  Hotel," 
one  of  the  best  hotels  in  that  borough. 

The  founder  of  the  Shotzberger  family  in  Amer- 
ica came  to  this  country  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  with  the  rest  of  his  countrymen.  Hessians, 
sold  into  the  British  service,  and  was  one  id'  the 
Hessians  captured  on  Christmas  night.  1776,  at 
Trenton.  The  prisoners  were  held  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  and  after  the  war,  with  a  number  of  others 
who  refusi  turn   to   the  mother  country,   he 

settled  in  territory  now  embraced  in  Snyder 
county.  Among  his  children  was  a  son  named 
Jonathan. 

Jonathan  Shotzberger,  horn  about  1790,  w 
nt  of  what  is  now  Union  township.  Si 
county,  and  followed  farming,  having  a  tract  of 
320  acres  located  three  miles  s,,uth  of  Freeburg, 
Pa.  He  was  a  tall,  well  proportioned  man.  and 
an  intelligent  and  prosperous  farmer.  He  died  in 
is:.;  or  1858,  aged  sixty-seven  years  and  is  buried 
at  Verdilla,  Snyder  county.     He  was  a  Lutheran. 

Hi-  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Matter,  was 
a  German  woman,  and  they  had  eleven  children, 
all  now  deceased,  as  follows:  George;  Lydia,  wife 
of  Jacob  Strawser;  Polly,  wife  of  John  Stahl; 
:  Elias;  Jacob:  Catharine,  wife  of  Jacob 
Ilcim:  Ann.  wife  of  Henry  Auker:  Susan,  wifi 
Urias  Kratzer:  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Steffen :  and 
Malinda,  wife  of  Isaiah  Haines. 

George  Shotzberger.  son  of  Jonathan,  lived  at 
Freeburg,  Pa.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
but  followed  farming  during  the  later  years  of 
his  life.  His  wife  was  Molly  Riegel,  and  they 
bad  an  only  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  died  aged 
sixteen  years. 

John    Shotzberger.    son    of   Jonathan,    lived    on 

the  original  homestead   and   followed   farming  all 

is    life.      His   wife    was    Sarah    Holtzapple,    and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


651 


tl n\  had  eight  daughters  and  four  sons:  Emma 
J.,  Percival,  Amelia.  Alice,  Anna,  Barbara.  Katie, 
Laura,    Mrs.    Scholly,   John,    and    two    suns    who 

died   young 

Elias  Shotsberger,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born 
on  his  father's  homestead,  and  lived  at  Freeburg, 
Pa.  Ee  was  a  blacksmith,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  in  partnership  with  I'.  S.  Riegel.  They 
invented  the  first  bay-fork  put  on  the  market. 
Ee  died  in  .May.  1904,  and  is  buried  in  Ever- 
green Cemetery,  hi  religion  Mr.  Shotsberger  was 
a  stanch  Lutheran,  and  he  served  in  the  church 
council  many  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  his 
political  affiliations,  and  was  an  overseer  of  the 
poor  for  some  years.  He  married  Amelia  Nagle, 
and  they  bad  children  as  follows:  Calvin,  Charles, 
William  and  Barry,  all  of  whom  are  citizens  of 
Freeburg,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.;  Galen,  of  Sunbury, 
Pa.;  Jennie,  wife  of  George  \V.  Coy.  a  farmer: 
Sallie,  unmarried,  who  lives  at  Freeburg;  and 
Alice,  married  to  G.  S.  Persing,  an  employee  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company. 

Jacob  Shotzberger,  son  of  Jonathan,  lived  on 
part  of  the  homestead  of  bis  father  after  the  hit- 
ter's death  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  is  buried 
at  tbe  Grubb  Church.  His  wife  was  Barbara 
Gougler,  and  their  children  were  as  follows:  Jona- 
than, now  of  Elkhart,  Ind.;  Jacob,  of  Shamokin 
Dam.  Pa.;  Malimla.  deceased;  Catharine;  Alice, 
and   Anna. 

GALEN  SHOTSBERGER,  son  of  Elias  and 
Amelia  (Nagle)  Shotsberger,  was  born  in  18"!> 
in  Snyder  county,  where  be  grew  to  manhood  and 
received  In-  education  in  the  public  schools.  At 
an  early  age  be  began  t •  >  give  evidence  of  the 
tart  and  enterprise  which  have  made  him  a  suc- 
cessful business  man.  Since  1901  he  has  been 
joint  proprietor  with  Charles  A.  Conrad,  of  Sun- 
.  of  the  "Fairmouni  lintel",  in  that  borough, 
under  the  linn  name  of  Conrad  &  Shotsberger. 
The  hotel  is  an  old  established  hostelry  of  Sun- 
bury,  built  originally  by  the  grandfather  of  the 
senior  proprietor,  but  it  has  been  thoroughly  re- 
modeled to  meet  modern  requirements  and  is  con- 
ducted in  the  most  approved  manner.  Though  it 
has  always  been  a  successful  hotel  stand,  it  has 
never  had  a  more  prosperous  stage  in  its  career 
than  under  the  present  management,  which  means 
that  Mr.  Conrad  and  Mr.  Shotsberger  are  both 
men  specially  adapted  to  the  hotel  business  who 
have  developed  it-  possibilities  according  to  up-to- 
date  standards.  The  location,  tit  East  Market  street 

and    Fairmount  avenue,   in   a  good   neighbor] 1, 

vet  close  to  the  business  section  and  within  a  few 
blocks  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  station  and 
post  office,  i-  excellent.  Mr.  Shotsberger  was  in 
the  cigar  and  tobacco  business  at  Freeburg  before 
he  came  to  Sunbury.  when  he  became  a  clerk  at 
the  "Parker  House."  then  under  the  management 


of  Jere  Lower.  So  he  entered  Ins  present  asso 
elation  with  some  experience  of  the  business.  He 
i-  a  man  of  sterling  character,  and  has  served  as 
member  of  the  council  from  the  Eighth  ward 
(1903-04)  and  member  of  the  board  of  education, 
in  both  of  which  bodies  be  gave  public-spirited 
and  disinterested  service.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Elks  (Lodge  No.  367),  Eagles  and 
Red  Men.  Though  a  hotel  proprietor  so  mam 
years  he  is  a  total  abstainer,  having  never  tasted 
intoxicating  beverages  of  any  kind. 

STRAUSSER.  The  Strausser  or  Strawser  fam- 
ily has  long  been  settled  in  Snyder  county  and  is 
related  to  the  Shotzbergers,  Stahls  and  other  old 
families  of  that  region. 

Eonnicke]  Strausser  lived  about  two  miles  from 
the  Susquehanna  river  in  Chapman  township,  in 
what  was  then  Union  (now  Snyder)  Co..  Pa., 
where  he  had  a  farm.  He  spoke  German.  He 
died  about  1814,  and  is  buried  near  Harold,  in 
what  is  now  Snyder  county.  His  death  was 
caused  by  lightning,  which  struck  the  long  log 
house  occupied  by  the  family  during  an  electrical 
storm,  tit  night.  Mr.  Strausser  got  up  and  lighted 
ti  pine  knot  to  go  into  an  adjoining  room,  in 
which  his  children  slept,  but  he  was  killed  before 
!a  got  there.  His  wife.  Rebecca  (Burkart),  was 
of  Irish  descent,  ami  was  a  sister  of  Philip  Burk- 
art. She  remarried,  her  second  husband  being 
Philip  Lichty,  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  the 
latter  marrying  Andrew  Eauser  and  moving  to 
Clearfield  county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Lichty  died  about 
1846  or  is  IT.  By  her  marriage  to  Honniekel 
Strausser  she  had  children  as  follows:  Elizabeth 
(married  Samuel  Willard),  Mary  (married  John 
Laporte),  Simon,  Jacob  and  Nicholas;  there  may 
have  been  another  son.  Philip, 

Simon  Strausser,  son  of  Honniekel.  was  a  life- 
Ion-  fanner  in  Chapman  township.  Snyder  Co.. 
1'a.     Eis  wife  was  Catharine  (?)  Eochmaster,  and 

their  children  were:  Jacob.  Samuel.  David,  G 'ge, 

William.  Simon.  Elizabeth,  Susan  and  Catharine. 

Jacob  Strausser  (Strawser),  born  in  Chapman 
township  in  1814  (?),  died  in  1894  or  1895  at 
Bristol,  Ind..  to  which  place  he  moved  in  April. 
1866,  and  there  he  is  buried,  in  Zion  cemetery.  He 
was  ,a  lifelong  farmer.  He  had  a  103-acre  farm  in 
Washington  township,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  which  he 
sold  before  be  left  that  section.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Lutheran,  in  politics  a  Democrat.  Eis  wife, 
Lydia  Shotzberger.  daughter  of  Jonathan  Shotz- 
berger, died  in  187]  aged  about  sixty-seven  years. 
They  bad  children  as  follows:  Mary  Ann.  who  mar- 
ried Henry  Kautz:  Jonathan  S. ;  Nicholas,  wdio 
died  unmarried  and  is  buried  at  Northumberland, 
Pa.:  Jacob,  who  is  buried  at  Zion  cemetery.  Bris- 
tol. Ind.  (he  bad  a  family):  Elias.  of  Illinois; 
William  \\\.  who  died  young  and  is  buried  in 
Snyder  county,  Pa.;  and  two  who  died  small. 


65? 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Jonathan  S.  Strawser,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bora 
in  Chapman  township,  Snyder  (then  Union)  Co., 
Pa,,  March  27,  1839.  He  learned  the  carpenter 
trade  in  his  native  locality,  and  lived  in  Washing- 
ton township  until  1866,  when  he  and  his  family 
moved  with  his  parents  out  to  Elkhart  county,  Ind. 
There  Mr.  Strawser  followed  his  trade  of  carpen- 
ter and  joiner  for  about  five  years.  From  1872 
to  1ST5  he  was  the  baggage-master  at  the  Lake 
Shore  depot  in  Bristol.  He  then  moved  upon 
a  farm  of  185  acres,  which  he  cultivated  for  four- 
teen years,  a1  the  end  of  that  time  selling  the  land 
and  stock  ami  moving  into  Bristol,  where  he  took 
up  painting.  He  followed  that  trade  until  ]S!»:>. 
when  he  became  salesman  for  the  Deering  harvest- 
ing machines,  and  also  obtained  the  district  agency 
for  the  Perkins  windmills.  In  this  line  of  busi- 
ness he  continued  until  1899,  when  he  traded  his 
house  and  lot  in  Bristol  for  a  fruit  tract  of  three 
acres,  near  the  town  of  Bristol,  to  which  he  re- 
moved. He  followed  trucking,  carried  the  United 
Slates  mail  from  Bristol  to  Saylor,  via  Union, 
for  two  years.  While  selling  machines  and  fol- 
lowing the  painter's  trade  he  had  carried  the  even- 
ing mail  from  the  depot  at  Bristol  to  the  postoffice 
for  sixteen  years.  In  the  fall  of  1909  Mr.  Straw- 
ser sold  his  fruit  farm  because  of  the  death  of  his 
wife  and  retired  to  Bristol,  where  he  now  lives. 
In  191H  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  for  a  visit  to 
the  home  of  his  boyhood,  where  he  attended  the 
common  schools  and  mingled  with  the  youth  of 
his  neighborhood,  most  of  whom  have  since  passed 
away.  He  is  related  to  the  Shotzhergers,  Stahls, 
and  other  families  of  Chapman  and  \Vashington 
townships,  Snyder  county.  During  the  Civil  war 
Mr.  Strawser  enlisted  for  nine  months  in  Com- 
pany I,  172d  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  he  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Mr.  Strawser  was  married  Oct.  18.  1863,  at  Sel- 
insgrove.  Pa.,  to  Sallie  Steffen,  daughter  of  George 
and  Polly  (Shaffer)  Steffen,  of  Washington  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Strawser  died  Oct.  5,  1909,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years,  six  months,  twenty-eight  days.  She 
is  buried  at  Zion  Church,  Bristol.  Ind.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Strawser  had  six  children,  as  follows:  Ethan 
Allen,  who  is  a  resident  of  Elkhart,  Ind.:  Sadie 
C,  who  married  Guy  Bardo  (they  are  farming 
people  near  Bristol,  Ind.)  :  Lydia  M.,  who  lives 
with  her  fattier  and  keeps  house  for  him:  Frank- 
lin V..  of  Jackson.  Mich. :  George  W.,  of  Bristol, 
Ind.:  and  Cassias  W..  of  Bristol. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  MARTZ.  proprietor 
of  the  Shamokin  Sanitary  Milk  Company,  of  Sha- 
mokin,  Northumberland  county,  was  born  there 
March  ?  I.  1860,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  German 
extraction  which  has  been  settled  in  the  county 
for  several  generations  and  has  always  been  rep- 
n  si  nted  there  by  substantial  citizens,  esteemed  for 


their  worth  to  the  community  and  a  credit  to  the 
name  they  bear. 

Benjamin  Martz,  the  great-grandfather  of  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  Martz.  was  a  farmer,  and  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  Northumberland  comity.  Here 
he  died,  while  living  with  ins  daughter,  Mrs. 
Michael  Kostetter,  in  Coal  township,  and  he  is 
buried  at  the  Blue  church.  His  children  were: 
Benjamin,  Mrs.  Michael  Kostetter,  John  (who 
died  in  Jefferson  county,  Pa.i.  Mrs.  George  Fet- 
ter and  Mrs.  Maurer. 

Benjamin  Martz,  grandfather  of  Benjamin 
Franklin  Martz.  was  born  in  Northumberland 
county  in  1799,  and  died  Oct.  11,  1881,  at  the  age 
ighty-five  years,  five  months,  twenty-one  days. 
He  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church.  He  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation,  and  lived  for  a  time  in  the 
Mahantango  Valley,  thence  coming  to  Coal  town- 
ship, where  he  settled  near  Shamokin.  being  one 
of  the  pioneers  in  this  region.  He  followed  team- 
ing as  well  as  farming.  During  his  last  few  years 
he  lived  among  his  children.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Arnold,  died  in  Coal  township 
at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years,  the  mother  of  a 
'.Hi,''  family,  viz.:  Sarah  married  John  Eyrich; 
Elizabeth  married  Adam  Adams:  Fiaetta  married 
Jacob  Smink :  Matilda  married  (first)  George 
Pensy]  and  (second)  Dan  Thomas :  Annie  married 
Eli  Bressler;  Caroline  married  William  Weary; 
Daniel  died  in  Shamokin :  Samuel  died  in  Shamo- 
kin :  John  is  mentioned  below;  Charles  died  in  Sha- 
mokin :  Jacob  died  in  Shamokin,  having  been 
killed  in  the  mines;  Benjamin  died  young. 

John  Martz,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  Sept. 
12,  1840,  in  Coal  township,  near  what  is  now 
Glenside  Park.  When  only  a  boy  he  commenced 
work  in  the  mines,  where  he  was  employed 
lor  about  twenty-three  years,  and  upon  giving 
up  that  occupation  went  into  the  milk  business, 
which  he  followd  for  twelve  years.  He  made 
a  success  of  this  venture,  keeping  twenty-seven 
cows,  but  after  his  wife  died  he  sold  it  out  and 
was  engaged  in  hauling  in  this  district,  continuing 
at  this  work  about  two  years.  He  then  built  a 
bakery  and  did  a  bakery  business  for  about  one 
year,  after  which  he  was  again  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time.  He  has  since  done  day's 
work.  Mr.  Martz  resides  at  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Pine  streets,  in  Shamokin,  of  which  borough 
lie  i<  an  old  resident,  one  of  the  oldest  now  liv- 
ing,  and  he  has  many  interesting  recollections 
of  n-  early  days. 

On  June  5,  1859,  Mr.  Martz  married  Eliza 
Weary,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Diehl) 
Weary,  and  her  death  occurred  Feb.  8,  1890,  when 
she  was  forty-nine  years,  eleven  months,  twenty- 
one  days  old.  She  is  buried  in  Shamokin  cem- 
etery. On  Dec.  18.  1892,  Mr.  Martz  married 
(second)    Fiaetta    (Maurer)   Kembel,  daughter  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


053 


David  Maurer  and  widow  of  Emanuel  Kembel. 
who  served  in  the  Civil  war.  His  children  are  all 
by  the  first  union,  viz.:  Benjamin  Franklin,  born 
March  24,  I860;  George  L.,  born  Feb.  3,  1862, 
who  is  fire  boss  in  the  mines  at  Shamokin;  Calvin 
E.,  born  Aug.  19,  1867,  who  is  a  teamster  in  Sham- 
okin; and  John  II.,  born  Sept.  20,  1872,  who 
died  Aug.  27,  1904.  The  father  was  formerlj  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Martz  received  his  education 
in  the  local  public  schools,  which  he  only  attended, 
however,  until  he  was  nine  years  old.  At  that  ten- 
der age  lie  began  picking  slate  at  the  Luke  Fidler 
colliery,  and  he  continued  to  follow  mining  until 
October.  18SS.  when  he  engaged  in  teaming,  haul- 
ing timber  for  some  time  for  Hon.  M.  H.  Kulp. 
He  commenced  the  milk  business  in  1898  in  a  very 
small  way,  having  at  first  one  twenty-quart  can, 
but  his  customers  gradually  increased  until  he 
found  himself  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous businesses  of  the  kind  in  Shamokin.  He 
first  put  up  a  small  frame  building  at  the  location 
he  still  occupies,  corner  of  Third  and  Arch  streets, 
built  an  addition  as  the  growing  business  required, 
and  in  1907  erected  his  present  fine  building,  25 
by  78  feet  in  dimensions,  which  is  modern  in  con- 
struction and  equipment  ami  model  in  every  detail. 
He  has  established  a  thriving  wholesale  and  retail 
trade  in  pasteurized  bottled  milk  and  cream,  run- 
ning seven  teams  and  disposing  of  about  1,500 
quarts  daily.  His  prosperity  is  well  deserved,  be- 
ing the  reward  of  honest  dealing  and  industry.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Merchants'  Association  of 
Shamokin.  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  and 
original  directors  of  (he  new  Dime  Trust  &  Safe 
Deposit  Company  of  Shamokin,  which  was  opened 
April  1.  1911. 

Mr.  Martz  married  Clara  lleim.  daughter  of 
Harrison  Heini,  of  Shamokin,  and  they  have  had 
three  children.  William  E..  Caroline  Elizabeth 
and  Charles  F.  The  family  reside  at  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Arch  streets,  where  Mr.  Martz  erect- 
ed his  comfortable  residence  in  1909.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and,  socially,  of 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

JOHN  P.  LANDAU,  of  Sunbury,  is  a  native 
and  lifelong  resident  of  that  borough,  where  lie  is 
engaged  in  business  as  a  contracting  bricklayer. 
There  are  many  substantial  evidences  of  his  work 
in  and  a  round  that  place. 

Mr.  Landau's  father,  John  Landau,  was  horn 
in  1812  in  Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.;  and  came  to 
Northumberland  county  when  a  young  man. 
Settling  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  he  did  farm 
work  and  learned  bricklaying,  which  trade  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  death.  He  came  to  Sunbury  before 
his  marriage  and  here  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  dying  in  the  borough  Sept.  5,  1861,  at  the 
age  of  forty-nine  years.     His  wife  was  Elizabeth 


Bower,  daughter  of  George  Bower,  who  came  from 
Lewisburg,  Pa.  Mrs.  Landau  survived  her  hus- 
band  a  number  of  years,  dying  in  Sunbury  in 
1893,  at  the  home  of  her  son  John  P.  Landau, 
when  seventy-three  years  old.  They  are  buried  in 
the  old  cemetery.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely  :  Rebecca  married  Abraham  Brosi- 
us,  who  died  in  Sunbury;  Henry  died  young;  John 
I',  is  mentioned  below;  William  died  young;  Sus- 
anna married  John  Fox  and  (second)  Joseph 
Hale;  Jeremiah  lives  in  Shamokin  and  is  engaged 
as  a  miner;  George  is  also  a  miner  living  at  Sham- 
okin  ;  Edward,  who  was  a  bricklayer  by  trade,  died 
in  Sunbury.  Mr.  Landau  and  his  family  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  which  he 
served  many  years  as  deacon.  He  was  a  Republi- 
can in  political  matters. 

John  P.  Landau  was  born  Dec.  4,  1842,  in  Sun- 
biiry,  and  received  his  education  in  the  local 
schools.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  trade  of  bricklayer,  which  he  has 
followed  ever  since,  with  the  most  gratifying  suc- 
cess. Since  issn  he  has  been  engaged  as  a  con- 
tractor, and  he  employs  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
men.  as  the  needs  of  the  business  demand.  Mr.  Lan- 
dau has  always  made  his  home  in  Sunbury,  and 
most  of  his  work  has  been  done  there,  though  he 
has  done  considerable  work  elsewhere.  The  brick- 
laying on  a  number  of  the  most  substantial  struc- 
tures in  Sunbury  has  I n  done  by  him,  and  the 

quality   of   his   work   is   its   best  recommendation. 


lie  had   contracts 


'Neff  House,"  "Central 


Hotel,"  W.  L.  Dewart  block,  Presbyterian  Church, 
St.  Matthew's  Methodist  Church,  the  big  store  next 
to  the  "Central  Hotel"  at  the  corner  of  Third 
and  Market  streets,  the  "Packer  House,"  the 
"Moore  &  Snyder  House,"  the  Yarnell  furniture 
store,  Fisher"-  jewelry  store,  the  Zettlemoyer  build- 
ing, the  Episcopal  Church,  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
i he  Third  ward,  the  Reformed  Church  (when  it 
was  remodeled),  the  S.  P.  Wolverton  office  build- 
ing. Kurtz  &  Myer's  wholesale  grocery  building  on 
Chestnut  street.  No.  1  Fire  Engine  house; 
and  he  has  built  a  number  of  houses  for 
J.  Fred  Shaffer,  Esq.,  the  "Clement  House," 
the  Methodist  Chapel  on  Catawissa  avenue,- 
etc.  All  of  this  construction  work  is  with- 
in the  limits  of  Sunbury,  and  shows  that  he  has 
had  more  than  a  representative  share  of  work  in 
his  line  in  the  locality.  He  has  not  only  been  an 
active  business  man.  but  has  also  taken  some  part 
in  municipal  affairs,  having  served  one  year  as  con- 
stable of  the  Third  ward  and  two  years  as  member 
of  the  council.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  during  the  Civil  war  he 
served  in  Company  C,  174th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  for  one  year;  he  was  on  duty 
in  Virginia.  When  Lodge  No.  620,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of 
Sunbury,  was  organized  in  1867  he  became  a 
charter   member   and   has   belonged   to   that  body 


654 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


since.      He  and   his   family  are   members  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Landau  married  Harriet  L.  Kelly,  daughter 
Samuel  Kelly,  who  lived  in  Upper  Augusta 
township  and  they  reside  at  No.  lis  Catawissa 
avenue.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Harry  is  now  superintendent  of  the  water  company 
a1  Siinbury;  Elizabeth  married  William  Glessner, 
of  Sunbury;  Jennie  is  the  wile  of  J.  Hummel 
Slear,  a  salesman,  of  Sunbury;  Daisy  died  in  in- 
fancy; Clarence  (who  died  in  infancy)  and  Annie 
(who  died  when  six  years  0ld)  were  twins. 

REV.  JOHN"  RoAX  was  horn  in  Greenshaw, 
Ireland.  April  30,  Ki;  (Old  Style).  He  began 
study  of  the  languages  Sept.  25,  1729.  He  Left 
Ireland  July  ti.  1739,  and  landed  in  America  Sept. 
3rd,  following;  was  licensed  to  preach  June  '.',. 
1744;  embraced  the  call  from  Paxton,  Kerry  and 
Donegal.  May  Hi.  1745;  was  ordained  Aug.  Hi. 
1745.  He  married  Aug.  ".'1.  Don.  Hi-  wife,  Mrs. 
'Anne  (Cochran)  Roan,  was  born  March  25,  1724, 
and  was  married  before.  Oct.  31,  1745,  to  Mr. 
Leckey,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter  named  Mar- 
garet, born  Aug.  11.  Kir,,  who  married  David 
McClure  .June  20,  1765  (their  offspring  was  a  son 
named  Richard  i.  The  issue  oi  John  Roan  and 
Anne  his  vvife  were:  Isabella,  born  July  8,  1751, 
died  Nov.  27,  1758;  .lane,  born  May  3,  L753  I  V 
Style),  was  married  to  William  Clingan  June  11. 
1778;  Anne,  horn  April  7,  1757,  died  Sept.  10th 
following;  Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  11.  1758,  married 
William  Clark.  June  19,  17s;.  and  died  Jan. 
21,  1823  :  Flavel.  born  July  31,  1760,  at  half  aftei 
one  o'clock  p.  m..  died  February  19,  1S17  ;  Mary, 
born  March  26,  1764,  married  Xathan  Stockman. 
Oct.  lo.  L789. 

Rev.  John  Roan  died  Oct.  .'!.  177.V  about  three 
o'clock  a.  m.,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  four  month-. 
twenty-one  days.  Mr-.  Anne  Roan  died  April  22, 
1789,  aged  sixty-four  years,  twenty-eight  days. 
following  inscription  is  on  his  tombstone  in 
Derry  graveyard,  in  Dauphin  county: 

Beneath   this   stone. 
\rt    deposited  the  remains 
of  an  able  faithful. 
Courageous   and   successful 

minister  of  Jesus   Christ. 
The   Reverend  John  Roan. 
Pastor  of  Paxton  Derry  and  Mountjoy 
Congregation-. 
From  the  vear  174."). 
Till   Oct.  3rd.   177.=.. 
When  he  exchanged  a  militant  for 
a  Triumphant  life,  in  the  59th  year 
of  his  age. 

Written  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Anne  Roan.  Upper 

Chester  county.   April    25,    1789.      "On 

lay.   the   22nd    of  the   month,   departed    this 

)  the  sixty-fifth  vear  of  her  age,  Mrs.  Anne 

Roan,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  John  Roan,  and  on 


the  Thursday  following  her  remains,  attended  by 
a  numerous  concourse  of  relatives,  friend-  and 
3,  were  interred  in  the  Presbyterian  bury- 
ing ground  of  Uppi  r  Octoraro.  A  sermon  suitable 
to  the  solemn  occasion  was  preached  by  the  Ret 
Robert  Smith,  D.  D..  of  Pequea,  from  1st  Corin- 
thian-, loth  chapter.  55th  verse. 

"This  amiable  person,  without  flattery,  filled  all 
the  various  stations    of     life     which     she    passed 
through  with  dignity  and  reputation  and  adorned 
the  whole  with  that  of  a  sincere  Christian.     During 
a   long  and   tedious   sickness   she   was   remarkably 
patient   and    resigned    to   the   divine  will,   and    as 
death  approached  her  prospects  of  a  glorious  im- 
mortality opened  and   -he  i  hanged  a   world  of  sin 
and  suffering  for  the  full  fruition  of  God  in  Christ, 
eternal  life  and  an  immortal  crown  of  glory. 
"Whose   pious   lite    with   social   virtue    shone. 
O'r  death   she  triumphed,  eager  to  be  gone; 
Who  pressed  the  steps  her  mother  first  had  trod: 
Her  life  she  consecrated  to  her  God: 
In  her  the  name  of  Sympathetic   friend, 
The   faithful  wife  and  tender  mother  joined." 

WILLIAM  (HIM. AX  was  horn  in  Donegal 
I  twnship,  Lancaster  Co..  Pa.,  Sept.  28,  L753.  His 
father's  name  was  Thomas  and  his  mother's  Chris- 
tian name  was  Margaret.  Thomas  Clingan  emd 
grated  from  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  He  and  hi- 
wife  Margaret  had  children  as  follows:  William. 
born  Sept.  28,  1753,  married  Jane  Roan;  Mary. 
horn  Sept.  1.  1755,  married  James  Scott;  George, 
born  Jan.  25,  1760,  married;  Jennet,  born  \ 
'.'7.  1  763,  married  James  Simpson. 

William  Clingan  was  married  to  Jane  Roan 
June  II.  L778.  lie  died  May  24,  1822,  and  was 
buried  in  LewisbuiL  \  ;  his  wife,  also  buried 

e,  died  May  9,  1838.  their  issui  :  Margaret, 
born  Oct.  18,  1779,  married  John  Scott  Nov.  15, 
1798  (he  died  Sept,  Is.  L821,  in  the  fifty- 
fifth  year  of  his  age.  in  Montgomery  town- 
ship. Franklin  county:  she  died  Aug.  2, 
L849,  about  one  o'clock,  p.m.);  John,  born 
April  26,  L781,  -:  d  Sept.  15,  1841;  Anne 
i'..  horn  Jan.  '.'.:.  1783,  married  Joseph  Lawson, 
March  19,  ISC';  Thomas  horn  May  19,  1785, 
married  Mar-aid  Lewis,  Jan.  5,  1813;  Elizaheth, 
born  Jan.  13,  1787,  married  Thomas  Barber, 
Man  36.  L812;  George,  born  Oct.  26,  1788,  mar- 
ried Eliza  Scott  i),  t.  7.  1817;  Flavel.  born  March 
18,  1795,  married  Mary  Ann  s,ott.  May  25,  1819. 

Of  these  Joseph  Lawson  (died  Feb.  -.'4.  1843. 
sixty-five)  and  Anne  R..  his  wife,  had 
children:  Jane  Roan,  horn  Dec.  19,  1813,  mar- 
ried Paschal  L.  Wright,  Oct.  is.  1836;  Margaret 
Strawbridge,  born  Oct.  7.  1815,  married  Dr.  Jacob 
pier  Dee.  6,  1864;  William,  born  Dec.  3,  1817. 
married  Hannah  Sanderson  Oct.  l'J.  1S43  (she 
died  April  29,  1854):  John,  horn  Nov.  3n.  1819, 
married  Elizabeth  Finney  Jan.  15,  1845;  Elizabeth 
was  born    Feb.    17.    1822;   James,   horn    Nov.   14. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


655 


1823,   married  Jane    R.   Clingan   April   27,   1852, 
and  married  (second)  .lane  Kinney  Feb.  14,  1884. 

Thomas  Clingan  died  April  24,  1858,  aged  sev- 
enty-three years,  and  Margaret,  his  widow,  died 
Dec.  31,  L861,  aged  seventy-one  years.  They  had 
children:  Elizabeth  Boude,  born  June  is,  is]  1. 
married  Samuel  Harris  Laird  Nov.  15,  1836;  Wil- 
liam, bora  March  22,  ism.  married  Mary  E.  Dean 
June  1'.'.  1856;  Jane  Roan,  horn  March  8,  1818, 
married  James  Lawson  April  27,  L852  (she  died 
April  8,  1882);  Man  Lewis  was  horn  March 
19,  1820;  Adelia  Lewis,  born  May  '.'1.  is-.'?,  mar- 
ried John  Steritl  Nov.  is,  L868;  Sarah  Ann. 
born  I'rc.  31,  1824,  married  William  1'.  Dougal, 
Jan.  •.'.  Is  I1.',  an. I  did  April  17,  1862,  leaving  a 
daughter  a  week  old:  1'aschal  L.,  horn  Fch.  0. 
1830,   married    Maria   S.  Zuber,    Feb.   28,  1868. 

Thomas  Barber  (died  April  II.  1856,  aged  sev- 
enty-one years,  one  month,  twenty-three  days)  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife  had  children:  Sarah,  horn 
March  6,  1815,  married  John  A.  Vanvalza  Del. 
9,  lsi  I  (he  died  Aug.  26,  1854  |  :  Jane  Roan,  horn 
May  17,  1817,  married  Laird  Howard.  Fch.  2, 
1836;  Robert,  born  June  30,  1819,  married  Mar 
iha  Ellen  Young,  Jan.  is.  1844;  Margaret,  horn 
March  is.  1821,  married  John  Wilson  Oct.  2, 
L865;  William,  horn  Juh  31,  1823,  married 
Mary  Foster,  Nov.  11.  1847  :  Flavel  ('..  horn  Jan. 
30,  183.0,  married. 

George  Clingan  and  Eliza,  Ins  wife,  had  chil- 
dren :  William,  horn  in  August,  1818;  Mary,  horn 
( Ictober,  1820  (did  Sept.  12,  ls?f  |  ;  Jane,  horn 
September,  is-.'?  (died  Sept.  I.  1824) ;  Mary  Jane, 
born  Jan.  15,  L825;  Martha  Ann.  horn  Oct.  I. 
1828;  Margaretta,  horn  October,  1830  (did  Jan. 
13,  is:;i  |  :  Elizabeth,  born  December,  1832  (died 
Sept.  1.  L843) ;  Clarissa,  born  November,  is:;  i 
(married  Scotl  Clingan  Jan.  2,  1870)  :  Flavel. 
born  August,  Is:;;  (died  Sept.  10.  1843)  :  Alex- 
ander Scott,  horn  October,  L839  (died  Aug.  23, 
1843). 

Flavel  Clingan  and  Man  Ann.  his  wife,  had 
children:  Alexander  S..  horn  in  August,  1820,  died 
in  September,  1821;  Jane,  born  March  28,  is-.'?, 
married  James  Hayes  Jan.  19,  1S47  :  Mary  Mc- 
Kcan.  horn  March  1.  is?  I.  died  May  1.  1834: 
William,  horn  June  IS.  1826,  married  Elizabeth 
Finney  May  10,  1864;  Scott,  hom  Dec.  1?.  1828, 
married  Ciarissa  Clingan  Jan.  ?.  1870:  Thomas. 
born  Fch.  0.  1831,  married  Mary  Fmil\  Sedam 
March  25,  1856;  George  was  horn  in  March.  1833; 
Flavel  Roan,  horn  Juh  26,  is:;:.,  did  April  21, 
1859;  Ann  Mary,  horn  in  July,  1838,  married 
James  Finney  Nov.  30,  1865;  Martha,  born  Nov. 
I.   IS  PI.  Jid'Oet.  5,  1841. 

Elizabeth  Roan  married  William  Clark  June  19, 
lis;.     Their  children:   Roan,  horn  June  9,  1788, 

married   Dehaven    in   July.    1824:    Sarah 

was   horn   Nov.   1!),   1789;   William,  born   May   5, 
1791,    married    Hannah    Brewster   in    September, 


1824  (he  died  in  1836);  Flavel  was  horn  Fch.  9, 
1793;  Peggy,  horn  Nov.  is.  1794,  did  Sept.  1. 
1795;  Walter,  horn  Jan.  27,  1797,  married  Esther 
Hill  Aug.  •"..  1819  (he  did  in  is:',:,)  ;  James,  horn 
Sept.  IS.  1799,  married  Jane  Swenev  Aug.  13, 
is?  I  (she  died  leaving  a  daughter  named  Mar- 
garet), and  married  (second)  Sarah  Crawford 
Sept.  13,  1836. 

Mary  Roan  married  Nathan  Stockman  Oct.  10, 
1789,  ami  died  Jan.  I.  is  10.  about  ten  o'clock  a. 
m..  at  Sharpsville.  Their  children:  James,  horn 
in  November,  1790,  married  Martha  Dryden; 
Anne,  horn  Jan.  28,  1793,  married  Mark  Clark- 
March  24,  1S1?:  John,  horn  Nov.  4.  1795,  married 
Hannah  Dryden  July  I.  1820;  Isabella,  horn  Sepl 
?.  1797,  married  James  Sharp  in  September,  is??: 
Joseph  Gardner,  horn  .Inly  ?,  isoo.  died  at  New- 
Orleans  in  is;;:.;  Samuel  Mai-lay  was  horn  Jan. 
20,  loo?;  Laird  Harris,  horn  Dee.  7,  1804,  died 
Ma\  ?.  1905;  Jane  Harris,  horn  April  ."..  1'805, 
married  Mr.  Baltzhoover  in   is?  1. 

WILLIAM  F.  GROW,  of  Shamokin,  is  well 
known  in  that  town  both  in  a  business  way  and 
as  assessor  of  the  Fourth  ward,  which  position  he 
has  held  since  loo?.  He  lias  been  engaged  as  a 
barber  at  No.  Ill  South  Market  street  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Grow  was  horn  in  Jackson  township.  North- 
umberland county,  Oct.  is.  1867,  son  of  John 
Grow,  ami  grandson  of  Daniel  Grow.  The  grand- 
father lived  ami  died  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
i  In-  county,  where  he  is  buried.  FTe  was  engaged 
in  the  crockery  business  at  Swabian  Creek  ami  was 
well  known  in  liis  day. 

John  Grow,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  reared.  He  was 
I'm-  many  years  engaged  on  construction  and  re- 
pair work  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  being  em- 
ployed on  the  building  of  the  road  between  Sun- 
bury  and  Harrisourg  by  Richard  Malone,  who  was 
the  contractor,  and  he  was  subsequently  employed 
\,\  i he  Pennsylvania  Company  on  repair  work  for 
a'  period  of  twenty-five  years.  He  then  came  to 
Shamokin.  where  he  was  employed  by  Andrew 
Robinson,  at  the  mines,  until  his  death.  His  in- 
dustry and  upright  life  won  him  general  respect. 
and  lie  was  elected  supervisor  of  Coal  township. 
serving  one  year  in  that  office.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics. 

John  Grow  married  Elizabeth  Shemorry,  of 
Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and  to  them  were  horn  the 
following  named  children:  Daniel.  Sarah  J.. 
Mary  A.,  William  F..  Charles  E.  (who  was  killed 
m  the  mines).  Samuel,  George,  ami  Louisa  (who 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years). 

William  F.  Grow  attended  school  in  Jackson 
township.  His  first  work  was  upon  the  farm,  hut 
like  many  in  the  region  he  soon  found  employ- 
ment at  the  mine-,  beginning  a-  slate  picker  at  the 


G5G 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Excelsior  Colliery  when  be  was  fourteen  years 
old.  However,  he  did  not  continue  at  this  line  of 
work  for  long,  only  one  year  in  fact  after  he  be- 
came a  regular  miner.  In  1887  he  took  up  the 
barber"?  trade,  which  he  has  followed  ever  since. 
For  many  years  he  has  had  his  own  place  of  busi- 
ness, being  located  at  No.  Ill  South  Marker 
street,  where  he  also  lives.  His  place  has  a  reli- 
able and  profitable  patronage,  being  known  for  ex- 
cellent service  and   unusually  good   management. 

Mr.  Gtow  was  appointed  assessor  in  1902,  to  fill 
the  unexpired  term  of  Charles  A.  Zerbe,  who  had 
died  while  in  office,  ami  he  was  regularly  elected 
in  1901,  since  when  he  has  continued  in  the  posi- 
tion by  reelection,  in  190?  and  1910.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Grow  holds  membership  in  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

ilr.  Grow  married  Emma  Dinger,  daughter  of 
John  Dinger,  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Lewis  E.,  who  is  at  present  a  high  school 
student. 

THOMAS  H.  LIPPIATT,  who  has  long  been 
in  the  front  rank  of  the  progressive  and  success- 
ful business  men  of  Shamokin,  where  he  is  at  pres- 
ent engaged  as  a  dealer  in  furniture  and  carpets, 
is  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England,  born  Jan. 
■'!.  1853,  son  of  Henry  and  Ann  (Hodges)  Lip- 
piatt. 

Henry  Lippiatt  was  a  miner  in  England,  where 
his  entire  life  was  passed.  He  married  Ann  Hod- 
ges, who  after  her  husband's  death  brought  her 
three  children  to  America,  landing  at  Xew  York 
City  in  May,  1861.  They  first  located  at  Locust 
Gap,  Pa.,  but  in  1S65  came  to  Shamokin.  Mrs. 
Lippiatt,  the  mother,  is  still  living,  now  (1911)  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  son  Thomas  H.  Her  children  were: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Swift,  and  died  in 
Shamokin  in  1908,  the  mother  of  Sarah,  John, 
Joli.  William,  Jennie,  May  and  David :  James. 
chief  of  police  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.:  and  Thomas  H. 

Thomas  H.  Lippiatt  accompanied  his  mother  to 
America  and  to  Shamokin,  and  here  attended  the 
public  schools.  His  first  work  was  in  the  mines, 
where  he  continued  to  work  for  seventeen  years. 
In  1881  he  began  the  manufacture  of  picture 
frames,  and  later  he  took  up  photography  in  con- 
nection with  his  frame  business.  His  studio  was 
located  on  Independence  street,  where  he  had  a 
most  attractive  art  room,  as  well  as  the  leading 
place  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the  State.  In 
1892  he  built  a  fine  four-story  building,  and  bought 
out  the  furniture  business  of  ex-County  Treasurer 
Malcolm  Farrow  in  February,  1891.  At  this  time 
he  gave  up  the  photographic  part  of  his  business, 
and  by  devoting  his  whole  time  and  energy  to  the 
one  line  has  made  a  great  success  of  it.     He  is  a 


man  of  good  executive  ability,  and  his  prompt  and 
pleasing  method  of  dealing  with  his  patrons,  who 
have  learned  to  have  implicit  confidence  in  him, 
has  won  him  a  leading  place  in  commercial  circles. 

In  1875  Mr.  Lippiatt  married  Clara  Zimmer- 
man, daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Fasold)  Zim- 
merman, of  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  as  follows :  Alice  C.  married  Samuel 
Harris,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  two  sons,  Clar- 
ence and  Paul  Eugene:  Eva  E.,  who  was  a  trained 
nurse  for  ten  years,  is  now  the  wife  of  M.  G.  Gon- 
nerman,  of  Shamokin.  and  has  one  son,  Frederick 
L. :  George  died  aged  nine  years:  Charles  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  T.  H.  Lippiatt  &  Sons,  hav- 
ing been  admitted  as  a  partner  in  the  fall  of  1908; 
Elizabeth  married  Joseph  Jones  and  has  one- 
daughter.  Gertrude  Elizabeth:  John  Stanley  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  T.  H.  Lippiatt  & 
Suns  in  the  fall  of  1908;  Fay  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Lippiatt  lias  taken  a  very  prominent  part 
in  church  and  Sunday  school  work,  has  held  all 
the  offices  in  the  Lincoln  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  has  served  as  general  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school,  a  position  which 
he  -till  continues  to  occupy.  Since  1900 
he  lias  been  president  of  the  Northumberland 
Sunday  School  Association.  At  the  time  the  new 
church  was  built  he  was  appointed  collector,  and 
in  five  years'  time  had  raised  $25,000.    The  church 

-  built  in  1883,  and  Mr.  Lippiatt  was  a  member 
of  the  building  committee.  He  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Shamokin  Business  Men's  Association, 
and  was  elected  its  president  in  1909.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  Xo.  125,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  In  many  ways  he  has 
proved  himself  a  very  useful  citizen,  as  well  as  a 
very  genial  companion,  and  he  is  highly  respected 
as  a  man  and  esteemed  as  a  friend. 

LEWIS  LEVAN  HUXTZIXGER  has  been  sta- 
tioned at  Sunbuiy  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railway  Company  since  1899  and  now  holds 
the  responsible  position  of  train  dispatcher  at  that 
point.  He  has  been  in  the  railroad  service  from 
youth  and  with  the  Pennsylvania  Company  since 
Xov.  7,  1891.  and  has  proved  able  and  efficient 
in  the  performance  of  the  various  duties  which 
have  been  intrusted  to  him.  Mr.  Huntzinger  is 
a  native  of  Shamokin.  Northumberland  county, 
born  March  17,  1876,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
fifth  generation  of  bis  branch  of  the  family  in 
America,  being  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  George 
Huntzinger. 

John  George  Huntzinger  came  to  this  country 
from  Germany  in  17  L9  as  a  passenger  on  the  ship 
"Jacob,"  from  Amsterdam,  which  qualified  Oct.  2, 
1749.  He  became  a  taxpayer  of  what  is  now 
Brunswick  township.  Schuylkill  (then  Berks)  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  farmer  and  died  in 


■% 


£ 


$ 


■< 


THE  N£W  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIRRART 


ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS 

Ml    II       II  ~i— — 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


657 


L802.  Hi-  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  six 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Jacob,  George,  John, 
Henry,  Michael.  Daniel,  Rosina,  Molly  and  Cath- 
arine. 

Jacob  Huntzinger,  son  of  John  George,  lived 
;ii  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was 
a  leading  merchant,  and  he  died  there  during 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  He  also  owned  farm  lands,  and  was 
a  wealthy  man  for  his  day.  He  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Holler,  were  both  six 
feet  in  height.  They  had  a  large  family,  viz.: 
Samuel,  who  died  ai  Pottsville;  Jacob,  who  died 
at  Pottsville:  Edward,  who  died  at  Schuylkill 
Haven;  Frank,  who  died  at  Fairfield.  Iowa;  Wil- 
liam, who  died  ai  Schuylkill  Haven;  Charles,  who 
died  at  Philadelphia;  Mrs.  Stephen  Balliet;  Mrs. 
John  Schoener;  and  George  L.,  who  died  in  Cuba. 

Charles  Huntzinger,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bor 

1880  and  died  dan.  27,  1902,  at  Philadelphia, 
whither  he  removed  in  1864.  He  was  engaged 
in  business  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  having  a  large 
mercantile  establishment  there  while  the  canal  was 
at  the  heighl  of  its  popularity,  and  also  had  farms 
and  a  boat  yard,  being  a  thrifty,  energetic  and 
prosperous  man.  He  married  Amanda  Kitchen. 
daughter  of  William  Kitchen,  at  one  time  sheriff 
of  Montour  county,  Pa.,  and  she  survived  him. 
dying  at  Philadelphia  Feb.  28,  L903,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-one  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eighi  children,  as  follows:  Emma  married  Harry 
Rothermel;  Sue  married  George  Wells,  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  \\'<  Moines.  Iowa:  William  ('.  is 
mentioned  below;  Albert  died  in  Philadelphia; 
Ida  married  Robert  Clark,  of  New  York  City; 
Addie  (deceased)   married  William  Folger;  Nellie 

married  William  Hedley,  of  Philadelphia;  G ge 

died  young,  in  Philadelphia. 

William  C.  Huntzinger,  son  of  Charles,  was 
horn  Feh.  6,  1847,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuyl- 
kill Co..  Pa.,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  place  and  at  the  Danville 
Business  Academy.  He  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper by  Douty,  Reed  &  Cable,  miners,  and  later 
took  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  Heim  &  Good- 
will, of  Shamokin,  remaining  with  them  for  six 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Adams  Express  Company,  with 
which  his  services  cover  a  period  id'  forty  years. 
He  still  holds  a  position  with  that  companv.  and 
is  ,.ne  of  the  most  respected  citizens  id'  Shamo- 
kin, where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home.  He  is 
well  known  there  in  various  connections,  being 
a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  Mo.  255,  P.  &  A. 
M..  of  which  he  is  a  past  master;  a  member  of 
the  Temple  Club  of  Shamokin:  a  past  noble  grand 
of  Mount  Tabor  Lodge,  No.  125,  I.  0.  0.  F. : 
and  a  pasl  chief  patriarch  of  Susquehanna  En- 
campment, I.  0.  <>.  F.  He  was  at  one  time  cap- 
tain   of   a    military    company   at    Mount    Carmel, 

42 


this  county,  and  during  the  Civil  war  enlisted 
lor  service  m  the  navy,  Sept.  2,  1st;:;,  being  as- 
signed to  the  "Iroquois,"  under  Capt.  C.  R.  P. 
Rogers.  At  the  time  of  President  Lincoln's  as- 
sassination he  was  on  the  island  of  Java.  He 
had  many  and  varied  experiences  while  in  the 
navy,  traveling  all  around  the  world,  and  was  dis- 
charged in  1867. 

•hi  Oct.  30,  1870,  Mr.  Huntzinger  married 
Catharine  Louise  Hoover,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Margaret  (Keefer)  Hoover,  and  eight  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union:  Frederick  Charles 
and  Lewis  Levan  of  Sunhun  ;  Annie,  wife  of 
James  Schlegel,  of  Shamokin.  Pa.;  Arthur  1!..  of 
Sayre,  Bradford  Co..  Pa.:  Margaret,  wife  of  Ar- 
thur Hudson,  of  Shamokin:  and  three  who  died 
young.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  Oct.  V.'. 
1908,  and  is  buried  at  Shamokin. 

Lewis  Levan  Huntzinger  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Shamokin  and  the  district  schools  of 
Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county,  graduating 
from  the  grammar  school  at  Shamokin  and  from 
the  Shamokin  business  college.  He  was  engaged 
lor  a  year  at  Shamokin  in  the  Koch  bookstore 
a-  clerk  and  circulation  manager,  and  then  look 
a  position  with  the  Adams  Express  Company  at 
Shamokin.  since  which  time  he  ha.-  been  in  the 
railroad  service,  lie  began  as  a  student  of  te- 
legraphy on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad 
at  Excelsior,  Northumberland  county,  serving 
three   months   while   learning,  after   which   lie   was 

engaged  in  the  main  office  at   Sha kin  under  the 

management  of  E.  O.  Markley,  until  placed  as 
extra  operator  between  Tamaqua  and  Newberry 
Junction.  He  resigned  in  1894  to  enter  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Pennsylvania  Company,  as  night  opera- 
tor at  Shamokin.  and  after  only  a  week's  service 
in  that  capacity  was  made  day  operator  at  Weigh 
Scales,  tin-  county,  continuing  for  four  ami  a  half 
years  under  W.  W.  Evert,  weigh  master.  In  1899 
he  was  transferred  to  Sunbury  as  extra  operator, 
was  made'  regular  operator  here  Feb.  1.  1901,  and 
Dec  20,  190.2,  became  assistant  to  the  train  dis- 
patcher. He  was  himself  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  train  dispatcher  May  15,  1905.  Mr. 
Huntzinger  was  sent  by  the  company  to  Shenan- 
doah Aug.  (>.  1905,  to  handle  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  trains  over  the  Pennsylvania  tracks 
caused  by  Mahanoy  Plane  breaking  down,  a  trust 
which  he  discharged  most  ably  and  satisfactorily. 
He  returned  to  Sunbury  Sept.  IT.  1905. 

Since  lie  has  made  his  home  in  Sunbury  Mr. 
Huntzinger  has  taken  part  in  it>  public  adminis- 
tration as  a  member  of  the  school  hoard  from  the 
Eighth  ward,  in  which  position  he  has  served  con- 
tinuously since  1906.  He  has  been  chairman  of 
the  financial  committee  of  the  hoard  ever  since 
Incoming  a  member  of  that  body,  of  which  he  was 
treasurer  in  1909.  Two  buildings  have  been 
erected    during    his    incumbency,    the    Lloyd     T. 


658 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Rohrbaeh  and  Frarfcis  E.  Drumheller,  M.  I),  school 
buildings,  Mr.  Huntzinger  has  been  very  active 
in  the  Republican  organization,  was  committee- 
man of  the  Eighth  ward  two  terms  and  was  made 
chairman  of  the  Republican  Club  of  Sunbury  or- 
ganized in  1904.  Socially  he  is  a  well  known 
Mason,  holding  membership  in  Lodge  No.  '.''.'.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury  (having  demitted  from  Sha- 
mokin  Lodge  Nq.  255),  of  which  he  is  the  pres- 
ent master,  in  Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174, 
U.  A.  M.,  and  Mount  Bermon  Commandery,  No. 
85,  K.  T.,  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Temple 
Club. 

On  Feb.  28,  L894,  Mr.  Huntzinger  married 
Mary  Rebecca  Kramer,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Sarah  (Ehoads)  Kramer,  of  Excelsior,  Pa.,  and 
they  have  bad  two  children,  Sarah  Catharine  and 
William  Joseph,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  family  are  members  of  the  Zion  Luth- 
eran Church. 

Frederick  Charles  Huntzinger,  brother  of 
Lewis  Levan,   was  born    in   Mount   Carmel,  Aug. 

20,  1874.  lie  was  educated  in  Shamokin  sehools, 
graduating  from  the  Shamokin  high  school  in 
May,  1889.  lie  began  as  a  clerk  in  a  book  and 
stationer}  store  in  Shamokin  for  B.  A.  Koch  and 
remained  here  fur  about  two  years,  and  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  driver  for  the  Adams  Express 
Company.  He  then  came  to  Sunbury  a-  messen- 
ger for  the  same  company,  was  transferred  to  Wil- 
iiamsport,  Pa.,  as  depol  agent,  remaining  here 
three  years,  then  to  Harrisburg  as  receiving  clerk. 
remaining  two  years,  finally  coming  back  to  Sun- 
bury as  agenl  of  that  station  in  1903,  and  he  is 
now  filling  that  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
company. 

Mr.  Huntzinger  married  Emma  G.  Garber, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ellen  (Search)  Gar- 
ber, of  Montandon,  and  they  reside  at  No.  444 
Race  street,  Sunbury.  In  politics  Mr.  Huntzinger 
is  a  Republican.  He  'and  bis  family  worship  at 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.  He  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sun- 
bury. 

WETZEL.  Among  the  early  immigrants  to 
Pennsylvania  were  a  number  of  Wetzels,  some  of 
them  undoubtedly  related.  One  Hans  Martin  Wet- 
zel arrived  on  the  ship  "Brittania"  and  qualified  by 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  at  Philadelphia,  Sept. 

21,  1731.  His  age  then  is  given  as  thirty-one 
vears.  His  wife,  Maria  Barbara  Wetzel,  was  thir- 
ty-three years  old.  On  the  same  ship  were  the  fol- 
lowing, probably  children:  Hans  Martin  Wetzel, 
aged  six  years:  Nicholaus  Wetzel,  aged  four  years: 
Katherina  Wetzel,  aged  three  years.  There  is  also 
the  name  of  Alalia  Barbara  Wetzel,  who  may  have 
been  a  sister  of  the  pioneer  (Pennsylvania  Ar- 
es, pages  29,  34  and  35). 

John  Jacob  Wetzel  came  on  the  ship  "Charm- 


ing Nancy"  of  London,  Charles  Stedman,  master, 
from  Rotterdam,  qualified  Oct.  8,  1737. 

Philip  Wetzel  came  on  the  ship  "Davy."  William 
Patton,  commander,  from  Amsterdam,  qualified 
Oct.  25,  1738. 

I  bins  Martin  Wetzel,  who  came  to  the  New 
World  in  1731,  settled  on  that  territory  now  em- 
ed  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.  Six  years  later  he 
was  followed  l>\  John  Jacob  Wetzel,  who  located  in 
Hereford  township,  in  Berks  county,  only  several 
miles  distant;  and  these  two,  in  1738,  were  fol- 
lowed by  Philip  Wetzel.  That  a  kinship  existed 
between  these  three  pioneers  cannot  be  doubted,  and 
it  is  very  probable  that  they  were  brothers — an- 
other group  of  the  "'three  brothers"  found  among 
migrant  ancestors  of  so  many  American  fam- 
ilies. 

In  the  li.-t  of  earl}  settlers  in  the  region  of 
Emaus,  Lehigh  Co.,  I'a..  in  the  section  of  Milford 
and  Longswamp  townships,  w  hose  names  with  place 
of  birth  appear  on  the  original  church  record  of 
the  Emaus  Moravian  Church,  was  that  of  Cath- 
arina  Wetzel,  who  was  from  "Uppa"   Mannheim, 

in   the    Palatinate.     The   genealogist    gleans    ft 

the  above  item  that  the  Wetzels  were  German- 
Palatinates. 

According'  to  family  tradition  an  old  Wetzel  had 
settled  somewhere  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  bad  a 
number  of  children,  among  whom  were  sons: 
John,  Georg,  and  Louis.  It  is  further  stated  that 
this  pioneer  and  his  wife  were  scalped  by  the  In- 
dians, and  that  when  the  sons  returned  home  and 
found  their  parents  thus  cruelly  murdered  they 
<i  vengeance  upon  the  savages.  Louis  there- 
after devoted  himself  to  the  extermination  of  the 
Indians.      He    was    a    rare    marksman,    and    could 

run  like  a  deer.     The  c piler  of  this  article  is  of 

the  impression  that  the  place  of  settlement  was  not 
the  Ohio,  but  the  Susquehanna,  river.  A  large 
number  of  Wetzels  live  in  Snyder  county.  I'a..  in 
the  Buffalo  Valley,  in  Union  county,  and  in  the 
Mahantango  valley,  in  the  lower  part  of  Northum- 
berland county.  d'lie\  all  speak  German,  and  say 
their  forbears  spoke  of  "Der  Longswamp,  in  Bercks 

(  'ollllt  \ ." 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  1790  records  these 
Wetzels  as  heads  of  families,  etc.:  George  Wet- 
zel and  wife  had  the  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
the  sons  under  sixteen  years  of  age;  he  then  lived 
in  Longswamp  township.  Conrad  Wetzel  also 
lived  in  Longswamp  township  and  had  two  daugh- 
ters. Philip  Wetzel  lived  in  Hereford  township. 
and  he  and  wife  had  then  two  sons  under  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  three  daughters.  John  Wetzel 
had  two  -ons  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  one  son  un- 
der sixteen,  and  two  daughters;  he  lived  in  Mac- 
ungie  township.  Northampton  (now  Lehigh) 
county.  John  Wetzel,  Jr..  lived  in  the  same  town- 
ship as  bis  father,  and  he  and  his  wife  had  two 
daughters.      Conrad   Wetzel   lived    in  Upper   Mil- 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


659 


ford  township;  Iris  family  consisted  of  himself  and 

wife,  two  sons  under  sixteen  vein's  of  age,  and 
three  daughters.  Peter  Wetzel  lived  in  Upper  Mil- 
ford  township,  Northampton  (now  Lehigh)  coun- 
ty, and  had  one  son  tinder  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
two  daughters.  Michael  and  Conrad  Wetzel  both 
lived  in  Penn  township,  Northampton  county,  in 
1790;  il  appears  thai  Michael  was  a  widower,  and 
had  a  son  over  sixteen  years  old,  and  that  Conrad 
was  married  but  had  no  children. 

John  Wetzel  lived  near  the  present  line  of  Berks 
and  Lehigh  counl  ies,  Pa.  Ee  had  sons :  Henr; . 
Peter,  I  laniel  and  [tans  Georg,  who  lived  in  Le- 
high county.  The  old  Wetzel  homestead  is  lo- 
cated near  St.  Peter's  Church,  in  Upper  Milford 
township.  Ii  was  built  in  11  10,  of  logs,  and  was 
occupied  until   1900. 

Peter  Wetzel,  sun  of  John,  was  born  in  1778  and 
died  in  1870,  in  his  ninety-second  year.  He  owned 
a  thirty  acre  trad  of  land  near  Red  Lion,  in  Long- 
swamp  township,  mi  which  he  lived.  lie  was  a 
carpenter  and  coffin  maker,  being  an  excellent  me- 
chanic and  an  expert  wood  worker.  In  his  day  he 
made  many  coffins.  II  was  then  the  custom  to 
place  the  dead  on  a  large  covered  wagon,  to  which 
usually  were  bitched  fourteen  horses.  The  seats 
were  arranged  along  (he  two  sides  of  the  wagon, 
and  occupied  by  the  bereaved,  the  coffin  being 
placed  in  the  middle  between  the  two  rows  of 
mourners.  They  now  proceeded  to  the  church. 
•"Old  Peter"  Wetzel,  as  he  was  known,  was  a  pop- 
ular man.  personally,  and  well  known  in  his  line, 
lie  held  nian\  funerals,  and  taught  many  the  car- 
penter's trade.  His  wife.  Anna  Margarel  Gaumer, 
died  when  past  eighty  years  of  age.  Loth  were 
member's  oi  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Long- 
swamp  church.  They  hail  children:  George;  Sal- 
lie,  who  married  Nathan  lleimbach  and  had  chil- 
dren. Amanda.  Lovina,  Sarah  and  Henry:  and 
Lydia,  who  married  Henry  ITeimbaeh,  a  brother 
of  Nathan   ( they  hail  no  children). 

George  Wetzel  was  born  in  Longswamp  town- 
ship in  November,  1818,  and  died  there  in  Octo- 
ber, 1900,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His  wife  Leah 
was  a  daughter  of  l>a\el  Conrad,  of  Longswamp 
township.  She  was  horn  in  1821,  and  died  in  1899, 
aged  seventy-eight  \ears.  They  are  buried  at  the 
Longswamp  Church,  of  which  both  were  members, 
belonging  to  the  German  Reformed  Congregation; 
he  was  a  deacon  and  elder.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  served  hi-  district  on  the  school  board. 
He  owned  his  father's  homestead  of  thirty  acres. 
ami  also  boughi  130  acres  of  land,  was  prosperous, 
and  built  an  addition  to  the  old  barn.  He  and  his 
wife  had  eleven  children,  namely:  Peter,  Mary, 
Charles,  Caroline,  David  C,  Henry  C,  Lovina. 
Sal  lie.  Amanda.  Katie  and  Levi.  Of  these  Mary, 
Caroline,  Lovina,  Katie  and  Levi  all  died  within 
six  weeks'  time  from  diphtheria,  in  1862. 

David  C.  Wetzel,  shoemaker  at  Seisholtzville.  in 


Berks  county,  Pa.,  was  horn  in  the  adjoining 
township  of  Longswamp,  Feb.  28,  1847.  When 
seventeen  years  old  he  commenced  to  learn  bis 
trade  from  his  brother  Charles.  .When  twenty- 
four  he  married  Amelia,  daughter  of  William  and 
Amelia    (Ruth)    Meitzler,  of  Hereford   township, 

and   in   1873  they   ved   to  Seisholtzville,  where 

they  have  since  lived.  He  usually  had  three  or 
four  apprentices,  and  in  a  winter  season  made  -e\ 
era!  hundred  pair-  of  shoes  by  hand,  shoe  factories 
in  those  days  being  unknown.  He  and  his  family 
occupy  a  house  that  was  limit  about  the  time  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  if  not  earlier:  it  is  of  log 
construction,  hut  is  now  weather-hoarded,  and  in 
winter  is  very  warm.  Mr.  Wetzel  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Long- 
swamp township.  He  and  bis  wile  have  two  chil- 
dren: Irwin  D.,  now  of  Norristown,  Pa.,  married 
Rosa  Fry,  and  their  children  arc.  Ambrose.  Her- 
bert, Warren  and  Minerva;  Minnie  married  Harry 
O.  Moll,  of  Seisholtzville.  Pa.,  and  had  Pearl.  Ver- 
1 1 .- 1  and  ( teorge. 

Henry  C.  Wetzel  (brother  of  David  C.  Wetzel), 
a  retired  farmer  at  Seisholtzville,  Pa.,  was  horn  in 
Longswamp  township.  Feb.  17.  1849.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began  farming  for  his 
father  at  Red  Lion,  continuing  thus  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1888  he  purchased  the  Christophel  Bit- 
teiihender  farm  on  which  he  has  since  lived,  a 
tract  of  11','  acres.  The  present  house  on  this  farm 
was  built  by  Jacob  Bittenbender,  Sr.  Mr.  Wet- 
zel in  1895  built  the  present  barn.  He  has  a  val- 
uable property  and  the  excellent  condition  of  farm 
and  buildings  testifies  to  bis  good  management 
and  prosperity.  He  retired  in  1900.  lie  is  a 
Democrat  and  has  held  township  offices.  He  and 
1  i is  wife  are  members  of  Huffs  Church,  where  he 
serves  a-  elder.  In  1875  he  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Christophel  and  Abby  (Eush)  Bit- 
tenbender, and  granddaughter  of  Jacob  and  Su- 
sanna  (Jung)  Bittenbender.  also  of  Hereford 
township.  Mr-  and  Mrs.  Wetzel  have  had  .mi' 
son.  Ambrose,  who  was  born  in  1876  and  died  in 
1895. 

There  was  a  John  Wetzel  who  became  an  early 
ivsident  of  Packer  township.  Carbon  Co..  Pa.,  as 
earl]  as  1812,  and  located  on  lands  still  owned  by 
his  descendants.  He  had  four  sons.  John,  Val- 
entine. Daniel  and  David,  and  four  daughters. 
The  sons  settled  in  the  township.  David  living  to 
be  very  old.  'the  daughters  became  the  wives  of 
Stephen  Kerber,  James  Troy.  Lewis  Hettinger  ami 
Philip  Hinkle,  respectively. 

WILLIAM  A.  EILAND,  of  Sunbury,  has  been 
engaged  in  business  there  as  a  liveryman  for  over 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  has  been  prominent  in  the 
municipal  administration  as  president  of  the  bor- 
ough council,  in  which  capacity  he  served  two 
rears,  and  has  been  found  a  valuable  and  substan- 


660 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  l'EWSYLVAMA 


tial  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  business,  so- 
cial or  purely  personal.  He  is  thoroughly  respect- 
ed and  merits  the  high  position  he  holds  in  the  es- 
timation of  his  fellow  citizen-. 

Samuel  Riland.  grandfather  of  William  A. 
Riland,  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  On  coming  to 
this  country  he  settler]  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed 
fanning,  owning  the  farm  which  was  later  the 
property  of  his  son  H.  James  Riland  and  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  batter's  son,  H.  B.  Riland.  He 
married  a  native  of  Germany,  and  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  He  is  buried 
in  the  lower  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  His  chil- 
dren were:  H.  dames:  Mary,  Mrs.  William  Sny- 
der; Malinda,  Mrs.  Rohrbaeh;  Alice.  Mrs.  Hirsi 
Trego;  Martha,  who  married  William  Keller  and 
(second)  Jeremiah  Cooper;  and  Lucy,  who  mar- 
ried James  Strine,  of  Milton,  Pennyslvania. 

H.  James  Riland  was  horn  in  1833  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  and  passed  his  active  year- 
there,  on  the  homestead  farm  of  135  acre-,  suc- 
ceeding Iiis  father  in  the  ownership  of  that  place. 
lb'  was  an  intelligent  man  and  influential  in  the 
affairs  of  his  day.  serving  a  number  of  years  as 
school  director  of  his  home  township,  as  county 
commissioner  from  1863  to  L866,  and  as  repre- 
sentative of  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature 
from  1882  to  188-4.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
work  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  several 
years  served  as  county  chairman.  He  was  one  of 
the  promoter-  of  the  Upper  Augusta  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  was  a  director  for 
years.  Mr.  Riland  passed  his  last  years  in 
Sunbury,  where  he  died  in  1901,  aged  sixty-eight 
years,  and  is  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  and  socially  belonged  to  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle  and  to  Lodge  No.  22,  P.  &  A.  M.. 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

II.  James  Riland  married  Mariah  Woolverton, 
who  was  horn  in  1834.  daughter  of  Dennis  Wool- 
verton. of  Northumberland  county,  and  died  in 
1894.  Eighi  children  were  horn  to  them:  Em- 
ma, wife  of  Peter  Weiser,  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship: II.  B.,  of  Selinsgrove  Junction,  this  county; 
Laura,  who  is  unmarried:  William  A.:  Samuel  D.. 
Upper  Augusta,  this  county;  Charles  S.,  oi 
Herndon,  this  county;  .Ionian  W..  of  Sunbury; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  John  Miller,  of  Sunbury. 

William  A.  Riland  was  born  Sept.  1">.  1859,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  and  there  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  which,  however,  he  did  not  follow 
long  after  commencing  on  his  own  account.  I 
two  years  he  worked  at  Berwick.  Pa.,  after  which 
he  clerked  in  a  general  store  at  Sunbury  for  two 
year-  and  then  returned  to  the  homestead,  where 
he  was  engaged   in  farming  for  several  years.     In 


1884  lie  purchased  the  livery  business  in  Sunbury 
which  has  since  been  his  main  interest.  He  has  an 
excellent  location  at  No.  •.'4(>  Woodlawn  avenue, 
only  a  half  square  from  the  Pennsylvania  passen- 
ger station,  and  does  the  leading  business  in  in- 
line in  Sunbury,  keeping  fifteen  horses  for  hire, 
and  hoarding  a  large  number  of  horses.  He  deals 
occasionally  in  horse-  and  teams,  and.  in  fact,  has 
built  up  an  all-around  profitable  trade,  which  he 
has  handled  capably,  and  which  occupies  the  great- 
er part  of  his  time  and  attention.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  North  Branch  Eire  Insurance  Company  id' 
Pennsylvania,  which  was  organized  in  1910. 

Mr.  Riland  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  a 
leader  in  Democratic  circles  in  Sunbury,  and  be  has 
served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the  council,  dur- 
ing the  last  two  year-  of  that  time  having  the 
honor  of  presiding  over  that  body.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber and  trustee  of  Lodge  No.  267,  B.  P.  0.  Elks, 
of  Sunbury.  ami  chairman  of  the  hoard  of  trust  - 
of  the  First  Baptisl  Church,  in  the  work  of  which 
he  and  hi.-  family  take  an  active  part. 

On  May  25,  1897,  Mr.  Riland  married  Mary  M. 
Walters,  whose  parents  came  from  Germany. 
Three  children  have  been  horn  to  them,  one  son 
and  two  daughters,  namely:  William.  Jr.,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Mildred   M..  and  Gertrude  L. 

KRIEGER.  The  Kriegers  of  Northumberland 
county  have  been  settled  in  this  region  for  several 
generations.  Wilson  Krieger.  the  oldest  living  na- 
tive-born resident  of  tin'  borough  of  Shamokin, 
being  a  son  of  Daniel  Krieger  (who  was  horn  in 
Lower  Augusta  town-hip.  this  county)  and  a 
grandson  of  John  1\  rii  _   i 

The  family  i-  one  of  ancient  record,  and  the 
name,  variously  spelled  Cruger  and  Kruger  in 
earlier  days  and  by  branches  of  different  na- 
tionalities, shows  that  it  dates  back  to  the  time  of 
the  crusades.  Cruger  being  originally  Cruciger — 
medieval  Latin  word  for  cross-bearer.  Prom 
Cruciger  the  nami  became  Creuziger  and  Creut- 
zinger,  and  finally  Cruger,  and  in  Germany  and 
Holland  it  was  written  Kruger.  The  name  was  first 
given  to  a  knight  in  one  of  the  crusades,  at  the  end 
of  the  eleventh  century,  and  from  him  the  family 
-  ead  throughout  Germany,  Holland,  Denmark 
and  England.  In  1190  Sir  Philip  de  Crucuger 
went  with  Richard  1.  of  England  on  the  third 
crusade  to   Palestine.     Sir   Philip  i>  supposed  to 

ed   from   the  German  baronial  b 
of  Von  Kruger  or  Kruger,  and  from  him  the  line 
is  unbroken  down  to  John   Cruger.  who  founded 
an  American  branch  of  the  family.     One  Caspar 
Cruciger,  a   German,   helped   Luther  to  trans  a 
the  Bible  in  1532. 

The  John  Cruger  mentioned  as  the  founder  of  a 
branch  of  the  family  in  America,  an  Englishman 
of  good  education,  appearance  and  standing,  came 
to  New  York  about  1700,  and  engaged  in  business. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


661 


He  was  also  prominent  in  the  political  life  of  the 
city,  in  1712  being  made  an  alderman,  which  office 
be  held  for  twenty-two  consecutive  years.  Five 
years  after  his  retirement  from  this  otiice.  in  1739, 
he  became  mayw,  serving  as  such  until  his  death, 
in  111  1.  Ee  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  tact  and  dis- 
cretion, and  such  must  have  been  his  character,  for 
he  succeeded  in  keeping  peace  between  the  people 
on  one  side,  jealous  of  their  rights,  and  the  gov- 
ernor on  the  other  side,  guarding  the  King's  rights. 

In  L702  John  Cruger  married  Maria,  daughter 
nl*  1 1 1 ml  rick  Cuyler,  of  Albany,  and  they  had  a 
large  family,  three  suns  and  five  daughters.  Tile- 
man.  Eenry,  John,  Anna.  Maria  (who  died  of 
smallpox  when  young),  Sarah.  Maria  (2)  and  Ra- 
chel.    Of  the  sons,  Tileman  went  to  Curacao,  and 

returned    ii to  die  when  he  was  twenty-five. 

Ilenrv  was  the  son  through  whom  this  line  is  con- 
tinued, and  John  died  unmarried.  Both  the  sons 
who  lived  to  mature  year-  were  like  their  father 
active  in  public  life  and  able  in  many  ways.  John 
Cruger  showed  unusual  ability  even  as  a  child. 
From  lUil  to  1755  he  was  alderman,  and  from 
1756  to  1765  he  served  as  mayor.  He  was  the 
first  speaker  and  president  of  the  first  Colonial 
Assembly,  of  which  body  he  was  a  member  for 
seventeen  year-.  1759  to  1775.  He  wrote  the  fa- 
mous "Declaration  of  Rights  and  Grievances" 
adopted  by  the  Stamp  Act  Congress  in  1765,  the 
first  notable  piece  of  political  writing  in  the  hi— 
ton  of  this  i  omit  rv.  and  said  to  be  the  model  upon 
which  Jefferson  based  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. He  also  started  the  movement  which  led  to 
the  establishment,  in  1768,  of  the  Xew  York 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  modeled  on  the  English 
Board  of  Trade,  and  the  first  mercantile  society 
established  in  America.     He  died  in  1791. 

Eenry  Cruger,  through  whom  this  line  is  con- 
tinued, was  twice  married  and  had  six  children. 
Like  his  father,  he  was  interested  in  politics  in 
Xew  York,  but  lie  died  in  England,  at  the  home 
of  one  of  hi-  children,  and  was  buried  there,  at  the 
Cathedra]  of  Bristol.     In  the  next  generation, 

John  Harris  Cruger,  who  like  his  uncle  John 
eii  no  descendants,  had  a  brilliant  military  rec- 
ord. He  commanded  Fort  Ninety-six  in  South 
Carolina  when  it  was  attacked,  and  it  was  he  who 
forced  General  Greene  to  raise  the  siege.  After 
the  war  be  went  to  England,  where  he  died.  He 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  Brig.  Gen.  Oliver  De- 
Lancey,  of  New  York,  an  officer  in  the  British 
army,  who  when  war  was  threatened  raised  a  bri- 
gade known  a-  "DeLancey's  Battalions."  for  the 
"defense  of  Long  Island  and  other  exigencies"  ;  and 
he  commissioned  his  son-in-law.  who  was  strongly 
in  sympathy  with  his  mother  country,  lieutenant 

colonel. 

Tileman  and  Nicholas  Cruger.  brothers  of  John, 
were  West  Indian  merchant-.     Nicholas  became  a 


prosperous  business  man  at  Santa  Cruz,  and  one 
of  the  clerks  in  his  counting-house  was  Alexander 
Hamilton.  Nicholas  Cruger  took  a  friendly  in- 
terest in  the  boy,  aiding  him  with  advice  and  en- 
couragement.  Tins  [Nicholas  Cruger  was  also  a 
great  friend  of  Washington,  and  In-  sympathies 
during  the  Revolution  were  with  the  Colonies,  but 
be  never  took  any  active  part  in  the  struggle.  It 
is  said  that  mi  one  occasion  he  was  glad  to  rely  on 
the  renown  of  his  brother  John  as  a  loyal  British 
subject.  He  was  with  one  of  his  boats  on  the  way 
to  Santa  Cruz  when  captured  by  a  British  man-of- 
war.  The  Captain  asked  his  name,  and  on  bearing 
it  asked  if  he  might  by  any  chance  lie  related  to 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Cruger.  Learning  that  the 
two  men  were  brothers,  the  Captain  informed  Mr. 
Cruger  that  he  was  bearing  messages  to  the  Brit- 
ish government  reporting  on  .John  Cruger's  good 
work,  and  he  let  Nicholas  Cruger  go.  He  was 
captured  again,  however,  this  time  with  an  in- 
criminating picture  of  Washington  in  his  pos- 
session, and  was  recommended  for  severe  punish- 
ment, but  he  was  freed  on  parole,  and  lived  with 
relatives  in  New  York  until  after  the  war. 

Henry  Cruger,  brother  of  John,  Tileman  and 
Nicholas,  was  sent  by  his  father  to  England  to 
work  in  a  counting-house.  There  he  married 
twice,  bis  first  wife  being  named  Beach,  and  their 
son  changed  his  name  from  Samuel  Beach  Cruger 
to  Samuel  Peach  Beach:  his  daughter  married 
Lord  John  Murray  of  Aynsley.  By  his  second 
wife  Henry  had  six  children,  who  eventually  re- 
turned with  him  to  this  country.  He  stayed  in 
England  until  1191).  and  had  a  prosperous  career 
there.  In  1774  he  and  the  famous  Edmund 
Burke  ran  for  Parliament,  and  were  elected  after 
a  heated  campaign.  A  sample  of  the  campaign 
literature  of  those  days  runs: 

You  good  Bristol  folk,  an  election's  no  joke, 
But   serious   indeed   is   the   work; 

Let  none  represent  ye,  that  do  not  content  ye, 
Vote,  therefore   for  Cruger  and  Burke. 

In  1790  Cruger  refused  reelection  to  Parliament 
and  rehired  home.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Xew   York  State   Senate   ,„    1792. 

The  arms  of  the  family  arc:  Argent,  a  bend 
azure  charged  with  three  martlet-  or,  between  two 
greyhound-  courant,  proper.  Motto:  Deo,  nun 
Fortune.  Crest  :  A  demi  greyhound  salient. 
gorged  or.     Beneath  the  wreath.  Fides. 


Daniel  Krieger  (father  of  Wilson  Erieger)  was 
horn  in  1805  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  -on  of  John  Krieger.  He 
came  to  Shamokin  at  an  early  day.  erecting  the 
third  house  in  the  town,  at  what  is  now  Sunbury 
and  Pearl  streets,  and  here  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  Feb.  9,  1864.  He  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade.     He  married  Mary  Ann  Fasold, 


662 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


born  June  20,  L820,  died  Sept.  6,  1891,  who  was 
the  poungesl  of  the  seventeen  children  of  Valen- 
tine Fasold.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krieger  were  born 
ten  children,  namely:  Angeline  (deceased),  who 
married  James  Lippiatt;  Louisa,  who  died  unmar- 
ried; Sebella,  wife  of  Enoch  Jones,  of  Shamokin; 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Clinton  Thomas,  of  ShamoMn; 
Emma  I-'.,  wife  of  Elmer  E.  Felix,  of  Shamokin; 
Ida  (deceased),  who  married  William  Woolcock; 
Freeman,  deceased;  Valentine,  deceased;  Wilson; 
and  Oliver,  of  Shamokin. 

Valentine  Fasold,  father  of  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 
(  Fasold)  Krieger.  was  born  Dec.  6,  1765,  in  Ba- 
den. Germany,  son  of  Valentine  Nieman  Fasold, 
a  tanner,  who  had  a  family  of  five  children,  two 
sons  (Valentine  and  Casper)  and  three  daughters. 
These  five  children  came  to  America  in  1781, 
Landing  at  Philadelphia  after  a  voyage  of  eleven 
week-.  Valentine  remained  in  Philadelphia  with 
one  of  his  sisters  for  two  years,  the  other  three 
going  to  Whitehall  township.  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  near 
Allentown.  Valentine  followed  his  brother  and 
sister-  thither,  the  ether  sister  remaining  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  she  had  married.  He  had  started 
seh. ml  in  Germany  when  six  years  old,  attending 
until  he  was  twelve,  after  which  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  weaver.  Then  he 
served  the  required  time  in  the  German  army. 
In  Lehigh  county  lie  followed  the  weaver's  trade 
for  thirty-five  years.  While  living  there  he  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Sara  Sanders. 
by  whom  he  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  died 

in   childh !.   these   who  reached   maturity  being 

Susan.  Elizabeth  and  John.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  he  married  Catharine  Barbara  Schri- 
lier.  daughter  of  Herman  Schriber,  and  to  them 
were  born  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  Jonathan, 
Peter.  George,  Joseph,  Charles,  Henry.  Katharine- 
(married  Jonathan  Kreigbaum),  Lydia  (married 
Samuel  Haupt,  of  Frackville,  Schuylkill  county), 
Polly  (married  William  Dachenbach,  of  Allens- 
ville,  Mifflin  county),  Sarah  (married  George  Zim- 
merman) and  Mary  Ann  (married  Daniel  Krieg- 
er). Only  two  survived  Mrs.  Krieger,  .Mrs.  Haupt. 
of    Frackville.  and   Charles,  of   McKeesport. 

In  1816  Mr.  Fasold  removed  from  Lehigh  coun- 
ty to  Northumberland  county  with  his  family  and 
settled  on  the  "John  Reed"  farm  in  Plum  Creek, 
where  he  lived  the  balance  of  his  life.  There  he 
followed  Eaxming  and  weaving.  In  the  middle 
of  November,  1824,  a  dose  of  quicksilver  was  given 
him  for  medicine  by  an  ignorant  servant  of  a 
r.  and  he  died  Nov.  16th,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
nine  years.  Ee  lived  an  honest,  exemplary  Chris- 
tian life,  and  brought  up  his  family  according 
to  the  instruction  of  Holy  Writ,  being  a  firm 
believer  in  the  proverb,  "Bring  up  a  child  in  the 
wa  lie  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not 
depart    from   it."     He   was   a   strong  advocate   of 


the  cause  of  the  Colonists,  believing  that  they 
should  depend  upon  themselves  and  not  upon  the 
mother  country.  He  was  a  lifelong  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Reformation,  of  which 
all  his  family  were  members  ami  under  which 
all  received  catechetical  instructions.  He  was 
buried  with  his  wife  at  /ion  Lutheran  church  near 
\ii'jnstaville.  Northumberland  county,  on  Nov. 
L9,  1824. 

Wilson  Keiegeb  was  bom  Feb.  22,  1849,  in 
Shamokin.  and  when  a  young  man  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  has  always  followed. 
For  many  years  he  ha-  been  boss  carpenter  at 
Locust  Cap  for  the  Philadelphia  Coal  &  Iron 
Company.  He  is  the  oldest  native-horn  resident 
id'  Shamokin  at  the  present  writing,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  there  for 
over  forty  years,  having  joined  it  March  ■.'.  1869. 
His  father  served  on  the  building  committee  of 
this  church  in  1846.  Mi'.  Krieger  is  a  member 
of  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sha- 
mokin Chapter,  No.  264,  of  Commandery  No.  77, 
K.  T.,  and  of  the  Carpenters'  and  Joiners'  Union. 
He  married  Annie  Xcclv.  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Anne  (Gott)  Neely,  an. I  to  this  union  were  bom 
four  children.  A.  Maude  (who  died  young),  A. 
Ralph,  Mary  E.  and  Bessie  B. 

A.  Ralph  Keiegeb,  son  of  Wilson,  was  born 
April  11.  1881,  at  Shamokin,  and  there  received 
the  principal  part  of  his  education,  graduating 
from  the  high  school  in  1899.  He  also  attended 
the  local  business  college,  after  which  he  entered 
the  Pierce  Business  College,  at  Philadelphia,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1901.  For  the  two  years 
following  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  Railway  Company,  at  Tamaipia, 
Pa.,  under  Supt.  A.  T.   Dice  and  then  with   the 

Shamokin   Water    <  pany,    at    Shamokin.    later 

taking  the  position  of  private  secretary  with  Sen- 
ator W.  C.  McConnell,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  six  years.  In  l'to;  he  commenced  business 
on  his  own  account,  as  a  shoe  merchant  at  Sha- 
mokin. having  the  store  at  No.  :;  Fast  Indepen- 
dence street  which  he  has  since  conducted.  His 
trade  is  good  and  is  increasing  steadily,  and  his 
methods  are  such  as  to  make  him  deserving  ol 
success.  Outside  id'  business  he  is  particularly 
active  in  fraternal  circles,  belonging  to  Shamo- 
kin Lodge,  No.  664,  I.  0.  0.  F..  Camp  No.  30, 
P.  0.  S.  of  A,,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity;  in  the  latter  connection  he  is  a 
member  of  Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Shamokin  Chapter.  No.  264,  I,1.  A.  M. :  Shamo- 
kin Commandery,  No.  77,  K.  T. :  Williamsport 
Consistory,  thirty-second  degree:  Rajah  Temple. 
A.  A.  0.  X.  .M.S..  of  Reading,  and' the  Temple 
Club  at  Shamokin.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Triple 
Links  Club  at  Shamokin.  the  Acacia  Club  at 
Williamsport,    and    Rescue    Fire    Company.      He 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


663 


holds  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  that  congre- 
gation. 

DR.  KENNEDY  ROBINSON  (deceased), 
father  of  Mrs.  Annie  G.  (Robinson)  Llewellyn, 
of  Shamokin,  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  ancestors 
coming  from  Ireland  and  settling  at  Myerstown, 
Lebanon  Co.,  this  State.  He  became  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Schuylkill  county,  serving  two  terms  in 
the  Slate  Legislature  from  that  section,  and  he 
died   in    L887.      His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 

Frances   McC tell,  was  a  native  of  Womelsdorf, 

Berks  county,  and  a  descendant  of  the  famous 
Conrad  Weiser.  She  died  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  in  1909,  at  the  great  age  of  ninety- 
six  years,  five  month-.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson 
had  two  children.  Frances  and  Annie  G.,  the  lat- 
ter the  widow  cf  I  >a\  ill  Llewellyn. 

WILLIAM  HAROLD  LEE.  architect,  is  a 
Mm ne'  business  man  of  Shamokin  who  has  al- 
ready established  an  excellent  reputation  and  pat- 
ronage in  Ins  chosen  profession.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  borough,  but  his  family  has  long  been  iden- 
tified with  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  where  it  was 
established  during  the  eighteenth  century  by  John 
Lee,  Si-.,  from  whom  he  is  a  descendant  in  the 
fifth  generation.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  ob- 
tain an  accural.'  account  of  the  ancestry  back 
of  the  Revolutionary  period,  for  though  the  John 
Lee  mentioned  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  there  were  many  Lees  engaged  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  many  also  hearing  the  same 
Christian  name-.  Tradition  states  that  John  Lee, 
Sr..  was  a  relative  of  General  Lee  of  Revolution- 
ary fame,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Archives.  5th 
Series,  record  twenty-four  different  Lees  as  hav- 
ing rendered  service  in  the  cause  of  independence. 
Besides  General  Lee  there  was  a  Colonel  Lee,  a 
Major  Lee  and  a  Captain  Lee  in  the  war;  ami 
there   was  a    Port  Lee. 

John  Lee.  Sr..  was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa., 
and  came  thence  to  Columbia  county,  settling  in 
Locust  township,  where  a  colony  of  Friends  (to 
whose  societ}   he  belonged)  from  Berks  county  be- 

ca stablished.     To  this  day  may  be  seen  the 

,,1,1    log   i tinghouse   and  burial   ground  of   the 

Society  of  Friends  in  that  locality.  John  Lee, 
Sr..  had  a  large  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  on 
which  he  built  a  log  house,  which  gave  shelter 
i,,  four  generations.  He  also  cleared  some  of  the 
land,  and  the  following  year,  1787,  brought  his 
family  to  their  new  home.  His  wife  was  like 
himself  from  Berks  county,  where  their  son  was 
horn.  They  had  three  children :  John,  Jr.,  Martha 
and  Nelly."  Neither  of  the  daughters  married. 

John  Lee,  Jr.,  was  born  in  ITS'?  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, and  was  live  years  old  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Columbia  county,  where  he  passed  the 


remainder  of  his  long  life.  He  became  the  owner 
of  the  homestead,  where  he  made  his  home  Eor 
eighty-nine  years,  dying  early  in  1876,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  ninety-four  years.  He  is  buried  at  the 
Friends  meetinghouse  mentioned,  as  are  also  his 
two  sisters.  When  the  Williams  family,  who  hailed 
from  Virginia,  settled  in  this  section  they  took 
part  of  his  father's  600-aere  tract,  but  John  Lee. 
Jr.,  retained  bis  father's  homestead  place.  He 
married  Mary  Williams,  who  came  to  Columbia 
county  with  her  parents,  when  only  six  weeks 
old,  the  journey  being  made  on  horseback.  She 
lived  to  lie  eighty-eight,  dying  in  187i.  In  her 
eighty-fifth  year  she  published  a  poem  which  is 
treasured  by  her  descendants.  Five  children  were 
horn  to  John  Lee,  Jr.,  and  his  wife  Mary  (Wil- 
liams), as  follows:  Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Oliver 
and  (second)  David  Hauck  and  died  aged  ninety- 
one  years;  Lewis,  who  lived  in  Locust  township, 
Columbia  county,  died  aged  eighty-three  years  (he 
married  Hannah  Hughes,  daughter  of  John 
Eughes,  and  also  member  of  a  family  of  Friends)  ; 
Mary  E.,  who  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  old, 
married  John  Levan,  a  leading  business  man  of 
Locust  township,  Columbia  county:  William  and 
Susan  were  twins,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

William  Lee,  son  of  John  Lee,  Jr.,  was  born 
in  January,  1833,  at  the  homestead,  and  obtained 
his  father's  farm,  being  of  the  third  generation 
to  possess  that  place.  Besides  farming  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  id'  stonemason.  He  died  in  De- 
cember, 1909,  at  LcMars.  Iowa,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-sis  years,  and  is  buried  at  Dixon,  111.  He 
attended  the  Friends'  meetings,  and  entertained 
many  Quaker  ministers  from  Philadelphia.  His 
wife.  Mary  Ann  (Wintersteen),  daughter  of  Jef- 
ferson Wintersteen.  died  in  1890,  aged  fifty-nine 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children : 
Beulah  A.,  who  married  Josiah  Rhoads,  of  a  Berks 
county  family ;  Kimber  C. ;  Sarah  E.,  who  mar- 
ried F.  P.  Llewellyn;  Horace  G. ;  Martha  M.  (de- 
ceased), who  married  Walter  Merriman  and  lived 
out  West;  Mabala,  who  married  Ellis  Mason  and 
lives  near  Dixon.  111. :  Elizabeth,  who  married  Car- 
son Herring,  of  LeMars,  Iowa:  Ida  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Walter  Monroe,  of  LeMars,  Iowa;  and  John 
and  Lydia,  both  of  whom  died  young. 

Kimber  C.  Lee.  of  Shamokin,  was  born  in  No- 
vember. 1852,  on  the  Lee  homestead,  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
until  bis  removal  to  Shamokin,  in  18S0.  He  has 
since  made  his  home  at  that  borough,  where  he 
is  interested  in  the  Shamokin  Lumber  Company. 
In  18W  he  married  Clara  R.  Creasy,  daughter 
of  Elias  and  Elizabeth  (Hower)  Creasy,  of  Briar 
('reek  township,  Columbia  county,  and  they  have 
had  live  children:  C.  Atwood,  who  married  Natalie 
Robbins  Haas;  Clarence  C  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.: 
William  H. ;  Florence  E.,  who  married  Conrad 
R.  Graeber;  and  Ella  M.     Mr.  Lee  and  his  family 


cci 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  lie 
bas  served  as  trustee  since  the  year  1895. 

William  Harold  Lee  was  born  Dee.  9,  1884, 
in  Shamokin,  and  there  obtained  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  public  schools,  attending  high 
school.  Later  he  became  a  student  at  Trinity 
College,  Hartford.  Conn.,  and  studied  architecture 
at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  after  which 
he  followed  his  profession  for  a  time  in  Phila- 
delphia before  settling  in  Shamokin,  in  March, 
1910.  He  ha-  a  business  suite  in  the  building 
of  the  Dime  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company.  Mr. 
Lee  designed  and  supervised  the  erection  of  the 
Masonic  Temple,  Elks  Home  and  Dime  Trust  & 
Sat'.'  Deposit  Company's  buildings  in  Shamokin; 
the  schoolhouse  for  the  Odd  Fellows'  Orphanage 
near  Sunbury;  the  new  Majestic  theatre  at  Potts- 
ville;  and  numerous  other  buildings  in  Shamokin 
ami  the  surrounding  territory.  He  ha*  attained 
considerable  reputation  in  the  comparatively  brief 
period  of  his  business  carei  r. 

Socially  Mr.  Lee  holds  membership  in  the  Civ— 
co  chili  of  Shamokin;  the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  fra- 
ternity: Shamokin  Lodge.  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Temple  Club:  and  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  355, 
B.  P.  0.  Elks. 


Amos  Lee,  an  early  settler  in  Oley  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  on 
the  Manatawny  creek.  In  !?:>?  he  built  a  barn 
on  his  land  which  is  still  standing.  The  Lee 
farm  was  in  the  family  name  until  1904.  Amos 
Lee  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Society 
.if  Friends,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  Quaker  meet- 
inghouse in  Exeter  township.  To  him  and  his 
wile  Sarah  were  bom  the  following  children: 
I;,],  del,  Mrs.  Geigus :  Nellie,  who  died  unmarried: 
Sallie,  who  married  John  Lee.  of  Exeter  township. 
neai'  the  Friends'  meetinghouse :  Fannie,  who  died 
unmarried:  Thomas  Pine:  and  Amos,  of  Norris- 
town,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  who  was  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  (his  wife  Sarah  bore 
him  on.-  child,  Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Alber- 
soii.  of  Norristown ). 

Thomas  Pine  Lee  was  born  in  1795  and  was 
engaged  Throughout  bis  active  years  as  a  farmer 
.m  the  homestead.  He  lived  to  his  eighty-seventh 
year,  and  is  buried  at  the  Quaker  meetinghouse 
in  Exeter  township.  His  wife  Rachel  was  also 
a  bom  Lee.  of  Maiden-creek  township.  Berks 
county,  and  died  when  less  than  fifty  years  old. 
Their  children,  four  sons  ami  one  daughter,  were 
as  follows:  Ebenezer,  who  lived  in  Ohio,  enlisted 
from  that  State  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  ami 
died  of  starvation  in  Andersonville  prison,  after 
taking   part   in   many   battles;    Deborah    married 

nion  Ely  and   (se 1)   E.  F.  Miller:  Thomas 

P.  is  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  Pa.:  Amos  is 
mentioned  below:  George  W.  lives  in  Ohio. 

Amos  Lee  was  born  June  30,  1st'.',  on  the  Lee 


farm  in  Oley  township,  Berks  county,  and  was 
brought  up  there.  In  1888  he  moved  to  Friedens- 
burg,  Pa.,  where  he  is  now  living  in  retirement. 
He  married  Mary  B.  Levan,  daughter  of  Joel  and 
Esther  Levan,  and  they  have  had  three  children: 
Annie,  of  Germantown,  Pa.:  Hettie.  unmarried, 
who  lives  at  home:  and  Sallie.  bum  Feb.  1.  L885, 
who  died  Feb.   is.  L904. 

SCHLEGEL.  John  Christian  Schlegel,  the 
American  ancestor  and  progenitor  of  this  family, 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  undoubtedly  Ma- 
th.' Johanis  Schlegel  who  emigrated  on  the  ship 
"Bilander  Townsend,"  which  landed  (qualified)  at 
Philadelphia  Oct.  :..  1737.  On  Aug.  16,  L738, 
and  Nov.  ',.  1754,  he  obtained  proprietary  warrants 
for  land  situated  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  In  1759 
n.l  six  pounds  tax  in  Richmond  township, 
where  he  had  lived  since  coming  to  the  New 
World.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  more  than 
three  hundred  acre-  of  land,  .and  in  1797  built 
a  stone  house  which  is  still  standing  and  in  good 
condition,  and  is  owned  and  used  by  hi-  great- 
grandson,  Abraham,  and  his  children  and  grand- 
children. To  John  Christian  Schlegel  and  his  wife 
Esther  were  born  a  number  of  children,  among 
whom  were:  Peter:  Wilhelm:  Christian,  born 
March   25,    1765;    Elizabeth,  born  April   !».  1767; 

Johannes,  ; □  Sepl    :.  1768,  mid  Heinrich,  born 

duly  L5,  1779.  Peter  and  Wilhelm  left  this  sec- 
tion, traveling  on  horseback  across  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain-, and  settled  in  the  Mahantango  Valley  (in 
Schuylkill ).  then  a  part  of  ..1.1  Berks  county.  They 
visited  their  brother  Heinrich  at  the  old  home 
every  two,  three  or  four  years,  coming  on  horse- 
back and  remaining  for  a  week  or  two.  One  of 
the  mhi-  of  John  Christian  Schlegel  lived  with 
the  Indian-,  liking  their  manner  of  life.  He  was 
greatly  admired  by  them,  because  of  his  courage, 
strength  and  marksmanship,  and  when  he  was 
quite  an  aged  man  he  and  some  of  his  adopted 
brethren  ol  the  forest  came  to  visit  his  old  home 
near  Fleetwood.  Because  of  the  great  journey  on 
which  they  came,  and  the  effects  of  his  strenuous 
life  with  the  red  men.  he  became  exhausted  at 
Dreibelbis  Spring,  and  be  died  soon  thereafter. 
and  tills  an  unknown  grave.  This  account  is 
based  on  tradition,  and  the  old  family  papers  give 
brief  accounts  of  it. 

There  were  two  brothers.  Wilhelm  and  Peter 
Schlegel.  of  Berks  county,  who  settled  in  North- 
umberland county  at  an  early  date  and  who.  ae- 
ing  to  the  inscription  on  Peter's  tombstone. 
m  tin  graveyard  of  St.  Peter's  Church.  Mahanoy. 
svere  sons  of  Johann  Christian  and  Anna  Bar- 
bara Schlegel. 

Wilhelm  Schlegel  was  born  in  Richmond  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  near  Fleetwood,  on  the  ori- 
ginal S.hlegel  homestead.  May  26,  1782.  He 
came  to  Northumberland  county  after  he  was  mar- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


665 


ried,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Sam- 
uel Zartman.  Later  he  bought  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Eenry  Rebuck,  in  Washington  township, 
and  there  he  died  Jan.  14,  1856.  This  was  a 
large  farm  and  he  was  a  fanner  until  his  death. 
The  house  he  built  is  still  standing.  He  went  to 
visit  his  parents  every  two  years,  going  horseback 
or  walking.  He  and  his  children  had  to  go  to 
mill  at  Rea'ding  until  a  gristmill  was  established 
by  John  Dunkelberger  mi  the  Little  Mahanoy 
creek.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (Wentzel),  horn  June 
2  \.  1785;  died  April  9,  1871,  and  they  are  buried 
at  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Jackson  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schlegel  were  Lutherans  in  religiou. 
They  had  fourteen  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity  and  all  survived  the  parents:  Peter; 
Samuel:  Benjamin;  William,  born  April  6, 
1817,  who  lied  March  ■.'■;.  1903  (his  wife. 
Sarah  Ann  Mill,  horn  July  23,  1837,  died 
.Ian.  31,  1903)  :  Abraham,  who  died  July  25,  1903, 
aged  eighty-three  years,  four  mouths,  nine  days 
(his  wife  was  Emilie  Mill.  L826-1870) ;  Dan- 
iel; David;  John;  Jacob;  Polly.  .Mrs.  [srael  Zart- 
man: Mrs.  Adam  Ilei-li:  Mrs.  Peter  Fegley;  Es- 
ther, Mrs.  Peter  Hlock;  and  Harriet.  Mrs.  Nich- 
olas Hetrich. 

Peter  Schlegel,  brother  of  William,  was  born 
Oct.  12,  17S6;  came  to  Northumberland  county 
from  Perk-  county;  and  died  Feb.  1,  1864.  His 
wife  was  Elizabeth  (Rettinger)  born  Sept.  11, 
L789,  died  July  16,  1866.  They  are  buried  at 
the  Ilerh  (Salem)  church.  They  had  sons  Peter, 
David  and  another.  Of  these,  Peter  had  five  chil- 
dren, duel.  Milton.  -  — ,  Elizabeth  and  an- 
other daughter.  David's  children  were  Samuel. 
Peter,  and  Charles. 

John  Schlegel,  son  of  William,  was  born  in 
Washington  township.  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  died,  aged  ninety-two  years.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  blacksmith  in  his  earlier  life, 
and  built  many  iron  bridges  in  his  time,  among 
which  were  the  Wrightsville  and  Ringtown  bridges, 
a  double  bridge  a1  Reading  and  a  large  one  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Pater  he  bought  what  is  now  the 
dames  Ferster.  farm  in  Washington  township, 
where  he  farmed  some  years.  Then  he  sold  this 
tract  and  bought  another  farm,  in  Jordan,  of  103 
acres,  which  was  an  Engel  homestead,  and  there  he 
lived  many  years.  The  last  -even  years  of  his 
life  he  lived  with  his  son  Daniel  K.,  at  whose 
home  he  died.  His  wife  Sarah,  daughter  of  Val- 
entine Klock,  died  July  13,  1883,  aged  sixty-eight 
years,  -even  months,  three  days.  They  had  nine 
children,  Wilhelmina,  William.  Charlotte.  Jane. 
Frank.  Daniel  K..  Sarah,  Rudolph  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy. 

Daniel  K.  Schlegel,  son  of  John,  is  a  native  of 
Jordan  town-hip  where  he  is  now  a  farmer  on  a 
162-acre  place.  He  was  engaged  as  a  blacksmith 
for    twelve    years,    then    learned    the  carpenter's 


trade,  which  he  has  followed  off  and  on  ever  since. 
He  also  operated  a  portable  sawmill  and  thrasher 
for  five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Congregation  at  Urban.  In  1884  Mr.  Schlegel 
married  Susanna  Power,  daughter  of  Elias  Phil- 
ips, and  they  have  had  children:  John  A.,  who 
married  Amy  Deppen;  Sallie;  and  Lizzie. 

Daniel  Schlegel,  son  of  William,  was  horn  in 
Washington  township,  on  the  Schlegel  homestead, 
which  consisted  of  about  eighty  acres.  He  was  a 
farmer.  A  leading  member  of  St.  Peters  church 
at  Mahanoy,  he  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee when  the  present  brick  church  was  erected. 
He  died  duly  16,  1893.  Ill-  wife,  Amanda,  was 
a  daughter  of  Marks  and  Sarah  (Wolf)  Leader. 
They  had  these  sis  children  :  Orella,  who  died  un- 
married :  Samuel,  of  Lykens  Valley;  Oscar:  Agnes, 
who  i-  unmarried  and  has  her  home  with  her 
brothers  Oscar  and  John:  Elmer,  of  California: 
and  John  A.,  who  with  his  brother  Oscar  own-  a 
large   farm  m   Lower  Mahanoy  township. 

Oscar  Schlegel,  son  of  Daniel,  is  a  farmer  along 
the  Susquehanna  river  one  mile  above  Dalmatia, 
Pa.  He  was  born  Jan.  3,  1868.  in  Washington 
township.  In  1902  he  and  his  brother  John  came 
to  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  they  own  and 
farm  a  tract  of  186  acres,  formerly  belonging  to 
Martin  Bachman. 

John  A.  Schlegel,  brother  of  Oscar,  was  born 
Sept.  L  is;-.'.  Since  their  father's  death  the 
brothers  have  been  partners.  They  are  Lutheran 
members  of  St.  Peter's  church  at  Mahanoy,  and 
in  politics  are  Democrats.  In  1896  John  A. 
Schlegel  married  Jennie  Starr,  daughter  of  An- 
drew and  Susanna  (Blasser)  Starr.  They  have 
three  children,  Mark  F..  Walter  R.  and   Elmer  A. 

E.  I'.  ROGERS,  of  Sunbury,  was  horn  at  Dan- 
ville. Montour  Co.,  Pa..  Jan.  11,  1874,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  at  thai 
place,  after  which  he  entered  the  factory  of  his 
father.  D.  J.  Rogers,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  and  granite  cutting. 

In  June.  1901,  he  removed  to  Sunbury  and  en- 
gaged in  the  stone  ami  granite  cutting  business, 
and  there  he  is  now  successfully  producing  high- 
grade  monuments,  mausoleums  and  cut  stone  trim- 
mings for  buildings. 

OSCAF.  W.  PENSYL,  member  of  the  firm  of 
Paul  &  Pensyl,  butchers  of  Shamokin,  Northum- 
berland county,  was  horn  April  •>0,  1877,  in 
Ralpho  township,  this  county,  and  is  a  member  of 
one  of  the  pioneer  families. 

Jacob  Pensyl  (Bentzel),  his  great-great-grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  coming  to 
America  made  his  home  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  taking  up  fifty  acre-  of  lain!  at  the  present 
site  of  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  His  location 
was  where  the  "Eagle  Hotel"  now  stands.     He  aft- 


666 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


erward  abandoned  this  place  and  took  up  a  two- 
hundred-acre  tract  in  Ralpho  township  (where  his 

d-grandson,   David  B.   Pensyl,  later  resii 
to  which  he  moved.    He  had  one  son,  John. 

John  Pensj  1.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  176?  and 
was  nine  years  old  when  his  father  settled  at  what 
is  now  Shamokin.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church,  one  of  the  organizers  and 
original  members  of  the  old  Blue  Church  in 
Ralpho  township,  and  donated  an  aire  of  ground 
for  church  pm  the  edifice  of  that  congi 
tion  being  located  f  -  day.  He  died  up- 
on  the   ' testead    in    Ralpho  township   in  April,. 

1849,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  John  Pensyl  mar- 
ried Barbara  Hinkle.  and  to  them  were  born  five 
children:  Kate,  who  married  Frederick  Lebic;  Le- 
ah, who  married  John  Fisher:  John,  who  was  twice 
married;  George,  born  Aug.  1.  1799;  and  Leonard. 

Leonard  Pensyl,  son  oJ  John  and  Barbara 
(Hinkle)  Pensyl.  was  born  May  11,  1804,  on 
homestead  in  Ralpho  township,  and  died  Oct.  1, 
1883  (date  is  also  given  Oct.  3-1,  1884).  He  was 
a  firmer  by  occupation.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber  of  ilio  German  Reformed  Church,  which  he 
served  as  deacon  and  elder  for  twenty-one  years; 
in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Kaseman,  daughter  of  Frederick  William 
Caseman,  of  Ralpho  town-hip.  and  to  this  union 
were  horn  throe  children:  Sarah  A.,  horn  .In 
1828,  died  .Ian.  :!.  1908,  who  was  the  wife  of  Dan- 
iel H.  Adams,  of  Ralpho  township:  Daniel,  who 
died  Jan.  24,  1834,  aged  seven  months,  >ixteen 
days  :  and  David  R. 

David  R.  Pensyl.  -on  of  Leonard,  was  horn 
Si  >t.  25,  1835,  on  the  old  Pensyl  homestead, 
which  he  inherited,  following  farming  there 
throughout  his  active  years,  except  for  a  short  time 
when  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business,  wliich  he 
ed  in  1857  and  carried  on  for  two  years.  He 
had  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Pensyl 
died  Feb.  15,  1910,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue 
church.  Ho  was  a  member  of  that  church,  and 
socially    was    a    Mason,    holding    mi  ip    in 

Shan   J    [i  Lodgi  -  \-.  255,  1".  &  A.  M.    Though  a 
Democrat   in   politics   and   interested  in  the  sue- 
of  his  party,  he  never  took  any  active  part  in 
it-  affairs  or  in  public  matters  of  any  kind. 

In     L859     Mr.    Pensyl    married    Carolina    Fry, 
itet   ol  Joseph   Fry,  and  eleven  children  were 
born  to  their  union:     Lenora,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Alonzo  D.  Smink,  of  Shamokin.  and  has  children. 
Florence  i  Robert  Roth  and  the  mother  of 

two  children,  Robert  L.  and  Harriet  L.)  and  Ren- 
ben  L. :  Joseph  K..  who  lives  at  Paxinos,  in  Ralpho 
township;  Laura,  wife  of  Joseph  B.  Hill,  of  Tharp- 
t  iwn.  Pa.:  Leonard,  a  resident  of  Shamokin:  Da- 
vid J.,  li  ■'  e  Scales,  Northumberland 
county;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
G  ge  Burkert;  Hannah,  living  at  Mount  Car- 
mel :  Cora,  wife  of  Frank  Leader,  a  merchant  of 


Mount  Carmel;  Bertha  M.,  who  died  in  infancy: 
Oscar  \Y. :  and  Carrie  F.,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Rutherford  Hayes. 

<  isear  W.  Pensyl  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  home  locality  and  was  n 
on  the  home  farm.     He  also  learned  the  butc 
trade,   and  when   nineteen  year-  of  age  can 
Shamokin,  where  lie  found  employment  with   M. 
Croninger,   remaining  with   him  for  a   perioi 

ars.     Following  that  experience  he  was  em- 

d  by  A.  L.  Winner  for  six  years,  and  in  1906, 
in  company  with  Thomas  II.  Paul,  he  bought  out 
.lames  IP   -  .  the  well  known  butcher  at  Xo. 

in  I  South  Market  street,  where  Paul  &  Pensyl  are 
doing  a  profitable  business.    Tin--  young  partners 
are    both    enterprising    and    hard-working    > 
men.  and  they  are  not  only  winning  material  suc- 
cess 'nit  also  high  standing  among  the  most  stih- 

tial  business  men  of  the  borough.  That  Mr. 
Pensyl    is   considered   a   reliable  and   trustworthy 

g  man  i-  evidenced  from  the  fact  that  though 
he  is  a  Democral  in  a  Republican  ward — the  Sixth 
— he  was  elected  to  the  borough  council  in  1910. 

lily    he   has   numerous    connections,    holding 
membership  in  Lodgi    No.  355,  B.  P.  0.  Elks:  the 
I.  0.  (i.  P.:  dr.  0.  U.  A.   M.:  K.  of  M. ;  Modern 
man:  Our  Land  of  Shamokin,  and  the  Mer- 
chants Associal 

On  Dec,  25,  1905,  Mr.  Pensyl  married  Rosie  L. 
ge  Getz,  a  well  known  resi- 
dent of   Shamokin,  and   they   reside   at   Xo.    104 
South  Market  street,  which  property  he  purchased 
Jitne  13,  1910. 

JULIUS    BEHEENT,    farmer    of    Shamokin' 

township,  has  not  been  a  resident  of  that  region 
as  long  as  most  of  his  neighbors,  hut  he  has  made 
a  place  for  himself  anions  -  -  ibstantial  and 
citizens.  He  was  born  June  28,  1851, 
in  eastern  Germany,  son  of  Louis  and  Augusta 
(Raher)  Behrent,  The  father  was  a  miller,  and 
that  occupation  in  Germany  until  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  The  moth- 
nently  came  to  America,  passing  the  re- 
mainder of  her  days  at  the  home  of  her  son  Julius, 
and  dying  June  19,  1900,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight.  She  was  buried  at  Shamokin.  Louis  and 
Augusta  Behrent  had  the  following  children: 
Amelia.  Adelina,  Annie,  Leo.  August,  Lupoid  and 
Julius. 

Julius  Behrent  learned  the  trade  of  miller  and 
followed  it  while  he  lived  in  his  native  land.  In 
1873  he  came  to  America,  landing  at  Xew  York 
City  June  9th  of  that  year,  and  he  spent  two  and 
a  half  years  there,  in  the  employ  of  a  railroad  com- 
pany. From  there  he  came  to  Shamokin.  Pa., 
where  he  was  engaged  at  mining  for  eleven  yi 
at  the  end  of  that  time  buying  his  present  farm,  in 
Shamokin  township,  from  M.  H.  Kulp.  This  place 
consists  of  pm  acres,  and  Mr.  Behrent  has  since 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  (  OUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


661 


devoted  all  Iris  time  to  its  cultivation,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful.  I  lis  produce  is  dis- 
posed  of  at  the  Shamokin  markets,  which  he  at- 
tends. Mr.  Behrent  has  not  taken  any  part  in  the 
public  affairs  of  his  adopted  community,  although 
he  is  interested  in  the  general  welfare  and  ready 
in  support  an)  measures  for  the  universal  good. 
Hi  i-  a  Republican  on  political  questions,  and  in 
religion  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  hold- 
ing membership  at  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Behrent  married  Wilhelmina  Krum,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Edward  Krum. 
Thej  bave  eight  children,  namely:  Louis,  at  pres- 
ent living  in  Jersey  City;  Susan,  married  to 
Charles  Dunkelberger ;  Annie,  married  to  George 
Bodsoskie;  Prank,  living  in  Jersey  City;  Minnie, 
at  Imnie:  Edward;  Martha,  and  Adeline. 

.1.  WESLEY  MARKS,  of  Ralpho  township, 
storekeeper  and  assistant  postmaster  at  Bear  Gap, 
has  done  business  in  this  section  of  Northumber- 
land county  for  a  number  of  years  and  has  a  wide 
acquaintance  here.  He  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  Pa.,  April  23,  1862,  son  of  Jonas  Marks 
and  grandson  of  George  .Marks.  His  great-grand- 
father came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania. George  Marks  lived  at  New  Media. 
Columbia  county,  and  died  there.  He  was  a  life- 
long farmer. 

Jonas  Marks,  lai her  of  J.  Wesley  Marks,  was 
born  in  Columbia  county.  He  was  a  carpenter  bj 
trade  and  also  followed  farming.  In  1890  he  went 
mil  to  York  county.  Nebr.,  where  lie  died  in  1907. 
Hi-  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Eaup, 
died  in  Columbia  county.  Of  their  four  children. 
Elizabeth,  Ida.  Minnie  and  .1.  Wesley,  all  but  the 
last  named  arc  in  the  \\  est 

■1.  Wesley  Marks  attended  the  public  schools  and 
was  reared  upon  the  farm.  When  nineteen  years 
old  he  began  clerking  for  J.  K.  Pensyl,  with  whom 
he  remained  five  years,  at  the  end  of  that  period 
going  M  Mount  (amid,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  liquor  business.  In  that  connection  he 
became  well  known  throughout  this  district,  fol- 
lowing that  line  tor  nine  years,  after  which  he 
bought  .nit  tin-  hotel  at  Helfenstein,  Pa.  He  con- 
ducted it  only  a  short  time,  however,  when  he 
sold  out  and'  purchased  tin'  "Elysburg  lintel." 
which  he  carried  on  for  four  years.  Tie  sold  that 
place  to  G.  G.  Adams,  and  on  May  5,  1910,  bought 
out  the  store  of  Nathan  G.  Adams  at  Bear  Gap, 
where  he  is  now  located.  He  is  also  assistant  to 
Jacob  Leisenring,  the  postmaster.  Mr.  Mark.-  is 
a  business  man  of  substantial  qualities,  a  -end  cit- 
izen, and  enjoys  high  standing  among  his  fellow 
men.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  connection 
and  socially  belongs  to  the  Elks  and  the  Sons  o£ 
Veterans,  both  at  Mount  Carmel,  being  entitled 
to  membership  in  the  latter  organization  through 
his  father's  service  in  the  Civil  war. 


Mr.  Marks  married  Ida  A.  Fegely,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Fegely,  and  they  have  had  two  children. 
both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

Cornelius  Fegely,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Marks, 
was  horn  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer 
h\  occupation,  owning  a  large  tract  in  Maxatawny 
township,  near  Bowers  station.  He  died  upon  his 
farm.  His  vile.  Annie  (Heffner),  is  buried  at 
Bowers.  Their  children  were :  Isaac,  Mary  (mar- 
ried Charles  Kline)  and  James  (died  in  Reading, 
Pa.). 

Isaac  Fegi  ly,  father  of  Mrs.  Marks,  was  born  in 
Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county,  and  followed 
farming  and  hotel-keeping,  having  a  hotel  at  Mon- 
terey, in  Maxatawny  township.  He  died  in  Allen- 
town.  Pa.,  Au».  -.';'.  1907,  and  his  wife,  Lydia  C. 
(Leibensperger),  died  at  Mount  Carmel.  Pa.. 
March  24,  1899.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Ida  A..  .Mrs.  .1.  Wesley  Marks:  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
J.  M.  Christ,  a  merchant  of  Mount  Carmel:  Lou- 
isa,  who  died  young;  and  Harry  C,  who  is  living 
in  New  York  City. 

Benjamin  Leibensperger,  Mrs.  Marks's  maternal 
grandfather,  lived  near  Zion's  church  in  Maxa- 
tawny township.  Berks  county,  and  followed  farm- 
ing, lie  and  his  wife  Lydia  (Guildin)  are  buried 
at  that  church.  Their  children  were:  Reuben; 
Caroline,  wife  of  Thomas  Breinig;  David,  living 
at  Allentown  :  Lydia  C,  who  married  Isaac  Fegely : 
Susan,  Mrs.  James  Fegely:  Edward,  who  died 
voting;  Allen,  living  at  New  Ringgold;  Bebecca, 
unmarried,  who  is  a  teacher  at  Allentown;  Ellen, 
Mrs.  Sipe;  Oscar,  living  at  Allentown:  and  Mary, 
widow  of  Nathan  Wolbert. 

S(  IHADEL.  This  family  is  said  to  lie  descended 
from  Urban  Schadel,  who  was  a  German  by  birth. 
(  inning  to  Berks  county.  Pa.,  about  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  when  the  Indians  still 
roamed  the  forest  and  were  his  neighbors,  tra- 
il ii  ion  states  that  he  located  at  a  place  in  Green- 
wich township,  where  there  was  an  apple  orchard 
in  a  woods.  lie  had  a  son,  Heinrich  Schadel 
(spelled  "Seheddel"  on  his  tombstone),  who  was 
born  May  24,  1761,  and  died  Nov.  22,  1828.  He 
wa-  a  man  of  small  stature.  His  wife.  Eve  Leisen- 
ring. was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  horn  Jan.  5, 
1769,  and  died  April  7.  1856.  Both  are  buried  at 
Zion's  Union  Church,  near  Klingerstown — locally 
known  as  Klingers  Church.  There  is  also  a 
Klingerstown  Church,  the  latter  standing  in  the 
village. 

Iloinricli  Schadel  came  from  Berks  county  to 
Northumberland  county,  settling  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  grandson  Moses,  who  is  a  bachelor, 
the  farm  having  remained  in  the  family  name 
continuously.  Some  of  the  old  buildings  Heinrich 
Schadel  erected  arc  now  crumbling,  the  wall  of  a 
house  standing  in  a  meadow  being  almost  in  ruins, 
lie  was  an  excellent  wood   worker  and  mechanic. 


668 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


making  spinning  wheels,  reels,  flax  brakes,  and 
various  other  devices  fashioned  of  wood.  His  wife 
Eve  (Leisenring)  bore  him  fourteen  children,  as 
follows:  Jonas;  Solomon  (1790,-1857);  Gideon 
(1794-1848;  wife  Maria,  L795-1850) ;  Ja- 
cob; David  (1796-1876);  Johannes  (1799-1862)  ; 
George;  Samuel;  Daniel  (1801-1833);  Abraham 
L.;  Hannah,  married  to  John  Ossman;  Catharine, 
married  to  Jacob.  Buffington;  Mrs.  Abraham 
Maurer;  and  one  whose  name  is  forgotten.  All 
those  whose  dates  of  birth  and  death  are  men- 
tioned are  buried  at  Klingers  Church,  where  many 
of  the  name  are  interred.  Some  of  the  others  re- 
moved to  other  counties  and  climes.  The  family 
are  all  Lutheran-. 

Abraham  L.  Scftadel,  son  of  Heinrich.  was  born 
March  20.  L809,  and  died  March  14,  1885.  He 
was  a  farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  owning 
the  farm  now  the  property  of  his  son  Moses,  as  well 
as  another  farm  across  the  township  line  in  1 
Mahantango  township.  Schuylkill  county,  where 
another  son.  Harry  S.,  now  lives.  He  had  a  one- 
half  interest  in  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  now 
owned  by  his  son  Moses.  He  was  a  substantial  man. 
His  wife,  Froeniea  (Schneider),  was  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Eve  (Batteicher)  Schneider.  They 
had  four  children:  Moses  S. ;  Catharine,  who 
died  aged  seven  years;  Harry  S.;  and  Ellen  A.. 
who  died  in  infancy. 

CHARLES  H.  SWANK  has  been  a  contractor 
in  Sunbury  for  a  number  of  years,  having  followed 

his  trade  of  stone  mason  as  a  journeyman  for  - 
era]  years  after  settling  in  the  borough,  in  1871, 
and  fin-  a  number  of  years  as  an  independent 
worker,  lb-  was  born  .Ian.  9,  1847,  in  Shamokin 
township.  Northumberland  county,  son  of  Sol- 
omon  Swank  and  grandson  of  Peter   Swank. 

Peter  Swank,  born  in  L789,  settled  a  mile  n 
of  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township,  this  county, 
then  known  as  Shamokin  township.  He  followed 
farming.  His  death  occurred  in  1848.  and  he  is 
buried  at  the  Reed  Church.  Like  most  of  his 
family  he  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  and 
In-  served  as  a  member  of  the  council  of  his  church. 
His  wife.  Elizabeth,  born  in  1784,  long  survived 
him.  dying  in  1873.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: William,  born  Feb.  15,  1813,  died  April 
14.  1886,  married  Kaziah,  born  Oct.  19,  1817, 
died  Dee.  28,  1893  (buried  at  Reed's  Church): 
:  Henry  H.,  born  Oct.  22,  1820,  died  Aug. 
19,  1890;  Solomon:  Mary  Ann.  wife  of  Daniel 
Zimmerman.;  Lydia,  wife  of  Daniel  Vought;  Eliz- 
abeth, born  in  January.  1815,  who  died  duly  14. 
.  unmarried. 

Jacob  Swank,  brother  of  Peter,  was  born  Oct 
16.  1791,  and  died  July  14.  1863.    His  wife  Mary, 
born  .Tune  15,    1790,  died  dan.    18,    1877.     Their 
son   Peter   died   Jan.    14.    1853,   aged   twenty-two 


years.  Their  daughter  Catharine,  wife  of  Morris 
Emerson,  died  dan.  I?.  1846,  aged  twenty-six 
years. 

Solomon  Swank,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in  1811 
and  died  in  1849.  He.  too.  is  buried  at  L' 
Church.  He  lived  in  Rush  township,  where  he 
owned  his  house  and  a  lot  of  some  thirty  , 
and  he  enjoyed  a  large  custom  as  a  shoemaker,  be- 
ing one  of  the  best  known  men  of  his  trade  in  the 
locality.  In  those  days  shoes  were  made  entirely 
by  hand,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  two 
apprentices,  George  Deibler  and  a  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man, tlie  former  being  his  brother-in-law.  He  was 
buried  at  Reed's  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  prom- 
inent Lutheran  member,  as  were  many  of  the  name 
living  around  Elysbuig  A  large  number  of 
Swanks  are  buried  at  that  church.  He  sen 
deacon,  and  on  one  occasion,  when  the  church 
was  locked  a-  the  result  of  some  controversy,  he 
crawled  through  a  window  and  opened  the  d< 
Hi-  wife.  Mary  (or  Polly)  Deibler.  daughter  of 
Elizabeth  Deibler.  is  buried  in  Rom- 
fret  Manor  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  They  were  the 
parents  of  only  one  child.  Charles  Henry. 

Charles  Henry  Swank  received  the  educational 
advantages  afforded  by  the  township  schools,  which 
he  attended  for  about  two  months  a  year.  He 
was  reared  to  farming,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
stonemason  in  his  young  mauhood.  Coming  to 
Sunbury  in  1871.  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for 
Jacob  Bartholomew  about  eight  years  and  then  he- 
gan  contracting,  in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 

--  nl.  At  times  he  keeps  as  many  as  nine  men 
employed.  Mr.  Swank  has  done  the  mason  work 
on  a  number  of  local  school  buildings,  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  original  U.  B.  church,  put  up 
the  wall  for  the  Sunbury  Safe  Deposit  &  Trust 
Company,  the  -tone  work  of  the  Episcopal  parish 
the  East  End  hardware  store,  the  D.  R. 
Zartman  -tore,  and  many  other  well  constructed 
buildings  in  the  borough.  lb'  has  also  done  con- 
siderable work  in  another  branch  of  his  business, 
the  laying  of  flagstone,  having  in  one  year  laid 
thirtv-seveii  carloads  of  flagstone,  and  he  also  deal- 
in  that  commodity.  He  has  prospered  by  good 
management  and  thrift,  and  has  won  respect  by 
an  honorable  career  of  industry  and  honest  dealing. 
Be  has  served  six  years  as  constable  in  Sunbury. 

In  1868  Mr.  Swank  married  Maria  Alice  Bloom. 
j  iter  of  Henry  and  Maria  (Wolf)  Bloom,  and 
lour  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Prof.  Ed- 
ward W.  is  engaged  in  teaching  grammar  school 
in  Sunburv:  Solomon  E.  died  when  five  months 
old:  Mary  died  in  her  sixth  month;  Lestie  I.  mar- 
ried Frank  E.  Heddings  and  they  reside  in  Sun- 
bury (they  have  one  daughter  Hazel  A.).  Mr. 
Swank  and  his  family  are  members  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  ('(MATY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


669 


HARRY  E.  II  AT  ['T.  member  of  the  firm  of 
Haupt  Brothers,  butchers,  of  Shamokin,  was  burn 
in  that  borough,  July  2,  1879,  son  of  Benjamin 
Haupt.  The  family  history  is  given  in  full  else- 
where. He  attended  the  local  schools  and  under 
his  father  learned  the  butcher's  trade,  remaining 
with  his  father  until  the  tatter's  death,  after  which 
he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  brother 
William  T.  They  have  their  place  of  business  at, 
the  i>ld  stand  at  the  corner  of  Mulberry  and  Mar- 
ket streets,  Shamokin,  and  have  established  a  large 
trade,  in  tin  grocer}  as  well  as  the  meat  line.  Mr. 
Haupt  i-  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  Lutheran  in 
religion,  and  socially  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans, I  lie  1.  ( ).  (i.  U.  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the 
Knights  mi'   Pythias. 

On  .Ian.  29,  1898,  Mr.  Haupt  married  Gertrude 
E.  Shuey,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  Shuey, 
of  Shamokin,  and  they  have  had  six  children: 
Joseph  II..  dr..  Catherine  (deceased),  Sarah.  Al- 
ma. Josiab  1.'.  (deceased  I  and  Harry. 

JEREMIAH  LENKER,  who  has  been  a  farm- 
er in  Rockefeller  township  fur  a.  number  of  years. 
was  born  March  7,  1850,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, this  county,  in  which  region  the  Lenkers  have 
been  settled  for  man}  years.  Mr.  Lenker  is  a  son 
el'  G 'ge  Lenker  and  grandson  of  Simon  Lenker. 

One  Adam  (or  John  Adam)  Lenker.  evidently 
the  firsl  of  the  family  in  settle  here,  was  a  native 
of  Switzerland,  born  Dec.  1'.'.  1765.  He  located  in 
territory  m<>»  embraced  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  followed  farming,  the  original  home- 
stead upon  which  lie  settled  being  the  farm 
now  owned  by  David  Bohner.  He  died  March  24, 
is:;  I.  and  is  'buried  at  the  Zion  Church  in  Stone 
Valley,  a-  is  also  his  wile.  Anna  Maria:  she  was 
burn  dune  L5,  1764,  and  died  May  12,  1822. 
Their  children  were:  Michael,  John  Adam.  Ja- 
cob, Polly  (married  John  Witmer)  and  Mary 
(married  William  Schaeffer).  Descendants  of 
the  three  sons  named  are  still  found  in  tin-  region. 

Simon  Lenker.  born  Oct.  28,  1TSS,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  was  probably  el'  this  same 
stock,  but  whether  a  son  of  John  Adam  or  not 
the  records  do  not  show.  'He  owned  a  farm  near 
Hickory  Corners  t  now  owned  by  Samuel  Latsha) 
and  followed  farming  all  Ins  active  life,  dying 
April  28,  is:,?.  Hi-  wife.  Catharine  (Doekey). 
born  Dee.  17,  1789,  died  Dee.  in.  1871.  They 
were  Lutherans,  and  are  buried  at  Stone  Valley 
Church.  They  had  these  children:  Simon,  dr.. 
is  buried  at  Herndon,  Pa.:  Isaac,  born  Jan.  22, 
1818.  died  March  27,  1881,  lived  on  the  home- 
stead; George  is  mentioned  later:  Jonas  owned 
a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead;  Elizabeth  died 
unmarried:  Catharine  married  James  Yeagly. 

George  Lenker,  son  of  Simon,  was  horn  Feb. 
26,  1815,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  there 
owned    the    farm    now    the    property    of    Morris 


Bohner,  a  tract  of  about  one  hundred  acres.  He 
followed  farming  all  his  days.  He  died  June 
17.  1854.  Mr.  Lenker  and  his  family  were  Luth- 
eran members  of  the  Stone  Valley  Church  and  he 
served  the  congregation  in  various  official  capaci- 
ties. Mr.  Lenker  married  Catharine  Snyder, 
daughter  of  John  Dietrich  Snyder,  also  of  Lower 
Mahanoy.  and  she  survived  him  many  years,  dy- 
ing Si.pt.  (I.  lssT.  aged  seventy-six  years,  three 
months,  ten  days.  Two  children  were  horn  to 
this  union:  Mary,  who  married  Isaac  Radel;  and 
Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah  Lenker  was  reared  to  farm  life  until 
he  was  seventeen,  ai  which  time  he  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  tanner.  He  followed  that  occupation 
until  1880.  in  which  year  he  returned  to  farm- 
ing, locating  in  Toad  valley,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  After  sis  years  at  that  place  he  moved 
his  family  to  Limestone,  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  he  was  also  located  for  sis  years.  f!e- 
turning  to  Lower  Mahanoy,  he  farmed  there  for 
nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period,  in  1900, 
lie  settled  on  his  preseni  farm  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. There  lie  has  a  tract  of  thirty-six  a,  res, 
located  about  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of 
Sunbury,  on  the  Plum  Creek  road.  Mr.  Lenker 
has  taken  no  part  in  public  affairs  since  his  remov- 
al to  Rockefeller  township,  but  while  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  he  served  nine  years  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  school  directors.  He  is  a  Republican  on 
political  questions,  and  in  religion  he  and  his  fam- 
ily are  Lutherans,  holding  membership  in  Im- 
manuel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  During 
his  residence  in  Lower  Mahanoy  he  served  many 
j'ears  as  deacon  of  his  church. 

On  May  s.  1868,  Mr.  Lenker  married  Caroline 
Boyer,     daughter    of     Benjamin     and     Catharine 

(Stein)    Boyer.    the    for r    a    native   of    Amity 

township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  the  latter  of  Huhley 
township.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.  When  sixteen  years 
old  Mr.  Boyer  came  with  his  parents  to  Stone 
Valley,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
lived  and  died,  lie  was  an  enterprising  and  pros- 
perous agriculturist,  acquiring  the  ownership  of 
farms.  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Lenker  haw  had  six 
children:  (1)  M.  Alma  was  born  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township  and  there  received  her  earlj  edu- 
cation, later  attending  Susquehanna  University,  at 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.  She  began  teaching  public  school 
in  1892,  receiving  her  Srst  license  from  Prof.  Ira 
Shipman,  then  county  superintendent,  and  has 
taught  every  term  since,  three  terms  in  Lower 
Mahanoy,  three  terms  in  Upper  Augusta  and  nine 
term-  in  Rockefeller  township.  In  1901  she  was 
granted  a  State  teacher's  permanent  certificate. 
On  Oct.  31,  1905,  she  was  graduated  from  the 
Sunbury  Business  College,  having  completed  a 
course  in  stenography  and  typewriting.  She  is 
an  accomplished  pianist,  and  from  ism  has  taught 
music,    both    vocal    and    instrumental.      Her    high 


670 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


reputation      as     a     teacher     has     been     gained 
onscientious  devotion  to  her  duties  in  even- 
line.        She   married   May   18,    1911,   Warren  L. 
Shipman,   Esq.,  son  of  Saul  Shipman.     (2)   Rev. 
George   [rving  Lenker  received  his  elementary  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
and   taught    school    for   two   terms   in  his   native 
township.     Tie  then  entered  Muhlenberg  College, 
.,;    Allentown,   Pa.,   in    1898,  and  after  his   work 
there  became   a   student   at  the  Lutheran   Theo- 
og  i  a    Seminary,  Gercnantown,  from  which  he  was 
graduated   in   1901.     Ee  was  ordained  at  Phila- 
■  na.  and  stationed  at  (.race  Lutheran  Church, 
Allegheny,   which  he  served   as   pastor   for   seven 
years,  resigning  because  of  failing  health.     He  is 
now  sojourning  at  Southern  Pines.  N.  C,  for  the 
his  health.      (3)    Katie  P.  married   M. 
1  >-         I    igi     and   they  reside  in   Sunbury.      i  i 
John  B.,  a  carpenter,  residing  at   Sunbury,  mar- 
ried   Elsie   Eister.      (5)    Lucy  J.  died   unmarried, 
the   age   of   eighteen   years,   and    is   buried    at 
Wolf's   <        -    li'  I  Emanuel)    Church  in   Rock- 

efeller township.     (6)   Ulysses  EL,  who  gradua 
from   the    Sunbury   high   school   in    1910,   is   now 
ii\  ing  with  his  pan 

ROBERT  L.  RIEGER,  of  Herndon,  Northum- 
berland county,  has  been  in  business  at  that  point 
since  1902,  and  ah iduets  two  farms  in  Jack- 
son township.  He  is  a  progressive  citizen,  and 
has  been  a  useful  man  in  various  circles,  taking 
an  intelligent  interesl  in  the  general  welfare  and 
managing  his  own  affairs  with  the  good  judgment 
which  has  won  the  ecogi  ition  of  Ids  fellow  men 
in  all  the  assoi  iations  of  life. 

The  Riegers  are  of  German  origin.  Christian 
Rieger,  gn  it-grandfather  of  Robert  L.  Rii 
lived  at  Gien,  an  independent  walled  city  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  was  a  man  of  fine  intellect 
ami  an  able  minister,  a  servant  of  the  king.  The 
famil      elongei  German  nobility. 

Jolm  Rieger,  sun  of  Christian  Rieger,  passed 
all  his  life  in  Germany.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade  and  occupation,  and  also  a  city  police- 
man for  vears.  He  was  the  father  of  sixteen  chil- 
.  only  four  of  whom,  however,  reached  ma- 
turity, the  other  twelve  dying  young. 

Caspei     Riegi    .    eldest   son   of   John,   was   born 
Dec.    20,    1833,    in    Gien,    and   came    to   America 
in  May,  1852,  landing  at  Philadelphia,  where  he 
spenl  two  years.     After  a  short  residence  at  Read- 
ing,  Pa.,  he  came  to   Herndon.   and  he  followed 
his  trade  of  stone  cutter  until   189-1.     Meantime 
cquired  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, which  his  family  cultivated.     He  is  now  liv- 
ed, in  Jackson  township.    During  the  Civil 
war   Mr.    Rieger   served   his    adopted   country   as 
a    member    of    Company    B,    172d    Pennsylvania 
lent,  in   September,  1862,  and  in  Company 
A.   208th   Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 


fantry, with  which  command  he  saw  active  serv- 
ice, taking  part  in  the  engagement  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  in  the  Belticld  raid  on  Dec.  10-11-1?. 
1861.  next  a!  Hatcher'-  Run.  in  Virginia  (where 
the  regimen!  remained  one  week,  returning  thence 
to  Petersburg),  at  the  taking  of  Fort  -Steadman 
(1865),  the  taking  of  Fort  Mahone  (April  2, 
L865  i  and  the  capture  of  other  forts.  He  married 
Arelia  Sowers,  who  died  in  1801.  at  the  age  of 
fifty-sis  years,  and  ten  children  were  born  to  them: 
Charles    H.     is   a   farmer   of   Jackson   township ; 

re  W.  lives  in  Vancouver.  Wash.:  Jolm  died 
in  infancy :  Ellen  married  Wesley  Wolf,  of  Sun- 
bury:  Robert  L.  lives  at  Herndon:  Elizabeth  M. 
married  William  Geiger,  of  Sunbury;  William  F. 
is  deceased:  Joseph  M.  is  at  Vancouver,  Wash.: 
Samuel  i-  engaged  in  farming  in  Jackson  town- 
ship;  Francis  J.   lives  at   Portland,  Oregon. 

Hack  in  the  seventeenth  century  one  of  the 
forebears  of  the  Riegi  re  was  a  general  in  the  reg- 
ular army.  He  was  arreted  and  fried  for  treason, 
and  was  sentenced,  and  during  his  imprisonment 
composed  and  penned  a  number  of  hymns  still 
in  use  in  the  Lutheran  Hymnal.  He  was  subse- 
quently  pardoned    and    reinstated    in    his    former 

.  and  when  he  retired  from  active  service 
received  a  letter  of  honor  from  :  I  _   for  faith- 

ful service.  This  letter  descended  to  the  eldest 
son  in  each  generation,  and  Casper  Rieger,  being 
in  the  direct  line,  was  entitled  to  it.  but  neglected 
the  privilege,   leaving   the   country   when   he   was 

een  years  of  age.  Gien  had  been  captured 
'••}  Napoleon  and  given  to  the  Kingdom  of  Wurt- 
_.  and  though  the  officers  of  the  independent 
city  escaped  with  their  lives  they  had  nothing 
left  to  boast  of,  and  the  influence  of  the  Riegers 
in  Gien  was  at  an  end.  Hence  Casper  Rieger, 
who  believed  very  much  in  independent  govern- 
ment, came  to  America  without  his  ■•letter  of 
honor." 

Robert  L.  Rieger  was  born  April  26,  1864,  in 
Jackson  township,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  township  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farming, 
and  gave  all  his  attention  to  agriculture  for  some 
vears,  in  1889  purchasing  White  island,  at  Hern- 
don. which  contains  131  acres  of  valuable  land. 
He  lived  there  for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  In 
1902  he  settled  at  Herndon,  engaging  in  his  pres- 
ent line  of  business,  which  he  has  enlarged  and 
added  to  to  meet  the  demands  of  trade  until  his 
and  interests  are  now  quite  extensive.  He 
is  engaged  as  a  manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in 
bill  lumber,  flooring,  shingles,  siding,  molding, 
window  sash,  doors,  bricks,  shingle  Viands,  coal, 
and  similar  commodities,  doing  a  thriving  busi- 
•  --.  which  he  has  built  up  by  enterprising  and 
mmodating  methods.    He  also  operates  a  farm 

•8  ai  res.  and  one  of  sixty-six  acres,  in  Jack- 
son township.  Mr.  Rieger  is  president  of  the 
hoard   of  health   of  the  borough  of  Herndon  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


671 


has  given  useful  service  in  that  capacity.  He  is 
independent  politically. 

On  Dec.  13,  1879,  Mr.  Rieger  married  Elmira 
Lenker,  daughter  <>r  Henry  and  Mary  (Witmer) 
Lenker,  of  Mahantango,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had 
three  children:  Alice  married  T.  S.  Updegrove, 
who  is  nofl  engaged  in  farming  White  islaiid; 
Charles  I.  is  a  farmer  in  Jackson  township; 
Clinton  \V.  is  also  a  farmer.  Mr.  Rieger  and  hij 
iainilx  are  members  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church  al  Herndon,  in  which  he  is  quite  active, 
serving  at  present  as  trustee  of  the  church  and 
ti  .i'  In  r  of  a  large  men's  class  in  the  Sunday  school. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Perkasie  Park  Normal 
Assembl}  <  !oui  - 

CONRAD  YEAGER,  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
I'a..  about  the  year  1800  settled  near  Elysburg,  in 
Northumberland  county.  He  had  a  son,  Conrad, 
Jr.,  and  a  number  of  daughters. 

Conrad  Yeager,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Berks  county 
aboul  the  year  1795,  and  when  a  child  came  with 
Ins  parents  to  Northumberland  county,  settling  in 
Rush  township,  lie  was  a  farmer.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  in  his  earlier  life,  but  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  a  Baptist,  lie  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
(  Reed),  are  buried  al  Reed's  Church.  Their  elev- 
en children  were  :  John,  Absalom,  Conrad.  Henry. 
Solomon,  Jacob,  Elizabeth  (married  Isaac  Ilile), 
Esther  (married  Christopher  Rhine).  Deborah 
(married  Joseph  Haas),  Sarah  (married  Leonard 
Boyer)  and  Mary  (married  Jacob  Pensyl). 

Solon Yeager,   born  in  Shamokin  township 

July  18,  1837,  now  resides  at  Sunbury,  Pa.  He 
married  Losanna  Dawson,  and  they  have  children : 
,1.  Truman,  Clarence,  Reuben,  Lizzie.  Emma  and 
Ella. 

JOHN  A.  FERSTER,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Little  Mahanoy  township,  has  passed  all  his  life 
there  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  Several 
generations  of  Fersters  have  lived  in  the  lower  part 
of  Northumberland  county.  One  William  Perster 
-.•tiled  there  prior  to  the  organization  of  the 
county,  m  1772,  and  in  1778,  in  the  lisl  of  tax- 
ables  of  Mahanoy  township  (which  then  included 
all  that  pari  of  the  county  lying  south  of  Line 
Mountain),  were  the  name-  of  William.  George, 
Peter  and  George  Ferster,  dr..  William  being  the 
father  of  George  and  Peter.  William  Ferster  died 
when  his  son  Peter  was  a  young  man.  and  is 
buried  on  his  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
in  a  field  on  the  east  side.  Other  persons  were 
buried  near  him.  hut  the  plowshare  now  turns 
the  sod  over  hi-  grave.  He  owned  the  land  which 
is  now  the  property  of  the  Joseph  Haas  estate 
near  Dornsife.  His' children  were:  George,  Leon- 
ard. Peter,  Michael.  Sally  (married  Bernhard 
Adam).  Lvdia  (Mrs.  Miller).  Catharine  (married 
David   Dunkelberger),   Eve    (born  July   8,   1780, 


died  Nov.  30,  L830,  married  Christophel  Dunkel- 
berger), and  Maria  Magd.   (horn  March  5,  1791, 

died  October,  LSC.  married  Wilhelm  Schneider). 

Among  the  taxables  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship when  the  first  tax  was  collected,  in  1814, 
after  the  township  was  organized  (in  1813),  were 
Leonard  and  John  Ferster. 

Peter  and  John  Ferster  had  the  first  eight-day 
clock  ever  in  use  in  Little  Mahanoy  township; 
this  was  in  1801.  They  bought  it  in  Reading, 
Pa.  The  Fersters  were  noted  for  their  strength, 
John  and  Peter  performing  the  feat  of  lifting  a 
full  barrel  and  drinking  out  of  the  bunghole.  In 
Washington  township,  this  county,  there  is  a  val- 
r\  known  a-  "Foersters  Thai."  Fersters  Valley. 
In  the  early  records  the  spelling  is  sometimes 
Furster. 

We  have  the  following  record  of  the  four  sons 
of  William  Ferster:  George  Ferster  became  a  farm- 
er and  settled  in  the  State  of  Indiana.  He 
married  and  had  a  family. 

Leonard  Ferster,  born  March  23,  1777,  died 
Aug.  3,  1813.  He  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, where  he  owned  the  farm  now  belonging  to 
Daniel  W.  Wirt.  His  wife.  Anna  Barbara  (flet- 
ridi),  horn  Aug.  17,  1780,  died  Jan.  6,  1853, 
and  they  are  buried  at  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church. 
The  Fersters  are  Lutherans  in  religious  connec- 
tion. To  Leonard  and  Vnna  Barbara  (Hetrich) 
Ferster  were  born  children  as  follows:  Peter  (men- 
tioned below),  Sally.  Betzy  (married  Jacob  Phil- 
ips), Catharine  (married  Samuel  Wagner)  and 
Ge  irge  (  mentioned  below  ). 

Peter  Ferster  located  in  Washington  township, 
where  he  took  up  considerable  lain!  in  what,  is  now 
known  a-  "Fersters  Valley,"  practically  all  the  res- 
idents being  Fersters,  and  four  adjoining  farms 
belonging  to  Fersters.  reter  Ferster  lived  on  the 
Hart  now  owned  by  his  grandsons  Elias  and 
Frank  Ferster  (sons'  of  Simon).  He  was  twice 
married,  his  wives.  Christina  and  Barbara,  respec- 
tively,  being  sisters  and  daughters  of  Michael  Re- 
buck.  To  the  first  union  were  horn  children  as 
follows:  Peter:  Simon,  who  died  March  I.  1001, 
aged  seventy-six  years,  five  months,  eleven  days 
(his  wife  Mary  A.,  horn  Dec.  IS.  1821,  died  Oct. 
29  1880)  :  Daniel:  David,  mentioned  below;  Isaac. 
borp  March  5,  1832,  who  died  "Nov.  10,  1862; 
and  John,  mentioned  below.  The  -on  John  was 
only  fourteen  weeks  old  when  the  mother  died, 
m  1838.  By  his  second  wife  Peter  Ferster  had 
a  -mi  George,  who  married  Peggy  Thomas:  they 
live  in  .Much  Valley,  in  Washington  township. 

Michael  Ferster  (son  of  William),  born  Feb. 
27,  1787,  lived  and  died  on  a  -mall  trad  near 
Rebuck.  He  had  a  farm  farther  up  the  valley. 
Hi-  death  occurred  Nov.  is.  1840,  and  his  wife 
Lvdja  (  Kepler),  born  Nov.  27,  1792,  died  Jan. 
17,  1858.  They  are  buried  at  the  1 1  ininu  I  Church. 
Their  children' were  all   daughters:   One  daughter 


672 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


married  Henry  Reitz  (he  was  married  four  times)  : 
Kate  married  Peter  Rebuck  (known  as  "Curly 
Peter"  Rebuck) ;  Sarah  married  Peter  Rebuck 
(known  as  "Little  Peter""  Rebuck,  also  as  "Levvy 
Peter"):  Lydia  married  Peter  Rebuck  (known  as 
"Pette  Balser"  Rebuck;  she  was  the  "Rod  Lvd")  ; 
Harriet  married  Joseph  Rebuck;  Hannah  married 
Samuel  Malick. 

Petri1  Ferster,  son  of  Leonard,  lived  for  some 
years  on  the  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township 
now  owned  by  Daniel  W.  Wirt,  which  was  his 
father's  homestead  and  may  have  been  a  part  of 
the  land  belonging  to  his  grandfather,  William 
Ferster.  A  log  house  still  (1910)  standing  on 
this  farm  was  built  by  Leonard  Ferster.  Georgi 
Ferster,  brother  of  Peter,  obtained  nineteen  acres 
of  this  farm.  In  his  later  years  Peter  Ferster 
crossed  the  Susquehanna  and  settled  near  Richfield, 
in  Juniata  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  and  is  bur- 
ied. His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Peifer,  and 
among  their  children  was  a  son  George,  who  lived 
at  Richfield  and  reached  an  advanced  aye. 

George  Ferster,  son  of  Leonard,  was  the  grand- 
father of  John  A.  Ferster,  and  lived  at  the  same 
place  his  grandson  occupies,  though  he  had  a 
much  smaller  tract.  He  was  horn  March  ".'1.  1804, 
and  died  Oct.  36,  1830,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-six  years,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  Emanuel 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  He  married  Barbara  Rebuck,  and  they 
had  two  children,  Adam  and  Catharine,  the  latteT 
the  wife  of  John  Bohner. 

Adam  Ferster,  -on  of  George,  was  born  on  the 
farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  hi-  son 
John  A.  Ferster  now  lives,  and  passed  his  entire 
life  there,  dying  Jan.  14.  1S!)7,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years,  six  months,  twenty-eight  days. 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  followed  the  trade  in 
addition  to  farming,  having  a  shop  which  is  still 
standing  on  hi-  son's  farm,  along  the  road.  He 
was  considered  a  good  mechanic,  and  had  plenty 
id'  work  to  do  when  the  timber  on  the  surround- 
ing mountains  was  cut.  He  was  an  active  and 
intelligent  man.  interested  in  everything  that  con- 
cerned the  genera]  welfare,  and  held  various  politi- 
cal and  church  offices,  being  willing  to  do  his 
share  as  a  good  citizen.  In  politics  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. Hi-  firs!  wife.  Catharine  (Bohner).  daugh- 
ter of  John  Bohner,  is  buried  at  the  Little  Maha- 
noy Church.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren: William,  who  lives  at  Snydertown,  Pa.; 
Emeline,  wife  of  David  Long;  and  Aaron.  Mr. 
Fei-tei'-  second  marriage  was  to  Rebecca  Runkle, 
who  was  born  Oct.  13.  1811.  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Susanna  (Brown)  Runkle.  and  died  Jan.  IT. 
1908.  Adam  and  Rebecca  Ferster  are  buried  at 
St.  Peter's  Church,  Mahanoy.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Susan,  married  to  Henry 
Kahler;  George  E.,  who  is  unmarried  :  and  John  A. 

Aaron    Ferster,   -on   of  Adam    Ferster  and    Iris 


lii-t  wife,  was  horn  April  7.  1859,  in  Little  Ma- 
hanoy, in  which  township  he  is  Mill  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  place,  and 
worked  for  his  father  until  twenty-five  years  old,  • 
at  which  time  he  married  and  moved  to  Shamokin, 
where  he  lived  for  ten  years,  meantime  working 
in  the  coal  mines,  for  the  Reading  and  Pennsyl- 
vania Coal  Companies.  In  December,  1895,  he 
moved  with  his  family  hack  to  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  settling  on  a  farm  which  adjoins  his 
father'-  homestead  to  the  northeast.  This  place 
was  one  time  the  Daniel  Wagner  homestead,  and 
Mr.  Ferster  owns  a  nice  tract  of  sixty-six  acres, 
some  of  which  i.-  timberland.  lie  is  i  agaged  prin- 
cipally in  truck  farming,  and  attends  market  at 
Shamokin  every  week.  Mr.  Ferster  i-  a  Democral 
and  ha-  officiated  at  election-,  and  he  was  school 
director  for  a  number  of  years,  his  last  term  ex- 
piring  in  1910.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Emanuel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 
which  he  is  sen  ing  a-  deacon. 

On  Aug.  31,  1884,  Mr.  Ferster  married  Mary 
J.    Hoffman,  daughter  of  John  and    Sarah    (  Het- 

Hoffnian.  of  Washington  township,  and  they 
have  hud  a  family  of  seven  children:  Cora,  who 
died  young;  Mabel  M..  who  married  George  Bing- 
aman;  Edna  S. ;  Robert  L..  who  died  young:  An- 
nie P.:  Katie  A.:  and  Adam  Fred. 

John  A.  Ferster.  son  of  Adam  and  Rebecca 
(Runkle)  Ferster,  was  born  Ann.  13,  1875,  in 
Little  Mahanoy  town-hip.  and  ha-  passed  all  his 

in  the  farm  where  he  resides,  which 
belonged  in  turn  to  his  grandfather  and  father. 
His  taller  added  to  the  original  tract,  and  the 
farm  at  preseni  contains  sixty-five  acres,  which 
Mr.  Ferster  devotes  to  general  crops.  He  sells 
hi-  produce  at  Shamokin.  where  he  attends  market 

week.  Mr.  Ferster  is  one  ol  the  energ 
and  intelligent  young  farmer-  of  Ins  section,  has 
held  the  office  of  school  director  since  lf>00.  and 
has  been  high  constable  of  the  township  since 
1902.  For  one  year  he  was  supervisor.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  Emanuel  Evangelical  Church 
(Little  Mahanoy),  to  which  his  family  also  be- 
long; he  was  deacon  of  tins  church. 

On  Feb.  1.  L898,  Mr.  Ferster  married  Sal  lie 
Raker,  daughter  of  [saac  and  Wilhelmina  (Zart- 
imn)  Raker,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and 
they  have  had  three  children:  Ida.  a  daughter 
that  died  in  infancy,  and  Adam. 

David  Ferster.  -,in  of  Peter  and  grandson  of 
William,  was  horn  March  ■.'.  L828,  in  Washington 
township,  and  died  Aug.  11,  1903,  at  his  home 
in  the  southwest  portion  of  that  district.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  K.  172d  Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  After 
the  war  he  settled  down  to  farming  in  Washing- 
ton township,  where  lie  owned  two  farms,  one  now 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  673 

the  property  of  Ins  son  James,  the  other  owned  Zartinan,  and  to  them  were  bqrn  two  sons,  Daniel 
by  his  son-in-law,  Daniel  Rothermel.  He  was  a  and  Peter  Z.  The  latter,  who  also  lived  in  Fers- 
mnn  of  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  and  served  ters  Valley,  died  March  10,  1890,  aged  thirty-five 
as  school  director  and  overseer  of  the  poor  in  years,  eight  months,  twenty-seven  days:  he  had 
Washington  township.  His  wife  Judith  ( Bros-  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife.  Lovina  (Re- 
in-) was  a  daughter  of  Gottfried  and  Catharine  buck),  dying  Feb.  17,  1894,  aged  twenty-two 
(Klock)  Brosius,  and  died  March  3,  1904,  aged  years,  ten  months,  seventeen  days,  the  mother  of 
seventy-five  years,  eleven  months,  six  days.  David  one  child.  Charles,  who  died  young;  by  his  second 
Ferster  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Urban  wife,  Ellen  J.  Miller,  he  had  one  child.  Alice, 
Church,  ami  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  there,  who  lives  with  her  grandparents. 
The;)  had  children  as  follows:  Marie  E.,  born  Daniel  Ferster,  son  of  John,  was  born  Aug.  9, 
April  22,  1852,  married  Urias  Schremer,  and  they  1870,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  Fersters  Yal- 
are  farming  people  of  Washington  township;  ley  where  he  still  resides.  Until  he  was  of  age  he 
Catharine,  hm-n  Dee.  1,  1854,  married  Daniel  worked  for  his  father,  and  has  since  been  farm- 
Rothermel,  and  they,  too,  are  farming  people  in  ing  on  his  own  account,  in  1900  settling  on  the 
Washington  township;  James  and  Levi  are  men-  place  of  eighty  acres  (formerly  an  Eyster  farm) 
tioned  below;  Sarah,  born  Aug.  14,  1864.  married  where  he  has  since  remained.  The  barn  on  this 
Killian  Philips,  and  they  are  farming  in  Lower  place  was  built  by  David  Eyster  in  1871,  and 
Mahanoy  township;  Emma  J.,  horn  Nov.  12,  1867,  Mr.  Ferster  has  made  a  number  of  improvements 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  If.  Kauffman,  a  farmer  of  on  the  tract  since  he  acquired  it.  He  married 
Washington  township.  Ella  Lebo,  daughter  of  John  and  Polly   (Kobel) 

James  Ferster,  son  of  David,  was  horn  May  Lebo,  late  of  Jackson  township,  and  they  have  one 
20,  1857,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  commenced  daughter,  Carrie  May.  Mr.  Ferster  is  a  Demo- 
to  learn  cigarmaking,  which  trade  he  followed  for  erat,  and  at  present  is  serving  as  school  director 
eight  years.  For  nine  years  he  was  engaged  as  of  Washington  township.  He  and  his  family  are 
store  clerk  in  Mahanoy,  and  since  1887  has  culti-  Lutheran  members  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Ma- 
vated  the  farm  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Charles  Smith,  hanoy,  and  he  is  now  filling  the  office  of  deacon. 
on  the  Pottsville  road  between  Mahanoy  and  Ur- 
ban. In  1880  he  married  Sevilla  Philips,  who  CHARLES  H.  ROTHERMEL,  proprietor  of 
was  born  in  1860  and  died  in  1901,  the  mother  the  "Trevorton  House"  ai  Trevorton,  is  one  of 
of  these  children:  Susan.  Maud,  J.  William  and  the  younger  business  men  of  that  place  who  are 
Gertrude  E.  In  1904  Mr.  Ferster  married  (sec-  by  their  energy  and  enterprise  winning  a  place 
ond)  Cora  Brown,  and  to  them  have  been  horn  among  its  substantial  citizens.  He  was  born  June 
two  children,  John  E.  and  Amanda  S.  5,  1878,  in  Washington  township.  Northumberland 

Levi  Ferster,  son  of  David,  was  born  Dec.  16,  county,  and  comes  of  a  family  long  settled  in 
1859,  and  worked  on  the  farm  for  his  parents  that  section.  His  great-grandfather.  Abraham 
until  he  was  twenty-eight  year-  old.  At  that  time  Rothermel,  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  came 
he  married,  and  in  1889  he  began  to  farm  the  to  Northumberland  county  about  1810  and  set- 
tract  of  141  acres  in  Washington  township  where  tied  in  Washington  township.  He  and  his  wife, 
he  has  since  lived,  and  which  he  now  has  under  Catharine  (Yeager),  both  died  in  that  township. 
a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  In  1891  he  built  the  and  are  buried  there,  at  the  Ilimmel  Church.  They 
present  barn  on  that  property.  He  is  a  prosper-  had  children  as  follows:  Charles,  Martin,  Isaac, 
ous  farmer  and  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Amos,  Katie,  Mrs.  Hoffman  and  Mrs.  Emcrick. 
his  township,  which  lie  has  served  as  school  direct-  Charles  Rothermel.  son  of  Abraham,  was  the 
or  for  nine  years.  He  is  also  prominent  in  church  grandfather  of  Charles  H.  Rothermel.  He  came 
work,  being  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  congrega-  with  his  parents  from  Berks  county  and  lived  in 
tion  at  the  Himmel  Church,  which  he  has  served  Washington  township,  where  he  owned  a  farm 
officially  as  deacon,  elder  and.  at  present,  trustee,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  twice 
In  L88*i  Mr.  Ferster  married  Mary  A.  Kahler,  married,  the  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  being 
and  they  have  had  children  as  follows:  Katie.  Bower,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children":  Kil- 
Marv  Elizabeth,  Charles  M..  William  I..  John  D.  lian:  Joseph:  Aaron,  who  is  living  at  Mount 
and  Daniel  J.  Pleasant  Mills,  in  Snyder  county,   Pa.;  and  Har- 

Jolm  Ferster.  son  of  Peter  and  grandson  of  riet.  His  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
William,  was  born  July  31,  1838,  in  Jackson  (now  Beisel,  bore  him  the  following  children:  Lena, 
Washington)  township,  where  he  was  reared,  and  Daniel,  Benjamin  F.,  Lewi-.  Mary  and  Sarah. 
throughout  his  active  years  was  a  farmer  in  what  Benjamin  F.  Rothermel,  father  of  Charles  H. 
is  locally  known  as  Fersters  Valley.  He  owns  Rothermel,  was  born  Aug.  9,  1855,  in  Washing- 
ninety-five  acres  of  land,  part  of  his  father's  farm,  ton  township,  and  in  his  early  life  followed  farm- 
In  1863  Mr.  Ferster  married  Harriet  Zartman,  ing.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  for  some 
who  was  born  Oct.  17.  1836,  daughter  of  David  years  on  public  works,  and  he  is  now  working  at 
43 


61  1 


XOETHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  Dunkelberger  colliery.  He  has  made  his 
at  Trevorton  since  1907.  Mr.  RothermeFs  first 
wife,  Emma  (Hoffman),  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Sarah  ( Drumheller)  Hoffman,  died  March  6, 
1880,  and  is  buried  in  Washington  township.  She 
was  the  mother  of  two  children :  Charles  H.  and 
Edward,  the  latter  dying  young.  Mr.  Rothermel 
has  since  married  (second)  Lydia  Brown,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Brown,  and  they  have  had  one 
daughter.  Ida.  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  H.  Piothermel  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  passed  his  boyhood  upon 
the  farm.  When  twelve  years  old  he  began  pick- 
ing slate  at  the  mines  and  later  became  a  regular 
miner,  being  thus  engaged  until  April.  1910.  Be- 
fore  tin-,  in  1905,  he  had  become  interested  in 
the  hotel  business,  but  he  continued  his  work  at 
the  mines  for  several  years,  until  he  felt  that  his 
hotel  business  needed  all  his  attention.  He  is  a 
popular  host  and  has  one  of  the  leading  hotels 
in  the  loealRy,  enjoying  a  well  deserved  patron- 
age.  In  this  connection,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Red  Men  and  the 
( 'ameron  Gun  Club,  he  is  very  well  known.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  and  inter- 
i  sted  m  its  success,  and  during  his  residence  in 
Cameron  township  served  as  a  member  of  the 
election  board.  In  religion  he  unites  with  the 
Reformed  denomination. 

On  May  17,  1902,  Mr.  Rothermel  married 
Lottie  Long,  daughter  of  Felix  and  Lena  Long. 
and  to  them  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Clarence,  Charles  B.,  David  F.  and  El- 
mer E. 

ISAAC    LEPLEY.    who    has    lived    upon    his 
nt    farm    in   Lower   Augusta    township    since 
spring  of  1900.  is  a  native  of  Union  county, 
Pa.,   born   Nov.    26,    1864,   two   miles   from   Win- 
field,  son  of  Isaac  and  Catharine  (Kline)  Lepley. 

The  Federal  Census  Report  of  1790  records 
three  Lepleys  as  heads  of  families:  Adam,  of 
Bradford  county,  l'a..  who  had  a  wife,  four 
under  sixteen  years  old.  and  one  daughter:  Jacob. 
of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  who  had  a  wife. 
seven  spns  under  sixteen  years  of  age  and  four 
daughters;  and  Lawrence  Leply,  of  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  residing  in  Ruscombmanor  township,  who  had 
one  son  above  sixteen  years  of  age.  Of  these. 
Jacob  Lepley  was  probably  the  ancestor  of  the 
family  here  under  consideration.  The  Lepleys 
have  long  been  prominent  among  the  most  re- 
spected residents  of  Union  county.  Several  mem- 
bers of  the  Union  count}'  branch  of  the  family 
red  the  ministry,  and  the  family  was  also  rep- 

sented  in  other  professions. 

In  the  courthouse  at    Sunbury  was   found   the 

following  record  regarding  Michael  "Leapley,"  de- 

•f  administration  were  given  to 


Jacob  Leaplev.  date  Mav  ;.  177v9,  Will  Book  I. 
page  13.  Under  .late  of  June  1?.  1"9.  Will 
Book  I,  page  14,  we  find:  Michael  "Leaply,"  de- 
ceased, administrator  John  Nye. 

Isaac  Lepley.  Sr.,  father  of  Mr.  Isaac  Lepley 
of  Lower  Augusta  township,  hail  two  brothers: 
Joseph,  who  lived  in  Snyder  county,  l'a..  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming:  and  Samuel,  who 
lived  in  thi  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

Isaac  Lepley.  Sr..  was  born  at  Winiield.  in 
Onion  county,  Pa.,  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  met 
with  unusual  prosperity  in  his  undertakings,  ac-' 
quiring  the  ownership  of  three  farms,  two  in  Un- 
ion county  and  one  in  Snyder  county.  The  lat- 
ter contained  forty-five  acres,  and  those  in  Union 
county  comprised  eighty-two  and  forty  acres,  re- 
spectively. The  forty-acre  trad  was  valuable  lime- 
stone land,  and  Mr.  Lepley  erected  three  kilns 
and  burned  lime  on  an  extensive  scale.  His  tal- 
i  n;-  as  a  business  man  were  generally  recognized. 
and  he  was  called  upon  to  serve  his  community 
officially,  being  a  member  of  the  school  board  and 
frequently  serving  the  county  as  juryman.  His 
efficient  services  were  much  appreciated.  He  died 
in  Union  county  about  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixtv- 
eiglit  years,  and  is  buried  at  Kratzerville.  Snyder 
county.  He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  the  Kratz- 
erville Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  was  prom- 
inent, holding  the  offices  of  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  His  second  wife.  Catharine  (Kline),  died 
about  two  years  after  he  did.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Isaac  and  Sarah,  the  lat- 
ter the  wife  of  Jacob  Kreisher.  By  his  first  mar- 
riage .Mr.  Lepley  had  three  sons :  John,  who  lives 
in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  this  county:  Sam- 
uel, who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years ;  and 
Thomas,  who  lives  in  Snyder  county,  three  miles 
from  Winfield.   Pennsylvania. 

Isaac  Lepley  has  followed  farming  all  his  life, 
having  assisted  his  father  during  his  early  life 
and  later  worked  for  others  until  able  to  begin 
on  his  own  account,  which  he  did  in  1892.  In 
-..ring  of  that  year  he  settled  on  what  was 
formerly  the  Emerich  farm  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship,  which  he  had  purchased  shortlj  before,  and 
which  contained  llo  acres.  After  living  there 
for  ten  years  he  sold  the  place  to  Edw.  Campbell, 
and  for  several  years  lived  in  the  Irish  Valley, 
until  he  moved  to  his  present  tract  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta  township,  a  place  of  sixty-seven  acres  which 
he  purchased  from  Franklin  Gonsor.  He  is  a 
reliable  and  valuable  citizen,  and  universally  re- 
spected. 

In  December,  1S'>4.  Mr.  Lepley  married  Flora 
Van  Horn,  daughter  of  Pierce  Van  Horn,  of  Irish 
Valley,  in  Shamokin  township,  and  they  have  two 
sons.  William  P.  and  Edwin  0.  Mr.  Lepley  and 
his  family  are  Lutherans.  In  politics  be  is  a 
Democrat. 


NORTHUMBERLAN 1 1  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


675 


JESSE  (ABEL,  fanner  of  Ralpho  township, 
belongs  to  a  respected  family  of  that  section  of 
Northumberland  county.  The  Cabels  are  of  Ger- 
man extraction.  Joseph  Cabel,  his  grandfather. 
was  extensively  engaged  in  farming  in  Jackson 
township,  this  county,  and  in  his  later  years  went 
West,  where  he  died  about  1865.  His  children 
were:  Daniel,  Abraham,  Christian,  Eliza,  Wilhel- 
niina  and  Elizabeth. 

Christian  Cabel,  sun  of  Joseph,  first  followed 
farming,  bu1  he  was  a  man  of  mechanical  ability 
and  learned  the  trades  of  shoemaker,  stonemason 
and  clockmaker,  at  all  of  which  he  worked.  Com- 
ing to  Ralpho  township  he  took  up  about  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  land,  making  his  home  near 
Weigh  Scale-,  and  following  farming  and  clock- 
making.      Ee   sold   tract   to   Charles   Snyder. 

Ee  in' i  Ins  death  in  1860,  when  about  forty-nine 
years  old,  along  the  pike  between  Schuylkill  Haven 
and  Orwigsbxirg  Landing,  and  is  buried  at  the 
Blue  church  in  Ralpho  township.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(Hensyl),  was  a  daughter  of  George  Eensyl,  who 
lived  in  Mahanoy  township,  this  county.  They 
had  a  large  family,  namely:  Harriet  is  unmar- 
ried: Caroline  married  Isaac  Haas  and  (second) 
George  Eartline;  Eliza  married  Isaac  Hill;  Kate 
married  John  Hoffman;  Sarah  married  Hugh 
Campbell;  Mary  married  James  Adams:  Susan 
married  Adolph  Walbridge ;  Annie  married  Joseph 
Dunkelberger ;  John  died  in  Mifflin  county,  Pa.; 
Allien  is  a  resident  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  business  as  a  druggist;  Jesse  com- 
pletes the  family. 

.}(■<><•  Cabel  was  horn  in  Ralpho  township  April 
1.  1848,  ami  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
on  the  home  place,  working  out  among  farmers 
for  a  tine-  after  commencing  on  his  own  account. 
He  then  found  employment  doing  repair  work  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and  spent 
five  years  in  the  shops  at  Shamokin.  In  1870  he 
located  at  Weigh  Scales,  buying  a  small  tract  of 
land  there  from  Mr-.  Mary  .1.  Snyder,  and  there 
he  has  since  followed  farming,  also  doing  con- 
siderable work  for  the  township.  He  is  an  hon- 
orable man.  and  highly  respected  in  his  neigh- 
borhood for  his  straightforward,  industrious  life. 
.  Mr.  Cabel  married  Lucinda  Adams,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Mary  M.  (Pensyl)  Adams,  and 
they  have  had  children  as  follows:  Franklin  E. 
and  Edward  F...  twins,  both  deceased:  William. 
who  was  accidentally  killed  at  Irish  Valley  when 
fifteen  years  old.  while  hunting:  Millard,  a  barber 
by  trade,  who  live-  at  home:  John,  at  home;  and 
Caroline,  who  i-  engaged  as  a  stenographer  in 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Cabel  is  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Church,  and  he  formerly  belonged  to  the  I.  0. 
0.  F.  Ee  rates  independently,  supporting  the 
best  candidates,  regardless  of  party. 

Cabel   station,  on  the  Philadelphia  &   Reading- 
railroad,  was  named  after  Christian  Cabel,  father 


of  Jesse  Cabel,  and  Cabel  post  office,  at  Weigh 
Scales,  was  also  named  for  the  family. 

A.  MILTON  pELCAMP  is  proprietor  of  the 

"'Locust  Mountain  Bouse"  at  .Mount  Carmel,  hav- 
ing one  of  the  oldest  and  best  established  hotel 
stands  in  that  vicinity.  He  took  charge  of  this 
place  in  June,  1906,  and  has  done  a  thriving  busi- 
ness, his  management  having  proved  a  success  from 
the  start.  Mr.  Delcamp  lias  passed  all  his  life 
at  Mount  Carmel,  having  been  horn  there  Nov. 
9,    1870.    son    of    Daniel'    Delcamp. 

'the  Delcamp  family  is  of  French  origin  and  the 
name  was  formerly  spelled  De  La  Camp.  Mr. 
Delcamp's  great-great-grandfather  came  to  this 
country  from  France  in  1753,  settling  in  Phila- 
delphia. His  son  Refer,  the  great-grandfather  of 
A.  Milton  Delcamp.  settled  at  Minersville.  Schuyl- 
kill Co..  Pa.,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  children 
were  William.  Philip,  Peter.  John,  and  one  son 
who  settled  in  Ohio. 

William  Delcamp,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in 
1803  at  Minersville,  and  died  in  18(i!i  at  Llewellyn, 
Schuylkill  county.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  followed  that  calling  for  many  years,  also 
engaging  in  farming.  He  married  Rebecca  F'aust. 
who  died  at  Mount  Carmel  and  is  buried  in  Alaska 
cemetery,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six  children: 
Eli.  Matilda.  Anetta,  Joseph,  Daniel  and  William. 
Three  of  the  sons  served  in  the  Civil  war.  namely: 
William  was  a  member  of  Compam  A.  50th  Penn- 
-\l\ania  A'ohmteer  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness.  Joseph  also  served  as 
a  member  of  the  same  company  and  regiment. 
Daniel  enlisted  in  the  same  command  (Company 
A.  50th  Regiment)  in  February,  1864,  from  Potts- 
ville. and  served  seventeen  months,  until  after  the 
(lose  of  the  war:  he  was  wounded  in  the  left 
cheek  and  still  carries  the  mark. 

Daniel  Delcamp,  son  of  William,  was  born  Nov. 
2,  1837,  in  Branch  township,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa., 
and  has  lived  in  Mount  Carmel  since  1867.  He 
followed  mining  for  a  period  of  fifty-one  years, 
retiring  in  1910.  By  his  first  wife.  Bella  Klinger, 
who  died  in  187-.'.  Mr.  Delcamp  had  two  children,' 
William  and  A.  Milton.  His  second. marriage  was 
to  Sarah  Eisenbach,  daughter  <d'  George  Eisen- 
bach.  and  eleven  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union:  Charles.  Matilda  (married  John  Morgan), 
Edward.  Elmer.  Maude  (deceased),  George,  Ida, 
Irene    (deceased),  Robert,  Raymond  and  Flossie. 

A.  Milton  Delcamp  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Mount  Carmel.  He  began  work 
as  a  slate  picker,  being  thus  employed  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  was  engaged  at  selling  milk, 
for  five  years.  He  then  attended  school  again 
for  one  term,  following  which  he  was  employed 
by  William  Klees,  in  the  butcher  business,  for 
three   years,   and    later   became   a    bar   clerk.      In 


676 


XO  RT I  IF  M  BE  I ;  1  -A  XI ">  ( 'OF  XT  Y.  PE  N  X  SYLVA  X  I A 


February,  1900,  he  entered  the  employ  of  I.  K. 
Wetzel,  and  in  -lime,  1906,  took  charge  of  the 
"Locust  Mountain  House"  as  proprietor.  The 
hotel  lias  twenty-seven  rooms,  and  is  conveniently 
equipped.  Mr.  Delcamp  is  well  fitted  for  the 
hotel  business,  having  the  faculty  of  making  his 
guests  comfortable  and  well  satisfied  with  the  serv- 
ice they  receive  and  an  obliging  disposition  which 
not  only  meets  but  anticipates  the  demands  of 
his  patrons.  He  does  a  profitable  business  and 
deserves  the  success  he  has  won. 

Mr.  Delcamp  is  well  known  in  the  local  social 
organizations,  belonging  to  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A., 
the  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  Elks,  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  and  the  Anthracite  Fire  Com- 
pany. Politically  he  does  not  adhere  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  any  one  part}',  voting  independently,  and 
his  hotel  is  the  voting  place  of  the  1st  precinct  of 
the  Third  ward. 

On  Aug.  7,  191(4.  Mr.  Delcamp  married  Hetty 
Grove,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Grove,  of 
Mount  Carmel,  and  they  have  had  two  children, 
Dorothy  and  Sarah. 

EDGAR  H.  I1FME,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Hume  &  Shipe.  who  are  engaged  in  business 
at  Sunbury  as  dealers  in  automobiles,  and  also 
conduct  an  automobile  repair  establishment,  is  a 
thoroughly  enterprising  business  man,  and  well 
fitted  by  his  familiarity  with  modern  machinery 
for  the  line  in  which  he  is  at  present  interested. 

Mr.  Hume  was  born  Aug.  19,  1876,  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  of  which  city  his  father.  G.  W. 
Hume,  is  also  a  native.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city 
and  later  attended  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University, 
of  Delaware.  Ohio,  after  which  he  took  up  me- 
chanical work.  He  learned  the  machinist's  trade 
at  Columbus.  Ohio,  with  the  Jeffrey  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  remaining  at  the  plant  of  that 
corporation  for  five  years  and  during  that  time 
working  in  every  department  except  the  drafting 
department.  His  next  employment  was  at  Ports- 
mouth. Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  Ports- 
mouth  Foundry  &  Machine  Works  a  short  time. 
For  the  next  three  years  he  was  with  the  Fried- 
man Brothers  Shoe  Company,  at  St.  Louis.  Mo., 
having  charge  of  the  mechanical  end  of  their  large 
establishment,  ami  at  the  end  of  that  time  re- 
turned to  his  native  city,  where  he  gained  his 
first  experience  in  the  automobile  business.  He 
and  a  partner  opened  an  auto  repair  shop,  which 
they  conducted  successfully  for  two  years,  follow- 
ing which  Mr.  Hume  accepted  a  position  as  travel- 
ing salesman  with  the  Fnion  Special  Machine 
Company,  of  No.  Fit  Arch  street.  Philadelphia. 
being  thus  engaged  for  six  years.  He  afterward 
held  a  similar  position  with  the  L'nited  Shoe  Ma- 
chinery Company,  of  \'.>.    US  Arch  street.  Phila- 


delphia, traveling  from  Boston  to  Winston  Salemr 
X.  C,  where  there  F  a  thriving  Moravian  settle- 
ment:  he  had  the  novel  experience  of  visiting  a 
community  where  people  never  lock  their  doors 
at  night,  where  there  is  no  jail,  no  courthouse, 
m,  postoffice,  and  no  need  for  any  of  the  precau- 
tions ordinarily  taken  in  well  settled  places.  In 
May.  1907,  Mr.  Hume  came  to  Sunbury,  where 
he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  Harry  P. 
Shipe.  Their  establishment  is  at  No.  132  South 
Front  street,  where  they  occupy  a  new  two-story 
building.  4ii  by  60  feel  in  dimensions.  They  han- 
dle tin-  Buickj  Maxwell  and  Matheson  ears,  and 
do  an  extensive  repair  business,  employing  six  men 
regularly.  Mi'.  Hume  F  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
4,  Knights  of  Pythias,  at  Columbus.  Ohio:  of 
B.  1'.  o.  Elks  Lodge.  No.  367,  Sunbury;  and  of 
th.'  Sunbury  Automobile  Club. 

HARRY  P.  SB  1  PE,  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Hume  &  Shipe.  is  a  native  of  Sunbury  and  has 
passed  all  his  life  in  that  borough.  He  belongs 
to  the  family  of  Shipes  numerous  in  Upper  and 
Lower  Augusta  townships,  in  Northumberland 
county,  being  a  grandson  of  Moses  Shipe.  who 
resides  at    No.  901    Easl    Market  street,  Sunbury. 

Faae  P.  Shipe.  son  of  Moses,  was  horn  in  North- 
umberland county,  and  died  at  Sunbury  July  8, 
1893.  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight  years.  He 
passed  all  his  life  in  Sunbury.  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  engaged  as  a  fireman  on  the 
Northern  Central  railroad:  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Greenaugh  Bright,  daughter  of  S. 
P.  Bright,  of  Sunbury.  and  to  this  union  were 
born  four  children  :  Mabel  Y..  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Dalzell.  of  Sunbury;  Harry  P.;  Annie 
[sabelle,  married  to  Edward  Roberts,  of  Sunbury; 
and  Earl  H.,  of  Sunbury.  Mrs.  Shipe  married 
for  her  second  husband  J.  F.  Golden,  and  they 
make  their  home  in  Sunbury. 

Harry  P.  Shipe  was  born  in  Sunbury  July  9. 
18S5.  and  there  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
the  class  of  1903.  For  the  next  two  years  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
way Company,  and  then  for  three  years  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  United  Telephone  Company  at 
Sunbury.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  became 
associated  with  Mr.  Hume  in  their  present  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  gives  all  his  time.  He  is  well 
known  to  be  industrious  and  ambitious,  and  has 
done  his  share  toward  making  a  success  of  the  ven- 
ture. Mr.  Shipe  is  well  known  socially,  holding 
membership  in  Mac-lay  Lodge.  Xo.  632,  F.  &  A. 
M..  Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174.  R.  A.  M.. 
Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  Xo.  85.  K.  T.,  and 
in  the  Temple  and  Americus  Clubs,  both  of  Sun- 
bury.    He  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


6*  *i 
i7 


BOHNER.  The  Bohner  family  has  long  been  a 
numerous  and  prosperous  race  in  the  lower  part 
■of  Northumberland  county,  where  Nicholaus 
Bohner,  its  founder  here,  settled  in  the  latter  part 
■  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  was  one  of  the 
Hessian  soldiers  who  came  to  America  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  remained  here  after  the 
.struggle  for  independence  was  over.  We  give  the 
record  of  his  posterity  in  chronological  order. 

(I)  Nicholaus  Bohner  was  born  Jan.  18,  1754. 
He  first  located  in  Pennsylvania  near  Womelsdorf, 
in  Heidelberg  township,  Berks  county.  Thence 
he  moved  to  Lebanon  county,  near  Fredericks- 
burg, and  from  there  to  the  Lykens  Valley,  in 
Dauphin  county,  near  Gratz.  He  lived  there 
sonic  years  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Lykens  township 
later  owned  by  a  Klinger,  and  then  removed  to 
what  is  now  Jordan  township,  in  Northumberland 
county,  when  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  which  re- 
mained in  the  family  name  to  the  third  genera- 
tion, until  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  one 
Samuel  Bower:  part  of  it  is  now  owned  by  Eman- 
uel Shoiip,  and  part  by  Daniel  K.  Schlegel. 
Nicholaus  Bolmer  followed  farming  to  the  end  of 
bis  days.  He  was  a  tall,  erect  and  handsome  man, 
the  ideal  of  a  soldier.  He  died  Feb.  5,  1824,  and 
is  buried  at  Zion's  Church,  in  Stone  Valley,  where 
Ins  wife  also  rests.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church. 

While  living  in  Lebanon  county  Nicholaus 
Bohner  married  Margaret  Stahr.  horn  Feb.  26, 
L754,  who  died  Aug.  13,  1831.  To  them  were 
born  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  sons  being 
.Jacob,  Henry.  Frederick  and  John.  The  daughter 
was  married  to  a  Slump  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, but.  she  and  her  husband  left  Pennsylvania, 
settling  in  Ohio. 

(II)  Jacob  Bolmer.  son  of  Nicholaus,  was  born 
Nov.  8,  1783.  in  the  Lykens  Valley.  He  fol- 
lowed farming-  and  became  very  successful,  owning 
three  good  farms.  For  some  years  he  lived  on  a 
farm  about  two  miles  west  of  Hebe,  and  he  was  a 
Reformed  member  of  the  Hebe  Church,  where  he 
is  buried.  He  died  Dee.  20,  18G3.  His  wife,  Cath- 
arine (  Deibler),  daughter  of  Mathias  Deibler,  was 
born  May  16,  1789,  and  died  Sept.  27.  1855.  They 
were  the"  parents  of  twelve  children:  Jacob,  Jona- 
than. John,  Abraham,  Daniel.  David,  George, 
Matthias.  Michael  D.,  Elizabeth,  Eve  and  Polly. 

( [II)Michael  D.  Bohner.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born 
in  Jordan  township  Nov.  15,  1833.  He  was  reared 
to  farming  and  also  learned  the  saddler's  trade, 
commencing  his  apprenticeship  when  he  was  fif- 
teen and  following  that  calling  for  forty  years  in 
all.  He  now  lives  on  a  tract  of  twenty-nine  acres 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Mr.  Bohner  lias 
taken  some  interest  and  part  in  local  affairs  as  an 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  served 
the  party  as  precinct  officer  and  his  township  as 
school  director  and  supervisor.     In  religion  he  is 


a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Bohner 
married  Catharine  Rubendall,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Molly  (Carl)  Rubendall,  and  they  have 
had  the  following  children :  Amelia  J.,  Jacob  M., 
Sivilla,  Polly  Q.,  Franklin,  Lizzie  and  Catharine. 


(II)  Henry  Bohner,  son  of  Nicholaus,  remained 
on  the  homestead  and  followed  farming.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wile,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Brosius,  had  children  :  Peter,  Jacob, 
Henry,  Nicholas,  Catharine  (married  Michael 
Spott's),  Elizabeth  (married  Isaac  Ileim),  Re- 
becca (married  Michael  Schaffer)  and  Mrs.  Jacob 
Miller  (who  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Mary).  Henry  Bohner's  second  wife  was  Rebecca 
Troutman,  who  bore  him  two  children.  William 
and  Sarah.  (Among  the  Bohuers  in  the  Pillow 
cemetery  is  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Bohner,  born 
Nov.  17,  1700,  died  June  3,  1830.) 

(III)  Jacob  Bohner,  son  of  Henry  and  grand- 
son of  Nicholaus,  was  born  in  the  Mahantango 
Valley,  in  .  Jordan  township,  Northumberland 
county,  Dec.  3,  1815,  and  died  on  his  birthday. 
Dee.  3,  1896,  aged  eighty-one  years.  He  and  his 
wife  are  buried  in  the  Pillow  cemetery,  Uniontown. 
He  lived  two  miles  south  of  his  father's  home- 
stead, on  the  line  of  Mifflin  and  Lykens  townships, 
in  Dauphin  county,  the  township  line  passing 
through  his  house.  When  he  built  a  new  house, 
however,  he  located  it  in  Mifflin  township,  where 
he  voted  and  where  his  children  went  to  school. 
In  addition  to  farming  he  operated  a  sawmill,  run- 
ning what  was  known  as  Bohner's  sawmill  in 
Mifflin  township  for  nearly  forty  years.  His  first 
mill,  an  old-fashioned  structure,  he  replaced  with 
a  new  one.  which  was  washed  away  by  the  flood. 
His  farm  comprised  130  acres.  He  was  a  man  not 
only  well  known  but  highly  respected,  and  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
the  church  at  Uniontown,  serving  as  deacon  and 
elder. 

Jacob  Bohner  married  Salome  Reitz,  who  was 
horn  April  10,  1822,  daughter  of  Peter  Reitz, 
and  died  Nov.  9,  1890.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  them,  viz.:  Henry,  Louisa,  Elias  (died 
young),  Joel  (died  young),  David,  John,  Corneli- 
us (died  young).  Sarah.  Mary  J.  (died  young), 
Jacob  M.,  Peter  Morris  (died  young)  and  Ed- 
win D. 

(IV)  David  Bohner,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born 
Sept.  18,  1849,  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  When  he 
left  home  he  engaged  in  the  cotton  lapping  and 
feed  business  in  Mifflin  township,  following  that 
line  for  eleven  years  in  all — the  cotton  business 
for  seven  years,  adding  the  feed  business  the  last 
four  years.  Coming  to  Lower  Mahanoy  township 
in  1881  he  purchased  a  124-acre  farm,  a  Grim 
homestead,  which  he  bought  from  the  Harris  es- 
tate.    Tt  is  located  one  mile  southeast  of  Hickory 


■■;  - 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Comers,  and  here  lie  has  ever  since  been  engaged 
in  farming. 

While  living  in  Dauphin  county  Mr.  Bohner 
took  considerable  interest  in  public  affairs  and 
held  local  offices,  serving  Uniontown  borough, 
where  he  lived  for  eleven  and  a  half  years  before 
he  moved  to  his  present  farm,  as  member  of  the 
town  council.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
opinion.  He  and  his  family  are  Beformed  mem- 
bers of  Stone  Valley  (Zion's)  Church,  where  he 
served  a  number  of  years  as  an  officer,  being 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee. 

In  1870  Mr.  Bohner  married  Harriet  Latsha, 
daughter  of  Henry  Latsha,  and  they  have  had  four 
children:  Henry  M.  is  a  farmer  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanov  :  Mary  J.  married  David  G.  Bohner;  Salome 
married  Charles  M.  Masser;  Laura  R.  married 
C.  0.  Schaffer. 

(IV)  Edwin-  D.  Bohner,  son  of  Jacob,  was 
born  Oct.  10,  1867.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  was  reared  to  farming, 
working  for  his  parents  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years.  He  then  found  employ- 
ment working  around  a  coal  breaker,  and  for  five 
vears  fired  at  a  breaker  in  Northumberland  coun- 
tv.  in  the  spring  of  1899  moving  to  his  present 
place,  a  tract  of  ninety-two  acres  in  Upper  Maha- 
noy  township,  Northumberland  county,  on  the 
south  side  of  Line  Mountain  near  the  Schuylkill 
county  line.  This  farm  was  formerly  owned  by  Rev. 
H.  Weieksel,  and  in  the  earlier  days  was  a  Yoder 
homestead.  Mr.  Bohner  moved  to  this  place  March 
28,  1899,  and  has  been  farming  there  ever  since, 
selling  his  products  at  Shamokin.  He  is  a  butcher, 
and  follows  that  trade  in  connection  with  his  ag- 
ricultural work. 

On  Oct.  15,  1892.  Mr.  Bohner  married  Annie 
Reed,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Heckert) 
Reed,  and  they  have  had  three  children.  Goldie. 
Kimber  and  Emerson.  Mr.  Bohner  and  his  fam- 
ily worship  at  Jacob's  Church,  belonging  to  the 
Reformed  congregation,  which  he  served  as  deacon. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


(II)  Frederick  Bohner.  son  of  Nicholaus.  born 
June  20,  1790,  died  March  12,  1831.  He  settled 
near  Uniontown,  in  Jordan  township,  and  was  a 
substantial  and  prosperous  citizen,  owning  and 
cultivating  a  large  farm,  a  part  of  the  homestead. 
He  has  descendants  living  in  Jordan  and  Lower 
Mahanoy  townships:  one  of  his  grandsons.  Rev. 
Benjamin  Bohner,  of  Allentown,  Pa.,  is  a  fore- 
minister  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  hav- 
ing served  as  presiding  elder.  Frederick  Bohner 
was  held  in  the  highest  repute.  ITe  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Evangelical  Church  in  Union- 
town.  He  married  Eve  Brosius.  born  Julv  2. 
1792,  died  May  27,  1872,  and  they  are  buried  in 
BohneFs  (Union)  cemetery,  near  Uniontown. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children :     Daniel 


married  Julianna  Mease  I  Meas]  |  ;  Lydia  married 
Rev.  Mr.  Anspach :  Sallie  married  a  Wildcrmuth; 
Rebecca  married  Moses  Troutman;  Phoebe  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Mease. 

(III)  Daniel  Bohner,  son  of  Frederick,  lived 
near  Uniontown,  on  the  bill  to  the  north,  part  of 
his  homestead  being  the     farm     of     Daniel     K. 

i  gel.  He  acquired  a  substantial  property,  hut 
lost  heavily  in  the  U.  B.  graveyard  insurance  ven- 
ture. A  man  of  strong  intelligence  and  remark- 
able foresight,  he  was  a  leader  in  his  community 
in  many  ways.  ( ionverted  at  his  home  during  the 
thirties,  under  Bishop  Seibert,  then  a  presiding 
elder  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  he  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion at  Uniontown  and  one  of  the  most  zealous 
and  effective  advocates  of  the  doctrines  of  that 
-n  i  in  his  vicinity,  doing  much  for  its  advance- 
ment. He  helped  to  erect  the  first  Evangelical 
church  at  Uniontown,  giving  liberally  not  only  of 
money  but  of  lumber  and  other  material,  doing 
considerable  hauling,  boarding  the  help,  etc.  He 
held  many  offices  in  the  church  and  to  the  end  of 
his  days  was  an  ardent  Christian,  a  truly  spiritual 
man.  The  camp  meetings  were  held  in  his  grove, 
and  through  his  zealous  efforts  many  members 
were  brought  into  the  church.  He  served  as  Un- 
delegate to  many  church  conferences,  and  to  the 
general  conference.  He  was  a  devout  student  of 
the  Bible.  Mr.  Bohner  died  March  89,  L904, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years,  ten 
months,  seven  days.  He  was  always  a  strong  man 
physically,  short  but  broad  shouldered  and  heavy 
set,  and  had  a  full  face.  In  1S74  he  built  a  large 
vault  in  Bohner's  Union  cemetery,  near  Pillow, 
and  about  twenty  years  before  his  death  had  a 
steel  coffin  made  for  himself  and  wife.  Julianna 
Measy  (Mease),  who  passed  away  Dec.  8,  1898r 
aged  eighty-one  years,  eight  months,  thirteen  days. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Emanuel,  Rev. 
Benjamin  (married  and  had  three  children.  Osby, 
Harvey  and  Emma),  Henry,  Daniel  M..  Phoebe 
(married  William  Spotts.  and  lived  in  Kansas), 
Annie,  Mary  (known  as  Polly,  died  unmarried), 
Sarah  (married  Jeremiah  Weaver)  and  Emma 
(married  Simon  Ever,  of  New  Jersey). 

(IV)  Emanuel  Bohner,  son  of  Daniel,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  died  in  that  township,  Jan.  18,  1904,  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  four  days.  His  wife.'  Mary  Ann 
Matter,  died  Feb.  9,  1904,  aged  sixty-two  years, 
nine  months,  fifteen  days.  They  are  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  mentioned  above.  Mr.  Bohner 
owned  one  of  the  old  homesteads,  as  well  as  the 
farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Elmer  in  Jackson 
township.  He  was  active  in  church  life,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  Association,  in  which  he 
served  as  classleader  and  exhorter.  He  went  with 
the  Dubb  side  upon  the  division  of  the  church, 
was    subsequently    conference    delegate,    and    was 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


679 


ever  a  beloved  member  of  the  church.  He  and 
bis  aged  father  lived  together  in  their  declining 
years  and  it  is  a  somewhat  remarkable  fact  that 
he  died  Jan.  18th,  his  wife  on  Feb.  9th  and  the 
aged  father  March  29th,  all  in  1904.  Adam  Rom- 
berger,  a  son-in-law  of  Daniel  Bohner,  died  only 
Eour  weeks  before  Emanuel.  Emanuel  Bonner's 
children  were :  Nathaniel,  who  is  a  farmer  of 
Jackson  township;  Adam  Elmer;  Daniel  W.,  who 
died  in  his  ninth  year;  Benjamin;  Alice,  married 
to  Jere«  Walborn ;  Annie  Jane,  married  to  James 
Parly;  Annie,  married  to  Frank  Forney;  and 
Katie,  unmarried,  who  lives  in  Millersburg. 


(II)  John  Bohner,  son  of  Nieholaus,  was  born 
Sept.  I.  L792,  in  the  Mahantango  Valley  in  upper 
Dauphin  county,  and  lived  in  Jackson  (then  Ma- 
ham  >\  i  township,  being  the  first  of  the  name  to 
own  the  Bohner  farm  at  Mahanoy.  The  tract 
comprises  140  acres,  located  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  Mahanoy,  and  has  been  in  the  family 
name  for  nearly  one  hundred  years.  The  house 
is  an  old  landmark,  the  old  part,  which  is  built  of 
logs,  being  more  than  a  hundred  years  old.  Mr. 
Bohner  was  a  stonemason,  and  followed  that  trade 
most  of  the  time,  his  children  conducting  the  farm. 
Bis  work  as  a  mason  took  him  to  Phoehixville 
and  into  links.  Lebanon  and  other  counties  toward 
Philadelphia,  and  he  had  large  contracts  in  the 
building  of  the  Schuylkill  canal.  He  died  June  7. 
1880,  and  is  buried'  at  Mahanoy  (St.  Peter's) 
Church,  of  which  he  was  an  official  member. 

John  Bonner's  wife,  Maria  (Delp),  born  Nov. 
5,  1789,  died  Dec.  1,  186S.  Their  children,  all 
born  at  the  homestead  above  mentioned,  were 
Peter,  Daniel,  David.  Simon  (born  1822).  John 
(who  lives  near  Snydertown,  Shamokin  town- 
ship), Benjamin  (now  living  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county).  Elizabeth  (the 
eldest  of  the  family,  married  Daniel  Hilbush), 
Susanna  (married  Peter  Schlegel),  Maricha  (mar- 
ried Peter  Thomas),  Catharine  (married  Adam 
Ferster)  and  Dinah  (married  Daniel  Shreffler). 
The  only  survivors  of  this  large  family  are  John 
and  Benjamin. 

(Ill)'  David  Bohner,  son  of  John,  lived  in 
Jackson  township,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
farmer,  miller  and  shoemaker.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  owned  and  operated  what  is  known  as  the 
"Holsmie"  mill.  He  is  buried  at  Peiffers  Church 
at  Mandata,  Northumberland  county.  He  and 
bis  wife  Catharine  (Carman)  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being:  Henry,  Elias.  Mary.  John  and  David  G. 
(IV)  David  G.  Bohner.  son  of  David,  was 
born  Nov.  10,  1873,  and  is  at  present  engaged  in 
farming  with  his  father-in-law.  He  married 
Mary  J.  Bohner.  daughter  of  (IV)  David  Bohner, 
of  another  branch  of  the  family,  and  they  have 
had  two  children.  Leo  F.  and  Ralph  R. 


(Ill)  Peter  Bohner,  son  of  John,  was  born 
Oct.  2s.  1817,  on  the  homestead  in  what  was  then 
Mahanoy  (now  Jackson)  township.  He  spent  his 
entire  life  on  that  farm,  and,  as  previously  related. 
bis  father  was  away  from  home  so  much  of  the 
time  following  his  trade  that  Peter  looked  after 
the  farm  work.  Thus  it  came  about  that  by  the 
time  he  was  seventeen  he  was  doing  the  work  of 
a  mature  man.  Until  his  father  retired  he  farmed 
the  place  on  shares,  and  it  eventually  came  into 
bis  possession.  It  is  still  in  the  Bohner  name, 
being  owned  by  his  son  John.  In  1870  Peter 
Bohner  built  the  present  barn  on  the  place,  a 
structure  85  by  40  feet  originally,  with  a  14-foot 
addition  used  as  a  wagon  shed.  He  was  a  large, 
strong  man,  weighing  over  two  hundred  pounds, 
and  carried  his  responsibilities  easily.  He  was 
well  known  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  served 
as  supervisor  (many  years)  and  assessor,  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  matters  and  in  religion  a 
Reformed  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Ma- 
hanoy, where  he  is  buried.  He  was  a  prominent 
worker  in  that  congregation,  which  he  served  as 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  was  liberal  in  his  sup- 
port of  church  work  and  consistent  in  his  life.  He 
was  baptized  by  Nicholas  Hembing  and  catechised 
at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Mahanov,  being  confirmed 
by  Rev.  Benjamin  Bover.  May  30,  1835.  He  died 
in  April,  1901. 

Peter  Bohner  was  twice  married,  the  first  time 
Aug.  23.  1842,  to  Catharine  Rebuck.  daughter  of 
Peter  Rebuck;  she  was  horn  April  2.  1822.  and 
died  March  3,  1861.  She  is  buried  beside  bet- 
husband  at  St.  Peter's  Church.  To  this  union 
were  born  twelve  children,  namely:  Noah  R.  is 
mentioned  below;  a  daughter,  twin  of  Noah,  died 
in  infancy;  Susan  married  Elias  Tressler,  of  Ma- 
hanoy :  Joel  is  a  resident  of  Northumberland 
county,  near  Kline's  Grove;  Harriet  married  Wil- 
liam Terster  (who  is  now  deceased)  and  they 
lived  in  Washington  township.  Northumberland 
county;  Cornelius  lived  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship ;  Lavina  married  Albert  Bressler  and  lived  in 
Begins,  Schuylkill  county;  John  R.  is  mentioned 
below:  Peter  is  a  resident  of  Jackson  township; 
Catharine  (twin  of  Peter)  married  Levi  Bohner 
(a  distant  relative  i  :  George  lives  in  Shamokin: 
I  >aniel  died  young. 

For  his  second  wife  Peter  Bohner  married  June 
19,  1864,  Susanna  (Shaffer),  daughter  of  Petet 
and  Mary  Magd.  (Brown)  Shaffer  and  widow  of 
Jacob  Lahr,  and  to  this  marriage  was  born  one 
-mii.  William  S.,  who  is  mentioned  below.  Mrs. 
Bohner  was  first  married,  April  23,  1843,  to  J.i  ob 
Lahr.  and  they  had  eight  children  (seven  sons  and 
one  daughter),  viz.:  Josiah,  Wilhelmina.  Israel. 
Daniel,  and  four  who  died  young.  Daniel  is  the 
only  survivor.  Mrs.  Bohner's  maternal  grand- 
father. Michael  Brown,  born  March  30.  1770. 
came  from  Berks  county:  he  died  May  9.   1851. 


680 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ll)>  wife,  bom  Sept.  16,  1172,  died  Feb.  18,  1844. 
They  were  married  April  19,  1795,  and  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  Mary  Magd.  (Polly), 
mother  of  Mrs.  Bohner,  being  born  Jan.  19,  1798; 
she  dud  May  31,  1864. 

(IV)  Noah  R.  Bohner,  son  of  Peter,  un- 
born May  10,  1S44,  on  the  homestead  in  Jackson 
township,  and  was  there  reared,  during  his  boy- 

I I    attending   the   old-fashioned   pay   school    at 

Mahanoy.  After  working  as  hired  man  away 
from  home  one  year  he  returned  to  his  father, 
working  for  him  and  in  the  neighborhood  until 
1868.  He  had  married  the  previous  year,  and  he 
then  removed  to  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  farmed  as  a  tenant  for  six  years  before  settling 
mi  his  present  place,  in  thai  township,  in  1874. 
He  owns  the  old  John  Dockey  homestead  of  eighty- 
five  acres,  and  has  prospered  well,  being  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  section.  The  barn  on 
this  place  was  built  about  1832,  and  the  log  house 
is  even  older,  having  been  built  by  Mr.  Dockey  in 
1807;  it  was  the  second  house  erected  on  the  farm. 

On  Oct.  13,  1867,  Mr.  Bohner  married  Mary 
Troutman,  daughter  of  .Moses  Troutman,  and  they 
have  had  the  following  children :  Adam  P.,  of 
Uniontown,  Pa.;  Harvey  E.,  of  Millersburg,  Pa.: 
Rev.  Jonathan,  a  minister  of  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Conference  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church,  who  was  first  stationed  at  Boyertown, 
later  at  South  Allentown  and  Palmyra,  and  is 
now  at  East  Greenville  (he  married  Mary  Lyte, 
of  Dauphin,  on  the  Susquehanna  river,  and  they 
have  had  five  children.  Ruth.  Mabel,  Emma,  John 
and  Paul)  ;  Charles  G.,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship :  Harry  P.,  of  Pillow,  Pa, ;  Noah  Carnie,  of 
Millersburg,  Pa.;  David  Lloyd,  who  is  at  home 
with  his  parents:  and  Mary  Mabel,  also  at  home. 

Mr.  Bohner  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Evangelical  Church  at  Uniontown,  in 
which  he  has  been  a  very  prominent  worker,  hav- 
ing served  as  class  leader,  exhorter,  trustee,  and 
steward  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  annual  conference  which  met  at  Easton, 
Pa.  He  is  an  independent  voter  on  political 
questions,  and  though  not  active  ordinarily  in 
public  matters  has  served  as  school  director. 

(IV)  John  R.  Bohner,  son  of  Peter,  was  born 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  Jackson  township  May 
14,  1854.  He  began  his  education  in  the  old 
subscription  schools,  and  then  for  four  winters 
attended  the  free  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, and  in  18S1  began  operating  the  home  place, 
which  came  into  his  name  in  1902.  He  continued 
to  cultivate  it  successfully  until  1907;  when  he 
retired  from  its  active  care,  his  sons  succeeding 
him.  Mr.  Bohner  has  been  quite  active  in  the 
local  civil  administration,  having  served  as  au- 
ditor, supervisor  and  school  director:  he  held  the 
latter  office  six  years,  refusing  a  renomination.  In 
politieal  opinion  he  is  a  Democrat.     He  has  also 


been  active  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  Reformed  member,  serving  as  deacon  for 
three  years  and  as  trustee  nine  years. 

On  Dec.  1,  1882,  Mr.  Bohner  married  Alice  Ty- 
son, daughter  of  Jesse  and  Lydia  (Greisher)  Ty- 
son, the  former  of  whom  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war  and  disappeared  after  that  struggle. 
Mrs.  Bohner  died  Dec.  1,  1894,  on  the  twelfth 
anniversary  of  her  marriage,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
four  years,  six  months.  She  was  the  mother  of 
six  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being :  Elijah  married  Amelia  Lahr  and 
they  live  with  his  father;  Mary  married  Benjamin 
Neihart  and  lives  at  Trevorton,  Pa.;  Lydia  mar- 
ried Henry  Foster  Rhoads  and  they  live  with  her 
father :  Jesiah  is  unmarried. 

(IV)  William  S.  Bohner,  youngest  son  of 
Peter,  was  born  May  1,  1865,  at  Mahanoy,  and 
spent  his  early  years  at  farm  work.  When  six- 
teen years  old,  in  1881,  he  went  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  wdiich  he  followed  for  fifteen  years 
in  his  native  district  and  at  Shamokin.  where  he 
worked  some  years.  He  lived  at  Shamokin  for 
three  years  during  this  period,  and  in  that  time 
built  two  houses  which  he  sold.  He  was  engaged 
at  his  trade  four  years  as  foreman.  Beginning 
farming  at  Mahanoy  he  cultivated  what  is  locally 
known  at  the  "Bunker  Hill"  farm  for  thirteen 
years.  On  Feb.  22,  1904,  he  came  to  Lower  Augus- 
ta township,  wdiere  he  bought  what  was  known 
as  the  James  Caldron  farm,  consisting  of  104 
acres,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  farmed.  He 
has  prospered,  and  has  made  a  number  of  improve- 
ments on  the  place,  wdiich  shows  many  evidences 
of  his  enterprise  and  thrift. 

On  Sept.  17.  1887,  Mr.  Bohner  married,  at  Ma- 
hanoy, Lillie  L.  Bohner,  daughter  of  Michael  D. 
Bohner.  of  what  was  then  Jackson  (now  Lower 
Mahanoy)  township.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union:  Hannah  M.  married  George  Starr 
and  lives  at  Herndon :  Ida  I.,  Lillie  Agnes,  Nora 
E.  and  Stella  May  are  at  home.  Mr.  Bohner  and 
his  family  attend  the  Methodist  Church,  but  lie 
is  not  sectarian  on  religious  questions. 

JEREMIAH  PEIFER.  a  venerable  farmer  of 
Jordan  township,  located  at  Hebe,  belongs  to  a 
family  wdiich  was  identified  with  Berks  county  in 
the  early  days  of  the  State,  and  the  branch  in 
which  we  are  interested  has  been  established  in 
Northumberland   county   for   several   generations. 

There  was  a  Michael  Peiffer  who  died  in  Green- 
wich township,  Berks  county,  early  in  March,  1807, 
his  "beloved  wife  Elizabeth'''  and  son  John  being 
the  executors  of  his  will,  which  was  made  Nov. 
17,  1806.  It  is  recorded  in  Will  Book  IV,  page 
413.  His  children  were:  John,  Michael,  Daniel, 
Christiana  and  Elizabeth.  It  is  supposed  the  son 
John  was  the  pioneer  in  this  region,  founding 
the  Peifer  family  now  so  numerously  ami  credit- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


681 


«ilih   represented  in  Jordan  township  and  vicinity. 

John  Peifer  (or  Peiffer)  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  came  from  Greenwich  or  Marion 
township  to  what  was  then  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county,  in  1815,  acquiring 
ownership  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the 
territory  now  embraced  in  Jackson  township.  He 
is  buried  at  the  Mahanoy  (St.  Peter's)  Church. 
His  children  were:  John,  who  settled  in  Little 
Mahanoy  township;  Peter,  who  had  no  children; 
Michael,  who  is  mentioned  below ;,  Henry,  who  is 
mentioned  below;  and  Philip,  who  left  this  coun- 
ty. I  hough  his  location  is  not  known. 

Michael  Peifer,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  Northumberland  county,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  is  buried  at  Zart- 
man's  United  Evangelical  Church.  A  farmer 
by  occupation,  he  began  for  himself  near  Herndon, 
in  Jackson  township,  where  he  lived  for  some 
years,  after  which  he  bought  the  property  now 
owned  h\  Daniel  Brower,  cultivating  this  land  un- 
til his  death.  His  wife  Barbara  also  died  on  this 
farm.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  Bordner, 
of  Eterrysburg,  in  the  Lykens  Valley,  and  was 
Michael' Peifer's  second  wife.  By  his  first  mar- 
riage he  was  the  lather  of  eleven  children:  Isaac, 
Benjamin.  Daniel.  Lydia,  Sally,  Harriet,  Polly, 
and  four  who  died  young.  To  the  second  union 
were  born  five;  Jeremiah;  Elias,  deceased;  Henry. 
of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa. ;  Lovina,  wife  of  Jacob 
lleim.  of  Swabian  Valley;  and  Eliza,  widow  of 
Israel  Carl,  now  living  in  Tower  City,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Jeremiah  Peifer  was  born  May  9,  1836,  in  Jack- 
son township,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the 
widow  of  Galen  Smith,  one  time  county  treasurer. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm  now-  owned  by  Daniel 
Brower.  and  became  accustomed  to  farm  work 
from  bis  early  boyhood,  working  for  his  parents 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  His 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  for  instead 
of  attending  school  in  the  winter,  as  many  of 
the  boys  who  had  to  help  with  the  work  in  sum- 
mer did,  he  assisted  with  the  threshing,  which  was 
then  accomplished  by  riding  the  horses  over  the 
grain  spread  on  the  barn  floor.  After  leaving 
home  he  hired  out  to  do  farm  work  for  several 
years,  and  for  throe  years  devoted  himself  exclu- 
sively to  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter.  After  his 
marriage  he  came  to  his  present  location  at  Hebe, 
purchasing  the  Sob  anon  Schmeltz  homestead, 
which  contains  forty  acres  of  cleared  land  and  ten 
acres  of  woodland.  This  is  a  most  desirable  prop- 
erty, and  practically  all  the  improvements  have 
been  made  during  Mr.  Peifer's  ownership,  be  hav- 
ing erected  all  the  buildings.  He  is  a  substantial 
and  useful  citizen,  highly  esteemed  by  his  neigh- 
bors, and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
Troutman's  United  Evangelical  Church  at  Union- 


town  (Pillow).    In  political  belief  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

In  1872  Mr.  Peifer  married  Ellemina  Troutman, 
daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  (Lesher)  Trout- 
man,  and  they  have  had  three  children :  Lillie 
Jane  married  Irwin  Bowman  and  they  live  at 
Hebe;  Lizzie  Alice  married  James  Schlegel  and 
their  home  is  in  Jordan  township;  John  married 
Blanche  Bush  and  they  live  with  his  father  (they 
have  one  child,  Fred). 


Henry  Peifer,  son  of  John,  was  born  about  1806 
in  either  Greenwich  or  Marion  township,  Berks 
county.  When  he  was  nine  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  what  is  now  Jackson  township,  and 
there  he  grew  up,  being  trained  to  farming  from 
early  boyhood.  After  his  father's  death  the  home- 
stead came  into  his  possession,  and  he  was  a  well 
known  and  much  respected  man  in  his  locality. 
He  had  received  a  good  German  education  and 
wrote  German  well.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Mahanoy  (St. 
Peter's)  Church,  also  known  locally  as  Krebs 
Church,  and  held  the  office  of  elder  for  many 
years.  On  political  questions  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. To  him  and  his  wife  Sallie  (Zartman), 
daughter  of  John  Zartman.  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Sarah  married  George  Witmer; 
Elias  died  at.  Berrysburg,  Pa. ;  Polly  married  Ja- 
eoli  Still  and  they  purchased  part  of  the  Peifer 
homestead,  on  which  they  lived:  Peggy  married 
Jacob  Witmer  and  they  moved  to  Iowa,  where 
they  died;  Isaac  lives  at  Milton,  Iowa,  a  retired 
farmer :  Benjamin  is  mentioned  below :  Mary  died 
unmarried;  Henry  lives  at  Dalmatia,  Northumber- 
land county  (he  has  a  family  of  seventeen  chil- 
dren) ;  Catharine;  Daniel  is  a  resident  of  Jackson 
township. 

Benjamin  Peifer,  son  of  Henry,  received  his 
education  in  the  subscription  schools  which  were 
the  only  local  institutions  of  learning  during  his 
boyhood.  In  1880  he  began  farming  for-  himself 
as  a  tenant  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  living 
there  three  years  and  thence  moving  to  Jackson 
township.  In  the  spring  of  1887  he  settled  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  farmed  for  the  next  twenty 
years,  and  he  has  since  rented  the  place  to  his 
son  George.  He  bought  the  property  in  the  fall 
of  1886,  and  found  it  a  valuable  holding.  It  con- 
sists of  about  two  hundred  acres  of  good  land.  In 
the  spring  of  1908  Mr.  Peifer  bought  a  nice  home 
at  Mandata  to  which  he  moved  with  his  family, 
and  he  is  now  living  retired  from  arduous  labor, 
enjoying  the  rewards  of  his  long  years  of  activity. 
Though  he  always  devoted  himself  for  the  most 
part  to  his  work  he  found  time  for  useful  citizen- 
ship, serving  five  years  as  school  director  in  Jack- 
son township,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  prominent  as  a  member  and  official  in  the 
United    Evangelical    Church    at    Mandata    called 


682 


X<  IRTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Peifer's  Church,  to  which  his  family  also  belong. 
His  father.  Henry  Peifer,  gave  the  ground  upon 
which  the  church  stands,  and  also  the  lumber  to 
build  it.  Benjamin  Peifer  is  still  serving  as 
steward  of  this  church,  which  office  he  has  held 
for  a  number  of  years.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Hettie  Wolf,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Eve  ( Engel )  Wolf,  and  she  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years,  leaving  one  child,  Wil- 
liam, who  now  lives  at  Williamstown.  Pa.  On 
Dec.  26,  1874,  Mr.  Peifer  married  (second)  Mary 
Jane  Stepp,  daughter  of  Bastian  and  Elizabeth 
(Maxwell)  Stepp,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  granddaughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Bord- 
ner)  Stepp  and  (maternally)  of  Thomas  Maxwell, 
a  native  of  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peifer  have 
five  sons  and  two  daughters:  Charles,  married 
to  Annie  Gordon;  George,  married  to  Ida  Shifter: 
Jennie,  married  to  William  Michael;  John:  Har- 
vey;   Carrie,    and   Amnion. 

Daniel  Peifer,  son  of  Henry,  is  a  farmer  of 
Jackson  township,  where  he  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead July  '.'.  1850.  He  first  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion schools,  later  the  free  schools,  having  the 
advantages  of  two  terms  in  the  free  schools  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Farm  work  has  always 
been  his  vocation.  In  1STG  he  began  for  himself 
on  the  homestead  in  Jackson  township,  where  he 
continued  for  eleven  years,  in  1887  moving  upon 
his  present  farm,  which  was  the  John  Carl  home- 
stead. The  tract  contains  thirty-three  acres  lying 
between  Herndon.  Mandata  and  Mahanoy.  and 
John  Carl  conducted  a  store  here  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Peifer  is  a  Republican,  for  four  years  was  a 
school  director  of  the  township,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  active  in  the  work  of  Peifer's 
United  Evangelical  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
useful  member.  He  has  served  as  trustee  and 
steward,  and  since  1902  as  exhorter.  His  family 
also  belong  to  that  church. 

On  Jan.  20.  1877,  Mr.  Peifer  married  Abbie 
E.  Snyder,  of  Vera  Cruz,  daughter  of  the  late 
David  Snyder  (whose  wife  was  a  Lebo),  and  they 
have  had  three  children:  Laura,  who  married 
Frank  Bohner.  of  Sunbury.  Pa. :  Harry  L.,  and 
Eugene  D. 


There  was  a  John  Peifer  who  came  from  Berks 
county  to  Northumberland  in  his  early  manhood, 
settling  near  Mandata,  in  Jackson  township,  where 
he  farmed  for  some  years  before  moving  to  Little 
Mahanoy.  where  he  was  a  tenant  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  grandson,  George  C.  Peifer.  He 
was  born  Feb.  27,  1784,  and  died  Sept.  17,  1S59, 
and  is  buried  at  Little  Mahanoy  Church.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  (Miller),  born  Sept.  2(3.  1786, 
died  April  6,  1855.  Their  children  were :  Jonas, 
who  died  at  Trevorton  :  George :  Peter,  who  died  at 
Little  Mahanov;  John,  who  died  in  Iowa:  Elias; 


Benjamin,  who  died  at  Trevorton:  Sallie,  Mrs. 
Ferster;  Molly,  Mrs.  Jerre  Wetzel:  Peggy,  who 
died  unmarried;  and  Betzy,  Mrs.  James  Wetzel. 

George  Peifer,  son  of  John,  was  born  Dec.  12, 
L812,  in  Jackson  township,  and  died  June  22, 
L894,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  aged  eighty- 
one  years,  six  months,  eleven  days.  He  had  moved 
to  that  township  with  his  parents  when  a  young 
man,  married  there  and  followed  farming  all  his 
life,  becoming  prosperous  through  the  exercise  of 
industry  and  thrift.  He  owned  the  farm  now  be- 
longing to  his  son  George  ('..  and  also  had  a  tract 
of  seventy-five  acres  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in 
Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  county,  the  old 
homestead  of  Sebastian  Zimmerman,  his  father- 
in-law.  Though  busily  engaged  in  looking  afti 
his  own  affairs  he  found  time  to  serve  the  com- 
munity, holding  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  treas- 
urer of  his  township,  and  he  was  a  deacon  for 
many  years  of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  where 
elonged  to  the  Reformed  congregation.  His 
wife,  Catharine,  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  that 
church,  and  they  are  buried  there.  She  was  born 
March  1.  1819,  •laughter  of  Sebastian  and  Eliza- 
beth (Klock)  Zimmerman,  and  died  Aug.  26,  1905, 
at  thi  eighty-six.    The  children  of 

this  union  were  as  follows:  Hettie.  born  in  1840, 
married  Simon  Dunkelberger :  Catharine,  born  in 
1812,  married  J.  D.  Reitz;  Peter  is  a  resident  of 
Sunbury;  Sarah  married  Daniel  Reitz:  Lovina 
married  [saac  Swinehart;  Lenah  married  D.  M. 
Zartman;  George  C.  is  mentioned  below;  Harriet 
married  William  Hetrich :  Benjamin  lives  in  Lit- 
tle Mahanoy:  Lizzie  married  Edwin  Hetrich, 
brother  of  William :  Tilila  married  Benjamin 
Shaffer:  Miranda  married  William  Reitz. 

George  C.  Peifer,  a  farmer  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Mahanoy  creek,  in  Little  Mahanov  township, 
was  born  in  that  township  March  1.  1851,  and  has 
lived  at  his  present  home  since  1834.  The  only 
schools  in  the  neighborhood  were  then  subscription 
schools,  and  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  they  af- 
forded. Working  for  his  father  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  he  subsequently 
fanned  the  place  on  shares  until  1894.  when  he  be- 
gan  cultivating  it  for  himself,  and  he  has  done 
very  well.  The  property  contains  10.3  acres  of 
good  level  land,  all  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek. 
This  farm  belonged  to  one  Miller,  later  to  a  Herb, 
afterward  to  Jacob  Rein,  from  whom  George  Mil- 
ler purchased  it  in  1848,  since  which  time  it  has 
remained  in  the  Peifer  name.  The  present  set 
of  buildings  were  constructed  by  the  Peifers,  the 
barn  being  built  by  George  Peifer  in  1855.  In 
1851  he  built  a  substantial  brick  house,  which  was 
destroyed  by  lightning  July  17,  1902,  the  present 
owner  rebuilding  the  same  year.  Mr.  Peifer  has 
taken  some  part  in  local  public  affairs,  having 
served  as  supervisor  and  treasurer  of  his  township. 
On  Xov.  5,  1879,  he  married  Mary  J.  Zartman. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


683 


daughter  of  Abraham  Zartman,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children :  Stella,  wife  of  Els- 
worth  Leader;  Amanda,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Hoffman; 
Irwin,  who  married  Ada  Deppen;  Emma,  Mrs. 
Elias  E.  Peifer;  Agnes,  who  died  aged  ten  years; 
Landis,  who  died  aged  three  years;  Daniel,  and 
Calvin.  Mr.  Peifer  and  his  family  are  Reformed 
members  of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church.  He  is 
a  Democrat  on  political  questions. 


Elias  Peifer,  another  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Miller)  Peifer,  was  born  July  20,  1820,  in  Little 
idahanoy  township,  where  he  died  March  15,  1905. 
He  was  a  farmer,  living  at  what  is  now  the  home  of 
his  son  Joseph  R.  Peifer,  and  on  that  property 
he  built  the  present  barn  in  about  1850  and  the 
house  in  1860.  This  farm,  which  was  formerly 
the  Michael  Wagner  place,  contains  forty-eight 
acres  of  cleared  land.  Mr.  Peifer  was  a  Democrat, 
and  served  some  years  as  township  supervisor.  He 
married  Molly  Raker,  who  was  born  July  11,  1819, 
daughter  of  Conrad  Raker,  and  died  Jan.  13,  1883, 
and  seven  children  were  born  to  them,  two  dying 
in  infancy.  The  others  were:  Harriet  married 
Henry  Dunkelberger ;  [saac  is  a  resident  of  Sun- 
bury;  Lucinda  married  Albert  Easwold :  Alice 
married  Wash.  Zimmerman:  Joseph  R.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Little  Mahanoy  township.  Mr.  Peifer  and 
his  family  were  Lutherans,  holding  .membership 
in  the  church  at  Little  Mahanoy,  where  they  are 
buried. 

EDWARD  CLAYBERGER,  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  has  been  engaged  in  farming  there  since 
1906,  having  returned  to  the  vocation  of  his  early 
life  after  many  years  spent  in  mining.  He  was 
born  June  4,  1855,  at  Aristes  (.Montana),  near 
Centralia,  Pa.,  son  of  Adam  Clayberger. 

Adam  Clayberger  was  born  Oct.  8,  1817,  in 
Hamburg,  Germany,  and  was  twelve  years  old  when 
he  came  to  America,  landing  at  Baltimore.  Md.  He 
lived  with  a  Myers  family,  at  York.  Pa.,  to  which 
place  he  had  proceeded  from  Baltimore,  and  there 
he  married  the  daughter.  Juliann  Myers,  who 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  thirteen 
years  old.  Their  first  child.  William,  was  born 
at  York.  Thence  the  family  moved  to  Bainbridge. 
Pa.,  where  they  lived  for  some  years,  next  moving 
to  a  place  called  Stewardsville,  near  Mount  Car- 
mel,  Northumberland  county,  where  Mr.  Clay- 
berger found  work  driving  a  team.  He  was  en- 
gaged on  the  construction  of  Bell's  tunnel.  After 
driving  for  several  years  he  moved  to  Aristes 
(  Montana),  near  Centralia.  where  he  was  engaged 
in  contracting  for  a  year,  on  the  building  of  a 
railroad  from  Centralia  to  Mount  Carmel.  and  he 
then  bought  a  farm  at  Roaring  Creek,  in  Columbia 
county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
By  trade  he  was  a  butcher,  and  he  followed  the 
business   for   some   years   in   his   later   life.     His 


farm  originally  consisted  of  sixty-three  acres,  to 
which  he  added  as  prosperity  enabled  him.  He 
died  there  July  18,  1890,  aged  seventy-two  years, 
nine  months,  ten  days,  and  is  buried  at  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Rhodestown,  Columbia  Co., 
Pa.,  where  his  wife  is  also  interred.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  denomination  and 
active  in  church  life.  Mrs.  Clayberger  died  July 
16,  18S3,  aged  sixty-seven  years,  eleven  months. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clay- 
berger :  William,  a  carpenter,  who  lives  at  Peno- 
vo,  Pa. ;  Charles,  of  Allentown,  Pa. :  Samuel,  of 
Shamokin,  Pa.;  Benjamin,  of  Lumberton,  N.  J.; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Tyson;  Edward;  Hannah, 
who  has  never  married  and  lives  with  her  brother 
Charles :  and  Adam  and  Isaac,  both  deceased. 

Edward  Clayberger  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
lived  there  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.  At  that  time  he  began  working  in  the  coal 
mines  at  Shamokin,  and  for  thirty-two  years  con- 
tinued at  that  work,  throughout  this  time  making 
his  home  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  In  June, 
1906,  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  consisting  of  117  acres,  which 
was  the  original  Shipman  homestead  and  remained 
in  that  family  for  over  one  hundred  years.  John 
Elsworth  Shipman  was  the  last  of  his  family  to 
possess  it.  With  the  assistance  of  his  son  Ralph 
Mr.  Clayberger  has  made  many  improvements  on 
the  property  since  it  came  into  his  possession,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1910  he  built  the  present  barn. 
He  markets  his  truck  and  produce  at  Shamokin, 
and  he  has  made  a  decided  success  of  his  work 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  had  not  engaged  in 
farming  for  so  many  years.  Enterprising  and 
progressive,  he  has  become  one  of  the  valuable 
citizens  of  his  commuinty  during  his  comparative- 
ly brief  residence  there. 

On  Aug.  23.  18 78,  Mr.  Clayberger  married 
Alice  S.  Pressler,  daughter  of  Cyrus  and  Annie  S. 
(  Heiser)  Pressler,  of  Snyder  county,  where  Mr. 
Pressler  still  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayberger  have 
had  children  as  follows:  Harry  W.,  now  of  Oak- 
land, Cal.,  who  is  married  to  Alice  Garbct :  John 
P.,  of  Philadelphia,  who  married  Marie  Straley : 
Florence  M.,  who  married  Francis  M.  Ney  and 
lives  in  Shamokin,  Pa.:  Ralph  H. ;  Howard  G. : 
Maud  P.:  Edward  D. ;  Chester  E.,  and  Cyrus  F. 
Mr.  Clayberger  and  his  family  attend  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

RICHARD  t.LASS.  late  of  Shamokin,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business  at  No.  727  East  Com- 
merce street,  in  that  borough,  for  several  years  be- 
fore his  death.  He  was  formerly  a  successful 
mine  contractor,  having  followed  mining  for  about 
thirty  years.  He  served  as  councilman  from  the 
Si  ■  nth  ward  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  held  the 
office  of  jury  commissioner  of  Northumberland 
countv. 


681 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mr.  Glass  was  born  in  1800  in  Coal  township, 
this  count}',  son  of  Samuel  Glass.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  County  Meath,  Ireland,  born  in  183S, 
and  came  to  America  when  nineteen  years  old, 
settling  in  Shamokin,  Pa.,  where  he  made  a  per- 
manent home.  He  worked  as  a  miner,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  late  Thomas  Baumgardner,  being  thus 
engaged  for  thirty  years,  and  was  known  to  all  as 
an  industrious,  upright  citizen.  He  died  April  4, 
1902,  and  is  buried  at  Shamokin.  Samuel  Glass 
married  Maria  Richards,  a  native  of  Wales,  who 
came  to  America  in  girlhood.  She  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  grandson,  Samuel,  in  Shamokin. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glass  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows:  John  (deceased),  Richard,  Samuel,  Reese, 
William.  John  H.  (county  detective  of  Northum- 
berland county)  and  George. 

Richard  Glass  received  all  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Coal  township.  He  wras  only 
a  boy  when  he  began  work,  picking  slate  at  the 
Baumgardner  breaker,  and  in  time  he  became  a 
full-fledged  miner  and  eventually  a  contractor, 
employing  from  six  to  eight  men.  In  June,  1906, 
he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  to  which  he  gaw 
all  his  attention,  finding  the  new  line  both  con- 
genial and  profitable.  In  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred April  2,  1911,  Shamokin  lost  a  valuable 
and  worthy  citizen.  He  was  buried  in  the  Sham- 
okin cemetery.  Mr.  Glass  had  many  friends  in 
Shamokin.  both  in  business  circles  and  in  public 
life,  and  he  w-as  a  well  known  member  of  the  I. 
0.  6.  F.  (belonging  to  Lodge  No.  661).  the  F.  O. 
E.  (Aerie  No.  531)  and  the  Liberty  Hose  Com- 
pany. He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  local  Re- 
publican ranks,  and  in  1906  was  elected  council- 
man from  the  Seventh  ward,  for  a.  term  of  four 
years.  In  June,  1909,  he  was  elected  jury  com- 
missioner of  the  county,  winning  in  the  contest 
by  a  majority  of  one  over  his  opponent,  J.  C. 
Moore,  who  formerly  held  the  office. 

Mr.  Glass  married  Martha  J.  McKelvey,  daugh- 
ter of  William  McKelvey.  and  they  had  one  son, 
Samuel.    The  family  are  Episcopalians. 

Samuel  Glass,  son  of  Richard,  born  in  Sham- 
okin Nov.  15,  1S88,  is  a  machinist  by  trade,  but 
since  the  death  of  his  father  has  taken  the  hotel 
business.  He  was  appointed  jury  commissioner 
by  Judge  C.  R.  Savidge,  to  succeed  bis  father.  Mr. 
Glass  married  Mary  Durkin.  daughter  of  Bryan 
Durkin,  and  they  have  one  son,  Richard. 

HARVEY  ALBERT  TROUTMAN.  who  has 
recently  removed  to  Sunburv.  was  a  farmer  before 
taking  up  his  residence  there.  He  was  born  Nov. 
9,  18V.'.  at  Seven  Points,  Northumberland  county, 
son  of  Isaac  Troutman  and  grandson  of  John 
Troutman. 

Jacob  Troutman,  his  great-grandfather,  the 
known  progenitor  of  many  of  the  name  now  resid- 


ing in  Northumberland  county,  owned  and  lived 
upon  a  farm  in  Jordan  township,  near  Uniontown, 
the  property  now  owned  by  Phoebe  Troutman,  one 
of  his  granddaughters :  the  place  now  comprises 
eighty  acres.  He  is  interred  in  the  Uniontown 
cemetery,  the  burial  place  of  many  Troutmans. 
He  and  his  wife  Magdalena  (Brosius)  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  John;  Polly. 
Mrs.  John  Lesher:  Moses:  Mrs.  Nathan  Brower: 
Peter ;  Samuel :  and  Eve,  Mrs.  Isaac  Wolf. 

John  Troutman.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  June 
10,  1817,  in  Jordan  township,  near  Uniontown, 
and  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  men  in  his  section,  of  which  he  was  a 
leading  citizen  lor  many  years  of  his  long  life. 
Besides  his  home  place  of  132  acres  he  owned  six 
farms :  The  one  now  owned  by  his  son  George 
L.,  another  which  his  son  Simon  obtained,  one 
given  to  his  daughter  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Peifer,  an- 
other owned  by  his  son  Adam  L.,  another  owned 
by  his  son  Henry,  and  another  by  Joel  Kreitzer, 
-on  of  his  daughter  Mary.  Mr.  Troutman  was 
active  in  church  work,  the  founder  and  leading 
member  of  Troutmams  United  Evangelical 
Church,  so  named  in  his  honor.  He  built  the 
meeting  house  of  that  congregation  at  Uniontown, 
was  always  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  church 
and  one  of  its  pillars  to  the  end  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Troutman  served  some  years  as  treasurer  of  his 
township.  He  died  upon  his  farm  about  1900, 
and  he  is  buried  with  his  wife  in  the  family  plot 
in  Uniontown  cemetery. 

Mr.  Troutman  was  twice  married,  his  first  union 
being  with  Sarah  Lesher,  who  was  born  Dec.  16, 
1821.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  sub- 
sequently married  her  sister,  Harriet  Lesher.  They 
were  daughters  of  Samuel  Lesher.  who  was  from 
Berks  county:  Mr.  Lesher  was  a  large  property 
owner.  Mr.  Troutman  was  the  father  of  a  large 
family.  Engeline  and  Simon  by  his  first  wife,  and 
the  following  by  his  second:  [saac,  Magdalena 
(who  died  unmarried),  Elmira  (wife  of  Jeremiah 
Peifer),  Henry  John.  Mose-.  Mary  (wife  of  Joel 
Kreitzer),  Amos,  Adam  L.,  George  L..  Johannes, 
Phoebe,  one  that  died  in  infancy,  Cornelius  and 
another  that  died  in  infancy. 

Isaac  Troutman,  son  of  John,  was  born  Sept. 
1.  1849,  in  Jordan  township,  and  was  reared  on 
the  paternal  farm,  working  for  his  parents  through- 
out his  youth.  When  about  twenty-one  years  old 
In'  began  farming  for  himself  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, at  Seven  Points,  where  he  located  about 
L869,  from  that  time  for  many  years  living  with 
and  working  for  his  father-in-law,  Daniel  Klinger. 
Mr.  Troutman  remained  with  Mr.  Klinger  until 
the  hitter's  death,  and  he  still  continues  to  live 
on  the  old  place  in  Rockefeller  township.  He  and 
his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  the  Cross 
Road   Church,   in  which  he  has  been  active,  hav- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


685 


ing  held  the  offices  of  trustee,  deacon  and  elder, 
in  which  latter  he  is  still  serving.  Politically  he 
is  a  Repuhlican. 

Mr.  Troutman  married  Mary  Ann  Klinger, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Caroline  (Schadel) 
Klinger.  and  they  have  had  children  as  follows: 
Lizzie  married  Theodore  McKinney  and  they  live 
at  Gratz,  Pa.;  Harvey  Albert  married  Edna  Long; 
Elmer  P.  married  Adella  Bloom;  Lillie  married 
Elmer  Zimmerman  and  they  live  in  Rockefeller 
township;  and  William  died  young. 

Daniel  Klinger,  father  of  Mrs.  Troutman,  was 
horn  Nov.  2,  1824,  and  died  Aug.  21,  1898.  He 
married  Caroline  Schadel,  who  was  born  May  22, 
1827,  and  after  their  marriage  they  came  to  Rocke- 
feller township  from  the  vicinity  of  Klingerstown, 
Schuylkill  county,  settling  on  the  farm  where  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  are 
buried  in  that  township,  at  Emanuel  Lutheran 
Church.     Mrs.  Klinger  died  Oct.  22,  1907. 

Harvey  Albert  Troutman  attended  public 
school  at  Seven  Points,  and  in  his  youth  assisted 
his  father  and  maternal  grandfather  on  the  home 
place,  where  he  remained  until  his  marriage,  when 
he  was  twenty  years  old.     At.  that  time  he  located 

ii| a  farm  in  Shamokin  township  belonging  to 

his  father,  near  Seven  Points,  living  there  about 
seventeen  years,  until  his  removal  to  Sunbury, 
April  1,  1910.  Meantime  he  acquired  a  farm  of  his 
own,  a  place  of  seventy-two  acres  located  near 
Stonington.  in  Shamokin  township,  which  he  rents 
out.  Since  sett  lino-  in  Sunbury  he  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  C.  II.  Brosious  &  Co.,  contractors.  His 
home  is  at  No.  133  Catawissa  avenue.  While  a 
resident  of  Shamokin  township  Mr.  Troutman 
served  that  community  as  school  director.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Cross  Road  Church, 
belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation,  which  Mr. 
Troutman  has  served  as  deacon.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 

On  Nov.  24,  1892.  Mr.  Troutman  married  Edna 
Long,  daughter  of  Benjamin  C.  and  Rosanna 
(Kelly)  Long,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three 
children:  Benjamin  E.,  Arville  J.  and  Clara 
Edith. 

ANDREW  J.  SCHWALM,  a  farmer  in  the 
southern  district  of  Jordan  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  agriculturists  of  his  region,  as  a  prom- 
inent worker  in  the  local  ranks  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  as  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  fraternity.  He  is  a  man  of  substance  and 
good  standing,  both  of  which  have  been  won  by 
his  own  efforts  and  a  life  of  consistent  integrity. 

The  Schwalm  family  is  an  old  one  in  this  sec- 
tion, founded  here  by  John  Schwalm,  one  of  the 
Hessian  soldiers  hired  by  the  British  government 
to  fight  in  the  Colonies  'during  the  Revolutionary 
war."   He  was  born  May  31,  1752,  and  came  to 


America  with  the  other  mercenaries  in  17  75.  Re- 
maining in  this  country  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  settled  in  Hubley  (originally  Mahantango) 
township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  took  up 
a  large  amount  of  land  and  devoted  himself  to 
farming.  He  died  there  Dec.  24,  1834.  aged 
eighty-two  years.  His  wife  Odilla  (Bobb)  was 
born  in  Germany  Feb.  US,  1765,  came  to  America 
with  her  parents,  and  died  Feb.  24,  1836.  She 
and  her  husband  are  buried  side  by  side  at  Cole- 
man's Church,  in  Dauphin  county,  near  the 
Schuylkill  county  line.  They  were  the  parents 
of  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Catharine  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hofl'a  and  they  are  buried  at  Dushore, 
Sullivan  Co.,  Pa. ;  Elizabeth  married  Alexander 
Klinger;  Frederick  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
Andrew  J.   Schwalm. 

Frederick  Schwalm.  son  of  John,  was  born  in 
Schuylkill  county  May  17,  1796,  and  died  Jan. 
»i.  1872.  The  old  homestead  in  Hubley  township 
became  his  property  and  he  carried  on  farming 
there  all  his  life,  putting  up  the  original  set  of 
log  buildings  on  that  place.  He  is  buried  at  Cole- 
man's Church.  He  was  three  times  married,  hav- 
ing twelve  children  by  his  first  wife,  Catharine 
(Stein),  daughter  of  Johannes  Stein;  no  children 
by  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Zer- 
link  ;  and  three  children  by  his  third  wife,  Harriet 
(Heifer).  Jackson,  Lillie  and  Elizabeth.  The 
children  of  the  first  union  were:  John;  Hannah, 
who  married  Samuel  Schade;  Caroline,  who  mar- 
ried Israel  Klinger;  Jacob,  who  lived  in  Hubley 
township,  where  he  was  supervisor  for  more  than 
twenty  vears;  Frederick,  who  was  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Upper  Mahantango  many  years  (he  served 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war)  :  Dan- 
iel S..  who  still  survives;  Emanuel,  who  served  as 
postmaster  at  Hegins,  Schuylkill  county;  Samuel, 
who  was  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  war  in  Com- 
pany A,  50th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry; 
William;  Peter;  Louisa,  who  married  Mr.  Fagner 
(they  live  in  Hoopston,  111.)  ;  and  Kate,  of  South 
Lend,  Ind.,  who  married  John  IX  Willard  and  for 
her  second  husband  a  Mr.  Martin. 

John  Schwalm,  son  of  Frederick,  was  horn  Dec. 
25,  1818,  in  Mahantango  township,  was  a  farmer 
in  Hubley  township  for  some  years,  and  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day  in  Schuylkill  county, 
sen  ing  two  years,  1851  and  1858,  as  steward  -of 
the  county  almshouse.  lie  was  also  school  di- 
rector for  many  vears.  In  religious  faith  he  ad- 
hered to  the  Reformed  Church  and  he  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  of  (he  Church  of  Cod  in  Begins 
township.  He  married  Elizabeth  Shade,  who  was 
horn  March  12,  1827,  in  Hubley  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  daughter  of  John  Shade,  and  is  still 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schwalm  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  named  children:  Hannah  mar- 
ried John  Schmeltz;  Edward  (deceased)  married 
a  Miss  Lucus:  Lydia  married   (first)  Jesse  Heint- 


086  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 

zinger  and   (second)   John  Ressler-;  Kate  married  section,  lias  been  township  constable   since   1905, 

John   F.    Barr;    Daniel   E.   is  mentioned   below;  and   has    long   been    interested    in   local   political 

Polly  married  Elias  Artz ;  Louisa  married  Har-  activities  as  an  ardent  member  of  the  Democratic 

vey  Clauser.  party.     During  his  residence  in  Schuylkill  county 

Daniel  E.  Schwalm.  son  of  John,  was  bora  and  he  was  delegate  to  county  convention,  served  as 

reared  in  Hubley  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  delegate   to    the    county    convention   of    1906,    in 

is  still  engaged  in  farming  there,  having  his  fa-  1907  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  convention,  and 

ther's  homestead,  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres.  He  built  was   a    delegate    to   the   last   convention   held   in 

the  dwelling-house  on  the  property,  but  the  barn  Northumberland  county. 

was   built  by  his  father  in   1847.     Mr.   Schwalm         Mr.   Schwalm  holds  membership  in  Lodge  No. 

has  been  a  useful  and  active  citizen  of  his  town-  637.  I.  ( >.  0.  P.,  at  Klingerstown.  was  representa- 

ship,   where    he    has   held   various   offices,   having  tive  to  the  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  held  at 

been  tax  collector  for  a  number  of  years  and  also  Reading  in  May,  1907,  and  again  served  in  that 

supervisor.     He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  capacity  in  1908,  when  the  grand  lodge  convened 

been  committeeman  of  his  township.     His  home  at  Philadelphia.     He  and  his  family  are  members 

is  on  the  line  of  Schuylkill  and  Dauphin  coun-  of  the  Himmel  Church  at  Rebuck,  Mr.  Schwalm 

ties  and  he  is  a  Reformed  member  of  Coleman's  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation,  his  wife 

Church  in  the  latter  county,  his  wife  belonging  to  to  the  Reformed  congregation.     He  served  as  dea- 

the    Reformed    congregation    of    that    church,    to  con  of  the  Coleman  Church. 
which  the  family  also  belong.     Mr.  Schwalm  has        On  July  16,   1898,  Mr.   Schwalm  married  Rosa 

served  as  deacon  and  elder.  '  KehreS,  daughter  of   X.   E.  and  Catharine   (Hoff- 

Mr.  Schwalm  married  Fietta  Sehlegel,  daugh-  man)  Kehres,  of  Rebuck.  and  four  children  have 
ter  of  Peter  Sehlegel  (whose  wife  was  a  Snyder),  been  bum  to  this  union:  Katie  A.,  born  Aug.  25, 
and  granddaughter  of  Peter  Sehlegel.  who  was  1800.  in  Washington  township:  Florence  May. 
born  Oct.  12,  1786,  came  from  Berks  county,  and  born  Sept.  2,  1901,  in  Washington  township;  Liz- 
died  Oct.  1,  1864 ;  he  is  buried  at  the  Herb  Church,  zie  P.,  born  April  4,  1903,  in  Jordan  township; 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  and  Nathan  D..  born  July  16,  1906,  in  Jordan. 
Schwalm:  Andrew  J.  lives  at  Klingerstown:  Reily  On  July  30,  1910,  the  first  reunion  of  the 
died  young:  Lizzie  married  J.  L.  Reitz  and  is  Schwalm  family  was  held  at  Valley  View,  Schuyl- 
living  at  Mount  Carmel ;  Charles,  who  lives  at  Val-  kill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  it  was  a  great  success,  about 
ley  View,  married  Mattie  Stiely :  Katie  died  five  hundred  attending.  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Schwalm, 
young:  Rufus,  who  married  Flora  Adams,  is  liv-  who  was  present  with  his  family,  was  elected  one 
ing  on  the  old  homestead,  at  Artz;  Harry  mar-  of  the  historians  of  the  association.  The  second 
ried  Florence  Schaffer,  and  they  live  at  Spring-  gathering  was  held  the  second  Saturday  in  Au- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county.  gust,  1011.  at  Valley  View  Park. 

Andrew   J.   Schwalm  was  born   Oct.   13,   1871. 
in  Hubley  township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  reared        Andrew  J.   Swalm.  who  lives  at  Sunbury.  this 
to  farm  life,  and  worked  on  the  home  place  until  county,   was   born    Sept.    22,   1850,   at   Schuylkill 
eighteen   years  old.     For  the  next  five  years  he  Haven,  Pa.,  son  of  Joseph  M.  Swalm  and  grand- 
worked  in  coal  mines  in  Dauphin  county,  at  the  son  of  Andrew  Swalm. 

Williamstown  colliery,  in  Bear  Valley,  after  which        Joseph    M.    Swalm    was    born    at    Orwigsburg, 

he  commenced  huckstering,  at  which  he  was  en-  Schuylkill   Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  at  Philadelphia  at 

gaged   about  five  years,   attending  the  Pottsville  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.     For  about  twenty 

and  Minersville  markets.    On  the  evening  of  Sept.  years  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a  retail  grocer 

36.  1899,  while  returning  home  from  market,  Mr.  in  Philadelphia.     In  earlier  life  he  was  a  wheel- 

Schwalin  was  held   up  by   three  highwaymen   on  wright  and  carriage  builder  and  lived  in  Schuyl- 

the  Shermans  mountain  road  and  relieved  of  $140.  kill  county.     He  was  buried  at  Orwigsburg.     In 

He  was  huckster  about  two  years  for  F.  L.  Kehres.  religion  he  was  a  Methodist.     His  wife,  Angeline 

of   Rebuck,  Northumberland  county,  was  later  at  (Allebach),  daughter  of  Jacob  Allebach,  of  Mid- 

Girardville  and  Shenandoah,  and  in  the  spring  of  dleport,  Schuylkill  county,  still  lives  in  Philadel- 

190]   came  to  his  present  place  in  Jordan  town-  phia,   now    (1910)    eighty-four  years   old.     They 

ship.     Northumberland     county,     settling     there  had   children    as   follows:    One   son    that  died   in 

March  20th.     He  has  136  acres  of  fine  land  lo-  infancy:    Andrew   J.:    Charles,    of   Philadelphia; 

cated   on  the  road  leading  from  Klingerstown  to  Hannah,  who  married  M.  Plish  and  lives  at  Hol- 

1   i ■Urn.  Hebe  and  Pillow.    This  farm  was  formerly  ley.   X'.   Y. :    Sallie.   who   died   in   Wyoming,  wife 

the  William  Shartle  homestead  and  was  for  many  of  Robert  Harper:   Mary,  married  to  Thomas  J. 

years  a  hotel   -land,  "Shartle's  Hotel*'  being  well  Andress,   and   living   in   Philadelphia;   Ella,  who 

known:   Mr.   Shartle  built  the  large  brick  house,  died  aged  thirty  years;  and  Mabel,  who  died  aged 

which   is  40  by  40  feet   in   dimensions,   in   1867.  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.    Schwalm    is    a    well    known    citizen   of  his        Andrew  J.   Swalm  was  educated   in   the  public 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


087 


schools  of  his  native  town.  When  twelve  years 
old  he  began  clerking  in  the  store  and  lias  ever 
since  been  in  the  grocery  business.  He  was  in 
business  at  Eazleton,  Pa.,  for  fifteen  years.  In 
1881  he  firs!  associated  himself  with  the  Hooven 
Mercantile  Company  (which  has  stores  in  nine 
cities  of  eastern  Pennsylvania),  at  Hazleton,  re- 
maining there  about  two  years  in  that  associa- 
tion. He  then  left  them  for  three  years,  and 
since  1892  lias  been  their  manager-  at  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  when-  they  have  a  large  wholesale  trade.  He 
has  supervision  of  ten  people.  Mr.  Swalm  is 
owner  and  manager  of  the  Sunbury  Peanut  Com- 
pany,  which  docs  an  extensive  business  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  the  peanut  butter  manufactured 
by  this  concern  being  known  for  its  rich  quality. 
Mr.  Swalm  is  a  member  of  the  .Methodist  Church 
of  Sunbury,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  a 
number  of  years.  Ee  was  married  Sept.  16,  1876, 
to  Martha  A.  Garrett,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Garrett,  of  Pottsville.  She  died  April  1, 
1006,  aged  fifty-three  yea  is.  and  is  buried  in  Pom- 
frel  Manor  cemetery.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swalm 
were  born  these  children:  Gertrude  L.,  who  is 
now  engaged  as  a  stenographer  and  resides  at 
home;  Florence  M..  a  public  school  teacher,  who 
has  taught  ten  terms  in  the  public  schools  of 
Sunbury:  and  Marrion  K..  wile  of  E.  K.  Burlew, 
a  government  employee,  residing  at  Washington, 
1).  ('.  Mr.  Swalm  resides  at  No.  1113  Market 
street,  Sunbury. 

LANDIS  FRY,  of  Sunbury.  was  the  pioneer  in 
the  bakery  business  at  that  place,  and  is  still  en- 
gaged in  that  line,  being-  now  the  oldest  dealer  in 
bakery  goods  there.  He  also  conducts  a  grocery 
and  notion  store,  and  for  over  thirty  years  has 
been  one  of  the  thriving  merchants  of  the  bor- 
ough, one  who  lias  taken  his  part  in  the  public 
administration  and  done  his  duty  in  every  ca- 
pacity. He  was  born  in  Sunbury  Sept.  11,  1813, 
and  lias  passed  all  his  life  there. 

The  Fry  family  came  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty from  Berks  county,  this  State,  Jacob  Fry,  the 
grandfather  of  Landis  Fry.  hailing  from  the.  vicin- 
ity of  Wbmelsdorf,  where  he  was  born  about  1785. 
id'  came  to  Northumberland  county  before  his 
marriage,  and  owned  a  farm  on  the  Shamokin 
road,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  his  old  home- 
stead being  now  the  property  of  Lot  Bartholo- 
mew. His  grandson  Landis  Fry  has  a  set  of 
limns  taken  from  a  deer  Jacob  Fry  shot  on  this 
farm.  He  was  a  carpenter  as  well  as  farmer.  His 
death,  which  occurred  in  1856,  when  he  was  about 
seventy  years  old,  was  the  result  of  an  accident: 
he  was  in  a  boat  which  went  over  the  breast  of 
the  Shamokin  dam  and  he  struck  his  head  on  a 
rock.  He  is  buried  in  an  unmarked  grave  in  the 
old  Sunbury  cemetery.  Jacob  Fry  married  a 
Miss    Camp,   who   was   also   from    the   vicinity   of 


Wbmelsdorf,  in  Berks  county,  and  wdio  died  about 
1847.  They  had  children  as  follows:  John,  Jon- 
as, Jacob,  Henry,  Mrs.  Samuel  Savage  and  Mrs. 
Silas  Wolverton. 

Jacob  Fry,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  1817  in 
Northumberland  county  and  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. In  1851  he  moved  to  the  borough  of 
Sunbury,  settling  along  the  Susquehanna  river. 
where  in  those  days  considerable  fishing  was  done, 
the  sport  being  then  at  its  best  in  this  region.  He 
served  as  tax  collector  of  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship. Mr.  Fry  died  in  1859,  below  Shamokin 
Dam,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years.  He  married 
Louisa  Bowen.  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Cath- 
arine (Ermentrout)  Bowen,  who  came  from  near 
Womelsdorf,  Berks  county,  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing family:  Samuel,  who  died  in  childhood;- 
William,  who  entered  the  Union  service  in  the 
Civil  war  and  died  of  starvation  in  the  spring 
of  1865  at  Salisbury,  S.  C,  where  he  was  a  pris- 
oner: David,  who  died  in  1894;  Landis:  Harriet. 
who  married  Daniel  Ulman  and  lived  out  West 
(both  are  deceased)  :  Mary  ('..  horn  in  1852,  who 
died  in  1866. 

Landis  Fry  attended  school  in  Sunbury.  In 
1865  he  began  driving  a  bakery  wagon,  and  in 
1874  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother 
David  in  the  bakery  business,  this  association  last- 
ing four  and  a  half  years,  since  when  Landis 
Fry  has  done  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
put  up  his  present  store  building  in  1879,  and 
has  the  oldest  bakery  in  the  borough,  as  well  as  a 
well  established  grocery  and  notion  business.  He 
has  three  employees.  Mr.  Fry  has  gained  and  re- 
tained the  patronage  of  a  large  number  of  his 
neighbors  and  fellow  citizens  by  honest  dealing, 
satisfactory  goods  and  upright  business  methods, 
and  he  deserves  the  substantial  rewards  which 
have  been  his  portion.  He  has  the  confidence  of 
all  who  know  him,  as  was  shown  by  his  election  as 
member  of  the  town  council,  in  which  he  served 
three  years,  during  which  time  he  was  instrument- 
al in  having  Market  street  paved.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  political  affiliation. 

In  1866  Mr.  Fry  married  Anna  Statia  Hayes, 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Ann  (Harmon) 
I  laws,  of  Lewis  township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  they  have  had  a  family  of  eight  children: 
William  J.,  who  lives  in  Sunbury:  Edward,  de- 
ceased :  Joseph,  at  home ;  Howard,  of  Sunbury : 
Landis.  of  Sunbury:  Chester,  a  baker,  who  lives 
at  home:  Walter  II..  who  assists  his  father:  and 
Morris,  deceased.  Walter  II.  Fry.  who  was  born 
in  Sunbury  March  L6,  1879,  is  a  member  of 
Madav  Lodge.  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sunbury. 

SAMUEL  BRADY  (deceased)  passed  his  latter 
years  in  retirement  at  Shamokin.  where  his  widow 
now  makes  her  home.  He  was  a  lifelong  resident 
of  Northumberland  county,  and  followed  farming 


688  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 

near  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township,  the  principal  active  member  of  the  board  of  trade  while  residing 

part  of  his  active  life.  at  Wilmerding. 

Mr.    Brady  was   born   near   Elysburg   in   1847.        On  Dec.  22,  1886,  Mr.  Rockefeller  married  Har- 

son  of  Abraham  Brady,  who  was  a   farmer  and  riet  R.,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Elizabeth  (Gibson) 

well  known  citizen  .if  that  locality.    He  died  upon  McClow,  of  Sunbury.   Pa.     They  had  three  ehil- 

his  farm  in  188!).    His  children  were:  Katie,  wife  ilren :     Catherine,  who  graduated  from  the  Bing- 

of  George  Leibig:  Clara.  Mrs.  Yoder ;  Josephine,  ham  School  for  Girls,  in  the  class  of  1907;  Mary 

living  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.;  Frain.  living  at  Tharp-  E.,  who  graduated  from  the  same  school  in  1910; 

town.  Pa.:   Samuel. deceased  :  Oliver,  living  near  and   Margaret   M..  who  graduated  from  the  same- 

Elysburg :  and  George,  of  Tharptown.  in  PHI.     Mrs.  Rockefeller  and  her  daughter-  arc 

Samuel  Brady  attended  the  public  schools,  but  members    of   the   Episcopal    Church   of    Sunbury. 

he  was  a  mere  boy  when  lie  began  work  at  the  Mr.   Rockefeller  was  a   stanch   Republican.     Fra- 

breaker.    Later  he  followed  railroading  for  several  ternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and 

years.    He  began  farming  in  Ralpho  township,  con-  the   Order  of  Moose. 

tinning  that"  occupation  throughout  his  active  Mrs.  Rockefeller  is  descended  from  Cornelius 
years,  "but  always  had  his  residence  in  Shamo-  McClow,  who  came  to  America  before  the  Revo- 
kin.  By  thrift  and  industry  he  made  a  success  lutionary  war  ami  settled  in  Northumberland 
of  his  work,  in  which  he  acquired  a  competence.  County,  Pa.,  in  the  district  now  embraced  in 
Some  time  before  his  death  lie  lived  in  retire-  Ralpho  township,  near  Elysburg.  He  died  March 
ment,  dying  at  Shamokin  .lune  s.  1907.  He  is  20,  1812,  and  he  and  bis  wife  Elizabeth  (Brower) 
buried  iii  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Shamokin.  are  buried  at  the  Quaker  cemetery  in  Ralpho  town- 
Mr.  Brady  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connec-  ship.  Cornelius  McClow  was  Scotch-Irish, 
tion,  and  a  man  who  deserved  the  respect  in  which  Among  the  children  of  Cornelius  and  Elizabeth 
he  was  held  by  all  who  knew  him.  (Brower)  McClow  was  Joseph  McClow.  Mrs.  Rock- 
On  Aug.  15.  1874,  Mr.  Brady  married  Sarah  efeller's  great-grandfather,  who  was  born  Feb.  0. 
Lints,  daughter  of  Daniel  Lints.' of  Xorthumber-  1789,  and  died  March  21,  1828:  He  followed 
land  county,  and  she  still  resides  at  their  Shamokin  farming  near  Elysburg.  His  wife.  Mary  (Camp- 
home.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  bell),  long  survived  him.  dying  Dec.  28,  1865.  and 
Brady:  Samuel,  who  is  employed  as  a  fireman  at  they  were  the  parents  of  eight  children:  John,. 
the  Henry  Clay  colliery,  married  Miranda  Dilla-  Benjamin.  William.  Daniel.  Sarah,  Margaret.  Jes- 
plain,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  Jennie,  Eva.  sie  and  Levi. 

Beatrice.  Bertha.  Gladys  and  Florence:  Oliver  died        Benjamin    McClow,    son    of   Joseph,   was    born 

in  infancy;  Minnie  died  aged  two  years:  Jennie  June   25,   1812,  near   Elysburg.  and  was  brought 

is   the   wife   of    Irvin    Kissler,   of    Shamokin,    in  up  in  that  vicinity.     He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 

Northumberland  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Going  to   Shamokin  in   1835   when   the  borough 

Mildred.  was  in  its  infancy,  he  followed  his  trade  there  for 

a  year,  later  running  a  sawmill  near  that  place, 
LEMUEL  C.  ROCKEFELLER  was  born  Nov.  on  Coal  run.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  built  the 
8,  1848,  son  of  Lewis  and  Catherine  (Campbell)  fourth  house  in  Shamokin,  at  what  is  now  the 
Rockefeller.  His  boyhood  was  spent  upon  his  corner  of  Pearl  and  Commerce  'streets,-  bringing 
father's  farm  and  his  first  venture  for  himself  was  his  family  hither  in  dune  of  that  year.  He  died 
in  the  bottling  business  at  Sunbury.  Pa.,  where  he  Dec.  22,  1897,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five. 
remained  for  some  time.  He  removed  in  1890  to  Mr.  MeClow  married  Rebecca  Taylor,  daughter 
Gallitzin.  twelve  miles  west  of  Altoona,  Pa.,  where  of  Daniel  Taylor,  of  Shamokin  township,  and  they 
he  en-aged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business.  He  became  the  parents  of  six  children:  Oliver,  the 
remained  there  about  twelve  years  and  was  most  father  of  Mrs.  Lemuel  C.  Rockefeller,  now  living 
successful  in  this  undertaking.  While  located  at  Frederick,  Md. ;  David,  who  died  in  .Shamokin ; 
there,  in  May,  1901,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  Harriet,  .Mrs.  John  Lake,  of  Shamokin:  Joseph, 
peace  of  the  borough  of  Gallitzin.  on  the  Republi-  of  Shamokin:  Robert,  of  Shamokin:  and  Adelia, 
can  ticket,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  town  was  Mrs.  John  Cooney. 
strongly  Democratic.  He  later  moved  to  Wilmer- 
ding, near  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  DRUMM.  There  are  many  representatives  of 
the  wholesale  liqvtor  trade,  also  the  electric  light  the  Drumm  family  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
business  and  ice  manufacturing,  following  this  Northumberland  county,  the  posterity  of  Charles 
business  for  eight  years.  In  1909  he  moved  to  and  Christiana  Drumm.  whose  three  surviving 
Sunbury.  and  started  the  erection  of  a  home  at  the  sons  are  all  interested  in  farming  in  that  section. 
corner  of  Amy  and  Front  streets,  but  his  death,  A  number  of  the  family  have  been  successful  school 
Oct.  18,  1909,  occurred  before  it  was  completed,  teachers,  notably  John  Drumm,  one  of  the  three- 
He  was  an  able  and  honorable  business  man,  and  brothers  mentioned,  who  has  taught  there  since- 
was  successful  in  all  his  enterprises.     He  was  an  1880 


J£,/& \U\^c^/jdle^ 


THE  NSW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIERARY 


ASTOR,  LENCX   AND 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS 

R 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


689 


Charles  Drumm  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  and  from  the  age  of  eleven  years  lived  with 
the  family  of  the  late  Dr.  Peter  Tryon,  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Northumberland  county,  remain- 
ing with  them  until  some  years  after  his  marriage. 
He  then  moved  to  Uniontown,  where  he  followed 
his  trade  of  shoemaker  for  some  years,  alter  which 
he  removed  across  the  Mahantango  mountains  into 
Lykens  Valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  lived 
until  he  entered  the  army  during  the  Civil  war. 
Me  served  nine  months,  in  Company  I,  177th 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Drafted  Militia,  and  in 
1866  he  returned  to  Northumberland  county,  set- 
tling at  Mile  Run.  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
where  he  occupied  the  property  now  owned  by  his 
son  Jacob,  remaining  there  until  eight  years  be- 
fore his  death.  He  then  purchased  a  house  and 
lot  at  Asherton,  this  county,  where  he  died  April 
25,  1897,  aged  seventy-three  years,  two  months, 
seventeen  days.  After  the  war  he  devoted  all  his 
time  and  energies  to  farming.  He  was  an  es- 
teemed citizen  of  the  locality,  and  active  in  the 
life  of  the  Hollowing  Pun  Lutheran  Church,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  which  he  served  for 
many  years  in  the  capacity  of  deacon,  and  also 
held  the  office  of  elder.  He  married  Christiana 
I'.eek.  daughter  ofgJohn  Beck,  a  substantial  citi- 
zen of  Dauphin  county,  who  also  owned  property 
in  Uniontown;  his  wife  was  from  Northampton 
county.  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Drumm  are 
hiiiied  ,ii  tin  Hollowing  i;ull  Lutheran  Church. 
She  died  Nov.  27,  1906,  aged  eighty -one  years, 
four  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing named  children:  Henry  is  mentioned  below;  a 
daughter,  twin  of  Henry,  died  in  infamy;  Mary 
married  Levi  Conrad  ami  (second)  David  Conrad. 
half-brothers;  a  son,  twin  of  Mary,  died  in  infamy; 
Ch;nles  died  June  9,  1910,  aged  fifty-six  years, 
nine  months,  one  day  (he  was  a  blacksmith  "in 
Augustaville  and  had  a  farm  in  Plum  Creek): 
Louise  married  Emanuel  Fox  and  (second)  Jacob 
Knouse,  of  Kratzerville  ;  John  is  mentioned  below: 
Jacob  E.  is  mentioned  below;  Annie  married 
Charles  Bucher  and  they  live  in  Sunbury. 

Through  his  mother,  who  was  a  Diehl,  Charles 
Drumm  was  related  to  that  early  Pennsylvania 
family  of  the  Mennonite  faith,  identified  with  Le- 
high and  Berks  counties  from  Colonial  days.  In 
Northumberland  county  they  lived  south  of  Line 
Mountain. 

Henry  Drumm,  son  of  Charles  and  Christiana 
(Peck)  Drumm.  was  born  June  8,  1848.  in  Wash- 
ington township.  Northumberland  county.  When 
nineteen  wars  old  he  commenced  to  learn  shoe- 
making  with  Isaac  Clements,  at  Bull  Pun.  this 
county,  but  after  completing  his  trade  he  took  to 
railroad  work,  being  car  inspector  at  Sunbury  for 
the  Northern  Central  Railroad  Company  for  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  commenced  farm- 
ing, which  he  followed  the  rest  of  his  life,  having 

44 


a  tract  of  thirty-eight  acres  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  It  was  formerly  the  homestead  of  Hen- 
ry  ( 'onrad,  who  took  up  the  land  by  warrant  from 
the  Commonwealth,  and  it  later  came  into  the 
possession  of  his  son  Peter,  from  whom  Henry 
Drumm,  his  son-in-law,  acquired  it.  The  latter. 
however,  owned  only  part  of  the  original  Conrad 
tract.  He  bought  this  place  in  1868.  On  Oct. 
6,  1868,  Mr.  Drumm  married  Matilda  Conrad, 
daughter  of  Peter  Conrad,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children:  Sarah  died  in  infancy:  William  Har- 
\e\  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury;  Henry  C.  is  men- 
tioned below:  Katie  E.  married  Edgar  D.  Wag- 
ner, of  Sunbury:  Tillie  married  Grant  Witmyre 
and  they  live  at  Herndon.  Mr.  Drumm  died  Feb. 
14,  1911,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Elias  Lutheran 
( 'hurch,  Hollowing  Run.  He  was  a  Lutheran,  and 
bis  family  also  adhere  to  that  faith.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics. 

Hexry  C.  Drumm,  son  of  Henry  Drumm,  was 
born  Sept.  27,  187"?.  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
reared  there,  and  obtained  bis  primary  education 
in  the  local  common  schools,  later  attending  Ber- 
rysburg  Academy;  Prof.  R.  D.  Renn's  summer 
normal  school,  at  Patricksburg ;  the  high  school  at 
Middleburg;  and  the  State  normal  school  at 
Bloomsburg.  When  only  seventeen  years  old  he  was 
licensed  to  teach,  and  during  his  first  and  second 
terms  was  engaged  in  Washington  township.  For 
six  terms  he  taught  in  his  native  township,  com- 
pleting eight  years  of  successful  work  as  an 
educator.  For  the  next  two  years  he  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  in  the  warp  de- 
partment of  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mill,  being- 
obliged  to  relinquish  the  position  just  a  few  days 
before  the  completion  of  the  second  year  because 
of  failing  health.  His  next  work  was  as  travel- 
ing salesman  for  C.  C.  Seebold,  dealer  in  musical 
instruments,  his  territory  being  in  central  Penn- 
sylvania, for  one  full  year  having  charge  of  thir- 
teen counties  of  the  State.  Besides  selling  instru- 
ments he  did  collecting  and  helped  to  look  after 
all  the  office  work  of  the  concern.  In  the  spring 
of  1901  Mr.  Drumm  came  to  his  present  home, 
one  mile  east  of  Asherton.  where  he  has  forty- 
live  acres  of  fertile  land  which  was  formerly  part 
of  the  Henry  Conrad  and  Jacob  I.enn  properties. 
It  is  nicely  and  advantageously  located,  and  Mr. 
Drumm  has  made  the  most  of  its  possibilities  in 
its  development.  He  is  particularly  interested  in 
the  growing  of  choice  fruits,  in  which  line  he  has 
gained  a  high  reputation  by  his  success.  His  pres- 
ent set  of  buildings  are  among  the  improvements 
he  has  made  on  his  property,  he  having  erected 
the  house  in  1896  and  the  barn  in  1900.  He  is 
an  enterprising,  intelligent,  wide-awake  citizen, 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  use  his  ability  in  the 
public  service  as  well  as  in  his  private  affairs, 
having    been    tax    collector    of    his    district    since 


690 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1902  and  being  also  township  treasurer  under  the 
new  road  law.  In  1909  he  took  an  active  part 
in  the  organization  of  the  Asherton  and  Augusta- 
ville  Telephone  Company,  of  which  he  has  been 
an  officer  from  the  beginning,  and  he  is  serving 
the  company  as  secretary  at  present.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  family  are  Luth- 
erans, members  of  St.  Elias  Church  in  Hollowing 
Run,  of  which  he  has  been  deacon  and  trustee, 
holding  office  for  six  years.  He  has  been  particu- 
larly active  in  Sunday  school  work  in  his  com- 
munity, having  served  as  superintendent  or  teach- 
er for  the  past  fifteen  years.  In  1910  he  was 
elected  secretary  for  the  districf  Sunday  school 
convention. 

On  March  25,  1894,  Mr.  Drumm  married  Re- 
becca Geise,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Froena 
(Trautman)  Geise,  of  Jordan  township,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Grace  E.,  who  has  completed 
the  course  in  the  graded  schools  of  Lower  Augusta 
tow  Dship. 

.Inn\    DRUMM,   son   of  Charles   and   Christiana 
(  Beck)  Drumm,  is  one  of  the  oldest  school  teach- 
ers,   in   point  of  length   of   service,   in   Northum- 
berland county,     lie  was  born  Feb.  24,  1860,  in 
Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  lived 
until   six  years  old.     His   parents  then   returned 
to  Northumberland  county,  settling  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  where  he  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  obtained   bis  early   training   in   the   common 
schools.      Later   lie  attended   the   summer  normal 
school  held  by  Prof.  Saul  Shipman,  at  Augusta- 
ville,  for  several  terms,  and  another  summer  nor- 
mal, at  Elysburg,  conducted  by  Prof.  W.  W.  Wolv- 
erton    and    his    wife    Chidistor    ami    a    Professor 
Boyer,  where  he  was  likewise  a  student    for  sev- 
eral  term-:   lie  also  studied   at  the  normal  school 
at  Milton,  conducted  by  Prof.  W.  VY.   Wolvefton 
and    a     Professor     Geho,    and    has    taken    several 
course-  by  mail.     He  has  a  State  teacher's  perma- 
nent certificate,  granted  by  State  Superintendent 
N.    C.    Schaeffer    in    1899.      Mr.    Drumm    began 
teaching   in   the  fall   of   1880   in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  where  he  has  been   engaged  for  seven- 
teen year-  in  all:  he  was  at  one  school  in  Upper 
Augusta    for    five   years,   and    for   seven   years   in 
Rockefeller  township.    His  long  continuance  in  the 
profession,   and   his   long  service  in   each   of   the 
localities   named,  would   lie  sufficient  evidence   of 
his  ability  and  of  the  confidence  he  has   inspired 
in  his  methods  and  results.     Thoroughly  prepared 
for  his  work,  progressive,  conscientious,  and  hav- 
ing the  true  love  for  teaching  which  is  one  of  the 
best  elements   in  a  born   educator's  make-up,  he 
has   followed    his   profession    with    an   earnestness 
which   would   insure   success  in   any   line.     As   a 
farmer  be  is  well  known  in  his  community,  own- 
ing  and    cultivating   a    large   tract    of    190    acres 
situated   four  miles  south   of  Sunbury,  what  was 
formerly  the  homestead  of  Henry  Shipe,  in  whose 


family  it  had  been  owned  for  several  generations. 
The  present  house  and  barn  thereon  were  built 
by  the  Shipes. 

Mr.  Drumm  served  ten  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  refusing  a  renomination  in  the  spring  of 
liiln.  lie  is  prominent  and  well  known  in  the 
councils  of  the  Republican  party,  in  which  he  has 
been  an  efficient  worker  for  many  years,  and  has 
traveled  all  over  the  county  in  its  interest,  his 
services  being  highly  valued. 

In  lssM  Air.  Drumm  married  Lydia  Trego,  who 
died   April    1.'!.    1896,  aged   thirty-two   years,   two 
months,  fourteen  days.      Five  children  were  born 
to    this    union,    as    follows:    William.    Josephine, 
Mary  Alice.  George  and    Daniel    I-'..     Mr.   Drumm 
and  his   family  worship  at  the  Lutheran   Church, 
which   he  has  served  as   deacon.     For  two  years 
he  was   president   of  the  Luther  League,  and  he 
lias  also  served  as  secretary  of  the  church  council. 
Jacob   E.   Drumm,  -on  of  Charles  and  Christi- 
ana   (Leik)    Drumm.   was   horn   duly   1,   18(35,  on 
the  farm  at  Mile  Run.  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  he  now  lives.     There  be  grew  to  man- 
hood, meantime  receiving  a  practical   training  to 
farm    life   as   well    as   a    good    foundation    for  his 
education   in  the  local  public  schools.     Later   he 
attended  the  State  normal  school  at  Bloomsburg, 
where    he    perfected    himself    in    the    elementary 
branches,  and   at   the   age  of  twenty-two   he   was 
licensed   to  teach,  entering  the  profession  in  which 
so  many  of  his  family  have  won  success  and  repu- 
tation.     In    the    fall    of   188T    he   began    his   first 
term,  in   Washington  township,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  term.  190Q-01,  be  ha-  been  engaged 
in  teaching  continuously  since,  being  now  ranked 
among  the  veteran  teachers  of  the  county,  in  point 
of  service.     By  hard  work  and  unselfish  devotion 
to  his  profession   he  has  gained  and  maintained 
high  standing,  as  the  demand  for  his  services  in- 
dicates,  and    be   deserves   the   enviable   reputation 
he  enjoys.     Since  1900  Mr.  Drumm  has  been  sole 
owner  of  the  homestead,  which  he  had  previously 
owned  in  partnership  with  his  brother  John.     Be- 
fore his  father  acquired  it  it  belonged  to  Joseph 
Trego.     It  contains  seventy-five  acres  of  excellent 
land,   well    cultivated    ami    improved,    though   Mr. 
Drumm   had   a   severe  setback  in   October,   1894, 
when   his  barn,  containing  the  full  year's   crops, 
three  horses  ami  three  head  of  cattle,  was  totally 
destroyed  by  fire.     It  was  only  partially  covered 
by   insurance.      Mr.    Drumm   is  a  substantial  and 
valuable   citizen,    though   he   has   not  been   active 
in  the  public  affairs  of  bis  locality  directly.     In 
political  matters  he  is  independent. 

On  Aug.  7,  1895,  Mr.  Drumm  married  Alice 
Gertrude  Culp,  daughter  of  Peter  F.  and  Anna 
(Heilman)  Culp.  of  Rockefeller  township,  and 
granddaughter  of  Daniel  Heilman.  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta. Airs.  Drumm  has  been  well  educated,  and 
though    she    has    never    taught   school    received    a 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


691 


license  when  nineteen  years  old;  she  obtained  three 
certificates.  An  accomplished  musician,  she  has 
played  the  organ  for  church  and  Sunday  school 
since  she  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  since  1904 
has  been  organist  for  the  Hollowing  Run  Luth- 
eran Church;  she  also  plays  for  the  United  Breth- 
ren Sunday  school,  and  gives  lessons  on  the  or- 
gan. Seven  children  have  been  horn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Drumm,  namely:  Edna,  Dora  (who  lias  com- 
pleted the  course  in  the  graded  schools  of  Lower 
Augusta  township).  Clyde,  Arthur  (who  died 
when  two  and  a  half  years  old),  a  daughter  that 
died  in  infancy,  Franklin  and  Elizabeth.  Mr. 
Drumm  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran  ( 'hureh  at  Hollowing   Kim. 

GEORGE  F.  VVISK  has  been  engaged  in  tailor- 
ing in  the  borough  of  Sunbury  since  1872,  and 
lie  i>  one  .it  tin'  substantial  and  respected  residents 
id  thai  place.  Mi'.  Wise  was  horn  April  28,  1855, 
in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  son  of  William  Wise, 
who  was  also  a  tailor  by  occupation,  ami  was  but 
a  youth  when  he  came  to  Sunbury,  in  1872.  Here 
he  lias  since  made  his  home,  and  his  industrious 
life  and  upright  character  have  gained  him  the 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  at  present 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  school  hoard  of  Sun- 
bury. 

On  Oct.  3,  1879,  .Mr.  Wise  was  married  to  Mary 
A.  Weiser,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Martha  (Potts) 
Weiser,  ami  a  direct  descendant  of  Conrad  Weiser. 
the  famous  pioneer  and  Indian  interpreter.  Mr. 
ami  Mrs.  Wise  have  had  the  following  named 
children  :  William  J.,  Sarah  L.,  Rachel  L.  and  Ida 
Leah  (twins)  ami  Myrtle  S.  The  son,  who  has 
taken  up  his  father's  calling,  married  Adda  Heff- 
ner,  and  they  live  in  Sunbury;  they  have  two 
children,  Charles  J.  and  William  M.  Rachel  L. 
ami  Ida  Leah  Wise,  twin  daughters,  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  F.  Wise,  are  singers  of  considerable 
local  reputation,  and  they  sang  at  the  exercises  in 
•connection  with  the  unveiling  of  the  monument 
at  Fort  Augusta,  Sunbury,  in  1907.  As  they 
were  direct  descendants  of  Conrad  Weiser,  the 
principal  figure  in,  the  erection  of  this  historic 
old  fort,  in  175G,  their  participation  in  the  cere- 
monies was  particularly  appropriate.  'Flic  Wise 
family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  connection. 

WILLARD  D.  LEIBY,  proprietor  of  Lefty's 
Rest,  which  is  situated  near  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
mail  station  in  Sunbury,  has  been  a  resident  of 
flic  borough  since  1898  and  established  himself 
in  business  at  his  present  location  in  1904.  He 
is  a  native  of  Union  county.  Pa.,  born  Dec.  6, 
1878,  son  of  Wrilliam  A.  Leiby. 

The  Leihv  family  is  of  good  old  Berks  county 
stock  and  of  Swiss  origin.  Early  in  the  eighteenth 
century  the  progenitors  of  the  family  in  America 
left    their   native   country,    Switzerland,   to  go   to 


South  America,  but  people  alone-  the  Rhine  river, 
to  which  place  they  came  in  their  journey,  ad- 
vised the  wife  not  to  go  there.  One  night,  while 
they  were  at  the  Rhine,  she  entreated  her  hus- 
band so  earnestly  not  to  go.  because  people  had 
told  her  they  would  forever  he  sorry,  that  he 
abandoned  the  trip,  and  so  they  remained  for 
twenty  years  in  the  Rhine  country,  in  Germany. 
In  1733  they  came  to  America  on  the  good  ship 
"Samuel,"  qualifying  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  17, 
1733.  Rupp  in  his  30,000  names  of  immigrants 
gives  the  pioneer's  name  as  Friederieh  Leiby,  and 
the  second  series  of  Pennsylvania  Archives,  Vol. 
XVII,  also  gives  the  name  Frederick  Leihv;  but 
the  tax  list  of  Greenwich  township  (Berks  Co., 
Pa.)  for  1754,  published  in  Rupp's  history  of  the 
county,  gives  the  name  as  "Dietrich"  Leihv,  which 
probably  was  an  error.  The  names  Friederieh  and 
Dietrich  might  sound  nearly  alike  to  the  untrained 
ear.  Rupp  in  his  30,000  names  records  the  fol- 
lowing:  Palatines  imported  in  the  ship  "Samuel," 
el'  London,  Hugh  Percy,  master,  from  Rotterdam, 
last  from  Deal,  males,  eighty-nine  above  sixteen; 
females,  eighty-six;  males  under  sixteen,  fifty- 
four:  females,  sixty-two;  in  all  291. 

It  appears  that  Frederick  Leihv  died  about 
17.54,  as  the  tax  list  has  this  item:  "Frederick 
Leiby's  Widow,"  and  also  the  names  of  their  chil- 
dren: (ieorge  Michael  Leiby  and  Jacob  Leihv. 
The  latter  was  assessed  six  pounds  tax,  and  his 
younger  brother  and  widowed  mother  each  five 
pounds  in  1754.  The  descendants  of  Frederick 
Leiby  are  quite  numerous  and  are  scattered  all 
iiver  Pennsylvania  as  well  as  in  other  States.  In 
central  Pennsylvania  are  settled  several  branches 
of  this  family.  The  pioneers  are  buried  at  Dun- 
kel's  church,  in  Greenwich  township,  Berks  county, 
and  were  members  of  the  German  Reformed  con- 
gregation. Willard  D.  Leiby  is  a  grandson  of 
David  Leihv.  both  of  whose  grandfathers  served 
as  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  pa- 
ternal grandparents  of  David  Leiby  lived  in  Al- 
bany township,  Berks  county,  where  their  son 
John  J.  Leiby,  father  of  David,  was  horn  and 
reared.  On  April  1,  1800,  John  .1.  Leiby  was 
married  there  to  Christiana  Neifert,  a  native  of 
the  same  township,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliza 
(Stumnin)  Neifert.     In  1811  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leiby 

ved  to  Union  county.  Pa.,  settling  in  Limestone 

(then  Union)  township.  lie  was  drafted  during 
the  war  of  1812.  hut  furnished  a  substitute.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  dyer.  A  man  of  strong  and 
decided  character,  he  acquired  great  influence  in 
the  community,  was  chosen  to  various  local  offices, 
and  was  also  prominent  in  religious  circles,  for 
twenty-five  years  serving  as  elder  in  the  Reformed 
Church.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Democrat,  later 
joining  the  anti-Mason  faction  ami  eventually  be- 
coming  a  Whig.  He  died  March  22,  1856,  aged 
eighty-one  years,  nine  months,  ami   his  wife  died 


692 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


.Inly  8,  1852,  in  her  seventh-eighth  year.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children:  George,  horn 
Nov.  11,  1802,  died  in  1872  in  Union  county: 
John,  horn  Jan.  1,  1805,  died  in  Miffiinburg  in 
1872,  eleven  weeks  from  the  time  of  his  brother's 
death:  .Mary,  born  Jan.  12,  1809,  married  John 
Benner,  and  died  in  Buffalo  township,  Union 
county,  in  L865;  Jacob,  born  May  16,  1812,  died 
in  Limestone  township.  Union  county,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one:  Catharine,  born  Dec.  5,  1814, 
married  John  Norman,  and  died  in  Snyder  county, 
Pa.,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three:  David  was  the 
youngest  of  the  family. 

David  Leiby  was  born  Jan.  14.  1819,  in  Union 
county,  and  there  spent  his  entire  life.  At  the 
time  of  his  birth  his  parents  were  residing  in 
Union  (now  Limestone)  township,  and  there  he 
lived  until  1857,  when  he  settled  at  the  home  in 
Kelly  township,  near  Lewisburg,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  living  to  a  venerable 
age.  He  was  the  last  survivor  of  his  parents' 
family.  Mr.  Leiby's  fine  farm  was  first  settled 
in  1769,  by  William  Patterson,  and  he  purchased 
it  from  Thomas  Comley.  Mr.  Leihy  was  consid- 
ered a  good  manager,  and  was  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  bis  section,  and  lie  was  also  one  of  the 
useful  citizens  of  his  day.  serving  as  overseer  of 
the  poor  and  as  supervisor.  He  took  a  prominent 
part  in  local  politics  as  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  in  religious  faith  was  a  Lutheran, 
and  for  many  years  of  his  active  life  held  office 
as  deacon  and  elder  in  the  church. 

On  Feb.  15,  is  14.  Mr.  Leihy  married  Elizabeth 
Mover,  who  was  born  in  1820  in  East  Buffalo  town- 
ship. Union  county,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
i  Gemberling  I  Mover.  Her  father  was  born  in  Un- 
ion county,  where  lie  became  an  extensive  farmer 
ami  landowner  and  a  prominent  citizen:  Iter  moth- 
er was  a  native  of  Snyder  count)  :  both  died  in 
Union  county.  Mrs.  Leihy  died 'Aug.  29,  1892. 
the  mother  of  sis  children,  namely:  William  A., 
born  Jan.  5,  1845,  conducted  a  grocery  and  meat 
market  at  Lewisburg.  Union  county,  and  later  had 
a  restaurant  at  Sunbury,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty; Sarah  J.,  born  March  30.  1846.  married 
George  Noll,  a  farmer  of  Kelly  township,  Union 
county:  Margaret  Matilda,  born  Dec.  2!>.  1850, 
made  her  home  with  her  father,  for  whom  she 
eared  faithfully  in  his  declining  years;  Harriet 
('..  born  July  I.  L853,  married  Charles  A.  Moll; 
John  l-\.  born  Sept.  11.  1857,  died  March  21, 
L858;  Marv  C.  bom  March  15,  18(50.  died  March 
16,  1861. 

William  A.  Leiby  was  born  in  Limestone  town- 
ship, Union  Co.,  Pa:,  Jan.  5.  1845,  and  received 
a  public  school  education.  He  followed  farming 
and  the  cattle  business  in  Union  county,  and  com- 
ing to  Sunbury  in  1898  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
business,  where  the  "Aldine  Hotel"  now  stands, 
for  five  and  a  half  years.     He  still  resides  in  Sun- 


bury. He  married  Otillia  Pollender.  daughter  of 
Frederick  Pollender,  and  she  died  Dec.  11,  1909. 
They  had  four  children.  Maynard.  Willard  D., 
Sarah  (married  Harry  Shuck)  and  Jennie  May 
(married  John  M.  Steffen). 

Willard  D.  Leihy  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Lewisburg.  attending  the  high 
school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1896.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  his  butcher  business  there, 
and  coming  to  Sunbury  in  1898  was  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  a  restaurant  at 
the  present  location  of  the  "Aldine  Hotel."  In 
1904  lie  established  his  present  place  of  business 
at  No.  42  North  Third  street,  near  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  station.  It  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  restaurants  of  the  borough,  being  conduct- 
ed along  strictly  modern  lines,  and  Mr.  Leiby  has 
gained  a  profitable  patronage.  He  is  obliging  and 
accommodating,  and  has  been  successful  because 
of  his  efforts  to  please  his  customers,  who  are 
steadily  increasing  in  numbers. 

Socially  Mr.  Leiby  holds  membership  in  Lodge 
No.  ■.'<;;.'  B.  P.  0.  F..  of  Sunbury:  the  Order  of 
Moose  at  Sunbury:  Aerie  No.  503,  fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles,  of  Sunbury:  the  Order  of  Owls.  Home 
Nest.  Indiana:  I!.  1'.  0.  of  Leavers,  and  No.  7 
Fire  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  in  political  matters  a  Democrat. 


Jacob  Leiby.  grandson  of  the  ancestor  Frieder- 
ii-b.  was  a  farmer  near  Dunkel's  church  and  owned 
the  farm  now  the  property  of  Wilson  Heffner. 
This  was  one  of  the  original  Leiby  homesteads. 
Hi-  wife  was  Margaretha  Dunkel,  and  they  had 
issue:  Daniel  settled  in  Schuylkill  county:  Jacob 
settled  in  Windsor  (now  Perry)  township,  Berks 
county:  George  had  a  grandson  Oscar  J.,  who 
died  in  1907,  at  Heading :  Benjamin  settled  in 
Ohio:  Catharine  married  George  Heinly :  Polly 
married  Heinrich  Mover:  Peggy  married  John 
Kohler:  Luzena  married  [saae  Wagonhorst :  Hettie 
married  Adam  Bachnian  :  Salome  married  Hein- 
rich  Lenhart. 

Jacob  Leihy.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Dec.  1  k 
L798,  in  Windsor  township.  Berks  county,  and 
died  April  •">.  1884.  He  was  a  popular  man  in 
his  day.  and  being  possessed  to  a  high  degree  of 
psychical  powers,  was  known  to  relieve  many  ail- 
ments of  the  flesh  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands, 
for  which  he  gained  wide  repute.  He  was  known 
in  the  Pennsylvania  German  as  "der  ward  ful- 
braucher  unci  Heckoa  Doctor.-'  He  was  regarded 
as  a  useful  man  in  his  community.  In  1825  he 
bought  the  homestead  farm,  on  which  he  built 
the  present  stone  house  in  1820.  Isaac  U.  Leiby 
was  the  first  person  born  therein,  his  birth  occur- 
ring Aug.  11.  1830.  Jacob  Leiby  also  built  four 
houses  in  Reading,  Pa.  He  was  a  blacksmith, 
stonemason  and  stone  dresser  and  farmer,  an  all- 
around  good  mechanic.     He  played   the  flute  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


693 


Capt.  George  Heinly's  company  of  the  old  State 
militia,  and  always  attracted  marked  attention  on 
ii.it  lalimi  .lav-.  In  1833  he  witnessed  the  "fall- 
in-  of  the  stars,"  about  which  heavenly  phenomena 
he  "it'ii  talked  to  hi?  descendants,  speaking  of 
it  a>  id.  "snowing  of  fire  from  heaven.*'  He 
was  a  member  ol  St.  Peter's  German  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder  for 
main  years.  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Ulrich),  his 
wife,  had  eleven  children,  viz.:  Hettie  married 
Benjamin  Banks :  Jacob  married  Ann  Miller; 
Ephraim  married  Polly  Strasser;  John  married 
Earriet  Wagonhorst;  Hannah  married  Ephraim 
Miller;  Isaac  U.  married  Elizabeth  Mengel;  Jos- 
epli  married  Matilda  Frauufekler ;  Henry  married 
Sophia  Berg;  Helena  married  Jacob  Miller:  Lucy 
\nna  Margaret  married  Frank  Goldstein;  Joshua 
died  young. 

Isaac-  U  Leiby,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Aug. 
1  1.  ls:;n.  in  Windsor  township,  on  the  farm  where 
In-  spent  all  his  life.  He  lived  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  north  of  Virginville,  in  Berks  county,  and 
was  the  proprietor  and  owner  of  "Leiby's  flagstone 
quarry."  A  stone-mason  by  trade,  he  followed 
that  occupation  for  some  years  at  different  places. 
Hi-  sold  his  flagstone  in  Philadelphia  and  in 
Schuylkill  and  Carbon  counties.  Pa.,  many  being 
used  for  curbstones  in  the  cities  and  towns.  Mr. 
I.eih\  died  of  apoplexy  at  his  home  Nov.  13,  1910, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  was  buried  at 
Dunkel's  church.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed congregation  at  that  church,  to  which  his 
family  also  belong,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itic-. 

(>n  Feh.  ".  1855,  Mr.  Leiby  married  Elizabeth. 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catharine  (Gruber) 
Men-el.  ot  Windsor  township,  who  survives  him. 
They  hail  a  large  family,  namely:  Catharine 
\nn  married  Mahlon  Miller,  of  Pottstown:  Han- 
nah married  James  Baer.  of  Beading:  Samuel  mar- 
ried Priscilla  Adam:  Mary  Ann  married  Alfred 
Stertzler;  Hettie  Ann  married  Jacob  D.  Dreibel- 
bies,  of  Virginville;  Susanna  married  Thomas  G. 
Cruher.  of  Pottstown;  Elizabeth  died  in  infancy: 
Emma  died  in  infancy;  Jacob,  who  lives  at  home, 
married  Amelia  Schappell;  Sarah  died  in  child- 
hood; Thomas  died  in  childhood:  Milton  married 
\I,im  Wagaman  and  they  live  in  Tipton:  Sarah 
I-;,  married  Horace  Smith,  of  Reading. 

CAPT.  JOHN  BEADY,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  the  early  settlers  of  the  West 
Branch  Valley,  was  the  second  son  of  Hugh  Brady 
and  Hannah  Brady,  and  was  horn  in  1733  near 
Newark,  Del.,  where  he  received  a  good  education 
and  taught  school.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  soon  won  the  love  of  Mary 
(luielev.  At  twenty-two.  the  age  of  his  marriage, 
he  was  six  feet  in  height,  well  formed,  with  black 
hair,  hazel  eves  and  a  dark  complexion.     Fearless, 


impulsive  and  generous,  he  was  one  whom  friends 
loved  and  enemies  hated.  Soon  after  his  marriage 
the  breaking  out  of  the  French  and  Indian  war 
caused  him  to  enlist  in  the  service  and  defend  his 
country  from  the  merciless  invaders.  On  July  19, 
1763,  lie  was  commissioned  captain.  2d  Battalion 
of  the  Pennsylvania  regiments,  commanded  by 
Gov.  John  Penu  and  Lieut.  Cols.  Asher  Clayton 
and    Tobias    Frances.      In    1761    lie    received"  his 

on ission   of   captain    in    the    2d    Pennsylvania 

Battalion,  in  Colonel  Boucpiefs  expedition  west 
of  the  Ohio,  in  which  campaign  he  participated, 
and  he  took  part  in  the  land  grant  to  the  officers 
in  that  service  during  the  year  1766.  He  was  ac- 
tively engaged  against  the  Indians  who  made  des- 
perate slaughter  in  Bedford  and  Cumberland 
counties,  and  killed  many  of  the  settlers.  When 
his  regiment  reached  Bedford,  the  officers  drew  a 
written  agreement,  wherein  they  asked  the  pro- 
prietaries for  sufficient  land  on  which  to  erect  a 
compact  ami  defensible  town,  and  give  each  a 
commodious  plantation  on  which  to  build  a  dwell- 
ing. Capt.  John  Brady  was  one  of  the  officers 
who  signed  this  petition.  In  1768,  "urged  by  the 
restless,  mysterious  impulse  that  moulds  the  des- 
tiny of  the  pioneer  of  civilization."'  he  removed 
his  family  to  Standing  Stone,  now  Huntingdon, 
Pa.  The  following  year  he  again  changed  his  lo- 
cation to  a  site  opposite  the  present  town  of  Lew- 
isburg,  Pa.  At  that  period  titles  to  uncultivated 
lands  could  be  secured  by  erecting  a  house,  and  by 
cutting  a  few  trees  by  way  of  improvement.  In 
this  manner  he  took  up  a  vast  tract  of  land  on  the 
West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  had  he 
lived  longer  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  wealthi- 
est men  in  the  State.  Owing  to  the  carelessness 
of  those  connected  with  the  management  of  his 
affairs,  his  family  was  deprived  of  much  benefit 
from  bis  exertions. 

In  1776'  he  took  his  wife  and  children  and  be- 
longings to  Muncy  manor,  where  he  built  a  semi- 
fortified  log  house,  known  later  as  "Brady's  Fort." 
It  was  a  private  affair  and  was  not  classed  among 
the  provincial  fortifications.  The  spot  on  which 
it  stood  is  in  the  borough  of  Muncy  and  a  slight 
elevation  in  a  field  is  pointed  to  as  tin  exact  plot 
of  ground.  After  Northumberland  county  was 
formed,  Capt.  John  Brady  was  appointed  fore- 
man of  the  first  grand  jury,  and  served  in  many 
such  capacities  afterwards. 

Not  slow  to  respond  to  the  call  to  arms  in  de- 
fense of  home  and  the  independence  of  the  nation, 
he  marched  to  the  front  in  some  of  the  bloodiest 
engagements  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He 
fought  with  Washington  at  Brandywine,  where 
In-  two  sons,  Samuel  and  John,  were  with  him, 
and  he  was  wounded  in  the  mouth.  The  loss  of 
some  teeth  was  the  result,  but  he  was  disabled  by 
an  attack  of  pleurisy  and  sent  home. 

In  17  75  Colonel  Plunkett  made  his  famous  ex- 


691 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


pedition  to  the  Wyoming  Valley,,  and  John  Brady 
was  one  of  his  ablest  assistants.  The  Connecti- 
cut settlers  claimed  under  their  charter  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  as  far  south 
as  the  fist  degree  of  latitude,  which  ran  a  mile 
north  of  Lewisburg,  and  determined  to  enforce 
their  rights.  In  1772  a  party  of  them  reached  the 
present  town  of  Milton,  but  were  driven  back  by 
Colonel  Plunkett.  The  settlers  were  not  subdued 
and  the  contest  was  waged  many  years.  They  ad- 
vanced, to  the  Muncy  Valley  and  made  a  settle- 
ment where  the  town  was  later  located.  In  order 
to  punish  the  intruders  for  their  presumption  in 
occupying  this  part  of  the  West  Branch  region. 
blood   was  shed  and  lives  were  lost. 

John  Brady  was  a  surveyor  of  land  in  Cumber- 
land, Buffalo  and  White  Deer  Valleys,  and  in  the 
possession  of  his  descendant,  Mrs.  Charles  Gustav 
Ki  list,  nee  Mollie  Brady  Cooper,  of  Punxsutawney, 
Pa.,  is  a  surveyor's  guide  book,  entitled  "Tables 
of  Difference  of  Latitude  and  Departure,"'  for 
navigators,  land  surveyors,  etc.,  "compiled  at  the 
instance  of  a  committee  of  the  Dublin  Society,  by 
John  Hood,  Land  Surveyor.  Published  in  Dublin 
in  1  ??•?."'  She  has  also  an  account  book  which 
has  on  the  inside  of  the  leather  cover  the  words, 
printed  in  ink,  "•John  Brady,  his  book,  ('umber- 
land   County.    1765." 

On  March  3,  1776,  he  was  commissioned  major 
of  the  battalion  commanded  by  Colonel  Plunkett, 
and  on  Oct.  1  I.  1776,  captain  in  the  12th  regi- 
ment of  the  Pennsylvania  Line,  commanded  by 
Col.  William  Cooke,  whose  two  daughters  became 
wives  of  two  of  ('apt.  John  Brady's  sons.  In  1778, 
mi  the  invasion  of  the  Wj'oming  Valley,  he  went 
with  his  family  to  Snnbury,  and  Sept.'  1,  1778, 
returned  to  the  army.  In  the  spring  of  1779  he  re- 
ceived orders  to  join  Colonel  Hartley  on  the  West 
Branch,  and  on  the  11th  of  April.  1779.  was 
killed  by  a  concealed  body  of  Indians.  He  had 
taken  an  active  part  in  efforts  to  subdue  their 
atrocities,  and  his  daring  and  repeated  endeavors 
intensified  their  hatred  and  desire  to  capture  him, 
resulting  fatally  on  that  springtime  morning. 
With  a  guard  ami  wagon  he  went  up  the  river  to 
Wallis'  to  procure  supplies.  His  family  was  living 
at  the  "Fort"'  at  Muncy  during  the  winter  and  early 
spring,  and  from  his  home  to  the  provision  house 
was  only  a  few  hours'  ride.  On  their  return  trip, 
about  three  miles  from  Fort  Brady,  at  Wolf  Pun. 
they  stopped  to  wait  for  the  wagon,  which  was 
coming  another  way.  Peter  Smith,  whose  family 
was  massacred  on  the  10th  of  June,  and  on  whose 
farm  young  James  Brady  was  mortally  wounded, 
was  by  his  side.  Capt.  John  Brady  said:  "This 
would  lie  a  good  place  for  Indians  to  hide." 
Smith  replied  in  the  affirmative,  when  the  report 
of  three  rifles  was  heard,  and  the  Captain  fell 
without  uttering  a  sound.  He  was  shot  with  two 
balls  between  the  shoulders.     Smith  mounted  the 


horse  of  his  commander  and  escaped  to  the  woods 
unharmed,  and  on  to  the  settlement.  It  was  not 
known  what  Indians  did  the  shooting,  but  proof 
was  evident  that  a  party  had  followed  him  with 
intent  to  kill.  In  their  haste,  they  did  not  scalp 
him,  nor  take  his  money,  a  gold  watch,  and  his 
commission,  which  he  wore  in  a  bag  suspended 
from  his  neck,  his  dearest  earthly  possession. 
Thus  perished  one  of  the  most  skilled  and  daring 
Indian  fighters,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  es- 
teemed and  respected  of  men,  on  whose  sterling 
qualities  and  sound  judgment  the  pioneers  of  the 
entire  settlement  depended. 

Carried  to  his  home  at  Fort  Brady,  which  he 
built,  and  is  now  within  the  borough  limits  of 
Muncy,  his  heroic  little  wife  looked  the  second 
time  upon  the  blood-stained  form  of  one  of  her 
family,  her  son  James  having  met  the  same  fate 
on  the  8th  of  August  of  the  preceding  year. 

Laid  to  rest  on  the  hillside,  where  few  inter- 
ments had  been  made,  his  grave  was  well  nigh 
forgotten,  and  weeds  and  briars  hid  the  lonely 
mound  of  earth,  until  the  spot  was  identified 
through  the  efforts  of  a  granddaughter  of  Capt. 
John  Brady,  Mrs.  Backus,  wife  of  Gen.  Electus 
Backus,  U.'S.  A.  Prior  to  1830,  at  Halls,  a  heavy 
granite  marker  was  erected  bearing  the  inscription 

Captain   John    Brady 

Fell  in  defense  of  our  forefathers 

at  Wolf  Run,  April  11.  1770 

Aged  40  years 

An  old  comrade  who  was  present  at  his  burial 
pointed  to  the  site  and  requested  that  he  be  laid 
by  his  side.  His  request  was  granted,  and  near  by 
Capt.  John  Brady's  grave  is  that  of  his  friend 
Henry  Leho.  The  Lycoming  Chapter,  D.  A.  R., 
recently  honored  his  memory  by  placing  an  appro- 
priate marker  between  his  grave  and  that  of  his 
faithful  comrade. 

A  hundred  years  after  his  death,  through  a 
dollar  subscription  fund,  raised  by  Mr.  J.  M.  M. 
Gernerd,  a  monument  was  placed  in  the  cemetery 
at  Muncy,  and  unveiled  Oct.  15,  1879.  The  date. 
1779  is  on  the  front  of  the  shaft,  the  name  "John 
Brady"  in  the  die.  and  the  date  of  erection.  1879^ 
in  the  sub-base.  In  closing  his  oration  at  the  un- 
veiling of  the  monument,  Hon.  John  Blair  Linn, 
of  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  said:  "To  Captain  Brady's 
desi  endants,  time  fails  me  in  paying  a  proper  trib- 
ute. When  border  tales  have  lost  their  charm  for 
the  evening  hour:  when  oblivion  blots  from  the 
historic  page  the  glorious  record  of  Pennsylvania 
in  the  Revolution  of  1776,  then  and  then  only  will 
Captain  Samuel  Brady  of  the  Rangers  be  for- 
gotten. In  private  life,  in  public  office,  at  the  bar. 
in  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  V.  S..  in  the  ranks  of  battle, 
Captain  John  Brady's  sons  and  grandson-  and 
great-grandsons  have  flung  far  forward  into  the 
future  the  light  of  their  family  fame." 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


695 


Capt.  John  BracL)  was  foremost  in  all  expedi- 
tions that  went  out  from  the  West.  Branch  set- 
tlement, ami  his  untimely  death  was  a  sore  afflic- 
tion. When  the  inmates  of  the  fort  heard  the  re- 
port, of  the  rifles  that  ended  his  life,  they,  with 
his  wife,  ran  to  ask  Smith,  who  was  with  him, 
where  he  was,  and  his  reply,  "In  heaven  or  hell  or 
mi  his  way  to  Tioga,'"  showed  his  rapid  flight,  for 
he  ilnl  not  wait  to  see  whether  Captain  Brady  was 
killed  or  taken  prisoner.  His  was  a  remarkable 
career,  and  death,  claiming  him  in  the  prime  of 
manhood,  robbed  the  earth  of  one  of  her  strongest 
sons,  and  the  nation  of  one  of  her  most  loyal  sub- 
jects, but  in  the  lives  and  life  work  of  his  children 
were  continued  and  completed  the  blessings  and 
benefits  to  mankind  commenced  so  unselfishly  by 
him. 

Capt.  John  Brady  had  an  older  brother,  Sam- 
uel, who  was  also  a  noted  Indian  fighter.  He  was 
line  of  the  two  men  who  escaped  from  Fort  Free- 
land  at  the  time  of  its  capture  by  the  Indians.  He 
afterward  moved  to  Indiana  county,  where  he 
died  in  1811,  after  having  spent  more  than  fifty 
years    in    defence    of    the    Pennsylvania    frontiers. 

('apt.  John  Brady  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  thirteen  children:  Capt.  Samuel  Brady, 
(he  noted  Indian  tighter;  James  Brady,  who  was 
mortally  wounded  by  the  Indians  near  Muncy  in 
1778;  William,  who  died  in  infancy;  John  Brady, 
afterward  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
who  was  the  father  of  Hon.  Jasper  Ewing  Brady, 
and  of  William  Terry  Brady  and  Samuel  Brady, 
both  of  whom  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
war  of  1812;  Mary  Brady,  who  married  Capt. 
William  Gray,  of  Sunbury;  William  P.  Brady, 
who  was  the  father  of  Col.  Hugh  Brady  and 
grandfather  of  Capt,  Evan  Rive  Evans  Brady; 
Gen.  Hugh  Brady,  who  distinguished  himself  in 
the  war  of  1812.  and  rose  to  a  major  generalship 
in  the  regular  army;  Jane  Brady,  who  started  the 
first  Sunday  school  in  Sunbury;  Robert  Brady; 
Agnes  Brady,  who  died  in  infancy;  Hannah  Brady, 
who  married  Maj.  Robert  Gray,  of  Sunbury;  Jo- 
seph Brady,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Liberty 
Brady,  who  married  Maj.  William  Dewart,  of 
Sunbury.  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  the  author, 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  Capt.  John  Brady  — 
Contributed  by  W.  G.  Mtjkdock. 

HON.  SIMON  P.  WOLVERTON,  late  of  Sun- 
bury, who  ranked  among  the  leading  attorneys  of 
that  borough,  was  one  of  the  most  successful  cor- 
poration lawyers  in  this  State,  and  as  a  former  rep- 
resentative in  Congress  from  the  Seventeenth  Con- 
gressional district  was  widely  known  in  this-  sec- 
tion. He  was  horn  in  Rush  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  Jan.  28,  1837,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Charity  (Kase)  Wolverton,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  is' of  English  Quaker  origin. 

According  to  well  authenticated  tradition  three 


brothers  emigrated  from  Wolverhampton.  England, 
about  1700,  and  settled  on  Long  Island,  New- 
York.  The  family  was  then,  as  now,  one  of  dis- 
tinction, and  its  coat  of  arms  bore  the  wolf's  head. 
The  descendants  are  scattered,  being  found  in 
oearly  every  state  in  the  Union,  and  many  are 
residents  of  Canada.  Many  members  of  the  fam- 
ily have  attained  prominence  in  business,  political 
and  professional  circles.  Of  the  three  brothers 
who  originally  came  to  this  country  Charles  Wol- 
verton, the  lineal  ancestor  of  Simon  P.  Wolver- 
ton, in  1711  moved  to  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J., 
where  the  family  resided  for  several  generations. 

Charles  Wolverton,  a  descendant  of  the  Charles 
Wolverton  wdio  was1  one  of  the  original  immi- 
grants, was  the  great-grandfather  of  Simon  P. 
Wolverton.  He  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Hunter- 
don county,  N.  J.,  which  he  granted  to  his  son 
Isaac  on  Feb.  12,  1816. 

Isaac  Wolverton  was  born  in  Hunterdon  coun- 
ty, N.  J.,  Aug.  11,  1777,  and  iu  1800  came  with 
Ids  father  and  family  to  Augusta  township,  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  died.  The  father 
died  in  Augusta  township,  as  did  the  son,  who 
passed  away  in  1855.  Isaac  was  a  prosperous  and 
successful  farmer.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics and  served  as  county  commissioner.  He 
was  a  devout  Baptist  and  filled  numerous  offices  in 
the  church  society  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
He  married  Lucretia  Chamberlain  and  reared  a 
family  of  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

Joseph  Wolverton,  son  of  Isaac  and  father  of 
Simon  P.  Wolverton,  was  born  in  Augusta  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  Sept.  25,  1803,  and 
died  in  Sunbury  in  the  eighties.  He  spent  his 
lifetime  in  his  native  township  and  in  the  neigh- 
boring township  of  Rush,  and  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  was  a  Baptist.  He  married 
Charity  Kase,  also  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  daughter  of  William  Kase,  who  was  of 
German  descent,  and  resided  in  Rush  township, 
where  he  was  a  farmer  and  also  served  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  The  family  of  Joseph  and  Charity 
Wolverton  consisted  of  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters.    Mrs.  Wolverton  died  in  1862. 

Simon  P.  Wolverton  was  truly  a  self-made  man. 
Starting  out  to  make  his  way  in  youth  he  had  as 
his  resources  an  unusually  brilliant  intellect,  a 
sturdy  physique  and  a  constitution  which  seemed 
to  have  been  built  as  of  iron.  From  comparative 
obscurity,  by  his  untiring  industry  and  his  person- 
al merit  and  effort,  he  rose  to  a  position  in  the 
front  rank  of  Pennsylvania's  men  of  great  attain- 
ments, and  all  who  knew  him  and  realized  his 
worth  as  a  man  and  a  citizen  rejoiced  that  he  won 
the  honors  and  the  success  to  which  he  Mas  so 
justly  entitled.  In  Ids  youth  Mr.  Wolverton,  who 
had  secured  a  fairly  good  schooling,  taught  school, 


69G 


XOKTI1FMBERLAXD  COUNTY,    I'KN  NSVLVAXIA 


receiving   a    meager    salary,    determined    to   earn 
enough  to  pay  his  expenses  through  college. 
In  his  young  manhood  Mr.  Wolverton  completed 

his  education  at  Danville  Academy  and  Lewishurg 
University,  whore  he  doubled  his  studies  and  by 
hard  work  and  persistent  effort  accomplished  the 
work  of  the  junior  and  senior  courses  in  one  year, 
doing  that  which  ordinarily  requires  two  year-' 
study  in  a  single  year,  and  graduating  from  the 
institution  in  1860.  Following  his  graduation 
from  the  university  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Hon.  Alexander  Jordan  in  Sunbury,  Mr.  Jordan 
then  being  the  presiding  judge  in  the  Eighth  Ju- 
dicial district  as  then  constituted.  He  read  day 
and  night,  so  eager  was  he  to  enter  the  profession 
to  which  he  was  attracted  and  for  which  his  strong 
and  logical  intellect  seemed  so  well  to  fit  him.  As 
in  his  youth.  Mr.  Wolverton  in  his  young  manhood 
continued  to  be  a  diligent  student  and  a  hard 
worker,  and  the  same  traits  of  character  served 
him  well  through  the  remarkably  successful  career 
he  enjoyed  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  statesman.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1862,  and  im- 
mediately entered  upon  the  practice  of  law.  His 
practice  was  interrupted  by  two  periods  of  service 
during  the  Civil  war,  the  first  when  General  Stu- 
art made  his  raid  into  the  State.  Mr.  Wolverton 
raising  a  company  of  emergency  men  (of  which 
he  was  captain  I  who  did  effective  service.  When 
a  second  invasion  of  the  State  was  threatened  by 
Lee's  army  Mr.  Wolverton  again  went  out  as  cap- 
tain with  the  emergency  company  known  as  Com- 
pany F.  36th  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  The  com- 
pany was  mustered  into  the  service  duly  -].  1863. 
and  mustered  out  August  11th  of  the  same  year. 
While  in  the  military  service  Mr.  Wolverton  kept 
in  touch  with  his  law  business,  and  on  his  dis- 
charge from  the  army  immediately  resumed  it,  and 
he  afterward  followed  it  to  the  exclusion  of  prac- 
tically all  else.  He  acquired  a  very  large  and  lu- 
crative clientage.  A  man  of  even  temper,  of  in- 
domitable will  and  possessing  the  host  of  health, 
he  knew  no  such  thing  as  failure,  nor  did  he  en- 
counter defeat.  As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Wolverton  was 
very  thorough  in  the  preparation  of  his  cases  and 
in  the  courts  he  handled  them  with  masterly  skill. 
Political  honors  were  forced  upon  Mr.  Wolver- 
ton, the  demand  for  his  services  being  of  such  na- 
ture as  to  be  imperative.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he 
was  elected,  as  a  Demo(  rat.  to  fill  out  the  unexpired 
term  of  State  Senator  A.  H.  Dill.  Senator  Dill 
having  resigned  to  lie  a  candidate  for  governor. 
Twice  Mr.  Wolverton  was  reelected,  and  he  served 
ten  years  in  the  State  Senate.  He  declined  a  re- 
nomination  in  1888  because  he  preferred  to  re- 
sume  the  more  active  practice  of  his  profession. 
During  his  term  in  the  State  Senate  he  was  prom- 
inent in  securing  the  enactment  of  many  of  the 
most  important  laws.  For  the  ten  years  he  was  in 
the  Legislature  he  was  a  member  of  the  commit- 


tee on  Judiciary.  He  introduced  and  secured  the 
passage  of  what  is  known  as  the  "Married  Wom- 
an's Act"  in  18871.  Mr.  Wolverton:s  great  pop- 
ularity with  the  people  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Sen- 
atorial district  may  he  estimated  by  his  election  to 
the  Senate  for  three  successive  terms  in  a  district 
which  had  a  normal  Republican  plurality  of  over 
L,000.  For  two  years  after  his  retirement  from 
the  State  Senate  Mr.  Wolverton  devoted  his  en- 
tire time  to  his  profession.  Then  he  was  again 
obliged  to  respond  to  the  popular  demands  of  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  in  1890  he  was  elected 
representative  in  Congress  from  the  Seventeenth 
district,  which  includes  Northumberland,  Colum- 
bia, Montour  and  Sullivan  counties.  He  served 
in  the  Fifty-second  Congress  and  in  189"?  was  re- 
ted,  to  the  Fifty-third  Congress.  As  represen- 
tative he  was  an  untiring  worker  in  the  interest  of 
his  district,  faithfully  and  most  ably  representing 
those  who  had  so  strenuously  insisted  upon  again 
bestowing  upon  him  political  honors.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  second  term  in  Congress  Mr.  Wol- 
ert >n's  legal  business  had  attained  such  magni- 
tude that  he  realized  he  either  must  abandon  law 
and  it^  practice  or  give  up  political  position.  He 
decided  to  abandon  politics,  except  as  he  might 
participate  in  political  affairs  as  a  citizen,  and  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  energy  to  the  practice 
of  his  profession. 

Xo  1  letter  indorsement  of  the  great  ability  of 
Mr.  Wolverton  as  a  lawyer  could  be  put  forward 
than  the  statement  that  he  was  attorney  for  a 
number  of  very  large  corporations,  including  the 
following:  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad 
Company;  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron 
Company;  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company:  Le- 
high Valley  Coal  Company:  Cox  Bros.  &  Com- 
pany, the  largest  coal  operators  in  Pennsylvania: 
the  Delaware,  Sunhurv  &  Schuylkill  Railroad 
1  pany,  and  many  other  corporations  of  less 
magnitude.  He  was  among  those  prominent  in 
organizing  and  constructing  the  Sunbury.  Hazle- 
ton  &  Wilkes-Barre  railroad  and  the  Shamokin. 
Sunbury  &  Lewishurg  railroad,  of  which  he  was 
president,  and  which  is  now  a  part  of  the  Reading 
-  -Mil.  Mr.  Wolverton  built,  the  Sunbury  & 
Xorthumberland  Electric  railway  and  continued 
interested  in  it.  He  was  also  interested  in 
the  Sunbury  Electric  Light  &  Power  Company, 
the  Northumberland  Illuminating  Company,  and 
local  enterprises  which  are  of  a  semi-public 
and  beneficial  character  as  greatly  aiding  in  the 
development  and  growth  of  Sunbury.  He  died 
Oct.  25,  t910. 

On  March  ?::.  1865,  Mr.  Wolverton  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  D.  Hendricks,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Hendricks,  of  Sunbury.  They 
reared  a  family  of  three  charming  children :  Marv 
C.  wife  of  Biddle  Arthurs,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.': 
Elizabeth  T\. :  and   Simon  P..  Jr.,  who  was  asso- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


697 


ciated  with  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  prac- 

i t  law.    The  family  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 

Chun]!.     Mr.  Wblverton  was  a  Mason  and  an  Odd 
Fellow  in  fraternal  connection. 

JOHN  E.  BAST-RESS,  attorney  al  law,  and 
presiden!  of  the  Guarantee  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit 
Company,  ai  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  county, 
Nov.  29,  1865,  a  son  of  Milton  Bastress.  His 
grandfather,  Solomon  Bastress,  resided  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Pa.  On  April  6,  1830,  he  mar- 
ried Rachel  Miller,  of  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  and 
they  had  one  son,  Milton,  who  was  horn  April  16, 
1833,  in  Montgomery  county,  where  he  spent  his 
early  lit'''.  Coming  to  Northumberland  county  he 
located  in  Bush  township,  following  his  trade  at 
Wolverton's  tannery,  near  Snydertown.  He  was 
also  a  rural  mail  carrier  in  Bush  township  ami  be- 
came well  known.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  and  in  politics  a  Republican.  He 
married  Catherine  Brocious,  of  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa.,  in  1857.  Mrs.  Bastress  now  make-  her  home 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Culp,  near  Snyder- 
town. Mr.  Bastress  died  May  35,  1900.  They  had 
these  children:  Minerva  E.,  deceased  wife  of  L. 
R.  Parry;  William,  living  in  Shamokin  township: 
Samuel,  living  in  Williamsport,  Pa.:  Alice,  the 
wile  of  Benjamin  1".  Culp.  and  John  E.,  whose 
name  introduce-  this  -ketch. 

John  E.  Bastress  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  township  and  Central  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege, at  New  Berlin,  Pa.,  thence  going  to  the  Ohio 
Normal  University,  at  Ada.  Ohio,  and  graduating 
From  the  latter  institution  in  1886.  With  this 
preparation  he  felr  himself  fitted  for  the  duties  of 
schoolmaster,  and  was  employed  as  teacher  at  the 
Shipman  school  in  Rockefeller  township,  holding 
an  engagement  for  one  year.  He  was  next  in  Un- 
ion county,  mar  Mifflinburg,  teaching  there  one 
term  :  thence  went  to  Point  township,  where  he 
taught  four  term-:,  concluding  his  career  in  the 
field  of  pedagogy  as  normal  school  instructor  for 
four  succeeding  terms  at  Dalmatia,  and  making 
his  final  how  mi  retiring  from  his  profession  after 
three  years'  engagement  in  the  high  school*  of 
Mount  Carmel.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  Hon.  Voris  Auten  as  preceptor  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Northumberland  county  bar  in  1892, 
and  since  1895  ha-  been  located  in  the  Samuel 
building  at  Mount  Carmel,  doing  a  general  law 
practice  in  connection  with  his  numerous  and 
varied  enterprises.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
directors  of  the  Mount.  Carmel  Guarantee  Trusl 
&  Safe  Deposit  Company,  which  was  established  in 
190-2,  he  serving  as  president  since  1906,  and  also 
as  chairman  of  the  finance  committee.  He  is  pres- 
ided of  the  Mount  Carmel  Gas  Company,  and  was 
at  one  time  president  of  the  Mount  Carmel  Iron 
Works,  of  which  he  is  still  a  director.     He  is  so- 


licitor and  a  director  of  the  People's  and  Central 
Building  and  Loan  Associations  of  Mount  Car- 
mel. 

Upon  the  formation  of  the  Bastress,  Yought  & 
Co.  organization  in  Brooklyn  real  estate,  in  1906, 
Mr.  Bastress  assumed  the  management.  Since 
then  the  Bastress  Yought  Company  have  merged 
with  another  concern,  forming  the  largest  ami 
strongest  real  estate  concern  within  the  limits  of 
the  Empire  State,  the  management  of  which  rests 
upon  the  shoulders  of  John  E.  Bastress.  The  light 
and  power  plant  .of  Cambridge.  Mel.,  was  built 
and  personally  owned  by  Mr.  Bastress.  who  sold  it 
in   1910. 

Socially  Mr.  Bastress  belongs  to  the  I.  0.  O.  F., 
local  lodge  of  Elks.  K.  of  M.  and  1'.  I  >.  S.  of  A. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Politically  Mr.  Bastress  is  a  Republican,  served 
"lie  year  a-  county  chairman,  and  for  a  time  was 
one  of  the  executive  committee.  For  twelve  years 
lie  was  solicitor  for  the  borough  of  .Mount  Carmel. 

His  first  wife,  whom  he  married  June  10.  1890, 
was  Sarah  Brocious.  She  died  in  1897,  leaving 
two  children,  Edgar  R.  and  Clyde  0.  On  Jan. 
1(>.  li)i io.  Mr.  Bastress  married  Blanch  M.  Green, 
daughter  of  John  Green,  of  Bainbridge,  Lan- 
caster  Co.,   Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Bastress  has  had  a  busy  life  from  boyhood 
till  now.  and  in  whatever  office,  whether  as  tutor 
or  student,  lawyer,  hanker  or  business  man,  his 
ambitions  ami  capabilities  have  assigned  him  to 
high  places. 

JOHN  JUNIUS  1,'KIMENSNYDER.  A.  M.. 
attorney  at  law,  Sunbury,  Pa.,  was  horn  in  Au- 
gusta county.  Ya.,  June  ?,  181'?,  son  of  Rev. 
George  Henry  and  Christina  Reimensnyder.  His 
father,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Gottingen, 
Germany,  was  a  theologian  and  author  of  note. 
The  family  has  been  a  professional  and  literary 
one  for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half,  the  sis- 
ters  as  well  as  the  brothers  being  engaged  in  edu- 
cational work. 

J.  J.  Reimensnyder  received  his  education  un- 
der the  tuition  of  his  father  and  at  local  academies. 
He  was  largely  a  self-made  man,  but  went  over 
the  entire  collegiate  course,  including  the  Latin, 
under  private  tutors.  He  was  a  line  German 
scholar,  frequently  acting  as  interpreter  in  the 
court.  He  was  the  tir-i  superintendent  of  public 
instruction  in  Northumberland  county,  laying  the 
foundation  for  the  system  of  graded  schools.  He 
served  in  this  capacity  for  six  years.  He  retired 
from  the  ministry  after  a  service  of  twenty-one 
years  because  of  a  throat  affection.  He  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Roanoke  Col- 
lege, Salem.  Ya.  He  was  twice  nominated  for 
Congress  in  his  own  county.  He  was  elected  pro- 
thorn  itarv  of  Northumberland  county  and  served 
two  terms.     During  this  period  he  was  admitted 


li'.lfci 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


to  the  practice  of  the  law,  having  studied  law  in 
hi*  earlier  years,  Hon.  Alexander  Jordan,  president 
judge,  stating  that  he  passed  the  most  brilliant 
examination  of  any  applicant  in  his  experience. 
In  1838  lie  was  married  to  Susan  Margaret  Bryan, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Bryan,  the  first  captain  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  received  a  liberal  education. 
Of  the  five  sons  two  practiced  law,  two  became 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  and  one  was  a  druggist. 
Hon.  J.  J.  Reimensnyder  died  in  Sunbury  May 
■.'.  1899. 

Cornelius  Reimensnyder,  the  eldest  son,  prac- 
ticed law  in  the  West. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Reimensnyder,  D.  D.,  LL.  D...  the 
second  son,  has  been  for  the  past  twenty-six  years 
pastor  in  New  York  City,  and  was  this  year 
(1911)  elected  president  of  the  General  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States  at 
it-  session  in  Washington.  D.  ('. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Reimensnyder.  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Trin- 
ity Lutheran  Church,  Milton,  Pa.,  is  the  third  son. 
He  was  born  at  Smithsburg.  Washington  Co.,  Mil.. 
Jan.  5.  1847.  attended  the  public  schools  of  Mil- 
ton, and  prepared  for  college  at  the  old  McEwens- 
ville  Academy.  In  1870  he  graduated  at  Pennsyl- 
vania College,  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  taking  'the  full 
college  classical  course.  He  then  studied  the- 
ology,  passing  the  best  examination  of  his  class, 
ami  was  ordained  in  1871.  His  first  charge  was 
Espy,  Columbia  Co..  Pa.  He  then  served  as  pas- 
tor for  twelve  years  at  Lewistown,  Pa.  On  Sept. 
"?,  1911,  he  entered  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his 
present  pastorate  at  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  is  still 
serving  one  of  the  largest  congregations  in  central 
Pennsylvania.  During  his  college  course  he  was 
chosen  orator  in  the  great  literary  contest,  his- 
torian of  his  class  and  literary  society  and  speaker 
at  the  literary  anniversary  of  the  institution.  He 
was  two  years  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Sabbath  School  Association  and  seven  years  editor 
of  its  organ,  the  "Pennsylvania  Sabbath  School 
Review.*"     He   was    four   years   chairman   of   the 

Sunday  School  committt f  Ins  denomination  in 

this  country.  He  lias  served  for  years  as  director 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and 
frequently  as  delegate  to  the  General  Synod  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  lias  served  as  president  of 
each  Synod  of  which  he  has  been  a  member.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Wittenberg  College,  in  1896.  In  1908  he  was  se- 
lected by  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Gettysburg 
Theological  Seminary  to  deliver  the  endowment 
lecture  on  the  Augsburg  Confession,  before  the 
'I'll. nlogical  Seminary.  He  is  a  prominent  lecturer 
and  speaker  on  many  important  occasions  in  pub- 
'i  gatherings.  For  the  past  ten  years  his  Sunday 
morning  sermons  have  been  published  weekly  in 
the  local  city  daily  and  have  a  large  circulation. 
He  is  a  regular  contributor  to  Lutheran  periodicals 


and  the  author  of  several  books  and  pamphlets. 
Hi-  books  i in  "Reason,  History  and  Religion"  and 
"Ancient  History  and  the  Chronology  of  the  Bi- 
ble'" have  a  large  circulation  and  are  used  in 
teacher  training  classes  and  have  the  indorsement 
nf  many  of  the  best  educators  and  professors  in 
the  church.  On  Sept.  '.'.  1873,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Clementine  C.  Creveling,  of  Espy.  Colum- 
bia Co.,  Pa.  Five  children  were  born  to  them, 
Anna  ('..  Mary  V.  Luther  M.,  Thomas  C.  and 
Florence  I. 

George  B.  Reimensnyder.  A.  M..  Esq.,  attorney 
at  law  in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  burn  at  Smiths- 
burg, Washington  Co.,  Mil..  July  27,  1819,  is  the 
fourth  son.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  academy  of  Sunbury  and  received  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  A.  M  from  Pennsylvania  College, 
in  1886.  He  began  life  as  an  apprentice  in  the 
office  of  the  Sunbury  Democrat.  In  1863  he  en- 
tered  the  prothonotary"s  office  at  Sunbury  as  dep- 
uty clerk,  retaining  that  position  until  1870.  Aft- 
er teaching  one  year  he  entered  the  office  of  the 
register  and  recorder,  in  which  he  was  employed 
nine  years,  seven  years  as  deputy  clerk.  This  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  study  of  the  law.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  Aug.  6,  1877.  Hi'  rose  rapidly  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  until  he  reached  the 
highest  point  as  an  aide  and  efficient  attorney,  hav- 
ing a  legal  practice  equal  to  any  attorney  in  central 
Pennsylvania.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  ex- 
amining committee  of  the  local  bar  association 
since  1881:  was  borough  solicitor.  1888-89:  is 
a  director  of  the  Sunbury  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit 
Company,  and  solicitor  for  that  institution.  He 
stands  high  in  the  church  and  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  laymen  in  his  denomination.  He  was 
president  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Convention  nf 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at  its 
session  in  Bellefonte,  in  1881.  He  is  a  director  in 
the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa.,  and  associated  with  many  other  religious  and 
lent  organizations.  On  Nov.  22,  1887,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Clara  B.  Stackhouse.  of  Phil- 
adelphia. He  has  one  daughter.  Miss  Lillian,  born 
at  Sunbury  March  23,  1889. 

GOODWILL.  The  name  Goodwill  has  bei  n 
closely  associated  with  the  coal  and -coke  interests 
of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia,  and  Sha- 
mokin,  Northumberland  county,  has  been  the 
home  of  the  family  for  many  years,  here  dwelling 
the  late  Robert  Goodwill,  founder  and  in  his  life- 
time president  of  the  Goodwill  Coal  k  Coke  Com- 
pany nf  Wesl  Virginia:  and  his  sons,  Anthony 
('.  Goodwill,  now  a  hardware  merchant  at  Sha- 
mokin,  member  of  the  firm  of  Boughner.  Good- 
will &  Co. :  and  William  F.  Goodwill  who  retains 
his  mining  interests. 

Robert  Goodwill  was  born  in  October,  1857,  in 
the  County  of  Northumberland,  England,  son  of 


NORTHUMBEKLAN 1 1  ( !OTJ  N  TY,  PEXXS  Y  LVA  X I A 


699 


Anthony  (..  and  Margaret  (Fleeman)  Goodwill, 
and  was  tenth  in  theii  family  of  twelve  children. 
When  but  nine  years  of  age  he  went  to  work  in  the 
mini's,  and  at  thirteen  was  mining  coal.  His  home 
during  the  last  years  he  spent  in  the  old  country 
was  in  Scotland.  He  was  married  in  his  native 
land,  and  his  eldest  son  was  born  before  the  emi- 
gration to  America.  In  May.  1852,  Mr.  Goodwill, 
with  wife  and  sun.  sailed  for  the  New  World,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia  on  June  30th  of  that  year. 
Hi  wini  to  Cold  Mine  Gap,  and  was  employed 
there  three  years,  mining  coal.  From  there  he 
moved  to  the  Shamokin  coal  fields,  and'  was  em- 
ployed at  the  Lancaster  colliery,  about  three  miles 
easi  of  town.  In  1857  he  located  at  Trevorton, 
Pa.,  about  eight  miles  west  of  Shamokin,  where 
be  worked  both  as  a  miner  and  contractor.  At 
the  end  of  eight  years,  in  1865,  with  A.  A.  Heim 
as  a  partner,  he  leased  the  tracts  of  coal  lands 
three  miles  west  of  the  town,  tracts  that  were 
familiarly  known  as  the  Greenough  and  Bear  Val- 
ley tracts.  They  operated  these  until  Nov.  15, 
1KS7,  when  they  sold  out  to  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  Heim  &  Good- 
will leased  the  Diamond  Gas  &  Coal  Company's 
colliery,  and  the  Pentecost,  both  at  Reynoldsville, 
Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.,  which  they  operated  for  ten 
years.  In  December,  1869,  they  acquired  a  quar- 
ter interest  in  the  Monitor  colliery,  and  in  March, 
1870,  disposed  of  this  interest  with  profit.  Dur- 
ing 1877  Mr.  Goodwill  occupied  the  position  of 
superintendent  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  and  in  1878  he  built  the 
Carson  colliery,  operating  it  three  years,  after 
which  he  retired  from  active  business.  He  was, 
however,  of  too  active  a  temperament  to  remain 
long  in  retirement  and  in  1886  he  organized  the 
Goodwill  Coal  &  Coke  Company,  of  Philippi,  W. 
Va.,  and  leased  a  colliery  from  the  Blue  Stone 
Coal  Companv,  in  connection  with  which  he  ope- 
rated fifty  coke  ovens.  The  first  shipment  of  coal 
was  made  in  September,  1887,  and  the  capacity 
of  the  mines  was  increased  to  one  thousand  tons 
per  day. 

Mr.  Goodwill  was  reared  by  parents  who  were 
faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  but 
he  departed  from  the  faith  of  his  fathers  and  be- 
came a  Methodist,  being  a  trustee  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  for  fifteen  years,  and  of  the  Second 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  four  years.  In 
his  political  faith  he  was  a  Republican.  He  died 
Dec  17,  1899.  On  July  27,  1847,  he  married 
Catherine  Wake,  born  Dee.  38,  1827,  died  May 
20,  1902.  daughter  of  Philip  and  Margaret  Wake. 
She  is  also  deceased,  and  both  she  and  her  hus- 
band rest  in  the  cemeterv  at.  Shamokin.  Five 
children  blessed  their  union,  of  whom  the  two 
daughters  died  in  infancy :  the  sons  were,  Anthony 
G.,  Philip  (of  Bramwell.  W.  Va.)  and  William 
l-\.  all  of  whom  were  members  of  the  Goodwill  Coal 


&  Coke  Company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwill  cele- 
brated the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  wedding 
July  27,  1897. 

Anthony  G.  Goodwill,  son  of  Robert,  was  born 
in  Scotland  in  August,  1848,  and  accompanied 
his  parents  to  America  in  1852.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  was  graduated  from  Dickinson 
Seminary,  at  Williamsport,  Pa.  He  was  only  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  worked  for  a  time  as  a  slate 
picker.  In  1869  he  became  a  clerk  for  W.  R. 
Ivutzner.  selling  hardware  and  drugs,  remaining  in 
that  position. until  1885,  when  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  at  Xo.  228  East  Sunbury  street, 
the  original  firm  name  of  Boughner,  Goodwill  & 
Co.  being  retained  to  the  present  time.  When 
the  Goodwill  Coal  &  Coke  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated he  became  a  member  of  the  company,  and 
is  still  interested  in  the  mining  business.  He 
has  built  up  a  good  trade  in  the  hardware  business, 
and  ranks  among  the  leading  citizens  of  Shamo- 
kin. In  1873  he  married  Regina  C.  Klase,  of 
Ashland,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Abraham  Klase,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Robert  W.,  of  Shamokin.  In 
bis  political  faith  Mr.  Goodwill  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  his  religious  faith  a  Methodist.  Fraternally 
be  is  a  Mason,  being  a  member  of  Shamokin 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  also  belongs  to  the  B.  P. 
0.  Elks  and  to  the  Cresco  Club. 

William  F.  Goodwill,  son  of  Robert,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  in  Dickinson  Seminary.  Wil- 
liamsport, graduating  from  the  latter  in  1875.  and 
taking  a  commercial  course  at  the  same  institution 
the  following  year.  He  worked  from  an  early  age 
in  his  father's  mines  during  the  summer  vacations, 
and  after  completing  his  business  course  became 
a  bookkeeper  at  his  father's  colliery,  remaining 
until  the  business  was  sold  to  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  For  one  year 
lie  was  employed  by  L.  M.  Shuman  &  Co.,  gro- 
cers, and  then  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Derby  &  Goodwill.  This  venture  was  followed  by 
three'  years  in  the  mail  service,  after  which  he 
was  bookkeeper  for  J.  Langdon  &  Co.,  at  the 
Xeilson  colliery.  Shamokin.  In  1889  he  became 
buyer  for  the  Goodwill  Coal  &  Coke  Company, 
anil  in  1905  returned  to  Shamokin.  where  he  erect- 
ed a  comfortable  home  at  Xo.  153  North  Eighth 
street.  He  is  still  interested  in  the  mining  busi- 
ness,  but  is  practically  retired  from  an  active  par- 
ticipation in  the  work.  In  1879  Mr.  Goodwill 
married  Ida  R.  Klase,  of  Ashland,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:  John  J.,  born  May  26,  1885,  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Virginia  in  June, 
L908;  ami  M.  1'...  born  April  13.  1893.  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1910.  Shamokin  high  school.  Mr. 
Goodwill  has  never  been  an  active  politician,  but 
was  elected  in  1S88  to  the  Shamokin  borough 
council.  While  in  West  Virginia  he  was  notary 
public  for  Mercer  county. 


700 


N ORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


WILLIAM    FIELD    SHAY,    of    Watsontown, 

who  as  solicitor,  and  a  former  chief  executive  of 
the  borough,  and  in  other  relations.,  has  been 
one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  that  place, 
was  born  at  Northumberland,  this  county,  son  of 
Philip  and  Mary  E.    (Wallis)    Shay. 

Philip  Shay  was  born  in  1813  in  Pittston,  Ken- 
nebec Co..  Maine.  In  bis  early  manhood  he  went 
to  Baltimore,  Ml.,  to  assist  bis  brother-in-law.  Abi- 
athar  Field  (formerly  of  Brookline,  Mass.),  in 
the  establishing  one  of  the  pioneer  oyster  pack- 
ing houses  there,  and  in  the  interest  of  this  bttsi- 
ness  Mr.  shay  subsequently  located  at  Northum- 
berland, Pa.  Later  be  became  connected  with  the 
packet  company,  in  which  connection  he  was  pop- 
ularly known  as  "Captain"  Shay.  He  finally  set- 
tled at  Muncy,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile and  lumber  business.  In  1868  he  removed 
to  Watsontown,  Northumberland  county,  and  again 
engaged  in  merchandising.  He  became  one  of 
the  foremost  men  in  the  community,  in  official  as 
well  as  business  circles,  served  with  credit  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board  and  in  1871  was 
elected  chief  burgess.  He  was  much  interested  in 
many  of  the  developments  affecting  the  early 
growth  of  the  borough.  He  was  one  of  the  cor- 
porators and  charter  members  of  the  Watsontown 
Bank,  was  appointed  by  Governor  Geary  the  first 
notary  public  of  the  bank  and  town  and.  at  the 
close  of  his  administration,  was  reappointed  by 
Governor  Hartranft.  For  eleven  years  lie  accep- 
tably filled  the  position  of  postmaster  at  Watson- 
town, he  being  the  first  Presidential  appointee  of 
the  office,  serving  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
FBb.  '.'.  1885.  Mr.  Shay  was  one  of  the  organizers 
and  influential  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Watsontown,  in  which  he  held  the  of- 
fice of  trustee  for  many  years. 

He  was  first  married  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Wallis. 
daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Cow- 
den)  Wallis.  and  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Wal- 
lis. the  noted  pioneer  of  the  West  Branch  Valley, 
surveyor  and  land  owner,  who  was  so  important 
a  figure  in  the  early  life  of  that  region.  By  this 
marriage  there  was  one  son.  William  Field  Shay. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Shay  married 
Priscilla  M.  Llewellyn.  To  them  were  born  four 
children.  Charles  P.,  Edward  E.,  Mary  Y.  and 
Priscilla  L.  The  mother  died  when  the  latter 
was  an  infant.  He  was  married  the  third  time 
to  Emma  J.  Stoughton,  and  two  children.  Frank 
S.  and  Emma  E.  Montgomery,  wife  of  James 
M.  Montgomery,  blessed  their  union.  Frank  S. 
Shay  died  in  1898. 

William  Field  Shay  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  He  clerked  for  bis 
father  as  a  young  man.  and  subsequently  became 
a  law  student  with  Oscar  Foust,  Esq.,  of  Watson- 
town (now  Judge  of  the  Allen  and  Woodson  coun- 
ty. Kans..  courts),  under  whose  instruction  he  re- 


mained three  years.  Soon  after  attaining  bis  ma- 
jority lie  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  commenced 
practice  at  Watsontown.  where  he  has  ever  since 
been  established.  He  has  been  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  all  the  courts  of  the  central  Pennsylvania 
counties,  as  well  as  in  the  Superior  court,  the  Su- 
preme court  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  United 
States  Circuit  ami  District  courts.  He  became 
solicitor  for  the  Central  Pennsylvania  &  Western 
(Susquehanna,  Bloomsburg  &  Berwick)  Railway 
Company  at  its  inception,  and  has  held  the  posi- 
tion many  years.  He  has  been  solicitor  for  the 
borough  of  Watsontown  for  many  years,  and  also 
for  the  Watsontown  National  Bank. 

Few  citizens  of  Watsontown  have  done  more  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  municipality  than  Mr. 
Shay.  Its  important  public  enterprise-  have  had 
his  aid  in  their  fostering  and  development,  not- 
ably the  waterworks,  electric  light  and  sewer  sys- 
.  and  educational  facilities.  He  has  served 
on  the  school  board,  and  in  that  relation  took  the 
deepest  interest  in  the  cause  of  public  education, 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  State  Association  of 
School  Directors  when  Supreme  Justice  John  P. 
Elkin  was  president  of  that  body,  and  succeeding 
him  in  that  office  in  1901.  It  was  through  his 
efforts  that  the  terminus  of  the  Central  Pennsyl- 
vania  &  Western  railroad  (now  S.  B.  &  B.  rail- 
road) was  secured  to  the  town.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  town  council,  and  in  1906  he  was 
honored  with  election  to  the  office  of  chief  burgess, 
the  nomination  and  election  coming  without  so- 
licitation on  bis  part.  His  administration  was 
progressive  and  effective.  Mr.  Shay  has  acquitted 
himself  creditably  in  every  public  trust,  and  has 
justified  the  flattering  support  accorded  him  on 
every  occasion  when  be  has  been  a  candidate  for 
official  honors.  His  public  spirit  and  intelligent 
insight  regarding  the  affairs  of  the  community  are 
In -t  illustrated  in  the  measures  brought  about 
through  his  influence.  On  political  questions  he 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Shay  has  long  been  an  active  and  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is 
a  member  of  Wratsontown  Lodge.  No.  401,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  has  been  Worshipful  Master, 
served  as  secretary  for  a  long  period,  and  is  still 
acting  as  treasurer,  an  office  he  has  held  for  years; 
lie  is  l'ast  High  Priest  of  Warrior  Run  Chapter. 
No.  246,  1?.  A.  M..  of  Watsontown,  has  been  sec- 
retary of  that  body  and  is  now  serving  under 
bis  twelfth  annual  appointment  as  the  Deputy 
to  the  Grand  High  Priest  in  the  Eighth  capitular 
district,  which  comprises  the  counties  of  North- 
umberland. Montour,  Columbia,  Union  and  Sny- 
der, lb'  is  also  a  member  of  the  Council,  and 
the  Commandery:  the  A.  A.  S.  R.  and  the  Shrine, 
and  has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  of  the  Grand 
Holy  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Pennsylvania. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


roi 


For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Shay  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Danville  and  is  now 
President  of  that  body.  As  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  legislation  he  has  done  efficient  work 
in  the  securing  of  large  appropriations  for  the 
improvement  of  the  institution,  now  having  the 
care  of  over  sixteen  hundred  patients,  it  being 
the  second    largest  in  the   State. 

He  has  been  foremost  in  the  general  State  move- 
ment for  good  roads,  advocating  the  log  drag  gen- 
erally for  dirl  iiiads.  and  the  building  of  the  more 
substantial  highways  between  all  the  towns  ami 
other  main  points.  A-  solicitor  for  Delaware 
township  he  secured  the  two  roads  at  the  north 
and  south  of  YVatsontown,  and  has  been  consulted 
and  has  received  departmental  approvement  of  lo- 
cal roads  of  great  moment  for  the  locality  in  the 
bill  just  passed,  contemplating  the  taking  over  of 
all  the  roads  under  the  care  and  management 
of  the  State  Highway  Department. 

With  all  his  interests,  involving  much  work  and 
requiring  much  time  for  their  successful  contin- 
uation. Mr.  Shay  has  fotuid  time  for  enjoyment 
of  literature  and  lor  researches  into  local  historical 
matters,  in  which  line  he  has  found  pleasure  and 
recreation,  though  his  labors  have  been  serious 
enough  to  command  recognition,  a  number  of  lead- 
ing  articles  from  his  pen  having  found  their  way 
into  print.  He  has  compiled  and  contributed  much 
historical  data  which  will  be  useful  for  future 
reference,  ami  i-  regarded  as  an  authority  in  the 
lines  which    he  has   followed. 

Mr.  Shay  has  been  happily  married  to  Mary 
Alice  Hower,  only  daughter  of  the  late  Hon. 
Charles  Hower.  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  who  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  bar  in  Snyder  county.  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Shay  are  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Chinch  of  Watsontown,  and  occupy  a 
comfortable  home  in  the  beautiful  Main  street  in 
Watsontown. 

JAMES  STARRETT  DOUGAL,  M.  D..  of 
Milton.  Northumberland  county,  is  a  member  of 
the  Dougal  family  which  has  had  a  representative 
of  the  medical  profession  there  ever  since  the  time 
of  his  great-grandfather.  Dr.  James  Dougal,  who 
was  the  first  physician  to  locate  permanently  at 
that  point.  As  a  family  of  physicians  the  Dougals 
are 'known  all  over  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
their  personal  and  professional  worth  having  won 
them  unquestioned  standing,  maintained  without 
interruption  or  diminution  during  the  century  and 
more  of  their  residence  here. 

The  Dougal  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  origin  and 
has  a  history  well  worth  recording.  The  first 
of  whom  we  have  definite  record  is  one  James 
Dougal,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Cooks- 
town,  Ireland,  and  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  the  Cumberland  Valley.     Returning  to  his  na- 


tive land,  he  sent  his  son  James  out  to  look  after 
the  estate. 

James  Dougal,  son  of  James  and  Mary  Dougal, 
was  born  June  4.  1769.  at  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
and  was  a  young  man  when  sent  by  his  father 
to  look  after  his  property  in  America.  The  ves- 
sel on  which  he  made  the  voyage  was  wrecked 
off  the  coast  of  Delaware,  James  Dougal  and  a 
man  who  later  lived  at  Muncy,  Pa:,  being  the 
only  two  passengers  who  were  saved.  Young  Dou- 
gal was  robbed  of  all  his  money  and  other  valu- 
ables and  left  stranded  among  strangers.  But  he 
was  a  .young  man  of  fine  personality,  and  being 
able  to  speak  French  was  given  a  position  as  tutor 
to  the  son  of  a  man  whom  he  met,  being  thus 
engaged  until  he  earned  enough  money  to  take 
him  back  to  his  native  land.  After  finishing  his 
literary  and  professional  training,  graduating  from 
the  College  of  Surgeons  at  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
he  settled  in  Cookstown,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland. 
and  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  mar- 
ried, and  his  two  children  were  born  there.  But 
he  became  involved  in  the  political  uprising  led 
by  Emmet,  his  friend,  and  when  Emmet  was  cap- 
tured he  escaped  in  disguise  to  the  United  States, 
leaving  his  native  land  with  a  price  on  his  head. 
Being  a  friend  of  the  well  known  Dr.  Priestley, 
who  was  then  located  at  Northumberland.  Pa.,  he 
went  to  him  for  advice,  on  the  strength  of  which 
he  -ettled  at  Milton.  As  previously  mentioned, 
he  was  the  first  physician  to  settle  there,  and  his 
success  vvas  immediate  and  lasting.  He  soon 
(1803)  en  (ted  the  stone  mansion  at  Front  and 
Mahoning  streets  which  remained  in  the  family 
lor  one  hundred  years  (being  now  occupied  by 
Dr.  E.  L.  Reiser),  and  continued  in  active  prac- 
tice  until  his  death.  July  18,  1818,  caused  ley  a 
fall  from  his  horse.  His  practice  extended  over 
a  large  part  of  the  territory  now  embraced  in 
the  counties  of  Northumberland,  Montour.  Colum- 
bia, Lycoming,  Union  and  Clinton,  and  he  was 
naturally  one  of  the  most  widely  known  men  in 
his  section  of  the  State  in  that  day.  his  broad 
mind  and  energetic  personality  winning  him  the 
friendship  and  esteem  of  the  forceful  characters 
of  the  day.  He  retained  his  patriotic  spirit  and 
impulses  to  the  end  of  his  days,  and  during  the 
war  of  181'.'  -cut  his  son  .lames  into  the  ranks 
of  the  American  army  to  fight  for  the  liberty 
so  dear  tic  all  of  this  name. 

On  Oct.  14,  1793,  Dr.  Dougal  had  married 
.lane.  Starrett.  like  himself  a  native  of  Ireland. 
and  they  had  two  children,  .lames  ami  Margaret, 
both  born  at  Cookstown.  Ireland.  His  wife  and 
children  followed  him  to  America  a  few  years 
after  his  escape. 

Dr.  James  S.  Dougal,  son  of  Dr.  James  and 
.lane  (Starrett)  Dougal,  was  born  Oct.  7.  1794, 
at  Cookstown.  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  was 
reared   at   Milton,   Pa.,   where   he   attended   school 


702 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEN  XSYLYANIA 


and  also  received  private  tuition  under  Rev. 
Thomas  Hood.  He  read  medicine  with  his  father, 
and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  in  1817.  AVhen  his  father  died, 
the  following  year,  he  succeeded  to  the  extensive 
practice  and  continued  actively  engaged  in  the 
duties  of  his  profession  for  fifty-eight  years,  dying 
May  23,  1878.  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  His 
reputation  and  patronage  were  widespread.  In 
politics  he  was  originally  a  Democrat,  later  join- 
ing the  Republicans,  and  as  previously  mentioned 
he  served  when  but  a  youth  in  the  war  of  1812. 

On  July  2,  1818,  Dr.  Dougal  married  Sarah 
Pollock,  who  was  born  July  16,  1799,  daughter 
of  William  Pollock  and  a  sister  of  the  late  ex- 
Governor  Pollock,  and  sire  died  April  1.  1873. 
They  had  a  family  of  eight  children:  .Tames,  a 
physician  who  died  at  Milton  Feb.  20,  1847; 
William  1'.:  Sarah  .lane  widow  id'  James 
Gilmour  and  living  in  Milton:  Mary  Lou- 
isa, wife  of  R.  H.  Duncan,  of  Washington,  D. 
('.:  Caroline,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Hor- 
ace A.  Beale,  of  Chester  county.  Pa. :  Margaret. 
P.;  Charles  Hammond;  and  Elizabeth  E.,  wife 
id'   Robert  Bailey,  of  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania. 

Capt.  William  P.  Dougal,  second  son  of  Dr. 
James  S.  Dougal.  was  born  Dec.  28,  1823,  in  the 
stone  mansion  built  by  his  grandfather.  He  at- 
tended the  old  Milton  Academy,  and  became  a 
prosperous  farmer,  settling  in  Union  county,  Pa., 
when  a  young  man.  and  there  engaging  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1860.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  war  he  gave  his  active  support  to 
the  Union  cause,  and  on  Sept.  4,  1862,  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  150th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  better  known  as  the 
Bucktail  Regiment,  and  celebrated  as  one  of  the 
light  in--  regiments  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
II.'  had  recruited  his  company  in  Union  county. 
Pa.,  where  lie  had  his  home  at  the  time.  The 
command  was  sent  to  the  front  at.  once,  and  did 
notable  service,  in  which  he  bore  his  full  share. 
He  was  promoted  to  captain  July  1.  18G3.  on  the 
field  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  received  injuries  so 
severe  as  to  necessitate  his  retirement,  and  he 
received  his  discharge  Feb.  1,  1SG4.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Murray.  Dougal  &  Co., 
which  was  organized  that  year  and  established  the 
Milton  Car  Works,  with  which  he  was  actively 
identified  until  the  year  1878.  when  he  withdrew 
from  the  firm.  He  lived  retired  thereafter  until 
his  death.  July  8,  1890.  He  always  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  advancement  and  betterment  of  the 
borough  and  was  instrumental  in  promoting  the 
success  of  other  enterprises  besides  his  main  re- 
sponsibility; he  was  a  director  of  the  Milton  Na- 
tional Bank.  His  many  friends  in  Milton  felt 
that  the  place  lost  one  of  its  best  citizens  in  his 
decease.     He  and  his  familv  were  members  of  the 


Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Sarah  Clingan,  of 
Union  county,  Pa.,  Captain  Dougal  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Sarah,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  C.  Lawson, 
Jr..  lit  Milton.  His  second  wife,  Agnes  (McCor- 
mick),  daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza  (Montgom- 
cn  )  McCormick,  of  Milton,  was  a  descendant  of 
two  well  known  families  of  the  West  Branch  Val- 
ley. Seven  children  were  born  to  the  second 
union:  James.  Robert,  William.  Eliza,  Charles, 
Agnes  ainl   Margaret. 

Charles  Hammond  Dougal,  M.  1>..  son  of  Dr. 
James  S.  Dougal  and  brother  of  Capt.  William 
1'.  Dougal,  was  born  Sept.  20,  1838,  in  Milton, 
where  he  received  a  good  preliminary  education 
In  the  common  schools.  He  then  took  a  course 
at  Princeton,  graduating  from  that  college  in  the 
spring  of  1859,  after  which  he  began  to  read 
medicine  in  his  father'-  office.  His  professional 
studies  were  interrupted  by  the  outbreak  of  the 
('nil  war,  as  he  entered  the  Union  service  in  1861 
under  General  Stoneman,  as  a  medical  cadet.  He 
was  captured  July  1,  1863,  and  taken  to  Libby 
prison,  being  held  there  five  weeks.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  was  exchanged  and  assigned  to 
duty  at  Eckington  Hospital,  near  Washington,  D. 
('..  where  he  remained  until  the  following  Sep- 
tember. 

Returning  to  Milton  at  the  close  of  his  army 
service,  hi-.  Dougal  resumed  his  medical  studies, 
entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
graduated  in  March,  1864.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  practice  at  Milton,  building  up  a  large  pat- 
ronage, and  finding  himself  with  the  ability  and 
inclination  to  do  as  his  father  and  grandfather 
before  him  bad  done,  to  win  and  hold  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  Such 
a  record  of  usefulness  and  service,  of  well  sus- 
tained personal  and  intellectual  standards,  is  held 
b\  few  families.  Though  a  busy  man  he  found 
time  to  serve  the  borough  in  various  public  capac- 
ities, as  member  of  the  school  board,  member  of 
the  town  council  (for  three  terms)  and  chief  bur- 
gess. In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  on  na- 
tional questions.  lie  was  a  Presbyterian  in  church 
connection  and  socially  held  membership  in  the 
G.  A.   If.  and  in  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Dr.  Dougal  married,  Jan.  4,  1866,  Annie  M. 
Cakes,  daughter  of  Samuel  Oakes.  of  Montour 
county,  Pa.,  and  they  had  two  children,  Charles 
(who  died  young)  and  James  Starrett.  Mrs. 
Dougal  died'  March  26,  1873,  and  on  March  19, 
1891.  the  Doctor  married  (second)  Emma  dinger, 
of  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania. 

James  Starrett  Dougal,  son  of  Charles  Ham- 
mond Dougal,  was  born  in  Milton  Feb.  1,  1871. 
He  received  Ids  early  education  there  in  the  pub- 
lic  schools,   graduating  from   the   high   school  in 


XoRTIirMBLKLAXI)  COLXTY,  1'EXXSYLVAXIA 


703 


I ss:i.  after  which  he  entered  his  father's  office 
ami  read  medicine  for  three  years.  His  formal 
preparation  was  made  in  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1893, 
since  winch  time  he  lias  been  engaged  in  success- 
ful practice  at  Milton,  keeping  up  the  traditions 
of  the  family  in  every  relation  of  life.  His  lo- 
cation is  ai  Xn.  146  South  Front  street.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say  that  he  enjoys  the  patronage  and 
rank  which  the  Dougals  have  been  accorded  for 
generations,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Lycoming 
County  Medical  Society  and  of  the  State  Medical 
Association.  Fraternally  he  is  well  known,  being 
a  charter  member  of  Milton  Lodge,  No.  913,  B. 
I'.  ().  Elks,  and  a  member  of  Milton  Lodge,  No. 
256,  I-".  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  Kepublican  in  politi- 
cal  sentiment. 

In  1900  Dr.  Dougal  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  Emma  Johnson,  daughter  of  M.  P. 
and  Ann  Johnson,  of  Milton,  Northumberland 
county. 

EAGLE.  The  name  of  Eagle  is  synonymous 
with  progress  and  prosperity  in  Shamokin,  anil 
(he  Eagle  Silk  Mills,  owned  by  John  H.  and 
Charles  K.  Eagle,  have  a  reputation  that  extends 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  To  the  city 
of  Shamokin  the  mills  are  most  important. 
They  have  proved  of  inestimable  value  to  the  com- 
mnnity,  affording  employment  to  more  than  six 
hundred  operatives. 

The  history  of  the  Eagle  Mills  reads  like  a  ro- 
mance. Mill  No.  1  was  erected  at  Edgewood  by 
Shamokin  capitalists,  ami  was  operated  with  such 
indifferent  success,  closely  bordering  on  failure, 
thai  in  1896  Mr.  John  H.  Eagle,  then  a  New 
York  banker,  was  obliged  to  take  the  mill  to  save 
himself  from  financial  loss.  Mr.  Charles  K.  Eagle, 
also  of  New  York,  came  to  Shamokin  to  assume 
personal    management   and    his   executive   ability 

si changed   the  balance   to  the  proper  side  of 

the  ledger,  and  spread  the  fame  of  the  mills  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  Many  extensions  and 
additions  were  made  in  the  Edgewood  mill;  in 
1898  the  Trevorton  mill,  employing  125  hands, 
was  started,  and  since  then  the  Pock  street  mill — 
modern  in  every  respect — has  been  built.  The 
last  named  mill  is  the  best  equipped  of  its  kind 
in  the  country.  It  is  a  three-story  brick  structure, 
fireproof,  run  entirely  by  electricity,  each  loom 
having  its  individual  motor.  While  the  ventilation 
is  perfected  bv  a  blower  and  humidifier  which 
change  the  entire  cubic  contents  of  the  building 
every  fifteen  minutes.  The  rise  of  the  firm  has 
been  rapid.  A  wholesale  house  has  been  estab- 
lished in  New  York.  When  the  Messrs.  Eagle 
took  the  mills  it  was  thought  that  local  capital- 
ists were  fortunate  in  getting  rid  of  such  prop- 
erty,  but  the  outcome  has  proved  what  close  ap- 
plication of  brain  and  energy  can  do,  and  both 


John  H.  and  Charles  K.  Eagle  are  looked  upon 
as  benefactors  to  this  borough.  They  are  both 
well  known  and  genuinely  liked.  The  mills  are 
now  managed  by  Mr.  James  C.  Brown,  sketch 
of  whom  follows. 

JAMES  C.  BROWN,  general  superintendent 
of  the  Eagle  Silk  Mills,  is  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, born  at  Glasgow  Oct.  25,  1870.  He  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents  in  his  child- 
hood, and  was  but  thirteen  when  he  began  work- 
ing in  the  silk  mills  at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  as  bob- 
bin boy,  for  $2.50  a  week.  He  applied  himself 
diligently  to  his  task,  and  with  the  untiring  perse- 
verance  and  thoroughness  of  the  true  Scot  learned 
all  branches  of  the  silk  manufacturing  business. 
His  reputation  spread  and  in  1901  he  came  to 
Shamokin  from  Phillipshurg,  N.  J.,  to  take  charge 
of  the  mills  for  J.  H.  &  C.  K.  Eagle.  Not  only 
has  he  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  manufac- 
turing  end  of  the  business,  but  he  has  superior 
executive  and  business  ability,  and  the  mills  have 
prospered  under  his  wise  administration. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  belong- 
ing to  Delaware  Lodge,  No.  52,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Phillipshurg,  N.  J.,  of  which  he  is  past  master; 
Eagle  Chapter,  No.  30,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Phillips- 
hurg; Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  77,  K.  T. ; 
Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree;  Ra- 
jah Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Reading;  and 
i  In  Temple  Club.  He  also  belongs  to  Lodge  No. 
355,  11.  P.  <>.  E.  He  has  a  beautiful  home  at 
Edgewood. 

PROF.  SAMUEL  B.  KNISS,  an  educator  of 
long  experience  now  engaged  in  teaching  at  Hern- 
don,  Northumberland  county,  is  an  influential 
citizen  of  that  community,  justice  of  the  peace, 
active  in  church  work,  and  interested  in  all  things 
that  concern  the  good  of  the  people  generally. 
He  was  born  Sept,  22,  1852,  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  this  county,  son  of  Peter  Kniss  and 
.  grandson  of  Michael  Kniss. 

Michael  Kniss,  the  grandfather,  lived  near  Sun- 
bury,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  and  is  buried  at  Lantz's  Church.  To 
him  and  Ins  wife  Juliana  were  born:  Peter,  John, 
Harry,  Samuel,  and  two  daughters. 

Peter  Kniss,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  Dec.  8, 
1818.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  this  county, 
ami  when  a  young  man  settled  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  lie  passed  the  remainder  of  his  long 
life.  His  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  21.  1898, 
was  sudden,  being  caused  by  a  railroad  accident 
at  Shamokin.  this  county.  On  Sept.  12,  1817,  Mr. 
Kniss  married  Lucy  Ann  Batdorf,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Batdorf.  and  she  survives  him, 
being  now  (1911 )  in  her  ninetieth  year.  She  makes 
her  home  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Erdman.     Four 


704 


NORTHUMBERLAND'  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Kniss: 
Hattie,  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  P.  E.  Erdman,  of 
Reading,  Pa.;  Franklin,  who  died  young;  Sam- 
uel B. ;  and  Willie,  who  died  young-. 

Samuel  B.  Kniss  was  reared  to  farm  life,  which 
he  followed  until  eighteen  years  old,  at  that  time 
taking  up  the  trade  of  painter  and  paper  hanger. 
He  has  continued  to  do  such  work  at  limes  ever 
since,  hut  for  many  years  he  has  been  well  known 
as  a  teacher  in  this  vicinity,  having  begun  teach- 
ing in  1871  in  Jackson  township.  Up  to  the 
present  time  he  has  taught  thirty-two  terms,  all 
in  tlie  niie  township,  Herndon  borough,  where  he 
is  now  engaged,  being  located  in  that  township. 
In  1890  he  obtained  his  professional  certificate, 
and  in  1895  was  granted  a  State  teacher's  per- 
manent certificate. 

Mr.  Kniss  has  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, and  has  long  served  them  in  public  capac- 
ities, haying  been  assessor  of  Jackson  township 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  and  he  is  now  fill- 
ing his  second  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Herndon  borough.  He  is  agent  for  a  number  of 
fire  insurance  companies  and  has  done  consid- 
erable business  in  that  line. 

On  Oct.  18,  1877,  Professor  Kniss  married 
\l;irv  A.  Albert,  daughter  of  John  and  Amelia 
C.  (Stroh)  Albert,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
five  children:  Charles  S..  Arthur  E.,  Myrtle  V., 
Clarence  A.  and  Lester  C.  Professor  Kniss  and 
his  family  are  active  in  the  work  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Church  at  Herndon,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  pillars  of  the  church,  which  he  is  serving 
in  several  official  capacities,  as  trustee,  steward 
and  class  leader. 

GEORGE  E.  HANCOCK,  who  is  at  present 
serving  as  count)'  commissioner  of  Northumber- 
land county,  has  been  identified  with  the  public 
service  in  various  capacities.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business  for  several  years,  and  in  these 
different  associations  has  come  in  contact  with  a 
large  number  of  the  residents  of  this  section  and 
become  very  well  known.  He  was  horn  in  this 
county  June  15,  1ST',',  in  Coal  township,  near 
Shamokin. 

Mr.  Hancock  is  of  AVelsh  extraction.  Thomas 
Hancock,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  1819  in 
Pembrokeshire,  Wales,  and  came  to  America  in 
1849,  his  family  following  him  two  years  later. 
His  first  location  was  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
where  he  followed  mining,  and  he  came  thence 
to  Northumberland  county,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed at  the  mines  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  life..  He  died  in  Shamokin  in  1895,  at  the 
age  nf  seventy-six  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Sha- 
mokin cemetery.  Mr.  Hancock  took  an  interest 
in  the  general  welfare  of  his  adopted  community, 
and  served  as  supervisor  of  Coal  township,  where 
he  was  a  well  known  and  respected  citizen.     He 


married  Patience  Haines,  who  died  in  1860  at 
Locust  Gap,  this  county,  and  is  buried  at  Shamo- 
kin. They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  sons,  only 
three  of  whom  grew  to  manhood,  namely:  John, 
who  is  living  in  Shamokin:  Edward:  and  George, 
who  lives  at  Mount  Carmel,  this  county. 

Edward  Hancock,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
July  15,  1846,  in  Monmouthshire,  a  county  on 
the  border  of  South  Wales,  and  died  in  Coal  town- 
ship, Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  Jan.  22,  1911. 
lie  came  to  America  with  his  mother  in  the  fall 
of  1851.  The  family  landed  at  New  York  City 
and  came  thence  to  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  thence 
moving  h>  Herndon,  Northumberland  county, 
about  the  time  the  first  bridge  was  under  construc- 
tion at  that  point.  The  next  removal  was  to  Trev- 
orton,  this  county,  where  they  lived  for  three  and  a 
half  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  going  to  Big 
.Mountain,  in  Coal  township,  where  they  remained 
five  years.  From  that  place  they  moved  to  Beaver- 
dale,  in  Mount  Carmel  township.  Edward  Han- 
cock began  work  at  Big  Mountain,  picking  slate 
at  the  mines  for  about  four  years,  ami  lie  began  reg- 
ular mining  at  Excelsior,  in  Coal  township,  where 
he  was  employed  about  six  years.  About  1856 
he  went  to  Shamokin.  where  he  continued  at  the 
same  kind  of  work,  following  mining  for  about 
thirty-five  years  in  all.  at  different  collieries,  until 
In-  retirement  therefrom  in  1900.  After  that  he 
was  engaged  lor  five  years  at  the  Luke  Fidler 
colliery,  as  machinist,  and  he  was  afterward  em- 
ployed  in  Coal  township.  He  was  a  very  active 
citizen  in  that  township,  having  served  three  years 
as  member  of  the  school  board  of  the  township 
(during  which  time  he  was  secretary  of  the  board 
two  years  and  president  one  year),  one  year  as 
assessor  and  three  years  a-  poor  director,  lie  was 
a  Republican  in  political  sentiment,  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  (to  which  his  family  also 
belong),  and  socially  belonged  to  James  A.  Gar- 
field Lodge,  No.  1623,  I.  o.  o.  p.,  and  to  the 
Knights  of  Malta. 

On  Dec.  11,  1869,  Mr.  Hancock  married  Sylvia 
Tiley,  who  was  horn  April  16.  1848.  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Sarah  Tiley  (her  parents  were  first 
cousins),  and  died  May  :>.  1908;  she  is  buried  in 
Shamokin  cemetery.  Ten  children  were  horn  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hancock:  Thomas  S.  died  when  two 
years  old:  Ceorge  K.  is  mentioned  below:  John 
died  when  one  year  old :  Jacob  C.  died  in  infancy  ; 
Adam  D.  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  Coal  town- 
ship, this  county:  William  \Y..  a  blacksmith,  lives 
at  home;  Oscar  died  when  three  months  old  ;  Sam- 
uel died  when  seven  months  old:  Benjamin  A. 
i-  employed  with  the  York  Bridge  Company:  Eva 
M.  lives  at  home. 

.  George  E.  Hancock  attended  public  school  dur- 
ing his  early  boyhood,  hut  he  was  only  ten  years 
old  when  he  began  to  pick  slate  at  the  Greenbach 
colliery,  later  finding  employment  at  the  Luke  Fid- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PEN  NSYLVAN  IA 


705 


ler  colliery.  He  then  learned  the  barber's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  six  years  at  Shamokin,  his 
next  venture  being  in  the  hotel  business  in  Coal 
township,  at  Springfield,  where  he  was  located  for 
four  years.  About  this  time  he  was  elected  Re- 
publican county  chairman,  and  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff,  serving  two  and  a  half  years  in 
that  rapacity  under  Sheriff  Dietrich.  He  was  then 
made  jail  warden,  holding  that  position  for  three 
years.  In  1904  he  bought  the  "Van  Kirk  House" 
at  Northumberland,  which  he  conducted  for  three 
years,  selling  out  at  the  end  of  that  time.  In 
1908  lie  was  elected  county  commissioner,  and  is 
at  present  tilling  that  office.  During  his  residence 
in  Coal  township  he  was  elected  to  the  school 
board,  of  which  lie  was  a  member  three  years, 
and  he  served  the  same  length  of  time  as  tax 
collector,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Fraternal  Or- 
der of  Eagles,  the  Order  of  Moose,  the  Owls  and 
the  Red  Men,  and  his  acquaintanceship  in  this 
region  is  wide. 

Mr.  Hancock  married  Elizabeth  Terry,  daughter 
of  Lewis  Perry,  of  Coal  township,  and  they  have 
hail  children  as  follows:  Olive,  George,  Violet  M., 
William  S.  and  Clinton.  The  family  are  Meth- 
od isls  iii  religious  connection. 

GEORGE  M.  CONRAD,  of  Sunbury,  a  citizen 
of  that  borough  in  Touch  with  its  best  interests, 
commercial,  official,  social,  and  one  whose  intelli- 
gent activities  have  made  him  a  power  in  all  those 
circles,  hears  a  name  which  has  been  identified 
with  this  region  for  several  generations.  Jacob 
and  Adam  Conrad  are  shown  by  the  records  to 
have  been  taxables  in  Augusta  township,  North- 
umberland county,  in  1774.  In  the  maternal  line 
Mr.  Conrad  is  a  member  of  another  prominent 
family,  the  Fasold  family,  the  branch  to  which 
his  mother  belprigs  having  been  settled  in  North- 
umberland county  for  about  a  century. 

At  the  Sunbury  courthouse  are  recorded  wills 
of  two  Jacob  Conrads.  One  lived  in  Sunbury 
borough,  and  his  will,  made  May  20,  1811,  was 
probated  July  7,  181?.  He  purchased  the  home- 
stead on  which  he  died,  a  property  of  150  acres, 
from  George  Harrison.  Mention  is  made  of  nine 
children:  Nicholas,  Jacob,  Peter.  Henry,  John 
(who  was  given  the  homestead).  Mary  (married 
David  Melick),  Elizabeth  (married  Jacob  Hen- 
brook),  Susanna  (married  George  Hall)  and  Cath- 
arine (married  George  Long).  The  daughter 
Susanna  was  given  the  plantation  where  she  and 
her  husband,  (ieorge  Hall,  lived. 

The  other  Jacob  Conrad,  farmer  of  Augusta 
township,  "being  sick  and  weak,"  made  his  will 
July  8,  1815,  and  it  was  probated  Aug.  29,  1815. 
His  wife's  name  was  Catharine,  and  the  follow- 
ing sons  and  daughters  are  mentioned:  Catharine 
(married  John  Zerfoss),  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Henry. 

•15 


John  Nicholas  (under  twenty-one),  John,  George, 
Peter,  Christian  and  David. 

Of  a  later  date  is  the  will  of  Peter  Conrad. 
Senior,  pioneer,  who  lived  in  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  whose  wife  was  Mag- 
dalena.  He  evidently  died  advanced  in  years,  and 
his  will,  made  .May  30,  18:37,  was  probated  June 
12,  1837.  The  children  were:  Jacob,  John,  Henry, 
Christian,  David,  Daniel  (obtained  homestead), 
Catharine  (Mrs.  Wagner,  deceased),  Magdalena 
(man  led  Samuel  Kreager),  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Kividinger,  who  lived  in  French  Creek,  Crawford 
Co..  Pa.)  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Barger). 

Taking  up  the  early  records  of  the  Conrads, 
we  Mini  that  John  "Conrad,  the  great-grandfather 
of  (ieorge  M.  Conrad,  owned  a  farm  of  some  four 
hundred  acres  cast  of  Sunbury.  This  John  Con- 
rad, bom  Nov.  18,  1777,  died  June  11.  1839. 
He  married  Julian  Cooper,  who  was  born  June  1, 
17  7s.  ami  lived  and  died  in  Augusta  township. 
passing  away  Dec.  '.".'.  1841,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

six  i 1 1 1  is,  twenty-one  days.     They  had  children 

as  follows:  Susanna  married  Samuel  Herb;  Ann 
Maria  married  Decaton  Herb  and  had  Julia,  Ma- 
ria, Daniel,  Decaton  (married  Mrs.  Maria  Diet- 
rich) and  Samuel;  William  married  Susan  Huey 
and  (second)  a  Miss  Bartholomew,  and  had  a  son 
George;  Eli  married  Polly  Geringer;  George  mar- 
ried Hester  Reeser;  Daniel  married  a  Miss  Wolfe: 
Sarah  married  Samuel  Garinger;  Julia  Ann  mar- 
ried Henry  Gass;  Catharine  (Kate)  married  a  Mr. 
Cooper:  Elidia  married  a  Mi-.  Schrader :  Molly 
married  William  Miller. 

One  Henry  Conrad,  who  is  buried  at  the  Au- 
gustaville  Church,  was  born  Oct.  8,  1779,  and 
died  March  29,  1854.  He  had  a  brother  John— 
possibly  the  John  mentioned  above. 

(ieorge  Conrad,  son  of  John,  born  Aug.  26, 
1808.  died  May  17.  1877.  He  owned  a  large  farm, 
comprising  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  upon 
which  what  is  now  the  eastern  portion  of  Sunbury 
is  built.  He  married  Hester  Reeser,  born  July 
26,  1811,  died  Nov.  11,  1886,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Catharine 
married  Albert  Beeklev  and  had  four  children. 
Florine  (married  Charles  Zerbe),  Clara  (married 
John  Evert),  Alice  (died  young)  and  Hattie;  Wil- 
liam died  young;  Harriet  married  Philip  Ecknian 
and  had  a  daughter  Esther;  Henry  H.  married 
Sophia  Fasold;  Gideon  was  the  next  in  the  fam- 
ily; Silas  married  Ellen  Clark;  Amandus  Aaron, 
the  youngest,  married   Mary  Wise. 

Henry  H.  Conrad,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
1843,  and  died  Oct.  16,  1S!)4.  He  and  his  wife 
Sophia  (Fasold),  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Kreiger)  Fasold.  who  survives  him.  were  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children:  George  M.,  who  is  men- 
tioned fully  below;.  Cora  I.,  wife  of  W.  P.  O. 
Hoffman;    Esther;    Charles    A.;    Ida   M..   who    is 


706 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  wife  of  J.  B.  Gould  :  Emily,  who  died  in  1906, 
and  who  was  the  wife  of  "William  Scott  and  the 
mother  of  two  children.  Thomas  and  Henry ;  and 
William,  teller  in  the  Suntrary  National  Bank. 
who  married  Maud  Reitz. 

George  M.  Conrad,  son  of  Henry  H.  and  So- 
phia (  Fasold)  Conrad,  was  born  in  1864  in  what 
was  then  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  in  which  region  the  Conrads  have 
long  been  numerous  and  prominent.  In  1898  he 
established  himself  in  business  at  Sunbury,  with 
which  borough  he  is  now  identified  as  one  of  its 
foremost  residents.  Mr.  Conrad  is  an  extensive 
dealer  in  coal,  flour,  gram  and  feed,  making  a 
specialty  of  the  commodity  first  named,  in  which 
line  he  has  built  up  so  large  a  trade  that  he  is 
now  tin.'  largest  dealer  in  anthracite  coal  in  the 
borough.  His  place  of  business,  on  South  Third 
street,  has  been  enlarged  to  meet  the  demands  of 
expanding  trade  until  it  now  rovers  nearly  half  of 
a  city  block.  The  office  is  at  No.  135  South  Third 
street,  adjoining  the  warehouses,  yards  and  switch- 
es, the  whole  plant  being  well  adapted  to  the 
handling  of  the  immense  business  carried  on. 

Although  his  business  affairs  have  attained  such 
large  proportions,  Mr.  Conrad  has  shown  himself 
an  able  manager,  and  he  has  found  time  for  public- 
spirited  service  to  the  borough  in  spite  of  the  heavy 
demands  made  upon  him  by  his  private  interest.-. 
His  name  has  been  associated  with  almost  every 
project  of  local  importance  for  years,  and  he  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  civil  administration, 
in  various  important  capacities.  For  two  years 
he  served  as  member  of  the  school  board:  for  one 
year  filled  the  office  id'  borough  treasurer:  and  for 
four  years  was  a  member  of  the  borough  council, 
during  the  last  two  years  of  his  service  in  that 
body  being  its  efficient  president.  He  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  id'  which 
be  is  an  ardent  ami   influential   supporter. 

In  1903  Mr.  Conrad  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Sunbury  National  Bank,  and  has  since  been  one 
of  the  directors  of  that  institution.  He  has  long 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Church,  of  which  he  has  been  treasurer 
for  a  number  of  years,  also  taking  a  leading  part 
in  tlie  work  of  tlie  Sunday  school,  which  he  has 
served  as  superintendent  for  about  fifteen  years, 
still  holding  that  position.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America  and 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  the  latter  connection 
belonging  to  Maelay  Lodge.  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Sunbury;  to  Mount  Eermon  Commandery,  K. 
T.,  of  Sunbury;  and  to  Williamsport  Consistorv, 
A.  A.  S.  R. 

On  May  21,  1890,  Mr.  Conrad  married  Delia  A. 
Burns,  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Kate  (Kramer) 
Burns,  of  Boise  City,  Idaho,  and  to  this  union 
lias  been  born  one  daughter.  Euth,  who  is  still 
attending  school.     The  family  occupy  a  handsome 


residence  on  Fast  Market  street.  Sunbury.  which 
Mr.  Conrad  built  in  1900  and  enlaTged  and  re- 
modeled in  1908,  further  beautifying  what  was 
already  a  charming  home.  It  is  one  id'  the  at- 
tractive homes  which  adorn  the  "Hill"  in  Sun- 
burv. 

In  the  fall  of  L906  Mi',  and  Mrs.  Conrad  visited 
her  mother  in  Idaho  and  took  a  tr-ip  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast.     Her  father  died  in  1S74. 

CHARLES  A.  CONEAD,  member  of  the  firm 
of  Conrad  &  Shotsberger,  proprietors  of  the 
"Fairmount  Hotel."  Sunbury,  was  born  in  that 
borough  Feb.  12,  1870,  son  of  Henry  II.  and  So- 
phia  i  Pasold  )  Conrad. 

Mr.  Conrad  attended  the  public  school-  of  Sun- 
bury and  in  his  early  years  was  employed  with  his 
father  at  farming  and  teaming.  He  also  clerked 
for  bis  brother  George  M.  Conrad,  in  his  store, 
for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business  in  1894-95,  after  which  he  was 
associated  with  bis  brother  George  M.  in  the  coal 
business  for  a  period  of  seven  years.  In  1901,  in 
connection  with  Galen  Shotsberger.  be  began  to 
conduct  the  "•Fairmount  Hotel."  which  has  had 
a  prosperous  existence  under  his  efficient  manage- 
ment. 

Socially  Mr.  Conrad  is  a  member  of  the  P.  0.  S. 
of  A..  F.  0.  F..  Sunbury  Lodge  of  Elks,  Conclave, 
and  No.  1  Fire  Company.  Hi'  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics. 

Mr.  Conrad  married  (first)  Emma  E.  Lawrence, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Lawrence,  and  after  her 
death,  which  occurred  in  1901,  he  married  (sec- 
ond) Bertha  Oyster,  daughter  id'  George  Oyster. 
They  have  three  children:  Helen.  Euth  and 
Charles. 

MARTIN   MARKLE,  late  of  Shamokin,  was  a 

resident  of  that  city  lor  over  thirty  years  and  dur- 
ing that  time  maintained  business  connections 
which  placed  him  among  the  most  successful  as 
well  as  progressive  men  of  his  day.  For  over 
twenty  years  he  conducted  the  Eagle  Bun  Brewery. 
located  in  Coal  township,  near  Shamokin;  he  was 
one  of  the  builders  and  pari  owner  of  the  "Hotel 
1 1  [.Miliar."  one  of  the  finest  hotels  in  the  State:  he 
was  interested  in  the  First  National  Bank  (now 
the  National  Bank  of  Shamokin).  and  in  the  pro- 
motion of  various  public  utilities:  and  he  will  al- 
ways be  remembered  as  a  man  whose  public  spirit 
u.'i>  a  perceptible  factor  in  the  city's  advancement 
throughout  the  period  of  his  residence  then'. 

Mr.  Markle  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Feb. 
13.  1835.  in  Werlhim  Ober  Balingen.  Wurtein- 
berg,  son  of  George  and  Barbara  (Souter)  Markle. 
ami  grandson,  on  the  maternal  side,  of  Jacob  and 
Katharine  Souter.  Geoyge  Markle.  who  died  in 
Germany  about  1890,  held  a  civil  office  under  the 
government  for  forts'  vears.     He  had  the  following 


X(  >RTH  I'M  BERLA  XI  >  ( 'OUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVA  X  I A 


;n; 


children:  George  Jacob,  who  came  to  America 
two  years  after  Ris  brother  Martin  and  settled  in 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  where  he  conducted  the  "Ger- 
tnania  Eotel"  for  twenty  years  (he  died  Sept.  22, 
1898)  :  Casper,  who  came  to  the  United  Stales  in 
1851  and  settled  in  Greenfield.  Mass.,  in  1866  (he 
learned  the  cutler's  trade,  following  same  through- 
out his  residence  in  this  country);  John;  George 
and  Christina,  who  remained  in  Germany;  and 
Martin. 

Martin  Markle  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land  and  remained  there,  on  the 
home  Farm,  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  In 
April,  1852,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  arriving 
at  New  York  April  23d,  and  after  a  short  time  in 
that  city  came  on  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  ever 
afterward  made  his  home.     His  first  location  was 

at  Slatington,  where  I ntered  the  employ  of  the 

Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company  as  lock- 
tender,  holding  that  position  for  nineteen  years. 
Having  decided  to  enter  business  life  he  engaged 
in  the  general  mercantile  business  at  the  lock 
(which  is  still  known  at  Markle's  lock)  in  1862, 
continuing  at  that  point  for  several  years.  On 
Dec.  1.  1871,  he  settled  in  Shamokin,  where  he 
was  in  business  until  his  death.  He  purchased 
the  John  B.  Douty  Brewery,  in  Coal  township, 
which  for  many  years  was  well  known  under  his 
management  as  the  Eagle  Run  Brewery,  operating 
it  until  1895,  when  he  sold  his  interests  therein 
to  P.  II.  Furmann  and  relinquished  the  more  ex- 
acting duties  of  active  Business.  But  he  by  no 
means  gave  up  Ins  participation  in  the  life  of  the 
city.  In  1896,  in  connection  with  Mr.  George  C. 
Graeber,  of  Shamokin,  he  built  the  popular  "Hotel 
Graemar"  (the  name  being  made  up  of  the  first 
syllables  of  both  proprietors'  names)  in  Shamokin, 
which  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
hostelries  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  ;  Mr.  Markle 
laid  the  first  brick  himself,  and  he  always  took 
great  pride  in  the  hotel  and  its  management.  He 
was  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sham- 
okin (now  the  National  Bank  of  Shamokin),  which 
he  also  served  as  treasurer:  a  director  of  the  Sham- 
okin Powder  Manufacturing  Company;  a  director 
of  the  Shamokin  &  Mount  Carmel  Street  Railway 
Company  (which  he  helped  to  organize)  ;  and  a  di- 
rector of  the  Shamokin  Street  Railway  Company. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  Luth- 
eran. 

On  June  17,  1852,  Mr.  Markle  married  Helena 
Kith,  daughter  of  Casper  Eith,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  to  them  were  horn  eight  children, 
namely:  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Pius  Schweibenz, 
proprietor  of  a  brewery  at  East  Mauch  Chunk. 
Pa.:  William  M..  horn  Aug.  IS.  1854,  died  Aug. 
is.  1898;  Amandus  S.  was  horn  Aug.  20,  1856, 
and  died  May  5,  1910;  Helen  married  Daniel 
Staid,  foreman  in  flic  Eagle  Run  Brewery,  ami 
died    Feh.    11.    1905;    George    F..   horn    Aug.    II. 


1861,  died  March  29,  1906;  Sarah  A.  married 
(first)  Charles  Tretter  and  (second)  William 
Philippi,  and  resides  in  Shamokin;  Cecelia  mar- 
ried Francis  ().  Rankey,  a  paper  box  manufacturer 
of  South  Bethlehem.  Pa.;  Henry  died  in  infancy. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  Nov.  9,  1898,  and 
in  1900  Mr.  Markle  married  (second)  Mrs.  Emily 
Allen,  daughter  of  Isaac  May,  of  Shamokin.  Mr. 
Markle's  death  occurred  .Ian.   is,  1905. 

William  M.  Markle,  son  of  Martin  and  Hel- 
ena (Eith)  Markle.  was  born  Aug.  IS,  1854,  at 
Lockport,  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.  During  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  he  was  in  his  father's  em- 
ploy, hut  during  his  last  years,  for  about  three 
years  before  his  death,  he  was  in  the  hotel  business, 
conducting  the  "•Central  House"  of  Shamokin.  He 
died  at  Shamokin  Aug.  is.  1898.  Mr.  Markle 
was  a  good  business  man  and  had  all  the  qualities 
of  a  substantia]  citizen.  He  married  Catharine 
Snyder,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Mary  (Burgner) 
Snyder,  ami  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  viz.:  Sarah  ('..  who  is  deceased;  Wil- 
liam P.,  deceased:  Mary  M.,  deceased:  Sarah  J., 
wife  of  Joseph  Sockolwski  and  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren. Joseph  and  Catharine  (Mr.  Sockolwski  is 
proprietor  of  a  cigar  store  in  Shamokin)  :  Amandus 
A.:  Albert  M..  deceased:  Evelyn  A.;  George  S. ; 
Charles  D. :  Catharine  A.,  who  is  still  in  school; 
and  Annie,  deceased.  The  family  reside  at  No. 
601  Franklin  street.  Mrs.  Markle  and  her  chil- 
dren are  members  id'  St.  Edward's  Catholic 
( 'hurch. 

Simon  Snyder,  father  of  Mrs.  Markle.  lived  and 
died  at  Pottsville.  Pa.  In  early  life  lie  learned 
shoemaking,  hut  did  not  follow  that  trade  long, 
being  employed  as  a  tanner  for  many  years.  He 
married  Mary  Burgner,  and  their  children  were: 
John,  Elizabeth,  Mary  M.,  Catharine  (Mrs. 
Markle),  and  Theodore,  all  living;  and  three  de- 
ceased, Sophia,  Philomena  and  Frank. 

An  wins  A.  Mahkle,  son  of  William  M.  and 
Catharine  (Snyder)  Markle,  was  born  May  5, 
1885,  in  Shamokin,  where  he  has  passed  all  his 
life.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city  and  at  Tharptown.  and 
(luring  the  first  Sve  years  he  worked  was  employed 
al  the  silk  null.  He  then  changed  to  the  Reitz 
&  Hilbush  planing  mill,  where  he  remained  until 
1905,  since  when  lie  has  been  engaged  as  carpenter 
at  the  Big  Mountain  Colliery. 

in  1905  Mr.  Markle  married  Sallie  Jordan. 
daughter  of  James  Jordan,  and  they  have  had  two 
children:  James  William,  horn  Dec  9,  1907,  and 
Dorothv  K..  burn  Sept.  :\,  1909.  The  family  home 
is  at  No.  719  East  Sunbury  street.  The  Markles 
are  members  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic  Church. 

George  F.  Markle,  son  of  Martin  and  Helena 
(Eith)  Markle.  was  born  Aug.  1  I.  1861,  ami  after 
receiving  his  education  became  interested,  like  his 
brothers,   in   his   father's  business   affairs,   working 


ros 


NORTHI'MB ERLAND  COU XTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


for  him  practically  all  his  life.  Por  about  one  }'ear 
lie  was  a  dairyman  in  Uniontown,  this  county. 
Like  the  members  of  the  family  generally,  he  had 
exi  ellent  business  ability  and  was  a  good  manager, 
being  highly  esteemed  wherever  known.  He  died 
March  29,  1906,  and  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin 
cemetery. 

On  May  24,  1885,  Mr.  Markle  married  Miss 
Catherine  E.  Batman,  daughter  of  Augustus  and 
Mary  (Messner)  Batman,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  two  daughters:  Lena  X..  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  Rogers  and  residing  at  Tamaqua;  and 
Lillie  M.  Mrs.  Catharine  E.  Markle  continues  to 
make  her  home  at  Shamokin. 

Augustus  Batman,  father  of  Mrs.  Markle,  was 
a  farmer  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  died.  He  married  Maty  Mess- 
ner. and  they  had  a  family  of  seven  children :  Ed- 
ward, a  farmer  in  Rush  Valley.  Xorthumberland 
county,  married  Mary  Winner:  Ellen  married 
Daniel  Zartman :  Sallie  married  Monroe  Bitter- 
man  :  Mary  married  George  Radle ;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Daniel  Smith;  Catharine  E.  married  George 
P.  Markle;  Polly  married  Gideon  Kremer. 

WILLIAM  PENN  KEMBLE,  of  Mount  Car- 
mel,  Northumberland  county,  editor  of  the  Mount 
Carmcl  Item]  was  born  in  Tower  City,  Schuylkill 
county.  April  5,  1876,  son  of  Isaac  and  Matilda 
(Bickel)  Kemble.  When  he  was  four  years  old 
his  family  removed  to  Ashland,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  becoming  a  resident  of  Mount  Carmel  at 
the  age  of  six.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  identi- 
fied with  the  early  history  of  Xorthumberland 
county,  the  old  Kemble  homestead  being  located 
in  Jackson  township.  His  maternal  ancestors  were 
prominent  in  Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Kemble  is  of 
long  American  lineage,  having  ancestors  who 
fought  in  all  the  wars  of  the  Republic  and  in  the 
Colonial  and  Indian  wars. 

Educated  primarily  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mount  Carmel  and  in  the  Shamokin  Business  Col- 
lege. Mr.  Kemble  studied  civil  engineering  under 
his  father,  the  late  Isaac  Kemble,  C.  E.  Later 
i  -milled  law.  but  abandoned  that  to  take  up 
newspaper  work  in  189G,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  William  B.  Wilson,  editor  of  the  Mount 
Carmel  Item.  On  Feb.  1.  1897.  he  and  his  father 
purchased  the  paper.  Later  his  brother.  Edward 
B.  Kemble.  joined  the  publishing  firm.  On  Xov. 
1.  1902,  their  newspaper  became  a  daily. 

Mr.  Kemble  enlisted  in  Company  F.  4th  Penn- 
sylvania Infantry,  May  8,  1898.  He  participated 
in  the  first  invasion  of  Porto  Rico,  where  his  com- 
mand was  engaged  in  skirmishes  and  outpost  duty. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  end  of  the 
Spanish-American  War. 

"ii  Dec.  31,  1902,  he  was  married  to  Bertha  E. 
Miller,  of  Shamokin.  He  has  two  children. 
mil  Prances  Elizabeth. 


ROBERT  B.  TULE,  M.  D.,  of  Milton.  North- 
umberland county,  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in 
Northumberland  county  ever  since  his  graduation 
from  medical  college,  but  he  is  a  comparatively  re- 
cent cniuer  to  the  borough,  having  settled  there  in 
1907.  He  had  considerable  patronage  in  this  lo- 
cality before  his  removal  hither,  and  he  has  estab- 
lished himself  thoroughly  in  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens  during  his  residence  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

Dr.  Tule  is  a  native  of  Lycoming  county,  and  a 
member  of  a  prominent  old  family  of  that  section, 
his  grandfather.  John  Tule.  having  been  a  well 
known  farmer  at  Montoursville,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death.  John  Tule 
married  Mary  Bubb,  and  they  are  buried  in  the 
lower  cemetery  at  Montoursville.  Their  children 
were:  Abraham,  Charles.  George,  William.  Kate,. 
Elizabeth  and  Maggie. 

Abraham  Tule.  son  of  John,  was  horn  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Lycoming  county  in  1831,  and  there- 
in   still  resides,  having  now  a  fine  farm  of  eighty 

acres,  near  Mum  v.  of  the  finest  places  in  the 

valley.  He  has  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life,  and 
is  still  acti\e  and  able  to  look  after  his  own  affairs, 
though  his  long  life  has  been  one  of  constant  indus- 
try. Mr.  Tule  married  Ann  Diggan.  daughter  of 
Edward  Diggan.  and  to  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Kempton,  who  is  a  resident  of  Muncy; 
Edward:  Robert  B. ;  Bella;  and  Virgie,  who  mar- 
ried Frank  Gortner. 

Robert  B.  Tule  was  born  July  8,  1866,  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  home  district  in 
Lycoming  county  and  the  Muncy  Normal  School. 
Like  many  other  professional  men.  he  preceded  his 
preparation  for  the  medical  profession  by  teaching, 
being  thus  engaged  for  three  terms  in  his  native 
county.  Entering  Jefferson  Medical  College,  he 
was  graduated  in  1891.  and  immediately  after- 
ward settled  in  Northumberland  county,  which  has 
since  been  the  field  of  his  work.  His  first  location 
was  at  Montandon.  where  he  built  up  a  large  prac- 
tice, his  personality  and  success  combining  to  cre- 
ate a  demand  for  his  services  which  was  most 
gratifying,  for  he  has  been  painstaking  and  thor- 
ough in  his  work,  and  his  skill  has  been  demon- 
strated in  numerous  cases.  Conscientious  devotion 
to  his  patients,  regardless  of  any  consideration  but 
the  fact  that  they  needed  attention,  has  won  him 
the  good  will  of  the  community  to  a  marked  de- 
gree.  In  1907,  when  he  came  to  Milton,  he  pur- 
chased a  fine  home  on  Elm  street,  where  he  also 
has  his  office.  Dr.  Tule  is  a  member  of  the  Ly- 
eoming  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation and  the  American  Medical  Association:  so- 
cially he  holds  membership  in  Milton  Lodge.  No. 
256,  P.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  in  religious  matters  is  identified  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

Dr.    Tule    married    Annie    Warn,    daughter    of 


N<  HITIIUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


709 


•James  Warn,  of  Lycoming  county.    They  have  two 
•children,  James  0.  and  Hazel  I. 

ISAAC  C.  BURD,  president  of  the  Burd  & 
Rodgers  Company,  Incorporated,  vice  president  of 
the  American  Filter  &  Cooler  Company,  and  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
the  borough  of  Shamokin,  was  born  in  Union 
■county,  Pa.,  July  9,  1863,  son  of  Isaac  P.  and 
Susannah  (Collier)  Burd. 

The  early  home  of  the  Burd  family  was  in  Scot- 
land, where  Edward  Burd,  gentleman,  lived  on 
bis  estate  of  Ormiston,  near  Edinburgh.  His 
wile  was  Jean  Haliburton.  daughter  of  George 
Ealiburton,  Lord  Provost  of  Edinburgh. 

( 'ill.  James  Burd,  third  son  of  Edward  Burd, 
was  born  at  Ormiston  in  1726,  and  came  to  Ameri- 
ca lmig  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  For  many 
years  he  was  in  the  military  service  of  the  Province 
ni  Pennsylvania,  being  one  of  the  noted  military 
men  during  the  French  and  Indian  war,  in  which 
he  commanded  the  2d  Battalion  of  a  Pennsylvania 
regiment  of  Provincial  troops.  He  completed  the 
building  of  Fort  Augusta  (now  Sunbury),  North- 
umberland county,  in  1756-57.  He  was  with  the 
Forbes  expedition,  and  was  in  command  at  Fort 
Pitt.  In  1748  Colonel  Burd  was  married  at  Phil- 
adelphia to  Sarah  Shippen,  daughter  of  Edward 
Shippen,  and  sister  of  Chief  Justice  Edward  Ship- 
pen. 

[saac  P.  Burd.  father  of  Isaac  C,  was  born  in 
Union  county,  and  always  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Swengel.  He  was  but  a  boy  when  his  father  died, 
and  he  grew  up  in  the  care  of  strangers.  He  had 
brother,  John,  and  two  sisters,  Mary  and  Mar- 
garet. He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  gave  nine  months  of  service  to  his 
■country.  His^  death  occurred  March  20,  1900. 
when  he  was  nearing  his  eightieth  birthday.  He 
married  Susannah  Collier,  born  Jan.  28,  1822, 
died  Jan.  10,  1903,  daughter  of  Aaron  Collier, 
a  shoemaker  and  early  settler  of  Union  county, 
and  his  wife,  Catherine  Catheman,  one  of  the  large 
family  of  children  born  to  David  Catheman.  a 
wealthy  farmer.  Aaron  Collier  and  wife  were  the 
parents  of  George.  Joseph,  Sophia,  Susannah  and 
Lizzie.  To  Isaac  P.  Burd  and  wife  were  born  sev- 
-en  children:  George,  of  Ohio;  Isabella,  married 
to  John  Fry,  of  near  Allenwood,  Pa. :  Catherine, 
who  married  Adam  Diehl,  of  Swengel,  Pa.;  Wil- 
liam, who  conducts  a  general  store  at  Swengel : 
Samuel,  manager  of  the  Winfield  &  New  Berlin 
Railroad  at  New  Berlin:  John  C,  who  died  Dec. 
4.  1902.  at  Shamokin:  and  Isaac  C,  of  Shamokin. 

Isaac  C.  Burd  attended  the  common  schools  in 
Union  county,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  began 
clerking  at  Swengel.  where  he  remained  four 
years.  He  then  came  to  Shamokin.  and  for  two 
years  was  engaged  as  a  clerk,  at  the  end  of  that 
.time  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr.  W.  H.  Zar- 


ing.  They  conducted  a  general  store  for  nearly  two 
war-,  and  then  Mr.  Burd  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partner  and  started  a  small  store  of  his  own  at 
No.  233  Spruce  street.  He  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  work,  and  has  branched  out  until  he 
has  one  of  the  finest  stores  of  its  kind  in  Shamokin. 
In  August,  1907,  the  business  was  incorporated  as 
the  Burd  &  Rodgers  Company,  with  Mr.  Burd  as 
president,  the  other  members  being  some  of  his 
reliable  employees. 

Mr.  Burd  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida  Rogers, 
daughter  of  H.  L.  and  Susan  (Reitz)  Rogers. 
Two  children  have  come  to  brighten  their  home, 
Walter  H.  and  Catharine  R.  Mr.  Burd  is  one 
of  the  original  directors  of  the  Market  Street  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Filter  &  Cooler  Company.  Fraternally  he  is 
a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  his  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Evangelical  Church.  He 
belongs  to  the  Shamokin  Auto  Club. 

BLOOM.  The  Bloom  family  now  numerous  in 
Northumberland  and  Clearfield  counties.  Pa.,  is 
descended  from  two  brothers  who  came  into  Penn- 
sylvania from  Kew  Jersey.  In  the  archives  of  that 
State  are  recorded  the  names  of  five  Bloom  broth- 
ers wild  served  in  Backsters  Brigade  of  New  Jer- 
sey Volunteers.  One  was  killed  in  action.  After  the 
war  one  remained  in  New  Jersey,  the  other  three 
coming  to  Pennsylvania.  Of  these,  Stephen  Bloom, 
the  ancestor  of  Unas  Bloom,  of  Sunbury.  settled 
in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township, 
in  Northumberland  county;  William,  the  ancestor 
nf  Amos  Bloom,  now  also  of  Sunbury.  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Clearfield  county:  the  third 
settled  in  a  valley  near  Bellefonte  in  Center  county, 
where  a  large  number  of  his  descendants  have  since 
lived. 

Stephen  Bloom  settled  in  Northumberland 
county  prior  to  1795,  as  shown  by  his  will,  and  was 
therefore  a  pioneer  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
The  name  has  since  appeared  frequently  in  the 
county  archives. 

Samuel  Bloom,  son  of  Stephen,  was  born  March 
21,  1772,  and  died  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, this  county,  July  8,  1837.  He  lived  on  the 
old  Bloom  homestead  in  Lower  Augusta  ( now 
Rockefeller)  township  now  owned  by  Unas  Bloom, 
his  great-grandson,  a  property  which  consisted  of 
nearly  two  hundred  acres  and  which  he  purchased 
in  1797  from  Martin  Raker  and  wife.  Samuel 
Bloom  was  a  prominent  man  of  his  day.  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic  party 
and  holding  various  important  offices  with  honor 
and  credit.  On  Feb.  28,  ISO!),  he  was  commis- 
sioned justice  of  the  peace  and  served  many  years: 
from  1813  to  1815  he  was  county  commissioner: 
and  he  was  county  treasurer  in  1834-36.  He  served 
as  postmaster  at  what  was  then  known  as  Au- 
gusta, but  which  office  has  since  been  abandoned. 


no 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


He  and  his  wife  were  Lutheran?,  and  he  was  par- 
ticularly   prominent    in    the    organization    of    the 

/ion  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church  at  Augusta- 
\ille.  toward  the  erection  of  which  he  contributed 
generously :  he  was  a  charter  member  of  this 
church  and  was  serving  as  its  treasurer  at  the  time 
of  his  death,     lie  and  his  wife  are  buried  there. 

Samuel  Bloom  married  Magdalene  Dunkel- 
berger.  who  was  born  in  Northumberland  county 
July  20,  1773,  and  died  Aug.  1!'.  1843.  Their 
children  were:  John;  Daniel,  born  Jan.  20,  1798, 
who  died  June  4.  1895  (wife  .Maria,  born  Sept. 
8,  1798,  died  July  7,  1841  :  his  second  wife,  Mary, 
died  Jan.  1.  1903,  aged  eighty-four  years,  eleven 
months,  eleven  days);  William,  born  Nov.  "24. 
1802,  who  died  May  IT.  1856;  Samuel,  who  moved 
in  Akron,  Ohio,  and  died  there  aged  about  eighty 
years;  Jacob,  who  is  mentioned  below;  Henry,  who 
died  Nov.  22,  1880,  aged  sixty-four  years,  ten 
months,  eighl  days  (wife  Maria,  born  Jan.  2, 
1826.  dieil  April  16,  1904)  ;  Catharine,  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Bartholomew;  Magdalene,  who  was 
married  to  George  Reiser;  and  Elizabeth  (1813- 
1901),  who  married  George  Keiser,  after  the  death 
of  Ins  first  wife.  Magdalene. 

Jacob  Bloom,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  on  the 
farm  later  occupied  by  his  son  Hiram.  He  became 
a  prominent  farmer  in  his  native  township,  where 
he  settled  after  his  marriage,  in  1836  making  his 
home  permanently  on  the  farm  where  he  was 
born.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  Democrat  and  a 
Lutheran  and  prominent  in  political  and  religious 
matters  in  the  locality,  serving  ten  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  also  holding  the  office  of  school 
director.  lb'  served  his  church  as  deacon,  elder 
and  treasure]-.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Bartholo- 
mew, whii  survived  him.  his  death  occurring  in 
1876.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them.  viz. :  (  1  i 
Deborah  married  I).  D.  Conrad  of  Rockefeller 
township.  (2)  Sarah  married  Samuel  Sober,  of 
Shamokin  township.      (3)   Mary  died  unmarried. 

(4)  Julia  Ann  married  S.  P.  Malick,  of  Sunbury. 

(5)  Hiram  is  mentioned  below.  (6)  William  set- 
tled in  Lincoln  county,  Nebr.  ( '.  )  Peter  also  set- 
tled in  Lincoln  county,  Nebr.  William  and  Peter 
are  bub  living.  (8)  Magdalena  married  Harry 
Wolf  and  is  deceased.  (9)  Martin  L.  enlisted  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  during  the  Re- 
bellion, serving  about  three  years,  ami  died  at  the 
home  <>f  his  father  Dec.  7.  1864,  from  disease 
contracted  in  the  army,  at  the  age  of  about  twenty- 
five  years.  He  was  unmarried.  He  was  mustered 
in  Oct.  8,  1861,  in  Company  I,  58th  Regiment, 
Pa.  Vols.,  ('apt.  John  Byers,  Col.  J.  Richter  Jon.-. 
This  company  was  the  first  to  enter  Richmond 
after  the  surrender. 

Hiram  Bloom,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Oct.  '.''.'. 
1831.  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  township,  and 
died  Dec  in.  1892.  He  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, which  he  followed  in  connection  with  farm- 


ing, also  operating  a  custom  sawmill.  A  promi- 
nent man  in  this  township  for  many  years,  he  held 
various  positions  of  public  trust  with  honor  and 
to  the  full  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens,  serv- 
ing as  township  auditor  (over  twenty  years)  and  as 
school  director,  and  was  elected  a  justice  of  the 
peace  but  did  not  serve.  He  was  a  leading  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  treasurer.  In  1852  he  married  Maria 
Hileman.  daughter  of  Daniel  Hileman,  of  Rocke- 
feller township,  and  nine  children  were  horn  to 
them,  namely:  Urias,  of  Sunbury:  Mary  Cathar- 
ine, who  died  when  about  three  years  of  age:  John 
I-'.,  of  Purdytown,  who  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  ami  i- 
now  employed  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sun- 
bury. William  E.,  who  served  as  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools  from  1886  to  18&2  and  i>  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law:  Laura,  wife  of 
Daniel  Long,  of  Rockefeller  township;  Daniel  E.. 
of  Sunbury.  assistant  cashier  in  the  First  National 
Bank  there:  Frances,  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Dagle; 
Adella,  wife  of  Elmer  F.  Troutman;  and  Florence 
Gertrude,  who  married  Norman  Sheetz  and  resides 
near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Urias  Bloom,  president  id'  the  Sunbury  Trust 
&  Sale  Deposit  Company,  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant financial  institutions  of  the  borough  of  Sun- 
bury. has  a  record  as  a  public  official  and  business 
man  which  entitles  him  to  place  among  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  this  section  of  the  county.  He  was 
born  April  1.  1854,  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rock- 
efeller) township,  son  of  Hiram  and  Maria  (Hile- 
man) Bloom,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  made  such  good  use  of  his 
time  that  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  able  to  begin 
teaching.  When  a  young  man  of  about  twenty  he 
became  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  recorder. 
Lemuel  Shipman,  remaining  with  him  to  the  close 
of  his  service,  in  1880,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
by  his  successor,  George  D.  Bucher.  under  whom 
he  served  until  1886,  when  he  assumed  the  duties 
of  the  office  himself.  He  was  elected  in  1885.  run- 
ning about  two  hundred  and  fifty  votes  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  and  upon  his  reelection,  in  1888,  he  ran 
over  twelve  hundred  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In 
Northumberland  county  the  duties  of  register  of 
wills,  recorder  of  deeds  and  clerk  of  the  Orphan-' 
court  are  performed  by  one  official.  Mr.  Bloom 
held  the  office  for  six  years,  giving  the  highest  sat- 
isfaction in  every  respect.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  associated  with  the  Sunbury  Trust  &  Safe 
Deposit  Company,  having  been  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  that  institution  for  a  number  of  years 
before  assuming  the  duties  of  president,  which  of- 
fice he  now  fills.  As  such  he  is  one  of  the  foremost 
figures  in  financial  circles  in  the  borough,  and  he 
is  a  man  of  irreproachable  business  and  personal 
standing. 

On   Nov.  55.  1879.  Mr.  Bloom  was  married  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


11 


Lower  Augusta  township  to  Anna  M.  Winters- 
teen,  and  four  children  have  been  born  to  their 
union  :  Essie  Tarda  ;  Grace  Imogene;  Goldie  Ed- 
na, who  married  J.  Landis  Strickler,  of  Hummels- 
town,  I'a.;  and  Charles  Eugene. 

In  religious  connection  Mr.  Bloom  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  I.  0.  0.  F..  Conclave  No  11,  Sov- 
ereign Patriotic  Knights  (having  served  a  term  as 
Craml  Master  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania),  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


Lottie  married  Dr.  John  H.  Snyder:  Mabel  mar- 
ried Leroy  L.  Feglev. 


William  Bloom,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Nov. 
21,  1802,  and  died  May  or  Nov.  L7,  1856.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  (Bartholomew)  was  born  May  26, 
L806,  and  died  Nov.  13,  1886.  They  were  farming 
people,  living  on  the  place  now  owned  by  George 
Kobuck.  which  adjoins  the  old  Bloom  homestead 
in  Rockefeller  township.  "Mr.  Bloom  was  a  pros- 
perous man.  owning  lour  farms,  and  was  quite 
prominent  in  the  township's  public  affairs,  serving 
as  constable  I  many  years)  and  overseer  of  the 
poor.  In  political  faith  he  was  a  Democrat,  and 
lie  and  his  family  were  Lutheran  members  of  the 
Augustaville  Church;  he  was  one  of  the  pillars  of 
the  congregation,  and  served  many  years  in  the 
church  council.  His  children  were:  Diana  mar- 
ried Isaac  Wolf;  Julian  married  Martin  Heim ; 
Lydia  married  Moses  Reitz;  John  is  mentioned 
below;  Peter  lived  at  various  places;  Maria  mar- 
ried  Lemuel  Shipman. 

John  Bloom,  son  of  William,  lived  retired  on 
his  farm  in  Rockefeller  township  after  a  busy  and 
useful  career.  He  was  born  June  20.  1835.  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
and  followed  farming  throughout  his  active  years, 
beginning  on  his  own  account  when  he  reached 
bis  majority.  He  retired  in  1907,  and  died  Jan. 
5,  191  i.  Mr.  Bloom's  farm,  which  is  located  on 
the  Tulpehocken  road,  is  an  old-established  busi- 
ness stand,  formerly  owned  and  conducted  by  Wil- 
liam Deppen.  After  him  one  John  Schmick  had  a 
tannery  on  the  property,  and  a  tavern  was  also  con- 
dueled  there  in  a  stone,  house  many  years  ago;  it 
is  probable  that  William  Re'eser  ran  the  tavern  at 
one  time.  Mr.  Bloom  always  led  a  quiet  and  un- 
assuming life,  refusing  all  offers  of  public  position. 
He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  the  Augustaville 
Church,  to  which  his  family  belong. 

On  April  12,  1859,  Mr.  Bloom  married  Matilda 
Shipman.  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth 
(Yoxtheimer)'  Shipman.  and  ten  children  were 
born  to  their  union,  viz. :  Valeria  married  William 
E.  Bloom:  Thamar  married  Daniel  L.  DeWitt: 
Irene  married  John  F.  Bloom  ;  Flora  died  in  child- 
hood; Emma  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years, 
unmarried:  Charles  S.  died  in  infancy:  George  E. 
died  in  infancy;  Ella  married  William  E.  Reitz ; 


William  Bloom,  brother  of  Stephen  (ancestor  of 
the  foregoing  Blooms),  took  up  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Clearfield  county.  Pa.,  at  what  is  known 
as  the  "Peewee's  Nest."  He  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  1752,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  104  years; 
he  is  buried  at  Curwensville.  Clearfield  county. 
He  followed  farming  on  land  which  he  himself 
cleared,  and  where  he  erected  a  log  house  and 
barn.  His  wife,  like  himself  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, also  attained  an  advanced  age,  living  to  be 
ninety-eight.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  seven  sons  ami  four  daughters:  Abra- 
ham, James,  Isaac,  John,  William,  Benjamin. 
Peter.  Mary  (married  Matthew  Caldwell)  and 
three  daughters  whose  names  are  not  recalled. 

From  the  above  source  there  is  a  large  posterity. 
and  we  quote  the  following  from  the  Philadelphia 
North  American  of  Aug.  is.  1909,  as  being  of  in- 
terest   in  this  connection  : 

"The  Bloom  reunion  was  held  at  the  'Peewee's 
Nest/  on  the  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  near 
Curwensville,  Pa.  The  Bloom  elan  is  one  of  the 
largest  in  Clearfield  county.  They  are  descendants 
of  William  Bloom,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
a  Revolutionary  war  veteran,  who  came  to  Clear- 
field county  with  his  wife  in  1796.  They  came  up 
the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river  in  a 
canoe  and  settled  on  the  spot  where  the  family 
reunion  was  held.  The  ancestor  Bloom  and  his 
helpmate  had  eleven  children,  seven  sons,  four 
daughters,  and  from  them  are  descended  the  many 
hundred  of  Blooms  of  Clearfield  and  surrounding 
counties.  The  eighth  generation  of  the  family 
participated  in  the  reunion  in  1909.  The  Blooms 
have  figured  extensively  in  the  affairs  of  Clear- 
field county  since  its  organization.  They  are  a 
hearty  and  tall  people,  noted  for  longevity  and 
multiplicity.  Ross  Bloom,  of  near  Curwensville, 
who  was  eighty-eight  years  old.  attended  the  gath- 
ering of  the  family.  Benjamin  Bloom,  who  at- 
tended the  reunion,  has  a  record  of  which  he  is 
proud.  He  is  seventy-seven  years  old,  and  the 
father  of  thirteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. He  has  so  many  grandchildren  that  he  fear- 
of  missing  some  should  he  endeavor  to  count  them. 
scores  of  great-grandchildren  and  seven  great-great- 
grandchildren. 

"The  Blooms  are  members  of  the  Democratic 
party.  During  the  Civil  war  the  family  sent  many 
of  it-  sons  to  do  battle  for  their  country." 

Isaac  Bloom,  son  of  William,  was  like  all  his 
brothers  and  sisters  born  in  Clearfield  county.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  owned  the  farm 
on  which  he  died.  He  married  Mary  (Polly)  Ap- 
gar,  who  survived  him,  dying  in  is;  it  at  a  ripe  old 
age,  and  they  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  six 


712 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  iSTSYLVANIA 


sons  and  six  daughters,  namely:  John,  James  A. 
William,  George,  Beuben,  Benjamin,  Caroline 
(Mrs.  Owens),  Priscilla  (married  John  Norris  and 
had  eighteen  children),  Geneise  (married  Samuel 
Taylor),  Mrs.  George  Ogden,  Margaret  (married 
Nicholas  McCracken)   and  Mrs.  George  Garrison. 

James  A.  Bloom,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  1808 
and  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-four,  dying  in  1902. 
He  is  buried  in  the  country  graveyard  at  Bloom- 
ington,  in  Clearfield  county.  A  man  prominent 
in  the  business  and  public  affairs  of  his  day,  he 
was  a  well  known  and  substantial  citizen.  He  had 
the  farm  of  1G0  acres  now  owned  by  his  son 
Harvey,  and  in  connection  with  farming  followed 
lumbering,  rafting  down  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  river  to  Marietta,  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty. He  tilled  the  township  offices  of  constable,  su- 
pervisor and  school  director.  His  wife.  Mary  Ann 
(  II ile),  of  Shamokin  Hills,  died  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Naomi  married  Eobert  Owen; 
Frampton,  a  retired  railroad  man,  is  a  resident  of 
Sunbury :  Harvey  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Clearfield  county;  Jane  is  a  resident  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio :  Edward  is  a  resident  of  Grampian,  Clear- 
field  county;  Amos  is  mentioned  below;  Julia  died 
of  whooping  cough;  Hattie  lives  in  Binghamton, 
N.  Y. ;  Mary  died  in  September,  1910,  at  Philips- 
burg.  Pa. :  Alfred  is  a  resident  of  Luthersville, 
Pa. ;  Daniel  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  tree,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six  years:  one  daughter  died 
in  infancy. 

Amos  BlooMj  son  of  James  A.  Bloom,  is  one  of 
the  foremost  merchants  of  the  borough  of  Sunbury. 
where  he  has  been  doing  business  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  He  was  born  July  14.  1846.  in 
Clearfield  county,  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
and  had  such  educational  advantages  as  the  free 
schools  of  his  day  in  that  locality  afforded.  The 
district  was  then  a  typically  rural  section  and  the 
school  and  its  equipment  typical  of  the  times. 
Slabs  were  used  for  seats,  goose  quills  for  pens,  the 
old  Sanders  reader  and  an  old-fashioned  "cipher- 
,  ing"  book  were  the  manuals  of  instruction  and  the 
•'schoolmaster  ruled  with  the  rod,  whippings  be- 
ing common."  Mr.  Bloom's  mother  was  a  woman 
of  unusual  intelligence  and  taught  her  children  at 
home,  so  that  by  the  time  lie  was  seventeen  Amos 
was  able  to  teach  school.  He  taught  in  all  ten 
terms  of  four  months  each,  and  received  $35  a 
month  for  his  services,  which  was  considerable  in 
those  days,  his  board  costing  him  but  $5  per  month. 
Meantime  he  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  during  the  summer  months, 
school  being  held  in  winter,  when  the  boys  were 
not  needed  so  badly  at  home  to  help  with  the  farm 
work.  When  twenty-two  years  old  Mr.  Bloom 
went  to  Iowa,  where  he  followed  his  trade  and 
also  found  profitable  employment  for  a  time  bind- 
ing wheat,  which  was  then  selling  at  65  cents  a 


bushel.  He  received  $5  a  day  and  his  board, 
five  meals  daily  and  drink  free,  but  eighteen 
to  twenty  hours  constituted  a  day"s  labor.  After 
two  years  in  the  West  Mr.  Bloom  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania  and  resumed  his  former  method  of  life, 
following  carpentry  in  the  summer  and  teaching 
in  the  winter,  continuing  thus  until  1875.  That 
year  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Northumberland,  Northumberland  county,  whence 
in  1885  he  came  to  Sunbury.  He  has  since  done 
an  extensive  general  business  in  that  place,  having 
a  well  stocked  store  at  No.  44  North  Fourth 
street,  where  he  carries  a  good  line  of  general 
merchandise  ami  wall  papers.  Mr.  Bloom  is  un- 
doubtedly  one  of  the  busiest  men  in  the  borough, 
for  he  has  acquired  additional  interests  during  the 
passing  years  which  keep  him  thoroughly  occupied. 
He  is  a  director  and  secretary  of  the  Sunbury  Mu- 
tual Fire  Insurance  Company,  having  served  as 
such  since  its  organization,  in  1896;  has  been  sec- 
retary of  the  North  Branch  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany (capitalized  at  $300,000)  since  1910;  is  a 
director  and  treasurer  of  the  Sunbury  Ice  Com- 
pany:  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Hydraulic  Earn  Com- 
pany of  Sunbury. 

Mr.  Bloom  has  not  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
local  administration  except  as  member  of  the  town 
council.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  with  inde- 
pendent inclinations.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
has  been  grand  master  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Penn- 
sylvania since  September,  1906.  In  religious  con- 
nection he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Sunbury. 

On  Aug.  27.  1873,  Mr.  Bloom  married  Kate 
Lesher,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  J.  (Van 
Kirk )  Leshei'.  They  have  had  one  daughter,  An- 
nie Irene. 

HABEY  E.  LEIBY,  present  chief  burgess  of 
Snydertown,  Northumberland  county,  is  a  young 
man  who  has  risen  rapidly  in  the  business  world 
and  has  also  become  prominent  in  social  and  po- 
litical circles  through  his  energetic  and  forceful 
character.  Mr.  Leiby  was  born  at  Paxinos.  this 
county,  May  7.  1SS6.  son  of  Francis  M.  Leiby 
and  grandson  of  Daniel  Leiby. 

Daniel  Leiby  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pa., 
near  Bear  Gap,  and  died  in  that  county  at  a  com- 
paratively early  age.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. His  wife,  Bebecea  (Yost),  is  still  living  at 
the  homestead.  Children  as  follows  were  born  to 
this  couple:  Esther,  who  married  Joseph  B. 
Campbell;  Amy,  who  married  George  Frederick; 
William,  of  Sunbury ;  Abraham  L„  of  Bear  Gap : 
and  Francis  M. 

Francis  M.  Leiby  was  born  Oct.  2,  1859,  in 
Columbia  count}'.  Pa.,  and  has  been  a  lifelong 
farmer.  He  first  lived  with  Eli  Neice  for  a  time, 
in  Bush  township,  and  eventually  began  farming 


NORTHUMBERLA  X  I )  ( '» >U  XTY.  PEN  X  S  V  I. VAX  I A 


713 


on  his  own  account,  now  owning  a  farm  of  about 
150  acres  in  Rush  township,  near  Snydertown.  He 
gives  all  his  time  to  its  cultivation,  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful.  Mrs.  Leiby  conducts  a  store 
in  Snydertown.  On  Feb.  14,  1885,  Mr.  Leiby 
married  Ida  M.  Haupt,  daughter  of  Freeman  and 
Ella  (Neyhart)  Haupt,  and  they  have  had  two 
children:  Harry  E.  and  Edna  M.,  the  latter  born 
Sept.  22,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leiby  are  Metho- 
dists in  religious  connection.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  They  are 
well  known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  their 
community. 

Harry  E.  Leiby  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Rush  township,  later  attend- 
ing the  State  normal  school  at  Bloomsburg.  He 
then  became  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  at  Sunbury,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year.  Going  to  Philadelphia,  he  found 
employment  in  the  hat  department  of  Strawbridge 
&  Clothier's  Large  establishment,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  six  months.  In  190G  he  made  a  trip  to 
Europe,  and  returning  to  New  York  City  became 
a  drag  clerk  on  Long  Island,  for  a  time.  He  then 
came  back  to  Snydertown,  in  1907  embarking  in 
the  vehicle  business  in  which  he  has  since  been  in- 
terested, his  location  being  at  the  corner  of  Market 
and  Walnut  streets,  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin. 
In  1910  he  became  associated  with  Solomon  Martz 
in  this  business,  under  the  name  Shamokin  Motor 
Car  Company,  their  specialty  being  the  Buick 
motors.  They  are  doing  a  promising  business, 
their  enterprise  and  up-to-date  methods  command- 
ing a  discriminating  class  of  patrons.  Mr.  Leiby 
is  well  known  in  various  portions  of  the  county 
besides  his  business  and  home  boroughs,  and  he 
belongs  to  the  Americus  Club  and  Lodge  No.  267, 
B.  P.  0.  Elks,  at  Sunbury.  He  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Snydertown. 

Outside  of  his  business  Mr.  Leiby  has  taken  par- 
ticular interest  in  polities  as  an  ardent  member  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  March,  1910,  he  was 
honored  with  appointment  to  the  office  of  chief 
burgess  of  Snydertown.  which  is  the  largest  bor- 
ough in  area  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  It  was 
a  compliment  to  his  ability  and  substantial  qual- 
ities, and  an  evidence  of  the  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low citizens,  not  often  shown  to  a  man  of  his 
years. 

HENRY  L.  LEAM,  treasurer  of  The  Guarantee 
Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  has  been  connected  with 
that  leading  financial  institution  since  its  organiza- 
tion, in  1896,  in  his  present  capacity  the  greater 
part  of  the  time.  Before  entering  this  line  he  was 
engaged  in  newspaper  work  almost  from  the  begin- 
ning of  his  active  career. 

Mr.  Learn  was  bom  Nov.  15,  1865,  at  Ashland, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Harry  Leam  and  grand- 


son of  Anthony  Leant,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  England.  On  coming  to  America  with  his  fam- 
ily Anthony  Leam  settled  at  Port  Carbon,  Pa., 
where  he  followed  mining,  and  there  he  died.  His 
children  were:  Anthony,  Thomas,  Martha  (Mrs. 
Brown)   and  Harry. 

Harry  Leam  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents.  His  education  was  lim- 
ited, as  he  commenced  work  when  still  a  boy.  Lo- 
eating  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  he  built  up 
a  successful  business  as  a  contractor  and  builder, 
building  many  breakers,  and  he  met  his  death 
while  engaged  in  this  work,  on  a  slope,  in  1867. 
All  of  his  business  life  was  passed  at  Ashland, 
where  he  became  well  known  as  an  honorable, 
self-made,  intelligent  man.  He  married  Esther 
Lewis,  who  still  resides  at  Ashland,  and  they  had 
three  children,  Annie,  Henry  L.  and  Minnie,  the 
former  still  residing  with  her  mother. 

Henry  L.  Leam  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ashland,  and  upon  commencing 
work  found  employment  as  a  shipping  clerk.  From 
his  native  place  he  went  to  Pottsville,  same  coun- 
ty, where  he  became  a  member  of  the  reporting 
staff  of  the  Miners'  Journal.  His  next  experience 
was  at  Scranton,  where  he  was  city  editor  of  the 
Tribune,  a  well  known  newspaper,  and  from  there 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  engaged  as 
a  reporter  on  the  Press.  Moving  to  Shamokin,  he 
became  editor  of  the  Shamokin  Daily  Dispatch, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  years,  until  he 
assumed  his  present  business  relations.  On  March 
1.  1896.  when  The  Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  De- 
posit Company  opened  for  business,  he  became 
teller,  and  two  and  a  half  years  later  was  pro- 
moted to  his  present  position,  that  of  treasurer, 
which  he  has  held  ever  since.  His  high  personal 
character,  no  less  than  his  business  ability,  has 
made  him  a  most  valuable  man  in  this  responsible 
office,  which  he  has  filled  with  honor.  Outside  of 
his  connection  with  the  bank  Mr.  Leant  is  well 
known  in  Shamokin  as  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  the  latter 
connection  belonging  to  Shamokin  Lodge,  No. 
255,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Reading  Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A. 
M.,  and  Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  77,  K.  T. 
He  is  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  connection,  and 
is  serving  the  church  in  which  he  holds  member- 
ship as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  and 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  that  board. 

In  August,  1894,  Mr.  Leam  was  married  to 
Louisa  A.  Shields,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  had  one  son,  Henry  L.  Leam,  Jr. 

JOHN  ADAM  CAKE,  attorney,  of  Sunbury. 
has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  that 
borough  for  a  period  of  forty  years  and  has  exten- 
sive real  estate  holdings  in  that  part  of  the  bor- 
ough formerly  known  as  Caketown,  the  manage- 
ment of  which  occupies  considerable  of  his  time. 


ri4 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY.  PE XX SYLVAN  I A 


For  a  number  of  years  he  was  actively  interested 
in  politics,  from  which  he  withdrew,  however, 
suiiie  years  ago. 

Joseph  W.  Cake,  his  father,  laid  out  an  exten- 
sive addition  to  the  original  town  plat  of  Sun- 
bury which  was  named  Caketown  in  his  honor,  and 
which  he  had  surveyed  in  September,  1863.  He 
died  .Ian.  1,  1879,  and  his  wife  died  Aug.  25,  L879. 
She  is  buried  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa., 
while  Mr.  Cake  is  buried  in  Potnfret  Manor  cem- 
etery at  Sunbury.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Alice,  who  married  J.  G.  Lowery  ;  Joseph;  John 
Adam:  Edith,  who  died  young:  and  Amy.  who 
married  Joseph  S.  Adam. 

John  Adam  Cake  was  bom  Aug.  25,  1846,  in 
Harrisburg,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  received  his 
preparatory  education  at  Russell's  Military  School, 
taking  his  collegiate  course  at  Yale  and  Princeton. 
He  .studied  law  under  Benjamin  H.  Brewster,  at 
Philadelphia,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Northum- 
berland county  bar  at  Sunbury  in  March,  1870. 
tor  a  year  previous  to  which  event  he  had  continued 
his  law  studies  under  Messrs.  Rockefeller  and 
Rohrbach,  in  that  borough.  He  has  ever  since 
maintained  a  law  office  in  Sunbury,  in  that  part  of 
the  borough  once  known  as  Caketown.  but  which 
has  for  many  years  formed  a  part  of  the  munici- 
pality. 

Mr.  Cake  was  quite  active  in  political  affairs 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1867  and  1868,  during 
his  father's  incumbency  of  the  position  of  United 
States  collector  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia,  he 
was  assistant  cashier  at  the  custom  house  in  that 
city.  He  was  one  of  the  early  advocates  of  the 
Greenback  movement,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
convention  held  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  in  1878,  for  the 
organization  of  the  National  Greenback  and  Labor 
party,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  that 
convention,  lie  represented  his  district  in  the 
national  conventions  of  that  party  held  in  1880 
and  1884,  working  hard  during  the  Weaver  and 
Butler  campaigns,  and  in  1880  was  himself  the 
nominee  of  his  party  for  Congress,  in  1882  for 
judge  of  the  Supreme  court.  Since  the  disinte- 
gration of  the  Greenback  party  he  has  been  a  Re- 
publican, but  he  has  not  taken  any  direct  part 
in  public  affairs  or  in  promoting  the  success  of  the 
party  beyond  the  regular  easting  of  his  vote.  He 
is  an  intelligent  and  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
uses  his  influence  in  a  quiet  wa,v  for  the  promotion 
of  nil  worthy  objects  which  have  in  view  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  general  welfare. 

On  Feb.  27,  186S.  Mr.  Cake  married,  at  Potts- 
ville.  Pa..  Minnie  E.  McCullough,  daughter  of 
('apt.  Hugh  McCullough,  who  lost  his  life  while 
serving  in  the  Union  army  at  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro.  Mrs.  Cake  died  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren :  (1)  John  Adam,  horn  at  Sunbury  Jan.  lit. 
L869,  died  there.  He  graduated  from  the  Sunbury 
high  school  in  1887,  after  which  he  was  a  student 


for  three  years  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa., 
and  then  returning  to  Sunbury  read  medicine  with 
the  late  Dr.  F.  B.  Masser,  completing  his  prepara- 
tion for  the  medical  profession  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1893.  He  practiced  at  Sunbury  from  that  time 
until  his  death,  meeting  with  a  degree  of  success 
which  comes  to  few.  He  was  a  working  member  of 
the  Northumberland  County  Medical  Society.  Dr. 
(akc  spent  much  time  at  college  in  the  gymnasium 
and  athletic  sports,  for  which  he  always  retained 
a  fondness.  In  February,  1894,  he  married  Clara 
Jones,  of  Shamokin.  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Helen  Marie.  (2)  Minnie  C.  is  the  wife  of 
Mason  Noble.  (3)  Joseph  W.  is  engaged  as  a 
conductor  on  tin"  Pennsylvania  railroad.  (4) 
Edith. 

Mr.  Cake  was  married  (second)  to  Mrs.  Dunkel- 
berger.  He  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in 
Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunhury. 

JOHN  A.  HILBISH,  a  resident  of  the  borough 
of  Northumberland  who  has  recently  retired  from 
fanning  to  devote  his  attention  to  other  interests, 
is  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  promotion  of 
the  development  of  his  town  and  section  and  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of  his 
community.  He  has  been  associated  with  various 
projects  affecting  the  general  welfare  of  the  lo- 
cality, and  his  public  spirit  and  efficient  services 
have  made  him  one  of  the  most  influential  workers 
in  the  advance  movement  toward  greater  North- 
umberland. Mr!  Hilbish  was  bom  Aug.  7.  1851. 
in  Washington  township,  Snyder  Co..  Pa.,  son  of 
Daniel  P.  Hilbish,  grandson  of  Peter  Hilbish  ami 
great-grandson  of  Peter  Hilbish. 

This  family  comes  of  the  sturdy  German  stock 
which  has  given  Pennsylvania  so  many  of  her 
useful  citizens.  The  name,  originally  Hallobush 
or  Hallowbush.  i-  now  spelled  in  many  ways — 
Hilbush,  Hillbush,  Hillibish,  Hilbish  and  Haller- 
bush.  Christian  Hallowbush.  the  emigrant  ances- 
tor of  John  H.  Hilbush,  of  Shamokin,  Northum- 
berland county,  was  horn  in  1718  in  the  German 
Palatinate,  and  came  to  America  in  17?4  with  his 
brother  Peter  and  widowed  mother.  They  landed 
at  Philadelphia,  locating  shortly  after  in  Salford 
township.  Montgomery  county.  Peter  Hallowbush 
was  born  in  1709,  and  died  in  1768,  leaving  five 
children,  Catharine.  Johst,  Magdalena,  Margaret 
and  Ann  Maria.  Christian  Hallowbush  died  in 
Montgomery  county  in  1778,  the  father  of  four 
children,  Magdalena,  Henry,  Adam  and  Peter. 
Undoubtedly  the  family  here  under  consideration 
i-  descended  from  this  source. 

Daniel  P.  Hilbish  was  born  in  1810  in  "Wash- 
ington township,  Snyder  county,  and  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1861.  He  is  buried  at  Freelmrg.  A  farmer 
by  occupation,  he  prospered  in  his  calling,  and 
not  only  owned  the  old     Hilbish  homestead     in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


do 


Snyder  county  but  also  the  farm  in  Point  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  now  owned  by  his 
son  John  A.  Hilbish.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence,  a  leader  in  the  affairs  of  his 
district,  held  various  public  offices,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  founders  of  the  Freeburg  Academy, 
serving  on  the  building  committee  and  later  as 
trustee.  He  contributed  largely  to  the  construc- 
tion and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  foundation 
of  Ibis  institution,  where  his  children  were  edu- 
cated.  On  the  question  of  education  he  had  strong 
convictions,  and  he  did  much  work  beneficial  to 
the  community.  He  was  a  Republican  in  polities, 
and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
which  lie  supported  with  his  influence  and  means. 
He  was  liberal  in  such  matters  as  he  was  generous 
and  broad  in  all  the  associations  of  life.  The  old 
homestead  which  he  owned,  and  which  his  son 
Samuel  (!.  took  after  his  death,  has  now  (1910) 
been  in  the  family  name  for  125  years,  and  was  all 
in  the  forest  when  taken  up  by  his  grandfather, 
Peter.  In  1840  Daniel  P.  Hilbish  purchased  the 
farm  in  Point  township  mentioned  before,  upon 
which  he  erected  a  full  set  of  buildings,  which  the 
Pennsylvania  Company  purchased  in  1909.  He 
was  a  man  whose  judgment  was  so  highly  esteemed 
that  he  was  frequently  soughtvfor  advice  by  his 
neighbors,  and  he  had  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him.  He  married  Elizabeth  Class,  daughter  of 
George  and  Sarah  (Brill)  Glass,  of  Washington 
township,  Snyder  county,  whose  family  were  pio- 
neers in  that  district,  coming  thither  while  the 
Indians  were  still  roaming  the  territory.  Mrs.  Hil- 
bish long  survived  her  husband,  dying  in  1888  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  and  is  likewise  buried 
in  the  family  plot  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Free- 
burg, in  Washington  township.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  them:  Samuel  G.,  who  lives  on  the 
homestead;  Sarah  S..  wife  of  Philip  B.  Moyer; 
Mary  A.,  who  married  William  Motz;  Catharine  A., 
who'  married  James  P.  Artley;  one  that  died  in 
infancy;  John  A.;  George  A.,  who  died  in  1877, 
aged  twenty-four  years;  and  Emma  K.,  deceased, 
who  married  Dr.  J.  D.  Hilbish  and  after  his  death 
became  the  wife  of  John  Motz. 

John  A.  Hilbish  was  hom  on  the  Hilbish  home- 
stead and  was  during  his  early  youth  a  pupil  in 
the  local  public  schools,  later  attending  Freeburg 
Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1866. 
Subsequently  he  attended  Palatinate  College,  at 
Myerstown,    Pa.,  and  later  the   Millersville  State 

Normal  scl 1.     In  1868  he  was  licensed  to  teach 

public  school  and  began  teaching  at  Middleburg. 
In  all  he  taught  for  five  terms,  during  which  time 
he  gave  the  highest  satisfaction  to  patrons  and  pu- 
pils alike,  being  regarded  as  an  able  disciplinarian 
as  well  as  an  efficient  instructor.  He  holds  the 
esteem  of  his  old  pupils  to  this  day.  In  1872  he 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Freeburg 
and  continued  same  successfully  until  1881,  car- 


rying on  a  general  store.  In  1882  he  built  a  fine 
residence  in  Freeburg.  In  1883  he  came  to  North- 
umberland and  began  the  cultivation  of  his  230 
acre  farm,  which  has  been  in  the  family  name 
since  1846.  He  farmed  this  place  from  1883  to 
1910,  when  he  gave  up  agricultural  pursuits  to 
look  after  his  other  interests.  He  sold  forty-seven 
acres  of  his  land  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  which  established  its  yards  at  that  point, 
and  in  1910  he  laid  out  sixteen  acres  of  his  land 
in  building  lots.  Mr.  Hilbish  has  furthered  other 
projects  for  the  good  of  the  community.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  new  bank  of  North- 
umberland. 

On  Feb.  10,  1884.  Mr.  Hilbish  married  Melissa 
Kautz,  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  Sarah  (Wet- 
zel) Kautz,  of  Freeburg,  and  they  have  had  three 
children,  Charles  E.,  John  C.  and  Sarah  I.  Both 
sons  are  graduates  of  Bueknell  University, 
and  the  elder  is  now  engaged  as  a  contractor  in 
Northumberland';  he  is  also  ;i  public  surveyor. 
The  daughter  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1912, 
Northumberland  high  school.  Mr.  Hilbish  and 
his  family  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Northumberland.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  held  public  office.  In  1909  he  erect- 
ed the  new  brick  house  at  the  corner  of  King  and 
Hilbish  streets,  in  Northumberland,  in  which  he 
and  his  family  now  reside.  The  location  is  beau- 
tiful, affording  an  ideal  view  of  the  surrounding 
landscape. 

FREDERICK  W.  V.  LORENZ,  a  civil  engineer 
of  high  standing,  and  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, was  born  in  Burgsteinfurt,  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, Dec.  26.  1853.  son  of  Victor  and  Augusta 
(  Drost)  Lorenz. 

Victor  Lorenz,  the  father,  held  high  place  in 
his  native  land.  He  was  born  Oct.  15.  1833,  and 
received  an  excellent  education.  When  but  twenty- 
five  years  old  he  was  made  counselor  to  the  Prince 
of  Bentheim  Steinfurt,  a  position  he  continued 
to  fill  for  almost  half  a  century.  He  died  Oct. 
14.  1902. 

Frederick  W.  V.  Lorenz  was  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Halle,  on  the  river  Saale,  until  187.'!. 
In  1877  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating 
in  Philadelphia,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
three  months,  in  January,  1878,  joining  the  P. 
&  4'.  Collins  expedition  to  Brazil.  He  was  engaged 
in  that  country  until  November,  187!).  when  he 
returned  to  the  Tinted  States,  and  became  a  civil 
engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  & 
lending  Railway  Company,  and  afterward  was  a 
clerk  in  the  construction  of  the  coal  docks  at  Eliz- 
ahethport.  X.  J.,  until  January,  1882.  At  that 
time  his  employers  sent  him  to  Shamokin  to  fill 
the  position  of  civil  engineer  in  the  construction 
of  various  branches.     In  September,  1887,  he  was 


516 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


appointed  teller  of  the  First  National  Bank,  a 
position  he  filled  for  some  years.  During  1895-96, 
and  several  times  later,  he  filled  the  office  of  city 
engineer. 

Mr.  Lorenz  has  heen  active  in  public  affairs. 
In  1902  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  First  ward 
on  the  school  board,  and  lias  since  given  very  effi- 
cient service,  in  190?  and  190S  serving  as  presi- 
dent of  the  board.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Cresco  Club.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Madeira  Mamore  Associa- 
tion, which  is  made  up  of  men  connected  with 
the  building  of  railroads  in  Brazil,  South  Amer- 
ica ;  annual  banquets  are  held  in  Philadelphia. 

On  June  23,  1884,  Mr.  Lorenz  was  married  to 
Clara  Beurv,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Nancy 
(Lawton)  Beurv.  of  Shamokin.  To  this  union 
were  born  four  children:  Helen  B.,  born  Aug.  30, 
1885:  Nancy  L..  born  July  17,  1887,  who  married 
J.  H.  Cooper,  of  Sunbury.  Pa.;  and  Charles  Chris- 
tian and  Frederick  Victor,  twins,  born  Oct.  •.".'. 
1889.  both  of  whom  died  within  two  years  after 
birth. 

Mr.  Lorenz  and  his  family  are  communicants  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  filled  the  office 
of  vestryman.  In  1898-1899.  accompanied  by  his 
family,  lie  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  visiting  Ger- 
many and  France.  In  1903  they  made  a  second 
trip,  visiting  England.  Ireland,  Germany  and  Aus- 
tria, and  in  1910  a  third,  visiting  England.  Hol- 
land. Germany  and  Switzerland.  Mr.  Lorenz  has 
won  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  the  people 
of  his  adopted  town,  where  he  is  an  enterprising, 
public-spirited  citizen. 

H.  M.  BECKER,  M.  D.,  has  throughout  his 
practice  made  a  specialty  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat,  in  which  line  he  has  a  reputation 
that  extends  all  over  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
and  a  patronage  which  takes  him  over  a  wide 
territory.  He  has  made  his  home  at  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county,  since  1899. 

Dr.  Becker  is  the  only  son  of  George  F.  Becker 
und  grandson  of  Curtis  A.  Becker,  a  native  of 
New  Baltimore.  York  Co..  Pa.,  who  died  there 
about  1S89,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He 
is  buried  at  Bears  meetinghouse,  though  he  was 
a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection.  He  was  a 
wheelwright  and  blacksmith  of  the  old-fashioned 
type  of  tradesman,  being  able  to  make  every  part 
of  a  wagon  a;  well  as  build  the  wagon  itself.  His 
wife  was  Mary  Fisher,  and  their  children  were: 
Elias,  George  F..  John,  Simon  (living  at  New 
Baltimore,  Pa.)  and  Mrs.  Shue.  The  daughter 
lives  with  her  husband  in  Adams  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

George  F.  Becker  was  born  May  29.   1835,  at 

Baltimore.  Pa.,  where  he  continued  to  make 

his  home  until  1892.     Like  his  father  he  was  a 

carriage  builder,   and  he  made  the  first  buggies 


turned  out  in  his  section  of  the  State.  This  was 
during  Civil  war  times.  He  prospered  in  this 
business,  employing  from  twelve  to  twenty-five 
men,  and  he  also  had  a  farm.  From  1892  until 
his  death  he  lived  at  Hanover,  Pa.  He  died  Nov. 
19,  1903,  and  is  buried  at  Bear's  meetinghouse, 
lie  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  He  married 
Lucy  Ann  Myers,  daughter  of  Conrad  Myers,  of 
Codorus  township,  at  what  is  called  Seven  Val- 
ley-. Mrs.  Becker  is  now  living  at  Hanover,  York 
county.  Two  children  were  born  to  her  and  her 
husband:  Annie  M.  (wife  of  Levi  Bowman)  and 
II.  M. 

II.  M.  Becker  was  born  May  3,  1873,  at  New 
Baltimore,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  New  Baltimore,  later  becoming  a  stu- 
dent  at  the  Cumberland  Valley  State  normal 
school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1892. 
From  1892  to  1891  he  continued  his  studies  at 
Gettysburg  College,  after  which  he  took  a  course 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania.  Graduating  in  1898,  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  Polyclinic  hospital,  in 
diseases  of  the  eye,  ear.  nose  and  throat,  subse- 
quently, in  1903,  taking  a  similar  course  in  the 
New  York  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary  and  in  the 
New  York  Polvclinic  Hospital  and  Post  Graduate 
School  of  Medicine.  On  Dec.  20,  1899,  he  settled 
hi  Sunbury.  where  he  has  since  practiced,  though 
his  work  is  by  no  means  confined  to  that  borough 
or  section.  He  is  now  engaged  in  dispensary  work 
at  the  Wills  Eye  hospital  in  Philadelphia.  Dr. 
Becker  has  numerous  professional  associations  and 
lias  been  active  in  medical  organizations.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Sunbury  Medical  Club,  organ- 
ized for  sociability  as  well  as  study :  a  member  of 
the  Northumberland  County  Medical  Society,  of 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society,  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  of  the  American 
Ophthalmological  Society,  and  of  the  Sigma  Alpha 
Epsilon  fraternity  of  Gettysburg  College.  He  is 
a  past  president  of  his  county  medical  society  and 
has  been  district  censor  since  1904.  He  is  a  Ma- 
-"ii.  holding  membership  in  Maclav  Lodge.  No. 
632,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Sunbury.  and  in  the  Temple 
Club.  Dr.  Becker  is  a  member  of  the  surgical 
staff  of  the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital  at  Sunbury, 
having  charge  of  all  the  eye  and  ear  work  at  that 
institution.  He  is  medical  examiner  for  various 
life  insurance  companies  and  insurance  fraterni- 
ties. 

On  Nov.  23,  1901.  Dr.  Becker  married  Maud 
O.  Keefer,  daughter  of  John  S.  Keefer.  of  Sun- 
bury. 

COL.  WILLIAM  CLAPHAM,  who  built  Fort 
Augusta,  and  was  the  first  officer  in  charge  there, 
was  commissioned  captain  and  lieutenant-colonel 
March  29,  1756.  and  commanded  the  3d  Battalion, 
known  as  the  Augusta  regiment.     The  erection  of 


NORTHUM  BERLA  N  I )  ( !l HJNTY,  PEXXSYLVA  \  l.\ 


;  1; 


a  fori  iit  Shaniokin  (now  Sunbury)  had  been 
urged  repeatedly  by  friendly  Indians.  Jt  was  prob- 
ably lii.-t  suggested  by  Andrew  Montour  and  Mon- 
ocatootha  al  Harris's  Ferry  on  Nov.  1.  1755,  and 
at  once  received  the  favorable  consideration  of 
the  governor,  who  intended  to  build  it  that  winter. 
On  Jan.  17,  1756,  it  was  again  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  governor  at  a  conference  at  Carlisle. 
The  Indians  said  the  fort  would  be  "a  place  of 
refuge  in  times  of  distress  for  us  with  our  wives 
and  children  to  fly  to  for  our  safety."  Con- 
struction would  probably  have  commenced  at  once 
if  the  weather  had  permitted.  The  Indians  were 
impatient  at  the  delay,  and  at  other  conferences, 
belli  Feb.  22d  and  April  10th.  urgently  requested 
the  governor  to  keep  his  promise.  The  location 
was  inaccessible,  except  by  water,  and  opposition 
from  the  enemy  was  not  improbable.  The  ap- 
propriation- made  by  the  Provincial  Assembly  were 
dispensed  under  the  supervision  of  a  board  of  com- 
missioners, who  were  not  in  cordial  sympathy 
with  the  governor's  plans,  and  it  was  not  until 
April,  1  756,  that  their  consent  to  this  project  was 
obtained.  The  consent  of  the  commissioners  was 
coupled  with  a  request  that  four  hundred  troops 
should  be  raised  for  the  expedition,  and  the  3d 
Battalion  was  accordingly  recruited.  It  rendez- 
voused at  Port  Hunter  and  marched  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Susquehanna  as  far  as  Tort  Halifax. 
stopping  en  route  at  McKee's  store  (opposite  the 
mouth  of  Sherman's  creek),  whence  on  June  5th 
Colonel  Clapham  marched  with  five  companies  and 
eighteen  batteaus  and  canoes  loaded,  arriving  the 
ue\t  afternoon  at  Fort  Halifax.  The  progress 
of  the  expedition  was  attended  with  many  diffi- 
culties. Considerable  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  ascending  the  Juniata  rapids:  many  of  the  bat- 
teaus grounded,  "•though  laden  with  no  more 
than  four  barrels  of  pork  and  a  few  light  things." 
It  was  the  governor's  idea  to  use  canoes  only  in  the 
transportation  service,  the  batteaux  being  substi- 
tuted at  the  suggestion  of  John  Harris.  While  the 
transportation  of  the  stores  up  the  river  was  in 
progress  the  main  body  of  the  troops  was  employed 
in  erecting  Fort  Halifax.  This  was  no1  included 
originally  in  the  .plan  of  the  expedition,  but  was 
undertaken  by  Colonel  Clapham  in  the  exercise  of 
his  discretionary  powers.  Continuing  the  march 
about  live  miles  above  Fort  Halifax,  the  troops 
proceeded  thence  along  the  west  bank  of  the  river  to 
a  point  opposite  Sunbury,  where  they  crossed  in 
batteaux. 

In  a  letter  to  Colonel  Clapham  dated  June  12, 
1756,  the  governor  submits  him  two  plans  of  forts. 
allowing  him  to  use  his  own  judgment  in  choosing 
the  kind  of  fort  best  suited  to  the  place  and  con- 
ditions, as  well  as  to  select  the  site,  except  that  it 
had  to  be  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna  :  and 
lie  was  instructed  to  put  up  a  breastwork  at  once, 
so  that  his  men  could  carry  on  the  work  in  safety. 


The  temporary  defenses  he  constructed  were  ap- 
proved by  the  governor  in  another  communication. 
The  work  progressed  but  slowly,  as  there  was  but 
one  team  of  draft  horses  to  be  had,  but  neverthe- 
less it  went  steadily  forward,  for  on  Aug.  14th  he 
wrote:  "We  have  the  walls  of  the  fort  now  above 
half  finished  and  our  other  works  in  such  situation 
that  we  tan  make  a  very  good  defense  against  any 
body  of  French  and  Indians  that  shall  seat  them- 
selves before  us  without  cannon."  The  Colonel 
evidently  was  in  favor  of  strengthening  the  fort, 
for  in  one  letter  he  speaks  of  strengthening  "this 
post  by  doubling  the  fort  with  another  case  of 
logs  and  tilling  up  the  intermediate  space  with 
earth  in  order  to  render  it  cannon-proof,  which  I 
think  ought  to  be  done":  and  again:  "This  post, 
which  is  m  my  opinion  of  the  utmost  consequence 
to  the  Province,  i-  already  defensible  against  all 
the  power  of  musketry,  but  as  it  is,  from  the  na- 
ture of  its  situation,  exposed  to  a  more  formidable 
descent  from  the  West  Branch,  it  ought,  I  think,  to 
be  rendered  still  stronger."  On  Sept.  33d  he  sent 
a  plan  (probably  the  original  of  which  that  in  the 
British  Museum  is  a  copy)  of  the  completed  -fort 
to  Governor  Denny  with  the  information  that  its 
construction  had  required  "little  better  than  the 
space  of  six  weeks."  This  referred  only  to  the 
works  originally  projected,  probably  constructed 
from  the  plans  furnished  by  the  governor  without 
any  special  engineering  supervision.  On  Oct.  17, 
1756,  E.  Meyer,  an  engineer  in  the  Provincial  ser- 
vice, and  James  Young,  the  commissary  general, 
a irned  at  Harris's  Ferry,  thence  proceeding  to 
Fort  Augusta  with  Captain  Lloyd.  Improvements 
were  apparently  made  at  Mr.  Meyer's  suggestion, 
judging  by  a  later  report  of  the  Colonel,  who  con- 
tinues to  refer  to  the  lack-  of  tools  and  con- 
veniences as  hampering  the  work. 

They  were  in  constant  danger  of  attacks  by  the 
French  and  Indians.  Fort  Granville  was  taken 
and  burned  July  30,  1756,  and  an  attack  upon 
Fori  Augusta  was  deemed  highly  probable.  The 
fleet  of  batteaux  ascended  and  descended  the  river 
under  a  strong  guard,  the  killing  of  more  than  one 
white  person  having  shown  this  to  be  necessary. 
A  friendly  Indian  chief  bringing  news  of  the  ap- 
proach of  a  large  force  of  French  and  Indians,  dis- 
patches were  at  once  transmitted  to  Colonel  Clap- 
ham, who  was  then  at  Harris's  Ferry,  and  he  im- 
mediately returned  to  Fori  Augusta,  determined 
to  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity.  The  garrison 
was  reinforced,  and  additional  works  were  con- 
structed which  so  strengthened  the  post  as  to  war- 
rant offensive  measure-.  Accordingly,  a  detail  was 
sent  out  to  advance  on  the  Indian  town  of 
Chingleclamouse  (situated  on  the  West  Branch  at 
the  presenl  site  of  Clearfield)  and  destroy  it  if 
occupied,  otherwise  to  leave  no  trace  of  the  visit. 
Tt  was  found  to  be  deserted. 

Life  at  the  post  was  not  only  rendered  hazardous 


718 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


by  constant  danger  of  attack,  but  the  lack  of  pro- 
visions and  difficulty  of  transporting  them  made 
the  situation  doubly  hard.  Ammunition  was  low 
at  a  most  critical  period;  food  supplies  were  in- 
sufficient and  uncertain;  and  inadequate  finances 
made  the  payment  of  the  men  for  their  services  so 
irregular  that  it  was  hard  tor  the  commander  to 
keep  them  loyal.  Nor  was  this  feeling  confined 
in  the  ranks.  The  "extremely  parsimonious  policy 
of  the  commissioners  *  *  *  caused  general 
dissatisfaction  among  the  officers,"  who  com- 
plained that  they  had  not  received  the  pay  prom- 
ised and  asked  permission  to  resign.  This  disaf- 
fection prevailed  among  the  officers  of  the  entire 
regiment,  Colonel  Clapham  upholding  them  in 
their  demands.  On  Sept.  '.'•'!.  1756,  he  wrote  Gov- 
ernor Denny  stating  thai  four  months'  pay  was 
diii'  the  regiment,  ami  as  many  of  the  soldiers  had 
families  to  support  he  had  to  lend  the  greater  pari 
of  his  own  salary  to  them  to  keep  them  from  de- 
serting or   returning    I e    when    their  terms   of 

enlistment  expired.  At  length,  "tired  with  the 
discouragements  perpetually  given  to  the  service 
by  the  commissioners  and  with  their  particular 
treatment  of  him,"  he  resigned  his  commission, 
and  was  succeeded  in  command  of  the  Augusta 
regiment  by  Mai.  .lames  Burd.  the  officer  next  in 
rank,  who  arrived  at  Fort  Augusta.  Dec.  8,  L756. 
At  that  time  there  were  280  men  "doing  duty" 
and  nine  officers  "for  duty." 

BIGHT  EBV.  JOHN  JOSEPH  KOCH.  1).  D. 
V.  (i..  the  beloved  pastor  of  St.  Edward's  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  the  oldest   religious  organization 

in  Shamokin.  and  the  first  to  build  a  church  in 
the  town,  has  long  been  identified  with  everything 
affecting  the  spiritual  ami  moral  advancement  of 
the  people  with  whom  he  has  been  so  closely  asso- 
ciated for  forty-five  years.  As  citizen  no  less  than 
in  his  priestly  capacity  Father  Koch  holds  the 
reverence  and  admiration  of  the  people  of  Sha- 
mokin lo  an  unusual  degree.  His  sterling  worth 
as  a  man.  his  high  ideals  of  duty  and  responsi- 
bility, his  broad  Christian  spirit,  and  his  achieve- 
ments in  a  long  career  of  devotion,  have  won  him  a 
foremost  place  among  the  most  influential  people 
of  the  borough.  A  life  of  such  wide  usefulness 
falls  to  the  lot  of  few  men. 

Father  Koch  was  born  Fell.  ."i.  1840,  in  Lor- 
raine, France,  part  of  the  Province  of  Alsace-Lor- 
raine which  was  ceded  by  France  to  Germany  in 
1871  after  the  war  which  ended  in  the  triumph- 
ant march  of  the  Germans  to  Paris,  and  his  parents, 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Francois)  Koch,  were  also 
natives  of  that  Province.  At  the  age  of  eight  and 
a  half  years  he  entered  the  University  of  Pont- 
a-Mousson  near  Nancy.  Lorraine,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  Aug.  5,  1857,  at  the  early  age  of 
seventeen  years.  He  then  entered  the  Seminary 
at    Xanev.    having   determined    to    studv   for   the 


priesthood,  and  he  remained  in  that  institution  for 
about  live  years,  taking  the  philosophical  and  the- 
ological courses,  and  leaving  within  four  months 
of  I  he  time  required  to  complete  the  work.  The 
cessation  of  his  studies  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
because  of  his  youth  be  could  not  be  ordained  a 
priest  for  two  years,  lie  being  two  years  under  the 
age  fixed  by  the  church  for  ordination.  This  cir- 
cumstance rendered  it  advisable  for  him  to  remain 
in  France  ami  await  the  time  when  he  might  enter 
the  priesthood  there.  In  1861,  in  response  to  an 
imitation  from  Bishop  Wood  of  Philadelphia,  he 
came  to  the  United  State-,  priest-  at  that  period 
hem-  comparatively  few  as  compared  with  the  ex- 
tensive fields  in  which  the  work  of  the  church  was 
being  energetically  prosecuted.  After  spending 
fwo  weeks  in  Paris  he  sailed  for  this  country,  and 
after  a  brief  stay  in  New  York  City  joined  Bishop 
Wood  in  Philadelphia,  in  Maw  He  entered  the 
Seminary  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  in  Philadel- 
phia. He  was  then  twenty-two  years  of  age.  too 
young  to  hi'  ordained  unless  by  special  dispensa- 
tion, the  age  of  ordihation  to  the  priesthood  being 
twenty-four  years.  In  order  that  his  services 
might  be  utilized  and  he  might  immediately  enter 
upon  tin1  duties  he  had  chosen  for  his  life  work,  a 
dispensation  was  granted  bj  Bishop  Wood,  who  or- 
dained and  admitted  him  to  the  priesthood  Feb. 
25,  1863.  He  was  first  installed  as  an  assistant 
at  St.  Patrick's  Church.  Philadelphia.  Two  months 
later  he  was  appointed  assistant  chaplain  for  the 
hospitals  in  the  Quaker  City,  an  honor  which  was 
In-lowed  upon  him  because  of  Ins  special  fitness 
for  the  work  and  his  knowledge  of  Latin.  French, 
German,   Italian  and    English. 

Father  Koch's  abilities  as  a  priest  quickly  dem- 
onstrated themselves  and  he  was  transferred  to  this 
section  to  take  charge  of  important  territory.  He 
located  in  Milton.  Northumberland  county,  in  No- 
vember. 1863,  assuming  the  charge  of  the  church 
there.  St.  Joseph's,  and  also  of  the  churches  and 
missions  in  five  counties,  including  one  at  Cas- 
cade. Lycoming  county,  where  there  was  an  Irish 
settlement  numbering  seventy  families,  and  where 
he  built  a  church  :  a  (ierman  congregation  at  Dan- 
ville. St.  Hubert's,  where  he  built  the  church;  at 
Trevorton,  where  he  took  up  and' zealously  pushed 
to  completion  a  church  which  was  unfinished  when 
flic  priest  died  who  formerly  had  been  in  charge  of 
the  congregation  (he  paid  oft'  the  debt  there)  ;  the 
churches  at  Sunbury  and  Lewisburg;  and  the  mis- 
sions at  Herndon,  Ralston  and  Trout  Run.  His 
mission  extended  from  Ralston.  Lycoming  county. 
to  Georgetown,  Northumberland  county,  and  in- 
cluded five  churches  and  fifteen  stations.  For 
three  years  our  subject  made  his  headquarters 
at  .\Llton.  vigorously  performing  the  multitude  of 
duties  incumbent  upon  him  as  the  shepherd  of  so 
many  flocks  of  the  faithful  in  the  adjacent  country. 
Under  his  pastorate  the  debts  of  St.  Joseph's  were 


tfOBTHUMBERLAND  TO  I"  X  TV.  PENNSYLVANIA 


:i'i 


paid,  the  building  repaired,  and  other  substantia] 
improvements  carried  out.  In  August,  1866,  Sha- 
rnokin  was  organized  into  a  parish,  with  Trevorton, 
Locusl  Gap  and  Mount  Carmel  as  missions.  Fa- 
ther Koch  was  appointed  the  first  pastor,  and  re- 
moved to  Shamokin  Sept.  '.'.  1866,  in  obedience  to 
orders  transferring  him  to  the  larger  sphere  of 
usefulness  and  placing  upon  him  the  importani  re- 
sponsibility of  enlarging  and  perfecting  the  or- 
ganization in  behalf  of  bis  church  in  the  coal  re- 
gion of  Northumberland  county.  He  took  control 
the  second  Sunday  in  September  and  was  the  first 
resident  pasior  of  St.  Edward's  Church  in  Sha- 
mokin. 

A  brief  review  of  the  history  of  St.  Edward's 
Church  is  necessary  to  a  clear  and  satisfactory  un- 
derstanding of  the  conditions  which  existed  when 
Father  Koch  assumed  charge  of  the  church  and 
the  remarkable  energy  he  displayed  in  the  ac- 
complishment of  remarkable  achievements  in  the 
years  which  he  has  devoted  to  the  church  and  the 
Catholics  of  Shamokin  and  vicinity.  Many  Cath- 
olics were  employed  in  the  constructi f  the  Dan- 
ville &  Pottsville  railroad,  and  as  early  as  1838 
Catholic  services  were  held  in  Shamokin  by  the 
priests  of  Pottsville  and  Minersville.  A  half  acre 
of  land  in  the  west  end  of  the  village  was  secured 
for  a  church  and  cemetery  and  in  183!)  sufficient 
money  had  been  raised  to  erect  a  frame  edifice,  20 
by  32  feet  in  dimensions,  unplastered  and  very 
plain,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  site.  The 
leaders  in  tin-  enterprise  were  Patrick  Reilly, 
master  mechanic  in  the  railroad  shops,  and  Mat- 
thew Brannigan,  and  the  small  church  was  built 
by  Stephen  Bittenbender.  It  was  dedicated  as  St. 
Edward's  Church,  Oct.  11.  1840,  by  Bishop  Ken- 
rick  of  Philadelphia.  'These  early  Catholics  of  the 
little  village  of  Shamokin  were  administered  to  by 
priests  of  Pottsville,  Minersville,  Danville  and  Mil- 
ton, and  occasionally  by  a  missionary,  and  thus 
their  faith  was  kept  fittingly  before  them  and  they 
rejoiced  in  their  worship,  though  in  a  most  hum- 
ble and  scantily  furnished  church.  Rev.  Michael 
Sheridan,  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Danville, 
had  charge  of  the  congregation  from  1854  to  Oc- 
tober. 1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Murray,  who  served  as  pastor  for  nearly  nine 
vears,  giving  war  to  Father  Koch  in  September, 
1866. 

Upon  taking  control  of  the  Shamokin  parish 
Pat  her  Koch  immediately  set  out  to  infuse  new- 
life  into  the  congregation  and  to  build  up  the 
church.  He  soon  bought  the  site  upon  which  the 
present  handsome  edifice  stands,  for  $3, -too.  The 
old  frame  building  was  demolished,  giving  way  to 
a  considerably  larger  edifice,  which  was  opened  on 
Thanksgiving  Day,  1866.  So  rapidly  did  the  con- 
gregation of  St.  Edward's  increase  under  the  able 
guidance  of  Father  Koch  that  in  the  spring  of 
1st;;  it  was  necessarv  to  further  enlarge  the  church 


that  the  people  might  comfortably  he  accommo- 
dated and  that  none  might  he  deprived  of  the 
privilege,  which  they  so  greatly  desired,  of  attend- 
ing services.  In  the  spring  of  186!)  a  parochial 
residence  was  erected  on  a  lot  adjoining  the  church, 
at  an  expenditure  of  $8,500.  Constantly  the  at- 
tendance upon  the  church  increased  and  within  a 
short  period  of  time  the  congregation  had  grown 
so  large  that  a  new  place  of  worship  was  an  im- 
perative necessity.  Ground  was  broken  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1872,  foundations  Wjere  put  in,  and  Sept. 
14th  Father  Koch  laid  the  first  stone  in  the  wall  of 
the  church  which  is  to-day  the  pride  of  the  Cath- 
olics at  Shamokin.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  with 
impressive  ceremonies  May  23,  1873,  by  Bishop 
O'Hara  of  Scranton.  A  contract  had  been  let  for 
the  entire  stone  work,  but  the  contractor  abandoned 
the  work,  an  act  which  would  utterly  have  dis- 
couraged a  less  energetic,  less  persevering  man 
than  our  subject.  Determined  that  there  should 
he  no  unnecessary  delay,  Father  Koch  for  the  time 
acted  as  his  own  contractor,  and  hiring  masons  su- 
perintended the  construction  of  the  walls  until  they 
were  ready  for  the  roof,  at  the  same  time  keeping 
up  with  his  many  pastoral  duties.  In  December, 
1S73.  the  roof  was  on,  the  tower  was  built  and 
walks  had  been  laid  about  the  structure.  On 
Christinas  morning  the  first  mass  was  celebrated 
in  the  basement  of  the  new  church,  in  which  the 
services  were  held  until  June  6,  1880,  when  the 
finished  church  was  dedicated.  The  edifice  is  of 
white  cut  standstone,  quarried  from  the  mountain- 
side about  a  mile  from  Shamokin;  its  interior 
is  til  feet  wide  and  125  feet  long,  and  the  tower 
is  207  feet  high-  The  completion  of  the  building 
was  delayed  by  the  lack  of  funds,  hut  Father  Koch 
hopefully  and  energetically  kept  at  work  and  fi- 
nallv  was  enabled  to  see  the  church  finished,  in  rea- 
sonable time.  In  November,  18^(i,  a  chime  of  four 
large  bells  was  hung  in  the  tower,  weighing,  with 
the  liftings,  8,500  pounds.  The  frescoing  in  the 
interior  was  done  in  four  months,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  well  known  Philadelphia  artist.  Over 
the  main  altar  are  paintings  representing  the 
Crucifixion,  St.  Patrick,  and  the  patron  of  the 
church.  St.  Edward,  the  figures  being  life-size. 
In  the  center  of  the  ceiling  a  beautiful  fresco 
twenty-two  feci  in  diameter  portrays  the  "Resur- 
rection of  Christ"  and  is  surrounded  by  figures  of 
the  four  Evangelists,  and  around  the  walls  are 
paintings  of  the  twelve  Apostles.  Especially  no- 
ticeable are  two  beautiful  pieces  of  statuary  stand- 
ing on  either  side  of  the  altar,  one  representing 
"Christ  meeting  His  Mother  on  His  Way  to  Cal- 
vary," and  the  other  "The  Descent  from  the  Cross," 
both  of  which  were  imported  from  France  by  Fa- 
ther Koch.  The  building  is  lighted  with  electric- 
ity (St.  Edward's  was  the  first  church  in  the 
world  to  he  lighted  with  electricity)  and  heated 
bv  steam,  and   has  a  seating  capacity  of  over  one 


720 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


thousand,  and  as  many  as  fourteen  hundred  per- 
sons have  gathered  within  its  walls. 

Especial  attention  has  been  paid  to  educational 
facilities  by  Father  Koch  since  he  assumed  charge 
of  St.  Edward's  Church.  In  1874  he  organized 
a  parochial  school,  using  the  old  church  as  a  school 
building,  and  opened  it  in  September  of  that  year. 
The  school  was  for  the  first  year  of  its  existence  in 
charge  of  lay  teachers.  In  187  o  the  school  was 
placed  tinder  the  supervision  of  four  Sisters  of 
Charity  from  Mount  St.  Vincent.  New  York,  and 
in  187  7  a  convent  was  erected  for  them.  Subse- 
quently a  lot  was  purchased  opposite  the  church 
and  the  present  brick  school  was  built,  being  com- 
pleted in  1883-84.  The  school  is  now  conducted 
by  fourteen  Sisters  of  Charity  and  has  over  seven 
hundred  pupils. 

The  congregation  of  St.  Edward's  now  numbers 
about  four  thousand  souls,  and  of  these  over  2,650 
are  communicants.  Its  Sunday  school  is  \ en- 
large and  the  rector  takes  great  pride  in  it. 

For  twenty-three  years  Father  Koch  has  been 
vicar  general  of  the  Diocese  of  Harrishurg.  On  the 
death  of  Bishop  McGovern,  in  1898.  he  was  ap- 
pointed administrator  of  the  diocese. 

St.  Joseph's  congregation  at  Locust  Gap  wor- 
shipped in  the  school  building  until  1870.  when 
Father  Koch  erected  a  church  costing  *7.snii, 
which  was  finished  and  dedicated  Aug.  "27.  1871. 
In  1872  he  purchased  four  acres  of  land  adjoining 
the  village  of  Springfield  for  a  cemetery,  which 
was  consecrated,  and  has  since  been  used  by  the 
Catholics  of  this  portion  of  the  county. 

JOHN  J.  W.  SCHWARTZ,  late  of  Shamokin. 
former  treasurer  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
popular  citizens  of  his  borough,  was  born  near 
Paxinos.  in  Shamokin  township,  this  county.  July 
21,  1811,  son  of  Francis  Peter  Schwartz.  His 
great-grandfather  was  a  native  of  Saxony,  emi- 
grating in  his  youth  to  the  New  World,  and  serv- 
ing throughout  the  Revolution  in  the  Continental 
army.  In  1803  he  located  at  Reading.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

John  Schwartz,  grandfather  of  John  J.  W.. 
settled  at  Sunbury,  where  he  died  and  is  buried. 
His  children  were:  Maj.  John;  Francis  Peter; 
Anna,  married  to  Jacob  Seitzinger:  Mary,  mar- 
ried to  John  Rueh ;  and  Elizabeth,  married  to 
Fred  Haas. 

Francis  Peter  Schwartz,  son  of  John,  was  born 
in  1796,  and  died  in  1862,  aged  sixty-six  years. 
He  was  well  known  in  Northumberland  county  in 
his  day,  and  for  many  years  taught  school  and 
wrote  deeds  and  wills.  He  had  a  wide  reputation 
for  superior  education.  In  his  young  manhood 
he  was  employed  for  a  year  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ments at  Washington,  D.  C.  For  some  time  he 
conducted  the  PublicJc  Inquirer,  one  of  the  early 


papers  of  Sunbury,  started  in  1820  by  Samuel  .1. 
Packer.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  served  as  en- 
sign in  Capt.  Jacob  HummelFs  company  from 
Northumberland  county,  and  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  only  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812  that  was 
buried  at  Reed's  church,  in  Ralpho  township.  He 
was  town  clerk  of  the  borough  of  Sunbury  at  an 
early  date.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home  near 
Paxinos.  He  married  Julia  Haas,  daughter  of 
Peter  Haas,  and  their  children  were :  John  J.  W. ; 
Rosinaj  who  married  Jeremiah  Bloom:  and  Fran- 
cis P.,  who  died  young  and  is  buried  in  a  small 
burying  ground  in  Cumru  township.  Berks  county. 
John  .1.  W.  Schwartz  attended  the  public 
schools,  but  from  the  early  age  of  ten  years  was 
obliged  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  family, 
hiring  out  to  neighboring  farmers  in  the  Shamokin 
A'alley  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he  had  three  or  four  months'  school- 
ing each  year.  When  about  eighteen  years  of  age 
he  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Haas  &  Fagely, 
of  Locust  Gap,  at  a  salary  of  a  hundred  dollars 
a  year  and  board.  This  occupation  he  continued 
for  a  period  of  twenty-live  years,  and  became  a  very 
valuable  man.  He  remained  with  the  firm  until 
June  16,  1863,  when  he  and  George  Martz  of 
Shamokin  were  mustered  into  the  United  States 
army,  in  Company  A.  28th  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  Capt.  Thomas  R.  Jones,  serving  dur- 
ing the  emergency.  On  his  return  from  the  army 
Mr.  Schwartz  resumed  iii-  former  position,  remain- 
ing therein  until  Jan.  1.  1861,  when  he  came  to 
Shamokin  to  clerk  in  the  stoic'  of  William  Fagely 
A  Co.  From  there  he  went  to  the  Cameron  col- 
liery to  keep  books  and  ship  coal  for  the  firm  of 
John  Haas  &  Co.  This  firm  was  later  succeeded 
by  Haas.  Fagely  &  Co..  but  Mr.  Schwartz  continued 
in  its  employ  until  the  workings  were  sold  July 
1.  1871.  when  he  went  hack  to  again  clerk  in  the 
store  of  Haas,  Fagely  &  Co.  and  their  successors, 
Fagely  &  Martz.  In  February.  1873,  he  accepted 
a  position  as  bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of  Patterson, 
Llewellyn  &  Co..  miners  and  shippers  of  coal.  He 
worked  for  this  firm  until  he  announced  himself 
as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  treasurer 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  at  the  election  the 
people  of  the  county  showed  their  trust  in  his  hon- 
esty and  integrity  by  giving  him  an  excellent  ma- 
jority. His  election  was  doubly  honorable  because 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  the  first  Republican  to 
attain  that  office  in  Northumberland  county.  From 
1885  to  1881  he  served  as  treasurer  of  the  county, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket.  Mr. 
Schwartz  was  also  an  earnest  worker  in  municipal 
affairs.  For  twelve  years  he  served  on  the  school 
board,  part  of  the  time  as  its  secretary,  and  for 
one  term  was  a  member  of  the  council.  In  1888 
he  became  chief  burgess  of  Shamokin.  He  clerked 
in  the  prothonotarv's  office  three  years  and  seven 
months,  from  1894  to   1897,  being  deputy  under 


m     W%  ^  d 

jfk                       ^L         ^^B 

NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


721 


Charles  L.  Kramer.  He  has  served  his  party  as 
county  chairman."  In  1897  he  was  appointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  by  Governor  Hastings,  to  fill  the 
unexpired  term  of  the  late  Squire  Francis  A.  Mil- 
ler, who  died  in  1897.  and  in  1900  was  elected  for 
a  five  years'  term.  This  was  during  the  great  coal 
Btrike,  when  his  office  was  a  hard  one  to  fill.  He 
was  at  one  time  owner  and  editor  of  the  Shani- 
okin  Daily  Herald.  From  1903  to  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a  notary  public.  He  was  engaged 
also  as  pension  agent  and  in  the  real  estate  and  in- 
surance business,  representing  the  Svea  Company, 
of  Gothenburg,  Sweden,  and  the  Pittsburg  Under- 
writers. He  was  assessor  of  his  ward,  the  Ninth. 
His  office  was  at  No.  513  North  Market  street. 

In  his  work  he  had  the  advantage  of  speaking 
fluently  in  both  German  and  English  and  was  a 
man  of  unswerving  integrity  and  possessed  an  un- 
impeachable character.  Socially  he  was  genial  ami 
pleasant,  always  having  a  heart  of  sympathy  and 
a  broad  hand  of  generous  help  for  the  suffering, 
the  poor  and  the  needy.  With  these  noble  traits  of 
character  he  formed  friends  by  the  legion  who 
grieve  and  lament  his  sad  death.  He  was  a  char- 
ier member  of  Lincoln  Post,  No.  140,  G.  A.  E.,  of 
which  he  was  a  past  commander.  Fraternally  lie 
belonged  to  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M. 
Both  these  organizations  were  represented  at  his 
funeral, 

.Mr.  Schwartz  married  Elizabeth  Strawser, 
daughter  of  .lohn  R.  Strawser.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing  children:  George,  who  died  young:  Wy- 
nona  I.,  who  married  Charles  E.  Hale;  Catherine 
A.,  of  Shamokin;  William  H,  of  Shamokin:  Ber- 
tha, who  died  young;  Reuben  1-'.:  John  F.  M.,  of 
Philadelphia:  and  .lames  A.  G..  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.  There  are  four  living  grandchildren.  Mr. 
Schwartz  died  Nov.  8,  1910,  after  a  six  months' 
illnes-..  and  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 

John  V.  M.  Schwartz,  son  of  J.  J.  W.,  born  at 
Shamokin.  Pa..  March  4,  1880,  was  educated  there, 
ami  spent  some  time  in  his  father's  office.  He  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Spanish-American  war, 
was  in  the  army  ten  months,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  the  brokerage  business  since  1899,  having  his 
offices  in  Philadelphia.  He  married  Mary  Fisher, 
of  Pottsville,  Pa.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Charles 
Fisher,  a  Civil  war  veteran,  whose  war  record  was 
as  follows:  Joined  Company  C.  96th  Regt.,  P.  V. 
I.,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  served  under 
( Generals  McClellan,  Pope,  Burnside,  Hooker, 
Meade.  Sheridan  and  Grant.  He  saw  service  at 
the  following  battles:  Gaines's  Mills,  Charles 
City,  Malvern  Hill,  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run, 
Charles  Mountain.  Antietam.  Fredericksburg,  Sa- 
lem Church,  Gettysburg,  Hacketts  Mills,  Wilder- 
ness. Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill.  Cedar  Creek  and 
Spottsylvania.  At  the  latter  place  or  battle,  he 
was  promoted  to  Color  Sergeant  and  had  the  honor 
of   placing  the   first   Union   flag  on   the   enemy's 

46 


works.  In  so  lining  lie  was  shot  down  and 
wounded,  this  occurring  on  the  same  day  he  re- 
ceived  his  promotion  to  Color  Sergeant. 

Maj.  John  Schwartz,  in-other  of  Francis  Peter 
and  uncle  of  John  J.  W.,  was  horn  in  Northum- 
berland county  Oct.  27,  1703,  and  was  ten  years 
old  when  the  family  settled  at  Reading.  He 
clerked  in  a  local  store,  and  became  familiar  with 
the  mercantile  world.  Later  he  became  interested 
in  the  iron  business,  and  with  Simon  Seyfert  as 
a  partner  erected  the  Mount  Penn  Furnace,  in 
Cumru  township,  Berks  county.  He  met  with 
great  success  in  his  undertaking,  and  retired  from 
business  in  1858. 

Major  Schwartz  was  always  a  stanch  Democrat, 
ami  after  his  retirement  from  business  became 
active  in  his  work  for  the  party.  In  1858  he  was 
elected  to  Congress  as  an  independent  Democrat. 
He  made  a  deep  impression  upon  his  fellow  mem- 
bers there  for  his  fearless  championing  of  any 
measure  he  thought  right,  and  a  speech  he  made 
in  May,  1860,  on  the  tariff,  was  long  remembered 
for  its  able  exposition  of  that  vexing  problem.  A 
short  time  afterward  he  was  taken  ill.  and  died 
in  Washington  in  June,  1860.  Both  bodies  of 
Congress  adjourned  at  the  announcement  of  his 
death,  and  his  remains,  accompanied  by  the  ser- 
geant-at-arms  of  the  House  and  a  committee,  were 
taken  to  Reading,  and  interred  in  the  Charles 
Evans,  cemetery. 

During  the  war  of  1812-15  Gov.  Simon  Snyder 
appointed  him  quartermaster  of  a  brigade  raised  in 
Berks  and  adjoining  counties,  with  the  rank  of 
major.  He  marched  with  the  brigade  to  Balti- 
more, and  was  on  duty  at  Camp  Dupont  until  the 
threatened  British  invasion  was  averted.  He  was 
a  member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  at  Reading, 
and  was  prominent  in  Masonry.  He  was  of  a  so- 
cial nature  and  had  many  friends,  while  in  business 
and  public  life  he  maintained  ever  a  reputation 
for  honesty  and  integrity  that  was  never  ques- 
tioned. 

PROF.  MICHAEL  F.  KANE,  who  was  the  first 
principal  of  the  Coal  township  high  school  at  its 
establishment  in  1899,  has  been  a  teacher  since 
1884  and  throughout  those  years  has  been  engaged 
in  i  loal  township,  where  he  bears  a  high  reputation 
as  an  instructor  ami  a  citizen  of  the  most  useful 
and  valuable  type.  He  was  burn  Sept.  10,  1855,  at 
Johnstown,  Pa.,  son  of  .lame-  Stewart  and  Mary 
I  Breslin)   Kane. 

.lame-  Stewart  Kane  was  a  native  of  the  North 
ui'  Ireland,  and  mi  coming  in  America  first  set- 
tled at  Johnstown,  Pa.  Before  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war.  however,  he  removed  to  Pittsburg, 
and  there  he  entered  the  Union  service  duly  12, 
1861,  as  private  in  Knapp's  Pennsylvania  Bat- 
tery  (E),  with  which  he  served  until  his  death,  in 
November,  1864,  from  typhoid  fever.    lie  is  buried 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  the  National  cemetery  in  Georgia.  His  army 
service  was  highly  creditable,  as  he  rose  by  meri- 
torious service  to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant. 
He  married  Mary  Breslin,  like  himself  a  native 
of  Ireland  who  came  to  America  when  young,  and 
their  marriage  took  place  at  Johnstown  in  1854. 
Mrs.  Kane  died  in  1870,  at  Phoenixville,  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children: 
John,  who  died  young;  James  S.,  now  a  resident  of 
Atlantic  City,  N.  •!.:  Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Tole,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  and  Michael  F. 

Michael  F.  Kane  attended  parochial  school  in 
Pittsburg  and  later  was  a  pupil  at  St.  Vinceni 
College,  at  Latrobe,  in  Westmoreland  county.  Pa. 
In  1870  lie  came  to  Mounl  Carmel,  Northumber- 
land county,  to  live  with  his  uncle.  Bernard 
Breslin,  with  whom  he  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  all  for  about  fifteen 
vears.  He  had  attended  public  school  to  some  ex- 
tent after  coming  to  Mount  Carmel.  and  having 
retained  his  ambition  lor  a  higher  education  he 
took  a  course  at  the  old  normal  in  Milton  taught 
by  Prof.  William  Wolverton.  In  1884  he  began 
teaching,  for  several  years  having-  different  schools 
in  Coal  township — at  Bear  Valley,  Excelsior,  Coal 
Run  and  Springfield.  When  the  Coal  township 
high  school  was  established,  in  1899,  he  was  elected 
the  first  principal,  which  position  he  now  fills. 
proving  himself  an  educator  of  unusual  resource, 
one  who  has  been  a  leader  in  progressive  methods 
and  an  exponent  of  the  most  approved  modern 
ideas  upon  the  training  of  the  young.  For  some 
time  Mr.  Kane  also  discharged  the  duties  of  vice 
principal  at  his  school.  Fie  is  naturally  one  id'  the 
besi  known  teachers  in  this  part  of  Northumber- 
land county,  and  he  is.  moreover,  one  of  the  most 
popular  with  old  and  young  alike.  His  success  in 
his  profession  i-  ii"i  only  the  result  of  special  lit- 
ness  for  the  calling  id'  his  adoption,  hut  of  un- 
wearied preparation  carried  mi  and  continued 
along  with  his  experience.  He  has  the  earnest  en- 
thusiasm of  the  educator  who  follows  his  work  lie- 
cause  he  loves  it,  and  he  makes  his  influence  felt  in 
every  circle  into  which  his  duties  call  him.  He  is 
one  of  these  teachers  who  have  enlarged  the  sphere 
of  the  educator's  usefulness  until  ii  now  has  no 
recognized  limits,  and  he  is  respected  by  his  co- 
workers and  beloved  by  many  former  pupils  who 
trace  their  first  ambitions  to  his  suggestion  ami 
encouragement.  Mr.  Kane  was  supervising  prin- 
cipal of  the  Coal  township  schools  for  six  years, 
ami  was  the  first  to  establish  an  organized  system 
in  the  district.  Principally  through  his  efforts  the 
schools  leached  their  high  standard   of  excellence. 

On  July  13,  1883.  Mr.  Kane  married  Sarah  A. 
Durkin.  daughter  of  Edward  Durkin  and  member 
of  a  family  which  settled  in  Shamokin  in  the  early 
days.  S.vcn  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
James  M.,  Mary  A..   Edward  F.,  Herald.  Regina 


(deceased),  F.  Cyril  and  Michael  J.  The  family 
home  is  at  No.  I'-Tl  Oneida  street,  Shamokin. 

Professor  Kane  i-  a  member  of  St.  Edward's 
Catholic  Church,  a  member  in  high  standing  of 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Holy  Name  Society 
and  the  Knights  of  St.  Edward,  and  an  active 
member  of  the  St.  Vincent  De  Paul  Society.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Sons  cf  Veterans.  He  is  vice 
president  of  the  Central  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation  of  Shamokin. 

WILLIAM   FEEDEEICE    EICHHOLTZ,  one 

of  the  owners  mid  editors  of  The  Sunbwry  Daily 
and  The  Northumberland  County  Democrat,  is  a 
-mi  of  Jacob  Fly  and  Rosa  (Schaffle)  Eichholtz. 

The  Eichholtz  ancestors  emigrated  from  Ger- 
many to  America  about  1750  and  have  pursued 
various  trades.  Numerous  ancestors  are  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  Lancaster  count)  a-  having  fought 
in  the  war  for  independence.  Rev.  George  Eich- 
holtz, grandsire  of  William  Frederick,  was  a  Luth- 
eran minister,  whose  calling  took  him  to  all  parts 
of  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  he  died  in  Lycom- 
ing county,  this  State,  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two  years.  His  wife,  Harriet  (Ely),  died  in 
1881.  To  Eev.  George  and  Harriet  Eichholtz' were 
born  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters. 
The  father  of  Rev.  George  Eichholtz  came  to 
America  from  Germany  with  John  Jacob  Astor, 
with  whoin  he  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  fur 
trade. 

Jacob  Ely  Eichholtz  was  horn  Nov.  11,  1836,  in 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  second  -on  of  h'c\.  George  and  Har- 
riet (Ely)  Eichholtz.  He  learned  the  printer's 
tradi  at  Mifflintown,  and  was  engaged  in  newspa- 
per work  all  his  life,  a-  "jour."  publisher,  reporter, 
editor  and  proprietor.  He  came  to  Sunhury  Jan. 
].  1st;;,  and  purchased  Tin  Northumberland 
County  Democrat,  which  publication  he  continued 
during  his  lifetime.  On  Dec.  6,  1872,  he  estab- 
lished The  Sunbury  Daily,  which  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  penny  newspapers  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  appointed  postmaster  bv  President  Cleveland 
in  May,  1885.  He  died  Oct.  30,  L898.  He  was 
first  married  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  dan.  19,  1860,  to 
Harriet  Erisman,  who  died  in  1863.  By  this  mar- 
riage he  hail  two  sons,  one  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Herbert,  who  died  in  1909.  His  second  marriage, 
which  took  place  in  Lewisburg.  Pa..  Feb.  11,  1866, 
was  to  Rosa  Schaffle,  a  member  of  the  Lewisburg 
Schaffle  family,  of  French  and  German  descent. 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  over  a  hundred 
years  ago.  Rosa  (Schaffle)  Eichholtz  was  the 
mother  of  four  children,  two  girls  and  two  boys, 
William  Frederick,  the  third  child,  being  the 
only  one.  however,  who  survived  early  childhood. 
She  died  May  3,  1898. 

William  Frederick  Eichholtz  is  a  native  of  Sun- 
bury,  born  Aug.  12,  1872.     He  obtained  his  early 


NoPTHUMBEHLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  borough, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  with  the  class 
of  1891.  Ee  entered  Bucknell  Academy  alter  his 
graduation  from  the  high  school,  and  graduated 
from  Bucknell  University  with  the  degree  of  Bach- 
elor of  Science  in  1897.  Upon  graduation  from 
college  he  became  a  member  of  the  publishing 
firm  of  Eichholtz  &  Co.  Through  both  inheritance 
and  training  he  was  lilted  to  till  the  position  to 
which  he  afterward   Eel]   heir. 

Mr.  Eichholtz  holds  an  enviable  position  in  Ma- 
sonic circles  in  Sunbury,  having  served  as  Master 
of  Lodge  No.  ■>■!.  F.  &  A.  M.,  as  High  Priest  of 
Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
as  Eminent  Commander  of  Mount  Hermon  Com- 
mandery,  \"o.  85,  Knights  Templar.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks. 

DANIEL  L.  GRIEE,  postmaster  at  Watson- 
town,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  native  and 
lifelong  resident  of  that  borough,  born  Oct.  24, 
1859,  son  of  Benjamin  P.  and  Caroline  (Tobias) 
Grier. 

Benjamin  F.  Grier  was  born  in  1814  in  one  of 
the  lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  black- 
smith, and  followed  his  trade  at  Watsontown.  He 
assisted  in  building  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  in 
his  district.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church  there,  and  also  a  charter 
member  of  the  local  organizations  of  the  follow- 
ing orders:  Masons,  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  Knights  of 
Pythias,  lie  married  Caroline  Tobias,  daughter 
of  William  and  Sarah  (Follmer)  Tobias,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Berks  county  and  member  of  an 
early  settled  family  of  that  region.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crier  were  horn  the  following  children: 
William,  deceased  ;  Sarah,  who  died  young;  Ben- 
jamin F..  deceased;  Alfred,  deceased:  Calvin,  de- 
ceased; Oliver  \\'.,  of  Watsontown;  Jeremiah,  of 
Williamsport ;  Daniel  L.,  of  Watsontown;  and 
Mary,  deceased.  Mr.  Crier  died  Aug.  11,  1901,  at 
the   age  id'  eighty-six  years,   ten  months. 

Daniel  L.  Grier  was  reared  at  Watsontown,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
When  a  voting  man  lie  began  work  with  the  Wat- 
sontown Planing  Mill  Company,  was  later  with 
the  Wagner-lliles  Company,  of  Watsontown,  and 
was  subsequently  engaged  in  contracting  for  some 
years  on  his  own  account,  in  1886-87  being  con- 
tractor m  tin  blind  department  of  the  Watsontown 
Planing  Mill  Company.  He  found  this  work  con- 
genial and  profitable,  and  after  the  mill  burned 
resumed  work  with  the  company.  He  was  also  em- 
ployed  by  the  Watsontown  Poor  and  Sash  com- 
pany, with  which  company  lie  was  connected  at  the 
I  line  of  his  appointment  as  postmaster. 

On  April  12,  1905,  Mr.  Grier  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Watsontown,  to  succeed  the  late  I  >. 
C.  Hoguel,  receiving  his  commission  April  15, 
1905.      He   has   filled    that   position   continuously 


since,  having  been  reappointed  under  President 
Taft.  His  services  are  highly  efficient,  and  ap- 
preciated by  all  concerned.  Three  rural  tree  de- 
livery routes  start  from  the  Watsontown  post  office 
— No.  1,  going  northwest  :  No.  '.'.  covering  territory 
northeast  of  No.  1.  and  No.  :!.  running  east  of 
town.  The  office  is  now  third  class  and  the  busi- 
ness has  increased  over  two  hundred  dollars  during 
Mr.  Grier's  time.  His  administration  has  been 
highly  satisfactory  in  every  respect,  his  conscien- 
tious effort  to  serve  bis  fellow  citizens  faithfully 
being  universally   recognized. 

On  .Ian.  25,  1887,  Mr.  Crier  married  May  M. 
Lloyd,  daughter  of  .lames  and  Susan  (Straub) 
Lloyd,  the  former  a  merchant  at  Selinsgrove,  Sny- 
der Co..  l'a.  To  this  union  have  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  B.  Lloyd,  contractor  for  the 
Standard  Steel  Company,  of  Burnbam.  Pa.;  Ned 
A.,  who  assists  bis  father  in  the  post  office;  a  son 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Anna  Marie. 

Mr.  Grier  is  associated  fraternally  with  the  Ma- 
sons (as  a  member  of  Watsontown  Lodge,  No.  401, 
F.  &  A.  M.)  and  with  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Fagle.  He  attends  the  Methodist  Church.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican,  and  stands  well  in  the 
councils  of  his  party,  but  lie  lias  never  held  any 
official  position  connected  with  the  administration 
of  borough  affairs.  In  December,  1!H)".\  he  was  a 
candidate  for  county  auditor,  being  defeated  by 
only  seventeen  votes. 

JOHN  PHILIP  OTTO,  deceased,  who  was  a 
resident  of  the  borough  id'  Northumberland  from 
1873  until  his  death,  was  throughout  that  long 
period  engaged  as  a  shoemaker  and  shoe  merchant. 
He  was  one  of  the  substantial  and  valuable  cit- 
izens of  the  place,  and  was  serving  as  secretary  of 
the  school  board  there  at  the  time  of  bis  death. 

Mr.  Otto  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  was  born 
on  Wednesday.  Feb.  21,  1851,  at  Geldburg,  Saxony, 
at  1  :30  a.  m.,  son  of  George  and  Catharine  (Feder) 
Otto,  who  were  of  Hanover.  Germany.  His  god- 
father was  John  Philip  Metzger.  The  family 
came  to  America  in  1854,  locating  first  m  New 
York  State,  four  miles  above  Albany,  where  they 
lived  for  a  year  and  a  half.  In  1856  they  removed 
to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  the  parents 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days,  George  Otto 
dving  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  fifty-live.  Hi-  wife 
died  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  in  1865,  aged  forty- 
four.  Mr.  Otto  in  Germany  was  known  as  "Herr" 
George  Otto.  He  bad  royal  blood  in  bis  veins,  and 
was  a  man  id'  rank  and  wealth,  but  lost  all  bis  pos- 
sessions after  coming  to  America.  He  served  seven 
uars  in  the  German  army,  in  which  he  held  a 
colonel's  commission,  and  while  living  in  Geldburg, 
Saxony,  was  engaged  as  a  butcher  and  hotel  pro- 
prietor. He  had  three  brothers,  two  of  whom 
were  John  and  Henry  (a  Lutheran  minister  in 
Saxony),   and   also   sisters.      He   and    his    family 


724 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


were  Lutherans  in  religious  faith.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  George  aud  Catharine  Otto: 
Gust  a  v,  of  Philadelphia,  who  died  the  latter  part 
of  February,  1911;  Wilhelm,  who  died  young: 
Christian,  who  died  young;  Henry,  who  died 
young:  John  Philip:  Mary,  who  died  on  the  ocean 
while  the  family  were  en  route  to  America  (these 
six  were  born  in  Germany,  the  others  in  America)  ; 
Peter,  who  died  in  Pueblo,  Colo.,  several  years  ago  : 
Charles,  who  died  at  Milton,  Pa.:  Annie,  who  died 
in  the  West :  Harry,  of  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  now 
the  only  survivor  of  the  family:  and  Mary,  who 
died   in  infancy. 

John  Philip  Otto  commenced  to  learn  shoemak- 
ing  at  Pottsgrove,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  when 
he  was  fifteen  years  old.  He  followed  the  trade 
in  Philadelphia  for  two  years,  in  1873  coming  to 
Northumberland,  in  which  borough  he  ever  after 
made  his  home.  He  was  in  the  shoe  business  all 
these  years  and  prospered  by  industry  and  perse- 
vering labor,  being  one  of  the  most  esteemed  res- 
idents of  the  place,  where  his  upright  and  useful 
life  won  him  universal  good  will.  He  was  a  school 
director  for  some  time,  being  secretary  of  the 
school  board  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Politically 
he  was  a  Eepublican.  Mr.  Otto  passed  away  at  8 
a.  in.  Wednesday,  March  23,  1911,  and  was  buried 
in  Piverview  cemetery  March  25th. 

On  April  16,  L875,  Mr.  Otto  married  Mary  A. 
Gilbert,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Teats) 
Gilbert,  of  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  they  had  two 
children:  Carrie  M.  married  B.  P.  Merrel,  of 
Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Euth 
A.:  Christian  Herman  died  when  seventeen  years 
old.  iir.  Otto  was  a  Seventh  Bay  Adventist.  to 
which  religious  belief  his  wife  also  adheres. 

A  branch  of  the  Otto  family  living  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  came  from  Hanover,  Germany.  They 
are  extensive  manufacturers  of  paper  and  give  em- 
ployment  to  a  large  number  of  people. 

LEIGHOTJ  on  LEIGHOW.  There  are  two  fam- 
ilies of  this  name  in  Point  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  descendants  of  Christopher  Lecha,  the 
ancestor  of  all  the  members  of  the  Leighou  branch 
in  America.  During  the  one  hundred  and  thirty 
years  that  the  family  has  been  in  this  country  the 
spelling  of  the  name  has  undergone  many  changes. 
From  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  settler  un- 
til 1788  it  was  spelled  Lecha — pronounced 
Leh'  yah.  By  1790  it  had  become  Lighy.  In  1809 
his  eldest  son.  at  least,  had  changed  the  name  to 
Lighou.  while  the  younger  members  of  the  family, 
seemingly  without  exception,  adopted  the  letter 
"w"  for  the  termination.  Within  the  next  two 
decades  an  "e"  was  inserted  before  the  "i"'  in  both 
spellings,  thus  making  them  Leighou  and  Leighow. 
At  present  there  is  but  one  branch  of  the  family 
retaining  the  "u"  termination,  and  further,  other 
branches,  notably  those  of  Colorado  and  Kentucky, 


have  entirely  changed  the  spelling  to  the  form  of 
Lehow.  The  first  spelling  found  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Archives.  Leehe,  is  believed  to  be  simply  an 
unintentional  mis-spelling,  one  of  the  common  mis- 
takes of  that  time.  In  the  following  the  Roman 
numerals  indicate  the  generations,  beginning  with 
Christopher,  the  immigrant. 

It  is  believed  that  (I  I  Christopher  Lecha  came 
from  Alsace-Lorraine,  which,  although  German  in 
language  and  customs,  then  belonged  to  France 
(1648-1871).  Family  tradition  states  that  he- 
came  with  LaFayette  during  the  Revolution,  and 
served  under  him  in  that  war.  However,  the  first 
known  official  mention  of  him  is  made  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  Sixth  Series.  Vol.  III,. 
page  769,  where  in  a  military  record  of  June  10,. 
1784.  he  is  enrolled  in  the  8th  Company.  2d  Bat- 
talion, of  the  Northampton  county  militia,  under 
command  of  Col.  Philip  Boehni.  In  the  Third 
Series,  Vol.  XIX.  page  90,  it  is  stated  that  he  re- 
sided in  Lower  Saucon  township,  Northampton 
county,  which  is  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Le- 
high river  as  it  empties  into  the  Delaware.  At  the- 
taking  of  the  first  census,  in  1700.  he  still  resided 
here,  and  that  place  is  given  as  his  home  between 
1700  and  1795.  At  this  time  the  name  had  be- 
come Lighy.  From  this  place  he  migrated,  prob- 
ably up  the  Lehigh,  across  the  mountains  at  Wilkes- 
Barre  and  down  the  Susquehanna,  to  Danville.  Pa. 
Here  he  acquired  considerable  tracts  of  land,  the 
major  portion  of  which  he  lost,  just  prior  to  his 
death,  about  1820,  due  to  conflicting  title  claims. 
He  is  buried  in  the  Grove  Presbyterian  church- 
yard at  Danville.  Christopher's  wife  was  named 
Rachel.  They  had  five  children,  John.  Henryr 
Elizabeth.  Lewis  and  Tobias,  the  elder  three  hav- 
ing heei,  born  in  Northampton  county. 

(II)  John  Lighou,  son  of  Christopher,  born 
March  23,  17SJ.  in  Northampton  county,  changed 
-(idling  of  his  name  from  Lighy.  About  1795 
lie  came  into  Northumberland  county  with  his  fa- 
ther. On  June  6,  1800.  be  was  married  by  Rev. 
Philip  Pauli.  of  Reading,  to  Sarah  Weimar,  who 
was  born  Feb.  20,  1787,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
( 'atharine  (  Lybrahd )  Weimar,  and  about  this  time, 
or  earlier,  he  located  in  the  Tuckahoe  Valley.  In 
is? 4  he  bought  from  John  Cowden  the  tract  of 
land  which  is  now  the  homestead  of  his  grandson 
i  Iscar,  in  Point  township.  This  tract  was  known  as 
"Martin's  Valley,"  having  been  surveyed  at  the  in- 
'stanee  of  Robert  Martiu,  the  first  permanent  settler 
of  Northumberland,  in  1773,  and  bought  by  John 
Cowden  from  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1822.  Also,  he  bought  the  land  comprising  the 
present  farms  of  the  Edward  Leighow  heirs,  How- 
ard Leighow.  William  Geise  ami  Mrs.  Margaret 
Knouse.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Unitarian 
Church  established  by  Or.  Joseph  Priestley,  the 
discoverer  of  oxygen.  In  1834  he  was  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  church  who  secured  the  property 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


-  mi  which  the  first  permanent  building  was  erected. 
He  was  a  pianomaker  by  trade,  and  a  few  pianos 
made  by  him  are  still  in  existence  about  the  county. 
Jt  is  believed  that  he  learned  the  trade  from  Sam- 
uel Man-.  He  had  ten  children  and  is  the  an- 
cestor  of  all  the  Leighous  of  Point  township.  Mrs. 
.-Sarah  (Weimar)  Lighou  survived  her  husband  a 
number  of  years,  dying  Jan.  31,  1841.  Her  father, 
Peter  Weimar,  born  about  1762,  was  according  to 
family  tradition  a  direct  descendant  of  a  Duke  of 
Saxe  Weimar,  Germany.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  Montour  Valley,  Northumberland 
county,  from  1823  to  1836.  "His  wife,  Cathar- 
ine (Lybrand),  was  a  member  of  a  Philadelphia 
Eamily.  The  ten  children  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Weimar)  Lighou  were:  Elizabeth  Leighow 
(horn  March  20,  1810),  John  Weimar  Leighow. 
William  Henry  Leighou,  Henrietta  Leighow 
(born  March  16,  1815),  George  Augustus,  Sara 
K..  Mary  Ann.  James  K..  Charles  Lybrand  and 
I  Iscar  Edmund. 

(Ill)  John  Weimar  Leighow,  born  March  25, 
1811,  died  Aug.  38,  1875.  He  was  married  at 
East  Lewisburo',  Pa.,  to  Harriet  Waters,  born  in 
L827,  who  died  May  25,  1893,  Their  children 
were:  Edward,  Charles.  Kate.  James  and  Jennie. 
Edward,  who  died  Jan.  31,  1910,  lived  at  the  old 
homestead  of  John  Lighou  in  Point  township;  he 
married  Annie  Hamor  and  had  one  child,  Aline. 
Charles,  born  April  15,  1854.  removed  to  Colorado. 
Jennie  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Gal..  James  and  Kate 
an-  dead.  Kate  married  Henry  Garman,  and  their 
-mi.    Victor,   lives   in   Reading,   Pennsylvania. 

(Ill  i  "William  Henry  Leighou  and  his  descend- 
ant- will  be  mentioned  more  fully  later. 

(Ill)  George  Augustus  Leighow.  horn  July  24, 
1816,  married  Louisa  Robbins,  born  in  1826,  who 
died  May  34.  18H3.  They  had  children:  Eugene, 
Sara  Jane,  Mary  Louisa,  George  and  Howard.  The 
last  named  married  Regina  Ertley.  and  they  have 
five  children.  Grace,  Thomas  C,  Dorothy  Jane, 
Merle  A.  and  Hattie  M.  This  is  a  Point  town- 
ship family.  Eugene  and  Mary  are  dead;  Mary 
married  John  Collins,  and  lives  in  Ohio.  George 
is  in  Washington  State. 

(Ill)  Jam.-  K.  Leighow.  born  Aug.  2,  1823, 
served  in  the  Civil  War  as  saddler  sergeant.  Com- 
pany F,  1st  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Cavalry 
Corps.  He  married  his  second  cousin,  Mary 
Weimer,  and  they  had  two  sons,  both  of  whom  are 
married  and  have  children.  Charles  A.  lives  in 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  C.  Wallace  in  Oakland, 
California. 

(Ill)  Charles  Lybrand  Leighow,  bom  May 
38.  4826.  moved  to  Colorado,  and  died  October  6. 
1874.  He  changed  the  spelling  of  his.  name  to 
Lehow.  He  married  Mary  E.  Shellabarger.  and 
their  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  Howard  Little,  lives 
.at  Xenia,  Ohio. 


(Ill)  Oscar  Edmund  Leighow,  born  Jan.  29, 
1829,  also  moved  to  Colorado,  where  he  died,  in 
Denver.  March  14,  4894.  He  also  wrote  his  name 
Lehow.  He  married  Eloise  L.  Sargent,  and  their 
son,  Weimar  Sargent  Lehow,  lives  in  Denver. 

(II)  Henry  Leighow,  son  of  Christopher,  born 
An-.  ■;■;.  4785,  died  Aug.  25,  1850.  He  lived  on 
a  farm  at  Red  Point  (near  Danville,  Pa.)  and 
later  in  Northumberland.  In  the  War  of  1842 
he  served  as  a  private  in  the  81st  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Mil  ilia.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  In  1815  he  married  Ellen  Clark. 
born  Nov.  3,  1794,  died  Dec.  10,  1849.  and  they 
had  children:  William.  Pembroke,  A.  Jackson, 
John.  Henry  and  Mary  Ellen.     Of  these, 

(III) William  Leighow,  born  April  4,  1817,  died 
July  14.  4862.  He  married  Catharine  Weimar, 
and  they  had  three  daughters,  Gemella  Medora 
(married  C.  D.  Bisbee,  of  Chicago),  Margaret 
Helen  (married  S.  B.  Morgan,  of  Watsontown, 
I'a.)  and  Anna  Jean  (married  J.  H.  Tracy,  of 
Salt  Lake  City). 

(III)  Pembroke  Leighow,  born  Feb.  30,  1825, 
died  March  17.  4895.  He  married  Elizabeth  A. 
Sanner  and  had  lour  children:  (1)  James  mar- 
ried Margaret  Messenger  and  lived  in  Woodland, 
Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.  They  had  three  children,  Em- 
ma E.,  Oscar  M.  and  Margaret:  the  two  last 
named  are  married  and  have  children.  (2) 
Charles,  unmarried,  lives  in  Haldeman.  Rowan 
Co.,  Kv.  (3)  Henry  Kellar  married  in  Novem- 
ber, 1886,  Elizabeth  Ulrich,  and  lives  in  Halde- 
man. Kv. :  he  had  five  children.  (4)  Mary  Ann, 
unmarried,  lives  in  Haldeman. 

(Ill)  Andrew  Jackson  Leighow,  born  Sept. 
12.  4838.  died  Mav  37.  4890."  His  wife.  Re- 
bel >  a.  born  in  1834,"  died  Feb.  20,  1908.  They 
had  five  children  :  Harry  Pierce,  who  died  unmar- 
ried :  John,  who  died  in  infancy;  Clinton,  who 
died  Feb.  9,  1910  (he  married  and  had  two  chil- 
dren, Harry  Pierce  and  Rebecca)  ;  Martin,  a  twin 
of  Clinton,  who  died  in  infancy:  and  Mary  Ellen, 
who  married  Charles  Allen  Graves  and  lives  in 
Scranton.  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  Elizabeth  Leighow,  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher, born  about  1789,  married  Henry  Dale,  the 
ancestor  of  the  Dales  of  Northumberland,  Pa.  They 
lived  first  at  the  present  site  of  the  Stone  Mill,  in 
Point  township. 

(Ill  Lewis  Leighow,  son  of  Christopher,  born 
Dei.  29,  1799,  died  March  23.  1845.  He  was  mar- 
ried twice,  marrying  first  Theodosia  Gulick  and 
(second)  Mrs.  Sara  Jane  Cmisert.  nee  Ammer- 
man.  His  descendants  are  living  principally  in 
Montour  and  Columbia  counties.  Pa.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Charles  B.,  Rachel,  Hugh,  George  M., 
Mary  E.  and  William  Henry.     Of  these, 

i  III)  Charles  P..  Leighow,  born  Feb.  10,  1827, 
married  Sarah  Ernest,  and   lives  in   Danville,  Pa. 


726 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


They  have  six  children:  Clarence,  married  and 
living  in  Wilkes-Banc.  J'a.  (no  children)  ;  Clara  ; 
Margaret:  Elizabeth;  Alice,  and  Lncinda. 

(Ill)  George  M.  Leighow,  born  Dee.  31,  1837, 
a  half  brother  of  Charles,  served  a  term  as  county 
commissioner  of  Montour  county.  1902-1905.  He 
married  Sarah  Elizabeth  Ephlin,  and  they  have 
eight  children,  namely:  William  is  married  ami 
lives  in  Chelsea,  Oklahoma;  Oscar,  married,  lives 
at  Catawissa,  Pa.;  Annie  is  married:  Frank,  mar- 
ried, lives  at  Lime  Ridge,  Pa.:  Edward  is  unmar- 
ried; Ella  is  married;  Morris  and  Ralph  are  both 
married  and  living  in  Danville,  Pa.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  family  live  in  Danville,  and  Blooms- 
burg  ami  that  vicinity. 

(Ill)  William  Henry  Leighow,  born  June  24, 
L844,  married  Margaret  Catharine  Barr.  They 
have  had  seven  children:  Lafayette.  Walter.  Jen- 
nie. Laura.  Edith,  Maud  ami  Margaret.  They  live 
at  Millville,  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  Tobias  Leighow,  son  of  Christopher,  had  a 
son  John. 

(III)  John  Leighow,  son  of  Tobias,  married 
Margaret  Ernest  (sister  of  the  wife  of  his  cousin 
Charles),  and  they  had  children  Michael  and  Mar- 
tha. The  former  lives  in  Northumberland,  Pa.,  is 
married  to  Lizzie  Rishel,  and  has  two  children, 
Ethel  Claire  ami  Raul  Gernon. 

(  111  )  William  Henry  Leighou,  son  id'  John  and 
grandson  of  Christopher,  born  Feb.  13,  1814.  in- 
serted the  "e"  in  the  spelling  of  the  name  ami  was 
the  only  member  of  his  family  to  preserve  the  "ou" 
termination.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  his  homestead 
in  l'oint  township  i-  now  owned  by  his  son  Oscar, 
having  been  in  the  family  considerably  over  one 
hundred  years.  For  a  time  he  lived  in  the  house 
erected  by  Dr.  Joseph  Priestley,  at  Northumber- 
land. In  partnership  with  Grant  Taggari  he  con- 
ducted a  genera]  merchandise  store  there,  in  the 
building  now  standing  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Queen  and  First  streets,  which  building  they 
erected.  Mr.  Leighou  had  various  interests,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  old  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Northumberland,  organized  in 
1864.  He  was  a  man  id'  public  spirit  and  served 
the  community  faithfully  in  official  capacities,  be- 
ing jury  commissioner  of  the  county  from  1876  to 
1879,  and  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  North- 
umberland borough  for  many  years.  In  1875  he 
was  president  of  the  board,  and  he  was  later  a  di- 
ivi  tor  of  the  Point  township  schools.  It  was  dur- 
ing his  period  of  service  that  the  present  eleven- 
room  building  was  erected.  He  taught,  when  a 
young  man.  in  No.  2  building,  Point  township. 
In  1858  he  moved  to  the  farm,  where  Oscar 
Leighou  now  lives.  He  bought  From  Messrs. 
Yoiis.  Eoust,  Weakley  and  Forsythe  the  farm  now 
the  property  of  Mrs.  Anna  Leighow.  Mr.  Leighou 
died  Nov.  IS.  1881,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Northumberland.     He  was  one  of  the  assembly 


which  organized  the  Baptist  church  of  Northum- 
berland, July  7.  1842. 

On  May  29,  1838,  Mr.  Leighou  married  Lour- 
issa  Vastine  (for  genealogj  of  Lourissa  Vastine 
see  page  728),  who  was  born  Aug.  29,  1S17, 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Vastine,  and  died  May  24, 
1894.  Their  six  children  were  born  as  follows: 
Elizabeth.  Aug.  25,  IS  II;  Arthur.  Aug.  29,  is  lb; 
Vastine,  Oct.  S.  1851;  Oscar,  Aug.  to.  is:,;,;  Wil- 
liam II..  Dec.  28,  1858;  Benjamin  P..  June  11, 
1861. 

(IV)  Arthur  Leighow.  son  of  William  Henry, 
born  Aug.  29,  1846,  married  Eliza  S.  Welliver,  and 
lives  at  White  Hall.  Montour  Co.,  Pa.  They  have 
six  children:  Benjamin  A..  who  married  Carrie 
Cooper,  and  has  one  son;  Amos  Vastine:  Isaiah 
James:  William  E. ;  Mary  Jane:  and  Cyrus 
i  feorge. 

( I  Y )  Vastine  Leighow,  son  of  William  Henry, 
born  Oct.  8,  1851,  died  in  January.  1904.  He 
married  Mrs.  Mary  (Eekert)  Smith.  Had  no 
children. 

(IV)  William  Henry  Leighow.  Jr.,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Henry,  born  Dee.  28,  1858,  died  in  January, 
1906,   unmarried. 

(IV)  Benjamin  R.  Leighow.  sun  of  William 
Henry,  born  June  11.  1861,  died  Feb.  18,  1895. 
He  married  Anna  Shaffer,  but  left  no  children. 

(  I V )  Oscar  Leighou,  son  of  William  Henry, 
born  Aug.  10,  1855,  at  Northumberland,  attended 
the  elementary  and  high  schools  there  and  later 
was  a  student  of  Freeburg  Academy.  He  taught 
for  sixteen  years,  in  the  Northumberland  High  and 
Point  township  schools,  beginning  in  1873  at  No.  1 
building  in  Point  township,  and  he  has  taught  in 
all  the  buildings  in  the  district  except  No.  1  :  he  was 
engaged  in  the  borough  for  two  years.  Meantime 
in  is;  7.  be  commenced  farming  in  Point  town- 
ship, and  has  ever  .-nice  followed  that  vocation 
there,  having  liu  acres  of  fertile  land,  devoted  to 
general  crops.  The  present  set  of  buildings  upon 
the  property  have  been  erected  by  him.  Mr. 
Leighou  has  always  ranked  among  the  most  in- 
telligent and  progressive  men  of  hi-  section.  For 
twenty-one  consecutive  years  he  has  rilled  the  office 
of  township  assessor,  to  which  he  was  first  elected 
in  1885.  He  i<  president  of  the  local  telephone 
company,  which  secured  rural  service  for  the  dis- 
trict; was  for  mam  years  master  of  the  local 
Grange;  and  in  these  and  various  other  associ 
ations  has  proved  himself  one  of  the  most  capable 
ami  useful  citizens  of  his  locality.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of   the  Baptist   Church. 

On  Dec.  •.'■;.  1876,  Mr.  Leighou  was  married,  at 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Emory  L.  Swartz,  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  minister,  to  Hannah  Mary  Lesher 
(for  gene"alogy  see  page  728),  who  was  born  May 
12,  1856,  at  Pine  Creek-.  Lycoming  Co..  Pa., 
daughter  of  Robert  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Vand- 
ling)   Lesher.  and  seven  children  have  been  born 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


tn  thie  union:  Estella  May;  Lourissa  Vastine; 
Robert  Benjamin,  mentioned  below;  Sallie;  John 
Vandli'ng;  Paul  Eenry;  and  Catharine  Emma. 
The  first  five  graduated  from  the  Northumberland 
High  school,  while  the  latter  two  are  now  attend- 
ing. Estella,  Lourissa,  Robert  and  Sallie  gradu- 
ated from  the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School, 
all  in  the  Class  of  1902,  and  have  been  teaching 
ever  sinei — Estella  and  Lourissa  in  Point  town- 
ship; Sallie  has  taught  several  years  in  the  North- 
umberland High  school.  John  took  two  years' 
work  at  Bueknell  University  and  is  now  a  student 
in   forestry  at   Pennsylvania   Slate  College. 

(  Y )  Robert  Benjamin  Leighou,  son  of  Oscar, 
was  born  March  28,  1882,  in  Point  township.  He 
was  graduated  in  1906,  in  the  General  Science 
course,  from  Bueknell  University,  having  special- 
ized in  chemistry.  He  was  chosen  as  one  of  the 
ten  speakers  at  Commencement,  ami  was  awarded 
the  Hollopeter  prize — the  first  prize  in  chemistry. 
The  following  year  he  taught  in  the  Mansfield 
Slate  Normal  School,  as  Head  of  the  Department 
of  Chemistry  and  organic  Science,  and  was  later 
employed  as  first  assistant  chemist  fur  the  National 
Tube  Company,  of  McKeesport,  Pa.     In  1907  he 

was  appointed    In   the  position   of    Head   of   Hie    De- 

partment  of  Chemistry  id'  Materials,  in  the  School 
of  Applied  Industries,  of  the  Carnegie  Technical 
Schools,  Pittsburgh,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
()n  \ug.  I'.',  1908,  he  was  married  at  Auburn,  N. 
Y.,  to  Bertha  Emily  Jones.  They  have  one  child, 
Christine   Elizabeth,  horn   Sept.    I.    L909. 

VASTINE.  The  Vastine  family  is  descended 
I'n.m  Abraham  Van  de  Woestyne,  who  with  his 
three  children,  John,  Catherine  and  Hannah,  left 
Holland  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  crossed 
the  ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel,  landing  at  New  York 
(then  New  Amsterdam)  in  1690.  They  soon 
crossed  over  into  New  Jersey.  About  the  time  Wil- 
liam l'enn  founded  Philadelphia  they  came  into 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1698  we  find  them  in  Ger- 
inantown,  where  the  daughters,  Catherine  and 
Hannah,   joined  the  Friends. 

John  Van  de  Woestyne,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
horn  in  Holland  May  24,  1678,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  father,  landing  at  New  Amsterdam 
in  1690.  Records  show  him  living  in  1698  m 
Germantown,  Pa.,  where  he  owned  real  estate.  He 
purchased  several  tracts  of  land  from  one  Jere- 
miah Langhorn,  in  Hilltown  township.  Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  whither  he  moved  about  1720,  being  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  that  county.  He  was  very  influen- 
tial in  the  opening  of  roads  there,  and  his  name, 
which  appears  on  a  number  of  official  papers  and 
document-  on  record  in  Bucks  county,  is  found 
on  many  petitions  pertaining  to  roads  ami  im- 
provements in  Hilltown  township.  There  he  erect- 
ed a  granite  dwelling  along  the  pike  leading  from 
Philadelphia  to  Bethlehem.     It  stood,  as  was  the 


custom  in  that  day,  with  its  gable  to  the  road, 
fronting  southy  at  a  point  two  miles  north  of 
Line  Lexington  and  four  miles  southwest  from 
Sellersville,  Bucks  Co.,  I'a.  On  the  above  men- 
tioned old  petitions  for  the  opening  of  roads  the 
name  is  spelled  Van  de  Woestyne,  which  has 
changed  gradually,  to  Van  Styne  and  then  to 
Vastine — its  present  form.  It  has  also  been  found 
in  the  forms  Voshne  and  Vashtine.  The  name 
in  Dutch  meant  "forest,"  hence  the  early  settlers 
often  called  John  Van  de  Woestyne  ''Wilderness."" 
John  Van  de  Woestyne  died  at  Hilltown  Pel). 
9,  1738;  his  wife.  Abigail,  survived  him  some 
time.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  (1)  Abraham,  horn  May  '.'I, 
1698,  died  in  October,  1772,  in  Hilltown.'  He 
married  Sara  Buckman,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  five  daughters:  Abigail,  married  to  Andrew 
Armstrong:  Ruth,  married  to  James  Armstrong; 
Mary,  married  to  Robert  Jameson;  Rachel,  mar- 
ried to  Hugh  Mears;  and  Sara,  married  to  Samuel 
Wilson.  Thus  far  we  have  been  unable  to  learn 
anything  about  their  descendants.  (2)  Jeremiah, 
horn  Dee.  24,  1701,  died  in  Hilltown  in  Novem- 
ber, 1769.  He  and  his  wife  Debora  were  the  par- 
ents of  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Jeremiah 
(whose  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth)  died  in  New 
Britain,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  in  April,  1778;  Martha 
married  John  Louder;  Hannah  married  Samuel 
Greshom.  (3)  Benjamin,  horn  July  1,  1703,  died 
Aug.  11.  1749.  (4)  John  died  Feb.  9,  1765,  in 
Hilltown,  Pa.,  unmarried.  (  "> )  Mary,  born  March 
1,  1699,  married  a  Mr.  Wilson  and  removed  to 
South  Carolina. 

Benjamin  Vastine.  son  of  John  and  Abigail,  was 
the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  Northumberland 
county,  Pa.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Friends 
Meeting,  and  at  one  of  the  meetings  held  in  1730 
in  Philadelphia  requested  permission  to  hold  meet- 
ings in  his  house.  About  1738  he  married  Mary 
Griffith,  and  their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Hannah  married 
Erasmus  Kelly;  John  married  Rachel  Morgan: 
Abraham  married  Elizabeth  Williams:  Benjamin 
married  Catherine  Eaton  (he  died  in  September, 
1775)  ;  Jonathan  married  Elizabeth  Lewis;  Isaac 
married  Sara  Matthews:  Amos  married  Martha 
Thomas. 

Jonathan  Vastine,  fourth  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Griffith)  Vastine,  was  horn  about  KIT  at 
Hilltown.  Bucks  county.  With  his  nephew  Peter, 
wdio  was  also  his  son-in-law,  he  came  to  Northum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  first  to  Shamokin.  then  to 
the  territory  south  of  Danville,  where  they  pur- 
chased large  farms  (and  creeled  buildings),  the 
former  about  six  hundred  acres  where  later  Valen- 
tine  Epler  lived,  and  the  latter  three  hundred 
acres  near  that  of  his  uncle.  The  original  deeds  for 
Jonathan  Yastine's  land  are  in  the  possession  of 
Mrs.  Elisha  Campbell,  of  South  Danville.     Jona- 


:  28 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


than,  like  his  father,  was  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  He  died  about  1833  and  is  buried 
in  the  old  Quaker  burying  ground  at  Catawissa, 
Pa.  About  1770  he  married  Elizabeth  Lewis, 
daughter  of  John  and  Anna  Lewis,  and  their  un- 
ion was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  as  follows:  Benjamin  married  Eliza- 
beth Van  Zant;  Ann  married  Thomas  Bobbins; 
Hannah  married  Peter,  son  of  Benjamin  Vastine ; 
Mary  married  William  Marsh:  John  married 
Catharine  Osmun ;  Jeremiah  married  Elizabeth 
Reader;  Thomas  died  unmarried;  Jonathan  mar- 
ried Nancy  Ann  Hughes. 

John  Vastine,  second  son  of  Jonathan  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Lewis)  Vastine,  married  Catharine  Os- 
mun. and  they  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters: 
William  married  Elizabeth  Hursh;  Amos  married 
Susan  Lurch;  Margaret  married  Charles  Heffley : 
Sarah  Ann  married  Robert  Campbell;  Thomas 
married  Lena  Vought;  and  John,  after  winning 
his  way  through  the  medical  school  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  and  beginning  practice,  died 
aged  nineteen. 

In  the  family  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Hursh)  Vastine  there  were  eight  children,  as 
follows:  Amos,  Jacob,  Hugh,  Simon,  Ezra,  Eliz- 
abeth, Ellen  and  Daniel. 

The  children  of  Amos,  the  eldest  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Hursh)  Vastine,  were:  Elizabeth, 
who  died  in  1879,  aged  twenty-one  years;  William, 
horn  Oct.  29,  1850;  Laura:  John  Hursh  and  Ella 
K..  twins:  and  Amos  Beeber. 

Of  these.  William,  the  eldest  son,  a  progressive 
and  influential  citizen  of  Danville,  Pa.,  married 
Boone  Gearhart,  born  March  4,  1859.  They  have 
two  daughters.  Katharine  G.  and  Elizabeth  Boone 
Vastine. 

Jeremiah  Vastine,  third  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Lewis)  Vastine.  was  horn  July  30, 
1780,  and  died  Sept.  22,  1840.  He  owned  a"  farm 
in  Rush  township,  near  Elysburg,  Pa.  He  was 
married  April  s.  1802,  by  John  Patton,  to  Eliza- 
beth Reader,  who  was  born  Oct.  27,  1782,  and  died 
June  21,  18(30.  They  had  a  family  of  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  as  follows:  Jonathan  died  single: 
Mary  married  C.  Fisher:  Margaret  married 
Daniel  Bobbins :  Lourissa  married  William  Henry 
Leighou,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Oscar 
Leighou.  of  Point  township;  Thomas  married 
Eliza  Reader,  and  one  of  their  children  was  named 
Catharine  (the  others  are  not  known). 

LESHER.  The  Lesher  family  f races  back  to 
George  Loesch,  born  about  1700,  who  married  An- 
na Christina  Wallborn,  and  lived  at  Tulpehocken, 
fifteen  miles  from  Reading.  Their  daughter, 
Maria  Catharine  Loesch,  born  May  12,  1730,  mar- 
Johannas  Lischer.  who  was  born  Nov.  28. 
1719.  at  Wittgenstein,  Hesse,  Germany,  where  his 
father    died,    Johannas    subsequently    coming    to 


America  with  his  widowed  mother.  Sailing  from 
Rotterdam  on  the  ship  "Hope,"  he  landed  at  Phil- 
adelphia Sept.  23,  17  34.  His  parents  were  Men- 
nonites.  His  marriage  to  Maria  Catharine  Loesch 
took  place  April  16,  1759,  in  the  Moravian  chinch 
at  Bethlehem.  Pa.  He  died  May  12,  1782,  she 
on  May  10,  1802. 

Johan  Georg  Lesher,  son  of  Johannas  and  Maria 
Catharine  (Loesch)  Lischer,  was  born  in  Berks 
county  April  6,  17  08.  He  settled  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  died  Nov.  1,  1823.  He  is 
buried  in  the  Riverview  cemetery,  Northumber- 
land. Pa.,  and  the  inscription  upon  his  tombstone 
reads : 

Adieu  my  friends,  dry  up  your  tears; 
I   must  lie  here  till  Christ  appears. 

On  June  25,  1786,  he  married  Anna  Flickinger, 
who  was  torn  May  22,  1762,  and  died  Oct.  24, 
1841.  They  are  interred  in  Lot  23.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religion.  Their  children  were: 
Michael,  who  settled  at  Newfane,  near  Lockport, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  had  an  eighty-acre  farm,  and  later 
moved  West  (he  had  children);  (John)  George; 
William,  whose  death  was  caused  by  the  bite  of  a 
mad  dog  (he  was  unmarried)  :  Mrs.  Crites,  and 
other  daughters. 

John  George  Lesher,  son  of  Johan  Georg  and 
Anna  (Flickinger)  Lesher,  was  born  Oct.  20,  1792, 
and  spent  all  his  life  in  Point  township,  where  he 
was  a  farmer  throughout  his  active  years.  He 
owned  240  acres  of  land,  of  which  201  acres  are 
still  in  the  family  name  and  owned  by  his  son 
Charles  M.  He  died  in  Point  township,  on  what 
is  now  the  farm  of  his  son  Charles,  Jan.  16,  1866, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  two  months,  twenty-six 
days,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lesher  plot  in  River- 
view  cemetery.  He  and  his  wife,  Catharine  (Rob- 
bins),  were  Presbyterians  in  religious  belief.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Catharine  (Hul- 
heiser)  Robbins,  of  Liberty  township.  Montour 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Oct.  22,  1869,  aged  seventy- 
five  years,  seven  months,  two  days.  Her  father, 
Daniel  Bobbins,  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  physi- 
cal strength,  which  he  retained  even  during  the 
latter  period  of  his  life.  He  died  aged  106  years. 
\  ine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesher,  as 
follows:  Robert  A.,  born  Oct.  19,  1817;  Daniel, 
born  Sept.  8.  1819:  Lucy  Ann.  born  April  21. 
1822;  Marv.  horn  April  2.  1824:  Sarah  J.,  born 
Sept.  17.  1826:  George,  born  Nov.  28.  182- :  Wil- 
liam, horn  Feb.  14,  1831,  who  died  May  29,  1896 : 
John,  born  Aug.  12.  1833;  and  Charles  M.,  born 
Aug.  28,  1836.  the  youngest  being  now  the  only 
survivor. 

Robert  Alexander  Lesher.  son  of  John  George 
and  Hannah  Catharine  (Robbins)  Lesher,  was 
born  Oct.  19,  1817,  in  Tuckahoe  Valley,  and  died 
April  3.  1903.     A  boat  builder  and  lumber  mer- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


729 


chant,  he  built  the  boat  used  to  carry  the  first 
locomotive  from  Harrisburg  to  Port  Treverton 
(Hem'don),  to  be  used  on  the  Shamokin  &  Port 
Treverton  railroad.  Later  he  established  a  home- 
stead on  Blue  Hill.  He  was  not  only  a  progres- 
sive, scientific  farmer,  but  was  also  prominent  in 
the  public  affairs  of  his  Ideality.  He  was  the  last 
surviving  member  of  the  first  fire  company  or- 
ganized in  Northumberland.  On  March  22,  1853, 
he  was  married  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Conser,  to  Sarah  (Sallie)  Yandling,  who  was  born 
June  30,  1833,  at  Northumberland,  Pa.,  and  died 
.Tan.  1".  1907.  Their  daughter,  Hannah  Mary,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Oscar  Leighou. 

Eenry  Wendling,   immigrant  ancestor  of  Mrs. 
Sarah    (Yandling)    Lesher,  came  to  this  country 
aboui   1765.    In  the  course  of  time  the  name  Wend- ' 
ling  came  to  be  written   Vandling. 

John  Vandling,  son  of  Henry,  married  Cath- 
arine Rhodenbach. 

.lo] in  Vandling,  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
(  Rhodenbach)  Vandling,  was  born  June  3,  1800. 
lie  was  a  man  of  remarkable  stature,  six  feet,  three 
inches  in  height,  and  weighed  as  much  as  240 
pounds.  A  school  teacher  for  many  years,  he 
taught  for  a  long  period  at  No.  4  school  in  Point 
township.  Later  he  lived  in  Harrisburg,  where  he 
died.  <  Mi  Feb.  12,  182  I.  he  was  married  at  Moores- 
burg,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gutelius,  a  German  Re- 
formed  minister,  to  Susan  Doutv,  who  was  born 
Oct.  26,  1799.  Their  daughter  Sarah  became  the 
wife  of  Robert  Alexander  Lesher  and  the  mother 
of  Mrs.   Eannah  Mary   (Lesher)  Leighou. 

Henry  Baldi  Douty,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Susan 
(Douty)  Yandling,  was  a  Huguenot  refugee  who 
came  from  France  with  his  father  and  brother  and 
located  at  an  early  date  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
"Two  sons  are  definitely  known,  namely:  Nich- 
olas and  Henry  Baldi  Douty,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  France.  The  former  removed  to  the 
mouth  of  Seneca  Lake  in  Xew  York  (present 
Geneva),  and  the  latter,  who  was  an  accomplished 
scholar  and  schoolmaster,  was  one  of  the  first  resi- 
dents of  Milton.  Pa.  He  suddenly  disappeared  in 
1790,  and  was  supposed  to  have  been  murdered." 
(From  "Memorials  of  the  Huguenots  in  Amer- 
ica," by  Stapleton,  page  97.)  Henry  Baldi  Douty 
married  Elizabeth  Cooper. 

John  Doutv.  son  of  Henry  Baldi  Douty.  was 
married  Jan.  21,  1799,  to  Mary  Martz,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Susanna  (Brown)  Martz.  Their  daugh- 
ter Susan  married  John  Yandling. 

ROSSITER.  Charles  E.  and  William  M.  Ros- 
siter,  brothers,  of  Sunbury,  are  identified  with  the 
industrial  life  of  that  borough  in  important  ca- 
pacities, the  former  the  only  florist  ever  established 
there,  the  latter  holding  a  responsible  position  at 
the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills,  where  he  has  won 
recognition  by  eminent  ability  and  the  practical 


application  of  his  wide  knowledge  and  experience 
as  an  engineer. 

Thomas  Rossiter,  the  first  of  this  family  of 
whom  we  have  record,  lived  in  Brush  Valley,  Pa., 
in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  and  it  appears  that 
he  was  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  army  dur- 
ing the  hard  winter  of  1777-78  at  Valley  Forge. 
<  >n  Dec.  28,  1780,  Thomas  Rossiter  appeared  as  a 
soldier  of  the  fourth  class  on  the  muster  roll  of 
I  apt.  Sampson  Thomas's  company.  It  seems  the 
time  of  service  was  classified  into  several  parts, 
Thomas  Rossiter's  name  appearing  both  times.  On 
the  muster  roll  of  the  Charlestown  company  of 
militia,  for  the  last  part  of  the  Revolutionary 
period,  1782,  in  the  list  of  Capt.  Samuel  Roberts' 
company,  appears  the  name  of  Thomas  Rossiter 
marked  "cripple."  There  was  also  a  Daniel  Ros- 
siter on  the  muster  roll  of  Capt.  Sampson  Thomas' 
company  on  Dec.  28,  1780,  a  soldier  of  the  third 
class,  and  some  relationship  evidently  existed  be- 
tween him  and  Thomas;  tradition  says  they  were 
brothers.  They  were  always  of  the  same  company, 
and  except  that  Daniel  is  mentioned  as  a  soldier 
of  the  third  class,  and  Thomas  as  a  soldier  of  the 
fourth  class,  their  records,  which  appear  in  Vol.  V, 
5th  Series  of  Pennsylvania  Archives,  are  identical. 

While  at  Valley  Forge  Thomas  Rossiter  was 
taken  sick,  and  one  Betsy  Coats  (who  was  a  sister 
of  ex-Governor  Pennypacker's  grandmother)  be- 
came bis  nurse.  She  was  not  only  an  able  nurse, 
but  a  lady  of  most  pleasing  personality,  and  the 
attachment  formed  during  his  illness  became  so 
strong  that  after  the  war  they  married  and  they 
settled  on  one  of  her  father's  farms  in  the  vicinity 
of  Valley  Forge.  They  lived  and  died  in  that 
region,  and  are  buried  there.  Their  son,  Thomas 
Rossiter,  Jr.,  when  seventeen  years  old  hired  out 
to  a  Quaker  farmer  in  the  neighborhood,  a  man 
named  VanDerslice,  among  whose  children  was  a 
daughter  Rachel,  then  only  three  years  old.  The 
youth  became  so  attached  to  her  that  one  night 
lie  asked-her  father  if  he  might  marry  her  pro- 
vided he  waited  until  she  became  of  suitable  age, 
and  the  father  replied,  "Thee  may."  When  she 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen  they  were  duly  mar- 
ried, and  they  lived  and  died  in  the  neighborhood, 
where  their  remains  rest  in  the  Friends'  burying 
ground  at  what  is  known  as  the  Corner  Stores. 
They  were  farming  people  all  their  lives.  All  their 
family,  which  consisted  of  six  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, were  six  feet  or  over  in  height,  in  this  respect 
taking  after  their  father,  who  stood  six  feet,  three 
inches.  A  blacksmith  by  trade,  his  great  strength 
was  developed  to  an  unusual  extent,  and  he  once, 
on  a  wager,  cut  a  five-acre  field  of  rye  before 
breakfast.  When  he  was  eighty  years  old  he  was 
visited  by  his  son  Morris,  who  then  lived  at  Sun- 
bury,  and  such  was  his  strength  even  at  that  ad- 
vanced  age  that  he  lifted  a  100-pound  anvil  with 
one  hand  and  threw  it  into  the  street:  and  at  that 


730 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


age  lie  "skinned  the  cat"  on  the  branch  of  an  elm 
tree.  He  never  knew  what  sickness  was  by  personal 
experience  throughout  his  long  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven.  Of  his  children,  Lewis  died 
at  Phoenixville,  Pa.,  when  eighty-three  years  old; 
Ellis  died  at  Phoenixville  when  about  eighty-six; 
Thomas  lived  and  died  at  Phoenixville:  Joseph 
lived  near  Phoenixville;  Morris  was  the  father  of 
Charles  E.  and  William   M.   Rossiter. 

Morris  Rossiter  was  born  in  1829  at  Valley 
Forge.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and 
though  not  acceptable  as  a  soldier  during  the  Civil 
war  because  not  physically  strong  he  gave  able  and 
patriotic  assistance  to  his  country  helping  to  make 
cannon  at  the  Phoenixville  rolling  mills.  At  the 
rinse  of  the  war.  in  1865,  be  settled  in  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county,  working  for  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  Company  at  that  point  until  the 
road  changed  hands,  becoming  the  property  of  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Erie  Company,  by  which  he  was 
employed  until  obliged  to  give  up  work  at  his 
trade  on  account  of  failing  health.  Becoming  a 
market  gardener,  lie  found  that  business  success- 
ful and  profitable,  and  followed  it  for  nine  years, 
bis  sons  Charles  and  Harry  assisting  him.  He 
died  at  Sunbury  in  1802,  and  was  buried  in  Pom- 
fret  Manor  cemetery.  He  was  a  Methodist  in  re- 
ligious connection,  and  politically  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. He  married  Margaret  Fullmer,  daugh- 
ter of  Ezekiel  Fullmer,  and  to  them  were  born 
four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  An- 
nie wlii  >  married  Samuel  Stroh,  a  blacksmith,  of 
Sunbury;  Charles  Ellis:  Harry  E.,  born  in  1864, 
at  Lum.berville,  near  Phoenixville,  Pa.,  now  living 
at  Sunbury;  and  William  Morris.  The  mother, 
who  still  snr\i\es.  is  now  (1910)  seventy-five  years 
old. 

Chables  Ellis  Rossitee  was  born  Aug.  2ft. 
1861,  at  historic  Valley  Forge,  ami  came  to  Sun- 
bury with  his  parents  in  the  fall  of  1865.  lb'  re- 
ceived bis  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
borough,  ilr.  Rossiter  worked  for  his  father  until 
the  hitter's  death,  and  he  has  been  employed  in  the 
florist  business  ever  since  old  enough  to  be  of  any 
assistance,  having  sold  his  first  flower  when  only 
twelve  years  old.  The  first  in  Sunbury  to  engage 
in  this  line,  lie  is  so  far  the  only  florist  that  has 
ever  done  business  in  the  borough,  and  his  busi- 
ness has  expanded  to  such  an  extent  that  he  now 
has  38,000  feet  of  glass  in  his  greenhouses,  which 
are  modern  in  every  respect  and  thoroughly  a- 
dapted  to  the  needs  of  bis  trade.  He  ships  consid- 
erable , hi t  of  the  borough,  having  a  wide  patronage, 
and  gives  employment  to  from  three  to  eight  men. 
according  to  the  season.  Mr.  Rossiter  is  a  man  of 
executive  ability,  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
business  side  of  the  industry  as  well  as  with  its 
technical  work,  and  he  has  accordingly  developed 
his  establishment  into  a  representative  modern 
plant,  which  is  a  credit  to  his  enterprise  and  to  the 


community  in  which  it  is  located.  His  establish- 
ment is  at  No.  351  Walnut  street. 

Though  a  busy  man,  Mr.  Rossiter  has  found  time 
to  cultivate  his  taste  lor  taxidermy,  and  there  are 
a  number  of  specimens  of  bis  skill  in  that  line  in 
his  office. 

In  June,  L887,  -Mr-  Rossiter  married  Blanche  R. 
King,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Croman) 
King,  of  Hughesville,  Inter  of  Sunbury,  where  Mr. 
King  died  in  1908;  he  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war.  during  which  he  participated  in  thirty-eight 
engagements.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  .Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Rossiter:  Grace,  who  has  taught  school 
in  Sunbury  for  two  terms  and  is  now  a  student  at 
Bucknell  University,  at  Lewisburg.;  Morris,  a  grad- 
uate of  Sunbury  high  sel 1.  now  attending  State 

College;  Prank,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1911, 
Sunbury  high  school;  Sarah:  Helen,  and  Paul. 

Mi-.  Rossiter  is  a  Methodist  in  religious  faith, 
and  he  is  a  pillar  of  his  church,  one  of  the  working 
members  ami  at  present  holding  office.  He  is  in- 
dependent in  politics,  voting  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  his  conscience. 

William  Morris  Rossitee  was  bom  July  8, 
L873,  in  Sunbury.  and  there  received  his  literary 
education,  in  the  public  schools.  Later  he  took-  a 
correspondence  course  in  mechanical  engineering 
at  a  Chicago  school,  and  hi'  is  also  an  accomplished 
man  in  various  branches  of  electrical  science. 
In  his  youth  he  became  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  florist  business,  working  in  that  line  at  dif- 
ferent times  until  be  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
Then  be  became  employed  in  the  steel  business, 
being  with  Ludwig  Rockwell  &  Son  for  two  yen-. 
lie  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  bicycles, 
during  1  s ; » ;  devoting  bimself  to  the  production  of 
the  "Eclipse"  wheel.  lli>  next  venture  was  in  the 
coal  me]  ic  business  in  Sunbury.  dredging  coal 
out  of  the  Susquehanna.     Since  the  fall  of  1902  he 

ha-    I n    associated    with    the    Susquehanna    Silk 

Mills.  His  first  position  with  this  important  in- 
dustrial  concern  was  as  machinist,  after  which  he 
was  appointed  master  mechanic,  ami  he  ha-  since 
been  promoted  to  mechanical  architectural  en- 
gineer at  this  large  establishment.  Mr.  Rossiter 
showed  such  ability  along  the  line  of  architectural 
engineering  while  acting  as  mechanical  engineer, 
and  developed  such  aptitude  in  making  practicable 
and  valuable  plans,  that  he  came  to  lie  intrusted 
with  all  the  architectural  and  electrical  engineer- 
ing at  the  plant  as  well  as  his  original  responsi- 
bilities. His  plans  ami  estimates  were  so  skill- 
fully made,  and  the  construction  so  ably  super- 
vised, that  his  accuracy  regarding  the  cost  was  a 
matter  of  astonishment  to  his  employers,  who  have 
shown  rare  appreciation  of  his  ability.  The  dye 
house  of  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills,  constructed 
in  the  summer  of  1910.  is  therefore  a  monument  to 
his  genius,  as  the  entire  construction  of  this  build- 
ing of  monolithic  concrete,  costing  $60,000,  was 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


■  31 


placed  in  his  hands.  It  is  a  one-story  structure, 
150  by  220  Eeet  in  dimensions,  and  lias  a  double 
cement  roof  with  three-inch  air  chamber.  During 
the  erection  of  this  building  he  had  120  men  un- 
der his  charge.  Ordinarily  lie  has  thirty-five.  He 
is  of  an  inventive  mind,  making  extensive  improve- 
ments on  textile  machinery,  and  has  been  allowed 
and  granted  patents  on  some  of  his  inventions.  Mr. 
Rossiter  is  a  sell-made  man.  having  risen  to  posi- 
tion and  prosperity  by  his  own  efforts,  and  he  is 
a  bard  worker,  deserving  the  good  fortune  that  has 
come  to  him.  Like  bis  brother,  he  is  a  taxidermist 
of  ability,  and  although  he  has  many  other  cares 
he  has  done  considerable  work  in  this  line  in  his 
leisure  hours.  He  is  a  member  of  Maclay  Lodge, 
Xo.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Temple  Club  at 
Sunbury. 

On  Oct.  11,  1899,  Mr.  Rossiter  married  Ella 
B.  Gross,  daughter  of  Isaac  M.  and  Amelia  (Han- 
cock)   Gross,  wl w  ii   the  historic  Fort  Augusta 

property,  the  fort  dating  from  1756.  .More  com- 
plete mention  of  the  Gross  family  will  he  found 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Rossiter 
have  had  six  children,  Jane.  Gertrude,  Monroe, 
Mary,  William  ami  Marcello.  The  family  occupy 
a  beautiful  residence  on  North  Front  street.  They 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

During  the  Spanish-American  war  Mr.  Rossiter 
was  in  the  service  as  a  member  of  Company  I,  1st 
Regiment,  United  Slates  Volunteer  Engineer-,  a 
regiment  composed  of  engineers  of  all  descriptions, 
civil,  mechanical,  electrical,  etc..  assembled  by  spe- 
cial act  of  Congress,  and  containing  men  from  ev- 
ery section  of  the  United  States.  This  regiment 
numbered  1,100  strong,  sturdy  men,  selected  from 
nearly  six  thousand  applicants.  They  were  en- 
camped at  Camp  Townsend,  Peekskill,  N.  Y., 
where  the  regiment  was  mobilized  and  mustered. 
They  embarked  from  New  York  Aug.  6,  1898,  and 
arrived  in  Porto  Rico  ten  days  later.  This  regi- 
ment was  part  of  General  Miles's  expedition,  made 
extensive  surveys  of  the  island,  built  bridges  and 
roads,  erected  h  e  plants  and  waterworks  and  put 
things  in  general  in  g I  sanitary  condition. 

REY  GEORGE  KOPENHAVER,  of  Mahanoy, 
Northumberland  county,  a  clergyman  of  the  Re- 
formed denomination,  has  five  churches  in  his  pres- 
ent charge:  St.  Peter's,  at  Mahanoy:  Himmel's, 
at  Rebuck;  St.  Paul's,  at  Urban;  Zion's,  at  Hern- 
don,  and  St.  David's,  at  Hebe.  Be  is  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  born  Dec.  14,  1873. 

The  first  known  ancestor  of  the  Koppenheffer 
(name  variously  spelled)  family  was  Thomas  Kop- 
penheffer.  a  resident  of  Heidelberg  township,  Leb- 
anon Co.,  Pa.,  who  died  there  prior  to  1762.  He 
left  a  wife  and  the  following  children:  Henry, 
Michael.  Simon,  Thomas  (wdio  in  1808  resided  in 
Bethel  township),  Regina  (married  John  Tice). 
Eve  and  Catharine. 


Henry  Koppenheffer,  son  of  Thomas,  was  old 
and  feeble  when  he  died,  in  August,  1807.  lie  Left 
a  wife,  Catharine,  and  children:  Henry,  Eliza- 
beth, Catharine,  Eve,  Margaret,  Barbara  and 
Christina. 

One  Christopher  Koppenheffer  (probably  a 
brother  of  Thomas)  died  in  Heidelberg  township, 
Lebanon  county,  in  September,  1785,  leaving  a 
wife,  Barbara  (Snebely),  and  a  daughter.  Cath- 
arine, who  married  Christ.  Ley,  of  Heidelberg 
township. 

Jonathan  Koppenheffer,  grandfather  of  Rev. 
George  E.,  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Church,  near 
Berrysburg,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Hepner,  and  their 
children  were:  Emanuel,  George,  John.  Mo-,.. 
Emeline  (married).  Sarah  (married  Elias 
Schauji),  Catharine  (married  William  Matter), 
Emma  (married  Henry  Witmer)  and  Mary  (mar- 
ried Simon  Lahr) . 

John  Koppenheffer.  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born 
in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  in  August. 
1838.  lie  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  Mifflin  township,  where'  lie  con- 
tinued to  be  so  engaged  for  some  twelve  years.  He 
served  during  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil  war.  in 
an  infantry  regiment.  In  1005  he  retired  to  Vera 
Cruz,  where  he  enjoys  the  comforts  he  deserves 
after  a  well  spent  life.  He  is  a  Republican  and 
was  school  director  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township 
a  number  of  years,  and  always  was  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  education.  He  has  reared  a  most  creditable 
family,  two  of  bis  sons  being  in  the  ministry,  and 
one  a  farmer  on  the  homestead.  His  wife.  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lucetta  (Schref- 
ller)  Mover,  died  Oct.  31,  1905,  aged  six- 
ty-six years,  six  months,  three  days.  They  hail 
ten  children:  Lillie,  Mrs.  D.  W.  Erb;  Laura.  Mrs. 
Ephraim  Witmer;  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Jonathan  H.  Wit- 
mer; Annie,  Mrs.  II.  M.  L.  Bohner :  Carrie.  Mrs. 
William  Weaver:  Mabel,  Mrs.  Monroe  Phillips: 
Mary  (twin  of  Mabel),  Mrs.  Jacob  Dreibelbies : 
Rev.  II.  Grant,  who  was  stationed  at  North  Caro- 
lina: Rev.  George  E.,  and  William  L. 

George  E.  Kopenhaver  was  but  one  year  of  agi 
when  his  parents  came  to  Mifflin  township.  Dauph- 
in county,  where  they  lived  about  one  year.  Then 
they  settled  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  when 
their  son  George  E  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  then  attended  a  sum- 
mer normal  school  at  Dalmatia,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  was  licensed  to  teach  school  by 

Prof.  W.  C.  Bloom,  then  superintendent  of  scl Is 

of  Northumberland  county.  He  taught  his  first 
term  at  Washington  schoolhouse,  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  also  another  term  in  the  same 
township,  ai  Vera  Cmz  (Malta  P.  0.).  While 
teaching  he  took  a  spring  term  in  Central  Penn- 
sylvania College  and  in  the  spring  of  1894  entered 
I'l'smus  Academy,  the  following  year  entering  the 


73? 


NORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


collegiate  department,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated  in  June,  1899.  He  took  a  post-graduate 
course  there  and  was  an  instructor  in  the  academic 
department  for  two  years,  after  which  he  taught 
the  Winfield  (Md.)  Academy  one  year.  In  1902 
he  entered  the  Ursinus  School  of  Theology,  then 
located  at  No.  3262  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia, 
but  now  affiliated  with  Tiffin  Seminary  and  lo- 
cated at  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  graduated  from  the 
Ursinus  School  of  Theology  in  Philadelphia  in 
1905,  and  his  first  charge  was  at  McAdoo,  Pa., 
where  he  was  stationed  about  two  years.  He  was 
then  called  to  a  large  field  at  Ringtown,  in  the 
same  county,  preaching  there  sixteen  months, 
\\  hen  he  received  a  call  from  the  Mahanoy  charge, 
which  he  has  since  served.  He  has  over  five  hun- 
dred members  at  these  five  churches  to  look  after, 
and  is  a  conscientious  and  effective  worker.  Ee 
has  resided  with  his  family  at  Mahanoy  since  1908. 
Mr.  Kopenhaver  is  a  close  student  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  he  has  a  good  working  library. 

In  1901  Mr.  Kopenhaver  married  Cora  A.  Wit- 
mer,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Harriet  (Hain) 
Witmer,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Mrs.  Kop- 
enhaver taught  school  in  that  township  for  a  period 
of  nine  years.  She  is  an  intelligent,  capable  wom- 
an, an  ideal  minister's  helpmate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kopenhaver  have  three  children:  Ralph  W.,  Han- 
nah J.  and  Mary  E. 


Benneville  Koppenhaffer,  a  citizen  of  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township,  whose  home  is  along  the  Mahan- 
tango  creek,  was  born  Aug.  25,  1829,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Hannah  (Eadel)  Koppenhaffer.  and 
grandson  of  Michael  Koppenhaffer  (also  spelled 
Koppenhaver),  who  lived  in  the  Lykens  Valley, 
where  he  operated  a  large  farm,  and  where  he  died 
a) Mint  1,831,  aged  seventy-one  }-ears.  He  is  buried 
at  St.  John's  Church,  near  Berrysburg.  His  wife, 
Catharine  Garret,  died  some  years  after  her  hus- 
band. They  had  the  following  children:  Michael, 
John,  Jonathan,  George,  Daniel,  Benjamin.  Cath- 
arine. Betsy  and  Sarah. 

Benjamin  Koppenhaffer.  son  of  Michael,  was 
born  Fob.  22,  1801,  and  died  April  10,  1871.  His 
wife.  Hannah  Eadel,  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Eadel.  Mr.  Koppenhaffer  was  a  farmer  in  the 
Lykens  Valley,  where  he  owned  a  tract  of  eighty 
ai  res.  His  latter  years  he  spent  with  his  son 
Benneville,  dying  at  Vera  Cruz.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  John's  Union  Church  of  Berrysburg, 
where  he  held  various  church  offices,  he  and  his 
witr  later  belonging  to  the  Vera  Cruz  Church. 
She  later  married  John  A.  Snyder,  being  his  third 
wife.  To  Benjamin  Koppenhaffer  and  his  wife 
were  born  live  sons  and  three  daughters:  Joel. 
David.  Henry.  John.  Benneville.  Dinah  (married 
John  Lehman).  Mary  Ann  (died  unmarried)  and 
Sallie  (married  John  Miller). 

Benneville  Koppenhaffer  was  born  and  reared  in 


Mifflin  township,  in  the  Lykens  Valley.  He 
learned  blacksmithing  and  followed  that  trade  for 
thirty  years  at  different  places  while  he  was  young, 
later  having  a  shop  along  the  Mahantango  creek, 
on  the  Dauphin  county  side.  He  then  purchased 
his  present  eighty-one-acre  farm  on  the  Northum- 
berland county  side  of  the  Mahantango  creek,  and 
there  farmed  until  his  retirement,  in  189S,  being 
succeeded  by  his  son  Benneville,  Jr.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat  and  was  a  school  director  of  Lower  Mahanoy 
township  for  six  years.  He  and  his  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Vera  Cruz  Church, 
which  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder. 

On  Jan.  1,  1854,  Mr.  Koppenhaffer  married 
Susan  Witmer,  daughter  of  Michael  Witmer,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  twelve  children :  Cathar- 
ine, married  to  Isaac  Snyder;  Anna,  married  to 
Daniel  Snyder:  Matilda,  who  married  Philip  Zerbe 
and  (second)  Philip  Updegrove:  Sarah,  who  died 
unmarried  ;  Emma,  married  to  Daniel  Snyder  (no 
relative  to  the  others)  :  John:  Isaac:  Benneville: 
William :  Jacob,  who  died  aged  seven  years :  and 
two  daughters,  who  died  young. 

PETER  CLEMENT,  the  ancestor  of  a  numer- 
ous posterity  who  nowr  reside  in  Northumberland 
county,  many  writing  the  name  Clemens,  was  a 
native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  born  in  that  part 
now  included  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  there  lived 
in  Pine  Grove  township.  Coming  to  Northumber- 
land county,  he  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Augusta- 
ville.  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  town- 
ship, and  there  followed  farming.  He  died  in 
1817.  when  about  forty-six  years  old,  and  is  buried 
at  the  old  Augustaville  Union  Church.  His  wife, 
Sophia  Kramer,  born  Sept.  16,  1781,  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  Feb.  18,  1854,  and  she,  too,  is 
buried  at  the  Augustaville  Church.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows :  Samuel,  who  lived  and  died  at 
Sunbury.  was  a  boat  contractor  and  builder,  his 
nephew.  Benjamin,  working  for  him  some  years 
( he  had  two  children,  Nelson  and  another)  ; 
Michael  died  young;  Abraham  is  mentioned  below; 
Jacob  and  John  settled  at  Harrisburg;  Peter  is 
mentioned  below :  Hannah  went  out  West,  where 
she  married,  lived  and  died. 

Peter  Clement,  son  of  Peter,  born  Dec.  25, 
1813,  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberland 
county,  did  laboring  work,  and  owned  a  few  acres 
of  land  upon  which  he  lived,  located  about  two 
miles  north  of  Herndon.  This  home  his  grand- 
son. Francis  Clement,  now  owns  and  occupies. 
Peter  Clement  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith. 
He  died  March  8,  1854.  and  was  buried  in  a  private 
graveyard  in  Jackson  township,  near  Deppen's 
schoolhouse,  but  later  he  was  re-interred  at  Peif- 
er's  United  Evangelical  Church,  at  Mandata.  His 
wife.  Rebecca  (Adams),  born  Jan.  28,  1814,  died 
Aug.  26,  1864.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Benjamin  ;  Abraham  :  Isaac  ;  Jere- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


;:]3 


iniah;  Peter;  Samuel;  Mary,  who  married  John 
1 1  ilc  ;  Lovina,  who  married  James  Wetzel :  and  Ab- 
bie,  who  married  Daniel  Beitz. 

Benjamin  Clement,  son  of  Peter  and  Rebecca 
(  Adams)  Clement,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
and  was  reared  by  Benjamin  Heim  and  wife,  who 
had  stood  sponsors  for  him  at  his  baptism;  he 
was  named  Benjamin  after  Mr.  Heim.  The  Heims 
had  no  children,  and  after  they  died  Benjamin 
Clement  became  the  owner  of  their  eighty-acre 
farm,  where  he  settled  in  1861  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  cultivating  it  from  the  time 
of  his  marriage  until  his  death.  His  widow  and 
three  of  his  children  still  make  their  home  on 
that  place,  which  is  in  Jackson  township.  Mr. 
Clement  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he 
followed  during  his  earlier  life.  He  died  in  Jack- 
son township  .Ian.  19,  1909,  aged  seventy-four 
years,  four  months,  seventeen  days.  He  was  a 
member  of  Peifer's  United  Evangelical  Church, 
which  lie  served  officially,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  buried  at  that  church.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  he  was  quite  active  in  public  af- 
fairs, serving  as  supervisor  and  overseer  of  the 
poor  of  Jackson  township.  His  wife,  Mary  (Brow- 
er),  was  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Brower,  of  Jack- 
son township.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren: Ira  B.  is  mentioned  later;  Jane  married 
Oliver  Leffler;  Flora  married  Harvey  Hess;  How- 
aid  is  a  resident  of  Eerndon,  Pa.;  Daniel  died 
Dec  20,  1898,  aged  twenty-six  years,  eight  months, 
twelve  days:  Francis  is  mentioned  later;  Bertha 
and  Amanda  are  both  unmarried,  and  they  and 
their  brother  Francis  continue  to  make  their  home 
on  the  old  place. 

Iha  B.  Clement,  son  of  Benjamin,  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  has 
a  valuable  place  of  135  acres.  He  is  a  native  of 
Jackson  township,  born  Sept.  2,  1863,  and  was 
reared  to  farming,  in  his  early  manhood  hiring 
out  among  farmers  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-five.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  nil  the  Daniel  Holslme  farm,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  a  tenant 
for  fifteen  years.  He  then  farmed  the  Israel  By- 
erl\  place  near  Hickory  Corners,  in  the  same  town- 
ship, for  a  period  of  two  years,  in  the  spring  of 
1906  moving  to  his  present  farm,  in  Rockefeller 
township,  which  was  formerly  the  dared  Snyder 
place.  .Mis.  Clement  was  reared  on  this  farm.  It 
is  nicely  located  and  in  an  excellent  state  of  culti- 
vation,'Mr.  Clement  being  an  intelligent,  indus- 
trious farmer,  ranking  aiming  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  his  township. "  He  is  serving  at  present  as 
one  of  the  members  of  the  school  board.  Mr. 
Clement  is  a  Democrat,  in  political  matters,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  Peifer's  Evangelical  Church  at 
Mandata.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Emanuel 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. 


On  Sept.  14,  1889,  Mr.  Clement  married  Ella 
Snyder,  daughter  of  Jared  and  Elizabeth  (Rebuck) 
Snyder,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children: 
Mary.  Amanda,  Mabel  and  Samuel. 

Francis  Clement,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
Dec.  8,  1875,  in  Jackson  township,  was  reared  on 
the  homestead,  and  has  followed  farming  there  all 
his  days.  He  now  owns  the  old  homestead  place, 
the  property  at  present  comprising  sixty-eight 
acres,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  thoroughly 
progressive  young  agriculturists  of  his  district. 
Peter  Clement,  his  grandfather,  built  the  barn  on 
this  farm,  and  the  other  buildings  were  erected 
by  Benjamin  Clement,  father  of  the  present  owner. 
On  Oct.  11,  1908,  Francis  Clement  married  Alice 
Tressler,  daughter  of  William  Tressler,  of  Rocke- 
feller township,  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Clement  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  (Peifer's) 
at  Mandata. 


Abraham  Clement,  another  son  of  Peter,  the 
pioneer  in  Northumberland  county,  was  born  April 
6,  1816,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he 
lived  for  a  time,  later  moving  to  Milton  and  thence 
to  Mooresburg.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  also,  living  with  his  son  Peter, 
however,  for  some  years  before  his  death.  He  died 
in  Point  township,  where  his  son  Peter  now  lives, 
March  27,  1895,  aged  seventy-nine  years  less  eleven 
days,  and  is  buried  at  the  Oak  Grove  Church  in 
Montour  county.  His  wile.  Lucy  Ann  (Heilman), 
was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Heilman,  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  and  died  when  sixty-three  years 
of  age.  She.  too.  is  buried  at  Oak  Grove  Church. 
Fourteen  children  were  born  to  this  couple:  Peter; 
Sophia,  born  March  16,  1813  (married  Flias  Bay- 
lor) ;  Christiana  (married  Peter  Seiler)  :  Daniel, 
born  Nov.  22,  1845;  Mary  (Maria),  born  Dec.  17, 
1846  (married  D.  C.  Young;  she  was  lame)  :  John, 
born  March  3,  18,18 ;  Samuel,  born  Feb.  27,  1849 
(deceased):  Abram,  born  Sept.  12,  1850;  Jane; 
Jeremiah,  born  Sept.  29,  1855;  Hannah,  born 
March  3,  1857  (married  S.  Raup)  :  Catharine, 
born  June  1,  1858  (married  Samuel  Wagner); 
Jacob  and  Lucy,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Some  of  this  family  are  out  West. 

Peter  Clemens,  son  of  Abraham  and  Luey  Ann 
(  Heilman)  Clement,  was  born  Oct.  29,  1811,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  brought  up  to  farm  life,  which 
he  has  followed  most  successfully.  When  twenty- 
three  years  old  he  enlisted  at  Philadelphia  in 
Company  I,  112th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, and  served  almost  two  years,  lacking  only  a 
few  days  of  that  period.  Returning  to  his  home 
county  after  the  war  he  was  married  March  27. 
L866,  to  Caroline  Brouse,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Brouse,  of  Snyder  county,  later  of  Northumber- 
land county,  and  then  located  in  Point  township. 
He  did  laboring  work  for  one  year,  in  the  spring 


m 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  18(iT  moving  to  Montandon,  where  he  resided 
.1  few  3'ears,  until  the  spring  of  1870.  He  has 
since  fanned  in  Point  township,  where  he  rented 
land  for  twenty  years,  in  the  year  1889  settling 
mi  his  present  place  in  that  township,  a  fifty-three- 
acre  farm  of  good  limestone  soil,  where  he  lias 
profitably  followed  general  farming  and  trucking. 
For  eighteen  years  he  also  engaged  in  lime-burn- 

: ig.  lanying  on  that  business  until  1907,  so  ex- 
tensively  that  he  burned  as  much  as  95,000  bush- 
els in  (Hie  year.  Mr.  Clemens  has  been  interested 
in  the  various  activities  of  his  community,  has 
filled  the  office  of  school  director  five  years  and 
that  of  supervisor  mam  year-,  and  has  ! 
an  active  member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  in 
Point  township,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee 
since  1  !'04 ;  he  was  elder  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  has  served  in  all  the  various  church  offices. 
Mi-  family  are  also  Lutherans  in  religion.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  man  whose 
upright  life  and  devotion  to  duty  commend  him 
to  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  he  is 
-  cted  wherever  known.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clemens  have  been  bom  children  as  follows: 
Harvey  S.,  nn«  of  Northumberland;  Albert  W.. 
oi  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Catharine  A.,  who  is  unmar- 
ried and  living  at  home:  Liny  A.,  a  widow,  of 
St.  Joseph;  Mo.;  Maria  V..  who  died  aged  twenty 
yeaTs;  Mary  M.,  who  married  Spencer  Black,  of 
Watsontown,  Pa.;  Abraham  B.,  of  Sunbury,  this 
county:  Maud  S..  who  married  August  Schaffer 
and  lives  in  Point  township:  and  Jeremiah,  also 
of  Point  township. 

Abeam  Clemens,  son  of  Abraham  and  Lucy 
Ann  ( Heilman )  ('lenient,  was  born  Sept.  12,  1850, 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  attei 
school.  When  twelve  years  old  he  went  with  his 
father  to  Milton,  where  he  continued  his  studies 
for  a  time,  and  he  remained  with  his  father  until 
his  marriage,  living  at  Mx>oresburg  for  six  months. 
In  1871  lie  came  to  his  present  farm  in  Easl 
Chillisquaque  township,  the  Andrew  Kurtz  place, 
on  the  road  between  Milton  and  Danville.  This 
property  he  bought  in  188A  It  comprises  about 
seventy  acres,  and  a  fine  limestone  quarry  is 
cated  on  the  tract.  In  addition  to  farming  Mr. 
Clemen-  has  done  an  extensive  business  burning 
lime,  which  is  very  plentiful  on  his  land,  finding 
■a  ready  market  for  the  product  in  his  immediate 

rieinity.  He  has  prospered  by  hard  work  and 
strict  attention  to  business,  and  he  enjoys  the 
m  of  his  neighbors,  whom  he  has  served  in 
the  ofnei  oi  school  director.  In  politics  he  is  a 
ocrat,  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  which  he  serves  at  present  as  elder. 

In  1870  Mr.  Clemens  married  Sarah  Kurtz. 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Teel)  Kurtz,  and 
granddaughter    of    Andrew    Kurtz,    who    lived    in 

Northampton  county.    Mr.  and  Mis.  Clemens  have 
amilv.  viz.:  Andrew  married  Bettv  Xori- 


eonk  and  has  children.  Harold  and  Lee:  Maggie 
married  Irwin  Fans:  Cora  married  Charles  Bine 
and  has  two  children.  John  A.  and  Emeline  J.; 
Newton  married  Bertha  Zoug  and  their  children 
are  Miriam,  Myrland,  Carold  and  Herman;  John 
A.  married  Irene  Benneth  and  their  children  are 
Melvin  and  Mildred  :  Peter  married  Lottie  Wag- 
ner; Maude  married  Myrle  Crunly  and  has  chil- 
dren, Margaret  and  Paul:  Jeremiah  married  Delia 
Renn  and  their  children  are  Charlotte  and  Boy 
Henry:  Be-sie  married  Frank  Muffley  and  has  one 
son.  Abram  C. :  Samuel  and  Pearl  are  unmarried. 

JOHN  WEISEE  BUCHEB,  formerly  of  Sun- 
bury,  a  citizen  of  that  borough  whose  activities 
in  business,  social  and  public  circle-  made  him 
known  to  most  oi'  its  residents,  was  horn  there 
Sept.  1">.  1835.  He  is  a  member  of  the  third  gen- 
eration of  his  family  to  live  at  that  place,  the 
Buchers  having  been  active  and  prominent  here 
from  tlie  early  days,  the  emigrant  members  of 
the  family  having  settled  in  Sunbury  in  the  days 
of  the  Indian  occupation. 

John,  Henry  and  Dietrich  Bucher  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania from  Switzerland.  Dietrich  establishing 
an  iron  furnace  near  Beading.  Berks  county,  John 
and  Henry  locating  at  Sunbury,  Northumberland 
count}'.  Henry  Bucher,  who  was  the  grandfather 
of  John  Weiser  Bucher.  was  born  April  Hi.  1764, 
in  Switzerland,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
d  at  what  i-  now  the  southwest  corner  of 
Walnut  and  Third  streets,  owning  much  land  in 
Sunbury — nearly  all  that  part  of  the  borough  be- 
tween tin-  Susquehanna  river  and  Shamokin  creek 
from  the  mouth  of  the  latter  to  Spruce  street. 
He  vmis  the  tir-t  to  put  this  land  under  cultivation, 
lie  married  Catharine  Eplev.  who  was  born  Jan. 
24,  1768,  and  died  at  Sunbury  Aug.  IT.  184L  Mr. 
Bucher  died  at  Sunbury  Feb.  3,  L824,  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Henry:  Elizabeth,  who  married  George 
Weiser.  a  tanner:  Mary,  who  married  Jacob  Leis- 
enring;  Francis;  George,  who  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812;  and  John.  Of  this  family, 
lleiirv  lived  and  died  in  Sunbury;  he  had  a  hotel 
on  Front  street,  and  operated  the  ferry  for  some 
years. 

Francis  Bucher,  youngest  son  of  Henry  and 
Catharine  (  Eplev)  Bucher.  lived  at  the  old  home- 
in  Sunbury.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tan- 
ner and  was  one  of  the  last  persons  engaged  in 
that  business  in  the  borough.  He  died  March  19. 
1875,  at  the  ag  seventy.     On  Dec.  8,  1831,  he 

married  Mary  Ann  Masser,  ami  to  their  union 
born  sis  sons  and  two  daughters:  The  eldest 
two.  both  named  Henry,  died  in  infancy:  John 
Weiser  is  the  oldest  surviving  member  of  the  fam- 
ily; Emily  died  unmarried  in  1908;  Edward  (de- 
ceased) married  Amelia  Fisher  (whose  mother  was 
ninety-seven  years  old  in  1910 — the  oldest  living 
woman  in  Sunburv)  :  Bichard,  who  lived  and  died 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


735 


in  Sunbury,  was  in  the  army  for  fifteen  years, 
was  held  prisoner  at  Andersonville  for  over  a  year 
and  was  in  Custer's  forces;  Louisa  died  young; 
William  H.  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury. 

John  Weiser  Bueher  received  an  academic  edu- 
cation, and  learned  the  trade  of  tanner  with  his 
father.  When  about  twenty  years  old  he  became 
clerk  and  deputy  to  the  register  and  recorder,  fill- 
ing that  position  about  sis  years,  after  which  he 
was  appointed  deputy  prothonotary,  serving  as 
such  one  year;  he  also  served  one  term  as  deputy 
treasurer  of  the  county.  He  served  one  year  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  upon  his  return  to  Sunbury 
resumed  the  tanning  business,  at  which  he  was  en- 
gaged for  two  or  three  years.  He  then  ent.-rcd 
the  employ  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  in  whose  employ 
he  continued  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  beginning 
as  bookkeeper  in  his  manufacturing  establishment, 
and  alter  several  years  in  that  position  becoming 
secretary  of  the  Sunbury  Steam  Kerry  and  Tow 
Boat  Company  and  associate  manager  or  super- 
intendent of  the  various  manufacturing  industries 
of  Mr.  ('lenient.  In  July,  1890,  he  was  elected 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Sunbury  Trust  & 
Safe  Deposit  Company,  then  a  new  banking  con- 
cern, ju-i  established  in  its  quarters  at  Fourth  and 
Market  streets.  Though  not  as  active  in  business 
as  formerly,  Mr.  Bueher  retained  many  of  his 
local  interests  as  lone  as  ]„.  remained  in  Sunbury. 
On  Feb.  19,  1911,  he  and  In-  daughter  Sarah  left 
Sunliurv  for  Kingman,  Ariz.,  to  make  their  home 
with   his  son   William    Henry. 

Mr.  Bueher  took  a  prominent  part  in  adminis- 
tering the  public  affairs  of  the  borough,  having 
served  many  years  as  town  clerk  and  in  the  coun- 
cil, and  in  1868  as  chief  burgess;  he  was  also 
elected  treasurer  of  the  borough,  in  every  position 
justifying  the  confidence  his  fellow  citizens  have 
shown  in  his  ability  and  integrity.  He  cast  his 
firsl  vote  for  Buchanan,  hut  has  since  been  a  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

In  February.  1865,  Mr.  Bueher  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  17th  P.  V.  1.,  at  Harrisburg,  and 
served  one  year  in  the  tilth  Army  Corps,  as  a 
private  under  General  Hancock.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Charleston.  S.  C.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  Lieut.  William  A.  Brunner  Post,  No.  335, 
G.  A.  P..  of  Sunbury,  and  served  as  quartermaster 
of  that  organization  continuously  from  1895.  The 
history  of  the  members  of  that  post  which  he  com- 
piled, containing  a  biography  with  detailed  war 
record  of  246  comrades,  cost  him  much  time  and 
labor,  occupying  him  for  over  two  years,  and  is  a 
valuable  and  interesting  work:  he  has  also  compiled 
a  complete  roster  id'  the  post.  Mr.  Bueher  is 
quite  an  authority  on  matters  of  local  history. 
having  long  devoted  much  of  his  leisure  to  intelli- 
gent study,  and  his  fine  library  of  over  fifteen 
hundred  volumes  contains  many  valuable  works. 
which  he  thoroughly  appreciates  and  enjoys.     In 


his  more  active  years  he  was  prominent  in  various 
fraternal  bodies,  and  he  was  the  oldest  Mason  in 
Sunbury  (member  of  Lodge  No.  22.  F.  &  A.  M.) 
and  the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in  that  borough  (mem- 
ber of  Lodge  Xo.  203).  He  formerly  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  I.  0.  1!.  M.. 
P.  0.  S.  of  A.  and  American  Mechanics.  He 
was  long  identified  with  the  First  Reformed 
Church  of  Sunhury.  which  he  served  many  years 
a-  organist.  in  1891  Mr.  Bueher  erected'  the 
beautiful  home  at  No.  1048  River  Road  which 
lie  ee,  iipu.fl  until  his  removal  from  the  borough. 
iin  Dec.  15,  1858,  Mr.  Bueher  was  married  in 
Sunbury  to  Hester  A.  Beard,  daughter  of  James 
Beard  (deceased),  at  one  time  prothonotary  of 
Northumberland  county  and  afterward  a  lawyer. 
She  dud  Dec.  26,  1862,  leaving  three  children: 
Francis  Edward,  who  graduated  from  Franklin 
and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster.  Pa.,  and  is  now 
a  prominent  lawyer  in  Philadelphia:  John  Beard. 
a  merchant  of  Sunbury;  and  Mary  Margaret,  born 
Sept.  l:;.  1st;-.',  who  died  Feb/  14.  1877.  On 
March  4,  1868,  Mr.  Bueher  married  (second) 
Mary  .lane  (lenient,  daughter  of  Ira  T.  Clement, 
.ind  -In  died  in  December  of  the  same  year,  leav- 
ing a  daughter,  Laura  Irene,  born  Dec.  in.  1868, 
who  died  Nov.  2.  1892.  On  Feb.  13,  1872,  Mr. 
Bueher  married  (third)  Mary  Faust,  and  to  their 
union  were  horn  five  children:  Samuel  Faust,  who 
is  deceased  :  William  Henry,  a  graduate  of  Buck- 
nell  University,  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Med- 
ico-Chirurgical  College,  Philadelphia,  who  was  a 
surgeon  in  the  United  States  navy  from  1897  and 
because  of  physical  disability  stationed  at  King- 
man, Ariz.,  since  1908  (he  is  now  retired)  ;  Sarah 
Helen,  unmarried;  George  Franklin:  and  Mary 
Ann  Masser,  deceased. 

TROUTMAN.  The  Troutman  family,  numer- 
ous and  well  known  in  the  lower  end  of  Northum- 
berland county,  particularly  in  and  around  Jordan 
township,  has  been  long  established  in  that  region. 
At  St.  David's  Church,  at  Hebe,  in  that  town- 
ship, are  buried  many  of  the  name,  and  we  find 
record  there  of  one  Heinrich  Troutman,  born  Dec. 
23,  Kiel,  died  Dee.  16,  1833,  a  farmer  who  lived 
in  the  South  Jordan  district  and  was  a  Reformed 
member  of  Hebe  Church.  His  children  by  his 
first  wife  were:  Peter.  Jacob,  Anna  (married 
Henry  Bohner),  Adam  and  donas.  By  his  second 
marriage,  to  Catharine  Hain,  horn  April  10,  171  I. 
died  Oct.  2d,  1854,  he  had  children:  George,  Ben- 
jamin (who  married  a  Dreibelbis )  and  Abraham 
(who  married  Anna  Schaffer,  daughter  of  John). 

Abraham  Troutman,  brother  of  Heinrich.  above, 
was  born  Dec.  !),  1773,  and  died  April  1.  1852. 
His  wife  Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  7.  1780,  did  May 
9,  1844.  Their  daughter  Salome,  horn  .Line  30, 
1816,  married  Heinrich  Troutman.  and  died  April 
15,    IMS. 


736 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Among  the  wills  on  record  in  Northumberland 
county  we  find  (Will  Book  "?,  page  97 )  that  of 
Peter  Troutman.  Mahanoy  township,  tiled  April 
3,  1809,  whose  "dearly  beloved  wife."  Eve.  is  ap- 
pointed executor ;  names  of  children  are  not  given, 
hut  all  the  estate  is  bequeathed  to  them.  The  will 
of  one  Jacob  Troutman.  who  died  early  in  No- 
vember, 1844.  appoints  his  wife.  Anna  Maria,  as 
the  executor,  and  shows  the  children  to  have  been 
Catharine.  Abraham.  Mary,  Christena,  Lidia,  Eliz- 
abeth (■•shall  have  the  cow  she  raised  from  a  calf 
in  advans"),  Laha,  George,  Esther  and  Solomy. 
At  the  time  of  the  father's  death  the  family  lived 
in  Jackson  township.  Another  Jacob  Troutman 
died  in  October^  1854;  one  John  Troutman  was 
his  executor.  One  Moses  Troutman  died  in  July. 
1868:  executor,  Solomon  Troutman. 

Jacob  Troutman,  the  known  progenitor  of  many 
of  the  name  now  residing  in  Northumberland 
county,  may  have  been  a  son  of  the  Heinrich  pre- 
viously mentioned,  though  we  have  no  definite  rec- 
ords to  substantiate  the  theory.  But  as  Heinrich 
lived  in  the  region  in  which  the  family  is  so  well 
represented,  and  as  .lamb  had  a  brother  Peter 
(also  mentioned  among  Heinrich's  children),  it 
is  possible  they  were  of  the  same  line.  Jacob 
Troutman  owned  and  lived  upon  a  farm  in  Jor- 
dan township,  near  Uniontown,  the  property  now 
owned  by  Phoebe  Troutman.  one  of  his  grand- 
daughters: the  place  now  comprises  eighty  acres. 
He  is  interred  in  the  Uniontown  cemetery,  the 
burial  place  of  many  Troutmans.  He  and  his  wife 
Magdalena  (Brosius)  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  John ;  Polly.  Mrs.  John  Lesher: 
Moses:  Carolina.  Mrs.  Nathan  Brower:  Peter: 
Samuel:  and  Eve.  Mrs.  Isaac  "Wolf. 

John  Troutman.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  June 
10,  1817,  in  Jordan  township,  near  Uniontown. 
and  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  men  in  his  sect  inn.  of  which  he  was 
a  leading  citizen  for  many  years  of  his  long  life. 
Besides  his  home  place  of  132  acres  (which  was 
given  to  his  son  John  L.  and  his  daughter  Mag- 
adelene)  he  owned  six  farms,  the  one  now  owned 
by  his  son  I  [eorge  L..  another  which  his  son  Simon 
obtained,  one  given  to  his  daughter  Ellemina.  Mrs. 
Jeremiah  Peifer,  another  owned  by  his  son  Adam 
L..  another  owned  by  his  son  Henry,  and  another 
by  Joel  Kratzer.  son  of  his  daughter  Ellemina 
by  her  first  marriage,  to  Joel  Kratzer.  Mr. 
Troutman  was  active  in  church  work,  the  founder 
and  leading  member  of  Troutman's  United  Evan- 
gelical Church,  so  named  in  his  honor.  He  built 
the  meetinghouse  of  that  congregation  at  Union- 
town,  was  always  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
church  and  one  of  its  pillars  to  the  end  of  his 
life.  Mr.  Troutman  served  some  years  as  treas- 
urer of  his  township.  He  died  upon  his  farm 
March  17,  1900,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  in 
the  family  plot  in  Uniontown  cemetery. 


Mr.  Troutman  was  twice  married,  his  first  union 
being  with  Sarah  Lesher.  who  was  born  Oct.  19, 
L817,  and  died  April  27,  1841.  Mr.  Troutman 
subsequently  married   her  sister,  Harriet  Lesher, 

o  died  April  27,  1888.  They  were  daughters 
of  Samuel  and  Magadelene  (Smith)  Lesher,  who 
were  from  Berks  county;  Mr.  Lesher  was  a  large 
i  iv  owner.  Mr.  Troutman  was  the  father 
of  fifteen  children.  Engeline  and  Simon  by  his 
first  wife,  and  the  following  by  his  second:  Mag- 
dalena (who  died  unmarried),  Ellemina  (wife  of 
Joel  Kratzer  and  second  Jeremiah  Peifer),  Henry 
L.,  lsaa<  1...  Moses  L.,  Mary  (who  married  Hiram 
Landis).  Amos,  George  L..  John  L..  Phoebe,  one 
that  died  in  infamy.  Cornelius,  and  another  that 
died  in  infancy. 

George  L.  Troutman,  son  of  John,  was  born. 
June  21,  1858.  Ee  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
worked  for  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, after  which  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  was  a  tenant  for  a  few  years. 
In  1881  he  came  to  his  present  home  in  Jordan 
township,  a  120-acre  farm  located  on  the  road 
between  Hebe  and  Klingerstown,  formerly  the 
homestead  of  John  Eister,  who  built  the  presenl 
n  1840  and  the  house  in  1836.  Samuel 
Wiest  bought  the  property  from  Mr.  Eister  for 
his  son  Jacob,  who  occupied  it  for  thirty-five 
vcars.  since  when  it  has  been  in  Mr.  Troutmans 
possession.  It  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  valuable  farms  in  the  valley,  its  sui 
sive  owners  having  taken  considerable  pride  in 
keeping  it  up.  and  it  has  not  deteriorated  under 
Mr.  Troutman's  management.  He  is  one  of  the 
industrious  and  thrifty  farmers  of  his  section. 

On  Dec.  8,  lv>.  Mr.  Troutman  married  Mary 
Wert,  daughter  of  William  and  Catharine  (Rii  - 
Wert,  and  they  have  three  children:  Alice  A., 
who  married  John  Romberger  and  lives  on  the 
homestead  (they  have  one  son,  Ralph  T. )  :  VI 
of  Klingerstown.  Pa.,  married  to  Sallie  B..  daugh- 
of  Tobias  Wiest:  and  Dora  A.,  who  married 
William  B.  Wiest.  Jr.,  and  is  now  living  in  Al- 
berta, Canada,  where  they  settled  on  a  homestead 
eir  own  and  have  prospered. 

Mr.  Troutman  and  his  family  have  been  identi- 
fied    with     the     Troutman     United     Evangelical 
Church,  of  which  his  father  was  the  founder.     He 
Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

Isaac  L.  Troutman,  sixth  son  of  John  Trout- 
man. and  grandson  of  Jacob,  was  born  Sept.  4, 
L849,  in  Jordan  township,  and  was  reared  on  the 
nal  farm,  working  for  his  parents  through- 
nut  his  youth.  When  about  twenty-one  years  old 
he  began  farming  for  himself  in  Rockefeller  town- 

.    at    Seven    Points,    where   he   locat 
1869.  from  that  time  for  many  years  working  for 
his  father-in-law.  Daniel  Klinger,  with  whom  he 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


737 


lived.     Mr.  Troutman  remained  with  Mr.  Klinger 

until  his  death,  and  he  still  lives  on  that  place. 
He  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  the 
Cross  Road  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  active. 
having  held  the  offices  of  trustee,  deacon  and  elder, 
in  which  latter  he  is  still  serving.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Troutman  married  Mary  Ann  Klinger, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Caroline  ( Schadel )  Kling- 
er, and  they  have  had  children  as' follows:  Lizzie 
married  Theodore  McKinney  and  they  live  at  Sun- 
bury,  Pa. ;  Harvey  Albert  married  Edna  Long  and 
lives  at  Sunbury,  Pa.;  Elmer  F.  is  mentioned  be- 
low :  Lillie  married  Elmer  Zimmerman  and  they 
live  in  Rockefeller  township:  William  H.  died  aged 
fourteen  years. 

Daniel  Klinger,  father  of  Mrs.  Troutman,  was 
born  Nov.  2,  1824,  and  married  Caroline  Schadel, 
who  was  born  May  22,  1827.  They  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  Klingerstown,  Schuylkill  county, 
after  their  marriage,  and  settled  in  Rockefeller 
township,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  and  there  they  are  buried,  at  Emanuel  Luth- 
eran Church.  Mr.  Klinger  died  Aug.  21,  1908, 
Mrs.  Klinger  on  Oct.  22,  1907.  They  were  farm- 
ing people  and  among  the  prosperous  residents  of 
their  section. 

Elmer  V.  Troutman,  son  of  Isaac  L.,  was  born 
Nov.. 22,  1876,  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he 
attended  the  local  schools  and  was  brought  up  to 
farm  life.  Working  for  his  parents  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self in  the  spring  of  1898,  on  the  tract  of  sixty- 
seven  acres  in  the  Plum  Creek  district,  in  Rock- 
efeller township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  This 
was  formerly  a  Furman  homestead,  later  owned  by 
a  Klinger,  and  the  present  set  of  buildings  on 
the  place  was  erected  by  William  Furman.  Mr. 
Troutman  has  improved  the  property  materially 
since  it  came  into  his  ownership,  and  the  barn 
and  stables  have  been  equipped  with  modern  ap- 
pliances and  are  kept  scrupulously  clean,  his  live 
stock  being  a  matter  of  pride  and  probably  the 
finest  in  the  township,  this  being  true  of  his  cattle 
and  horses  both.  He  has  made  a  specialty 
dairy  farming,  keeping  fifteen  milch  cows  in  the 
summer  season  and  in  winter  usually  as  many  as 
twenty-three,  running  a  milk  team  to  Sunbury 
daily.  He  has  been  enterprising  and  industrious, 
and  his  intelligent  methods  and  good  management 
have  brought  their  own  reward. 

On  Dec"  22,  1899,  Mr.  Troutman  married  Adel- 
la  Bloom,  daughter  of  the  late  Hiram  Bloom,  who 
was  a  fanner  of  Rockefeller  township.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Troutman, 
Gertrude  and  Russell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Troutman 
are  Lutheran  members  of  the  Plum  Creek  Church. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  connection,  and 
has  several  local  elective  offices. 


Joseph  Troutman.  great-grandfather  of  William 
L.  Troutman.  of  Hebe,  in  Jordan  township,  was 
a  farmer  of  that  township. 

George  T.  Troutman,  son  of  Joseph,  born  Jan. 
27,  1804,  was  a  farmer  in  Jordan  township,  own- 
ing the  place  which  he  occupied  and  cultivated. 
It  is  now  the  property  of  S.  W.  Reed,  a  farm  of 
about  130  acre-,  lie  married  Jestina  Klark,  who 
was  born  Nov.  22,  1811,  and  died  June  4.  1876, 
surviving  Mr.  Troutman,  who  passed  away  Feb. 
14,  1869.  They  are  buried  at  Hebe.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  William  K,  Henry  K.,  Joseph  K. 
(died  Dec.  27,  1906,  aged  sixty-six  years,  eight 
months,  two  days;  wife  Esther  died  May  31,  1888, 
aged  forty-three  years,  three  months,  fifteen  day- ) . 
Aaron  K.,  Harriet,  Catharine.  Louisa.  Helena, 
Mary  and  Sarah. 

William  K.  Troutman,  son  of  George  T.,  was 
born  in  Northumberland  county,  and  was  a  farmer 
of  Jordan  township,  where  he  had  a  tract  of  L25 
acres  which  he  cultivated  during  his  active  years. 
Later,  when  he  retired,  he  moved  to  a  small  place 
near  Hebe.  During  his  early  years  he  was  a  ten- 
ant farmer,  but  by  hard  work  and  thrift  he  became 
well-to-do,  and  he  was  one  of  the  respected  citi- 
zens of  his  township,  which  he  served  as  tax  col- 
lector. Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Union  army, 
as  a  member  of  Company  K.  172d  Regiment.  He 
and  his  family  worshipped  with  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation at  Hebe,  and  he  served  as  elder  and 
trustee  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Troutman's  first  wife,  Lydia  (Leitzel), 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Leitzel,  was  born  Jan.  15, 
1834,  and  died  Nov.  26,  1868,  the  mother  of  seven 
children:  Amelia  married  Peter  Kratzer;  Eliza- 
beth married  William  Bohner;  Catharine  married 
Peter  Boyer :  Lydia  married  William  Hoffman : 
Emma  married  John  Long:  Cossom  married  Mag- 
gie Shaud;  William  L.  is  mentioned  below.  The 
father  died  Nov.  2,  1897,  aged  sixty-sis  years, 
nine  months,  fourteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  Hebe 
by  the  side  of  his  first  wife. 

William  L.  Troutman,  son  of  William  K.  and 
Lydia  (Leitzel)  Troutman.  was  born  May  5,  1864, 
in  Lykens  Valley.  Dauphin  county,  and  like  the 
average  farmer"-  son  was  trained  to  agricultural 
pursuits  from  boyhood  and  worked  for  bis  parents 
until  he  became  ol  age.  His  early  literary  train- 
ing was  obtained  at  home  and  in  the  schools  at 
Pillow.  Dauphin  county,  and  when  twenty  years 
old  he  was  licensed  to  teach,  by  Prof.  W.  -1.  Wolv- 
erton,  then  superintendent  of  schools  in  Northum- 
berland county.  Eis  it  ace  was  at  the 
Grove  schoolhouse,  So.  2,  in  Jordan  township,  and 
he  has  taught  twei  years  in  all  in  that 
township,  where  he  was  engaged  Cor  twenty  years 
consecutively.  For  two  terms  he  was  located  at 
I.  ',  Kill,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  His  first 
professional   certificate   was  granted  in  1900,  his 


47 


;:;s 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


second  in  1909,  by  Prof.  \V.  W.  Fetzer.  county 
superintendent.  Mr.  Troutman  was  not  only  re- 
garded a<  a  successful  educator,  but  also  a.s  an 
executive  officer,  for  while  teaching  he  was  ap- 
pointed school  director  of  his  township,  serving 
as  such  about  a  year,  and  during  that  time  he 
secretary  of  the  board  of  health  in  his  town- 
ship; tlie  district  had  three  eases  <>f  smallpox  in 
his  term.  In  the  summer  season  Mr.  Troutman 
followed  fanning,  for  the  most  part  as  a  tenant 
farmer,  though  he  at  present  owns  a  farm  of 
ninety-eight  acres  and  oversees  the  work  of  culti- 
vation. In  1885  he  iiio\ed  to  near  Hebe,  and  in 
L906  moved  into  the  village,  where,  he  built  his 

i  sent  hone  in  1909.  He  has  for  a  number  of 
years  been  active  in  public  affairs  in  the  locality. 
having  served  one  term  as  assessor  of  Jordan 
township  and  two  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
to  which  office  he  was  first  elected  in  1897,  being 
reelected  five  years  later  by  a  large  majority.  In 
polities  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  a  most 
active  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
St.  David's  Church  at  Hebe,  of  which  he  was 
deacon  for  twelve  years  and  elder  for  six  years, 
and  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  consistory  for 
the  past  twenty  years,  being  still  the  incumbent 
of  that  position.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  the 
efficient  superintendent   of  the  Sunday  school. 

On  Christmas  Day.  1886,  Mr.  Troutman  inar- 
lied  Susan  M.  Lahr.  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Har- 
riet (Rebuck)  Lahr,  and  they  have  a  family  of 
ten  children,  born  as  follows:  Grant,  June  21, 
1888  (he  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  public 
school  in  Jordan  township  and  in  the  spring  of 
1910  entered  the  Keystone  State  normal  school,  at 
Kutztown.  Pa.);  Clarence.  Nov.  30,  1889:  Karl. 
Sept.  25,  1891;  William.  Dec.  31.  189?:  Amnion 
J..  June  29,  1894:  Eva  G.,  May  30,  1896;  Net- 
tie. June  4.  1898:  Rosco  R..  June  30,  1900;  Ruth 
F.,  May  1?.  1902;  Paul  L.,  Nov.  2,  1906 

EDGAR  0.  SEAMAN,  of  Watsontown,  dealer 

in  vehicles  of  all  kinds,  harness,  farm  implements, 
and  a  number  of  allied  commodities,  has  found 
an  excellent  field  for  that  business  in  the  borough, 
which  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  prosperous 
agricultural  community,  from  which  he  draws  a 
large  trade.  He  is  a  native  of  Watsontown.  bom 
Sept.  30,  1878,  and  he  comes  of  a  family  which 
has  been  located  in  Pennsylvania  since  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  for  over  a  hundred  and 
sixty  years.  The  form  Seaman  is  the  English 
spelling  of  a  '•surname  of  occupation"  denoting  a 
sailor  or  one  connected  with  the  navigation  of  a 
vessel,  and  was  applied  to  officers  as  well  as  com- 
'  moil  sailors,  although  technically  restricted  to 
those  without  rank.  The  German  spelling  is  See- 
mann :  Middle  English.  Seamen :  Anglo-Saxon. 
Seaman:  Dutch,  Zeeman :  Icelandic.  Sjomathe; 
Swedish.  Sjoeman;  •Danish,  Soemand. 


Johan  Ludwig  Seaman,  the  ancestor  of  the  Sea- 
man- here  under  consideration,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  prior  to  coming  to  America  was 
for  eight  years  a  member  of  the  bodyguard  of 
Frederick  the  Great  of  Prussia.  He  emigrated 
to  America  in  1748,  landing  at  Philadelphia  Oct. 
25th  of  that  year,  and  soon  thereafter  removed 
to  Hern,  which  later  became  Upper  Bern  and  is 
now  Tildeii  township,  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  He 
had  children:  Eberhart,  born  in  1752;  John,  born 
in  1753;  Henry:  Margaretta,  who  married  a  Real; 
Man  Magdalena,  horn  in  1759,  who  married  Phil- 
ip Kauffman;  Ludwig  (Lewis),  born  in  ITiil: 
George,  and  Michael. 

On  Nov.  is.  1793,  one  Lewis  Seaman  received 
a  warrant  for  loo  acres  of  land  in  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa.  |  Pennsylvania  Archives,  Third 
Scries.] 

John  Seaman,  son  of  Johan  Ludwig,  married 
Elizabeth  Schlappig,  and  to  them  wen-  horn  chil- 
dren as  follows:  John.  Christian.  Samuel.  Cath- 
arine. Elizabeth,  Magdalena,  Christiana.  Maria  and 
Johan  i  reorge. 

Johan  George  Seaman,  son  of  John,  who  owned 
I  le  old  homestead  in  Upper  Bern  (now  Tilden) 
township,  a  tract  which  then  consisted  of  275 
acres,  lived  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  John 
Becker.  He  was  in  comfortable  circumstances  and 
was  well  and  favorably  known  in  upper  Berks 
county.  He  married  Magdalena  Kauffman,  and 
to  them  were  bom  these  children:  John:  William 
K;  George,  Jr.:  David;  Reuben;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Samuel  Kline:  Rebecca,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Loeb;  Hester,  who  married  Benneville  Mach- 
mer;  Catharine,  who  married  William  Machmer; 
and  Eliza,  who  married  John  Geschwindt. 

William  K.  Seaman,  the  grandfather  of  Edgar 
0.  Seaman,  was  horn  in  Tilden  township. 
Berks  county,  and  after  his  marriage  and  the 
birth  of  some  of  his  children  moved  to  North- 
umberland county,  Pa.,  settling  on  a  farm  at 
Pottsgrove,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  where  he 
put  up  a  fine  set  of  buildings.  He  prospered  in 
his  own  undertakings,  hut  lost  considerable  money 
going  bond  for  others.  He  died  in  July.  1898. 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  is  buried  in 
Harmony  cemetery  at  Milton.  Mr.  Seaman  was 
a  Lutheran  in  religion  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
He  and  his  wife  Mary  had  children  as  follows: 
Penrose,  who  settled  in  Union  county.  Pa.:  Caro- 
line. Mis.  Charles  Hoy:  Manassa,  who  died  when 
about  fifty  years  old:  and  William  B. 

William  B.  Seaman,  son  of  William  K.,  was 
horn  May  5,  1838,  in  Chillisquaque  township,  this 
county,  and  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Pottsgrove.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  and 
began  on  his  own  account  after  his  marriage  on 
a  place  in  his  native  township,  where  he  farmed 
i'ii  shares  until  he  moved  to  Delaware  township 
to   the    farm   of   his    father-in-law.    S.    M.    Miller. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


139 


He  was  al  that  location  for  about  thirty  years, 
thence  moving  to  another  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship, which  he  cultivated  for  eight  years.  In 
L901}  Mr.  Seaman  retired  from  active  pursuits  and 
settled  in  the  borough  of  Watsontown,  where  lie 
remained  onkj  two  years,  however,  lie  has  since 
lived  in  Washington,  I).  ('.,  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  McCardle.     Like  the  members  el'  his  family 

generally,  he  is  a   Dei rat  and  a  Lutheran.     .Mr. 

Seaman  married  Barbara  L.  .Miller,  who  was  born 
in  184  1  ami  died  in  November,  1898;  she  is  buried 
at  Watsontown.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Seaman,  namely:  Franklin  died  when 
fourteen  years  "Id:  William  H.  died  in  infancy; 
Mary  lined  me  married  U.  F.  McCardle;  Edgar  o. 
lives  in  Watsontown. 

Edgar  0.  Seaman,  son  of  William  B.,  received 

his  education   in  the  public   scl Is   of    Delaware 

township,  and  at  the  Watsontown  high  scl I.    lie 

[armed  for  his  father  until  1902,  .-nice  which  year 
he  ha-  been  111  business  in  Watsontown,  where  he 
was  a  coal  dealer  for  three  years.  For  the  next 
year  and  a  hall'  he  was  in  the  livery  husiness  in 
the  borough,  and  then  conducted  a  grocery  store 
for  two  years,  in  1909  embarking  in  his  present 
line,  lie  handles  all  kinds  of  vehicles  and  farm 
implements,  including  cream  separators,  as  well 
.as  harness  and  fertilizers,  and  has  the  local  agency 
for  the  famous  Weber  heavy  wagons,  finding  a 
steady  and  profitable  demand  for  all  his  goods  in 
i he  territory  adjoining  Watsontown.  where  many 
prosperous  farmers  are  located.  He  understands 
his  customers  and  their  wants,  and  by  obliging 
and  intelligent  service  has  built  up  a  large  trade. 
Socially  Mr.  Seaman  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


John  Seaman,  evidently  of  the  same  stock  as 
above,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  who 
settled  in  Butler  county,  this  State,  at  an  early 
day. 

Samuel  Seaman,  son  of  John,  came  from  Berks 
county,  and  died  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  where 
he  owned  a  home,  his  bouse  standing  near  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  his  grandson,  Adam 
II.  Seaman.  His  -on  Adam  also  lived  there. 
Samuel  Seaman  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in 
Stone  valley,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland'county.  He  married  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  an  excellent 
wood  worker,  and  made  many  grain  cradles,  some 
of  which  aiv  still  in  use  in  the  Mahantango  Yal- 
lev.     They  were  considered  as  good  as  any  made. 

Adam  Seaman,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  .Tan. 
24,  1819,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  bis  life  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  engaged  at  laboring  work. 
He  owned  his  home,  which  was  located  along  the 
Mahantango  creek,  not  far  from  County  Line. 
Northumberland  county.     He  died   Nov.  5,  1899, 


while  living  with  his  son  Adam  H.  Seaman,  in 
Northumberland  county,  ami  he  and  his  wife  axe 
buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church.  Mr.  Sea- 
man was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  denomination, 
his  wife  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Phillipine  Hepner,  and  she  was  born 
■Ian.  17,  1825,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hepner.  She 
died  Sept.  6,  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seaman  had  the 
following  children:  Isaac:  Aaron,  who  married 
Lucy  Klinger:  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Fetter;  Levi,  who 
died  unmarried:  Sarah.  Mrs.  Adam  Spotts:  Elias, 
who  married  Sarah  Ann  Michael:  Frank,  who  mar- 
ried Molly  Aurand;  Adam  II.:  Jere,  who  married 
Lucy,  widow  of  his  brother  Aaron  :  and  a  son  that 
died  m  infancy. 

Adam  II.  Seaman,  son  of  Adam,  is  a  farmer 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  this  county.  He  was 
horn  July  21,  tsii','.  across  the  Mahantango  creek 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  spent  all  his  hoy- 
hood  in  this  vicinity.  His  education  was  begun 
at  home  and  continued  in  the  local  public  schools 
and  at  Uniontown  high  school,  which  he  attended 
for  two  terms.  Later  he  took  a  husiness  course 
at  Delaware,  Ohio,  graduating  in  IXSG  from  G. 
W.  Michael's  husiness  college  at  that  point.  When 
twenty-one  years  old  he  began  to  teach  public 
school  in  Mifflin  township).  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  two  terms.  Sawmilling, 
however,  was  his  principal  vocation  during  his 
young  manhood.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  thus 
engaged  at  different  points  in  central  Pennsylvania 
— Williamsport,  Danville,  Harrisburg  and  Marys- 
vilh — as  well  as  in  Snyder  county  and  at  Tusea- 
rora.  Then  he  went  to  Boiling  Springs,  Cumber- 
land Co..  Pa.,  where  he  took  a  contract  to  operate 
a  double  stave  and  shingle  mill  for  the  South 
Mountain  Land  Company  for  five  years.  During 
three  ami  a  half  years  of  this  period  he  lived  with 
his  family  at  Boiling  Springs.  In  the  spring  of 
1907  Mr.  Seaman  settled  in  Northumberland,  not 
far  from  his  birthplace,  purchasing  a  tract  of 
twenty-seven  acres  on  which,  the  same  year,  he 
erected  a  large  modern  home.  Here  he  has  since 
engaged  in  farming,  being  an  up-to-date  agricul- 
turist, enterprising  and  able  to  make  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  property  profitable.  He  also  owns 
twenty-five  acres  of  timberland  in  the  locality. 
across  the  Mahantango  creek  in  Mifflin  township. 
Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Seaman  is  a  useful  citizen, 
and  has  twice  been  elected  auditor  id'  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township,  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He 
and  ins  family  are  members  of  Zion's  Stone  Valley 
Church.  Mr.  Seaman  belonging  to  the  Reformed 
congregation,  his  wife  to  the  Lutheran.  He  has 
served  us  deacon. 

On  Fel).  25,  188s.  Mr.  Seaman  married  Emma 
E.  Radel,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Lenker) 
Radel,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  six  children. 
namely:  Gurney  G.;  Grace  Y,  who  married  Scott 
L.    Sundy  and   lives   at    lsmav.    Mont,    (they   have 


;  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


two  daughters,  Edith  Irene  and  Edna  May)  ;  Loy- 
etta  Ruth,  who  died  in  childhood;  Mabel  M.,  who 
is  a  mute  and  at  present  a  student  at  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  at  Mount 
Airy,  Philadelphia;  Emery  V. ;  and  Jennie  M. 

JOHN  WESLEY  FRYLING,  of  Sunbury,  who 
serves  as  clerk  for  the  Sunbury  Water  Company 
and  is  interested  in  fruit  growing  in  that  region. 
having  a  tract  of  thirty  acres  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, is  a  son  d|'  the  late  John  Wolverton  Fryling. 

John  Wolverton  Fryling  was  born  at  Sunbury 
•luly  4.  1817,  ami  in  his  early  life  did  farm  work. 
He  taught  private  school  and  singing  school,  and 
later,  in  Sunbury,  did  private  tutoring,  in  Latin 
and  mathematics,  for  boys  entering  college.  He 
then  became  a  clerk  at  Sunbury  in  the  employ 
of  his  father-in-law.  Henry  Yoxtheimer,  one  of  the 
first  wholesale  and  retail  merchants  in  that  place, 
remaining  with  him  ten  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  bough!  nut  the  business.  After  conducting 
it  alone  fur  several  years  he  took  Mr.  W.  T.  Grant 
into  partnership,  and  Fryling  &  Grant  continued 
the  business  successfully  for  several  years.  Mr. 
Fryling  then  became  interested  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  caskets  and  building  supplies  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Fryling,  Bowen  &  Engel,  being 
thus  engaged  until  1874.  when  he  went  to  Upper 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
coi en.  ill  farming,  carrying  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits there  fur  a  period  of  four  years.  His  next 
move  was  to  Newton,  Harvey  Co..  Ivans.,  where 
ho  bought  a  farm  of  Kill  acres  which  he  cultivated 
fur  three  years.  Returning  to  Sunbury,  he  clerked 
a.  few  years  and  then  took  the  position  of  tax  col- 
lector .  for  the  borough,  holding  same  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  May  22,  1888.  Mi-.  Fryling 
was  ime  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Sunbury 
in  his  day.  and  he  held  the  respect  of  the  many 
who  knew  him.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican, 
and  during  the  Civil  war  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  3d  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  then 
known  as  "minute-men,"  with  whom  he  was  out 
for  service  a  short  time;  but  owing  to  business 
demands  he  called  upon  his  son  Harry  to  take 
his  place,  the  young  man  serving  with  credit  and 
honor.  Mr.  Fryling  was  an  active  and  generous 
member  of  St.  John's  Methodist  Church  at  Sun- 
bury and  served  as  a  member  of  its  building  i- 

mittee.  He  married  Margaret  Yoxtheimer.  who 
was  bom  Nov.  -'in.  1821,  daughter  of  Henry  Yox- 
theimer. of  Sunbury,  and  died  Jan.  11.  1901. 
Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Fryling  are  buried  in  the  old  Sun- 
bury cemetery.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children:  (1)  Henry  Yoxtheimer.  born  July  17-. 
1841,  was  a  member  of  Company  D  (Capt.  C.  J. 
Brunner,  Lieuts.  A.  J.  Stoah  and  Jacob  Eohr- 
bach),  -"id  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Yolunteers, 
mustered  in  at  Harrisburg  Sept.  11-13.  1862,  was 
detailed  for  special  duty  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  John 


W.  Reynolds,  and  served  after  the  balance  of  the 
company  was  mustered  out.  He  is  now  general 
manager  of  the  Elk  Graphite  Milling  Company, 
nf  St.  Mary's.  Pa.  He  married  Frances  Hettrick, 
of  Hummels  Wharf,  and  they  have  three  children, 

(I ge,  Helen  and  Frances.     (2)  William  A.,  born 

Feb.  12,  18)3.  died  Aug.  29,  1843.  (3)  Rebecca 
A.,  born  duly  17,  18 — .  married  Capt.  Andrew  X. 
Brice.  of  Punxsutawney.  Jefferson  Co..  Pa.,  and 
their  children  are  Mayme,  William  and  Edward 
L.  (4)  Mary  E.  married  ('apt.  E.  Torrington,  and 
they  reside  at  Topeka,  Kans.  (5)  Emma  married 
Prof.  J.  H.  Black,  well  known  as  one  of  the  first 
principals  of  the  Sunbury  high  school,  and  they 
now  make  their  home  at  Huntingdon.  Pa.  (G) 
John  Wesley  is  fully  mentioned  below.  (7) 
Charles  Wesley  married  Alice  Dundore  and  they 
have  had  six  children.  Elsie  M.,  Ruth,  Charles 
and  Harry,  living,  and  two  deceased:  this  family 
lives  at  Sunbury.  (8)  Annie,  twin  of  Charles 
Wesley,  married  David  McMahan  and  they  live  at 
Walton.  Harvev  Co..  Kans.  (9)  Sarah  L..  born 
Jan.  30,  1850,  died  Aug.  2,  1858.  (10)  Willie 
P..  horn  dune  ]!).  ed  Mav  9.  1SG7.      (11) 

Elsie,  born  Mav  10.  1863,  died  June  :,.  1873. 

John  Wesley  Fryling  was  lxirn  Feb.  11,  1855, 
at  Sunbury.  and  in  his  early  years  attended  Colonel 
Rohrbach's  private  school  in  the  old  Statehouse 
building,  Sunbury,  then  Prof.  X.  Foster  Brown's 
Academy  at  Klines  grove  :  later  the  academy  moved 
to  Sunbury.  Subsequently  he  attended  Dickinson 
Seminary,  at  Williamsport,  for  two  terms,  after 
which  he  did  farm  work  for  his  father  until  1878. 
That  year  he  went  to  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  where 
he  farmed  one  year,  in  1879  going  out  to  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  one  season;  lie  was  the  only 
man  in  his  district  who  raised  his  own  cabbage 
plants.  Coming  back  to  Sunbury  he  was  engaged 
in  selling  sewing  machines  for  a  time,  until  ap- 
pointed assistant  postmaster  there,  in  1880.  His 
service  in  that  capacity  covered  four  years  and 
nine  months.  In  October.  1885.  he  went  to  work 
for  the  Pennsylvania  [Jail way  Company,  in  the 
-'  ops  as  carpenter,  and  the  following  year  was 
transferred  to  the  freight  office  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Erie  road,  where  he  kept  all  the  accounts.  He 
was  a  trusted  employee  of  that  company  until  he 
left  its  service,  in  19015.  on  Sept.  1st  of  which  year 
lie  became  a  clerk  for  the  Sunbury  Water  Company. 

In  1903  Mr.  Fryling  bought  thirty  acres  of  val- 
uable land  in  Rockefeller  township,  this  county, 
and  he  is  making  a  specialty  of  apple  growing, 
having  already  set  out  a  thousand  apple  trees.  He 
is  an  expert  in  this  particular  branch  of  fruit  cul- 
ture, and  has  also  had  success  with  other  fruits, 
finding  the  business  both  agreeable  and  profitable. 
He  has  thirty-five  acres  of  timberland  adjoining 
this  thirty-acre  tract.  On  April  16,  1910.  he 
bought  the  Rohrbach  farm.  255  acres  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  a  mile  from  Sunbury.  100  acres 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


741 


of  which  are  in  timber.  In  the  spring  of  1911 
he  planted  a  fifteen-acre  orchard,  one  thousand 
peach  trees. 

In  church  connection  Mr.  Fryling  is  a  Methodist 
and  well  known  for  his  untiring  efforts  in  the 
interest  of  that  denomination.  He  first  joined  St. 
John's  Church.,  in  1869,  and  he  handled  all  of 
the  Eacing  brick  used  in  the  construction  of  that 
edifice,  having  the  honor  of  laying  the  last  brick. 
He  served  as  steward  of  that  church,  and  is  now 
officiating  in  the  same  capacity  in  the  Catawissa 
Avenue  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  now  holds 
membership.    He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

On  Nov.  15.  1877,  Mr.  Fryling  married  Mary 
Catharine  Seasholtz,  who  was  born  June  2,  1857, 
daughter  of  Christian  B.  and  Lucinda  (Yetter) 
Seasholtz,  and  died  Oct.  4,  1887;  she  is  buried 
in  the  Sunbury  cemetery.  Three  children  were 
bora  to  tin-  union:  Robert  Bruce,  born  Oct.  12, 
L878,  died  -Ian.  A.  1ST!):  Edith  Mabel,  a  graduate 
of  the  Sunbury  high  school,  class  of  1900,  is  now 
buyer  for  the  art  department  of  Hennessy's  depart- 
ment store,  Butte.  Mont.;  Margaret  Yetter  grad- 
nated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school  in  1904  and 
from  Ursinus  College,  at  Collegeville,  Pa.,  in  1909 
(she  made  a  special  study  of  the  classics,  history 
and  political  economy)  and  taught  in  1910-1911 
in  the  public  schools  in  Sunbury.  The  family 
home  is  at  No.  441  Catawissa  avenue,  Sunbury. 

BLA  SSER.  The  Blasscr  family  has  been  settled 
in  Northumberland  county  for  about  a  century, 
and  the  brothers  Abraham  D.  and  Jacob  D.  Blas- 
ser,  of  Herndon,  Pa.,  now  living  retired,  are 
worthy  representatives  of  a  name  which  has  been 
respected  throughout  that  period.  They  are  grand- 
sons of  John  Blasser,  who  was  one  of  three  broth- 
ers (another  being  Abraham)  who  came  from  their 
native  country.  Switzerland,  and  settled  along  the 
Susquehanna  river  in  Union  township,  Snyder  Co., 
Pa.  In  1812  John  Blasser  crossed  the  river  into 
Northumberland  county,  settling  in  Lower  Maha- 
noy township  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Betzy.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  man  of  good  busi- 
ness ability  and  highly  successful,  and  was  an 
influential  citizen,  prominent  in  public  matters  as 
well  as  in  the  interest  of  his  private  concerns. 
He  owned  seven  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  large 
part  of  which  be  obtained  by  warrant  from  the 
Stale,  and  profitably  operated  Blasser's  Fisheiy  on 
the  Susquehanna,  at  what  is  now  known  as  Dal- 
matia.  He  caught  shad  by  tons,  single  fish  often 
weighing  a?  much  as  nine  pounds,  and  as  the 
river  then  abounded  with  fish  this  business  was 
very  lucrative.  He  served  as  general  supervisor 
over  the  roads  of  five  townships,  making  his  trips 
■over  the  roads  of  which  he  had  charge  on  horse- 
back. In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Mennonite,  and 
attended    services   at   a    meetinghouse   in    Snyder 


count)-,  though  most  of  the  meetings  at  that  time 
were  at  the  homes  of  those  interested.  John  Blas- 
ser died  about  1850,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  a  private  burial 
ground  on  his  farm,  but  in  1876  he  was" reinterred 
in  the  cemetery  of  the  Stone  Valley  Union  Church. 
His  wife,  Susanna  Riegel,  died  in  1861,  aged  sev- 
enty years.  They  had  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Betzj-,  who  married  Henry  Latsha;  John, 
who  died  aged  twenty-one  years;  Jacob,  at  one 
time  a  resident  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  who 
moved  out  to  Indiana  in  1858  and  died  there  (he 
was  a  farmer)  ;  and  Abraham. 

Abraham  Blasser,  son  of  John,  was  born  April 
10,  1816,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  was  a 
lifelong  farmer  there,  dying  April  7,  1876,  on  the 
farm  where  he  was  born.  He  was  a  man  of  high 
worth  and  held  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  cit- 
izens, who  chose  him  to  a  number  of  township  of- 
fices, in  all  of  which  he  gave  faithful  service. 
Like  his  father  he  was  a  Mennonite  in  religion. 
He  married  Anna  Mary  Daniel,  daughter  of  John 
Adam  and  Rosina  (Wagner)  Daniel,  and  they 
are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters :  John  died  unmarried ;  Abraham  D.  and 
Jacob  I).,  twins,  are  mentioned  below;  Mary  mar- 
ried David  Wetzler;  Sarah  married  John  Seal; 
Susanna  married  Andrew  Star. 

Abraham  D.  Blasser,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  Dec.  9.  1837.  on  the  Blasser  homestead  farm 
in  the  upper  section  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
this  county,  a  large  and  valuable  tract  containing 
nearly  five  hundred  acres,  which  he  and  his  twin 
brother  Jacob  D.  Blasser  own  in  partnership.  It 
is  nearly  two  miles  long,  and  is  the  largest  single 
farm  in  Northumberland  county.  The  brothers 
were  reared  to  farming,  which  they  continued  to 
follow  successfully  throughout  their  active  years, 
cultivating  the  farm  in  partnership  and  making 
many  improvements  on  the  property,  which  is  in 
excellent  condition.  Both  lived  there,  there  be- 
ing two  dwelling-houses,  two  large  barns  and  two 
sets  of  buildings  on  the  land.  Upon  his  retire- 
ment from  active  work,  in  1891,  Abraham  D. 
Blasser  settled  in  Herndon,  of  which  place  he  has 
since  been  a  much  esteemed  citizen.  He  was 
instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  borough. 
was  one  of  the  first  councilmen,  continuing  to  hold 
that  office  six  years,  and  has  done  much  to  fur- 
ther the  best  interests  of  the  place,  where  he  is 
recognized  as  a  man  of  intelligent  public  spirit. 
While  living  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 

On  May  14.  1861).  Mr.  Blasser  married  Eliza- 
beth Lenker,  daughter  of  Adam  ami  Sallie  (Mess- 
ner)  Lenker,  and  to  them  were  born  two  daugh- 
ters: Sarah  D.,  born  in  1863.  died  in  1866:  Man- 
Agnes,  now  tin1  wife  of  Capt.  Jacob  F.  Hoffman, 


74? 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENN  SYLVAN  I A 


received  her  education  in  the  local  public  schools 
and  at  Allentown  (Pa.)  Female  College,  mean- 
time, before  she  entered  college,  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township  and  at 
-lung.  Dauphin  county.  Mis.  Hoffman  has 
marked  artistic  talent,  and  has  a  gift  for  painting. 
doing  creditable  work  as  a  scenic  artist  and  china 
decorator:  she  is  also  a  musician  of  rare  attain- 
ments, holding  several  diplomas  and  medals  of 
honor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blasser  live  on  Main  street,  in  the 
borough  of  Herndon,  their  home  being  next  door 
to  that  of  his  brother.  They  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
opinion. 

Jacob  D.  Blasser,  twin  brother  of  Abraham  D. 
Blasser.  has  practically  the  same  history,  the  broth- 
ers have  always  lived  together  on  the  home  place 
until  they  retired.  Jacob  D.  Blasser.  however,  did 
not  remove  to  Herndon  until  1893.  They  have 
always  been  on  terms  of  ideal  brotherliness.  and 
their  homes  in  Herndon  are  side  by  side. 

On  Aug.  25,  1857,  Mr.  Blasser  married  Harriet 
Leader,  daughter  of  Marks  and  Sallie  (Wolf) 
Leader,  of  Jackson  township,  and  granddaughter 
of  John  and  Susanna  (Marks)  Leader,  of  the 
same  township:  Susanna  Marks  was  a  nativi  of 
Berks  county.  Sallie  Wolf  was  a  daughter  of 
Michael  Wolf.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blasser:  (1)  Julius  Frank,  whose 
home  is  at  Millersburg,  Pa.,  married  Minerva  Em- 
erick,  and  they  have  eleven  children  (including 
two  sets  of  twins).  Charles  and  John  (twins),  Ma- 
bel, Mary.  Jacob,  Hattie,  Naomi.  Julius  and  Alice 
(twins).  Ray  and  Mom-.  (2)  Sarah  A.  married 
Andrew  Bucher,  and  they  resided  at  Mahanoy. 
where  she  died  May  23,  1895,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years.  They  had  one  son.  Charles.  (3)  Mag- 
gie D.  married  John  Schwab,  of  Elizabethville, 
Pa  .  and  died  July  2.  1909,  aged  forty-one  years, 
the  mother  of  three  children.  Dory  F..  Mary  E. 
and  Erma. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blasser  are  now  Reformed  mem- 
-  of  the  church  at  Herndon.  While  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township  they  were  identified  with  the 
Stone  Valley  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Blasser  was 
an  elder  for  three  years.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  but  he  lias  always  refused  to  run  for  pub- 
lic office. 

GEORGE  W.  YOXTHEIMER,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  in  the  borough  of  Northumberland, 
was  born  March  1".'.  1848,  in  Point  township,  and 
was  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming  there.  He 
is  a  great-grandson  of  Henry  Yoxtheimer.  St..  a 
farmer  who  lived  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, being  a  pioneer  in  the  Plum  Creek  Valley. 
He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  He  and  his 
wife  Maria  had  children  as  follows:     Maria.  Mrs. 


Peter  Samp-el :  George,  who  lived  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township:  Jacob,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Milton,  tins  county:  Henry:  Mrs.  Zimmerman; 
Sallie.  Mrs.  Leopold:  and  Mrs.  Campbell. 

George  Yoxtheimer.  son  of  Henry  and  Maria, 
was  the  grandfather  of  George  W.  Yoxtheimer. 

Henry  Yoxtheimer.  son  n  George,  was  born  in 
1809  in  Rockefeller  township,  and  died  in  1857  in 
Snyder  county,  where  he  is  buried,  in  the  Sehreiu- 
er  graveyard.  He  was  a  laborer  and  fanner,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  living  a  half  mile  north- 
west of  Shamokin  Dam,  in  Monroe  township.  Sny- 
der county.  His  wife.  Elizabeth  (  Mayer),  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Mayer,  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years,  and  is  buried  at  Selinsgrove. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Hulda.  Charles 
W.,  George  W.,  Mary  F...  Benjamin  T.  and  one 
that  died  young. 

George  W  Yoxtheimer  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
si  hools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  early  home 
and  at  Selinsgrove  Institute.  He  taught  school  at 
Selinsgrove  for  a  time,  but  his  active  years  were 
devoted  principally  to  farming,  to  which  voca- 
tion he  had  been  trained  from  boyhood.     For  six 

-  he  worked  out  among  farmers,  and  after  he 
was  married  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Sj  ler  county,  living  near  the  Union  county  line 
— in  fact,  some  of  his  land  was  situated  in  that 
county.  After  renting  four  years  lie  again  crossed 
the  Susquehanna,  and  buying  a  house  in  North- 
umberland borough  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Van  Alens  for  four  years,  running  plate  rolls.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  a  tract  of  forty- 
five  acres  in  Point  township,  to  which  he  added 
as  his  circumstances  and  opportunity  permitted, 
and  later  he  bought  a  100-acre  farm.  Twelve 
years  later  he  sold  his  first  purchase  and  the 
twelve  acres  mentioned  to  his  son  James  H.  who 

bought  nineteen  acres  of  the  100-aere  farm, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1910  he  rented  his  home  farm 
to  his  son-in-law.  He  has  since  lived  retired.  In 
March,  1910,  he  purchased  a  home  in  the  borough 
of  Northumberland,  to  which  he  moved  early  in 
1911.  Mr.  Yoxtheimer  was  an  industrious  man. 
and  was  successful  beyond  the  ordinary.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  local  welfare,  serving  three 

-  as  school  director  and  later  three  years  as 
supervisor.  He  is  a  man  who  has  the  thorough  re- 
spect of  all  who  know  him. 

On  Aug.  17.  L875,  Mr.  Yoxtheimer  married 
Mary  C.  Gibbons,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Susan 
(Morgan)  Gibbons,  who  occupied  the  place  later 
owned  and  occupied  by  their  son-in-law.  Mr.  Yox- 
theimer, and  six  children  have  been  horn  to  this 
union:    James  H.  married  Anna  V.  done-:  Susan 

E.  married  John  K.  Young;  Alvena  married 
George  E.  Derk:  Hattie  M.  married  dames  Hope- 
well: Stella  A.  married  John  G.  Brown:  Margaret 

F.  married   Charles   E."  Orwig.      Mr.   Yoxtheimer 


NORTHUMBERLAN 1  >  ( !OU XTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


;i:i 


and  Ins  famil]  are  members  of  the  Methodisi 
Church  mi  Northumberland.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 


1 1 » ■  1 1 1 ■  \  Yoxtheimer,  another  son  of  Henry  Yox- 
theimer, Sr..  was  born  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty in  1793,  and  died  Nov.  27;  184!).  He  is  buried 
in  the  Fourth •  streel  cemetery,  at  Sunbury.  Mr. 
Yoxtheimer  was  a  potter  by  trade,  and  Eollowed 
thai  business  on  Arch  street,  in  Sunbury,  opposite 
i  hie  jail.  There  he  began  merchandising  on  a  small 
Male  and  he  was  a  pioneer  general  merchant  of 
Sunbury,  also  dealing  in  grain,  which  was 
shipped  by  eanalboat  to  Philadelphia  and 
there  exchanged  for  merchandise  which  was 
brought  from  Philadelphia  to  Sunbury  by 
the  same  means  of  transportation.  In  1826- 
27  he  erected  a  large  brick  building  which  had  a 
frontage  of  sixtj  feet  on  the  south  side  of  Market 
street,  the  site  embracing  part  of  what  later  became 
the  courthouse  yard  and  the  property  where  Judge 
('.  R.  Savidge  now  lives.  At  the  eastern  side  was 
an  archway,  the  only  one  embodied  in  a  store  at 
Sunbury;  it  led  to  a  large  warehouse  at  the  rear 
of  the  lot,  where  grain  and  produce  were  stored. 
Mr.  Yoxtheimer  owned  one  of  the  first  canalboats 
regularly  engaged  in  the  carrying  trade  between 
Sunbury  and  Philadelphia,  and  he  was  a  pioneer 
coal  operator  at  Shamokin.  After  his  death  his 
store  at  Sunbury  was  continued  by  his  sons-in-law, 
John  W.  Fryling  and  William  T.  Grant.  It  was 
one  of  the  leading  business  establishments  of  the 
town  for  some  years. 

Mr.  Yoxtheimer  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Margaret  Malick,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren: Margaret  married  John  W.  Fryling,  who 
is  now  deceased;  William  (deceased)  served  in 
the  Civil  war  and  was  a  resident  of  Safe  Harbor, 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Yoxtheimer's  second  mar- 
riage was  to  Mrs.  Nancy  (Bacon)  Follmer,  and 
they  had  one  child.  Rachel,  who  married  William 
T.  Grant,  late  of  Sunbury. 

WIRT.  In  business  and  agricultural  life  the 
Wirt  family  is  represented  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of 'several  portions  of  Northumberland 
countv.  Its  members/have  been  useful  and  worthy 
residents  of  the  several  communities  with  which 
they  have  been  identified,  and  the  name  has  always 
been  associated  with  the  qualities  of  integrity  and 
thrift  which  characterize  those  who  bear  it.  Ben- 
neville  Wirt,  now  of  Sunbury,  was  long  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  in  the  borough  of  Mount 
Carmel.  Daniel  W.  Wirt,  his  brother,  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Little  Mahanoy  township.  John 
Wirt,  (heir  cousin,  a  resident  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  leading  undertakers  in  his  sec- 
tion of  this  county.  We  give  the  line  of  these  Wirts 
as  far  back  as  the  records  show. 

The  name  is  variously  spelled  Wirt  and  Wert 


by  most  of  the  present  members  of  the  family; 
the  earlier  spelling  was  probably  Wirth.  as  shown 
by  tombstone  records.  The  family  is  of  German 
origin.  Adam,  the  first  of  this  line  to  come  to 
America  from  Germany,  arrived  in  this  country 
with  his  wife  Eva  before  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  settled  at  what  is  now  the  site  of  Millersburg, 
in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  These  pioneers  had  nine 
sons,  who  settled  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
the  family  becoming  scattered  over  New  Jersey, 
the  Carolinas,  Ohio  and  through  the  West,  besides 
having  many  representatives  in  Pennsylvania. 

Henry  Wirt  (or  Wert)  was  a  pioneer  farmer 
of  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  Northumberland 
county,  having  settled  in  that  section  when  the 
Indians  still  roamed  the  forests,  and  the  Red  men 
were  neighborly  with  "Henner"  Wirt,  to  whom 
they  bade  farewell  when  they  left  the  region.  He 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  are  buried  side  by  side  at 
the  Stone  Valley  Church  in  Lower  Mahanoy, 
where  we  find  the  following  tombstone  records: 
Johann  Heinrich  Wirth,  born  Dec.  22.  1769,  died 
June  2,  1846;  his  wife  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  30, 
1771,  died  Sept.  6,  1838.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  John  and  Michael  (born  March  16,  L798, 
died  Dec.  27,  1872;  wife  Lvdia,  born  June  is, 
1809,  died  Sept.  2,  1884),  who  both  lived  in  the 
Mahantango  valley :  Henry  and  Philip,  who  lived 
in  the  Sugar  Valley,  near  Lewisburg,  Pa.:  Mrs. 
Philip  Kerstetter;  Mrs.  Michael  Schaffer;  and 
Mrs.   Peter  Bischoff. 

John  Wirt,  son  of  Henry,  lived  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  1838  settling 
at  Mandata,  where  he  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness. That  year  he  built  the  frame  mill  at  Man- 
data,  which  is  still  standing,  and  he  followed  the 
business  for  a  number  of  years,  prospering  con- 
tinuously. He  acquired  considerable  land  about 
Mandata.  He  and  his  family  worshipped  at  the 
Stone  Valley  Lutheran  Church,  where  he  and  his 
wife  Barbara,  daughter  of  Matthias  Witmer.  are 
buried,  their  tombstone  records  reading  as  fol- 
lows: Johannes  Wirth,  horn  Nov.  16,  1795.  died 
Sept.  8,  1852:  his  wife  Barbara,  born  Nov.  30, 
1794,  died  July  30,  1871.  Their  children  wen- 
as  follows:  Lydia  married  Dai  id  ( lampbeU;  Eliza- 
beth was  the  second  wife  of  David  Campbell : 
Catharine  married  Jacob  Carman ;  Anna  married 
Frederick  Snyder ;  Mary  married  Martin  Harris : 
Michael  died  soon  after  his  marriage  to  Mary 
Lesher:  John  married  Judith  Wentzel :  Daniel 
married  Rebecca  Seiler ;  Moses  married  Mary  Ann 
Spotts. 

John  Wirt,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Henry, 
was  born  April  26,  1826,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, on  his  father's  farm,  and  is  now  probably 
the  oldest  surviving  resident  of  that  district.  In 
his  earlier  manhood  he  followed  the  milling  busi- 
ness, but  since  1875  he  has  lived  at  Mandata.  where 
lie  conducted  a  store  for  fourteen  years,  being  quite 


:u 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


successful  as  a  merchant.  He  also  farmed  for 
some  years,  now  living  in  retirement  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  rest  he  earned  by  years  of  industry. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Wirt  was  drafted  three 
times.  He  married  Judith  Wentzel,  who  died  Oet. 
1,  1902,  aged  eighty-one  years,  nine  months, 
twelve  days;  she  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
All-.  Wirt,  namely:  Benneville;  William  of  Man- 
data,  who  in  his  earlier  life  was  engaged  in  cattle 
dealing  (he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Elias 
Bower,  and  lias  two  sons  and  two  daughters)  ; 
Daniel  W. :  and  Michael,  deceased. 

Bexxeville  Wirt,  son  of  John  and  Judith 
(Wentzel)  Wirt,  was  born  June  29,  1S48,  in  Jor- 
dan township,  Northumberland  county.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental  roof,  and 
during  his  youth  assisted  his  father  as  clerk  in  the 
store,  making  himself  generally  useful.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  commenced  to  learn  the  miller's 
trade  at  Mandata  from  one  William  Good,  follow- 
ing that  work  for  seventeen  years  in  all,  working 
nine  years  for  his  father  in  the  milling  business 
after  he  had  thoroughly  mastered  its  details.  He 
then  rented  a  mill  at  the  mouth  of  Mahantango 
creek,  known  as  Boyer's  mill,  which  he  operated 
successfully,  but  he  remained  there  only  a  short 
time,  the  following  spring  going  to  Millersburg, 
where  for  three  years  he  ran  a  flour  mill  for  Sam- 
uel Buck.  The  mill  was  sold  at  the  end  of  that 
period  and  Mr.  Wirt  continued  with  the  new  own- 
ers for  four  years.  In  1882  he  came  thence  to 
Mandata,  where  he  lived  while  engaged  in  his 
cattle  dealing  operations,  purchasing  carloads  of 
cattle  in  Crawford  county  which  he  sold  at  Hern- 
don,  this  county.  In  this  line  lie  was  associated 
with  his  brother  William,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wirt  Brothers,  and  they  continued  in  the  business 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1884  Benneville  Wirt 
located  at  Herndon,  where  he  conducted  the  "Un- 
ion House"  (now  the  "Wiest  Hotel")  for  one 
year,  after  which  he  settled  in  Mount  Carmel.  He 
was  a  resident  of  that  borough  for  over  twenty- 
five  years,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  conducting  a 
hotel  there.  When  he  gave  up  that  business,  after 
a  successful  career,  he  lived  retired  at  Mount  Car- 
mel for  two  years,  in  September.  190T.  coming 
to  Sunbury.  where  he  now  makes  his  home. 
Though  he  has  given  up  many  of  his  responsibili- 
ties he  still  attends  to  the  management  of  his 
property,  owning  considerable  real  estate  which  he 
acquired  as  he  prospered  in  his  other  ventures, 
and  he  has  valuable  holdings  in  Mount  Carmel 
and  Hazleton,  Pa.,  aud  in  Brooklyn.  N.  Y.  He  also 
deals  in  real  estate,  and  has  been  connected  with  a 
number  of  important  transactions  in  that  line. 
Mr.  Wirt  has  always  enjoyed  excellent  standing 
among  those  with  whom  he  has  been  associated  in 
business,  having  a  high  reputation  for  honor  and 
straightforwardness  in  all  his  undertakings. 


On  April  30,  1871,  Mr.  Wirt  married  Mary 
Malinda  Winner,  daughter  of  Isaac  L.  Witmer,  anil 
to  their  union  have  been  born  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are  Alice, 
wife  of  U.  J.  Evans,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  and  Charles 
of  Sunbury.  Mr.  Wirt  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  a  Mason  m  social  connection,  hold- 
ing membership  in  Mount  Carmel  Lodge.  No.  378 
T.  &  A.  M. 

Daniel  W.  Wirt,  son  of  John  and  Judith 
I  Wentzel)  Wirt,  was  born  April  11,  1855,  at  Man-' 
data,  and  was  reared  at  that  place.  He  was  trained 
lining,  and  when  quite  young  began  driving 
his  father's  huckster  wagon,  being  thus  engaged 
until  1S76,  the  year  of  his  marriage.  After  that 
for  many  years  he  cultivated  what  was  formerly 
the  Scholly  homestead,  which  he  owns,  a  tract  of 
140  acres  located  on  the  Little  Mahanoy  creek, 
which  has  the  reputation  of  being  the  finest  and 
most  valuable  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
unusually  well  watered,  is  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  improved  with  substantial  and 
nient  buildings,  all  kept  in  first-class  condi- 
tion. The  Swiss  barn  on  this  property  was  built  bv 
Mr.  Wirt  in  1881.  and  replaced  the  one  destroyed 
by  fire  that  year.  The  present  dwelling  was 
erected  in  1882.  Mr.  Wirt  retired  from  the  active 
work  of  farming  in  the  spring  of  1908,  since 
when  the  place  has  been  carried  on  by  his  son- 
in-law,  Conrad  Baker. 

Mr.  Wirt  has  not  only  become  well  known  in 
his  section  as  a  successful  farmer,  but  also  in  his 
connection  with  local  public  affairs,  he  having 
served  fourteen  years  as  school  director  of  Little 
Mahanoy  township,  five  years  as  supervisor  under 
the  old  law,  and  three  years  in  that  office  under 
the  new  law.  For  years  his  chief  recreation  has 
been  found  in  fishing,  and  before  the  sulphur  of 
the  eoal  mines  killed  the  fish  of  the  Mahanoy 
creeks  he  caught  large  numbers.  His  trips  are 
usually  successful,  and  he  takes  great  delight  in 
a  good  catch. 

In  1876  Mr.  Wirt  married  Amanda  Swartz, 
daughter  of  the  late  David  and  Elizabeth  (Shaffer) 
Swartz.  To  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Tama, 
now  the  wife  of  Conrad  Raker,  who  as  previously 
stated  is  now  engaged  in  cultivating  the  Wirt  farm. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  have  one  son,  "Fred.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wirt  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion of  St.  Paul's  Church,  at  Urban,  m  Jordan 
township.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Daniel  Wirt,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Hen- 
ry, was  born  May  6,  1829.  at  Mandata.  in  Jordan 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  died  there 
Sept.  9,  1855,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-six  years. 
His  death  was  caused  by  typhoid  fever.  Early 
in  life  he  began  to  learn  the  milling  business,  work- 
ing at  the  Mandata  mill  for  ten  years,  until  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


745 


death.  He  owned  the  property,  obtaining  it  from 
his  father,  and  was  on  the  road  to  prosperity  when 
ml  down  so  suddenly.  He  was  a  particularly  well 
built  and  strong  man,  and  his  early  death  was 
deeply  mourned.  On  Jan.  10,  1853,  he  married 
Rebecca  Seiler,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Ebright)  Seiler,  residents  of  Jackson  township, 
(his  count}'.  Daniel  Wirt  is  buried  at  Zion's 
Church  in  Stone  Valley,  of  which  he  and  his  wife 
were  Lutheran  members.  They  had  two  children, 
John  and  Sarah,  the  daughter  marrying  Dr.  Rich- 
ard P.  Haas ;  they  reside  at  Williamstown,  Pa. 
Ten  years  after  Mr.  Wirt's  death  his  widow  mar- 
ried Henry  Dornsife,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
and  they  moved  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.  They  had 
four  children.  Ervin,  Elizabeth,  Samuel  and  Dan- 
iel, all  in  Kansas  City.  Mrs.  Dornsife  is  now 
(1911)    seventy-seven  years  old. 

John  Wirt,  son  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Seiler) 
Wirt,  was  born  Oct.  5,  1855,  at  Mandata,  Jordan 
township.  He  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  when  sixteen  commenced  to  learn 
cabinetmaking,  which  he  has  continued  to  follow 
to  the  present  time.  He  served  his  apprenticeship 
at  Sunbury,  and  at  the  end  of  eight  years'  train- 
ing and  experience  there  began  working  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railway  Company  in  the  shops  at 
Renovo,  Clinton  Co.,  I'a.,  remaining  there  six 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  came  to  Rocke- 
feller township,  this  county,  settling  near  Seven 
Points,  at  the  place  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Here  he  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
count}-,  a  level,  fertile  tract  in  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, for  though  he  has  combined  farming  with 
his  other  interests  he  has  made  a  success  of  both. 
He  is  a  practical  agriculturist,  as  his  fine  crops 
show,  and  his  buildings  and  all  the  farm  surround- 
ings bespeak  excellent  management  and  a  care  in 
the  details  which  betokens  unusual  executive  abil- 
ity. In  1904  Mr.  Wirt  erected  a  large  hay  barn,  and 
in  1905  he  remodeled  the  residence.  He  is  con- 
stantly making  changes  which  improve  the  appear- 
ance of  his  property  and  enhance  its  value  as  a 
home  as  well  as  from  a  more  material  point  of 
view. 

Meantime  Mr.  Wirt  has  followed  the  undertak- 
ing business,  in  the  pursuit  of  which  he  has  become 
one  of  the  best  known  men  in  his  section  of  the 
county,  his  patronage  coming  principally  from 
Shamokin,  Rockefeller  and  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ships, though  he  has  had  many  customers  outside 
of  that  particular  territory.  Since  he  embarked 
in  that  business,  in  1890,  he  has  conducted  1,468 
funerals.  He  is  an  intelligent  and  esteemed  citi- 
zen, and  has  high  standing  among  his  neighbors 
and  friends. 

On  Jan.  15.  1SS0,  Mr.  Wirt  married  Emma 
Caroline  Weiser.  and  they  have  three  children: 
Jennie  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Frederick  Drumheller, 
of  Sunbury:  Earl:  and  Beulah  R.     Mr.  Wirt  and 


Ins  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  congrega- 
tion at  Augustaville. .  He  is  'a  Republican  and  has 
taken  considerable  interest  in  local  politics,  hav- 
ing served  as  judge  of  elections.  He  was  constable 
for  many  years,  and  has  also  been  supervisor  of  his 
township. 

Mrs.  Wirt  is  a  descendant  of  Conrad  Weiser, 
the  celebrated  interpreter  and  friend  of  the  In- 
dians, whose  name  is  so  closely  linked  with  the 
Colonial  history  of  this  section  of  Pennsvlvania. 
Her  grandfather,  Jacob  Weiser,  was  a  grandson  of 
Conrad,  and  had  brothers  Peter,  John,  Jonathan 
and  Thomas,  and  sisters  Caroline,  Lavinia,  and 
five  not  named,  .lacob  Weiser  was  a  native  of  near 
Womelsdorf,  in  Heidelberg  township,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  was  a  carpenter'  by  occupation,  and  lived  near 
Herndon,  in  Northumberland  county.  He  married 
Mary  Magdalena  Highhold,  who  was  from  Myers- 
town,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  who  was  a  member  of 
the  family  generally  known  by  its  proper  name  of 
Eichholtz,  of  which  "Highhold''  is  an  Anglicized 
corruption ;  most  of  the  family  use  the  original 
spelling.  Jacob  and  Mary  Magdalena  Weiser  had 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Elizabeth  Regina,  Rebecca,  Reuben, 
John,  Caroline,  Emanuel,  Levi,  Lavinia,  Clemen- 
tine, Sarah  A.,  Jeremiah  G.  and  Jonathan.  Of 
these,  Reuben,  who  married  Esther  Malick,  was  the 
lather  of  Mrs.  John  Wirt. 


Moses  Wert,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of 
Henry,  was  born  Jan.  24,  1832,  in  the  Mahan- 
tango  Valley  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  liv- 
ing in  Jordan  township,  near  Mandata,  where  he 
had  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  until  fourteen 
or  fifteen  years  before  his  death,  when  he  retired. 
Upon  giving  up  active  labor  he  settled  in  Herndon, 
where  he  died  in  1904.  His  widow  still  occupies 
their  home  at  that  place.  He  was  a  man  well 
known  and  highly  respected,  and  though  he  de- 
voted himself  principally  to  the  management  of  his 
own  affairs,  he  served  as  supervisor.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran, 
his  family  adhering  to  the  same  belief.  In  his 
earlier  years  he  belonged  to  the  Stone  Valley 
Church,  but  after  removing  to  Herndon  he  became 
a  member  of  the  church  there,  and  he  is  buried  in 
the  Wirt  and  Shaffer  family  plot  at  Herndon.  He 
was  a  devout.  Christian  and  an  enthusiastic  church 
worker,  serving  in  various  church  offices  and  tak- 
ing a  keen  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

Mr.  Wert  married  Mary  Anu  Spotts  and  they 
had  four  children,  namely :  Clara  Rebecca  married 
George  T.  Shaffer,  of  Herndon,  who  is  deceased: 
Emma  J.  married  John  P.  Tressler,  of  Herndon; 
Alveretta,  who  died  in  1S86,  was  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Fred  D.  Raker,  of  Shamokin:  John  A.  married 
Ella  s.  Eisenhart. 


746 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


The  following  account  of  the  Wirts  was  given 
by  Mrs.  Emma  Wert'Lentz.  of  Altoona.  Pa.:  My 
great-grandfather's  name  was  John  Wirt  1st  and 
my  grandfather's  name  was  John  Wirt  2d.  He 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Miller.  They  had  seven 
sons  and  two  daughters  (my  lather.  Simon  Wirt. 
it  Millersburg,  being  the  oldest),  Simon,  Elias. 
Josiah,  Joseph,  Jonathan,  Amos,  Benjamin.  Su- 
san and  Rebecca. 

I  glean  from  my  father's  obituary  that  his 
grandfather  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  served 
seven  years  under  George  Washington  and  parti- 
cipated in  the  battles  of  Germantown  and  Brandy- 
wine.  His  .  John  Wirt.  2d,  was  in  the  war 
:  L812  and  had  a  son  and  grandsons  in  the  Civil 
war.  I  have  lost  sight  of  some  of  my  cousins  and 
cannot  give  an  accurate  list.  There  were  rive  in  our 
immediate  family:  (1)  Linda  B.  E.  (2)  Sarah 
A.  married  H.  H.  Moper,  of  Millersburg,  and  had 
three  sous:  Charles  E.,  of  Hughesville,  I'a.  : 
Simon,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa. :  and  H.  H.  Xeff.  de- 
ceased. HeT  second  marriage  was  to  Jonas  Car- 
man of  Lykens  by  whom  she  had  two  daughters. 
Jessie  and  Pauline,  Mrs.  William  Ennis  and  Mrs. 
Russell  Brodus,  both  of  Bowling  Green,  Va.  (3) 
Mary  C.  married  Cyrus  Mark,  of  Lebanon  county, 
and  (second)  Frank  S.  Bowman,  of  Millersburg, 
and  had  two  sons:  Hay  Wirt,  editor  of  the  Millers- 
burg Sentinel,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Linn,  pastor  of  Park 
\  nue  M.  E.  Church,  Philadelphia.  (4)  Ri  - 
John  A..  D.  D.  married  Martha  Buehler.  of  Get- 
tysburg,  and  had  four  -on-.  Kay  and  Edgar,  de- 
ceased, John  (married)  and  Guvon.  (5)  Emma 
J.  married  Re\ .  1  >.  S.  Lentz,  and  has  had  four 
children,  Suzanne.  Linda  Wirt,  Marie,  and  David 
(deceased). 

Edgar,  son  of  Dr.  Wirt,  of  Des  Moines,  was 
married  and  had  two  children,  a  daughter  and  a 
son. 

WILLIAM  E.  STOFFLETT.  jeweler  and  op- 
tician  at  Shamokin,  Pa.,  has  enjoyed  a  career  in 
that  city  that  is  a  good  illustration  of  what  may 
be  accomplished  in  a  very  short  time  by  true  worth 
and  the  exercise  of  upright  business  principles.  Mr. 
3  ifflett  came  to  Shamokin  in  1902,  and  in  these 
few  years  has  won  a  merited  place  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  best  and  most  prominent  citizens.  - 

The  early  home  of  the  Stofflett  family  was  in 
Alsace  Lorraine.  France,  the  emigrant  ancestor 
ing  from  there  to  America  ami  settling  in 
what  is  now  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  and  in  the 
latter  place  Josiah  Stofflett,  great-grandfather  of 
William  E.,  was  born.  He  followed  farming,  and 
led  a  life  of  industry  and  integrity. 

Levi  Stofflett.  son  of  Josiah.  was  born  in  North- 
ampton county,  and  he.  too.  became  a  farmer.  He 
died  in  his  native  county. 

Joseph  Stofflett.  son  of  Levi,  was  horn  in  North- 
ampton county.    In  his  young  manhood  he  learned 


tin'  bricklayer's  trade,  which  he  followed  some 
time,  and  then  began  contracting  and  building. 
He  was  very  successful  and  continued  in  a 
work  until  his  death.  April  13.  1906.  He  was 
buried  at  a  church  near  Allentown.  He  married 
Susanna  Heberly,  who  died  in  1904.  They  had 
four  sons:  Rev.  Sefellen  E.,  a  graduate  of  Frank- 
lin and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster.  I'a..  is  now 
a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  is  located 
at  Hazleton,  Pa.  Levi  J.  continued  his  fa; 
contracting  business,  and  is  located  in  North- 
ampton county.  William  F.  is  mentioned  below. 
Joseph  H.,  a  graduate  of  Franklin  and  Marshall 
College.  Lancaster,  was  admitted  to  the  North- 
ampton bar.  and  died  in  1902,  a  young  man  of 
great  prom 

William  E.  Stofflett  was  born  near  Allentown, 
Pa..  Aug.  7,  1870,  and  attended  the  local  schools 
and  Allentown  bus  illege.     He  then  began 

to  learn  the  jeweler's  trade,  spending  two  years 
in  Reading  with  C.  A.  Sliehter.  From  Reading 
lie  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was  employed 
for  twelve  years.  Coin  n_  to  Shamokin  in  1902 
-tahlished  his  present  place  of  business,  and 
now  has  the  leading  ;ts  kind  in  this  section. 

His  progressive  spirit  and  honorable  method- 
have  made  him  exceedingly  popular.  His  stock  is 
large  and  of  wide  assortment,  embracing  every- 
thing to  be  found  in  a  thoroughly  up-to-date  jew- 
elry store.  He  is  himself  not  only  a  thorough 
watchmaker,  competent  to  regulate  the  most  intri- 
cate of  timepieces,  but  he  is  a  licensed  optician, 
holding  a  diploma  from  the  Spencer  Optical  In- 
stitute in  New  York  City.  His  establishment  is 
well  equipped  witli  all  the  appliances  necessary 
for  making  eve  examinations  and  fitting  glasses 

Mr.  Stofflett  is  active  in  fraternal  work.  II  is 
a  member  of  L  dge  No.  291,  P.  &  A.  M.,  Malone, 
N.  Y.:  Shamokin  Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M.: 
Shamokin  Commandery,  No.  177,  K.  T. :  Williams- 
Consistory,  thirtv-second  degree;  anil  Rajah 
Temple.  A.  A.'  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Beading.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  local  lodge  of  Elks,  and  the  Business 
Men'-  Association. 

Mr.  Stofflett  married  Lydia  Miller,  daughter  of 
Edward  Miller,  of  Utica,  N.  Y..  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Ruth,  who  is  still  in  school.  Politically 
Mr.  Stoffl  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never 
taken  much  active  part  in  party  work. 

AMBROSE  S.  CAMPBELL;  of  Rush  township. 
Northumberland  county,  engaged  in  farming, 
trucking  and  fruit  growing,  traces  his  ancestral 
line  back  to  John  Campbell,  a  native  of  the  North 
of  Ireland  who  came  to  America  about  1775  and 
settled  at  Philadelphia.  Pa.  On  March  4.  1786, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Stauts.  of  Bucks  county, 
Pa.,  who  was  born  Nov.  25.  1768.  They  soon 
moved  to  Milton.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa.,  where 
Mr.  Campbell  purchased  the  farm  which  he  tilled 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


-.  r. 


unul  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  19,  1810. 
Mrs.  Campbell  survived  him  almost  thirty-two 
years,  meantime  removing  with  some  of  her  chil- 
dren to  Owego,  Tioga  Co.,  X.  Y..  where  she  died 
March  L0,  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  were 
stanch  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  '; 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 

(  1  )  Mary,  born  Jan.  •">,  1787,  married  John 
Carpenter  March  1.  1806,  and  died  Aug.  6,  1847. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  viz:  Eliza, 
horn  Dec.  29,  1800.  married  Andrew  Marshall 
March  I.  L823,  and  had  twelve  children:  David, 
born  April  8,   1809,  married  Mary  Ware  Aug.  2, 

1832,  and  had  one  child  by  that  union,  on  Feb. 
11,  1836,  marrying  (second)  M.  Miteheltree,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children;  Priscilla,  born  May  6, 
L811,  married  Jan.  24,  1828,  John  Pepperman, 
and  had  twelve  children:  Jesse  B.,  born  Oct.  I". 
1813,  married  May  I.  L847,  Phoebe  Carpenter  (no 
relative)  and  had  four  children ;  Nancy,  born  Nov. 
II.  L815,  died  April  1,  1819;  Susan  A.,  born 
March  9,  1818,  married  Levi  Tate  July  29,  1838, 
and  had  nine  children:  Sophia,  born  April  16, 
1820,  married  Jonas  Newcomber  Jan.  15,  L835, 
and  had  six  children:  Maria  A.,  born  Feb.  12, 
1822,  married  Joseph  L.  Rank  Jan.  15.  1839,  and 
had  ten  children  :  John  J.,  bom  May  1,  1824,  mar- 
ried Mary  Marshall  Dec.  22.  1846,  and  had  seven 
children:  William,  horn  April  6,  1826,  died  in  in- 
l'aiic\  ;  Rebecca,  born  July  29,  1829,  died  Jan.  26, 
L847.  John  Carpenter,  the  father  of  this  family, 
died  at  Williamsport,  Pa.,  Jul]   3,  1865. 

1 2 )  .lane,  born  Dee.  5,  1 789,  was  married 
Manh  17,  1807,  to  Philip  Goodman,  who  for  many 
years  kept  a  hotel  at  Danville.  Pa.  He  was  born 
Sept.  8,  L785,  and  died  at  Danville  Sept.  1.  1837. 
Mrs.  Goodman  dying  there  Dec.  23,  1847.  They 
had  five  children:  Peter  S..  bora  Dec.  2  1.  180S. 
married  Sarah  Van  De  Mark  July  20,  182s.  and 
died  Jan.  11.  1854  (he  had  two  children)  ;  Ann 
Eliza,  horn  Nov.  22,  1810,  was  married  March  6, 

1833.  to  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Mans,  of  Danville,  and 
died  Dec.  6,  1882,  in  Chicago,  III.  (-he  had  three 
children):  John  C,  born  Jan.  22.  1813,  died 
young;  Priscilla  ('..  horn  Feb.  17,  1814,  married 
Oct,  15,  1833.  Isaac  B.  Ogden,  and  had  nine  chil- 
dren: Isaac  ('..  horn  April  19,  1816,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

(3)  David,  horn  Dec.  5.  1701.  married  Dee.  17, 
1810.  Elizabeth  Wilson,  and  died  April  24.  1821. 
His  five  children  were:  Jane,  born  May  16.  1st::. 
married  Daniel  Bradshaw  and  had  two  children: 
Philip,  horn  in  1815.  died  in  1855;  Amy,  born 
Dec.  24,  1817,  married  Willis  Vertz,  in  August. 
1838,  and  had  thirteen  children:  John  H.,  born  in 
December,  1818.  was  married  in  August,  1838,  to 
Sarah  Wortz,  and  had  thirteen  children.  Margaret 
(born  Sept.  1.  1839.  died  April  5.  1843).  Ambrose 
(born  June  30.  1S41),  Mary  (born  Nov.  19.  1S43, 
died  June  30.  1844).  Ireoni  (horn  Aug.  25.  1845, 


married  Hiram  Carl,  had  four  children,  and  died 
March  4.  1879),  Sara  (born  in  December,  1846, 
died  March  28,  1865),  Sabina  (born  Nov.  13.  1847", 
married  Dan.  B.  Brown  in  1869  and  had  four  chil- 
dren), David  (born  Feb.  9,  1849,  died  in  infancy). 
Jane  (born  April  17,  1850,  died  in  infancy  I, 
George  W.  (born  April  23,  1851.  married  Caroline 
Gearhart),  Wilson  (born  April  is.  1852,  died  in 
infancy),  Elizabeth  (born  Nov.  4,  1853,  died  in 
infancy).  Lydia  C.  (born  July  is,  1855,  married 
Jacob  B.  McGeily  ami  had  three  children)  and 
John  H.  (born  Nov.  5.  L859,  married  Elizabeth 
Logan  and  had  one  child)  :  Isaac  S.,  born  Oct.  4. 
1819,  married  April  20,  1848,  Jane  A.  DeHaas, 
and  did  Oct.  29,  1864,  a1  Fortress  Monroe,  the  fa- 
ther of  six  children.  Wilson  (born  Dec.  5.  1848, 
died  Dec.  1.  1850),  William  R.  (born  Dec.  5,  1851, 
died  Sept.  3,  1852),  Luella  (born  Dee.  25.  1852, 
married  Charles  Batim  Nov.  1  I.  1872,  and  had  one 
child).  Sara  J.  (horn  Jan.  1,  1855,  married  Wil- 
liam E.  Wise  Jan.  1,  is:  2.  and  had  three  chil- 
dren), Mary  E.  (horn  Jan.  15,  1857.  married  Wil- 
liam Cleinfelter  Jan.  15,  1874,  and  had  one  child) 
and  Elvira  F.  (born  Dec.  25,  1858,  married  Wil- 
liam C.  King  Sept.  15,  1881). 

(4)  Priscilla.  born  March  17.  1794.  died  Jan. 
2,  1883. 

(5)  Robert,  born  April  1.  1796,  married  Ann 
Moore  Nov.  3,  1818,  and  they  had  two  children: 
Susan  A.,  horn  Dec.  29,  1820,  who  married  James 
M.  Thompson  March  30,  1841.  had  three  children, 
and  died  Sept.  28.  1849:  and  Elizabeth,  horn  May 
17,  1822,  who  married  John  S.  Thompson  Dec.  30, 
1843,  and  had  seven  children.  On  April  1.  1827, 
Robert  Campbell  married  (second)  Sara  Brees, 
who  was  born  May  31,  1808.  in  Susses  county,  X. 
J.,  and  died  Dec.  Hi.  1853.  He  died  Aug.  18, 
1841,  in  Elmira,  X'.  Y.  To  them  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Nancy,  born  June  30.  1828, 
who  died  young;  John,  born  Sept.  20,  1829.  who 
died  young;  Goodman,  born  Sept.  5.  1830.  who 
married  Ada  J.  Elston  Jan.  9,  1S57,  and  died 
March  1G.  1864,  while  serving  in  the  army  (his 
four  children  were  Edward,  who  died  young :  Fran- 
ces A.,  born  Aug.  15.  1S59.  who  married  George 
Bandal  March  15.  1S80.  and  had  one  child:  Sara 
Jane,  born  May  10.  1861,  deceased;  and  Anna  G., 
born  May  10.  1863)  :  Jeremiah,  horn  Oct.  7.  1832, 
who  died  Aug.  8,  1842:  Phoebea  A.,  horn  Jan.  2;. 
1835.  who  married  Koran  J.  Parker  Jan.  24.  1866, 
and  had  one  child:  Gelena,  born  Dec.  26.  1830. 
who  married  Samuel  W.  Hunt:  and  Miranda, 
horn  March  3.  1S39,  who  married  Abram  Elston 
Jan.  0.   1857,  and  had  three  children. 

(0)  Isaac,  horn  Mav  12.  1798,  married  June  6, 
1817,  Sophia  Garrison,  and  died  June  1,  1854. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  viz.:  Mary 
Ann.  born  April  7.  181S,  married  John  Fortner 
May  4.  1848.  and  had  two  children;  David  S., 
born  Aug.  5,  L821,  married  Eunice  R.  Smith  Dec. 


748 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


-5,  1844,  and  had  children,  Freeman  (born  Sept. 
20,  1845),  Marilla  J.  (born  Aug.  11,  1849,  mar- 
ried Lorenzo  D.  Smith  and  had  four  children), 
David  0.  (born  Dec.  13,  1851,  married  Elmira  C. 
Water  April  7,  1874),  Isaac  W.  (born  Aug.  11. 
1855,  married  Mara  J.  Eeed  Nov.  2  1.  1878,  and 
had  two  children),  Clark  P.  (born  Sept  8,  1857, 
married  Ida  Smith  Dee.  30,  1880),  Sara  A.  T. 
(born  Oct.  9,  I860),  John  J.  (born  Jan.  1,  1863) 
and  George  S.  (born  Feb.  12,  1S6S) ;  Elizabeth, 
born  Jan.  28,  1823,  died  March  28,  1S25;  Peter  G. 
if  l'ullv  mentioned  later;  Sophia,  born  July  25. 
1827.  married  Edwin  Fox  March  12.  1845,  and  had 
four  children;  Evan  0.  J.,  bom  Jan.  27,  1830, 
married  Mary  F.  Anderson  Sept.  2,  185-,  and  had 
three  children,  of  whom  Mary  Ellen,  born  July  5, 
1860.  married  Montgomery  Couriers;  John  G., 
horn  March  2,  1832,  married  Emma  Sharp  Sept. 
18,  1S58,  and  died  March  20,  1863  (they  had  three 
children)  :  Isaac  W.,  born  Aug.  6,  1834,  married 
Sara  J.  Humbert  Oct.  30,  1S62,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren: Sara  F.,  born  Dec.  31,  1837,  married  Ev- 
eritt  G.  Pierce  May  8,  1866,  and  had- two  children. 

( 7 )  Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  18,  1802,  was  married 
March  18,  1824,  to  Evan  O.  Jackson,  of  Berwick. 
Pa.,  and  died  March  12,  1871,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Mr.  Jackson  was  born  July  1,  1801,  and  died  July 
24,  1869.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
namely:  Mary  died  young;  Elisha  B.,  born  Dec. 
18,  1826,  married  Lavina  W.  Barstow,  of  Hoops 
Valley,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  26,  1861  (who  died  Feb.  18, 
1862).  and  (second)  Emma  L.  Foulon.  Dec.  5, 
1864  (they  had  four  children)  :  Josiah  C.  born 
Dee.  13,  1828,  married  Elizabeth  Cruise  May  1, 
1872:  Rebecca,  born  July  29,  1832.  died  young: 
Evan  O.,  bom  March  3,  1836,  died  Aug.  4,  1863: 
Joseph,  born  June  11,  1839,  died  May  13,  1856; 
Edwin  F.,  born  Feb.  13,  1842.  married  March  14, 
1873,  Elizabeth  Flore  and  died  Oct.  19.  1876; 
Clara  P.  and  John  C,  born  July  30.  1S44.  died  in 
infancy,  and  William  C,  horn  Feb.  21.  1847, 
died  July  3,  1847. 

(S)  Rachel,  born  March  22,  1807.  died  Aug. 
22.  1807. 

(9)  Eebecca.  bom  Nov.  7.  1808,  married  Oct. 
15,  1833,  Joseph  C.  Bell,  of  New  York,  and  was 
thi-  mother  of  six  children:  Charles  O.,  born  Aug. 
8,  1835.  died  June  25,  1855,  at  Chicago.  111. :  Will. 
A.,  born  Sept.  28.  183-,  died  Oct  1.  1877:  Fred 
P.,  bom  Feb.  1.  1839.  died  Oct.  25,  1845;  Joseph 
T..  born  -Tan.  1.  1841,  was  married  in  June,  1869. 
to  Xettie  Larison.  and  died  April  6,  1871;  Eliza- 
beth R.,  born  June  4,  1S43,  married  Henry  F. 
Benson  July  IS.  1876:  Josephine  C.  born  Jan.  S. 
1845,  married  Fred  W.  Hovey  Sept.  29,  1869.  and 
had  three  children. 

Peter   G.   Campbell,   son   of   Isaac   and   Sophia 

(Garrison)  Campbell,  was  born  Feb.  16.  1S25,  and 

on  May  20,  1850,  married  Susan  Barlinger.     To 

ihcm  were  born  nine  children :   Clarina  J.,  bom 


Aug.  6,  1851,  married  Jane  Barr  Dec.  20,  IS  74. 
and  had  three  children,  Emma,  Harry  and  Pearl ; 
Charles  H..  born  June  24.  1853.  married  Mary 
Campbell  and  they  have  three  children,  Desda, 
Alma  and  Robert :  Isaac,  born  Oct.  15,  1855,  died 
in  1887;  William,  born  May  22,  1858,  died  Aug. 
2s.  1860;  Franklin,  bom  Oct.  18.  1860,  married 
Mary  Reeder  and  has  one  child;  Annie  S.,  born 
May  20,  1863,  married  S.  Yeager  and  has  three 
children,  Helen.  Howard  and  Elizabeth:  Mary 
M.,  born  Sept.  27,  1S64,  married  Hudson  Savidge 
and  has  one  daughter,  Edna:  Katie,  born  Nov. 
19.  1S66,  died  Nov.  9,  1871  :  Amino-,.  S.  is  men- 
tioned below. 

Ambrose  S.  Campbell,  born  Nov.  is.  1868,  re- 
ceived  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  North- 
umberland county  and  at  Fort  Wayne.  Ind.  He 
now  owns  a  farm  of  103  acres  in  Rush  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged  in  farming,  tracking  and  fruit  growing. 
He  married  Ella  Savidge,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  children.  Margaret  and  Russell.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Campbell  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  Savidge  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Ambrose  S. 
Campbell  belongs,  has  long  been  settled  in  North- 
umberland county,  Enos  Savidge.  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  this  region,  coming  hither  from  New 
Jersey  between  17S5  and  1790.  He  was  the  fa- 
ther of  the  following  children :  (1)  John  married 
a  Mis-  Mi  (loughan,  and  they  had  two  children, 
Frederick  S.  and  Caroline  (Mrs.  Minier).  Fred- 
erick S.  Savidge  married  Rachel  Elizabeth  Lam- 
berson.  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Fannie  (Kim- 
bal)  Lamberson,  and  their  children  are  Frances 
Elma,  who  married  Samuel  Pretty :  Caroline  Re- 
becca, who  married  Joshua  McDonnel  (their  chil- 
dren are  Franklin.  Ernest,  Clayton  C.  and  Elma)  ; 
Ifa  Eldora,  wife  of  Samuel  Cotner  (they  have  one 
child.  Chaxles  C.)  :  Rufus  R.,  who  married  Laura 
Richie  (they  have  children  Ethel  and  Aldred)  ; 
William,  who  married  Sara  Anderson  (they  had 
one  child,  who  is  deceased)  :  Walter  F..  who  mar- 
ried Lillian  Haughawout  (their  children  are  Hel- 
en and  Harold)  :  Hudson  K. :  Ralph,  who  married 
Ella  Wyne  (children,  Russell  and  Martha)  :  Anna, 
wife  of  W.  R.  Burd  (she  has  a  son  Samuel,  daugh- 
ter Elnora  May  and  other  children)  :  Olive,  Mrs. 
William  Deibert;  John  H. :  and  Hattie,  wife  of 
Fred  Snyder  (three  children,  Paul.  Rachel  and 
John).  (2)  Henry  married  Sarah  Teitz  and  had 
one  child.  Mary.  (3)  William  married  Mary  Ann 
Vastine  and  had  a  son  Jared.  (4)  Samuel  K.  mar- 
ried Ellen  Campbell  and  had  three  children,  Hon. 
Clinton  P.,  Harmon  C.  and  Lizzie  A.,  the  latter 
the  wife  of  AVillard  Robinson.  (5)  Enos,  Jr.,  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-six.  (6)  Frederick  died  young. 
( 7 )  Elizabeth  married  Valentine  Hausworth  and 
had  children  John  and  Eliza.  (8)  Susan  married 
William  Hile  and  they  had  six  children,  Martha, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


<4!> 


George,  Priscilla,  John,  Emma  and  Alfred.  (9) 
Rachel  married  Solomon  Hartzel  and  had  children 
Catherine  and  Isabella.  (10)  Mary  married  Phil- 
ip Andrews  and  had  children,  Eliza,  David  and 
Amanda.     (11)  Isaac. 

Isaac  Savidge,  sun  of  Enos,  was  born  in  1801, 
and  died  in  1862.  He  married  Mary  Campbell,  who 
was  born  in  1803,  and  died  in  1875,  the  mother  of 
four  children,  as  follows:  (1)  Rosetta  married 
George  Gonsar  and  had  Emeline  (who  died  young) 
and  Mary  C.  (married  Peter  Statzell  and  had  chil- 
dren Archie,  Clyde,  Frank  and  Harry).  (2)  Ma- 
lissa  married  George  Deibler  and  had  two  children, 
Emma  (married  D.  Koder  and  had  children, 
George  and  Ella)  and  Gertrude  (unmarried).  (3) 
William  died  single.     (4)   Henry  T. 

Henry  T.  Savidge,  son  of  Isaac,  born  May  8, 
1836,  married  Margaret  Moore,  daughter  of  Mich- 
ael Moore,  and  they  had  two  daughters:  Anna  M. 
married  Percy  Culp,  and  had  children  Sadie, 
Clyde  and  Nora;  Ella  married  Ambrose  S.  Camp- 
bell. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Campbell)  Savidge,  wife  of  Isaac 
Savidge,  was  a  daughter  of  John  Campbell  and 
granddaughter  of  Obadiah  Campbell,  who  came 
with  his  family  from  New  Jersey  to  Push  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  settled  near  Elysburg. 

CLARK.  The  Clark  family  is  of  early  record 
in  Northumberland  county.  One  Jonathan  Clark 
lived  above  Sunbury,  in  the  vicinity  of  Klines- 
grove,  where  he  owned  property  and  followed  farm- 
ing. He  is  buried  in  that  section.  -His  children 
were:  "William.  John.  Samuel,  Wesley,  Peggy 
(married  Robert  Campbell)  and  Mrs.  Kuhrs.  Of 
these.  William  settled  at  Roaring  Creek;  he  had  a 
son  William.  John  was  a  farmer  in  his  early 
life,  but  moved  to  Sunbury,  where  he  lived  and 
died:  he  also  had  a  son  William  and  daughters 
Mary  Ann.  Jane.  Elizabeth  and  Ellen. 

Wesley  Clark,  horn  above  Sunbury,  lived  later 
where  his  son  Frank  is  now  located,  in  Lower 
Augusta  township.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  his 
home' place  consisted  of  thirty-five  acres,  besides 
which  he  had  a  tract  of  twenty-seven  acres.  He 
died  where  his  son  Frank  now  lives,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Presbyterian  Church  near  which  he  lived. 
His  wife  was  Mercy  Yoxtheimer,  who  came  from 
the  same  vicinity  as  her  husband,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Benjamin,  Malinda  (died  in  infancy), 
Frank.  Charles  and  Perry  (of  Juniata  county, 
Pa.). 

Frank  Clark  is  a  fanner  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  he  was  born  May  r.\  1858,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  local  schools.  When  twenty-one  he  be- 
gan farming  on  his  own  account,  and  after  one  year 
spent  in  the  employ  of  others  he  became  a  tenant, 
about  1895  acquiring  possession  of  the  homestead. 
He  built  the  present  house  and  barn  upon  this 
tract,  putting  up  the  house  in  1894,  and  has  made 


a  number  of  improvements  on  the  property  which 
have  added  materially  to  its  value.  He  married 
Mary  Adaline  Renn,  daughter  of  John  Renn,  and 
they  have  had  a  large  family:  Ira  married  Mary 
Conrad  and  lives  in  Rockefeller  township;  John 
married  Mary  Snyder  and  is  living  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township;  Dean  S.  married  Lena  Kimball 
and  they  live  in  Sunbury ;  Herbert  married  Esther 
Wolf  and  they  live  in  Rockefeller  township;  Wil- 
liam is  married  to  Carrie  Duttinger  and  living  in 
New  Columbia.  Pa.;  Walter  married  Jennie  Wilk- 
ison  and  they  reside  in  Rockefeller  township; 
Frank  married  Maud  Bohh  and  makes  his  home  in 
Milton.  Pa.;  George,  Ida,  Hazel  and  Annie  are 
unmarried. 

Ulrich  Clark,  the  founder  of  one  branch  of  the 
family  now  flourishing  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  came  hither  in 
young  manhood,  making  the  journey  by  wagon.  He 
came  by  way  of  Reading  and  up  the  well  known 
Tulpehocken  pike  through  Harrisburg.  and  met 
with  a  hand  of  Indians,  whom  he  saw  kill  a  small 
child,  so  that  his  first,  impressions  of  the  new 
region  were  not  reassuring.  He  settled  in  Upper 
Augusta  township  with  his  then  small  family,  and 
devoted  his  time  to  clearing  his  land  and  farming. 

Jackson  (or  John,  as  he  was  also  known)  Clark, 
son  of  Ulrich,  was  a  boy  of  twelve  when  he  came 
with  his- father  to  Northumberland  county,  and 
he  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  in  turn  took 
up  on  his  own  account.  He  became  the  owner  of 
se\en  hundred  acres  in  Upper  Augusta  township. 
where  he  lived  to  the  end  of  his  days,  dying  there. 
He  is  buried  in  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church  ceme- 
tery in  that  township.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  well  known 
man  of  his  day.  He  married  Miss  Thomas,  who  was 
a  member  of  a  Southern  family,  and  they  had  a 
family  of  seven  children  :  William  K.  is  mentioned 
below;  Mary  married  Jacob  Haupt:  Louisa  mar- 
ried Ira  Shipe ;  Jane  was  twice  married,  her  sec- 
ond husband  being  George  Beard;  Rebecca  mar- 
ried Moses  Shipe  (brother  of  Ira)  :  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Henry  Poyer;  Ellen  married  Silas  Conrad 
(brother  of  Mrs.  Harriet  Eckman,  of  Sunbury). 
(At  Mount  Pleasant,  Church  are  buried  John 
Clark,  who  died  April  28,  1874,  aged  seventy-one 
years,  seven  months,  nineteen  days:  and  his  wife 
Margaret,  who  died  Nov.  25,  1876,  aged  seventy- 
one  years,  three  months,  twenty-four  days.  It 
seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  these  are  the 
John  Clark  and  wife  referred  to  in  this  para- 
graph.) 

William  K.  Clark  was  horn  Jan.  25,  l.s:jo,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  and  died  May  1,  1895, 
in  Sunbury.  He  owned  a  fine  farm  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  several  years,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he 
was  also  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  even- 
tually removing  to  Sunbury,  where  he  ended  his 
days.     He  was  a    Republican  in  polities,  and   in 


750 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


religion  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
Clark  married  Mary  Ann  Newberry,  who  was  born 
Dee.  18,  1831,  in  Point  township.  Northumberland 
count}-,  and  died  March  4,  1906.  Her  father  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Sallie  mar- 
ried R.  B.  Campbell,  and  had  three  children,  Fan- 
nie Mary  and  Earle;  Wilson  Howard  is  mentioned 
below;  John  Sterling,  born  March  31,  1861.  is  a 
farmer  m  Upper  Augusta  township;  Elmer  E.  is 
mentioned  below;  Maggie,  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  John  Cassett  (she  left  no  children)  :  Robert  is 
■a  resident  of  Plymouth,  Pa.:  William  C.  married: 
Hunter  J.  married. 

Wi i.sox  Howard  (.'lark,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
genera]  farming  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  was 
born  in  that  township  July  4,  1858,  and  there 
attended  public  school  in  his  boyhood.  Eor  some 
years  he  was  employed  by  the  Sunbury  Gas  Com- 
pany, and  he  followed  the  same  line  of  work  for 
a  number  of  years,  in  Ohio.  Indiana  (at  Goshen), 
New  Orleans  (La.)  ami  Plymouth,  Pa.,  where  he 
lived  fur  a  number  <>('  years.  He  remained  there 
until  1905,  in  which  year  he  returned  to  his  native 
township,  where  he  has  a  farm  of  137  acres.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  agricultural  work,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
respected  citizens  of  his  section.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family  are  Meth- 
odists in  religious  matters. 

On  June  26,  1880,  Mr.  Clark  married  Hannah 
Shonk,  daughter  of  Caleb  Shonk,  who  lived  at 
Plymouth.  Pa. :  the  Shonk  family  came  into  this 
section  from  New  Jersey.  Five  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Clark:  Howard  Wilson,  Jr.: 
Caleb  S. ;  William  K. :  Helen  M..  who  is  a  student 
at  Ursinus  College,  at  Collegeville,  Pa.:  and  Wal- 
ter K. 

Elmer  E.  Clark  has  1 o  in  business  in  Sun- 
bury  since  1907,  in  which  year  he  bought  out  the 
well  known  and  old  established  planing  mill  of 
the  late  Ira  T.  Clement,  which  he  now  conducts 
under  the  name  of  the  Sunbury  Lumber  Manufac- 
turing Company,  doing  planing  mill  work  of  all 
kinds.  The  plant  is  one  of  the  important  factors 
in  the  industrial  prosperity  of  the  borough,  and 
Mr.  Clark  has.  by  his  ability  and  enterprise,  shown 
himself  worthy  to  be  classed  among  Sunbury's  sub- 
stantial business  men.  He  was  born  April  '.'1. 
L862,  in  Point  township.  Northumberland  county, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Upper  Augusta  township.  He  worked  for  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  he  went  to  Danville,  Pa., 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  rolling  mill  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Plymouth,  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  also  remained  two  years,  en- 
gaged  in  the  mines  and  as  a  clerk.  Following 
this  he  took  a  course  at  Coleman's  business  college, 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated.     He  was  married  there  and  then  went 


to  Wo-t  Virginia,  where  he, acquired  extensive  in- 
terests in  the  lumber  business,  manufacturing  all 
kinds  of  lumber,  becoming  president  of  a  bank. 
and  otherwise  maintaining  important  business  as- 
sociations in  his  section.  Meantime  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Clark  Brothers,  composed 
of  himself  and  his  brothers  W.  C.  and  11.  J.  Clark, 
who  established  their  extensive  plant  at  Plymouth. 
Pa.,  which  through  their  experience,  energy  and 
ability  has  attained  the  distinction  of  being  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  central  Pennsylvania.  The 
business  at  Plymouth  was  under  the  direction  of 
the  other  two  brothers,  Elmer  E.  Clark  looking 
after  their  interests  in  West  Virginia  during  his 
ence  in  that  State.  The  Clark  Brothers  estab- 
lished the  Sunbury  Lumber  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany on  the  property  forming  a  part  of  the  estate 
of  the  late  Ira  T.  Clement,  on  Pace  street,  ad- 
joining the  lines  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  at 
Sunbury.  The  lumber  business  of  that  borough 
is  one  of  its  most  valuable  industrial  assets,  giving 
it  high  standing  as  a  commercial  and  shipping 
center,  and  the  Sunbury  Lumber  Manufacturing 
Company  soon  took  its  place  among  the  most  pros- 
perous institutions  of  its  kind.  Mr.  W.  C.  Clark 
took  the  management  of  the  Sunbury  plant,  which 
was  equipped  with  all  modern  machinery  and  de- 
vices necessary  to  the  production  of'  high-grade 
woodwork,  a  sixty  horse  power  engine  supplying 
the  motive  force.  The  lumber  yard  carries  the 
largesl  stock  of  seasoned  timber  of  any  similar 
concern  in  Sunbury.  and  a  switch  connecting  it 
with  the  railroad  makes  the  facilities  for  trans1 
portation  particularly  good.  The  firm  has  handled 
-him'  very  large  contracts. 

After  a  residence  of  nineteen  years  in  Virginia 
Mr.  Clark  returned  to  his  native  county,  in  1907, 
giving  his  time  to  the  conduct  of  the  old  estab- 
lished planing  mill  purchased  from  the  Ira  T.  Cle- 
ment estate.  He  owns  this  mill,  but  it  is  now  idle. 
The  business,  located  at  Third  and  Arch  streets, 
is  a1  one  of  the  oldest  stands  in  this  district,  and 
Mr.  Clark  has  enjoyed  a  large  trade  in  all  kinds 
of  mill  work,  giving  regular  employment  to  be- 
tween thirty-five  and  forty  mechanics.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  id'  hard  wood  interior  finish, 
turning  out  rough  and  dressed  lumber,  the  busi- 
ness being  very  comprehensive  and  meeting  every 
demand  of  the  local  trade.  He  expanded  the  busi- 
iH  ss  steadily  by  progressive  methods  and  honorable 
dealing,  and  has  shown  himself  an  exemplary  mem- 
ber  of  a  family  which  has  long  and  excellent  stand- 
ing in  this  locality. 

On  Nov.  23,  L888,  Mr.  Clark  married  Isabella 
Forrester,  daughter  of  George  and  Ellen  (Camp- 
bell) Forrester  and  granddaughter  of  James  For- 
rester. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  had  two  chil- 
dren. Chester  D.  (who  graduated  from  Pennsyl- 
vania State  College  in  1911)  and  Flossie  E. 
They  reside  at  Nix   1119   East  Market  street,  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


751 


one  of  the  finest  homes  of  the  borough,  a  beauti- 
ful Colonial  residence  which  Mr.  Clark  built  in 
1905.  Socially  Mr.  (lark  holds  membership  in 
Ohr  Lodge,  No.  131,  I-'.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  Salem 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Cumberland,  Md.  He  is 
a  Methodisi  in  religious  connection. 


One  William  Clark  bought  on  Feb.  17,  1786,  a 
warrant  of  land  containing  398  acres,  from  George 
Pearson,  land  agent.  Part  of  ibis  tract  is  now 
owned  by  Jacob  Keefer,  at  Keefer's  station,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township.  On  Feb.  23,  1789,  Wil- 
liam Clark  bought  another  tract  of  land  in  Upper 
Augusta  township,  from  George  Withington.  His 
sun.  George  Clark,  lived  in  Derry  township,  North- 
umberland (now  Montour)  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Feb. 
.">.  L813,  in  the  bouse  he  bad  occupied  for  over  two 
years  before  thai  event,  llis  wife's  name  was 
Man  ;  and  his  father,  William,  was  then  deceased. 

Robert  Clauk,  pioneer  of  White  Deer  township. 
Northumberland  (now  Union)  county,  was  one  of 
the  earliest  of  the  family  in  this  region  and  prob- 
ably brother  of  William,  above,  as  he  was  one  of 
several  brothers,  Walter,  William  (?).  James, 
Adam  and  himself,  as  well  as  some  sisters;  there 
iiiiiv  have  been  brothers  John  and  Joseph  also. 
In  his  will,  made  Dec.  33,  1790,  probated  May  31, 
L798,  his  son  George  and  "my  brother"  Walter 
Clark  are  appointed  executors,  and  he  gives  his 
beloved  wife  dean  Clark  twelve  pounds  yearly,  the 
oldest  mare,  her  -addle  and  bridle,  milch  cow,  the 
ease  of  drawers  that  stand  in  back  room,  her  wheel 
and  reel.  2  "chears,"  all  the  "citchen"  furniture; 
his  daughter  Elonor  Fruit  fifty  pounds;  his  daugh- 
ter Margaret  Clark  one  feather  bed  and  bed  clothes, 
new  saddle  and  bridle  and  wheel  and  one  hundred 
pounds'  money;  he  also  mentions  his  daughter  Ag- 
ues  Clark,  and  sons  Robert  (to  receive  one  hun- 
dred pounds  when  be  comes  of  age),  George, 
( 'baric-  and  John.  There  may  have  also  been 
a  son  Jonathan.     Of  these  sons. 

John  Clark,  who  lived  in  White  Deer  township, 
Northumberland  (now  Union)  county,  died  there 
prior  to  dune  21,  1810.  He  made  his  last  will 
and  testament  May  1.  1810.  and  in  it  we  find: 
■'I  nominate  my  uncle  William  Clark  and  my  dear 
brothel-  Robert  Clark  my  executors."  His  brother 
Robert  was  the  executor.  Items  of  the  will  were: 
"1  bequest  225  pounds  to  my  brother  Robert  Clark. 
1  bequest  125  pounds  to  be  divided  betwixt  Polly. 
Jane  and  Charles  Clark,  the  children  of  my  brother 
Charles  Clark,  deceased.  I  bequest  the  same  unto 
mv  brother  George  Clark,  and  my  sisters  Elenor 
Frust,  Margaret  Donnaly  and  Nancy  Finney." 

Adam  Clark,  who  lived  and  died  in  what  is 
now  Chillisquaque  township.  Northumberland 
county,  left  a  large  estate  which  he  divided  by 
will  (made  April  15,  1803)  as  follows:  "To  my 
daughter  Jane  Eustiee  100  pounds;  to  my  daugh- 
ter Mattie  Clark  100  pounds;  to  grandsons  Abner 


and  Alexander  Clark  I  bequesl  158  acres  of  land 
in  Bigtree  township,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y. ;  to 
granddaughter  Margaret  Clark  100  pounds  when 
she  becomes  eighteen;  to  grandson  Adam  Clark 
300  pounds:  to  granddaughter  Margaret  Savers 
25  pounds;  to  my  niece  Ann  Falkner  25  pounds; 
the  balance  of  my  estate  t  bequest  unto  my  grand- 
children Abner.  Alexander,  Margaret  and  Adam 
Clark,  and  Margaret  Savers."  The  executors  were 
John  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Chillisquaque  township,  and 
John  Montgomery,  of  Mahoning  township. 

John  Clark  (e),  of  West  Buffalo  township,  then 
in  Northumberland  county,  made  bis  will  Dec. 
9,  1807,  and  it  was  probated  March  9,  1809.  In 
it  he  mentions  Jane,  who  married  David  Watson, 
and  William  and  Jane,  children  of  his  son  Joseph 
Clarke. 

John  Clark  (who  it  is  said  had  a  brother  Jon- 
athan in  Northumberland  county)  came  from  New 
Jersey  and  settled  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county.  He  is  buried  at  Snyder- 
town.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  the  place 
now  the  property  of  Daniel  Kembel.  He  was  twice 
married,  but  had  no  children  by  bis  second  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Guss.  His  family  was 
as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Henry  Cooner ; 
Rebecca,  who  married  Samuel  Wallize;  Jonathan; 
Mary,  who  married  Solomon  Sterner:  Lukens; 
Samuel,  who  died  in  Rush  township;  John,  who 
lived  in  Upper  Augusta  township:  and  William. 

William  Clark,  son  of  John,  above,  was  born 
in  Upper  Augusta  township  and  lived  on  Little 
Roaring  creek,  in  Rush  township,  where  he  owned 
two  farms,  having  about  three  hundred  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Rush 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  buried  at  that  church. 
He  was  quite  active  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
overseer  of  the  poor  and  in  other  offices.  To  his 
marriage  with  Jane  Moore  were  bom  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Lukens  lived  in  Iowa  ;  Asenath  mar- 
ried John  Bird:  Hamilton  lived  in  Catawissa,  Pa.: 
Mary  married  Clinton  Ease:  Margaret  married 
John  Wallize;  William  lived  in  Rush  township; 
Sarah  Ellen  married  Philip  M.  Forrester  and  is 
now   (1911)  past  seventy  years  of  age. 


Henry  Clark,  from  whom  another  branch  of  this 
family  is  descended,  was  a  farmer  in  Upper  Ma- 
hantango  town-hip.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  owning  a 
farm  in  his  earlier  life,  and  later  was  a  butcher 
and  laborer.  He  was  a  member  of  Salem  Church, 
where  he  is  buried.  His  children  were:  John  S. : 
Joel,  of  Pitman,  Pa.:  Frank,  of  Upper  Mahanoy 
township:  Polly,  who  married  John  Kloek;  Abbie, 
who  married  Chester  Dressier;  Elmira,  who  mar- 
ried Enoch  Wehry;  Angelina,  who  married  Harry 
Bobbenmoyer,  an  extensive  contractor  of  Lebanon, 
Pa.:  and  Amelia,  who  married    Benjamin  Fetter. 

John   S.   (dark,  son   of    Henry,   is   a    farmer  in 


752 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Upper  Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  owns  a  fifty-acre  property  which  he  cul- 
tivates. He  has  been  a  useful  citizen  of  his  local- 
ity, and  has  served  a  number  of  years  as  school 
director  and  supervisor.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  his  religious  connection  is  with  Salem 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  deacon  and  trustee  and  is  at  present  serving 
as  elder.  His  wife  also  belongs  to  that  church. 
Mr.  Clark  married  Sophia  Romberger,  daughter 
of  Henry  Romberger.  of  Upper  Mahantango  town- 
ship. Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  had  a  large 
family :  Mary,  who  married  Charles  Wiest ;  Jane, 
who  died  aged  twenty-one  years,  three  months, 
three  days;  Barbara,  who  married  Albert  Schwalm 
(brother  of  Mrs.  II.  Preston  Clark)  ;  H.  Preston; 
Daniel  R.,  of  Valley  View,  l'a.:  Catharine  J.,  who 
married  William  Tetter:  Bertha,  who  married  Rob- 
ert Wolfgang;  Mabel:  John,  and  (iurney  W. 

H.  Prestox  Clark,  son  of  John  S..  was  born 
April  27,  1876,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  where 
he 'obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  began  for 
himself  in  the  spring  of  1901,  at  his  present  home 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  owns  eighty-nine  acres.  This 
was  formerly  a  Rebuck  homestead,  and  part  of  the 
farm  was  owned  by  the  Simmis  family,  who  were 
colored  people :  they  are  buried  in  a  private  lot 
on  the  Amnion  Knorr  farm.  Mr.  (.'lark  built  his 
barn  in  1904. 

On  An-.  28,  1900,  Mr.  Clark  married  Ida 
Schwalm,  daughter  of  Fred  and  Sarah  (Ruben- 
thai  )  Schwalm.  and  granddaughter  of  Frederick 
Schwalm.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Sadie  E.  (who  died  in  infancy),  Carrie  S..  Edgar 
A..  Delia  L.  and  Calvin  A.  Mr.  Clark  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  the  Salem  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon. 

JACOB  WARNER  MIFFLIN,  of  Paxinos, 
Northumberland  county,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Mifflin  &  Miller,  manufacturers  of  brick 
and  dealers  in  lumber  and  other  commodities,  is 
also  extensively  engaged  as  a  contractor  and  build- 
er, his  work  in  that  line  taking  him  all  over  the 
county.  His  interests  in  this  region  are  varied, 
and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  most  progres- 
sive citizens,  exercising  a  wholesome  influence 
upon  its  industrial  welfare  and  active  in  its  best 
development.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born 
Jan.  2S,  1871,  at  Bear  Gap,  and  comes  of  a  fam- 
ily of  English  origin  which  has  been  settled  in 
America  since  early  Colonial  times.  The  gen- 
erations of  the  family  are  numbered  beginning 
with  the  first  ancestor  in  this  countrv. 

(I)  John  Mifflin  was  born  in  1638  in  War- 
minster, Wiltshire,  England,  whence  he  came  to 
Aim  rii  a  with  his  son  John  in  the  year  1676,  or  be- 


tween that  year  and  1679.  It  is  probable  that  they 
sailed  in  one  of  the  five  ships  containing  colonists 
wdio  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  who- 
disembarked  at  what  is  now  Burlington,  N.  J., 
in  1677  or  1678.  They  were  prominent  in  the 
early  history  of  Philadelphia,  where  they  eventu- 
ally  settled.  After  working  some  time  among  the 
Swedes,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  and 
Schuylkill  rivers,  until  they  could  fix  upon  a  place 
to  settle,  they  chose  a  tract  lying  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Schuylkill,  which  they  took  up  on  the  Duke 
of  York's  patent.  The  title,  dated  from  the 
court  <>f  Upland  or  Chester  (then  held  at  Kings- 
ess),  8th  month.  13,  1680,  named  the  area  as  30O 
acres,  but  it  was  resurveyed  in  1682  and  patent 
taken  under  William  Penn,  the  original  title  be- 
ing  confirmed  by  Penn  5th  month,  IS.  1681:  the- 
tract  was  then  designated  as  containing  270  acres. 
The  Mifflins  settled  there  on  the  13th  of  the  8th 
month,  1680,  living  in  a  small  house  near  the  riv- 
erside. John  Mifflin  named  the  place  "Fountain 
n"  and  it  is  now  included  in  Fairmount  park., 
in  Philadelphia.  The  dwelling  which  stood  until 
comparatively  recent  times  was  situated  in  the  ra- 
vine below  and  to  the  west  of  the  site  of  the 
Smith  Memorial  Children's  Playhouse,  and  to  the- 
easl  of  the  Benedict  Arnold  house.  A  guard  who 
was  employed  in  the  park  for  over  twenty-five- 
years  remembered  seeing  the  house  in  1871  and 
described  it  as  a  large  dwelling,  with  pillars  sup- 
porting the  front  porch.  All  that  now  remains 
to  mark  the  site  is  the  spring  which  is  known  to 
have  been  at  the  rear  of  the  house  and  the  stumps 
of  two  giant  chestnut  trees  that  stood  in  front 
of  the  house.  The  wife  of  John  Mifflin,  the  elder, 
followed  him  to  America,  coming  from  England 
soon  after  the  marriage  of  the  son  John,  but  she 
died  soon  after  her  arrival.  He  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Merion.  Pa.,  where  he  married  his  sec- 
ond wife.  Eleanora,  about  1685.  He  died  in  Phil- 
adelphia on  the  4th  of  the  7th  month.  1716.  when 
over  seventy  years  old,  bis  second  wife  surviving 
him. 

(II)  John  Mifflin,  son  of  John,  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  father.  He  was  born  in  1661  in  Wilt- 
shire, England,  and  married  Elizabeth  Hardy, 
who  was  about  twenty-one  when  she  came  over 
with  William  Penn  on  his  first  voyage,  in  1682, 
from  Derbyshire.  England,  with  a  shipload  of 
Derbyshire  people  who  settled  on  Darby  creek,  and 
called  the  place  Darby  Town.  Soon  afterward 
John  Mifflin,  who  lived  four  or  five  miles  dis- 
tant, became  acquainted  with  her.  and  their  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  at  a  Meeting  of  Friends  held 
at  i  tester  or  near  it  on  the  6th  of  12th  month, 
1683  or  1684.  Upon  his  father's  removal  to  Mer- 
ion. as  above  related,  John  Mifflin  purchased  the- 
whole  of  the  property  and  resided  there  until  hisr 
death,  which,  occurred  the  4th  of  the  4th  month,. 
1714,  in  his  fiftv- fourth  year.     His  wife,  who  was= 


PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


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c^o 


D        GR.ANDSON      JO 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


753 


born  about  1663,  survived  him,  dying  in  Philadel- 
phia '.'l-i  of  6th  month,  1736.  They  had  children 
as  Eoliows:  ( ]  )  Edward,  born  in  1685,  is  the  next 
in  line  to  Jacob  Warner  Mifflin.  (2)  George,  born 
in  1688,  lived  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  admitted 
a  freeman  of  that  city  in  April,  1717.  He  was  a 
merchant,  1736;  member  of  council,  1730;  mem- 
ber of  governor's  council,  1730;  owner,  1731; 
and  interested  in  the  Colebrookdale  Furnace,  the 
oldest  in  Pennsylvania,  erected  in  1720.  He  was 
married  in  Philadelphia  to  Esther  Codery,  daugh- 
ter of  Hugh  and  Deborah  Codery,  and  they  were 
the  grandparents  of  Thomas  Mifflin,  governor  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Mifflin  died  at  Philadelphia 
10th  of  Itli  month,  1758.  By  his  father's  will  he 
received  a  house  and  lot  on  the  south  side  of  High 
street.  (3)  John,  born  in  icon.  was  admitted  a 
freeman  of  Philadelphia  in  April,  1717,  and  lived 
there  and  m  Kent  county,  Del.,  dying  in  the  latter 
place  about  1733.  His  wife's  uame  was  Elizabeth. 
(4)  Elizabeth,  born  in  1692,  married  Benjamin 
(tram  about  1714,  and  died  about  1732.  (5)  Pa- 
tience, born  in  1694,  died  unmarried  in  1717.  (6) 
Jane,  born  in  1(396,  was  married  in  Philadelphia 
in  1717  to  John  Waller.  (7)  Samuel,  born  in 
1698,  died  in  Philadelphia  m  1724.  His  wife's 
name  was  Elizabeth.  (8)  Jonathan,  horn  in  1699, 
died  in  1700.  (!i)  Jonathan  (2),  born  at  "Foun- 
tain Green"  12th  of  4th  month,  1704,  died  15th 
of  10th  month,  1781.  He  lived  on  a  plantation 
near  the  Germantown  mad.  In  1776  he  wrote  a 
history  of  the  Mifflin  family.  In  1723  he  married 
in  Philadelphia  Sarah  Robinson;  in  1752  he  mar- 
ried (second)  Rebecca  Evans,  and  in  1758  he  mar- 
ried  (third)   Sarah  Powell. 

(III)  Edward  Mifflin,  eldest  sun  of  John,  was 
born  in  1685.  and  removed  to  Aecomac  county, 
Va.  He  married  Mary  Eyre,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Ann  (Neeeh)  Eyre,  of  Northampton  coun- 
ty, Va.,  and  they  had  children:  John,  Daniel,  Ann, 
Samuel  and  Southey.  Edward  Mifflin  died  in 
17  13,  his  widow  in  1775.  Most  of  their  descend- 
ants reside  in  Camden,  Delaware. 

(IV)  Daniel  .Mifflin,  of  Aecomac  county,  Va., 
son  of  Edward,  was  born  in  1722,  and  died  in 
1795.  He  was  the  father  of  fourteen  children, 
five  by  his  first  marriage,  to  Mary  Warner:  War- 
ner, mentioned  below;  Edward,  horn  in  1747.  who 
died  in  infancy;  Anna,  born  in  1748;  Sarah,  born 
in  1751;  and  Daniel,  born  7th  of  4th  month, 
175),  who  married  Deborah  Howell  in  177s  and 
died  31st  of  12th  month,  1812.  By  his  second 
wife,  Ann,  he  had  nine  children,  namely:  Walk- 
er. Mary,  Ann,  Elizabeth,  Sarah.  Eyre,  Rebecca, 
Patience  and  Elizabeth   (2). 

(V)  Warner  Mifflin,  son  of  Daniel,  horn  in 
Pi  15.  died  iii  1798.  Through  the  interest  and  ef- 
forts of  his  descendants  the  fence  surrounding 
the  now  abandoned  Murtherkill  or  Motherkill 
burying  ground  was  replaced  (1904)  and  a  stone 

48 


hearing   the   following   inscription   placed   on   the 
lot: 

Motherkill  Burying  Ground 

Within  This  Enclosure 
Are  Interred  The  Remains 
of 
Warner   Mifflin 
Friend,  Philanthropist,  Patriot 
Born   Aug.   21,   174S 
Died  October  16,  1798 
His  plantation,  an  extensive  one,  was  near  Frank- 
lin City,  and  commanded  a  fine  view  of  Chinco- 
teague   Bay   and    Island.      "Pharsalis,"   the   resi- 
dence, is  still   standing,  and  was  described  by  a 
visitor  in  1903  as  a  house  which  gave  evidence  of 
having  been  a  fine  place  in  its  day. 

Warner  Mifflin's  first  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  Philadelphia,  was  to  Elizabeth  Johns,  and  to 
them  were  horn  nine  children:  (1)  Mary,  born 
21st  of  4th  month,  1768,  died  23d  of  2d  month, 
1783.  (2)  Elizabeth,  bom  11th  of  2d  month, 
1770.  died  89th  of  2d  month,  1770.  (3)  Eliza- 
beth C!),  horn  26th  of  1st  month,  1771,  married 
Clayton  Cowgill  in  1792.  (4)  Sarah,  born  4th 
of  4th  month,  1773,  died  7th  month,  1773.  (5) 
Ann.  bom  20th  of  9th  month.  1774,  married 
Warner  Rasin,  of  Maryland,  in  1705.  (6)  War- 
ner is  mentioned  below.  (7)  Susanna,  born  24th 
of  7th  (or  8th)  month.  17  70.  married  John  Cow- 
gill,  of  Little  Creek.  (8)  Hannah,  born  30th  of 
10th  month,  1781,  died  11th  of  5th  month,  1785. 
(9)  Sarah,  born  9th  of  12th  month,  1784,  mar- 
ried Daniel  Neall,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1810,  and 
died  5th  of  2d  month.  Is:;;. 

By  his  second  marriage,  which  also  took  place 
in  Philadelphia,  to  Ann  Emlen,  Mr.  Mifflin  had 
three  children:  Samuel  E.,  born  in  1790;  Lem- 
uel, born  in  1792;  and  Mary  Ann,  born  in  1795, 
who  died  the  same  year. 

(VI)  Warner  Mifflin,  son  of  Warner,  was  born 
the  6th  of  4th  month,  1777,  and  died  in  1840.  On 
8th  of  3d  month,  1810,  lie  was  married  to  Sarah 
Ann  Newlin,  daughter  of  Thomas  Newlin,  of 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  and  his  second  marriage,  on 
18th  of  10th  month.  1825.  was  to  Elizabeth  Laws, 
of  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (John)  Laws. 

(VII)  Dr.  George  W.  Mifflin,  son  of  Warner, 
was  born  Dee.  30,  1834,  and  when  a  young  man 
prepared  himself  for  the  dental  profession  at  Phil- 
adelphia. He  followed  it  for  some  time,  at  Cat- 
awissa  and  at  Bear  Gap,  Pa.,  and  finally  settled 
at  Paxinps,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
built  the  well  known  "Paxinos  Hotel."  He  eon- 
ducted  that  hostelry  successfully  for  about  twen- 
ty-six years,  and  meantime  was  the  main  factor 
in  the  development  of  the  place,  building  all  but 
one  of  the  houses  in  the  village.  Retiring  from  the 
hotel  business  he  removed  to  Bloomsburg,  Colum- 
bia Co..  I'a..  where  he  died  March  23,  1901.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  serv- 


754 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENN  SYLVANIA 


ice,  from  Erie.  Pa.  He  was  one  of  the  best  known 
lents  of  his  district,  a  man  of  many  friends, 
and  well  liked  by  all  who  knew  him.  On  May  :  i . 
-  I,  Dr.  Mifflin  married  Mary  E.  Leisenring,  who 
was  horn  in  1840,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Bneher)  Leisenring,  and  granddaughter  of 
Henry  Bucher.  of  Sunbnry,  this  county-.  Jacob 
Leisenring  was  born  July  14.  1794.  and  died  May 
11,  1878;  is  wife  Mary  (Bucher)  died  in  1873, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  six  months.  Mrs.  Mifflin 
died  June  2,  1909,  and  was  buried  at  the  Blue 
church.  Two  children  were  born  to  her  and  her 
husband :  Jacob  Warner  and  Elizabeth,  the  latter 
dying  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 

(VIII)  Jacob  Warner  Mifflin  attended  public 
school  in  Shamokin  township  and  later  was  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Bloomsburg  normal  school  and  the 
Shamokin  Business  Co  lege.  Prom  that  time  on 
he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until  he 
entered  his  present  line,  in  1908.  at  which  time 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  J.  Miller,  to  en- 
gage in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  The  firm  of 
Mifflin  &  Miller  conducts  the  brickyard  founded 
by  Daniel  Swank,  one  of  the  first  operated  in  this 
district,  and  does  a  large  business,  giving  em- 
ployment to  about  twenty-five  mem  They  are 
also  dealers  in  coal.  sand,  lime,  cement  and  lum- 
ber. Mr.  Mifflin  has  also  been  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building  for  some  years,  doing  a  large 
business  in  that  line  all  over  Northumberland 
county.  As  a  live,  enterprising  business  man,  one 
who  possesses  the  qualities  of  leadership  in  the  in- 
dustrial world,  he  is  regarded  as  second  to  none  in 
his  town  and  district,  and  his  well  directed  energy 
has  not  only  brought  prosperity  to  him  but  to  the 
communitv  in  which  he  resides. 

On  June  24,  1897.  Mr.  Mifflin  married  Mary 
Mi  ore,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  and  Emma  (Bar- 
ton) Moore,  the  former  of  whom  was  captain  of 
Company  I.  13th  Regiment.  Indiana  Volun: 
during  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mifflin  have 
had  two  children:  John  Warner,  born  May  4. 
1899;  and  Elizabeth,  born  Feb.  28,  1902.  Mr. 
Mifflin  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
Church,  while  his  wife  is  an  Episcopalian. 
daily  he  holds  membership  in  the  B.  P.  0.  Elks 
(Shamokin  Lodge),  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle 
and  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his 
political  views. 

TRESSLER.  The  Tresslers  of  Northumber- 
land county  are  a  family  of  German  origin  which 
has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania  since  1749.  The 
name  is  properly  Dressier,  but  all  save  one  of 
Jacob  Tresslers  children  and  their  descendants 
have  spelled  it  Tressler  since  1854.  Squire  John 
Tressler,  for  fifty  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Washington  township,  Northumberland  county — 
the  oldest  justice  as  regards  length  of  service  in 
that  county:  his  brother  Isaac  B.  Tressler.   |    - 


master  at  Mahanoy.  and  the  best  known  man  in 
Jackson  township  and  that  part  of  Noithumber- 
land  county:  Cornelius  M.  Tressler,  an  intelligent 
citizen  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township — these  men 
and  their  families  all  represent  a  type  of  citizen- 
ship which  has  made  the  name  respected  wherever 
known. 

Four  Dressier  brothers  came  to  America  during 
the  middle  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  John, 
i  David.  Peter  and  Michael,  the  first  named, 
who  settled  in  Greenwich  township,  Berks  Co.. 
Pa.,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  being  the  ancestor  of 
the  line  we  are  tracing.  He  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try in  1749.  His  son  Michael  was  a  soldier  under 
Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Of  the 
other  three,  Joseph  David  came  to  America  in 
ter  came  in  1739,  when  twenty-five  years 
old:  and  Michael  came  in  17  71. 

Andrew  Dr-  --'  ,  son  of  John,  was  born  May 
-.  1 7  40.  in  Germany,  near  a  "dorf"  called 
.  near  the  "Sehwabeland."  He  was  three 
years  old  when  brought  to  America  by  his  father 
in  1749.  to  Goshenhoppen,  Berks  Co..  Pa.  The 
Federal  Census  of  1790  records  Andrew  and  Mich'l 
Dressier:  George  Tressler:  Philip  Tressler 
(one  son  above  sixteen  and  three  daughters)  : 
Andrew  Dressier,  of  Greenwich  township,  with 
two  sons  and  three  daughters;  and  David  Dress- 
ier, of  Greenwich  township,  with  two  sons  and  one 
daughter.  However,  the  Andrew  Dressier  (son 
of  John)  who  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Northum- 
berland county  Tresslers  settled  in  early  life  at 
Loysville.  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  where  he  married 
(first)  Mary  Loy.  who.  bore  him  seven  or  eight 
children.  All  of  these  died  but  John  Jacob  Dress- 
..ho  is  mentioned  more  fully  below.  For  his 
second  wife  Andrew  Dressier  married  Catharine 
He-man,  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia,  and 
they  had  an  only  son,  John.  Andrew  Dressier 
died  Oct.  21,  1828,  aged  eighty-two  years,  at  Loys- 
ville, Perry  county,  where  he  is  buried.  His  sec- 
ond wife  died  May  12.  1850. 

John  Dressier,  half-brother  of  John  Jacob 
Dressier,  was  born  July  22,  1803.  and  lived  and 
died  at  Loysville.  He  donated  the  land  upon  which 
Dressler's  Seminary  was  located  (as  well  as  the 
seminary  building)  to  the  Lutheran  denomination 
for  an  orphans'  home.  In  May,  1826,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Loy.  and  they  reared  a  family  of  thirteen 
children:  John  Andrew.  Sarah  Ann,  Mary  Cath- 
arine, Victor  George,  John  William,  Eliza  Jane, 
Daniel  Loy.  Josiah  Erva.  Mary  Ellen.  Martin 
Luther,  Matilda  Emaline,  Loyetta  Elizabeth  and 
Anna  Margaretta.  All  but  one  of  John's  descend- 
ants who  survive  are  scattered  in  the  West,  the 
exception  being  his  daughter  Loyetta  Elizabeth, 
who  was  born  Feb.  14.  1848.  at  Loysville,  Perry 
I  .  Pa.,  and  was  married  Sept.  16.  1874  (by  her 
brother,  D.  L.  Dressier),  to  Henry  Lewis  Lark,  of 
Berrysburg,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  who  now  resides  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


;:,:, 


Millersburg,  Dauphin  county;  Mr.  Lark  is  a  prom- 
inent attorney  ai  law  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 
John  Jacob  Dressier,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born 
Dec.  25,  L770,  and  was  reared  near  Loysville, 
Perry  county,  being  trained  to  fanning,  which  he 
followed  all  his  life.     Soon  after  his  marriage  he 

red    from     Perry   county   to    Northumberland 

county,  locating  in  Mahanoy  township,  and  con- 
tinued to  live  in  this  county  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
years.  But  before  1832  he  had  settled  in  .Schuyl- 
kill county.  While  in  Northumberland  counl 
was  a  Lutheran  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church  at 
Mahanoy,  and  succeeded  m  obtaining  a  clear  title 
for  the  church  propertj  bj  special  .1.1  of  Legis- 
lature. Mi-.  Dressier  was  married  mi  lVn\  county 
to  Susanna  Soman,  who  was  born  March  15,  1773, 
ami  died  Jan.  31,  1845 ;  he  died  April  •*>.  1852,  and 
they  are  buried  at  the  Salem  Church,  in  Upper 
Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  county.  They 
wciv  tie'  parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  Sol- 
omon, a  farmer,  lived  and  died  in  Washington 
township.  Northumberland  county.  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried William  Dewitt  and  they  lived  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township.  Northumberland  county:  Cath- 
arine married  George  Lahr  and  lived  in  Jackson 
township,  tins  county,  where  both  died:  Jacob  is 
mentioned  below  :  Lydia  married  a  Mr.  Smith  and 
they  moved  to  Venango  county.  Pa.:  Rebecca  mar- 
ried David  Zartman  and  lived  in  Washington 
township;  Jonathan  settled  near  Center  Hall, 
in  (enter  county,  Pa.;  Hannah  married  Godfried 
Thomas  and  lived  in  Jackson  town-hip;  Henry 
settled  with  bis  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Smith,  in 
Venango  county,  Pa.:  Peter  remained  on  the 
homestead  in  Upper  Mahantango  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county. 

Jacob  Dressier,  son  of  John  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county  in  October,  1802,  and  died 
in  October,  1850.  Be  is  interred  in  a  private 
burial  ground  on  his  farm  in  Jackson  township, 
Northumberland  county.  He  was  a  stonemason 
and  farmer,  and  prospered  in  his  work,  owning  a 
farm  of  about  240  acres.  Taking  an  active  part 
in  the  public  affairs  of  Ms  community,  he  served 
as  supervisor  and  in  other  local  offices,  and  was  a 
Democral  in  political  opinion.  He  was  a  most 
esteemed  member  of  the  Lutheran  denomination, 
he  and  his  family  belonging  to  St.  Peter's  Church 
at  Mahanoy,  which  he  served  officially  as  deacon, 
■elder  and  trustee,  being  one  of  the  zealous  workers 
of  the  congregation.  He  married  Mary  (Polly) 
Billman,  and  they  had  a  family  of  nine  children, 
six  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely:  (1)  Jo- 
seph, born  in  Schuylkill  county  Nov.  17,  1825, 
lived  at  the  homestead  of  his  father  in  Jackson 
ton  nship,  later  moving  to  Herndon.  where  he  died 
Feb.  24,  1909.  He  is  buried  in  St.  Peter's  cem- 
etery at  Mahanoy.  He  married  Polly  Peiffer, 
daughter  of  Michael  Peiffer,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren:    William  P.,  who.is  a  farmer:  John  P.,  a 


n  tired  merchant  at  Herndon,  who  married  Emma 
Wiit:  Henry,  who  died  unmarried  when  about 
twenty  years  old:  Jane,  unmarried:  Katie,  who 
married  William  Deppen  (who  died  leaving  two 
sons,  Irvin  and  William)  and  (second)  Charles  H. 
Eaudenbush  (she  is  now  deceased):  and  Alice, 
married   George  Ziegler,  of  Herndon.      (2) 

ih,  born  Aug.  1;.  1827,  married  Adam  Daniel, 
and  they  lived  in  Washington  township.  Their 
family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Her  husband  dying,  she  married  David  Weary,  of 
Schuylkill  county,  and  died  March  G,  1SG9.  Her 
-urn  John  Daniel  had  died  a  few-  days  previously, 
and  her  son  Samuel  Daniel  a  few  days  later.  Mr. 
Weary  died  about  the  same  time — the  four  deaths 
taking  place  in  less  than  two  weeks.  All  died  of 
-potted  fever.  Malinda  Daniel,  the  only  daughter, 
survives:  -he  was  married  to  Isaac  Schreffler, 
a  farmer  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county,  now  deceased.  (3)  Har- 
riet, born  March  29,  1829,  married  Ben- 
jamin Stepp,  and  died  May  8.  1852,  leav- 
ing one  son,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  one  daugh- 
ter. Sarah,  who  married  Benjamin  Lenker.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lenker  are  both  deceased,  as  is  also 
Mr.  Stepp:  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Mahanoy. 
(4)  Daniel,  born  Sept.  9,  1S30,  settled  at  Story 
City,  Iowa,  and  died  in  190-.     He  married  Mag- 

\ loser,  who  is  still  living  in  Story  City,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  excellent  health.  Three  sons  were 
born  to  this  union,  Robert,  Daniel  and  Charles,  of 
whom  Daniel  is  deceased;  Robert  and  Charles  are 
prosperous  farmers,  each  having  a  farm  in  Iowa. 
I  5  )  Hannah,  born  Jan.  20, 1832,  was  married  Jan. 
25,  1855,  to  Michael  Emerick,  who  was  born  Nov. 
27,  1832,  and  died  Dec.  26,  1899.  They  lived 
in  Jordan  township.  Mrs..  Emerick  now  makes  her 
home  at  Mandata.  Six  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Emerick:  Sarah  Minerva,  born  Jan.  29, 
1856,  is  married  to  J.  F.  Blasser  and  resides  near 
Millersburg,  Pa.;  Theodore,  born  July  22,  1857, 
married  Rose  Latsha  and  resides  at  Mahanoy,  Pa. 
(they  have  no  children)  ;  Louisa  C,  born  Aug.  31, 
1859,  married  Jonathan  M.  Byerly,  who  lives  in 
Jordan  township,  and  they  reared  nine  children, 
Beecher  N..  Josephine,  Claud  Alvaretta,  Hannah 
K..  Elias  Michael,  Saloma  E..  Isaac  T..  Maude  H., 
and  Mark  Jonathan;  G.  J.  M..  horn  Aug.  10,  1865, 
married  Adeline  Witmer:  Dr.  M.  L.,  born  Nov. 
pi.  1872,  a  resident  of  Hickory  Corners,  one  of  the 
hading  physicians  in  hi-  section  of  Northumber- 
land county,  married  Katie  E.  Lenker,  and  they 
have  had  three  children,  their  only  son,  John  Paul 
Luther,  dying  May  18,  1902,  aged  two  ear-,  four 
months,  two  days:  Ellen  Miranda,  born  June  15, 
L8'!  1.  married  Isaac  P.  Phillips,  ami  they  had  one 
child.  Hannah  II.  (6)  John  is  mentioned  below. 
1  ;  I  Jacob  B.,  born  in  Jackson  township  Sept.  25, 
L841,  d  ed  at  Mahanoy  Sept.  19.  1881,  and  is  bur- 
ied in  St.  Peter's  graveyard  in  Jackson  township. 


756 


N< (RTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
at  Mahanoy.  By  trade  he  was  a  plasterer,  and  for 
several  years  associated  with  his  brother  John  in 
a  general  store  business  at  Berndon.  On  Jan.  5, 
1865,  he  married  Susanna  Hays,  who  survived 
him  with  eight  children,  Mary  Sylvia  (who  died 
Jan.  7,  1883),  Osmar  Monitor,  Eliza  Irene,  Edna 
Estie,  Laura  IT.,  [saae  John,  Kirby  Jacob  and 
Thomas  Tilden.  (8)  Elias  B.  lives  at  Mahanoy. 
(!))   Isaac  B.  is  mentioned  below.     With  the  ex- 

i  eptii I'  the  oldest  sun.  Joseph,  all  of  this  family 

wrote  the  name  Tressler,  changing  from  "D"  to 
"T"  in  is:,  I. 

John  Tressler,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Bill- 
man)  Dressier,  was  born  in  October,  1835,  on  a 
farm  in  Jackson  township  two  mile-  southeast 
of  what  is  now  Herndon,  and  there  received  biis 
early  education  in  the  old  subscription  schools,  lie 
was  only  fourteen  when  his  father  died,  so  his 
youthful  advantages  wi  re  somewhat  limited,  but 
nevertheless,  by  industry  and  perseverance,  he  man- 
aged I"  secure  a  good  education.  His  first  work  on 
Ins  own  account  was  on  the  farm  id'  his  brother-in- 
law,  Adam  Daniel,  who  paid  him  $35  a  year.  When 
sixteen  years  old  he  started  to  learn  the  trade 
of  plasterer,  with  Jared  Daniel,  for  whom  he 
worked  two  summers,  earning  $10  besides  learning 
the  business.  Part  of  this  time  he  was  employed 
at  Mount  Carmel.  and  at  that  time  there  was  not 
a  house  standing  that  is  there  now.  Mr.  Tressler 
followed  the  plasterer's  trade  for  about  twenty-five 
years  altogether,  receiving  a  dollar  a  day  and  his 
hoard  after  he  had  completed  his  apprenticeship. 
But  in  those  days  little  or  no  plastering  was  done 
in  the  winter  season,  ami  he  took  advantage  of  this 
to  improve  himself  mentally,  during  the  winter  of 
1855-56  attending  the  academy  at  Berrysburg,  in 
Dauphin  county,  of  which  Keneda  Carlile  was  then 
principal.  Remaining  there  until  October,  1856, 
he  returned  in  his  old  home  and  followed  his  trade, 
the  following  January  going  to  Loysville,  Perry 
county,  where  he  also  attended  school,  on  the  site 
of  what  is  now  the  orphans'  home  at  that  point; 
the  academy  and  a  large  tract  of  land  about  it  were 
owned  by  his  uncle,  John  Dressier,  who.  as  above 
recorded,  donated  same  for  the  orphans'  home.  At 
that  time  transportation  facilities  were  so  limited 
that  Joseph  Tressler,  his  older  brother,  took  him 
to  Loysville  by  team.  Having  prepared  himself 
for  teaching  Mr.  Tressler  followed  that  profession 
for  a  number  of  years  during  the  winter  season, 
his  first  year's  work  being  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  be  had  a  subscription  school.  For 
the  next  two  terms  he  was  at  Urban,  in  Jordan 
township,  later  for  four  terms  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, ami  tin'  last  two  terms  in  Schuylkill  county, 
lie  taught  nine  terms  in  all,  six  in  subscription 
school^  and  the  las!  three  under  the  free  school 
system.  For  two  years  he  was  at  Mandata.  In  the 
meantime,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  be  settled  with 


bis  mother  on  the  place  where  be  still  lives,  in 
Washington  township,  which  he  purchased  at  that 
time.  With  the  exception  of  three  years  during 
which  lie  was  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Hern- 
don  be  has  lived  there  continuously  since.  The 
property  comprises  between  three  hundred  and  four 
hundred  acres,  eighty-five  of  which  arc  cleared  land. 
He  has  been  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  since  the 
fall  of  1885  lias  also  been  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  running  a  steam  sawmill.  In  1876,  in 
association  with  other  citizens  of  bis  township,  he 
organized  the  Stone  Valley  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  which  obtained  a  charter  from  the  State 
department  during  Governor  Hartranft's  adminis- 
tration, Feb.  15.  is",  and  which  has  enjoyed  an 
unbroken  career  of  prosperity.  Mr.  Tressler  has; 
held  the  office  of  secretary  ever  since  the  organi- 
zation. It  is.  however,  in  his  capacity  of  justice  of 
the  peace  that  Mr.  Tressler  i-  best  known'to  his 
fellow  citizens  and  has  been  of  the  greatest  service 
to  his  community.  At  the  spring  election  of  1860, 
when  he  was  but  twenty-four  years  old,  be  was 
chosen  justice  of  the  peace  for  Washington  town- 
ship, and  received  bis  commission  from  Governor 
Packer,  April  10th.  He  has  been  reelected  to  suc- 
ceed himself  at  the  end  of  cadi  term  since,  hav- 
ing held  the  office  now  for  fifty  consecutive  years 
— a  record  of  long-continued  confidence  which  he 
has  well  merited.  He  has  tried  many  civil  cases, 
but  few  of  which  have  been  appealed;  has  tried  a 
number  of  criminal  eases,  the  majority  of  which 
have  been  settled  in  bis  court;  and.  with  all  this, 
lias  always  made  it  a  rule,  whenever  possible,  to- 
settle  cases  out  of  court,  not  only  because  of  the 
financial  saving  to  those  interested,  but  because  it 
gives  him  more  satisfaction  to  be  able  to  adjust 
difficulties  of  any  kind  in  that  way.  In  hundreds 
of  cases  he  ha-  been  successful  in  persuading  peo- 
ple to  settle  their  differences  without  resorting  to 
the  law.  and  he  has  saved  his  neighbors  many  dol- 
lars in  legal  costs  in  this  way  alone.  Such  is  their 
confidence  in  him  that  he  is  constantly  called  upon 
to  draw  up  deeds,  and  he  has  settled  a  large  num- 
ber of  estates,  either  as  administrator,  executor  or 
assignee,  Ins  services  in  this  connection  having 
proved  most  reliable  in  every  instance.  He  has  the 
!  atronage  in  matter-  of  this  kind  of  the  residents 
of  surrounding  townships  as  well  as  those  in  his 
own  neighborhood,  his  reputation  for  integrity,  for 
intelligent  counsel  and  as  a  disinterested  adviser 
making  him  an  authority  consulted  and  respected 
b\  a  very  wide  circle.  His  own  modest  and  un- 
assuming ways,  excellent  habits  and  prudent  liv- 
ing have  won  him  the  esteem  of  the  many  who 
know  and  admire  him. 

Mr.  Tressler  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat  and 
quite  active  in  the  work  of  the  organization,  hav- 
ing served  two  years  as  member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  county  and  as  delegate  to  three 
State    conventions — at    Williamsport.    Uarrisburg 


NOBTHUMBEBLAXD  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


757 


and  Altoona.  He  lias  been  mentioned  for  county 
office  "ii  several  occasions.  For  many  years  lie  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  belonging  to  the  Brick  Church  at  Maha- 
noy, which  he  has  served  as  trustee  for  over  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century. 

On  Dec.  85,  1857,  Mr.  Tressler  married  Leah 
Bordner,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Leah  (Kiehl) 
Bordner,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  to  them 
were  born  eight  children,  four  suns  and  four  daugh- 
ters: Hannah  M.,  who  lives  at  home;  Adam  B., 
late  of  Mahanoy,  Pa.,  who  died  Oct.  6,  L908,  leav- 
ing his  wife,  Millie,  and  two  children,  C.  C.  (now 
professor  a1  the  Trevorton  high  school)  and  Gert- 
rude, who  is  also  leaching  school  iii  the  township; 
Henry  A.,  a  plasterer;  Jacob  F.,  a  plasterer:  AL 
varetta,  Mrs.  John  Kressinger;  J.  C,  mentioned 
below:  Leah  S..  Mrs.  Samuel  Diehl,  of  Mahanoy; 
and  Emma  J.,  Mrs.  M.  P.  Bower,  of  Loyalton, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

J.  C.  Tressler,  son  of  Squire  John  Tressler, 
-was  born  July  L5,  L873,  in  Washington  township, 
and  was  there  reared  to  farm  life.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  township  and  later  the 
Keystone  State  Normal,  at  Kutztown,  in  1893,  re- 
ceiving his  license  to  teach  from  Prof.  Ira  Ship- 
man  in  1895.  When  a  mere  boy  lie  had  learned 
the  trade  of  plasterer,  working  at  same  with  bis 
father  and  brothers  during  the  summer  months  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  he  continued  to  do  plaster- 
ing in  the  season  and  to  teach  school  during  the 
winter  for  some  years,  teaching  seven  consecutive 
terms  of  school  in  Washington  township.  On 
March  D.  L906,  he  became  tax  clerk  in  the  county 
commissioners'  office,  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
March  1,  1909,  when  he  was  appointed  deputy 
prothonotary  of  the  county  by  I.  T.  C.  Dissinger. 
He  gives  all  his  time  to  the  duties  of  this  office,  in 
which  be  "is  giving  great  satisfaction.  Like  his 
father,  Mr.  Tressler  is  an  enthusiastic  worker  in 
the  Democratic  party,  in  whose  local  councils  he  is 
quite  influential.  In  1904  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Jordan  township,  but  never  took  bis 

c mission,     lie  is  very  well  and  favorably  known 

all  over  this  section. 

On  Aug.  29,  1896,  Mr.  Tressler  married  Agnes 
L.  (ieise.  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Froene  (Trout- 
man)  Geise,  the  former  a  prominent  farmer  near 
Urban,  in  Jordan  township.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union,  William  J.  B.  and  Edna 
Rachel.  Mr.  Tressler  and  his  family  worship  at 
the  Mahanoy  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  has  been 
quite  active  "in  the  life  of  that  congregation,  hav- 
ing served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

[saac  1!.  Tressler,  a  prominent  citizen  of  low- 
er Northumberland  county,  residing  at  Mahanoy, 
in  Jackson  township,  was  born  April  10,  1845, 
where  he  now  lives.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  later  attended  Free- 


burg  Academy.  In  1861  he  became  clerk  for  Wil- 
liam Wiest.  who  then  conducted  bis  general  stoic 
in  the  old  building  at  -Mahanoy,  ami  in  1869  he 
became  a  partner  of  Mr.  Wiest  under  the  firm 
name  of  Wiest  &  Tressler.  Some  years  later  the 
firm  became  I.  B.  Tressler  &  Co.,  and  the  store  is 
now  operated  by  Tressler.  Schlegel  &  Co.,  who 
carry  a  full  line  of  general  merchandise.  In  ISM 
the  erection  of  the  large  brick  store  building,  three 
stories  high  and  50  by  I'.'  feet  in  dimensions,  was 
begun,  and  the  business  has  been  established  there- 
in since  Sept.  1,  1875.  Mr.  Tressler  and  Mr.  Wiest 
erected  the  storehouse,  warehouse,  barns,  etc.,  at 
Mahanoy.  Mr.  Tressler  has  prospered  m  all  bis 
undertakings,  has  been  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Herndon  since  1905,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  substantial  business 
men  of  Jackson  township.  He  owns  a  farm  of  14(1 
acres  in  that  township,  a  farm  of  ninety-five  acres 
in  Washington  township  and  a  farm  of  138  acres 
near  Gratz,  in  the  Lykens  valley.  He  is  financially 
interested  in  the  Aluminum  Paint  &  Filler  Com- 
pany, whose  plant  is  located  at  Dalmatia,  this 
county.  Mr.  Tressler  served  many  years  as  as- 
sistant postmaster  at  Mahanoy  before  be  became 
postmaster,  having  been  identified  with  the  office 
since  1861.  On  March  4th  of  that  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  postmaster  by  William  Wiest, 
postmaster,  at  Mahanoy,  and  remained  in  that  of- 
fice until  1881.  when  be  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter to  succeed  Mr.  Wiest.  He  held  the  office  until  he 
resigned,  in  1907,  in  which  year  Adam  B.  Tressler 
(son  of  John),  who  had  been  his  assistant  for  a 
number  of  years,  was  appointed.  The  latter  served 
until  his  death,  Oct.  6,  1908,  when  Isaac  B.  Tress- 
ler was  again  appointed,  and  he  is  still  serving,  his 
son.  Lloyd  J.  Tressler,  acting  as  his  assistant.  He 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  re- 
ligion, holding  membership  in  St.  Peter's  Church 
at  Mahanoy,  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  and 
treasurer  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  Sept.  10,  1871,  Mr".  Tressler  married  Wil- 
helmina  Bower,  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  Bower, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  survivor,  Lloyd  J.  Tress- 
ler. resides  at  Herndon,  this  county.  In  1889  Mr. 
Tressler  built  the  comfortable  residence  at  .Maha- 
noy which  he  has  since  occupied. 


Peter  Dressier,  son  of  John  Jacob  and  Susanna 
(  [Ionian)  Dressier,  was  born  in  Upper  Mahan- 
tango  township.  Schuylkill  county,  near  Bough  and 
Ready,  and  remained  on  his  father's  homestead  in 
Upper  Mahantango  township,  working  as  a  farm- 
er all  his  life.  He  had  a  property  of  190  acres, 
some  of  which  has  been  sold  since  his  day.  That 
be  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  interested  in 
the  progress  of  bis  times.  i>  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  served  as  clerk  of  Mahantango  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county.     Like  all  tin'  members  of  his  family. 


;:,s 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


he  was  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  and  he  served  his 
church  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  He  married 
Catharine  Maurer,  daughter  of  Andrew  Maurer, 
and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children,  viz.:  Maria 
Magdalena  (Polly),  Jacob,  Josiah,  Cornelius  M., 
Anna,  Harriet,  Joseph,  and  four  that  died  young. 

Cornelius  M.  Tressler,  son  of  Peter,  was  born 
May  24,  1846,  at  Rough  and  Ready,  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  was  reared  to  fanning  there,  working 
for  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
was  then  variously  employed  for  some  years,  in 
different  States,  working  on  a  farm  in  Kent  county, 
Del.,  as  a  street  car  driver  in  Philadelphia,  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  in 
Reading,  and  for  five  years  as  clerk  at  a  hotel  in 
Shamokin,  Northumberland  county.  After  his 
marriage  he  lived  at  Mahanoy,  this  countjr,  for  one 
year,  until  he  purchased  and  settled  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm,  which  consists  of  seventy-two  acres  of 
excellent  land  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  near 
Mahantango  creek.  It  was  formerly  the  Frederick 
Heckert  homestead,  and  the  old  granary  bore  the 
date  1740.  which  may  have  been  the  date  when  the 
first  settlement  was  made  on  the  tract.  Mr.  Tress- 
ler  built  his  residence  on  the  property  in  1892,  and 
rebuilt  the  barn  in  1909.  In  addition  to  this  place 
he  owns  four  acres  of  mountain  woodland  and  two 
limestone  lots.  He  has  been  an  intelligent  and 
progressive  worker,  and  deserves  the  prosperity 
which  has  rewarded  his  efforts.  For  three  years  he 
served  as  school  director  of  bis  township,  and 
though  not  an  aspirant  for  public  honors  is  will- 
ing to  do  his  part  to  help  the  advancement  of  his 
(•(immunity,  especially  in  the  cause  of  public  edu- 
cation and  other  movements  calculated  to  benefit 
the  masses.  He  is  a  large  man  physically,  stand- 
ing five  feet,  nine  inches,  and  weighing  269  pounds. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1878,  Mr.  Tressler  married 
Louisa  Ferster,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Catharine 
(Gonser)  Ferster,  and  they  have  had  a  large  fam- 
ily, namely:  Kay  E.,  Catharine  (who  died  aged 
sixteen  years).  Sallie  (married  to  Charles  Wiest), 
Peter  (a  student  at  the  West  Chester  Normal 
School,  married  to  Sadie  Kerstetter),  Carrie  E., 
Clarence.  Isaac,  Jennie,  Bertha  and  Lee.  Mr. 
Tressler  and  his  family  are  Lutherans  and  worship 
at  the  Vera  Cruz  (Malta)  Church,  which  Mr. 
Tressler  has  served  as  deacon.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  faith. 

Rat  E.  Tressler,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
living  at  Dalmatia  (Georgetown),  was  born  at 
Mahanoy  (now  Red  Cross),  Jackson  township,  Dec. 
13,  1879.  He  was  reared  at  the  home  place  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  attended  the  local 
public  schools,  at  Vera  Cruz  (Malta),  meanwhile 
assisting  his  father  with  the  farm  work.  Later  he 
attended  a  summer  normal  school  at  Dalmatia.  for 
one  session,  and  he  also  attended  one  session  of  a 
summer  normal  school  at  Herndon,  after  which  he 
took  a  course  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  West 


Chester,  lie  furthered  his  education  by  taking  a 
commercial  course  at  Susquehanna  University,  at 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
June,  1904.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  Mr. 
Tressler  was  licensed  to  teach  public  school  in 
Northumberland  county,  being  examined  by  Prof. 
Benjamin  Apple,  then  county  superintendent,  and 
he  has  taught  eleven  terms,  all  in  his  native  town- 
ship, but  at  different  sehoolhouses.  His  first  ex- 
perience was  at  the  Susquehanna  school,  where  he 
was  engaged  for  one  term.  The  next  term  he  was 
at  Vera  Cruz,  the  third  term  at  the  Susquehanna 
school  again,  the  next  two  at.  Vera  Cruz,  the  next 
three  a1  Stone  Valley  and  the  next  three  at  Hast- 
ings. He  was  very  successful  as  an  educator,  and 
in  that  capacity  is  very  well  and  favorably  known  in 
this  district.  In  the  spring  of  1906  Mr.  Tressler 
was  elei  ted  tax  collector  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  was  reelected  to  succeed  himself  in  1909. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  and  well  known  in  the  party 
councils.  Since  1907  he  has  made  his  home  at 
Dalmatia,  where  he  purchased  his  house  and  lot 
tlic  year  after  settling  there.  He  is  an  upright  and 
able  young  man.  and  has  an  enviable  standing  in 
his  community. 

On  Dec.  12,  1903,  Mr.  Tressler  married  E.  Min- 
nie Rothermel,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Zerbe)  Rothermel,  and  they  have  had* one  son, 
Allen  Cornell.  The  family  are  members  of  St. 
Luke's  Church  at  Vera  Cruz,  belonging  to  the 
Lutheran  congregation,  which  Mr.  Tressler  has 
served  in  the  office  of  deacon. 

JAMES  KOHL,  a  retired  farmer  of  Point  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  is  a  large  land  own- 
er and  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  that  region, 
where  he  has  resided  for  almost  forty  years.  He 
is  a  -.hi  nl  John  Kohl  and  grandson  of  Philip 
Kohl,  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  Northumber- 
land county. 

Philip  Kohl  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Pa.,  and  moved  to  this  county  about  1840,  at  which 
time  he  was  a  widower.  Locating  in  Lower  Maha- 
noy township,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Dalmatia,  he  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  in  1844.  He  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Valley  Church  (Zion's),  while  his  wife  is  buried 
in  Montgomery  county.  They  had  two  sons  and 
one  daughter :  Daniel,  a  farmer  and  cooper,  who 
did  not  settle  in  Northumberland  county,  living  in 
Montgomery  county  (he  had  children  John  and 
Leah)  ;  John;  and  Polly,  Mrs.  Zeiler,  who  lived  in 
Montgomery  county. 

John  Kohl,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  in  1787  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Northum- 
berland county  in  1840  with  his  aged  father,  who 
made  his  home  with  him  thereafter.  He  settled 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  about  one  and  a  half 
miles  from  Dalmatia,  and  had  a  farm  of  108  acres, 
which   he  cultivated,  also  following  his  trade  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


759 


cooper.  His  wife,  Catharine  (Rhoads),  came 
from  the  same  section  of  the  State  as  he  did,  and 
of  their  six  children  five  were  horn  in  Montgom- 
ery county  and  the  youngest  on  the  farm  in  Low- 
er Mahanoy  above  mentioned.  Mr.  Kohl  was  a 
Lutheran  member  of  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church, 
where  he  and  his  wife  are  buried.  Their  children 
were:  Betzy  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Trego),  Hettie 
(  Mis.  J'hilip  Heekert),  James,  Daniel,  Henry  and 
John. 

James  Kohl  was  born  Dec.  6,  1831,  in  Frederick 
township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  nine 
years  "Id  when  he  came  with  the  family  to  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  stonemason,  which  he  followed 
for  many  years  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  in 
1872  removing  to  Point  township.  He  followed 
farming  in  Point  township  until  his  retirement 
in  1898,  and  met  with  success  in  his  agricultural 
operations,  accumulating  considerable  property. 
He  now  owns  two  farms,  one  of  225  acres  and  an- 
other of  eighty-seven  acres.  During  his  active 
years  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of 
his  hind,  and  he  attained  his  present  prosperity 
by  the  most  honorable  methods,  having  a  character 
which  won  him  the  respect  of  all  his  neighbors  and 
Eriends.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Kohl  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  172d  Regiment,  and  served  ten 
months. 

On  Nov.  28,  187G,  Mr.  Kohl  married  Sarah  Ann 
Bohner,  daughter  of  Henry  Bohner  and  widow  of 
Amos  Shipe,  by  whom  she  bad  two  children: 
Lovina  married  Henry  Dietz  and  they  live  in  Point 
township:  Maria  married  John  S.  Ballinger,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Sarah,  James  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Ballinger  was  born  in  January,  1870,  and  is  a 
member  of  a  Snyder  county  family.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  his  father-in-law's  place.  No 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kohl. 
They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Sun- 
burv,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Henry  Kohl,  son  of  John,  was  born  Feb.  15, 
1838,  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  was  two 
years  old  when  the  family  came  to  Northumber- 
land county.  He  was  reared  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township  and  continued  to  live  there  until  1872, 
when  he  came  to  Point  township  and  bought  170 
acres  nl'  land,  half  of  which  he  has  since  sold  to 
his  brother  James.  Mr.  Kohl  has  devoted  all  his 
active  vein-  in  general  farming  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess. In  1910  he  built  a  large  barn  upon  his  prop- 
erty. 

On  March  27,  1872,  Mr.  Kohl  married  Louisa 
Bohner,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Salome  (Reitz) 
Bohner.  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Mary  and  John  Henry.  Mr. 
Kohl  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views. 


WILLIAM  DKEIBELBIS,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  along  the  Susquehanna  river,  near  Dal- 
matia,  Northumberland  county,  was  born  May  5, 
L847,  son  of  Abraham  Dreibelbies  and  grandson 
of  Isaac  Dreibelbis,  and  is  a  member  of  a  family 
which  was  established  in  America  during  the  Pro- 
vincial days  of  Pennsylvania.  The  name  is  now 
found  with  both  spellings,  Dreibelbies  and  Dreibel- 
bis. 

The  early  home  of  this  family  was  in  southeast- 
ern Switzerland,  in  the  part  originally  a  portion 
of  what  is  now  the  German  Empire.  John  Jacob 
Dreibelbis  (Dreibelbies)  came  to  America  from 
Hannesthal,  Switzerland,  crossing  the  ocean  on  the 
ship  "Mary"  from  London,  and  landing  at  Phila- 
delphia Oct.  26,  1732.  Its  passenger  list  showed 
sixty-nine  male  passengers  over  sixteen  years  of 
age,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  women  and 
children.  It  is  probable  that  John  Jacob  was  sin- 
gle. He  used  to  say  in  the  spring  of  the  year, 
"now  the  Rhine  is  overflowing,  because  of  the 
snow  melting  on  the  Alps."  The  exact  date  that 
he  settled  in  Berks  county  is  uncertain,  but  in 
1743  he  settled  on  the  farm  located  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  east  of  Fleetwood,  now  the  property 
of  Milton  Shollenberger.  This  farm  originally 
consisted  of  157  acres,  but  it  has  since  been  di- 
vided into  two  farms,  one  now  owned  by  Charles 
Leibelsberger.  On  the  part  owned  by  Mr.  Shol- 
lenberger John  Jacob  Dreibelbis  built  the  first  set 
of  buildings  near  a  spring  of  fine  water,  which 
the  Indians  named  "Dreibelbis  Spring."  This 
spring  and  the  streams  in  that  vicinity  were  alive 
with  brook  trout  until  some  time  before  the  Civil 
war.  John  Jacob  Dreibelbis  was  a  farmer  and 
became  a  very  extensive  land  owner.  In  1759  he 
was  the  largest  taxpayer  in  Richmond  township, 
paying  a  federal  tax  of  thirty  pounds.  On  April 
11,  1752,  lie  obtained  by  warrant  from  the  Prov- 
ince two  tracts  of  land  located  in  Richmond  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  one  being  for  fifty  acres  and 
the  other  for  one  hundred.  On  Feb.  3,  1753,  he 
obtained  a  warrant  for  one  hundred  acres,  and 
on  April  12,  1753,  for  five  hundred  acres.  In 
appearance  Mr.  Dreibelbis  was  small  and  of  dark 
complexion,  with  black  eyes  and  hair,  indicating 
that  he  was  of  Jewish  extraction,  as  were  the 
Kelchners,  Wanners,  Biebers  and  the  family  of 
Merkles  in  the  same  vicinity.  He  died  in  1761. 
He  married  either  a  Merkel  or  a  Rothermel,  prob- 
ably the  first  mentioned  and  daughter  of  Georg 
Merkel,  and  his  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  were:  Abraham;  Martin;  Jacob;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Wanner:  Mary  Mag- 
dalena,  who  married  (second)  Martin  Wanner; 
and  Philibena,  who  went  with  her  brother  Martin 
to  Schuylkill  Haven,  married  William  Koch  (her 
three  daughters  married,  respectively,  a  Huntzing- 
er,  a  Rausch  and  a  Holler).     The  last  will  and 


760 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


testament  of  John  Jacob  Dreibelbis,  made  Feb.  5, 
1761,  and  probated  Feb.  21,  1761,  is  written  in 
good  English  and  is  on  record  in  Will  Book  1, 
page  94.  To  each  of  his  three  sons  he  gave  a 
farm,  and  to  each  of  his  daughters  150  pounds  in 
lawful  money.  "My  oldest  son  Abraham  shall  have 
all  that  tract  in  Richmond  township,  15?  acres." 
"My  executors  shall  build  a  house  for  my  son 
Martin  on  land  given  him  lying  on  the  Mesilm 
(  Moslem)  Road.  The  bouse  must  be  30  feet  long 
and  '.'1  feet  wide."  "My  executors  shall  also  build 
a  house  for  my  son  Jacob,  on  land  bequested  to 
him  near  the  road  leading  from  Eastown  to  Read- 
ing." '"And  lastly  I  will  and  do  order  that  my 
younger  children  shall  be  taught  to  read  and 
write.'"'  The  will  is  signed  by  the  testator  in  good, 
legible  German.  The  executors  were  Abraham 
Dreibelbis  and  "my  loving  and  trusty  friend 
George  Merkel."  John  Jacob  Dreibelbis  was  bur- 
ied in  a  private  graveyard  on  the  Shollenbergei 
farm.  He  has  no  tombstone,  but  his  grandson 
Daniel,  who  is  also  buried  there,  has  a  marble 
tombstone.  A  number  of  the  early  members  of 
the  family  arc  buried  in  this  neglected  spot. 

Abraham  Dreibelbis.  eldest  son  of  John  Jacob, 
was  born  about  1749  and  died  in  December,  1803. 
and  is  buried  in  the  same  cemetery  as  his  father. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead, 
and  at  his  death  left  a  large  estate.  By  his  wife, 
Anna  Margaret,  he  had  six  children:  Daniel  ob- 
tained the  homestead  ;  Abraham  obtained  the  grist- 
mill; Peter  received  300  pounds,  gold  and  silver 
money:  Maria  Barbara  married  John  Haak :  Isaac: 
and  Joseph.  The  three  last  named — Maria  Bar- 
bara, Isaac,  and  Joseph — were  each  bequeathed  900 
pounds  of  money. 

Isaac  Dreibelbis.  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  Aug. 
3.  1778,  in  Richmond  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
and  was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  Northumber- 
land county,  whither  he  moved  in  1805.  He  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  in 
which  region  his  descendants  are  now  quite  numer- 
ous. He  was  a  farmer,  and  the  Benjamin  Philips 
place  near  Hickory  Corners  is  still  pointed  out  as 
the  "Essack"  Dreibelbis  farm,  his  name  being  giv- 
en the  German  pronunciation.  He  was  a  tall  man. 
dark  complexioned  (showing  plainly  his  Jewish  or- 
igin) and  very  strong.  He  followed  tanning  as 
well  as  farming,  and  the  old  tannery  which  be 
continued  to  carry  on  until  shortly  before  his 
death  stood  between  the  two  bouses  on  what  is 
now  the  Benjamin  Philips  farm:  the  ruins  may 
In  seen  from  the  road,  part  of  the  foundation 
yet  remaining.  Mr.  Dreibelbis  died  June  29,  1853, 
and  is  buried  at  Zioirs  (Stone  Valley)  Church, 
with  which  he  had  been  identified  as  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  congregation.  "Essack'3  Dreibelbis 
was  quite  a  character,  and  the  old  residents  of 
the  vicinity  still  delight  to  relate  certain  anec- 
dotes  concerning   him.      In   his   day   the   nearest 


tavern  was  at  Georgetown.  One  night  he  and  a 
neighbor  spent  some  time  at  the  tavern,  and  on 
their  way  home  the  neighbor,  in  misery  over  the 
results  of  a  too  free  indulgence  in  applejack,  laid 
down  under  a  tree,  saying:  "Mein  freund  Essack, 
ich  mus  storben.  Ich  cons  nimmermeir  stenden." 
"Essack"  replied:  "Aeh  nein,  freund.  Du  storbst 
nicht.  So  hah  ich  sahr  oft  gafaldt  in  meiner  zeit." 
On  one  occasion  he  came  home  late  and  could  not 
find  the  keyhole.  His  wife  refusing,  under  the 
conditions,  to  comply  with  his  command  to  "mach 
die  dier  ouf"  he  made  the  reqitest  again,  and 
when  she  still  refused  he  said:  "Wen  du  nieh  ouf 
mocht  den  use  ich  cm  Essack  sei  schlissel,"  brought 
the  ax.  and  broke  in  the  door.  Afterward  the  ax 
.i  a-  "-.II  referred  to  jocularly  as  ••Cm  Essack 
sei  schlissel."  The  wife  is  buried  near  Killinger, 
Pa.  This  pioneer  couple  reared  a  family  of  eight 
children,  three  sous  and  five  daughters,  as  follows: 
Abraham  i-  mentioned  below:  Isaac  died  in  Kan- 
sas, where  his  son  Joseph  is  in  business,  having  a 
large  stole:  Jacob,  who  was  a  saddler  by  trade, 
lived  and  died  in  Northumberland  county  and  is 
buried  at  Dalmatia;  Catharine  married  George 
Wert;  Mary  (or  Polly),  born  in  1817,  died  in 
L885,  was  the  wile  of  Elias  Boyer  (1815-1891); 
another  daughter  married  David  Hain :  Harriet 
married  Joseph  Licht;  Sallie,  who  married  Joseph 
Shreffler,  is  now  ^1910)  in  her  ninety-ninth  year, 
lait  is  well  preserved  (she  lives  with  her  sons-in- 
law.  Joseph  Diehl  and  Henry  Hendricks,  and  has 
her  home  between  Danville  and  Northumberland). 

Abraham  Dreibelbies,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born 
May  23.  1812.  He  obtained  the  homestead  and 
was  a  lifelong  farmer  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, where  he  died  on  his  farm  Jan.  12,  1863. 
He  had  one  hundred  acres  of  land  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  one  hundred  acres  of  woodland,  and 
was  one  of  the  prosperous  and  substantial  citizens 
of  his  day.  Like  many  of  his  family  he  was  of 
dark  complexion,  and  physically  was  of  medium 
size-.  He  was  a  Reformed  member  of  the  Stone 
Valley  Church.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Wentzel), 
was  a  daughter  of  Stophel  and  Leah  (Adam) 
Wentzel.  She  married  Peter  Burrel  after  Mr. 
Dreibelbies  died,  and  lived  to  be  eighty  years, 
seven  months,  eighteen  days  old,  dying  Sept.  9, 
1900.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dreibelbies  were  born 
children  as  follows:  William:  Isaac,  who  lives  at 
Paxton,  Pa.;  Katie.  Mrs.  George  Phillips:  Polly, 
Mrs.  Francis  Bickel;  Malinda.  Mrs.  Reilv  Messner; 
Benneville,  <>(  Dalmatia.  Pa.:  and  Sarah,  Mrs.  B. 
F.  Brown. 

"William  Dreibelbis  was  reared  to  farming,  and 
about  1 S "V o  began  that  work  on  his  own  account 
at  the  place  where  he  has  since  lived  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  This  tract  consists  of  forty 
acres.  besides  which  he  owns  a  three-acre  island 
in  the  Susquehanna  river.  Mr.  Dreibelbis  is  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  his  community,  where 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


761 


his    industrious  and   useful  life  is  known  to  all. 
He  has  served  as  supervisor  of  his  district,  having 
been  elected  to  thai  office  by  the  Republican  party, 
■  of  which  he  has  been  a  faithful  member. 

In  1869  Mr.  Dreibelbis  married  Caroline  Rich- 
enbach,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Longan- 
ecker)  Richenbaeh,  of  Snyder  county,  l'a.,  and 
they  have  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  three 
suns  and  nine  dan  "'liters,  namely:  M.  Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  William  Pardoe;  Julian,  wife  of 
William  Hogan;  William  A.,  who  married  Ida  R. 
Beckert;  Benjamin  E.,  of  Dalmatia,  Pa.;  Sarah 
R.,  wife  of  [saac  Binkel;  Myran  Daisy,  wife  of 
Prank  Fetter;  Edward  N.,  who  married  Gertrude 
Bohner;  Triphena  M.,  wife  of  Isaac  Heiutzleman ; 
Cardia  E. :  Ella  V.:  Emma  A.;  and  Cedia  M.  Mr. 
Dreibelbis  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Re- 

I'mi I  Church.     The  burial  place  of  this  branch 

of  the  Dreibelbis  family  has  long  been  at  the  Stone 
Valley  (Xinn's)  Church  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. 

[saac  Dreibelbis,  the  second  mentioned  of  the 
three  sons  of  [saac,  the  pioneer  in  Northumber- 
land county,  moved  out  to  Kansas,  where  he  be- 
came engaged  in  farming.  He  was  also  a  tanner, 
having  learned  the  trade  from  his  father.  He 
married  Catharine  Witmer,  daughter  of  George 
Witmer,  and  they  had  two  sons,  Joseph  and  Ben- 
jamin, the  funnel'  of  whom  is  now  a  business  man 
in  Kansas.  Benjamin  left  home  and  has  never 
since  been  heard  from. 

Jacob  Dreibelbis,  the  third  son  of  Isaac,  the 
pioneer  in  Northumberland  county,  was  horn  Sept. 
1,  1820.  lie  learned  the  trade  of  saddler  and 
became  an  expert  in  that  line,  following  the  busi- 
ness at  Georgetown  for  nineteen  years,  after  which 
he  farmed  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  besides 
working  at  his  trade.  The  horse  collars  he  made 
were  quite  famous,  and  there  was  a  steady  de- 
mand for  them,  some  of  his  orders  coming  from 
a  considerable  distance.  His  farm  consisted  of 
seventy- four  acres.  He  stood  five  feet,  seven  and 
a  half  inches,  and  was  a  heavy-set  man,  weighing 
over  two  hundred  pounds.  His  death  occurred 
Feb.  2,  1892,  and  lie  and  his  family  are  buried 
at  Georgetown  (Dalmatia).  where  he,  like  his  fam- 
ily generally,  belonged  to  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation; his  wife  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  that 
church.  Mr.  Dreibelbis'  first  marriage  was  to 
Catharine  Wert,  who  was  born  March  15,  1823, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Wert,  of  Killinger,  Dauphin 
county,  and  died  April  11,  1873.  They  had  a  large 
family,  viz.:  Isaac,  of  Hegins,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
who  was  a  saddler  by  trade:  Sarah,  wife  of  Peter 
Walt,  of  Dalmatia;  Frank  W. :  Catharine,  wife  of 
John  T.  Wert;  Jacob  W.,  a  butcher,  of  Millers- 
burg,  Pa.;  Daniel,  who  lived  below  Matamoras, 
on  the  line  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was  killed 
while  hauling  railroad  ties:  Mary,  wife  of  John 
S   Showers   of  Oriental,  Pa.;  Charles,  of  Killinger, 


in  the  Lykens  Valley,  Pa. :  and  Emma,  wife  of 
Joseph  Bingaman.  of  Dalmatia.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Dreibelbis  married  Wilhelmina  Portzline, 
of  Oriental,  Pa.,  who  was  bom  in  1840,  and  died 
in  1888.  She  became  the  mother  of  two  children: 
William  II..  of  Stone  Valley;  and  Gertie,  who  mar- 
ried Calvin  Strasser,  of  Oriental.  Pennsylvania. 

Frank  W.  Dreibelbis,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
L850  at  Georgetown,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  is  engaged  at  present  in  farming  in  that  town- 
ship. When  less  than  nineteen  years  old  he  learned 
the  milling  business,  which  he  followed  for  six 
years.  In  1884  he  began  farming  at  his  present 
location,  having  a  tract  of  115  acres,  some  of 
which  is  woodland.  There  is  some  limestone  on 
this  land.  Mr.  Dreibelbis  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
ities, and  since  1899  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor 
in  his  district.  He  is  a  Reformed  member  of  the 
Dalmatia  Church,  of  which  he  was  deacon  seven 
years  and  elder  four  years. 

In  1874  Mr.  Dreibelbis  married  Lizzie  Philips, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Philips)  Phil- 
ips, and  they  have  had  these  children:  Jacob  F., 
who  lives  in  Little  Mahanoy  township:  Malinda, 
wife  of  John  H.  Bohner,  of  Elizabcthville,  l'a. ; 
Katie,  wife  of  William  Koppenhaver,  of  Malta. 
Fa. :  and  Lubin  L.,  who  is  a  butcher  at  Dalmatia. 

Jacob  F.  Dreibelbis,  son  of  Frank  W.,  was  born 
June  20,  1875,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  For  five  years  he  followed  butchering, 
four  years  at  Hickory  Corners  and  one  year  at 
bis  present  location,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
to  which  he  moved  in  the  spring  of  1906,  when  he 
purchased  the  place.  This  was  an  old  Dimkel- 
berger  homestead,  later  owned  by  Samuel  Long, 
and  Mr.  Dreibelbis  purchased  it  from  Silas  Hensyl. 
The  tract  comprises  about  160  acres,  100  acres  of 
which  have  been  cleared.  The  land  is  valuable, 
and  there  are  a  number  of  substantial  improve- 
ments, including  a  large  brick  bouse.  The  water 
supply  is  as  good  as  any  in  the  State,  both  in  re- 
gard to  quality  and  quantity,  and  in  11)10  Mi-. 
Dreibelbis  made  a  notable  improvement  on  his 
place  when  he  had  the  water  piped  from  Trevor- 
ton  Mountain  to  his  home,  both  bouse  and  barn 
being  now  supplied  with  running  water:  this  is 
what  is  known  as  vn\  -hell  or  gravel  water,  and 
is  always  pure  and  fresh,  lb'  ha-  a  complete 
farm  stock,  modem  machinery,  and  all  the  facili- 
ties for  carrying  on  his  work  in  the  most  sys 
tematic  and  up-to-date  manner,  being  one  of  the 
intelligent  ami  progressive  men  of  his  neighbor- 
h I. 

In  September,  1903,  Mr.  Dreibelbis  married 
Man  A.  Koppenhaver,  daughter  of  John  Koppen- 
haver, and  three  children  have  I n  horn  to  them: 

Mabel  Grace,  Helen  Irene  and  Leah  Elizabeth. 
He  and  his  fainih  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Mahanoy.    In 


762 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


politics  he,  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served  as 
election  inspector. 

REBUCK.  The  name  of  Rebuck  is  perpetuated 
in  Northumberland  county  in  the  post  office  Re- 
buck,  named  after  one  of  the  members  of  this  fami- 
ly its  representatives  are  numerous  and  among 
the  most  respected  residents  of  their  section — ■ 
Washington  township  and  the  surrounding  terri- 
tory. According  to  tradition  the  first '  ancestor 
of  the  family  in  this  country  was  from  the  Ger- 
man Palatinate  and  came  to  America  to  avoid 
service  in  the  war  then  being  waged  in  his  native 
land.  The  older  members  of  the  family  say  that 
his  name  was  Schafier,  but  that  he  assumed  the 
name  Rebuck  to  prevent  his  being  traced  and 
taken  back  to  the  Fatherland,  where  punishment 
for  such  an  offense  as  his  was  severe.  This  pioneer 
ancestor  was  known  in  the  New  World  by  the  name 
John  Adam  Rebuck.  He  first  located"  in  Berks 
county,  whence  he  came  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, settling  in  Jackson  township,  in  that  part  now 
embraced  in  Washington  township.  There  is  the 
old-established  business  stand,  now  for  many  years 
conducted  and  owned  by  the  Kehres  family,  where 
the  postoffice  and  hamlet  of  Rebuck  are  located. 
The  hamlet  contains  about  a  dozen  dwellings.  The 
pioneer  was  a  farmer.  Among  his  children  were 
Valentine.  John  Adam,  Jr.,  and  Michael.  Of 
these.  Valentine  Rebuck  in  1778  was  among  the 
taxables  of  Mahanoy  township,  which  then  included 
considerable  territory  in  the  lower  end  of  the 
county. 

Michael  Rebuck.  son  of  John  Adam,  the  pioneer, 
was  born  July  14.  1769,  and  died  Oct.  7,  1852, 
when  over  eighty-three  years  of  age.  He  lived  on 
Greenbrier  creek,  in  Washington  township,  and  was 
an  extensive  farmer,  following  agricultural  pur- 
suits all  his  life.  He  had  a  tract  of  162  acres 
which  is  still  in  the  family  name,  being  now  owned 
by  his  grandson,  John  Rebuck.  He  built  the 
barn  still  standing  on  that  property,  and  also  a 
small  dwelling-house.  He  was  a  Reformed  mem- 
ber of  the  Himmel  Church.  His  wife,  Catharine 
(Reis),  born  Aug.  21,  1775,  died  Nov.  7,  1858. 
Their  children  were :  Bevvy,  who  married  Peter 
Ferster;  and  Godfried,  called  "Big  Godfried.-'' 

Godfried  Rebuck.  son  of  Michael,  was  born-  July 
28.  1798,  and  .lied  May  29,  1875.  He  was  a  tall, 
heavy  man,  with  dark  hair,  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  owned  much  land,  living  on  the  Green- 
brier homestead  of  the  Rebuck  family.  He  and 
his  family  worshipped  with  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation at  the  Himmel  Church,  and  they  are  buried 
there.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Wagner),  born  March 
26,  1801,  died  June  30,  1860.  They  had  children 
as  follows:  Salome  married  John  Schrefner;  Dan- 
iel W.  i=  mentioned  below;  Catharine  married 
Harry  Rebuck ;  Hannah  married  John  Wentzel : 
Polly  married  Peter  Snyder  and  (second)  Henry 


Herb;  Lvdia  married  Philip  Reitz.;  Harrison  was 
born  July  12,  1S34;  Jacob,  born  in  1837,  died 
unmarried,  in  1855;  John,  born  in  1839,  died  un- 
married, in  1SG1 :  Sarah  married  John  Kieffer  and 
(second)  Jacob  Reber.  Of  this  family,  Harrison 
was  a  farmer  during  his  active  years,  and  now  lives 
at  Herndon,  Pa.,  with  his  son  J.  Wilson  Rebuck. 
lUuing  the  Civil  war  he  was  in  the  Union  service 
as  a  member  of  Company  K,  172d  Regiment,  for 
nine  months.  He  married  Elizabeth  Paul,  who 
died  in  September,  1904,  in  her  seventy-second 
year,  and  they  had  children:  John,  James,  Elmira 
L.,  Augustus,  J.  Wilson  and  Reilly. 

Daniel  W.  Rebuck.  son  of  Godfried  and  Cathar- 
ine (Wagner)  Rebuck,  was  born  on  the  Green- 
brier  homestead  in  Washington  township.  Though 
he  owned  considerable  land,  he  followed  his  trade 
of  shoemaker  principally,  leaving  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  to  his  children.  He  made  many  new 
■  and  did  repairing,  and  his  sons  also  took  up 
the  trade.  His  farm  at  one  time  consisted  of 
nearly  three  hundred  acres.  A  tall,  heavy  and 
strong  man.  he  was  thrifty  and  industrious,  and 
brought  his  children  up  in  the  same  way.  He  was 
a  regular  attendant  of  the  Himmel  Church,  many 
members  of  the  Rebuck  family  belonging  to  the 
Reformed  congregation  there,  and  held  various 
offices  in  that  church.  His  wife.  Lvdia  (Delp), 
daughter  of  George  and  Maricha  (Thomas)  Delp, 
bore  him  children  as  follows :  Cassie.  a  widow,  who 
lias  been  twice  married,  first  to  Joseph  Hepler 
and  later  to  George  Wolfgang;  Charles,  who  died 
aged  twenty-one  years :  Mary,  who  died  when 
twenty  years  old:  Joel:  Lvdia  :  Eliza,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Zartman  ;  Elsworth ;  Daniel,  deceased ;  and 
John.  All  the  surviving  members  of  this  family 
live  in  Washington  township. 

Joel  Rebuck,  son  of  Daniel  W.,  was  born  Sept. 
8,  185-4,  on  one  of  the  Rebuck  homesteads,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  remaining  at  home  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  He  was 
twenty-four  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  and  two 
years  later  began  farming  on  a  fifty-acre  tract 
in  Washington  township,  where  he. lived  for  two 
years.  Thence  he  moved  to  another  farm  in  the 
same  township,  the  Elias  Lahr  place,  where  he 
lived  until  1901.  For  the  next  two  years  his 
home  was  at  Trevorton,  from  which  place  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  moved  to  his  present  place,  where 
he  has  resided  since  1906.  He  has  110  acres  of 
good  land,  which  is  now  cultivated  by  his  son 
William.  The  large  stone  house  on  this  prop- 
erty was  built  in  1823  and  remodeled  in  1904. 
Mr.  Rebuck  has  been  an  active  and  useful  member 
of  his  community,  and  has  served  as  supervisor 
and  school  director  of  Washington  township,  hold- 
ing the  latter  office  nine  years.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat  in  politics.  He  and  his  family  attend  re- 
ligious worship  at  the  Himmel  Church,  where  he 


-NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


re3 


-has  held  all  the  offices  and  clone  his  share  of  the 
work.  Mr.  Rebuck  has  the  old  German  family 
Bible  which  his  emigrant  ancestor  brought  from 
the  old  country,  and  which  contains  an  inscrip- 
tion specifying  that  it  shall  never  be  sold,  but 
descend  from  the  oldest  to  the  next  oldest  of  the 
family,  always  remaining  in  the  Rebuck  name.  It 
bears  the  date  1748,  and  is  highly  prized  by  the 
family. 

Jn  1874  Mr.  Rebuck  married  Amanda  Lahr, 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Polly  (Snyder)  Lahr,  of 
Berndon,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of 
eight  children:  Ida,  who  married  Frank  Klock, 
after  his  decease  becoming  the  wife  of  William 
Reitz;  Emma,  who  married  Roy  Snyder;  Daniel; 
William  E.;  Agnes,  who  married  Anthony  Heath; 
Gertie,  who  married  Daniel  Dubendorf;  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy;  and  Charles. 


John  Adam  Rebuck,  Jr.,  son  of  John  Adam 
the  pioneer,  born  July  8,  1763,  died  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township  (of  which  Washington  was  then 
a  part)  June  L5,  L835.  He  made  his  last  will 
and  testament  Sept.  28,  1831,  and  it  was  entered 
for  probate  June  23,  1835.  The  executors  were 
his  sons  John  and  Godfried.  The  will  is  on  rec- 
ord in  the  courthouse  at  Sunbury,  in  Book  3,  page 
202.  The  wife  it  appears  had  died  previously. 
The  records  show  Maria  (Haubt),  wife  of  Adam 
Rebuck.  bora  Jan.  20,  1763,  died  July  29,  1830. 
The  follow  ing  were  his  children:  John,  Adam,  Con- 
rad. Henry,  Peter,  Michael,  Maria  (married  Jacob 
Robenhover),  Frederick,  Godfried,  Jonas  and 
Leonard.  Nine  of  the  sons  grew  to  manhood  and 
reared  families.  The  son  Godfried  was  called 
"Little  Godfried,"  and  had  a  son  Godfried  who 
because  of  his  red  hair  was  known  as  "Red  God- 
fried." 

Henry  Rebuck,  one  of  the  sons  of  John  Adam 
Rebuek%  Jr.,  was  born  May  24,  1790,  and  died 
Oct.  17,  1867!  He  lived  and  died  in  Washington 
township,  and  he  and  his  family  are  buried  at 
the  Himmel  Church,  of  which  they  were  Luth- 
eran members.  He  owned  a  tract  of  seventy  acres 
about  one  mile  south  of  that  church,  his  home 
place,  and  another  tract  of  forty-five  acres  in  the 
same  township.  "Henner"  Rebuck,  as  he  was 
known,  married  Anna  Maria  Brosius,  who  was 
born  May  L0,  1795,  and  died  Jan.  13,  1869.  They 
had  two  sons.  Peter  and  Elias.  both  of  whom  were 
farmers  in  Washington  township.  The  latter  had 
the  following  children:  Henry;  John:  Susanna, 
wdio  married  William  Krissinger ;  and  Maria,  who 
married  Luther  Rebuck. 

Peter  Rebuck,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  May  10, 
1815,  in  Washington  township,  and  died  March 
19,  1858,  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Himmel  Church,  where  he  is  buried. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  owning  the  place 
of  118  acres  now  owned  by  his  son  Isaac.     His 


wife,  Catharine  Perster,  daughter  of  Michael  Fers- 
ter,  was  born  Nov.  23,  1818,  and  died  June  23, 
1881.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Benjamin, 
who  never  married :  Samuel ;  Isaac,  of  Washington 
township;  Daniel,  born  in  1851,  who  died  in  1870; 
and  Joseph,  of  Washington  township. 

Samuel  Rebuck,  son  of  Peter,  born  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Washington  township  Aug.  3, 
1845,  obtained  such  education  as  the  subscription 
schools  which  flourished  in  his  boyhood  afforded. 
He  has  always  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
began  farming  for  himself  on  his  father's  place 
of  about  120  acres,  living  there  from  1860  until 
1895,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  home.  It 
is  a  ninety-six-acre  tract  situated  between  Maha- 
noy and  Rebuck,  and  was  formerly  the  Michael 
Smith  farm.  Mr.  Rebuck  has  enlarged  the  barn, 
remodeled  the  house,  and  beautified  his  surround- 
ings in  many  ways  during  his  ownership  of  the 
place,  wdrich  is  nicely  situated  and  shows  the  mod- 
ern methods  which  he  has  employed  in  the  man- 
agement. In  1873  Mr.  Rebuck  married  Dinah 
Reitz,  daughter  of  David  Reitz,  and  they  had  the 
following  children:  Alice,  who  is  deceased;  James; 
and  Morris,  a  farmer,  living  with  his  father.  On 
Sept.  17,  1886,  Mr.  Rebuck  married  (second) 
Katie  Reitz,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Het- 
rich)  Reitz.  No  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union.  Mr.  Rebuck  and  his  family  are  Lutheran 
members  of  the  Himmel  Church. 

Michael  Reitz,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Re- 
buck, was  a  farmer,  and  lived  a  half  mile  north 
of  Himmel's  Church.  He  married  Lena  Eister, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows :  Peter,  Abraham, 
David,  Leonard,  Jonas  and  Christiana. 

Peter  Reitz,  son  of  Michael,  had  a  family  of  five 
children:  John,  Samuel,  Louisa,  Katie  (Mrs.  Sam- 
uel Rebuck)  and  Henry. 


Peter  Rebuck,  one  of  the  sons  of  John  Adam 
Rebuck,  Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Washington  town- 
ship, born  Jan.  12,  1794,  and  died  March  21,  1857. 
He  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  (Krebs)  Church,  near 
which  he  lived,  owning  the  farm  which  now  be- 
longs to  the  Diener  Estate,  a  tract  of  about  sixty 
acres.  There  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  second  wife  being  Eve  Groh,  who 
is  buried  at  Valley  View  Church.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Susanna,  Helena,  Lovina,  and 
Peter. 

Peter  Rebuck,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  March  4, 
1829,  in  Washington  township,  and  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  owning  the  property  in  that  township 
which  now  belongs  to  Benjamin  Stepp.  He  also 
followed  carpentering,  and  was  active  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  community  as  well  as  in  his  own  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  served 
as  supervisor.  His  death  occurred  March  9,  1875, 
and  he  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  of  which 
he  was  a  Reformed  member.     His  first  wife,  Ly- 


764 


XORT HUM B ]•: RLAXD  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


dia  (  Ferster),  limn  -May  9,  1830.  died  Feb.  8.  1870, 
the  mother  of  six  children:  Luther:  William: 
Henry;  Samuel,  born  in  1863,  who  died  in  1882; 
Mary,  who  married  William  Seiler,  of  Valley 
View;  and  Harriet,  born  in  1868,  who  died  in 
1870.  Mr.  Rebuek's  second  marriage  was  to  Sus- 
anna Brown,  and  they  had  two  children :  John  and 
Lovina. 

Lutheb  Rebuck,  son  of  Peter  and  Lydia  (Fers- 
ter)  Rebuck,  was  born  Feb.  9,  1855,  in  Washing- 
ton township,  and  was  educated  in  the  local  public 
schools.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade  with  one  Joseph  Brosius. 
Subsequently  he  worked  a  year  at  Hickory  Cor- 
ners, and  then  for  a  number  of  years  was  employed 
in  the  lumber  districts  of  the  East.  For  seven 
year-  he  followed  tinsmithing.  In  the  spring  of 
L895  Mr.  Eehuck  returned  to  Washington  town- 
ship, where  he  lias  since  followed  farming,  own- 
ing a  Rebuck  farm  which  formerly  belonged  to 
Ellas  Rebuck,  and  which  came  to  him  through  mar- 
riage into  the  Reitz  family.  It  comprises  120 
(•n  July  17,  1902,  Mr.  Rebuek's  ham  was 
destroyed  by  lightning,  together  with  the  entire 
year's  crop,  entailing  a  heavy  loss,  but  he  immedi- 
ately rebuilt:  putting  up  a   g 1    ham  80  by  35 

feet.  Mr.  Rebuck  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
broad  views,  his  varied  experiences  ami  travel  in 
his  younger  manho.nl  having  made  him  familiar 
with  human  life  in  its  various  phases.  He  has 
a  number  of  old  and  valuable  hook-,  and  an  old 
family  Bible  which  he  cherishes  greatly. 

On' March  7.  1895,  Mr.  Rebuck  married  Maria 
Rebuck,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Mary  (Reitz)  Re- 
buck. and  granddaughter  of  Henry  Rebuck.  Their 
only  child  is  Sarah  Alice.  Mr.  Rebuck  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

William  Rebuck,  brother  of  Luther  Rebuck, 
was  horn  in  Washington  township  Nov.  '.'i.  1856, 
and  lias  spent  all  his  life  in  the  same  district.  He 
was  reared  to  farming,  and  worked  as  a  hired  man 
and  laborer  until  able  to  -tart  for  himself,  begin- 
ning farming  at  his  present  home  in  Washing- 
ton township  in  the  spring  of  1899.  His  farm 
of  eighty-one  acres,  an  old  Reitz  homestead,  was 
formerly  the  property  of  one  Jonathan  Reitz  and 
later  of  Daniel  Latslia.  Mr.  Rebuck  is  a  Democrat, 
and  gave  several  years'  public  service  as  overseer 
of  the  poor  of  his  district.  He  and  his  family 
worship  with  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  the 
Himmel  Church.    ' 

on  .lime  23,  1--;.  Mr.  Rebuck  married  Mary 
Amelia  Reitz,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Reitz)  Reitz  and  granddaughter  of  Daniel  Reitz 
(who  lived  where  Luther  Rebuck  is  now  located  i 
and  of  Philip  Reitz  (who  lived  at  the  present 
home  of  Cornelius  Adam-).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rebuck 
have  four  children:  Lydia  A..  Harvey  E..  Ida  L. 
and  Gertie  M. 


L.  J.  CHAMBERLAIN,  of  Shamokin.  repre- 
sents in  his  business  interests  the  new  order  of 
amusements — a  phase  of  the  life  of  the  community 
which  has  come  into  existence  but  recently,  and 
made  possible  only  by  the  wonderful  advances  in 
the  scienci  of  photography  accomplished  within 
the  last  (rw  years,  lie  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  pioneer  in  the  motion  picture  business 
in  this  section,  and  is  at  present  the  proprietor 
of  two  motion  picture  shows  in  Northumberland 
county,  one  at  Mount  Carmel  and  one  at  Shamo- 
kin. By  enterprising  methods  and  up-to-date  serv- 
ile lie  has  gained  a  large  circle  of  regular  pa- 
trons in  both  places,  where  his  appeal  to  the  best 
popular  taste  has  likewise  established  him  firmly 
in  the  good  will  of  the  citizens  generally. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  was  born  in  1871  at  Lock 
Haven,  Clinton  Co.,  Pa.;  -on  of  William  and  Mary 
I  Bottorf  )  Chamberlain,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Hi-  father  was  also  a  native  of  that  place,  and 
lived  and  died  there.  At  the  age  ol  seventeen 
William  Chamberlain  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  F, 
1-;  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery.  Vbl- 
■  i-.  with  which  he  served  faithfully.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Chamberlain  had  a  family  of  five 
children.  Harry,  licit.  Nora.  Floy  and  L.  J. 

L.  J.  Chamberlain  attended  school  at  Lock  Ha- 
and  was  particularly  well  educated  in  music, 
to  which  he  has  devoted  his  principal  attention. 
Ih  entered  the  amusement  business  at  the  agi 
•  ighteen  in  the  capacity  of  musician  with  travel- 
ing organizations,  ami  within  a  few  years  was  at 
the  head  of  his  own  band,  known  as  •■Chamber- 
lain's All  American  Hand."  acting  as  director  and 
general   manager.     This   organization  toured   the 

i try   successfully  with   the   stellar   attractions, 

also  filling  park  engagements,  etc.  He  also  trav- 
eled for  a  while  in  company  with  his  brothers. 
under  the  name  of  Chamberlain  Brother-,  v.  - 
"Railroad  Shows"  exhibited  for  a  number  of  years 
in  vaudeville  houses  and  under  canvas.  At  that 
time  the  motion  picture  business  was  in  its  in- 
fancy. With  keen  foresight  of  the  possibilities  of 
motion  photography  Mr.  Chamberlain  turned  his 
attention  to  the  new  field,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  exploited  traveling  organizations  of  that 
character.  On  Aug.  28,  1907,  in  company  with 
t  apt.  J.  M.  Shindel,  he  opened  the  first  sin  ci  --- 
ful  motion  picture  theatre  at  Mount  Carmel. 
known  as  The  Theatorium,  which  is  still  in  oper- 
ation, standing  high  in  the  local  publn  favor. 
On  April  28,  1908,  under  the  firm  name  of  Cham- 
berlain &  Shindel.  they  opened  the  Theatorium 
motion  picture  house  at  Independence  and  Ninth 
streets,  Shamokin.  which  has  been  in  successful 
operation  since,  and  which,  indeed,  was  the 

of  the  kind  to  meet  with  success  in  the  bor- 
ough.     It  has   the  reputation   of  being  the   mosl 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


765 


popular  and  best  patronized  show  of  the  kind 
there,  and  the  latest  and  most  ingeniously  arranged 
films  are  shown,  the  entertainments  being  varied 
and  so  well  up  to  high  standards  that  the  audi- 
ences are  of  profitable  proportions  and  high  class. 
Chamberlain  &  Shindel  acquired  extensive  amuse- 
meiii  interests,  including  park,  vaudeville  and  mo- 
tion picture  theatres,  and  they  were  associated  un- 
til dune.  L910,  when  Captain  Shindel  retired  from 
the  lirm.  his  interests  being  purchased  by  Mr. 
Chamberlain,  who  has  since  been  sole  owner  of 
the  business.  In  April,  1911,  he  was  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  General  Amusement  Company, 
Incorporated,  of  which  he  is  president  and  general 
manager^  which  has  now  in  preparation  the  es- 
tablishing of  a  chain  of  theatre-  throughout  the 
country.  The  first  theatre  to  be  operated  by  the 
new  company  will  be  opened  at  Sunbury  Nov.  1st 
of  this  year :  it  will  have  a  capacity  of  oue  thou- 
sand, i-  modern  in  every  particular,  ami  consid- 
ered to  1 n,.  of  the  fines!  I ses  of  the  kind  in 

the  Stale. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  is  engaged  as  dealer  and  agent 
for  moving  picture  and  electrical  supplies  as  well 
as  promoter  and  operator  of  amusement  enterpris- 
es, maintaining  his  main  office  at  No.  819  Wash- 
ington street  iii  the  borough  of  Shamokin.  Thor- 
oughly experienced  in  all  branches  of  the  business, 
he  has  catered  successfully  to  the  wants  of  the 
amusement  loving  public,  and  has  made  a  perma- 
nent place  for  himself  and  his  enterprise's  in  his 
home  community  and  among  his  fellow  citizens 
at  large. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  married  Blanche  Custard,  of 
Lock  Haven,  ami  they  have  one  son.  Boyd  D.  The 
family  are  Methodists  in  religious  connection.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  is  a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge  of 
Elks,  No.  355;  of  Aerie  No.  560,  F.  0.  E..  of 
Lock  Haven:  of  Lodge  No.  114.  K.  of  P.,  and  of 
the  Mai  cabees. 

ALBERT  HACKENBERG,  a  retired  citizen  of 
Point  township,  Northumberland  county,  was  horn 
April  5,  1835,  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  son 
of  Jesse  Hackenberg  and  grandson  of  Peter  Hack- 
enberg. 

Peter  Hackenberg  was  a  native  of  Germany. 
Coming  to  America  when  quite  younu'  he  settled 
at  Freeburg,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  farm- 
in--  during  his  active  years,  retiring  a  number  of 
years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1815. 
when  he  was  advanced  in  years.  He  had  prospered 
in  his  agricultural  operations,  and  was  a  substan- 
tial citizen,  owning  several  farms.  For  some  years 
he  served  a-  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Washington 
township,  Snyder  county.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  is  buried  at 
Freeburg.  To  him  and  his  wife  Susanna  (Shaf- 
fer) were  horn  six  son-  and  four  daughters:  Han- 
nah, who  married  Mr.  Balliet:  Mrs.  Samuel  Shel- 


ler:  Mr-;.  Jacob  Straub;  Mrs.  Samuel  Sceller; 
Jesse;  Peter  L.,  who  lived  at  McEwensville,  Pa., 
later  moved  to  Michigan,  and  returning  to  Penn- 
sylvania settled  at  Milton  in  1861  (he  married 
Mary  E.  Hood  >  ;  Jacob,  who  lived  in  Center  coun- 
ty, Pa.;  Daniel,  who  lived  in  Center  county.  Pa.; 
Samuel,  who  was  killed  in  the  Mexican  war:  and 
d o Im.  who  died  at  New  Berlin,  Pennsylvania. 

Jesse  Hackenberg  was  horn  about  1816  at  Free- 
burg,  Pa.,  hut  for  many  years  he  lived  at  North- 
umberland, Northumberland  county,  where  he  died 
ami  is  buried.  His  death  occurred  in  November, 
1887,  when  he  was  past  seventy  years  of  agi  B] 
□  i;e  was  a  carpenter.  He  was  a  member 
id'  the  Baptist  Church.  His  wife  was  Susanna 
Nagel,  and  they  had  a  family  of  twelve  children:  . 
Jacob,  Daniel,  Jesse,  Allien.  Susanna.  Mary,  Han- 
nah. Betsv,  Amelia.  Catharine,  Deborah  and 
David. 

Albert  Hackenberg  attended  school  for  a  few 
months  in  the  winter  season  during  his  boyhood, 
ami  was  reared  to  the  practical  work  of  farming, 
which  he  has  followed  practically  all  his  life.  For 
a  few  years,  however,  he  was  at  Montandon,  this 
county,  where  he  kept  a  grocery  store,  and  where 
for  about  half  a  year  he  was  associated  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Samuel  Fry,  in  general  merchan- 
dising.  He  came  to  Point  township  in  1847,  and 
with  the  exception  of  his  brief  stay  at  Montan- 
don continued  to  live  in  that  section  until  1897, 
in  which  year  he  moved  to  Northumberland  bor- 
ough. There  he  made  his  home  until  1908,  when 
he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Point  township,  which 
is  a  valuable  tract  of  fifty-three  acres,  in  the  form 
of  a  square.  He  has  a  m<»st  desirable  home,  hav- 
ing built  a  new  house  upon  the  property,  for 
which  he  paid  $8,500.  Mr.  Hackenberg  has  served 
In-  township  eleven  years  in  the  office  of  super- 
visor, and  he  is  regarded  as  a  valuable  citizen,  a 
man  deserving  of  the  esteem  and  sood  opinion 
of  his  neighbors.  He  i-  a  Republican  on  political 
questions.  He  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Northumberland,  with  which  his  family  also  unite. 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  church  council. 
lie  law  been   a   director  of  the   Northumberland 

i  i  for    twenty-one    years,    and 

served  as  president  of  the  hoard   for  six  years 
this  period. 

On  Nov.  28,  1858,  Mr.  Hackenberg  married  Ma- 
ria Brouse,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catharine 
(Knouse)  Brouse,  who  lived  in  Point  township, 
and  granddaughter  of  Henry  Brouse,  who  came 
from  Germany.  Mrs.  Hackenberg's  maternal 
grandfather,  Abraham  Knouse,  lived  near  Kratz- 
erville,  Snyder  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hacken- 
berg have  had  two  children:  Alice  S.  married 
Charles  Ertley  and  they  live  at  Northumberland; 
Harvey  Edward,  who  ] i\ .■-  at  Cleveland.  Ohio,  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Miller  (by  whom  he  had  one  child. 
I       ey  J.  A. )  and   i  second  i  Annie  l.;r.i  n  n<  e. 


766 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


STAHL.  There  are  two  branches  of  the  Stahl 
family  in  Northumberland  county  whose  progen- 
itors came  hither  from  Northampton  county,  the 
descendants  of  John  and  Adam  Stahl.  As  the 
former  lived  in  Northampton  county  for  some  time 
before  removing  to  this  county,  and  as  the  latter 
was  a  native  of  that  county,  it  is  possible 
were  related,  though  the  present  records  do  not 
establish  the  fact. 

John  Stahl,  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Aug. 
18,  1741,  came  to  America  when  a  young  man, 
and  lived  for  some  year-  in  Northampton  coi 
Pa.  He  was  one  of  many  signers  of  a  petition 
addressed  to  the  Honorable  Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  Pennsylvania  relative  to  conflicting  civil 
and  military  laws  then  existing.  The  petitioners 
were  from  Northampton  county,  which  was  the 
early  home  of  John  Stahl  in  this  country,  as  stated, 
and  the  same  volume  of  the  Pennsylvania  Archives 
in  which  the  foregoing  is  recorded  shows  (page 
190)  that  he  was  captain  of  the  6th  Company  of 
tin-  2d  Battalion  from  Northampton  county;  (page 
359)  that  he  was  captain  of  the  5th  Company, 
Assoeiators,  of  Militia  of  Northampton  county, 
which  was  part  of  the  4th  Battalion  from  Sept. 
18  to  Nov.  18,  1780:  (page  29)  that  he  was  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  Capt.  John  Roberts'  5th  Com- 
pany. 1st  Battalion  of  Northampton  county  Mil- 
itia. In  Volume  IV,  page  349,  John  Stahl.  cap- 
tain, is  mentioned  among  soldiers  of  the  Conti- 
nental Line  who  received  depreciation  pay :  in  Vol- 
ume VI,  page  8,  he  is  mentioned  in  the  muster 
roll  of  Cumberland  county  militia,  in  1777,  as  of 
Capt.  Thomas  Askey's  Company.  It  is  known  that 
he  served  as  quartermaster  and  recruiting  officer, 
was  with  the  army  at  Valley  Forge  during  the 
memorable  winter  of  hardship  and  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Delaware.  Christmas  night,  1776.  Being 
a  skilled  mechanic,  a  gun  and  blacksmith,  his  serv- 
ices were  often  valuable  in  repairing  implements 
of  war  during  the  Eevolution,  and  he  had  as  many 
as  twenty  men  working  under  him  at  one  time, 
engaged  in  making  guns  for  use  in  that  war.  His 
son  Philip  had  one  of  these  guns.  After  the  war 
he  (having  already  married)  moved  to  Northum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  where  he  took  up  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  what  i=  now  Lewis  (then  Turbut) 
township.  He  died  Fell.  27,  1809,  and  i-  buried  in 
the  old  Fullmer  Church  graveyard.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1746,  died  in  September,  1833. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children 
of  whom  we  have  record:  Jacob,  born  Feb.  16, 
1776,  who  died  Sept.  3,  1796;  Johann  Philip, 
born  Dec.  IT.  1781,  who  died  March  24.  183?: 
and  John  George,  born  June  11.  1791.  who  died 
Aug.  4.  1820.  The  son  John  settled  in  Niagara 
county.  New  York. 

Johann  Philip  Stahl,  son  of  John,  born  Dec. 
17.  1781.  in  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  was  a  life- 
long farmer,  and  died  in  1832.    He  came  to  North- 


umberland county  with  his  father  after  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  he  eventually  obtained  part  of 
the  four  hundred  acres  -his  father  took  up,  his 
containing  115  acres,  now  owned  by  Charles 
F.  Rovenolt.  He  farmed  and  followed  black- 
smithing.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Eeformed 
I  vh.  and  he  and  his  father  were  among  the 
organizers  of  the  Paradise  Union  Church,  among 
r-t  officers  of  the  congregation  and  among  its 
leading >memb  afterward.    In  Northumber- 

land county  he  married  Elizabeth  B.  Eshbach,  who 
born  Dec.  15.  1776,  daughter  of  Johannes 
iach  (1747-1815)  and  his  wife  Catharine 
(  i;  19-1831  |.  Mrs.  Stahl  died  March  9,  1844,  the 
mother  of  the  following  children :  Thomas  died 
young;  William  died  in  infancy:  George  is  men- 
tioned below:  Mary  married  Henry  Hill  and  died 
when  over  eightv  years  old :  Elizabeth,  born  March 
9,  1811,  died  March  17.  1844;  Catharine,  born 
Oct.  11.  L816,  died  May  10.  1814.  unmarried; 
Sarah  married  Samuel  Stahl  and  died  about  one 
r  after  her  marriage. 

George  Stahl.  son  of  Johann  Philip,  was  born 
on  the  farm  where  he  afterward  made  his  home, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  local  public 
schools.  Though  his  advantages  were  limited,  he 
received  a  practical  foundation  and  being  an  in- 
telligent man  became  well  informed.  He  followed 
farming  all  his  life,  dying  at  his  old  home  in 
1894.  ami  the  preseni  -  I  of  buildings  on  the  place 
were  put-up  by  him.  He  was  quite  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  day.  being  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic  party  in  political  matters  and  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church  on  religious  questions. 
He  served  in  the  State  militia,  in  which  he  was 
orderly  sergeant:  served  six  year-  as  school  di- 
rector, was  supervisor  and  township  treasurer,  and 
a  useful  man  generally  in  his  community.  He 
was  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Paradise  Church. 
serving  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  and  was  a 
man  of  high  Christian  character,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  grandfather.  Joint  Stahl,  in 
company  with  Michael  Koons  and  John  Deiffen- 
bacher,  had  purchased  two  acres  of  ground  from 
John  Christ  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds,  and 
on  that  plot  the  first  church  of  the  congregation 
was  erected  in  1808. 

On  May  2.  1843.  Mr.  Stahl  married  Eliza- 
beth Deshler,  who  was  born  in  Northampton  coun- 
ty Sept.  26,  1817,  daughter  of  Jacob  Deshler,  of 
Northampton  county,  who  came  to  Northumber- 
land eountv  in  the  early  thirties:  his  wife  was 
a  Hower.  'Mrs.  Stahl  died  Jan.  16,  1860.  She 
and  her  husband  had  the  following  named  chil- 
dren :  William  J.,  of  Union  county.  Pa.,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Watt  and  had  two  children,  one  being 
Edwin  (living  in  Indiana)  :  Thomas  P..  unmar- 
ried, who  lives  at  McEwensviUe,  Pa. :  Marv  E.. 
unmarried,  of  Aaronsburar,  Pa.:  Levi  H. :  Edwin 
O.,   born   March   4.    1850,   of   McEwensviUe,   who 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.   PENNSYLVANIA 


767 


married  Mary  A.  Mengis  (born  June  21,  1861, 
died  Dee.  9,  1895)  and  had  four  children;  John 
0.,  who  died  in  1862,  aged  eleven  years,  and  David 
I-'.,  who  died  in  1862,  aged  nine  years,  both  dying 
of  diphl  heria  ;  and  I  leorge  Calvin. 

Lev]  II.  Stain,  was  born  March  5,  1849,  on 
the  Stahl  homestead  in  what  was  Turbut  town- 
ship, and  received  his  education  in  the  old  sub- 
ition  schools  of  the  locality.  He  was  an  en- 
thusiastic student,  took  a  Leading  part  in  the  old- 
fashioned  spelling  bees  of  the  day,  and  by  steady 
application  improved  himself  materially.  He 
1  as  a  supply  teacher  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  was  reared  to  farming  and  also  acquired  a 
practical  knowledge  of  wood  working.  In  1888 
Mr.  Stahl  wenl  to  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Delaware  township,  on  one  of  his  wife's  grand- 
father's farms,  living  there  for  three  years,  since 
when  he  has  been  a  fanner  in  Lewis  township. 
In  1908  he  settled  at  his  present  home,  a  farm 
of  100  acres  formerly  the  homestead  of  Samuel 
Menges  who  settled  there  in  1832  and  made  his 
home  I  here  until  1841.  Mr.  Menges  then  moved 
to  an  adjoining  farm,  to  the  east,  where  he  died. 
Many  Indian  relics  have  been  found  on  Mr. 
Stahl's  place,  among  them  two  Indian  mills  of 
which  he  has  retained  possession.  He  is  serving 
at  present  as  one  of  the  auditors  of  his  township, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  road  board  when  the 
new  law  came  into  existence.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Turbutville,  to  which  his  fam- 
ily also  belong;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
church  council  since  189S. 

Li  1S81  Mr.  Staid  married  Kate  L.  Menges, 
daughter  of  Isaac  ami  Mary  (Smith)  Menges,  and 
they  have  had  four  children :  Nellie,  who  is  mar- 
ried to  Oliver  Rissel  and  has  three  children,  Edith 
L.,  Lee  E.  and  Myron  L. :  Ramah  T. ;  Rosa  E. : 
and  Frank  P. 


Adam  Stahl,  a  native  of  Northampton  county. 
Pa.,  became  a  pioneer  settler  in  Union  county,  this 
State,  in  that  part  now  embraced  in  Snyder  coun- 
ty. He  had  a  farm  in  Union  township,  three  miles 
west  of  Port  Treverton,  near  Keiser's  Church,  and 
besides  fanning  distilled  applejack  and  rye  whis- 
key. He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  late  in  the  fif- 
ties and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Keiser's 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  were  Lutherans  in  re- 
ligious faith.  He  is  remembered  as  a  venerable 
old  man,  with  long  white  hair  hanging  down  over 
his  shoulders.  His  children  were:  Benjamin  and 
Jacob,  both  of  whom  settled  in  Ohio;  Daniel,  who 
settled  on  the  homestead  farm:  Frederick,  who  set- 
tled on  a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead;  John, 
who  settled  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead  : 
Mrs.  Jacob  Sholly:  Mrs.  Dieter  Heintzleman :  and 
Mrs.  Simon  Sholly. 

John  Stahl.  son  of  Adam,  was  born  in  1814  in 


what  is  now  Snyder  county,  and  received  the  lim- 
ited educational  advantages  there  afforded  in  his 
boyhood,  but  a-  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any 
use  be  was  put  to  work  helping  to  clear  the  land 
and  get  it  under  cultivation.  The  winters  were  oc- 
cupied in  pulling  stumps  and  other  work  for  which 
there  was  no  time  in  the  summer  season,  so  he  had 
little  opportunity  to  attend  even  such  indifferent 
schools  as  were  conducted  in  the  neighborhood  at 
that  time.  But  he  prospered  by  industry  and 
'»ind  bis  own  farm.  He  died  July  12,  L879,  ami 
is  buried  m  the  cemetery  at  Keiser's  Church.  He 
and  his  family  were  Lutherans  in  religion.  He 
married  Mary  Shotzberger.  daughter  of  Jon- 
athan Shotzberger,  and  she  preceded  him 
to  the  grave,  dying  July  12,  1868,  aged 
fifty  years.  All  of  the  seven  children  born  to  them 
survive:  Elias  S.,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.;  Levi, 
who  lives  on  his  father's  homestead  at  Ver- 
dilla,  Snyder  county :  William,  who  lives 
two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Selinsgrove,  in 
Penn  township,  Snyder  county  :  Hannah,  widow  of 
William  Krebs,  living  at  Wyoming,  Del. :  Aaron 
S. ;  Leah,  who  married  John  Aucker  and  lives  near 
Keiser's  Church;  and  Hiram,  who  lives  near 
Thompson,  in  Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Aaron  S.  Stahl,  son  of  John,  was  born  Oct.  4, 
1S49,  in  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  was  reared  to  farm 
life  and  educated  in  the  local  public  schools.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to  learn  shoemaking,  to 
which  trade  he  devoted  all  his  attention  for  the 
next  thirteen  years,  in  Freeburg,  Snyder  county. 
He  learned  the  business  thoroughly,  becoming  a 
skillful  mechanic,  able  to  turn  out  all  kinds  of 
footwear,  and  made  many  gaiter  shoes  in  the  days 
of  their  popularity.  Wooden  shoe  pegs  were  in 
general  use  at  the  time  he  took  up  the  work,  but 
he  kept  abreast  of  the  progress  of  the  time-  and 
improved  his  products  whenever  possible,  taking 
out  patents  of  his  own  and  showing  a  spirit  of  en- 
terprise throughout  his  connection  with  the  busi- 
ness. He  did  repairing  and  had  a  good  trade  for 
custom  work,  making  boots  for  which  he  received 
from  six  to  fourteen  dollars.  After  giving  up  the 
-hoe  business  Mr.  Stahl  farmed  for  a  time,  and 
then  for  five  years  conducted  the  "Mount  Pleasant 
Hotel."  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  removed  to 
Shamokin  Dam.  and  thence,  in  1890,  to  Sunbury. 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  Sunbury  be 
and  his  son  Charles  W.  Staid  started  Stahl's  res- 
taurant, at  the  present  site  of  the  "Aldine  Hotel." 
ami  conducted  the  establishment  successfully  for 
a  period  of  three  years  in  partnership,  the  father 
then  selling  his  interest  to  his  -on  and  taking  the 
"City  Hotel"  at  Danville.  Pa.,  which  he  carried  on 
Eor  -ix  months.  In  L899  he  engaged  in  the  insur- 
aj  business,  which  he  has  since  continued,  having 
In-  office  .it  No.  336  Market  Street.  Mr.  Stahl  has 
established  an  excellent  patronage  in  tin-  line.  He 
is  a  capable  business  man.  and  has  the  confidence 


768 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  his  patrons,  who  are  numerous  in  Sunbury  and 
the  surrounding  territory. 

On  Feb.  25,  1872,  Mr.  Staid  married  Salome 
Martin,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Scliaffer) 
Martin,  who  lived  in  Washington  township,  Sny- 
der county,  and  seven  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union:  Charles  W.,  proprietor  of  a  leading 
restaurant  at  Sunbury;  William  E.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Sunbury;  John  Howard,  who 
is  engaged  in  business  at  Lewisburg;  George  Omar, 
telegraph  operator  in  the  employ  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railway  Company,  at  Sunbury;  Delia  G.. 
who  married  0.  P.  Bell  and  lives  at  Williamsport, 
Pa.;  and  Mary  and  Harry,  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Stahl  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  and  politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

SII1KELLTMY.  the  Indian  chief  whose  name 
for  a  score  of  years  was  associated  with  every  im- 
portant transaction  affecting  the  Indians  of  the 
Susquehanna  Valley,  was  a  Susquehannock  by 
birth,  descended  from  the  ancient  Andastes,  and 
thus  returned  to  govern  the  land  from  which  his 
fathers  had  been  expelled.  Like  many  of  the  move 
enterprising  youth  of  his  tribe,  he  had  entered  the 
military  service  of  their  conquerors;  his  valor  in 
war  was  rewarded  by  adoption  into  the  Oneida 
tribe,  of  which  he  at  length  became  a  chief,  an  ex- 
ceptional preferment  for  one  not  a  member  of  that 
nation  by  birth. 

The  Iroquois,  although  not  the  actual  occupants 
of  any  part  of  Pennsylvania,  played  an  important 
part  in  its  history  throughout  the  Colonial  and 
Revolutionary  periods.  They  inhabited  the  fertile 
region  south  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  about  the  head- 
waters of  the  Hudson,  the  Delaware,  the  Susque- 
hanna and  the  Allegheny  rivers,  including  the 
valley  of  the  Mohawk  on  the  east  and  that  of  the 
Genesee  on  the  west.  Five  tribes,  the  Senecas,  On- 
ondagas,  Oneidas,  Cayugas  and  Mohawks,  original- 
ly constituted  the  confederacy,  whence  they  were 
called  the  Five  Nations:  a  sixth,  the  Tuscaroras, 
was  admitted  about  the  year  1712,  and  after  that 
they  were  known  as  the  Six  Nations.  Each  tribe 
exercised  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  purely  domestic 
affairs,  while  matters  concerning  the  nation  as  a 
whole  were  determined  by  the  great  council  at 
Onondaga.  This  was  the  center  of  their  power, 
which  was  practically  co-extensive  with  the  thir- 
teen original  States,  embracing  also  southern  Can- 
ada and  a  part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  the 
extent  <>t'  their  dominion,  their  absolute  power,  and 
the  statecraft  exercised  in  rendering  conquered 
tribes  subsidiary  to  their  purpose,  they  have  been 
not  inaptly  styled  "the  Romans  of  America."  In 
all  the  arts  of  a  savage  people  they  excelled.  Their 
fields  were  well  cultivated,  their  towns  were 
strongly  fortified,  their  form  of  government  se- 
cured practical  unanimity  in  the  execution  of  mil- 


itary projects,  and  in  their  intercourse  with 
Europeans  their  chiefs  often  evinced  a  remarkable 
skillfulness  in  diplomacy  and  profoundness  of  pol- 
icy. Their  career  of  conquest  was  doubtless  in- 
augurated by  the  subjugation  of  the  immediately 
contiguous  tribes,  and  thus,  in  the  extension  of 
their  power  to  the  south,  the  Andastes  and  Lenni 
Lenape  were  first  brought  under  their  sway.  The 
Shawanese,  Ganawese,  Conoys  and  other  Pennsyl- 
vania  tribes  also  acknowledged  their  supremacy, 
and  for  the  better  government  of  these  trouble- 
some feudatories  the  great  Onondaga  council  was 
constrained,  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  to  place  over  them  a  resident  viceroy.  To 
this  responsible  position  Shikellimy  was  appoint- 
ed. It  i<  not  probable  that  he  was  appointed  vice- 
roy before  17".'s ;  he  was  not  present  at  the  treaty 
with  the  Five  Nations  at  Philadelphia  in  July  of 
the  preceding  year,  and  LeTort  does  not  mention 
him  among  the  Indians  of  consequence  whom  he 
met  "mi  the  upper  parts  of  the  river  Susquehanna" 
in  the  winter  of  1727-28.  The  first  conference 
that  he  attended  at  Philadelphia  was  that  of  July 
4-5,  1728,  hut  it  docs  not  appear  that  he  took  any 
active  part  in  the  proceedings.  He  was  present  on 
a  similar  occasion  in  the  following  October,  when, 
after  the  close  of  the  conference,  the  Council  con- 
sidered "what  present  might  he  proper  to  be  made" 
to  Shikellimy.  "of  the  Five  Nations,  appointed 
to  reside  among  the  Shawanese,  whose  services 
had  been  and  may  yet  further  be  of  great  advan- 
tage to  this  government."  The  secretary  of  Coun- 
cil had  gained  a  more  accurate  idea  of  his  func- 
tions three  years  later,  when,  in  the  minutes  of 
Aug.  1'.'.  1731,  he  gives  his  name  and  title  as 
••Shikellimy,  sent  by  the  Five  Nations  to  preside 
over  the  Shawanese."  At  the  close  of  the  confer- 
ence which  began  at  Philadelphia  on  that  date, 
the  governor  having  represented  that  he  was  "a 
trusty  good  man  and  a  great  lover  of  the  English," 
he  was  commissioned  as  the  hearer  of  a  present 
to  the  Six  Nations  and  a  message  inviting  them 
to  visit  Philadelphia.  This  they  accordingly  did, 
arriving  Aug.  18,  1732.  Shikellimy  was  present 
on  this  occasion,  when  it  was  mutually  agreed 
that  he  ami  Conrad  Weiser  should  be  employed 
in  any  business  that  might  lie  necessary  between 
the  high  contracting  parties.  In  August,  1710, 
he  came  to  Philadelphia  to  inquire  against  whom 
the  English  were  making  preparations  for  war. 
rumors  of  which  had  reached  the  meat  council 
at  Onondaga.  He  was  also  present  at  the  con- 
ference at  Philadelphia  in  July.  1742,  at  the  treaty 
at  Lancaster  in  June  and  July.  1711.  and  at  the 
Philadelphia  conference  of  the  following  August. 
He  does  appear  to  have  taken  a  very  active  part 
in  the  discussions,  a  privilege  which,  among  the 
Six  Nation-,  seems  to  have  been  reserved  for. the 
Onondagas.     In  April.  1718.  accompanied  by  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


769 


son  and  Conrad  Weiser,  lie  visited  Philadelphia, 
but  no  public  business  of  importance  was  con- 
sidered. 

Shikellimy's  residence  is  first  definitely  located 
in  1729  in  a  letter  of  Governor  Gordon  to  "Shikel- 
limy  and  Kalaryonyacha  at  Shamokin."  Within 
the  next  eight  years  he  had  removed  some  miles 
up  the  valley  of  the  West  Branch.  In  the  journal 
of  his  journey  to  Onondaga  in  1737  Conrad  Weiser 
states  that  he  crossed  the  North  Branch  from 
Shamokin  on  the  6th  of  March;  on  the  7tli  he 
crossed  Chillisquaque  creek,  and  on  the  8th  In- 
reached  the  village  where  Shikellimy  lived.  "On 
the  8th  reached  the  village  where  Shikelimo  lives, 
who  was  appointed  to  be  my  companion  and  guide 
on  the  journey.  He  was,  however,  far  from  home 
on  a  hunt.  Weather  became  bad  and  the  waters 
high,  and  no  Indian  could  be  induced  to  seek 
Shikelimo  until  the  12th,  when  two  young  Indians 
agreed  to  go  out  in  search  of  him.  On  the  lGtk 
they  returned  with  word  that  Shikelimo  would 
be  back  next  day,  which  so  happened.  The  Indi- 
ans were  out  of  provisions  at  this  place.  I  saw 
a  new  blanket  given  for  about  one  third  of  a 
bushel  of  Indian  corn." 

The  site  of  this  village  is  beyond  doubt  on  the 
farm  of  Hon.  George  F.  Miller  (1886),  at  the 
mouth  of  Sinking  run,  or  Shikellimy's  run,  at  the 
old  ferry  a  half  mile  below  Milton,  on  the  Union 
county  side.  Bishop  Spangenberg  and  his  party 
passed  over  the  same  route  June  7,  1745;  after 
passing  Chillisquaque  creek  and  the  "site  of  the 
town  that  formerly  stood  there,"  they  "next  came 
to  the  place  where  Shikellimy  formerly  lived," 
which  was  then  deserted;  the  next  point  noted  is 
Warrior's  Camp  (Warrior  run).  Spangenberg  cer- 
tainly did  not  cross  the  West  Branch;  if  Weiser 
had  done  so  in  1737  there  is  every  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  he  would  have  mentioned  it,  which  he 
does  not;  from  which,  if  there  were  no  other  data 
bearing  on  this  subject,  it  would  be  fair  to  con- 
clude that  in  1737  Shikellimy  resided  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  West  Branch  at  some  point  between 
Chillisquaque  creek  and  Warrior  run.  But  there 
are  other  data.  When  the  land  office  was  open 
for  "the  new  purchase,"  April  3,  17611,  there  were 
very  many  applications  made  for  this  location.  In 
all  of  them  it  is  called  either  old  Muney  town 
or  Shikellimy's  town.  It  is  referred  to  as  a  lo- 
cality in  hundreds  of  applications  for  land  in  Buf- 
falo Valley. 

Shikellimy,  some  time  after  Weiser's  visit,  be- 
tween 1737  "and  1743,  removed  to  Shamokin  (now 
Sunbury)  as  a  more  convenient  point  for  inter- 
course with  the  proprietary  governors.  There  he 
resided  the  remainder  of  his  life.  From  this  point 
he  made  frequent  journeys  to  Onondaga,  Phila- 
delphia, Tulpehocken,  Bethlehem.  Paxtang  and 
Lancaster,  as  the  discharge  of  his  important  pub- 
lic functions  required.  On  Oct.  9,  1747,  Conrad 
49 


Weiser  says  that  he  was  at  Shamokin  and  that 
Shikellimy  was  very  sick  with  fever.  "He  was 
hardly  able  to  stretch  forth  his  hand.  His  wife, 
three  sons,  one  daughter  and  two  or  three  grand- 
children were  all  bad  with  the  fever.  There  were 
three  buried  out  of  the  family  a  few  days  before, 
one  of  them  was  Cajadis,  who  had  been  married, 
to  his  daughter  above  fifteen  years,  and  was  reck- 
oned the  best  hunter  among  all  the  Indians."  He 
recovered,  however,  from  this  sickness,  and  in 
March,  1718,  was  with  Weiser,  at  Tulpehocken, 
with  his  eldest  son,  "Tagheneghdourus,"  who  suc- 
ceeded him  as  chief  and  representative  of  the  Six 
Nations.    He  died  in  April,  1749,  at  Sunbury. 

Loskiel  thus  notices  this  celebrated  inhabitant 
of  the  valley:  "Being  head  chief  of  the  Iroquois 
living  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  as  far  as 
Syracuse,  X.  Y.,  he  thought  it  incumbent  upon 
him  to  be  very  circumspect  in  his  dealings  with 
the  white  people.  He  mistrusted  the  Brethren 
(Moravians)  at  first,  but  upon  discovering  their 
sincerity  became  their  firm  and  real  friend.  He 
learned  the  art  of  concealing  his  sentiments ;  and, 
therefore,  never  contradicted  those  who  endeavored 
to  prejudice  his  mind  against  the  missionaries.  In 
the  last  years  of  his  life  he  became  less  reserved, 
and  received  those  Brethren  that  came  to  Shamo- 
kin. He  defended  them  against  the  insults  of 
drunken  Indians,  being  himself  never  addicted  to 
drinking.  He  built  his  house  upon  pillars  for 
safety,  in  which  he  always  shut  himself  up  when 
any  drunken  frolic  was  going  on  in  the  village. 
In  this  house  Bishop  Johannes  Yon  Watteville, 
and  his  company,  visited  and  preached  the  Gospel 
to  him.  He  listened  with  great  attention,  and 
at  last,  with  tears,  respected  the  doctrine  of  Jesus, 
and  received  it  with  faith." 

There  is  ample  evidence  in  contemporary  rec- 
ords that  Shikellimy's  position  was  one  of_ respon- 
sibility and  honor  rather  than  profit  or  emolument. 
In  the  general  system  of  national  polity  of  which 
the  Iroquois  confederacy  was  the  only  type  among 
the  aborigines  of  America,  his  post  corresponded 
to  that  of  a  Roman  proconsul.  But  there  the 
parallel  ceases.  Although  he  was  charged  with 
the  surveillance  of  the  entire  Indian  population 
of  central  Pennsylvania,  and  doubtless  exacted  a 
nominal  tribute,  no  provision  whatever  was  made 
tor  his  personal  necessities,  to  which,  with  charac- 
teristic diplomacy,  the  Provincial  authorities  were 
induced  to  contribute.  "The  president  likewise  ac- 
quainting the  board  that  the  Indians,  at  a  meet- 
ing with  the  Proprietor  and  him,  had  taken  notice 
that  Conrad  Weiser  ami  Shikellimy  were,  by  the 
treaty  of  1732,  appointed  as  lit  and  proper  per- 
sons to  go  between  the  Six  Nation-  and  this  gov- 
ernment and  to  1>«'  employed  in  all  transactions 
with  one  another,  whose  bodies,  the  Indians  said, 
were  to  I"1  equally  divided  between  them  ami  us, 
we  to  have  one  half  and  they  the  other;  that  they 


770 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


had  found  Conrad  faithful  and  honest;  that  he  is 
a  true,  good  man,  and  had  spoken  their  words 
and  our  words,  and  not  his  own:  and  the  Indians 
having  presented  him  with  a  dressed  skin,  to  make 
him  shoes,  and  two  deer  skins,  to  keep  him  warm. 
they  said,  as  they  had  thus  taken  care  of  our 
friend,  they  must  recommend  theirs  (Shikellimv) 
to  our  notice;  and  the  board,  judging  it  necessary 
that  a  particular  notice  should  he  taken  of  him 
accordingly,  it  is  ordered  that  six  pounds  be  laid 
out  for  him  in  such  things  as  he  may  most  want." 
He  was  expected  to  hunt  and  fish,  the  natural 
modes  of  subsistence  with  an  Indian,  regardless 
of  his  station,  but  in  the  waning  vigor  of  old  age 
he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  the  chase,  and  in 
October,  17(7.  Weiser  found  him  in  a  condition 
of  utter  destitution.  This  he  describes  as  follows, 
in  a  letter  to  Council:  "I  must  at  the  conclusion 
of  this  recommend  Shikellimv  as  a  proper  object 
of  charity.  He  is  extremely  poor;  in  his  sickness 
the  horses  have  eaten  all  his  corn:  his  clothes  he 
gave  to  Indian  doctors  to  cure  him  and  his  family, 
but  all  in  vain:  he  has  nobody  to  hunt  for  him, 
and  I  can  not  see  how  the  poor  old  man  can  live. 
He  has  been  a  true  servant  to  the  government 
and  may  perhaps  still  be.  if  he  lives  to  do  well 
again.  As  the  winter  is  coining  on  I  think  it 
would  not  be  amiss  to  send  him  a  few  blankets 
or  match-coats  and  a  little  powder  and  lead,  if 
the  government  would  be  pleased  to  do  it  and  you 
could  send  it  up  soon.  I  would  semi  my  sons  with 
it  to  Shamokin  before  the  cold  weather  comes." 
Upon  the  consideration  of  this  letter  it  was  im- 
mediately decided  by  Council  that  goods  to  the 
value  of  sixteen  pounds  should  be  procured  and 
forwarded  to  Shikellimv  by  Conrad  Weiser.  The 
consignment  included  five  stroud  match-coats,  one 
fourth  of  a  cask  of  gunpowder,  fifty  pounds  of 
bar  lead,  fifteen  yards  of  blue  "half-thicks,"  one 
dozen  best  buck-handled  knives,  and  four  duffel 
match-coats. 

On  the  occasion  referred  to  (October,  1747) 
Shikellimv  was  quite  ill.  Before  Weiser  left 
Shikellimv  was  able  to  walk  about  "with  a  stick 
in  his  hand."  The  following  March  he  was  so 
far  recovered  as  to  visit  Tulpehocken,  and  in  April, 
1748,  he  was  at  Philadelphia.  After  this  he  seem- 
to  have  bad  a  relapse,  for  on  the  18th  of  June 
in  the  same  year  the  Provincial  Council  was  in- 
formed that  he  was  "sick  and  like  to  lose  his  eye- 
sight." He  again  recovered,  however,  and  in  the 
following  December  made  a  visit  to  Bethlehem. 
On  the  return  trip  he  became  ill.  but  reached  his 
home  with  the  assistance  of  Brother  David  Zeis- 
berger,  who  attended  him  during  his  sickness  and 
administered  the  consolations  id'  religion.  His 
daughter  and  Zeisberger  were  present  when  he 
died.  The  latter,  assisted  by  Henry  Fry.  made  a 
coffin,  in  which,  with  the  possessions  he  had  valued 
mosi    highly   during   life,   the   mortal    remains   of 


the    great    viceroy    were    interred    at    the    burial 
ground  of  his  people. 

At  bis  first  appearance  in  Colonial  affairs,  Shi- 
kellimv had  a  son  and  daughter  and  probably 
other  children.  A  present  was  provided  for  his 
wife  and  daughter  at  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty 
of  October,  1728;  and  on  Aug.  is.  1729,  the  gov- 
ernor sent  him  a  message  of  condolence  upon  the 
death  id'  his  son  and  a  shroud  with  which  to  cover 
him.  Another  son.  Unhappy  Jake,  was  killed  by 
the  Catawbas,  with  whom  the  Six  Nations  were 
at  war.  in  1743,  and  in  a  letter  dated  .Ian.  '.'. 
1744,  Weiser  informs  Secretary  Peters  of  the  tact. 
suggesting  also  the  propriety  of  -ending  the  be- 
reaved  lather  "a  small  present,  in  order  to  wipe 
off  his  tear-  and  comfort  his  heart."  Several 
days  before  Weiser's  arrival  at  Shamokin,  Nov.  9, 
17  47,  there  were  three  deaths  in  the  family.  Ca- 
jadies.  his  son-in-law.  the  wife  of  his  eldesl  -on. 
and  a  grandchild.  It  is  evident  that  he  had  more 
than  one  daughter  at  that  time:  "his  three  sons" 
are  also  mentioned.  The  eldest.  Tachnechdorus. 
succeeded  to  the  former  authority  id'  his  father, 
and.  with  two  others,  "sachems  or  chiefs  of  the 
Indian  nation  called  the  Shamokin  Indians."  af- 
fixed his  signature  to  the  Indian  <]v^\  of  17  1!». 
Conrad  Weiser,  writing  to  Governor  Morris  under 
date  o]'  .March  1.  1755,  styles  him  "Tachiiechdonis. 
the  chief  of  Shamokin,  of  the  Cayuga  nation." 
tin  latter  part  of  which  i-  difficult  to  harmonize 
with  the  fact  that  his  lather  is  uniformly  referred 
in  a-  an  Oneida.  His  brother  seems  to  have  been 
associated  with  him:  Richard  Peters,  the  Provin- 
cial secretary,  in  his  account  of  the  eviction  of 
settlers  from  lands  north  of  the  Kittatinnv  moun- 
tains not  purchased  from  the  Indians,  states  that 
In-  party  was  accompanied  by  three  Indians  from 
Shamokin,  "two  of  which  were  sons  id'  the  late 
Shikellimv,  who  transact  the  business  of  the  Sis 
Nations  with  this  government."  Tachnechdorus 
was  also  known  to  the  English  by  the  name  of 
John  Shikellimv.  In  1753  he  had  a  hunting  lodge 
at  the  mouth  of  Warrior  run  and  resided  at  a 
-mall  Shawanese  town  below  Muney  creek  on  the 
West  Branch.  These  facts  are  derived  from 
Mack's  journal,  which  also  states  that  Shikellimy's 
family  had  left  Shamokin.  where  they  found  it 
very  difficult  to  live  owing  to  the  constant  drafts 
upon  their  hospitality.  In  April,  1756,  he  was 
at  McKee's  fort,  but  greatly  dissatisfied,  as  nearly 
all  of  his  party  were  sick. 

Sayughtowa,  a  younger  brother  of  Tachnechdor- 
us, was  the  most  celebrated  of  Shikellimy's  .-on.-. 
He  lived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chillisquaque  creek 
An-.  26,  175:1,  and  in  1765  in  Raccoon  Valley. 
"In  17fiS  and  17<>!>  he  resided  near  Reedsville  in 
Mifflin  county,  and  has  given  his  name  to  the 
spring  near  that  place,  to  Logan's  branch  of  Spring 
creek,  in  Center  county,  Logan's  path.  etc.  *  * 
In   177  1  occurred    Lord    Dunmore's  expedition 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


71 


againsl  the  Shawanese  towns,  now  Point  Pleasant. 
\V.  \'a..  winch  was  the  occasion  of  Logan's  celebrat- 
ed speech,  commencing  'I  appeal  to  any  white  man 
to  saj  if  he  ever  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry 
and  he  gave  him  not  meat,'  which  will  go  down 
to  all  time,  whether  properly  or  not,  as  a  splendid 
outburst  of  Indian  eloquence."  "He  could  speak 
tolerable  English,  was  a  remarkably  tall  man — 
over  six  feet  high — and  well  proportioned;  of 
brave,  open  and  manlj  countenance,  as  straight 
us  an  arrow,  and  apparently  afraid  of  no  one." 
Heckewelder,  who  thought  him  a  man  of  superior 
talents,  called  on  him  in  April,  1773,  at  his  set- 
tlement on  the  Ohio  below  Big  Beaver;  the  same 
writer  says  In'  afterward  became  addicted  to  drink- 
ing, and  -tate-  that  he  was  murdered  in  October, 

1781,  between  In-  residence  and  Detroit.  He  was 
sitting  with  his  blanket  over  his  head,  before  a 
camp  lire,  his  elbows  resting  on  his  knees,  when 
an  Indian  who  had  taken  some  offense  stole  be- 
hind him  and  buried  his  tomahawk  in  his  brains. 
Hi-  English  name,  James  Logan,  was  conferred 
in  honor  of  the  distinguished  Friend  who  was  so 
long  and  prominently  identified  with  Colonial  af- 
fairs in  Pennsylvania;  he  is  generally  known  to 
history  as  "Logan,  the  Mingo." 

SNYDER.     The  forerunner  of  the  Snyders  of 

Lower  Augusta  township  and  that  section  of 
Northumberland  county  settled  in  that  region  be- 
fore the  Revolutionary  war. 

(1)  Casper  Snyder,  the  pioneer  of  the  fam- 
ily in  Northumberland  county,  came  from  Ger- 
main and  settled  here  before  the  Revolution.  He 
was  a  large  land  owner,  having  nearly  one  thou- 
sand acres,  including  what  is  now  a  part  of  the 
Updegrove  farm,  the  Thomas.  Peter  and  Adam 
Snyder  farms,  the  tract  now  owned  by  Dennis 
II.  and  Newton  W.  Snyder.  Ins  great-grandsons, 
etc.  lie  was  a  farmer  and  tavern-keeper,  his  tav- 
ern being  located  on  the  old  Harrisburg  and 
Sunhnrv  road,  where  bis  son  Peter  succeeded 
him;  in  1798  he  built  the  old  brick  tavern  known 
as  "Blue  Ball  Tavern."  He  and  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Farst.  are  buried  in  the  River  cemetery  at 
Fisher's  Ferry,  and  according  to  the  records  there 
he  was  born  May  2,  1745,  and  died  Sept.  3,  1821. 
"Elizabeth,"  wife  of  Casper  Snyder,  horn  Feb. 
5,  1754,  died  Aug.  12,  1823.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  (1)  John,  horn  Nov.  29,  1776, 
died  April   29,    1851.      (2)    Polly,  bom  June  24, 

1782,  died  March  7,  1856,  married  a  Mr.  Upde- 
graph  and  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  Isaac. 
Thomas,  Adam  and  Sarah.  Of  these,  Adam  went 
to  look  after  the  vast  fortune  due  the  Snyders 
as  heir-  of  the  brother  (of  Elizabeth)  Farst  in 
Holland,  hut  the  connection  was  lost  and  he  had 
no  proofs  to  establish  the  claim.  (3)  Peter,  horn 
April  -.'1.  1788,  died  Feb.  19,  1866.  (1)  Sarah 
(Sally)    married   John    Hendershot    (1790-1851), 


and  died  Feb.  23,  1863,  aged  seventy-two  years, 
three  mouth-,  one  day.  They  had  six  daughters 
and  two  sons.  Eliza  (Mrs.  David  Shipman),  Har- 
riet (who  married  Sylvanus  Shipman,  brother  of 
David).  Lvdia  (Mrs.  Christian  Fisher),  .lane 
(Mrs.  John  Jones),  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Sylvanus 
Shipman).  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Chambers  Wvnn). 
Isaac-  and  Hiram.  (5)  George,  born  Sept.  3,  1785, 
died  Feb.  !).  1812.  (li)  Casper  lived  near  Sun- 
hnrv. in  Upper  Augusta  township.  He  had  son- 
Thomas  and  Simon,  and  daughter  Catharine,  who 
married  John  Cooper  (we  have  record  of  one 
daughter,  Man  Cooper).  (7)  Catharine  married 
William  Silverwood  and  had  sons,  dames.  Wil- 
liam and  Hiram,  and  daughters,  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
John  McPresson),  Sarah  (Mrs.  John  Climer), 
Harriet  (who  first  married  Samuel  Couldren) 
and  Susannah   (who  married  in  the  West). 

(II)  John  Snyder,  son  of  Casper,  was  horn 
in  Lower  Augusta  township  Nov.  29,  1776,  and 
there  made  bis  home,  owning  the  farm  which  is 
now  the  property  id'  Martha  Gass.  His  holdings 
weir  very  large,  his  property  having  been  divided 
into  eight  farms,  seven  of  which  be  gave  to  bis 
children.  He  owned  and  operated  a  distillery, 
cider  press  and  sawmill  and  kept  several  teams 
busy  transporting  goods  for  him  between  here 
and  Philadelphia,  which  was  the  market  center 
for  grain  and  provisions.  A  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizen  of  his  day,  he  served  twenty-five 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  held  the  rank 
of  colonel  in  the  State  militia,  standing  at  the 
bead  of  the  militia  in  his  district  for  some  years. 
He  died  April  ill.  1851.  His  wife.  Maria  Mar- 
garet (Fisher),  known  as  "Peggy"  (only  >ister 
of  Christian  Fisher),  is  buried  in  the  Presbyterian 
cemetery.  They  had  children  as  follows:  George, 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  (called  Betsv.  married  John 
Wynn),  Peter  .1..  John  (died  March  25,  1877, 
aged  sixtv-nine  years,  eleven  months,  eleven  days: 
his  wife  Martha!  horn  Dec.  •.'::.  1808,  died  .Ian.  11. 
L862),  Adam  (horn  April  9,  1814,  died  Dec.  L5, 
L895;  his  wife  Martha  died  Sept.  30,  1860,  aged 
forty-six  years,  five  months,  ten  days),  and  Sally 
(born  .Ian.  Hi.  1809,  married  John  Ebright,  and 
died  July  23,  1850). 

(III)  George  Snyder,  son  of  John,  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1801,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
living  on  and  owning  the  farm  now  owned  by  bis 
-mi  Solomon.  He  built  the  house  and  barn  now 
standing  on  that  property,  the  house  in  1854,  the 
barn  in  1851.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  died  Feb.  2,  L866. 
Mr.  Snyder  was  twice  married,  bis  first  wife  be- 
ing Elizabeth  Conrad,  who  is  buried  at  the  Stone 
Church  at  Augustaville,  and  by  whom  he  had  one 
-mi.  John  ('..  now  living  near  Omaha.  Nebr.  I  lis 
second  wife.  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Philip  Stroh 
and  « idow  of  Jonathan  Clark,  was  horn  Jan.  I  I. 
ISO-.',  and  died  Aug.  22,  1884;  she  was  from   Fan 


::•.' 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


caster  county.  To  this  union  were  born  four  chil- 
dren :  Solomon  S.,  Samuel,  Morris  and  one  that 
died  young. 

(IV)  Solomon  Stroii  Snyder,  son  of  George, 
was  born  May  27,  1836,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  learned  various  trades  in  his 
early  life,  being  proficient  as  a  carpenter,  black- 
smith and  butcher,  but  farming  has  been  his  main 
occupation.  In  1854  he  taught  subscription 
school,  receiving  fifty  cents  a  month  for  each  pu- 
pil. When  twenty-nine  years  old  he  married  and 
left  home,  beginning  farming  for  himself  in  what 
is  now  Rockefeller  township,  having  a  farm  of 
153  acres  there,  near  Seven  Points.  He  cultivated 
and  lived  upon  that  place  for  twenty-one  years, 
after  which  he  was  a  resident  of  Sunbury  for 
two  years  before  coming  to  the  old  homestead 
farm,  which  he  lias  since  occupied,  in  1889. 
Eighteen  years  later  he  sold  the  property  in  Rocke- 
feller township.  He  has  bought  a  place  in  Lower 
Augusta  which  comprises  ninety-nine  acres.  His 
industry  and  intelligent  labor  have  had  their  re- 
ward, and  he  has  accumulated  a  substantial  com- 
petence, having  stocks  in  bank  besides  his  landed 
property.  He  was  one  of  the  first  stockholders 
associated  with  Henry  Bower  and  gave  him  his 
first  advice.  In  his  more  active  years  he  showed 
his  public  spirit  by  various  services  to  the  com- 
munity, having  held  the  offices  of  overseer  of  the 
poor  (rive  years)  and  auditor  (six  years),  when 
Lower  Augusta  and  Rockefeller  townships  were 
one.  He  votes  independently,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  June  1.  1865,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Rebecca 
Bohner,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Susanna  (Kief- 
fer)  Bohner.  and  they  have  had  one  son,  Daniel 
B.,  win i  was  born  Nov.  4,  1S66,  and  is  engaged 
in  fa  fining  on  the  homestead.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  and  has  one  son.  William  Allison  (who 
is  married  and  lives  in  Sunbury),  by  his  first 
union,  to  Lillie  Zartman.  His  second  marriage 
was  to  Emma  KLappenhaver,  and  they  have  two 
sons.  Solomon  and  Benjamin. 

(IV  i  Samuel  Snyder,  son  of  George,  was  born 
May  2,  1838,  on  his  father's  homestead,  was  reared 
to  farming,  and  has  lived  on  a  part  of  the  home 
place  all  his  life,  the  place  he  now  lives  on  con- 
sisting of  eighty-one  acres  at  one  time  included 
in  his  lather's  farm.  He  built  the  present  barn 
there  in  the  yi  ar  1862.  He  has  served  nine  years 
as  school  director  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  which  he  has  been  especially  active, 
having  served  as  deacon,  treasurer  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics. 

On  Sept.  2,  I860,  Mr.  Snyder  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Wynn,  and  in  1876  he  built  the 
house  on  the  farm  which  they  have  since  occu- 
pied.    Four    children    were  horn    to  this    union: 


Jacob  is  a  resident  of  Rock  Island,  111.:  George 
was  accidentally  killed  in  the  freight  yard  at  Sun- 
bury April  6,  1892,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years, 
four  months,  three  days:  Ella  M.  married  George 
Neidig  and  they  live  in  Lower  Augusta:  Clara 
E.  married  Horatio  Snyder  and  they  live  in  Low- 
er Augusta. 

(IV)  Mokhis  Snyder,  son  of  George,  was 
born  April  12,  1845,  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  inherited  his  father's 
homestead,  which  he  sold  to  the  present  owner, 
his  brother  Solomon,  in  1889.  In  1890  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  a  tract  of 
105  acres,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  where  he 
built  the  present  dwelling  in  1897.  The  farm  was 
formerly  the  homestead  of  Sylvanus  Shipman, 
who  built  the  barn  thereon  in  1871.  Mr.  Snyder 
has  made  farming  his  principal  business,  but  he 
has  also  given  some  attention  to  outside  matters, 
having  served  twenty  years  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  settled  up  a  number  of  estates.  He  i-  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religious  connection 
be  and  his  family  are  Baptists. 

In  1867  Mr.  Snyder  married  Naomi  Shipman, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  children  as  follows: 
Harry,  Sylvanus.  Rebecca  E.,  Laura  J.,  Josephine 
M..  Ruth.  Webster  A",  and  Elmira. 


i  llli  Thomas  Snyder,  -on  of  John  and  grand- 
son of  Casper,  lived  on  Boyle's  run,  in  L~>wer  Au- 
gusta township,  owning  and  cultivating  the  place 
now  known  as  the  Michael  Shingehrer  farm.  It 
comprised  one  hundred  acres.  Mr.  Snyder  married 
Esther  Randall,  who  was  born  Feb.  25,  1806.  and 
died  April  8.  1871.  He  died  Sept.  11.  1894,  aged 
ninety-one  years,  one  month,  twenty-nine  days,  and 
they  are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  Augusta 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  both  were  members. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Silas  R.  is  men- 
tioned below  ;  Harriet  married  Levi  Thomas :  Bar- 
bara married  John  Shipman :  Martha  married 
Elias  Sternling;  Jane  married  Elias  Yerdy;  Ma- 
tilda married  William  Spies,  of  Sunbury:  Eliza- 
beth married  FosteT  Ely;  Sallie  married  William 
II .   Swinehart. 

(IV)  Silas  R.  Snyder,  son  of  Thomas,  was 
born  Oct.  ?4.  1834.  and  died  Feb.  28,  1910.  on 
the  farm  in  Lower  Augusta  where  he  had  lived 
for  about  fifteen  years.  It  consists  of  130  acres, 
and  was  formerly  the  David  Shipman  place.  For 
six  years  before  moving  to  that  property  he  lived 
on  the  farm  of  his  father.  Thomas  Snyder.  He 
ed  as  tax  collector  of  his  township  before 
Rockefeller  and  Lower  Augusta  were  divided.  Mr. 
Snyder  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  serving 
his  first  term  as  a  member  of  Company  C.  131st 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  his  second  term 
with  the  5th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  He  held  the 
rank  of  corporal.     He  is  buried  at  Fisher's  Ferry. 

In  1865  Mr.  Snyder  married  Lydia  H.  Shipman. 


-NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


daughter  of  David  and  Eliza  ( Hendershot)  Ship- 
man,  and  she  still  resides  on  the  farm  with  her 
sister,  Harriet  E.  Myers.  Three  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder:  Harris  E.  is  in 
the  railway  mail  service  and  makes  his  home  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  0.  Perry  died  when  seventeen 
months  old  :  Jessie  E.  married  Carey  E.  Burns  and 
they  live  at  Hollowing  Run,  in  Lower  Augusta 
township  (he  is  now  serving  as  county  auditor). 

(J II)  Peter  J.  Snyder,  son  of  John  and  grand- 
son of  Casper,  was  a  native  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  where  he  spent  all  his  life.  He  was 
a  farmer  throughout  his  active  years,  and  until 
about  ten  years  before  his  death  lived  on  the  one 
farm,  spending  his  declining  days  with  his  chil- 
dren.  He  died  in  June,  1893  or  1894,  at  the 
borne  of  his  son  David,  and  was  buried  at  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith.  His 
farm,  consisting  of  120  acres,  is  now  the  prop- 
erty "t  Martha  M.  Gass,  of  Sunbury.  Mr.  Snyder 
married  Sarah  Shipman,  daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  (McKinney)  Shipman,  and  she  preceded 
him  to  the  grave,  dying  Nov.  2,  1883,  aged  sev- 
enty-two years,  one  month,  eighteen  days.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Jacob  S. 
died  in  Shamokin :  Abigail  married  Aaron  Wilke- 
son;  Mary  married  Isaac  Cooper;  David  married 
Martha  G.  Heaton :  Jackson  died  in  Trevorton 
with  his  son  Charles:  Malinda  married  James 
Smith:  Emeline  married  Lafayette  Wilkenson; 
Sarah  .lane  died  aged  sixteen  years:  Martha  Ann 
married  George  Gass. 

(IV)  Jacob  S.  Snyder,  son  of  Peter  J.,  was 
born  May  27,  1838,  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
and  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  Edward  W.,  in 
Shamokin.  March  4,  1909.  He  began  to  learn  mill- 
wrighting  when  a  boy,  and  followed  the  trade  for  a 
number  of  years  in  central  Pennsylvania,  building  a 
number  of  mills  operated  by  water  power  and 
helping  to  make  a  number  of  waterwheels;  no 
iron  was  used  in  their  construction.  Later  in  life 
he  took  up  farming,  which  he  followed  in  his  na- 
tive township  for  a  number  of  years  upon  the 
•old  Snyder  homestead,  which  he  owned.  Though 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  is  buried 
at  the  Ebenezer  Methodist  Episcopal^  Church  in 
Rockefeller  township,  as  is  also  his  wife. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  Harriet  D.  Foye,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Hannah  (Reiser)  Foye,  of  Rock- 
efeller township,  who  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Catharine,  Samuel,  Mary,  Harriet 
ami  Daniel  B.  John  Foye  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  day  and  built  many  of  the  houses  in  Trevor- 
ton.  Mrs.  Jacob  S.  Snyder  died  June  11,  1904, 
aged  sixty-two  years,  four  days.  She  was  the 
mother  of" four  children,  namely:  (1)  Edward  W., 
who  lives  in  Shamokin,  taught  school  for  twenty- 
three   years.      (2)    Horatio   A.    is   a   farmer   and 


'•'squire'"  in  Lower  Augusta  and  also  teaches  school. 
(3)  Samuel  G.,  born  March  21,  1874,  spent  ten 
years  in  Shamokin,  moving  from  there  in  1898  to 
Herndon,  where  he  has  since  been  clerk  at  the 
''Hotel  Wiest."  He  is  widely  known  to  the  travel- 
ing public,  and  is  not  only  an  experienced  hotel 
man  but  particularly  well  fitted  for  the  business, 
having  a  genial,  pleasing  disposition,  and  a  faculty 
of  treating  those  whom  he  meets  with  uniform 
kindliness,  traits  which  have  won  him  many 
friends.  (4)  Elvie  G.  married  Ed.  0.  Bartholo- 
mew,  a  farmer  of  Rockefeller  township. 

(IV)  David  Snyder,  son  of  Peter  J.,  was  bom 
Sept.  7,  1841,  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  He 
was  reared  to  farming,  and  followed  that  pursuit 
for  some  years,  for  fourteen  years  engaging  in 
lumbering  in  Center  county.  Pa.  He  gave  em- 
ployment to  a  number  of  men  in  that  line.  In 
March.  187-">.  he  came  to  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, and  here  farmed  his  fathers  place  for  three 
years,  in  1878  settling  on  the  place  in  that  town- 
ship where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  there  Dec.  31,  1904,  aged  sixty-one  years, 
three  months,  twenty-four  days.  His  widow  now 
lives  there.  The  place  contains  sixty-eight  acres, 
with  an  outlet  of  mountain  land.  Mr.  Snyder 
made  many  improvements  on  the  property  which 
enhanced  its  value,  remodeling  the  house  and  re- 
building the  barn,  to  which  he  made  a  good-sized 
addition. 

At  the  time  of  hi*  death  Mr.  Snyder  was  serv- 
ing as  school  director  of  his  township,  and  he 
had  also  seined  as  overseer  of  the  poor.  But  he 
was  particularly  active  in  church  work,  being  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  lie  served 
in  a  number  of  official  capacities,  being  class  leader 
three  or  four  years  and  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent some  years.  He  was  always  interested  in 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  community,  and  his 
wife,  who  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  him,  has 
been  a  liberal  contributor  toward  the  erection  of 
the  new  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was 
built  in  1909.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
sentiment. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  (first)  Anna  Maria  Walker, 
who  died  March  li,  18(1!).  aged  twenty-four  years. 
the  mother  of  three  children:  Marietta  married 
Jacob  Snyder:  Harry  is  an  invalid;  David  W. 
lives  in  Union  county,  Pa.  Mrs.  Snyder  is  buried 
in  ( 'enter  county. 

On  Oct.  26,  1870,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Martha 
G.  Beaton,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Walk- 
er) Heaton.  of  Center  county,  and  three  children 
were  also  born  to  this  union:  Prof.  James  Wilson 
Snyder,  now  superintendent  of  public  sdn->o1s  at 
Slatington,  Pa.,  married  Gertrude  Mcndenhall,  of 
Berwick,  and  they  have  one  son.  John  M.  Dr. 
John  H.  Snyder,  of  Washingtonvillc,  Montour  Co.. 
Pa.,  married  Lottie  C.  Bloom,  of  Augustaville. 
and   they  have  two   sons.   Seth    Scott   and   James 


774 


KTORTHTJMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


Wilson.  Jr.  [da  Bell  married  Harry  Snyder,  who 
is  office  manager  for  a  large  concern  in  Grenloch, 
X.  J.:  they  have  no  children. 

JAMES  F.  HECKERT,  engaged  in  general 
fanning  and  trucking  in  Point  township,  is  one 
of  the  enterprising  agriculturists  of  Ins  section 
of  Northumberland  county,  and  a  native  of  the 
township  in  which  he  resides,  born  Fell.  '••.  1855. 
lie  belongs  to  an  old  established  family,  being 
a  descendant  of  Casper  Heckert.  who  emigrated 
from  Germany  and  was  an  early  resident  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  He  was  born  in  1758.  and 
died  in  1837  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  had  a  farm  of  nearly  two  hundred  acres.  Some 
of  this  land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  pos- 
terity, who  are  still  numerous  in  this  county  and 
al-o  well  represented  in  the  Western  States.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  congrega- 
tion at  the  Stone  Valley  Church,  where  he  is 
buried.  There  also  is  buried  his  wife  Catharine. 
who  was  born  (let.  6,  1760,  an,!  died  Dee.  li.  1828. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Johannes  moved  to 
a  county  in  the  western  end  of  the  State:  Michael 
lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  and  there  died: 
Solomon,  who  lived  on  a  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  hail  two  sons.  Jacob  and  John:  Fred- 
erick, a  farmer,  who  lived  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  had  an  only  child.  Katie,  who  died 
fifteen  years;  Philip  was  the  grandfather  of  James 
F.  Heckert. 

Philip  Heckert.  son  of  Casper,  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township  Lee.  9,  1796,  died  March  27, 
1872.  He  was  a  farmer  and  had  a  large  farm 
near  County  Line  and  the  Stone  Valley  Church, 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  His  wife.  Anna 
Mary  (Wert),  daughter  of  Henry  Vert  (whose 
wife  was  an  Enterline).  a  pioneer  at  Countv  Line, 
was  born  June  2,  1805,  and  died  March  16,  1888, 
aged  eighty-two  years,  ten  months,  fourteen  days. 
Both  are  buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church,  where 
Mr.  Heckert  was  an  official  for  many  years.  They 
had  children:  Daniel.  Philip.  Susanna  (married 
Philip  Techupp),  Michael.  Mary  I  married  Isaac 
Ressler),  Emanuel,  Rachel  (died  unmarried  i. 
Casper  (who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  died 
as  a  result  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service;  he 
was  unmarried),  Catharine  (married  William 
Lemon),  Henry  (who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war).  Andrew  W.  and  Uriah  (who  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war).  Philip,  Emanuel  and  Catharine 
are  now  the  only  survivors. 

Philip  Heckert.  son  of  Philip,  lives  in  Rocke- 
feller  township,  this  county,  near  Augustaville. 
where  he  owns  a  small  tract  of  land.  He  is  the  old- 
esl  man  in  his  township.  Born  Sept.  13,  1826,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  lie  was  reared  to  farm 
life.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Point  town-hip.  where 
he  farmed  as  a  tenant  thirty  years,  and  for  sevi  □ 
years  farmed  the  old  Thomas  Baumgardner  farm. 


In  1883  he  came  to  Rockefeller  township,  purchas- 
ing the  sixty-eight  acre  tract  (for  $1,600)  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Luther- 
an church  and  has  served  the  church  officially  in  his 
time.  He  is  a  remarkably  well  preserved  man.  and 
has  a  clear  memory  for  dates  and  events.  He 
speaks  both  English  and  German.  To  his  marriage 
'with  Esther  (Hettie)  Kohl,  daughter  of  John 
Kohl,  late  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Alexander,  of  Northumber- 
land; James  F. :  a  son  that  died  in  infancy  (twin 
of  James  F. )  :  Unas,  who  died  aged  thirteen  years ; 
Catharine,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father:  John 
and  Philip,  both  of  whom  died  in  boyhood; 
Charles,  of  Rockefeller  township:  and  Ellen,  widow 
of  Francis  Bloom,  living  in  Sunburv  (she  has  a 
son.  Claud).  Mr-.  Heckert  died  March  If.  1904, 
aged  seventy-six  years. 

James  F.  Heckert  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  was  reared  to 
farming,  which  he  began  on  his  own  account  about 
1880.  For  several  years  he  was  a  tenant  farmer. 
hi  1897  purchasing  the  property  he  now  occupies 
and  cultivates,  a  valuable  tract  of  125  acres  in 
Point  township,  nicely  located.  It  was  formerly 
the  Daniel  Sterner  homestead.  At  one  time  Mr. 
Heckert  had  three  peach  orchards.  He  devotes  i 
laige  part  of  his  haul  to  garden  truck,  and  attends 
the  markets  at  Snnbury  and  Northumberland, 
where  he  has  established  an  extensive  trade,  finding 
this  branch  of  farming  very  profitable.  .Mr.  Heck- 
ert has  found  time  to  give  to  the  public  serv- 
ice, and  has  filled  local  office,  having  been  su- 
pervisor  some  years  and  school  director  for  six- 
years.     He  is  a   Republican  in  political  opinion. 

In  1880  Mr.  Heckert  married  Orpha  A.  Gib- 
bons, daughter  of  Abel  and  Susan  (Morgan)  Gib- 
bons, late  of  Point  township.  Seven  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  namely:  Abel  Irwin,  Philip 
II..  Martin  L.,  Bertha  M.,  Esther  M.,  Susan  M. 
and  Daniel  K.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heckert  were  mar- 
ried in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Northumberland, 
of  which  they  and  their  family  are  members.  He 
is  at  present  serving  as  deacon. 


Andrew  W.  Heckert.  another  -on  of  Philip,  was 
born  near  County  Line,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  before  his  marriage  went  to  Forreston, 
Ogle  Co.,  Til.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter. After  a  few  years  he  returned  to  his  na- 
tive county,  in  Pennsylvania,  this  being  in  1873, 
from  which  time  he  lived  at  Dalmatia,  where  he 
died.  He  married  Mary  Ressler,  daughter  of  Sol- 
omon and  Catharine  (Haas)  Ressler.  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  they  went  West  together. 
Their  six  children  were  born  there,  before  their 
return  to  Pennsylvania  in  1873.  viz.:  Aletta  C. 
Mrs.  G.  E.  Shaffer:  Mary  M..  wife  of  Frank  Bord- 
ner  and  living  in  Nebraska;  Susan  E.,  unmarried: 
Carrie  M..  married  to  Joseph  Reitz  and  living  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Shamokin;  tda  R..  who  married  William  Dreibel- 
bie.s  and  lives  in  Lower  Mahanoy;  and  William  N, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

ADAMS.  David  N.  and  Curtis  M.  Adam-. 
brothers,  have  been  business  men  of  Sunbury  from 

eariy  manl I.  the   former  in  the  painting  and 

paper  hanging  business,  the  latter  as  a  dealer  in 
dorse  goods  and  shoe  findings  and  manufacturer 
of  harness.  They  are  among  the  prosperous  cit- 
izens" of  the  borough,  and  both  have  served  the 
municipality  in  public  office. 

The  Adams  family  has  long  been  settled  in 
Ralpho  township,  this  county.  Casper  Adams,  the 
hist  of  the  family  in  this  country,  was  born 
April  25,  I  ;•"»•"..  at  Langendiebach,  Offenburg, 
Germany,  and  little  is  known  of  his  early  life.  On 
coming  to  America  he  lived  in  Berks  county,  Pa.. 
before  coming  to  Northumberland  county,  where 
lie  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship, owning  several  hundred  acres  of  land  there. 
lie  cleared  some  of  his  land  and  followed  farm- 
ing, lie  died  Jan.  36,  1832,  and  is  buried  at  St. 
Peter's  (the  Blue)  Church  in  Ralpho  township. 
Casper  Adams  married,  in  Berks  county,  Eliza- 
beth II  inkle,  of  that  county,  and  they  had  a  large 
family,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  namely:  Fred- 
erick (1792-1853),  John,  Samuel,  Casper,  Leon- 
ard. Peter,  Nellie  (married  George  Startzel), 
Susanna  (married  Samuel  Startzel).  Elizabeth 
(married  Gilbert  Liby),  Polly  (married  Peter 
Strausser),  Maria  (married  Jacob  Kreher)  and 
Catharine    (married   Samuel  Anspach). 

Casper  Adam-,  fourth  son  of  Casper  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Hinkle)  Adam-,  was  horn  April  10,  1796, 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  and 
was  there  reared  to  farm  life.  When  he  became 
of  age  his  father  deeded  100  aires  of  land  in 
Ralpho  township  to  him,  this  being  the  farm  aft- 
erward occupied  by  his  son  George  C,  near  the 
Blue  Church.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  man  id'  active 
mind,  one  who  interested  himself  in  the  general 
welfare  as  well  as  in  the  promotion  of  his  own  in- 
terests, and  he  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his 
locality  for  many  years,  well  known  as  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  support- 
ers of  the  Blue  Church,  with  which  he  was  identi- 
fied all  his  life:  he  served  as  elder  of  that  church 
and  was  one  of  the  most  generous  contributors 
toward  the  erection  id'  the  church  edifice.  He  mar- 
ried Susanna  Startzel  (daughter  of  John),  who 
was  born  March  14,  1800,  and  died  .Ian.  22,  1873; 
Mr.  Adams  died  Jan.  28,  1882,  and  is  buried  at 
the  Blue  Church.  Their  children  were:  Benjamin, 
who  died  in  18H5.  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years 
(his  children  were  Edward.  William  and  Lucinda)  ; 
Daniel  II..  born  in  1822,  who  died  in  IS!)-.';  Ca- 
per, deceased;  George  C,  horn  Aug.  IT.  1826; 
David,  horn  in  1.830;  Jacob,  born  in  1833,  who 
died   in    L895;   Samuel,  deceased;  William:  Eliz- 


abeth (deceased),  \\bo  married  William  Smith: 
Susanna  (deceased),  who  married  William  Klase; 
Polly,  Mrs.  Fry,  deceased  ;  Angelina,  who  mar- 
ried William  Smith:  and  Harriet,  deceased. 

David  Adams,  son  of  Casper,  was  born  in  1830 
in  what  is  now  Ralpho  township,  and  was  reared 
to  farming  pursuits,  which  he  continued  to  fol- 
low all  his  life.  He  died  in  1867,  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-seven  years,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue 
Church.  Mr.  Adams  married  Margaret  Martz, 
daughter  of  David  .Martz.  of  the  same  locality, 
and  she  died  Sept.  23,  1874,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three  years.  To  them  were  born  eight  children, 
as  follows:  William  II.,  who  lives  at  Dryville, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.;  Richard  F..  of  East  Orange.  X. 
J.:  David  X.:  Harvey  F.,  of  Germantown,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.:  Curtis  M. ;  Lorenzo,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Mary  H.,  who  died  of  smallpox,  in  Sham- 
okin: and  Harriet  L..  wife  of  Harvey  C.  Sober,  of 
Spring  Grove,  Va.  (she  visited  Sunbury  in  the 
summer  of  1910,  after  an  absence  id'  twenty  years 
from  the  North). 

David  X.  Adams,  son  id'  David,  was  horn  July 
7,  18o!),  near  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Hi.'  was  engaged  at  farm  work  until  lie  reached  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  when  he  went  to  Danville  for 
a  year,  in  1880  coming  to  Sunbury,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  Here  he  learned  the  trade 
of  painter  and  paper  hanger,  for  fourteen  years  re- 
maining in  the  employ  of  Ira  T.  Clement,  until, 
in  1895,  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  has  a  shop  in  the  rear  of  his  residence, 
at  No.  108  North  Fourth  street,  and  has  a  large 
trade,  which  has  shown  a  steady  increase  up  to 
the  present  time.  He  employs  from  four  to  ten 
skilled  men.  according  to  the  amount  of  work  on 
hand. 

Mr.  Adams  served  nine  years  as  member  of  the 
Sunbury  school  board  from  the  Second  ward,  and 
for  one  year  of  that  time  was  treasurer  of  the 
board.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Methodist 
Church  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Malta,  belonging  to  Commandery  No.  112. 

On  Feb.  21,  1889,  Mr.  Adams  married  Chris- 
tina Baldy,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Delilah 
(Bright)  Baldy,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  all  still  at  home  with  their  parents, 
namely:  Frank,  Harry.  Catharine.  Thomas,  Da- 
vid X..  •!  r..  and   Margaret. 

CtrETis  M.  Adams,  son  of  David,  was  born 
April  4.  1862,  in  what  is  now  Ralpho  township, 
and  was  brought  up  to  farm  life.  In  1890  he  en 
gaged  in  the  livery  business  in  the  borough  of 
Shamokin,  in  partnership  with  F.  II.  Martz,  and 
there  remained  two  years,  in  the  spring  of  1892 
coming  to  Sunbury,  where  he  established  himself 
in  the  same  line.  He  continued  in  the  livery  lmsi- 
ness   here   until    1910,   making  a    success  of  same. 


776 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Inn  in  the  meantime;  in  1905,  he  had  started  his 
present  business,  to  which  he  now  gives  all  his  at- 
tention. His  store  at  No.  506  Market  street  is  well 
stocked  with  a  complete  line  of  horse  goods  and 
shoe  finding's,  being  the  leading  leather  store  in 
Northumberland  county,  and  he  manufactures 
harness  to  order.  Mr.  Adams's  previous  experience 
in  the  livery  business  gave  him  thorough  insight 
into  the  requirements  of  his  present  line,  and  he 
is  in  every  way  fitted  to  conduct  what  is  recognized 
as  the  foremost  establishment  of  the  kind  in  this 
section.  His  business  methods  and  standing  are 
most  creditable.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  and  is 
known  as  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  for  some  years, 
being  a  past  grand  of  Lodge  No.  203  and  since 
190S  a  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

On  April  4.  1895,  Mr.  Adams  married  Alice  Sil 
vius,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Tucker)  Sil- 
vius,  of  Sunbury.  Mrs.  Adams's  father  died  in 
November,  1908,  aged  eighty-one  years.  Her  moth- 
er died  in  1901.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams,  namely:  Ruth,  Mary. 
Robert  (who  died  in  his  third  year),  Florence  and 
John  Jacob. 

REUBEN  F.  MARTZ,  fanner  and  lumberman 
of  Shamokin  township,  was  born  Aug.  27,  1852, 
upon  the  homestead  farm  at  Reed's  station,  son  of 
Solomon  Martz.  The  early  members  of  the  Martz 
family  in  America  came  from  Germany  and  set- 
tled in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  whence  David  Martz, 
great-grandfather  of  Reuben  F.  Martz,  moved  into 
Northumberland  county. 

David  Martz  and  his  brother  Jacob  moved  from 
Berks  county  toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  settling  on  Shamokin  creek,  three  miles 
south  of  Sunbury.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
married  Barbara  Miller,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters: 
David.  Henry,  Peter.  Abraham  and  George,  all  of 
whom  but  Henry  moved  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where 
they  died  ;  Susan,  who  married  John  Richstine, 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Abraham  Arter. 

Henry  Martz.  son  of  David,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  Shamokin  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  was  a  fanner  by  occupation.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Fagely,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Magdalena  Fagely,  pioneers  of  Shamokin 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martz  both  died  in  Sha- 
mokin and  are  buried  in  St.  Peters  graveyard. 
They  had  six  children:  Hettie.  Katie.  Mary  Ann, 
George,  Solomon  and  Nathan,  all  now  deceased  but 
Nathan,  who  resides  in  Sunbury,  Pennsylvania. 

Solomon  Martz,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  March 
22,  ISIS,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  when  seven  years  old  went  to 


live  with  his  uncle,  Solomon  Fagely,  in  Shamokin 
township,  remaining  with  him  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  old.  He  then  entered  the  employ 
of  his  uncles  Amos,  George  and  Nathan  Fagely, 
who  had  a  store  at  Mauch  Chunk,  clerking  there 
sixteen  months.  Returning  to  Shamokin  he  en- 
gaged with  William  and  Reuben  Fagely  in  a  sim- 
ilar capacity,  continuing  for  a  year,  after  which 
he  went  to  Mount  Carmel  to  work  for  Solomon 
Fagely,  who  kept  a  tavern  there.  He  remained 
with  him  a  year.  At  that  time  a  stage  line  was 
started  between  Mount  Carmel  and  Shamokin,  and 
he  was  appointed  driver  and  mail  carrier,  work- 
ing as  such  for  a  few  months.  He  then  took  the 
same  position  on  the  stage  line  between  Pottsville 
and  Northumberland,  for  one  year,  and  he  was  the 
lasl  survivor  of  those  connected  with  this  method 
of  transportation  in  central  Pennsylvania  at  that 
time.  Returning  to  Shamokin.  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  Coal  township,  having  charge  of  the 
roads  Erom  Mount  Carmel  to  Trevorton,  and  filled 
that  office  two  years.  During  the  next  seven  years 
he  was  engaged  in  hauling  coal  over  the  railroad 
from  Shamokin  to  Sunbury  for  William  and  Reu- 
ben Fagely,  under  contract,  at  the  end  of  thai 
time  settling  on  the  farm  at  Reed'"s  station  where 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died 
Oct.  4,  1894,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  and  is 
buried  at  Reed:s  Church. 

Mr.  Martz  was  always  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  the  community  and  the  success  of  those  enter- 
prises that  affected  all  its  members.  His  gener- 
osity to  those  less  fortunate  than  himself,  his  benev- 
olence  to  all  philanthropic  movements,  his  sym- 
pathy witli  all  who  needed  it.  were  as  much  the 
cause  nl'  the  esteem  he  enjoyed  as  his  industrious 
and  successful  career.  He  and  his  family  attended 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  when  St. 
Jacob's  was  rebuilt,  in  1870,  he  contributed  all  the 
brick  necessary,  one  hundred  thousand,  his  chil- 
dren giving  the  money  to  erect  the  steeple,  $1,200. 
In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican  and  great- 
ly interested  in  the  success  of  the  party,  though  he 
never  had  any  political  aspirations  for  himself. 
He  was  overseer  of  the  poor  for  one  year  after 
settling  in  Shamokin  township. 

On  April  6,  1841.  Mr.  Martz  married  Hannah 
Reed,  born  in  1815.  died  Dec.  15,  1895,  aged 
eighty  years,  daughter  of  John  and  Eva  (How- 
ard) Reed,  of  Shamokin  township,  and  to  this  un- 
ion were  born  seven  children :  George  O. ;  William 
F..  wlni  died  young;  Isabella,  who  died  in  1875, 
aged  thirty-one  years:  Sophronia,  who  died  in 
1874,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years:  Reuben 
V..  John  Henry  and  Jesse  R.,  all  of  whom  live  at 
Reed's  station,  Jesse  being  on  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Reuben  F.  Martz  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality,  later  at- 
tending Elysburg  Academy.  After  working  some 


NORTH I '  M  BERLAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


777 


time  for  his  father  he  entered  the  timber  business, 
furnishing  props  for  the  mines.  This  he  has  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  in  connection  with  farming, 
owning  a  tract  of  120  acres,  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead, his  property  adjoining  the  lands  of  his 
brothers  Jesse  E.  and  John  II.  Ee  lias  erected 
fine  buildings  on  the  place  since  it  came  into  Ins 
possession,  putting  up  his  residence  in  1903,  and 
the  property  is  not  onhj  valuable  for  its  natural  ad- 
vantages but  also  for  the  judicious  improvements 
which  have  been  made  on  it.  He  has  devoted  all 
his  time  to  his  private  affairs,  taking  no  part  in 
public  life,  though  he  lias  the  public-spirited  in- 
terest in  such  matters  which  every  good  citizen 
feels.    He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  Martz  married  Emma  M.  Muench,  who  was 
born  in  1860,  daughter  of  Jacob  E.  Muench,  and 
died  Jan.  7,  1902;  she  is  buried  at  Reed's  Church. 
Eight  children  were  horn  to  this  union,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being :  William, 
a  graduate  of  Pennsylvania  State  College,  now 
located  in  Chicago,  111.:  Hattie,  wife  of  Edw. 
Michael,  living  in  Sunbury;  Solomon,  a  graduate 
of  Bucknell  College,  now  living  at  home;  Freder- 
ick, who  died  when  seven  years  old;  Emma;  and 
Ada.     The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religion. 

SNYDEE  (SCHNEIDER).  The  Snyders  or 
Schneiders  arc  a  numerous  and  respected  family  of 
the  southeastern  section  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, with  which  region  they  have  been  identified  for 
several  successive  generations.  Theiij  first  ancestor 
of  who] 1 1  we  have  record  was  one 

(I)  Peter  Schneider,  who  settled  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  in  1719,  coming  from  New  York 
with  the  first  colony  under  the  leadership  of  Con- 
rad Weiser. 

(II)  Abraham  Schneider,  son  of  Peter,  had  a 
son 

(III)  Daniel  Schneider,  who  was  born  in  Bethel 
township,  Lancaster  (later  Berks)  county,  and  who 
was  the  father  of 

(IV),  Johann  Nicholas  Schneider,  the  first  of 
the  family  in  Northumberland  county.'  He  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
being  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  the  valley. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Andrew  Geist,  the  original 
place  comprising  a  large  acreage.  He  was  horn 
Sept.  10,  1749,  and  died  Oct.  28,  1821;  his  wife 
Anna  Maria,  born  Nov.  25,  1756,  died  Dee.  23, 
1827.  They  are  buried  at  Himmel's  Church,  m 
which  vicinity  the  family  is  numerously  repre- 
sented. Johann  Nicholas  Schneider  and  his  fam- 
ily were  Lutherans,  and  in  1778  helped  to  organ- 
ize Himmel's  Church,  and  in  1818  he  assisted  in 
the  building  of  the  new  church,  the  old  log  struc- 
ture being  replaced  by  one  of  stone.  Many  of  his 
descendants  are  buried  there  also.  The  early  mem- 
bers   of   the    family    were    all   good    singers,    and 


they  were  not  only  active  in  the  church  and  in 
the  choir  but  also  in  the  singing  schools  held  at 
that  day.  To  Johann  Nicholas  and  Anna  .Maria 
Schneider  were  born  six  children:  Johan  Jacob, 
Johan  Peter,  Abraham,  George,  Maria  Christina 
(17  79-1859,  married  Andraes  Geist)  and  Anna 
Catharine  (born  July  6,  1792,  married  Johan 
Georg  Erdnian.  1787-1858;  she  died  Aug.  20,  1842, 
and  is  buried  at -Herb  Church). 

(V)  Johan  Jacob  Schneider,  son  of  Johann 
Nicholas,  was  born  Nov.  22,  1780,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  died  May  29,  1851.  He  was 
a  lifelong  farmer,  succeeding  Ids  father  in  the 
ownership  of  the  homestead:  his  dwelling  was  near 
Greenbrier.  He  married  Magdalena  Erdnian,  born 
June  7,  1783,  died  Oct.  31,  1861,  and  both  were 
Lutheran  members  of  Himmel's  Church,  where 
they  are  buried.  They  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children:  Jacob,  John  A.,  Joseph,  Jonathan, 
George,  Samuel,  Peter,  Andrew,  Heinrich,  David, 
Sallie  (married  Jacob  Hoffa),  Kate  (married 
Jacob  Hetrieh)    and  Lydia   (married  a   Moritz). 

(V)  Johan  Peter  Schneider,  son  of  Johann 
Nicholas,  horn  Sept.  10,  1782,  died  Oct.  17,  1841. 
lie  was  a  fanner,  and  lived  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  near  his  brother 
Johan  Jacob.  His  wife,  Gertraut  Maurer,  born 
July  5,  17  79,  died  April  1,  1811.  They  had  sons 
John  and  George  and  daughters  Sallie  (married 
Jonathan  Smith),  Elizabeth  (married  Nicholas 
Drum  heller),  Catharine  (married  John  Hetrieh) 
and  a  daughter  who  married  Abraham  Deppen. 

(V)  Abraham  Schneider,  son  of  Johann  Nich- 
olas, horn  Sept.  4,  1788,  died  Feb.  8,  1873.  lie 
lived  south  of  his  brother  Jacob,  in  the  same 
township,  and  his  farm  continued  in  the  family, 
being  owned  until  recently  by  his  grandson, 
A.  Morris  Snyder.  His  wife,  Susanna  (Schweitz- 
er), born  May  11.  1790,  died  Jan.  23,  1870,  ami 
both  are  buried  at  St.  John's  Church,  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township.  They  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Abraham  (died  April  18.  1894,  aged  76 
years,  one  month,  five  days ;  his  wife,  Susanna,  died 
Nov.  13,  1898,  aged  eighty  years,  lour  months, 
eighteen  days),  George  (who  moved  away  from  this 
region ).  John  S..  Daniel  S..  Si ii ion.  William  (lived 
iii  Allentown,  Pa.)  and  Catharine  (married  George 
Kahler ). 

(V)  George  Schneider,  son  of  Johann  Nicholas. 
born  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  Dec.  5.  1794, 
died  Oct.  26,  1875.  He  lived  in  the  extreme  east- 
ern end  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  on  the  farm 
near  Howerter's  Church  now  owned  by  his  son 
Aaron  W..  and  followed  farming.  Mr.  Schneider 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  brother  Ab- 
raham,  and   followed    il    to   -on xtenl.   helping 

to  build  the  Old  Si Himmel's  Church  in  1818. 

His  farm  comprised  230  acres,  and  he  built  there- 
on the  first  house  and  (lie  harn  now  used  by  his  son 
Aaron,  the  latter  being  erected  in  1841.     ne  held 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  office  of  township  supervisor  and  local  elec- 
tion offices,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

On  March  4.  1818,  George  Schneider  married 
Catharine  Wagner,  daughter  of  Jacob  Wagner, 
born  May  18,  1797,  died  Jan.  25,  1885;  fchey  are 
buried  at  the  Howerter  Church,  of  which  all  the 
family  were  Lutheran  members.  Mr.  Schneider 
was  a  trustee  of  the  church.  Mi-,  and  Mr-. 
Schneider  had  a  family  of  twelve  children:  Sol- 
omon (who  died  young),  Elizabeth  (married  Sam- 
uel Schmink),  Charles,  Hannah  (married  Abra- 
ham Krdman).  Catharine.  Lydia  ami  .Mary  (twins, 
the  latter  dying  young).  Gideon,  Helen.  George 
(married  a  Long),  Aaron  W.,  and  Abbie  (married 
a    Mr.   Adkin). 

(VI)  Aaron  W.  Snyder,  son  of  George, 
was  born  April  14.  lis  Hi.  on  his  father's  farm. 
and  was  reared  there,  and  with  the  exception  of 
line  year  when  lie  lived  with  bis  brother-in-law, 
Daniel  Weed,  has  passed  bis  life  on  this  place, 
lie  attended  the  obi  subscription  schools  which 
afforded  the  only  advantages  obtainable  in  the  lo- 
cality in  bis  youth,  and  was  reared  to  agricul- 
ture, which  be  bas  always  followed.  But  he  has 
also  become  a  good  mechanic,  being 'a  first-elas- 
carpenter  and  blacksmith.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
be  began  farming  for  himself  on  the  old  place, 
which  is  in  Upper  Mahanov  township,  and  be  has 
prospered  steadily,  having  a  valuable  farm,  well 
managed   and   productive. 

Soon  after  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Snyder  married 
Lizzie  Erdman,  daughter  of  Abraham  Erdman 
(who  married  a  Trautman),  who  lived  near  Rough 
and  Ready,  Schuylkill  county,  and  nine  children 
have  been  born  to  (bis  marriage:  Cora,  who  is 
unmarried;  George,  of  Upper  Mahanov.  who  mar- 
ried Jennie  Trautman  (they  have  had  three  chil- 
dren,   Karle.    Rema   and    Elwood,   the   last   named 

being  deceased);  Bertha,  who  died   in  child! d; 

Walter  1..  a  farmer  of  Upper  Mahanov,  who  mar- 
ried Sallie  Miller  and  has  three  children,  Bessie, 
Minnie  ami  Charles:  Carrie,  who  married  George 
Hornberger;  Emma,  who  died  young:  Delia  .1.: 
Charles  D..  and  Mamie  A. 

(VI)  John  A.  Snyder,  son  of  Johan  Jacob, 
was  bom  March  29,  1803,  in  Upper  Mahanov 
township,  where  he  lived  and  died,  passing  away 
April  IS.  1867.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  own- 
ing a  fine  place  of  1  to  acres  along  the  south  side 
id'  Line  Mountain,  near  Greenbrier.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  member  anil  one  of  the  most  liberal 
supporters  of  and  active  workers  in  Himmel's 
Church,  holding  all  the  church  offices,  and  helped 
to  work  on  the  old  stone  church  mentioned  previ- 
ously as  having  been  erected  in  1818,  helping  to 
gather  stone  from  the  mountain.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  both  his  wive-  were  Reformed  mem- 
bers of  that  church.  His  first  wife.  Maria  (Schol- 
lenberger),  is  buried  there.  She  was  a  daughter 
of    Benedict    and    Christian     (Moyer)     Schollen- 


lieiger.  who  came  from  Albany  township,  Berks 
county,  and  bis  second  wife.  Judith  (Dicbl).  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  was  a  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Sarah  (Schollenberger)  Diehl,  her  mother  be- 
ing a  sister  of  Maria,  his  first  wife.  Mrs.  Judith 
Snyder  died  Jan.  30,  1907,  aged  ninety  years, 
two  months,  six  days.  Mr.  Snyder  bad  fifteen 
children  by  bis  first  wife,  eight  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  namely:  Solomon,  Michael,  Benjamin. 
Amos,  Jared,  Aaron.  John,  a  son  not  named,  Re- 
gina,  Susanna,  and  live  daughters  who  dud  young, 
several  close  together,  of  diphtheria.  To  the  sec- 
ond marriage  were  born  six.  three  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Peter  1»..  Jeremiah.  Tobias.  Hannah 
(married  David  Sehoffstall),  Lydia  (married  John 
Sehoffstall,  brother  of  David)  and  Sarah  (married 
.lame-  S.   Reitz  ). 

I  VII)  Peter  D  Snyder  was  born  in  the  Swab- 
ian  Creek  Valley,  and  there  lived  for  some  time 
after  reaching  maturity,  following  his  trade,  that 
ill  saddler.  In  1876  be  moved  to  Jordan  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  now  owned  by  bis  son  John  M. 
Snyder,  which  be  purchased  in  1882.  Here  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  bis  days,  following  both 
farming  and  bis  trade.  He  died  Oct.  8,  1901, 
aged  fifty-two  years,  and  is  buried  at  Klingers- 
town.  I  lis  wife.  Fietta  Reiner,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Peggy  (Masser)  Reiner,  from  Berks 
county,  frequently  visited  relatives  and  friends 
there.  She  died  June  8,  1906,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 
and  is  buried  in  the  Snyder  family  plot  at  Kling- 
erstown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  bail  two  children. 
John  M.  and  Charles,  the  latter  of  whom  lives  in 
Portland,  Oregon  (be  married  Sallie  Deibert  and 
bas  one  child,  Jesse). 

(VIII)  John  M.  Snyder,  son  of  Peter  D. 
Snyder,  was  born  Aug.  7,  1872,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hanov township,  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm, 
working  for  his  parents  until  about  twenty  years 
old.  Meantime  he  also  learned  the  saddler's  trade 
from  bis  father,  and  followed  it  for  some  years; 
since  lie  bas  made  farming  his  principal  business 
be  has  confined  his  work  at  the  trade  to  his  own 
needs  and  work  for  bis  neighbors.  In  1908  be 
began  farming  on  his  own  account,  but  since  1906 
be  has  owned  the  seventy-two  acre  farm  in  Jor- 
dan township,  a  half  mile  northwest  of  Klingvrs- 
town,  upon  which  he  lives,  and  which  was  formerly 
bis  father's  property.  It  is  just  five  minutes' 
walk  from  the  point  where  Schuylkill.  Dauphin 
and  Northumberland  counties  converge.  This 
was  the  old  Samuel  West  homestead,  and  the  house, 
which  is  of  log  construction,  was  built  about 
eighty  years  ago.  Mr.  Snyder  is  enterprising  and 
up-to-date  in  bis  farming  operations,  and  gives 
special    attention   to   the    raising  of   chickens   and 

llngS. 

On  March  IS.  1909,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Hattie 
Schadel,  daughter  of  William  and  Catharine 
(Strohecker)   Schadel.     Mi-,  and  Mrs.  Snyder  are 


NOJ !T 1 1 1 FMBE RLA X I )  COUNTY,   PEN  NSYLVA  XI A 


79 


Lutheran  members  of  the  Ivlingerstown  Church, 
and  lie  is  a  Demoeral  in  political  principle,  with 
inclinations  for  independent  action  when  the  occa- 
sion demands. 

(VII)  Tobias  Snyder,  son  of  John  A.,  was 
born  Dec.  11.  1851,  on  his  father's  homestead, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
lie  mailr  good  n-r  df  his  opportunities  for  study- 
ing German,  in  which  he  is  quite  proficient.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  when  he  became  of 
age  took  up  farming  on  the  place  where  he  was 
horn,  and  wheiv  he  has  continued  ever  since.  His 
farm  is  a  nice  level  tract  of  140  acres,  well  im- 
proved under  In-  management,  and  he  has  greatly 
remodeled  the  dwelling,  making  an  addition  to  the 
west  side.  The  east  pari  is  a  log  house  built  by 
Benedict  Schollenberger,  and  when  Mr.  Snyder 
remodeled  it,  in  1897,  it  was  exactly  one  hundred 
years  old.  He  is  energetic  and  progressive,  and 
has  been  successful  in  his  work,  so  much  so  that 
besides  his  home  property  he  owns  four  of  the  nicest 
farms  in  the  valley;  one  is  across  the  line  in  Wash- 
ington township,  adjoining  [Jpper  Mahanoy.  His 
acreage  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  one  man 
in  the  section.  One  of  his  farms  was  the  Abra- 
ham (leist  ho stead:  another  the  Daniel  Gonser 

homestead  :  another  the  donas  Reitz  homestead  ; 
and  a  fourth  his  uncle  Jonathan  Snyder's  home- 
stead. He  has  built  new  houses  on  three  of  these 
places,  and  the  Snyder  properties  are  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  the  fact  that  the  houses  are  all 
painted  white.  Thrifty  management  and  neatness 
of  appearance  characterize  all  his  farms.  Mr. 
Snyder  is  a  representative  citizen  of  Upper  Maha- 
noy township,  esteemed  for  his  honorable  and  use- 
ful citizenship,  and  has  given  emeient  service  as 
overseer  of  the  poor.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  day.  and  has 
an  excellent  memory,  heme  particularly  well  versed 
in  the  early  history  of  his  family.  He  belongs  to 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Himmel's  Church. 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon  and  elder,  and  he 
assisted  liberally  when  the'present  beautiful  church 
was  erected  in   1904. 

In  1880  Mr.  Snyder  married  Emma  Reitz, 
daughter  of  Jonas  Reitz,  and  five  children  have 
been  horn  to  them:  James  L.,  a  farmer  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  married  Mary  Schreffler,  and 
they  have  had  three  children,  Charles,  Florence 
and  Dory;  C.  Howard,  a  farmer  of  Upper  Maha- 
noy township,  married  Teney  Smith,  and  they  have 
had  three  children,  William.  Helen  and  Flossie; 
Ira  ('..  who  lives  with  his  father,  married  Minnie 
Snyder,  and  they  have  had  two  children.  Ambrose 
(deceased)  and' Edna:  D.  Francis,  who  lives  on 
his  father's  Washington  township  farm,  married 
Mary  Rebuck  and  they  have  had  two  children, 
Emma  and  Sarah:  Jennie  M.  married  William 
Schreffler,  hrothcr  of  Mary  (who  married  James 
L.  Snyder),  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Lloyd 


and   Anna    (they    live   in   Upper   Mahanoy   town- 
ship). 


(VI)  Jonathan  Snyder,  sou  of  Johan  Jacob, 
was  horn  in  the  Swabian  creek  section  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  and  died  in  1876,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
owned  the  place  which  is  now  one  of  the  Tobias 
Snyder  farms.  He  was  active  in  church  matters 
as  a  Lutheran  member  of  Himmel's  Church,  and 
held  various  church  offices,  and  he  is  buried  at 
that  church.  He  married  Susanna  Schollenberger, 
daughter  of  Benedict  Schollenberger,  of  Albany 
township,  Berks  county,  and  they  had  children  as 
follows:  Simon  S.  is  mentioned  below;  Jan, I,  S. 
died  on  his  farm  at  Leek  Kill  April  7,  1894,  aged 
sixty-three  years,  ten  months,  twenty-nine  days,  his 
wile.  Catharine,  dying  Aug.  26,  1903,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years,  three  months,  nine  days:  Cornelius,, 
who  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  built  the  famous 
Elijah  Byerly  barn  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
the  most  modern  barn  in  that  township,  and  later 
removed  to  Laporte,  End.,  where  he  died;  Knoch, 
a  blacksmith,  went  to  the  defense  of  his  country 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  because  of  his  extraordinary 
strength  was  selected  as  one  of  the  four  hundred 
men  detailed  to  erect  the  pontoon  bridge  across 
the  Rappahanock  river,  being  shot  while  engaged 
on  that  work,  in  December.  1862;  Emanuei  died 
at  home,  during  the  epidemic  of  spotted  fever: 
Gehret  (or  Gehred),  of  Bloomsburg,  Pa.,  was  for- 
merly a  shoemaker,  hut  has  lately  entered  the 
hotel  business,  being  proprietor  of  the  "Exchange 
Hotel"  at  Bloomsburg;  Henry  M.  is  mentioned 
below:  L-ydia  married  Gabriel  Reiner;  Elizabeth 
married  William  Kehres;  Sarah  married  William 
Kauffman. 

(VII)  Simon  S.  Snyder,  son  of  Jonathan,  was 
horn  March  2,  ls?:i.  and  died  Jan.  3,  1904.  Dur- 
ing his  earlier  life  he  was  a  shoemaker  and  saddler, 
later  bediming  a  farmer,  and  he  owned  the  line 
property  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son 
Edwin  W.  He  built  the  large  Swiss  barn  (  Km  by 
.".o  feet  in  dimensions)  which  stands  on  the  place  in 
1871.  He  took  some  part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
overseer  of  the  poor  in  Ins  district,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  a  deacon  of  St.  James  Church 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  town-hip,  of  which  he  was  a 
Lutheran  member;  he  and  his  wife  are  buried 
at  that  church. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  Leah  Wetzel,  horn  \n\ 
20,  1829,  died  June  '.'1.  1886,  daughter  of  Peter 
Wetzel,  and  six  children  were  horn  to  this  union: 
Lizzie  (married  Peter  Paul),  William  W..  Edwin 
W..  Kale  (married  Joel  Daniel  and  later  I'reslon 
Fretz),  Sarah  E.  (married  Edwin  Beisel  and  later 
Samuel  Herb)  and  Susan  (married  Daniel  Ifun- 
kcl). 

(VIII)  Edwin  W.  Snyder,  son  of  Simon  s. 
is  one  of   the  foremost   agriculturists   in   his  dis 


rso 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


1  lit  t .  He  was  born  Feb.  4,  1857,  in  Upper  Ma- 
hantango  township,  Schuylkill  county,  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents  until 
he  was  thirty-three  years  old.  He  was  paid  wages 
from  the  time  he  was  twenty-one.  In  the  spring 
of  1890  he  began  farming  for  himself  on  the 
place  where  he  now  lives,  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  located  on  the  road  from  Line  Mountain 
to  Pitman,  and  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
from  the  Schuylkill  county  line.  His  farm  con- 
tains 218  acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  vicinity, 
and  is  in  excellent  condition  in  every  respect,  giv- 
ing evidence  of  intelligent  care  and  first-class 
management.  He  takes  his  produce  to  Shamokin. 
Mr.  Snyder  has  won  success  by  hard  work,  and 
he  is  deservedly  one  of  the  most  respected  men  in 
his  neighborhood.  He  has  been  a  school  director 
of  his  township  since  1904,  has  served  as  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  and  has  proved  his  worth  in 
many  capacities.  In  political  connection  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  United  Evangelical  Church  (the  Union 
Church)    in  Eldred  township,   Schuylkill  county. 

On  June  9,  1879,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Man- 
Ann  Herb,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catharine 
(Fetherolf)  Herb  and  granddaughter  of  Adam  and 
Magdalena  (Schwartz)  Herb.  Ten  children  have 
been  bom  to  this  union:  Clara  J.,  Sadie  (married 
Sylvester  Fetter),  Henry  S.  (married  Mary  Ker- 
st'eller),  D.  Edwin  (married  Mamie  Leitzel), 
Bessie  L.  (married  Henry  Wehry),  Victor  C, 
Lloyd  E..  Allen  H..  Gehret  H.  and  Ora  E. 

(VII)  Henry  M.  Sxydeb,  postmaster  at  Hick- 
ory Corners,  Northumberland  county,  was  born 
Sept.  27,  1851,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  received  but  meager  edu- 
cational advantages,  |iis  whole  attendance  at 
school  covering  only  seven  months,  but  by  appli- 
cation and  intelligent  use  of  his  time  he  has  won 
the  reputation  of  being  the  best  read  citizen  of 
his  section,  and  he  is  well  up  on  current  events, 
having  an  active  mind  and  a  taste  for  reading 
which  has  made  many  of  his  leisure  hours  enjoy- 
able. With  the  exception  of  the  ministers  he  has 
the  largest  and  most  comprehensive  library  in  his 
district,  and  his  fondness  for  history  is  apparent 
in  his  selections.  Mr.  Snyder  has  led  an  active 
and  progressive  life.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he 
passed  his  early  years  in  agricultural  work,  and 
when  eighteen  began  to  learn  shoemaking  and  har- 
nessmaking,  following  same  for  thirty  years. 
From  1871  to  1875  he  was  with  his  brother  Gehret, 
in  1875  settling  in  Hickory  Corners,  where  he 
lias  made  his  home  ever  since.  In  addition  to 
his  business  lie  has  found  many  duties  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  place,  where  since  1893  he  has 
held  the  office  of  postmaster,  having  been  first 
appointed  that  year  and  reappointed  every  four 
years  up  to  the  present.     During  his  earlier  years 


Mr.  Snyder  was  a  very  active  worker  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  in  his  locality,  having  served  fifteen 
consecutive  years  as  township  committeeman,  and 
for  twelve  years  was  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
ventions. He  was  one  of  the  confreres  of  Con- ' 
gressman  Simon  P.  Wolverton  who  nominated 
liini  for  the  district  on  the  occasion  of  his  latest 
nomination,  which  was  followed  by  his  election, 
lie  was  an  ardent  Democrat  until  1896,  when  he 
joined  the  Gold  Standard  wing  of  the  party.  In 
1901  Mr.  Snyder  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science, 
which  then  had  a  membership  of  1,800  in  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Snyder  lias  been  a  correspond- 
ent for  four  county  papers  since  1898,  and  he 
was  the  principal  contributor  to  an  elaborate 
article  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Record  and 
other  metropolitan  papers  in  October,  1S98,  en- 
titled "Homage  in  Cannon  Roars."  He  is  one 
of  the  stockholders  in  the  Sunbury  National 
Bank,  and  his  judgment  in  financial  matters  is 
highly  prized. 

On  March  21,  1875,  Mr.  Snyder  was  married 
to  Esther  R.  Zartman,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Hettie  (Raker)  Zartman,  and  they  have  had  a 
family  of  six  children:  Daniel  J.,  who  is  at  pres- 
ent principal  of  the  Mifflinville  high  school  in 
Columbia  county,  Pa.:  Harlan  R.  C.,  also  a  public 
school  teacher,  now  supervising  principal  of  the 
West  Berwick  schools  in  Columbia  county;  and 
fcjur  who  died  young — Halmer  B..  Wilson,  Susanna 
and  Esther.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  and  their  family 
are  Lutheran  members  of  the  Zion's  (Stone  Val- 
ley) Church;  Mr.  Snyder  served  two  years  as 
deacon  and  was  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school 
for  a  number  of  vears. 


(VI)  John  S.  Snyder,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  in  LTpper  Mahanoy  township  Dec.  1G,  1824, 
and  died  Nov  3.  1901.  on  his  farm  in  that  town- 
ship. Mr.  Snyder  was  a  well  known  man  in  his 
day.  He  followed  shoemaking  for  fifteen  years 
or  more,  and  also  operated  a  farm,  owning  a  place 
of  120  acres,  now  the  property  of  his  son  Elias 
Snyder.  He  was  active  in  the  public  affairs  of 
the  community,  serving  many  years  in  various 
offices,  as  constable,  school  director,  supervisor  and 
auditor,  and  was  also  prominent  in  church  work, 
being  a  chorister  of  Himmel's  Church  for  many 
years:  then  St.  John's  church  was  built,  and  he 
became  chorister  there,  serving  until  a  fewT  years 
before  his  death.  He  was  a  useful  and  popular 
man  in  the  locality,  a  stanch  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  identified  with  the  progress  of 
his  day  in  many  ways. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  Susanna  Schrefner,  born 
April  9.  1826.  died  June  28,  1902  (daughter  of 
Godfried  Schrefner),  and  both  are  buried  at  St. 
John's    Church,    in    Upper    Mahanoy    township. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Fourteen  children  were  born  to  their  union:  Sarah 
married  Andrew  Dunkelberger,  and  they  made 
their  home  in  Michigan,  where  she  still  lives  (Mr. 
Dunkelberger  is  deceased);  Edward  is  a  resident 
of  Sunbury,  Pa. ;  Mary  is  the  widow  of  Jerry 
Beissel,  of  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  Rudolph  is  men- 
tioned below;  Luzetta  is  the  widow  of  Joel  Hauing 
and  lives  at  Pitman,  Pa.;  Elias  lives  on  the  old 
homestead;  Emma;  Sevilla  married  Daniel  Herb, 
of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.;  John  has  been  lost  track 
of  by  his  family;  Vesta  married  Robert  Maurer, 
of  Mahantango,  Pa.;  four  died  young. 

(VII)  Rudolph  Snyder,  son  of  John  S.,  was 
born  Feb,  3,  1852,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  was 
reared  to  farming,  working  for  his  parents  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  huckstering  for  seven  years,  making  weekly 
trips  to  Shenandoah  and  Mahanoy  City.  During 
this  time  he  continued  to  live  at  liome.  Then,  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  he  came  to  the  place  where 
he  has  ever  since  lived,  following  general  farm- 
ing, in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He 
lias  an  eighty-five-acre  farm,  formerly  a  Ressler 
homestead,  and  the  property  has  been  improved 
considerably  during  his  ownership.  In  1903  he 
built  (lie  present  barn,  and  in  1900  he  made  an 
addition  to  the  house. 

In  1881  Mr.  Snyder  married  Sarah  Alice  Geist, 
'  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Cecilia  (Updegraff)  Geist, 
and  nine  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely: 
Irwin  (married  Carrie  Heim),  Casper  (married 
Minnie  Bentzinger),  Sadie  (married  Charles  Mat- 
tern),  Walter,  Gurney,  Alverta,  Carrie,  Willard 
and  Millard.  Mr.  Snyder  and  his  family  are  Re- 
formed members  of  Himmel's  Church.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  opinion,  and  he  has  served 
six  years  as  school  director  of  Upper  Mahanoy 
township. 

(VI)  Daniel  S.  Snyder,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  Jan.  6,  1827,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
and  died  March  IS,  1903.  He  was  a  lifelong  far- 
mer, owning  and  living  upon  the  place  until  re- 
cently occupied  by  his  son,  A.  Morris  Snyder, 
which  comprises  over  two  hundred  acres  in  all; 
there  are  1  18  acres  of  cleared  land,  besides  the 
woodland.  Mr.  Snyder  prospered,  and  lie  built 
the  present  barn  in  1857:  he  also  built  part  of 
the  dwelling.  Mr.  Snyder  was  quite  active  in 
his  locality,  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
served  some  years  as  supervisor  and  also  as  school 
director  of  his  township;  he  held  the  former  office 
at  the  time  the  Mountain  road,  across  Line  Moun- 
tain to  Shamokin,  was  built. 

Mr.  Snyder  married  Sarah  A.  Smith,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Smith,  and  she  survived  him,  dying 
May  9.  1905,  aged  seventy-three  years,  seven 
months,  nineteen  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  and 
sonic   of   their  children   are  buried   at   St.   Johns 


Church,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  They  were 
Lutheran  members  of  that  church.  They  had  the 
following  family:  Harriet,  who  married  (first)  Ed. 
Erdman  and  (second)  David  Hepler;  Martin,  a 
farmer  of  Washington  township,  Northumberland 
county ;  Wesley,  a  farmer  of  the  same  township ; 
Malinda.  deceased,  who  married  Dr.  H.  H.  Malick; 
Ellen,  who  married  William  Houghton;  Daniel, 
of  Allentown,  Pa.;  Milton,  born  April  13,  1861, 
who  died  of  diphtheria  dune  23,  1863;  Samuel 
I.,  born  Jan.  15,  1869,  who  died  Aug.  2,  1873; 
Savira  (or  Sovira),  born  Oct.  21,  1856,  who  died 
of  diphtheria  May  30,  1863 ;  Charles  E.,  of  Allen- 
town,  Pa.;  A.  Morris;  and  Daisy,  who  married 
Howard  Geist,  of  Girardville,  Pennsylvania. 

(VII)  A.  Morris  Snyder,  son  of  Daniel  S.,  is  a 
prosperous  farmer.  He  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  March  19,  1873, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  local  schools 
and  in  the  academy  at  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  coun- 
ty. Farming  has  been  his  life  work,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1890  he  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count at  the  homestead,  where  he  continued  to 
live  until  he  sold  the  place,  in  1910.  He  and  his 
brother  Charles  purchased  the  farm  from  their 
brother  Daniel  in  1890,  and  owned  it  in  partner- 
ship for  nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period 
A.  Morris  Snyder  purchased  his  brother's  inter- 
est.  In  1910  he  bought  the  nice  level  place  in 
Rockefeller  township  where  he  moved  Nov.  21th 
of  that  year,  and  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  a 
successful  agriculturist,  owns  a  full  line  of  up-to- 
date  farm  stock,  and  markets  his  produce  at  Ash- 
land and  Girardville.  sometimes  making  as  many 
as  four  trips  a  week. 

On  July  8,  1899.  Mr.  Snyder  married  Bella 
Jane  Eetrick,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hosanna 
(Dunkelberger)  Eetrick  and  granddaughter  of 
John  Hetrick  and  of  Joseph  Dunkelberger.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder: 
Willard  D.  (who  died  in  infancy).  Henry  Alvin 
and  Esther  Pauline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  are 
Lutheran  members  of  St.  John's  Church.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  at  present  is  serv- 
ing as. township  auditor  and  supervisor. 

SNYDER  (SCHNEIDER).  Gabriel  Schnei- 
der, a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  located  in  the 
Lykens  Valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  at  what  is  now 
known  as  Uniontown,  formerly  Snydertown.  He 
was  known  as  "Gab."  Schneider.  A  miller  by 
occupation,  be  built  a  stone  gristmill  on  the  Ma- 
hantango creek  which  is  still  (  1910)  standing,  and 
which  after  his  day  was  owned  by  a  Boyer.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition  this  pioneer  Schneider  was 
buried  at  Uniontown.  He  had.  anion-  other  chil- 
dren, a  son  David. 

David  Schneider,  son  of  Gabriel,  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  milling  business,  conducting  the  mill 
for  some  years,  until  lie  sold   it  to   Hover:  the  lat- 


78-2 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ter  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Levi  Boyer.  After 
selling  the  mill  David  Schneider  moved  to  Wash- 
ington township,  Northumberland  county,  where 
he  operated  what  is  now  known  as  the  Latsha 
mill.  Continuing  thus  for  some  years,  he  moved 
To  Tower  City.  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  died 
;it  an  advanced  age.  His  children  were  Henry 
(who  lived  at  Sacramento,  Schuylkill  county)  and 
Peter. 

Peter  Snyder,  son  of  David,  learned  milling  at 
the  Uniontown  mill,  operated  the  Haas  mill  near 
Sunbury,  in  Rockefeller  township,  two  years,  and 
then  came  to  Washington  township,  where  he  ope- 
rated what  is  now  known  as  the  Latsha  mill  for 
two  years.  He  died  in  April,  1S4H.  when  less 
than  thirty  years  old,  and  i-  buried  at  Himmel's 
Church.  Peter  Snyder  married  Elizabeth  Hepner. 
daughter  of  Henry  Hepner  (married  a  Schaeffer), 
and  two  children  were  horn  to  them.  Sarah  and 
Israel.  The  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Brown, 
now  a  retired  miller,  and  they  live  at  Winfield, 
Union  Co..  Pa.:  they  had  children:  Elsworth,  Ir- 
win. Charles  and  Emma. 

I-i;u:i.  SxTDER,  son  of  Peter,  was  horn  Nov. 
22,  1  s  i7 .  in  Rockefeller  township.  Northumber- 
land county,  and  in  186?  commenced  to  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  has  ever  since  followed. 
After  five  years  at  the  trade  he  began  to  work  as 
boss  carpenter,  and  he  has  been  engaged  all  over 
the  lower  end  of  Northumberland  county  as  well 
as  in  Allentown  and  other  cities  in  the  eastern 
part  of  ihe  siate.  He  worked  sixteen  years  for 
Acker.  Slayman  &  Co.,  of  Shamokin.  and  has  long 
been  in  business  on  his  own  account,  employing 
from  two  to  nineteen  men.  as  the  needs  of  his 
work  demand.  He  built  the  large  store  and  resi- 
dence  of  A.  G.  Sleieh  at  Gowen  City.  Northum- 
berland county;  two  of  the  largest  public  school- 
houses  in  Shamokin:  the  three-story  119-foot  knob 
factory  at  Shamokin:  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
church  at  Gowen  City:  the  U.  B.  church  at  Union- 
town  :  anil  many  houses  and  barns  in  different 
sections  of  the  county.  His  high-grade  work  ami 
success  have  brought  him  a  large  patronage,  which 
he  holds  by  the  same  methods  through  which  it 
was  won. 

In  187(i  Mr.  Snyder  married  Elizabeth  Maurer, 
daughter  of  David  Maurer,  of  Upper  Mahantango 
township.  Schuylkill  county,  anil  children  a-  fol- 
lows have  been  born  to  this  union:  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy;  Alvin,  who  died  aged  two  years, 
two  months,  eighteen  days:  Mary  E..  who  mar- 
ried Edgar  Romberger,  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
has  had  Mazie,  Willie.  Annie,  Howard  (deceased  I 
and  Katie:  and  Annie  E..  who  married  Elmer 
Smith,  of  Shamokin.  and  has  three  children, 
George  Israel,  Emma  E.  and  Allen. 

Mr.  Snyder  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  mem- 
of  St.  John's  Church.     He  is  an  independent 
voter,    and    has    served    his    township    three    years 
a-  auditor. 


FRED  C.  LINDERMAN,  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  well  known  Antlers  Cafe,  in  Shamokin. 
Pa.,  is  of  German  origin,  his  ancestors  first  set- 
tling in  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  upon  coming  to  Amer- 
ica. 

John  Linderman.  the  great-grandfather  of  Fred 
('..  was  horn  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  and  removed 
to  Berks  county,  near  Douglassville,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm.  In  addition  to  farming  he  was  a 
charcoal  burner  and  also  did  weaving.  He  died 
upon  his  farm  in  Berks  county.  His  children 
were:  Conrad:  William:  Jacob;  John;  Martha, 
and  Frederick. 

Frederick  Linderman.  grandfather  of  Fred  ('.. 
was  horn  in  Berks  county,  near  Douglassville,  and 
also  followed  charcoal  burning.  He  also  learned 
the  trade  of  ship  carpenter,  which  he  followed 
for  some  time.  In  lsiil  he  removed  to  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  and  in  1868  came  to  Shamokin.  where 
he  was  employed  in  and  around  the  mines.  His 
death  occurred  in  Shamokin.  Mr.  Linderman 
married  Anna  Rhoads,  also  of  Berks  county,  and 
they  had  issue:  Mary,  who  married  Eli  Mengel; 
Yalina.  who  married  Daniel  Christ:  William  R. ; 
John,  of  Shamokin;  Martha  A.,  who  died  young; 
George,  deceased;  Margaret,  who  died  young;  and 
Isaat.  of  Shamokin,  Pennsylvania. 

William  R.  Linderman.  father  of  Fred  ('..  was 
born  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa..  Sept.  16. 
1845.  At  the  early  age  of  twelve  he  began  to 
work  as  a  boatman  on  the  canal  and  he  followed 
this  work  until  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war.  in 
the  spring  of  1st;-.',  in  Company  F.  52d  Regiment. 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  saw  active  service 
m  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  was  tune  wounded, 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Charleston.  S.  C.  and  was 
taken  )..  Andersonville  prison,  where  he  was  held 
Eor  seven  months;  he  was  exchanged  in  February. 
1864,  at  which  time  he  returned  home  on  a  fur- 
lough.  Later  he  joined  his  company  and  regi- 
ment and  remained  in  service  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  returning  home  in  July,  I860,  to  Schuyl- 
kill Haven.  Pa.  He  followed  boating  till  the  fall 
of  1868,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Shamokin. 
and  was  employed  for  three  years  in  the  mines. 
He  then  spent  twenty  years  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railway  Company,  in  different  positions. 
He  is  now  employed  at  the  Hickory  Swamp  col- 
liery, at  outside  work.  Mr.  Linderman  was  com- 
mander of  Lincoln  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  in  18ft.").  He 
married  Phoebe  Reed,  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Maria  (  Kantner)  Peed,  and  they  had  children  as 
follow-:  Minnie  P..  who  married  John  Schmick : 
Martha  A.,  who  is  at  home:  Fred  C. ;  Clarence 
H.  and  Ileihei't  W..  twins:  Frank;  Leona,  who 
married  Ray  Vbught,  of  Shamokin:  and  Harry  B. 

Fred  C.  Linderman.  son  of  William  I!.,  was 
horn  in  Shamokin  May  '.'•-'.  ls7:L  He  attended 
the  local  schools  of  Shamokin  and  when  quite 
young  began  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  (ireen 
Ridge   collierv.     This   he   followed    until    he   was 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


783 


fifteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  became  em- 
ployed at  other  work  around  the  collieries,  con- 
timiing  in  various  position?  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-two.  He  then  became  a  lineman 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Valley  Telephone  Company 
(now  the  Pennsylvania  Telephone  Company),  by 
whom  lie  was  employed  for  about  four  years.  He 
nexl  worked  for  the  Bell  Telephone  Company  for 
one  year,  when  he  became  a  clerk  for  Lafayette 
Trometter,  in  the  hotel  business,  remaining  with 
him  si\  ami  a  half  years.  In  1906,  in  company 
with  Joseph  I'.  Schmidt,  he  bought  out  Mi-. 
Trometter's  business,  which  is  located  at  the  cor- 
ner (if  Washington  ami  Independence  streets,  in 
the  Elks  building,  and  the  place  is  now  known  as 
the  Antlers  Cafe.  It  is  up-to-date  in  all  things, 
being  among  the  leading  places  of  iis  kind  in 
the  community. 

On  March  20,  1901,  Mr.  Linderman  married 
Maggie  R.  Thompson,  of  Danville,  Pa.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Thompson,  and  they  have  one  son, 
John  II.  Socially  ho  is  a  member  of  the  local 
lodge  of  Elks  (  No.  ."..".:>).  the  Order  of  Eagles  and 
the  Sons  of  Veterans. 

JOHN  11.  RABUCK,  stonemason  and  farmer 
uf  I'pper  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland 
county,  was  horn  Sept.  '.'?.  1862,  in  Washington 
township,  this  county,  sun  of  Harrison  W  and 
Eliza  (Paul)  Rabuek.  The  family  name,  usually 
spelled  Rebuck,  ha-  been  perpetuated  in  this  re- 
gion in  tho  posl  office  Rebuek,  named  after  a 
member  of  this  well  known  family,  which  is  es- 
pecially numerous  in  Washington  township  and  the 
surrounding  territory . 

According  to  tradition  the  first  member  of  the 
family  in  this  country  was  from  the  German  Pal- 
atinate ami  came  to  America  to  avoid  service  in 
the  war  then  being  waged  in  his  native  land.  The 
older  members  of  the  family  say  that  his  name 
was  Schaffer,  hut  that  he  assumed  the  name  Re- 
buck  to  prevent  his  being  traced  and  taken  back 
in  i he  Fatherland,  where  punishment  for  such  an 
offense  as  his  was  severe.  This  pioneer  ancestor 
was  known  in  the  New  World  by  the  name  John 
Adam  Rebuck.  He  first  located  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  whence  he  came  to  Northumberland  county. 
settling  in  Jackson  township,  in  that  part  now 
embraced  in  Washington  township.  There  is  the 
old-established  business  stand,  now  for  many  years 
conducted  and  owned  by  the  Kehres  family,  where 
the  posl  office  and  hamlet  of  Rebuck  are  located. 
The  hamlet  contains  about  a  dozen  dwellings. 
The  pioneer  was  a  farmer.  Among  his  children 
were  Valentine.  John  Adam.  dr..  and  Michael.  Of 
these.  Valentine  Rebuck  in  1778  was  among  the 
taxables  of  Mahanoy  township,  which  then  includ- 
ed considerable  territory  in  the  lower  end  of  the 

county. 

Michael  Rebuck,  son  of  John  Adam,  the  pioneer. 


was  horn  July  14.  1769,  and  died  Oct.  7.  1852, 
when  over  eighty-three  years  of  age.  He  lived 
on  Greenbrier  creek,  in  Washington  township,  and 
was  an  extensive  farmer,  following  agricultural 
pursuits  all  his  life.  He  had  a  tract  of  16?  acres 
which  is  still  in  the  family  name,  being  now  owned 
by  his  grandson,  John  Rebuck.  He  built  the  barn 
still  standing  on  that  property,  and  also  a  small 
dwellinghouse.  He  was  a  Reformed  member  of  the 
Himmel  Church.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Reis), 
hom  Aug.  21,  1775,  died  Nov.  7,  1858.  Their 
children  were:  Bevvy,  who  married  Peter  Ferstcr : 
and  Godfried,  called  "Big  Godfried." 

Godfried  Rebuck,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  July 
28,  1798,  and  died  May  29,  187:..  He  was  a  tali. 
heavy  man,  with  dark  hair,  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  owned  much  land,  living  on  the  Green- 
brier  homestead  of  the  Rebuck  family.  He  and 
his  family  worshipped  with  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation at  the  Bimmel  Church,  and  they  are  buried 
there.  His  wifi'.  Catharine  (Wagner),  born 
March  26,  1801,  died  .lime  30,  1860.  They  had 
children  as  follows:  Salome  married  John  Schref- 
der:  Daniel  W.  married  Lydia  Help;  Catharine 
married  Harry  Rebuek;  Hannah  married  John 
Wentzel;  Polly  married  Peter  Snyder  and  (sec- 
ond) Henry  Herb:  Lydia  married  Philip  Reitz: 
Harrison  W.  is  mentioned  below:  Jacob,  born  in 
1s:m.  died  unmarried  :  John,  born  in  1839,  died 
unmarried,  in  18(»1  :  Sarah  married  John  Kieft'er 
and  (second)  Jacob  Reber.  There  were  three 
Godfried  Rebueks,  known  as  "Hie-  Godfried," 
"Little  Godfried"  and  "Red  Godfried."  The  lat- 
ter, Godfried  B.  Rebuck,  kept  the  -tore  and  posl 
office  at  Rebuck. 

Harrison  W.  Rebuck,  son  of  Godfried,  was  bora 
July  1'-'.  1834,  and  was  a  farmer  during  his  active 
years.  He  moved  from  Washington  township  to 
Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county,  thence  to  Jor- 
dan township,  this  county,  and  then  to  Mifflin 
township,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1881  returning 
thence  to  Northumberland  county  and  locating  in 
Jordan  township  again.  From  there  he  returned 
to  Dauphin  county,  settling  near  Gratztown.  in 
Lykens  township.  He  now  lives  at  Eerndon,  Pa., 
with  his  son  J.  Wilson  Rebuck.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  in  the  Union  service  as  a  member  of 
Company  K.  L72d  Regiment,  for  nine  months.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Paul,  who  died  in  September, 
1904,  in  her  seventy-second  year,  and  they  had 
children:  John  II..  James.  Elmira  L.  Augustus. 
J.  Wilson  and  Reilly. 

John  H.  Rabuek  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Jordan  township  and  later  those  of  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  But  he  was  obliged  to 
begin  work  early,  leaving  school  during  the  panic 
of  is::;  and  beginning  to  learn  the  trade  of  stone- 
mason. As  the  hard  times  did  not  seem  to  lessen 
in  severity  he  left  Dauphin  county,  where  hi-  par- 
ents were  then  living,  for  a  ti 


f84 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


In  1888  he  first  came  to  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  a  tract 
of  sixty-six  acres  which  formerly  belonged  to  An- 
drew Snyder,  who  built  the  present  house  there. 
In  the  earlier  days  it  was  owned  by  Heinrich 
Schadel,  whose  son  William  succeeded  him,  and 
during-  William  Schadel's  ownership  of  the  place 
all  the  buildings  on  the  premises  were  destroyed 
by  fire.  Mr.  Rabuck  and  his  father  built  the 
barn.  John  H.  Rabuck  has  owned  this  farm  since 
1904.  He  is  a  thrifty  and  successful  farmer,  and 
he  has  become  one  of  the  substantial  and  respected 
citizens  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  is  very 
popular,  being  a  man  of  intelligence  and  well  read, 
with  an  interesting  personality  which  draws  many 
friends  to  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F., 
belonging  to  Lodge  No.  637,  of  Klingerstown.  and 
in  religion  is  a  Lutheran,  holding  membership  in 
the  Hebe  Church.  Politically  he  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Rabuck's  travels  and 
varied  experiences  have  given  him  a  broad  out- 
look on  affairs  affecting  the  general  welfare,  in 
which  he  is  much  interested.  He  retains  many 
traits  developed  during  his  roving  life,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  best  climbers  anywhere  in  his  section. 


Elias  P.  Rebuck,  a  farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  was  born  there  Feb.  23,  184?.  son  of 
Samuel  Rebuck  and  grandson  of  John  Rebuck. 
The  latter  was  a  farmer  in  the  same  township, 
owning  what  is  now  the  property  of  David  Paul. 
He  is  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church.  By  his  first 
wife,  Catharine  Brosius,  he  had  seven  children : 
Samuel,  David.  Catharine,  Godlieb.  Gabriel,  Polly 
and  John.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Cathar- 
ine Thomas,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, 
Elias,  Daniel  and  Anna.  By  his  third  wife,  Eliz- 
abeth (Druckenmiller).  there  were  no  children. 
His  three  wives  are  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church. 

Samuel  Rebuck,  son  of  John,  was  born  June 
17.  1810,  and  died  March  30,  1882,  where  his 
son  Elias  now  lives.  He  is  buried  at  the  Salem 
Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed  member, 
and  served  as  deacon  and  elder  of  his  congrega- 
tion. He  followed  farming  during  his  active 
years  where  David  S.  Paul  now  lives,  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  and  in  his  earlier  life  also 
engaged  in  shoemaking.  He  owned  a  tract  of  land 
at  Seven  Points.  He  was  a  public-spirited  man. 
and  served  his  township  as  school  director  and 
supervisor.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Brosius,  was  born  March  5,  1809.  and  died  Feb. 
23.  1894.  To  them  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Rosina  married  William  Heim :  Lydia  married 
Elias  Ochs ;  Mary  died  unmarried :  John  married 
Elizabeth  Ossman :  Samuel  married  Lovina  Keh- 
res ;  Elias  F.  is  mentioned  below :  Polly  married 
Daniel  Schlegel :  Kate  married  Nathan  Steely : 
Amelia  married  William  Kutz. 

Elias  F.  Rebuck  had  limited  advantages  for  se- 


curing an  education  in  the  subscription  schools 
conducted  in  the  vicinity  of  his  early  home.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  began  farming  for 
himself  in  the  spring  of  1877  at  the  place  where 
he  has  since  continued  to  reside,  a  farm  of  114 
acres  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  originally  an 
Orendorf  homestead,  later  owned  by  John  Eisen- 
harr,  Heinrich  Fetter  and  Sanruel  Rebuck,  suc- 
cessively, before  it  passed  into  the  present  owner- 
ship. A  fine  frame  dwelling  Mr.  Rebuck  erected 
in  1906  replaced  an  old  log  house  which  bad  stood 
for  over  one  hundred  years. 

In  1879  Mr.  Rebuck  married  Sarah  Snyder, 
daughter  of  Levi  Snyder,  now  the  oldest  resident 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  they  have  had 
children  as  follows:  Meda  C.  (Mrs.  John  Baum), 
Mary  A..  Samuel  Henry,  Rosa  C.  Katie  C, 
Charles  Elias  and  Lulu  E.  Mr.  Rebuck  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Salem  (Herb)  Church,  of  which  he 
was  an  elder  for  six  years ;  his  wife  belongs  to 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Rebuck  is  a  Democrat. 

BERTRAM  GALBRAITH,  business  man  of 
Milton  and  present  tax  receiver  for  that  borough, 
is  a  native  of  that  place  and  a  member  of  the  third 
generation  of  Galbraiths  to  live  there.  The  mem- 
of  this  family  have  borne  high  reputation  for 
integrity  and  ability  in  the  conduct  of  all  their 
enterprises,  and  in  his  active  and  many-sided  life 
he  has  proved  a  typical  representative  of  the  name 
he  bears. 

The  family  of  Galbraith  has  long  been  estab- 
lished in  America,  and  in  the  old  country  dates 
back  to  the  remote  antiquity  of  Scotland.  The 
name  is  derived  from  the  Celtic  and  originally  be- 
longed to  the  Lennox  in  that  country.  The  Gal- 
braith chiefs  had  their  residence  in  the  parish  of 
Baldernoch.  The  Galbraiths  of  the  isle  of  Ghiga 
descended  from  those  of  Baldernoch,  as  may  be 
traced  in  the  ancient  records,  having  fled  thither 
with  Lord  James  Stewart,  youngest  son  of  Mur- 
doch, Duke  of  Albany,  from  the  Lennox,  after 
burning  Dumbarton,  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  of 
Scotland.  They  continued  to  hold  that  island  un- 
til after  1500.  The  following  lines  from  the 
Scotch  show  the  estimate  in  which  the  name  was 
held : 

Galbraiths  from  the  Red  Tower, 
Noblest  of  Scottish  surnames. 

There  is  now  a  small  island  in  Scotland  called 
"Iuch  ( Island)  Galbraith."  Upon  it  are  many 
ruins  of  castles  and  villages,  the  strongholds  built 
by  the  clan  when  war  was  the  rule. 

When  Hon.  W.  A.  Galbraith,  of  Erie.  Pa.,  was 
traveling  in  Scotland,  hearing  that  a  family  by  the 
same  name  lived  close  to  where  he  stopped,  he 
went  to  call  on  them.  He  had  with  him  a  coat  of 
arms  preserved  by  the  family  in  America,  which 
he  showed  them,  and  they  immediately  produced 


ASTOR 

|T,U       • 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  XSYI.YA  NTA 


7S5 


a  precise  counterpart,  the  arms  showing  three 
bears'  heads,  muzzled,  on  a  shield  surmounted  by 
a  knight's  helmel  and  crest  with  the  motto,  which, 
translated,  is,  "Stronger  from  opposition."  Thus 
the  origin  of  the  family  is  established  without 
doubt. 

James  Galbraith,  the  firsl  of  the  line  under  con- 
sideration to  settle  in  America,  was  horn  in  L650 
in  the  North  of  Ireland,  son  of  John  Galbraith,  and 
emigrated  in  1718  with  his  family,  settling  in 
Donegal,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
fluence and  prominence  in  his  day,  and  was  among 
the  founders  of  the  old  Derry  Church,  in  what  is 
now  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  near  Derry  station,  and 
is  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  of  that  church.  He 
died  Aug.  23,  1MJ.  The  first  regular  pastor  of 
tins  church,  Rev.  William  Bertram,  died  May  2, 
L746,  ami  is  buried  near  the  church.  Rehecca 
(Chambers),  wife  of  .lames  Galbraith,  was  a 
daughter  of  Arthur  Chambers,  who  with  the  Allen, 
Allison,  Armstrong,  Boyd,  Berryhill,  Barnet,  Bell, 
Black,  Campbell,  Clark,  Carother,  Cram,  Carson, 
Calhoun,  Craig,  Caldwell.  Cunningham,  Coch- 
ran. Dixon,  Dickey,  Dougherty,  Elder,  Espy,  Fos- 
ter, Ferguson,  Gilmore,  Goven,  Gray,  Graham, 
Galbraith,  Henderson,  Hays,  Hampton,  Jones, 
Johnson,  Eelley,  Laird,  McCormick,  McOlure,  Mc- 
Nair,  McKeehan,  Mitchel,  Murray,  McKee,  Mc- 
Creight,  McDonald,  McArthur,  McMurray,  Mc- 
Knight,  Montgomery,  Ramsey,  Rogers,  Ruther- 
ford, Reed,  Sloan,  Sterrett,  Snodgrass,  Strain, 
Stewart,  Smith.  Simpson,  Sturgeon,  Todd, 
Wilson,  Wallace  and  McMahan  families  set- 
tled in  the  district,  just  referred  to  between  1720 
and  1730.  Five  children  were  born  to  James  and 
li'ehccca  (Chambers)  Galbraith,  viz.:  John,  An- 
drew. James,  Jr.,  Elenor  (married  Patrick  Mc- 
Kinley)  and  Rebecca  (married  a  Stewart). 

John  Galbraith,  son  of  James,  horn  in  1690, 
resided  where  the  Mount  Joy  and  Marietta  turn- 
pikes cross  Donegal  run;  he  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land.  He  was  elected  sheriff  of  Lancaster  coun- 
ty in  1731  and  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  local- 
ity. He  died  in  1754.  In  1757  Janet,  his  widow, 
and  James  Galbraith,  sold  the  mill  which  he  built 
to  John  Baley. 

Andrew  Galbraith,  son  of  James,  horn  in  1692, 
lived  near  his  brother  John,  his  home  being  on 
the  Little  Chicques  creek.  When  Lancaster  county 
was  organized  he  was  appointed  the  first  coroner, 
and  he  and  his  brother  John  were  members  of  the 
first  jury  drawn.  In  1730  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  peace  and  of  the  Common 
Pleas  court,  which  position  he  filled  with  honor 
until  1745.  In  1732  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  in  a  spirited  contest,  in  which  his 
wife  took  an  active  part.  Mounting  her  mare 
"Nelly"  she  rode  around  among  the  Scotch-Irish, 
who  followed  her  to  Lancaster,  to  the  polls,  where 
she  addressed  them  most  effectually.     He  was  aft- 

50 


erward  reelected   without  opposition,  serving  sev- 
eral terms  in  sui  cession. 

dames  Galbraith,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland  in  1703,  and  died  June  11,  1785,  in  East 
Pennsboro  township.  Cumberland  county;  he  is 
huried  in  the  Deny  graveyard.  He  took  up  a  tract 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  on  Spring  creek,  not  far  from  the  Church 
Oleon,  the  warrant  therefor  being  granted  him 
March  13,  1737.  The  early  Provincial  records  of 
Pennsylvania  speak  frequently  of  him,  for  he  was 
prominent  in  military  circles  and  served  in  17  12- 
43  as  sheriff  of  Lancaster  county,  where  he  was  also 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  French  ami  Indian  war,  serv- 
ing as  an  officer  from  1755  to  1703.  and  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which  all  his  sons  served, 
he  was  appointed  lieutenant  for  Cumberland 
county,  being  too  old  for  active  duty  in  the  field ; 
his  long  experience  a-  in  officer  gave  him  consid- 
erable prestige  and  authority,  ami  he  was  fre- 
quently  consulted  during  the  Revolution  on  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  prosecution  of  that  war. 

On  April  (i,  1734,  James  Galbraith  married,  in 
Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  Elizabeth  Bertram, 
who  was  horn  in  1714  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  only 
daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Elizabeth  (Gillis- 
pie)  Bertram.  Mrs.  Galbraith  died  Feb.  2,  1799, 
in  Derry  township.  Dauphin  county,  the  mother  of 
the  following  children:  William,  Bertram,  Rob- 
ert. Dorcas,  Elizabeth,  Thomas.  John  and  Ann. 
Robert  Galbraith's  daughter  Rebecca  married  Eph- 
raim  Blain,  commissary  general  of  purchases  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war.  who  was  the  grand- 
father of  the  late  James  G.  Blaine. 

Bertram  Galbraith,  second  son  of  James  Gal- 
braith, Jr.,  was  first  lieutenant  in  Lancaster 
county  during  the  Revolution,  doing  excellent  serv- 
ice for  bis  country  in  that  capacity.  By  his  first 
wife,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Strong,  of  Donegal,  he 
had  nine  children,  the  eldest  son  being  Josiah, 
great-grandfather  of  the  present  Bertram  Gal- 
braith, of  Milton.  Of  the  others,  Harriet  married 
a  Hoffman  and  died  at  Williamsport,  Pa.:  Mary 
Ann  married  Charles  Mans,  of  Mausdale,  Montour 
Co.,  Pa.  Bertram  Galbraith's  second  marriage 
was  to  Henrietta  Hiding,  of  Benvenue,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  bad  two  children:  Sarah,  who 
married  Samuel  Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  ami 
Bertram  Gillespie,  who  married  Eliza  Pagar  Bell, 
of  Harrisburg. 

Josiah  Galbraith,  son  of  Bertram,  married  and 
had  two  suns,  one  of  whom  was  Bertram,  grand- 
father of  Bertram  Galbraith,  of  Milton.  Josiah 
Galbraith  settled  in  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  became 
wealthy,  and  died  there.  man\  of  his  descendants 
still  residing  in  that  section,  all  of  his  family  but 
Bertram  going  out  to  Iowa  at  an  early  day. 

Bertram  Galbraith,  sou  of  Josiah,  was  the 
grandfather  of  the  present   Bertram  Galbraith,  of 


NOKTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Milton,  Northumberland  county.  He  was  born 
in  1808  in  Lancaster  county,  near  the  Dauphin 
countv  line,  and  when  a  young  man  catne  to  North- 
umberland county,  being  the  founder  of  the  fam- 
ily in  this  locality.  Be  settled  at  Milton,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  Ins  days.  A  man  of  large 
build,  six  feet,  two  inches  in  his  stocking  feet  and 
weighing  two  hundred  pounds,  he  had  a  forceful 
personality,  but  he  was  as  well  known  for  his  in- 
telligence and  strong  character  as  he  was  for  his 
physical  make-up.  He  was  a  distiller  by  trade,  but 
did  not  follow  that  occupation  Long,  being  tor 
many  years  the  owner  of  three  boats  on  the  west 
branch  of  the  canal,  and  also  engaging  in  other 
business  and  serving  in  public  office.  He  was  in 
the  insurance  business  at  Milton  for  many  years. 
He  served  as  constable1  and  tax  collector,  and  was 
at  one  time  a  candidate  for  sheriff  of  the  county. 
In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Whig.  There 
were  few  better  known  residents  of  the  county  in 
bis  day.  He  died  Sept.  36,  1862,  aged  fifty-four 
years,  fifteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  Milton. 

Mr.  Galbraith's  first  marriage  was  to  Elizabeth 
Blue,  who  was  born  in  1812,  sister  of  Sheriff  Fred- 
erick Blue,  of  Montour  county.  She  died  Oct. 
30,  1851,  aged  thirty-nine  years,  two  months.  Leav- 
ing four  children:  Hilling,  who  served  in  the  Civil 
war  in  the  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  died 
unmarried  (he  is  buried  at  Milton,  Pa.);  Man- 
Ellen,  deceased,  who  married  dames  R.  Miller,  and 
resided  in  Milton;  Emma  J.,  who  married  Albert 
Cooper,  of  Philadelphia;  and  William  B.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Galbraith  married  bis  cousin, 
Mary  Rosetta  Galbraith,  who  was  horn  Dee.  16, 
is-.'!,  daughter  of  dames  Galbraith,  who  settled  at 
Shippensburg,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  By  this  un- 
ion there  were  three  children:  Laura,  widow  oi 
Harry  B.  Geissinger,  who  was  employed  in  the  cus- 
tom house  at  Philadelphia  (he  died  in  May. 
1910)  :  Horace,  wdio  died  young;  and  Bertram  S.. 
who  lives  at  Milton,  Pa.  The  mother  died  Oct.  9, 
1903. 

William  B.  Galbraith.  son  of  Bertram  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Blue)  Galbraith,  was  born  in  Milton  Sept. 
19,  1836,  on  Lower  Market  street,  directly  opposite 
the  house  in  which  he  resided  from  1893  to  1909. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  and  Milton  Acad- 
emy, which  in  those  days  was  taught  by  Rev.  P. 
T.  Bucher,  but  he  began  work  early,  being  for  three 
years  in  the  employ  of  W.  F.  Nagle,  for  many 
years  the  town's  leading  merchant,  \\  hose  store  was 
on  the  site  n<>\v  occupied  by  the  "Bartram"  apart- 
ment building  (Mr.  Galbraith  lived  in  the  ••Bart- 
ram" from  L909  until  his  death).  He  was  still  a 
boy  when  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  boating 
interests  on  the  canal,  along  the  west  branch  of  the 
Suscjuehanna.  He  continued  in  this  line  for  a 
numher  of  years,  running  the  business  on  his  own 
account  after  his  father  died,  until  the  fall  of 
1866.    In  1ST"!  lie  commenced  the  insurance  busi- 


ness, to  which  he  ever  afterward  gave  the  greater 
pari  of  his  attention.  He  firs!  represented  the 
Watertown  Company  of  New  York,  which  was 
later  merged  into  the  Sun  Company,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  first  agents  in  tins  country  for  the  Sun 
insurance  Office,  of  London.  From  1900  Mr.  Gal- 
braith had  his  son  Bertram  a-  partner  in  this  busi- 
ness, the  linn  name  being  William  B.  Galbraith  & 
Sun.  He  built  up  a  most  profitable  patronage, 
which  he  handled  with  skill  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  patrons,  who  extended  over  a  wide  radius  in 
this  section  of  the  county. 

On  dan.  1.  1863,  Mr.  Galbraith  married  Man- 
Ann  Hause,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Kee- 
fer)  Hause,  and  they  had  live  children:  Bertram,  a 
daughter  that  died  in  infancy,  Maude.  Albert  C. 
(a  traveling  salesman  and  partner  in  firm  of  Bert- 
ram Galbraith  &  Bro.),  and  Blanch  (born  in  1874, 
who  died  in  1881).  Mr.  Galbraith  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  death  occurred 
May  22,  lull,  and  he  was  buried  in  Harmony  cem- 
etery. 

Bertram  Galbraith,  eldest  son  of  William  B.  Gal- 
braith, was  born  <>ct.  25,  1864,  in  Milton,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Shortly  after  the  great  fire  of  1880  lie  became  a 
messenger  for  the  American  Union  Telegraph 
Company,  this  company  later  becoming  the  West- 
ern Union.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  com- 
menced business  with  Charles  E.  Brownell,  of  Wil- 
Liamsport,  their  first  location  being  in  the  Cadwal- 
lader  building,  on  Broadway.  They  did  business 
under  the  name  of  Brownell  &  Galbraith.  and 
dealt  in  fruits.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  in 
the  daily  paper  line,  the  first  paper  they  handled 
being  the  Philadelphia  Record,  the  second  the  Wil- 
liamsport  Breakfast  Table,  and  gradually  they 
came  to  handle  almost  all  the  leading  Philadelphia 
and  N~ew  York  papers,  Mr.  Galbraith  still  dealing 
in  this  line.  In  April.  1881,  Mr.  Galbraith  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  night  operator  at  the  tele- 
phone exchange,  where  he  remained  for  nearly 
three  years,  meantime  also  continuing  his  business 
and  attending  high  school,  and  he  was  very  well 
known  to  his  many  patrons  as  Milton's  young 
news  agent  and  rising  business  man.  In  1882 
Brownell  &  Galbraith  put  up  a  frame  building  at 
the  corner  of  Front  street  and  Broadway,  where 
they  established  their  business,  and  shortly  after 
their  removal  to  that  location  Mr.  Brownell  retired 
from  the  association,  Mr.  Galbraith  continuing 
the  business  alone  with  the  success  which  has  at- 
tended all  his  efforts  until  1903,  when  his  brother 
became  a  partner  in  the  firm,  which  is  now  Bert- 
ram Galbraith  &  Bro.  For  many  years  he  was  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Front  street, 
on  leased  ground.  When  the  rent,  however,  was 
increased  ten  dollars  per  month,  being  raised  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty-five  dollars,  he  would  not 
i'.i--     it.    and    to    secure   another    business   location 


NOBTHLJMBEBLAND   COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


781 


he  purchased  the  "Globe  Eotel"  property,  corner 
of  Broadwaj  and  Arch  streets.  Ee  moved  his 
frame  structure  to  the  new  location  bodily  (leav- 
ing il Id  stand  March  22,  1909),  without  tak- 
ing any  of  In-  g I-  out,  doing  business  all   the 

time  his  building  was  on  the  move,  and  had  elec- 
tric Lighl  every  night.  On  each  end  of  the  building 
was  a  sign,  "it's  cheaper  to  move  than  pay  the 
rent."  II  was  located  next  to  his  apartment  house, 
the  "Bartram."  Ee  improved  both  the  store  and 
the  stock,  which  is  now  comprehensive,  including 
a  fine  line  of  cigars  and  tobacco,  sporting  goods, 
newspapers  and  supplies,  for  which  he  finds  a 
steady  demand.  As  stated,  Mr.  Galbraith  purchased 
the  valuable  property  ai  the  corner  of  Arch  and 
Broadway  owned  for  many  years  by  the  Fonda 
estate  and  occupied  by  the  "Globe  Eotel,"  and  he 
lias  improved  the  place  until  it  is  now  one  of  the 
best  appointed  apartment  houses  of  its  size  in 
Northumberland  county.  In  addition  to  his  other 
enterprises,  Mr.  Galbraith  has  been  interested  in 
the  insurance  business  for  the  pasl  ten  years,  hav- 
ing been  in  partnership  with  Ins  father,  as  junior 
member  of  the  linn  of  William  15.  Galbraith  & 
Son,  now  W.  1!.  Galbraith's  Suns. 

In  1906  Mr.  Galbraith  was  elected  lav  receiver 
of  the  borough  of  Milton,  and  was  reelected  in 
L909,  without  opposition,  an  honor  which  is  sufli- 
cient  comment  on  the  value  of  his  services  and  the 
satisfaction  they  have  given  to  Ms  fellow  citizens 
generally.  Ee  is  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. 

.Mr.  Galbraith  is  widely  known  socially.  He  was 
i  ho  first  dealer  in  bicycles  in  this  section  and  be- 
came an  expert  rider,  winning  many  prizes  in 
local  contests,  and  he  was  a  well  known  long  dis- 
tance rider  when  bicycling  was  at  its  height,  the 
newspapers  having  made  many  of  his  trips  famous. 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  old  Century  Wheelmen  id' 
Philadelphia.  Athletics  generally  have  always 
claimed  his  interest.  He  was  the  owner  and  man- 
ager of  the  Milton  Base  Ball  Club  from  1902  to 
1904,  and  in  1905,  with  a  few  other  citizens  of 
Milton,  formed  an  association  known  as  the  Mil- 
ton Athletic  Association,  which  acquired  its  base- 
hall  park  through  Mr.  Galbraith's  efforts,  it  being 
presented  to  the  team.  Mr.  Galbraith  holds  mem- 
bership in  Milton  Lodge,  No.  913,  B.  P.  O.  Elks 
(chatter  member),  Lodge  No.  si.  I.  ().  0.  P.,  the 

F.  O.   !•;..  Modem  W imen  of  America  and  Boy- 

al  Arcanum.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
His  numerous  relations,  social,  business,  fraternal, 
etc.,  make  him  a  valued  correspondent  for  various 
newspapers,  including  several  of  the  leading  Phil- 
adelphia papers.  He  makes  his  home  with  his  par- 
ents. 

REITZ.  This  is  a  name  now  numerously  rep- 
resented in  Washington,  Little  Mahanoy  and  Low- 
er Augusta  townships  as  well  as  in  various  other 


portions  of  Northumberland  county,  founded  in 
that  section  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury by  one  George  Reitz,  who  settled  in  Wash- 
ington township  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
that  region.  The  members  of  the  family  from 
that  time  to  the  present  have  been  ranked  among 
toe  substantial,  respected,  public-spirited  and  alto- 
gether desirable  citizens  id'  this  favored  commun- 
ity, prospering  by  industry,  supporting  the 
churches  and  all  enterprises  which  have  for  their 
object  the  uplifting  id'  their  fellownien  and  the 
advancement  of  the  general  welfare,  and  in  their 
individual  lives  upholding  the  best  traditions  of 
their  forefathers  who  helped  to  found  the  best 
institutions  of  this  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

George  Reitz,  I  he  pioneer  of  this  family  in 
Northumberland  county,  settled  in  Washington 
township  among  its  earliest  residents  and  was  a 
large  landowner  there,  his  original  tract  includ- 
ing the  land  now  embraced  in  the  farm*  of  Luther 
Rebuck,  William  Rebuck,  Earvey  Rothermel, 
Charles  B.  Eetrieh  and  A.  ('.  Adams.  He  is  bur- 
ied in  an  unmarked  grave  near  a  fence,  in  the 
orchard  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  C.  B.  Eet- 
rieh. Among  his  children  were  sons  Andraes  and 
Michael. 

Andraes  (Andrew)  Reitz,  son  of  George,  was 
horn  at  Swabian  Creek,  in  Washington  township, 
Jan.  1,  1755,  and  there  passed  his  life,  owning 
and  occupying  the  original  homestead  of  his  father 
— the  place  where  George  Reitz  lived,  died  and 
found  his  resting  place.  He  followed  farming. 
He  married  Maria  Margaretha  Brosius,  horn  May 
17,  17(51.  who  died  (let.  80,  1826,  and  Ins  death  oc- 
curred March  16,  1837.  They  are  buried  at  Him- 
mel's  Church.  Among  their  children  were:  George, 
Jacob.  Johan  Nicholas,  Philip,  John,  Margarei 
(married  Daniel  Eoch),  Lydia  (married  Michael 
Smith).  Susan  (married  George  Tryon  or  Troon), 
and  two  other  daughters  whose  names  are  not 
given. 

Philip  Reitz,  son  of  Andraes,  was  horn  Feb.  I, 
1805,  in  Washington  township,  and  died  Sept.  1. 
1875.  He  owned  and  lived  upon  the  farm  which  is 
now  tin1  property  of  Cornelius  Adams,  and  there  all 
bis  children  were  horn  and  reared  and  there  his 
death  occurred.  He  married  Anna  Wagner,  who 
was  born  Oct.  5,  1807,  and  died  Feb.  22,  Ism;. 
They  are  buried  at  Eimmel's  Church,  of  which 
church  both  were  Lutheran  members.  Their  chil- 
dren wrri'  as  follows:  Daniel  lived  and  died  at 
Tower  City.  Schuylkill  county:  Jacob  lived  and 
died  at  Watsontown,  this  county;  Harrison  is  men- 
tioned below:  Peter  was  killed  while  serving  in  the 
Civil  war.  at  the  fall  of  Richmond;  Andrew  lives 
in  Oklahoma:  Elias  died  young;  Eliza  married 
Samuel  Reitz;  Mary  married  Prank  Rebuck;  Susan 
married  Emanuel  Conrad:  Lydia  died  \ ig. 

Earrison  Reitz,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  .Ian.  IS. 
is:;:,,  in  Swabian  Creek,  and   lived   in  his  native 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


township  until  after  his  marriage,  moving  across 
the  Mahanoy  mountain  into  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship when  he  was  about  thirty-five  years  old.  Here 
he  has  since  made  his  home,  following  farming.  He 
owns  two  traits  in  the  township,  one  of  thirty-seven 
acres  (upon  which  he  resides)  and  one  of  eighteen 
acres,  with  a  substantial  sot  of  buildings  upon  his 
home  tract.  Mr.  Reitz  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
served  his  township  two  years  as  supervisor.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  and  he  has  taken  his 
share  of  the  church  work,  having  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  trustee. 

In  1S<>?  Mr.  Reitz  married  Sarah  Reitz.  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Reitz  and  his  second  wife,  Polly 
(Dunkelberger),  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  viz.:  Edward  died  in  infancy; 
Jane  is  the  widow  of  Wilson  Raker;  Joseph  is  un- 
married; Henry  I.  is  mentioned  below;  A  Li  a  mar- 
ried Herman  Driimheller;  one  son  died  in  infancy; 
William,  unmarried,  lives  with  his  parents. 

Henry  I.  Reitz.  who  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship May  11,  1875.  and  received  hi-  education  in 
the  local  public  schools  and  at  Selinsgrove  Acad- 
emy, which  he  attended  during  several  spring 
terms.  He  received  his  first  license  to  teach  in 
Northumberland  county  from  Prof.  Ira  Shipman, 
his  second  from  Benjamin  Apple,  and  began  his 
work  as  teacher  at  Malick's  sehoolhouse,  in  Wash- 
ington township.  He  taught  in  all  five  terms,  one 
in  Washington  township,  two  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
and  two  in  Little  Mahanoy.  From  1900  to  1910 
Mr.  Reitz  was  employed  in  the  silk  mill  at  Sun- 
bury,  in  the  spring  of  1910  settling  on  the  farm  in 
Lower  Augusta  township  which  he  had  purchased 
in  1906.  This  tract  of  sixty-seven  acres  was  for- 
merly the  homestead  of  Samuel  Renn.  whose  fa- 
ther, Jacob  Renn.  owned  it  first.  Mr.  Reitz  in- 
tends to  devote  his  attention  principally  to  farm- 
ing, and  if  his  former  success  is  any  indication  of 
what  his  future  may  lie  he  will  soon  lie  ranked 
among  the  intelligent  agriculturists  of  his  locality. 
The  year  of  his  location  in  this  district — 1910 — he 
was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics. 

On  Sept.  5,  1897,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Allie  Raker. 
daughter  <>(  Daniel  and  Annie  (Dornsife)  Raker, 
of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and  they  have  one 
son.  Clyde  Emerson.  The  family  are  active  in 
church  life  as  members  of  St.  Elias  Lutheran 
('hutch  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 


Michael  Reitz.  the  other  sod  of  George  Reitz  (the 
pioneer  in  Northumberland  county  of  this  name) 
mentioned,  was  born  in  January,  1757.  and  owned 
a  place  of  125  acres  in  Washington  township 
(where  Luther  Rebuck  now  lives)  where  he  died 
Dec.  17,  1825.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Schnock,  was  a  native  of  Berks  coun- 
ty.  Pa.,  horn   about   1766,   and   made  the  trip   to 


Northumberland  county  on  horseback.  She  died 
Dec.  is.  1853,  and  she  and  her  husband  are  buried 
at  Himmel's  Church,  of  which  they  were  pioneer 
members,  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation. 
All  the  family  were  active  in  the  official  work 
of  this  church,  in  which  Michael  Reitz  held  all  the 
offii  es,  and  in  1818,  when  the  old  stone  church  was 
erei  ted,  lie  acted  as  building  master.  lie  was  an 
all-around  useful  and  prominent  member  of  his 
c iiiunity.  and  respected  accordingly.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Michael  lived  in  Jackson  (now  Wash- 
ington) township;  George  settled  at  Red  Bank. 
Pa. ;  John  settled  at  Reel  Bank.  Pa. ;  donas  lived  in 
Washington  township  (where  William  Rebuck  now 
lives);  William  -ruled  at  Red  Bank,  Pa.:  Peter 
lived  at  Richfield,  Pa.:  Daniel  is  mentioned  later: 
Bevvy  married  Johan  Oeorg  Reed:  Christina  mar- 
ried Michael  Hetrich. 

(Johann)  Michael  Reitz.  son  of  Michael,  was 
born  Aug.  1'.'.  i;s5.  in  Washington  township,  and 
t\i--\  Jul]  88,  is;  f.  He  married  Magdalena  Eister 
(also  spelled  Eyster  and  Oyster),  who  was  horn 
loir  27,  1788,  a  member  of  an  early  family  of  the 
Mahantango  valley,  and  died  Oct.  12,  181(3.  They 
owned  and  lived  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
property  of  Harvey  Rothermel  (who  lias  a  tract  of 
about  ninety-eight  acres),  and  Michael  Reitz  built 
the  dwelling  which  still  stands  on  this  place.  Like 
the  other  members  of  the  family  he  and  his  wife 
worshipped  at  Himmel's  Church,  being  members 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  which  he  served  in 
an  official  capacity.  Their  children  were:  Peter, 
who  was  a  fanner  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller  town- 
ship: Abraham,  who  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship; Christiana,  who  married  Michael  Hoch,  after 
wdiose  death  -lie  moved  with  her  daughter  Sarah, 
wife  of  Killian  Snyder,  and  family  to  Missouri, 
during  the  seventies;  David,  who  lived  in  Wash- 
ington township;  Leonard,  who  lived  in  Washing- 
ton township :  and  Jonas. 

Daniel  Reitz.  son  of  Michael  and  brother  of 
Michael  recorded  in  the  above  paragraph,  was  horn 
Aug.  11.  1804,  in  Washington  township,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Luther  Rebuck.  which  was  the 
home-toad  of  his  father.  He  was  a  lifelong  farm- 
er, held  township  office,  and  was  a  useful  and  re- 
spected man  of  his  neighborhood.  lie  and  his  fam- 
ily were  Lutheran  members  of  Himmel's  Clnrrch, 
in  the  graveyard  of  which  many  generations  of  the 
Reitz  family  are  buried,  and  there  he  and  his  wife 
rest.  He  died  dan.  !».  1886,  and  his  wife,  Susanna 
i  Borrell — spelled  "Boorel"  on  the  tombstone), 
horn  dune  2(1.  1810,  died  Jan.  12,  1881.  They  had 
fourteen  children:  Mary  married  Elias  Rebuck; 
Jonas  married  Ellemina  Snyder;  Samuel  married 
Eliza  Reitz:  Catharine  married  (first)  Godfried 
Rebuck  and  (second)  Andrew  Rebuck;  Christiana 
died  young;  John  married  Polly  Herb:  Susanna 
died  young;  Salome  married  Milton  Drumheller: 
one  son  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth  married  Jared 


NOETHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  IA 


789 


Snyder:  .Michael  married  Alice  Raker;  Harriel 
died  hi  infancy;  Leonard  married  Ellemina  Shaf- 
fer :  1  faniel   married  .Mary  Billman. 

Leonard  Reitz,  son  of  Michael  and  Magdalena 
(Eister),  was  born  Oct.  18,  1822,  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Washington  township,  and  was  a  lifelong 
farmer  there,  lie  worked  for  his  father  until  he 
was  several  years  past  his  majority,  and  then  pur- 
chased  the  homestead,  which  he  farmed  for  several 
years  before  he  sold  it  and  purchased  the  property 
now  owned  by  his  son  Emanuel.  This  tract  con- 
sists of  three  parts,  one  of  thirty-three  acres,  one  of 
thirty-five  acres  and  one  of  fifteen  acres,  and  there 
is  a  fourth  tract  of  fifty  acres  of  woodland,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  133  acre-.  Leonard  Reitz  died  May 
ii.  1903,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  and 
during  his  long  life  he  was  not  only  a  thrifty  farm- 
er but  also  an  active  citizen  of  his  township,  serv- 
ing many  years  as  supervisor  and  as  deacon,  elder 
and  trustee  of  Himmel's  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
Lutheran  member.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
sentiment.  To  him  and  his  wife  Susanna,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  John  Snyder  and  his  wife  (who  was 
a  Schollenberger),  were  horn  six  children:  One 
son  thai  died  in  infancy;  Lydia,  who  married  John 
Brosius;  Emanuel;  one  daughter  that  died  in  in- 
fancy: John,  of  Washington  township;  and  Ed- 
ward, of  Washington  township. 

Em  \\ii:i.  Reitz,  son  of  Leonard,  was  horn  Jan. 
11,  1860,  in  Washington  township,  attended  the 
local  district  schools  and  spent  his  youthful  days 
on  the  home  place,  working  for  his  parents  until 
he  was  twenty-one.  After  he  attained  his  majority 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
lor  fifteen  years,  in  1896  settling  down  to  farming 
upon  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  in  his  native 
township.  He  takes  his  produce  to  Shamokin.  Mr. 
Reitz  is  a  thoroughly  progressive  farmer  and  in- 
terested in  the  public  affairs  of  his  locality  as  well 
us  in  furthering  his  own  prosperity.  For  twelve 
years  he  served  as  auditor  of  his  township,  elected 
to  that  office  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  -He  is  well 
informed  on  the  early  history  of  his  family. 

On  Jan.  9,  1896,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Jane  Drum- 
heller,  daughter  of  Milton  and  Salome  (  Reitz  )^ 
Drumheller,  and  they  have  become  the  parent-  of 
five  children :  One  daughter  that  died  in  infancy; 
Harry  Milton;  Katie  Susanna  and  Annie  Salome. 
twins:  and  Walter  Daniel. 


Jonas  Reitz.  son  of  Michael  and  Magdalena 
l  Ki-toi  |,  was  horn  June  30.  1825,  in  Washington 
township,  on  his  father's  homestead,  and  died 
April  5,  L902,  at  Greenbrier,  to  which  place  he  had 
moved  upon  his  retirement  from  active  life.  He 
long  owned  and  operated  a  tannery  upon  the  farm 
imu  owned  by  Frank  Adam,  and  was  a  thrifty 
and  prosperous  man.  standing  high  among  his  fel- 
low citizens  for  his  upright  and  conscientious  walk 
in  life.     lie  married  Luzetta  Smith,  daughter  of 


Michael  Smith,  ami  she  preceded  him  to  the 
grave,  dying  Aug.  1:',,  1874,  aged  fifty-one  years, 
live  months,  fifteen  days.  They  are  buried  at  Him- 
mel's Church,  which  Mr.  Reitz  served  as  deacon. 
Their  family  consisted  of  three  children:  Eliza- 
beth married  D.  S.  Reitz  and  they  made  their  home 
at  White  Church,  Wyandotte  Co.,  Kans.;  Emma 
married  Tobias  Snyder  and  they  are  prosperous 
farming  people  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township; 
James  S.  married  Sarah  Snyder. 

James  S.  Reitz.  son  of  Jonas,  merchant  and 
postmaster  at  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, was  born  June  10,  1860,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there  and 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  assisting  his  father 
about  the  tannery.  In  the  spring  of  lS7J  he  be- 
gan fanning  in  Washington  township,  following 
that  pursuit  for  seventeen  years  in  his  native  lo- 
cality, for  two  years  cultivating  his  grandfather's 
homestead  and  for  fifteen  years  living  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Lewis  Snyder  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township.  In  1902  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Greenbrier,  succeeding  S.  S.  Smith,  and 
he  has  since  operated  his  general  store  and  also  a 
weekly  huckster  route  to  Shamokin,  where  he  mar- 
kets his  produce.  This  mercantile  stand  is  one  of 
the  oldest  established  in  the  lower  section  of  the 
county,  and  under  Mr.  Reitz's  management  its  pat- 
ronage has  grown  steadily,  his  affability  and  oblig- 
ing disposition  winning  him  customers  and  friends 
from  near  and  far.  He  has  been  postmaster  since 
L902.  For  -i\  years  he  served  as  school  director 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  for  three  years  as 
assessor  of  the  same  township,  and  he  has  long 
been  prominent  in  the  local  activities  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  having  served  as  delegate  to  various 
county  conventions.  He  and  his  family  are  Luth- 
eran members  of  Himmel's  Church,  which  lie  has 
served  as  deacon  and  trustee.  During  the  residence 
of  the  family  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  he  was 
for  fifteen  years  connected  with  St.  John's  Church, 
there,  and  served  as  deacon,  taking  part,  in  the 
various  enterprises  and  movements  of  the  church. 
In  fact,  he  has  been  thoroughly  identified  with  all 
the  phases  of  the  life  of  the  community  as  a  cit- 
izen wdio  is  willing  to  give  of  his  time  and  efforts 
lor  the  general  good. 

In  1880  Mr.  Reitz  married  Sarah  Snyder,  daugh- 
ter id' John  and  Judith  (Diehl)  Snyder,  of  Up 
Mahanoy  township,  and  five  children  have  been 
born  to  them  :  Alice,  wife  of  Jesse  F.  Geist;  John 
II..  who  married  Minnie  A.  Falck;  Charles  IF.  as- 
sistant postmaster  at  Greenbrier  and  also  his  fa- 
ther's assistant  in  the  mercantile  business;  James 
W. :  and  Flossie  J. 


Peter  Reitz,  son  of  Michael  and  Magdalena 
(Eister),  was  the  grandfather  of  Daniel  X.  Reitz, 
of  Lower  Augusta  township.  He  was  a  native  of 
Schwabian  Creek.  Washington  township,  spent  his 


790 


XoRTHUMBFRLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


earlier  manhood  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and 
later  moved  to  Richfield,  Snyder  county,  where  he 
died  and  is  buried.  He  owned  a  farm  and  devoted 
himself  to  agriculture.  Like  the  family  generally, 
lie  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  .Mr.  Reitz 
was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  William;  Mrs.  William  Billif 
Forreston,  Ogle  Co.,  111.:  Ellen,  wife  of  Daniel 
Crelig  ithe}'  moved  out  to  Ohio  by  wagon,  and 
still  live  in  that   State);  Mrs.  Michael   Schollen- 

er,  who  lived  in  Snyder  county;  Mrs.  J 
Bohner.  of  Uniontown;  Mrs.  Isaac  Fenstermacher, 
ni  Georgetown;  Benneville,  of  Ohio:  and  Peter  M. 
To  the  second  marriage  were  born  four  children: 
■  of  Sunbury;  Mrs.  Solomon  Banner,  <>( 
Snyder  county;  Tobias,  of  Adamsburg,  l'a. :  and 
Mrs.  Si  i  on  Sehollenberger,  late  of  Snyder  county. 
Pa.     All  this  family  were  hum  at  Swabian  Creek. 

Peter  M.  Reitz,  son  of  Peter,  learned  the  trade 
of  miller  in  the  original  old  log  mill  at  Sunbury, 
this  county,  commencing  thai  work  when  he  was 
sixteen  and  following  it  until  lie  was  about  thirty- 
eight  years  old.  During  all  this  time  he  was  at 
Sunbury,  operating  what  is  now  known  as  thi  II  aas 
mill,  one  of  the  early  mills  of  the  section.  Then  he 
took  to  farming,  owning  a  place  of  1<H)  acres  in 
Rockefeller  township,  where  he  was  a  substantial 
and  respected  citizen,  deacon,  elder  and  trustee  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  thi  n  Si  -  b  iried  at  Eman- 
uel Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  known  as  the 
Wolfs  Cross  Road  Church. 

Mr.  Reitz  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Elizabeth  Deppen,  who  is  buried  at  the  Lantz 
Church  in  Rockefeller  township.  Two  children 
were  horn  in  tin-  union:  William  Morris,  of  Irish 
Valley:  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  George  Dun- 
kelberger.  By  his  second  union,  to  Catharine  .1 . 
\Y-  iser,  daughter  of  Peter  Weiser,  of  McKees  Half 
Falls,  l'a..  he  had  seven  children:  TJrias  P.,  now 
of  Rockefeller  township;  David  C,  of  Sioux  City. 
Iowa:  Jonathan  E.,  of  Rockefeller  township:  Dan- 
iel X.:  Annie  R.,  married  to  Frazer  Wolf:  Katie 
J.,  married  to  IT.  F.  Miller:  and  Laura  A.,  mar- 
ried to  Bert  Winner.  The  mother  of  this  family, 
born  April  18,  1837.  died  Oct.  19,  1909. 

Daniel  X.  Reitz.  son  of  Peter  M..  was  born 
Nov.  '.'1.  1864,  in  Rockefeller  (then  Lower  Au- 
gusta) township.  Until  he  attained  his  majority 
he  worked  for  his  parent-  on  the  farm  in  his  na- 
tive township,  and  then  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  Daniel  Fasold.  following  that  line  of 
work  for  aboui  fifteen  years,  in  Sunbury.  Slia- 
mokin.  and  the  adjacent  portions  of  Northumber- 
land county.  In  the  spring  of  1901  he  began  to 
farm  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  working  his  own 
place  until  1910.  when  he  sold  it  and  became  farm- 
er Dr.  B.  F.  Wilkinson,  who  has  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  As  may  be 
judged  from  his  present  responsibilities,  Mr.  Reitz 
is  an  intelligent,  modern  farmer,  enterprising  and 


up-to-date  in  all  his  methods  and  thrifty  in  all  bis 
undertakb 

()n  dune   26,    1886,    Mr.   Reitz  was  married 
Clara   A.    (.a--,    daughter   of    Samuel    and    Sarah 
(Dunkelberger)   Gass  and  grandi  i' 

Dunkelberger,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township.  'I 
have  had  three  children:  Domer  A..  Clan  A.  and 
Ora  M.  Mr.  Reitz  and  his  family  are  Lutheran 
members  of  the'Wol  'sCi  —  Road  Church  in  Rock- 
efeller township.  In  political  sentiment  lie  is  a 
Republican. 


Michael  Reitz.  great-grandfather  of  Alvin  P. 
Reitz.  of  Shamokin  boroug*h,  and  of  William  H. 

.  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  was  a  natr 
-  county,  l'a..  and  settled  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  in  1790.     He  died 
Among  his  children  were:     Daniel,  Jona- 
than. Michael,  Peter,  Henry  and  Samuel. 

Henry  Reitz,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  in 
Swabian  Creek.  Washington  township,  and  there 
1  his  earlier  life,  later  moving  to  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  where  he  owned  a  large  farm. 
;\  residence  of  twenty-two  years  in  that  town- 
ship he  returned  to  Swabian  Creek,  where  he  had 
a  small  farm,  and  there  he  remained  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  be  was  past  ninety. 
He  was  a  gunsmith  as  well  as  farmer  and  well 
known  in  his  time.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran congregation  of  Himmel's  Church,  and  is 
buried  at  that  church.  One  of  the  progressive  cit- 
izens of  his  day.  he  served  as  member  of  the  town- 
ship school  board  and  took  an  active  part  in  all 
movements  intended  for  the  advancement  of  the 
■  al  good. 

Mr.  Reitz  was  married  four  times,  his  first  wife 
being  a  Bechtel,  his  second  Maria  Dunkelberger 
(horn  Dec.  23,  1803,  died  dan.  3,  1863),  his  third 
a  T-i  hupp. and  his  fourth  an  Engel  (from  George- 
town, this  county).  One  daughter  was  born  to  the 
union,  Lovina,  who  first  married  a  Mr.  Fister, 
later  a  Mr.  Hayes.  By  hi-  second  union  there 
were  three  children:  Sarah.  Adam  D.  and  Joseph. 
There  were  no  children  of  the  third  and  fourth 
marri.  ■. 

Adam  D.  Reitz.  son  of  Henry,  was  horn  May  6, 
1  -  16,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  died  March 
'2'.'.  1885.  IF'  i-  buried  at  the  Union  Church  in 
Hollowing  Run,  in  Lower  Augusta  township.  The 
greater  part  of  the  time  he  was  engaged  as  a  la- 
.  though  he  owned  a  tract  of  land  for  some 
years.  He  married  Mary  Raker,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Kate  (Zartman)  Raker,  and  she  survives 
him.  now  making  her  home  at  Trevorton.  She 
has  reached  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years  (1910). 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam 
D.  Reitz:     William  H.,  Dennis  and  Galen. 

William  IT.  Reitz.  a  resident  of  Little  Mahanoy 
township,  was  horn  March  1"?.  1862,  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  where  he  was  reared,  living  there 


xortiiumberlaxd  county,  Pennsylvania 


;:n 


until  he  reached  the'  age  of  sixteen.  ('Mining  to 
Little  Mahanoy,  he  worked  among  farmers  until 
in-  was  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  was  married 
and  went  t<>  Shamokin.  There  he  drove  a  wagon 
for  Si  Her,  Zimmerman  &  Co..  for  whom  lie  worked 
-.Mil  years  and  three  months.  For  some  months 
he  was  fireman  for  an  electric  light  company,  then 
drove  a  team  for  Acker,  Schleyman  &  Co..  until 
his  return  to  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
purchased  a  trad  of  ten  acres  upon  which  he  built 
a  house  ami  settled.  He  raised  garden  truck  anj 
huckstered  to  Shamokin  for  eighi  years,  a1  the  end 
of  which  time  he  began  working  for  the  Trevorton 
Coal  Land  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  has  since 
continued.  He  sold  Ins  property  just  mentioned  to 
thai  company  and  has  since  purchased  a  L2fe-acre 
tract   near  by. 

(to  Feb.  11.  iss:;.  Mr.  Reitz  married  Miranda 
Peifer,  daughter  of  George  Peifer,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Sylvan.  Victor  ami  Jennie.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  Emanuel  Lutheran 
Church  in  Little  Mahanoy.     Mr.  Reitz  has  served 

s years  a-  a   school   director  of  that   township. 

lie  i-  a  I  lemocral  in  political  faith. 

Joseph  Reitz,  son  of  Henry  and  brother  of 
Adam  D..  was  horn  in  1843  at  Fisher's  Ferry,  and 
died  .Ian.  21,  1908.  He  is  buried  at  Emanuel 
Lutheran  Church  in  Little  Mahanoy  township.  Mr. 
Reitz  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  township. 
He  was  engaged  in  business  as  a  merchant  at 
Domsife.  ami  also  followed  farming,  retiring  from 
active  work  a  few  years  before  his  death.  His  effi- 
eiein  si  twice  in  various  township  offices  made  him 
a  well  known  figure  in  local  public  affairs,  he  hav- 
ing served  as  member  of  the  school  board,  oxer- 
seer  of  the  poor  and  supervisor.  In  religious  mat- 
ters he  was  a  Lutheran.  He  married  Catharine 
Peifer,  daughter  of  George  Peifer,  of  Little  Ma- 
hanoy township,  and  she  still  survives,  making  her 
home  ai  Dornsife.  Six  children  were  horn  to  this 
marriage:  Daniel  P.  (who  died  Aug.  -.'it.  1900, 
aged  thirty-six  years,  one  month),  AlvinP.,  Ceorge 
('..f  Dornsife)'.  Edward  (of  Dornsife).,  Joseph 
(who  is  connected  with  the  East  End  Lumber  Com- 
pany, of  Shamokin)   and  Gertrude  (at  home). 

Ai.vix  P.  Reitz,  general  manager  of  the  East 
End  Lumber  Company  of  Shamokin,  was  born  in 
Imi;  at  Mine  1,'un.  in  Lower  Augusta  township. 
and  obtained  his  early  education  in  (lie  schools  of 
the  In. me  locality.  Later  he  studied  at  Muhlen- 
berg College,  Alientown,  Pa.  He  has  since  made 
his'  home  in  Shamokin.  For  a  time  he  was  em- 
ployed as  brakeman  on  a  passenger  train,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  was  the 
l.e-imiin-  of  his  present  interest  in  the  contracting 
and  building  line.  In  1892  he  commenced  con- 
tracting, and  in  1903  formed  a  partnership  with 
John  D.  Hilbush.  with  whom  he  is  still  assoi  i: 
They  did  a  prosperous  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Reitz  &  Hilbush  until  1906,  when  they 


formed  what  is  now  known  a-  the  Fast  End  Lum- 
ber Company,  incorporating  with  a  capital  of  $75,- 
ono.  Jn  addition  to  contracting  ami  building  they 
conduct  an  extensive  planing  mill  business  and  re- 
tail lumber,  giving  employmeni  in  these  various 
lines  to  a  force  of  eighty  men.  The  company  has 
it<  office  and  business  headquarters  at  No.  301 
Franklin  street.  Shamokin,  ami  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing (MneefJisol  the  kind  in  this  section  of  iVnn- 
s^<ania.  Its  reputation  for  high-class  and  thor- 
oughly up-to-date  work  is  firmly  established,  and 
the  standing  of  the  individual  members  of  the 
company  i-  sufficient  guarantee  for  its  standards 
ami  responsibility.  The  officers  of  the  company 
are:  F.  D.  Raker,  president;  E.  Raker,  secretary: 
.1.  I).  Hilbush,  treasurer;  ami  A.  1'.  Reitz,  general 
manager.  Mr.  Reitz  devotes  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  business  of  the  com- 
pany. Inn  he  is  interested  in  the  general  business 
prosperity  of  the  borough,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Merchant-'  Association.  Socially  he  unites  with 
the  local  lodge  of   Elks  ami  with  the  lied  Men. 

Mr.  Reitz  married  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Zartman, 
of  Shamokin.  and  they  have  one  son,  Harry  El- 
wood,  who  was  horn  in  1901. 


David  Reitz.  son  of  (Johann)  Michael,  grandson 
of  Michael,  and  great-grandson  of  George,  the  pi- 
oneer of  the  family  in  Northumberland  county, 
was  the  grandfather  of  John  L.,  David  W.  and 
Charles  .1.  Reitz,  brothers,  the  first  named  a  busi- 
aess  man  of  Mount  Carmel,  the  second  a  resident 
of  Pillow,  near  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  the  last 
named  a  resident  of  Little  Mahanoy  township. 

William  Reitz.  -on  of  David,  has  always  lived 
at  Greenbrier,  in  Washington  township,  in  which 
township  his  father  also  lived.  William  Reitz  was 
a  well  known  merchant  of  that  place  during  his 
active  years,  and  is  now  living  retired.  He  mar- 
ried Susanna  Raker,  ami  to  them  were  born  four 
children :  Katie,  John  L„  David  W.  and 
Charles  J. 

John  L.  Reitz,  son  of  William  and  Susanna 
(Raker)  Reitz.  was  born  in  1876  near  Greenbrier 
ami  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that 
locality.  He  was  engaged  with  his  father  until 
he  came  to  Mount  Carmel,  driving  a  huckster 
wagon  for  some  time.  On  March  lo,  1900,  he 
settled  in  Mount  Carmel.  which  has  since 
his  home.  Several  years  later  he  engaged  in  the 
produce  business  there  in  partnership  with  E.  R. 
Reitz.  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  R.  &  .1.  L.  Reitz. 
later  buying  out  his  partner's  interest.  He  has 
since  continued  the  husiness  ,>n  his  own  account 
as  a  wholesale  produce  dealer.  ha\  ing  now  the  lead- 
ing trade  of  the  kind  in  the  borough.  Mr.  Reitz 
is  located  in  a  fine  building  near  the  Reading  sta- 
tion, which  he  erect..!  in  L902.  Me  is  one  of  the 
substantia]  and  respected  young  business  men  of 
place,  where  he  has  -nine, I   high  standing  and 


792 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  by  his  upright 
methods  and  earnest  efforts  to  eater  to  the  wants 
of  a  large  and  growing  patronage.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Elks.  Odd  Fellows  and  K.  of  M. 

Mr.  Reitz  married  Elizabeth  Swalm  (also  writ- 
ten Schwalm),  and  to  them  have  been  born  five 
children :  William,  Charles.  Grace.  Katie  and  Bes- 
sie. The  familv  are  identified  with  the  Reformed 
Church. 

David  W.  Reitz,  son  of  William  and  Susanna 
(Raker)  Reitz.  was  born  May  23,  1880.  He  was 
reared  in  the  vicinity  of  Rebuck,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality.  After 
his  service  in  the  Spanish  war  he  began  work  as 
Lerk  in  the  store  of  E.  R.  Reitz.  who  was  then 
doing  business  at  Rebuck,  remaining  with  him  for 
six  years.  He  then  married  and  moved  to  Mount 
Carmel.  where  for  one  year  he  was  employed  by 
his  brother  John  L.  Reitz.  in  the  produce  business. 
The  next  year  he  and  his  younger  brother,  Charles 
J.  Reitz,  bought  the  stock,  fixtures  and  good-will 
of  his  former  employer,  E.  R.  Reitz.  continuing 
the  business  at  Rebuck  for  about  three  years. 
David  W.  Reitz  was  next  engaged  as  proprietor 
of  the  •"Glenn  House,"  at  Lykens,  which  he  bought 
from  Galen  &  Bingaman,  conducting  that  place 
for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  settled 
in  Uniontown  (Pillow),  which  is  just  across  the 
Northumberland  county  line  in  Dauphin  county. 
Here  he  became  proprietor  of  the  "National 
Hotel,"  buying  the  stock  and  fixtures  from  his 
brother,  Charles  J.  Reitz.  and  the  hotel  from  Wil- 
liam H.  Deibler.  It  is  one  of  the  old  established 
stands  in  this  section,  and  draws  an  excellent  pat- 
ronage from  the  surrounding  territory.  Mr.  Reitz 
has  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  patrons  by  obliging  service  and  upright 
business  methods.  During  his  residence  in  Wash- 
ington township  he  took  considerable  interest  in 
public  affairs,  serving  as  treasurer  of  the  town- 
ship and  as  treasurer  for  the  road  supervisors,  and 
he  was  quite  active  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  Lafayette  Lodge.  No. 
194,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Selinsgrove,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  551,  I.  0.  <>.  F.,  of  Mahanoy.  Pa.,  which  latter 
Lnization  he  joined  May  30.  1900.  He  and  his 
family  are  Lutheran  members  of  Himmel"s  Church. 

During  the  Spanish-American  war  Mr.  Reitz 
enlisted  in  Company  A.  '21st  Infantry.  Regular 
Army.  July  '!'■'•.  1898,  at  Shamokin.  He  served 
for  a  time  at  Fort  Mcpherson,  and  was  returned 
to  that  point  after  being  taken  ill  with  typhoid 
at  Lithia  Springs,  Ga.,  being  eventually  granted 
a  furlough  until  his  recovery.  After  regaining  his 
health  he  reported  at  Fort  Monroe,  theme  weni 
to  Plattsburg,  to  rejoin  his  command,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, (.899    received  an  honorable  discharge. 

In    1901    Mi-.    Reitz    married    Dora    Sehreffler, 

lite:   of  John  and  Caroline  (Keaffer)   Schref- 

fler,  of  Washington  township.    They  have  had  four 


children:  Anna  C,  Lewis  (who  died  in  infancy), 
Katie  S.  and  Edna  C. 

Chakles  J.  Reitz,  of  Dornsife,  merchant  and 
proprietor  of  the  "Dornsife  Hotel."  was  born  April 
30,  1884,  at  Rebuck,  in  Washington  township,  -on 
of  William  and  Susanna  (Raker)  Reitz.  He  was 
educated  in  the  local  schools  and  when  fourteen 
ye&rs  old  began  clerking,  his  first  position  being 
with  Samuel  Hetrieh,  at  Leek  Kill.  After  two 
year.-'  employment  there  he  went  to  Allentown  and 
clerked  in  several  -  -  re,  remaining  in  that 
city  for  several  years.  Returning  to  Rebuck  he 
clerked  there  two  years  for  E.  R.  Reitz,  until  he 
and  his  brother  David  W.  formed  a  partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  Reitz  Brothers,  and  pur- 
chased the  goodwill,  stock  and  fixtures  of  E.  K. 
Reitz  (the  lower  store).  Three  years  later  Charles 
J.  Reitz  bought  his  brothers  interest  and  for  one 
years  continued  the  store  alone.  The  next  year  he 
was  at  Pillow,  where  he  conducted  the  "National 
Hotel"  for  one  year,  and  then  purchased  the -stock, 
good-will  and  fixtures  of  Fred  R.  Dornsife  at 
Dornsife,  where  he  is  now  doing  a  thriving  mer- 
cantile business.  He  carries  a  comprehensive  gen- 
eral stock,  and  employs  two  clerks.  His  hotel 
"  v-  is  also  prospering,  and  he  is  considered 
one  of  the  rising  voting  business  men  of  the  place. 

On  March  IT,  1903.  Mr.  Reitz  married  Bertha 
M.  Hetrieh,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Alice  (Lat- 
sha)  Hetrieh,  and  they  have  had  one  child,  Har- 
old W.  The  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  Him- 
mel"s  Church.  Mr.  Reitz  is  well  known  in  the  fra- 
ternities as  a  member  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  194, 
P.  &  A.  M..  of  Selinsgrove;  of  Mahanoy  Lodge, 
No.  55,  I.  0.  0.  F.:  of  Livingston  Castle,  No.  258, 
K.  G.  E.,  of  Allentown;  and  of  the  State  Grange 
at  Greenbrier.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
has  taken  some  part  in  local  affairs,  having  served 
as  treasurer  for  the  road  supervisors  and  overseers 
of  the  poor  of  Washington  township. 


Jacob  Reitz,  grandfather  of  Daniel  Z.  Reitz,  of 
Little  Mahanoy  township,  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton township  in  the  Himmel  Church  neighbor- 
.  son  of  Andraes  Reitz.  He  lived  on  the  farm 
now  owmd  by  Andrew  Bucher,  near  St.  Peter's 
Church,  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  died 
there:  he  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Ma- 
hanoy. He  and  his  wife.  Mary  (Hepler),  had 
children  as  follows:  Jacob.  Benjamin.  Daniel  H., 
Samuel.  Isaac  (married  Lydia  Lenker.  born  July 
18,  1825,  died  March  5,  1852),  Joseph.  Zetic 
(1829-1855),  Catharine  (married  John  Fegley), 
Maricha  (married  George  Miller),  Lydia  (mar- 
ried Henry  Dressier)  and  Mrs.  Si 

Daniel  H.  Reitz,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  and  lived  on  the  place  in 
Little  Mahanoy  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his 
son  Daniel.  He  cultivated  that  place,  a  tract  of 
100  acres,  but  he  was  best  known  as  a  carpenter, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


793 


■which  trade  he  followed  practically  all  his  life.  In 
this  capacity  he  built  many  houses  and  bams  in 
In-  earlier  manhood,  later  doing  shop  work,  mak- 
ing chairs  and  other  furniture,  and  as  he  was  a 
very  skillful  workman  he  also  made  coffins,  which 
■was  a  great  advantage,,  as  he  had  considerable  busi- 
ness in  the  undertaking  line;  he  was  called  upon 
to  bury  many  people.  He  was  also  active  in  local 
public  matters,  serving  as  supervisor  and  as  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  and  he  and  his  family  were  lead- 
ing members  of  St.  John's  United  Evangelical 
Church  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  which  he 
served  as  class-leader  and  exhorter.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war,  after  which  he  joined  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Kelt/  married  Harriet  Zartman,  daughter 
of  William  Zartman  (whose  wife  was  a  Herb),  and 
-lie  ~ii r \  ived  him.  dying  Jan.  21, 1899,  aged  eighty- 
three  year-,  four  months,  nineteen  days.  Mr. 
Reitz  died  May  13,  1889,  aged  seventy-five  years, 
nine  months,  twelve  days,  and  they  are  buried 
at  the  church  above  mentioned.  They  were  the 
parents  of  thirteen  children:  One  sun  died  in 
infancy;  Amanda  died  young;  Eliza  died  young; 
Elemina  is  unmarried;  Harriet  married  Jeremiah 
Wagner;  Isaac  is  a  resident  of  Uniontown,  Pa.; 
Sarah  married  Isaac  Baddorf;  Abby  married  Jer- 
emiah Weaver:  Daniel  Z.  is  mentioned  below;  Lu- 
eimla  married  Reily  Heekert;  Mary  Ann  died  aged 
thirteen  year-:  Rebecca  married  Alfred  Baker; 
one  son  died  in  infancy. 

Daniel  Z.  Reitz  was  born  Nov.  28,  1851,  on 
the  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township  where  he  still 
makes  his  home.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
local  schools  and  was  reared  to  farming,  after  he 
was  twenty-one  receiving  pay  tor  his  services  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-six.  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  place,  running  it  ten  years  for  his 
father.  After  his  father'-  death  he  cultivated  it 
ten  years  for  his  widowed  mother,  and  since  about 
1899  he  has  farmed  it  on  his  own  account,  being 
now  the  owner  of  the  property.  He  is  a  progress- 
ive agriculturist,  and  has  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements on  the  place,  which  is  in  excellent  con- 
dition. Mr.  Reitz  has  proved  himself  an  intelli- 
-gent  and  useful  citizen,  and  has  served  in  the 
various  offices  of  school  director,  supervisor  and 
auditor  with   satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 

On  May  17,  1879,  Mr.  Reitz  married  Laura  E. 
Baker,  daughter  of  Isaac  D.  and  Phoebe  Ann  (Wit- 
men  Raker,  of  Little  Mahanoy,  who  died  in  Sha- 
mokin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eeitz  have  a  family  of  four 
children:  Herbert  X.  married  Maggie  Miller  and 
has  two  children,  Laura  M.  and  Casaline  L. ; 
Landis  I.,  married  Amelia  M.  Peifer  and  has  a 
daughter,  Alma  A.:  Edwin  P.  has  been  an  invalid 
since  1904  ;  1».  Elmer  is  a  clerk  at  Lebanon,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peitz  were  among  the  last  n 
!  bers  of  St.  John's  U.  E.  Church  in  Little  Mahanoy. 


\<>  services  have  I n  held  there  since  1905.    Eev. 

Palph  Deibert  was  the  last  pastor. 

SHAFFER  or  SCHAFPEE.  The  Northum- 
berland county  family  hearing  this  name,  in  the 
Mahanoy  region  and  in  Jordan  township,  was  es- 
tablished in  that  section  before  the  organization 
of  the  county,  in  1772,  and  was  founded  in  Amer- 
ica by  Frantz  Schaffer.  The  first  two  or  three 
generations  in  tins  country  lived  about  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  and  the  valley  to  this  day  is  known 
to  the  ohler  residents  as  "Schaffersdale."  Nearly 
all  the  land  in  one  section  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship was  owned  by  members  of  this  family.  The 
name  is  found  with  various  spellings,  the  most 
common  forms  being  Shaffer,  Shafer,  Schaffer  and 
Schafer.  This  family  has  no  connection,  so  far 
as  is  known,  with  the  Sehaeffer  family  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  of  which  Rev.  Nathan  ('.  Sehaeffer, 
Ph.  D.,  D.  I).,  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion of  Pennsylvania,  is  a  member;  nor  with  the 
Schaffers  well  represented  across  the  Susquehanna 
river,  in  Snyder  county. 

Frantz  Schaffer  and  his  wife  Elisahetha,  of  Ger- 
many, had  two  sons.  Jacob  Conrad  and  Wilhelm. 
Frantz  Schaffer  determined  to  try  his  fortunes 
in  America,  but  his  wife  was  steadfastly  resolved 
to  remain  in  the  Fatherland.  So  settled  was  each 
in  the  conviction  of  right  that  they  divided  their 
worldly  effects  with  the  idea  of  separating,  the 
father  to  have  the  elder  son  to  accompany  him  to 
the  New  World,  the  mother  to  keep  the  younger 
boy,  Wilhelm.  The  wife  and  son  Wilhelm  accom- 
panied the  father  and  elder  son  to  the  port  of 
embarkation.  The  vessel  was  receiving  its  pas- 
sengers. But  when  the  time  came  to  say  good- 
bye the  wife  weakened.  The  memories  of  happy 
and  pleasant  days  in  the  pasl  could  not  be  shaken 
off  so  easily.  She  concluded  that  if  her  husband 
could  support  himself  and  one  son  he  could  also 
support  her  and  the  other  son.  with  her  help,  and 
she  joined  him  in  the  journey  at  the  last  moment. 
They  landed  at  Philadelphia,  before  the  opening 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  before  1800  they 
were  settled  in  what  is  now  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  Co.,  I'a..  in  the  vicinity  of 
Zion's  Church  in  Stone  Valley,  in  the  graveyard  of 
which  church,  at  the  old  west  end.  rest  the  re- 
mains of  these   | teers,  who  were   the   founders 

of  a  large  and  respected  posterity.  Their  names 
appear  upon  the  tombstone  of  their  son  Jacob  I 
rad  Schaffer,  who  was  born  Aug.  7,  1762;  their 
other  son.  Wilhelm.  was  hoi  ii  \].r,  28,  L764.  The 
Schaffers  were  called  "Swopes,"  as  manj  natives  of 
Wurtemberg  were  knov  irentlj  a  Pennsyl- 
vania-Get man  corrupt] if  the  German  "Schwab." 

I  ii  .,  endants  of  bol  h  of  i  he  sons  of  i  hese  early 
settlers  are  still  numerous  in  the  region  where  they 
made  their  home. 

Jacob  Conrad  Schaffi  r,    on  of  Frantz  and  Elis- 


794 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


abetha,  was  born  Aug.  T.  1762,  and  died  Sept.  11, 
1822,  in  Lower  Mariano)'  township,  where  he  is 
buried,  at  Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church.  He  lived 
in  that  township,  where  he  owned  land  and  fol- 
lowed  farming.  Among  his  children  were  two 
sons:  Jacob,  of  whom  we  have  no  records;  and 
Mil  hael. 

Michael  Schaffer,  sun  of  Jacob  Conrad,  was 
born  and  reared  near  Stone  Valley  Church,  and 
lived  there  for  somi  years.  Then  he  moved  to 
Jordan  township,  where  he  lived  on  a  farm  now 
owned  by  a  Walborn,  a  large  tract  near  Union- 
i  iwn  (  Pillow).  He  died  there,  and  was  buried  at 
the  Stone  Valley  Church,  where  so  many  of  the 
family  have  found  their  last  resting  place.  A 
number  of  the  later  generations,  however,  are  bur- 
ied at  Hebe  and  other  churches  in  the  surrounding 
townships.  Michael  Schaffer  was  married  three 
times:  His  first  wife,  Rosanna  Witmer,  who  died 
April  24,  1836,  bore  him  children  as  follows:  Ja- 
cob,  Michael.  Joseph,  Samuel  and  Daniel.  By  his 
second  marriage,  to  Elizabeth  Wert,  he  had  three 
children:  Philip,  Elizabeth  (married  Joseph  Sel- 
ler) and  Susanna  (married  William  Deppen).  By 
the  third  wife,  Susanna  Weed,  there  were  no  chil- 
dren. (Another  account  says  Elizabeth  was  born 
to  the  first  marriage  and  Daniel  to  the  second.) 
All  of  Mr.  Michael  Schaffer's  family  lived  in  the 
Mahantango  Valle\ . 

Jacob  C.  Schaffer,  grandfather  of  Elias  Z.  Shaf- 
fer, a  farmer  and  lumber  merchant  of  Jordan 
township,  was  born  Feb.  23,  1793,  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  near  Pillow,  and  died  at  George- 
town (Dalmatia)  in  1832.  He  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  but  also  farmed  and  dealt  in  lumber,  being 
an  active  and  enterprising  man  and  successful  in 
his  undertakings.  To  him  and  Ins  wife,  Lydia 
(Lahr),  were  horn  the  following  children:  Wil- 
liam L.,  Elizabeth  (married  Simon  Lenker)  and 
Sarah  (married  i  feorge  Seiler  |. 

William  L.  Schaffer,  son  of  Jacob  C.  Schaffer, 
was  horn  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
passed  all  his  life,  dying  in  1906.  He  is  buried 
at  St.  Paul's  Church,  at  Urban,  and  was  a  Luth- 
eran member  of  that  church.  He  was  a  man  of 
medium  size,  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  retirement,  and  also  farmed,  own- 
ing a  tract  of  twenty-live  acres  which  he  culti- 
vated industriously  and  profitably.  He  served  as 
supervisor  of  his  township  and  held  other  public 
positions,  being  identified  with  official  affairs  in  his 
locality  for  many  years,  tin  April  -'in.  1857,  he 
married,  at  Lvkens  Valley.  Catharine  Zerhe.  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Zerbe,  of  Lower  Mahanoy.  and  she 
survives  him,  now  making  her  home  at  Mount 
Carmel.  She  is  now  (1910)  sixty-nine  years  of 
age.  Eight  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  L.  Schaffer,  three  of  whom  died  young, 
the  others  being:  Mary,  who  married  Thomas 
Hunsicker  and   (second)   .Tames  McArdle ;  Sarah. 


who  married  George  Blanche;  Elias  Z. :  Rebecca, 
who  married  dona-  Zerbe;  and  Jacob,  of  Jordan 

tow  nship. 

Elias  Z.  Shaffer,  farmer  and  Lumber  merchant 
of  Jordan  township,  Northumberland  county,  was 
born  Aug.  If.  1862,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
-on  of  William  L.  Schaffer.  He  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  locality,  receiving  a  prac- 
tical common  school  training,  and  in  1882  began 
farming  independently  in  Jordan  township,  where 
he  sras  a  tenant  for  the  following  ten  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  period  he  purchased  the  place 
where  he  has  since  resided,  having  16?  acres  which 
he  has  cultivated  successfully.  It  was  formerly 
the  homestead  id'  John  Daniel,  who  owned  it  for 
many  years,  and  before  whose  day  one  Rubendall 
He  own-  al-o  n  -mall  tract  of  farm 
land  in  Jordan  township),  on  which  there  is  a 
.  and  which  hi1  rents.  Since  1900  Mr.  Shaf- 
fer has  also  been  interested  in  lumbering,  in  which 
line  he  has  made  good  by  strict  attention  to  busi- 
ness  and   g I   judgment  in   both  the  acquisition 

of  desirable  holdings  and  the  handling  of  his 
product.  He  has  seventy-sis  a<  res  of  timberland  in 
his  home  township  (besides  his  farm  properties); 
eighty  acres  of  timberland  in  Schuylkill  county, 
and  fifty-four  acres  in  Dauphin  county.  He  has 
employed  as  many  as  twenty  men  in  his  lumber- 
ing operations,  and  ship-  most  of  his  lumber  into 
oal  regions  of  this  State.  A  self-made  man 
in  the  most  creditable  sense  of  that  term,  he  is 
iioi  only  known  as  a  successful  fanner  and  busi- 
ness  man  hut  also  one  of  the  influential  public  cit- 
izens of  his  district,  having  served  as  supervisor 
and  being  at  present  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  his  town-hip.  though  he  is  a  Republican  in  a 
Democratic  community.  He  is  Republican  com- 
mitteeman of  Jordan  township. 

On  Aug.  13,  1880,  Mr.  Shaffer  married  Sarah 
E.  Host,  who  was  born  Aug.  11.  1862  (on  the  same 
day  as  her  husband),  daughter  of  George  S.  and 
Rebecca  (  Docker )  Host,  and  died  March  13,  1910. 
She  is  buried  at  Urban.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaffer  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children:  Poster,  of  Ur- 
ban, who-  married  .Minnie  Wentzel ;  George,  who 
resides  at  home:  Carrie  M..  wife  of  Charles  Klock : 
John  Jacob.  Mary  C.  and  Elias  A.,  all  at  home. 
Mr.  Shaffer  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Urban,  in  whose  work  he 
has  fieri  very  active,  having  served  as  deacon  for 
six  years  and  as  elder  eight  years. 


We  have  the  following  record  of  the  sons  of 
Michael  Schaffer.  son  of  Jacob  Conrad  and  grand- 
son of  Frantz.  the  emigrant. 

Michael  was  a  farmer  near  Stone  Valley  Church, 
his  farm  there  being  -till  owned  by  his  estate.  To 
him  and  his  wife  Rebecca  (Bohner)  were  born  chil- 
dren :  Henry.  Levi.  Michael.  Benjamin.  Sarah  and 
Lydia. 


X  ( (ETHUM  BERLA  X  I )  COUNT  Y,  PENNSYLVA  X I A 


795 


Joseph  was  also  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  Vera 
Cruz,  where  lie  is  buried.  He  was  twice  married, 
and  had  an  only  son,  George,  who  died  when  young. 

Daniel  lived  in  Jordan  township,  where  he  was 
a  shoemaker  ami  owned  a  small  farm.  He  is  buried 
at  Behe.  His  wife  was  P0II3  Bohner,  ami  among 
their  children  were  Sarah,  Sevilla  and  Emma. 
(There  is  a  Daniel  \V.  Shaffer  buried  al  Hebe,  who 
died  July  is.  L905,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  four 

1 iths,  twenty  days.    "Frany,"  his  wife,  died  Aug. 

Hi,  1906,  aged  sixty-one  years,  two  months,  twen- 
ty-three ill'.  -  1 

Philip  was  a  carpenter  and  lived  and  died  at 
Millersburg,  Pa.  He  was  married  twice  and  had 
children. 

Samuel  was  a  native  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, where  he  also  died,  hut  he  passed  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  Jordan  township,  whither  he 
came  when  fifteen  years  "Id.  He  owned  a  small 
farm.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Rubehdall),  died  lie- 
fore  him,  and  is  buried  at  (Jniontown,  his  grave 
being  at  Stone  Valley  Church.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican, served  as  supervisor  of  Jordan  township,  and 
was  active  in  church,  holding  many  offices,  deacon, 
elder,  trustee,  etc.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
ten  children,  viz.:  Sarah,  Michael,  Frank.  Eliz- 
abeth, Catharine,  Malinda,  Emma,  Samuel.  Isaac, 
and  a  daughter  that  died  young,     of  this  family 

Samuel  Schaffer,  born  Aug.  ".'!•,  1843,  settled 
in  Cower  Mahanoy  in  1888,  and  has  since  lived 
there,  on  a  trait  of  twenty-two  acres.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  held  the  offices  of  constable  and 
school  director.  In  about  1870  he  married  Jes- 
tina  Bohner,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Bohner.  and 
they  have  had  ten  children:  A  son  that  died  in 
infancy.  Ida.  Harvey,  Emma,  Sevilla.  Kate,  Maud, 
Daniel,  Edwin  and  Annie. 


Wilhelm  Schaffer,  younger  son  of  Frantz,  the 
emigrant,  was  horn  in  the  Fatherland  May  28, 
L764,  ami  died  March  29,  1835,  111  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township.  Northumberland  county.  He  and 
his  wife  Sarah  ("Witmer)  are  buried  at  the  Stone 
Valley  Church.  She  was  bom  Aug.  24,  1767. 
daughter  of  Christophel  and  Christina  Witmer. 
and  died  on  her  eighty-fifth  birthday,  in  1852. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaffer  were  farming  people,  liv- 
ing upon  and  owning  the  tract  which  now  belongs 
to  Monroe  Kiehl.  Their  children  were:  John, 
Jacob.  George,  William.  Daniel.  Sarah  (married 
Jacob  Carl)  ami  Catharine  (married  Heinrich 
Lentz).  Of  this  family,  John,  Jacob  and  Ceorge 
are  more  fully  mentioned  below.  William  (son 
of  Wilhelm)  married  a  Lenker  and  had  children: 
William.  Isaac  (who  lived  near  Vera  Cruz).  Sarah. 
Polly  (Mrs.  Josiah  Schwartz)  and  Elizabeth  (who 
first  married  a  Lahr  and  later  became  the  wife 
of  Reuben  Lauer).  Daniel  married  Sarah  Dopse 
and   their  children  were:     Moses,   Harry.   David, 


Mary  (married  Aaron  Seiler)  and  Folly  (who 
married  Joseph  Lauer). 

John  Schaffer,  son  of  Wilhelm,  was  a  farmer  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  married  Chris- 
tina Lenker.  who  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-three 
years  old.  and  they  are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church.  Their  children,  all  born  near  Byerly's 
hotel,  were  as  follows:  John  (married  .lane  Man- 
tilles).  Josiah,  David  (who  died  aged  nineteen 
years).  Catharine  (married  Frederick  Kissling), 
Sarah  (married  Samuel  Byerly)  and  Anna  (mar- 
ried Abraham  Troutman). 

Josiah  Schaffer,  son  id'  John,  was  horn  Nov.  1'-'. 
1827,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  also 
died.  From  1860  he  lived  on  the  farm  where  his 
death  occurred  Oct.  24,  1909,  the  result  of  a  fall 
fii mi  .1  31  1  ond  story  window:  he  was  ill  at  the  time. 
During  his  active  years  he1  followed  farming,  and 
he  was  a  well  known  citizen  of  his  locality,  having 
served  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee  of  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  where  he  is  buried.  In  1857  he 
married  Harriet  Otto,  daughter  of  John  and  Re- 
becca (Crow)  Otto,  and  she  survi\es  him.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  children  :  Washington, 
now  of  Lykens,  Fa.:  Lillie  R. :  C.  Anna:  and 
Landis  J.,  of  Sunbury. 


Jacob  Schaffer,  -on  of  Wilhelm.  lived  at  Hick- 
ory Corners.  He  had  children:  Elizabeth,  Sallie 
(Mrs.  Isaac  Deppen),  Magdalena  (Mrs.  James 
Finkbone).  Catharine.  William.  Susanna  (Mrs. 
William  Reed),  Abraham  and  Solomon.  Mrs. 
William  Reed,  who  lives  somewhere  in  Dakota,  is 
now  the  only  survivor  of  this  family. 

Solomon  Schaffer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  Dec.  29,  1821,  and  died  July  14, 
1891,  in  his  seventieth  year.  lie  is  buried  at  the 
Stone  Valley  Church.  He  was  a  stonemason,  and 
followed  his  trade  at  Hickory  Corners,  where  he 
lived  for  a  number  of  years,  thence  moving  to  Ly- 
kens Valley,  in  Dauphin  county,  where  be  owned  a 
place  "F  100  acre-  which  he  farmed  for  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  the  farm  for  $11,- 
000,  at  a  profit  of  $1,000,  and  it  is  now  owned  by 
Charles  Phillips.  Moving  back  into  the  Mahan- 
tango  Valley,  be  passed  the  remainder  of  bis  life 
on  the  Wert  farm,  where  he  died,  lie  was  an  in- 
fluential man  in  the  community  in  his  day.  serv- 
ing as  school  director,  overseer  of  the  poor.  etc.. 
and  was  prominent  in  church  work  even  in  his  old 
age,  serving  as  deacon,  elder,  etc..  ai  the  Stone 
Valley  Church.  Hi-  wife.  Susanna  (Hepner), 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Magdalena  (Lenker)  Hep- 
ner.' was  horn  Aug.  26,  L832,  ami  died  O.J.  19, 
1904.  To  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Solomon  Schaffer  were 
born  the  following  children :  Daniel  ('..  twin  30ns 
who  died  in  infancy.  Sarah  E.,  William  H.  1  de- 
ceased ) .  Peter  M..  Jacob  IL.  Mary  Magdalena, 
Emma  J..  Solomon  <i.  and  Jonathan  D. 


796 


XOPTHUMBEKLAXD  COUXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Jacob  H.  Sciiaffki;.  son  of  Solomon,  is  a  farm- 
er in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was 
born,  at  Hickory  Corners,  Dee.  12,  1858.  He  was 
reared  to  fanning,  and  continued  to  work  for  his 
parents  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years.  He  then  left  home  to  work  in  the  lumber 
district,  where  he  was  engaged  in  assorting  lum- 
ber, at  Williamsport,  for  six  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  associated  with  F.  H.  Seaman,  with 
whom  he  worked  daily  while  away  from  home. 
Returning  to  his  native  place,  he  labored  for  sev- 
eral years  before  he  bought  his  farm  of  100  acres, 
which  was  originally  a  Wertz  homestead,  later 
owned  by  the  Lenker  family  and  afterward  by  a 
Campbell.  The  present  barn  on  the  property  was 
built  by  John  Wertz  in  1857.  Mr.  Schaffer  is  an 
industrious,  prosperous  and  much  esteemed  cit- 
izen of  his  township,  which  he  served  as  supervisor 
in  189:3  and  as  school  director,  being  also  secre- 
tary of  the  board.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  where  he  is  a  well  known  worker, 
being  at  present  a  trustee  of  his  congregation;  he 
was  formerly  a  deacon. 

In  1882  Mr.  Schaffer  married  Amelia  Fetterolf, 
and  to  them  was  born  one  son,  Charles  F.  Mrs. 
Schaffer  died  May  14.  1900,  aged  thirty-nine  vears. 
On  Oct.  3,  1903,  Mr.  Schaffer  married  (second) 
Miranda  Stepp,  who  died  Oct.  -">.  1905,  and  on  Oct. 
lit.  1907,  Mr.  Schaffer  married  Sarah  Jane  Schleg- 
el,  daughter  of  Abraham  Schlegel. 

Charles  F.  Schaffer,  only  child  of  Jacob  H. 
Schaffer,  was  born  Dec.  10,  1883,  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  and  from  the  time  he  was  two 
years  old  lived  in  the  home  of  his  maternal  grand- 
parents, Daniel  and  Sarah  Fetterolf.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  his  grandfather's  farm,  which 
is  near  his  fathers  property.  He  is  an  industrious 
and  enterprising  young  man.  and  has  a  promising 
outlook.  The  affairs  of  his  locality  have  always 
possessed  great  interest  for  him,  and  in  1907  he 
was  elected  assessor  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
serving  three  years  in  that  office.  Since  1907  he 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  Hastings  Union 
Sunday  school,  and  he  is  a  past  master  of  Stone 
Valley" Grange,  Xo.  1367,  P.  of  H. 

On  March  6,  1909,  Mr.  Schaffer  married  Annie 
M.  Lenker.  and  they  have  one  son,  Raymond. 


George   S  .  grandfather  of  George  Elmer 

fi  r.  proprietor  of  the  stockyards  and  of  the 
••Xational  Hotel"'  at  I" than,  was  born  Sept.  4, 
L805,  -nn  of  Wilhelm  ami  grandson  of  Frantz. 
lie  died  Flee.  S.  1891.  He  followed  farming,  liv- 
ing in  what  is  now  Jordan  (then  Mahanoy)  town- 
ship. His  wife.  Sarah  (Ressler),  bore  him  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Susan,  Mrs.  Lantz;  Sarah.  Mrs. 
Isaac  Lenker;  Catharine,  Mrs.  Georg  Breinighaus; 
Elias,  and  Joel. 

Elias  Schaffer,  son  of  George,  was  born  Oct.  "?9. 


1831,  in  Mahanoy  (now  Jordan)  township,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Henry  Raup,  and  died  Oct. 
3.  1901,  at  Urban,  where  he  conducted  the  hotel 
for  many  years,  becoming  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  that  line  in  the  lower  end  of  Northumber- 
land county.  Earlier  in  life  he  followed  farm- 
ing, t<>  which  vocation  he  was  reared,  and  he  also 
drove  cattle,  during  the  Civil  war  making  consid- 
erable money  in  this  business,  handling  many  head 
of  cattle  and  mules.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
the  lower  end  of  the  county,  served  as  school  direct- 
or and  supervisor  of  his  township,  and  as  mercan- 
tile appraiser  of  the  county,  was  also  active  in 
church  and  Sunday  school  work,  ami  served  many 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  in 
his  later  years,  when  too  old  for  the  responsibilities 
of  that  position,  continuing  to  be  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  Sunday  school  services.  His  wife.  Elizabeth 
(Schwartz),  survives  him,  and  though  she  has  al- 
most attained  the  three  -core  and  ten  mark  she  is 
fairly  well  preserved.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  this  worthy  couple:  Lizzie,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Snyder:  1».  Richard,  of  Herndon.  Pa.;  Sarah  J.. 
Mrs.  George  Baum  :  Laura,  who  died  young;  and 
Geo:  ge  Elmer. 

George    Elmeb    Shaffer   was   born   Jan.   30, 
L867,  in  Jordan  township,  and  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  district. 
When  fifteen  years  old  he  commenced  selling  farm 
implements,  and  in  1883  he  began  to  sell  fertiliz- 
er-, etc.,  heme  one  of  the  first  in  his  section  to 
engage  in  that  line.     He  was  only  seventeen  when 
gan  to  deal  in  cattle,  and  he  has  been  inter- 
in  this  line  ever  since,  being  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Urban  stockyards,  which  he  estab- 
i!  L895.     He  handles  many  hundred  he;: 
annually,    having  disposed  of  as  many   as 
thirty-five  carloads  in  a  single  season,  and  he  con- 
ducts a  number  of  sales  every  fall,  supplying  the 
farmers  in  the  neighboring  territory  with  "shotes" 
and  hoes,  and  he  sells  many  fat  hogs  to  butchers. 
He  commenced  buying  and  selling  hogs  in  1896, 
and  has  handled  many  hundreds  every  year  since, 
lie  also  sells  from  four  to  six  carloads  of  range 

es  annually,  and  deals  largely  in  poultry;  in 
the  fall  of  1909  he  had  225  geese  on  hand  at  one 
time,  besides  many  ducks.  Mr.  Shaffer's  extensive 
business   has   been   founded   upon   his   reputation 

-'luare  dealing,  for  which  he  i-  trusted  by  all 
who  have  had  transactions  of  any  kind  with  him. 
He  has  visited  a  number  of  States  in  the  Union 
in  the  interesl  of  his  cattle  business,  and  in  one 
season  made  five  trips  West  to  buy  stock.  In  1906 
he  became  proprietor  of  the  "Xational  Hotel"  at 
i  hi.  which  he  has  since  conducted  in  connection 
with  his  other  business,  making  a  success  of  that  as 
he  has  of  all  his  other  undertakings.  He  has  made  a 
number  of  improvements  on  the  property,  inside 
and  outside,  since  it  came  into  his  possession.     In 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


;•-<: 


partnership  with  A.  M.  Snyder  hie  owns  a  farm  of 
thirty-five  acres  at  Urban,  and  he  has  several  lots 
near  Pittsburg,  Pa.  There  arc  no  more  highly  re- 
spei  ted  people  in  the  locality  than  Mr.  Shaffer 
and  his  family,  who  are  known  for  their  intelli- 
gence and  progressive  spirit,  their  usefulness  in 
the  community  and  their  encouragement  of  the 
best  institutions  in  modern  existence. 

On  Feb.  28,  1896,  Mr.  Shaffer  married  Aletta 
C.  Heckert,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (  Ress- 
ler)  Eeckert,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  though 
Mrs.  Shaffer  was  born  in  Illinois.     Two  children 

have  1 n  born   to   Mr.  and    Mrs.  Shaffer.  Nelson 

R.  and  Kevin  E.  Mr.  Shaffer  and  his  family 
worship  ai  the  Urban  Church,  he  being  a  member 
of  I  lie  Lutheran  congregation,  while  his  wife  he- 
longs  to  the  Reformed  congregation.  He  'served 
four  years  as  deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, with   independent  inclinations. 

John  Eeckert,  Mrs.  Shaffer's  great-grandfather, 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  what  is  now  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county,  his 
name  appearing  in  the  list  of  taxahles  of  what  was 
then  Mahanoy  (now  Lower  Mahanoy)  township, 
in  1778.  It  is  said  he  was  a  farmer  and  had  a 
number  of  children.  The  Heckert  family  was  at 
one  time  numerous  in  Lower  Mahanoy  and  a  num- 
ber of  representatives  of  the  name  still  reside 
there.  Several  generations  of  Heekerts  are  buried 
nt  Zion's  Church  in  Stone  Valley.  Among  the 
children  of  John  Heckert  were  sons  Friederich  and 
Philip,  the  latter  being  Mrs.  Shaffer's  grandfather. 
Friederich,  horn  Nov.  29,  1788,  died  Aug.  17, 
L858;  his  wife,  Maria,  horn  March  21,  1792,  died 
April  ::.  1870. 

Philip  Heckert,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  Dec.  9,  1796,  and  had  a  large  farm  there, 
near  County  Line.  He  died  March  27,  1872,  and 
his  wife  Anna  Mary  (Wert),  bom  March  2,  1805, 
died  dan.  Pi.  L888,  aged  eighty-two  years,  ten 
months,  fourteen  days.  They  are  buried  at  Stone 
Valley  Church.  They  had  a  large  family,  viz.: 
Daniel,  Susan,  Michael.  Philip,  Maw.  Casper  (who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war),  Emanuel.  Eenry 
(who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war),  Catharine, 
Andrew  YW.  Uriah  (who  served  in  the  Civil  war) 
and  Rachel. 

Andrew  W.  Heckert.  son  of  Philip,  was  horn 
near  County  Line,  hi  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
and  died  at  Dalmatia,  Pa.,  where  lie  and  his  family 
had  lived  since  1873.  Before  his  marriage  he 
went  <mt  to  Forreston,  Ogle  Co..  111.,  where  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  hut  after  he  had 
resided  there  a  number  of  years  he  returned  to  his 
native  place  lor  a  wife,  marrying  Mary  Ressler, 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Catharine  (Haas)  Ress- 
ler, of  Lower  Mahanoy.  He  returned  West  with 
his  bride  and  they  lived  in  Illinois  until  after  the 
birth  of  their  six  children,  coming  hack  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  1873  and  settling  in   Lower  Mahanoy. 


The  children  were  as  follows:  Aletta  C. :  Mary 
M..  Mrs.  Frank  Bordner,  of  Nebraska;  Susan  E., 
unmarried;  Carrie  M..  Mrs.  Joseph  Ifeitz,  of  Sha- 
mokin,  this  county;  Ida  R.,  Mrs.  William  Dreibel- 
bies,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  :  and  William  N.,  who  died 
in   infancy. 

D.  Richard  Shaffer,  son  of  Elias,  was  born 
June  21,  1859,  in  .Ionian  township,  and  when  fif- 
teen years  old  commenced  to  learn  cigar-making, 
which  trade  he  has  followed  ever  since.  About 
1890  he  moved  to  Ilerndon.  where  he  still  makes 
his  home,  and  he  was  postmaster  at  that  place  dur- 
ing Cleveland's  second  administration.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  served  the  borough  as  tax  col- 
lector since  1902.  In  1885  he  married  Emma, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Lebo,  of  Pillow,  I'a.  They 
have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaffer  are  Luth- 
erans in  religious  connection. 


Daniel  Shaffer,  grandfather  of  Aaron  Shaffer, 
superintendent  of  the  Trevorton  Coal  Land  Com- 
pany, at  Dunkelbergers,  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, lived  near  Stone  Valley  Church,  his  prop- 
erty being  the  farm  now'  owned  by  Frank  Radel. 
He  had  about  forty  acres,  and  followed  Earming  as 
well  as  his  trade,  shoemaking.  His  wife  died  long 
before  him.  They  had  three  children:  Isaac,  Cath- 
arine (married  Solomon  Radel)   and  Henry  II. 

Eenry  II.  Shaffer,  son  of  Daniel,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  was  horn  April  23,  1833.  He' learned  the  trade 
of  stonemason,  which  he  followed  some  years,  later 
engaging  in  farming  and  limeburning.  For  about 
half  a  year  he  was  out  West,  where  he  married  Be- 
becca  Dietrich,  who  was  horn  in  the  West  April 
5.  is  17.  daughter  of  Florin  and  Sophia  (TTaupt) 
Dietrich.  Eighteen  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Shaffer,  six  of  whom  died  young,  the  others 
being :  Rebecca,  who  died  unmarried  :  Daniel,  who 
was  killed  on  the  coal  hanks  in  1887:  Lucinda. 
who  died  young;  Sarah  Ellen,  who  married 
Charles  Wertz ;  Charles,  of  Uniontown,  Pa.; 
Aaron;  William,  wdio  died  when  twelve  years  old; 
Kate,  wife  of  James  Wentzel  ;  .lames  M.,  of  Lower 
Augusta  township,  this  county;  Ira.  who  died 
young;  Tama,  wife  of  Jacob  Bepner;  and  [da  S. 
(deceased),  who  was  the  wife  of  Cloyd  Massner. 
Aarox  Shaffer,  sou  of  Henry  H.  was  horn 
March  31.  is:  i.  ai  Georgetown,  ami  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  old  lived  with  his  grandfather, 
Daniel  Shaffer.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools,  and  when  twenty  years  old  he 
learned  the  trade  of  stonemason,  which  he  has 
continued  to  follow  oil'  and  on  ever  since,  working 
for  his  neighbors  principally.  Farming  has,  how- 
ever, been  his  principal  vocation,  lie  began  for 
himself  in  1900,  at  Eickory  Corners,  where  be 
had  ninety  acres  which  he  farmed  four  and  a  half 
years.  During  two  years  of  Ihis  time  he  also  con- 
ducted a  dairy  business,  running  a  milk  team  daily 


.98 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENN  SYLVAN  1 A 


t'i  Eickory  Corners  and  Dalmatia.  In  the  spring 
of  1905  he  disposed  of  his  farm  stock  by  sale  ami 
went  West  to  Arkansas,  Indian  Territory  and 
Kansas,  lie  and  J.  S.  Dreibelbies  purchasing  a  load 
of  horses  in  Kansas  and  shipping  them  to  Gi 
town;  they  were  sold  at  public  vendue  at  Hick- 
ory ('>>ne']'-.  After  that  Mr.  Shaffer  did  rail 
work,  being  employed  on  the  Shamokin  branch  of 
the    Reading   road  mt   two   years,   and   on 

April  1.  1907,  he  took  his  present  position,  being 
superintendent  of  the  Trevorton  Coal  Land  Com- 
pany's farm  oi  LOO  acres  at  Dunkelbergers.  He 
is  perfectly  capable  of  filling  all  the  requirements 
of  this  responsibility,  and  has  been  a  faithful  and 
efficient  worker,  gaining  the  respect  of  all  his  as- 
tes. 

In   Si  ier,    1894,   Mr.   Shaffer  married  Ada 

Shaffer,  daughter  of  Zwingle  A.  Shaffer  and  his 
wife  Sarah  (  Dottery),  and  five  children  have  been 
born  in  them:  Tessie,  Berma,  Ernest  (who  died 
when  three  years  old).  Curtis  and  Molly.  Mr. 
Shaffer  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of 
Zion's  Church,  Stone  Valley,  and  lie  served  four 
years  a-  deacon  of  the  congregation.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican. 

Adam  (or  John  Adam)  Dietrich.  Mr.  Shaffer's 
great-grandfather  mi  the  maternal  side,  was  a  pi- 
oneer in  the  Mahantango  Valley  in  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  took  up  a  large  tract  oi' 
land  by  warrant  from  the  Commonwealth  and  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  was  the  first  to  settle  on  what 
is  now  the  farm  of  the  aired  Elias  Bingaman,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  there  he  died  about 
1830;  he  is  buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church.  His 
children  were  too  young  to  do  such  heavy  work 
as  plowing  when  he  died,  and  his  wife  performed 
the  work  herself  until  they  were  old  enough  to 
help.  Where  this  pioneer  was  born  is  not  known. 
According  to  family  tradition  he  was  a  Catholic, 
but  William  .1.  Dietrich,  secretary  of  the  Deitrich 
Family  Association,  questions  this.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Shaffer,  died  in  1848. 
They  had  children  as  follow-:  Solomon,  who 
tied  in  Iowa,  where  he  died  :  Simon,  who  lived  and 
died  at  Elizabethville,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.;  Leon- 
ard, an  invalid,  who  died  unmarried  and  is  buried 
at  the  Stone  Valley  Church:  Michael,  who  lived 
in  Northumberland  county  ami  is  buried  at  Stone 
Valley  Church  (he  married  and  had  children)  ; 
Florin;  and  Eve.  who  moved  away  from  the  county 
when  a  young  woman,  and  who  married  well. 

Florin  Dietrich,  son  of  Adam,  was  born  in  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township.  He  lived  on  what  is  now 
the  Elias  Bingaman  farm,  where  be  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  some  years,  until  the  fo 
when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Fulton  county, 
Ind.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  there  which 
he  sold  after  some  years,  moving  into  the  town 
of  Kewanna,  Fulton  county,  where  be  died  in  1866. 
He  is  buried  there.     His  wife.  Sophia   (Haupt), 


from  the  vicinity  of  Mahanoy  Church,  North- 
land county,  and  died  about  1865.  at  thi 
of  about  seventy-five.    The  following  children 

to  this  couple:  Solomon,  who  died  in  In- 
diana: Conrad:  John,  who  died  in  Indiana,  un- 
married :  Elias,  who  went  to  serve  in  the  Civil  war 
and  died  while  on  his  w;  i    at  the  close  of  his 

service;  Salome,  wife  of  Jacob  Step]':  Cathai 
wife  oi  George  Snyder;  Susan,  wife  of  Richard 
en:  Poll}',  wife  of  Andrew  Jackson,  of  Indi- 
ana: Annie,  wife  of  Isaac  Kneiss,  of  Northumber- 
land county  (be  is  deceased)  :  Mary,  wife  of  Sam- 
Butkins;  and  Rebecca,  who  married  Henry  II. 
Shaffer. 

AUGUSTUS  K.  WAGNER,  late  of  Shamokin, 
was  a  native  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  Nortb- 
imty.  born  dan.  11,  1819.  11  is  La- 
ther, Samuel  Wagner,  was  a  tailor,  and  followed 
his  trade  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
al-o  owned  a  small  farm.  He  died  there,  and  is 
buried  at  Hunter  station,  m  that  township,  as  is 
also  hi-  wife.  Catharine  t  Ferster).  They  were  the 
parents  of  a  large  family,  viz.:  Barry;  M 
Levi;  [saai  :  George;  Durella;  Augustus  F.; 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Samuel  Fees:  Juda,  wife  of 
OSs;  Annie,  wife  of  Benjamin  Zortmau; 
Mary,  wife  of  Henry   Durk. 

[Justus  F.  Wagner  was  reared  in  his  native 
township,  and  in  hi-  young  manhood  learned  mill- 
ing, which  trade  ho  followed  for  three  years.  In 
L873  he  came  to  Shamokin,  where  for  about  a 
lie  was  engaged  at  day  labor,  his  nexi  work 
being  at  the  coal  breakers,  where  he  was  employed 
for  six  years.  After  that  he  was  a  miner  al  the 
Burnside  colliery  until,  on  Dee.  •.".'.  L889,  he  met 
with  the  accident  which  caused  bis  death  a  few 
weeks  later,  dan.  8,  1890.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Shamokin  cemetery.  Mr.  Wagner  was  a  good  hus- 
band and  father,  an  industrious  and  reliable  work- 
man, and  had  the  res] all  who  knew  him.   He 

was  .i  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  ami  o 
Sunday  school,  and  socially  united  with  Camp  No. 
149,  1'.  0.  S.  of  A.     In  politics  he  was  a  Republi- 
can. 

On  April  4.  1870,  Mr.  Wagner  married  Laenda 
Ferster,  daughter  of  Peter  ami  Mary  (Swenhart) 
Ferster,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and  she  sur- 
vives him,  living  in  the  old  home  at  No.  139  South 
Third  street,  Shamokin,  where  they  first  settled  on 
coming  to  the  borough.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  their  union:  Katie  died  young;  Charles  E.  died 
young:  Samuel  A.,  who  holds  a  position  in  the 
ry  mills  at  Shamokin.  married  Mabel  Metz, 
daughter  of  Jonas  II.  Metz.  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren, Clarence  A.,  (diaries  T..  Sarah  L..  David  II. 
and  Mildred  Frances:  John  J.  died  young:  Wil- 
liam L.,  of  Collinsville,  Pa.,  married  Annie  Kiehl. 
and  their  children  are  Margaret,  William  M..  Ed- 
gar A.  and  Robert:  Prof.  Thomas  J.  is  a  graduate 


NOETHUMBEELAND   COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


799 


of  tlic  Shaniokin  high  school  and  of  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  class  of  1910;  Clar- 
ence A.,  of  St.  Clair,  Pa.,  in  the  employ  ol    I 
Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  married  Frances 
Thomas,  of  Wilkes-Barre ;  George  W.  died  young. 

W1KST.  The  Wi est  Camilj  of  the  southern  sec- 
tion of  Northumberland  county  had  it-  origin  in 
Bet  -  county,  Pa.,  \\  here  one  Jacob  Wii  si  setl  li  'I 
about  1758,  in  Olej  township.  The  following  year 
(  1759),  when  the  first  tax  was  collected,  he  paid 
a  federal  tas  of  four  pounds  sterling,  $10. 61  (the 
Pennsylvania  pound  being  reckoned  ai  $2.66).  In 
1759  In-  son  Jacob,  Jr.  was  assessed  among  the 
"single  men." 

According  to  tradition  the  Jacob  Wiesl  (1775- 
181]  )  who  founded  the  family  in  Northumberland 
t\ — settling  in  that  section  of  Mahanoy  town- 
ship dow  embraced  in  Jordan  township — was  in  the 
third  generation  from  (that  is.  a  grandson  of)  the 
Jacob  who  setl  led  in  <  lley  township  in  1758  and  the 
third  in  direct  line  to  bear  the  name  of  Jacob, 
which  has  always  been  a  favorite  family  name, 
there  being  a  fourth  and  fifth  Jacob  in  this  line. 
The  family  has  become  a  numerous  one  in  North- 
umberland county  and  its  representatives  are  found 
in  various  vocations. 

Jacob  Wiest,  born  Jan.  5,  1775,  in  Oley  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  died  Aug.  14.  1811.  He 
came  to  Northumberland  county  with  his  fam- 
ily from  Yellow  House,  Berks  county.  He  mar- 
ried Barbara  Kick,  born  Jan.  29,  1774,  who  long 
survived  him,  dying  Sept.  11,  1855.  She  married 
for  her  second  husband  Michael  Sallende.  To  Jacob 
and  Barbara  (Fick)  Wiest  were  born  sis  children: 
(1)  John  is  mentioned  below.  (2)  Samuel,  born 
Aug.  21,  1795,  died  dan.  3,  1867.  He  was  a 
butcher  bj  occupation.  He  married  Eve  Klinger, 
horn  Jan.  16,  1794,  died  Jan.  is.  1870,  and  they 
had  children  as  follows:  John  (known  as  "Oley 
John")  married  Lucy  Beisel,  was  a  farmer  and 
lived  in  Jordan  township  (he  wenl  to  California 
to*  hunt  for  gold)  ;  Jacob  K.  is  mentioned  below; 
Hannah  married  Isaac  Rothermel;  Jestina  (  1828- 
1872)  married  William  W.  Shartle:  Polly  married 
Peter  Rebuck;  Catharine  married  Samuel  Clark: 
Barbara  married  Daniel  Snyder.  (3)  Jacob  is 
mentioned  below.  (4)  Daniel,  who  lived  at  Sac- 
ramento. Pa.,  had  children:  George,  Edward,  John 
and  Philip.  (5)  Mary  married  Joseph  Tobias. 
(6)    Catharine  married    Peter    Klinger. 

John  Wiest,  son  of  Jacob,  was  horn  at  Klingers- 
town  Feb.  14,  1794,  and  died  Oct.  1".  1881.  He 
was  a  very  substantial  business  man  and  became 
one  of  the  leading  citizen-  of  his  sei  tion,  being  a 
merchant  at  Klingerstown  for  many  years.  He 
married  Catharine  Merkel  (horn  Feb.  26,  1795, 
died  May  2,  1<:'s  )and  they  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Moses,  Daniel,  Samuel.  Tobias  M.,  Jacob, 
Hannah     (married     William    Deibert),     Barbara 


(married  David  Klinger),  Sarah  (married  Wil- 
liam Strohecker),  Polly  (married  George  Shartle) 
and   Mrs.   ]|an\    Holla'. 

Tobias  M.  Wiest,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of 
Jacob,  was  born  March  3,  1829,  at  Klingerstown, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  was  engaged  as  a  merchant 
there  throughout  his  active  life,  succeeding  his 
father  in  the  business.  He  also  conduct 
eral  store  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  county,  owned  land  in 
that  village,  and  also  owned  several  farm-.  He 
ed  as  postmaster  at  Klingerstown,  and,  all  in 
all.  was  a  man  of  prominence  and  considerable  in- 
fluence in  his  daw  He  died  April  25,  1885,  and  is 
buried  at  Klingers  Church,  where  many  members 
of  this  family  are  interred.  Tobias  M.  Wiest  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Haum,  bore  him  three  children:  Preston, 
who  is  a  residenl  of  Harrisburg;  Victor,  of  Kling- 
erstown; and  Emma,  married  to  John  Connon,  a 
retired  resident  of  Venango  county.  Pa.  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Mary  Trautman,  who  sur- 
vives him,  now  making  her  home  with  her  only 
child.  Carlos. 

( '  lrlos  Wiest,  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  "Ho- 
tel Wiest,"  the  leading  hotel  of  Herndon,  North- 
umberland county,  was  born  Dec.  2,  1874,  at 
Klingerstown,  Schuylkill  county,  son  of  Tobias  M. 
and  Mary  (Trautman)  Wiest.  He  was  reared  at 
his  native  place,  and  at  an  early  age  began  to  as- 
sist his  father  as  clerk  in  the  general  -tore.  He 
was  quite  young,  however,  when  his  father  died. 
In  1896  he  purchased  what  was  then  known  as  the 
"Union  House"  at  Herndon,  and  he  -till  carries 
on  the  business,  though  the  hotel  is  now  known  as 
the  "Hotel  Wiest."  The  property  has  been  greatly 
improved  during  Mr.  Wiest's  ownership,  and  he 
has  also  enlarged  the  hotel,  which  is  mm  one  of 
the  leading  hostelries,  in  the  Susquehanna  valley. 
There  are  twenty-two  room-,  provided  with  -team 
heat  and  every  modern  convenience,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  hotel  Mr.  Wiesi  carries  on  a  first- 
class  livery  establishment. 

Air.  Wiest  is  well  known  among  the  fraternities, 
belonging  to  the  1.  < ».  ().  F.  lodge  at  Herndon  and 
to  various  Masonic  bodies-  Lafayette  Lodge,  No. 
194,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Selinsgrove,  Williamsporl 
Lodge  of  Perfection,  the  Consistory,  and  Rajah 
Temple,  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S.  lie  lives  with  his 
mother. 


Jacob  Wiest.  third  son  oi'  the  Jacob  Wiesl  who 
founded  the  fa m i I v  in  Northumberland  county. 
was  boi  ii  at  Ohiontown  Juni  i  I.  I  797,  and  died 
March  5,  1857.  He  removed  to  Onionto^  n  from 
Klingerstown  after  his  marriage,  and  became  one 

of  the  i t  substantial  and   prominent  citizi  n 

that   region.     At  the  time  of  Ins  death  Ins  estate 

was    valued    at    $36,000— a    large    fortune    for    the 

lime  and  place,     lie  owned   fullj    three  hundred 

5  of  land,  lor  man\   years  operated  the  grist- 


800 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


mill  now  owned  by  Mr.  Bohner,  in  Uniontown  Gap 
operated  a  linseed  oil  mill  and  also  had  an  old-style 
sawmill  about  three  hundred  yards  south  of  the 
oil  mill.  He  built  a  bam  near  the  present  mill.  He 
helped  to  build  the  Uniontown  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed  Church  and  was  one  of  its  leading  mem- 
bers, serving  many  years  as  an  elder.  He  married 
Mary  Tobias,  born  dan.  28,  1796,  daughter  of 
Jonas  Tobias,  and  she  died  June  23,  1868.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wiesi  are  buried  in  the  Uniontown  cem- 
at  Pillow.  Their  children  were:  Harry, 
Jacob  (mentioned  below),  Rev.  George,  Mary 
(married  John  Bingeman),  Elias  (mentioned  be- 
low), John  (called  ■•Philadelphia  John").  Wil- 
liam, Elizabeth  (married  Dr.  Isaiah  Sehminkey) 
and  Daniel  (of  Temple,  or  Yellow  House.  B 
county ). 

Jacob  Wiest,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Tobias) 
Wii  st,  was  born  at  Uniontown,  where  he  was  a  mer- 
chant for  many  years,  later  engaging  in  business, 
in  the  same  lino,  at  Solinsgrove,  and  afterward  at 
McKees  Half  Falls,  where  he  met  an  accidental 
death  Dec.  27,  1871,  when  he  was  fifty-one  years 
old.  His  first  wife,  Susanna  (Bordner),  was  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Bordner,  of  Berrysburg,  Pa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiest  are  buried  at  Uniontown.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  were:  Mary  Jane,  who 
married  William  M.  Boyer;  James  M. :  and  Wil- 
liam, who  was  killed  March  17.  1865,  when  twen- 
ty years  old,  near  Fayetteville,  N.  C.  Jacob  \\  iesl 
married  for  his  second  wife  Catharine  Lark,  by 
whom  lie  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  died 
small.  His  third  marriage  was  to  Sarah  Nace,  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children  :  Rev.  Edward 
(of  York,  Pa,),  Cora,  Frederick,  Jonathan  (who 
died  in  infancy)  and  Jacob  (who  died  aged  sev- 
n  years). 

James  M.  Wiest.  son  of  Jacob  and  Susanna 
Wiest,  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Pel,  Dec.  25,  1843. 
His  early  education  was  received  in  the  local  pub- 
lic schools,  and  later  he  attended  Union  Seminary, 
at  New  Berlin,  in  1856-57,  and  for  one  term  was 
a  pupil  at  the  Freeburg  Academy.  When  a  mere 
child  he  began  clerking  in  his  fathers  store,  and  he 
also  clerked  in  the  store  of  his  uncle  Elias.  at  Hick- 
ory Corners,  with  whom  he  lived  for  a  number  of 
years,  he  having  been  but  two  years  old  when  his 
mother  died.  When  less  than  eighteen  years  old, 
Oct.  16.  1861,  he  enlisted  for  three  years"  service 
in  the  Civil  war.  At  the  end  of  fourteen  months 
he  fell  ill  of  typhoid  fever  and  had  to  return  home, 
remaining  with  his  father  one  winter.  On  Christ- 
mas Day.  1862,  bis  uncle  Elias  lost  all  his  build- 
ings at  Hickory  Corners  by  fire,  the  calamity  being 
a  very  grievous  one  for  him.  Mr.  Wiest  then  re- 
joined his  uncle,  with  whom  he  continued  for  two 
years.  During  the  winter  of  1864  he  assisted  his 
father  in  butchering  and  in  December.  1864,  he 
was  married.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  moved  to 
S    insgrove,  where  he  worked  for  six  years  in  a 


store  of  which  his  father  was  part  owner.  In  1871 
ho  moved  with  his  father  to  McKees  Half  Falls,, 
where  he  worked  in  the  store  for  one  year.  It  was 
on  Deo.  .';.  1871,  that  his  father  met  his  death,  a 
log  lolling  on  him,  and  after  that  James  M. 
Wiest  and  his  brother-in-law,  William  M.  Boyer, 
continued  the  business  for  a  while,  Mr.  Boyer 
eventually  buying  out  the  business,  which  he 
moved  farther  up  the  river.  In  1872  Mr.  Wiest 
bi  gan  boating  on  the  Susquehanna  canal,  following 
that  business  for  seven  years.  For  the  next  two 
is  a  clerk  in  Biekel's  store,  at  George- 
town, and  then  moved  to  Vera  Cruz  (Malta), 
where  he  operated  a  store  for  the  Farmers'  Alli- 
ance for  a  period  of  four  years.  Returning  to  the 
employ  of  his  tmcle  Elias,  at  Hickory  Corners,  he- 
worked  for  him  another  three  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  moved  to  Shamokin,  taking  a 
hi  as  clerk  etc.  with  P.  S.  Aucker.  looking 
his  real  estate  and  rents  for  eighteen  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1907  he  located  at  Dalmatia, 
where  he  had  a  desirable  home  on  the  principal 
and  there  he  has  since  lived,  enjoying  all 
omforts  of  bis  life  in  his  retirement.  He  owns 
twenty-nine  acres  of  land  near  the  town  and  rents- 
it  out  on  shares.  He  served  as  constable  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  has  been  always  classed 
among  the  useful,  intelligent  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity, held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him.. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  denomination,  he  and  his  family 
belonging  to  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the 
Dalmatia  Church. 

On  Dec.  11.  1864,  Mr.  Wiest  married  Elmira 
Wald.  daughter  of  David  and  Rebecca  (Fegley) 
Wald,  of  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Solomon  ami  Christine  (Underkoffler) 
Wald:  Mrs.  Solomon  Wald  died  March  3,  1871, 
just  a  few  days  before  completing  her  ninetieth 
year.  Five  children  were  born  to  David  and  Re- 
Wald,  namely:  William.  Elmira.  Joshua, 
Lizzie  and  David.  Mr.  Wald  by  his  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Harner.  had  one  son.  Au- 
gustus, who  died  at  Herndon  and  is  buried  at  Dal- 
matia: he  left  two  children.  Clara  and  Annie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiest  had  seven  children:  (1) 
Wilmer  W.,  a  railroader,  died  aged  forty-five  years 
and  is  buried  at  Shamokin.  He  left  a  wife.  Ellen 
Sp  itts),  and  one  daughter,  Clara.  (2)  Charles 
H.  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  John  Augustus  died 
aged  seventeen  years  and  is  buried  at  Dalmatia. 
(4)  Benton  E..  a  carpenter,  lives  at  Shamokin. 
He  married  Katie  Kulp  and  they  have  children. 
Catharine  and  Allen.  (5)  Mary  E.  married  Mil- 
ton E.  Keeler,  who  is  purchasing  agent  for  the 
Kingston  Coal  Company,  and  their  home  is  at 
Kingston.  Pa.  They  have  one  child.  Frances  Ruth. 
(6)  Selin  M.,  baggage  master  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  at  Shamokin,  lives  in  that  bor- 
ough.    He  is  unmarried.     (7)   Annie  L.  married 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


sol 


Thomas  Spears,  an  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  and  they  live  at  Shamokin. 
They  have  had  two  children,  Elmira  and  Vivian, 

t»  in-. 

Charles  H.  Wiest,  son  of  James  M.  Wiest,  was 
born  July  39,  1867,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  After 
working  on  the  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township 
for  five  years  he  began  learning  the  carpenter's 
trade  at  the  age  of  twenty,  and  that  has  since  been 
his  vocation.  For  some  years  he  worked  in  Sha- 
mokin and  Philadelphia,  in  1907  locating  in  Sun- 
bury  and  becoming  a  member  of  the  contracting 
firm  of  C.  H.  Brosius  &  Co.,  contractors  and  build- 
ers. There  was  another  member  of  the  firm,  F.  R. 
Yeager,  who  withdrew  one  year  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  firm.  C.  H.  Brosius  &  Co.  enjoy  a 
fine  reputation  for  high-grade  work,  and  as  the 
work  demands  employ  as  many  as  forty-five  men. 
Among  the  buildings  of  their  construction  are  the 
W.  A.  Shipman  residence  on  Market  street ;  the 
Sunbury  Daily  printing  office;  the  No.  3  Lythia 
Springs  school  building  in  Point  township,  where 
they  also  remodeled  the  No.  '.'  building;  the  Cat- 
awissa  avenue  M.  E.  Church,  which  they  erected 
in  1910;  and  many  other  business  buildings,  resi- 
dences and  schoolhouses.  Mr.  Wiest  is  a  member 
of  Local  No.  '■'•',.  Carpenters'  &  Joiners'  Union,  of 
Shamokin.  and  socially  belongs  to  Shamokin 
Camp.  No.  72,  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  Camp  No. 
30,  P.  '».  S.  of  A.,  of  Shamokin.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In 
1893  he  married  Ida  Witmer,  daughter  of  Eph- 
raim  Witmer,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
they  have  had  four  children:  Stella  May.  Alvin 
Monroe,  Madeline  Elmira  and  a  son  that  died  in 
infancy. 


Elias  Wiest,  -on  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Tobias) 
Wiest.  was  horn  May  S,  1825,  in  Uniontown,  Pa., 
and  died  . I  u  1  x  39,  1890.  He  lived  at  Hickory 
Corners,  where  he  conducted  the  store,  hotel  and 
farm,  his  establishment  being  the  nucleus  in  which 
all  the  life  of  the  place  centered.  He  built  up  this 
village  during-  the  forties,  and  it  thrived  until  on 
Christmas  Day,  1862,  the  -tore,  hotel,  a  private 
dwelling,  sheds,  etc..  were  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
loss  being  very  heavy.  Mr.  Wiest  at  once  under- 
took the  rebuilding  of  the  place,  which  to  this  day 
has  continued  to  be  a  business  center.  He  was  a 
thorough  business  man,  influential  because  of  his 
high  character  as  much  as  on  account,  of  his  suc- 
cess, and  though  the  Baker  silver  mine  affair,  m 
Colorado,  caused  him  heavy  financial  loss  through 
the  assistance  he  gave  to  others,  he  was  a  leading 
man  in  his  community  to  the  end  of  his  days. 
He  was  in  active  business  pursuits  until  bis  death. 
He  ran  a  huckster  team  to  Pottsville,  hauling  con- 
siderable produce  to  that  city.  As  a  brand,  of  his 
establishment  at  Hickory  Corners  he  owned    and 

51 


operated  the  store  at  Vera  Cruz.  He  owned  a 
farm  at  Hickory  Corners,  now  the  property  of  his 
son-in-law,  Jonathan  Spotts,  and  in  the  same 
neighborhood  had  another  tract,  of  thirty-eight 
acres.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  at  Hickory 
Corners,  and  was  retained  in  that  office  until  his 
death.  In  one  winter  he  killed  one  thousand  sheep, 
which  he  sold  at  Pottsville,  besides  many  hogs  and 
cattle.  For  business  enterprise  he  held  the  rec- 
ords in  his  vicinity.  Though  a  busy  man  he  found 
time  for  activity  in  the  work  of  the  local  church, 
he  and  his  family  being  Reformed  members  of 
Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church,  where  he  took  par- 
ticular interest  in  the  Sunday  school,  being  a  teach- 
er tor  nntn\'  years  and  superintendent  for  some 
years.  His  wife.  Catharine  (Bingaman),  bom 
April  15,  1828,  daughter  of  Adam  Bingaman,  sur- 
vived hun.  dying  Aug.  IS.  1899.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  sis  children:  Emma  J.,  who  is  the  widow 
of  Aaron  Mattis:  John,  deceased:  Mary,  wife  of 
D.  J.  Ken  ;  Frederick  M. ;  Jacob  A.,  deceased  :  and 
Henrietta,  wife  of  Jonathan  Spotts. 

Frederick  M.  Wiest.  son  of  Elias.  was  born  Jan. 
7,  1854,  at  Hickory  Corners,  where  he  spent  his 
youth  and  received  his  education.  For  a  time  he 
was  employed  in  sawmills  in  Lycoming  county  and 
then  in  the  lumber  regions  of  Lycoming  and  Potter 
counties,  still  later  being  at  Peale,  where  he  drove 
a  mercantile  team  for  the  McF.ntire  Coal  Com- 
pany. In  188?  he  returned  to  Hickory  Corners. 
where  he  lived  until  1889.  That  year  he  moved 
to  his  present  home,  owning  a  tract  of  ninety-five 
acres  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township  which  was  for- 
merly the  Dohney  homestead  and  later  owned  by 
Jacob  Peifer,  who  sold  it  to  William  Bingaman 
(uncle  of  Frederick  M.  Wiest)  :  he  sold  it  to  Levi 
Kauffman.  from  whom  Mr.  Wiest  acquired  it.  He 
has  made  many  improvements  upon  the  place, 
changing  the  buildings,  fertilizing  the  ground,  and 
in  many  ways  adding  to  the  value  of  the  property  . 
which  bears  evidence  of  his  thrifty  care  and  man- 
agement. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  be  I  as 
held   various  local  office-. 

In  July,  1876,  Mr.  Wiest  married  Sarah  Spotts, 
daughter  of  Michael  Spotts,  and  they  have  had 
nine  children:  William  H.  now  of  Miller-burg. 
Pa.:  Mary  E..  wile  of  John  Witmer:  Frederick 
M..  of  Hampton  Roads,  Va.;  George,  of  Millers- 
burg,  l'n.:  Daniel  W.:  Michael  A ;  John  F. :  Laura 
('..and  Sarah  F.  Mr.  Vie-t  and  his  famih  belong 
to  the  Reformed  congregation  at  /.ion'.-  (Stone 
Valley)    Church. 

Jacob  A.  Wiest,  -on  oi  Elias,  was  born  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  town-hip.  and  became  a  traveling  -ale- 
man  for  Miller,  Ham.  Beyer  A  Co.,  b  holesale  dry- 
goods  and  notion  dealers,  of  Market  and  Filbert 
s  Philadelphia.  He  was  thus  engaged  for 
about  twenty-eight  years;  Ins  territory  being  in 
central  Pennsj  Ivania  and  including  thi  coin 
of  Schuvlkill,  Dauphin,  Northumberland,  Cei 


802 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


Snyder,  Perry  and  Juniata.  He  had  a  fine  farm 
31  venty-seven  acres  in  Upper  Paxton  township, 
I  >auphin  county,  upon  which  he  made  his  home  for 
four  years,  only  superintending  its  cultivation, 
which  his  son  Harry  looked  after.  For  thirteen 
years  his  home  was  ai  Dalmatia,  whence  lie  re- 
moved to  Millersburg,  where  he  had  resided  about 
five  years  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  while 
undergoing  an  operation  at  Philadelphia,  Nov.  17, 
1905,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years,  nine  month-. 
twelve  days,  and  is  buried  at  Zion's  Stone  Val- 
ley Church,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Mr. 
Wiest  was  an  active  member  of  and  worker  in  the 
Ri  formed  Church,  and  just  before  his  death  had 
been  instrumental  in  having  the  Millersburg  Re- 
formed Church  frescoed;  one  of  his  last  acts  was 
i  i  collect  the  money  to  pay  the  expense  of  fresco- 
ing. He  was  always  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
support  of  churches  and  religious  enterprises.  Mr. 
Wiest  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Mary  J.  (Snyder), 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Polly  (Messner)  Snyder, 
and  she  makes  her  home  at  Millersburg.  They  had 
one  child,  Harry,  who  was  born  Sept.  30,  ls^;. 
at  Bridgeport,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  North- 
umberland count}7. 

Harry  Wiesl  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  attending  at  Dalmatia  and  Millers- 
burg and  later  taking  a  course  in  the  business 
_<  at  Collegeville,  Pa.  In  the' spring  of  1895 
iegan  farming,  and  he  has  been  working  on  his 
own  account  since  1899,  his  place  showing  the  re- 
sults of  good  management  and  intelligent  cultiva- 
tion. It  is  a  very  desirable  property,  lying  aloug 
the  north  side  of  the  Mahantango  creek.  It  was 
one  the  David  Lantz  homestead.  Mr.  Wiest  is  a 
progressive  and  industrious  farmer,  and  he  is  ob- 
taining excellent  results  from  his  work.  In  1898 
he  married  Annie  M.  Ossman,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Sal  1  ie  (Negley)  Ossman,  of  the  Lykens  Val- 
ley, and  they  have  one  child.  John  Klias.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church:  Mr.  Wiest  was 
a  Sunday  school  teacher  for  some  year-,  and  served 
for  a  time  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
at   Malta. 


Jacob  K.  Wiest.  son  of  Samuel  and  grandson  of 
Jacob,  was  born  Jan.  14.  1821,  in  Jordan  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  and  died  April  20, 
1877.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Jordan  township,  own- 
ing a  tract  of  120  arte-,  and  during  the  winter 
time  following  butchering  and  selling  meat.  He 
was  also  engaged  in  droving,  and  in  buying  and 
selling  cattle,  to  some  extent.  For  eight  years  be- 
fore his  death  he  lived  retired,  making  his  home 
in  UniontoWn,  where  he  owned  a  house  and  where 
lie  died,  lie  and  his  wife.  Elizabeth  (Trainman). 
daughter  of  Peter  Trautman  (whose  wife's  name 
was  Potteiger),  are  buried  at  Klingers  Church: 
she  was  struck  dead   by  lightning,  while  walking 


through  the  kitchen.  Their  children  were:  Harry. 
John  T.,  Amelia  (married  Reuben  Shade),  Frank, 
Samuel,  F.  T..  Catharine  (married  Edward  Wit- 
mer.  of  Allentown,  Pa.  i.  Monroe  (of  Allentown, 
I'a.i.  Jacob  (deceased),  Preston  and  William. 

John  T.  Wiest,  sod  of  Jacob  K..  has  long  been 
a  substantial  citizen  of  Jordan  township.  North- 
umberland county.  His  present  home  is  at  Hebe. 
He  was  born  in  the  township  Oct.  4,  l84(i,  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  and  worked  for  bis  parents 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  For  about 
fears  following  he  worked  at  Klingerstown  in  the 
employ  of  Jacob  M.  and  Tobias  M.  Wiest.  mer- 
chants at  that  place,  driving  their  huckster  team  to 
Pottsville  as  often  as  twice  a  week.  From  Kling- 
erstown Mr.  Wiest  moved  to  Hebe.  Northumber- 
land county,  where  be  lived  for  six  years,  engaged 
in  cattle  droving,  and  then  settled  on  his  father's 
farm  of  120  acres  near  that  place,  which  he  bought. 
After  a  year's  ownership  of  that  property,  however, 
In  sold  n  at  a  profit  to  John  Trautman.  and  moved 
to  another  place  in  Jordan  township,  which  he 
bought,  consisting  of  seventy  acres  near  Fnion- 
town.  He  cultivated  this  place  for  seventeen  years, 
at  the  end  of  that  time  moving  back  to  Hebe,  where 
he  owned  a  house  and  where  he  remained  for 
three  years  before  moving  to  the  farm  he  has  sin<  i 
occupied.  This  place  is  also  close  to  Hebe,  and 
consist-  of  125  acres,  which  he  and  his  son  Irwin 
owned  for  a  time  in  partnership,  Mr.  Wiest  finally 
purchasing  his  son's  interest.  This  was  at  one 
time  the  Henry  Bowman  homestead.  It  is  a  fine 
piece  of  property,  fertile  and  well  located,  and 
Mr.  Wiesl  has  cultivated  it  profitably  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Be  built  the  present  barn  on  the 
place  in  the  nineties.  Ee  i-  an  industrious  man 
and  an  excellent  manager,  and  his  fellow  citizens 
have  so  approved  of  his  integrity  and  ability  that 
they  have  chosen  him  to  serve  in  several  public 
offices.  He  was  treasurer  of  Jordan  township  for 
eight  years,  school  director  seven  years  and  super- 
visor one  year.  He  has  also  been  prominent  in 
church  affair-  as  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Hebe 
Church  known  as  David's  Church,  of  which  he  and 
his  family  are  Reformed  members.  He  has  also 
served  the  church  as  deacon  and  elder,  having  been 
one  of  its  prominent  workers  for  years. 

In  1867  Mr.  Wiest  married  Catharine  Heim. 
_  ''ter  of  Samuel  and  Catharine  ( Battorf ) 
Heim,  of  Washington  township.  Northumberland 
county,  born  Feb.  24,  1848;  Mrs.  Wiest  died  Oct. 
1".'.  1908,  and  is  buried  in  the  Wiest  family  plot 
at  Hebe,  where  a  fine  monument  mark-  her  grave. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiest  were  horn  four  children: 
Irwin  U.  mentioned  below:  Nolan  H:  Catharine, 
who  married  Maurice  Brosius  and  they  are  farm- 
ing people  in  Jordan  township  (their  children  are 
Mabel.  Carlos.  Frederick,  Harold  and  John)  :  and 
John  E.,  who  died  when  four  years,  four  months 
old. 


NORTHFMKERLAXD   COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


803 


Iewin  II.  Wiest,  son  of  John  'I'.,  was  born  Oct. 
21,  18G8,  in  Jordan  township,  where  he  was  reared 
to  farming,  working  for  his  father  until  lie  was 
nineteen  years  old.  Ee  was  married  at  that  time, 
and  then  worked  a  year  for  his  father-in-law.  Si- 
mon Trautman,  in  the  spring  of  181)0  commenc- 
ing to  farm  on  his  own  account,  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  rented  for  a  year.  He  then 
lived  at  Hebe  for  some  years,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1907  moved  onto  his  own  place,  124  acres  in  Jor- 
dan township  which  was  formerly  the  Henry  Miller 
homestead.  This  farm  lies  along  the  road  from 
Dalmatia  to  Klingerstown.  Mr.  Wiest  is  an  intel- 
ligent and  ambitious  farmer,  and  is  doing  well. 

On  Feh.  85,  1888,  Mr.  Wiest  married  Elizabeth 
Trautman,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Sarah 
(  Sehadel  )  Trautman.  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 
<  1 1 in.  Maud,  Carrie  (who  died  in  her  fifteenth 
year)  and  Nora.  Tin-  family  attend  the  Hebe 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  Reformed  member,  Mrs. 
Wiest  belonging  to  the  Lutheran  congregation. 
Mr.  Wiest  is  a   Democrat  in  political  faith. 

E.  T.  Wiest,  -on  of  Jacob  K.  Wiest.  was  horn 
Feb.  IS.  1854,  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm, 
working  at  home  until  he  was  grown.  When  quite 
young  he  learned  the  butcher's  trade,  which  he 
followed  at  Pillow  for  fully  twenty  years,  for  some 
years  being  associated  with  his  brother  Frank  in 
that  business.  They  killed  as  many  as  twenty  head 
of  cattle  weekly.  Mr.  E.  'I'.  Wiest  then  conducted 
the  hotel  at  Uniontown  (Pillow)  for  four  years, 
after  which  he  was  at  Dalmatia  for  one  year,  in 
the  same  line.  He  next  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Wiconisoo,  in  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  After  living  for 
several  years  at  Pillow  he  again  embarked  in  the 
hotel  business,  at  Hickory  Corners,  where  lie  has 
conducted  the  "Keystone  Hotel"  since  1907.  Mr. 
Wiest  i-  very  well  known,  as  he  has  a  particularly 
fine  reputation  for  the  good  table  he  sets,  and  Dr. 
Emerick's  numerous  patients  usually  patronize  his 
table  when  they  come  to  town. 

On  March  28,  1880,  Mr.  Wiest  married  Edith 
Musser,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Annetta  (  Moblet) 
Musser,  of  Millersburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiest  have 
three  children:  Lizzie  married  Lane  Reeser  and 
they  live  at  Wiconisco;  Stella  May  is  unmarried 
and  lives  at  home:  Edward  H.,  born  Sept.  is. 
1889,  married  Beulah  Harris,  daughter  of  Walter 
!  and  Lucy  A.  (Schaffer)  Harris.  Mr.  Wiest  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation of  Zion's  Stone  Valley  Church.  On  polit- 
ical questions  he  is  a  Democrat. 

LEXTZ.  Andrew  Lentz,  proprietor  of  the 
"Van  Kirk  House"  at  Northumberland,  and  John 
H.  Lentz.  farmer  of  Rockefeller  township,  are 
sons  of  the  late  John  Lentz,  of  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, and  grandsons  of  Jesse  Lentz.  The  latter 
was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  living  at  Halifax, 


that  county,  where  he  owned  property  and  followed 
farming.  Among  his  children  were:  Abbie.  who 
married  Jacob  Harris  (deceased),  of  Richfield, 
Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  and  now  lives  with  her  daughter 
at  Fremont,  Pa.;  Polly,  who  married  Hiram  Pun- 
tius   (they  live  in  Elkhart,  Ind.) ;  and  John. 

John  Lentz,  son  of  Jesse,  was  born  in  1834  at 
Halifax.  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  was  reared  to  farm 
work,  which  he  followed  all  his  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Halifax  and  farmed  there  lor  some  years 
before  his  removal  to  Rockefeller  township,  North- 
umberland count}',  purchasing  the  farm  in  that 
township  now  owned  by  his  son  John  H.  Lentz. 
It  comprises  seventy-eight  acres,  upon  which  he 
built  the  present  barn  in  the  sixties,  and  there  he 
farmed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  16, 
1899.  lb-  is  huried  at  the  Cross  Road  Church, 
a-  it  is  popularly  known,  the  Emanuel  Evangeli- 
cal  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member; 
he  served  in  the  church  council.  He  was  a  pro- 
gressive  man.  and  interested  in  the  Augusta  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  was  treas- 
urer.    Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Lentz  married  Louisa  Shade,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows:  Julia  died  young:  Senora  mar- 
ried Lewis  Hetrich;  Andrew  is  mentioned  below: 
Polly  married  William  Eady,  of  Shamokin;  Se- 
villa  married  George  Eckman;  David  died  young; 
John  H.  is  mentioned  below:  Perihelia  married 
George  Miller:  Emma  died  young:  Charles  R.  t- 
a  resident  of  Herndon,  this  county:  Stella  died 
young;  Bessie  married  George  Rebuck. 

Axdi'.ew  Lentz.  son  of  John  Lentz.  was  born 
Aug.  9,  1864,  in  Lower  Augusta  (now  Rockefeller) 
township,  this  county,  and  was  there  reared.  He 
followed  farming  until  twenty-five  year-  old.  after 
which  for  five  years  he  was  in  Sunbury.  Return- 
ing to  his  farm  of  120  acres  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship, he  cultivated  it  for  six  years,  at  the  end  of 
that  period  going  back  to  Sunbury,  where  he  eon- 
ducted  a  hotel,  at  the  same  time  engaging  in  the 
lumber  business.  For  six  years  he  was  thus  occu- 
pied, in  November,  I '.his.  purchasing  the  stock. 
good  will  and  fixtures  of  the  "Van  Kirk  Hon-,'." 
the  leading  hotel  in  Northumberland  borough, 
from  George  Hancock.  He  has  since  carried  on 
i in-  hotel,  which  has  thirty  rooms,  and  the  steady 
patronage — old  and  new — indicate-  that  he  has  im- 
proved every  opportunity  and  kepi  it  up  to  stand- 
ard. Mr.  Lentz  is  an  able  business  man  and  has 
shown  considerable  executive  ability  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  affairs,  for  besides  looking  after 
his  hotel  business  he  conducts  a  farm  of  eighty- 
six  acres  which  be  owns,  in  Upper  Augusta  town- 
ship, near  Reefer's  station,  and  he  is  engaged  in 
trucking  to  some  extent.  He  and  bis  famih  are 
members  of  the  Wolf's  Cross  Road  Church  in 
ifeller  township,  in  which  Mr.  Lentz  has 
been  an  active  worker,  and  he  contributed  toward 
the  erection  of  the  church,  in  the  welfare  of  which 


S04 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


be  is  deeply  interested.  He  has  been  particularly 
concerned  in  the  popularity  and  prosperity  of  the 
Sunday  school.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
Xo.  167,  B.  P.  0.  Elks,' of  Sunbury,  the  Protected 
Home  Circle  and  the  Conclave,  both  also  of  Sun- 
bury. 

In  December,  1889,  Mr.  Lentz  married  Laura 
Gonser,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Harriet  (House- 
worth)  Gonser,  of  Snydertown,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Jesse  E„  who  assists  his  father  with 
his  business  affairs. 

John  H.  Li:xtz,  son  of  John  Lentz,  was  born 
Feb.  1".  L872,  in  Rockefeller  township,  on  the 
homestead  where  he  has  spent  all  but  four  months 
of  his  life.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1900  commenced  on  his  own  account, 
having  purchased  the  place  in  September,  1899. 
It  is  a  tract  of  seventy-eight  acres,  and  Mr.  Lentz 
has  made  a  number  of  improvements  on  the  prop- 
erty since  it  came  into  his  possession.  He  has 
exceptionally  fine  live  stock.  Much  of  his  produce 
is  sold  at  the  Shamokin  markets,  which  he  at- 
tends regularly.  Mr.  Lentz  is  a  progressive  citi- 
zen, enterprising  in  the  management  of  his  own 
affairs  and  interested  in  movements  which  affect 
the  general  welfare,  and  he  is  vice-president  and 
a  director  of  the  Irish  Valley  &  Seven  Points 
Telephone  ( lompany,  in  which  he  is  an  active  spirit. 
He  was  a  school  director  of  his  township  for  three 
years,   and   is  a   Republican  in  political  matters. 

On  March  8,  1897,  Mr.  Lentz  married  Henri- 
etta Kelly,  daughter  of  George  Kelly,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Orpha,  Rachel  and  Myrtle  K. 

FRAXKLIX  L.  KEHRES,  of  Rebuck,  is  en- 
gaged as  a  merchant,  hotel-keeper  and  farmer, 
carrying  on  a  business  established  by  his  grand- 
father many  years  ago.  He  has  the  leading  store 
and  hotel  at  the  place.  Mr.  Kehres  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  where  he  has  passed  all  his 
life,  Xov.  30.  1857,  son  of  Nathan  E.  and  Cath- 
arine (Hoffman)  Kehres.  He  belongs  to  an  old 
family  of  this  region,  his  father  and  grandfather 
having  lived  in  Washington  township,  and  hears 
a  name  which,  in  various  forms,  is  now  numer- 
ously  represented  in  Pennsylvania.  The  original 
form  was  Gehres,  and  the  branches  of  the  family 
found  in  Berks  and  Schuylkill  counties,  and  in 
the  Shamokin  region,  still  retain  that  spelling  or 
the  variation  Gehris:  William  Kehres,  grandfather 
.of  Franklin  L.  Kehres,  made  the  change  from 
•■I,"  to  "K"  which  has  been  followed  by  his 
posterity. 

John  Gehres,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  fam- 
ily, is  said  to  have  come  from  Germany,  and  he 
first  located  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  whence  he  moved 
across  the  Blue  Mountains  into  Schuylkill  county. 
settling  in  the  Deep  Creek  Valley,  where  he  owned 
land.  He  died  in  1820,  and  his  wife,  whose  maid- 
en  name  was  Catharine  Otto,  survived  him  over 


fifty  years,  dying  in  April.  1873,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three.  They  were  of  the  German 
Reformed  faith,  and  are  buried  side  by  side  at 
the  Deep  Creek  Church.  They  had  seven  children,. 
namely  :  John  is  mentioned  below :  William  is  men- 
tioned below;  Betty  married  John  Bressler  and 
they  lived  in  Deep  Creek  Valley :  Sallie  married 
David  Stutzman ;  Maricha  married  Michael  Stutz- 
nian,  who  was  killed  in  the  Civil  war:  Catharine 
married  a  Mr.  Warfel  and  they  lived  in  Deep- 
Creek  Valley  (their  son  is  a  prominent  minister 
of  the  United  Evangelical  Association  i  :  Mrs.  Oss- 
nian  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Association  and  moved  to  Iowa. 

John  Gehres,  son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Otto) 
Gehres.  located  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Deep  Creek" 
Valley  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  After  his  retirement,  being  advanced 
in  years,  he  made  his  home  with  his  children  for 
a  number  of  years  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1908.  when  he  was  ninety-six  years  oldr 
while  he  was  living  with  a  married  daughter  in 
Berks  county.  He  was  twice  married,  and  sur- 
vived both  his  wives,  one  of  whom  was  a  Reed. 
Among  his  seventeen  children  were:  Sarah.  Lo- 
vina.  Carolina,  Lydia,  Emanuel  (of  Upper  Ma- 
hantango  Valley),  Daniel  (of  Shamokin,  Pa.)  and 
Mrs.  Haupt  (who  lives  at  Mount  Oarmel,  Pa.). 
A  number  of  the  posterity  of  thi;  John  Oehres 
have  lived  in  Berks  and  Lehigh  counties,  some  now 
i  1910)  residing  in  Hamburg.  Berks  'county,  and 
one  Milton  Gehris,  who  formerly  taught  school  in 
Berks  county,  now  holds  a  responsible  government 

-    ion  at  Washington,  D.  C.    This  branch  of  the 
family  adhere  to  the  original  spelling  of  the  name. 

William  Kehres.  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
(Otto),  born  April  5.  1808,  was  but  twelve  years 
Alien  his  father  died.  He  lived  in  Washing- 
ton township,  Xorthumberland  county,  where  he 
was  active  throughout  a  long  life,  in  his  earlier 
manhood  following  farming  exclusively  and  later 
building  the  Kehres  mill,  on  Greenbrier  creek, 
which  he  operated  for  many  years  besides  follow- 
ing agricultural  pursuits.  This  mill  was  contin- 
ued in  operation  until  about  1893.  His  farm 
consisted  of  about  160  acres.  Mr.  Kehres  was  an 
early  settler  at  Rebuck.  where  he  was  one  of  the 
first  merchants,  being  -ueceeded  as  such  by  his 
son  Nathan.  He  died  March  3,  1891,  and  he 
and  both  his  wives  are  buried  at  the  Himmel 
Church.  Mr.  Kehres  first  married.  April  56.  1831, 
Lydia  Erdman.  who  was  born  July  4.  181'?.  and 
died  Sept.  14.  1834.  They  had 'four  children: 
George  P..  born  Sept.  19,  1831,  whose  wife  Sarah. 
born  Xov.  1.  1858.  died  March  81,  1885:  Nathan 
E..  born  Sept.  -.'9.  1832;  William  E..  born  Aug.  1, 
1834:  and  Lydia.  who  died  young.  On  Oct.  4. 
1835.  Mr.  Ki  hres  married  (second)  Catharine  Erd- 
man (a  sister  of  his  first  wife),  who  was  born  May 
25,  1818.  and  died  July  8,  1895.     Nineteen  chil- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


805 


•dren  were  born  to  this  marriage,  as  follows:  Dan- 
iel, Oct.  6,  1836;  Emanuel,  Oct.  20,  1837  (his  wife 
Rosanna,  born  Aug.  3.  1848,  died  July  21,  1904)  ; 
Lvdia.  Oct.  17,  1838;  Maria,  Jan.  21,  1840:  Hen- 
rietta, Feb.  1,  1S42:  Sarah.  .May  18,  1843:  Cathar- 
ine, Sept.  30,  1844;  Levi,  June  3,  1846;  a  daugh- 
ter, March  4,  1847  (died  in  infancy)  ;  Paul,  March 
11,  1848:  Lavina.  March  9,  1849;  twin  of  Lavina 
(bora  dead);  Malinda,  duly  11.  1850:  Amanda, 
Jan.  2.2,  1853;  a  son,  dan.  20,  1854  (died  in  in- 
fancy) :  a  son,  November,  1854  (died  in  infancy) ; 
I'l.iiii.  \'!l.  27,  L855;  a  daughter,  1S56  (died  in 
infancy)  ;  Jacob  Wilson,  Jan.  31,  1858. 

Nathan  E.  Kehres,  son  of  William,  was  born 
Sept.  29,  1S32.  in  Washington  township,  and  died 
Sept.  H'.  1902.  He  was  a  farmer  until  1873, 
\\  hen  he  also  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  bus- 
Lness  at  Rebuck,  continuing  same  until  succeeded 
by  his  Min  F.  L.  Kehres  in  1888.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful  man  and  left  a  valuable  estate,  owning  sev- 
eral farms  in  Washington  township  and  also  one 
at  Klingerstown  (of  over  one  hundred  acres).  He 
was  a  useful  and  respected  citizen,  served  his  town- 
ship faithfully  as  treasurer,  and  was  an  active  mem- 
bei  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Hinnnel's 
Church,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of  deacon, 
elder,  trustee  and  treasurer.  Originally  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  he  later  became  an  adherent  of  Re- 
publican principles. 

On  .Tune  15,  1856,  Mr.  Kehres  married  Cath- 
arine Hoffman,  who  was  born  dan.  9,  1835,  in  Up- 
per Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county, 
daughti  :•  of  Henry  D.  Hdffman,  of  Berks  county. 
and  died  Nov.  11.  L895.  Children  as  follows  were 
born  to  their  union  :  Franklin  L.  is  mentioned  be- 
Low;  William  II.  was  horn  Jan.  26,  1860:  John 
M.  was  bora  dan.  19,  1862  ;  Lydia  E.  married  E.  R. 
Reitz;  Mary  Etta,  born  July  18,  1867,  died  Aug. 
L0,  1886;  C.  Reuben  was  born  Sept.  21.  1869; 
Samu.l  was  horn  Dee.  12.  1871,  and  died  Jan.  (  ?) 
9,  1876:  Kate  A.,  horn  Aug.  14,  1877,  married  Da- 
vid C.  Drumheller;  Rosie  A.,  born  Jan.  21,  1880, 
-married  A.  J.  Sehwalm. 

Franklin  L.  Kehres  received  his  education  m 
-the  schools  of  the  home  locality  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  At  an  early  age  he  began  running  a 
huckster  team  to  Shamokin  and  Ashland,  with 
produce,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  seven  y 
meantime  commencing  to  clerk  in  the  store  for 
his  father.  Eventually  he  gave  all  his  time  to  look- 
ing after  the  store,  and  in' 1888  succeeded  his  fa- 
-ther  in  the  mercantile  and  hotel  business,  having 
moved  to  the  old  stand  two  years  previously.  Re- 
buck  is  an  old-established  business  center  in  Wash- 
ington township.  Mr.  Kehres  carries  a  full  line  of 
o-eneral  merchandise,  continues  to  conduct,  the  ho- 
tel and  operates  his  farm  of  ninety  acres  in  con- 
junction with  his  other  interests.  He  enjoy?  a 
large  share  of  the  patronage  in  his  section  of  the 
county      He  is  agent  for  fertilizers  and  farm  im- 


plements, in  which  line  he  has  built  up  a  good 
trade,  and  he  has  been  postmaster  at  Rebuck  since 
the  Harrison  administration,  having  been- appoint- 
ed by  John  Wanamaker.  One  of  the  leading  cit- 
izens of  bis  district,  he  is  identified  with  everything 
affecting  its  development  and  progress. 

On  June  23,  1878,  Mr.  Kehres  married  Sarah  E. 
Hetrich,  who  was  born  in  Washington  township 
Dec.  2,  1860,  daughter  of  Daniel  Hetrich,  and  died 
Sept.  22,  1893.  They  had  three  children,  John  O., 
Cora  A.,  and  Gertie  M.  (wife  of  Norman  Peifer). 
On  Nov.  30,  1899,  Mr.  Kehres  married  (second) 
Katie  E.  Reed,  daughter  of  Henry  A.  Reed.  They 
have  no  children.  Mr.  Kehres  and  his  family  are 
Reformed  members  of  the  Himmel  Church,  and  he 
has  been  joint  treasurer  of  the  church  since  1903. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

John  O.  Kehres,  eldest  of  the  family  of  Frank- 
lin L.  Kehres.  was  born  Oct.  11,  1879.  and  obtained 
his  early  education  in  the  local  public  schools.  Lat- 
er he  attended  the  Interstate  Commercial  College, 
at  Reading,  and  he  subsequently  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  William  Hetrich,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Kehres  &  Hetrich,  engaging  in  the  lumber  business 
and  the  manufacture  of  cider,  and  also  operating 
a  gristmill,  in  Washington  township.  They  were 
associated  in  business  for  ten  years,  and  since  1904 
Mr.  Kelires  has  been  in  partnership  with  his  father 
in  the  general  merchandise  business.  He  is  an  en- 
terprising and  respected  young  man.  and  is  pro- 
gressing steadily  in  business  circles.  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  Xo.  355,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  at  Shamokin, 
and  since  1900  has  belonged  to  Lodge  No.  551,  I. 
O.  O.  F..  at  Mahanoy. 


Ephraim  R.  Gehris,  late  of  Boyertown,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  was  also  a  member  of  the  Gehres  family 
of  which  this  article  treats.  He  was  a  native  of 
Boyertown,  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  Gehris,  and 
passed  nearly  all  his  life  there.  He  followed  the 
occupation  of  tinsmith,  and  was  a  faithful  em- 
ployee, having  been  with  Jacob  B.  Yahn  for  more 
than  thirty  years.  In  politics  he  was  always  an 
active  and  enthusiastic  Democrat,  and  held  several 
minor  offices  in  the  borough.  From  early  youth  he 
had  played  in  the  Boyertown  Band,  lir-t  a-  snare 
drummer,  later  as  trombone,  lie  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Keystone  Fire  Company,  in  which 
he  was  very  popular,  and  served  as  chief  engineer 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  belonged  to  tin.'  Knights 
of  the  Mystic  Chain  at  Boyertown  and  to  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Mechanics  at  Pottstown.  Mr. 
Gehris  died  in  June,  1910,  at  his  home  on  Wash- 
ington street,  Boyertown.  aged  fifty-three  years,  six- 
months,  eleven  days,  lie  was  buried  in  Union 
cemetery. 

Mr.  Gehris  married  Ada  Shaner,  who  survived 
him  with  the  following  children:     Ella,  wife  o 
Dewitt  Engel :  William:  LeRoy;  [saac;  and  Ague-. 
wife  of  William  Trout — all   of   Boyertown.     One 


806 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


daughter.  Florence,  died  several  years  before  her 
lather.  Mr.  Gehris's  father,  Isaac  Gehris,  survives 
him,  but  his  mother  and  sister  preceded  him  in 

death. 

HENEY  N.  ADAMS,  whose  home  is  in  Cleve- 
land township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  jus!  across  the 
Northumberland  county  line  at  Bear  Cap.  is  a 
member  of  an  old  Northumberland  county  family. 

Casper  Adams,  his  great-grandfather,  the  first 
of  the  family  in  this  country,  was  born  April  25, 
L755,  at  Langendiebach,  OfEenburg,  Germany.  Lit- 
tle is  known  of  his  early  life.  On  coming  to  this 
country  he  lived  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  before  com- 
ing to  Northumberland  county,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  earliest  pioneers  in  Ralpho  township,  own- 
ing several  hundred  acres  of  land  there.  He  cleared 
some  of  his  land  and  followed  farming.  He  died 
.Ian.  •.'•;.  is:;-.',  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  (the 
Blue)  Church  in  Ralpho  township.  Casper  Adams 
married,  in  Berks  county,  Elizabeth  Hinkle,  of 
that  county,  ami  they  had  a  large  family,  six  sons 
and  six  daughters,  namely:  Frederick  (1792- 
1853).  John,  Samuel,  Casper,  Leonard,  Peter,  Nel- 
lie (married  George  Startzel).  Susanna  (married 
Samuel  Startzel),  Elizabeth  (married  Gilbert 
Liliy).  Polly  (married  Peter  Strausser),  Maria 
(married  Jacob  Kreher)  and  Catharine  (married 
Samuel  Anspach). 

Casper  Adams,  fourth  son  of  Casper  and  E 
abeth  (Hinklet  Adams,  was  horn  April  10,  1796, 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  Ralpho  township,  and 
was  there  reared  to  farm  life.  When  he  became  of 
age  his  father  deeded  100  acres  of  land  in  Ralpho 
township  to  him,  this  being  the  farm  afterward  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  George  C,  near  the  Blue  Church. 
Mr.  Adams  was  a  man  of  active  mind,  one  who 
interested  himself  in  the  general  welfare  as  well 
as  in  the  promotion  of  his  own  interests,  and  lie 
was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  locality  for 
many  years,  well  known  as  a  stanch  Democrat  and 
as  one  of  the  most  liberal  supporters  of  the  Blue 
Church,  with  which  he  was  identified  all  his  life: 
he  served  as  elder  of  that  church  and  was  one  of 
the  most  generous  contributors  toward  the  erection 
of  the  church  edifice.  He  married  Susanna  Start- 
zel (daughter  of  John),  who  was  born  March  14, 
i  died  Jan.  V?.  ISTo:  Mr.  Adams  died 
Jan.  28,  1882,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  Church. 
Their  children  were:  Benjamin,  who  died  in 
1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years  (Edward. 
William  F.  and  Lucinda  were  his  children)  ;  Dan- 
i.l  IF:  Casper,  deceased;  George  C.  born  Aug.  17. 
1826;  David,  horn  in  1830;  Jacob,  born  in  1S33, 
who  died  in  1895 :  Samuel,  deceased :  William : 
Elizabeth  (deceased),  vdio  married  William 
Smith  :  Susanna  (deceased),  who  married  William 
Klase :  Folly.  Mrs.  Fry.  deceased  :  Angelina,  who 
married  William  Smith:  and  Harriet,  deceased. 

Daniel  H.  Adams,  son  of  Casper  and  Susanna 


(Startzel)  Adams,  was  born  in  1822  on  the  old 
homestead  near  Elysburg,  in  Ralpho  township.  He 
followed  farming  all  his  life,  owning  a  tract  of 
about  fifty  acres  near  the  Blue  Church,  and  in 
connection  with  his  agricultural  work  engaged  in 
lime  burning.  He  died  June  20,  1892.  Mr.  Adams 
married  Sarah  A.  Pensyl,  who  was  born  in  1829, 
daughter  of  Leonard  Pensyl,  and  died  Jan.  1,  1908. 
They  are  buried  at  the  Blue  Church.  Twelve  chil- 
dren were  born  to  their  union,  viz. :  Francis  is  a 
resident  of  Shamokin :  John  is  deceased  :  Henry  N. 
near  Bear  Gap,  in  Columbia  county:  I).  Alon- 
zo  is  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ralpho  township; 
Leonard  M.  is  a  resilient  of  Shamokin;  Nathan  O. 
ated  at  Paxinos  :  Allison  C.  is  living  in  Ralpho 
township:  Marietta  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of 
Frank  Erdman,  commissioner  of  Northumberland 
county :  Emma  married  George  Erdman :  Eliza- 
beth married  Philip  Richarjd  and  they  live  at  Elys- 
burg, Northumberland  county:  Lydia  married 
Thomas  Boughner,  of  Ralpho:  Casper  died  young. 

Henry  N.  Adams  was  born  upon  the  homestead 
near  the  Blue  Church  Nov.  18,  1851,  and  was 
raised  by  his  grandfather,  Leonard  Pensyl,  in 
Ralpho  township.  He  remained  with  him  till  about 
thin  3  of  age  and  then  left  home  after  the 

death  of  his  grandfather.     He  was  employed  for 
ral   years   by  the   Pennsylvania   Railroad  and 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Companies, 
for  a  few  years  was  section  track  foreman,  and  then 
was  employed  at  the  Pennsylvania  yard  at  Weigh 
Scales.    In  1889  he  located  upon  his  presenl  farm 
in  Cleveland  township,  Columbia  county,  near  Bear 
.  which  he  purchased,  having  145  acres  of  val- 
uable land,  among  the  best  in  the  district.     It  has 
an   abundant    supply   of   spring  water.     He   is   a 
much  respected  citizen  of  his  community,  ha 
been  elected  auditor  of  his  township,  which  office 
li    ;-  tilling  at  present. 

On  Feb.  4.  1888.  Mr.  Adams  married  Lydia 
Dimmick,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Leiby)  Dimmick,  and  they  have  three  children. 
Calvin  B..  David  L.  and  Clara  M..  all  at  home. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  (Blue)  Church. 
and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 

STAMM.     The  Stamm   family  has  many  rep- 
resentatives in  Northumberland  county,  descend- 
ants of  old  Berks  county  (Pa.)  stock,  the  Stamms 
having   scattered    from   that    region    over   various 
-  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  name  Stamm  or  Stam  is  found  frequently 
in  the  lists  of  emigrants  to  America.  On  the  pas- 
senger  list  of  the  ""Hope."  Daniel  Reed,  masl 
from  Rotterdam,  qualified  Sept.  23,  1734,  is  the 
name  of  Pel  S  am,  aged  twenty:  on  the  •"Sam- 
uel.'" Hugh  Percy,  captain,  from  Rotterdam,  qual- 
ified Dec.  3,  1740,  that  of  Adam  Stam,  aged  twen- 
ty-five; on  the  '"Francis  and  Elizabeth,"  George 
North,  master,  from  Rotterdam,  qualified  Sept.  21, 


NORTHUMBERLAN 1 )  COUNTY,   PE  X  N  s  Y  LVA  N  I A 


m 


1742,  those  of  Johann  Adam  Stam  and  Werner 
Stain  ;  on  the  snow  "Charlotte,"  John  Mason,  mas- 
ter, from  Rotterdam,  Sept.  5,  1743,  Johann  Jacob 
Stam:  on  the  "Phoenix,"  William  Wilson,  com- 
mander, from  Rotterdam,  Sept.  30,  1743,  Jo- 
hannes Stamni :  and  on  the  "Union,"  Andrew  Bry- 
son,  captain,  from  Rotterdam,  Sept.  30,  1774, 
Adam  Stam. 

The  Stamm  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Berks 
county.  Werner  (or  Peter)  and  Johann  Adam 
Stam  (or  Stamm).  brothers,  were  natives  of  Switz- 
erland and  emigrated  to  the  New  World  on  the 
ship  "Francis  and  Elizabeth,"  George  North,  com- 
mander, from  Rotterdam.  It  qualified  at  Phil- 
adelphia Sept.  21,  1742,  and  of  the  141  male  emi- 
grants who  had  taken  passage  many  settled  in 
Berks  county,  their  descendants  being  still  found 
in  goodly  numbers  in  the  districts  where  they  lo- 
1  and.  Where  Johann  Adam  Stam  settled,  or  what 
became  of  him,  we  do  not  know.  The  other  broth- 
er, Werner,  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Stamms  of 
Berks  county.  He  was  hom  Nov.  13,  1726,  in 
Bern,  Switzerland,  and  died  May  16,  1795.  He 
settled  in  what  is  now  Bern  township  in  1763, 
obtaining  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mount  Pleasant,  in  Berks  county,  where  he  lived 
and  died.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  the  old 
Bern  Church.  He  married  May  26,  1748,  Cath- 
arine, born  in  1728,  died  Nov.  4.  1812.  Among 
his  children  were  two  -"lis  named  Nicholas  and 
Frederick. 

(The  name  Peter  1-  said  to  have  been  Werner 
Stam.  There  is  a  Werner  Stam  buried  at  the 
Hern  Church.  The  Pennsylvania  Archives  record 
the  name  as  Peter,  but  this  is  reputed  to  be  an 
error,  the  tax  lists,  church  records,  etc.,  all  bear- 
ing evidence  to  the  contrary.  However,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  Werner  Stamm  was  under 
age  when  the  two  mentioned  in  the  Archives  ar- 
rived, and  that  for  that  reason  his  name  does 
no!  appear.  The  date  of  their  landing  agrees 
with  the  date  tradition  and  old  members  of  the 
family  have  of  Werner's  coming  to  America.) 

Nicholas  Stamm,  son  of  Werner,  born  April  22, 
I  752,  died  Oct.  6,  1828.  He  married  Catharine 
Lerch.  horn  April  21,  1754,  died  May  16.  1844. 
Like  his  parents,  they  are  buried  at  the  Bern 
Church.  Among  their  children  were:  Johann 
Adam.  Frederick,  Peter,  John.  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Craeff.  Philip.  William.  Catharine  (married  Peter 
Reinhart)  and  Benjamin.  Some  of  this  family 
moved  to  Lycoming,  Snyder  and  Northumberland 
counties,  Pennsvlvania. 

Frederick  Stamm.  the  grandfather  of  Levi  F. 
Stamm,  of  Turbut  township.  Northumberland 
county,  was  evidently  one  of  the  sons  of  Nicholas. 
above,  having  been  born  in  Bern  township,  Berks 
county,  near  the  Bern  Church.  Feb.  17.  1782.  In 
1816  he  came  to  Northumberland  county,  settling 
near  the  Paradise  Church    in    Turbut    township. 


Afterward  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Center  county, 
Pa.,  but  returned  to  Northumberland  in  a  lew 
years  and  died  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  this  region,  and  made  the 
trip  hither  from  Berks  county  by  tram.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Barnhan.  died  in  Center 
county  and  is  buried  then',  at  the  Loop  Church 
at  Center  Hall.  Frederick  Stamm  died  in  Tur- 
but township  Sept.  11,  1859,  aged  seventy-seven 
years,  one  month,  twenty-four  days,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Paradise  Church.  He  was  a  Reformed 
member  of  that  church  and  active  in  his  congre- 
gation, which  he  served  many  years  as  deacon  and 
elder.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Mrs.  John 
Frymeyer;  Jacob;  Henry,  who  died  in  Turbut 
township;  Mrs.  Samuel  Stahlnecker :  Mrs.  Conrad 
Diefenbacher ;  Benjamin,  who  died  in  Center 
county:  Charles,  who  died  in  Center  county:  Mrs. 
John  Gingrith :  Mrs.  Christian  Gingrith  (John 
and  Christian  Gingrith  were  brothers)  ;  Mrs.  John 
Catterman;  Daniel,  who  died  in  Montour  .county : 
Mrs.  Myers:  Dr.  William,  who  died  near  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. :  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  Stamm,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born  in 
Berks  county  in  1808.  He  grew  to  manhood  upon 
the  homestead  farm  in  Turbut  township,  which 
he  later  purchased,  and  when  a  young  man  he 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  followed 
for  many  years.  A  prominent  worker  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  in  his  locality,  he  served  over  eighteen 
years  as  overseer  of  the  poor  and  held  various 
other  township  offices,  proving  a  faithful  and  in- 
telligent public  servant.  He  was  an  active  meiii- 
ber  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  Paradise 
Church,  and  served  many  pears  as  deacon  and 
elder.  In  1831  he  married  Mary  Deifenbacher. 
daughter  of  Philip  Deifenbacher,  of  Montour 
county.  Mrs.  Stamm  was  born  in  1811,  and  died 
in  IS!)!),  long  surviving  her  husband,  who  passed 
away  Oct.  28,  1881.  They  are  buried  at  Paradise 
Church.  The  following  children  were  born  to  this 
couple:  William  P>.  (died  Dec.  31.  189s.  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  twenty-sis  days)  married  Cath- 
arine Berger;  Edward  J.,  horn  in  Lewis  town- 
ship Dec.  15,  1839,  died  Feb.  7.  1909,  a  farmer. 
married  Amelia  Berger;  Daniel  D.,  born  in  1842, 
died  in  1901,  married  Susan  Rangier;  Franklin 
H.,  born  in  1843,  died  in  1911,  married  Annie 
Snyder;  Levi  Frederick  is  mentioned  below:  Phil- 
ip L..  born  in  1848.  died  in  1906,  married  Susan 
Bellman. 

Levi  Feederick  Stamm,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born 
Jan.  (').  1845,  in  Delaware  township,  this  county, 
red  his  education  in  the  township  schools  and 
in  a  graded  school  at  LimestoneviUe,  Montour 
county,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  two  terms, 
at  East  Lewisburg  and  at  Kiefertown.  After  thai 
lie  farmed  in  Lewis  township  for  one  year,  al  the 
end  of  that  time  settling  in  Turbut  town-hip. 
where  he  has  since  remained.     Buying  the  Schaef- 


SOS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


fer  homestead  (that  of  his  father-in-law)  of  17  7 
acre?,  he  prospered  in  his  agricultural  work,  and 
also  acquired  an  adjoining  tract,  of  sixty  acres,  all 
valuable  land,  being  classed  among  the  best  farm 
acreage  in  the  county,  abundantly  supplied  with 
good  water.  Mr.  Stamm  continued  active  farm 
work  until  1892,  since  which  year  he  has  lived 
retired,  his  successful  career  having  enabled  him 
to  rest  from  heavy  responsibilities  for  many  years. 
He  is  a  Reformed  member  of  the  Paradise  Church 
and  has  held  offices  in  his  congregation. 

In  1SGS  Mr.  Stamm  married  Sarah  Schaeffer, 
and  they  have  three  children :  Cora  married 
Robert  Sheep  and  has  one  child.  Neta;  Ida  mar- 
ried Andrew  Kurtz  and  has  two  children.  Mildred 
and  Dorothy;  Oran  S.,  born  in  1877,  a  clerk 
in  the  employ  of  the  Milton  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, married  Catharine  Satteson  and  has  one 
child,  Thelma.  Mrs.  Stamm's  grandfather  was 
Peter  Schaeffer,  and  her  parents  were  Eli  and 
Elizabeth  (Glase)  Schaeffer,  the  former  of  whom 
died  Aug.  19,  1886,  aged  sixty-five  years :  his 
wife  died  Nov.  21,  1887,  aged  sixty-two. 


John  William  Stamm  (probably  the  son  of 
Nicholas  recorded  as  William)  was  born  in  1793. 
and  died  in  1868,  aged  seventy-five  years,  at  the 
borough  of  Northumberland.  He  is  buried  in 
Riverview  cemetery.  For  a  time  he  lived  in  Wash- 
ingtonville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  kept  a 
hotel  until  1840,  in  which  year  he  moved  to  Point 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
owned  land  and  followed  farming.  Upon  his  re- 
tirement from  active  work  he  settled  in  Northum- 
berland, in  which  borough  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  His  wife  Catharine  (Kissinger)  died 
out  West  while  with  one  of  her  sons  who  had 
settled  there.  The  children  of  John  William  and 
Catharine  (Kissinger)  Stamm  were  as  follows: 
Benjamin  died  in  Detroit,  Mich. :  Louis  died  out 
West;  Andrew.  William  and  G.  Washington  live 
out  West:  Thomas  J.  is  mentioned  later:  Mar- 
garet married  Robert  Arnold:  Sarah  married  and 
lived  in  Iowa :  Susan  married  Joseph  Watson. 

Thomas  J.  Stamm,  son  of  John  William,  was 
born  in  1821  in  Montour  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
ed  his  youth  and  young  manhood.  In  his 
earlier  life  he  was  a  farmer,  and  later,  settling 
at  Northumberland,  engaged  in  hotel-keeping. 
conducting  the  "Exchange  Hotel."'  which  he  es- 
tablished. He  subsequently  conducted  the 
•'Washington  Hotel.'''  in  the  same  borough,  up  to 
within  several  years  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  Northumberland  in  1897.  He  is  buried 
there.  His  son  Benjamin  F.  succeeded  to  his  in- 
-i?  in  the  hotel  business,  which  he  still  car- 
ries on.  Politically  Mr.  Stamm  was  a  Democrat, 
and  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  school  director, 
which  he  filled  faithfully.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member   of  the   Lutheran    Church.     He  married 


Catharine  Grouser,  who  was  born  in  182S,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Crouser,  of  Catawissa,  Pa.,  and  died 
in  1895.  The  following  children  were  born  to 
them:  Laura  E.  (deceased),  who  was  an  invalid; 
Mary  S.,  who  married  Robert  G.  Seller,  of  North- 
umberland, Pa.:  John  W.,  mentioned  later: 
Thomas  J.,  Jr.,  a  resident  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.: 
Margaret  Ann,  who  married  Abner  G.  Mertz,  of 
Northumberland;  Clarinda  C,  who  is  unmarried 
and  lives  in  Detroit.  Mich.;  Sallie  Ann;  Benja- 
min P.,  mentioned  later;  and  Carrie  May,  who 
married  dames  McKinney,  and  they  live  at  Greens- 
burg,  Pennsylvania. 

John  W.  Stamm,  son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Cath- 
arine (Crouser)  Stamm,  was  born  Dec.  28,  1850. 
in  Point  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
.  ed  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Northumberland.  After  working  for  his  father 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began 
work  in  a  sawmill  and  lumber  business  at  North- 
umberland, and  was  thus  engaged  for  the  next 
seventeen  years,  following  which  he  farmed  in 
Point  township  for  five  years.  During  this  time 
— in  18S5 — he  became  interested  in  the  butcher 
business,  which  has  grown  to  such  proportions 
that  it  now  requires  the  principal  share  of  his 
time  and  attention,  and  he  is  the  leading  butcher 
of  Northumberland  borough,  where  his  establish- 
ment is  located.  He  has  a  wide  patronage,  and 
has  the  distinction  of  having  the  only  sanitary 
butcher  wagon  run  in  the  borough,  a  fact  indica- 
tive of  the  progressive  methods  which  have  al- 
ways characterized  his  work.  Mr.  Stamm  is  not 
only  a  successful  business  man  but  a  citizen  of 
broad  public  spirit,  and  as  such  has  done  good 
work  as  a  member  of  the  bureau  of  industry  of 
Northumberland.  In  political  sentiment  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

In  1867  Mr.  Stamm  married  Adda  Hoffman, 
daughter  of  John  and  Amelia  (Kreider)  Hoff- 
man, of  Snyder  county.  Pa.  They  had  two  daugh- 
Edna,  now  the  wife  of  Uban  Snyder,  liv- 
ing in  Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county:  and 
Katie,  wife  of  Roy  Ulp,  of  Northumberland.  Mrs. 
Stamm  died  Feb.  2,  1878,  aged  thirty-two  years. 
In  18S0  Mr.  Stamm  married  (second)  Sarah  Gul- 
iek.  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sabilla  (Ulrich)  Gul- 
ick  of  Northumberland,  and  they  have  had  one 
son,  William  Floyd,  born  Sept.  15,  1882.  who  is 
a  railroad  man  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Company.  Mr.  Stamm  occupies  a  fine  residence 
built  by  his  father,  at  the  corner  of  Queen  and 
Fifth  streets,  in  the  borough  of  Northumberland. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  in  whose  work  he  has  taken  considerable 
part,  having  served  as  elder  and  as  deacon  for 
many  years. 

Bex.tamtk  F.  Stavim.  son  of  Thomas  J.  was 
born  Dec.  '■'.  1867,  in  the  old  "Exchange  Hotel" 
in  Northumberland  borough.     He  received  his  ed- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


809 


ucation  ai  thai  place,  in  the  public  schools.  He 
is  an  experienced  hotel  man,  having  practically 
grown  up  to  the  business,  which  he  has  followed 
all  his  active  life.  In  1892  he  began  conduct- 
ing the  "Washington  Hotel"  at  Northumberland, 
and  has  been  proprietor  ever  since:  in  1905  he 
bought  the  property,  which  is  located  at  the  cor- 
ner of  King  and  Northway  streets.     It  has  some 

twent}    r s  and  the  trade  lias  been  a  lucrative 

one  for  many  years.  Mr.  Stamm  is  a  well  known 
sportsman  and  hunter,  and  has  many  friends 
among  those  similarly  inclined  in  his  section.  He 
is  an  independent  voter,  supporting  the  candidate 
he  prefers  without  regard  to  party  lines. 

Mr.  Stamm  married  Jennie  Haas,  daughter  of 
Luther  L.  Haas,  of  Northumberland,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Esther  C.  and  Luther  A. 

LANDIS  ZARTMAN.  farmer  of  Rockefeller 
township,  near  the  Lantz  Church  and  Lantz 
schoolhouse,  was  born  duly  27,  1863,  in  Jackson 
township,  this  county,  and  belongs  to  a  numerous 
and  respected  family  whose  members  have  been 
identified  with  the  best  element  in  that  region 
for  several  generations  past.  The  family  has  been 
settled  in  this  county  for  over  one  hundred  and 
forty  years.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  this 
country  settled  in  Lancaster  county.  Pennsylvania. 

Alexander  Zartman  and  his  wife  Ann  Cathar- 
ina  came  from  Germany  to  America  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1728.  They  were  classified  with  the  Ger- 
man Palatinates,  but  it  is  more  likely  that  they 
came  from  Wurtemberg,  possibly  from  Erlenbach. 
Their  first  stopping  place  was  Philadelphia, 
whence  they  followed  the  pike  leading  to  Harris- 
burg,  and  at  length  found  their  way  into  the 
region  of  the  Tulpehocken.  southwest  of  Reading, 
in  Berks  county,  not  far  from  the  Muddy  Creek 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  where  they  wor- 
shipped in  the  years  L728  and  1729.  Before  1730, 
however,  they  located  in  Warwick  township,  Lan- 
caster Co..  Pa.,  and  in  1738  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  near  Brickerville,  that  county,  the  deed  for. 
which  (calling  for  197  acres)  was  given  by  the 
Penns  to  Alexander  Zartman  in  about  1750.  He 
made  his  last  will  and  testament  (recorded  at 
Lancaster.  Pa.)  Oct.  G.  1762,  and  it  was  probated 
in  December,  that  year.  His  age  is  not  given. 
He  lived  in  America  thirty-four  years.  His  wife 
survived  him  some  years.  They  had  two  sons.  Ja- 
cob and  Alexander,  and  as  there  is  no  record  of 
other  offspring  it  is  probable  these  were  their  only 
children. 

Jacob  Zartman.  son  of  Alexander,  was  the  an- 
cestor of  the  Zartmans  of  Northumberland  county. 
He  may  have  been  born  in  Germany.  He  received 
his  inheritance  from  his  parents  in  1754.  when 
they  deeded  to  him  seventy-one  acres  of  the  old 
homestead  This  land  Jacob  Zartman  sold  to 
George  Graffe  in  1759  for  £280.     In  about  1768 


be  came  to  Mahanoy  town-hip.    Northumberland 

count}-,  where  he  purchased  a  122-acre  tract  at 
the  foot  of  Line  Mountain.  In  1775  John  Adam 
Shaffer  deeded  a  farm  of  100  acres  to  Jacob  Zart- 
man, of  Mahanoy  township,  the  consideration  be- 
ing £11,  and  there,  between  what  are  now  known 
as  Kneass  and  Otto  stations,  established  the  old 
Zartman  homestead,  which  after  bis  death  was 
owned  by  his  sons  Martin  and  Peter,  later  by  their 
brother  Henry,  and  then,  successively,  by  Henry's 
-on  Martin.  Martin's  son  Daniel  and  Daniel's  son 
Samuel  S.,  who  sold  it  only  recently  to  Edward 
Hilbush.  There  is  a  very  good  spring  near  the 
old  house,  and  there  stood  a  beautiful  pear  tree, 
from  which  four  generations  gathered  fruit.  In 
February.  1793,  Jacob  Zartman  made  his  last  will 
and  testament,  and  died  either  that  month  or  the 
month  following.  He  is  interred  in  a  private 
burial  ground  in  the  meadow  west  of  the  house; 
he  has  no  tombstone.  He  married  Anna  Mar- 
gareth  Rocmin  (Ream),  and  their  children  were: 
Henry:  Martin;  Anna  Margareth.  born  Oct.  2S, 
1755;  Susanna:  Eve,  born  Oct.  1,  1758  (prob- 
ably died  .young:  her  birth  and  baptism  are  re- 
corded  at  Brickerville  Church)  :  Peter,  born  March 
3,  1760;  Jacob,  and  Anna  Maria. 

Martin  Zartman,  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Mar- 
gareth Zartman.  was  born  in  Lancaster  count}', 
and  in  about  1769  moved  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Under  his  father's  will  he  and  his  brother  Peter 
became  joint  owners  of  the  homestead  at  the  foot 
of  Line  Mountain.  He  made  his  last  will  and 
testament  Oct.  2,  1816,  and  it  was  probated  Oct. 
2,  1817.  He  married  Susanna  Eutler  (Fitter), 
sister  of  his  brother  Jacob's  wife,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  born  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  April  27, 
1780;  Martin.  Nov.  11.  1781:  Benjamin.  March 
13,  1783:  William,  May  28.  1785;  Eve  Magda- 
lene,  Oct.  8.  1795:  Margaret.  1797:  David,  Dec. 
30.  1799. 

David  Zartman.  son  of  Martin,  born  Dec.  30, 
1  W9,  lived  in  Washington  township,  was  a  weaver 
by  trade,  and  died  Oct.  30.  1879,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years,  ten  months.  David  Zartman  was  twice 
married,  and  was  the  father  of  six  children:  Ben- 
jamin. Isaac.  Elias  and  Israel,  by  his  first  wife, 
and  Samuel  and  Mary  by  the  second. 

Israel  Zartman,  son  of  David,  was  born  in  Jack- 
son township,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  He  followed  that 
vocation  for  many  years,  finding  plenty  of  work- 
in  his  own  and  surrounding  townships.  He  lived 
at  St.  Peter's  Church.  Mahanoy,  for  many  years, 
and  died  there  in  1870  or  1871:  he  is  buried 
at  that  church,  whose  bell  he  had  rung  for  many 
years.  His  wife.  Polly  (Schlegel),  daughter  of 
William  Schlegel,  still  survives,  and  has  now 
(1910)  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven 
war-.     She  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter, 


810 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mrs.  Louisa  Garinger,  in  Rockefeller  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zartman  had  children  as  follows : 
Malinda.  Mrs.  (''.melius  Smith:  Lueinda,  de- 
ceased: Louisa,  wife  of  Jackson  Garinger:  Lan- 
dis :  Nelson,  of  Sunbury :  and  twins  and  another 
child  that  died  young. 

Landis  Zartman  was  reared  to  farm  life.  Soon 
after  his  father's  death  he  was  taken  into  the  fam- 
ily of  Jacob  Fegley.  with  whom  he  lived  until 
he  was  past  twenty.  For  three  years  he  lived 
at  Limestone,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  thence 
moving  to  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  began 
farming,  remaining  there  about  four  years  at  that 
time.  For  the  next  three  years  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  in  Little  Mahanov  township,  after 
which  lie  was  again  in  Upper  Augusta  before 
settling  on  his  present  home  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. It  is  a  tract  of  ninety-six  acres,  formerly 
the  homestead  of  Maj.  Samuel  Lantz,  and  lo- 
eated  near  the  Lantz  Church  and  Lantz  school- 
house.  Under  Mr.  Zartrnan's  care  it  is  in  excel- 
lent condition,  and  he  lias  proved  himself  a  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising  farmer,  conducting  his 
work  systematically  and  obtaining  good  results. 
Mr.  Zartman  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  politics  and  public  matters  in  his  lo- 
cality,  having  served  as  election  judge,  and  at 
present  tilling  his  fourth  term  as  overseer  of  the 
poor. 

In  1888  .Mr.  Zartman  married  Annie  M.  Sterner, 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Ellen  (Barrett) 
St.  mer,  of  Rockefeller  township.  They  have  had 
three  children:  Delia  May  married  Bertram  Feg- 
ley  and  they  live  in  Rockefeller  township:  Bertha 
Ellen  married  Domer  Zimmerman  and  they  live 
in  Rockefeller  township:  Irvin  Edwin  was  born 
Aug.  5,  1893,  in  Little  Mahanov  township.  Mr. 
Zartman  and  bis  family  worship  in  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  has  served  many  years  as  deacon. 

The  descendants  of  Alexander  and  Ann  Cath- 
arina  Zartman  have  organized.  Rev.  Rufus  C.  Zart- 
man. of  Philadelphia,  being  president  of  the  asso- 
ciation. Their  latest  and  largest  reunion  was  held 
at  York.  Pennsylvania.  ,  Zartmans  and  Zortmans 
from  various  sections  were  represented  at  the 
gathering. 

EMANUEL  WILL  YOUNG,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  chief  clerk  to  the  county  commissioners 
of  Northumberland  county,  is  a  citizen  of  Riverside 
who  has  been  identified  with  business  and  public 
matters  and  is  well  and  favorably  known,  being 
a  man  of  ability  and  trustworthy  character. 

Joseph  Young,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  and  died, 
passing  his  life  in  Perm  township,  where  he  is 
also  buried,  at  White  Oak  Church.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  there.  By 
trade  he  was  a  cooper.     Six  children  were  born 


to  him  and  his  wife,  namely:  Levi,  who  lived  ai 
Ralpho,  Pa.:  a  daughter  who  married  Michael 
Frunck.  of  Lancaster  county:  Sophia,  who  never- 
married;  Reuben,  who  died  at  Elkhart.  Ind. ;  a 
daughter  who  married  Joseph  Baker  and  lived  in 
Lancaster  county ;  and  Michael. 

Michael  Young,  -on  of  Joseph,  was  born  in 
January,  1815,  in  Penn  township.  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, and  died  there  Aug.  10,  1890.  He  was  a 
i  Mini  farmer,  owning  a  tract  of  twenn  acre- 
near  Manheim,  in  Penn  township.  He  is  buried 
in  the  family  plot  at  White  Oak  Union  Church, 
where  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Reformed 
congregation,  serving  many  years  as  deacon  and 
trustee.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  for  many 
years,  but  though  active  in  the  party  always  re- 
fused offers  of  public  position  for  himself,  pre- 
ferring to  use  his  influence,  as  he  did.  to  help 
ele.t  his  friends.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Fannie 
(Will),  daughter  of  Peter  Will,  of  Ralpho  town- 
ship. Lancaster  county,  were  horn  the  following 
children:  Catharine  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Keith 
and  they  live  at  Lebanon.  Pa.:  Elizabeth  married 
Thomas  Keith,  brother  of  Joseph,  and  they  live 
at  Peiirvn.  Pa.:  Sarah  married  Monroe  Ulrich 
and  they  live  at  Manheim.  Pa.:  Annie,  married 
to  Benjamin  Hammer,  also  lives  at  Manheim; 
Malinda  married  Talton  Wechter  and  they  reside 
ai    Penryn;  Emanuel  Will  was  the  only  son. 

Emanuel  Will  Young  was  horn  May  '.;ii.  lsiiti. 
in  Penn  township.  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there 
received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools. 
Later  he  took  a  commercial  course  in  the  Lan- 
caster Business  College,  and  he  was  a  young  man 
when  he  settled  in  Northumberland  county,  re- 
moving to  Sunbury  in  1889.  There  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cigars,  and  afterward  had 
a  cigar  factory  at  Riverside,  continuing  that  busi- 
ness until  the  spring  of  1900,  when  In-  entered  the 
employ  of  the  M.  F.  Gulick  Sand  Company,  at 
Riverside,  as  foreman.  He  was  with  the  concern 
in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  three  years,  until 
appointed  assistant  clerk  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners, holding  that  position  until  1906.  Resum- 
ing his  work  with  the  sand  company  he  continued 
in  their  employ  until  1908,  when  he  received  his 

a] mtment  as   chief  clerk  to   the  present  board 

of  county  commissioners.  Mr.  Young  was  first 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1900,  and  has  since 
been  reelected.  He  has  also  been  overseer  of  the 
poor.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Republican  party  in  Northumberland  county,  be- 
ing one  of  its  faithful  workers  and  standing  well 
with  the  best  class  of  citizens.  Socially  he  holds 
membership  in  Danville  Lodge.  No.  '231,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Danville:  in  Lodge  No.  809,  I.  O.  O.  F.. 
also  of  Danville:  and  in  the  Order  of  Moose  at 
Milton,  this  county. 

In    1889    Mr.    Young  married    Sallie   E.    Culp, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


811 


daughter  of  William  and  Martha  (Smith)  Gulp. 
Thc\  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr. 
Young  is  at  present  serving  as  trustee. 

WILKISON  or  WILKINSON.  Both  forms  of 
(In-  name  are  in  use  among  the  descendants  of 
Aaron  Wilkison,  a  pioneer  of  Northumberland 
county,  l'a.,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and 
came  to  tins  section  at  an  early  day.  settling  in 
Augusta  township,  along  Shamokin  creek,  where 
he  lived  for  some  years.  He  then  moved  to  the 
ln-h  Valley,  in  Shamokin  township,  this  county, 
settling  on  the  property  now  owned  by  Francis 
Wynn,  a  tract  of  120  acres.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  fanner.  He  died  while  yet  a  young  man. 
and  is  buried  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  near 
Snydertown,  though  he  was  a  Methodist.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Poyer,  long  sur- 
vived him.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Joseph; 
John,  who  located  near  his  father's  place  in  the 
Irish  \'alle\  ;  and  Samuel,  who  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  his  brother  John's  farm  when  the 
hitler  died. 

Joseph  Wilkison,  son  of  Aaron,  lived  in  Irish 
Valley,  where  he  was  born  in  1812.  He  was  a 
farmer  all  his  life,  owning  and  living  upon  the 
100-acre  place  now  occupied  by  his  son  Peter.  He 
was  active  in  church  life,  and  is  buried  at  the 
Trish  Valley  Methodist  Church.  He  lived  to  his 
seventy-fifth  year,  dying  in  January.  1887.  Mr. 
Wilkison's  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Shull, 
was  of  (German  birth,  horn  Sept.  5,  1819,  and  she 
survived  him,  dying  April  10.  ISO!).  They  had 
a  large  family,  viz.:  Mary  Elizabeth  married 
Henry  Long;  Peter  is  mentioned  later;  Aaron  is 
mentioned  later;  Lafayette  lived  for  some  time 
in  Maryland,  later  moving  to  Kansas:  Susanna 
married  John  Barton  and  they  lived  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah:  Elizabeth  married  Hiram  Rockefeller, 
of  Irish  Valley:  Sarah  .lane  married  William  Roth 
and  they  lived  in  Shamokin,  this  county;  Mary 
Ann  married  William  Farrow  and  they  lived  at 
Snydertown,  this  county;  Isabella  became  the  sec- 
ond wife  of  William  Farrow  after  her  sister's 
death;    Ruth    died    unmarried    when    twenty-five 

years  old. 

Peter  Wilkison,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  Sept. 
8,  1840,  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Shamokin 
township,  where  he  now  lives.  He  has  spent  all 
but  two  years  of  his  life  on  this  place,  the  fam- 
ily living  at  Snydertown  .luring  the  period  men- 
tioned, and  he  was  engaged  in  farming  through- 
out his  active  years.  ~  The  farm  came  into  his 
possession  in  about  1865,  and  he  is  the  third  gen- 
eration of  this  family  to  own  the  property,  winch 
belonged  in  turn  to  his  grandfather  and  father. 
Joseph  Wilkison  built  the  barn  and  in  1837  put 
ill.  the  old  house,  which  is  still  standing,  but  the 
large  house  now  occupied  by  the  family  was  erected 
bv 'Peter  Wilkison  in  1887.     He  has  lived  retired 


for  several  years  past,  having  accumulated  a  sub- 
stantial competency.  In  fact,  he  is  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  district,  and  is  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Trevorton.  He 
has  served  several  terms  as  overseer  of  the  poor, 
and  is  a  Republican  in  political  affiliation. 

On  June  8,  1862,  Mr.  Wilkison  married  Mary 
.lane  Malick,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Lydia 
(Wolf)  Malick,  of  Rockefeller  township,  who  lived 
near  Augustaville,  and  granddaughter  of  Jacob 
Malick',  who  died  in  Is!'.'  and  is  buried  at  the 
Stone  Church  at  Augustaville;  bis  wife  was  an 
Epler.  Mrs.  Lydia  (Wolf)  Malick's  mother.  Sus- 
anna, was  the  daughter  of  Valentine  Fasold. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilkison:  Henry  Nelson  is  mentioned  below: 
Joseph  F.  died  when  four  years  old;  Celia  A. 
married  Harry  Miller  ami  they  live  at  Sunbury. 
Mr.  Wilkison  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee  for 
many  years. 

Henry  Nelson  Wilkison,  son  of  Peter,  was 
horn  July  18.  1863,  on  the  homestead,  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has 
always  been  occupied.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
running  the  farm  and  dairy  until  he  began  opera- 
tions on  his  own  account,  in  the  spring  of  1884. 
on  the  homestead,  continuing  to  farm  there  until 
1893,  when  he  purchased  a  120-aere  tract,  the 
second  farm  west  of  his  father's  place.  There 
be  has  since  lived  and  farmed,  and  in  1902  he 
built  the  large  Swiss  barn  on  the  place.  In  1907 
he  erected  a  commodious  frame  residence,  and  he 

bas    since   rebuilt    all    tl ther    farm    buildings, 

the  entire  property  being  now  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, in  every  detail.  His  farm  is  now  regarded 
as  one  of  the  valuable  agricultural  properties  of 
Irish  Valley.  It  is  located  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Rockefeller  township  and  was  once  the 
John  Yordy  homestead.  Mr.  Wilkison  is  a  con- 
servative but  progressive  citizen,  and  is  regarded 
as  an  intelligent  farmer,  with  a  thorough  compre- 
hension of  the  requirements  of  modern  agriculture 
and  the  ability  to  fill  them.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  of  his  district. 

On  June  13,  1886,  Mr.  Wilkison  married  Cath- 
arine Kerstetter,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Sevilla 
(Feglev)  Kerstetter,  of  Shamokin  township,  and 
they  have  had  five  children:  Curtis,  who  died 
when  eleven  months  old;  Adam  R.,  now  engaged 
in  farming  his  grandfather's  place,  who  is  married 
(o  Lydia  Straub;  Palmer  I'.:  Jennie  S..  wife  of 
Walter  Clark,  who  assisls  Mr.  Wilkison:  and 
Blanche  F.  Mr.  Wilkison  and  bis  family  attend 
(lie    Methodist   Church.     He   is  a   Republican   in 

politics. 


Aaron  Wilkinson,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born 
June  9.  1845,  in  the  Irish  Valley,  Shamokin  town- 
ship, and  dieil  May  8,   L908.     He  was  a  lifelong 


812 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


farmer,  owning  110  acres  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, the  original  Shipman  plantation,  and  he  was 
not  only  known  in  his  community  as  a  success- 
ful agriculturist,  but  also  for  his  participation  in 
its  various  activities.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and 
served  as  school  director  and  road  director:  was 
a  Methodist  and  interested  in  church  life,  as  were 
also  the  members  of  his  family ;  and  took  pleas- 
ure in  using  his  influence  to  further  the  welfare 
of  his  section,  where  he  enjoyed  considerable  prom- 
inence. He  had  one  hobby,  being  a  true  sports- 
man, and  was  often  on  the  mountain  when  the 
snow  was  a  foot  deep,  taking  great  delight  in 
fox  hunting:  he  killed  three  foxes  in  one  day. 

During  the  sixties  Mr.  Wilkinson  married  Abi- 
gail Snyder,  who  was  born  Eeb.  28,  1840,  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Shipman)  Snyder  and  sister 
of  former  Associate  Judge  Shipman.  Mrs.  Wil- 
kinson died  July  18,  1908,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Melvin.  who  died  aged  twenty-eight  years, 
unmarried:  Samuel  J.:  John,  who  lives  near 
Trevorton.  this  county:  Dr.  Boyd,  of  Trevorton; 
and  Ira,  who  died  unmarried,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years. 

Samuel  .1.  Wilkixsox,  son  of  Aaron,  was  born 
Nov.  26,  1871,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
there  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Later  he  attended  Central  Pennsylvania 
Academy,  at  New  Berlin,  Union  county,  which 
institution  was  conducted  under  the  auspices  of 
ili.'  Evangelical  Association.  When  a  young  man 
.if  twenty  he  was  licensed  to  teach  public  school, 
an. I  taught  two  terms  in  Cameron  township,  later 
being  engaged  for  one  term  in  West  Cameron 
township,  after  the  district  became  subdivided. 
Eor  the  next  five  years  he  followed  farming,  in 
1896  engaging  in  the  milling  business  in  Mahanoy 
township.  In  1904  he  became  proprietor  of  his 
present  establishment,  known  as  the  Mahanoy  Val- 
ley Poller  Mills,  at  Dornsife.  This  mill  is  located 
on  Mahanoy  creek,  and  the  property  includes  sev- 
enteen acres  of  land.  The  plant  is  an  old  one, 
the  mill  having  been  built  by  John  Dunkelberger. 
Since  his  day  it  has  passed  through  many  changes 
of  ownership,  having  been  owned  successively  by 
Eeitz,  Kobel,  the  batter's  son.  Bowman  and  the 
present  owner,  who  bought  Mr.  Bowman  out  in 
1904.  It  has  always  been  a  leading  business  cen- 
ter of  the  district,  and  has  lost  none  of  its  old 
prestige  under  the  present  management,  Mr.  Wil- 
kinson having  remodeled  the  mill  and  equipped  it 
with  roller  process.  The  trade  has  increased  five- 
fold since  he  acquired  the  plant,  his  patrons  com- 
ing from  a  radius  of  many  miles,  and  he  finds  a 
ready  market  for  his  flour  in  Shamokin,  Trevor- 
ton and  the  surrounding  territory.  He  manufac- 
tures a  straight  grade  known  as  Wilkinson's  Best, 
and  his  other  well  known  brands  are  White  Rose, 
Banner,   Spring  Patent  and   Triumph.     He  also 


does  a  large  business  in  the  production  of  manu- 
factured feed. 

In  May,  1897,  Mr.  Wilkinson  married  Rebecca 
French,  daughter  of  John  and  Frances  (Sharp) 
French,  and  a  native  of  Sussex  county,  Del.  Mrs. 
Wilkinson  was  born  Dec.  9,  1878,  and  died  May 
'.'.  1909.  She  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  on  the  Wilkinson  homestead, 
which  was  taken  up  by  the  Shipman  family  early 
in  the  eighteen  hundreds.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilkin- 
son had  the  following  children :  Abigail,  Ida,  Llew- 
ellyn, Alton  and  Laura'.  Mr.  Wilkinson  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Boyle's  Run  Methodist 
Church.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  was 
committeeman  of  Mahanoy  township  three  years. 

DANIEL  GEISE  (deceased),  for  many  years 
a  most  respected  citizen  of  Jordan  township,  was 
well  known  as  a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  faith- 
ful public  official.  He  was  born  July  18,  1836, 
son  of  George  Geise  and  grandson  of  Heinrich 
Geise,  of  Bern  township,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  among 
wdiose  children  were  George,  Samuel.  Daniel  and 
Jacob. 

George  Geise,  born  July  20,  1788,  settled  in 
what  is  now  Jordan  township,  and  died  there,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  the  widow  of  his  son 
Daniel,  Sept.  2,  1869.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade, 
but  in  time  devoted  himself  entirely  to  farming, 
owning  the  farm  which  is  still  in  the  family  name. 
His  wife  Catharine,  daughter  of  Peter  Schwartz, 
of  Berks  county,  was  born  Dec.  10,  1796,  in  Berks 
county,  and  died  Jan.  9.  1875.  and  they  are  buried 
at  St.  Paul's  (Schwartz)  Church,  Urban.  Their 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Hannah,  Aug.  2, 
1817:  Benneville.  June  23,  1819:  Peter.  Jan.  20, 
L822  :  Catharine,  June  26,  1824:  Rachel,  June  13, 
L827;  Elizabeth,  Jan.  21,  1830:  George,  March 
26,  1832:  Daniel.  July  18,  1836;  David.  June  25, 
1838  (died  Sept.  11.  1906:  wife.  Catharine,  died 
duly  14.  1901,  aged  sixty-three  years,  fourteen 
days). 

Daniel  Geise  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  owning  and 
occupying  the  place  where  his  widow  now  resides, 
a  tract  of  149  acres  located  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  Urban.  This  was  originally  a  Schwartz 
homestead.  Besides  general  farming.  Mr.  Geise 
engaged  in  lime  burning  and  in  cattle  dealing, 
and  he  made  a  success  of  his  various  undertak- 
ings. He  was  a  man  who  took  a  keen  interest 
in  the  local  welfare  and  administration,  serving 
the  township  in  the  offices  of  treasurer  and  over- 
seer of  the  poor.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the  Luth- 
eran congregation  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  where  he 
is  buried.     His  death  occurred  Jan.  2,  1900. 

Mr.  Geise  married  Froenica  Trautman,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Rebecca  (Heckert)  Trautman, 
and  ten  children  were  born  to  this  union :  David : 
Katie,  married  to  Galen  Bower;  Mary    (twin  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


813 


Katie),  married  to  William  Pickering;  Sallie,  mar- 
ried to  Elias  Phillips;  G rge;  Ellen,  married  to 

Charles  Deppen;  Rebecca,  married  to  Harry 
Drum:  Louisa,  married  to  Charles  Tressler;  Em- 
ma, married  to  Albert  Phillips;  and  John.  The 
family  is  highly  respected,  enjoying  the  best  stand- 
ing in  the  community.  Mrs.  Geise  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  Schwartz  (St. 
Paul's)   Church. 

Samuel  Geise,  son  of  Heinrich  and  brother  of 
George  (above),  was  born  in  either  Berks  or 
Northumberland  county,  and  died  at  Kratzerville, 
Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  seventies;  he  is  buried 
there.  He  was  a  butcher  by  trade,  and  owned  a 
small  tract  of  land  in  Monroe  township,  Snyder 
con  niy,  where  he  lived.  He  was  well  known  at 
Northumberland,  where  he  sold  his  meat.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Lutheran.  To  him  and  his  wife 
Hannah  (Bowman)  were  born  seven  children: 
Hannah.  Mrs.  Walter;  Henry;  Polly,  who  died 
unmarried  :  Samuel,  who  lived  in  Dry  Valley. 
Union  Co.,  Pa.:  Sarah,  who  died  unmarried: 
Moses,  who  owned  the  homestead  and  who  died 
unmarried  (he  had  very  weak  eyes)  ;  and  Eliza, 
who   never  married. 

Henry  Geise,  sun  of  Samuel,  was  born  Jan.  15, 
1818,  in  Ohio,  whither  his  father  had  emigrated 
from  Mahanoy  township,  making  the  trip  by  wag- 
on. The  family  remained  in  that  State  only  one 
year,  however,  returning  to  Pennsylvania  and  set- 
tling in  Snyder  county.  Mr.  Geise  passed  his 
earlier  years  in  Snyder  and  Union  counties,  ope- 
rating gristmills,  and  about  1850  came  to  Point 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
long  life,  dying  July  9,  1900.  He  is  buried  at 
Northumberland.  lie  owned  his  own  farm  of 
eighty-one  aire-,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  re- 
tirement, being  succeeded  there  by  his  son  Samuel, 
who  is  now  deceased.  In  religion  Mr.  Geise  was  a 
Lutheran.  His  wife,  Susanna,  was  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Frederick)  Brouse,  of  Kratzer- 
ville, Snyder  county,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Samuel  ami  Eenry  F.  The  former 
was  a  farmer  in  Point  township;  his  children  were 
William.  Dora.  Harvey,  Amnion,  and  Anna  (de- 
ceased ). 

Henry  K.  Geise  was  bom  in  Point  township,  and 
there  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools,  later  attending  a  select  school  at  North- 
umberland. For  one  term  he  taught  the  school  in 
his  native  township  which  he  had  previously  at- 
tended as  a  pupil.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
continues  to  follow  agricultural  pursuits,  giving 
special  attention  to  dairying.  His  farm  is  in  the 
central  part  of  Point  township,  a  tract  of  180 
acres,  which  he  conducts  on  modern  lines.  Since 
February,  1902,  he  has  been  engaged  in  dairying, 
now  keeping  twenty-seven  cows  and  sidling  his 
milk  at  Northumberland,  to  which  place  his  milk 


team  goes  daily.  Mr.  Geise  is  one  of  the  most 
progressive  citizens  id'  his  locality.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Northumberland  National 
Bank,  and  served  three  years  as  director  of  that 
institution.  For  eleven  years  he  served  as  tax 
collector,  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship board  of  school  directors,  and  is  at  present 
one  of  the  supervisors,  having  held  that  office  since 
the  new  road  law  went  into  force.  Politically  he  is 
a  Republican,  a  well  known  worker  in  the  party 
in  his  section,  having  been  county  committeeman 
since  1896  and  served  as  delegate  to  various  county 
conventions. 

On  June  '.'0.  IS*-.'.  Mr.  Oeise  married  Mary 
Jane  Dagle,  daughter  of  John  Frederick  Dagle, 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  nine  children : 
Charles  H,  who  married  Marie  Von  Bargen  and 
resides  at  Sidney,  Ohio;  Edna  G..  who  died  when 
seventeen  years  old;  Frederick  D. ;  Martin  L. : 
Nora  E.,  who  graduated  from  the  Bloomsburg 
State  normal  school  in  1910  and  is  now  a  teacher 
in  Point  township;  Mary  I.;  Susan  L. :  John  F., 
and  Mildred  L.  Mary,  Susan  and  John  now  at- 
tend the  Northumberland  high  school.  'Sir.  Geise 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  helped  to  organize  Trinity  Church 
in  bis  township,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  Prior 
to  the  organization  of  this  church,  in  1897,  he  and 
his  family  belonged  to  St.  John's  Church,  at  the 
borough  of  Northumberland. 


In  Will  Book  A,  page  75,  Berks  county  court- 
house, is  found  record  of  the  will  of  George  Adam 
(  miss,  made  Jan.  36,  1  784,  probated  March  1 .  1784. 
The  witnesses  were  Matthias  Staudt.  Matthias 
Sonnenlich  and  Joseph  Conrad.  George  Adam 
Geiss  was  ad'armer  of  Bern  township,  Berks  county. 
IDs  wife  Anna  Barbara  and  son  Michael  were  the 
executors,  and  the  following  division  was  made  of 
the  property:  "Son  Michael  shall  have  10  pds  first 
of  all  of  my  personal  estate  for  his  birthright  and 
each  id'  my  three  daughters  shall  he  equal  to  the 
eldest  in  their  first  marriage  each  shall  receive  the 
.,illr  as  the  other;  son  Michael  shall  have  all  my 
real  estate  but  he  shall  pay  to  each  of  his  sisters 
the  sum  of  TOO  pounds."  The  son  Michael  had  a 
son  George,  born  in  1788,  who  may  have  been  thi 
George  Geise  mentioned  at  the  beginning  of  this 
article  as  the  father  of  Daniel  Deis.',  of  Jordan 
township.  Northumberland  county. 

THOMAS  A.  EVANS,  proprietor  of  the  ''Val- 
ley House"  ai  Mount  Carmel,  has  been  a  resident 
0f  ,||:1,  borough  -nice  1894  and  has  been  engaged 
in  various  pursuits,  for  several  years  holding  the 
office  of  tickei  agent  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  &  Penn- 
sylvania Railway  Company  there.  Me  ha-  been 
[nten  ted  in  the  local  administration  lor  some 
years,  at  presenl  serving  bis  third  term  as  mem- 

i  :    of  the   borough    council. 


814 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mr.  Evans  was  born  in  1869  near  the  city  of 
York,  in  York  county.  Pa.  His  father,  John  H. 
Evans,  a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  America  when 
a  young  man  and  lived  in  York  county.  Pa.,  for 
siime  time.  He  then  went  to  Shenandoah,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
rock  contractor.  He  and  his  wife  had  a  family  of 
sis  children:  Elizabeth,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
0.  B.  Williams,  a  well  known  contractor  of  Tam- 
aqua,  Pa.;  William  .1.:  Hannah,  wife  of  Thomas 
Mullahey,  a  tailor  of  Mount  Carmel;  Thomas  A.: 
Hugh  J.,  a  United  States  marshal,  now  stationed 

at  Seranton,  Pa.;  and  Nellie,  wife  of  Robert  G 1 

will. 

Thomas  A.  Evans  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation. His  first  employment  was  as  a  clerk,  and 
after  being  thus  engaged  for  a  time  he  became  a 
merchant,  carrying  on  a  general  store  at  Shen- 
andoah for  four  years.  In  1894  he  came  to  Mount 
Carmel.  where  he  followed  mining  for  about  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  becoming  ticket  agent 
of  the  Lehigh  Valley  &  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company.  He  was  tlm-  engaged  until  the  spring 
of  1910,  when  he  became  proprietor  of  the  well 
known  "Valley  House"  at  Mount  Carmel.  in  the 
conduct  of  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He 
is  an  up-to-date  business  man.  and  his  methods 
and  good  management  promise  to  hold  the  trade 
this  bouse  has  always  enjoyed  and  to  increase  it. 
M  I .  Evans  was  elected  a  member  of  the  borough 
council  in  1904,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  has 
since  been  a  member  of  that  body,  at  present  serv- 
ing his  third  successive  term.  His  continuance  in 
office  is  the  best  guaranty  of  the  satisfaction  his 
services  have  given  to  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  Sept.  30,  1893,  Mr.  Evans  married  Mary  E. 
Moyer,  daughter  of  James  Mover,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Delroy.  Socially  Mr.  Evans  is  a  member 
of  the  Elk-  and  the  Eagles,  and  be  also  belongs  to 
the  Anthracite  Fire  Company. 

CORNELIUS  LESHER,  a  highly  respected 
farmer  of  Jordan  township,  was  born  there  Nov. 
15,  1842,  son  of  John  Lesher  and  grandson  of 
Samuel  Lesher.  The  latter  came  to  this  region 
from  Berks  county,  where  the  Leshers  have  been 
settled  for  a  number  of  generations. 

•1  ohn  Lesher.  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Jan. 
5,  1711,  was  the  only  son  and  heir-at-law  of  Nich- 
olas Lesher.  of  the  Fatherland.  He  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  in  1734  ami  was  naturalized  in  17  13. 
He  first  settled  in  Bucks  county,  and  later  in  Oley 
township,  Berks  county,  where  he  became  prom- 
inent as  an  ironmaster.  He  represented  the  county 
in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1776,  and 
from  1776  until  1782  served  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, helping  to  prepare  the  "Declaration  of  Rights." 
anil  being  extremely  prominent  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  rendering  valuable  service  to  his 
adopted  country.    He  died  in  Oley  township  April 


.">.  1794,  aged  eighty-three  years,  leaving  a  widow, 
five  daughters,  Barbara,  Hannah,  Maria,  Catharine 
and  Elizabeth,  and  two  sons.  John  and  Jacob,  of 
Oley  township.  The  family  here  under  considera- 
tion springs  undoubtedly  from  this  source. 

Samuel  Lesher,  the  grandfather  of  Cornelius 
Lesher,  was  born  March  12,  1782,  and  died  March 
12,  1844.  aged  sixty-two  years.  Upon  settling 
in  Northumberland  county  he  made  his  home  in 
Stone  Valley,  owning  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
property  of  Elias  Philips,  which  was  and  is  still 
considered  the  best  farm  in  the  township.  He 
erected  buildings  on  that  place.  He  was  prosper- 
ous, ami  also  owned  an  adjoining  farm,  his  hold- 
comprising  fully  three  hundred  acres,  so  that 
he  was  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  time.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Association  and 
he  and  Frederick  Bohner  were  the  first  of  that 
denomination  in  the  township  ami  instrumental  in 
the  establishment  of  Troutman's  Church  and 
Bohner's  I  United     Evangelical 

Church  there  now  numbers  fully  one  hundred  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Lesher  was  a  devout  Christian  and  a 
well  known  exhorter.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
the  children  horn  to  his  first  marriage  were: 
_■■  .  -'ohn.  Henry,  Jacob.  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Mrs  John  Troutman).  His  second  wife.  Maria 
(Smith),  was  born  Aug  IV.  1799,  ami  died  Jan. 
11.  is".  She  and  Mr.  Lesher  are  buried  in  the 
Uniontown  cemetery.  Their  children  were:  Har- 
riet (Mis.  John  Troutman),  [saac  (born  Jan.  1. 
1832),  Daniel.  Elias,  Jonas,  Mary  (Mrs.  Charles 
Snyder)  and  Elizabeth   (died  unmarried). 

John  Lolier.  -mi  of  Samuel,  was  born  March 
11.  1810,  in  Stmie  Valley,  .Ionian  township,  and 
died  Nov.  !».  1884.  His  wife,  Polly  (Troutman). 
daughter  of  Jacob  Troutman.  was  bom  June  10, 
1814,  ami  died  Oct.  4.  1893.  They  were  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Association  and  faithful  in  their 
attendance  at  public  worship.  They  are  buried  in 
the  Uniontown  cemetery.  Mr.  Lesher  followed 
farming,  owning  a  seventy-five-acre  farm  (now  the 
property  of  David  Leitzel )  near  Hebe,  where  he 
reared  his  large  family.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  him  and  bis  wife:  One  daughter,  Sarah. 
died  young;  Carolina  married  Jesse  Schadel;  one 
daughter  married  Simon  Riegel  and  (second") 
Adam  Bohner:  Annie  married  Henry  Schadel: 
Cornelius  is  mentioned  below:  Magdalena  married 
Samuel  Masser;  one  daughter  married  Moses  Mas- 
ser,  cousin  of  Samuel  Masser :  Cassie  married  Joel 
Strohecker;  John  is  a  resident  of  Dauphin  county. 
Fa.:  Samuel  is  deceased;  Jacob  lives  at  Trevor- 
ton.  Fa. :  George  L.  is  mentioned  below. 

Cornelius  Lesher  was  reared  under  the  parental 
oof,  working  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority.  After  following  the  carpenters  trade 
for  two  years  he  commenced  farming  as  a  tenant 
in  Jordan  township,  and  he  has  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  on  his  own  account  for  nearly 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


815 


forty  years.  In  Lower  Mahanoy  township  he 
owned  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  which  he  farmed  for 
three  years,  a1  the  end  of  that  time  selling  it  to 
Gilbert  Troutman,  and  for  the  next  two  years 
again  fanning  as  a  tenant.  He  then  bought  a 
farm  of  100  aires,  the  old  homestead  of  Heinricb 
Troutnian,  who  was  the  father  of  Jacob  and  grand- 
father of  John  Troutman,  and  there  he  lived  and 
worked  for  twenty-eight  years,  finally  disposing 
of  the  place  to  Samuel  R.  Reed.  Mr.  Lesher  has 
always  been  considered  one  of  the  thrifty  and  in- 
telligent farmers  of  Jordan  township,  and  he  has 
a  complete  farm  stock,  believing  in  working  to  the 
besl  advantage  if  the  best  results  are  to  be  expected. 
Physically  he  is  short  and  well  set,  capable  of  do- 
ing a  good  day's  work,  and  by  industry  and  good 
management  has  attained  a  creditable  position  in 
his  community.  He  has  served  his  township  effi- 
ciently as  treasurer  and  overseer  of  the  poor,  is  a 
Republican  in  political  connection,  and  is  a  leading 
member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  at  Un- 
Lontown,  to  which  his  family  also  belong.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  served  as  church  trustee  and 
he  was  a  class  leader  for  six  years. 

In  December,  1863,  Mr.  Lesher  married  Polly 
Lease,  who  was  horn  Jan.  1,  1841,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Troutman)  Lease,  of  Maha- 
noy, Pa.,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1868.  She  is  buried  in 
the  Uniontown  cemetery.  Of  the  three  children 
horn  to  this  union  two  are  deceased,  the  survivor 
being  Lizzie,  wife  of  I 'avid  Lister,  a  farmer;  they 
live  near  Mahanoy.  In  1869  Mr.  Lesher  married 
(second)  Carolina  Troutman,  daughter  of  Moses 
•and  Rebecca  (Bohner)  Troutman.  and  they  have 
had  four  children:  Daniel,  who  lives  at  home: 
Ida.  Mrs.  John  Schmeltz;  Wilson,  of  Jordan  town- 
ship :  and   Irwin,  at  home. 

George  L.  Lesher,  younger  brother  of  Cornelius 
Lesher,  is  a  farmer  in  Jordan  township,  where  be 
was  horn  Aug.  15,  1859.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  which  he  has  always  followed.  Working  for 
his  parents  until  he  reached  young  manhood,  he 
hired  out  to  others  for  a  time,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1886  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  in  Jor- 
dan township.  He  had  a  farm  of  106  acres  which 
he  sold  in  the  fall  of  1909,  in  the  spring  of  L910 
moving  to  hi-  present  place.  In  September,  1885, 
he  married  Kate  Troutman.  daughter  of  George 
\V.  and  Elizabeth  (Rothermel)  Troutman.  and 
tho\  have  had  six  children,  two  of  whom  died  un- 
named. The  other-  were:  Joy,  who  died  aged 
four  years;  S.  Edgar,  who  died  aged  nine  years; 
Norman,  and  Beulah.  Mr.  Lesher  and  bis  family 
attend  the  United  Evangelical  Church.  Ho  is  a 
Republican  in  politics. 

WILSON  <>.  (iL  I  ST.  of  Herndon,  proprietor 
and  owner  of  the  "Herndon  House,"  and  agent  for 
farm  machinery,  is  a  man  widely  known  in  and 
around  that  borough,  and  the  family  has  been  well 


known  in  this  end  of  Northumberland  county  for 
several  generation.-.  In  1828  one  John  Geist  was  a 
trustee  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  old 
established  Himmel  Church,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, with  which  the  Geists  have  been  prominently 
identified  down  to  the  present  day.  When  St. 
John's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  was  organized  in  1853,  Peter 
Geist  was  one  of  the  first  trustees. 

Abraham  Geist,  grandfather  of  Wilson  0.  Geist, 
was  born  March  20,  1813,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, and  was  not  only  a  successful  farmer  but 
also  an  enterprising  business  man.  being  one  of  the 
fust  dealers  in  live  stock  in  bis  district.  He  had 
the  host  farm  in  the  township,  a  place  of  160  acres. 
He  died  Aug.  28,  1883,  and  is  buried  at  Himmel's 
Church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  Elizabeth  (Hepler). 
who  was  horn  June  10,  1813,  ami  died  July  14. 
1888.  She  was  a  large  and  powerful  woman,  weigh- 
ing nearly  three  hundred  pounds.  Besides  John 
II.  Geist  they  hail  children  as  follows:  Christian 
(daughter),  horn  in  1834,  who  died  in  1835: 
Frank:  William:  Samuel:  Lizzie,  who  married 
Alexander  Gonser  and  lives  at  Lewisburg;  William 
(  .' i  :  Lydia,  who  married  Daniel  Swartz  and  lived 
at  Urban,  Pa.:  Hettie.  who  married  Jacob  Snyder 
(they  are  buried  at  Leek  Kill  Church)  :  and  Polly, 
who  married  Michael  Powell  and  ( second  I  a  Mr. 
Shoemaker. 

John  II.  Geist.  son  of  Abraham,  lived  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  best  known  residents  in  his  day. 
lie  was  a  most  enterprising  business  man.  a  mer- 
chant, huckster,  butcher,  hotel-keeper  and  farmer, 
owned  Leek  Kill  and  several  large  farms  there,  was 
postmaster  at  Leek  Kill,  and  in  every  way  the  lead- 
ing spirit  of  the  place.  For  ten  years  before  bis 
death  he  conducted  the  ••Central  House"  at  Wil- 
liamstown,  Dauphin  county,  and  his  son  John  has 
succeeded  him  as  proprietor  of  this  place.  He  ' 
died  there  in  1905.  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years. 
Ill-  widow.  Harriet  (Beisel),  is  still  living  at  Wil- 
liamstown.  They  hail  children:  Wilson  0.,  Wil- 
liam B..  Anson.  Charles,  James.  .Martin.  John  and 
Laura  (married  to  George  Troutman  and  living  in 
Snyder  county ). 

Wilson  0.  Geist,  son  of  John  II.  and  Harriet 
i  Beisel)  Geist,  was  born  Sept.  I  I.  1861,  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  bhis  county,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  But  he  began  his  business  training 
early,  assisting  his  father  in  the  store  and  hotel. 
and  running  a  huckster  team  for  him.  collecting 
produce  and  poultry.  Continuing  thus  until  he 
had  reached  the  age  -f  twenty-two  years,  he  then 
began  business  on  hi-  own  account,  having  a  bot- 
tling establisl snl    at    Herndon.     Afterward    he 

embarked  in  the  livery  business,  and  in  1898  lie  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  ••Herndon  House."  pur- 
chasing the  property  iii  the  year  1907.  This  is  the 
oldest  established  hotel  in  the  town  and  a  relic  of 


816 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  early  days,  the  building  itself  being  the  oldest 
in  Herndon.  It  was  built  by  Peter  and  Henry 
Ziegler.  and  during  the  construction  of  the  North- 
ern Central  railroad  to  Sunbury  and  Williamsport 
served  as  headquarters.  It  is  on  the  main  road  to 
Pottsville.  what  is  known  as  the  old  stage  route 
road,  and  was  the  stopping  place  for  the  old-time 
stage  coaches  which  ran  between  Lewistown  and 
Pottsville.  Mr.  Geist  has  a  first-class  livery  at- 
tached to  the  hotel,  and  also  deals  in  horses.  He  is 
district  agent  for  the  Osborn  Machine  Company, 
selling  all  kinds  of  farm  implements,  and  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  various  interests  has  become  very 
well  known  and  popular  among  his  associates.  He 
does  a  thriving  business  in  all  these  lines,  and  is 
a  natural-born  hotel  proprietor,  understanding  the 
wants  of  his  guests  and  looking  out  for  their  com- 
fort in  every  way.  He  is  a  member  of  Herndon 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  No.  132. 

In  188"?  Mr.  Geist  married  Sevilla  J.  Upde- 
graff,  daughter  of  Jacob  Updegraff,  of  Valley  View, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  four  children :  Har- 
vey, married  to  Laura  Lalir ;  Irwin,  who  is  at 
home:  Carrie,  wife  of  John  Borrell :  and  Hattie.  at 
home. 

JACOB  B.  GETTER,  an  old  resident  of  Sham- 
okin,  where  he  is  well  known  in  various  connec- 
tions— as  a  Civil  war  veteran,  charter  member  of 
the  Independent  Fire  Company  and  one  of  the 
first  mail  carriers  in  the  city,  has  had  his  home 
there  since  1819.  He  was  born  April  15,  1839,  at 
Northumberland,  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
Peter  Getter.  His  grandfather  lived  and  died  in 
Northampton  county,  this  State. 

Peter  Getter,  born  May  10,  1816,  was  a  tailor, 
and  followed  his  trade  in  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  many  years,  living  in 
Northumberland,  Sunbury  and  Shamokin,  re- 
spectivelv.  He  settled  in  the  last  named  place  in 
1849,  and  died  there  Dec.  21.  1884,  aged  sixty- 
eight  years,  seven  months,  eleven  days.  Mr.  Get- 
ter was  originally  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  went 
over  to  the  new  Republican  party.  He  married 
Sarah  Beck,  born  Feb.  10,  1816."  died  April  17, 
.  aged  seventy-eight  years,  two  months,  seven 
days,  daughter  of  Jacob  Beck,  of  Northumberland 
county.  To  them  were  born  eleven  children :  Ja- 
cob B..  James.  Edwin.  Susanna  (widow  of  Theo- 
dore Jones).  Edgar,  Eliza.  Florence,  Eva  (wife 
of  Hugh  Coulton),  Clara  (widow  of  Robert 
Gorre),  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  B.  Getter  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Sunburv.  He  came  to  Shamokin  with  Iris  father 
in  1849,  and  here  enlisted.  April  22,  1861.  from 
Shamokin,  for  three  months,  in  Company  A,  8th 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  being  at  once  made  corpor- 
al. At  the  end  of  the  three  months  he  returned 
home,  but  remained  only  sixteen  days,  when  he 
again  enlisted,  for  three  years'  service,  in  Company 


K,  46th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, serving  first  as  second  lieutenant  and  on 
March  18,  1864,  being  appointed  first  lieutenant. 
This  office  he  held  until  his  discharge,  when  he  re- 
turned home  to  remain  about  five  months,  at  the 
end  of  that  period  going  to  Philadelphia  and  en- 
listing in  Company  D,  2d  Pennsylvania  Provi- 
sional Cavalry ;  he  was  mustered  out  after  a  service 
of  unusual  length  and  severity  in  September,  1865, 
at  Louisville,  Ky.  Mr.  Getter  saw  much  active 
service,  and  was  wounded  in  the  left  knee  at 
Chancellorsville  and  in  the  right  leg  at  Dallas,  Ga, 
He  took  active  part  in  all  the  movements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg the  11th  and  12th  Corps  went  West,  remain- 
ing in  the  Southwest  under  command  of  General 
Hooker,  and  took  part  in  Sherman's  march  to  the 
sea.  Mr.  Getter  tells  many  interesting  stories  of 
ivil  war. 

Upon  his  return  to  Shamokin  after  his  army 
service  Mr.  Getter  commenced  mining,  which  he 
followed  for  many  years,  beginning  with  the  Sham- 
okin Coal  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  remained 
for  two  seasons.  When  the  free  delivery  system 
was  put  in  operation  at  Shamokin  he  was  one  of 
the  first  mail  carriers  appointed,  and  served  seven 
and  a  half  years,  resigning  in  1898.  He  is  now 
living  retired,  making  his  home  at  No.  140  East 
Sunbury  street. 

Mi-.  Getter  is  a  prominent  man  in  local  G.  A.  R. 
circles,  having  been  long  a  member  of  Lincoln 
X".  1  I1'.  of  Shamokin.  of  which  he  lias 
been  commander.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  Independent  Fire  Company  of  the  city.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  Methodist  in  re- 
ligious connection. 

On  Feb.  25.  1864.  Mr.  Getter  was  married  to 
Thursa  Rhoads,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza 
(Gordon)  Rhoarls,  and  she  died  May  1.  1874.  His 
-('•inl  marriage.  Nov.  25,  1874.  was  to  Lavina  D. 
Yocum.  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  Yocum.  of 
Ealpho  township,  and' his  third  marriage.  Dec.  14T 
1899.  was  to  Mary  W.  Young,  who  survives.  His 
children  were  all  born  to  the  firsl  marriage,  viz.  r 
Harry  H.  resides  at  No.  2-148  North  Thirtieth 
street,  Philadelphia:  William  E.  is  deceased:  Sar- 
ah married  Edward  M.  Seitzinger,  of  Shamokin, 
and  they  have  children,  Thursa.  Lavina  and  Har- 
riet. 

Mrs.  Jacob  B.  Getter  is  a  granddaughter  of  i 
John  Wolverton.  who  was  a  Baptist  minister  of 
Northumberland  county.  Her  father.  Isaac  Wol- 
verton. was  a  merchant  for  several  years  and  later 
became  a  farmer  in  Shamokin  township,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  married 
Anna  Vastine,  daughter  of  Benjamin  L.  Vastine, 
and  their  children  were:  John,  Benjamin.  Jon- 
athan. Eliza.  Mary  (Mrs.  Getter)  and  Lewi-,  all 
of  whom  are  deceased  except  Mis.  Getter.  Mrs. 
Getter  was   born   in   Shamokin   township  July  5, 


&/3,£t#^ 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


si; 


1828.  She  married  (first)  Jacob  Weimer  Young 
and  (second)  Jacob  B.  Getter.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  had  two  children,  Nora  A.  ami  Harry 
L.  Young. 

BENJAMIN'  F.  TROUTMAN,  proprietor  of 
the  Opera  House  Cafe  at  Shamokin,  has  been  doing 
business  at  his  present  location  on  Independence 
street  since  1895,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
men  in  his  line  in  the  borough.  He  is  widely  ac 
quainted  among  the  business  men  and  citizens 
generally.  Mr.  Troutman  was  born  in  the  Ma- 
hantango  Valley,  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  July 
14,  1865,  son  of  James  B.  Troutman,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  family  of  Berks  county,  being  a 
grandson  of  Abraham  or  Peter  Troutman. 

Tin'  Troutman  family  of  western  Berks  county 
had  settled  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  county, 
in  1752,  in  Tulpehoeken  township,  where  Hier- 
onimus  Troutman  on  Oct.  13,  1752,  obtained  two 
warrants,  each  for  twenty-five  acres  of  land  lo- 
cated in  that  part  of  Lancaster  county  now  em- 
braced in  Lebanon  county.  On  March  23,  1802,  he 
and  Abraham  Troutman  (a  relative)  jointly  ob- 
tained a  warrant  for  152.80  acres  of  land  in  North- 
umberland county.  The  records  show  that  at  this 
time  he  was  a  taxable  in  Tulpehoeken  township, 
Berks  county,  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  recording 
the  following  in  176S:  "Peter  Troutman,  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Tulpehoeken;  Philip  Troutman, 
100  acres;  Valentine  Troutman,  six  acres;  and 
Michael  Troutman,  217 1  acres."  Previously,  in 
1759,  one  John  Troutman  paid  eleven  pounds  tax 
in  Tulpehoeken  township.  In  1779  the  tax  lists 
show:  "Valentine,  single-man;  John,  single-man 
ami  tailor,  ami  Peter,  weaver.'"  In  1779  Michael 
Troutman  owned  275  acres  of  land,  six  horses,  six 
cattle,  and  paid  seven  pounds,  thirteen  shillings 
tax,  showing  that  he  was  a  large  property  owner. 
It  is  traditional,  and  records  confirm  it,  that  Hier- 
onimus  Troutman  had  these  sons:  Michael,  born 
Nov.  8,  1746,  died  Nov.  1.  1804-;  Valentine,  born 
June  17,  1752,  died  April  19,  1823  ;  Johannes,  bom 
Feb.  4.  L755,  .led  Dec.  2.  1823;  Johann  Philip, 
bom  An-.  9,  L758,  died  Feb.  23,  1830. 

Michael  Troutman.  the  eldest  of  this  family, 
made  his  will  Aug.  3,  1804,  and  died  about  three 
months  later.  In  the  will  he  mentions  his  wife 
Susanna,  who  was  to  receive  the  property  in  Tul- 
pehoeken township  on  which  they  lived,  besides 
other  items.  Ample  provision  was  made  for  her. 
They  had  no  issue.  After  leaving  a  bequest  to  Host 
Church  of  twenty  pounds,  to  care  for  his  grave, 
Michael  Troutman  divided  the  rest  of  his  estate 
among  his  brothers,  whom  he  mentioned  thus: 
Valentine,  John  who  had  a  son  Michael,  and 
Philip. 

Valentine  Troutman  served  during  the  Revolu- 
tion in  September,  177(5.  in  Capt.  Michael  Furrer' 
company,  ami  was  sent  to  Long  Island.     He  mar- 


ried, and  among  his  children  was  a  daughter,  Eva 
Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  1785  and  died  unmar- 
ried in  1804. 

Philip  Troutman  married  Magdalena,  a  born 
Troutman,  possibly  a  descendant  of  Abraham,  who 
was  a  relative  of  Hieronimus.  She  was  born  Feb. 
Hi.  1753,  and  died  Dec.  29,  1834. 

All  of  the  above  Troutmans  are  buried  at  Host 
church,  in  the  old  graveyard  adjoining  it  on  the 
southwest.  Many  of  the  gravestones  are  brown 
sandstones.  Immediately  back  of  the  church  is  an 
old  sandstone  on  which  appears  the  following  in- 
scription : 

"Eva  Elizabeth  Troutman  Sei' ist  gaboren  den  6 
Januar,  im  yahr  1716,  und  starb  am  1  Januar  in 
yahr  1794.  Bracht  ehr  alter  zu  78  yahr.  4  monaf. 
und  3  tag."  This  possibly  was  the  wife  of  the 
ancestor  Hieronimus  Troutman,  and  the  mother 
of  the  sons  before  mentioned. 

Johannes  Troutman,  son  of  the  ancestor,  was 
born  in  1755  and  died  in  L823.  Ee  was  married 
(first)  May  13.  1787,  to  Maria  Elizabeth  Hoffman, 
and  (second)  to  Sybilla  Himmelberger,  who  was 
born  Jan.  7,  1774.  and  died  Nov.  29,  1858.  Among 
his  children  were:  Michael,  horn  Aug.  2,  1787, 
died  July  19,  1840;  John  Jacob,  born  May  18, 
L791,  died  Maivh  6,  1862;  Elizabeth,  horn  in  1796, 
died  in  1866. 


The  grandfather  of  Benjamin  F.  Troutman.  of 
Shamokin,  owned  a  farm  in  the  Mahantango  Val- 
ley, along  the  creek  of  that  name,  near  Uniontown, 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  there  followed  fanning  un- 
til his  death.  His  family  consisted  of  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Daniel,  who  Mas  killed  in  1882  by  two 
Rumberger  brothers  who  wanted  to  rob  him  of  his 
money,  and  who  were  hanged  for  the  crime  at  Har- 
risburg;  Elias,  who  took  the  homestead  in  the  val- 
ley; James  B. :  Jonah,  who  served  in  the  Civil 
war.  enlisting  twice:  and  three  daughters. 

James  B.  Troutman  was  horn  on  the  ' stead 

in  Dauphin  county  in  182]  and  died  a1  Kratztown 
Sept.  -.'I!.  1894,  aged  seventy-three  years,  one 
month,  eighteen  days.  He  is  buried  at  St.  David's 
church  in  Northumberland  county.  Ee  was  ,, 
carpenter  by  trade  and  also  ovi  ni  d  a  farm  near  the 

homestead,  where  I perated  a  sawmill  and  during 

the  winter  followed  the  butchering  business,  at  the 
time  the  Moll}  Maguires  were  in  this  section.  His 
wife.  Sarah  (  Seitzel  I,  died  in  L873.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  Uriah;  David  I..:  Benjamin  F. : 
Mary,  wife  of  Tobias  VViest,  living  al  Herndon; 
Malinda,  wif I  Benjamin  Yeager  (both  de- 
ceased) :  Sarah  Ellen,  deceased;  Syvilla,  who  mar- 
ried l-aae  Daniel-:  and  Catharine,  who  married 
( Ihrisl  ( lleninstine  and  lives  al  Tremont,  Pi  an 
sylvania. 

Benjamin  F.  Troutman  attended  tin     chools  in 

the   neighborh I   of   his  birthplace  and 

his  father  v\  ith  the  farm  work  until  he  was 


SIS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


years  old,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  following  it  for  six  years.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  since  1895  has 
conducted  the  Opera  House  Cafe  on  Independence 
street,  in  the  horough  of  Shamokin,  a  well  known 
and  well  patronized  business  stand,  which  under 
his  management  lias  held  its  share  of  the  local  pat- 
ronage. He  has  built  up  his  business  by  the  most 
approved  methods  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  Shamokin.  He  has  represented 
the  Ninth  ward  on  the  school  board  since  li'Orl.  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  F.  0.  E.,  local  Nest  of 
Owls.  P.  0.  S.  of  A..  Liberty  Fire  Company  ami 
Shamokin  Ant')  (lull,  lie  is  a  Republican  in 
political  faith,  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  belonging  to  St.  Jolm's  con- 
ation. 

On  .Ian.  8,  1893,  Mr.  Troutman  married  Helen 
F.  Bennage,  daughter  of  William  Bennage,  ai  Un- 
ion canity.  Pa.,  and  they  have  four  children:  Flor- 
ence  May.  Marion  II..  Charles  Frederick  and  Wil- 
liam L. 

Simon  Benneeh,  from  whom  Mrs.  Troutman 
traces  her  descent  in  the  paternal  line,  was  thir- 
teen years  old  when  he  arrived  in  America  with 
his  family  in  1732.  His  father  died  mi  the  \<>y- 
a^e  to  America.  He  settled  in  Heidelberg  town- 
ship. Berks  county,  where  he  died  in  1757,  leaving 
a  family.  The  family  is  of  French  Huguenol  or- 
igin and  the  name  is  a  notable  one  in  the  annals  of 
the  Huguenots.  The  members  of  the  family  were 
scattered  by  persecution  into  Switzerland,  the 
Palatinate  and  England. 

WEAVER.  The  Weaver-  are  well  known  in 
their  long  connection  with  work  in  the  collieries  of 
Shamokin.  and  the  three  brothers  particularly  men- 
tioned in  this  article,  William  H.,  Peter  M.  and 
John  A.  Weaver,  employed  respectively  at  the 
Cameron.  Luke  Fidler  and  Bear  Valley  colli 
are  respected  citizens  of  that  borough.  They  are 
members  of  an  old  family  of  Northumberland 
emmty.  of  German  origin,  whose  first  ancestor  in 
this  country  was  Michael  Weaver,  a  native  of  Wur- 
temberg.  Michael  Weaver  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try in  1769.  His  first  settlement  was  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  remained  only  a  short  time, 
however,  coming  to  Northumberland  county  in 
1770  and  locating  near  Liberty  Pole,  in  Rush  town- 
ship. He  took  up  a  large  tract,  of  land  on  which 
he  lived  to  the  end  of  his  days,  dying  there  in  183  1  : 
be  was  buried  on  his  farm.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  he  supported  the  Colonial  cause  and 
served  in  the  army  seven  years.  He  had  married 
in  Germany  and  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
among  whom  were  Martin  and  Frederick. 

Martin  Weaver,  fourth  son  of  Michael,  was  born 
in  Rush  township  in  1770  and  died  in  1S44.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  union,  to  a 
Mi--  Ilii-b.  of  Rush  township,  had  three  children: 


Joseph,  who  died  at  Shamokin;  Catharine,  who 
married  Enoch  Howell:  and  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried John  Yarned.  To  the  second  marriage  were 
born  five  children:  Mary,  who  married  Daniel 
Evert;  Rebecca,  who  married  Daniel  Rote:  Wil- 
liam M. :  Rosetta;  and  Solomon,  of  Sunbury. 

Frederick  Weaver,  the  other  son  of  Michael 
mentioned  previously,  was  born  in  Rush  township 
and  there  passed  all  his  life,  engaged  in  farming. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  married  Cath- 
arine Bockire,  who  died  in  1844.  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1854.  He  is  buried  at  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Rush  township.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Henry;  Martin,  who  married  Rebecca 
Ndaker  and  died  in  Rush  township  (they  had  two 
children  )  :  Philip,  who  married  Mary  Hoffman  and 
died  in  Rush  township:  Rebecca,  who  died  unmar- 
ried: Sallie,  who  married  Levi  Miller:  Catharine, 
who  married  Samuel  Gillinger;  Mary,  who  died 
at  Sunbury  in  19*09,  aged  eighty-three  years;  and 
Peter. 

Henry  Weaver,  sou  of  Frederick,  was  born  in 
Rush  township  and  followed  farming  there.  Mov- 
ing to  Mumy.  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  he  there  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business,  which  he  later  carried 
mi  at  Danville.  His  next  location  was  at  Trev- 
orton,  the  site  of  which  was  then  a  farm,  the 
buildings  consisting  of  one  log  house  and  three 
old  frame  house-.  lie  kept  the  first  place  of  pub- 
lic entertainment  there,  remaining  at  Trevorton 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  prominent  man  of  his 
day  in  that  section  and  one  of  the  most  interested 
workers  in  the  establishment  of  the  town,  getting 
up  the  dinner  to  promote  the  sale  of  town  lots. 

Mr.  Weaver  married  Catharine  Ephlin.  daughter 
of  Peter  Ephlin,  of  Bush  township,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  sis  children:  Larissa,  born 
June  15,  1831,  now  the  widow  of  Richard  Brace, 
came  with  her  father  to  Trevorton.  was  the  first 
school  teacher  there,  and  is  now  the  oldest  resi- 
lient of  the  place;  Lorenzo  Dow  i-  mentioned  be- 
low: Lyman  died  unmarried;  Elizabeth  married 
S.  B.  Ludlow:  Ellen  B.  died  unmarried:  Alice 
married  Jesse  Metz  and  they  reside  at  Trevorton. 

Lorenzo  Dow  Weaver  was  born  in  1833  near 
Muncy.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Shamokin,  Northumber- 
land county,  in  1878.  Hi-  earlier  years  were  passed 
at  Trevorton,  and  he  followed  railroading  many 
years,  his  run  being  between  his  home  place  and 
Baltimore.  After  settling  in  Shamokin  he  became 
a  bleaker  boss  at  the  Bear  Valley  colliery,  holding 
this  position  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July 
15,  1894,  in  his  sixty-second  year.  He  was  well 
known  in  Shamokin  and  highly  respected.  In  1853 
he  married  Matilda  Metz,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Rebecca  (Barndt)  Metz.  and  -he  made  her  home 
in  Shamokin  with  her  son  William  H..  where  she 
died  April  U.  1910.  The  following  children  were 
bom  to  this  union:  William  Henry.  Peter  M., 
Hannibal  II. .  John  A..  Lyman  F..  Jesse  G.,  Thorn- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


819 


as  E.,  Charles  A.,  Elizabeth  (wife  of  Joseph  A. 
Kline  of  Trevorton),  Mary  A.,  ami  Ellen  R.  (wile 
of  William  Woolridge). 

William  II.  Weaver,  assistant  superintendent 
at  the  Cameron  colliery,  Shamokin,  was  born  Oct. 
23,  1856,  at  Trevorton,  Northumberland  county. 
son  of  Lorenzo  Dow  Weaver.  lie  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place. 
and  When  a  young  man  began  work  in  the  mines 
as  a  slate  picker  at  the  breakers.  In  time  he  began 
to  work  a-  fireman  at  stationary  engines,  being 
thus  engaged  I'm-  six  years,  when  he  became  a  sta- 
tionary engineer.  He  was  employed  in  that  ca- 
pacity at  the  mines  for  fifteen  years.  For  two 
years  afterward  he  was  assistant  foreman  at  the 
Cameron  colliery.  Mr.  Weaver's  next  position 
was  that  of  outside  foreman,  which  he  held 
for  four  years  and  six  month-,  in  January,  1908, 
assuming  the  duties  of  his  present  position,  that 
of  assistant  superintendent  at  the  same  colliery. 
His  long  retention  at  the  same  colliery  bespeaks 
the  excellence   and    value   of   his  services. 

On  July  31,  L881,  Mr.  Weaver  married  Florence 
L.  McGiness,  daughter  of  .lames  P.  and  Mary 
A.  (Jones)  McGiness,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
pioneer  coal  operator  in  Schuylkill  county.  Six 
children  have  been  horn  to  this  union:  John  If. 
(married  Mary  Scovack),  Rebecca  (died  in  in- 
fancy), Lydia  (wife  of  Howard  D.  Moore,  whose 
children  arc  Margaret  A.,  Florence  L.  and  Howard 
D.,  Jr.),  William  H.,  dr..  Stephen  J.  and  Dan- 
iel D. 

Mr.  Weaver  has  been  active  in  religious  work  as 
a  member  of  the  Chestnut  Street  Methodist 
Church,  which  he  has  -rwrA  as  steward,  trustee 
and  Sunday  school  superintendent,  also  taking 
a  prominent  part  in  the  Epworth  League. 

Peter  M.  Weaver,  son  of  Lorenzo  Dow  Weaver. 
was  horn  Oct,  31,  1858,  at  Trevorton,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  there  attended  the  public 
schools.  He  was  only  eight  and  a  half  years  old 
when  he  commenced  picking  slate  at  the  breaker 
during  the  summers,  continuing  his  education  in 
the  winter  months.  Later  he  tended  door  in  the 
mines  and  then  learned  engineering,  at  which  he 
was  chiefly  engaged  about  the  mines,  though  he 
was  engaged  a-  a  regular  miner  for  five  years,  do- 
ing tunnel  work  and  mining.  In  1901  he  became 
breaker  foreman  at  the  Luke  Fidler  colliery,  at 
Shamokin.  which  position  he  has  filled  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Mr.  Weaver  has  one  hundred  men  and 
boys  in  his  charge,  and  he  has  proved  a  responsible 
man  for  the  work  assigned  him.  having  a  high  rep- 
utation for  faith lul  and  intelligent  work. 

On  Oct.  16,  1880,  Mr.  Weaver  married  Cath- 
arine Shuev.  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary 
(Miller)  Shuey,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
fourteen  children,  nine  of  whom  survive,  namely: 
Joseph  A.  (married  Lizzie  Maurer),  Annie  S., 
Charlotte  M.,   Emma   C.  Charles  A..  George  D., 


Jesse  VY\.  Florence  M.  and  Thomas.  Eugene 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Weaver  has  done  his  share  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  the  community  and  is  well  known  in 
varioui  capacities,  tuning  served  as  a  member  of 
the  hoard  of  school  directors  of  Coal  township, 
and  as  treasurer  of  that  board.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  was  committeeman  of  Ids  dis- 
trict three  years.  Fraternally  he  has  belonged  to 
the  I.  0.  0.  F.  since  is;;,  is  treasurer  of  the 
Temple  Association  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Club.  He  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Church. 

John  A.  Weaver,  son  of  Lorenzo  Dow  Weaver. 
was  horn  at  Trevorton.  this  county,  March  5,  18G3, 
received  a  public  school  education  and  when  old 
enough  found  employment  at  the  mines.  He  fired 
a  boiler  one  year  and  for  the  past  twenty-six  years 
has  been  stationary  engineer  at  the  Bear  Valley 
colliery,  where  he  has  been  employed  in  all  for 
the  long  period  of  thirty-three  years,  being  among 
the  oldest  employees  at  the  colliery.  His  long 
service  and  efficient  work  make  him  a  valued  and 
trusted  man,  and  he  has  the  respect  id'  his  em- 
plovers  and   fellow  workers  without  reserve. 

On  Oct.  '.'i'..  L883,  Mr.  Weaver  married  Sarah 
.lane  McCollum,  daughter  of  Ephraim  S.  and 
Sarah  Jane  (Allvord)  McCollum.  and  they  have 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  namely:  Ephraim 
S.  (married  Gertrude  Stahl),  Minnie  (married 
Francis  Goldman).  Florence  (married  Kay  Dun- 
kelberger),  Tillie  (married  Frank  Cross).  George, 
Edna,  Clarence.  Elsie.  Ethel  (deceased),  and  a  son 
that  died  in  infancy.  The  family  reside  at  No.  704 
West  Pine  street.  Shamokin.  Mr.  Weaver  i-  a 
Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  and  an  Odd  Fellow  in  fraternal  connec- 
tion. 

JOHN  E.  ALLEN,  superintendent  id'  the  silk 
mills  at  Shamokin  conducted  by  .1.  II.  &  C.  K. 
Eagle,  has  a  responsible  connection  with  one  id' 
the  important  industries  of  the  borough,  and  lias 
been  engaged  in  that  line  of  work  practically  all 
his  life— ever  since  he  began  to  earn  his  own  liv- 
ing. He  is  a  native  of  Paterson,  X.  J.,  born  Oct. 
22,  is;.',  son  of  Peter  Allen,  who  was  born  in 
England  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man. 
He  located  at  Paterson,  X.  J.,  where  he  »;i-  en- 
gaged in  the  silk  business. 

John  F.  Allen  attended  the  public  scl Is  id'  his 

home  district,  and  when  a  youth  of  seventeen  be- 
gan to  work  in  a  silk  mill,  on  the  floor,  lie  wa- 
employed  at  dillVrent  mill-  while  acquiring  his  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  the  business,  ami  in  time 
entered  the  employ  of  Bamford  Brothers,  at  Pater- 
son, a-  superintendent,  remaining  with  this  well 
known  concern  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years.  The 
B  i lords  have  mills  ai  Paterson  ami  Belvidere, 
in  New  Jersey,  and  at  Wilkes-Barre,  in   Pennsyl- 


8-20 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


vania.  In  April,  1909,  Mr.  Allen  came  to  Sha- 
mokin  to  assume  the  duties  of  his  present  position 
at  the  Eagle  mills,  where  he  has  proved  himself 
well  qualified  for  his  work.  He  is  a  self-made 
man.  intelligent,  industrious  and  enterprising,  and 
by  close  application  to  his  calling  has  become  thor- 
oughly versed  in  the  work  in  its  various  branches., 
being  considered  a  valuable  employee. 

Mr.  Allen  is  a  well  known  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  belonging  to  Warren  Lodge,  No. 
13,  E.  &  A.  M.,  of  Belvidere,  N.  J.,  of  which  he  is 
a  past  master;  to  Shamokin  Chapter,  No.  264,  R. 
A.  M. :  Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  de- 
_  ee;  and  to  the  Temple  Club  at  Shamokin.  In 
religious  connection  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

Mr.  Allen  married  Ella  Cole,  of  Belvidere.  N. 
J.,  and  they  have  had  three  children:  Myrta,  Eoy 
D.  and  II.  Marion. 

WILLIAM  M.  YOCH,  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful bakers  in  Shamokin,  where  he  is  at  present 
running  three  establishments,  is  a  self-made  man, 
having  attained  his  present  substantial  position 
by  hard  work  and  thrift.  His  goods  are  high-grade 
and  recommend  themselves  to  the  best  class  of 
patrons  in  the  borough. 

Mr.  Yoch  was  horn  June  10,  1862,  at  Easton, 
Northampton  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  of  German  descent, 
his  father.  Herman  Yoch.  having  been  born  in 
Saxony,  Germany,  in  1829.  He  married  Amelia 
Fischer,  like  himself  a  native  of  Saxony,  and  they 
came  to  America  in  185i  ag  at  Easton,  Pa., 

where  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  slater,  which 
he  had  learned  thoroughly  in  the  old  country.  In 
1871  he  came  to  Shamokin  and  here  also  worked 
as  a  slater,  slating  the  old  St.  Edward's  and  Polish 
Catholic  churches.     Afi  ding  about  twenty 

years  in  the  Western  States  he  returned  to  Sha- 
mokin. where  he  is  now  living  retired  with  his 
son  William.  He  and  his  wife  have  had  children 
as  follows :  Francis,  who  lives  at  Seigfried.  Le- 
high Co.,  Pa. :  Mary,  wife  of  Clinton  Kech,  of 
Allentown,  Fa. ;  William  M. :  Charles,  residing  in 
California:  and  Herman,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
pretzel  business  in  Shamokin. 

William  M.  Yoch  came  to  Shamokin  with  his 
parents  and  when  thirteen  years  old  became  an 
apprentice  to  the  baker's  trade.  In  1886  he  went 
to  Richmond,  Va.,  where  he  was  in  business 
eighteen  months,  at  the  end  of  that  time  return- 
ing to  Shamokin,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  began  business  in  the  borough  in  1889,  at  No. 
70  i  street,  where  he  has  since  maintained 

an  establishment,  having  built  an  addition  to  the 
original  place  as  the  demands  of  business  made 
more  room  necessary.  Meantime  he  has  opened 
two  more  stores,  having  one  on  Spruce  street 
and  one  on  Eace  street,  and  now  gives  employment 
to  twenty  men  and  runs  four  teams.  He  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  leading  and  successful  busi- 


ness men  in  the  west  end  of  the  borough.  In  his 
line  he  is  undoubtedly  the  leader.  His  business 
has  been  built  up  by  honest  values  and  a  high  class 
of  bakery  products,  including  bread,  cakes  and 
pies  of  all  kinds,  all  made  of  the  best  materials,, 
put  together  by  skilled  tradesmen.  He  still  super- 
the  work  personally,  being  just  as  careful  of 
the  good  will  of  his  customers  now  as  he  was  in 
his  struggling  days.  His  equipment  has  been  mod- 
ernized from  time  to  time  to  keep  pace  with  the 
demands  of  his  trade  and  as  improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  devices  used  in  the  business,  and 
not  many  years  ago  he  put  in  a  modern  Vienna 
oven  and  a  patent  dough  miser.  His  business  is 
the  largest  in  its  line  in  the  borough,  and  his  goods 
have  a  wide  reputation  for  being  up  to  the  stand- 
ard in  every  respect. 

Mr.  Yoch  has  I  practically  all  of  his  time- 

to  business,  and  is  not  active  in  politics  or  other 
local  public  matters,  though  he  takes  the  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  t  igh  which  every  public- 

spirited  citizen  should  feel.  He  is  fond  of  good 
horses  and  has  several  fine  driving  animals.  In 
religious  connection  he  is  a  Lutheran. 

KIEFFEE.  The  Kieffers  or  Keiffers  of  Wash- 
ington township.  Northumberland  county,  to  which 
family  Abraham  Kieffer  and  Daniel  M.  Keiffer, 
both  -  of  that  district,  belong,  have  been 

located  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania  for  several 
generations.  The  family  is  of  French  origin,  the 
name  in  that  language  being  Sonnellier,  and  they 
moved  from  their  native  France  to  Zweihruecken, 
Germany,  in  the  year  1685,  coming  thence  to  Amer- 
ica in  1732.  One  Abraham  Kieffer  is  buried  in 
Snyder  county,  this  State. 

Abraham  Kieffer,  the  of  the  branch  here 

under  consideration,  was  a  native  of  Richmond 
township,  Berk-  Co.,  Pa.,  born  March  15,  1751, 
and  coming  to  Northumberland  county  settled  in 
Washington  (then  Jackson)  township,  where  he 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  300  acre-.  It  is  now 
subdivided,  and.  owned  by  the  Eebucks  and  Kris- 
singers..  He  followed  farming.  He  died  Jul]  '  5, 
1832,  and  is  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church,  of 
which  he  was  a  member.  There  also  is  the  grave 
of  his  wife  Margaretha,  who  was  born  May  15, 
1758,  and  died  March  6,  1840.  They  had"  sons 
John  and  Daniel,  and  several  daughters. 

John  Kieffer,  e  n  of  Abraham,  was  born  Aug. 
15,  L790,  and  was  a  young  man  when  he  came 
from  Berks  county  and  located  in  Washington 
township.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  but  he  was 
also  a  handy  man  at  mechanical  work  and  made 
shoes.  He  was  quite  a  prominent  citizen  of  his 
district,  serving  in  various  local  offices,  and  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Eeformed  congregation  of 
the  Himmel  Church,  which  be  served  in  different 
al  capacities.  He  died  Dec.  8,  18S0.  He  mar- 
ried Magdalena  Heim,  daughter  of  Matthias  Heim, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


821 


born  March  13,  1792,  died  Aug.  20,  1864.  Chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born  to  this  union :  Jonathan 
is  mentioned  below;  John,  born  Aug.  31,  1829, 
lived  in  Washington  township,  and  died  Jan.  2, 
1864;  George  lived  in  Washington  township;  Peter 
died  young;  Elizabeth  married  Jacob  Krebs;  Su- 
san married  Henry  Bohner;  Marieha  married  John 
Eister;  Magdalena  married  John  Hepner;  Abra- 
ham is  mentioned  below. 

Jonathan  Keiffer,  son  of  John,  was  born  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Daniel  M.  Keiffer,  and 
fill  lowed  farming  practically  all  his  life,  though  in 
In-  earlier  manhood  he  worked  as  a  carpenter  at 
Sunbury.  He  owned  a'farm  of  110  acres  in  Wash- 
ington township,  one  mile  south  of  Rebuck,  one 
of  i  lie  best  pieces  of  property  in  that  section,  and 
erected  the  present  set  of  buildings  thereon.  The 
place  is  an  old  Kieffer  homestead.  Mr.  Keiffer 
died  June  21.  1902,  aged  seventy-six  years,  eight 
months,  twelve  days.  He  was  a  progressive  man, 
and  served  his  township  eighteen  years  in  the  office 
0  i  hool  director,  in  that  capacity  helping  to  build 
the  five  schools  now  located  in  the  district.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family 
were  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the 
Himmel  Church.  He  married  Sarah  A.  Kehres, 
daughter  of  William  Kehres,  and  she  died  Oct. 
29,  1886,  aged  forty-three  years,  five  months,  elev- 
en days,  the  mother  of  nine  children:  Emanuel, 
who  i-  now  in  Nebraska;  William  J.,  who  died 
Aug.  1,  1900,  aged  thirty-four  years,  eleven  months, 
eleven  day-:  Kate,  married  to  C.  B.  Hetrick; 
Mary,  widow  I       man   Fertic;  Jane,  married 

to  Henry  Schlegel :  Emma,  married  to  Edw.  Buy- 
er :     Samuel,    living    in    Washington    township : 

George,  -I sed  :  and  Daniel  M.     For  his  second 

wife  Jonathan  Keiffer  married  Louisa  Rausch,  wid- 
ow of  Adam  German,  and  she  survives  him,  now 
making  her  home  in  Snyder  county.  She  was  the 
mother  of  several  children. 

Daniel  if.  Keiffer,  son  of  Jonathan,  lives- at 
the  old  homestead  in  Washington  township,  where 
he  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  successful  auc- 
tioneer. He  was  born  at  that  place  March  22, 
1879,  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  township,  and  has  been  engaged  at  farm 
work  all  his  life.  Until  he  was  eighteen  he  worked 
for  his  parents.  Then  he  entered  the  employ  of 
John  Hetrick.  for  whom  he  worked  four  yeaxs, 
after  which  he  operated  the  huckster  wagon  of 
F.  L.  Kehres  one  year.  In  1002  he  began  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  his  own  account  at  the  home- 
stead, where  he  has  since  remained,  having  pur- 
chased the  property  in  the  fall  of  1901.  It  is  one 
of  the  fertile  spots  in  the  Swabian  Creek  Valley, 
and  Mr.  Keiffer  has  done  well  in  its  cultivation. 
In  1904  Mr.  Keiffer  began  to  cry  sales,  and  his 
services  have  been  in  demand  for  such  work  ever 
since  to  such  an  extent  that  he  was  auctioneer 
at  thirty  sales  in  the  spring  of  1909.    He  is  an  en- 


terprising young  man,  and  holds  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him. 

On  May  25,  1900,  Mr.  Keiffer  married  Henri- 
etta Geist,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Cecelia  (Upde- 
grove)  Geist,  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Stella  M.and  Norman  L. 
Mr.  Keiffer  and  his  family  are  Reformed  members 
of  the  Himmel  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has 
been  school  director  since  1908. 

Abraham  Kieffer,  another  son  of  John  and 
Magdalena  (Heim)  Kieffer,  is  now  retired,  living 
on  the  farm  near  Rebuck  which  has  been  his  home 
tin'  so  many  years.  He  was  bom  Nov.  11,  1836, 
on  the  homestead  of  his  grandfather  Kieffer,  in 
Washington  township,  received  his  education  in  the 
subscription  schools  which  were  the  rule  during 
his  boyhood,  and  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits. 
He  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  and  after  his  marriage  worked  five  years 
for  his  father-in-law,  John  Schlegel,  of  Jordan 
township,  eventually  settling  at  his  present  place. 
He  has  a  tract  of  forty-five  acres,  which  he  cul- 
tivated successfully  during  his  active  years,  retir- 
ing some  time  ago.  This  tract  was  part  of  a  Gon- 
ser  homestead,  and  the  brick  house  now  standing  on 
the  property  was  built  by  one  Killian  Rothermel  in 
1864. 

About  1865  Mr.  Kieffer  married  Mary  Jane 
Schlegel.  daughter  of  John  Schlegel.  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county,  and  granddaughter  of 
William  Schlegel.  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa. 
Vis.  Kieffer  was  born  in  1S42.  She  and  her  hus- 
band have  four  children :  William,  of  Trevorton. 
Northumberland  county:  Charles,  of  Elizabeth- 
ville,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  carries  on  a  hotel : 
Alice,  wife  of  Daniel  Treon;  anil  Mary  Agnes, 
married  to  O.  S.  Dunkelberger.  The  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Himmel  Church,  ami  Mr. 
Kieffer  has  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  worthy  and  zealous  members  of  the  congre- 
gation, which  he  served  in  offii  ial  i  apacities  almost 
continuously  in  his  active  years,  having  been 
deacon,  elder,  i  mstee  and  treasurer,  lie  is  a  I •■ 
ocrat  in  political  sentiment,  and  has  served  as 
tax  collector  of  Washington  township. 

PAUL  DUROVCIK,  hotel-keeper  of  Mount 
Carmel,  has  conducted  his  present  stand  at  No. 
L23  Xni'ili  Market  streel  since  L894.  IV  is  a 
native  of  Austria-Hungary  and  the  acknowledged 
leader  of  his  countrymen  in  Mount  Carmel  and 
vicinity,  a  man  of  substantial  worth  a  en  of 

his  ad  rantry  and  respected  by  all  who  know 

him. 

Mr.  Durovcik  was  bom  in  Austria  Dec.  8,  1866, 
in  the  town  of  Lucka.     Bis   Ea  so  named 

Paul,  was  a  farmer    o    Austria  d  in  that 

country.     The  son  cann  when  sixteen 

re  in 


S3? 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


New  York  City,  arriving  at  Mount  Carmel,  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  June  7,  18S5.  Here  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  followed  mining  about 
nine  years,  in  1SH4  engaging  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  No.  123  North  Market  street,  where  he  is 
still  located,  having  established  a  steady  and  lucra- 
tive trade.  Mr.  Durovcik  has  acquired  other  in- 
terests as  his  prosperity  enabled  him  to  invest  else- 
where, and  lie  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company, 
which  he  serves  as  director.  He  has  twice  repre- 
sented his  ward  (the  Second  )  in  the  borough  coun- 
cil as  the  Republican  candidate,  having  been  first 
ed  in  1907  and  reelected  in  1910.  Mr.  Dur- 
ovcik belongs  to  the  local  lodge  of  Elks,  to  the  Red 
Men  and  the  Owls,  being  treasurer  of  the  local  or- 
ganization of  the' latter  society.  He  is  very  prom- 
inent in  the  various  Slavic  societies,  and  is  a  mem- 
of  the  Slavic  Reformed  Church,  in  the  work  of 
which  he  takes  a  leading  part. 

On  Jan.  17,  1888,  Mr.  Durovcik  married  Anna 
Dovei,  like  himself  a  native  of  Austria,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  five  children  :  Paul.  Jr..  Annie, 
Mary.  John  and  Agnes. 

GEORGE  H.  LEXKER.  fanner  of  Washington 
township,  was  born  Feb.  14,  1851,  in  Upper  Maha- 
noy  township,  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
Peter  Lenker.  He  is  a  descendant  of  Adam  or 
i  Adam  Lenker.  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  this  region,  lo- 
cating in  territory  now  embraced  in  Lower  Maha- 
noy  township,  where  he  followed  fainting.  The 
inal  homestead  upon  which  he  settled  was  the 
farm  now  owned  by  David  Bohner.  He  was  born 
Dec.  1'.'.  1765,  and  died  March  31.  1834,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Zion  Church  in  Stone  Valley,  as  is 
also  his  wife.  Anna  Maria:  she  was  born  June 
1761,  and  died  May  1'.'.  Is-."?.  Their  children 
were:  Michael.  John  Adam.  Jacob,  Polly  (mar- 
ried John  Winner)  and  Mary  (married  William 
Schaffer). 

Jacob  Lenker.  son  of  Adam,  was  hum  in  Ger- 
many, landed  at  Philadelphia  upon  his  emigration 
to  America,  and  soon  afterward  settled  in  the 
Mahantango  Valley,  in  Northumberland  county. 
Pa.,  where  he  owned  a  large  farm  which  he  cul- 
tivated successfully.  He  built  a  sawmill,  which  he 
operated  in  connection  with  his  agricultural  work, 
and  was  a  prosperous  man.  In  religion  he  was 
a  Lutheran,  as  arc  most  of  his  descendant;  (a  few 
being  members  of  the  Evangelical  Association), 
and  lie  and  his  son  Jacob,  as  well  as  Peter  Lenker. 
father  of  George  II..  are  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley 
Church  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  He  served 
his  adopted  country  as  a  soldier.  He  and  his  wife, 
Anna  (Feldy),  had  children  as  follows:  Peter: 
Jacob;  Simon:  Jonathan:  Philip:  Mrs.  Jacob 
Hepner:  Mrs.  John  Shaffer:  and  Mrs.  Seaman. 
The  son  Jacob  obtained  the  homestead,  where  he 


and  died,  and  like  his  father  followed  farm- 
ing and  operated  the  sawmill. 

Peter  Lenker,  father  of  George  II.  Lenker,  was 
horn  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  and  died  in  the  house  in  which  he  was 
horn,  though  he  had  passed  many  years  of  his  life 
elsewhere.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  ami  at  one 
time  owned  a  farm,  later  renting  the  land  he  cul- 
tivated. For  thirteen  years  he  lived  near  Line 
Mountain  post  office,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Stone  Valley  Church, 
where  as  above  stated  he  is  buried.  His'first  wife, 
Susanna  Bobb.  was  the  moyier  of  twelve  children, 
viz.:  John,  Magdalena,  Peter.  Nicholas.  Adam. 
Michael,  and  six  who  died  young.  His  second 
marriage  was  to  Esther  Hetrich,  daughter  of 
<o"or_  ',.  and  to  this  union  were  born  six 

children:  Daniel  died  aged  nineteen  years:  Lydia 
is  unmarried:  Simon  died  when  eleven  years  old; 
ge  II.  is  mentioned  below;  Benjamin  lives  in 
Lower  Augusta  township;  Rebecca  died  when  six- 
years  old. 

George  H.  Lenker  had  three  months  of  instruc- 
tion in  the  old-fashioned  subscription  schools  for- 
merly conducted  in  this  section,  but  he  was  edu- 
:  principally  in  the  public  si  s,  which  he 
attended  off  and  on  until  lie  was  of  age.  He  was 
trained  from  youth  to  farming,  and  in  1871  began 
that  occupation  for  himself  in  Washington  town- 
ship, where  he  has  -  na  continued  to"  live.  He 
owns  eighty  acres  of  cleared  land  and  fifteen  acres 
of  woodland,  and  built  a  substantial  house  on  his 
property  in  1897.  The  barn  was  built  by  the  Zer- 
aboui  1870.  Mr.  Lenker  is  an  intelligent 
and  progressive  citizen,  and  though  he  has  devoted 
his  attention  to  his  work  and  cultivated  his  land 
profitably  he  has  found  time  to  take  part  in  the 
administration  of  local  affairs.  For  twelve  years 
he  served  as  auditor  of  his  township,  and  after 
that  became  school  director,  in  which  office  he  has 
served  continuously  since  1895,  having  been  re- 
elected five  times.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
opinion.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation  at  St.  Peter's  Church, 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon,  being  much  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  of  the  church. 

In  1871  Mr.  Lenker  married  Henrietta  Carl, 
daughter  of  John  and  Catharine  (Diener)  Carl. 
natives  of  Pike  township,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  seven  children:  Hiram  0.,  who 
live;  at  Lavelle,  Schuylkill  county:  Charles  M.. 
of  Shamokin:  Alice  R.,  wife  of  George  Thomas,  of 
Jackson  township ;  Nathan  H,  of  Mi  iwry,  Schuyl- 
kill county ;  George  C,  of  Allentown,  Pa. :  Isaac 
I.,  of  Washington  township;  and  Henrietta  R.,  who 
married  Monroe  Bobb,  of  Washington  township. 

JOHN  B.  SEYER.  of  Shamokin.  chief  dver  at 
the  J.  H.  &  C.  K.  Eagle  silk  factory,  located  in 
that  borough,  is  a  man  of  the  widest  experience  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


823 


his  line,  gained  in  the  foremost  establishments  of 
this  country,  and  is  himself  interested  in  the  busi- 
ness as  vice  president  of  the  Garfield  Silk  Dyeing 
&  Finishing  Company,  of  Garfield  (Passaic),  N. 
J.  All  his  active  years  have  been  given  to  this 
line  of  industry,  in  which  he  is  a  noted  authority, 
known  to  the  trade  all  over  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Seyer  was  born  in  1866  in  France,  from 
which  country  his  father,  also  John  B.  Seyer, 
brought  his  family  to  America  in  1870.  He  made 
a  home  at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where  he  died.  There 
the  son  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  there  he  began  to  learn  his  present  business 
in  the  plant  of  the  Weidmann  Silk  Dyeing  Com- 
pany, the  largest  dyeing  house  in  the  United  States. 
So  thoroughly  did  he  master  the  work  that  he 
was  made  foreman  in  this  establishment,  holding 
that  responsible  position  for  a  period  of  nineteen 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  formed  a  con- 
nection with  Ashley  &  Bailey,  another  important 
concern  at  Paterson,  taking  charge  of  their  plant 
for  seven  years.  In  company  with  other  men  he 
then  organized  the  Garfield  Silk  Dyeing  and  Fin- 
ishing Company,  of  Garfield,  X.  J.,  of  which  he 
is  vice-president,  and  of  whose  plant  he  had  charge 
for  two  years,  leaving  to  enter  the  establishment 
of  ill,'  Standard  Silk  Company,  at  Phillipsburg, 
N.  J.  In  July,  1909,  he  came  to  Shamokin,  to 
enter  upon  liis  duties  as  chief  dyer  at  the  Eagle 
plant.  Mr.  Sever  has  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  employees  under  his  charge  in  the  dye 
house,"  which  is  one  of  the  most  completely  equipped 
plants  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  The  Eagle 
silk  factory,  though  one  of  the  more  recently 
established  industrial  plants  of  Shamokin,  has 
from  the  first  been  regarded  as  an  important  fac- 
tor in  local  business  prosperity,  and  Mr.  Seyer's 
work  has  done  much  toward  making  its  product 
popular  and  in  steady  demand.  His  skill,  taste 
and  ingenuity  make  him  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able of  the  clever  mm  associated  with  this  con- 
.eiii  who  have  placed  its  goods  among  the  most 
desirable  on  the  market. 

Mr.  Sever  is  well  known  in  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, holding  membership  in  Falls  City  Lodge, 
No.  8-2;  Cataract  City  Chapter,  No.  10s  R.  A. 
M.:  Shamokin  Commandery,  Xo.  77,  K  T.;  Jer- 
sey Citv  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree:  and  Sa- 
laam Temple,  A. 'A.  0.  X.  M.  S.,  in  the  latter 
connection  also  belonging  to  the  Temple  Club  at 
Shamokin.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0. 
F    and  the  Shamokin  Automobile  Club. 

In  1891  Mr.  Seyer  married  Adeline  Ferry,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Blanche  and  Henry. 

FRAXKLIX  A.  NEWCOMER,  of  Turbut 
township,  Northumberland  county,  represents  the 
third  generation  of  his  family  in  that  section, 
his  grandfather,  Philip  Newcomer,  a  native  ot 
Pennsylvania,  having  owned  and  occupied  a  tarm 


in  that  township  long  known  as  the  Newcomer 
farm.  It  consisted  of  about  one  hundred  acres. 
lie  married  Elizabeth  Lantz,  of  Turbut  township, 
and  in  1864  took  his  family  out  to  Iowa,  mak- 
ing the  trip  by  team.  The  journey  occupied  three 
months,  and  they  crossed  only  one  railroad  track 
— one  of  the  old-fashioned  kind,  with  wooden  rails. 
Mr.  Xewcomer  took  up  land  in  Iowa  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there.  He 
and  his  wife  had  a  large  family,  viz. :  John  Sam- 
uel, Daniel,  Susan  (Mrs.  Thomas  Stover),  Eman- 
uel, Levi  (who  served  as  a  captain  during  the 
Civil  war,  from  Iowa),  Philip,  Margaret  (Mrs. 
Aaron  Costenbador),  Kate  (married  Edw.  Kelly), 
Annie  (Mrs.  Woodwring),  Joseph,  and  four  oth- 
ers not  named. 

John  Samuel  Xewcomer,  son  of  Philip,  was  the 
father  of  Franklin  A.  Xewcomer.  He  was  born 
June  3,  1825,  in  Turbut  township,  Xorthumber- 
land  count}',  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  When 
the  family  moved  out  to  Iowa  he  accompanied 
them,  but  not  caring  for  the  country  returned  to 
liis  native  township,  where  he  subsequently  bought 
his  father-in-law's  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until 
his  death.  He  died  there  Sept.  6,  1908,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-three,  and  is  buried  at 
Milton.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Lutheran. 
He  married  Matilda  Jacoby,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Catharine  (Bachman)  Jacoby.  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  three  children :  Elizabeth  C, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Seers,  and  resides  in  Mil- 
ton; Hattie  M.,  who  married  Charles  C.  (last  and 
lives  in  Milton  (their  children  are  John  X.  and 
Helen  M.)  ;  and  Franklin  A. 

Franklin  A.  Xewcomer  was  born  Dec.  31,  1S66, 
at  the  place  where  he  still  resides,  and  obtained 
in-  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  lo- 
cality and  in  Milton  high  school  and  Milton  Acad- 
demy,  the  latter  institution  taught  by  the  able 
Professor  Schneider.  He  then  taught  for  one  year 
at  the  Ireland  schoolhouse  in  Turbut  town-hip,  aft- 
er which  he  turned  his  attention  to  teaching  music, 
both  vocal  and  instrumental,  being  thus  engaged 
until  1807.  He  made  a  success  of  his  professional 
work,  but  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  devoted 
his  principal  attention  to  farming.  In  1897  he 
located  at  the  old  home  with  his  father  and 
farmed  for  him.  and  in  the  fall  of  L908  he  bought 
the  property.  He  make-  a  spei  talty  ot  truck  rais- 
and  attends  the  Milton  markets,  lie  i-  a 
member  of  the  Modern  WoodmeD  and  of  Turbut 
Grange,  interested  in  all  affairs  that  affect  the 
welfare  of  his  locality,  and  one  of  the  progressive, 
intelligent  citizens  ot'  his  section.  In  relig 
connection  he  is  a  Lutheran,  a  well  known  mem- 
ber of  Christ  Church  ai  Milton,  which  he  served 
as  organist  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  Mr. 
Xewcomer  is  independent  on  political  questions, 
supporting  the  best  men  and  measures  without  re- 
gard to  party. 


824 


XOETHUMBEELAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


In  1892  Mr.  Newcomer  married  Jennie  L.  Clew- 
ell,  daughter  of  Godfrey  William  and  Catharine 
(Artley)  Clewell,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
two  children.  Franklin  C.  and  John  William. 

The  Clewell  family  is  of  French  Huguenot  ori- 
gin, and  the  family  history  is  very  complete. 
Jacob  Clewell.  Mrs.  Newcomer's  grandfather,  was 
born  May  13.  1783,  and  on  Oct.  16,  1808,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Miller,  who  was  born  March  8,  1785. 
They  lived  at  Catawissa,  Pa.,  where  they  were 
farming  people.  Their  children  were  born  as  fol- 
lows:  Catharine.  Jan.  11,  1812:  Jacob.  Jan.  3, 
1815:  Sarah.  Oct.  11,  1817:  Daniel.  Oct.  18.  1818: 
Mariam,  Feb.  1.  1821;  Mathias,  Jan.  50,  1822; 
Lovina.  Aug.  19,  1825;  Godfrey  William.  Jan.  S. 
18-28. 

Godfrey  William  Clewell,  son  of  Jacob,  was  dur- 
ing his  active  years  a  successful  farmer  in  Mon- 
tour county,  near  the  Northumberland  county 
line.  He  is  now  living  retired  at  Milton.  He 
married  Catharine  Artley.  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children,  Jennie  L.  (Mrs.  Franklin  A.  New- 
comer), William  and  Artley.  The  two  sons  are 
farmers  in  Liberty  township,  Montour  county,  the 
father  having  divided  his  farm  between  them,  each 
one  having  his  own  tract. 

WYXX.  John  Wynn.  said  to  be  a  native  of 
Xew  Jersey,  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  Northumberland  county.  He  was 
of  Welsh  extraction.  Trior  to  May  18,  1818,  he 
came  to  Northumberland  county,  and  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  David  S. 
Wynn.  This  tract  was  originally  taken  up  by 
warrant  by  John  and  Margaret  Snyder.  On  May 
18,  1818,  John  "Win,"  as  his  name  appears  in 
the    deed,    purchased   these    eighty-two    acres   for 

'.69.  Here  he  erected  the  first  set  of  build- 
ings, of  logs.  The  log  house  stood  until  about 
1880,  when  it  was  razed  by  David  S.  Wynn.  He 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  probably  were  Baptist-,  as 
all  their  children  were  of  that  faith.  Elizabeth 
Wynn  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  Augusta 
Baptist  church  cemetery.  Her  husband  is  buried 
at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian  Church.     They  had 

'  children:  Samuel,  Annias,  John.  Jr..  Mat- 
thias (settled  out  West).  Byram  (settled  out 
West),  and  Sallie  (married  John  Van  Sant,  who 
was  a  merchant  in  Bockefeller  township). 

In  1847  John  Wynn.  Sr.,  sold  his  farm  to  his 
son  Samuel  D.  On  the  deed  conveying  this  land 
to  the  son  the  pioneer  wrote  his  name  in  plain 
English  John  "Wynn." 

3  nmtel  D.  Wynn,  son  of  John,  was  born  in 
Lower  Augusta  township  Jan.  2L  1795,  and  died 
on  his  farm  April  27,  1878.  His  wife  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Shipman,  died  Feb.  3,  1890, 
aged  eighty-four  years,  five  months,  ten  days,  and 
they  are  buried  at  the  Augusta  Baptist  cenii 
They  were  Baptists,  and  members  of  that  church, 


of  which  he  was  a  deacon  many  years.  Earlier 
in  life  he  was  a  millwright,  and  followed  his  trade 
throughout  eastern  Pennsylvania.  Later  he  farmed 
in  Lower  Augusta  on  the  homestead.  He  was  a 
Democrat.  The  following  were  their  nine  chil- 
dren :  Eeuben  died  at  Sunbury,  Pa. :  Eaehel  mar- 
ried Edw.  Trowbridge;  Jacob  lives  at  Lykens,  Pa. : 
Mary  married  John  Townsend;  Barbara  married 
Charles  Sarvis:  Emma  married  Samuel  Snyder; 
David  S.  is  mentioned  below :  Sarah  J.  married 
Adam  Wynn,  a  cousin;  Susanna  married  John 
Orendorf. 

Annias  Wynn.  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  where  he  also  died.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (White),  was  born  Oct.  27,  1809,  and 
died  Sept.  26,  18G3.  Both  are  buried  in  the  Bap- 
tist cemetery.  Elizabeth  White  was  a  daughter 
of  Bobert  White,  an  Englishman,  who  after  being 
in  America  some  years  returned  to  his  native  coun- 
try, and  there  enlisted  in  the  English  navy.  An- 
nias Wynn  was  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  he  was  a  member  for  sixty  years.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  owned  the  tract  now  owned  by 
Samuel  Still.  He  and  his  wife  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, namely:  Susanna:  Sarah,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Conrad;  John  G.,  who  died  Sept.  2,  1897, 
aged  sixty-four  years,  three  months,  nine  days  (his 
wife  Lydia  died  Oct.  3,  1901,  aged  fifty-five  years, 
eight  months,  eighteen  days):  Lafayette:  Oscar 
T..  who  married  Ellen  Kritz :  William,  who  mar- 
ried Annie  Welker:  Jane,  Mrs.  Eeuben  Conrad: 
Luscius  C,  deceased,  who  married  Annie  Spotts; 
Annias.  who  served  in  the  regular  army  and  who 
was  never  married;  Silas  H..  who  married  Orilla 
E.  Shipman  (died  Xov.  30,  1883,  aged  twenty- 
six  years,  one  month,  fourteen  days)  and  (second) 
Maggie  Obetz;  and  Mary  and  Samuel,  both  of 
whom  died  young. 

J  ihn  Wynn.  Jr.,  son  of  John,  was  a  farmer 
in  Lower  Augusta  township.  He  was  born  Feb. 
10,  1797,  and  died  Oct.  8,  1875.  His  wife.  Betzy 
Snyder,  is  buried  in  Kansas.  They  had  children : 
Adam,  Stephen,  Chambers  (Ms  wife's  name  was 
Mary:  their  daughter  Lydia  died  Feb.  2,  1861, 
one  year,  eleven  months,  fourteen  days,  and 
their  daughter  Amanda,  born  May  26.  1S54,  died 
Jan.  20.  1858).  Albert,  Jemima.  Martha  J.  (born 
March  27.  1850,  died  Feb.  7.  1872),  Mary  and 
Samantha. 

Lafayette  Wynn,  son  of  Annias.  is  a  farmer  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  was  born  Aug. 
28.  1835.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  soldier 
in  Company  I,  58th  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  under 
Col.  J.  Biter  Jones,  of  Philadelphia,  and  lie  par- 
ticipated in  many  engagements  and  was  shot 
through  the  left  shoulder.  He  took  part  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  dis- 
charged Xov.  21.  1865.  After  the  war  he  worked 
six  years  in  the  lumber  woods,  and  railroaded  for 
twenty-two    years.      In    1892    he    purchased    his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


eighty-four-acre  farm  in  Lower  Augusta,  on  which 

he  has  lived  since  1903.  Mr.  Wynn  was  married 
three  times.  His  first  wife,  Elizabeth  M.  J.  Lytle, 
died  Aug.  31,  1868,  the  mother  of  three  children, 
George,  Robert  and  Elmer.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage, to  Maggie  Haupt,  he  had  two  children, 
Peter  and  Edward.  His  third  marriage,  in  1885, 
was  to  Marv  C.  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Arthur. 

David  S.  Wynn,  son  of  Samuel  D.,  was  born 
May  17,  1844,  near  Fishers  Ferry.  When  nine- 
teen he  began  railroading,  which  he  followed  six 
years.  In  1870  lie  purchased  the  original  Wynn 
homestead  where  he  has  since  lived  and  farmed. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  has  been  supervisor,  and 
school  director,  ami  has  been  an  active 
member  of  tin  Baptisl  Church,  since  189!)  serving 
as  a  deacon.  Since  1900  he  has  been  Sunday 
school  superintendent,  and  in  1909  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Sunday  School  Association,  which 
is  an  auxiliary  of  the  County  Sunday  'School  As- 
sociation. On  April  28,  1870,  he  married  Hen- 
rietta, daughter  of  William  Randall,  of  Centre 
county.  Pa.  She  died  Feb.  13.  1887,  aged  twenty- 
seven  years,  ten  months,  nine  days,  the  mother  of 
children  a-  follows:  Jasper,  Frank,  Molly,  Rachel, 
Charles  ami  Henrietta.  Mr.  Wynn's  second  mar- 
riage, on  May  1.  1888,  was  to  Ellen,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Bowman)  Geiswhite,  of  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  They  have  six  children:  Clayton,  Al- 
ice, Warren,  Eva,  Joseph  and  Catharine. 

FREDERICK"  W.  WOLF,  proprietor  of  Wolf's 
Restaurant,  at  Milton.  Pa.,  and  one  of  the  substan- 
tial and  well-to-do  citizens  of  that  town,  was  horn 
there  March  24,  1868,  son  of  Frederick  W.  Wolf, 
Sr.  His  grand  lather  came  to  America  from  Ger- 
many, and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  where  he 
followed  the  baker's  trade.  He  died  there  leav- 
ing two  sons.  Frederick  W.  and  William,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  resides  in  Philadelphia. 

Frederick  W.  Wolf.  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  King- 
dom of  Wurtemberg,  Germany.  Nov.  26,  1838,  and 
came  to  America  about  18-39,  settling  in  Mercer 
county,  N.  J.  On  March  4,  1866.  in  Philadelphia, 
he  married  Marv  Elizabeth  Gehring,  who  was  horn 
April  18,  1841,  in  Halle.  Westphalia,  Germany. 
He  and  his  wife  came  to  Milton  in  1867,  and 
went  into  the  baking  business  on  Mahoning 
near  the  old  canal  bridge.  In  1872  they  removed 
their  place  of  business  to  South  Front  street,  near 
the  river  bridge,  and  there  they  continued.  Mr. 
Wolf  died  Oct.  28,  1877,  and  his  wife  on  Aug.  27, 
1907,  and  both  are  buried  in  the  Harmony  cem- 
etery at  Milton.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Wolf 
enlisted  a-  a  baker,  and" served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  his 
religious  connection  was  with  the  German  Luth- 
eran Church.  His  children  were:  Frederick  W. : 
Lulu,  born  in  Milton  June  10,  1870,  who  married 


Lewis  Young,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  a  daugh- 
ter. Fay;  and  Maria,  born  at  Milton  July  29, 
1872,  who  married  A.  S.  Miller,  of  Milton. 

Frederick  W.  Wolf  attended  the  schools  at  Mil- 
ton, and  then  found  employment  with  the  Shim- 
ers,  the  Godcharleses  and  in  the  Milton  car  shops. 
He  began  his  restaurant  business  in  1892,  the 
next  year  buying  the  property,  which  is  located 
at  the  corner  of  South  Front  and  River  bridge, 
and  was  once  the  old  tollhouse.  Mr.  Wolf  has 
greatly  improved  the  place  and  has  made  it  up-to- 
date  in  every  particular.  He  is  the  .owner  of  con- 
siderable valuable  real  estate  in  Milton. 

Mr.  Wolf  married  Hettie  Wetzel,  and  they  have 
had  three  children.  Margaret.  Frederick  W.  and 
Lulu.  Mr.  Moll'  is  a  member  of  the  F.  0.  E.  and 
the  I',  (i.  S.  of  A.  In  polities  he  is  a  stanch  up- 
holder of  Democratic  principles.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  Church. 

WARREN  UNGER,  the  proprietor  of  the  large 
hardware  establishment  at  Nos.  309-313  Spruce 
street,  Shamokin,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  that  thriv- 
ing borough.  He  was  born  in  Dauphin  countv, 
Pa.,  April  7,  18G8,  son  of  Daniel  and  Huldah 
I  Raker)  Unger. 

Christian  Unger  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
ship  "Edinburgh,"  landing  at  Philadelphia  Sept. 
19,  175"?.  In  1756  he  was  a  taxable  resident  of 
Greenwich  township,  Berks  county.  His  children 
were:  Michael,  a  taxable  in  Greenwich  township 
in  1759;  John,  who  went  to  Shamokin,  Pa.:  Her- 
man, who  married  Elizabeth  Keim,  and  reared  a 
family:  one  son  (name  unknown)  who  settled  in 
Maryland;  Susanna,  who  married  John  Schappel; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  George  Heffley;  and  a 
daughter  who  married  Christian  Reeser. 

John  Unger,  son  of  Christian,  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  and  first  followed  farming  near 
Hamburg.  He  came  to  Northumberland  county 
in  181?.  by  wagon,  and  settled  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship, three  miles  west  of  Paxinos.  II  re  he  took 
up  about  300  acres  of  land  in  the  wood-,  and 
built  a  house  and  hotel.  The  stage  stopped  at  his 
hotel  to  feed  the  horses  and  spend  tin  night,  and 
the  hostelry  became  known  throughoul  the  coun- 
try. Mr.  Unger  died  in  1847,  and  was  buried 
the  Blue  Church,  in  Ralpho  township.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  his  children  were:  Solomon; 
Jacob;  George;  John:  Annie,  who  married  An- 
drew Knerr:  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  E\ 
Catharine,  who  married  Joseph  Hill:  and  Sallie, 
who  married  <  "  Poy. 

Jacob  Unger,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  1802 
in  Berks  county,  and  came  to  this  county  with 
his  father.  He  followed  farming  in  Shamokin 
township,  and  there  oi  I  [e  died  in 

1881,  and  is  buried  at  the  Blue  church.  He  mar- 
ried  Catharine    Ro  I    in    1877.     Their 


826 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


children  were :  John ;.  Maria,  who  married  William 
Mattres ;  Margaret,  who  married  Bastian  Artley ; 
Harriet  and  Elizabeth,  who  both  died  unmarried : 
Catharine,  who  married  Solomon  Rockefeller:  and 
Daniel. 

Daniel  Unger,  ?on  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Sha- 
mokin  township  Dec.  25,  1838,  and  followed  farm 
work  until  he  was  eighteen.  He  then  went  to 
Sunbury  and  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  several  years,  and  at  different  times 
while  engaged  in  farming.  He  sold  out  in  1897 
to  his  sons,  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  is 
the  only  one  of  his  generation  living.  Mr.  Unger. 
.1  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war. 
He  married  Huldah  Raker,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  (Oxheimer)  Raker,  and  their  children 
were:  (1)  William  H.,  born  June  "21.  1864,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  Elysburg  Acad- 
emy, and  Central  Pennsylvania  College,  at  New 
Berlin.  Union  count}',  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter in  1887.  He  read  law  with  W.  II.  M.  Oram, 
of  Shamokin,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Septem- 
ber. 1800.  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  from  1885  to  1889  was  a  member  of 
the  county  committee.  He  was  formerly  viee- 
president  and  is  now  president  of  the  Market  Street 
National  Bank,  Shamokin.  In  1890.  he  was  elected 
to  the  borough  council.  On  April  16,  1S90,  he  mar- 
xied  Ella  Malick.  daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Han- 
nah Malick,  of  Shamokin.  (2)  Geprge  C,  born 
Oct.  13,  1865,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
In  1SS3  he  entered  the  employ  of  A.  Raker,  and 
learned  the  tinner's  trade,  and  now  is  in  the  hard- 
ware business  at  Lebanon,  Pa.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  P.  0.  s.  of  A.  and  the  S.  of  V.  In  1881 
he  married  Clara  E.  Smink.  and  they  have  nine 
children,  of  whom  are  mentioned  Edith  L..  Clar- 
ence and  one  In  politics  Mr.  Unger  is 
a  Republican.  (3)  Warren  is  mentioned  below. 
(1)  Delia  married  Leonard  IT.  Adams,  and  lives 
at  Shamokin.  (5)  Henry  II.  is  a  druggist  at 
Shamokin.     (6)  U.  Grant  is  an  attorney. 

Warren  Unger  attended  the  public  schools  and 
;  ral  Pennsylvania  College  in  1888.  He  learned 
the  tinner's  trade,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  W.  II.  Unger  &  Co.  In  1898  he  purchased 
his  brother's  interests,  and  has  since  branched  out, 
doubling  the  stock  and  increasing  the  facilities, 
adding  a  sanitary  plumbing  and  steam  fitting  de- 
partment, and  doing  electrical  work.  In  1905  he 
built  a  large  warehouse  at  Arch  and  Fifth  streets 
for  his  reserve  stock,  and  for  storing  stoves  and 
household  goods.  It  is  one  of  the  best  equipped 
stores  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  He  employs  six- 
teen  to  eighteen  men. 

Mr.  Unger  is  interested  in  other  enterprises. 
and  is  agent  for  the  Reo  automobiles.  He  was 
a  director  of  the  Shamokin  and  Coal  township 
Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  but  sold  his  inter- 


est in  1908.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Market  Street 
National  Bank.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Elks 
and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  is  a  director  in  the 
latter. 

Mr.  Unger  married  Eliza  Walters,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Walters,  of  Shamokin,  and  they  have  four 
children :  Blanch.  Foster.  Ruth  and  Edna.  The 
family  attend  the  United  Evangelical  Church. 

DAVID  A.  FEGLEY,  of  Sunbury,  who  con- 
ducts a  plumbing  and  heating  business,  is  a  young 
man  of  substantial  qualities  who  has  made  a  posi- 
tion for  himself  in  the  commercial  circles  of  the 
borough  by  application  and  energy,  and  he  deserves 
the  good  standing  he  enjoys.  He  was  born  May 
23,  1873,  in  Rockefeller  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  has  lived  in  Sunbury  since  1891. 

Jonathan  Fegley,  great-grandfather  of  David  A. 
Fegley,  lived  in  the  Mahanoy  Valley  in  this  coun- 
ty. His  children  were:  Jacob,  John,  Samuel, 
Moses,  Polly  and  Sarah. 

Jacob  Fegley,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born  in 
Stone  Valley,  Northumberland  county,  and  was 
one  of  the  well-to-do  and  well  known  men  of  his 
district.  He  followed  milling,  and  owned  three 
farms  in  Rockefeller  township,  dying  upon  one  of 
his  farms.  He  is  buried  at  Lantz's  Church.  In 
religion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
in  politics  a  Democrat.  To  him  and  his  wife 
Catharine  (Schlegel),  daughter  of  Daniel  Schle- 
gel,  were  born  the  following  children:  Louisa, 
William.  Peter.  David  (living  in  Sunbury),  Mary, 
Sevilla  and  Simon. 

William  Fegley,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Oct. 
1,  lSto.  in  the  Mahanoy  Valley,  and  followed 
farming  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  1896  he  came  to 
mry,  where  he  lived  in  retirement  until  his 
death.  June  14,  1902.  He  is  buried  at  Lantz's 
Church.  Like  his  father  he  belonged  to  the  Re- 
formed denomination,  and  he  took  an  active  part 
in  church  affairs.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat. 
On  Dec.  25,  1866,  he  married  Catharine  Kc 
'laughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Weiser)  Keef- 
er,  and  she  survives  him,  making  her  home  in 
Sunbury.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Laura,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eben  Martz;  George,  of 
Perry,  Iowa;  David  A.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William 
Fetter :  Peter,  of  Lower  Augusta  township :  and 
Turabell.  wife  of  Charles  Fahrensworth. 

David  A.  Fegley  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  was  em- 
ployed there,  upon  his  father's  farm,  until  he  came 
to  Sunbury  in  1891.  Entering  the  employ  of 
I.  J.  Reitz,  he  remained  with  him  for  thirteen 
years,  learning  the  plumbing  business  thoroughly, 
and  since  leaving  Mr.  Reitz's  employ  has  been  in 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  is  located  at 
No.  25  South  Seventh  street,  Sunbury.  Mr.  Feg- 
ley has  one  rule  from  which  he  never  departs,  to 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


827 


do  his  best  to  please  his  customers,  and  the  large 
trade  he  lias  built  up  has  been  founded  principal- 
ly upon  that  basis.  He  is  thorough  in  his  work, 
and  honorable  in  his  financial  transactions,  and 
is  highly  respected  among  his  business  associates. 
On  Nov.  8,  1891,  Mr.  Fegley  married  Annie  A. 
Ellenberger,  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Mary  Jane 
(Geib)  Ellenberger.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
Fegley  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  Lodge  No. 
620,  of  Sunbury,  and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

_  FEANK  X.  KLAUS,  of  Locust  Gap,  in  Mount 
Carmcl  township,  is  proprietor  of  the  '•American 
House"  at  that  place  and  in  that  and  other 
associations  well  known  in  his  section  of  North- 
umberland county,  being  one  of  the  local  leaders 
of  the  Democratic  party.  His  hotel  stand  is  the 
leading  place  of  the  kind  at  Locust  Gap. 

Mr.  Klaus  was  born  at  St.  Clair.  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  June  4,  1867,  son  of  Frank  Klaus.  The 
father  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  settling  in  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  lived  at  Minersville  and  St.  Clair.  In 
1873  he  came  to  Locust  Gap,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  black- 
smith, and  where  he  died  in  1889;  he  is  buried 
at  Locust  Gap.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Matilda  Hipp,  is  still  living  at  Locust  Gap, 
now  (1910)  aged  seventy-six  year-.  They  were 
the  parents  of  a  large  family,  namely:  Catherine 
(deceased),  Stephen  (deceased),  Edward  (de- 
ceased), Prank  X.,  Joseph  (deceased),  Michael, 
Martha.  Theresa,   Rossie,  Matilda  and  Mary. 

Frank  X.  Klaus  worked  at  the  mines  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  before  entering  his  present  line  of 
business.  He  began  as  a  slate  picker  when  but 
eight  years  old,  afterward  worked  as  door  tender 
and  was  employed  in  different  capacities  inside, 
in  time  becoming  boss  loader  inside.  After  two 
years  at  that  he  left  the  mines  to  engage  in  the 
hotel  business,  in  1896,  and  since  1900  he  has 
been  at  his  present  location.  The  "American 
House''  is  on  the  Helfenstein  road,  across  the 
bridge,  and  is  well  patronized,  Mr.  Klaus  haying 
the  custom  of  a  substantial  element  in  his  com- 
munity. 

As  a  leading  worker  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  party  Mr.  Klaus  is  well  known  in 
the  township  and  county,  baying  served  as  county 
committeeman  and  as  delegate  to  the  State  conven- 
tion. He  has  served  two  terms  (six  years)  as 
school  director  of  Mount  Carmel  township,  and 
during  that  time  was  president  of  the  board  one 
year  and  treasurer  two  years.  Socially  he  belongs 
to  the  Eagles  (at  Mount  Carmel)  and  the  For- 
esters. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church 
and  also  of  the  Holy  Name  Society. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Klaus  has  a  son, 
Francis  Joseph.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Mar- 
garet T.  Melody. 


SIEGFRIE1 »  WASHINGTON  ZIMMERMAN, 

of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland 
county,  comes  of  a  family  which  for  many  years 
has  been  identified  with  Berks  and  Schuylkill 
counties. 

Sebastian  Zimmerman,  bis  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  whence  when  a  boy  he 
moved  with  his  father,  who,  it  would  appear,  had 
a  farm  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Deep  creek,  where 
Sebastian  was  reared.  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade, 
and  owned  a  loom,  but  he  was  likewise  a  pros- 
perous farmer,  owning  several  farms  in  Upper  Ma- 
hantango  township,  Schuylkill  county.  The  one 
there  on  which  he  lived  was  formerly  owned  by 
Benjamin  Peifer  and  is  now-  owned  by  a  Ilepler; 
another  was  owned  by  Jacob  and  Abraham  Blas- 
ser,  of  Hemdon,  until  1907.  Removing  to  Cam- 
eron township,  Northumberland  county,  he  lived 
there  some  years,  moving  to  the  Mahantango  val- 
ley, where  he  farmed  until  his  death,  lie  was 
a  foremost  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation 
"i  Salem  Church,  known  as  Herb  Church,  located 
near  Bough  and  Ready,  -crying  as  elder  and  trus- 
tee, and  he  and  bis  wife  are  buried  at  that  church. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  was  a  soldier,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  pensioners  of  that  war.  Sebastian 
Zimmerman  married  Elizabeth  Klock,  daughter  of 
Peter  Klock,  and  they  had  children  as  follows: 
Joseph,  a  farmer,  who  settled  at  Bed  Bank,  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Pa.,  was  twice  married  and  had  chil- 
dren:  Elizabeth  married  a  Bliss;  Catharine  mar- 
ried George  C.  Peifer:  Salome  married  Mr.  Kline, 
and  they  moved  to  Jefferson  county:  Lydia  mar- 
ried a  Snyder:  Sebastian,  born  in' IS?!),  lives  at 
Sunbury.  this  county:  George  is  mentioned  be- 
low; Esther  married  Joel  Daniel. 

George  Zimmerman,  son  of  Sebastian,  was  born 
in  Schuylkill  county,  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
i  rade,  which  he  followed  until  he  entered  the  army. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  drafted  for  nine 
months'  service,  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  term 
enlisted  for  three  years,  from  the  Mahantango  Val- 
ley. He  was  shot  wdiile  on  picket  duty  and  re- 
moved to  the  hospital  on  Long  Island,  where  he 
died  six  weeks  after  being  wounded;  he  is  buried 
on  Long  Island. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Elizabeth  Hart  r, 
daughter  of  Matthias  Harter,  whose  wife's  aa 
was  Eister.  Mrs.  Zimmerman  is  buried  at  Lit- 
tle Mahanoy.  Five  children  were  born  to  them: 
S.  Washington;  Fietta,  who  died  young:  Joel,  of 
Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county;  Jonathan,  of 
Cass  county,  Mi.:  and  Monroe,  of  Snyder  com 
Pennsylvania. 

Siegfried     Washington     Zimmerman,     son     of 

;e,  was  born  Sep),    is.   1855,  in   the  Mahan- 

i  valley,  Schuylkill  county,     lie  received  his 

education  in  the  common  school-  and  when  eigh- 

-  .ear-  old  tools  up  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
as  followi  in  c.     In  1872  lie  hail  ■ 

to     Little    Mahanoy    township,     Northumberland 


828 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


county,  living  at  Dornsife,  in  that  township,  until 
his  marriage.  He  became  boss  carpenter,  and  for 
some  years  was  busy  erecting  houses  and  barns 
in  Shamokin,  Sunbury  and  the  surrounding  dis- 
tricts. Since  April,  1909,  he  has  been  engaged 
as  carpenter  for  the  Trevorton  Coal  Land  Com- 
pany. He  has  prospered  at  his  trade,  and  owns 
real  estate  at  Sunbury,  where  he  built  a  house  in 
1908  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Broad  streets. 
His  large  frame  residence  near  Hunter  Station 
(on  the  Reading  railroad),  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township;  he  erected  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and  has 
occupied  it  ever  since.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  served 
the  township  as  assessor  for  twelve  years,  and  as 
school  director  for  three  years.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  affiliation. 

On  June  7,  1878,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married 
Alice  Peifer,  daughter  of  Elias  Peifer,  and  they 
have  had  two  children,  George  Elmer  and  Harvey 

Clayton.     _<    Elmer  Zimmerman  is  a  lumber 

merchant  at  Shamokin:  he  married  Carrie  Dun- 
kelberger  and  has  one  child,  C.  Myrtle.  Harvey 
Clayton  Zimmerman,  a  student  at  the  institution 
at  New  Berlin.  Pa.,  taught  music  before  taking 
up  his  classical  course.  Mr.  Zimmerman  and  his 
family  are  Lutheran  members  of  Emanuel  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  at  Little  Mahanoy.  of 
which  he  was  deacon  eight  years  and  elder  two 
years.  They  have  also  been  active  in  the  work 
of  the  Sunday  school,  in  which  he  has  been  a 
teacher  from  boyhood,  was  at  one  time  treasurer, 
secretary  for  some  years  and  superintendent  for 
a  number  of  years.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
usefulness  has  carried  him  into  several  fields  of 
general  interest,  in  all  of  which  he  has  done  his 
share  as  a  pood  member  of  society. 

CHARLES  F.  TIF.ICK.  of  the  Monarch  Steam 
Laundry.  Shamokin,  has  established  a  standard 
for  excellence  in  his  line  which  would  make  him 
a  successful  competitor  for  the  patronage  of  any 
community.  The  support  his  enterprise  has  re- 
ci  1  shows  how  well  his  up-to-date  methods  and 
high-class  work  are  appreciated.  Mr.  Reick's  ex- 
perience in  the  matter  of  laundry  equipment  prior 
to  his  entering  the  business  on  his  own  account 
gave  him  a  distinct  advantage  at  the  start,  but 
his  continued  success  should  be  credited  to  his 
own  effort-. 

Mr.  Reick  was  born  at  Trevorton,  Northumber- 
land county,  Sept.  2.  1858,  son  of  George  Reick, 
a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  in  1840.  In  his  native  land  George 
Reick  was  engaged  as  foreman  in  a  silk  mill.  On 
coming  to  Ann  rica  he  landed  at  New  York,  but 
came  on  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  began 
mining,  an  occupation  which  he  continued  to  fol- 
low until  his  death.  In  1S49  he  moved  to.Trev- 
.  making  a  permanent  home  there.  He  died 
Jan.  5,  1869."  His  wife,  Catherine  (Fisher),  died 


at  Williamsport,  Pa.  They  had  the  following 
children :  George,  William,  Dora,  Polly,  Amelia, 
Charles  F..  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  F.  Reick  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Trevorton.  He  was  only  a  boy 
when  he  commenced  work  in  the  mines,  being 
employed  at  the  North  Franklin  and  Red  Ash  col- 
lieries. He  followed  this  work  until  he  was  twen- 
ty years  old,  when  he  went  to  Ashland  with  Wil- 
liam Lauderfield,  with  whom  he  learned  the  car- 
'-  trade.  Going  to  Williamsport,  he  was 
engaged  by  the  Williamsport  Furniture  Company 

one  year,  after  which  he  commenced  carpen- 
tering and  building  on  his  own  account  at  that 
place,  continuing  it  for  some  time.  He  next  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company  as  a  bridge  builder.  Returning  to  Wil- 
liamsport, he  became  foreman  for  A.  A.  Artley, 
a  well  known  contractor,  with  whom  he  was  as- 
sociated for  five  years,  since  when  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  laundry  business.  Entering 
the  service  of  the  Lloyd  Laundry  and  Shirt  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  at  Williamsport,  he  contin- 
ued with  that  concern  for  the  long  period  of  twen- 
ty-two years,  during  which  time  his  work  took 
him  into  twenty-seven  States,  principally  in  the 
i.  For  six  years  he  was  at  Charleston,  S. 
C.  Mr.  Reick's  specialty  was  the  equipment  and 
establishment  of  laundries,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful,  his  judgment  in  the  requirements  of 
such  plants  being  found  most  reliable  by  all  who 
trusted  to  it.  ne  has,  in  all,  fitted  up  twenty-eight 
laundries,  the  success  of  which  has  demonstrated 
the  practical  value  of  his  ideas  in  this  field  of 
industry.  In  1902  he  located  on  his  father-in- 
law's  farm  at  Catawissa,  Pa.,  but  after  three  years 
he  returned  to  his  old  line,  in  1905  settling  in 
Shamokin.  where  he  has  since  run  the  Monarch 
Steam    Laundry,    having    leased    it    from    F.    A. 

eadley  in  April,  1905.  Under  his  management 
the  equipment  of  this  plant  is  naturally  the  most 
convenient  known  to  the  trade.  With  his  wide 
knowledge  of  laundry  machinery  he  was  able  to 
select  the  most  reliable  and  economical  devices  in- 

■  d  for  turning  out  the  finest  grade  of  work, 
with  the  result  that  Shamokin  has  exceptional 
laundry  facilities,  such  as  are  enjoyed  by  few  places 
of  its  size,  and  which  can  be  excelled  nowhere. 
The  Monarch  Steam  Laundry  is  the  best  equipped 
plant  of  its  size  in  the  State,  Mr.  Reick  having 
built  and  fitted  every  part  of  it  himself,  from  the 
dry  room  to  the  laying  of  the  steam  pipes,  the 
setting  of  the  boiler  and  the  installing  of  the 
machinery,  no  expense  having  been  spared  in  any 
tment.  He  had  had  the  task  of  establishing 
it.  two  years  before  he  became  the  lessee,  so  that  he 
knew  exactly  what  he  was  doing  when  it  came 
into  his  hands.  The  equipment  includes  two  250- 
shirt  washers,  an  extractor.  Bishop  starcher,  thirty- 
gallon   starch   kettle,  body  ironer,  neckband   and 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


8-29 


wristband  ironer,  collar  shaper,  economic  collar 
and  cuff  Marcher,  forty-inch  five-roll  Hagan  man- 
gle and  cuff  machine,  Hagan  bosom  ironer  and  a 
100-inch  five-roll  Hagan  mangle  with  a  capacity 
of  ten  thousand  pieces  a  day.  A  Eercules  dry 
room,  built  after  Mr.  Reick's  own  plans,  will  dry 
1,500  collars  or  100  shirts  in  twelve  minutes.  The 
upper  floors  of  the  plant  are  devoted  to  the  clean- 
ing of  woolen  blankets  and  lace  curtains.  Em- 
ployment is  given  to  eleven  people.  The  best 
supplies  are  used  and  the  utmost  care  is  taken  in 
the  handling  of  all  pieces,  with  the  result  that 
the  laundry  enjoys  high  popularity  and  corre- 
sponding prosperity. 

Mr.  Reick  married  Mary  Bude,  daughter  of  Au- 
gustus Bude,  of  Catawissa,  Fa.,  and  they  have 
had  three  children,  Martha,  Edna  and  George. 
Tin'  eldest  daughter,  Martha,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Nolan,  and  has  had  three  children.  William  (de- 
ceased), Herbert  T.  and  Rosie.  Mr.  Reick  and 
his  family  live  upon  his  stock  farm  of  fifty-eight 
acres  at  Paxinos.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

MARTIN  LUTHER  HENDRICKS,  deceased, 
who  until  his  death  had  been  engaged  in  business 
in  Sunbury  from  1880  as  a  wholesale  dealer  in 
wines  and  liquors,  was  also  well  known  as  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  collections 
of  Indian  relics  in  his  section  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  house  in  which  he  lived  has  been  remodeled 
and  improved,  but  it  is  the  oldest  dwelling  in 
Sunbury,  having  been  built  in  1775.  He  was  of 
the  fourth  or  fifth  generation  of  his  family  to 
reside  in  this  region,  his  great-grandfather.  Tobias 
Hendrick,  having  come  to  Snyder  county  from 
York  county,  Pa.,  in  an  early  day,  and  Fort  Hen- 
drick. at  K  reamer.  Snyder  county,  was  named  aft- 
er his  father. 

Samuel  Hendrick,  son  of  Tobias,  was  horn  in 
Penn  township,  Northumberland  (new  Snyder) 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  buried  at  Row's  church,  in  Sny- 
der county,  to  which  he  gave  twenty  acres  of 
ground  with  the  provision  that  "no  Hendrick 
should  be  refused  burial  in  the  cemetery  of  Row's 
Church."  The  transfer  of  the  deed  is  recorded 
in  the  courthouse  at  Sunbury.  Samuel  Hendrick 
was  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  a  large  tract 
which  is  now  divided  into  three  farms,  all  lying 
around  Row's  church.  He  married  Elizabeth  De- 
Wees,  who  long  survived  him,  and  who  upon  her 
second  marriage,  to  George  Boger,  sold  the  home- 
stead (t<>  a  man  named  Look)  and  moved  to  Sun- 
bury. Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Hendrick  had  one 
son,  Benjamin,  the  father  of  Martin  Luther  Hen- 
dricks. 'The  members  of  the  Hendricks  family 
generall;  been  tall  and  of  athletic  build. 

Benjamin  Hendrick-.  son  of  Samuel,  was  ; 
in  Snyder  county  Sept.  25,  1811.  received  a  com- 
mon school   education,  and  learned  the  trade  of 


eigarmaker.  He  was  quite  young  when  he  went 
to  Sunbury.  in  1824,  living  there  in  a  house  which 
stood  near  the  presenf  site  of  the  residence  of 
John  Haas.  His  active  years  were  spent  princi- 
pally at  farming,  merchandising  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  lime,  and  he  prospered,  at  one  time  owm- 
ing  what  is  known  as  the  Hunter  farm,  on  which 
Fort  Augusta  was  located,  and  also  owning  a  good 
plantation  in  Caroline  county,  Va.,  which  he 
bought  after  the  Civil  war.  ,  Alter  his  wife's  death 
he  lived  on  that  property  with  his  son.  dying  there 
in  1883.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Sunbury.  Haz- 
letoii  &  Wilkes-Barre  Railroad  Company  during 
the  construction  of  its  road,  which  is  now  owned 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Company,  retaining  that  con- 
nection until  the  road  came  under  the  new  own- 
ership. 

Benjamin  Hendricks  married  Ann  Maria  Shin- 
del,  who  was  born  in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Peter  Shindel,  and  she  died  Dec.  9, 
1877,  aged  sixty-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hen- 
dricks are  buried  in  Pomfret  Manor  cemetery,  at 
Sunbury.  They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  To  them  were  born  twelve  children,  six 
30ns  and  six  daughters,  viz.:  Samuel  S.  is  deceased  : 
William  M.  is  deceased ;  Jacob  S.  is  a  resident  of 
Virginia:  Elizabeth  D.  married  Hon.  S.  P.  Wol- 
verton,  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Northum- 
berland county;  Martin  Luther  is  mentioned  be- 
low; Susan  Ann  died  at  Allentown,  of  spotted 
fever;  Louisa  married  M.  R.  Hemperly,  a  pho- 
tographer, of  Philadelphia:  Mary  S.  (deceased) 
married  Samuel  Faust,  of  Sunbury:  Catharine  Y. 
died  young;  Isaac  X.  is  a  resident  of  Sunbury; 
John  Peter  S.  is  deceased  :  Ann  Maria  makes  her 
home  with  her  sister  Mrs.  Wolverton. 

Martin  Luther  Hendricks  was  born  June  4, 
1843,  in  Sunbury.  and  there  began  his  education 
in  the  pay  schools  which  were  common  in  his 
boyhood.  Later  he  went  to  what  is  now  Susque- 
hanna University,  at  Selinsgrove,  and  to  Witten- 
berg College,  at  Springfield,  Clark  Co.,  <  ihio,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  institution  in  1872.  Since 
then  he  had  been  a  resident  of  Sunbury,  and  in 
1880  became  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  busi- 
ness, being  the  firsl  dealer  of  the  kind  in  the 
ough.  In  that  year  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  B. 
F.  Bright,  became  associated  under  the  busit 
name  of  B.  F.  Bright,  and  were  in  business  to- 
gether until  Mr.  Brighfs  death,  in  July,  L907, 
after  which  Mf.  Hendricks  carried  on  the  business 
alone  until  bis  death.  He  carried  a  large  and  well 
assorted  -took  of  wines  and  liquors,  and  bad  a 
large  trade,  built  up  by  straight  dealing  and  hon- 
[e  business  methods.  Mr.  Hendrii  ks'  death  oc- 
curred June  21,  L91 1.  at  his  borne  in  Simbury. 

As    pri  ( i  iush;    menti I,    Mr     Hendrick-   was 

the  i —  ne  of  the  largesi  at  col- 

lections of  Indian  relics  possessed  by  any  one  in 
bis  section,  about  twenty   thousand   specimens   in 


830 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


all.  and  his  collections  of  beads,  bracelets  and 
similar  articles  is  the  largest  owned  by  any  one 
person  in  Pennsylvania.  Northumberland  county 
was  the  home  of  Shikellimy,  the  most  famous  In- 
dian chief  of  his  day,  and  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
always  deeply  interested  in  his  story  and  in 
local  history  generally,  especially  of  the  early  days, 
when  the  red  men  were  -till  in  this  section.  In 
1858  he  dug  up  the  remains  of  the  famous  chief. 
who  had  been  interred  above  Fort  Augusta,  the 
public  road  now  passing  over  the  site  of  his  grave: 
he  had  been  given  a  Christian  burial  by  one  of 
the  noted  Moravian  ministers  of  the  day.  When 
Mr.  Hendricks  disinterred  his  body  he  also  found 
many  Indian  relics,  pipes,  beads,  tomahawks,  paint 
and  paint  cups,  bracelets,  a  horse  pistol,  etc.,  all 
of  which  have  been  carefully  preserved. 

nu  Aug.  6,  1878,  Mr.  Hendricks  married  Esther 
Amelia  Bright,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah 
(Weiss)  Bright.  They  had  no  children.  They 
resided  at  Woodlawn  avenue  and  Third  street. 
Sunbury,  in  a  house  which  was  originally  built 
by  George  Sherwood,  from  Philadelphia,  in  1775, 
the  oldest  house  now  standing  in  Sunbury.  It 
is  one  and  a  half  stories  high,  and  built  of  logs, 
which  are  now,  however,  covered  with  weather- 
boards. 

TIMOTHY  NEARY,  proprietor  of  the  '-Penn- 
sylvania House"  at  Gowen  City,  in  Cameron  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  was  born  in  the 
borough  of  Shamokin  July  28,  1853,  and  is  of 
Irish  descent.  His  grandfather,  James  Neary, 
settled  id  New  York  State  upon  his  emigration 
from  Ireland,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

.Tames  Neary,  son  of  James  Neary  and  father 
of  Timothy  Neary,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was 
a  young  man  when  he  came  to  America.  He 
first  lived  in  New  York  State  after  his  arrival  in 
this  country  and  was  there  engaged  at  day  labor. 
Coming  later  to  Shamokin,  Northumberland  Co.. 
Pa.,  he  was  employed  at  the  mines.  He  died 
at  Shamokin.  To  James  Neary  and  his  wife 
Mary  (Kennedy)  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Maria,  Timothy,  .lames,  Bridget,  Eliza  and  John. 

Timothy  Neary  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Shamokin.  When  a  boy  he 
began  work  as  so  many  of  the  youth  of  the  region 
did.  as  slate  picker.  He  was  thus  employed  at 
thi  Locust  Gap  and  Cameron  collieries  for  some 
time,  and  later  tended  door  and  loaded  ears 
_an  cutting  coal.  He  followed  this 
work  for  fifteen  years,  most  of  the  time  employed 
at  the  Cameron  colliery,  and  in  1892  retired  from 
mining.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business.  For  several  years  he  carried  it  on  in 
Shamokin.  in  April,  1902,  buying  his  present 
i  at  Gowen  City  from  Flias  Gonser.  This 
hold  was  built  bv  Peter  Weikel  in  1852,  and  was 


the  first  in  the  district.  The  business  has  been 
enlarged  and  the  service  improved  under  Mr. 
Neary 's  proprietorship,  and  he  has  a  profitable 
patronage,  which  lie  has  gained  and  held  by  his 
accommodating  and  business-like  methods.  He 
is  a  well  known  and  respected  citizen,  and  oc- 
cupies an  honorable  place  among  the  substantial 
residents  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Neary  married  Bridget  Golden,  daughter  of 
James  Golden,  and  to  them  were  horn  two  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Yeagi  r 
and  has  two  children.  Marv  C.  and  Elleanora:  and 
John,  at  home.  Mrs.  Neary  died  Sept.  13,  1896, 
and  is  buried  at  Shamokin.  Socially  Mr.  Neary 
belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Catholic,  a  member  of  St.  Edward's 
Church,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat 

HENRY  J.  DONMAYER,  a  fanner  of  Wash- 
ington township,  Northumberland  county,  was 
born  May  22,  1856,  in  Jordan  township,  son  of 
Davis  and  Catharine   (Geia  |    Donmayer. 

According  to  family  tradition  four  Donmayer 
brothers  came  from  the  Fatherland  and  located 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  one  of  them.  Nicholas, 
locating  across  the  Blue  Mountains  in  the  terri- 
tory which  in  1771  became  part  of  Pine  Grove 
township,  Schuylkill  (then  Berks)  county.  His 
name  on  the  first  assessment  list,  made  in  1772, 
appeals  as  Nicholas  Dornmeier.  From  him  de- 
scended Henry  Donmayer.  the  grandfather  of 
Henry  J.  Dbnmaj'er,  of  Washington  township, 
Northumberland  county. 

Another  of  the  four  brothers,  Peter  "Dorn- 
meyer."  settled  in  Greenwich  township.  Berks 
county.  In  1790  he  had  one  son  under  sixteen 
years  old,  a  wife,  and  three  daughters.  His  occu- 
pation was  farming.  Milton  T.  Donmayer.  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Kutztown, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  descendant  of  Peter  through 
Benjamin  Donmayer  (1799-1864),  who  was  born 
in  Longswamp  township,  Berks  county,  and  died 
in  Union  township,  Lebanon  county.  He  was  a 
farmer  in  Maxatawny  township.  Berks  county, 
until  lst.">.  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Lebanon 
county.  His  wife  Hannah  (Gernant)  bore  him  the 
following  children:  Catharine,  William.  Lewis, 
Maria,  Franklin.  Susan.  Rudolph.  Milton  T. 
(born  in  1848)  and  Isaac  (who  died  young). 
William.  Lewis  and  Franklin  were  soldiers  in  the 
Civil  war.  Lewis  losing  his  life  at  the  battle  of 
Cold   Harbor. 

Eenry  Donmayer.  grandfather  of  Henry  J. 
Donmayer,  lived  in  Wayne  township,  not  far  from 
Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  mill- 
wright and  farmer.  His  descendants  are  still 
found  in  that  section.  He  and  his  wife  Susan 
(Snyder)  had  children  as  follows:  Davis:  Henry 
(  Barry),  who  lived  in  Schuylkill  county:  Susanna, 
who  died  unmarried:  Catharine,  who  died  young; 


NORTHUMBEBLAXD  COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


831 


ami   Mary,  who  married  Edward   Xies  and  lived 

for  a   ti in   Schuylkill  county,  later  coming  to 

Jordan  township.  Northumberland  county. 

Davis  Donmayer  was  horn  in  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  and  died  Sept.  9,  1906,  in  Jordan  township, 
Xorthumberland  county  (aged  eighty  years,  seven 
months,  four  days),  where  lie  is  buried,  at  S"t. 
Paul's  Church,  Urban.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  which  he  served  as  elder 
and  deacon.  In  his  earlier  life  Mr.  Donmayer 
was  a  farm  laborer,  later  becoming  a  boatman 
on  the  old  abandoned  Union  canal  from  Pine  Grove 
to  Middletown,  and  in  time  he  went  into  the 
lime-burning  business  in  .Ionian  township.  In 
1878  he  commenced  farming  in  that  town-hip. 
which  lie  continued  until  his  death.  He  owned 
a  tract  of  thirty-eight  acres.  Mr.  Donmayer  was 
a  Democrat,  and  be  was  a  citizen  who  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men.  serving  as  treas- 
urer and  supervisor  of  his  township.  His  wife. 
Catharine  (Geise),  daughter  of  George  and  Cath- 
arine (Schwartz)  Geise,  died  May  9,  1907,  aged 
■eighty-two  years,  nine  months,  twenty-three  days, 
the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Mary  J., 
Mrs.  William  Heim  :  Daniel,  who  died  in  bis  twen- 
tieth year:  Henry  J.;  George,  Elizabeth  and 
Charles,  who  died  young. 

Henry  J.  Donmayer  obtained  a  common  school 
■education  in  Jordan  township,  and  was  a  boy  of 
only  ten  years  when  he  began  teaming  regularly 
with  his  father,  hauling  coal.  lime  and  doing  all 
kinds  of  draying.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he  began 
farming  in  Jordan  township,  on  a  thirty-six-acre 
tract  upon  which  be  lived  for  eight  years,  and 
in  Ink;  he  eiiuaiMil  in  the  butcher  business,  at 
which  he  continued  for  ten  years.  During  this 
time  he  lived  at  Urban.  In  the  spring  of  1898 
he  moved  to  Gowen  City,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Cameron  township,  where  he  farmed  for  two  years, 
thence  moving  to  Eldred  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  also  farmed  for  two  years.  Mov- 
ing back  to  Jordan  township,  be  was  engaged  in 
farming  there  for  several  years,  until  he  sold  out 
and  moved  to  Lebanon.  Pa.,  at  which  place  he 
worked  in  the  rolling  mills.  In  the  spring  of  1907 
In'  came  to  his  present  home,  the  old  Daniel  home- 
stead in  Washington  township,  which  farm  con- 
sists of  110  acres.  It  was  in  the  Daniel  name 
from  1774  to  1907.  Two  log  houses  stand  on 
this  land,  one  of  which  was  built  in  1800  and  is 
still  used  as  a  dwelling;  the  other  is  not  quite 
so  old.  Mr.  Donmayer  has  modern  agricultural 
implements  and  is  up-to-date  in  all  the  branches 
of  his  work,  using  scientific  methods  wherever  prac- 
ticable and  working  bis  land  intelligently.  He  is 
a  Democrat  and  has  been  active  in  promoting 
the  success  of  bis  party.  While  a  resident  of  Jor- 
dan township  he  filled  the  office  of  school  director 
three    vears.      He    and    his    family    are   Lutheran 


members  of   St.    John's    Church,    which   he   has 
served  as  deacon. 

In  1882  Mr.  Donmayer  married  Susan  J.  Sny- 
der, daughter  of  George  E.  and  Susan  (Earner) 
Snyder,  of  Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  they  have  five  children:  Adam  F.,  Katie  G., 
Charles  O.,  Jerre  E.  and  Harry  R. 

GEORGE  W.  PAUL,  merchant  and  postmaster 
at  Line  Mountain,  in  the  most  easterly  part  of 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  has  been  one  of  the 
most  active  residents  of  that  section  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  has  passed  all  his  life  in  the 
township,  having  been  born  there,  on  the  Paul 
homestead,  Aug.  27,  1853.  He  i-  descended  from 
a  family  which  has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
from  the  early  days,  and  which  is  still  numerously 
represented  there.  The  Federal  Census  Report  of 
1790  showed  thirty-seven  heads  of  families  of  this 
name  in  Pennsylvania  alone,  so  that  it  is  difficult 
for  the  genealogist  to  trace  any  one  line  without  re- 
liable records  in  the  possession  of  the  various 
branches  of  the  family.  The  line  in  which  we 
are  interested  is  traced  from  Valentine  Paul. 

Valentine  (known  as  "Taltv")  Paul,  the  pioneer 
who  settled  in  Xorthumberland  county,  in  that 
district  now  embraced  in  the  territory  of  Upper 
.Mahanoy  township,  located  at  the  source  of  the 
Greenbrier  creek,  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land. 
some  of  which  be  cleared  and  put  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  1805  he  purchased  120  acres  in  Maha- 
noy (now  Upper  Mahanoy)  township  for  550 
pounds  lawful  money  "truly  in  hand  paid"  from 
Philip  and  Magd.  Diehl.  The  same  year  Philip 
and  Magd.  Diehl  and  their  son  Michael  Diehl  ami 
his  wife  Magd.  sold  a  second  tract,  lying  adjacent 
to  the  one  just  mentioned,  to  Valentine  Paul, 
lie  built  a  log  bouse  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of 
Peter  H.  Paul,  ami  it  was  a  very  old  structure 
when  it  was  razed,  in  1879.  Valentine  Paul  was 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  is  buried 
at  Howerters  Church,  but  his  grave  is  not  marked. 
To  him  and  bis  wife  Susanna  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Benjamin,  George,  Michael.  Val- 
entine ami  Daniel.  Of  these.  Michael  is  the  an- 
cestor of  the  branch  of  the  family  to  which  George 
W.  Paul  belongs.     Concerning  the  others,  George 

-mi led  his  father  on  the  homestead,  living  there 

until  bis  removal  in  L856  to  Illinois,  where  his 
ndants  continue  to  reside :  his  children  wen 
Valentine.  Peter,  Jacob,  Hannah  and  Sarah.  Val- 
entine, w  ho  was  a  fanner,  lived  on  mi. a  her  part 
of  In-  lather'-  homestead  :  among  his  children  were 
Michael  (who  moved  West),  Andrew  (who  was 
killed  h\  a  "Yankee"  through  some  trouble  aboirt 
a  land  transaction).  Polly  and  Catharine  (maj 
ried  John  Diehl ).  I  >aniel  lived  in  part  of  his 
brothei-  George's  house  for  a  time,  later  moving 
out  West,  where  he  prospered;  he  married  Hannah 


83"? 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Heim.  and  they  had  one  daughter,  Mary,  who  was 
young  when  her  parents  moved  West.  In  1803, 
when  St.  Jacob's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church 
was  organized.  Michael  and  Benjamin  Paul  were 
among  the  prominent  members. 

Michael  Paul,  son  of  Valentine,  was  born  in 
Upper  Saucon  township.  Northampton  Co.,  Aug. 
13,  1768,  and  was  there  baptized.  In  Northum- 
berland county  he  settled  two  miles  south  of  his 
father's  homestead,  on  a  tract  which  is  now  the 
property  of  David  D.  Paul,  a  grandson,  having  a 
farm  of  135  acres  which  afforded  him  a  good  liv- 
ing. He  died  at  an  advanced  age  and  is  buried 
at  the  Salem  (Herb)  Church,  of  which  lie  and 
his  family  were  members.  His  old  family  Bible, 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  widow  of  Elias  Paul, 
shows  date  and  place  of  his  birth;  that  his  wife 
Elizabeth  Kuntzelman  was  born  Jan.  25,  1TT3  (the 
wife  of  Michael  Paul  is  recorded  elsewhere  as  Eliza- 
beth Geissinger,  born  Jan.  25,  1773,  died  Jan.  17, 
1853;  as  his  son  Michael  apparently  married  a 
Kuntzelman  the  surnames  may  have  become 
mixed),     ami     that     their     children     were    born 

as     follows:     Johannes.     1793;  ,     Dec.     '.'i. 

1791:    ,     Sept.     SO,     1796;    Michael,     Sept. 

21,  1798;  Catharine,  Oct.  27.  1800;  John, 
Jan.  31,  1S03:  Samuel.  Nov.  27,  1805; 
Susanna,  Nov.  20,  1807;  Tobias,  Oct.  2:).  1808. 
(Another  account  gives  the  children  as  Valentine, 
who  remained  on  the  homestead:  Michael:  and 
Lydia,  who  married  Peter  Brown.  Lydia,  wife 
of  Peter  Brown,  was  according  to  tombstone  rec- 
ords born  Sept.  23,  1817,  and  died  March  27, 
1887.)  Among  other  items  in  the  old  Bible  men- 
tioned we  tiud  that  Elias  Paul,  son  of  one  Michael 
Paul,  was  born  Oct.  15,  182-1,  and  died  May  8, 
1906;  his  widow,  Catharine  (Maurer).  was  born 
Feb.  28,  1831. 

Michael  Paul,  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth,  was 
born  Sept.  21,  1798,  on  the  homestead,  and  died 
March  3,  1879.  He  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Church, 
in  Upper  Mahanoy.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  an  all- 
around  skillful  mechanic,  being  able  to  make  shoes 
and  wagons  and  do  tailoring,  in  fact  there  was 
little  in  the  way  of  handicraft  that  he  did  not 
undertake  successfully.  He  was  also  a  prosperous 
farmer,  owning  a  tract  of  100  acres,  on  which  he 
built  the  house  which  still  stands  in  1868.  In 
1866  he  built  a  barn,  but  it  was  destroyed  by  light- 
ning in  1898  and  rebuilt  by  his  son  Peter.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  sup- 
ervisor and  school  director,  and  was  prominent  in 
the  religious  life  of  the  community,  being  a  Luth- 
eran member  of  St.  John's  Church,  which  he 
served  officially  during  the  greater  part  of  his  ma- 
ture life.  His  wife.  Esther  Hornberger,  was  a 
daughter  of  George  Hornberger,  who  is  buried  in 
a  private  burial  ground  in  a  field  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Cameron  township.  (Tombstone  records 
say   Michael  L.  Paul,  born   Sept.   21.  1798,  died 


3,  1879,  aged  eighty  years,  seven  months, 

twelve  days;  wife  Catharine  Kuntzelman,  born 
July  22,  1800,  died  Nov.  2,  1873.  Johannes  Kunt- 
zelman and  1  lis  wife  Margaretha  Reissin  had  a 
daughter  Maria  Catharine,  born  July  22,  1S00.) 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Paul  were  born  chil- 
dren as  follows:  John,  who  died  in  the'  Stone 
hospital.  Washington,  I).  (_'..  while  serving  in  the 
army  during  the  Civil  war:  Catharine,  who  mar- 
ried Elias  Kahler ;  Peter  H. :  Polly,  who  married 
Andrew  Kahler:  George  W :  Daniel  H.,  who  lives 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  (his  post  office  is  Prog- 
ress) ;  and  William,  a  resident  of  Upper  Maha- 
noy township. 

Peter  If.  Paul,  son  of  Michael,  is  a  retired  farm- 
er of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  where  for  many 
years  he  was  well  known  in  public  affairs,  as  well 
as  in  business  life.  He  was  born  Aug.  5,  1818, 
and  began  his  education  in  the  subscription 
school-,  later  attending  the  free  schools  for  two 
terms:  Like  his  father,  he  is  a  mechanical  geni- 
us, being  able  to  work  at  many  trades,  and  thus 
he  has  worked  as  a  carpenter,  blacksmith  and 
wheelwright,  has  made  a  number  of  new  wagons, 
and  has  made  cloth  for  his  own  use,  being  handy 
at  all  sorts  of  mechanical  work,  lie  farmed  for 
some  years,  owning  eighty  acres  of  the  original 
Paul  homestead,  and  he  built  the  present  barn  on 
that  tract  in  1898.  His  undertakings  prospered 
well  under  his  efficient  managemi  at,  and  his  abil- 
ity was  recognized  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who 
elected  him  for  three  terms  as  assessor  and  for  the 
same  period  as  school  director.  In  politics  he  is 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

In  November.  1873,  Mr.  Paul  married  Eliza- 
beth Snyder,  daughter  of  Simon  ami  Leah  (Wet- 
zel) Snyder,  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  .Mary  G.,  now  the  wife  of 
Albert  Gessner  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Leroy 
Allen  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gessner  live  with  her  parents, 
and  he  follow-  farming  and  carpentering.  Mrs. 
Paul  suffers  almost  constantly  from  rheumatism, 
having  been  an  invalid  practically  since  1902J  but 
her  mental  faculties  are  unimpaired,  and  she  bears 
her  infirmity  with  Christian  fortitude.  Mr.  Paul 
and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  St.  John's 
Church. 

George  W.  Paul  first  attended  the  subscription 
school-,  later  receiving  the  benefits  of  the  free 
schools.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  accord- 
ing to  local  custom  worked  for  his  parents  until 
of  age,  in  1S75  beginning  to  farm  on  his  own  ac- 
count, ai  the  homestead.  The  following  spring 
he  settled  at  his  present  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy. 
which  contains  ninety-one  acres.  It  was  at  one 
time  a  Wren  homestead,  but  the  present  set  of 
buildings  was  erected  by  one  Elias  Smith.  It  was 
Wren,  however,  that  established  the  mercantile 
business,  about  1825,  conducting  it  for  many  years, 
ami   he   was  succeeded   by   George   Snyder,  Elias 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PE  X  N  SYLVA  X I A 


833 


Schankweiler,  and  Smith  &  Herner,  in  turn.  For 
some  years  alter  Smith  &  Herner  discontinued 
business  the  store  was  closed,  but  Mr.  Paul  re- 
opened it  alter  moving  to  this  location,  in  L876, 
and  two  years  later  he  succeeded  in  having  the 
posl  office  re-established,  it  having  been  removed 
to  a  place  i  lien  known  as  Maurey's  lintel,  near 
St.  Jacob's  Church.  The  store  ami  post  office  are 
the  most  easterly  in  the  township.  Mr.  Paul  owns 
another  farm  besides  his  home  place,  a  tract  of 
160  acres  formerly  known  as  the  Daniel  Howerter 
place,  also  in  the  eastern  end  of  the  township. 
Mr.  Paul  lias  been  intrusted  with  various  public 
responsibilities,  was  assessor  of  the  township  for 
some  years,  ami  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
but  did  iioi  care  to  assume  the  duties  of  that  po- 
sition, tin  political  questions  he  is  a  Democrat. 
In  181  I  Mi-.  Paul  married  Amelia  Haas,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  (Knorr)  Haas,  and 
tiny  have  bad  a  family  of  four  children:  Sophron- 
ia,  wile  of  Herbert  C.  Knerr,  living  in  Shamokin, 
Pa.;   Francis  M.,  who  married    Katie  Kehler  and 

lives  in  Shamokin;  0 ge  Y..  and  Mabel  ('.    Mr. 

Paul  and  his  family  worship  at  St.  Jacob's  Union 
Church,  and  he  has  been  one  of  its  useful  members, 
having  served  eight  years  as  deacon,  and  being 
present  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  -of- 
fice he  has  filled  continuously  since  1894. 

WILLIAM  ('.  BOYEE,  who  has  an  up-to-date 
meat  market  and  grocery  in  the  borough  of  Sun- 
bury,  is  one  of  the  younger  business  men  of  that 
place  whose  energy  ami  progressiveness  have  been 
marked  fa.  tors  in  the  bringing  aboul  of  present 
conditions  in  its  commercial  life.  He  has  been  a 
resilient  of  Sunbury  since  1900.  Mr.  Boyer  was 
born  in  Montour  county,  Pa.,  Nov.  13,  1876,  and  is 
a  member  of  an  old  family  of  that  region  whose 
founder  there.  Henry  Lover,  moved  from  Berks 
county,  (his  Sfad'.  lie  followed  farming  until  his 
death',  and  is  buried  at  the  Follmer  Church.  He 
and  bis  wife  Catharine  bad  children  as  follows: 
Jacob,  Ilenrv,  Christopher,  Susan,  Benjamin, 
Phebe  (Mrs.  Thomas  Bieber),  Leah  (Mrs.  George 
Bieber)  and  Maria  (  Mr-.  Henry  Roul). 

Benjamin  Boyer,  son  of  Henry,  lived  in  Mon- 
tour county,  had  a  .-mall  farm,  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  the  manufacture  of  brick,  lie  died 
Oct,  20,  1889,  aged  seventy-six  years,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Follmer  Church.  To  him  and  Ins  wile  Man 
(Miller),  daughter  of  Samuel  Miller,  were  born 
these  children:  Samuel  M.  lives  at  Pottsgrove, 
Pa.,  where  he  i-  serving  as  postmaster;  George 
Francis  livi  -  in  Michigan;  Catharine  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Zacharias  M.  lives  at  Milton.  Pa.;  Charles 
p.  fives  on  the  homestead  near  Pottsgrove;  I  ■ 
Grant  lives  at  Clarkstown,  Pennsylvania. 

Zacharias  M.  Lover,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  bom 
Mav  <i.  1851,  on  the  homestead  in  Montour  county. 
Pa.'  lie  wa-  reared  upon  the  farm  and  also  worked 
53 


in  Ins  father's  brickyard.  In  1878  he  moved  to 
Milton,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  still 
makes  his  home,  and  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in 
the  teaming  business.  He  is  an  industrious  and 
thrifty  man,  and  is  regarded  by  all  who  know  him 
as  an  excellent  citizen.  <  In  Lee  30,  1875,  Mr. 
Lover  married  Emma  Lattimere,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert and  Juliann  (Gross)  Lattimere,  anil  they  have 
the  following  children:  William  ('.  is  mentioned 
below;  Celia  married  Myron  Fowler;  Myrtle  mar- 
ried Joseph  Boyer;  Mary;  Catharine;  Bertha; 
Robert. 

William  C.  Boyer  obtained  bis  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Chillisquaque  township.  North- 
umberland county.  He  was  employed  at  farm 
work  until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen,  after 
which  be  worked  in  the  Godcharles  iron  works  at 
Milton  for  about  eight  years.  On  dan.  7.  I:'1"'. 
he  arrived  in  Sunbury,  where  he  completed  an  ap- 
prenticeship as  butcher,  in  1904  engaging  in  the 
butcher  business  on  his  own  account,  at  his  pres- 
ent location,  Xo.  330  Line  street,  corner  of  Cat- 
awissa  avenue.  In  1906  he  added  a  line  of  gro- 
eeries,  and  be  has  since  continued  both  branches 
of  the  business,  having  built  up  a  large  trade,  one 
of  the  most  extensive  enjoyed  by  any  tradesman  in 
the  city.  He  employs  three  men  steadily.  Mr. 
Lover  carries  a  very  complete  and  desirable  stock 
of  groceries,  both  staple-  and  fancy  lines,  and  his 
meat  market  has  the  highes!  reputation.  His 
prosperity  is  well  deserved,  for  he  ha-  worked  bard 
to  attain  bis  standing,  and  is  much  respected  in 
business  circles  as  well   as  among  bis  patrons. 

(>n  dune  23,  1905,  Mr.  Boyer  married  Mary 
Amelia  Martz,  daughter  of  William  .1.  and  Louisa 
(Lenig)  Man/.,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  have  four 
children:  Mildred  P.,  Charles  W..  Geraldine 
and  Rachel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lover  are  members  of 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church  at  Sunbury.  Fraternally 
be  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Modem 
W Imen  and  the  P.  6.  S.  of  A.,  all  at  Sunbury. 

EMANUEL  WILSON  KEESTETTER,  pro- 
prietor of  a  thriving  general  store  at  No.  010  West 
Line  street,  Shamokin.  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county  but  a  member  of  an  old  Northumberland 
county  family.  He  is  a  descendant  in  the  fifth 
generation  from  George  Kerstetter,  the  founder  of 
the  family  here. 

George  Eerstetter  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany  ami  settled  near  Shamokin,  in  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  o\\  aed   25 ires  of 

valuable  land  ai  what   is  now   Ferndale,  b  hen 
died.    The  old  Nelson  and  La-i  Chance  collieries 
were   located   upon    this   tract,   which   at    one    time 
, ,,    valued  al  six  million  dollars. 

John  Kerstetter.  -on  of  George,  wa-  born  at  what 
is  now  Ferndale,  near  Shamokin,  and  died  in  Cam- 
eron township,  this  county.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
l,v  trade.     His  children  were  :     Simon  ;  John   F. ; 


831 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Adaii).  living  in  Coal  township;  Abraham,  living 
in  Cameron  township;  Susan,  who  married  George 
Latsha;  Kittie,  who  married  Elias  Derk;  Salena, 
who  married  Jacob  Weikel;  Eliza,,  who  married 
Daniel  Kobel. 

John  F.  Kerstetter,  son  of  John,  was  born  Oct. 
30,  1817,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland  county,  and  died  April  29,  1875,  in 
Cameron  township,  where  he  is  buried,  at  St. 
Peter's  Lutheran  church.  He  followed  the  stone- 
mason's trade  in  the  Mahantango  Valley  and  owned 
a  farm  of  seventy-six  acres  in  Cameron  township. 
His  wife,  Abbie  (Kramer),  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Lydia  (Weary)  Kramer,  died  in  December, 
1905,  aged  eighty-two  years.  They  had  a  large 
family,  viz.:  Elizabeth  married  Alfred  Schro 
Hettie  married  Samuel  Croffert;  Joel  is  mentioned 
below;  Seth  lives  near  Gosstown;  Nathaniel  lives 
at  Mount  Carmel;  Helena  married  Jonathan 
Long;  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1  \  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Camer- 
on township :  Levi  is,  born  Aug.  20,  L854,  a  resident 
of  Shamokin,  married  Mar;  A.  Stahl,  and  their 
children  are  Laura  Ella,  Daniel  II..  Oswald  W.  and 
Lewi-  Oliver;  Andrew  is  deceased;  James  is  de- 
ci  ed;  Jacob  lives  at  Shamokin:  Joseph  lives  on 
tlie  old  liomestead  in  Cameron  township;  Susan 
married  James  Latsha.  of  Mount  Carmel;  Cath- 
arine married  Amos  Rhoads  and  they  are  living  in 
r     West. 

Joel    Kerstetter,   son   of  John   F.,  was  horn  in 
L848  in  Northumberland  county,  and  has  followed 
farming  all  his  life,  now  living  in   Upper   M 
mi)    township,  where  he  own-   a    farm  of  ninety 
He  is  a  prosperous  and  respi  cted  i  itizen 
of  his  community.     He  married    Hattie   Dunkel- 
berger,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Fedi 
Dunkelberger,  and  they  have  had  seven  chiL 
aamely:     Emanuel  W.,  Amelia.  William.  Jat 
Mary,  Cart  ie  and  Ida. 

Emanuel  Wilson  Kerstetter  was  born  Sept.  10, 
1869,  at  Klingerstown,  Schuylkill  Co.,  l'a..  and 
received  Ins  education  in  the  s<  ho  >ls  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township  and  at  the  Grat:  Academy,  in 
Dauphin  county,  lie  had  good  advantages,  and 
alter  Ie;e.  1 1  a  si  hool  as  a  pupil  taught  for  seven 
years  in  all.  being  tints  engager!  in  Upper  Maha- 
noy township,  this  county,  and  in  Eldred  township, 
ivlkill  county.  Coming  to  Shamokin  in  1894, 
lie  found  employment  with  X.  C.  Wolverton,  as 
clerk,  remaining  with  him  about  four  years,  since 
which  time  he  lias  been  engaged  in  business  on  his 
own  account.  He  has  a  fine  store  at  No.  619  West 
Fine  street,  and  carries  a  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise which  meets  the  local  demand.  He  has 
good  judgment  in  buying  and  anticipates  the  wants 
of  his  customers,  whom  he  holds  by  satisfactory 
goods  and  prompt  service.  His  store  is  well  patron- 
ized and  has  a  steadily  growing  trade.  Mr.  Ker- 
stetter is  regarded  as  one  of  the  progressing  busi- 


ness men  of  the  borough.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest 
in  all  projects  which  have  for  their  object  the 
welfare  of  the  community,  the  promotion  of  trade 
activities  and  the  encouragement  of  up-to-date  pub- 
lie  institutions. 

On  Dec.  25,  1891,  Mr.  Kerstetter  married  Alice 
Schreffler,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Malinda  (  Daniel ) 
Sehreffler,  and  sis  children  have  been  born  to  them  : 
Maliel.  Charles.  Hattie,  Luther.  Leona  and  Irene. 
Mr.  Kerstetter  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  Sunday  school,  and  socially  he  unites  with  the 
P.  0.  S.  of  A. 

LEONAED  KERSTETTER  was  an  early  set- 
tler in  the  western  part  of  Cameron  township, 
Northumberland  county.  He  owned  a  tract  of  for- 
ty-four acres  on  which  he  farmed,  erected  a  bouse 
and  barn  on  this  place,  and  died  aged  about  eighty 
lie  is  buried  in  Cameron  township.  In 
L778  the  mime-  of  Leonard  and  Martin  Kerstetter 
ar  among  the  pioneers  of  Mahanoy  township, 
but  in  the  first  assessment  of  Cameron  township,  in 
L81  I.  Leonard's  name  appears  among  the  taxables. 
Hi-  name  appears  in  1803  among  the  organizers  of 
Si.  Jacoh's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  in 
i  i  Mahanoy  township.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Gerhard,  ami  she  is  buried  by  his  side. 
They  bad  a  large  family,  namely:  Leonard.  Phil- 
ip, John,  George,  Daniel,  Michael,  Susan  (married 
Peter  Weigel),  Hannah  (married  John  Reichard), 
Mary  Elizabeth  (married  Michael  Derk  and  died  in 
May,  1898,  aged  one  hundred  years,  three  months, 
eighteen  days,  at  the  hoi,,-  ,,i  tier  nephew,  Simon 
Peter  Kerstetter,  in  West  Cameron  township;  -he 
is  buried  at  St.   Peter's  church  in  that  township). 

Leonard  Kerstetter,  son  of  Leonard,  was  a  farm- 
er in  tlte  wi  stern  part  of  Cameron  township,  where 
lie  and  his  wife.  Barbara  i  Heller),  are  buried. 
They  had  live  children:  John,  who  died  young; 
Simon  Peter;  Isaac;  Catharine,  wdio  married  Dan- 
iel Kraemer;  Salome,  who  married  Solomon  Gott- 
shall. 

Philip  Kerstetter,  son  of  Leonard,  lived  at  Trev- 
orton.  He  was  a  Pat  mer  for  some  years,  in  hi-  later 
life  hauling  coal.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by 
his  fit -i  wile  had  two  children.  Robert  and  Adam. 
To  his  second  marriage,  with  Catharine  Eisenhart, 
were  born  three  children:  Felix.  Mary  and  Cath- 
arine. 

John  Kerstetter,  son  of  Leonard,  was  a  farmer 
in  Cameron  township.  His  children  were:  John, 
Abraham,  Adam.  Salome  and  Elizabeth. 

George  Kerstetter,  -on  of  Leonard,  was  a  farm- 
er and  landowner  of  Cameron  township,  and  is 
buried  there.  His  wife  was  a  Derek,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:     Daniel,  George  and  Levi. 

Daniel  Kerstetter,  son  of  Leonard,  lives  in  the 
eastern   part  of   Cameron   township,  near   Gowen 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


s:;:, 


City.  He  engaged  in  work  around  the  coal  mines. 
He  married  Lusenna  Wan,  and  aiming  their  chil- 
dren are  Alexander  and  Joseph. 

Michael  Kerstetter,  sun  of  Leonard,  lived  in 
Bear  Valley,  two  miles  from  Shamokin,  where  he 
did  work  about  the  coal  mines.  He  married  a 
Martz.  and  they  had  a  large  family.  Their  son 
William  is  out  West.    Charles  was  another  son. 

Simon  Peter  Kerstetter,  son  of  Leonard  ami 
grandson  of  Leonard,  was  horn  June  :!.  1840,  and 
spent  most  of  hi-  life  in  Cameron  township,  work- 
ing in  tin'  mill  mines.  Ho  now,  however,  lives  in 
Little  Mahanoy.  On  April  15,  1866,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Bingaman,  ami  of  their  tour  children 
three  an-  deceased,  the  survivor,  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin Kerstetter,  being  a  farmer  in  Little  Mahanoy 
tuu  aship,  where  he  ow  us  the  original  John  Dunkel- 
berger  homestead,  lie  married  R.  Agnes  Long, 
and  their  children  are:  Elizabeth,  Lloyd,  George, 
Francis  ami  Theresa. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  FRANCIS,  proprietor  of 

the  ••Central  House"  at  Trevorton,  is  one  of  the 
progressive  business  men  of  that  town  and  is  re- 
garded  as  one  of  its  reliable  citizens.  lie  was  born 
July  \'K  1874,  at  Excelsior,  this  county,  son  of 
John  Paul  Francis,  who  is  now  living  retired  at 
Trevorton. 

Matthew  Francis,  his  grandfather,  was  horn  in 
1808  in  Cornwall,  England,  where  he  followed  ore 
mining.  Coming  to  America  in  1840,  he  settled 
at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  ('<>..  Pa.,  where  he  followed 
mining  until  hi-  death  a  few  years  later,  in  1847. 
His  wile  Sara1:  |  Paul  ).  had  come  to  America  with 
their  children  in  the  fall  of  1842,  her  husband 
meeting  them  at  New  York  City.  She  survived 
Mr.  Francis  over  forty  years,  dying  Nov.  29,  1891, 
aged  eighty-three  war-,  six  months,  fourteen  days. 
The  children  were:  Matthew,  who  died  in  Iowa: 
John  Paul;  Joseph,  who  died  in  Philadelphia: 
Sarah,  u  idov  of  I  lharles  Webb,  now  living  at  Shen- 
andoah. Schuylkill  county;  Jane,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Botham,  of  Newcastle,  Pa.;  Mary,  widow  of 
James  Clifford,  living  at  Allentown,  Pa.:  and 
William  Henry,  a  resident  of  Trevorton. 

John  Paul  'Francis,  son  of  Matthew,  was  bom 
Feb.  26,  1S36.  in  Cornwall.  England,  and  was  six 
vear-  old  when  his  mother  broughl  him  to  Amer- 
ica. At  the  early  age  of  eight  he  began  picking 
slate  at  the  breaker,  ami  in  time  became  a  miner, 
which  occupation  lie  followed  tor  about  forty  .war-, 
becoming  foreman,  in  which  capacity  he  served  at 
the  Glendower  colliery,  near  Minersville,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  ami  at  the  Enterprise  colliery,  oper- 
ated by  Thomas  Baumgardner  &  Co.  Having  set- 
tled in  the  Mahanoy  Valley,  in  Cameron  township, 
Northumberland  county,  he  followed  farming  for 
thirty-four  vears  before  his  retirement  from  active 
labor  In  1909  he  removed  to  Trevorton.  where  he 
has  since  led  a  retired  life.    Mr.  Francis  has  long 


been  an  ardent  Republican  in  politics,  and  served 
a-  committeeman  of  his  party  in  Cameron  town- 
ship, where  he  was  also  elected  to  the  school  board. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  has 
always  taken  an  interest  in  everything  affecting 
the  public  good.  During  the  Civil  war  lie  enlisted, 
in  April,  1861,  in  Company  B,  14th  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  three  months  as  a  private,  I  icing  discharged 
at   Carlisle.  Pa.,  in  August. 

Mr.  Francis  first  married  Eliza  Jane  Craze, 
daughter  of  William  Craze,  of  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  and  she  died  in  1888,  the  mother  of  seven 
children,  namely:  Thomas  M..  born  April  18, 
1864,  iked  March  22,  L866;  Jemima,  bora  Oct.  1. 
L865,  married  Benjamin  Machmer,  of  Trevorton; 
John  II.,  born  July  4,  1867.  died  Sept.  19,  1890; 
Emma  Jane,  born  July  7,  1869,  died  Feb.  6,  is:  1  ; 
Joseph  F.,  bom  July  6.  1871,  married  Ada  Kline, 
daughter  of  Joseph,  and  they  have  one  child,  Paul 
A.  (they  live  at  Trevorton)  :  William  Henry  was 
bom  July  19,  1874;  Eliza  If.,  born  Dec.  16,  1876, 
died  in  July,  is;;.  For  his  second  wife  .Mr.  Fran- 
cis married  Mary  Margaret  Holzapfel,  daughter  of 
Philip  M.  ami  Anna  M.  (Ernst)  Holzapfel,  na- 
tives of  Germany  who  came  to  America  ami  settled 
in  Cameron  township,  Northumberland  Co..  Pa., 
where  they  lived  and  died.  Mr.  ami  Mr-.  Francis 
have  had  children  as  follows:  Benjamin  11..  horn 
(let.  is.  L  888,  died  Aug.  11, 1903 ;  Stanley  E.,bora 
(id.  23,  1890,  ami  Wilfred  1'..  horn  Dec.  30,  1892, 
are  at  home;  Carrie  C.  bora  Sept.  9,  1896,  died 
Aug.  1.  1907  ;  Elva  I'...  horn  Aug.  17,  L899,  is  in 
school. 

William  Henry  Francis,  son  of  John  Paul  Fran- 
cis by  his  first  marriage,  went  with  his  parents  to 
the  Mahanoy  Valley  when  a  boy  ami  there  grew  up, 
attending  the  local  public  school-  in  his  earlier 
years,  ami  in  time  commencing  work  at  tin'  mines. 
He  was  thus  engaged  lor  about  fifteen  years,  at 
the  North  Franklin  colliery.  For  a  short  time  fol- 
lowing he  had  a  grocery  business  at  Trevorton, 
in  June.  1907,  buying  out  the  interest  oi  1>.  X. 
Berkheiser  in  the  "Central  Hotel,"  which  he  has 
since  conducted.  II  is  a  well  known  hotel  stand, 
ami  Mr.  Francis  has  shown  considerable  business 
ability  in  the  manner  in  which  he  ha-  carried  it 
on.  He  is  ambitious  ami  a  good  manager,  and  has 
every  prospect  of  (akin--  a  permanent  place  an 
the  substantia]  business  men  of  the  town.  He  has 
served  four  years  as  auditor  of  Zerbe  township,  and 
ha-  been  quite  active  in  local  political  circle-  as  a 
worker  in  the  Republican  pai  own- 

ship  committeeman  for  lour  term-. 

In  1898  M  r.  Francis  married  Sarah  inn  Reed, 
youngesi  daughter  of  Emanuel  Reed,  of  Tn  vorton, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Franklin  Reed  Fran 


Peter  Reed,  Mrs.  Francis's  paternal  grandfatl 
wa-  born  m  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  ami  when  only 


836 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


a  young  man  he  was  killed  while  blasting 
rock,  on  the  Broad  Mountain  township  road,  in 
Schuylkill  county.  His  wife  was  Madalena  Kauf- 
man, and  their  children  were:  Henry,  who  is  de- 
eeased;  Emanuel;  Samuel,  who  was  killed  while 
serving  in  the  army,  in  1864;  and  Peter,  deceased. 
Emanuel  Reed,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  July  5, 
1840,  in  Lykens  Valley,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was 
twelve  years  old  when  he  came  to  Trevorton.  He 
began  work  as  a  slate  picker  and  followed  mining 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixty-three  year-,  since 
when  he  has  lived  retired.  In  1864  Mr.  Reed  en- 
tered the  Union  service,  enlisting  in  Company  1!. 
184th  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and 
saw  service  at  Cold  Earbor,  the  Wilderness.  Peters- 
burg, Deep  Bottom,  Ream's  Station  and  Hatcher's 
Pun.  remaining  in  the  army  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  married  Sarah  Holshue,  daughter  of 
George  Ilolslme,  and  they  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Alice  married  Richard  Phillips,  of  Sha- 
mokin;  Elizabeth  J.  married  Joseph  Heim,  of 
Trevorton;  Helen  J.,  twin  of  Elizabeth  J.,  mar- 
ried Wilson  Kline,  of  Trevorton  :  Emma  married 
Jacob  Snyder,  of  Trevorton;  Mazzie  married  Dan- 
iel Peitz.  of  Shamokin  Dam.  Snyder  county:  Sar- 
ah Ann  married  William  Henry  Francis;  Peter, 
Stephen,  William  and  Emanuel,  Jr.,  are  residents 
of  Trevorton. 

HUBERT  E.  SNYDER,  farmer  and  dairyman 
of  Rockefeller  township^  Northumberland  county, 
was  born  June  is.  1869,  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  region 
settled  before  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Casper  Snyder,  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in 
Northumberland  county,  came  from  Germany  and 
settled  here  before  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  large 
land  owner,  having  nearly  one  thousand  acres,  in- 
cluding what  is  now  a  part  of  tin  I'pdegrove  farm, 
the  Thomas,  Peter  and  Adam  Snyder  farms,  the 
tract  now  owned  by  Dennis  It.  and  Newton  W. 
Snyder,  his  great-grandsons,  etc.  He  was  a  farm- 
er and  tavern-keeper,  his  tavern  being  located  on 
the  'dd  Harrisburg  and  Sunbury  road,  where  his 

!''  ter  -i led  him  :  in  1  798  he  built  the  old 

brick  tavern  known  as  "Blue  Ball  Tavern."  He 
and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Farst,  are  buried  in  the 
River  cemetery  at  Fisher's  Ferry,  and  according 
to  the  records  there  he  was  horn  May  "?.  1745,  and 
died  Sept.  3,  L821.  "Elizabeth,"  wife  of  Casper 
Snyder,  born  Feb.  5,  1754,  died  Aug.  12,  1823. 
Thev  had  the  following  children:  (1)  John,  born 
Nov.  29,  1776,  died  April  29,  1851.  (2)  Polly. 
born  June  '.'I.  L782,  din!  March  7,  1856,  married 
a  Mr.  Updegraph  and  hail  three  sons  and  one 
daughter,  Isaac,  Thomas.  Adam  and  Sarah.  Of 
these,  Adam  went  to  look  after  the  vast  fortune 
due  the  Snyders  as  heirs  of  the  brother  (of  Eliza- 
beth) Farst  in  Holland,  but  the  connection  was 
lost  and  he  had  no  proofs  to  establish  the  claim. 


(3)  Peter,  born  April  '.'1.  1783,  died  Feb.  1'.'.  1866. 

(4)  Sarah  (Sally)  married  John  Hendershot 
(1790-1851),  and' died  Fell.  23,  1863,  aged  sev- 
enty-two years,  three  months,  one  day.  They  had 
six  daughters  and  two  sons,  Eliza  (Mrs.  David 
Shipman),  Harriet  (who  married  Sylvanus  Ship- 
man,  brother  of  David),  Lydia  (Mrs.  Christian 
Fisher),  Jane  (Mrs.  John  .lone-).  Rebecca  (Mrs. 
Sylvanus  Shipman).  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Chambers 
Wynn),  Isaac  and  Hiram.  ( •">  i  George,  horn  Sept. 
3,  1785,  died  Feb.  9,  1812.  (6)  Casper  lived  near 
Sunbury,  in  Upper  Augusta  township.  He  had 
sons  Thomas  and  Simon,  and  daughter  Cath- 
arine (who  married  John  Cooper :  we  havi  record 
of  one  daughter,  Maw  Cooper).  (7)  Catharine 
married  William  Silverwood  and  had  sons,  .lames. 
William  and  Hiram,  and  daughters  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  John  McPresson),  Sarah  (Mrs.  John 
Climer),  Harriet  (who  married  Samuel  Cou.1- 
ctren)  and  Susannah  (who  married  in  the  West). 

John  Snyder,  son  of  Casper,  was  born  in  Lower 

Augusta  township  Nov.  29,  L776,  and  there  i le 

In-  home,  owning  the  farm  which  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Martha  Cass.  His  holdings  were  very 
large,  his  property  having  been  divided  into  eight 
farms,  seven  of  which  he  gave  to  his  children.  He 
owned  and  operated  a  distillery,  cider  press  and 
sawmill  and  kept  several  teams  busy  transporting 
-  for  him  between  here  and  Philadelphia, 
which  was  the  market  center  lor  main  and  provi- 
sions. A  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  his 
day.  he  served  twenty-five  years  as  justii 
peace  and  held  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  State 
militia,  standing  at  the  head  of  the  militia  in  his 
district  for  some  years.  He  died  April  29,  1851. 
Hi-  wile.  Maria  Margaret  (Fisher),  known  as 
"Peggy"  (only  sister  of  Christian  Fisher),  is  bur- 
ied in  the  Presbyterian  cemetery.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  George,  Thomas.  Elizabeth 
(called  Betsy,  married  John  Wynn).  Peter  J., 
John.  Adam  (born  April  :>.  1814,  died  Dec.  15, 
L895;  Ins  wife  Martha  died  Sept.  30,  1860,  aged 
forty-sis  years,  Eve  months,  ten  day-)  and  Sally 
n  Jan.  lo.  L809,  married  John  Ebright,  and 
died  July  23,  1850).  Of  tie-  -  Gi  rge,  born 
Sept.  2,  1801,  died  Feb.  2,  1866.  He  was  "the  pro- 
genitor of  another  branch  of  the  family  fully  men- 
tioned in  this  work. 

John  Snyder,  -on  of  John  and  Maria  Margaret 
i  Fisher)  Snyder,  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  fol- 
lowing that  business  all  over  the  State.  It 
did  farming,  owning  a  small  farm  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township.  A  man  of  active  mind,  he  took 
an  interest  in  matter-  of  general  interest,  held  the 
rank  of  captain  in  the  State  militia,  and  at  the 
time  ot  his  death  was  serving  as  overseer  of  the 
poor.  He  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  political  con- 
viction.  He  died  March  25,  1877,  aged  sixty-nine 
years,  eleven  months,  eleven  days,  anil  his  wife, 
Martha    (Norvinger),   born    Dec.    23,   1808,   died 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


837 


Jan.  31,  1862.  They  arc  buried  at  the  Mountain 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs.  Snyder  was  a  Metho- 
dist in  religious  connection.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eleven  children,  viz.:  William:  Matthew; 
Margaret.  Mrs.  Peter  Shipman;  Levi;  Maria, 
Mrs.  John  Shipman;  John  X.:  Henry  C;  Susan, 
Mrs.  David  DeWitt;  Jemima,  who  died  unmar- 
ried: Stephen  P..  a  railroad  engineer;  and  Lydia, 
Mrs.  Charles  B.  Smith.  John  N.  is  the  only  sur- 
viving sun.  and  three  of  the  daughters  are  living: 
Margaret,  Susan  and  Lydia. 

John  N.  Snyder,  born  March  5,  1838,  on  the 
Snyder  homestead  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
followed  milling  in  that  township  until  his  health 
failed  in  1876,  when  he  moved  to  Rockefeller  town- 
ship. There  lie  owns  a  farm  of  1  15  acres  in  Brush 
Valley,  winch  formerly  belonged  to  Maj.  Samuel 
Pant/,  who  built  the  large  frame  residence  now 
standing  on  the  property.  Here  Mr.  Snyder 
farmed  and  followed  dairying  until  the  fall  of 
1908,  and  he  has  been  succeeded  by  his  son  Hubert 
E.  In  the  spring  of  L909  he  retired  and  moved 
to  Sunbury,  where  he  resides  at  No.  108  South 
Tenth  sheet,  lie  was  made  a  Mason  in  1871  in 
Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  194,  F.  &  A.  M..  and  in 
pins  was  transferred  to  Lodge  No.  22,  of  Sunbury. 
Mr.  Snyder  served  with  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war  under  two  enlistments,  the  first  for 
nine  months,  during  which  he  was  a  member  oi 
Company  C,  L36fb  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  el'  which  he  was  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer.  Upon  the  expiration  of  that  term 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H.  5th  Pennsylvania  Cav- 
alry, lie  participated  in  the  Antietam  campaign, 
in  the  engagements  at  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  cam- 
paign, the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  the  Hank  move- 
men!  mi  Richmond,  etc  The  morning  of  Lee's 
surrender  he  was  engaged  with  Custer's  forces, 
was  dismounted,  and  after  the  surrender  was  sent 
hack  in  camp  at  Richmond  with  other  dismounted 
and  disabled  troops,  and  there  received  In-  dis- 
charge, by  general  order  of  the  war  department. 
Politically  lie  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  citizen  who 
ha-  always  been  willing  to  do  his  duty  by  the 
community,  though  he  has  taken  no  official  part 
in  the  administration  of  public  affairs. 

In  1868  Mi-.  Snyder  married  Katie  P.  Seiler, 
daughter  of  George  Seder,  of  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship. Their  son-  have  been  born  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  their  daughters  in  Rockefeller  township, 
nameh  :  Hubert  P.:  George  A..  of  Sunbury; 
Claud  IP:  Lizzie  P..  who  married  Addison  C. 
Miller,  a  farmer  ami  dairyman  of  Upper  Augusta 
township,  where  they  reside:  Turie  M.,  unmarried; 
and  Jennie  E..  wife  of  Horace  P.  Nell'. 

Hubert  E.  Snyder  was  reared  upon  the  farm, 
and  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  reached  lus  ma- 
jority In  the  spring  of  1908  he  began  farming 
his  lather--:  farm  in  Rockefeller  township,  which  he 


has  since  conducted  with  great  success,  making  a 
specialty  of  dairying  in  addition  to  general  agri- 
culture. He  wholesales  his  milk  in  Sunbury.  He 
is  an  intelligenl  and  thrifty  farmer,  employing  up- 
to-date  methods  in  his  work  and  proving  himself 
thoroughly  progressive  in  everything  he  under- 
takes. His  standing  m  the  community  is  high, 
and  he  deserves  the  respect  of  his  fellowmen. 

On  Aug.  3,  1908,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Edna 
Stamm,  daughter  of  J.  William  Stamm,  of  North- 
umberland, this  county.  They  have  one  son,  John 
William.  The  family  belong  to  Lantz*s  Reformed 
Church.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

GEIST.    The  Geist  family  has  I n  well  known 

in  the  lower  end  of  Northumberland  county  for 
several  generations.  In  1828  one  John  Geist  was 
a  trustee  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  old 
established  Himmel  Church,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, with  which  the  Geists  have  been  prominently 
identified  down  to  the  present  day.  When  St. 
John's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  was  organized  in  1853  Petei 
Geist  was  one  of  the  first  trustees. 

Christopher  Geist,  a  German  mineralogist,  went 
from  his  native  land  to  England,  and  from  there 
was  sent  to  Schwenkville,  in  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.,  to  manage  or  superintend  a  copper  mine  which 
is  to  this  day  an  old  landmark  of  that  district. 
Ii  i-  believed  that  one  of  the  sons  of  this  emigrant 
located  in  Longswamp  township,  Berks  county.  We 
find  that  one  Christopher  Geist  came  to  America 
in  17  Hi  mi  the  ship  "Lydia";  Pried.  Wilhelm  Geist 
came  on  the  ship  "Ranier"  to  America  in  1749; 
and  Hans  Jacob  Geist  came  on  the  "Brothers"  in 
1754.  It  is  believed  that  the  Geists  now  living  in  the 
Palkner  Swamp  district.  Montgomery  county,  and 
the  Geists  of  Longswamp  township,  Berks  county, 
are  of  the  same  stock:  and  there  were  other  Geists 
in  Chester  county,  one  Matthias  Geist  living  on 
the  west  hank  of  the  Schuylkill  fiver  in  thai  county 
(it  is  thought  he  was  buried  at  a  Me mite  meet- 
inghouse in  that  county):  and  John  II.  Geist,  of 
Sunbury,  is  a  great-grandson  of  Conrad  Geist,  who 
i  ame  from  <  Germany  about  L760  and  located  in 
Perk-  county.  In  1 790  there  lived  in  Lancaster 
count}  the  families  of  George  and  Jacob  Geist,  and 
in  the  same  year  the  families  of  John  and  Matthew 
Geisi  lived  in  Montgomery  county.  In  1790  Con- 
rad Geist,  of  the  borough  of  Reading,  bad  three 
sons  over  sixteen  years  old;  two  daughters;  and 
wife.  The  -ame  year  theri  i  rei  ord  of  Geot  ■ 
Geist,  of  Longswamp  township,  Perl,-  county,  ■ 

-on  under  sixteen    j  age,  one  - 

and  wife:  and  of  Valentine  Geist,  of  Longswa 
township,  with  one  -on  under  sixteen,  two  dan 
tors,  and   u  ife. 

An  Andrew  Geist  died  early  in  January,  L850, 
in    Upper    Mahanoy    township,    Northumberland 


838 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


county;  his  executors  were  Andrew  Geist  and  Jo- 
seph Feger.  Another  Andrew  Geist  died  in  July, 
1860;  his  executor  was  Solomon  Schonkweiler. 

Andrew  Geist,  grandfather  of  Wilson  H.  Geist, 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  was  born  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  Jan.  5,  1801,  son  of  Andrew  Geist.  He 
lived  on  the  farm  there  now  owned  by  his  son 
Andrew,  a  tract  of  11".'  acre?  which  formerly  be- 
longed to  one  Andrew  Snyder,  and  died  there 
Feb.  12,  1878,  his  son  Andrew  succeeding  him  as 
owner  of  the  property.  Earlier  he  had  owned  and 
occupied  a  farm  near  by.  He  and  his  wife  Mary 
Magdalena  (Hepler),  bom  May  4,  1803,  died 
April  5,  1869,  are  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church, 
where  several  generations  of  Geists  have  been  in- 
terred. He  held  several  offices  as  an  active  member 
of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  that  church.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  Elias  located  in  Jeffer- 
son county.  Pa.;  Sarah  married  Daniel  Seiler; 
Emanuel,  born  in  1828,  died  in  1844;  Daniel  H. 
is  mentioned  below;  Lydia.  born  in  1834,  died  in 
1836:  Andrew  is  mentioned  below;  John,  now 
(1910)  sixty-five  years  old,  has  been  an  invalid 
all  his  life,  having  never  been  able  to  walk,  and  he 
now  lives  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felix  D.  Mattern  (the 
latter  being  his  aiece),  who  care  for  him  tenderly, 
he  being  entirely  helpless  (he  has  a  life  interest  in 
the  farm  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mattern)  :  Mary  is  de- 
1 1  ased. 

Daniel  H.  Geist,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  May 
31.  1832,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  was  a 
ong  farmer.    He  lived  three  qua  a  mile 

west  of  Leek  Kill,  on  a  sixty-five-acre  tract  of  val- 
uable land  now  owned  by  his  son  Wilson  H.  Geist, 
and  built  the  present  barn  there  about  1875,  put- 
ting up  the  house  several  years  later,  in  1883.  He 
died  there  Aug.  13,  1901.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
and  served  many  years  as  member  of  the  township 
il  board.  His  religious  connection  was  with 
the  Eeformed  congregation  of  the  Himmel  Church, 
to  which  his  family  also  belong,  and  he  served  offi- 
cially as  deacon  and  elder.  His  \\  fe,  Ci  cellia  (Up- 
degraff),  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Kim- 
mel)  Updegraff,  died  Dec.  29,  1896,  aged  sixty- 
live  years,  nine  months.  They  had  children  as 
follows:  Mary  died  young;  Alice  married  Ru- 
dolph Snyder;  .lames  married  Mary  Rothermel  and 
while  a  young  man,  leaving  children.  Edwin, 
Maud  and  Flossie;  Wilson  H.  is  mentioned  below; 
jie  married  William  Bast,  of  Leek  Kill,  and 
they  have  children.  Gertie,  Jennie.  Walter.  Mor- 
ris, Stella,  Harry  and  Clarence:  Henrietta  mar- 
ried Daniel  Kieffer  and  they  live  in  Washington 
township :  Sylvester  died  when  nine  years  old ; 
Katie  is  the  wife  of  William  B.  Geist. 

Andrew  Geist,  son  of  Andrew  and  brother  of 
Daniel  H.  Geist,  has  passed  all  his  life  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  born  July  4, 
1839.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  has 
always  followed,  and  since  his  fathers  death  he 


has  owned  the  homestead  place,  which  is  a  valu- 
able piece  of  property  and  has  been  kept  in  a 
profitable  state  of  cultivation  under  his  efficient 
management.  He  met  with  continued  success  in 
his  work,  and  during  the  later  seventies  built  the 
fine  large  brick  residence  on  the  farm  which  he  has 
since  occupied.  Mr.  Geist  married  Mary  Latsha, 
daughter  of  the  late  Michael  Latsha,  of  Jack- 
son township,  and  they  have  had  five  children: 
Ida  married  Felix  D.  Mattern :  Agnes  married 
David  Trautman;  Jesse  married  Alice  (.'.  Reitz; 
Oscar  died  young:  Ella  married  Calvin  Miller. 
Mr.  Geist  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Himmel  Church,  which  he  has  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  trustee.  On  political  questions  he  is  a 
1  lemocrat. 

Wilsox  II.  Geist,  son  of  Daniel  H.  Geist,  was 
bom  Feb.  22,  1867,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
where  he  is  still  engaged  in  farming,  on  his  fa- 
ther's old  homestead  near  Leek  Kill.  Se  received 
his  education  in  the  township  schools,  and  his 
training  to  farm  work  under  his  father's  super- 
irking  for  ;.:-  parents  until  he  came  of 
age.  He  lias  since  been  farming  on  the  homestead 
on  his  own  account,  and  his  work  has  been  sue- 
cess  ill  to  such  an  extent  that  he  has  been  aide 
0  add  twenty-two  acre-  to  the  property,  having 
one  of  the  most  valuable  places  along  tiie  Green- 
brier creek,  better  known  as  Swabian  creek.  Mr. 
Geist  has  taken  an  interest  in  the  local  welfare 
and  has  served  the  township  as  overseer  of  the 
poor  some  years- and  as  member  of  the  road  com- 
mission  since  1907.  Politically  lie  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his  family 
are  B  •  members  of  the  Himmel  Church. 

In  1890  Mr.  Geist  married  Helen  Koppenhav- 
er,  who  was  bom  Feb.  21,  1872,  in  Shamokin,  this 
county,  daughter  o  and  Rosanna    I  I 

Kop]  .  and  they  have  had  eight  children: 

Maizie  Edna,  who  died  when  exactly  five  months 
old:  Beulah  May,  who  died  when  one  year,  ten 
months  old  :  Vertie  M. :  Earl  R. :  Edith  A. :  Lnma 
E. :  Helen  M,  and  Russell  W. 


Abraham  Geist,  grandfather  of  William  B. 
Geist,  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  was  born  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  March  20,  1813,  and  was  a  suc- 
d  farmer  and  enterprising  business  man,  be- 
ing one  of  the  first  dealers  in  live  stock  in  his 
district.  He  had  the  best  farm  in  the  township, 
a  place  of  160  acres.  He  died  Aug.  28.  1883,  and 
is  buried  at  Himmel's  Church,  as  is  also  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Hepler),  who  was  born  dune  10,  1813, 
and  died  July  14.  1888.  She  was  a  large  and 
powerful  woman,  weighing  nearly  three  hundred 
pounds.  Besides  John  H.  Geist  they  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Christian  (daughter),  born  in 
1834,  who  died  in  1835:  Frank;  William;  Sam- 
uel ;  Lizzie,  who  married  Alexander  Gonser  and 
lives    at    Lewisburg;   William    (2):    Lydia.   who 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


839 


married  Daniel  Swartz  and  lived  at  "Urban,  Pa.; 
Hettie,  who  married  Jacob  Snyder  (they  are  bur- 
in! at  Leek  Kill  Church)  :  and  Polly,  who  mar- 
ried Michael  Powell  and  (second)  a  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker. 

John  II.  Geist.,  son  of  Abraham,  lived  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  best  known  residents  in 
his  day.  He  was  a  most  enterprising  business 
man.  a  merchant,  huckster,  butcher,  hotel-keeper 
and  farmer,  owned  Leek  Kill  and  several  large 
farms  there,  was  postmaster  at  Leek  Kill,  and  in 
every  way  the  leading  spirit  of  the  place.  For 
ten  years  before  his  death  lie  conducted  the  "Cen- 
tral House"  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county. 
and  his  son  John  lias  succeeded  him  as  proprie- 
tor of  this  place.  He  died  there  in  1905,  at  the 
if  sixty-one  years.  His  widow,  Harriet  I  Bei- 
sel),  is  still  living  at  Williamstown.  They  had 
children:  Wilson  0.,  William  I!..  Anson,' Charles, 
James,'  Martin.  John  and  Laura  (married  to 
Georgi  i  tman  and  living  in  Snyder  county). 
William  B.  Geist  was  born  Dec.  ■>.  1864,  at 
Leek  Kill,  in  the  section  of  Upper  Mahanoy 
township  where  lie  still  resides.  He  obtained  his 
cation  in  the  local  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  which  he  has  continued  to  follow.  After 
working  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, he  has  since  become  one  of  the  best  known 
hucksters  in  his  section.  He  began  raising  truck 
and  general  farm  crops  for  himself  in  1890,  and 
now  own-  a  Eorty-two-acre  farm  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  east  of  Leek  Kill,  which  is  under  profitable 
cultivation.  He  has  a  huckster  route  which  cov- 
ers his  own  and  surrounding  townships,  and 
makes  weekly  tri]  ■  -  enandoah,  Ashland  and 
Girardvil  -ing  of  produce  and  poultry.    He 

lias  built  up  a  steady  custom,  and  by  honorable 
dealing  and  reliable  methods  has  gained  and  re- 
tained a  large  number  of  patrons  who  depend 
upon  him  for  their  supplies  in  his  line. 

'in  1890  Mr.  Geist  married  Katie  Geist,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  II.  and  Cecellia  (Updegraff)  Geist, 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Mary  Magdalena  (Hepler) 
Geist.  They  have  had  a  family  of  seven  children : 
Gertie  S.,  who  married  Raymond  Haas:  Jennie 
C  •  Walter  W.:  Maurice  D. :  Stella  G.;  Harry  C., 
and  John.  Mr.  Geist  and  his  family  worship  at 
St  John's  Church,  belonging  to  the  Reformed 
congregation.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  con- 
nection, and  has  served  for  a  number  of  years  as 
supervisor  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  where 
lie  is  a  most  respected  citizen. 

EDWIN  \  ADAM,  who  carries  on  a  lumber 
business  at  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, was  horn  Nov.  10.  ISM.  in  Hereford  town- 
snip  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  is  a  member  of  one  ot 
the  long  established  families  of  that  region. 


Anthony  Adam,  a  potter  by  trade,  was  born  in 
the  Fatherland  in  the  year  1716,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  the  year  1741.-  He  sailed  from  Rot- 
terdam on  the  snow  ■•Molly,"  commanded  by 
Capt.  John  Cranch,  which  vessel  arrived  at  Phil- 
adelphia, and  the  passengers,  having  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  English  sovereign, 
qualified  to  land  Oct.  26,  11  11.  His  age  is  en- 
tered on  the  |  Lis!  as  twenty-five  ye; 
On  Feb.  7,  1748,  he  received  from  the  proprie- 
taries of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  a  warrant 
for  a  tract  of  136  acres,  146  perches,  of  land  in 
Albany  township,  then  a  part  of  Philadelphia 
county.  This  land  was  surveyed  for  him  by  the 
surveyor  general  of  the  Province,  June  6,  1752. 
Andoni  Adam,  as  he  wrote  his  name,  received 
a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  135  acres  and  47  perches 
••ahow  Maxatawny,"  Feb.  7,  1748.  In  1761  he 
sold  140  acres  of  his  land  in  Albany  township 
to  John  Reinhard.  In  1766  he  was  administrator 
of  the  estate  of  Albrecht  Stimmel,  being  the  chief 
creditor.  His  administration  account  was  audited 
and  approved  in  December,  1768.  The'dat 
death  of  Anthony  Adam,  of  Albany,  is  not  know  n. 
It  is  known  that  he  had  sons  Abraham.  Anthony 
and  Bernhard,  who  settled  in  Schuylkill  county; 
and  Peter.  The  name  of  Simon  Adam,  gi 
grandfather  of  Edwin  A.  Adam,  does  no! 
among  the  known  children  of  Anthony  (2)  or 
Peter,  so  it  would  appear  the  line  in  which  we 
are  interested  would  lie  traced  through  Abraham 
or  Bernhard. 

Simon    Adam  was    married  Feb.  13,    1776,  to 
larine    Eck,  who    died  April    27,   1828.      11. 
died   March  27j    L803.     Their  children  w< 
v  -:  Jo   ;i.  Nov.  22,  1776;  Am  i  .  - 
L778    (married   Andrew   Sehnabel) ;  James,    Feb. 
6,  1781;  Catharine,  Jan.  4.  1783   (married   Di 

:abel);   John   James.    Feb.    2,    1785;    - 
(married   George    Dappen)  ;   Elizabeth,   June   20, 
1788;  John.  Sept.  6.   1792;    Paul,    I'  b.   5,    1797. 

John  Adam,  son  of  Simon,  was  a  well  known 
farmer  in  Hen  Berks  county,  where 

he  passed  all  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  Catharine 
(Hammerstine),  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Bar- 
bara Hammers! ine.  axe  buried  at  Bally.  Their 
children  were:  Jai  3  -  John  11.  and   Eliza- 

beth. 

John  II.  Adam,  son  of  John,  was  bom  April 
27,   181 1,  and         owed  farming,  o\i 
homestead.      He    died     I         LO       383    upon    his 
farm,  and  lie  and  his  wif  Bally. 

Her  maiden  na  Mary  M.  Klehs  (alsi 

Klase),   and    -  '  il    30,    1808,   and 

died   June  21,    1879.       They   had  five  children: 
abeth,  bom  Dec.  15,  18    i  Oct.  15,  1877; 

John   M.  lives  at   Mahanoy  City;  CI  I  in 

-  county  when  twelve  years  old:  Lucy  A.  died 
.1.  q.  24,  L906;  Edwin  A.  i-  a  resident  of  Mount 
ael. 


840 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Edwin  A.  Adam  was  born  Nov.  In.  1851,  in 
Hereford  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  there 
reared  upon  the  homestead  farm,  following  farm- 
ing until  he  attained  his  majority.  Meantime  he 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  locality.  Upon  leaving  home  he  located  at 
Shamokin,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  late  Darlington  Kulp  for  a 
period  of  thirteen  years,  since  when  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, at  different  places.  He  has  lived  at  Mount 
Carmel  since  1890,  and  for  eleven  v'ears  was  a 
merchant  in  the  borough.  As  a  business  man  and 
citizen  he  occupies  a  substantial  place  in  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Adam  married  Mary  C.  Crowl.  daughter 
of  Jackson  Crowl,  of  Elysburg.  Pa.,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  nine  children:  Gordon  T.  (of 
Mount  Carmel).  Lillie  E.,  Mary  M.,  Wheeler  E., 
Flora  A.,  Harriet  Bella,  John  J.,  Mark  .1.  (who 
died  when  three  years  old)  and  Anna  L.  Mr. 
Adam  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  faith. 

CHARLES  A.  KUNKEL,  engaged  in  the  ho- 
tel and  livery  business  in  Shamokin,  is  a  young 
man  whose  enterprise  and  good  management  are 
bringing  him  success.  He  was  born  in  Shamo- 
kin Feb.  89,  1876,  son  of  Leo  Kunkel,  a  na 
of  Germany,  born  in  1846,  who  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-two.  He  first  locat- 
ed at  Pittsburg.  Pa.,  where  he  spent  two  years, 
thence  coming  to  Shamokin.  Here  he  followed 
mining  until  his  death,  in  1877,  and  is  buried  at 
Shamokin.  Mr.  Kunkel  married  Rosa  Gafinski, 
who  is  now  living  in  Wisconsin,  and  the  five  chil- 
dr.ii  born  to  them  were  named  as  follow-:  .1  - 
(who  is  deceased).  Charles  A..  Tillie.  Mary  and 
Polly. 

Charles  A.  Kunkel  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Shamokin.  When  thirteen  years 
old  he  became  a  slate  picker  at  the  mines,  where 
he  continued  to  work  in  various  capacities  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  At  that 
time  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  but  after 
conducting  bis  place  one  year  sold  it  and  became 
bookkeeper  for  Squire  Kreiger,  with  whom  be  con- 
tinued for  a  period  of  three  years.  He  then  em- 
barked in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  on  his  own 
account,  being  thus  engaged  for  one  and  a  half 
years,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  Mount  Carmel 
Brewing  Company.  In  1906  he  bought  from 
Squire  Kreiger  the  hotel  stand  where  he  has  since 
done  business.  He  enjoyed  a  large  business  from 
the  time  he  took  the  management,  having  twenty- 
four  rooms,  and  bis  being  the  only  hotel  in  that 
Shamokin  he  had  a  thriving  trade. 
which  be  succeeded  in  widening  steadily  by  good 
business  methods  and  satisfactory  service.  There 
was  a  fine  hall  on  the  top  floor  of  the  old  build- 
ing, which   Mr.   Kunkel  rented  for  fairs,  dances 


and  various  entertainments:  it  was  headquarters 
for  the  Springfield  Band.  On  Aug.  4,  1910,  the 
hotel  building  was  completely  destroyed  by  fire, 
the  loss  being  thirty  thousand  dollars.  With  his 
unary  enterprise  Mr.  Kunkel  at  once  com- 
menced rebuilding,  on  the  same  site,  his  new  hotel 
being  thoroughly  up-to-date  and  a  credit  to  the 
community  as  well  as  to  the  owner.  KunkeFs 
hall,  built  on  an  adjoining  lor,  is  60  feet  square. 
In  connection  with  his  hotel  Mr.  Kunkel  has  a 
livery  business,   kei  ight   horses,   I'm-  which 

there  is  constant  demand. 

Mr.  Kunkel  is  well  known  socially,  holding 
membership  in  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  Red 
Men.  Fast   End  and  Friendship  Hose  Compa: 

al  Polish  societies,  and  St.  Stanislaus  church. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  matter-. 

On  Nov.  26,  1892,  Mr.  Kunkel  married  Ger- 
trude Green,  daughter  of  William  Green,  of  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.  They  have  four  children,  namely: 
Clement.  Florence,  Violet  and  Alma. 

BENJAMIN  F.  BASTIAN,  of  Sunbury,  who 
carries  on  an  up-to-date  bakery  on  Eckman  ave- 
nue, between  Line  and  Race  streets,  was  bom 
July  31,  1868,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  North- 
umberland county,  son  of  Matthias  D.  Bastian. 
IF  is  a  member  of  the  fourth  generation  in  that 
township,  being  a  great-grandson  of  George  Mi- 
Bastian,  who  founded  the  family  there,  and 
i  win  mi  we  give  the  family  record. 

1  orge  Michael  Bastian  was  a  native  of  North- 
ampton county.  Pa.,  born  March  13.  1768,  and 
died  Feb.  18,  1845,  in  Upper  Augusta  township. 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  had  followed 
farming,  having  ;l  200-acre  tract  known  (and  so 
called  in  the  deed  )  as  "White  Lily  Garden  Farm." 
IF  and  bis  wife  died  on  that  place,  and  they 
buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Susanna  Bollender,  and  she  was 
Oct,  7,  1770,  in  Greenwich  township,  Berks 
county.  Their  children  were  as  follow-:  Jesse 
lived  in  Sunbury;  Peter  died  at  Milton.  Pa.:  Dan- 
iel is  mentioned  below:  George  died  in  Sunbury; 
Catharine  married  John  Renn  and  they  lived  in 
Sunbury:  Christianna  married  Henry  Conrad  and 
they  lived  in  Rockefeller  township:  Rachel  mar- 
ried John  Sinten  and  they  lived  at  Alaska,  this 
ty;  Elizabeth  died  unmarried,  in  Rockefeller; 
Lucy  married  Jeremiah  Zimmerman  and  died  in 
SI  amokin,  Pennsylvania. 

From  public  records  in  the  courthouses  at  Sun- 
bury and  Lewisburg  has  been  taken  the  follow- 
ing information,  which  is  here  given  not  only  as 
being  of  interest  in  this  connection,  but  also  as 
it  lias  considerable  bearing  upon  the  spelling  of 
the  name,  which  seems  to  have  been  written  Bas- 
tian from  the  time  the  records  begin,  in  1791, 
with  two  exceptions.  Both  these  times  it  was 
found  written  Bostion.  but  it  must  be  noted  that 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


841 


■  hi  one  of  these  two  occasions  the  signer  made  his 
mark. 

George  Michae]  Bastian,  Sr.,  came  from  North- 
ampton county  in  the  year  1791,  and  on  June  16, 
L791,  bought  500  neves  of  land  from  Richard  Wil- 
lings  of  Delaware  county,  Pa.,  about  two  miles 
below  Sunbury,  Pa.,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  and  in  the  body  of  the  deed  the 
name  is  written  George  Michael  Bastian.  On 
dune  11.  mis.  Ceorge  Michael  Bastian,  Sr.,  sold 
to  George  Michael  Bastian,  Jr.,  176  acres  of  the 
above  trad  of  500  acres  and  in  the  body  of  this 
deed  the  name  is  written  George  Michael  Bostion; 
the  deed  is  also  signed  George  Michael  Bostion. 

On  May  10,  1819,  George  Michael  Bastian,  Jr., 
sold  tin  above  176  acre-;  to  Lewis  Dewart;  he 
signed  his  name  in  German  and  it  is  written 
Georgi  Michae]  Bastian,  and  his  wife  Susanna 
Bastian  signed  by  mark,  her  name  being  written 
the  same  way.  On  the  same  day  and  year  Lewis 
Dewart  sold  in  George  Michael  Bastian  300  acres 
in  Augusta  township  about  three  miles  southeast 
of  Sunbury;  in  the  body  of  this  deed  the  name  is 
written  Bastian.  On  May  15,  1841,  George  Michael 
Bastian,  Jr.,  sold  to  Henry  Gass  76  acres  of  land 
in  Augusta  township,  and  in  the  l.o.k  of  this  deed 
the  nam.  is  Bastian;  it  is  also  signed  George  Mi- 
chael Bastian.  In  the  year  IS  II  George  Michael 
Bastian.  Jr.,  made  his  last  will  and  testament  and 
in  the  body  of  the  will  we  find  the  name  Bostion; 
it  is  signed  Bostion,  but  by  mark. 

In  the  year  1845  George  Michael  Bastian.  Jr., 
died,  and  "ii  the  tombstone  is  inscribed  Bastian. 
His  son  George  was  one  of  his  executors,  and  all 
papers  signed  in  settling  up  the  estate  show  the 
spelling  Bastian. 

In  the  year  1791  George  Michael  Bastian.  Sr.. 
gave  a  mortgage  to  Richard  Willing,  and  he  signed 
himself  i  reorge  Michael  Bastian.  In  the  year  1809 
George  Michael  Bastian.  Jr.,  gave  a  mortgage  to 
Lewis  Dewart,  and  it  is  signed  George  Michael 
Bastian. 

One  Daniel  Bastian  bad  a  lawsuit  in  1797. 

Daniel  Bastian.  son  of  George  Michael,  Sr..  was 
born  Aug.  8,  1806,  in  what  is  now  Snyder  county, 
Pa.,  and  was  a  young  man  when  he  came  ai 
the  river  into  Upper  Augusta  township.  There 
he  married  Elizabeth  Drayer,  daughter  of  Mat- 
thias Drayer,  and  they  were  Lutheran  members  of 
the  Lantz  Church  in  what  is  now  Rockefeller 
township,  both  being  buried  at  that  church.  Mrs. 
Bastian  died  dan.  21,  1869,  aged  fifty-nine  years, 
three  months,  twenty-seven  days.  Mr.  Bastian 
died  Dec.  29,  1879.  He  was  a  potter,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  Sunbury  and  Upper  Augusta 
township  for  many  years,  in  his  later  life  also  en- 
gaging to  some  extent  in  carpentering.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bastian  had  a  large  family,  as  follows:  Sarah 
died  in  childhood:  Joseph  was  killed  while  serv- 
ing in  the  Civil  war   (he  was  married)  :  George, 


a  carpenter,  died  Feb.  3,   1897,  aged  sixty  years, 

five  months,  ten  .lavs:  .Matthias  D.  is  mentioned 
below;  Henry  died  in  young  manhood,  in  Rocke- 
feller township:  Polly  married  Jeremiah  Cooper 
and  they  lived  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.;  Landis  is  a 
fanner  in  Upper  Augusta:  Daniel  died  Sept.  •.'•">. 
1878,  aged  thirty-one  years,  two  months,  twelve 
days;  Mary  Ellen  married  Samuel  Fry  and  died 
Aim.  5,  1879,  aged  fifty-six  years,  ten  months, 
twelve  days:  Jeremiah,  of  Sunbury,  is  a  painter: 
Anna  married  Henry  Nase  and  they  live  in  Chi- 
cago. 

Matthias  D.  Bastian.  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
Oct.  11,  1838,  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm  in  what  is  now  Rocke- 
feller township.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlist- 
ed in  Company  B,  184th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  serving  as  a  private  one  year  and  four 
days.  He  was  wounded  in  action  in  front  of 
Petersburg  and  as  a  result  had  his  right  arm  am- 
putated while  a  prisoner  at  Lihhv.  where  he  was 
confined  for  eighty-two  days.  Alter  the  war,  how- 
ever, he  resume.]  farming,  engaging  in  general  ag- 
nculture  and  trucking  until  about  1893,  when  he 
retired  and  settled  in  Sunbury.  His  home  is  at 
No.  803  Market  street,  in  that  borough.  Mr. 
Bastian  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  served 
as  eonstable  and  as  jury  commissioner  of  North- 
umberland county.  He  is  a  member  of  Brunei' 
Post,  No.  335.  G.  A.  R..  and  of  Lodge  No.  203, 
I.  0.  O.  P.,  both  Sunbury  organizations. 

On  Aug.  19,  1862,  Mr.  Bastian  married  Lydia 
Foyer,  daughter  of  Abitha  and  Rebecca  (Mitchell) 
Poyer,  of  Sunbury,  and  twelve  children  have  been 
born  to  their  union:  Charles  E.,  Elizabeth  (mar- 
ried to  Abraham  Roger).  Maclay.  Benjamin  P., 
Daniel.  William.  Joseph,  Cora.  Alberta.  Jennie, 
and  two  that  died  in  infamy.  Mr.  Bastian  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Mrs.  Bastian  died  March  30,  1900. 

Benjamin  F.  Bastian  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  early  home. 
He  was  reared  to  farming,  and  followed  agricul- 
tural work  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen 
pears,  when  be  learned  the  trade  of  baker.  In 
1900  he  came  to  Sunbury,  embarking  in  business 
about  that  time,  and  he  has  built  up  an  extensive 
trade,  employing  four  men  ai  present.  His  spe- 
cialties are  bread  and  pastry.  In  L910  Mr.  Bas- 
tian erected  the  modern  establishment  he  qow  oc- 
cupies, a  store  22  by  64  feet  on  Eekman  avenue, 
equipped  with  the  most  modern  facilities  known 
to  the  trade.  Hi-  oven  cos!  $1,500,  and  the  resi 
of  the  place  is  in  keeping.  Store  and  bakery  arc 
clean  and  sanit  entire  place  being  a  credit 

to  the  owner  and  to  the  community. 

On    dune  20,    L903,   Mr.    Bastian  married   Sue 
Broscious,  daughtei         ;     ed  and  Susan    (Renn) 
Brosi  ious,  «  ho  died  ai    Sunbury.     M  r.  and    M 
hi    have  a  large    and  comfortable    home  of 


S42 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


their  own  at  No.  144  North  Fifth  street.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  of 
Sunbury,  and  holds  office  at  present. 

EZRA  C.  KELLER,  proprietor  of  the  "State 
Road  Hotel/'  at  "Weigh  Scales,  in  Ralpho  town- 
ship, has  been  there  a  comparatively  brief  time, 
but  he  has  had  considerable  experience  in  the  ho- 
tel business,  and  his  establishment  has  shown 
great  improvement  under  his  management.  Mr. 
Keller  was  born  Oct.  19,  1867,  at  Strausstown, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  George  W.  Keller  and 
grandson  of  John  0.  Keller,  and  he  comes  of  an 
old  family  of  Berks  county. 

The  Keller  family  of  Rockland  is  of  German 
extraction,  being  descended  from  John  Christo- 
phel  ( Christoffel)  Keller,  better  known  as  "Stof- 
fel"  Keller,  who  was  born  in  Nitsche,  Hessen- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  sun  of  Jacob  Keller,  a  well 
known  weaver  who  resided  at  that  place.  Jacob 
Keller  was  the  father  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  childhood.  Two  sons,  both  named 
Johan  Adam,  were  distinguished  by  being  called 
"der  grosse  Johan"  (Big  John)  and  "der  kleine 
Johan"  (Little  John).  John  Christophel  came 
next,  and  there  was  one  daughter,  Elizal 
Catharine.  In  176-1  John  Christophel  Keller,  then 
seventeen  years   o  came  to  America.     His 

father  gave  him  considerable  money  in  gold, 
which  he  sewed  in  a  belt  and  carried  on  his  body. 
Tie  made  the  voyage  on  the  "Brittania,"  Captain 
\  i  ii.it.  from  Rotterdam  to  Philadelphia,  where 
young  Keller  landed  September  26th.  From  Phil- 
adelphia he  walked  to  Rockland  township,  Berks 
;  v.  where  he  found  a  home  with  the  Reichert 
family,  who  were  also  from  Nitsche,  Mrs.  Re: 
having  at  one  time  worked  for  his  father.  With 
them  he  followed  his  trade  of  weaver.  In  1765, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  married  Catharine  Delp, 
daughter  of  John  Nicholas  Delp.  a  large  land- 
holder of  Rockland,  and  soon  after  his  marriage 
secured  a  tract  of  land  from  his  father-in-law.  He 
began  to  clear  this  land,  and  it  is  said  his  wife 
sted  in  the  work.  This  home  remained  in  the 
connection  for  over  one  hundred  years,  and  the 
old  log  house,  built  before  1770,  is  still  standing 
and  in  good  condition.  Stoffel  Keller  died  there, 
in  November,  1834.  at  which  time  he  was  living 
with  his  son-in-law,  Squire  Joseph  Specht.  His 
property  in  Rockland  comprised  about  forty  acres. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and 
considerable  intelligence,  Mas  a  school  teacher, 
and  ed  his  mental  vigor  to  the  last.     He 

ed  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  wife, 
Catharine,  died  over  ten  years  before  him.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  (1)  Maria,  1767-1850, 
married  Michael  "Welder  and  had  nine  children. 
(2)  Jacob  married  Betsy,  daughter  of  John 
Specht.  and  they  lived  and  died  near  Pricetown. 
Thev  had  children :  John,  who  married  Elizabeth 


Wahl :  Catharine,  wife  of  Henry  Noll:  Rebecca, 
Mrs.  Buskirk;  Lydia,  Mrs.  Wahl;  and  Daniel. 
(3)  Catharine  married  Daniel  Specht  and  (sec- 
Peter  Muthart,  and  had  five  children.  (4) 
Conrad  married  Polly  Neiman,  whose  first  hus- 
band was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1781.  Their 
children  were  John,  who  married  Esther  Clouser; 
George,  who  married  Liny  Bast:  David,  who  mar- 
ried and  lived  in  New  York  City;  Charles,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Berks  county  and  later  of 
Montgomery  county  (where  he  died  March  7, 
1897,  aged  eighty  years),  who  married  Harriet 
Moyer.  I  "  ibeth  married  Henry  Moyer  and 
seven  children.  (6)  Susan  married  Joseph 
Specht,  Esq.,  and  the}  tad  seven  children.  She 
died  in  1832  and  he  subsequently  married  a  Mu- 
thart. by  whom  he  had  two  sons.  He  died  in  1854. 
(7)  George  married  Kate  Keller  and  they  lived 
and  died  near  Pricetown.  Their  children  were 
Abraham,  Magdalena  and  Joseph.  (8)  Magda- 
lena  married  Henry  Sterner  and  had  six  children. 
(9)  Abraham  married  Magdalena  Specht.  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  sister  of  Squire  Joseph  Specht, 
and  they  had  two  children,  both  of  whom  mar- 
ried, and  both  moved  to  Wauseon,  Ohio,  where 
their  descendants  reside,  i  Benjamin  who  was  mar- 
ried.four  times,  last  time  to  Mrs.  Sarah  DeLong, 
daughter  of  Squire  Joseph  Specht,  was  a  son  or 
ither  of  Abraham.)  <  1<M  Samuel  died  unmar- 
ried at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  (11)  John 
married  Betsy  Egolf.  They  had  no  children.  (12) 
Mary  |  Pi  ggi  i,  1  799-1879,  married  Jacob  -  . 
ner  and  had  eight  children. 

From  this  source  came  John  0.  Keller,  grand- 
father of  Ezra  C.  Keller.  He  was  born  in  R 
land  township,  Berks  county,  and  followed  farm- 
ing at  Pricetown,  that  county,  where  he  died.  He 
and  his  wife  Sarah  had  children:  Jacob,  John, 
.  Henry.  Daniel,  George  W.,  Sarah.  Mrs. 
Reinheimer,  Mrs.  David  Welder  and  David. 

George  W.  Keller,  son  of  John  0.  Keller,  was  a 
stationary  engineer  as  well  as  farmer.  For  eight- 
een years  he  lived  upon  a  farm  near  Fleetwood, 
Berks  county.     He  subsequently  farmed  at  Shaef- 

>wn  and  thence  m  Strausstown,  B 

county,  where  he  still  makes  his  home.  He  has 
continued  to  follow  farming  to  the  present.  He 
leen  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with 
Henrietta  Sheaffer.  daughter  of  Daniel  Sheaffer, 
his  second  to  Leanda  Gerhert.  His  children,  all  by 
the  first  union,  were:  Mary.  Oscar  and  Ezra  C, 
the  last  named  being  the  only  survivor. 

Ezra  C.  Keller  was  reared  upon  the  farm  Aft- 
er spending  four  years  at  Akron,  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  he  returned  home  and  went  to  school  for  a 
year.  He  then  located  at  Helfenstein.  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  John 
Purcel  &  Co.  two  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time 
going  to  Shamokin.  where  he  became  a  clerk  for 
D.   A.  Haas.      He  was    thus    employed    for  four 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


843 


months  after  which  he  took  a  position  as  clerk  at 
the  ''Eagle  Hotel;'-'  where  he  remained  three  years 
and  seven  months,  having  charge  of  the  stables 
for  two  years.  In  1896  he  bought  the  "Eagle  Ho- 
tel," which  he  conducted  for  two  years,  selling  out 
to  George  Brewer.  For  the  next  four  and  one 
half  years  he  conducted  the  -.Mansion  House," 
and  then  for  a  similar  period  had  the  "Forks  Ho- 
tel." On  Nov.  1,  1907,  he  bought  his  present 
place,  the  "State  Road  Hotel"  at  Weigh  Scales, 
where  he  has  made  many  friends  during  the  short 
time  he  has  been  at  that  point.  Under  his  direc- 
tion tin'  establishment  has  been  vastly  improved, 
and  travelers  are  given  special  attention.  His  ho- 
tel is  a  popular  place  for  dinner  and  supper  par- 
ties, and  the  patronage  is  steady.  Mr.  Keller  has 
wmi  I  he  respect  of  the  community,  where  he  is  re- 
garded as  a  most  desirable  citizen.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  of  the 
[mproved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  is  a  Republican 
in  political  sentiment. 

Mr.  Keller  married  Mary  A.  Gross,  daughter 
of  Eberhart  and  Lena  (Hafer)  Gross,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Viola  II.,  Lena  H.  and  Cath- 
arine I.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious 
connection. 

BROWN.  The  Brown  family  has  been  identi- 
fied with  Upper  Mahanoy  township  and  that  re- 
gion of  Northumberland  county  for  over  a  cen- 
tury, having  been  founded  there  in  the  early  days 
by  Michael  Brown,  a  native  of  Longswamp  town- 
ship, Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  born  Feb.  16,  1772.  Com- 
ing  to  this  section  he  became  a  farmer  in  what 
is  now  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  on  the  property 
now  owned  by  John  Fetter  and  Albert  Gessner. 
He  died  May  9,  1851.  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Cherry,  was  horn  March  30,  1770.  and 
died  Feb.  18,  1814.  They  were  member-  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  at  the  Himmel  Church. 
They  were  married  July  15.  1701.  and  nine  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  couple,  as  follows :  Rebecca, 
March  10,  1796;  Magdalena,  dan.  19,  179S;  Cath- 
arine, June  18.  1800:  John.  March  17,  1803;  An- 
draes.  Aug.  L6,  1805;  Michael.  July  13,  1807; 
George,  April  26,  1809  (died  July  13,  1861;  wife 
Lydia,  born  Jan.  20,  1813.  died  March  27,  1892)  ; 
Peter,  Aug.  16,  1811  (died  Sept.  12,  1878:  wife 
Lydia.  horn  Sept.  23,  1817,  died  March  27,  1887) ; 
Susanna.  March  5,  1811. 

John  Brown,  son  of  Michael,  born  March  17, 
1803,  lived  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  Ins  son 
John  F.  Brown.  He  was  not  only  a  farmer,  but 
a  carpenter  and  weaver  as  well,  doing  house  and 
shop  carpentry,  making  considerable  furniture  and 
in  his  earlier  years  many  coffins,  and  he  wove  all 
sorts  of  woolen  wear  and  carpets.  He  was  active 
in  church  life  and  held  various  church  offices.  His 
wife,  Catharine  (Fetter),  daughter  of  Friednch 
Fetter,  was  born  Aug.  37,  1806,  and  died  Jan.  3, 


1871,  and  Mr.  Brown  passed  away  March  10,  1881. 
They  are  buried  side  by  side  at  the  Salem  Chinch. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Fromena,  torn  in 
August,  1829,  married  Elias  Erdman  and  (sec- 
ond! Daniel  Romberger;  Lovina,  born  in  1831, 
married  Jacob  Paul;  Jacob,  born  in  1833,  died 
aged  fourteen  years;  Hannah,  born  in  1836,  dud 
unmarried ;  Simon  is  mentioned  below^ :  a  son  born 
in  1841  died  in  infancy ;  Elias,  born  in  1843,  died 
aged  six  years;  John  F.  is  mentioned  below:  Cath- 
arine, born  in  185H,  married  Monroe  Shaded. 

Simon  Brown,  son  of  John,  was  born  Aug.  31, 
1838,  on  the  farm  of  his  father  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  and  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  an  indus- 
trious, thrifty,  successful  man.  His  property  ad- 
joined the  homestead  to  the  south.  An  active 
member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  Sa- 
lem Church,  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder,  and 
he  is  buried  at  that  church.  His  death 
dan.  17.  1902,  when  he  was  aged  sixty-three  years, 
four  months,  seventeen  days.  Mr.  Brown  married 
Catharine  Paul,  who  was  born  Dec.  19,  1838, 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Esther  (Merkel)  Paul, 
and  died  Aug.  2,  1906.  They  were  the  parem- 
nine  children :  John  W.,  Hettie,  Cassie  (married 
Elsworth  Erdman),  Adam  H.  (deceased),  a  son 
that  died  in  infancy,  Polly  (deceased).  Milton 
(deceased),  Abraham  and  William. 

John  W.  Brown,  son  of  Simon,  is  a  farmer  in 
[Jpper  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  born  Oct. 
-'.    L870.     He  obtained  his  education  in  the  home 
locality,  attending  the  common  schools,  and  was 
trained  to   farm    work    from    boyhood,   beginning 
farming  on  his  own  account  at  his  present  home 
in  1901.     This  wa-  once  a  Delp  homestead,  was 
later  owned  by  Jacob  Paul,  and  after  him  by  Si- 
mon Brown,   father  of  ,lulm   \\".   Brown.      Il 
sists   of  ninety-five    acres  located    a  quai 
mile  from  the  Schuylkill  count;    line,  and  is  well 
improved,  though  the  house  and   barn  arc  stru 
tures  of  long  standing.     Mr.   Brown   has  gained  a 
portion  among  the  most    honorable  and    tru 
citizens  of  his  locality,  and  he  has  been  -    osi  □  to 
serve  a-  auditor  of  bis  tovi  nshi  i  cs  he 

is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

(in  Nov.  28,  1891,  Mi-.  Brown  married  Hai 
Rothermel,  wdio  was  a  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Fietta  (Snyder)  Rothermel,  and  she  din]  April 
9,  1910,  aged  forty  years,  seven  months,  Eour 
days.  She  was  a  highly  respected  woman,  and 
her  funeral  was  largely  alien. led.  many  neigl 
and   friends  showing  their  be- 

reaved family.     To    Mr.  ami    Mis.    Brown 
born  children  as   follows:   Clements,    Maud,   Min- 
nie   and    Beulah    (who  died    in  1908,    aged    six 
months).    Mr.  Brown  and  his  family  are  R 
members  of  the  Salem  Church,  and 
as  deacon  coi    n  gation. 

John   P.  Brown,  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
(Fetter)    Brown,  is  a  well  known   fanner  citizen 


844 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  born 
Dec.  13,  1845.  He  has  passed  all  his  life  on  his 
father's  homestead,  working  for  his  father  until 
past  his  majority.  After  his  father's  death  the 
property,  consisting  of  sixty-five  acres,  came  into 
his  possession.  One  part  of  the  house  is  very  old. 
having  been  built  probably  more  than  a  hundred 
years  ago,  and  the  rest  of  the  buildings  on  the 
place  were  erected  by  John  Brown,  father  of  the 
present  owner.  Mr.  Brown  has  been  particularly 
interested  in  public  school  matters  in  his  town- 
ship, and  his  services  on  the  school  board  cover 
almost  twenty  years:  he  is  still  a  member  of  that 
body.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

In  May,  1873.  Mr.  Brown  married  Elmira 
Dietz.  daughter  of  Jonas  Dietz,  whose  father.  Mi- 
chael Dietz  (1806-1882),  came  to  this  section 
from  Berks  county.  She  died  in  August,  1874,  at 
the  early  age  of  twenty-two  years,  the  mother  of 
one  son,  William  Franklin,  who  now  lives  near 
Uniontown,  Pa.  Mrs.  Brown  was  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  Salem  Church. 
On  Oct.  17,  1875,  Mr.  Brown  married  (second) 
Emma  Elizabeth  Kiehl,  daughter  of  George  and 
Mar]  (Stalii')  Kiehl.  of  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, but  now  of  Ashland,  Pa.,  and  by  this  union 
there  have  been  twelve  children:  Jane  E.,  mar- 
ried to  Wilson  Reitz :  Charles  V.,  who  married 
Sarah  Mattern;  John  Preston,  who  married  Sal- 
lie  Trautman;  Katie  S..  who  died  aged  seventeen 
years,  seven  months,  eighteen  days:  Sadie  E.,  mar- 
ried to  Charles  Wiest;  Farietta;  Froene  Mabel, 
married  to  J.  Allen  Reed  ;  Samuel  W. :  one  daugh- 
ter that  died  in  infancy:  Clarence  0. ;  Lulu  May, 
and  Rosa  Alveita.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  and  their 
family  belong  to  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
the  Salem  Union  Church,  at  Rough  and  Ready, 
to  which  his  parents  also  belonged.  He  has  been 
an  active  member  for  many  years,  having  served 
as  deacon,  for  many  years  as  trustee,  and  since 
10(13  as  elder. 

JOHN  W.  HECK,  merchant  and  justice  of  the 
peace  at  Marion  Heights,  this  county,  which  forms 
part  of  the  borough  of  Reiser,  has  been  one  of 
the  leading  and  most  active  citizens  of  that  bor- 
ough since  its  organization,  and  his  influence  has 
been  felt  in  many  of  the  mosi  progressive  move- 
ments in  this  section.  He  has  been  in  business 
there  in  various  lines  ever  since  he  settled  in  the 
place,  and  has  held  a  number  of  the  local  ofl 
giving  the  same  intelligent  service  in  public  affairs 
as  lie  does  in  the  conduct  of  his  private  interests. 

Mr.  Heck  is  of  German  descent,  his  grandfa- 
ther, Samuel  Heck,  having  come  from  his  native 
Germany  when  a  young  man  and  settled  in  Mary- 
land, in  which  State  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.     He  followed  the  milling  business. 

John  W.  Heck,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in 
Maryland,   and   coming   to   Pennsylvania   located 


at  Mount  Pleasant,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he 
owned  the  hotel  feu-  a  number  of  years.  He  sold 
out  the  business  about  two  years  before  his  death, 
and  thereafter  followed  butchering.  He  died  sud- 
denly, at  the  age  of  forty-three  years.  To  him 
and  his  wife  Rebecca  (Hartlein)  were  born  seven 
sons,  only  two  of  whom  survive:  Francis  (who  is 
in  the  wholesale  flour  business  at  Shamokin,  Pa.) 
and  John  W. 

John  W.  Heck,  son  of  John  W.  and  Rebecca 
(Hartlein)  Heck,  was  born  in  1850  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  brought 
to  Northumberland  county  when  sis  years  old, 
and  grew  up  in  Shamokin  township,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  fourteen  years.  He  then  went  to  the  Freeburg 
Academy,  in  Snyder  county,  for  three  terms,  after 
which  he  began  work.  Locating  at  Reed's  sta- 
tion he  was  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  smok- 
ing tobacco  for  some  time,  and  then  located  at 
Paxinos,  where  he  followed  the  butcher  business 
for  three  years.  For  the  next  two  and  a  half 
•-en-  he  was  with  the  Reading  Company,  after 
which  he  taught  school  at  Paxinos  for  two  terms. 
Then  for  three  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
Paxinos  store,  for  Mrs.  Littlehail,  spending  the 
three  years  with  George  W.  Mifflin,  whom  he 

ght  out.     He  continued  in  the  business  as  pro- 

prii  lor  for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  sold 
out,  in  1897  making  a  trip  to  Alaska,  prospect- 
ing. He  was  eleven  months  and  fourteen  days 
mi  this  interesting  journey.  Upon  his  return  he 
located  at  Freeburg  for  a  year  and  a  half,  remov- 
ing thence  to  Ashland.  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  became  manager  of  the  "Ashland  House." 
While  there  he  was  granted  a  license,  in  1890,  at 
Marion  Heights,  being  the  first  in  the  place  to 
obtain  a  license  as  hotel-keeper,  but  he  continued 
for  a  time  at  Ashland,  being  there  from  1898  to 
November,  1899.  He  has  since  been  a  resident 
of  Marion  Heights.  In  1901  he  built  a  fine  three- 
storied  hotel  in  the  eastern  pan  of  the  town  and 
conducted  same  until  May,  1902,  at  which  time 
he  sold  to  Lewis  Zusehin.  He  has  since  been  en- 
gaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  carrying  a  large 
general  stock,  besides  flour  and  feed,  and  in  1904 
limit  the  fine  store  and  dwelling,  36  by  48  feet  in 
dimensions,  which  he  has  since  occupied. 

There  has  been  no  more  public-spirited  citizen 
in  Keiser  than  Mr.  Heck,  lie  was  the  leader  in 
the  movement  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of 
the  borough  of  Keiser.  in  1905,  and  in  February, 
1906,  he  was  elected  the  first  justice  of  tin-  peace, 
which  office  he  is  still  filling.  The  first  chief  bur- 
gess was  Joseph  Lucas.  Mr.  Heck  has  also  served 
as  clerk  of  the  council  and  as  secretary  of  the 
school  board.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  con- 
viction, and  though  the  borough  could  boast  but 
eleven  Democrats  in  the  fall  of  1907,  at  a  normal 
election,  there  were  seventy-six   votes   cast  for  a 


N I » RTH I ' MBEELA1S  I )  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVA  \1  A 


845 


Democrat  who  was  a  good  local  man.  the  influence 
of  citizens  like  Mr.  Heck  being  apparent  on  such 
occasions.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  I. 
0.  0.  P.,  the  K.  (i.  E.  and  the  P.  ().  S.  of  A. 

In  1879  Mr.  Heck  married  Clara  Menges, 
daughter  of  George  W.  Menges,  of  Freeburg,  Pa., 
and  to  them  have  been  born  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  survive:  George,  Leroy  (married  to  Re- 
becca Hoover,  and  living  in  Philadelphia),  Mary 
B.  and  Maude  F.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in 
religious  connection. 

JOHN  J.  CAMPTON,  funeral  director  and 
embalmer,  of  Shamokin,  has  been  engaged  in  that 
line  of  business  in  the  borough  for  a  period  of 
ihu'i\  years,  since  1880.  He  is  located  at  No.  410 
Webster  street,  and  lias  facilities  for  the  conveni- 
ent handling  of  the  excellent  trade  he  has  estab- 
lished. 

Mr.  Campton  was  horn  in  1852  in  Trevorton, 
Northumberland  county,  son  of  James  and  An- 
nie (Buggey)  Campton,  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
father  came  to  this  country  from  County  Tipper- 
ary  when  a  young  man,  with  his  wife  and  small 
family,  ami  they  made  their  first  settlement  in 
Schuylkill  county,  later  moving  to  Trevorton, 
where  Mr.  Campton  followed  mining.  He  was 
killed  while  at  work  in  the  mines,  in  1852,  at 
Donaldson;  he  is  buried  at  Minersville,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Mis.  Campton  died  at  Shamokin. 
They  had  a  large  family,  namely:  Mary  A.,  Jo- 
anna, Ellen,  Margaret,  Catherine,  Sarah,  Eliza- 
bet  h  and  John  d. 

John  -I.  Campton  began  attending  school  at 
Trevorton.  He  was  eight  years  old  when  he  came 
lo  Shamokin.  where  he  has  since  lived,  and  on 
commencing  work  learned  the  cabinetmaker's 
trade,  at  which  he  was  engaged  until  he  went  in- 
to the  undertaking  business,  in  1880.  He  is  well 
fitted  for  his  business,  both  by  training  ami  by 
experience,  and  has  his  full  share  of  the  local  pat- 
ronage. 

Mi-.  Campton  married  Minie  L.  Cobb,  daugh- 
ter of  Gaurdner  Cobb,  late  of  Shamokin.  and  they 
have  had  children  as  follows:  Normand,  horn  Nov. 
22,  1883,  who  died  when  four  years  old;  .lames, 
born  -Ian.  0,  1885,  who  died  when  fourteen  months 
old:  Gilbert,  born  April  2,  1886;  Eva,  horn  Aug! 
28,  1887;  John,  born  Nov.  2,1888;  Gordner, 
horn  Feb.  7.  1890,  who  died  in  infancy;  Arthur, 
born  Aug.  8,  1891;  Edward,  born  Feb.  28,  1893; 
George,  horn  March  2,  1894,  who  died  when  four- 
teen months  old  :  Joseph,  born  April  '.'1.  1895,  who 
died  when  fourteen  months  old:  William,  horn 
April  15,  1896,  who  died  when  ten  months  old: 
Harry,  horn  April  2,  1897;  Anna,  horn  Nov.  ... 
189- i  Margaret,  horn  Nov.  1.  1901;  Laura,  horn 
July  3,  1902;  Charles,  horn  April  22,  1906;  and 
two  son-  thai  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Mr.    Campton    is    a    member   of    St.    Edward'-' 


Catholic  Church  id'  Shamokin,  and  fraternally  he- 
longs  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

WILLIAM  s.  KAHLER,  who  has  been  a 
farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  since  1876, 
belongs  to  a  family  which  has  been  located  in  Jun- 
iata county.  Pa.,  since  his  grandfather,  Philip 
Kahler.  came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  about 
L852.     He  landed  at  Castle  Garden,   New   York. 

and  thence  proc led   at   once  to  Juniata  county. 

settling  in  the  woods  in  a  region  then  sparsely 
populated  and  unimproved.  He  had  to  clear  the 
land  before  he  could  commence  its  cultivation^, 
ere,  led  the  tirst  buildings  mi  the  tract,  and  was 
a    pioneer   in   every   sense   of   the   word.      lie    took 

up  '.'"in  acres,  hut  sold  son £  if.  and   became  a 

prosperous  farmer,  his  industry  and  well  directed 
energy  bringing  him  a  good  living.  He  and  his 
wife  were  buried  at  Leininger's  Church  in  the 
locality  where  they  seitled.  In  religion  he  was  a 
Lutheran.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  Kahler  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Margaretha  married  Henry  Ford; 
Barbara  married  Barney  Fogel,  who  was  of  Ger- 
man extraction;  William  and  George  both  became 
farmers  in  Greenwood  township,  Juniata  county, 
where  the  daughters  also  lived,  their  husbands  be- 
ing farmers  there. 

George  Kahler.  son  of  Philip,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  about  fourteen  years  old  when 
he    came    with    his   parents    to    this    country.      He 

passed  the  rest  of  hi-  life  in  Greenw 1  town-hip. 

Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  dying  there  in  October,  1890, 
ai  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  owned  a  farm 
of  130  acres,  and  was  an  enterprising  agricul- 
turist, becoming  one  of  the  mosl  successful  farm- 
ers of  his  neighborhood.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and 
served  his  township  many  years  in  the  office  of 
supervisor.  He  and  his  famil\  were  of  the  Luth- 
eran faith,  and  were  members  of  Leininger's 
Church,  where  he  is  buried.  To  hi-  first  mar- 
riage, with  Amelia  Snyder,  daughter  of  Jonas 
Snyder,  were  horn  the  following  children:  Cath- 
arine married  William  Tollman;  Louisa  married 
Amos  Howerter;  Philip  died  in  infancy;  William 
S.  is  mentioned  below;  Susanna  married  Jacob 
Mitterling.  Tor  his  sec I  wife  Mr.  Kahler  mar- 
ried Lydia  Hallman,  and  the]  had  two  children: 
Edward,  now  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa, :  and  George  II..  of  Jackson  not  oship,  Nfo] 
umherland  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

William  S.  Kahler  was  horn  Aug.  9,  1856,  in 
Greenwood  township,  Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  and  be- 
gan his  education  in  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  home  district,  later  attending  the  pu 
schools.  In  his  twenty-third  year  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  nine  years.  Meantime,  in  the  fall  of  L876, 
he  had  come  to  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county,  and  al  once  In,. iied  mi  ilii'  farm 
which  has  since  been  his  b ^fter  giving  most 


846 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  his  attention  to  farming  for  several  years  he 
purchased  a  steam  threshing  outfit,  the  second 
to  lie  put  into  operation  in  the  locality,  and  for 
nineteen  years  did  threshing.  He  has  also  sawed 
considerable  timber,  and  since  1894  has  operated 
a  cider  press,  making  large  quantities  of  cider. 
Besides  his  home  farm  he  owns  a  place  of  forty- 
seven  acres  lying  along  the  road  between  Leek 
Kill  and  Line  Mountain,  formerly  the  Elias  How- 
erter  homestead.  Mr.  Kahler  is  regarded  by  all 
his  associates  as  a  man  fit  ability  and  intelligence. 
as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  'been  honored 
with  official  recognition  in  the  various  phases  of 
the  life  of  the  community  with  which  he  has  been 
identified.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  has  been 
school  director  of  the  township  and  is  at  present 
supervisor;  has  been  deacon  of  St.  James  (How- 
erters) Church,  where  he  and  his  family  worship; 
and  is  a  past  grand  of  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  260, 
I.  0.  0.  P.,  of.  Leek  Kill,  in  which  he  has  passed 
all  the  chairs. 

In  1SS0  Mr.  Kahler  married  Mary  Howerter, 
only  daughter  of  Elias  and  Caroline  (Leffler) 
Howerter.  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren:  Katie  married  Francis  M.  Paul,  of  Shamo- 
kin,  Pa.,  and  has  one  child,  Verna;  Francis  H., 
wlin  i>  an  engineer,  married  Eliza  Paul,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Paul,  and  they  have  one  son.  Clar- 
ence W. 

HOWERTER.  Adam  Howerter.  the  first 
known  ancestor  of  a  family  numerously  n  j ■  n ■  -< mi 
ed  in  Berks  and  Northumberland  counties.  Pa., 
was  born  Sept.  2,  1742,  and  died  in  what  is  now 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  I  o., 
Pa.,  mar  Howerters  Church,  Dec.  6,  1819.  The 
inscription  on  his  tombstone  says  '"horn  in  Chester 
county,"  but  family  tradition  has  it  that  he  was 
one  of  the  Hessian  soldier-  brought  here  by  the 
English  government  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  after  which  he  settled  in  Chester  county.  Pa. 
About  1786  he  located  in  Longswamp  township, 
Berks  county,  where  in  1790  the  Federal  Census 
Report  records  him  as  the  head  of  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  eldest  son, 
Eenry,  was  already  married  in  that  year,  but  at 
that  time  had  no  children.  He  is  said  to  have  re- 
mained in  Berks  county,  but  Adam  and  his  other 
children,  sons  Johan  Adam  and  Johan  Peter  and 
four  daughters,  came  to  the  Mahantango  Valley. 
settling  in  that  district  now  embraced  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  where  the  father  took  up  a 
large  trad  of  land,  some  of  which  he  cleared. 
erecting  the  first  set  of  buildings  thereon.  He 
and  his  wife  Catharine,  who  according  to  the 
tombstone  inscription  was  born  in  Europe  Dec. 
23,  1748,  and  died  April  23,  1819,  are  buried  at 
Howerters  Church.  They  were  Lutherans  in  reli- 
gion, as  are  their  descendants.  Three  of  their 
daughters  married  brothers  named  Wary,  another 


was  married  to  a  Spiece,  and  another  to  a  DeTurk. 
One  of  the  Warys  is  buried  at  Mahanoy.  one  at 
Herb's  Church.  The  tradition  that  the  emigrant 
ancestor  was  a  Hessian  soldier  may  be  correct, 
as  no  Ho  welter  appears  among  the  immigrants 
to  this  country  recorded  in  the  Pennsylvania  Ar- 
chives. 

Johan  Adam  Howerter,  one  of  the  sons  of 
Adam  Eowerter  who  accompanied  him  to  North- 
umberland county,  was  born  Aug.  24,  1769,  and 
died  Feb.  14.  1847.  His  wife,  Catharine  (Diehl), 
born  Nov.  29,  1772,  died  .May  18,  1851.  They  had 
no  children.  They  are  buried  at  Howerters 
(  'hurch. 

Johan  Peter  Howerter,  the  other  son  of  Adam 
Howerter  who  came  with  his  father  to  Northum- 
berland county,  was  born  Nov.  4,  1772,  and  owned 
a  130-aere  farm  near  Howerters  Church,  in  Up- 
per Mahanoy  township,  where  he  died  May  6, 
1862.  This  place  is  now  owned  by  George  Paul. 
He  was  one  of  the  prominent  members  of  Hower- 
ters Church,  in  which  he  held  various  official  po- 
sitions, and  he  was  one  of  the  building  masters 
when  the  first  church  was  erected.  That  edifice 
stood  until  replaced  by  the  present  building,  in 
1893,  which  his  grandson.  Amos  Howerter.  helped 
to  build.  His  family  are  also  buried  there.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Diehl,  who  was  born  Aug.  27, 
L778,  daughter  of  Johannes  Diehl,  and  sister  of 
his  brother's  wife  Catharine.  Mrs.  Howerter  died 
Jul]  6,  L860,  the  mother  of  children  as  follow-: 
Solomon;  Peter:  Daniel;  Abraham :  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Peter  Zerfink ;  Catharine,  Mrs.  Peter  Stoudt; 
and  Polly,  Mrs.  Daniel  Bloom. 

Solomon  Howerter.  son  of  Johan  Peter- How- 
erter, was  horn  on  the  homestead  Feb.  1,  1805, 
and  was  a  lifelong  farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  living  on  a  120-acre  farm  on  the  south 
side  of  Line  Mountain,  not  far  from  Howerters 
Church.  Tt  was  located  on  the  road  crossing  Line 
Mountain  to  Shamokin.  There  he  died  June  25, 
L878,  and  his  wife,  Mary  (Hepler).  born  Feb.  7, 
1808,  died  June  11.  L876.  They  are  buried  at 
Howerters  (liurch.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children:  Elias.  who  died  June  30,  1907,  aged 
seventy-nine  years,  three  months,  six  days,  lived 
in  Upper  Mahanoy,  and  his  only  child  was  Mary, 
now  the  wife  of  William  S.  Kahler.  of  that  town- 
ship; Catharine  married  Godfried  Sehreffier; 
Benneville  lives  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.;  Charles 
is  a  resident  of  Craw-ford  county.  TIL:  Jared  lives 
in  Shamokin,  Pa.:  Judith  married  Jacob  Conrad, 
and  they  live  in  Shamokin;  Luzena  and  Augustus 
died  young:  Amos  is  mentioned  below;  Aaron 
(deceased)   lived  in  Girardville.  Pennsylvania. 

Amos  Howerter.  son  of  Solomon,  was  born  Oct. 
2,  1844,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  was 
there  reared.  When  twenty-one  he  began  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  six- 
teen years  in  Upper  Mahanoy  and  at  the  coal  min- 


NORTHUMBEBLAND'  COUNTY,  PE.W'SVLVAN  I  \ 


,-r. 


in-  town-,  building  a  number  of  houses  ami  barns 
and  doing  work  at  the  breakers;  he  employed  as 
many  as  lour  men.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  be- 
gan farming  at  hi-  present  place  m  Upper  Ma- 
hanoy,  having  a  sixty-eight-acre  farm  on  tin.'  road 
leading  arm-  Line  Mountain  to  Shamokin,  be- 
sides which  he  owns  twenty-five  acres  of  moun- 
tain land.  He  built  the  house  on  his  home  prop- 
erty several  years  before  he  began  farming  there, 

I  all   the  buildings  are  of  his  construction  and 

the  first  to  he  built  upon  that  land.  He  put  up 
the  others  whin  he  settled  down  to  farming  there. 
Mr.  Howerter  ha-  been  a  useful  citizen,  has  served 
In-  township  three  years  as  school  director,  and 
ha-  been  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation of  Howerters  Union  Church,  to  which 
his  family  also  belong.  He  has  served  a-  deacon 
and  trustee,  i-  at  present  an  elder,  and  was  build- 
ing master. when  tin'  presenl  church  edifice  was 
erected.     In  politics  he  is  a  I >emocrat. 

()n  .Ian.  29,  1874,  Mr.  Howerter  married  Loui- 
sa Hahler,  daughter  of  George  Kahler,  who  lived 
in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  chil- 
dren a-  follows:  William  I.,  who  lives  on  a  tract 
of  fifty-four  ai  res  Eormerly  owned  by  his  ances- 
tor's brother,  Johan  Adam  Eowerter,  the  hitter's 
property,  however,  being  much  larger  in  extent; 
George  Monroe;  Catherine  X.,  who  married  Wil- 
son Wagner  and  lives  in  Shamokin;  Emma  L.; 
Mary    E.';    Edward  A.:  Amelia  M.,  and  Freeman 

A  lllns. 

George    Monroe    Howerter,  son  of    Amos,    was 

born  dan.  11.  1878,  on  his  father's  farm  and  ob- 
tained In-  education  in  the  common  scl Is  of  the 

locality.  He  worked  for  his  father  until  he  was 
past  twenty-one,  and  in  the  fall  of  L905  began 
farming  mi  his  present  place,  which  contains 
thirty-eight  acres,  near  the  Schuylkill  county  line, 
and  upon  which  lie  has  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements -nire  it  came  into  his  possession,  in- 
cluding the  summer  house  which  he  built  in  1909. 
This  property  was  first  owned  by  George  Geist, 
later  by  Daniel  Geist,  who  built  the  dwelling,  then 
by  William  Geist,  who  built  the  barn  in  1879, 
nid  subsequently  by  Daniel  Klock,  whom  Mr. 
Howerter  succeeded.  Air.  Howerter  sells  his  pro- 
duce in  -  .  and  he  is  a  good  business  man 
as  well  as  a  thrifty  farmer. 

On  May  31.  1902,  he  married  Amanda  Rebuck, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Rebuck)  Rebuck, 
and  granddaughter  of  Elias  and  Mary  (Beitz) 
Rebuck  and  of  (maternally)  Conrad  and  Luc] 
(Shott)  Rebuck.  Three  children  have  been  hern 
to  .Mr.  and  Airs.  Howerter:  Mary  Florence,  George 
William  and  Emma  Sylvia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  How- 
erter are  Lutheran  members  of  Si.  .Iamb's  (How- 
eiders)  Church  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township.  Po- 
liticallv  he  is  a  Democrat. 


ADAMs  in;  ADAM.  There  are  numerous  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Adam  or  Adams  family  in 
Northumberland  county.  Its  history  in  America 
goes  back  to  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  when  Anthony  Adam,  a  potter  by  trade, 
emigrated  to  -these  shores.  He  sailed  from  Rot- 
terdam on  the  snow  "Molly/5  commanded  by  Capt. 
John  Cranch,  which  vessel'  arrived  at  Philadelphia, 
and  the'  passengers,  having  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  English  sovereign,  were  qual- 
itied  to  land  Oct.  26,  1741.  Anthony  Adam's  age 
is  entered  on  the  passenger  list  as  twenty-five  years, 
and  one  account  says  he  was  born  in  the  Father- 
land, another  that  he  was  a  French  Huguenot. 
On  Feb.  7,  1748,  he  received  from  the  proprietaries 
of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  a  warrant  for  a 
tract  of  136  acres,  1  16  perches  of  land  in  Albany 
township,  then  a  part  of  Philadelphia  county. 
This  land  was  surveyed  for  him  by  the  surveyor 
general  of  the  Province,  June  6,"  1752.  It  is 
probable  that  he  settled  in  Albany  township  imme- 
diately after  his  arrival  in  the  New  World,  as  he 
was  a  settler  there  in  1752,  and  he  witnessed 
and  participated  in  the  trying  times  of  the  French 
and  Indian  wars.  His  farm  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  Nathan  Weisner,  of  Round  Top,  Albany 
township,  Berks  county.  On  Feb.  7,  1748,  he 
also  received  a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  135  acres, 
47  perches  "above  Maxatawny,"  and  in  1761  he 
sold  140  acres  of  his  land  in  Albany  township  to 
John  Reinhard.  He  was  administrator  of  the 
estate  of  Albreeht  Stimmel,  of  Albany  township, 
in  1766,  being  the  chief  creditor.  His  administra- 
tion account  was  audited  and  approved  in  De- 
cember. 176S.  The  date  of  death  of  Anthony 
(or  Andoni,  as  he  wrote  his  name)  Adam,  of 
Albany  township,  is  not  known.  Neither  do 
know  the  name  of  Ins  wife.  hut.  it  is  known  that 
he  had  sons:  Abraham,  Anthony  and  Bernhard, 
who  moved  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.;  and   Peter. 

Bernhard  Adam,  son  of  Andoni.  was  a  pio- 
neer in  Northumberland  county,  settling  in  Wash- 
ington township  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  a 
descendant,  \dam  Cornelius  Adam-,  and  ten- 
:  b\  the  latter's  son,  Clements  I.  Mams. 
It  has  been  in  the  family  for  li\i 
Bernhard  Adam  followed  farming.  lie  and 
his  wife  clung  to  the  Reformed  faith,  and  they 
are  buried  at  the  Him m el  Church.  They  had 
eight  children:  John,  who  had  son-  Gabriel  and 
Abraham:  Nicholas,  who  lived  at  Springville,  in 
Schuylkill   county    (his  wife's  maiden   name  was 

1 1  oil';!  I  :   (  'albarilie  ;   Absalom,  w  :  >ns    Nich- 

olas  and   Abraham,   the   latter  of  whom    lived   at 
I  [oofland,  in  Jordan  township :  Bernhard,  i  be  nexl 
in  the  line  we  are  tracing;  Charles,  who  man 
and  bad  children;  and  two  whose  names  arc  not 
known. 


SIS 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN N SYLVANIA 


Bernhard  Adam,  son  of  Bernhard.  was  born 
May  14,  1793,  in  Berks  county.  Pa,,  and  coining 
to  what  is  now  Washington  township,  North- 
umberland county,  married  Salome  Ferster  (or 
Fluster).  wIki  was  burn  June  3.  1796,  and  died 
Nov.  19.  1846.  He  died  Aug.  25,  1864,  and 
they  are  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church,  where 
they  worshipped,  being  members  of  the  Reformed 
congregation.  Bernhard  Adam  served  that  church 
officially  many  years,  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee. 
He  was  a  fanner  by  occupation,  owning  the  home- 
stead i if  his  father,  a  tract  of  139  acres,  now  owned 
by  Adam  Cornelius  Adams.  On  that  property 
he  built  a  barn  which  was  destroyed  by  lightning 
in  the  nineties.  He  took  great  delight  in  hunt- 
ing, and  shot  a  deer  in  the  district  where  many 
of  his  descendants  now  live.  A  bear  was  also 
one  of  bis  bunting  trophies,  anil  he  bore  an  ex- 
cellent reputation  as  a  marksman. 

The  following  children  wete  born  to  Bernhard 
and  Salome  Adam:  Polly  married  Jonathan  Heim 
ami  they  went  West;  [saac  never  married;  a 
daughter  who  married  Daniel  Klock  went  West. 
settling  in  Illinois:  Sarah  married  John  Held 
and  moved  out  to  Illinois;  Bernhard  is  men- 
tioned later:  Lena  married  James  Troutman; 
David,  born  April  1.  1837,  'lied  in  Washington 
township  July  Kb  1882,  and  is  buried  at  Him- 
meFs Church,  as  i-  also  bis  wife,  Harriet  Byerly, 
born  July  19,  1844,  died  Oct.  20,  1890;  Hannah 
married  Philip  Graser  and   moved   West. 

Bernhard  Adam,  son  of  Bernhard  and  Salome 
Adam,  was  the  third  of  the  name  to  own  the 
homestead  farm.  He  was  born  Nov.  5,  1827, 
in  Washington  (then  Jackson)  township,  and  died 
on  his  borne  farm  in  that  township,  Oct.  IT. 
1905.  A  lifelong  farmer,  he  prospered  in  his 
work  to  the  extent  that  be  acquired  three  farms, 
the  one  of  150  acres  on  which  he  lived,  ano 
of  12(i  acres  and  a  third  of  148  acres.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  HimmeFs  Church,  attending  services  regularly 
and  holding  all  the  church  offices.  His  wife. 
Matilda  (Zerfing),  daughter  of  Jacob  Zerfing 
(whose  wife  was  a  Klock),  was  born  March  25, 
L832,  and  died  Sept.  3.  1899.  They  were  the 
parents  of  sixteen  children,  namely:  Sallie  mar- 
ried Erisman  Adam:  Andrew  is  mentioned  below: 
James  Washington,  born  in  1853.  died  in  1891, 
unmarried:  Clinton  died  young:  Mary  married 
John  Tyson  and  they  live  at  Shamokin.  this 
county;  Lafayette  married  Catharine  Starr: 
Joseph  died  small:  Adam  Cornelius  is  mentioned 
below:  Turrell  died  when  young:  Monroe  married 
Emma  Fegley :  Cassie.  twin  of  Monroe,  mar- 
ried Henry  Crissinger.  and  is  deceased :  Samuel 
lives  in  Dauphin  county:  Jemima  died  young; 
Richard  lives  at  Gratztown,  Pa.:  Miranda  mar- 
ried Francis  Schlesel :  Jacob  died  out  West. 


Andrew  Adams,  son  of  Bernhard  and  Ma- 
tilda, is  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Washington 
township,  where  he  was  born  July  28,  1852.  He 
attended  subscription  school  near  his  home  until 
the  establishment  of  the  public  schools,  in  which 
be  was  a  pupil  for  about  eight  winters.  Reared 
to  farm  life,  he  worked  for  bis  parents  until  he 
became  of  age  and  about  IS?  7  began  farming 
at  bis  present  home,  having  a  ninety-acre  tract 
about  two  miles  south  of  Rebuck.  It  was  formerly 
i  Si  breffler  farm,  and  earlier  belonged  to  the 
Beissels,  and  the  barn,  which  is  very  old,  was 
built  by  a  Beissel.  There  is  a  stone  bouse  on  this 
farm  now  considerably  over  one  hundred 
old.  being  in  fact  the  oldest  landmark  in  this 
section.  The  wall  is  very  substantial,  and  it  is 
built  over  a  good  spring.  The  large  frame  house 
now  used  as  a  dwelling  was  erected  by  Mr.  Adam 
about  lvs5.  He  has  been  a  thrifty  farmer  and 
has  done  well,  and  be  bears  a  high  reputation 
among  bis  neighbors  and  friends.  He  is  an  active 
church  worker,  be  and  his  family  belonging  to 
the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  Himmel  Church, 
which   be  .-nit    -rving  as  elder:  he  for- 

merly held   tin  of  deacon.     Mr.  Adams  is 

a  Republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  Adams  was  first   married  to  Polly  Brosius, 
who  ■  Jan.  20,   L851,  daughter  of  Daniel 

and  Sarah  (Wenrich)  Brosius.  and  died  April 
17,  lssN;  she  is  buried  at  HimmeFs  Church. 
Of  the  children  born  to  this  union,  Jemima  died 
when  eight  months  obi;  Eva  married  Daniel 
Price;     and      several      died     in     infancy.       For 

•    second   wife   Mr.   Adams   married   Mrs.   Mary 
(Trautman)   Hoffman,  widow  oi  G  Hoffman, 

ami  they  have  had  one  son,  Leon  Thomas,  of 
"Washington  township.  who  married  Sallie 
Schraeder  and  has  one  son.  Daniel  R. 

\  i '  v  m  Cohxelius  Adams,  son  of  Bern- 
hard  and  Matilda,  also  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Washington  township,  was  born  Aug.  10,  1863, 
mi  the  old  homestead  of  the  Adan  -  imily.  He 
obtained  his  education  in  the  township  schools, 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  assisted  his  father  in 
horse  dealing,  butchering  and  huckstering  in  his 
earlier  manhood.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  began 
farming  for  himself  at  the  place  where  he  now  lives. 
a  farm  of  108  acres  which  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Reitzes.  first  to  Philip  Reitz  and  later  to  his  son 
Andrew  Reitz.  It  is  on  the  road  between  Rebuck 
and  Greenbrier.  Mr.  Adams  remodeled  the  house 
ami  enlarged  it.  and  in  1908  he  built  an  addition 
to  the  large  barn  erected  by  Philip  Reitz.  who 
al-o  built  the  house.  Mr.  Adams  also  owns  forty 
-  of  woodland,  and  his  father's  old  home- 
stead of  about  138  acres,  which  adjoins  his  own 
In mu'  farm,  and  which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
tracts  in  the  township.  His  son  Clements  now 
cultivates    it.      Mr.    Adams    is    a   Republican    in 


NORTHUMBERLA  N  I »  ( IOTJ  NT V.  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


849 


politics,  and  he  has  held  the  position  of  super- 
\  isor  of  the  township  for  some  time,  still  serving  m 
that,  capacity.  He  and  his  family  are  Reformed 
members  of  Himmel's  Church,  which  he  served 
as  deacon  and  elder  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  July  1,  1887,  Mr.  Adams  married  Mary 
Crissinger,  daughter  of  William  and  Susanna 
(Eebuck)  Crissinger,  of  Washington  township, 
and  they  have  had  four  children:  Clements  I.. 
George  C.,  Eugene  F.,  and  Mamie  8.  Clements  I. 
Adams,  who  farms  the  old  Adams  homestead, 
married  Annie  Adams,  of  Shamokin,  a  very  dis- 
tant relative,  and  they  have  one  son,  Sydney. 


Nicholas  Adam,  the  ancestor  of  a  large  number 
of  this  name,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  born 
July  5,  1758,  and  coming  to  Northumberland 
settled  in  the  Swabian  Creek  district,  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Washington  township.  He  was  a 
farmer,  owning  the  farm  which  later  became  the 
property  of  Isaac  Tryon,  a  large  tract,  and  he  also 
owned  what  are  now  the  farms  of  Nathan  Adams, 
Mrs.  James  Troutman,  Cornelius  Adams  and  Galen 
Stepp,  besides  land  along  the  Deep  creek.  In 
fact,  he  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  landowners 
in  his  section.  He  died  April  11,  1826,  and  is 
buried  at  Himmel's  Church  or  in  a  private  burial 
giound.  His  death  was  caused  by  consumption, 
[lis  sons  were:  John,  who  left  children  Gabriel 
and  Nathaniel;  Gideon,  mentioned  below;  Absa- 
lom; Nicholas,  who  left  children,  Abraham, 
Nicholas,  Adam,  and  daughters;  Adam,  who  died 
unmarried ;  Bernhard,  and  several  daughters. 

Gideon  Adams,  son  of  Nicholas,  was  born  in 
the  Swabian  Creek  district,  was  a  plasterer,  and 
followed  his  trade  in  addition  to  farming,  having 
a  tract  of  120  acres  located  along  the  Middle 
creek  in  Washington  township.  He  was  active 
in  the  interests  of  the  locality,  was  a  member  of 
the  'Republican  party,  served  as  supervisor,  and 
belonged  to  Himmel's  Church,  in  which  he  held 
office.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Solomon 
Campbell,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Elizabeth  married  Henry  Welker;  Julian  mar- 
ried Jacob  Welker  (brother  of  Henry);  Polly 
died  unmarried:  Jeremiah  is  mentioned  below: 
Molly  married  Benjamin  Daniel. 

Jeremiah  Adams,  son  of  Gideon,  is  buried  at 
Himmel's  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed 
member.  He  was  the  owner  of  the  homestead 
farm,  now  the  property  of  Helena  Troutman.  To 
him  and  his  wife  Hannah  (Wentzel),  daughter  of 
Abraham  Wentzel.  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Timothy  married  Louisa  Kutz;  Lucetta 
married  Andrew  Paul  and  (second)  Andrew 
Brosius;  Priscilla  married  Allen  WIest:  Louisa 
married  Tobias  Stroheeker;  Elizabeth  died  young; 
Erisman  married  Sallie  Adam;  Jeremiah  mar- 
ried Susan  Wolfgang;  James  E.  married  Sarah 
54 


J.  Haag;  Emanuel  is  mentioned  below;  Andrew 
M.  married  Ellen  Brosius. 

Emanuel  Adam,  a  prosperous  farmer  living 
along  the  Mahantango  creek  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  was  horn  July  88,  is;.",,  in  Washington 
township.  He  has  followed  fanning  all  his  life, 
and  in  _  1877  began  his  independent  career  as  a 
tenant  ill  Washington  township,  continuing  thus 
about  two  years.  The  second  year  at  that  place 
he  also  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  which 
he  followed  for  two  years,  and  then  for  two  years 
carried  on  farming  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  a  farm  of 
ninety-two  acres,  the  homestead  of  Christopher 
Colpha  (a  native  of  Berks  county).  In  1906  he 
purchased  the  place  in  Lower  Mahanoy  where  he 
at  present  resides,  a  tract  of  163  acres  which 
formerly  belonged  to  Emanuel  and  Peggy  Heckert. 
Mr.  Adam  is  an  energetic  man.  and  he  lias  made 
many  improvements  in  the  property  since  he  took 
possession,  notably  the  new  house  which  he  built 
in  1909.  He  is  a  good  manager  and  has  his  land 
under  profitable  cultivation,  adopting  new  meth- 
ods where  practicable  and  showing  thrift  and 
good  judgment  in  all  his  undertakings. 

In  1880  Mr.  Adam  married  Catharine  E.  Clark, 
of  Jordan  township,  daughter  of  Ed.  Clark,  who 
gave  his  life  to  his  country  during  the  Civil  war; 
Mrs.  Adam  never  saw  her  father.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adam  have  had  a  large  family,  viz.:  Clara  (mar- 
ried Charles  Boyer),  Charles  (deceased),  Oscar 
(married  Dora  Deibler).  James.  John,  Elmer, 
Milton,  Roy,  Sadie,  Harry,  Mark,  anil  Raymond. 
Mr.  Adam  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Trinity  Church  of  the  Evangelical  Association, 
and  he  has  been  quite  active  in  its  work,  having 
served  as  exhorter,  class-leader  and  trustee.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican. 


Absalom  Adam,  grandfather  of  Tobias  and 
Nathan  Adams,  farmers  of  Washington  township, 
was  evidently  a  son  of  Nicholas,  above,  and  lived 
to  an  advanced  age,  dying  about  L849.  lie  was  a 
farmer,  owning  property  which  is  still  in  the  family 
name,  the  farm  now  owned  by  bis  grandson. 
Nathan  Adams.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  Washington 
township,  wdiere  he  came  to  live  when  the  laud 
was    nearly    all    covered    with    timber,    settling    in 

the  bills  because   he   thought    g I    hay  could    he 

grown  in  the  valleys.  The  house  in  which  he  lived, 
near  the  mountain,  stood  for  many  years,  being 
lorn  down  by  Nathan  Adams  in  L908.  Mr.  Adam 
and  his  family  are  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church. 
Ilis  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wentzel  or 
Wetzel,  died  before  him,  being  stricken  with 
paralysis  while  engaged  in  sweeping.  She  wa 
advanced  in  years  at  the  time.  Ten  children 
were  born  to  this  couple:  Leah  married  Mr. 
Williams:  Eliza  married  . lames  Anders,  of  Miners- 


850 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ville:  Rebecca  married  Abraham  Bressler;  Sallie 
married  Peter  Howerter:  Jestina  married  Peter 
Baer;  Hannah  married  Henry  Sehroeder;  Gideon 
lived  in  the  Mahantaugo  Valley,  but  died  in 
Shamokin  when  over  eighty  years  old;  Nicholas 
is  mentioned  below;  Adam  lived  for  many  years  in 
Shamokin.  where  he  died  when  nearly  seventy: 
John,  who  had  lived  in  Illinois,  died  on  the 
field  of  battle  during  the  Civil  war. 

Nicholas  Adam,  son  of  Absalom,  was  horn  in 
Washington  town-hip  on  the  farm  now  oeci 
by  his  son  Nathan,  owned  that  property,  and  was 
a  lifelong  farmer,  though  he  learned  the  trade  of 
stonemason  and  followed  it  to  some  extent  in 
his  earlier  manhood.  He  died  March  4,  1889, 
aged  sixty-eight  years,  five  months,  twenty-six 
days,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  the  Himmel 
Church,  of  which  they  were  Reformed  members. 
He  served  his  congregation  as  deacon,  eldei 
trustee.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  His 
wife.  Elizabeth   (Schreffler),  died  Sept.  30, 

eighty-one   years,   live   months,   twenty-nine 
days.      They   had    children    as    follows:    "William. 
Tobias,  Sarah   (who  died  young),  John,   Nal 
and  Aaron  (dei  easi 

Tobias  Amns.  son  of  Nicholas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Schreffler)  Adam-,  was  horn  May  20,  L850, 
on  the  old  homestead,  lie  attended  school  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  old.  studying  at  the  sub- 
ption  schools  then  conducted  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  the  instruction  was  entirely  in  the 
1  man  language.  Working  for  his  parents  until 
about  the  time  he  attained  his  majority,  he  after- 
ward worked  for  other  farmers  .for  three  and  a 
half  years.  He  owns  a  thirty-five-acre 
mile  Rebuek,    in   Washington    township. 

which  was  fomerly  an  Eyster  homestead  and  later 
the  property  of  Rev.  Augustus  Bergner,  Mr. 
Adam-'-  law.      0)     -'  26,    L873,    Mr. 

I  Rev. 

Augustus     an 
nati  res  e  Fatherland  : 

the  others  in  this  country,  their  family  con-  - 
i   dldi  en.  Louisa,  Francis,  Hetrich,  An 
Luther   and    Odelia.      Rev.    Mr.    1'. 
Lutheran  minister,  and  preached  at  Mahanoy  and 
in  all  the  other  Lutheran  churches  in  tha 
To   Mr.   and   Mrs.   Adams   were  born   seven  chil- 
- :  flora  and  Rosa,  twin-,  the  former 

wife  of  Rufus  Sehwalm,  the  latter  the  v. 

Schaieltz;  Henry,  who  died  when  five  years 
old:  Katie  ami   Amelia,  twins,  the  latter  married 
to    William    Griffith;   and    Monroe.      The   n 
died    Dec.    5,    1906,    aged  ht   years,    five 

months,  three    days,    and     i-    buried     ai 

the  Himmel  Church.     Mr.  Adams  and,  hi-  family 

ship     with     t  m     at 

Himmel's   Church,   where   lie   is   now   serving  his 


d  term  as  elder.  He  was  a  deacon  for  some 
years. 

Nathan'  Adams,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Schreffler)  Adams,  was  born  Feb.  2.  1858. 
Hi  obtained  his  education  in  the  local  subscrip- 
tion and  common  schools,  and  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  working  for  his  parents  until  he  became  of 
age.  Since  1890  he  has  farmed  his  present  prop- 
erty, the  old  home  place,  having  one  hundred 
acres,  sixty  under  cultivation.  This  property  lies 
along  the  Middle  creek.  Mi-.  Adams  sells  his 
produce  at  Ashland,  running  a  huckster  route 
to  that  point,  where  he  makes  weekly  trips. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  be  and  his 
family  worship  with  the  Reformed  congregation 
at  Himmel's  Church.  Mr.  Adam-  i-  a  substan- 
tial citizen,  and  a  much  respected  member  of  his 
community. 

On  April  12,  1905j  Mr.  Adams  married  Mrs. 
Lena  (Wolfgang)  Klinger.  daughter  of  Daniel 
Wolfgang  and  widow  of  George  Klinger.  She  had 
liildren  by  her  first  marriage:  Oliver.  Wil- 
liam. Jennie,  Mary  (deceased),  Annie  and  Edith. 
Ao  children  have  been  born  to  her  union  with 
Mr.  Adams. 

WILLIAM    R.    IRVIN,    furniture    dealer   and 
undertaker  at  Mount  Carmel,  is  oi ;'  the  lead- 
ing men  in  hi-                business  in  this  section  of 
Pennsylvania.      He   has   owned    his    line    store    in 
the  borough  since  1906,  and  previous  to  that  for 
ti  partnership  with  his  father 
I  i  hut  a  yo 
man  he  has  had  long  and  valuable  experience  and 
i-   well   lined    to  i                        rasiness   along  the 
lin  -. 
Mr.    Irvin's  grandfather  was  horn   in   England 
and  on  coming  to  Ante                ed  at  Wilming 
Del.      Richard    B.    Irvin,    his    father,    located    at 
alia.   Columbia   Co.,   Pa.,  where  he  was  em- 
-  for  a  time.     Later  he  came  to 
Mmint  Carmel,  where  he  learned  cabinet  making. 
and  in  1870  he  engaged  in  bus  tbinet 

maker  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Oak  and 
Avenue  streets,  'there  he  constructed  the  first 
It.  the  first  a  very  crude  affair, 
the  second  a  substantial  vehicle  which  his  son 
rig  trips.  Mr.  Irvin  con- 
tinin  i  re   in  the  ss  until  he  sold 

oul   to  hi-  son   in    1906  and  retired,  now  making 
his    home    at     Germantown,    Philadelphia.      He 
i  n  Wier. 
William   R.    Irvin   was   born    Aug.    8,    1877,   at 
Mount  Carmel.  and  received  his  education  at  that 
.  graduating   from  the  high  school   in    1896. 
He  then   entered    the   Pittsburg   College  of  Em- 
balming,   where   he   remained    for   a   year,   fitting 
:    his  life  work.     Returning 
t'M-  ivas  his  fath  ir's  assistant  from 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEX  NSYLYANJA 


851 


thai  time,  m  1891  becoming  a  partner  in  the  busi- 
iii--.  nrhich,  as  previously  -mini,  he  bought  from 
his  lather  in  1906.  His  fine  store,  located  at 
Nos.  29-33  North  Oak  street,  has  a  larger  stock 
■  'I'  furniture  than  any  other  establishment  of  the 
kind  between  Williamspori  and  Reading,  and 
he  does  tli.'  largesi  furniture  business  in  his  part 
of  the  state.  His  goods  are  up-to-date  and  of 
high  quality,  and  his  patrons  appreciate  the  fact 
thai  the\  cm  obtain  as  desirable  a  -.'lection,  at 
reasonable  expenditure,  a-  the  stores  in  the  larger 
cities  afford.  I. ike  his  father.  .Mr.  Irvin  takes  ;l 
pride  in  making  his  house  a  synonym  for  the 
best  of  everything  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
line,  and  Ins  efforts  have  been  rewarded  with  a 
.la--  and  volume  of  trade  creditable  alike  to 
him  and  to  the  community  in  'which  his  busi- 
ness i-  ea rrii  d  on. 

Mr.  Irvin  married  Gertrude  Davis,  of  Shamokiu. 
i  In-  county,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three 
children:  William   D.,  Margaret  and   Richard. 

Sociallv  Mr.  frvin  belongs  to  the  Elks,  the  Odd 
Fellows  (and  Rebekah  degree),  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 
and  ike  Masons,  in  the  latter  connection  holding 
membership  in  Mounl  Carmel  Lodge,  X".  378, 
I-'.  t\  A.  M.,  Griscomb  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
I'  ice  "i  Peace  Chapter,  of  Ashland,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

CHARLES  \.  SENSENBACH,  of  Sunbury, 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
it  over  thirty  years,  and  since  the 
year  L895  has  been  foreman  of  the  blacksmith  de- 
partmenl  a1  Sunbury,  being  a  master  blacksmith. 
He  was  bom  April  6,  L861,  at  McEwensville, 
Northumberland  countv,  son  of  Charles  Sensen- 
bach. 

Godfrey  Sensenbaeh  was  a  native  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Get  iany,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania  via 
New  irork,  accompanied  by  his  cousin  Charles 
Sensenbacli.  They  were  redemptioners.  At  New 
York    thi  purchased    by    a    man    named 

Knauss,    from    Path.    Northampton    Co.,    Pa.,    to 
passage.     They  afterward  decided 
to   re  th  him,  ami   did  so  for  some  years. 

Charles  5  b  never  married.     Godfrey  Sen- 

senbacli succeeded  his  employer  as  butcher,  and 
.,,■,.  r  \\  . .  .  --".  di  '  continued  butchering 
.i  Bath,  Pa.,  until  after  the  building  of  the  Lehigh 
(■anal.  He  then  sold  out  the  business  and  m 
to  Roi  ii  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  lie  engaged 
in  the  mercantile,  hotel  and  boatbuilding  business 
until  the  panii  of  1857,  which  caused  him.  to 
fail.  After  the  panic  he  took  his  son-in-law, 
Charles  I1'  erline,  into  partnership,  but  the 
et  of  1862  wiped  mil  their  establishment. 
Godfri  Sensenbaeh  was  tall  and  well  built,  and 
was  a 'man  of  ability  and  energy,  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  His  wife  died 
about  1860,  and  he  died  during  the  early  sixties. 


aged  eighty  years:  he  is  buried  at  Trexlertown, 
l'a.  A  Large  family  was  born  to  this  couple: 
William :  John :  Israel :  Jacob,  who  located  in 
Northumberland  county;  Charles,  who  located  in 
Northumberland  county:  Daniel;  Stephen;  Jos- 
eph: -lames:  Sallie,  who  married  George  Heil; 
Polly,  who  became  the  second  wife  of  George  Heil 
and  lived  at  Trexlertown;  and  Rose,  who  married 
Charles  Deterline.  Joseph,  of  Freeland,  Pa.,  alone 
-a n  ives. 

Charles  Sensenbaeh  was  a  native  of  North- 
ampton county.  Pa.,  born  Aug.  8.  1820.  He 
came  thence  to  Northumberland  county,  and  after 
living  in  McEwensville  moved  to  Sunbury,  re- 
maining in  that  borough  until  1871.  He  died 
ai  Sunbury  July  27,  IMS.  and  is  buried  at  Mc- 
Ewensville. In  his  earlier  life  Mr.  Sensenbaeh 
was  a  cabinet  maker,  and  he  subsequently  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  painter.  1  Miring  his  residence 
in  Sunbury  he  became  quite  well  known,  serving 
as  member  of  the  council  from  the  old  "West  ward. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran 
in  religion.  His  wife.  Rosanna  Aralia  (Gold). 
daughter  of  David  Cold,  of  McEwensville  (who 
followed  farming  and  operated  a  grist  mill),  died 
Sept.  8,  1875,  aged  forty-eight  years,  three  months. 
They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children:  Cloyd  : 
Elizabeth,  married  to  Daniel  Paden  :  Emma,  mar- 
i  ied  to  1 1.  ( '.  Blank  ;  James  :  Augusta  :  ( lharles  A. : 
Elmer;  David:  and  six  who  died  young.  All 
this  family  were  born  at  McEwensville. 

Charles  -V.  Sensenbaeh  received  his  education 
in  the  public  ear  his  home.     In  1880  he 

M    learning    the    trade    of    blacksmith    in    the 
simp-    of    the    Pennsylvania    Railroad    Company, 
e  employ  he  had  entered  in  April,  1879,  and 
after    finishing    his    apprenticeship    continued    as 
journeyman    for   eleven    years,   being  promoted    to 

ireseni  responsible  position  m   1895.      \- 
iii;in  of  ill,'  blacksmith  department  he  has  thirty- 
under  his  direction.    Mr.  Sensenbaeh  com- 
mands i  lie  respi  ei  of  In-  assoi  iates  and  the  esi 

of  his  fellow  citizens  generally,  and  their  confidence 
in  hi-  integrity  and  ability  was  shown  in  his  elec- 
tion mi I    the   Fourth  ward,  in  which 

posh  He  lias  lived  in  Sun- 

hui'v  since  1871. 

Mr.  Sensenbaeh  married  Adalaid  Rhoads,  daugh- 
£  William  and  Hannah  K .  Rhoads,  and  sister 
of  Walton  F.  Rhoads,  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Sunbury.  Four  children  have  been  horn 
to  tin-  union:  William  11.  died  in  infancy;  Walton 
E.  R.  graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school 
in  1903  ami  is  now  employed  as  a  blacksmith  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  (he  i-  a 
member  of  the  Mas  -  '      ,'d  R.  had 

both  lee-  cut  off  in  an  aecideni  on  the  railroad 
and  died  live  hours  later,  when  fifteen  years  old; 
Rachel  is  the  only  daughter.  Mr.  Sensenbaeh  and 
his  famil  bers  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church 


^~i2 


NORTHUMBERLAND  (  IOUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


at  Sunbury.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
matters,  and  is  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
party.  He  gives  his  support  to  all  worthy  move- 
ments, particularly  those  affecting  the  advance- 
ment of  his  own  community. 

GEORGE  W.  TURNER,  Jr..  proprietor  of  the 
Eaxinos  Hotel,  was  born  in  1870  in  Longton, 
England,  son  of  George  W.  and  Annie  (Robinson) 
Turner.  His  grandfather  died  in  that  country  at 
the  age  of  106  years. 

George  W.  Turner,  the  father,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, where  he  owned  a  coal  wharf  and  also  en- 
gaged in  horse  dealing.  In  1876  he  came  to 
America  with  his  family,  landing  at  Philadelphia. 
and  he  has  lived  in  Northumberland  and  Schuyl- 
kill counties,  at  present  residing  on  a  farm  in  the 
latter  count}-,  near  Mowry  postoffice.  He  fol- 
lowed mining  for  some  time  and  also  dealt  in 
horses.  He  married  Annie  Robinson,  daughter  of 
Colonel  Robinson,  who  gained  considerable  fame 
because  of  the  part  he  took  in  the  Sack  war  in 
England.  Mrs.  Turner  was  born  on  the  ocean 
while  the  family  were  en  route  to  India,  in  which 
country  she  remained  until  fourteen  years  old, 
when  she  went  to  England,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner 
have  had  nine  children :  Mary,  Annie,  George  W., 
John  H.,  William,  Edith,  '  Martha,  Lillie  and 
Elmer. 

George  W.  Turner,  Jr..  came  to  America  with 
his  parents.  After  beginning  work  he  was  en- 
ployed  at  the  mines  for  some  time  and  then  en- 
d  in  the  butcher  business  and  the  baking  busi- 
ness which  he  followed  until  1909.  That  year  he 
erected  the  fine  apartment  building  at  Nos.  30-32 
Market  street,  Shamokin,  known  as  the  Turner 
building,  which  contains  forty-five  fine  rooms. 
Mr.  Turner  has  a  theater  on  the  first  floor  of  the 
building,  which  has  been  well  patronized  ever 
since  it  was  opened.  The  location  is  excellent, 
and  adds  considerable  to  the  value  of  the  structure, 
which  lias  proved  a  good  investment.  On  April 
9.  1910.  Mr.  Turner  became  proprietor  of  the 
"Paxinos  Hotel.'"  a  well  known  establishment,  one 
of  the  best  known  hotel  stands  in  the  county. 
He  i~  a  member  of  the  Independent  Fire  Com- 
pany. 

On  Feb.  I':.  1891,  Mr.  Turner  married  Sarah  C. 

Neumeister,    daughter    of    Charles    and    Elmira 

(Yoder)  Neumeister,  and  they  have  two  children. 

Sylvia  Y.    (married  to  William  E.  Haines)    and 

-i'  L. 

MIKE  MILLER,  of  Sunbury.  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  that  borough  since  1901  and  during  the 
few  years  of  his  location  there  has  established  a 
prosperous  business.  As  a  wholesale  dealer  in 
iron,  metal,  rags,  paper,  etc.,  he  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  dealers  in  his  line  in  this  section  of 
the  state,  having  a  large  establishment  between 
Seventh   and   Eighth   streets   and   the    Shamokin 


branch  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Philadelphia  & 
Eeading  railroads,  and  he  also  conducts  a  cloth- 
ing and  men's  furnishings  >tore. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  April  7,  1872,  in  Riga, 
Russia,  of  which  place  his  father.  Matthias  Miller, 
was  also  a  native,  born  in  1848.  The  father  came 
to  America  in  1888  and  was  engaged  as  a  fruit 
dealer  in  Eeading.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  having  a  store 
on  North  Ninth  street,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1890.  He  is  buried  in  the  Jewish 
cemetery  at  the  Green  Tree,  in  Cumru  township, 
Berks  county.  His  wife,  Annie  (Conn),  also  from 
Russia,  -till  resides  in  Eeading,  now  (1910)  sixty- 
nine  years  old.  She  is  familiarly  and  affectionately 
called  '"Grandma  Miller"  by  many  in  that  city. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthias  Miller  had  children  as 
follows :  Benjamin,  who  lives  at  Danville,  Fa. ; 
Minnie,  married  to  Morris  Brody.  of  Eeading: 
Mike:  Jacob,  of  Danville:  and  William,  who  died 
in  Denver,  Colo.,  and  is  buried  in  Cumru  town- 
ship, Berks  county. 

Mike  Miller  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
in  188S,  the  family  arriving  in  December.  He 
began  life  in  Beading^as  a  peddler  of  clothing, 
traveling  all  over  Berks  and  Montgomery  counties, 
ami  was  thus  engaged  for  twelve  years.  In  1901 
he  came  to  Sunbury  and  embarked  in  his  present 
line  of  business,  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  junk.  Mr. 
Miller  lias  extended  his  business  until  it  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  twelve  men  being  regularly  em- 
ed.  In  1907  he  erected  a  three-story  building, 
32x80  feet,  at  the  location  above  mentioned,  the 
site  'if  his  place  of  business  being  a  tract  150  by 
200  feet  in  dimensions.  Mr.  Miller  opened  up  a 
clothing  and  men's  furnishings  store  at  X".  •'!!". 
Market  street,  Sunbury.  in  April,  1911.  He  has 
prospered  by  industry,  excellent  management  and 
a  spirit  of  enterprise  which  has  well  merited  the 
reward  it  has  won.  He  i~  a  substantial  and  re- 
spected  citizen  and  has  the  good  will  of  all  who 
know  him. 

Mr.  Miller  was  naturalized  March  21.  1895, 
before  the  late  Judge  James  X.  Ermentrout  of 
Eeading,  is  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion  and 
quite  active  in  the  local  councils  of  the  party. 
rnally  he  belongs  to  the  Owls,  the  F.  O.  E.. 
Germania  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Conclave  and 
the  Encampment. 

On  Aug.  1,  1897.  Mr.  Miller  married  Eebecca 
Fink,  daughter  of  Morris  and  Annie  Fink,  of 
Eeading.  formerly  of  Eussia.  and  to  them  has  been 
born  a  family  of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
biers,  namely:  Morris.  Matthias,  Nathan, 
Mofly,  Solomon.  Abraham,  and  Sarah  and  Saul, 
twins. 

PATRICK  KEABXEY,  one  of  the  oldest  resi- 
dents of  Shamokin,  now  living  retired,  has  been 
a  citizen  of  that  place  since  1850.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war. 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


S53 


Mr.  Kearney  was  bom  March  15,  1828,  in 
County  Mayo,  Ireland,  son  of  Patrick  and  Bridget 
(Carey)  Kearney,  farming  people  of  that  county. 
The  father  lived  and  died  there.  His  children 
were :  Mathew,  who  died  in  Shamokin,  Pa. ;  Mary, 
wife  of  John  Devitt;  Patrick;  John,  who  died 
young,  in  Ireland;  Catherine,  wife  of  Patrick 
Carey;  Bridget,  who  died  young,  in  Ireland;  and 
Belinda. 

Patrick  Kearney  came  to  America  when  nine- 
teen years  old,  landing  at  Boston  May  2,  1847, 
and  during  his  first  fourteen  months  in  this 
country  remained  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 
He  then  came  to  Pennsylvania,  first  locating  at 
Scranton,  where  he  lived  for  two  years  before 
settling  in  Shamokin,  in  June,  1850.  For  thirty- 
Bve  years  after  coming  to  Shamokin  Mr.  Kearney 
was  engaged  at  mining,  for  several  years  working 
jii  the  Enterprise  colliery,  owned  by  the  late 
Thomas  Baumgardner,  of  Lancaster.  He  then 
engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account,  as  a 
bottler,  and  was  also  in  the  hotel  business,  con- 
tinuing same  until  his  retirement,  in  1903.  His 
home  is  at  Webster  and  Pearl  streets,  Shamokin. 
Mr.  Kearney  has  led  an  industrious  and  useful 
life,  and  is  highly  respected. 

On  Nov.  5,  1861,  Mr.  Kearney  enlisted,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  Company  D,  52d  Eegiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
three  years  in  the  Civil  war,  participating  in 
twenty-two  battles,  among  which  were :  Williams- 
burg,  Maj  5,  1862;  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  1S62; 
the  Seven  Days'  Fight,  including  Mechanicsville 
(June  26).  Sava-r  Station  (June  20).  White  Oak 
Swamp  (Jum  30),  and  Malvern  Hill  (July  1). 
The  command  then  went  to  Harrison  Landing, 
July  2,  remaining  there  until  Aug.  16,  then  to 
Yorktown,  where  they  remained  until  Dec.  29; 
and  south  to  MoTehead  City,  N.  C,  and  to  Hilton 
Head,  S.  C.  On  July  10,  1863,  Mr.  Kearney 
accompanied  the  command  to  Morris  Island,  under 
General  Gilmore,  taking  part  of  the  island,  after 
which  they  were  engaged  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Sumter,  and  on  Sept.  7,  1863,  failed  in  the  attempt 
to  take  Forts  Wagner  and  Gregg.  They  next  went 
to  Fort  Johnson,  July  3,  1864,  at  James  Island, 
S.  C,  and  Mr.  Kearney  was  one  of  fifty-four  men 
from  his  company  who  went  out  with  a  lieutenant 
one  night  on  a  hazardous  undertaking,  the  danger 
of  which  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  only 
seven  returned  alive.  ""Leaving  Morris  Island  Nov. 
9,  1864,  he  went  to  Hilton  Head,  where  he  received 
his  discharge  Nov.  15,  1S64.  He  had  the  unusual 
honor  of  having  his  discharge  papers  signed  by 
Commanding  Officer  Gen.  John  George  Foster.  Mr. 
Kearney  was  promoted  to  corporal  in  August, 
1862,  after  the  Seven  Davs'  Fight.  He  arrived  at 
his  home  in  Shamokin  Nov.  19,  1864,  with  an 
honorable  record,  and  without  having  suffered 
injury  in  his  long  term  of  service. 


On  Dec.  14,  1848,  Mr.  Kearney  was  married  to 
Miss  Catharine  McAndrew,  daughter  of  William 
McAndrew.  She  passed  away  July  27,  1892,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  and  is  buried  in  St. 
Edward's  cemetery.  Ten  children  were  born  to 
this  union :  Mary,  who  married  James  Laughlin 
and  (second)  Patrick  Hennessy;  Bridget,  who  is 
the  wife  of  James  Phelan;  Cecelia,  wife  of  Edward 
Earley;  Catharine,  at  home:  William  A.,  of 
Shamokin ;  Annie,  at  home ;  Margaret,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Patrick,  who  married  Alice  B.  Bitten- 
bender,  of  Shamokin;  Eleanora,  wife  of  Dr.  John 
Loftus,  living  in  Denver,  Colo.;  and  Agnes,  wife 
of  Henry  J.  Tanner,  of  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Kearney  is  a  member  of  Lincoln  Post,  No. 
140,  G.  A.  E.  He  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  faith, 
holding  membership  in  St.  Edward's  Church. 

EDWARD  HARVEY  FALCK,  an  enterprising 
young  farmer  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  oc- 
cupies the  farm  there  settled  by  his  great-grand- 
father, Jacob  Falck,  in  the  early  days. 

The  Falck  family  is  a  numerous  one  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  name  is  variously  spelled, 
Folek,  Folk  and  Falk  being  variations  of  the 
original  form.  For  many  years  it  has  been  es- 
pecially well  represented  in  Berks  county,  where 
the  Federal  Census  Eeport  for  1790  shows  George 
Folk,  Sr.j  and  George  Folk,  Jr.,  another  George 
Folk,  Jacob,  John,  two  other  Johns,  Johan  Wil- 
liam. Joseph,  St.,  and  Joseph,  Jr.,  Peter  and  Phil- 
ip Folk,  a  total  of  twelve  heads  of  families  there. 
The  same  authority  records  the  names  of  Fred- 
erick Folk  of  Philadelphia;  Daniel  Folk  of 
Chester  county :  Stephen  Folk,  of  Cumberland 
county :  and  a  George  Folk  of  Weisenburg  town- 
ship. Northampton  (now  Lehigh)  county,  from 
which  latter  descends  the  Northumberland  county 
branch  of  the  family.  This  George  Folk  had  (in 
1790)  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  one  of  these 
sons  being  Jacob,  who  is  said  to  have  settled  in 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county. 

Jacob  Falck  was  born  April  14,  1782,  in  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county 
about  1804.  locating  in  what  is  now  Upper 
Mahanoy  (then  Mahanoy)  township,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  his  great-grandson,  Edward  Harvey 
Falck.  This  tract  of  eighty  acres  was  all  wood- 
land at  that  time,  and  Mr.  Falck  built  a  small  log 
house  about  three  rods  north  of  the  site  of  the 
present  residence.  That  house  served  as  a  dwell- 
ing for  alioiit  fifty  years,  and  the  original  barn, 
which  stood  about  two  rods  east  of  the  present 
resilience,  served  until  1828.  in  which  year  the 
present  barn  was  built;  some  of  the  wood  from 
the  first  structure  was  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  new  one.  Jacob  Falck  died  Dec.  25,  1856, 
ami  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Church.  On  his  tomb- 
stone the  name  is  spelled  ■•Folk."'  but  his  descen- 
dants chose  to  write  the  name  differently,  most  of 


854 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


them  spelling  it  Falck;  one  grandson,  Richard, 
writes  it  Falk.  The  maiden  name  of  Jacob's  wife 
was  Eaubenhold  and  she  was  from  Snyder  county. 

She  is  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Solomon;  Lydia.  Mrs.  Snyder;  Sallie, 
Mrs.  Abraham  Fegley;  and  John,  who  died  young. 

Solomon  Falck.  son  of  Jacob,  was  bum  in  1808 
in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  where  his  grandson 
Edward  H.  Falck  now  lives,  and  owned  that  farm, 
following  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  He 
built  the  present  dwelling  there,  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson  and  family.  An  active  and  enter- 
prising citizen,  he  served  many  years  as  supervisor 
of  his  township  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  lie  was  prominent  in  the  Reformed 
congregation  of  St.  John's  Church,  being  one  of 
its  working-  members,  served  in  various  official 
capacities,  and  as  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee diil  his  share  when  the  present  church  edi- 
fice was  erected,  in  1853.  His  family  also  wor- 
shipped with  that  congregation.  In  politics  he 
wa-  a  Democrat.  His  death  occurred  in  1887. 
On  March  25,  1828,  Mr.  Falck  married  Salome 
Geist,  daughter  of  Andrew  Geist,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  eighteen  children.  \iz.:  Daniel,  born  in 
1830  (now  living  in  California):  Andraes,  Octo- 
ber, 1831:  Carolina.  1833;  Edward.  1834;  Mary, 
1835;  Sarah  Ann.  1838;  Salome.  L839;  Johannes. 
1841;  Molly,  1842;  Solomon.  1843;  Amanda, 
1848;  Jesse,  L850;  Jacob,  1851;  Richard.  If 
and  Harriet  and  three  others  who  died  young.  Of 
this  family, 

Richard  Folk  (as  he  spells  the  name),  born  at 
Greenbrier.  Northumberland  county.  Jan.  s.  1855, 
ued  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  and  when  twenty  years  old  commenced  to 
learn  cigarmaking,  which  fcradi  i  followed -for 
thirteen  years,  in  Philadelphia  and  in  Snyder 
county.  Pa.  He  resides  m  Dppi  r  Mahanoy  town- 
ship at  present.  He  married  and  has  two  children. 
Lloyd  and  John. 

John  Falck,  son  of  Solomon,  was  burn  Sept.  25, 
1841,  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  local 
i  ription  schools,  the  only  educational  institu- 
tions of  the  day  in  that  section.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  work  from  boyhood,  and  for  many  years  was 
engaged  hauling  lime  during  the  winters.  In  1866 
lie  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  on  the  old 
homestead,  of  which  he  retained  the  ownership 
until  1907,  on  Thanksgiving  Day  of  which  year  he 
moved  to  his  present  home,  on  the  road  between 
Rebuck  and  Leek  Kill.  Me  is  now  living  retired, 
having  been  in  poor  health  since  May,  1003.  Mr. 
Falck  has  always  led  an  industrious  life,  tending 
exclusively  to  his  own  affairs  and  refusing  offer-  of 
public  preferment,  although  he  was  active  in  church 
work',  lie  and  his  family  worship  at  St.  John's 
Church,  where  he  held  office  as  deacon  and  elder 
for  twenty  rears  in  succession.    In  18GT  be  married 


Lovina  Si  ■  '  da  _  tei  of  John  ami  Salome 
(Rebuck)  Sehreffler,  and  they  have  had  a  large 
family,  viz.:  Cora  married  William  Derrick,  of 
Shaniokiu :  Oscar  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin :  Wil- 
liam S.  is  mentioned  below;  Ella  is  deceased:  Jane 
married  Frank  Engel,  oi  Sunbury,  this  countj  ; 
Emma  is  deceased;  one  -on  died  in  infancy:  Ed- 
ward Harvey  is  mentioned  below;  Addie  is  the 
wife  of  John  Reitz :  Flora  is  deceased:  Sallie  mar- 
ried Francis  Oxenreider. 

William  S.  Falck  was  born  on  the  hi 
June  '.'?.  lsT4.  and  was  reared  there,  meantime  re- 
ceiving his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  district.  Later  he  attended  the  academy  at 
Berrysburg.  In  1901  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self, in  that  year  purchasing  his  present  farm,  a 
tract  of  fifty  acres  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
on  the  mad  between  Rebuck  and  Leek  Kill.  He 
has  lived  there  since  1898.  In  the  early  day-  it 
was   a    Rhone    lion  later   owned    by   -1 

Kauffman,  from  whom  John  Falck  purchased  it: 
William  S.  Falck  acquired  it  from  his  father.  He 
ha-   made  various   improvements  on  the  property 

since  it  came  into  his  ownership,  and  he  is  on 

the  substantial  and  reliable  agriculturists  of  his 
locality,  lb  has  served  his  township  six  years  in 
the  capacity  ol  assessor.  On  Sept.  in.  1898,  lie 
married    l\  -    loffstall,  daughter  of  David  and 

Hannah   -  -  i   Si  hoffstall,  and  they  have  had 

six  children:  Charles  If..  Gladys  E.,  Florence  E., 
John  D.,  Harry  D.  and  Hannah  L.  Mr.  Falck 
and  his  famih  worship  at  St.  John"-  Church,  of 
which  he  i    member,  and  Mrs.  Falck 

a  Lutheran  member.  Hi  served  four  years  as 
deacon.      In   politics   Mr.   Falck  is  a  Democrat. 

Edward  Harvi  Palek  was  born  March  12,  1880, 
on  the  farm  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  which  he 
now  owns  and  cultivates.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  district  and  was  brought  up 
a  farmer,  working  for  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  majority.  In  the  spring  of  1908  he  b 
farming  on  the  old  Falck  homestead,  which  he 
purchased  that  year  from  his  father,  the  property 
being  a  valuable  and  fertile  tract  of  eighty  acres. 
H  ■  an  i  '  igetic  and  progressive  man.  and  has 
done  excellent  work  on  tins  land,  which  shows  the 
_      1  care  it  receive-. 

On  Jan.  -.'n.  1906,  Mr.  Falck  married  Agnes 
Brown,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Sarah  (Brown) 
Brown,  of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Harvey  Lester.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Falck  are 
Reformed  members  of  St.  John's  Church,  which  he 
is  at  present  sen  ing  as  deacon. 

JOSEPH  LAMBRIGHT,  a  farmer  of  Rocke- 
feller township  who  has  made  his  home  there  since 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  this  country  from  Ger- 
many, is  a  self-made  man  who  has  won  prosperity 
and  standing  by  his  own  industry,  and  his  honor- 
able position  in  the  community  shows  how  well  his 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


855 


fellow  residents  there  think  he  deserves  his  re- 
ward. He  was  born  July  5,  1865,  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  of  which  kingdom  his  parents, 
Wendling  and  Elizabeth  (Cans)  Lambright,  were 
also  natives.  They  were  farming  people,  and  lived 
and  died  in  Wurtemberg.  Of  their  ten  children, 
six  still  survive:  John  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead hi  Germany;  Josephine,  .Mary  and  Caroline 
are  married  and  living  in  Germany;  we  have  no 
record  of  ( larl. 

Joseph  Lambrighl  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
land.    A1  of  seventeen  he  came  to  America, 

landing  at  New  York  City  on  August  24,  1882, 
and  thence  proceeding  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  two  days.  He  was  next  at  Lock  Haven, 
Pa.,  for  two  weeks,  thence  going  to  Renovo,  Pa., 
where  he  found  work  in  the  ear  shops  and  con- 
tinued for  two  years.  He  has  since  lived  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  Northumberland  county.  He  en- 
teral the  employ  of  John  Wirt,  a  farmer,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  fifteen  years,  ten  years  be- 
fore his  marriage  and  five  years  afterward,  his 
three  sons  having  been  bom  on  the  Wirt  farm.  In 
1899  he  purchased  his  present  place  of  seventy 
;k  res  in  Rockefeller  township,  where  he  follows 
general  farming.     Mr.  Lambright  commenced  life 

in    this   c try   with   no  capital   but   his   honesty 

and  industry,  but  he  lias  done  well,  his  energy  and 

g I  management  having  brought   him  prosperity 

and  the  respei  I  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  at 
present  serving  his  second  term  as  school  director 
of  his  township,  and  has  been  a  valued  member  of. 
the  Reformed  congregation  at  Zion's  Union 
Church,  Augustaville,  having  served  many 
a-  a  ne  mber  of  the  church  council.  His  family 
an  also  members  of  that  church.  In  polities  Mr. 
Lambright  is  a  Republican. 

On  Dee.  25,  1893,  .Mr.  Lambright  married  Har- 
riet Raker,  daughter  of  George  ami  Eliza  (Yordy) 
Raker,  and  to  them  have  been  born  four  children, 
three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Ralph,  who  died  when 
two  years  old:  two  sons  thai  died  in  infancy;  and 
Mary  E. 

Tm:  Raker  Family,  of  which  Mrs.  Lambright 
i-  a  member,  formerly  lived  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  was  for  some  time  located  at  the 
"Block  House"  in  the  Wyoming  Valley.  After  the 
danger  of  Indian  attacks  had  passed  three  broth- 
ers, Jacob,  George  and  Or.  John  Raker,  settled  in 
Augusta  (now  Rockefeller)  township.  Northum- 
berland county. 

Jacob  Raker,  born  May  1.  1788,  died  in  Rocke- 
feller township  Aug.  19.  1851.  He  married  Mrs. 
Mary  (Krissinger)  Long,  who  hailed  from  Berks 
county,  and  was  the  widow  of  Daniel  Long's  father. 
She  was  horn  Aug.  13.  ITS'?,  and  died  Feb.  15, 
1848.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Raker  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Jacob,  who  died  suddenly;  Sol- 
omon; George  J.,  who  lived  and  died  near  Seven 
Point-,  in  Rockefeller  township;  Lovina,  Mrs.  Dan- 


iel Maliek;   Mrs.   Henry  Keiser;   and   Mrs.   John 
Hoover. 

Solomon  Raker,  -on  id'  Jacob,  died  Feb.  6,  1897, 
aged  seventy-five  years,  eleven  months,  ten  days. 
His  first  wife,  Elizabeth  (Dornsife),  died  Nov. 
28,  1878,  aged  fifty-six  years,  six  months,  twenty- 
one  days,  and  he  subsequently  married  the  widow 
of  Paul  Hollenbach.  Six  children  were  loin  of 
the  first  marriage:  Elias  (1843-1864),  who  died 
at  Hampton  (Va.)  hospital  from  wound-  received 
in  battle  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war:  John: 
Martin  (1852-1907),  who  married  Louisa  Conrad 
(1852-1902);  Susan,  Mrs.  Jesiah  Dunkelberger ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Emanuel  Conrad:  and  Harriet,  who 
died  unmarried.  One  daughter.  Gertrude,  was 
born  io  t  he  second  union. 

George  Raker,  the  second  of  the  three  brothers 
mentioned,  had  children  as  follows:  Jonathan, 
who  lived  and  died  at  Sunbury ;,  George ;  Samuel; 
Daniel:  Peter:  Catharine,  Mrs.  William  Yordy; 
and  Sarah,  who  never  married. 

George  Raker,  son  of  George,  was  born  Nov.  16, 
1831.  and  died  May  18,  1894,  aged  sixty-two  years, 
six  months,  two  days.  He  married  Eliza  Yordy, 
who  wa-  horn  July  5,  1830.  daughter  of  JoeJ  and 
Rebecca  (Hummel)  Yordy,  and  though  past  eighty 
is  well  preserved,  mentally  and  physically.  She  is 
living  with  her  daughter  and  son-in-law,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lambright.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  George  Raker:  Isaac,  who  died  in  his 
eighth  year:  Lafayette,  who  died  in  his  fourth 
year,  these  -oris  passing  away  within  a  week:  Har- 
riet, Mrs.  Joseph  Lambright;  and  Wilson,  who 
married  Mary  Jane  Reitz,  and  died  Oct.  8,  1900, 
aged  thirty-two  years,  -ix  months,  four  days. 

Dr.  John  Raker,  brother  of  Jacob  and   Gi   n 
was  horn    Nov.  6,   1805,  and  died  April  P.'.   C 
A  large  monument  marks  his  resting-place  at  Zi- 
on's Church,  Augustaville.    His  wife  Sara-. 
ter  of  William  Bartholomew,  was  born  March  1'.'. 
1812,  and  died  Oct.  14,  1885.     She,  too.  is  buried 
at  the  Augustaville  Church.    They  resided  at  Au- 
gustaville, in  Rockefeller  township,  and  he  hail  a 
large  practice,  having  a  high  reputation  as  "a  com- 
petent and  skillful  ""old  school"  practitioner.  Their 
children  were:     Dr.  William,  who  died  in  August, 
1910,  at  Uniontown,   Pa.:   Kate,  wife  of  Azariah 
Kreeger;   Dr.   Henry  Morris,  who  died   June  19, 
1908,  aged   sixty-eight  years,  one  month,  twenty- 
four  days:  and  Lizzie,  who  died  unmarried  in  1909. 

JAMES  H.  SMITH,  foreman  in  the  blacksmith 
shop  of  the  American  Car  and  Foundry  Company, 
and  the  oldest  employee  of  that  company  in  poinl 
of  service  at  Milton,  Pa.,  was  horn  in  Turbut  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  Sept.  28,  1848,  son 
of  James  R.  Smith. 

James  Smith,  hi-  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Northampton  county.  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing near  Bangor,  and  where  he  died.    He  married 


856 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Margaret  Smith,  who  also  died  in  Northampton 
county.  They  had  four  children,  namely :  Mary, 
who  died  unmarried;  Isabella,  who  married  Sam- 
uel Horn;  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Pvsher: 
and  James  E. 

James  E.  Smith,  son  of  James  and  father  of 
James  H.  was  born  in  Northampton  count}',  and 
in  his  young  manhood  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade.  After  his  marriage  he  came  to  Northum- 
berland county,  and  settling  in  Turbut  township, 
there  followed  farming  for  several  years.  He  then 
located  in  Milton  and  here  resumed  work  at  his 
trade,  continuing  at  it  during  the  remainder  of  his 
active  days.  He  died  at  Milton  and  is  buried  in 
the  Upper  Cemetery.  He  married  Margaret 
Young,  who  was  born  in  Northampton  county,  and 
died  in  Milton.  They  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children  :  Ellen  E..  who  married  Samuel 
Long,  and  has  three  children,  Finnic  M.  (of  Mil- 
ton, and  a  Past  Master  of  Milton  Lodge  No.  256, 
F.  &  A.  M.),  Laura  S.  and  Charles;  James  II.: 
Mary  E.,  unmarried  :  Clara  A.,  who  married  Frank 
Hinshelwood,  and  lives  at  Seattle,  Wash. ;  Jose- 
phine, who  married  Frank  Bond,  of  Philadelphia ; 
and  Luther  C,  of  Selinsgrove,  who  has  a  son 
Frank. 

James  H.  Smith  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Turbut  township  and  at  Milton,  and  in  his  six- 
teenth year  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
at  the  car  shops.  This  was  in  1363,  and  in  1878 
he  became  foreman  of  that  department,  a  position 
he  has  held  ever  since.  It  is  given  to  but  few  men 
to  work  for  their  entire  active  life  for  one  company, 
and  this  speaks  in  highest  terms  of  both  employer 
and  employee.  Mr.  Smith,  it  goes  without  say- 
ing, is  a  skilled  workman,  faithful  in  the  perform- 
ance of  his  work,  and  loyal  to  his  company. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  prominent  Mason.  He  was 
master  of  Milton  Lodge  No.  256.  F.  &  A.  M..  in 
1877 ;  is  past  high  priest  of  Warrior  Run  Chapter. 
No.  246,  R.  A.  M..  Watsontown:  member  of  Ml. 
Hermon  Commandery,  No.  85,  K.  T.,  Sunbury: 
Adoniram  Council.  No.  26.  Williamsport :  and  Wil- 
liamsport  Consistory,  32d  degree.  In  1879  he  be- 
came treasurer  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  and  that  office 
he  has  filled  without  intermission  to  the  present 
lime.  On  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his  elec- 
tion the  Lodge  presented  him  with  a  beautiful  gold 
Masonic  ring. 

In  other  ways  Mr.  Smith  has  given  testimony 
of  his  right  to  be  termed  a  good  citizen.  He  has 
been  a  most  valuable  member  of  the  Board  of 
Health,  and  has  freely  given  of  his  time  to  the  fur- 
thering of  every  movement  tending  toward  the 
moral  and  material  growth  of  his  town.  In  his  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  Methodist,  and  for  twenty  - 
n  years  served  as  treasurer  of  the  Church,  and 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty-three  years  he  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school.  He  never 
married. 


JOHN  A.  CROSS,  coal  and  ice  dealer  of  Sun- 
bury,  Northumberland  county,  has  been  engaged 
in  that  business  from  early  manhood  and  enjoys  a 
prosperous  trade,  which  he  has  built  up  by  honor- 
able dealing  and  satisfactory  service.  He  was  born 
in  Sunbury  April  7,  1874.  and  is  a  son  of  George 
W.  Cross. " 

Mr.  Cross's  great-grandparents  lived  in  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley,  near  Troy.  N.  Y.,  and  died  when 
comparatively  young,  leaving  three  children:  Den- 
nis, a  farmer,  who  settled  in  Bradford  county,  Pa., 
and  there  married  a  Miss  Webster  (he  is  buried 
near  his  old  homestead) ;  Hannah  E.,  Mrs.  Con- 
nors, who  lived  in  northern  New  York;  and  Au- 
gustus. 

Augustus  Cross,  grandfather  of  John  A.  Cross, 
was  born  in  1811  near  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  small 
■  -  when  his  parents  died.  About  1810  he  moved 
from  New  York  State  to  Pennsylvania,  making  the 
journey  with  teams,  and  settled  in  Bradford  coun- 
ty, where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
in  1882.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  a  small  farm, 
where  he  spent  all  his  later  years,  previous  to 
which  he  had  also  followed  shoemaking  and  stone 

sonry.     He  held  local  office,  and  was  a  useful 

citizen.  Mr.  Cross  married  Margaret  Teller  Whit- 
lock,  who  was  born  in  1819,  and  died  in  1890, 
and  they  are  buried  in  Canton  township,  Bradford 
county.  They  had  ten  children,  as  follows:  Han- 
nah E.,  Catharine  M..  Margaret  J.,  Thomas  D., 
William  D.,  George  W.,  Perkins  A.,  Mary  R., 
.Phoebe  A.  and  Imogene.  Mrs.  Margaret  Teller 
(Whitlock)  Cross  was  one  of  the  descendants  of 
Anneke  Jan-,  heirs  to  the  famous  estate  including 
the  Trinity  Church  property,  in  Xew  York  City, 
which  has  so  long  been  a  matter  of  dispute. 

George  W.  Cross,  son  of  Augustus,  was  born 
Sept.  3;  1847,  in  Canton  township,  Bradford  Co., 
Pa.,  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
there,  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  1863.  Then. 
though  (inly  sixteen  years  "Id.  he  enlisted  for  serv- 
ice in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany C,  30th  Regiment.  Pennsylvania  Emergency 
Men,  with  which  he  served  six  weeks  during  the 
emergency.  He  was  at  Carlisle  the  night  the  Con- 
federates burned  the  barracks.  Returning  home  to 
the  farm,  he  remained  there  until  February,  1864. 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  B.  8th  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  serving  as  a  private  in  that  command 
under  Grant  and  Gregg,  from  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness  to  Appomattox.  He  received  his  sec- 
ond honorable  discharge  Aug.  20,  1865.  Mr.  Cross 
went  back  to  the  farm,  and  worked  at  agricultural 
pursuits  and  in  the  lumber  woods  until  May  1. 
1871.  when  he  came  to  Sunbury  and  at  once  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Company,  as  brakeman.  The  following  year  he 
became  a  fireman,  and  in  1S79  was  made  engineer, 
serving  as  such  until  incapacitated  by  blindness, 
brought  on  by  nervous  dyspepsia,  in  1906.     Mr. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


S57 


( Iross  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  employee  through- 
out his  active  years  and  is  still  retained  on  the 
payroll  of  the  company.  He  is  a  well  known  resi- 
dent of  Sunbury,  particularly  in  fraternal  circles, 
being  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  which  he  joined 
when  twenty-two  years  old;  a  Mason,  having  joined 
Bloss  Lodge,  No.  350,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Blossburg, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  in  June,  1870;  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  416,  K.  of  P.,  of  Sunbury,  which  he  served  as 
treasurer  for  a  number  of  years,  until  his  blind- 
ness prevented  further  service;  a  charter  member 
■of  True  Cross  Commandery,  No.  112,  Knights  of 
Malta,  of  Sunbury,  of  which  he  was  first  treasurer, 
holding  that  office  eight  years ;  a  member  of  Lieut. 
William  A.  Brunei-  Post,  No.  335,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
a  member  of  the  Veteran  Railroad  Association  of 
the  Eastern  and  Susquehanna  Division.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Republican. 

On  Sept.  3,  1870,  Mr.  Cross  married  Amelia  A. 
Williams,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Margaret  (Har- 
ris) William-,  of  Blossburg,  Pa.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union,  namely:  George 
M.,  of  Westchester,  Pa.;  John  A.;  William,  who 
died  in  infancy:  and  Harry  P.,  who  married  Ber- 
tha Seaman,  of  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and  has  one 
sun,  George  Perkins.  The  family  live  in  the  home 
at  Sunbury  erected  by  Mr.  Cross  in  1884. 

John  A.  Cross  attended  public  school  in  Sun- 
bury,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1891. 
He  ami  his  brother  George  M.  carried  on  the  ice 
business  in  partnership  until  1897,  when  John  A. 
Cross  purchased  the  brother's  interest,  and  has 
since  conducted  the  business  alone.  Meantime,  in 
1894,  lie  had  enlarged  his  experience  in  that  line 
by  working  fur  a  time  for  the  old  Knickerbocker 
[ce  Company,  in  Philadelphia.  Since  1S95  he 
has  bad  a  retail  coal  business,  and  at  present  he 
keeps  four  teams  busy,  doing  a  prosperous  business 
in  both  lines,  and  holding  his  trade  by  upright. 
methods.  He  is  well  thought  of  in  the  commun- 
ity, and  has  served  two  terms  in  the  borough  coun- 
cil. Mr.  Cross  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
fraternally  a  member  of  several  secret  organiza- 
tions. 

On  Oct.  26,  1908.  Mr.  Cross  married  Cora  M. 
Mertz,  of  Northumberland  borough,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  F.  Mertz  (who  died  in  April,  1910)  and 
a  granddaughter  of  George  Mertz.  who  was  born 
in  Berks  county,  coming  to  this  county  along  with 
the  Hummels  and  Hilbishes. 

Peter  Mertz.  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Cross, 
was  a  pioneer  of  Union  county,  Pa.  He  settled 
near  Freeburg,  and  went  to  farming,  his  farm  con- 
sisting of  112  acres.  He  is  buried  at  Freeburg. 
Pa.  He  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows :  a 
Mrs.  Straub:  Catharine,  who  married  (first)  a  Mr. 
Brown  and  (second)  a  Mr.  Heimbach;  Peggy, 
Mrs.  Snell ;  Philip,  who  lived  near  Lewistown.  Pa. : 
John,  who  lived  at  Freeburg;  Peter,  who  lived  at 
Freeburg:  and  George. 


George  Mertz  was  born  in  April,  1831,  near 
Freeburg,  Pa.,  and  he  died  Sept.  17,  1887,  aged 
sixty-six  years.  He  is  buried  at  Northumberland, 
Pa.  He  was  a  wheelwright,  after  his  marriage  go- 
ing into  the  mercantile  and  hotel  business  at  Free- 
burg. He  then  came  to  Northumberland,  Pa.,  and 
lived  in  Point  township,  following  farming  there 
until  three  years  before  his  death,  when  he  re- 
1 1  red  to  the  borough.  He  had  a  farm  of  110  acres, 
part  of  which  is  still  in  the  family  name.  He  was 
a  Republican  and  was  school  director  many  years, 
being  also  auditor.  A  man  of  intelligence  and  in- 
tegrity, he  was  influential  in  bis  community  and 
took  an  important  part  in  all  local  matters.  He 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  married  Amelia,  born  in  1823,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Hummel  (1788-1869)  and  his 
wife  Catharine  (Hilbush)  (1795-1868).  She  died 
in  1880.  The  children  of  George  Mertz  were: 
Mary  E.,  who  married  Hammond  Ebodenbaugh; 
Catharine  A.,  twin  to  Mary  E.,  who  married  Cyrus 
Walter:  Benjamin  Franklin,  father  of  Mrs.  Cross; 
Emma  J.,  who  married  George  Long;  William  H. ; 
George  Albert  and  John  Peter,  the  latter  dying 
aged  seven  months;  John  Philip;  A.  Amelia,  who 
married  Peter  Mertz,  her  cousin,  both  dying  a  few 
years  after  marriage;  Sarah  I.,  who  is  unmarried  : 
Lillie  V.,  who  married  Charles  Biehl;  Amos  A.  and 
Flora  E.,  Mrs.  Benner :  and  Adda  C,  who  married 
Harry  Jacoby. 

William  H.  Mertz,  born  June  6,  1853,  became 
a  florist  of  note.  He  married  Jan.  8,  1878,  Eme- 
line  Moyer,  daughter  of  George  Moyer,  and  they 
had  nine  children:  Adelia  A.,  Mabel  I.,  Mary  E., 
George  P.,  Ruth  E.,  Blanche  E.,  William  H.,  Jr., 
Boyd  F.  and  Harold  R. 

FI?ED  F.  KUMER,  of  Shamokin.  has  built  up 
a  fine  business  as  a  contractor  in  the  line  of  cement 
and  concrete  work  since  he  established  himself  in 
the  borough  in  1899.  He  is  a  native  of  Wurteni- 
berg,  Germany,  born  July  5,  1869,  son  of  Joseph 
Kumer,  who  was  superintendent  of  a  cement  plant 
in  the  Fatherland.  Joseph  Kumer  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1888,  settling  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  in  1896.  He  married 
Maria  Bauer,  also  of  Germany,  who  died  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1904.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Theresa.  Mary,  Franciscos,  Anna.  Fred  F.  and 
Louisa. 

Fred  F.   Kumer  recched    a   u 1   education  in 

the  schools  of  his  native  land  and  there  also 
learned  the  making  of  cemenl  and  concrete.  Com- 
ing to  this  countrv  when  little  more  than  a  boy,  be 
landed  at  New  York  City  in  March.  1885,  and  for 
some  time  after  his  arrival  followed  bis  trade  at 
Philadelphia,  removing  thence  to  Bloomsburg,  Pa., 
where  he  did  considerable  work  in  that  line.  In 
1899  he  came  to  Shamokin.  where  he  has  since 
made   his  home.     He  has  had   a   number  of  im- 


358 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


portant  contracts,  and  employs  from  ten  to  fif- 
teen men.  his  work  including  the  laving  of  cement 
curbing,  coping,  steps,  cellar  and  stable  floors,  and 
improved  artificial  -tone  pavements.  He  built  his 
own  line  residence,  at  No.  913  West  Arch  street 
in  1908,  and  there  he  also  has  his  business  head- 
quarters. His  high-grade  work  is  bringing  him 
a  steady  and  lucrative  patronage. 

On  Feb.  21,  1895,  Mr.  Kumer  married  Margar- 
ita Malfaeira,  who  is  of  French  and  Italian  de- 
scent, and  they  have  live  children:  Joseph  Jol 
Frank  F.,  Mary  Elizabeth.  Christian  William  and 
Vincent  Paul.  Mr.  Kumer  is  a  member  of  St. 
Edward's  Catholic  Church  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus. 

ROBERT  J.  ROUSH,  of  Milton.  Northumber- 
land county,  is  engaged  as  an  engineer  on  the  Phil- 
adelphia &  Reading  railroad,  his  run  being  on 
the  Shamokin  division.  He  is  a  native  of  L 
Augusta  township,  this  county,  born  duly  14.  1870, 
and  i  a  family  long  settled  in  the  State  of 

Pennsylvania, 

David  Roush,  great-grandfather  of  Robert  J. 
Roush,  lived  and  died  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  county. 
Hi-  children  were  Nathan  and  Isaac. 

Nathan  Roush,  son  of  David,  was  a  well  known 
truck  farmer  in  Juniata  county,  where  he  died. 
He  and  his  wife  had  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Wilson  was  the  father  of  Robert  J.  Roush;  Elmer 
lives  at  Shamokin.  Northumberland  county:  Dan- 
iel lives  in  Snyder  county:  Edward  lives  in  Sha- 
mokin: Fred,  of  Sunbury,  married  Jane  Downey 
and  they  have  children.  Frances.  Harry.  Clarence, 
Roy  and  Daniel ;  Caroline  i-  deceased  :  Annie  mar- 
ried John  Walter;  Agnes  married  James  Reinert. 

Wilson  Roush  was  born  in  Snyder  county,  and 
now  lives  at  Winfield,  Union  Co..  Pa.  He  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company  for  a  period  of  twenty-two  years. 
He  married  Malirn  Sei  ■-.  and  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  -in-,  namely:  Robert  J..  Joseph, 
Boyd  and  Stillwell. 

Robert  J.  Roush  attended  public  school  at  Win- 
field  and  followed  farm  work  during  his  early  man- 
hood, continuing  thus  until  be  was  nineteen  years 
old.  At  the  ai;«-  of  twenty  he  came  to  Milton,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company,  beginning  as  a  repairman. 
Later  he  was  on  the  gravel  train,  and  then  worked 
as  brakeman  for  a  time,  becoming  an  engineer 
when  only  twenty-five  years  old.  He  has  hern  on 
Shamokin  division  throughout  his  service  as 
engineer.  Mr.  Roush  is  a  reliable  and  trust- 
worthy man.  a  respected  citizen  of  his  home  place, 
and  well  known  among  his  fellow  engineers.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  the  F.  0. 
E.  and  the  Bri  i  od  of  Locomotive  Engineers, 
and  I.  ().  (i.  F.  Tn  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Chun 


Mr.  Roush's  first  wife,  R.  Minda   (Leightner), 

of  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  died  in  1904.  The  two 
children  torn  to  this  union  died  in  infancy.  On 
Sept.  19,  1906,  Mr.  Roush  married  (second) 
Christena  J.  Kern,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  and  they  reside 
at  No.  lit  Mahoning  street,  in  tin-  borough  of 
Milton. 

JOSHUA  F.  HILL,  of  Montandon,  until  re- 
cently road  foreman  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  now  retired,  was  in  the  employ  of  that 
company  over  thirty  years  and  was  a  trusted  and 
reliable  worker.  Mr.  Hill  was  born  Oct.  13,  1844, 
ai  Montgomery  Station.  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  -on 
of  John  Hill  and  grandson  of  John  Hill. 

The  grandfather  lived  and  died  in  Lycoming 
county,  and  is  buried  at  the  Baptist  Church  near 
M  mtgomery  station.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
and  followed  that  calling  many  years.  To  him  and 
his  wifo  were  Worn  the  following^ children :  George, 
1        .  Joseph,  Daniel.  Henry,  Sarah  and  Hannah. 

John  Hill,  father  of  Joshua  F.  Hill,  was  born 
in  1806  in  Lycoming  county,  and  did  day's  work 
among  the  farmers  of  his  district,  where  lie  was 
much  liked  and  respected,  having  many  frii 
He  died  in  1892  and  is  buried  in  the  same  church- 
yard where  his  father  rests.  His  wife,  Sarah 
rli ■}  I,  was  a  daughter  of  John  Farley,  and 
they  had  these  children  :  Joshua  F. :  John  :  Frank- 
lin: .lane-:  Benjamin;  Elizabeth,  unmarried; 
Sarah,  unmarried  :  Mary,  deceased  :  and  Harriet, 
deceased. 

Joshua  F.  Hill  attended  public  school  in  his 
hone-  locality  and  in  his  young  manhood 
worked  among  the  farmers  about  Montgom- 
ery. In  lvs,i  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  as  section 
hand,  and  was  engaged  in  that  capacity  for  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  he  was  made 
foreman,  of  the  Northumberland  division.  He 
built  six  and  a  half  miles  of  track,  from  Northum- 
berland to  Montandon,  and  had  charge  of  the  road 
at  Montandon.  278  to  281  east,  having  ten  men 
in  his  gang,  until  placed  on  the  retired  list.  May 
E  1911.  He  is  an'  able  man.  discharging  his  re- 
sponsibilities with  the  utmost  fidelity. 

On  July  3,  1870,  Mr.  Hill  married  Elvina  Diehl, 
daughter  of  William  and  Hattie  (Fry)  Diehl.  Mr. 
ami  Mrs.  Hill  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Montandon. 

JACOB  F.  BEELEW.  who  conducts  a  thriving 
business  at  No.  850  Susquehanna  avenue,  in  the 
Fifth  ward  of  Sunbury.  is  a  rising  young  merchant 
of  that  borough.  He  has  had  considerable  experi- 
ence in  the  line  in  which  be  is  engaged,  and  has 
shown  his  ability  to  gain  and  hold  trade  by  the 
most  upright  methods,  being  honest  as  well  as 
enterprising.  He  was  born  in  Sunbury  Jan.  16, 
1875,  and   is  a  member  of  the  fourth  generation 


N  ORTHUM  B ]•; i: LAND  COUNTY,  PEN X  S Y LVANIA 


859 


of  the  Berlew  family  in  Northumberland  county. 
We  give  a  brief  account  of  the  earlier  generations, 
as  Ear  as  recorded. 

Peter  Berlew,  great-grandfather  of  Jacob  F. 
Berlew,  was  born  in  L768  in  New  Jersey,  and  was 
one  of  the  emigrants  from  that  State  who  located 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  this  county,  some  time 
after  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  owned  a  tract 
of  land  in  that  township  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Maiming  mountains.  He  was  a  wood  chopper  and 
trapper,  and  so  successful  a  hunter  that  he  had  a 
Eence  around  Ins  house  made  of  the  horns  of  deer 
lie  had  killed.  One  day  (about  1800)  he  shot 
eight  deer  in  two  hours  on  the  spot  where  Trev- 
■  'it ■  in  is  now  located.  He  moved  thither  from 
Lower  Augusta  township  when  Indians  were  still 
roving  over  the  region,  and  lived  at  Trevorton 
until  his  death  in  the  winter  of  1855,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  is  buried  at  the 
Methodisl  Church  in  Irish  valley.  According  to 
tradition  his  wife  was  a  Shipman  and  also  from 
New  Jersey.  She  died  long  before  her  husband, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Mountain  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
namely:  Ruth  married  Samuel  Randall;  Gilbert 
is  mentioned  below;  David  settled  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pa.,  above  Pittston;  Tolly  married  Wil- 
liam Feaster,  a  brother  of  Phoebe  Peaster,  her 
brother  Gilbert's  wife. 

Gilbert  Berlew,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  Feb.  29, 
1818.  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  was  seven 
years  old  when  taken  into  the  family  of  Squire 
Weiser,  with  whom  he  lived  in  Sunbury  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  war.-.  He  had 
learned  the  trade  of  plasterer,  which  he  followed 
at  Trevorton,  Shamokin  and  Ashland  after  he  at- 
tained his  majority  until  1864,  when  he  settled 
at  Sunbury.  He  continued  to  live  there  until  his 
death,  in  February,  1883,  and  is  buried  in  the 
old  cemetery  on  South  Fourth  street,  Sunbury 
He  was  quite  a  prosperous  plastering  contractor, 
employing  as  many  as  ten  men  and  doing  a  large 
business  for  that  day.  His  wife,  Phoebe  (  Feaster), 
was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Feaster.  of  Lower  Au- 
gusta township,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
children,  namely:  Addison,  Mary  J.,  John,  Ange- 
line.  Thomas,  Norton,  Elizabeth,  Emanuel  and 
Maria.     Mr.  Berlew  and  his  family  were  Baptists. 

Thomas  Berlew,  son  of  Gilbert,  was  horn  Feb. 
16,  1818.  at  Boyles  Run,  Northumberland  county, 
and  received  a  public  school  education  at  Trev- 
orton. to  which  place  his  parents  had  removed 
when  he  was  three  Avars  old.  At  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen he  commenced  to  learn  plastering  from  his 
father,  and  he  has  followed  that  trade  all  his  life, 
being  now  the  leading  contractor  in  that  line  in 
Sunbury.  He  moved  with  his  parents  from  Trev- 
orton to  Sunbury  in  1864,  and.  his  work  has  been 
principally  in  and  around  the  borough,  though  he 
has  doni   considerable  business  in  Shamokin.     For 


a  number  of  years  he  has  had  the  most  important 
contracts  in  his  home  place,  having  plastered  the 
jail,  the  courthouse,  the  leading  hotels,  all  the 
churches  but  two,  and  many  other  buildings.  At 
times  he  has  had  as  many  as  twenty  men  in  his 
employ,  but  for  a  few  years  past  he  lias  been  re- 
linquishing heavy  responsibilities. 

In  1869  Mr.  Berlew  married  Catharine  Felsing- 
er,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Charlotte  (Knobel) 
Felsinger,  of  Sunbury,  who  came  from  Wurms, 
Germany,  in  1851.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berlew  have 
had  four  children:  Lottie,  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
Felton,  of  Sunbury;  Jacob  P.:  John,  of  Phila- 
delphia: and  William,  a  merchant  of  Sunbury. 
Mr.  Berlew  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  has 
long  been  prominent,  having  served  as  trustee  and 
librarian  and.  for  thirty-five  years,  as  member  of 
the  choir,  having  an  excellent  bass  voice.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Republican. 

Jacob  F.  Berlew  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Sunbury,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1895.  At  an  early  age  he  began 
clerking  for  his  father,  and  in  1892  became  in- 
terested in  the  mercantile  business  on  Market 
street,  where  he  was  engaged  for  nine  years.  In 
1903  he  took  a  responsible  position  at  Greens- 
burg,  Westmoreland  Co..  Pa.,  with  the  large  mer- 
cantile house  of  A.  E.  Troutman  &  Co..  having 
charge  of  the  dress  goods  and  silks,  and  he  re- 
mained with  that  concern  until  he  entered  the 
business  on  his  own  account  in  1906,  establishing 
himself  at  his  present  location  in  Sunbury.  His 
store  on  Susquehanna  avenue  has  a  frontage  of  40 
feet,  and  is  90  feet  long.  His  stock  is  large  ami 
well  assorted,  and  he  gives  employment  to  five 
clerks.  Mr.  Berlew's  enterprise  and  obliging  trans 
have  brought  him  an  extensive  custom,  which  he 
is  striving  to  increase  by  the  most  commendable 
methods,  and  he  has  every  prospect  of  a 
ous  future.  In  addition  to  his  mercantile  busi- 
ness, he  has  the  districl  agency  for  the  Pullman 
motor  car.  1911  models,  lie  is  a  member  of 
Order  of  Moose,  at  Sunbury.  and  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  <  Ihurch. 

On  Nov.  35,  1903,  Mr.  Berlew  married  Nellie 
Fox,  daughter  of  Jacob  Fox,  of  Greensburg,  Pa., 
and   they  have  had  one  daughter,  Catharine. 

LEVI  P..  BATDORF,  who  for  the  last  twenty 
vears  has  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Shamokin,  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  born  in  Jackson  township  Sept.  I'.'.  1843, 
son  of  Joseph  I'.aldorf  and  grandson  of  John  Bat 
dorf. 

John  Batdorf  came  to  Northumberland  county 
from  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  his  home  had  been 
near  the  Lebanon  county  line.  lie  made  the 
journey  by  wagon,  and  located  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  he  was  among  the  very  early  settlers. 


Mill 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


The  Batdorfs  had  been  located  in  Berks  county 
for  many  year?,  in  the  tax  list  of  1759  there  ap- 
pearing the  name  of  Christian  Battorf  (name  is 
variously  spelled  by  different  members  of  the  fam- 
I .  who  paid  two  pounds  tax.  showing  him  to  be  a 
man  of  some  property  in  Bethel  township.  John 
Batdorf  owned  a  small  farm,  and  devoted  him- 
self to  farm  work.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
ted Evangelical  Church  at  Mahanoy,  where  he  is 
buried.  He  married  Mary  Grow,  who  died  aged 
ninety  years.  They  became  the  parents  of  two 
sons  and  eight  daughters,  namely:  Joseph,  John, 
Polly,  Catharine,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Eliza,  Harriet, 
Tillie  and  Lucy  Ann,  the  last  named,  who  is  still 
living  (1911),  marrying  Peter  Kniss  and  having 
children,  Rebecca  .lane.  Franklin,  Hattie,  Samuel 
and  "William. 

Joseph  Batdorf,  son  of  John,  was  bom  iii  Read- 
ing. Pa.,  and  accompanied  his  father  to  North- 
'  umberland  county.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  and  followed  it  for  some  time,  but  later  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
md  died  at  Hickory  Corners.  He  married  Sarah 
Banner,  and  their  children  were:  Isaac,  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township :  Jeremiah  and  William,  de- 
ceased; Levi  B. ;,  Lovina,  who  married  Elias  Zart- 
man :  Hannah,  who  married  Isaac  Clemens :  and 
Henrietta,  who  married  John  A.  Long. 

Levi  B.  Batdorf  attended  the  schools  of  Jack- 
son township,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began 
i  am  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  lie  followed 
for  several  years.  For  sixteen  years  he  was  en- 
gaged  in  farming  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
and  in  1886  came  to  Shamokin.  In  1890  he  op- 
ened his  present  grocery  store,  in  the  operation 
of  which  he  has  met  with  deserved  success.  He 
carries  a  full  line  of  groceries  which  he  markets 
at  reasonable  prices,  giving  his  customers  the  bene- 
fit of  the  best  goods  at  the  lowest  possible  cost. 

In  1864  Mr.  Batdorf  married  Harriett  Zart- 
man,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Forney)  Zart- 
man.  and  they  have  two  children :  Irvin  J.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  at  Harris- 
burg,  married  Ellen  Enterline,  and  lias  two  chil- 
dren, Claude  W.  and  Ethel  M. :  Emma  P.  mar- 
ried N.  I.  Raker,  of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Batdorf  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church, 
which  he  has  served  as  class  leader,  steward  and 
trustee  for  some  time,  and  for  ten  years  was  sup- 
erintendent of  the  Sunday  school  in  Little  Maha- 
noy township. 

HARRY  A.  LEBO,  of  Sunbury,  has  followed 
the  baker's  trade  there  since  he  attained  bis  rnajor- 

,  and  he  has  been  in  business  for  himself  since 
1895.  His  place  of  business  at  No.  600  East  Market 
street  is  equipped  with  the  most  modern  appli- 
ances known  to  the  trade,  and  he  employs  four 
rs,  keeping  two  teams  constantly  busy  supply- 
ing his  trade.    He  sells  more  bread  than  any  other 


baker  in  the  city.  Mr.  Lebo  was  born  Jan.  4, 
1869,  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  Co., 
Pa.,  where  the  family  has  long  been  located,  his 
father  and  grandfather  having  been  also  natives 
of  the  same  township. 

Henry  Lebo.  the  grandfather,  was  a  shoemaker, 
following  his  trade  in  the  days  when  shoes  were 
made  entirely  by  hand,  and  his  services  were  in 
much  demand  in  his  locality.  He  died  in  middle 
life,  of  rheumatism,  and  is  buried  at  St.  David's 
Church,  at  Killinger,  in  Dauphin  county.  His  wife, 
Annie  (Billifelt),  was  from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and 
lived  to  be  over  seventy.  Their  children  were: 
John  died  when  a  young  man ;  Caroline  married 
George  Neagley  and  they  lived  at  Millersburg; 
Nathaniel  was  the  father  of  Harry  A.  Lebo;  Mary 
M.  married  John  Grove,  of  Harrisburg:  Louisa 
married  Jared  Specht  and  both  died  at  Miller— 
burg;  Rebecca,  who  is  unmarried,  lives  at  Millers- 
burg; Henry  lived  in  Upper  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Only  two  survive,  Mrs.  Grove 
and  Miss  Rebecca  Lebo. 

Nathaniel  Lebo,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  in 
tary,  1830.  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  in  188.3.  He 
is  buried  at  St.  David's  Church,  Killinger,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
that  church.  Mr.  Lebo  married  Mary  S.  James, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Agnes  (Albright)  James, 
who  lived  in  Armstrong  Valley,  and  she  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  April  5,  1907,  when  sixty- 
seven  years  old.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them, 
namely:  Oliver  lives  in  Upper  Paxton  township; 
Agnes,  widow  of  J.  P.  Harrison,  resides  at  Sun- 
bury;  Harry  A.  is  mentioned  below;  Ira  A.  died 
in  childhood  :  J.  Edward  makes  his  home  in  Illi- 
nois :  J.  Wilson  is  a  resident  of  Upper  Paxton 
-iiip:  Anna  Dora  and  Anna  Cora,  the  former 
the  wife  of  George  Seitz,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
William  DeLancy,  are  twins :  Charles  N.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Millersburg.  Pennsylvania. 

Harry  A.  Lebo  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  home  locality,  which  he  attended 
until  thirteen  years  old.  Subsequently  he  worked 
on  the  farm  and  learned  coachsmithing,  which  he 
followed  fur  a  few  years,  but  when  twenty-one 
years  old  he  came  to  Sunbury  and  commenced  to 
learn  the  baker's  trade,  at  which  he  has  since  been 
iged.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  others  until 
1895,  when  he  started  business  on  his  own  account, 
in  a  humble  way,  doing  most  of  the  work  him- 
self. Gradually  he  built  up  a  thriving  trade,  which 
has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  he  employs 
four  bakers  and  runs  two  wagons,  and  he  does 
the  largest  bread  business  in  the  city.  Mr.  Lebo 
is  a  general  baker,  turning  out  all  the  ordinary 
products  of  a  bakery,  and  he  also  sells  groceries 
and  confectionery,  in  which  line  he  has  likewise 
established  a  good  trade.  He  now  owns  all  the 
ground  from  No.  600  Market  street  back  to  Wood- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mil 


lawn  avenue,  along  Sixth  street,  and  has  gained 
this  valuable  holding  by  thrifty  management  and 
application  to  his  business. 

On  July  3,  1893,  Mr.  Lebo  married  Katie  M. 
Miller,  daughter  of  Charles  S.  Miller,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Sunburv,  and  six  children  have  been 
I  mm  to  this  union:  Myrtle  S..  Donald  E.,  Russell 
A.,  Harry  A.,  Cora  C.  and  Helen  A.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Lebo 
is  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion,  and  socially 
he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen,  being  a  char- 
ier member  of  his  lodge;  he  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Sick  and  Accident  Company. 

DARLINGTON  R.  KULP,  late  of  Shamokin, 
was  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  one  of  the  foremost 
business  men  of  Northumberland  county,  where 
his  extensive  and  varied  interests  made  him  an 
important  figure  in  its  industrial  life  from  the 
lime  of  his  settlement  in  that  borough  until  his 
death.  Hi-  activities  were  not,  however,  confined 
In  tin-  region,  his  lumber  business  extending  over 
a  wide  territory. 

Mr.  Kulp  came  of  a  family  of  Holland  Dutch 
origin  whose  first  members  in  America  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  Matteas  or 
Mattheis  Kolb  (as  the  name  was  originally  spelled) 
came  to  America,  arriving  in  the  ship  "Phoenix" 
Oct.  20,  Hit.  and  lived  in  Pottstown  and  Gosh- 
enhoppen,  Pa.  He  had  one  son  Peter,  whose  son 
Joseph  Kolb  was  bom  about  1740  and  married 
Aim  Maria  Stettler.  Joseph  Kolb  was  overseer 
of  (be  poor  in  New  Hanover  March  25,  1770.  He 
had  nineteen  children,  the  sixth  of  whom.  Chris- 
tian, was  the  father  of  Darlington  P.  Kulp. 

Christian  Kulp  was  born  Aug.  6,  1800,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  this  State,  and  died  March  9.  1871:. 
lie  and  Ins  wife  Catherine  (Renninger),  a  native 
of  Berks  county,  both  spent  their  lives  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania.  '  She  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
three,  and  they  are  buried  at  Niantic,  a  small  town 
in  Montgomery  county,  near  Pottstown.  They 
had  eleven  children,  a.  follows:     Darlington  P.  is 

ntioned  below;  Sarah  married  Jacob  Iluinmcl- 

richt,  and  Hied  in  Chester  county;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried George  W.  Drumheller,  and  died  at  Gilberts- 
ville,  Pa.;  Henry  is  living  in  East  Coventry  town- 
ship, Chester  county;  Catharine  married  J 
Longabach,  and  died  at  Pottstown,  Pa.;  Mary 
married  William  Pink  and  is  living  at  Pottstown; 
Jacob  married  Amelia  Wagner  and  lives  at  Houtz- 
dale,  Clearfield  Co..  Pa.:  Christian  li-*s  at  the  old 
homestead  at  Niantic.  Montgomery  county:  hl- 
mina  married  Jacob  Endv  and  resides  at  Potts- 
town; Frederick  P.  died  in  Tamaqua,  Pa.:  Diana 
married  William   Gilbert  and  lives  at  Pottstown. 

Darlington  P.  Kulp  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
Nov  29  1826,  and  was  reared  in  Montgomery 
county,  near  Pottstown.  He  attended  the  district 
schools,  but  not  regularly,  bis  advantages  for  edu- 


cation being  very  limited.  But  be  was  intelligent 
and  enterprising,  and  this  handicap  did  not  ser- 
iously affect  bis  success.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  early  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, becoming  one  of  the  most  successful  lumber 
dealers  of  his  day  in  Northumberland  county, 
whither  he  removed  in  18G7.  In  October  of  that 
year  he  settled  in  Shamokin,  where  he  entered  in- 
to partnership,  in  the  lumber  business,  with  D.  S. 
Shultz  and  William  H.  Beehtel,  the  name  of  the 
firm  being  Shultz.  Beehtel  &  Co.  In  1869-70  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Kulp,  Beehtel  &  Co., 
wdio  operated  the  Ben  Franklin  colliery.  In  July, 
1871,  he  became  associated  with  Matthias  Ernes, 
under  the  name  of  Kulp  &  Ernes,  which  lasted 
about  six  years,  when  Mr.  Ernes  was  succeeded  by 
Isaac  F.  Stetler.  The  latter's  interest  was  pur- 
chased May  1.  1878,  by  C.  Q.  McWilliams,  the 
new  firm  being  known  as  Kulp  &  McWilliams,  who 
in  1870  extended  their  interests,  adding  ice  and 
brick  to  the  original  line.  They  continued  to  deal 
in  all  three  commodities  until  Jan.  1.  1882,  when 
W.  C.  MeConnell  joined  the  firm,  which  under  the 
name  of  Kulp.  McWilliams  &  Co.  did  business 
until  Aug.  15.  1886.  The  partnership  was  then 
dissolved,  Mr.  Kulp  taking  the  lumber  interests, 
and  be  continued  to  follow  that  line  the  rest  of  bis 
life.  His  work  branched  out  far  beyond  the  or- 
iginal lines,  foi'  he  not  only  bought  large  tracts  of 
land  and  cut  the  timber,  but  he  carried  the  work- 
further,  converting  the  cleared  land  into  produc- 
tive farms:  at  the  time  of  his  death  be  owned  ten 
farms  in  Northumberland  and  adjoining  counties. 

In  company  with  his  eldest  son,  Monroe  II. 
I\iil]i,  Mr.  Kulp  opened  a  store  in  Shamokin. 
which  they  conducted  as  D.  If.  Kulp  &  Son  for 
three  years.  Mr.  Kulp  was  also  a  director  of  the 
Roaring  (reek  Water  Company  and  its  first  pres- 
ident, and  he  was  a  director  of  the  Shamokin  V* 
( lompan] .  Though  not  partii  ularly  active  in  pub- 
lic affairs  he  served  in  the  borough  council  and  as 
supervisor  of  the  poor  in  Coal  township.  He 
was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  in  pol- 
itics. During  Lee's  invasion  be  was  one  of  the 
"emergency  men"  who  answered  (lie  call  to  de- 
fend the  State. 

Mr.  Kulp  was  a  Mason,  uniting  with  Elysburg 
Lodge,  No.  111.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  with  Shamokin 
Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M.  lie  was  reared  in  the 
faith  ,,f  the  German  Reformed  Church,  but  joined 
the  Lutheran  Church  after  locating  in  Shamokin. 

On  Get.  ">.  1851,  Mr.  Kulp  married  Elizabeth 
Gilbert,  a  native  of  New  Hanover,  Montgomery 
county,  daughter  of  George  an. I  Sallie  (Houck) 
Gilbert,  of  Montgomerj  county.  She  died  Feb. 
33,  1902,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  surviving  Mr. 
Kulp,  who  passed  awa)  Dec.  29,  1893,  at  the  agi 
of  sixty-seven  years.  They  are  buried  in  the  Sha 
mokin  cemetery.  To  this  union  were  born  twelve 
children,   eight    of   whom    survive,    namely:      Zep- 


862 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  l'KX  \s  VI.  VAX  I A 


in. -ill  E. ;  Joanna  Catherine,  widow  of  Edwin  Sha- 
man, residing  in  Shamokin  (she  has  two  children, 
Harry  W.  and  Mary)  :  Monroe  H. :  Clayton  A.,  a 
resident  of  Shamokin,  who  married  Alice  Schlegel, 
and  they  have  had  three  children,  Darlington, 
Clarence  and  Monroe;  Ella  J.;  Chester  &.,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Dintinger,  and  they  have  had 
five  children,  Kathleen  A..  Darlington  W..  Eliz- 
abeth  H..  Chester  G.  and  Elizabeth  L.  (the  family 
live  at  Shamokin)  :  Howard  ('.,  a  member  of  the 
Kulp  Planing  Mill  Company,  manufacturers  of 
lumber  and  mill  work,  at  Lewistown,  Pa.,  who 
married  Clara  Eisenhuth,  and  their  children  arc 
Eleanora  E.,  Darlington  R.,  Leon  E.,  Sarah,  Mar- 
guerite and  Florence  G.;  and  George  Gilbert. 

HOX.  MONROE  H.  KULP  was  one  of  the  most 
widely  known  citizens  of  Shamokin.  and  there  was 
probably  no  one  resident  of  the  place  more  thor- 
oughly identified  with  the  local  welfare.  As  rep- 
resentative of  his  district  in  Congress  for  two 
terms,  and  as  a  man  of  extensive  business  inter- 
ests, in  the  development  of  which  he  showed 
himself  to  be  possessed  of  the  ability  which,  years 
ago,  in  his  father's  career,  made  the  name  of  Kulp 
famous  in  lumber  circles,  he  had  a  reputation  which 
extended  far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  home  city. 
Ee  encouraged  and  started  projects  for  the 
opening  up  of  this  section,  and  showed  his  faith 
in  iis  future  by  investing  in  new  public  utilities 
and  in  localities  affected  by  them.  His  high  per- 
sonal qualities  made  him  a  popular  figure  for 
many  year-,  and  few  men  have  retained  30  promi- 
nent a  position  in  any  community  for  so  long  a 
period. 

Mr.  Kulp  lived  in  Shamokin  from  the  age 
even  rears.  He  was  horn  in  Barto,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  Oct!  23,  1858,  son  of  Darlington  R.  and 
Elizabeth  (Gilbert)  Kulp.  Attending  the  pub- 
lie  schools  of  Shamokin  during  the  winter  mot 
in  his  enrlv  boyhood,  betwi  eu  tmes  he  did  sucb 
work  at  the  collieries  as  those  of  his  age  wen 
ployed  at.  and  by  the  time  he  was  seventeen  he 
had  worked  at  nearly  every  branch  of  the  coal  in- 
dustry. Then  lie  entered  the  store  of  his  father. 
continuing  with  him  after  the  formation,  in  Isis. 
ie  firm  of  Kulp  &  McWilliams,  in  whose  em- 
ploy he  gained  his  early  knowledge  of  the  business 
in  which  he  was  so  successful.  However,  he 
began  to  feel  the  Deed  of  more  schooling,  and  in 
1870  he  entered  the  normal  school  at  Lebanon. 
Ohio,  wli.re  for  two  years  he  studied  the  branches 
he  thought  would  be  most  helpful  to  him;  he  then 
went  to  the  Eastman  Business  College,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  V  V..  From  which  he  was  graduated  in 
188]  with  so  creditable  a  record  thai  his  work  was 
highly  complimented  by  the  faculty. 

After  this  period  of  study  Mr.  Kulp  returned 
to  Shamokin  ami  took  charge  of  the  books  of  Kulp, 
McWilliams  &  Co..  of  which  firm  Ids   father  was 


senior  member,  acting  as  bookkeeper  and  cashier 
until  the  dissolution  of  the  company,  in  1886,  when 
Darlington  I!.  Kulp  took  all  the  lumber  interests 
of  the  firm.  Monroe  II.  Kulp  was  made  general 
manager  and  acted  as  such  until  the  spring  of 
ls!c.'.  .Meantime  he  had  heen  junior  .member  of  the 
firm  of  D.  1\.  Kulp  &  Son.  who  had  a  mercantile 
business  lor  three  years  from  the  spring  of  1886. 

In  1892,  when  Darlington  li.  Kulp  was  stricken 
with  (he  illness  which  caused  his  death  the  follow- 
ing year,  the  entire  management  id'  tl xtensive 

interests  fell  upon  Monroe  II.  Kulp.  It  was  no 
small  responsibility,  for  the  Kulp-  were  operating 
in  nine  counties  in  Pennsylvania  and  West  Vir- 
ginia, having  twenty  thousand  acres  in  timber 
tract-  and  employing  three  hundred  men.  After 
In-  father's  death,  in  1893,  having'been  appointed 
an  executor  of  the  will,  he  took  entire  charge  of  the 

estate.      Upon    tin    settle nt   of   the    estate   the 

Monroe  II.  Kulp  &  Co.  firm  was  organized,  and 
this  concern  purchased  the  landed  interests  which 
they  afterward  continued  to  conduct.  Mr.  Kulp 
was  presidenl  of  the  Kulp  Lumber  Company  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  the  Kulp  Lumber  Company  of 
Allegany  county.  Md.,  and  of  the  Kulp  Planing 
Mill  Company,  Incorporated,  of  Lewistown,  Penn- 
-\  lvania. 

Mr.  Kulp's  real  estate  holdings  and  investments 
in  Shamokin  enterprises  were  very  considerable. 
Edgew I.  Knrwew  and  Kulpmont,  three  delight- 
ful suburbs  of  Shamokin.  owe  their  development  to 

his  activity,  and  his  own  home  at  F.dimw 1  is  one 

of  the  handsomest  residences  in  or  around  Sha- 
mokin. Edgewood  Park,  the  finest  pleasure  re- 
-  irt  in  tin'  coal  regions,  is  another  of  his  projects 
brought  to  ideal  completion.  The  excellent  trol- 
ley service  which  Shamokin  and  the  immediate 
vicinity  enjoy  is  due  to  hi-  efforts  in  the  improve- 
ment of  local  transportation.  He  was  a  director  of 
the  Shamokin  Street  Railway  Co.  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  president  of  the  Shamokin  &  E 
wed  Electric  Railway  Co.  He  was  president  of  the 
Mount  Equity  Coal  Co.,  and  of  the  Leader  Pub- 
lishing' Co.  of  Shamokin;  a  director  of  the  Guar- 
antee Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Company  of  Shamokin; 
and  of  the  Pennsylvania  Lighting  Company.  He 
prominent  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
and  was  serving  as  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  that  organization.  Hardly  a  single  pro- 
ject of  importance  in  recent  years  has  been  pro- 
moted without  his  aid  and  influence,  and  no  one 
citizen  labored  more  disinterestedly  lor  the  com- 
mon good.      lie  died    Oct.    19,    C»1l.' 

Mr.  Kulp  rep  nted  his  district,  the  Sev- 
i  nteenth,  in  Congress  lor  two  terms.  In  1894  he 
was  nominated  without  the  least  solicitation,  and 
hi-  popularity,  to  say  nothing  of  the  confidence  he 
inspired,  may  he  judged  from  the  fact  that  al- 
ii a  Republican  he  was  successful  at  the 
election,  being  the  first  member  of  his  party  so 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


si;;: 


honored  in  the  district.  He  was  nominated  and 
elected  for  a  second  term,  but  refused  the  nomi- 
nation for  a  third,  his  business  interests  demanding 
In-  undivided  attention.  He  went  into  Congress 
for  the  second  term  by  an  increased  majority,  and 
In-  services  throughout  his  membership  in  that 
body  were  eminently  satisfactory.  His  knowledge 
of  land  conditions  was  recognized  in  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  committee  on  Public  Lands,  of  which 
he  was  sub-chairman,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Manilla,  i urers  committee. 

Mi'.  Kulp  had  many  fraternal  and  social  connec- 
tions, uniting  with  the  Elks,  the  Eagles,  the  Red 
Men  and  the  Masons,  in  the  latter  associating  with 
Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Shamokin 
Chapter,  No.  264,  R.  A.  M.;  Shamokin  Command- 
ery,  No.  77,  K.  T.;  Philadelphia  Consistory,  thir- 
ty second  degree;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N. 
M.S.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Creseo 
Club  of  Shamokin,  was  a  member  of  the  Ross  Club 
of  Williamsport,  of  the  Manufacturers'  Club  of 
Philadelphia,  and   Union  League  of  Philadelphia. 

On  June  7,  1897,  Mr.  Kulp  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with   Sarah    I  lei  ueiler. 

GEORGE  GILBERT  KULP,  of  Shamokin.  is 
undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  progressive  residents 
of  that  city,  well  known  nol  only  in  Northumber- 
land county  but  also  in  other  sections  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  even  outside  of  the  State.  His  busi- 
ness interests  are  numerous  and  varied,  and  he 
has  handled  them  with  such  judgment  and  care  as 

i ake  the  most  of  all  their  possibilities.     He  has 

I n  a   member  of  the  important   lumber  firm  of 

Monroe  [].  Kulp  <&  Co.  from  early  manh I.  and  is 

connected  with  many  other  enterprising  concerns, 
in  the  management  of  which  his  ability  has  been 
counted  an  apprei  iable  la.  tor,  foi  he  is  a  worthy 
member  ol  11  known  family  whose  name  he 

bears. 

Mr.  I\ul]i  was  horn  in  Shamokin  June  L5,  1873, 
son  of  Darlington  I!.  Kulp  and  grandson  of  Chris- 
tian Kulp. 

George  Gilbert  Kulp  received  an  excellent  edu- 
cation, attending  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
borough,  I  i  'ollege,  at  (  tollegeA  tile,  Pa.,  and 
the  Eastman  National  Business  College,  at  Pough- 
-ie.  N.  V..  from  which  latter  institution  he 
was  graduated  with  honor-.  In  October,  1895,  up- 
on the  organization  of  the  firm  of  Monroe  II. 
■Kulp  &  Co.,  he  became  a  member,and  the  lumber 
business  has  always  been  his  principal  interest. 
He  i-  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  that  line  in 
his  section  of  Pennsylvania,  his  connections  there- 
in, besides  tin just  mentioned,  being  with  the 

Kulp  Lumber  Company  of  Mar}  land  and  the  Kulp 
Planing  Mill  Company,  of  Lewistown,  Mifflin  Co., 
Pa.,  he  being  vice-president  of  both  these  con- 
cerns. The  plant  of  the  latter  firm.  Cor  the  man- 
ufacture of  lumber  and  mill  work,  is  one  of  the 


largest  and  most  complete  along  the  line  of  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  between  Pittsburg  and 
Philadelphia.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Colum- 
bia Co.,  manufacturers  of  cane  seats,  with  head- 
quarters at  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Kulp's  progressive  instincts,  however,  have 
led  him  to  aid  with  his  capital  and  influence  oth- 
er undertakings  which  not  only  promised  profit 
but  benefit  to  the  community,  and  thus  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Shamokin  &  Edgewood 
Electric  Railway  Company,  and  Edgewood  Park, 
of  which  he  is  vice-president;  he  is  vice-president, 
treasurer  and  executive  manager  of  the  Leader 
Publishing  Company;  a  director  of  the  Mount 
Equity  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  of  Riddlesburg, 
Bedford  Co..  Pa.,  and  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Kulp  &  Savidge,  which  developed  the  suburbs  of 
Edgewood  and  Fairview.  His  interest  in  local 
institutions  has  aided  them  materially,  his  ideas 
being  thoroughly  up-to-date  and  for  the  good  of 
the  people  generally,  lie  has  a  genial,  un-ellish 
nature,  which  has  made  him  many  friend-,  and  lie 
has  a   personal  reputation  above   reproach. 

Mr.  Kulp  is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  of  which  he  is 
a  past  exalted  ruler,  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
in  the  latter  connection  having  been  one  of  the 
organizers  and  belonging  to  Shamokin  Lodge,  No. 
355,  P.  &  A.  M.,  Shamokin  Chapter.  No.  264,  P. 
A.  M..  Shamokin  Coiumanderv.  No.  ,?.  K.  T.. 
Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree,  and 
Rajah  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  oi  Reading, 
I'a.  In  1,905  he  represented  the  Shrine  at  the  im- 
perial council  held  at  Niagara  Palls  and  in  1906 
he  represented  it  at  Cos  Angeles,  lie  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Larry's  Creek  Fish  and  Game 
Club,  of  Lycoming  county.  Pennsylvania.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  ( 'resco  Club. 

On  Oct.  26,  1899,  Mr.  Kulp  married  Florence 
Billmeyer,  daughter  of  ex-Congressman  Billmeyer, 
of  Washington^  ille,  Montour  county,  and  they  have 
had  two  sons,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

THOMPSON  BOWER,  late  of  Watsontown, 
Northumberland  county,  wa  i  ident  of  thai 
borough  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  his  death. 
and  for  twenty  years  was  the  efficient  presi 
of  the  Watsontown  National  Bank,  which  was  the 
first  hank  in  the  borough  ami  for  several  years  the 
only  financial  institution  there,  lie  was  a  native 
of  Lycoming  county,  I'a..  bom  in  Washington 
township  March  !>.  1826,  son  of  John  Bower  ami 
grandson  of  <  (eorge  Bo^  er. 

George  Bower,  the  grandfather,  served  seven 
years  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Thompson, 
are  buried  al  the  Stone  Church  in  Brady  town- 
ship, Lycoming  county.    They  were  the  parent-  of 

the  following  children  :  George,  w  ho  married  :   Mar- 

1 1 i;i.  \\  i  -.  Smith,  who  moved  to  Nev  York  ;  Eliza- 
beth, Mr.-.  Farlev:  Eve,  Mr-.  Henting;  Mr-.  Syph- 


864 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


er,  who  died  May  10.  1883:  Ellen,  Mrs.  William 
Amis,  who  died  May  11.  1883:  and  John. 

John  Bower,  son  of  George,  was  bom  in  1799 
in  Xew  Jersey,  and  died  in  1872.  He  married 
Sarah  Qvrinn,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1793, 
and  they  spent,  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in 
Lycoming  county.  Pa.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: (1)  James  Q.  married  Elizabeth  Sedan  and 
moved  to  Illinois,  where  she  died  and  he  remar- 
ried :  there  were  six  children  by  the  first  union, 
Robert,  William.  Ann  E..  Jennie.  Ella  and  James, 
and  five  by  the  second :  James  Q.  Bower  died  April 
27,  L900.  (2)  Thompson,  twin  of  dames  Q.,  is 
mentioned  below.  (3)  Lewis  married  Tisha  Lem- 
"ii  and  died  Oct.  6,  1907.  (1)  Mary  Ellen  married 
Daniel  Eoresman  and  lias  daughters  Sallie  (wife 
of  James  Piatt  and  mother  of  two  children)  and 
Maggie  (a  trained  nurse). 

Thompson  Bower  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  after  beginning  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count, living  in  Lycoming  county  and  later  in 
Union  county  prior  to  his  removal  to  Watsontown, 
in  1884.  In  1883  he  had  purchased  the  large 
brick  house  which  he  and  his  family  occupied 
from  the  time  of  their  settlement  at  that  place, 
and  which  is  the  oldest  house  in  the  borough.  He 
retained  valuable  interests  in  Union  county,  own- 
ing several  large  and  fertile  farms  there.  After 
taking  up  his  residence  in  Watsontown  he  was 
prominently  connected  with  its  most  important 
business  interests,  and  for  twenty  years  was  the 
exi  cutive  head  of  the  Watsontown  National  Bank, 
which  owes  much  of  its  high  standing  to  his  wise 
policy  and  shrewd  direction  of  affairs.  While  liv- 
ing in  the  country  Mr.  Bower  served  his  commun- 
ity as  member  of  the  school  board,  but  he  took 
no  part  in  public  life  during  his  residence  in 
Watsontown.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
a  Lutheran  in  religion,  holding'  membership  in 
I he  First  Lutheran  Church  in  Watsontown.  which 
i    served  as  elder  for  many  years. 

On  Nov.  15,  IS  is.  Mr.  Bower  married  Catha- 
rine A.  Gosh,  who  was  born  in  Black  Hole  Val- 
ley, in  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian and  Margaret  (Dietrich)  Gosh,  later  of 
Northumberland  county.  Her  grandparents,  Chris- 
tian and  Catharine  (Wiest)  Gosh,  were  natives  of 
Holland,  and  coming  to  America  settled  in  Ly- 
coming county.  Their  children  were  Christian. 
Daniel  and  John  (who  married  a  Miss  Coats,  of 
Philadelphia).  Christian  Gosh,  father  of  Mrs. 
Bower,  was  born  in  1807.  and  died  in  1871.  He 
marrii  1  Margaret  Dietrich,  who  was  horn  in  1809, 
daughter  of  Frederich  Dietrich  and  his  wife  (whose 
maiden  name  was  Knauer),  natives  of  Columbia 
county.  Pa.,  and  among  the  early  settlers  in  Black 
Hole  Valley.  Mrs.  Margaret  (Dietrich)  Gosh  was 
the  mother  of  five  children:  Levi,  who  died  in 
1854;   Dr.   John,   who   married   a   Hancock,   and 


died  July  '.'?.  1>77:  Frederich.  who  married  at 
Miss  Armstrong;  Ellen  M.,  who  married  Dr.  .1. 
1'.  1  larley  and  had  children.  Margaret,  Bertha,. 
Lulu,  and  Dr.  John  (of  Williamsport,  Pa.) ;  and 
Catharine  A..  Mrs.  Thompson  Bower. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bower  reared  three  children : 
Laure  E.  married  E.  M.  Griffee  and  had  a  daugh- 
ter I  atharine:  John  G.,  now  a  resident  of  Hagers- 
town,  Md..  married  Ada  Follmer  ami  has  children 
John  and  Holland  (John  (i.  Bower  went  to  Europe- 
in  19H7  and  spent  some  time  in  travel):  Maggie 
G.  mail  lid  George  W.  Crane,  who  died  Feb.  3,. 
1900,  and  she  and  her  children,  Thompson  B., 
Margarette  B.  and  Catharine  B.,  went  to  reside 
with  her  parents.  They  have  an  ideal  household. 
Though  long  past  man's  allotted  span  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  -Mr.  Bower  continued  hale  and  ener- 
getic to  the  end,  pursuing  life's  work  with  una- 
bated interest,  and  he  enjoyed  a  most  honorable 
position  in  the  community,  commanding  the  es- 
teem of  all  who  knew  him. 

FERDINAND  KERLIN  HILL  was  born  at 
Selinsgrove,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa..  Oct.  0,  1S50.  In 
1858  he,  with  his  father.  George  Hill,  who  was 
a  practicing  lawyer,  moved  to  Sunbury,  Pa.,  where 
he  has  sic  ed  with  the  exception  of  several 

-  which  he  spent  in  Illinois.  11  was  edui 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  home  town,  studying 
also  for  some  time  at  the  Wiley  Academy  in  Mil- 
ton, Pa.,  and  at  the  Kiemer  Academy  in  Sun- 
bury.  He  studied  law  with  his  father  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Northumberland  county  bar  in  1871. 
In  January.  1872.  he  went  West  and  settled  at 
Freeport.  111.  He  was  admitted  by  the  Illinois 
Supreme  court  to  practice  law  anywhere  in  the 
State.  While  in  Freeport  he  was  elected  to  the 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  after  serving 
a  year  and  a  half  resigned  his  commission  and 
returned  t"  Sunbury,  Pa.,  where  he  entered  into- 
partnership  with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  law. 
After  being  ten  years  in  the  law  business  he  re- 
tired to  <  ■  i  other  pursuits.  On  April  1. 
1892,  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  Sun- 
bury American,  one  of  the  pioneer  Republican 
newspapers  1  S  ite,  founded  by  the  late  Henry 
P..  Masser,  in  L840.  On  Dec.  16,  L893,  Mr.  Hill 
established  the  daily  Evening  Item,  and  made  it 
a  successful  and  important  publication.  In  July, 
1904,  he  retired  from  the  newspaper  business  bo 
give  his  whole  time  to  the  business  of  the  post 
office,  as  postmaster,  which  office  he  held  from  April 
'.'7.  1901,  to  March  31.  CGI. 

On  Dee.  6,  1877,  Mr.  Hill  was  married  to  Rachel 
Jane  Packer,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Hon. 
John  B.  Packer,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.  Three  children 
were  horn  to  them:  William  Cameron.  Mary  Mar- 
tha, and  Nelle  Packer,  wife  of  Mr.  Frank  L. 
Rabe,  of  Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.   Hill  has  always  taken  a   deep  interest  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


865 


the  affairs  of  his  town.  He  was  appointed  as  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  health  established 
in  the  place,  and  served  three  years.  He  also 
served  a  term  as  school  director,  and  largely 
through  his  exertions  the  cause  of  modern  school 
buildings  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  his  fel- 
low members  of  the  board  and  the  people  of  the 
town.  The  result  was  the  large  and  handsome 
high  school  building,  the  pride  of  the  town,  which 
stands  on  Fifth  street,  which  was  planned  and 
buili  during  his  term  and  was  the  forerunner  of 
several  other  tine  buildings,  erected  since. 

Mr.  Hill  has  always  devoted  a  great  portion 
of  his  time  to  the  science  and  study  of  music,  and 
has  for  many  years  been  closely  identified  with 
the  musical  development  of  his  town.  Pie  has  al- 
ways advised  and  encouraged  the  cultivation  of  the 
higher  order  of  music,  especially  the  classics  ol 
the  old  masters.  He  served  over  thirty-live  years 
as  organist  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Sun-' 
bury,  ami  has  written  considerable  music,  princi- 
pally for  church  service.  Among  his  compositions 
is  the  music  of  the  comic  opera  "Rhoda,"  the 
libretto  of  which  was  written  by  the  late  Gilbert 
T.  Israel.  Tin'  opera  has  never  been  given  on  the 
professional  stage,  but  has  had  many  renditions, 
at  different  times,  by  amateur  companies  for  chari- 
table benefits,  and  never  tailed  to  receive  enthusi- 
astic applause  by  large  audiences. 

.1.   SIMPSON  KLIN  H.  attorney,  of  Sunbury, 

local  counsel  for  the  Pennsylvania  ami  Northern 
Central  Railway  Companies  in  Northumberland 
county,  is  a  native  of  Upper  Augusta  township 
ami  a  member  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family  which 
long  ago  settled  in  this  county.  The  family  came 
from  England  to  New  Jersey,  and  thence  to  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Isaac  Kline,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county,  and  followed  farming 
ncai'  Sunbury,  in  the  village  of  Kline's  drove. 
II,'  married  Elizabeth  DeWitt,  and  reared  a  good- 
sized   family. 

Harmon  G.  Kline,  sun  of  Isaac,  was  horn  in 
Northumberland  county  in  1818,  and  became  a 
lifelong  farmer,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  was  liberal  with  both  his  time  and 
mean-  in  endeavoring  to  advance  its  interests.  He 
married  Mary  Bassett,  who  was  born  in  1821, 
daughter  of  Luther  Bassett.  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, who  removed  to  Northumberland  county,  and 
followed  farming  there,  living  to  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kline 
enjoyed  more  than  half  a  century  of  wedded  happi- 
ness. Mr.  Kline  has  been  deceased  several  years. 
Mrs.  Kline  is  living  and  in  good  health,  in  her 
ninety-first  year.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  who  all  grew'  to  maturity,  the  survivors 
being  men  and  women  of  real  value  to  their  several 


communities:  (1)  Dr.  Luther  B.  was  educated 
in  the  Sunbury  public  schools,  and  professionally 
in  Jefferson  Medical  College.  Philadelphia.  Since 
his  graduation  he  has  been  practicing  at  Cata- 
vvissa,  Columbia  county.  He  was  vice  president 
of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society  in 
1910-11.      (2)    Elisha   I'».  graduated  at  Williams- 

i   Dickinson  Seminary,  read   law  with  Hon.  S. 

1'.  Wolverton,  and  was  jusi  ready  for  admission 
to  the  bar  when  he  died.  CD  Elizabeth  Cecelia 
was  also  sent  to  Williamsport  Seminary,  and  after 
finishing  her  course  married  H.  C.  Wallize.  (4) 
George  M.  was  educated  at  Williamsport.  and  is 
now  a  merchant  in  Union  county,  Pa.  (5)  Mar- 
garet Eleanor  was  educated  at  Dickinson  Seminary, 
and  l-  the  widow  of  I.  Lewi-  Mender.  She  re- 
sides with  her  son.  Prof.  Harold  H.  Bender,  of 
Princeton  University.  (6)  Dr.  David  C.  attended 
Bloomsburg  normal  school,  Dickinson  Seminary, 
and  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1883.  The  same 
year  he  settled  at  Reading.  Pa.,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  practice.  He  is  ex-president 
of  the  Homeopathic  State  Medical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  (7)  I.  Clinton  was  educated  at 
Bloomsburg  normal  school,  Union  Seminary,  Buck- 
nell  Academy,  and  Lafayette  College,  receiving  the 
A.  I!,  and  A.  M.  degrees  from  the  latter  institu- 
tion. He  read  law  with  lion.  John  B.  Packer 
and  has  practiced  in  Sunbury  since  1894.  (8) 
.1.  Simpson  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  CM 
Rachel  Estelle  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  William  S. 
Hall,  who  is  head  of  the  Department  of  Mining 
Engineering  of  Lafayette  College.  He  is  author 
of  several  college  text-books  on  mathematics. 

J.  Simpson  Kline  was  born  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  during  his 
boyhood  worked  on  the  farm  and  attended  country 
school.  He  was  also  a  studenf  of  Union  Seminary, 
at  New  Berlin,  and  of  Lafayette  College,  at  East 
on.  and  taught  school  for  a  time  at  Bloomsburg. 
There  he  read  law  with  Charles  G.  Barkley,  Esq  , 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Northumberland  county 
in  February,  1891,  and  has  sim  e  been  engaged  in 
practice  at  Sunbury.  At  the  close  "I'  thai  year  he 
entered  the  office  of  .lames  C.  Packer,  Esq.,  with 
whom  he  was  associated  professionally  in  the  set 
i  hi  of  the  Packer  estate  He  ha-  attained 
prominence  in  his  profession,  served  several  years 
as  borough  solicitor  for  Sunbury  and  Northumber- 
land, ami  i-  now  local  counsel  for  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Northern  Central  Railway  <  lompanii  -.  II,'  is 
also  attorney  for  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sun- 
bury, and  a  director  of  that  bank. 

Mr.  Kline  has  been  active  in  the  Masonic  1 1 
ternity,  being  past  master  "l'  Knapp  Lodge,  STo 
ir,.'.  F.  &  .\!  M.,  of  Berwick,  Pa.;  pasl  master  of 
M;i,  |:l\  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A  M.,  at  Sunbury, 
ami  sei  retarj  of  the  latter;  past  high  priesl  ol 
Northumberland    Chapter,    No.    lib    R.    A.    M.; 


■ 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY,  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


member  of  Mount  Bermon  Commandery,  X".  85, 
K  I'.,  of  Sunbury;  and  of  [rem  Temple,  A.  A.  0. 
X.  M.  s...if  Wilkes-Barre,  Pennsylvania. 

BEOSIOUS  on  BROSITJS,  twi  common- 

est   forms   in   which   this  name   is   found,    is    I 
patronymic  of  a  family  now  numerously  repres 
eel   ui    Northumberland  county,  where  several  dis- 
tinct branches  reside.     It   is  -aid  that  the  family 
was  settled  in  Lancaster  count]    befori    coming  to 
this  region,  and  that  Sebastian  Brosius,  from  v, 
many   of   the   name    trace   their    line,   came 
county.     About   1  780  he  obtained  from 
liam  Dunbar  a  tract   of  land   in  the  lower  end  of 
this  canity  upon  which    Dalmatia    (Georg  town) 
i.  ami   tins   land  he  left   to  hi-  son 
J      ■     George    Brosius,    who   opened    a    store   and 
i   mill.     This  mill   as  originally  built  by 
i     Brosius   was  a   log  structure,  situated   en 
Stone   Valle;    creek  at  the   h  1  >al- 

matia,  and   is  said   to  have  been   the  tirst  in  the 
southern  part  of  Northumberland  county.     It  sub- 
became  known  a-  the  Witmer  mill.     S 
bastian    Brosius   must    have   been    in    I    is    3d 

e  land  transaction  mentioned,  as  in  1775, 
when  Mahanoy  township  was  organized,  he  be< 
its  first  constable.     Unfortunately  he  left  no  will, 
and  there  seem  to  be  no  records  to  s  initely 

who    In-    children    were,    but    the    following   were 
undoubtedly  bis  sons:  Peter,  Abraham,  John  (head 
of  the  Lower  Mahanoy  branch)   and  another  - 
v,  ho  foundi  d  the  Jordan  ton  nship  In  anch. 

Members  of  the  family  were  also  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, l'a.     The  last  will  and  test: i  I        one  Xieh- 

',!-  Brosius,  of  the  borough  of  Reading,  on  n 
in  Will  Book  ■'■.  page  Ml.  at  the  B  rks  county 
courthouse,  was  proved  June  28,  1790.  He  was 
married  Feb.  1'.'.  lis'1.  and  his  wife  Frances 
appointed  executrix.  They  had  no  children.  His 
only  brother,  Henry  Brosius,  "'-hall  have  all  my 
ing  apparel  of  every  kind  whatsoever,  together 
with  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  in  gold  and  silver 
money,  all  to  he  settled  by  my  executors  three 
month-  after  my  decease;  rest  shall  belong  to  my 
beloved  wife  Frances,  who  shall  he  my  sole  heir 
and  executor."  This  Nicholas  Brosius  died  at 
iiii  in  June.  1790. 
In  1806,  when  Mahanoy  township,  which  origin- 
ally embraced  all  that  area  now  divided  into  Jack- 
son, Washington,  Upper  Mahanoy,  Jordan  and 
Lower  Mahanoy  townships,  was  divided,  one  Nich- 
olas Brosius  was  one  of  the  supervisors  of  that 
section  now  called  Upper  Mahanoy.  and  Abraham 
Bn  sius  was  one  of  the  two  bversei  ■-  oi  the  poor 
said  township.  In  1845  George  Brosius  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Georgetown  Church, 
Lutheran  and  Reformed. 

Among  the  r d-  at   the   Hinimel   Church   we 

:   Nicolaus   Brosius,  born   He,.  23,  175-L  died 


333  But  we  also  find  that  one  Xicholas 
Brosius  died  Dec.  6,  1832,  and  hi-  wife  Anna  or 
Ann  died  Oct.  "".  1836.  Their  >ons  were  Nicho- 
las, George,  Peter  (who  lived  in  New  York), 
Michael  I  ?)  and  John,  and  then-  was  evidenth  a 
daughter  Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  lit.  lT8n.  who  died 
March  29,  L821.  Of  these,  G  rge,  orn  March 
25,  17S8,  died  Oct.  I.  185J  ;  hi-  wife,  Eve  Cath- 
arine, dan  '  '  and  Rosana  Sell 
i    L792,  died  April  11.  1  - 

lis.   evidently   son  of     Nicholas   and 

Ann.  was  born  Juh    '.'.   1790,  and  was  a    tanner  by 

q.      Li    his   earlier  •    be    lived    near 

Hickon    Corners,    where   Jacob    Phillips    no\i    re- 

.  later  settling  on  the  place  now  occupied  by 
David  II.  Witmer,  and  there  he  diei  Sep  30, 
1861;   he   is  buried   at  rwn.      He  married 

nine    Spotts,    who    was    horn    dan.    15,    1795, 
J      n  S     tts,  and  died   De<     21  - 

i  nearly  eighty-  ars  old.     They  had  the 

follow  in"-    children:    Charles;    Sarah,    wdio    i 
married:   Mary   Ann.  horn   in    1819,   who  died   in 
1875;  and  Napoleon,  who  lived  near  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Pennsylvania. 

rles  Br  -ins.  son  of  John,  was  horn  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  and  i    the  Brosius  home- 

stead, tiie  farm  now    occupied  by   David   II.   Wit- 
mer.    lie  full,. wed   farming  throughout  his  ai 

.  retiring  some  years  before  his  death,  which 

Feb.    '.   P889,  at  the  agi    -  -four 

years,  four  months,  twenty-nine  days,     lie  is  bur- 

..   m   •   Si   in-  Valley  Church,  of  which  be 

a  Lutheran  member,  all  his  family  also  be- 
longing their.  He  was  aeti\c  in  the  life  of  his 
congregation,  holding  several  church  offices.  His 
wife  was   Rebecca    I  .  daughter  of  Michael 

Emerick,  and  their  children   were  the  following: 

:>■:   Ileim  :   Isaac  E. ;  Charles,  horn  in  1862, 

died  in  1865;  Catharine,  who  never  married; 
Sarah,  married  to  William  Scheib  (they  live  near 
Gratz,  Pa.):  Susanna,  wile  of  Henry  Fetterolf; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Foster  Spun-,  of  Valley 
View,    Pa.:   and   Louisa,   who   married   Alexander 

1  I.  ppell. 

George  Brosius,  son  of  Charles,  was  horn  at 
Dalmatia.  and  like  his  immediate  ancestors  became 
a  farmer,  living  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  where 
he  owned  the  farm  now  belonging  to  Alexander 
Deppen'.  Heal-"  followed  the  butcher  business  Eoi 
some  wars,  lie  took  some  part  in  local  affairs, 
serving  a-  school  director,  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Stone 
Valley  Church,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of  dea- 
con. He  died  Dec.  10,  1883,  aged  Eorty-two  years, 
■  ii  month-,  sixteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  the 
Stone  Valley  Church.  His  wife  Sophia  (Tn  jo), 
daughter  of  Samuel  Trego,  was  horn  Oct.  8,  1837, 
and  did!  Dec.  27,  is;;,  ami  is  also  buried  at  the 
Stone    Valley   Church.     They  had   the   following 


XORTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY,   PEXXSYLTAXIA 


Slw 


children :  John  F..  Man  |  Mrs.  Jerre  II.  -  kert  >. 
Sarah  (  Mr-,  .loin,  E,  Bastress),  Charles  II.  and 
Samuel  (died  aged  ten  rears ). 

John  F.  Brosious.  son  ol  George,  a  merchant 
of  Dalmatia  i  Georgetofl  n  i.  was  born  Aug.  6,  L863, 
where  In-  still  In.-,  and  reci  ived  In-  education  in 
He  passed  his  boyhood  upon 
the  farm,  assisting  with  the  agricultural  work  and 
also  helping  his  father  in  the  butcher  business  for 
-••  eral  years.  IF'  i  hen  became  clerk  in  a  hotel 
■  i     Herndon,  being  tgaged  for  two  years,  and 

ie  age  "I'  twenty    !  mt  to  <  >gle  county, 

i  where  be  did  farm  work  for  about  one  year. 
After  his  marriage  be  began  clerking  in  a  hotel 
in   hi  township,  continuing   in   that  posi- 

tion  three  years,    until    he  engaged    in   the  livery 
business,   in    Dalmatia,   in    1891,  on    bis  own  ae- 
After  conducting  same  about   one  and  a 
half  yeai  Id    out    and    enti  red    the   bottling 

business,  which  be  carried  on  altogether  about  fif- 
teen years,  during  which  time,  however,  he  was 
.!-  o\\  net  and  proprietor  of  the  "Na- 
tional Hotel"  ai  Dalmatia,  the  leading  hotel  of  the 
town.  He  was  interested  in  the  hotel  business  for 
six  and  a  half  years,  -idling  bis  property 
and  good  will  in  1 908  to  Jacob  Binga- 
man.  the  present  proprietor.  Since  the 
spring  of  1910  Mr.  Brosious  has  had  a 
general  mercantile  and  drug  business  at  Dalmatia, 
carrying  a  full  stock  in  both  lines,  and  he  i-  agent 
and  distributer  for  various  kinds  of  farm  imple- 
ments and  vehicles  of  every  description.     In  tins 

co .trill    he    handles    the    famous    Mifflinburg 

(l'a.)  and  Michigan  buggies  and  other  vehicles, 
in  winch  line  he  has  a  iarge  trade:  has  the  dis- 
trict agency  of  the  DeLaval  cream  separators,  pi 
wliich  he  has  sold  many  in  his  section  of  the  coun- 
ty; i-  agent  for  a  number  of  different  harvesting 
machines,  many  makes  of  plows  and  harrows  and 
farm  supplies  of  various  kinds,  doing  the  largest 
business  of  the  kind  in  the  territory  smith  of 
Line  Mountain.  Stoves,  heating  apparatus  and 
bathroom  supplies  constitute  another  line  in  which 
he  has  built  up  a  profitable  trade.  Mr.  Brosious 
jc  vice-president  and  a  director  of  the  Mahanoy 
&  Mahantango  Telephone  Company,  director  ami 
nanagcr  of  the  Aluminum  Paint  &  'File  Company, 
of  Dalmatia  (which  employs  six  men),  i-  the  own- 
,,  of  considerable  real  estate  in  "Dalmatia.  ami 
an  all-around  man  of  affairs  in  his  community, 
where  he  is  regarded  a-  a  leading  business  man. 
and  a  citizen  whose  public  spirit  and  progressive 
influence  have  done  much  for  the  general  welfare. 
He  ha-  gained  his  substantial  position  through  his 
own  efforts,  .nil  the  high  standing  be  enjoys  is 
the  result  of  a  consisted  career  of  honorable  deal- 
ings and  the  pursuit  oi  creditable  ambitions.  His 
financial  acumen  and  trustworthy  character  wen 
recognized  by  his  selection  to  the  ..dice  of  treasurer 
of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  a  position  he  Idled 


for  man}    real  -.      Me  is  a    Republican  in  politii  -. 
socially    is  identified   with  the  Jr.   0.    V .   A.    M.. 
John    !'..    Packer   Council.    No.    85 1.   ..I    I  lalmatia 
(of   which   he   was   elected   treasurer   in    1896,   two 
months  after  joining,  and  has  filled  the  office  ever 
since),  and  with  the   I.  ( ).  0.   F.,  Lodge  No.  864 
at    Herndon,  and    in    religion   is  a   Lutheran.     He 
......  to  the  Lutheran  con  m  ai   1  lalmai  is 

l   aion   Church,  of  which  hi  is   a    Reformed 

member,  and  served   four  years  as  deacon,  declin- 
ing another  two  years'  t  <  i  m. 

On  Sept.  3,  L887,  Mr.  Brosious  married  Mary 
G.  Emerick,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Spotts) 
Emerick,  and  granddaughter  of  John  and  Anna 
(Charles)  Emerick.  They  have  four  children:  Al- 
beit Eugene,  Harry  F.  (born  Jan.  17,  1893), 
Feotta  ( '.  and  Anna   S. 

Charles  H.  Brosious,  who  en. hut-  a  liver) 
business  at  Dalmatia,  was  born  April  32,  1870, 
in  Lower  Mahano)  township,  son  of  George  and 
Sophia  (Trego)  Brosius.  He  was  reared  upon  the 
farm,  and  did  farm  work  from  the  time  he  com- 
menced  regular  employment,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen, until  he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen.  The 
next  year  he  clerked  in  a  hotel,  and  then  became 
traveling  salesman  for  D.  F.  Winner,  jobber  and 
manufacturer  of  confectionery,  of  Herndon,  fol- 
lowing this  line  uf  work  for  three  years.  For  the 
next  tw.>  years  he  wa-  engaged  a-  bar  clerk  at 
Tower  City  and  Lykens,  after  which  he  married 
and  returned  to  Dalmatia,  hi-  early  home.  Foi 
several  years  he  followed  different  kinds  of  work, 
until  he  entered  the  hack  business  in  1900,  for 
Dr.  M.  F.  Emerick  of  Hickory  Corners.  Three 
years  later  he  began  the  livery  business  which  he 
ha-  since  continued,  and  in  which  he  has  now  an 
extensive  custom,  having  an  up-to-date  stable,  ten 
horse-  and  excellent  equipment.  He  has  the  repu- 
tation of  always  keeping  reliable  teams,  and 
quently  has  calls  to  take  out  parties.  Mr.  Brosious 
has  built  up  a  good  business  by  faithful  attention 
to  the  wants  of  his  patrons,  and  he  ha-  been  thrifty 
of  his  earnings,  having  bought  his  own  residence, 
owns  several  lots  in  the  borough,  ami  has  real  es- 
tate in  Washington.  D.  C.  He  is  a  thoroughly  re- 
spected citizen,  enjoying  the  esteem  of  all  who 
fn.ei   him. 

In  1896  Mr.  Brosious  married  Katie  Seachrist, 
daughter  of  John  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Zerbe) 
Seachrist,  and  th.o  have  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren: Laura  M.,  John  E.,  Ella  M.,  Charles  F... 
Catharine  M.,  Gi  orge  E.,  Ralph  E.  and  William 
I  Mr.  Brosious  and  his  family  worship  with 
ih,.  Lutheran  congregation  ai  Dalmatia.  Political- 
ly he  is  a  Republican. 


l-aac  E.  Brosious,  >"ii  of  (diaries  and  Rebecca 
(Emerick)  Brosious,  was  born  ISTov.  19,  L852,  in 
Fewer  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  was  reared. 
and  where  he  continued  to  live  until  1890.     From 


868 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


boyhood  he  was  trained  to  agricultural  life,  which 
he  has  always  followed,  and  in  1890  he  moved  to 
the  farm  near  Selins  Grove  Junction,  in  the  lower 
end  of  Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county, 
which  he  has  since  occupied,  cultivating  the  land 
mi  shares.  There  are  140  acres  of  cleared  land 
in  this  property,  and  Mr.  Brosious  has  acquired  a 
valuable  farm  stock  during  the  twenty  years  he  has 
been  on  this  place,  which  he  has  placed  in  excel- 
lent condition  by  his  intelligent  and  thrifty  meth- 
ods. Mr.  Brosious  is  a  Republican,  and  is  serving 
his  second  term  as  school  director  of  Upper  Au- 
gusta township,  having  been  last  elected  in  the 
spring  of  1910.  He  and  his  family  worship  in 
the  old  Lutheran  Church,  St.  Elias  Church  in 
Hollowing  Run.  where  he  is  serving  his  second 
term  as  elder. 

On  Nov.  IT.  is;:.  Mr.  Brosious  married  Lizzie 
Weaver,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Annie  (Bona- 
witz)  Weaver,  of  Mahantango,  the  former  a  native 
of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  died  and 
is  buried,  his  grave  being  at  the  Bingaman  Evan- 
gelical Church  at  the  county  line.  Mrs.  Brosious's 
grandfather  was  Henry  Weaver,  who  also  lived  in 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  later  moving  to  Juni- 
ata county,  where  he  died  and  is  buried.  Fifteen 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bros- 
ious, as  follows:  Charles  IT.:  Jonathan  A.,  de 
ceased  in  infancy:  Arthur  P.,  of  Upper  Augusta 
township,  who  married  Mary  Drumm:  William  I.: 
Forrest  E.,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  who  mar- 
ried Virgie  Brosius;  Stella  M.,  who  manic, 1 
Charles  Brosious,  a  contractor  of  Sunbury;  Car- 
tie  M.,  unmarried,  who  lives  at  home:  Lizzie  A., 
wife  of  William  1).  Wolf;  a  son  that  died  in  in- 
fancy; Beulah  D.  and  Anna  ('..  both  of  whom 
are  unmarried  and  at  home:  and  Eben  T.,  Flos- 
sie H.,  Leroy  and  E.  C,  all  of  whom  are  attend- 
ing school. 

Ch  uu.es  H.  Brosious,  son  of  Isaac  E.,  was  born 
March  I.  1880,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
there  attended  the  common  schools.  He  was  reared 
to  farming,  which  he  followed  as  assistant  to  his 
father  in  his  youth,  continuing  to  live  with  his 
parents  until  1904.  That  year  he  moved  to  Sun- 
bury,  when1  he  continued  to  reside  for  a  year  and 
a  half,  following  which  he  was  located  at  Lime- 
stone, in  Upper  Augusta  township,  for  four  years. 
in  the  spring  of  1910  settling  at  his  present  home 
in  the  central  part  of  Rockefeller  township,  at 
the  Center  (Shipman)  schoolhouse.  It  was  at  one 
time  the  Daniel  Conrad  homestead,  later  owned 
by  William  Horning,  and  consists  of  seventy-one 
acres  of  fertile  land,  with  good  buildings  and  vari- 
ous modern  improvements.  Everything  about  the 
property  is  in  excellent  condition,  and  Mr.  Bros- 
ious has  up-to-date  machinery  and  the  necessary 
equipment  for  carrying  on  his  work  profitably  and 
expeditiously,  lie  has  a  silo,  and  is  wide-awake 
in   adopting   any  approved  apparatus  or  methods 


for  facilitating  good  work,  being  regarded  as  one 
of  the  enterprising  young  farmers  of  his  section. 
The  farm  is  sure  to  improve  materially  under  his 
energetic  management.  For  nine  years  Mr.  Bros- 
ious was  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  conduct- 
ing a  daily  milk  route  to  Sunbury. 

On  July  9,  1904,  Mr.  Brosious  married  Katie 
May  For.  daughter  of  Daniel  B.  and  Sallie  M. 
i  Rebuck)  Foy,  of  Rockefeller  township,  and  they 
have  on.-  daughter.  Ellen  Maw  Mr.  Brosious  and 
his  family  worship  at  the  Hollowing  Run  Luth- 
eran Church.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in 
Lodge  No.  203,  I.  O.  O.  1-'..  of  Sunbury. 

William  I.  Brosious.  son  of  Isaac  E., 
was  born  dune  '.'.  1883,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  and  there  began 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  he 
was  in  his  seventh  year  his  parents  moved  to 
their  present  home  in  Upper  Augusta  township, 
and  he  continued  to  work-  for  them  on  the  farm 
until  he  reached  his  majority,  at  which  time  he 
took  up  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  followed  that 
business  about  four  years  altogether.  In  the  spring 
of  L893  he  had  begun  farming  on  shares,  being 
thus  engaged  for  two  years,  one  in  Lower  Augusta 
township  and  one  in  Rockefeller  township.  After 
that  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  until  the  spring 
of  1910,  when  he  purchased  and  settled  upon  the 
farm  of  seventy-two  ai  res  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, near  Mount  Zion  U.  B.  Church,  which  ho 
now  mi  npies.     This  farm  was  owned  in  the  earlier 

days  by  John    Barthol w.  and  later  by  F.  B. 

Delbough.  Mr.  Brosious  raises  general  crops  and 
attends  the  Sunbury  markets.  He  is  prospering 
by  strict  attention  to  bis  work,  and  is  one  of  the 
industrious  and  respected  citizens  of  his  locality. 

On  July  I.  1902,  Mr.  Brosious  married  Bertha 
Daisy  Delbough,  daughter  of  F.  P.  and  Carrie 
Delbough,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  they 
have  three  children,  namely:  Eugene  A..  B.  Violet 
and  W.  Leroy.  Mr.  Brosious  and  his  family  are 
Lutherans  in  religious  faith.  Ee  i-  a  Republican 
on  polit  ical  questions. 


Peter  Brosius,  born  July  33,  1782,  was  one  of 
the  early  residents  in  the  lower  end  of  the  county, 
and  followed  farming,  owning  a  large  acreage, 
now  divided  into  two  farms.  The  one  went  to 
his  son  Peter  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
\Vesle\  Snyder;  the  other  went  to  his  son  Andrew, 
and  is  now-  owned  by  the  Milton  Drumheller 
estate.  Peter  Brosius  died  Nov.  19.  1849.  and  he 
and  his  two  wives  are  buried  at  the  Himmel 
Church.  All  his  children  were  bom  to  his  first 
marriage,  with  Anna  Margaretha  Hepler.  who  was 
born  July  19,  1 780,  and  died  April  27,  1838.  His 
second  wife.  Anna  Maria  (Hepler).  was  a  sister 
to  the  first,  and  was  herself  first  married  to 
Jacob  Reitz;  she  was  born  April  4.  1784.  and  died 
Sept.    23,    1857.     Two   sons  and  three  daughters 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


869 


were  born  to  Peter  and  Anna  Margaretha  Brosius : 
Maricha,  who  married  Godfried  Rebuck;  Godfried; 
Peter;  Eve,  who  married  a  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  Henip- 
rng;  and  Anna,  who  married  Benneville  Holshue 
(storekeeper,  hotelkeeper  and  postmaster  at 
Greenbrier,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township)  and 
(second)  a  German  named  Lawrence,  with  whom 
she  moved  West. 

Godfried  Brosius,  son  of  Peter,  was  a  farmer 
all  his  life.  He  settled  in  Washington  township, 
where  Milton  Drumheller  now  lives,  and  was  a 
Lutheran  member  of  the  Himmel  Church  there, 
where  he  is  buried.  He  was  born  Jan.  27.  1808, 
.■mil  died  November  29,  1851;  his  wife  Catharine 
Klu.k.  born  Nov.  24,  1805,  died  Dec.  1,  1876,  and 
is  also  buried  at  the  Himmel  Church.  We  have 
the  following  record  of  their  children :  (1)  Judith 
married  David  Ferster,  and  they  lived  near 
Urban,  J'a.  ( '.' )  Samuel  obtained  the  homestead 
of  his  father  when  he  was  sold  out,  and  later 
moved  north  of  the  mountain  into  one  of  the 
Augusta  townships.  He  married  Kate  Rebuck, 
and  they  had  children.  Wilhelmina,  Emma,  James, 
Washington,  Zetic  ami  Sivilla.  (3)  Lydia  mar- 
ried Joseph  Rebuck  and  they  lived  near  the  Him- 
mel Church  in  Washington  township.  (4)  Sarah, 
horn  in  1837.  died  in  1854,  unmarried.  (5)  Peter 
married  a  Miss  Christ  and  they  lived  in  Ashland, 
Pa.  They  had  a  family.  (6)  Joseph  had  a  small 
tract  of  land  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Himmel 
Church,  ami  besides  cultivating  it  followed  his 
trade  of  carpenter.  He  married  Henrietta  Clark 
and  they  had  .lane  (Mrs.  Morris  Rothermel)  and 
Laura   (  Mr-.   Richard   Hilbush ). 

Peter  Brosius,  tl ther  son  of  Peter  and  Anna 

Margaretha  (Hepler)  Brosius,  passed  all  his  life 
in  the  Swahian  creek  district,  near  Greenbrier, 
in  what  is  nov.  Washington  township.  Washington 
and  Upper  Mahanoy  townships  forming  the 
Swalunn  (  reek  Valley.  He  owned  over  two  hun- 
dred ai  res  of  land  (the  farm  now  owned  by  Wes- 
ley Snyder),  ami  was  an  enterprising  and  suc- 
cess I'ul  man.  in  addition  to  farming  being  engaged 
in  milling,  in  which  he  prospered  as  in  his  other 
work.  He  operated  an  oil  mill,  sawmill  and  grist- 
mill He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Andrew. 
Peter  Brosius  died  Feb.  2,  1854,  aged  forty-three 
years,  6ve  months,  nineteen  days,  and  was  buried 
at  the  Himmel  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Luth- 
eran member.  His  wife,  Catharine  Gonsor, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Gonsor,  of  Washington  town- 
ship, died  Oct.  6,  1895,  aged  eighty-five  years, 
eleven  month-,  twenty-nine  days.  They  had  a 
large  family,  viz.:  Andrew  G.  is  mentioned  below: 
Eve  married  John  Hetrich:  Maria  (deceased) 
married  a  Mr.  Beissel;  Catharine  (deceased)  mar 
ried  William  Hetrich;  Daniel  (deceased)  lived 
on  part  of  the  homestead,  where  Charles  Brosius 
now  lives:  Marv  married  John  Houten   (or  Hou- 


ileii )  :  Emanuel  G.  is  mentioned  below  :  James  died 
when  about  eleven  years  old. 

Andrew  G.  Brosius  was  born  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  Sept.  23,  1832,  and  died  April  16,  1900, 
aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  owned  and  operated 
the  Brosius  mill  and  farm,  his  land  consisting  of 
130  acres,  now  owned  by  his  son-in-law,  Wesley 
Snyder,  and  the  mill  is  now  owned  and  operated 
by  his  son  William  S.  During  his  ownership  of 
the  mill  Andrew  G.  Brosius  remodeled  it,  and  he 
had  a  linseed  oil  mill  and  sawmill,  as  well  as  a 
gristmill.  A  man  of  initiative  and  energy,  he 
long  held  his  place  as  the  leading  business  man 
of  the  district,  where  he  did  considerable  building 
ami  lent  his  influence  and  aid  to  many  projects 
which  benefited  the  whole  community.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at 
the  Himmel  Church,  where  he  held  various 
offices,  and  was  also  a  public,  officeholder,  serving 
as  school  director  and  supervisor  of  his  township. 
In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat.  Mr.  Bro- 
sius was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Marv  A. 
Sehankweilcr,  daughter  of  Solomon  Schankweiler, 
of  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  was  horn  Sept.  !), 
1S34,  and  died  March  1?,  1867.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  chldren :  Sarah  married  John 
Keim;  Samuel  lives  at  Shamokin,  Pa.:  Caissie 
married  Wesley  Snyder:  William  S.  is  mentioned 
below;  Mary  married  Lewis  Rothermel.  By  his 
second  marriage,  to  Luzetta  Adam,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Adam,  there  were  three  children: 
Galen,  of  Rough  and  Ready,  Pa.:  Frances,  who 
married  William  Snyder:  and  Andrew-  Jackson. 

William  S.  Brosius,  son  of  Andrew  G.. 
operates  the  old  gristmill  and  sawmill  run  by  his 
lather  and  grandfather  before  him,  at  Green- 
brier, in  Washington  township,  where  he  was  horn 
March  10,  1865.  He  was  reared  to  work  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  mill,  assisting  his  father  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  after  which  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  coal  mines  at  Locust  Dale  for  a 
period  of  eight  years.  For  the  following  ten 
years  he  was  engaged  in  railroading,  mi  the  Phil- 
adelphia &  Reading  road.  On  April  2,  1900.  he 
came  to  his  present  home  and  has  since  devoted 
himself  to  the  operation  of  the  mill:  it  is  located 
on  a  two-acre  piece  of  land.  Mr.  Brosius  has  a 
thriving  business,  which  ha-  continued  to  grow 
under  hi-  management,  and  he  is  a  reliable  miller 
and  honorable  in  all  his  transactions,  having  the 
respecl  of  all  who  have,  had  dealing-  with  him. 

In  1888  Mr.  Brosius  married  Elizabeth  Umlaut, 
.laughter  of  Henry  and  Dinah  (Racebeck) 
Umlauf,  of  Ashland,  Pa.,  the  former  of  German 
descent,  the  latter  of  English  ancestry.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brosius  have  had  a  large  family,  namely: 
Francis.  Myrtle,  Guy,  Gertrude,  Adda.  William, 
Ethel,  a  son  that  died  in  infancy,  Clarence. 
Emery,    Henry,    and    Roy    (who    died    when    five 


870 


N'ORTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


months  old).  Mr.  Brosius  and  his  family  are 
Lutheran  members  of  the  Himmel  Church.  Hi  is 
a  Democrat  in  politii  al  sentiment. 

Andrew    Ja<  ksok    Brosius,    son    of    Andrew 
<;.  and  Luzetta  (Adam  |  Brosius,  was  born  June  20, 
1880,   in    Washington   township,  and  received  his 
cation    in   the   local   schools.      He   was   reared 
hi    farm    life,  but  also  gained   a   familiar   knowl- 
of  the  milling  «rating  the  Brosius 

mill  at  Greenbrier  for  four  years,  from  the  time  lie 
was  seventeen  ea  -  old.  For  five  years  lie  also 
followed  the  carpenter's  trade,  one  year  as  journey- 
man and  four  years  as  boss  carpenter,  during 
which  time  lie.  built  a  number  of  houses  and  I 
in  the  locality,  employing  al  times  as  many  as 
i  men.  In  1904  he  began  farming  at  his 
.i  ,'  towns! 

he  owns  a  traci  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  for  a 
number  of  years  belonged  to    ^.mos   Mattern.     Mr. 

a-   found  hui 
makes   weekly  trips    to   S  kin,  when 

H         products.      He    is   a   thrifty 
young  farmer,  and  is  makin 

( > 1 1  N  "'i.  Mr.   B 

Elizabeth    Mattern,   daughter  Mattern, 

and  they  ha\  i    ildren  :    Harry 

1,'..    Norma    I..   Blanch    i  lelia   L.      Mr. 

ns  was  originally   identified  with  the  1. 
eran  jation    at    the    Him  ,    but 

since  living  in  Up  anoy  townshi 

his  family  attend  St.  John's  Church,  wl 

i  on. 


helmina   Brosius,  daughter  of   Samuel  and   Cath- 
arine   (Bebuck)    Brosius,   who   lived   at  the   p 
now  occupied  by  Milton  Drumheller,  Samuel  Bro- 
sius later  moving  to  Plum  Creek,  in  Kockei 
township.     Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Emanuel  G.   Brosius:   Sarah  J.  man 
David    Rebuek;    Catharine    married    Frank    Het- 
rich;   Emma  married  Charles  Wanke;  Charli 
a    res  Sunbury;    Irwin    is   unmarried  and 

at  home:  Virgie  married  P.  Brosious;  Nora 
married  Calvin  Klock;  Annie  married  John 
Strasser. 


Emanuel    G.     Brosius.    son    of     Peter    and 

is,   was   horn    Si  pt.    11. 
Swabian    creek    district,    and 
1  the  farm  of  his  parents,  for  whom 
!  to  work  He  then 

an  farming  on  his  own  account, 
where  Israel  Lahr  now  lives,  being 
for    i  Aboul    1878    he    i  o    his 

presenl  home  in  Lower  At 
lie  has  lived  continuously    since.     Tlie   first 
-  he  was  a  tenant  of  Henry  R 
■'it  the  place,  whicl 
land,  which  under  his  I   to  a 

highly    impro  B  se   in 

1898  and  his  barn  in  1901.     The  place  has 
intelligently    i  tieally    eared    for 

n  came  into  his  possession,  and  is  now  a  valu- 
able piece  of  property.  Mr.  Brosius  formerly  held 
the  poor,  and  is  now  serv- 
of  his  township,  which,  office 
lie  lias  held  since  1908.  71  rotes  independently. 
He  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  St. 
Elias  Church,  which  he  has  served  as  deacon. 
elder,  treasurer  and  Trustee,  holding  the  two  offices 
las!  named  at  present. 

In    Ausrust,    1870,    Mr.    Brosius    married  Wil- 


Jaco  •  !'■    «i  ioi  s,  great-grandfather  of  Charles  II. 
Broscious,  of  Sunbury,  farmed  in  Lower  Mahanoy 

townshi]!.  this  county,  am!  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
q,  where  lie  died  about    1848,  at   an  ad- 
He  is  but  i'il  in  the  lower  eni 
eount\      I  ii  lie  was  a  Lutheran.    To  him 

and  Bi    -el  !   fol- 

lowing   children:     Daniel.    John.    Jacob,     E 
Samuel.  Lydia,  Catharine,  Maricha  ami  Sally. 

Broseioi  -.  son  of  Jacol  .   was  a  native 
10m    in    1821,  and 
fanih  d  in   Shamol  shi]  ater  part, 

ging  in    I 

B 

d     in 

know;  3  home  in  Stonii 

in  S 

S  i  der- 

with  church,  and  in  p  was 

a  Den 

Mr.  Broscii 

G 
B 
i  'other   of    three    children : 
David 

:  Sunbury).     Hi-  mar- 

Mary   Ann   Haftline,   dau;£ 
B  I  she  f  urvives  him.    Two  chil- 

were  ho-  -  union:   Sevilla,  who  mar- 

John  Richie;  ami   Rebecca,  who  rang. 

1  ious,   son   of    Samuel.  ii    in 

in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  died  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township.  Sept.  4.  1902.  He  is  buried 
at  Lantz's  Church.  For  five  year-  Mr.  Broscious 
farmed  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  then* for 

ication  in  the   ' 
Valli  ing  ;•'  Lower  Augusta  township  and 

thence  moving  to  Lower  Mahanoy,  where  he  was 
ng  at    the   time  of  his   death.      He   was  an 
active  1  >enioi  ratic  party,  and  held 

local  offices.  In  religion  he  adhered  to  the  Re- 
formed faith.  Mr.  Broscious  married  Louisa 
Fegley,  daughter  of  Jai  ob  and  Harriet  (Zartman) 
Fegley,  and  six  children  were  born  to  them:  Web- 


XOETHUMBERLAXD  COITXTY,   PEXXSYLYAXIA 


S71 


ster,  now  of  Baltimore,  Md.;  Charles  EL;  Mary, 
who  married  William  Shipe;  Katie  who  married 
D.  II.  Snyder;  ami  two  thai  died  in  infancy. 

Cii  lkles  II.  Broscious,  contractor  ami 
builder,  of  Sunbun .  senior  member  of  the  firm  ol 
('.  II.  Broscious  &  ( !o.,  was  born  July  I.  1  869 
Augustaville,  -on  of  David  Broscious.  Ee  grew 
up  in  the  [rish  Valley,  where  he  receivi  d  In-  edu- 
cation in  the  publii  -i  hools,  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  old  living  and  working  on  the  farm.  Ee 
then  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  Shamokin  for  eleven  years  in  one  employ, 
for  thi  Wesl  End  Lumber  Company.  His  next  work 
was  a-  .  arpenter  a     -  employ  of  the 

Pennsylvania  Railroad  Companyj  and  in  1904  he 
embarked  in  the  contracting  and  building  busi- 
ness t  hei  e  on  his  i  aint".  lie  is  now  asso- 
i  iated  with  Mr.  ('.  II.  Wiest.  In  addition  to  I 
contra  ad  building  business  they  deal  in  and 
manufacture  all  kinds  of  lumber  and  builders' 
supplies,   handling   lime,  cement,   builders'   hard- 

■:.  etc.,  and  they  have  a   mi 
mill.        i       all  kinds  of  planing  null  work  can  he 
turned  out.     Tii;'  firm  employs  as  many  as  forty- 
five    n.    and    anion-    other    structures    of   their 

construcl  be  ment ioned  the  I!.   F.  Brown 

three-stoi  ;  the  \V.  A.   Shipman 

il.au  e  o      Vlarl  it;  the  Daily  printing  office 

at  Sunbury;  the  Charles  L.  Silvious  residence; 
the  Elv  ood  1  te  David  Slear  resi- 

dence on  Susq  Due ;  the  Keystone  ma- 

chine wot  •  VI.  E.  Church, 

1910 ;   i  he  Je  ■  and  many   n 

of    the  nee  struct 

in  the  '       ;  tpplied  hin 

assiduousl)  to  his  wo.-k.  and  the  progress  he  has 
made  i  He  has 

established  him  elf  in  a  substantia]  business,  and 
has  built  up  an  exterisi  of  n  hich 

is  widening  continually  under  iretie  and 

directed    endeavors.      Ee    is   well    known   in 
fratei  a  member  of  Maclay  lodge, 

\,,    632,    F  '-.   M..   N"orthumberland   Chapter, 

\o.    L74,    R.    A.    XI.,    and    Mount   Hermon    I 
mandery,  No.  85,  K.  T.,  a-  well  a-  of  Washington 
Cat     i.  S  i    i  39,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  to  which  he  has  be- 
.-  eight  war-  he  held  mem- 
i  I.  0.  0.  F. 

On    March    23,    1897,    Mr.    Broscious    married 
Ali.-e  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Sebastian  Zimmer- 
,  of  Sunbury,  and  >ix  children  have  been  born 
to    them  :    Marion    (who   di  d    four   years), 

David  Sebastian,  Earriet  Louisa,  Eenry  E.,  Rus- 
sell Carl  and  Raymond  Clarence.  Mr.  Broscious 
and  In-  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


Jacob  Brosius,  great-grandfather  of  Maurice  F. 
Brosius,  lived  in  Jordan  township.  Northumber- 
land county,  on  the  farm  which  laid-  belonged  to 


George  Brosius,  and  followed  farming  throughout 

his  active  year-.  His  children  were:  Daniel, 
Elias,  John,  Jacob,  Samuel.  Marieha  i  married  Fer- 
dinand Masser),  Elizabeth  (married  Jonas  Boh- 
ner ).  M  t-s.  Solomon  1  lelp  and  Mr-.  Peter  Thomas. 

Daniel  Brosius,  .-on  of  Jacob,  wa-  horn  in  .Ionian 
township  Nov.  II.  L808,  and  there  engaged  in 
farming  on  an  old  homestead  of  the  Brosius  family, 
owning  a  trad  .if  L30  acres  novi  thi  propel  I 
George  Emerich.  Ee  died  Dec.  11.  L885,  survived 
by  his  wile.  Sarah  (Wenrich),  whose  people  came 
from'  the  Eeidelberg  valley  in  Berks  county.  Sh< 
was  horn  .Ian.  16,  1815,  and  died  Sept. 
14.  IS'.).,,  and  they  are  buried  at  St.  Paul's 
Church,     at      Urban.      Mr.     Brosius     was 

a    mber    of    the    Eebe    Church,    later    uniting 

with  St.  Paul's,  and  he  was  active  in  church  work, 
holding  \ arious  offices.  Four  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mis.  Daniel  Brosius:  Michael,  George, 
Annie  (1847-1863)  and  Polly  (married  Andrew 
as)  01  these,  I  teorge,  \\  ho  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  lived  and  died  on  his  father's  homesi 
he  man  led  Polly  Wolfgang,  and  their  children 
were  Catharine,  Emma,  Jane.  Ella,  Daniel.  Nora, 
( 'in  a.  I  and  Lizzie. 

\l  a  hael    Brosius,  sun  of   I  lani  il,  now   a   resident 
of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  was  horn  acros 
line  in   Jordan   township  July    1.    1842.      He  was 
1    in  Jordan   township,  where  he   (i  ot    ed    for 
In-   father  and   for  a   year  or  two  a-  lured   in;: 

iut  1864  1  farming  for  him- 

self.    Ee  continued  to  engag  icultural  pur- 

suits in  Jordan  township  until  about   L904,  when 

act ieally  retired,  nee  Lug  to  hi-  present 
in   Lower  Mahanoy,   where   he   lias   a   small    : 
besides    his    dwelling,    which    was    built    by    one 
1  >aniel  Sehli  gel.     Mr.  B 
ami    has   taken    no   part    in    public   affairs 
to  serve  a-  school  direr-tor.     He  ha-  beei 

of    St.    Paul'-    Church    at 

Urban,   to  and    his    family   belong,   and 

hi      served  and     elder.       In 

politic-    in-    i-    a    Democrat.      Mr.    Brosius    has 

iw  ice    married.      1 1  is    first    marriage,    « 
took  plai  e  dui'     the  Civil  !         ''.ash. 

daughter    of    Samuel    ami    Mary  '  i  BolL  ■   ■  ■     i 
Bush,  and  -lie  died  Aug.  19,  1893,  aged  fifty-four 
years,    nine    days.      She    i<    buried    at    Si.    Paul's 
( Imreh.     Ten  children   were  born   to  this,  an 
Frank-.     Eenry,    William.     Maurice     1-1. .     I 
Orlando.  .\  nine.  Fi.iu.-i-.  and  two  thai   'lad  yo 
Th.-re  an-  no  children  by  the  second  marriage,  to 
Barbara     Bohner,     daughter     of     Nicholas     and 
Lydia  I  Spotts  i  Bohner. 

Mai  in  i     I-'.    Brosius,    a     fat  Jordan 

township,  was  born  Aug.  26,  181  I.  and  has  pas 
practically  all  his  life  in  thai   township.     Be  wa- 
in   work,    and    assisted    his    par 

except   during   the  time  he  was  attending   s<  : I. 

I n  addition  to  the  i'i-i\  ileges  of  the  public  schools 


sr; 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


he   had   the   advantages  of   Uniontown   Seminary 

for  several  terms.  At  the  youthful  age  of  seven- 
teen he  began  teaching,  receiving  his  license  from 
Prof.  William  E.  Bloom,  and  for  eight  successive 
terms  he  followed  that  profession  in  Jordan  town- 
ship. Meantime,  in  the  spring  of  1900,  he  bought 
his  present  farm,  a  tract  of  sixty-seven  acres  o 
■  In!, ] an  township  formerly  belonging  to  John  T. 
Wiest,  who  purchased  it  from  Simon  Bohner,  whose 
predecessor  was  Samuel  Bush.  Mr.  Brosius  de- 
votes the  principal  part  of  his  time  to  farming, 
and  he  has' also  had  considerable  success  as  an 
insurance  agent,  being  one  of  the  three  agents  of 
the  Stone  Valley  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 
of  Mahanoy.  He  has  also  been  a  faithful  public 
int.  having  held  the  office  of  auditor  of  his 
township  for  seven  years  in  succession.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  Mr.  Brosius  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  his  locality,  where  his  suc- 
ful  business  life  and  excellent  public  service 
have  gained  him  high  standing  among  his  fellow 
citizens. 

On  Feb.  3,  1894,  Mr.  Brosius  married  Kate  E. 
Wiest,  daughter  of  John  T.  Wiest.  and  they  have 
a  family  of  five  children:  Mabel,  Carlos,  Fred, 
Harold  and  John.  Mr.  Brosius  and  his  family 
are  tnembi  rs  oi  I  <  Eebe  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  deacon  since  1905.  Socially  he  belong 
Washington  Camp.  No.  232,  V.  0.  S.  of  A.,  at 
Hebe. 


Abraham  Broseus  (Brosius),  Sr.,  yeoman,  of 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  died  there,  near  the 
Schuylkill  county  line,  in  1844.  He  made  his  last 
will  and  testament  Jan.  22,  1S39.  and  it  was  pro- 
bated Jan.  11.  18-11.  soon  after  his  death,  which 
likely  occurred  early  that  month.  He  signed  this 
document  Abraham  "Broseus."  and  his  descendants 
generally  have  adhered  to  that  spelling  of  the  name. 
He  provided  liberally  for  his  wife  Catharine,  who 
was  to  have  all  movable  property,  and  after 
her  death  her  clothes  were  to  be  divided  between 
her  daughters  Euline  and  Anna  Maw.  Mr.  Bro- 
seus left  a  large  estate,  being  considered  a  wealthy 
man  in  his  day.  The  following  children  were 
mentioned  in  the  will:  Peter,  three  hundred 
pounds:  Abraham  (Abram),  three  hundred 
pounds:  Euline.  who  married  .lohn  Beachtel : 
George,  deceased,  whose  heirs  were  to  havi  si  , 
each  :  Elizabeth,  who  married  Peter  Zegenfus  (they 
to  have  sixty  dollars  more)  :  Nicholas,  "yet 
100  pounds"' :  John,  "yet  100  pounds'' :  Anna  Mary. 
wlio  married  John  Delb.  and  they  obtained  the 
homestead  (containing  160  acres)  <n\  which  they 
lived  in  1839  (they  were  to  pay  out  1.100  pounds). 

Abeam    Broceus    (as    he    wrote    the    name). 
son  of  Abraham.  Sr..  was  born  in  Washington  town- 
ship April  24,  181?.  and  lived  there  until  he  was 
i teen  years  old.   Tie  then  went  out  to  Ohio. 
stopping  first  at  Massillon,  but  during  the  great 


part  of  his  residence  in  that  state  he  was  located 
at  Akron,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
working  for  Henry  Howe,  brother  of  Captain 
Howe.  He  followed  that  trade  for  a  number  of 
;.  He  was  married  at  Greensburg,  near 
Akron,  and  there  lived  until  after  the  birth 
of  his  oldest  child,  Raymond,  soon  after 
which  he  moved  to  Berrien  county,  Mich., 
settling  in  Buchanan  township.  Mr.  Broceus 
took  up  land,  and  continued  to  follow  his 
trade  besides  clearing  and  cultivating  his 
land  until  he  had  his  property  paid  for.  Selling 
that  property  he  bought  a  200-acre  farm  within  one 
mi!,  of  the  village  of  Buchanan  and  there  spent 
the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life.  The  success  he 
met  with  was  due  entirely  to  his  own  industry  and 
good  management,  for  he  was  a  self-made  man  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  term.  He  was  the  pioneer  of 
his  family  in  Michigan,  and  in  1909  his  descend- 
ant-; organized  a  family  association,  holding  their 

-  reunion  at  his  old  homestead:  the  second  was 
held  in  August,  1910.  A  man  of  unassuming  life 
and  retiring  disposition,  he  was  a  useful,  respected 
member  of  society,  and  his  death,  which  occurred 
.Tune  2,  1891,  was  widely  mourned.  He  is  buried 
in  the  Broceus  family  plot  in  Oakridge  cemetery, 
at  Buchanan.  Mich.  ,  Mr.  Broceus  was  a  member 
of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  active  in 
church  life.    In  politics  lie  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Broceus  married  Abigail  Smith,  who  died 
July  24,  1880,  aged  fifty-six  years.  Ten  children 
were  born  to  this  union :  Raymond,  who  lives  at 
Buchanan,  Mich. :  Eliza,  wife  of  Justice  H.  Stein- 
er :  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Solomon  Quint,  of  Carroll, 
Iowa:  William,  who  died  at  Buchanan.  Mich.; 
Henry,  of  Buchanan,  Mich.:  Malinda.  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  George  W.  Rough :  Matilda, 
wife  of  George  Hanley :  John  W..  of  Buchanan, 
Mich.;  Emma,  wife  of  Ansalom  Wray:  and  II. 
Francelia,  widow  of  Jefferson  Fowler,  of  Buchan- 
an, Midi.  There  were  forty-four t  grandchildren, 
and  twenty-nine  great-grandchildren. 

<>n  Oct.  9,  1883.  Mr.  Broceus  married  (second) 
Lucy  A.  Kauffman.  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
i  h'i  ssler)  Kauffman.  of  Lower  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Mrs.  Broceus  was 
bom.  No  children  were  born  to  this  union.  Mrs. 
Broceus  continues  to  make  her  home  in  Buchanan, 
Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  visiting  her  kindred  in  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.,  every  two  or  three  years. 


According  to  the  records  at  the  Northumberland 
county  courthouse  one  Abraham  Brosius  must  have 
died  shortly  before  Nov.  24,  185?.  in  Lower  Au- 
gusta township.  After  the  widow  had  renounced 
the  privilege  of  administration,  papers  were  given 
to  Elias  Brosius,  probably  a  son. 

THOMAS  J.  LUCKENBILL,  who  has  a  large 
farm  in  the  Tuckahoe  Valley,  in  Point  township, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


873 


Northumberland  county,  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
that  section,  was  born  Sept.  19,  1861,  in  Windsor 
township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  belongs  to  one  of 
the  early  settled  families  of  that  county. 

.Mr.  Luckenbill's  first  ancestor  in  this  country 
was  Johan  Tost  (Ekel  ?)  Luckenbill,  who  came 
from  Germans  on  the  ship  "Thistle,"  landing  at 
Philadelphia  Sept.  20,  1730.  (Another  account  says 
Johan  Ekel  and  his  brother  Ilendrick  landed  from 
the  "Thistle"  Aug.  29,  1730.)  He  and  his  brother 
Bendrick,  who  emigrated  with  him,  are  the  pro- 
genitors of  the  family  in  this  country.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  Johan  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Bow- 
ers Church,  in  Perry  township,  Berks  county,  and 
it  i-  traditional  that  he  was  married  when  he  came 
to  America,  that  his  wife  was  a  Swiss,  and  that 
he  came  from  that  part  of  Germany  that  bounds 
Switzerland.  He  had  eight  children:  (1)  Maria 
married  Michael  Deibert  (or  Divert)  and  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county.  (2)  Heinrich  married  Cath- 
arine Weber,  who,  tradition  says,  was  of  Swiss  ex- 
traction.  In  1759  he  was  a  taxable  resident  of 
Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county,  owning  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bowers.  He  later  removed  to 
Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  shortly 
before  his  death  became  totally  blind.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Adam.  Henry,  Solomon,  George,  Sus- 
anna, Sophia,  Rebecca  and  Beckie.  (3)  Abraham 
married  Eva  Lengel,  and  had  these  children:  John. 
Abraham,  Jonas,  Emanuel,  Kate,  Rebecca,  Sallie 
and  Eva.  Abraham  Luckenbill  is  said  to  have 
•itilcd  in  Schuylkill  county.  In  1759  he  was  a 
taxpayer  in  Rockland  township,  and  he  later  moved 
across  the  line  into  Maxatawny  township.  (4) 
John  married  Polly  West  and  had  two  children, 
Isaac  and  Mary.  (5)  Andraes  married  Miss  Len- 
gel and  their  children  were  George,  Joel,  Sallie, 
Judith,  Diana  and  Maria.  (6)  Christian  is  men- 
tioned below.  (7)  George,  of  whose  history  no 
records  are  in  evidence.  (8)  Another  son  whose 
name  is  unknown. 

(  hristian  Luckenbill,  son  of  the  emigrant  Julian, 
was  born  in  1767  and  died  about  1852.  He  was 
early  a  settler  in  Perry  township.  Berks  county, 
where  he  was  a  farmer  and  owned  land,  ami  ii 
is  known  that  lie  lived  in  that  county  for  some 
vears.  but  in  1790  he  and  his  brother  George  were 
taxable  resident-  of  Manheim  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  It  is  traditional  that  after  1800  he 
returned  to  Berks  county,  and  was  buried  at  Bow- 
ers Church  in  Maxatawny  township,  where  he  had 
a  Farm.  He  married  Catharine  Kline,  of  Maxa- 
tawny township,  and  they  had  children:  Thomas; 
Davi'd.  who  settled  in  Jefferson  county.  Pa. ;  Ben- 
jamin, who  settled  in  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Rothermel :  and  another  daughter,  Mrs. 
Heckman.  .     . 

Thomas  Luckenbill.  born  in  Perry  township  in 
1800.  died  there  in  1S63.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
owner  of  the  Luckenbill   homestead,  owning  the 


200-acre  tract  later  the  property  of  his  son  Thom- 
as, and  was  a  school  director  and  useful  citizen. 
He  married  Annie  Wink,  daughter  of  John  Wink, 
of  Maxatawny  township,  and  ten  children  were 
born  to  this  union :  Augustus :  Edwin  :  Lucy,  who 
died  in  infancy;  James;  Thomas;  Sarah  Ann, 
wife  of  Simon  Adam,  deceased;  Jacob,  who  died 
aged  forty-five;  Simon:  Alfred,  and  Cyras. 

James  Luckenbill,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
1831  in  Perry  township,  Berks  county,  and  died 
in  1903  near  Virginville,  that  county:  he  is  bur- 
ied at  Dunkel's  Church.  By  occupation  a  farmer, 
he  had  a  farm  of  157  acres  above  Virginville,  and 
he  was  active  in  the  life  of  his  locality,  serving  as 
school  director  and  supervisor  of  his  township. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  widow,  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Polly  (Polk)  Heinlv. 
lives  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  making  her  home  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  George  Ramer.  She  is  now  (1910) 
over  seventy-five  years  old.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Luckenbill:  Elenora. 
Mrs.  Rolandus  Dreibelbies,  of  Virginville.  Pa. : 
James  W.,  who  died  in  1907 ;  Thomas  J. :  Joriah, 
who  married  William  Sunday :  Alice,  wife  of  James 
Yeager :  Oscar,  of  Maxatawny  township ;  Angelina, 
Mrs.  George  Seidel ;  and  Laura.  Mrs.  George 
Ramer. 

Thomas  J.  Luckenbill  attended  the  schools  in 
his  home  district  and  from  his  youth  was  familiar 
with  farm  work.  After  working  on  the  railroad 
for  five  years  he  commenced  farming  in  Tilden 
township,  Berks  county,  farming  there  for  seven 
years,  on  a  place  along  the  Schuylkill  river,  south 
of  Hamburg.  Selling  out,  he  moved  to  Montour 
county,  where  he  conducted  a  creamery  at  Wash- 
ingtonville  for  one  year,  after  which  he  farmed  in 
that  region  for  eleven  years.  For  another  year 
he  was  employed  in  the  staple  works  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  during  which  time  he  met  with  an  acci- 
dent which  caused  the  loss  of  two  of  his  fingers, 
in  1907  he  settled  at  his  present  home  in  Point 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  own* 
an  extensive  tract  of  339  acres,  limestone  soil,  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  valuable  properties  in 
that  section.  Mr.  Luckenbill  rents  his  land,  but 
he  gives  his  personal  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  place,  and  in  1909  he  built  a  fine  resi- 
dence there  which  adds  materially  to  the  value  of 
the  farm.  By  good  management  he  has  become 
successful  and  his  prosperity  is  well  deserved. 

In  1880  Mr.  Luckenbill  married  Ida  Mengel, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Zettlemoyer)  Men- 
gel, of  Windsor  township.  Berks  county,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Jacob  Mengel.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union:  (1)  Elwood,  born  in 
Windsor  township.  Berks  county,  married  Eva 
Gresh,  daughter  of  George  Gresh,  of  Washington- 
ville.  Pa.,  hut  of  a  family  formerly  from  Berks 
county.  They  have  two  children,  Lesley  and  El- 
wood.    i '.' i   Mary  married  George  Wallice  but  has 


Si  I 


\i>i;t!u\\ii;ki;la\!>  coi  \ "i'v.  Pennsylvania 


no  children.     They  live  in  Montour  county.     Mr. 
Luckenbill  and  his  family  are  members  of  th     R 
formed  Church. 

GEAEHAET.     The  G  ive  been  nuni- 

-    and    minent  in   Northumberland  county 

since  shortly  after  the  close  of    I  ie   Revolutionary 
.   and  one    m     i  anty    has   been 

named  in  their  honor.     Two  brothers,  Jacob  and 
William  ;  \  irthumberland  coun- 

ty about  1790,  the  former  settling  in  what  is  now 
I       harl   township,  the  latter  in    Bush  towns 
As    n   an    principallj  i  >nci  rned  w  it 
of  J;  rhart  in  this         i  le,  we  gh 

il'-T. 

Jacob  Gearhart  was  born  in  1735 

now  belonging  to  l 
and  cann         the  New  World  \  ning  man. 

landing  at  Xew  York  in  1754.     He  - 

into  Hunterdon  county.  X.  J.,  n 
his  home  for  many  years.     When  I        ' 
broke  out  he  was  amon  •  is  si 

□    II  75,  in 

arless 

captain,  at  □  the  cot  if  his 

Jersey  men 

Delaware  on 
night  of   Dec.   25,   1776,  when  the  Hessian   camp 
at  Trenton  was  attacked.  r  was  Captain 

Van  Tenyck.    Afti  i 
the  boats  ith  orders 

failu  in  G 

battl  iywine  am 

of  1777-1  -     At 

t  he  i  ie  war  he  returned 

Hun1  tunty,  X.  J.,  bill  a  few  years  later  he 

nigration  many 

into  Pennsylvania  and 

from  i  a  farther 

out.     Between  1785  and  1795  many  from 

I    in    what   are    now-    Rush    and 

Geat  unships,      Northumberland     count}', 

■ !  arhart  and  his 
In  11  i  id  his 

family    left  B  gon    train. 

Late  on  ted  Indian 

hut  close  by  a  fine  spring,  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  I.  II.  nddaiighter  of 

tin.  and  decided  to  camp  for  the  night. 
When  the  land  was  examined  in  the  morning  ir 
was  found  to  hi  water  was  so  abund- 

ant and  of  such  good  quality  that  the  old  warrior 
I  his  home  at  that  -it''.    He  pur- 
sed land  al  Susquehanna   from  Kipp's 
mn  to  Bi                 .  one  mile  back  from  the  river,  all 
of  it  at  thai  time  a  det  -  .    With  the  aid  of 


-  -  gan  to  clear  and  till  the  land,  and 

clearing  a  portion  on  a  small  bluff  overlook- 
ing 3  aehanna  d  a  small 
frame  house  which  is  still  standing,  though  more 
than  a  hundred  years  old.  It  is  still  owned  by 
his  descendants.     II              I  an  orchard  which  was 

lailstorm  in  1846.     In 
1813,  after  an   active  life  of  seventy-eight  j 
'  d,  and  his  wife,   Catharine 

Kline,  survived  him  a  few  years.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eleven  children,  namely:  Jacob,  horn  in 
1  763.  died  in  1841 ;  Hei  irn  in  ]  765. 

I83-"  is  mentioned  below;  William, 

in  11 1 6,  i  i  in  ]  783, 

.  horn  in  178£  i  1858  :  Isaac  ; 

Benjamin  :  Eli  abeth  :  I 

Jai  '  art,  sun 

a  fan 
p  ace  and  ability  be; 
than  an  a 
day.     < in  Jan.   In.   is  1  ts  ap- 

of  Xori    i  inty, 

held    until   his   resignation   in 
n  that  of  any 

held 
i   Cameron,  whom  Afidrew 
lad  reqw 

. 

Vleth- 
1  An.tr. 

'.'.  1841,  (  od  n  Mount  Vet 

Pa.     Judg     '  1     rhart  married   Mar- 

- 

.    L818;    E     .        Jan.    17,    1821  :    Margaret, 
1:  Marv  I!..  -  :  :  Ilenrv. 

' 
Rev.   I.   IT.  Torrence,  a  promi- 
nan,  now  deceased,     Mrs. 
-  on  the  horn 
it  years  ol<l.     S       -    he  mother 
children:     Mary  Virginia  marrii 
B.  O'Connor  and  had  a  daughter  Mary  P.,  wi 
J.  Ca       i   Peifer   ( they  kai         -     ,  I !    ■  .     Tor- 
i;    Sarah  Ellen  married   C.   M.   Kyght.  and 
has  a  :  William  is  deci : 


Harmon  Gearhart,  son  of  Capt.  Jacob  and  Ca 
(Kline)    Gearhart,  married  Abigail  Bayler, 

and  i  i  the  frame  house  built  by  his 

tlior.  Much  of  his  land  is  now  included  in  the  bor- 
ough of  Riverside  and  in  South  Danville.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gearhart  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  as 
follows:  Mary  married  Henry  Yorks  and  had 
children.    Clinton.    Amanda    and    Ellen    (married 


NORTE  tMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


David  finger)  ;  George,  who  removed  to  Ohio,  had 
two  -'"M-  and  two  daughters;  Margaret  man  ied 
Jonas  Wolfe  and  had  children,  Donald,  Gearhart, 
Wellington  and  three  daughters;  Jacob  died  un- 
married; Daniel  is  mentioned  more  fully  below; 
William  died  unmarried;  Hannah  was  born  in 
L821;  Elizabeth,  Ellen,  Susan  and  Kate  died  un- 
married :  Peter  married  <  lelestia  ( joup  and  had 
children,  George,  Gertrude  (married  Charles 
Chalfanl  i  :  d  Lillian  (  married  Dr.  X.  M.  Smith  i. 
1  laniel  Gearhart,  sou  of  Harmon  Gearhart,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Koons,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Han- 
nah (Haas)  Koons,  both  of  whom  were  members 
of  old  families  of  Northumberland  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gearharl  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  viz.:  Daniel  M.,  who  lives  in  Alabama, 
ma  Tied  and  has  had  children,  Joseph,  Rush,  Sar- 
ah and  Maggie;  .Mar-ana  married  J.  W.  Philips,  of 
I  lam  ille,  Pa.,  and  lias  oi  s  :. liter,  ( laddie  ;  Sar- 
ah married   William  Sanders;  Cadwallader  W.  is 

ioned  pn  sently. 
Cadwallader  W.  Geaehart,  who  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Gearhart  township,  North- 
umberland  county,  was  born   Sept.   30,    L852.    in 
Rush  township,  this  county,  on  the  farm  adjoining 

re  i  id  home,  b  p 

Gearharl   trad   taken  up  <<\   Capt.  Jacob  Gearhart 

his  broi  her  William  in  11  90.     He  obtained  his 

ication  in  lie  schools  of  his  nal  ive 

township,  and  arm  until 

rl  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.     Goin 
\'i ■',    Yor]    S   ite,  lie  became  a  fireman  on  the  I  *el- 
aware,  '      tern  railroad,  being  thus 

empL  .  a  rter  promoted 

i  :  ition    he  continued    for 

threi  From  New  York  State  he  went  down 

to  Ci  i,  Ga.,  where  In     i  Found  work  as 

:.    for 
[rs.     In   issi:  ■■.in  Cedartown 

\!;i,.  n  here  he  was  occupied   in  the 
same   capacity    until    1892,   con  i  n  >rd 

of  twenty-two  years  in  all  at  railroad  work,  dur- 
ing all  of  which  time  he  never  received  an  injury 
..'  .  r  ed  injury  to  any  other  person.  In  Is  a" 
Mr.  Gearhari  moved  his  Family  back  to  his  old 
home,  returning  alone  to  Alabama,  w  here  he  si 
until  May,  1899.  Having  purchased  the  Philip 
Koons  property  in  Gearhart  township,  the  old  home 
of  his  grandfather,  he  then  began  the  raising  of 
truck  and  small  fruits.  He  has  improved  the  farm 
in  main-  wavs  since  taldng  possession  of  the  | 
erty,  and  in  1898  built  the  house  thereon  which  he 

and  his  wife  now  occupy,  a  structur :  concrete 

blocks,  which  lie  made  himself.     He  is  an  intelli- 

and  enterprising  man  in  the  conduct  of  In- 
business  affairs,  which  have  prospered  continuously, 
ami  his  ability  has  been  recognized  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  have  chosen  him  to  serve  in  local  po- 
sitions of  public  trust.  Tic  has  been  a  school  di- 
rector  I'm-  over   fifteen   years  and   a  supervisor  oi 


roads  for  some  twelve  years.     In  political  connec- 
tion he  is  a  Democrat. 

While  in  New  York  State  Mr.  Gearhart  married 
Martha  Doman.  They  have  no  children.  Mi-. 
Gearhart  is  a  member  of  the  Methodisi  Church, 
while  Mrs.  Gearhart  i-^  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  'I 
dega  Lodge,  I-'.  &  A.  M. 


G 'ge  Geai  hai  t.  -on  of  ( (apt.  Jacob  and  Cath- 
arine (Kline)  Gearhart,  was  horn  in  what  is  now 
Hunterdon  county,  X.  J.,  and  he  became  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  landowner,  lie  had  a  beautiful 
Farm  one  mil.,  from  Riverside,  along  the  haul;  of 
the  Susquehanna  river  one  mile  smith  of  the 
bridge,  now  forming  part  of  South  Danville.  It 
was  a  presenl  to  him  from  his  father  at  his  ma- 
jority and  there  he  lii  ed  all  Ins  life.  He  erei 
many  buildings  there,  and  as  he  prospered  pur- 
chased more  land,  at  Ins  deal!  ■.ecu 
three  hundred  and  four  hundred  acres  al 

uehanna.      He    was    twice    married,    his    firs) 

wife  being  Achie  Runyan,  who  died  when  a  y<  i 

woman,  the  mother  of  Four  children  :     Bonham   I.'.. 

jamin  (who  moved  mil  West).  Eliza  and  Re- 

i  (married  Wilson  Mettler).     His  second  wife 

Phoebe  Lett,  by  whom  he  had  three  children: 

and  Harmon. 

Bonham  R.  Gea  !  ge  "  lear- 

hart,  was  horn  March  18,  1811,  on  his  father's 
homestead  in  Rush  township,  and  there 
his  early  education,  later  attending  academy  at 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  Harmon 
.  of  Bl  omsburg,  and  fool,;  a  coursi 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from 
which  lie  uated.     For  (wo  years  Dr.  Gear- 

hart  practiced    in    Sunbury,    ami    he    was    si   >se 
quently  in  Washingtonville  and  Turbutville  (  !  - 
;i  ttling  al    I  lam  ille.  where  h 
u    ess   ul  practii  e  to  the  close  of  his  life      II 
on.,  of  the  most  popular  physicians  of  his  dm .  and 
his  death,  which  occurred   May  9,   1855,  when  he 
was  in  his  early  forties,  was  widely  mourned.     He 
died   of  pneumonia.     Dr.  Gearharl    married   Eliz- 
abeth Boyd,  daughter  of  William  Boyd,  of   Dan- 
ville,  and    granddaughter   of    William    Boyd,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America.     Airs.  I 
survi\  ed    In    Doctor  many  years,  living  to  advanced 
aye.    They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  viz. : 
William    Boyd    married     Elizabeth,    dan. 
Thomas  Buttler,  and  they  have  had  children,  Eliz- 
abeth  Boyd  and   Main  A. Iia,  the   former  the  wi Ei 
of    R.   Scott  Ammerman  and   the   mother  of 
children,   Roberl   Boyd,  William   Edgar,  Elizabeth 
Catharine  and    Dorothy   Ada:   Achie  i-  decea 
i.  orge  M..  who  was  for  many  years  cashier  of  the 
Danville  National  Bank,  was  born  March  is.  is  1 1. 
no  hi-  father's  birthday,  in  the  same  room  w  here 
his  father  was  horn,  ami  married  Cordelia  (dark. 
daughter  of  David  and  Eleanor  (Gearhart)  Clark. 


876 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  FENXsi  LVAXIA 


their  union  being  blessed  by  three  children,  David 
Clark  ( who  died  when  three  years,  six  months  old), 
Charles  Willitts  (a  graduate  of  Lehigh  University  ) 
and  Eleanor  Clark  (married  Frederick  C.  Kirk- 
endall  and  had  one  son,  Charles  F.)  ;  a  daughter, 
twin  of  George  M.,  died  in  infancy;  Bonham  R., 
born  May  20,  1843,  long  connected  as  cashier  and 
later  as  president  with  the  Firsl  National  Bank  of 
Danville,  married  .Mary  Louise  York?,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  Ann  (West)  Turks,  and  they 
had  two  children.  Anna  M.  (who  married  M.  Grier 
Youngman.  cashier  of  the  Danville  Xational  Bank 
and  has  children  Mary  Louise  and  John  Bonham) 
and  Robert  Y.;  Jasper  married  (first)  Florence 
Yorks  and  after  her  death  Margaret  Thompson, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Emma;  James  B.  died  un- 
married :  Alexander  Montgomery,  born  at  Danville 
July  26,  1846,  for  many  years  station  agent  at 
Danville  for  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  West- 
ern Railway  Company,  married  Martha  Mi  ' 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Eleanor  (Yoris)  Mc<  o 
and  they  had  one  daughter,  Nell  Bonham,  who 
married  William  L.  McClure  and  had  three  chil- 
dren, Harold  Rnssel,  Donald  C.  and  Jasper;  M. 
Grier  completed  the  family. 


William  Gearhart.  son  of  Capt.  Jacob  and  Cath- 
arine (Kline)  Gearhart,  married  Sarah,  and  they 
had  a  son  John.  John  Gearhart  married  Martha 
Martin,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  one  son,  Wil- 
son M..  ami  one  daughter.  Sarah,  who  married  Al- 
fred Sober. 

Wilson  M.  Gearhart,  son  of  John  and  Martha 
(Martin)  Gearhart.  was  born  Jan.  23,  1846,  in 
Northumberland  county,  and  spent  his  early  life  on 
a  farm.  He  received  his  preliminary  education  in 
the  country  schools,  later  attending  the  Danville 
Institute  and  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Williams- 
port.  Pa.,  from  which  latter  he  was  graduated  in 
1865,  having  completed  the  classical  course.  From 
that  time  until  1868  he  was  engaged  in  teaching, 
ami-  next  a  bookkeeper  until  1872,  and  then  em- 
barked in  business  on  his  own  account,  continuing 
thus  until  1875.  That  year  he  was  elected  pro- 
thonotary  of  Montour  county,  mi  the  Republican 
ticket,  although  the  county  was  strongly  Demo- 
cratic and  his  popularity  was  further  shown  in 
his  subsequent  reelection,  several  times.  Receiv- 
ing the  appointmenl  of  chief  clerk  in  the  State  de- 
partment at  Harrisburg,  he  retained  that  position 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1898.  He  married 
Jane  Beaver,  daughter  of  Jesse  Beaver,  of  Dan- 
ville, and  to  them  were  born  three  children:  Em- 
eline.  who  is  deceased  :  J.  Beaver,  mentioned  be- 
low ;  and  Lois,  who  married  John  R.  Sharpless,  of 
Hazleton,  Pa.,  and  has  two  children,  Jane  and 
John  R.,  Jr. 

J.  Beaver  Gearhart.  D.  D.  S.,  only  son  of  Wil- 
son M.  and  Jane  (Beaver)  Gearhart.  was  born  in 
Danville,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  his  native 


city.  He  was  a  public  school  pupil  until  his  gradu- 
ation from  the  high  school,  after  which  he  entered 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he 
»;i-  graduated  in  1892.  This  was  followed  by  a 
course  in  dentistry,  and  in  1895  he  opened  an  of- 
fice in  Danville,  where  he  has  since  engaged  in 
practice.  He  commands  a  wide  patronage  in  his 
professional  work,  and  personally  enjoys  unusual 
popularity.  ( to  April  2,  1895,  he  enlisted  at  Dan- 
ville in  Company  F,  12th  Regiment,  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Xational  Guard,  and  served  as  a  private 
until  July  25,  1897.  when  he  was  appointed  ser- 
geant major  of  the  battalion.  On  April  26,  1898, 
he  was  appointed  battalion  adjutant,  with  the 
rank  of  second  lieutenant,  and  was  recommissioned 
April  28,  1899,  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 
<  to  July  31,  1899.  he  accepted  election  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  F,  12th  Regiment,  and  on  \"\. 
I.  1899,  he  was  elected  captain  of  that  company, 
which  lie  commanded  continuously  for  about  nine 
years,  having  been  unanimously  reelected  upon  the 
expiration  of  his  first  commission,  in  1904.  He 
served  nearly  four  years  thereafter,  when  he  re- 
signed and  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  the 
Xational  Guard  of  Pennsylvania.  During  the 
Spanish-American  war  Dr.  Gearhart  served  as  bat- 
talion adjutant  and  regular  A.  C.  S.  of  the  12th 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  from  May  12. 
L898,  to  Oct.  29."  1898. 


Charles  Gearhart,  son  of  Capt.  Jacob  and  Cath- 
arine i  Kline)  Gearhart,  married  Sarah  Ephland, 
and  their  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  as  follows:  (1)  Charles  Perrv.  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  died  in  December.  18 — .  He  mar- 
ried Agnes  Blue,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Agnes 
(Childs)  Blue  and  granddaughter  of  Michael 
Blue,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  To  them  were 
born  six  children :  Arthur  Clarence,  who  died  un- 
married :  Amanda,  who  married  S.  M.  Oberdorf : 
Edith,  who  married  Philip  Mettler  and  had  chil- 
dren, Charles  G.  (a  captain  in  the  United  States 
army).  Agnes  (who  married  John  Smith).  Edith, 
Alice.  John  and  Catharine:  Mary  Alice,  wife  of 
E.  M.  Eckman:  Gertrude  <;..  wife 'of  G.  H.  Sonne- 
born.  deceased:  and  Charles  P..  mentioned  later. 
i '.' )  Samantha  married  Thomas  Jamison  and  they 
had  children :  Helen  is  unmarried :  Charles  mar- 
ried (first)  a  Miss  Lyon,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children,  Xellie  (Mrs.  Harry  Billmeyer.  wdio  has 
one  daughter,  Martha),  Thomas  (married  Elsie 
Kardisky)  and  Loue  (married  Y.  V.  Hidaker), 
and  his  second  marriage  was  to  Elizabeth  Lau- 
bach;  Arthur  is  deceased;  Frank  married  Alice 
Richardson  and  had  children  Mary  and  Catharine. 
(3)  Arthur  and  his  wife  Lucy  are  the  parents  of 
lour  children:  Arthur,  unmarried:  Anna,  un- 
married: William,  who  married  Lena  Herman: 
and  Sarah,  who  married  Samuel  Detwiller  and  has 
children  Lucy  and  Clara. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


S77 


Charles  P.  Gearhart,  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Ag- 
nes (Blue)  Gearhart  was  horn  in  Gearhart  town- 
ship and  there  received  his  early  education  in  the 
local  schools.  Later  he  attended  Danville  Acad- 
emy under  Prof,  .lames  Kelso,  read  law  with  Judge 
Hinckley,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1800. 
since  when  he  has  been  engaged  in  legal  practice. 
In  1905  he  was  elected  district  attorney  of  Mon- 
tour county,  Pa.,  and  was  reelected  to  that  position 
in  1908.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  In  1881 
Mr.  Gearhart  enlisted  in  the  National  Guard  of 
Pennsylvania;  in  1887  he  was  elected  captain  of 
Company  F.  12th  Regiment:  and  in  1807  became 
major  of  that  regiment.  He  retired  from  the  serv- 
ice in  October,  L909,  after  a  service  of  nearly  twen- 
ty-nine years. 


John  Gearhart,  son  of  ('apt.  Jacob  and  Cath- 
arine (Kline)  Gearhart,  married  Anna  Cool,  of 
New  jersey.  Their  children  were:  Ann  E., 
Tunis,  William  Cool,  Jacob  and  John.  Of  these, 
Ann  E.  became  the  wife  of  Wilson  Mettler,  who 
was  horn  in  1813,  son  of  Philip  and  Susan  (Car- 
ter) Mettler,  and  died  Oct.  8.  1000.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mettlei'  were  horn  four  children:  Sarah 
Elizabeth,  Susan  M.,  Spencer  and  Anna.  Sarah 
Elizabeth  Mettler  married  a  Hoffman,  and  had 
one  daughter,  Anna,  who  married  William  G.  Wil- 
liams; Susan  M.  Mettler  married  Hugh  Vastine 
and  had  children.  Wilson  M.,  Elizabeth  B.  and 
H.  Spencer  (who  married  Sarah  P.  Mettler  and 
has  had  children  Pauline  and  Rachel)  ;  Spencer 
Mettler  married  Anna  Brandon  and  had  children. 
flora  Augusta  (who  married  C.  V.  Ammerman 
and  had  a  daughter  Ruth)  and  Spencer  Wilson 
(who  died  young }. 

Maclay  Cool  Gearhart  was  horn  Sept.  14,  1828, 
in  Push  township  (what  is  now  Riverside),  North- 
umberland county,  son  of  William  Cool  and  Mary 
Harris  (Awl)  Gearhart,  and  a  grandson  of  John 
Gearhart.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  for  be- 
sides being  a  scion  of  the  Gearhart  family  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  John  Harris,  the  founder  of 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  of  William  Maclay,  one  of 
the  first  two  United  States  senators  from  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  about  two  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  a  farm  near  Sunbury  (close  to 
what  is  now  Seven  Points),  and  his  father  dying 
Sept.  15,  1834,  a  few  years  afterward  he  moved 
with  his  mother  to  Sunbury.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  attend- 
in-  at  the  time  the  public  school  building  was  lo- 
cated on  Third  street,  on  the  present  site  of  the 
old  Masonic  hall.  At  Danville,  Pa.,  he  served  the 
greater  part  of  bis  apprenticeship  to  the  tailors 
trade,  which  he  finished  learning  with  George 
C.  Welker.  of  Sunbury,  serving  from  1848  to  1851. 
Afterward  he  served  an  apprenticeship  and  learned 
the  confectioner's  trade,  in  Philadelphia,  whence 
he  returned  to  Sunbury,  in  18.".  1.  and  started  the 


manufacture  and  sale  of  confectionery.  His  first 
location  was  in  the  old  Painter  building,  on  Market 
street,  between  Second  and  Third  streets,  and  later 
he  moved  to  a  location  on  the  same  street  between 
Third  and  Fourth  streets,  where  he  had  his  place 
of  business  and  residence  as  well.  He  continued 
his  establishment  until  1901,  when  he  closed  out 
the  business,  thereafter  living  in  retirement  until 
bis  death,  which  occurred  Nov.  3,  1003. 

Mr.  Gearhart  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Sun- 
bury for  a  number  of  years.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  influential  member  of  the  school  board  of 
that  borough,  serving  one  year  as  treasurer  of  the 
board:  was  a  member  of  the  Sunbury  town  coun- 
cil one  term  :  anil  served  two  terms  as  treasurer  of 
the  borough.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  from  boyhood,  transferrins  his 
membership  to  the  Lutheran  Church  in  order  to 
have  his  family  together  in  one  church.  He  served 
a  number  of  years  as  member  of  the  church  coun- 
cil, in  both  churches. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Gearhart  was  the 
oldest  resident  Freemason  in  Sunbury.  He  served 
two  terms  as  worshipful  master  of  Sunbury  Lodge, 
No.  ?'?.  F.  &  A.  M. :  having  served  so  faithfully 
during  his  first  term,  he  was  elected  the  second 
time  from  the  floor  of  the  lodge.  During  his  sec- 
ond term  the  lodge  was  in  straitened  circumstances 
financially,  and  he  ordered  the  secretary  to  prepare 
for  him  a  list  of  the  members  showing  all  delin- 
quents, after  which  he  made  a  personal  canvass 
among  the  members,  collecting  the  back  dues  and 
thus  placing  tin'  finances  of  the  lodge  on  a  firm  ba- 
sis. During  his  service  as  worshipful  master,  in 
1870,  occurred  the  big  fire  which  destroyed  the 
(oiner  where  the  Oppenheimer  &  Jonas  clothing 
store  now  stands,  burning  to  Court  si  reel .  As 
there  was  great  danger  of  the  Masonic  Hall  build- 
ing burning  he  removed  all  the  lodge  paraphernalia 
to  his  residence,  packing  tin1  same  in  chests  and 
personally  caring  for  the  property. 

On  June  28,  1854,  Mi-.  Gearhart  married  Bo- 
sanna  Gossler,  daughter  of  Samuel  ami  Mary 
(retry)  Gossler,  and  thej   had  a  family. 

Robert  Haebis  Geaehart,  son  of  Maclay  Cool 
and  Rosanna  (Gossler)  Gearhart,  was  born  Aug. 
28,  1855,  in  Sunbury,  when'  he  grew  to  manhood, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools  aiel 
academy  of  the  borough.  For  a  short  time  he  wa- 
in the  employ  of  the  Adams  Express  Compan)', 
subsequently  assisting  his  father  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  then  returning  to  his  former  employ- 
ers, with  whom  he  continued  for  -ix  year.-.  lb- 
had  been  familiar  with  the  confectionery  business 
from  boyhood,  and  be  again  became  his  father's 
assistant  in  that  line,  continuing  until  his  father 
closed  nut  business.  Mr.  Gearharl  has  been  proni- 
inently  identified  with  politic  from  early  man- 
hood, actively  associated  with  the  best  interests  of 
the  Republican  party  in  city  and  county  affairs  for 


878 


NORTHUMBERLAND  CO!   N  IV.  PENNSYLVANIA 


a  number  of  years.  In  1890  and  1900  he  was  cen- 
sus enumerator  of  the  Second  ward  of  Sunbury, 
where  he  resides;  in  1898  he  was  appointed,  b; 

1  of  county  commissioners,  as  mercantile  ap- 
ser;  and   served   the   Sunbur;    standing  com- 
■  as  secretary  and  treasurer  for  a  period  of 
seven  years.     On  May  13,  1902,  he  was  appointed 
ant    postmaster   of    Sunbury,   and    has   since 
-  en  re-appointed,  by  F.  K.  Bill,  the  present  post- 
er.    He  is  ,i  capable  official  and  a  highly  re- 
ed citizen. 
In   1879  Mr.  Gearhari  married  Mary  Cornman, 
filter   of    Ephraim    and    Barbara    (Schramm) 
man.  of  Carlisle.  Cumberland   Co.,  Pa.,  the 
former  of   whom   was   the   first   public   printer  of 
Pennsylvania.     Mrs.   Gearhart  is  a  descendant  of 
Pocahontas  through  her  connection  with  the  Ran- 
dolph family  of  Virginia.    Five  children  have  been 
to  Mr.  and   Mrs.  Gearhart:     (1)    Rev.  Eph- 
d   Maela\    Gearhart,  pastor  of  Trinity  Luther- 
an Church  at  Sunbury,  married  Minnie  Kline,  of 
Williamsport,   Pa.,   who   died    in    1907,   leaving   a 
Maclay,  Jr.     (  2  )    Rosanna  G.  mar- 
ried   Prof.   Lewis   H.   Mackiney,  one  of  the 

ol  teachers  at  Sunbury,  where  they  reside, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Arland  II.  (3)  Robert 
II.  is  a  theological  student  at  Gettysburg  Sem- 
inary. (4)  Marion  If.  married  Bessie  Miller  and 
they  reside  at  Carlisle,  1'a.  (lie  is  a  printer).  (5) 
Mary  ('.  graduated  from  Sunbury  high  school  with 
the  class  of  1911,  taking  first  honors. 

Mr.  Gearhart  and  his  family  reside  at  X".  -J  i 
South  Fifth  street.  They  are  members  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  at  Sunlmry.  to  which  lie  has  be- 
longed since  1872.  lie  was  made  ;i  Mason  in  1876, 
being  entered  in  October,  crafted  in  November  and 
raised  in  December,  and  he  was  one  of  the  young- 
est men  ever  initiated  into  the  fraternity  at  Sun- 
bury, where  he  is  associated  with  Lodge  No.  22. 
Samuel  Gossleh  Geauhabt,  son  of  Maclay 
Cool  and  Rosanna  (Gossler)  Gearhart,  was  horn 
duly  13,  ISoT.  in  Sunbury,  and  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  borough. 
II  later  had  a  term  at  what  was  then  Missionary 
Institute,  now  Susquehanna  University,  at  Selins- 
grove,  Pa.  Assisting  his  father  from  boyhood,  lie 
learned  the  candy  business,  both  the  work  in  the 
Fai  lory  and  the  work  in  the  store.  When  about 
een  years  old  he  was  employed  one  year  in 
a  planing  mill  at  Lock  Haven.  Pa.,  as  an  appren- 
tice, to  learn  bench  carpentering.  On  June  26, 
1876,  he  began  to  learn  telegraphy,  entering  the 
service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as 
telegraph  operator  Aug.  1.  1  s? 7 .  since  which  time 
he  has  been  engaged  continuously  on  the  Sunbury 
and  Shamokin  divisions  id'  that  company.  On 
March  II.  1883,  he  was  promoted  to  train  dis- 
patcher, and  to  Division  operator  and  assistant 
trainmaster  May  1.  1891.  He  holds  this  position 
at  the  present  time,  having  now  over  two  hundred 


men   under  his  supervision.     Mr.  Gearhart   i-  one 
ie  oldest  men.  in  point  of  service,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the   Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company. 

On  dune  18,  1879,  Mr.  Gearhart  married  Emma 
Lucia  Schoch,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mar- 
garet (Bright)  Schoch,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and 
the\  have  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters: 
s.  married  Prof.  George  L.  Swank,  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard  University  and  now  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  at  Elysburg,  Pa.;  Heber 
Gossler,  a  graduate  of  State  College,  Pennsylvania, 
is  a  civil  engineer,  and  at  present  engaged  as 
assist  lerintei  const  ruction  with  the 

McClintic-Marshall  Construction  Company,  a 
Pittsburg,  Fa.:  Margaret  A.  is  living  at  home: 
Samuel  G.,  Jr.,  a  graduate  of  Pennsylvania  State 
>  i  ege,  is  an  electrical  engineer  in  the  employ  of 
General  Electrii  Company,  of  Pittsfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  G.  Gearhart  are  members 
of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  Sunbury,  and  Mr. 
larl  has  long  been  active  in  church  work.  He 
ha-  served  a  number  of  years  as  a  member  of  the 
ehureh  council,  and  as  secretary  of  the  council; 
was  for  a  number  of  years  financial  secretary  of  the 
i  h.  anil  was  secretary  and  librarian  of  the 
-1.  He  ha-  l. een  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  from  boyhood,  and  Mrs.  Gear- 
hart's  family  have  all  been  connected  with  that 
church.  Mr.  Gearhart  has  taken  special  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  fourth  year  as  president  of  the  Railroad 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  at  Sunbury;  for  the  past  three 
he  lias  filled  the  position  of  chairman  of  the  district 
committee  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

In  1881  Mr.  Gearhart  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Lodgi  No.  22,  Sunbury — entered  March  9,  passed 
April  8,  raised  July  5.  On  account  of  his  apt- 
ness in  learning  the  work  he  was  elected  to  fill 
the  high  offices  of  his  lodge,  serving  as  junior 
warden  in  1889,  a-  senior  warden  in  1890  and  as 
worshipful  master  m  1891.  On  Nov.  26,  1889,  he 
exemplified  the  first  degree  in  Freemasonry  in 
Lodge  Xo.  22  at  a  visitation  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania,  over  three  hundred  brothers  and 
visiting  brothers  being  present.  At  the  time  Mr. 
Gearhart  was  serving  in  the  chairs  the  work  of 
conferring  the  degrees  had  been  done  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  by  Fast  Master  Jacob  R.  Cressinger, 
and  Mi-.  Gearhart  decided  to  do  his  own  work. 
Accordingly  he  learned  the  work  from  Mr.  Cres- 
singer, and  the  first  night  he  sat  as  worshipful 
master,  dan.  24,  1891,  he  raised  two  candidate-. 
During  his  term  of  office  he  entered  eight,  passed 
two  and  raised  seven  candidates. 


William  Gearhart.  brother  of  Capt.  Jacob  Gear- 
hart. was  horn  m  Strasburg,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  in  17">F     He  settled  in  Hunterdon  conn- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


879 


iv,  N.  .1.  \\  lien  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  he 
enlisted  in  the  Hunterdon  county  militia  and  was 
promoted  to  ensign.  After  the  war,  aboui  1790, 
he  came  to  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  pur- 

ased  a  large  tract  of  land  to  the  southeast  of 
Capt.  Jacob  Gearhart's  tract,  settling  in  Rush 
township.  In  New  Jersey  he  married  Eleanor 
DeKnight,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  as  follows:  William.  A.aron, 
Tobias,  Jacob,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Amens),  Ann 
(Mis.  Aniens),  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Lambefson). 

William  Gi  arhart,  son  of  William,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  married  Sarah  Boone,  ami  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Maybury,  born  in  1813;  Harriet. 
1815  (married  Leu  is  Yetter)  ;  Juliann,  1818 
(  married  Samuel  Darder)  :  Eleanor,  1819  ( mar- 
ried David  Clark)  :  Amelia.  1821  |  married  G.  M. 
Slioop ) . 

■  IIMIX    I).    HILBUSH,  i f  the  active  and 

energei  ic  business  men  of  Shamokin,  comes  of  the 
sturdy  German  stock  that  has  given  Pennsylvania 
s any  of  lira'  most   useful  citizens. 

The  name,  originally  Hallobush  (or  Hallow- 
bush),  is  spelled  in  many  ways — Hilbush,  Hill- 
bush.  Hillibish,  Hilbish  ami  Hallerbush.  Christian 
1 1  allow  hush  (Hallobush),  the  emigrant  ancestor  of 
John  I  >.  Hilbush,  was  born  in  Ills  in  the  German 
Palatinate,  and  came  to  America  in  1724  with  his 
brother  Peter  and  widowed  mother.  They  landed 
at  Philadelphia,  locating  shortly  after  in  Salford 
township,  Montgomery  county.  Peter  Hallowbush 
v  as  horn  in  lid!1,  and  died  in  1768,  leaving  five 
children,  Catharine,  Johst,  Magdalena,  Margaret 
and  Ann  Maria.  Christian  Hallowbush  died  in 
Montgomery  county  in  1778,  the  father  of  four 
children.  Magdalena,   Henry,  Adam  and   Peter. 

Daniel  Hilbush,  Si*.,  evidently  a  grandson  of 
Christian,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  John  D. 
Hilbush.  lie  was  born  Sept.  27,  1779,  in  Long- 
swamp  township,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  moved  from 
Ins  native  county  in  about  1800.  In  1820  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  300  acres  in  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  upon  which  he  set- 
tled that  same  year,  passing  the  remainder  of  his 
lite  on  Thai  property,  where  he  died  March  11, 
1862.  He  was  a  stonemason  by  trade,  and  followed 
that  calling  in  connection  with  farming,  ami  he 
was  a  man  who  bore  an  active  part  in  the  affairs 
of  bis  community.  In  1823  he  was  commissioned 
justice  of  the  peace,  ami  served  as  such  continuous- 
ly until  1860;  thi'  office  was  out  of  the  family 
only  five  years,  however,  his  grandson,  Jacob  R., 
having  been  elected  in  1865.  In  IS:;:!,  when  the 
bridge  across  Greenbrier  creek  was  constructed. 
Daniel    Hilbush.  Si\.  was  served   as  commissioner 

of   Northumberland   county.     He  was  f  the 

military  officers  of  the  county,  being  a  captain. 
and  bis  eompanv  was  second  on  the  list  to  be 
called  out  in  the  war  of  1812  if  needed.     He  mar- 


ried Elizabeth  Folk,  of  Berks  county,  born  March 
3,  1781,  died  Nov.  20,  1869,  am!  'to  them  were 
horn  ten  children :  Polly,  Jacob,  Henry,  Daniel, 
dr.,  Betzy,  Joshua  and  Jesse  (twins),  Rachel,  Jo- 
seph tie  V.  and   Hettie. 

Daniel  Hilbush,  dr..  son  of  Daniel.  Sr.,  was 
horn  Dec.  -.'n.  1807,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  came 
to  Washington  township  in  his  j'oung  manhood. 
He  was  a  plasterer  by  hade,  and  followed  thai 
occupation  in  connection  with  farming,  lie  lived 
in  Washington  township  until  1865,  when  he  came 
tn  Jackson  township,  farming  there  until  his  re- 
tirement. He  died  in  Jackson  township  March 
17,  1897,  in  his  ninetieth  year.  Mr.  Hilbush 
married  Nancy  Romberger,  daughter  of  Adam,  of 
Lykens  town-hip.  Dauphin  county.  She  died  in 
1891,  in  her  eightieth  year.  They  are  buried  al 
Mahanoy  Church  in  Jackson  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hilbush  had  children  as  follows:  Jacob  R.. 
of  Mahanoy,  Jackson  township:  Henry  Adam: 
and  Elias  I.'.,  of  Mahanoy,  Pa.,  who  owns  the 
homestead  in  Jack-on  township.  Daniel  Hilbush, 
Jr..  was  an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Mahanoy,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee, 
and  he  was  also  interested  in  the  affairs  of  his 
tow  oship,  sen  ing  two  terms  as  overseer  of  the  poor. 

Henry  Adam  Hilbush,  son  of  Daniel  and  Nan- 
cy, died  in  1908.  He  learned  the  plasterer's  trade, 
ami  this  he  followed  in  Little  Mahanoy  township, 
together  with  farming.  He  -pent  about  live  years 
at  farming  in  old  Virginia,  and  then  came  to 
Shamokin.  where  he  lived  retired  until  Ins  death. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Dillfield,  of  Dauphin  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  horn  April  25,  1843,  .lied  May  10.  1907, 
and  their  children  were:  James.  Clara.  John  D.. 
Amanda,  Abbie,  Isaac.  Daniel  (deceased),  Thama 
and  Herbert. 

John  D.  Hilbush  attended  the  public  scl 1-  of 

Little  Mahanoy  township,  and  worked  on  the  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  He  then  came  to 
Shamokin  and  learned  the  carpenter'-  trade.  In 
1903  he  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  1'.  Rut/, 
and  in  1905  became  treasurer  of  the  East  End 
Lumber  Company,  also  holding  the  position  of  out- 
siile  foreman  for  the  company.  He  ha-  other  busi- 
ness interests,  being  a  director  of  the  Shamokin 
and  Mount  Carmel  Department  Store  Company, 
and  of  the  Shamokin  Department  Store  Company, 
the  latter  being  located  at  No.  5  Market  street, 
Shamokin.  lie  i-  an  active  member  of  the  Mer- 
chants Association. 

Mr.  Hilbush  was  united  in  marriage  to  [da 
Raper,  daughter  of  Conrad  C.  ami  Susan  (Dorn- 
seif)  Raper,  and  to  this  union  were  horn  three 
children.  Edward  <>..  Susan  1-1.  ami  Reuben  11., 
the  last  named  dying  when  lour  years  old.  .Mr. 
Hilbush  has  long  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
class  leader  and  trustee.  In  every  position  in 
which  he  has  been  placed,  he  ha-  been  conseien- 


880 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


tious  and  painstaking,  and  he  lias  the  respect  of 
all  who  know  him. 

Jacob  R.  Hilbi'sii,  son  of  Daniel  and  Nancy, 
was  born  March  11.  1835,  in  Lykens  township. 
Dauphin  county,  and  was  hut  an  infant  when  his 
parents  settled  in  what  is  now  Washington  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county.  Here  he  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  and  commenced  to  learn  his 
father's  trade,  that  of  plasterer,  when  eight  days 
less  than  fourteen  years  old.  He  continued  to 
follow  it.  off  and  on,  until  he  reached  the  agi 
of  twenty-five.  His  educational  advantages  in  his 
boyhood  were  only  such  as  the  old  subscription 
schools  afforded,  and  he  gained  most  of  his  scho- 
lastic training  after  he  was  twenty-one  years  old, 
in  the  Freeburg  Academy.  But  he  improved  his 
time  there  so  well  that  he  became  competent  to 
teach,  and  was  thus  engaged  from  1858  to  1861, 
in  Freeburg.  His  salary  the  first  term  was  but 
eighteen  dollars,  and  his  compensation  was  in- 
creased two  dollars  a  month  each  term:  he  taught 
in  all  nine  terms.  Since  twenty-eight  years  old 
he  has  followed  surveying,  being  the  only  surveyor 
in  his  section  of  the  county.  In  1865  Mr.  Hilbush 
came  to  his  present  home,  the  lot  adjoining  his 
fathers  old  farm  of  130  acres,  which  his  brother 
Elias  B.  now  owns.  His  home  is  pleasant  and 
comfortable. 

In  1SG5.  as  previously  stated,  Mr.  Hilbush  Mil- 
elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  terms  has  served  in  that  office  ever 
-iiue.  holding  a  commission  from  Governor  Cur- 
tin  down  to  the  present  date.  In  this  connection 
he  has  been  a  very  busy  man.  having  made  over 
>ixteen  hundred  deeds  and  mortgages  since  enter- 
ing upon  his  duties,  and  he  is  a  well  known  and 
popular  citizen.  Mr.  Hilbush  has  been  active  in 
promoting  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party 
for  many  years,  having  served  as  delegate  to  sei 
eral  county  conventions. 

In  186?  Mr.  Hilbush  married  Amanda  Zartman. 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Seller)  Zartman. 
and  they  have  had  three  children,  all  daughters: 
Annie,  who  died  in  her  seventeenth  year:  Mary 
and  Lydia.  both  of  whom  are  unmarried  and  live 
at  home.  All  the  family  are  member;  of  the  Re- 
formed Church. 


Edwix  S.  HiLiU'sir.  a  farmer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, near  Otto  Station,  was  born  Aug.  15,  1866, 
son  of  Elias  R.  and  Harriet  (Seiler)  Hilbush.  of 
Jackson  township,  and  grandson  of  Daniel  Hil- 
bush,  Jr.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  -, 
of  the  township  and  reared  to  farm  life,  working 
for  his  parent-  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
nine  year-.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  the  National 
Transit  Company  for  fifteen  years  as  fireman,  be- 
ing at  the  Latsha  station  fourteen  years  and  at 
State  Line,  Bradford  county.  In  the  spring  of 
1892  he  commenced  farming  on  the  place  where 


he  -till  lives,  a  farm  of  196  acres  which  he  pur- 
ehased  in  1890,  and  which  was  formerly  the  Dan- 
iel Zartman  place,  having  been  in  the  Zartman 
name  for  one  hundred  years.  It  was  the  old 
homestead  of  Daniel  Zartman,  who  built  the  brick 
house  now  standing  on  the  property  in  1853. 
Zartman's  U.  E.  Church,  which  stands  on  this 
farm,  was  built  in  1854.  Mr.  Hilbush  is  a  mosi 
progressive  farmer,  ami  he  has  not  only  been  an 
intelligent  business  man  but  a  wide-awake  citizen. 
one  who  has  served  the  community  well.  He  was 
>!  director  of  the  township  for  six  years  and 
township  treasurer  for  two  years.  He  has  long 
been  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  served  two  years  as  county  com- 
eeman.  He  has  likewise  been  diligent  in 
church  work,  having  been  deacon  four  years  and 
at  present  a  trustee  of  St.  Peter's  church  at  Ma- 
hanoy. where  he  and  his  family  unite  with  the 
Reformed  congregation.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  Mahanoy  Lodge,  No.  551,  1.  0.  0.  F. 

(Mi    Oct.   6,    1894,    Mr.   Hilbush   married  Mary 
A.  nn,,.  daughter  ■<(  Washington  Otto,  and  they 
had  three  children  :  Roberl  W.,  Harry  A.  "and 
Harriet  L. 

DRUMHELLEB.  The  branch  of  the  Drum- 
heller  family  here  under  consideration  has  repre- 
sentatives in  various  parts  of  Northumberland 
count)',  Oliver  1!.  Drumheller,  proprietor  of  the 
"Aldine  Hotel."  at  Sunbury,  being  a  well  known 
business  man  of  that  borough:  Emanuel  C.  Drum- 
heller is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  Lower  Augusta 
township:  Albert  Z.  Drumheller.  late  of  Mahanoy. 
wa-  a  lifelong  residenl  ol  Jackson  township  and 
for  many  years  the  leading  undertaker  in  his 
district. 

Members  of  the  Drumheller  family  came  to 
America  in  the  early  days  of  this  Commonwealth, 
the  Pennsylvania  Archives  i  Vol.  XVII,  page  147) 
showing  that  J.  Leonhart  Drumheller  arrived  Oct. 
26,  1754,  on  the  brigantine  •Alary  and  Sarah." 
That  they  were  for  a  number  of  years  settled  in 
Berks  county  is  shown  by  the  Federal  Census  Be- 
port  of  1700.  which  records  the  names  of  John 
and  Nicholas  Drumheller.  of  Earl  township,  that 
county:  John  had  one  son  above  sixteen,  three 
sons  under  sixteen  and  one  daughter:  Nicholas- 
had  one  son  ahove  sixt  a.  three  sons  under  six- 
teen and  three  daughters.  Rev.  C.  R.  Drumheller. 
of  this  stock,  served  as  Lutheran  pastor  of  the 
Stone  Valley  Union  Church  in  Northumberland 
county,  1883-84:  and  of  the  Vera  Cruz  Union 
Church,  in  Dauphin  county,  1883-84. 

The  name  was  well  represented  among  the  Colon- 
ial sympathizers  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
In  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  (5th  Series.  Vol. 
IV)  we  find  (page  318)  that  George  Drumheller 
nged  to  the  Continental  Line,  serving  as  a 
private  in  the  Northampton  county  militia  during 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ssl 


that  war,  and  that  George  Drumheller  later  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier  from  Northampton  coun- 
ty (page  649);  thai  Jacoh  Drumheller  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Continental  Line  from  Berk?  county 
(page  212);  and  that  Jacoh  DrumhelleT  was  a 
private  in  ('apt.  John  Reese's  company  (which 
formed  a  part  of  the  2d  Pennsylvania  Battalion), 
commissioned  from  -Ian.  ',.  L776,  to  Nov.  25, 
L776. 

Johann  Nicholas  Drumheller,  great-grandfather 
id'  Albert  X..  Emanuel  ('.  and  Oliver  R.  Drum- 
heller, was  horn  March  11.  1750,  in  Odenwald, 
Germany,  came  to  America  with  his  brother,  and 
settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  married  (first) 
Margaret  Fischer,  of  that  county,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  John  and  Nicholas,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  her  sister.  Catharine,  in  177G. 
They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children:  David. 
Margaret,  Catharine,  Abraham,  Susanna  (married 
a  Hoffman),  Philip,  Anna  Elizabeth,  Daniel.  Mar- 
tin, Elizabeth  and  Nicholas  (horn  Dec.  19,  1801, 
died  Aug.  L3,  1854,  whose  first  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth IJetricli.  horn  March  29,  1808,  died  Nov.  24, 
L873)!  Johann  Nicholas  Drumheller  died  in  Up- 
per Mahanoy  in  March,  1825,  aged  seventy-five 
years;  his  wife  Catharine,  born  June  1  1.  1759,  died 
Dec.  Is.  Is:;-.',  ami  both  are  buried  at  Himmel's 
Church. 

Abraham  Drumheller,  son  of  Johann  Nicholas, 
was  born  Sept.  25,  L789,  and  died  in  1850",  at 
the  age  of  sixty-one.  He  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington township,  this  county,  but  lived  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where 
he  was  among  the  taxables  in  181  1.  and  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  he  returned  to  Washington  town- 
ship to  make  his  home  with  his  brother  Martin, 
dying  there.  He  is  buried  at  Himmel's  Church. 
His*  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Seitz,  died  a 
few  war-  before  Mr.  Drumheller.  They  had  live 
children:  Elizabeth  married  John  Sweinhard: 
Isaac  i-  mentioned  below.  Nicholas  S.  is  mentioned 
below;  Sarah  married  Abraham  Dreibelbis,  and 
they  moved  out  to  Brookville.  111.,  where  they 
died  (their  children  were  Adam.  Eve  and  another 
daughter,  the  daughters  being  married  to  brothers 
by  the  name  .if  Groh  i  :  Jesse,  of  Pottsville,  Pa., 
married  Amelia  Martz,  and  they  have  two  sons 
and  one  daughter. 

Isaac  Drumheller.  son  of  Abraham,  was  horn 
in  the  vicinity  of  Mahanoy,  and  lived  in  the  vi- 
einity  of  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Lower  Augusta 
township  until  his  declining  years,  when  he  bought 
the  property  at  Augustaville  which  he  occupied 
until  his  death.  He  owned  the  tract  of  fifty-seven 
acres  now  the  property  of  his  son  Emanuel  and 
besides  farming  followed  his  trade  of  blacksmith. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Drumheller  served  as  a 
member  of  Company  F.  172d  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Drafted  Militia,  His  death  occurred  at  Au- 
gustaville, in  Lower  Augusta  township,  Jan.   23, 

56 


1895,  when  he  was  aged  seventy-live  years,  eleven 
months,  one  day,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  new 
Lutheran  (St.  Peter's)  Church  at  Asherton,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, lie  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  served 
his  township  as  supervisor.  Mr.  Drumheller  mar- 
ried Mary  Conrad,  daughter  of  John  I).  and  Lydia 
Conrad,  and  she  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying 
Sept.  :;.  lsss.  aged  sixty-three  years,  ten  months. 
three  days.  Six  children  were  born  to  them. 
namely:  Malinda  married  J.  H.  Inkrote,  of  Selins- 
grove  Junction,  La.:  Emanuel  C.  is  mentioned 
below;  Samuel,  who  lives  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, served  as  a  Union  soldier  during  the  Civil 
war:  Hiram  C.  is  mentioned  below;  Jemima  mar- 
ried George  Zimmerman,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.:  Mary 
L.  married  Oliver  Hawk,  of  Millersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

E.man'uel  C.  Drumheller,  son  of  Isaac,  was 
horn  March  1!'.  1846,  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship, where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  He 
\\a>  trained  to  agricultural  work  from  early  hoy- 
hood,  working  for  his  parents  until  he  reached 
his  majority,  after  which  he  was  engaged  at  work- 
on  the  Northern  Central  railroad  for  ten  years. 
On  Sept.  13,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
210th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
for  one  year,  but  served  only  nine  months,  when 
he  was  discharged  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the 
war.  After  leaving  the  railroad  work  Mr.  Drum- 
heller began  burning  lime,  a  business  which  he 
continued  for  three  years,  burning  between  four 
thousand  and  five  thousand  bushels  annually.  In 
1896  he  purchased  his  father's  homestead,  a  tract 
of  over  fifty  acres  which  he  has  since  cultivated. 
He  lives  upon  the  Samuel  Conrad  homestead,  a 
tract  of  four  acres  which  Mrs.  Drumheller  in- 
herited, and  has  erected  all  the  buildings  on  that 
property,  including  the  residence,  which  he  put  up 
in   is",  n. 

Mr.  Drumheller  has  taken  considerable  part  in 
the  administration  of  local  public  affairs,  having 
served    as    constable   of   the   township    for   twelve 

successive  years,  supi  rvisor  i  year,  justice  of  the 

peace  for  five  years,  and  tax  collector.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  affiliation  and  stand-  favor- 
ably with  hi-  party. 

In  1870  Mr.  Drumheller  married  Sydney  N. 
Conrad,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Kaurf- 
man)  Conrad,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and 
they  have  a  family  of  five  children,  namely: 
Palmer  P.,  who  conduct-  hi-  father's  farm: 
George  A.,  of  Ashland.  Pa.;  Anson  B.,  of  Sunbury. 
Pa.:  Mamie  E.  and  Emma  V,  both  of  whom  are 
at  home. 

Hiram  C.  Drumheller  was  horn  May  28,  Is"'  ;. 
in  Lower  Augusta  township,  ami  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  During  In-  young 
manhood  he  tilled  teai  her-'  places  a  number  of 
times,   hut   never  cared   to  teach   regularly.      When 


882 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


seventeen  years  old  lie  began  to  learn  the  plaster- 
er's trade  with  Milton  Drumheller,  a  distant  kin— 
man.  and  has  continued  to  follow  that  vocation 
i  \"<  c  since,  not  only  in  his  own  district  but  also  in 
Sunbury,  Shamokin,  Trevorton  and  other  citii  - 
and  towns  of  this  section;  for  two  years  he  worked 
in  West  Virginia.     He  owns  a  farm  of  forty 

in  Lower  August wnship  formerly  the  property 

of  one  Gross,  and  which  was  once  part  of  the  old 
Daniel  Kauffman  tract.  Mr.  Drumheller  is  at 
present  serving  as  school  director  of  the  town- 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 
but  votes  independently. 

Mr.    Drumheller    married     Susan    Hollenbi 

.. .iter  of  Daniel  Hollenbach  and  granddaughter 
of  Michael  Hollenbach,  the  pioneer.  They  have  had 

unity  of  nine  children:  Lulu  Mabel  married 
Ralph  Snyder  and  they  live  at  Limestone,  Pa.; 
Hiram  Herman  married  Abia  Eeitz  and  they  live 
near  Selinsgrove  Junction;  a  -on  died  in  infancy: 
1  ry  L.  married  Dora  Eerner  and  they  live 
near    Selinsgrove    Junction;    Frederick    ma: 

tie  W'iit  and  they  live  at  Sunbury;  Bertha 
died  of  typhoid  fever  in  Virginia,  where  she  was 
employed  as  an  exchange  girl  :  ("dive  E.  married 
James  Riland  and  they  live  at  Limestone,  Pa.; 
Frank  ami  Eva  live  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Drumheller  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
new  Lutheran  (St.  Peter's)  Church  in  Lower  Au- 

a  township,  which  ho  has  served  in  various 
official  positions. 


Nicholas  S.  Drumheller,  son  of  Abraham,  was 
born  in  Northumberland  county  May  25,  1821, 
ami  died  Sept.  24,  ism;,  aged  seventy-five  years, 
three  months,  twenty-nine  days.  He  is  buried  at 
Zartman's  I*.   1-].  Church.     He  led  an  active  and 

ul  life.  Li  his  earlier  years  lie  followed  shoe- 
making,  making  many  shoes  by  hand,  and  later 
became  a  farmer,  owning  sixty-nine  acres  of  land 
which  he  cultivated  wiih  characteristic  thrift.  His' 
home  was  in  Jackson  township,  on  the  south  side 
o  Mahanoy  mountain,  and  he  was  active  in  local 
affairs,  serving  as  overseer  of  the  poor  and 
many  years  as  supervisor  of  the  township.  In 
political  connection  lie  was  a  Republican,  ami  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  was  an  ardent  Union  man. 
a°  as  a  soldier  in  that  struggle. 
Mr.  Drumheller  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife,  Rebecca  Zartman,  daughter  of  Jacob  Zart- 
man, dying  June  15,  1853,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
rears,  three  months,  one  day.  the  mother  of  sh 
children,  viz.:  William  7...  horn  in  1st".',  who  died 
Nov.  17,  1876,  and  is  buried  at  Zartman's  U.  E. 
Church:  Harriet,  who  married  (first)  Samuel 
Kulp  and  (second)  Anthony  Culton;  Henry  Z.. 
horn    in    1847,    who    died    .inn.     10,    1882,    aged 

ty-four  years,  six  months,  twelve  days,  and  is 
buried  at  Zartman's  Church;  Sarah,  who  died  aged 
three  years:  Albert  Z. :  and  Isaac  Jacob,  a  teamster, 


Green  Ridge,  Northumberland  county.  Mr. 
Drumheller's  second  marriage  was  to  Abigail 
Kembel,  by  whom  he  also  had  six  children:  Mary 
married  Samuel  Werntz.  of  Shamokin;  Lydia  mar- 
Frank  W.  Shipe,  eif  Herndon;  Ellen  married 
W.  1'.  Bover,  of  Lower  Mahanoy;  Wilson  Iv.  horn 
(>,!.  13,  1860,  died  April  8,  1879,  aged  eighteen 
months,  twenty-five  days,  and  is  buried 
at  Zartman's  U.  E.  Church:  Alice  married  Wil- 
liam E.  Zartman.  of  Jackson  township;  John 
Packer,  born  in  is;-.',  died  Oct.  •.':;.  1875,  aged 
three  yi  in-,  fifteen  days,  and  is  buried  at  Zartman's 
Church. 

A  i  in  i,i  Z.  Drumheller  was  horn  Dec.  VI.  1850, 
in  Jackson  township,  and  received  his  education 
in  tlie   subscription   schools   there,  which   were  in 

:  lie  establishment  of  the  free  s. 

He  was  trained  to  farm  life,  working  upon  the 
until  he  readied  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
after  which  he  learned  cabinetmaking  at  Pillow, 
Dauphin  county.  After  following  that  trade  sev- 
eral  years  as  a  journeyman  he  established  himself 
in  business  at  Mahanoy  in  1875,  following  cabinet- 
making  and  undertaking  at  that  location  until  his 
recent  death — for  a  period  of  thirty-five  years. 
For  years  after  beginning  the  business  he  made 
coffins  by  hand,  and  continued  to  make  a  specialty 
of  undertaking,  in  which  line  hi'  became  the  leader 
in  hi-  section,  having  handled  nearly  five  hundred 
funerals.  In  his  earlier  years  at  Mahanoy  he  made 
considerable  furniture  by  hand,  and  in  the  co 
of  his  long  business  sja  e  employment  to  a 

number  of  men.  His  death,  which  occurred  April 
15,  1910,  was  quite  unexpected,  and  was  caused 
by  a   carbuncle.     It  to.  one  of  the  most 

substantial  and  respected  cil  'lie  town.    He 

was  serving  as  auditor  at  the  time  id'  his  dei 
and  had  been  previously  elected       -        r  of  Jack- 
son township,  though   he  was  a  Republican  in  a 
Democratic  dist  rict. 

In  December,  1873,  Mr.  Drumheller  married 
Mary  Jane  Gellinger,  daughter  of  Daniel  Gellinger, 
who  died  Nov.  it.  1909.  Three  children  were' 
horn  to  this  union:  Charles  11..  who  lives  in 
Council  Bluff-.  Iowa;  John,  who  died  when  six 
anil  a  half  years  old;  and  Edward  A.,  who  died 
Dec.  1.  1910.  The  family  home  is  on  the  street 
between  Berndon  and  Mahanoy,  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  latter  place.  Mr.  Drumheller  be- 
d  to  the  Reformed  Church  at.  Mahanoy,  as 
did  his  familv. 


Martin  Drumheller.  son  of  Johann  Nicholas, 
was  horn  Nov.  G.  1795,  and  died  Dee.  5.  1852. 
lb  lived  in  Washington  township,  where  he  en- 
i  in  farming,  and  in  his  day  was  also  a  popu- 
lar auctioneer,  crying  most  of  the  sales  held  in 
that  -e,  lion  in  his  time.  His  wife.  Elizabeth 
Frey,  horn  Aug.  11.  1797,  died  Oct.  29,  1.852. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Levi.  Adam.   Sen- 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


883 


ho  settled  out  West  i.  Mrs.  Eetrich,  Mrs. 
Heim  (whose  husband  was  a  cabinetmaker)  and 
Edward  T. 

Edward  T.  I  irumheller,  son  of  Martin,  was  bora 
Ocl  •.".'.  1830,  in  the  Swabian  creek  valley  in 
Washington  township,  and  lived  in  that  township 
until  1861,  when  he  moved  to  Sunbury.  There  he 
was  engagi  d  as  a  liotel  b  .per  during  the  remain- 
der -I  I,:,  active  yeai  -.  though  he  was  a  tailor  b] 
trade.  Jlis  first  venture  was  as  proprietor  of  the 
"Susquehanna  Eotel,"  at  the  corner  of  Fourth 
Penn  streets.  In  187]  lie  buill  the  "City  Eotel," 
which  lie  completed  an. I  opened  in  January,  1872, 
conducting    n    until   his   retirement,  when  he  was 

- ''I'd    by   in-  -nn    Oliver    I,'.   Drumheller  and 

son-in-law  T.  If.  Eutchinson.  He  continued  to 
reside  al  the  hotel,  however,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  there  March  \.  1893.  He  married  Mary- 
Elizabeth  Eoffman,  who  was  bora  Aug.  26,  1833, 
daughter  of  William  Eoffman,  of  Washington 
township,  and  died  Feb.  1".  1905.  They  are  buried 
in  Pomfrel  Manor  cemetery,  where  their  resting 
place  i-  marked  bj  a  Large  granite  monument.  Five 
children  were  born  in  their  union:  Oliver  1!.:  Ella 
M..  wile  of  'I'.  II.  Eutchinson;  Seran  ('.,  who  died 
unmarried  March  29,  1892,  aged  thirty-four  years, 
three  aths,  eighl  days;  Dr.  Francis  E.,  of  Sun- 
bury;  and  Earvey  M.,  who  died  unmarried  June 
27,   1901,  aged   thirty-three  years,  eight  months, 

four  days.     Mr.   Drumheller  was  if  the  most 

able,  all-around  hotel  men  Sunbury  has  ever  known 
and  prospered  so  well  in  the  business  that  he  en- 
joyed a  substantial  position  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  "Cm  Eotel,"  which  lie  built,  is  to 
this  day  one  of  the  mosi  up-to-date  hostelries  in 
Sunburj . 

Oliver  R.  Drumheller,  present  proprietor  of 
the  "Aldine  Eotel"  in  Sunbury,  was  born  Jan. 
•.'1.  1855,  in  Jordan  township,  this  county,  lie 
lived  there  until  In-  parents  settled  in  Sunbury  in 
L861,  and  this  has  been  his  home  for  the  mosi 
part  ever  since,     lie  received  his  education  in  the 

common  scl Is  and  literally  grew  ftp  in  the  hotel 

business,  the  details  of  which  have  been  familiar 
i(.  him  from  early  boyhood.  In  188?  he  engaged 
in  thai  business  nn  his  own  account  at  the  "City 
lintel,"  which  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Eutchinson,  conducted  in  partnership  for  five 
years,  ai  the  end  of  which  time  the  latter  retired. 
Mr.  Drumheller  and  his  brother  Seran  C.  then 
conducted  it  I'm-  five  war-,  after  which  a  younger 
brother.  Earvey  M.  Drumheller,  carried  it  on  for 
a  few  vears.  It  ha-  since  been  operated  by  Dr. 
Francis  E.  Drumheller.  of  Sunbury.  For  eight 
years,  from  1893  to  1902,  Oliver  R.  Drumheller 
conducted  the  well  known  "Windsor  Hotel"  at 
Shaniokin.  this  county,  and  lie  was  subsequently 
in  Danville  for  four  vears.  there  operating-  what 
was  then  known  as  the  "Oliver  House"  (now  the 
"City    Eotel").      In    May,    1906,    lie   came   from 


Danville  to  Sunbury  to  assume  charge  of  tin-  "Al- 
dine   Hotel."   which    he    had   purchased.      It    is   a 

modern,  up-to-date  house,  with  forty  guesl   ms, 

located  near  the  Pennsylvania  rail  mad  station,  and 
under  th^  present  management  is  considered  one 
of  the  leading  hotel-  of  central  Pennsylvania. 
Guests  are  accommodated  upon  either  the  Euro- 
pean or  the  American  plan.  Mr.  Drumheller  hav- 
ing a  first-class  restaurant  in  connection  with  the 
hotel.  His  wide  experience,  his  natural  adapta- 
bility for  the  business  and  hi-  courteous  treatment 
of  In-  patrons,  meril  tin-  success  which  has  been 
In-  portion.  His  son,  Dr.  W.  E.  Drumheller. 
been  associated  with  him.  under  the  firm  name 
of  ().  R.  Drumheller  it  Son,  since  he  took  charge 
of  the  "Aldine  Hotel."  Mr.  Drumheller  i<  nat- 
urally well  known  in  his  business  relations,  but 
he  ha-  a  wide  acquaintance  outside  of  such  asso- 
'ii-.  and  i-  esteemed  a-  a  reliable  ami  valuable 
citizen  in  his  community.  His  substantial  worth 
i-  attested  by  all  who  know-  him.  Mr.  Drum- 
heller has  traveled  considerably,  and  he  has  at- 
tended many  conventions  of  the  B.  I'.  0.  Elks, 
to  which  fraternity  he  belongs. 

On  Christmas  Dav,  1878,  Mr.  Drumheller  mar- 
ried   Elizabeth    I.   Shultz,  daughter  of   Dr.   15.   F. 

Shultz.  of  Danville,  Pa.     They  have  had  -nn 

and  one  daughter,  Walter  E.  and  Mary  E.  The 
daughter  lives  with  her  parents.  Walter  E.  Drum- 
heller graduated  from  tin'  dental  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  practiced  at 
Berwick,  Pa.,  and  Philadelphia.  He  is  active  in 
the  fraternities  as  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Elks 
and  of  the  Knights  of  Alalia,  lie  married  Grace 
McAnall. 

D.  ROSSWELL  ROTHEOCK,  M.  D.,  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  borough  of  Milton,  Northumber- 
land county,  for  twelve  years  and  more,  but  though 
not  one  of  its  older  citizens  is  well  known,  having 
during  his  long  residence  in  the  town  of  Xew  Ber- 
lin. Union  county,  not  many  miles  distant  from 
his  present  home,  made  a  reputation  which  pre- 
ceded him  hither.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  in  Mon- 
tour and  Union  counties,  also  the  cottage  home  he 
lives  in.  located  at  No.  Ii>  Centre  street. 

Dr.  Rothrock  wa-  born  Dec.  28,  1861,  at  New 
Bethlehem,  Clarion  Co.,  Pa.,  and  i-  the  third  gen- 
eration of  his  line  to  follow  the  medical  profes- 
sion, being  a  -nn  of  Dr.  Rosswell  Eothrock  and  a 
grandson  of  Dr.  Isaac  Rothrock.  Joseph  Roth- 
rock,  his  great-grandfather,  wa-  born  in  what  is 
now  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  of  German  parentage 
In  early  manhood  he  removed  to  Mifflin  county 
and  -ell  led  near  Lewistown,  where  he  followed 
farming,  lie  was  well  known  among  the  ea 
pioneers  and  was  a  bishop  in  the  German  Baptist 
Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  Hi-  lii.-t 
wife.  Nancy,  was  the  mother  of  all  his  children, 
and    for   hi-   second    wife   he   married   a    Miss    Sell. 


SSI 


XOBTHUMBEBLAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


The  children,  eight  in  number,  were :  John.  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  Lizzie,  who  married  Jonathan  Amich. 
Nancy  (Mrs.  Price),  Mary  (Mrs.  Hannavalt), 
Mrs.  Jacob  Holder  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Bashore. 

Dr.  Isaac  Eothrock.  son  of  Joseph,  was  born 
Nov.  22,  1798,  at  the  old  homestead  near  Lewis- 
town,  lie  was  a  student  from  early  youth,  mathe- 
matics and  grammar  being  his  favorite  studies, 
and  he  retained  his  fondness  for  such  pursuit-  to 
his  old  age,  enjoying  the  solution  of  a  difficult 
problem  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He  began  his 
medical  studies  with  Dr.  Ezra  Doty,  of  Mifflin. 
Juniata  county,  and  continued  them  with  Dr. 
Thomas  Van  Valzah,  of  Lewisburg.  later  attend- 
ing three  regular  courses  of  lectures  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College.  Philadelphia,  and  although  he 
did  not  graduate  he  was  afterward  given  a  com- 
plimentary diploma  by  the  Eclectic  Medical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia.  He  began  practice  in  Middle- 
burg  with  Dr.  Henry  Lechner,  but  afterward 
moved  tn  Mifflintown  and  then  to  Adamsb  rg, 
where  he  purchased  property,  making  his  home 
there  until  1864.  His  medical  practice  took  him 
over  a  large  territory,  and  he  continued  in  it  for 
fifty-one  years,  spending  his  last  years,  however, 
in  retirement  at  Adamsburg,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
his  books,  living  there  after  1864  until  he  died. 
Though  so  busy  with  his  professional  duties,  he 
was  not  too  busy  to  be  a  useful  man  in  local  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  he  served  his  community  in  a  num- 
ber of  offices,  including  that  of  school  director, 
also  representing  his  district,  composed  of  Lycom- 
ing. Union  and  Snyder  counties,  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature, to  which  he  was  elected  in  1866.  In 
politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a  Bepub- 
liean.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  devout  member 
of  the  German  Baptist  Church.  He  died  dune 
8,  1872. 

Dr.  Eothrock  was  married  four  times.  His  first 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Snyder,  was  a  niece 
of  Governor  Snyder.  She  died  soon  after  mar- 
riage, and  the  only  child  of  this  union  died  in 
infancy.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Susan 
Swenk.  a  native  of  Middleburg,  daughter  of  David 
Swenk,  a  well  known  justice  of  the  peace.  She 
died  in  dune.  1852,  the  mother  of  children  as  fol- 
low-: Rosswell  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  A.,  born 
Dec.  28,  1832,  married  David  Heckendorn,  the 
first  superintendent  of  public  schools  of  Union 
and  Snyder  counties,  and  (second)  Philip  Derr, 
of  Philadelphia,  who  is  also  deceased;  Isaac  S., 
born  May  22,  1835,  graduated  in  dentistry  in  Chi- 
cago and  Philadelphia,  and  now  resides  in  Ban- 
nerville,  Pa.  (he  has  been  an  invalid  for  over 
forty  years  from  spinal  trouble,  which  also  affected 
his  eyes)  :  Harriot  C.  born  May  11.  L837,  is  the 
widow  of  dames  Herlaeher.  of  Haven.  Kans.; 
David  C,  born  May  3,  1845.  is  a  dentist  in  Mc- 
Clure.  Pa.;  Allen  E.,  born  Feb.  13,  1851,  is  a 
tanner  in  Lewistown.    For  his  third  wife  Dr.  Eoth- 


rock married  Mrs.  Lydia  (Bowersox)  Leonard, 
who  died  in  February,  1857,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter, Adda  L..  who  was  born  Sept.  20,  1854,  and 
married  B.  B.  Long,  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.  To  his 
fourth  marriage,  with  Angelina  Wallace,  a  native 
of  Mifflintown,  no  children  were  born.  She  died 
March  29,  1879,  and  is  interred  at  Adamsburg. 
She  was  an  earnest  Christian  and  a  devoted  Sab- 
bath school  worker. 

Eosswell  Eothrock,  M.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  Isaac,  was 
born  Oct.  14,  1831,  al  Adamsburg,  where  he  was 
reared  and  received  the  advantages  afforded  by 
the  common  schools.  He  taught  a  few  terms  in  a 
public  school  in  the  vicinity  of  Adamsburg,  mean- 
time also  reading  medicine,  until  ready  to  enter 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1851,  when  barely  twenty 
Mar-  old.  lb'  was  in  active  practice  from  that 
time  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  1, 
1897,  at  which  time  he  was  the  oldest  practitioner 
in  Snyder  county.  Hi-  first  location  was  at 
Adam-burg,  where  he  remained  until  1853,  that 
year  moving  to  Millville,  Clarion  county,  where 
he  was  located  until  1855.  He  was  then  at  Bea- 
vertown.  Snyder  county,  for  a  time,  in  1860  mov- 
ing to  New  Bethlehem.  Clarion  county.  He 
served  over  threi  years  during  the  Civil  war.  On 
Aug.  29,  1861,  he  became  surgeon  of  Company 
C,  78th  P.  V.  I..  ■  nt.  was  taken 

prisoner  at  Chickamauga,  and  with  eleven  others 
of  his  n  gimi  in  marched  across  Lookout  Mountain 
to  Ringgold,  where  they  boarded  a  train  for  Bich- 
a  month  in  Libby  prison  the  Doc- 
tor and  125  other-  were  marched  away  in  the 
night  and  placed  on  Belle  Isle  or  "Devil's  Den," 
where  lie  was  held  until  Feb.  22,  1862.  Again  at 
■  they  were  taken  to  the  Pemberton  build- 
in--,  where  tiny  were  placed  aboard  a  train  for 
Andersonville,  where  they  found  thirty-five  thou- 
sand other  prisoners  with  whom  they  endured  all 
the  horrors  of  that  place  until  Sep{.  5th.  That 
date  the  Doctor  was  sent  with  a  body  of  two  thou- 
sand prisoners  Savannah.  Six  weeks  later  he 
had  orders  from  the  Confederate  authoriti>  - 
gather  up  all  the  men  who  could  stand  transpor- 
n  and  board  a  train,  for  an  unknown  desti- 
nation, which  proved  to  be  Milieu.  Ga..  where  a 
new  stockade  had  been  built.  Shortly  afterward 
came  the  welcome  news  that  ten  thousand  pris- 
oners would  be  exchanged,  and  the  Doctor  was  one 
of  the  first  six  hundred  to  be  sent  north,  the  jour- 
ney being  made  via  Annapolis,  Md.  He  rejoined 
his  family,  who  were  then  residing  at  Clarion, 
Pa.,  and  on  Nov.  27,  1864,  received  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  service. 

In  1866  Dr.  Eothrock  located  at  Bannerville. 
Si  ler  cmiiity.  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  estab- 
lished himself  in  practice  ai  Middleburg,  as  the 
place  afforded  better  educational  advantages  for 
his  children.     In  1884  he  made  a  permanent  home 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


s.s:, 


at  McClure,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  practicing  until  his  last  sickness  interrupted 
his  work.  As  a  physician,  as  a  citizen,  as  a  man, 
there  were  few  who  equalled  Dr.  Rothrock.  He 
was  the  ideal  general  practitioner,  not  merely  a 
prescriber  of  medicines,  but  a  friend,  adviser  and 
comforter  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  treating  all 
his  patients  with  exactly  the  same  care,  which  was 
the  best  he  could  give.  When  necessary  he  was 
nurse  as  well  as  physician,  never  considering  his 
own  health  in  his  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  oth- 
ers, but  he  had  his  reward  in  the  affectionate  es- 
teem manifested  wherever  he  went.  Though  a 
busy  man  he  had  been  active  in  the  work  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  ami  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Capt. 
M.  Smith  Post,  Xo.  355,  which  he  served  one 
year  as  commander  and  ten  years  as  surgeon.  At 
his  request  the  Post  took  charge  of  his  funeral 
(which  took  place  at  McClure)  with  the  assistance 
of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  to  which  he  belonged  as  a 
member  of  McClure  Lodge,  Xo.  770,  in  which 
he  was  right  supporter  to  the  vice  grand  in  1896. 
Though  not  active  in  politics  he  was  an  ardent 
Republican  in  sentiment,  but  he  was  prominent  in 
religious  work  as  a  member  of  Christ  Evangelical 
Church  at  McClure,  for  a  number  of  years  before 
his  death. 

On  Aug.  4.  1853,  Dr.  Rothrock  married  at  New 
Bethlehem,  Pa.,  Catherine  Molmey,  who  still  con- 
tinues to  make  her  home  at  McClure.  She  was 
born  at  New  Bethlehem  April  23,  1835,  and  there 
spent  her  early  life,  and  is  in  the  best  of  health 
though  seventy-sis  wars  old.  Her  parents,  Ered- 
erick  and  Mary  (Caster)  Mohney,  were  born  in 
Northampton  county,  Pa.,  of  Dutch  ancestry.  He 
died  ai  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  of  appendicitis,  and 
she  died  aged  eighty-four  years.  They  are  buried 
in  Oak  Ridge  cemetery,  in  Clarion  county.  They 
svere  members  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 
Mr.  Mohney  was  a  farmer.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Roth- 
rock had  five  children,  namely:  Maraud,  a  prac- 
ticing physician  at  Fremont.  Pa.:  .Tames  B..  a 
plasterer  and  extensive  contractor  of  Lewistown, 
Pa.;  Clara,  married  to  Edward  Knapp,  who  has 
bei  n  a  carpenter  on  the  Lewisburg  &  Sunbury 
railroad  for  years,  living  at  Lewistown:  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Charles  Decker,  a  farmer  of  McClure,  Pa.: 
and  D.  Rosswell. 

D.  Rosswell  Rothrock  was  four  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Bannerville,  Pa.,  where  he 
spent  his  youth.     He  attended  public  school  five 

, rths  in  the    year,  and    being    an  independent 

boy  earned  enough  to  clothe  himself  from  the 
time  he  was  thirteen  years  old.  On  April  3,  1879. 
the  family  moved  to  Middleburg,  and  on  April 
8th  he  and  his  brother  James  B.  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Elkhart,  Inch,  where  he  was  employed 
during  the  summer  on  a  dairy  farm,  receiving 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  dollars  a  month.  In  Octo- 
ber. 1879,  in  accordance  with  his  father's  wishes, 


he  returned  home  to  attend  school  during  the 
winter,  and  in  the  fall  of  1880  he  was  licensed  to 
teach.  Meantime,  during  the  summer  of  1880, 
he  had  attended  the  Selinsgrove  Normal  Institute, 
conducted  by  Prof.  William  Noetling,  county  sup- 
erintendent, and  the  following  winter  had  a  school 
in  Franklin  township,  Snyder  county,  receiving 
twenty  dollars  a  month.  In  1S81  he  took  a  course 
in  the  academy  at  Freeburg,  and  the  following 
winter  taught  the  Winfield  school  in  Hartley 
township,  Union  county,  receiving  thirty-five  dol- 
lars a  month.  In  1882  he  again  studied  in  the 
academy  at  Freeburg,  where  he  taught  a  primary 
school  the  same  year,  meantime  working  during 
i  In  summer  season  at  any  work  that  would  bring 
him  funds  to  continue  his  studies.  In  the  spring 
of  1882  he  passed  the  examination  before  the  Sny- 
der county  hoard  of  medical  examiners,  securing 
a  certificate  of  competency  to  read  medicine,  and 
he  then  gave  all  his  leisure  to  the  reading  of  medi- 
cine under  his  father's  guidance,  continuing  to 
teach  school  in  order  to  pay  his  way.  The  winter 
of  1882-83  he  taught  the  first  term'  of  school  held 
at  the  new  brick  schoolhouse  in  Franklin  town- 
ship, north  of  Middleburg,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1883  he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  Md.  Returning  home  in 
March.  1881,  he  spent  that  summer  in  the  har- 
vest field  and  at  other  work,  continuing  also  his 
medical  studies,  and  as  his  father  removed  to  Mc- 
Clure that  year  he  also  practiced  for  a  short  time 
with  him,  under  his  preceptorship.  In  the  fall  of 
1881  he  entered  the  Baltimore  University  School 
of  Medicine,  from  which  he  wTas  graduated  the 
following  year  with  highest  honors,  winning  a 
gold  medal  for  proficiency.  By  that  time  his  sup- 
|)I\  of  money  was  so  low  that  he  had  to  sell  some 
textbooks  to  pay  his  fare  to  Selinsgrove  Junction, 
and  he  was  rowed  across  the  Susquehanna  to  Se- 
linsgrove  early  one  morning  before  daylight,  ar- 
riving penniless  at  five  o'clock.  With  his  diploma 
and  his  s'old  medal,  but  nothing  with  which  to 
buy  breakfast,  he  set  out  over  the  snow  for  Fre- 
mont, ten  miles  distant,  and  there  his  brother, 
Dr.  Maraud  Rothrock.  pave  him  money  enough 
to  take  him  home;  but  he  decided  not  to  spend 
it.  and  continued  his  journey,  another  twenty- 
two  miles,  on  foot. 

When  lie  located  for  practice  at  Three  Springs, 
Huntingdon  county,  on  April  2.  1885,  he  had  but 
thirty-one  cents  in  cash.  But  he  purchased  a 
stock  of  drugs,  a  horse  and  some  needful  things 
for  a  doctor's  office  on  a  year's  time,  from  Dr. 
John  B.  Ollig,  and  started  on  a  career  which  has 
since  been  one  of  steady  success.  Within  a  short 
time  he  had  established  a  paying  practice.  His 
brother  Maraud  having  mel  with  an  accident,  he 
went  to  Fremont  Oct.  10.  1886,  to  take  charge 
of  his  large  practice,  remaining  there  until  I 
14th  following,  when  he  established  an  office  at 


886 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


New  Berlin,  at  which  place  he  practiced  for  over 
twelve  years.  In  L888  lie  opened  a  large  drug 
store  there,  conducting  same  in  connection  with 
his  practice.     According  to  an  Act  of  the  State 

Legislature  relating  to  pharmacists,  he  had  to  bake 
;in  examination  before  the  State  Pharmaceutical 
Board  in  the  Senate  Chamber  at  Harrisburg, 
which  he  did  April  11,  1888.  passing  and  receiv- 
ing his  diploma  as  registered  pharmacist,  lb 
owned  a  home  and  business  block  in  New  Berlin, 
and  five  acres  of  land  near  the  town,  which  he 
improved  materially  after  it  came  into  his  pos- 
session. 

The  Doctor's  enterprise  and  energetic  nature 
have  led  him  into  various  fields  which  have  proved 
as  much  of  a  benefit  to  others  as  to  himself.  In 
September,  1897,  with  a  view  to  providing  con- 
genial employment  to  the  young  people  of  the 
town,  he  and  Prof.  A.  M.  Wonder  rented  a  build- 
ing, bought  and  installed  knitting  machinery  anil 
equipped  the  plant  completely  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  men's  hose.  The  idea  was  so  novel  to  the 
community  that  people  came  I'm-  miles  to  see  a 
stocking  knit  by  machinery.  In  six  weeks  from 
the  time  the  factory  started  the  output  had  reached 
sixty  dozen  pairs  per  day  ami  employment  was 
afforded  to  thirty-two  people,  a  condition  which 
meant  much  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town. 

On  Oct.  .".o.  1899,  Dr.  Eothrock  moved  in 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  ha-  -inn  made 
Ids  home  in  the  borough  of  Milton,  lie  purchased 
a  fine  farm  in  Montour  county,  upon  which  he 
has  made  numerous  improvements  during  his 
ownership,  and  he  has  proved  as  desirable  a  citi- 
zen in  this  community  as  in  the  other  localities 
with  winch  he  has  been  identified. 

On  June  16.  1885,  Dr.  Rothrock  married  at 
Centerville,  Snyder  county,  Ella  Walter,  a  native 
of  Limestone  township,  Onion  county,  horn  Feb. 
3,  1863,  second  in  the  family  of  four  daughters 
born  to  Valentine  and  Susannah  (Shaffer)  Wal- 
ter, the  former  a  well-to-do  retired  merchant.  Mrs. 
Rothrock  was  reared  in  Centerville,  her  parents 
moving  to  Snyder  county  when  she  was  a  child. 
She  taught  school  seven  terms  before  her  mar- 
riage. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Rothrock  have  had  two  chil- 
dren: Walter  R.,  bom  Jan.  8,  1887;  and  Helen 
Catherine,  born  Aug.   I.  1894. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Rothrock  are  Lutherans,  and  while 
at  New  Berlin  were  active  members  of  the  church 
there,  the  Doctor  serving  as  deacon  and  treasurer. 
lie  has  always  been  interested  in  the  fortunes  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  took  quite  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs  at  New  Berlin.  He  was 
elected  chief  burgess  of  that  place  before  he  had 
resided  there  a  year  and  also  served  as  school  di- 
rector and  as  treasurer  of  the  school  board.  So- 
cially he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  0.  0. 
P.  lodge  at  New  Berlin,  in  which  he  filled  all  the 
important  chairs,  and  in  1895  he  was  elected  dis- 


trict deputy  of  Union  county,  m  -May,  1897.  go- 
ing as  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  which 
convened  at  Alto., mi.  Pa.  Since  coming  to  Mil- 
ton he  has  become  a  member  of  the  Northumber- 
land County  Medical  Society.  In  June.  1892, 
the  faculty  of  Freeburg  Academy  (which  had  just 
been  chartered)  presented  him  a  diploma  such  as 
that  institution  has  always  gi\ en  to  those  among 
its  students  who  enter  the  learned  professions. 

EDWARD    B.    ZIMMERMAN,    of    Shamokin, 

manager  of  the  Shamokin  Wagon  Works,  was 
born  in  that  borough  Sept.  18,  L876,  -on  of  John 
I!,  Zimmerman,  and  a  descendant  of  a  family 
which  has  long  been  identified  with  the  place  and 
for  several  generations  with  the  same  or  similar 
business  interests.  Some  account  of  the  earlier 
Zimmerman-  will  be  of  interest  in  this  connec- 
tion. 

The  first  of  this  family  to  settle  in  Northum- 
berland county  was  John  Zimmerman,  a  native 
of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  who  was  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  Edward  B.  Zimmerman.  He  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Augusta 
township,  where  he  lived  ami  died,  lie  ami  bis 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mahrberger,  were 
married  in  Berks  county,  ami  they  had  a  family 
\ e  sons  ami  two  daughters. 

George  II.  Zimmerman,  son  of  John,  was  horn 
i  Berks  county,  lie  served  a-  a  soldier  during 
-ar  of  isr.1.  He  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smith, at  which  he  was  engaged  for  many  years 
in  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  becoming 
well  known  in  that  line,  lie  married  Mary  Hall, 
and  they  had  sis  i  lildreri :  Jeremiah  II.,  Rachel 
(deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Isaac  Seiler), 
Lucy  (deceased),  Mary  (who  married  Solomon 
Stroh),  Elizabeth  (who  married  Jesse  McClow, 
of  Shamokin)  and  Emily  (deceased,  who  married 
Thomas  M.   Purcell ). 

Jeremiah  II.  Zimmerman,  son  of  George  II. 
Marj  (Hall)  Zimmerman,  was  bom  Jan.  5, 
1820,  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  was  brought  to 
Northumberland  county  by  his  parents  when  -e, 
en  years  old.  The  public  schools,  or  schools  of 
any  kind,  in  his  day.  did  not  offer  the  advantages 
enjoyed  by  the  youth  of  the  preseni  generation, 
and  his  opportunities  were  limited  to  three  months' 
attendance.  But  if  he  had  little  training  of  that 
kind  he  had  ample  experience  of  the  practical 
kind  from  his  earliest  boyhood.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  with  his  father,  with  whom  he 
was  engaged  in  the  business  for  many  years,  at 
Sunbury.  He  continued  at  that  work  until  elect- 
ed justice  of  the  peace,  for  Sunbury.  which  office 
he  filled  two  years.  Moving  thence  to  the  borough 
of  Northumberland,  he  filled  the  position  of  col- 
li ctor  for  the  Pennsylvania  canal  (management  of 
which  was  then  under  State  control),  having  been 
appointed  to  that  incumbency,  in  which  he  served 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


88  i 


three  years,  until  1856.  Meantime,  in  L855,  he 
had  engaged  in  business  with  J.  P.  Purcell,  under 
the  linn  name  of  Zimmerman  &  Pureell,  miners 
and  shippers  of  coal,  at  Shamokin,  but  after  a 
brief  career  of  success  the  company  met  with  re- 
verses, failing  in  L856.  That  year  Mr:  Zimmer- 
man was  elei  ted  to  the  State  Legislature,  in  which 
he  served  two  terms,  and  on  his  return  to  private 
life  he  entered  the  employ  of  Stroh  &  Elliott,  as 
superintended  of  their  coal  business.  lie  was 
also  engaged  by  various  firms  as  bookkeeper,  fill- 
ing positions  of  trust  with  Haas  &  Fagely  and 
John  Dewees  &  Brother,  in  1864  locating  perma- 
nently ai  Shamokin.  where  in  1869  he  established 
the  business  later  conducted  by  his  son,  John  B. 
Zimmerman,  manufacturing  wagons  and  carriages 
and  dealing  in  harness.  In  1877  he  established 
the  livery  business  which  he  carried  on  until  his 
death,  in  L893.  He  was  president  of  a  Shamokin 
banking  concern. 

Mr.  Zimmerman's  career  was  a  forceful  exam- 
ple of  what  a  man  may  accomplish  by  application 
and  well  directed  energy.  Though  he  had  no  ad- 
vantages of  means  or  education  to  aid  him  in  his 
r;u!\  straggles  his  intelligence  and  ambition  car- 
ried  hi t  many  hard  places  and  won  him  a 

substantia]  position,  not  only  as  one  who  succeed- 
ed well  in  his  private  undertakings  but  who  re- 
ceived unusual  marks  of  confidence  at  the  hands 
of  Ins  fellow  citizens  in  the  way  of  public  honors. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  chief  burgess,  and  twice 
afterward  was  i  ailed  to  that  office,  in  L876  and 
again  in  1884,  serving  Erom  1884  to  1886.  He 
was  a  lifelong  Democrat  and  ever  active  in  pro- 
moting the  interests  of  his  party,  in  which  he  was 
a  leader  in  his  section.  At  the  time  of  Lee's  raid 
into  Pennsylvania  he  joined  Captain  Bruner's 
Company  at  Sunbury.  He  was  a  Mason  for  over 
fifty  vear-.  belonging  to  Sunbury  Lodge  and  North- 
umberland ( lhapter. 

In  1843  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Harriet  M. 
Bright,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bright,  a  jeweler  by 
trade,  who  died  at  Sunbury;  Mr.  Bright  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  Nine  children  were  horn  to 
this  marriage,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being:  Ella  Lucy,  who  married  J.  B. 
Phillips,  and  died  in  Virginia;  Harriet,  wife  of 
Paul  Roth,  of  Shamokin;  John  B.;  George  II..  a 
painter  of  Shamokin.  who  married  Sarah  J.  Drum- 
heller  and  has  three  children.  William,  Ralph 
(former  chief  of  the  Shamokin  fire  department 
and  now  serving  in  the  borough  council)  and 
Howard;  Rosa,  wife  of  Samuel  Haas,  of  Shamo- 
kin: Milton  E.,  horn  Aug.  22,  1857,  an  attorney; 
and    William    Cameron,  a    painter,    who    lives  m 

Philadelphia. 

John  B.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Jeremiah  H..  was 
born  May  22,  1851,  in  Sunbury,  Northumberland 
county  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of   Shamokin.     He  followed  the  business 


of  his  father  and  grandfather,  learning  the  trade 
of  blacksmith,  in  which  he  met  with  unusual  suc- 
cess. The  carriage  works  established  by  hi-  Eather 
in  L869,  on  Market  street,  in  a  building  20  x  30 
feet,  grew  steadily  in  si/,'  and  importance  until 
they  occupied  a  commodious  site  at  Independence 

and    Mark, a    streets,   tl stablishment   including 

blacksmith  and  carriage  shops  and  a  large  repos- 
itory. Twentv-live  employees  were  steadily  en- 
gaged, in  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  carriages 
and  all  kinds  of  vehicles,  and  the  patronage  was 
drawn  from  a  wide  territory.  The  equipment  and 
facilities  for  handling  all  branches  of  the  busi- 
ness were  added  to  as  the  demands  of  the  trade 
required,  being  always  up  to  standard,  and  his 
business  was  the  foremost  of  the  kind  in  the  bor- 
ough. In  the  spring  of  1899  the  business  was 
moved  to  West  Sixth  street,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
high  bridge,  and  Mr.  Zimmerman  died  shortly 
after,  on  July  6,  1899.  He  was  a  very  well  known 
citizen  of  Shamokin,  though  he  mingled  little  in 
public  affairs,  devoting  himself  almost  entirely  to 
the  large  business  he  had  established.  He  did, 
however,  at  the  solicitation  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
serve  as  assistant  burgess  of  the  borough.  Ho 
war-  a  stanch  Democrat  in  political  faith. 

On  April  5,  1871,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married 
.lane  Newberry,  of  the  borough  of  Northumber- 
land, who  survives  him,  making  her  home  in 
Shamokin.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Ida  Mav.  Edward  B.,  Harriet  M..  John.  Clara 
ami  Grover  ( lleveland. 

Edward  T>.  Zimmerman  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  After  leaving  school  he  at 
once  joined  his  father  at  the  factory,  learning 
the  business,  and  upon  bis  father's  death  he  be- 
came manager  of  the  plant,  to  which  he  devotes 
all  of  his  time.  It  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
fifteen  skilled  workmen  being  regularly  employed, 
principally  on  custom  work,  turning  out  farm  and 
spring  wagons.  The  trade  is  large,  and  includes 
general  repair  work  as  well  as  manufacturing. 
The  building  occupied  is  a  fine,  substantial  struc- 
ture, 4  1  x  100  feet  in  dimensions,  and  convenient  l\ 
arranged.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  shown  himself  to 
he  possessed  of  both  the  executive  ability  and  me- 
chanical skill  which  have  characterized  the  mem- 
bers of  this  family  for  generations,  and  he  is  also 
maintaining  the  family  reputation  for  high  -land 
aids  of  citizenship  and  personal  worth.  He  is 
well  known  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party, 
in  whose  interest  he  lias  been  active.  Fraternally 
he  belongs  to  the  local  lodge  of  Elks  and  to 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.    Zimmerman    married    Sarah    Pursley,    of 
Union  county.  Pa.,  and  thej  have  had  one  daugh 
ler,  Kathleen. 

FOLLMER.  The  Follmer  family  in  Northum- 
berland county  is  descended  from  Jacob  Follmer, 


8SS  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVAN1  A 

who  with  his  wife  and  one  son.  Michael,  then  a  March  14,  1857.     He  was  the  first  of  the  family, 

child,  left  Germany    for   America    (Jacob's   older  to  settle  on  Limestone  run,  in  Turbut  township, 

brother.  Michael,    may    have    come    with    them),  lie  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Geiger,  who  died  Jan. 

Finding  the  early  home  for  the  Germans  in  the  2,  1820.  and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Eva 

Schoharie  Valley,  in   New  York,  closed  to  them,  Barbara  Follmer,  who  died  Feb.   23,  1857:     His 

he  came  in  1737  to  Berk?  county,  where  he  pur-  six  children,  four  by  the  first  union  and  two  by 

chased   land   in   the  Tulpehocken   settlement   and  the    second,    were    as  follows:    (1)    Susan,    born 

built  for  himself  a  home     There  he  reared   his  April  3,  1804,  died  Oct.  15,  1826.      (2)   Daniel, 

family  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.     Two  horn  April   13,   1806,  is  mentioned  below.      (3) 

of  his  sons,  Michael  and   George  Jacob,  came  to  Salome,  born  Nov.  10.  1807,  died  Sept.  12,  1881. 

Northumberland   county    in    1778    and    settled   in  She  married  William  Tobias,  born  Aug.  2,  1799, 

Turbut  township.  died   -Ian.   7.  1886,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 

Michael    Follmer.    who    was    horn  in    Germany  six    children:    Caroline,    who    married.   Franklin 

Sept.  26.  1723.    died    near  the    Follmer    Church  Crier  and  had  children.  Oliver,  Daniel  and  Jere- 

Sept.   29.   1793,  and  he  was  interred  in  the  old  niiah;  Henry,  whose  children  were  George.  Harry 

burying  ground  adjoining  that  church:  his  wife  and   Mary    (married    Samuel  Berkhimer)  :   Mary, 

was  also  buried  there.    A  man  of  intelligence  and  who  married   Jacob   Stineman  and   had  one  son, 

strong  religious  convictions,  he  labored  earnestly  William:    William:    Sarah,   who   married    Samuel 

for  two  things  in  his  new  home,  religion  and  edu-  Hoy  and  had  Calvin,  Eva  and  Harry:  and  John, 

cation.     He  and  his  sons  donated  the  site  for  the  I  1  I    William,  horn  July  24,  1818,  died  Aug.  10, 

Follmer   Lutheran    church    and    a    farm    of    eight  1888.      He   was   an   extensive   farmer   in    Turbut, 

acres  to  the  congregation,  and  in  his  will  he  left  his  native  township,  owning  some  three  hundred 

£15  to  the  church  then  in  process  of  construction  acres,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  his  time,  serv- 

and   £10   toward   building  a  schoolhouse,  as  well  ing  for  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 

as  £10  toward  the  teaching  of  poor  children  be-  one   term   in  the   State  Legislature,   and   he   was 

longing  to  the  church  above  mentioned.    His  wife  well  known  in  local  business  circles  as  president 

Eegina,  whom  he  married  in  Berks  county,  was  of  the  Danville  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 

horn  June    18.    1730.    and    died    Aug.  18,.  1813.  and  as  a  stockholder  and  one  of  the  incorporators 

Nine  children   were   horn   to  their  union:    John  of  the  Buffalo  Milling  Company  of  Lewisburg.    He 

(born    Jan.    16,    1750).    George    (horn   Aug.    16,  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  Mason  in  fraternal 

1751).  Adam,  Frederick,  Henry.   Michael.  Eliza-  connection    (member   of   Milton   Lodge,   F.   &   A. 

lieth,    Magdaline    and    Catharine.      Their    records  M.)   and  a  member  of  the  Follmer  Church.     He 

and  that  of  their  posterity  are  given  below  in  the  married  Eleanor  McWilliams  (daughter  of  John). 

order  just  named.  who  died    Dee.  27,  1876,  and  they  had  a  family 

John  Follmer,  eldest  son  of  Michael,  horn  Jan.  of  twelve  children:  Mary  E.,  born  Dec.  20.  1839, 
16,  1750,  married  Maria  Elizabeth  Geiger,  who  died  Feb.  18,  1842;  John  H.,  horn  in  1841,  mar- 
was  horn  June  2-9,  1749,  and  died  Oct.  3,  1836.  ried  Jennie  McLaughlin:  Sarah  E.,  born  July  14, 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  John  and  1843,  died  Sept.  1,  1859;  Margaret  J.,  born  July 
Henry.                                                                                 -11.   1843,  married   David  Utt  and  had  four  chil- 

John  Follmer.  son  of  John,  horn  Oct.  12,  177"'.  dren,   William.  Harry.  Jessie  and  Mary  M.    (who 

died  April  25.  1S45.     He  married  Elizabeth  Bow-  married    Rolland    S.    Follmer.  mentioned  below)  ; 

er,  bom  Feb.  S.  1784,  died  May  13.  1853,  and  they  Susanna  A.,  born  Jan.  12,  1847,  married  Thomas 

had  two  children:  Eegina  and  Samuel.    The  latter.  Rissel  and  had  two  children,  Ella  H.  and  John  IT. : 

horn  March  6,  1812.  died  Feb.  20,  1834.     Regina  Clara  Iv„  born  Feb.  1  I,  1849,  died  Feb.  1.  1852; 

Follmer.  bora  June  23,  1804,  died  Aug.  26,  1867.  William  L.,  born  May  20,  1855,  died  June  5,  1855  : 

She  married  Jacob  Hoffa,  born  May  20,  1800,  died  Hannah  R.  was  born  May  3,  1857:  Daniel  G.,  horn 

Mav   15,    1882.   and   they  had   a   family  of  seven  May  •"..  1857,  died  Sept.  27.  1859;  Mary  E.,  born 

children:  (1)  John,  horn  May  3,  1826,  died  Dec.  April    17,  1859,  died  July  18.  185!);  Martha  II.. 

20,    1894,    married    (first)    Sarah   Ann    Schaeffer  horn   Sept.  6,  I860,  died' Oct.   10,  1862;  Francis 

(born  March  31,  1829.  died  Dec.  7.  1864),   (sec-  M..  horn   Feb.   16,   1867,  educated   in  the  public 

ond)   Mary  G.  Litchard  (born  Sept.  2,  1841.  died  schools  and  at  Bloomsbunr  Normal,  married  Eliz- 

Sept.   21.   187s )    and    (third)    Margaret   Follmer.  abeth  Hunty,  and  had  two  children.     Mr.  Follmer 

Hi-  children  were  Catharine.  Dr.  Jacob  P..  Dan-  married    (second)    Mrs.    Susanna    M.    (Follmer) 

iel,  -I.  Follmer.  W.  Francis,  Cora   M.  and  Cyrus.  Marsh.      (5)    Anna,   horn    March    28.    1824.   died 

(2)    Samuel.     (3)    Cyrus  married  Margaret  Au-  Jan.  30,  1892..    (6)  Mary  Magdalin,  the  youngest, 

ten.     (1)   Reuben.     (5)   Sarah  Ann.     (6)  Daniel  was  horn  April  22.  1826. 

IT.,  horn  in  1830.  died  in  1832.     (7)  A  son  died         I  >aniel  Follmer,  son  of  Henrv.  was  born  April 

in  infancy  Dec.  22.  1831.  13,   1806,  on  the  old  homestead  in  Turbut  town- 

Henry  Follmer,  younger  -on  of  John  and  Maria  ship.  an(j  there  passed  his  entire  life,  buying  about 

Elizabeth    (Geiger  I    Follmer.   horn   in    1777.  died  two  hundred  acres  of  the  original  farm  taken  up 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


889 


by  Ins  ancestor,  upon  which  was  erected  a  fine 
stone  house.  He  was  a  farmer  throughout  his  ac- 
tive  years,  living  retired  for  twenty  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  19,  1887.  His 
farm,  which  was  near  the  Pollmer  Church,  is  now 
owned  by  his  son  John  S.,  of  Milton.  A  promi- 
nent man  in  his  district,  he  served  in  various 
township  offices  and  for  many  years  was  a  trustee 
of  the  Follmer  Lutheran  Church.  In  polities  he 
was  ii  Democrat,  up  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  war. 
On  Oct.  15,  1839,  Mr.  Follmer  was  married,  by 
l.'ev.  Henry  Myers,  to  Sarah  Lantz,  horn  March 
18,  1811,  died  Feb.  24,  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foll- 
mer are  buried  at  Follmer's  Church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  (1)  Mary 
F..  born  Nov.  2,  1830,  married  Charles  J.  Engle 
and  has  three  children:  Emma,  born  May  14, 
1853;  David  Franklin,  born  June  29,  1857,  now 
of  Philadelphia;  and  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  May 
28,  I860,  who  married  Wallace  Weidenhamer,  son 
of  Willington  Weidenhamer.  (2)  William  G., 
born  July  24,  1833,  died  in  1909,  married  Esther 
Hoy,  who  was  born  Sept.  I.  1837,  and  who  sur- 
vives hi  in.  residing  in  Milton.  They  had  seven 
children:  Newton,  born  June  11,  1860,  a  Lutheran 
minister,  now  located  in  Pittsburg,  married  Anna 
Maude  Schocb  and  has  three  children,  Ethel  L., 
Frank  S.  and  William  H. ;  Daniel,  born  Sept.  30, 
1861,  is  deceased  :  Sarah  K.,  born  March  21,  1863, 

married  <! 'ge  M.  Bucher  and  has  three  children, 

Harold,  Esther  R.  and  Robert  L. ;  Ella  P.,  born 
Nov.  I.  1865.  married  David  C.  Ditzler  and  has  a 
family  of  six.  Mabel  E..  Mary  B.,  Nellie  F.,  Mar- 
jory L,  Eeila  C.  and  Frederick  W. ;  Minnie  A., 
born  March  1.  1868,  married  John  W.  Berkhimer; 
Mary  lv,  bora  Dee.  25,  1876,  married  David  Cor- 
selt;  Margaret  I.,  born  April  7,  1879,  married 
Adam  Yerg,  and  has  one  son,  Adam  Follmer. 
(3)  Margaret  Ann.  born  July  15,  1836,  unmar- 
ried, is  living  at  the  homestead  in  Turbut  town- 
ship. (4)  Charles  Franklin  is  mentioned  below. 
(5)  Sarah  Elmira,  born  Oct.  8,  1840,  married 
William  Raup  and  they  live  in  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship. (0)  Daniel  Henry  is  mentioned  below.  (7) 
Susanna  L.,  born  Feb.  3.  1846,  unmarried,  is  liv- 
ing with  her  sister  on  the  homestead.  (8)  John 
S..  born  July  18,  1851,  received  bis  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Milton  and  at  Lime- 
stone Academy,  read  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  H. 
Dougal  and  graduated  from  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege," Philadelphia.  1876.  He  had  previously 
served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  drug  business,  in 
which  he  engaged  after  practicing  medicine  one 
year,  establishing  himself  in  business  at  Milton, 
when  a  wide  patronage  and  high  reputa- 

tion. In  1879  he  married  Elizabeth  B.  Voris, 
daughter  of  Peter  Voris.  of  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children.  Frederick  Voris 
and  Malcolm  Murray.     In  politics  Dr.  Follmer  is 


a  Democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church. 

Charles  Franklin  Follmer,  son  of  Daniel, 
was  born  Aug.  15,  1838,  in  Turbut  township,  on 
the  old  farm  near  the  Follmer  Church,  and  began 
his  education  in  the  local  schools.  Later  he  at- 
tended McEwensville  Academy.  He  was  reared  to 
farming,  and  engaged  in  that  calling  until  1864, 
when  he  removed  to  Milton  and  entered  the  insur- 
ance business,  in  which  he  continued  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  becoming  very  well  known  in  his 
section  in  that  connection.  Representing  the  most 
reliable  companies  of  America  and  England,  he 
gained  a  large  circle  of  patrons  and  made  a  notable 
success  of  the  business.  Other  enterprises  of  the 
borough  received  his  encouragement  and  substan- 
tial support,  he  having  been  a  member  of  the 
Milton  Gas  Company  (which  he  served  some  years 
as  secretary  and  treasurer)  and  a  director  of  the 
First.  National  Bank  of  Milton.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Buffalo  Milling  Company,  of  Lew- 
isburg.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  purchased 
the  old  homestead  where  he  was  born,  and  he  was 
the  owner  of  that  property  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  1,  1897.  Mr.  Follmer  is 
buried  in  the  Upper  cemetery  at  Milton.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of  his  time 
in  this  region,  and  his  death  was  regarded  as  a 
general  loss,  for  he  was  active  in  many  phases  of 
the  life  of  the  community  and  a  useful  man  in 
every  relation  of  life.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Luth- 
eran, having  been  confirmed  at  the  Follmer 
Church,  but  upon  his  removal  to  Milton  he  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat. 

In  1872  Mr.  Follmer  married  Abbie  A.  Thomas, 
daughter  of  William  F.  Thomas,  of  Moorestown, 
N.  J.,  who,  like  his  father,  was  a  coal  operator; 
the  grandfather  was  located  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Follmer  had  two  daughters:  Henri- 
etta, who  married  Lord  Hartman  Burr,  a  banker 
of  Moorestown,  N.  J. ;  and  Annie  G.,  who  lives 
with  her  mother.  Mrs.  Follmer  now  makes  her 
home  at  Moorestown,  New  Jersey. 

Daniel  Henry  Follmer,  son  of  Daniel,  born 
Aug.  19,  1843,  died  in  January,  1909,  and  is  bur- 
ied at  the  Paradise  Church.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  and  Milton  Academy. 
He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  in  1889  purchased 
the  well  known  place  in  Turbut  township  known 
as  the  Abe  Engle  farm,  which  contains  eighty- 
two  acres  of  the  most  valuable  land  in  the  district. 
In  politics  Mr.  Follmer  was  a  Democrat  and  he 
served  two  years  as  auditor  of  his  township.  With 
his  family  he  belonged  to  the  Follmer  Lutheran 
Church,  which  he  served  as  deacon.  In  1869  he 
married  Rebecca  C.  Schaeffer,  who  nowT  resides  in 
Turbut  township  with  her  children,  Rolland  Syd- 
ney and  Bertha  Gertrude,  the  latter  the  wife  of  J. 


890 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PEN  NSYLVANIA 


Wesley  Wolfe,  of  Turbut  township,  and  the  mother 
of  one  son,  Glenn. 

Georg  Sehaeffer.  Mrs.  Follmen's  emigrant  an- 
i  estor,  was  a  native  of  the  Rhine  Valley,  in  south- 
ern Germany,  born  north  of  the  Rhine,  and  landed 
at  Philadelphia  Aug.  13,  1750,  making  the  voyage 
in  the  ship  "Edinburgh."  Soon  after  coming  to 
this  country  he  settled  in  Richmond  township. 
Berks  county,  where  he  obtained  a  warrant  for  a 
tract  of  land,  and  it  is  known  he  was  a  land  owner 
in  1759.  His  tract  in  that  township  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  family.  The  Sehaeffer  i 
arc  among  the  best  in  the  county.  When  the  Revo- 
lution broke  out  he  became  captain  of  a  company 
in  "the  Colonial  service.  He  died  at  an  advanced 
agi  in  1791-92.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Reib,  and  they  had  a  family  of  live  children, 
Elizabeth  (married  John  Bieber),  Margaret  (mar- 
ried Dewalt  Bieber),  Maria  (married  Michael 
Christman),  Peter  and  Philip  (the  last  named  re- 
maining on  the  homestead). 

Philip  Sehaeffer,  born  in  1770  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Richmond  tov  lecame  a  success! 
agriculturist  and  was  also  an  inventor  of  ability, 
manufacturing  the  first  threshing  machine  in 
Berks  county.  It  was  so  successful  that  he  con- 
tinued to  manufacture  the  machines  the  remainder 
-  life.  Hi-  wife.  Elizabeth  (Fetherolf),  was  a 
granddaughter  of  Peter  and  Anna  Maria  (Roth- 
\  ilf.  of  Waehbaeh.  Germany,  and  she 
died  in  1849,  Mr.  Sehaeffer  surviving  until  Janu- 
ary. 1853.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
a   Democrat   in   politics,   and  in  religious   at! 

a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  His 
family  of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom  were  of 
unusually  line  physique,  tall  and  strong,  and  well 
proportioned,  ■  ollows:  George,  Peter,  1- 

Jonathan,  Daniel,  Philip.  William.  David.  Sarah 
(married  Jacob  DeLong),  Elizabeth  (married  5 
onion  Yoder),  Anna  Maria    (married  Isaac  Mer- 
kel)  and  Esther  (married  Francis  DeLong).   Each 
his  faniib.  d  a  farm  from  the  father. 

Pet'  Si  ffer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Follmer, 
was  bom  in  1799  in  Maxatawny  township.  Berks 
count}',  and  about  1824  came  with  his  famil 
Northumberland  county,  making  the. journey  by 
team.  He  settled  in  Turbut  township  upon  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Levi  Stamm,  a  tract  contain- 
ing about  175  acre.-,  and  there  lived  until  his 
moval  to  Watsontown,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  1889  and  where  he  is  buried.  He  was  .twice 
married,  the  children  born  to  his  first  union  be- 
ing: Sarah  (married  John  Hoffa),  Catharine 
(married  Benneville  Leinbach),  Elias.  Peter,  and 
Benneville  (who  is  still  living,  in  Kansas).  By 
second  marriage  there  were  two  children,  Wil- 
liam and  Emma  (married  Frank  Specht). 

Elias  v  '  -  Father  of  Mrs.  Follmer,  was  horn 
in  1821  in  Maxatawny  township.  Berks  county. 
and    came    with    the    fa  to    Northumberland 


c  unity  when  a  child.    He  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  Turbut  township  and  was  a  well  known  citizen 
of  liis  community.     He  retired  a  few  years  before 
-    death,  which  occurred  Aug.    19,   1886.      Mr. 
Follmer    married    Elizabeth    Glaze,    daughter    of 
ihen   Glaze,  and   she  died    Nov.   2,    1887;   she 
was   born   in    1825.      Mr.    and    Mrs.    Follmer   are 
buried   at    the   Paradise  Church  in   Turbut  town- 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
i   married  Levi  Stamm  and  they  live  on  the 
old  Sehaeffer  homestead  in  Turbut  township:  Re- 
becca   ('.   married   Daniel   H.   Follmer:   Eliza 
married  William  Balliet;  Emma  married  Harvey 
dt,  of  Milton,  Pa.;  Stephen,  Mary  and  Daniel 
all  died  young. 

Holland  Sydney  Follmeb  -  if  Daniel  Hen- 
ry and  Rebecca  C.  (S  fer)  Follmer,  was  born  in 
Turbut  township  July  27,   1871,  and  there  I 

ducation  in  the  local  school?.  Later  he  was  a 
pupil  at  McEwensville  Academy  and  at  Susque- 
hanna University,  at  Si  sgrove,  Pa.  He  re- 
mained at  home,  working  with  his  father,  until  he 
meneed  farming  on  his  own  responsibility,  and 
he  now  has  the  home  placi  Lty-two  ai 

which  under  his  care  is  in  a  most  excellent  state 
of  cultivation.      He   \<   an    intelligent   and   enter- 

ag  agriculturist,   and  his  g 1    judgment  in 

the  manag  i  the  placi     -  i         where  in  evi- 

dence.    So  far  he  has  devoted  all  his  time  to  his 
own  affairs,  which  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religion  a 
Follmer  Lutheran  Church. 
In  March.  1891,  Mr.  Follmer  married  Mary  M. 
Lit.   daughter  of  David   and   Margaret    J.    (  Foll- 
Utt,  and  tliev  have  had  three  children,  Rhea 
M..  Bertha  M.  ami  -  fer  U. 

1         Mrs.  Follmer's  father,  was  born  I 
."'.    1839,    in    Northampton   county.    Pa.,    son   of 
Ltt   and    grandson   ol    Adam    Ltt.   of  that 
v.     The  latter  followed  farming  and  hunting, 
and  died  in  Northampton  county.     David  T  t:. 
:  Adam,  a  native  of  Northampton  comity,  moved 
i  olumbia   county  in   1840  and   there  folio 
farming  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  ilia: 
ty;  he  is  buried  there,  in  Greenwood  town-hip. 
lie  married  Mjirv  Adams,  and  their  children  were: 
Jacob.  Adam.  William.  G<    rge,  David,  Elias,  Anna 
.  I  ami  Harriet   (married  Martin  Mow- 
ery ) . 

David  Ltt.  son  of  David,  was  a  year  old  when 
his   father   settled    in    Columbia    county,    and    re- 
mained with  his  father  until  he  reached  tin 
of  eighteen.     In  Greenwood   township,   Cohu 
County,  he  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  which  he 
followed    for   twenty-two   years    in    Columbia    and 
Northumberland    counties,    coming   to    the   latfo 
county  in  1862  and  settling  in  Turbut  township, 
where  he  remained  for  six  years.     At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  settled  on  the  William  Follmer  farm, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Chillisquaque  township,  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


S91 


1878.  purchasing  the  place,  which  contains  102^ 
.it  res,  in  L883.  Ee  has  lived  there  ever  since,  de- 
voting all  his  time  to  tanning,  in  which  he  has 
prospered,  and  his  property  has  been  greatly  im- 
proved during  these  years. 

Mr.  Utt  married  Margaret  J.  Follmer,  daugh- 
ter of  "William  and  Eleanor  (McWilliams)  Foll- 
mer, and  these  children  were  born  to  them:  Wil- 
liam married  Elizabeth  Whoiu,i'.  ,  i  r  i .  I  lias  two  chil- 
dren, Margaret  and  -1.  Clair;  Jesse  married  Mamie 
Black,  and  their  two  children  are  David  and  El- 

e: r:  M;ir,  M.  married  Eolland  S.  Follmer.  This 

family  attends  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Utt  is 
a  Democrat  in  polities  and  fraternally  a  member 
of  Pottsgrove  Lodge,  No.  623,  [.  0.  0.  V. 


Leah  A.  Sypher,  born  in  1851,  married  ,1.  W. 
Bricker,  who  was  born  in  1838,  and  had  three 
children.  Nathan,  Anna  E.  and  Laura  M.  (2) 
Mary  Magdalina,  who  married  Joshua  Cole,  born 
July  4.  1818,  had  five  children,  born  as  follow-: 
Sarah  A.,  March  12,  L849;  Mary  Eva.  July  23, 
L851  ;  William  W.,  Nov.  9,  1853;  Daniel  C.,  Oct. 
8,  1856;  Calvin  L.,  Feb.  5,  1859. 


George  Follmer,  son  of  Michael  and  grandson 
of  Jacob,  born  Aug.  16,  1751,  died  Nov.  9,  L830. 
Be  married  Eva  Barber  Moyer,  and  the]  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  namely  :  John,  George,  Ab- 
raham, Joseph,  Eve,  Catharine,  Elizabeth,  Mary. 
Ann  and   Ann   Maria.     Of  these, 

Abraham  Follmer  married  Margaret  Lantz  and 
bad  children:  Sarah;  George  John,  born  Aug.  5, 
L817,  who  died  Nov.  2,  1841 :  Charles,  born  Dec. 
29,  L815;  Eenry,  born  Aug.  is,  L822,  who  died 
Sept.  27,  L852;and  Margaret  Elizabeth. 

Charles  Follmer,  son  of  Abraham,  followed  Earin. 
ing,  living  on  a  farm  near  the  Paradise  Church. 
He  died  '  May  L9,  1883,  and  is  buried  at  that 
church.  His  wife,  Theresie  I  Eshbach),  born  Aug. 
L5,  L815,  died  Nov.  16,  1864  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children  :  Levi  EL,  born  dan.  5,  1*11. 
married  Ellen  Watts  and  lives  at  McEwensville, 
Pa.;  Margaret  C.  born  Nov.  11,  1842,  married 
Samuel  P.  Lerch,  who  was  horn  Oct.  23,  1839,  and 
the)  have  sis  children,  R  i  arles  D.  i  born  Nov. 
1  ; .  I  868  ) .  Samuel  E.  (born  Aug.  23,  1  81  1  ) .  Mary 
T.  (horn  Aug.  15,  1874),  Amy  F.  (born  Feb'.  23, 
L878),  Maggie  1..  and  Sallie  E.  (born  May  14, 
1883)  :  Sarah  E.,  horn  dan.  8,  1846,  married  Wil- 
liam II.  Miller  (1840-1909),  and  had  three  chil- 
dren, Maggie  L,  Rosie  T.  and  Carrie  E.;  Susan 
B.,  born  Nov.  11,  1847,  married  Josiah  Baker,  born 
dune  17,  1856,  and  their  children  are  Samuel. 
Daisy,  Lucy  and  Maggie:  Charles  D:,  born  dune  3, 
L857,  married  Susan  M.  Kerchner,  who  was  born 
May  16,  1863,  and  they  reside  in  McEwensville, 
Pennsylvania. 

Eve  Follmer,  daughter  of  George,  married 
Henry  Follmer.  and  they  had  two  children:  (1) 
\nna  married  Abraham  S.  Sypher.  boun  Dec.  18, 
L821  died  Oct.  9,  1895,  and  their  children  were 
Henry  J.  and  Leah  A.  Henry  J.  Sypher.  born  May 
19,  1848,  married  Julia  Berkhimer,  born  Feb.  24, 
L849,  and  had  five  children:  Anna  M..  horn  Oct. 
18  1869  who  married  Harvey  J.  Sones;  William 
II '■  George  \„  born  May  19,  1873,  who  married 
Ida  Kurtz?,  horn  March  11,  1874;  Veronica  I.,  born 
May  21,  1876;  and  Bessie  L.,  born  Oct.  8,  1880. 


Adam  Follmer,  third  son  of  Michael,  married 
Christian  Bone,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children: 
Adam,  John.  William.  Jonathan,  David,  Simon, 
Solomon,  Christian  and  Rosanna. 

Simon  Follmer.  son  of  Adam,  horn  Sept.  12, 
L799,  died  1 'ee.  15,  1852.  His  first  wife.  Hannah 
Reinard,  horn  Feb.  8,  1804,  died  Dee.  31,  1834; 
in-  second,  Rebecca  Kohler,  horn  May  1,  1813,  died 
May  25,  1867.  lie  was  the  father  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, live  by  the  first  marriage,  eight  by  the  sec- 
ond :  (1)  Rebecca,  born  Nov.  15,  1824,  married 
Joseph  Hamer,  born  Jan.  is.  1820,  ami  was  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  Hannah  E.  (born  April 
18,  1845,  married  Thomas  Mercer  and  had  Clara 
L.,  Clarence,  Frank,  Rebecca,  Otis,  Dora,  Joseph, 
llait  and  Zora),  Simon  F.  (born  July  14.  1st;. 
married  Margarel  J.  Sehrerer,  born  May  2,  is:,:,, 
and  had  Mary  R.,  Dais)  E.,  Frank  S.,  Fred  F.. 
and  Doll)  G.),  Catharine  J..  Harriet  E.  (horn 
\iu.  9,  1852,  married  William  J.  MeHenry,  born 
Dee.  lo.  1849,  and  had  William  O.,  Margaret,  Ed- 
ward !'..  Joseph  S.,  Bessie  1.'.  and  Charles  A.). 
•  lame-  A..  Joseph,  Charles  W.,  .Margaret  D..  Lucy 
M.,  Anna  J.',  (married  John  Ganville  and  had 
Mary  R.,  Samuel  J.,  Aha  ('.  and  Lizzie  M.I.  and 
Nellie  L.  (2)  Mar)  Ann  died  young.  (3)  Susanna 
M.  married  William  Follmer,  wdio  is  mentioned 
later  in  this  article.  (4)  Margaret,  born 
June  3.  1831,  married  Miner  Gulich  Marsh, 
born  April  9,  1824,  and  they  had  three 
children  :  Spencer  Follmer.  born  May  18, 
185-,  who  died  June  7,  185-;  Charles  Newton, 
horn  June  25,  1858;  and  Harriei  Clementine,  born 
Nov.  ;.  1861,  who  married  Charles  Moll.  ( •">  I 
Catharine,  born  April  23,  1834,  died  Jan.  1.  is:,;. 
and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Milton,  i  6) 
Daniel  K.  (7)  Mary  Emma,  horn  Oct.  in.  Is:;;, 
died  Feb.  2,  18  12,  ami  is  buried  in  the  old  ci 
fcerj   ai    Milton.     (8)   Samuel    II.     C.i)   Amelia  C. 

!'ii   Louisa  J.     (Hi    Barbara   S.      i  12)    Martin 
I.,  died  Willi-,     i  13  i  <  laru  M. 

Solomon  Follmer,  son  of  Adam,  born  Dee.  11, 
1829,  died  Jan.  10,  L880.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Swartz.  horn  Aug.  7,  1830,  and  to  their  union 
were  born  four  sons:  (1)  John  S.,  born  Jul)  17, 
1854,  married  Mary  Harmon,  horn  April  29,  is:,;. 
and  they  had  one  child.  Orrell  Myrtle,  horn  April 
in.  1881.  ('-')  Charles  !•'..  horn  .May  23,  1856, 
married  Flora  Schuyler,  who  was  horn  in  1860, 
and  died  June  24,  L882,  the  mother  of  one  child. 
Lola  May,  born  July  21,  1883.     His  second  wife, 


392 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Anna  (Orbits),  was  born  Sept.  5.,  1858.  (3)  Wil- 
liam 1'..  born  July  16.  1858.  married  Ada  S.  Cor- 
son, born  Nov.  22.  1862,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Raymond  Oscar,  born  June  26.  1883.  (4)  Foster 
31.'.  bom  April  28,  1860,  died  Nov.  1,  1881. 


Frederick  Follmer,  son  of  Michael,  married  Bar- 
bara Geiger,  and  they  had  three  children:    Daniel, 
born  March  13,  L786;  Susan,  who  married  Jos 
Mackey :  and  Regina,  who  married  James  Donal- 
son. 

Daniel  Follmer.  son  of  Frederick,  married  Mar- 
garet Reed,  who  was  born  Aug.  31,  1789,  and  the}' 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  as  follows :  John 
R.;  Daniel  G.,  born  Xov.  11,  1826;  Sarah;  Cyn- 
thia, born  Dec.  20.  1815;  Jane  W..  born  May  S. 
1813;  Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  2.  ISIS  (married  Rob- 
ert Caldwell)  :  and  Maria,  bom  May  10,  1810 
(married  John  Foresman  i. 


Henry  Follmer,  sod  of  Michael,  inherited  a  tract 
of  land  near  Milton  from  his  father.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Follmer  Lutheran  Church. 
He  married  Susan  Stahl.  who  died  in  1861,  aged 
eighty-nine  years,  eleven  months,  nineteen  days, 
long  surviving  Mr.  Follmer.  who  had  passed  away 
in  1822,  aged  fifty-four  years,  nineteen  days. 
Their  children  were :  Philip.  Thomas,  Andrew, 
Mary    (married    Michael   Brown)    and   Eliza 

Philip  Follmer.  son  of  Henry,  married  and  had 
children :     Samuel  and  Philip  Henry. 

Thomas  Follmer.  son  of  Henry,  married  and 
had  children  :    Henry  and  William. 

Andrew  Follmer,  sun  of  Henry,  received  a  eom- 
mon  school  education,  and  lived  on  a  sixty-eight- 
acre  tract  which  he  inherited.  He  was  an  elder 
of  the  Reformed  Church  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  married  Mary  Pool,  a  native  of  Mercer  county, 
Pa.,  who  died  in  186  :.  _  d  sixty-seven  years;  Mr. 
Follmer  died  March  29,  1862.  They  had  two  sons, 
Henry  Philip  and  Reuben  T..  the  latter  dvin? 
first.  ' 

Henry  Philip  Follmer,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born 
Dec.  28,  1819,  on  the  farm  where  he  always  lived, 
and  was  the  fourth  in  direct  line  to  own  that  prop- 
erty. He  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools 
of  the  day.  ami  followed  farming  ami  gardening, 
alter  his  father's  death  purchasing  the  farm,  where 
the  latter  had  also  been  born.  He  served  his  town- 
ship as  school  director  and  in  other  offices:  and  was 
jury  commissioner  fur  three  years.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  in  religion  he  and  his 
family  adhered  to  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
in  which  he  served  as  elder.  On  Feb.  22.  1887, 
he  and  his  sons  established  a  green  grocery  at  Mil- 
ton. In  1849  Mr.  Follmer  married  Mary  Jane 
Crawford,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Crawford, 
of  Northumberland  county,  and  to  them  were  born 
children  as  follows :  Alfred  C.,  Sarah  (wife  of 
Jesse  Server,  of  Milton),  Lewis  L.   (who  married 


Cora  Barber,  daughter  of  Anthony  Barbei,  of 
Lewis  township),  Harvey  W.  (of  Milton,  who  ma- 
iled Alma  Foresman,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fores- 
man,  of  Lnion  county,  Pa.),  Andrew,  Elijah,  El- 
eanor  C.  and  Edward. 


Michael  Follmer,  son  of  Michael,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Berger. 


Elizabeth  Follmer,  daughter  of  Michael,  married 
Adam  Christ,  and  had  children:  Adam,  George, 
Henry,  John,  Maria,  Elizabeth,  Eve,  Catharine, 
Martha  and  Sarah. 


Magdaline  Follmer,  daughter  of  Michael,  mar- 
ried Christian  Tan  Gundy,  and  had  children : 
John,  George.  Adam,  Jacob,  Ann.  Their  children 
live  ;ii  and  near  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 


Catharine  Follmer,  daughter  of  Michael,  mar- 
ried George  Jacob  Follmer,  who  was  born  April 
16,  1768,  son  of  George  Jacob,  Sr.,  and  grand- 
son  of  Jacob,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  family. 
They  were  cousins. 


1 !  orge  Jacob  Follmer,  son  of  Jacob  and  brother 
of  Michael,  was  born  in  December,  1738,  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  notable  man  of  this  section 
in  his  time,  serving  five  years  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  as  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
House  of  Representatives  in  17S»4  and  again  from 
1798  to  1S02,  and  in  1S03  he  was  elected  to  the 
Siat^  Si  aate,  dying  Aug.  24,  1804,  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  as  senator.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  He  married  Anna  Catharine  Wal- 
ter, born  Feb.  9,  1742,  who  died  Aug.  15,  1808, 
aiid  they  had  a  large  family,  viz. :  (1 )  Anna  Mar- 
.  born  April  17.  1762,  married  William 
-  r.  and  had  children:  William,  Jacob, 
George,  Nicholas.  Benjamin.  John,  Daniel,  and 
Marv  Elizabeth  (died  Jan.  2.  1.820).  (2)  John, 
born  lv,.  23,  17c:1,.  died  Feb.  1.  1767.  (3)  Anna 
Catharine,  born  April  25,  1766,  married  John 
Gertner,  and  had  children:  Mary  married  Jacob 
Marsh :  Susan  married  John  Butler :  John  died 
young;  Catharine  married  John  Rynearson;  Eliza 
married  Adam  Schaeffer;  Christian  married  Peter 
Gertner;  Jacob  married  Mary  Swartz :  George 
married  Marv  Shumaker.  (4)  George  Jacob  was 
burn  April  Hi.  1768.  (5)  John,  born  June  20, 
1770,  died  -Ian.  10,  17S6.  (6)  Henry,  born  July 
16,  177,2,  married  Catharine  Stoneman.  (7) 
Anna  Mary,  born  Sept.  3.  1774.  married  Frederick 
Deiffenbach.  (S)  Benjamin,  born  Dec.  7,  1776. 
died  -Tune  17.  1788.  (9)  Elizabeth,  born  July  7, 
1779,  married  John  Dieffenbaeh.  (10)  William, 
born  Sept.  26,  1781,  married  Molly  Machamer. 
(Hi  Michael,  born  dan.  19.  17S4.  married  Cath- 
arine Dieffenbaeher.  (12)  Daniel  C.  born  March 
(or  June)   9,  1786,  died  Jan.  5,  1873. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY, -PENNSYLVANIA 


S93 


Col.  Daniel  C.  Follmer,  born  in  Northumber- 
land county  June  (or  March)  9,  1786,  was  colonel 
of  a  militia  company  for  many  years  and  served 
with  that  rank  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  lead- 
ing citizen  of  his  day.  and  served  one  term  as  as- 
sociate judge  of  Montour  county.  Farming  was 
his  occupation.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  which  he  served  as  elder.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  the  seventies.  His  first  wife,  Susanna. 
Deiffenbach,  a  native  of  Columbia  county.  Pa., 
died  in  1836,  and  he  subsequently  married  Ra- 
chel Crier.  There  were  eight  children  by  the 
firs!  union,  born  as  follows:  Catharine.  March 
10,  1810;  Conrad.  June  80,  1812  (went  to  Kan- 
sas); Elizabeth.  March  3,  1815;  Margaret  Ann. 
March  2  1,  1817;  Mary,  April  3.  1819  (married 
John  A.  Eschbach  and  moved  to  Iowa)  :  Susanna. 
Nov.  18,  1821;  Jacob  Michael.  May  3,  1825;  Wil- 
liam Henry.  Dee.  1,  1828  (died  July  1.  1866). 
Bv  the  second  marriage  there  was  one  child,  Mar- 
tha Ellenrliorn  Feb.  6,  1  s  to.  who  died  April  9. 
is;,-.'. 

Jacob  M.  Follmer,  son  of  Col.  Daniel  ('..  was 
born  May  3,  1825,  at  Limestoneville,  in  Lime- 
stone township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  at  Danville 
Academy.  He  followed  farming,  lumbering  and 
stock  raising,  meeting  with  success  in  all  those 
lines,  and  in  his  later  years  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business,  representing  several  of  the  strongest 
companies.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
37th  Militia,  received  the  appointment  of  reg- 
imental quartermaster  and  served  as  such  until 
honorably  discharged,  Aug.  1.  1863.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Bryson  Post,  G.  A.  R..  at  Wat- 
sontown.  and  served  as  chaplain  of  Henry  Wilson 
Post,  at  Milton.  Fraternally  Mr.  Follmer  was 
connected  with  the  Masonic  Blue  Lodge  for  twelve 
years  and  with  the  Royal  Arch  Masons  three  years. 
He  represented  his  district  one  term  in  the  Housi 
of  Representatives,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1888. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  serving  several  terms  as  elder  and  many 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

In  1850  Mr.  Follmer  married  Susan,  daughter 
hi  John  P.  Hackenberg,  of  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, and  children  as  follows  were  horn  to  them: 
Emma:  Matilda,  who  married  C.  G.  Wilson;  Ed- 
ward II..  who  died  May  12,  1856,  when  one  year 
old;  Ada  L.,  who  married  J.  G.  Bower,  of  Watson- 
town;  William  II.:  Roland  B..  of  Philadelphia; 
and  John  II..  born  July  23,  1868,  who  died  April 
10.  1900. 

William  H.  Follmer,  M.  D..  son  of  Jacob  M.. 
was  born  Aug.  13,  1850,  at  Milton,  and  there  be- 
gan  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  high  school  at  Watsontown,  and 
then  read  medicine" with  Dr.  J.  R.  Ely,  at  Milton, 
later  entering  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  at 
Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he  was  grad- 


uated in  1882.  In  the  spring  of  the  same  year  he 
located  at  Milton  for  practice,  and  there  he  re- 
mained until  his  removal  to  Williamsport,  in  1909. 
Dr.  Follmer  has  gained  a  wide  patronage  and  con- 
siderable reputation  in  his  profession,  and  he  has 
1 n  identified  with  the  best  homeopathic  organi- 
zations, local  and  State,  being  a  member  of  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  Institute,  the  State  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  (which  he  served  as  com- 
mitteeman), the  Milton  Medical  Society  and  the 
West  Branch  Homeopathic  Society  (covering  Elk, 
Clinton,  Lycoming,  Union,  Blair  and  Northumber- 
land counties),  of  which  latter  he  has  been  pres- 
ident. Socially  he  holds  membership  in  Milton 
Lodge.  No.  256,  F.  &  A.  M. :  Warrior  Run  Chap- 
ter, R.  A.  M.,  and  Milton  Lodge,  No.  913,  B.  P. 
O.  Elks. 

Dr.  Follmer  married  Ilettie  L.  Brown,  who  was 
horn  Jan.  30,  1861,  daughter  of  the  late  Cyrus 
Brown,  a  prominent  druggist  of  Milton.  She 
died  Jan.  29,  1899.  leaving  one  son.  Cyrus  Brown, 
born  May  17,  1891.  In  1909  the  Doctor  married 
again. 


William  Follmek  (deceased),  born  duly  '.'!. 
ISIS,  son  of  Henry  ami  Mary  Elizabeth  (Geiger) 
Follmer,  married  (second)  Susanna  M.  (Follmer) 
Marsh,  widow  of  William  Kase  Marsh  and  daugh- 
ter of  Simon  Follmer.  She  was  born  Sept.  25, 
L828,  in  Turbut  township,  and  first  married  Wil- 
liam Kase  Marsh,  who  was  born  in  1826,  and  died 
Jan.  22.  1868.  He  is  buried  in  the  upper  ceme- 
tery at  Milton.  Three  children  were  born  to  this 
union:  (1)  James  Ambrose  .Marsh  married  Mary 
Waldron,  daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (  Hilgert  i 
Waldron,  granddaughter  of  Lafferd  Waldron  (who 
came  to  this  county  in  178-'))  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Cornelius  Waldron  (who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  New  Jersey  in  1764,  and 
served  as  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war). 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Ambrose  Marsh  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children :  Annabella,  who  is  the  wife 
of  John  Epley  ami  has  two  children.  Margarite  and 
J.  A.  (this  family  lives  in  Michigan)  :  Uana  Lor- 
ine,  Mrs.  Newcomer,  who  has  one  child.  Man- 
Marsh:  and  William  Edgar,  who  married  and  has 
one  child,  James.  (2)  William  Griggs  Marsh,  M. 
I).,  married  Emma  Klapp  and  has  one  daughter, 
Annie  M.,  now  the  wife  of  M.  Y.  Leinbach.  CD 
Burton  Lincoln  Marsh  married  1;.  Sharer  and 

has  one  son,  Hiram  W. 

Isaac  Marsh,  grandfather  of  William  Ease 
Marsh,  married  Ellonana  Griggs  and  lived  in  New 
Jersey.  Their  children  were:  Csaae,  Daniel  ami 
Griggs. 

Griggs  Marsh,  father  of  William   Kase  Marsh, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  died  in  Milton.     II 
was  married  four  times,  his  first  wife  being  Cath- 
erine Kase.  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :    Ellen. 
wife  of  Peter  Hotz;  Harriet,  wife  of  Simon  Lantz ; 


894 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  William  Ease,  who  married  Susanna  M.  Foll- 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Marsh  married 
Elizabeth  Smith,  and  to  their  union  were  horn 
ii  children:  John:  Griggs,  who  married  Kate 
Fichthorn;  Isaac,  who  married  Mary  Baker:  Jo- 
-i  ph :  Daniel,  who  married  Eliza  Fox:  Annie,  who 
married  James  Lester;  and  James  D.,  who  married 
Ella  Hotz.  Mr.  Marsh's  third  wife  was  Kate 
I  -ley.  his  fourth  Kate  Douty,  by  whom  lie  had 
erne  son.  Calvin  1 ». 

WILLIAM  II.  TI.  OTTO  (deceased)  passed 
away  before  lie  had  even  reached  his  prime,  vet  he 
had  attained  a  prominent  place  in  the  business  life 
le  city  of  Shamokin.  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  had  lived  and  worked  from  young  man- 
hood. He  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Seiler,  Zim- 
n  no.  Otto  &  Co.,  one  of  the  largesl  gro<  ei  y 
jobbing  houses  in  central  Pennsylvania,  for  sev- 
eral years  prior  to  his  di  <  easi . 

Mr.  Otto  was  horn  Oct.  31,  1863,  in  Snyder 
eountv.  Pa.,  but  he  came  of  a  Northumberland 
county  family,  his  great-grandfather  having  come 
to  thi-  county  from  Berks  county  in  an  early  day, 
ami  tin-  Onus  have  been  numerously  represented 
here  ever  since.  The  Federal  Census  Report  of 
1790  records  Henry  and  George  <  >tto  a-  residents 
of  Northumberland  county  then  heads  of  families. 

<  m  ii.nl   Otto,  great-grandfather  of  William  H. 

II.  (»tto.  was  horn  about   1766,  and  was  an  early 

residenl    of    Jackson    township,    Northumberland 

iv.  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Mahanoy  the  great- 

iart  of  hi-  life.    He  is  -aid  to  have  lived  earlier 

at   Trevorton,   this  eountv.     He   lived   to   an   ad- 

>1  age,  and  lie  and  his  wife.  Barbara  I  Seiler) 

(bom  March  24,  1769,  died  dan.  20,  is;,;),  are 
buried  at  the  Mahanoy  Church  known  a-  St. 
Peter's.  He  worked  a.-  a  laborer.  Conrad  and 
Barbara  (Seiler)  Otto  had:  Adam  (horn  March 
1.  1808,  died  Feh.  27,  1861  I.  John  and  Bevvy.  Mrs. 
Peifer  (she  had  one  daughter,  Betzy.  who  married 
a  man  named  Michael,  and  both  Mrs.  Peifer  and 
her  daughter,  Mr-.  Michael,  died  in  Illinois). 

Johan  C.  Otto,  horn  dan.  22,  1770,  died  Nov.  5, 
1854,  and  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Maha- 
noy, was  undoubtedly  a  brother  of  Conrad. 

John  Otto,  -on  of  Conrad  and  Barbara  (Seiler) 
Otto,  was  horn  in  Berks  eountv  May  ?.  1804,  and 
'Hie'  to  Jackson  township,  Northumberland 
county,  with  his  father  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century.  He  was  a  cobbler  by  trade,  hut  in  time 
gave  in-  attention  to  farming,  owning  a  farm  in 
Jackson  township,  and  he  was  also  i  ngaged  on  the 
construction  of  tin-  Schuylkill  canal.  He  died 
\n-  3,  Ism;,  at  llerrnloii.  where  he  had  lived 
retired  for  nearly  twenty  years.  John  Otto  was 
twice  married,  his  first  union  being  to  Rebecca 
Groh,  horn  Oct.  28,  1810,  who  died  Dec.  20,  1845, 
mother  of  the  following  children:     Washing- 


ton: Caroline,  who  married  Gabriel  Adam?  and 
now  lives  at  Mandata,  Northumberland  county, 
over  seventy  years  old:  Harriet,  who  married  Jo- 
siah  Schaffer  and  lives  at  Hickory  Corners,  this 
county:  Abide,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  H. 
S.  Byerly;  and  William  C,  deceased.  By  his  sec- 
ond  marriage,  to  Lvdia  Leader,  who  was  born 
Nov.  23,  1807,  and  died  March  12,  1889,  John 
Otto  had  children  as  follows:  Rebecca  married 
[saiah  Snyder,  of  Millersburg,  l'a. :  Samuel  died 
at  Ver.lon.  Nebr.,  April   is.  loo;. 

Washington  <  >tto,  son  of  John,  was  born  May 
4.  1833,  in  Cameron  township,  Northumberland 
county,  and  died  dune  24,  1897,  at  Mahanoy. 
where  he  is  buried,  at  St.  Peter's  Church.  He 
was  a   til.-  mat  church   at   the  time  of  his 

death.  Mr.  Otto  was  a  plasterer  and  stone  ma- 
son, and  followed  his  trade  in  his  earlier  life, 
later  devoting  himself  to  farming  and  commer- 
cial pursuits.  Ik  established  the  coal,  bark  and 
lumber  business  at  Otto  station,  on  the  Herndon 
branch  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad, 
which  grew  to  large  and  profitable  proportions 
under  his  able  management,  and  had  a  farm  of 
1  If  a,  res.     Otto  Station  was  named  after  him. 

On  Aug.  '.'.  1860,  Washington  Otto  married 
Hart.  Be  r.  and  to  them  were  horn  twelve  chil- 
dren. We  have  the  following  record  of  the  fam- 
ily: William  II.  II..  horn  Oct.  31,  ISC.:'.:  Abra- 
ham 1...  horn  April  22,  1865;  Agnes,  who  is  un- 
married: George  L.,  who  died  dan.  1.  1908,  aged 
forty  years:  Mary,  wife  of  E.  S.  Bilbush,  a  farmer. 
living  near  Otto  station;  Lydia,  wife  of  D.  P. 
Russell,  of  Otto  station,  the  engineer  at  the  pump- 
ing station;  John  C.  horn  in  1874,  who  died  Nov. 
3,  1899,  mi  his  twenty-fifth  birthday:  Edw.  J., 
horn  Feb.  11.  Is;;  :  and  Cora,  wife  of  George  S. 
Wilson,  a  resident  of  Barto,  Pa.,  in  the  employ  of 
Standard  Oil  Company. 

William  II.  H.  Otto  came  to  Northumberland 
county  with  his  parents  when  a  boy  and  received 
In-  early  education  here  in  the  public  schools,  also 
ading  the  academy  at  Yew  Berlin.  Union  Co.. 
Pn.  He  continued  to  work  at  farming  with  his 
•  r  until  his  twenty-first  year,  in  1883  coming 
i"  Shamokin,  where  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Seiler  &  Zimmerman.  He  remained  in 
that  connection  until  bis  death.  By  strict  atten- 
tion to  business,  ami  giving  evidence  of  more  than 
average  ability,  he  rose  in  the  confidence  of  his 
employers  to  such  an  extent  that  in  1896  he  was 
taken  into  partnership,  the  firm  becoming  Seiler, 
Zimmerman,  Otto  &  Co.  The  house  did  a  very 
successful  business,  being  one  of  the  largest  job- 
bing establishments  in  the  grocery  line  in  central 
Pennsylvania,  and  Mr.  Otto  was  considered  a  val- 
uable man  throughout  the  period  of  his  relations 
with  the  firm.  He  died  in  March,  1902,  at  the 
age   of  thirty-eight   years,   mourned   by   his  busi- 


X<  iI;TII  I'  M  BEBLAXD  COL1  NTY,    PEN  \ SYLYA  \  |.\ 


893 


i"--  and  i  rsonal  friends,  who  were  many,  as  well 
as  by  his  family.  The  firm  is  now  Seiler,  Zimmer- 
man &  Seiler. 

Mr.  Otto  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church 

and   took  an  active  pari   in  its  work,  serving  his 

rch    as   deacon,   as    financial    secretary   of  the 

church    board   and    as   a   teacher   in   the    Sunday 

school,  having  a  class  of  young  men. 

In  1888  Mr.  Otto  married  Katie  A.  Glatfelter, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Charlotte  (Arnold)  Glat- 
felter, of  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  near  Richfield,  who 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  namely:  Refena, 
Emma,  Henrv,  Calvin,  Elizabeth,  Jacob,  Phebe, 
Katie  A.  (Mrs.  Otto),  Ellen,  Daniel  and  Austin. 

Mr,  and  Mrs.  Otto  had  two  children:  C.  Alva. 
born  July  3,  1891,  graduated  from  the  Shamokin 
high  school  with  the  class  of  1909;  Waldo,  born 
-  il  18,  1893,  i-  attending  the  high  school.  The 
family  occupy  the  fine  residence  al  No.  L33  North 
Eighth  street,  Shamokin,  which  Mr.  Otto  erected 
in  1891. 

PHILLIPS.  The  Phillips  (Philips)  family  to 
which  Elias  Philips  and  Benjamin  Phillips,  broth- 
ers, and  farmers  in  Jordan  and  Lower  Mahanoy 
townships,  Northumberland  county,  respectively, 
belong  is  of  old  Berks  county  stuck,  the  progen- 
itors of  the  line  in  this  country  having  settled  in 
thai  part  of  Bern  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  now 
embraced  in  Center  township,  that  county.  From 
i  In-  locality  came  several  of  the  name  to  North- 
umberland county,  settling  in  Mahanoy  township. 
The  brothers  named  trace  their  descent  from  the 
early  Berks  county  settlers  through  two  lines,  ma- 
ternal as  well  as  paternal,  their  mother,  Susanna 
(Phillips),  having  been  a  daughter  of  Georg  Phil- 
lips, the  first  of  his  line  to  come  to  this  county. 
II,  was  born  in  Berks  county  March  '.'I.  L774, 
and  died  April  8,  L852.  Hi-  wife,  Sarah  (  Fuchs), 
died  Sept.  25,  1836,  aged  sixty-one  years,  three 
months,  twenty-six  days.  They  are  buried  at 
Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church  in  what  is  now 
Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Their  children  were: 
John;  Heinrieh  (hnm  Jan.  0.  1803,  died  Oct. 
•.'.:.  1853);  Maricha,  who  married  Peter  Brosius; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Peter  Witmer;  Catharine 
(In. in  April  9,  1805,  died  Sept.  30.  1889),  who 
married  Michael  Winner  (born  March  29,  1804, 
died  Jan.  3s.  1st-.'):  Sally,  who  married  Hein- 
rieh Fox;  Christine,  who  died  unmarried:  and 
Susanna,  who  married  Jacob  Phillips. 

Solomon  Phillips,  the  progenitor  of  the  family 
in    America,    came    to    this   country    in    the    ship 

■Tl ni\."  Capt.  John   Mason,  which  arrived   al 

Philadelphia.  Pa..  Aug.  28,  1750,  he  being  the 
only  Phillips  among  the  339  passengers.  He  set- 
tled in  Bern  (now  renter)  township,  where  many 
of  the  name  now  reside,  and  lived  to  advanced 
years,  as  did  his  son  Michael.  He  reared  a  large 
liimilv.  two  of  his  sons  being  Michael  and  Hein- 


rieh.     .Michael"-    son.   John    II..    attained    the    a 
ol   105  years,  and  the  hitter's  -on  Jacob  lived  to  be 
ninety-two  years  old. 

Heinrieh  Phillips  resided  near  Belleman's 
Church,  where  he  and  his  wile  Esther  (  Mogel)  lie 
buried.  Tlie\  reared  children  as  follows:  Peter, 
Jacob,  John.  Samuel.  John  Adam,  and  several 
daughters. 

Jacob  Phillips,  father  of  Elias  and  Benjamin 
Phillips,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  and  came  to 
Northumberland  county  when  eighteen  years  old. 
lie  settled  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
found  work  among  farmers,  one  of  whom  was 
Georg  Phillips,  whose  daughter  Susanna  he  after- 
ward married.  After  his  marriage  he  commenced 
farming  on  his  own  account  in  Lower  Mahanoy. 
where  he  remained  a  number  of  years,  moving 
thence  to  a  farm  he  purchased  in  Jordan  township, 
the  property  now  owned  by  rys  son  Elias.  He 
cultivated  this  place  for  several  years,  later  pur- 
chasing the  George  Thillips  farm  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy, to  which  he  moved,  making  his  home  there- 
on until  his  death,  which  occurred  there  April  20, 
1862,  when  he  was  fifty-four  years,  ten  months, 
four  days  old.  So  well  had  he  prospered  by  steady 
industry  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  the 
two  farms  mentioned  and  one  in  Snyder  county, 
and  had  several  thousand  dollars  in  money.  He 
and  his  wife  Susanna,  who  died  Aug.  If;.  1892,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  eight  month-,  twelve 
days,  are  buried  at  the  Zion's  (Stone  Valley) 
Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren, seven  son-  and  seven  daughters,  viz.:    Isaac. 

Elias.   Benjamin.   John,  William.   G ge,   Jacob, 

Sarah  (who  died  May  15.  1805.  aged  fifty-eight 
years,  nine  months,  six  days,  married  William 
Sehaffer,  who  died  May  6,  1805,  aged  fifty-nine 
years,  one  month,  twenty-four  days).  Ann  (mar- 
ried Samuel  Spotts),  Catharine  (married  Isaac 
Spotts,  brother  of  Samuel,  wdio  married  her  si>- 
ter),  Malinda  (married  Isaac  Trego),  Susanna 
(married  Emanuel  Boyer),  Lizzie  (married  Frank 
Dreibelbis)  ami  Emma  J.   (died  young  |. 

Elias  Philips  was  born  Oct.  30,  is:;-.',  in  the 
western  part  of  Berks  county,  and  was  about  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  returned  to  Northum- 
berland county.  When  a  young  child  he  went  to 
live  with  his  maternal  grandfather.  Georg  Phil- 
lip-, who  owned  a  large  farm  on  the  hank-  of  the 
Susquehanna  river  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
He  remained  in  his  grandfather's  household  until 
about  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  returned  to  his 
father,  who  was  then  on  the  farm  which  he  him- 
self now  own-  and  occupies,  Elias  Philips  having 
come  into  possession  of  it  upon  his  father's  death. 
Thi-  place,  which  is  one  mile  wesl  of  Urban,  in 
Jordan  township,  contains  Hi'.'  acres  of  the  very 
best  land  in  the  locality,  and  i-  nearly  level;  Mr. 
Philips  ha-  large  fields,  on  one  of  which,  com- 
prising thirty-eight   acre-,   he   raised   over  eleven 


S96 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


hundred  bushels  of  wheat  aboui  1900.  The  place 
was  originally  settled  by  members  of  the  Lesher 
family,  and  the  barn  still  standing  was  erected 
by  Jacob  Lesher.  The  old  house  was  burned  Feb. 
28,  1908,  having  taken  fire  about  3  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  ami  the  family  escaped  narrowly.  The 
present  dwelling  was  put  up  by  Mr.  Philips  the 
same  year.  He  is  a  man  respected  for  the  useful 
and  industrious  life  he  has  led.  useful  to  others  as 
well  as  in  promoting  his  own  affairs.  He  served 
his  township  as  supervisor  and  was  a  school  di- 
rector when  the  free  school  system  was  established 
in  this  region  and  the  schoolhouses  were  built, 
during  the  late  sixties.  In  religious  matters  he 
and  his  family  are  Lutherans,  belonging  to  St. 
Paul's  Church  at  Urban,  which  Mr.  Philips  served 
many  years  in  official  capacities,  being  deacon. 
elder  and  trustee,  giving  up  these  duties  only  when 
advancing  age  made  it  advisable.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  political  opinion. 

On  Aug.  29,  1851.  Mr.  Philip-  married  Kate 
Krissinger,  daughter  of  John  and  Esther  (Bush) 
Krissinger,  and  they  had  children  as  follows: 
Sarah  (married  Wilson  Schadel),  Lewis,  Kate 
(married  Rudolph  Sehlegel),  George  J.,  Jane 
(married  Isaac  Michael).  Elias  K..  John,  Susanna 
(married  Aaron  Updegraft)  and  Agnes  (married 
John  Strohecker  and  a  Mr.  Troxler).  Mrs.  Phil- 
ips died  June  5,  1889,  aged  fifty-two  years,  ten 
months,  two  days. 

Elias  K.  Philips,  son  of  Elias.  was  horn  Oi  i 
111.  1862,  on  his  father's  farm,  ami  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  working  for  his  father  until  he  be 
came  of  age.  In  the  spring  of  1800  he  began 
farming  on  his  father's  property,  which  is  consid- 
ered the  finest  place  in  the  Stone  Valley,  continu- 
ing there  for  a  period  of  six  years,  four  years  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  George  and  two  years 
alone.  In  the  spring  of  1896  he  came  t«>  his  pres- 
ent place  jn  the  Stone  Valley,  in  Jordan  township, 
comprising  seventy-five  acres  which  formerly  lie- 
longed  to  William  Shaffer  and  earlier  to  the  Lesh- 
er family.  It  is  limestone  soil  and  in  excellent 
condition,  Mr.  Philips  having  made  numerous  im- 
provements during  his  ownership,  repairing  and 
adding  to  the  buildings,  putting  into  practice  the 
most  approved  ideas  on  modern  agriculture,  and  in 
various  ways  adding  materially  to  the  value  of  the 
property.  Close  by  he  owns  another  tract,  con- 
taining thirty-nine  acres  a  little  south  of  his  home 
place,  and  there  is  a  set  of  buildings  on  that  prop- 
erty also.  He  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising men  in  his  district  and  well  deserves  the 
refutation.  He  is  at  present  serving  as  super- 
visor <>(  Jordan  township,  and  has  also  held  the 
offices  of  tax  collector  and  school  director.  He  is 
an  active  Democrat,  taking  considerable  interest 
in  the  success  of  the  party.  The  Lutheran  Church 
at  Urban,  with  which  the  Phillips  family  has  been 
identified  for  several  generations,  also  claims  him 


and  bis  family  among  the  working  members,  and 
be  is  at  present  acting  as  church  treasurer  and  as 
a  member  of  the  cemetery  committee.  He  has  been 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee  of  that  congregation. 

On  May  10,  1888.  Mr.  Philips  married  Sarah 
Jane  Geise,  daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  and  Fro- 
enica  (Trautman)  Geise,  also  of  Jordan,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children,  Charles  Jay. 
Edwin  and  Katie  Jemima. 

Geokge  J.  Phillips,  son  of  Elias,  was  born  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Jordan  township  March  16. 
1867.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  working  for 
bis  father  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  when  he  commenced  agricultural  pursuits  on 
his  own  account  on  the  homestead.  He  was  in 
partnership  there  with  his  brother  Elias  four 
years,  lived  elsewhere  for  two  years,  and  then,  re- 
turning to  the  home  place,  farmed  it  alone  for 
three  years.  During  the  two  years  mentioned  he 
was  on  the  Wert  farm  in  the  same  valley.  For  five 
years  he  lived  in  Toad  Valley,  on  the  farm  of  his 
father-in-law.  Jacob  Michael,  coming  to  his  pres- 
ent place,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  along  the 
Susquehanna,  in  the  spring  of  1904,  having  pur- 
I  it  the  previous  fall.  It  was  formerly  the 
George  Seder  homestead,  and  comprises  1-10  acres 
of  fertile  land,  being  one  of  the  extra  good  farms 
in  the  region.  There  are  good  buildings  on  the 
place,  the  best  in  this  section,  and  the  large  barn 
i-  comparatively  new.  having  been  built  in  1900 
by  Aris  Seller,  son  of  George.  Mr.  Phillips  has 
modern  machinery  and  lias  prospered  by  up-to- 
date  methods  combined  with  industry  and  good 
management.  He  keeps  his  place  up  to  the  mark 
all  the  time,  and  though  his  buildings  and  equip- 
ment me  first-class  it  is  his  thrift  and  intelligent 
use  of  Ids  resources  which  deserve  special  mention. 
The  water  supply  on  the  place  is  unusually  good. 
and  most  conveniently  arranged,  the  barn  men- 
tioned being  particularly  well  favored  in  this  n 
spect.  It  has  other  sanitary  arrangements,  ce 
mented  stables,  entries,  etc..  which  commend  them- 
selves to  the  modern  farmer,  ft  is  considered  one 
of  the  model  barns  of  Northumberland  county. 

On  Jan.  18.  1890,  Mr.  Phillips  was  married  to 
Mary  Michael,  daughter  id'  Jacob  and  Catharine 
i  Bobb)  Michael,  and  five  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union,  namely:  Harry  E..  May  K..  Ray 
G.,  Lee  J.  and  William  R. 

Mr.  Phillips  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Stone  Valley  Church  (Zion's),  he  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  and  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips belonging  to  the  Reformed  congregation.  He 
lui-  held  the  office  of  deacon.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  is  at  present  holding  the  office  of 
school   director  of  Lower  Augusta  township. 

Isaac  Phillips,  son  of  Jacob,  began  farming  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Elias,  of  Jordan  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  where  the  latter  still  lives.  Aft- 
er a  number  of  years'  residence  there  he  moved  to 


NOETHUMBEELA  M  >  COU  NT  Y.  PEN  XSYLYAX  I A 


s!i; 


the  farm  of  his  grandfather,  George  Phillips,  in' 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  remaining  at  that  place 
for  nver  twenty  years.  He  was  then  a  tenant  for 
one  year  in  the  same  township,  and  thence  removed 
to  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  where  he  owned  a  thirty- 
acre  farm  upon  which  he  lived  until  about  six 
months  before  his  death.  He  died  near  Dalmatia 
Oct.  88,  L902,  aged  seventy-one  yeais,  three 
months,  eleven  days,  at  the  home  of  his  son  Isaac 
P.  Phillips.  He  is  buried  at  Stone  Valley  (Zion's) 
Church,  and  was  a  member  and  officer  of  the  Luth- 
eran congregation  of  that  church,  to  which  his 
family  also  belonged,  Ids  wife,  however,  being  a 
member  of  the  Beformed  congregation  there.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  he  served  many 
years  in  the  office  of  supervisor  in  his  township. 
His  wife.  Catharine  (Freymoyer),  daughter  of 
Jacob  Freymoyer  (whose  wile's  maiden  name  was 
Mock),  is  also  buried  al  the  Stone  Valley  Church. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Emma,  Mi-.  Dan- 
Lei  Tyson;  Lizzie.  Mrs.  Newton  SchafjEer;  Jacob: 
John  F.;  [saac  1'.:  Senera;  and  William.  Eman- 
uel and   George,  all  of  whom  died  young. 

Jacob  Phillips,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  was  horn  Oct.  5,  1861,  in  dor- 
dan  township,  and  was  less  than  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Lower  Mahanoy  township, 
lie  was  reared  to  farming,  which  he  began  on  his 
own  account  in  189?  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
the  township,  being  a  tenant  on  the  Charles  Kop- 
penhaver  farm  for  four  years.  In  the  spring  of 
L896  he  moved  to  the  farm  whereon  he  has  since 
resided,  a  tract  of  106  acre-,  fertile  land,  cicely 
located  and  well  watered,  which  under  his  care 
has  been  maintained  in  a  fine  stale  of  cultivation. 
1 1  i-  between  Stone  Valley  Church  and  Union- 
town  (1'illow),  and  was  formerly  the  homestead 
of  Christophel  Witmer.  It  has  been  in  the  Witm^r 
name  I'm-  considerably  over  one  hundred  years, 
and  is  at  present  owned  by  Hon.  Charles  B.  Wit- 
mer in  partnership  with  Mr.  Phillips.  Since  1880 
Mr.  Phillips  has  been  engaged  in  threshing,  in 
which  line  he  is  the  leading  man  in  his  section, 
threshing  as  much  as  twenty  thousand  bushels  of 
grain  in  a  season.  He  has  a  fine  Peerless  outfit, 
and  is  prepared  to  do  anything  in  that  line  ih'  l 
comes  his  way.  He  has  been  a  school  director  of 
Lower  Mahanoy  township  since  1903. 

Mr.  Phillips' married  Maggie  Witmer.  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Susanna  (Bubb)  Witmer,  and  a  sis- 
ter of  lion.  C.  P.  Witmer.  one  of  the  foremost 
citizens  of  Northumberland  county.  Eight  chil- 
dren have  been  horn  to  this  union,  namely:  An- 
nie. Harry,  Fred,  Alice,  Molly,  Clarence,  Milton 
and  Minerva.  Mr.  Phillip-  and  his  familj  are 
members  of  the  Stone  Valley  Church,  and  lie 
served  some  years  as  deacon.  Politically  he  is  a 
Bepubliean. 

Bex.tamix  Phillips,  -on  of  Jacob  and  brother 
of  Elias.  was  horn  March  23,  1838,  in  Lower  Ma- 
57 


hanoy  township,  where  he  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
lie  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in  1858, 
on  one  of  his  father's  properties  near  his  present 
place,  and  remained  there  one  year.  Then,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  TOlias,  he  purchased 
the  farm  in  .Ionian  township  where  the  latter  now 
lives,  and  they  were  together  on  that  place  for  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Elias  Philips 
bought  the  property,  Benjamin  Phillips  coming  to 
his  present  place  in  the  Stone  Valley.  This  was 
the  old  home  of  Isaac  Dreibelbis,  who  came  from 
Perks  county  and  who  in  his  day  was  one  of  the 
characters  of  this  region,  the  older  settlers  still 
recalling  many  pleasant  memories  of  "Essack's 
Schlissel."  He  operated  a  tannery  on  the  place, 
and  the  old  foundation  is  still  standing.  Mr.  Phil- 
lips has  110  acres  of  the  finest  land  in  the  town- 
ship well  located  ami  under  a  line  state  of  culti- 
vation, the  owner  possessing  the  thrifty  and  in- 
dustrious habits  and  faculty  for  good  management 
characteristic  of  his  family,  lie  built  the  present 
ham  in  1895,  part  of  the  house  in  1S!i4.  the  old 
part  being  remodeled. 

On  Dec.  11,  1859,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Harriet 
Bothermel,  daughter  of  Charles  Rothermel  and 
granddaughter  of  Abraham  Rothermel.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phillips  celebrated  the  golden  anniversary  of 
their  wedding  Dei-.  11.  1909,  amid  a  large  con- 
course of  relatives  and  friends  who  came  to  do  them 
honor  and  to  wish  them  many  more  years  of  hap- 
piness and  prosperity.  Eleven  children  blessed 
their  union:  Sevilla  married  dames  Ferster; 
Chilion  is  a  farmer  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township: 
Prank  died  in  his  twenty-seventh  year  (he  was 
married);  (diaries  lives  in  Lykens  Valley,  in 
Dauphin  county;  George  W.  died  young;  Lizzie 
married  John  A.  Spotts;  Nettie  married  Jere 
Radel,  of  Dalmatia:  Elias  lives  on  and  farms  the 
homestead;  Isaac  is  a  resident  of  Lykens  Valley; 
Katie  married  Conway  Bohner;  James  died  young. 
Mr.  Phillips  and  his  family  are  Lutheran  mem- 
bers of  Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church,  in  which 
he  was  an  active  worker  for  many  years,  serving 
as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  He  is  a  Democral 
in  politics. 

Chilion  Phillips,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1861,  on  one  of  the  Jacob  Phillips  farms, 
and  In'  has  been  interested  in  farm  work  all  his  life. 
He  worked  for  hi-  parents  until  he  reached  his 
majority,  after  which,  for  eleven  years,  he  followed 
threshing,  during  the  latter  pan  of  this  period 
also  engaging  in  farming  in  Lower  Mahanoj  town- 
ship. Since  is!):;  he  has  devoted  hi-  energies  ex- 
clusively to  farming.  During  the  eighties  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  near  Hickory  Corners,  in  the 
Stone  Valley,  where  he  now  lives,  one  of  the  John 
[viebel  homesteads,  winch  consists  of  Bfty-nine 
acres  of  the  most  fertile  land  in  thi-  productive 
belt.  Mr.  Phillips  put  up  In-  present  ham  in 
L902   and    his  other   buildings    in    L90  I.      He    i-    a 


898 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


substantial  and  successful  farmer,  believing  in 
both  up-to-date  methods  and  old-fashioned  indus- 
try, a   combination  which,  in  the  result-   he   lias 

obtained,   speaks   for   itself.      Ee   is  a    Den 'at, 

and   has  served   one   term  as  school  director.     He 
and   his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  the  7a- 
<>ii'-   Union  Church  of  Stone   Valley,  and   he   has 
ed  as  deacon. 

In  March,  1884,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Sarah  B. 
Perster,  daughter  of  David  and  Judith  (Brosius) 
Ferster  and  granddaughter  of  Peter  Ferster.  They 
have  had  three  children:  Katie,  wife  of  David 
Lenker,  a  school  teacher  and  fanner:  Gertie,  who 
died  aged  nine  years:  ami  Charles  P. 

William  Phillips,  sun  of  Jacob  ami  brother 
ul  Elias  and  Benjamin,  was  horn  Oct.  17,  1841, 
"ii  hi-  father's  farm,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  old-fashioned  pay  schools  which  were  the  rule 
during  his  boyhood.  The  instruction  was  in  Ger- 
man, and  the  term-  were  only  a  few  months'  long; 
so  thai  the  advantages  thej  afforded  were  none  too 
liberal.  Working  for  his  parents  until  he  was  of 
age.  Mr.  Phillips  has  since  followed  fanning  on  his 
own  account  and  has  also  engag  i  nsively  in 
lime  burning,  owning  a  limestone  ridge.  His  an- 
nual outpui  i-  ad  mt  fifteen  thousand  bushels,  and 
one  year  he  burned  twenty-four  thousand,  five 
hundred  bushels  for  his  brother  Elias.  His  farm 
consists  of  twenty-five  acres  in  Jordan  town 
about  one  mile  west  of  Urban. 

In  1866  Mr.  Phillips  married  Elizabeth  Xaee, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Magd.  (Hartranft)  Nace, 
and  six  children  have  been  born  to  this  union. 
Mintie  A.  married  John  Byerly;  Maggie  married 
Ira  Held:  Cora  married  John  Thomas:  Clara 
married  Henry  Snyder:  Alice  married  Georgi 
Bauni;  Thomson  died  aged  fifteen  years.  Mr. 
Phillips  and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  John's 
Church  at  Urban,  in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  trustee.  He  i-  a  Democrat  in  political 
on,  and  has  acted  as  school  director  and  in 
various  other  local  offices. 

THOMAS  J.  COATES,  of  Shamokin,  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  T.  J.  Coates  &  Bro.,  who  d<>  a 
large  business  as  contractors,  can  point  to  many 
evidence-  of  his  skill  and  executive  ability  in  the 
number  of  public  buildings  which  have  been  erect- 
ed under  his  supervision  during  his  career  in  this 
line.  Eleven  schoolhouses  in  Coal  township  alone 
arc  the  work  of  this  firm,  which  receives  a  gener- 
ous share  of  the  patronage  in  Northumberland 
county  in  it-  particular  branches  of  work. 

Mr.  Coates  was  horn  at  Trevorton,  Northum- 
berland county.  June  :!.  1866,  -mi  of  Thomas 
Coates,  a  native  of  County  Galway,  Ireland,  who 
came  to  America  in  young  manhood.  His  first 
location  was  in  New  York  City,  whence  he  went 
ii  New  Jersey,  there  following  the  business  of 
lener.   Ai   Matteawan,  X.  J.,  he  married  Katie 


Donald,  who  was  born  in  Queen's  County,  Inland, 
and  with  whom  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
before  the  Civil  war.  subsequently  moving  to  Trev- 
orton. .Mr.  Coates  was  killed  in  the  mines  in  De- 
i.  1868.  lie  is  buried  at  Trevorton.  There 
were  five  children  in  his  family:  John  M.,  Eliz- 
Thomas  J.  and  Margaret. 

Thomas  J.  Coates  attended  school  at  Trevorton 
ami  was  only  a  hoy  when  he  began  picking 
at  the  breaker.  He  was  employed  in  the  mines 
about  twelve  years  before  he  went  to  learn  the 
trade  of  cabinet-maker,  at  Trevorton.  Later  he 
took  up  carpentry,  and  in  1893  he  engaged  in 
business  as  a  contractor  at  Shamokin.  becoming  as- 
sociated in  that  line  with  his  brother  John  M  . 
under  the  name  of  T.  J.  Coates  &  Bro.  They  have 
hail  a  profitabli     i  rom  the  beginning,  and 

some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  their  operations, 
and  of  rlie  da--  of  work  intrusted  to  them,  may  be 
gained  from  the  statement  that  they  have  had  the 
contracts  I'm  the  following  school  buildings  in 
Coal  township:  Washington,  a1  Springfield;  Stev- 
en-, at  Pear  Valley;  Webster,  at  Hickory  Ridge: 
l'etin.  at  Boydtown;  Lincoln,  at  Johnson  City; 
Si  aeffer,  at  Uniontown;  Lafayette,  at  Fairview; 
!  elluw.  at  Hickory  Swamp:  Whitney,  at  Ex- 
celsior: McKinley,  at  Edgewood;  and  St.  Ed- 
ward's, as  Shamdkin.  Among  other  important 
i.t-  which  they  have  tilled  are  n  St. 

!'  ick's  church  and  parsonage  at  Trevorton;  for 
the  Shamokin  and  Coal  township  almshouse:  the 
first   residences   at    Edgewood,   and    the   first    res 

-  at  Johnson  City.     The  partners  are  both 
men  of  high  business  and  personal  standards,  and 
deserve   the   prosperity    which   has   rewarded 
their  enterpris 

Mr.  t  eat-  married  Annie  Y.  Coulston,  daugh- 
ter nf  William  J.  Coulston,  and  six  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  John  William.  Thomas,  An- 
nie, John,  James  and  Catherine  (who  died  in  in- 
fancy). Mr.  (  air-  i-  a  member  nf  St.  Edward's 
Church  ami  of  the  Holy  Name  Society. 

William  J.  Coulston,  Mrs.  Coates's  father,  who 
lives  with  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Coates,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land May  15.  1825,  and  came  in  America  in  1846 
on  a  sailing  vessel  with  280  other  passengers.  He 
landed  at  New  York  City.  Coming  to  Shamokin 
in  1866,  he  has  since  made  his  home  there,  being 
now  niie  of  the  oldesl  residents  of  the  borough.  For 
several  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  late 
Thomas  Baumgardner,  at  the  mines.  He  is  an  in- 
telligent man.  and  well  informed.  By  his  first 
wife,  Catherine  Cocklin,  Mr.  Coulston  had  children 
a-  follows:  Himes,  Thomas,  John,  Joseph,  Thom- 
as i  '-'  i .  Elizabeth,  Susanna.  Margaret,  James  and 
Martin  H.  By  his  second  union,  with  Bridget 
Fenan,  he  had  three  children:  Annie  V.  (Mrs. 
Coates).  William  (who  is  deceased)  and  Wil- 
liam A. 

■  luiiN  M.  Coates,  brother  and  business  partner 


XORTHITMBERLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


899 


of  Thomas  J.  Coates,  was  born  in  L858  111  Xew 
Jersey.  He  followed  mining  until  he  engaged  in 
business  with  his  brother.  Mr.  Coates  has  been 
a  well  known  figure  in  public  life  in  this  county 
fur  a  number  of  years,  ha\  ing  been  elected  jury 
commissioner  of  the  county  in  1902  and  reelected 
in  1906,  and  he  has  also  served  as  assistan!  assess- 
or "i  Coal  townhip.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
sentiment.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  St. 
Edward's  Church  and  of  the  Knights  of  St.  Ed- 
ward, of  which  organization  he  was  the  first  audit- 
or, still  holding  this  office;  he  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  secretary  of  his 
lodge. 

HETRICH.  Johann  Philip  Hetrieh,  the  an- 
cestor of  a  large  family  of  this  name  in  lower 
Northumberland  county,  was  a  farmer  in  Wash- 
ington township,  owning  what  is  now  the  farm 
propert}  of  Henrv  Kobel.  He  was  born  July 
24,  1785,  and  died  March  1,1853.  His  wife,  Cath- 
arine (  Reitz),  born  Oct.  24,  1786,  died  June  25, 
1854,  and  both  were  members  of  the  Himmel 
Church  in  thai  township,  at  which  church  thej 
arc  buried.  Their  children  were:  John.  Mich- 
ael, Jacob,  Nicholas,  Samuel,  Sallie  (married  Sam- 
uel Bobb),  Mrs.  Henrv  Hoffman  and  Mrs.  Peter 
Reitz. 

John  Hetrieh,  son  of  Johann  Philip  and  Cath- 
irine  (Reitz)  Hetrieh,  was  burn  Feb.  15,  L805, 
and  was  a  farmer  on  the  place  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson  Charles  P>.  Hetrieh.  He  married 
Catharine  Snvder  i  Schneider),  who  was  born  Dec. 
I.",.  1809,  and  died  Aug.  18,  L866.  Mr.  Hetrieh 
died  June  22,  1871.  They  are  buried  at  Himmel's 
Church,  of  which  they  were  Lutheran  members. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  William.  Elias, 
John  S..  Daniel,  Samuel,  Peter  and  Sarah  (mar- 
ried John  Hoffman  |. 

John  S.  Hetrich,  son  of  John,  was  born  Dee. 
1.  1830,  nn  the  nld  Hetrieh  homestead  now  owned 
by  his  son  Charles  P..  He  was  a  lifelong  fanner 
and  made  Ins  home  at  the  old  place.  His  activity 
in  local  affairs  made  him  quite  well  known,  as  he 
-,.i  *,,;]  sis  years  in  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor 
and  was  ais..  auditor  of  his  township.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran 
an, I  served  as  deacon  and  trustee  of  the  church. 
lie  died  July  --'1.  101)4.  In  185  I  Mr.  Hetrieh  mar- 
ried Eve  Brosius,  win.  was  horn  dune  2,  is::  I. 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Katie  (Gonsor)  Brosius, 
and  granddaughter  of  Peter  and  Grace  (Hepler) 
Brosius.  She  is  a  well  preserved  woman,  though 
in  her  seventy-seventh  year,  and  continues  to  re- 
side on  the  (dd  home  place  with  her  son  Charles. 
Mr  and  Mrs.  Hetrieh  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  their  marriage  March  12,  1904,  a  few 
months  before  his  decease.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing family*:  Marv  lv.  who  died  in  1909,  married 
Jerre  Snvder  and  lived  at  Waverly,   Nebr.    (they 


had  ten  children):  Frank  died  young;  Emma  J. 
married  R.  B.  Latslia  ami  they  live  at  Catawissa, 
Pa.:  Ella  ('.  died  }x>ung;  Charles  I'..  carries  on  the 
old  farm. 

Charles  l'>.  Hetrich,  son  id'  John  S.  Hetrieh, 
was  born  duly  1.  1869,  at  his  present  home  in 
Washington  township,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  locality.  He  was  wared 
to  farming  ami  lor  eighteen  years  followed  the  bus- 
iness of  huckster,  going  to  the  leading  cities  in 
the  coal  mining  districts.  In  1901  he  began  farm- 
ing "ii  his  own  account  on  the  old  Hetrieh  home- 
stead, which  comprises  1  Hi  acres  on  the  road  be- 
tween Rebuck  ami  Greenbrier.  Part  of  the  house 
is  one  of  the  old  structures  in  the  neighborhood, 
a  landmark  of  the  community. 

On  dan.  1.  L888,  Mr.  Hetrich  married  Katie 
E.  Kciilcr.  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah 
(Kehres)  Keiffer,  and  they  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: John  0.,  Irin  R.,  Sarah  P.  ami  Mary  D. 
John  < ).  Hetrich  i-  a  graduate  of  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  class  of 
1909,  ami  is  engaged  in  teaching  m  Washington 
township.  Mr.  Hetrich  and  his  family  are  Luth- 
eran members  of  Himmel's  Church,  which  he  i> 
serving  as  deacon  at  present.  lie  is  a  Democrat 
on  political  questions. 


Xicholas  Hetrich.  son  of  Johann  Philip,  was 
bom  dune  1.  1829,  and  died  dan.  21,  L864.  He 
i>  buried  at  Himmel's  Church.  His  home  was  in 
Washington  township,  and  he  was  a  wool  carder 
and  weaver  by  occupation.  To  him  and  his  wife 
Harriet  (Schlegel)  were  born  children  as  follows: 
William.  Benneville  S.,  Edward,  Seville  (married 
Samuel  Smith)  and  Emma  (married  Hiram  Pa- 
del  ami   Isaac  Campbell ). 

Bexxkvii.i.e  S.  Hetrich,  son  of  Xicholas.  was 
born  duly  24,  1855,  in  Washington  township,  and 
was  there  reared,  being  I  rained  to  farm  life  from 
boyhood.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he  began  farming 
on  the  place  in  Jackson  township  where  he  has 
since  resided,  which  consists  id'  eighty  acres  of 
good  land.  It  was  formerly  the  Nicholas  Dram- 
heller  farm,  and  the  house  on  the  property  i-  an 
old  one.  having  sheltered  the  pioneer  for  many 
years.  One  part  is  built  id'  logs.  Mr.  Hetrich  has 
made  a  success  of  hi-  agricultural  operations,  lie 
i-  also  an  experienced  tradesman,  having  learned 
weaving  and  shoemaking,  which  he  followed  for 
a  number  of  years  before  deciding  to  give  all  his 
time  to  farming.  He  is  active  in  local  politii  s, 
being  a  stanch  member  of  the   Democratic  party. 

(in  Dec.  25,  1883,  Mr.  Hetrich  married  Marv 
Ann  Seder,  daughter  of  Jacob  Scaler.  She  died 
April  -.'1.  1911.  They  had  two  daughters:  Lizzie 
married  Herbert  II.  Hilbush  and  went  to  live  at 
Sunbury,  this  county,  where  she  died  Oct.  5,  L909, 
aged  twenty-three  years,  eight  months,  eight  days. 
leaving  her  husband  with  one  son  and  one  daugh- 


900 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ter,  .Man  Elizabeth  and  Henry  I'>. ;  Mabel  married 
George  B.  Rebuck,  who  is  farming  the  homestead 

(he   is   a    tnber  of  Lafayette  Lodge,   No.    194, 

F.  &  A.  M.).  Mr.  Hetrich  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  St.  Pet- 
er's (Mahanoy)  Church,  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon,  eldeT  and  trustee;  he  is  in  office  at  present. 


Seller.  The  ancestor  of  the  Seiler  family  in 
this  region  was  John  Jacob  Seiler,  born  May  22, 
1780,  died  March  12,  1866.  In  his  earlier  man- 
hood he  was  a  miller  in  Jordan  township,  North- 
umberland county,  later  settling  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  on  the  tract  now  owned  by 
E.  J.  Otto.  He  also  owned  the  farm  in  Jackson 
township  winch  was  afterward  the  property  of  his 
son  William  and  is  now  owned  by  the  tatter's  son 
Jacob,  and  was  a  prosperous  man  in  all  his  under- 
takings, lie  married  Elizabeth  Heintzleman,  and 
they  had  a  family  of  ten  children:  Isaac.  Jacob, 
Daniel.  John,  Elias  (born  July  5,  1818,  died  Aug. 
6,  1872;  wife  Sarah,  born  April  9,  is-.".',  died 
Aug.  27,  1900).  George,  Peter.  Katie  (married 
Daniel  Zartman),  Sallie  (married  Jacob  Wagner) 
and  Polly  (married  John  Zartman). 

Jacob  Seiler,  son  of  John  Jacob,  was  born  Sept. 
22,  1804,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and  be- 
came a  farmer,  living  on  the  old  Seiler  homestead 
in  Jackson  township.  He  died  Nov.  14.  1874,  and 
is  buried  at  St.  Peters  Church.  His  wife.  Eliza- 
beth (Ebright),  was  born  Feb.  17,  1811.  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  and  died  Dec.  8,  1900.  They 
had  children  as  follows :  ( 1 )  Eebecca  married  Dan- 
iel Wirt,  by  whom  she  had  two  children.  John 
(who  is  an  undertaker  at  Seven  Points.  Northum- 
berland county)  and  Sarah  Ann  (wife  of  Dr. 
R.  P.  Han-:,  of  Williamstown,  Pa.);  after  Mr. 
Wirt's  death  she  married  Henry  Dornsife,  by  whom 
she  has  children,  Henry  T.  (who  has  the  largest 
restaurant  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.),  Samuel  Seiler 
(an  attorney  at  law  of  Kansas  City),  Daniel  Web- 
ster (who  lives  in  California)  and  Elizabeth  Agnes 
(unmarried).  (2)  Sarah  Ann  died  Oct.  25,  1851, 
aged   fifteen  years,  seven  months,  twenty-six  days. 

(3)   G ge  died  in  infancy.   (  1)   Harriet  married 

Elias  R.  Hilbush.  (5)  William  is  mentioned  be- 
low. (6)  Mary  Ann  married  Bonneville  S.  Het- 
rieh. 

William  Seiler,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  dan.  13, 
L843,  on  the  farm  where  he  passed  his  entire  life, 
becoming  a  farmer  himself,  tie  passed  away  Sept. 
28,  1898.  lie  was  the  owner  of  the  homestead 
for  a  number  ><(  years  and  built  the  present  build- 
ings on  (he  property.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  wa-  actively  identified  with  the  administration 
of  public  affairs  in  his  locality,  serving  as  school 
director,  tax  collector,  and  in  other  offices,  and  he 
was  a  prominent  Democrat  in  political  matters. 
In  religion  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  which  he  served 


officially  for  many  years,  being  deacon  and  elder 
of  that  church.  His  wife.  Hannah,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Kate  (  Stein)  Boyer.  of  Amity 
township.  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren: [saac,  who  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church; 
Daniel,  of  Dauphin  county.  Pa. ;  and  Jacob. 

Jacob    Seiler,    s< f    William    and    Hannah 

(Hover)  Seiler.  was  horn  Nov.  15,  1871,  at  the 
Seiler  homestead,  and  was  there  reared  to  farm- 
ing. After  his  marriage  he  began  agricultural  pur- 
suits on  his  own  account,  at  the  old  home  in  Jack- 
sen  township  which  ha-  been  in  the  Seiler  name 
for  so  many  years.  Jacob  Seiler  being  the  fourth 
gi  aeration  to  ]>o-m'ss  it.  The  present  barn  on  the 
place  was  built  by  William  Seiler  in  1S7(>,  and 
the  house  in  1880.  The  tract  contains  11(1  acres, 
ten  of  which  are  in  timber.  Like  his  family  gen- 
erally, Mr.  Seiler  has  interested  himself  in  local 
public  matters  and  church  work.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  lias  held  township  office.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  Church,  to  which  his  family 
ai-o  belong.  i>  at  present  serving  a-  deacon  of  the 
church  and  has  been  interested  in  the  Sunday 
school,  having  served  as  secretary  and  teacher. 

In  1903  Mr.  Seiler  married  Kate  l.atsha.  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  and  Wilhelmina  (Fegley)  Latsha, 
and  they  have  one  -on.   Rufus. 

ALEXANDER  !!<>SS.  who  has  carried  on  a 
hotel  at  the  comer  of  Second  and  Water  streets, 
in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  since  1906,  was  for- 
merly for  many  years  engaged  in  the  principal 
industrj  of  this  section,  the  mining  of  coal.  In 
bis  present  enterprise  he  i^  in  partnership  with 
Thomas  T.  Williams,  and  they  are  doing  a  fine 
business,  having  a  fine  brick  hotel  with  thirty  guest 
rooms. 

Mr.  Ross  was  born  Sept.  25,  1852,  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  where 
his  father.  John  Ross,  settled  upon  leaving  New 
Jersey,  his  native  State.  He  was  a  young  man 
when  he  came  to  this  county,  and  here  hi'  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  engaged  in  fanning. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.  Tie  married  Margaret  Messersmith,  and 
to  them  wire  born  the  following  children:  Eman- 
uel, Augustus,  Alexander.  John.  Frank.  Jane 
(married  Ezra  Badman.  and  died  Dec.  2.  1879, 
aged  twenty-one  years,  eight  months,  eleven  days). 
Mamie  and  Simon. 

Alexander  Boss  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  his  first 
work  was  upon  the  farm.  When  sixteen  years  old 
be  came  to  Shamokin,  where  lie  did  railroad  work 
for  one  year,  after  which  he  went  into  the  mines 
and  for  thirty-seven  years  was  employed  at  the 
collieries.  Tn  190p>  he  built  the  substantial  brick 
hotel  at  the  corner  of  Second  and  Water  streets, 
in    Shamokin,  where  he  has  since  done  business. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


901 


and  the  house  is  comfortable  and  convenient:,  at- 
tracting a  steady  and  profitable  patronage.  The 
proprietors  are  well  known  in  Shamokin,  where 
Mr.  Ross  has  valuable  real  estate  holdings,  having 
me1  with  considerable  success  in  his  business 
ventures, 

On  Sept.  36,  ISM.  Mr.  Ross  married  Emeline 
Newman,  daughter  of  John  Newman,  of  Shamo- 
kin.  and  they  have  three  children:  Charles,  who 
is  a  miner;  Ambrose  W.,  a  merchant  in  Shamo- 
ldn;  and  Mary  •'..  married  to  James  T.  Dormer, 
of  Shamokin.  Mr.  Ross  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  and  socially  belongs  to  the  Knights 
of  Malta.  He  is  an  independent  voter,  support- 
ing the  candidates  he  prefers  regardless  of  their 
party  affiliations. 

JOHN  T.  ALBRIGHT,  late  of  Turbut  town- 
ship,  Northumberland  county,  was  in  his  lifetime 

niie  of  the  respected  citizens  of  his  section,  where 
he  followed  farming  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  born  in  1832,  and 
came  to  Northumberland  county  with  his  parents 
when  a  hoy. 

Mr.  Albright  learned  the  trade  of  bricklayer, 
which  lie  continued  to  follow  throughout  his  active 
years,  and  as  such  assisted  in  building  the  Bap- 
tist church  at  Turbutville.  In  his  later  life  he 
followed  farming  near  the  Paradise  church  in 
Turbut  township,  lie  died  in  1801.  aged  sixty-two 
years,  two  months,  four  days. 

In  1856  Mr.  Albright  married  Mary  E.  Huntz- 
inger, who  was  horn  Dec.  18,  1838,  daughter  of 
Rudolph  and  Mary  (Heuelrich)  Huntzinger,  and 
granddaughter  of  Jacob  Huntzinger.  a  native  of 
Lebanon  count}',  Pa.,  where  he  died.  Jacob  Huntz- 
inger married  Elizabeth  Bowman,  and  they  had 
children:  Rudolph,  Harry,  Martin.  Jacob.  Peter, 
Mary  1"..  and  Catharine.  Three  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  T.  Albright:  David  L.  mar- 
ried Rosa  Klapp  and  has  one  child.  Ella  (they 
reside  in  Lewis  township,  this  county):  Mary  A. 
married  Aug.  F.  Heller  and  has  two  children. 
Bertha  and  Jessie:  Charles  M.,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  his  father's  old  homestead,  married  Susan 
E.  Klapp  and  has  two  children,  Florence  K.  and 
Edna  M  The  mother  of  this  family,  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  (Huntzinger)  Albright,  died  Jan.  31,  1911, 
at  her  home  in  Turbut  township,  and  was  buried 
,,,  iih.  cemetery  of  Paradise  Reformed  Church, 
where  Mr  Albright  is  also  interred.  He  was  a 
member  of  that  church,  and  be  and  his  wife  were 
among  the  most  esteemed  residents  ol  their  com- 
munity. 

DEPPEN  Christian  Deppen,  the  founder  of 
this  familv  in  Pennsylvania,  came  hither  from 
the  German  Palatinate  arriving  (qualifying)  at 
Philadelphia  Scd.  16,  1736.    He  crossed  the  ocean 

on  th«'  vessel  ••Princess  Augusta,'  from  Rotterdam, 


Samuel  Merchant,  master,  along  with  a  number 
of  others  from  the  Palatinate,  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren— in  all  three  hundred  souls,  according  to  the 
historian  Rupp.  On  the  "List  of  Ships  Foreign- 
ers" his  name  is  given  as  Christian  Dappen,  and 
his  age  as  thirty  years.  In  the  Captain's  book 
his  name  appears  as  Christian  Teppe.  In  his  will 
his  name  is  written,  in  plain  English.  Christian 
Deppe.  Thus  we  find  that  there  has  been  consid- 
erable uncertainty  concerning  the  correct  orthog- 
raphy of  the  name.  It  appears  often  as  I  teppe, 
Depew,  and  Dupee,  and  -nine  genealogists  declare 
its  original  form  to  have  been  that  of  the  old 
French  Huguenot  name.DePui. 

Christian  Deppen  settled  near  Wbmelsdorf,  in 
Heidelberg  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  In  the  tax 
lists  of  Heidelberg  township  Christian  "Deppy"  is 
assessed  as  follows:  1767.  on  300  acres,  3  horses,  3 
cattle,  3  sheep;  1708.  on  150  acres,  4  horses.  I 
cattle,  5  sheep:  1779,  on  320  acres.  .">  horses,  15 
cattle;  L780,  on  395  acres,  5  horses,  13  cattle; 
1781.  on  395  acres.  5  horses,  8  cattle.  The  will 
of  Christian  Deppe,  of  Heidelberg  township,  is 
on  record  in  the  Berks  county  courthouse,  as  made 
Sept.  27.  177.">,  and  probated  in  1782,  the  year  of 
his  death.  It  was  witnessed  by  Philip  Mover, 
John  Casper  Reed,  and  Adam  Kalbach,  and  it  be- 
gins thus :  "I,  Christian  Deppe,  an  aged  yeoman 
of  Heidelberg  township,  Berks  county."  As  the 
will  contains  no  reference  to  his  wife,  it  is  pre- 
sumed she  was  dead  at  the  time  it  was  made.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  Christian  Deppe  also  owned 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  Northampton  county.  In 
his  will  he  refers  to  his  •■eldest  mid  beloved  son, 
Johannes,  who  shall  have  fifty  pounds  over  and 
above  hi-  other  share."  His  children  as  named  in 
the  will  were:  Johannes;  Barbara  (married  Peter 
Zimmerman);  Anna  (married  George  Yeakly) ; 
Treanie;  Elizabeth;  Thomas;  Peter;  David,  who 
died  in  1804  (his  German  will  is  mi  record  in 
Berks  county  courthouse):  Joseph;  Jacob:  and 
Abraham,  who  died  in  1840  intestate,  and  whose 
heir  was  Richard  Boone,  of  Heidelberg. 

Joseph  Deppy  (one  of  the  older  sons  of  the  pio- 
neer Christian)  in  the  Federal  Census  Report  of 
1790  is  recorded  as  a  resident  of  Heidelberg  town- 
ship, and  as  the  head  of  a  family  consisting  of 
himself,  wile  and  three  sons  above  sixteen  years 
of  age. 

Christian.  Peter,  William  and  George  Deppen, 
natives  of  Berks  county,  were  pioneer-  of  North- 
umberland county.  They  located  in  that  section 
ii, ,u  embraced  in  Jack-on  and  Washington  town- 
ships; in  IMS  the  name  of  Christian  Deppen  ap- 
peal'- among  the  list  of  pioneers  "f  Mahanoy  town- 
ship (both  Jackson  and  Washington  were  origin- 
ally embraced  inMahanoj  township).  This  Chris- 
tian Deppen  and  Peter  Deppen,  who  were  pioneer 
in  Northumberland  county,  tradition  states  were 
,.,,    0f  the  ancestor  Christian  Deppy.     The  name 


902 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


of  Peter  is  found  in  the  will,  bui  Christian  is  said 
to  have  been  a  heavy  drinker,  and  poor  probably 
on  that  account,  and  for  this  reason  he  was  not 
mentioned  in  his  father's  will.  He  was  unlike  his 
brothers.  Early  in  the  nineteenth  century  he  went 
tn  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  He  was 
married  three  times,  and  among  his  children  were 
son  Washington  and  daughter  Betsy. 

Peter  Deppen  came,  as  stated,  from  Berks  to 
Northumberland  county;  after  living  there  a  short 
period  he  went  to  Ohio,  finally  settling  in  Mis- 
souri, where  he  was  a  prosperous  farmer.  His 
descendants  in  Missouri  and  the  West  are  said  to 
be  many.  Among  his  children  were  sons  Zetic 
and  Andrew. 

William  and  George  Deppen,  mentioned  above 
as  having  settled  in  Northumberland  county,  were 
grandsons  of  the  ancestor  Christian  through  bis 
oldesl  sun.  John,  and  from  these  two  spring  all 
the  Deppens  now  living  in  Northumberland  county. 

Whether  Christian  Deppy,  the  ancestor,  was  a 
Roman  Catholic  or  not  is  uncertain,  but  tradition 
slates  thai  he  was.  His  son  Joseph  was  a  Catholic, 
as  were  the  Iatter's  children,  and  a  number  of  the 
family  still  adhere  to  that  faith.  Most  of  the 
name  now  living  in  Reading  are  members  of  St. 
Paul's  Catholic  Church.  There  were  sixteen  per- 
sons by  the  name  of  Deppen  in  the  Reading  city 
directory  for  1908. 

William  Deppen,  one  of  the  two  grandsons  of 
Christian  mentioned  as  settling  in  Northumber- 
land county,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  horn 
Nov.  20,  1779.  lie  and  his  brother  George  set- 
tled near  Herndon,  in  Jackson  township,  in  1810. 
He  is  buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church,  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  where  be  died.  He  was  a  hat- 
maker  by  trade,  hut  followed  farming  in  Jackson 
township.  His  wife  Magdelene  (Seiler)  bore  him 
twelve  children,  namely:  Abraham.  Alexander, 
[saac,  John,  David,  William,  Leah.  Sallie,  Caro- 
line, Lydia,  Mary  and  Elizabeth  (who  died  in 
infancy).  The  father.  William  Deppen,  who  is 
buried  at  Stone  Valley  Church,  died  Sent.  3,  1848; 
his  wife  Magdelene,  born  Sept.  15,  1790,  died  Feb. 
2,  1862.  Their  son  David,  horn  Aug.  29,  1824, 
died  Feb.  21,  1850. 

Abraham  Deppen,  son  of  William,  born  Sept. 
8,  1812,  died  Aug.  13,  1899,  and  i-  buried  at  St. 
Peter's  Church,  in  Mahanoy  township,  where  his 
wife  also  rests.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  also  dealt 
in  land  and  cattle,  meeting  with  such  success  in 
his  operations  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  an  estate  valued  at  $100,000.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Herndon  at  that  time.  In  1832,  together 
with  a  man  named  Mowery,  he  cleared  the  first 
five  acres  of  what  is  now  the  site  of  the  borough  of 
Shamokin.  In  1844,  with  his  family,  he  left 
Jackson  township  in  a  Conestoga  wagon  drawn  by 
three  horse-  and  moved  out  to  Wayne  county. 
Ohio.     They  arrived  a  day  or  two  too  late  to  take 


possession  of  the  land  for  which  they  had  arranged, 
-i,  the  family  lived  in  their  wagon  and  with  a 
cousin  until  the  land  tangle  was  straightened  out. 
This,  however,  was  only  the  beginning  of  a  -erics 
of  troubles.  They  lived  for  two  years  upon  the 
la  i  in  they  had  taken  up,  but  the  rust  killed  the 
wheat  crop,  and  they  subsisted  <>n  corn  cakes  and 
corn  bread,  pork  and  chickens,  unable  to  obtain 
money  or  other  food.  Mrs.  Deppen  became  so 
homesick  that  Mr.  Deppen  hitched  up  hi.-  Cones- 
toga  wagOI)  and  took  her  hack  East,  the  four  chil- 
dren remaining  alone  upon  the  farm  until  the 
parents  returned,  after  an  absence  of  ten  weeks. 
Then  Mr.  Deppen  became  homesick,  and  after  an- 
other year  the  entire  family  returned  to  the  old 
location  in  Pennsylvania.  The  last  year  in  Ohio 
the  wheat  and  corn  crops  had  both  frozen,  and 
the  family  lived  principally  mi  -oft  corn  ami  pump- 
kins. It  was  in  1846  that  they  made  the  return 
journey,  and  when  they  arrived  at  Liverpool,  Perry 
Co.,  Pa.,  the  pair  ol'  horses  be  drove  were  Mr. 
Deppen's  onlj  possessions,  lie  settled  on  the  op- 
posite i'  i-ii  -ide  nt  the  Susquehanna  river,  and. 
purchasing  five  thousand  bushels  of  potatoes  on 
hi-  father's  indorsement,  obtained  a  new  start.  In 
1847  he  went  oul  to  Ohio  again  to  harvest  liis 
wheat  cmp.  which  was  excellent.  Jiisl  fifty  years 
afterward  he  went  back  again,  to  visit  his  old. 
farm,  which  he  had  sold  1  i  Alexander  I  leppen, 
who  became  a  successful  farmer  thereon.  The  land 
improved  ureal  ly  under  cultivation. 

In  1854  Abraham  Deppen  purchased  half  of  the 
300-acre  island  located  in  the  Susquehanna  river 
between  Port  Treverton  and  Herndon.  the  other 
being  owned  by  a  man  named  Strickler,  who 
was  the  first  man  upon  it.  It  was  first  known  as 
Strickler  island,  later  a-  Strickler  and  Deppen  isl- 
and. Mr.  Deppen  retained  his  interest  until  L868 
or  1869,  when  he  -old  to  Peter  Ziegler,  since  whose 
death  hi-  son  George  has  owned  it.  The  island 
comprises  three  hundred  acres  of  the  finest  and 
mosi    fertile  land  in  the  upper  part  of  the  State. 

Abraham  Deppen  married  Mary  Snyder,  of 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  horn  in  1811,  died  in 
1868.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Louisa  (married  Dr.  Reuben  H.  Muth),  George 
(of  Herndon.  Pa.).  Joseph  (of  Mount  Carmel, 
Pa.)  and  Alexander. 

George  Deppen,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  in 
1836  at  Locusi  Gap,  Mount  Carmel  township, 
Northumberland  county,  and  was  reared  in  Jack- 
son township,  whither'  his  parents  removed  during 
his  early  childhood.  lie  attended"  the  subscrip- 
tion   -i  I Is,  and  spent    hi-  earl]    years   in   farm 

work'.  In  1863  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  and  later  engaged 
in  the  same  line  at  Herndon,  of  which  town  he 
is  now  one  of  the  oldest  residents.  In  1868  he 
engaged  in  the  grain  and  leather  business,  buying 
and  shipping  grain  and  dealing  in  hides  for  sole 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


003 


leather,  etc.,  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive trade  in  that  line,  being  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial citizens  south  of  the  Line  Mountain  in 
Northumberland  county.  The  scope  of  the  busi- 
ness lias  bee so  extended  thai  manj  commodi- 
ties are  now  handled.  Mr.  Deppen  shipping  grain 
and  coal  in  large  quantities,  and  dealing  exten- 
sively in   hay,  feed,  flour,  leather  and  stoneware, 

while  he  also  trades  in  w 1  pumps,  shingles,  terra 

cotta  and  galvanized  pipes,  his  line  being  very 
comprehensive  and  a  great  accommodation  to  the 
local  trade.  He  has  always  been  recognized  as  a 
must  progressive  man.  and  has  amassed  a  com- 
fortable Eortune.  Mr.  Deppen  is  one  of  the  oldest 
justices  id'  the  peace  in  Northumberland  county,  in 

poinl   of  both   age  and   service,   having   I n  first 

elected  in  1865,  though  lie  did  no!  take  his  com- 
mission ai  thai  time  because  the  recorder  had  re- 
turned it  just  a  day  or  two  before  he  called  for  it. 
he  delaying  acceptance.  He  holds  seven  commis- 
sions, one  for  one  year  (by  appointment)  and  six 
for  five  wars  each.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
as  are  also  Ins  sons,  and  is  a  Lutheran  in  religious 
faith,  though  all  his  family  adhere  to  the  Reformed 
faith 

In  1868  Mr.  Deppen  married  Mary  Mertz,  o1 
Freeburg,  Snyder  county,  who  died  Aug.  I  ..  1898, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years,  the  mother  of  a  large 
,  ,:.d\  of  children,  eleven  of  n  horn  sun  ive  :  Lizzie 
.1.  (married  Harris  Snyder),  Laura  (married  How- 
ard J.  Engle),  George  E.  (an  attorney  at  law  of 
Sunbury,  Pa.),  Henry  C.  (who  manages  Ins  fath- 
er's business  at  Herndon),  Charles  I'.  (car  in- 
i  Herndon  i.  Susan  M..  Carrie  I...  John 
!•;..  \etiie  I..  Laurence  R.  and  Abraham  E.  Ruth 
Alice  died    111   infancy. 

Henry  C.  Deppen  (best  known  a-  "Harry"' 
Deppen  i.  son  o  i  g<  ,  n  as  born  Dec.  26,  1875, 
in  whai  i-  now  the  borough  of  Herndon.  then  a 
pari  of  Jackson  township.  He  obtained  his  edu- 
,  ation  in  the  local  public  schools,  and  has  been 
assisting  his  father  ever  since  he  was  nine  years 
old.  lie  has  continued  to  be  associated  with  him, 
am!  is  now  the  active  head  of  the  extensive  busi- 
ness, into  which  he  has  infused  new  life  by  his 
i  nergy  and  enterprising  spirit.  A  number  ©f  tfo 
Lines  recently  added  to  the  original  trade  were 
taken  up  experimentally  as  promising  incidental 
gains  to  the  bulk  and  returns  of  the  business,  and 
have  proved  mosl  profitable.  The  Deppens  have  the 
bulk  of  the  borough  trade  in  coal  and  \'vr<\.  and 
their  patronage  extends  all  over  the  Mahantango 
Valley.  Aside  from  this  enter]. rise  Mr.  Deppen 
is  interested  in  several  local  industrial  concerns, 
and  he  and  his  brother  George  have  been  asso- 
ciated for  some  time  as  established  agents  for  a 
number  of  the  old-line  high-class  fire  insurance 
companies.  Mr.  Deppen's  business  activities,  how- 
ever have  not  made  him  indifferent  to  the  public 
welfare,  and  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  admin- 


istration of  the  borough  government  ever  since  it 
was  instituted.  He  was  elected  a  councilman  ai 
the  first  general  election  held  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  borough,  and  has  served  continuously 
i  i  the  present  time,  being  the  oldesl  councilman  in 
point  of  service,  though  the  youngest  in  years. 
He  has  served  two  years  as  president  of  the  coun- 
cil, and  has  been  chairman  ol  i  lie  ordinance,  finam  e 
and  streel  committees.  Politically  Mr.  Deppen  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  considerable  influence  in  the 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation of  Zion's  Church,  at  Herndon,  and  useful 
in  the  work  of  that  organization  as  he  is  in  every- 
thing else  which  interests  him.  He  is  at  present 
serving  as  secretary  of  the  church  consistory, 

John  Ernest  Deppen,  son  of  George,  was  horn 
May  15,  1881,  at  Herndon.  He  began  his  educa- 
tion there  in  the  piddle  schools,  later  attending 
Susquehanna  University,  at  Selinsgrove,  for  two 
years.  After  assisting  his  father  in  business  for  a 
time  he  took  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  in 
New  York  and  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  ha-  since 
been  successfully  engaged  in  thai  capacity,  lie 
has  been  a  member  of  the  P.'th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania National  Guard,  since  1898,  and  hold-  the 
rank  of  first  sergeant. 

Joseph  Deppen,  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Snyder)  Deppen.  was  horn  Dec.  2,  is:;;,  in  1  pper 
Mahanoy  township.  Northumberland  county.  He 
received  a  limited  education,  the  school  he  attended 
being  taught  in  a  gristmill  in  Dauphin  county. 
When  he  became  of  age  he  engaged  in  the  drov- 
ing business,  which  he  followed  for  three  years, 
and  afterward  followed  merchandising  at  Herndon 
for  nearly  two  \oar-.  In  isii'.i  be  moved  to  Mount 
(  armel,  where  he  carried  on  the  hotel  business 
for  fifteen  years,  being  proprietor  of  what  is  now 
the  "Commercial  House."  He  prospered  and  ac- 
cumulated some  mean-,  and  he  has  long  been  con- 
sidered one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  place, 
being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mount  ("armel 
Savings  Bank,  which  he  is  still  serving  a-  director. 
In  lsc;  he  married  Eva  Elizabeth  (Lizzie)  Hoff- 
man, of  Jordan  township,  horn  dan.  I  i.  is  I  !.  who 
died  dan.  IS.  1896,  ami  to  them  were  horn  four 
children,  namely:  Lizzie,  \da.  Joseph  an. I  Gert- 
rude. This  family  are  all  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  Mr.  Deppen  is  an  active  Demo- 
crat in  polities. 

Alexander  Deppen,  a  retired  fanner  now  liv- 
ing at  Dornsife,  wa-  born  Aug.  L6,  1839,  in  Wash 
ington  town-lnp.  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
Abraham  and  Mary  (Snyder)  Deppen.  He  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  and  when  twenty  years  old 
began  farming  on  the  upper  part  of  Whole  island, 
where  he  remained  in  all  for  thirty-three  years 
aged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1889  he  came 
t,,  Jackson  township,  and  he  has  since  carried  on 
two  large  farms,  though  be  is  now  retired  from 
active    labor.       He    made    his    home    in    Hen 


904 


X  ORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


from  1904  until  the  spring  of  1910,  when  he 
moved  to  Dornsife.  For  seventeen  years  he  lived 
on  Iris  farm  at  Dornsife.  Mr.  Deppen  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  opinion,  and  a  Lutheran  in  re- 
ligious faith. 

In  1859  Mr.  Deppen  married  Catharine  Stepp, 
daughter  of  Bastian  Stepp.  of  Jackson  township. 
She  died  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years, 
the  mother  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  two  sons 
and  five  daughters:  William  S.  (of  Dornsife), 
Charles  (of  Altoona,  Pa.),  Acnes  (who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty- four  years).  Emma,  Minnie, 
Jane  and  Lizzie. 

In  1901  Mr.  Deppen  married  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
(  Kirr)  Stewart,  widow  of  dames  Gordon  Stewart. 
Mrs.  Deppen  had  eleven  children  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, James  (who  ha^  a  son,  James  Edward), 
Mary,  Edward,  Sadie.  Jane,  and  six  who  died 
young.  Twenty  years  ago  Mrs.  Deppen  and  her 
first  husband,  with  six  children,  went  from  Pitts- 
burg to  Seattle,  Wash.,  where  they  kept  house 
for  a  year,  then  moving  to  Portland,  Oregon.  Mr. 
Stewart  then  went  to  California,  thinking  he  would 
like  it  better,  but  as  he  did  not  he  returned  to 
Oregon,  and  they  kept  house  there  for  two  years. 
The  youngest  child  died  and  was  buried  out  there, 
after  winch  the  rest  of  the  family  returned  to 
Pittsburg,  where  Mr.  Stewart  died.  In  a  few 
years  Mrs.  Stewart,  with  her  youngest  daughter, 
went  out  again  to  Oregon,  where  she  has  two  mar- 
ried daughters.  On  the  trip  out  eight  mountain 
robbers  held  up  the  train  six  miles  out  of  Sr. 
Paul,  at  Fergus  Falls.  Minn.,  blowing  the  express 
ear  to  pieces  with  dynamite,  and  this  delayed  them 
so  that  it  was  eight  days  lief  ore  they  arrived  in 
Portland.  Mrs.  Deppen  stayed  there  a  year  with 
her  two  daughters,  returning  to  Pittsburg.  One  of 
her  sons  lives  in  Lancaster.  Ohio,  one  in  Cora- 
opnlis.  Pa.  i  one  of  her  daughters  lives  in  Harris- 
burg.  She  has  one  sister  living  in  Pittsburg,  and 
one  in  Shiremanstown,  Pa.,  and  two  brothers  in 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Joseph  and  Sydney  Ann  (Horn)  Kerr,  parents 
nf  Mr-.  Deppen,  were  natives  of  Allegheny  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  the  father  was  a  tailor  by  occupa- 
tion. He  was  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  in  religious 
faith.  He  died  in  18('>!>.  and  is  buried  in  the 
South  Side  cemetery,  at  Pittsburg,  while  the  moth- 
er, who  died  in  1885,  is  buried  at  Baltimore. 
They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children.  Lizzie. 
Robert,  Thomas.  Julia.  Emma.  Sarah  A.,  and  sev- 
en who  are  deceased. 

Mrs.  Sydney  Ann  (Horn)  Kerr  belonged  to  a 
noble  German  family.  Her  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  young,  and  here  passed  the  remainder 
of  Iris  life.  His  father,  a  man  of  wealth  and  high 
rank.  died,  and  the  son  was  notified  and  summoned 
in  claim  his.  inheritance,  hut  he  was  afraid  to 
cross  the  ocean,  and  never  received  the  property. 

William  S.  Deppen,  son  of  Alexander,  was  born 


July   13,   1861.  was   reared   to   farming,  and    has 

followed,  that  calling  all  his  life.  On  March  20, 
1SS4.  he  began  farming  the  place  in  Jackson  town- 
ship then  owned  by  his  grandfather,  Abraham 
Deppen,  which  he  cultivated  for  the  next  four- 
teen years.  The  following  two  years  he  farmed 
for  Joseph  Tressler.  and  then  for  two  years  for 
his  father  on  a  165-acre  farm  in  Little  Mahanov 
township.  In  the  spring  of  1901  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm  in  the  same  township,  near  Dorn- 
sife, a  tract  of  fifty-nine  acres  located  on  the  north 
side  of  Mahanov  creek,  formerly  the  homestead 
of  Michael  Peifer.  Mr.  Deppen  remodeled  and 
enlarged  the  house  and  has  since  resided  on  this 
place.  He  is  an  energetic  and  prosperous  farmer, 
a  substantial  member  of  the  community  and  a 
en  willing  to  do  his  duty  in  every  relation 
of  life.  He  served  three  fears  as  school  director 
in  Jackson  township,  and  in  1910  we  reelected 
for  his  second  term  in  that  office  in  Little  Ma- 
banoy.     lb'  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith. 

On  Sept.  16.  1883,  Mr.  Deppen  married  Emma 
Last,  daughter  of  David  Last,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Ada  V.,  now  the  wife  of  Irwin  Peifer 
i -on  of  George  C.  Peifer)  and  mother  of  three 
children.  Elmer  L..  Eva  and  Vera.  The  family 
are  Lutheran  members  of  St.  John's  Church  at 
Pump  Station,  which  Mr.  Deppen  has  served  offi- 
cially  as  deacon  and  elder. 

1  lavid  East,  father  of  Mrs.  Deppen.  was  a  -ooper 
li\  itade.  and  lived  iu  the  Kratzerville  district 
in  Snyder  county.  He  died  about  1867,  when 
about  forty-nine  years  old,  and  is  buried  at  Had- 
ley's  Church  in  Snyder  county.  His  wife,  Harriet 
(Leitzel),  daughter  of  John  Leitzel,  died  about 
L878,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  and  is  buried  at 
the  same  place.  They  had  three  children:  Mary, 
wife  of  Lewis  Pontius:  Ella,  wife  of  Charles  Wet- 
zel; and  Emma,  wife  of  William  S.  Deppen. 


George   Deppen,  grandson  of  Christian  Dep 

the  ancestor,  was  born  June  21.  Its;,  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Northumberland  county 
with  his  brother  William,  as  previously  stated,  in 
1810.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  upon  his 
removal  from  his  native  county  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Isaac  Tressler.  a  tract  one  and  a 
half  miles  north  of  Herndon.  This  place  he  sold, 
and  purchased  an  adjoining  farm,  on  which  stood 
a  gristmill.  From  the  latter  property  he  removed 
to  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Samuel 
Deppen.  a  fine  place  of  fully  200  acres  in  Jack- 
son township.  He  died  Feb.  ;.  1850,  and  bis 
wife.  Maria  Magd.  Greise,  a  native  of  Berks  coun- 
ty, born  April  3.  1785,  Ions-  survived  him.  dying 
Aug.  11,  1869.  They  are  'buried  at  St.  Peters 
Church,  in  Mahanov  township.  He  and  bis  fam- 
ily were  Reformed  members  of  St.  Peter's,  which 
was  a  union  church,  and  he  served  as  an  official : 
be  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  political  opinion.     To 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


905 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deppen  were  born  four  children, 
namely:  Rebecca,  who  married  John  Haas,  of  Sun- 
bury;  William:  John,  who  died  in  Herndon :  and 
[saac,  who  spent  much  of  his  life  at  Herndon  and 
died  in  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania. 

William  Deppen,  eldest  son  of  George,  born  in 
1814,  was  a  merchant  in  Jackson  township  and 
other  places  in  this  county  for  forty  years,  at  one 
time  owned  much  real  estate,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  his  section.  He  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Augustaville  when  a  .young  man, 
and  was  subsequently  at  Mahanoy,  in  Jackson 
township,  for  eighteen  years.  Jn  the  spring  of 
I860  he  located  at  Trevorton,  where  he  was  a 
merchant  for  about  two  years,  until  his  retire- 
ment from  business.  He  died  Jan.  8,  1876,  and 
is  buried  at  Mahanoy,  in  Jackson  township.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
and  a  Republican  in  politics.  His  wife.  Susan 
Lantz,  who  survived  him,  was  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  this  county,  and  to  them  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Mary.  Samuel.  William  (all 
three  died  young),  Benjamin  F.,  George  W.,  Rich- 
ard L.  (of  Si); kin)  and  Sarah  A.  (married  and 

living  in  Trevorton).  ■  George  W.  Deppen,  who  was 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Rank  of  Sunbury, 
died  in  January,  1909. 

Benjamin  I'.  Deppen,  son  of  William,  was  horn 
in  1847  in  Jackson  township.  Northumberland 
county,  and    received  his  education  in  the  public 

sel !--     Ee  was  appointed  station  agent  of  the 

Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  Trev- 
orton, and  held  that  position  for  twenty  years, 
in  188!)  engaging  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
thai  place.  Be  married  Susan  Herb,  who  died 
in  1888,  leaving  four  children,  viz.:  Laura  M.. 
Susan  M..  Samuel  II.  and  William  R.  Mr.  Deppen 
I-  a   Republican  in  politics. 

John  Deppen,  son  of  George,  was  born  July  1. 
L815,  hi  Jackson  township,  and  died  Dec.  11,  1893, 
a1  Herndon.  where  he  had  lived  retired  for  ten 
vear-.  lie  followed  farming  during  his  active 
war-,  owning  the  place  which  is  now  the  property 
of  his  -on  Samuel.  He  was  a  devout  Christian. 
he  and  his  family  worshiping  with  the  Reformed 
congregation  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  which  he 
s,  rved  as  deai  on  and  elder.  He  and  his  brother 
William  married  sisters,  his  wife  hem-  Catharine 
Lantz;  she  was  born  Nov.  16,  1ST.),  and  died 
Jan.  7.  1880.  the  mother  of  four  children:  Mary 
married  Uberl  Bolshue ;  Samuel  is  mentioned  be 
lou  ■  William  H..  horn  March  15,  1856,  died  Dee. 
10  IS",;  (he  married  Kate  Tressler,  and  they  had 
two  sons.  Irwin  and  William,  both  of  whom  live 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.);  Susan  married  William  F. 
Rower.  _ 

Samuel  Deppen,  son  of  John,  was  bom  Sept.. 
5  1853  in  Jack-on  township,  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  in  the  home  district,  and  was  reared 
to    farm   life.      He   worked    for  his   parents   until 


he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  in  the  spring  of 
1878  commencing  to  farm  for  himself  on  the  home- 
stead, where  he  continued  for  thirty  years,  in  the 
spring  of  190S  renting  the  farm  and  moving  to 
Herndon,  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  Since 
settling  in  the  town  he  has  driven  a  dray,  doing 
all  kinds  of  hauling.  He  is  of  the  third  genera- 
tion of  his  family  to  own  the  old  homestead,  which 
is  located  on  the  road  from  Herndon  to  Dornsife. 
The  house  on  the  place  is  of  logs,  and  was  built 
about  1800,  by  a  Schaffer.  The  present  barn,  85 
li\  38  feet  in  dimensions,  was  built  by  Samuel 
Deppen  in  1900  to  take  the  place  of  the  one  de- 
stroyed by  lightning  Aug.  23d  of  that  year,  to- 
gether with  the  year's  crop,  farm  implements,  and 
a    loi  se  and  three  head  of  young  cattle. 

Mr.  Deppen  has  always  been  active  and  pro- 
gressive, and  has  taken  part  in  the  local  govern- 
ment to  some  extent.  He  was  school  director  in 
Jackson  township  for  the  long  period  of  twenty- 
one  years,  seven  terms  of  three  years  each,  and 
was  ] (resident  and  treasurer  of  the  school  board 
many  years,  serving  with  honor  and  credit:  his 
lias  been  the  longest  record  of  service  held  by  any 
one  man  up  to  this  time  in  Jackson  township.  He 
and  his  family  worship  at  St.  Peter's  Union 
Church  at  Mahanoy,  of  which  his  father  and  grand- 
father before  him  were  active  members  and  sup- 
porters. 

In  1878  Mr.  Deppen  married  Lucy  Ann  Zart- 
man,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Forney) 
Zartman,  of  Jackson  township.  Thev  have  had 
three  children:  Carrie  married  W.  R.  Zartman. 
a  lumber  merchant  of  Shamokin,  Ra. :  Mamie  mar- 
ried Calvin  Ziegler  and  lives  in  Philadelphia:  Su- 
san married  John  Witmer  and  resides  at  Herndon. 

STEPHEN  A.  PEAMUK,  of  Shamokin.  North- 
umberland county,  was  born  Aug.  20,  187?,  in 
Austria,  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna  (Steffick)  Pra- 
muk.  The  father,  also  a  native  of  Austria,  died 
in  that  country,  and  the  widowed  mother  came  to 
America  with  her  four  children.  She  now  makes 
tier  home  with  her  son  Stephen  in  Shamokin.  The 
family  consisted  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Stephen  A.  and  Andrew,  twins,  the  I. dor  dow  in 
his  brother  Stephen's  employ:  Michael,  who  lives 
in  Shamokin:  and  Mary,  married  to  Berl  Yau- 
koskie  and  living  in   Shamokin. 

In  the  spring  of  L882  Stephen  \.  Pramuk  came 
to  America  with  his  mother,  the  family  landing 
in  New  York  City.  Their  first  home  here  was 
in  Clearfield  county.  Pa.,  where  they  remained  only 
;i  short  time,  however,  settling  in  Shamokin  in 
L883.  Though  a  mere  child  ai  the  lime  thev 
lived  in  Clearfield  count]  Stephen  A.  Pramuk  was 
employed  at  the  coke  ovens  there,  and  upon  com 
ing  to  Shamokin  began  work  at  the  mini 
slate  picker,  later  following  mining.  In  1896  he 
o-ave  up  thai   work  and  engaged  in  the  hold  busi- 


906 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ness  in  the  borough,  continuing  same  for  about 
six  years,  until  he  commenced  bis  present  busi- 
ness, in  1902.  He  has  since  been  established  at 
No.  314  Smith  Market  street,  where  he  is  engaged 
as  a  wholesale  dealer  in  liquors,  wines,  beer,  ale 
and  porter,  having  a  stead]  patronage,  lb'  is  a 
man  of  good  business  ability  and  an  excellent  man- 
.  as  the  growth  of  his  trade  testifies.  <  >n 
April  15,  1909,  be  was  appointed  receiver  for  the 
Shamokin  Brewing  Company'.  Ee  still  keeps  up 
his  interest  in  bis  former  work  as  a  director  of 
the  Miners'  Loan  Association.  Socially  be  is  a 
well  known  member  of  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles  and  of  St.  Mary's  Church  and  its  affiliated 

-  ii  Let  ies.     In  politics     i     saDi rat. 

On  Sept.  8,  1896,  Mr.  Pramuk  was  married  to 
Matilda  M.  Zttschian,  also  of  Austria,  and  they 
have  bad  the  following  children:  Mary.  Stephen, 
Adolph,  Clara.  Bernard,  Allien  and  Benjamin. 
The   family  live  at    No.  316  South  Market   31 

PROF.  SAMUEL  (i.  SMITH,  of  Trevorton, 
has  been  a  teacher  at  the  place  for  several  years 
and  has  followed  the  profession  in  this  county 
since  1887,  though  not  continuously.  Ee  is 
nected  with  the  high  school.  Mr.  Smith  was  horn 
in  this  county,  at  Leek  Kill.  March  21,  1870, 
belongs  to  a  family  which  has  long  hern  settled 
here.  He  is  of  the  fifth  generation  in  this  country, 
In-  great-great-grandfather  havirj  rated  from 

Germany  and  settled  in   Berks  county,  Pa.,  where 

lie  died. 

Jacob    Smith,    great-grandfather    of    Professor 
Smith,   came    to    this    region    from    Berks    county 
in   the   early   days,    before    the    Indians    had    Left, 
and  settled  in  what  is  now    Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
He  was  a   land  owner  and  cleared  consid- 
erable  land,   and    also    followed   hunting  and   fish- 
bailie  being   plentiful    in    these   parts   in    his 
His  children  were:  Jacob  and  John  died 
in  the  West ;   Elizabeth  married    3  m   Shank- 

weiler;  Samuel  married  Sarah  Arnold:  Mary  mar- 
ried  John   Core:   Jonathan,   who   died    at    Green- 
brier, this  county,  married   Sarah   Snyder:    I' 
who  died  at  Heck  Kill,  married  Eliza  Gi  ist. 

Samuel  Smith,  son  of  Jacob,  owned  the  original 
homestead  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  and  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  activi  •  lie 
died  upon  his  farm  and  is  buried  at  Leek  Kill. 
He  married  Sarah  Arnold,  whose  father  was  a 
resident  'if  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  they  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Daniel  died  at  Trevorton:  Wil- 
liam is  mentioned  below:  Louisa,  now  the  only 
survivor  of  the  family,  is  unmarried  and  living 
i  Sunbur  ;  Mary:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Daniel 
Stoplich  and  (second)  William  Raudenbush,  died 
at  Locust  Dale.  Schuylkill  county;  Sarah  married 
Daniel  Snyder,  of  Greenbrier;  John  died  at  Wav- 
erlv.  Iowa:  Harriet  married  Henrv  Haas,  and  died 


in  Upper  Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty: Catharine  married  Henry  Snyder,  and  died 
at  Danville.  Pennsylvania. 

William  Smith,  son  of  Samuel,  was  horn  in  1831, 
and  lived  on  the  original  Smith  homestead  near 
i  Kill,  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township,  spending 

all  his  life  there.  The  farm  consists  of  Die  acres 
of  excellent  land,  and   he  was  a  thrifty  and 

[ us  agriculturist.     Be  was  om  oi  tin   most  pro- 

-ive  men  of  his  day,  one  of  the  first  to  a 
cate  the  establishment  in  his  district  of  free  schools, 
which  at  that  time  were  not  generally  looked  upon 
with  favor,  and  served  faithfully  a-  scho  il  dire<  I  n-, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  able  to  accomplish  □ 
for  the  cause  of  free  education.     There  wen 
men    in    the    township    better    or    more    favorably 
known.      For  fifty  years  In-  was  a  member  of  the 
<  '.hi     Fellows    fraternity,    and    he    was    a    faithful 
member  of  the    Reformed    church,  taking  an   ac- 
tive part  in  its  work-.     His  death  occurred  in  1907. 
Mr.    Smith    married    Caroline    Falck,   daughter  of 

>  em  Falck,  of  Greenbrier,  this  county,  v 
she  now  resides.  Four  children  were  horn  to  them: 
Richard  F.  is  now  a  successful  farmer  at  Enter- 
prise, Ore§  he  took  up  .; 
Savilla  married  E.  I >.  Snyder,  of  Girardville,  Pa.: 
1  vn  married  II.  C  Snyder,  and  li  G  rard- 
i .    i-  a  i-esideni  ol  Trevorton. 

Samuel    G.    Smith    attended    the    public    3i - 

township  and  was  also  for  a  - 
time  a  student  at  the  acaderm  at  Gratz,  Dauphin 
county.  Ion  a-  he  was  obliged  to  a>-ist  hi-  father 
upon  the  farm  hi'  continued  bis  studies  at  home. 
by  hard  work  lifted  himself  to  take  the  State 
hoar.!  e\a.  .  which  he  passed  in  18S7.      lie 

teaching  ir,  and  for  rs  was  en- 

gaged   at   Greenbrier,   after   which    he   taught   the 

I    ■      '■  ■  -      • .  ars.     Hi-  ue 

was     I  hold's    school,    and     from     there   hi 
For  some  tiim 

mrsuits.      Going  to   U-ack- 
ville.  i  king  in  a  general  stot  e    ind  was 

thus  emplo  rap  riod  of  -i\  month-. 

ing  which   he   became  manager    for   thi    Bur 
Rogers     iraneb   -tore  at    Mount   Carmel,  where  he 
remained  until  the  -tore  was  ait.     In  1907 

i        orton,  where  be  ha-  since  mad.' 
lome,    following   his    profession.      Profess 
Smith   has  a  high  reputation   a-  an  educator, 

i  -.  ientious,  thorough  work  winning  him  friends 
among  pupil-  and  fellow-  teachers,  and  he  i-  a 
citizen  of  recognized  worth. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Smith  married  Minnie  J.  Men- 
gel,  daughter  of  Manasses  Mengel,  and  they  have 
lily  of  live  children:  Carolyn.  William,  How- 
ard. Berman  ami  Esther.  Carolyn  graduated  from 
the  Trevorton  high  school  in  1910.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  his  wife 
of  the  Evangelical  Association. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


901 


WILLIAM  WELTER,  proprietor  of  the  "Eagle 
Bote!,"  at  Brady,  near  Shamoldn,  Northumber- 
land county,  has   tl Idest  stand  of  the  kind   in 

thai  district.  He  himself  has  done  business  there 
since  1904. 

Mr.  Welter  was  horn  Dee.  10,  1873,  at  Brady. 
Coal  township,  Northumberland  county,  son  of 
Luke  Writer,  a  native  of  Germany  wh<>  came  to 

America  in  young  maid 1  and  settled  at  Miners- 

ville.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.  Later  he  moved  to 
Brady,  Northumberland  county,  anion--  the  early 
residents  of  thai  place,  and  there  followed  his  trade, 
blacksmithing,  to  the  close  of  his  active  life.  He 
married  Johanna  Shissler,  daughter  of  Georgi 
Shissler,  who  came  to  America  from  Germany, 
bringing  his  family,  ami  made  his  home  at  Trev- 
orton,  Northumberland  county.  Mr.  Welter  died 
.Ink  !.  1904,  Mrs.  Welter  surviving. until  August, 
1906.  They  were  the  parents  id'  the  following 
named  children  :  Petri',  who  lives  at  Brady  :  Annie, 
married  to  Jacob  Bosch  :  Michael,  living-  at  Brady: 
William;  and  John,  'if  Bradv,  who  married  Laura 

Fry. 

William    Welter    received    hi-   ('duration   in   the 

public  sel Is  and  when  ten  years  old  went  to  work 

at  the  Greenbacl  breaker,  picking  slate.  In  time 
In-  became  a  miner,  and  he  was  thus  engaged  until 
L904,   when    I-  ;ed   in  his   presenl    business, 

purchasing  the  old  "Eagle  Hotel"  stand  at  Brady. 
Ilr  is  an  enterprising  and  obliging  business  man. 
and  hi-  place  is  well  conducted  and  well  patron- 
ized. 

Mi-.  Welter  is  a  member  of  St.  Edward's  Cath- 
olic Church,  of  Shamokin,  and  fraternally  he  be- 
longs to  the  F.  0.  E. 

REED.  The  Reed  family  of  Little  Mahanoy 
township  is  of  old  link-  county  (Pa.)  stock,  and 
from  the  similarity  of  names  between  those  of 
i!n  earlier  generations  in  Northumberland  county 
and  the  posterit)  of  the  progenitor  in  Berks  coun- 
ty there  is  no  doubt  that  tin-  branch  in  which  we 
are  interested  descend  from  Johan  Leonhard  Rith, 
a  German  by  birth,  who  was  the  ancestor  of  a 
numerous  race.  The  name  has  undergone  various 
changes  in  spelling. 

Johan  Leonhard  Kith,  horn  in  1691,  died  m 
Pi  11.  He  was  one  of  the  many  of  his  nationality 
who  suffered  under  the  terrible  oppression  of  Gov- 
ernor Hunter,  of  Schoharie,  N.  Y..  Ins  being  one 
of  tin-  twenty-three  German  families  who  in  1723 
fled  through  the  wilderness  in  spite  of  the  deep 
snow,  to  tin-  land  of  the  Tulpehoeken  in  Penn  - 
Province.  That  these  early  pioneers  suffered  ter- 
ribly is  well  known.  The  awful  cold,  the  primi- 
tive conditions,  hunger,  and  the  savage  Indians 
made  the  journey  nearly  unbearable,  hut  their  un- 
dying faith  in  thnr  Maker,  and  tin'  comforting 
solace  of  the  Bible,  inspired  them  to  superhuman 
efforts    and  they  finally  reached  their  destination, 


where  peace  was  found  beyond  the  power  of  the 
tyrant.  John  Leonhard  Rith  married  Anali-a 
Catrina,  and  their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth 

of    these   children:    tl)    Johan    Nieholaus    (b 

June  I.  i;  15,  died  Jan.  T.  1788)  married  Maria 
Barbara  Seiberi  (horn  May  is.  1722,  dird  Oct.  1 1. 
180";  i.  and  had  children,  Jacob,  Mr-.  Jacob  Schaef- 

fer  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Anspach.     (2)  Johan  G ge 

i  born  in  KIT,  dird  in  1791  )  married  Catrina  Elsa, 
and  they  had  children,  John  Leonard,  Catharine 
(married  Henry  Minnich,  who  removed  to  Vir- 
ginia), Jonas.  Peter  and  Frederick.  (3)  Johan- 
nes Friderick  (horn  March  15,  Ills,  dird  Dec. 
24,  1794)  married  Maria  Engel,  ami  they  had  a 
son.  Jacob,  whose  -on  was  John  Jacob  (married 
Eva  Maria  Seibert).  John  Jacob  Rith  was  horn 
April  m.  1770,  and  died  Nov.  1.  is:;:,,  and  Georg 
and  Edward  Reed,  living  at  Ottawa.  Ilk.  air  of 
his  descendants.  (I)  A  daughter,  Margaretha  or  • 
Wilhelmina,  married  Heinrich  Zeller.  (5)  Leon- 
hard, Jr.  (horn  Sept.  in.  1723,  dird  April  38, 
1801  ui-  L803).  (6)  Peter  married  Maria  Catrina 
Ziegler,  and  they  had  three  children,  John,  Barbara 
(married  Jacob  Moyer)  and  Catarine  (married 
Adam  Lehman).  (1)  Jacob  (born  in  June,  1".  16, 
died  March  28,  L821  i  married  Margaret,  and  then- 
children  were:  John  Jacob,  John  and  several 
daughters.  John  Jacob  married  Margarid  Emer- 
ich,  and  amour-  other  children  they  had  a  -on. 
John.  John  Jacob  in  1840  sold  his  farm  and  went 
West,  and  some  of  his  descendants  now  live  in  the 
vicinity  of  Dayton  and  Martinsburg,  Ohio. 

Johan  Leonhard   Pith  was   tti  i    the  only  one  of 
thai    name,   however,    who    had    settled    in    Si 
harie.   X.    Y.,    later   to  come   to    the    Province   of 

ania   before   IT  10,   as   it    is  thought 
the  following  were  all  relatives,  thej  comii 
one  place  and  settling  permanently  in  the  Ti 
hocken    Valley:    Michael,   Casper,   Adam.    Ge 
and    l'rtrr.     Michael    Pitt   (  Reith,   Reed),  on 
tin-   pioneers    from    the   Livingstone   Manor, 
later  of  the  Schoharie,   X.  V..  came  to  tin-  Tul 
pehocken  settlemenl  in  Berks  county  in  1723,  and 
there  took  up  land  lying  adjacenl   to  the  land  of 
John   Leonard    Rith  and   George    Reith.     'Ida-   re 
onship  of  these  three  is  not   known,  but  there 
is  no  doubl   that   they  were  related,  probably  be- 
ing cousins.     The  map  of  the  Tulpehoeken  setth 
inriii    made  by   Mr.  Charles   Lindenmuth,  a   ver\ 
accurate  piece  of  work-  made  with  much  difficulty, 
shows  tin-  location  of  tin-   Reith  settlements.     It 
was    published    in    the    "Pennsylvania    German," 
Volume   V,  in   October,   1904,  and  appeared  also 
in  a  recenl  Berks  county  work. 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  li'ml  family  in  North- 
umberland county  was  Leonhard  Ried,  son  of 
-John  and  Eva  Maria  Ried."  In  the  record  pre- 
viously  given,  Johan  Leonhard  Rith  ha. I  a  on 
Johannes  Frederick,  who-,'  son  Jacob  was  tin-  fa- 
ther of  John  Jacob,  who  married   Eva  Maria  Sri- 


908 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


bert.  It  would  seem  likely  that  this  Leonard  Eied 
was  their  son.  He  was  born  March  10.  1790.  and 
died  Feb.  22,  1.852.  His  wife,  Elisabeth,  bom 
Feb.  is.  1784,  died  Feb.  10,  1861.  lie  was  a 
native  of  Marion  tow  aship,  Berks  county,  and  came 
to  what  is  now  Little  Mahanoy  township,  in  North- 
umberland county,  before  his  marriage.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Dunkelberger,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  the  very  earliest  families  in  what 
is  now  Little  Mahanoy  township.  This  couple 
experienced  the  hardships  of  life  as  entailed  by 
the  primitive  conditions  of  the  times.  They  set- 
tled on  the  tract  of  land  which  has  since  remained 
in  the  family,  now  owned  by  their  grandson  Sam- 
uel S.  Reed,  and  Leonard  Ried  also  followed  his 
trade  of  stonemason  in  addition  to  farming,  help- 
ing to  lay  the  foundations  for  many  houses  and 
barns  in  the  vicinity.  He  and  his  wife  were  Luth- 
erans, members  of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church, 
where  their  remains  rest.  Their  children  were: 
William:  Amos,  who  settled  in  Rockefeller  town- 
ship (his  wife,  Rebecca,  born  Aug.  21,  1826,  died 
Nov.  23,  L850) ;  Solomon;  Catharine.,  who  mar- 
ried Peter  Fetterman  ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Abraham  Shaffer. 

William  Reed,  son  of  Leonard,  was  horn  March 
16.  1811.  and  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy  township 
<>n  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Simon  F.  Reed, 
of  Shamokin.  This  property  comprises  fifty  a.  n  s, 
and  he  had  another  tract,  of  forty-five  acre-,  in 
the  same  township.  A  prominent  man  of  his  day, 
he  was  well  known  in  public  life  and  church  af- 
fairs, having  served  as  school  director,  constable 
and  treasurer  of  his  township,  and  as  deacon,  elder 
and  trustee  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  the 
Little  Mahanoy  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, his  family  also  belonging  to  that  church.  In 
polities  he  was  a  Republican.  On  April  8,  1834, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Fegley,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Hettie  (Rothermel)  Fegley.  Mr.  Reed  died 
Oct.  27,  1880.  Mrs.  Reed  surviving  until  Oct.  30, 
1900.  reaching  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  five 
months,  nine  days.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Hiram  F. :  William,  who  died  in  Nebraska  dan.  1 '. . 
1910:  Maria,  who  married  Benjamin  Snyder; 
Caroline,  who  married  Galen  Smith;  Simon  F. : 
Daniel,  of  Shamokin:  Elizabeth,  who  married  An- 
drew Lone;  Jeremiah  F..  who  died  in  1877  (he 
was  born  in  1854)  :  Hannah,  who  married  George 
Buffington;  and  Freeman,  of  Shamokin  (his  wife. 
Lydia,  horn  Feb.  21,  1862,  died  April  3,  1900)! 

Simon  F.  Reed,  of  Shamokin.  Northumberland 
county,  was  born  Jan.  15,  1846,  on  the  homestead 
of  his  father,  William  Reed,  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  local 
public  schools.  Until  he  was  twenty-seven  years 
old  he  worked  for  Ins  parents,  meantime  learning 
the  miller's  trade,  which,  however,  did  not  agree 
with  his  health.  In  1868  he  began  to  learn  the 
tanner's  trade,  which  he  continued  to  follow  until 


L882,  in  which  year  he  took  up  farming  on  his  own 

! unt.     He  was  thus  occupied  for  a  number  of 

years,  until  his  removal  in  1897  to  Shamokin, 
where  he  lias  since  made  his  home,  residing  at  No. 
son  West  Pine  street.  Though  not  of  recent  years 
an  active  participant  in  public  affairs,  Mr.  Reed 
was  long  one  of  the  most  popular  officials  in  his 
township,  which  he  served  a-  auditor  for  a  period 
of  twelve  years,  as  school  director  and  as  super- 
visor". In  political  connection  he  is  a  Republican. 
Like  most  of  hi-  family  In-  i-  an  active  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  he  and  his  family  attending 
si  i  \  ices  ai  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  which  he  has 
served  a-  deacon,  elder  and  trustee. 

On  Dec.  26,  1876,  Mr.  Reed  married  Emma  J. 
Byerly,    daughter   of    Elijah    and    Mary    (Rower) 

I'..  i'\.  ami  the  following  children  have  1 n  born 

to  this  marriage:  John  E..  Beulah  J..  Molly  M., 
Mary  ()..  Sophia  F...  Maggie  M.,  Isaiah  and  Em- 
ma A. 

John  !•"..  Reed,  -on  of  Simon  Y.  Ur<:<\.  was  horn 
hi.  ;.  1877,  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and 
there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  has  lived  in  Shamokin  since  1897,  and  there 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  follows,  and 
in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful.  Since  190G 
he  has  owned  his  own  home,  at  No.  41  South  First 
street.  On  March  17,  1901,  Mr.  Reed  married 
Rosa  Schlegel,  daughter  o\'  Daniel  Schlegel,  and 
they  have  had  two  children :  Francis,  born  Oct.  31, 
1901,  and  Forrest,  born  Dei  .  2,  1905.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reed  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


Solomon  Reed,  son  of  Leonard,  was  born  on  the 
farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  township  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  -"ti  Samuel  S.  Reed,  which  con- 
tbirty-eighl  .ere-  of  cleared  land  and  some 
woodland.  He  followed  fanning  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  in  winter  finding  plenty  of  work  at 
his  fi  of  wheelwright.     He  prospered,  and 

acquired  another  farm  property,  the  tract  of  112 
acre-  in  the  Mahantango  Valley,  about  one  mile 
from  the  Stone  Valley  church,  now  owned  by  Dan- 
iel Sehmeltz  and  Isaac  Reitz:  he  built  the  frame 
house  which  now  stands  on  that  place.  He  took 
an  interest  in  all  local  affairs,  serving  as  supervisor 
and  school  director  of  his  township,  and  as  deacon 
and  elder  of  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  of  which 
he  was  a  Lutheran  member.  In  politic-;  he  was 
a  Republican.  He  died  Aug.  7,  1901,  aged  sev- 
enty-nine years,  one  month,  eleven  days,  and  his 
wife.  Catharine  (Shaffer),  daughter  of  Jacob 
Shaffer,  died  Nov.  19.  1895.  aged  seventy  years, 
six  months.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Susan- 
na married  Isaac  Reitz:  Isaac,  born  in  1849.  died 
in  the  Mahantango  Valley  in  1S69:  Alexander 
died  at  the  homestead:  Samuel  S.  is  mentioned 
below;  Hiram  is  a  resident  of  Little  Mahanoy: 
Henry  M.  is  mentioned  below;  Emma  J.  is  the 
widow  of  Daniel  Reitz:  Sarah  married  E.  B.  Raker. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


909 


Samuel  S.  Reed,  son  of  Solomon  Reed,  was  born 
-11""-  l';.  L854,  on  the  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy 
township  which  he  still  occupies,  this  having  been 
the  property  of  his  grandfather.  Leonard  Ried. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  local  schtfols  and 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  working  for  his  parents 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  at  which 
time  he  married.  In  1881  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account  in  Jackson  township,  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  John  Daniel,  and  continued 
to  reside  there  for  twenty  wars,  farming  the  land 
on  shares  for  his  father-in-law,  Daniel  Kobel.  He 
then  purchased  his  father's  place,  owning  seventy- 
two  acre,-,  forty-five  of  whieh  have  been  cleared, 
and  has  since  lived  on  the  property.  The  old 
part  of  the  dwelling  was  built  h\  Leonard  Ried  in 
1833,  ami  the  newer  pan  by  his  son  Solomon  in 
the  seventies.  The  barn  was  built  by  the  present 
owner  in  1908.  Mr.  Reed  is  an  active  citizen  of 
his  community,  has  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
township,  and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  the  spring  of 
1910.  lie  i-  a  Republican  in  politics  anil  a  Luth- 
eran in  religion,  he  and  his  family  belonging  to 
tiic  K robs  Church  at  Mahanoy,  which  he  has 
•  d    officially  a-  deacon   and  elder. 

On  Dec.  25,  L880,  Mr.  Reed  married  Catha- 
rine Kobel,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Eliza  (Kers- 
ti  tter)  Kobel.  and  they  have  had  thirteen  children, 
ug  whom  were:  Francis  (who  died  aged  twen- 
ty-one rears),  Emma  J.  (married  William  Pei 
Daniel,  Charles  (who  is  a  blacksmith),  Katie, 
.  ( 'ora,  Adam.   Lena  May. 

Eexk's  M.  Reed,  son  of  Solomon  Reed,  was 
born  Sept.  30,  1859,  on  the  farm  in  Little  Ma- 
hanoy township  now  owned  by  his  brother  Sam- 
uel S.  Reed.  lie  was  reared  to  farming  from  boy- 
hood, and  at  an  early  age  learned  the  trad- 
wheelwright,  as  well  as  carpentering,  practically 
growing  up  with  a  knowledge  of  such  work.  For 
about   one   ye:  iked    as   carpenter  for  the 

Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company,  and 
was  at  one  time  wheelwright  and  blacksmith  for 
the  William  P.  Zartman  Lumber  Company.  In 
1882  he  began  farming  on  the  homestead,  con- 
tinuing there  until  1003.  wdien  he  moved  to  the 
tine  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  which  he  has  since 
occupied,  and  which  he  purchased  in  August.  1902. 
It  wa-  formerly  owned  by  Samuel  Dornsife,  and 
had  been  iii  the  Dornsife- family  for  many  years. 
The  original  tract  owned  by  the  Dornsifes  was 
ti, itch  larger,  however.  Mr.  Reed  having  124  a. 

sot ch   is  in   timber.     There  is  excellent 

water,  flowing  near  to  the  house.  Mr.  Reed  is 
an  up-to  iculturist,  and  his  property  is  in 

excellent  condition.     Mr.  Reed  is  a  thorough  me- 
chanic, and  during  the  winter  months  is  employed 
at  such  work.     He  has  taken  considerable  inf. 
in    the   local   public   welfare,   and   has    served    six 
years  in  succession  as  member  of  the  school  board. 


of  which  he  was  treasurer  throughout  that  period. 
lie  is  a  Republican  on  political  questions. 

Mr.  Reed  married  Anna  Dornsife.  daughter  of 
Samuel  Dornsife,  and  five  children  have  been  born 
to  tin-  union:  Edwin,  who  married  Emma  Shaf- 
fer; David:  Susan,  wife  of  Roy  Eyster;  Minnie 
M..  and  Henry  J.  The  family  are  Lutheran.-. 
belonging  to  the  Little  Mahanoy  Church,  where 
Mr.   Reed  ha-  been  deacon  and  elder. 

GEORGE  W.  MILLER,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  fruit  grower  of  Shamokin  township,  was  born 
there  April  '.'1.  1  s . > 7 .  upon  the  old  homestead 
taken  up  by  his  great-great-grandfather.  The 
Miller  family  has  long  been  established  in  Penn- 
sylvania.     George    Miller.    Sr.,    commonly    called 

"''Hunter  t, ge/3  emigrated   Erom  Germany  some 

time  during  the  seventeen  hundreds,  and  after 
taking  up  considerable  land  in  wdiat  is  now  S 
mokin  township,  Northumberland  county,  built  his 
little  log  house  near  the  large  spring  of  water 
on  the  Miller  farm.  In  the  year  of  1792  his  SOn 
John  Miller  purchased  from  him  this  land,  called 

Pine  Grove,  and  ••Hunter  G ge"  took  up  some 

land  near  Hamburg,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  day-.  George  Miller,  Sr., 
derived  his  name  of  ""hunter"  Erom  his  love  of  the 
.  a-  be  seldom  did  anything  but  hunt,  fish 
and  take  up  lands. 

John  Miller,  the  -mi  of  George  Miller.  Sr.,  and 
great-grandfather  of  George  W.  Miller,  wa-  bom 
in  1759.  In  1785  he  married  Catharine  Raber, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: George,  David.  Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  lie 
.lied  Feb.  10,  1804,  at  the  age  of  forty-five,  his 
wife,  who  survived  him  many  years.  dyinf  \  a 
19,  1854,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  John 
and  Catharine  Miller  are  buried  in 'the  old  Baptisl 
graveyard  near  Deiblers  station,  in  Shamokin 
township. 

George  Miller,  the  oldest  son  of  John  Miller  and 

grandfather  of  ge  W.  Miller,  was  born  June 

I ',.  1794,  upon  the  homestead.     lb-  marrii  6    Dei 

■.':!.   1820,   Mar-.'  M.   Startzel,  da:  a  _ 

and  Elizabeth  Startzel,  and  by  this  mart'!.: 
were  twelve  children:   Elizabeth    (deceased),   who 
married  Daniel  Smith:  Catharine  (deceased),  who 
married  Silas  Farrow:  John  J.,  who  died  in   Iowa 
in   1861  ;  Rosetta,  of  Rutherford,  X.  J.,  who  mar- 
ried Samuel   Lewis;    Amandus  S.,    who    married 
Hannah  J.  VVolverton   (parent- of  George  W.  Mil- 
ler):   Russia    (i  i.   who   married    Dr.   Aaron 
Savidge;   Juliann    id. -ceased),   who  married    Ret 
Ephraim  Barker;  Allison  R.,  who  died  in   Illinois 
in   1870;    William   Johnson,   of   Springfield,    111.: 
Clara  L.  I                         bo  married  Dr.  Isaac  Huff; 
Emma,  who  married  John  Epler;  and  one  son 
died  in  infancj . 

Previous  to  the  construction  of  the  Reading 
Center   turnpike   this   locality   was   not    developed 


910 


\  ORTHUM  BE  If  LAND  COUNTY,  PEXXS YL Y  A  X  I A 


in  any  extent.  Mr.  Miller  was  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  men  of  his  day.  After  clearing  his 
land  ami  assisting  in  constructing  the  turnpike 
he  moved  from  his  little  log  house  by  the  spring 
into  the  large  house  he  built  along  the  pike.  He 
then  Imili  a  large  stone  barn,  in  1818,  and  when 
tin'  stage  began  running  Mr.  Miller  opened  a 
hotel,  which  lie  conducted  in  connection  with  his 
farms  until  the  Northern  Central  railroad  was 
built.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  filled 
a  number  of  flic  township  offices.  He  died  July 
•-'4.  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
his  wife  dying  three  weeks  later.  They  are  bur- 
ied at  the  Blue  ( Ihurch. 

Amandus  S.  Miller,  second  son  of  George  Mil- 
ler and  father  of  George  W.  Miller,  was  born  upon 
the  homestead  Sept.  13,  1828,  ami  there  grew  to 
manhood.  He  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion and  improved  his  opportunities  so  well  that 
in  early  manhood  he  commenced  teaching  in  the 
public  schools,  which  experience  undoubtedly  ac- 
counted lor  the  interest  he  always  took  in  the 
cause  of  education,  lie  was  an  influential  citizen 
and  highly  respected,  not  only  foremost  in  busi- 
ness matters  hut  looked  up  to  on  various  other 
questions,  lie  engaged  in  farming  od  an  extensive 
scale,  cultivating  some  four  hundred  acres.  Al- 
though he  never  sought  public  office  he  was  con- 
tinuously a  member  of  the  Shamokin  Township 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  assessor,  and 
treasurer  of  the  school  hoard  for  years.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property  in 
Shamokin  township  and  borough,  lie  died  Feb. 
'.M.  I'.mii;.  and  was  widely  mourned.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religious  faith  a 
Lutheran. 

Amandus  S.  and  Hannah  J.  Miller  are  buried 
in  the  St.  Jacob's  cemetery,  near  Reeds  station. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  their  marriage:  Florence 
A'.,  who  died  when  twenty-three  years  old:  Ida 
M.,  deceased,  who  married  John  M.  Kline:  Georgi 
W. ;  Silas  W.,  deceased,  who  married  Maggie  Kase; 
Laura  K..  of  Elysburg,  Pa.,  who  married  W.  II. 
0.  Dyer;  Julia  F.,  of  Shamokin.  Pa.,  who  first 
married  Elsworth  Dyer  (deceased)  and  then  \V. 
F.  J.  McKee;  Addison  C,  of  Sunbury.  Pa.,  who 
man  led  Lizzie  Snyder:  John  A.,  deceased;  Cora 
F..  deceased,  who  married  Elwood  Yocum  :  and 
Lulu  \'.,  who  married  Harry  E.  Snyder. 

George  W.  Miller  was  horn  on  the  homestead 
and  brought  up  to  farming  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  When  twenty-two  he  entered  the 
academy  at  Lewisburg  and  in  the  spring  of  ls'.o 
he  returned  to  farming,  lor  his  grandfather,  and 
in  connection  taught  school  eight  winters  in  Sha- 
mokin township.  In  July,  1880,  Mr.  Miller's 
grandparents  died,  three  weeks  apart,  and  the  fol- 
lowing fall,  on  Sept.  30,  1880,  Mr.  Miller  mar- 
ried   Rosanna    Yastine,   of   Montour   county.     He 


continued  farming  his  grandfather's  farm  for 
share  until  the  expiration  of  the  lease  in  1884, 
when  he  and  hi-  brother  Silas  W.  .Miller  pur- 
chased their  grandfather's  land  and  divided  it 
north  and  south,  George  W.  retaining  the"  old 
homestead,  to1  the  cultivation  of  which  he  has 
since  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and 
attention.  He  has  135  ai  res  of  land  and  his  place 
is  known  as  one  of  the  fines!  along  the  pike.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  fruit  growing,  and  has  mar- 
keted a-  many  as  fifteen  hundred  bushels  of  peach- 
es in  a  season.  In  1899  he  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  ami  efficiently  tilled  that  office  for 
five  years;  for  four  year-  he  served  as  tax  col- 
lector; and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  overseer  of 
the  poor  for  the  sivth  year.  He  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party  in  his  locality,  and 
in  religion  is  a  Lutheran,  a  member  of  the  Si. 
Jacob's   (  Heed's  )    ( 'lmrch. 

George  W.  and  Rosanna  Y.  Miller  are  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children :  Gussie  May,  deceased  ;  Dav- 
id Otto,  deceased;  Florence  Virginia,  deceased; 
Ruth  Ann  :  Blanche  Helen;  John  Yastine;  Janet; 
( ; i ■  irge  Clyde,  and   Russell  t 'unwell. 

KURTZ.  The  Kurtz  family  to  which  J.  U. 
and  Amandus  Kurtz,  brothers,  both  farmers  of 
Tin-but  township,  Northumberland  county,  belong 
came  to  this  region  from  Sew  Jersey,  where  the 
former  was  born.  The\  are  sous  of  Andrew  Kurtz 
and  grandsons  of  Henry  Kurtz,  who  had  brothers 
John  and  George.  Henry  Kurtz's  children  were: 
Henry  and  William  died  in  Northampton  county, 
Pa.;  Jeremiah  died  in  Monroe  county;  Andrew 
is  mentioned  below  ;  Samuel  died  at  Easton,  Pa.: 
Levi  died  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.:  Amelia  died 
in  infancy:  Charity  died  in   Northampton  county. 

Andrew  Kurtz,  son  of  Henry,  moved  to  Ber- 
wick, Columbia  Co..  Pa.,  in  1842,  and  after  one 
year's  residence  there  moved  (m  1843)  to  North- 
umberland county,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Last  Chil- 
lisquaque  township  on  which  he  settled.  He  fol- 
lowed fanning,  and  was  also  extensively  engaged 
in  lime  burning,  producing  more  lime  than  any 
other  one  man  in  that  vicinity.  He  became  one 
of  the  foremost  citizens  of  hi-  community,  filling 
nearly  all  the  town-hip  offices,  and  he  was  a  highly 
respected  man.  holding  the  confidence  of  his  IVI- 
lowmen  to  an  unusual  degree.  In  politics  lie  was 
a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  stanch  Lutheran,  as 
was  also  his  wife,  they  being  members  of  the 
church  at  Milton.  When  the  church  edifice  was 
destroyed  in  the  great  lire  at  Milton  he  was  one 
of  the  principal  movers  in  the  work  of  rebuilding. 
toward  which  he  contributed  largely.  He  married 
Sarah  E.  Diehl,  who  died  at  their  old  home  in 
April,  1882,  and  he  survived  until  March,  1885. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  only  four 
of  whom,  however,  reached  maturity:  Sophia.  Mrs. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


'.HI 


John    Fetzer;  J.    ('.:  Amandus;  and   Sarah,  wife 
of  Abram  Clemens,  a  farmer  of  East  Chillisquaque 

\>'\\  lisliiji. 

J.  (J.  Kuinz  was  born  in  October,  L840,  in 
Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  ih<'  public  schools  of  Chillisquaque  town- 
ship,.which  at  that  time  were  conducted  for  only 

l[|"  ■■   n ths  each   war.  during  the  season   when 

the  pupils  were  not  needed  to  assist  with  the  work 
at  home.  Mr.  Kurtz  spent  his  summers  work- 
ing with  his  father  on  the  farm  and  at  lime  burn- 
ing, continuing  thus  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
old.  In  1861,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Ci\  il 
war,  he  enlisted  under  Colonel  Stewart  for  three 
months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  term  he  re- 
enlisted,  for  three  years,  in  Company  A.  6th  Penn- 
s.i  Ivania  Reserves.  He  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge, on  account  of  disability,  after  twenty-three 
months  of  service.  After  the  close  of  his  service 
lie  went  to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  for  rive  years,  in 
L868  settling  upon  his  present  farm  in  Turbut 
township,  which  has  been  his  home  continuously 
for  over  forty  years.  It  consists  of  ninety-two 
acres  of  fertile  land,  upon  which  he  (■reefed  a 
house  in  1870  and  a  barn  in  1908.  He  continued 
the  active  work  of  farming  until  1909,  since  when 
he  has  lived  retired,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
early  labors.  Mr.  Kurt/,  has  never  taken  any  act- 
ive part  in  public  affairs,  but  he  was  for  man\ 
years  an  interested  member  of  the  Grange,  P.  of 
II.,  in  Turbut  township,  which  he  long  served  as 
i  rustee  and  i  reasu rer.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Henry  Wilson  Post,  G.  A.  R.  In  political  mat- 
ters he  is  a  I  (emocrat. 

In  1863  Mr.  Kurtz  married  Sarah  E.  Bartoe, 
daughter  of  Paul  and  Rebecca  (Lutz)  Bartoe,  of 
Columbia  county.  Pa.  The  Bartoe  family  moved 
to  that  section  from  Northampton  county  and  the 
Lutz  family  lived  formerly  in  Huntingdon  county. 
Pa.,  and  still  earlier  in  Berks  county.  The  name 
is  also  found  with  the  spelling  Letts.  Many  of 
the  famih  reside  in  Reading.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kurtz  have  been  born  twelve  children:  George  Me- 
ridian married  Ida  Amnion  and  their  children 
are  Lernv.  Martha.  Howard.  Robert,  Wilson. 
George  and  Alice;  William  Andrew  continues  to 
live  at  home;  Edward  E.  married  Elizabeth  Royer, 
of  Lewisburg,  and  they  have  children,  Florence, 
Warren.  Ethel,  Clarence,  Laviere  and  Oran;  Eliz- 
abeth married  John  Bender,  and  has  four  children, 
Josiah,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Mildred;  Margaret  mar- 
ried Calvin  Hoy  and  has  one  son.  Paul;  Ida  mar- 
ried George  Sypher  and  has  one  child.  May;  Els- 
worth  married  Emma  Gibson;  Harriet  M.  mar- 
ried Harry  Karchner  and  lias  one  child.  Clifton; 
Mary  Ellen  married  Elijah  Heir  and  is  the  mother 
of  two  children.  Sarah  and  Robert;  Anna  married 
John  Dunkell  and  has  a  daughter,  Ruth;  Clara 
Jane    married    George    Berkheimer   and    has    one 


child.  Listei  :  Bessie  K.  married  |  ru  m  Pick  and 
lias  one  child,  George.  Mr.  Kurtz  and  his  fam- 
ih; are  Lutherans,  members  of  the  Follmer  <  Ihurch. 
in  w  hich  he  has  held  official  position. 

AMANDUS  KURTZ,  son  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  E. 
(Diehl)  Kurtz,  was  horn  Jan.  1.  1843,  in  North- 
ampton county,  Pa.,  and  was  quite  young  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, lie  was  reared  on  the  old  home  farm,  in  his 
boyhood  attending  the  local  schools  and  later  work- 
ing with  bis  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  was  twenty-three  years  old.  He  has  continued 
to  follow  farming  since  he  began  work  on  his 
own  account.  In  is;  I  hi'  bought  the  old  Krist 
farm  of  about  in  I  acres  in  Turbut  township,  good 
land  with  excellent  water  facilities,  and  thereon 
he  has  erected  substantial  outbuildings,  his  prop- 
erty being  ill  line  condition.  The  third  reunion  of 
the  Kurtz  family  was  held  at  his  place  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1909  and  was  a  great  success.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Abram  Clemens, 
his  brother-in-law,  and  the  second  at  the  home  of 
his  brother  J.  V.  Kurtz.  Mr.  Kurtz  has  not  only 
become  well  known  in  his  district  as  a  good  farmer, 
but  also  as  a  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, having  given  evidence  of  his  sterling  quali- 
ties in  Ins  faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of 
various  public  offices.  While  in  Chillisquaque 
township  be  was  school  director  for  si\  years,  and 
lie  has  served  in  that  office  lor  the  same  period  in 
Turbut  township,  where  be  has  also  acted  as  sup- 
ervisor. In  political  connection  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  has  been  an  interested  member  of 
the  Grange  lor  a  number  id'  years.  His  church 
connection  is  with  the  Trinity  Lutheran  congrega 
tion  of  Milton. 

Mr.  Kurtz  married  Mary  C.  Shade,  daughter 
id*  Samuel  H.  Shade,  of  Montour  county,  Pa.,  and 
thq  have  had  a  large  famih  :  Herbert  E.  married 
Lillie  Koser  ami  they  are  living  at  Kelly  Cross 
Roads.  Union  Co..  Pa.;  Andrew  S.  married  Ida 
St  ;i  in  in  and  their  home  is  in  I  he  borough  of  Mil- 
ton; Cora  A.  married  ().  .1.  Stocker  and  they  are 
also  residents  of  Milton.;  Sallie  M.  married  C.  E. 
Raup ;  Mazzie  was  accidentally  killed   when  seven 

nths   old:    Maggie    I!,    married    C.    S.    Murray 

and  is  living  in  Turhul  township:  Eva  M.  is  at 
home:  Albert,  of  Sunbury,  married  Edith  Rank: 
John  A.  married  Maude  Barber  and  they  live  at 
Seattle.  Washington. 

ELIAS  E.  BOWER,  engaged  in  farming  near 
Mandaia.  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  is  a  niciii 
her  of  the  fourth  generation  of  his  family  to  live 
in  this  region,  where  his  great-grandfather,  J.  Mat- 
thias Bauer,  settled  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

.1.  Matthias  Bauer  was  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  horn  near  Reading  March  6,  1754.  Tradition 
and   records  apparently  relating  to   him  credit   him 


912 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


with  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  About 
1794  he  came  with  his  family  to  Northumberland 
county  and  settled  in  that  part  of  Jordan  town 
ship  then  still  known  as  Jackson  township,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Jonathan  M.  Byerly.  He 
himself  erected  the  first  set  of  buildings  there. 
having  been  a  carpenter.  But  he  took  to  farming, 
having  "taken  up"  and  purchased  between  five  hun- 
dred and  six  hundred  acres  of  land;  133  acres  of 
this  land  have  never  been  out  of  the  family  name 
since  he  took  it  up.  He  was  a  small  man.  indus- 
trious and  energetic,  and  it  is  related  that  he  en- 
joyed a  "scrap"  occasionally.  He  prospered  in  his 
work,  and  was  a  useful  member  of  society.  He 
died  May  1.  1837,  and  is  buried  at  the  Stone  Val- 
ley (Zion's)  Church,  having  been  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  strong  Democrat.  His  wife, 
Catharine,  born  Jan.  1,  1760,  died  Nov.  25,  1836, 
and  she  is  also  buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church. 
She  bore  him  children  as  follows:  Frederick,  who 
died  in  Indiana;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Ohio;  Michael, 
who  died  in  Buffalo  Valley,  Union  Co.,  Pa.;  Sam- 
uel; Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Benry  Witmer;  and  another 
daughter  who  married  Samuel  Wolf,  and  they  set- 
tled in  Buffalo  Valley.  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  Bower,  son  of  J.  Matthias,  was  born 
in  Berks  county,  March  11,  1790,  and  was  a  mere 
child  when  his  parents  came  to  Northumberland 
county.  Pa..  He  died  Sept.  12,  1867.  By  bis  first 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Bitterman,  he  had 
one  son  Aaron,  who  lived  in  Illinois.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Catharine  Witmer,  daugh- 
ter of  Matthias  Witmer,  of  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. She  was  born  Feb.  12,  1795,  and  died  Sept. 
13,  1873.  By  this  union  there  were  two  children: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Carl  Rothermel :  and 
Elias  W. 

Elias  W.  Bower,  son  of  Samuel,  is  now  a  retired 
farmer  of  Jordan  township,  where  he  was  born 
Mm  :;.  L832.  He  attended  the  old  subscription 
schools  of  his  day  for  terms  of  two  or  three  months, 
and  worked  for  his  parents.  He  was  married 
early,  Aug.  20,  1850,  and  the  second  year  iff'  bis 
marriage  began  as  a  tenant  on  his  father's  farm, 
farming  with  and  for  him  many  year-.  When 
Samuel  Bower  died  Flias  W.  purchased  the  home- 
stead, which  he  continued  to  farm  until  his  re- 
tirement, in  L896.  He  now  lives  in  a  bouse  near 
the  homestead  buildings.  His  farm  consists  of 
133  acres.  120  acres  of  which  are  under  cultiva- 
tion. He  himself  erected  nearly  all  the  buildings 
on  the  farm,  as  well  as  part  of  the  house  where 
be  lived.  In  August.  1897,  his  barn  was  destroyed 
by  lire,  with  the  season's  crops,  causing  a  heavy 
loss,  only  partly  covered  by  insurance.  Mr.  Bower 
has  been  a  busy  man.  and  a  successful  one,  and 
bis  integrity  and  trustworthiness  have  been  recog- 
nized by  his  neighbors,  who  have  chosen  him  to 
serve  as  supervisor  and  school  director.     He  is  a 


Democrat  in  politics.  He  is  a  tall,  bearded  old 
gentleman,  of  pleasing  appearance,  and  well  liked 
by  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Bower  married  Sarah  Phillips,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Cable)  Phillips,  granddaughter 
of  Johann  Adam  Phillips.  Mrs.  Bower  was  born 
July  16,  183'?.  She  was  the  mother  of  thirteen 
children:  Harriet  is  the  widow  id'  Samuel  Bohner ; 
Elizabeth  married  William  Wert:  Levi  is  deceased; 
Galen  lives  in  Jordan  township  (his  wife  Lizzie 
J.,  born  Oct.  II.  1849,  died  March  30,  1890)  :  Sus- 
anna married  Daniel  Schlegel;  James  M..  born 
July  30,  1859,  was  accidentally  killed  July  30, 
1886;  Morris  is  a  resident  of  Royalton,  Pa.:  Sivib. 
la  married  Michael  Hepner  ;  Cyrus  is  married  and 
lives  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Samuel  is  married  and 
lives  in  Jordan  township;  Elias  E.  is  mentioned 
below;  Mary  married  Jeremiah  Miller;  Henry  is 
a  resident  of  Jordan  township.  Mr.  Bower  and 
his  family  are  Lutheran  members  of  the  Urban 
(St.  Paul's)  Church,  and  he  has  given  faithful 
service  in  all  the  official  positions. 

Elias  E.  Bower  was  bom  May  20,  1869.  and 
grew  up  as  a  typical  farm  boy.  He  has  continued 
to  farm  all  his  life,  for  eight  years  he' hired  out 
among  farmers  in  Jordan  and  Lower  Mahanoy 
townships,  and  began  farming  for  himself  in  the 
spring  of  L897,  in  Jordan  township,  where  he  was 
located  for  seven  rears  two  years  on  Flias  Bo] 
er's  farm  and  five  years  on  bis  father's  140-acre 
farm.  He  then  farmed  the  Gabriel  Adam  farm. 
in  Lower  Mahanoy,  for  two  yeSrs,  thence  moving 
to  the  Mahantango  Valley,  where  he  purchased  a 
1  L6-acre  trad  which  he  cultivated  two  years.  Sell- 
ing that  place,  he  farmed  tie-  Mary  Adams  place 
for  one  year,  and  then  moved  back  to  the  Serenus 
Hepner  farm  for  two  years,  from  there  coming 
to  hi-  present  place  in  the  spring  of  1909.  The 
farm  he  now  owns  consists  of  156  acre-,  and  was 
the  Jacob  Still  place,  Henry  Peifer  owning  it  be- 
fore his  day.  It  was  located  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
north  of  Mandata. 

In  March,  1896,  Mr.  Bower  married  Alice  M. 
Wetzel,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Glase) 
Wetzel,  and  by  this  union  there  are  three  children  : 
Monroe  L.,  William  B.  and  Maud  K.  Mr.  Bowel 
and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  religion,  and  on 
political  questions  he  is  a  Democrat. 


William  F.  Bower,  of  Eerndon,  Pa.,  is  a  native 

of  Jackson  township,  born  Jan.  23,  ISoS.  son  of 
Jacob  Bower.  II  is  grandfather,  Jacob  Bower,  was 
one  of  the  sons  of  J.  Matthias  Bauer,  mentioned 
above,  and  was  a  native  of  Berk-  or  Montgomery 
county,  coming  to  Northumberland  county  in 
early  life,  lie  located  in  what  was  then  Mahanoy 
township,  ami  became  a  prosperous  farmer,  own- 
ing several  tracts  of  land.  In  about  1835  he 
moved  to  Ohio,  in  the  vicinity  of  Akron,  wdiere 
he  lived  until  bis  death.     His  wife  would  not  ac- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


913 


company  him  to  Ohio,  remaining  in  Northumber- 
land county,  where  she  died.  She  is  buried  at  the 
Stone  Valley  Church,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
Their  children  were:  Henry,  who  lived  in  Illinois: 
Michael,  born  Sept.  12,  1812,  who  died  Jan.  29, 
1890,  in  Jackson  township  (his  wife,  Leah,  horn 
Sept.  15,  L815,  died  March  20,  1875)  :  and  Jacob. 

Jacob  Bower,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Lower 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  in  1817,  and  died 
near  llcrndon  in  1902,  aged  eighty-four  years, 
nine  months.  He  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  Church. 
lie  was  a  tanner  in  Jackson  township,  owning 
a  •.'Oil-acre  trad  on  which  he  lived  from  1K4S. 
The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Isaac  Tressler,  a  son- 
in-law.  Mr.  Bower  held  local  offices,  and  was  a 
prominent  citizen.  His  wile,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Haas,  died  in  1861.  They  had  live  children: 
Cyrus:  Willielniina,  who  married  Isaac  Tressler.  a 
farmer  of  Jackson  township;  Mary,  who  is  un- 
married :  A.  Clinton,  of  Shamokin  :  and  William  F. 

William  !•'.  Bower  was  reared  to  farm  life.  His 
home  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mahanoy  creek, 
and  he  was  educated  in  the  local  public  school. 
When     twenty-two    years    old     he    was     licensed     to 

teach  public  school,  and  in  lssi  he  began  teach- 
ing in  Jackson  township,  being  thus  engaged  four 
terms.  He  then  clerked  in  the  store,  and  in  1884 
began  farming  in  Jackson  township,  following  that 
work  three  years.  In  1887  he  came  to  Herndon, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  started  the  first 
livery  in  the  town,  keeping  three  or  four  horses 
busy.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen,  and  his  public 
services  have  made  him  one  of  the  besl  known  men 
in  the  vicinity.  When  the  borough  of  Herndon 
was  incorporated,  in  1902,  Mr.  Mower  was  elected 
to  i  he  council  and  has  ever  since  been  a   member 

of  that   I«mI\   with  the  exception  of  year.     lie 

is  now  tin'  president  of  the  council.  He  was  at 
one  lime  auditor  of  Jackson  township,  lie  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  been  committeeman  of  his  party. 
On  May  '.'I,  1881,  he  married  Susan  Deppen, 
daughter- of  John  ami  Catharine  (Lantz)  Deppen, 
and  they  have  had  two  children:  Katie,  who  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Herndon  schools,  ami  has  taught 
school  a  number  of  terms:  and  Walter,  who  is 
still  a  student.  Mr.  Rower  and  his  family  arc 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

MATTERN.  The  Matterns  of  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  Northumberland  county,  represent  one 
1, ranch  of  a  family  that  settled  in  the  adjoining 
township  of  Eldred,  in  Schuylkill  county,  in  an 
early  day,  ami  they  and  other  Matterns  of  east- 
ern'  Pennsylvania  are  descended  from  one  Peter 
Mattern,  who  in  1790  was  a  resident  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.  In  1802  he  lived  in  Upper  Mahan- 
tango  township,  then  a  part  of  Berks  county  but 
since  ISO  I  embraced  in  the  territory  of  Schuyl- 
kill county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Among    his    children    were    sons    Peter,   Jr.,    and 

.i8 


Daniel,  the  line  in  which  we  are  interested  being 
the  posterity  of  the  latter.  The  Matterns  of  Berks 
county  are  descendants  of  Peter  Mattern.  William 
•  I.  A.  Mattern.  chief  clerk  for  the  commissioners 
of  Berks  county,  tracing  his  line  through  the  -on 
Daniel  also. 

Daniel  Mattern  came  from  Upper  Mahantango 
township  to  Eldred  township  before  1800,  when 
the  region  was  all  covered  with  forest,  and  took 
up  a  tract  of  Kit)  acres  which  he  cleared.  This  is 
now  the  farm  of  George  Maurer.  He  built  a 
loo-  house  and  a  log  barn,  the  first  buildings  to  he 
creeled  upon  the  property,  in  the  ownership  of 
which  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Daniel.  He 
married  Rosina  Schollenberger,  also  of  Berks  coun- 
ty, and  they  had  children  as  follows:  David  set- 
tled m  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  died;  Polly 
married  Jacob  Lubold  and  both  are  deceased  ; 
Joseph  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Lenhartsville,  Pa.; 
Nathan  is  mentioned  below;  Susanna  married 
George  Neiswender;  Elias,  now  (1910)  eighty-four 
\ears  old.  lives  in  Schuylkill  county;  Frank  lived 
and  died  in  Schuylkill  county:  Daniel  is  men- 
tioned below. 

Daniel  Mattern.  son  of  Daniel,  was  horn  in 
Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  reared 
I  here,  and  followed  farming  in  his  native  town- 
ship until  a  few  years  before  his  death.  He  owned 
a  tract  id'  Hid  acres,  lie  (hen  retired  ami  moved 
to  Ashland,  where  he  lived  with  one  of  his  sons, 
and  where  he  died  when  about  seventy-six  years 
old.  He  is  buried  at  Kebler's  Church,  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Mr.  Mattern  was  a  tall  man  and  well 
built,  lie  married  Lvdia  Diehl,  daughter  of  Mich- 
ael Diehl,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Amos: 
Samuel,  who  was  a  rover,  never  making  a  perma- 
nent settlement:  Daniel,  who  died  in  his  sixteenth 
year;  Michael,  who  never  married:  and  Solomon, 
horn  duly  28,  1853,  who  died  unmarried  Oct.  3, 
1891,  at  the  home  of  his  brother  Amos. 

Amos  Matters',  son  of  Daniel,  was  horn  May 
12,  1845',  in  Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  there  lived  until  within  a  \\-\v  months  of  his 
majority,  meantime  receiving  his  education  in  the 
local  public  schools.  He  has  since  lived  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county,  en- 
gaged in  farming,  in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful.    For  thirty-three  years  he  owned  and  lived 

u| i  tract  of  li')  acres  in  the  northern  fart  ol 

the  township,  in  the  spring  of  1909  moving  I  i 
In-  present  home,  near  Leek  Kill.  There  lie  lias 
a  twelve-acre  tract  lying  along  the  main  road  from 
Herndon  to  Mineiswlle.  Mr.  Mattern  has  been 
a  public  spirited  citizen,  ami  has  served  a-  school 
director  and  for  six  years  as  supervisor  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  is  regarded  with  re- 
spect by  all  who  know   him. 

On  Aug.  1.  1869,  Mr.  Mattern  married  Amelia 
Herb,  who  was  horn  Oct.  in.  1847,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Herb,  and  died  Aug.  I.  1890.     Seven  chil- 


9]  i 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


clreri  weir  bom  to  this  union:  James,  who  lives 
in  Philadelphia;  Felix  D.;  William  II..  of  Schuyl- 
kill county;  Edward  II..  who  died  in  infancy; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  A.  Jackson  Brosius;  Monroe,  of 
Upper  Mahanoy  township  (his  wife,  Sylvia  S.,  died 
Sept.  29,  1901,  aged  twenty-two  years,  five  months, 
twenty-fotvr  days);  and  Charles  D..  of  Shamokin. 
In  1891  Mr.  Mattern  married  (second)  Catharine 
('(■villa  Hornherger,  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Caroline  ( Schankweiler)  Eornberger,  of  Upper 
Mahanoy  township,  and  granddaughter  of  George 
I  lornberger.  There  is  one  son  by  this  man  iagi  . 
George  Calvin,  who  was  educated  in  the  publii 
schools  and  at  Hepler's  seleci  school  and  bi 
teaching  public  school  in  the  fall  of  1909,  being 
at  present  engaged  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township. 
Mr.  Mattern  and  his  family  are  Lutherans  in  re- 
ligious connection.     In  politics  he  is  a   Democrat. 

Felix  Daniel  M  \ttki;\.  son  of  Amos,  was  born 
March  23,  1872,  in  Upper  Mahanoi  township, 
where  he  is  now  engaged'  in  farming.  lie  was 
reared  to  that  occupation,  and  meantime  received 
his  education  in  the  local  public  schools.  In  the 
spring  of  1891  he  commenced  farming  ou  his  own 
account  in  his  native  township,  renting  for  si 
years  before  he  felt  justified  in  buying  farm  land. 
hi  1902  he  came  to  the  120-acre  property  he  lias 
ever  since  cultivated,  and  which  was  formerly  a 
Geisl  homestead.  He  has  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements on  the  place,  has  a  full  line  of  modern 
farm  implements  to  facilitate  his  work,  and  has 
had  encouraging  success  in  the  production  of  his 
i  hi:  -  as  well  as  their  disposal,  attending'the  Sha 
mokin  markets.  He  is  an  intelligent  and  active 
citizen,  and  has  served  eight  year-  as  overseer  of 
the  poor  in  his  district.  He  has  been  interested 
in  the  success  of  the  Democratic  party  from  a 
political  standpoint,  and  has  twice  served  as  elec- 
t  ion  judge  in  his  precincl . 

(>n  Dec  21,  1895,  Mr.  Mattern  married  Clara 
Ida  Geist,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Polly  (Latsha) 
Geist,  of  Upper  Mahano]  township,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  three  sons:  Jesse  L.  Willard  TV. 
and  Guy  D.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mattern  are  Lutheran 
members  of  the  Himmel  Church,  which  he  former- 
ly served  as  deacon. 


Nathan  Mattern,  son  of  Daniel  and  Rosina 
(Schollenberger)  Mattern.  was  bom  Jan.  27,  L823, 
in  Eldred  township,  on  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  followed  it  in  his  earlier  years,  later 
becoming  a  farmer  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county,  on  the  farm  where  his 
son  Aaron  now  lives,  lie  owned  this  place,  con- 
sisting of  so sixty  acres,  as  well  as  the  seventy- 
five-acre  tract  now  occupied  by  his  son  Jeremiah, 
in  the  same  township.  He  was  a  well  known  resi- 
denl  of  that  section,  a  Lutheran  member  of  How- 
ertei  s    (SI.    Jacob's)    Church    and    chorister    for 


manv    years;   he   sang   at    many    Eunerals    in   the 

neighborh 1.     Mr.   Mattern  died   May   25,    L907, 

aged  over  eighty-four  years,  and  is  buried  at 
Howerter's  Church.  His  wile.  Sarah  (Diehl), 
daughter  of  Johannes  Diehl.  was  born  Dec  19, 
1819,  and  died  April  15,  issl :  she.  to,,,  is  buried 
;ii  St.  Jacob's  Church.  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Mattern  had 
children  as  follows:  Jeremiah;  Joel,  who  ha-  a 
family  of  five  children;  Aaron,  who  ha-  a  family 
of  seven;  Nathan,  who  has  six  children:  Enoch, 
who  is  the  father  of  ten  children;  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Abraham  Brown  and  has  three  children; 
Sarah,  who  died  in  girlhood;  John,  who  died  in 
infani  3  :  and   Lydia,  who  died  unmarried,. 

Jeremiah   Matters,  - f  Nathan,  was  born 

Nov.  ?.  1819,  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life. 
lnit  he  possesses  an  unusual  amount  of  mechanical 

ngenuity  and  has  learned  several  trade-  withoul 
serving  a  regular  apprenticeship  at  any.  His  suc- 
cess as  a  well  driller  and  thresher  is  well  known 
all   over  this  section,  and    he   has  established   an 

etensive  business  in  the  latter  line,  being  very 
liii-\    during  the  season,     lie  was  the  first    man  to 

ring  .1  -team  threshing  apparatus  into  Upper 
Mahanoy  and  the  surrounding  territory,  in  1881, 
when  fanners  were  still  possessed  with  the  fear 
that  their  buildings  would  he  in  danger  of  being 
-et  afire  if  they  allowed  such  an  out  lit  on  the 
premises.  If  was  at  this  time,  also,  that  he  pur- 
chased tlie  stationary  sawmill  he  still  operates, 
and  he  does  sawing  as  well  as  threshing  I'm-  many 
of  his  patrons  .111  their  own  premises.  The  lumber 
he  -aw-  for  himself  he  sells  to  the  coal  mining 
town.  He  works  one  tract  of  his  land  in  partner- 
ship with  his  sons,  his  son  (diaries  living  on  the 
farm,  which  now  comprise-  ix:>  acres.  There 
were  originally  227  acres  in  the  property,  but 
Mr.  Mattern  -old  part  of  it.  He  owns  another 
farm  in  the  same  township,  the  place  where  he 
resides.  The  house  in  which  he  lives  has  been 
greath  remodeled  since  it  came  into  his  possession, 
and    the   ham.   though    in   excellent   condition,   has 

>t 1    for  many  years,   having   been   built   by  his 

father  in  1872.  He  is  one  of  the  mosl  successful 
men  in  his  vicinity,  and  has  been  prominent  in 
publii'  as  well  as  in  business  affairs,  ha-  served 
two  years  as  supervisor,  and  is  at  present  tax  col- 
lector.    In  political  faith  he  is  a  Democrat. 

In  1875  Mr.  Mattern  married  Catharine  Reed, 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  (Falck)  Peed,  and 
fourteen  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
Emma  J.  married  William  Mattern,  and  they  live 
over  the  line  in  Schuylkill  county,  on  property  ad- 
joining her  father's:  Sarah  E.  died  when  eighteen 
vears  old:  Daniel  II.  married  Nora  Klock  and 
live  in  Shamokin:  David  died  when  just  one 
year  old:  Mary  C.  married  Monroe  Mattern  and 
they  live  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township:  Charles 
P..    who    lives    on    one    of    bis    father's    farms    in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


915 


I  pper  Mahanoy  township,  married  Cecelia  Sny- 
der;  Rosa  C.  married  Harvey  Snyder  and  the}  live 

in    Upper    Mahanoy;    Edward,   Katie   S..    Mi 

I;.  and  William  ().  are  a1  home;  one  daughter 
died  in  infancy;  Florence  I.,  and  Lizzie  E.  are 
ai  liome.  .Mr.  Mattern  ami  his  family  worship 
ai  Si.  Jacob's  Church,  of  which  In-  has  been  a 
prominent  member,  having  formerly  served  as 
deacon  ami  ai  present  holding  the  "Dire  of  trustee. 

DAVID  I,.  DeWITT,  lai,-  of  Lower  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county,  lived  ami 
farmed  for  many  years  mi  the  place  now  occupied 
bj    Ins  vi  idow   ami  son  Henry  C.  DeWitt,  ami  was 

a  much  estee d  citizen  of  the  community.     He 

was  born  in  August,  1844,  son  of  Jacob  DeWitt, 
ami   grandson    of   William    DeWitt,   whose   father 
Abraham   I  >eW  itt. 

William    hr\\  ni.   I i  ;:is.  died    in    1870. 

Hi'  "as  a  pioneer  of  Lower  Augusta  township, 
where  lie  followed  farming,  owning  the  property 
now  belonging  to  Jackson  M.  Engle.  He  was  twice 
married,  In-  second  union  being  with  Elizabeth 
i  Betz-3  i  Tressler,  who  was  born  in  1806  ami  (lied 
in  1876,  They  an-  bui  ied  ai  the  Mountain  Pres- 
byterian   Church.     The    following  children    were 

born  of  the  see I  marriage:  Jacob  is  mentioned 

below;  [saac,  born  June  11,  1823,  died  Jan.  20, 
L906,  married  Elizabeth  Krissinger  (burn  March 
II.  L824,  died  Dec.  II.  1905)  and  they  lived  in 
the  Hollowing  Run  section  in  Lower  Augusta 
township;  William  W.  married  (first)  .Mary  Ann 
Latsha,  ami  (second)  Elizabeth  Bowersox,  and 
lived  in  the  Hollowing  Run  district  and  at  Hern- 
don  before  moving  to  his  present  home,  in  River- 
side, this  county:  Moses,  who  was  married  and 
lived  in  Lowei'  Augusta,  died  Feb.  '.';.  1881,  aged 
forty-six  years,  six  months,  eight  days:  Paul  mar- 
ried Abigail  Shipman  and  they  lived  near  Au- 
gustaville;  Abraham  married  Sarah  Renn,  and 
they  lived  in  Boyle's  Run,  in  Lower  Augusta  town- 
ship; Matthew  lived  in  Rockefeller  (originally 
I.. n\ er  Augusta  )  township. 

Jacob  DeWitt,  son  of  William,  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  occupation.  He  lived  a! 
Patricksburg,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where 
he  owned  lii-  home  and  a  small  tract  of  land,  and 
died  Del.  14,  1889,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  six 
nth.-,  twenty-four  days.  A  Presbyterian  in  re- 
ligion, he  belonged  to  the  Mountain  Church  in 
Lower  Augusta.  He  married  Mary  (dark,  daugh- 
ter of  John  (lark,  and  to  them  were  horn  I'm  e 
children:  David  I...  Elmira  (wife  of  Alberl  Con 
rail  and  living  a1  Heading.  Pa.)  ami  C.  William. 
The  last  named,  horn  July  22,  1850,  live-  in 
Lower  Augusta  township;  he  married  Malimla 
DeWitt,  daughter  of  William  W.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Latsha)  DeWitt,  and  they  have  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  hut  three  survive.  Daniel,  Flavy 
and  Rosa. 


David  L.  DeWitt  learned  In-  father's  trade, 
blacksmithing,  hut  a  tew  years  after  his  man 
settled  down  tn  farming  on  the  place  in  Lower 
Augusta  where  his  widow  continues  to  make  her 
borne.  This  was  in  L878.  The  lane  i  ontains  fifty- 
five  acres,  which  at  one  lime  belonged  to  John 
Snyder,  who  also  owned  land  now  in  the  possession 
of  Harry  E.  <i.  Ney,  adjoining.  Mr.  DeWitt  was 
a  thrifty  man  and  made  a  good  living  off  this  place, 
ami  that  he  was  trusted  by  his  fellow  citizens  is 
shown  in  his  long  service  on  the  school  hoard,  of 
which  he  was  also  secretary.  In  politics  he  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  alter  the  Civil  war  period 
supporting  the  Republican  party.  He  served  sev- 
eral years  in  the  Civil  war.  In  religion  he  was  a 
devout  Methodist,  active  in  church  lite,  serving 
many  years  as  class-leader  and  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school,  in  fact  he  was  one  oi'  the  pillars 
of  the  church,  lie  died  in  May.  L897,  aged  fifty- 
two  years,  nine  months,  nine  days,  and  i-  buried 
at  the  Mountain   Presbyterian  Church. 

On  Dec.  27,  1868,  Mr.  DeWitt  married  Susan 
Snyder,  daughter  of  John  and  Martha  |  \o\  inger  i 
Snyder,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  the  latter 
of  whom  came  to  this  region  from  Berrysburg, 
Dauphin  Co..  1'a.  Five  children  were  born  to 
this  union;  John  J.,  who  lives  in  Lower  Augusta 
township,  man  ied  Hannah  Radel,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Violet  E.  and  Catharine  M.;  Henrietta 
married  Charles  L.  Culp,  of  Rockefeller  town-hip. 
and  they  have  one  -on.  Albert  D. :  Mary  A.  mar- 
ried Timothy  E.  DeWitt,  of  Sunbury,  and  they 
have  had  four  children.  Russell  E.,  Lena  A.  (who 
died  in  infancy  i.  Evylin  A.  and  Grace  A.:  George 
(i.  died  when  two  and  a  half  years  old:  Henry 
C.  is  now  fanning  the  home  place  lor  his  mother 
am!  lives  there.  'the  last  named  was  married 
Feh.  in.  DO'.',  to  Mary  Wetzel,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Wetzel,  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Ralph  W.,  Sallie  and  Hazel  1. 
Mr.  and  Mr.-.  Henry  C.  DeWitl  are  Methodists 
in  religious  connection. 


William  W.  DeWitt,  s >f  William  Dc\\  itt,  was 

horn  May  11,  1828,  in  Lower  Augusta  township, 
mi  the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  M.  Engle.  There 
he  lived  until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old, 
after  which  he  learned  (he  trade  of  miller  at 
Dornsife.  Lor  some  time  afterward  he  worked  in 
the  upper  end  of  the  Mahantango  Valley,  and  also 
ai  Boalsburg  in  Centre  county,  in  L856  returning 
io  Lower  Augusta  township,  Northumberland 
county,  where  he  purchased  what  is  still  known  as 
the  DeWitt  mill  property,  now  owned  and  operated 
by  his  elde-i  -on.  Daniel  L.  DeWitt,  it  having  re- 
mained in  the  family  continuously  since. 
William  W.  DeWitt  operated  this  mill  lor  thirty 
years,  from  L856  to  1886,  and  established  the 
business  on  a  mo-l  substantial  basis,  lie  then 
moved  to  Augustaville,  whence  alter  a   lew    years 


916 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


he  moved  to  Herndon.  and  from  there  in  1891!  to 
Riverside,  his  present  home.  He  lias  lived  retired 
since  he  gave  up  the  operation  of  the  mill.  While 
living  at  Augustaville  he  served  a  five-years  term 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  previously  he  had  been 
school  director  of  his  district  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  has  also  been  very  active  in  church  work, 
he  and  his  family  being  members  of  St.  Peter's 
New  Lutheran  Church,  in  Hollowing  Run,  which 
he  ha-  served  as  deacon,  elder,  trustee  and  Sunday 
school  superintendent.  In  politics  lie  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Mr.  DeWitt's  first  wile.  -Mary  Ann  (Latsha), 
daughter  of  Henry  Latsha.  died  July  4,  1894, 
aged  sixty-three  years,  one  montb,  nineteen  days, 
the  mother  of  nine  children:  Malinda,  Louisa. 
Daniel  L..  Miranda  (born  in  1860,  died  in  1881  I, 
Richard.  Kattirah.  Thamer,  Lizzie  and  William. 
In  189?  Mr.  DeWitt  married  (second)  Elizabeth 
Bowersox.  No  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union. 

Daniel  L.  DeWitt.  son  of  William  W. 
DeWitt,  was  born  July  L8,  L856,  in  the  old  log 
cabin  at  DeWitt's  Mill,  in  Hollowing  Run,  and  he 
has  spent  all  his  life  at  that  place.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  local  common  school-. 
and  later  he  attended  the  Missionary  Institute  at 
Selinsgrove.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  ent 
the  mill,  ami  from  that  time  until  his  father's 
retirement  assisted  him.  learning  the  business 
thoroughly,  both  manufacturing  and  management. 
In  1886  he  became  owner  anil  proprietor  of  this 
famous  establishment,  which  has  been  a  milling 
property  ever  since  the  development  of  the  section 
began.  It  was  originally  built  about  1785,  the 
firs!  mill  in  the  Lower  Augusta  region  or  anywhere 
in  this  section,  pioneer  settlers  from  a  wide  terri- 
toi ■■.  bringing  their  grain  to  he  ground.  The  origin- 
al building  still  stands,  but  new  gearing  has 
put  in  several  times.  It  is  a  landmark  in  the  com- 
munity. Henry  Masser  owned  it  for  some  time. 
and  Jonathan  Harman  succeeded  him.  the  De- 
Witts  having  owned  it  since  Mr.  Harman's  ; 
A  forty-acre  trad  of  land  is  connected  with  the 
mill  property,  and  Mr.  DeWitt  has  this  farm  under 
excellent  and  profitable  Cultivation.  He  has  served 
-  supervisor  of  hi-  township,  and  for  many  years 
a-  deacon  of  the  New  Lutheran  Church,  of  which 
he  and  his  family  are  members.  In  politics  he  i-  a 
Democrat.  A  man  of  plea-ant  ami  genial  dispo- 
sition, he  is  a  g  lod  companion  and  an  intelli. 
entertaining  conversationalist. 

On  April  10.  1881,  Mr.  DeWitt  married  Thamer 
E.  Bloom,  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda   (Ship- 
man)    Bloom,  of   Rockefeller  township,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Fannie.  Grover  ('..  Georgi    I 
and  Mary  M. 

LEITZEL.  The  Leitzel  family  of  lower  North- 
umberland  countv  are  the  posterity  of  Godfried 


Leitzel.  who  came  hither  from  Berks  county.  Pa... 

and    tl arliest    record    we    have   of   any   of   the 

name  in  Pennsylvania  concerns  one  Johann  Wolf- 
gang Leitzel,  who  was  one  of  the  "216  passengers 
on  the  ship  "Peggy,"  ami  qualified  Sept.  24,  1753. 
He  was  thirty  years  old  at  that  time.  [Pennsj  - 
vania  Archives.  Vol'.  XVII,  pages  399-401, 
Switzerland.] 

Godfried  Leitzel,  born  Nov.  8,  1770,  came  from 
Berks  county  to  Northumberland  county  when  a 
voting  man.  locating  in  what  was  then  known  as 
Mahanoy  township,  where  he  married  Magdalena 
vfagner,  born  March  25,  1769.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  the  first  to  obtain  a  warrant  from  the 
State  for  the  300-acre  tract  he  owued  in  what  is 
now  Jordan  township.  Stock  raising,  however, 
was  the  industry  in  which  lie  took  the  greatest 
interest,  and  he  prided  himself  on  keeping  strong, 
valuable  cattle,  having  big.  line  horses,  as  many  as 
fifty  sheep  at  a  time,  and  a  number  of  cows.  He 
died  Nov.  1.  1848J  his  wife  dan.  6,  1840,  and 
they  are  buried  at  the  Hebe  Church,  in  Jordan 
township.  Their  children  were  a-  follows:  Mi 
Samuel,  who  lived  and  died  at  ITiiontown.  was 
twice  married,  the  children  of  his  first  union  be- 
ing William.  Elizabeth.  Moses,  Catharine  and 
Solomon.  By  his  second  marriage  there  were 
Henry,  Julian,  Lydia  and  Sarah.  (2)  G 
-in  Dec.  1!'.  1793,  died  dan.  ;.  1815.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  ISC',  ami  though  a  strong 
young  man  died  of  disease  contracted  during  his 
"service.  (3)  Elias,  born  Dec.  24,  1799,  died  un- 
married Nov.  l.">.  1836,  and  is  buried  at  St.  1' 

Church,   Mahanoy.       He   was   a    sto ason,   ami 

helped  to  put  up  tin'  first  stone  building 
in  Pottsville.  (4)  Jacob  was  drowned  in  the 
Susquehanna  river  at  Danville.  He  was  unmar- 
ried. (5)  Benjamin  i-  mentioned  below.  (6) 
William  married  and  moved  from  tin-  region.  I?) 
Lydia  married  Samuel  Beissel.  (8)  Sophia  mar- 
John  Heckert.  (9)  Betzy  married  David 
Malieh.  <  Hi)  Helena  i  Lehna  |,  horn  in  1808,  died 
in   180 

Godfried   Leitzel    had   a   brother  who   had    sons 
_.  .  Jacob,  John  ami   .loci,  all   four  of  whom 
lived  in  one  community  near  New  Berlin.  Snyder 
Co.,  Pa.     They  reared  families  and  their  descend- 
ants still  live  in  that  locality. 

In  1790  the  Federal  Census  Report  records  the 

names   of    Frederick   and   Jacob    Leitzel   as   heads 

of    families    in    Bern    township,    Berks    Co..    Pa., 

erick  with  wife  and  one  daughter.  Jacob  with 

wife  and  four  daughters. 

Benjamin  Leitzel.  -on  of  Godfried,  was  born 
Jan.  25,  1803,  in  Mahanoy  i  now  Jordan)  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county.  He  owned  the  300- 
.u  iv  farm  in  Jordan  township  previously  men- 
tioned, and  other  land,  near  Klingerstown,  and 
he  was  an  enterprising  worker,  prospering  in  all 
he  undertook.     He  followed    farming  during  the 


NUKTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,.  PENNSYLVANIA 


917 


summer  months,  and  weaving  in  the  wintertime. 
For  seven  years  he  served  as  a  captain  in  the  State 
militia,  the  local  troops  drilling  ai  Mahanoy,  where 
they  met  twice  a  war.  and  the  battalion  days  were 
also  held  there\  Ee  was  a  good  disciplinarian,  a 
man  of  medium  size,,  and  one  who  commanded 
respect  wherever  he  went.  In  politics  lie  was  a 
Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  and  he  held 
various  church  offices,  serving  as  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  .Mr.  Leitzel  died  I'd'.  27,  1881,  and  is 
buried  at  Hebe.  II  is  wife,  Elizabeth  Byerly, 
daughter  of  Ludwig  Byerly,  burn  dune  3,  1808, 
died  March  30,  1891.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eighl  children:  Sarah  married  James  Troutman; 
George  B.  is  mentioned  below;  Lydia  married  Wil- 
liam Troutman;  Benjamin  B.  and  David  B.,  twins, 
are  mentioned  below;  Elizabeth  died  young;  twins 
died  in  infancy. 

George  B.  Leitzel,  son  of  Benjamin,  is  new  one 
of  the  oldest  residents  of  Upper  Mahanoy  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Mahanoy  (now  Jordan) 
township  Oct.  16,  1830,  and  was  reared  like  the 
average  boy  in  his  neighborhood,  having  none  of 
the  advantages  oi  free  schools  and  advanced  meth- 
ods of  training.  But  he  acquired  considerable 
practical  information  from  the  few  books  within 
bis  reach,  and  he  had  enough  education  to  en- 
able him  tn  transact  business  intelligently,  and  to 
do  In-  lull  shave  in  administering  the  public  affairs 
.it'  the  locality,  hi-  ability  ami  trustworthiness  be- 
iml;  recognized  tn  such  an  extent  that  lie  was 
called  upon  frequently  tn  perform  public  service. 
Emm  In-  youth  he  was  trained  tn  farm  work,  help- 
ing his  father  until  lie  was  nearly  twenty-three 
years  old,  at  which  tunc  his  parents  gave  him  a 
horse  and  buggy  ami  turned  over  the  cultivation 
of  the  300-acre  farm,  which  lies  along  the  Ma- 
hantango  creek  in  Jordan  township,  lie  has  al- 
ways been  accustomed  to  handling  horses,  ami  has 
always  owned  one  or  more  himself.  Alter  ope- 
rating in.  home  place  for  ten  years  be  settled  in 
the  Schwabian  Creek  Valley  in  1863,  and  for 
3everal    years    farmed    an    eighty-acre   tract    now 

uu 1  by  John  Kahler.     In  1868  he  came  tn  the 

farm  where  he  now  lives,  a  tract  of  in]  acres 
which  wa-  formerly  owned  by  John  Beissel,  later 
l,v  Isaac  Kieffer  ami  after  him  by  Adam  Arnold, 
whom  Mi\  Leitzel  succeeded,  acquiring  it  at  an 
assignees'  sale.  The  log  house  which  Mr.  1.. 
still  occupies  wa-  built  by  Mr.  Beissel  in  1801; 
(the  date  wa-  discovered  in  the  west  gable  end 
when  the  house  wa-  being  repainted,  in  1909),  and 
lie  also  built  the  ham.  The  new  house  mi  the  place, 
occupied  by  Mr.  Leitzel's  son  Elmer,  was  built- 
in-  Mr.  Leitzel  in  1902.  He  was  always  successful 
in  bis  farm  work,  and  at  one  time  engaged  in 
the  sale  of  various  farm  implements.  All  his  life 
he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  event-,  and 
he  enjoys  a  char  rc-ollection  of  many  phases  ol 
life  in  tin-  early  days  in  this  locality.     Hi-  is  an 


interesting  personality,  and  he  is  known  and  re- 
spected far  and  near.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  taken  part  in  it.-  coun- 
cils, frequently  serving  as  delegate  to  county  con- 
vention.-, which  assembled  at  Sunbury.     For  nine 

successive   years    he   served    a-   scl i    director  of 

Upper    Mahanoy    township:    was    overseer   of   the 

] r   four  terms:   supervisor   one  term:   and   has 

held  several  precinct  offices.  He  and  his  family 
are  prominent  members  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation of  St.  John's  Church,  in  Upper  Mahanoy 
township,  which  he  has  served  four  years  as  dea- 
con; while  in  Jordan  township  he  served  fourteen 
years   in   succession   a-  deacon,  and   two  years   as 

filler. 

I  >n  .lul\  -.':;.  is.".:;.  Mr.  Leitzel  married  Chris- 
tina Schmeltzer,  who  was  born  Sept.  11.  1833. 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Catharine  (Wolfgang) 
Schmeltzer.  ami  died  in  1863;  she  is  buried  at 
Hebe.  Eight  children  were  horn  to  this  union: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Fetterolf,  was  burned 
to  death,  her  clothing  catching  tire  while  she  was 

burning  rubbish   in   the  garden;    G ge  died   in 

infancy:  Sarah  ami  Hannah,  twins,  were  born 
Sept.  13,  1856,  and  the  former  is  now  the  wife 
of  Jefferson  Snyder,  of  Upper  Mahanoy.  the  lat- 
ter the  wife  of  John  II.  Mullin.  Esq.,  of  St.  Clair. 
Pa.;  Cassie  married  John  Snyder  and  they  live 
at  Frackville.  Ea. :  Daniel  S.  is  mentioned  below: 
Elias  died  in  infancy:  Lydia  married  Wash.  Hed- 
dings  and  they  live  in  Upper   Mahanoy. 

In  January,  1864,  Mr.  Leitzel  married  (second) 
Catharine  Schmeltzer.  who  was  born  Feb.  28,  1839. 
daughter  of  Daniel  Schmeltzer,  and  sister  to  Mr. 
Leitzd'-  first  wife.  Mrs.  Leitzel'-  eyesight  has 
become  so  seriously  affected  that  -he  i-  now  almost 
blind.  To  this  union  have  been  born  -c\cn  chil- 
dren: Samuel  married  Lizzie  Schlegel  ami  they 
live  in  Jordan  township ;  Benjamin  Elmer  lives 
mi  his  father's  farm,  as  previously  mentioned; 
Emanuel  is  mentioned  below;  Sophia  married 
Charles  Diehl  and  they  live  at  Friedensburg, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.;  Mary  1'.  married  Willi-  S. 
Weirick.  ami  they  live  near  Wiconisco,  Pa.;  Polly 
married  Wesley  Erdman  and  they  live  in  Upper 
Mahanoy  township;  Jennie  married  Alberl  Zieg 
ler  and  they  live  at  Dalmatia.  Tim  -mi  Daniel 
S.  ami  daughter  Jennie  were  both  bom  on  Nov. 
is.  he  in  L859,  -he  in  1881.  in  L909  Mr.  George 
B.  Leitzel  had  thirty-nine  grandchildren  ami  -i\- 
teeii  great-grandchildren. 

D.wir.i.  s.  Leitzel,  son  of  George  B.  Leitzel. 
i-  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Upper  Mahanoj 
township,  merchant  and  present  postmaster  at 
Leek  Kill.  lie  was  born  Nov.  L8,  L859,  in  Jordan 
township,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 

iols  of  the  home  neighbor! I.     lie  was  reared 

to  farm  life.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  went 
to  Bellevue.  Ohio,'  where  he  lived  for  tun  years, 
ivt Liming    i"   bis    nativi    i  ounty.     After   nm 


918  NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

on  the  farm  one  year  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi-  Shamokin,  and  of  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  260,  I.  0. 

ness    ai    Shenandoah,    where    he    conducted    the  0    P.,  ol    Leek  Kill.     He  is  a  past  grand  of  Eu- 

"Farmers'  Hotel"  for  three  years.    En  1883  he  went  reka  Lodge,  and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 

to    St.    Clair,   Pa.,   where   he   successfully   carried  having    been    elected    at     Scranton,    and    having 

on  what  was  then  known  as  the  "Marshall  Bouse"  served  as  delegate  to  the  State  conventions  held 

(now  the  "Exchange  Eotel")    for  one  year.     Mr.  al     Scranton,    Pittsburg    and    Harrisburg.      For 

Leitzel    spent   the   year    L893    traveling  with    his  mam    years   he   has   been   treasurer  of  his  home 

wife   and   son    through    the    West,    visiting   many  lodge. 

places  of  interest  and  journeying  out  to  the  Pacific        On    Dec.   25,  1883,  Mr.   Leitzel   married  Annie 

coast.     Upon  his  return  he  again  engaged  in  the  M.  Geise,  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Lilie  (Boyer) 

hotel  business  at  St.  Clair,  continuing  there   for  Geise,  of  Gratz,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  they  have 

five  years  longer,  after  which  they  moved  to  Op-  had  one  sun.  Ray  (',.     Mr.  Leitzel  and  his  family 

per  Mahanoy   township,   Northumberland  county,  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  St. 

and  operated  a  farm  fur  two  years.     In  the  fall  John's  Church,  of  Upper  Mahanoy   township. 
of  1900  ilr.  Leitzel  purchased  the  old  established        Ray  G.  Leitzel,  son  of  Daniel  S.  Leitzel,  was 

store  and  hotel  stand   at  what  is  known  as  Leek  born    Nov.   ?1.    L889.      lie   received   a    liberal  edu- 

Kill.  having  the  only  licensed  place  in  the  town-  cation,  attending  the  local   schools  and  later  the 

ship  of   Upper  Mahanoy.     The   firs!  part  of  this  Keystone  State  normal  school,  at  Kutztown,  and 

name   is   derived   from   a   German   word   meaning'  he    was    licensed    to    teach    public    school    in    this 

to  lick:  the  early  settlers  in  the  region  would  put  county   by    Prof.   \V.   \V.   Fetzer.      He  taught  two 

salt  in  a  glen  or  ravine  in  the  forest  near  by   for  terms  m  Upper  Mahanoy,  hut  lie  now  gives  all  his 

the  deer,   who  would   come   to   liek   it   and   could  time  to  assisting  his  father  in  the  hotel  and  mer- 

thus  he  more  conveniently  shot  than  if  they  had  eantile  business.     On    Nov.  '.'•'!.  1908,  he  man 

to    be    hunted — hence    the    name    Leek    Kill,    a  Edna  Acaley,  daughter  o     leremiab  and    Rebei 

place  where  they   came   to  •'leek"   ami   he   killed.  (Wagner)    Acaley,  of  Williamstown,   Pa.,  the' 

The  hotel  was  established  by  Peter  Beissel   (1801-  mer  of  \\  I was   a    nun.'   foreman   in   Dauphin 

1873)  in  1825,  and  has  been  a  licensed  place  ever  county,  Pa.     Two  children  have  been  born  to  this 

since.    The  building  is  76  by  45  feet  in  dimensions,  marriage,  Lester  L.  ami   Pauline  M. 
and  tlie  western  part,  which  is  of  stone,  has  stood        Emanuel  Leitzel.  son  of  George  B.  Leitzel,  was 

Eor   fully   one  hundred   years.      The   eastern   part  horn  in  Upper  Mahanoy  township  Oct.  28,   1869, 

was  constructed  some  years  later.     The  post  office  and    was    there    reared    to    agricultural    pursuits, 

was  established  here  by  Emanuel  Geist.    The  place  working  for  his  parents  until  he  reached  hi-  sev- 

is  the  business  center  of  the  township,  and   fur  enteenth  year.     At   that   time  he  became  a  clerk 

many  years   it   ha-  1 n   the   local    polling  place,  in  his  father'-  hotel  at   Shenandoah  and  was  thus 

Mr.  Leitzel  has  been  hotel-keeper,  storekeeper  and  engaged    for   fiftee] nths.     Later  he  clerked  at 

postmaster  since  the  spring  of   1901,  and  he  has  St.  Clair  lor  his  elder  brother.  Daniel  S.  Leitzel, 

made  a    thorottgb    success   of   the   business.      IDs  one  year,  and  i  year  for'his  brother-in-law,  John 

hotel    is   well   patronized   by   the   traveling   public  Mullen,  and   on    March    1,    1892,   he  to 

and   residents   of   the  locality,  all  of  whom   have  Stella,  Cowlitz  Co.,  Wash.,  where  he  was  on  a  cat- 

a    g I    word     for    Mr.    and    Mr-.    Leitzel.      The.  tie  range  for   four  months.     July    1,   1892,   found 

building  is  now  heated  with  steam,  and  every-  him  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark.  Returning  to  Penn- 
thing  is  conducted  along  modern  lines.  The  store  sylvania  he  followed  railroading  as  brakeinan  on 
is  well  stocked  with  general  merchandise  and  Mr.  the  leading  road  until  1907,  since  which  year  he 
Leitzel  does  an  extensive  business,  drawing  his  has  followed  mining.  Lor  some  years  he  and  bis 
trade  from  a  large  area  in  this  section,  where  wife  lived  at  Frackville,  where  he  still  owns  his 
he  is  not  only  well  known  hut  highly  respected,  home,  in  the  spring  of  1909  moving  to  Leek  Kill. 
He  was  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  the  On  April  20,  1905,  he  married  Rosa  Moyer,  daugh- 
Mahanoy  &  Mahantango  Telephone  Company,  and  tor  of  Wilson  and  Mira  (Harring)  Moyer.  They 
was  the  moving  spirit  in  the  organization  of  the  have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leitzel  are  mem- 
company,  of  which  he  is  now  a  director.  bers  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  socially  he  holds 
Like  his  father  Mr.  Leitzel  has  been  identified  membership  in  Frackville  Lodge,  No.  823,  I.  O. 
with  the  Democratic  party  for  a  number  of  years  <  >.  F. 

and  wield-  considerable  influence  in  its  councils.  David  B.  Leu  n.  -on  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
He  has  been  Democratic  committeeman  of  his  both  (Byerly)  Leitzel,  was  born  in  Jordan  town- 
township  siiue  1906,  and  has  held  the  office  of  ship  Feb.  26,  1830.  He  was  reared  there,  be- 
treasurer  of  the  township  -one  1903.  Such  a  coming  accustomed  to  farm  work  front  boyhood, 
rd  implies  ability  and  satisfactory  service  to  and  though  he  never  learned  the  trade  also  be- 
all  concerned.  Socially  he  is  well  known  in  the  came  a  proficient  blacksmith,  and  was  employed 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow.-  bodies,  being  a  mem-  in  a  blacksmith's  shop  one  -winter.  He  worked 
ber  of  Sbamokin  Lodge,  No.  255,  F  A:  A.  M..  of  for   his   parents   until    he   was    twenty-four   years 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.   I'KNNSYIA   WIA 


D19 


dlil.  and  then  spent  a  year  in  cattle  droving,  buy- 
ing and  selling  cattle,  this  business  taking  him 
as  far  as  Berks  county.  Before  the  Civil  war 
period  lie  had  been  farming  on  the  paternal  place, 
and  he  was  there  for  some  years  afterward,  until 
he  bought  a  farm  of  seventy-seven  acres  mar 
Klingerstown.  After  cultivating  thai  place  for 
seven  years  lie  sold  it,  and  afterward  lived  there 
again  for  a  time.  In  1904  he  came  1"  his  present 
home,  which  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  Bebe, 
the  trad  containing  forty-four  acres.  Mr.  Leitzel 
has  owned  several  Farms  at  differenl  nun-,  and 
he  has  done  well  in  his  agricultural  work,  to  which 
he  has  devoted  practically  all  of  his  time.  He 
has  been  a  useful  citizen,  and  his  executive  ability 
has  received  substantia]  recognition  from  his  fel- 
low citizens,  who  have  chosen  him  to  serve  as 
township  treasurer,  supervisor  and  overseer  of  the 
poor.     Politii  ally  he  is  a  1  >emocrat. 

Mr.  Leitzel  married  Mary  Troutman,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Jestina  (Clark)  Troutman,  who 
lived  in  Jordan  township.  They  have  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eighl  children:  William,  of  Uniontown,  Pa., 
at  present  engaged  as  stage  driver;  Frank,  de- 
ceased; Emma,  wife  of  David  Stroheeker;  Oscar, 
of  Jordan  township;  Adam,  of  Jordan  township; 

.lane  wh Tied  Elsworth  Shaffer  and  lives  at 

Shampkin;  .lames,  of  Jordan  township;  and  Jes- 
tina, « I arried  Oscar  Bohner,  and  died  in  1908. 

Mr.  Leitzel  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
church  at  Hebe. 

Benjamin  B.  Leitzel,  twin  brother  of  David 
li.  Leitzel,  was  born  Feb.  36,  1839,  in  Jordan 
township,  and  was  reared  like  the  ordinary  farm 
boy  of  his  time.  His  total  attendance  at  school 
am, ,iinicd  to  ninety-six  days,  for  he  no!  onl]  had 
to  hdp  with  the  farm  work  in  the  summertime 
but  in  the  winter  helped  thresh,  riding  the  horses 
around  on  the  tl  reshing  floor  to  heat  out  the 
grain.  Dunne  the  greater  pari  ol  his  independent 
business  career  he  was  engaged  in  hotel-keeping. 
in  which  line  he  was  very  wed  known  in  bis  day. 
keeping  the  hotel  at  Klingerstown  for  fully  thirty 
years.'    lie  si  ill   lives  at  Klingerstown,  where  he 

nov    c In,  i-  a    restaurant.     Mr.   Leitzel  owns  a 

thirty-acre  tract  in  Lykens  township.  Dauphin 
county,  upon  which  he  lived  for  one  year.  He  is 
a  highly  respected  citizen  of  bis  community,  and 
served  some  vears  as  assessor  of  Upper  Mahan- 
ta,,,,,  township.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 
,„   religion  a   Lutheran,  his  family  also  attending 

that  church.  ,  ,  . 

Mr  Leitzel  married  Eve  Elizabeth  Comas, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Wiest)  Tobias,  and 
she  died  Sept.  26,  1889,  at  the  age  of  fortj 
years,  the  mother  of  nine  children,  five  ol  whom 
died  before  reaching  the  age  of  two  years.  ho 
survivors  are:  W.  Oscar,  Cyrus,  Mary  and  John 

W.  Oscar  Leitzel.  son  of  Benjamin  B.  Leitzel, 


was  horn  Nov.  19,  1866,  in  Upper  Mahantango 
township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  reared  at 
Klingerstown.  There  he  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  he  worked  for  his  par- 
i  nts,  assisting  his  father  in  his  agrii  ultural  opi 
tions  and  in  the  conduct  of  the  hotel,  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  After  his  marriage  he  to- 
gaged  in  farming  on  land  belonging  to  bis  father- 
in-law,  Moses  M.  Wiest.  at  Klingerstown,  where 
In  was  located  for  six  years.  Meantime  he  began 
the  implement  business,  and  for  two  years  after 
leaving  that  farm  was  principally  engaged  in  sell- 
ing farm  machinery,  later  entering  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Klingerstown,  where  lie 
was  in  partnership  with  Victor  Wiest  for  ten 
months.  When  he  gave  up  the  store  business  he 
returned  to  the.  farm  for  five  years,  since  the 
expiration  of  which  period  he  has  been  interested 
in  his  present  mercantile  business  at  Klingers- 
town, having  the  largest  general  store  in  the  west- 
ern end  of  Schuylkill  county.  In  addition  to  gen- 
eral merchandise  he  carries  a  large  line  of  furni- 
ture, in  which  he  has  built  up  a  profitable  tradi  ; 
he  still  deals  in  farm  implements,  and  has  the 
agency  for  the  well  known  "Swab"  wagons,  his 
territory  lying  east  of  the  Susquehanna  as  far  as 
Ashland  and  south  along  the  Schuylkill  and  Dau- 
phin county  line,  including  Deep  Creek  valley. 
Mr.  Leitzel  is  considered  the  leading  representa- 
tive of  the  company  which  makes  these  wagons, 
as  he  sells  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  annually. 
and  has  sold  thousands  in  his  time.  He  employs 
from  two  to  six  clerks  in  his  general  store,  and 
[lis  large  business  has  been  built  upon  a  founda- 
tion of  fair  dealing  and  honorable  methods  that 
make  him  one  of  the  most  esteemed  as  well  as 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  men  of  his  community. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  has  hern  \ 
nig    to   give   time   and    influence    to    promote 

best  interests  of  the  ueighborh I.  being  especially 

anxious  to  further  the  educational  facilities  in  his 
township.  When  less  than  twenty-two  years  old 
Mr.  Leitzel  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
he  served  fifteen  years  in  that  office,  refusing  a 
fourth  term. 

On   Sept.  5,  1886,   Mr.   Leitzel   married    Emma 
S.  Wiest,  daughter  of  Moses  M.  and  Mary  (Scha- 
del)  Wiest.  and  four  children  were  born  to  them, 
Richard,  Dell,  John  and  Frank.     Mrs.  |., 
in    Jul}',    1896,    aged    twenty-eight    years,    and    is 
buried  at  Klingerstown.     In   February,  L897,  Mr. 
Leitzel  married  (second)  Cora  Hollenbach,  daugh- 
ter of  Hr..r^,'  and    Elizabeth    ( Schaffer)    Hollen 
bach,   and    they   have   had    three  children :    I' 
l ;.  e  and    Fred.     Mr.  Leitzel  and  his  family  wot 
ship  with  the  Lutheran  congregat  ion  of  St.    M 
,  I::,',  ['p  i  Ihurch  at  Klingerstoy  a,  and  he  ha-  bi  en 
very    active    in    the    work    of    church    and    Sun, lav 
-,  1 1.  serving  as  deacon  and  elder,  and  at  presenl 


920 


NORTHUMBERLAND  CO!  XTY.   PENNSYLVANIA 


as  treasurer  of  the  church;  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Sunday  school  as  teacher  and  superin- 
tendenl   for  fifteen  consecutive  years. 

Cyrus  Leitzel,  son  of  Benjamin  B.  Leitzel,  is 
the  proprietor  of  the  "Franklin  House"  at  Man- 
data,  Northumberland  county.  He  was  born  Sept. 
lb;  1871,  at  Klingerstown,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated,  and  worked  for  his  father  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  sixteen.  Fot  sis  years  he  was 
employed  in  the  lumber  districts  in  the  State  of 
Washington,  in  1896  returning  to  Pennsylvania 
and  settling  at  Klingerstown,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  horse  dealing  and  in  the  wholesale  whisky 
business,  selling  whisky  for  Detweiler  &  Co.,  of 
Lebanon.  He  still  continues  both  lines  of  busi- 
ness, being  a  well  known  horse  dealer  in  lower 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  handles  man] 
head  of  horses  yearly,  and  he  ha-  -  rited  Det- 

weiler &  in.  continuously  since  1896,  selling  their 
g Is  in  Northumberland,  Schuylkill.  Perry,  Juni- 
ata. Snyder  and  Dauphin  counties.  Ee  continued 
to  live  at  Klingerstown  for  a  number  of  years 
before  moving  to  Mandata,  where  he  has  been 
proprietor  of  the  ■■Franklin  House"  since  1906. 
Hi  has  a  farm  of  100  acres  between  Mandata  and 
Mahanoy  in  Jackson  township  (pari  of  which  was 
formerly  the  Abraham  Klock  homestead,  the  rest 
the  Jacob  Smith  place),  which  he  farms  with  the 
aid  of  hired  help,  and  lie  has  prospered  in  his 
various  undertakings,  being  an  excellent  manager. 

In  March.  1895,  Mr.  Leitzel  married  Carrie  I 
Bo3rer,  daughter  of  John  and  Polly  ( Shartle) 
Boyer,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Bessie  d.  Mr. 
Leitzel  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran congregation  of  the  Klingerstown  Church. 
For  ten  years  lie  held  membership  in  the  Kling- 
erstown  lodge  of  ( )dd   Fellow-. 

V..  F.  SCHRAWDEE,  ol  Shamokin,  dealer  in 
ladies'  furnishings  and  fancy  good-,  at  No.  108 
Wi  st  Independence  street,  has  been  i  stablished  at 
his  present  place  of  business  since  1904,  and  he 
had  previous  experience  in  practically  the  same 
line  as  traveling  salesman  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  employ  of  the  well  known  firm  of  English 
&  Henry.  He  has  made  a  success  and  has  a  well 
stocked   stori 

Mr.  Schrawder  was  horn  Nov.  '.'.  1874,  at  Mc- 
Kees Falls.  Snyder  county,  son  of  Henry  H. 
Si  rawder  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Schrawder.  The 
family  is  of  German  origin,  the  first  of  the  name 
in  this  country  having  come  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  1774  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  He  took 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  members  of 
the  family  have  been  represented  in  nearly  every 
war  in  which  this  country  ha-  been  engaged  since 
his  time. 

Jacob  Schrawder,  the  grandfather  of  F.  P.,  was 
a  native  of  Berks  county,  whence  he  moved  to 
Snyder  county,   settling  at   McKees   Falls,  where 


e   conducted   a   shoe  store   and   also  did   custom 

making. 
Henry  H.  Schrawder,  father  of  F.  F..  learned 
the  trade  of  stonemason  and  plasterer,  which  he 
followed  for  many  years,  now  living  retired,  at 
Port  Treverton,  Snyder  county.  He  served  in  the 
Civil  war.  IF-  wife,  Mary  (Weaver),  daughter 
of  David  Weaver,  bore  him  four  children:  David. 
F.  F.,  William,  and  Jennie  (married  Clarence 
Hershe\  ). 

I-].   F.  Schrawder  attended  public  school  at  Port 
Treverton  and  McKees  Falls.     When  fifteen  years 
old  he  began  clerking  for  X.  T.  Dundore  in  Sn 
county,  near  Port  Treverton.  remaining  with  that 
employer  eight  years,  after  which  he  clerked  two 

-  first   National   Bank  at   Selinsgrove. 

In  1895  he  came  to  Shamokin,  where  he  engaged 
a-  traveling  salesman  with  D.  G.  Snyder  &  I  . 
continuing  with  the  same  house  after  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  English  &  Henry.  He  was  with 
that  concern  for  seven  years  in  all.  and  has  since 
been  in  business  on  his  own  account,  handling 
ladies"    furnishings,    children's    goods    and    fancy 

2 Is.      II  is  firs!   venture  in  this  line  was  at  Phil- 

lipsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  four  and  a  half 

-.  a  ml  since  1904  he  has  been  established  at 
bis  present  location  in  Shamokin.    Mr.  Schrawder 
carries  complete   stocks   of  his   special   lines,   and 
enjoys    an    excellent    trade,    which   has    increi 
steadily  from  the  beginning. 

Mr.  Schrawder  is  a  high  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  following  bodies:  Shamokin  Lodge, 
\  i.  255,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Shamokin  Chapter.  No. 
•?(i4.  1!.  A.  M..  of  which  he  is  past  high  priest, 
having  held  the  office  in  1909;  Shamokin  Com- 
manclery.  No.  7".  K.  T.  ( in  which  he  is  an  officer  i  : 
Williamsport  Lodge  of  Perfection,  fourteenth  de- 
gree: Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  de- 
and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S.  In 
religious  connection  he  is  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Schrawder  married  Mamie  Shuman.  daugh- 
ter of  Edw.  (deceased)  and  Joanna  (Kulp)  Shu- 
man. the  former  of  whom  was  a  merchant  at 
Shamokin.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and    Mr-.   Schrawder.  J.  Merrill  and   Thelma. 

LEVI  15.  BABBER,  who  waged  in  farming 

about  three  miles  east  of  Milton,  in  Turlmt  town- 
ship, was  horn  Oct.  28,  1873,  in  Delaware  town- 
ship, Northumberland  county,  son  of  Anthony  A. 
Barber  and  grandson  of  David  Bar1 

David  Barber  was  bound  out  when  a  hoy  to 
Anthony  Armstrong,  of  Turbut  township,  to  live 
with  him  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
lie  afterward  continued  to  live  in  that  township, 
and  did  day's  work  among  farmers,  being  an  in- 
dustrious, respected  man.  He  died  in  that  part 
of  Turbut  township  now  included  in  the  borough 
of  Milton,  when  sixty-eight  years  old.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Jones,  daughter  of  William  Jones,  and 


NORTH  I'M  BKRLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


921 


they  are  buried  in  Harmony  cemetery,  Milton. 
Children  as  follows  were  born  to  them:  Jane,  who 
married  William  Falls;  William,  who  died  in  Mil- 
ton; Anthony  A.:  Margaret,  Mrs.  Robert  Seiler; 
Isaac  .1.:  Catharine,  a  resident  of  Milton;  and 
Washington,  win.  died  in  Milton.  Of  these.  Isaac 
.1.  Barter,  born  in  1835,  learned  the  boal  build- 
ing business  ami  ha-  resided  in  Milton  for  the 
pasl  lifo  years.  By  In-  first  wife,  Lucy  A.  Hester, 
he  had  a  sun  Harry,  and  his  second  marriage  was 
lo  Sarah  .1.  Krisher. 

Anthony  A.  Barber,  -on  of  David,  was  born  in 
Delaware  township  in  is:!;;,  and  there  followed 
farming,  retiring  about  four  years  before  his  death, 
winch  occurred  March  is.  1892.  lie  is  buried  in 
Harmony  cemetery,  at  Milton.  In  politics  Mr. 
Barber  w  a-  a  I  lemoerat,  and  he  took  quite  an  active 
pari  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  tax  collector  and 
school  director.  He  was  a  member  of  Messiah 
Lutheran  Church  at  McEwensville,  and  tpok  an  ac- 
tive pan  in  its  work.  His  widow.  Maria  (Bender 
or  Hinder),  daughter  of  Jacob  Bender,  of  Dela- 
ware township,  i-  living  with  her  daughter  Mrs. 
(Iiviiih  ai  Berwick,  Pa.  They  had  the  following 
children  ;  Anna  is  the  widow  of  William  ('.  Thom- 
as and  resides  in  Berwick;  Cora  married  Lewis  L. 
Fullmer ;  Ida  B.  married  William  Tobias;  Min- 
nie M.  niaired  11.  Greinly,  of  Berwick;  Frames 
E.  I-;,  married  David  R.  Eves  ami  is  living  in  Ber- 
wick; ( 'harlo  A.  married  Mary  Summers  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Montour  county;  Levi  B. 
i-  mentioned  below;  David  1".  married  Emma 
Kreisher  and  is  farming  in  White  Deer  township. 
Union  county;  Maude  M.  married  John  E.  Kurtz. 
Levi  I'..  Barber  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Delaware  township,  and  later  worked  with  his  fa- 
ther until  he  began  farming  for  himself,  in  1896. 
He  wa-  m  Delaware  township  for  three  years,  and 
in  Lycoming  county  lor  two  years,  returning  to 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  farmed  one  year 
in  Turbul  township,  when  lie  decided  to  remove  to 
Jerseytown.  Selling  out  his  farm  stock  he  made 
the  change,  but  after  six  months  he  returned  to 
this  county  and  in  1902  bought  the  Lantz  farm  of 
sixtv-six  acre-  in  Turbut  township  where  he  has 
since  resided.  This  was  at  one  time  Abraham 
Follmer's    farm,    it    having    belonged    to   him    for 

fifty  vears,  after  which  it  passed  into  the  pi ion 

of  the  Ka-e  lamilv  and  from  them  to  the  Lantzes. 
It  is  about  three  miles  east  of  Milton.  Mr.  Bar- 
ber has  all  the  modem  improvements  on  In-  place. 
and  i-  one  of  the  enterprising  farmer-  of  his  lo- 
cality. He  wa-  formerly  a  member  of  the  Grange. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a   Luth- 

Mr.  Barber  married  Rachel  Gold,  daughter  of 
Georo-e  Thomas  Cold,  of  McEwensville.  Pa.,  and 
thev'have  two  children.  Helen  May  and   George 

Anthony. 

David   Cold.  Mrs.   Barber's  grandfather,   was  a 


native  of  Bushkill  township,  Northampton  Co., 
l'a..  horn  about  1805,  and  died  about  1878,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1841  he 
came  to  Northumberland  county,  locating  at  Mc- 
Ewensville, where  he  built  the  Gold  gristmill,  now 
owned  and  operated  by  Oliver  Gold.  He  bought 
a  tract  of  fifty  acres,  Upon  which  he  erected  his 
mill  and  later  three  of  his  sons  built  homes  upon 
the  property;  the  McEwensville  high  school  also 
stands  upon  land  he  owned.  Both  the  cemeteries 
of  McEwensville  were  laid  out  from  his  land,  and 
all  hut  thirty-seven  acres  of  his  holdings  have  been 
cut  up  into  building  lots  or  turned  to  public  use. 
During  the  fifties  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  borough  of  McEwensville.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Whig,  and   he  served  a-  school  director  and   for 

many  years  a-  overseer  of  the  ] r  in   Delaware 

township.  In  his  earlier  life  Mr.  Gold  was  a 
Moravian  in  religion-  connection,  as  were  all  his 
lamilv  in  Northampton  county,  hut  he  later  he- 
came  a  Lutheran.  His  wife.  Maria  (Rissmiller), 
was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Rissmiller.  who  was 
earlier  a  resident  of  Berk.-  county,  l'a..  and  his 
first  ancestor  in  America  came  hither  as  one  of  the 
Hessian  army  sent  over  to  light  the  Colonists  in 
the  Revolution.  David  Gold  and  his  wife  had 
children  as  follows:  Rosanna  married  Charles 
Sensenbaugh,  and  they  lived  at  Sunbury;  Henry 
I).,  who  was  a  merchant,  died  at  Charlestown,  Pa.: 
George  Thomas  settled  in  McEwensville:  Edwin 
I-',  is  mentioned  below;  Joseph  died  at  Watson- 
town:  Mary  married  Reuben  Derr;  Maria  married 
Ellis  Irwin:  Charles  was  killed  while  serving  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war:  David  died 
in  New  Brighton.  l'a.:  Margaret,  widow  of  1-]. 
Lewis  Fainter,  lives  at'Lewisburg;  Susan  married 
Abram  Redcay  and  ihe\  live  in  Milton  ;  John  L.  is 
a  resident  of  Newcastle.  Fa.  Of  these,  Rosanna, 
Henry  D..  Joseph,  Mary,  Maria,  Charles  and  David 
are  deceased. 

Edwin  F.  Gold,  horn  July  29,  is::?,  near  Naz- 
areth. Northampton  Co.,  Fa.,  attended  the  Mc- 
Ewensville Academy  in  his  boyhood.  On  April 
26,    1861,   he  enlisted    lor  -ei'vice  in   the  Civil   war 

from  Northumberland  county,  in  C pan]  I'.,  lltb 

Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  Col.  Pharon 
Jarett's  regiment,  which  wa-  assigned  to  the  6th 
Brigade,  2d  I  in  ision,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  They 
proceeded  through  Westchester,  Hagerstown  and 
Williamstown,  ami  were  discharged  at  Harrisburg 
July  25,  1861.  Mr.  Col, I  again  enlisted  Jum  L8, 
L863,  becoming  a  sergeani  in  Company  I.  28tli 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Militia,  under 
Lieut.  Col.  Chamberlain.  He  was  discharged  at 
Harrisburg  July  27,  1863,  ami  in  the  meantime 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Gi  ttysburg  and  did  val- 
iant duty  a-  a  -can.  being  arrested  three  time-, 
lie  wore  a  Southern  uniform,  and  with  two  com- 
panions performed  notable  service.  On  Feb.  28, 
L865,  he  again  enlisb  '1.  in  Company  I-:.  :  lib  B 


922 


NORTH! MBEELAXD  COUXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  he  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  One  of  his 
discharges  is  upon  sheepskin.  Returning  to  Mc- 
Ewensville  after  the  war  he  cultivated  some  land 
which  he  owned,  and  meantime  continued  to  fol- 
low teaching,  which  he  had  begun  when  only  fifteen 
years  old  and  followed  in  all  Eor  thirty-three  term-. 
He  lias  a  certificate  bearing  the  date  Nov.  18,1857, 
issued  by  County  Superintendent  John  J.  Reimen- 
snyder.  He  taught  principally  in  and  around  Mc- 
Ewensville,  and  was  one  of  the  old-time  school- 
masters of  thai  vicinity,  thorough  and  efficient  in 
all  his  work  and  bearing  a  high  reputation.  Mr. 
Gold  is  an  independeni  voter  and  at  one  time  took 
an  influential  part  in  county  politics.  Fur  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  he  was  constable  of  McEwensville, 
and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of 
rears. 

On  duly  I.  1861,  Mr.  Gold  married  Sarah  Coon- 
er,  who  died  April  13,  L910,  aged  seventy-nine 
years.  She  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith, 
while  Mr.  Gold  is  a  Lutheran.  The]  had  children 
as  follows:  Davilla,  unmarried,  who  lives  al  Mc- 
Ewensville; Ambrose,  unmarried,  oi  Eomewood, 
Pa.;  Mary,  who  married  Dr.  E.  J.  Schlicher,  and 
lives  at  McEwensville ;  Inez,  wife  of  Charles  Wol- 
Icr.  living-  at  Williamsport ;  Elizabeth,  who  died 
in  infancy:  John  ('..  who  died  in  the  oil  region  in 
Ohio,  by  suffocation;  and  Susan,  who  married  Wil- 
son  Cotner,  of   McEwensville. 

Eenry  1 ».  Gold,  another  son  of  David  t ! 
born  Feb.  10,  1829,  in  Bushkill  township,  North- 
ampton Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Northumberland  county  in  1841.  locating  at  Mc- 
Ewensville, where  »he  grew  up.  When  aboul 
eighteen  be  began  clerking  in  a  general  store,  fol- 
lowing  that  work  some  years,  after  which  he  con- 
ducted a  store  of  his  own  at   Exchange,  Montour 

county,  where  he  was  in  business  for  - :  years. 

Mo\  ing  thence  to  » llarkstow  a,  Lycoming  count}-,  he 
carried  on  a  general  -hire  at  that  place  until  his 
death.  Feb.  8,  1899,  when  be  was  seventy  years  old, 
less  two  days.  Ee  was  a  Republican  in  sen- 
timent, but  was  no  politician.  Widely  known  as  a 
business  man.  his  patron-  came  from  a  large  ter- 
ritory, and  he  was  universally  liked  and  respected. 
For  twelve  years  he  served  as  postmaster.  Ee  is 
buried  at  McEwensville.  Mr.  Gold  was  a  Lutheran 
in  religion-  faith.  He  married  Eleanor  Wilson, 
who  was  horn  July  3,  1S31,  daughter  of  William 
and  Eleanor  (Blaine)  Wilson,  of  Lewis  township, 
this  county,  and  died  Feb.  9",  1905.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cold  had  three  children:  William  W.,  horn  in 
April.  1859,  who  died  in  bis  fifth  year,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1864;  and  Horace  and  Henry  D.,  Jr.,  both 
born  in  Muncy  Creek  township,  Lycoming  county. 

Horace  Cold,  horn  April  9,  1864,  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  in  the  Lycoming  county 
normal  school,  and  when  seventeen  years  old  was 
licensed  to  teach.     Ee  taught  five  terms  in  his  na- 


tive county  and  one  term  in  Northumberland.  In 
the  spring  of  188?  he  engaged  in  farming  in  J. 
township,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  and 
his  brother  now  live.  He  has  a  tracf  of  161  acres, 
formerly  the  dames  Blaine  homestead,  the  Blaines 
having  been  the  original  owners  of  this  land.  The 
old  patent  deed,  written  on  parchment,  is  in  Mr. 
Gold's  possession.  Mr.  dames  Blaine  huilt  the 
largi  stone  house  which  is  still  sfanding  in  1810. 
Mr.  Gold  is  a  general  farmer.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church  and  a  Republican  in  politic-. 


on  Dei 


L890,  M  r.  Cold  married  Julia  Ann 


Steiner,  daughter  of  William  II.  and  Caroline 
(  Desher)  Steiner.  whose  parents  came  from  North- 
ampton count}',  Pa.  Five  children  have  been  born 
is  union:  William  II..  Edith  Ellen,  Margaret 
J.,  John  S.  and   Florence  F. 

Henry  1  >.  Gold,  Jr.,  born  June  1.  1867,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  .Normal 
school  at  Muncy.  Ee  was  reared  to  fanning,  as 
-isiing  his  father  in  i\\r  store  until  he  moved  to 
Lewis  township,  he  and  hi-  brother  owning  the 
farm  jointly  f<  years,  when  he  sold  his  in- 

teresf  to  his  brothet    Eorace,  lor  whom  he  has  since 
worked.     He  is  holding  a  local  office  at  present  and 
fake-  an  interesl   in  public  affairs.     In  politics  he 
i-  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church. 

\  \I;m\  SHAFFER,  a  farmer  near  the  village 
of  I  rban,  in  Jordan  township,  was  born  Feb.  i. 
L853,  on  tin'  farm  where  he  now  lives,  -on  of  Wil- 
liam T.  and  Mary  (Lenker)  Shaffer,  lie  is  a 
grandson  of  Michael  Shaffer,  who  came  into  this 
legion  from  Bet  ks  i  ountj  .  and  who  it  is  suppo 
was  a  descendant  of  Michael  Sheaffer,  who  Milled 
-on  Tulpehoeken"  in  L733  and  died  about  L760 
Among  his  children  were:  John  Nicholas;  Maria 
Catharine;  Mrs.  John  Jacob  Larch;  Anna  Bar- 
bara, who  married  David  Brown:  Margaretta 
Eli  abeth,  who  married  Eieronymus  Rudy;  and 
I  eonard.  We  l:a\  e  record  onhj  of  Leonard,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Heidelberg  .township,  Berks  coun- 
ty, where  he  owned  a  farm  and  the  old  Sheaffer 
hotel  stand,  which  he  conducted  for  some  yei 
lie  died  in  middle  age.  and  his  wife  conducted  the 
hotel  for  some  years,  marrying  for  her  second  hus- 
band George  Gernant,  who  was  sheriff  of  Berks 
county  from  1844  to  1847.  One  daughter  was  born 
to  this  union.  Harriet,  who  became  the  wifi 
Eenn  Van  Reed.  To  Leonard  and  Elizal 
(Hain)  Sheaffer  were  born  children  as  follow-: 
Leonard,  who  died  when  twenty  years  old;  Ben- 
jamin, who  married  Catharine  Mengel  and  died 
in  Cuinru  township.  Berks  count}-.  Nov.  24,  1887, 
in  his  eightieth  year;  John,  who  settled  in  \\  ■■ 
iiigtoii.  1).  C.j  where  his  children  still  reside:  Jo- 
seph, whose  son  Daniel  is  a  well  known  eigarmaker 
at  Norristown,  Pa.;  Catharine,  who  married  John 
Savior;  and  Sophia,  who  married  Daniel  Heto 


STORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


923 


a  drover  of  Reading,  who  it  is  believed  was  mur- 
dered, as  he  never  returned  from  a  trip  on  which 
■  he  went  wnli  money  to  buy  cattle. 

.Michael  Shaffer,  the  grandfather  of  Aaron  Shaf- 
Eer,  was  horn  in  Berks  county  March  17,  1 783, 
therefore  i1  would  seem  likely  he  was  a  grandson 
of  the  Michael  Shea  Her  mentioned  above  if  he  came 
from  that  stock.  Moving  from  Rehrersburg,  Berks 
county,  he  settled  in  Dauphin  county,  near  Gratz, 
where  he  lived  for  about  two  years,  thence  remo^ 
ing  to  Jordan  township,  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  took  up  land  upon  which  he  resided  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
in  the  Stoni  Valley,  where  he  was  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive land  owners  and  substantial  citizens  of  his 
da\ .     Phj  -  ically  he  was  of  medium  size.     He  died 

Ji 30,  L860,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Paul's  Church, 

ai  Urban,  of  which  lie  was  a  Lutheran  member. 
Michael  Sim  Iter  was  married  before  his  removal 
into  i In-  section,  his  wife  being  Elizabeth  (To- 
bias), born  June  13,  1788,  died  Oct.  6,  1861.  She. 
Ion.  i-  buried  ai  the  Urban  Church.  They  had 
three  sons  ami  two  daughters:  Joseph  settled  in 
Crawford  county,  Pa.,  where  lie  followed  farming 
and  died  leaving  a  large  family;  William  T.  is 
mentioned  below;  Moses,  who  was  a  carpenter  and 
farmer,  settled  in  Jefferson  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
died  (he  had  (wo  sons):  Lydia  married  Abraham 
Klock  and  lhe\  lived  and  died  in  Northumberland 
county;  Amanda  married  Edw.  Baum. 

William  'I'.  Shaffer,  son  of  M  ichael,  was  a  farm- 
er nn  I  he  old  home-lead  in  Jordan  township,  where 
he  passed  all  hut  a  few  years  of  his  life,  moving 
away  "for  a  shorl  time  after  his  marriage,  lie  was 
born  dune  i;.  1819,  and  died  May  38,  1888.  In 
Ids  earlier  life  he  was  a  boatman  mi  the  Pennsyl- 
vania canal,  and  later  lie  was  extensively  engaged 
in  lime  burning  as  well  as  farming,  keeping  many 
teams  busy  hauling  his  lime,  lie  was  active  in 
church  and  public  affairs,  and  held  offices  in  his 
township  and  church.  He  and  his  wife.  Mary, 
are  buried  at  St.  Paul's;  she  was  born  July  -I. 
I  sit;,  daughter  of  Michael  Lenker  (who  married 
an  Emerich),  and  died  Dec.  28,  1896.  They  were 
(he  parents  of  the  following  children:  Michael. 
who  served  as  a  soldier  in  (he  Civil  war.  after 
which  he  w.aii  out  to  northwestern  Nebraska,  where 
lie  became  a  cowboy  (ho  had  a  family  of  four 
children):  Moses;  Isaac;  Aaron:  William,  who 
died  young;  Catharine,  married  to  Jacob  Byi 
Louisa,  married  to  Daniel  Sherry;  Mary,  married 
to  William    Kutz;  and  Jane  who  married   Jesse 

Stehr  and    (s nd)    Charles   Shadi  .     Aaron   and 

Jane  are  the  only  survivors  of  this  family. 

Aaron  Shaffer  was  reared  under  (he  parental 
roof,  and  learned  the  details  of  farm  work  at  an 
early  age.  Ho  obtained  a  good,  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality  and 
by  applying  himself  as  lie  grew  older,  and  he  lived 
at  home,  working  for  his  parents,  until  he  became 


hi  age.  When  quite  young  he  began  to  hum  lime, 
which  he  hauled  to  the  different  farmer-  summer 
and  winter,  after  thai  became  the  custom.  In  tin 
early  days,  when  he  burned  as  much  as  28,000  or 
30,000  bushels  in  a  year,  the  farmers  came  for  the 

lime,  doing  their  own  hauling,  bul  ii  s i  became 

the  custom  for  the  lime  burner  to  deliver  it.  When 
he  came  to  carry  on  this  business  less  extensively, 
Mr.  Shaffer  averaged  12,000  bushels  annually  I'm 
ten  year-.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Shaffei 
furnished  the  horses  to  the  Slate  of  Pennsylvania 
fur  use  at  flic  annual  encampments  of  the  National 
Guard,  held  at  Mount  Gretna  and  Gettysburg. 

When  Mr.  Shaffer's  grandfather,  Michael,  owned 
the  farm,  which  has  been  in  the  family  name  ai 
hast  since  1830,  its  acreage  was  much  greater, 
between  250  and  300  acres,  extending  down  to 
Urban.  When  Aarmi  Shall'er , bought  the  home- 
stead if  comprised  only  ninety  acres,  to  which 
he  has  added  until  he  now  ha-  L30.  The  presi  a 
house  and  ham  were  erected  by  William  T.  Shaf- 
fer, the  latter  about  1866-67,  and  there  is  still 
standing  mi  the  tract  a  log  tenant  house  built  by 
Michael  Shaffer.  \amn  Shaffer  is  a  progress- 
ive but  conservative  member  of  his  community, 
respected  and  trusted  h\  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  He  has  been  a  valuable  eii 
izen,  having  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the 
township  school  board,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
past  he  ha-  been  an  overseer  of  the  poor.  Politic- 
ally he  is  a  Democrat,  ami  in  religion  he  is  a  Luth- 
eran, belonging  to  St.  Paul's  Church;  he  was 
deacon  for  many  years,  later  an  elder,  and  sinci 
I 'am  has  been  a  trustee. 

In  1882  Mr.  Shaffer  man  led  l.l  ii  Baum, 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  and  Catharine  (Mo 
Baum,  of  Mahantango  township,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  and  they  have  had  five  children:  Jennie  it.. 
who  married  Charles  Engel  and  livi  -  at  Herndon. 
Pa.;  William  IT.,  horn  May  31,  1887;  Charles  D.. 
horn  Feb.  2,  1889;  Mamie  ( '.  :  and  George  R. 

ROTHERMEL,    The  Rothermel  family   i-  well 
esented  in  Jordan  township,  where  William  W.. 
Lazarus  W.;  Manasses  W.  and   Monroe  I. 

.ii-  of  the  laic  Isaac  Rothermel,  reside.  The 
Rothei  mel  -  have  been  identified  with  this  section 
of  Northumberland  from  the  beginning  of  the 
la-i  century,  when  Abraham  Rothermel,  grandfa- 
i  her  of  I  In'  four  brothers  mentioned,  came  he 
from  Berks  county,  where  his  ancestors  located  in 
an  earl]  day. 

This  Rothermel  family  traces  its  genealogy  b 
ime  four  hundred  years  to  one  Johannes    Roi 
mel.  who  won  both    fame  and   a   name  in   the 
wars  of  Germany,     lie  was  a  brave  soldier,  and  so 

frequently  dyed  his lood  of  hi 

ihal  hi-  e adi     di    gnated  him  a-  di  r  Roth  Er 

mri  ( red  sleevi  I,  and  in  this  wai   ! | 

name  Rnthermcl. 


924 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


John  Rothercnel,  descendant  of  this  early  pro- 
genitor, was  born  in  the  Province  of  Wachbaeh, 
Holland,  in  Kiss,  and  in  1708  married  Sybilla 
Zimmerman,  native  of  the  same  province,  and  a  sis- 
ter  of  the  famous  General  Zimmerman  of  the 
Dutch  army.  In  1730,  after  the  birth  of  one 
daughter  and  five  sons,  he  se1  sail  from  Rotterdam 
with  his  entire  family  for  America.  Jolm  Roth- 
ermel died  at  sea  and  never  saw  the  shores  of  the 
country  for  which  he' started.  Hi.-  wife  and  chil- 
dren arrived  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  '.'it.  1730,  and 
the  following  year  settled  in  what  is  now  Berks 
county,  l'a.  The  daughter,  Anna  .Maria,  who  had 
married  Peter  Petherolf  in  Wachbaeh  in  1729, 
soon  settled  with  her  husband  in  Maeungie  town- 
ship, Lehigh  Co.,  l'a..  where  they  passed  the  re 
mainder  of  their  lives.  The  five  sons  were: 
Lawrence.  Peter,  Paul,  John  and  Christian,  all  of 
whom  settled  in  Berks  county.  All  the  early  Roth- 
ermels  are  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  at  Wal- 
nnttown,  Berks  county.  Lawrence,  the  eldest  son. 
settled  in  Windsor  township,  where  he  married  a 
Mis-    Kuhns;    he    l'o-e    to    he    one    of    the    foremo-t 

citizens  of  thai  section.  Paul  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Maiden-creek-  township  and  settled 
■upon  it:  he  married  Catharine  Maurer,  by  whom 
he  had  live  sons  and  one  daughter.  Peter  became 
a  large  land  owner  in  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
Manatawnv.  where  he  prospered  and  raised  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children.  John  settled  in  Windsor 
township,  where  his  elder  brother,  Lawrence,  had 
already  located.  Christian,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Maiden- 
creels  township,  adjoining  the  property  of  his  broth- 
er Paul:  he  married  and  had  six  children,  two 
-on-  ami  four  daughters. 

One  Leonard  Roadarmel,  "late  of  Berks  county," 
died  in  Rush  township.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa., 
in  1835.  On  June  1'.'.  L835,  letter-  of  adminis- 
tration were  manted  to  his  son  John  Roadarmel. 
who  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  $500  (  record  at  court- 
house, Sunbury,  Pennsylvania). 

A  -on  Abraham  is  recorded  among  the  children 
of  Peter  Rothermel.  son  of  John,  hut  as  the  rec- 
ord- say  Abraham  hail  a  brother  Joseph,  "a  tall 
man."  he  could  nol  have  belonged  to  that  family,  as 
Peter  had  no  son  Joseph.  Abraham  was  evidently, 
however,  a  grandson  of  John  and  Sybilla,  but 
through    which    son    these    record-    do    not    show. 

Abraham  Rothermel  was  horn  in  Oley  township. 
Berks  county,  A.ug.  '.".'.  1777,  came  to  Northum- 
berland county  after  his  marriage,  and  lived  near 
I  el  nick,  in  what  is  now  Washington  township.  He 
owned  a  large  farm  (now  in  the  possession  of  Dan- 
iel Kahler),  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  was 
noted  for  his  strength.  He  died  Feb.  23,  1861,  when 
over  eighty-three  years  old.  and  he  and  his  wife. 
Catharine  Yeager  (or  Peager),  are  buried  at  the 
llininiel  Church:  she  was  horn  [fee.  21,  1779,  and 
died    Sept.    1.    1872,    when    over   ninety-two   year; 


old.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Charles,  mentioned  at  length 
below:  Martin,  who  located  in  Ogle  county.  111. 
(In.-  son  Robert  served  in  the  Union  army,  and 
he  had  also  a  son  Amos)  :  Hannah,  who  married 
Michael  Emerich  (no  children)  ;  Susanna,  who 
married  Jacob  Hoffman,  of  Washington.  North- 
umberland county:  Mary,  whose  first  husband 
was  a  Mr.  Ceist,  her  second  Andrew  Kahler  (they 
located  at  Red  Bank,  in  Jefferson  county.  Pa.); 
Catharine,  who  married  Charles  Boardsherry.  and 
lived  at  Northumberland;  Isaac  mentioned  below; 
and  Amos,  who  settled  in  Illinois,  and  whose 
daughter  married  a  minister  (he  served  in  the  Fed- 
eral army  during  the  Civil  war  and  met  his  nephew. 
William,  in  the  general  review  at  Washington  at 
the  close  "i  the  v\ ar). 

Charles  Rothermel,  son  of  Abraham,  was  born 
Aug.  s.  1808,  and  died  aged  eighty-three  years, 
si  \en  months,  live  days.  lie  was  a  farmer,  resid- 
ing where  Daniel  Kahler  now  lives,  in  Washington 
township,  and  owned  that  farm,  having  133  acres 
cleared  and  some  woodland.  He  was  a  Democrat. 
served  as  school  director  of  his  township,  and  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at 
the  lliiuinel  Church,  where  he  held  the  offices  of 
deacon  and  elder  many  years,  also  giving  long 
service  as  member  of  the  church  council.  He  was 
twice  man  hd.  and  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Bower,  had  children:  Killian,  Harriet 
(wife  of  Benjamin  Phillips),  Aaron.  Joseph  and 
Amanda.  We  have  record  of  Joseph  Rothermel, 
who  died  Oct.  5,  1904,  aged  sixty-three  years. 
eleven  months,  six  days,  and  who  may  have,  been 
the  -on  Joseph  here  mentioned.  Amanda  Rother- 
mel. "daughter  of  Carlos  and  Elizabeth,"  born 
Mov.  I.  1842,  died  June  3,  1861.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Rothermel  married  Mrs.  Harriet  (Beis- 
sel  or  Beisel)  Clark,  daughter  of  Daniel  Beissel  or 
Beisel  and  widow  of  John  Clark.  She  was  born 
\ju  !  28,  1823,  and  died  Jan.  f.  1894.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  eight  children:  Abraham. 
horn  in  1847,  who  died  in  1862;  Helena,  who  mar- 
ried Elias  Oxenreider  (he  is  deceased):  Daniel. 
mentioned  below;  Frank,  now  a  resident  of  Trev- 
orton,  Pa.:  Catharine,  twin  of  Frank,  who  was 
horn  in  1855,  ami  died  in  1862;  Lewis  I!.,  who  is 
mentioned  later  in  this  article:  Mary,  who  married 
James  (feist  and  (second)  Monroe  Rebuck;  and 
Sarah,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Daniel  Sny- 
der. 

Daniel  Rothermel,  son  of  Charles,  was  born 
Sept.  22,  1852,  in  Washington  township,  and  was 
reared  upon  the  farm,  working  for  his  parents  un- 
til he  attained  his  majority.  He  began  farming 
on  his  father's  homestead  as  a  tenant,  continuing 
thus  four  years,  after  which  he  moved  to  Eldred 
township.  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  farmed  for 
seven  years.  He  then  spent  four  years  in  Wash- 
ington   town-hip.    Northumberland    county,    four 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


925 


years  in  Jackson  township,  and  for  the  next  seven 
years  farmed  in  the  Lykens  Valley.  In  L90.2  he 
returned  to  Washington  township  and  purchased 
the  David  Ferster  homestead  of  135  acres,  owning 
also  his  father-in-law's  house  near  Urban,  where 
he  lives:  tins  house  stands  on  an  acre  of  ground 
which  formerly  belonged  to  the  Ferster  farm.  Mr. 
Rothermel  rents  his  own  farm.  Mr.  Rothermel 
married  Catharine  Ferster,  daughter  of  David  and 
Judith  (Brosius)  Ferster.  and  they  have  had  a 
large  family,  viz.:  .John  died  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one years;  Jane  married  Wilson  Brosius  and 
they  live  in  Washington  township;  dames,  horn 
May  I.  1879,  is  now  the  tenant  on  his  father's 
farm,  which  he  is  engaged  in  cultivating  (he  mar- 
ried Anna  Bohner,  daughter  of  Peter  Bohner, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Carrie);  Ida  lives  in 
Sunbury ;  Charles  is  in  business  as  an  undertaker 
at  Eerndon,  this  county ;  Levi  is  mentioned  below; 
Katie  and  Mabel  are  engaged  as  silk  workers  at 
Sunbury;  .Minnie  died  aged  four  years;  one  son 
dieil  in  infancy.  Mr.  Rothermel  is  a  Democrat. 
and  in  religious  connection  he  and  his  family  are 
Reformed  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church  a1  Urban, 
of  which  he  was  deacon  some  years  and  since  1903 
has  held  i In'  office  of  elder. 

Levi  Rothermel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  horn  in 
Washington  township  and  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  later  attending 
Union  Seminary,  in  Union  county,  Pa.  In  1904 
he  received  his  license  to  teach  public  school  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  teaching  in  Washing- 
ton township,  the  past  lour  terms  in  the  Salem 
schoolhouse.  During  the  summer  months  lie  en- 
gages in  clerking  in  the  store  at  Mount  Carmel. 

Lewis  B.  Rothermel,  son  of  Charles,  passed  his 
earlier  years  in  Washington  township,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1895  he  moved  into 
Upper  Mahanov  township,  where  he  also  carried 
on  farming,  and  in  1902  he  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  afterward  made  his  home,  dying  there 
Sept.  22,  1906,  aged  forty-eight  years,  nine  months. 
twenty-two  days.  He  is  buried  at  Howerters 
Church,  in  Upper  Mahanov  township.     In  polities 

he  was  a   De -nil.  in  religion  an  adherent  of  the 

Reformed  faith.  His  wife.  Mary  R.  ( Brosius), 
daughter  of  Andrew  Brosius,  did  July  1.  1902, 
aged  thirtv-nine  years,  two  months,  sixteen  days. 
Nine  children  we're  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rother- 
mel: Minnie,  who  married  John  Miller;  Lizzie, 
unmarried  ;  llarvev  A.:  Etta,  who  married  Samuel 
Snyder  ami  lives' in  Nebraska;  Allen;  Arthur; 
Francis  :  John,  and   .Mary. 

Harvev  A.  Rothermel  was  born  Sept.  19,  1882, 
on  the  Charles  Rothermel  farm  near  Rebuck,  at- 
tended the  township  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  For  four  years  he  worked  in  the  store 
for  F.  L.  Kehres  at  Rebuck,  and  for  one  year  hired 
out  on  a  farm,  beginning  for  himself,  at  his  pres- 
ent place,  in  1906.     This  farm,  which  has  seventy- 


eight  acres  of  cleared  land,  formerly  belonged  to 
In-  ancle,  Joseph  Rothermel,  and  before  his  owner 
ship  was  a  Reitz  homestead.  It  is  in  Washington 
township,  near  the  llimmel  Church.  Mi'.  Roth- 
ermel is  at  present  serving  as  one  of  the  auditors 
of  his  township,  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  politic-,  and 
in  religion  clings  to  the  Reformed  faith,  belong 
ing  to  that  congregation  at  the  llimmel  Church. 
where  his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Lutheran 
congregation.  On  May  28,  1904,  Mr.  Rothermel 
married  Katie  Kahler,  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Mary  (Paul)  Kahler,  prominent  residents  of 
Washington  township,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren :     Charles.  John  and  Allen. 


Isaac  Rothermel,  son  of  Abraham,  the  pioneer 
of  the  family  in  Northumberland  county,  was  horn 
April  13,  1820,  in  Washington  town-hip.  and  died 
Oct.  1.  1896,  in  Jordan  township,  al  the  home  of 
his  son  Manasses.  He  was  a  man  id'  medium  size, 
raw-honed  ami  muscular,  and  followed  the  trade 
of  blacksmith  in  his  earlier  life,  later  devoting 
himself  to  farming.  He  had  his  blacksmith  shop 
in  Jordan  township,  where  his  son  William  now 
lives,  and  he  carried  on  farming  from  1851  until 
his  retirement,  some  years  before  hi-  death.  He 
made  his  home  with  his  son  Monroe,  though  lie  did 
not  die  at  his  house.  Mr.  Rothermel  was  a  Re 
formed  member  of  Klingers  Church,  hut  he  and 
his  wife  Hannah  (Wiest)  are  buried  at  Zion's 
Union  Church,  near  Klingerstown.  She  was  horn 
Dec.  10.  is-.';;,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wiest  and 
granddaughter  of  Jacob  Wiest.  of  Berks  county, 
and  died  Sept.  7,  1887.  To  Isaac  Rothermel  and 
his  wife  was  horn  a  family  of  twelve  children: 
William  W.;  Amos;  Jestina,  widow  of  John 
Weiser;  Lucy,  ^\Irs.  Nicholas  Adams:  Eve,  who 
died  young;  Catharine,  who  died  young;  Lazarus 
W.;  Manasses  W. :  Esrom;  Monroe;  Abraham;  and 
I  lannah.   Mrs.  Amnion   Houck* 

Willi  m  W.  Rothermel,  son  of  [saac,  was  horn 
May  ".'.   1842,  in  the  same  district  where   he  now 

lives   in  Jordan   town-hip.      lie   remained   at    h 

mi  the  farm  until  he  went  into  the  arnn  during 
the  Civil  war.  as  a  member  of  Company  A.  50th 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  en- 
listing for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  lie  was 
nineteen  when  he  entered  the  ser\  ice.  Before  the 
expiration  of  tin-  term   he   reenlisted,   in  eastern 

Te ssee,   at    Blaine's   Cross    Road,    for   another 

three  years,  in  the  same  company  and  regiment, 
and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war.  lie  became  a 
third  sergeani  and  right  general  guide.  II  is  ex 
periences  of  trial  am!  hardship  were  unusual,  even 
\\„-  army  life.  Ho  not  onlj  traveled  all  oxer  the 
South,  hut  also  in  I  >lno.  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and 
was  in  thirty-two  engagements,  including  Hull 
Run.  Fredericksburg,  Antietam,  South  Mountain, 
Vicksburg,  dad, -mi.  siege  of  Knoxville  and  opei 
ations  in  fronl  of  Petersburg.     He  was  in   Shi 


92G 


NOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,   PENNSYLVANIA 


man's  army.  Returning  to  Northumberland 
ounty  at  the  close  of  his  service,  he  soon  began 
farming  in  Hubley  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
where  he  was  a  tenant  for  nine  years,  in  L87'i 
settling  at  his  present  location  in  .Ionian  town- 
ship, Northumberland  qounty.  His  home  is  on  a 
trad  of  twenty-two  acres,  which  he  cultivates, 
jli  he  leads  a  semi-retired  life,  lie  is  a  car- 
ienter,  anil  has  followed  his  trade  in  connection 
with  agriculture.  He  is  serving  at  present  as  an 
auditor  of  hi-  township,  has  been  school  director 
and  supervisor,  and  is  one  of  the  most  respei 
residents  of  his  section.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  <>n  Her.  30,  1S65,  Mr.  Rothermel  was 
married  in  Northumberland  county  to  Sarah  Shaf- 
fer, daughter  of  Daniel  ami  Mary  (Bohner)  Shaf- 
fer, and  they  have  the  following  children :  Emma, 
Mrs.  John  Saltzer;  Manasses,  of  Klingerstown; 
Polly,  Mrs.  Charles  Brown;  Monroe,  of  Gowen 
City,  Pa.;  Jennie,  Mrs.  Gordon  Klinger;  and 
Minnie.  Mrs.  Harvey  Smith.  Mr.  Rothermel  and 
his  family  worship  with  the  Reformed  congri 
ti<m  of  the  Klingerstown  Church,  which  he  former- 
ly served  as  elder,  at  present  holding  the  offices  of 
!  ni-tee  ami  treasurer. 

I.>/ w;cs  W.  Rothermel,  sod  of  Isaac,  is  a 
farmer  in  Jordan  township,  where  he  was  horn 
April  15,  L855,  on  the  homestead,  which  is  now 
owned  by  his  brother  Manasses.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  worked  for  his  parents  until  he 
eai  led  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  when  he  mar- 
ried, after  which  he  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  Hubley  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
After  three  years'  resideni  •  i  here  he  settled  in  Jor- 
dan township,  purchasing  a  tract  of  seventy  acres 
adjoining  his  father's  homestead.  It  was  formerly 
the  Israel  Geise  place.  The  presenl  house  was  re- 
modeled h\  Mr.  Rothermel,  ami  in  1890  he  huilt 
the  substantia]  Swiss  barn.  He  has  made  a 
cialty  of  poultry  raisin;:',  and  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  work,  being  one  of  the  leading  farm- 
ers of  his  township.  He  has  served  three  terms  as 
school  director,  and  i>  also  active  in  church  life. 
being  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of 
the  Hebe  Union  Church,  where  he  has  held  the 
office  of  elder  for  a  number  of  years.  Before  be- 
coming a  member  at  Hebe  he  was  identified  with 
Klingers  Church,  of  which  he  served  as  deacon. 
In   polities  he  i<  a   Republil  an. 

On  An-.  i.  1881,  Mr.  Rothermel  married  Emma 
Bush,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Hollen- 
baeh)  Hush,  ami  thirteen  children  have  been  horn 
to  this  union:  .lane,  who  died  aged  ton  years, 
two  months  :  Jestina,  now  the  wife  of  dames  Run- 
kel ;  Alice  E.,  wife  of  Jacob  Wiest;  Charles  H., 
who  died  in  his  second  year;  Ida  M.,  who  has 
heen  teaching  public  school  in  Northumberland 
county  for  three  years;  John  1...  who  is  a  car- 
penter; E.  Bertha;" Samuel  E.;  Eva  M.;  Harry  N.; 
.Mai/.ie  M .;  Minnie  E.,  and  Elma  E. 


Manasses  W.  Rothermel,  son  of  Isaac,  was 
horn  Sept.  24,  1857,  on  the  farm  in  Jordan  town- 
ship where  he  now  lives,  and  was  there  reared  to 
farm  life.  After  working  for  his  parents  until  he 
reached  tl  ag<  oi  eighteen  years,  he  followed  the 
blacksmith's  trade  for  seven  years,  in  [Jniontown 
and  at  Klingerstown.  He  was  next  engaged  in 
Imi  kstering  for  about  fifteen  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1898  he  began  fanning  on  Ids  father's  home- 
stead, where  he  has  since  lived,  now  owning  the 
place,  which  contains  101^  acres.  This  farm  is 
of  a  tract  of  500  acres  which  long  ago  be- 
longed to  the  Bickels,  who  lived  in  Berks  county, 
and  was  bought  by  them  from  Samuel  Wiesl  :  it  is 
no\,  divided  into  several  farms.  On  April  20, 
1908,  Mr.  Rothermel  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
his  house  by  lire,  which  totally  d   it  with 

all  its  contents,  including  valuable  document-  of 
historic  worth.  The  summer  of  that  year  he 
erected  the  nice  frame  house  which  he  and  his 
family  now  occupy.  The  barn  on  the  farm  is  a 
landmark  of  the  region,  having  heen  huilt  by  Esaac 
Rothermel  in  1851,  when  he  came  to  .Ionian  town- 
ship, and  he  huilt  the  house  1 1  he  one  burned  m 
loos  i  the  same  year;  a1  that  time  only  ten  acres 
of  the  farm  were  cleared.  Mi-.  Rothermel  is  one 
of  the' substantia]   and   esteemed   resident-  of   his 

borl I.  being  a  typical  member  of  a  family 

which  has  long  heen  known   for  solid  worth. 

In  1880  Mr.  Rothermel  married  Eliza  Wentzel, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Wentzel,  ami  to  them  were  horn 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Susan  Bixler,  daughter  of 
John  am!  Sallie  (Baum)  Bixler,  of  Valley  View, 
Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
five  children:  A.  Robert,  Ruth,  Mabel  G.,  John 
E.  ami  Manasses.  Mr.  Rothermel  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the 
Klingerstown  Church,  and  he  has  served  as  deacon 
and  elder.    In  political  matter-  he  is  a  Republican. 

David  Bixler.  Mrs.  Rothermel's  grandfather, 
was  related  to  the  Bixlers  of  Berks  county,  the 
families  often  exchanging  visits.  He  served  in 
tiie  Civil  war.  and  died  soon  after  his  return  home 
from  the  army.  lie  married  Susan  Wolfgang, 
and  their  children  besides  John  were:  Elias. 
Amos,  Emanuel,  Paul.  Helen.  Maria.  Katie  and 
Matilda. 

John  Bixler,  -on  of  David,  was  a  farmer  ami 
miner  by  occupation.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  .lame-.  Thamson  (deceased), 
Susan,  Frances,  Lewis,  Alfreda,  Rufus  (deceased), 
Hettie,  Lora  and  Mabel. 

Monroe  Rothermel,  -on  of  Isaac,  was  born 
March  6,  1862,  in  Jordan  township,  and  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  Earthing  there.  He  lived 
with  his  parents  until  they  died  and  was  brought 
up  to  farming,  working  lor  his  father  until  1888 
and  since  that  time  for  himself.  All  his  life  has 
been    passed   in    his    native   township.      His    farm 


XOETHUMBERLAXD  CO!  \TY.  PEXXSYLYAXIA 


92) 


"ii   i  and  KJingerstown,  is 

_-   and  1ms  been  ma- 
lly    improved    dur     _  ownership   of   'Sir. 

I,   who    is   an   intelligent   worker   and   a 
notab  s         It  was  once  the  homestead 

and   was  later  bought  by   1' 
S     walm.   from   whom  Mr.  Rothermel  pur- 
sed   it.      lie  also   owns  a   twelve-acre  tra< 
I  lauphin  II 

able  citi;  -      immunity,  is  at  pri  - 

R  ■  ■  rogregation  at 

the     K1m  (  liureh,    and    was    formerly 

family  also  belong  to  that  congre- 
icallv    Mr.  E  -   the 

Republican  party. 
Gi  36,  Mr.  R  ithermel  married  Liz- 

Jonas  and  Lena  ( Mas- 
ainl  granddaughter  of  Andrew  and 
I       larine  ill     gr)  S      ueltz.    They  have  had  1 
eliildren:     Charles.  Allen  and  Hannah. 


Andrew    Rotheri  Dalmatia,  tnty, 

•    ents  of  his  section. 
II.     is  a!  -      ing   as   ■  sup  rvisor   of 

r  Mahanoy  township,  and  for  some  years     - 
tax  collector.    He  own-  his  home  at  Dalmatia 
him  and  his  wife  Sarah   (Zartman),  daughfc 
Adam  Zartman.  were  bom  the  folic       s  dren: 

George,  »scar,  Annie,  1         es   I"  .    Malinda, 

Emma,  Alice  and  Adam. 

1     arles  E.  Rothermel,  -  •  .  was  horn 

April  '.".'.  1869,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
was  reared  upon  the  farm.     After  reaching  man- 
hood he  tended  bar  in  Shamokin  for  a  time,  and 
.  in   ISSS,  '  Qgaged  in  the  bottling  business 

.ni   (Dak  _  three 

5.     i',        [i    ::.  ,•  -  -  as  in  the  hotel 

business  :'       atia,    at   the   end   of    that   time 

moving  to  Sunbury,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
same  line.     His  next  location  was  in  tin-  borough 
\  irthumberland,  where  he  condui  'Van- 

kirk    House"  eral   years,    after    which    he 

purchased  tin   "Xational  House"  at  Dalmatia  and 
rani  ren  years.     He  then  returned 

hnrv.  wlu-re  lie  became  proprietor  of  the  "Packer 
or  thus  ei  -  _        !or  a  period  of  five 
atil.  in  1909,  >'  nis 

ishment,  Hotel.-""    li  is 

in  the  city  and  is  carried  on  along 
modern  lines,  enjoying  the  patronage  of  thi 
trade.     Mr.   Rotherinel   served   as   school   din 
wliil  iver  Mahanoy  township,  and 

he  has  alwavs  been  active  in  the  inl       -  -     E  the 

iblican  party.     Socially  he  beta 
der  of  Owls  at  Sunbury. 

Mr.    Rothermel  married   Sarah   Fenstermacher, 
daughter  M  ehael    Ferstermachi 

\l  ihanoy  township,  and  they  have  one  daug 


Arlie   May.     Mr.    Rothermel   and   his   family   are 
men  Lutheran  Church. 

JACKSON"  M.  EXGLE,  who  has  a  line  farm  in 
Boyle's  Bun,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  Xorth- 
umberland   county,   has   made   his   home   on 
prop.  many  years,  ai, 

dition  is  due  entirely  to  his  progressive  and 
tenia  stry.      Mr.   Eng  born   Ma 

arm  of  his  father  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
town-  Ltnty,    and    he    is    a    son 

if  1  (eorge  Engel. 
n-ge     Engel     lived     in     Jackson     township, 
umberland  county,  he  and  his  b  Abra- 

ham coming  from  one  of  the  lower  counties 

State,  probably  Berks.  He  did  laboring  work, 
and  was  well  known  for  his  skill  as  a  violinist.  His 
children  were:     William,  duel  and  Ed. 

■'  Engle.  -  George,  was  but  three  years 

old  when  his  father  di  11     settled   one   mile 

ot  Dalmatia,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  towns 
where  he  followed  farming,  owning  a  tract  of  nine- 
ty acres  now  the  property         '  Mam. 
place  was  an  old  Ziegler  homestead,  and  as  laid 
at  pi   sent  1            -  -             i liferent  I 
..11   the   eastern   hank   0             Susquehanna.      Mr. 
e  built  tin                    elling  on  the  place.    He 
-   a   Republican   in   politics,   served   his  district 
in  the  capacity  of  tax  collector,  and  was  also  a     - 
ful  member  of  the  church,  holding  office  for  many 
-   as  deacon   and   elder   at   the    Stone   Valley 
1        reh,  where  he  was  identified  with  the  Reformed 
ion.      He   and   his   wife,   who   died   only 
four  weeks  apart,  are  buried  there.    She  was  Cath- 
arine Walt,  daughter  of  Willoughby  Walt.     Thir- 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engle: 
Malinda     died     in     childhood:     Amelia     married 
1           •  Schlaman,  who  is  d                 Polly  married 
.'   seph  Kessler;  Jackson  M.  is  mentioned  below; 
Jeremiah  is  a  resii              Shamokin;  Willoughby 
■  in  Shamokin:  Jane  i-  the  v,  ido 
b  Zimmerman:  Annie  married  Adam  Linker: 
Katie  married    '           -   Wirt;   John   and   Charles 
are  r<             -    if  Shamokin:  Frank  lives  in  Illinois: 
Carrie  died  aged  fi 

Ja(    son  M.   Engle  was  reared   upon  the  home 
farm,  working  for  his  parents  until  nearly  twen- 
ty years        -  when  lie  man  I.  d.     He  1  ame  to  the 
farm  in   Lower  Augusta   township  whii ' 
since  occupied   some  time  after  that  event,  and 

ie  firs!  twenty-one  years  of  his  resid 
there    farmed    the    land    on    shares,    buying    it    in 
itains  120  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
listrict.  known  as   Boyle's   Run  and   is  in  ex- 
cellent condition,  thanks  to  his  care  and  good  man- 
agement.    Mr.    Engle  has  the   1  a  of  hav- 

\  alley,  and  he  al- 
wa°vs  3  -   -      II  8    iublican  in  his 

political  p  '      ' ,nlv-  ani1 


928 


NORTH  IMIiKi;  LA  XD  CODXTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


in  religion  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  belonging  to  the 
Mountain  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him  for 
his  sterling  worth  and  reliable  qualities. 

On  .Ian'.  L3,  1  s 7 ? ..  Mr.  Engle  married  Beatte 
DeWitt,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Abby  (Shipman) 
DeWitt.  and  to  them  have  Urn  burn  the  follow- 
ing children:  Galen  married  Delia  Reader;  Emma 
married  Dennis  Conrad;  Rosa  married  Peter  Con- 
rad (In-other  of  Dennis  i  :  Ira  is  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Harrisburg;  Irwin  lives  in  HaTrisburg; 
Barry;  William  lives  in  Sunbury;  Samuel  and 
( larrie  are  at  home. 

DANIEL  STAHL,  now  living  retired  in  Sha- 
mokin.  was  connected  for  over  thirty  years  with  the 
old  Eagle  Run  Brewery,  in  Coal  township,  a  short 
distance  from  the  city,  as  brewmaster.     For  about 

twenty  years  he  held  that  position  under  the  pro- 
prietorship of  Martin  Markle  and  after  he  sold 
out  continued  for  twelve  years  with  his  success- 
ors, retiring  in  l!i07. 

Mr.  Staid  was  born  Aug.  10,  1847,  at  Leon- 
berg,  about  twelve  miles  from  Stuttgart,  the  cap- 
ital of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Wilhelmina  (Heiges)  Staid,  who  brought  their 
family  to  America  in  1853,  landing  at  New  York 
City.  The  trip  was  made  by  sailing  vessel,  and 
took  fifty-five  days.  The  family  first  settled  at 
Newark.  X.  J.,  remaining  there  one  year,  and 
then  moved  to  Mauch  Chunk.  I'a..  where  a  per- 
manent home  was  established.  Jacob  Stahl  had 
been  a  house  builder  in  his  native  land.  At  Mauch 
Chunk  he  found  employment  in  the  ear  shops,  and 
also  followed  contracting  and  building  to  some 
extent.  He  died  there  iii  1875,  hi-  wilr  surviving 
until  1877,  and  both  are  buried  at  Opper  Mauch 
Chunk.  They  were  the  parents  of  sixteen  children, 
sis  of  whom  died  young,  in  Germany,  the  other 
ten  accompanying  the  parents  to  America,  viz.: 
John.  Wilhelmina.  Catherine,  Mary.  Jacobina. 
Barbara,   Christina,    Peter,    Daniel   and    Frederick 

Daniel  Stahl  attended  school  at  Mauch  Chunk. 
He  learned  the  ea rpenter's  trade  with  his  father, 
with  whom  he  worked  during  the  summers,  in  the 
wintertime  learning  brewing.  In  1875  he  came 
to  Shamokin  and  entered  the  employ  of  Martin 
.Markle.  for  whom  he  was  brewmaster  until  1895, 
when  Mr.  Markle  sold  his  interests  in  the  brewery 
to  Fuhrmann  &  Schmidt.  Mr.  Stahl  was  brew- 
master with  the  new  owners  until  his  retirement 
in  1907.  He  is  acting  as  one  of  the  executors  of 
the  large  estate  of  In-  father-in-law.  Martin  Markle. 

In  isi;  Mr.  Stahl  married  Helena  M.  Markle, 
daughter  of  Martin  Markle.  his  employer,  and  a 
family  of  eight  children  was  horn  to  them.  Daniel 
and  Sarah  dying  young;  Wilhelmina  married  John 
Edmund  and  lives  at  Shamokin:  Sybilla  S.  mar- 
ried August  Steinhart,  of  Shamokin:  Mary  C.  mar- 
ried  Thomas   Morgan,  of   Shamokin;   George  D. 


lives  with  his  father:  Henry  M.  is  a  resident  of 
Shamokin:  Gertrude  C.  married  Ephraim  S. 
Weaver,  of  Shamokin.  The  mother  died  Fel>.  11, 
1905,  and  is  buried  in  the  Shamokin  cemetery. 
Mr.  Stall]  makes  his  home  at  Shamokin.  He  is  a 
Lutheran  in  religious  faith. 

CHARLES  II.   NEWCOMBE,  who  is  engaged 

as  chief  clerk  in  the  converting  work-  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna Silk  Mills,  at  Sunbury,  has  resided  in 
that  borough  -nice  l'.t(i2.  lie  has  been  employed 
in  silk  mills  ever  since  he  commenced  work,  and 
bis  familiarity  with  the  business  and  fidelity  to 
bis  duties  make  him  deserving  of  his  present  re 
sponsibilities.  He  is  a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.. 
bom  May  28,  1882. 

Mr.  Newcombe's  grandfather  was  born  in  Scot- 
land, and  on  coming  to  America  settled  in  New 
York  City.  Albeit  Post  Neweombe,  his  father, 
was  born  in  that  city,  and  became  a  shipbuilder. 
He  has  followed  that  occupation  all  his  life,  being- 
still  active  and  engaged  at  bis  trade  in  Brooklyn. 
He  married  Jane!  ( 'ornell,  member  of  a  well  known 
I'aniib  of  New  York  Citv,  one  of  whose  members 
i-  Frank  Cornell.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Posi 
Neweombe  were  born  eight  children,  those  besides 
Charles  11.  being:  Jane  married  William  Hatch, 
and  they  reside  in  Brooklyn;  Charlotte  married 
F.  D.  Deiiiolf.  who  is  now  deceased;  Abbie  L 
married  Harvey  L.  Teater;  Beulah  married  Wil- 
liam J.  Briggs;  William  C.  is  a  resident  of  Brook- 
lyn;  Harry  and  Allie  are  deceased. 

Charles  II.  Newconibe  received  his  education  in 
the  public  school-,  graduating  when  sixteen  years 
old.  He  then  found  a  position  in  the  silk  house 
of  Hoeninghaus  &  Curtis,  with  which  firm  be  re- 
mained until  be  took  bis  presenl  position,  in 
Sunbury,  where  he  arrived  Dec.  15,  1902.  Since 
settling  in  this  borough  he  has  become  well  known 
in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of 
M.u  'a;  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.:  of  North 
umberland  Chapter,  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.:  and  ol 
Mount  Hermon  Comihandery,  No.  85,  l\.  T. 

On  June  18,  1901,  Mr.  Neweombe  married 
Laura  F.  Quincy.  who  belongs  to  an  English  fam- 
ily, daughter  of —  and  Annie  Quincy.     M  r. 

and  Mrs.  Neweombe  have  had  two  children:  Eve- 
lyn Gladys  and  Cornell  Harold. 

THOMAS  G.  FRYER,  a  young  business  man 
of  Turbntville,  Northumberland  county,  engaged  as 
a  tinsmith  and  dealer  in  stoves,  etc.,  is  building  up 
an  excellent  trade  by  industry  and  thorough  at- 
tention to  the  calls  of  his  customers.  He  is  a 
native  of  Lewis  b  wik!  ip,  bom  May  27,  1891,  son 
of  John  If.  Fryer  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Fryer, 
who  now  lives  at  Milton,  Pa.,  with  his  daughter. 
Mrs.  Amanda  Smith,  on  Mahoning  street. 

John  H.  Fryer  was  born  Jan.  13,  185fi,  at  Port 
Clinton.    |'a..   and    who"   a   von I'll'"    '   -Tved   the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUX TY,  PEX  X SYLVAN]  A 


929 


carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  some  years. 
■  ii  Milton,  Pa.,  with  Charles  Koch.  Later  he  be- 
came a  railr 1  engineer  on  the  Philadelphia  & 

Reading  road,  following  this  occupation  for  about 
ten  years  before  his  death,  which  was  caused  by 
heart  failure,  when  he  was  a  comparatively  young 
man.  Me  ran  a  freight  train  from  Catawissa  in 
Newberry  for  some  time,  and  later  had  a  run  be- 
tween Shamokin  and  Newberry.  He  died  iu  Lewis 
township,  where  he  made  his  home  upon  a  farm 
of  forty-five  acres  still  owned  by  his  widow.  On 
Nov.  !),  1876,  Mr.  Fryer  married  Clara  Mackey, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Lueinda  (Berkenstock) 
Ma.  key.  who  lived  near  McEwensville,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Jacob  Berkenstock,  who  also  lived 
near  that  place.  To  Mr.  and  .Mis.  Fryer  were 
born  twelve  children,  Elsie,  Mabel.  Charles.  Ed- 
win, Mary  E.  (deceased),  Morris,  Homer,  Thomas 
G.,  Russell,  Ralph,  Mildred  and  PauL  Mrs.  Fry- 
er is  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection.  Her  hus- 
band was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion, and  in  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Thomas  0.  Fryer  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Lewis  township,  and  after  commencing  work 
learned  the  trade  of  tinner  with  William  X.  Rey- 
nolds, of  Turbutville.  On  March  19,  1010.  he  en- 
gaged  in  business  on  his  own  account,  carrying 
a  full  stock  of  sto\es  and  ranges,  roofing,  spout- 
ing, tin  and  granite  wares,  anil  being  prepared 
in  do  all  kinds  of  job  work  in  his  line,  tinsmith- 
ing,  heating  and  plumbing.  He  handles  the  Acorn 
stoves  and  ranges.  Mr.  Fryer  has  one  man  in  his 
employ,  and  he  has  enjoyed  a  thriving  trade,  which 
he  is  enlarging  steadily  by  honest  business  meth- 
ods and  attention  to  the  wants  id'  his  patrons. 
His  business  establishment  is  on  Main  street,  in 
the  center  of  the  town  of  Turbutville.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  considered  a 
steady-going  and  reliable  young  man,  one  of  the 
useful  members  of  the  community. 

On  Feb.  27,  1910,  Mr.  Fryer  married  Cora 
Greiner,  daughter  of  A.  D.  and  -Man  (Wykoff) 
Greiner,  of  Turbutville.  who  have  a  family  of 
five  children:  Zwingle,  who  lives  at  Milton,  Pa.; 
Tacy,  wife  of  Frank  Lawrence:  Raymond,  of  Tur- 
butville; Florence;  and  Cora,  Mrs.   Fryer. 

ADDISON  C.  MILLER,  farmer  of  Upper  Au- 
gusta township.  Northumberland  county,  was  born 
mi  the  old  Miller  homestead  in  Shamokin  town- 
ship taken  up  by  his  great-grandfather. 

The  Miller  family  has  long  been  established  in 
Pennsylvania.      George     Miller.    Sr.,    commonly 

railed'  "Hunter    Ceorge,"    because    of    his    love    for 

the  chase,  emigrated  from  Germany  some  time 
during  the  eighteenth  century,  and  after  taking 
up  considerable  land  in  what  is  now  Shamokin 
township,  Northumberland  county,  built  his  little 

50 


log  house  near  the  large  spring  on  the  Miller  farm. 
In  1792  his  son.  John,  purchased  this  land  (  Pine 
Ciove)  from  him,  and  "Hunter  George"  took  up 
land  near  Hamburg,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where 
be  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

John  Miller,  son  of  George,  Sr.,  horn  in  1759, 
in  1785  married  Catharine  Raber,  who  was  born 
Sept.  '.'•;.  1769,  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  George;  David;  Elizabeth, 
who  was  twice  married,  firs!  to  a  Mr.  Rockefeller 
and  (second)  to  a  Mr.  Wilhour:  and  Sarah.  Mrs. 
Miller.  John  Miller's  death  occurred  Feb.  10, 
1804,  when  he  was  forty-live  years  old,  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  many  years,  dying  Aug.  19, 
1854,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  John  and 
Elizabeth  Miller  are  interred  in  the  old  Baptist 
graveyard  near  Deibler's  station,  in  Shamokin 
township. 

George  Miller,  eldest  son  of  John,  was  born  on 
the  homestead  June  13,  1704.  There  he  built  the 
large  stone  barn  in  1818.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  men  of  Ins  day.  Previous  to  the 
construction  of  the  Centre  turnpike  the  locality 
was  not  developed  to  any  extent.  He  obtained  a 
contract  for  constructing  two  miles  of  the  pike. 
erected  the  buildings  where  his  grandson  George 
W.  Miller  now  resides,  and  after  the  stage  line 
was  started  opened  a  hotel  which  he  conducted, 
in  addition  to  carrying  on  his  farm,  until  the 
Northern  Central  railroad  was  built.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  filled  a  number  of  the 
township  offices.  He  died  July  24,  1880,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years,  his  wife  dying 
three  weeks  later.  They  are  buried  at  the  Blue 
Church.  On  Dec.  23,  L820,  .Mr.  Miller  bad  mar- 
ried Mary  M.  Startzel,  daughter  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  Startzel.  and  twelve  children  were  born 
to  this  union:  Elizabeth,  deceased,  Mrs.  Daniel 
Smith:  Catharine,  deceased,  Mrs.  Silas  Farrow; 
John  J.,  who  died  in  Iowa;  Rosetta,  Mi's.  Sam- 
uel Lewis ;  Amandus  S.;  Russia,  deceased,  who 
married  Dr.  Aaron  Savidge';  Jrdiann,  deceased, 
who  married  Rev.  Ephraim  Barker,  of  towa;  Alli- 
son R.,  a  teacher,  who  died  in  Illinois;  William 
J.,  of  Springfield,  III.:  Clara  I...  deceased,  wife 
of  Dr.  [saac  Hull':  Emma,  v\  bo  married  John  I 
ler.  of  Point  town-hip:  and  one  son  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Amandus  S.  Miller,  second  son  of  George  Mil- 
ler, was  horn  upon  the  bomestead  Sept.  L3,  L82S, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood.  He  received  a  com 
mmi  school  education  and  improved  his  opportuni- 
ties so  well  that  in  early  manhood  be  commenced 
teaching  in  the  public  schools,  which  experienci 
undoubtedly  accounted  [or  the  inieivM  he  always 
took  in  the  cause  of  public  education.     He  i  ngagerj 

in  farming  on  an  exten  '       

lour  hundred  acres,  and  was  one  of  the  mosl 
stanfial    men  of    In-  daw    accumulating    a   large 
amount   of  property   in    Shamokin   township   and 


930 


NORTHUMBERLAND  ( nl'NTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


iugh.  Hi'  was  not  only  foremost  in  business 
matters,  but  also  looked  to  <>n  various  other  ques- 
tions,   especially    regarding    the    general    welfare, 

gh  he  nevi  30  sjl  I  office,  and  held  no  public 
positions  except  those  of  assessor  and  membei  0 
the  school  board,  of  which  body  he  was  treasurer 
for  years.  He  was  an  influential  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb. 
21,  19G6,  \vas  widely  mourned.  Ee  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Hannah  J.  Wolverton,  who 
was  horn  Sept.  21,   In:!'.',  daughter  of  John  Wol- 

n.  of  Shamokin  township,  and  died  Aug.  S, 
1908.  They  are  buried  at  St.  Jacob's  (Reed's) 
Church  in  Shamokin  township.  Ten  children 
born  to  this  marriage:  Florence  V.,  who  died  when 
twenty-three  years  old:  Ida  M.,  deceased,  wife  of 
John  M.  Kline:  George  W. :  Silas  W.,  who  is  liv- 
ing in  Upper  Augusta  township,  this  eountv; 
Laura  K..  wife  of  W.  II.  0.  Dver;  Julia  F..  wife 
ol  William  F.  J.  MeKee:  Addison  ('.:  John  A, 
deceased;  Cora  E.,  deceased,  married  t<>  Elwood 
Yocum;  and  Lulu  Y..  married  to  Harry  E.  Sny- 
der. 

Addison  ('.  Miller,  son  of  Amandus  S.  Miller, 
was  born  Oct.  88,  1872,  on  the  Miller  homesl 
Shamokin  town-hip.  After  attending  the  pub- 
31  hools  lie  went  to  MeKee  &  McCullough's  busi- 
ness college  at  Shamokin.  Practically  all  his  busi- 
ness years  ha  evoted  to  farming.  In  the 
spring  of  1892  he  engaged  in  farming  mi  the 
homestead,  where  he  remained  until"  1901,  in 
which  year  he  removed  to  the  place  upon  which 
he  ha-  since  lived,  in  Upper  Augusta  township. 
It  1-  a  tract  of  125  acres,  at  the  end  of  the  nar- 
-  nil  of  Sunhury.  and  was  formerly  the 
Henry  Arnold  farm.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  prosperous 
aiul  thoroughly  modern  farmer,  progressive  in  his 
work  and  in  adopting  up-to-date  devices  and  meth- 
ods in  his  agricultural  operations.  He  make-  a 
specialty  of  dairy  farming,  dispi  -  _  his  milk 
at  wholesale  in  Sunbury.  His  home  is  equipped 
with,  all  the  modern  conveniences,  and  everything 
about  the  farm  bespeaks  well-directed  energy.  In 
short,  lie  is  a  typical  membi  Miller  family, 
whose  industry  and  thrift  are  proverbial  in  this 
section. 

On   An?.   31,   1899,   Mr.   Miller   married   Lizzie 

ler,    daughter  of   John  V    Snyder,    a  retired 

farmer,  now   living   in   the   borough  of   Sunhury. 

One  daughter  has  been  born  to  this  union.  Violet 

nine.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  members  of 

the  Reformed  Church.     He  is  a  Democrat  on  ] 

1  uestions. 

JOHN  WACHTER,  who  holds  the  responsible 
position  of  outside  foreman  at  the  Hickory  Ridge 
colliery,  in  Mount  Carmel  township,  Northum- 
berland county,  has  been  engaged  there  in  that 
connection  sim  1    1898      He  was  horn  Dee.  '!"..  1858, 


in  Baden.  Germany,  son  of  Xathan  and  Atillia 
1  Beid  )  Wachter.  both  of  whom  died  in  the  Father- 
land. The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
re  sis  children  in  the  family:  Rudolph. 
Mas  and.  Robert,  all  now  deceased:  John:  and 
Fenorica  and  Victoria,  both  living  in  Germany. 

John  Wachter  attended  school  in  his  native 
country  and  meantime  helped  with  the  work  on 
the  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen. 
He  then  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  Coming  - 
America  in  the  early  eighties,  he  landed  at  .Vv 
York  City  Sept.  7th.  and  after  a  day  and  a  night 
at  that  point  went  on  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
spent  a  week.  lie  arrived  in  Shamokin  s. 
28th,  and  soon  found  work  at  his  trade,  which  he 
followed  at  various  places  in  this  section,  for 
twelve  years  filling  the  position  of  boss  carpen- 
ter at  the  Nelson  colliery.  In  1898  he  came  to 
Hickory    I;     _      1  Sagon   posl  .   having  been 

foreman  at  the  Hickory  Ridge  col- 
liery. The  fact  that  he  has  360  men  and  hoys  in 
his  charge    3  suffic  bo  -  tai   in-  is  a  trust- 

worthy and  reliable  man  for  the  place  he  has  effi- 
ciently filled  for  these  twelve  years.     He  ha> 

1  i  of  his  employers  and  of  the  men  with 
whom  he  is  assoi  iated,  and  is  known  to  all  as  an 
intelligent,  faithful  worker,     lb  substantial 

and  e-  citizen  of  the  community  into  which 

his  work  has  brought  him. 

Mr.  Wai  liter  married  Barbara  Waltford.  a  na- 
tive of  Switzerland,  who  came  to  America  before 
her  marriage,  in  the  same  ship  which  brought  over 
her  future  husband.  They  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  a  large  family,  namely:  John  X..  who  is 
employed  as  an  engineer  at  the  Hickory  Ridge 
colliery  and  resides  in  Shamokin:  Clara,  who  mar- 
ried Thot  -  C01  -lolly,  an  engineer  at  Hickory 
:  H  :  Bertha,  who  is  still  attending  school:  Tda. 
who  died  when  four  and  a  half  years  old;  Lena, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years :  Anna,  who  died 
when  one  year  old;  Henry,  who  died  when  nine 
months  old;  Ludwig,  Charles  and  William,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy:  and  Emma,  who  died  at  the 
.age  of  five  and  a  half  years. 

The  Wachter-  are  Lutherans  in  religious  con- 
nection. Mr.  Wachter  i-  a  Republican  in  his  polit- 
ical views,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.. 
belonging  to  a  lodge  at  Shamokin.  (hi  July  1. 
1.  be  set  out  on  a  trip  to  Germany  with  his  wife 
and  two  daughters,  and  they  had  nine  weeks  of  en- 
joyable travel,  visiting  his  sisters  and  various  plac- 
es of  interest  on  the  Continent.  They  were  among 
the  passe  _■  -  on  the  "George  Washington"  on  its 
tii'-t  trip  across  the  Atlantic. 

ELLIS  F.  ORXER  has  been  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising since  he  retired  from  mine  work,  and 
he  has  a  well  established  business  at  Gowen  City, 
in  Cameron  township,  where  he  has  been  located 
since  1899.     Mr.  ("truer  was  liorn  in  Adams  county. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


931 


l'a..  seven  miles  from  Gettysburg,  son  of  Jeremiah 
Orner.  The  family  is  of  German  origin.  IL- 
grandfather,  who  lived  and  died  in  Adams  county, 

bad  children  as  follows:     Amos,  Samuel,  J is, 

Solomon,  [srael,  Felix,  Jeremiah  and  Mary. 

Jeremiah  Orner  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
worked  by  the  day  in  Adams  county,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  some  time.  Ee  died  April  27, 
1905,  at  the  home  of  bis  son  Ellis  in  Gowen  City, 
Northumberland   county,  aged  seventy-five  years, 

three  i ths,  twenty-three  days.     He  is  buried  in 

the  Reformed  cemetery  a1  Gowen  City.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Union  army  as  a 
mber  of  Company  I.  165th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  infantry,  and  afteT  the  war  he 
never  fully  recovered  his  health.  Removing  with 
his  family  to  Shamokin,  he  followed   mining   for 

- time.     Mr.  <  Irner  was  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 

1!.  He  married  Catharine  Hartzel,  daughter  of 
Henry  Hartzel,  of  Adam-  county,  Pa.,  who  be- 
longed to  a  prominent  family  of  thai  section.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Orner  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Ellis  F. :  Henry,  who  is  living  in  Sha- 
mokin; and  Clara,  who  married  William  Gephart, 
of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania. 

Ellis  F.  Orner  attended  public  school  in  Adams 
county.  He  remained  with  his  father,  moving  to 
Shamokin  with  the  family,  and  was  employed  at 
the,  mini's  also,  though  not  at  regular  mine  work, 
running  an  engine  most  of  the  time.  He  was  thus 
engaged  for  a  period  of  eighteen  year-.  In  1899 
Mr.  Orner  began  the  mercantile  business  ai  Gowen 
City,  «  here  hi  :;.i-  since  been  established.  He  has 
in .i  i.n I \  made  an  excellent  name  as  a  business  man. 
Inn  has  si  rved  his  fellow  citizens  in  various  public 
capacities,  having  been  tax  collector  and  school 
director  of  the  township.  Socially  he  is  well  known 
in  this  locality,  belonging  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Red  M.ii.  the  latter  organization  holding  its 
meetings  in  the  hall  above  his  store;  the  Red  Men's 
Hand,  which  includes  three  of  Ins  sons  in  its  mem- 
li,  rship,  also  meets  there.  In  political  opinion  he 
is  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Orner  married  Matilda  Komi-,  daughter  of 
Michael  Koons,  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Olive  (married  to  Amos  Frederick),  Clara,  0. 
Ellsworth,  Harvey,  Charles,  William  and   Evelina. 

MARTIN  L.  HENRY,  of  shamokin.  Northum- 
berland eountv,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  English 
&  Henry,  of  that  borough,  importers  and  jobbers  of 
hosiery,  underwear  and  notions,  manufacturers  of 
overalls  and  shirts. 

WILLIAM  F.  KEEFEK,  of  Sunbury,  has  been 
in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany from  bovhood,  and  is  now  chief  clerk  to  the 
superintendent.  PL-  has  heen  prominent  m  the 
municipal  life  of  the  borough,  where  he  has  been 


honored  with  offices  of  trust,  and  is  at  presenl  sei 
retary  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the   Mary   M. 
Packer  hospital,  of  which   he   has  been  a   trustee 

since  1! 

Thi-  Eeefer  family  was  established  in  America 
by  Mr.  Keefer's  grandfather,  Baltzer  Keefer,  a  na- 
tive of  Wittenburg,  Germany,  who  was  born  Feb. 
31,  1812,  and  coming  to  this  country  settled  at 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1839.  He 
was  a  cooper,  and  followed  his  trade  to  some  extent 
after  coming  here,  working  around  the  coal 
wharves  ai  Sunbury.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Knoebel, 
was  born  Oct.  26,  1812,  and  was  Erom  the  same 
locality  as  himself  in  Germany,  where  they  had 
known  each  other,  hut  they  were  married  in  this 
country.  Mrs.  Keefer  died  Jan.  3,  1881,  and  Mr. 
Keefer  Jan.  21,  1892,  and  they  are  buried  in  the 
old  cemetery  at  Sunbury.  Thej  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Six  children  were  born 
to  them,  as  follows:  Philip,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Sunbury;  Jacob  K.:  John,  of  Wilkinsburg,  Ta., 
who  is  a  paper-hanger  by  occupation  (he  is  un- 
married) :  Leona,  who  died  in  infancy  in  Decem- 
ber, 1841  ;  Reuben,  who  died  in  infancy  in  June. 
1847;  and  Charlotte,  who  died  April  11,  1855, 
aged  four  years,  six  months. 

Jacob  K.  Keefer,  son  of  Baltzer,  was  born  Nov. 
15,  1842,  in  Sunbury,  where  he  has  made  his  home 
all  his  life.  In  his  fourteenth  year  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  printing  trade,  which  he  has  ever  since 
followed.  On  Aug.  19,  1861,  Mr.  Ceefer  enlisted 
in  Company  C,  L7th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  served  a  term  of  three  wars, 
at  the  close  of  which  he  reenlisted  for  four  years 
or  during  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  Dec.  26, 
1865,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  rose  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant  during  his  long  and  faithful  service, 
and  in  his  home  locality  he  is  generally  referred  to 
as  "I  lolonel"  Keefer.  Limn  his  retirement  from  the 
army  he  returned  to  Sunbury  and  resumed  work  at 
his  trade,  and  he  has  always  heen  a  steady-going 
reliable  citizen,  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  matters. 

Mr.  Keefer  married  Margarei  Hafer,  daughte: 
of  John  Hafer,  late  of  Paxinos,  l'a..  and  she  died 
in  1882,  aged  forty-four  years.  Four  children  were 
horn  to  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Keefer.  two  of  whom  died 
when  young;  the  survivors  are  William  I',  ami 
Edward,  the  latter  a  printer  of  Sunbury. 

William  F.  Keefer  was  born  Dec.  1.  1866,  in 
Sunbury,  and  there  received  In-  education  in  the 
public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
L881.  On  Jam  16,  L882,  he  becami  a  telegraph 
operator  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
r i  Company  at  Sunbury,  continuing  in  thai  ca- 
pacity until  dan.  1.  1887,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
clerk!  He  was  thus  engaged  in  the  superintend- 
ent's office  until  May  1st  of  thai  Mar.  when  he  was 
again  promoted,  to'the  telegraph  department,  re 
maining   there  until    May    1.    1890,   when   he  was 


932 


NORTHTTMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


made  train  dispatcher.  On  March  1,  1895,  he  be- 
eame  chief  clerk  to  the  train  master,,  and  on  Aug.  1. 
1900,  chief  clerk  to  the  superintendent,  in  which 
position  he  has  continued  to  serve  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  His  duties  have  been  discharged  with 
ability  and  efficiency,  and  he  has  made  a  record 
which  won  the  confidence  of  those  that  know  him 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  has  been  well  supported 
in  his  candidacy  for  political  office.  For  six  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  council  of  Sunburv,  serv- 
ing as  president  of  that  body  two  years.  He  is  a 
Republican  on  political  questions.  In  Aug 
1900,  he  became  a  trustee  of  the  Mary  M.  Packer 
hospital,  and  as  previously  stated  is  now  secretary 
of  the  board.  In  every  association  of  life  he  has 
been  recognized  as  a  man  fitted  for  responsibility, 
and  he  has  justified  the  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
men  in  his  devotion  to  any  work  intrusted  to  him. 
Hi'  is  a  representative  citizen  of  the  borough  in 
every  way.  Mr.  Keefer  has  a  well  selected  library, 
containing  a  number  of  valuable  works. 

On  dune  21,  1888,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Clara  M. 
Zimmerman,  youngest  daughter  of  Peter  and  Har- 
riet (Malick)  Zimmerman  and  granddaughter  of 
John  and  Magdelene  (Fetherolf)  Zimmerman. 
They  have  had  five  children :  Sarah  A..  Clarence 
F.  (who  died  Dec.  9,  1898,  aged  nine  years).  Ma- 
bel F.  and  Myrtle  M.  (twins)  and  Helen.  Mr. 
Keefer  and  his  family  are  members  of  Zion's  Luth- 
eran Church  at  Sunburv.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Old  Veterans  Association  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  of  Sunburv  Lodge  No.  203,  I.  O. 
0.  P.,  and  of  the  Ancient  0  Dinted  Work- 


MOBBIS  WETZEL,  a  young  farmer  of  Lower 
Augusta  township  who  has  shown  ability  and  en- 
terprise in  his  profitable  management  of  an  ex- 
cellent farm  "1'  loo  acre-,  was  born  dune  28,  1883, 
Selinsgrove  Junction,  Northumberland  county. 
He  i-  ndant  of  Jacob  Wetzel,  a  pioneei 

tier  of  Hereford  township.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  who 
made  his  last  will  and  testament  May  8,  1785,  and 
died  prior  to  Nov.  9,  1785,  the  date  the  will  was 
probated,  lie  make-  ample  provision  for  his  "wor- 
thy" wife.  Maria,  who  survived  him.  His  children 
1  .  Johannes,  George.  Philip.  Catarina. 
.  Ileinrich.  Conrad  (who  was  left  the 
"Bossier"  Bible)  and  Marialiss.  One  of  the-, 
sons  -en led  in  the  Mahantango  valley  in  North- 
umberland county  and  founded  the  branch  of  the 
family  in  which  we  are  interested. 

John  Wetzel,  the  great-grandfather  of  Morris 
Wetzel,  was  an  early  settler  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township.  Northumberland  county,  living  near  the 
Hniontown  road,  on  a  tract  now  owned  by  Jon- 
athan Byerly.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  and 
is  buried  at  Zion's  (Stone  Valley)  Church,  in 
Lower  Mahanoy,  where  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Lender.  -.    They  had  the  follow- 


ing children,  all  now  deceased :  Peter,  who  lived  in 
Snyder  county,  Pa. ;  John,  who  lived  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  township;  Jeremiah;  Abby,  Mrs.  Daniel 
III]  iii<  r ;  Mrs.  John  Howard:  .Mrs.  Mattern,  and 
Mi's.  John  Wentzel. 

Jeremiah  Wetzel,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Low- 
er Mahanoy  township.     He  was  a  lifelong  farmer, 
iu  1S4<>  coming  to  Lower  Augusta  township,  where 
he  owned   and  occupied  the  property  which   now 
belongs  to  hi-  son  Isaac,  a  tract  of  farm  laud  lying 
along  the  Susquehanna  river.     He  built  the  dwell- 
ing  on  that  place  in   1862,  and  the  barn  was  put 
up  by   [saai    Wetzel  in  1900.     An  intelligent  and 
public-spirited    man.   he    took   an   interest   in   the 
•al    welfare  and   served  a-   supervisor  of  the 
ton  n-hip.     In  politics  he  vvas  a   Democrat,  in  re- 
ligion a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, belonging  to  the  church  at  Herndon.     He 
died  in  1878  and  is  buried  in  the  River  cemeterj 
al    Fishers    Ferry.      (Among  the  Biver . cemetery 
rds  we  find  a  Jeremiah  Wetzel  who  died  Feb. 
I.   L887,    iged  seventy-three  years,  eleven  months, 
twenty-three   days;    wife    Magdalena,   born   June 
29,   1811,  died  Aug.   1,   1873  ;  second  wife,  Sarah. 
died  Feb.  2,  1884,  aged  seventy-three  years, 
month-,  three  days.)     By  his  wife  Mary  Magda- 
lena  (Toiler),  daughter  of  John  Peifer,  Jeremiah 
1  had  a  large  family,  several  of  whom  died 
young:   James  lived    and   died   at   Sunburv:    ■ 
died  at   Fisher's  Ferry  Jan.  22,  1901,  aged  sixty- 
3,  eight  months,  five  days  (  his  wife  Harriet 
April   22,   1901,  aged   sixty-one  years,  seven 
months,     one    day):     Lovina    married     Solomon 
■  :  Edwan  nt  of  Indiana:  William 

died  ;it  Sunburv:  Mary  married  Paul  Hollenhaeh 
and  (second)  Solomon  Bab  ■  miah  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Titusville,  Pa.:  Isaac  is  mentioned  below; 
Eliza  married  Hiram  Wayne:  Cornelius,  born  in 
18  19,  died  in  1S63:  Henry  died  young;  Jacob  died 
young. 

Isaac   Wetzel,  son  of  Jeremiah,  was  born   May 
I'1.   1846,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he 
d  in  farming.     He  was  educated  in 
the  publii  s  am     ras  rei         to  farming,  con- 

tinuing to  work  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority,     lb  sjan  to  work  on  the  Northern • 

Central  railroad,  and  for  fifteen  years  was 
at    railroading.      At    the   end    of   that   period   he 
ather's  homestead  and  took  to  farm- 
ing, which  he  has  followed  ever  since.     His  prop- 
contains   thirty-eight   acres,   which  he  culti- 
vates systematically,  making  a  good  living.     He 
attend-    the    markets     occasionally.     Mr.    Wetzel 
1  his  township  as  school  director  for  six  years. 
In  1875  he  married  Sarah  Reitz,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham  Reitz,   of   Swabian    Creek,   and  they  have   a 
family  of  ten  children:     Samuel  H.,  who  married 
Mary  Martz;  Susan  Matilda,  who  married  George 
Olmstead;   George  H.,  who  married  Susan  Daw- 
son: I.  Newton,  who  married  May  Adams:  Mor- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


933 


ris;  Mary,  who  married  Henry  C.  DeWitt;  Charles 
W.,  who  married  Mary  Lahr;  Walter  Ray;  Claud 
Howard,  and  Catharine.  Mr.  Wetzel  and  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Augusta  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  lie  has  been  a  trustee.  In  politics  he  is  a 
1  lemocrat. 

Samuel  H.  Wetzel,  son  of  Isaac,  was  horn  May 
23,  L876,  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  and  there 
passed  his  early  life.  In  1896. he  moved  to  the 
borough  of  Herndon,  where  for  seven  years  he 
clerked  in  the  general  store  of  E.  C.  Adams.  In 
1904  lie  learned  the  baking  business,  which  he  has 
since  continued  to  follow.  He  was  the  first  to 
enter  this  line  of  business  in  his  borough,  and  he 
has  mad.  a  great  success  of  his  enterprise.  He  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  public  affairs 
there,  has  served  as  borough  auditor,  and  in  the 
spring  of  L909  was  elected  chief  burgess,  which  of- 
fice he  i-  now  rilling.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
socially  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen. 
and  in  religion  he  and  his  family  are  of  the  Re- 
formed faith.  On  Oct.  10,  1902,  Mr.  Wetzel  mar- 
ried Mary  Martz,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Emma 
(Snyder)  Martz,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Geraldine  M.  and  Charles  H. 

Moiris  Wetzel  was  reared  in  the  usual  manner 
of  fan 1 1  hoys  and  obtained  a  public  school  educa- 
tion, lie  worked  for  his  parents  until  he  was  four- 
teen,  after  which  he  continued  on  the  home  farm 
a-  lured  man  for  six  years.  The  next  five  years 
ho  was  employed  on  the  railroad,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1905  began  farming  where  he  now  lives,  in 
Lower  Augusta  township,  on  a  tract  of  100  acres 
which  wa-  formerly  the  \\" .  II.  Swim-hart  home- 
stead. I'lio  farm  came  into  Mr.  Wetzel's  possession 
through  his  marriage  into  the  Swinehart  family. 
Ilo  raises  general  crops,  and  is  adopting  the  most 
approved   up-to-date  methods  in  his  work,  which 

has  bei        ■    il     - issful.    He  is  regarded  as  one 

of  tin'  substantial  young  citizens  of  the  township. 

On  Feb.  ", .  1905,  Mr.  Wetzel  married  Minnie' 
A.  Swinehart,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Sal- 
lie  (Snyder)  Swinehart.  They  have  no  children. 
Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Wetzel  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

John  Su  inehart,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wei 
zel,  lived  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  mi  a  farm 
now  ou I   by  a  Deppen.     lie  was  a  pioneer  set- 
tlor in  that  region,  and  in  1814.  when  the  first  tri- 
ennial assessmenl  of  Little  Mahanoy  was  made,  was 

:   the  taxable  residents  of  the  township.     He 

and  his  wife  Margaret  are  buried  at  Little  Maha- 
noy (  of  which  he  was  a  Lutheran  member. 
In  1900  Enoch  Swinehart,  a  descendant  of  John, 
wa-  th«'  only  male  member  of  the  congregation 
bearing  the  name.  To  John  and  Margaret  Swine- 
hart were  born  the  following  children  :  John,  who 
no  Betzv  Drumheller;  Samuel,  who  n 
married;  Daniel;  and  Mary,  who  never  married. 
The    Little    Mahanoy    Church    records    show    one 


llinr\  Swinehart,  born  Oct.  31,  1793,  died  Sept. 
11,  1869;  his  son  Samuel,  born  in  1823,  died  in 
1875,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 

Daniel  Swinehart,  son  of  John,  passed  bis  child- 
hood and  early  manhood  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, co mini;'  thence  across  the  mountain  and  set- 
tling in  Lower  Augusta  township,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in  farming.  He 
owned  the  plan'  which  later  passed  into  the  pos- 
session  of  his  son  William  and  is  now  owned  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  Wetzel.  He  is  buried  at  the 
Brick  Lutheran  ami  Reformed  Church,  lie  mar- 
ried Judith  Heilman,  daughter  of  Daniel  Heil- 
inan.  ami  they  had  these  children:  Maria.  Adam, 
Hannah.  William.  Judith,  and  three  who  died 
young. 

William  II.  Swinehart.  son  of  Daniel,  lived  in 
Lower  Augusta  township.  He  taught  school  there 
(except  for  one  term  in  Lower  Mahanoy)  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  in 
1866  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Fisher's  Ferry, 
where  he  continued,  in  that  line,  until  1871,  when 
he  was  burned  out,  his  establishment  being  a  com- 
plete ruin.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he  began  farm- 
ing at  the  place  where  hi-  son-in-law,  Morris  Wet- 
zel, now  lives,  and  where  in  1876  he  built  the  com- 
fortable dwelling  now  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wetzel.  He  built  the  barn  in  189r>.  He  was  a 
successful  man  and  a  most  respected  citizen,  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  19,  1906,  when  he 
was  aged  sixty-two  years,  nine  months,  six  days, 
was  regarded  as  a  loss  to  the  community.  He  i- 
buried  at  the  Augusta  Baptist  Church. 

On  May  31,  1868,  Mr.  Swinehart  married  Sal- 
lie  Snyder,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Esther  (Ran- 
dall) Snyder,  and  they  had  two  children:  Edwin 
Boyd,  who  died  in  1873,  aged  one  year,  less  three 
dav-:  and  Minnie  A.,  wife  ol    Morris   Wetzel. 

SAMUEL  L.  WEITZEL,  who  is  employed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Companj  at  Sunbury 
and  resides  Q'o1  far  from  that  borough,  in  Rocke- 
feller township,  comes  of  a  family  which  has  been 

represented  in  that  ueighborh I   for  many  years. 

His  great-great-grandfather,  John  Weitzel,  wa-  the 
lir-t  merchant  at  Sunbury. 

John  Weitzel  wa-  born  Dec.  30,  L752,  at  Lan- 
i  aster,  Pa.,  son  of  Paul  and  Charlotte  \\  eitzel  The 
following  is  taken  from  a   history  of  the  county 

published    - years   ago:      He  obtai I   a   fair 

education  at  his  native  tow  i>.  and  v  as  si  nl  to  Phil- 
adelphia at  an  early  age  to  leam  the  business  of 
merchandising.  He  opened  the  first  store  at  the 
site  of  Sunbury  in  1771  in  a  ling  near  the 

hank  of  the  river  below  Market  street,  ami  from 
that  time  until  his  death  was  prominently  and  re- 
sponsibly connected  with  public  affairs.  \t  the 
organization  of   Northumberland  county   in    1772 

he  was  one  of  its  firs!  commissi rs.    On  the  291 

of  July,  1775,  he  was  missioned  as  a  ji    tice 


:>:;i 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


tin.'  county  court;  to  this  office  he  was  recommis- 
sioned  on  the  9th  of  June.  ITT?,  for  the  term  of 
seven  years.  At  the  organization  of  the  committee 
of  Safety  for  Northumberland  count}',  Feb.  8, 
1776,  he  appeared  as  a  member  from  Augusta 
township,  and  participated  in  the  deliberations  of 
that  body  until  Aug.  13,  1776.     In  the  Provincial 

i  oi   J  une    18,   IT  76,  he  was  one  of  the 

representatives  from  Northumberland  county;  on 
the  8th  of  July  lie  was  elected  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  lTTii.  and  in  that  body  of  ninety- 
six  members,  "the  representative  men  of  the  State," 
he  was  the  foi  ngi  ■  at -:  and.  as  a  member  of 

the  Council  of  Safety  from  July  24,  1776,  to 
March  13,  1777,  he  participated  in  it-  delibera- 
tions during  the  first  months  of  the  State  govern- 
ment. On  the  "2:.M  of  January.  1776,  he  qualified 
as  county  commissioner,  in  which  office  and  as  jus- 
tice of  the  county  cunt-  he  was  actively  i 
with  the  conduct  of  civil  affairs  in  the  county  dur- 
ing the  Revolution.  July  T.  1780,  he  was  com- 
missioned issuing  commissary  for  this  count}7,  and 
in  1782-8J  served  as  contractor  ot  -  plies 
the  State  troops.  In  this  capacity  he  furnished 
provisions  for  the  detachments  stationed  at  Fori 
R  and  in  Buffalo  Valley  in  1782  and  the  com- 
panies of  Captains  Ro  :  -  n  and  Shrawder  at  Wy- 
oming in  1783-84,  performing  the  duties  of  his 
office  with  promptness,  energy  and  fidelity.  He 
was  again  -  ssioned  a-  a  justice  of  the  county 

courts  June  19,  1789,  serving  until  1791,  and  in 
the  autumn  of   1789  was  e  mmis- 

term  of  three  years.     In  1794  he  was 
nted    by   act   of  the  Legislature   one   ot'   the 
commissioners  fur   the  erection  of  public-  buildings 
■   Sunbury,  and  in  this  responsible  position  acted 
in  a  public  capacity  for  tin-  la-;  time,  as 

irred  in  1799.  He  was  twice  married,  firs 
Tabitha,  daughter  of  John  and  Rose  Morris,  ot" 
Philadelphia,  by  whom  he  had  four  children : 
John.  Paul.  Charlotte  and  Mary.  His  second  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Susanna,  daughter  of  Paul  Lebo,  of 
Lancaster,  and  sister  of  Henry  Lebo,  and  by  her 
he  had  three  children:  George,  i  abeth  and 
Tabitha.  At  the  time  of  his  death  John  W< 
resided  at       -  dwelling  on  Market  street,  sub- 

sequently kept  as  a  hotel  by  his  family  many  ;. 
In  connection  with  his  bus  5s  3  a  merchant  he 
operated  a  mill  two  mil.-  east  of  Sunbury:  it  was 
built  by  Casper  Weitzel,  his  brother,  who  died  in 
ITs-.'.  and  was  run  successively  by  his  son.  Joint 
Weitzel,  Jr..  and  his  grandson.  Joseph  Weitzel,  who 
as  ;ong  the  oldest  living  representative  of  the 
family. 

Casper  Weitzel.  the  brother,  of  John  Weitzel 
mentioned,  was  the  first  resident  practicing  attor- 
ney of  Northumberland  county.     He  was  horn  in 

-  at  Lancaster,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Lancaster  county  in  1769,  and  in  August.  ITT'.', 
was  admitted   to  practice  at  Sunbury,  where  the 


early  records  show  that  he  received  a  large  share 
of  the  legal  business.  Hi-  talents  and  patriotism 
were  carl;  9    ized.     He  was  a  member  of  the 

Provincial  Convention  of  January.  1775,  from 
Northumberland  county,  (in  Feb.  T.  1776,  he  was 
elected  first  major  of  the  battalion  of  the  lower 
division  of  the  county:  on  March  '••.  lTTii.  he  was 
appointed  captain  of  a  company  recruited  by  him- 
self at  Sunbury,  which  was  attached  to  Col.  Sam- 
uel Miles's  Pennsylvania  Rifle  Regiment  and  was 
the  second  company  formed  in  Northumberland 
county.  It  suffered  serious  loss  at  the  battle  of 
Long  Island,  and  in  consequence  of  the  great  mis- 
'  -  met  with  there  was  consolidated  with 
other  commands  in  October  and  thus  lost  it-  in- 
dividuality. Captain  Weitzel  returned  to  Sun- 
hur\ .  \\  here  he  died  in  1782 

John    Weitzel.   Jr..    -  John    and    Tabitha 

i  Mir;;- 1  Weitzel.  was  horn  at  Sunbury  March 
24,    ITT'.',      lie  was  a   merchant  and  miller  there. 

and  in  the  later  years  of  his         pied  the  farm 

wheiv      -  -      Joseph  Weitze    so        e    esided:     He 
died    there   Oct.    9,    1835.      In   politics   he   was   a 
_.  and  he  served  as  justice  of  tl  from 

1806  to  1830.  He  married  Elizabeth  Walters,  of 
Chestnut  Hill.  Philadelphia,  who  was  horn  on  the 
same   day    that    t1  o1    Germankcn  a    was 

fought.  They  were  the  patents  of  five  children, 
among  whom  were  Joseph  and  William. 

Joseph    \\h  itzel,   -on    of  John    Weitzel.  Jr..   was 
born   <ht.   5,    1808,  and   lived  to   he  over  ninety, 
dying  in  March,  1899.     He  is  buried  in  the  South 
Fourth  street   cemetery  at    Sunbury.     A  mat 
live    abilit}    and    large    into    -:  -. 
was  a  oil  more  than  ordinary  prominence 

throughout  his  active  years  in  the  district  \\ 
he  resided.     He  was  a  millwright  and  a  lifi 
miller,    operating    the    mill    on    Little    Shamokin 
.  two  miles  east  of  Sunbury.  in  Rockefeller 
township,  along  the  line  of  Upper  Augusta  town- 
rty  now-  owned  by  hi-  grandson, 
iel  1..  Weitzel.     The  mill  has  now  been  razed, 
only   the   ruins   marking    it-    site.      For    fourteen 
rears   Mr.   Weitzel   also  ran  a   distillery,  operated 
.  and  bought  and  sold  grain 
and  lumber,     lie  was  a  carpenter  as  Well  as  mill- 
-  it.     In   fact,  his  versatility  and  gift  of  man- 
2   various  kinds  of  enterprises  made  him   fa- 
miliar with  many  lines.     He  had  a  farm  of  about 
three  hundred  acres.     A  tall,  lusty,  well  propor- 
tioned man,  he  had   the  physical   as  well   as   the 
mental  strength  necessary  to  carry  his  undertak- 
ings   to   success.      In   politics  he   was   an   old-line 
Whig,   later   a    Republican,   and    in    his   religious 
a  Lutheran. 

In  Is:;-.'  Mr.  Weitzel  married  Sarah  Woodruff, 
daughter  of  John  Woodruff,  a  native  of  Middle- 
town,  who  settled  in  Rockefeller  township.  She 
died  July  19,  1884,  aged  over  sixty  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weitzel  had  the  following  children :    Paul  P.. 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


9  ;:. 


formerly  of  Scranton,  now  of  Philadelphia;  .dim. 
deceased;  Charles  1'..:  William;  Lot  B..  formerly 
of  Kansas,  now  living  in  Rockefeller  township; 
George  1'...  of  Philadelphia;  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Ellis 
Vandling :  and  Joseph,  deceased. 

William  Weitzel,  -on  of  Joseph  Weitzel,  lived 
on  the  homestead  of  his  father,  in  Rockefeller 
township,  now  owned  l>\  his  son  Samuel,  ami  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died  July  1  I.  1875,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-nine  years,  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  ai  Lantz's  Church.  Mr.  Weitzel  mar- 
ried Susan  Culp,  daughter  of  Peter  Culp,  and 
seven  children  were  born  to  them:  Emma  A.  (de- 
ceased) married  S.  0.  Arnold;  Jordan  H.  is  an 
engineer  on  Hie  Sunbury  division  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  and  resides  at  Rock  Glen,  Pa.;  Wil- 
liam hi.,  who  Lives  ai  Harrisburg,  is  a  passenger 
engineer  on  the  Eastern  division  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad;  Samuel  L.  is  mentioned  below; 
David  C.  is  in  Cleveland,  Ohio:  Lizzie  .1.  mar- 
ried William  Renn,  of  Elizabeth,  X.  J.;  Sarah 
Gertrude  married  J.  EL  Cooper,  of  Sunbury,  a  con- 
ductor on   the  Suiiluin   division. 

Samuel  L.  Weitzel  was  bora  Nov.  26,  1862,  in 
Rockefeller  township,  on  tin-  Weitzel  homestead. 
There  he  grew  to  manhood,  living  on  the  farm  and 
working  at  agricultural  pursuit?  and  in  Ins  father's 
mill  and  sawmill  until  after  his  marriage.  Leav- 
ing the  home  place  Sept.  19,  1889,  he  went  to 
work  in  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company's 
shops  at    Sunbui  i      e   has   since  been  em- 

ployed.     Until    1905    lie   was   engaged  at  ear    n 
pairing,  and  has  since  been  a  piece  work  inspector, 

holding  sponsible  position,  which  he  has  proved 

himself  competenl  to  fill.  Except  for  his  interest 
in  the  church,  Mr.  Weitzel  has  been  content  to 
look  alter  In-  private  affairs,  having  refused  offers 
of  local  offii  e,  and  taking  little  part  in  polities  be- 
yond the  casting  of  his  vote.  He  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  a  nice  home  two  miles  east  of  Sunbury,  in 
Rockefeller  township,  and  own-  a  112-aere  farm. 
:i  valuable  and  well  cultivated  tract,  which  lie  has 
rented  to  his  son-in-law.  He  and  his  family  are 
Reformed  members  of  the  Lantz  Church,  which  he 
S(  r.ved  some  years  as  deacon,  i-  now  an  elder,  and 
for  man]  years  was  in  the  church  council.  II 
also    Sunday   school    superintendent    at    present. 

On  April  20,  1884,  Mr.  Weitzel  married  Annie 
E.  Bartholomew,  daughter  of  Valentine  and 
Amelia  (Houck)  Bartholomew,  of  Rockefeller 
township,  and  they  have  had  seven  children:  Ethel 
1',..  Mrs.  A.  B.  Culp:  Erma  G.,  Mrs.  P.  H.  Grady; 

I "\I     who  died  aged  one  year,  one  month,  ten 

days;  Naomi  D.:  A.  Elizabeth;  Miriam:  and  a 
daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 

WILLIAM  II.  LOWELLS,  now  living  retired 
in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  Northumberland 
county  was  engaged  as  a  miner  all  his  active  life, 
for  a  period  of  over  sixty  years.    Mr.  Howells  was 


born  Feb.  13,  1840,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co., 
l'a..  son  of  .lames  Eowells. 

•  lames  Howells  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  on 
coming  to  this  country  landed  at  Philadelphia. 
July  I.  1838.  lie  had  followed  farming  in  his 
own  country.  Locating  at  Minersville.  Schuylkill 
Co.,  l'a..  he  engaged  m  mining,  and  remained  in 
that  vicinity  to  the  end  of  his  days,  dying  at  Black 
Valley,  near  .Minersville.  at  the  age  of  fifty-one 
war-.  He  married  Mary  Morgan,  like  himself  a 
oative  of  Wales,  who  died  at  Branch  Dale,  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Twelve  children  were  horn  to 
them,  only  <i\  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely: 
Anna,  who  was  horn  in  Wale-;  Watkins,  who  was 
three  months  old  when  the  family  came  to  Amer- 
ica: William  II. ;  Rosser.  who  died  while  serving 
in  the  Civil  war:  James,  who  died  in  Texas:  and 
Benjamin,  wdi<>  died  in  Colorado.  All  the  son-  of 
this  family  served  in  the  Civil  war  and  had  cred- 
itable army  records. 

William   II.    Howell,-   began    life  at    the  mines 
when  a  hoy  in  the  humblest  position,  picking  slate. 
l'.\    diligence  and   satisfactory  work   he  advanced 
until  he  became  lire  l>oss.  holding  such  responsible 
position  and  others  of  trust  for  many  year-  before 
his  retirement,  in   1908.     He  was  engaged   in  the 
mines  for  sixty  years  and    for  one  year  at  outside 
work.     Coining  to  Shamokin  in  1887,  he  was 
employed  here  a-  inside  foreman  at  the  Luke  Fid- 
ler  colliery,  later  going  to  the  Cameron   colliery, 
where   he   wa-   assistant   boss    for   about    eight 
years,  until  he  retired  to  spend  his  days  in  leisure. 
He  is  well  known  in  the  coal   region,  among  em 
ployers  ami  emploj  ees,  and  is  a  man  respei     d 

industry  and  high  i  harai  I here  er  he  has  been 

placed. 

Mr.  Howell-  i-  a  Republican  in  political  opinion 
hut  has  uo\er  been  active  in  public  affairs.  How- 
ever, he  was  a  Union  sympathizer  during  the  Civil 
war.  in  which  he  served  a-  a  member  of  Company 
A.  129th  Regiment.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason, 
holding  membership  in  Swatara  Lodge,  No.  267, 
F.  &  A  M..  of  Tremont,  l'a.:  in  Chapter  No.  V'.'!. 
R.  A.  M..  and  in  Constantine  Commandery,  No. 
11.  K.T..of  Pottsville.  In  religion  hi 
with  the  Mennonite  i Ihurch. 

Mr.      Howells     married      Margan        (Pi — r) 
Brown,  widow   of   Owen    Brown.     All    of 
children  horn  to  this  union  died  young.     Mr.  and 

Mr-.   Howells   have  their  I ie  ai    No    Pi    Sfcmth 

Se1  eiith  street.  Sham. 'kin. 

HOR  M  E  C.  BLUE,  Jr.,  special  agent  at  Sun- 
bury for  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  is  a 
member  of  a  famih  long  identified  with  Chillis- 
quaque  township,  Northumberland  county,  an. I  the 
adjacent  territory  in  thai  county  and  in  Moil 
county. 

Samuel  Blue,  h  was  born  in  Chil- 

lisquaque  township.  -mi  of  [saac  Blue,  ami  he  lived 


936 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUXTY.  PEXXSYLVANIA 


at  Danville,  Montour  county,  where  he  conducted 
the  "Mansion  House."  His  wife  was  Abbie  Hulli- 
gan,  and  their  children  were:  Mary  E.,  Thomas 
H.,  William  D.,  Clarence  F.  and  Horace  C.  (clerk 
in  the  county  commissioner's  office  at  Danville). 

Thomas  H.  Blue,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Jan. 
28,  L847,  at  Washingtonville,  Montour  county,  and 
in  the  fall  of  I860  came  to  Sunbury.  where  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  machinist"*  trade.  In  the 
spring  of  1866  he  moved  to  the  borough  of  North- 
umberland, where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
though  he  has  had  interests  which  have  taken  him 
to  various  places.  He  continued  to  follow  the  ma- 
chinist's trade  for  thirty-five  years,  being  engaged 
at  such  work  in  the  navy  yard  at  Washington.  D. 
C,  for  eight  years,  after  which  he  found  employ- 
ment in  that  line  at  Danville  and  Northumberland. 
For  two  years  he  was  located  in  Shelbyville,  Tenn., 
where  he  had  charge  of  an  ice  manufacturing  plant, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1910  he  took  charge  oi 
plant  of  the  Sunbury  Ice  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  has  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  tons  per  day  of 
twenty-four  hours.  He  continues  to  reside  at 
Northumberland.  In  1868  Mr.  Blue  married  Adda 
Eckert.  daughter  of  George  and  Elsie  (Ulp)  Eck- 
ert.  of  that  place,  and  they  have  had  six  children : 
Charles  S.,  of  Shelbyville,  Tenn.:  Hope  F.. 
Winchester,  Tenn.:  Horace  C,  of  Sunbury;  Robert 
I-'...  of  Xorthumberland  :  Mary  S.,  deceased,  and 
Walter,  deceased.  Mr.  Blue  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Horace  C.  Blue  was  born  March  9,  Is;;,  at 
Xorthumberland,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  there.  Later  he  was  a  student 
at  Danville,  and  in  the  State  Normal  school  at 
Bloomsburg,  Pa.  For  about  a  year  afterward  he 
filled  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  State.  Returning  to  Northum- 
berland, he  became  connected  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  service  in  1895  as  messi  ugi  .  later 
becoming  clerk,  and  in  1906  special  agent,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  now  engaged.  He  is  engaged  in 
ral  claim  department  at  Williamsport. 
work  taking  him  all  over  the  Sunbury,  Lewistown 
and  Shamokin  division.  Since  1901  he  has  made 
his  home  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury.  where  he  is 
interested  in  the  ice  business,  he  having  been  one 
_  lizers,  in  January,  1909,  of  the  Sun- 
bury Ice  Manufacturing  Company,  which  manu- 
factures ice  from  distilled  water,  the  purest   - 

-  inbury.    The  establishment  is  conducted  along 
hygienic  lines,  and  the  business  has  been  a  sui 
0  the  start,  seven  two-horse  teams  being  kept 
stantly   on   the  road,   serving  the   large   trade 
which  has  been  built  up.     Mr.  Bin     is       esident 
and  manager  of  this  company,  and  he  also  has  in- 
sts  in  ice  plants  in  Tennessee.    He  is  an  enter- 
ing young  business   man   and   thoroughly   re- 
ted  in  his  community. 

On  Aug.  27,  1900.  Mr.  Blue  was  married  to  Mary 


Cameron    Packer,   daughter   of   Cameron   Packer, 
of  Sunbury.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blue  are  connected 
with  the  Episcopal  Church,  where  he  sang  in  the 
choir  for  some  years. 

DAVID  P.  RUSSELL,  engineer  at  the  Latsha 
pumping  station  for  the  National  Transit  Com- 
pany, is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  Oct.  30,  1871,  at 
'  .1  Ontario.  The  Russell  family  hails  from 
Strathaven,  Scotland,  and  its  members  are  people 
of  rank,  tracing  their  line  back  in  Scotland  to  Lord 
Patterson. 

Da  1,  grandfather  of  David  P.  Russell, 

was  bom  in  Strathaven.  and  came  to  America  in 
1851,  landing  at  Xew  York.  For  a  few  years  he 
lived  in  Xew  York  State,  thence  moving  to  Cold 
Springs,  « (ntario,  and  later  to  Port  Hope,  seven 

-  west  of  Cold  Springs.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpet  weaver,  and  he  was  a  prosperous  and  thrifty 
man,  acquiring  considerable  real  estate.  He  was 
interested  in  public  affairs,  the  leader  of  a  band 
of  Liberals  located  in  a  Conservative  stronghold. 

\  Scotch  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith,  he  was 
a  worker  in  the  church  and  choir  leader  for  many 
years,  a  man  of  the  highest  repute  and  character. 
Ee  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and  is 
buried  at  Port  Hope.  His  wife.  Anne  (Cochran), 
daughter  of  John  Cochran,  died  Jan.  7.  1907.  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven.  Their  children 
were  Joseph  and  Robert  G.,  the  former,  now  de- 
-  1.  having  lived  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.:  he 
was  superintendent  of  all  the  Standard  Oil  sub- 
sidiaries in  Pennsylvania. 

iert  G.  Russi  II,  son  oi  David,  was  born  March 
12,  1836  or  1837.  lived  for  a  number  of  years  at 
Millway.  Lancaster   Co..   Pa.,   being  foreman  for 

Standard  Oil  Company  in  that  region.     He 

held  a  most  responsible  position,  having  at  times 

as  few  as  125  men  under  his  supervision  and  again 

as  many  as  several  thousands.     On  April  1.  1908. 

tired   and   removed  to   Port  Hope.    Ontario. 

where  he  has  since  made  his  home.     He  married 

Lena   Chislett,   whose  parents,   Robert  and.  Char- 

(Manley)    Chislett,    of    England,    came    to 

'.  e  her  birth,  settling  in  Port  Hope, 

Canada.     Robert   G.  and  Lena    (Chislett)    Russell 

had  three  sons  and  three  daughters:     David   P.; 

William  C.  who  is  foreman  for  the  Bell  Telephone 

Company,  of  Newark,  X.  J.:  Robert  F.,  of  Mill- 

wav.  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. :  Mertie  M. :  Anne  ('. ;  and 

Lena  I 

David  P.  Russell  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  province,  about  the 
equal  of  a  high  school  course  in  the  Pennsylvania 

ols.  When  a  youth  of  seventeen  he  commenced 
to  learn  telegraphy,  on  Xov.  21,  1888,  becoming 
an    employe   of   the    Standard    Oil    Company,    in 

-  employ  he  has  remained  continuously  since. 
1894  he  has  been  an  engineer.    On  Xov.  21, 

3S  1,  he  came  to  the  Latsha  pumping  station,  in 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


93? 


Jackson  township,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  which 
i-  a  subsidiary  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company.  Here 
he  mm  i  his  future  wife,  Lydia  M.  Otto,  daughter 
of  Washington  and  Harriet  Otto,  and  they  were 
married  Sept.  Is.  1893.  Thev  have  lour  children, 
Jesse  M.,  Edith  M.,  Robert  Fred  and  Lena  H. 

Politically  Mr.  Eussell  is  a  Republican,  and 
though  living  in  a  Democratic  stronghold  was 
elected  .1  member  of  the  school  board  of  Jackson 
township.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Lafay- 
ette Lodge,  No.  194,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Selinsgrove, 
Pennsylvania. 

JOSEPH  D.  WAGNER,  of  Sunbury,  has  been 

in  the  postal  service  there  since  1S9?..  and  at  pres- 
ent holds  a  clerkship  in  the  office.  In  his  early 
years  lie  was  engaged  in  school  teaching  for  a  num- 
ber 0!'  terms  in  the  lower  end  of  Northumberland 
county  and  for  rive  years  followed  that  profession 
in  Sunbury. 

.Mr.  Wagner  was  born  Aug.  24,  18G4.  in  Little 
Mahanoj  township,  this  county,  and  is  a  great- 
grandson  of  Jacob  Wagner,  a  native  of  Berks  coun- 
tv.  Pa.,  who  was  horn  and  reared  in  the  Tulpe- 
hocken  valley.  He  was  there  married  to  Anna 
Maria  Rentschler,  a  member  of  an  old  Berks  county 
family,  and  this  couple  came  to  Northumberland 
county,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Little  Mahanoy  town- 
ship now  owned  by  Daniel  Reitz.  On  this  old  farm 
i-  a  graveyard  where  Mrs.  Wagner  is  buried,  the 
spot  being  marked  by  a  marble  tombstone.  Jacob 
Wagner  is  buried  at  Little  Mahanoy  Church.  They 
were  Lutherans  in  religious  faith.  They  had  a 
family  of  right  children  (several  of  the  older  ones 
born  in  Berks  county),  namely:  Michael,  Jacob, 
George,  Samuel,  Catharine  (married  William 
Baker  and  moved  to  Michigan).  Magdalena  (mar- 
ried Frederick  Latsha  and  lived  at  Swabian  Creek), 
Rosina  (married  Adam  Daniel,  of  Jackson  town- 
ship) and  Betzv  (married  Jacob  Reitz  and  lived 
at  Red  Bank,  Pa.).    Of  the  sons, 

Michael  Wagner  married  Susanna  Holshue  and 
they  lived  and  died  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.  lie  was  a 
blacksmith  by  occupation.  Their  children  were: 
Adam.  Daniel.  Jesse,  Leonard.  Isaac,  Polly,  Het- 
tie  and  Betzv. 

Jacob  Wagner  married  Sally  Seiler.  of  Jackson 
township,  and  they  had  children:  Salinda,  Elias, 
Carolina.  Harriet.  Amanda.  Emanuel  and  Stephen. 
About  1845  they  moved  out  to  Illinois,  making  the 
journey  by  wagon,  and  there  lived  and  died.  Sev- 
eral of  their  younger  children  were  horn  in  that 
State. 

George  Wagner  was  a  shoemaker.  He  married 
Betzv  Seitz,  of  the  Swabian  Creek  section,  and 
thev  are  buried  at  Little  Mahanoy  Church.  They 
had  children  :  Samuel.  Peter.  John,  David.  Rosina 
and  Bevvy.  . 

Samuel'  Wagner  passed  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  owned 


a  tract  of  land  now  the  property  of  Hiram  Reed. 
He  was  a  tailor  by  trade.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  he  and  his  wife,  Catharine 
(Ferster),  are  buried  at  the  Little  Mahanoy 
Church.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Henry 
died  young;  Levi  is  a  resident  of  Washington  town- 
ship, this  county;  Durrell  lives  at  Geneva,  Fla. : 
George  is  a  resident  of  Polo,  111. ;  Augustus  died  at 
Shamokin.  Pa. :  Isaac  F.  was  the  father  of  Joseph 
D.  Wagner:  Moses  (deceased)  lived  in  Washing- 
ton township:  Julia  (deceased)  married  Jacob 
Gass;  Rebecca  (deceased)  married  Samuel  F. iesi ■: 
I  "oily  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Derrick":  Anna  (de- 
ceased) married  Benjamin  Zartman. 

Isaac  F.  Wagner,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Nov. 
31,  lsf:l.  in  Little  Mahanoy  township,  where  he 
died  Nov.  22,  1905.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  follow- 
ing his  trade  among  the  farmer-  of  his  section  for 
many  years,  and  was  a  well  known  man.  He  was 
assessor  of  his  township  for  many  years  and  also 
served  as  school  director.  In  politics  he  was  a 
stanch  Democrat,  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  he  and 
his  family  being  members  of  the  Little  Mahanoy 
Church,  where  he  is  buried.  He  married  Esther 
Derr,  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Reed.) 
Derr,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  and  fifteen  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  this  union :  Joseph  D. :  "Wil- 
liam, who  died  aged  thirteen  years,  eight  months 
and  twenty-seven  days:  Cassa  Miah.  wife  of  Levi  G. 
Knouse,  living  at  Sunbury:  Samuel,  who  died 
when  aged  one  year,  seventeen  days:  Wilson  D..  of 
Shamokin,  Pa. :  Hannah  J.,  wife  of  David  Fur- 
man,  of  Rockefeller  township,  this  county:  Mary 
Ida,  an  invalid,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-seven 
:  Edgar  D.  of  Sunbury ;  Charles  I.,  of  Hern- 
don,  this  county  ;  Tama  Cora,  who  is  a  sister  in  the 
Mary  J.  Drexel  home  at  Philadelphia:  Stephen 
D.,  of  Sunbury;  Francis  D.,  of  Pennbrook,  Pa.; 
Isaac  I.,  of  Chester,  Pa.;  Robert  D.,  of  Philadel- 
phia: and  Esther  Gertrude,  who  died  when  eighteen 
years  old,  at  The  Training  Si  I I  fo:  Feeblemind- 
ed, of  Western  Pennsylvania,  Polls.  Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  D.  Wagner  received  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  in  the  public  sell. ml-  of  his  native 
township,  and  for  twentj  eight  week's  was  a  studenl 
,ii  Muhlenberg  College.  Allentown,  Pa.  When 
twenty  years  old  he  began  teaching,  ssion 
he  followed  for  a  numb  ars,  being  engaged 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township  three  '.ear-:  in  Cam- 
township,  two  years;  al  Dalmatia,  in  the  nor- 
mal school  and  public  scl 1  one  year;  at  Snyder- 

town,  two  years;  and  at  Sunbury,  five  years — 
thirteen  years  m  all.  On  No  L,  L897,  Mr.  Wag- 
ner was  appointed  carrier  No.  I  in  Sunbury,  after 
passing  the  civil  si  ition  \\  ith  the  sec 

ond  best  average  (89.2)  in  a  class  of  forty.  He 
was  thus  engaged  for  eleven  years  and  one  month, 
on    Dec.    15,   1908,   being  I  A   to  a   < ' 

which  he  now  hold-.     He  is  an  emp 


938 


NORTHUMBERLAND  (  OUXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  highest  efficiency  and  highly  esteemed  as  a  cit- 
izen throughout  the  borough. 

On  March  17,  1888,  Mr.  Wagner  married  Phoehe 
J.  Long,  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  and  Lydia  (Dun- 
kelherger)  Long,  of  Little  Mahanoy  township,  anil 
they  had  one  child,  William  I).,  born  May  14,  1889, 
who  died  when  six  days  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wag- 
ner reside  in  their  own  home  at  No.  1030  Chest- 
nut street.  Sunbury.  They  are  members  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr.  Wagner  belongs  to 
Camp  No.  194,  J'.  <>.  S.  of  A.:  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America;  to  the  Clerks'  and  Letter 
Carriers'  Association,  and  to  the  Friendship  Hose 
t  'ompany  of  Sunbury. 

P.  II.  TYE,  of  Mount  Carrnel,  Northumberland 
county,  is  engaged  in  a  general  black'smithing  bus- 

Lness  at   the  w  3    ond  and   Maple  stri 

He  deals  in  carriages,  wagons  and  -highs,  builds 
and  repairs  wagons,  does  horseshoeing,  carriage 
painting,  etc. 

THEODORE  TALPASH,  proprietor  of  the 
Talpash  Cafe  and  Hotel,  located  at  No.  318  Eas) 
Sunbury  street.   Shamokin,   has  been   in   business 

there  since  1899  and  is  a  very  well  known  citizen 
irough.     He  has  been  quite  a  prominent 
worker  among  those   of  Ins   own   nationality  and 
is  very  popular. 

Mr'.  Talpash  was  born  Oct.  28,  1859,  in  Galicia, 
Austria,  son  of  Lueus  Talpash.  who  followed  farm- 
ing in  that  country  and  died  there.  Theodore  Tal- 
pash received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  land  and  was  reared  to  farming,  which 
he  followed  until  he  entered  the  army,  at  tic 
of  twenty  years.  II-  served  four  years  and  two 
montl  -  as  soldier,  taking  part  in  the  local  war 
of  ti:  .on  between  the  Turks  ami  the  Aus- 

trian-, and  at  die  expiration  of  this  period  returned 
to  Ins  home.  Put  his  father  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  army  li  i  spoiled  the  young  man 
for  tanning,  and  after  three  month-  he  determined 
to  trv  his  fortune  in  America.  Leaving  his  home 
March  L3,  188  I  e  landed  al  New  York  I 
April  3d,  and  came  on  at  oni  3  okin,  North- 
umberland Co.,  l'a..  where  a  number  of  his  fel- 
low countrymen  were  settled.  For  about  five  years 
after  settling  here  Mr.  Talpash  followed  mining. 
;  by  Baumgardner  &  Douty,  at  the 
Enterprise  colliery.  He  then  began  keepi  -  - 
on  North  Shamokin  street,  but  after  seven  months 
in  that  line  changed  to  his  present  business.  Hi< 
cafe  and  hotel  are  well  managed,  and  he  has  a 
tahle  patronage,  built  tip  by  excellent  busi- 
ness and  successful  catering  to  the  wants 
of  his  customers.  11  -  reputation  a-  citizen  and 
business  man  has  always  been  above  reproach. 

Mr.  Talpash  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Ruthenian  Catholic  Church  in  Shamokin.  of  which 
he  is  -till  a  trustee,  and     i     -    >ne  of  those  devoted 


members  who  by  their  untiring  efforts  have  brought 
the  parish  to  its  present  prosperous  condition  and 
made  -      e    the    erection    of    the    magnificent 

church  now  approaching  completion.  He  has  also 
been  active  in  the  various  societi   •  ected  with 

the  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Russian  Un- 
ion of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

Mr.  Talpash's  wife.  Anastaize.  is  also  a  native 
of  Austria.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children: 
I    ger,  Jennie,  Helen.  Annie  and  John. 

DANIEL  C.  BLANK,  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  Sunbury  since  IS??,  has  been  a  railroad  man 
since  1866  and  an  engineer  since  1886,  running 
on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  lie  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Company  for  the  Long 
period  of  thirty-eight  ye.    ■ 

Mr.  Blank  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Blank  and  grand- 
son of  Joseph  Blank,  who  lived  m  Berwick.  Colum- 
bia Co..  Pa.,  whither  he  came  at  an  early  period  in 
the  history  of  the  settlement  of  Columbia  and 
Montour  counties.  He  owned  a  farm,  but  was 
obliged  to  retire  at  a  comparatively  earh  age, 
cause  of  rheumatism,  which  so  affected  him  in  his 
closing  years  thai  he  could  not  walk  without  a 
two  canes.  lie  died  at  Berwick  about  1870,  at  a 
very  advanced  age,  and  is  buried  near  that  place. 
Mr.  Blank  was  a  Methodisl  in  his  earlier  year-. 
later  uniting  with  the  Evangelical  Association. 
He   was  .  and  survived  both  wives. 

Hi-   family  consisted   of   three  children,  all   born 
to  the  first  union,  namely:     Samuel,  and  Jos 
and    Polly,    twins.      Joseph    lived    near    Berwick. 
Polly  married  Jaj  ob  Ki-.-ner. 

Samuel  Blank,  son        Joseph,  was  born  in  181  ! 
and  died  in  1  s i , ^ .  aged  fifty-four  years.     lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  buried  in 
'Id  Luthen  etery  back  of  Briar  Creek, 

in  Columbia  county.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farm- 
er. He  married  Maria  Klinetob,  daughter  of 
Christopher  and  Catharine  Klinetob,  of  Salem 
township,  Luzerne  Co..  Pa.,  and  -lie  died  in  1867, 
at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years,  the  mother  of  the 
following  named  children:  One  daughter  that 
died    in    infancy;    Katie    Ann.    who    died    young; 

ndus.  of  We-t   Pittston,  l'a.:  Elmira,  wifi 
Bi     Jamba  Eveland,  living  at  Jonestown.  Pa. :  Dan- 
:  Malinda   (dei    ased),  who  married  Samuel 
M.  Smith  and  lived  in  Forty  Fort.  Luzerne  county: 
Jennie,  widow  of  Samuel  Poet,  who  was  an  en- 
on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  and  was  killed 
at    Duncannon.    Pa.    (she   lives    at    Harrisburg) ; 
Sarah,  widow  of   Wilson    Stoudt,   living  at   Sun- 
bury:  Louisa    (deceased),   who   married  Websi 
I,  now  a  resident  of  Berwick.  Pa.:  and  Annie 
ased  ).  wife  of  Thomas  Poet  (brother  of  Sam- 
uel, who  married  her  sister  Jennie),  who  lives  in 
Altoona,  Pennsylvania. 

Daniel  C.  Blank  was  born  July  •"■.  1848,  in  Sugar 
Loaf  township.  Luzerne  i  o..   l'a..  and  was  only  a 


NOETHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


939 


youth  of  sixteen  when  he  enlisted,  Sept.  2,  1864, 
from  Columbia  county,  for  one  year,  to  serve  as 
a  musician.  Be  became  a  member  of  Company  I, 
110th  Regiment,  Penns}dvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  3d  Brigade,  2d  Division, 
5th  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was 
present  at  Lee's  surrender  and  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  May  30,  L865,  at  Arlington  Heights, 
Va..  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1866 
Mr.  Blank  began  work  as  a  railroad  man.  and  has 
been  thus  engaged  ever  since.  He  first  worked 
for  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  Com- 
pany, later  for  the  Northern  Central  and  then  for 
the  Philadelphia  &  Erie,  both  the  latter  being  now 
under  the  control  of  tin'  Pennsylvania,  for  which 
he  has  been  working  thirty-eight  years.  Since  1886 
In-  lias  been  engaged  a-  an  engineer.  Jlis  efficiency 
and  trustworthiness  may  ho  best  judged  by  the 
length  of  his  service,  which  of  itself  would  consti 
tute  a  remarkable  record,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Brother] 1  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

On  Aug.  25,  1ST-.'.  Mr.  Blank  married  Emma 
('.  Sensenbach,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Oradio 
(Gold— now  Gould)  Sensenbach,  who  died  at  Sun- 
bury,  hut  wore  earlier  of  Nazareth,  I'a.  Mrs. 
Blank  had  the  following  brothers  and  sisters:  Sar- 
ah, who  died  aged  twelve  years;  Cloyde,  of  Beth- 
lehem, l'a.:  Mary  E.,  who  is  the  widow  of  Daniel 
Paden  ;  James,  of  Louisville.  Ky.  (he  was  drowned 
at  that  place,  in  1910)  :  Angus,  of  St.  Louis.  Mo.: 
Charles  A.,  of  Sunbury;  Elmer,  of  Lewisville, 
I'a. :  and   l)a\  id  G.,  of  Sunbury. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blank  have  had  four  children: 
Harry  \'..  of  Pittsburg,  l'a.:  George  W.,  of  l'itts- 
burg;  Bessie  A.,  married  to  Samuel  1».  Best,  a 
merchant  of  Sunbury;  and  Charier-  W.,  at 
homo. 

GEOBGE  \V.  RUPP,  of  Marion  Heights,  North- 
umberland county,  is  foreman  at  the  Greenough 
colliery,  when'  he  has  been  engaged  since  1900, 
and   is  very  well  known  a1  r±es,  where  he 

has  been  employed  for  about  fifty  years,  since 
early  boyhood"  His  home  was  in  Shamokin  until 
his  recent    removal   to   Marion    Heights. 

Mr.  Rupp  was  horn  Jan.  1.  1849,  in  Catawissa 
township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  a  representa 
tive  of  the  fifth  generation  of  his  family  in  Amer- 
ica, being  descended  from  George  Rupp,  who  came 
to  America  from  Alsace  Lorraine.  Germany,  in 
1750.  There  is  quite  a  romance  in  connection 
with  his  emigration  from  his  native  land  and  set- 
tlement in  America.  In  his  native  land  he  had 
met  Countess  Orsila  von  Petersholtz,  daughter  of 
John  Heinrich  von  Petersholtz,  and  her  family,  lie- 
ins  of  the  nobility,  objected  to  their  union,  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  young  Rupp  was  a  most  su- 
perior young  man.  The  young  couple  thereupon 
married  and  eloped  to  America,  where  they  found- 
ed a  family  which  has  become  honored   in  every 


locality  in  which  it  has  been  represented.  The 
following  account  is  mostly  from  family  and 
church    records. 

(I)  George  Eupp  was  horn  Aug.  11.  L721,  at 
Wimmern,  Lower  Alsace,  -on  of  Ulrich  and  Mar- 
garette (  Holt/)  Rupp.  On  Jan.  27,  1750,  he  mar- 
ried Ursila  von  Petersholtz,  ami  came  to  America. 
at  once  locating  in  Lehigh  county,  l'a..  settling  first 
at  Trexlertown,  where  he  took  up  a  Large  set  tiot 

land  on  a  grant  r ived  from  the  Penns.    Some  of 

the  descendants  of  this  couple  *till  live  on  a  por- 
tion of  the  original  grant.  George  Rupp  died  in 
Northampton  I  now  Lehigh)  county  Sept.  13,  L807, 
aged  eighty-six  years.  Rev.  Heinrich  Helfrish,  the 
minister  who  preached  at  Trexlertown  from  17s  I. 
baptized  and  married  George  Rupp's  children,  who 
were  nine  in  number,  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. We  have  the  following  record  of  this  fam- 
ily: (1)  .Maria  Clara  was  born  Dec.  I.  1750.  (2) 
Margarette  was  horn  Aug.  25,  1752.  (J)  Anna 
Margarette  was  born  Sept.  10,  1  754.  t  I )  Adam 
Harmanus,  born  Nov.  7,  1756,  married  Barbara 
Berer,  who  was  of  Swiss  descent,  and  they  had 
one  son  named  Jacob,  who  married  Mary  Vogel. 
Jacob  Rupp  died  in  L860.  ( •"> )  Johann  George 
was  born  Feb.  28,  L758.  if.)  Andreas,  born  M 
26,  1760,  had  a  family.  (7)  Johannes,  born  July 
'.'.  1762,  is  mentioned  below,  im  Maria  was  horn 
Jan.  2,   L764.     (9)   Anna  was  b  rra   in   L766. 

(II  )    Johannes   Rupp,  -on  of  G 'ge,  was  horn 

July  2,  II1;'.'.  at  Trexlertown,  Lehigh  county,  and 
died    in   Philadelphia.      lie   va-  a    blacksmith   by 
1 1  in  I e.     His  children  were :  William,  Jacob,  Gei 
and  Mary  (married  Jacob  Stein). 

(Ill  i  George  Rupp,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bora 
May  :;ii.  1790,  at  Trexlertown,  Lehigh  county,  ami 
died  Feb.  8,  1870.  lie  learned  weaving  and  fol- 
lowed that  trade  for  some  time.  But  he  was  still 
a  young  man  when  lie  moved  to  Columbia  county, 
l'a..  and  settled  in  what  i>  now  Catawissa  town 
ship,  taking  up  farming,  in  which  work  he  pros 
pered.  lie  acquired  three  large  farm-,  lb'  was 
a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith.  George  Rupp  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Mover,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  (1)  Mary  (Polly)  married  Michael 
Stein,  and  their  children  were:  Jacob,  George, 
David,  Michael.  Jonas,  Amanda  and  Elizabeth. 
(2)  Reuben,  who  died  in  Mount  Carmel,  had  a 
large  family,  viz.:  George,  Sally  Porger,  Jonas 
iwho  had  children  Cora  K'orich.  Sarah  Peipher, 
Kate  Mench,  Herman,  William.  Franklin.  Albert, 
Luzetta  Cooper  ami  Elizabeth  Fahringer),  Mary 
II  ir-hlield.  Harriet  Leiilz.  Harmon.  Andrew  (who 
had  a  son  Warren)  and  Elizabeth  Duddinger  i  who 
had  children  William.  Lorenzo,  Sarah  English, 
Harriett  Martin.  Clara  Klein.  I  >anii  1.  Flora  i 
rad,  Edward  and  Irvin ).  (3)  John  is  n 
below.  (  1 )  Jonathan,  who  died  in  Mo  ml  I  at 
l'a..  had  children:  Frank,  Elizabeth  Henry.  Al- 
fred, Carrie  Jane  Owen-.  Charles,  Clark  and  El- 


940 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


sie   Eisenhart,  wife  of  J.  H.  Eisenhart,  of  Sha- 
mokin. 

(IV)  John  Rupp,  son  of  George,  was  born  Oct. 
17,  1819,  in  Catawissa  township,  Columbia  county, 
and  followed  farming  in  that  county,  becoming 
well-to-do  and  acquiring  land  there.  Retiring,  he 
removed  to  Shamokin,  but  his  death  occurred  while 
lie  was  in  [llinois,  on  a  visit  to  his  (laughter,  July 
12,  1890.  He  married  Mary  Bachman,  of  St. 
Clair.  Pa.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Bachman.  and  to 
them  were  born  the  following  children.  (1)  Eliza- 
beth married  Lemuel  Fisher  and  John  Meisber- 
ger,  and  her  children  are:  John  H. ;  George;  Mar- 
garett,  Barbara  Ella  Zuerns,  who  has  had  two 
children,  John  and  Ella,  and  Mary  Etta  Hen- 
ning.  wlm  had  Lizzie.  Kate  and  Raymond.  (2) 
Anna  married  David  Eveland  and  lives  at  Hagers- 
town,  Md.  (3)  Daniel,  who  died  in  Wilkes-Banc. 
Pa.,  had  children:  Ella  Thomas,  Mrs.  Donlan  and 
Elizabeth.  (4)  John  is  a  resident  of  Shamokin. 
(5)  George  W.  is  mentioned  below.  (6)  David 
lives  in  Johns. in  City,  near  Shamokin.  (7)  Kath- 
ryn  married  Richard  Henley,  of  Indiana.  (8) 
Ellen  married  William  Cute.  (9)  Rebecca  man  nil 
William  O'Brien. 

(V)  George  W.  Rupp  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Shamokin.  but  he  was  a 
mere  boy  when  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  Cold 
Run  Colliery.  He  had  only  worked  at  that  for 
three  weeks,  however,  when  he  was  made  door- 
tender,  and  later  he  drove  team.  He  next  com- 
menced mining,  at  the  Brady  colliery,  and  later 
was  at  the  Enterprise,  run  by  Baumgardner  & 
Douty,  where  lie  was  employed  for  some  time.  In 
1900  he  came  to  the  Greenougli  colliery,  as  as- 
sistant inside  foreman,  and  there  he  has  since  re- 
mained. He  is  an  industrious,  reliable  and  in- 
telligent worker,  and  has  a  respected  name  among 
his  fellow  employees  and  among  his  employers. 

On  Oct.  17,  1871,  Mr.  Rupp  married'  Delia 
Lyons,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lyons.  The  latter 
emigrated  from  Ireland,  and  on  his  arrival  in  this 
country  first  located  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  thence  com- 
ing to  Shamokin.  where  he  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers,  among  his  neighbors  being  the  Weaver, 
Zuern,  Dailey.  Fagely  and  Snyder  families.  To 
Mr.  and  Mr-.  Rupp  have  been  born  children  as 
follows :  John  E. :  Thomas  J.,  who  lives  iu  Sha- 
mokin:  Catherine  M.,  married  to  Daniel  ITvland. 
of  Philadelphia;  George  F. :  William  J.,  of  Phil- 
adelphia :  Raymond  V. :  and  Mary  A",  and  B.  Irene, 
both  of  whom  are  deceased.  1  n  February.  1909,  the 
family  moved  from  Shamokin  to  Marion  Heights 
i  Keiser  post  office).  Mr.  Rupp  and  his  family  are 
members  of  si.  Edward's  Catholic  Church.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  O.  E.,  Aerie  No. 
53  I     He  is  an  independent  voter. 

ABRAHAM  REDCAY,  foreman  of  the  foun- 
dry department  of  the  American  Car  &  Foundry 


Company  at  Milton,  and  one  of  the  faithful  em- 
ployees of  that  company,  was  born  in  Lewis  town- 
ship Jan.  23,  1847,  son  of  Daniel  and  Abby  (Kint) 
Redcay. 

The  name  Redcay  (Redche,  Retge)  has  been 
common  in  Lancaster  and  Berks  counties  in  Penn- 
sylvania for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  (I) 
Elias  Rattge  (or  Redche),  the  first  of  the  name 
here,  came  to  Pennsylvania  Sept.  26,  1737,  from 
German^',  and  was  accompanied  by  Nicholas 
Rattge.  a  relative.  Both  names  were  written  by  a 
clerk  and  that  of  Elias  was  spelled  Ratgen.  Tra- 
dition says  he  was  related  to  John  Jacob  Radge, 
who  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Dec.  3,  1740,  on  the 
ship  "Robert  and  Alice,"  Capt.  Goodman,  com- 
mander. Elias  Rattge  settled  at  once  in  Robeson 
township,  Lancaster  county,  and  Nicholas  in  Al- 
bany township,  Berks  (then  Philadelphia)  county, 
and  on  Nov.  28,  1750,  the  latter  received  a  war- 
rant for  fifty  acres  in  Philadelphia  county.  He 
was  a  farmer,  but  little  is  known  of  him.  He  died 
in  1760,  leaving  a  widow.  Maria  Ann  Ursula,  and 
children  Elias  (died  in  Greenwich  township.  Berks 
county,  in  1773)  and  Anna  Margarete. 

In  1750  Elias  Rattge  (or  Redche)  secured  a 
warrant  from  the  proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  for 
sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  Robeson  township.  Lan- 
caster county;  in  175"?  this  township  was  trans- 
ferred to  Berks  county.  On  Oct.  28.  1765.  he  pur- 
chased llo  acres  adjoining  the  sixty-five,  and  there 
lie  farmed  until  1773.  On  June  1?.  17  73.  he  sold 
his  property  at  Gibraltar  to  his  only  son,  Elias, 
Jr..  and  moved  to  Cumru  (now  Brecknock)  town- 
ship, in  what  was  called  "the  Forest."  There  he 
purchased  134  acres,  through  which  ran  the  Alle- 
gheny creek,  and  on  the  banks  of  that  stream  he 
en  i  nd  a  sawjnill,  which  he  conducted  successfully 
until  the  time  of  bis  death.  He  also  followed 
farming  on  this  land.  He  died  in  1786.  aged  about 
seventy  years,  and  is  buried  at  St.  John's  cemetery, 
Gibraltar — a  part  of  his  old  farm.  Elias  Redche 
was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  Elizabeth  he 
had  the  following  children:  (1)  Flias.  born  in 
1745,  married  April  6.  1773.  Elizabeth  Hunter. 
of  Oley  (born  in  V,  5-?.  died  Jan.  11.  1816).  and 
died  Jan.  3.  18"20.  (2)  Barbara  married  John 
Kendall.  (3)  Mary,  born  Ausj.  5,  17  17.  married 
Mav  28,  17  70.  Gottlieb  Christian,  and  died  in 
1832.  (  h  Catharine,  born  April  22,  1756,  mar- 
ried Sept.  5.  1773,  Christian  Krauss.  and  died  Feb. 
14.  1809.  (5)  Elizabeth  married  Frederich  Rapp 
Sept.  20,  17  70.  and  died  before  1786.  Elias  Red- 
che married  (second)  March  21,  1773.  Rosina 
Zigler,  widow  of  Adam  Zigler.  They  had  no  chil- 
dren, and  at.  bis  death  in  1788  she  married  Chris- 
tian Eschelman,  a  neighbor. 

(II)  Elias  Redcay.  Jr..  only  son  of  Elias,  lived 
in  Robeson  township,  where  he  carried  on  farming 
1  conducted  a  sawmill.  He  carried  on  opera- 
tions mi   the  two  tracts  which  he  had  purchased 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


941 


from  his  father  in  1773,  up  to  1804,  when  he  de- 
cided to  sell  out.  He  was  an  extensive  dealer  in 
land  and  a  large  property  owner,  owning  several 
good  farms  and  a  few  timber  tracts  on  which  he 
operated  sawmills.  On  April  29,  1791,  he  and  his 
wife  deeded  to  Valentine  Geiger  and  Herman 
□instead  in  trust  for  the  inhabitants  of  this  sec- 
tion a  tract  of  land  containing  one  acre,  ten  perches, 
it  being  pail  of  the  land  he  had  purchased  from  his 
father.  This  land  contained  the  private  burying 
ground  of  the  Redcays,  who  in  later  years  allowed 
people  of  their  section  to  bury  their  dead  there. 
It  was  the  intention  to  have  a  church  built  there, 
but  this  was  not  done  until  1809,  and  it  is  known 
as  St.  John's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church.  It 
is  said  that  a  log  church  was  on  the  property  be- 
fore the  present  church  was  built.  All  Christian 
congregations  which  contributed  to  its  support 
were  allowed  to  worship  in  the  building,  and  they 
were  also  to  maintain  and  keep  the  graveyard. 
Lap'  in  life  Elias  Redcay  lost  most  of  his  com- 
petency, through  disastrous  financial  investments. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  from 
Exeter  in  1805-1806,  and  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war  he  served  as  a  lieutenant  of  militia  Erom 
Pennsylvania  in  ('apt.  Adam  Beard's  Company, 
:!d  Battalion,  Lieut.  Col.  Jonathan  .loins.  He 
was  a  great  reader  and  delighted  to  tell  stories  of 
the  war.  He  died  Jan.  3,  1829,  and  is  buried  in 
the  old  Redcay  burying  ground.  On  April  6, 
1773,  Elias  Redcap  married  Elizabeth  Hunter, 
born  1752,  died  Jan.  11,  1816,  and  their  children 
were:  (1)  Henry,  born  Aug.  13,  1775,  married 
Man  Catharine  Neykirk,  of  Exeter,  born  Jan. 
25,  1779.  He  died  May  22,  1848,  and  she  Sept.  3, 
is|-.'.  and  both  are  buried  in  the  Muddy  Creek 
eemeier\  in  Lancaster  county.  (2)  John.  ('■'<) 
Elias,  born  her.  28,  L782,  married  (first)  Jan.  29, 
1809,  Sarah  Harncr.  of  Exeter.  She  died  and  was 
buried  m  Muddy  Creek  cemetery,  and  he  married 
(second)  July  L6,  1826,  Elizabeth  Strauss,  of  Bern, 
born  Feb.  12,  1790.  He  passed  away  dan.  28,  1867, 
and  she  died  Aug.  19,  1875,  and  both  are  buried 
at  Adamstown,  Lancaster  county.  (4)  Elizabeth 
married  Samuel  Ludwig,  of  Cumru,  and  they 
moved  to  .Missouri  in  183?.  (5)  Maria  married 
dune  !i.  1805,  Jacob  Ludwig. 

ill!)  John  Redcay,  son  of  Elias.  was  born  in 
Robeson  township.  Berks  county,  about  1779.  On 
April  10,  1810,  lie,  with  his  father,  purchased  a 
farm  of  John  Barr,  of  Exeter  township,  which  they 
farmed  until  1823,  when  they  sold  out.  He  then 
moved  to  a  farm  near  Schwartzwald  in  Exeter, 
which  bad  a  clover  mill  on  it.  There  he  remained 
until  his  death  in  1836.  and  he  is  buried  in  St. 
John's  graveyard  at  Gibraltar.  About  1807  he 
married  Esther  Rhoads,  of  Amity  township.  Berks 
count  v.  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  (1) 
Mary,  born  Oct.  II.  1807,  married  Thomas  Lewi-. 
(2)    Betzy    born    April    10,    1809.   married    Pete 


Romig,  ami  died  Oct.  16,  L851.  (3)  John,  born 
April  25,  1810.  married  Phoebe  Schrack,  bom  Oct. 
31,  1st:,  died  Feb.  13.  IS.,  1.  He  died  in  duly. 
IMS.  (4)  Daniel,  born  Feb.  1,  181'.'.  married 
Abby  Kint.  and  died  dune  1,  1890.  I  o  i  Jacob, 
born  June  13,  1816,  died  unmarried  Dec.  18,  1898. 
(6)   Catharine  married  John  Lewis. 

( 1 Y )  Daniel  Redcay,  son  of  John,  was  born 
Feb.  1.  1812,  and  died  dune  1,  1890,  and  is  buried 
at  McEwensville,  Pa.  He  came  to  Northumber- 
land county  in  bis  young  manhood,  and  settled  at 
McEwensville,  where  in  1859  he  built  the  home  in 
which  he  resided  until  bis  death.  He  was  a  con- 
tractor ami  builder,  and  many  id'  the  houses  and 
barns  in  that  district  were  built  by  him.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  politics 
was  a  Democrat,  lie  married  Abby  Kint.  who 
was  born  at  Brier  Creek.  Berks  county,  April  is. 
isls.  and  died  April  13.  1904,  and  is  buried  at 
McEwensville.  Their  children  were:  William  and 
Christian,  who  both  died  young:  Angeline,  born 
Dec.  '.'I.  1842,  on  the  old  homestead;  Henry,  bom 
Feb.  I.  1845,  living  in  Watsontown ;  Abraham:  and 
Edward,  born  in  1861,  living  at  Scranton. 

(Y)  Abraham  Redcay,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
•  Ian.  '.'3.  1847,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  trade 
id  nioliler  at  McEwensville.  In  1872  he  came  to 
Milton,  and  became  connected  with  the  American 
Car  &  Foundry  Company,  and  in  1889  was  made 
foreman  of  the  foundry  department,  a  position  he 
-nil  holds.  During'tbe  Civil  war  be  served  as  a 
private  in  Company  B,  210th  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteers, spending  nun'  months  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  He  is  a  member  of  Henry  Wilson 
Post,  No.  129,  G.  A.  R.  lie  and  his  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  Church.  They  reside  at  No.  231 
Park  avenue.  Milton,  m  a  borne  Mr.  Redcay  built 
and  moved  into  at  the  time  of  hi,-  marriage.  II 
votes  the  Prohibitionist  ticket,  ami  takes  a  firm 
stand  for  his  party's  principles. 

Mr.  Redcay  married  Susanna  Cold,  daughter  of 
David  and  Maria  (Rissmiller)  Cold,  and  they  have 
had  children:  Edgar  P.,  who  died  aged  thirteen 
years,  four  months,  twenty-one  days:  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Bert  Hill,  and  lives  in  Turbut 
township;  Franklin  C  a  jeweler  employed  by 
G.  Dal.  Fox,  at  Milton;  and  Clarence  IL.  a  mold- 
er,  residing  at    Milton. 

CHARLES  LFY.W  KREMER,  of  Sunbury, 
whose  business  and  official  activity  has  gained  him 
a  wide  acquaintance,  has  been  a  prominenj  con- 
tractor ami  builder,  and   is   ooi     i  i  'I    in   the 

real  estate  business.    He  is  a  - f  Jacob  Kremi  r, 

who  as  sheriff  and  trea  urer  of  Northumberland 
county  won  popularity  and  friends. 

Jacob  Hremer,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  bom  April 
30,  1827,  in  Albany  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
was  but  a  child  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Northumberland   county.     He  obtained 


942 


XOETHUMBEELAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAX I A 


cation  attending  school  at  the  various  places 
in  which  the  family  resided  during  his  early  life. 
After  reaching  his  majority  he  engaged  in  the 
business  at  Allenwood,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  supplied  horses  for  all  branches  of  the  army 
hi  1879  he  became  owner  of  the  "Mansion 
limine."  at  Watsontown,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
in. mi'liT  of  his  life.  Though  a  resident  of  North- 
umberland county  for  less  than  twenty  years.  Mr. 
Kremer  attained  unusual  prominence.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  sheriff  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
in  18S7,  before  the  expiration  of  his  term,  he  re- 
ceived the  Eepubliean  nomination  for  county 
treasurer,  ami  was  elected.  He  died  March  6, 
1892,  and  was  buried  at  Watsontown. 

On  .Inn.  6,  ls">o.  Mr.  Kremer  married  Julia 
Ann  Allen,  eldest  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Jane 
(Piatt)  Allen,  of  Allenwood,  Union  county,  which 
place  was  named  in  his  honor.  Mrs.  Kremer  was 
horn  Dec.  25,  1829,  and  died  Dee.  29,  1902.  She 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom, 
George  W.,  Newton,  Boyd  anil  John,  died  in  in- 
fancy,  and   the   surviving  are:   Sarah   Alice,  wife 

i    .,    les  G.  Purcell;  Allen  1..  who  married    \<i. 
Taylor:  Charles  Lcvan.  mentioned  below;  Daniel 
A.,  who  married  Emma  Eorseman;  and  Jennie  L.. 
married  to  (■.  E.  Nauss. 

Charles  Levan  Kremer  was  born  Jan.  4.  1857, 
:ii  Allenwood,  Union  Co..  Pa.,  and  attended  the 
district  schools  and  at  Williamsport.  He  came  to 
Sunbury  in  1884-85,  at  which  time  he  became 
deputy  sheriff  under  his  father.  He  served  dur- 
ing his  father's  term.  1885-88,  and  again  became 
deputy  when  his  father  took  the  office  of  treasurer, 
serving  as  such  from  l.sss  to  ISM.  and  then  as 
deputy  under  Eobert  Montgomery,  Democratic 
sheriff.  In  the  fall  of  1893  he  was  elected  pro- 
thonotary  of  Northumberland  county  by  a  majority 
of  1,400,  and  at  the  close  of  this  term  he  was  re- 
elected, by  a  majority  of  1,399,  serving  sis  years 
ui  succession.  During  his  service  as  prothonotary 
Mr.  Kremer  was  also  extensively  engaged  as  a 
contractor  and  builder,  in  which  line  he  was  not- 
able successful. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Kremer  is  a  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  A  A. 
M. :  Northumberland  Chapter.  No.  174,  R.  A.  M. : 
and  Mount  Hermon  Commandery,  \o.  85,  K.  T. 

On  Feb.  "2.3.  1897,  he  married  Mrs.  Kate  (Fin- 
ney)  Van  Horn,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
by  Dr.  Hamlin,  of  Washington.  Her  parents  were 
Hamilton  and  Catharine  Finney,  of  Kansas  City, 
Missouri. 

Hamilton  Finney,  her  father,  was  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county  and  spent  his  early  life 
here.  About  the  year  1840  he  moved  to  Harrison- 
ville.  Mo.,  and  after  the  Civil  war  he  went  to 
Kansas  City,  where  he  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  political  life  of  the  city.     There  his  daughter 


Kate  was  born  and  lived  all  her  early  life.  She 
married  Eobert  Van  Horn,  who  died  in  1SS5.  In 
1895,  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  Finney.  Mr.  Finney 
and  his  daughter  came  back  to  Sunbury  to  live 
and  here  she  met  Mr.  Kremer.  whom  she  married 
in  Washington.  1).  ('..  in  1897.  For  twelve  years 
they  lived  in  Sunbury  and  then  bought  "Honey- 
wood  Farm,"  on  the  hill  opposite  the  town,  where 
-lie  lived  until  her  death  one  year  later.  Mrs. 
Kremer  occupied  a  unique  place  in  the  life  of 
Sunbury.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  refinement 
ami  culture,  having  had  the  advantages  of  ex- 
tensive travel  and  study.  She  was  an  artist  of 
unusual  ability,  studying  in  Paris  and  New  York, 
where  she  did  some  notable  work  in  oils.  She  was 
a  linguist,  and  up  to  the  time  of  her  death  spent 
much  time  in  the  study  of  German  and  French. 
Mrs.  Kremer  had  a  charming  personality  and 
possessed  to  an  unusual  degree  the  faculty  of  mak- 
ing and  keeping  friend-.  She  was  most  lavish 
in  her  hospitality  and  possessed  gifts  which  made 
her  home  the  centi  besl   sorl   of  social  in- 

iirse.     She  died  May  21,  1010.  and  is  buried 
in   Pomfrel   Manor  cemetery  at  Sunbury. 

FEEDEEIC  ANTES  GODCHAELES,  presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  F.  A.  Godcharles 
Company,  of  Milton,  manufacturers  of  iron  and 
stei  I  nails,  hinges,  washers  and  puddled  iron,  is  at 
the  head  of  an  industry  which  ha-  done  much  for 
the  borough's  prosperity  for  over  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury. This  company  is  the  successor  of  the  ('.  A. 
Godcharles  Company,  which  was  established  in 
1875  by  the  late  Charles  A.  Godcharles.  father  of 
Frederii  A.  Godcharles.  Employment  is  given 
at  present  to  about  four  hundred,  a  fact  which  con- 
vi  -  some  idea  of  the  importance  of  the  Godcharles 
plant  in  its  relation  to  the  local  industrial  situa- 
ion.  Mr.  Godcharles  is  one  of  the  young  busi- 
Di  --  n  i  M  fori  most  in  his  section  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  he  has  not  only  extensive  business  interests 
but  also  numerous  social  connections.  Moreover, 
he  has  been  conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  his 
civic  responsibilities,  having  served  faithfully  in 
public  office,  for  which  his  ability  and  experience 
make  him  peculiarly  competent. 

Mr.  Godcharles  was  horn  dune  '■',.  1872,  oldest 
son  of  Charles  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Burkenbine) 
Godcharles.  His  father  was  one  of  the  constituent 
members  of  the  firm  of  C.  A.  Godcharles  &  Co.. 
organized  in  1875.  His  mother  was  the  daughter 
of  the  late  Samuel  A.  Burkenbine,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  newspaper  men  of  his  day;  she  was  also 
the  granddaughter  of  Alexander  Hughes,  another 
member  of  the  newspaper  profession  and  at  one 
time  State  printer,  and  the  great-granddaughter 
of  Col.  Philip  Frederic  Antes,  a  colonel  in  the 
devolution,  a  most  prominent  early  citizen,  one 
of  the  first  president  judges  and   for  many  years 


\~0KTH1   MBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


943 


treasurer  of  Northumberland  county.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  named  for  this  illustrious 
ancestor. 

t  '11  \ki.Ks  Aim  \  Godi  i!  u;u..-.  son  of  Henry  and 
Esther  (Price)  Godcharles,  was  bom  at  Farrands- 
ville,  Clinton  Co.,  Pa.,  Dee.  s.  L843.     Be  attended 

the  public  scl Is  for  a  few  .wars,  and  learned  the 

trade  of  nailmaker,  under  his  rather,  wh..  was  a 

pioi r  nailmaker   in    this  country,  traveling  all 

the  way  from  his  native  place  in  Canada  by  foot. 
At  a  very  tender  age  Mr.  Godcharles  enlisted  for 
servii  i  in  the  Civil  war  in  Company  G,  L31s1 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers, ' and  reenlisted  in  Com- 
pany A.  2.01st  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  followed  his  trade  at 
Duncannon,  Pa.,  and  later  removed  to  North- 
umberland, where  be  accepted  a  similar  position 
with  Van  Alen  &  Co.  In  181  I  be  headed  a  com- 
pany which  built  a  nail  mill  at  Milton,  later  one 
at  Towanda,  and  then  a  thin!  at  Northumberland. 
He  retired  from  active  business  a  few  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  January  17,  1903.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  belong- 
ing I"  all  the  bodies,  and  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Republican  part}'. 

On  dune  25,  1'Jii;,.  the  F.  A.  Godcharles  Com- 
pany, successors  to  the  C.  A.  Godcharles  Company, 
was  incorporated,  Frederic  A.  Godcharles  becom- 
ing president  and  general  manager;  Walter  A. 
Godcharles,  rice  president;  and  William  B. 
Godcharles,  secretary  and  treasurer,  these  officers 
being  brothers. 

Frederic  A.  Godcharles  received  his  preparatory 
education    in    Milton,   graduating   from    the   high 

scl I  in  May,   1888,  after  which  he  took  a  course 

in  electrical  engineering  at  Lafayette  College, 
Easton,  Pa.,  graduating  in  1893.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  associated  in  business  as  above  stated. 
His  principal  interest  is  in  the  F.  A.  Godcharles 
Company,  of  which  he  is  the  title  member,  but  he 
has  also  formed  other  important  connections,  local 
and  otherwise.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Garrett 
County  Coal  and  Mining  Company.  He  is  also 
interested  in  other  corporations,  either  because  of 
the  advantages  they  offer,  the  locality  or  because 
they  appear  attractive  propositions  for  the  invest- 
ment of  capital.  In  short,  he  is  a  typical  modern 
progressive  business  man.  Tn  1910  he  bought  The 
Milhiiiimi.  the  only  weekly  newspaper  of  Milton, 
the  first  newspaper  of  the  place  and  the  oldest 
in  the  county,  it  having  been  established  by  Henry 
Frick  in  1816  and  published  without  interruption 
■since.  This  paper  has  grown  wonderfully  in  the 
past  year  and  ranks  with  the  largest  and  best  in 
this  section  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Godcharles  served  throughout  the  Spanish- 
American  war  with  the  12th  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  has  been  a  cap- 
tain and  inspector  of  rifle  practice  in  the  12th 
Eegimentj  Pennsylvania  National  Guard.    He  was 


a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Siate  Legislature,  session  of  L901,  and  in  Nov., 
1904,  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate;  he  served 
on  the  Inaugural  committee,  Appropriations,  Pub- 
lie  Roads  and  Highways,  Military,  and  as  chairman 

of  the  eommitt n  Came  and   Fish,      lie  is  a  past 

officer  in  the  Son-  of  Veterans  and  Knights  of 
Malta,  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Milton  Lodge, 
K.  P.  0.  Elks.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  Fraternity,  being  a  past  officer  m  Lodgei 
Chapter  and  Commandery  and  a  member  of  the 
Council,  Scottish  Rite  (in  which  he  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason)  and  Mystic  Shrine.  lie  is 
ai  present  serving  his  fifth  year  a-  district  deputy 
grand  master  for  the  Forty-sixth  Masonic  distrii  I 

Mr.  Godcharles  has  just  published  a  history  of 
Freemasonry  in  Northumberland  and  Snyder 
counties,  which  is  the  largest  work  of  its  kind 
ever  attempted  in  the  fraternity.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Harrisburg  Club  of  Harrisburg,  the  Union 
League  Club  of  Philadelphia,  the  Ross  Club  of 
Williamsport,  the  Milton  Pod  and  Gun  Club,  the 
Otzinackon  Pod  ami  Gun  Club  of  Clinton  County, 
the  Automobile  Club  of  Central  Pennsylvania  (of 
which  he  is  president),  the  Motor  Federation  of 
Pennsylvania  (of  which  he  is  chairman  of  the 
touring  committee),  a  director  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Stale  Sportsmen's  Association  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Science.  When  in  college  he  became  a 
member- of  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  and  the  Theta  Nu 
Epsilon  fraternities.  His  favorite  recreation-,  as 
may  be  gathered  from  the  foregoing,  are  auto- 
mobiling,  hunting  and  shooting.  He  is  a  Presby- 
terian in  religion  and  a  Republican  in  polities. 

(hi  June  L5,  1904,  Mr.  Godcharles  was  married. 
in  Washington,  D.  ('..  to  Mary  Walls  Barber,  of 
St.  Mary's  county,  Maryland. 

ISAAC  M.  GEOSS,  of  Sunburv.  who  followed 
the  milling  and  lumber  businesses  for  a  number  of 
years,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  borough  since 
1874  ami  has  been  a  useful  citizen  and  a  respected 
member  of  the  community  during  all  those  years. 

Mr.  Cross  was  born  in  Snyder  county,  Pa..  Aug. 
:>.  1845,  ami  he  is  a  great-grandson  of  Michael 
Gross,  an  early  settler  in  Perks  county,  Pa.,  who 
lived  and  died  there.  Israel  Cross,  son  of  Michael. 
moved  thence  to  Snyder  county  when  a  young  man, 
being  among  the  early  settlers  in  his  locality.  He 
was  a  farmer  on  Blue  Hill,  just  across  the  river 
from  Fort  Augusta,  where  his  grandson.  Isaac  M. 
i ,  ross,  now  lives. 

John  Cro>-.  son  of  l-rael.  was  born  in  Is:;:;  in 
Snyder  county,  opposite  Fori  Augusta,  and  died 
in  1876,  being  killed  in  a  sawmill,  lie  is  buried 
at  Shamokin  Cain.  He  married  \lar\  Gougler, 
daughter  id'  George  i  rougler,  of  Snyder  county,  and 
I  randdaughter  of  the  late  Capt.  Jacob  Hummel,  a 
widely  known   man  in  In-  day,  who  served  a-  a 


944 


NORTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN  I A 


captain  in  the  Eevolutionary  war;  he  was  the 
second  person  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Selins- 
grove.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Gross:  Milton  G-. ;  Olivia  J.,  who  married 
Dr.  Bordner   (both  arc  deceased);  and  Isaac  M. 

Isaac  M.  Gross  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Snyder  county.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  was  in  the  milling  business,  and  be- 
fore his  removal  to  Sunbury  was  in  the  lumber 
business  from  1866  to  1873,  at  Shamokin  Dam. 
In  1874  he  settled  in  Sunbury,  where  he  continued 
to  carry  on  the  lumber  business,  retiring  from 
active  pursuits  in  189:1.  Since  1895  he  has  lived 
at  his  present  home.  Fort  Augusta,  a  beautiful 
place  along  the  river  front  in  Sunbury.  He  has 
taken  a  public-spirited  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  borough,  and  served  two  terms  in  the  council, 
to  which  he  was  first  elected  in  the  year  1899. 

On  Jan.  21,  1874,  Mr.  Gross  married  Amelia 
Lucust  Hancock,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
daughters.  Olivia  .1.  and  Ella  B.,  the  former  of 
whom  is  deceased.  Ella  B.  Gross  married  William 
M.  Bossiter,  of  Sunbury.  ami  they  have  six  chil- 
dren. Jane  A..  Gertrude  B..  Monroe  O,  Mary  E.,- 
William  M.  and  Marcella  G. 

Mrs.  Gross  is  a  woman  of  intelligence  and  of 
enterprising  disposition.  Born  at  St.  Bla 
( lornwall,  England,  in  1849,  she  learned  the  mil- 
linery business  in  her  native  land  and  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  in  1869.  The  family 
landed  at  Castle  Garden,  and  stopped  only  two 
hours  in  New  York,  continuing  their  journey  at 
once  to  Beading,  Pa.  Hotel  accommodations  were 
not  so  plentiful  in  those  days  as  at  present,  and 
they  were  obliged  to  spend  the  night  of  their  arrival 
in  the  railroad  station.  They  settled  at  Locust 
Dale,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  Mrs.  Gross  was 
for  three  years  engaged  at  her  trade  in  Ashland, 
that  county,  and  at  Mount  Carmel.  in  Northum- 
berland county,  before  she  commenced  business 
in  Sunbury,  in  1S72.  She  became  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful business  women  of  the  borough  and  re- 
ceived her  full  share  of  the  local  patronage.  On 
May  5,  1895.  at  sheriffs  sale,  she  bought  the  old 
Colonel  Hunter  property  at  Fort  Augusta,  well 
known  all  over  Pennsylvania  and  in  fact  to  his- 
torians everywhere.  It  has  been  improved  ami 
beautified  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gross  until  it  is  one  of  the  notably  handsome 
places  along  the  river  front. 

William  Hancock,  father  of  Mrs.  Gross,  was  an 
expert  mining  engineer  and  inspector  of  mines,  and 
was  well  known  in  and  around  Locust  Dale,  where 
he  made  his  home.  He  died  Jan.  21,  1876,  and 
is  buried  at  Sunbury.  He  married  Jane  Lucust, 
daughter  of  John  Locust,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  eight  children :  Richard,  who  came  to  America 
in  IS:.-?  and  fought  through  the  Civil  war:  Mary 
J.,  who  died  voung:  Mary,  who  married  Thomas 


Stephen  and  died  in  England:  William,  who 
served  three  months  in  the  English  army  before 
he  came  to  America,  in  1853,  and  served  here 
through  the  Civil  war:  John,  who  died  young; 
Jane:  Caroline:  and  Amelia. 

In  1911  Mrs.  Gross  made  a  tour  of  England, 
setting  sail  June  27th  and  returning  in  September. 
She  visited  her  old  home  and  many  notable  places ; 
attended  Ambassador  Reid's  reception  on  July 
4th;  and  had  the  honor  of  touching  the  original 
plan — now  in  the  British  Museum — of  Fort  Au- 
gusta,  which  was  built  in  America  by  the  British 
during  the  reign  of  King  George  III.  Among 
other  famous  places  she  visited  Westminster  Abbey 
and  the  Cathedral  of  Canterbury.  She  was  very 
proud  to  visit  the  Cathedral,  as  she  had  been  con- 
firmed in  1862  at  Tywardreatb  Church  by  Arch- 
bishop Longlev.  who  was  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury from  1795  to  1869. 

EAEL  M.  ROUSH,  of  Sunbury.  a  young  mem- 
ber of  the  Northumberland  county  bar  who  is  gain- 
ing a  creditable  practice  and  standing  in  his  sec- 
tion, is  a  member  of  an  old  Snyder  county  family. 
His  great-grandfather,  Simon  Roush,  moved  to 
that  county  from  Lebanon  county  and  settled  near 
Preeburg.  Hi-  children  were  ;i~  follows:  Charles. 
Edward,  Joshua.  Christiana,  Amelia.  Louisa, 
Esther  and  Alexander. 

Alexander  Roush.  grand  father  of  Earl  M.  Roush, . 
was  born  in  1822,  and  died  in  1890.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived  near  Freeburg. 
Snyder  county.  He  married  Charlotte  Mengis, 
born  in  1835,  died  in  1900,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  we  have  the  following 

d:     (1)  Wallace  is  deceased.     (2)  Jacob  M. 

is  mentioned  below,  i  •'! )  Noah  married  Ella  Gun- 
drum,  and  they  had  children,  Mabel,  Nelson  and 
Lucy.  (4)  Elijah  married  Ellen  Wertz.  and  they 
had  one  son.  Simon.  (5)  Luther.  (6)  T.  Jeffer- 
son married  Sallie  Wert.  (  ;  )  Mary  married  John 
McCreary  and  had  children.  Clarence,  Isabella  and 
Walter.      (8)    Esther  married  William  Y.  Baker. 

Jacob  M.  Roush.  son  of  Alexander,  was  born  in 
1848,  in  Snyder  county,  where  he  passed  the  great- 
er part  of  his  life,  in  1S91  removing  to  Sunbury. 
Northumberland  county,  where  lie  built  a  home 
on  Susquehanna  avenue  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  Life.  His  death  occurred  Oct.  31.  190:!. 
Early  in  life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  his  death.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Freeburg  to  Sarah  J.  Schnee,  daughter  of 
Mathias  Schnee  (whose  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Rine).  She  survives  him  with  the  three  chil- 
dren of  their  union.  Earl  M..  Charlotta  and  Wil- 
liam. The  last  named  is  still  a  student.  Charlotta 
Roush  graduated  from  the  Sunbury  high  school 
in  June,  1902,  and  subsequently  taught  school 
two  years  before  her  marriage,  in  1904,  to  John 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


945 


\.  Fink,  of  the  linn  of  Flick  &  Leib,  Sunbury. 
Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Flick  have  had  two  children.  Vir- 
ginia and  Bettio. 

Karl  M.  Ronsh  was  born  in  L881  in  Freeburg, 
Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  received  the  beginnings 
of  his  education.  He  graduated  from  the  Sun- 
bury  high  school  with  the  class  of  L900.  Being 
ambitious  to  gain  a  college  education,  hni  being 
dependent  entirely  upon  his  own  resources,  he 
secured  the  position  of  assistant  secretary  of  the 
Y.  M.  ('.  A.  at  Sunbury,  which  he  held  for  one 
year,  meanwhile  pursuing  his  studies  under  private 
tutors,  lie  then  entered  the  sophomore  class  at 
Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  from  which  in- 
stitution lie  was  graduated  in  June,  1905,  and  in 
September  following  he  entered  the  Carlisle  law 
school,  where  he  completed  the  course,  graduating 
in  1907.  In  August,  1907,  Mr.  Roush  was  elected 
to  lill  the  chair  of  mathematics  a!  the  Sunbury 
high  school,  and  was  reelected  in  1908.  On  Nov. 
18,  1907,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  North- 
umberland county,  and  in  1908  opened  an  office 
in  the  Bassler  building,  in  Sunbury,  and  began 
the  regular  practice  of  his  profession.  II  is  early 
efforts,  and  the  obstacles  he  has  successfully  over- 
come in  acquiring  a  thorough  education  and  ade- 
quate professional  training,  are  excellent  indica- 
tions of  what  his  Future  may  be. 

Mr.  Roush's  social  connections  are  with  the 
Sigma  Alpha  Epsilon  Fraternity  and  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  fraternity,  and  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to 
Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Zion's  Lutheran  <  Ihurch. 

EMERICK.  The  Emerick  or  Emrick  family 
(early  spelling  Emrich)  has  been  represented  in 
Pennsylvania  since  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  There  is  record  of  a  number  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  during  that  period,  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  Vol.  XVII,  showing  the 
following,  with  name  of  ship  and  date  of  arrival: 
Johan  "Nickel"  Emrich  (aged  thirty-six),  "Glas- 
gow," Sept.  9,  1738;  Jacob  Emrich  (aged  nine- 
teen), "Patience  and  Margaret."  Sept.  25,  1748; 
Johan  Fried.  Emrich,  "Chesterfield."  Sept.  1. 
1749;  Anthoni  Emrich,  "Royal  Union,"  Any.  15, 
1750;  Johan  Georg  Emmerich,  "Richard  and 
Mary,"  Sept.  20,  1752;  Herman  Emrich  (aged 
twenty-seven)  and  Carl  Emrich  fayed  twenty- 
seven),  "Louisa,"  Oct.  3,  1753;  Johan  Peter  Em- 
rich, "Bannister,"  Oct.  31,  1754  :  Andreas  Em- 
rich snow  -Tivall."  Dec.  4,  1764;  Johannes  Em- 
rich, ••Chance."  Sept.  23,  1766;  Joseph  Emm  h. 
-Betsy. "  Oct.  26,  1768;  Johan  Theobald  Emrich, 
"Minerva  "  0<  t.  13,  1769;  Andreas  Emmerich, 
"Charming  Molly,"  Oct.  22,  1773.  One  John 
Bolters  Emerick  died  on  shipboard  April  22,  1806. 

That  the  family  has  long  been  quite  numerous 
in  eastern  Pennsylvania  is  shown  by  the  Federal 
Census  Report  of  1790.  in  which,  under  Emrich, 


we  find  indexed  Adam.  Andrew.  Balser,  Herman, 
Jacob,  Jacob.  Jr.,  John,  John  (Philadelphia 
county),  John.  Jr.,  John,  Jr.,  John  George,  Leon- 
ard. Ludwig  (Philadelphia  county),  Michael. 
Nicolas  (Cumberland  county),  Philip  and  Wil- 
liam; of  the  Emricks,  there  were  &  Tge,  Henry 
(of  Dauphin  county),  and  Jacob,  John.  John  and 
Valentine  (all  four  of  Montgomery  county).  Of 
these.  Adam  Emrich,  of  Tulpehocken  township, 
Berks  county,  had  two  sons  under  sixteen  ami  two 
daughters:  Andrew  Emrii  b,  of  that  township,  had 
one  son  above  and  two  sons  under  sixteen  and 
four  daughters;  John  George  Emrich,  of  the  same 
township,  had  Four  daughters;  Balser  Emrich,  of 
Bethel  township.  Berks  county,  had  three  sons 
under  sixteen  and  two  daughters:  John  Emrich, 
Jr.,  of  Bethel  township,  had  one  son  under  six- 
teen and  one  daughter:  another  John  Emrich,  Jr., 
of  the  same  township,  had  two  sons  above  sixteen; 
Jacob  Emrich,  also  of  Bethel  township,  had  wife 
but  no  children;  Jacob  Emrich,  Jr.,  same  town- 
ship, had  one  son  above  and  one  son  under  sixteen 
and  two  daughters;  William  Emrich,  of  Bern 
township,  Berks  county,  had  one  son  above  and 
one  son  under  sixteen,  and  two  daughters :  Leonard 
Emrich,  of  Brunswick  (Brecknock?)  and  Man- 
lieim  townships,  Lancaster  county,  had  one  son 
above  and  one  son  under  sixteen;  Michael  Emrich 
had  four  sons  above  sixteen  and  two  daughters; 
Philip  Emrich,  of  the  borough  of  Reading,  Berks 
county,  had  two  sons  above  and  one  son  under 
sixteen,  and  three  daughters;  Herman  Emrich,  of 
Rockland  township.  Berks  county,  had  one'  "son 
above  and  two  sons  under  sixteen,  and  three  daugh- 
ters. One  Andrew  Emrich,  of  Bethel  township, 
Berks  county,  died  before  1789,  leaving  a 
Margaret  and  children  Valentine,  Julianna  (mar- 
ried Henry  Mover),  John  arid  Henry.  During 
the  Revolutionary  war  one  Jacob  Emmeriek  was  a 
private  in  ('apt.  James  Todd's  company  From 
Dauphin  county. 

Of   the   Emerich    wills   on    record    the    earliest    is 

that    of    Nicholas    Emerich,    regarding    which    tve 
find   the   following   in   the   regisb  i        i  i    al's  offii  e 
at    Reading,  Berks  county:   Letter-  of  administra- 
tion under  the  said  office  with  a  true  copy  of  a 
translation   from  the  German  original  of  the  lasl 
will  and  testament  of  Nicholas   Emerich,  lab    o 
the  town-hip  of  Rockland  in  the  County  of  Bi 
aforesaid,    yeoman,    deceased,    were    -ranted     to 
\  alentine  Emerich  of  the  Town-hip  of  Whitehall. 
in  the  County  of   Northampton,  in   the   Pro 
of   Pennsylvania,  yeoman,  eldesl   son  of  the  -aid 
testator,  no  executor  or  executors  being    therein 

named,  he  ha\  ing    firs!   given   l ■•     >  i  ording    to 

Law  (Anna  Barbara,  the  widow,  relic!  of  the  said 
testator,  appearing  no!  to  be  of  sound  understand- 
ing sufficient  to  take  a  the  burden  of  the 
administration  of  the  estate  of  the  said  b 
inventory  to  I shibited  at  or  befon      u   twenty- 


946 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


day  of  July  next  and  an  aecouni  of  his 
administration  at  or  before  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
dune,  which  will  he  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand,  seven  hundred  and  seventy :  which  will 
of  the  sail]  Nicholas  Emerich,  deceased,  was  duly 
proved  by  the  solemn  oath  of  George  Oberdorff  and 
Jaque  Baral,  the  Subscribing  Witnesses  t'i  the  said 
will,  but  being  in  the  Gen  an  Language  could  noi 
he  recorded.  The  will  was  proved  the  16th  of 
dune.  1769;  letters  of  administration,  the  26th  of 
month.  Examined  by  James  Read,  deputy 
register. 

Descendants  of  Valentine  Emeriek  live  in  Center 
county,  near  Center  Hall.     One  is  a  doctor,  and 
his   sister   is   married   to   an   attorney   who   has 
number  ot    Einrich  familv  papers. 

Other  wills  recorded  are  those  "I  Jacob  Emerich 
(1803):  Adam  Emerich  (1809);  Balzer  Emerich 
(1810):  Adam  Emerich  (1813):  John  Emerich 
(  1816  I  :  Leonard  Emerich  (1834)  ;  I  -i  ian  Eme- 
rich (1840);  Hannah  Emerich  (1842);  Barbara 
!  □  erich  (1849)  :  George  Ernei  ii  :  I  1865).  Guar- 
dians were  appointed  for  John  and  ge  Eme- 
rich in  1809;  for  Mary  and  Catharine  Emerich  in 
1810:  for  a  child  of  John  Emerich  1 1  i  and 
for  Peter  and  Joseph  Emerich.  1815. 

There  was  a  John  Nicholas  Emeriek.  born  in 
1749,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1774,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  fur  trade  as  a  partner  of  John  Jacob 
Astor,  bmnder  of  tin'  celebrated  New  York  family. 
Astor,  also  a  German,  bom  in  1763  near  Heidel- 
berg, was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  mus 
instrumi  nts  with  hi-  brother  in  London,  and  came 
to  America  in  17.V,.  to  Baltimore,  with  the  idea 
of  disposing  of  some  of  his  instruments.  1!>  svas 
the  first  regular  dealer  in  that  line  in  this  coun- 
try. Having  exchanged  musical  instruments  for 
furs,  in  Yew  York,  he  aci  identally  entered  into 
the  business  upon  which  his  great  fortune  was 
founded.  Returning  to  London  with  his  stock, 
he  disposed  of  it  to  such  advantage  that  he  speedily 
made  another  trip.  In  time  he  came  in  invest 
largely  in  real  estate  in  New  York,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  his  death,  in  1S4S.  i  See 
f'Frolic  and  Fun."  by  Isabel  Allardyce,  1907). 
John  Nicholas  Emeriek.  who  was  hi-  partner  in 
the  fur  business  for  thirty  years,  wa-  stationed  at 
Berlin  and  was  probably  the  best  known  agi 
in  Europe  in  that  line  of  trade.  He  never  mar- 
ried, leaving  all  his  property  to  the  children  of 
two  brothers  in  the  Unite  3  es.  According 
to  tradition  Astor  and  Emeriek  entered  into  an 
greet  ent  to  the  effect  that  no  settlement  of  their 
tnership  affairs  was  to  be  made  ertain 

number  of  years  after  the  death  of  either.  So  far 
as  the  descendants  of  John  Michael  Emeriek — 
in  have  been  a  brother  of  John  Nicholas 
Emeriek — are  concerned,  no  settlement  has  ever 
been  reached.  Michael  Emeriek,  late  of  Lower 
Mahanoi    township,    Northumberland    county,   fa- 


ther, of  the  present  Mr.  M.  L.  Emeriek.  of  that 
section,  and  grandson  of  John  Michael,  frequently 
referred  to  the  family's  claim  to  this  estate  and  his 
-  that  his  children  would  gain  their  legacy. 
'Hie  estate  was  reputed  to  be  so  vast  a-  to  stimu- 
late the  activities  of  possible  beneficiaries.  Frank- 
lin Square,  Philadelphia,  is  part  of  the  property 
involved.  Some  of  the  money  i-  in  banks  at 
Brert  many.     On  July  28,  Ism'.,  there  was 

a  press  inquiry  and  notice  to  the  heirs  of  the 
estate  of  Nicholas  Emeriek,  and  newspaper  articles 
relating  to  the  matter  which  have  appeared  at 
various  times  are  preserved  by  member-  o 
family  as  possible  clews.  Several  Emericks  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  are  reputed  to  have 
i  •  i  .■-.  and  efforts  are  being  made 
tn  have  the  matter  closed  up. 

John  Michael  Emeriek.  the  ancestor  of  the 
and  Emricks  of  Northumberland  county 
with  which  this  article  is  concerned,  was  born 
-  p  6,  L757,  and  had  brothers  and  sisters  as 
ows:  Elizabeth,  born  April  18,  1752  (Mrs. 
G  over)  ;  Anna  Catherine,  born  Sept.  9,  L754; 
Mary  Barbara  and  John,  twins,  born  July  li. 
1760;  Rose  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  20,  1763;  Henry 
Landis,  born  July  30,  1 T  * i T  ;  Samuel,  born  Oct. 
1.  1769. 

John  Michael  Emeriek,  who  died  Nov.  14.  1835 
(this  does  nut  agree  with  family  record  which 
says  "he  died  aged  thirty-eight  years"),  is  buried 
on  the  farm  now  owned' .by  John  Michael  Emeriek. 
but  which  at  that  time  was  the  property  of  Bal- 
Bordner.  A  translation  of  an  article  of 
_  eement   made   Nov.  29,   lis:  ween   Martin 

Kei-:  Mahanoy    township.    Northumber- 

land County,  Pa.,  and  Michael  Emrich,  of  Bethel 
township.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  shows  that  Martin 
Kerstetter  -ell-  to  Michael  Emrich  a  tract  of  land 
located  in  Mahanoy  township  containing  150  acres 
for  160  pounds;  25  pounds  mi  above  date:  25 
pound-  on  May  1.  L785 ;  1"  pounds  on  <  let.  1. 
1786;  ami  10  pounds  yearly  thereafter  until  paid. 
In  article  of  agreement  entered  into  between 
George  and  Michael  Emrich.  both  of  Mahanoy 
township.  Northumberland  county,  and  John 
vTeidenhammer,  from  Richmond  township.  Berks 
v.  parties  of  first  part  bound  them-.1.-  to 
pay  John  Weidenhammer  the  sum  of  166  pounds. 
17  shillings,  fourpence,  lawful  money,  to  be  paid 
April  is.  1821.  The  same  parties  of  first  part 
agree  to  pay  a  like  sum  in  1822.  A  like  sum  they 
appear  to  have  paid  in  1820. 

John  Michael  Emeriek  married  Anna  Catharine 
Pontius,  bom  April  14.  1757,  died  March  11.  1838, 
and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
John,  who  never  married,  located  in  Ohio:  (John  i 
George  is  mentioned  fullv  below:  Sarah  Marie, 
born  April  28,  17S9,  died  about  1871-72,  married 
Jacob  Spotts  (bora  dune  Is.  1788,  died  June  14. 
1852,  -ii'    of  the  six  children,  two  sons  and  four 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


mi; 


daughters,  of  Johannes  and  Maria  Spat/.,  the 
former  born  March  24,  L762,  died  Nov.  24,  L856; 
the  latter  born  July  5,  L765,  died  Aug.  5,  L834)  ; 
Catharine,  born  March  11,  1791,  married  Michael 
Lenker,  and  died  Sept.  L8,  1860;  Elizabeth,  born 
Aug.  1).  1785,  married  a  Latsha,  and  died  June 
26,  ism  ;  Michael,  born  in  1 794,  Located  on  a 
farm  adjoining  the  homestead,  and  died  m  L873; 
Anna  .Mary,  born  in  1792,  was  married  to  Martin 
FCerstetter  (the  ceremony  being  performed  by 
Adam  Lenker.  J.  I'..  and  witnessed  le  George 
Emrich,  George  Wolf  and  Michael  Lenker),  and 
died  aged  sixty-two  years,  eight  months,  eight 
days. 

(John)  George  Emeriek,  sun  of  John  Michael, 
born  March  9,  1  788,  died  in  L871,  and  is  buried 
at  Zion's  (Stmie  Valley)  Church,  of  which  he 
and  his  family  were  Lutheran  members.  His 
will,  made  April  25,  L870,  was  proved  dune  ;. 
L872.  lie  came  to  Northumberland  county  in 
L813,  making  the  journey  with  one  wagon,  and  be- 
came a  farmer  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  culti- 
vating a  large  trad  of  land.  His  wile.  Eva  Magda- 
lena  (Zartman),  daughter  of  Martin  Zartman. 
born  Oct.  8,  1795,  died  in  1876,  and  she.  too.  is 
buried  at  the  Stone  Valley  Church.  The}  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  born  as  follows: 
Georg  .  April  23,  L813;  Jacob,  Dee.  21,  1814; 
Rebecca,  Sept.  12,  1816  (married  Charles  Bros- 
ius) ;  Benjamin,  Feb.  1.  1818  (had  children); 
Sarah,  Nov.  i.  1819  (married  Jonas  Snyder); 
John,  Lee.  2,  L821  idled  Keli.  Is.  1896)  ;  Eliza- 
beili.  Sept.  9,  1823  (died  in  infancy)  :  Elias,  Sept. 
16,  1824  (died  March  2,  1898)  :  Catherine,  1826 
(married  John  Stein)  :  Mary,  Sept.  2,  1828  (mar- 
ried Isaac  Mart/.)  :  Susannah,  dan.  14.  1831  (died 
raung)  ;  Michael,  Nov.  27,  is:;-.':  Joseph,  Nov.  27, 
is.",  I. 

Michael  Emeriek.  son  of  (John)  George,  was 
born  Nov.  27,  1832,  on  the  farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township  now  owned  by  Frank  Phillips.  He 
owned  and  operated  (he  farm  which  is  now  the 
property  of  his  son-in-law,  Jonathan  Byerly,  and 
in  1863  erected  the  large  brick  house  now  standing 
on  that  place,  all  the  brick  for  which  was  made  on 
the  premises.  A  man  of  enterprise  and  intelli- 
gence, he  was  a  useful  and  progressive  citizen  in 
everv  respect,  encouraged  public  education  and 
took  an  active  part  in  matters  of  interest  to  the 
community  generally.  He  enjoyed  such  confi- 
dence among  his  neighbors  and  friends  that  he 
was  called  upon  to  settle  a  number  of  estates.  In 
politic-  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  Luth- 
eran, lie  and  his  family  being  Lutheran  members 
of  the  Stone  Valley  Church,  which  he  served  as 
deacon  and  trustee,  lie  died  Dec.  21.  1800.  and  is 
Im vied  at  that  church. 

On  dan.  25,  L855,  Mr.  Emeriek  married  Han- 
nah Tressler,  who  was  born  dan.  30.  1832,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann   (Billman)   Tressler, 


ami  who.  though  nearly  eighty,  is  a  well  preserved 
woman,  her  vitality  being  remarkable.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  to  tin-  union:  (1) 
Sarah  Minerva,  born  dan.  29,  1856,  married  J.  I'. 
Blasser,  and  they  have  hail  a  large  family,  born 
as  follows:  Charles  Ubert,  JuK  LO,  L882;  John 
Ezra,  born  July  10,  1882  (married  Nov.  L0,  1906, 

'o  <  !rissie  P.   I  treibelbis)  ;   Mabel   Sal a.   Dei .  3, 

1883;  Mary  Magdalene,  May  23,  1885  (married 
July  27,  1909,  Roscoe  F.  Walborn)  :  Walter  Jacob, 
Nov.  20,  L8S6;  Hannah  Henrietta.  March  29, 
L888;  Naomi  Susannah.  March  14,  1SS0 ;  Alice 
Minerva  and  Julius  Abraham,  twins,  June  16, 
1893;  Rav  Michael.  Feb.  4.  1895;  "and  Mi 
Obadiah,  Feb.  27,  1897.  (2)  Theodore  '!'..  born 
duly  22,  1857,  married  Rosa  A.  Latsha.  Thej 
bave  no  children.  ( :', )  Mary  Magdalene,  born 
Oct.  '.'.  L858,  died  in  infancy.  |  h  Louisa  Cath- 
erine, born  Aug.  31,  1859,  married  Jonathan 
Byerly,  and  they  have  had  nine  children:  Beecher, 
horn  Dec.  8,  1881 :  Naomi  Josephine,  Jan.  5,  1883; 
Claude  Alveretta,  June  27,  1884;  Hannah  Eliza- 
beth, Oct.  Hi.  1885;  Elias  Michael.  Oct.  23,  1886; 
Saloma  Ellen.  Aug.  10,  L889;  Isaac  Theodore, 
Nov.  3,  L892;  Maude  IF.  Dee.  6,  1894  :  Mark 
Jonathan,  Nov.  is.  1900.  (5)  George  Jacob 
Michael,  horn  in  August.  1865,  i-  a  farmer  in 
Jordan  township,  in  his  native  district.  He  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  working  lor  his  parents  until 
thirty-two  years  of  age.  when  he  undertook  to 
farm  the  homestead  on  his  own  account,  continu- 
ing thu-  two  years.  In  1899  he  purchased  Ins 
present  well  located  farm  of  150  acres,  two  and  a 
half  miles  north  id'  Ohiontown,  one  mile  south 
from  Urban,  ou  the  road  leading  to  Pillow.  This 
was  the  homestead  of  George  Brosius,  and  before 
him  his  father.  Daniel  Brosius,  owned  it.  The 
barn  on  this  place  is  a  landmark,  and  the  house 

was  erected  h\  ii ge  Brosius  during  the  nineties. 

Mr.  Emeriek  has  a  fertile  tract,  in  a  good  state  of 
en  luxation,  and  has  prospered  in  his  agricultural 
work.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  served 
a-  supervisor  of  the  township  from  1901  to  1910. 
IF-  and  his  family  worship  at  Zion's  Union  Church, 
Stone  Valley,  of  which  he  was  a  deacon  three  years. 

He  was   married    Dee.    17,    L897,   to    Adeline   Winner. 

daughter  of  Henry  S.  and  Phoebe  (Zartman) 
Witmer.  They  have  had  one  sou.  Michael  Henry. 
I  6  I  Hannah  Kulina.  born  July  L9,  1869,  died  in 
infancy,  (i)  Martin  Luther,  mentioned  below, 
was  horn  Nov.  in.  1872.  (8)  Ellen  Miranda,  horn 
dune  15,  1874,  married  Isaac  P.  Phillips,  and  has 
one  child.  Hannah  Harrietle.  bom  Aug.  -.'1.  1909. 
\I\imi\  Fitiif.k  Emerick,  M.  D.,  of  Hickory 
Corners,  Northumberland  county,  is  on,,  of  the 
notably  successful  physicians  of  hi-  section  of 
IVnnsvlvania.  lie  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Jordan 
township  where  hi-  boyhood  days  were  passed,  and 
received  hi-  earh  mental  training  in  the  local 
public  schools.     Later  he  attended  the  State  nor- 


048 


XORTHFMRHPLAXD  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


mal  school  at  Bloonisburg,  and  for  one  term  taught 
public  school  in  his  home  township.  He  then  took 
a  special  course  in  chemistry  at  the  Pennsylvania 
State  College,  ami  later  a  special  course  at  Sus- 
quehanna University,  finally  entering  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  where  he  pursued 
his  medical  course  ami  graduated  in  1896.  His 
special  work  was  in  diseases  of  the  eye.  a  maternity 
course  and  optics,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his 
college  work  he  did  practical  work  in  the  German 
hospital  at  Philadelphia,  under  the  special  direc- 
tion of  Dr.  Freese,  formerly  a  lecturer  in  the  Royal 
Medical  College  at  Berlin.  Germany.  In  June. 
1896,  he  passed  the  examination  of  the  State  Medi- 
ca]  Council,  ami  returning  home  commenced  prac- 
tice.  He  remained  at  the  homestead  for  two 
months,  since  when  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Hickory  Corners,  his  home  being  out  from  Dal- 
matia  i  Georgetown  ).  on  the  Northern  Central  rail- 
road. The  most  conservative  admit  his  success, 
from  the  beginning.  His  practice  was  at  first  a 
typical  general  country  practice,  until  his  office 
work  became  so  heavy  that  he  was  compelled  to 
give  up  country  calls  and  devote  his  attention  to 
those  who  came  to  him.  Few  young  physicians 
have  attained  even  local  renown  so  quickly.  Dr. 
Emerick  has  had  to  bring  his  work  into  the  limits 
of  a  specialist  on  chronic  diseases  and  as  such 
enjoys  the  most  extensive  practice  in  the  State. 
He  is  reputed  to  have  few  equals  as  a  diagnos- 
tician, and  his  fame  has  spread  over  several  States 
because  of  the  large  number  of  people  whom  he  has 
cured.  Yet  he  i-  a  most  modest,  unassuming  gen- 
tleman, sympathetic,  liberal  and  great-hearted,  and 
has  performed  many  services  gratuitously,  deserv- 
ing his  reputation  as  a  benefactor  of  suffering 
humanity.  His  patients  come  from  all  over  the 
country,  especially  from  the  anthracite  ami  bitumi- 
nous coal  fields,  and  as  many  as  seventy-two  peo- 
ple have  come  on  one  train  to  his  office  in  the  rural 
section  of  Lower  Mahanoy  township.  Dalmatia 
and  Herndon  team-  ami  hacks  have  gained  a 
thriving  business  through  his  popularity.  Such 
demands  have  been  made  upon  him  that  in  one 
day  of  twenty-three  and  a  half  hours  he  saw  210 
patients.  He  buys  his  drugs  and  supplies  in 
wholesale  quantities  (medicine  bottles  in  carload 
lots),  his  -tore  room  and  office  presenting  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  wholesale  drug  store.  Dr.  Emerick 
1 1 in-elf  manufactures  a  remedy  which  has  con- 
siderable fame,  the  noted  "Ginseng  Dandelion 
Compound"  for  stomach  and  liver  troubles,  which 
hi-  a  gigantic  sale. 
Dr.  Emerick  is  honored  in  his  home  community 
citizen  who  has  few  equals,  for  he  is  a  high 
of  manhood.  The  business  interests  lie  has 
acquired  have  made  him  as  influential  a  factor 
in  the  material  prosperity  of  his  fellow  citizens 
as  his  professional  work  has  given  him  prestige 
and    personal    popularity.      He   owns   several    line 


farms  in  the  township  where  he  lives,  is  interested 
financially  in  the  shoe  manufacturing  busines>  at 
Dalmatia.  and  also  in  a  paint  mill  and  the  cement 
manufacturing  industry.  Hi-  largesi  investment-, 
however,  are  in  city  real  estate  in  Washington,  D. 
('..  and  Carlisle.  Pa.  He  is  a  man  of  large  affairs 
ami  has  accumulated  considerable  mean-. 

In  February,  ism.  Dr.  Emerick  married  Cath- 
arine Ellen  Lenker.  daughter  of  Paul  and  Cath- 
arine (Carman)  Lenker,  and  granddaughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catharine  (Wert)  Garman.  They  have 
ha<l  three  children:  John   Paul  Luther,  born  Jan. 

Hi.  1! who  died  May  18,  1902;  Myrtle  Hannah 

C.  A.,  born  -Ian.  5,  1901;  ami  Emma  Irene,  born 
Fed.  1.  1909.  Dr.  Emerick  is  a  member  of  the 
Junior  O.  1".  A.  M.,  and  the  M.  W.  A.  at  Dalmatia. 

Josepb  F.mkick.  a  retired  citizen  of  Sunbury, 
was  born  Xov.  27,  L834,  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, son  of  (John)  George  Emerick.  Brought  up 
to  farming,  he  passed  his  early  years  engaged  in 
that  work  at  home  and  among  the  neighboring 
farmer-.  For  two  years  he  followed  lime  burning. 
In  1859  he  began  farming  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  he  lived  for  three  years,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  moving  to  Rockefeller  township, 
where  he  farmed  for  the  long  period  of  th i it \ - 
one  year-,  until  his  retirement  in  1894.  He  has 
since  lived  in  Sunbury,  making  his  home  at  No. 
IT  Fairmmint  avenue.  He  has  taken  some  part 
in  public  affair-  since  settling  there,  having  served 
three  years  a-  assessor  of  the  Eighth  ward.  Air. 
Emrick  is  a  Republican  in  politic-,  and  he  ami  his 
family  are  Lutherans  in  religion. 

In  1858  Mr.  Emrick  married  Sarah  Wirt,  who 
was  horn  June  12,  1836,  'laughter  of  Michael 
Wirt,  of  Lower  Mahanoy.  and  died  June  1'.'.  1904. 
She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children,  viz. :  (1) 
Eenry  Morris  was  horn  Aug.  29.  1858. 
Clara  Ann.  horn  Xov.  10,  1859,  died  Oct.  26, 
1863.  (3)  One  'laughter  died  in  infancy.  (4) 
Sarah  Jane,  born  Mav  8,  1863,  was  married  Oct. 
31,  Ism;,  to  J.  Edward  Reitz,  and  they  have  had 
the  following  children:  a  daughter  horn  Sept.  50. 
1887,  who  'lied  tlie  -ante  day;  Harrison  Edward. 
horn  Oct.  lo.  1889:  Verna  Viola,  horn  March  27, 
1891  :  a  30H  born  Aug.  20,  1894,  who  died  the  same 
day:  Minnie  Catharine,  horn  Feb.  17,  L898, 
who  died  Mav  26,  1906;  Lillian  Martha,  horn  Nov. 
26,  1899;  Martin  Luther,  horn  Feb.  17,  1904.  who 
died  March  13,  1904;  and  Charles  Emrick.  horn 
Jan.  31,  1906.  (5)  Mary  Magdaline  was  horn 
Dec.  31,  1864.  (6)  Charles  Lincoln,  born  June 
26,  1866,  married  Sarah  Isabel]  Raker,  and  their 
children  have  been  born  as  follows:  Harry  Clar- 
ence. Jan.  20,  1893;  Willie  Charles.  Feb.  3,  1895; 
Elmer  Charles.  Oct.  25,  1898:  Leroy,  Aug.  5, 
1902;  Herbert  Roosevelt,  Nov.  12.  1004:  Wesley 
Weber,  Jan.  51.  1907  (died  Aug.  4.  1007)  :  Viola 
Catharine.  April  11.  1908;  Minnie  Josephine. 
Oct.    53.    1909.    (7)    George   Wirt,   born   Aug.    1, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY..  PENNSYLVANIA 


949 


1868,  has  two  children:  Ralph  Obadiah,  born  Nov. 
3,  1892,  and  Edith  Christanna,  born  April  26 
L894.  (8)  Minnie  Alice  was  born  May  23,  1872 
('.))  Joseph  Albert,  born  Jan.  29,  1875,  died  Feb. 
1".  1875.  i  LO)  A  child  born  Aug.  22,  L878,  died 
unnamed. 

On  Sept.  19,  1907,  Mr.  Enirick  married  (sec- 
ond) Mrs.  Sophronia  Elizabeth  (Kerstetter) 
Martz,  widow  of  Daniel  B.  Martz,  of  Sunbury,  by 
whom  she  had  two  sons,  Robert  S.  and  Arthur  A. 
Mrs.  Emrick  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  ami  Elizabeth 
(Gass)  Kerstetter,  of  Shamokin  (now  Ralpho) 
township,  and  granddaughter  of  Philip  Ker- 
stetter, whose  wife  was  a  Slack,  of  Cameron 
township,  this  county,  who  died  at  Trevorton,  in 
Zerbe  township. 

SAMUEL  DUEELL  JORDAN  (deceased), 
organizer  and  firs!  cashier  of  the  Firs!  National 
Bank  of  Milton,  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  fore- 
mosl  citizens  6f  that  borough,  where  the  name  of 
Jordan  has  been  one  respected  and  influential  for 
a  century  and  more.  His  brother,  Alexander 
Jordan,  a a-  (.residing  judge  of  the  Eighth  Judicial 
district  for  twenty  years. 

Mi'.  Jordan  was  born  m  1812  at  Jaysburg 
(now  apart  of  the  city  of  Williamsport),  Lycoming 
Co.,  Pa.,  -"li  of  Samuel  J.  ami  Rosanna  (Me- 
Clester)  Jordan,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander McClester,  a  native  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland. 
Eis  father,  horn  about  1764,  lived  at  Jaysburg 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  boatman  and 
pilot  by  occupation,  and  is  mentioned  by  Tunison 
Coryell  a-  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  sails 
in  the  navigation  of  the  Susquehanna.  About 
the  year  1802  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Milton,  when-  he  owned  canal-boats  and  continued 
to  follow  the  business.    Mr.  Jordan  died  at  Milton 


Juh 


1851,     aged     eighty-seven    rears,    ten 


months,  and  his  wife  died  Aug.  29,  1840,  aged 
seventy-three  years,  ten  months,  fifteen  days. 
The\  are  buried  at  Milton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jordan 
were  the  parents  of  three  children:  Alexander. 
William  and  Samuel  D. 

Alexander  Jordan  was  horn  at  Jaysburg 
May  I'".  179S,  and  was  a  young  child  when  the 
family  removed  to  Milton,  where  la1  was  reared 
He  had  the  educational  advantages  afforded  by  the 
local  schools,  hut  they  were  none  to,,  good  and  he 
went  t,,  work  early.  Moreover,  though  little  more 
than  a  boy  during  the  war  of  1812-15,  he  accom- 
panied the  militia  in  the  march  across  the  State  to 
Meadville,  Crawford  county,  as  deputy  commissary, 
heme  absent  several  weeks.  After  clerking 
eral  years  in  a  store  at  Milton  Mr.  Jordan  entered 
upon  what  was  practically  his  apprenticeship  to  the 
Legal  profession,  becoming  an  employee  of  Eugh 
Bellas,  prothonotarv  of  Northumberland  county, 
for  whom  he  was  deputv  clerk.  During  bis  work- 
in   that   capacity  be  did  begin   the  study  of  law 


under  Mr.  Bellas,  but   he  did   not  study  regularly 
for  some  time,  as  his  inclination  was  toward  me- 
chanical pursuits,  and  his  leisure,  moreover,  was 
limited.     He  continued    t,,   serve   as   deputv   pro- 
thonotary    under   Mr.    Bellas's    successors,    Ge< 
W.  Brown  and  Andrew  Albright,  meanwhile 
rying  on  his  law  studies  with  such  success  that  he 
Ma-   admitted    to   the   bar   April    19,    1820,   ha 
passed   an   examination   by   Messrs.    Hepburn.    Hall 
and  Bradford.     He  commenced   practice  at   once, 
opening  an  office  at  Sunbury.  and  rose  rapidly  in 
the  profession.     His  diligence  as  a  student,  which 
made    his    preparation    especially    thorough,    was 
never  relaxed  after  he  entered   upon   the   prai 

te  law,  and  much  of  his  success  was  of  the  kind 
that  may  he  won  always  by  industry  and  patient 
care.  His  ability  was  unquestioned,  hut  he  did 
ii, ,i  depend  upon  natural  talent  ah, ne  t,,  gain  his 
patronage  and  prestige  or  to  win  his  cases.  In 
addressing  the  couri  or  the  jure  he  used  language 
concise  and  to  the  point,  and  arguments  which 
showed  the  most  painstaking  preparation,  and  bis 
occasional  eloquence  was  the  eloquence  of  con- 
viction, not  of  flowery  hut  shallow  discourse.  Sev- 
eral years  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  received 
bis  first  public  honor,  and  from  that  time  until 
the  end  of  his  days  he  was  an  influence  in  the 
judicial  circles  id'  his  section.  In  1826  he  was 
commissioned  prothonotary  of  the  Supreme  couri 

for  the  Middle  district,  a  cot ction  which  was  of 

great  value  to  him.  bringing  him.  as  it  did.  into 
contact  with  the  leading  jurists  of  the  Stale.  When 
the  judiciary  became  elective  in  this  Srate  his  high 
professional  standing  combined  with  In-  pers 
popularity  made  him  a  desirable  candidate  of  his 
party — the  Democratic,  then  dominant  in  the 
State,  and  in  October.  1851,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent judge  of  what  was  then  the  Eighth  Judicial 
district,  comprising  Northumberland,  Lycoming. 
('enter  and  Clinton  counties,  b)  a  large  popular 
majority.  He  took  the  oath  of  office  Nov.  28,  1851, 
and  continued  to  serve,  by  reelection,  for  twenty 
years.  I  n  1861  the  i  ounl  ies  of  Northumberland, 
Montour  and  Lycoming  constituted  the  district. 
continued  honors  a-  came  to  Judge  Jordan 
w  en   n, ,1  tin'  resuH  of  chani  e. 

•■M.ni\  complicated  questions  affecting  large  per- 
sonal  and  property  interests,  and  involving  prin- 
ciples   n, a     heretofore    considered,    arose    during 
Jordan's  incumbency  :   in  these  important 

eases  bis  decisions  have  si I  the  severest  scrutiny 

and  will  he  an  enduring  evidence  of  In-  ability  as 
a  jurist.  He  was  end,, wed  iii  a  remarkable  degree 
with  the  logical  faculty,  wb  pow- 

ers — keen,  incisive  ami  accurate 
the  e--,iM  ial  points  in  an  argument,  dismi 
oi   all   i  r  i  •  >  •  1  •  ■  ■■.  ani  matter.     To  him  the  lav 
intricate  science,  and  its  study  was  quite  as  much  a 
source   of    intellectual  tion    as   a    pro 

sional  duty.    Hi-  intercourse  with  m  the 


950 


XORTHUMBEELAXD  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


bar  was  characterized  by  uniform  courtesy,  and 
his  rulings  were  so  given  as  to  leave  no  unpleasant 
feelings;  to  the  younger  members  his  manner  and 
words  were  kind,  considerate  and  encouraging. 

"  -A  professor  of  the  Christian  religion,  seeking 
to  regulate  his  public  and  private  conduct  in  strict 
conformity  with  the  Christian  faith,  and  to  ex- 
emplify, by  justice  and  dihgence,  the  harmony  of 
religious  principles  and  professions  with  the  diver- 
sified, important  and  dignified  duties  of  a  citizen,  a 
lawyer,  and  a  judge,"  he  was  fur  many  years  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sunbury  and 
superintendent  of  its  Sunday  school.'3 

Judge  Jordan  was  twin-  married,  his  first  union, 
in  1820,  being  to  Mary,  daughter  of  I  >aniel  Hurley. 
After  her  decease  he  married  Hannah  Hittenhouse, 
formerly  of  Philadelphia,  who  survived  him  many 
years,  continuing  to  make  her  home  in  Sunbury. 
Judge  Jordan  died  Oct.  5,  1878,  and  i-  buried  in 
the  Sunbury  cemetery. 

Samuel  Durell  Jordan  was  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Milton  for  many  years,  noted  for 
bis  good  judgment  and  executive  ability,  and  he 
was  prominent  in  the  life  of  the  borough  gener- 
ally, lb'  was  the  organizer  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Milton,  and  became  cashier  when  that 
institution  opened  for  business,  in  February,  1864, 
continuing  in  that  relation  until  his  death,  v 
occurred  April  IT.  1875.  His  opinion  in  financial 
matters  was  sought  and  followed  for  many  years 
in  this  section. 

On  June  23,  1849,  Mr.  Jordan  married  Elisa- 
beth Tharp,  daughter  of  James  and  Phebe  (Vin- 
cent) .  Tharp,  who  was  bom  in  L823,  and  died 
March  24,  18S6,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jordan  are  buried  at  Milton.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children :  Florence 
V.  who  is  deceased;  Mary  Hurley,  who  makes  her 
home  in  Milton;  Elisabeth  M..  who  married 
Thomas  Wilson  and  has  two  children.  Elisabeth  J. 
and  Hurlburt  I..:  Frank,  deceased:  and  Virginia 
J.,  deceased.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Jordan  belonged  to 
the  1.  0.  0.  F.  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


The  Vincent  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Samuel 
Durell  Jordan  belonged,  was  of  noble  origin.  Eouis 
Vincent,  the  first  ancestor  to  come  to  America, 
was  born  in  1676  in  France,  during  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIV.  in  that  country  and  of  Charles  II.  in 
England,  of  an  old  Huguenot  family,  and  came  to 
America  after  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes.  The  family  first  settled  in  Alabama  and 
there  became  large  slave  owners,  selling  their  slaves 
some  time  before  the  war  and  then  coming  to  what 
is  now  Chillisquaojtie.  Northumberland  Co..  Pa. 

Bishop  John  H.  Vincent  erected  a  beautiful 
church  at  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  in  memory  of  the 
family. 


John  Vincent,  son  of  Louis,  was  born  Jan.  26, 
1709.  On  Dec.  1,  1733,  he  married  Elisabeth  Dore- 
mus,  and  they  had  children  born  as  follows : 
Esther,  July  3,  1734;  Cornelius.  April  15,  173'  : 
Rachel,  Feb.  24.  1739 :  Elisabeth,  May  27,  1741; 
Elisabeth  (2),  Sept.  13,  1743;  Jane,  Feb.  28, 
1746;  Mary,  March  5.  1748:  Benjamin,  March  Id, 
L751;  Peter,  Jan.  18,  1754. 

Cornelius  Vincent,  son  of  John,  born  in  17::;, 
married  Phebe  Ward,  who  was  born  April  8,  1740. 
They  had  children  a-  follows:  Isaac,  born  June 
80,  1757  :  Daniel,  Jan.  17,  1760;  Bethuls,  June  3, 
L763;  Sarah.  July  25.  1765;  Benjamin,  Oct.  5, 
L768;  John,  Feb.  4.  1772:  Elizabeth,' Jan.  4, 
1774:  Rebecca,  Oct.  27,  1,776;  Mary,  Feb.  L0, 
1779. 

Daniel  Vincent,  -on  of  Cornelius,  born  Jan.  17. 
L760,  became  the  owner  of  about  four  hundred 
acres  of  lam]  near  Fort  Freeland.  Northumberland 
county,  lying  along  Warrior  run.  In  1790  be  built 
the  first  mill  in  the  vicinity,  becoming  particularly 
well  known  m  this  connection.  The  mill  was  re- 
modeled in  1818  and  is  still  standing.  Daniel 
ut  was  at  Fort  Freeland  when  u  was  attacked 
by  the  Indians  and  he  and  his  wife  were  taken 
prisoner,  but  she  was  sent  back  to  hei  a  Is  on 
horseback,  while  he  was  taken  to  Canada,  where 
he  was  held  for  four  years.  I  hiring  this  time  he 
acted  as  Commission  Agenl  for  his  captors.  Dur- 
ing his  fights  with  the  Indians  he  sustained  an 
injury  in  bis  side  which  continually  grew  worse 
and,  finally,  caused  his  death.    He  and  many  n 

of  his  family  are  buried  in  the  Warrior  Pun 
cemetery. 

On  March  3,  L778,  Mr.  Vincent  married -Angelica 
Huffe,  who  was  born  in  August.  1760,  and  their 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Phi  Sept.  L5, 
1779  (married  James  Tharp);  Isaac.  Oct.  21, 
1783;  Nancy,  Dec.  6.  1785;  Pollv,  Oct.  1'.'.  i;v,  ; 
Elisab  i.  r.  v,;  .|,,<,r|,.  sept.  18.  1790;  John. 
Oct.  24,  1793:  Lydia,  Sept.  G.  1795:  Bethuls,  Oct. 

11.  1798;  ami  Jane.  March  ;.  L803. 

Isaac  Vincent,  born  Oct.  21.  1783.  married 
Vaivb  24,  1812,  Rebecca  Comly,  who  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  Nov.  16,  1790.  He  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Northumberland  county  and  early 
in  life  toot,  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  heir 
to  one-half  of  his  father'-  estate  and  lived  thereon 
all  bis  life.  His  children  were  born  as  follow-: 
.  D^c.  20,  1812;  Daniel,  Oct.  12.  1814; 
Nancy,  Sept.  9,  1816;  Daniel  (2).  Aug.  16,  1818; 
Charles  C,  Jan.  4.  1S20:  Sarah  Caroline.  Nov. 
25.  1822;  I-aac.  Oct.  12.  Is24:  John  H..  Dec.  V. 
1826;   Rebecca,  Dec.  S.  1S29:  Hannah  M..  Aug. 

12.  L831. 

James  Tharp,  who  died  in  1849.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years,  married  Phebe  Vincent,  who 
died  in  March.  1855.  They  were  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Samuel  D.  Jordan. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


951 


G.  DAL  FOX.  proprietor  of  one  of  the  most 
up-to-date  jewelry  stores  in  Northumberland 
county,  is  an  enterprising  citizen  of  Milton.  He 
was  born  in  Rush  township,  this  county,  Jan.  28, 
L859,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Zehnder)  Fox. 
The  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  Fox 
family  settled  in  Germantown,  Pa.,  and  from  there 
entered  the  service  of  the  Colonies  (hiring  the 
struggle  for  independence. 

George  Fox,  grandfather  of  G.  Dal,  settled  in 
Shamokin  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
there  followed  farming.  He  and  his  wife  are 
buried  at  Irish  creek  in  that  township.  Their 
children  were:  Jacob;  Martin,  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war:  Joseph;  Matilda;  Susan;  Rachel;  and 
Polly. 

Joseph  Fox,  son  oi  George,  was  born  in  1826, 
and  died  in  L904,  and  is  buried  at  Milton.  He 
was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation 
at  Roaring  Creek  in  Rush  township.  Afterward  he 
bought  the  Vastine  mill  at  Catawissa,  Located  four 
miles  east  of  Danville  on  the  Shamokin  load. 
Later  be  ca to  Milton,  where  he  died.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Zehnder,  daughter  of  John  Zehnder, 
,  who  was  horn  in  Germany.  Their  children  were: 
Emma,  who  married  W.  EL  Aten;  Clara  B.,  wife  of 
Robert  Poresman,  of  Scranton,  Pa.;  G.  Dal;  Sue 
B.,    who   married   Jacob   Dreshem,   of  Whitedeer, 

I'm :ounty;  Josephine,  deceased  wife  of  E.  P. 

II  illiard  ;  and  dames  S..  business  partner  of  G. 
Dal.  and  a  resident  of  Milton. 

G.  Dal  Fox  attended  the  schools  of  Push  town- 
ship and  Lewisburg  College.     After  leaving  scl I 

he  began  his  preparation  for  commercial  work  by 
working  as  a  clerk,  continuing  at  this  for  fourteen 
vears.  three  of  which  were  spent  in  a  general  store, 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  in  a  hardware  store.  In 
L902  he  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  and  has 

a  mosl  plete  establishment,  carrying  a  fine  line 

nt   first-class  g Is.     He  also  deals  in  fine  hammer 

and  hammerless  guns,  cutlery,  fishing  tackle  and 
general  sporting  goods.  His  brother  is  his  partner 
and  these  two  young  men  have  a  fine  patronage — 
one  in  fact  that  is  drawn  from  far  beyond  the 
confines  of  the  town  of  Milton. 

Mr.  Pox  was  elected  tax  receiver  of  Milton  on 
the  Democratic  ticket,  and  served  three  terms, 
making  nine  vears  in  all,  and  this  in  spite  of  the 
large  Republican  majority  usually  polled  in  the 
borough.  Fraternally  Mr.  Fox  is  very  prominent, 
and  as  well  very  popular.  He  is  a  member  <>i 
Lodge  Xo.  913,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of  Milton,  and 
represented  his  lodge  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  in  the 
summer  of  1909.  his  trip  and  visit  to  the  coast  cov- 
ering a  period  of  six  weeks,  lie  is  also  a  member 
of  Castle  Xo.  256,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle. 

SYDXEY  H.   SOUTER  belong?  to  thai    , 
of  manufacturers  who  know  their   held   of   work 
thoroughly.     A  member  of  the  third  generation  of 


the  Souter  family  to  successfully  engage  in  the 
manufacture  of  silk,  he  himself  began  in  a  null 
a-  bobbin  hoy  and  learned  the  business  from  the 
ground  up.  His  familiarity  with  every  step  in  the 
manufacturing  process,  gai 1  by  practical  ex- 
perience as  well  as  through  scientific  study,  and 
his  masterly  grasp  of  the  commercial  problems  of 
this  industry,  give  him  a  commanding  position  not 
only  in  local  industrial  circles  hut  also  among  silk 
manufacturers  throughout  the  country. 

Mr.  Souter  is  a  native  of  England,  born  April  1, 
L869,  at  Presbury,  son  of  William  Souter,  -U\.  and 
grandson  of  William  Souter.  both  also  natives  of 
England.  The  latter  was  born  near  the  Scottish 
border,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and 
where  he  learned  the  silk  manufacturing  business. 
Coining  to  America  about  L865,  be  settled  in  Pat- 
erson,  X.  J.,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  silk 
manufacturers  of  that  State,  where  he  made  a 
permanent  home.  In  January,  1906,  though  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  ninety-two,  he  was  well 
preserved  in  mind  ami  body,  a  patriarchal  resi- 
dent of  Paterson. 

William  Souter,  dr..  was  born  and  reared  in 
England,  and  his  entire  business  career  was  one 
of  prominent  identification  with  the  silk  manufac- 
turing industry,  in  which  line  he  was  considered  an 
authority,  having  made  an  exhaustive  study  df  the 
business.  He  traveled  extensively,  making  a  -pe- 
dal study  of  the  methods  of  silk  making  in  both 
China  and  Japan.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  vice  president  and  manager  id'  an  exten 
silk  manufacturing  concern  in  Whitehall.  X.  Y 
He  met  his  death  in  October,  1900,  when  only 
iift\-three  years  of  age.  as  the  result  of  an  accident, 
being  killed  by  a  trolley  car  in  Newark.  X.  J.  Mr. 
Souter  married  Martha  Anna  Chanelley,  who  died 
in  1880.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  England, 
daughter  of  Robert  Chanelley,  a  prominent  con- 
tractor. <>f  the  ten  children  bom  to  William 
Souter,  Jr.,  and  his  wife.  Annie  died  in  infancy  : 
Sydney  II.  is  mentioned  below;  Robert  William  is 
superintendent  of  the  Littlesto'wn  silk  mill  in 
Littlestown,  Pa. ;  Charles  Harold  is  in  the  railroad 
service  at   Schenectady,    V    V:    Clyde    Douglass 

graduated  in  1901   from  Dart mli  College;  Ada 

is  the  wife  of  Edward  Sargent,  a  i  ontractor  of 
Newark.  X.  J.:  Jessie,  Elizabeth  and  Margie  are 
all  trained  nurses,  graduates  of  the  tri  i 
of  the  Newark  (N.  J.)  General  Hospital:  and 
Edna  is  the  youngest.  The  parents  having  emi- 
grated i"  this  country  in  1865,  the  eldest  daugl 
was  bom  in  America.  But  the  family  returned 
to  England  two  years  later,  not  becoming  perma- 
nent residents  of  the  United  States  mini  !-;  9 

Sydney  IT.  Souter  obtained  his  early  education 

in    the    common    scl Is    of    his    native    land,    and 

after   the   family   settled   in    America   he  becam 
student  in  Latimer's  Business  College,  in  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  ami  later  completed  a  course  in  the 


952 


NTOETHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


brated  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College,  Buf- 
falo. N.  Y.  He  began  his  active  business  career 
in  a  silk  mill  in  Paterson,  N.  .'..  where  he  was 
employed  in  1881-82,  after  which  he  attended 
•school  for  one  year  at  Northampton,  Mass.  He 
then  secured  a  position  in  the  silk  mill  in  that  city, 
where  lie  was  an  employee  for  the  next  nine  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  period  he  return. 
Paterson,  where  he  continued  to  be  identified  with 
the  same  line  of  industry  for  one  and  one  half 
years.  He  next  passed  a  year  in  the  silk  mill  at 
Pompton.  \*.  J.,  and  for  the  following  three  years 
was  employed  in  the  mill  of  which  his  father  was 
manager  and  vice  president  at  Whitehall,  X.  Y. 
During  the  following  two  years  he  was  again  em- 
ployed at  Paterson,  and  he  then  removed  to 
Catasauqua,  Pa.,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  >  - 
lishing,  equipping  and  placing  in  operation  of  a 
silk  mill,  ably  completing  his  work,  after  which  he 
came  to  York.  Pa.,  arriving  in  that  city  Sept.  6. 
1900.  He  there  became  associated  with  Henry 
Musser,  until  recently  the  president  of  the  Monarch 
Silk  Company,  which  they  forthwith  organized. 
equipping  a  modern  mill  and  instituting  active 
operations  on  Sept.  18th  of  the  same  year,  the 
date  the  company  received  its  charter  from  the 
Employment  was  afforded  to  a  corps  of 
about  six  hundred  persons,  and  the  annual  busi- 
ness soon  readied  an  :  .  .  S  of  a  million  and 
a  quarter  dollars,  with  a  constantly  increasing 
demand  for  the  company's  products  in  the  markets 
of  New  York  City,  Philadelphia.  Chicago.  San 
Francisco,  and  other  commercial  centers.  As  vice 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  company 
Mr.  Souter  showed  great  administrative  and  exec- 
utive ability,  while  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
details  of  the  business  largely  conserved  the  phe- 
nomenal but  substantial  growth  of  the  enterprise. 
So  well  was  this  appreciated  that  on  the  resignation 
of  President  Musser  Mr.  Souter  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  direi  -  president,  and  he  also 
continued  to  act  as  general  manager. 

But  the  Monarch  Silk  Company  was  not  the  only 

vast  concern  in  which  Mr.  Souter  was  actively  and 

minently  interested.     He  and  Mr.  Musser  stic- 

ssfully  promoted  the  Littlestown  Silk  Company, 
which  was  organized  in  Littlestown,  Adams  Co., 
Pa.,  on  July  2,  1903.     It  was  capitalized  at  $50,- 

and  like  the  Monarch  kept  running  to  its  full 

capacity,  the  demands  for  its  products  keeping 
the  mill  in  operation  until  midnight.  As  vice 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Littlestown 
panjr,  Mr.  Souter  paid  the  place  a  weekly 
visit :  and  between  this  mill,  the  Monarch  and  the 
main  office,  at  No.  27  Spring  street.  New  York, 
which  Mr.  Souter  also  visited  weekly,  there  was 
i  inly  no  busier  man  in  York,  and  yet  so 
-  stematically  did  he  work  that  he  was  ever  ready 
to  give  courteous  attention  to  those  who  called 
upon    him.      His    prominent    association    with    so 


important  an  enterprise  of  York  county  makes  him 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that  section. 
However,  he  had  not  attained  the  limit  of  his  use- 
fulness even  in  such  high  capacity,  being  identified 
with  other  important  ventures. 

In  politics  Mr.  Souter  is  a  consistent  and  un- 
swerving advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  zeal- 
ous worker  for  many  years.  Within  the  time  of  his 
resilience  at  Paterson.  N.  J.,  he  was  secretary  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Madison  Avenue  Pn  -- 
byterian  Church,  and  he  and  his  wife  became 
members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
York,  Pa.  Fraternally  Mr.  Souter  has  attained 
degrees  of  high  distinction  in  Freemasonry, 
in     which     he     has     passed     the     thirty-second 

degi the    Ancient    Accepted    Scottish   Bite. 

II  became  affiliated  with:  Zeredatha  Lodge, 
No.  151,  F.  &  A.  M. :  Howell  Chapter,  No.  199, 
R.  A.  M. :  Gethsemane  Commandery,  No.  75, 
Knights  Templar,  all  of  York:  while  he  is  iden- 
1  with  the  I.  0.  O.  F..  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the 
Club,  of  York:  and  the  Woll  Club 
New  York  City. 

On  June  25,  1890,  Mr.  Souter  married  Margaret 

Morton   McLeod,  daughter  of  Alexander  McLeod, 

a  representative  business  man  of  Paterson.  N.  J. 

To  this  union  have  been  born  two  children.  Sydney 

!      iert,  Jr.,  and  Martha  Catherine. 

BURT  O.  MILLEE,  of  Sunbury.  proprietor  of 
the  Keystone  Steam  Laundry,  is  a  young  business 
man  who  has  made  a  name  for  himself  as  one  of 

the  most  enterprising  citizens  of  his  generation  in 
that  borough.  He  undoubtedly  inherits  his  ability 
in  that  line,  his  father.  Charles  S.  Miller,  having 
a  held  his  own  as  a  substantial  and  intelligent 
business  man  of  the  place,  where  he  has  been  estab- 
lished since  1893.  He  does  the  largest  meat  husi- 
n  the  locality  ami  is  otherwise  interested  in 
us  material  advancement,  being  an  energetic  and 
progressive  citizen,  of  high  character  and  irre- 
-  anding. 
This  Miller  family  has  long  been  settled  in 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  where  Abraham  Miller. 
great-grandfather  of  Burt  O.  Miller,  was  born.  He 
was  a  farmer,  owning  land  in  Mifflin  township. 
His  brother  John  lived  at  Berrysburg,  and  another 
liiother.  Samuel,  also  lived  in  the  upper  end  of 
Dauphin  county.  Abraham  Miller  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Row,  had  four  children:  Simon:  George,  who 
lived  at  Gratz.  Dauphin  county:  Anna,  wife  of 
■  Werner;  and  Josiah  A.,  who  married  Polly 
Cooper  and  lived  iu  Lvkens  valley  between  Berrys- 
burg and  Flizabethville.  By  his  second  wife.  Anna 
(Bitterman).  he  had  two  children:  John  N..  of 
Valley  View.  Pa.:  and  Rebecca,  who  married 
Augustus    Lantz.   of    Georgetown.   Pa.      Abraham 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


953 


Miller  died  about  1865,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five, 
lie  and  his  family  were  Lutheran  members  at  the 
brick  church  below  Berrysburg,  which  he  served 
officially. 

Simon  Miller,  sun  of  Abraham,  was  born  in  1825 
in  Lykens  valley,  near  Berrysburg,  Dauphin 
county,  and  met  an  accidental  death  in  the  powder 
mill  explosion  at  Trevorton,  Pa.,  in  March,  1863. 
lie  i-  buried  at  the  Dunkelberger  Evangelical 
Church  in  Rockefeller  township,  Northumberland 
county.  Though  a  comparatively  young  man  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  his  home  and  was 
in  comfortable  circumstances,  lie  married  Cath- 
arine Kobel,  daughter  of  Frederick  Kobel,  ami  she 
survived  him  many  years,  reaching  the  age  of  sixty- 
five;  she  is  buried  by  his  side.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simon  Miller:  A 
daughter  that  died  in  infancy;  Mary,  who  died 
"line.:  Charles  S.;  Lffuisa,  Mrs.  Edw.  Fry.  of 
Shamokin  :  Henry,  a  butcher,  who  worked  for  his 
In-other  Charles  S.  anil  lived  and  died  at  Trevorton. 
Pa.;  B.  Franklin,  a  miner,  who  lives  at  Trevorton; 
and  Harriet,  wife  nf  Frank  Conrad  and  living  at 
Trevorton. 

Charles  S.  Miller,  son  of  Simon,  was  born  July 
29,  1849,  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life.  'When  thirteen  years  old  he 
came  to  Zerbe  township.  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  mines  for  eight 
years,  cutting  coal.  In  1872  he  engaged  in  the 
eat  lie  business  at    Seven  Points,  this  county,  and 

IV that    line    quite    naturally   changed    to    the 

butcher  business,  in  which  he  now  has  his  principal 
interest.  He  was  located  at  Seven  Points  until 
bis  removal  to  Sunlmrv  in  1893.  He  has  since 
done  business  at  his  present  location,  on  Market 
street,  and  has  long  commanded  the  bulk  of  the 
business  in  his  line  in  the  borough  and  surround- 
ing territory.  Mr.  Miller  keep-  two  delivery 
wagons  constantly  employed  in  his  city  deliveries, 
and  has  ten  men  regularly  engaged  to  handle  his 
large  trade.  He  not  only  kills  the  meat  for  his  own 
establishment,  twenty  steers  weekly,  thirty  hogs, 
etc.,  hut  also  slaughters  for  dealers  at  Williams- 
port  and  Northumberland.  He  put  up  his  own 
slaughter-house,  which  is  the  largest  in  tin-  section, 
having  a  capacity  of  $1,500  worth  of  business  daily, 
if  necessary,  and  a  switch  from  the  yards  connects 
direct  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad. 
giving  unusual  advantages  for  prompt  shipping 
and  handling  of  all  products.  In  1890  Mr.  Miller 
eiveted  an  ice  plant  on  the  extensive  property 
adjoining  his  slaughter-house,  being  the  pioneer 
ire  manufacturer  in  Sunbury.  Hi-  plain  has  a  daily 
capacity  of  fifteen  ton-.  An  eighty  horse-poweT 
boiler  has  since  been  added  to  the  original  ei 
ment.  Mr.  Miller  has  not  only  shown  himself  pro- 
gressive in  providing  the  most  approved  modern 
appliances  for  the  convenient  dispatch  of  his  busi- 
ness  hut  also  in  installing  all  the  devices  for  sani- 


tation known  to  the  modern  trade.  In  tins  respect, 
he  has  not  only  met  all  the  legal  requirements,  but 
in  most  ways  has  anticipated  and  exceeded  them. 
introducing  many  innovations  in  this  line  which 
are  a  credit  to  his  intelligence  and  to  his  dispo- 
sition to  do  the  right  thing,  whether  it  is  expected 
of  him  or  not.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the 
Sunbury  Board  of  Trade  and  of  the  Business  Men's 
Association.  He  is  a  director  of  the  North  Branch 
Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Pennsylvania,  which 
was  organized  in  1909  with  a  capital  of  $300,000 
(fully  paid),  and  whose  home  office  is  at  Sunbury, 
and  is  interested  in  the  Sunbury  and  Selinsgrove 
Trolley  Line. 

On  Lee.  22.  1S71,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Catharine  Dunkelberger,  daughter 
of  George  and  Catharine  (Rebuck)  Dunkelberger, 
who  lived  in  Upper  Mahantango  Valley,  and  nine 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  Arthula  (wife 
of  Robert  Worrer),  Harvey  (of  Sunbury),  Katie 
May  (Mrs.  II.  E.  Lebo),  Ezra  J.  (of  Sunbury). 
Unit  0..  Cora  M..  Charles  M..  Calvin  F..  and 
Bertha  (who  died  aged  six  years).  Mr.  Miller  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Fvangelical 
Church  of  Sunbury.  Socially  he  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Knights  of  Malta,  the  Royal  Arcanum 
ami  the  Protected  Home  Circle. 

Burt  0.  Miller  was  horn  Oct.  25,  1881,  ai 
Seven  Points,  in  Rockefeller  township,  this  county, 
and  there  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Later  he  attended  high  school  at  Sun- 
bury ami  the  Eastman  Business  College  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  X.  Y..  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1902 
Returning  to  Sunlmrv  he  began  working  for  his 
father  as  bookkeeper  and  clerk  in  the  large  meat 
market,  but  he  soon  entered  business  on  his  own 
account.  Forming  a  partnership  with  Harry  C. 
Fasold,  who  had  had  five  years  previous  experii 
in  the  laundrv  business,  he  became  interested  as 
one  of  the  proprietors  in  the  Keystone  Steam 
Laundry,  which  they  opened  Oct.  25,  1902,  at   V. 

239   South   Fourth  street,   the   tin '   Miller  a 

Fasold  lasting  until  Dec.   I.  1909,  - which 

Mr.  Miller  has  conducted  the  business  on  his  own 

, ant.    He  bought  out  his  partner's  interest  and 

is  now  handling  the  business  al The  laundrv, 

which   i-  run*    loi  ated  at    Nos.    16-18   North    I 

-t  i  eei.  is  a  most  complete!     id   plant,  with 

all  the  facilities  for  doing  a  large  amount  of  first- 
i  lass  work,  and  twelve  hands  are  constantly  em- 
ployed. Mr.  Miller  commands  the  leading  trade 
in  Sunlmrv.  IP's  executive  talent  and  enterprise 
have  been  well  illustrated  in  the  manner  he  has 
built  up  the  business,  and  the  fact  that  he  E 
trade  and  holds  it  speaks  well  for  his  methods  and 
standards  of  honor. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  Lodge  v    ■.'.;;.  B.  P. 
O.  Elks,  of  the  Protected   Home  Circle,  of  L 
and  Shield  Com  lave,  No    it   (o    n  iii  h  be  has 
a  high  officer),  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in 


954 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  latter  connection  holding  membership  in 
Maclay  Lodge,  No.  632,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury; 
Northumberland  Chapter,  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.; 
Mount  Hermon  Coniniandery,  Xo.  85,  K.  T.; 
Williamsport  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree:  and 
Zembo  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S.,  of  Harrisburg. 
On  June  5.  1906,  Mr.  Miller  married  Mary 
Elizabeth  Felton,  daughter  of  George  E.  and  Mary 
(Clifford)  Felton,  oi  Sunbury.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  are  members  of  tin-  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Sunbury. 

DAVID  CLOYD  MINGLE,  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Mansion  House."  at  Watsontown, 
Northumberland  county,  has  been  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  ever  since  lie  was  old  enough  to  be 
of  any  assistance,  his  father  having  long  been 
successful  hotel  proprietor.  He  has  been  proprietor 
of  the  "Mansion  House,"  tin'  leading  hotel  at  Wat- 
sontown. since  1906.  .Mr.  Mingle  was  born  at 
Huntingdon,  Pa.,  July  6,  1875,  and  belongs  to  a 
family  which  has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
since  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the 
first  of  this  line  havn  i   in    Berks  county 

in  1732. 

The  original  spelling  of  the  family  na 
Mengel,  is  -nil  used  by  many  of  its  members,  the 
form  Mingle  having  been  used  by  tin-  branch  here 
under  consideration  ever  since  a  school  teacher 
spelled  Squire  Mingle's  name  that  way.  The 
whole  family  followed  the  new  spelling  for  the 
sake  of  uniformity. 

There  are  also  Mingles  or  Mengels  in  Laneas 
county,  Pa.  In  1890  David  Mingle,  father  of 
David  C.  Mingle,  met  a  "eous  n"  in  Hagerstown, 
Md.,  fsaai  Mengel,  of  the  ••Franklin  Hotel,"  who 
told  that  his  father's  name  was  Isaac  and  that  the 
father  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and 
oemaker  by  occupation.     He  also  tiered 

having  uncles  David  and  Samuel,  and  an  aunt, 
which  would  seem  to  make  him  of  the  same  family 
as  David  Mingle.  This  Isaac  Mengel  had  a  brother 
in  Reading,  Berks  Co..  Pa.,  and  a  son  William. 
There  are  Mingles  at  Warriorsmark.  Huntingdon 
Co..  Pa.,  and  at  Tyrone.  Pa.,  who  came  from  the 
South,  but  whether  they  are  related  to  the  Mingles 
here  mentioned  or  not  h  unknown.  Those  of  the 
name  at  Hagerstown  write  it  Mengel. 

The  great-grandfather  of  David  Cloyd  Mingle, 
of  Watsontown.  lived  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
where  all  his  children  were  born.  His  family  con- 
1  of  at  least  two  sons  and  two  daughter-,  of 
whom  we  have  the  following  record  :  Samuel  was 
the  grandfather  of  David  C.  Mingle  and  is  men- 
tioned more  fully  below.  David  settled  in  Mif- 
flinburg  about  1823,  but  later  moved  to  Brush 
Valley,  in  Haines  township,  Center  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  lived  until  1854,  at  which  time  he  moved  to 
Stephenson  county.  111.,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dving  in  1ST2.     He  was  twice 


married,  his  first  wife  dyine-  in  Center  county,  and 
of  his  twelve  children  we  have  record  of  four  by 
the  first  union,  Samuel  (a  shoemaker,  who  lived 
and  died  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.),  Henry  A.  (of 
Aaronsburg.  who  died  in  1891  ).  Mrs.  Samuel 
Fisher  (of  Rock  Grove,  Stephenson  Co.,  111.)  and 
Mrs.  Susan  Motz  (who  lived  on  a  farm  at  Wood- 
ward. Center  ( '■>..  Pa.,  where  she  died  Dee.  11, 
189'  i  :  and  two  sons  of  the  second  union,  who  live 
in  the  West.  The  two  daughters  of  whom  we  have 
record,  sisters  of  Samuel  and  David  Mingle,  were 
Mr-.  Reigle  and  Mrs.  Pox;  the  latter's  son  George 
married  a  Miss  Beigle,  his  cousin,  ami  lived  at 
Woodward,  ('enter  Co.,  Pa.,  but  nothing  further 
is  given  concerning  the  children  of  either  Mrs. 
Reigle  or  ill's.  Fox,  both  of  whom  lived  near 
Bartleton,  Union  Co.,  Pa.  The  great-grandfather 
was  evidently  a  shoemaker,  and  both  the 
mentioned  fol  lowed  that  trade. 

According  to  unt  of  this  family.  "David. 

who    was    still    quite   young,    accompanied    by    a 
broth  '1  the  army  during  the  war  of  1812, 

David  becoming  a  member  of  ( lapt.  Henry  Miller's 
company,  stationed  at  Marcus  Hoolc.  At  the  i 
of  the  war  he  learned  the  art  of  shoemaking,  and 
later  married  a  M  --  Grove,  of  Union  county,  a 
member  of  the  family  noted  for  their  prowess  in 
battling  with  the  Indian-." 

Samuel   Mi>  ther  of  David,  was  a  shoe- 

maker by  occupation.     He  lived   at    Aaronsburg, 
l         i('m..  Pa.,  and  died  ai  Millheim,  thart  county, 
in    1849-.      He    married    Elizabeth    Bordner.    of 
,  a.  X.  Y..  and  to  them  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  David  is  now  (  1910)  tin?  only  sur- 
vivor.     The  family   lived   for  a  number  of    ( 
in  Union  count  v.  Pa.,  where  four  of  the  children 
born,  moving  to  Center  county  in  ls:;."j  and 
settling  at  what  was  then  called  Motz  Bank,  now 
Woodward.     We  have  the  following  record  of  the 
family:  Hannah  married  Henry  Dinges.  of  Mill- 
.  and  later  moved  to  OrangevilL     S      i  enson 
Co.,  ]       i  -:  e     i  Prank,  and  two  daugh- 

l.ilibie  and  Sarah):  Absalom  married  Susan 
Roup,  of  Millheim,  and  had  six  children,  two  - 
David  and  Alfred,  and  four  daughters.  Annie 
Swartz  (of  Lewisburg),  Libby  (whose  husband. 
Mr.  Boltz,  is  a  farmer  below  Aaronsburg).  Kate 
and  Rosie;  Mary  married  Henry  Ano,  of  Xew  Ber- 
lin. Union  Co.,  Pa.,  a  coachmaker.  and  they  have 
six  living  children.  Johanna,  Charlie.  Jennie,  Tim, 
Harry  and  Durben :  Manda  died  in  young  woman- 
hood; David  was  fifth  in  the  family:  Jeremiah 
died  in  infancy:  Catherine  married  Levi  Caver,  a 
farmi  i  S  i  phenson  county.  Til.  (no  children)  : 
Elizabeth  died  in  infancy:  Samson  Q.  married 
Rosie  Bower  and  had  three  children.  Bertha. 
Elizabeth  and  Harry,  of  East  Orange.  Xew  Jersey. 

David  Mingle,  father  of  David  Cloyd  Mingle, 
learned  the  trade  of  coachmaker.  If  his  father  had 
not  died  when  he  was  so  young  he  would  undoubt- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


955 


edly  have  learned  his  trade,  shoeinaking.  In  1886 
be  entered  the  hotel  business  as  proprietor  of  the 
"American  House"  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  which  he 
conducted  until  1889.  From  there  he  went  to 
Mount  Joy,  same  county,  where  he  ran  the  "Red 
Lien  Hotel"  for  a  year,  after  which  he  was  at 
Greencastle,  Franklin  county,  where  he  conducted 
the  •'('row]  House"  for  six  years.  He  was  then 
at  Danville,  Pa.,  for  four  years,  conducting  the 
"City  Hotel,"  after  which  he  lived  retired  at  Lan- 
caster for  about  two  years.  His  next  location  was 
at  Newport,  Perry-  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  had  the 
"Mingle  House"  for  a  period  of  six  years,  until 
his  retirement.  He  still  makes  his  home  at  that 
place,  now  (1910)  in  his  seventy-fifth  year  en- 
joying the  fruits  of  his  active  days  in  well  earned 
leisure.  In  polities  Mr.  Mingle  is  a  Democrat,  with 
independent  inclinations. 

In  January.  1863,  Mr.  Mingle  married  Cath- 
erine Mutherbaugh,  who  is  now  over  sevi 
years  old.  Nine  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Flora  married  Thomas  Pendergast,  an  engineer, 
of  Lancaster,  and  had  four  children.  Dolly  (de- 
ceased), Claudy  (deceased),  Harold  (who  has  a 
daughter,  Margaret),  and  Mildred;  Carrie.  Mil- 
dred and  Myrtle  are  unmarried  ;  Minnie  May  mar- 
ried Joseph  Henderson  and  died  April  38,  1910, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Catherine;  one  son  died  in 
infancy:  David  Cloyd  is  mentioned  below:  San- 
ford  Bruce  is  a  resident  of  Harrisburg;  Jennie 
Alice  married  Samuel  Myers,  and  they  live  at 
Newport    (they  have  no  children). 

David  Cloyd  Mingle  received  a  good  education 
in  the  elementary -and  high  schools  of  Lancaster, 
Mount  Joy  and  Greencastle.  He  was  trained  to 
the  hotel  business  from  early  youth,  assisting  his 
father,  and  when  he  engaged  in  the  business  on  his 
own  account  took  the  "City  Hotel"  al  Danville, 
which  he  conducted  for  four  years.  He  then  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  well  known  "Cocalico 
Hotel"  at  Ephrata,  Pa.,  which  he  .Mind  on  for 
two  years,  later  going  to  Newport,  where  he  ran 
the  "Mingle  House"  tor  ike  veins.  Thence  he 
moved  to  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  where 
he  had  the  "Mingle  Cafe."  now  known  as  Sum- 
mers Cafe,  for  two  years,  until  he  bought  the 
"Mansion  House."  the  leading  hotel  of  Watson- 
town,  in  torn;.  This  hotel  has  twenty-four  room-. 
and  is  a  modern  structure  of  fine  appearance,  sur- 
rounded with  spacious  porches  and  well  equipped 
and  appointed.  It  is  well  kept  up  and  conducted 
along  modern  lines,  and  Mr.  Mingle  has  made 
a  success  of  the  establishment  from  the  beginning, 
his  thorough  understanding  of  the  business  insur- 
ing his  patrons  that  everything  possible  to  efficient 
management  may  be  expected  of  him.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Hotel  Protective  Association  and 
the  Commercial  Travelers  Association.  Fraternally 
he  is  an  Elk  and  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order 


of   Red    Men.    belonging    to    Lodge   No.    663, 
Lewistown. 

On  Nov.  9,  1905,  Mr.  Mingle  married  Laura 
M.  Cast. 

JOHN  H.  JOHXSOX.  merchant  of  Milton. 
Northumberland  county,  is  engaged  as  a  dealer  in 
iron,  stoves  and  tinware,  and  has  also  built  up  an 
extensive  patronage  in  tinsmithing,  roofing,  spout- 
ing and  sheet  metal  work.  Since  1903  he  has  also 
done  contracting,  ami  as  his  business  interests 
reach  out  beyond  Milton  to  surrounding  towns 
he  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  most  successful 
men  in  this  section  of  the  county,  lie  has  made 
In-  home  in  Milton  from  boj  h 1. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  native  of  Center  county,  Pa., 
born  July  25,  1867,  at  Milesburg,  and  his  family 
is  of  Swedish  origin,  hut  has  Ion--  been  settled  in 
this  country.  His  ancestors  first  emigrated  from 
Sweden  to  Scotland,  from  which  country  his  great- 
grandfather, John  Johnson,  came  to  America,  set- 
tling in  New  Jersey,  where  he  built  the  firs!  forge 
along  the  coast.  The  records  show  that  he  was 
an  expert  mechanic,  and  he  was  thus  engaged  until 
his  death. 

John  Johnson,  grandfather  of  .John  TF.  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  whence  he  removed  in  young  man- 
hood   to    Center   county,    Pa.,    being   oi f   the 

pioneers  in  the  iron  business  in  thai  region.  He 
svas  engaged  in  that  line  of  work  all  his  life  find- 
ing a  market  for  his  iron  at  Pittsburg,  whither  he 
hauled  it  from  his  own  forge  with  mules.  He  died 
at  Milesburg,  Center  county.  His  wile  was  Mar- 
garet Bryson.  and  among  their  children  were: 
Elizabeth,    who    married     Daniel    McE  and 

died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninet;  ;  George:  Ella, 
who  married  Henry  Eberly;  Peter,  wh  i  1 1  eel 

before  Petersburg,  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war: 
and   Charles,  who  was  killed   in   the 
Four  sons  and  two  sons-in-law  oi' 
killed  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war. 

John  Johnson,  father  of  John  IF.  was  a  oa 
of  New  Jersey  and  very  young   when   ho   mi 
with  his  father  to  Center  county,    I'a.     lake  his 
father  he  also  foil  e   iron   business  nil   his 

and  nfter  coming  to  \l  ilton,  in  1882,  was 
d  in  the  old  rolling  mill.     Me  died  in    I 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  membi 
Co.     IF    of    a     Ph.     regiment,     Volunteer     ln- 
fantry,  and  contracted  i\  phoid  fever  while  on  duty 
as  a  soldier,  suffering  from  poor  health  i 
time  after  leaving  the  service.     But  he  eventually 
recovered.    He  married  Rebecca  ( Iroft,  daught 
John  and  Rebecca  i  Irington)  Croft.    Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  are  buried  at  Milton.    Five  sons  were  born 
to  their  union:  John  IF.  Samuel,  William.  Elmer 

and  Morris,  nil  residing  in  Milton  with  tl xcep- 

tion  of  William,  who  lives  in  Chii  ago,  [Hinois. 
Jolm  TL  Johnson  rei  ei  ed  hi-  education  in 


956 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


public-  schools  of  Milesburg  and  at  Bellefonte 
Academy.  He  removed  to  Milton  with  his  father, 
and  like  the  members  of  his  family  generally  early 
became  interested  in  the  iron  business.  Fur  three 
years  he  had  charge  of  the  nail  department  of  the 
C.  A.  Godcharles  Company's  plant,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  scrap  iron  business  on  his  own  ac- 
eount,  a  line  in  which  he  has  continued  with  profit 
to  the  present  time.  His  main  office  is  on  South 
Front  street,  Milton,  and  he  has  warehouses  al 
both  McEwensville  and  Milton.  It  was  in  natural 
order  that  tinsmithing  and  similar  work  should 
come  his  way.  and  he  lias  built  up  an  extensive 
trsde  in  genera]  work  of  that  kind  and  in  roofing. 
-pouting  and  sheet  metal  work,  his  customers  being 
found  all  over  Milton  and  adjacent  town-.  Since 
L903  be  has  also  done  contracting,  and  he  was 
engaged  on  the  excavation  for  the  Souter 
Silk  Company's  mills  at  Milton.  Mr.  Johnson 
has  proved  his  ability  t"  keep  up  with  the  times  and 
to  lead  progress  in  his  chosen  line  of  work,  which 
undoubtedly  accounts  for  the  success  he  has  made. 
Hi-  persona]  and  business  standing  is  irreproacha- 
able. 

Mr.  Johnson  married  Florence  E.  Krock, 
daughter  of  John  and  Emma  (Whitman)  Krock, 
and  they  have  had  one  daughter.  Elizabeth.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  in  fraternal  connection  a  Mas  <n, 
belonging  to  Danville  Lodge,  No.  224,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
to  the  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Calvary  Command- 
on.  K..T. 

PATRICK  B.  HIGGINS  was  engaged  in  min- 
ing work  for  over  tony  years  before  his  recent  re- 
tirement therefrom  in  1909,  and  he  is  now  devoting 
his  activities  to  farming,  having  bought  his  present 
farm  in  Ralpho  township  in  1900.  He  was  born 
Nov.  1.  L846,  near  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa- 
son  of  Thomas  Higgins,  a  native  of  County  Kil- 
kenny. Ireland,  who  came  to  America  with  his  wife 
and  two  children  when  a  young  man.  Locating 
near  Pottsville,  he  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  long  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  year-. 
lie  made  a  trip  to  California,  hut  did  not  remain 
long  in  the  West.  By  his  firs)  wife.  Mary  (Bren- 
nan),  he  had  a  family  of  fifteen  -mi-,  only  six  of 
whom,  however,  ".row  to  maturity:  Barney, 
Thomas,  Martin.  John,  James  and  William.  To 
h  -  second  marriage,  with  Sarah  Bom.  came  the 
following  children:  Patrick  B.,  Joseph,  Bridget. 
Elizabeth.  Mary.  Ellen,  and  Margaret.  Mi'-. 
Sarah  (Born)  Higgins  died  Dec.  23,  1910,  at  the 
remarkable  age  of  102  years,  and  was  buried  Dec. 
27.  1910.  in  the  Springfield  cemetery. 

Patrick  B.  Higgins  was  reared  near  Pottsville. 
When  a  boy  he  commenced  work  at  the  mines  in 
Schuylkill  county  in  the  usual  way.  picking  slate. 
hut  was  employed  thus  only  two  and  one  half 
davs  when  he  went  to  the  Williams  mines  at  Mount 


Laffer,  same  county,  where  he  was  hired  to  blow 
a  fan  and  drive  a  team.  Later  he  became  a  loader, 
and  lor  some  time  he  was  a  loader  boss.  His  next 
work  was  cutting  coal,  driving  gangways,  chutes 
and  headings.  When  he  came  to  Shamokin,  this 
county,  in  1868,  he  assisted  in  opening  the  Lan- 
caster colliery,  then  owned  by  John  and  William 
6a  iel,  and  at  this  colliery,  later  known  as  the 
Gimlet  colliery,  he  remained  for  the  long  period 
of  thirty-nine  years  and  eleven  months,  until  he 
retired  from  that  line  of  work  in  1909.  He  served 
ii  various  capacities,  for  many  years  as  outside 
foreman,  in  fact  he  was  the  only  incumbent  of 
that  position  at  the  Gimlet  until  he  gave  up  the 
work.  Mr.  Higgins  had  bought  a  farm  of  eighty- 
five  aire-  of  good  land  in  Ralpho  township  in  1900, 
and  there  he  now  resides  and  follows  agricultural 
operations,  which  he  ha-  found  a  congenial  change. 
A  hard-working  and  reliable  man.  he  was  well 
known  in  the  coal  fields  and  bore  an  excellent 
reputation  throughout  his  career  as  a  miner.  He  is 
a  citizen  of  sterling  worth  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  know  him.  In  politics  lie  is  independent, 
voting  for  the  candidate  hi'  prefers,  regardless  of 
party  tie-.     In  religion  hi'  i-  a  Catholic. 

Mr.  Higgins  married  Margaret  Maderia.  daugh- 
ter o  Georgi  and  Mary  (Rhoads)  Maderia.  and 
they  have  had  children  as  follows:  Mary  married 
Frank  Long:  Catharine  married  William  Haines; 
Thomas  is  living  ai  Coal  Run,  Fa.:  George  makes 
his  home  in  Shamokin.  Pa.:  Ellen,  Patrick  and 
John  are  deceased;  .lame-  lives  at  home:  Diana 
is  the  wife  of  Harry  Hornberger;  Thursa  is  de- 
ceased. 

JOHN  F.  HESSER,  who  has  been  outside  fore- 
man at  the  Hickory  Swamp  colliery,  in  Mount 
Carmel  township,  since  1898,  is  one  of  the  re- 
spected  citizens  of  this  region.  His  father  was  a 
boss  at  this  colliery  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
Hesser  family  is  an  old-established  one  in  this 
section  of  Pennsylvania,  and  we  give  something 
of  the  early  general  history  of  the  family,  con- 
tributed by  Mr.  W.  Reiff  Hesser.  of  Reading,  Berks 
Co..  Pa.,  a  descendant  of  the  same  stock: 

In  1732  two  brothers.  John  Hesser  and  Fred- 
Hesser,  made  the  voyage  to  this  country  in 
"The  Loyal  Judith."  coming  from  the  Palatinate 
in  Germany.  They  were  young,  no  doubt,  probably 
boys  of  fifteen  and  seventeen  years,  and  in  course 
of  time  married.  One  of  them  (maybe  both)  set- 
tled at  the"Trappe,"  in  what  is  now  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  and  reared  a  family.  We  have  record 
of  onI\  mm.  sons,  John,  born  about  lTfiO.  and  Fred- 
crick,  born  in  1763,  both  of  whom  were  well  known 
in  the  lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania.  Both 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  John  (who  never 
married  I  enlisting  as  a  fifer,  remaining  in  the 
army  throughout  the  period  of  the  Revolution  and 
continuing  in  the  regular  service  until  the  close  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


951 


the  war  of  1812-15.  He  was  with  Jackson  at  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans.  Jan.  s.  1815.  His  army 
service  covered  over  fifty  years,  and  he  died  at  the 
ageofaboul  seventy  af  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  is  buried;  the  date  of  death  appears 
on  his  tombstone  there. 

Frederick  Hesser  (2),  recorded  above  as  having 
been  horn  in  1763,  was  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  W. 
Reiff  Hesser.  He  enlisted  as  a  drummer  in  Wash- 
ington's army  in  September,  1776,  and  the  terms 
of  enlistment  being  frequently  short  in  the  Revo- 
lution, subsequently  enlisted  three  tunes.  ||,.  was 
present  at  and  took  active  part  in  the  haul.-  of 
Trenton  and  Brandywine,  was  in  the  reserve  ai 
{Jermantown,  and  saw  active  service  at  various 
other  points.  A  Hessian  musket  given  him  after 
the  fight  at  Trenton  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
family.  A  British  prisoner  drummer  taught  him 
to  drum  according  to  army  regulations,  and  lie 
proved  such  an  apt  pupil  that  he  was  a  drum 
major  in  the  service  when  still  quite  young. 
Removing  to  Schuylkill  county  while  it  was 
still  a  part  of  Berks  county  (divided  in 
1811),  he  remained  there  the  resl  of  his 
life,  living  at  Orwigsburg  until  his  death  about 
1851.  He  was  high  sheriff  of  thai  county  in  1815 
and  was  couri  crier  for  several  years,  in  those  days 

assembling    c i     by    roll    of    the   drum   in   the 

large  open  square  where  the  old  courthouse  still 
stands.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Francis  R. 
Shunk,  who  became  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  himself  a  man  of  substance  and  importance  in 
his  section. 

Frederick    I  lesser   (2)    had    four  sons  of  wl 

there  i-  record  ;  it  is  probable  there  were  no  others. 
These  sons  were :  Frederick  Hesser  (3)  removed  to 
Fort  Madison,  [owa,  where  he  became  a  prosperous 
merchant:  it  is  thought  he  died  about  1880.  An- 
other son,  whose  name  we  do  not  know,  left  home 
when  young  and  was  never  afterward  heard  from. 
Charles  Hesser  became  a  prominent  bishop  in  the 
Evangelical  Church:  we  have  not  the  exact  date  of 
his  death,  but  it  seems  to  have  occurred  aboul 
L845-48.  Henry  Hesser  (father  of  "W.  Reiff  Hes- 
ser) was  the  youngest  of  the  sous  of  Frederick 
Hesser  (2),  who  had  also  two  daughters:  Cath- 
erine, who  became  Mrs.  John  Schoener,  and  Re- 
becca, who  became  Mrs.  Fraley.  Both  are  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Fraley  was  the  grandmother  of 
Dr.  Herbert  Erb,  of  Orwigsburg. 

Henrv  Hesser  was  horn  July  '3.  1815,  at  Orwigs- 
burg, which  was  then  the  county  seal  of  Schuylkill 
county.  About  1844  he  removed  to  Schuylkill 
Haven,  Pa.,  and  entered  the  service  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia &  Reading  Railway  Company,  in  which 
he  remained  about  forty-five  years,  holding  re- 
sponsible positions  to  the  end  of  his  life,  in  1890. 
His  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters namely:  Albert  A.  has  for  many  years  been  m 
the   service   of   the   Philadelphia    &    Reading    Ry. 


Company,  for  a  long  time  as  superintendent  of  the 
Mahanoy  &  Shamokin  Division,  and  still  holds 
a  position  with  that  company:  Charles  F.  was  a 
prominent  business  man  of  Cincinnati,  <  dim.  where 
he  died  Dec.  20,  1907;  W.  Reiff  was  for  twenty- 
three  years  in  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company  in  important 
positions,  and  is  now  in  Reading,  Pa., 
where  he  is  serving  as  probation  officer; 
II  A.  was  in  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  and  other  companies  for  many  years 
before  his  death,  in  April.  L910;  Elizabeth  S.  lives 
af  Schuylkill  Haven,  l'a.:  Emma  R.  married  H.  1'.. 
Zuliek  and  resides  ai  Schuylkill  Haven. 


The  exact  connection  between  the  branch  of  the 
Hesser  family  to  which  John  F.  Hesser  belongs 
and  that  whose  history  is  given  above  is  not 
clearly  established,  but  it  is  certain  they  were  of 
the  same  stock,  as  Frederick  Hesser,  lather  of 
John  P.,  was  a  cousin  or  second  cousin  of  Henry 
Hesser.  son  of  Frederick  (2).  The  grandfather 
ni    John    F.    Hesser  settled    in   Schuylkill   county. 

where  he  died. 

Frederick  Hesser  followed  a  seafaring  life  for 
-nine  time.  In  186]  he  located  at  Coal  Run.  in 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  the  collieries,  and  for  some  time  he  was 
engaged  as  slate  picker  boss  at  the  Hickory  Swamp 
Colliery.  Hi'  was  murdered  Dec.  10.  l,s;  I.  in  the 
engine  room  of  that  colliery,  by  the  "Molly  Ma- 
euires."  Mr.  Hesser  was  an  intelligent  and  re- 
spected citizen,  well  known  in  this  section  in  his 
day,  having  been  elected  coroner  of  the  county 
in  1872,  fur  a  term  of  three  years,  lie  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Swenck,  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county .  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children:  Mary  A  .  I  abeth  (who 
died  young),  John  F.,  Charles  II.  and  George  F. 

John  F.  Hesser  was  hern  m   Is.",:;  hi  Schuylkill 
county,  son  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Swenck) 
Hesser.    He  came  in  Northumberland  county  with 
his  father  and  attended  the  local  schools  until  he 
commenced  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Coal  Run 
colliery.    When  he  became  older  he  was  employed 
as   a   miner  about    four    years,   and    then    wen 
Pearson,  Lebanon  ( !o.,  l'a..  when 
for  two  war-  ai  the  carpenter's  trade.     Retun 
in    In-    heme    district    lie    followed     his    trade    and 
assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  Hickoi     R 
breaker,  having  charge  of  pari  of  the  work.     Cpon 
its  completion  he  remained  thei     i 
breaker  boss,  in   1898  takin  esent  position 

af  the  Id  k"r\  Swamp  colliery.     Hi    lias 
men  in  bis  charge  as  outside  foreman,  and  he  ' 

their  respei  i  and  a I  will  to  a     ratifyit 

Mr.  Hesser  is  i mber  of  the  I  adependenl   \" 

cans  at  Shamokin,  and  he  is  a   Republican  in  his 
political  views. 


95S 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Mr.  Hesser  married  Elizabeth  Moll,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  six  children,  namely:  Frederick 
E.,  Charles  Henry,  Emma  P.,  Mary  E.,  Albert 
Quay  and  Laura  B. 

HENRY  CAMERON,  of  No.  604  West  Spruce 
street,  Shainokin,  lias  lived  in  that  borough  for 
almost  fifty  years,  and  throughout  that  long  period 
has  been  employed  at  the  mines.  Fur  over  twenty 
years  he  has  been  engaged  at  the  Cameron  mine-. 
Mr.  Cameron  was  born  -May  25,  1852,  in  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  father,  Charles 
Cameron,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  located  before 
the  Civil  war.  His  paternal  grandfather  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  those  besides  Charles  be- 
ing: Daniel,  Eckhud  F.,  John,  Fliza  and  Lydia  A. 

Charles  Cameron  was  a  plasterer  and  bricklayer 
by  occupation,  and  followed  his  trade  all  his  life. 
He  lived  for  some  time  at  shamokin.  but  even- 
tually returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he  died. 
He  married  Mary  A.  Murkel,  a  native  of  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  a  member  of  an  old  family  of 
that  county,  and  to  them  wen.'  horn  seven  children: 
Emeline  i-  the  widow  of  David  Reed;  Mary  E. 
married  Henry  Ressler;  Henry  is  mention, 
Char],  -  lives  in  Shamokin,;  Simon  is  a  resident  of 
Jamestown,  N.  Y. :  Wallace  lives  in  Rochester,  Pa.: 
Eli  abetb  married  Emanuel  Leiser. 

Henry  Cameron  commenced  work  at  the  breaker 
when  a  mere  hoy  and  has  followed  mining  all  his 
life.  He  has  been  a  stationary  engineer  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  forty-eight  years  at  the 
mines,  and  commenced  work  with  the  Cameron  col- 
liery about  twenty-five  years  ago,  Sept.  15,  1886. 
Hi  :-  now  one  of  the  trusted  employees  at  the 
Cameron  mines,  bearing  a  deserved  reputation  for 
trustworthiness  and  reliability.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  of  the 
8  pherds  of  Bethlehem,  in  politics  a  Republican, 
and  iii  religion  an  adherent  of  the  Reformed  faith. 

Mr.  Cameron  married  .Time  31,  1873,  Harriet 
Rhoads,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Kerstetter)  Rhoads,  of  Northumberland  county, 
and  they  have  had  four  children:  Sallie  E.  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  the  wife  of  Charles 
3i  elmoyer;  Mary  C.  died  in  infancy:  Jennie 
I',  is  the  wife  of  John  Young,  of  Shamokin.  and 
has  one  child.  Joseph  Henry;  Caroline  M.  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

ABRAHAM  C.  BOYER,  a  young  business  man 
of  Sunbury  who  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
buggies,  carriages  and  wagons,  was  born  Aug.  30, 
1884,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  this  county. 
SOD  of  Elias  D.  Boyer.  The  Buyers  are  a  branch 
of  an  old  family  of  lower  Berks  county.  Pa.. 
Wished  in  Northumberland  county  in  L831  C. 
great-grandfather    of    Abraham   C. 

BOA  I    ' 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  Bover  family  was 


John  Philip  Beyer,  who  came  from  the  Palatinate 
to  Philadelphia  in  1731,  with  a  number  of  chil- 
dren. He  settled  in  Frederick  township,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.,  but  later  lived  in  Amity  town- 
ship, in  the  lower  end  of  Berks  county,  where  he 
ii  the  spring  of  1753.  at  a  ripe  old  age.  He 
belonged  to  the  Swamp  Lutheran  Church,  and 
was  buried  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Henry  Melchior 
Muhlenberg,  who  reports  the  matter  fully  in  the 
"Halleschen  Nachrichten."  His  will  is  on  record 
at  the  Philadelphia  courthouse,  and  in  it  some 
of  his  children  are  named.  Among  his  sons  were: 
Jacob,  the  ancestor  of  the  Boyertown  branch  of 
the  family:  and  Johann  Heinrich. 

Johann  Heinrich  Boyer  was  born  in  1714,  in  the 
Pfalz,  »  terman  - .  and  died  May  2,  1814,  in  the  one 
hundredth  year  of  his  age.  In  1743  be  was  mar- 
ried to  Magdalena  Kirchner,  and  anion."  his  chil- 
dren— six  -"in  and  one  daughter — were  Philip 
and  Heinrich. 

Philip  Boyer,  horn  Dei  .11.  1754,  died  July  31, 
L832;  His  wife,  Christiana,  who  was  horn  in 
1754,  also  died  in  1832,  and  both  were  buried  in 

tl Id    graveyard    at    Amityville.     Philip   Boyer 

a  will  the  year  before  his  death,  while  a 
resident  of  Amity  township,  and  in  it  he  mentions 
the  following  children:  Michael ;  Jacob,  who  had  a 
son  Philip:  John:  Peter:  Mary,  married  to  George 
Koch;  and  Daniel,  born  in  1792,  who  died  in  1825. 

Peter  Boyer,  son  of  Philip,  was  horn  in  Amity 
township,  Berks  county,  and  in  1831  came  to 
Northumberland  county  with  his  wife  and  family. 
which  then  consisted  of  twelve  children,  the  young- 
est two  having  been  born  in  Lower  Mahanoy 
township,  where  they  settled.  His  170-acre  farm 
in  that  township  is  now  owned  by  one  Frank 
Phillips.  Later  he  moved  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  owned  a  valuable  farm  and  mill  property 
for  which  he  paid  SlS.non.  and  he  died  in  that 
county  about  1850-51,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  He  is  buried  at  Hoffman's  Church,  in 
Lykens  township.  Dauphin  county.  Though  a 
stonemason  by  trade,  he  was  engaged  principally 
in  farming,  in  which  he  was  very  successful  and 
prosperous.  He  was  a  strong  man.  noted  for  his 
ageous  disposition,  and  was  known  locally  as 
■•YVainina-"  Boyer.  His  wife,  Catharine  Herb, 
also  of  Berks  county,  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children, 
as  follows:  Benjamin.  Sally.  Elias.  Isaac.  Rachel. 
Mary,  Hettie,  Gabriel,  Abraham.  Catharine. 
Josiah  and  Benneville  (twins).  John  and  Leah, 
the  two  last  named  born  in  Northumberland 
county. 

John  Boyer.  probably  an  uncle  of  Peter  Boyer. 
above,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war. 

Abraham  Boyer.  son  of  Peter,  was  born  in  Amity 
township.  Berks  county,  and  came  with  the  family 
to  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  passed  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVAN1  \ 


'.l.V.l 


remainder  of  his  active  and  successful  life  with 
ill'-  exception  of  the  .wars  he  was  at  Millerstown, 
Perry  County.  Like  the  Boyers  generally,  he  was 
noted  for  his  industry  ami  thrift,  ami  he  became 
"in'  "I'  the  most  extensive  fanners  in  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy township,  owning  about  five  hundred  acres 
of  land,  lie  died  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township. 
Abraham  Boyer  married  Catharine  Anderson, 
daughter  of  John  Anderson,  ami  in  them  were 
horn  si\  children,  namely:  S.  Pierce;  Amelia,  who 
married  Henry  Kieffer,  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.: 
John,  deceased  ;  Elias  D. ;  Hannah,  married  to 
John  Lahr,  of  Pillow,  Pa.:  ami  Peter,  of  Pillow. 

Elias  I ».  Boyer,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bora  April 
in.  1857,  in  Lower  Mahano}  township,  ami  was 
there  reared  in  farming,  in  which  he  has  continued 
lo  he  interested  up  to  the  present  time.  After 
living  in  Stone  Valley,  in  Lower  Mahanoy,  for 
five  years,  he  moved  in  1882  to  Upper  Augusta 
township,  where  be  has  since  made  his  borne.  He 
is  extensively  engaged  in  genera]  farming,  own- 
ing a  number  of  farms — two  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  one  of  L68  acres  ami  one  of  seventeen 
acres;  ami  three  in  Lower  Augusta  township,  of 
sixty-one  acres,  eighty-nine  acres  and  105  acre?. 
respectively.  As  a  lumber  dealer  lie  has  interests 
all  over  (he  county,  employing  from  six  to  twenty 
men  in  this  line,  as  business  demands.  Mr. 
Lover  has  also  engaged  in  contracting,  having  put 
up  ahoiii  forty  houses  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury, 
where  he  has  invested  heavilv  in  real  estate.  The 
farm  in  Upper  Augusta  township  upon  which  he 
makes  his  home  is  an  attractive  and  valuable  prop- 
erty, with  a  valuable  farm  stock  ami  well  equipped 
throughout.  A  g 1  manager,  ami  possessing  ex- 
cellent judgment  in  business  matters.  Mr.  Boyer 
has  been  very  successful,  ami  by  his  own  efforts 
lias  accumulated  considerable  property. 

In  187S  Mr.  Boyer  married  Catharine  Peifer, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eve  (Yerger)  Peifer,  who 
lived  in  Jackson  township,  and  nine  children  have 
been  horn  In  them  :  William,  now  of  Fisher's  Perry, 
Pa.:  John,  who  died  in  infancy:  Hannah,  married 
io  i, onion  Neidig,  of  Lower  Augusta  township, 
this  county:  Abraham  C. :  Eve.  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Amelia  M..  who  died  in  infancy:  Edward 
C. ;  Katie;  and  Emma  A".  Mr.  Boyer  and  his 
family  attend  the  Hollowing  Pun  Union  Church. 
of  which  be  is  a  Reformed  and  his  wife  a  Lutheran 
member.  In  political  conviction  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Abraham  C.  Boyer  received  a  public  -'-1 1  edu- 
cation, in  September,  1906,  ho  came  to  Sunbury 
and  established  his  present  business,  having  a 
factory  on  the  corner  of  Woodlawn  avenue  and 
Gas  Alley  for  the  manufacture  of  buggies,  car- 
riages and  wagons,  and  facilities  for  all  kinds  of 
repairing,  of  which  he  makes  a  specialty.  He 
also  acts  as  agent  for  Swab's  wagons.  Mr.  Boyer 
lias  gained  a  lucrative  patronage,  and  gives  em- 


ployment io  four  men.  lie  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising young  business  men  of  the  borough  and 
has  high  standing  among  his  associates  ami  all 
with  whom  he  has  dealings. 

On  Dec  -.M.  1905,  Mr.  Lover  married  Josephine 
Drumm,  daughter  of  John  Drumm,  ami  the} 
have  three  children.  Helen  ('..  Mary  A.  ami  Elias 
D.  lie  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

JACOB  S.  ROHRBACH  of  Shamokin  town- 
ship, at  present  engaged  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  was  bora  April  -I.  L850,  in  Locust  township, 
Columbia  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  David  Rohrbach  and 
grandson  of  Jacob  Rohrbach. 

The  Rohrbach  family  i-  an  old  one  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  German  origin,  being  descended  from 
John  George  Rohrbach,  who  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica about  tin1  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
He  settled  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  in  Berks 
county,  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  District 
township,  and  the  family  is  now  quite  numerous 
in  the  eastern  end  of  that  county.  The  ancestral 
homestead  is  still  owned  by  one  of  his  descendants. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  union  had 
a  son  Lawrence,  who  had  live  sons.  Daniel.  Geo 
(  who  had  eight  children  i .  ( Ihristopher  (or  Stophel, 
who  had  eleven  children).  Jacob  and  Henry.  By 
his  second  wife.  Christiana  Moser.  he  had  five 
children,  George,  John,  Simon,  Eva  and  Chris- 
tiana.  Those  of  the  name  now  living  in  Berks 
county  are  descendants  of  Lawrence  and  John: 
Simon  is  said  to  have  moved  to  Catawissa.  Colum- 

a  county;  George  to  have  mine  West;  Eva  mar- 
ried Jacob  Finkhohner.  who  after  her  death  mar- 
ried her  sister  Christiana. 

The  ancestor  of  a  number  of  the  name  now- 
living  in  Northumberland  county  devoted  himself 
to  his  business  affairs  and  was  a  successful  and 
influential  man  of  his  day  in  the  section  of  Penn- 
sylvania referred  to.  where  he  lived  ami  died. 
for  many  years  he  conducted  a  charcoal  furnace 
in  conjunction  with  farming.  He  had  no  aspira- 
tions toward  public  honors  and  took  no  part  in 
anything  outside  of  his  private  interests.  Ho 
married  Catharine  Fenstermacher,  ami  to  them 
was  born  a  large  family.  Their  -on  George,  horn 
in  1808  in  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  was  the  father 
of  the  late  Lloyd  T.  ami  William  II.  Rohrbach, 
both  prominent  citizens  of  Sunbury. 

David  Rohrbach,  -on  of  Jacob  Rohrbach  and 
father  of  Jacob  s.  Rohrbach,  was  born  in  1 1 
link-  Co..  Pa.,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Columbia  county.  He  followed  farming,  owning 
inn  acre-  alone  the  Roaring  creel  .  where  he  spenl 
the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  in  1867,  at  thi 
forty-six  years.  His  wife.  Sarah  (Shuman),  died 
in  Catawissa  and  i-  buried  there.  They  had  chil- 
dren  as    follows:   Jacob   S. :   .Line.    Mr-.    \\  il 


960 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Beckendorf;  Albert,  living  in  Sunbury :  Sarah. 
Mrs.  William  Witengruver,  living  in  Oklahoma; 
Clara  S..  Mrs.  Lafountan,  living  in  Seranton,  Pa.: 
Kenbcn.  who  died  in  Shamokin  :  William,  living 
at  Newport  News:  and  Annie,  who  died  young. 

Jacob  S.  Rohrbaeh  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter with  Christ  Hartley,  at  Roaring  Creek, 
Columbia  county,  and  followed  it  for  four  years 
at  that  time.  He  then  became  a  fireman  on  the 
railroad,  where  he  eventually  became  an  engineer, 
on  the  Catawissa  line,  continuing  in  this  work 
about  four  years.  Locating  in  Snydertown,  North- 
umberland county,  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  located 
upon  the  farm  in  Shamokin  township  which  he 
still  owns,  the  old  Muench  homestead,  a  valuable 
tract  of  170  acres.  For  the  next  twenty-two  years 
he  was  engaged  in  farming,  from  which  he  retired 
a  few  years  ago  to  resume  his  trade,  at  which  he 
is  now  engaged.  His  farm  is  fertile  and  pro- 
ductive land,  and  he  has  rented  it  since  he  took 
up  carpentry  again.  Mr.  Rohrbaeh  has  been  suc- 
cessful in  the  management  of  his  own  affair-  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
assist  in  the  administration  of  public  matters,  and 
he  has  served  Ids  township  two  years  as  treasurer 
and  ten  year.-  as  school  director.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics. 

On  Dec  23,  1875,  Mr.  Rohrbacb  married  Mary 
E.  Muench,  who  was  horn  Oct.  C>.  1856,  daughter 
of  Jacob  E.  Muench  and  granddaughter  of  William 
H.  Muench.  She  died  July  12,  1004.  and  is 
buried  at  St.  Jacob's  (Reed's)  Church.  Two  chil- 
dren were  horn  to  lids  union:  (1)  Edward  M., 
horn  Nov.  28,  1883,  who  learned  the  telegrapher's 
art  and  has  been  station  agent  at  Paxinos  since 
L908;  he  married  Susan  B.  Persing  and  they  have 
had  three  children,  Virginia  Estella  (died  in  in- 
fancy), Clyde  Edward  (died  in  infancy),  and 
Emanuel  P.  (2)  Mary  M.  is  at  home.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  Muench  family 
was  Charles  E.  Muench,  a  descendant  of  a  French 
noble  family  of  the  name  of  Beauvoir.  He  prob- 
ably crossed  the   French  line  into  Germany  prior 

to  the  French  Revolution,  and  took  the  oa 

his  patrimonial  estate.  "Munehhofen."  He  was 
born  Jan.  7,  1769,  at  Mellenheim,  on  (lie  Rhine, 
and  was  educated  at  Heidelberg,  where  be  spent. 
fourteen  years  preparing  for  the  ministry,  learn- 
ing the  different  languages.  He  inherited  a  large 
fortune  and  a  landed  estate.  Marshal  Jourdan, 
under  orders  of  the  French  Directory  (then  the  rul- 
ing power  in  France),  invaded  that  section,  and 
Charles  E.  Muench,  in  defense  of  his  country, 
raised  a  company  of  dragoons.  In  an  engagement 
with  the  French  his  left  arm  was  so  terribly  in- 
jured that  it  became  partly  useless.  His  portion 
of  Germany  being  overrun,  and  in  the  possession 
of   tlie    French   troops,   he   gathered   together  his 


personal  property,  abandoned  his  landed  estate 
and  sailed  for  America.  The  \essel  on  which  he 
sailed  was  overtaken  by  a  French  privateer  and 
the  passengers  robbed  of  all  their  valuables,  so 
that  he  landed  at  Philadelphia  penniless.  His 
wife.  Margaret  (Bieser),  and  eldest  daughter  were 
with  him.  Unable  to  obtain  employment.  -Jie 
drifted  to  Shaefferstown,  Lebanon  Co..  Pa.,  and 
subsequently  lived  at  different  points  in  Penn- 
sylvania, eventually  locating  in  Lykens  Valley, 
near  Berrysburg,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  where 
Mr.  Muench  engaged  in  school  teaching.  He 
died  at  Lykens  Valley  in  1833,  and  his  wife 
passeil  away  in  1834,  both  reaching  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven 
children:  Juliana,  born  in  Germany,  who  married 
Jacob  Wolf:  William  Henry;  Charles  F. :  Susan. 
Mrs.  Jacob  Reigle;  Jacob  I'.:  Daniel  A.,  of  Har- 
risburg;  and   Margaret,  Mrs.    Peter  Miller. 

William  Henry  Muench.  eldesl  -on  of  Charles 
F.  Muench,  was  born  Feb,  10,  CM.  at  Shaeffers- 
town, Lebanon  Go.,  Pa.,  ami  as  he  was  bom  a 
cripple  his  parents  gave  him  as  good  an  education 
as  possible,  their  lack  of  means  making  it  neces- 
sary to  limit  him  to  instruction  in  English  and 
German.  In  1819  Rev.  J.  V.  Shindel  proposed 
that  hi-  come  to  the  Shamokin  valley  to  teach  those 
branches,  and  he  located  at  Reed's  station,  where 
1m  taught  for  twenty-four  years,  at  the  same  place. 
He  became  widely  acquainted  and  was  an  early 
friend  of  Gen.  Simon  Cameron.  He  served  as 
county  commissioner  and  held  all  the  township 
offices,  ami  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Shamokin  township  by  Governor  Schultze,  which 
position  he  tilled  thirty  years,  during  which  time 
lie  married  eighty-nine  couples,  becoming  known 
as  the  "marrying  squire."  Shamokin  township  at 
"in  lime  had  a  much  wider  area  than  at  present. 
including  what  are  now  Shamokin.  Ralpho,  Zerbe, 
Coal.  Mount  Carmel  and  Cameron  townships,  so 
that  be  became  well  known  over  a  large  territory, 
and  being  an  expert  and  elegant  penman,  an 
accomplishment  none  too  common  in  those  days, 
he  was  often  called  upon  to  make  out  deeds  and 
i 'tgages,  transacting  a  large  amount  of  busi- 
ness of  that  kind.  He  died  Sept.  8,  1885,  aged 
eighty-six  years,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  I  Reed), 
daughter  of  Jacob  Reed,  whom  he  married  in 
L820,  died  in  1866,  aged  sixtv-six.  They  are 
buried  at  St.  Jacob's  (Reed's)  Church.  William 
II.  Muench  was  an  elder  and  leading  supporter 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  He  had  two 
children.  Margaret  and  Jacob  E. 

Jacob  E.  Muench,  son  of  William  Henry 
Muench.  was  horn  at  the  old  homestead  Sept.  20 
or  29,  L823,  and  died  in  1900.  During  his  young 
manhood  he  taught  in  the  township  schools  for  a 
number  of  years,  hut  bis  principal  occupation  was 
fanning,  which  he  carried  on  extensively.  In 
bis  early  life  be  was  prominently  connected  with 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


:m;i 


the  Stale  militia,  of  which  he  was  a  member 
fourteen  years.  He  was  appointed  first  lieutenanl 
by  Governor  Johnston,  and  was  subsequently 
eli 1  major,  and  in  1853  was  appointed  brig- 
adier-general by  Governor  Bigler.  TTe  was  a 
Republican  and  active  in  politics,  serving  several 
terms  as  auditor  of  his  township,  from  1873  to 
1875  as  auditor  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
for  many  years  as  school  director,  being  secretary 
of  the  township  school  board  for  eighteen  con- 
secutive years.  The  public  schools  always  had  a 
warm  friend  in  this  public-spirited  citizen.  In 
L886  lie  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and 
served  as  elder  Sve  years. 

On   Dec.  3,   1854,  Mr.  Muench  married  Lavina 

Scholl,  who  was  horn  in  1825  at  Fleetw 1.  Berks 

Co.,  Pa.,  and  met  her  husband  at  the  home  of 
Conrad  Yost,  who  lived  in  Shamokin  township, 
this  county,  while  on  a  visit.  Mrs.  Muench  died 
Sept.  I.  L862,  aged  thirty-seven  years,  the  mother 

of   thr children:   Mary    E.,   deceased,   who  was 

the  wife  of  Jacob  S.  Rohrbach;  William  P.,  who 
died  aged  seventeen  years;  and  Emma  E.,  who 
married  Reuben  P.  Martz,  of  Shamokin  town- 
ship, and  died  Jan.  7,  1902,  aged  forty-two  years. 
On  \'o\.  28,  1878,  Mr.  Muench  married  (second) 
llatlie  S.  Cooper,  daughter  of  John  Cooper,  of 
Upper  Augusta  township.  She  is  now  living  at 
Snydertown,  Pennsyh  ania. 

JOSIAH  R.  RISHEL,  station  agent  at  Tur- 
butville  and  merchant  at  thai  place,  is  an  enter- 
prising young  business  man  of  his  community  and 
in    the   several   years   of  his   residence    there   has 

be i ie  of  its  respected  citizens,      lie  was  horn 

Sept.  29,  1883,  at  Danville.  Montour  Co.,  Pa., 
son  of  Peter  A.  Rishel,  and  is  a  descendant  <<[' 
Michael  Rishel,  the  ancestor  of  this  branch  of 
the  family  now  represented  in  Montour,  Columbia 
ami   Northumberland  counties. 

Michael  Rishel  was  horn  in  Bucks  county.  Pa., 
and  about  1790  came  with  his  family  to  Columbia 
(now  Montour)  county,  settling  not  far  from 
Danville.  He  had  a  number  of  sons,  among  whom 
was  Solomon. 

Solomon  Rishel,  son  of  Michael,  lived  in 
Montour  county,  where  he  died  in  1872. 

Washington  Rishel,  son  of  Solomon,  lived  in 
Montour  county,  on  the  road  leading  from  Dan- 
ville h,  Bloomsburg.  He  died  about  1894,  at  the 
age  of  about  seventy-five,  and  is  buried  at  Dan- 
ville. Tie  owned  a  farm  of  about  one  hundred 
acre-,  and  followed  farming.  His  children  were: 
II.  Clarence;  Charles,  who  lives  in  Montoui 
county;  Edward,  who  lives  at  Danville;  Arthur, 
who  fives  in  Union  county,  Pa.:  Peter  A.;  Sarah, 
who  married  Alfred  Thompson  and  lives  at  Ben- 
ton, Pa.;  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  Michael  Leighow. 
61 


'This  family    were   Lutherans  in   religious  faith. 

Peter  A.  Rishel,  sou  of  Washington,  was  born 
in  1842  in  Montour  county,  and  .-till  resides  there, 
at  White  Hall,  in  Anthony  township.  He  has 
followed  farming  all  bis  Life,  and  has  a  tract  of 
100  acre-.  In  his  earlier  years  he  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  also  worked  for 
some  years.  He  married  Margaret  Roberts, 
daughter  of  David  and  Fannie  Roberts,  of  Mon- 
tour couutv.  and  a  family  of  seven  children  was 
born  to  their  union:  William  C,  who  married 
Blanche  I  lew  alt  and  has  four  children;  Dorence 
It.,  station  agent  at  Ottawa.  Pa.,  who  married 
Jennie  Evert  and  has  one  child.  Ruth;  Essie  M.. 
wife  of  Samuel  Campbell;  Leroy  L,  who  lives  in 
Hollidaysburg,  Pa.;  John  G.,  of  Jerseytown,  Pa.; 
Josiah  I!.:  and  George.  Mr.  Rishel  and  his  family 
are  Methodists  in  religion;  he  is  a  Republican  on 
political  questions. 

Josiah  I?.  Rishel  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township.  Until  he 
reached  the  age  of  seventeen  he  spent  his  summers 
in  work  upon  the  farm.  At  that  time  he  went  to 
learn  telegraphy  at  Ottawa.  Montour  county,  and 
in  March,  1902,  he  was  stationed  at  Jerseytown, 
on  the  Susquehanna,  Bloomsburg  &  Berwick 
(formerly  the  Central  Pennsylvania  &  Western) 
road,  between  Watsontown  and  Berwick.  After 
two  years  at  that  location  he  was  transferred  to 
Berwick  and  clerked  in  the  office  there  two  year-. 
at  the  end  of  which  time  be  went  to  Detroit, 
where  he  worked  fur  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad 
Company  three  months.  Leaving  there  he  worked 
for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Com- 
pany the  next  three  month-,  after  which  he  re- 
turned io  Pennsylvania,  taking  bis  present  position 
a-  station  agent' of  the  Susquehanna,  Bloomsburg 
&  Berwick  road  at  Turbuhille,  one  of  the  main 
stations  along  the  line,  lie  lias  been  agent  there 
continuously  since  1905.  Mr.  Rishel  has  found 
excellent  business  opportunities  in  hi-  present 
location,  and  he  ha-  been  specially  interested  as 
a  coal  merchant,  having  a  well  equipped  yard, 
with  a  capacity   of  about   five  thousand  tons,  and 

handling  some  bfiy  carloads  of  coal  i nil1.      The 

vard  is  enclosed  and  under  roof.  Mr.  Rishel  has 
also  established  a  profitable  trade  as  a  dealer  in 
grain,  hay  and  fruit,  his  transactions  in  all  thesi 
lines  increasing  steadily  under  the  application  of 
first-class  business  methods  and  attention  to  the 
wants  of  his  customers. 

Mr.  Rishel  is  well  known  in  the  local  fraternal 
bodies,  being  a  member  of  Watsontown  Lodge,  Sfo. 
lo|  K.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  (Warrior  Run 
Lodge,  \-.  645,  ai  Turbutville),  B.  P.  0.  E. 
Lodge  No.  913,  of  Milton,  Pa.,  and  oi  thi  Modern 
Woodmen's  and  Maccabi  -  '  organi  i o  at  Tur- 
butville.    In    religion   he   is    incli 1   toward   the 

Methodist  Church. 


962 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.   PENNSYLVANIA 


Art;  ["ST  C,  HERR,  of  Shamokin,  inside  fore- 
man at  the  Cameron  colliery,  has  held  that  res 
sible  position  since  1899,  and  he  lias  been  identi- 
fied with  the  local  coal   held  since  1S73.     Be  is 
one  of  the  best  known  miners  in  the  region. 

Mr.  Herr  was  born  May  5,  1855,  at  a  place 
about  three  minutes'  walk  from  Lehe,  near  Bremen. 
Gi  rmar  -  ■  i  of  Louis  and  Sophia  (Willis)  Eerr, 
and  grandson  of  Nicholas  Herr,  who  was  a  miner 
in  Germany,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Louis  Herr 
passed  all  his  life  in  Germany,  dying  in  1866,  at 
the  age  of  forty-five  years.  His  children  were: 
Johanna  (who  lives  in  German)'),  1.  I 

and    Augusl    < '. 

August  C.  Herr  attended  school  in  Germany 
until  lie  reached  the  age  of  thirteen  year-.  Be 
then  wont  to  sea  on  a  vessel  of  the  North  German 
Lloyd  line,  remaining  with  the  company  until 
1870.  Be  was  in  England  when  the  war  between 
Germany  and  France  was  declared,  and  from 
thai  country  he  took  passage  for  America,  landing 
at  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  having  secured  leave  of  ab- 
sence  from  the  ship  on  which  he  was  employed, 
with  the  understanding  that  he  would  go  back  as 

- i  as  the  ship  returned.     Bowever,  he  did  not. 

di  so,  going  to  St.  Marys,  Elk  Co.,  Pa.,  whei 
found  work  in  the  soft  coal  mines,  remaining 
there  until  his  removal  to  Shamokin.  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  in  March,  1873.  Here  he 
first  obtained  work  at  the  Luke  Fidler  colliery,  as 
miner,  for  a  period  of  about  three  months,  after 
which  he  became  a  miner  at  the  Cameron  col- 
liery. Fifteen  years  of  faithful  service  brought 
him  promotion  to  the  position  of  assistant  foreman, 
and  he  served  as  such  five  years,  thus  rounding 
a  term  of  twenty-six  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Mineral  Railroad  &  Mining  Company.  In  1893 
he  became  inside  foreman  at  the  Luke  Fidler 
colliery,  but  after  six  years  in  that  position  lie 
returned  to  the  Cameron  colliery,  in  1899,  as 
inside  foreman,  and  there  he  lias  since  been  en- 
gaged. Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  his  respon- 
sibilities may  be  gained  from  the  mere  statement 
that  he  has  eight  hundred  men  under  his  direc- 
tion. Mr.  Herr  is  a  man  of  substantial  worth  and 
keen  intelligence,  a  good  judge  of  men  and  their 
capabilities  and  a  trustworthy  person  whose  value 
in  his  present  incumbency  has  been  proved  in  long 
years  of  service. 

Mr.  Herr  is  widely  known  in  the  fraternities, 
being  a  member  of  Shamokin  Lodge,  No.  664,  I. 
().  0.  F.,  of  which  he  i-  a  past  grand,  and  of 
the  Encampment;  of  the  F.  0.  K. :  of  Shamo- 
kin Lodge,  No.  55.-,.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which 
is  ;i  pasl  master;  of  Shamokin  Chapter.  No. 
1!.  A.  M. :  of  Shamokin  Commanderv.  No.  77, 
K.  T. :  and  of  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  X.  M.  S.. 
of  Reading.  He  is  a  director  id"  the  Home  Union 
ami   of  the  Citizens  Building  and   Loan   Associa- 


tion, and  is  serving  as  vice  president  of  the  Cuion 
( 'oinpany. 

In  1875  Mr.  Herr  married  Minerva  Bilbrand, 
whose  parents  were  lost  at  sea  on  the  voyage 
from  tlie  old  country  to  the  United  States.  Chil- 
dren as  follows  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
rles  Augustus,  born  Aug.  10,  1875,  who  mar- 
Mary  E.  Kerstetter  and  live-  in  Shamokin; 
.Minnie,  born  April  19,  1877,  who  died  when  five 
days  old:  Clara  Wilhelinina.  born  April  21,  1879, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  C.  Kerstetter;  Lndwig 
C.  born  June  16,  1880,  who  married  Lillian  Llew- 
ellyn; William,  born  Oct.  26,  1882,  who  married 
Clara  .Miller:  Ida.  bom  Dec.  21,  1884,  who  died 
-  it.  5,  1908;  Franklin  Monroe,  born  July  30, 
IS81;  :  John  Alfred,  bom  Sept.  15,  1889;  Edward 
Benjamin,  born  March  22.  1892;  and  Annie,  born 
Oct.  S,  1895. 

C.  E.  RAUP,  formerly  of  Milton,  North- 
umberland county,  is  now  located  at  Calf.  Ontario, 
as  manager  of  the  Canadian  branch  of  Samuel  J. 
Shinier  ,\  Sons,  of  Milton.  Pennsylvania. 

WALTEE  J.  LEONARD,  of  Sunbury,  engaged 
as    yardmaster   with    the    Pennsylvania    Railroad 

Company,  is  a  native  of  that  place,  horn  Feb. 
21,  1876,  --H  of  George  S.  Leonard.  The  Leonard 
family  is  of  German  origin,  his  great-grandfather, 
gi  Leonard,  having  been  horn  in  Germany. 
whence  he  came  to  America  over  a  century  ago. 
He  located  at  what  is  now  the  borough  of  North 
umberland,  in  Northumberland  county,  La-,  later 
going  to  Liverpool,  Perry  county,  this  state. 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
He  is  buried  there.  He  was  a  land  owner,  and  at 
one  time  conducted  a  hotel  at  Northumberland 
Ugh.  He  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  war 
of  1812.  His  children  were:  Lewi-,  who  died 
at  Liverpool;  John;  Susan,  who  married  David 
Deckert  and  lived  at  Mount  Patrick.  Perry  Co., 
Pa.:  and  Polly.  Mrs.  Slear. 

John  Leonard,  son  of  George,  was  the  grand- 
father of  Walter  J.  Leonard,  of  Sunbury.  He 
was  horn  in  Northumberland  borough,  and  died 
Nov.  ?■?.  1894,  at  Shamokin  Dam.  Snyder  county, 
at  thi'  age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  i-  buried 
there.  In  his  earlier  manhood  Mr.  Leonard  was 
a  merchant  at  Centerville,  Snyder  county,  for 
several  years,  and  he  was  engaged  as  a  pilot  on 
the  Susquehanna  river  for  sime  time.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Sampsel,  a  native  of  Centerville.  Su\ 
der  county,  and  their  children  were:  George  S. : 
Thomas  M.,  who  lives  in  Shamokin.  North- 
umberland county;  and  Alice,  wife  of  Newton 
Hartman,  living  at  Shamokin  Dam. 

George  S.  Leonard,  son  of  John,  was  born  Feb. 
14.  1845,  in  Liverpool,  Perry  Co..  Pa.,  where  he 
lived   until   he  was   thirteen   years   old.   meantime 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


963 


attending    the    public    schools.      Removing    i 
miles  above   Liverpool,  he  was  employed    for  the 
"  years  tending   locks  upon  the  Pennsyl- 
vania canal,  except  for  the  time  he  was  in  service  in 
the  Union  army.     In  June.  1863,  he  enlisted  from 

Barrisburg,  bee ing  a  member  of  Company  I, 

208th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  9th 
Corps,  and  was  out  aboul  two  years,  his  command 
being  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He 
was  never  wounded.  In  1SGG  he  located  at 
Shamokin  Dam.  Snyder  county,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  work  for  the  .anal  company  until  1870, 
-||"  i  which  year  he  has  made  his  home  ai  Sunbury. 
For  thirty  years  after  settling  there  he  was  in 
thi  employ  of  ihr  Pennsylvania  Eailroad  Com- 
pany  (at  the  ti he  entered  the  service  it  was 

as  an  employ* I'  the  Northern  Central  Railway 

Company),  retiring  in  1900.  He  married  Mary 
Lower,  daughter  of  Michael  Lower,  ami  they  have 
had  four  children:  Edward  (living  at  Sunbury, 
Pa.),  Delia,  Minnie  (win.  died  aged  twenty-four 
years)  and  Walter  J. 

Walter  J.  Leonard  obtained  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Sunbury,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  in  1898.  He  commenced  railroad- 
ing tin'  same  year,  starting  as  a  messenger,  and 
was  promoted  from  time  to  time  until  in  1900  he 
became  master  of  the  freight  yard  at  Sunbury, 
where  he  has  i  barge  of  fifty  men.  Mr.  Leonard 
has  won  his  promotions  on  merit,  having  made  a 
record  for  trustworthiness  and  capability  by  a 
consistent  career  of  faithful  and  reliable  service. 

Mil  Nov.  25,  1896,  Mr.  Leonard  married  Clara 
Day,  daughter  of  Noah  Lay.  and  to  them  have 
been  born  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy;  the  survivors  are  Dorothy  Ruth,  J.  Edward 
and  Sidney.  Mr.  Leonard  lias  a  home  of  his  own 
ai  No.  126  South  Fourth  street.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Church,  and  socially  lie  is 
identified  with  several  organizations,  holding 
membership  in  True  Cross  Commandery,  No.  11"-.'. 
Knights  of  Malta,  Lodge  No.  416,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Lodge  Xo.  267,  I',.  I'.  0.  Elks,  the  Y.  M. 
('.  A.  and  No.  1  Lire  Company,  all  of  Sunbury. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


Jackson  Day,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Walter  J. 
Leonard,  was  a  native  of  York  county,  La.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  lived  at  Millersburg, 
Dauphin  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  conducted  the  work 
train,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  in 
about  1891,  at  thai  place,  where  he  is  buried.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church. 
He  and  his  wife  Jane  (Beck),  who  was  also  of 
York  county,  had  a  family  of  eight  children. 

Noah   Day,   son   of  Jackson,  and  Jane    ( Reck  i 
Day.  was  born  Mav  1.  1851,  at  Shrewsbury,  York 
Co..    La.,   where    he   received    his   education.      He 
began    railroading    at    the    early    age    of    fi 
^ears    on    the    Pennsylvania    Railroad    Company's 


work  train  ai  Millersburg,  and  after  serving  as 
flagman  and  fireman  in  turn  became  engineer. 
being  engaged  in  that  capacity  for  thirty  years 
re  In-  death.  He  was  van!  engineer  at.  DY. 
Mr.    Day   was    well    known    among   railroad    men. 

was  a  member  of  the  Brotherh 1  of  Locomotive 

Engineers  and  Firemen,  of  the  Pennsylvania  Re- 
lief Fund  Association  and  of  the  Veteran's  As- 
sociation. He  held  membership  in  the  Firs! 
United  Evangelical  Church  at  Sunbury.  and  in 
polities  was  a  stanch  Republican. 

Mr.  Day's  firsl  marriage  was  to  Alda  Gilbert, 
who  is  buried  at  Millersburg.  By  that  union  he 
had  two  children:  Frederick,  who  lives  ai  Stone 
Harbor,  X.  J.;  and  Jennie,  who  married  Samuel 
Kobe!  and  lives  at  Millersburg,  Pa.  On  Oct.  12, 
L876,  Mr.  Day  married  (second)  Margaret  Yeager, 
daughter  of  christian  Yeager,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  lived  at  Georgetown  (Dalmatia),  Pa. 
Mr.  Yeager  married  Sarah  Burrell,  who  was  from 
Lower  Mahanoy  township,  this  county,  and  they 
had  children:  George,  Alexander,  Sarah.  I' 
and  Margaret  (wife  of  Noah  Lay).  Six  children 
were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Day:  (Mara,  Mr-. 
Walter  J.  Leonard;  Cora  M..  wife  of  Jonathan 
K nuked .  of  Sunbury;  Jackson,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy: Virgie  V..  wife  of  Ralph  Bailey,  of  Wil- 
liamsport,  La.:  Daisy,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Yerlin  E.,  wife  of  Charles  B.  Smith,  a  railroader. 
who  has  a  daughter.  Geraldine  Elizabeth  (they 
reside  with  Mrs.  Day ). 

PATRICK  F.  KEARINS,  of  shamokin.  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Market  Street  Hotel."  ha-  suc- 
ceeded his  father  ill  the  business.  The  la!  let- 
was  one  of  the  early  hotel-keepers  of  the  borough, 
and  in  his  day  was  a  well  known  man  and  regarded 
a-  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens  of  Shamokin. 

Patrick  Kearins,  the  father,  was  born  in  1s:!3  in 
Ireland,  and  wa-  a  young  man  when  he  came  to 
America.       lie     located     at     Shamokin     anion"'    the 

early  residents  of  the  place,  and  for  some 
followed  mining,  later  engaging  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  until  his  death.  He 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  In-  adopted 
town,  and  was  respected  b}  the  many  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact  in  his  business  an. I  social 
relations.  He  died  in  ls'.is.  ai  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years,  and  is  buried  at  Shamokin.     lie  wa 

ml "i-  of  Si.    Edward's  Catholic  Church.      Mr. 

Kearins   married    Bridget    Kelly,   who  died   when 
still  a   young  woman,  the  mother  of  five  children: 
Mary,  who  married  Joseph  Simmons ;  Kane. 
married    Peter   Leibig:   Thomas,   who  died    h 
seventeen  years  old:  John,  who  is  living  with  his 
brother  Patrick  :  and    Lai  rick    L. 

Patrick  F.  Kearins  was  born  al  Shamokin  dan. 

is.  1871,  and  received  his  education  there  in  the 

public    and    parochial    schools.      Lor    about    two 

ho    w;i<    employed    ai    the    mines,    and    lion 


964 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


learned  the  printer's  trade,  at  which  he  was  en- 
gaged for  about  seven  years  in  all,  until  he  became 
associated  in  (lie  hotel  business  with  his  father, 
about  two  years  before  the  hitter's  death.  After 
that  event  lie  continued  the  business  on  his  own 
account,  buying  the  property  in  1903.  The  loca- 
tion, at  Nos.  22-24  North  Market  street,  is  a 
favorable  one  for  hotel  purposes,  and  Mr.  Kearins 
has  held  the  trade  which  his  father  established 
and  increased  it  by  his  own  good  management. 
He  has  a  wide  acquaintanceship  and  is  a  sub- 
stantial and  respected  man. 

In  April,  1902,  Mi-.  Kearins  married  Margaret 
Jones,  daughter  of  Herbert  M.  Jones,  the  latter 
a  native  of  Wales  who  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Shamokin.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Kearins  have  had  the 
following  children  :  Mary.  .Marguerite  (deceased), 
Patrick  and  John  (the  latter  deceased).  Mr. 
Kearins  is  a  member  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic 
(  liurch  and  a  member  of  the  Foresters,  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  and  the  Red  Men.  He  is  an 
independent  voter,  supporting  the  lust  man,  re- 
gardless of  parl\ . 

EZRA  R.  JACOBY,  of  Northumberland,  now 
serving  as  assistant  yardmaster  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railway  Company  at  that  point,  has  been 
in  the  employ  of  that  company  continuously  for 
the  long  period  of  forty-three  years,  and  for  over 
a  quarter  of  a  century  held  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  general  yardmaster.  Mr.  Jacoby  is  of 
German  descent,  his  great-grandfather  having 
been  one  of  the  five  Jacoby  brothers  who  carne 
from  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  to  this  country,  one 
settling  in  Philadelphia,  on  what  is  now  jacoby 
street,  so  named  in  his  honor :  he  conducted  what 
was  known  as  the  "Black  Horse  Hotel."  One 
settled  at  Valley  Forge,  ami  participated  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Another  settled  on  Durham 
creek,  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  and  during  the  war 
sold  his  wheat  to  the  Colonial  Government,  being 
paid  in  Continental  money,  some  of  which  is  still 
treasured  by  members  of  the  family,  Mr.  Ezra 
R.  Jacoby.  of  Northumberland,  having  part  of  it. 
The  fourth  brother  settled  near  Allentown,  Pa., 
and  the  fifth  in  Bucks  county,  at  Bursonville. 
The  last  mentioned  had  a  son  John  Jacoby,  who  in 
time  became  judge  of  the  county.  His  homestead 
was  near  Bursonville.  on  Durham  creek,  where 
he  had  a  stone  mansion  of  Colonial  architecture. 
He  was  twice  married,  hi-  second  wife  living  to 
the  age  of  104  years. 

Samuel  Jacoby,  son  of  John  Jacoby  by  his  sec- 
ond marriage,  was  born  May  8,  1806,  at  the  home- 
stead. In  1824  he  moved  to  near  Masonville,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  continued  to  reside 
in  that  State  until  184G,  when  he  removed  to 
Pennsylvania.  Settling  first  at  Trout  Pun.  in 
Lycoming  county,  he  farmed  there  for  some  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Loyalsock,  same  county,  where 


he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  at 
Warrensville  March  6,  1901,  in  his  ninety-fifth 
year.  He  is  buried  at  that  place.  Though  a  hearty, 
rugged  man  all  his  life,  he  had  lived  retired  for  the 
last  thirty-five  years,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
early  industry.  At  the  time  of  his  death  the  flag 
on  the  local  schoolhouse  was  placed  at  half-mast 
a-  a  mark  of  respect  and  in  recognition  of  his 
useful  citizenship  and  high  character.  His  par- 
ent- were  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  but  he  and  bis  family  were  Methodists. 
Mr.  Jacoby  was  married  in  New  York  State  to 
Clara  H.  Bids,  who  was  born  April  IV.  1809, 
daughter  of  John  Biels,  and  died  March  Pi.  1890. 
The\  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters:  Sarah  (deceased)  married 
Abraham  Abker;  Mary  Augusta  married  Robert 
Abker,  nephew  of  Abraham  Abker:  Chester  (de- 
ceased) lived  in  Cascade  township,  Lycoming 
count]  :  William  is  a  resident  of  Loyalsock.  that 
county:  Lucy  died  young;  Abraham  is  a  farmer  of 
Cascade  township;  Ezra  R.  is  mentioned  below: 
Rachel  died   « hen   fourteen  years  "Id. 

Ezra  R.  Jacoby  was  born  Oct.  16,  1845,  near 
Masonville.  N.  V..  ami  was  six  months  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Pennsylvania.  He  at- 
tended public  school  for  a  short  time  during  his 
early  boyhood,  but  his  educational  advantages 
were  limited,  ami  lie  read  and  studied  in  his 
mature  years  to  make  up  for  early  deficiencies. 
After  working  mi  the  farm  until  he  was  fourteen 
years   old.  he  was  later  employed  in  the  lumber 

» Is  until  the  fall  of  1862,  at  which  time  he  en- 

listed,  from  Williamsport,  Pa.,  in  the  Union  army, 
In.  nming  a  member  of  the  3rd  Regiment.  Penn- 
sylvania lli'.iw  Artillery,  Volunteers,  with  which 
he  served  until  August.  1865.  He  was  in  the  en- 
gagement before   Petersburg. 

On  Nov.  27,  1867,  Mr.  Jacob]  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Company,  with 
which  he  has  since  remained.  He  began  as  brake- 
man,  was  conductor  in  Williamsport  for  eighteen 
months,  and  then,  in  March,  1870,  came  to  Sun- 
bury  to  take  the  position  of  yardmaster.  being 
thus  engaged  for  live  years.  From  that  time  until 
1903  he  was  general  yardmaster,  hi-  service  in 
this  capacity  being  highly  creditable.  Since  re- 
lieved of  this  responsibility  he  has  been  assistant 
yardmaster  at  Northumberland.  During  his  more 
active  years  he  had  charge  of  much  important 
work,  and  had  as  many  as  eight  hundred  men 
under  his  supervision  at  times.  He  attained 
his  high  position  through  his  own  efforts,  and  he 
has  held  tlie  esteem  of  his  associates  and  employers 
throughout  his  long  career. 

On  Nov.  12,  1865,  Mr.  Jacoby  married  Florence 
M.  Brown,  daughter  of  Heman  and  Anna  Belle 
(Snyder)  Brown,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
six  children  :  Harry,  now  of  Oil  City.  Pa. :  Drucilla, 
who  died  when  fifteen  years  old  :  Dora  Belle,  Mrs. 


NOBTHUMBEELAND  COUNTY,  PIXNXNSYIAXYX  I A 


965 


Charles  H.  Dodge;  Charlotte,  Mrs.  Samuel  Todd; 
Charles,  win.  died  in  infancy;  and  Augustus  K., 
a  railroad  man.  who  makes  his  home  at  North- 
umberland. 

Air.  Jacoby  and  his  family  have  occupied  the 
present  home  on  Front  street,  Northumberland, 
since  April,  1884.  lie  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  there,  and  socially 
be  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sun- 
bury;  Chapter  No.  174,  it.  A.  M.;  Danville  Com- 
mandery,  No.  37,  K.  T. ;  and  Bloomsburg  Con- 
sistory, thirty-second  degree. 

JOHN  It.  SWANGEE,  photographer  and  art 
dealer,  anil  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  popular 
iif  the  younger  citizens  and  business  men  of 
Milton,  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  born 
at  Lurgan,  in  1883,  son  of  Daniel  D.  and  Mary 
E.    (  Long)    Swanger. 

Daniel  I*.  Swanger  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
best  known  men  in  Franklin  county.  For  many 
years  ho  taught  school,  for  twenty-five  years  filled 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  several 
years  was  president  of  the  Lurgan  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Co.  At  the  present  time  lie  is  engaged 
as  a  merchant  at  Lurgan.  He  married  Mary  E. 
Long,  and  their  children  born  to  them  are:  Libby, 
Brace,  Harry.  Ellis,  Anna,  Thomas  and  John  D. 

John  D.  Swanger  attended  the  schools  in  his 
native  town,  ami  lor  a  time  was  employed  by  his 
father,  lie  then  left  home,  going  to  Shippensburg, 
Cumberland  county,  where  lie  learned  photography 
under  ('.  A.  Goodhart.  In  1902  be  opened  a 
studio  at  Reynoldsville,  Jefferson  county,  ami  for 
two  and  a.  half  wars  carried  it  on  successfully. 
He  then  i  ame  to  Milton,  ami  accepted  a  position 
with  II.  I!.  Montgomery,  and  later  bought  out  his 
employer.  Since  then  he  ha-  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness alone,  ami  so  well  has  he  succeeded  that  be 
lias  little  linn-  I'm-  anything  hut  his  work.  If' 
studies  constantly  to  perfect  himself  in  all  the  new 
and  most  scientific  methods,  and  he  has  won  an 
enviable  reputation.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Photographers'  Association.  Fraternally  he  he- 
lium's in  the  Woodmen. 

Mi-.  Swanger  married  Carrie  E.  Billmeyer, 
daughter  of  Henry  Billmeyer,  of  an  old  ami  prom- 
inent family  of  Northumberland  ami  Montour 
counties.  They  attend  the  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church.  Air.  Swanger  has  been  a  resident  ol 
Milton  hut.  comparatively  speaking,  a  few  years, 
vet  he  has  shown  himself  a  citizen  of  genuine 
worth.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
and  takes  an  interest  in  its  work  as  well  as  m  all 
movements  that  look  to  the  gn.wth  ami  develop- 
ment of  the  borough. 

EMOEY  L.  MILLER,  a  young  business  man 
,,f  Shamokin  who  is  making  a  success  as  a  con- 
tractor ami  builder,  was  born  Dec.  29,   1883,  at 


Augustaville,  this  county,  son  of  Hiram  1«\  Miller. 
His  grandfather, 

George  Miller,  who  is  commonly  called  "Hunter 
George,"  immigrated  from  Germany  some  time  in 
1700.  He  settled  near  Hamburg,  Berks  Co..  Pa., 
He  bad  several  children,  but  nothing  is  known 
of  them  by  his  descendants  with  the  exception  of 
John  Miller,  who  settled  in  Shamokin  township. 
Northumberland  county,  prior  to  L785.  He  owned 
about  thirteen  hundred  acres  of  Land  situated  upon 
the  Centre  pike.  He  built  his  log  house  on  the 
south  side  of  the  mail  opposite  where  George  W. 
Miller  later  made  his  home.  In  L785  he  married 
Catherine  Raber,  who  was  horn  Sept.  26,  1769, 
ami  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  anil  two  daughters: 
George  and  David,  both  deceased:  Elizabeth,  who 
was  twice  married,  first  to  a  Mr.  Rockefeller  and 
later  to  a  Air.  Wilbour;  and  Sarah,  who  married 
a  Mr.  Miller.  Before  his  death  John  Miller 
divided  his  property  between  his  sons,  David  tak- 
ing the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley  ami 
George  that  on  the  north  side. 

David  Miller,  son  of  George,  lived  in  Shamokin 
township.  Northumberland  county,  and  followed 
farming.  He  married  Grace  Jones,  and  their 
children  were:  Solomon,  Jefferson,  Maria  (married 
Reuben  Kline),  Rosania  (married  Farnsworth 
l.'eed).  Louisa  (married  Jacob  Gonser)  and  Hi- 
ram  II. 

Hiram  R.  Miller,  horn  duly  II.  is:;;,,  died  May 
I.  1894,  ami  is  buried  at  the  A.ugustaville  stone 
church.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade.  His  wife. 
Lucy  A.  Startzel,  bom  dan.  31,  1846,  now  re- 
sides in  Sunbury.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely:  Maria  A.,  horn  Sept.  IX  L866; 
George  V..  June  XX  1868;  Herbert  A.,  .lime  28, 
1872;  Bertha,  Nov.  L9,  1885  (died  young);  and 
Emory  L.,  Dec.  29,  1883. 

George  Startzel,  father  of  Mrs.  \AU\  \.  |  Start- 
zel) Miller,  lived  near  Paxinos,  iii  Shamokin 
township,  this  county,  and  died  at  Snydertown, 
that  township.  He  married  Ellen  Adams,  daugh- 
ter of  Casper  Adams,  and  to  them  were  horn  the 
following  children:  David.  Daniel.  Peter,  George 
A.,  Alary.  Lucy  A.  and    Daniel. 

Emory  L.  Miller  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  later  attended  Bucknell 
Academy,  at  Lewdsburg,  after  which  he  took  a 
course  at  Syracuse  University,  graduating  from 
that  institution  in  L906.  Meantime,  however,  he 
had  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  William 
Simpson,  of  Sunbury,  and  followed  that  line  of 
work  for  some  seven  years  before  hi  col- 

lege. After  his  graduation  he  Lo<  ated  in  the  bor- 
ough of  shamokin.  where  he  ha-  since  been 
established  in  business  as  a  contractor  and  I, udder. 
II,.  has  had  H tracts  for  a  number  of  substan- 
tial and  important  building    in  the  locality,  ha1  inj 

erected  the  S.  I  I.  II 1  ami  (  !.  M.  Adams  reside. 

,,,   LI lis    "Boss  lioiel.-  the  Marheft  buili 


966 


XOPTHUMBEELAXD  COUXTY.  PENNSYLVANIA 


and  the  residence  of  J.  C.  Brown,  nil  in  Shamo- 
kin.  He  drew  the  plans  for  the  Kleekner  business 
college  at  Sunbury,  ami  drew  the  plans  for  the  I. 
0.  0.  F.  building  at  Trevorton.  which  he  also  con- 
structed. Hi.-  reliability  and  litne>s  for  the  work 
are  best  shown  in  the  nature  of  the  contracts  in- 
trusted to  him.  and  his  best  recommendation  is  his 
work  itself. 

On  March  21.  1910,  Mr.  Miller  married  Minnie 
S.  Crone.  They  reside  at  Xo.  old  North  First 
street,  Shamokin.  He  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion, 
a  member  of  the  I.  0.  <  >.  1-'..  ami  belongs  to  the 
Sigma  Alpha  Epsilon  fraternity  of  Syracuse  Uni- 
versity. 

T.  Herman  Crone,  father  of  Mrs.  Miller,  was 
horn  at  Trevorton.  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  was 
a  butcher  by  occupation,  and  died  in  Shamokin. 
this  county,  Sept.  1.  1896.  He  married  Emma 
Sweitzer,  daughter  of  John  Sweitzer,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  to  their  union  were  born  three 
daughters:  Mary,  who  is  at  home;  Minnie  S..  Mrs. 
Miller:  and  Bessie,  at  home. 

BENJAMIN    I.    EVANS,    of    Mount    Cai 
Northumberland  county,  inspector  of  the  Fifteenth 
Anthracite    Inspection    District  of    Pennsylvania, 

holds  a  responsible  relation  to  the  eight  thousand 
mine   workers   employed    in   tin  i     collieries 

over  which  he  has  jurisdiction.  He  has  been  a 
mine  worker  all  his  life,  practically,  and  is  well 
versed  in  the  duties  of  his  position,  the  import- 
ance of  his  work  and  the  obligation  under  which 
it  puts  him  to  serve  his  fellowmen  to  the  best  of 
his  ability. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a  native  of  Wales,  born  in  1862, 
and  was  eighteen  war-  old  when  he  came  to  Ant- 
erica.  His  first  location  was  at  Minersville, 
S  ivlkill  Co..  Pa.,  where  be  followed  mining 
about  ten  years,  after  which  he  became  foreman 
of  the  colliery  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  lie  occupied 
that  position  about  five  years,  and  his  nexl 
perience  was  at  Buck  Mountain.  Schuylkill  county. 
also  as  foreman,  whence  he  chanced  to  the  Maria 
colliery,  at  Mahanoy  City,  for  two  years,  lb'  came 
to  Mount  Carmel  in  September.  1903,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  in  that  borough.  Mr.  E 
took  the  examination  to  qualify  for  Stati  mine 
inspector  in  1902,  at  Pottsville,  and  passed  with  a 
high  grade.  He  has  since  passed  other  examina- 
tions, in  1903,  1906  and  1908,  continuing  to  hold 
bis  position  through  merit  and  eminent  fitness 
for  iis  duties.  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with 
its  responsibilities  and  has  proved  himself  compe- 
tent to  inspect  and  report  upon  the  twelve  collieries 
in  his  care,  in  which  a  total  of  about  eight  thou- 
sand people  are  engaged.  His  integrity  and  fair- 
ness, ami  a  high  sense  of  honor,  have  marked  his 
performance  of  the  trust  he  has  so  long  held,  and 
he  is  not  only  well  but  favorably  known  through- 
out the  local  coal  field. 


Mr.  Evans  was  married  to  Charlotte  Baer,  and 
to  them  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Elizabeth 
A.,  now  the  wife  of  Frederick  Persing,  of  Mount 
Carmel.  They  reside  at  Xo.  3  1  North  Maple 
street.  Mount  Carmel.  where  Mr.  Evans  main- 
tains his  office  also.  Socially  be  is  a  member  of 
the  Elks  and  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  polities  he  is  a 
Eepublican. 

WILLIAM    11.    DUNKELBEEGEE   has    b 
ilished  in  business  at  Sunbury  for  only  a  few 
years,  but  his  store  has  a  wide  reputation,  being 
the  largest  of  its  kind  in  central  Pennsylvania  and 

carrying    a    stock    noted    for    pleteness.      Mr. 

Dunkelberger  is  located  at  Xo.  437  Market  street, 
in  the  heart  of  the  business  district  of  the  borough, 
and  is  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  floor  coverings, 
rie-  and  upholstery  goods  of  all  kinds.  Ib- 
is one  of  the  youngi  r  i   e at,  having  been  born 

April  8,  L880,  at  Middleburg,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  of  Northumberland  county  stock,  his  grand- 
father. John  Dunkelberger,  having  been  a  farmer 
in  Little  Mahanoy  township.  John  Dunkelbei 
was  married  three  times,  and  had  six  children  by 
one  union,  namely:  Cornelius.  Henry,  Lewis.  Sam- 
uel, Lizzie  (who  never  married)  ami  Mis.  lb  n 
I''  il'er. 

Cornelius  Dunkelberger.  father  of  William  II. 
Dunkelberger,  was  born  in  ls:;r>  in  Little  Ma- 
township,  and  spent  a  number  of  year-  in 
Northumberland  county.  Later  he  moved  to  Sny- 
der county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
having  long  been  a  resident  of  Middleburg  and 
om  of  the  influential  citizens  of  that  place,  active 
in  business,  political  and  church  circles.  In  fact, 
be  ha  m  enthusiastic  worker  and  a  leader 
in  every  line  which  has  claimed  his  interest.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  a  pros  rain,  coal 
and  lumber  merchant.  Since  1884  hi  has  been 
connected  with  the  United  States  internal  revenue 
service  at  that  point.  In  the  year  named  he  was 
appointed  -torekeeper  and  gauger.  later  deputy 
collector,  and  has  been  in  the  Government  service 
since  1888.  He  has  long  been  active  in  the  Ee- 
publican party  in  his  locality,  having  been  com- 
mitteeman from  Franklin  township.  Snyder  coun- 
ty, for  some  years,  county  chairman,  and  frequent- 
ly delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  energetic- 
workers  in  the  United  Evangelical  Church  of 
Middleburg.  in  which  he  holds  membership,  hav- 
ing 1 ii  long  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  a  class-leader,  exhorter,  etc..  in  fact,  one  of 
the  pillars  of  the  congregation.  He  married  Har- 
riet Seehrist.  daughter  of  Henry  Sechrist.  who 
lived  near  Port  Treverton.  Snyder  county,  and 
they  have  a  family  of  six  children,  namely:  Ella 
married  .T.  I.  Acher  and  they  live  near  Port  Trever- 
ton ;  Elizabeth  married  J.  E.  Kreeger,  of  Middle- 
■burg;  Mary  married  Dr.  J.  G.  Snllada.  of  Benton. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


9   : 


fa.;  Gertrude  and  Lillian  are  unmarried;  William 
II.  is  a  residenl  of  Sunbury. 

W  illiam  H.  Dunkelberger  received  riis  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Middleburg.  At  an  earl] 
age  he  began  clerking  in  a  general  store  ai  Lewis- 
town,  Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  thus  engaged  for 
thirteen  years,  laying  a  thorough  foundation  for 
Ins  future  career,  becoming  familiar  with  the  de- 
tails of  merchandising  and  business  methods  and 
gaining  an  insight  into  the  executive  branch  of 
the  business  which  has  prove'd  most  valuable  to  him 
in  his  independent  venture.  In  1907  he  com- 
menced on  his  own  account  at  his  present  location 

in    Sunbury,    arid    he   made    a   success    IV the 

start.  Ee  lias  worked  hard  to  place  his  business 
on  a  substantia]  foundation,  and  be  deserves  the 
large  share  of  patronage  which  has  come  to  him. 

On  Feb.  3,  1903,  Mr.  Dunkelberger  married 
Nellie  Crawford,  daughter  of  Albert  and  Margaret 
(Sheep)  Crawford,  who  lived  near  Milton.  North- 
umberland county,  and  they  have  had  our  son. 
William  Crawford.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sunbury.  So- 
cially Mr.  Dunkelberger  unites  with  Lodge  No. 
22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Sunbury.  with  Northumber- 
land Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  174,  also  of  Sun- 
bury. and  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  Lodge  No.  367,  of  Sun- 
bury. 

JOSEPH  ERASTUS  A.  SOWERS,  of  Shamo- 
kin,  foreman  for  the  Mount  Carmel  Iron  Com- 
pany, was  born  Aug.  19,  1843,  in  Spring  City, 
Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  in  which  county  the  family  has 
been  established  for  some  time.  His  grandfather. 
Joseph  Sowers,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
came  thence  to  America  many  years  ago.  settling 
near    Spring    City.      He    followed    farming,    and 

contii I    to    reside   there  until  his  death.      His 

children  were  Erastus,  Mahlon  and  Abner. 

Abner  Sowers,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Chester  county.  He  lived  prin- 
cipally at  Rover's  Ford,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  some  years,  later 
working  in  a  mill.  He  died  in  1860.  Mr.  Sown 
married  Elizabeth  Taney,  also  a  member  of  a 
Chester  county  family,  of  French  descent,  and  to 
them  were  born  three  children:  Joseph  Erastus 
A.:  Charles,  who  died  young;  and  Annie,  now  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Henry  Chapman, 
an  Episcopal  minister.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband  Mrs.  Sowers  married  William  Wilcox, 
who  is  now  also  deceased,  and  by  that  union  had 
two  children,  William  and  Annie,  the  former  now 
a  resident  of  Bethlehem,   Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  Frastus  A.  Sowers  attended  public 
school  a i  Norristown,  Montgomery  county,  and 
commenced  to  work  in  the  rolling  mills  there. 
Thence  he  went  to  Pottsville,  where  lie  learned 
the  rudder's  trade,  continuing  to  follow  it  until 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  In  18G1 
he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  96th  Regiment.  Penn- 


.-vlvama  Volunteer  Infantry,  from  which  he  was 
transferred  to  the  52d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and 
he  held  the  rank  of  sergeanl  throughout  his  ser\  ire. 
He  was  under  General  McClellan  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  Peninsular  campaign,  and  in  the 
operations  in  North  and  South  Carolina,  the  bat 
lie-  in  which  he  was  engaged  including  Williams- 
burg, Fair  Oaks,  Seven  Pines,  Bolten  Bridgi  , 
Malvern  Hill,  While  Oal?  Swamp.  James  Island. 
Port  Sumter,  Yorktown,  Port  Wagner,  Morris  Is- 
land. Bull  Island,  and  Fori  Johnson,  where  he 
was  captured  July  ::.  1864.  lie  was  taken  to 
Charleston  and  thence  to  Andersonville.  where 
he  was  held  three  months,  from  there  going  to 
Florence,  where  he  was  kept  two  months  befon 
receiving  his  parole,  lie  was  discharged  Nov.  -.';. 
lMi  I.  after  three  years  and  live  months  of  ser- 
vice. 

Returning  to  Pottsville,  Pa..  Mr.  Sowers  worked 
there  one  year  and  then  went  to  Port  Carbon, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  foundry  for  .1.  1,'. 
Boyer.  He  held  that  position  for  several 
at  the  end  (.f  which  time  lie  had  a  chance  to  bet- 
ter himself,  becoming  foreman  of  the  molding  de- 
partment in  the  establishment  of  John  Mullen  & 
Son.  at  Shamokin,  Dec.  21,  L875.  He  remained 
with  this  firm  for  the  long  period  of  thirty  yeai 
and  has  since  held  his  present  position,  being  now 
foreman  for  the  Mount  Carmel  Iron  Company. 
Intelligent,  faithful  and  conscientious,  Mr.  Sower- 
Mauds  high  among  his  fellow  workmen  as  well  as 
with  his  employers,  and  he  is  a  respected  citi 

of   the  borough   in    which    he  has   SO   long    made  his 

home.    He  is  a  well  known  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,    holding     membership     in     Shamokin 
Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Shamokin  Chapti 
No.  26  !.   I!.  A.  M. :  Shamokin  t  dery,   No. 

77,  I\.  T. :  Williamsporl  Consistory,  thirty-second 
degree;  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  \.  M  S 
Reading  (to  which  he  transferred  in  1911  from 
Trein  Temple,  of  Wilkes-Barre)  :  and  the  Temple 
Club,  of  Shamokin.  He  also  belongs  to  Lincoln 
Post,  No.  140,  G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

On  Oct.   25,    1866,    Mr.    -  ied    Ella 

Lord,  daughter  of  Henry  Lord,  of  Pottsville,  Pa 
Their  home  is  at  No.  1101   Vine  street,  Shamokin. 
Five  children   U.wr  been   horn   to   this  union,   four 
surviving,  namely:  Harry,  a  machinist,  in 
ploy  of  John   Mullen  ,\    Son    (he  married    Katie 
Miller  and  has  two  children,   Essie  and   Frank)  : 
Elizabeth;  Harvey  B.,  a  molder  also  in  the  en  | 
of  John  Mullen  £  Son  (he  married  Frances  Burn- 
er) :  and  Ella  May. 

CLARENCE     K.     MARTZ,     blacksmith     and 
wheelwright   al    Paxinos,   Northumberland  county, 
belongs  to  a  family  which  lias  been  settled  in  this 
county  fot               century,  being  a    on  of  Frank 
!:n  Mart/  and  grands f  I  'a\  id  Mi 

David  Martz  was  born  Oct.  15,  1802,  in  Lowei 


968 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  and 
died  Nov.  11,  1855.  Shortly  after  his  marriage 
lie  located  at  Paxinos  and  owned  and  operated  a 
lulling  mill  there,  being  quite  successful  in  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  i  man.  and  for  many 
years  was  chosen  to  serve  as  justice  of  the  peace 
at  Paxinos.  His  wife,  Hannah  (Evert),  born 
Oct.  6,  1804,  died  June  9,  1880,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  Blur  church  in  Ralpho  township. 
Their  children  were:  Eliza  died  unmarried; 
Henry,  who  was  a  teacher,  died  unmarried ;  Mar- 
garet married  David  Adams :  Sarah  married 
Emanuel  Artman;  Franklin  is  mentioned  !>elow: 
Mary  married  Albert  Fisher:  David  P.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Ralpho  township,  this  county:  John,  twin 
of  David,  is  deceased;  Hannah  married  Jackson 
Hoffman:  Susan  died  young. 

Franklin  Martz,  son  of  David,  was  horn  Dec. 
12,  1835,  in  Northumberland  county,  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade. 
following  both  farming  and  carpentry.  He  died 
near  Paxinos,  on  his  farm,  in  July.  L887,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Blue  church.  His  wife,  Margi 
(Fisher),  a  native  of  Northumberland  county, 
daughter  of  John  Fisher,  still  survives,  residing 
;it  Paxinos.  Sh  -  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  as  was  also  Mr.  Martz.  They 
were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  live  of  whom 
an-  living:  Edward  H. :  William,  who  lives  in 
Shamokin:  Bertha  M..  married  to  Frank  Wertley; 
Catherine  A.,  married  to  William  Kriegbaum : 
and  Clarence  K. 

Clarence  K.  Martz  was  born  April  9,  1873,  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  home 
locality  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen.  At  that  time  he 
went  tn  Elysburg  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
with  Joseph  Lynn,  remaining  there  for  a  period  of 
five  years,  after  which  he  went  to  Shamokin  for  a 
year.  After  that  he  carried  on  a  farm  in  con- 
nection with  his  trade  fur  some  time,  and  in  I  102 
began  business  at  his  present  stand,  in  Paxinos, 
where  he  has  been  doing  -  eontinuouslysinee. 

It  is  a  fine  location,  and  he  has  built  tip  a  profit- 
able custom,  doing  a  general  blacksmith  and  wheel- 
wright business.  In  1907  he  admitted  William  F. 
Fisher  to  a  partnership  in  the  business,  the  firm 
being  known  as  Martz  &  Fisher.  Mr.  Martz  has 
served  his  township  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor, 
which  office  he  has  held  for  three  years.  He  - 
Republican  in  politics  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran. 
belong  Qg  3  ' .  b's  (Reed's)  Church.  S  - 
cially  he  holds  membership  in  the  F.  0.  S.  of  A. 
and  in  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Martz  married  Julia  A.  Epler.  daughter  of 
Amos  Epler,  of  Shamokin  township,  and  to  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children,  namely :  Clara 
and  Fred. 

PETER  F.  CULP,  now  of  Sunbury.  made  his 
home  on  his  farm  in  Rockefeller  township  from 


1  vi  until  his  recent  removal  to  the  borough.  He 
is  employed  as  car  inspector  in  the  yards  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at  Sunbury.  his 
service  with  the  company  covering  over  thirty 
-sino  1^;;.  Mr.  Oulp  was  born  Nov.  14. 
1850,  in  what  was  then  known  as  Augusta  town- 
ship. Northumberland  county,  son  of  Peter  Culp, 
grandson  of  Henry  Culp  (or  Kolb)  and  great- 
grandson  of  Conrad  Culp.  who  was  horn  in  the 
year  Kill  and  .lied  April  8,  L846,  aged  about 
eighty-five  years.  He  lived  in  Augusta  (now  Up- 
per Augusta)  township,  where  he  had  the  farm 
now  owned  by  a  Mi'.  Haas.  His  wife,  Mairdalena. 
born  in  1761,  died  Feb.  9,  1S49.  Their  children 
were  Mrs.  Stophel  Sterner  and  Henry. 

Henry  Culp  (or  Kolb)  was  a  native  of  one  of 
the  lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  born  March 
10,  1791.  and  was  one  of  the  pionei  ers  in 

his  section  of  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
located  mi  what  is  known  as  the  old  Pike  (Tul- 
pehocken)  mad.  about  two  miles  east  of  Sunbury. 
He  owned  a  farm  in  Augusta  (now  Upper  Au- 
gusta) township,  which  has  sitae  been  divided  into 
several  tracts.  He  lost  considerable  of  his  esta 
through  the  shrinkage  of  Continental  currency. 
His  death  occurred  Sept.  11,  1833,  and  he  is 
buried  at  Sunbury.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  His  wife.  Saloma, 
horn  in  February,  L790,  died  April  15.  1835.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Ben- 
jamin lived  in  Crawford  county.  Pa. :  William 
lived  in  Millersburg.  Elkhaj  I  hid.,  and  there 
are  -till  many  Kolps.  Kolbs.  Colbs  and  Colps  in 
that  county,  descendants  of  this  family:  Samuel 
died  at  Shamokin.  Pa. :  Charles  lived  at  Ashland. 
Fa.,  where  he  conducted  a  hotel:  Hettie  (Esther) 
married  a  Mr.  Brobst  and  they  lived  at  McEwens- 
ville,  Pa. :  Sarah  married  Henry  Kniss  (who  had  a 
brother  Peter  i.  of  Rockefeller  township,  where  he 
followed  farming:  Peter  is  mentioned  belpw. 

Peter  Culp.  son  of  Henry,  was  born  April  22. 
1811,  and  lived  and  died  in  what  is  now  Upper 
Augusta  township.  His  birth  and  death  occurred 
on  the  same  farm.  He  followed  farming  all  his 
life,  and  died  at  a  comparatively  early  age.  Sept. 
5,  1850.  He  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at 
bury.  His  wife.  Gertrude  Lantz,  was  a  daugh- 
■I  Samuel  and  Magdalene  (Martz)  Lantz, 
father  a  foremost  citizen  of  Rockefeller  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Culp  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Susan,  who  married  William  Weitzel  (both 
:  Henry,  late  of  Sunbury :  Samuel. 
of  Sunbury  (he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war)  : 
David,  who  died  while  serving  in  the  army  during 
the  Civil  war:  Richard,  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war.  who  lived  and  died  in  Sunbury :  Albert  S. : 
and  Peter  F. 

Peter  F.  Culp  was  trained  from  boyhood  to 
farm  life,  and  has  always  retained  his  interest  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  Since  1ST7  he  has  been  an 
employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


969 


being  engaged  as  car  inspector  at  the  Sunbury 
yards.  In  1891  he  settled  on  his  ninety-acre 
farm  m  Rockefeller  township,  which  was  formerly 
the  old  Judge  Abraham  Shipman  homestead,  and 
for  ten  years  he  owned  and  operated  the  Judge 
Shipman  grist  and  saw  mill,  which  stood  on  bis 
property.  He  is  an  energetic  and  active  man,  and 
though  occupied  with  Ins  business  interests  h'as 
found  time  for  public  service  and  social  pleasures. 
For  twenty-three  years  be  held  the  office  of  school 
director,  serving  over  fifteen  years  as  secretary  of 
tin'  board.  He  has  long  been  a  working  member 
of  the  Democratic  party,  ami  has  sewed  a  num- 
ber of  times  as  delegate  to  the  county  conventions. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  he  was  choir  leader  of  the  Lantz 
Church  (named  after  his  grandfather)  for  over 
twelve  years.  Recently  he  and  In-  wife  too 
month's  trip  through  the  West.  They  came  to 
Sunbury  April  3,  1911,  and  reside  at  No.  1273 
Easl  Market  street. 

In  is;:;  Mr.  Culp  married  Anna  Heilman, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Smeltzer)  Heil- 
man. and  they  have  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren: Gertrude,  who  married  Jacob  Drumm;  Mar- 
garet, witf  of  I'M.  Bartholomew,  of  Sunbury; 
Creightort  Glenn,  who  married  Gertrude  Reader. 
and  resides  in  Sunbury;  Peal  Vernon,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Hewett,  and  lives  in  Sunbury;  Royal 
Palmer,  who  married   Stella  Lytle  and  farms  the 

I stead  place  in    Rockefeller  township;   Alberl 

Bernard,  who  married  Ethel  'Weitzel  and  lives  in 
Rockefeller  township:  Bessie  Blanche,  and  Bryan 
Darlington. 

Daniel  Heilman.  father  of  Mrs.  Culp.  was  born 
Jan.  26,  1795,  in  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  and 
came  to  Northumberland  county  about  1820,  set- 
tling in  Lower  Augusta  township  on  the  farm  mm 
owned  by  his  granddaughter,  Margaret  Anna 
(  Heilman).  wife  of  Robert  diaries.  Here  he  died 
April  i'J.  1875.  lie  served  as  a  soldier  during 
the  war  of  1812-15.  Mr.  Heilman  was  employed 
as  a  cabinetmaker,  carpenter  and  undertaker.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religious  connec- 
tion a  devout  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
serving  many  years  in  the  church  council.  Eis 
srife,  Gertraut  (Diehl),  horn  Jan.  is.  1793, 
died  Get.  22,  is  lit.  ami  bis  second  wife.  Margarel 
i  Smeltzer).  of  Lower  Augusta  township,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Smeltzer.  who  came  from  Stone  Valley, 
and  widow  of  Christopher  TJmmel,  died  Jan.  5, 
L88S,  aged  seventy-three  years,  three  months, 
sixteen  days.  Mr.  Heilman  and  both  his  wive 
buried  at  the  Augustaville  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed Church.  Mrs.  Heilman  was  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  congregation.  Teu  children 
were  bom  to  the  first  marriage:  Lydia,  Mrs. 
Henry  H.  Malick:  Hannah.  Mrs.  William  Mai 
Gertrude,  Mrs.  Eenry  Savage;  Jeremiah,  of  Ne- 
braska;   Daniel    D. :    Maria.   Mrs.   Hiram   Bloom; 


Esther,  Mrs.  Andrew  Eauck  (they  live  in  Kan- 
sas): John:  and  two  who  died  young.  There 
were  two  children  by  the  second  union:  Anna. 
Mrs.  Peter  P.  Culp.  an. I  Isaiah  A.,  of  Kansas. 

Daniel  D.  Heilman.  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
in  Lower  Augusta  township  Her.  25,  1829,  ami 
died  on  his  farm  there  June  30,  1904.  lie  was 
a  farmer,  but  also  followed  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  undertaking.  In  1856  be  married  Elizabeth 
Eauck,  who  was  bom  Nov.  15,  1831,  daughter 
of  David  and  Anna  (Lantz)  Hauck,  and' died 
Oct.  II.  1905.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heilman  are  buried 
at  the  Augustaville  Church.  Thev  bad  four  chil- 
dren: Margaret  Anna,  wife  of  Robert  Chat 
Clara  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  A.  J.  Smith:  Dr.  D.  Frank- 
lin, of  Northumberland;  and  John  Calvin,  who 
was  accidentally  killed  in  Indiana,  when  twenty- 
five  years  old. 

Albert  S.  Culp,  son  of  Peter  and  brother  of 
Peter  F.  Culp.  was  born  Nov.  29,  1848,  and  lived 
near  the  Lantz  Church,  in  Rockefeller  township, 
where  he  owned  a  piece  of  property.  He  was  a 
car  inspector  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  Sunbury.  where  he  was  accidentally  killed, 
while  on  duty,  March  16,  1882.  He  is  buried  at 
Lantz's  Church.  His  wife,  Annie  K.  (Howe  i 
now  (1910)  fifty-eight  war-  old,  survives,  making 
her  home  with  her  son-.  Four  children  ■ 
bora  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culp:  Samuel  E..  who  is 
unmarried;  Charles  L. :  Sarah  G.,  who  died  aged 
twelve  years:  and  Mary  1\..  who  married  Rev. 
E.  L.  Kistler,  a  Lutheran  minister  located  Dear 
Sunbury.  who  died  in  the  spring  of  191  1. 

Charles  L.  Culp.  son  of  Albert  S.  Culp.  was 
bora  Sept,  10,  1874,  in  Rockefeller  township.  For 
over  fifteen  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  in  the  spring 
of  1909  commencing  farming  on  his  own  account 
in  Rockefeller  township,  be  and  his  brother  Sam- 
uel E.  purchasing  the  116-acre  trael  formerh 
known  as  the  George  M.  Hellj  farm.  They  are 
cultivating  ibis  land,  and  Mr.  Culp  makes  ,, 
specialty  of  dairying,   selling  his  milk  whoL 

in  Sunbury.     lie  i-  an  enterprising  1  progri — 

ive  young  man.  ami    has  accomplished   consider- 
able even  in  the  shorl  period  he  lias  devoted  him- 
self to  agricultural   work.     Tn   isn;    he  man 
Henrietta  DeWitt,  of  David  DeWitt,  and 

they  have  one  son,  Albert  I  >avid. 

JOHN"  O'GARA,  of  Shamokin,  mi  the 

firm  of  O'Gara  i  Dooley,  who  conducl  a  hotel  at 
No.  322  Independence  street,  opposite  the  Read- 
ing station,  is  well  known  in  tl  .  i  Hon  and 
also  as  the  leader  in  central  Pennsylvania 

wl neourage    an  orl     clean    -non-.       H  - 

activity   in  tin-    direction    ha-    won    him    many 

'ids. 

Mr.  O'Gara  was  born  a     I 

Dee.  2 1.   1861,  son  of   Patrii  L   <  I'l  lara,  who  was 


970 


NORTHUMBERLAND  CO  I  N  TY,  PEXXS YLYAX I A 


born  in  Ireland  in  1829  and  came  to  America  in 
L845.  He  landed  at  New  York  City  but  did  not 
remain  there  long,  proceeding  to  Beaver  Meadows, 
Carbon  Co..  Pa.,  where  he  found  work  at  the 
mines.  Later  he  made  his  home  at  Trevorton. 
[Northumberland  county,  where  he  continued  min- 
ing to  the  end  of  his  active  days.  He  died  in 
L896,  al  Shamokin.  Mr.  O'Gara  married  Mar- 
garet Donlin,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to 
this  country  with  her  parents  in  1845  and  lived 
at  Beaver  Meadows,  where  she  was  married.  She 
died  in  1900.  Seven  children  wen-  born  to  this 
union.  Catherine.  Thomas.  Mary,  Bridget,  John; 
Michael  and  Daniel. 

John  O'Gara  attended  school  at  To  on  and 
began  work  as  a  slate  picker,  working  as  such  for 
a  short  lime.  He  then  drove  team  in  the  mines 
and  in  time  became  a  miner,  following  mining  for 
about  twenty  years,  during  which  time  tie  was 
employed  at  the  North  Franklin.  Sterling.  Burn- 
side  ami  Bear  Valley  collieries.  After  abandon- 
ing minim;  he  was   for  six   rears   engaged   as    a 

tor  J.  B.  Hefrold,  at  the  "1  e  H 

at  Shamokin.  of  which  he  became  proprietor  al 
the  end  of  that  period,  conducting  i1  successfully 
ears  on  Ids  own  account.  In  1908  lie  be- 
came associated  with  his  brother-in-law.  J.  W. 
Dooley,  under  the  firm  name  of  O'Gara  &  Dooley. 
and  they  have  since  conducted  the  hotel  at  No. 
:;■.'■?  Independence  street,  opposite  the  Kea 
station.  'Idle  location  is  particularly  favorable. 
and  they  have  a   I  ronage,  which  they  re- 

tain by  fair  treatment  and  attention  to  the  wel- 
fare of  their  patrons. 

Mr.  O'Gara's  connection  with  the  <a  of 

clean  sports  has  made  him  a  well  known  figure 
throughout  central  Pennsylvania.  He  is  an  au- 
thority on  such  matters  and  well  fitted  for  leader- 
ship. Fraternally  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  the  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
a  Catholic  in  religion,  being  a  member  of  St.  Ed- 
ward's  Church  at  Shamokin. 

On  June  25,  1884,  Mr.  O'Gara  married  Ella 
Mansfield,  who  died  June  19,  1891.  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Frank.  Mary  (married  George  F. 
Mullen),  Morris  and  Arthur.  His  second  wife 
was  Jennie  Dooley.  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Catharine  (Kerstetter)  Dooley.  and  they  have 
had  eight  children:  Edwin.  Warren,  Hilda.  Ruth. 
Martha,  Leon.  Helen  and  Elizabeth. 

PETER  RODS,  outside  foreman  at  one  of  the 
largest  collieries  in  Northumberland  county,  the 
Locust  Spring  colliery  at  Locust  Gap,  in  Mount 
Carmel  township,  has  been  engaged  in  mining 
ever  since  he  commenced  work  with  the  exception 
of  a  comparatively  short  time  spent  at  the  black- 
smith trade.  He  has  had  about  twenty  years' 
experience  as  assistant  foreman  and  foreman. 


Mr.  Roos  was  bom  in  1860  at  Thomaston, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Peter  Roos,  a  native 
of  Germany  who  came  to  this  country  in  his  young 
manhood  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
tion  of  Pennsylvania.  He  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  worked  at  the  mines, 
and  died  at  Mahanoy  City,  in  that  county,  at  the 
of  forty-five  year-.  His  wife,  Catherine 
(Ecker),  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two,  dying 
in  1908.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children: 
Catherine.  Mary.  Peter.  George,  John,  Anthony, 
Barbara,  Philip  and  Christine. 

Peter  Roos  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Mahanoy  City,  lie  was  only  a  boy 
when  he  began  picking  -late  at  the  breaker,  and 
he  was  thus  employed  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  fourteen,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  following  that  occupation  for 
some  time.  He  then  became  employed  at  the 
Boston  Run  colliery,  in  thi  assistant 

foreman,    continuing    to    hold    that    position    for 
about   ten  years,  until  he  came  to  Locust  G 
take  the  position  of  outside  foreman  at  the  Locust 
Spring   colliery.     Three   hundred   and   fifty   men 
and  boy-  are  employed  at   this  colliery,  ami  Mr. 

-   long  service  tb 
intelligent  and  faithful  overseer.     He  is  familiar 
with  all   the  details  of  successful  mining  in  this 
u   and    a  man  to   be  relied   upon   to   do   his 
duty  well. 

In  188J  Mr.  Roos  married  Elizabeth  Becker. 
daughter  "I'  Mathias  Becker,  a  Frenchman,  and 
seven  children  have  been  born  t"  them,  namely: 
George.  Barbara.  Mary,  Lena.  Christiana,  Eliza- 
beth and  Catherine.     Mr.  Roos  is  a  member  ol 

olic  Church.  He  does  not  adhere  to  any 
political  party,  voting  independently,  as  public 
questions  and  candidates  appeal  to  him.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  esteemed  residents  of  Locust  Gap. 
a  citizen  whose  influence  is  considerable  and  always 
avor  of  the  most  worthy  objects. 

BARRY  F.  CONRAD,  one  of  the  younger  mer- 
chants of  Sunbury  doing  a  thriving  busb  -- 
there,  was  born  April  21.  1882,  in  Penn  township. 
der  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Aaron  A.  Conrad.  He 
s  of  a  family  which  has  been  identified  with 
this  part  of  Northumberland  county  for  several 
generations.  Jacob  and  Adam  Conrad  are  shown 
by  the  records  to  have  been  taxables  in  Augusta 
township  in  1774.  In  the  early  accounts  of  the 
rads  we  find  that  John  Conrad,  the  great- 
grandfather of  Harry  F.  Conrad,  owned  a  farm  of 
some  four  hundred  acres  east  of  Sunbury.  This 
John  Conrad,  born  March  18,  1',::.  died  June  11. 
1839.  He  married  Julia  Cooper,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows:  Daniel  married  a  Miss  Wolfe: 
William  married  Susan  Huey  and  (second)  a  Mr. 
Bartholomew,  and  had  a  son  George:  Eli  married 
Pollv  Gerlinsrer:   Georee  married   Esther  Reeser: 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


971 


Julia  Ann  married  Henry  Gass  ami  had  William, 
Jacob,  George,  Maria.  Susan,  Louise  and  Harriet; 
Kate  married  Mr.  Cooper;  Sarah  married  Charles 
Gehrlinger;  Ann  Maria  married  Decadon  Herb 
and  had  Julia,  Maria.  Daniel,  Decadon  (married 
Mrs.  Maria  Dietrich)  and  Samuel;  Susan  married 
Samuel  Herb. 

George  Conrad,  son  of  John,  horn  Aug.  36, 
L808,  died  May  17,  1877.  He  owned  a  large  farm, 
comprising  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
upon  which  what  is  now  the  eastern  portion  of 
Sunbury  is  built.  He  married  Esther  Reeser,  born 
July  26,  1811,  di.-d  Nov.  11.  1886,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  <  latha- 
rine  married  Albert  Buckley  and  had  four  chil- 
dren, Florine  (married  Charles  Zerbe),  Clara 
(married  John  Evert),  Alice  (died  young)  and 
Hat  tie;  William  died  young;  Harriet  married 
Philip  Eckman  and  had  a  daughter  Esther;  Henry 
married  Sophia  Pasold;  Aaron  A.  is  mentioned 
below;  Gideon  was  the  next  in  the  family;  Silas 
married   Ellen   Clark. 

\aroii  A.  Conrad,  son  of  George,  was  bora  May 
'K  1852,  in  Upper  Augusta  township,  and  received 
his  education  there  in  the  common  schools.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  but  has  not  been  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  many  years.  In  1871 
he  engaged  in  merchandising  in  that  part  of  Upper 
Augusta  township  which  later  became  East  Sun- 
bury,  and  is  now  included  within  the  limits  of 
the  borough  of  Sunbury.  his  store  being  loi  ated  at 

outheast  corner  of  Tenth  and  Markel  streets. 
There  lie  did  business  until  1880,  when  he  moved 
to  1'eim  township,  Snyder  county,  and  became 
interested  in  milling.  In  May,  1886,  he  moved  to 
Selinsgrove,  this  county,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  For  some  time  he  carried  on  a  general 
gristmilling  business  at  an  old  mill  locally  known 
in  the  earlier  days  as  Snyder's  mill,  and  lar 
Conrad's  mill:  the  establishment  is  over  one  hun- 

vears  old,   and  is  one  of  the  landmarks 
Lower   Augusta   township.      For   eight   years    Mr. 
Conrad    did  an  extensive  business  shipping   fruit 
to    X~ew   York.    Pittsburg   and    the    West,    in    the 
fall  season.     He  is  now  living  retired.     Successful 
and    energetic    in    his    business    undertakings,    he 
has  also  been  active  and  useful  in  his  relation-  to 
the  community,  having  served   as  school  din 
six  years,  during  which  time  he  was  presides 
the  board  four  years  and  treasurer  one 

I  commissioner  one  year,  and  as  a r  three 

years,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  was  a  Democrat 
in  a  Republican  stronghold.  He  has  been  promi- 
nent in  local  fraternal  organizations,  having  been 
first  president  of  Washington  Camp  No.  736,  P. 
0.  S.  of  A.,  of  Selinsgrove  (he  has  passed  through 
all  the  chairs)  :  and  is  a  past  grand  of  Selins- 
grove Lodge.  No.  107.  I.  0.  0.  F..  and  active  in 
the  work  of  that  body.     He  served  fourteen  years 


a-  a  trustee  of  the  I,'-  ormed  Church  of  which  he 
and  his  family  are  members. 

On  Dec.  10,  1877,   .Mr.   Conrad    married   Man 

E.  Weis,   daughter  of    Trias   and    Sarah    ih 
Weis,    farming   people    of    Washington    township, 
Snyder  county,  and  they  have  had   I  dren, 
Roberta  (who  lives  with  her  parents)   and  Harry 

F.  In  March,  1911,  Mr.  Aaron  A.  Conrad  returned 
to  Sunbury,  where  he  now  make-  his  ho 

Harry  F.  Conrad  received  a  public  school  edu- 
cation at  Selinsgrove,  and  during  hi-  ea 
years  took  an  arm,-  pari  in  local  athletic  affairs. 
When  he  started  out  for  himself  he  bei  ame  a 
traveling  salesman  lor  the  WMtnian,  Schwartz 
Company,  wholesale  grocers  of  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
in  whose  employ  lie  continued  tot  -r-  pears,  from 
dune  17,  1904,  to  Vlaj  1.  L910,  his  territory  be- 
ing in  Juniata.  Mifflin,  Huntingdon  and  Bed- 
ford counties.  .Meantime,  he  had  gained  consider- 
able familiarity  with  the  trade  and  wide  experii 
so  that  when  he  started  in  the  business  on  his  own 
account  it  was  not  as  a  novice.     <  hi  May   1.  1910, 

lurchased  the  sto>  I ..  a I  will  and  fixtures  o 

J.  F.  Berlew,   a  gro  ei    located   ai    the  i  orner 
Market  and  Tenth  streets.  Sunbury,  and  thee 
has  since  been  established  in  business,  handling  a 
complete  line  of  fancy  groceries  and 
IF  employs  four  clerks,  and  has  a   large   trade, 
making  deliveries  all  over  the  town.      Personally 
Mr.    Conrad   has   a   high    reputation,   and    he   has 
every  prospect  of  making  a  substantial   place  for 
himself  among  the  prosperous  business  m 
borough. 

On  Sept.    10,    1905,    Mr    I  '.una 

M.   Miller,  daughter  of  Joseph    A.  and    Mary  J. 
(  Fry  i  Miller,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.     T 
-on.  Joseph  Miller  Conrad.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  (  onrad 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  ( Ihurch. 

WILLIAM  PHILIPPI,  oi    Sh  .    North- 

umberland county,  has  made  his  home  m    lial 
ever  since  he  came  to  this  country  from  his  native 
aany,  and  he  has  conducted  h  at  bakery 

since  1901.     His  home  and   pla< 
at  the  corner  of  Sunbury  and   Pearl  streets. 

Mr.  Philippi  was  born  Sept.  3,  1867,  at    I; 
c     Yeunkirehon.    G  on   < 

Philippi.  who  for 

in  Neunkirchen,  where  he  died.     William  Ph 
learned  the  tradi    of  baker  in  his  native  country. 
Ik'  came  to  America  in   1891,  landing  at   1" 
delpliia  June  3rd  of  that  year.      iitet    - 
in  that  city  he  proi  i  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where 

he  remained  three  weeks,  in  September,  1891,  ar- 
riving at  Shamokin.  which  has  since  been  his  ho 
Nol  finding  en  ai  al  his  n-ade  immediately. 

he  went   t  '.  which  occupation  he  followed 

for  th]  -  a  in. 

T',v   L901    he  was  in  shape  to  go  into  business  on 


9  :  2 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


!n-  own  account  and  he  established  the  bakery  at 
Sunburv  and  Pearl  streets  which  he  has  since 
conducted.  His  thrift  and  thorough  understand- 
ing of  The  business  have  brought  him  deserved 
prosperity  and  held  a  large  and  increasing  patron- 
age. In  1908  lie  built  the  fine  home  at  Sunburv 
and  Pearl  streets  which  lie  and  his  family  now 
occupy,  a  two-story  brick  house  25  by  50  feet 
m  dimensions.  The  bake  house  is  on  the  rear  of 
the  Int. 

On  Nov.  3,  1003,  Mr.  Philippi  married  Mr-. 
Sarah  A.  (Markle)  Tretter.  daughter  of  Martin 
Markle.  a  prominent  citizen  of  Shamokin,  and 
widow  of  Charles  Tretter,  who  died  in  1894;  he 
was  a  jeweler  by  trade.  By  her  first  marriage  Mrs. 
Philippi  had  three  children,  namely:  Ferdinand 
M.j  who  lives  in  Schuylkill  county:  Lena  A.,  at 
home;  and  Catharine,  who  died  in  infancy.  No 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philippi. 
The  family  are  members  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic 
Church. 

FRANKLIN  A.  BERGSTRESSER,  <■(  Locust 
Gap,  Northumberland  county,  who  is  eng  iged  as 
machinist  at  the  Locus!  Spring  colliery,  was  born 
Aug.  3.  1866.  at  Shamokin.  tin-  county,  son  of 
Asa  Bergstresser,  and  comes  of  an  old  family 
which  ha-  long  Ten  established  in  eastern  Penn- 
sylvania. 

John  Jacob  Bergstresser,  his  .-migrant  ancestor. 
was  born  in  Germany,  came  to  this  country  in 
1731  and  made  his  home  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Pennsylvania.  Later,  with  his  three  brothers,  lie 
removed  to  Union  county,  where  they  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers. 

Philip  Bergstresser,  son  of  John  Jacob,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  was  a  fanner  by 
nation,  and  a  pioneer  in  Snyder  county,  where 
he  died. 

John  Bergstresser,  -on  of  Philip,  was  born  Oct. 
8,  1  i  75,  in  Union  county,  and  there  made  his  home 
for  a  number  of  years.  Eventually  he  removed  to 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  March  27. 
I-"'?.  He  was  a  millwright  by  trade  and  also 
ran  several  saw  and  grist  mills,  in  1817  building 
<>ne  at  Fisher's  Ferry.  Northumberland  county, 
which  he  operated  sui  o  ssfully  for  nine  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  in  connection  with 
farming  until  his  death.  He  served  as  captain 
company  of  American  volunteers  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  married  Ann  Auchmuty,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  ten  children:  Jacob,  William. 
Mary  (Mrs.  Joseph  Shipman).  John,  Lot,  Phebe 
(Mrs.  Jonathan  Hoffman),  Samuel  A..  Hannah 
(Mrs.  Daniel  Rumbarger).  Asa  and  Julia  (Mrs. 
A.  B.  Sprout),  the  last  survivor  of  this  family 
being  Samuel  A.  Bergstresser. 

Mrs.  Ann  (Auchmuty)  Bergstresser  was  of 
l'resbvterian    stock.     Her    father.    Samuel 


Auchmuty,  was  born  near  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and 
resided  at  Fisher's  Ferry.  Northumberland  county. 
as  early  as  17  72.  He  passed  all  his  life  in  that 
neighborhood,  living  in  Northumberland  county 
until  his  death.  He  served  four  years  on  the 
Colonial  side  in  the  Revolution,  from  1776  to 
1781,  being  a  private  in  Capt.  Stephen  Chambers' 
company  of  the  12th  regiment:  was  transferred 
to  the  3d  Regiment  in  duly.  1778,  and  was  dis- 
charged Jan.  25,  1781.  He  was  at  Valley  Forg  . 
at  the  battles  of  Monmouth,  Long  Island  and  Ger- 
inantown.  and  saw  other  service  under  Washing- 
ton.   He  married  Ann  McMahan. 

\-a  Bergstresser,  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Auch- 
muty) B  er,  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but 
upon  locating  in  Shamokin.  this  county,  engaged 
in  the  butcher  business.  He  was  killed  on  the 
railroad,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county, 
in  May,  1899,  when  sixty-nine  years  old.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Rehr, 
dii'd  in  Shamokin  in  1892.  They  were  the  par- 
ents ol  eleven  children,  namely:  Dora,  now  the 
wife  of  William    Roth;    Lena,   married   to   James 

er;  Mary,  married  to  William  Haupt;  Jennie, 
married  to  William  Simmers;  Minerva,  married 
to  William  Seitz :  Lillie,  married  to  Jacob  Con- 
rad; Clara,  who  died  young;  Franklin  A.:  Wil- 
liam :  Charles,  and  John. 

Franklin  A.  Bergsl  esser  was  but  three  year- 
old  when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Helfenstein. 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  attended  public  school. 
When  ten  years  old  he  began  picking  slate  at  the 
Helfenstein  colliery,  and  in  1881  he  came  to 
Locu.-t  Gap,  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
i  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Locust  Spring  col- 
liery. In  time  he  became  breaker  oiler  and  then 
fireman  and  running  engineer,  later  acting  as 
assistant  foreman  at  the  breaker  for  two  ;. 
In  1900  lie  took  his  present  position  at  the  Loi  list 
colliery,  where  he  has  charge  of  the  me- 
chanical department,  having  eight  men  under  him. 
His  work  is  responsible,  and  he  has  been  efficient 
in  every  respect  and  found  reliable  under  all  cir- 

itanceSj  having  the  good-will  and  respect  of 
his  employers  and  those  associated  with  him  in 
his  work.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in 
tin-  district. 

On  Aug.  26,  1887,  Mr.  Bergs  ssei  married 
Lla  May  Klinger,  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Janie  (Sharp)  Klinger,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Grace  E..  Gertrude  I.  and  Jennie  M.  Mr. 
Bergs  ressi  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  fraternally  he  holds  membership  in  the  I.  O. 
0.  F.  (also  Rebekah  degree)  and  Royal  Arcanum. 

JOHN  A.  GRAY,  track  foreman  of  Division 
Xo.  TG  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Erie  Railroad,  at 
Milton.  Pa.,  and  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  borough,  was  born  in  Lewis  township.  North- 
umberland  county.   S,pt.   20,   1866,  son  of  Fred- 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


973 


crick  Gray,  and  great-great-grandson  of  Robert 
Gray,  an  English  emigrant. 

Robert  Gray  came  from  England  in  Colonial 
times  with  his  wife,  Mary  Reese,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Jerseytown,  Pa.  At  the  outbreak  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  he  joined  Washington's 
army  and  fought  with  the  Colonies  in  freedom's 
cause. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Gray,  son  of  Robert,  was  bora  in 
Montour  county,  Pa.,  in  1792.  He  was  a  Whig  in 
political  faith,  and  his  patriotism  was  evidenced 
by  bis  service  as  an  officer  m  the  second  war  with 
the  mother  country  in  1812,  he  being  stationed  at 
Black  Rock.  He  was  a  noted  contractor  and  the 
<aiial  between  Watsontown  ami  Dewart,  Pa.,  was 
constructed  by  him.  He  also  engaged  in  learning. 
Hi-  death  was  caused  by  accidenl  June  I.  1831, 
he  falling  under  the  wheels  of  a  wagon,  while 
driving  a  six-horse  team.  His  wife,  Isabella 
Watson,  born  Nov.  11.  1800,  did  Sept.  5,  1863. 
Both  she  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Her  parents,  John  L.  and 
Elizabeth  (Mann)  Watson,  came  from  Dublin, 
Ireland,  at  an  early  day  anil  located  in  Columbia 
county.  Pa.,  on  a  farm.  They  wen'  stanch  patriots 
in  the  Revolution,  and  John  Watson  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  British  on  account  of  bis  senti- 
ments, and  chained  to  the  floor.  His  wife  rescued 
him,  her  devotion,  no  less  than  a  regard  for  her 
physical  weakness,  touching  the  hearts  of  the 
guards  and  her  plans  were  not  interfered  with. 
Lieut.  Samuel  Gray  and  wife  had  seven  children: 
Joseph  II..  born  .Tan.  4.  1818,  died  in  August, 
L876;  John  G.,  Dec.  12,  1820,  Feb.  2,  1861  ; 
Catherine,  Oct.  22,  1822,  in  1856  (married  Samuel 
Gray,  a  relative)  :  Robert,  Oct.  5,  1824,  Ma}  9, 
IMS;  Mary  Y,  July  8,  1827,  in  March,  1880 
(married  William  Kissner,  deceased);  Phoebe, 
March  28,  L829,  in  1871  (married  Jesse  Hill,  a 
farmer  in  Montour  county)  :  ami  Samuel  Russell, 
March  24,  1831. 

John  G.  Gray,  born  Dec.  1'.'.  1820,  son  of  Lieut. 
Samuel,  died  Fell.  ?.  1861.  His  early  days  were 
passed  in  the  home  in  Lewis  township.  North- 
umberland county,  but  later  he  removed  to  Dan- 
ville, where  bis  death  occurred.  He  followed 
farming  in  Montour  county.  He  married  Phoebe 
WaJizer,  for  hi-  first  wife,  and  the  children  born 
to  this  union  were:  Samuel,  Frederick.  Isabella, 
John  and  George.  He  married  (second)  Mrs. 
Lottie  Colwell,  and  three  children.  Stephen. 
Phoebe  and  Jane,  blessed   this  marriage. 

Frederick  Gray,  son  of  John  G.,  was  horn  in 
August,  1844,  and  now  lives  near  Watsontown, 
Pa.,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Thomas  addition. 
For  many  rears  he  was  employed  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  as  trackman,  and  in  1800  was  re- 
tired from  active  work.  He  gave  twenty  months* 
of  service  to  his  country  in  the  Civil  war  in 
Rickett's  Battalion,  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery. 


He   married    Sarah    [ches,    daughter    ol    Samuel 

Iches,  and  their  children  were:  John  A.:  William 
R. :  Catharine,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ellen,  who 
married  Daniel  Nicholls;  Frederick,  who  died 
young;  Ida,  who  married  Charles  Linn:  Mary, 
who  married  Harry  McDonland;  James,  who  died 
young;  Samuel;  Henry:  Alice,  who  married 
Charles  Newton;  Mamie,  who  married  Charles 
Miller:  Bessie:  and  Pearl,  who  married  George 
Brown. 

John  A.  Gray  attended  the  school  at  Black  Hole 
Valley,  near  Muncie,  Pa.,  and  the  Rising  Spring 
public  school  and  the  Spring  Mills  b  ol  in 

Center  county  for  two  summers  and  three  winters. 
During  the  summers  when  not  in  school  he  worked 
on  the  track,  and  this  has  always  been  his  business, 
lie  began  training  for  it  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 
and  was  but  eighteen  when  he  was  made  foreman 
of  sub-division  No.  7,  with  five  and  one-half  miles 
of  track  in  his  care.  His  present  division,  No.  76, 
which  he  has  had  since  1899,  has  three  miles  of 
track.  He  has  from  twelve  to  twenty  men  under, 
him.  Mr.  (fray  has  been  careful  of  his  resources, 
and  he  is  the  owner  of  two  line  farms,  one  the  old 
Fetzer  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in  Chillisquaque 
township,  and  the  other  the  140  acre  farm  in  Li 
township  that  formerly  belonged  to  his  great  uncle. 
Samuel  R.  Gray. 

Mr.  Gray  married  Catharine  Zettle,  daughtet  o 
Emanuel   Zettle.  of  Spring  Mills,  Center  county. 
ami  they  have  become  the  parents  of  children  as 
follows:  Frederick  E..  a  member  of  the  class 
1912     Pennsylvania     State    College;     Mary    R. : 
Sarah:  John   A..  Jr.:    Harry,   who  died   aged   six 
months,   and   Edna    M.      The    family   home   is   at 
Xo.  3;  Railroad  avenue,  Milton.    Fraternally  Mr, 
Gray  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  \  eterans.     Mr. 
Gray  has  been  faithful  in  the  performance  of  his 
duty,  and  has  won  the  high  regard  of  the  offii 
over  him.     Tn  every  relation  of  life  lie  has  pro 
bis  worth,  and  he  has  the  well  earned  esteem 
the  people  of  Milton  and  Northumbei  i  iunty. 

HENRY  B.  ME1  ER,  a  blacksmith  of  Sha- 
mokin,  where  lie  has  established  a  profitable  busi- 
ness, has  resided  in  the  borough  since  1876,  but  he 
i<  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county  ami  comes  of  a 
ly  which  was  established  there  by  hi-  grand- 
father, John  Mi 

John  Mever  came  from  Germany  with  hi-  family 
and  settled  at   Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  P        II 
was  a  carpenter,  and  followed  his  tra  nany 

years,  later  engaging  in  the  dairy  bus  ling 

milk  and  yeast.     A  well  known  man 
had   many   friends.     His  children   were:  Conrad, 
Catharine.  Martin  and   Louis. 

Conrad   Meyer,   sun   of  John,   was   the    i 
IP  ,n -v  B.   Mc  .i       He   si  as   born   in  Germany  in 
1827  and  was  -even  years  old   when   brought    to 
America.     After  beginning  work  he  fi 


974 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


ing  for  some  time,  and  later  was  engaged  in  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  mechanical  work,  following  the 
trades  of  carpenter,  stonemason  and  clockmaker. 
He  made  his  home  at  Ashland.  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  died  Feb.  1,  1908,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one.  His  wife,  Wilhelmina  (Fient).  came  to 
America  from  Germany  when  eighteen  years  old, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Kate.  Sophia, 
John  (who  died  when  thirteen  rears  old).  Henry 
B.,  Richard  (who  died  Jan.  1,  1010).  Mary. 
Elizabeth,  Thressie  (who  died  aged  eight  y< 
and  Minnie. 

Henry  B.   Meyer  was  Sept.    17,    1857,   at 

Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  ami  there  attended 
the  public  schools.  He  began  work  as  a  slate 
picker,  and  continued  to  follow  mining  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  since  which  time  he 
has. been  engaged  at  blacksmithing.  Coming  to 
Shamokin  in    1876  as   with   tin/   late  J.  B. 

Zimmerman  for  the  long  period  of  twenty-four 
years,  four  months,  until,  in  1001,  he  commenced 
business  on  his  own  account.  His  shop  is  at  No. 
13  East  Walnut  street.  Mr.  Meyer  is  a  fine 
mechanic,  as  his  long  continuance  with  one  em- 
ployer would  indicate,  and  he  does  a  thriving 
business,  getl  Qg  a  gratifying  share  of  the  patron- 
age in  h  -  locality,  lie  is  conscientious  and  hon- 
orable in  his  work,  a  fact  which  holds  his  cus- 
tomer-. 

nu  Aug.  18,  1880,  Mr.  Meyer  married  Ida  H. 
l.oii.  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Delilah  (Hop 
Lott,  and  a  member  of  a  well  known  Northumber- 
land county  family.  They  have  a  tine  home  at  No. 
547  North  sixth  street.  Mr.  Meyer  holds  member- 
ship  in  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 

JOHN  H.  GLASS,  county  detective  of  North- 
umberland county,  was  born  Jan.  17,  1882,  in 
Coal  township,  son  of  Samuel  Glass.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  County  Meath,  Ireland,  horn  in 
1838,  and  came  to  America  when  nineteen  years 
old,  settling  in  Shamokin,  Pa.,  where  he  made  a 
permanent  home.  He  worked  as  a  miner,  in  the 
employ  of  the  late  Thomas  Baumgardner,  bi 
thus  engaged  for  thirty  year-,  ami  was  known  to 
all  as  an  industrious,  upright  citizen.  He  died 
April  4,  1002.  and  is  buried  at  Shamokin.  Sam- 
uel Glass  married  Maria  Richards,  a  native  of 
Wales,  who  came  to  America  in  girlhood.  She 
now  make-  her  home  with  her  son  Richard  in 
•3  imokin.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glass  were  born 
children  as  follows:  John  (deceased).  Richard 
ased  i.  Samuel.  Reese,  William.  John  H.  ami 
( Seorge. 

John  II.  Glass  attended  public  school  in  Sha- 
mokin and  when  a  hoy  began  work  at  the  Buck 
Ridge  colliery,  picking  slate.  He  was  thus  engaged 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  after  which  he  drove 
team  in  the  mines  for  two  years  and  then  cut  coal 
for    two    vears.      For    another   two   vears   he    ran 


pumps  ami  an  engine,  this  being  his  last  work  at 

the  mines.  Becoming  proprietor  of  the  "White 
Hotel,"  locate!  at  No.  417  North  Shamokin 
street,  in  the  borough  of  Shamokin,  he  conducted 
it  until  1007.  In  1908  he  was  appointed  county 
live  by  District  Attorney  A.  K.  Deibler,  and 
he  has  served  in  that  capacity  since,  with  great 
efficiency,  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  in- 
telligently ami  faithfully.  His  first  duties  in  this 
incumbency  took  him   among  "Black  Hand" 

offenders  at  Marion  Heights,  m  this  county,  and  he 
has  made  many  important  arrests,  leading  to  con- 
on,  in  that  ami  other  fields. 

On  Aug.  31,  1901,  Mr.  Glass  married  Gertrude 
Irene  Shroyer,  who  was  born  at  Dalmatia  in  1884, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Bena  Shroyer,  and  died 
April  1.  too;,  leaving  two  -on-.  Robert  and  John, 
who  are  living  with  their  uncle  Reese  in  Phil- 
adelphia. 

8  eially  Mr.  Glass  unite-  with  the  Fraternal 
of  Eagles  (Shamokin  Lodge),  and  in  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
In  politics  he  is  quite  prominent  in  the  Republican 
party  and  he  has  served  a-  committeeman  from  the 
Second  ward.  He  is  a  well  known  athlete  and 
was  one  of  the  star  players  on  the  old  Shamokin 
football  team. 

MICHAEL  J.  WHALEN,  inside  foreman  at 
the  Locust  Gap  collier}1,  ha-  been  a  miner  all  his 

life,  and  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him 
were  also  engaged  at  mining  in  this  region. 

Michael  Whalen,  the  grandfather,  came  from 
Ireland  when  a  young  man  and  settled  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  Pa.,  at  "Black  Sam"-""  farm,  near  New 
Philadelphia,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Middleport.  He  followed  mining  and  became  a  well 
known  man  of  his  day.  serving  as  tax  collector  of 
his  district.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
died  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  at  the  home 
of  his  youngest  son,  John  F.  Whalen,  Esq.  He 
and  his  wife  had  a  family  of  six  children:  Patrick, 
'i.  Thomas,  Michael,  Mary  and  John  F. 

Michael  Whalen.  father  of  Michael  J.  Whalen, 
was  horn  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  there  in 
1891.  He  was  engaged  as  engineer  at  different 
collieries,  and  in  1863  came  to  Locust  Gap, 
Northumberland  county,  but  later  returned  to 
Schuylkill  county,  locating  at  Mahanoy  City.  His 
death  occurred  two  miles  east  of  Shenandoah.  He 
married  Dora  Glenning,  who  was  horn  in  Ireland. 
daughter  of  Patrick  Glenning,  ami  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  five  years  old.  She  died  Oct.  •">.  1908. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whalen  had  children  as  follows: 
Michael  J..  Bridget,  Mary  A.  <  Mrs.  John 
O'Brien  i.  John.  Andrew.  Joseph  and  Thomas. 

Michael  J.  Whalen  was  horn  Aug.  29,  1862,  at 

Silverereek,    Schuylkill    county,   and    received    his 

ling   in   his   native   county.      At   the   age   of 

nine  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  breaker,  doing 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


975 


such  w.,rk  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen, 
after  which  he  was  employed  al  the  mines  in  dif- 
fered capacities.  When  seventeen  wars  old  he 
had  charge  of  the  sinking  of  the  Greenridge  slope, 
No.  2.  Ee  was  engaged  as  a  miner  until  1885, 
when  he  moved  to  Mount  Carmel,  Northumber- 
land county,  there  following  mining.  In  July, 
1897,  he  came  to  Locus!  Gap  to  take  the  position 
h''  has  sin,,,  held,  inside  foreman  al  the  Locust 
Gap  colliery.  He  was  foreman  at  the  Marion 
colliery  for  two  years,  1897-99,  prior  to  his  removal 
i"  Locusi  Gap.  Mi-.  Whalen  has  charge  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  anion--  whom  lie  is  re- 
spected and  well  liked,  and  he  is  favorably  known 
in  the  community  where  lie  lias  so  long  made  his 
home. 

Dn  An,-.  24,  L8S0,  Mi-.  Whalen  married  Alice 
I  '''ho.  daughter  of  Peter  Debo,  who  was  of  French 
ancestry.  Thin. -on  children  have  been  horn  to 
this  union,  lour  of  whom  died  young.  The  sur- 
vivors are:  Rev.  William  i  priest,  who  was  ordained 
m  L911),  Dora.  Joseph,  Andrew,  Albert,  Thomas. 
Helen.   Michael  and  John. 

M  r.  Whalen  is  a  member  of  the  ( iatholic  <  ihurch, 
and  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  Tie  is  inde- 
pendent in  polities. 

GEORGE  W.  SAAG,  deceased,  was  in  (he  em- 
ploy of  what  is  now  the  American  Car  &  Fmindn 
Company,  of  Milton,  for  over  thirty-six  years, 
having  entered  the  establishment  when  a  young 
man.  He  was  in  charge  of  the  air  brake  depart- 
ment (of  which  he  was  the  head,  at  the  time  of 
his  death)  before  the  present  company  assumed 
ownership  of  the  plant.  He  was  a  skill,., 1  me- 
chanii .  a  master  m  his  line,  as  his  long  continuance 
in  a  responsible  capacity  with  one  place  proves. 

Hans  I  lei-,  the  progenitor  of  tin's  family  in 
America,  came  to  this  country  prior  to  i;;;i.  and 
settled  in  Maxatawny  township.  Berks  county, 
where  he  paid  tax  and  quit  rent  in  1731.  In 
1759  he  was  still  a  taxpayer,  his  assessmenl  then 
being  eleven  pounds.  At  the  same  time  Andreas 
Baag  was  a  taxable,  paying  twenty  pounds,  and 
when  the  Maxatawny  Church  al  Bowers  was  built, 
in  1759,  he  gave  one  acre  of  land  to  the  church  to 

he  \i<^(\.  as  he  said  in  the  d I.  "as  Ion-  as  the  sun 

and  moon  shines."  The  hitter's  son.  Andrew  Haag, 
also  contributed  to  the  church  :  he  was  then  a  young 
man.  He  was  the  father  of  John,  grandfather  of 
George  W.  Haag. 

John  Haag,  -on  of  Andrew,  was  horn  near 
Bowers,  in  Berks  county,  Feb.  12,  17!)  I.  In  L836 
he  moved  to  Northumberland  county,  settling  in 
Turbut  township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
lho  acres  from  the  Kelchner  estate.  There  he 
made  his  home  and  followed  farming  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Jan.  17,  1861.  He  married 
Mary  Knauss.  also  of  Berks  county,  born  Jan.  '.'I. 
17  95.  who  died  March  21.  1869.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Haag  were  members  of  the  Paradise  Lutheran 
Church,  of  Turbut  township,  ami  they  are  buried 
in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  them:  John:  Catharine  (deceased); 
Beneville  K. ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Jacoby  Hartman. 
deceased;  Rebecca,  who  married  William  Balliet 
and  lived  in  Montour  county;  llettie,  who  married 
William  Gouger  and  also  lived  in  Montour  county: 
and  Sarah,  decease.  1. 

John  Haag,  eldest  son  of  John,  was  horn  in 
Berks  county  March  20,  181  I,  ami  came  to  North- 
umberland county  with  his  father.  lie,  too,  fol- 
lowed farming,  upon  the  death  of  his  father  pur- 
chasing the  old  homestead,  which  he  cultivated. 
lie  was  a  prominent  Democrai  in  his  day,  and 
served  many  years  on  the  local  school  hoard,  part 
of  the  time  as  treasurer  of  that  body.  In  1874  he 
was  elected  count \  treasurer,  in  which  office  he 
served  one  term,  until  1876.  Mr.  Haag  married 
Margaret  Leinbach,  horn  Feb.  i.  1820,  who  died 
May  2.  1892,  surviving  Mr.  Haag  a  number  of 
years;  his  death  occurred  Dec  1'.'.  1876.  They 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Paradise 
and  are  buried  at  the  Paradise  cemetery.  Eighl 
children  were  horn  to  their  union:  Marv  I*],  mar- 
ried Franklin  Hoy:  Sarah  J.  married  John  Baker; 
Susan  married  William  Kummerer:  Margaret  E. 
married  Jacob  Seidell;  George  W.  is  mentioned 
below;  John:  B.  Franklin  Lives  in  Kansas;  E. 
Xewton  is  an  attorney  in  Philadelphia. 

G -e  W.  Haag  was  horn  June  til.  is  12.  and 

was  a  pupil  in  the  public  school-  of  Turbut  town- 
ship in  his  early  boyhood,  later  attending  the 
McEwensville  Academy  and  also  the  Milton 
Academy.  He  worked  on  his  Father's  farm  until 
1873,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Milton  and  en- 
tered upon  his  apprenticeship  to  the  machinist's 
trade,  which  proved  to  be  his  life  work,  lie  began 
his  employment  at  this  line  with  Murray,  Don 
A  ( !o.,  and  when  the  plant  was  sold  to  the  American 
Car  A  Foundry  Company,  its  present  owners,  he 
continued  in  charge  of  the  air-brake  department, 
in  which  capacity  lie  was  engaged  until  his  death. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Haag  served  in  the 
Union  army  as  a  member  of  Company  1'..  I  lis! 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  ami  was  twice 
wounded,  being  shol  in  the  breasl  ami  side  al  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg;  he  was  taken  to  Poini 
Lookout  hospital,  lie  was  :,  member  of  11, mv 
Wilson  Post.  No.  129,  G.  \.  R.,  of  Milton,  and  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  at  Milton.  Mr.  Haag  died 
An-.  2;.  L910,  and  was  buried  at  the  uppei  ceme- 
tery, Milton,  Pa. 

On  He,,  s.  1864,  Mr.  Haag  married  Susan 
Leinbach,  daughter  of  John  B.  Leinbach,  of  Lewis 
township,  Northumberland  county,  and  thej  were 
the  parents  of  two  children:  <■ 'ge  W.,  who  mar- 
ried 1,'ae  Mervine  I  she  died  big.  2  !,  L907,  li  aving 
one  son  Burritl  i  :  ami  Margaret,  al  home.  Mrs. 
Haag  and  her  children  are   members  of  the   I; 


9:g 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


formed  Church  at  Milton,  but  Mr.  Haag  held 
membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  B.  Leinbach,  father  of  Mrs.  George  W. 
Haag,  was  born  Sept.  9,  1815,  in  Northumberland 
county,  ami  his  family  was  also  settled  in  Berks 
county  from  an  early  day.  His  grandfather, 
Henry  Leinbach,  a  native  of  Berks  county,  came  to 
Lewis  township.  Northumberland  county,  in  1800, 
and  purchased  a  farm.  Henry  Leinbach,  son  of 
Henry,  was  born  Oct.  5,  1784,  and  died  Feb.  7. 
1829."  He  married  Man  Barnhart.  born  March 
1").  1789,  who  died  Sept.  30,  1846.  They  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children:  Daniel.  Henry,  John  B.. 
Benneville,  Sarah  (married  George  Hittle),  Mary 
(married  F.  II.  Carver).  Elizabeth  (married 
Simon  Cameron)  and  Rebecca  (married  C. 
Sworney  | . 

John  B.  Leinbach  was  a  prominent  man  of  his 
day  in  Lewis  township,  when'  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1861,  when  he  was  appointed  agent  for 
the  American  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Phila- 
delphia, holding  that  position  five  years.  In  186? 
he  became  manager  of  the  Union  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company  for  the  central  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, continuing  in  that  capacity  also  for  five 
year.-,  until  in  1872  he  became  agent  for  the  North- 
we-tern  Life  Insurance  Company.  He  was  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  belonging  to  the  church  at 
McEwensville. 

On  Oct.  2,  L858,  Mr.  Leinbach  married  Mary 
Dunkel,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  Fannie:  Elizabeth,  who  married 
S.  S.  Alexander:  Susan,  wife  of  George  W.  Haasr. 
Sarah,  wife  of  J.  p.  Dentler;  John  p.-  Calvin  P.., 
of  Kansas;  Mary,  wife  of  P.  E.  Maus:  Gertrude, 
Mis.  Frauntz;  and  Oliver,  who  married  Jennie 
Smith. 


Beneville  K.  Haag.  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Knauss)  Haag.  was  born  in  Berks  county  dan. 
!».  1817.  He  received  his  education  in  the  sub- 
scription and  public  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Northumberland 
county  in  1836.  By  the  time  he  had  spent  two 
years  on  the  farm  his  father  bought  here  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  and  lie  began  clerking  in 
the  general  store  of  Geddes,  Green  &  Walls,  at 
McEwensville.  He  was  employed  there  for  four 
years,  during  which  time  he  gained  considerable 
valuable  experience  in  that  line,  as  a  large  business 
in  grain  as  well  as  in  general  merchandise  was 
done  at  the  store.  The  grain  was  hauled  to  Port 
May,  near  Watsontown,  ami  shipped  by  canal. 
In  L842  Mr.  Haag  became  clerk  in  a  general  store 
in  Lewisburg,  continuing  there  until  1847,  when 
he  came  to  Milton  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
T.  S.  Mackey  &  Son  under  the  name  of  Mackey  & 
Haag,  dealers  in  dry  goods  and  hardware.  In 
1849  this  firm  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Haas  formed 


a  partnership  with  Montgomery  Sweeney,  with 
whom  he  did  a  general  dry  goods  and  grocery 
business  for  one  year,  under  the  name  of  Sweeney 
&  Haag.  Hi-  next  association  was  as  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Haag  &  Caldwell,  which  lasted 
one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  stock  was 
divided,  .Mr.  Haag  taking  the  stand  on  what  is 
now  the  site  of  the  Milton  Bank.  In  1853  he 
established  the  firm  of  Haag  &  Brown,  dealers  in 
hardware  and  books,  which  did  business  until 
1857,  when  he  took  entire  control,  continuing  the 
business  for  many  years.  In  time  his  son-in-law, 
John  Buoy,  became  a  partner  in  the  concern.  In 
L863  .Mr.  Haag  purchased  a  lot  on  Front  street 
from  Elizabeth  Miller,  and  in  1865  he  erected  a 
building  on  that  property.  In  is;:,  this  block 
was  burned,  but  he  at  once  rebuilt  it  and  continued 
the  business.  In  the  disastrous  fire  of  May  14, 
1880,  which  swept  nearly  all  the  business  district 
of  Milton.  Mr.  Haag's  stores  were  again  destroyed. 
He  began  rebuilding  immediately,  putting  up  the 
block  now  owned  by  his  son-in-law,  John  Buoy. 
After  this  tire  Mr.  Haag  invested  in  a  number  of 
lots  on  Front  street,  south  of  his  business  block, 
and  on  hi.-  newly  acquired  land  put  up  other  busi- 
ness plai  es.  In  1889  lie  erei  led  the  "Haag  Hotel." 
1 1 ■  ■  n\  known  as  "The  Milton,"  which  was  opened 
to  the  public  April  1.  1890.  This  is  -till  the 
largest  building  in  Milton  and  one  of  the  finest 
hotel  buildings  in  the  city.  Mr.  Haag  was  a 
director  of  the  National  Bank  of  Milton  from  1865 
to  1875. 

On  Feb.  20,  1852,  Mr.  Haag  married  Sarah 
Schuck,  who  was  born  Juh  19,  1821,  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherine 
(Diebert)  Schuck.  Six  children  were  horn  to 
this  union:  William  A.,  deceased;  Mary  E.,  who 
married  John  Buoy;  Charles  II..  deceased;  Sallie, 
deceased;  Thomas  T. :  and  Hettie,  wife  of  C.  A. 
( lhapin. 

While  at  McEwensville  Mr.  Haag  was  post- 
master, ami  he  was  also  a  trustee  of  the  academy. 
After  the  great  fire  of  L880,  in  Milton,  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  distributing  committee 
which  handled  the  relief  funds. 

AKTHUE  B.  WETZEL,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Wetzel  &  (..I--.  electrical  contractors  and 
dealers  of  Sunbury,  is  a  young»man  of  enterprise 
and  energy,  and  by  hard  work  has  won  a  sub- 
stantial  place  in  local  business  circles.  He  was 
born  in  Sunbury  July  11.  1883,  and  received  his 
education  there,  leaving  high  school  just  two 
months  before  his  class  graduated  to  engage  in 
business.  He  served  his  apprenticeship  to  the 
electrical  business  in  Sunbury  and  Shamokin,  and 
for  a  brief  period  was  also  employed  by  the  West- 
inghouse  Electrical  Manufacturing  Company  at 
Pittsburg.  He  has  been  in  business  for  himself 
from  a  comparatively  early  age,  and  the  firm  of 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


977 


Wetzel  &  (lass  are  the  leading  contractors  in'  their 
tine  in  Sunbury,  where  they  have  built  up  a  large 
trade.  They  have  equipped  many  important 
structures  in  and  around  the  borough,  including 
the  Northumberland  county  jail,  the  courthouse, 
the  Mary  M.  Packer  hospital, 'the  Hooven  Mercan- 
tile Company's  building,  the  plant  of  the  Sunbury 
Ice  Company,  the  Clemmer  building,  the  "Aldine 
Hotel."  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Baptist 
Church,  the  "Neff  House.'"  the  Burial  Case  Com- 
pany's buildings  the  William  II.  Rohrbach  man- 
sion, the  Blank  &  Gottshall  mill,  the  Rohrbach 
school  building,  the  Francis  E.  Drumheller  school 
building,  the  .1.  C.  Packer  residence  ami  Xo.  1 
engine  house,  all  in  Sunbury;  as  well  as  the  Milton 
Realty  Company's  building,  at  Milton,  this 
county.  Four  regular  men  are  employed  besides 
the  two  members  of  the  linn,  both  of  whom  hear 
high  reputations  as  skilled  electricians.  Wetzel 
&  Gass  also  deal  in  electrical  supplies,  their  store 
at  Xo.  Ill  Market  street.  Sunbury.  having  the 
largest  and  most  complete  line  of  such  goods  in 
he  found  in  Northumberland  county.  Their  re- 
liable work,  up-to-date  in  every  particular  and 
bearing  the  tests  of  time  well,  has  won  them  the 
extensive  patronage  they  now  enjoy. 

.Mr.  Wetzel  is  a  member  of  B.  P.  0.  Elks  Lodge 
Xo.  267,  and  in  religion  is  identified  with  the 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  communicant. 
On  Thanksgiving  Day,  1906,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Downs,  daughter  of  Joseph  0.  Downs,  of  Sunbury. 


Jacob  Wetzel,  of  Hereford  township,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  made  his  will  May  8,  1785,  and  it  was  pro- 
bated Xov.  :i.  1785.  This  document  mentions  his 
wile  Worthy  Maria,  and  shows  the  oldest  son  to 
have  been  Jacob.  To  the  sou  Conrad  was  given 
the  large  Baseler  Bible.  The  children  were: 
Jacob,  Johannes,  George,  Philip.  Catarina,  Peter, 
I  [einrich,  <  lonrad  and  Marialiss. 


Jonathan  Wetzel,  horn  in  1801,  was  a  farmer 
arfd  lived  near  New  Berlin,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.;  he 
is  buried  at  the  New  Berlin  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  Lutheran  member.  To  him  and  his  wife. 
Esther  Hoffman,  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Jonathan,  who  was  killed  while  serving  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war:  Samuel.  Solomon  and  Wil- 
liam, all  id'  whom  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war: 
David:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Wenner;  Hannah. 
uii,.  of  John  Gilbert;  and  Pollv.  wife  of  Emanuel 
Haslett. 

David  Wetzel,  son  of  Jonathan,  born  March  ■'. 
1838,  in  Union  County,  Pa.,  was  engaged  as  a 
fanner  U>v  many  years  during  his  earlier  life,  until 
his  removal  to  Middleburg,  Pa.,  in  about  1893. 
Previous  to  that  time  he  had  several  good  farms 
in  Jackson  township.  Snyder  county,  and  he  still 
owns  a  considerable  amount  of  real  estate.  I 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been 
62 


for  several  fire  insurance  companies.  .Mr.  Wetzel 
married  Elizabeth  Spangler,  daughter  of  Elias 
Spangler,  and  they  have  had  eight  children:  Cal- 
vin. Harry.  Jennie.   Elsie.  Clayton,   Eva  May  and 

olive  Rae  (widow  of  Dr.  I  Iha'rles  W Iruff),  twins. 

and  Vincent.  Mr.  Wetzel  and  his  family  are 
Lutherans  in  religious  matters. 


James  Wetzel  was  born  in  March.  l.s;;->.  in 
Lower  Atie;u>ta  tiiwnship,  wa-  engaged  as  a  lab- 
orer, and  died  July  27,  1909,  at  Sunbury.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  widow. 
Lavina  (Clement),  daughter  of  Peter  Clement. 
lives  in  Sunbury  with  her  son  Edwin.  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Wetzel  had  a  large  family,  viz.  :  Frank  is 
deceased;  Amanda,  Cornelius  ami  Hannah  died 
when  small ;  one  daughter  died  in  infancy;  Nathan, 
born  July  14,  is:,;,  ;it  Fisher's  Perry,  came  to 
Sunbury  in  .Tune.  1873,  and  since  1871  has  worked 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Relief  Association  (on  Dee.  9, 
1878,  he  married  Katie  Eyster,  daugnter  of  Con- 
rad Eyster,  and  they  have  five  children,  Daisy, 
Harry.  Lillie,  Alice  and  Walter:  the  family  are 
Lutherans);  William,  of  Sunbury,  an  electrician, 
is  married  and  has  a  family:  Edward,  of  Sunbury. 
is  an  electrician:  Angeline  married  William  Bay: 
Emma  married  William  Matitz. 


William  P.  Wetzel  was  horn  mar  Fisher's  Ferry 
and  is  an  old  railroader,  being  now  engaged  as 
conductor  on  a  freight  train  mi  the  Susquehanna 
division.  He  married  Mary  Thomas,  and  they 
have  an  only  son.  The  family  live  at  No. 
e  street,  Sunbury. 

JOHN  W.  SCHABO,  fire  boss  at 
collierj'',  operated  by  the  Excelsior  Coal  Company, 
nf  Excelsior,  Northumberland  county,  en  in 

the  employ  of  that  company  fur  a  nut 
and  is  one  nf  the  substantia]  ami  respei  'I'd  citizens 
of  his  locality. 

Mr.  Schabo  was  born  at  his  parents'  old  bo 
in  ( lolumbia  county,   Pa..  Aug.  '."•».   186 1.  son 
John  Schabo,  now   a   retired  citi  en  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county,  ex  I  reasurer,  and 

otherwise  well  known  in  thi-  section,  lie  came  to 
Shamokin  with  his  father  ami  began  wnrk  as  a 
slate  picker,  later  being  emp  mining.     Ee 

then  supplemented   In-  earl;    education   by  study 
at  St.  Vincent's  College,  whieh  i-  situated  at   La- 
trobe,    Westmoreland    Co..    Pa.,   graduating    I 
that  institution  in  1882.     Returning  to  Shamokin. 
he  was  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  I'm-  some  time. 

mil    fur   31  '-  ill   years   was   an   em:  if   the 

Shamokin   &    Edgewood    Railway   Company.      Be 

has  since  he. m  employed  at  the  i  ollieries. 

On    May    il.    1886,    Mr.    Si  tried    E. 

Armbuster,  daughter  of  Edward  Armbuster,  of 
Mamh  Chunk,  Pa.,  and  of  the  two  children  bom 


978 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


to  them  one  is  living,  John  Edward,  who  is  fore- 
man for  the  East  End  Lumber  Company  of  Sha- 
mokin, is  married  to  May  Hower  and  has  two 
children,  Tryllis  and  Rea.  The  other,  Harry,  is 
deceased. 

Mr.  Schabo  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  some- 
what active  in  local  party  matters,  having 
served  on  the  election  board  for  about  fifteen  years. 
He  is  at  present  acting  as  councilman  of  his  ward, 
the  Third.  Like  the  rest  of  the  family  he  is  a 
member  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic  Church  of  Sha- 
mokin, and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Knights 
of  Columbus  and  the  C.  K.  of  F. 

WILLIAM  J.  LINDER  has  been  brewmaster 
at  the  Eagle  Run  Brewery  in  Shamokin  for  sev- 
eral years  and  is  a  man  well  known  in  his  line  all 
over  the  United  States.  He  has  increased  the  out- 
put of  the  plant  with  which  he  is  now  connected 
materially  by  his  improvements  in  the  quality  of 
the  product. 

Mr.  Linder  was  born  at  Baden,  on  the  Rhine. 
Germany,  Oct.  4,  1873.  His  father  Adolph  Lin- 
der was  also  a  native  of  Baden  and  became  a  civil 
engineer.  Coming  to  America  in  1880  he  settled 
in  New  York  City,  where  for  a  number  of  years  he 
was  engaged  in  contracting  and  building,  doing  the 
frame  work  on  buildings.  In  18S6  he  bought  out 
the  bottling  business  of  the  Star  Brewery  in  New 
York  City  and  also  became  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  the  Star  Brewery,  continuing  in  this  connec- 
tion until  1892.  He  has  since  had  no  active  busi- 
ness associations.  He  married  Mary  A.  Ceroid, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Anna,  Charles, 
Adolph,  Theodore,  Eugene,  Annial  and  William  J. 

William  J.  Linder  was  a  child  when  he  came 
with  his  father  to  America.  He  received  a  public 
school  education,  and  has  been  engaged  at  the 
brewing  business  from  boyhood,  having  begun 
work  in  that  line  Aug.  15,  1889,  at  the  Star  Brew- 
ery in  New  York  City.  He  began  at  the  bottom 
and  learned  the  trade  thoroughly,  and  after  leav- 
ing the  Star  Brewery  enlarged  his  experience  In- 
service  with  various  other  establishments,  being 
in  the  George  R.  Alley  Brewery  for  two  years  and 
later  in  the  Atlantic  City  Brewery  for  two  years. 
While  at  the  latter  place  he  made  a  special  brew 
of  Wiirzburger  which  was  very  successful.  For  a 
year  after  leaving  the  Atlantic  City  Brewing  Com- 
pany he  was  with  Jacob  Hornung,  in  Philadelphia, 
and  then  spent  short  periods  in  various  cities,  get- 
tine-  different  breweries  in  satisfactory  running- 
order.  In  February.  1907,  lie  came  to  Shamokin 
to  take  the  place  of  brewmaster  at  the  Eagle  Run 
Brewery,  which  he  has  improved  in  many  ways  by 
his  progressive  and  intelligent  methods  of  manu- 
facture, its  output  having  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion in  the  locality,  where  the  demand  has 
widened  considerably  within  the  past  few  years. 
Mr.   Linder  has  always   been   a  scientific  brewer. 


familiar  with  the  most  approved  and  up-to-date 
processes  in  the  production  of  beer,  and  encour- 
aging the  various  movements  which  have  been 
made  to  place  its  manufacture  on  the  basis  which 
modern  hygiene  demands.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Brewmasters'  Association  and  was  one  of  the  sev- 
enteen charter  members  of  the  American  Brewing 
Institute. 

Mr.  Linder  married  Amelia  Utgen,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  they  have  two  children,  Helen  and 
Catherine. 

Socially  Mr.  Linder  holds  membership  in  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  a  baseball  player  of  some  note, 
having  played  with  some  of  the  strong  teams  while 
in  New  York  City. 

ALEXAXDER  LONG,  of  Shamokin,  North- 
umberland county,  is  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
residents  of  that  place,  where  he  is  living  in  re- 
tirement after  many  years  of  industry.  He  fol- 
lowed mining  throughout  his  active  years  after 
coming  to  this  country. 

Mr.  Long  is  a  native  of  County  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, born  Aug.  15,  1842.  His  father,  Charles 
Long,  was  foreman  in  a  slate  quarry  in  Ireland 
.iinl  also  had  a  farm  of  forty  acres  which  he  culti- 
vated, being  thus  in  quite  prosperous  circum- 
stances. He  and  his  wife.  Margaret  (Boyd),  lived 
to  advanced  age,  he  dying  when  eighty-eight  years 
old  and  Mrs.  Long  when  one  hundred  and 
one.  Their  children  were:  Charles  (who  died  in 
Canada),  Abraham,  .lames,  Anna,  Catherine, 
Amelia,  Margaret,  Alexander,  Jane  and  Susan. 

Alexander  Long  was  reared  in  his  native  coun- 
try, remaining  there  until  after  his  marriage.  He 
was  twenty-one  when  he  came  to  America  with  his 
wife  and  young  family,  landing  in  New  York 
City.  Their  first  location  was  in  Carbon  county. 
Pa.,  and  Mr.  Long  also  spent  some  time  in  Ches- 
ter county  and  at  Pittsburg  before  settling  in 
Shamokin,  in  1871.  Here  he  followed  mining  for 
twenty-five  years,  until  he  met  with  a  serious  ac- 
cident, in  1900,  which  incapacitated  him  for  the 
work  in  which  he  had  been  engaged;  from  that 
time  until  his  retirement  he  was  employed  at  other 
work  in  the  colliery. 

Mr.  Long  was  married  in  Ireland  to  Jane  Love, 
a  native  of  that  country,  who  died  Dec.  31,  1909, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  at  Shamokin,  and  is 
buried  there.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Charles  L„  assistant  road  foreman 
lor  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company,  is  now 
located  at  West  Milton,  Pa.,  and  is  well  known  at 
Shamokin.  which  he  still  calls  home:  Maggie  is 
the  wife  of  William  Metz;  Patrick,  born  in  1868, 
a  skilled  well  and  shot  driller,  died  March  4, 
1909,  and  his  widow  and  family  still  reside  at 
Shamokin  (he  married  Jennie  Thompson,  and 
they  had  three  children,  Alexander,  Charles  and 
Jennie)  :  James  is  a  conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania 


NOBTHUMBEBLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


979 


railroad;  Mary  married  Draper  Lewis;  John  is 
ti  reman  at  the  "Windsor  Hotel,"  Philadelphia. 
Pa.;  Annie  married  William  W.  Smith. 

Mr.  Long  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  fraternally  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow. 

GEORGE  KLINGER,  engineer  at  the  Locust 
Spring  colliery,  at  Locust  Gap,  in  Mount  Carmel 
township,  this  county,  was  born  Dec.  4,  1872,  at 
Mount  Carmel,  and  has  passed  practically  all  his 
life  at  Locust  Gap,  having  come  to  this  place  when 
but  four  years  old.  He  belongs  to  a  branch  of 
the  Klinger  family  now  numerously  represented 
in  Schuylkill  and  adjoining  counties. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Klinger  family  in  America 
emigrated  from  Holland.  Alexander  Klinger 
sailed  in  the  ship  "Albany,"  Bobeot  Brown,  master, 
from  Rotterdam,  last  from  Cowes,  Isle  of  Wight, 
England,  and  landed  at  Philadelphia  Sept.  2. 
1749.  He  settled  in  Beading,  Berks  county,  and 
was  in  the  first  list  of  taxables  on  record  of 
Reading,  1759.  His  name  also  appears  in  the  first 
United  States  census  of  Reading,  taken  in  1790. 
He  was  a  real  estate  owner  in  the  city  of  Reading, 
as  appears  by  patents  taken  for  lots  in  1753.  He 
served  as  a  private  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
Capt.  Conrad  Shirman's  company,  of  Berks  county 
volunteers.  He  died  in  the  city  of  Reading  in 
April,  1802.  His  son  George  Adam  Klinger  had 
previously  settled  in  Mahantango,  which  at  that 
time  still  was  territory  of  Berks  county. 

The  great-grandfather  of  George  Klinger  lived 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  followed  farming. 
He  died  upon  his  farm  near  Klinger's  Church. 
His  children  were:  Andrew;  William,  who  died 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  Daniel,  who  died  at  Seven 
Points,  Northumberland  county. 

Andrew  Klinger,  grandfather  of  George  Klinger, 
was  born  in  1801  in  Dauphin  county,  and  coming 
to  Northumberland  county  was  here  engaged  in 
mining  for  many  years,  being  a  boss  at  Shamokin, 
Mount  Carmel  and  Locust  Gap.  He  died  at  Mount 
Carmel  in  1866.  His  wife,  Mary  (Helwich).  died 
in  Shamokin,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Catherine  married  William 
Starr;  John  died  in  Mount  Carmel;  Sarah  mar- 
ried John  Kleiser:  Reuben  died  in  Mount  Carmel 
(he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war)  ;  George  A.  is 
mentioned  below :  Mary  died  unmarried ;  Bella 
married  Daniel  Delcamp;  William  was  killed 
while  serving  in  the  Civil  war. 

George  A.  Klinger,  son  of  Andrew,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  countv.  June  21,  1841,  at  the  lower  end 
of  Deep  Creek  Valley,  near  Klingerstown,  and  was 
only  two  years  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Shamokin.  He  began  working  in  the  mines  when 
a  boy,  being  first  employed  at  the  "Water  Gap." 
now  the  Cameron  colliery.  He  also  followed  min- 
ing at  Mount  Carmel,  in  1875  coming  to  Locust 
Gap,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged.     In  1903 


he  was  made  assistant  foreman  of  a  gang  of  men 
outside,  which  position  he  still  holds  at  the  Locust 
Spring  colliery.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Klinger 
was  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  at  Ashland  in 
Company  G,  129th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteers, and  receiving  his  discharge  at  Harrisburg. 
He  was  in  the  service  nine  months,  and  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellors- 
ville. 

Mr.  Klinger  married  Jane  Sharp,  daughter  of 
John  Sharp,  and  to  them  have  been  born  children 
as  follows:  A  daughter  that  died  in  infancy; 
Emma,  now  Mrs.  Abraham  Morgan ;  George;  John, 
who  is  an  engineer ;  Thomas,  a  fireman ;  Ida  M., 
wife  of  Frank  A.  Bergstresser ;  Bella;  William, 
who  died  aged  twenty-three  years;  Raymond; 
Hattie;  Margaret,  wife  of  August  Zimmerman: 
and  Albert,  a  teacher  in  Mount  Carmel  township. 

George  Klinger  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Locust  Gap,  and  began  work  like 
most  boys  around  the  mines,  picking  slate. 
He  followed  this  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
tended  door  inside  and  then  drove  inside.  Later 
he  was  employed  outside  at  the  self-acting  plant 
before  he  commenced  firing.  In  1900  he  was 
promoted  to  engineer  and  has  since  been  engaged 
as  such,  in  his  present  position  at  the  Locust 
Spring  colliery.  He  is  an  industrious  and  efficient 
worker,  respected  as  a  good  citizen  and  a  man  of 
excellent  habits. 

On  June  1,  1899,  Mr.  Klinger  married  Clara 
Bergstresser.  daughter  of  William  Bergstresser, 
of  Helfenstein,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
a  family  of  five  children :  Hazel,  Clayton,  Alfred, 
Catherine  and  Jennie. 

Mr.  Klinger  is  a  member  of  Mount  Carmel 
Lodge  No.  630,  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  of  Washington 
Camp  No.  116,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Mount  Carmel. 
He  is  a  Methodist  in  religious  connection,  but  has 
no  political  bonds,  voting  independently. 

EBERHARD  GROSS,  one  of  the  foremen  at  the 
Cameron  colliery,  when1  lie  has  been  stable  boss 
since  1907,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  borough  of 
Shamokin  since  1892,  and  with  tin-  exception  of 
three  years  during  which  he  was  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness has  been  engaged  in  the  mines  ever  since. 

Mr.  Gross  is  a  native  of  Cologne.  Germany,  born 
July  31,  1857.  son  of  Bertolete  Cross,  who  fol- 
lowed (arming  in  Germany,  where  he  died  in  June, 
is:.;.  His  wife.  Anna  Mary  (Rosenthal),  daugh- 
ter of  Broel  Rosenthal,  died  in  March.  1890,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  they  are  buried  in 
the  same  churchyard.  They  were  Catholics  in  re- 
ligious faith.  They  had  five  children,  as  follows: 
John,   who   sewed    in    the    Franco-Cerman    war  of 

1870-71,  is  still  living  in  Germany;  Anthony  died 
in  1867  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  Charles, 
who  served  in  the  Franco-German  war.  lives  in 
Germany:   Joseph    is   a    resident    of   Germany    (he 


9S0 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY.,  PENNSYLVANIA 


served  in  the  German  army)  ;  Eberhard  is  men- 
tioned below. 

Eberhard  Gross  attended  the  public  schools  and 
was  reared  upon  a  farm,  also  following  mining 
during  his  early  life.  He  served  three  years  as  a 
private  in  the  German  army,  from  1ST 7  to  1880. 
From  that  time  until  he  came  to  America  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  mining.  Taking  passage  at 
Antwerp,  he  crossed  to  Montreal,  in  the  Province 
of  Quebec,  Canada,  landing  June  29,  1S91,  and 
remained  there  for  six  months,  after  which  he  was 
in  Massachusetts,  working  at  the  Davis  mines, 
about  five  months  before  coming  to  Shamokin,  in 
1892.  He  went  to  work  as  a  miner  at  the  Cam- 
eron colliery  for  several  years,  and  for  three  years, 
1899  to  1901,  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
as  proprietor  of  the  "Franklin  House."  He  has 
since  been  employed  at  the  Cameron  colliery, 
where  he  was  made  stable  boss  in  1907.  He  is 
trustworthy  ami  efficient,  and  has  the  confidence 
of  his  employers  and  the  respect  of  his  fellow 
workmen. 

On  May  10,  1881,  Mr.  Gross  married  Lena 
Hafer,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Annetta  ( Schmidt) 
Hafer,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  five  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Mary  A., 
wife  of  E.  ('.  Keller:  Joseph,  superintendent  for 
the  Metropolitan  Insurance  Company  at  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa. :  Frank,  Herman  and  William,  all  at 
home.  The  deceased  were  Charles.  Henry.  Lena, 
John  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Gross  lias  had  his  own 
home,  at  No.  811  East  Commerce  street,  Shamokin, 
since  1905.  The  family  are  Catholics  in  religious 
faith,  belonging  to  St.  Edward's  Church.  Mr. 
Gross  is  a  Democrat  and  interested  in  local  party 
affairs,  having  served  as  committeeman  of  Sha- 
mokin. 

JAMES  E.  Mi  BRIDE,  of  Shamokin,  has  made 
his  home  in  that  borough  since  18S8.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  after  settling  here  lie  was  employed  at 
the  collieries  and  since  1S98  has  been  an  employee 
of  the  Croninger  Packing  Company. 

Mr.  McBride  was  born  May  9.  1S63.  at  Seranton, 
Lackawanna  Co..  Pa.,  son  of  James  McBride  and 
grandson  of  Michael  McBride.  a  native  of  Ireland 
who  came  to  America  when  a  young  man  and  set- 
tled at  Paterson,  N.  J.  Later  he  moved  to  Bridge- 
port. Conn.,  where  he  died.  His  family  consisted 
of  eight  children,  namely:  James.  Henry,  John. 
Charles.  Susan.  Mary.  Rosie  and  Sarah. 

Janus  McBride,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  at 
Paterson.  N.  J.,  and  there  spent  his  early  life.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  engineer  and  ran  the  first 
passenger  train  on  the  Delaware.  Lackawanna  & 
■\\  estern :  he  was  also  the  first  to  run  a  coal  burner 
on  the  New  York.  New  Haven  &  Hartford  road.  He 
served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war.  was 
a  sergeant  in  the  2nd  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  ami 
was  promoted  three  times  for  gallantry.     In  1866 


he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  had  worked  as  stationary  engineer  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  upon  going  to  Florida 
became  engineer  on  a  vessel.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(McGee),  died  in  1865  at  Shamokin,  Pa.,  the 
mother  of  three  children:  Michael,  who  lives  in 
Shamokin;  Susan,  wife  of  Fred  Rock;  and 
James  H. 

James  H.  McBride  was  only  two  years  old  when 
brought  from  Seranton  to  Northumberland' county, 
and  his  mother  dying  when  he  was  very  young,  he 
was  reared  by  Solomon  Klase,  at  Snydertown,  this 
county.  He  attended  public  school  there  at  Sny- 
dertown. and  since  1888  he  has  made  his  home  in 
Shamokin,  where  he  first  found  employment  as 
engineer  at  the  collieries,  continuing  to  work  at 
the  mines  until  1S9S,  when  he  took  his  present 
position  with  the  Croninger  Packing  Company. 
He  holds  the  roponsible  post  of  chief  engineer. 
He  is  a  reliable  and  industrious  worker,  and  has 
the  respect  of  employers  and  fellow  employees. 

On  Dec.  22.  1888,  Mr.  McBride  married  Ida 
h'owe.  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Jury) 
Rowe,  of  Lykens,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three 
children:  A  daughter  that  died  in  infancy,  Albert 
S.  and  Sii>an  E.  The  family  reside  at  No.  630 
West  Spruce  street,  shamokin.  Mr.  McBride  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  in  religious  connection  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 

WESLEY  VAX  GASKEN,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  now  living  retired  at  Shamokin,  North- 
umberland county,  was  engaged  for  many  years  as 
a  blacksmith  in  the  collieries  in  this  vicinity,  and 
he  is  a  son  of  Henry  Van  Gasken,  who  in  his  day 
was  one  of  the  best  known  men  about  the  coal 
regions.  He  was  born  July  2S.  1838,  in  Phila- 
delphia. Pa.,  anil  belongs  to  a  family  which  origi- 
nated in  Holland  and  which  has  been  established 
in  America  from  Colonial  times.  The  emigrant 
ancestor  came  from  Holland  and  landed  at  Lewes, 
Delaware. 

John  Van  (iasken.  Sr.,  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  are 
the  first  of  the  line  of  whom  we  have  record.  Their 
-  in  John  was  horn  March  4.  1744,  and  their  son 
Nicholas  was  born  Sept.  10,  1760. 

John  Van  O ashen.'  Jr.,  born  March  4.  1744. 
was  in  his  thirty- second  year  when  the  Revolution 
broke  out  and  he  must  have  known  Caesar  Rodney 
and  many  of  the  Delaware  patriots,  for  he  himself 
served  in  the  war  and  was  with  Washington  at 
the  famous  crossing  of  the  Delaware.  He  married 
Susanna  Hill,  who  was  born  Aug.  31,  1752, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Susanna  Hill,  and 
they  had  children  as  follows:  (1)  John. 
horn  An-.  15.  1774.  was  married  June 
L8,  1802,  to  Hannah  Hill,  and  had  children: 
Susanna,  born  June  15,  1805,  and  John,  born 
Feb.  5,  1807.     (2)  Sarah  was  born  Feb.  1,  1776. 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


9S1 


(3)  Thomas,  born  Sept.  20.  1778,  died  March  9, 
1795.     (4)  Joseph  was  born  March  11.  1781. 

Joseph  Van  Gasken,  born  March  11,  1781,  died 
Jan.  24,  1828.  He  followed  farming  in  Delaware. 
He  married  (first)  Ann  Barnet,  who  was  born 
March  15,  1786,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Rachel 
Harriet,  and  died  in  December,  1822.  On  March 
8,  1823,  lie  married  (second)  Rodie  Morris.  His 
children,  all  by  the  first  union,  were  as  follows: 
(1)  Rachel,  born  Nov.  7,  1808,  was  over  ninety 
when  she  died,  and  though  in  her  advanced  years 
both  sight  and  hearing  were  impaired  she  con- 
i  tinued  to  visit  her  children,  unattended,  traveling 
considerable  distances  by  railroad,  and  like  her 
brother  John,  who  lived  to  advanced  years,  but 
not  to  such  a  great  age  as  she  attained,  remained 
active  and  intelligent  to  the  end.  (2)  John,  born 
Nov.  12,  1809,  died  Sept.  19.  1811.  (3)  Henry 
is  mentioned  below.  (4)  William,  born  Dec.  18, 
1813,  died  Dec.  28,  1813.  (5)  Sarah  Ann,  born 
Sept.  16,  1816,  died  Nov.  8,  1816.  (6)  Mary, 
born  July  27,  1818,  died  Oct.  6,  ISIS.  (7)  John 
(2),  born  Aug.  1,  1820,  died  young.  (8)  Barnet. 
bora   Nov.  29,  1822,  died  Sept.  22,  1824. 

Henry  Van  Gasken,  father  of  Wesley  Van 
Gasken.  was  born  Aug.  24,  1811,  in  Delaware,  and 
died  Feb.  10,  1874.  He  followed  contracting,  in 
which  he  was  engaged  at  various  places,  being 
located  for  a  time  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  returning 
later  to  Philadelphia.  He  was  one  of  the  "forty- 
niners'"  to  go  out  to  California,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  working  as  a  carpenter,  in  the  course 
of  which  time  and  pursuit  he  put  together  the 
boat  "Swan."  which  was  built  at  Wilmington, 
Del.,  and  shipped  to  California  in  sections.  He 
became  captain  of  this  boat  when  it  was  put  into 
service,  running  between  Sacramento  'and  San 
Francisco.  Returning  East,  he  located  in  Sha- 
mokin  in  1852,  and  there  took  contracts  in  the 
building  of  the  first  collieries.  He  subsequently 
became  superintendent  of  the  Carbon  Run  colliery, 
now  known  as  the  Bear  Valley  colliery,  and  for  a 
time  was  division  superintendent  of  the  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  in  the  Shamokin  District 
under  Franklin  B.  Gowen,  president,  in  these 
various  capacities  becoming  widely  known  through- 
out the  coal  regions,  and  among  all  classes. 

On  July  24,  1834,  Mr.  Van  Gasken  married 
Mary  Fearer,  who  was  born  June  13,  1815,  in 
Philadelphia,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Fearer,  and  died  Nov.  4,  1862.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Rachel,  born  July  12, 
1836,  who  married  Edward  Farrell,  of  Sacramento, 
Cal.;  Wesley;  Henry  Clay,  born  April  16,  1846; 
and  Mary  F.,  born 'Dec.  15,  1848,  who  married 
Frank  Bowman,  and  (second)  Frank  Warren 
(both  her  husbands  are  deceased  and  she  resides 
in  Chicago,  Illinois). 

Wesley  Van  Gasken  came  to  Shamokin  with  his 
father  in  boyhood  and  remained  here  until  seven- 


teen, when  he  went  to  Lancaster  to  learn  the 
blacksmith's  trade  in  the  locomotive  .-hop.  After 
three  years  there  he  entered  the  Baldwin  shops  at 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  at  the  time 
of  his  enlistment  in  April.  1861,  fur  service  in  the 
Civil  war.  in  Company  1),  61st  Regiment.  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers.  He  served  to  the  close 
of  the  struggle,  with  the  Armv  of  the  Potomac, 
taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  many 
other  important  engagements.  Though  he  >au 
hard  service  he  himself  escaped  with  only  a  flesh 
wound  upon  his  left  hand.  Mr.  Van  Gasken  was 
the  only  one  of  a  large  family  to  serve  in  the  Civil 
war.  and  he  has  a  record  of  which  he  may  well 
lie  proud.  He  thinks  it  is  the  fighting  blood  he 
inherited  from  his  Revolutionary  ancestor,  whom 
he  honors  for  his  patriotism,  which  induced  him  to 
go  to  the  rescue  of  his  country  in  the  days  of  the 
Civil  war. 

At  the  end  of  the  war  Mr.  Van  Gasken  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  settling  at  Shamokin  fol- 
lowed his  trade  at  the  various  collieries,  continu- 
ing thus  until  his  retirenient,  in  1890.  In  18G4  he 
married  Nancy  Lake,  daughter  of  David  N.  and 
Sarah  (Farrow)  Lake,  of  Shamokin,  the  former 
of  whom  served  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace 
in  that  borough.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Van  Gasken  had 
five  children,  all  of  whom  married,  and  they  have 
three  great-grandchildren.  Chantilly,  their  eldest 
child,  married  Elmer  IT.  Price,  of  Shamokin,  and 
has  children:  Nancy,  Wesley,  Edward,  Dorothy 
and  Sidney.  Mary  married  Harry  M.  Dauser,  now- 
living  at  Providence.  R.  1..  and  they  have  two 
children,  Frank  and  Harry.  Harry,  who  died 
in  Shamokin  Dec.  16,  1909,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
nine  years,  married  Cora  S.  Sweitzer  and  left  two 
children.  Milton  and  Rachel.  Rachel  'is  the  wife 
of  Sidney  Yeager,  resides  in  Norfolk.  Va.,  and 
has  two  children.  Carroll  and  Margaret.  Sarah, 
wife  of  E.  F.  Harding,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  has  one 
daughter,  Alice. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Gasken  reside  at  No.  di 
Commerce  street,  Shamokin.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lincoln  Post,  No.  140,  G.  A.  1!..  at  Shamokin,  and 
one  of  its  past  officers;  in  religion-  matters  he  is 
identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  An  in- 
telligent, respected  citizen,  lie  is  a  credit  to  his 
family  and  a  substantial  member  of  the  com- 
munity. 

JAMES  F.  GORDON,  inside  foreman  at  the 
Locust  Spring  section  at  Locust  Gap,  this 
county,  is  one  of  the  best  known  men 
of  that  place  and  a  miner  of  fifty  years'  ex- 
perience, having  begun  work  al  the  breaker  when 
but  eight  years  of  age.  He  worked  his  way  up 
from  the  humblest  position  by  faithful  and  efficient 
services,  and  lias  been  engaged  in  his  present 
capacity  for  the  pas!  ten  year-. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  horn   at    Pottsville,   Schuylkill 


982 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Co.,  Pa.,  in  1852,  son  of  James  Gordon.  The 
father  was  born  in  Ireland  and  left  that  country 
for  America  when  a  young  man,  settling  in  Potts- 
ville.  Pa.,  where  he  lived  for  some  time.  He  also 
lived  at  St.  Clair,  in  the  same  county,  and  later 
removed  to  Ashland,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  He  was  a  miner  by  occupation. 
His  wife,  Anna  Corcoran,  was  also  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  sixteen  children  were  born  to  them, 
only  five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely : 
Michael,  Patrick,  James  F..  Nellie  and  Sarah. 

James  F.  Gordon  attended  school  at  St.  Clair 
and  Ashland,  in  his  native  county.  He  began 
picking  slate  at  the  breaker  before  he  was  eight 
years  old,  and  was  thus  employed  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  went  into  the  mines,  in  which  he 
has  found  his  life  work.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
mines  at  Ashland  until  he  came  to  Locust  Gap, 
Northumberland  county,  in  1896.  Here  he  was 
fire  boss  for  two  years,  the  next  two  years  acting 
as  assistant  inside  foreman,  and  in  1900  becoming 
inside  foreman,  the  duties  of  which  position  he 
has  since  filled.  He  has  a  most  creditable  record 
as  a  careful  miner  and  a  good  manager,  having 
450  men  to  look  after.  Mr.  Gordon  is  popular 
with  his  men  and  with  his  fellow  citizens  of  all 
degrees  in  Locust  Gap,  respected  for  his  indus- 
trious and  useful  life  and  as  a  typical  representa- 
tive of  the  reliable  and  trustworthy  workers  en- 
gaged in  the  foremost  industry  of  this  part  of  the 
State. 

Mr.  Gordon  married  Mary  O'Hara,  who  was 
born  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter 
of  Patrick  O'Hara,  and  they  have  had  six  chil- 
dren; Anna,  now  the  wife  of  John  I.  Carr; 
Thomas ;  Margaret,  married  to  John  J.  Brodrick : 
Nellie;  James;  and  Edward,  who  died  when  four 
years  old.  Mr.  Gordon  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  of  the  Holy 
Name  Society.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
while  a  resident  of  Ashland  served  three  years  as  a 
member  of  the  borough  council. 

RIVER  CEMETERY,  Fishers  Ferry,  Lower 
Augusta  township.  One  of  the  earliest  houses  of 
worship  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county,  was 
located  at  Fisher's  Ferry,  Pa.  At  the  upper  rail- 
road crossing  immediately  south  of  the  public 
road  stood  a  one-story  log  building  16x2-4  feet. 
The  roof  extended  fully  two  feet  over  the  walls. 
The  building  had  an  odd  appearance  and  strongly 
resembled  Swiss  architecture.  Information  at  this 
late  day  states  the  church  was  non-sectarian,  and 
that  the  pioneer  settlers  gathered  in  this  building 
dedicated  to  the  "Glory  of  God"  about  once  every 
month,  or  oftener  if  a  minister  chanced  to  come 
along  who  would  preach  the  word  to  them.  In 
1902  the  last  services  were  held  in  the  building 


by  one  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander,  a  Baptist  Minister. 
During  the  winter  of  1909-10  the  church  was 
torn  down  but  the  foundation  of  it  is  still  intact. 
This  church  stood  distant  about  three  city  squares 
from  the  River  cemetery,  at  Fisher's  Ferry.  Most 
of  the  settlers  who  worshipped  there  are  buried 
in  the  River  cemetery.  Probably  there  are  sev- 
eral hundred  buried  there  who  have  no  tomb- 
stones to  record  their  names  or  the  dates  of  their 
birth  and  departure  from  this  life.  Yet  they  did 
their  share  in  the  settlement  of  the  district,  and 
much  for  the  good  of  their  posterity,  and  they 
should  not  be  forgotten. 

PETER  C.  KUZMICZ,  who  is  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  Xo.  421  North  Shamokin  street,  in  the 
borough  oi  Shi kin,  is  making  a  substantial  po- 
sition for  himself  as  a  high-class  tailor  and  has 
prospered  by  hard  work  and  satisfactory  service. 
He  is  a  native  of  Galicia,  Austria,  born  March 
12,  1874,  and  his  father,  Stephen  Kuzmicz,  was  a 
blacksmith  in  Austria  where  he  lived  and  died. 
Only  two  of  the  family  came  to  America,  Peter  C. 
and  his  sister  Amelia,  who  lives  at  Bloomfield,  New 
Jersey. 

Mr.  Kuzmicz  attended  school  in  his  native  land 
and  there  learned  the  trade  of  tailor.  He  landed  at 
New  York  City  in  1895  and  came  at  once  to  Sha- 
mokin, Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  work  at  his  trade  as  journeyman  for  a 
few  years  before  opening  an  establishment  of  his 
own.  He  commenced  business  on  his  own  account 
in  1901,  at  his  present  location,  and  has  been  suc- 
cessful from  tin-  start,  his  work  at  present  keeping 
from  ten  to  fifteen  men  busy.  In  addition  to  cus- 
tom tailoring  he  does  cleaning  and  pressing,  and 
his  patronage  has  been  growing  steadily,  his  cus- 
tomers including  some  of  the  best  people  in  Sha- 
mokin. He  has  a  high  reputation  for  satisfactory 
work  and  is  conscientious  in  filling  orders  of  ail 
kinds,  his  skill  and  neatness  winning  and  holding 
custom  and  being  his  best  recommendation.  He  is 
a  good  citizen  of  his  adopted  home,  industrious  and 
thrifty,  and  has  good  standing  among  his  fellow 
countrymen  in  Shamokin. 

Mr.  Kuzmicz  married  Katie  Anderson,  of  Sha- 
mokin, a  daughter  of  Anthony  Anderson,  the  lat- 
ter a  native  of  German}'.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  this  marriage:  Rosie  and  Stephen.  Mr. 
Kuzmicz  is  a  member  of  the  Ruthenian  Catholic 
Church  and  active  in  its  work  and  in  the  church 
societies.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

GEORGE  C.  MEISER,  who  has  the  leading 
livery  business  in  the  borough  of  Sunbury,  was 
born  Sept.  18,  1884,  in  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  where 
the  family  has  long  been  established.  He  came  to 
Sunbury  "in  1903. 

Henry  Meiser,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  or 
near  Fremont,  Snyder  county,  and  was  a  lifelong 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


983 


fanner,  dying  upon  his  farm,  which  is  now  owned 
by  Charles  Spoots.  It  consisted  of  about  120 
acres.  He  was  a  member  of  Grubb's  Lutheran 
Church,  where  he  is  buried,  and  his  wife,  Rebecca, 
h  ho  survived  him,  is  also  interred  there.  They  had 
the  following  children :  Henry,  who  lived  and 
died  at  Fremont,  Pa. ;  Alice,  who  married  John 
Seiler  and  lives  at  McKee's  Half  Falls,  Pa.;  Fred, 
living  out  West;  Joel,  of  Oriental,  Pa.;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Reinhart,  who  lived  at  Independence,  Pa.; 
Benjamin,  who  lived  and  died  out  West;  and  Jon- 
athan. 

Jonathan  Meiser,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  Feb. 
25,  1849,  on  the  homestead  farm  near  Fremont, 
Snyder  county,  and  like  his  father  followed  farm- 
ing, until  he' met  with  a  disastrous  loss  by  .fire, 
about  twelve  years  before  his  death.  His  barn 
took  tire  and  was  burned  with  all  the  year's  crops, 
implements  and  live  stock,  including  nine  horses, 
a  number  of  cattle,  sheep  and  poultry,  and  as  there 
was  no  insurance  on  any  of  the  property  the  loss 
was  so  heavy  that  Mr.  Meiser  never  recovered  fi- 
nancially. Afterward,  until  his  death,  he  worked 
for  others.  He  was  a  man  who  had  by  his  indus- 
trious and  upright  life  won  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him,  and  he  had  the  sympathy  of  the  entire 
community  in  his  misfortune.  He  died  four  miles 
northeast  of  Fremont,  June  28,  1901,  aged  fifty- 
two  years,  and  is  buried  at  Troutman's  Evangelical 
Church,  where  he  was  a  member.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(Snyder),  who  survives  him,  and  is  still  living 
near  Fremont,  was  a  daughter  of  David  Snyder, 
of  Hern. Inn.  Pa.  Mrs.  Meiser  is  now  (1911)  fifty- 
one  years  old.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren: Mary,  wife  of  Oliver  Walter,  of  Middleburg, 
Pa.;  Jennie,  married  to  Dory  Haupt,  a  butcher  of 
Shamokin,  Pa.;  George  C. :  Edward,  of  Snyder- 
town,  Pa.;  Amnion,  of  Shamokin;  Reilly,  of  Sny- 
der county  :  Clarence,  of  Snyder  county  :  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy,  twin  to  Clarence;  and  Delia,  of 
Shamokin. 

George  C.  Meiser  attended  the  public  schools  of 
the  horde  district  and  was  reared  to  farming  until 
he  was  twelve  years  old,  at  which  time  he  went  to 
Shamokin  to  begin  learning  the  butcher  trade.  He 
followed  that  business  for  about  ten  years,  being 
obliged  to  abandon  it  on  account  of  ill  health,  and 
in  1903  he  came  to  Sunbury,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Upon  settling  in  the  borough  he 
began  draying,  at  which  he  was  engaged  for  five 
years,  in  1907  commencing  the  livery  business,  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He  now  has 
the  leading  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  city, 
keeping  twelve  horses.  Mr.  Meiser  has  first-class 
equipment  in  every  particular,  owning  fine  teams 
and  having  all  the  facilities  for  giving  excellent 
service  to  his  patrons,  and  he  provides  vehicles  for 
most  of  the  local  funerals.  His  business-like  meth- 
ods and  reliable  character  have  been  the  principal 
factors  in  the  development  of  his  business,  which 


has  reached  profitable  proportions,  and  he  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  hon- 
orable young  business  men  in  the  city. 

On  April  7,  1910,  Mr.  Meiser  married  Sue  Ker- 
stetter,  daughter  of  Reilly  Kerstetter,  of  Sunbury. 
He  is  a  member  of  Fire  Company  No.  1,  of  Sun- 
bury. 

THEODORE  MINER,  who  lives  at  Sagon,  in 
Mount  Carmel  township,  Northumberland  county, 
is  employed  as  teamster  at  the  Hickory  Ridge  col- 
liery and  has  been  there  engaged  in  that  capacity 
for  over  twenty  years.  He  is  an  industrious,  re- 
spected citizen  of  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Miner 
was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pa..  May  27,  1847, 
son  of  Peter  Miner.  His  grandfather  was  born  in 
Germany  and  died  in  Columbia  county. 

Peter  Miner  was  a  cooper,  and  in  his  time  flour 
was  shipped  in  barrels.  He  followed  his  trade  for 
quite  a  while,  but  later  took  up  farming.  He  died 
at  a  ripe  old  age  and  was  buried  at  Roaring  Creek 
forty  years  ago.  His  wife,  Rebecca  (Marks),  was 
also  of  that  county,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  Theodore  being  the  only  son.  They  were  : 
Elizabeth  married  Joseph  Caumer,  and  resided 
in  Catawissa  township,  Columbia  county;  .lane 
married  Jacob  Artlev.  who  died  several  years  ago, 
and  resided  in  Franklin  township,  Columbia  coun- 
ty: Caroline  married  John  Mason,  a  Civil  war  vet- 
eran, and  removed  to  Hazleton,  Luzerne  county; 
Theodore  will  be  mentioned  below:  Alice  and  Em- 
ma were  twins;  Emma  married  Frank  Magill,  had 
a  large  family  and  moved  to  Luzerne  county,  where 
he  died;  Alice  married  Hon.  W.  C.  Kerbaugh,  who 
served  as  representative  at  Harrisburg. 

Theodore  Miner  received  his  education  ill  the 
public  schools  of  Locust  township,  Columbia  coun- 
ty. When  he  commenced  to  make  his  own  way 
he  worked  at  farming  but  later  learned  the  mill- 
ing trade  at  "Mendcnhall's"  mill,  under  the  tutel- 
age of  the  famous  Moses  McHenry.  Getting  a 
position  with  the  Kulp,  McWilliams  &  McCon- 
nell  Company,  he  worked  several  years,  going  as 
farmer  for  the  same  company  for  three  years,  and 
as  a  six-mule  driver  for  another  year.  He  then 
secured  a  position  as  teamster  at  Hickory  Ridge, 
in  1887,  which  position  he  still  holds,  being  a  faith- 
ful employee  and  a  reliable  worker.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  Washington  Camp  Xo.  619,  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.,  also  of  the  Commandery;  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Americans:  an  honored  old 
soldier  and  a  citizen  who  has  always  commanded 
the  respect  of  his  fellow  men.  He  has  always  been 
a  faithful  worker  lor  the  Republican  party. 

On  Jan.  6,  1870.  Air.  Miner  married  Catherine 

Price,  daughter  id'  Jonas  and    Reb a   Price,  of 

Columbia  county,  and  fchey  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: (1)  Charles  E.  married  Ellen  II.  Long, 
and  their  children  arc  Roberl  Leroy  (a  base  hall 
pitcher  of  some  mile).  Claude  E.,  Walter  Linton, 


984 


XOETHUMBEELAXD  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLYA  X  I A 


Emma  Catherine,  Edna  May,  Charles  Albert  and 
Lester  Earl.  (2  )  Mary  A.  married  A.  E.  Eephardt. 
an  engineer  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  (;i) 
Florence  M.  married  John  Weind,  an  engineer  on 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  at  I'ot ts\  ille,  and  has 
three  children,  Mabel,  Marvin  L.  and  Ora.  i  I) 
Elmer  E.  married  Elizabeth  Moore  and  had  chil- 
dren, Marion  E..  Mary  A.,  and  Lillian  X.  The 
father,  Elmer  E.  Miner,  was  accidentally  shot  and 
killed  at  Maysville.  ( 5 )  t '.  Estella  married  George 
Grinaway  and  had  children,  Marlin  W.,  Helen 
Irene  and  Dorothy  A.  Mr.  Grinaway  is  also  an 
engineer  by  trade  and  is  at  present  postmaster  at 
Sagon.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  and  served  his 
term  in  the  Philippines.  (6)  Lillian  died  when 
thirteen  days  old.  (?)  Bessie  married  Ira  Snyder. 
of  Sunbury.     (8)  Howard  L.  is  at  home. 

HAKKY  J.  STEAUB,  of  Shamokin,  foreman  of 
the  Croninger  Packing  Company,  was  born  at 
Trevorton.  Pa.,  Feb.  16,  1873,  son  of  Tobias 
Straub,  and  a  descendant  of  good  industrious  Ger- 
man ancestry. 

George  Straub,  his  grandfather,  was  a  fanner  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  Schuylkill  County, 
u  here  he  had  360  acres  of  excellent  land.  He  died 
in  Deep  (reek  Valley  in  1858,  aged  fifty-three 
years,  and  is  buried  there.  Tie  married  Bewie 
Zerbe,  daughter  of  John  Zerbe,  and  she  died  aged 
ninety-nine  years,  and  is  buried  at  Williamstown, 
Dauphin  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  as  follows:  John  and  George,  who  both 
died  in  Schuylkill  county:  Elias,  who  died  at  Sha- 
mokin: Joseph,  who  died  at  Girardvillc,  Pa. :  Dan- 
iel, living  at  Williamstown;  Moses,  who  died 
young:  Henry,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war  and 
died  one  week  after  his  release  from  Andersonville 
prison:  Emanuel,  born  in  the  Mahantango  Valley 
Nov.  5,  1st:!,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war  in  Com- 
pany 1),  48th  Pa.  V.  1..  and  now  lives  at  Shamokin: 
Harriet,  who  married  David  Crone,  and  died  in 
Schuylkill  county;  anil  Tobias. 

Tobias  Straub,  son  of  George  and  father  of  Har- 
ry J.,  was  horn  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  for  many 
years  followed  mining  in  Schuylkill  and  Northum- 
berland counties.  He  is  now-  living  at  Wiconisco, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  is  employed  at  day's 
labor.  He  married  Ellen  Schughart,  who  died  in 
1904.  'Their  children,  besides  Harry  J.,  were: 
Agnes,  who  married  James  Tschopp,  a  carpenter 
by  trade;  George  A.,  who  was  killed  in  the  mines 
when  but  fifteen  years  of  age;  and  Sallie.  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Harry  J.  Straub  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Williams  Valley,  and  was  only  a  lad  of  eight  years 
when  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  mines.  Later 
he  was  engaged  as  a.  miner,  being  the  youngest 
miner  at  that  time  in  the  Sterling  colliery.  He 
worked  in  the  mines  for  eight  years,  and  then  be- 
came a  driver  for  J.  S.  Beitz  &•  Co.,  of  Shamokin. 


the  predecessors  of  the  Croninger  Packing  Com- 
pany. He  drove  the  team  for  seven  years,  and  on 
April  -"i.  1899,  was  made  foreman  of  the  large  plant. 
He  is  conscientious  and  thorough  in  all  that  he 
undertakes,  and  he  well  deserves  all  the  credit  for 
the  position  he  has  attained  and  for  the  place  he 
holds  in  the  estimation  of  his  employers  and  his 
fellow  employee-. 

Mv.  Straub  married  Ada  Hoffman,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Hoffman,  of  Bear  Cap.  Their  home  has 
been  blessed  by  children  as  follows:  George  A.: 
Charles  W. ;  J.  Ellsworth:  Melvin  C.  :  Alma  X.; 
and  Ruth,  who  died  in  infancy.  In  his  political 
principles  Mr.  Straub  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has 
never  taken  much  active  part  in  party  work.  He 
is  a  chatter  member  of  Black  Diamond  Lodge', 
No.  1092,  I.  O.  ().  F..  of  Shamokin.  With  his 
family  he  attends  the  United  Evangelical  Church. 

PALL  KLINGEE,  inside  breaker  boss  at  the 
Cameron  colliery,  Shamokin.  has  been  engaged 
there  since  1888,  and  his  entire  experience  in  the 
mines  covers  a  period  of  forty-four  years.  He  is 
a  native  of  Harry  township.  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa., 
born  Jan.  25,  1856,  son  of  Edward  B.  Klinger  and 
grandson  of  Jacob  [dinger,  and  he  comes  of  an 
old  family  id'  that  county,  his  great-grandfather 
having  lived  in  Deep  Creek  Valley,  in  Barry  town- 
ship, where  he  died. 

Jacob  Klinger  followed  fanning  on  the  home- 
stead m  Deep  Cieek  Valley  ami  died  there  at  the 
i_'  of  seventy-one  years.  He  is  buried  in  the  I'. 
B.  cemetery  in  that  township.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  a  Bixler,  and  his  chil- 
dren were:  Benneville,  Edward  B.,  Isaac,  Han- 
nah (married  David  Knarr)  and  Lydia  (married 
William  Minnier.  and  residing  in  Lower  Augusta 
township.   Northumberland  county). 

Edward  B.  Klinger.  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
is;!:;  at  the  homestead  in  Schuylkill  county,  and 
died  in  October,  190,2;  he  is  buried  at  the  same 
place  as  his  father.  For  several  years  he  fol- 
lowed saw-milling.  During  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed, at  Pottsville,  serving  with  Company  E, 
113th  Eegiment,  and  after  the  war.  in  April,  1866, 
he  moved  to  Shamokin,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  the  mine-',  doing  outside  work.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  E.  post  at  Shamokin  and 
of  the  Lodge  id'  United  American  Mechanics.  Sev- 
en children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth (Dcrr)  :  Emanuel  B.,  who  is  living  in  Coal 
township,  Northumberland  county;  Daniel  D..  also 
living  in  Coal  township;  Edward  D.,  deceased; 
Pierce  F..  who  lives  at  Second  and  Walnut  streets. 
Shamokin:  Paul:  Joseph,  whose  residence  is  at 
Second  and  Independence  streets.  Shamokin:  and 
Hannah,  wife  of  Henry  Welker. 

Paul  Klinger  attended  school  in  his  native  town- 
ship until  the  family  came  to  Shamokin,  during 
his  boyhood.     About  that  time  he  began  work  at 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


985 


the  mines,  as  a  slate  picker  for  Heim  &  Good- 
will, and  he  has  done  this  kind  of  work  ever  shut. 
having  been  at  the  Cameron  mine  since  1888,  the 
greater  part  of  that  time  as  boss  over  different 
gangs.  Mr.  Klinger  also  has  a  grocery  store  at 
No.  915  West  Walnut  street,  Shamokin,  where  he 
resides.  He  is  a  thrifty,  intelligent  and  substantial 
citizen.  Outside  of  his  work  he  takes  great  inter- 
est in  the  welfare  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
of  which  he  has  long  been  a  most  active  member, 
having  served  as  chorister,  trustee,  class  leader, 
Sunday  school  teacher,  treasurer  and  superintend- 
ent; he  was  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  dur- 
ing the  rebuilding  of  the  church.  All  his  family 
are  active  members  of  the  Sunday  school.  Since 
1880  Mr.  Klinger  has  been  a  member  of  Camp 
\(i.  .".o,  P.  ().  S.  of  A.,  and  he  is  well  known  in 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  in  which  he  is  a 
past   chief. 

In  1576  Mr.  Klinger  married  Emma  A.  Cremer, 
daughter  of  George  and  Susan  (Zimmerman) 
Cremer,  and  eight  children  have  blessed  this  un- 
ion, namely:  James  II.,  who  is  deceased;  Charles 
W..  who  married  Gertrude  Menidol ;  Susan  E., 
at  home;  F.  Blanch,  at  home;  Dora  H.,  wife  of 
Reginald  Berkheiser;  Herbert  H.:  Lillian  M..  de- 
ceased :  and  Hester  L. 

John  R.  Cremer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Paul 
Klinger,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
and  later  settled  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  died. 
He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Reuben.  Andrew.  Lydia,  Catharine, 
Susanna,  George  and  Louisa. 

George  Cremer,  father  of  Mrs.  Klinger,  lived  at 
Bloomsburg,  and  followed  boating,  also  doing  day's 
work.  He  married  Susan  Zimmerman,  and  their 
children  were:  Emma  A.  (Mrs.  Klinger),  James 
(living  at  Shamokin).  Margaret,  Lenora  and  Ra- 
chel. ' 

HOWARD  BUYERS,  of  Sunbury,  foreman  of 
the  construction  gang  for  the  Susquehanna  Silk 
Mills,  is  a  descendant  of  two  of  the  oldest  settled 
families  of  this  section  of  the  county,  being  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  Alice  (Painter)  Buyers. 

The  Buyers  family  in  this  country  is  traced  back- 
to  John  Buyers,  who  with  his  wile  Letitia  (Pat- 
ton)  emigrated  from  Monaghan,  County  Mqn- 
aghan,  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  in  1735  or  1736, 
ami  settled  in  the  Pequea  valley,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
there  passed  the  remainder  of  bis  days,  being  buried 
in  Lancaster  county.  He  had  a  large  family,  and 
his  posterity  is  still  numerous  in  that  section. 

John  Buyers,  son  of  John  and  Letitia  (  Patton  | 
Buyers,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county  June  !>, 
1749,  ami  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  re- 
moved to  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  short 
ly  after  that  place  was  laid  out,  and  was  engaged 
upon  the  erection  of  many  of  the  first  bouses,  in- 


cluding the  old  jail  building  on  Market  street. 
He  first  resided  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Race  and 
Second  streets,  several  years  later  removing  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  IVnh  and  Front  streets,  where 
lie  began  merchandising.  In  1796  be  built  a  brick 
residence  and  store  room  on  the  opposite  corner  of 
I'enn  street,  continuing  business  there  until  1814 
or  1815.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  lived  along 
the  river  below  the  site  of  Blank  &  Gottshall's 
mill,  in  the  brick  house  which  he  had  erected.  He 
owned  what  was  known  as  "Buyers  [sland"  in  the 
Susquehanna  river,  south  of  Sunbury,  which  con- 
tains about  ninety-five  acres  of  fertile  land,  this 
property  remaining  in  the  Buyers  name  for  115 
years.  Mi-.  Buyers  was  prominent  as  a  local  official 
for  many  years,  his  name  in  that  connection  first 
appearing  in  1776,  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in  Au- 
gusta township:  on  Sept.  28,  1780,  he  was  com- 
missioned justice  of  the  peace,  serving  also  as  jus- 
tice of  the  county  court,  and  frequently  presiding 
in  the  absence  of  the  regularly  commissioned  pres- 
ident.  I  >u  Sept.  1,  1791,  he  was  commissioned 
justice  of  the  peace  lor  Sunbury  ami  Augusta  town- 
ship, serving  as  such  some  years.  On  Dec.  31, 
1781,  and  on  Jan.  3,  1786,  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer,  filling  that  office  again  later,  in  1787-88. 
From  1800  to  1808,  inclusive,  he  was  county 
auditor.  He  died  at  Sunbury  May  5,  1821.  Mi. 
Buyers  was  a   Presbyterian  in  religious  faith. 

John  Buyers  married  Ann  Fullerton,  daughter  of 
William  Fullerton.  and  she  died  Oct.  30,  1808,  in 
her  fifty-ninth  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buyers  are 
buried  in  the  South  Fourth  street  cemetery  at  Sun- 
bury. They  bad  a  family  of  ten  children:  Mar- 
garet, Letitia,  John.  William  F..  Sallie,  Robert, 
Samuel,  George   P..  Alexander   F.  and  Jeremiah. 

William  F.  Buyers,  son  of  John  and  Ann  (  Ful- 
lerton) Buyers,  was  born  Jan.  P.'.  1782,  at  Sun- 
bury. and  learned  the  printing  business  with 
Breyvogel.  In  Kennedy's  Gazette  of  Oct.  26,  1801, 
the  statement  is  made  thai  "William  Buyers  has 
now  established  a  printing  office  at  Williamsport," 
from  which  it  is  evident  thai  he  entered  upon  his 
career  as  a  newspaper  publisher  immediate!}  after 
completing  his  apprenticeship.  His  paper  was  the 
Williamsport  Gazette,  the  pioneer  newspaper  of 
Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  which  be  continued  to 
publish,  under  many  difficulties  and  often  irreg- 
ularly, until  1808.  Returning  to  Sunbury,  which 
had  been  without  a  paper  since  the  suspension  of 
its  first  journal,  Der  Freiheitsvogel,  be  started  the 
second   paper  at   that    place,   The   Times,  in   the 

summer  id'  181'.'.  It  is  said  that  he  retired  at  the 
end  of  three  years,  but  tin-  seems  improbable,  as 
he  certainly  published  the  paper  in  1816  and  1817. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  commanded  a  company 
in  the  77th  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  militia.  In 
1815-18  be  served  a-  commissioner  of  North- 
umberland county.  In  1816  be  was  a  Fed- 
eral    Republican    candidate     for    Congress,    but 


986 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


was  defeated.  The  issue  of  his  paper  for 
Sept.  26,  1816,  shows  a  four-cohunn  folio, 
18  inches  long  and  11  inches  wide,  and  as 
the  Congressional  election  was  to  be  held  the  fol- 
lowing month  the  number  was  replete  with  polit- 
ical articles.  It  is  likely  Captain  Buyers  published 
The  Times  throughout  the  period  it  was  continued 
under  that  name.  His  printing  office  was  in  the 
second  story  of  the  "state  house,"  which  occupied 
the  site  of  the  present' courthouse,  and  he  was  also 
located  in  a  small  frame  building  on  the  west 
side  of  Second  street,  at  the  corner  of  Barberry 
alley,  where  the  "Neff  House'"  stable  now  stands. 
Mr.  Buyers  died  June  27,  1831.  at  the  compar- 
atively early  age  of  thirty-nine  years.  On  Dec. 
13,  1815.  he  married  Martha  Hunter,  who  was  born 
Jan.  5.  1792,  daughter  of  Alexander  Hunter,  and 
a  descendant  of  Col.  Samuel  Hunter.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them.  Ann  M..  born  Sept.  6, 
1816,  died  May  'J.  1853,  ami  William  D.,  born  Jan. 
.'..  1819,  who  died  March  ■.'•"..  L853,  neither  of 
whom  ever  married,  both  dying  after  reaching 
maturity.  George  Patron  Buyers,  son  of  John  and 
Ann  (Fullerton)  Buyers,  was  engaged  m  boating 
on  the  river  before  the  construction  of  the  canal. 
He  then  built  a  canal-boat,  which  he  ran  between 
Sunbury  and  Philadelphia.  He  married  Mrs. 
.Martha  (Hunter)  Buyers,  widow  of  his  brother 
William  F.  Buyers,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children :  John :  Hunter,  who  lived  at  Sunburv 
and  died  unmarried :  and  Mary,  who  married 
Latrobe  B.  Reed  and  is  buried  at  the  South  Fourth 
street  cemetery  in  Sunbury.  Mrs.  Martha  (Hun- 
ter) Buyers  died  June  6,  1854. 

John  Buyers,  son  of  George  Pat  ton  Buyers,  was 
born  in  December.  1827,  in  Sunbury.  and  lived 
on  Buyers  Island  for  eighteen  years,  engaged  in 
farming.  He  moved  to  the  island  in  1869  and 
thence  in  1887  to  Selinsgrove,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in  April,  190S, 
in  his  eighty-first  year.  He  is  buried  in  Pomfret 
Manor  cemetery.  In  his  earlier  life  Mr.  Buyers 
was  a  merchant  in  Sunbury  for  a  time,  and  later 
cultivated  one  of  the  Hunter  farms,  until  the 
breaking  out.  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  raised 
Company  I.  58th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  for 
the  Union  service,  becoming  the  first  captain  of 
that  organization,  which  was  known  as  the  Augusta 
Rangers.  He  was  in  active  service  in  command 
of  this  company  from  October,  1861,  to  the  summer 
of  1863 ;  his  drummer  boy,  John  Mullein,  who 
managed  to  get  into  the  service  when  fourteen 
years  old.  is  still  living.  Mr.  Buyers  was  a  man  of 
typical  military  appearance,  weighed  160  pounds, 
and  was  of  medium  build  and  straight  as  an  arrow. 
He  was  officially  connected  with  the  old  state 
militia,  and  he  was  a  member  of  Good  Intent 
Fire  Company.  His  neighbors  and  friends  held 
him  in  high  esteem,  and  he  was  called  upon  to 
fill  township  office.     But  for  the  last  twenty-five 


years  of  his  life  he  spent  most  of  his  time  reading, 
enjoying  newspapers  and  books,  and  he  became 
unusually  well  informed.  In  religion  he  was  a 
strict  Presbyterian. 

Mr.  Buyers  married  Mary  Alice  Painter,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Fainter,  of  Sunbury,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  nine  children :  William,  who  died 
when  a  boy:  .John,  who  lives  in  Texas;  Heber,  who 
died  at  Fort  Concho.  Texas :  Mary  H.,  who  mar- 
ried Rev.  William  P.  Taylor,  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, and  died  in  Delaware,  where  her  husband 
was  then  stationed:  Howard:  Kate  R..  unmarried, 
living  at  Selinsgrove;  Harris  P.,  of  Sunbury; 
Rev.  Frank  C.  a  Methodist  minister  stationed  at 
Lock  Haven,  Pa.;  and  Emily  A.,  unmarried,  who 
at  Sunbury. 

Howard  Buyers  was  born  March  25,  1862,  and 
was  reared  at  home  to  farm  life.  He  never  at- 
tended public  school,  as  the  family  lived  on  Buyers 
Island  during  his  youth  and  the  father  instructed 
the  children  himself.  They  kept  regular  school 
hours,  and  as  the  father  was  a  man  of  remarkable 

intelligi md   well   informed   the  children   did 

ao1  suffer  for  the  lack  of  public  school  advantages. 
Mr.  Buyers  continued  at  farm  work  until  after 
he  was  grown,  and  he  learned  electrical  work,  at 
which  he  is  occupied  in  the  Silk  Mills  when  not 
busy  on  construction  work.  He  has  charge  of  the 
construction  gang  at  the  Susquehanna  Silk  Mills, 
having  from  ten  to  sixty  men  under  his  direction 
as  the  necessities  of  the  work  demand.  He  has  a 
high  reputation  for  efficiency,  and  enjoys  the 
confidence  of  his  employers  fully. 

In  1889  Mr.  Buyers  married  Sallie  Cool,  a 
daughter  of  William  Henry  and  Jane  (Leisenring) 
Cool,  who  for  years  lived  at  Montandon,  North- 
umberland county.  They  have  two  children  :  Anna 
Painter,  who  is  taking  the  classical  course  at 
Syracuse  University,  Svracuse,  N.  Y. ;  and  John 
Howard,  who  is  a  student  in  the  Sunbury  high 
school.  Mr.  Buyers  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Sunburv. 


Col.  Samuel  Hunter,  one  of  the  maternal  an- 
cestors of  the  Buyers  family  above  referred  to, 
was  born  in  1732  in  the  North  of  Ireland.  His 
military  career  began  in  1760,  on  May  2d  of  which 
year  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  in  Capt. 
Joseph  Scott's  company.  Col.  Hugh  Mercer's 
battalion,  of  the  Pennsylvania  regiment.  On  Nov. 
10.  1763,  he  became  captain  in  Col.  Turbutt  Fran- 
cis's battalion.  He  was  at  Fort  Augusta  in  June, 
176:;.  when  the  first  intelligence  of  Pontiac's  con- 
spiracy was  received,  and  initiated  the  measure 
subsequently  carried  out  by  Colonel  Burd,  for  the 
defense  of  that  post.  The  following  year  he  joined 
Colonel  Bouquet's  expedition,  but  was  again  at 
Fort  Augusta  in  1768,  and  doubtless  earlier.  His 
home  was  north  of  the  town.  Quoting  from  an 
historical  sketch  of  Sunburv:  "The  most  extensive 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


987 


addition  to  the  original  town  plat  is  that  part  of 
the  borough  popularly  known  as  Caketown.  This 
land  also  formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Pomfret;  it 
embraced  the  site  of  Fort  Augusta,  and  was  the 
residence  of  Col.  Samuel  Hunter  until  his  death, 
although  it  does  not  appear  that  he  ever  acquired 
a  proprietary  interest.  On  April  10,  1786,  John 
Penn,  Jr.,  and  John  Penn  executed  a  conveyance 
to  William  Wilson  for  342  acres  of  land,  'the  same 
place  and  tract  of  land  whereon  the  late  Colonel 
Hunter  dwelt  and  part  of  the  manor  of  Pomfret,' 
the  consideration  being  1,026  pounds  specie. 
The  purchaser  was  an  American  officer  during  the 
Revolution  and  associate  judge  of  Northumberland 
county,  1792-1813  ...  On  the  20th  of  October. 
1790,  he  sold  one  moiety  or  undivided  half  part 
of  this  tract  to  Alexander  Hunter ;  the  other 
moiety  was  deeded  to  Mary  S'cott,  June  17,  1811, 
at  a  nominal  consideration,  and  from  this  time 
(or  possibly  at  an  earlier  date),  the  land  was  known 
as  the  Hunter  and  Scott  farms.  The  latter,  em- 
bracing 140  acres,  adjoined  the  original  northern 
boundary  of  Sunbury  borough ;  the  former  com- 
prised 153  acres." 

Colonel  Hunter  was  a  prominent  man  at  Fort 
Augusta  until  his  death,  which  occurred  there  April 
10,  1784.  On  March  24,  1772,  he  was  commis- 
sioned one  of  the  first  justices  for  Northumberland 
county,  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  from  this 
county  for  1772-75,  was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  (1775-76),  and  of  the  Council  of 
Censors  (1783)  ;  when  the  militia  was  organized 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  1st  Battalion,  Feb.  8,  1776,  was 
appointed  county  lieutenant,  March  21,  1777, 
and  reappointed  April  6,  1780.  In  this  respon- 
sible position  he  directed  the  movements  of  the 
local  militia  during  the  Revolution,  and  his  official 
correspondence  is  so  highly  prized  for  accuracy 
and  historical  importance  that  it  is  preserved  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Archives. 

Col.  Samuel  Hunter  married  Susanna  Scott, 
who  survived  him  with  two  daughters,  Nancy  and 
Mary,  the  former  marrying  Alexander  Hunter, 
the  latter  Samuel  Scott. 

Of  the  family  of  Alexander  and  Nancy  (Hun- 
ter) Hunter  we  have  no  record  positively  com- 
plete, but  various  scattered  records  show  that  he 
died  in  June,  1810,  and  that  his  widow,  Ann 
(Nancy),  died  Sept.  25,  1834.  Continuing  the 
quotation  above  made,  regarding  the  Scott  and 
Hunter  farms,  "the  upper  division,  taken  in  execu- 
tion as  the  property  of  Alexander  Hunter  at  the 
suit  of  John  Cowden,  was  sold  at  sheriffs  sale  on 
the  22d  of  April,  1814,  and  purchased  by  Thomas 
Grant.  In  compliance  with  his  will,  his  executors 
and  executrix,  George,  William  and  Deborah 
Grant,  deeded  it  to  Mrs.  Nancy  Hunter,  widow  of 
Alexander  Hunter,  October  16,  1817."  Her  will, 
made  July  26,   1833,  gave  the  farm  to  her  son 


Samuel,  who  was  born  Dec.  25,  1807,  and  died 
July  3,  1852,  leaving  the  farm  to  his  sisters  Mary 
(born  Nov.  14,  1798,  died  April  22,  1S86)  and 
Nancy  (born  July  16,  1803,  died  Feb.  21,  1859) 
and  Elizabeth  (wife  of  Henry  Billington).  Man- 
Hunter  eventually  acquired  106  acres  of  the  tract, 
selling  it  to  Benjamin  Hendricks  Aug.  9,  1859. 
On  June  25,  1863,  it  was  purchased  from  Mr. 
Hendricks  by  Joseph  W.  Cake.  Mrs.  Martha 
(Hunter)  Buyers,  who  married  William  F.  Buy- 
ers and  later  his  brother,  George  Patton  Buyers, 
was  also  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Ann  (Hun- 
ter)  Hunter. 

The  other  daughter  of  Colonel  Hunter,  Mrs. 
Mary  Scott,  died  intestate,  and  her  property  was 
divided  among  her  children,  Samuel  II..  Sarah 
(Mrs.  Gobin,  wife  of  Charles  Gobin)  and  Susan. 
Samuel  H.  Scott  also  died  intestate,  his  property 
going  to  his  two  sisters,  who  sold  the  farm  to 
I  hivid  Longenecker,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Feb.  4, 
1854.  It  was  acquired  by  Joseph  W.  Cake  Aug. 
"23,  1S59,  and  he  founded  Caketown  on  these  two 
historic  pieces  of  property. 

A.  O.  CAWLEY,  veterinarian,  Milton,  North- 
umberland county,  Pennsylvania. 

THOMAS  M.  .MILES,  of  Milton,  has  been 
identified  with  the  business  life  of  that  borough 
throughout  the  period  of  his  residence  there  as 
general  superintendent  of  the  Milton  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  one  of  the  most  important  indus- 
trial concerns  of  this  section.  Mr.  Miles  is  a 
native  of  Howard,  Center  Co.,  La.,  burn  in  1858. 
His  family  is  an  old  one  in  that  part  of  the  State, 
his  grandfather,  Alexander  Miles,  having  also  been 
born  at  Howard,  where  he  died  when  Thomas  M. 
Miles  was  a  small  boy.  He  was  employed  in  the 
iron  mills.  His  family  consisted  of  the  following 
children:  Thomas,  William,  Robert,  Kate  (mar- 
ried Peter  Tipple)  and  Ueheeca  (married  II. 
Lucas). 

Thomas  Miles,  son  of  Alexander,  was  born  in 
1828  at  Howard,  Center  county,  and  followed 
iron  working  all  his  active  life,  becoming  well 
known  in  his  time  in  that  connection.  He  died  in 
1904.  His  wife,  Mary  (McKenny),  died  in  1902, 
and  they  are  buried  at  Bellefonte.  Center  county. 
They  were  the  parents  of  children  as  follows: 
William,  of  Johnstown,  Pa.:  Thomas  M. :  John, 
of  Milesburg.  Pa.:  Mary,  wile  of  A.  W.  Hishel: 
Clara,  wife  of  E.  K.  Adams;  and  Prank,  who  died 
in  1898. 

Thomas  M.  Miles  attended  school  at  Howard 
and  Milesburg.  He  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  iron  business  since  he  began  work.  ha\  in- 
first  found  employment  in  a  rolling  mill  ai  .Miles- 
burg, Center  county,  where  be  remained  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  then  went  to  Ber- 
wick, Pa.,  where  be  remained  until   his   removal 


98S 


XOKTHUMBERLAXD  COUXTY.  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


to  Milton,  in  1887,  to  take  the  position  of  general 
superintendent  of  the  Milton  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, an  incumbency  in  which  he  is  still  serving. 
His  long  experience  in  the  business  anil  at  this 
particular  plant  has  made  him  a  valuable  man  in 
the  place,  and  his  work  is  highly  appreciated. 
Mr.  Miles  has  seven  hundred  employees  to  look 
after,  and  his  responsibilities  are  well  managed. 
He  has  kept  up  witli  the  growth  of  the  plant,  and. 
indeed,  has  furthered  it  by  his  efficient  manage- 
ment, so  that  he  may  justly  be  said  to  have  had  a 
part  in  the  upbuilding  of  one  of  Milton's  most  ex- 
tensive manufacturing  establishments,  one  which 
vitally  affects  her   general   welfare.      Ee   is   well 


known  in  the  local  fraternal  bodies,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  I.  0.  .0.  F.,  the  Encampment,  the 
K.  G.  E.  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

On  Dec.  25,  1879,  Mr.  Miles  was  married  to 
Clara  Gensel,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  J. 
Gensel,  of  Berwick,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three 
sons  :  i  >scar,  who  is  employed  by  the  Milton  Manu- 
facturing Company :  Frank,  who  is  now  a  student 
at  Stale  College;  and  Charles,  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia.  The 
family  home  is  a  beautiful  residence  at  Xo.  342 
Front  street.  Milton.  Mr.  Miles  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  was  an  official 
for  ten  years. 


AUG  3  1  1954