USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume I > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Henry Sherman was born in Hesse, Darmstadt, near Lauderbaugh, Germany, July 27, 1834, son of Conrad and Margaret (Graff) Sher- man. His father, a German farmer and land owner, died in 1858 aged fifty-six years. Both he and his wife were Lutherans in religion as were their children. Henry was the eldest son of a family of nine, as follows: I. Died in infancy. 2. Anne Mary, died in Germany. 3. Henry, of whom further. 4. Gertrude, married John Klein, came to the United States and died in Lewistown. 5. Anna Barbara, married Henry Daupman, now living in Lewistown. 6. John, now residing in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, a cooper. 7. Margaret, died in in-
453
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
fancy. 8. Conrad, in Newburg, Pennsylvania. 9. Christian, died in Lewistown, aged twenty-one years.
Henry Sherman was well educated in German schools and spent his early life at the home farm, continuing until 1857, when he came to the United States, settling at Lewistown, Pennsylvania. There he learned the cooper's trade, working thereat until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in August, 1862, for a term of nine months in Company K, 13Ist Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and saw hard service with the Army of the Potomac, fighting at Antie- tam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and on the Peninsula. After his term expired he reënlisted in Company F, 205th Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry as corporal, serving until honorably dis- charged at the close of the war. He was engaged in several hard cam- paigns and battles during his second term of service, including Fort Stedman, Hatcher's Run and Petersburg, and witnessed the surrender at Appomattox. He was never wounded, although he had his cap shot off at Fredericksburg. After the war he returned to Lewistown and again worked at the cooper's trade for several years. He then engaged in farming, first near McVeytown, later near Rock's Mills. He prospered and continued at farming several years. He then was in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad until 1904, when he was retired and now re- sides at No. 123 North Grand street, Lewistown, engaged only in the care of his several properties. He is a charter member of the local lodge, Knights of the Golden Eagle, is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He is highly respected in his town and fully deserves the high opinion of his neighbors. He married, June 7, 1857, Anna Mary Groff, born in Germany, died Janu- ary 7, 1905. Children: I. Louisa, married John Price and resides on Third street, Lewistown; two children : Frank, deceased; and Verna. 2. Henry, engaged in the grocery business with store at corner of Market and Grand streets, Lewistown; married Cora Rook; no children. 3. Sebastian, is a blacksmith in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad and resides on Third street, Lewistown; married Annie Eby; two chil- dren: Elsie and Catherine. 4. Katherine, married a Mr. Barnes and resides in San Francisco; child, Sherman. 5. Maud, married Frank K. Tierce, an attorney, and resides in San Francisco; no children. 6. Mary M., twin with Maud, married David Wollner and resides in Lewis-
454
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
town : no children. 7. William, a machinist, resides in Lewistown; mar- ried (first) Bessie Saxton, who died in 1901 leaving two children : Frank and Mary M. He married (second) Leida Freid, by whom he had four children: William, Paul, Maud and Edward. The mother of these children died in 1912. 8. Henrietta, married Alvin King and resides on Grand street, Lewistown; children : Anna, Verna, Ralph, Hen- rietta, Roy, Carl and Maud.
SAXTON The Saxtons of Lewistown are of English ancestry, and the Pennsylvania home of this family in early days was in Cumberland county. One branch settled in Silver Springs township, where they were farmers, and there descendants are yet found. The earliest record found of this branch is of Leonard Saxton, born in Pennsylvania about 1745. He spent most of his life as a farmer of Cumberland county, but lived his last years with his son in Mifflin county. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, a Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. His wife died while yet a young woman. Children: 1. Mary, married Abraham Freed, lived many years at McVeytown, and died in Lewis- burg, Pennsylvania. 2. Jane, married and died quite young. 3. William, lived and died in Lewistown, a teamster. 4. John, of whom further following.
(II) John, son of Leonard Saxton, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, died in Lewistown about 1899. His mother died when he was a small boy and soon afterward he was bound out to a Cumber- land county farmer with whom he lived until the age of twenty-one years. He then came to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, later moving to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where he married and lived two years. He then moved to what is now West Virginia, there engaging in farming until about 1854, when he returned to Pennsylvania, again settling in Huntingdon. He remained there until 1858, then came again to Lewis- town, his home until death. He was a veteran of the civil war, enlisting in 1862 in Company E, 137th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, serving nine months. He then reënlisted for a term of three years "or during the war" in Company H, 49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He was engaged in many of the historic battles fought by the Army of the
455
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
Potomac, including Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Spott- sylvania Court House and many others. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and his wife was a communicant of the Presby- terian church. He married Mary White, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, who like himself was early bereft of a mother's care and reared among strangers. Soon after her mother's death, her father, an old settler of Huntingdon county in the Mill Creek district, was acci- dentally shot while hunting. She had a sister Susan, who married Solo- mon Chatham, and a brother John, killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing (Corinth) during the civil war, unmarried. Children of John and Mary Saxton: Leonard Mitchell, of whom further; William, died in Huron, South Dakota, a locomotive engineer ; John, died in 1863, from the effects of a thrown stone which struck him on the head; Abraham, died in childhood; Nancy Ellen, married Charles Baldwin and now re- sides in Altoona, Pennsylvania; Elmer, died in childhood; Mary, mar- ried Jolin Chatham and resides in Altoona; Susan, married Daniel Ford and resides in Florida; Lucy, died in childhood; Bessie, deceased, mar- ried William Sherman; Charles, died in childhood.
(III) Leonard Mitchell, eldest child of John and Mary (White) Saxton, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1850. He attended the public schools and in 1864 began working as a team driver on the Juniata canal, an employment that always had an attraction for farmer boys along the route of the old time canals. He rose from driver to captain and continued on the canal until 1889, then being captain of his own boat and owning several others. The great flood of that year caused him some loss and he decided to engage in some other business. He sold his boats to the Pennsylvania Canal Company, invested in teams and wagons and has since been engaged in a general teaming business in Lewistown. He has served as constable for twenty years, and four years of that period as borough policeman. He is a Democrat in politics ; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, (lodge and encampment) Knights of Malta and the Royal Ar- canum and a member of Lewistown Board of Trade. For thirty-seven years he has been a member of Henderson Fire Company, the oldest fire company in Lewistown. From 1890 to 1894 Mr. Saxton was a private of Company G, Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guard. under Captains Rufus C. Elder and L. M. Slogle. During the steel
456
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
workers' strike at Homestead he was on duty with his company .for thirty days.
He married, January 9, 1873, Anna Barbara Mccullough, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry and Barbara Mc- Cullough, both old residents of Lancaster county, he an iron manufac- turer and a soldier during the civil war. Henry and Barbara McCul- lough moved to Lewistown for a time, but soon returned to Lancaster county, where they died. Children of Leonard Mitchell and Anna Barbara (Mccullough) Saxton: 1. Mary Barbara, died aged two years. 2. John Henry, now a printer employed in the offices of the Lewistown Gazette. He married Emma Satcher and has children: John Leonard, George Robert, Harry Donald and James. 3. Charles Franklin, resides in Lewistown; married Effie Adair and has children: Anna C., Bertha Elizabetlı, Sarah and Frank. 4. Sarah Ellen, now a'stenographer with the Thompson Brothers' Knitting Mills Company, at Milroy. 5. Anna Bertha, married Edgar Custer and lives at Sunbury, Pennsylvania ; child, Benjamin Saxton. 6. An infant son died unnamed.
WISEHAUPT Among the many sturdy excellent German families that came to Pennsylvania in the early days was that of Wisehaupt. The ancestor. Valentine, born in Germany, settled in the Juniata Valley and became a large land owner and prosperous farmer of Juniata county. He married and left male issue including a son John.
(II) John, son of Valentine Wisehaupt, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and grew to manhood at the old homestead which he helped to clear and improve. Later he inherited a part of the home farm from his father, which he further improved by the erection of the good farm dwelling that is yet standing. He and his wife, Susan Hench, were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of eight children: I. Valentine, died aged twenty years. 2. Leonard. died in the west aged sixty years. 3. Sarah, married William Stewart, both deceased. 4. John, of whom further. 5. Jacob, yet residing on the old homestead. 6. Caroline, married Wilson Robinson, both deceased; their son Kenney now owns and cultivates that part of the old homestead known as the "North Farm." 7-8. Two other children died in child- hood.
457
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
(III) John (2), son of John (I) and Susan (Hench) Wisehaupt, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1834. He at- tended the public school and inherited one hundred and fifty-two acres of the original Wisehaupt tract in Juniata county, to which he moved after his marriage. He further improved his farm by the erection of new buildings and there lived and prospered. In later years he retired and now lives at Port Royal. He is a Democrat, has always taken an interest in public affairs and held several township offices. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
He married Mary Rice, born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in November, 1838, died November 21, 1911, daughter of Conrad Rice, a farmer of Perry county. She was one of a family of eight: Johnson : Mary, who married John Wisehaupt ; William, Lizzie, Sarah and Susan, all deceased; James, now living retired at Port Royal, Pennsylvania, and Kate, married George I. Rice and lives in Perry county. Children of John and Mary (Rice) Wisehaupt: I. Sarah, married George P. Mc- Connell, a farmer, and resides at Port Royal. 2. George B. M., of whom further. 3. David, died aged seven years. 4. Laura, married H. G. Frazer, a grain, coal and lumber merchant of Port Royal. 5. Anna, married C. C. Book, a farmer and school teacher, now residing at Port Royal.
(IV) George B. M., son of John and Mary (Rice) Wisehaupt, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1864. He was edu- cated in the public schools and at Port Royal Academy, which he at- tended five years. After leaving school he worked with his father one year on the farm, then for two years engaged in the butcher business. He then established in the grain, coal and lumber business at Port Royal, which he successfully conducted until 1903, when he sold a one- half interest to his brother-in-law, H. G. Frazer, the firm now being Wisehaupt and Frazer.
Leaving Mr. Frazer in charge of the Port Royal business, Mr. Wisehaupt located in Lewistown in 1903 and became vice-president of the Heverly Manufacturing, Storage & Supply Company, so continuing until 1909, when the company was re-organized as the Lewistown Ice & Storage Company, with George B. M. Wisehaupt as president and man- ager, S. P. Weber, vice-president, and J. A. Muthersbaugh, secretary and treasurer. The company does a large business, manufactures six thou-
458
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
sand tons of ice annually, has a floor storage space of one hundred and eleven thousand cubic feet, employs twelve men and ships ice to the nearby towns, as well as supplying the home market. Mr. Wisehaupt is also president of the Lewistown Market House Company, director of the Lewistown Trust Company and director and general manager of the Sunbury Ice & Storage Company, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He is an active, capable man of affairs and wisely manages the companies of which he is in charge. He is a Democrat in politics and in 1902 repre- sented his district in the Pennsylvania house of assembly wisely and well.
He is a member of Mifflintown Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He married in August, 1888, Margaret Snyder, born in Juniata county, daughter of George Snyder of an old county family. Children: I. David Franklin, now connected with the Sunbury Ice & Storage Com- pany and resides in Sunbury, married Mary Boyer. 2. Charlotte, mar- ried Russell Pugh, resides in Mansfield, Ohio, and has one child, Mar- garet Elizabeth. 3. John S. 4. Mary Jane. 5. Gertrude. 6. Margaret. 7. Pauline. 8. Luther. 9. Lillian. 10. Darwin.
BURKETT The early records of Franklin county reveal no trace of the antecedents of Michael Burkett, grandfather of Harvey C. Burkett, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. The records of Manheim township, York county, show a Peter Burgart, born 1766, whose descendants settled at Sinking Springs, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and spell their name Burket. No connection is shown between the families, therefore Michael Burkett, of German descent, may be considered the ancestor of this branch.
(I) Michael Burkett was born August 23, 1790, died August 19, 1865, and is buried in Snow Hill cemetery, Quincy township, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. His brother, Rev. Ephraim Burkett, was a minister of the German Baptist church (Dunkard). Michael married Mary Cole, born in Franklin county, May 8, 1799, died at the Methodist parsonage at Middletown, Illinois, April 9, 1870, and is buried in Spring Brook cemetery in Logan county, Illinois. Children: I. Katherine, born November 2, 1827, married John Withers, whom she survives, a resident of Graffensburg, Pennsylvania. 2. Joseph, born August 30,
459
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
1830, died February 5, 1872. He enlisted and served thirteen years in the United States regular army, the last three years being engaged in the war between the states. He married at Memphis, Tennessee, and left two children. 3. David C., born July 4, 1834, died in 1911 at Tus- cola, Illinois. He was an exhorter of the Methodist Episcopal church, later was ordained a minister of that church and located in Illinois. He was an itinerant minister in active work until 1900, when he was placed upon the superannuated list according to the rules of his church. He married (first) Ellen Everly, who bore him four children; he married (second) Susan Baxter. 4 Frederick Cole, of whom further. 5. Mary, born September 30, 1845, married William Palmer, now deceased; she is residing at Springville, Illinois. 6. Michael I., born June 29, 1846, mar- ried Mary Ann Long and is now a farmer, making his home in the state of Iowa.
(II) Frederick Cole, son of Michael and Mary (Cole) Burkett, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1837. His wife was born in the same county, a few years later. They married and lived there until about 1872, when they moved to Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, settling in Lewistown. He was a miller by trade and followed that occupation in both counties until about 1902, then began contracting in the hammer shop of the Standard Steel Company (axle department ) and there continuing until 1909, when he retired from all active labor. He is a veteran of the civil war, having served in Company E, 158th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted October 16, 1862, and served until August 12, 1863, under Colonel D. B. Mckibben. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He married Eliza Jane Walk, who died March 10, 1902. She was the daughter of a well-to-do miller of Franklin county, who also kept a line of freight teams running be- tween Franklin county points and Baltimore. Both he and his wife died in Franklin county. Children of Frederick C. Burkett: I. Harry, died in childhood. 2. Charles, now proprietor of a tonsorial parlor at Yeager- town, Pennsylvania. 3. Anna M., married Howard Orth and lives in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. 4. Harvey Clinton, of whom further. 5. An infant, died unnamed. 6. Hannah Mary, married John C. Nolte, a photographer. 7. An infant, died unnamed.
460
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
(III) Harvey Clinton, son of Frederick Cole and Eliza Jane ( Walk) Burkett, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1870. He attended the public school of Lewistown and Yeagertown and from the age of thirteen to sixteen worked in his brother's shop in Yeager- town. He then became clerk in the Logan Company's store at Burnham (store No. I) continuing two and a half years, when he was transferred to their store No. 2 at Greenwood Furnace, remaining there two and a half years. For one year he was clerk in a Yeagertown bakery and later was mailing clerk for six years in the United States postoffice at Lewistown. In 1902 he was elected register-recorder and clerk of the orphan's court of Mifflin county ; was twice reelected, serving in all ten years, giving the county most efficient service. In 1912, after retiring from office, he opened an office in the Masonic Temple, Lewistown, where he is conducting a successful local real estate business. He has been secretary of the Lewistown board of trade since its organization in 1908; is president of the Lewistown Standard Building & Loan Asso- ciation since it was first started in 1903. Mr. Burkett was for several years a member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania and received the commission as regimental adjutant with the rank of captain, 5th Regiment Infantry, 2nd Brigade, May 9, 1905; this commission was signed by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker. Since 1904 he has been secretary of the Masonic Association and he is a member of the Masonic order, being past master of Lewistown Lodge, No. 203, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; past high priest of Lewistown Chapter, No. 186, Royal Arch Masons, and past commander of Lewistown Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar, and is a member of the Temple Club. In politics he is a Republican and both he and his wife are members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
He married, January 25, 1906, Lovina Crawford McClellan, born in Juniata county, daughter of Captain Cornelius and Mary McClellan, he is a veteran officer of the civil war. Child: Dorothy, born September 12, 1908.
Among the enterprising young business men of Lewistown
KLERX who have been prominently brought into notice by the in- troduction of new enterprises and methods, is Herman Klerx, jr., who was born in Germany. He was well educated in his
461
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
native land and there was taught the art of silk weaving. He steadily progressed in his art and became so proficient in his knowledge of weav- ing silk and in his ability to manage men and important works, that he is now at the head of the Lewistown branch of the Susquehanna Silk Mills. This branch was organized in 1909 as an offshoot of the Susque- hanna Silk Mills of New York, and in May, 1909, the erection of a mill for the manufacture of "broad silk" was begun at the extreme end of South Main street, Lewistown. In the fall of the same year one hundred and fifty looms were put in operation, and so successful was the enterprise that soon the entire floor space, two hundred by two hun- dred feet, was occupied, and three hundred looms operated by two hun- dred and fifty employees, mostly women, were in busy operation. The product is a fine quality and "Suskana Silks" have secured a high reputa- tion in silk markets, the demand at times far exceeding the supply. This important branch of the silk industry is controlled by the Schniewind family and was originally established in Germany, a century and a quar- ter ago. They control fourteen mills, of which there are six in the United States, located as follows : at New York City ; Sunbury, Pennsyl- vania (where a large dyeing and finishing mill is also conducted) ; Marion, Ohio: Jersey Shore and Lewistown, Pennsylvania. The other mills are located in Germany and different European countries. The Lewistown mill is fitted with the most modern machinery, adapted to silk manufacture.
The progenitor of William H. Harris, of Lewistown,
HARRIS Pennsylvania, was a Canadian farmer. His widow later came to the United States, making her home with her son John until her death. Their only living son (a half brother of John) resides in Canada.
(II) John Harris was born in Canada in 1844, died in Lewistown. Pennsylvania, in 1887. He attended the public schools and learned the carpenter's trade, coming to the United States prior to 1861. When the war between the states began he enlisted in the Union army, serving three years. After the war he settled in Lewistown, where he followed his trade until death. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Baptist church. He married in Lewistown, Mary Myers, born there, survives her husband and still ( 1913) resides in her native town,
462
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
where she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is a daughter of Joseph and Susan Myers, both born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania. Joseph Myers was a soldier of the war of 1812, lived many years in Lewistown and there died. His children were: George, a veteran of the civil war, resides in Lewistown; Allamena, married Henry Riden and resides in Illinois; Mary, widow of John Harris; Henry, now clerk in the office of the commissioners of Mifflin county. Children of John and Mary Harris: 1. William Henry, of whom further. 2. Sudie, married Edward Mills and resides in Altoona, Penn- sylvania. 3. Joseph, resides in Lewistown, unmarried. 4. John, resides in Philadelphia, a carpenter. 5. Mary, married William Buck and resides in Mount Union, Pennsylvania. 6. Sarah, married George Miller and resides in Lewistown. 7. George, resides in Lewistown. 8. Frank, resides in Lewistown. 9. Edward, resides in Lewistown.
(III) William Henry, eldest son of John and Mary ( Myers) Harris, was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1865. He attended the old Toll Gate public school and later learned the carpenter's trade. He has followed that occupation all his life and since July 10. 1892, has worked for the Standard Steel Company at Burnham. He is a Re- publican in politics and for four years served on the borough council of Lewistown. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Americans and both he and his wife are communicants of the United Evangelical church.
He married, April 8, 1891, Julia Hess, born in Lewistown, January 24, 1870, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Shearer ) Hess, who were married in Lewistown, where the mother died in 1878. Samuel Hess married (second) Laura Lessick, both now living in Lewistown. He is a veteran of the civil war, a Republican and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Children of William H. and Julia (Hess) Harris: 1. Ralph, born March 19. 1892, now a student at New York Trade School, learning the plumbing business. 2. Florence, born August 27, 1900. 3. William, July 26, 1903. 4. Walter, December 16, 1910.
The family residence of Mr. Harris is at No. 317 South Brown street, Lewistown, which was erected in 1897 by Mr. Harris, who is also the owner of other property, including various residential pieces in the same neighborhood.
463
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
Anson Weiser Snyder, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, de-
SNYDER scends from old and long established English and German families in Pennsylvania, who located in Northumberland county while it was yet a wilderness, made homes for themselves and reared their families. Both the Snyder and Weiser families are de- scended from revolutionary stock. Many of each are named on the rosters of the Continental army.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.