USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 11
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On March 4, 1866, Mr. Oram was united in marriage to Lavinia E., daughter of Joseph WV. Jones, of Pottsville, Pa. To them seven children were born, as follows: Katharine, deceased, who was the wife of Charles E. Byers; Frances Virginia; Lavinia E., the wife of Joseph H. Wheat, who is connected with the Geological Survey, a bureau of the De- partment of the Interior at Washington, D. C .; Clara W., who is at home; John F., a stu- dent in the University of Michigan, where he is studying law; and Louisa and William, the youngest son, who both died in infancy. Our subject adopted a grandson, William, who assumed his grandfather's name, Oram. The family are members of the Episcopal Church of Shamokin. Mr. Oram is one of the
leading and most active members of the Penn- sylvania State Bar Association and is presi- dent of the Northumberland County Bar As- sociation.
Mr. Oram is unusually well versed in liter- ary matters, being an eager reader and a deep thinker. He possesses an uncommonly fine miscellaneous library, which is one of the lar- gest, if not the largest, private libraries in this section of the state. He also owns a very ex- tensive and complete law library. Mr. Oram is thoroughly equipped, owing to his wide range of reading, upon all subjects upon which full and accurate knowledge is of great value in the successful practice of his profession. His store of apt and forcible anecdote is in- exhaustible and he is ever ready with quota- tions from standard works, which frequently serve most effectively to powerfully clinch an argument. In his library, after the labor of his daily office and court work, our subject spends much of his time-his books, with his charming family, being his most intimate friends.
ACOB R. KEISER, one or the most prominent pioneers of Northumber- land County, Pa., retired from active business in 1893 after an unusually successful career, beginning to earn his livelihood as a teamster, subsequently engaging in the groc- ery business and finally winning profitable success as a coal operator. He is a member of a very prominent family and is looked upon as a self-made man who is an honor to his family, to himself and to Shamokin where he has long resided. Our subject is a son of Henry and Catherine (Reaker) Keiser. and was born in Coal township, Northumberland County, Pa., May 1, 1845.
The grandfather of our subject, Henry
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Keiser, was of German origin and was born June 25, 1784. He came into Northumber- land County from Union, to which he mi- grated from Berks County, and finally settled in the Irish Valley, spending the remainder of his days as a farmer until his demise, Novem- ber 13, 1864. His wife, grandmother of our subject, was born August 5, 1781, and passed to her rest October 11, 1852.
Henry Keiser, father of the subject of this sketch, was born ir 1811 and resided all his lifetime in Northumberland County, being a resident of Shamokin at his demise in 1873. He located in Shamokin some time before the birth of Jacob R., and for years was engaged in business as a general merchant. Religious- ly he was a member of the Evangelical Church. He married Catherine Reaker and their union was blessed by six children.
Our subject was able to obtain but limited primary education and early in life started out to win his way by engaging in teaming, which business he followed for several years. He then engaged in coal operating in Coal town- ship, his first operations being at the Lancas- ter Colliery with William C. Smith as co- partner under the firm name, Smith & Keiser. This colliery subsequently was named the Col- bert Colliery and it was operated continuous- ly by Smith & Keiser until the latter retired from active business in 1893, a period of twen- ty-three years of successful and profitable operation. Prior to entering the field as a coal operator Mr. Keiser engaged in the grocery business with his brother, Henry H., in which he yet retains his interest. On Sep- tember 7, 1866, our subject married Emma E. Smith, daughter of William C. Smith, his co- partner in the coal business. To them have been born five children as follows: William H., who is an engineer by occupation; Frank M., also an engineer, residing in Michigan:
Warren M., who is at the family home in Shamokin; and Malcolm and Ray, who died when quite young. In politics our subject is a Republican, but has never sought office.
Henry H. Keiser, brother of the subject written of above and one of the leading busi- ness men of Shamokin, was born in Coal township, Northumberland County, Pa., Sep- tember 30, 1849. He obtained such common school education as he could by attending school three months in each year and when about seventeen years of age. he, as had his brother Jacob, began to earn a living as a teamster. He was in the employ of Charles D. Hammer and Daniel Weaver of Shamo- kin as a driver for about two years. In 1868 Henry branched out for himself, engaging in the green grocery business in Shamokin, which business he has continued until the present time and has developed until it has become large, prosperous and the longest- established of its kind in the town. Politically Mr. Keiser is a Republican and has served creditably two terms as a member of the bor- ough council. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., and also of In- dependence Fire Company of which he is treasurer. When our subject abandoned "single blessedness" he took as his life-partner Elizabeth Gilger, daughter of Jonas L. Gilger, one of the pioneers of Northumberland Coun- ty. Five children have been the fruit of their union : Katie, Harry, Claude, Howard and Rena.
ON. RUSSELL KARNS, a retired citizen of Benton, Columbia County, Pa., formerly of Laporte, Sullivan County, Pa., was for many years one of the leading business men of Laporte township and was proprietor of the Laporte Hotel,
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which was recently burned, it being the most popular hotel in the county. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Singer) Karns, and was born at Benton, Benton township, Columbia County, Pa., March 17, 1842.
John Karns, the grandfather of our subject, was an early settler in Benton township, Co- lumbia County, where he purchased a tract of uncultivated land, which he cleared. He later disposed of this estate, now owned by Charles Ash, Esq., and moved to Steuben County, N. Y., following farming the rest of his active life and spending the last few years of his life in retirement with his son Peter. He lived to reach an advanced age and was thrice married, having the following children : Peter, Jacob, Daniel and John by his first wife; he also reared Isaac, Henry, Tunis, William and two daughters by his second wife.
Peter Karns, the father of our subject, was born in Columbia County, Pa., and at an early age took to agricultural pursuits. His wife had an uncultivated tract of land left to her by her father, which he cleared and then built a log-house, in which his family was reared. This land is now owned by Daniel Karns, a brother of our subject. Peter Karns married Mary Singer, a daughter of William Singer, and they both lived to reach an old age.
Russell Karns, the subject of this review, was reared on a farm and attended the public schools, receiving a good education mainly through his individual efforts in taking advan- tage of every opportunity which presented it- self for his advancement. Starting out for him- self he learned the trade of a painter, at first confining his work simply to house painting. but he later entered the employ of The Jack- son & Woodin Manufacturing Company, at Berwick, as, a car painter. He next accepted contracts for boat painting at Espytown, Co- lumbia County, and while there assisted in re-
cruiting Company E of the 209th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., enlisting himself as second lieuten- ant. He served as such to the close of the war and was mustered out in June, 1865. He re- turned to Benton and followed his trade in connection with farming, purchasing a farm, which he has since owned. He erected a com- plete set of new buildings and so improved it otherwise that it became one of the best farms in Columbia County. In 1879 Mr. Karns rent- ed the Benton Hotel, then known as the Ike- ler House, and conducted it for one year. His success during that time was such as to war- rant him in leasing the large Laporte Hotel at Laporte, Sullivan County. There his success continued and after a period of two years he purchased it and made many improvements. It was a handsome structure, three stories high and contained forty-seven large and well- furnished bedrooms, and was fitted with every convenience that could be arranged for the convenience of his guests. It was a very pop- ular place with transients and during terms of court he had more patrons than he could well accommodate. His business continued to prosper and he conducted it until 1884 when, owing to the great strain which his many duties devolving upon him, he went to Hot Springs, Ark., to recuperate. The hotel in Laporte was rented, after he gave up the busi- ness, until it was destroyed by fire on March 25, 1898. He then disposed of the lot to F. W. Gallagher, Esq. In private life our subject is held in as high esteem as in business circles and has many friends throughout Sullivan and Columbia counties.
Our subject was united in matrimonial bonds to Elmira Cole, who was born April 4. 1848, and is a daughter of William Cole, of Benton township. Their union has been blessed „by six children: Sedgwick B., an attorney at Benton, born November 14, 1868,
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married Carrie Keeler, by whom he has two children,-Helen and Ruth; Nora Bell, born September 11, 1870, died in infancy; Corene A., born April 22, 1878, widow of R. M. Stor- mont; Harry Allen, a student, born Septem- ber 9, 1874; Florence A., deceased, born De- cember 1, 1875; and Hazel P., deceased, born January 10, 1887. Politically, Mr. Karns is an enthusiastic Democrat and has served as school director of Benton, and as burgess, school director and member of the council at Laporte. In 1890 he was honored by a seat in the State Legislature and served during 1891 and 1892. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian Church, whilst his wife is af- filiated with the Episcopal Church.
AMUEL HOUCK is one of the enter- prising and successful farmers of Briarcreek township, Columbia County, Pa., who makes a specialty of raising poultry. He was born in Easton, North- ampton County, Pa., June 6, 1838, and is a son of John and Julia (Stair) Houck, and a grandson of John Houck.
John Houck, grandfather of our subject, was of German descent and was one of the well-to-do agriculturists of Northampton County. He was the progenitor of a large family of children and two of his sons, Samuel and Jeremiah, were veterans of the Rebellion. John Houck, the father of our subject, was born in Northampton County, Pa., and dur- ing his younger days learned the trade of a carpenter. Among his first efforts at his trade was the erection of a Methodist church which he, in conjunction with six others, undertook to build without resources other than their own hands and a determination to succeed. Attaining his majority he moved to Luzerne County, Pa., and in addition to following his
trade, he successfully carried on farming. In 1872 he moved to Briarcreek township, Co- lumbia County, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away July 1, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but being a strong Abol- itionist, when the Whig party was abandoned, he joined the ranks of the Republican party. He was an ardent supporter of the free school system, and secured the appointment, by the court of Luzerne County, of a school board in his township. He himself served on this board, which forced the levy of a school tax against a then common prejudice. Mr. Houck was joined in the bonds of wedlock to Julia Stair, a daughter of George Stair, who was a stone-mason and farmer residing in North- ampton County, Pa. To this happy union the following children were born: Mary Ann, who died at the age of fifteen years; Julia; our subject, Samuel; Sarah, a resident of Wilkesbarre, Pa .; Florence Elizabeth, de- ceased, who taught school twenty-one years and at the age of thirty-seven years passed from this life; and John W., who is in the employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufac- turing Company of Berwick.
Samuel Houck was brought up on his father's farm and received his early schooling in his native town. He has been engaged in farming and lumbering all his life and for some ycars was engaged in merchandising and huck- stering in Slocum township, Luzerne County. In 1874 our subject came to Briarcreek town- ship where he purchased a fine and productive farm consisting of one hundred acres. He has made many improvements since it came into his possession, and it now ranks among the best farms in the township. Mr. Houck makes a specialty of raising poultry, small fruit grow- ing, and dairying, and is considered to be one of the leading farmers of his community.
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Our subject takes an active part in local politics and is a firm supporter of the Repub- lican party; he was the first Republican judge of elections of Briarcreek township and also served as a school director in Luzerne and also in Columbia counties, for many years. On July 12, 1862, Mr. Houck was wedded to Jane J. Lutsey, a daughter of the late William Lutsey, who was one of the leading farmers and business men of Slocum township, Lu- zerne County. To Mr. and Mrs. Houck was born a family of four children, as follows : Ulysses Grant, William Lutsey, John Wesley, and Harry M. Ulysses was graduated from the Dickinson Seminary and, entering upon his life's work, was engaged as a school teach- er for four years. He then took a course in the Veterinary Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and since 1895 has been a government meat inspector, now located at Sioux City, Iowa. William L. is a graduate from the Berwick High School and from the Dickinson Seminary, class of '93; he is now vice-principal of the Berwick High School. John Wesley and Harry M. are both gradu- ates of the Berwick High School, and are teachers and also students of dentistry in the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Houck has won an excellent reputation for square deal- ing, unswerving integrity, and for the many qualities which are component parts of true manhood. His neighbors testify to his repu- tation and he is thoroughly respected and liked by all of them. His excellent judgment and his sound common sense have made him prominent in the community in which he re- sides.
R ALPH R. JOHN, a well-equipped and promising young attorney and a worthy and esteemed citizen of the town of Bloomsburg, was born in Maine
township, Columbia County, Pa., December 20, 1870, and is a son of Jonas Wesley and Sarah C. (Brown) John, a grandson of Stacy and Mary (Yocum) John, great-grandson of Abraham John, and great-great-grandson of Isaac John.
Isaac John was one of the pioneer settlers of Columbia County, having located in Maine township in 1778. He purchased a large tract of land, which was covered by a dense forest, and felled trees and built a log cabin. He cleared a part of his farm and engaged in the cultivation of the soil the rest of his active days. He was united in marriage to Margaret Brong and they reared the following children : Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, David, George, and five daughters.
Abraham John was reared on his father's farm in Maine township and assisted his father in the labors about the old homestead. He was joined in wedlock to Mary Flick, who bore him a family of seven children, namely : Stacy, the grandfather of our subject; George; Hiram; Lovina; Angeline; Mary A .; and Sarah J.
Stacy John, the grandfather of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Maine township in 1813, was reared to agricultural pursuits and successfully followed the calling of a farmer all his life. After a life of industry he passed from this earth in 1879, leaving a large estate, which he bequeathed to his chil- dren. He was wedded to Mary Yocum, a daughter of John Yocum, a prominent farmer of Roaring Creek township, Columbia County. As a result of this union the follow- ing children were born: William, who died in his childhood days; J. Wesley, the father of our subject; Sarah, deceased; Frease, de- ceased; Britton, also deceased; and Minerva. who is the wife of Aaron Goover.
Jonas Wesley John, the father of our sub-
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ject, was born on the old homestead Septem- ber 12, 1840, and during his boyhood days at- tended the district school and assisted his father in the cultivation of the soil. Attaining his majority he purchased a farm in Maine township and has devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He also owns consid- erable property in the town of Bloomsburg. Mr. John formed a matrimonial alliance with Sarah C. Brown, a daughter of Jacob Brown, a resident of Maine township, and to this union were born eight children, namely : Bes- sie; Ida; David; Ralph R., the subject of this biographical sketch; Jacob; Daisy, the wife of L. B. Zimmerman; Wilson; and Sally. Mr. and Mrs. John are active members of the Methodist Church; politically, our subject's father is a strong temperance man and firmly upholds the principles of the Prohibition party.
Ralph R. John received his primary educa- tion in the public schools of his native town and at the age of seventeen years entered the Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, Pa., tak- ing a scientific course, and was graduated from that institution in 1890. He then taught school at Elysburg Academy in Northumber- land County until 1893 and then removed to Bloomsburg and began the study of law in the office of L. S. Winterstein. He faithfully pursued his legal studies and was admitted to the bar September 30, 1895. He opened an office on the corner of Second and Market streets, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. He is a thorough student, is methodical and industrious in all the detail of his business, both public and private, and has won an enviable position in the front ranks of his profession.
Mr. John chose for his life-companion Sally C. Schweppenheiser, a daughter of Eleazer Schweppenheiser, and they were happily wed-
ded November 10, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. John are popular members of the Methodist Church.
W. MOODY, M. D., who for over a quarter of a century has been a leading and successful practitioner of medi- cine in Sunbury and adjacent towns, is a son of Capt. Robert and Mary (Wilson) Moody, and was born in Dauphin County, Pa., August 31, 1834.
The family is of Irish descent and the name was originally spelled Moodey, but in latter years the "e" has been omitted by most of the family. The paternal grandfather of Dr. Moody was Robert Moody; who was for many years a resident of South Hanover township, Dauphin County, where he owned and culti- vated a large farm. He remained upon the farm until his death on December 13, 1838, at the age of eighty-six years. After his demise the farm was divided between his three sons, Joseph, Robert, and John, the latter of whom is pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Ship- pensburg, Pa.
Capt. Robert Moody, the father of our sub- ject, was born on the old homestead and re- sided there all of his life, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in which he attained more than an ordinary degree of success. He passed away May 26, 1850, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and now lies buried in the southeast corner of the Derry Churchyard, east of Har- risburg, Pa. He served through the War of 1812 with the rank of captain. Religiously he was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Derry and filled many of the offices of that organization, taking an active part in every movement for the advancement and upbuild- ing of the church. He married Mrs. Morri- son, nee Wilson, and they were the parents
1
ANTHONY GOLEMBIEWSKI.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
of four children, two sons and two daughters.
Dr. Moody obtained a good academic edu- cation in Tuscarora Academy at Port Royal, and in 1857 entered upon the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. R. Umberger of Dauphin, Pa. After completing the required course of reading, he matricu- lated in the Medical Department of Pennsyl- vania College of Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1861. Dur- ing the same year he located at McAlister- ville, Juniata County, and there practiced until the fall of 1862. After his marriage he moved to Washingtonville, Montour County, where he successfully practiced until the spring of 1870 when he moved to Sunbury, his present abode and field of practice. He is a member of the Northumberland County Medical So- ciety of which he is treasurer. Dr. Moody has been a close student of the leading medi- cal literature of his time and has kept him- self abreast of the advancement and progress of medical science. Careful and conscientious in his practice, accurate and skilful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, he easily takes rank among the leading physicians of Northumberland and adjoining counties.
On January 14, 1862, Dr. Moody and Louisa Sharon of Juniata County were hap- pily wedded and to their union two child- ren were born: Jane A., the wife of Frank Harkins of Sunbury; and Sarah S., who died September 25, 1894. Religiously Dr. Moody is a member of the Presbyterian Church of which he has been elder for many years. Mrs. Moody died February 25, 1889, aged fifty- seven years.
NTHONY GOLEMBIEWSKI, a re- cent portrait of whom we take pleas- ure in presenting on the opposite page, is manager and stockholder of the Po-
lish Lithuanian Brewing Company of Dan- ville, Pa., which is one of the largest brew- ing companies in Central Pennsylvania and has a reputation for turning out first-class lager beer, porter and the purest of ale. Our subject was born in Jejsorki, Poland, May 12. 1863, and is a son of Thomas Golembiewski.
Thomas Golembiewski, the father of our subject was born in Poland and resided in his native country all his life, engaged in the pur- suits of an agriculturist. He was the pro- genitor of a large family of children, one of whom was Anthony, the subject of this bio- graphical sketch.
Anthony Golembiewski was reared and ed- ucated in his native country and at the age of nineteen years immigrated to the United States and located in New York City. He moved to Hazleton, Pa., a short time later and engaged in the brick-making business, and later in mining in the same town. Moving to Luzerne County, Pa., he located in Nanticoke, where he embarked in the hotel business, which he continued until June 12, 1895, when he removed to Danville and with P. H. Coyne. Thomas Butkiewicz, president, John Zukoski, treasurer, and Simon Savage, charter mem- bers, purchased the above-named brewing company of P. P. Smith, assignee of the Po- lish-American Brewing Company. The plant is located at Nos. 16 to 34 Spring street; the main building is a four-story structure; the machinery in this building is set in motion by a large engine which has two boilers, one a 100 horse-power and the other a 60 horse- power; in the ice plant is stored a large quantity of barley and hops; the cold-storage room contains the cooling vats, twelve in all, which have a capacity of 150 barrels each. The company manufactures about eighteen thousand barrels of beer per annum: has a large supply-house at Scranton, Pa., where
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there is a great demand for its beer; and gives employment to forty hands, and has sixteen fine teams which are kept constantly busy de- livering throughout the city.
Mr. Golembiewski was united in marriage to Julia Uszinski, a daughter of Simon Uszin- ski of Nanticoke, Pa., and they are the par- ents of ten children, as follows: Stanley, Anthony, Annie, Victoria, Charles, Vincent, and Mary; and Adam, Joseph, and Frank, deceased. Our subject and his family are popular members of the German Catholic Church of Danville. Mr. Golembiewski is one of the most prominent and hustling business men of Danville, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens and acquaintances.
ENERAL GEORGE B. CADWAL- LADER, who made a brilliant and interesting record in the Civil War, is one of the most progressive and promi- nent business men of Sunbury, being super- intendent of the Sunbury Water Company, one of the foremost industries of the borough. He is a son of Dr. Peter and Hannah (Magill) Cadwallader, and was born in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pa., October 20, 1830.
Our subject's parents were both natives of Bucks County and were of Scotch ancestry. Dr. Peter Cadwallader died in 1832 and his wife survived him to the ripe age of eighty years. Their happy union resulted in the birth of four children, three sons and one daughter, our subject, George B., being the only one now living.
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