USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 23
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The grandfather of our subject on the pa- ternal side, Jacob Smink, settled about 1830 in the vicinity of Shamokin or Mahanoy town- ship. He built many of the saw-mills which were erected and operated in the early days when the wilds were slowly but surely cleared for the use of the white settlers.
Daniel C. Smink, father of the subject of this review, was born in Northumberland County, in one of the saw-mills which his father had built. He was reared in the envi- rons of Shamokin, in the woods, and followed carpentry and blacksmithing for many years. He has been for the past forty-five years a resi- dent of Shamokin, where he is a dealer in paints and wall-paper. Mr. Smink was origi- nally a Whig and subsequently allied himself with the Republican party. He served one term as a justice of the peace. The mother of our subject is a granddaughter of Joseph
Kaseman, a native of Germany, who came to this country when eighteen or nineteen years of age. He located near Blue Church and passed his days on a farm. He passed to his final rest in 1866, having reached the rare age of 107 years.
Our subject, W. H. R. Smink, is one of four children, two of whom, Rosalie and Elizabeth, are dead, and the fourth child, Albert H., is a physician in Shamokin. When eight years old the subject of this sketch went into a coal- breaker as a slatepicker. At the age of eleven years he entered the office of the Shamokin Herald to learn the printer's trade, working in the newspaper office until April 14, 1865. when President Lincoln was assassinated, when he was thrown out of work by the clos- ing of the office. After working at odd jobs for some time young Smink went into the general store of Ryer Bros. & Company as a cellar-boy. He worked for the firm five years, during the final two years of his service acting as bookkeeper, which was quite an achieve- ment for one so young, as the store was a large one and the principal business house in the town. For two years William slept in the store, and, being fond of reading, he sought to educate himself by so doing at night after he had finished his labors of the day. His health failed and he was compelled to give up his position. Subsequently, with his father. he put up the first planing-mill in Shamokin and they operated it for a year, when it was burned, wiping out the entire capital possessed by father and son. Compelled again to seek employment, Mr. Smink went to Chambers- burg, Pa., where for a year he conducted a toy and confectionery store. He then returned to Shamokin and entered the dry goods store of Leader, Muir & Company, after trying the toy and candy business for a short time. and for two years he was the only clerk in the em-
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ploy of the firm. In 1877, on the breaking out of the great strike of railroad men which ex- tended to ten states, including Pennsylvania, Mr. Smink went to Berks County and took charge of a general store in Seisholtzville owned by his father-in-law, .Henry Guiterman. He had entire charge of his father-in-law's books, as Mr. Guiterman was principally oc- cupied in looking after iron ore mines in which he was interested. After running the store for six years, upon the death of Mr. Guiterman, our subject was appointed super- intendent of the iron ore mines, which posi- tion he filled to the satisfaction of the execu- tors of the estate for three years. He then returned to Shamokin in 1883, having studied medicine and pharmacy with Dr. Roth of Seisholtzville, and established a drug-store. He began business as a druggist in a room 9 by 14 feet at the corner of Market and Chestnut streets, and nine months later re- moved to North Market street, where he oc- cupied a store 16 by 28 feet, which has been replaced by his present large and elegant place of business. In January, 1896, Mr. Smink took into partnership his son, Henry G., and the business is now conducted under the firm name, W. H. R. Smink & Son.
Twice Mr. Smink has entered the marital relation. His first marriage was to Annie L., daughter of Henry Guiterman of Port Carbon, Pa., and to them were born three children : Henry G., Eva K., and Annie L. Mrs. Smink died September 8, 1879. Mrs. Smink's second marriage was on December 24, 1880, to Ella, daughter of Charles Knappenberger of Allen- town, Pa., and to them have been born three children: Rosalie; Marion, deceased; and Daniel.
Our subject always has been an active Re- publican. For two years he served as coun- cilman from the Third Ward, 1891-92, and in
1893 he was elected burgess for a one-year term. The State Assembly then made the term of the office three years and Mr. Smink was again elected and served the term, giving four years of efficient and beneficial labor to his fellow-citizens. During his service as bur- gess Mr. Smink incessantly worked to secure the paving of streets and he was rewarded by the putting down of three blocks of asphalt pavement. The street improvement urged and started by him has been continued by succeed- ing administrations. He also was instru- mental in bringing about the vote upon the proposition to organize the borough into a city ; he also labored zealously to secure prop -. er sewerage facilities and the result was that several miles of sewers were laid in the bor- ough.
Our subject is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, also of the Penn- sylvania Pharmaceutical Association. He is a Mason of high rank, being a member of Shamokin Lodge No. 255, F. & A. M .; of Shamokin Chapter No. 264, R. A. M .; Mount Moriah Council No. 10, R. S. Ex. and S. M .; and Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S. 32d De- gree, A. A. S. R. Since 1869 he has been a member of Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of A., and he also is a member of the Knights of the Mystic Chain. He was one of the organizers of the West End Fire Company and has been its treasurer since its organization. He also was a director of the West End Building & Loan Association for many years. Mr. Smink is a member of St. John's Reformed Church of Shamokin.
RE EUBEN S. AUCKER, who has been for thirty-four years a resident of Sha- mokin, Northumberland County, Pa., and is one of the county's most pro-
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gressive and wealthy citizens, comes of one of the pioneer families of Snyder County, this state. He is a son of Emanuel and Hannah (Snyder) Aucker, and was born July 6, 1837, in what formerly was Union County and now is Snyder County. By hard work, energy, en- terprise and thrift Mr. Aucker built up a busi- ness which is one of the best in this county. and he also has been a heavy dealer in real estate and has carefully managed all his busi- ness interests.
Emanuel Aucker, father of the subject of this review, was born near Richfield, Pa., in 1805 and was reared there. He removed to Selinsgrove, Snyder County, in 1839 and re- sided there until his demise in 1892. His act- ive life was spent in farming and in lumber- ing, he being active in the early development of the lumber industry in his native county. Politically Mr. Aucker was a Democrat and he was a firm believer in the principles of his party, but he never sought or held office. Re- ligiously he was an adherent of the Mennonite faith, and in his character and his career were strongly marked the sturdy, uncompromising traits of the believers in that faith. He was a man of strictest moral habits, honesty and conduct, was temperate, and proudly declared that he never had tasted tobacco.
The grandfather of our subject, on the ma- ternal side, John Snyder, was born about 1787 and was a first cousin to Gov. Snyder of this state, after whom Snyder County was named. The Snyders formed one of the sturdy pioneer families whose influence and activity was felt in many ways in the early stages of the growth and progress of Pennsylvania. The maternal grandmother was also born about 1787, and she died about fifteen years previous to her husband.
Our subject's parents reared a family of thirteen children, two of whom died young.
Curiously enough, for forty years following the demise of the two young children no death record was preserved in the family. Of the survivors of the children Reuben S., our sub- ject, and his brother, Jacob S. Aucker, are the on'y ones who have been identified with the history and the progress of Shamokin and Northumberland County. The children were as follows: Henry, deceased; Catharine, wid- ow of Samuel Zeigler; Peter and Barbara, de- ceased; our subject, Reuben S .; Leah, de- ceased; Annie, widow of Jacob Longaker; Susan; Emanuel, who is a farmer in Snyder County; John, also a farmer in Snyder Coun- ty; Jacob, a resident of Shamokin and a car- penter by trade, also an undertaker; Malinda, who died young; and Enos, the youngest. who resides in Snyder County, and is a farmer.
In his youth Reuben, our subject, did not have many advantages for securing an edu- cation and he was reared on his father's farm. He attended a subscription school for about three months and a free school for twenty-one months, at the same time working in the woods and doing dutifully his part toward supporting the large family and also mana- ging to attend the New Berlin Academy for two months. Reuben also succeeded in learn- ing a trade as a carpenter and a millwright, and, thus reinforced for his struggle with the world, he started out to win his way and re- moved to Shamokin in 1865, working for some time as a carpenter and builder. A year after reaching Shamokin he started a lumber yard, and his business finally increased so that he built fifty houses in one year. In 1872 Mr. Aucker established a furniture and undertak- ing business. He carried on that branch of his enterprise until 1888, when he sold it to his brother, Jacob S., and T. H. Paul, both having for some time been in his employ. In Feb- ruary, 1882 our subject organized the firm of
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
Aucker, Slayman & Co., taking into partner- ship two of his former workmen, C. J. Slay- man and Joseph W. Kessler. This firm erected1 many of the most substantial and handsome structures in Shamokin, including the Gar- field School, the Globe building, St. John's Reformed Church, the large block in which is the dry goods store of its owner, Charles C. Leader, and a large number of private resi- dences, among them those of George O. Martz and C. Q. McWilliams. Mr. Slayman retired from the firm in 1897 owing to poor health.
Well versed in farming and the needs of the prosperous farmer, Mr. Aucker for several years made a study of fertilizers and the best methods of producing good ground, with the result that in April, 1891, he established an individual enterprise, the Shamokin Fertil- izing Works, which has a large factory in North Shamokin. This business is growing rapidly and already the trade of the works is very extensive. Mr. Aucker owns three large farms, two in Snyder County and one in Northumberland County, and several smaller farms, and his real estate holdings in Shamo- kin are very large.
Our subject has given much time and work to some of the important interests of Shamo- kin. He was one of the organizers of the West Ward Building & Loan Association and has been its president for twenty years. He also was an organizer of the Shamokin Elec- tric Light & Power Company, of which he is a director; an organizer of the Shamokin Electric Street Railway; a director of the Guarantee Safe Deposit & Trust Company; and is interested in several other business en- terprises.
Mr. Aucker served as a councilman for four years, from 1866 to 1870, and as a mem- ber of the school board for six years. Our subject is an honored member of St. John's
Reformed Church, of which he has been a deacon and elder for twenty-five years, and a teacher in the Sunday School for thirty- three years.
Our subject most appropriately celebrated Christmas Day, 1863, by wedding Mary Wand at Georgetown. Their children have been as follows: Ida M., wife of M. G. Reager, a mer- chant in Shamokin; Mary Magdalen, Carrie and Kate May, deceased; and Emma Eva and Mary Ellen, who are at the family home.
ENRY F. GLENN. The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company of Berwick is one of the largest and best known concerns of its kind in this coun- try and much credit for its success is due its present manager, the subject of this biog- raphy. He is a son of Robert and Sarah (Thomas) Glenn, and was born in Philadel- phia.
Robert Glenn, father of our subject, died in 1854, and Henry F. is the only surviving member of the family. He was reared and educated in the public schools of Philadelphia. Being of a mechanical turn of mind he took a course of study in mechanical engineering. but later gave up the study and became a clerk in a drygoods store, at which calling he continued until 1870. He then removed to Berwick and entered the employ of Jackson & Woodin as clerk. Two years later the firm was merged into The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, and our subject was promoted to the position of secretary, the du- ties of which he performed in a manner as to gain the approval of his employers. He was soon after rewarded for his faithfulness and the interest he took in the welfare of the company by being made manager. He was
REV. ANDREW M. LOWRY.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
also general manager of the Berwick Rolling Mills until it was consolidated with The Jack- son & Woodin Company, and served as its treasurer for one year. He possesses not only the respect of the men under his supervision, but is held in high esteem by all with whom he is acquainted, both in business and private
life. He is also deeply interested in the growth and development of Berwick and ac- tively supports all enterprises which will in any way be of benefit to the town. He uses his influence to elevate the standard of educa- tion and has served on the board of educa- tion for six years. He is also one of the directors of the Nescopeck Bridge Company.
Mr. Glenn was united in marriage to Mary B. Young, a daughter of Rev. Jared Young, and their happy union has been blessed by the birth of six children : Jesse, a mechanical en- gineer and a graduate of Cornell University; Elizabeth, who is in attendance at a college for young ladies at Baltimore, Md .; Edwin, a student of Cornell University; Annie, who is attending school at home; Robert, also a student at Berwick; and Mary, who died in infancy. In religious views the family ad- heres to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
EV. ANDREW M. LOWRY. To be able to look back to a quarter of a century spent in good works is in- deed an enviable record, and such is the priv- ilege of the subject of this sketch, Rev. An- drew M. Lowry, a retired minister of the Presbyterian Church, residing in Watson- town, who was born in Turbot township, Northumberland County, Pa., June 21, 1820. He attended the public schools of his native town and then took a classical course at Mc- Ewensville Academy, under the able ministra-
tions of Dr. Shedden. He afterwards attended Lafayette College of Easton, Pa., which was presided over by Dr. Junken, who was so highly thought of by his pupils that upon his resignation of the presidency of Lafayette, to accept the same office in Washington College now known as Lee University of Lexington, Va., he was accompanied to that institution by several of his scholars, among whom was our subject, who was graduated from that col- lege in June, 1850. He then took a three- years' course in theology at Princeton Semi- nary and afterwards spent one year in evan- gelistic work. He was ordained by the Pres- bytery of Northumberland and received his first call from Port Carbon, Schuylkill County. Pa. He accepted the call and for twenty-one years and six months labored faithfully in the "vineyard of our Lord." He was most suc- cessful in his work, and not only remodeled the church, but enlarged its membership most materially during his years of occupancy. Though the spirit was willing the flesh was weak, and much against his own and his parishioners' wishes our subject was obliged, reluctantly, to retire from active work on ac- count of his health, which had failed him from the arduous labor performed in the faith- ful discharge of his duties.
Remembering fondly the lovely spot in which he was born, the beautiful valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Rev. Mr. Lowry decided to spend his declining years in that vicinity, and built a fine residence in Watsontown at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, where he and his two sisters now reside.
Our subject's grandfather, Samuel Lowry, was born in Ireland, and was, as is his grand- son, a devout Presbyterian. He came to Am- erica and married Elizabeth McClenathan; they settled in Columbia County, Pa., where
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
they successfully followed farming life until they died, each being eighty years of age. They were the parents of five chi !- dren : Margaret, who married a Mr. Maxwell; Sarah, wife of James Sheep; Ellen; James M .; and Samuel, who inherited the home- stead.
James M. Lowry, the father of our subject, worked on the homestead until he had laid by enough money to start in for himself. This he did by purchasing a tract of land near Dewart, Turbot township, Pa., which is still owned by the Lowry family. There our sub- ject's father cleared the land and built a fine set of buildings, which, remodeled for present requirements, will stand contrast with more recent buildings very creditably, thus showing the substantial, honest manner in which they were built, and also the trait of character in both father and son, which caused all their work to be done thoroughly and well. James M. Lowry was a practical and successful farm- er and reaped the reward of his hard work in plenty of well-tilled land and a comfortable bank account. Still, all of his life was not passed in the peaceful pursuits of a farmer, for he served honorably toward the close of the War of 1812 at Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y., on the Niagara Frontier. He was an act- ive member of the Presbyterian Church and served as trustee of same. He married Sarah Laird, daughter of Matthew Laird of Union County, Pa. Their marriage was blessed with the following children : Elizabeth, the widow of Samuel McKean; Andrew M .; Margaret, who married Joseph G. Durham, both now de- ceased; Samuel, who married Nancy Nesbit, both now deceased; Sarah, the wife of David McGuire, both now deceased: Matthew, who married Catherine Gauger, both now de- ceased; Jane and Mary (twins), the forme: of whom makes her home with our subject.
and the latter of whom is dead; Mary E .. who also lives with her brother; and two infants, deceased.
Although our subject has retired from act- ive labors he still carries on the work of the Master in many ways, being always ready to fill a vacancy or to do anything in the line of his profession. Rev. Mr. Lowry is one of whom it may truly be said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." The publishers of this volume take pleasure in announcing that a portrait of the subject of this biograph- ical notice appears on a preceding page.
RANCIS W. GALLAGHER. A com- modious, modernly-conducted hotel is an absolute essential to the welfare of any enterprising community. Regardless of what- ever element of progress in other lines may be possessed, if a village is devoid of ample hotel accommodations for the traveling pub- lic in charge of liberal-minded and public- spirited landlords, no community can with reason hope to attain its essential and proper degree of success. In the above class of gen- tlemen we believe we are justified in accord- ing a prominent place to Mr. Gallagher. pro- prietor of the well-known Gallagher Hotel, which is prominently located in the town of Laporte. This highly-esteemed resident of Laporte is of the sturdy Irish race and was born in Galvery, County Fermanagh, Ireland, June 3, 1862, and is a son of Dennis Galla- gher.
Dennis Gallagher was also born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, and when a lad of ten years he sailed for the United States, where he hoped to find good fortune, and that he succeeded may be attributed to his own perse- verance and untiring energy. Mr. Gallagher
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
went to Jacksonville, Fla., where he entered the employment of a Mr. Jackson, a large fruit-grower of that city. He was very in- dustrious and by the exercise of economy suc- ceeded in acquiring a small fortune. He then returned to his native land and soon after was wedded to Ann Johnson. They concluded to remain in Ireland and our subject's father pur- chased a small tract of land and carried on agricultural pursuits; he lived to the age of fifty-nine years. His wife who is yet living is the mother of the following children, most of whom came to the United States during their early years: James, who resides in his native land; Mary Ann, deceased; Sally, also de- ceased; John, a resident of Potter County, Pa .; William, who resides in the state of Texas; Hugh, who lives in Boston, Mass .; Francis W., our subject; Catherine and Den- nis, also in Boston; Patrick, a prominent resident of Laporte; and Thomas, who lives in Scotland.
Our subject attended the district schoo's and while a lad served an apprenticeship to the glass-making trade. In 1879 he came to the United States, found employment in a tanyard, and followed tanning until 1893; he worked at that vocation in the following places : Stoneham, Brookton, Sterling Run, Muncy Valley, Hillsgrove, and Laporte, Pa. In 1893 he purchased the King property, which was then a large frame building used for store purposes and rebuilt it into a res- taurant and hotel, where he immediately won the respect and confidence of the people. After the burning of the Laporte Hotel in 1898 our subject purchased the ground and barns, and has erected a handsome three-story hotel, 50 by 52 feet; on two sides of the building is a large veranda; when all improve- ments have been completed the hotel will have both hot and cold water and all other mod-
ern improvements, including steam heat. Mr. Gallagher, in his new hostelry, is able to ac- commodate the traveling public and also the many families seeking a mountainous resort; the hotel commands a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain scenery.
Mr. Gallagher is a most popular landlord, and has succeeded in building up a trade that „is excelled by few others in his section of the county. Our subject is also popular in both social and business circles and takes a great interest in municipal matters, being an ideal public-spirited citizen. He firmly upholds the principles of the Democratic party, has served two terms as burgess, and two terms as chair- man of the Democratic county committee. Mr. Gallagher was wedded to Tresa Breaker, a daughter of Charles Breaker of Laporte, and they are the parents of four children : Mary Ann; Emma; William, who passed from this life in 1898, aged four years, and who was one of the favorite children of the borough, his death being deeply mourned by all; and Francis. Religiously Mr. Gallagher and family are prominent members of the Church of Rome.
A LONZO J. SULT is the well-known proprietor of the Berwick Steam Laundry at No. 318 East Front street, Berwick, one of the most successful in Central Pennsylvania. He has not only a large patronage in Berwick, but an established reputation in the principal cities in this section of the state, having a good custom in Scran- ton, Wilkesbarre, Catawissa, Pittston, North- umberland, and many smaller villages. He is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Geddes) Sult. and was born in Berwick, April 4, 1845.
He is a grandson of Peter Sult, who was born in Northampton County, where he fol-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
lowed the trade of a cooper until 1823 when he moved to Berwick, Columbia County. There he followed his trade until his death and was a very prosperous man. He served in the borough council and was supervisor for a number of terms. He was united in marriage to Magdalena Kester, and they reared the following children: James; Ste- phen, of Lockport, N. Y .; Julia, wife of John Switzer; Mary, wife of David Wagoner; Daniel; Charles of Peoria, Ill .; Sarah, wife of C. A. Becker; Eliza, who married James Hover; and William, a resident of Peoria, Ill. Mr. Sult died at the age of seventy-four years, and his worthy wife was sixty-nine years of age when she closed her eyes in final sleep.
Daniel Sult, father of our subject, was born in Northampton County, Pa., and came to Berwick with his father when young. He was employed as a mechanic by The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, after which he was track manager for the D., L. & W. R. R. from Kingston to Northumberland. He then worked at the carpenter's trade until 1863, when he was employed in the pattern shop of The Jackson & Woodin Manufactur- ing Company, continuing until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. He was united in marriage to Catherine Geddes, a daughter of Thomas Geddes, and they were the happy parents of four children: Sarah, who mar- ried a Mr. Reichard; Adelia E., deceased; Alonzo J., the subject of this personal history; and Jessie P., deceased.
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