USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 32
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In the autumn of 1857 Mr. Chester was united in marriage with Christina C. Wilson.
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a native of Scotland. He and his wife have no children of their own, but have reared sev- eral. Mr. Chester is actively interested in the subject of education, having served as school director for several years. He is a trustee of the Presbyterian Church and, fraternally, is a member of Lincoln Post No. 140, G. A. R .; Millersburg Lodge, F. & A. M .; Shamokin Chapter No. 264, R. A. M., and Shamokin Commandery, Knights Templar.
ORBES H. VANNAN, a born mechanic and a member of the firm of Curry &
Vannan, who operate a large foundry and machine-shop, is one of the popular and enterprising citizens of the town of Danville, Pa. He descends from the sturdy Scotch race, having been born in Glasgow, Scotland, and is a son of James Vannan, who was also a native of Scotland.
James Vannan, father of our subject, re- sided in Scotland many years, where he was engaged as a machinist. He departed from his native country and settled in Carbondale, Luzerne County, Pa., where he followed his trade as a machinist. Later he moved to Kingston, Luzerne County, Pa., then to Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he spent the remainder of his life in retirement. He died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was joined in the bonds of wedlock to Mary Binning, who passed from this life aged forty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Vannan were the parents of a family of five children, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of James Eaton; James, a machinist in the shops of the D. & H. R. R. at Carbondale, Pa .; Joseph, a foundryman, and also a resident of Carbon- dale, Pa .; Forbes H., our subject; and Thomas, a tinsmith and gasfitter, who resides at Carbondale.
Forbes H. Vannan, our subject, came to this country with his father and served an ap- prenticeship to the machinist's trade in the D., L. & W. R. R. machine shops at Scranton and, owing to his rapid progress, he was soon made foreman of the D., L. & W. R. R. shops at Kingston, Pa. He subsequently became superintendent of the Wyoming Valley Manu- facturing Company at Wilkesbarre, Pa., from which place he removed to Danville in 1888 and accepted a position as master mechanic in the rolling mills of that town. On Septem- ber 10, 1895, in partnership with Daniel M. Curry, he leased the Mahoning Foundry and Machine Shops and the firm has since been doing a large and successful business. When the rolling mill property went into the hands of a receiver, Curry & Vannan purchased the entire foundry and machine-shop plant. The firm manufactures all kinds of machinery, has the latest and most improved machinery in the shops and employs from fifty to ninety men continuously. They have also erected a large three-story pattern-house and have one of the best machine-shops in the town of Dan- ville.
Mr. Vannan was united in marriage to Emeline A. Parr, and three children have blessed their home: Irvin, a mechanic; George, who died in infancy; and Walter. Mr. Vannan and family are highly esteemed by their neighbors and acquaintances and are amply filling their station as good citizens and valuable members of their community. In politics, our subject is a stanch Republican and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln.
OHN E. GALLAGHER, a young and enterprising business man of Muncy Valley, Sullivan County, holds the responsible position of bookkeeper of
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the Union Tanning Company, the duties of which he has performed faithfully and in a manner such as to gain the hearty approval of his employers. He was born at Dushore, Sullivan County, January 15, 1865, and is a son of James and Mary (Brown) Gallagher.
His paternal grandfather was Michael Gal- lagher, who was born in County Mayo, Ire- land, and immigrated to America, locating on a farm which he purchased at Dushore, Pa. This he cleared and resided upon until his death, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was Sarah Dougherty, who died at the age of eighty years. Their union was blessed by eight children: Michael; James; An- thony; Sarah; Mary; Catherine; Bridget; and Ellen.
James Gallagher, father of our subject, was also born in County Mayo, Ireland, and immi- grated to this country with his father. He succeeded to the ownership of the family es- tate at Dushore and there has since followed farming. He is one of the substantial citi- zens of the community and is held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances. He was united in marriage with Mary Brown, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (O'Donald) Brown, by whom he had seven children : Martin; Michael P .; John E .; James J., and William, deceased; Thomas H .; and Mary E.
John E. Gallagher attended the public schools of Dushore, after which he took a course at the Mansfield Normal School, and finally at Rochester University, from which he graduated in 1889. Previous to that time he taught for seven years in the public schools. After leaving college he moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he was employed as a bookkeeper for two years. He then re- turned to his home at Dushore, where he accepted the position of clerk to county
commissioner in 1894, and continued as such for three years. In 1898 he accepted hi- present position with the Trust or Union Tanning Company, and is located at their Muncy Valley office. He has had years of experience in that line of work, and his rec- ord since assuming the duties of bookkeeper stamps him as a man well qualified to bear its responsibilities. He is of a genial dispo- sition, is a pleasant companion and is very popular with his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Gallagher was joined in matrimonial bonds with Catherine Kennedy, a daughter of Jeremiah Kennedy of Laporte, Sullivan County, whose biographical record appears elsewhere in this volume, and they became the parents of the following children: James F .; Thomas E .; Margaret; and Agnes. Po- litically our subject has always supported the Democratic party and has held numerous local offices. In religious faith he is a Ro- man Catholic.
J OSEPH KOPP, a veteran of the Civil War, and inside-foreman at the Ster- ling Colliery near Shamokin. North- umberland County, was born May II, 1841, in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill Coun- ty, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Harriet (Hain) Kopp.
Jacob Kopp, our subject's father, a native of France, upon coming to the United States located in Schuylkill Haven, where he was engaged in mercantile business. He died when our subject was about five years of age. leaving two children : Joseph; and Mary, who. when she grew to womanhood, married Wil- liam Steinmetz, a boss at the Big Mountain Colliery, Northumberland County.
Joseph Kopp, our subject, was reared in
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Schuylkill County and was employed in col- lieries until he was eighteen years of age, after which he traveled around the country for about two years. In 1860 he located in Shamokin, Pa., and became a coal miner, working in various collieries about Shamokin for several years. He then held the position of assistant foreman for Patterson, Llewellyn & Co. for about a year, after which he was promoted to the position of inside-foreman and remained with the company twelve years. Mr. Kopp next entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., at Burnside Colliery, as inside-foreman, and in January, 1893, assumed that position at the Sterling Colliery, where he has since remained. During the progress of the Civil War, in 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 36th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served about three months,' but did not participate in any engagement, arriving on the field just one day too late for the battle of Gettysburg.
On Independence Day, 1861, Mr. Kopp married Henrietta Yoder, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Beisel) Yoder. Mrs. Kopp was born August 3, 1841, in Mahan- tango Valley, Schuylkill County, where her father was born and reared, but when she was two years old, he removed to Shamokin and assisted in building the first railroad in that section of the county. Our subject's family consists of the following children: William and Mary, both deceased; Adam, who mar- ried Susan Specht, is a loader-boss at the Sterling Colliery, and makes his home in the Mahanoy Valley; Eva, the wife of Daniel Phillips, a miner and resident of Shamokin; Joseph D., a loader-boss at the Sterling Col- liery, who married Annie Miller and resides in Shamokin; Jacob, deceased; Nora, the wife of William Bonser of Pottsville, a car-
penter by trade; and Sallie and Bertha, who are both at home.
Socially our subject is a member of Lin- coln Post, No. 140, G. A. R .; Schickalamy Tribe, No. 148, I. O. R. M .; and also the De- gree of Pocahontas, all of Shamokin.
EV. WILLIAM A. HOUCK, a prom- inent clergyman of Mount Carmel. Pa., is a man of superior mental endowments and of excellent education and character. He is a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., was born January 25, 1837, and is a son of Adams and Mary (Clark) Houck.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was of German origin, and lived in Virginia; from there he went to Maryland, and thence to Huntingdon County, Pa., and was one of the pioneers of that county. One of his brothers, William Houck, served in the Revolutionary War. Adams Houck, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Huntingdon County, and followed farming and lumbering in that coun- ty until his death. Our subject's mother was of English origin; her father was Thomas Clark.
Rev. William A. Houck, the subject of this biography, was reared and educated in Hunt- ingdon County, attending the common schools and also the seminary at Cassville, Huntingdon County. He taught school three winters, also taught in a select school, and then began the study of theology. In March, 1859, he joined the East Baltimore Conference and since that time he has preached continuously, most of his labors hay- ing been in what is now called the Central Pennsylvania Conference. He entered the Union Army in 1864 as chaplain of the 205th Reg., Pa. Volunteers, and remained with that
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regiment until it was mustered out, in June, 1865. He was presiding elder of the Harris- burg district for four years. Among his more prominent appointments have been Williams- port, Danville, Lock Haven, Bellefonte, Mil- ton, Hazleton, and Mount Carmel. Rev. Mr. Houck has the largest congregation in Mount Carmel, and the church has had continual and substantial growth under his charge.
Our subject married Lydia M. Dorland of Blair County, Pa., and several children have resulted from this union, as follows : Gertrude, the wife of W. B. Norris, an attorney of St. Joseph, Mo., who at one time held the office of district attorney; Florence N., the wife of W. T. Hildrup, a manufacturer of Harrisburg, Pa .; Evangeline M., the wife of Dr. H. M. Stine of Harrisburg, Pa .; Charles A. B., an electrician at Hazleton, Pa .; Grace B., living at home; William Herbert S., in the Auditor- General's Department at Harrisburg, Pa .; and Frank D., in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Telephone Company at Lebanon, Pa.
Rev. Mr. Houck is well known throughout the eastern and central parts of the state, and is a man of strict principles and splendid judg- ment. He is highly respected, and is known to be a man who thoroughly practices all that he preaches. He is a man of much learning and wide experience, and has done much to advance the religious welfare of Mount Car- . mel.
R. JAMES R. MONTGOMERY has a large and lucrative practice in and about the beautifully situated and prosperous village of Buckhorn, Colum- bia County, Pa. He is a son of Hugh R. and Sarah (Moll) Montgomery, and was born in Liberty township, Montour County, May 15, 1858.
The Montgomery family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and James Montgomery, our subject's grandfather, was born in the North of Ire- land, and after following his profession, that of sea-captain, for some years he came to America about 1760, locating on the banks of the Chillisquaque Creek, in what is now Lib-
erty township, Montour County, when that section was almost a wilderness and inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts of the forest. He was joined in wedlock with a Miss Shed- den, and they reared a family of children, one of whom was Hugh R., the father of our sub- ject. He formed a second alliance with a Mrs. Burns, nee Harvey, who was a native of that section of the county.
Hugh R. Montgomery was born on the old homestead in Liberty township, in 1819, was one of the leading agriculturists of that sec- tion, and followed farming in the fertile val- ley of the lovely Susquehanna until his death in 1881. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and served as justice of the peace for many years. He was a consistent member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church. As a result of his union with Sarah S. Moll. a daughter of Daniel F. and Mary (Seidel) Moll. five sons and four daughters were born, name- ly : James R., whose name heads these lines ; John S., a merchant of Pottsgrove, North- umberland County; Mary E., the wife of Charles N. Marsh of Milton, Northumber- land County; Sarah A., the wife of William H. Eckman, a farmer of Chillisquaque town- ship, Northumberland County; Daniel M., a merchant of Pottsgrove; William A., a farm- er who lives o.1, and owns. the old homestead ; H. Bryson, a photographer of Milton: Clara B., who with her mother lives at Pottsgrove. Pa .; and Alice J., the wife of William B. Shedden, a theological student at Princeton. I N. J.
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Dr. James R. Montgomery was reared on the farm, and received his education in the public schools of his native town and at Mil- lersville State Normal School. Upon leaving school he began teaching at the age of seven- teen years, during which time he also studied for the medical profession in the office of Dr. C. H. Dougal of Milton, Pa., and in 1880 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical Col- lege of Philadelphia, Pa. He also took a number of special courses in surgery, anato- my, etc. Immediately after graduation he en- tered upon his first practice at Twelfth and Mifflin streets, Philadelphia, where he con- tinued for two years. In 1882 he removed to Buckhorn, Pa., where he has since resided and has acquired a large practice in the vi- cinity. He is an active member of the Co- lumbia County Medical Society; of the Penn- sylvania State Medical Society; and of the American Medical Association. He is a pub- lic-spirited man and is much interested in the advancement of his village and county, being closely connected with the following business enterprises; stockholder in the Columbia County Agricultural Society and of the Bloomsburg Desk Factory; and a stock- holder and director of the North Branch Fur- niture Factory of Bloomsburg.
Dr. Montgomery takes a lively interest in the schools, churches and business enterprises of his chosen home and is always ready to encourage by word or act all, especially the young, who are endeavoring to improve them- selves and their surroundings. He is much interested in politics and, not being a seeker after office either present or prospective, can fairly lay claim to the title of independent voter. The Doctor thinks that the desire to be a physician was "born and bred" in him, and fairly proves it by the fact that two uncles, two brothers-in-law and a nephew are
members of that arduous but noble profession.
In October, 1887, Dr. Montgomery was united in hymeneal bonds with Daisy M. Har- ris, a daughter of the late Jacob and Sarah A. (Shoemaker) Harris, a merchant and general business man of Buckhorn, by whom he has two children, James R., Jr., and Maud.
HARLES L. KREMER. In the whole of Northumberland County there is no more popular or more efficient public officer than the gentleman whose name appears above, who is now hold- ing the county office of prothonotary. Six years' service as deputy sheriff and three years' faithful work as deputy county treas- urer served to develop and perfect all his ad- ministrative abilities and to render him a pow- er in the politics of the Seventeenth Congres- sional District. Although a veteran in po- litical experience his career has been singu- larly free from embitterments and rankling enmities, for he considers friendship to be a thing that should not count too much in poli- tics, and tries to exclude the element in his own struggles for political supremacy. We mean by this that Mr. Kremer does not choose his friends only from his own party. for ofttimes his bitterest political antagonist may be his warm personal friend. Our sub- ject has a splendid record behind him and, judging from the good-will extended toward him and the good-will in which he is held everywhere throughout the county, he is destined to serve the best interests of his fel- low-citizens for many years to come.
Mr. Kremer was born in Allenwood, Union County, Pa., January 4, 1857, and is a son of Jacob L. and Julia (Allen) Kremer. The family originally was of German stock, but it
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is now thoroughly Americanized by many years' residence in the United States. Our subject's grandfather, who was a native of Oley township, Berks County, Pa., was a weaver by trade. In 1829 he located at Mil- ton, Northumberland County, to pursue his trade, but soon decided to engage in farming also, and was a tenant successively of the Sit- zel farm near McEwensville and the De Ar- mond farm near the Warrior Run Church. On each place he remained two years, follow- ing the weaver's trade for the most part, but also doing some farming. In 1834 he en- gaged in farming in White Deer Valley, Union County, after which he kept hotel one year in White Deer township. Later he re- moved to Allenwood, Union County, and kept a hotel the remainder of his life, dying in 1845, aged forty-five years. He married Sarah Levan, and their family consisted of three sons and three daughters.
Jacob Kremer, the father of the subject of these lines, was born in Albany township, Berks County, Pa., April 30, 1837. He went with the family into Northumberland County, and then into Union. The common schools of the localities where his boyhood days were passed furnished him with the rudimental principles of an education that was never fully completed in the schools, but was gradually built up by experience in varied walks of life. Upon attaining his majority Jacob engaged in dealing in live stock at Allenwood, contin- uing to be thus employed until 1867, when he removed to Armstrong township, Lycoming County, Pa. Williamsport became his place of residence in 1869 and there he continued on an extensive scale his dealings in stock, and also engaged in raising thoroughbred horses. In the month of April, 1875, our sub- ject's father located at Dewart, Northumber- land County, as proprietor of a hotel. Four
years later he became the proprietor of the Mansion House at Watsontown, which he successfully conducted during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in that borough in 1892. While the War of the Rebellion was in progress Mr. Kremer dealt very extensive- ly in horses, furnishing animals for all branches of the army service.
For many years Jacob Kremer was a leader in the Republican party of Northumberland County and the present ascendancy of the Re- publican organization in the county came in great part from his own indefatigable exer- tions. When he was first nominated for the office of sheriff in 1881 by the Republican par- ty he was defeated by a large Democratic ma- jority, but nothing daunted, he allowed his name to be used again in 1884 and threw him- self with force and vim into the canvass, with the result that he became the first Republican sheriff the county had had for many years by the comfortable margin of 274 votes. He gave the best of satisfaction throughout his term of three years, which expired in 1887. In that year, before the expiration of his term, he received his party's nomination for the office of county treasurer, and was elected to that position by a majority of 764 votes. the largest gains having been made in his own district, where he was better known. but still the gains were not confined to the one district, being spread over most of the coun- ty. In 1890 he was again nominated for sheriff, but he was defeated along with the whole Republican ticket. It was one of those reverses that come like a late frost in the spring. On January 6, 1854. he married Julia A. Allen, eldest daughter of Isaac and Jane (Piatt) Allen of Allenwood, Union County, Pa. Isaac Allen was of Scotch-Irish descent; the village where he lived and of which he was the most prominent resident
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was named Allenwood in honor of him. In the parental family were born nine children, five of whom survive at this date, and these last are as follows: Sarah A., wife of Charles G. Pursell of Jersey City, N. J .; Allen I., one of the proprietors of the Mansion House at Watsontown, the successor of his father: Daniel A., who is interested with Allen I., in conducting the Mansion House; Charles L., the subject of this historical notice; and Jennie Lee, who resides in Watsontown.
Charles L. Kremer, in whom the interest' of this sketch centers, was educated in the Williamsport public schools. Leaving school in 1872 he entered a country store in Allen- wood as a clerk and remained there in faith- ful, diligent service twelve years, until 1884. In 1885 he removed to Sunbury as deputy sheriff under his father and served three years, until 1888, when he was made deputy county treasurer under his father. In Jan- uary, 1891, without the loss of a day's time, he became deputy sheriff under Robert Mont- gomery, stepping from one office directly to another. Mr. Montgomery was the man who defeated our subject's father in the last polit- ical contest in which Jacob Kremer engaged before his death; it is a decidedly singular occurrence that a successful candidate for office should choose as his assistant the son of his political antagonist, but this graceful act only goes to show the good feeling that prevailed all through the campaign and made defeat all the easier to bear, and victory the better to enjoy. In the fall campaign of 1893 Charles L. Kremer was elected prothonotary, taking possession of his office in 1894; he was re-elected in 1896 and will continue to serve until the expiration of his term in 1900.
The marriage ceremony that united the lives of our subject and his wife, then Mrs. Kate Van Horn, nee Finney, daughter of
Hamilton Finney of Kansas City, Mo., was performed February 25, 1897. Mr. Kremer is a gentleman of noble instincts, congenial and friendly, and always aims to please those with whom he is thrown in contact. His firmness, however, is a trait that should not be overlooked. He has made an excellent official for Northumberland County and is regarded as a very influential citizen.
R EV. GEORGE H. HEMINGWAY, who was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of Bloomsburg February 19, 1897, has won his way into the hearts of his parishioners by the conscientious manner in which he labors to elevate the moral and social condition of the church and community at large. He is a na- tive of England, having been born in York- shire, February 4, 1858, and is a son of Jo- seph and Sarah (Furniss) Hemingway. The Hemingways are an old and well-known family of West Riding, Yorkshire, England. where for many years they have been chiefly engaged in mining pursuits.
Joseph Hemingway, the father of our sub- ject, who is now living in retirement, was en- gaged in mining and the manufacture of bricks. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Sarah Furniss and they became the proud parents of a son, George H., a record of whose life is here given.
Rev. George H. Hemingway, after com- pleting his academic education, took up the- ological studies under Drs. Milner and Ben- nett of Huddersfield, and later passed the ex- amination at the Sunderland Theological In- stitute in England in 1880. In 1882 he left his native soil and sought a home in freedom- loving America. He went to Kansas and was
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JOSEPH L. SHANNON.
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licensed to preach in the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Beloit, Kans., September 20, 1884, remaining there one year. He moved to Col- lege Springs, Iowa, where he held a charge for three and one-half years, and in October, 1889, he united with the Presbyterian Church, in which he preached for one year at Mapleton, N. D. Again returning to. Iowa, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at West Branch for three years, and for one year preached at Tipton. His next charge was the First Church of Carthage, Mo., which he held for three or four years, and on Feb- ruary 19, 1897, he was called to his present pastorate, that of the Presbyterian Church of Bloomsburg. In June, 1897, the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by the Presby- terian College at Hastings, N. D.
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