USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 35
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
na; Mary Jane; Margaret B .; and Martha E., the mother of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Creasy were the parents of five children, all of whom died young except our subject. They were as follows: Alice and Wilbur, deceased, were twins and were born March 26, 1859: Samuel, our subject; George Edwin, died May 29, 1863; and Maggie A., died February 17, 1867.
Our subject, with his mother, moved to Bloomsburg in 1871, where Samuel attended the State Normal School and later the King- ston Seminary. Upon leaving school he clerked for a period of three years, and in 1883 he embarked in the lumber business on a small scale. Later he took in Mr. Wells as a partner and they now have their yard located between Sixth and Seventh streets, which is the largest lumber-yard in the coun- ty. They also carry a complete line of sashes, doors, blinds, and other house furnishings, and give employment to a large force of men. They own a mill and cut and saw their own lumber, and have purchased many hundred acres of timberland in the vicinity. The pro- prietors are men of hustling ability and have established a trade second to none in the county, and our subject has not only sold many houses in the town but has erected more houses than any other man in Blooms- burg. Mr. Creasy is one of the most ener- getic and active business men of Bloomsburg, and has assisted in many of the most flour- ishing enterprises in the borough. He is pop- ular, and is held in high esteem by his fellow- citizens.
Samuel C. Creasy was united in the bonds of matrimony to May Wells, a daughter of E. C. Wells, whose sketch also appears in this Book of Biographies. Seven children have blessed this happy union: Annie, Mar- tha, Edward, Ruth and Ethel; and Clifton
and Clyde, deceased. Mr. Creasy has served his fellow-citizens as president of the town council and has held other public offices.
ILLIAM FIELD SHAY, an attor- ney of Watsontown, is one of the most prominent and active men of the bor- ough, also a literary man who has com- piled and contributed much historical data for useful reference for the rising generation. He was born in Northumberland, Pa., and is the only son of Philip and Mary Elizabeth (Wal- lis) Shay, the latter a daughter of Dr. Samuel H. Wallis, and a granddaughter of Samuel Wallis, the pioneer of the West Branch Val- ley.
Philip Shay, our subject's father, was born in Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, in 1813, and was a son of Michael and Anna Shay, both of whom died in 1821. In his early manhood Philip Shay went to Baltimore, Md., to assist his brother-in-law, Abiathar Field, formerly of Brookline, Mass., to establish one of the pioneer oyster packing houses at the Monumental City, and in the interest of this business Mr. Shay located at Northumber- land, Pa., and at a later period became con- nected with the packet company in which he became "Captain" Shay. In 1854 he settled in Muncy, Pa., where he engaged in the mer- cantile and lumber business. In 1868 he re- moved to Watsontown and again engaged in mercantile business, and in 1871 he was elected chief burgess and became very much interested in many of the developments of the early growth of the borough. He was one of the corporators and charter members of the Watsontown Bank, and was appointed by Gov. Geary as notary public, and at the close of his administration, re-appointed by
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Gov. Hartranft. For eleven years he accept- ably filled the position of postmaster of Wat- sontown, and death alone removed him, on February 2, 1885. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shay married Priscilla M. Llewellyn, who died in 1862. To them were born four children: Charles P .: Edward E .; Mary V .; and Priscilla L. He was married the third time to Emma J. Stoughton, and two children, Frank S. and Emma E .. blessed their home; Frank S. Shay died in 1898. Mr. Shay was one of the corporators and influ- ential members of the First Presbyterian Church of Watsontown, in which he held the office of trustee for many years. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father and a man of sterling worth.
William Field Shay, our subject, after a good preliminary education in the public schools became a law student under the in- struction of Oscar Foust of Watsontown, with whom he studied three years, when he was admitted to the bar and began the prac- tice of his profession at Watsontown. He has been admitted to practice in all the courts in this section of Pennsylvania, as well as the Supreme Court and the District and Circuit courts of the United States. . He is fond of literary work and has given considerable at- tention to local historical matters, and a num- ber of meritorious articles have appeared from his pen. He is one of the leading and most enterprising citizens of Watsontown, and has done much to advance the best interests of the borough, being one of the promoters of the waterworks and he secured to the town the terminus of the Central Pennsylvania & Western Railroad and since its inception has been solicitor for the road. In politics our subject supports the principles advocated by the Republican party.
Mr. Shay has an estimable wife in the per-
son of M. Alice Hower, only daughter of Hon. Charles Hower of Selinsgrove, Suyder County. Pa. Socially he is a member and officer of the following societies: past- master of Watsontown Lodge, No. 401. F. & A. M .; past high priest of Warrior Run Chapter, No. 246, R. A. M .; a member of both the Grand Lodge and the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania, and in the years 1885-86 was deputy to the grand high priest for the counties of Lycoming. Elk. Snyder, Union and Northumberland; he is also a member of the A. and A. Rite. 32d degree.
EORGE MATTHEW QUICK. at- torney-at-law and ex-prothonotary of Columbia County, is one of the most prominent members of his profession in the town of Bloomsburg. He is finely edu- cated, well versed in the intricacies of his call- ing and stands high among the members of the legal profession. Our subject was born in Montour township. Columbia County, Pa .. November 15, 1857, and is a son of William Grier and Sarah (McBride) Quick, and a grandson of John H. and Sarah (Moore) Quick.
John H. Quick was a native of the state of New Jersey and during his early days he followed the trade of a shoemaker. Later he settled in Rush township. Northumberland County, but in 1831 he moved to Montour township, where he purchased a farm of 155 acres and there carried on general farming the rest of his life. Mr. Quick was one of the progressive farmers of Montour township. and the position Rush holds among her sister townships is due to the efforts of such men as Mr. Quick, who braved the hardships of pioneer life and, by persevering toil, subdued
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the land and brought it to its present state. He was united in marriage to Sarah Moore, who bore him the following children: John G., deceased; Charles, deceased; William G., deceased; Rosetta, who was the wife of Elias Dietrich; Mahala, wife of Eddings Barkley; Hettie, who wedded James Barton; Cather- ine; and Sarah, who married Thomas Thorn- ton, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Quick died aged sixty-five years.
William Grier Quick, father of our subject, was born in Rush township, Northumberland County, Pa., September 4, 1815, and from his father learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed for a short time. Attain- ing his manhood, he moved to Montour town- ship and purchased a small farm and carried on farming until he became lock-tender; later he became foreman of the North Branch of the Pennsylvania Canal between Danville and Stonytown; he remained in charge of that position for nineteen years and then was fore- man of the Wyoming Valley Branch for ten years. Later he was supervisor for the Penn- sylvania Canal Company for eleven years, thus making forty years' service in the com- pany's employ. In 1868 Mr. Quick was elected county commissioner for a term of three years. He was joined in wedlock to Sarah McBride, a daughter of William Mc- Bride of Hemlock township. To Mr. and Mrs. Quick was born a family of six chil- dren, namely: William M., a blacksmith by trade; Hugh D., a resident of Rupert, Pa .; James, also a resident of Rupert; John B., who resides in Orangeville, Columbia County; Samuel M., deceased; and George M., our subject.
Our subject received his primary training in the public schools and the Bloomsburg State Normal School. Upon his father's death he became foreman on the Pennsyl-
vania Canal and remained in the position for two years, when he resigned to accept the office of deputy prothonotary, which he filled for ten years; he was then elected prothono- tary by the largest vote ever cast for a candi- date for that office. After serving six years he was admitted to the bar January 2, 1897, upon the following resolutions of which he may be justly proud, a compliment never be- fore given to any retiring prothonotary in the Commonwealth :
"Now, January 2, 1897, at a meeting of the Columbia County Bar Association, regularly called and held at 9 a. m. this day, the fol- lowing was, on motion,-'Resolved, That the rule of court as to the admission of attorney's to the Bar of Columbia County be suspended to permit the admission of G. M. Quick, Esq., as a member of said bar in recognition of his sixteen years' continuous and particularly efficient service as Prothonotary and Clerk of the several courts of said county; and that the bar hereby join with the board of exam- iners in recommending his admission'- unanimously adopted."
Upon opening his law office in Bloomsburg Mr. Quick was given a reception by the attor- neys of that town.
Mr. Quick chose for his life companion Miss Eva Bidleman, a daughter of William J. and Rebecca Bidleman of Bloomsburg, and two children bless their home, William G. and Eugene. In politics our subject is a Democrat and wide-awake to the interests of the party. He stands high in the estimation of the people and is one of the prominent citizens of the community in which he resides. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Quick has fine natural abilities, is a good speaker, exceedingly diligent and careful and, being a man of magnificent presence and fine manners, has risen rapidly to distinction.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
EORGE M. GEARHART, a scion of one of the oldest and most prom- inent families of Northumberland County, is at present assistant cashier of the Danville National Bank, with which he has been connected since 1864. He is a son of Bonham and Elizabeth S. (Boyd) Gearhart, and was born in Rush township, Northum- berland County, March 18, 1841.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Jacob Gearhart, was a native of Strangsberg, Ger- many, and came to America prior to the Rev- olutionary War, locating in New Jersey, in what is now Hunterdon County. He fought throughout the Revolution as a captain in the Jersey State Militia and rendered valu- able aid to the cause of liberty. The war hav- ing closed, and as he had friends residing in what is now Northumberland County, Pa., he migrated to that section with his family. By means of horses and wagons they made their way over uncultivated and almost pathless land to their new home, stopping to rest on the property now owned by William F. Gear- hart, where they found a small and rude log cabin which was vacant. They took a sur- vey of the surrounding country, and, the land upon examination proving very fertile and well adapted for cultivation, decided to settle there. Mr. Gearhart made purchase after pur- chase, until he owned about 500 acres of good but uncleared land, upon which he built one of the first frame houses in the county, the one in which William F. Gearhart now re- sides, which is still in good condition and will stand for many years. With the assistance of his children he cleared some 200 acres and set out a large orchard which was totally de- stroyed by a hail-storm in 1846. This sturdy old pioneer lived a long and useful life. His worthy wife was Katherine Kline, by whom he had the following offspring: Jacob, born
in 1763, died in 1841; Herman, born in 1765, died in 1835; William, died in 1854, at the age of seventy-eight years; George; Tunis; John, died in 1858, aged seventy years; Charles, born in 1783, died in 1863; Isaac; Catherine; Mary; and Betsey.
George Gearhart, the grandfather of our subject, was born in what is now Hunterdon County, N. J., and after attaining man's es- tate his father transferred a tract of land to him, which is situated about one mile from the river bridge on the Susquehanna River. He erected good substantial buildings and was successfully engaged in the cultivation of the soil all of his life. He added to his property from time to time and at his death owned some 300 or 400 acres lying along the Susquehanna. The buildings upon this prop- erty have long since been torn down and the estate laid out in lots, now forming a portion of the village of South Danville. adjoining Riverside. George was joined in wedlock to Achsah Reynon, who died at an early age, and they became the parents of the following children : Bonham R., the father of our sub- ject; Benjamin; Eliza; and Rebecca. Mr. Gearhart formed a second alliance, with Phoebe Lott, which resulted in the birth of three children: Achsah; George; and Her- man.
Bonham R. Gearhart was born in the same room, in the same month, and same day of the month as our subject, and obtained his schooling in the common schools. He was a natural scholar, and at the age of twenty- one years was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College. He immediately after took up practice at Sunbury, and later at Washing- tonville, where he remained for a time before locating in Turbotville, whence he moved to Danville, Montour County. He was a skilled physician and had a large practice through-
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out the township, numbering among his pa- tients many of the leading citizens of Dan- ville. He was well posted on all advances made in medical sciences, and was up-to-date in his treatment of complicated diseases. He was very highly thought of by all classes of people as he treated many cases for which he knew he would never receive pay. He was called to his final rest at the age of forty- two years, as a result of an attack of pneu- monia. He was united in hymeneal bonds to Miss Elizabeth Boyd, a daughter of Will- iam Boyd of Danville, and they became the parents of the following children: Achsah; William B. of Danville; George M., whose name heads these lines, had a twin sister whose death occurred in infancy; Bonham R., Jr., of Danville; Jasper B .; James B .; Alex- ander M., a record of whose life appears else- where in this Book of Biographies; and M. Grier. Mrs. Gearhart is now past eighty- four years of age and is enjoying life as a resident of Danville, where she has many life- long friends.
George M. Gearhart received a good edu- cation in the public schools and in the high school at Danville, from which he graduated. He learned the drug trade with Michael C. Grier, and, as the telegraph office was in the same store, he learned telegraphy and subse- quently was train dispatcher at Kingston, Pa .. on the D., L. & W. Railroad, at which he con- tinued until 1864, when he moved to Dan- ville and became teller in the Danville Na- tional Bank. He served in that capacity for twenty-seven years, during which time he thoroughly familiarized himself with banking business and banking methods and was thus well qualified for his next step in life, assum- ing the duties of cashier of the bank, which position he held in a satisfactory manner until 1896, when he was obliged to give up work
on account of ill health. Mr. Gearhart spent some time in retirement and has now recuper- ated to such an extent that he can do work about the office and is now acting as assistant cashier. He is a man of excellent business ability, is shrewd and calculating, and has . been decidedly successful in his business af- fairs. He has many excellent traits of char- acter and we may safely assert, without fear of contradiction, that no citizen of Danville ever had more friends or was held in higher esteem than Mr. Gearhart. He lives in a beautiful residence on Market street and owns considerable other property in the town. He is treasurer and secretary of the Danville Bridge Company, and has served on the school board for three years.
Our subject was united in marriage to Cor- delia Clark, a daughter of David Clark, de- ceased, who was cashier of the Danville Na- tional Bank from 1850 to 1893, and was also president of that institution. This happy union has been blessed by the birth of the fol- lowing children: David Clark, who died at the age of three years and six months; Charles Willits, a graduate of Lehigh University, who is electrical engineer at the power-house of the Brooklyn Bridge. New York City; and Eleanor Clark, the wife of Frederick C. Kirk- endall, by whom she has one son, Charles F. Religiously Mr. Gearhart is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder.
J OE A. LOGAN. We are pleased to give a short sketch of the popular and talented editor of the Miltonian. This is one of the best weekly papers of the Sev- enteenth Congressional District ;. it was es- tablished in 1816 as a strong Whig paper by Gen. Henry Frick. The first number was is-
.
HON. JENNINGS U. KURTZ
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
sued September 21, 1816, and the paper has continued since under the same name. Since Fremont's campaign it has advocated the principles of the Republican party and has been owned and published by the following persons : Gen. Henry Frick; Robert Frick; Robbins & Brown; L. H. Funk; Morton & Mervine, with whom F. Bound was later as- sociated; P. L. Hackenberg; L. B. Housel; and in 1880 Strine & Logan. Our subject succeeded his partner in 1882. The paper has been enlarged and its circulation has been increased to 1,200. It is a fact worthy of spe- cial mention that the office and printing es- tablishment has always been located within half a square of the present location.
Joe A. Logan, our subject, was born in Milton, Pa., January 12, 1846, and is a son of Samuel and Rose (Sties) Logan. The for- mer was born in Philadelphia and there mar- ried his wife, who was a native of Germany. They settled in Wilkesbarre, but in 1840 re- moved to Milton.
Our subject attended Milton Academy until he was fifteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company E, 13Ist Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and later in Company E, 5Ist Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. He is a past commander of Henry Wilson Post, G. A. R .; and is a member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a stockholder in the Milton Trust Company, the Milton Safe Deposit Company and the Milton Driving Park & Fair Association. He has taken such an active interest in the general improvement of his native town that he has gained much prominence in the community. Since 1880 he has devoted most of his time to his paper and his fellow-citizens show their appreciation of his efforts by subscribing liberally. The year 1882 marked an interesting event in his history, i. e., the celebration of his marriage
with Lulu Tilden, a daughter of Enos and Isabella Tilden, who were natives of Massa- chusetts and Pennsylvania, respectively. Our subject and wife are the happy parents of three children : Bolton, Inez, and Joc .A., Jr. Mr. Logan was postmaster under President Arthur and has served as a member of the town council. He has ever been a stanch supporter of the Republican party.
ON. JENNINGS U. KURTZ, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is efficiently serving in the capacity of associate judge of the Twenty- sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and is a prominent business man of Berwick, being proprietor of the Berwick Marble & Granite Works, one of the largest establishments of its kind in this section of the state. Hle is a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Schlabach) Kurtz, and was born at Summer Hill, Briarcreek township, Columbia County, July 3. 1856.
His grandfather was Henry Kurtz, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania and came of German parents. He took up the occupation of a farmer and at an early day located in Northampton County. Pa., where he died in 1830, at the age of sixty-five years. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Charity Snyder, and their union resulted in the birth of ten children : Andrew: Levi; Henry; Millie, the wife of Frederick Ullmer; Jeremiah; William; Samuel; and three who died in childhood.
Levi Kurtz, the father of our subject. was born in Forks township, Northampton Coun- ty, March 25, 1825, but in 1843, at the age of nineteen years, he moved to Columbia County, Pa., with his brother Andrew, who is now deceased, and there he followed farin- ing. After a time, he took up the cigar-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
maker's trade and followed it with consider- able success at Washingtonville; while thus engaged he saved a sufficient sum of money to purchase a farm at Summer Hill, which he did at about the time of his marriage. Fol- lowing farming a short term of years, he then traded his farm for a store at Foundryville, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He followed that line of business there and at Evansville until 1863, when he relinquished it to engage in the insurance business. In 1870 he purchased the Marble & Granite Works of William Ruch, and started in business in a very small way. He was an energetic nian and as success attended his efforts, he en- larged the business and in 1879 took his son, our subject, into the firm as a partner. They were located on Market street at first, but as the enterprise grew in size, they moved to larger quarters on Front street. He con- tinted in business until his death in 1888, at the age of sixty-two years. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Schlabach, a daughter of Daniel and Annie (Moore) Schla- bach, and they became the parents of twelve children, six of whom are still living, namely: C. Louise, the wife of S. H. Ruch; Jennings U., the subject of this sketch; Daniel Morris, who has charge of the reading notices of the New York World; Annie S., a teacher in the public schools of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Kittie E., the wife of Arthur Lewis of Wilkesbarre, Pa .; and S. Burton, an accomplished artist of New York City. Levi Kurtz was original- ly a Democrat in his political affiliations, but from 1856 until his demise was a Republican. In religious attachments he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whilst so- cially he was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Mrs. Kurtz, who was born in 1830, died in August, 1898, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and was brought to Berwick and interred in the
family plot in Pine Grove Cemetery in that town.
Jennings U. Kurtz attended the public schools until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he entered his father's business, and continued in his employ until twenty- three years of age, when he was taken in as a partner, the firm becoming L. Kurtz & Son, which has been the firm name up to the present time. They established a reputation for good reliable work and erected inany handsome monuments throughout the coun- ty. They acquired an extensive patronage and the prestige, which the firm enjoyed prior to the death of the senior Mr. Kurtz, is still in evidence as our subject does work for the leading men in this section of the state. He has always labored for the best interests of the borough and by his connection with many worthy enterprises may be classed among its first citizens. He has been a member of the school board and was a trustee on building at the time the beautiful addition to the Mar- ket Street School was erected. He was also on the building committee for the erection of the present opera house. He served with credit as school director for six years, three years of which he was president of that body. He was associated in building the block on Market street now owned by C. C. Evans, Esq. In 1889 he purchased of C. A. Becker what was known as the Pottery, which was one of the first industries of the place. This property, located at Pine and Second streets, he rebuilt for his business and there he has a large spacious salesroom, office and yard. necessary for his business. He is a man oi excellent qualities and is respected and highly esteemed by all with whom he is acquainted.
Mr. Kurtz was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Fanny M. Sult, a daughter of Daniel Sult, who was a patternmaker by trade,
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
and they are the proud parents of five child- ren : Pearl Elizabeth; Ruth Sult; Claude Morris; Nellie May; and Katherine. Politi- cally he is a stanch Republican. In March, 1897, he was appointed associate judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Mordecai Millard, and was re-elected in 1897. Socially he is a member of Knapp Lodge, No. 462, F. & A. M .; Berwick Castle, No. 249, K. of G. E., of which he is past chief; Washington Camp, No. 105, of which he is a past president; and W. T. Sherman Com- mandery, No. 23, P. O. S. of A., in which he has held many of the offices.
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