USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 44
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SAMUEL EDWARD DEARMOND.
4:35
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
George S. Sterling, the subject of this biog- raphy, was educated in the common schools of Bloomsburg, and at the age of seventeen entered the wood department of the Blooms- burg Car Shops, where he remained one year, leaving at the end of that period to attend school. After one year's schooling, on March 6 of the following year, he entered the em- ploy of Harman & Hassert to learn the trade
of a molder. After six years in that business he was ill for a year. When his health per- mitted he began work in the Bloomsburg Desk Factory, and remained with that com- pany for five years, when he removed to Mount Carmel and became one of the organ- izers of the Mount Carmel Iron Works. He was one of the directors until 1897, when he resigned. Mr. Sterling has splendid business abilities, and has always applied himself with earnestness and diligence. He has always been an active worker in the town politics, and is constantly looking after the interests of his party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Mount Carmel.
Mr. Sterling married Ellen Neyhard, a daughter of Samuel Neyhard of Bloomsburg. and they have been blessed with two children, Myron and Francis. Mr. Sterling has a large circle of warm friends in the county and is well known.
AMUEL EDWARD DeARMOND, retired, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Watsontown, Northumberland County, Pa., was born in Delaware township in the county in which he now resides, first seeing the light of day near the Warrior's Run Church on June 9. 1855. He is a son of the late Samuel and Rebecca G. (Ferguson) DeArmond, a grand- son of Samuel and Esther (Wallace) DeAr-
mond, and a great grandson of Thomas De- Armond, whose wife's name has not been handed down in the family record.
Our subject comes of a family whose found- ers were among the earliest settlers in this state and he possesses among other relics a deed for land purchased by his great-grand- father, Thomas DeArmond, as far back as 1793. This deed, which is of great historical interest, was given by John and Thomas Penn to Frederick Watts and is dated June 22, 1775. It conveyed a tract of 100 acres which subse- quently was bought by Thomas DeArmond and now forms part of the estate which finally descended to the subject of this sketch.
Educated in the public schools and at the Bloomsburg State Normal School, Samuel Edward DeArmond has devoted his ability and energy, substantially, to excellently car- ing for his parents and successfully managing the estate. He has been a large dealer in real estate and has been also foremost in pro- moting the growth and progress of Watson- town, in which he always has taken an active and most helpful interest. Our subject is a stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank of Watsontown, which owes much of its pros- perity and success to his energetic and wise efforts. As have been his father, and mother and the family back for generations, Mr. De- Armond is a Presbyterian. In politics he is a Democrat, but never has aspired to hold of- fice.
Thomas DeArmond, great-grandfather of our subject, with his wife and children, came from County Donegal, Ireland, to this conn- try and first located in Dauphin County, this state. In 1793 the family removed to North- umberland County, the head of the family buying the tract of land heretofore referred to. Thomas De Armond partly cleared the land and passed the remainder of his years upon
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
the spot chosen as his final home. He and his wife lived to "ripe old age" and both peacefully lie in the cemetery at Warrior's Run Church. Their children, so far as the fam- ily can state, were three sons,-Samuel, John and Robert. Of these, Samuel was born in Ire- land and was ten years old when his father settled in Northumberland County. Samuel assisted in clearing the tract of land, followed farming all his life and died in 1842. His wife survived him until 1851, when she, too, was laid in the cemetery at Warrior's Run Church. Their children were: John; Thom- as; Samuel, father of our subject; William; Hester; Martha; Margaret; and Mattie.
The father of our subject, Samuel DeAr- mond, was born on the farm herein mentioned on March 22, 1811. He received a common school education. He and his brother Thom- as were left the handsome estate to which they added considerably until it became quite a valuable property. Samuel was unusually successful in his ventures and he retired from active farming or other pursuits in 1873 and built the handsome brick residence on the southeast corner of Sixth and Mum streets in Watsontown where he died April 3, 1898- twenty-five years to a day since he arrived in the township. This residence is now occu- pied by our subject and his wife. Thomas re- mained on the farm until his death. Samuel was a Democrat and somewhat active in local politics. He served as auditor of the town- ship and a member of the school board in Watsontown.
Mrs. DeArmond, mother of our subject, passed from this life November 1, 1898. She was born September 20, 1812, and was a daughter of Andrew Ferguson of Northum- berland County. These children were the re- sults of the happy union of Samuel DeAr- mond and Miss Ferguson: Hadasah G., Wil-
liam W.,.Andrew Woods, Thomas Dutton and Samuel Edward.
Our subject was united in marriage on Jan- uary 26, 1899, to Kate D. Ball of Philadel- phia. A portrait of Mr. DeArmond is shown on a previous page.
HARLES W. MILLER, who is identi- fied with many public enterprises and who has the advancement of the in- terests of the town of Bloomsburg at heart, is an able attorney-at-law, who has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession there since 1867. He comes of an old and well- known family of Columbia County, is a son of Stephen H. and Lavina (Kline) Miller, and was born in Mifflinville, Mifflin township, Co- lumbia County, November 20, 1844.
Our subject's grandfather was Charles Mil- ler, of German descent, who at an early age left his home in Lehigh County, Pa., and lo- cated in Mifflin township, Columbia County. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and was a man of considerable prominence. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Sarah Hann, who lived to the age of seven- ty-two years.
Stephen H., the father of our subject, was sheriff of Columbia County from 1855 to 1858, after which he was engaged in the mer- cantile business. He was married to Lavina Kline, of Scotch-Irish descent, whose grand- parents were among the prominent early set- tlers of Fishing Creek township, Columbia County. Religiously they were of stanch Presbyterian stock. Mr. Miller died on No- vember 8, 1891, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife died September 12, 1883. at the age of seventy years, leaving to sur- vive them two children: Isaac K., a sales- man; and Charles W.
437
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Charles W. Miller, in addition to completing the required course in the common schools, took a course in the Millersville State Normal School, after which he read law with William G. Hurly and E. H. Little. Since his ad- mission to practice in 1867 he has resided in Bloomsburg and has been engaged in the practice of law. While he is of the Demo- cratic school of politics he has never entered actively into political affairs. He has em- ployed himself continually in promoting the general welfare of the town, especially by iden- tifying himself with many enterprises, and he is proud of the fact that the town has pros- pered to a degree that is not only commend- able, but leaves it without a rival in the state for variety of industries, growth and gen- eral appearances. What especial part he has taken in forwarding the various enterprises of which we have spoken will probably never be known through him, as he is greatly op- posed to speaking of his own accomplish- ments. However it is well known that he was one of the organizers and is now more or less interested in the following business ventures : Woolen mill, silk mill, carpet mill, desk works, furniture factory, brass and cop- per plant, novelty works, elevator works, elec- tric light works, gas works, steam heat- ing company, water company, artificial ice company, cold storage company. creamery, match factory and electric rai !- way. He has been and is now exten- sively engaged in real estate transactions. As a lawyer he is engaged more especially in efforts to keep people out of litigation, rather than to relieve their difficulties by legal pro- cess. Mr. Miller's residence is on Centre street, where he has lived since his marriage.
On October 11, 1866, our subject was united in marriage with Cora L. Eshleman, a daughter of Benjamin L. Eshleman of Port
Carbon, Schuylkill County, Pa., being a de- scendant of the founder of Pottsville on hier mother's side, and on the paternal side a descendant of the Eshlemans and Martins who were early residents of Lancaster Cou- ty, Pa. This union is blessed with the fo !- lowing children: Mrs. Annie Miller Melick. now residing in Philadelphia, Pa .; Vida; Frank E., recently a private secretary and clerk for the Cross Creek Coal Company of Luzerne County and now a law student in the office of his father; Charles W., Jr., now a resident of Florida; Gertrude, who now re- sides in Mexico; and Cora Imogene, a stud- ent. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. O. F .; and is also a Mason.
J OSEPH BUDDINGER, the leading meat merchant of Mount Carmel. Northumberland County, Pa., and a prosperous and enterprising citizen, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 7, 1847. and is a son of Anthony and Julia (Fricker) Buddinger.
Anthony Buddinger, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Germany and came to mer- ica in 1849, locating in Mount Carmel, where he lived until his death in 1898. He learned the trade of carpentering in his native coun- try, where he followed it some years; he also followed it at Mount Carmel nearly all of the years of his residence there. He was united in marriage with Julia Fricker and they reared four sons and two daughters: Conrad, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War; E. William, formerly a machinist by trade, who is now engaged in the butcher business in Mount Carmel; Joseph, the sub- ject of this sketch: Mathias, who follows the trade of a carpenter; Julia, who died shortly
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
after landing in this country; and Teresa, the wife of William Reamsnyder of Williamsport. Pa.
Joseph Buddinger was about six years of age when he was brought to Mount Carmel by his parents, and soon after entered the pub- lic schools, which he attended for the brief period of three months. Although his school- ing was limited, he has acquired a very ex- tensive knowledge of the affairs of the world by constant contact with business men and men of high education. He early in life learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until 1873, when he went into the butchering business, which he has since con- tinued. He was first located on Fifth street. but later moved to his present excellently lo- cated establishment on Oak street, about the year 1880. He carries the highest grades of meats of all kinds and is patronized by the leading citizens of Mount Carmel. He has many friends and is highly esteemed.
Mr. Buddinger enlisted in the Civil War in Company D of the 48th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., March 10, 1864, and served with great credit until its close; he actively participated in the following important engagements: Battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Weldon Rail- road, Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court- house, and before Petersburg. He was wounded on June 17, 1864, at Weldon Rail- road, slightly wounded in front of Petersburg in 1865, and at the battle of Cold Harbor re- ceived a wound which resulted in deafness in one ear.
Our subject was first united in marriage with Sarah Kutz of Schuylkill County, Pa., by whom he had two children, namely: Carrie E., the wife of William Straup of Mount Car- mel; and Katie, the wife of George Clark of Mount Carmel. His second union was with Josephine Kreighbaum, and they have three
children: Sally; Julia; and Adam Lawson Lee. Politically Mr. Buddinger is now a con- sistent Prohibitionist, but formerly was affil- iated with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of Mount Carmel Lodge No. 630, I. O. O. F .; Mount Carmel Command- ery No. 22, Knights of Malta; and Burnside Post No. 92, G. A. R.
HOMAS J. BARTON, one of the most enterprising and progressive cit- izens of Bloomsburg, is proprietor of the White Mill of that town and enjoys a large and paying custom. He was born on the old Barton homestead on West Main street, near where the pottery now stands, September 28, 1840, and is a son of Caleb and Sarah (Ru- pert) Barton.
Our subject comes from an old and promi- nent family whose members have long been connected with the growth and development of Bloomsburg and Columbia County. His great-grandfather was Elisha Barton, one of the early settlers of Bloomsburg. who was the son of Thomas Barton.
Thomas Barton, great-great-grandfather of our subject, was of English birth and came to the United States with two brothers early in the eighteenth century, settling in Vir- ginia. His companion in life was Hannah Clark, a native of England, and they were the parents of the following children: Daniel; Elisha. the great-grandfather of our subject; Theophilus; Roger; Undrel; Thomas: Clark; Amelia; Sarah; and Isabella. Elisha was born in Virginia, June 21, 1742, and lived there until 1781, when he came to Columbia County and located near the town of Bloomsburg. He purchased land on Fishing Creek and built what became known as the
439
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Red Mill at the foot of a hill and not far dis- tant from the stream. It was one of the first mills erected in this section of the country and was on the site upon which our subject's mill is now located. He put in a wheatstone chopper and plaster grinders and did the cus- tom work for the farmers for many miles dis- tant. He also owned a large tract of land on the opposite side of the creek which he cleared, giving the lumber for the erection of the First Episcopal Church. He was one of the most prominent men of the county and was held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances. He was active and energetic and served for a number of years as justice of the peace. His first marriage was with Mary Simonton, whose death occurred short- ly after they moved to Northumberland Coun- ty. They reared one son, Thomas. On July IO, 1771, he formed a second union with Ann McCarty, who was born in New Jersey, March 20, 1754, and they were the parents of the following children: Mary, who was born De- cember 16, 1772, and married John Boone; Amelia, born October 2, 1774; Elisha, born September 2, 1777, and married Rachel Mil- ler; Isaiah, born June 21, 1780, whose wife was Mary Thornton; Hannah, the wife of James Boone, born May 25, 1783; John, who was born May 10, 1785, and married May C. Kreider; Anna, the wife of Abraham Klotz, was born January 6, 1778; Sarah, born May 2, 1790; Caleb, who married Mary Craig, born November 26, 1792; one, who died in infancy; Cyrus, whose birth occurred May 3, 1796, and who was united in marriage to Catherine Brewer; and Betsey, wife of Wil- liam Robinson, born January 30, 1799. After living a long and useful life Mr. Barton passed into the world of rest September 12, 1816, and his beloved wife survived him seven years, dy- ing January 11, 1823.
Isaiah Barton, grandfather of our subject. followed farming until 1842, when he pur- chased the mill property and, after tearing down the mill erected by his father, built the one which is now operated by our subject. He conducted a custom mill and found it a very remunerative occupation, as he was well patronized. He lived but a short time after the completion of the mill. He was united in marriage to Mary Thornton and they reared a large family of children, one of whom was Caleb, the father of our subject.
Caleb Barton was born August 30, 1812. and lived upon the homestead farm during the early part of his life. He took charge of the farm, while his father conducted the affairs of the mill, until the latter's death, when he suc- ceeded to the ownership of the mill. He suc- cessfully operated the mill until his death. In 1855 he built the handsome residence in which his son-in-law, Thomas Webb, now lives. In February, 1836, he was united in marriage to Sarah Rupert, a daughter of Peter Rupert, a member of one of the oldest families of the community, and they became the happy par- ents of six children : Evelina B., the wife of Dr. W. H. McReynolds; Mary, deceased: Thomas J., the subject of this biography: Catherine B., the wife of Alfred Ale; Emma B., the wife of John Moore; and Anna B., the wife of Thomas Webb. In 1862 he formed a second union with Delilah Creveling. Mr. Barton folded his hands in final rest in Bloomsburg in 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In politics he was a Whig until the death of that organization, when he became a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. In religious attach- ments he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Thomas J. Barton, our subject, was reare 1 on the farm and after attaining his majority
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed in Bloomsburg for eight years. He then returned to the homestead farm, where he carried on general farming for twenty years, or until 1895, when he purchased the old Barton Mill property, and after making many improvements operated it. He has fitted it up with improved machinery and op- erates the mill in an up-to-date manner in every respect. He turns out a high grade of flour, the best brand being the White Lily, and it finds a ready sale on the market. He is a man in whom the people do not hesitate to place their confidence and he has many friends throughout Columbia County. In the fall of 1897 he built a fine residence on West Main street, where he has since resided.
Mr. Barton served as a musician in the 6th Pa. Reserves for thirteen months, and re- ceived his honorable discharge in 1862. After his return he was drafted and became a mem- ber of Company A, 17Ist Reg., Pa. Militia, and served about eleven months, his regiment acting as scout during that time.
Mr. Barton formed a matrimonial alliance with Henrietta Guild, a daughter of Aaron Guild of Hemlock township, and six children have blessed their happy union, namely: Ed- ward, who married Annie Fowler, and has two of four children living, Mable and James; Catherine, deceased; Isaiah, a silk weaver, who married Mary Oswell, and they have the following children,-May, Thomas, Leone, Helen, Caleb, Fred, Ray, Francis, deceased, and Frank; Caleb, a miller; Harry, a teacher; and Maud, a graduate of the Bloomsburg High School.
Mr. Barton is a Republican in his political affiliations. In religious belief he is a mem- . ber of the Episcopal Church.
AMES J. HARDING is a tiller of the soil, having commenced that occupa- tion in 1883, since which time he has occupied a fine farm in Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, Pa. He is of sturdy English extraction and was born in London, England, December 24, 1850. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Fremont) Harding:
James Harding, the father of our subject, was also born in England, but in 1853 he bade farewell to his native country and with his family of two children immigrated to the United States and settled in Montoursville, Lycoming County, Pa., where he still resides. He was in the army during the Civil War. He has accumulated a fine estate and has re- tired from active work. Mrs. Harding was also born in England and is the mother of the following children : James J., whose name appears at the head of these lines; Elizabeth, who is the wife of George Evenden, who is a florist at Williamsport, Pa .; William, pas- tor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Wil- liamsport, Pa .; Mary Bell, who was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Robert E. Diet- rich, a prominent merchant of Montoursville, Pa .; and Charles, a prosperous gardener of Montoursville, Pa. Mr. Harding gave all his children a good education and all are well-to- do members in the various communities in which they reside.
James J. Harding started out in the saw- mill business and continued the same until 1883, when he left Montoursville, Pa., and moved to Sullivan County, where he pur- chased the Edkins farm in Shrewsbury town- ship. Our subject is an energetic and indus- trious farmer, and has made many fine im- provements on his homestead, which consists of 112 acres of highly cultivated land. He is prominently known throughout the coun-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ty, is a good neighbor and citizen, and pos- sesses a multitude of friends.
Mr. Harding was wedded in 1876 to Annie J. Feister of Shrewsbury township, a daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Edkins) Feister, both now deceased; upon the death of our subject's wife, which occurred in Septem- ber, 1894, she left a family of three children, namely: Clyde, a bookkeeper residing at Montoursville, Pa .; Harry Chester; and John Paxton. On December 26, 1895, Mr. Hard- ing formed a second marriage with Alda Ed- kins, a daughter of Warren and Rosalia Ed- kins; her mother and father still reside in Shrewsbury township. One child has been born to this union, Sarah Rita. Mr. and Mrs. Harding are members of the Methodist Church. Politically Mr. Harding is a Repub- lican and has served as school director sev- eral years.
ATRICK F. BRENNAN, district su- perintendent of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, is a man of great prominence in the Seventeenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. His position is one of vast importance not only to his employers but to the thousands of labor- ing men under his supervision. In 1895 he was appointed district superintendent of the Southern Coal & Iron Works and he has ex- hibited much executive ability in his manage- ment of the same. The district in his charge includes the following collieries: Henry Clay, Big Mountain, Sterling, Burnside, Bear Val- ley, North Franklin and Buck Ridge. These collieries furnish employment to about 3,800 men and boys and are all located in North- umberland County.
Besides his varied duties in superintending
these collieries Mr. Brennan has been partia'ly instrumental in bringing about important changes in the mining laws. He was ap- pointed by Gov. Robert Pattison a member of a commission consisting of eleven to revise the old mining law then in operation. The commissioners gravely considered the situa- tion and the present law is the result.
Our subject was born September 3, 1853. in the southern part of Schuylkill County, Pa. His father died when he was eleven years of age, leaving a widow and four children, our subject being one of them. Thus, early in life, he was obliged to work hard to assist in supporting the family. At the age of eleven years he began his industrious career by working as door-boy of Preston Mine No. 2, located at Girardville, operated at that time by Eaton & Company. As he was active and attentive to his duties he was soon promoted from that position to a better one and finally became a miner. On account of his superior skill he was advanced to foreman of the Suf- folk Colliery, near Mahanoy City, which posi- tion he resigned to accept his present much more important and lucrative situation, men- tioned in the beginning of this sketch.
In 1886 Mr. Brennan was a prominent fig- ure in the Knights of Labor and in that year was a delegate to the Miners' District Assem- bly, which was held in Indianapolis. Ind. At all times our subject has been ready and will- ing to do all in his power to assist and help those who are under his supervision.
Mr. Brennan sought and won Elizabeth Murphy for his wife and their nuptials were consummated July 1, 1880. The following children have been born to them: Thomas: Laura; Annie, Lizzie, Helen, and Joseph, all deceased; James; Joseph; Eleanor; and Ida. During his experience as a miner while work- ing at Preston Mine No. 2 he received severe
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
injuries, caused by a gas explosion, and has never entirely recovered from them. Polit- ically Mr. Brennan inclines to the party of Jefferson and Jackson, but does not ally him- self with it when its politics do not suit him. He served one term as burgess of Girardville and was also tax collector and chief of police of the same town. Few men can boast of hay- ing more friends and influence in the Seven- teenth Congressional District than our worthy subject.
ILLIAM WEAVER EVERT of Shamokin, Northumberland Coun- ty, Pa., is widely and most favor- ably known among railway men because of the responsible position which he holds. He is a son of Daniel and Mary E. (Weaver) Evert and was born January 14, 1843, in what is now the town of Shamokin. A successful man in business, a veteran of the war with an ad- mirable record, and a man of most estimable character, Mr. Evert is looked upon as one of the leading citizens of Northumberland County.
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