USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 57
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Mr. Buck was joined in the bonds of matri- mony with Jennie Gavitt, a daughter of Peter Gavitt of Laporte township, Sullivan County. Pa., and they are the parents of five children, namely : Lela, Vera, Mildred, Staunton G., who died at the age of seven months; and Grant. Religiously he is a member of the United Evangelical Church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal. In politics he is a Republican and served as school director five years. Socially he is a member of Sonestown Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand and past representa- tive member; past chief patriarch of the En- campment of Laporte; and past president of Washington Camp, No. 344, P. O. S. of A. of Sonestown, Pa. During his many business changes, Mr. Buck has always held his resi- dence in Sonestown and has never voted in any other place.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
R EV. CHARLES B. SCHNEDER, pastor of St. John's Reformed Church of Shamokin, is a son of Baltzer and Elizabeth (Bowman) Schneder, and was born January 5, 1861, at .Bowmanville, Lan- caster County, Pa. His education began in the public schools of his native township and was continued at the Keystone State Normal School of Kutztown, Pa., where he took part of his preparatory course. He afterward took a course at the academy at Lancaster, Pa., after which he entered Franklin and Marshall College, from which he graduated in 1885, being a salutatorian of the class. He then entered the Eastern Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pa., from which he graduated in 1888. On July 15, 1888, he was ordained and accepted as his first field of labor the Pine Grove charge, Schuylkill County, Pa. This charge consisted of five congregations, all sur- rounding Pine Grove. He remained connected with that parish until 1891, at which time he was chosen to fill his present responsible posi- tion in Shamokin.
Since his connection with the church in Shamokin our subject has been an untiring worker and has built the present edifice, cost- ing about $30,000. When he accepted the charge at St. John's the congregation num- bered 456 members. Rev. Schneder is a man of pleasing address; he is generous and lib- eral in his sentiments, positive in his convic- tions, and firm in expression of his views. He has ever exhibited the genuineness of religious experience by living a true Christian life, and by his earnest efforts has added to his flock until his congregation now reaches a mem- bership of 950, while his Sunday School num- bers about 1,000. Rev. Schneder keeps abreast of the times by having all the subsi- diary organizations connected with the church. He has served the church as a dele-
gate to the district and general synods. He has served on the board of beneficiary educa- tion and as a member of the board of trustees of the East Susquehanna classis, of which he is a member, and while in Schuylkill Coun- ty was stated clerk of the classis.
Rev. Schneder is purely of German origin. The Schneder family in this country was founded by John Schneder, who came from Germany and located near New Holland, Lan- caster County, Pa., where his remains lie buried. He was one of the earliest pioneer settlers and became a tiller of the soil; his broad acres were not easily counted, and late in life he was enabled to build a large, com- fortable and substantial homestead, and within its doors strangers as well as old-time friends were entertained with generous hospitality. His eldest son was called Jacob, whose son, Baltzer, was the great-grandfather of our sub- ject.
Amos Schneder, son of Baltzer and grand- father of our subject, was born and reared in Lancaster County, Pa. He was a veterinary surgeon and farmer and lived to the age of ninety-one years. His son Baltzer, our sub- ject's father, was born in 1831 and still lives at the old homestead on his grandfather's farm enjoying the peaceful and quiet life of a farm- er. He was originally a shoemaker, but later in life engaged in farming, and has since re- sided on the old homestead farm. He has taken a very active interest in church affairs, and is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Reformed Church of the United States. He is serving as an elder of that church at the present timc. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bowman, a pious lady, and their home was blessed by the presence of four sons and two daughters. Of these Sarah, the wife of James K. Fox, lives in Missouri; David B. lives in Sendai, Japan, where he is occupying
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
the chair of dogmatic theology in the Re- formed Theological Seminary; Charles B. is our subject; Mary B. is the wife of David B. Bender, lives in Lancaster County, Pa .; Amos B. is at present a member of the junior class in Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa .. is living temporarily in that city; and Martin died in childhood.
R. ROBERT A. KENNEDY, a prom- inent and successful practitioner and one of the most active citizens of Sha- mokin, Pa., is well known, not only in medi- cal associations, but also in social circles throughout the Seventeenth Congressional District. After years of useful preparation, during which he was obliged to work his way through the medical college, Dr. Kennedy reached the goal of his ambition and became a full-fledged M. D., graduating from the Pennsylvania Medical University in 1881. He immediately began the practice of his profes- sion in Shamokin, where he has energeti- cally applied himself for years and succeeded in building up a substantial and lucrative practice, enjoying the reputation of being a very successful specialist in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat. He thoroughly qualified himself for these special departments by taking courses of study in the best medical institutions in New York and Philadelphia.
Our subject was born August 12, 1853, in Shamokin, and is a son of William and Maria (Ammerman) Kennedy, and a grandson of Jonathan Kennedy, of Scotch-Irish stock, who emigrated from the North of Ireland and located in White Deer township, Lycom- ing County, Pa., where he is registered as having been one of the pioneer settlers of
that county. He engaged in agricultural pur- suits and general development of the country. He was known to all, far and near, as a man of just and upright principles, full of progres- sive ideas about practical farming. He was a Whig and as such took a very active in- terest in local politics. He died at the old homestead in the community where he was honored and respected by all.
William Kennedy, father of our subject, was born at the family home in Lycoming Coun- ty about 1818 or 1820. He was reared and educated in the common schools of his native county. While a young man he removed to Shamokin and was one of the earliest settlers of that place, going there early in the 40's; he was also one of the first merchants in Sha- mokin, where he carried on a successful and remunerative business until late in the 60's, when he located in Schuylkill County, Pa .. where he spent the remainder of his days. He was united in marriage with Maria Am- merman and their union was blessed with five children. Death mercilessly robbed them of all except one, Robert A., the subject of this sketch. William Kennedy spent the closing years of his life in contracting and speculat- ing. He died at the age of sixty-five years, having lived to see his only surviving son a successful physician and surgeon.
Our subject began his education by attend- ing school in Shamokin, after which he took an academical course at Elysburg, and then entered Bucknell University at Lewisburg. from which he graduated in 1873, having con- ferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Then began his struggle to ob- tain a medical education. He commenced to study medicine under a preceptor, Dr. S. M. Todd, in Berks County, at the same time en- gaged in teaching in the Mount Pleasant Seminary at Boyertown; this enabled him to
PETER G. BOBB.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
take several courses of medical lectures at the Pennsylvania University, after which he suc- ceeded in getting an appointment for one ycar at the city hospital of Wilkesbarre, Pa. He next went to Danville and studied under the late Dr. James D. Strawbridge, after which he was in charge of the drug store of Dr. Ran- kin at Muncy for about one ycar. He was then financially able to complete his medical education by attending the Pennsylvania Uni- versity until 1881, when he graduated with honors as before mentioned.
Our subject was united in marriage with Sallic Magee, which happy event was consum- mated March 2, 1882. Four children have been born to them, only one of whom is liv- ing. Roberta A., who was born July 18, 1896, and is a joy and comfort to her parents. Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy are both consistent mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and are very liberal supporters of it.
Dr. Kennedy was one of the organizers of the Northumberland County Medical Asso- ciation and is also a member of the West Branch Medical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, and American Medical Association. He is an earnest Republican and gives his support to the nominees of that party. Educational matters have shared his generous support and for six years he cheerfully gave his time and services as a member of the school board of the city of Shamokin. He is an active mem- ber of the following lodges and organizations: Past master of Shamokin Blue Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M .; Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, R. A. M .; Shamokin Commandery, No. 77. K. T .; Philadelphia Consistory Scottish Rite Masons, consisting of 32 degrees; Rajah Tem- ple Mystic Shrine; past president Washington Camp. No. 660, Patriotic Order Sons of America; Shamokin Council of the United
Order American Mechanics: Black Diamond Lodge, No. 1092, 1. O. O. F .; past exalted ruler of Shamokin Lodge, No. 355, Order of Elks; and Liberty Hose Company of the Sha- mokin Fire Department.
ETER G. BOBB, deceased, whose por- trait appears on the opposite page, was a well known and much respected business man of Paxinos, Pa., and was born in Jackson township. Northumberland Coun- ty. September 28, 1842. He was a son of Michael M. and Elizabeth (Gonsar) Bobb, of Jackson township, and grandson of Michacl Bobb, a native of Germany, who was the first of the family to locate in Jackson township.
Michael M. Bobb, the father of our subject. was born September 28, 1812, at Big Ma- hanoy, Pa. He grew to manhood in Lower Augusta and followed the trade of a tailor there for about nine years. In 1852 he re- moved to Shamokin township, locating at Snufftown, where he worked at the tailor trade and farming. He later sold out and moved to Union County, near Mifflinburg. where he carried on farming, but he subse- quently moved to Rockefeller township. where he resided, enjoying the fruits of his labor, until he departed this life at the age of seventy-two years. His wife survived him nine years, dying at the age of seventy-five. Mrs. Bobb was a daughter of Daniel Gon- sar, a farmer of Jackson township who lived to the age of sixty-two years. Our subject's parents were members of the Lutheran Church. They had eleven children. namely : Mary Ann, now deceased, who married J. ... Treats, a resident of Snufftown: Daniel, who operates a planing mill in Sunbury. Pa .: Eliz- abetli, deceased. who married William Biles of Mount Carmel. Pa .: Caroline, who was the
568
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
wife of Jacob Dundore, deceased, a cattle (rover; Peter G., whose name heads these lines; Sarah, the wife of C. Frederick Lindig, a resident of Lewisburg, Pa .; William W., deceased; Michael, who died young; Frank- lin Pierce, who married Mary Bone, and now operates a planing mill at East Lewisburg, Pa .; and Louisa, widow of James Havens, who lives in Lewisburg. Mr. and Mrs. Bobb gave their children the benefits of an educa- tion in the public schools.
Peter G. Bobb lived at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he taught school for two years, and then clerked in a store at Paxinos for John Nesbit for three years. He was married in 1865 to Mary Jane Fisher, a daughter of John and Hannah (Yocum) Fisher, the former a miller of Paxinos. They became parents of four children and the three youngest still brighten their mother's home: Bessie, the first born, married John H. Kase, a farmer of Mayberry township, Montour County; Carrie Belle; Alfred Cameron; and Mildred P. After 1867 our subject went into the general merchandise business for himself at Paxinos and so continued until 1868, when he sold out to Thomas Metz, and then he .clerked for three years. He was appointed postmaster of Paxinos and was not permitted to relinquish his position for twenty-three years. He was also appointed ticket and freight agent at Paxinos for the Northern Central Railroad in 1871, continuing until 1894. He then started the business now op- erated by his son, and dealt in farm imple- ments of all kinds, harness, whips, coal and fertilizers, etc. He also owned two farms in Ralpho township. Mr. Bobb departed this life on February 8, 1899, and the business which he placed on a firm basis is being suc- cessfully conducted by his son, Alfred Cam- eron Bobb.
Politically Mr. Bobb was a firm adherent to the principles of the Republican party, but was not an office-seeker. The Methodist Church found in him a worthy and active member. He enlisted in June, 1863, in Com- pany A, 28th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and was in service until June 27, 1863. Having lived in Paxinos for over forty years and having at- tained a position of prominence in the com- munity, his success is often cited by his friends, who desire their children to emulate his example.
ENRY E. FAWCETT, who is exten- sively engaged in general farming and dairying, is a highly respected citi- zen of Elkland township, Sullivan County, Pa. He was born on the farm on which he now resides, September 3, 1857, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Bird) Fawcett.
His grandfather was Henry Fawcett, a na- tive of England, who immigrated to America in 1819, locating on the farm now owned by J. Kline, Esq., in Sullivan County, Pa. It was a tract of timberland which had not under- gone the improvements which civilization brings. He cleared a piece sufficient in size on which to build a cabin, and after its erec- tion he and his wife lived there the remainder of their lives, working hand in hand, convert- ing a vast wilderness into fields fit for cultiva- tion.
John Fawcett, the father of our subject, was born in England in 1817, and was two years of age when his parents came to this country. His opportunities for obtaining an education were few, but he made the best of them and acquired a good business training. Upon reaching maturity he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, built a good house, and during the remainder of his days followed
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
farming, making great improvements on his property. In the latter years of his life he erected a new and modern home, the one in which Henry E. Fawcett now lives, but it was not entirely completed at his death. He was a man of excellent qualities and always aided those who had been less fortunate in life than he. He passed into the realms of the unknown September 21, 1881, and his death was greatly mourned by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances. He married Phoebe Bird, a daughter of George and Sarah (King) Bird; who was born in 1813, and is now living with her son Asa in Elkland township, being a well- preserved woman for her years. The children resulting from this union were: Philinda, the wife of James Hart; Lydia, the wife of David McCarty; George; Asa, who married Lizzie Schrader; Sarah; Minerva, the wife of Wells McCarty; and Henry E., the subject of this personal history. Mr. Fawcett was a stanch Republican in his political affiliations; in re- ligious views he was a Wesleyan Methodist.
Henry E. Fawcett was reared on his fath- er's farm and educated in the district schools. The happiness and success of his father in the pursuance of agricultural pursuits influenced him in choosing farming as his life's work. He purchased the old homestead, improved it, and at the present time has a fine farm of 160 acres under a high state of cultivation. He is engaged in dairying and raises grain and other farm produce; and for many years he ran a threshing machine and was also engaged in the lumber and bark business. He is a man of good business capacity, and good results have attended his efforts on all sides.
Mr. Fawcett was joined in hymeneal bonds with Arvilla Mullen, a daughter of John and Selena (Woodhead) Mullen, and a descendant of an old and well-established family in Sulli- van County. Anthony Mullen, the earliest
ancestor of whom there is any record, lived in New York City and was a drummer in the Revolutionary War. Ile was a sea captain and was finally lost at sea, leaving a very large property in New York City. His son, Charles Mullen, at an early day moved to Sullivan County, Pa., where he was given a tract of fif- ty acres by Dr. Joseph Priestley as an induce- ment for him to locate there. He cleared the land and built a log house, the work being greatly facilitated by the use of tools which he was enabled to make, as his trade was that of a blacksmith. He subsequently took up more land, but as he was at a distance of thirty miles from the nearest mill, he finally located on our subject's farm, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He married Eliza- beth Hoagland, and they reared the following children: Hannah; Charles; Joseph; Mar- tha; William; John; and Anthony. John Mullen, the father of Mrs. Fawcett, was edu- cated in the district schools and in the college of Jersey Shore, in which he took a complete course under Prof. Nehemiah Ross, gradua- ting at the age of twenty-two years. He came into possession of the homestead property, and has since followed farming. He married Selena Woodhead, and the following children were born to them: Almeda, Cecelia, Lettic, Rose, Frank, Lillie, Janie, Arvilla, Melville. Clara, Charles, Luella, and Ada. Mr. Mullen was born in Elkland township, Sullivan Coun- ty, March 1, 1821, and is now an honored member of that community.
Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett are the parents of two children: Lee and Lena. Politically Mr. Fawcett is very active and is one of the most popular men in the Republican party in Sulli- van County. He was the party nominee for sheriff in 1895 and ran away ahead of his tick- et, but was defeated by the small margin of sixty-five votes. He has served as constable.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
school director, and superintendent of roads. In religious views he is a Wesleyan Metho- dist, and he and his wife both take an active part in church and sabbath school work.
AVID L. SOLLENBERGER, the popular postmaster at Shamokin, and one of the best known newspaper men of Pennsylvania, is a son of Samuel S. and Anna M. (Lehn) Sollenberger, and was born October 14. 1853, in Mechanicsburg, Cum- berland County, Pa. At the age of sixteen years he became a compositor in the office of the Newville Pennsylvania Star, at Newville, Cumberland County, Pa., where he served three years; in 1873 he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he worked at his trade as a jour- neyman until 1877, when he removed to Northumberland County and purchased the Watsontown Record and published it ten months, when he sold out and bought a half interest in the Sunbury Democrat, and was associated with it until June, 1879. In No- vember, 1879, he purchased a half-interest in the Shamokin Times, and continued in con- nection with it until 1891. In 1886 he formed a partnership with W. S. Ginterman and founded the Shamokin Daily Dispatch, which he continued to publish until 1891, when he severed his connection with the Dispatch and Times and entered a new field of labor, that of editing the Sunbury Evening Item.
August 24, 1894, during the latter part of the Cleveland administration, our subject was appointed postmaster at Shamokin. His pop- ularity and worth as a public servant have been recognized by the head of the Postoffice Department at Washington and Mr. Sollen- berger has been honored, as well as rewarded,
for his efficient service, by being continued in office under the present administration.
John Sollenberger, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1774, but removed to Cumberland County, locating in Monroe township, near Carlisle, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He died in 1856, having attained the ripe age of eighty-five years.
Our subject's maternal grandfather was born in Lancaster County in 1794, and was a farmer by avocation; he died at the old home- stead in Cumberland County in 1878. lacking but one year of having lived as many years as did his venerable father. Religiously, he was of the German Baptist persuasion. The grand- father on the maternal side was David Lehn.
Samuel S. Sollenberger, father of our sub- ject, was born in Mechanicsburg, Pa., in 1830, and lived all his life in his native county. In the later years of his life he engaged in teach- ing school. He was a valued citizen, and his premature demise was deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. His death occurred in 1873, he having crossed the threshold of only forty-three years. The marriage of Samuel S. and Anna M. Lehn was blessed with but one child, David L., subject of this sketch, who was educated in the common schools of the county of his birth. He was a close student and by diligent application to his studies at school he acquired a good practical education. Politically our subject is a Democrat and al- ways has taken an active interest in party work and is a successful party organizer. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Allentown state convention and an alternate to the national convention of the same year. Socially he affil- iates with the Odd Fellows and is a member of Lodge No. 9. I. O. O. F., of Pittsburg, Pa.
November 29. 1876, he married Annie A. Brown, an accomplished and charming lady.
GEORGE J. HIGGINS.
573
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
and to them have been born five children: Erie G .; Helen Pearl; Mary G .; Vida C., who (lied August 22, 1898; and David B.
EORGE J. HIGGINS, local agent of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road and also agent of the United States Express Company, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is among the well-known citizens of Shamokin, Northum- berland County, Pa. He enjoys the distinc- tion of being a self-made man in every sense of the word, having worked his way up from messenger boy to his present responsible and lucrative position of freight and passenger agent at the above station. At the age of fif- teen years he was an expert sound operator and was appointed operator at the Reading station at Shenandoah. He was a faithful and untiring worker and his promotion fell to him step by step. At the age of eighteen he was again promoted, to the post of assistant weigh-master at the Frackville scales, at which place he spent two and one-half years in weighing coal and then accepted the chief clerkship at the Reading depot in Shenan- doah. In 1888 he was promoted to the posi- tion of station agent at Allenwood, on the Reading system, and two months later was transferred to a similar position at Locust Gap, where he remained until June 1, 1891, when his services were rewarded by another promotion and he was sent to Shamokin as station agent for the Reading.
Our subject was born in Tamaqua, Schuyl- kill County, Pa., July 27, 1865, and is a son of John F. and Margaret (Franey) Higgins, well-known residents of Shenandoah, and grandson of William Higgins, a native of Ire- land, who came to America when a young man, some eighty years ago, and located in
Schuylkill County, being one of Tamaqua's pioneer settlers, the entire region at the time being a vast, untouched wilderness. John F. Higgins, the father of our subject, was born in Tamaqua in 1837. He was a molder by trade; later in life he discontinued working at his trade and engaged in the shoe business. He died at Shenandoah in 1893, at the age of fifty-six years. He endorsed the principles of Democracy and took a very active in- terest in local politics: lie was tax collector of Shenandoah in 1891 and 1892. The fol- lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Higgins besides George J., the subject of this sketch: Alice, wife of Edward Ratch- ford, of Shenandoah, Pa .; William J., an un- dertaker of Mount Carmel, Pa .; John F., Jr .. who is state senator of the Thirtieth Sena- torial District, and lives at Shenandoah: Me- lissa M .; James C .: Nellie E .: Kate M .; Charles C .; Julia A. Most of the family live in Shenandoah, Pa.
On October 21, 1891, our subject was united in marriage with Julia M. Tobin, the accomplished daughter of John and Margaret A. (Turner) Tobin, well known residents of Shenandoah. They, with their two children, Margaret E. and John F .. now reside at No. I South Shamokin street, Shamokin.
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