USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 61
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Charles Hugo immigrated in 1850 to Phila- delphia at the age of thirteen years, and later moved to what is now known as Merritt's
Lake, where he bought a small farm. His title to the property proved to be worthless and he was left destitute, without a friend and in a strange country. Charles Hugo was born in Gilson, Germany, December 13, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Hugo began married life under adverse circumstances, and their final outcome proves that untiring energy and diligence brings success to those who labor for it. Shortly after their marriage they settled on the North Street road, buying 100 acres of the Eldred tract, Mr. Hugo working at farming for hire and in the mines. In the latter place he severely injured one hand, which incapaci- tated him from labor for some time. He ac- cumulated a small capital and opened a small country store, but did not meet with the suc- cess he anticipated: thereupon, leaving his wife in charge of the store, he began to ped- dle, exchanging merchandise for produce. In this business he won for himself the reputa- tion of an honest, reliable merchant, and found many willing friends to assist him. As his capital grew larger Mr. Hugo added farm after farm to his possessions; notwithstand- ing the fact that he and his wife endured more than their share of life's hardships, it is not strange that they, possessed of ambition and untiring energy and perseverance, succeeded in the end.
At Mr. Hugo's death. in 1897. he left all of his children well provided for, and to his wife bequeathed a fine estate. His children were: Henry J., who married Christiana Banmunk. and is the father of three children. Fanny. En- voy, deceased, and Grace; Augustus, who married Annie Knupper, and has two chil- dren, Blanche and Pearl; Addie, the wife of Anthony Glockler, by whom she has two chil- dren, Mamie and Julia; Victor C., who mar- ried Bertha Crossley, and has two children. Beulah and Maud; George; Charles, de-
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ceased; Emma, deceased; William; Mary; Albert; Robert; and Frankie. Socially our subject's husband was a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
R. WILLIAM T. WILLIAMS, a leading physician and surgeon, who also is engaged in business as a drug- gist in Mount Carmel, is a son of Thomas T. and Margaret (Hughes) Williams. He was born in Merthyr Tydvil, Wales, April 27, 1854. He is one of the most energetic and enter- prising citizens of Northumberland County and holds high rank as one of the leading physicians and surgeons, not only of the coun- ty but of this state.
The parents of our subject came to the United States in April, 1855, William then being their only child, and located at Scran- ton, Pa. The father, who was born in Wales, December 25, 1830, had been a furnace ma- son in Wales, and naturally he followed his trade as mason after locating in Scranton. He worked at his trade and prospered in Scranton until about 1864, when he removed to Northumberland County, locating at Mount Carmel, where he engaged in mining and contracting and where he has since re- sided almost continuously. The father was one of the organizers of the Congregational Church in the borough and for many years has served as a deacon in that church. In politics he has been a Republican and has served as a member of the school board, al- ways taking an active interest in his party and its success. He married the mother of our subject in Wales and there have been born to them four children, as follows: William T., our subject; John, who was a merchant in Mount Carmel up to his death in August, 1886; Margaret, who is a teacher in the pub-
lic schools of Mount Carmel, in which she has taught for ten years, and who also is a graduate of the Millersville State Normal School; and Mary, who is at home and is one of the most popular clerks in the dry goods store of E. C. Tier. The paternal grandpar- ents of our subject were Thomas Williams and Mary Rosser, and those on the maternal side were John and Margaret (Hughes).
After attending the public schools of Mount Carmel the subject of this review, William T. Williams, at the age of thirteen years, entered the shops of the Mount Carmel Iron Com- pany where he worked for five years, learn- ing the trade of machinist and going to night schools during that period. At the age of nineteen years he graduated from the Mount Carmel High School. About that time our subject's father removed his family to Knox- ville, Tenn., the father's purpose in migrat- ing being to engage in iron ore mining. The family soon returned to Mount Carmel, how- ever, but William remained in Knoxville where he read medicine with Dr. D. V. Boyn- ton, a prominent practitioner of that city. He then entered the Louisville Medical College, attending two courses of lectures, and then, in September, 1874, returned to the North and entered the Medical University of the City of New York, from which he graduated March 14, 1875. In the spring of that year Dr. Williams located in Plains, Luzerne Coun- ty, Pa., where he practiced medicine for one year. He removed to Mount Carmel in Jan- uary, 1876, and since has devoted himself to his practice there which has grown constantly and which is one of the largest held by any physician in Northumberland County. In addition to his regular practice Dr. Williams is local surgeon for the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley railroads which positions he has filled most acceptably for some time, and
THOMAS GORREY.
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he also is engaged in the drug business with Dr. R. W. Montelius, with whom he has been associated since 1886.
Dr. Williams was united in marriage on April 13, 1880, to Jennie Jeffries, daughter of Howell and Sarah Jeffries of Mahanoy City, Pa., and to them have been born two child- ren : Thomas Lamar, who is a student at Bucknell University in the freshman class; and Harold, deceased.
Our subject is an Odd Fellow; stands high in the Masonic orders, being a Knight Tem- plar; is a trustee of the Congregational Church of Mount Carmel, and is superintend- ent of its Sunday school; he also is president of the County Sunday School Association and president of the Wyoming Sunday School Union; is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society and an ex-president of the society; a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society; of the American Medical Association; was a member of the Interna- tional Medical Congress of 1887; and is a member of the International Association of Railway Surgeons. In politics Dr. Williams is a Republican and he has served on the board of school directors of Mount Carmel.
HOMAS GORREY, a contractor of good repute in this section of the state, is an enterprising and progressive citi- zen of the town of Bloomsburg, where he re- sides in a handsome residence at No. 224 West Main street. He was born in New York City, March 18, 1848, and is a son of Michael and B. Agnes (Larkin) Gorrey.
The family is of French origin and origi- nally spelled their name M'Gori, but after the French revolution, when they located in Ire- land, it was changed to Gorrey by some and to Gorey by others.
Michael Gorrey, the father of our subject, was born in County Galway, Ireland, where he lived for many years and in partnership with his brother, Thomas, owned a farm and supply store. During the religious rebellion in that country their property was confiscated by the government and they lost everything they had. As a result in 1848, Mr. Gorrey came to freedom-loving America where all men are equal and are allowed to have their own opinions and prejudices. He located in New York City but soon after moved to Yon- kers, where he remained until 1854, when he came to Schuylkill County, Pa., and fol- lowed mining as a means of earning a com- petency. After a residence of six years in that community he moved to Centralia, Pa .. and was engaged in mining until 1876, when he purchased a farm at North Bend. He was united in marriage to B. Agnes Larkin of Ireland and they reared the following child- ren: Thomas, the subject of this personal his- tory; John; Catherine; Michael; James; Pat- rick; and Mary.
Thomas Gorrey went to work in the mines at the early age of seven years as a slate picker, and at twelve became a mule driver, for which service he received $4 per week, but being of economical habits he managed to save enough out of his salary to pay his way in a night school, where he obtained a fair education. With his father's assistance, he managed to attend the Millville Academy. after which he removed to Bloomsburg and became an apprentice to the trade of car- penter. In 1868 he entered the employ of John S. Sterner, who was one of the best contractors and builders of his day. He later became foreman and continued as such until 1885 when he began contracting in his own behalf. He has not only erected some of the handsomest residences and buildings in
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Bloomsburg, but their architecture is also the result of his labor. Among the many buildings which he has erected the following are of the most importance: Bloomsburg Carpet works; Penn Elevator works; Novelty works; the Brass & Copper works; Bloomsburg Ice & Cold-storage plant; a large addition to the Bloomsburg State Normal School, also its large heating plant; remodeled the court- house; and superintended the erection of the desk works. Among the many handsome residences he has built are those of Paul E. Wirt, L. S. Wintersteen, C. C. Peacock, W. R. Tubbs, Levi E. Waller, C. W. McKelvey, and the Episcopal parish house.
That Mr. Gorrey has attained such a suc- cess is due to his own untiring and indus- trious efforts. Beginning without means, he has established a reputation in his line of work that will stand the test and compare favorably with that of any other contractor and builder in the county. The residence in which he lives on West Main street was erected in 1800 by Dr. Daniels but was remodeled and enlarged by our subject and changed into a more modern house. He also owns a resi- dence on West Main street, three double houses on Railroad street, also a lot on that street and a single house, three lots on East Mill street, and a small farm and summer resi- dence in Hemlock township, Columbia Coun- ty. He is a stockholder in the Bloomsburg Cold Storage Company, and Bloomsburg Match Company, and was formerly a stock- holder of the Bloomsburg Brass & Copper Company and the Bloomsburg Elevator and Machine works. In politics he is a Demo- crat and served on the town council seven years.
Mr. Gorrey was joined in wedlock to Emma Sterner, a daughter of John S. Sterner, and their union has been blessed by the birth of
ten children, eight of whom are living, name- ly: Mary, whose death occurred at the age of sixteen years, just as she was entering the senior class of the Bloomsburg Normal School; Annie, who died in infancy; Thomas who is connected with the 7th Army Corps and is in the 2d Hospital Corps; Elizabeth, a dressmaker and milliner of Bloomsburg; John, who is a bricklayer; Catherine, who is in at- tendance at school; Annie; Fannie; Helen; and Mary. Mr. Gorrey's portrait accompa- nies this sketch of his life, being presented on a preceding page.
ORRELL DUNLAP learned the art of farming on his father's farm and has ever since continued in that in- dependent calling. He is also engaged exten- sively in stock raising and lumbering and owns a fine farm in Hillsgrove township, Sul- livan County. He was born in Plunkett's Creek township, Lycoming County, Pa., Sep- tember 1, 1847, and is a son of George Grant and Margaret (Foulcroud) Dunlap.
George Grant Dunlap was born in New- berry, Pa., but moved to Middletown, Pa., where he carried on lumbering; later he fol- lowed the same business at Barbara's Mills, then Sandy Bottom, Pa. He finally settled on the farm now owned by our subject, which then was covered by a dense forest; he cleared a portion of it and farming was his principal occupation the remainder of his life. His death occurred on April 6, 1870, while his wife de- parted this life June 13. 1882. They were the parents of nine children, who were named as follows: Mary Elizabeth, widow of Charles Simon, who now resides at Williamsport, Pa .; Sarah Jane, who died in her younger days; Correll, our subject; Henry, died August 15, 1869; Benjamin, who wedded Mary Diggins,
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and they are residents of Hillsgrove township; George, died September 1, 1881; Florence, wife of William Montgomery, and they live at Laporte, the county seat of Sullivan County; Rosa, who also resides at Laporte; and Orella, who died September 15, 1881.
Correll Dunlap worked at gardening at Newberry, Pa., in his early manhood, and later he took charge of his father's farm, and, with the exception of two years which were spent in a tannery at Proctor, Pa., he has contin- uously resided on the homestead. Our sub- ject is a hard, industrious worker, and his farm, which contains eighty acres, ranks among the best farms in Sullivan County.
Mr. Dunlap is a stanch Democrat, firmly supporting the principles as advocated by his party, and he has held many township offices. Fraternally he is a member of Hillsgrove Lodge, No. 305, I. O. O. F. Religiously he and his wife are devoted members of the Bap- tist Church at Loyalsock, Pa. July 3, 1866, our subject was joined in marriage with Mary E. Grier, born in Lycoming County, March 14, 1849, and a daughter of John and Mary (Luck) Grier, both now deceased. The fol- lowing children were born to them: William, a farmer, who married Kate Hines; Adeline, who died aged six years; George Grant, who resides at Muncy Valley, Pa., and married Margaret Snell; Mary Ellen, died aged one year; Charles, a farmer residing near our sub- ject, and who wedded Sarah Van Horn; Lil- lian, the wife of Harvey Birdsell; one who died in infancy; and Harry B., who is attend- ing school.
ROF. ALBERT U. LESHER, a man of intellectual attainments and the ef- ficient principal of the Market Street Public School of the borough of Berwick,
Columbia County, was born in Fayetteville, Franklin County, Pa., and is a son of Henry C. and Caroline (Wilson) Lesher. He is a grandson of Jacob Lesher, who was the pro- genitor of a large family of children, one of whom was Henry C., the father of our subject.
Henry C. Lesher was a photographer by trade, but at the outbreak of the Civil War he cast aside all business and enlisted as a sol- (lier. He served for some time but contracted a disease which resulted in his discharge from the army. He died in 1870. He was just entering the prime of life and his death was a sad blow to his young wife, to whom he had been married but a few years. Mrs. Lesher is a daughter of Rev. Elijah B. Wilson, who was formerly a minister of the Evangelical Church in Columbia County, and is now liv- ing in Belvidere, N. J. She is an amiable and accomplished lady and is loved by a large number of friends for her many excellent qual- ities. Mr. and Mrs. Lesher's union was blessed by the birth of one son, Albert U., whose name appears at the head of these lines.
Prof. Albert U. Lesher received his primary education in the Mount Joy Soldiers' Orphan School, graduating in 1881, and this was fur- ther supplemented by a course in the Millers- ville and West Chester state normal schools. He then took up the study of law under the tutelage of Brown & Hensel of Lancaster, Pa., in connection with which he taught school, being principal of the Sporting Hill school in Lancaster County until he moved to Berwick in 1893. He then accepted a posi- tion as a teacher in the grammar schools, act- ing in that capacity until 1894. during which time he demonstrated his ability as an educa- tor. He was then promoted to the position of principal of the Market Street school, the
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duties of which he has since faithfully per- formed. The school is a two-story brick building, possessing many of the modern con- veniences and is furnished neatly through- out. It was erected at a cost of $30,000 and has a seating capacity of 500 pupils. There are 500 pupils in attendance and they are divided into six grades which are under the charge of Prof. Lesher. He has the good will and respect of the pupils and their par- ents, and is in favor with the school board. Ilis teachings go beyond the regular studies, for he strives to elevate the moral and social tone of his pupils.
Our subject formed a matrimonial alliance with Alverna Wenner, December 31, 1891, and they are the happy parents of one son, Ar- thur B., who first saw the light of day January 18, 1893; and a daughter, Helen W., born July 29, 1898. Socially he is a prominent mem- ber of the Patriotic Order Sons of Amer- ica, and has passed through all of the de- grees of that society. In 1896 he was award- ed first prize as orator at the state convention of that order. In 1897 he was called upon to serve in the capacity of vice-president of the state organization of that body. He was for some time editor-in-chief of the Lancaster County School Forum; and has been secre- tary of the Columbia County Teachers' Insti- tute for several years. He is a poet of more than ordinary ability and a number of his works which have appeared in print were quite widely read and received very favorable com- ment from literary critics. Prof. Lesher lives in a fine home which he purchased and upon which he has made some very important im- provements. He is one of the leading citi- zens of the community and is highly respected and esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
G FORGE W. MYERS, a well-known business man of Muncy Valley, Sulli- van County, Pa., has established an enviable reputation as a landlord, being the proprietor of the Pennington Hotel. He was born April 5, 1858, in Davidson township, Sullivan County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Fredericka (Geiger) Myers.
Jacob Myers was born in 1818 in Wurtem- berg, Germany, where he married his wife. On coming to America the couple settled in Lancaster County, Pa., where Mr. Myers fol -. lowed farming, later buying a farm in Sullivan County, Pa., where Mr. Myers lived until he departed this life, at the age of seventy-three years. These children resulted from the union, namely: Louisa; Fred, who died on the voyage to this country; John; Jacob; Henry; David; Mary Ann, deceased; George W., the subject of this sketch; Lafayette and Maria, twins; William; James; Albert; Charles; and Caroline.
George W. Myers, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools until he was fif- teen years of age, when he began his appren- ticeship to the carpenter trade. This he fol- lowed as a journeyman and contractor in the vicinity of his home and in New York State until 1897, when, in company with Charles Crawley, he purchased the Judge Gansel Ho- tel. In 1898 our subject purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted the hotel alone. He has made many improvements and it now consists of sixteen large and pleasant rooms, which are newly furnished and equip- ped with all modern conveniences. The Pen- nington Hotel is two stories high and is lo- cated in the heart of the village. A very pleas- ant feature of this well-known hostelry is the excellent table which it sets. An ample livery service is provided for the use of the patrons
2
EZRA S. LITTLE.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
and, in fact, everything possible is done for the accommodation of the guests. Our sub- ject is a man of high principles and takes an active interest in all public affairs. Politically he is an unswerving supporter of the Demo- cratic party and has held a number of minor offices.
On February 23, 1899, Mr. Myers was mar- ried to Mrs. L. Rosa Betz, widow of John Milton Betz, of Muncy, Pa. Mr. Betz died August 28, 1895, leaving one child, Grace E. Betz, who resides with our subject. Mrs. My- ers is a daughter of James F. and Christiana Worthington, and was born March 1, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Worthington are living. They have reared six children: Rosa, wife of our subject; Ida; Harry; Ernest; Milton; and Orval.
ZR.A S. LITTLE, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is a veteran of the Civil War and since its close has been actively engaged in the cultivation of the soil, owning a fine farm in Hillsgrove town- ship, Sullivan County, Pa. He was born in Bradford County, Pa., October 28, 1839, and is a son of William P. and Rebecca (Rogers) Little.
Our subject's grandfather was Daniel Little, a native of the state of New Jersey, but at the time of his death he was a resident of Sullivan County; his vocation was that of a farmer.
William P. Little, father of our subject, was born in Sullivan County, Pa., but in 1838 he became a resident of Bradford County, Pa., where he carried on farming until 1868; in that year he moved to lowa, locating in Cher- okee County, where farming was his chief oc- cupation. He and his wife died there, the death of our subject's mother occurring in 1878. As a result of his matrimonial alliance
with Rebecca Rogers William P. Little reared a family consisting of nine children: A. C., proprietor of the Lewis House at Eagle's Mere, Sullivan County, who during the winter of 1898-99 erected the new hotel at that re- sort, the largest in this section of the state; Sarah R., deceased; Ezra S., the subject of this sketch; John Lambert; Ellen, deceased; Har- riet M., who lives in Iowa; Emma, who was first wedded to a Mr. Richards and upon his death married Eldo Whitehouse and now re- sides in Ida County, Iowa; W. Martin, a farmer in Cherokee County, Iowa; and Jo- seph R., a farmer in Ida County, Iowa.
Our subject remained at home working on his father's farm until the breaking out of the Civil War, when, laying aside all plans for the future, he tendered his services in behalf of the Union. On August 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 14Ist Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., un- der Col. H. G. Madill and Capt. Swartz. He was in the battle of Fredericksburg and at Chancellorsville, where, o. : May 3, 1863. he was shot in the thigh and was sent to the hos- pital at Mt. Pleasant, near Washington, D. C .. where he remained one month, when he was transferred to Philadelphia, where he was con- fined until January, 1864, when he returned to his company. At Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, he was again wounded, receiving a shot in one leg just above the knee; after a few months in the Satterlee Hospital at Philadelphia he joined his company near Petersburg, near which place he took part in several skirmishes, and was also at the surrender of Gen. Lec. He received his honorable discharge May 27. 1865, and after a few weeks' visit at his home in Bradford County he came to Sullivan County and settled on his present homestead. The farm consists of 120 acres of land, all of which has been put under a fine state of culti- vation by our subject.
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Mr. Little was wedded December 16, 1868, to Rachael D. Snell, a daughter of John and Rachael (Calflesh) Snell, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a farmer and lumberman of Sullivan County. Our subject and wife have adopted one child, James, who is now residing at home. Politically Mr. Lit- tle is an avowed Republican, casting his first vote for "Abe" Lincoln; he has held the office of county commissioner for three years; is now serving his third term as justice of the peace; and has filled other township offices. He is a member of J. P. Jones Post, No. 436, G. A. R., of Forksville. He and his wife at- tend the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Hills- grove.
R. HARVEY J. S. WEICKSEL, who belongs to a family distinguished for literary attainments and religious zeal, is a skilful veterinary surgeon of Sha- mokin, Pa. He was born January 15, 1871, in Ringtown, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a son of Rev. Henry and Angeline Weicksel, and grandson of Henry Weicksel, who was born and died in the province of Bavaria, Ger- many.
Rev. Henry Weicksel, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Germany, September 21, 1817, and came to this country when a young man, landing in Baltimore, Md. He soon af- ter entered the college at Gettysburg, mar- ried, and then settled at Hanover, York Coun- ty, and entered the ministry of the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, which sacred calling he followed throughout his life. He later re- moved to Ringtown, and died in December, 1896, in Shamokin, Pa., where he was living in retirement. Rev. Luther M. C., the eldest of the children, was graduated from Muhlen-
berg College at Allentown and the theological seminary at Philadelphia, and in 1876 entered the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is now stationed at Renova, Clin- ton County, Pa .; Jemima Elvira is the wife of Daniel G. Seiler, of the firm of E. G. Seiler & Co., wholesale commission merchants of Shamokin, Pa .; Amelia, unmarried, is now living in Washington, D. C .- she graduated from Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Pa., and then studied physical cul- ture, graduating from Dr. Sargeant's Schoo!, at Cambridge, Mass., and is now one of the loved and respected teachers in the Friends' School in Washington, also finding time to do considerable special work; William began to study for the ministry in 1884, graduating from Muhlenberg College and Mount Airy Theological Seminary, and was called to his first charge at Shamokin, Pa., and then went to Coudersport, and thence to North Lima, Ohio; Frederick A. first learned the trade of a plasterer and then clerked for a time, and at a later period studied theology at Selins- grove, and was ordained a minister in the Lutheran Church and located at Numidia, Pa .; Harvey J. S., our subject, was the next in order of birth; Lizzie, our subject's half- sister, his father having married twice, mar- ried Julius Sebach, and to them were born one son and one daughter; Julius, a graduate of Pennsylvania College, and also of the theo- logical seminary at Gettysburg, is one of the devoted and talented young ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is respect- ed for his literary ability and criticisms as weil as for his religious fervor in promoting the best interests of the church with which he is connected. His sister Lena is studying kin- dergarten work.
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