USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
On October 17, 1876, our subject was united in marriage with Carrie E. Sillyman, daughter of Oscar H. Sillyman of Mount Car- mel, and to them have been born two chil- dren: Carrie E., born July 7, 1879, and Kath- arine, born December 18, 1887.
When the war with Spain was declared Dr. Montelius promptly forsook his personal practice and prepared to serve with the 8th Reg., Pennsylvania Volunteers, and went out as surgeon with the rank of first lieutenant. He was detached from his regiment June II. 1898, and was made chief consulting surgeon of the Ist division hospital at Camp Alger. Va., being subsequently transferred to Camp Meade, where he was detailed as executive officer and placed in charge of all the prop- erty belonging to the camp. Subsequently, when the troops went to Augusta, Ga., Dr. Montelius, in addition to his already exten- sive duties, was made a member of the sum- mary court. He relieved Maj. Wyeth of the Ist division, 5th Army Corps, who was or- dered to Oklahoma, and for some time was in entire charge of the medical stores at Camp Mckenzie, in Georgia. Dr. Montelius proved very popular with his fellow officers and with the men in the ranks and was regarded as one of the most capable and energetic officers in the corps. He received an honorable dis-
charge and was mustered out of the service on the 7th day of March, 1899, and returned to Mount Carmel, where he resumed the prac- tice of his profession.
HARLES P. HANCOCK. Standing conspicuously in the foremost ranks of the leading business men of Montour County, is the subject of this per- sonal history, who is the proprietor of the famous "Globe Store" of Danville, one of the largest in the state, excluding those of Philadelphia. He is a son of William and Mary (Reay) Hancock, and was born in Dan- ville, Montour County, Pa.
The family is of English extraction and Mr. Hancock's grandfather was a resident of Lainesfield, Staffordshire. England. He was for many years a clerk at the Spring Dale Iron Works, near Bilston, Eng., and upon becoming an expert accountant his services were sought by many. He was the father of two sons: James and William, both of whom came to this country and located at Danville, Pa.
William Hancock, the father of our subject, was born at Lainesfield, Staffordshire. Eng., it is thought, in 1812. He became a stock- taker and iron finisher of expert skill, and es- tablished a reputation in that line of work. When the Mountain Iron Works of Danville was built its projectors conceived the idea that pig iron could be made from anthracite coal, and as a result a rolling mill was erected in 1844, of which A. J. Voris, Esq., was made general builder, and Mr. Henry Brevoost su- perintendent. In order to make the trial they needed the assistance of experts for whom a man was dispatched to Sunderland, Eng., where he secured the services of two highly recommended men, William Hancock and
4:23
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
John Foley. In 1844 they came to Danville was of honest and upright character, of chari- table disposition, and fair in his dealings with all men. His death was a sad loss to the Lorough. At his death he was erecting one of the handsomest homes in Danville, a large three-story residence, built of Vermont gran- ite and stone, on Market street, which is now the home of Charles P. Hancock, his son. He was a director in the Danville National Bank. Religiously he and his family were members of the Episcopal Church. He was thrice united in the bonds of matrimony, first with Isabella Emerson in England, who died at the age of thirty-six years. Their children were: Sarah, the wife of Benjamin G. Welsh; Elizabeth J .. the widow of J. D. Gosh, M. D)., of Danville: Isabella, the wife of Harvey B. Crane; Cornelia P .. who married S. . 1. York of Danville; and William D., who died at an early age. His second marital union was with Mary Reay, a daughter of John Reay, a native of England, by whom he had three children, as follows: Charles P., the gentleman whose name heads these lines; George M .; and Mary M., who married F. W. Watkin. His third marriage was to Mary Jones. Their children were: Harry T .. who is a clerk in the "Globe Store," in Sunbury, Pa .: Jennie E .; and Augusta. the wife of John L. Lane. and assumed charge of the plant. manufactur- ing what is known as the T rail, which is now in universal use. The U rail was pre- viously in use, but after they began to manu- facture the T rail. on October 8. 1845, it was supplanted by the latter, which is now the standard throughout the world. These rails were made under the supervision of Mr. Han- cock, who had charge of the straightening and finishing. and his efficiency in that de- partment made him noted far and wide in railroad circles. In 1847 in company with John Foley, under the firm name of Han- cock & Foley. he purchased a mill which had been built by Bird Patterson, and named it the Rough and Ready Rolling Mill. for the manufacture of merchant iron. They con- tinued until 1850, when it was merged into a rail mill and changed the name to the Glen- dower Iron Works. They were decidedly successful from the very start and eight years later our subject's father became sole propri- etor and operated it until 1867, when the National Iron Company, of which he was made president, was formed and succeeded the Glendower Iron Works. In 1870 he and a Mr. Creveling built a furnace, but one year later the National Iron Company purchased it and operated it in connection with its other plant until the death of Mr. Hancock in 1872. Charles P. Hancock was reared in Dan- ville, and obtained a good English education in the public schools. after which he accepted a clerical position with the firm. Cleland. Simpson & Taylor. He continued in their employ until the firm removed to Scranton. Pa .. when he was urged to accompany them as his services would be hard to replace. He was an ideal clerk, a model of politeness, and seemed to know the wants of every customer by intuition. always pleasing them and send- In 1874 the heirs of William Hancock pur- chased the entire business under a mortgage sale and organized the Hancock Iron & Steel Company. Mr. Hancock was a very ener- getic and progressive business man and did more than any other man to promote the iron industry in his section of the state. His advice was frequently sought by the leading manufacturing concerns in the vicinity and always was freely given with the rare judg- ment which was characteristic of him. He ! ing them away from the store satisfied. In
624
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
1883, after having acquired the necessary ex- perience, he resigned his position with the above firm and launched in business on his own account. He returned to Danville and opened the "Globe Store," where his former employers were located, and there has estab- lished the best store of its kind in this sec- tion of the state, owing to his untiring energy in catering to the wants of his many customers from all sections of the county, and his successful management. The building in which he is located is large and commodious, three stories high, and with its white front presents an attractive appearance. It is stocked with the latest and largest line of dry goods, notions, cloaks, ladies' tailor-made suits, men's furnishings, and fourteen compe- tent clerks are constantly employed to attend to the large patronage. The store is a model of neatness, everything being systematically arranged and in its place, which is always pleasing to a patron who does not wish to be delayed in making a purchase. Mr. Han- cock richly deserves the abundance of suc- cess with which he has met, and has the good wishes of a host of friends. In 1898 he opened the largest retail dry goods store in Sunbury, where fifteen clerks are employed.
Mr. Hancock was united in marriage to Adda L. Krebs, a daughter of Simon Krebs, who was formerly a resident of Danville and now is president and superintendent of the Listic Mining & Manufacturing Company, of Somerset, Pa. This union was blessed by the birth of three sons, namely: William K .; Charles P., Jr., who died in infancy; and John. Mr. Hancock takes an active interest in pub- lic affairs. He once served as president of the town council. He was also a member of the board of trade and has held numerous other offices of minor importance. He is a stockholder and director of the Danville Na-
tional Bank. Religiously he is a member of Christ Memorial Church of Danville, and has been a vestryman for some time. Socially he is a member of the following orders: Ma- hony Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M .; Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A. M .; Calvary Com- mandery, No. 37, Knights Templar; and the Mystic Shrine.
ILLIAM WRAGG, a well known citizen of Shamokin, Pa., has for many years been one of the most prominent men in the town and is known throughout the county as a man of high prin- ciples and ceaseless energy. He is an outside- foreman at the Hickory Ridge Colliery and discharges his duties in a manner worthy of the highest praise. He was born December 8, 1855, in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a son of Benjamin and Anna (Booth) Wragg.
Benjamin Wragg was a native of Derby- shire, England, and immigrated to America about 1850, settling in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa., where he died in 1871 at the age of fifty-one years. His occupation was that of a carpenter and he followed his trade in England and in this country. From the time he came to this country until his death, he was in the employ of John Donaldson & Company, coal operators, acting as superin- tendent and foreman most of the time, and was for four years prior to his death super- intendent of the mines. His first wife was also a native of England and she bore him three children all of whom died young. His second wife was the mother of our subject and they were blessed with seven children, as follows: William, the subject of this sketch; Samuel, who is assistant outside-foreman at the Richards Colliery near Mount Carmel;
WHEELER GREEN.
627
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Mary R; John H., who is in the employ of the Union Coal Company as fireman; Benjamin F., who is blacksmith for the Union Coal Company at Hickory Swamp Colliery; Eliza J., who is at home; and George W., who is an engineer at Hickory Swamp Colliery.
William Wragg, the subject of this biog- raphy, for many years has been in the min- ing business, for at the age of ten he began to work as a slate-picker in the breaker, for the Donaldson Company, and later became shipping clerk for the same company. Then for twenty years he was engineer for several different companies, and on May 1, 1893, he accepted a position as outside-foreman at the Hickory Swamp Colliery, under the operation of the Union Coal Company. This colliery employs between 400 and 500 men and boys and Mr. Wragg's duties are many, but he has performed them with such energy and zeal as to give entire satisfaction to his em- ployers and fellow-workmen. He was trans- ferred to Hickory Ridge Colliery, which also is operated by the Union Coal Company, on February 1, 1899.
Politically Mr. Wragg is a strong Repub- lican and he is always looking out for the in- terests of his party. He married Emma J. Oliver, a daughter of Pierce Oliver and a step- daughter of Thomas Senger, who was one of the victims of the famous "Mollie Maguire" uprising in Schuylkill County. Mr. and Mrs. Wragg have been blessed with four children, namely : Gertrude; Rebie A .; Thomas S .; and Sarah H.
HEELER GREEN, one of the old -- est and most respected residents of Sullivan County, is now living in retirement, having acquired a handsome com- petency in farming and the lumbering busi-
ness, which have been life-long occupations. He was born near his present homestead in Hillsgrove township, September 12, 1814, and his parents were Richard and Mary (Plotts) Green.
Richard Green, father of our subject, came from New Jersey State to what is now known as Sullivan County, via Bloomsburg, Muncy Valley, thence over the mountains to the vi- cinity of our subject's present home. He bought a tract of 50 acres and began its culti- vation. In those pioneer days a man could make a comfortable living with very little capital, as the woods were filled with all kinds of game, while the streams abounded with fine fish. Many times our subject's father killed deer and other game from his cabin door. His original farm is now owned by Edward Mc- Bride, and his later purchase, which consists of 330 acres, is owned by our subject. Rich- ard built a saw-mill and cut lumber, which he rafted down to the Susquehanna River, thence to the markets, and he had many thrilling ex- periences in floating lumber down the river, also with the wild beasts in the woods. Mr. Green possessed a strong constitution, was a hard and industrious worker, and possessed hosts of friends. He passed from this life at the age of eighty-four years, ten months and twenty days. He was an unwavering Dem- ocrat in his political views, whilst religiously he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His children were John, Wheeler, Joseph, Al- fred, Isaac, Robert, William, Sarah, Annic, Rachael, Harriet, and Mary, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood except Robert. who died in infancy.
Wheeler Green was reared and always has lived on his present homestead. His boyhood days were spent in aiding his father in clear- ing the farm, also in lumbering. When he grew to manhood he took the responsibility
628
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
of taking much of the lumber down the river to the markets, having made many trips dur- ing his youthful days. Our subject now owns 250 acres of land and, though an old man, he is still active and able to do a big day's work. Mr. Green enjoys splendid health and takes great pleasure in driving over the country be- hind a span of spirited colts.
Mr. Green was joined in marriage with Har- riet Ball, a daughter of John and Ann Ball; she was born May 29, 1811, and died Decem- ber 12, 1874. They reared the following chil- dren; Sarah A., born January 26, 1843, who is the wife of Dr. W. J. Randall of Forksville, Pa .; Ursaline, born January 27, 1845, wife of Abe Fogle and residing in Colorado; Maria J., born April 20, 1847, wedded to William Starr; John W., born August 3, 1849, who has charge of the homestead and married Martha Bedford; and Isadore, born October 16, 1853, who married Henry Froman, and resides near the home of our subject.
Our subject upholds the principles of the Democratic party and is also a strong tem- perance man. He has served as school direc- tor and as superintendent of roads. Reli- giously he is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, of which he has been a class-leader for over fifty years. We take pleasure in announcing that a portrait of Mr. Green appears on a preceding page.
R. JOEL G. RAESSLER, a leading physician and also a druggist of Mount Carmel, is a son of George and Sarah (Geist) Raessler, and was born February 4, 1846, in Hegins township, Schuylkill County, Pa.
The father of our subject was a native of
Northumberland County, but he removed when quite young to Schuylkill County, in which he resided and followed his trade as a tanner throughout his active career.
Our subject received his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools and attended the Freeburg Academy and the Millersville State Normal School for some time. He first mastered civil engineering and surveying, at which profession he worked for five years, teaching in the common schools during the winter months, and also began the study of medicine, determined to adopt a profession more to his liking than surveying or teaching. He received his preliminary instruction in medicine from Dr. Shope of Valley View, Schuylkill County. Entering the University of Michigan, he took a course which well fitted him to complete the learning which he had set out to gain, graduating from that in- stitution and then entering the celebrated Jef- ferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1870.
Immediately returning to Valley View after his graduation from the Philadelphia college Dr. Raessler entered upon the practice of his profession in that town and was very suc- cessful, continuing to practice there for four- teen years. He then removed to Mount Car- mel, where he has since resided and where he has by strict attention to his clientage, and by his unusual ability and his very extensive knowledge of disease and the most modern methods of practice, attained high rank as a physician and a business which is very grati- fying as well as lucrative. In addition to his regular practice he also conducts a drug busi- ness which has been very successful.
Politically Dr. Raessler always has been a stanch and consistent Democrat. He has served as a member of the board of school directors in Mount Carmel and also as a mem-
629
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ber of the borough council. He is a member of the lodge of the I. O. O. F. at Hegins, Schuylkill County, having joined it when he was twenty-four years of age. Religiously Dr. Raessler is an active member of Grace Reformed Church, Mount Carmel, of which he was one of the original trustees. He also has been superintendent of the Sunday School, being the first at the head of the school upon its organization, in May, 1888.
Dr. Raessler married Mary E. Loudens- lager, and to them have been born four sons: Rufus, a graduate of Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, who is practicing his pro- fession at Anthon, Woodbury County, Ia .; Elvin, a painter, who resides in lowa; Vester, who is attending the Ohio Normal Univer- sity and is to be a pharmacist; and Archie, who is at home.
EWIS EVANS, one of the leading cit- izens of Shamokin, Pa., and inside- foreman at the Swamp Colliery, is one of the most highly respected men in the community, and has for several years been one of Shamokin's most prominent citizens. He is a native of Wales, having been born there April 5, 1849, and is a son of William and Mary (Evans) Evans.
Our subject's parents came to this country in 1863, and settled near Scranton, Pa., where William Evans, who had been a contractor in and around the mines in his native coun- try, accepted a position as foreman near Scranton, but shortly removed to Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pa., where he also acted as foreman during the remainder of his active life. He lost his life in the famous disaster at Avondale, in September, 1869.
Lewis Evans, the subject of this biography,
at the age of nine years began his career as a door-boy, also driving horses, and when he came to the United States with his parents he continued at this occupation until he was eighteen years old, when he began his min- ing career at St. Clair, near Pottsville, Schuyl- kill County. Being ambitious to advance, it was not long until his abilities were recog- nized and he was promoted to the position of fire-boss at Shenandoah, Schuylkill Coun- ty, and he so satisfactorily filled his duties that he was again promoted in 1890 to the position of inside-foreman at the Allen Gow- an Colliery of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, remaining there until August, 1893. He then accepted a similar position at the Swamp Colliery under the Union Coal Company.
Politically Mr. Evans is an active and un- swerving Republican, and has always taken a deep interest in all political affairs, and he constantly has the interest of his party and fellow-citizens at heart. On October 9, 1870, he was joined in marriage with Margaret Richards, daughter of Shem Richards of St. Clair, and they are the parents of the fol- lowing children : Mary Ann, the wife of Har- ry Finn, a fire-boss at the Swamp Colliery; Shem, a fire-boss under the employ of his father, who was married February 22, 1899, to Mary J. Edwards of Shenandoah, Pa .; William, who is load-boss at Swamp Colliery and married Eleanor Gensal of Coal Run; and Margaret and Rachael R., who both reside at home. Mr. Evans is well known throughout the county and he has made a host of friends. Socially our subject is a member of Shenan- doah Lodge, No. 511, F. & A. M., of She- nandoah, Pa .; also Shamokin Chapter No. 264, R. A. M .; Shamokin Commandery of Shamokin, Pa .; Shenandoah Lodge No. 591. I. O. O. F., of Shenandoah, Pa .: Lincoln
630
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, of St. Clair, Pa .; and Schuylkill Tribe No. 202, I. O. R. M., of St. Clair.
A® MIBROSE G. HAAS, the well known secretary of the Shamokin school dis- trict, has taken unusual interest in the advancement of educational facilities dur- ing the nine years he has served as director on the school board. At the age of thirty- one he was elected a member of the school board by the voters of the First Ward and has since served continuously to the entire sat- isfaction of his constituents. The Washing- ton and Lincoln school buildings were erect- ed while he was president of the board; sub- sequently he served one term as treasurer and three terms as chairman of the building com- mittee. He is secretary of the board at the present time and is highly commended for the able and efficient manner in which he per- forms the duties of the responsible office.
Our subject is a son of Frederick S. and Sarah (Williamson) Haas, and was born Aug- ust 12, 1858. receiving his early education in the public schools of Shamokin. At the age of fourteen years he learned the trade of a printer but did not follow it. As a boy he was in the Northumberland National Bank, and afterward accepted a position as clerk in a business house in Shamokin where he was engaged for nine years. In 1886 the firm of Wagonseller & Haas was established and the mercantile business occupied Mr. Haas' atten- tion for a number of years.
Politically our subject is a Republican, and always has been an active worker and party organizer and has done much to strengthen the party in his district; he has been in at- tendance at every local convention as a dele-
gate since he attained his majority ; has been frequently consulted by the congressional party committees and usually attends the state conventions. Aside from being a noted poli- tician his life is linked and interwoven in the fraternal societies. He is past master of Shamokin Lodge No. 255. F. & A. M .; past high priest of Shamokin Chapter No. 264, R. A. M .; past commander of Prince of Peace Commandery No. 30, K. T., and Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32d Degree, Scottish Rite Masons, at Bloomsburg; member of Ra- jah Temple, A. A. O. N. of Mystic Shrine, at Reading, Pa .; is a past president of Camp No. 149, P. O. S. of A .; exalted ruler of Shamo- kin Lodge. B. P. O. E .; and past commander of Anthony Wayne Commandery No. 13, P. O. S. of A .; and is past national inspector of the National Camp, which honor was con- ferred on him at the meeting at Denver in 1885. Religiously our subject is of the Pres- byterian faith. He married Sallie Lewis April 26, 1882, and has one son, Frederick S., born June 12, 1886.
The grandfather of our subject on the pa- ternal side was Frederick Haas. He was a native of Sunbury, but left there and went into the coal regions of Schuylkill County. Pa .. where he engaged in the coal operating business; subsequently he returned to Shamo- kin. Coal township, where he died. Politi- cally he was an old line Whig and had served his party as county treasurer. The maternal grandfather was Samuel Williamson.
Frederick S. Haas, father of our subject. was born in Sunbury in 1830, and was reared and educated in that town. He was engaged in the service of the Northern Central R. R. Co., being weighmaster and train dispatcher. In 1867, or thereabout, he was made cashier of the First National Bank of Northumber- land County, and remained in that capacity
JACOB MARKLE.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
until the bank closed. He always was active in the work and organizations of his party. but never sought political preferment, except as school director, in which capacity he served from 1860 until his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a prominent Odd Fellow. He was a consistent Christian gentleman and a central figure in the Presbyterian Church in which he was a trustee and an active worker. His family consisted of six children: Samuel W., deceased; Frederick Potter Withington, who lives in Shamokin, and is a patternmaker; holding the position of foreman in John Mul- len & Son's pattern shops; our subject: Bessie, who died at twenty-four years of age: Caroline and Sarah, both unmarried.
ISS ANNIE MARKLE, who be- longs to one of Milton's oldest and highly respected families, was born in Milton, Northumberland County, and is the only surviving daughter of Jacob Markle.
Jacob Markle, whose portrait appears on a preceding page, was born in Berks County. Pa., and was a son of Christian Markle, who came with his father, Gasper Markle, from Germany, near Amsterdam, and settled in Berks County. There Gasper Markle en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and at a later period settled in Moreland, Lycoming Coun- ty, Pa., where both he and his wife died. His wife was Annie Maria Straub, and they were the parents of two children: Joseph, who was a general in the War of 1812; and Christian, who removed to Milton as early as 1808, where he lived in retirement the remainder of his life. Christian's children were: Jacob; Gideon; Samuel; Peter; William; John; Mary; Elizabeth; and Catherine.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.