USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 64
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Jacob Markle, our subject's father, in early
manhood went to Reading, Pa., and learned to manufacture hats. After that he estab- lished a factory in Milton and made all kinds of men's hats. His factory was located where Mr. Embody's store now is, and he carried on a very extensive business for several years. He was united in marriage with Kate Hogen- teller, who died at the age of forty years, leaving one child, Zechariah. Being an only son, Zechariah was given the best of advan- tages, and after he grew to manhood's estate was instructed in every branch of hat-making. and succeeded his father in 1852, carrying on the business for many years. He married Ann Forrest. At a later period he engaged in the grocery business at Danville, retired in 1874, and lived, until he died in 1891, in Dan- ville and Milton. He was active to the last and was a man who won the love and respect of all. Our subject's father was united the second time in marriage, his second wife being Harriet Eckert, a daughter of George Eckert of Berks County. She died April 2, 1893, in hier ninetieth year. She was very active until her last day; all her faculties were unimpaired. her carriage graceful and upright; she was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and was loved by both old and young in the very large circle of her acquaintances. Our sub- ject's father succumbed to that insidious dis- case, consumption, in the prime of life, being forty-eight years old when he died. He was a private under his uncle, Gen. Joseph Markle, in the War of 1812. He left a val- uable estate, from which his family has re- ceived the benefit for many years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Markle were the par- ents of two daughters: Elizabeth, who died at an early age; and Annie, our subject, who has been a life-long resident of Milton and owns considerable property, including a hand-
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some brick residence on Mahanoy street. We find in her an exemplification of the truth of the saying, "As the mother, so the daughter," and her many friends can make her no bet- ter wish than that she continue to follow in her mother's footsteps.
J OHN HILL. This early pioneer was the first permanent settler on the Loyalsock Creek, in Hillsgrove town- ship. Sullivan County, Pa. He bought his land, with the improvements on it that had been already made, of a man by the name of Ogden, who took his family in a canoe and went farther down the creek.
John Hill was a native of Upton, Leicester County, England. He left Liverpool No- vember 15, 1793, and after a thirteen weeks' passage landed at New York February 18, 1794. He was a man of fine education, as his books and writings testify. On March 15, 1796, he was married to Mary Robb, daughter of Robert and Susanna Robb of Muncy, Pa. He died July 1, 1834, aged eighty-two years; his wife Mary's age and death are not recorded, but it is known that she lived to a good old age, respected by all who knew her. Their home was a house of entertainment for travelers during their mar- ried lives. The old Hill property has been a home for travelers for one hundred years, and still is; at the present date (1899) it is conducted as a licensed hotel. To John and Mary Hill were born four children, as fol- lows: Susanna, born October 14, 1797, mar- ried Joseph Sadler, an account of whose life follows in this sketch; Mary, born April 14, 1799, married David Rogers, and reared a family of three daughters and two sons, dying in 1858; John Cheatle, born March 31, 1801,
died a bachelor October 4, 1841, at the age of forty; and Martha Jane, born January 15, 1805, and married to Isaac Craven,-she reared a family of three sons and two daugh- ters, and lived to a good old age.
Joseph Sadler, who married Susanna Hill in 1819, was a son of Samuel Sadler of Liver- pool, England. Joseph Sadler established the Sadler family in Sullivan County, and lived there until his death June 3, 1820. His wife lived to the age of sixty-seven years and eleven months. Their only child was John J.
John J. Sadler was born in Sullivan County March 21, 1820, and after growing up settled upon the old homestead left him by his father.
He resided there and actively engaged in agricultural and lumbering pursuits until his death, September 12, 1890. He is survived by his wife, who now lives in the village of Hillsgrove. On November 3, 1853. he was united in marriage with Anna H. Bothwell, who was born in Canton, Bradford County, Pa., October 26, 1834, and they reared six children: Harriet W., born August 1, 1854, and died August 28, 1856; Claudius W., born November 14, 1856; Justin S., born August 22, 1859, and died March 1, 1860; Clara A., born April 22, 1861, is the wife of Malcolm McCormick, and lives at Wausau, Wis .; Alex. H., born April 22, 1864, died May 13, 1866; and Charles R., a barber by trade living in New Albany, Pa., born January 11, 1866, and married to Philena Sherman.
Claudius W. Sadler obtained a public school education and after leaving school engaged in working for the tannery in Hillsgrove, hauling bark and lumber. He followed that line of work for five years, after which he located on the Susanna Sadler property, where he has since resided. He has greatly improved the farm and has added to it, until there is now 100 acres in all. He has carried
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on general farming and has by good manage- ment been very successful. He is a man of honor and possesses the esteem of his neigli- bors and many friends throughout the town- ship. On November 17, 1884, he was united in marriage with Laura Hoagland, who was born in the village of Shunk, Sullivan County, February 14, 1861, and is a daughter of Uriah and Electa (Peppers) Hoagland, both of whom now reside in Shunk. Politically Mr. Sadler is a Republican. He is a member of Hillsgrove Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Shunk Lodge, No. 220, P. O. S. of A. In religious attachments his wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Hillsgrove.
ELSON M. SMITH, M. D., who has been successfully engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in the village of South Danville since 1882, is a man thor- oughly familiar with the intricacies of his pro- fession, in which he stands second to none in his vicinity. He was born at Trevorton, Northumberland County, August 12, 1857, and is a son of Samuel S., and Sarah (Reed) Smith, and a grandson of Morris Smith, who followed the trade of a miller in Shamokin township all of his life.
Dr. Samuel S. Smith, the father of our subject, was born in Northumberland County, and after completing his education in the com- mon schools, began the study of medicine un- der the preceptorship of Joseph Robbins, a physician of experience of Elysburg, Pa. He then matriculated at the University of Penn- sylvania, from which he was graduated upon the completion of a two-years' course. He then began to practice at Hartleton, Union County, and after a time located at Trevorton, Northumberland County, where he firmly es-
tablished a good practice which he continued until his death in 1862, aged thirty-four years. He was joined in wedlock to Sarah Reed, a daughter of Mathias Reed, a resident of Irish Valley, Northumberland County, and they be- came the happy parents of the following child- ren, all of whom were given good educations and are now highly respected citizens of the various communities in which they live: Ga- len, a farmer of Northumberland County; Dr. Nelson M., the subject of this sketch; William, a farmer and canner; Clinton S., a prosper- ous merchant of South Danville: Laura, wife of Dr. Kline of Reading; and Clara, who mar- ried Lafayette Lechler of Gearhart township.
Dr. Nelson M. Smith attended the public schools for several years, after which he be- came a medical student in the office of Dr. Pursell of Danville. He later entered the University of Pennsylvania from which he graduated with the class of 1882 and imme- diately after entered upon his first practice in South Danville. Having been reared in that section of the county, he was already well- known to many of the citizens of South Dan- ville as a studious and enterprising young man who had attained a complete mastery of his chosen profession, and one in whom they could unhesitatingly place their confidence. He built an office on Sunbury street and in a remarkably short time acquired a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and the Montour County Medical Society. He owns a fine residence on Gearhart street. and is also the owner of numerous valuable lots in the village.
Dr. Smith was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Lillie Gearhart, a daughter of Peter and Celestia (Coup) Gearhart. a lady of many excellent and lovable traits of char- acter. Socially our subject is a member of
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
Mahanoy Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M., whilst in religious views, he is an adherent to the faith of the Baptish Church.
OSEPH ZUERN, an esteemed citizen of Shamokin, Pa., was born February 19, 1816, in what is known as the Irish Valley, Northumberland County, Pa., and is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Cherry) Zuern.
The grandfather on the paternal side of the family was Michael Zuern, who was a native of Germany, whence he came to the United States, and died in a little village about five miles west of Shamokin, Pa., where he was engaged in mercantile business.
Solomon Zuern, the father of our subject, lived at Irish Valley until about 1817, when he removed with his family to Ohio and re- sided there about seven years; then he re- turned to Northumberland County, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death. He married Elizabeth Cherry, and to them were born six children who grew to maturity, and three who died in infancy. Hester, the eldest, was the wife of Samuel Hummel, both are now deceased; Samuel, deceased; Joseph, our subject; William, deceased; Daniel, de- ceased; and Mary Elizabeth, now deceased, who was married twice, first to Nathaniel Morgan, and after his death, to John Shipp.
Joseph Zuern, our subject, was a year old when his father moved to Ohio; upon his re- turn with his parents to Pennsylvania, he be- gan his education in a subscription school which was taught in an old log school house in the Irish Valley, attending but a limited time, however, perhaps one month in the win- ter time. When he was fourteen years of age he went with his uncle, Jacob Scholl, a tailor
in the neighborhood, and worked for him at tailoring for four years. Then, after working six months on a farm for wages, he learned the blacksmith's trade with his brother-in-law, Samuel Hummel, and they worked in the Black Rock tunnel at Phoenixville when the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad was being built in 1835, doing the first blacksmithing work in connection with the building of that tunnel. After learning this trade he went to what was known as the Big Tunnel on the Catawissa road then in the process of con- struction, and later went to Pottsville, thence to the Falls of Schuylkill, where he did the first work on the first bridge built across the Schuylkill River by the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad Company. On January 8, 1841, he removed to Shamokin and did general blacksmithing work until 1851, when he formed a partnership with Paul Ammerman, under the firm name of Ammerman & Zuern, and engaged in mercantile business, in which he continued for two years, when they en- gaged with a third person in the coal pro- ducing business for about three years. Giv- ing up that line of work our subject estab- lished a flour, feed and provision store, which business he pursued uninterruptedly for twen- ty-seven years, when at the end of that time. in 1881, he retired from active business life. Mr. Zuern has always been a stanch Demo- crat, and in the 40's was appointed postmaster under the administration of President James K. Polk, but at the end of his term he re- signed his position. Since 1836 he has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and has been prominent in the church government, holding at various times the of- fices of deacon, elder, and trustee.
Mr. Zuern has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Ann Teatsworth, and to them were born four children: Charles, born
MARTIN AND HELENA E. MARKLE.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
November 9, 1843, and died when three days old; Clarissa, born March 8, 1845, who is the wife of William M. Smith, and they are now living in Altoona, Pa .; Alvin, born. March 22, 1848, who is a tinner and resides in Shamo- kin, Pa .; Henrietta, born August 9, 1850, the wife of Frank K. Sausser, a tinner by trade. After the death of his first wife our subject married Mary Ann Sober, July 6, 1854, and by this marriage there were also four chil- dren: Austin Eugene, born May 15, 1855, and died February 1, 1897; Alice Rosalie, born January 10, 1858, now deceased; Lizzie Maria, born March 25, 1862, deceased; and Edwin Owen, born May 8, 1866, and now engaged in the jewelry business in Shamokin, Pa.
ARTIN MARKLE, formerly pro- prietor of Eagle Run Brewery, of Shamokin, Northumberland County, has by his honest and upright deal- ings won the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends among the leading business men in his section of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Markle was educated in the common schools and remained on the homestead farm in Germany until he attained the age of sev- enteen years. In April. 1852, he immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York April 23, 1852, remaining in that city but a short time, however, and then removing to Slatington, Northumberland County, Pa., where he entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company as lock-tender, which occupied his attention for nineteen years.
In 1862 our subject engaged in the mer- cantile business and conducted a store at the lock, which place is known to this day as "Markle's Lock." In December, 1871, he lo-
cated in Shamokin and purchased the John B. Douty brewery, now known as Eagle Run Brewery, which he successfully operated until 1895, when he sold his business to P. 11. Fur- mann and practically retired from active busi- ness pursuits, reaping the benefits of a reward commensurate with a'life of industry and fru- gality.
Our subject was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, February 12, 1835, and is a son of George and Barbara (Souter) Markle, and a grandson of Jacob and Kathrina Souter on the maternal side. His father held a civil office under the German government for forty years; he died in Germany about 1890. Our subject is one of a family of seven children, most of whom are accounted for as follows: George Jacob, who came to America two years after our subject and settled in Green- field, Mass., where he conducted the Germania Hotel for a period of twenty years,-he died September 22, 1898; Casper, who immigrated to the United States in 1857 and since 1866 has resided in Greenfield, Mass., a cutler by trade, having been engaged in that business ever since he left his native country; and George and Christina, both of whom reside in Germany.
Martin Markle was married, June 17, 1852. to Helena Eith, daughter of Casper Eith, a native of Germany. By this union were born seven children: Hannah, wife of Pius Schwei- benz, who owns a brewery in East Mauch Chunk; William M., who at the time of his death, August 18, 1898, was proprietor of the Central Hotel in Shamokin; Amandus, who is in the employ of the Eagle Run Brewery: Helen, wife of Daniel Stahl, foreman of the same brewery: George F., a resident of Uniontown, Northumberland County, and a dairyman by avocation: Sarah. widow of Charles Tretter, who resides with her father
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in Shamokin; and Cecelia, wife of Francis Rankey, a manufacturer of paper boxes in South Bethlehem, Pa. Mrs. Markle died No- vember 9, 1898.
Mr. Markle enjoys the distinction of being one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of his adopted home. He is a director of the First National Bank of Shamokin and has been treasurer of the bank for thirteen years; a director of the Shamokin Powder Manufacturing Company; assisted in organ- izing the Shamokin & Mount Carmel Street Railway Company, and is one of its present board of directors; and also a director and treasurer of the Shamokin Street Railway Company. He is a Christian gentleman and a valued member of the Lutheran Church. In his political views he is very decided and is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian stamp. A por- trait of Mr. and Mrs. Markle is shown on a preceding page.
ENNIS BRIGHT, a retired hardware merchant, resides in a handsome home at No. 132 West Market street, in the borough of Danville, Montour County, Pa. The record of his life reveals unusual ac- tivity, and the height of the success which he has attained reflects great credit on his gen- eral business ability. Although at present he is not actively engaged in business, he is large- ly interested financially in a number of enter- prises. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Evans) Bright, and was born in Valley township. Montour County, then Columbia County, Pa., March 22, 1839.
The family is of French and German ex- traction and was established in this country by Michael Bright, who was born in Chris- tianstadt, Germany, May 6, 1706, and was a
son of John Bright. Coming to America in October, 1726, at the age of twenty years, when the province of Pennsylvania consisted of three .counties, namely: Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester, he located in Chester County. In 1728 he located at Schaeffers- town, Chester County, one of the oldest towns in the state, and there he became an extensive land-owner. He was united in marriage with Margaret Simon, a daughter of Jacob Simon, and their union resulted in the following is- sue: Jacob, born April 13, 1729; George, born in June, 1731; Michael, born November 24, 1732; Catherine, born April 6, 1834; John, born January 20, 1736; Peter, born May 13, 1738; David, born August 9, 1740; Maria, born August 1, 1742; Sally, born June 7, 1745; and Christian, born April 6, 1747.
Michael Bright, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a saddler by trade, and at an early day located in Reading, Berks Coun- ty, where he kept one of the first hotels and was a very large landowner. In 1760 he built a residence at the corner of Fifth and Wash- ington streets, and there lived until his death, in 1814. His first marriage was with Sarah Stoner, by whom he had two children: Michael and Jacob. His second union was with Mrs. Catherine Brower, and their union was blessed with four children: Sarah, born November 11, 1769; and David, the grand- father of our subject, Peter and John, who died in infancy.
David Bright was born in Reading, August 5, 1771, and took to agricultural pursuits upon reaching manhood. He also followed teaming and also did considerable building in and about that city, being one of its most en- terprising citizens. On January 27. 1793, he married Catherine Hottenstien, who died at the age of eighty years, and they became the parents of the following children: Sally, who
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
was born December 25, 1793, and married M. Yeager; Michael, born August 16, 1795; Ab- bie, born January 1, 1797, married George Fisler; William, born September 2, 1798, mar- ried Susan Lora; Catherine, born February 19, 1800, was the wife of John Green; John, born December 5, 1803; David, born Decem- ber 25, 1808; Aaron, born July 8, 1809, mar- ried Maria Miller; and Francis, born Septem- ber 1, 1812.
Peter Bright, the father of our subjeet, was born November 21, 1801, and early in life moved to Valley township, Montour County, and purchased the farm which our subject now owns. There he carried on general farm- ing and became one of the first men of that section. He ereeted new buildings on the property and made many other improve- ments, opening up a limestone quarry, from which he supplied limestone to the Danville furnaces. He also burned lime to a great ex- tent, and was a very energetic business man, accumulating a handsome competency. He died at the age of eighty-one years. In De- eember, 1827, he was joined in Hymen's bonds with Mary Evans, a daughter of Philip and Ann Elizabeth (Van Reed) Evans, and the following children were born to them: Re- becca, who married Emanuel Seidler; Abner, and David, who died at an early age; Hiram, who married Rhoda A. Butler; Evans, de- ceased; Dennis, the gentleman whose name heads these lines; Albert, deceased; Penina, of Danville; Philip, deceased; Abbie, the wife of William Achenback; and Mary, de- ceased.
Dennis Bright obtained his primary educa- tion in the district schools, after which he walked three miles daily, that being the dis- tanee from his father's farm to Danville, in order that he might further his education by a course of study in the Danville Academy.
Ile then entered the Greenwood Seminary, where he remained for two years; following this he became a student in the Pittsburg Commercial College, where he received a business education. Returning home, he as- sisted his father in the labors about the farm until 1861, when he removed to Lafayette, Warren County, Ind., which was the home of one of his brothers. Upon the commence- ment of hostilities in the Civil War our subject determined to enter the service, and on April 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 15th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., for three months. The regiment was held in Indianapolis by Gov. Morton until the expiration of that term, but when the call for three-years' men was made he re-enlisted on June 14, 1861. as first ser- geant of Company A, of the same regiment. The regiment's first engagement was at Rich Mountain, W. Va., where, having put the Rebels to rout, the regiment was given orders to pursue them in their retreat. At Elkwater the rapidly retreating Confederates turned and made a bold stand, and in the engagement which followed our subjeet was wounded by a musket ball passing through his ankle, dis- abling him to such an extent that he was pre- vented from active service until the following spring. He was then ordered to his regiment and was promoted to a captaincy on the staff of Brig .- Gen. George D. Wagner, his brigade having been transferred from West Virginia to the army of Gen. Buell in Kentucky for the investment of Forts Henry and Donelson. Having figured in the capture of these two important points, the brigade joined the army of Gen. Grant in Tennessee, and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing Capt. Bright received an injury in his wounded ankle and was in- capacitated for further active duty. He was detailed to garrison and provost duty, and after a service of two years was honorably
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discharged. He immediately thereafter re- ceived an appointment as an assessor of in- ternal revenue. He was subsequently ap- pointed lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. He located in Danville, where, in company with Col. Charles Eckerman, he purchased the plant now known as the Atlantic Oil Refin- ing Company, which was established by John Heller and Charles Shultz. From the crude oil they refined illuminating oil and lubricat- ing oil in large quantities and did a very ex- tensive business. In 1872 they disposed of the business to Bailey & Welsch. Our sub- ject, having heard nothing for some years of his brother Philip, who had gone to California, crossed the continent to search for him and found that he had been robbed and murdered. Returning one year later he bought the hard- ware establishment of Van Allen & Com- pany in the Opera House block in Danville, and carried on this business with characteristic ability for a period of fifteen years. He then sold the business to E. J. Moore, and has since lived a retired life, with the exception of carrying on farming on the old family estate in Valley township, which he still owns. He also continues to conduct his limestone quar- ries. Ile is the owner of considerable prop- erty and has a winter home and orange grove in Marion County, Fla., where he spends the winter months, which are so cold and disa- greeable in the Northern States. His home in Danville was built by Thomas Beaver; it is a fine brick residence and commands an ex- cellent view of the Susquehanna River and beautiful mountain scenery.
In 1872 Mr. Bright married Lucy Reay, a daughter of John Reay. She is a lady of ex- cellent qualities, is kind and charitable, and has proven a worthy companion and a loving wife. She is of English birth, but was reared
and educated in California. Our subject is a Republican in his political affiliations, and the manner in which he is esteemed by his fellow- citizens was shown when he was elected to the Legislature in 1872, being the first of his party to represent the district in that body. A kind husband and a true friend, our subject is well thought of by every one.
ON. WILLIAM K. HOLLOWAY. an honored and influential citizen of Danville, who is passing his latter days in retirement, enjoying a well-earned competency, and who is now serving his third term in the city council, was born in Amity- ville, Berks County, Pa., January 1, 1835. He spent his younger days upon his father's farm and attended the public schools of his native town. At the age of thirteen years, of his own free will he sought a position as clerk in a store in the city of Reading, the county seat of his native county. This was the starting out of a self-made man, one who became and who for many years has been a model business man. He has won an excellent reputation for square dealing, unswerving integrity and for all the many qualities which are component parts of true manhood. His example is one that might advantageously be followed by all. In 1856 our subject located in Danville, Pa., where he was employed as a clerk in the old Montour Iron Company's store; later he was transferred to the dry goods department. which position he retained one year, at which time the old firm was succeeded by Waterman & Beaver, when he was promoted to time- keeper and superintendent of accounts. His next promotion was to cashier and paymaster. in which capacity he remained about twelve years, fulfilling his duties with great credit to
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