USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 66
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Isaac X. Grier was the second son of M.
C. Grier, the eldest son being W. A. M. Grier of Brooklyn, N. Y., and the youngest Rev. J. B. Grier, D. D. Mr. Grier graduated at Lafayette College in 1858. Before going to college he had learned telegraphy and after graduating he acted as secretary and treasurer of the old Susquehanna River and North and West Branch Telegraph Company, later merged into the Western Union. Meanwhile he studied law in the office of Edward H. Baldy, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in 1861. Aside from his legal practice he was fully identified with the large public inter- ests of the community and was especially zeal- ous and successful in his efforts to bring about the location at Danville of the State Hospital for the Insane, of which he is one of the trus- tees. In 1885 he was admonished by im- paired health, resulting from overwork, to re- strict his practice to the management of his own large estate, mainly in the neighborhood of Scranton, and the care of a limited num- ber of clients. In 1865 Mr. Grier was mar- ried to Emma W. Porter, youngest daughter of Hon. James M. Porter of Easton, Pa., an eminent jurist and Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President Tyler.
Mr. Grier's only son, J. M. P. Grier, grad- uated at Lafayette College in 1888, and was about to be admitted to the bar when he sud- denly died. The daughter, Isabella, is the wife of Hon. Rufus King Polk, present Rep- resentative in Congress from the Seventeenth Pennsylvania District.
ANIEL F. SCHMICK. The Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad Company has an efficient servant in Daniel F. Schmick, yardmaster at Shamokin, North- umberland County, Pa. His connection with this road dates back to 1878, when he was
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a brakeman; afterward he served some time as a conductor, and subsequently was advanc- ed to his present responsible position as yard- master, which he has filled to the entire satis- faction of the company for nearly eleven years, which is the most flattering recognition of his ability and worth.
Mr. Schmick was born on the eightieth an- niversary of the independence of our country, July 4, 1856, in Hamburg, Berks County, Pa., and is a son of Theodore and Sarah (Shaffer) Schmick. His father was also a native of Hamburg, Berks County, as was also his grandfather, Peter Schmick, who belonged to one of the pioneer families of that section of Pennsylvania. He was a blacksmith of noted skill and was living at Catawissa at his death. Theodore Schmick, father of our subject, was in active service on the railroad for a period of at least fifteen years. He was killed Janu- ary 25, 1882, in a terrible manner, at the age of forty-six years and eleven months. He was in the employ of the Reading Railroad, sery- ing as conductor when he was deprived of life by a wreck on the Catawissa Branch. Prior to his death he was a conductor for many years. At the age of twenty-one he enlisted in a military company at Catawissa. He also served in the Union Army for several months during the Civil War.
Mr. Schmick attended the public schools, but had very few advantages for securing an education. Early in life he learned the trade of a house painter, also the undertaking and cabinet-making business with his father in his native city. Subsequently he worked in a keg factory. His first experience at railroading was in the employ of the Catawissa Railroad Company as car greaser, after which he work- ed for the Philadelphia & Reading as brake- man.
Our subject was united in marriage with
Ida Lynn and has a large family, ten children having been born to the couple, one now de- ceased. Mr. Schmick is an active and valued member of Garfield Lodge No. 1.061, 1. (). O. F.
LIS DILTZ, a progressive and enter- prising farmer of Davidson township. Sullivan County, Pa., comes of German ancestry, although he, himself, was born April 1, 1865. in Sugar Loaf township, Columbia County, and is a son of Emanuel and Lovina A. (Kline) Diltz.
George Diltz, our subject's grandfather, was the original emigrant, having been reared to manhood in Germany. Upon his arrival in this country he settled in Sugar Loaf town- ship, Columbia County, Pa., where he took up a tract of 150 acres of timber land. This farm is now divided among his sons Emanuel and John, and a part belongs to Thomas Smith; it has since been cleared and now constitutes one of the best pieces of farming land in that township. Our subject's grandfather follow- ed both the farming and lumbering business. in which he was remarkably successful; he owned two saw mills, one of which is still in operation and in possession of Silas Benja- min. He died in 1873 at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife died at about the same time aged sixty years. Their children were: Philip. Sally, Emanuel, John, Elias, and Betsey.
Emanuel Diltz was born in Sugar Loaf township, and was also reared and educated there; he started out in life as a lumberman. and while still a young man purchased from his father 50 acres of land, upon which he has continued to reside up to the present time. He also bought his father's saw and shingle
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mill, which he continues to operate. Mr. Diltz is past his sixty-fifth year in life and is prom- inently known throughout his community as a good neighbor and excellent citizen. Po- litically he is a Democrat, and is an earnest and conscientious supporter of his party. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Methodist Church. His union with Lovina A. Kline re- sulted in the birth of the following children: Irvin, who wedded Clara Kitchen; Elias, our subject; Emma, wife of Britton Cole; Lizzie B., wife of Harvey Clinger; and Oma.
Elias Diltz received his schooling in his native township. His first business venture was in farming, he having rented his father's farm for one year. After carrying on lum- bering a short time he removed to Sullivan County and settled in Nordmont, where he worked in the woods peeling bark. In 1886 he took up his residence in Davidson town- ship, where he purchased his present farm of 50 acres of Joseph Robbins. In 1893 he erected a two-story frame house and in 1896 a fine commodious barn. The house stands on the same ground where, 75 years ago, Wil- liam J. and Susannah Robbins, grandparents of Mrs. Alice Robbins Diltz, first built a log house and settled, and where they lived for several years. They came from Columbia County, when Davidson township, Sullivan County, and in fact the whole of Sullivan County, was little better than a wilderness of forest. The pioneers cleared the farm and raised a family of four sons and one daughter, -Henderson, Thomas, Leonard, Joseph, and Mary. During the winter months after the harvests had been gathered Mr. Diltz worked in the woods for different contractors. Our subject is an industrious, painstaking, honest farmer, possessing many warm friends in the
community of which he is a valued member.
Mr. Diltz was joined in matrimonial bonds with Alice Robbins, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Henley) Robbins, and five children have been born to them, namely: Lester, Charles, Hazel Josephine, Willard, and Mary. In politics Mr. Diltz, though not an office- seeker, firmly advocates the principles of the Democratic party.
OHN ADAM CAKE, Jr., M. D., is a young man who has built up a large practice in the short time he has been in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pa., and he promises to be one of the most prom- inent and successful physicians of his time. The marvelous rapidity with which he has built up his present clientage is almost in- credible to one not familiar with the Doctor's push and energy. Almost his entire time not given to his practice is devoted to study, and his admirers feel satisfied that he will yet win a name that will rank high in the world of science. Dr. Cake was born in Sunbury, Jan- uary 19, 1869, is a son of John Adam and Minnie E. (McCullough) Cake, and a grand- son of Joseph Cake.
John Adam Cake, Sr., father of Dr. John Adam Cake, was born in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pa., August 25, 1846, and is a son of Joseph W. Cake, after whom the hamlet of Caketown, which is now part of Sunbury, was named. John Cake was educated at Rus- sell's Military School and at Yale and Prince- ton, after which he read law for some time with Benjamin H. Brewster of Philadelphia; he subsequently pursued his studies one year with Rockefeller & Rohrbach of Sunbury, and then was admitted to the bar in Sunbury in
.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
March, 1870, where he has practiced ever since, and also looked after his large property interests. In 1867-68 he was assistant cashier in the Philadelphia Custom House under his father, who was then United States Collector at that port. In 1878 he was a delegate to the convention held at Toledo, O., for the purpose of organizing the Greenback and Labor par- ty, and therein took an active part. Later he represented his district in the national con- ventions of 1880 and 1884, and in the ensuing campaigns worked hard for the success of the candidates, Weaver and Butler. In 1880 he was his party's nominee for Congress and in 1882 their candidate for judge of the Supreme Court. He is now a Republican, but has withdrawn from active participation in poli- tics. On February 27, 1868, at Pottsville, Pa., Mr. Cake was married to Minnie E. Mc- Cullough, daughter of Capt. Hugh McCul- lough, who fell at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Cake have four chil- dren: Dr. John Adam, the subject of this sketch; Minnie C .; Joseph W .; and Edith.
Dr. John Adam Cake was educated in the Sunbury High School, graduating in 1887, after which he entered Lafayette College at Easton, where he studied three years. On his return to Sunbury he read medicine with the late Dr. F. B. Masser, subsequently entering the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1893. He immediately be- gan the practice of his profession at Sunbury. In February, 1894, Dr. Cake was joined in wedlock with Clara Jones, an accomplished young lady of Shamokin, Coal township, Pa. They have one daughter, Helen Marie. Our subject is a great lover of athletic sports, and while at college he spent much time in the gymnasium and athletic departments. He is an active and participating member of the Northumberland County Medical Society.
ILLIAM B. TAYLOR, one of the bright and energetic young busi- ness men of the town of Blooms- burg, Columbia County, who is proprietor of the largest bottling establishment in the county, was born in Roaring Creek township. Columbia County, in the old log house which stood at the foot of Cinder Tip of Esther Furnace, and is a son of Franklin and Eliza- beth (Bonawitz) Taylor, and a grandson of George and Mary (Giger) Taylor.
George Taylor, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was of sturdy Scotch-Irish descent, born in Virginia, and was a veteran in the War of 1812. He learned the trade of a mil- ler at Brandywine, Chester County, Pa., and later moved to Columbia County, where he was employed for seven years by John J. Bow- man of Catawissa. He followed the trade of a miller all his active days, and was consid- ered among the best in his line of business. He was joined in wedlock to Mary Giger, a daughter of Conrad Giger, and a family of ten children was the result of this union, namely: Washington; Franklin, the father of our subject; Maria; John; Caroline; Harriet : Sarah; Martha; Margaret J .; and Martin. Mr. Taylor died at the age of fifty-five years; his wife lived to the age of eighty-four years.
Franklin Taylor, the father of our subject. was born at Bowman's Mills, now Ash Mills, in Briarcreek township, Columbia County. Pa., January 27, 1823, and during his boy- hood days he worked with his father learn- ing the trade of a miller, and remained in his employ until his father's death. He then worked for the Esther Charcoal & Iron Fur- nace Company for eighteen years, and later became keeper of the same works. In 1863 he removed to Bloomsburg, where he found employment in the foundry works for twenty
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years. In 1887 Mr. Taylor was appointed janitor of the Fifth Street Public School, a po- sition he holds at the present time. He pur- chased a home at No. 147 Fourth street, where he is spending the remainder of his active days. He was wedded to Elizabeth Bonawitz, who was born in Dauphin County, Pa., August 3, 1828. They are the parents of the following children: Jennie, deceased; Charles, a molder residing in Bloomsburg; George, deceased; William B., whose name heads this sketch; Annie and Margaret, de- ceased; Harry, a merchant by profession; Franklin, deceased; and Clarence, deceased.
William B. Taylor received his schooling in the public schools of Bloomsburg. During vacations he worked in a brickyard, carrying brick and later at scraping castings for B. F. Sharpless; and next at mixing mortar and carrying a hod. Later he served an appren- ticeship with J. H. Sterner for several years at the carpenter's trade. For a year he worked at car building; then was bartender for his father-in-law for three years, after which he engaged in contracting with W. H. Rhodomoyer as partner. Subsequently our subject bought W. H. Gilmore's bottling works, the largest of the kind in Columbia County. He has added two buildings, 45 by 80 feet and 25 by 80 feet respectively, to the works. Three teams are kept constantly busy delivering. Our subject makes a specialty of bottling ale, porter, carbonated drinks and Bartholomay lager beer.
Our subject resides in a neat little residence located at No. 128 Iron street. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Lillie M. Gilmore, a daughter of W. H. Gilmore, and grand- daughter of William and Hester (Quiger) Gil- more, both natives of Connecticut.
WV. H. Gilmore came to Columbia Coun- ty in 1852 and followed farming until 1862,
when he enlisted in Company E., 132d Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and served gallantly through- out the war. The most notable battles in which Mr. Gilmore participated were Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. After the close of the war he conducted a saloon for thirty-three years, and in 1883 he started the bottling business now owned by our subject. He wedded Emma Wicht, a daughter of William Wicht, and they reared the following children: Lillian, William, Charles, Mary and Harry.
Our subject and wife are the parents of eight children, namely: Emma E .; Charles H .; George F .; Jennie M .; Lillian M .; Hattie B., deceased; Annia K .; and Willie D. Mr. Taylor is a stanch Democrat in his political views; socially he is a member of the O. U. A. M. of Bloomsburg.
OHN F. GIBBONS, who ably repre- sents the First Ward in the borough council of Mount Carmel, Northum- berland County, Pa., is the popular proprie- tor of a hotel located at Vine and Water streets, and is widely known as one of the leading citizens of his community. He is a son of John and Mary (Gibbons) Gibbons, and was born in Mount Carmel township, Northumberland County, December 1, 1862.
John Gibbons, the father of our subject. was born in County Mayo, Ireland, but when young came to America, where he followed the occupation of a miner. He continued in that line of work until he met his death by accident while working in the mines, February 25, 1878.
John F. Gibbons, our subject, was edu- cated in the common schools and began active work on his own account as a slate-picker at
HUGH D. McBRIDE.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
the age of eight years. Being naturally bright and industrious, he was bound to work his way to better things, and it was but a short time until he was a driver, and next a loader- boss. He then worked for a time with his brother, P. H. Gibbons, who is now district superintendent of the United Improved Gas Company of Philadelphia, but was then en- gaged in the tea business. He next accepted a position in the Pennsylvania Railroad de- pot as a trucker, in which capacity he served for six months, when he returned to Mount Carmel and resumed work in the mines. This he continued until November 24, 1892, when he embarked in the hotel business at Vine and Water streets, where he has since been lo- cated. He has met with unusual success in this business and has established a first-class reputation. He has entered actively into the field of politics and is one of the leaders in the Democratic party. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, and in February, 1896, was elected to the borough council from the First Ward, a high compli- ment to his popularity, for the district had gone Republican by three hundred majority at the previous election. He served his con- stituents so well that he was again persuaded to run for the office.
On September 27, 1887, Mr. Gibbons was united in marriage to Mary E. Quinn, and they are the parents of four children: Mary; Katie; Adrian, who died at the age of three and a half years; and Helen, who died at the age of thirteen months. In social life our subject is also very prominent, being an offi- cer in many fraternities. He is a member of the F. O. R. L. B., of which he was president and also treasurer for six successive terms; of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he has been treasurer since its organization in 1882; he was also county treasurer of the
same society, having held three treasurerships at the same time, and in 1893 was a delegate to the state convention of the A. O. H., which was held at Pittsburg, Pa .; he was a member of the Knights of Labor when that order flourished, and attended many of the conven- tions of that society at Sunbury, Shamokin. Lykens and other places; he was formerly a member of the Amalgamated Association, and while quite young was elected treasurer; he is a member of the Citizens' Ilook and Ladder Company, and has been one almost since its organization. He is very active in the work which comes before the council and was elected president of the finance committee. president of the council, being the first Dem- ocrat to acquire that honor, and was chair - man of the law and street committees.
UGH D. McBRIDE. Among the well-to-do and successful agricultur- ists of Columbia County is the sub- ject of this sketch, residing on a fine farm in Hemlock township. His portrait is pre- sented on a preceding page. He has been interested in the agricultural development of the county more or less all his life, and in the prosecution of his vocation he has met with far more than ordinary success. He was born on the old McBride homestead in Hemlock township January 30, 1828, and is a son of William and Mercy Carr (Barton) McBride.
Hugh McBride, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was reared and educated in the northern part of Ireland and was of Scotch-Irish des- cent. With his wife and children he came to the United States and purchased from the Penn estate a tract of land consisting of 640 acres of wild and uncultivated land in Hemlock township, Columbia County. Pa. He cleared a part of his purchase and engaged in tilling
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the soil; he was the first settler in that section of the county. His farm was located at the lower end of Frosty Valley and is now di- vided into three large farms, one of which is owned by the estate of the late P. A. Evans, another by Robert Crossley, and the third part is owned by our subject and is known as the old McBride homestead. Politically Hugh McBride was a firm Democrat. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was the father of eight children: Hugh, James, Nathan, Thomas, William, Jane, Su- san, and Mary, all of whom are deceased.
William McBride, the father of our sub- ject, was born on the old homestead in Hem- lock township and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He was also a pioneer of Colum- bia County and was a prominent member of his community. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Politically he was a Jackson Dem- ocrat and served two terms, 1824 to 1828, in the State Legislature. Religiously he was an active and consistent member of the Pres- byterian Church. He chose for his compan- ion Mercy Carr Barton, a daughter of Elisha Barton, a descendant of the old Barton family that early settled in this part of the state. As a result of this union four sons and five daugh- ters were born, all of whom are deceased but our subject. They were as follows: Mary, who was the wife of William Emmet and resided in Ohio; Rachael, who was the wife of John Barkley; Sarah, who wedded William G. Quick; Susan; Elizabeth; James, who went to the Mexican War and was never heard from afterwards; Franklin, who was a farmer on the old homestead until his death: William; and Hugh D., the subject of this sketch.
Hugh D. McBride was reared on the old homestead and received his education in the public schools of Catawissa and also in the
high school of that town. While a young man he learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed a few years, and then returned to the old homestead and engaged in the pur- suits of an agriculturist.
In politics our subject is a supporter of the Democratic party and has held several town- ship offices. He is a member of Catawissa Lodge, No. 349, F. & A. M., and has been a Mason for thirty-one years. Mr. McBride was wedded to Alveretta Stecker, a daughter of Gideon Stecker, a farmer of Hemlock town- ship. Two children have blessed the home of our subject and his wife: Charles Grover; and Anna.
AMES A. MCCARTHY, a prosperous merchant of Locust Gap, Northum- berland County, Pa., is an active and influential worker in the field of politics, be- ing a prominent member of the Democratic party in his section. He is a gentleman who has always labored for the best interests of the village and he is accorded the respect and good will of his many acquaintances in the county. He is a son of John and Margaret (Mohan) McCarthy, and was born in Locust Gap, Northumberland County, Pa., Febru- ary 10, 1864.
Our subject's grandfather was Francis Mc- Carthy, a native of County Longford, Ireland, who upon coming to this country located at Minersville, Schuylkill County, where he was among the earliest settlers. His vocation was that of a miner.
John McCarthy, the father of our subject. was born in Schuylkill County, in February. 1837, and there grew to manhood, but at the age of twenty-five or twenty-six years, he re- moved to Locust Gap. He was engaged in mining work, being employed in the capa-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
city of an engineer, and was very successful in his life's work. He died in 1865. In his political affiliations he was a firm supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He was joined in Hymen's bonds with Margaret Mohan, who was born in Ireland, but came to America at about the age of six years, settling in California. She later moved east to Pitts- burg, Pa., thence to Schuylkill County, and finally to Northumberland County, where she was married. The couple became the proud parents of three children, namely: Frank, now deceased; James A., the subject of our sketch; and John, who is proprietor of the Locust Summit Hotel at Locust Gap.
James A. McCarthy was reared at Locust Gap and there attended the public schools until 1884, when he took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Philadelphia. After the completion of his studies in that institution he returned to Lo- cust Gap and accepted a position with William Harvey, the leading general merchant of the village. He faithfully discharged the duties of his position for five years, and hav- ing acquired an extensive knowledge of the business, he bought the store and has since conducted it in a highly successful manner. As a business man he is shrewd and enterprising, and, beginning as he did without means, it is greatly to his cred- it that he occupies his present position in the affairs of Locust Gap. He is a Demo- crat in his political attachments, and in him is found a stanch advocate of the cause of his party. He is active in county, state and na- tional politics, and has frequently represented his district as a delegate to various conven- tions, in 1895 and 1896 being chairman of the Democratic county committee. In 1896 he attended the Democratic national convention held at Chicago, which nominated William
Jennings Bryan for president. At present he is efficiently serving as tax collector of Mount Carmel township, having been elected in 1897 for a term of three years. His name is fre- quently mentioned as a candidate for pro- thonotary of Northumberland County, and we are assured that if he consents to run for that office he will receive the undivided sup- port not only of his party, but his many friends who favor the opposing party in prin- ciple.
December 31, 1885, Mr. McCarthy was united in marriage with Bridget Harvey, a daughter of William Harvey, the former pro- prietor of the mercantile house now conducted by our subject, and their children are as fol- lows: Mary Jane, Margaret. Regina, and Elizabeth, deceased; Cora; and Mary.
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