USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 72
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jamin Arment, and attended the public schools of Middletown until he was sixteen years of age; he then learned the carpenter's trade and followed that occupation until Ire was twenty-one years of age, when he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. W. Mc- Ewen of Philadelphia. Later he entered Jef- ferson Medical College, and was graduated in 1878. His work in college was of a high or- der and he received honorable mention from Prof. J. M. DeCosta for the report of clinical cases, and a pocket operating case from Dr. T. Il. Andrews for the best dissection in the anatomical rooms. Of like character has been his work since as a practitioner. Immediately after his graduation he served six months as assistant demonstrator under Dr. T. H. An- drews, thereby adding extensively to his knowledge and gaining much practical expe- rience. He next followed his chosen profes- sion at Vincentown, N. J., for one and one- half years; later he went West and operated a ranch at Morning Side, near Sioux City, Iowa, remaining in that business for over a year. He then again took up his profession and practiced with Dr. A. J. Weeks for some time. Returning to Philadelphia he accepted a position as assistant demonstrator under A. C. W. Beecher of the Jefferson Medical Col- lege; and as chief of the staff under Dr. C. H. Allis in the orthopedic department of the Jefferson Medical College Hospital. In 1887 Dr. Arment moved to Bloomsburg to take charge of Dr. Gardner's practice while the lat- ter was away, and finding the location to his liking he continued in his profession there, becoming a very skilful practitioner, and rose to the front ranks with wonderful rapidity.
Dr. Arment was wedded to Armentine Mc- Intyre, and they are the parents of one child, Armentine Lucretia, who was born January 22, 1892. Our subject bought of Mr. P. E.
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Wirt his residence at No. 26 West Fifth street, and has remodeled and equipped the same with the latest improvements; his office and parlors are in his residence, and his home is one of the handsomest in the community. In 1892 the Doctor patented the well-known Ar- ment lawn-mower, and has a manufacturing plant in Bloomsburg, this business alone yielding him a handsome income. He is a member and past master of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M .; past high priest of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M .; past eminent commander of Crusade Com- mandery; illustrious commander-in-chief of Caldwell Consistory, A. A. S. R., 32nd degree; and is viceroy of Orient Conclave, No. 2, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine.
DWARD G. HOFFMAN, who prior to his death, July 13, 1898, was prothon- otary and clerk of the several courts of Montour County, Pa., was one of the highly esteemed and valued citizens of the town of Danville. He was a native of Rush township, Northumberland County, and was a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Wolverton) Hoffman, a grandson of Abraham Hoffman, and a great-grandson of Jacob Hoffman.
Jacob Hoffman was born in Germany. He immigrated to this country, locating in New Jersey, where he engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Abraham Hoffman, the grand- father of our subject, settled in Shamokin township, Northumberland County, Pa., where he was successfully engaged as an agri- culturist. He was the father of the follow- ing children: John; Peter; Michael; Abra- ham; Barbara; and Maria.
Abraham Hoffman, the father of our sub-
ject, was born on his father's farm in North- umberland County where he spent his boy- hood days assisting his father in the labors on the farm. Attaining his majority he was in the mercantile business for a number of years, sold out and purchased a farm in Rush township, Northumberland County. He re- mained there the rest of his days, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years, four months and twenty-seven days. Prior to his death he was a hearty, strong and active man, and his demise was sudden, the cause being a stroke of apoplexy. He was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Elizabeth Wolverton, a daughter of Roger Wolverton of Northamp- ton County, Pa. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Maria, John, Beulah, Jacob, Jemima, Erastus, Isaac, and Edward G. Mrs. Hoffman died at the age of fifty-nine years.
Edward G. Hoffman, the subject of this sketch, received his primary education in the public schools and completed it by a course in the Danville Academy. The next nine years were spent in teaching in the public schools of Danville, after which he carried on farming in Rush township for four years. In 1861 he removed to Danville and was employ- ed as bookkeeper in the store of Waterman & Beaver. Later he served as commissioner clerk for the county for five years. In 1873 he was elected justice of the peace, and in connection with the duties of that office also acted as prothonotary of Montour County. In 1887 our subject was elected prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Montour County, and filled those offices until his death; he proved himself worthy of the position, and won high esteem in his profession.
Mr. Hoffman was united in the bonds of matrimony with Sarah E. Mettler, a daughter of Wilson Mettler, a prominent farmer of
JACOB D. WERKHEISER.
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Rush township, Northumberland County, and they had one child, Annie Elizabeth, born in 1864, who assisted her father in the discharge of his duties, being deputy prothonotary. In 1869 Mr. Hoffman erected a handsome brick residence at No. 121 Market street, where he resided the remainder of his life. He was a member and past master of Danville Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M .; Danville Commandery No. 37, of Danville.
ACOB D. WERKHEISER, a pros- perous and enterprising merchant of Espy, Columbia County, whose por- trait is shown on the opposite page, is a son of John and Helena (Dietrich) Werkheiser, and was born in Upper Mount Bethel town- ship, Northampton County, Pa., September 28, 1827.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Carl Werkheiser, was a native of Germany,- upon coming to this country he located in Northampton County, where he was one of the leading agriculturists. He reared a large family of children.
John Werkheiser, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Northampton County, Feb- ruary 16, 1791, and at an early age learned the trade of a tailor. He followed that occu- pation in Upper Mount Bethel township un- til 1831, when he moved to Briarcreek, now Center township, Columbia County, and there devoted the remainder of his life to till- ing the soil and operating a saw-mill. He was an industrious worker and was quite suc- cessful in business affairs. He was a stanch Democrat and held many township offices. He was an active member and officer in the Lutheran Church. His death, which oc- curred March 6, 1860, was the result of acci-
dentally falling from a wagon and breaking his neck. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Helena Dietrich, a daughter of Mr. J. Dietrich of Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton County, and they reared five sons and three daughters, namely : Charles, deceased, formerly a tailor but later a huckster and farmer of Mifflinville, Colum- bia County; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of the late Samuel Dietrich of Berwick; Peter F., deceased, who was a tailor and after- wards a huckster of Mifflinville: John, a re- tired tailor and miller of Mifflinville; Reuben, who died at an early age; Sarah Ann, de- ceased; Katie Ann, the wife of Nehemiah Richart of Espy; and Jacob D., the subject of this personal history.
Jacob D. Werkheiser received his education in the public schools, after which he worked for a time at the tailor's trade with his father. He then learned the trade of a shoemaker which he followed from 1845 to 1878, during which time he was also engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania canal; he also engaged in huckstering for one year. In 1863 he opened a general merchandise store in connec- tion with the manufacture of shoes and has very successfully continued the mercantile business since. He has a neat, well-appear- ing store and under his capable management it has the patronage of the leading citizens of the community.
Mr. Werkheiser has twice taken the mar- riage vows. His first union, which occurred in 1850, was with Catherine Stricker, a daugh- ter of Peter Stricker of Catawissa, and they were the proud parents of five children : Miles Arthur, a shoemaker of Byron. Lee County. Ill .; John Lloyd, a resident of Pittston. Pa .: William Charles, an employee in the railroad signal station at Duryea, Luzerne County, and also a groceryman of that place: Sarah Ma-
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tilda, wife of Lewis Miller of Pittston, Pa .; and Clara, who died when four years of age. His second alliance was with Elmyra Lunger, a daughter of Jacob Lunger of Jackson town- ship, Columbia County. Our subject is past grand master of Espy Lodge, No. 681, I. O. O. F., and was also chaplain for several years. In religious attachments he is a Luth- eran. He joined the Lutheran Church when he was eighteen years of age. He has been a member of the council of that church since 1852 and has been the secretary of the coun- cil for forty years. He was one of the charter members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Espy; and was superintendent of the Sunday School several years. He has also been secretary of the Creveling Cemetery Company for thirty-five years and is the treas- urer of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association of Espy, Pa.
ICHAEL MEYLERT was a promi- nent and highly esteemed citizen and a substantial business man of Laporte, Pa., of which town he was the founder. He laid out the streets and parks of the town and did more to promote its in- terests than any other man. Mr. Meylert was born in New Milford, Pa., on June 20, 1823, and he was a son of Secku and Abigail (Nichols) Meylert.
Secku Meylert was a farmer of Susquehan- na County, Pa., and as a result of his marriage with Abigail Nichols the following children were born: Amos N .: Michael, the subject of this biographical sketch; Henry, who died in infancy; William; Mindwell; Asa; Maria; Guerdon; Priscilla. Amos N. was united in marriage with Ann Dennis, and they reared the following children: Addie, the wife of J.
A. Scranton, who has two children, Lydia and Robert; Charles, deceased, who was joined in marriage with Laquer Lawrence, by whom he reared three children, Laquer, Charles, and Fanny; William wedded Mary Rielly, who bore him one daughter, Florence; Mary, wife of O. Johnson; Kate, wife of J. F. May- lon, and has two children, Catherine and Theo; and Louise, who is the wife of Fred Rodewald, and is the mother of one child, Annie. William, the fourth child born to Secku and Abigail Meylert, married Mary A. Gregory, and they reside in Laporte. They have reared five children: Mina, the wife of E. S. Chase, by whom she has three children, Ada, Edith, and Helen; Adaline; Howard, whose marriage with Mary Cain resulted in the birth of one child, Grace; Fanny; and Frank, who wedded Rose Miller. Mindwell Meylert was united in marriage with Alfred Sauer, and their home has been blessed by two children, Alfred and Fred. Asa Meylert was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Har- riet Hodgdon. Maria Meylert married Isaac Brunner and four children blessed this union, namely: Mary, the wife of William Mullen, is the mother of two children, Eugenia and Meylert; Meylert B. married Mary Mayall, and they have reared three children, Char- lotte, Mayall, and Meylert; Anna; and Edith. Guerdon Meylert married Ellen Madden; Priscilla, the youngest child born to Secku and Abigail Meylert, married Judson Richard- son, and they have two children, May and William.
Michael Meylert, the subject of this sketch, acquired a good education in the public schools and at Montrose and Friendsville academies. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching school. Later he was em- ployed by a corps of engineers to work on the North Branch of the canal, during which
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time he made his home at Tunkhannock. Upon the completion of the canal he followed surveying and civil engineering and surveyed the asylum lands. He subsequently entered the employ of William B. Clymer, general agent of the Bingham estate, and took charge of the surveying department. In 1847, when Sullivan County was divided from Lycoming County, Mr. Meylert, the father of our sub- ject, and Mr. Clymer purchased the Norris & Fox lands, which lie in the south-central part of Sullivan County, and they appointed Mich- ael Meylert as agent, and he purchased many hundred acres of land. He built a rude log house and settled at what is now the town of Laporte; he surveyed and laid out streets and parks; built many houses, and set out shade trees. He erected the first frame house there, now known as the Mountain House, and later built the Laporte Hotel, a handsome and sub- stantial structure, three-stories high, which was destroyed by fire in 1897. He also built a saw-mill and later established a newspaper, with which he was connected for some thirty years. In 1851 Mr. Meylert became inter- ested in tanning, and in that year built a tan- nery. Besides a beautiful brick building, which he made his home, he owned several other residences. Mr. Meylert was never known to abandon any important project hav- ing once set about the execution of it, and it was this persistency of effort which won him success and which gained for him the admira- tion and respect of his fellow-citizens.
Politically our subject was an uncompro- mising Democrat and upheld the principles of his party with the steadfastness that character- ized all his actions. He was positive in his opinions and fearless in their maintenance. In 1851 he was honored by election to the State Legislature and passed the first railroad bill allowing a railroad to be built between Cata-
wissa and the State Line. He surveyed the route of the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad. Our subject's mind was always act- ive and industrious and his business affairs were always conducted with great wisdom and skill; he was regarded as a man of weight in his community, whose opinions and judgment were highly valued. The death of Mr. Mey- lert occurred on January 17, 1883, and his loss was greatly mourned by the community in which he had so long resided and with which he was so closely identified. Mrs. Meylert now resides in Laporte, where she is held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances.
J ACOB B. MAGARGEL. Among the foremost and enterprising merchants of Sullivan County, Pa., is the gentleman whose biography we write, who has been en- gaged in the inercantile business in the village of Sonestown since 1891, and who at present keeps one of the most complete general stores that can be found in the country. He is also recognized as one of the valuable members of the community. He was born in Sones- town April 2, 1869, and is a son of Thomas S. and Phoebe E. (Houseknecht) Magargel. and grandson of Britten Magargel, who re- sided in the city of Philadelphia during his early manhood, but later moved to Lycoming County, Pa., where he conducted a merchan- dise store and operated a farm.
Thomas S. Magargel was born and reared in the city of Philadelphia, and his youthful days were spent attending the district school and assisting his father in the cultivation of his father's farm and working in his store. In early manhood, Mr. Magargel took up his res- idence in Sonestown and rented the old Tay-
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lor Hotel, which he later bought, and rebuilt into a handsome three-story house, contain- ing seventeen rooms, which he furnished throughout with the latest conveniences. He conducted this hotel until his death, which occurred in 1889; the hotel was the most pop- ular stopping-place for the traveling public in the community and was classed among the best hotels in its section of the county. He was united in marriage with Phoebe E. Houseknecht, a daughter of Jacob and Su- sanna (Sones) Houseknecht, and they became the happy parents of the following children: Harry, a farmer by vocation, married Belle Ray and they are the parents of four children, -Brewnard, Schuster, Emerson, and Wort; Ella May is the wife of Lincoln Sheets; Clara was united in marriage with Charles Starr and they are the parents of two children,-Celia and Frank, deceased; Jacob B. is the subject of this personal history; Frank is a prominent merchant of Muncy Valley, Pa., and his wife is Cora Crawley; Ralph is living at home; and Maude, deceased. Our subject's mother is one of a family of ten children, namely: John, Julian, Peter, Betsey, Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel, Charles, Mary Jane, Issachar, and Phoebe E. Mrs. Magargel conducted the hotel after the demise of her husband until January 2, 1899, and is a lady much respected for her many excellent traits of character. Our subject's father was an unwavering Democrat and held the office of commissioner and con- stable; fraternally he was a member and past grand of the I. O. O. F.
Jacob B. Magargel attended the district schools and the Muncy Normal and then taught some five terms in all in the public schools of Sonestown; his first venture into business was in the year 1891, when he and his brother Frank purchased the mercantile store then owned by Jacob Lorah. They also
bought the building which was erected by Jacob Lorah in 1876 and was a two-story frame 24 by 60; they carried a complete line of goods such as is carried in a general store and succeeded in establishing an enviable trade. Later our subject purchased the inter- ests of his brother Frank, who went to Muncy Valley, Pa., where he opened a like store; Mr. Magargel has greatly increased the stock since taking full possession of the store and by his honest and straightforward ways of dealing has gained the confidence and good-will of the entire community. Mr. Magargel also owns a fine and productive farm consisting of 102 acres and has men to cultivate the same for him, as his time is too much taken up in his store to attend to agricultural work.
Politically, Mr. Magargel is a solid Demo- crat and takes an active interest in any enter- prise that tends to promote the interest of his native township and county. He was appoint- ed postmaster of Sonestown on April 5, 1893, and held the office until February 20, 1896. During his stay in office he gave complete satisfaction to the community. Fraternally he is a member and past grand of the I. O. O. F. and has passed through all the chairs of the P. O. S. of A.
DGAR & HUNT are the present pro- prietors of the Crystal Springs Distil- lery, an old establishment well- known throughout the state for the excellent pure rye whiskies which are distilled there. Edgar & Hunt (Alfred H. Edgar, George B. Hunt) succeeded the firm of Edgar & Beish- line (Alfred H. Edgar, Clem G. Beishline); the latter firm purchased the plant January I. 1898, and set out to sustain the reputation es-
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tablished by the former owner, B. Frank Ed- gar, father of Alfred H. The partnership of Edgar & Beishline was terminated by the death of the junior member of the firm, Mr. Beishline, on November 13, 1898. Mr. Edgar then admitted George B. Hunt as partner, and the business has since been conducted un- der the firm name of Edgar & Hunt.
Alfred H. Edgar, who is one of the best dis- tillers of the state, was born in Fishing Creek township, November 11, 1870, and is a son of B. Frank and Susan (Hartman) Edgar.
The Edgar family is of Scotch origin, and James Edgar, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of the state of New York, but at an early day moved to Benton, Benton township, Columbia County, Pa. Af- ter a time he moved to Fishing Creek town- ship, in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury. The later years of his life were spent as a resident of the state of Ohio, where he passed to his eternal resting place. His wife's maiden name was Buchanan, and she was de- scended from the same ancestors as was Presi- dent Buchanan; their union resulted in the following offspring: John married Hester Zimmerman and lived in Indiana, where he died; Robert married Susanna McHenry, and died in Fishing Creek township; Martha mar- ried Moses McHenry, and lived in Fishing Creek township; Ellen married Elias McHen- ry; Elizabeth became the wife of John Jack- son of Indiana; Edward was a resident of Ohio; Christina married Silas McHenry, and died in Ohio; and James, the youngest, who was the grandfather of our subject.
James Edgar was born August 22, 1806, and early in life was a farmer and lumberman of Benton township, but subsequently sold his property there and moved to Fishing Creek township, where he followed the same occupa- tion and became a prominent man. He was
deeply interested in public affairs and for sev- eral years served as constable. In 1828 he was joined in wedlock with Sarah McHenry, a daughter of Daniel McHenry, whose father was the well-known pioneer of that name. She was born April 28, 1810, and was called to her home in the unknown beyond in Fishing Creek township, September 10, 1882. To their union were born nine sons and one daughter. as follows: Daniel married Louisa Stokes, and resided in New Columbus, Luzerne County, where he died October 23, 1890; Robert died February 25, 1897, at the age of sixty-four years; Emanuel, deceased, married Martha McHenry, and was a stonemason and plaster- er by trade; George W., a farmer and stock raiser of Clay County, Neb., married Nellie Smith of Pittston, Pa .; William E., a late farmer and stockraiser of Fishing Creek town- ship; Hiram R., a stockraiser of Loup Coun- ty, Neb .; James C., who married Rosa Smith, a sister of Nellie Smith, named above; Thom- as Hardy, a record of whose life appears else- where in this Book of Biographies; and B. Frank, the father of our subject.
B. Frank Edgar was born in Fishing Creek township, Columbia County, September 9. 1836, and remained at home with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned the trade of a carpenter. This he fol- lowed for a period of twenty years, when he learned the trade of a distiller, and embarked in that business at Van Camp, Fishing Creek township, establishing the business which is now conducted by his son. He operated it successfully until 1894, when he moved the plant to Crystal Springs owing to the excel- lent facilities there for carrying on the busi- ness. Crystal Springs is a never-failing stream of as pure and good water as can be found in Columbia County. Mr. Edgar accumulated money rapidly and purchased considerable
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real estate, owning at one time three large farms, two of which he disposed of prior to his death. He was a man of strict integrity and fine business qualifications, and conducted his business up to the Ist of January, 1898, when he disposed of the establishment to his son, Alfred H., and Clem G. Beishline. He retired from business life and lived in peace with him- self and the rest of the world until his death, which occurred April 22, 1898. Politically, he was a stanch Democrat and held many of the township offices, serving as county commis- sioner for six years. He formed a marital union with Susan Hartman, a daughter of Solomon Hartman, and the following children blessed their union: Warren, who is book- keeper for his uncle, Thomas Hardy Edgar; Dora B., the wife of A. B. McHenry, a mer- chant of Stillwater, Pa .; Charles M., a late farmer of Fishing Creek; Hattie M., the wife of George B. Hunt, who is junior member of Edgar & Hunt; Alfred H., whose name heads these lines; and Thomas E., who died at an early age. After the demise of his wife Mr. Edgar formed a second alliance with Martha Golder, by whom he had four children: Her- ald; Alma; Madge; and Olive. Prior to his death he moved to the town of Bloomsburg, where his wife and family still reside.
Alfred H. Edgar was reared on the farm and obtained an intellectual training in the public schools, after which he learned the trade of a distiller, serving in that capacity for his father up to the latter's death. He then became the senior member of the firm of Edgar & Beishline, and it is mainly due to his expertness as a distiller that his pure and well- flavored whiskies find a ready sale on the mar- ket and rank with the best in the state. They manufacture a pure rye, sweet-mash, copper- distilled whisky, to which is bestowed much labor, care and personal attention. It is kept
until fully matured, and at the present time they have on hand 6,000 gallons ranging in age from two to five years. Mr. Edgar is equally as popular in private circles as in busi- ness, and has a large number of friends in the community, where he has always resided. June 30, 1896, he was united in matrimonial bonds with Anna R. Savage, a daughter of David Savage of Bloomsburg, by whom he has one daughter, Clara Savage.
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