USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 74
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
July 2, 3, and 4, 1863; and he then served in the same regiment with the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war, coming out at the end with but three slight wounds, which he received during his entire service. He served with that division of the army from the battle of Petersburg to the surrender of Lee's Army, and was mustered out at Arling- ton Heights in 1865. Levi, fourth son of Samuel, lives in Fishing Creek township. George died young. Mary, the widow of Ja- cob Bender, resides in Iowa. Catherine is the wife of Robert McCalmount, and resides in Iowa. Barbara died in Iowa. Elizabeth is the wife of John Beishline of Fishing Creek town- ship. Sevilla died unmarried. Margaret, de- ceased, was the wife of Peter Eveland of Fish- ing Creek township.
Samuel J. Pealer was reared on his father's farm and lived with his parents until his fath- er's death in 1845, when he moved to Asbury and lived with his sister Margaret. He re- ceived his education in the common schools of Fishing Creek township, at New Columbus Academy, and also took a special course in higher mathematics under the private tutor- ship of Prof. A. L. Johnson of Lancaster, Pa. At the age of sixteen years he became a teach- er, continuing as such for two years, when he took up field work under William Bucka- lew.
For three years our subject was employed on government work in Minnesota, and on July 1, 1863, he was commissioned second lieutenant of a company of emergency men under Capt. R. F. Clark. He also did special work at the time of the Rebel invasion in 1864 for Maj .- Gen.' Cadwallader and Maj .- Gen. Couch, also under the orders of Gen. Albright. He later enlisted in Company E, 209th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and was shortly after detailed as recruiting officer, with the
rank of second lieutenant, serving also as judge-advocate. He recruited three compan- ies and was appointed captain of Company A, 74th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., which he joined at Green Spring Run, Va. He was a man of great popularity in his regiment and was sub- sequently chosen major, receiving twenty-four out of a possible twenty-seven votes, and held that rank until the close of the war. Upon returning to his home at Asbury Mr. Pealer taught school and, in addition, engaged as a surveyor and civil engineer, the latter of which has been his occupation up to the pres- ent day. He was for a time employed by the Pennsylvania Coal Company and has also done the chief work and engineering for the Salem Coal Company. Since 1895 he has been largely engaged in surveying about 80,000 acres of land in West Virginia, in Pocahontas and Randolph counties. His efforts have been attended by good results and he stands among the first business men of Asbury. He is a man of honor and integrity and is highly esteemed by all.
On January 18, 1862, our subject was united in marriage with Samantha C. Coleman, a daughter of Cornelius Coleman of Asbury, who was born March 19, 1838, and they are the parents of eight children: Alice M., the wife of Ezra A. Chapman, a resident of Hun- tington, Luzerne County: Lizzie C., the wife of George Vanliew; Stewart, who died in in- fancy; Woodin; Ella Eva; Robert Samuel; Charles Revere; and Blanche Florence S. Mr. Pealer is a Republican in politics and actively supports the principles of his party. Socially he is a member of Mountain Lodge, No. 264, I. O. O. F., of Orangeville, Pa. In religious attachments both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Asbury, and he is recording stew- ard of the Orangeville charge. For eight
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years he was superintendent of the Sunday School and at the present time is assistant su- perintendent.
ENRY BROWN, an intelligent and prosperous farmer of Forks township, Sullivan County, Pa., is a man of great industry who has attained success through his own individual efforts. Ile is a son of John and Ann Brown, and was born in Forks township, July 22, 1844, on the family homestead on Loyalsock Creek.
John Brown, the father of our subject, came from England in the early 40's and took up a large tract of land in the valley of the Loyal- sock. There he fought the battles of the pio- neer with nature and fortune and succeeded in wresting from the shadowy wilderness many acres of rich land. Shortly after locat- ing in Forks township he built a log house and barn, both of which were replaced by frame buildings in or about 1860, which were swept away by the largest and most disastrous flood ever known on the creek. Undaunted by this loss, however, John Brown again erected a house and barn. He dealt extensively in lum- ber, doing a very large custom business. He died in 1854, his wife having passed away many years previous. Their children were: Charles, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased; and Henry, our subject. Mr. Brown was a Demo- crat in politics and in his religious views he was inclined to be liberal.
Henry Brown was reared and educated in Forks township, taking advantage of all op- portunities which enabled him to better him- self intellectually. He has always been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on his present place and being most industrious and pains- taking he has been successful. He owns a tract of forty acres of the levelest land in Sulli-
van County, his farm being part of his father's original purchase. Mr. Brown has never left the ranks of single-blessedness, but is content to till his fields and enjoy the tranquillity of rural life alone. His household affairs are looked after by the wife of his deceased broth- er, Charles, whose maiden name was Mary Sherman and who resided in Overton before her marriage. Politically Mr. Brown is an un- swerving supporter of the Democratic party. He is a man of great popularity among his neighbors and has many friends.
ILLIAM E. KEARNEY, dealer in real estate in Shamokin and Coal townships, and justice of the peace of Shamokin, has led a remarkably busy life and is a self-made man. He was born Janu- ary 11, 1859, in Trevorton, Northumberland County, Pa., and was educated in the public schools of Shamokin. While a youth he be- gan his career, as many of his companions did, by working at the breaker as a slate-picker. He followed that and other occupations in and about the mines until he reached man- hood, when he engaged in mining, working as a miner for a period of two years. Al- though mining was a useful and remunera- tive occupation it did not altogether suit our subject's fancy, and, as he also wished to see something of the world, in August, 1881, he went to New York City to seek employment more suited to his tastes. Soon after his ar- rival in New York he apprenticed himself to learn the barber's trade, discovering in a very short time that he had much natural talent in that direction, and during his two years' stay in New York he not only mastered the ton- sorial art but also learned the associate art of hair dressing and manufacturing hair jewelry,
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wigs, etc. After becoming thoroughly pro- ficient he returned to his native county and started in business for himself at Shamokin, where he now has a large hair-dressing estab- lishment, manufacturing wigs and all kinds of hair jewelry, including such articles as ladies' and gentlemen's watchguards, breastpins, bracelets, finger rings, earrings, and various other kinds of ornaments, together with hair flowers, wreaths, crosses, and many other beautiful designs in hair work. Mr. Kearney is truly master of this art and takes especial pride in this branch of his business, conscien- tiously filling all orders entrusted to him with such fine workmanship that his ability is easily recognized. He has found this business to be not only a pleasure to him but very profitable, as one may judge by the large amount of real estate which he owns in the town of Shamokin and Coal township. In the fall of 1898 he accepted the contract from Shamokin borough to pave its principal thoroughfare, Independence street, with Mack paving blocks, the amount involved ap- proximating $20,000.
In March, 1889, our subject, with his broth- er, M. A. Kearney, and W. E. Deibert organ- ized the Shamokin Lock & Novelty Manufac- turing Company.
Since his election as justice of the peace in 1890 and his subsequent re-elections to the same office, our subject has dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling not only for others but for his own profit, thus acquiring valuable realty interests both in town and country property. Mr. Kearney is a true Democrat of the Jacksonian type and takes an active interest in all the local, state, and national conventions held by his party. He was delegate to the convention that nomin- ated Jenks for governor of Pennsylvania, and one of the alternates to the convention which
nominated Polk for Congress against H. E. Davis, another prominent candidate for nom- ination.
Patrick Kearney, grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of County Mayo, Ireland. Mathew Kearney, son of Patrick Kearney and father of our subject, was also born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to America, May 2, 1847, accompanied by his mother, wife and three sisters. He first located in Clintonville, Mass., but shortly after- ward moved to the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, first locating in Luzerne Coun- ty, then Carbon County, then, in 1850, at Trevorton, Northumberland County, and fin- ally in 1865 he located permanently in Sham- okin. He was a miner and contractor,- driving tunnels in connection with the mining of coal. He had the reputation of being an expert, and drove many of the large tunnels in the early development of the coal industry about Shamokin. Politically he was a Dem- ocrat and was tax collector of the borough of Shamokin at the time of his death, which occurred October 31, 1870. His widow, Ann (Devitt) Kearney, survived him for nearly nineteen years, passing from life to eternal rest March 25, 1889. They were the parents of eleven children, the following six of whom are still living: Mathew A., who owns a mod- ern hotel in Shamokin and receives a liberal share of public patronage; William E., the subject of this sketch; Daniel, a skilled detec- tive on the Chicago police force where he has served for twelve years; Annie, now the be- loved wife of J. F. McLaughlin of Pottsville, Pa .; James J., a successful attorney-at-law at Shamokin; Bridget, an accomplished young lady of Pottsville, Pa.
On April 28, 1892, our subject was united in marriage with Margaret Sweeney, a charm- ing and accomplished young lady, and their
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
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home is made happy by the presence of three children: Mathew Wilfred A .; Daniel Web- ster; and Mary Margaret Adela.
ATTHEW TAYLOR. The Taylor family is classed among the pioneer families of Sullivan County, Pa., and its members have contributed their full share toward the county's prosperity and de- velopment. The gentleman whose biography we write, and whose portrait is presented on a preceding page, is a representative of this prosperous and energetic family and was born in Shrewsbury township, November 12, 1833; his parents were James and Delia (Edkin) Taylor and his grandfather, Robert Taylor.
Robert Taylor was the first of this promi- nent family to settle in Sullivan County, hav- ing located there in 1803; he formerly resided at Warrior Run, Northumberland County, Pa., and was a life-long fariner. His wife was Elizabeth Mayes.
James Taylor, father of our subject, was also born in Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and resided there all his life. He carried on farming in Shrewsbury and David- son townships and also owned a saw-mill and was one of the prosperous lumbermen of his community. He departed from this life Aug- ust 31, 1870. His wife, Delia Edkin, was also a native of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and they were the parents of a fam- ily of five children, namely: Matthew; Al- fred, deceased; Katie, who is the wife of James Stroup, whose biography may be found else- where in this book; Sarah Jane, who died aged twelve years; and Margaret Jane, who died aged eighteen years.
Matthew Taylor was educated in the district
schools of Shrewsbury township and reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. He lias always followed farming in Shrewsbury township and in March, 1870, he took charge of his present fine farm which consists of 174 acres. He is regarded as one of the most progressive and industrious farmers of Sulli- van County. Our subject is ably assisted in carrying on the farm by his son George.
Mr. Taylor and Sarah Ann Richarts were united in matrimonial bonds September 10, 1862. She was born in Davidson township, Sullivan County, November 27, 1844, and is a daughter of David and Louisa (Weaver) Richarts, both now deceased; her father was a stonemason and shoemaker by trade. A family of six children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, namely: Laura I., who wedded Lloyd V. Buckholder, a wagonmaker of Muncy Valley, Pa., and they are the parents of eight children,-Dora May, Lulu Maria, Eveline, Josie Alice, Charles Matthew, Sarah Helen, Jessie Lillian, and Dorothy; James; Margaret J., wife of Delanson Poust, a far- mer near Hughesville, Lycoming County, Pa., and four children have blessed their home,- Elwell, Seeley Jane, Garrett Lindsay, and Clarence; George S., born October 8, 1867, married Eleanor Craft, born November 5, 1874, and Charles Leroy and Sarah Ethel have been born to them, the latter dying Decem- ber 17, 1898; Anna, who married Samuel Su- cules, a farmer of Shrewsbury township, Sul- livan County, and they have three children,- Myrtle, Hurley Raymond, and Arthur Jen- nings; and Clyde W., a farmer of Hughesville, Pa., who married Martha J. Kahler. Politi- cally Mr. Taylor is a Democrat and for the past four years has served as tax-collector of Shrewsbury township. Religiously he favors the Baptist Church. The Taylor family al- ways has been well known and esteemed for
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
honesty of purpose and high moral principles, which traits of character have been trans- mitted to its descendants, of whom Matthew Taylor is one of the most honored.
LIAS SWARTZ MILLER, superintend- ent of the Danville Water Works, which
is one of Danville's latest and most successful improvements, is recognized as one of the valued residents of that borough, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citi- zens. He was born in Danville borough, No- vember II, 1844, and is a son of William G. and Martha (Walker) Miller, and a grandson of George Miller.
George Miller, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa. His father, whose name is unknown to the pres- ent generation, located in that county at an early date, being the first sheriff of the county. George Miller learned the trade of a gun- smith; he purchased a residence and shop where the opera-house now stands, and there followed his chosen occupation until his death in 1842, at the age of sixty-five years. He was united in marriage with Sarah B. Myers, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: John, Elizabeth, William G., Mar- garet, Levi, Mary, George, Julia Ann, and Jacob H. The grandmother of our subject passed from this life at the age of eighty-five years.
William G. Miller, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster, Pa., and his boyhood days were spent in his father's gunshop, where he learned the trade of a gunsmith, which oc- cupation he followed in Danville all his life. He built a neat little home, which is now the home of Mrs. Rebecca Hess. Mr. Miller was wedded to Martha Walker, a daughter of Robert Walker and a native of County Derry,
Ireland. As a result of this union the follow- ing children were born, ten of whom are now living: Sarah B .; Robert C .; William H .; Joseph W .; Elias Swartz, our subject; Mary Jane; Luther, deceased; James S .; Maria B .; Martha A .; Isabella B .; and Emma. Mr. Miller departed from this life in 1882, aged seventy-three years and six months; his wife died at the age of seventy-seven years.
Elias Swartz Miller acquired a good educa- tion in the public schools and then worked in the gun-shop owned by his father until his eyes failed him. He then worked at various jobs until the water works was established in 1873 when he was appointed assistant super- intendent. In 1883 he was appointed super- intendent, which position he held until 1889, when he began to work as a mechanic in the nail mills of that town. In 1891 he returned to his former position as superintendent of the water works and has since filled that responsi- ble position to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers and the citizens of Danville. . Up to 1872 Danville had only wells and springs with which to supply water, but in that year a committee composed of the fol- lowing gentlemen was appointed to thor- oughly investigate various water-supply sys- tems: George W. Wray, J. W. Sweisfort, William Buckley, and M. D. L. Sechler. These gentlemen decided upon the Holly Company's system, and accordingly, in 1878 or 1879, a large tank, 50 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, was sunk in the Susquehanna River. In 1884 another tank with the following di- mensions, 46 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 73 feet deep, was sunk, and the water is pumped from these tanks into a Morrison-Jewell Fil- ter. The works also has a storage tank with a capacity of 98,000 gallons of filtered water. In the'engine-room are three Worthington pumps, two of which pump the water from the
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
two large tanks into a receiving tank, and the third pumps the water through the pipes into all parts of the borough. There are 1,600 hydrants for family use; 106 double fire hy- drants; and the D., L. & W. R. R. and a number of manufacturing plants are also sup- plied with water. The officers of the Water Works Company are: R. K. Polk, president; F. C. Angle and C. P. Harder, commissioners; E. S. Miller, superintendent; Jacob Byerly and Angus Wright, engineers; E. E. Bell and George Holligan, firemen.
Mr. Miller was united in the bonds of mat -. rimony with Esther R. Barr, a daughter of Washington P. Barr of Danville. She died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one child, Laura M. Our subject formed a second marital union with Sarah C. Foust, a daugh- ter of Daniel Foust of Mahoning township, Montour County. He is a member and past master of Mahoning Lodge No. 516, F. & A. M .; past high priest of Danville Chapter No. 239, H. R. A .; and past eminent com- mander of Calvary Commandery No. 37, K. T.
EORGE W. KEEFER. The gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this sketch is an extensive con- tractor of Sunbury, Northumberland County, where he has resided for many years and for whose interests he has worked with the un- tiring energy and zeal that characterizes the man. He has been closely identified with all enterprises having for their ultimate end the advancement of the borough, and is looked upon as one of her progressive citizens and held in high esteem by the whole community. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Weiser) Keefer, and was born in what was then Lower Augusta township, now Rockefeller, North- umberland County, April 22, 1845.
His paternal grandfather, a native of Oley township, Berks County, at an early age came to Shamokin township, Northumberland County, bringing his wife and two children. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits there the remainder of his life, and became a very prosperous man. He was the progenitor of four sons and four daughters, namely: Daniel; George, the father of our subject; John; Pe- ter; Catharine; Mollie; Elizabeth; and Han- nah. They are all now deceased.
George Keefer was born in Oley township, Berks County, in 1796, and was but eight years of age when he moved to Shamokin township with his father. There he grew to manhood and after his marriage moved to Lower Augusta township, near Lantz's Church, where he was successfully engaged in farming and milling until 1864. At that time he disposed of his grist mill, but continued at farming until his death, which occurred Oc- tober 16, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty- three years. He was a very prominent man in the political affairs of the section, and his advice was very much sought in party coun- cils. He was affiliated with the Democratic party, and was called upon to serve in many of the township offices. Religiously, he was a faithful member of Lantz's German Re- formed Church, which he helped to build and of which he was trustee and elder for many years. He twice took the marriage vows, his first wife being Mary Lantz, by whom he was the father of five children: Samuel; Peter; Margaret; Hannah; and Mary M. His sec- ond union was with Elizabeth Weiser, and they became the happy parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Catherine; George W., the subject of this biographical sketch; Philip W .; John S .; Jennie: and Lucy A.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
George W. Keefer was intellectually pre- pared for the duties of life in the public schools of Lower Augusta township, and was reared on the farm. In 1865, at the age of twenty years, he embarked in the mercantile business in Lower Augusta township, where he continued for two years. He then located at Herndon for a period of two years, and in 1869 moved to Sunbury, where he followed a similar line of business for five years. Since 1874 he has been engaged in contracting and building. He is an energetic worker and has built many large public buildings, bridges for the county and railroads, and many priv- ate residences, always fulfilling the contracts to the letter, and in such a manner as to gain the approval of his employers. His business has grown to a great extent, and at times he gives employment to a large number of men. In 1896 the Sunbury Mutual Life Insurance Company was organized, and he has since been its president. The remaining officers of the company are: George B. Cadwallader, vice-president; Amos Bloom, secretary; Uri- as Bloom, treasurer; and P. C. Oberdorf, agent. He is a man whose honesty and straightforwardness have never been ques- tioned, and he is alike popular with his em- ployers and fellow citizens, who esteem him as a man of great worth to the community.
In his political belief, Mr. Keefer is a stanch Democrat. and has served in an official capac- ity as burgess three terms, and in the council a number of times. He is also president of the board of trade and has held the position since its organization in 1891. Socially he is a member of Shamokin Lodge No. 255, F. & A. M. In his religious attachments he is a member of the German Reformed Church. On December 16, 1878, Mr. Keefer was unit- ed in marriage with Belle M. Zeigler, a daugh- ter of George W. Zeigler, Esq., who was a
prominent attorney-at-law of Sunbury, but has been living in retirement since 1895.
Mr. Zeigler was born at Gettysburg, Adams County, Pa., May 24, 1819, and is a son of George and Gertrude Elizabeth (Chritzman) Zeigler. His grandfather was Emanuel Zeig- ler, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, whose home was at Gettysburg, where he followed the trade of a hatter. George Zeigler, the father of George W., was also born at Gettys- burg, and there plied the trade of a hatter. For some years he served as prothonotary of Adams County. He subsequently moved to Dauphin County, near the city of Harrisburg, where he spent the remainder of his life, and at one time was elected register and recorder of the county. In political belief he was a Democrat. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was joined in wedlock with Gert- rude Elizabeth Chritzman, by whom he had seven children, six sons and one daughter. Mrs. Zeigler was born in Germany, and died at the age of seventy-five years in Butler County, Pa., where she was living with one of her sons.
George W. Zeigler was intellectually equip- ped for the battles of life in the public schools of Gettysburg, after which he learned the printer's trade in the establishment of the old Gettysburg Compiler. He thereafter located at Butler and engaged in the printing business with a brother, but later entered upon the study of law in the office of Samuel A. and John N. Pervian of that town. He was ad- mitted to the bar at the age of twenty-two years, and practiced at Butler for two years, when he removed to Jefferson County. His career there was one of unceasing activity and he acquired an extensive practice, in fact his duties became so onerous that his health was impaired, and he moved to Selinsgrove, where he practiced for two years. He then
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
moved to Sunbury, where he became a lawyer of recognized ability and cared for a large clientage until 1895, when he retired on ac- count of his advanced years. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1854, being returned to that body in 1855 and 1861.
On December 27, 1838, Mr. Zeigler was married to Mary A. McQuistion in Butler, Pa., and they became the parents of the fol- lowing offspring: Isabel, the wife of our sub- ject; Joseph, superintendent of the Adiron- dlacks Railroad; Gertrude E., the wife of P. P. Smith; J. Walter; George, who died in 1860 at the age of thirteen years; and Edgar, who died in infancy. Mrs. Zeigler died Septem- ber 5, 1889, at the age of sixty-nine years, eleven months and five days. Socially Mr. Zeigler is a member of Sunbury Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M .; and of the Odd Fellow Lodge. Religiously he is an adherent to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. 1
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