USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 77
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ILLIAM BRONG .* Cultivating the soil has been the principal occu- pation of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and he is the owner of a farm pleasantly situated in Hillsgrove township, Sullivan County, Pa. His parents are Joseph and Catherine (Hufsmith) Brong, and he was born in Monroe County, Pa., Oc- tober 20, 1840.
Our subject's grandfather was Jacob Brong, also a native of Monroe County; he was en- gaged in farming and the lumber business and owned a large saw-mill. He continued to re- side in Monroe County all his life and died there an old man. Joseph Brong was born in Monroe County, Pa., where he lives at the present time, having spent over eighty years of his life in that county. He has been a farm- er all his life, and has been remarkably suc- cessful; he has made many friends, all of whom respect and esteem him for his many sterling qualities. He was twice married. His first wife was Catherine Hufsmith, a native of Monroe County, and his second wife was Mrs.
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Catherine Kreste. Our subject's mother died in 1880. She was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, who were named as follows: William, our subject, the eldest; Sarah, who is a resi- dent of Monroe County; Mary Ann, wife of J. B. Miller of Wilkesbarre, Pa .; Hannah, who united in marriage with William Everitt, a retired farmer of Monroe County, Pa .; Charles H., a carpenter by trade, residing at Peckville, Pa .; Emeline, who resides at home; Julia Ann, deceased; Savannah, who married Albert Kreste, and they are residents of Beth- lehem, Pa .; John, a laborer residing at Wilkesbarre, Pa .; Millard, who lives in Mon- roe County, Pa .; Nathan, deceased; and two who died in their infancy.
William Brong began farming as a laborer in his native county; when the Civil. War broke out he volunteered his services, and in September, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 176th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., under Col. A. A. Leckler and Capt. Nicholas. The company only participated in a few skirmishes, and at the expiration of his enlistment, on June 2, 1863, our subject was discharged. Return- ing home he began the life of a farmer, and in 1891 he left his native county and removed to Sullivan County and settled in Hillsgrove township, where he began lumbering; later he settled on his present homestead near Hillsgrove, owning a fine farm of eighty-two acres.
December 25, 1864, Mr. Brong was united in marriage with Ann Maria Anglemire, born in Monroe County, Pa., June 9, 1841, and a daughter of Adam and Sarah (Kreste) Angle- mire, both of whom are now deceased; her father was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Brong are the parents of four children, namely: Adam J., who resides at home; Rob- ert, a farmer of Hillsgrove township, who married Cora Jackson; Alda M., who died
young; and Bertha, an adopted child, born April 16, 1895. Mr. Brong was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican; he has held the office of road commissioner several years. Religiously he and his wife are mem- bers of the German Reformed Church of Hills- grove.
ANIEL SCHLIEF,* a prosperous merchant of Shamokin, Pa., is purely of German descent. He was born Feb- ruary 6, 1863, at Silver Creek, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a son of Francis and Barbara (Strohm) Schlief. His maternal grandparents were Daniel and Catherine (Steis) Strohm. They came over from Ger- many on the same vessel which also bore the father of our subject, then a young man. His grandparents located on a tract of land in Schuylkill County, Pa., known as the "Bushy Tract."
Francis Schlief, father of our subject, was born in 1822 in Bavaria, Germany. He ar- rived in America, July 15, 1848. He first set- tled at Middeport, Schuylkill County, Pa., but subsequently removed to Brady, Northumber- land County, now known as Johnson City, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until our subject attained the age of six years, removing at that time to Shamokin and engaging in mining for many years. Later he was an as- sistant in a mercantile establishment at Sham- okin. He continued at that occupation until cut off by death in 1882 at the age of sixty years. He was a member of the Reformed Church. He was a decided Republican.
Daniel Schlief attended public schools until he attained the age of twelve years when he began working at the mines as slate-picker. continuing that occupation until seventeen years of age, when he commenced clerking for
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
his father and diligently continued at that un- til his father's death in 1882, after which lie re- mained with his father's former employer for six years. By strict attention to his duties and by close economy he had saved a considerable sum of money with which, in 1888, he leased a building and engaged in the mercantile business for himself, directly opposite the place he now occupies. He remained there for several years and was successful to such a marked degree that he was enabled to pur- chase his present site and build a handsome building of his own, at No. 600 West Pine street, Shamokin. This is a modern brick building with a frontage of 25 feet and a depth of 60 feet, and is three stories high. In this building Mr. Schlief carries a fine stock of general merchandise and can please the most fastidious. He is a close and careful buyer and believes in quick sales and small profits, thus securing for his customers many excel- lent bargains.
Mr. Schlief was twice married. His first wife was Mazie L. Hale, who bore him one son, Daniel, now deceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Schlief was united with Mrs. Kate S. Lyne. Two children were born to them, a daughter and son, Mazie Ruth and Lloyd Allen. Mr. Schlief and his wife have ยท seen these loved ones laid to rest in the grave; the misfortune fell heavily upon them, but they have bowed to the will of Him who called their loved ones home, and by this bereave- ment their own lives have been more closely cemented together.
Mr. Schlief is, virtually, a self-made man, having risen from a day-laborer to a position of wealth. He has been the architect of his own fortunes in the truest sense of the word. Both politically and religiously he follows in the footsteps of his father, being an enthusias- tic Republican and a member and liberal sup-
porter of the Reformed Church. He has serv- ed as councilman for two years, and is now a member of the board of health. He is a mem- ber of Washington Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of A., and is also a member of the A. P. A., No. 149.
OBERT HENRY SAVAGE. D.D.S ... a proficient and successful dentist of Sunbury, Pa., is a man who, by per- severance and energy, has won success despite adverse circumstances for which he was in no way responsible and which he could not con- trol. Dr. Savage is a son of James and Eliza- beth ( Ball) Savage and was born in Wiconis- co, Dauphin County, Pa .. August 3, 1859.
Our subject's grandfather, James Savage, was a native of Wales and with his wife, Eleanor, and family immigrated to the United States, settling in Minersville. Schuylkill County, Pa., where he died. He was a miner in his native country and continued as such in this country.
James Savage, father of the subject of this review, was born in Minora. County of Denbigh, North Wales, the home of his an- cestors for many years, February 25. 1823: in 1835, when the family settled in Miners- ville, he was but twelve years of age. He obtained a limited education in the public schools and grew to manhood in the town in which the family settled. When twelve years old James entered the mines as a mule driver. He continued in the mines as a laborer, pur- suing the various lines of work and being reg- ularly promoted until finally he undertook the operation of a colliery on his own account at Lykens. Dauphin County, Pa. He conducted the colliery a short time and in 1859 migrated to California, where he engaged in gold min- ing for six years. Returning to Schuylkill
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
County Mr. Savage became superintendent of a colliery at Gilberton, subsequently occu- pying a similar position in a colliery at Lykens operated by the Lykens Valley Coal Com- pany. Some time later the company, Savage Bros. & Kauffman, was formed and took charge of and operated the Brookside Colliery at Tower City, the colliery being the largest one in the world. It is now owned by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Com- pany. When the colliery was sold to the Phil- adelphia & Reading company Mr. Savage en- tered the employ of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. Co., as superintendent of a gang of men engaged in prospecting in var- ious parts of New Mexico for the railroad. He continued in that position until his death at Cimarron, New Mexico, on November 10, 1881. Mr. Savage married Elizabeth Ball, by whom he had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Mrs. Savage also has passed to her final rest beyond earthly bounds.
His primary scholastic training was ob- tained by Robert Henry Savage in the public schools of Tremont and subsequently he ac- quired a good English education in Lebanon Valley College at Auville. Having decided to become a dentist, Mr. Savage entered upon the study of his chosen profession and was so fortunate as to place himself under the pre- ceptorship of P. K. Filbert, D. D. S., a lead- ing practitioner of Pottsville, Pa., under whose direction he quickly acquired a good general knowledge of dentistry and fully pre- pared himself to enter a dental college. Un- fortunately his father, James Savage, met with financial reverses and the son was compelled to defer his course in a dental college until such time as he had earned sufficient money to defray the expenses of a dental-college course.
Determined to succeed and to master his
chosen profession Mr. Savage, in 1879, went to Selinsgrove. Snyder County, Pa., where, as assistant, he practiced his profession for two years under the direction of Dr. Van Buskirk. In 1881 Mr. Savage removed to Sunbury and served as assistant to Dr. G. M. Renn, with whom he remained until 1884, when he entered upon practice alone, which he continued successfully for two years. In 1886 he formed a co-partnership with Dr. Renn, the firm name being Renn & Savage, and this firm continued pleasantly and profit- ably for five years, when it was mutually dis- solved. Soon after separating from Dr. Renn Mr. Savage, in 1892, matriculated at the Pennsylvania Dental College in Philadelphia, and after taking a two years' course received the degree D. D. S., in March, 1894. He re- turned to Sunbury after he was graduated from the college. He has by diligent atten- tion to the duties and details of his intricate and most important profession and by his skilful practice and courtesy built up a large and lucrative clientage.
Our subject is a member of the Royal Ar- canum and is identified with the Reformed Church.
On July 12, 1885, Dr. Savage was united in marriage to Adelia Florine Garing of Sun- bury, and to them two children have been born: Effie, born September 5, 1886, and Ma- mie, whose death cast over a happy home its first sorrow.
LAF F. FERRIS .* Among the self- made men of Columbia County and one of her foremost agriculturists, as well as a gentleman respected for his sterling worth and integrity, we take pleasure in men- tioning a few facts connected with the life of
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
the gentleman whose name heads these lines. He is a farmer by calling and is engaged in the prosecution of his vocation on his fine farm a few miles from the town of Berwick. He was born at Mahoopany, Wyoming Coun- ty, Pa., March 21, 1848, and is a son of Si- meon and Holy Ann (June) Ferris.
Ransford Ferris, the great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the prominent farm- ers of Stamford, Conn., and spent his entire life in that occupation. He passed from this life about 1821. His wife was Lizzie June, and they were the parents of the following children: Avery, Simeon. Alvin, Joseph, Deb- bie, Betsey, Lucetis, and Abigail. Simeon Ferris, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Stamford, Conn., and died at his home in Sussex County, N. J., September, 1821. * His occupation was that of a shoemaker, which he followed in connection with farming. He was joined in marriage to Nancy Simmons and the following children blessed their home: Isaac, who moved to the West during his young manhood; Appollos, deceased, was a miller at Boontown, N. J .; Simeon, the father of our subject; John Calvin, a retired. farmer residing at Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pa .; Abbie, deceased, who was the wife of Isaac Ward; Polly, deceased, who was the wife of Smith Lockwood, of Connecticut; Mary Ann, deceased, who was united in mar- riage to Rufus Lonsburg of Connecticut; Clarinda, deceased, who wedded William Douglas of Lovelton, Pa .: Martha, widow of the late William T. Adams of Lovelton, Pa .; and Electa, deceased, who was the wife of Ed- win Lewis.
Simeon Ferris, father of our subject, was born in Stamford, Conn., August 12, 1809, and during his boyhood days he worked with his father, learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in Sussex County, N. J.,
until 1836, when he moved to Mahoopany, Wyoming County, Pa. He purchased a tract of land and engaged in general farming the rest of his active days. In religious views he was a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Church. He exerted a great influ- ence for the good of the church and might be called the father of the Mahoopany Methodist Church. He entered the world of rest March 7. 1875. He was joined in the bonds of wed- lock to Holy Ann June, and a family of twelve children blessed their home, namely: Appol- los, who was born at Wanaque, N. J., June 14, 1828, and was a stonemason and builder residing at Tunkhannock, Pa .; David L., who was born at Wanaque, N. J., February 25. 1830, and was a carpenter and builder of Tunkhannock, Pa .: Michael, born November 24, 1831, died August 12, 1860; Harriet, born at Liberty Corner, N. J., November 23, 1833. and died April 25, 1855; Eliza Jane, born at Liberty Corner. N. J., November 4. 1835. widow of the late William Labor of Tunk- hannock, Pa .; Henry, born at Mahoopany, Pa., April 14, 1838, was a soldier in the Civil War, and died at Hamburg, Pa., De- cember 25, 1861, after serving three months in Company B. 52nd Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf .; Levi L., born March 11, 1840, enlisted in Company B. 52nd Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., in September. 1861, and was killed May 31, 1862, in the bat- tle of Fair Oaks, Va., by a minie ball, which struck him above the right eye: Mary Emily, born June 28, 1842, who is the widow of the late John C. Fraley of Mahoopany, Pa .; Charles, born June 13, 1844, enlisted in the same company as did his two brothers, got as far as Alexandria, Va., when he was taken sick and was sent to the camp hospital, where he died April 20, 1864; Clarissa, born in Ma- hoopany, April 20, 1846, who is the wife of . Frank Smith, a lumberman; and our subject.
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Olaf F. Ferris was reared on his father's farm and attended school until he was twenty- one years of age. He then learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed as a journey- man a number of years; later he was a con- tractor and builder at Nanticoke, Pa., for a period of ten years. He then embarked in the grocery business in the same town, and four years later, in 1857, he removed to his present farm, which consists of 288 acres of the best land in Briarcreek township. In ad- dition to carrying on farming he keeps a dairy and has a herd of fifteen head of thoroughbred Jersey cattle. He also has a fine poultry yard, which contains the following variety of chick- ens: golden wyandottes; silver laced wyan- dottes: buff cochins; partridge cochins; buff leghorn; and Indian game.
Our subject is a member of the Wyoming Lodge No. 248, F. & A. M., and also is past master of the same lodge; Caldwell Consist- ory, S. P. R. S., N. M. J. of Bloomsburg; Berwick Lodge, I. O. O. F., and grand past master of Warrior Run Lodge, I. O. O. F .. of Nanticoke, Pa .: Berwick Castle No. 20. K. of G. E .; and in religious views he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Po- litically Mr. Ferris is a firm Republican and has served in the town council. January 7. 1875, he was united in the bonds of matri- mony to Martha Fairchild, a daughter of the late John Fairchild, a farmer of Nanticoke, Pa. To this union four children were born: Ada A., John Horace, Martha Elizabeth, and Olaf Carleton, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
OHN G. HARMAN,* the popular dis- trict attorney of Columbia County, is an enterprising young lawyer, who, al- though he has had but a few years' practice,
gives promise of future greatness. He was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, March 16, 1873, and is a son of Peter S. and Rebecca (Freeze) Harman. His paternal grandfather was George Harman, who was born in Northumberland County, Pa., but set- tled in Mifflin township, Columbia County, in 1833. Early in life he learned the trade of a tanner, and after locating in Orangeville he purchased and operated a tannery for many years. He folded his hands in final rest at the age of eighty-three years. He chose, as his companion in life Mary Knorr, by whom he had a large family of children, one of whom was Peter S. Harman.
Peter S. Harman, the father of our subject, when thirteen years of age left the parental roof to make his way in the world. He learned the trade of a molder, serving an apprentice- ship under Louis H. Maus of Bloomsburg. after which he followed that occupation as a journeyman for two years in several cities in the West. Upon returning East he located in Philadelphia, where for three years he was engaged in the same line of work. He con- ducted a machine shop and foundry at Ma- hanoy for three years. He then moved to Bloomsburg and formed a partnership with B. F. Sharpless, and they conducted a foundry for four years, after which he conducted it alone for two years. In 1875, in company with George Hassert, a skilled mechanic, Mr. Harman bought the old Barton farm, upon which they erected a building and began the manufacture of stoves, plows, and mining cars. Their success was immediate and the business grew with such rapidity that it was necessary to enlarge the plant in 1879, and they have since given employment to sixty hands the year around. It is one of the prin- cipal industries in the vicinity. When the ele- vator works failed. Mr. Harman was one of the
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first to advance the necessary capital to place it on its feet again and revive the business in- terests of the town. He purchased a house and lot of John Penman on Iron street and built a fine residence, in which he and his fam- ily have since resided. In 1856 he married Rebecca Freeze, a daughter of James and Frances (Goss) Freeze, and they became the happy parents of seven children, a record of whom is as follows: Frank F., who died at the age of five years; Howard F., who died at the age of three; Grace, the wife of Daniel Butler; Fanny, wife of William E. Hartman; Jennie, who married Amos H. Stroh; James Lee, who married Jessie Kimble, was an ap- prentice to the trade of a molder, but is now the bookkeeper of his father's firm; Mary. who is at home; John G., in whom the inter- est of this sketch centers; and Paul Z., a stu- dent at the Bloomsburg State Normal School. Politically Mr. Harman was originally a Whig, but is now an unswerving Republican; he has served on the town council for three terms and has been president of it for four years. Religiously he is a liberal supporter of the Episcopal Church. He is very promi- nent socially, being past master of Washing- ton Lodge, No. 265. F. & A. M., past high priest of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M .; past E. M. T. commander of Crusade Commandery. No. 12; Knights Templar; and V. G. treasurer of Zerrubabel Council, P. of J.
John G. Harman, after completing the re- quired course in the public schools, attended the State Normal School at Bloomsburg, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1891. He then read law under Col. John G. Freeze, one of the most distinguished law- yers of Columbia County, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1894. He immediately was taken in as a partner to his former pre- ceptor, Col. Freeze, and they have since prac-
ticed together. Being an earnest and elo- quent pleader, our subject rose rapidly in his chosen profession to a position of prominence. In September, 1896, he was appointed district attorney to succeed T. B. Hanley. He com- pleted the term of office in a satisfactory man- ner, and January 1, 1897, was elected to that office, which he has creditably filled since.
Mr. Harman was united in hymeneal bonds to Mary Sherwood, daughter of H. G. Sher- wood of Bloomsburg, who is loved by a large circle of friends for hier many estimable traits of character.
R EV. GEORGE J. BRECKEL,* who is faithfully discharging the duties of pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Milton, Northumberland County, Pa., and of St. Michael's Church at Sunbury, is a man in whom every member of his parish unhesi- tatingly reposes confidence, and one whom everybody esteems. He is a son of Francis and Mary Annie (Klute) Breckel, and was born in Lancaster, Pa., September 8, 1870.
Francis Breckel, the father of our subject. was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg. Germany, September 1, 1824, and after re- ceiving a good education learned the trade of a baker. He soon after came to America and located in Philadelphia, and subsequently in Lancaster, Pa., where he followed his trade. after some time entering business on his own account. He contracted what is known as baker's consumption and was obliged to give up his bakery, but he purchased a small piece of land in the suburbs, on which he erected a home, and there lived until his death, March 9. 1875. Politically he was a Democrat. He was united in marriage with Mary Annic Klute, who was born in the town of Olendorf.
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Armsberg, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, December 25. 1825. She was left an orphan at an early age and came to this country, mak- ing her home at Lancaster, where she married Mr. Breckel. Their union resulted in the fol- lowing issue: Rev. Francis L .; Tressia, who died at the age of twenty-one; Mary, who died at the age of nine years; Margaret and Elizabeth, twins, who died in infancy; Sophia, wife of D. Gochenour of Lancaster; John, de- ceased; and George J., the subject of this biographical record.
Rev. George J. Breckel obtained his prelim- inary training in the parochial school at St. Joseph's, Lancaster, and was prepared for the ministry at St. Vincent's, entering in 1885, and taking a complete classical, philosophical and theological course of study. On July 16, 1896, he was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Thomas McGovern, Bishop of Har- risburg, at the Cathedral, a nephew of the Bishop being ordained at the same time. He was shortly after called to his first charge, as pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Milton and of St. Michael's at Sunbury, and has continued as such up to the present time.
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Among the earliest settlers of Milton were many Catholics, and the first religious services held in the valley of the West Branch were held by them immediately after the close of the Revolutionary War. They were held in an old log hut which was erected for that pur- pose on the farm of Martin Kieffer, and it is recorded that some of the old Catholics of Turbot township were buried there as far back as 1787. A missionary priest occasionally vis- ited the settlement to celebrate mass, instruct and baptize the children, and preach the word of God to the little congregation, thus keep- ing alive the spark of Catholic faith in the hearts of those pioneer families. About four acres of land for parochial and burial purposes
were deeded to Rev. Francis Neale of George- town, D. C., by John and Margaret Kieffer May- 13, 1805, adjoining the place of worship, which was destroyed by fire May 14, 1880. On March 1, 1882, Father Ganss, who was then pastor, bought the property previously known as the old Academy Hill, lying south and east of the old parochial residence built by his predecessor, and upon the exact site of the academy he erected the present church at a total expense of $10,000. He subsequently laid out the grounds in lawns and terraces, and the property is now one of the handsomest in Milton. The building is in thorough harmony with the best and most approved ideas of Gothic architecture. It is conspicuously lo- cated on one of the historic spots in Milton, around which cluster many of the tenderest ties and most sacred memories of pioneer days.
St. Michael's Church at Sunbury, a mission connected with St. Joseph's parish, had its be- ginning in the autumn of 1863, as a result of the efforts of Rev. J. J. Koch, who had pre- viously conducted services at the home of a Mr. McNamara, which stood on the site of the Pennsylvania depot, and in the home of John Leavy, on Fourth street. At the latter place he conducted services once every month until 1866, when he was called to Shamokin. During this time he collected subscriptions amounting to $300, which formed the nucleus of the fund subsequently used in purchasing the property on which the church now stands. Rev. Arthur McGinnis of Danville acted as pastor during the following two years, but since that time the pastors of Milton have had charge. About this time Maj. Malone made a grand effort toward securing a permanent place of worship, and as a result of his en- deavors and those of his able assistant, Rev. Michael McBride of Harrisburg. enough
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