USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 78
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
money was obtained to purchase the old Methodist Church on Arch street in 1872, the purchase price amounting to $3,500. It was at once fitted up for Catholic worship and was dedicated by Bishop Shanahan, and services have since been held there weekly. Rev. Dan- iel Maher succeeded Father Ganss as pastor of St. Joseph's, and he in turn was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Hayes, who was relieved by the present pastor.
Father Breckel is a learned, zealous and energetic priest, and although he has been connected with the parish but a few years, he has the entire confidence of all who have been so fortunate as to know him. He is especially popular among the younger members of the congregation and is at all times devoted to their interests and ready to encourage and foster every laudable enterprise that will ad- vance them. In season and out of season he has been assiduous in his labors for the eleva- tion of his flock, and all ages and conditions have been the objects of his pastoral care. Whilst there he has made improvements in many ways, and his good work, perseverance and excellent business methods have made him a host of admirers, not only among his parishioners but the people in general who ap- preciate the learned priest for his strict integ- rity. In the cause of temperance he has taken an advanced position and his work in this line has been most gratifying to him in its happy success.
AVID HOOVER,* a retired farmer and carpenter of Snydertown, Pa., was born in Shamokin township on the old Hoover homestead, October 16, 1846. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Lees) Hoover. Samuel Hoover, our subject's father, was
born in Shamokin township August 26, 1806, and died February 26, 1872. His wife, Sarah (Lees) Hoover, was born in Northumberland County, November 12, 1804, and survived her husband but one month, dying March 27. 1872. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Sarah, born March 24, 1833, married William Reed, now a retired farmer, and they live at Reed's Station, Shamokin township; John, now deceased, was born August 27. 1834; Jacob, now a retired hardware mer- chant and farmer, was born April 11, 1836. married Ella Shrives, and lives in Bushnell, Ill .; Margaret, now deceased, was born March 13, 1836, married Lafayette Savage, who lives at Snydertown; Mary A., born Jan- uary 10, 1840, married Edison Wolverton and lives at Holton, Kansas; Louisa, now de- ceased, born March 28, 1842, married Lafay- ette Savage; Eli, born March 16, 1844, mar- ried Emma Wolverton, and lives at Riverside, Pa .; David, our subject; and Harriet, born January 31, 1849, who is single and lives in Snydertown, Pa. All of the children were educated in the common schools. In early life Samuel Hoover was a cooper by trade and at a later period followed tanning and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was with his brother Joseph in the tanning busi- ness in Shamokin township for thirty years, but sold out in 1867 and bought a farm upon which he lived the remainder of his life. He was overseer of the poor and held many town- ship offices. Socially he was a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Snydertown. He very generously gave his financial aid to the erec- tion of the Lutheran Church of which he was a member and his good works and active life made him very well known in that part of the county.
David Hoover, our subject, received a good education in the common schools and then, at
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the age of seventeen, went to Danville, Pa., where he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for three years. He was married February 25, 1875, to Kate Reabuck, a native of Rush township, and a daughter of John and Sallie (Ressler) Reabuck of Mahanoy township, Northumberland County. The former spent his life in agricultural pursuits and in 1851 moved to Rush township, where he now lives. Our subject and wife have one son, John Samuel, who was born November 10, 1890.
Mr. Hoover lived on his father's farm, while he also worked at the carpenter's trade, until he moved to his present home in 1898. He is the owner of one of the most beautiful homes, with all the modern improvements, in that sec- tion of the county. He commenced building it in 1866 and brought it to its final comple- tion in 1878. He still owns the old farm of about eighty acres, which he now rents. For several years he has been a member of the school board; has served as chief burgess of Snydertown borough; and also as overseer of the poor. In political views he is a Demo- crat. The Lutheran Church has found in him a worthy and active member and has honored him with many offices, which he has accept- ably filled. His industry and careful dealings have made him very successful and he is con- sidered one of the most popular and esteemed citizens of Snydertown.
R. WALLACE JOSEPH RAN- DALL,* deceased, was a gentleman widely known throughout Sullivan County, and for many years was the only practitioner of medicine in the borough of Forksville. He was a son of Orrin Randall,
and was born at Columbia Cross Roads, Brad- ford County, Pa., January 16, 1835.
Dr. Randall was educated in the publi .: schools of Elmira. He took up the study of medicine with Dr. Axtel of Troy, Pa., later. being admitted to practice. He then prac- ticed with his preceptor at Troy until about 1860, when he located at Forksville, Sullivan County, continuing there until his death. Ambitious by nature, he continued to study during practice and obtained a wonderful knowledge of medical science and great skill in the treatment of his cases. Being the only physician in that vicinity, his practice assumed vast proportions. Many of his patients lived at distant places necessitating long and hard drives almost every day, but being of excep- tionally strong constitution he withstood the strain for years. His constitution finally was impaired and typhoid fever setting in he was obliged to take to his bed, but he believed that it would be but a short time before he would be about again. However, he never rallied and passed away on October 3, 1881, leaving a family and scores of friends to mourn his loss. The doctor had been very successful financially, and was the owner of large real estate interests. As rapidly as he could earn the money, he would invest it to advantage and in this he always displayed the best of judgment and unusual foresight. At the time of his death he owned the noted hotel Eagle Mere, and many acres of choice land there. He owned what is known as the John Brown farm, which he improved in many respects, making it a very valuable property. He also owned a number of large timber tracts. He purchased the John Brown residence on Bridge street in Forksville. where Mrs. Randall now resides, and in which he had his office. Just prior to his last sick-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ness he had a cellar almost completed for a new store and office building, which he plan- ned to be built on a lot adjoining his residence. After his death Mrs. Randall carried out his plans and erected a fine business block, and also built a new house, which he expected to erect, on the farm.
Mrs. Randall was born January 26, 1843. and is a daughter of Wheeler and Hannah (Ball) Green of Ilillsgrove, Pa., and her union with Dr. Randall was blessed with the follow- ing children: William F., a physician practic- ing at Dushore, who was born February 7. 1867, and married Della Fleming, by whom he has a son, Ralph; Esther M., born Novem- ber 16, 1869, who married Rev. Charles Schaubacher, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pennelton Center; Moses L., of Lincoln Falls, Pa., born January 22, 1873, who married Nellie Osler, and they have one son, Milton; John W., born August 8, 1876; Washington E., a drug clerk, who was born November 9, 1878; and Maude, born March 26, 1880. Socially our subject was a member of Sullivan Lodge No. 522, I. O. O. F. In politics he was a Republican; in religious belief he was liberal.
REDERICK W. V. LORENZ,* a German of great ability and enter- prise, and a civil engineer by profes- sion, is just in the prime of life and has had quite an interesting career. He came to Amer- ica in October, 1877, but remained in the United States less than one year, departing for Brazil on June 2, 1878, with some friends and a corps of men employed by Philadelphia capitalists to construct a railroad in South America. After sojourning in that tropical region for several months and having varied
and exciting experiences he decided to return to the United States, which he accordingly did in 1879. Immediately after his return he was employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company for some time, subsequent- ly entering the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He remained with these two companies until 1886, deciding at that time to work at his chosen profession, that of civil engineer. For several years he continued to work at engineering and surveying, and did a great deal of special work, prominent among which may be mentioned the large railroad bridge spanning Shamokin Creek and two railroads. The construction of this substan- tially-built bridge was in the sole charge of our subject and was built conjointly by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company and Northern Central Railway Company, costing $40,000. It is a magnificent structure and Mr. Lorenz justly deserves the reputation he secured by this piece of work. The bridge is of modern construction and contains the very best materials obtainable. Our subject located in Shamokin permanently in 1882, be- ing called there to assist his uncle, W. Lorenz, chief engineer of the Reading system, in building the Sunbury and Shamokin division of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. Dur- ing 1895 and 1896 he was city engineer of Shamokin.
Our subject was born in Burgsteinfurt. Westphalia, Germany, December 26, 1853. and is a son of Victor and Augusta (Drost) Lorenz. He received his education in the high schools and colleges of Germany.
Victor Lorenz, father of our subject, has held a high and important position in his na- tive country, Germany, where he still resides. He has an interesting life-history and is now enjoying the comforts of an independent com- petency in old age and is the faithful and be-
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loved friend of his employer. He was born October 15, 1833, and was educated in the schools of Germany. At the age of twenty- five years he accepted the high and honorable position of counsellor to the Prince of Ben- theim Steinfurt, of the German nobility, and has held that important and lucrative position ever since; in fact, he has been in the service of the Prince for about fifty years, and the family counsellor of eight children, who love and respect him, not as their servant, but as their friend. Few can boast of having been so intimately connected with people of such rank, and our subject is justly proud of his father.
Frederick W. V. Lorenz was united in mar- riage, bv the beautiful Episcopal service, with Clary Beury, a daughter of Christian Beury, of Shamokin, Pa., on June 25, 1884. They now have two bright and attractive daugh- ters: Helen B., born August 30, 1885; and Nancy L., born July 17, 1887. These daugh- ters, just entering their teens, are a source of pride and gratification to their parents, who are rearing them in accordance with the doc- trines of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Lorenz is a vestryman.
SWEISFORT, D. D. S.,* of Danville, whose handsome dental parlors is at the corner of Mills and Mahoning streets, is one of the enterprising and pro- gressive business men of the borough. He is a son of Jonas Sweisfort, and was born in Gilbertsville, Douglas township, Montgom- ery County, Pa., December 19, 1839.
Jonas Sweisfort, the father of our subject, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, and early in life was the proprietor of a hotel, but later, after settling in Montgomery County,
he was largely interested in the lumber busi- ness. He married a Miss Whitman, and they reared a large family of children.
After completing his education in the pub- lic schools Dr. Sweisfort decided to adopt the profession of a dentist, and went to Philadel- phia, where he began to study, but when the Civil War began he immediately enlisted in Company C, 3rd Reg., Pa. Vol. Cav. He served for three years and twenty-four days as sergeant, and after receiving his discharge returned to Philadelphia to resume his studies. Upon taking his degree as dentist he imme- diately entered upon a practice in Danville. He was successful and soon established a large general practice, although his greatest suc- cess has been in the manufacture of sets of false teeth and in bridge work. He is up-to- date in his methods and ranks among the first in skill and general ability; by careful and conscientious work he has built up a practice which we may safely declare with no fear of successful contradiction to be the finest in Montour County. He is actively interested in the progress and enterprise of Danville, being a member of the town council and a member of the board of trustees of the Thom- as Beaver Free Library, for which he has selected and purchased nearly all of the books. In 1879 he was made a member of the national guard organization at Danville, of which he was lieutenant for many years, but later was lieutenant-colonel.
Dr. Sweisfort was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Hannah, a daughter of John Everett of Montour County, and they are the parents of two children: Lucy E., deceased; and Gussie May. Socially he is a member of Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M., and of Goodrich Post, No. 22, G. A. R. He and his worthy wife are members of the Re- formed Church.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
B. FISHER,* whose reputation throughout Northumberland Coun- ty is well established, is the proprie- tor of the Neversink House at Trevorton, P'a. He is a son of Valentine and Rebecca (Brit- ton) Fisher, and was born November 21, 1849, in Berks County, Pa.
Valentine Fisher was born in Berks Coun- ty, Pa., about 1825, and moved to Trevorton in 1865, where he has followed the tinner's trade during all of his active life. His wife died in 1888. They were blessed with ten children.
Z. B. Fisher, the subject of this biography, was a mere boy when his parents moved to Trevorton. At the age of sixteen he became a slate-picker, being under the employ of the Fagleys, and at the age of eighteen he began mining. Most of his experience has been as a contract miner, and he is now engaged most of the time at North Franklin Mine No. 2, with the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company. In 1882 he erected a fine hotel in Trevorton, now known as the Neversink House. It is a large, commodious building, three stories high, 50 foot front and 65 feet in depth. Adjoining this well-known hotel is Mr. Fisher's residence, which is also three stories high, 28 foot front and 48 feet deep. These two buildings do much to improve the appearance of the town. Politically Mr. Fish- er is a Democrat and has been very active in township affairs; he was constable for two terms and overseer of the poor two terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 528 of Trevorton; Knights of the Golden Eagle Castle No. 455; and P. O. S. of A., Camp No. 156.
Mr. Fisher married Kate Yordy, daughter of Jacob Yordy of Trevorton, Pa. For many years Mr. Yordy was justice of the peace and was postmaster in 1860. He also taught
school many years in Trevorton and in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been blessed with nine children, as follows: Archi- bald; Clyde; Bert; Valentine; Mabel; and Vernon, all at home; Maud, deceased; Flora Irene; and Zephaniah.
VA ILLIAM Y. CRUIKSHANK," the popular and efficient superintend- ent of the casting department of the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, is a skilled mechanic, who has the supervision of the work of 200 men. He was born in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a son of James and Margaret (McFarland) Cruikshank.
James Cruikshank, the father of our subject, was a molder by trade, and followed it during his entire life. He had fifty years' experience in that line of work and, being an apt and conscientious worker, he acquired a great deal of skill. He and Margaret McFarland took the matrimonial vows and they became the parents of a family of children, one of whom is William Y., the subject of this personal his- tory. Mrs. Cruikshank closed her eyes in final sleep at the age of forty-seven years, and hier husband died at the age of seventy-three years.
William Y. Cruikshank received his educa- tion in the common schools, after which he learned the trade of a molder with his father. and soon after was appointed superintendent of the Lebanon Manufacturing Company of Lebanon. In 1894 he was called to his pres- ent position as superintendent of the casting department of The Jackson & Woodin Manu- facturing Company, which, when running regularly, uses from 150 to 200 tons of pig iron daily. Our subject has won the confi-
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dence of his employers, who regard him as one of the most reliable and faithful men in their employ. He always pays the strictest atten- tion to his business duties, and in private life he is always looked upon with favor and is a highly respected citizen.
Mr. Cruikshank was united in marriage to Jennie Hunter, a daughter of Alexander Hun- ter, and they are the proud parents of six chil- dren, as follows: William H., deceased; Alex- ander, a molder by trade; Mary, who married J. C. Lynn; James K. and John C., twins, who have just graduated from Berwick High School; and Margaret, deceased. In religious attachments the members of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially our subject is a Mason.
:
ON. JAMES FOSTER,* chief bur- gess of the borough of Danville, Montour County, and general manager of the Danville Stove Manufacturing Company, which is the largest stove company in the eastern part of the state, was born March 18, 1842, and is a son of Thompson and Eliza (Irwin) Foster.
Thompson Foster was of Scotch-Irish ex- traction, and was born in North Ireland. His trade was that of a blacksmith and mechanic, which he had learned during his younger days. He left his native country and came to the United States, locating in Pittsburg, Pa., where he followed his trade a short time, and then moved to Danville, Montour County, Pa. He next was connected with the mam- moth blacksmith shops of the iron works of Danville, where he remained many years. when he retired from the active duties of life and moved to Philadelphia, where he died at the age of seventy-nine years. He was joined
in marriage to Elizabeth Irwin, a native of North Ireland, and they were the parents of the following children: Alexander; Elizabeth; James, the subject of this sketch; Jennie; Thompson; Thomas; and Frances. Mr. Fos- ter served as councilman of Danville and as a director of the public schools.
Our subject received his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of Danville and then worked with his father, learning the trade of a blacksmith. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany A, 132d Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., for a term of nine months, but at the expiration of that time he re-enlisted and served throughout the close of the war. The most noted battles in which our subject participated were Antietam, in which he was wounded; Chancellorsville; and Fredericksburg. At the close of the war he was a member of the 194th Regiment, of which he was first lieutenant; he was honor- ably discharged in 1865, but again re-enlisted in the 214th Regiment, which was discharged in March, 1866. Returning to Danville, he took up his former trade, which he followed until 1882. On August 7th of that year the Danville Stove Manufacturing Company was organized, with the following officers: Henry Vincent, president; our subject, superintend- ent; and W. J. Baldy, treasurer. They pur- chased the De Long Foundry, which they op- erated at first on a small scale, but the busi- ness increased so rapidly they were obliged to enlarge their plant; accordingly, they erected a large five-story structure 238 feet long, and they now employ a force of 150 men. The present officers are W. B. Chamberlain, presi- dent; James Foster, general manager; J. A. Yorks, treasurer; and J. C. Lynn, secretary. Our subject is also traveling salesman, and has established agents in all the principal cities east of the Mississippi River. The company manufactures the well-known Beaver Steel
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Plate Furnace, in which either bituminous or anthracite coal may be used; also parlor and cooking ranges.
James Foster was united in marriage to Mary Gulick, a native of Danville, and a daughter of Isaac Gulick, who comes from the oldest families of Montour County. The following children have blessed the home of our subject and wife: John, a prominent shoe merchant of Danville; Elizabeth; Phoebe, deceased; Jennie; Alexander, a bookkeeper; and James, deceased. Mr. Foster is a mem- ber of St. Paul's Methodist Church, of which he is steward and a trustee; also superintend- ent of the Sabbath School. He is a member of Calumet Lodge No. 279, I. O. O. F., and is a member of Goodrich Post No. 22, G. A. R., of Danville, of which order he served four years as district deputy. Our subject was one of a committee to organize the Danville Wa- ter Works and was secretary and superintend- ent of the same for many years. He owns a fine residence on Walnut street and other property in Danville.
LBERT E. THOMPSON,* mine fore- man at Henry Clay Colliery at Sham- okin, has occupied that important situation since the autumn of 1888. He was born in 1862 in Somersetshire, England, and is the eldest son of Silas and Jane (Gass) Thompson. He was brought to this country by his parents at the age of three years, at- tended the common schools until nine years of age, and then went to work in the break- ers and continued until he attained the age of fifteen. For a couple of years after that he worked in and about the mines, subsequently becoming a miner, working in the Schuylkill region and other places until he became of
age, when he was promoted to fire-boss at Stanton Colliery, Gilberton, l'a. He labored in that capacity at different places until 1888, when he was appointed foreman at Henry Clay Colliery.
Silas Thompson, father of our subject, im- migrated in 1865, locating at New Philadel- phia, Schuylkill County, Pa., and at once en- gaged in mining. He subsequently worked as a miner at Shenandoah in 1869; at Gilberton in 1875; became a mine foreman in 1880 at Stanton Colliery at Gilberton; from 1884 to 1886 was operating Chumberton Colliery on a small scale; located in Shamokin in 1891 and remained there until his death in 1895. He was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and was associated with the I. O. O. F .; Knights of Pythias; and Eagle Sons of St. Lawrence. His widow sur- vives him. Their family consisted of three sons and three daughters, besides one who (lied in infancy, as follows: Alfred, subject of this sketch; Helen, wife of William Boone, of Gilberton; Carrie, widow of Jacob Turner, of St. Clair; Frederick, who died young; Willis, who resides at Shamokin and is engaged in clerking; and Viola, who is at home, the com- fort of her mother, to whom she is devotedly attached.
April 3, 1889, our subject was united in marriage with Sarah A. Beese, who was born November 23, 1863, and is a daughter of Solomon and Martha (Head) Beese. Her parents are natives of Wales and immigrated to America the same year that Sarah was born, locating in St. Clair, where the aged father still resides, having followed the occu- pation of a miner all his life. Twice have our subject and his wife been blessed with a child and twice has the Grim Messenger deprived them of the same; first a son, George Fred- erick, born November 2, 1890, died July II.
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1894; secondly, Guy Daniel, born June 1, 1892; died August 2, 1892.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Colum- bia Tin Company of St. Clair. He is a mem- ber of St. Clair Lodge, No. 255, I. O. O. F., and of the Elks of Shamokin.
R. REUBEN HOLLENBACK,* a leading dentist of Shamokin, Pa., is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Sherry) Hollenback. He was born September 1, 1841, in Lower Augusta township, near Sunbury, Pa., where he was reared. At the age of six- teen years he began to teach school and con- tinued in that occupation for six years, teach- ing in Coal township and Shamokin.
While teaching our subject took up the study of the dental profession under the tute- lage of Dr. B. F. Van Boskirk of Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pa. He entered the Pennsyl- vania Dental College in Philadelphia in 1877, and after graduating from that institution re- moved to Shamokin where he since has resid- ed and has continuously practiced his profes- sion, now possessing a large clientage which he has secured by the excellence of his dental work, his uniform courtesy and his painstak- ing effort to keep abreast with every progres- sive and modern method in dentistry.
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