USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 80
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is still a bachelor, editor of the Shamokin Daily Herald, a bright and spicy paper; Mary Jane, wife of Theodore Berry, of Shamokin; and Thomas F., who is employed in the mines.
Benjamin Thomas, brother of our subject, was a young man who was well-known and exceedingly popular, taking a prominent part in educational and musical matters in Shamo- kin. He was highly educated and, prior to his death, he was principal of the Shamokin High School. He died in 1897.
Our subject was married January 15, 1879, and has three bright and attractive children: David J., aged fifteen years; Benjamin, ten years old; and Emrys, aged six years. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Presbyterian Church, being leader of the choir as well as chorister of the Sunday School. In 1897 he organized the Mozart Glee Club, which con- sists of from twenty-five to thirty male voices. Fraternally he is a member of the Shamokin blue lodge No. 255. F. & A. M.
RANCIS H. KOHLBRAKER .* An -. other well-known and prominent citi- zen of Shamokin is the superintend- ent of the Mineral Railroad & Mining Com- pany, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His companionable traits and sterling worth are fairly attested in his having been with his present employers since 1871. when he entered their employ as an engineer; in 1887 he was promoted to outside-foreman and served faithfully in that position until 1897. when he was promoted to his present lucrative position. His superintendency includes the Luke Fidler and Cameron collieries. all in close proximity to Shamokin. These collieries are the largest in that section of the anthracite
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region of Pennsylvania, and furnish employ- ment to a force of 2,200 hands. Mr. Kohl- braker's life from boyhood has been spent in the mining regions, and, being of a careful and observing nature, has made this business a life-long study, has thoroughly analyzed every detail, and is well fitted to discharge his duties acceptably to his employers.
George Kohlbraker, father of our subject, was a native of Germany, and came to Amer- ica about 1849, locating near Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pa. Having learned the carpenter's trade in Germany, he followed it for some time after coming to this country. He removed from Pottsville to Shamokin in 1857 and worked about the mines, partly at his trade and in the mines for some time, and then accepted the position of foreman at the mines in the vicinity of Shamokin. He faith- fully performed his duties for twenty years, when he was deprived of life by an accident. He died in 1880, at the age of fifty- two years. He was a zealous Democrat and an active worker in the interest of his party; he also took an active part in educational af- fairs, serving as school director for a number of years. He was a devout Catholic. He was united in marriage with Mary Banman, a na- tive of Switzerland, who came to Amer- ica with her father, John Banman, who lo- cated in Pottsville, and also followed mining. Our subject's mother lived to be about sixty years old and was the mother of twelve chil- dren, four boys and eight girls.
Francis H. Kohlbraker was born December 15. 1856, near Pottsville, Pa., and was edu- cated in the public schools of Shamokin. While a boy he found employment about the mines as a slate-picker and later in life be- came an engineer, and worked for individual employers until he entered the employ of the Mineral Railroad & Mining Company in the
same capacity. Truly he has made himself what he now is, an honored and esteemed citizen.
R. HOWARD S. CHRISTIAN,* an experienced and skilled physician and surgeon, commands a large and lucra- tive practice in Millville and the immediate vicinity. He is a son of Jacob and Martha (Smith) Christian, and was born in Pine town- ship, Columbia County, February 11, 1862. His grandfather was John Christian, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Pine township, locating upon the estate which has since been known as the family homestead and is now owned by Judson, a brother of the gentleman whose record we write. John was an exten- sive farmer and lumberman and was success- ful in his many business ventures. He was a member and for many years an officer of the Baptist Church, helping to establish the first Baptist Church in Pine township. He was the father of two sons and two daughters, name- ly: Jacob, the father of our subject; John: Mary (Rantz); and Rebecca (Derr). '
Jacob Christian was born in Madison town- ship, Columbia County, June 12, 1825, and succeeded his father as owner of the home- stead farm, which he successfully cultivated for many years. He also operated a saw and chopping mill on the property and was a very prosperous man, earning a handsome compe- tency. He was a faithful worker in the Bap- tist Church, in which he. held many offices. He was united in matrimonial bonds to Mar- tha Smith, a daughter of Charles Smith, a native of Massachusetts and a wagon maker of Bloomsburg, and they became the parents of seven sons and two daughters, as follows: Theodore, deceased, a carpenter of Jackson
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township; John C., a merchant of Millville; Thomas H., deceased, who was a physician of Beacham, Pa .; Judson J., who is a farmer and miller on the old homestead; Ella M., the wife of Arthur Cole, a lumberman of Sereno, Pa .; William B., a lumberman of Millville; Dr. Howard S., our subject; Dr. Justin L., a prac- ticing physician of Lopez, Sullivan County, Pa .; and Richard E.
Dr. Howard S. Christian, after obtaining a good English education in Greenwood Semin- ary at Millville, taught school for two winters in that locality. He then began the study of medicine under the tutelage of the late Dr. A. P. Heller of Millville. He then took a course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., from which institution he graduated in the class of 1887. He then took a special course in operative surgery, and after becoming proficient in that branch of his pro- fession, entered upon his first practice at Mill- ville, in April, 1887. He made friends rapidly and soon established an enduring reputation as a physician competent to treat the most complicated cases. He is of kind and gentle disposition and is not only the physician to his many patients but is their close friend as well.
On September 15, 1892, Dr. Christian was joined in hymeneal bonds to Julia E. Eves, by whom he has one bright and interesting young son, Joseph H. Mrs. Christian comes of one of the oldest and best known families of Madison township, and is a daugher of Joseph W. and granddaughter of John K. Eves. John K. Eves was a son of Chandler Eves, a record of whose life may be found in the sketch of Ellis Eves, his grandson, which appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies. John K. Eves was born on the old Eves estate in Madison township, December 15, 1802, and spent most of his life following the occupation of a farmer in Greenwood township where he
was a prominent man. He was a member of the Society of Friends. He married Sarah Whitacre, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Adlum) Whitacre, by whom he had six daughters and one son, namely: Catherine; Rachel; Mary; Ann; Sarah; Joseph W., the father of our subject's wife; Hannah; and Eleanor S. Joseph W. Eves was reared on the farm and obtained his intellectual training in the public schools and at Greenwood Semin- ary at Millville; he then took a course of study and became a surveyor by profession, which he followed for many years in connection with farming. He also dealt in real estate until 1870, when he moved to Millville, where he lias since resided. Like his forefathers he is a consistent member of the Society of Friends. March 31, 1864, he married Sarah Warner, a daughter of James and Julia A. Warner of Muncy, Pa., and they had one daughter, Julia E., who is the wife of Dr. Christian.
Politically Dr. Christian is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party and is now a member of the borough council. In religious standing and fellowship he is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Socially he is a member and ex-president of the Columbia County Medical Society; and is a charter member and past grand of Millville Lodge No. 809, I. O. O. F.
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN FRUIT .* an honored and highly respected citi- zen of Jerseytown, Pa., who has been living in retirement since 1880, is a descend- ant of one of the pioneer families of Buffalo Valley, Pa. Our subject is a son of John and Nancy (Bower) Fruit, and was born in Fruits- town, now White Hall, Montour County. Pa .. May 29, 1826.
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Our subject's great-grandfather, John Fruit, was a native of Ireland, who, in the hope of bettering his financial condition in life and of procuring a home for his children, immigrated to the undeveloped and unoccupied lands of this country prior to the Revolutionary War. He settled in Buffalo Valley, near Lewis- town, Pa., where he was one of the pioneer farmers of that section. He was the father of a large family of children, most of whom lo- cated in Buffalo Valley where they also en- gaged in the cultivation of the soil. John Fruit, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Buffalo Valley and during his younger days aided his father in clearing his farm. After continuing farming a number of years in that section he moved to what was then known as Fruitstown, now White Hall, Montour Coun- ty; there he engaged in general merchandis- ing the rest of his active days. Mr. Fruit was inspector of the state militia during the Black Hawk War. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. His wife was Ellen Clark, a native of Buffalo Valley, by whom he raised a large family of children.
John Fruit, our subject's father, was his parents' oldest child and was born in Buffalo Valley; when he grew to manhood he moved to Jerseytown where he was engaged in the hotel business many years. Later he bought a farm in Madison township and was engaged in tilling the soil the rest of his life, with the exception of filling a county office, when he resided in Danville, the county seat. In 1834 he was elected treasurer of what was then Co- lumbia and Montour counties, and in 1840 he was elected sheriff. He was a strong Demo- crat in politics and a leader in his county; re- ligiously he was a member of the Presbyte- rian Church of which he was a consistent sup- porter. He was united in marriage to Nancy Bower, a daughter of John Bower, a native of
Berks County, Pa., but a farmer of Derry township, Montour County. Four sons and two daughters were the results of this union, namely: Benjamin F., the subject of this per- sonal history; Dr. Richard, deceased, late a physician of Hazleton, Pa .; John, deceased, was a practicing physician of Buckhorn, Pa .; Catherine, who resides at Hazleton, Pa .; Rob- ert, deceased, who was a well-to-do farmer of Liberty township, Montour County, Pa .; and Jennie, the wife of John Jiles of Hazleton, Pa. Our subject's father passed from this life in 1875 at the age of seventy-five years.
Benjamin Franklin Fruit was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools of his native township and the high school at Danville; in 1849 he was em- ployed as manager of the store owned by the Cool & Lochard Company, of Beaver Mead- ows, Carbon County, Pa. After remaining six years in their service he took a trip prospecting through Iowa and other West- ern States; returning to his native town- ship he purchased the old homestead of his father, and carried on general farming for several years. He next took a position as manager of a store at Ebervale, Luzerne County, Pa. Six years later he embarked in the hotel business in Carbon County, Pa., and continued that line of business eight years, when he moved to Hazleton, Pa., where he remained until 1878. During that time he purchased a farm near Buckhorn, Hemlock township, and another in Madison township, Columbia County. Our subject next resided in Bloomsburg for two years, and then re- moved to Jerseytown, where he has since lived in retirement, with the exception of looking after his real estate.
Mr. Fruit is a stanch Democrat in politics and has frequently been delegate to county and state conventions. He was united in mar-
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riage to Sarah Hendershot, a daughter of John Hendershot, a carpenter and farmer re- siding in Madison township. Our subject and wife are the parents of three children, only one of whom is living: Charles H., a resident of Jerseytown, who married Emma Swisher, a daughter of the late Dr. Thomas J. Swisher, and they have reared two daughters, Sarah and Margaret.
SAAC MAY, Sr.,* a worthy and highly respected citizen of Shamokin, Coal township, Pa., was born in Cornwall, England, March 18, 1820. His grandfather, James May, lived and died in Cornwall, and his father, Joseph May, was reared there also but immigrated to the United States in 1839, coming direct to the coal regions of Pennsyl- vania, but removed to Canada in 1841, locat- ing about forty miles from Toronto in the county and township of Wilber. The remain- der of his life was passed in agricultural pur- suits, his death occurring on his farm in Cana- da. He married Anna George, also a native of England, and their family consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely: James, who died in Schuylkill County, Pa .; William, who died at Mineral Point, Wis .; Isaac, the subject of this sketch, and only surviving member of the family of children; . Joseph, who died in Wilber County, Canada; Thomas G., who died in Shamokin; Mary Ann, who married William Luke and died in Canada in 1895; Elizabeth, who married Wel- field Lee and also died in Canada.
Isaac May, Sr., had very little opportunity to obtain an education. His parents were the owners of a little farm in Cornwall and he was put to the necessity of helping maintain the family. He came with his parents to
Schuylkill County, Pa., and when they re- moved to Canada two years later, he remained in that county, declaring he had come to the United States to live and would not return to British soil. He engaged in mining in Schuylkill County for a period of nine years, afterward serving as mine foreman for indi- vidual companies for several years. He then went into business for himself, owning and operating a mine at Middleport until 1853, when he located permanently in Shamokin. There he opened up what is still known as Buck Ridge Colliery, and operated it nearly ten years; prior to that it had been operated by May, Audenried & Co. He built the break- er during the time he was connected with Buck Ridge Colliery and added to it the Burn- side Colliery, operating both together for six years, then selling both of them to the Phila- delphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company in 1883. He then went into Columbia County where, under the name of Isaac May & Co., he leased and operated Morris Ridge Colliery for eight years, when he sold his interest in the business and retired.
In 1843 Mr. May was united in marriage with Mary Sterling, a daughter of John Ster- ling, of Pottsville, formerly of Berks County. To them have been born fourteen children, eleven of whom are still living: Maj. James Elizabeth, widow of Henry W. Morgan, who now resides in Shamokin; Isaac, of Shamokin, formerly in the mercantile busi- ness; Emma, widow of A. D. Allen, who also resides in the borough of Shamokin; Mary Ida, wife of Jacob F. Graeber, who is now in the Klondike region prospecting for gold; Joseph, deceased; Sarah Jane, wife of A. A. Heizmanson; Sue, wife of W. W. Ryon; George; Carrie; and Laura, wife of Daniel D. Driscoll, a bicycle manufacturer of Read- ing, Pa.
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Our subject's wife and family are members of St. Edward's Catholic Church, of Shamo- kin, in which faith Mrs. May was born and reared. Mr. May is a devout Christian gen- tleman, and a member of the M. E. Church. He is a progressive, influential citizen and has identified himself with many Shamokin enter- prises. He was a director of the Northumber- land County National Bank; president of the Miner's Trust & Safe Deposit Company; one of the originators of the First National Bank, and its second president and has served as di- rector for many years. In connection with the interest manifested by him in all of these en- terprises he has drawn freely on his own re- sources and done much in the way of build- ing up and improving the town and as a con- sequence is a large real estate owner. He is a stanch out-spoken Republican and has served as overseer of the poor for many years, and as supervisor of Coal township, which sur- rounds the borough of Shamokin.
UGUSTUS A. LUDY,* who resides on what is well-known as the old Green farm in Hillsgrove township, Sul- livan County, Pa., is extensively engaged in general farming and lumbering. He is a son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Kauffman) Ludy, and was born in Huntersville, Lycoming County, July 20, 1852.
Conrad Ludy, the father of our subject, is a native of Germany, and lived there until 1847, when he immigrated to this country and located in Huntersville, Pa. His first employ- ment was in a saw-mill, and while thus en- gaged he had the misfortune to lose an arm. Several years later he moved to Montoursville, Pa., and after tending locks for a time re- turned to his former business, that of lumber-
ing. This he followed until three years ago since which time he has been employed as an engineer in a saw-mill at Proctor, Pa. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Kauffman, a native of Bradford County, Pa., and five chil- dren blessed their union: Augustus A., the subject of this biographical record; William Franklin, who met death by drowning at the age of six years; Charles, who died in infancy; George Hudson, a lumberman of Roaring Branch, Pa .; and Peter Adam, also a resident of Roaring Branch. Mrs. Ludy was called to her final rest in 1890.
Augustus A. Ludy was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town after which he embarked in the lumbering business on Loyal- sock Creek in Sullivan County, where his present farm is located. He continued at that for many years, or until he located on his farm in 1890. The farm consists of about twenty- six acres of well-improved land, upon which he has since been engaged in general farming, although he still follows lumbering to some extent. He is a man of great industry and has been fairly successful. In private life he is a good neighbor and has many friends. On January 30, 1879, he was united in marriage with Annetta McBride, who was born in Sul- livan County, May 30, 1857, and is a daughter of James and Harriet (Green) McBride. Mr. McBride was a farmer on our subject's farm, but is now deceased. His wife is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Ludy. This union was blessed with the following children: Alta, who died in 1881, aged two years; Ella Amber, who was born in 1882 and lives at home; and Etta Edna, born in 1886. Politically our sub- ject is a Republican, and has served as tax collector in the county for four years, consta- ble for five years, and has held many of the minor township offices. At the present time he is overseer of the poor and has faithfully
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served in that capacity for three years. So- cially our subject is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America of Hillsgrove. Re- ligiously his wife is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hillsgrove.
J D. CLINTON KASE,* a retired farmer and merchant of . Elysburg,
. Pa., was born in Montour County, Pa., and is a son of John and Eleanor (De- Witt) Kase, both of Rush township, North- umberland County, Pa.
William Kase, the paternal grandfather, was born in Rush township, and followed farming all his life. He married Elizabeth Hubler. John Kase, the father of our subject, was born in Rush township, Northumberland County, where he grew to manhood, removing in 1826 to Mayberry township, Montour County, Pa. For a short time he was a tanner and distiller of whiskey, later taking up farming, which he followed until he retired in 1860. Mr. Kase was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, being elder for many years. Politi- cally he was a Republican, taking an active in- terest in the township affairs and holding all the township offices. Mr. Kase had many friends, being well known throughout the county. He died at the ripe age of eighty- seven years, in 1875. Mrs. Kase died April 29, 1869. Nine children resulted from this union: Isaac, deceased, who married Sarah Mattler; Charles, deceased, who married Rachael Reed; William, deceased, who mar- ried Sally A. Scott; Elizabeth, deceased, who married S. A. Burgestresser; Catherine A., who married George West, and lives in Dan- ville, Pa .; J. D. Clinton, the subject of this biography; Margaret, deceased, who married K. McWilliams of Elysburg, Pa .;
James D., a retired farmer, who lives in North Carolina, who married Mary Tousy; and Sarah Ella, who died at the age of seven years.
J. D. Clinton Kase, the subject of this biog- raphy, lived in Montour County until he was twenty years old when he married Mary Clark, daughter of William and Jane Clark of Rush township, where Mr. Clark carried on farming. After marriage Mr. Kase moved to Mayberry township, where for thirty-five years he was known as one of the most prominent farmers of the section. In 1890 our subject located in Elysburg, where he conducted a hardware store for three years, at the end of that period selling out to his son, Harry, who does a prosperous business. Mr. Kase still owns the old homestead in Mayberry town- ship and he is now enjoying a retired life, though he continues to take an active interest in the affairs of the church and township. Mr. Kase is an elder of the Presbyterian Church, taking deep interest in all church matters. For many years he has been a member of the school board. Politically he is an unswerving Republican. Mr. Kase has always been a steady and unflinching worker and his life has been crowned with success. He is very well known and liked throughout the county, hav- ing many friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Kase have been blessed with several children, as follows: Ella, who mar- ried John Pitman, and lives in Rush town- ship .- they have five children, Mary L., Clin- ton, William, Hattie and Dora; Simon G., who married Dora Ent, living on his farm in Upper Augusta township; Lizzie, who mar- ried John V. Vought, a farmer in Mayberry township, Montour County, Pa .; Clark, who married Emma Crick, and now lives on the old homestead in Mayberry township; Mar- garet, widow of Silas Miller, who now lives with her father; John, a farmer in Mayberry
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township, who married Bessie Bobb; and Harry C., who was born November 6, 1871, and who married Stella Sober, January 2, 1879. Harry C. has a large store in Elysburg, dealing in hardware, bicycles and buggies. He has conducted this store since 1893 and does a large and profitable business.
G EORGE E. TAYLOR,* a prominent and influential farmer of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, Pa., owns a fine farm of 350 acres, upon which he lives. He is a son of Frederick and Margaret (Ed- kin) Taylor, and was born in Shrewsbury township, February 13, 1833.
On the paternal side of the family, our sub- ject is a grandson of Robert Taylor, who was a native of Lewistown, Pa., and was the first to establish the family in Sullivan county. Up- on locating there he acquired a large tract of timberland which he cleared with a great deal of difficulty and much hard work, after which he erected a home. He operated a grist-mill and a distillery, in connection with which he engaged in agricultural pursuits with consid- erable success, owning 600 acres of land at the time of his demise, at the age of sixty-two years. He was joined in matrimonial bonds with Elizabeth Mayhue and they reared a fam- ily of children, one of whom was Frederick, ous subject's father.
Frederick Taylor was a native of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and there resided for many years of his life, being a prominent citizen of Muncy Valley. Politically he was a Democrat and served as supervisor and school director of his township. He formed a matri- monial alliance with Margaret Edkin, who
was born in England and emigrated to this country with her father, George Edkin, who settled on a farm in Shrewsbury township, where he resided until his death at the age of eighty years. His wife reached the advanced age of ninety-three years before submitting to the inevitable. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor: Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Beaver Kitchen, who resides at Montgomery Station, Pa .; William, deceased, married Mary Anderson, and now resides in Shrewsbury township; Robert, Jr., whose life sketch also appears in this volume; George E., our subject; Sophia, the widow of John Faust, who resides in Muncy, Lycoming County; Deborah, deceased, who was the wife of John Roach, who is also deceased; Margaret, deceased; and Theodore, who was killed in the Civil War, in 1865. Mr. Taylor died on March 13, 1886, and his wife survived him five years, dying in February, 1891.
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