USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 90
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
ting trade for four years. After this, he engaged in the sale of building sand, in which he still continues, in connection with other enterprises, especially the brick mann- facture, condueted by the enterprising firm of Bigler & Co., of which he is a member. In 1874 he removed to Philadelphia, where he spent six years as foreman of ear inspec- tors of Pennsylvania Gas Coal Company. In 1880 he returned to Harrisburg, and has held continuous residence here sinee that date. He is one of the progressive business men of Harrisburg, and has aided substan- tially in the development of some important enterprises, which have materially bene- fitted the eity and county. He was married in Philadelphia to Ella Jane Sparks, daugh- ter of George W. and Elisa Jane Sparks. Their children are Irene C., Eliza and James C. B. In political views he is a liberal. The family attend the Memorial Lutheran ehureh.
-WORDEN, JAMES H., was born in Luzerne county, October 9, 1855, son of Hiram B. and Mary A. (Loekwood) Miller Worden. Hiram B. Worden was born in Luzerne county, Pa., November 8, 1826. ITis early life was spent in the coal business in the Wyom- ing Valley. He was at that time one of the most prominent eoal operators in the valley. Ile continued in the business until 1861. He was first married to Miss Vangelia C. Lock- wood, daughter of William and Hester Travis Lockwood. There was no issue of this marriage. Mrs. Worden died in 1853. aged twenty-four years. In his second mar- riage Mr. Worden was united to Mrs. Mary A. (Lockwood) Miller. She was born Fel .- ruary 5, 1821. The children by this mar- riage are James H., H. M. F., Vangelia C., Carrie K., who died September 27, 1886, aged twenty-seven years; Hiram B., and Annie M. The mother died February 26, 1878, aged fifty-seven years. Mr. Worden was married the third time, April 21, 1880, to Mrs. Almira Walker Geer, daughter of Marshall K. and Anna M. Walker. After leaving the coal business in 1861, Mr. Wor- den went into farming and stock raising. to which he gave his attention until 1878. after which he was in the milling business umil 1882, when he engaged in the hay business. in which he is still engaged. Mr. Worden is prominent in the Masonic and Odd Fel. lows fraternities. Ile is a member of the
548
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Methodist church, in which he has filled all church offices.
James II. Worden received a good educa- tion in the public schools, finishing at the Keystone Academy at Factoryville, l'a., and at a very early age began teaching school in Wyoming county, where he was employed during three winter terms; in the summer he assisted his father on the farm. During the year 1875 Mr. Worden was clerk in the Chenango Valley Savings Bank, Bingham- ton, N. Y .; during 1876 he had charge of the books of his uncle, George Worden, at Pittston, Pa., in the meantime teaching school three months of an unexpired term. He also taught six weeks of another term in 1878 at Yatesville, Pa., in May of which year be resigned and entered the employ of the Lochiel Rolling Mill Company at Harris- burg, Pa., which position he held for one year when the mill was closed down. In 1879 he took charge of the books of D. W. Gross & Son, 119 Market street, Harrisburg, and remained with them until 1882, when he connected himself with C. E. H. Brels- ford & Co., of Harrisburg, having charge of the accounts of this company until January, 1892, when it was reorganized and incor- porated in the name of the Brelsford Pack- ing Company, and Mr. Worden was made secretary and treasurer of the corporation, which position he still holds. He is also connected with and is the president of the Columbia Baking Company of Columbia, Pa. He is also president of the Pennsyl- vania State Sportsmen's Association, and president of the Harrisburg Shooting Asso- ciation. Among the fraternities, Mr. Wor- den is past master of l'erseverance Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., of Harrisburg; past coun- cillor of Capital City Council, No. 327, Jr. O. U. A. M., and for twenty years has been an Odd Fellow. In politics he is and always has been a Republican. The family are Episcopalians.
James II. Worden was married Jannary 17, 1883, at Carbondale, Pa., to Elizabeth 1. Joyce, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Hartley) Joyce. They have two children : Lockwood Brelsford, born July 4, 1886, and Margaret Hartley, born October 14, 1892.
.
Mrs. James II. Worden was born at Car- bondale, Pa., May 1, 1857. Her father, Thomas Joyce, was born in the north of Ire- land, June 27, 1809, and emigrated to Amer- ica in 1844. He was a farmer and sheep raiser. HIe first married Anna, daughter of
John and Anna Adams. Their children were: Emily, who resides near Scranton, Pa., and Robert, who died June 17, 1859, aged twenty-one years. In his second mar- riage, Mr. Joyce was united to Margaret, daughter of Henry and Margaret Hartley. by whom he had four children : Thomas Ii., Annie M., wife of William Kelley, of One- onta, N. Y .; Elizabeth Isabella, wife of Mr. Worden, and John, who died June 12, 1860, aged sixteen. Mrs. Margaret Joyce died August 23, 1869, aged fifty-six. Mr. Joyce was married the third time December 24, 1872, to Eliza, daughter of Robert Reynolds. Of this marriage there is no issue. Mr. Joyce entered the services of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company in the capacity of engineer, assisting in the building of the first railroad in Luzerne county, and re- mained in the employment of this company until 1868, when he retired. He was an ac- tive member of the Episcopal church until his death, June 13, 1881, in the seventy- second year of his age. Mrs. Eliza Joyce survives him and resides at Factoryville, Pa., where she holds membership in the Methodist church.
CARLILE, ALEXANDER W., senior member of the firm of Carlile & Roberts, proprietors of the Pennsylvania Ammonia and Fertili- zer Works, was born in Chester county, near New London, Pa., December 3, 1855. He is a son of Samuel and Julia C. (Henderson) Carlile, the former a native of Chester county, the latter of Lancaster county, Pa. After passing through the public schools of his native town, he attended Delaware College, at Newark, Del., from which he was graduated in 1882. For four years he was assistant analytical chemist in the State Laboratory of Delaware College. In 18SG he opened a chemical laboratory at Wil- mington, Del., and was engaged in this pro- fession for four years in this place. The next year he was engaged in the same pro- fession at Lancaster, Pa., and during this time was also manager and stockholder in the Pennsylvania Ammonia and Fertilizer Company, at Harrisburg, Pa. In July, 1895, he formed a partnership in this busi- ness with Mr. Alexander II. Roberts.
He was married, in Philadelphia, January 28, 1885, to Eveline Juliet Witmer, daughi- ter of Amos L. and Amanda Witmer, of Lancaster, Pa. Two children have been born to them, one of whom died in child-
549
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
hood. The living child is Genevieve, born December 27, 1892. In politics Mr. Carlile is a Democrat. He attends the Episcopal church.
-BENTLEY, GEORGE ROLLAND, manager of Paxton Plate Mills, was born in Coatesville, Chester county, Pa., March 8, 1856. He is a son of John S. and Mary (Manley) Bentley, the former of Chester county and the latter of Delaware county, Pa. He was reared to manhood and was educated in his native county. In boyhood he worked on a farm, and when fifteen years old went to work in a rolling-mill. He has been engaged in the iron business twenty-five years. In 1879 he removed to Chester, and there also worked in a rolling-mill. Toward the last of his engagement he was manager of the Chester rolling-mill, and afterwards of the Wellnan iron and steel works. In October, 1892, he removed to Harrisburg and assumed his present position. He has been twice mar- ried. He was married, first, at Wilmington, Del., in 1877, to Edith T. Wier. To this marriage were born six children, two of whom died in childhood. Their living children are Walter S., J. Frank, Bertha M., and George Allen ; those deceased, John E. and C. Edgar. Mr. Bentley is a member of Thurlow Castle, No. 159, K. of G. E., Chester, Pa. In political views he is a Republican. The family attends the M. E. church. Mrs. Bentley died at Chester in March, 1890. In April, 1892, be was married to Melissa Val- entine, widow of the late Joseph Hendrick- son. Two children were the fruit of this marriage, Mary, who died in infancy, and Panl H. The parents of Mr. Bentley had nine children, all of whom are living: Harry C., of Philadelphia; William Hum- phrey, of Coatesville ; D. Frank, of Coates- ville; Edith A., wife of James D. Stott, of Coatesville; Harriet E., widow of the late David Thompson, of Gum Tree, Chester county, Pa .; George R., of Harrisburg, and Abram H., of Chester, Pa., twin brothers; Edmund E., of Coatesville, Pa. . Mr. Bent- ley has thoroughly demonstrated his busi- ness ability, and as a citizen enjoys the re- spect and esteem of his neighbors.
-FITZPATRICK, W. RIGHTER, superintendent of the Harrisburg Electric Company, was born at Hazleton, Luzerne county, Pa., March 29, 1856. He is a son of James and Mary (Malloy) Fitzpatrick, who were both natives
of Pennsylvania and of Irish ancestry. They both died at Hazleton, the father in 1889, the mother in 1878. The father was a highly respected citizen of Hazleton and prominent in military circles, bearing the title of colonel. They had born to them three chil- dren : W. R., Ella, and James C., Indian agent at Ft. Dunlap, Mon. The youth of W. Righter was spent in Hazleton, where he had the advantage of a good public school education. He became a telegraph operator in the employment of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. In 1877 he became connected with the Hazleton Electric Light Company and on March 17, 1884, he came to Harrisburg and since that date has been connected with the Harrisburg Electric Light Company. In May of the same year he was appointed electrician of the company and has efficiently performed the duties of his present position since 1886. He was married, at Harrisburg, June 1, 1886, to Sarah Coulter, daughter of William and Sarah Coulter, of Harrisburg. To theni have been born two children : Mary and James. He is a member of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M. In political views he is a Republican. He attends the Market Square Presbyterian church.
GEISEL, HENRY, proprietor of the Enter- prise Planing Mill, was born at Harrisburg, June 10, 1856. His father, Henry Geisel, and his mother, Amelia Geisel, were both born in Germany, but emigrated to this country and were among the early settlers of Harris- burg, where Mr. Geisel carried en the black- smith business until within a short time of his death. They had a family of eight chil- dren, six of whom are living: Henry, Richard, Lena, wife of Harry Smith, residing at Plum Creek, Neb .; Amelia, wife of George Harris, Harrisburg; Augusta and John, also resid - ing in Harrisburg.
Mr. Geisel received a public school edu- cation. At ten years of age he started in life as an errand boy in a grocery store, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the plan- ing mill of Trullinger & Co., where he learned the business and followed it both in Harris- burg and Philadelphia until 1890, when he engaged in business for himself.
He was married in Harrisburg, May 28, 1 1876, to Elizabeth Henning, of Iharrisburg, daughter of John and Elizabeth Henning. They have four living children and one dead.
550
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
The living children are: Henry, Jr., John F., Charles II., and Grover Cleveland.
He is a member of Lamberton Lodge, No. 708, I. O. O. F .; Bayard Lodge, No. 150, K. P., and of Goldsmith Division, U. R. K. P. He has served as judge of election board of Sixth ward. In political views he is a Democrat. The family attend the Lutheran church.
-ROBERTS, ALEXANDER H., of the firm of Carlile & Roberts, proprietors of the Penn- sylvania Ammonia and Fertilizer Works, was born in Harrisburg, August 1, 1856. He is a son of Alexander and Charlotte E. (Geiger) Roberts, whose ancestors were early settlers of Harrisburg. He received his primary education in the publie schools of Harrisburg, and later attended the prepara- tory school of Jacob F. Seiler. He com- pleted his education at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. He went to Philadelphia and became a partner in the firm of Win. B. Riely & Co., horse blanket manufacturers. He continued in the business ten years, when he retired from the firm, returned to Harris- burg and engaged in the wholesale stationery business on Market Square, under the firm name of Roberts & Meck. He is still an active partner in this firm. In July, 1895, he became associated with Mr. A. W. Carlile in the manufacture of fertilizers.
He was married in Germantown, Phila- delphia, April 8, 1885, to Miss Bertha Hill, daughter of Erastus and Sarah (Grafley) ITill. Of their four children, two died in in- fancy. The living children are Sarah H., born September 11, 18SS, and Erastus H., born December 25, 1894. In political views Mr. Roberts is a Democrat.
- WORDEN, HENRY M. F., manager of Brels- ford Packing Company, Harrisburg, Pa., was born at Plains, Luzerne county, Pa., October 6, 1856. He is a son of Hiram B. and Mary A. (Lockwood) Worden, natives of Luzerne county, the former born near Wilkes-Barre, the latter near Scranton. His father was a coal operator and opened the first shaft ever opened between Wilkes-Barre and Pittston. In 1861 he sold ont, went to Wyoming. county and was engaged in farming and milling up to 1892, when he removed to Whitney's Point, N. Y., and is now engaged there in the pressing of hay. His mother died at Factoryville, Wyoming county, Feb- ruary 26, 1876. These parents had a family
of six children : James H., Henry M. F., Vangelia, wife of A. E. Bailey, Hiram B., Carrie (deceased) and Annie M.
Henry M. F. Worden received his primary education in the public school of his native county. He also attended the Keystone Academy at Factoryville, Wyoming county. He taught school for two years in Wyoming county and the following two years he was an accountant at Pittston, Luzerne county, Pa. In 1881 be removed to Harrisburg and engaged with C. E. H. Brelsford as account ant. In January, 1893, this business was formed into an incorporated company and Mr. Worden became a stockholder and the manager of the company.
He was married in Harrisburg, January 20, 1885, to Mary E. Dietrich, daughter of B. F. and Harriet Dietrich, of Harrisburg. They have one child, Harriet, born October 6, 1SSS. Mr. Worden is a member of the Capital City Council, No. 327, Jr. O. U. A. M. In politics he is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Worden faithfully discharges the duties devolving upon him, and in every line of action mani- fests energy, fidelity and intelligence.
NAGLE, CHRISTIAN M., chief engineer of the Harrisburg water works, was born in Bainbridge, Lancaster county, Pa., February 2, 1857. His father, Emanuel Nagle, is a native of Marietta, Lancaster county, and is of German ancestry. He is a blacksmith, and has carried on business in Marietta, Bainbridge and Middletown. He has lived thirty years at Middletown, and served sev- eral terms in the common council of the borough. He was provost marshal of Bain- bridge during the war. He was also for some time in the employment of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company. He is now living a quiet, retired life, at Middletown, at the age of seventy-four years, highly re- spected by all who know him. His wife, Sarah Ann (Markley) Nagle, is of English ancestry, and was born at Penningtonville, Chester county, Pa. She is still living, at seventy-three years of age. They had ten children, six of whom are living: Mary S., wife of Adam Dennis, residing at Mann's Choice, Pa., where Mr. Dennis has been ticket agent and operator for the Pennsyl- vania railroad for over twenty years; John HI., residing in Harrisburg; Esther A., wife of Ross McCreary, residing in Middletown ; Christian M .; Ellen, wife of George Hutton,
551
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
residing in Harrisburg, a prominent grocery merchant, and a water works commissioner ; and Luther M., residing in Middletown.
When about eight years old, Christian M. Nagle removed to Middletown with his parents, and passed here his boyhood days, taking the course of study in the public and high schools of the town. After leaving school he came to Harrisburg and became an apprentice at the machinist's trade, in the employ of W. O. Hickok ; he remained with this firm for fourteen years. On June 4, 1888, he was appointed assistant engineer of the water works. In 1890 he was pro- moted to the place of chief engineer, which he now holds.
He was married, in Harrisburg, January 15, 1879, to Naomi Livingston, daughter of Benjamin and Esther Livingston, of Watts township, Perry county. Their children are: Charles E., born January 10, 1880; Bertha M., born August 12, 1882, and Esther A., born May 14, 1884.
Mr. Nagle has served as school director, representing the Sixth ward for two terms. He is a member of Egyptian Commandery, No. 114, K. of M .; St. John's Castle, No. 17, M. C., and of the Royal Arcanum. In po- litieal views he is a Republican. The family attend the United Evangelical church.
-FLEMING, DAVID, JR., was born at Harris- burg, Pa., May 4, 1857. He is a son of David Fleming, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume, and Susan (Mowry) Fleming, daughter of Charles Mowry, also elsewhere noticed in this book.
He spent his youth in Harrisburg, and enjoyed the best educational advantages af- forded in the city. He studied at Princeton College in class of 1878. He was one year with the engineer corps of the Pennsylvania Canal Company. In January, 1879, he was with the Harrisburg Car Company as clerk, and was afterwards made cashier of the foundry and machine department of the car company. In the re-organization of the Harrisburg Foundry and Machine Works he was prominent, and was elected secretary and treasurer of the company, the position he has sinee filled. He was made one of the executors of his father's estate in 1890. HIc also succeeded his father as director of the First National Bank of Harrisburg. Since his father's death the estate rebuilt and re- constructed the Commonwealth Hotel in 1891, and added the annex in 1892. He is . diet Goodman attended the public schools of
one of the organizers and a director of the East Harrisburg Passenger Railway Com- pany. He is one of the incorporators of the Harrisburg Grocery and Produce Company, and one of the incorporators and a director of the Brelsford Packing Company. He is a stockholder in the Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the People's Bridge Company, and succeeded his father as president of the People's Gas Company. He is interested in several other enterprises, being director of the Pennsylvania Folding Gate and Guard Company, of the Pennsylvania Ventilated Barrel Company, of the Westinger Furnace Company and of the Harrisburg Traction Company. He was one of the organizers of the Harrisburg Club, and was on the goy- erning committee of the club for several years. He is one of the incorporators of the Inglenook Club and one of the building committee of the club. In politics Mr. Fleming is a Republican. He was married in October 16, 1884, to Mary Curwen, daugh- ter of John Curwen, superintendent of Penn- sylvania Hospital, Warren, Pa., and Martha Elmer, daughter of Judge Elmer, of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey. They have two children : Martha Elmer, born March 6, 1889, and David Fleming, third, born April 21, 1893. He is a member of Market Square Presbyterian church, in which he holds the office of deacon. He teaches the class tauglit by his father in the Sunday-school.
-GOODMAN, BENEDICT, manager of the Goodman Clothing Company, was born at New Haven, Conn., June 16, 1857, son of Simon and Sophia (Rotenberger) Good- man. The parents were both natives of Ger- many. The father was born February 27, 1821, came to this country when a boy, landed at New York, and from there went South and engaged in general merchandis- ing with Saligman Bros. The partnership was dissolved at the end of five or six years, and he came North and engaged in the grocery business for himself, in which he has continued to the present time. le re- tired from business at one time, but being an active man, could not be satisfied with- out employment, and hence resumed busi- ness. The father was first married to Miss Sophia Roseburger, to whom eight children were born. Mrs. Goodman died June 16. 1873, aged forty-six years. The family were members of the Jewish Synagogue. B. de.
552
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
his native place until he was thirteen years old, after which he took a course of study at the academy in New Haven. He was engaged in the grocery business with his father for seventeen years, when he left his home and went to New York, and from there to Pennsylvania, and traveled West looking for a business location. He returned to Philadelphia, where he was employed for two years in the retail clothing business, and was subsequently engaged in the wholesale business until 1883. He then became a traveling salesman through the western States. in 1883 he came to Harrisburg and opened a clothing store at No. 422 Market street, in a small room 16x32 feet, where he conducted business for three years. In Jan- uary, 1886, he leased the corner of Fourth and Market street, where he has since been located. Mr. Goodman was married De- cember 16, 1777, to Miss R. Goodman, daughter of Henry and Matilda Goodman, to whom has been born one daughter, Sophia. The parents of Mrs. Goodman were both natives of South Bend. The father was a general merchant and lived in Philadelphia, where he died.
KINTER, CHARLES H., manager of the Harrisburg Electric Company, was born at Columbus, Ohio, August 2, 1857, son of George and Caroline C. (Heister) Kinter. He came to Harrisburg with his parents when a child and received his education in the public schools. , He was then employed as messenger in the train dispatchers' office of the Pennsylvania railroad, from which he was transferred to the position of clerk in the freight warehouse and subsequently served for six years as passenger brakeman and conductor on the Middle division. On Oc- tober 1, 1888, he was made manager of the Electric Company and has continued in charge of this important business since that time. He was married at Harrisburg, No- vember 3, ISSÍ, to Mary C. Groff, daughter of George M. and Elizabeth Groff. They have no children. Mr. Kinter is a member of State Capitol Lodge, No. 2030, K. of H. He is a Republican and attends Grace Methi- odist Episcopal church.
PATTON, J. HERVEY, chairman of the Har- · risburg Pipe Bending Company (limited) and also chairman of the Harrisburg Tin- smith Company (limited), was born in Har- risburg, Pa., October 26, 1857.
father, John Patton, was one of the earliest settlers of Northumberland county, where he spent the greater portion of his life and died at Milton at an advanced age. He was the inventor of the screw propeller. Will- iam P. Patton, son of John and father of J. Hervey, was born at Milton, Northumber- land county, and canie to Harrisburg about the year 1850. For twenty years he was connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He was the first superintendent of the Harrisburg city water department. Ile was the designing architect in the con- struction of the People's Gas Light Company and superintendent of it until its consolida- tion with the United Gas Improvement Company. About 1885 he removed to Washington, D. C., and was engaged there for four years in the Patent Office. He re- moved to Jersey City in 1889, and has since been in the employment of Munn & Co., publishers of the Scientific American as one of their patent examiners. He married Margaret Able, mother of J. Hervey Patton.
J. Hervey Patton was educated in the pub- lic schools of the city, and after leaving school spent six years at telegraphy in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. In 1879 he became connected with the Harrisburg Car Company in the capac- ity of corresponding and order clerk, and was continuously in the service of this com- pany until the industry was discontinued. On the formation of the companies above named he was chosen to the position he so efficiently fills at this date.
Mr. Patton was married at Harrisburg, September 7, 1886, to Miss Anna W. Lynch, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth Lynch, the former at that date being recorder of deeds for Dauphin county. They have no children. Mr. Patton is a member of the Royal Arcanum. In political matters he acts with the Republicans. Both Mr. and Mrs. Patton are consistent members of Grace M. E. church. Mr. Patton is one of the stewards of that church.
- SPICER, J. HENRY, superintendent of the Harrisburg Burial Case Company, was born at Plymouth, Hancock county, Ill., Noveni- ber 14, 1857, son of Charles A. and Nancy (West) Spicer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.