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. 2 > Part 50
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 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
- FERREE, FRANK P., farmer and stockman, Gratz, Pa., was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., May 25, 1853. Isaac Ferree, his great-grandfather, was a native of France and a descendant of the Huguenots who were expelled from that country. He came to America and settled in Lancaster
county, where he was a farmer and where he died. Isaac Ferree (2), grandfather of Frank P., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and was also a farmer. He took part in the war of 1812. He came to Dauphin county and located in Lykens Valley and took up one thousand acres of timber land. He laid out the town of Lykens and was extensively inter- ested in farming and stock raising. He was much disturbed by Indian outbreaks and was repeatedly compelled to take up arms against the red warriors. He owned a pow- der mill at Lykens. He was an influential man, widely known and highly esteemed. IIe was an ardent Democrat. He held mem- bership in the Reformed church. He mar- ried in the township and was the father of ten children, among whom was George W., father of Frank P. Ferree.
George Washington Ferree was born in Lykens Valley, Washington township, Dau- phin county, Pa., November 21, 1810. He attended the subscription schools of the township, grew up on his father's farm, and was for twenty-five years employed in the coal mines of Wiconisco. Later he bought a farm of thirty-three acres in Lykens town- ship, and during the remainder of his life was engaged in agriculture. Mr. Ferree was married, in Lykens township, in 1834, to Leah Umholtz, born in Lykens Valley, Ly- kens township, February 7, 1815; daughter of Henry Umholtz, a farmer of that town- ship. They had ten children : Cyrus, de- ceased ; Uriah, deccased ; Mary A., deceased, wife of Isaac Burd; Elizabeth; Henry, miner; Leah, died in infancy ; Sarah, de- ceased, wife of N. Bressler ; George W., do- ceased ; Frank P .; and Ethel E., deceased, wife of Jolin Rush. Mr. George W. Ferree died on the homestead, November 5, 1873. He was a Democrat and was very active as a local leader in his party. His wife died in 1885.
Frank P. Ferree attended the common schools and was also a pupil at the Berrys- burg Seminary for four terms. He became a teacher and taught the township school during the winter months and worked on the home farm in the summer. He always remained on the homestead and took charge of the farm after the death of his mother. He was also at intervals engaged in working in the mines, and up to the present time is occasionally employed in this work in the mines at Wiconisco.
Frank P. Ferree was married, in Lykens
889
DAUPIIIN COUNTY.
township, in 1878, to Catherine Salada, born in Lykens township, March 12, 1860; daugh- ter of Henry Salada, a brick maker, and Elizabeth (Siloe) Salada. They have four children : Sarah E., born November 20, 1879; Joseph A., born December 17, 1885 ; Lizzie L., born April 1, 1890 ; and Henry U., born April 20, 1892.
Mr. Ferree is a Democrat and was elected justice of the peace and served two terms, seven years, and was an acceptable officer. He is a member of the Reformed church, in which he has served as deacon and Sunday- school teacher and superintendent. He is of good reputation and character as man and as citizen, is well and widely known and universally respected.
HOFFMAN, JOHN W., farmer and stock- man, Gratz, Pa., was born in Gratz, Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 8, 1843. His father, Henry C. Hoffman, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came when a young man to Harrisburg, Pa., where he worked as a carpenter for Mr. Holman. He afterwards came to Lykens township, and worked at his trade at Gratz, where he spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1878. He was married, in Gratz, to a native of that place, Sarah, daughter of John Wel- ker. Their children were: Sarah, wife of John B. Hoke, Pottsville, Pa .; John W .; Elizabeth, wife of F. Heitzman, Shamokin, Pa .; Hannah, wife of John Eisenhart ; Ellen, wife of George Reed, Valley View, Pa .; Re- becca, wife of Amos Kissinger; Jame's F., re- sides in Gratz; Amelia, wife of John Getler, Pottsville, Pa .; Mary and Samuel, both de- ceased, and three children who died in in- fancy.
Mr. Hoffman took an active part in poli- tics, first as a Whig and subsequently as a Republican. He held various township offices, as auditor, etc. He was an official member in the Reformed church, serving as deacon, elder `and in other church offices. His wife was a member of the same church. She died in Gratz in 1881.
John W. Hoffman attended school for a short time each winter, and worked on the farm of Daniel P. Stine every summer from his ninth to his sixteenth year. He also at- tended Freeburg Academy, Snyder county, for two terms. By this course, together with diligent private study and reading, he pre- pared himself for the work of teaching, and
taught school twelve terms, ten of which were in the winter season.
Mr. Hoffman learned carpentry with his father, and worked as a journeyman until the war broke out. He enlisted at Harris- burg in August, 1862, in company D, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, Col. W. W. Jennings and Capt. J. B. Keene. He was ordered to Washing- ton, D. C., and remained at Arlington Heights until December 1, when he marched with his company to Fredericksburg, and on December 13, 1862, participated in the battle fought there. He was afterwards sick for seven weeks, and remained there all winter. He was in the battle of Chancellorsville May 3, 1863, and in the four days' fight there. His term of enlistment having ex- pired, he returned home in June, 1863, and remained there until April, 1865, when he again enlisted, this time for three years, at Harrisburg. He was sent to Roanoke Island, where he performed close guard duty. He was mustered out at the expiration of the war, and was left with impaired health, re- sulting from exposure in service. Return- ing to Gratz Mr. Hoffman taught school until 1878. He then bought a farm of fifty- two acres in the Snyder mill property, on which there was only an old frame house. He built on this place a good dwelling house and barn, costing over $2,000, and made other valuable improvements. In 1889 he bought the Shade farm of fifty-two acres, and has since cultivated the one hundred and four acres, on which he has been exten- sively engaged in raising stock.
John W. Hoffman was married in Lykens township, January 17, 1867, to Amanda Guise, born in that township December 39, 1847. Their children were: Edwin, tinsmith, Valley View, Pa .; Harry W., farmer, on the homestead, married Edna Daniel, of Lykens township; Mary, wife of Isaac Troutman ; Martha, unmarried; Stephen, Charles G., Clarence and Ellie, all at home, and Emma C., who died at five years of age. Mr. Hoff- man is a member of Kissinger Post, No. 376, G. A. R. He is a Republican, active in party movements and deeply interested in township affairs. He was school director for a number of years. For seventeen years he was secretary of the Dauphin County Fair. He is also much interested in church mat- ters. Hle is a member of the Reformed church, in which he was for years Sunday-
5
890
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
school teacher and superintendent. He is a live man in all public and social concerns, active in promoting the welfare of the com- munity.
- UMHOLTZ, EMANUEL, farmer, Gratz, Pa., was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., July 30, 1843. Philip Umholtz, his grandfather, was of German descent, and was a farmer in Lykens township, where he died. He was an old line Whig and a member of the Reformed church. His son Samuel, father of Emanuel Umholtz, was also born in Lykens township, where he owned and cultivated a farm of one hun- dred acres. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Harner, was a native of the same township. They had eight chil- dren : Maria, died young ; Emanuel; Isaac, enlisted in company H, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania volunteers, and was killed in battle; Sarah M., wife of Henry M. Ritzman, Lykens township; Ellen, wife of Elias Klinger ; Henry, deceased; Louisa, wife of Jacob Zimmerman, Williamstown, Pa .; Edward, in Iowa. Mrs. Umholtz died in Lykens township in 1856. Mr. Umholtz was again married, to Elizabeth Genter, born in Washington township; their children were: Adeline, wife of George Welker, Lykens township; Harvey, killed by a casualty in the mines, and William, miner, residing in Gratz. Mr. Umholtz died in the town- ship in March, 1884. He was a Republican; he served as tax collector and in other town- ship offices. He was an active member of the Reformed church, serving as deacon ; he was deeply interested in the welfare of his fellow-men.
Emanuel Umholtz had only the most slen- der educational advantages, having been in school not more than a year altogether. He began at a very early age to work with his father on the farm, and remained with him until he was fifteen; at this age he went to Ohio, worked for a year on a farm, and then returned and was for two years in the employ of a farmer in Lykens township. He enlisted on July 1, 1863, in company HI, Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania militia, and served sixty days in and about Gettysburg, at the time of the great rebel invasion. He afterwards worked on the farm until Septem- ber of that year, when he enlisted in com- pany HI, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, Cap- tain Kimmell and Col. J. J. Jordan. He was with Sherman in all his campaigns, and par-
ticipated in the battles fought by that army up to the close of the war. IIe was dis- charged July 28, 1865, resumed farm work with his father, and remained with him until 1867. In this year he bought a farm of eighty-two acres, which he cultivated for twelve years, and then bought a farm of sixty-four acres, improved it and farmed it for four years. He then sold this farm and bought the old homestead of seventy acres, which he now occupies and cultivates.
Emanuel Umholtz was married, in Lykens township in 1867, to Mary, daughter of Henry Hartman, born in that township in 1840. Their children are: Isaac M., on the homestead, married L. C. Cecilia Willard and has one child, Elmer; and Lizzie, wife of George Daniel, farmer, Lykens township, has one child, Charles.
Mr. Umholtz is a Republican ; has served fifteen years as constable. He is a member of Kissinger Post, No. 376, G. A. R., at Gratz. He is connected with the Lutheran church, and has been four years a deacon. He has spent an active and useful life. He worked a year and a half in the mines, but most of his life has been devoted to agriculture. He takes an active part in the county fair, and is alive to all that promises good to the farmers. He is well known and well liked and everywhere recognized as a solid man.
-RIEGLE, HARRISON, farmer and stockman, was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., November 15, 1840. Daniel Riegle (1), his grandfather, was a native of Berks county, of German descent, and a farmer. He and his wife died in Lykens township. Both were members of the Re- formed church. He was an old line Whig. His son, Daniel Riegle (2), father of Harrison, owned and cultivated a farm of fifty acres in Lykens township, which he greatly improved, and occupied it until 1850. He then sold this farm, and purchased the mill property belonging to the Hoover estate, now the property of Daniel Buffington, on which he resided until 1855. He then removed to Gratz, where he died in June of the same year. He served one term as county com- missioner of Dauphin county, also one term as director of the poor of the same county. He was once a candidate for the office of sheriff, but was defeated. He was married, in Lykens township, to Catherine Hoffman, a native of that township, who died there in 1864. Their children were: Eliza, deceased,
£
891
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
wife of Elias Etzwiler, Jackson township; Josiah R. and Jonas P., both deceased ; and Harrison.
Harrison Riegle attended the public school for only a few terms, during winter months. He began early to help his father in farm work, and remained with him until in his sixteenth year. At the age of seventeen he began working as a laborer in the mines; at the end of a year he became a miner, and was so employed until 1865. He enlisted at Harrisburg, March 10, 1865, in company G, One Hundred and Third regiment, Pennsyl- vania volunteers, for one year. He was sent by the way of Baltimore to Fortress Monroe, thence to Norfolk and Roanoke Island, and was on guard duty for four months. He was mustered out of service July 14, 1865, at Palmer, N. C., and returned to Harrisburg, where he received his discharge. After this he continued in the employment of the Lykens Valley Coal Company, as a miner until 1886, when he relinquished mining and bought a farm in Lykens township, con- taining forty acres cleared land and thirty- seven acres woodland, which he has since been engaged in improving and tilling.
Harrison Riegle was married, in Lykens township, in 1867, to Hannah L. Rickert, born in that township in May, 1849; daugh- ter of Martin Rickert, farmer. Their children were: Chauncey A., miner; Lizzie C .; Edward A., school teacher ; Charles G., miner; Bertha, Mabel, Norman, and seven who died in in- fancy. Mr. Riegle is a Republican ; has been for three years school director, and takes an active part in township affairs. Attwenty-one years of age he joined the Gratz Lodge, I. O. O. F., and still holds his membership in that fraternity. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, with the Lykens Lodge of S. P. K., and with Kissinger Post, No. 376, G. A. R. Mr. Riegle is a member of the Reformed church.
GRUBB, HENRY A., farmer and dairyman, was born in Greenwood township, Perry county, Pa., September 30, 1850.
Henry Grubb (1), grandfather of Henry A. Grubb, was a farmer in Perry county, and died in that county. Henry Grubb (2) was born in Greenwood township, where he owned and cultivated a farm of two hundred acres, on which he died in 1862 .. Ile mar- ried Abbey Mentz, a native of Northumber- land county. Their children were: Susan, William, Sophia, and Sarah J., all deceased ;
Abbey, wife of Henry Long, Perry county ; Angeline, wife of Joseph Ulsh ; Abraham, of Perry county ; Henry A .; Mary, wife of Henry Grubb, farmer, Perry county ; Ida, wife of John App. Mrs. Grubb died in Perry county, February 10, 1892. Mr. Grubb was a Re- publican. He was a zealous member of the Lutheran church, and took an active part in its enterprises.
Henry A. Grubb attended the common schools of his native township. When he was twelve years old he engaged in regular work on the home farm, and was so em- ployed until his father's death, after which he hired out as a farm hand, at from $14 to $23 per- month. He worked one year in Perry county, then two years for George Negley, in Washington township, Dauphin county. He was for the next two years repairer in the Lykens coal mines. He then bought the old Hess farm, one hundred and eleven acres, in Lykens township, on which was the Hess Hotel, paying $62.50 per acre. He im- proved the place, adding needful buildings, etc., and began cultivating it, at the same time keeping the hotel for two years. In 1895 he engaged in the dairy business, and has a good trade in supplying Lykens. Mr. Grubb has great energy, and is very enter- prising ; he is successful and prosperous. IIe is popular and well known as one of the substantial citizens of the township.
Henry A. Grubb was married, in Lykens township, in 1874, to Isabella Hess, a native of Lykens township, and an adopted daugh- ter of Abraham Hess, a hotel keeper. Their children are: William, on the farm ; Annie, Edward N., Charles, Carrie, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Grubb is a Republican, and is active in public affairs. He has been school director for three years.
KESSLER, REUBEN, manufacturer and farmer, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., June 18, 1846. Abraham Kessler, his father, was a native of the same county, and a farmer. In 1850 he bought a farm of forty- one acres, of Daniel Riegle, in Lykens town- ship, Dauphin county, built a saw mill and manufactured lumber on this place from 1868 to 1881 ; he was very enterprising. He was married, in Schuylkill county, to Cathe- rine Riegle, born in Lykens township : Reu- ben was their only child. Mr. Kessler died June 12, 1881. He was a Democrat. Hi- wife died at the home of her son November
1
892
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
15, 1892. They were members of the Re- formed church.
Reuben Kessler was well educated in the schools of Lykens township. He worked on the farm and in the saw mill for his father. After his father's death he took charge of the estate, tilled the farm and employed several men in the mill. In 1894 he built a distillery and engaged with success in the manufacture of whiskey. The business of the saw mill was equally satisfactory, and the farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres contributed its share to the prosperity of the estate. Mr. Kessler has his hands full of business, but with his able oversight and systematic management, nothing is neglected and ample returns are derived from all branches of his enterprise.
Reuben Kessler was married, in Jackson- ville, Jackson township, to Elizabeth Swei- gart, of Powell's Valley, on February 26, 1871. Their children are: George W., James A., and Lousonna Catharine, on the farm ; Abraham P., died in 1895. Mr. Kess- ler is not a politician. In church matters he is zealous an dactive, and is a member of the Reformed church. He belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and form- erly belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is much interested in the Grange and in all agricultural matters, but takes most pride in his fine blooded stock.
- STINE, DANIEL P., farmer and manufac- turer, was born in Lykens township, Dau- phin county, Pa., March 27, 1822. Frederick Stine, his grandfather, was born in Ger- many, and came to the United States in 1775, when he was a young man. He fought in the Revolution on the side of the Eng- lish. After the war he settled in Berks county, where he remained for some time. He removed to Lykens Valley in 1788, took up five hundred acres of land, bought some besides, and was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He also worked at his trade, masonry, in the valley. He married Abigail Lamm, born in Berks county. Their children were: Elizabeth, Rosanna, Catherine, and John P. Frederick Stine died in Lykens township, April 24, 1832. His wife had died in October, 1823. He was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the German Reformed church.
John P. Stine, father of Daniel, was born in Berks county in 1784. He had a good
German education, and also received some training in English schools. He owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he built a dwelling house, barn and other needful structures, in which he car- ried on a general business in farming. John P. Stine was married, in Lykens township, to Regina Coleman, born in Lykens township in 1795; daughter of Charles Coleman, a farmer of that township. Their children were : Daniel P .; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Retzman ; Abigail, wife of Joseph D. Frehn; Peter L., merchant, Elizabethville; Jonas, engineer at Pottsville; Josiah, farmer and tanner, Washington township, Dauphin county ; and Catherine, Frederick, Ellen, John, Charles, Isaac, and Ann Myra, all de- ceased. Mr. Stine died in Lykens township in 1854; Mrs. Stine died in Gratz in 1878. They were members of the Reformed church, in which Mr. Stine was deacon, elder and trustee. He was a Democrat, and held several township offices. He was prominent in business and in social matters, and was esteemed as an honorable, worthy man, of intelligent and public spirit.
Daniel Stine attended German schools in his township and also English subscription schools, but the whole extent of his school days was not more than six months. He began working on the farm at eight years of age and continued with his father until he was of age, assisting in clearing the land and in the work of cultivation. At twenty- one years of age Mr. Stine began business for himself. He bought a shop in Gratz, hired a harness maker and learned harness making with him. He then carried on this trade in Gratz for eight years. After this he bought a farm of fifty acres in Schuylkill county, which he improved and cultivated for four years and then sold. He bought the homestead, consisting of eighty-nine acres, in 1854, paying $3,500 for it, built a fine barn on it, which cost $1,700, and made . . other improvements. He worked at harness making in winter and was reasonably suc- cessful in his business. He has been assessor and supervisor in his township. He is a Democrat.
Daniel P. Stine was married, in Schuylkill county, August 27, 1844, to Catherine Strong, born in that county, June 13, 1820 ; daugh- ter of John and Mary C. (Carl) Strong. Their children are : Mary J., born July 20, 1845, wife of P. J. Artz; and Amelia B., born November 28, 1847, wife of David
---
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
893
Dietz, on the homestead. Mr. Stine is both grandfather and great-grandfather. His grandchildren of the family of P. J. and Mary Artz are : Jennie C., Ida M., Daniel S., Lizzie K., and Austin C. The children of David and Amelia Dietz are: II. E. and Katie R. His descendants of the fourth generation are: John G., Beulah E. and Flossie C. Moyer. Mr. Stine is a member of the Reformed church, has been deacon, and is elder and trustce.
SHIRO, JACOB, merchant, Gratz, Pa., was born in Wittenberg, Germany, February 19, 1843. He is a son of Jacob and Susanna (Bellem) Shiro. Jacob Shiro, Sr., was born in France, and was a soldier in the French army, with which he crossed into Germany during one of the wars of religions. At the close of the war he married and settled in Wittenberg, where he conducted a public tavern until his death which occurred about 1844. His children are : Mina, Mrs. James Bocker, of Harrisburg, and Jacob, Jr. His widow married Henry Snyder; she died in 1893. Mr. Snyder survives her and resides in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., where his wife dicd. . The children of her second marriage are : Angeline, Mrs. Daniel Reichert, Williamstown, Pa .; Rose, first mar- ried Adam Frederick, deceased, and is now Mrs. Samuel Boke; Henry, farmer, Gratz, Pa .; Amanda, Mrs. John Coleman, Gratz, Pa., and John, farmer, Lykens township.
Jacob Shiro, Jr., was about one year old when his father died. At the age of six he began to attend school in Wittenberg, and was at school three years. In the spring of 1852, with his mother, stepfather and the other members of his family, he emigrated to America. They embarked at Havre, France, in a sailing vessel, and after a rough voyage of twenty-nine days, during which they were in constant peril from the neigh- borhood of large icebergs, they landed in New York and came directly to Wiconisco, where they decided to make their home and where the stepfather at once found employ- ment in the mines. Young Jacob attended the English schools in Wiconisco for four terms, and this completed his school educa- tion. At the age of thirteen years he began work in the mines, picking slate at $8 per month, and has been employed in the mines for over twenty years.
Mr. Shiro enlisted March 10, 1864, at Har- risburg, in company G, One Hundred and
Third Pennsylvania volunteers, under Capt. C. A. Harper. The regiment was ordered to Roanoke Island by way of Fortress Monroe and Norfolk, where they were assigned to guard duty for six or eight months. They were then ordered to Newberne, N. C., to guard the Weldon railroad. While they were here a malignant fever broke out among the soldiers, from which as many as a hundred died per day. Mr. Shiro was at- tacked by the disease, but his sound consti- tution and his indomitable spirit enabled him to resist the fatal effects of the conta- gion. Although very ill he continued on duty, and proceeded on the march. He and other comrades hired an old colored man with a cart to carry their knapsacks and equipment, but the rickety vehicle proved inadequate to the strain, and their baggage was dumped on the road. Mr. Shiro deter- mined to push on at all hazards, and re- suming his burden, he continued the weary march, on which one of his comrades fell by the wayside and died. Much dispirited and worn in body, they finally reached New- berne, where they rested a short time, and then pushed on to Morehead City and boarded the steamer for Baltimore, where they ar- rived July 4, 1865. They reached Harris- burg July 7, and on that date were honor- ably discharged from the service. Mr. Shiro was still suffering from the effects of the fever, and remained in Harrisburg two weeks before he was sufficiently recovered to go home. During this time his physician ai times despaired of his recovery. But he was finally restored to health, and retired to his home. He soon resumed work in the mines, where for four years he held the position of mine foreman.
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.