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 52
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F- ROMBERGER, HOWARD H., merchant, Gratz, Pa., was born July 12, 1852, on the old home- stead in Lykens township. He is a son of Daniel and Hannah (Bergstresser) Romber- ger. Howard II. received his education in the public schools and the Berrysburg Semi- nary. After assisting on his father's farm for a time, he began farming for himself. Later he spent four years in preparation for the ministry, and began active work in 1881. He was connected with the Evangelical church and continued preaching for nine years, during which time he served various places in Carbon, Schuylkill, Lebanon and Monroe counties. In 1890 he retired from the pulpit and moved to Gratz, where he en- gaged in business. He was married, Septem- ber 30, 1873, in Berrysburg, to Miss Catha-
rine Ritzman, daughter of Michael and Eliza- beth Ritzman. Their children are: D. Am- brose, born August 10, 1874, a graduate of Albright Collegiate Institute, Meyerstown, Pa., now principal of the schools at Gratz, and Amy Agnes, born September 5, 1882. Mr. Romberger is a Republican in politics.
SCHEIB, CHARLES MONROE, farmer, Gratz, Pa., was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 15, 1861. He is a son of Joshua A. and Elizabeth (Raudenbaugh) Scheib. The grandfather, Michael B., was born in Schuylkill county, and coming to Lykens bought a farm of one hundred acres, on which he engaged in stock raising. He was of German descent, and died in Ly- kens township. He was a member of the German Reformed church. The father was an extensive farmer and stock raiser. He had a farm of two hundred acres in Lykens township. He was married to Elizabeth Raudenbaugh, a native of Lykens Valley, born in 1837. Their children are: Isaiah, Victor, Melindia, Cinderilla, Charles Monroe, Wilhelmina, deceased, and two who died in infancy. The father died in 1890. He took an extremely active part in politics in which he was much interested. He was a mem- ber of the German Lutheran church, and has held various church offices. Charles Mon- roe received his education in the public schools of his native place. He assisted on the farm, and in 1893 purchased the home- stead, where he now resides and engages in stock raising. He was married, in 1883, to Miss Hannah E. Klinger, born in 1865, a daughter of John Klinger. Their children are: Emma J., Ira, Bursia N., Amelia C., and one who died in infancy. He is a Ro- publican in politics, and a member of the German Reformed church.
SCHMENKY, JOHN, M. D., was born in Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, January 27, 1832. He is a son of John and Mary (Thower) Schmenky. The grandfather, a native of Germany, located in Lancaster county and engaged in hotel keeping. Ilis wife was Susanna Acre, and they had a large family. The father was born in Ilinklestown and was engaged in farming when a boy. He then studied medi- eine and practiced in Millersburg and var- jous other places. Ilis death occurred in 1855. His wife died subsequently, aged sev- enty-one years. Their children were: Enna,
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deceased, John, Henry, Elizabeth, Aaron, and Susan. John attended public school until he was fourteen, then entered the school at Bloomfield, Perry county, and then Sun- bury. In 1850 he began to read medicine with his father, and in 1851 read one year with Dr. Masters, Hinklestown. In 1852 he entered the Pennsylvania Medical College of Philadelphia, from which institution he grad- uated in 1854. Ile began the practice of his profession with his father and one year later located at Gratz. In 1871 and 1872 he served in the State Legislature. He was married, December 22, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Wiest, daughter of Jacob Wiest. Their children are: Gorney M., Allan Beecher, Harry Newton, John, and Bertha May. In politics he is a Democrat and is now filling the office of bur- gess. He has served a number of years as school director. His wife is a member of the Evangelical church.
MOYER, JOHN, farmer, Gratz, Pa., was born in Gratz, March 19, 1840. He is a son of George and Margaret (Tallman) Moyer. The father was born in Germany, in 1801, and learned there the trade of blacksmith. In 1821 he came to the United States in a sail- ing vessel, and landed at Baltimore. He first located in Gratz, and later moved to Gratz, where he purchased a shop and began blacksmithing, which occupation he con- tinued all his life. He married Miss Mar- garet Tallman, also a native of Germany. Their children were: Mary, deceased; Louisa; George D, deceased; Charles H., deceased ; John; Amanda, deceased; and Caroline. The father died in 1876, and the mother in 1864. They were members of the Lu- theran church. The father was a Democrat.
John received his education in the public schools of Gratz, Pa. He then learned the furniture manufacturing business in Harris- burg, where he worked for six years. He then moved to Gratz and farmed the home- stead. In 1882 he bought additional land and made numerous improvements on it. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Sarah Gon- ser, born in Northumberland county, Janu- ary 4, 1841; daughter of Daniel Gonser. Their children are: Charles P., Daniel G., William O., a graduate of Millersville Normal School, and principal of the high school Gratz, and Sadie. In politics Mr. Moyer is a Democrat and served as member of city council, as chief burgess, as school director and also as tax collector. He is a member of
Lodge No. 565, I. O. O. F .; Grangers, No. 530; and of Washington Camp, No. 575, P. O S. of A .. He is also a member of the Lu- theran church, in which he holds the office of deacon, besides being Sunday-school super- intendent.
MCCLURE, CHARLES B., M. D., Gratz, Pa., was born in Washington township, July 5, 1856. Ile is a son of David K. and Ann Eliza (Beshler) McClure. The maternal grandfather, H. C. Beshler, was born in New Berlin, Snyder county. He took a medical course at the University of Pennsylvania, and then practiced for several years in var- ious places. Finally he located in Berrys- burg, where he died, December 25, 1888, at the age of eighty-one, He was married to Miss Mary Ann Boyer, of Freeburg, Pa. The father was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1825. He grew to manhood on the farm, and later worked at the forge. He moved to Berrysburg and at that time owned what is known as the Oakdale Forge. The father now lives with one of his daughters in Upper Paxton township; the mother died in 1882, and is buried at Berrysburg. They were mar- ried in 1855, and their children were : Charles B., Emma J., II. Joseph, John C., Arthur E., and Gertrude. Charles B. received his pri- mary education in the public schools of Washington township and the Berrysburg Seminary. In 1883 he began reading medi- cine with his grandfather, and in the fall entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he remained two years. He then as- sisted other physicians until 1887, when he entered Western Pennsylvania College, Pitts- burgh, from which institution he graduated in 1888, and then located in Luzerne county. After practicing at various places he came to Gratz in 1894, and has secured an excel- lent practice. He was married, in Blooms- burg, Pa., October 4, 1887, to Miss Lizzie Hower, daughter of Jackson Hower, by whom he had two children : A. Carlton and Hiester N. Dr. MeClure is a Republican, also a member of Patriotic Order Sons of America and Patrons of Husbandry. He is a member of the Reformed Church.
MILLER, JOHN C., merchant and news- dealer, Lykens, Pa., was born in Annville, Lebanon county, January 18, 1844. He is a son of Daniel and Lousia (Karmany) Miller. The grandfather, John, was born in Lebanon county, and was of German de-
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scent. The father was born in 1818 and was a weaver by occupation. He was married to Miss Lousia Karmany, daughter of John Karmany. Their children are: John C., Elizabeth, wife of Francis Feindt, and Daniel A. The father now resides in Lykens. John C. received his education in the public schools of Annville until he was fifteen years of age. He then worked on the farm for a time and later learned shoemaking. In 1861 he en- listed at Annville in company K, Ninety- third regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under Captain Daugherty and Colonel Mc- Carthy. The battles in which he partici- pated are as follows, viz: Williamsburg, Va., Fair Oaks, Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Rappahan- nock, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Charlestown, Winchester, Fisher Hill, and Cedar Creek. He was wounded, May 31, 1865, at Salem Heights, and lay in the hospital four months, and was honorably discharged at Washington at the close of the war. He then came to Lykens and attended school one year, after which he began his present business. He was mar- ried, at Lewisburg, Pa., February, 1869, to Miss Louisia Reyman, daughter of John Reyman. Their children are: Gertrude and John. In politics he is a Republican and a member of Lodge No. 535, I. O. O. F .; Post No. 252, G. A. R .; commander of latter in 1896. He is connected with the Lutheran church.
- MATTER, BALTHASER, farmer, Berrysburg, Pa., was born in Mifflin township, April 22, 1864. He is a son of Balthaser and Magde- lina (Littick) Matter. The father was en- gaged in farming in Mifflin township. He married Miss Magdelina Gesemen. Their children are: William, Benjamin, George, Daniel, John, Jacob, Mary, Elizabeth, and four who are deceased. He married, sec- ondly, Miss Littick, by whom he had one child, Balthaser. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and politically was a Democrat. His death occurred in 1869, and his widow has since married Peter Botololf. Balthaser received his education in the pub- lic schools and the Berrysburg Academy. He has been engaged in farming continu- ously since that time. He married, in 1887, Miss Sarah Sebold, by whom he had five children, viz: Aaron J., Warren B., Beulah, Charles H., and Verna. He is a Republican and a member of the Reformed church.
- BLYLER, SIMON, stonemason, was born Fch- ruary 28, 1823, in Schuylkill county. He is a son of Michael and Maria (Burket) Blyler whose family consisted of these children : Daniel, deceased ; Solomon, Elias, Philip, Betsey, Kate, Edward, and Julia. Simon re- ceived his education in Mifflin township, Clarion county, to which place his parents moved while he was yet quite young. After working for a few years on the farm he learned the trade of masonry and continued at this occupation sixteen years. He en- listed at Harrisburg in company A, Fif- tieth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. He was discharged in 1863 in Washington for disability. For sixteen years he was en- gaged at various occupations, and then en- tered the service of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, working as stonemason. In 1895 he came to Gratz, where he has since resided. He was married, August 28, 1844, to Miss Caroline Klinyer, a native of Lykens Valley. His wife died September 7, 1895. Their children are: William, Shamokin, Pa .; Samuel, hotel proprietor, Lebanon, Pa .; Preston, Bear Valley, Pa .; Daniel, hotel proprietor, Gratz, Pa .; Frank, tinsmith, Lebanon ; Emma ; Joseph; Alice, deceased, and Charles M. In politics Mr. Blyler is a Republican, and a member of Kissinger Post, G. A. R., of Gratz.
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.
ROMBERGER, JOSEPH F., manager of the Western Union Telegraph office, and general merchant, Berrysburg, Pa., was born in Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa .. February 4, 1848; son of Benjamin and Amelia (Fisher) Romberger. He attended the common schools of Mifflin township in the winter and worked on the farm in sum- mer. He also studied at Berrysburg Semi- nary for five terms, thirteen weeks each sea- son, after which he taught in Mifflin town- ship for two terms. At the age of fifteen he became clerk in the store of Frederick Weaver, Berrysburg. Several years later Mr. Weaver having sold out, he was for a year in the store of William Boyer, at Gratz. He then spent three months as clerk in a store in Illinois. Returning, he became clerk for George Lark, Berrysburg, until, with his father as his partner, he bought the stock of Dr. John Beshler ; the firm conducted a gen-
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eral mercantile business for several years. Mr. Joseph Romberger subsequently bought his father's interest, carrying on the business on his own account, and has succeeded in building up an extensive trade. He also deals largely in live stock and horses, ship- ping from the West. He has a farm of one hundred and forty acres, for which he paid $9,000. He built a fine dwelling in Berrys- burg and a store, expending upon them over $12,000. In earlier life he was a butcher. For four years and a half he was postmaster.
Joseph F. Romberger was married, in' Jan- uary, 1870, to Mary S., daughter of Henry Yeager, born in Washington township. They have two children: Grace, wife of John Stover, clerk in her father's store ; and Harry B., who died in early youth. Mr. Romberger belongs to the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and has been deacon, trustee and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Romber- ger is one of the solid men of the town. His success in business demonstrates his ability in that line. He also stands in the lead in social circles.
DEIBLER, JOHN W., farmer, and late pro- prietor of the Deibler House, Berrysburg, Pa., was born on a farm in Mifflin township, December 25, 1846. His grandfather, John Deibler, was born in Dauphin county, Pa. He was of German descent and was a farmer and stockman. He married Catherine Mil- ler, by whom he had two children : Cath- erine, wife of Jacob Hartman, farmer, Mifflin township, and George. John Deibler and his wife both died in Mifflin township. They were members of the Reformed church. He was a Democrat of the old school.
George Deibler, father of John W., was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, in 1826. He obtained a fair education in the subscrip- tion schools of the township, grew up on his father's farm and made farming his occupa- tion. He had a grist and flour mill in Wash- ington township, owned large tracts of cleared and timber land, and dealt extensively in cattle, horses, etc. George Deibler was mar- ried, in the township, to Hannah Deibler, born in Lykens Valley. They had six chil- dren : John W .; George, farmer, Mifflin town- ship; Daniel J., on the homestead ; Emma,
deceased, wife of Emanuel Hoy, of Up- per Paxton township; William H., farmer, Berrysburg ; and Amanda J., wife of J. M. Matters, Upper Paxton township. Mr. and Mrs. George Deibler were members of the United Brethren church. They died on the homestead. Mr. Deibler was at first a Dem- ocrat, but in later life acted with the Repub- lican party.
John W. Deibler received his early educa- tion in the district schools of the township, attending a short time each winter, and working during the rest of the year on the farm. He was very fond of reading and educated himself by means of good books and periodicals. He remained on the home- stead until he was twenty-two, when he be- gan farming on his own account. He began with a tract of land comprising one hun- dred and forty-seven acres, which he cleared and modified with substantial improvements. In 1890 he sold his finely improved farm and bought a hotel in Berrysburg, now known as the Deibler House, which he con- ducted four years and six months with good success, good management making the in- vestment a profitable one. He sold the house to its present proprietor, Mr. Charles Etz- weiler, in 1894. He then bought several lots in the village and built also, at a cost of $4,000, one of the finest dwelling houses in Berrysburg, putting in all the modern con- veniences.
John W. Deibler was married, in 18GS, to Eliza A. Hoy, born in Upper Paxton town- ship. They had no children. Mrs. Deibler died in 1872. Mr. Deibler's second wife, whom he married in 1873, was Miss Katie Wert, born in Northumberland county, Pa .; daughter of Michael Wert, an extensive mill owner in that county. They have one child, Harry C., born in 1874, and educated in the common schools of Mifflin township and in Berrysburg Academy. He has great natural musical talent, which has been fincly cultivated ; he is gifted as a writer and com- poser of music. He is agent for several manufacturing firms in the State. His future appears to be brilliant with promise.
Mr. Deibler is a Republican. He was school director for three years and has held the office of constable and other positions of responsibility in the township. He has much business ability and is respected for his per- sonal worth. He is a member of the Re- formed church.
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
--- ROMBERGER, HENRY A., postmaster and general merchant, Curtin, Pa., was born in Mifflin township, August 4, 1855. Ilis father, David Romberger, was born in the same township, September 12, 1823, and is a brother of Benjamin, and uncle of Joseph F. Romberger, sketches of whose lives appear elsewhere in this volume. He cultivated and greatly improved one hundred acres of land in Mifflin township, and was also engaged in raising live stock. David Romberger was married in the township to Anna, Mary Swab. Of their six children are living: Elizabeth; Henry A .; Anna Mary E., wife of W. H. Hoover, Curtin, Pa .; and Franklin P., farmer on the homestead. Catherine and George H. both died young. Mr. Romberger died May 11, 1887. Hfc was a Democrat and held some township offices. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, old school, and was very active in church matters as deacon, elder and Sunday-school teacher. Mrs. David Romberger is now sixty-nine years of age, and resides on the homestead.
Henry A. Romberger attended the com- mon schools in the winter months and worked on the farm during the rest of the year. He also studied for six terms at Ber- rysburg Academy, after which he taught school in the township for eight terms, while still farming on the homestead and carrying on the produce business. After this he was for five years engaged in shipping produce and grain to the Lykens Valley coal district, which he made a successful business. He then bought of Mrs. M. P. Mattis the store and stock at Curtin, Pa., for which he paid $5,750, and on March 13, 1885, with stock to the value of $4,000, began a general mercan- tile business, which he conducted for more than eleven years, meeting with great suc- cess and building up a good trade. He also dealt in grain seeds, etc. On March 16,1896, Mr. Romberger sold this business to William P. Shaffer, of Mandata P. O., Northumber- land county, Pa.
Henry A. Romberger was married, in Mif- flin township, February 21, 1885, to Eliza Koppenheffer, born in Upper Paxton town- ship, Dauphin county, July 5, 1862; daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Ritzman) Koppen- heffer; her father was a retired farmer and stockman, and a resident of Upper Paxton township. Mr. and Mrs. Romberger have one child, Charles A., born December 17, 1892. Mr. Romberger is a Democrat. He is a member of the election board and was
elected township clerk in 1895. He was ap- pointed postmaster under President Cleve- land's first administration and re-appointed under the second. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran church, and is prominent and active in all church matters. He has been a Sunday-school teacher nearly all his life and superintendent of the Sunday-school several times. He is a deacon and served on the committee which drafted the by-laws of the church. He always takes bis full share in every good enterprise. Although retired from general business Mr. Romberger still cultivates a small farm of twenty-three acres. He is popular with all classes, for all recognize his personal worth and good will.
-BUFFINGTON, CYRUS F., justice of the peace and carriage builder, Uniontown, Pa., was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, Pa., September 24, 1839. His father, John Buffington, was born in Lykens Valley in 1818, and now resides in Uniontown. He was a farm laborer in his younger days, and in later life worked at carriage and wagon making in Uniontown. He married Dena France, born in Lykens Valley, and died in 1858. They had twelve children : Cyrus F .; Sarah, wife of John Klinger; William ; Han- nah, deceased; Solomon; Mary, deceased ; Christina, wife of Isaac Groff; Elizabeth ; Harriet, wife of William Drum; Adam, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Buffington is a member of the United Brethren church, has been both deacon and elder, and is a class leader. He has been a resident of Uniontown for over fifty years, is well and favorably known, and universally honored. He has been foremost in every movement to better the social condition and material pros- perity of the community.
Cyrus F. Buffington attended school for a short time in Washington township; the re- mainder of his education was received in Uniontown. IIe hired to do farm work at ten years of age, and for four years worked for his board. He began to learn the trade of a millwright, and spent one year at this work, but changed his plan, and worked for three years as apprentice with his father at wagon making. He afterwards began the business of carriage making on his own ac- count, and carried it on successfully for five years. In 1866 he admitted his brother to partnership, and since that time the firm of Buffington & Bro, have conducted a carriage and wagon factory which yields to none in
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
the State for first-class workmanship. They have built a large factory, costing $1,000, and furnished it with the best machinery.
Mr. Buffington has been justice of the peace for fifteen years, elected on the Repub- lican ticket. Ile administers the law and dispenses justice with ability and imparti- ality. He is a member of the borough coun- cil and the school board.
Cyrus F. Buffington was married, at Berrys- burg, in 1862, to Caroline Bingaman, a native of Lower Mahanoy township, Northumber- land county, Pa ; she died in 1884. They had five children : Henry, educated at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., minister in the United Brethren church; Irwin, carpenter, deceased, was suffocated in the mines at Sha- mokin in 1894; John, Flora, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Buffington married again March 17, 1885; his second wife was Maria Dunkelberger. Their children are Lloyd D. and Emma. Mr. Buffington is a member of the United Brethren church, Sun- day-school superintendent, trustee, deacon, and elder. He has the business virtues in due proportion ; is industrious, enterprising, frugal and intelligent. He is also genial in spirit and manner, and is well liked by his neighbors.
-BUFFINGTON, WILLIAM, is the brother and partner of Cyrus F. Buffington. He was born in Uniontown, March 18, 1845. Hc took the ordinary course of instruction at the schools of Uniontown, after which he worked for three years on the farm. He spent one year at the millwright trade, and then worked at the coal breakers for two years. IIe has been in partnership with his brother in the carriage building business since 1866.
William Buffington was married, at Berrys- burg, in 1861, to Catherine A. Souder, born in Montgomery county, Pa. Their children are: William W., a mechanic; Harry, re- siding at Shamokin ; Anna, and John, died young. Mr. Buffington is a Republican. In business capacity and the elements of charac- ter that secure success, as well as in personal worth, he is a good match for his excellent brother and partner, and is his peer in the social realm. He is a member of the United Brethren church.
KLINGER, WILLIAM, farmer, was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 7, 1840. His grandfather, Peter Klinger, was a farmer of Lykens Valley, and
had a grist mill in Lykens township. He was a Democrat. He had ten children. He was a member of the Lutheran church.
John A. Klinger, father of William Klinger, was one of the ten children of Peter Klinger, and was born in Lykens township. He was a farmer, and in 1840 settled on seventy-five acres of land in Mifflin town- ship, built a house of brick manufactured on the farm, the house costing $2,000; also built a barn, set out an orchard and made other improvements. He raised stock for home markets. He married, in Lykens township, in 1835, Lydia Dornheim, born in that town- ship. They had eight children: Lydia, de- ceased, wife of Gotlieb Quiner; Samuel, farmer, of Powell's Valley; William : Caro- line, wife of Jere Carl, plasterer, Williams- town; Mary A., Mrs. Edward Lenker, Upper Paxton township; John H., farmer, Wash- ington township; Daniel D., died young; Charles, burned to death in infancy. Mr. Klinger died in 1885, and Mrs. Klinger in 1894. He was a Democrat in politics.
In the church of which he was a member, the Lutheran, he held all the offices, trustee, deacon, elder, Sunday-school teacher, and superintendent. He was numbered among the brave and patient toilers who redeem the country from the wilderness and introduce civilization. Only the most sturdy virtue, manifesting itself in industry, frugality and prudence, can accomplish such valuable re- sults. Such were the characteristics of Mr. John A. Klinger.
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