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 93
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married to Catharine Gingrich, by whom he had two children : Ann M. and Catharine.
Christian C. was educated in the public schools and at Middletown and was brought up at farm labor. He married Catharine Runyan, daughter of George and Mary (Wilt) Runyan, and they had eight children : Calvin, George R., Michael M., Edward D., John C., Emma J., Mazie E., and Katie E. Mr. Cassel is a director of the Hummelstown National Bank, one of the managers of the creamery at Union Deposit, and director and treasurer of the Dauphin County Mutual Fire Insurance Company since January 1, 1883. He has served as school director, and supervisor and auditor of his township. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1875, and has filled that office ever since with much credit and ability. He has been a member of the Lutheran church from early manhood. In his political views he is a staunch Republican.
-- INGRAM, SAMUEL D., was born in Chester county, Pa., November 9, 1811. He was the son of Dr. John and Lydia (Delaplaine) In- gram. His father died when he was six years old. From that time, with his sister Eliza, he was trained and educated in the home of his aunt, his father's sister, the wife of Jonathan Ganse, then a prominent teacher and at that time and for many years the principal of West Chester Academy and Boarding School. In the eighteenth year of his age Mr. Ingram went to Saudsbury- ville and was the teacher of the county school there. In 1837 he was elected teacher of the girls' grammar school, in which posi- tion he continued until he was elected the first superintendent of the public schools of Harrisburg and of Dauphin county, which office he held continuously for fifteen years. Subsequently he taught in the public schools of this city, and for twenty-seven years con- ducted a private school under his own di- rect supervision. He was married, January 1, 1843, to Malvina F., youngest daughter of John and Mary (Schock) Geiger. To them was born one son, who was city editor of the Harrisburg Telegram, and who died October 8, 1877. Mr. Ingram was quiet and unas- suming in manner, but firm in his convic- tions of right and sense of duty, unobtrusive and retiring, his influence for the good and true was felt in the community and acknowl- edged by the esteem in which he was held. Ile was more than an example in this re-
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gard, he was a factor as well. Elected super- intendent of schools for the city and county when the establishment of the office was op- posed, and the office itself held in positive disrespect by those who should have better appreciated its bearing, but conscious of the necessity of elevating the standard of in- struction, Mr. Ingram, at great personal sacrifice, assumed the duties of the office. He labored long and faithfully in condi- tions which would have discouraged any one actuated by an impulse of personal gain only, but moved by a sense of duty to his profession and his high sense of respon- sibility to do with his might what his hand found to do, he persevered with a result which was to him its own reward, and to the cause to which his service was rendered of unmeasured value. Mr. Ingram was an enthusiast in his profession, and was not only an educator, but was an influential citizen. He was at one time a member of the city council and for years a member of the board of control. He was prominent in many of the humane and social organiza- tions of the city. He was an earnest mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Always a good citizen and lover of his country, Mr. Ingram cared little or nothing for empty fame. His ambition was to do good, to benefit his fellows and to make the world better for having lived. He died June 30, 1894. He was prominent in Masonic circles, being at the date of his death the oldest member of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, and one of the charter members of Pilgrim Com- mandery, No. 11, K. T.
-GASTROCK, BARNHARD, Linglestown, was born in Susquehanna township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 19, 1850; son of Au- gustus and Mary (Orth) Gastrock. The par- ents were both natives of Germany. The father came to this country when he was nineteen years of age, having been employed in a hotel, and after his settlement here be- came a farmer. The mother came one year later. They had a family of five children, three of whom are living: Barnhard, Amelia, and Samuel, of Boston, Mass. The father died August 20, 1873, aged seventy-four years. In his polities he was a Democrat. His family were members of the Lutheran church. Barnhard was reared on the farm and ac- quired only a limited education. He was married, September 25, 1872, to Miss Cathe- rine Fackler, daughter of George and Har-
riet (Fisher) Fackler. Their children are Elizabeth, Mary Ellen, Barnhard, and Will- iam. In 1873 Mr. Gastrock engaged in farming for himself on the farm of George Fackler, which he cultivated for two years. In 1875 he bought the farm lately owned by Thomas Finney, which he has occupied since that time. In 1890 he was elected super- visor of West IIanover and served in the office three years. In his political views he is a Republican, and in 1894 was a delegate to the county convention of his party, and the year following represented the township in the Republican State Convention. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. 1 - RAUCH, SAMUEL J., farmer, West Hanover township, was born March 14, 1844; son of John and Elizabeth (Shoop) Rauch. The parents were both natives of Dauphin county, the father of East Hanover and the mother of Lower Paxton township. They were farmers and reared a family of six chil- dren : Mary J., Eliza A., Samuel J., John W. and Edward, twins, and James M. The father was a farmer and dairyman. He died at the age of fifty-eight years, and his wife survives and resides at Martinsburg, Va. The grandparents were both natives of Dau- phin county and were farmers, and both died in Dauphin county.
Samuel J. received his primary education in the public schools of West Hanover town- ship, and also attended private schools for two sessions. He was then engaged in teach- ing for three successive winters, and working on the farm in the summers. He also was agent of the Buckeye Company in selling agricultural machinery, and held this posi- tion three years. He was also in the retail grocery business for a number of years. He was married, November 12, 1875, to Miss Louisa Deitweiler, daughter of Michael and Barbara (Thomas) Deitweiler. Their chil- dren are: Lizzie S., Jennie A., Florence D., Mary L., Carrie T., and Maggie V. After his marriage he was engaged in selling agricul- tural machinery for five years. He then bought the home farm of his father's estate, on which he has since been extensively en- gaged in farming and stock raising. In his political views he is a Democrat, and has served as school director, supervisor, auditor and inspector of elections. In religious faith he is with the Reformed church and is a member of that denomination.
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Michael Deitweiler, the father of Mrs. Rauch, was born in Lebanon county, and was a farmer. He' married Miss Barbara Thomas and they had these children : John ; Caroline, Mrs. Michael Eby; Leah, Mrs. Samuel O. Eby ; Adam ; Mollie, Mrs. John Koons; Christina, widow of Daniel Brehm ; Louisa, Mrs. Rauch; and Michael. Mr. Deitweiler died December 31, 1873, aged six- ty-two year's, and his wife died in May, 1884, aged sixty-five years, and both passed away in Lebanon county.
-CASSEL, AUGUST, West Hanover township, was born in Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 13, 1834; son of the late George and Barbara (Horst) Cassel. The parents were both natives of Dauphin county, and were married in 1833. They had eight children, of whom seven are liv- ing: August; John; Ephraim ; Catherine, wife of Levi Bolton ; Absalom, George, and Annie, wife of James McCord. The father was a farmer and a prominent man in town- ship affairs. He was elected supervisor for one year, and was elected assessor of West Hanover township for two years in succes- sion. For the last five years of his life he gave up farming and lived retired from ac- tive business. He was born in 1809, and died in the seventieth year of his age. His wife was born in 1811, and died in May, 1873.
August first attended a school in the old log school house in Swatara township for two winters and was in the common schools a part of the time each year until he became of age. He was employed at farm work with his father until he was twenty-three years old. In February, 1856, he was mar- ried to Miss Malinda Albright, daughter of Henry and Christina (Walmer) Albright. They have these children : John W .; Mary B., Mrs. Jonathan Potteiger ;. Rebecca J., wife of David Potteiger ; Emma A., wife of John Mountz; William A .; Sarah B., wife of George Wells; Grant E. Mr. Cassel was elected school director of West Hanover township and served for three years, was elected assessor for two years, supervisor for one year, and judge of elections for one year. In 1882 he bought the farm formerly owned by Emanuel Cassel, on which he still resides.
BOYER, DAVID A., general merchant and postmaster, was born in Palmyra, Lebanon county, Pa., December 29, 1843; son of
Abraham H. and Maria (Taylor) Boyer. The father was born in East Hanover township. Dauphin county, but spent a portion of his life at Palmyra, Lebanon county, and later returned to East Hanover township, where he resided until 1885. His present residence is Harrisburg, where he is filling the office of county turnkey. During his active busi- ness life he has been engaged in farming, hotel keeping and various other pursuits. The mother was born near New Holland. Lancaster county. The parents had ten children, of whom eight are living: David A .; Augustine, wife of Montgomery Hughes, deceased ; Lizzie A., wife of George A. Deihl, Harrisburg; Martin T .; Sarah, widow of the late Samuel Ingram; Abraham F .; Simon C .; Mary C., wife of Martin Scholl; Katie M., wife of W. A. Hetterick. The father was a prominent man in his township and took an active part in political matters. He held the position of steward of the almshouse and various township offices.
David A. when five years old returned with his parents to East Hanover township, where he received his primary education in the district schools and later attended Pal- myra Academy and Lebanon Valley College, studying during the winter and engaging in farming and other pursuits in the summer. After completing his college course he taught the district school in East Hanover township in 1861. He enlisted, March 24, 1862, in company C, Third regiment, United States infantry, in which he served over three years, during which time he participated in numerous prominent engagements, among which were the battles of Stone River, Tenn., Chickamaugua, Chattanooga and others. At the battle of New Hope Church he was wounded and was also disabled by disease and taken to the hospital, first at Chatta- nooga, from which he was removed in turn to the hospitals at Nashville, Jeffersonville, Madison, Ind., and Columbus, Ohio, from which he was"discharged as convalescent, November 12, 1864. He returned to East Hanover and taught school for a time, after which he was four years a salesman in a general store. He then resumed teaching. at which he was engaged for twelve years, when he was compelled to relinquish the work by reason of throat trouble. In 1876 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which he filled until 1889, in which year he was elected to the State Legislature and represented his constituency in that
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honorable body four years. During 1893 he was engaged in farming and other pursuits, and in 1895 embarked in his present busi- ness. He was appointed postmaster in Jan- uary, 1895. Mr. Boyer was married, in East Hanover township, in 1867, to Mary E. Hampton, daughter of John Newton and Caroline Hampton, to whom have been born six sons, one of whom died in infancy, and the survivors are : Galen T., John A., Harry A., Chester S., and William M. In his polit- ical views Mr. Boyer is a Republican. . He and his family attend the United Brethren church, of which he and his wife are mem- bers, and in which he has filled the positions of trustee and superintendent of the Sunday- school for many years.
WICONISCO TOWNSHIP.
* YOUNG, WALTER S., burgess of Lykens, was born in Donaldson, Schuylkill county, Pa., January 19, 1854. He is a son of Moses R. and Sarah (Brechbill) Young. Moses R. Young was born in New Jersey. He began business as a coal miner, then became a rail- road contractor, and afterwards a merchant. He removed to Wiconisco in 1857, and was justice of the peace there from 1860 to 1861. In later years he was associate judge of Dau- phin county, with Judges Landis, Pearson and Mumma. He was the first burgess of Lykens, in 1871. He was a Republican. Formerly he belonged to the Odd Fellows. Sarah Brechbill, his first wife, was a native of Lebanon county ; two of their children are living : Walter S. and Emma, who mar- ried Alfred F. Hanna, of Lykens, and died May 7, 1895. Mrs. Sarah Young dying in 1857, Mr. Young married Amelia E. Maurer, daughter of Dr. A. G. Maurer, who survives him: Their children are: Arthur F., Mag- gie M., and Warren Ray.
Walter S. Young, at twelve years of age, came with his parents from Schuylkill county to Lykens, and completed his education in the public school of that place. During the latter part of his father's life Walter S. had charge of his business. Afterwards he be- came associated with Edw. Miller in railroad contracts in New Jersey on the New York, Susquehanna and Western railroad. In 1879 he engaged with the Standard Oil Com- pany. In 1889 he was a partner in the building of the Lykens Opera House, and has been the manager of the enterprise.
Mr. Young is a Republican and takes an active interest in political movements and measures. He was appointed notary public in 1879, and resigned to accept the office of postmaster, to which he was first appointed July 23, 1880, under the administration of President Hayes, and resigned July 15, 1886. He received the same appointment the sec- ond time on July 8, 1890, and still holds the office. He was elected chief burgess of Ly- kens in 1880, and resigned to accept the office of postmaster. He has served on the school board with great credit and accept- ance. He was again elected burgess in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, and still holds the office, his term expiring in 1897.
- WHITNEY, JAMES B., president of the Miners" Deposit Bank, Lykens, Pa., was born in Framingham, Mass., August 22, 1842; son of Simon Whitney. Nathaniel R. Whit- ney, grandfather of James B., was town clerk and teacher in his native town. Simon Whitney, father of James B., was the next to the youngest of three children reared by Nathaniel R. He graduated from the medi- cal department of Harvard College in 1818, and in 1822 began to practice medicine in Framingham, where he became eminent in his profession and where he died September 2, 1867. He was married, May 6, 182-1, to Miss Mary Walker, daughter of Timothy Walker, of Charlestown, Mass. She died March 3, 1872. Their children are : Eliza- beth W., Mrs. John W. Osgood; Mary, de- ceased; Allston W., died November 11, 1881 ; Abby Walker, died in 1879, wife of C. S. Adams; Henry A., born 1831, drowned in 1840; Harriet L., born 1833, died in 1863; Clarence, born in 1838, died in 1881; James Bradish, born August 22, 1842.
James B. Whitney was educated in the common schools of Framingham, Mass. He first started in a general mercantile business in Framingham. He was one year in Bos- ton, and then became clerk in a commission house in Chicago and was there five years. In 1869 he became connected with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company and was dis- patcher at Millersburg for ten years, and for five years conductor of a passenger train on the branch road. About 1885 he was made president of the bank in Lykens. He is a director and the largest stockholder in the Millersburg Standard Axle Works. He also has large farming interests near Millersburg He is a stockholder in the Lykens Water
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Company. In politics Mr. Whitney is a Democrat. He was elected school director in Lykens on the independent ticket. Mr. Whitney was married, in November, 1877, to Miss Mary A., daughter of David Lefller, of Millersburg, Pa. They have five children : Abby W., Nathaniel R., Helen Elizabeth, Allston L., and Leslie A. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
.. HAVERSTICK, HARRY W., railroad agent, was born in Duncannon, Perry county, Pa., November 4, 1856; son of Michael and Susan (Meyers) Haverstick. Michael Haverstick was born in Cumberland county, Pa. He was a miller, and settled in Perry county in 1853. He enlisted in 1864 in the Sixteenth United States infantry. He died at Chatta- noogo, Tenn., in 1864, from disease con- tracted in the army. His wife, Susan Mey- ers, was also a native of Cumberland county. They had eleven children ; seven are now living, of whom Harry W. is the fifth.
After the death of his father Harry W. Haverstick removed, with his mother, to Millersburg, where he was educated. Heat- tended the public schools, and was a pupil of the Soldiers' Orphans' schools, of Para- dise, Lancaster county, and White Hall, Cumberland county ; in the latter he was the first student entered. In 1871 he engaged with the Northern Central railway as clerk at Millersburg, was promoted in 1881 to ticket and freight agent, and has filled that position ever since.
Mr. Haverstick has been notary public in Lykens since 1891. He was formerly a stockholder and director in the Lykens Bank. He is president of the school board of Lykens for the third term. He is a Re- publican, and a member of Wiconisco Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Mr. Haverstick was married, in 1878, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Schreiber, of Cumberland county, Pa. Their children are: Edna L., A. Mildred, and Park W. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
-LEHR, DR. M. D., Lykens, Pa., was born in Gratz, Dauphin county, Pa., July 22, 1860 ; son of Henry R. and Sarah (Lebo) Lehr. His grandfather, Daniel Lehr, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., and came to Gratz, Dauphin county, about 1825, where he was engaged in a general mercantile business for
twenty years. He was also for many years postmaster. He died at Gratz in 1866.
Henry R. Lehr, father of Dr. Lehr, was reared at Gratz. He was for ten years pro- prietor of the Armstrong flouring mills in Jackson township. In 1884 he removed to Lykens and engaged in the produce busi- ness, which he still carries on. He is a Ro- publican and belongs to the Lutheran church in Lykens. He is a member of Wiconisco Encampment and Gratz Lodge, I. O.O.F. Hle had a family of three sons and two daughters.
M. D. Lehr is the eldest of his father's family. He was reared in Gratz and Jack- son township, and was graduated from the Berrysburg Seminary in 1879, after which he taught school for three years. He read medicine with his uncle, Dr. W. Lebo, of Valley View, Schuylkill county, Pa., and studied at Jefferson Medical College. from which he was graduated in 1884. He prac- .ticed medicine five years in Northumberland county, Pa. In 1889 he came to Lykens, where he now enjoys a large practice, suc- ceeding Dr. Meyers. He belongs to Ashley Lodge, F. & A. M., and Wiconisco Lodge, I. O. O. F. His politics are Republican.
Dr. Lehr was married, in 1884, to Miss E. Kate, daughter of G. W. D. Enders, of Jack- son township. Their children are: Ger- trude, Annie, Henry Enders, and Earl S. Dr. Lehr is a member of the Reformed church of Lykens ; has been deacon and elder ever since 1891.
WILLIAMS, THOMAS M., manager of the Lykens Valley and Summit Valley Branch Coal Company, was born in Wales, G. B., June 5, 1835. He is the only child of John and Margaret (Morgan) Williams. His father was a tiler and plasterer ; he died in Wales in 1837. His mother was married again, to Thomas Reese, a native of Wales, and had three children: Mary, widow of John Evans, residing in Texas; Susan, wife of Thomas Finney, of Kentucky; Margaret, wife of William Finney, of Kentucky. Mr. Williams' mother died in Kentucky.
Thomas M. Williams, when he was seven years old, worked with his stepfather in the Welsh coal mines, using pick and shovel, and working hard for six years. In 1848, with his mother and her child, his half-sister, he embarked at Liverpool for America, and after a voyage of five weeks and one day landed at Philadelphia, Pa. Here he worked in the mines, first in Minersville, then one
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year at Mt. Savage, Md .; here he got twelve days schooling, the first school instruction he ever received. He then worked at Min- ersville until 1853, and then went to St. Clair. He began working for himself in the mines at Minersville, Pa., and for three months attended a day and night school. From 1854 to 1857 he worked at Summit Hill, Schuylkill county, Pa., and from 1857 to 1862 he operated in the coal mines at Min- ersville, Pa.
Mr. Williams enlisted at Pottsville, Au- gust, 1862, for nine months, in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsyl- vania volunteers, Capt. G. J. Lawrence and Col. J. G. Frick; was ordered to Washing- ton, D. C., and thence to Virginia. After three months in active service he was dan- gerously ill for six months, remaining in the regimental hospital until his discharge, May 18, 1863, after which he returned home and was idle for three months.
From 1863 to 1865 Mr. Williams worked in the mines as fire boss; he was then ap- pointed boss of the mines. He was then at the Wilkes-Barre mines until 1869, when he was made manager of the Anthracite Monitor, a newspaper published in Tamaqua in the interest of the laborers and miners who were then on a strike. After managing the paper successfully for some time, Mr. Williams re- signed and was appointed Government in- spector of mines, which position he held until 1880, and was then for six months manager of the Cameron Coal Company. Resigning this position in 1881, he was for one year with a company in Arizona, en- gaged in developing a silver mine; during that time he visited many parts of the West- ern States.
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After his return from the West Mr. Will- iams took contracts for tunnel and rock work. He was appointed general inside foreman at Nanticoke, and held that posi- tion until 1885, when he was appointed su- perintendent of the Lykens Valley and Sum- mit Valley Coal Company, which position he has held since that date, giving universal satisfaction, not only to the company, but also to the 2,200 men employed under him.
Mr. Williams was married, in the summer of 1854, at Minersville, to Annie Morgan, of Welsh descent. They have six children : Margaret J., wife of Morgan R. Morgan, gen- eral inside superintendent of Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company ; Thomas J., treasurer and secretary of the Standard Oil
Company, Baltimore, Md .; H. G., manufac- turer of rock drill and compressor, Wayne, Pa .; Augusta R., wife of R. Crotzer, druggist, Danville; Josie H., unmarried; Horatio, machinist, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Williams is a member of Heilner Post, No. 232, G. A. R., and of Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 61, F. & A. M. He is a Republican and attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
Having begun early in life as a hard worker, and having passed through all phases of life as a laboring man, Mr. Will- iams is qualified to sympathize with the working man. He has educated himself, and struggled through difficulties and dis- couragements to success, and is therefore a wise counsellor for the laborer. He is genial and sociable, and is universally liked.
-BUFFINGTON, HARRY EDWIN, attorney-at law, Lykens, Pa., was born at Lykens, Dau- phin county, Pa., May 2, 1867. Ile is a son of George W. and Susanna (Lenker) Buffing- ton. He was educated in the Lykens district school. At nine years of age he began to work in the mines. ITis first job was picking slate in the breaker of the Big Lick mines for two years. He then worked for Edward Martin on a farm in Washington township for one year, after which he returned to Lykens and worked in the Short Mountain Coal Mines. When fourteen years old he drove a team, hauling coal and freight. In the fall of 1883 he learned tailoring with William H. Smith, at Lykens. In the mean- time he devoted his leisure hours to study. In this way he continued, working and edu- cating himself, until he had saved $50. With this sum he was enabled, by boarding himself, to spend three months in the public school of Lykens. For the remaining nine months of the year he worked, until in the following year spent three months more in Lykens high school, after which he attended the Berrysburg Seminary for two terms, and in the fall of 1887 entered the preparatory school at Waynesburg College, Green county, Pa. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Buffington was compelled to leave college for want of means. He worked at the tailor trade, and earned and saved money enough to pay his expenses at college the next year. Thereafter he paid his way by selling Dr. Chase's Re- ceipt Book in vacations. While at college he was the recognized leader, and was re- garded by teachers and students as a diligent worker. He completed the six years' classical
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