Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 52

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 52

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Mr. and Mrs. Burrell have had six children John, who died at twenty-two years of age: Polly M., now Mrs. David Gentzel, of California.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Harriet, now Mrs. Samuel Ulrich, of Millheim; Mary, now Mrs. John Wagner, of Haines town- ship; Ida, at home; and Speer, a farmer of Gregg township. Mr. Burrell was a Democrat until recent years, but he now votes the Prohibition ticket from principle. He has always been active in local affairs, and has served as supervisor of both Gregg and Haines townships. He served three times as judge of election in Haines township, and was also overseer of the poor there. He and his wife are both devout members of the Lutheran Church, in which he is at present an elder. Years ago he began to give $30 a year to foreign missionary work, and added $5.00 each year un- til the donation became $105, when he dropped back to $100, and this amount he has given an- nually for several years. In addition to this, he has always given liberally to other branches of Church work. His time has been bestowed freely in the same good cause, and for twenty years he was either superintendent or assistant superintendent of the Sabbath-school at Pine Creek School House, in Haines township, Centre county.

The following is a copy of the original pass, from Germany to America, given to Antonius Bourrell, ancestor of our subject:

We, the graciously appointed magistrate of His Serene Highness, the Duke of Wittenburg, in the princely borough and ducal village of Dornsletter, hereby announce and affirm to all whom it may concern to read this that-Where- as Antonius Bourrell, burger and tailor of said borough, and legitimate son of Paul Bourrell, late burger of Perrose, duly declared to us that he was determined, with the help of God and in the hope of a fairer fortune, to emigrate to the territories of America, there to settle in domestic life, and- Whereas he confirmed testimony as to his legitimacy with freedom and conduct and in due form requires us to give him the necessary certificate therefor; and-Whereas we deem his desire to be fully justified and in account with the most recent laws of the Kingdom-Therefore, for the sake of truth and for the love of it by means of this open and pub- lic letter, and in virtue of our present office we declare of the aforesaid Antonius Bourrell from evidence placed before us, from the Church and Baptismal register that he was begot- ton in lawful wedlock of the aforementioned Paul Bourrell and of his lawful wife, Anna Felicetas, as true and natural parents, that he was born into the world on the 5th of May, in the year 1716, and was brought to holy baptism here. Thus, that no reproach can be brought against his family, and its posterity, but rather that a true and honorable birth is his, and that he was never held in servitude by any man. Furthermore as far as we know he has conducted himself in daily life and deed in such wise that we can testify all things kind, honorable and good of him. To all magistrates, high and low, our humble and dutiful request is that they will be pleased to receive Antonius Bourrell kindly and graciously together with his 25-year-old wife, Anna Maria Barbara Hin- demachin, and their three children, Johannes, aged'ten; Christina seven, and Elizabeth seven years, professors of the Lutheran faith, and in servitude to no man. In consequence of these presents we desire that they (the family) be indeed permitted to enjoy prosperity. Such service we will re- quite gladly, and as in duty bound in all cases of a similar, or of any other nature, and further testimony whereof we have begged and interested the worthless, the most learned and venerable of His Serene Highness' bailiffs, Mr. Ludwig Achatius Wohren, openly to affix hereunto huis seal of office.

Given in Dornstetter, the 12th of May, 1752. Ducal Wurt- emburgish, bailiff and officers in Dornstetter. [Signed] LUDWIG ACHATIUS WOHREN.

W WILLIAM KREAMER is one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of the pleasant little town of Millheim, Centre county, and his history shows that he possesses the char- acteristic qualities of the typical business man. He is a native of Centre county, and was born June 5, 1839, in Miles township, where his fa- ther, John Kreamer, was a prominent farmer.

John Kreamer was born in Berks county, Penn., and when he was a boy of twelve sum- mers accompanied his parents to a new home upon a farm near Rebersburg. Hegrew to man- hood there, and married Miss Sally Weaver, by whom he had six children: Jonathan, a resident of Jefferson county, Kans .; Reuben, of Rebers- burg; Mary, who died unmarried in Miles town- ship, Centre county; William, our subject; Jes- tie Ann (deceased), who did not marry; and Jerad, a resident of Potter township, Centre county. The father was an industrious man and prospered in his affairs. He was-influential in local and religious movements as a member of the Lutheran Church, and was active in politics as well, being elected to various township offices on the Demo- cratic ticket. He attained. the good old age of eighty-six years, and his wife, who was a devout member of the German Reformed Church, passed away at eightv-eight years of age, the remains of both being interred in the cemetery at Rebers- burg.

William Kreamer's early opportunities for schooling were none of the best, being limited to the country schools of the time and locality, and this is probably one cause of his earnest ad- vocacy of improved methods for the training and instruction of the youth of to-day. His inter- est has been shown by his many years of service as a member of the school board of Miles town- ship, Centre county. and for six consecutive years he was the secretary of that body.

Mr. Kreamer grew to manhood on the farm where he was born, and at the age of twenty-five he was married in Rebersburg to Miss Annie M. Ruhl, who was born in the same township, July 14, 1839, a daughter of John Ruhl. Mr. Kreamer took his bride to the old homestead, where they resided until the spring of 1895, when they re- moved to their present home in South Penn street, Millheim.

He has not only been a most successful farmer. but has been largely interested in buying and selling stock, having paid out thousands of dol- lars to stock raisers in his county and those ad-

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joining. At present he is retired from active business with the exception of the care of certain investments and loans. His home in Millheim is both comfortable and tasteful, making a pleas- ant spot in which to spend the leisure which his prosperity gives. He and his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran Church, and have be- come identified with its varied helpful activities. They have one daughter, Ida V., now the wife of W. H. Klepper, a teacher in the Grammar School at Lock Haven, Penn .; they have had four children: Lee R., Paul K., Fairy G. (de- ceased in 1892) and Anna . M.

Politically, Mr. Kreamer is a Democrat, but, while he is a stanch and influential supporter of his party, he has never been a politician in the ordinary sense of the term. The different town- ship offices which he has held from time to time have been filled most creditably, the same shrewd judgment and energetic management which have won him his success in the business arena having been devoted to the discharge of his official du- ties.

T HEO. S. CHRIST, M. D., of State College, Centre county, is a physician of wide repu- tation and large experience. His skill as a sur- geon has won for him the appreciative recogni- tion of the profession at large-a supreme test of inerit-and his contributions to medical litera- ture, and the reports of notable cases in his prac- tice, mark a degree of success seldom attained.

Dr. Christ is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and belongs to a well-known pioneer family, his great- grandfather Christ having come from Germany in early manhood with two brothers. Jacob Christ, our subject's grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, and became prominent in the trans- portation business long before the days of rail- roads. He hauled goods on contract from Phila- delphia to Pittsburg, making use of a large wagon drawn by six black horses. He had three children: Levi B .. mentioned below; Eliza, who married William De Haven, of Miners- ville, Schuylkill county, Penn. ; and Jacob, who met a soldier's death at Gettysburg.

Levi B. Christ, our subject's father, was born in Philadelphia, July 4, 1804, and when a boy was taken by his parents to Lewisburg, Union county, where he made his home throughout the later years. He became a successful merchant and foundryman, and was highly esteemed as a citizen. His wife, Hester (Sterner), was a na- tive of Berks county, Penn., born in 1797, and came to Union county in childhood with her par- ents. She died in August, 1863, and the father's

death occurred in 1876. Of their six children two did not live to adult age. The others are: ( I) Theo. S., subject of this sketch; (2) Edward B., a merchant at Murphy, Cal .; (3) Mary Priscilla, wife of Daniel S. Kremer, of Philadel- phia; and (4) Emily, who married John De- walt, of Freeport, Ill. She is an aunt of Mrs. William Mckinley, wife of the President of the United States.

Dr. Christ was reared in the city of Lewis- burg, where he was born April 21, 1830. He at- tended the academy there in boyhood, and also made himself useful in his father's store. Hav- ing decided upon the medical profession as a life calling, he began his preparation under a precep- tor at Lewisburg, Penn. ; and later took a course in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in March, 1860. Es- tablishing an office at Lewisburg, he commenced his practice with flattering prospects; but at the first call to arms in 1861 he responded, enlisting April 18, and was made assistant surgeon of the 4th Regiment P. V. I. He assisted to raise the company, and was to have been its captain. but being advised to go in his professional capacity, he in preference accepted a commission as assist- ant surgeon. On April 21, 1861, he saw active service, his regiment going first to Harrisburg. then to Philadelphia, where they marched through the streets in silence at night. From there they went to Perryville, where they guarded the ferry some ten days; thence proceeded to Annapolis, Md., helping there to build a railroad. later moving to Washington, D. C. After the death of Col. Elsworth, the regiment went into Virginia, and was stationed at Alexandria, thence marching to Bull Run. At the end of their three-months' term of service they were mustered out at Alexandria.

Dr. Christ remained at home for two months after his return, but on receiving notice of an (\- amination at Harrisburg for army physicians. he entered it and secured one of the thirteen po- tions offered, there being 208 applicants. ( October 12, 1861, he was made assistant surged of the 45th P. V. Vol., which regiment went :'.' to Baltimore, Md., where it embarked for Hilt :; Head Island, S. C., arriving December S. ES ... Here it was divided, part moving away to Of0 Island, while the part to which Dr. Christ ". attached remained on the Island under c mand of Lieut .- Col. (afterward Gen. ) Jan A. Beaver. Though the Doctor was i assistant surgeon, yet he filled the position medical director on the Island, and had his hek full, as smallpox had broken out severely all. both men of the regiment and the negroes is

Theo b. Christ m. D .

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

on the Island. In one day he vaccinated as many as 97 colored people. In July, 1862, the regiment returned to Fort Monroe, where it en- camped. On August 4, 1862, it was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, and it was afterward attached to the First Brigade, Second Division, of the same corps.

On August 4, 1862, Dr. Christ was promoted to the rank of surgeon, and in the fall of the same year he was made brigade surgeon. On September 6, the regiment moved by water to Washington, D. C .; on the 9th proceeded to Brookville, Md .; thence to Frederick City on the 12th, and to Middletown on the 13th. On the 14th it fought the battle of South Mountain, and had 129 men killed and wounded ; then Antietam, where it lost 30 killed and wounded. On October 19th, they pitched their tents op- posite Fredericksburg, Va., and were engaged in the fight there December 13, 14 and 15. On Feb- ruary 12, 1863, they were ordered to Newport News, and remained there until the 22d of May. The regiment was then sent to Baltimore, Md., then by rail to Kentucky, June 4th. When an order came to Gen. Burnside, to re-inforce Gen. Grant, at Vicksburg, Miss., it moved at once by rail, via Lebanon, Louisville and Cairo (Ill.), and then by boat to near Vicksburg, 19th. On July 4th, Vicksburg was captured by Gen. Grant. In the afternoon of same day, the regiment went in pursuit of Gen. Joe Johnston's forces, whom it chased to Jackson, Miss., on the 10th, form- ing line of battle, fighting began, frequent as- saults being made daily. On the 17th the enemy retreated across Pearl river, destroying part of their bridge. The regiment then destroyed about fifteen miles of M. C. railroad, and returned to Jackson, on the 20th. Next morning it started back to its old camp near Vicksburg, arriving there on the 23d, having suffered much from the heat and want of water. On August 4th, it embarked on steamer for Cairo, Ill .; from Cairo it proceeded to Cincinnati: thence to Covington, Ky., thence to Crab Orchard Springs, where it was recruited, and was fitted for hard and active service. It then started for Knoxville (East Tenn.), via Cumberland Gap: here it surprised the Rebel Gen. Frazer, and captured him and his active command-some 2,500 officers and men-guns and supplies. The men of the Doc- tor's regiment all enjoyed their marching ont of quarters much more than they (the Rebels) did. The regiment arrived at Blue Springs (Tenn.), October 8th, had a battle there, and drove the enemy away so hurriedly that they left their dead and wounded on the field.

On the 13th the regiment moved by rail to

Knoxville (Tenn.), where it remained for two weeks, then moved twenty-five miles southwest of Knoxville, to near Loudon. On the 16th, it fell back to Knoxville, to protect that place from the enemy, and there remained until January 1. 1864, when 426 men of the 45th Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteers re-enlisted " for three years or during the war," thus securing to themselves a veteran furlough. Being mid-winter, with scanty provisions upon which to subsist, it became a question with the officers in command whether to remain and longer wait for rations, or take up the line of march and forage on the way. The lat- ter alternative was chosen. An example of heroic endurance and patriotic devotion to the flag worthy of imitation was manifested in the conduct of the men on the march. With only a quart of meal and five pounds of fresh meat per man, and no certainty of obtaining more on the road, barefooted and poorly clad, it required a patriot- ism as earnest, and a purpose as fixed, to pa- tiently endure the privations and hardships of the march, as to achieve victory in the face of the enemy. At one time during the engagement with Longstreet, the Doctor was glad to get any sort of food, and often ate corn roasted on the cob, from which they made their coffee; it was also their bread for days at a time. At the end of this term of service in 1863, he was re-mus- tered as a veteran for three years, or during the war, and came home on a thirty-days' furlough before resuming duty.

On January 16, 1864. the regiment com- menced this perilous march, via Cumberland Gap. On the 21st it arrived at Barboursville, where the men received full rations and were supplied with shoes. On the 8th of February it arrived at Harrisburg, Penn., and were granted a veteran furlough. It was the first regiment to re-enlist for the war, and reported as such to Gov. A. G. Curtin. This Veteran Regiment. with many new recruits, proceeded on the 19th of March to Annapolis, Md., the place of rendez- vons for the veterans of the 9th Army Corps. It was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Divi- sion, and moved to Washington, passing on the 25th in review before the President, and en- camped near Alexandria, Va. On the 27th, via Fairfax Court House, and the Bull Run battle field, it encamped at Bristoe Station, on the evening of the 28th, and remained guarding tle station until May 4th. On the 5th the Wilder- ness campaign opened. The regiment marched through dense woods and almost impenetrable thickets, bivouacking at night in line of battle. At one A. M. of the 6th the men were aroused. and the battle opened at daylight with great

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fury. The fighting was most desperate. Night coming on, the contest closed. The regiment lost 145 men killed and wounded. Then it pro- ceeded to Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania Court House, Po River, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Ist, 2d and 3d of June. In the three days of fighting bere its loss was 163 killed and wounded, out of the 300 who were engaged in battle.

The 45th Regiment participated in all the movements of the army until it reached the James river, on the evening of the 14th. Cross- ing on the following morning, it moved on to in front of Petersburg (Va.), arriving there on the 16th at 10 A. M .- at two P. M. it formed line of battle, then fighting began, and lasted a number of days; the loss of the regiment was small- three killed and eighteen wounded. On the 25th the 48th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, as- sisted at times by the 45th Regiment, began the work of excavation under the Rebel fort in front of the 45th's division, and the explosion took place on the morning of the 30th. It was a grand success. The Doctor witnessed it in front of the fort. Here his regiment lost twenty-eight men in killed and wounded. Thus it went on, battle after battle, until the final surrender at Appomat- tox, April 9, 1865.

The Doctor says he always loved the officers and men of the noble 45th Regiment Pennsyl- vania Veteran Volunteers. Everywhere the reg- iment performed manful and soldierly service, and won for itself and its State an honorable fame, having been engaged in forty-one reg- istered battles, besides a great number of heavy and light skirmishes, and was one of the twelve regiments that were the heaviest losers during the war. It helped to carry our country through the hour of its extreme peril, and proved to all nations of the world that "the government of the people, by the people and for the people" was not to " perish from the earth."

During the last year of his service, Dr. Christ was medical director on the staff of Major-Gen. Robert B. Potter, and was surgeon-in-chief of the Second Division, 9th A. C. He was honor- ably discharged October 20, 1864, expiration of term, and returned home, resuming his practice in May, 1865, at Chester City, Delaware Co., Penn., where he remained thirteen years, before locat- ing at his present home in Centre county. He purchased a farm of 187 acres about a inile from Lemont, and has since spent his time in agricult- ure and in the practice of his profession. In ad- dition to his homestead he owns 219 acres of timber land in the Valley, and he also had an interest in a store at Lemont, since sold.

On December 6, 1871, Dr. Christ was united

in marriage with Miss Sarah Irvin Thompson, who was born in Centre county, July 4, 1839, and died February 20, 1887. Four children blessed this union: M. Thompson died at the age of two years, six months and seventeen days; Theo. S., Jr., lived only eight months and seven days; Hester S., born December 5, 1875, was ed- ucated at Birmingham Seminary, and Mary Irvin, born March 15, 1878, was graduated from the same institution June 10, 1896. The Doctor and his daughters are members of the Presbyte- rian Church; socially, he affiliates with the F. and A. M., and has been a Master Mason since 1853, and a Knight Templar since 1865. In pol- itics he has been a Republican since 1856, and while in Chester City he was president of the city council. As may be supposed from his war rec- ord, Dr. Christ is a member of the G. A. R., and indeed he was one of the first to join that gallant band. Before its organization he helped to form a Soldiers' Union at Chester City, Penn., which was incorporated with the G. A. R. as Post No. 25, and he was made Post Surgeon. On his re- moval to Centre county, he helped to organize Post No. 197, at Lemont, and has held the rank of commander for fifteen consecutive years. He is a member of the Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 59, Bellefonte.

Dr. Christ takes an active interest in the va- rious medical societies of the regular school, and belongs to the American Medical Association and to the State and County Medical Societies. For several years he served as president of the board of stockholders of Pennsylvania Military Academy at Chester, and for six years he was sur- geon-in-charge of the institution. He was elected the first Burgess of State College, Penn. He contributed generously to the medical and surgical history of the war of the Rebellion, and honor- able mention is made of thirteen difficult opera- tions made by him, while his work receives well-merited notice also in Atkinson's " Physicians and Surgeons of the United States."

J AMES A. KELLER, secretary of the Centre County Mutual Insurance Co., is one of the most prominent business men and well-known citizens of Potter township, his acquaintance ex- tending all over Centre county. He was born June 10, 1843, on the farm where he still re- sides, which is located a short distance east of Centre Hall, his parents being John H. and Rachel (Alexander) Keller. The father was born September 2, 1813, in Potter township, a son of Christian and Catharine ( Haney) Keller. The

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

great-grandfather, Jacob Keller, who was born February 15, 1753, came to Potter township, Centre county, in 1806, from Bethel township, Dauphin Co., Penn., and purchased what is known as the Red Mill property. He was a sol- dier in the militia during the Revolutionary war, and after serving two months was discharged at Lebanon, Penn., November 2, 1777. 'His dis- charge papers are still in the possession of his descendants. Of his large family the sons were Jacob, John, Christian, Philip and Peter.

The first of the Keller family to locate in the portion of Potter township where our subject now resides was Christian Keller, his grandfa- ther, who secured a tract of land from the Potters in 1828. By trade he was a miller. He died August 12, 1831, at middle age. An interesting incident in his life is related in Linn's History of Centre County, as follows: "In 1806, when Christian was but a boy, Conrad Dillman lived near Potter's Fort, and had a beautiful farm, which excited the admiration of all. Mr. Dill- man was an adept at extracting teeth, and young Christian one day, with some companions, among whom was Catharine Haney, his future wife, called at Dillman's to have a tooth pulled. After the completion of their errand the party started for home. Their path lay over the hill, and when Christian reached the top, he looked back over Dillman's fine farm, and made the remark to Catharine, at the same time pointing back to the farm, . If you and I had that place it would be all I'd wish for.' She smiled, but said noth- ing. Twenty-five years later he related the cir- cumstance, and during the meantime his wish had been realized." In his family were the fol- lowing children: William, who died while serv- ing as county commissioner; John H., the father of our subject; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Amos Alexander; Catharine, wife of John Boozer; Lydia, wife of Peter Hoffer; Rebecca, wife of Watson Pennington; Sarah, wife of Isaac Pennington; Leah, wife of John Hoffer (de- deased); David C., who died in 1854: and Christian, deceased in 1895. Of these children. but two are now living.

The father of our subject was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys, and his educa- tion was limited to a course in the district schools of that early day. In Potter township he was united in marriage with Rachel, a daughter of James Alexander, who belonged to one of the old and highly respected families of the town- ship, that originally came from Maryland. Of the children born to this union, three grew to adult age, namely: Catharine, now Mrs. J. W. Conley, of Potter township: James A. ; and Mag-

gie E., who married Levi Murray, and died at Centre Hall; the others died in infancy.

On the death of his father, John H. Keller assumed the responsibility of caring for the large family in connection with his brother William. and provided for their support for a number of years. Afrer his marriage he located on the farm where our subject now resides, and there made his home until 1868, when he removed to Centre Hall, and became connected with the Centre Hall Manufacturing Co. Ten years later he returned to the farm, where the mother suffered from paralysis and died April 7, 1878. The father's death occurred at the same place, June 7, 1895, and he was laid by her side in the cemetery of Centre Hall. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat, and held various offices in his township. When a boy of sixteen years he united with the Reformed Church, and contem- plated studying for the ministry: but as his serv- ices were needed at home he gave up the idea, though he always took an active part in Church work, and no matter what the condition of the weather his familiar face was always seen in the house of worship on Sundays. He held various offices in the Church, and represented the same in the Synod and elsewhere. To all good works he was a liberal contributor, and had the conti- dence and high regard of all who knew him. His wife was a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 52

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1358

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358