Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 100

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090


USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 100


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).


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town, in Schuylkill county, Pa. All three were devoted to general crops. Since 1902 Mr. Erdman farmers, and their lands adjoined. Abraham had, has sold his produce at Trevorton. Before that among other children, Benjamin and George; An- he went all the way to Shamokin to market. In drew had sons Jacob, George and John; and there 1908 he retired from active labor, but he contin- were also Abraham and Elias, sons of either Abraham, Sr., or Andrew.


ucs to make his home on the farm. This was formerly the John Dunkelberger homestead, and Georg Erdman had a large farm, upon which he built a house and a barn, and his son Nathan suc- ceeded him there. He died Aug. 5, 1858, and he and his wife are buried at the Salem (Herb) Church, at Rough and Ready, in Schuylkill county. Shamokin township he was elected overseer of the He was a Lutheran member of that church. He earlier owned by a Yordy. Mr. Erdman is a highly estecmed citizen, and has received many evidences of the confidence his fellow citizens have in his ability and trustworthiness. While in poor, and since coming to Rockefeller township married Anna Catharine Schneider, who was born he has been chosen to serve as school director and July 6, 1792, daughter of Johann Nicholas and supervisor. In politics he is a Democrat. Dur- ing the Civil war he served a nine months' term as member of Company C, 131st Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteers. He and his family worship at the Augustaville Lutheran church, of which he has been deacon and elder. Anna Maria Schneider, and died Aug. 20, 1842. They had a large family: Daniel; George; Sol- omon, born March 19, 1822, who died Nov. 18, 1859; Elias, born Jan. 29, 1821, who died Sept. 24, 1856; Nathan, who died March 7, 1897, aged seventy-one years, six months, eight days (his wife In 1867 Mr. Erdman married Annie Lewessa Reply, daughter of John and Rachel (Campbell) Reply, and she died in 1878, the mother of five children: Della, Rebecca M., Joseph Rachel died Dec. 1, 1897, aged seventy-four years, ten months, nineteen days) ; William ; Lydia, who married William Kehres; Catharinc, who married William Kehres; Polly, Mrs. Knorr; Dina, Mrs. E .. Charles W. and Mary R. In 1880 . Isaac Rebuck; Mrs. John Smith; Rebecca, Mrs. Mr. Erdman


Michael Brown ; and Harriet, Mrs. Moses Hart- Vastine, daughter of Hugh Vastine, of Rush man, who survives.


George Erdman, father of John K. Erdman, was born in 1818, and died in 1882, at the age of sixty-four years. He is buried at the Blue church near Paxinos. He lived on the hill road leading from Paxinos to Shamokin, where he had a small farm, and he owned a tract of 125 acres at Bear Gap, which he rented. He was a devout church member, and held the office of deacon. His wife, Mary (Knorr), daughter of Jolm Knorr, of Ma- hantango Valley, bore him the following children : William K., a carpenter by trade, justice of the peace and active in Democratic politics, who lived at Shamokin; Caroline, who married Joseph Kaseman ; John K .: Daniel ; Elizabeth, who mar- ried David Startzel; Catharine, who married J. B. Repley; Mary E., born in 1852, who died in 1873; Frank. a carpenter and contractor, who lives on the homestead near Weigh Scales (he is now serving his second term as a county commis- sioner) ; Ida; who died young, in 1863; George; and Albert.


married (second) Mary F. township, this county, and they have had nine children : Hattie C., Sallie I., Elenora B., Alice L., David A., John H. R., Peter C., Kimber H. and Frank C.


LUTHER E. ROAT, of Milton, who has been a merchant in that borough since 1894, was born in 1870 in Liberty township, Montour Co., Pa., and is the oldest son of Henry and Rebecca (Mut- hart) Roat.


Jacob Roat, Sr., his great-grandfather, was a native of Berks county, Pa., where the name is commonly found with the original spelling, Roth. In his young manhood he moved to Schuylkill county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life, dying about 1850. He was twice married, Jacob. the grandfather of Luther E. Roat, being a child of the first marriage, while David and Mrs. Cooper (of Danville, Pa.) were born to the second marriage. Mr. Roat's second wife died in Danville about 1890, at 'the advanced age of nine- ty years.


John K. Erdman was reared on the farm. Jacob Roat, Jr., was born in Schuylkill county, and moved to Columbia county, Pa., thence in 1842 removing to Liberty township, Montour county, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred at the age of 55. He married Mar- garet Heimbach, and they were the parents of seven children: (1) Philip, who died in 1872, married Kate Wirth. (2) Lewis, who died in 1907. married (first) Miss Jane Auten, who died When nineteen years old he commenced to learn the trade of earpenter, in Shamokin township, and he followed that calling for twelve years, after which he returned to farm life, locating in Ral- pho township. There he lived from 1871 to 1883, cultivating a farm of fifty acres which he sold, and for one year thereafter lived at Stonington, where he farined as a tenant. In 1885 he came to Rockefeller township, settling on the farm which in 1873, leaving two daughters. Margaret and he has since occupied. He owns 212 acres, well Edith, and one son, Clarence. His second wife, located, of which 115 acres are under cultivation, Kate Stine. was the mother of two children, Wil-


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liam and Edward. (3) Andrew married ( first) lines has expanded to such an extent that he now requires the services of nine people regularly, with additional help on Saturdays. Mr. Roat has proved himself one of the most enterprising busi- ness inen of his adopted place. He has not only made his trade prosper to his own advantage, but decidedly to the accommodation of his fellow citi- zens, and he has the universal good-will and pat- Elizabeth Blue and their children were Frank (of Milton, Pa.), Emma ( married John Billmeyer) and Sarah (married William Gearhart and has two sons, Charles and Harry). For his second wife Andrew Roat married a Miss Dye, by whom he had one son, Grant, who married Lottie Diet- rich. (4) Phoebe married Henry Buss and died in 1908. They had children as follows: Robert, ronage of the community. As a substantial, use- who lives in Battle Creek, Mich. ; Ramsey, who tul resident of Milton he is respected by all who know him. He is a member of the Trinity Luther- an church, which he has served for some time as member of the Council; is a Republican in polit- ical sentiment, but not active in party or public affairs : and socially he holds membership in the Modern Woodinen of America and the Grand Fra- ternity. married a Miss Glase and had a son, Clay, who married a Miss Weaver: Lewis, who married a Miss Billmeyer and has had children, Charles (who married Carrie Molir and has three children, Gladys, Edna and Mildred), George, Mame (mar- ried John Rissel and has one daughter, Thelma) and Grace (married to Bruce Gold) ; Anne, who lives with her father; Charlotte, who married Al- fred Bare and has two sons; Etta, who married David Watt; and Hurley, who married a Miss Houtz. (5) Malala married Peter Billmeyer and has four children, Frank, Emma, Blanche and Harry. (6) Elizabeth married John Kelley and had children : Elizabeth, Audrey, Henry, Phoebe, Ida, Mahala and Margaret. (7) Henry is men- tioned below.


In February, 1896, Mr. Roat married Mame Hoffman, daughter of Jacob and Amanda (Shal- ter) Hoffman, who had a family of soven children : Ella ; Mame, Mrs. Roat ; John, who married Anna Ficks, who died in May, 1895, leaving one daugh- . ter, Mary, who lives with her aunt, Mrs. Roat; William : Harry, who married Mary Martz and has two children, Florence and Willington ; Emma, who married Warren W. Moser and has one son,


Henry Roat, youngest son of Jacob Roat, Jr., Ralph; and Charles, who married Blanche Co- teur and has two children, Owen and Bernice.


married Rebecca Muthart, daughter of William and Lydia ( Martin) Muthart, natives of Berks county who later settled in Montour county. Mrs. tha, who died in 1906; Catharine, who married


HORACE L. FOLLMER, merchant miller at Roat had the following brothers and sisters: Mar- Watsontown, Northumberland county, has been es-


tablished in business at that place only a short Joseph Y. Sechler; Elmira, who married Oliver time, but he is conducting a well known plant Caldwell (botlı are deceased) ; and Augustus, who built by John MeFarland and operated for a time married Jane Clemens and lives in Kansas. Eight by Folliner, Fowler & Co. children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Roat :


Mr. Follmer was born April 12, 1872, at Wil- Luther E .; William, who married Julia Hagen- liamsport, Lycoming Co., Pa., near which place buch and has one son, Paul W .; Lewis H. ; George P., who married Elizabeth St. Clair; Annie, who married Charles Ruckle: Augustus M. ; Blanche M. ; and Frank, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. his grandfather, William Follmer, owned a farm upon which he lived and carried on agricultural pursuits. He died upon his farm. Among his children were Adam, Peter (who is living on the


'Luther E. Roat was educated in the public old homestead), William, Amelia, Susan, Maggie schools of Montour county, at Pottsgrove Acade- and Lydia.


my, and Williamsport ( Pa. ) Commercial School, preparing to enter the sophomore year at Mullen- berg College. For six years he taught school in his native county. In 1894 he came to the boroughi William Follmer, son of William, was born on the homestead in Lycoming county, and followed farming during his active years. He died at Trout Run, Lycoming county, March 27, 1910, aged of Milton, Northumberland county, where he seventy-four years, an honored and respected opened a notion store in the Piper block. The citizen of that community. He was elected pro-


next year, 1895, he moved his business to the thonotary of Lycoming county and filled that office efficiently and creditably. He married Catharinc Bielil, daughter of Peter Bichl, and to them were born children as follows: Ella, married to J. C. Fowler: Jennie: Clayton C., deceased ; William, who died young; Clemine, who married Rev. C. P. Bastian and is now living at Keyser, W. Va .; Horace L. : and Margaret. room formerly occupied by the Reise Clothing Store, and was there established until 1903, mean- time, in 1898, enlarging the store. In 1903 he removed to the adjoining room, where he still lias his notion business. In 1905 Mr. Roat purchased from : P. Hackenberg the retail china store which in 1907 he removed to the room adjoining his notion store, at that time removing the parti- Horace L. Follmer attended public school at at Watsontown, and finally took a course at the tion between the two rooms and throwing the Williamsport, later was a pupil in the high school space into one large room. His business in both


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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


Williamsport Commercial College, from which he married, his first wife being Caroline Hunsinger, was graduated in 1892. After working three his second Elizabeth Perry. By his first union months in the mill lie engaged in farming, first there was a family of eleven children: William, John M. (who died young), Harriet ( Mrs. Wil- liam' Robbins), Daniel B., Sarah J. ( Mrs. Daniel Leshier), Mrs. Joseph Hein, Mrs. Caroline Woods, Ellen ( Mrs. Yoxtheimer), Mary and Charles. with his father and later on his own account, con- tinuing thus for thirteen years after he commenced his independent career. During this time he was located at Trout Run, Lycoming county, whence he came to Watsontown to enter the milling busi- William Van Kirk, son of Joseph, was born Feb. 12, 1830, and received his education in the ness. He leased liis mill, which is on Eighth street, along the Pennsylvania railroad, June 4, schools of Point township. He was a farmer 1908, from his father and widowed sister-in-law. throughout his life exeept for the time he was Mrs. Clayton C. Follmer. This plant is equipped


in the Union service during the Civil war. When with all the latest and most desirable machinery, the war broke out in 1861 he enlisted, and served having the full roller process, and has a capacity of one hundred barrels daily. In addition to mill- ing Mr. Follmer deals in flour, grain and feed, and he does a thriving business in both lines, his enterprise and good judgment being apparent in all his transactions. Mr. Folliner is a. Presby- terian, belonging to the church at Trout Run. He July 4, 1901. He is buried at Milton, Pa. Mr. is unmarried.


for four years. He was first with the Heavy Ar- tillery at Fortress Monroe, later a member of Com- pany G, 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was wounded, and was in hospital at Philadelphia, Pa. After the war he resumed agricultural pur- suits, which he continued to follow until his death, Van Kirk was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Mary Perry, daughter of James Perry, of Liberty township, Montour Co., Pa., and their


VAN KIRK. The Van Kirks came to this re- gion from New Jersey, where the emigrant an- only son was James W. Van Kirk.


cestors settled upon their arrival in this country early in the eighteenth century. The family is of Scotch descent, the naine having originally been Kirk. During religious disturbances and clan wars the family left Scotland, fleeing with others to Holland, where the "Van" was pre- fixed to the nanie.


JAMES W. VAN KIRK, of East Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, was born in 1857, in Point township, and there received his pri- mary education. Later he attended the Philadelphia Art School, where he took a course in lettering and ornamental pen work, and he is an elegant pen- man, his work being exceptionally fine. He finds considerable to do in that line for the various col- leges and high schools. He indexed the books in the county offices at Sunbury. Mr. Van Kirk has attained a wide reputation in his line and his serv- ices are in general demand. He makes his home in East Chillisquaque township, and has served that township as school director, and in February, 1910, was elected justice of the peace. He was a


Matthias Van Kirk, from whom the members of the family mentioned in this article are descended, lived in New Jersey, and came to Point township, Northumberland county. He followed the busi- ness of freighter, conveying goods from Philadel- phia' to New York and other points. His children were born as follows: Sarah, July 16, 1792; Ralph, Oct. 22, 1794; Charity, Oct. 23, 1796; Elizabetlı, Oct. 9, 1798; Mary, June 24, 1800; member of the board of enumerators when the een- Joseph, Oct. 14, 1801: William, Jan. 14, 1803; sus of 1900 was taken. Politically he is a Republi- Catharine, Aug. 22, 1804: Thompson, Jan. 14, can. 1805; Daniel, May 16, 1808.


In August, 1891, Mr. Van Kirk married Mary Ellen Harner, daughter of Amos Harner, and they have had the following children : Oley H., Tanı- enund, Zoe, M. S. Quay and Edna D.


Joseph Van Kirk, son of Matthias, was born Oct. 14, 1801, in New Jersey, and there in young manhood learned the trade of shoemaker. Coming to Northumberland county, Pa., he settled in Point township, he and his brother buying a tract of land William II. Van Kirk, son of Matthias Van Kirk, was born in New Jersey in 1803, and came to Pennsylvania about the same time as his brother, settling in Northumberland county before his mar- hiage. He had attended school only two days, but by thrift and industry, and close application to his work, he prospered and beeame quite successful, following farming all his active years. He owned the farm in Point township which is now the prop- which they farmed until 1860. Joseph Van Kirk then purchased the "Washington House" in North- umberland and moved thither .. After a few years he purchased the site and built what is known as the "Van Kirk Honse" in Northumberland, the leading hotel there, and lie prospered greatly in this business, becoming a man of ineans. Later he purchased what was known as the "Mansion House" in Chillisqnaque township, this county, erty of his son Charles M. He and his wife. Al- and moved thither, passing the remainder of his vina ( Huntzinger), daughter of Henry Hunt- life at that location. He was killed by a train, at Milton, Pa., in 1885, Mr. Van Kirk was twice zinger, are buried at Northumberland, Pa. Mr. Van Kirk died July 11, 1884, in his eighty-second


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year. He and his family were Presbyterians in and he served many years as a member of the coun- religious connection. In politics he was a Republi- cil in the Lutheran church, to which he belonged as can, and he served a number of years as supervisor of his township. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William H. Van Kirk: Mary J., William, Lucy Ann, David, Susan R., John T., Emeline, Joseph W., Charles C. (who died when two years of age), Harriet L., Clara E. and Charles M.


CHARLES M. VAN KIRK, a farmer of Point township, was born March 11, 1854, on the farm he now occupies. He attended public school, and subsequently continued to reside at home, work- ing for his father until the latter's death, when, in 1885, he began farming on his own account. He has remained on the home place ever since, and has 165 acres of good land, devoted to general farming, in which he has been very successful. He attends the Northumberland market. Mr. Van Kirk has taken an interest in the general welfare · and has served six years as school director of his township. He is a Republican in political matters. As a citizen he has the respect of all who know him, and he is regarded as one of the substantial resi- dents of his locality.


On April 3, 1880, Mr. Van Kirk married Mary Minerva Gougler, daughter of Abraham and Caro- line (Kelly) Gougler. She died in 1893, at the age of thirty-three years, the mother of four children, namely : Ada E. married Fred Epler; William O. married Sadie Orner; George E. married Mary Neidig; Lottie A. married John Baird. In 1897 Mr. Van Kirk married (second) Ida Bell Gougler, a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of George Gougler, who lives near Port Treverton, Pa. Three children have been born to this union: Mary G., Dorothy and Charles Richard.


GEORGE II. DAGLE, a farmer in the Tucka- hoe Valley, in Point township, Northumberland county, was born Feb. 29, 1868, in Chapman town- ship, Snyder Co., Pa., son of John Frederick Dagle.


do also his family. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He married Elizabeth Ertley, ' who was born June 15, 1838, and died Sept. 4, 1898, in her sixty-first year ; she is buried at Northumberland. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dagle: Mary married H. F. Geise; Sallie married E. H. Luck- hart; John is a resident of Augustaville, Pa .; George H. is on the home farm; William is a resi- dent of Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland Co., Pa .; Charles makes his home in Sunbury, North- umberland county.


George H. Dagle received his education in the public schools of Point township, and was reared to farming, working for his parents until he reached his majority. After that he continued at home until twenty-five years old, when he mar- ried and began farming on his own account in Point township, as a tenant for ten years, until he was in a position to buy a place of his own. In 1904 he purchased his father's farm in the same township, a tract of 145 acres especially adapted to fruit growing. Here he has since carried on gen- cral farming, and his thrift and industry have been well rewarded.


In 1894 Mr. Dagle married Lillie C. Gibbons, daughter of James and Caroline (Garman) Gib- bons, farming people of Point township, and to them have been born four children: Carrie E., Forest F., Jane A. and Mabel O. Mr. Dagle is a member and official of Trinity Lutheran church, in Point township. Politically he is a Republican.


GEORGE C. REESER, contractor of Watson- town, and one of the most enterprising factors in the industrial life of that borough, has spent all his life in this part of Northumberland county, having been born Dec. 5, 1862, at Turbutville, son of James Recser.


Samuel Recser, his grandfather, was born in Berks county, Pa., and moving thence to Union county, Pa., settled in the White Deer Valley, where he purchased a farm and followed farming until his death, in 1876. His wife, a Miss Fegley, also a native of Berks county, lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of a large family, viz .: Samuel, of Lock Haven, Pa .; Manoah, who settled in Missouri ; James : Peter F., who is farming the old home- stead place in White Deer Valley; Rev. Thomas A., a Lutheran minister, who was drowned at Salladasburg, Pa .; Isabella, Mrs. Jackson Hart- raft: Caroline, Mrs. Henry Shannon ; Lizzie, Mrs. William Shade, of Williamsport, Pa .; and Emne- line, Mrs. John Gerhart.


John Frederick Dagle was born April 8, 1836, in Germany, and came to America when sixteen years old. Settling at Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., Pa., he lived there until March, 1870, when he removed to Point township, Northumberland county, making his home on the farm now owned by his son George H. Dagle. He was a blacksmith, and followed his trade in Snyder county and also after settling in Point township, where he was a successful farmer. Mr. Dagle retired in 1904, after which he lived at Milton, Lewisburg and Northumberland, making his home in the latter borough at the time of his death, Oct. 30, 1910. He was always willing to give his services to the promotion of the general welfare and was an ac- James Reeser, son of Samuel, was born Feb. 16, 1839, in Berks county, and died March 20, 1902, tive and useful citizen, having served Point town- ship as school director and overseer of the poor, at Watsontown, Northumberland county, where


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he settled in 1873. He had moved with his father to Lycoming county, when a boy, and learned the carpenter's trade, after his removal to Watson- town finding work with the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, with whom he remained until his death, at which time he was one of the oldest em- ployees of that concern. He married Mary E. Frey, who was born Oct. 24, 1840, in Northumber- land county, daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Sauter) Frey, and died March 15, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Reeser are buried in the Watsontown cemetery. They had children as follows: George C .; and William H., a lumberman of Watsontown, who married Lottie Rose and has had three chil- dren, Edward (who died aged ten years), Helen and Frederick.


the plant was again destroyed by fire, the buildings being a total loss on that occasion, but they have been replaced by substantial structures and the plant is a large and well equipped establishment. The company enjoys a large trade in the leading cities of the East. Mr. Reeser has other large in- terests, being a stockholder in the Watsontown Brick, Clay & Produce Company, of which he was one of the original promoters. He is one of the most substantial business men of the borough, where he has gained high standing by uprightness and integrity in all his transactions. He has ini- tiative and ability, and has made a success by the most honorable methods.


Mr. Reeser has no special political affiliations, voting independently. He is a member of the paper and window shades on Arch street. Then Presbyterian church, and socially belongs to the after the great fire, in 1880, he built on Elm Royal Arcanum and the Jr. O. U. A. M.


In 1887 Mr. Reeser married Margaret E. Craw- ford, daughter of Jacob and Emily (Guffy) Craw- ford and granddaughter of Elijah Crawford. Jacob Crawford, her great-grandfather, was a na- Shirk, from England. They had three sons, Eli- jah, Kim and Charles. Elijah Crawford was born remained until 1829, in which year he settled in


married Eleanor Voris, who died in 1883, and they were the parents of nine children, but we have record of only five. namely: Jacob; Priscilla May, Mrs. Daniel Blue; Sarah Ann, Mrs. John Good; Mary Jane, Mrs. Henry P. Follmer; and Thomas, of Turbut township, Northumberland county. All of these but Jacob were living in 1890.


Jacob Crawford, son of Elijah Crawford and father of Mrs. George C. Reeser, married Emily Guffy, daughter of John Guffy and granddaughter of Alexander Guffy. They had children as fol- lows: Josephine, who married John Moyer ; Ellen, who married James Schell ; Allen C., who married Margaret Sheep; Ambrose, who married Georgiana Taggert ; Margaret E., Mrs. George C. Reeser ; Lou, who married Al. Cadwallader; and William.


George C. Reeser attended the elementary and high schools of Watsontown. His first position ADAM BATDORF, deceased, who was a dealer in paints, wall paper and window shades at Mil- ton, Pa., with his place of business at No. 17 Broadway, was a resident of that town for nearly half a century, and in that time proved himself a loyal citizen and upright man. was with the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, in whose employ he remained until the mill was burned, in 1899. He had been engaged in con- tracting, and when the firm reorganized, as a stock company, the same year, he became a stockholder and director, the business being from that time The name Batdorf was originally spelled Bot- dorf. Adam Batdorf's grandfather came to Amer- carried on under the name of the Watsontown Door and Sash Company. Mr. Reeser is still en- ica from Germany and settled in Lebanon county, gaged in contracting at this mill, where about Pa. Benjamin Batdorf, father of Adam, was a . ninety skilled workmen are employed. In 1904 farmer in Lebanon county, and from there came to Milton, later moving to Chillisquaque town- ship, and there following farming and teaming. He died at Milton in 1887, and was buried in Har- mony cemetery. He married Eva Stine, a native of Lebanon county, and their children were: John, Mary, Samuel, Amanda, Levi, Caroline, Adam, James, Catharine, Matilda and William.




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