Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 101

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 101

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).

Adam Batdorf received his education in the common schools and was first employed at farm work. He next spent one summer working in a brick yard, and then went to learn the painting and paper hanging trade, in Milton, and this en- gaged him for ten years. He became expert in his work, and his time was fully occupied. In 1873 he opened his store as a dealer in paints, wall

street. His last location was on Broadway.

Mr. Batdorf was a soldier during the Civil war. He enlisted first in Company K, 3d Pennsylvania militia, in 1862, and in 1863 he became a mem- ber of Company I, 37th regiment of Emergency tive of Montour county, Pa., and married a Miss men. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company E, 74th Pa. Vol. Inf., for one year, and was sent to Virginia, where he was on guard duty most of in 1796 in Montour county, and died in 1868. the time. He was very active in G. A. R. About 1827 he moved to Packer's island, where he circles, and in 1908 was elected treasurer of the Susquehanna District Association of the G. A. R., Delaware township, Northumberland county. He and re-elected in 1909. He was a past commander was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Crawford was of Milton Post, No. 129, G. A. R., having been a member of the Presbyterian church. During the elected to that office five times. He was a past war of 1812 he served his country as a soldier. He officer in the I. O. O. F., and at the time of his 29

450

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

death was eaptain of the Canton of that body. He age of twenty-one years, meantime attending the married Sarah B. Kauffman, daughter of John W. local subscription schools for three months each Kauffman, of Milton. To this union were born : winter during his boyhood, and working on his Maggie, who married W. E. Eckbert ; Oliver J. O., father's land the rest of the time. He then went manufacturer of the Good Samaritan ointment, to Black Hole, also in his native township, where he was employed by his brother-in-law, Peter for which a stock company has been formed and a large business being done ; Clarence W., of Mil- Swartz, in a distillery, working there for twelve ton ; Albert H., who died in Chicago; Annie W., years, for ten dollars a month, at that wife of Frank W. Bailey, D. D. S., of Milton; time considered good wages. He and his Charles A., of Milton; Spencer, of Milton; and brother-in-law then went to Clearfield county Harry A., who died, aged twenty-six years. Mr. and purchased a sawmill, which they oper- Batdorf was a Republican in politics, and was un- ated successfully for eleven years, after swerving in his allegiance to the party-an allegi- which Mr. Bower moved to Rush township, ance that began when he cast his first Presidential Center county. . He lived there for several years, vote for Abraham Lincoln. He died May 9, 1911, thence removing to Gregg township, Union county, in 1866. This region was then an unbroken wil- aged seventy-two years.

John W. Kauffman, father of Mrs. Batdorf, derness, where wild animals still roamed, and he was born in 1795, and died May 7, 1885. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife Margaret was born in 1806, and died Sept. 5, 1882, and both are buried in Harmony cemetery, Milton.

shared the hardships of life in such a region with the other hardy settlers who made a home there, in time becoming a prominent farmer of his dis- trict, where he is well and favorably remembered. BENJAMIN F. BOWER, a farmer of West Chillisquaque township who has a valuable place of 150 acres lying along the west branch of the Sus- quehanna, is a native of Center county, Pa., born Aug. 23, 1863, in Rush township. The Bower He passed the remainder of his long life on his homestead in Gregg township, dying there Nov. 3, 1900. A man of sterling integrity and the highest character, he had the affectionate regard of all who knew him, and was greatly respected throughout his section. He was one of the oldest family was in earlier days settled in Berks county, members of the Patrons of Husbandry in Union this state, where John Bower, the great-grandta- ther of Benjamin F., was born. He died in Lycom- ing county. . His wife was Elizabeth Bohn.

Henry Bower, son of John and Elizabeth (Bolin ) Bower, was born in 1784 in Berks county, moved to Lycoming county when a young man, and followed farming, also working in the lumber districts. He was one of the early settlers in his locality. In White Deer township, Union Co., Pa., he married Elizabeth Wertzler, who was born in 1773 in Berks county, daughter of Jacob Wertz- ler (who died at Reading, Berks county ), and came to Lycoming county when a young girl. Mrs. Bower died in February, 1836, aged sixty-three years, and is buried at the Stone Church in Brady township, Lycoming county. Mr. Bower died in , that county in 1866, aged eighty-two years, six months, six days, and is buried there, at the Brick Church in Clinton township. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a

county, having been a charter member of Spring Garden Grange, No. 32. His first presidential vote was cast for Buchanan, but he was independ- ent on political questions, supporting what he thought was right, regardless of party. In religion he was a Baptist, and filled office in his church. His death was looked upon as a public loss in the community.

On Feb. 9, 1851, in Morris township, Clearfield county, Mr. Bower married Elizabeth Haas, who was born Oct. 26, 1824, in Moreland township. Lycoming county, and died Jan. 9, 1909, at West Milton, Union county. Her parents, John and Mary ( Baker) Haas, spent most of their lives in Northumberland county, but she was a young child when her father died. in 1828, and she made lier home in the family of Peter Swartz for some time. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bower: (1) John H., born July 30. 1851. now a resident of Danville, Pa., married Maggie Gulich Democrat. Their children were as follows: Jona- and has four children, Emma, Miriam, Elizabeth than was killed by the cars at Montgomery, Pa. : Abraham was killed in the Civil war; Mary A: wife of Peter Swartz, a farmer of Dakota ; Eliza- in Center county, Pa., married J. S. Houser, who and Charles. (?) Abraham S., born Oct. 6, 1853, a farmer in Gregg township, Union county, mar- (deceased ) was the wife of Aaron Wentzel: Jacob ried Hannah Gross and has two children, Retta is mentioned below : Sarah (deceased ) was the and Elizabeth. (3) Lydia E., born May 3, 1855.

beth (deceased ) was the wife of John Huntington operated the old Bower homestead. (4) Charles and they lived in New Mexico; Lydia died un- W., born Feb. 5, 1856, a lumberman at Allenwood, married. Pa., married Tilla Kolbe, and they have three chil-

Jacob Bower, son of Henry, was born April 12, dren, Francis E., George M. and Elizabeth G. 1816, in Washington township. Lycoming county, (5) Mary M., born Jan. 16, 1859, married Wil- and resided with his parents until he reached the bam Houser ( brother of J. S. Houser), a carpen-

451

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ter, and they reside at West Milton, Pa. They managed it himself since 1902. Though he had have one sou, Franklin B. (6) Benjamin F. is the no previous experience + in the hotel business he youngest of the family.

Benjamin F. Bower received his education in the place has not only been profitable to him, but a schools of the home neighborhood. He worked for his father until he reached the age of twenty- seven, after which he farmed the homestead for his father for six years. For the next seven years he was on the okl Charles Wolfe farm, in West Chil- lisquaque township, now the Fonda estate, along generations.

the west branch, and in 1902 he located on the

The Bartos are of French Huguenot extraction, tract in that township which he has since farmed. the French form of the name being Perdeau. one of the l'aeker farms. He has 150 acres of Three of the name came to America in the early good land, all up-to-date machinery and conveni- ences, and is an intelligent farmer, keeping abreast days, one John Barto locating in Berks county, Pa., in 1730, Isaac Barto prior to 1750 and Nieho- of the times in his work, as his farm shows. He las Barto in 1773. The Isaac Barto mentioned is well thought of in the community, has served was a large taxable in Oley township, Berks coun- three years as school director, and is a substantial ty. in 1759, in which year he paid £14 tax. His and worthy citizen, deserving the respect he en- descendants are still living in Washington town- joys. He hauled the first load of stone for the Montandon high school. Politieally he is a Demo- crat, in religion a Baptist, holding membership in the church at Milton.

Mr. Bower married Mary Elizabeth Huff, daugh- ter of William Huff, of Union county. They have Barto, was a farmer of Colebrookdale township, six children : Florence N., wife of John Keiser; Mary E .; Jacob; Willard ; Homer 'and Carrie. .

WILLIAM THOMAS JOHNSTON, D. D. S., at Friedensburg, in Oley township (both are now a popular young professional man and public- deceased ).

spirited and progressive citizen of Milton, was born Benjamin Barto, son of Abraham, was born in 1824. in Colebrookdale township, Berks Co., Pa., and lived there until his removal to Northumber- land county, in 1857. Here he settled on a farm of 162 acres in Lewis township, one and a quarter miles 'from Turbutville, where he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 29, 1898. He is buried in the cemetery at Turbutville. Mr. Barto was a member of the Reformed church and a Republican in politics. He was an intelligent man, and took an interest in publie affairs, serving as supervisor in Williamsport, Pa., in August. 1877, son of Robert G. Johnston. He attended the Williams- port publie schools, and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a clerk, but finding his tastes led him rather into the pro- fessional world, he again turned his attention to study, and entering the University of Pennsyl- vania, was graduated therefrom ine 1899 with the degree of D. D. S. In the spring of 1900 he lo- cated . for practice at his present place in the Knauer building, No. 433 South Front street, and overseer of the poor in his district. His wife, Milton, and since that time he has been kept Anna (Deysher), daughter of Jacob Deysher, of steadily busy with an ever increasing practice. He is thoroughly at home with the latest improved methods, and liis work is performed conscientious- lv. He is a member of Kirk's Dental Society. Fraternally the Doctor is a Mason, being a member of Milton Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., and of Wil- liamsport Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree. His religious connection is with the Methodist church. He is active in all work for the moral well being of the town.

Dr. Johnston married Hannah Lundy. daughter of Ezra B. Lundy, of Williamsport. They reside at Williamsport.

OLIVER S. BARTO, who owns and conducts sylvania. the "Farmers Hotel" at Watsontown. has been the owner of that establishment since 1901 and has

has made a success of the enterprise, so that the credit to the borough. Mr. Barto is a native of Turbutville, Northumberland county, born Feb. 19, 1874, and comes of a family which has long been established in Pennsylvania, Berks county having been the home of his ancestors for several

ship, that county. Some time prior to 1735 Jean Peardeau located in Colebrookdale township, Berks county, where he died at an advanced age in 1770, leaving a numerous progeny.

Abraham Barto, great-grandfather of Oliver S.

Berks county. His children were: Isaac, who lived in Oley township, that county; Benjamin; and Susanna, who married Daniel Leinbach and lived

Pike township, Berks county, died on the farm near Turbutville Jan. 29, 1863, at the age of thirty-six years. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom we have the following record: Abraham is a resident of Montgomery, Pa .; Augustus D. is the father of Oliver S. Barto; Benjamin lives at Erie, Pa. : Hon. James lives at Jetmore, Kans., where he has served as judge (he has suffered the loss of an arm) : Morris died Oct. 30. 1862, aged seven years: Anna married Scott Levan and they live at Watsontown : Mary married Jaeob Rov- enalt and they live at Turbutville : Emma married George Williams, of Turbutville: Amanda married William Phillips and lives at Montgomery, Penn-

Augustus D. Barto was born Jan. 13. 1846, in Oley township, Berks Co., Pa., and received his

452

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

early education in the local schools. He was of his guests, who show their appreciation of his reared on the farm, there and in Northumberland solicitude by continued patronage. He has done county, coming with his parents to Lewis township well in this venture, to which he has applied his April 4, 1857, when he was a boy of eleven. He best energies, and is widely acquainted, not only worked for his father up to the time of his enlist- in a business way, but also socially, being a mem- ment, Nov. 16, 1863, at Reading, for service in the ber of a number of organizations. He belongs to regular army, joining Company F, 2d Battalion, the Sons of Veterans, the Knights of the Golden 15th United States Infantry, for five years. During Eagle, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and, in the early part of his term he was in the Civil war, business, to the Liquor Dealers Association. Po- participating in Sherman's famous march to the litically he is a Republican. sea, from April, 1864, to Sept. 1, 1864. For the On April 5, 1896, Mr. Barto married Carrie L. last eighteen months of his service he was a cor- Evans, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Croft) poral, and he. was honorably discharged Nov. 16, Evans, late of Milton. Her father was a native of 1868.

Wales. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barto.

Returning home at the close of his military ser- vice, Mr. Barto engaged at laboring work and lime burning until 1879, after which he was employed on public works for a few years. From Sept. 3, township, has lived on his farin near Pottsgrove

SAMUEL H. WEISER, of East Chillisquaque 1883, to April 2, 1910, he worked for the Wagner since 1906 and has been a resident of this section Planing Mill Company at Watsontown, in which of Northumberland county from boyhood. He was borough he is now living in retirement. He owns born Aug. 29, 1871, at Buffalo Cross Roads, Union his home there and is comfortably situated. Mr. Co., Pa., son of Joshua Weiser and grandson of Barto is an independent voter, and in religious George W. Weiser, and belongs to the numerous matters he and his family are identified with the posterity of the celebrated Conrad Weiser, well Lutheran church. He is a member of Bryson represented in this region. Post, No. 225, G. A. R., of Watsontown.

George W. Weiser lived at Red Bank, near Mif- On June 14, 1870, Mr. Barto married Caroline flinburg, in Union county, Pa., and is buried there. E. Schook, daughter of Philip and Susan (Sandy)

He had a brother Joshua, but further than that we Schook, whose family consisted of thirteen chil- have nothing to show his line of descent from dren, namely: John, who is deceased ; Benjamin, Conrad Weiser. On Dec. 26, 1841, George W. of Elinira, N. Y .: Lewis, of Horseheads. N. Y .; Weiser married Susanna Boller, and their children David, of Williamsport, Pa. ; Philip, of Muncy, were born as follows: George W., May 9, 1842; Pa .; William, of Watsontown; Rebecca, Mrs. Wil- Joshua, Nov. 18, 1844; Hannah C., Dec. 21. 1845; liam High; Matilda, Mrs. Sol. Stein: Sarah and Henry, Sept. 18, 1847 (he married Jane Oberdorf Mary, who are unmarried and live together : Caro- line E., Mrs. Barto : Susan, deceased ; and Cathar- ine, Mrs. Jacob Weaver. Ten children were born

and they had two children, Amos and Gertrude, the former now deceased : they reside at Mifflin- burg, Union Co., Pa.) ; John, May 17, 1849 ; Abra- to Mr. and Mrs. Barto: Susan A. is the wife of ham, Dec. 19, 1850; Benjamin F., April 19, 1853; Anna Maria, Sept. 21, 1855.

Robert Merrell and they live at Watsontown : Sal- lie is married to Frank Leform and lives at Mont-

Joshua Weiser, son of George W., was born Nov. gomery, Pa. ; Oliver S. lives at Watsontown : Isaac 18, 1844, in Center county, Pa., was engaged ať is a resident of Williamsport, Pa. ; Tillie is the wife day labor throughout his life, and died in May, of Henry Henshaw, of Newberry, Pa. : Harry is a 1904: he is buried at Buffalo Cross Roads, Union resident of South Williamsport; Rachel married county. He married Susan Campbell, who died in Fred Davis and they live at Plymouth, Pa. ; Ed- 1900 and is buried at Buffalo Cross Roads. They ward is a resident of Muncy, Pa. ; Myrtle married were the parents of children as follows: Abraham, George Hoff and lives at Milton, Pa. ; Laura is un- Elmer, Samuel H., Sarah, Jennie, George, Mazie married.

(Mrs. F. A. Raback), Elizabeth and Cyrus (died

Oliver S. Barto was educated in the public and in infancy).

high schools of Watsontown, and when fifteen Samuel H. Weiser attended public school in years old began working in the planing mill at Kelly township, Union county, and after coming Watsontown. He was thus engaged for about four- to Chillisquaque township, Northumberland coun- teen years in succession, and since 1902 has been tv, was a student at Pottsgrove Academy. He has engaged in conducting the "Farmers Hotel," which always followed farming. For eight years he did he purchased in 1901 from the MeNulty estate. farm work for John W. Frederick, of Chillis- The hotel is located on upper Main street, and is quaque township, and then followed farming on an old-established stand. It contains twenty- his own account for eight years, on the W. A. three rooms, comfortably furnished and well equip- Montgomery farm, after which he was on the Wil- ped, and is run along modern lines, Mr. Barto tak- liam II. Koch farm before coming to his present ing a genuine interest in the welfare and comfort place, in 1906. He has a fine farm stock, and his

453

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

property is in excellent condition, showing intel- was frequently in communication. A chief of the ligent and thrifty management. His equipment tribe who took a liking to Conrad proposed that is as good as that of any farmer in this section. Mr. Weiser has been active in local matters, has served as inspector of elections, and is a prominent member of the Pottsgrove Presbyterian church, of which he has been a trustee for the past ten years. Politically he is a Democrat.

Mr. Weiser married Annie Mack, daughter of William and Catharine ( Frederick) Mack, and they have had one son, George M., who died Oct. 29, 1909.

Most of the Weisers in Northumberland county are descended from the celebrated Conrad Weiser, patriot, statesman, philosopher, maker of treaties and Indian interpreter, who in the latter capacity especially-lie was official interpreter from 1732 until his death-was intimately connected with the continuing to increase the Indian knowledge he making of history in Pennsylvania in his day. A had gained by acting as interpreter between the friend of the Indian, one found .equally worthy of German settlers and the Mohawks. In the spring confidence by his own race, with the necessary knowledge and qualities of leadership required to sustain the influenee he gained by success in his early transactions between the two races, he was one of the comparatively few men of his time fa- miliar enough with the Indian character, languages and customs to carry on negotiations intelligently and efficiently, and at the same time possessing a reputation which made him the trusted agent of both the red and the white men. His work has a peculiar value in the early settlement and develop- ment of this region.

Conrad Weiser was born Nov. 2, 1696, at Afstaedt, a small village in the county of Herren- berg, Wurtemberg, Germany, son of John Conrad Weiser, a local magistrate. In his native home he acquired a general education, which included the principles of the Christian religion according to the teachings of Martin Luther. In his fourteenth year he emigrated to America with his father and Indians and English

family, which included seven children besides him-

He was very active in the first proceedings for self, landing at New York June 17, 1710. At that the erection of Berks county, in 1738, and con- time several thousand Germans were sent to America by Queen Anne. Shortly after their ar- rival they were removed by the governor of New York to Livingston Manor, to burn tar and culti- vate hemp to defray the expenses incurred by Queen Anne in conveying them from Holland to England and from England to America. Jolın Conrad Weiser was at the head of this colony, of four thousand Palatinates. Under the direction of commissioners they labored in the employment tinued his influence until the county was estab- lished, in 1752. He acted as one of the first com- missioners in the sale of town lots at Reading, which was laid out by the Penns in 1748, and was prominently identified with the early movements for the building up of the town and in the de- velopment of its business interests. In 1741 he was appointed justice of the peace, which office he filled for a number of years ; and when the county was erected he was appointed one of its first judges, acting as president judge of the courts until his decease, in 1760. Two of his descendants, both named George Weiser, served as associate judges in

mentioned until 1713. Then, finding that they were existing under a form of bondage, they pro- tested against the treatment and this effected their release. About 150 families of them, inchiding Northumberland county.

the Weisers, removed to Schoharie, forty miles west. of Albany. Their immediate neighbors were the Mohawk Indians, with whom the elder Weiser

the boy visit the Mohawk country and learn the language, and accordingly, when in his eighteenth year, he went to live with the Indians, spending eight months at a Mohawk town eight miles south of Schoharie. In this period he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the language and customs and was adopted as a member of the tribe. Though strong, he suffered from exposure and hardship during this experience, having scarcely clothing sufficient to cover his body during the trying win- ter, and he was frequently threatened with death when the Indians were in a state of intoxication. Returning to his father's home at Schoharie in July, 1714, he lived until 1729 within two miles of the town referred to, engaging in farming and

of 1723 many of the Palatinates, including Con- rad Weiser's father, moved from the region be- cause of litigation which affected the titles to their lands, and settled in the Tulpehocken, in Berks county, Pa., and Conrad Weiser followed them thither in 1729, locating near Womelsdorf. He was soon after engaged as interpreter by the Provincial government, his first services in this capacity being performed in 1731. From that time for nearly thirty years he was almost constantly en- gaged in this important work, and previous to 1760 he was the inost prominent historical character in Berks county. He was the principal judge of the county from 1752 to 1760. Besides acting as in- terpreter at the various treaty meetings, he was intrusted with important missions to the great council at Onondaga and to the Oliio tribes, and throughout his long career as agent and interpreter continued to enjoy the full confidence of both

Weiser was one of the most prominent men in the French and Indian war, in which he served as a colonel, and his services were of great value

454

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to the government and to the people of Berks coun- came involved in a lawsuit with Daniel Womels- ty. His numerous letters indicate his zeal, cour- dorf over a mill property at Womelsdorf, in Berks age and patriotism.

During the latter part of his life he lived mostly at Reading, but he died on his Heidelberg farm July 13, 1760, and his remains rest in a private burying ground on the place, near the borough of Womelsdorf. On Oct. 30, 1907, a tablet was placed in the west wall of the Stichter hardware store on Penn 'Square, Reading, by the Historical Society of Berks county, to commemorate the site of the Weiser building, which he erected at that point in 1751 and where he often met the Indians in con- ference. He accumulated a large estate, consisting of properties at Reading and lands in Heidelberg township and in the region of country beyond the Blue Mountains.

In 1720 Conrad Weiser married a young woman of Schoharie, and he was the father of fifteen chil- dren, eight of whom seem to have died in the years of their minority. His wife and seven children sur- vived him : Philip, Frederick, Samuel, Benjamin, Peter, Anna Maria (who married Rev. Henry Mel- chior Muhlenberg) and Margaret (Mrs. Finker). So many generations have elapsed since their day, and the posterity has become so numerous, that it would be a laborious and difficult, if not impos- sible, task to compile a complete record.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 101

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

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