Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 104

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 104

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Mr. Van Devender is a member of Lodge No. . 196, I. O. O. F., of Northumberland: Sunbury Lodge, No. 267, B. P. O. E., of Sunbury ; also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Eureka Lodge, No. 404. of Northumberland, Sun- bury Chapter, No. 174. of Sunbury, Mount Herm- on Commandery, No. 85. Sunbury, and the Mystic Shrine, Irem Temple. Wilkes-Barre. He is also a member of the Northumberland Bureau of In- dustry and is always found in the front rank when

JOSEPH S. REITZ, of West Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, has been en- gaged for a number of years in market gardening, in which line of work he has made a notable suc- cess. Mr. Reitz was born in Jackson township. this county, Jan. 5, 1848, and belongs to a family of French origin now numerous in Pennsylvania, where it has been established almost two centuries.

The first members of the Reitz family to come to America made the journey in 1712 and settled in the Schoharie Valley. Having obtained the title to their lands from the Indians and not from the New York government, they were deprived of their holdings in 1723, and some thirteen families came to Pennsylvania, settling in what was then Tulpehocken township, Berks county. Among these were the families of George, Peter and Jo- hannes Reitz, supposed to have been brothers. In 1:59 we find one Daniel Reitz, Sr., paid 20 pounds tax, and another Daniel Reitz paid ? pounds tax,

In 1490 Michael Reitz, a native of Berks county, came thence to Washington township, Northumber- land county, where he remained until his death. He reared .a family of seven sons and two daugh- ters, all of whom lived to be over eighty years of age. Among these were Joseph H., Samuel, Henry and Daniel.

Joseph H. Reitz, son of Michael, was the fa- council and at the expiration of his term of office, ther of Joseph S. Reitz. He was a farmer, also

conducted a butcher business, and later had a gen- eral store at Trevorton, this county, until he died, honor to its citizens -- for two successive terms. about 1810. He was a member of the Evangelical He also served as a member of the school board .. Church, in which he was a class leader to the elose

of his life. He married Catharine Siders, like himself of Northumberland county, and she sur- vived him, living in Shamokin. Their union was

In 1900. he announced himself as a candidate for the office of register and reeorder of North- umberland county. In November of the same year he was elected. His ability, impartiality and per- blessed with the following children: Susan (de- fect fitness for the position were fully recognized ceased) was the wife of H. L. Rogers, of Sham- okin : Nathaniel, who became a merchant of Kan- by the people of the county in his three years of

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sas City, Mo., married Angeline Wagner and (sec- these came Jolin Lesher (2), who located in Oley, ond) L. Rothemal; Joseph S. is mentioned below ; Berks county, and erected extensive iron works in Isaac S. married Lydia S. Reed and had children, 1760. Several families of the name located in Lizzie, Emma, Rebecca and Wesley ; Sedick S., a Lancaster county. lumberman of Juniata county, married Judy Sholly; Sarah married William Zaring; William married Anna Fidler; Wilson, merchant and cat- tle dealer, formerly of Wyandotte county, Kans., now of Kansas City, Mo., married a Baker.

Johan Georg, grandfather of Charles M. Lesher, was a deseendant of Col. John Lesher of Oley township, Berks county, and was born in that eounty April 6, 1768. He settled in Chillisqua- que township, Northumberland county, where he is buried in the Fairview cemetery, in this county, and the inscription upon his tombstone reads :

Joseph S. Reitz received his early education in followed farming, and died Nov. 1, 1823. He the sehools of his home locality, later attending the Union College, at New Berlin, Pa., for two terms, after which he taught school for one terin. Later he removed to Williamstown, Dauphin eounty, where he remained eight years, during which time Adieu my friends, dry up your tears; I must lie here till Christ appears. he served as sehool director of his township. In 1876-77 he ran the stage between Williamstown and Tower City. For two years prior to the death of his father they were associated in the general store business at Trevorton, after which he earried oni a meat market. In 1893 he came to Chillis-

On June 25, 1788, he married Anna Fliekinger, who was born May 2, 1762, and died Oet. 24, 1841. They are interred in Lot 23. He was a Lutheran in religion. Their children were: Michael, who settled at Newfane, near Lockport, N. Y., where he had an eighty-aere farm, and later moved West quaque township, Northumberland county, and (he had children) : (John) George; William, commenced market gardening, in which he has whose death was eaused by the bite of a mad dog proved himself a master hand, his success being (he was unmarried) ; Mrs. Kreitz; and other proverbial in the neighborhood. He supplies all daughters. the vegetables to Bueknell University, Lewisburg,

The Federal Census Report of 1790 shows the a trade which he has held for fifteen years. Mr. following Leshers: Jacob, John, John, Jr., John, Reitz is a substantial and respected citizen, of ree -. Jr. (again), John, Sr., Michael and Nicholas. Ja- ognized worth in his community. Outside of his cob Lesher, of East District township, Berks coun- private interests he is active principally in the ty, had the following family : three males over six- work of the Methodist Church at Montandon, of teen, one under sixteen, two females. John Lesher,

which he has been a faithful inember, having been class leader, assistant superintendent of the Sun- day sehool and teacher in the Sunday school for many years. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Reitz married Lena C. Dunkelberger, daugh- ter of Jacob Dunkelberger, of Hegins, Schuylkill county, and they have had a family of six children, namely : Kate married Adam Stahl and has chil- dren, C. Edward, Robert and Homer ; Edward mar- ried Hattie Cummings and has children, Herbert, Lena, Robert, Elizabeth and Wilson : Jennie mar- ried Elmer Shaffer and has two children, Alma and Ethel; George married Ida Dawson and has two children, Edith and Dawson; Allen is at home; Howard married Esther Owens.

of Tulpehoeken, that county, three males over six- teen, three under sixteen, two females : John Lesh- er, Sr., of Oley township, same county, one male over sixteen, one under sixteen, three females: Nicholas Lesher, also of Oley township, two males over sixteen, seven under sixteen.

(John) George Lesher was born in Northum- berland county, and spent all his life in Point township, where he was a farmer throughout his active years. He owned 240 acres of land, of which 201 acres are still in the family name and owned by his son Charles M. He died in Point township, on what is now the farm of his son Charles, Jan. 6, 1866, aged seventy-three years, two months, twenty-six CHARLES M. LESHER, a foremost eitizen of Point township, Northumberland county, was born in that township Aug. 28, 1836, son of John George Lesher. The family is an old one in Pennsylvania, and the name is of French origin, having been originally written LeShar, LeChar, Leseher and days, and is buried in the Lesher plot in Fairview cemetery. He and his wife, Cath- arine (Robbins), were Presbyterians in religious belief. She was a daughter of Daniel Robbins of Liberty township, Montour Co., Pa., and died Oct. 22, 1869, aged seventy-five years, seven months, two days. Nine children were born to LeShair. The family was a numerous one and Mr. and Mrs. Lesher, as follows: Robert, born seattered to various Protestant countries after the Oct. 19, 1817, who died in 1903 (his wife Sarah, Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. One Jean Le- born in 1833, died in 1907) : Daniel, born Sept. Shair was a refugee to Ulster, New York, prior to 8, 1819; Luey Ann, born April 21, 1822; Mary, 1700. Of those who came to Pennsylvania John born April 2, 1824: Sarah J., born Sept. 17, Nicholas Lesher located in Skippaek and Jaeob 1826; George, born Nov. 28. 1828; William, born Lesher in Providence, both in 1732. From one of Feb. 14, 1831, who died May 29, 1896; John,

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA

465

born Aug. 12, 1833; and Charles M., born Aug.

On Dec. 16, 1874. Mr. Lesher married Edith 28, 1836, the youngest being now the only sur- Florence Watson, daughter of Joseph and Susan- vivor.

na (Stamm) Watson, of Point township, and they Charles M. Lesher received his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of the home locality. Later he attended Dickinson Seminary, at Wil- liamsport, Pa., and when twenty-one was licensed to teach, following that profession for five winters in his home township and for three terms in Chil- lisquaque township. He then taught the high school in Northumberland borough for three years and filled unexpired terms in the same borough two other years, making so good a reputation that he was made a candidate for the position of county superintendent of public schools. He was de- feated by only one vote. For some time his health was not good, and he took to farming, buying the homestead place in partnership with his brother John, with whom he was associated for six years. At the end of that time he sold out to his brother, and after his marriage he went West, living sev- eral years in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he owned eighty acres of land and followed farm- ing. Mr. Lesher always feels that it was during his experience in the West he first learned to rely entirely upon his own judgment and take the ini- tiative when necessary, and he brought so much of the Western spirit back to Pennsylvania with him that he was dubbed the "Western farmer." In 1883, learning that the original homestead was to be disposed of at sheriff's sale for a judg- ment note of $300, he purchased the place and brought his family East shortly afterward, in 1885 settling upon the homestead, where they have have a family of five children: (1) Margaret W. is the wife of Rev. George A. Riggs and they re- side at Porto Rico, where they are engaged in mis- sionary work for the Baptist Associatiou. Both are graduates of Bucknell University, as well as of other educational institutions. (2) Rev. C. By- ron graduated from Bucknell University and the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania and is at present engaged as a missionary in China. (3) Lena Ruth graduated from Buck- nell University with the degree of B. S., from the musical department of Valparaiso University, in Indiana, and is an accomplished linguist. (4) Harold V. graduated from Bucknell University and is at present a student at Harvard. He taught public school in Idaho for a time, and for three years was supervising teacher in the Philip- pine Islands, meantime studying the native speech as well as Chinese. Sociology is at present his chief interest. (5) Grace B. graduated from Bucknell University and taught school in Point township and for one year in the State of Wash- ington. She is now at home with her parents. Mr. Lesher's family are all Baptists, but he himself is a Presbyterian in religious connection. He is a man of temperate habits, never using spirituous liquors of any kind. This sketch would not be complete without giving due credit to Mrs. Lesher. A worthy representative of her English and Quaker ancestry, she has contributed largely to the welfare of the family by her assiduous and since remained. Mr. Lesher has not only carried intelligent cooperation, which deserves apprecia- on general farming, but has also made a specialty tion.

of live stock raising for a number of years, and he has one of the finest apple orchards in central Pennsylvania, having seventeen acres of bearing trees in fine condition ; he has raised and picked over four thousand bushels of apples in one season. In 1908 he erected the fine modern residence now occupied by the family, situated on the old Straw- bridge road leading from Northumberland to the Strawbridge settlement in Montour county, Pa. Mr. Lesher has made great progress in his work by adopting the most approved modern methods, since 1892 has been contracting on his own ac- and many of his best results have been obtained

ROBERT LESHER, a contractor of North- umberland, was born Dec. 14, 1845, son of Robert Lesher, mentioned above as the eldest in the fami- ly of (John) George Lesher. He was educated in the schools of his district and lived in Northum- berland until he moved to Union county, in 1861, there learning the carpenter's trade and continu- ing to make his home until 1868. He has fol- . lowed his trade throughout his active years, and

count, erecting many dwellings and other build- by the carrying out. of his own ideas. He has ings in Northumberland and the surrounding ter- good business insight and the courage of his con- ritory. He built Trinity and Grace Lutheran victions when satisfied that new systems and im- churches, in Point township. He is a prominent proved facilities will pay, and though conservative Democrat. and has been both active and influential . he is willing to experiment and to be convinced in the administration of local affairs, having of the worth of others' opinions before passing judgment. He is regarded so highly by his neigh- bors and associates that his counsel is sought fre- quently. His reputation and character are above reproach, and his life has been such as to merit the confidence he enjoys among all who know him.

served six years in the council of Northumberland borough, and twelve years as assessor, in a Repub- lican district. He has served at different times as delegate to county conventions. He is the leading member of No. 1 Fire Company of the town, and its oldest active fireman. He was a charter member of Lodge No. 179, K. P.

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA .

In March, 1873, Mr. Lesher married Tude (Hungerford), was born in England in 1615. In Bardsher, daughter of Samuel and Catharine 1639, because of religious troubles, he left his na- (Rothermel) Bardsher, of Snyder county, Pa., and tive land, making the voyage on the ship "Lion," they have two daughters: Elizabeth, wife of T. P. and settled in Charlestown or Roxbury. Soon aft- Dunham, of the borough of Northumberland: and erward, however, he moved to Woburn, Mass., Roberta, who is attending school. Mr. Lesher where he lived until 1653, the year of his removal and his family attend the Lutheran Church.

to Shawshin, afterward known as Billerica, Mass. He and his family were the original settlers in that JOHN M. FARLEY, a lifelong resident of Mil- ancient village, where the old Farley home, built in 1676, is still standing. At Woburn, Mass., George

ton, Northumberland county, was for many years engaged in the mercantile and millinery business Farley married, April 9, 1641, Christian Births, a there, but now devotes all his time to superintend- Swede, who came to this country on the same ship ing his farms. He was one of the organizers of as he did, and whose father had died on the voy- the Milton Board of Trade, of which he is still a age (in 1639) and was buried at sea. To George member, and though a man of retiring disposi- and Christian Farley were born children as fol- tion has proved his worth in many ways, quietly lows: James, born Nov. 23, 1643, who died Dec. but effectively advocating plans for the better- 10, 1643; Caleb, born April 1, 1645, who died ment of the borough whenever possible and using March 16, 1712; Mary, born Feb. 27, 1647, who his influence without assumption but wherever his married John Sanders; Timothy, who was killed word would count. by the Indians Aug. 2, 1675; Elizabeth; Samuel, Mr. Farley belongs to a family which has been born in March, 1654; and Mehittabell, born in - established in America from earliest Colonial May, 1636, who died Feb. 1, 1672. The father and . times, the first of the name here having come over son Timothy took part in King Philip's war, in in the "Ann," the third vessel after the "Mavflow- which the son was killed, at Wickaboag Point. Mr. er." In England it is of ancient record, having Farley was a member of the Baptist Church and been established at the time of the Conquest. The a man of influence in Colonial affairs.

name, originally De Falaise, is taken from Castle

Caleb Farley, son of George, born April 1, 1645, Falaise, in Normandy, the birthplace of William married (first) July 5, 1666, Rebecca Hill, daugh- the Conqueror. When Duke Robert of Normandy ter of Ralph Hill, of Woburn. She died March 24, went on his pilgrimage to Jerusalem he left his 1669, and on Nov. 3, 1669, he married (second) estate in the custody of his sons Walter and Wil- Lydia, daughter of Golden More. She died Nov. liam, as lords of Falaise; and upon his death Wal- 19, 1715, surviving Mr. Farley, who died March ter, being the eldest, became the lord of Falaise. 16, 1712. They are buried at Billerica. There William was "the Conqueror" of historical record. were ten children by these marriages, two by the Walter had one son, William, who accompanied his first and eight by the second, born as follows: half-brother to England, and this William DeFal- Caleb, June 28, 1667; Rebecca, March 10, 1669 aise was given twenty-six lordships in the County (married Thomas Frost) ; Lydia, Sept. 27, 1670 of Devon. In 1200 the name became Farley. ( married Zachary Shed) ; Hannah, Oct. 8, 1671 ; Eleven different spellings are found : DeFalaise, Ffarlea, Ffarle, Farle, Farly, Farlee, Farleigh, Farley, Farli, Fairley, Farlea.

Ebenezer, April 3, 1674 (married Jan. 6, 1703, Elizabeth Shed) : George, July 30, 1677 ; Timothy, July 28, 1680; Joseph, April 6, 1683 (married May 8, 1712, Abigail Cook) ; Benjamin, Feb. 8, 1685 (married Oct. 29, 1707, Am Dutton) ;

From Williamus De Falaise the name is handed down through successive generations until we come to Thomas Farley, of Bristol, who married Jane Enoch, Dec. 21, 1688. Hungerford, of Farleigh Castle, Somersetshire, and

Caleb Farley (2), son of Caleb, born June 28. they had two sons, Thomas and George, who found- 1667, married April 8, 1686, Sarah Godfry, of ed the family in America, both emigrating to the Haverhill, Mass., who died Nov. 13. 1704. His New World among the carliest colonists.

second marriage, on Sept. 25, 1707. was to Lydia

Thomas Farley, son of Thomas and Jane Haws. On April 6, 1706, Mr. Farley sold his (Hungerford ), was born in 1602. With his wife. property to his brother Joseph and with his broth- Jane, and one servant, Nicholas Shotter, he went er George moved to near Bound Brook, N. J .: Nine out to Virginia, landing at "Archer's Hoop." a children were born to his first marriage, as follows : projection of land opposite Jamestown. Feb. 4, George, Jan. 26, 1687; Caleb, Jan. 6. 1688 : John. 1624. They made the voyage in the ship "Ann," May 22, 1690: Sara, July 27, 1692: Mary. Sept. the third vessel after the "Mayflower," and they 29, 1694: James, Sept. 8, 1697; Debora, Feb. 20, had one child, born either on the ship or immedi- 1699: Jonathan, Oct. 2, 1:01; Samuel, April, ately after landing, whom they 'named Anne in 1703. honor of the vessel which brought them over. This George Farley, son of Caleb and brother of Ca- child was the first Farley born on American soil. leb (?), was born July 30, 1677, and died in May,

George Farley, second son of Thomas and Jane 1:20, at Bound Brook, N. J. As stated, he and

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his brother Caleb moved to New Jersey in 1706, sanna B., Angeline M., Clarence B. and Maggie and in 1709 we find them trustees of the Ewing E .; Charity died in infancy : Sarah married David Voneida : John married Mary Brown (he served in the Civil War) : Jacob, who lived in White Deer township, married Mary E. Brown (he served in the Civil war and was wounded in battle) ; Eliza-

Presbyterian Church, near Trenton, N. J. George Farley was also twice married, the first time, July 14, 1699, to Rebecca Chamberlain, daughter of Wil- liam, and widow of Thomas Sterns. His second marriage was to a Miss Pearson, daughter of Corn- beth died in infancy; Wilson died in infancy. elius Pearson. His children were born as follows: Michael Farley, son of Abraham, was born April Lydia, April 29, 1702: Ann, April 29, 1702; 5, 1829, in Union county, Pa., was reared upon Enoch, July 23. 1704 (died Aug. 11, 1723) : Es- a farm, and attended the schools of Buffalo Val- ther, May 31, 1707 (married Jonathan Baldwin) : ley. Nothing was lacking in his training for the Caleb, 1709 (died in 1802; married Catherine practical duties of life. In October, 1849, he re- Gray).

moved to Northumberland county, Pa., first lo- cating in Turbut township, later in Milton, and in

Caleb Farley, grandson of Caleb and Rebecca (Hill) Farley, was born about 1757. When the 1859 locating on the site of his homestead in South Colonies gathered their scattered forces for de- Milton, on South Front street, where he passed fense against England Caleb Farley, then a young man, united with the Revolutionary patriots and proved a gallant fighter in the service of his coun- try. He remained in the service until the end of the struggle and earned for himself a commission as first lieutenant. After the war he married Char- ity Pickle, of New Jersey, and they moved to Penn- sylvania, settling in Union county. He cleared several tracts of land, but sonie years later, through litigation concerning the title because of prior en- tries, though no improvements had been made on those entries, he lost his first tract. He then pur- chased 120 acres along the foot of the White Deer buildings.

the remainder of his days. Before his removal to that place he lived on the present site of the Amer- ican Car & Foundry plant. In connection with farming Mr. Farley carried on the manufacture of brick for twenty-four years, was also engaged in butchering for twelve years, and in 1855 estab- lished the first dairy route in Milton, continuing in the latter line of business for many years as proprietor of the South Milton dairy. He was an enterprising and progressive citizen, was a director of the Milton Water Company, and served in a few local offices, being assessor while he lived in Tur- but township and member of the Milton council mountain, which he cleared and improved with after the borough was enlarged. During the Civil There in 1789 he erected the first war he furnished two substitutes for the Union army and warmly supported the Northern cause.

gristmill built on the White Deer Hole creek, and he remained on this farm to the close of his long He was a Democrat in politics.

life. To Caleb and Charity (Pickle) Farley were born eight children : John, Charity, Jacob, Bar- bara, Catherine, Elizabeth, Abraham and Sara.

In March, 1857, Mr. Farley married Hannah Hoy, who was born April 5, 1833, daughter of John and Sarah (Kennedy) Hoy, of Turbut town- ship, and granddaughter of Philip Hoy. To this nnion were born three children: John M .; Wil- liam E., who died young; and Harry M., born in 1869, who died in 1898. The father died Feb. 11, 1905, the mother Jan. 21. 1909 ; she was a de- vout member of the Lutheran Church.

Abraham Farley, son of Caleb, was the grand- father of John M. Farley, of Milton. He was born in 1791 in White Deer township, Union county, and died in 1875 in East Buffalo township, that county, at the advanced age of eiglity-four years. He had followed farming all his life, with great success, owning a farm of three hundred acres, John M. Farley was born May 28, 1858, in Mil- ton, and received his edueation there in the pub- which he divided between his sons Abraham and Michael. He had purchased the place after his lic schools. In his early life he assisted his father, marriage and spent the remainder of his life there, he and his wife both dying on the farm.

but he was still a young man when he went into the mereantile and millinery business on his own On March 29, 1824, Mr. Farley married Rebecca Wolf, who was born March 19, 1804, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Smith) Wolf, who reared a family of ten children. Mrs. Farley died Aug. 27, 1878, a devout member of the Evangelical Church. She was the mother of ten children: account, continuing it for many years, until 1907, when he sold out. His location was on Front street. Since retiring from commercial pursuits Mr. Farley has given his time to the management of his agricultural interests, which are extensive, and which under his supervision are proving very Catherine died in infancy: Caroline married profitable. He assisted in organizing the Milton Daniel Wolf and moved to Iowa (they reared a Board of Trade, in which he still holds member- family) ; Michael married Hannah Hoy; Abra- ship. Mr. Farley has a modest disposition, but ham, who lived on the old homestead in Union he holds the respect of all who know him. So-

county, married Susan B. Schrack, and their cliil- dren were: James A., Anna M., David F., Wil- liam H., Molly R., Emanuel P., Hiram C., Su-

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 104

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