Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 14

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 14

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).

John and Joseph are more fully mentioned below. Solomon, born in 1821, died in 1892, at Shamokin. George and Joseph, was born in Mahantango Val- He followed the tailor's trade. He married Eliza- ley, in Upper Mahanoy township, and died in Shamokin township. He is buried at Dunkel-

Jolin Dunkelberger, son of John and brother of

beth Wagner, born Feb. 17, 1823, died April 6, 1861, and. they had five children, William, Jere- berger's Evangelical Church. in Rockefeller town- miah, Edmond, Ellen and Franklin. John Dun- ship. He and another John Dunkelberger. with kelberger, the father, died May 17, 1835, in ter- Henry Keiser and George Dunkelberger, built the ritory now embraced in Lower Mahanoy town- "Dunkelberger Evangelical Church," in Rocke- ship. He had a tract of twenty-four acres of land feller township. There is a graveyard, and there when he died. His will, made May' 5, 1835 (on rest the founders of this house of worship. John record in Will Book III, page 200), was probated June 12, 1835 .. It was witnessed by George Haas and H. F. Heintzelman, and he names . "my friends" Pete Fetterolf and John Maurer, St., as executors.

George Dunkelberger, son of John, was a well known fariner at Seven Points, in what is now Rockefeller township, where he lived and died. He married Kate Rebuck, and they had children as follows: George, Jonathan, Henry. Tobias, Susan, Kate, Harriet, Mary and Elizabeth.

Dunkelberger was a carpenter earlier in life, but later became a farmer, owning a 223-acre farm in Shamokin township. The old goat-skin deed of this land is still in the possession of Mr. William L. Dunkelberger, who is his son. This farm is now owned by Julius Behrent. Mr. Dunkelberger was an active member of his church and class leader and exhorter of the Evangelical Church which was named after his family. He was a slim, tall man. His wife was Christiana Geist. who died in her ninetieth year. her birth occur-

JONATHAN DUNKELBERGER, son of George, ring Dec. 21, 1818, and her death May 18, 190 ;.

Seven Points, They were the parents of nine children: (1) Lut- was born July 1. 1843, at and died Aug. 21, 1909. at his home in Shamokin, cinda married Elias Bingaman. (?) Lanah mar- being the first of his family to pass away. His ried William Klase. (3) Gabriel was born in youthful days were spent upon the home farm, 1841 and died in 1864. (+) Solomon married where he not only learned agricultural work, but Lorinda Miller. (5) Simon married Mary Yordy. also the butcher's trade, following it successfully: (6) John married Louisa Neidig. (2) Mariah he was in business as a butcher at Taylorsville and married Cyrus Buffington. (8) JJosiah, who is a

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

bachelor, is blind. He makes his home with his business with such success that it has been neces- brother William L. (9) William L. is mentioned - below.

WILLIAM L. DUNKELBERGER, son of John, re- sides at Seven Points, in Rockefeller township. He was born Aug. 20, 1858, in Shamokin town- ship, where all his brothers and sisters were born. Reared on the farin he received his educational training in the local schools, and when eighteen years of age entered his apprenticeship in the car- penter's trade, serving three years, at Shamokin. He then farmed for two years, at County Line, for Elias Bingaman, went back to carpentering again for a short time, bought a 65-acre tract in Irish Valley and followed farming in connection with his carpenter work. He was thus occupied for six- teen years when he sold his tract and went to Rockefeller township, where he has an excellent traet of seventy aeres at Seven Points.

William L. Dunkelberger was married three times, his first wife being a widow, Mrs. Catha- rine Underkoffler, and there were no children born to this marriage. He married ( second) Viola . wife was Rachel Federolf and their children were :

Swank and they had two children, Versa, who married Bert German; and Roy, who married Bessie V. Reitz, and they live at Sunbury, where he follows the trade of baker. William L. Dunkel- berger married (third) Ahneritta Witmer, and their children are: Calvin, Howard, Ralph, Katie, Myrtle and Esther. Mr. Dunkelberger is active in the Dunkelberger Family Association, which holds annual reunions, the reunion of 1910 being held at Carsonia Park, Reading, Pa. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as treasurer of Sham- SIMON F. DUNKELBERGER, son of Joseph. was born April 20, 1855, in the Mahantango Valley, in okin township for the school board. as a school director, and at one time was a delegate to the Schuylkill connty, and lived upon the farm until County Convention. He is active in the P. O. S. he reached the age of twenty-two years. of A. at Seven Points, and frequently serves it as delegate. He is a member of the Evangelieal Church at Seven Points, was class leader and ex- horter for years and at present serves as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school and is very active in all church interests.

ROY O. DUNKELBERGER, who has been engaged in the bakery business at Sunbury, Northumber- land county, since June, 1908, was born Nov. 19, 1887, in Irish Valley, Shamokin township. this county, son of William. L. Dunkelberger and his second wife, Viola Swank. He obtained his edu- cation at the Swenk public school, in Irish Valley, meantime assisting with the farm work at home until he reached the age of fifteen years. At that time he went to Trevorton. where he worked in the coal mines about two years, and for the next three years he was engaged in threshing. In Octo- ber, 1907, he came to Sunbury, where he worked for the Adams Express Company for a year and a half, on June 1, 1908, purchasing the stock, fix- tures and good-will of F. A. Jacobs, in the bakery at No. 23 Packer street. He has continued the

sary to enlarge the establishment, and he keeps three helpers and two teams busy, selling about six hundred loaves of bread daily, besides a large variety of other bakery goods. He now owns his place of business and residence and has his affairs in prosperons condition, his thrifty management having brought excellent results. Mr. Dmikelber- ger is connected with several insurance companies in Sunbury. He is a respected young business man of the borough, and has attained a substantial position through his own efforts.

On May 27, 1908, Mr. Dunkelberger married Bessie V. Reitz, daughter of U. P. Reitz, of Seven Points, this county. They worship at the First United Evangelieal Church of Sunbury.

Joseph Dunkelberger, son of John, and brother of George and John, was born in the Lower Ma- hanoy Valley and died there at the age of eighty- four years, eleven months: he is buried at Union Church in Upper Mahantango Valley. He fol- lowed farming and also did carpenter work. His

Elias, born Sept. 24, 1844, who died Oet. ?. 1870, in Schuylkill county, and is buried at the Little Mahanoy Church; Henry, now living retired in the Mahantango Valley, who owned the old home- stead for several years; Esther, who marriedl Wil- liam Kerstetter ; Isaae, deceased ; Lucetta, who died young ; Mary, who married David Mowers: Jo- seph, deceased; Simon F .: Hannah, who died young ; Susanna, who died young; and a son that died in infancy.

In 1St: he came to Shamokin and took up the plastering trade, which he has sinee continued to follow, having engaged in the business as a con- tractor on his own account in 1887. He now, em- ploys from five to twelve men, according to the work he has in hand, and he has plastered many dwellings in the borough in his day. His work is high class, and he deserves the large share of the local patronage which comes to him.

On July 21, 1828, Mr. Dunkelberger married Helena Wetzel, daughter of Daniel and Kate ( Keh- ler) Wetzel, and five children have been born to them, namely: Estella, married to Harry Bonn: Walter. a traveling salesman. now of Williamsport. Pa., married Anna Willauer: Joseph. of Philadel- phia ; Mabel, who graduated from the Shamokin high school with the class of 1911 ; and Goldie. at school. The family reside at No. 630 West Pem street, Shamokin. Mr. Dunkelberger has long been an active member of the United Evangelical Church, in which he has held the responsible posi- tions of class-leader and trustee for twenty years.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

About 1780 another branch of the family at in the mines, and later carried on the coal mining Hamburg nioved to Perry county, Pa., and some of these later moved to near Niagara Falls, N. Y. One descendant of this branch was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Phil- adelphia, when Mckinley was nominated for Pres- ident the second time.

Another branch moved to Oley township, near Reading, and at the present time quite a number live in the city of Reading. In language the Dun- kelbergers are mostly Pennsylvania German.

As the early members of the family, who suffered so severely during the Thirty Years' war, showed their love for right and liberty by their active participation in that struggle, so the descendants in this country have shown their loyalty and patri- otism by supporting our struggles in the cause of independence. Some took part in the Revolution- ary war, and quite a number were in the Civil war on the Union side. Some were killed in battle, of directors. However, he did not give up all and some were wounded, notable among the latter . responsibility, as he was appointed tax collector number being Capt. Isaac R. Dunkelberger (son for the borough just a few weeks before his death.

. of Solomon Dunkelberger and grandson of John D. Dunkelberger), of the 1st Pennsylvania In- fantry, who enlisted April 20, 1861, and served during the war, was twice wounded, promoted for bravery, and continued in the army until placed on the retired list by the Government in 1901 as captain of cavalry, U. S. A. He resides at present in California.

In the direct line of William S. Dunkelberger and Luther L. Dunkelberger, both of Shamokin, Northumberland county, Henry Dunkelberger. was little more than a mountain forest and a valley (grandfather of the former and great-grandfather of swamp at the time of his birth. In those days of the latter) was born May 4, 1791. He was an wild animals, panthers, bear and deer, were still

early resident of Shamokin, where he had his home for some time, but later moved West, dying in. June, 1875, in Starke county, Ind., where he is buried. He was twice married, and by his second wife, Leah, born Dec. 5, 1799, had children born as follows: Elizabeth, Oet. 29, 1823 ; Daniel, Sept. 24, 1826; Hannah, Nov. 5. 1828 : Benjamin. Nov. 2, 1834: Joel, June 14, 1836; George W., May 9, 1840: Matilda, Jan. 1, 1843.

John Dunkelberger, only child of Henry by his first marriage, was born June 8, 1816, on Scotch Hill, at Shamokin, in Little Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, in a little log cabin which is still standing. His mother dying when he was a child, he lived with his grandparents in Mahan- tango until he was thirteen, at which age he re- turned to his native place, spending the remainder of his days there. His association with its business and political interests made him one of the best known citizens of the place, useful, progressive, respected and active to the close of his long life. His early days were spent upon the farm. He was engaged upon the building of the Pennsylvania railroad between Shamokin and Sunbury. worked

business in partnership with Reuben and William Fagely, continuing in this line for some time, but finally disposing of his interest therein to Withing- ton Lake. The firm name was changed to John Dunkelberger & Co., who engaged in the mercan- tile business, and after his withdrawal from this line Mr. Dunkelberger became associated with the Shamokin Water Company, on June 5, 1876, sue- ceeding Daniel Zuern as superintendent. He con- tinued to hold that position, also acting as seere- tary of the company, until April, 1886, proving competent as well as faithful in the discharge of his important duties. Having an intimate knowl- edge of the affairs of the company, his . valuable services were highly appreciated, but he resigned at the time named because he felt that it was due to himself to withdraw from active affairs. His resignation was accepted with regret by the board

He had served in other official capacities, having been elected Dec. 2, 1864, to a seat in the first council upon the incorporation of the borough, and he was re-elected at the spring election follow- ing. He was the second notary public commis- sioned in the borough. Mr. Dunkelberger was a Republican in political conviction. His death, which occurred May 30, 1889, at Milton. this county, removed a citizen who had witnessed and aided the growth of Shamokin from the days of its earliest infancy, for the site of the borough

numerous in the region. And here he lived and labored to the end of his span, passing the three- score years and ten, with but a brief absence -- the few months he spent in Indiana. He had moved out to that State in 1875, for the purpose of set- tling, and bought a farm, but love for the scenes of his early home was too strong and he returned the same year. About a week before his death he had gone with his daughter, Mrs. Phillips. of North Judson, Ind., to visit relatives in the neigh- borhood of Milton, when he was suddenly taken with his fatal illness. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Dunkelberger was married three times. On Aug. 14, 1836, he married Mary Gass, born Feb. 7, 1815, who died Oct. 11, 1866. She was a daugh- ter of John Gass (died Oct. 8, 1861. aged seventy- four years) and his wife Margaret (died April 1}, 1864, aged seventy-three years). To this union were born ten children, viz. : Salome, born Feb. 13; 1832, died March 22, 1832: Sarah E. married Jefferson Bare: Henry. born Dec. 26, 1840, died Dec. 28, 1893 : Mahalia, born Aug. 28. 1842, mar- ried Charles Krieger : Susanna, born Jan. 26, 1844,

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

married Andrew Kreiger, (second) Thomas Hughes and (third) William Gilbert; Amanda, · born March 24, 1846, married Francis Moore; Mary J., born Aug. 27, 1848, died Aug. 29, 1849; William S., born Dec. 12, 1850, is mentioned be- low; John A., born April 17, 1854: Margaret L., born June 27, 1858, married John R. Phillips.

Mr. Dunkelberger married (second) Lavina Gass and (third) the widow of John Van Zant.

Henry Dunkelberger, son of John, born Dec. 26, 1840, learned the butcher's trade and followed it for some time, later engaging in the hotel and restaurant business. He died in Shamokin Dec. 28, 1893. He married Hannah Huldy, and to them were born children as follows: Luther L., Clinton (deceased), Clara ( wife of Frank Ker- stetter) and Bessie (who married Michael Slater ).

LUTHER L. DUNKELBERGER, son of Henry, was born in Shamokin in 1868 and there received his education in the public schools. All his active years have been spent in the restaurant business, and since 1905 he has been manager for Emmanuel Malich, at the West End Cafe. He is very well known in Shamokin, both in liis business relations and as a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias ; he also belongs to the Friendship Fire Company and to the Veteran Firemen's Associa- tion. The family are Lutherans in religious con- nection. Mr. Dunkelberger's responsible position speaks for his business ability and integrity, and his personal standing is also high.

WILLIAM S. DUNKELBERGER, son of John, was born in Shamokin Dec. 12, 1850, and there re- ceived his education in the public schools. He. worked in the mines for a time, and when seven- teen years old commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in all for twenty-three years, for about seventeen years of this time being located at Pine Run. in Lycoming county. He then came to Shamokin, in 1891 opening his res- taurant, which is the largest and best place of the kind in the city. He occupies the premises at Nos. 105-107 East Independence street, Shamokin, where he has become one of the substantial busi- ness men.

Mr. Dunkelberger married Mary E. Lush, who was born July 17, 1851, daughter of Jacob Lush, of Lycoming county, Pa ..; she died June 20, 1901, along with other families who came to Northum- the mother of the following children : Thomas E., born Dec. 10, 1871 : Harry Warren, Aug. 30, 1873; Ernst D., Aug. 15, 1875 ; John H., July 19, 18:7; Joseph M., June 5, 1879, died April 19. 1911 : Ja- cob A., Feb. 11, 1881 : David M .. Aug. 27. 1885; followed milling throughout his active life. William, Aug. 20, 1887 (died Sept. 27, 188?).

Mr. Dunkelberger is a member of the Knights of Malta and of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He was one of the organizers of the Dunkelberger family asso- ciation, and served some timc as its treasurer. He is a Republican in political views, and in religion a member of the United Evangelical Church.

JOHN HENRY DUNKELBERGER, son of William S., was born July 19, 1877, at Salladasburg, Ly- coming county, Pa. He was twelve years old when his father brought the family to Shamokin to re- side, and his education, begun in the public schools of his early home, was continued in this borough. He attended the high school and later the Sha- mokin Business College, from which he was gradu- ated in the commercial course, subsequently taking a course at the Williamsport Commercial College, from which he was also graduated. After working one sunimer at Eagle's Mere. Sullivan county. he went to Philadelphia, in 1900, there finding em- ployment on the Evening Telegraph. He remained in that city until his return to Shamokin in 1903, at which time he became a clerk for Senator W. C. McConnell, one of the most prominent business men of Shamokin. So capable did he prove that in 1906 he was given full charge of the office. Mr. Dunkelberger is secretary of the Union Brick Company of Shamokin, and he is considered one of the rising business men of that borough, where he has made an excellent nanie for himself by able and diligent service in the discharge of his various responsibilities.

On Jan. 30, 1901, Mr. Dunkelberger married Emma M. Thomas, daughter of William B. . and Elizabeth (Hudson) Thomas, and they have one child, Marion Elizabeth. The family are Meth- odists in religious connection. Mr. Dunkelberger is a member of the Royal Arcanum and a Repub- lican in politics.

NELSON M. SMITH, M. D., of South Dan- ville, Northumberland county, has practiced ined- icine at his present location since 1882, and bas built up a wide clientele, having high professional and personal standing all over the adjacent terri- tory He is a native of Trevorton, this county, born Aug. 12, 1857, and belongs to a family which has been settled in this region for several generations. He is a descendant of Ulitt Smith, who lived in . Morristown, N. J., and there mar- ried Delilah Morris. a member of the family after which Morristown was named. They were the parents of Morris Smith, grandfather of Dr. Nel- son M. Smith. About 1790 this family probably berland county, Pa., from New Jersey. left the old home in Morristown and settled in the Irish Valley, in what is now Shamokin township, where Morris Smith became a well known resident. He

Dr. Samuel S. Smith, son of Morris Smith, was born in 1828 in Shamokin township, and there obtained his early education. When he reached maturity he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Joseph C. Robbins, who for imore than forty years was located at Elysburg. A few years later he entered the University of

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania, where he studied for two years, the 2d Regiment of volunteers of Hunterdon coun- graduating from that institution. He then lo- ty, N. J., was soon promoted to ensign and in cated at Hartleton, Union Co., Pa., where he met time reached the rank of captain. In 1776, when with marked success in his profession, but after Washington crossed the Delaware to attack the a few years he moved thence to Trevorton, where Hessian troops then encamped at Trenton, Cap- he built up a large practice. His career was cut tain Gearhart was detailed with Captain Van short by his early death, which occurred in 1862, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. He married Sarah Reed, daughter of Matthias and Priscilla (Farnsworth) Reed, and granddaughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dreher) Reed, whose family is fully mentioned in tlie sketeli of Servitus O. Reed, elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Sarah (Reed) Smith married William Depuy in 1871, his death occur- ring in 1873. She still survives, making her home Tenye to take charge of the boats with orders to destroy them should the expedition prove a failure. Captain Gearhart was with Washington at Valley Forge and took part in the battle of the Brandy- wine. In 1790 Captain Gearhart, with his wife and family, left the old home in Hunterdon coun- ty, N. J., and journeyed by means of horses and wagons into central Pennsylvania, encountering many difficulties and hardships on the trip. Upon at Riverside. Six children were born to Dr. Sam- reaching a point near a spring in what is now uel S. and Sarah ( Reed) Smith : Galen R., who lives in Virginia : Nelson M .: William R., who lives in Washington : Clinton S., of Riverside, Pa .; Laura, who married Dr. D. C. Kline, of Reading, Pa .; and Clara, who married Lafayette Sechler, of Riverside.

Nelson M. Smith attended the public schools of Northumberland county and later the Danville Academy, Bloomsburg State normal school and Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Pursell, of Danville. Entering the University of Pennsyl- vania, he there completed the medical course in 1882, since which time. he has been located in South Danville, which lies just east of the bor- ough of Riverside. He at once built an office on Sunbury street, and met with gratifying success from the start, enjoying a wide patronage, which he has held by his skillful treatment and consci- entious devotion to the needs of his patients. Per- sonally he is esteemed by all who come in contact with him, in any of the relations of life, and he is

looked upon as one of the most useful and influ- dren were born as follows: Jacob S., 1818; Sarah, ential citizens of the community. He is a member Jan. 17, 1821; Margaret. April 22, 1823 (married

. of the Montour County Medical Society and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society.

On Jan. 29, 1885, Dr. Smith married Lillian Gearhart, and they occupy a fine home on Gear- hart street. Dr. Smith owns considerable real es- tate in his own village, and he is the manager of the Depew and Gearhart estates, in which capacity he has shown marked business ability. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and fraternally is a Mason, holding membership in Danville Lodge, No. 516.

The Gearhart family, to which Mrs. Smith be- children : Annie E., who married Wilson Mettler

longs, is one of the oldest and most prominent in this part of Pennsylvania. Capt. Jacob Gear- hart, her great-grandfather, was born in Stras- burg, then a city of France, now of Germany, in 1735. In 1754 he came to America, settling in Hunterdon county, N. J. In New Jersey he mar- ried Katherine Kline. When the Revolutionary war broke out be enlisted, becoming a sergeant in Gulick. (9) Kate married Asa Moore. (10)

Gearhart township, Northumberland county, they found a deserted log cabin in which they stopped to rest. The water was of such excellent quality, and the land apparently so fertile, that Captain Gearhart decided to locate there, and he purchased a tract upon which he settled. He at once began to clear this land with the help of his sons, and prospered so well that from time to time he was able to add to his holdings, until at the time of his death, which occurred in 1813, he owned all the land from Kipp's run to Boyd's, for a mile back from the banks of the Susquehanna river. He built a frame house upon a slight elevation over- looking the river, and it is still standing and in a good state of preservation, although abont one hundred and twenty years old. Here his grand- daughter, now (1910) in her ninetieth year. re- sides. His family consisted of eleven children, namely: (1) Jacob, born in 1763, died at the age of seventy-eight. He married Margaret Runkill, and they had a son John, born in September, 1789. The latter married Sophia Brown, and their chil-

I. H. Torrence) : Mary B .. Sept. 15, 1825: Henry T., Ang. 7, 1829; Jesse B., May 17, 1833. (?) Herman, born in 1765, was the grandfather of Mrs. Nelson M. Smithi. (3) William, born in 1776, died in 1854. He married Sarah Maclay. (4) George married Achie Runyan, by whom he had children : Bonham R., Benjamin, Eliza and Rebecca. His second wife was Phoebe Lutt, and they had three children, Alice, George and Her- inan. (5) John, born in 1771, died in 1858. To him and his wife Ann (Cool) were born eight and had children, Sarah (Mrs. Hoffman), Susan M. (Mrs. Hugh Vastine), Spencer C. (married Anna Brandon ) and Anna; Tunis, who moved to Towa: Jacob, who moved to Ohio; William : John, who moved to Union county, Pa. ; Sarah : Cathar- ine, and Elizabeth. (6) Benjamin. (?) Elizabeth married Jacob Depew. (S) Margaret married John

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 14

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