Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 15

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 15

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Charles married Sarah Ephland and they had a number of the minor township offices. In poli- three children : Charles Perry, born Jan. 18, 1818, tics he was a Republican. To him and his wife married in December, 1850, Agnes Blue, daughter Margaret ( Kolcker), also a native of New Jersey, of Isaiah and Agnes Blue, and their six children were born six children : Peter ; Mahlon, deceased ; Charity, who was the second wife of Jonas Gilger ; Susanna, who was the first wife of Jonas Gilger; Andrew Jackson, deceased : and William, deceased. were Arthur C. (who died unmarried), Amanda (Mrs. S. M. Oberdorf), Edith (who married Phil- ip W. Mettler and had Charles G., a captain in the United States army; Agnes, wife of John Smith : Edith ; Alice ; John, and Catharine), Mary Alice (Mrs. E. M. Eckman). Charles P. and Ger- trude (Mrs. George H. Sonneborn) .. Samantha married Thomas Jameson and had four children :

Peter Boughner, son of Jolm, was born Jan. 23, 1816, at Snydertown, and received such edu- cation as the subscription schools of the day af- forded. After learning the carpenter's trade with his father he settled at Shamokin and engaged in Charles, who married Mary Lyon and had Nellie railroad work. The railroad company later placed (Mrs. H. Billmeyer), Thomas (married. Alice hin in charge of repairs and construction from Kardisky) and Louis (who married V. V. Hideker Sunbury to Mount Carmel. When the Shamokin and later Elizabeth Laubach) ; Helen, unmarried : Valley & Pottsville railroad, later the Shamokin Arthur, deceased : and Frank. who married Alice division of the Northern Central, was extended Richards and had children Mary and Catharine. from Shamokin to Mount Carmel. he and Mr. Arthur and his wife Lucy had four children, Ar- John Dunkelberger were associated in the work thur, Annie, William (married Lena Harman) of laying the rails between those points, under and Sarah (who married Samuel Detwiler and contract. In 1850 he was placed in charge of had children Lucy and Clara). (11) Isaac moved grading and constructing the streets of Trevorton, to Ohio.

but with the exception of the period of eighteen months he was thus engaged he was continuously

Herman Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob, born in 1765, died aged eighty-one years. He married in the employ of the Northern Central Railway Abigail Baylor and they were the parents of the Company for thirty years. As member of the firm following children : Mary, who married Henry of Boughner & Gilger, who built the first breaker Yorks and had Clinton, Amanda, and Ellen, who at the Luke Fidler inine. and of the firm of Clear- married David Unger: George, who moved to er & Boughner, who built the first two at Locust Ohio (he had two sons and two daughters) : Marg-

Gap, he was also associated with another industry

aret, who married Jonas Wolfe and had Donald, which played a most important part in the devel- Gearhart, Willington, and three daughters; Jacob, opment of this rich section. Upon his retirement deceased, who never married : Daniel, who married from active business pursuits he purchased the Sarah Koons; William, who died unmarried : Han- farm in Ralpho township where he resided up to nah, who lives at Riverside, now (1910) aged the time of his death, in 1897. He was one of the eighty-nine years; Elizabeth. Ellen, Susan and leading pioneers of Shamokin, and one of the last Katie, all of whom died unmarried : and Peter.

Peter Gearhart, son of Herman, married Celes- tia Koup, and to them were born three children : George; Gertrude. Mrs. Charles Chalfont : and Lillian, who married Dr. Nelson M. Smith?

survivors of the first settlers of the borough. His intimate connection with its affairs through so long a period, and his intelligent comprehension of the changes which took place during his life, were so well recognized that he is spoken of as be- ing consulted regarding dates and localities to verify points concerning local history. Shortly after his death one of the newspapers published an interview which took place in 1890 and which is quoted in part here as being of considerable inter-

THOMAS P. BOUGHNER, farmer of Ralpho township, Northumberland county, is a member of a family whose name has been intimately con- nected with the progress of that district for sev- eral generations. He is a great-grandson of John est in this connection : Boughner, a native of Hunterdon county, N. J., "While vet a mere boy I commenced to work with my father at the carpenter trade, but work was scarce. the times were dull, and little or no money was paid. In 1832 work was started on grading some twelve miles of the Danville & Potts- ville railroad between Mount Carbon and Girard- who in 1814 removed to what is now Snydertown, in Shamokin township, Northumberland Co., Pa. The same year he enlisted and served a short time on the northern frontier in a company organized at Snydertown among his neighbors in Shamokin and Rush townships in defense of Erie. He was ville. This was commonly called the 'Girard a tanner by trade. and after his settlement at Road,' as Stephen Girard had the principal inter- Snydertown engaged in the carpenter business, est in the construction of this part of the eastern continuing to follow same until his death. He division. In the early part of 1833 I went to work also lived in Milton and Shamokin for some time, on this line and got my first lesson in railroad but died at Snydertown. He was looked upon as making. It was a good place to learn the busi- one of the enterprising men of his day. and filled ness and what I picked up here served me well in

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

after years when I became railroad boss and super- put up. They were models of good workmanship visor. I was then a boy of seventeen years, but for those times. It was then decided, as the basin large for my age. I was given different kinds of at Sunbury to connect with the Pennsylvania canal work and as I was handy and showed a willingness to work I was soon. favored with jobs that required some skill. . My knowledge of the carpenter trade helped nie very much.

had not been finished, the railroad should only be completed to Paxinos, and the remainder of graded road when the basin was prepared for coal ship- ments. During August the work of superstruc-

"This railroad of twelve miles, crossing over the ture, as it was then termed, was commenced in Broad Mountain direct, was at that time one of the good earnest and pushed ahead with all possible dispatch. Why there was so much haste I really

greatest undertakings in the country. It was un- der the charge of Moncure Robinson, then the cannot tell. Sills by the thousands were hauled greatest railroad engineer in this country. This on the ground, that had been hewed by such of 'Girard Road,' with its heavy masonry, complicated the neighboring farmers along the line as had suit- struetures and many planes : its hoisting machinery, able timber. All the sawmills far and near were bridges and a tunnel of 800 feet, was a wonderful working day and night in sawing white oak rails feat in engineering if not entirely satisfactory in for the track, and strap iron, imported from Eng- all its workings. A number of persons afterward land (no tariff then), was distributed along the residents of Shamokin worked here. Among these whole line. In three months the road was com- I can recall George Shipe, Jacob Mowery and Mr. pleted between Sunbury and Paxinos, ready for Katterman, and also Ziba Bird, a contractor, who the cars to run. The formal opening of the road a few years later was connected with laving out took place on Nov. 26, 1835, at Paxinos. # * * Shamokin and putting up the first house in the I acted as foreman in putting down the track. and . town proper. And here also was a boy, some two here my knowledge of the carpenter trade and the years older than myself, connected with the en- experience I had gained on the Girard road stood gineer force, as a peg driver and later as a rods- me well in hand." The remainder of the inter- man, who a few years later was to become the view was devoted to a description of the manner great engineer of the Shamokin coal region. This in which a track was laid before the modern days was Kimber Cleaver, and here a friendship was of T rails and other up-to-date devices.

formed that was never broken and in after years

In 1837 Mr. Boughner married Margaret Rep- we were associated in several business undertak- ley, daughter of John Repley, and she died long ings. At the close of 1833 the Girard portion of before him, in 1877. They had the following chil- the road was finished and I returned to Snyder- dren: Henry R., a resident of Shamokin, married town. It was generally understood that the west- Sarah Lake, and they have had children, Edwin. ern division of the D. & P. railroad, between Sun- Emily, Libby, Edna, Ethel, and Mabel (the last bury and Shamokin, would be commenced the next named deceased ) : Joseph R. is mentioned below : year.

John R. died in Shamokin: Catharine married "Early in the spring of 1834 work was com- JJames A. Shipp and is deceased : Lucy A. married menced on this branch. Here there was a natural

A. Hoffman Reed, of Paxinos: Somerfield married location for a railroad, as the route followed the Emma Snyder. Mr. Bonghner was one of the water courses and therefore much labor and ex- charter members of the Odd Fellows and Free- pense were avoided. The entire roadbed from masons lodges at Shamokin. In political senti -. Sunbury to Shamokin and one mile bevond. some ment he was a Republican.

Joseph R. Boughner. son of Peter, was born in

twenty iniles in length, was graded about August 1st, 1835. A large foree was employed and a 1840 in Shamokin, and died Feb. 5. 1907. aged number of Irish from the public works eame on sixty-six years, three months, one day. He is this job to handle the pick, shovel and wheelbar- buried at Oak Grove Church. in Ralpho township. row. When the grading was started I went on as Mr. Bonghner passed his early years in Shamokin a common laborer at first. as the wages on the road and was employed at railroad work with his father. were much better than I could get elsewhere. I

later, in July. 1862, going to Ohio. There, on was soon promoted as it was evident that I had July 29, 1862, he married Sarah Tanneyhill, some experience in that kind of work. Here I danghier of Rev. Thomas Tannehill, of Scotland. again met iny friend Cleaver on the engineer corps, and they remained in the West until 1864, in who was now promoted to the use of an instru- which year they settled at Shamokin. Mr. Bongh- ment. * ** *. The roadbed was graded 22 feet ner was track foreman on the railroad until 186 ;. wide, being intended for a double traek when the later followed farming, and subsequently engaged second one was needed. This permitted a space in the manufacture of powder in partnership of 5 feet between the tracks. The traek we put with Samuel Frederick, continuing in that busi- down was on the north side of the roadbed. While ness until 1825. Selling his mill and farm inter- the road was being graded, the bridges that were ests to a Mr. Weldly he went out to Goshen. Ind .. to span Shamokin creek at four or five points were where he was located from October. 1875, until

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1876, in which year he embarked in the general certainty concerning the correct orthography of merchandise business at Montandon. Northum- the name. It appears often as Deppe, Depew and berland Co., Pa., in association with O. B. Hoff- Dupee, and some genealogists declare its original man. There he remained until his removal to form to have been that of the old French Huguenot name, DePui. Juniata connty, Pa., in 1878. After a year in the mercantile business there he bought the John Christian Deppen settled near Womelsdorf, in Heidelberg township, Berks Co., Pa. In the tax lists of Heidelberg township Christian "Deppy" Repley farm in Ralpho township, Northumber- land county, in 1879, and there he afterward re- sided, engaging in farming until his death. He is assessed as follows: 1767, on 300 acres, 3 horses, had seventy-four acres of land. For some time Mr. 3 cattle, 3 sheep ; 1768, on 150 ( ?) acres, 4 horses, Boughner was also in the slating business in 4 cattle, 5 sheep; 1779, on 220 acres, 5 horses, 15 Shamokin. He was a Methodist in religion and cattle: 1780, on 395 acres, 5 horses, 12 cattle : served as steward of his church. Fraternally he 1781, on 395 acres, 5 horses, S cattle. The will of Christian Deppe, of Heidelberg township, is on Sept. 27, 1775, and probated in 1782, the year of was a Mason. holding membership in Elysburg Lodge, No. 414. In politics he adhered to the record in the Berks county courthouse, as. inade doctrines of the Republican party.

Mrs. Boughner died Jan. 14, 1890, aged fifty- his death. It was witnessed by Philip Moyer, John five years, ten months, nineteen days, and is buried Casper Reed and Adam Kalbach, and it begins thus: "I, Christian Deppe, an aged yeoman of at Oak Grove church. They had four children : Clark, who died in infancy and was buried in Heidelberg township, Berks County." As the will Ohio; Annie M., who lives on the homestead; Thomas P., our subject; and Margaret E., who she was dead at the time it was made. At the time. died in infancy.

Thomas P. Boughner, son of Joseph R. Bough- ner, was born March 2, 1868, in Shamokin town- ship, and attended public school in his boyhood. He was with his father in his various removals, above his other share." His children as named in and was eleven years old when he came to the homestead at the Blue church where he has re- mained to the present. He is an intelligent and prosperons farmer, and a worthy member of a re- pected family.

the will were: Johannes; Barbara (married Peter Zimmerman) : Anna (married George Yeakly) ; Treanic; Elizabeth: Thomas: Peter: David. who- died in 1804 (his German will is on record in Berks county courthouse) : Joseph: Jacob: and Abraham, who died in 1840 intestate, and whose.

Mr. Boughner married Lydia Adams, daughter of Daniel H. and Sarah A. (Pensyl) Adams, and heir was Richard Boone, of Heidelberg.

their children are, Clarence and Frank. Mr. Joseph Deppy (one of the older sons of the. Boughner is a member of the Oak Grove M. E. pioneer Christian) in the Federal Census Report Church, and socially belongs to the P. O. S. of A. of 1690 is recorded as a resident of Heidelberg

township, and as the head of a family. consisting of himself, wife and three sons above sixteen years

BENJAMIN F. DEPPEN, one of the foremost business men at Trevorton, is the leading merchant of age.

of that town and variously identified with its in- Christian, Peter, William and George Deppen. natives of Berks county, were pioneers of North- dustrial progress. . He established his general store 1 there in 1889. Mr. Deppen was born in Jackson umberland county. They located in that section- township, this county, in 1847. The history of his now embraced in Jackson and Washington town- family in this country goes back to the early part of the eighteenth century.

Christian Deppen, the founder of this family in Pennsylvania, came hither from the German Palatinate, arriving (qualifying) at Philadelphia Sept. 16, 1736. He crossed the ocean on the vessel "Princess Augusta" from Rotterdam, Samu- el Merchant, master. along with a number of others from the Palatinate, their wives and children-in all three hundred souls, according to the historian Rupp. On the "List of Ship's Foreigners" his name is given as Christian Dappen, and his age as thirty years. In the Captain's book his name appears as Christian Teppe. In his will his name is written, in plain English, Christian Deppe. a son Washington and a daughter Betsy. Thus we find that there has been considerable un-

ships ; in 1778 the name of Christian Deppen ap- pears in the list of pioneers of Mahanos township (both Jackson and Washington were originally embraced in Mahanoy township). This Christian Deppen and Peter Deppen, who were pioneers in Northumberland county, tradition states were sons of the ancestor Christian Deppy. The name of Peter is found in the will, but Christian is said to have been a heavy drinker, and poor probably on that account, and for this reason he was not mentioned in his father's will. He was unlike his brothers. Early in the nineteenth century he went to Mercer county, Pa., where he died. He was married three times, and among his children were

Peter Deppen came, as stated, from Berks to.

contains no reference to his wife, it is presumed of his death Christian Deppe also owned fifty- acres of land in Northampton county. In his will he refers to his "eldest and beloved son, Jo- hannes, who shall have fifty pounds over and

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Northumberland eounty, and after living there a vived him, was of Lower Augusta township. this short period went to Ohio, finally settling in Mis- county, and to them were born children as follows : souri, where he was a prosperous farmer. His Mary, Samuel, William (all three died voung), deseendants in Missouri and the West are said to Benjamin F., George W., Richard L. (of Shan- be many. Among his children were sons Zetie okin) and Sarah A. (living in Trevorton on the and Andrew.

old homestead). George W. Deppen, who was

William and George Deppen, mentioned above cashier of the First National Bank of Sunbury, as having settled in Northumberland county, were died in January, 1909.

grandsons of the ancestor Christian, through his

Benjamin F. Deppen attended the schools of the

oldest son, John, and from these two spring all the home locality, later Millersville State normal Deppens now living in Northumberland county. school, at Lancaster, Pa. Having been appointed

Whether Christian Deppy, the ancestor, was a agent for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Roman Catholic or not is uncertain, but tradition Company at Trevorton, he filled that position con- states that he was. His son Joseph was a Cath- tinuonsly for twenty years, and as such became olic, as were the latter's children, and a number of one of the best known inen of this distriet. In the family still adhere to that faith. Most of the 1889 lie began what has proved to be a highly name now living in Reading are members of St. successful business career, opening the general Paul's Catholic Church. There were sixteen per- store at Trevorton which he has since conducted, sons by the name of Deppen in the. Reading city and which he moved to its present location in directory for 1908.

1898. He has the principal trade of the kind in

George Deppen, one of the two grandsons of the town, his patrons coming from a wide area. . Christian mentioned as settling in Northumber- Business has occupied all his attention, his inter- land county, was born June 21, 1787. in Berks ests having broadened until he is now identified county, Pa., and in 1810 came to Northumberland with a number of enterprises. He is a trustee of county with his brother William, as previously the Trevorton Silk Mills, and a director of the stated. He was a lifelong farmer, and upon his Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company of removal from his native county settled on the farm Shamokin, and in 1910 he succeeded the late now owned by Isaac Tressler, a tract one and a Charles Fritz in his connection with the First half miles north of Herndon. This place he National Bank of Trevorton. Mr. Deppen is a sold, and purchased an adjoining farm, on which Republican, but takes no part in politics.

stood a gristmill. From the latter property he re- Mr. Deppen's first wife, Susan (Herb), daugh- moved to the farm now owned by his grandson, ter of Daniel Herb, of the Mahantango Valley, Samuel Deppen. a fine place of fully 200 acres in died in 1888, at the age of thirty-eight. In 1893 Jackson township. He died Feb. 7, 1850, Mr. Deppen inarried (second) Louisa Leitenberg- and his wife, Maria Madg. Greise, a native of er, daughter of Charles Leitenberger, who was Berks eounty, born April 3, 1785, long survived killed at Minersville, Pa., by the kick of a horse. him, dying Aug. 11, 1869. They are buried at Four children were born to Mr. Deppen's first St. Peter's church, in Mahanoy township. He and marriage, namely: Laura M .: Susan M .: Samuel his family were Reformed members of St. Peter's, H., born in 1876, who died in 1905 (he married which was a Union Church, and he served as an Mamie Holshue and they had two children, Wil- official ; he was an old-line Whig in political opin- liam Frank and Donald H. ) ; and William Ralph, ion. To Mr. and Mrs. Deppen were born four chil- who married Eva Kline and has two children, dren : Rebecca, who married John Haas, of Sun- Russell G. and William Robert.

bury ; William : John, who died at Herndon; and Isaae, who spent most of his life at Herndon and died in Snyder county, Pennsylvania.

ROCKEFELLER. The Rockefeller family has long been well represented among the best class

William Deppen, eldest son of George, born in of citizens in Northumberland county, and one of 1814, was a merchant in Jackson township and at the townships of the county bears the name. which other places in this county for forty years, at one was founded here by Godfrey Rockefeller, from time owned much real estate. and was a prominent whom David P. and Emery Rockefeller. brothers, man in his section. He engaged in the mercantile of Sunbury, are descended in the fifth generation. business at Augustaville when a young man, and

The Rockefeller family traces its beginning in was subsequently at Mahanov, in Jackson town- America to one Peter Rockefeller, who was born ship, for eighteen years. In the spring of 1860 he in Europe and in 1710 emigrated to America, set- located at Trevorton, where he was a merchant tling at Amwell. Hunterdon Co., N. J. He died for about two years, until his retirement from there about 1740, leaving to his son, who was business. He died Jan. 8. 1876, and is buried at also named Peter, 763 acres of land in the county Mahanoy, in Jackson township. He was a member mentioned.

of the German Reformed Church, and a Repub- Godfrey Rockefeller. born in 1747, was a son lican in polities. His wife, Susan Lantz, who sur- of Peter Rockefeller (?). He came to Northum-

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

berland county, Pa., in 1789, and took up land sholtz. Her cheerful temperament and fine Chris- in the vicinity of Snydertown. He married Mar- tian character have won for her the esteem and garet Lewis, and they had a family of eleven chil- love of all fortunate enough to know her. She was one of a family of eight children born to Chris- topher and Sarah ( Kline) Campbell, the former of whom was the son of Christopher Campbell, the latter the daughter of Isaac Kline. Isaac Kline dren, three sons and eight daughters. One of the sons was the grandfather of John D. Rockefeller, of Standard Oil farne. The other two were John and William, the former the great-grandfather of David P. and Emery Rockefeller, of Sunbury, the and his wife Catharine had the following sons: latter the father of David (born Sept. 6, 1802) " Harmon, Henry, Isaac and Christopher. The and grandfather of Judge William M. Rockefeller (born Aug. 18, 1830), who married Emily Jones, daughter of Thomas and Maria ( Housel) Jones, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

children of Christopher and Saralı ( Kline) Camp- bell were as follows: (1) Isaac married Hannah Campbell. Children : Dr. John, who died in Phil- adelphia, Pa .; Lemuel, who married Sally Ker- John Rockefeller, son of Godfrey, was the great- grandfather of David P. and Emery Rockefeller. suge ; James, who married Aliee Van Zant; Re- becca, who married Joseph Eckman; and . Flora, John Rockefeller, the grandfather, was killed on his way home from Reading, at a time when who died young. (?) Lemuel married Einma Sınith. Children : Dr. Charles, who married Liz- much of the country was still a wilderness. He zie Lee Enos; William, who died young; Eli, who married Elizabeth Moore, and they were the par- ents of Lewis Rockefeller, their other children be- ing as follows: Henry married Elizabeth Morgan and had five children, John, James, Jacob, Frank- lin and Harriet ( Mrs. John Guliek) : Michael never married ; David was twice married his first wife being Isabella Campbell : John married Har- riet Kneiss and had five children, Alice (wife of Rev. John Bowinan), Caroline (Mrs. Woods), Anne (wife of Jacob Frye), Elizabeth (wife of Jesse Cleaver ) and Ella (Mrs. Sanders) : Mary married George Bassett and had six children, Lucy, Alda, Ruth, Maggie, Elizabeth and George: Esther married Isaac Eckman and had five chil- dren, Col. Charles (married Sophia Gearhart), David (married Ella Wolfe and had children, Franklin, Alfred, Dver and Ethel), Elizabeth (married first Oscar Heller and second Joseph Bonner), Harriet (married George Mettler and had two children, Ella and Susan) and Lewis.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 15

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