Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 17

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 17

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Eng. by F GHEro,NY

fra. J. Clement

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Meantime, about 1868, he had built the first plan-

building 60 by 80 feet in dimensions, but later enlarged considerably to meet the demands of ex- panding business. In 1875 the upper story of this structure was equipped for the manufacture of coffins, but the coffin business grew so rapidly that in 1887 a two-story frame building 40 by 140 feet was built for its sole accommodation. In 1880 Mr. Clement had begun the manufacture of extension tables at the planing mill, and in 1887 his old mill, which as recorded he had repurchased in 1883, was adapted for this special branch of manufacturing. For a number of years his combined industries oc- cupied an extensive site extending from Front street to Third, north of Race, the saw mill, plan- ing mill, table factory and coffin factory affording employment to one hundred and twenty-five men, with an annual product valued at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The influence of such an establishment on the general prosperity may be easily conjectured. Further, Mr. Clement estab- lished the Sunbury Steam Ferry and Tow Boat Company, of which he was the president, and which for many years kept a line of steamboats plying on the Susquehanna between Sunbury, Northumber- land, Shamokin Dam and other points. He also in- vested heavily in real estate, buying the Kutz farm in Upper Augusta township and the Oberdorf farm in East Sunbury, on which he made vast improve- ments, and at the time of his death he owned over one hundred houses in Sunbury, of which borough he was the heaviest taxpayer. He engaged in con- traeting to some extent, in 1876-77 building the Northumberland county prison; and other build- ings, ineluding the city hall and the Moore & Dissinger block on Market street, were of his con- struction. In this line he also gave employment to a considerable number of men.

Mr. Clement relinquished comparatively little control of his affairs in his old age, being active to the end of his days. Although rheumatism af- feeted and finally destroyed his power of locomo- tion, he never lost interest in the condition and management of his numerous business coneerns, giving them his direct personal supervision, as lie had been in the habit of doing, and he continued to be a power in local industrial and commercial

HENRY E. MOORE, late of Sunbury, where he was well known in business life as an associate of Ira T. Clement, was born in 1842, at Millinont. in Buffalo ' Valley, Union Co., Pa .. son of Jacob had strong convictions on political questions, and, Moore, and died April 3, 1903. Mr. Moore was originally a Whig. changed his allegiance to the. for many years engaged as a merchant and banker Republieans and later to the Democratic party. He and his family were members of the Reformed Church.

before coming to Sunbury, and throughout his res- idence in that borough was one of its substantial and highly respected citizens. He married Mrs.

Mr. Clement married, when in his twenty-second ing mill in Sunbury, originally a two-story frame year, in 1834, Sarah Martz, of Shamokin town- ship, daughter of David and Magdalena (Shissler) Martz, and twelve children were born to them, namely: Amelia, who died unmarried; Henry ; Catharine A., who died young; David ; a child that died in infancy; Mary Jane, who married John W. Buchier; Louisa, widow of Henry E. Moore; Sarah Frances, who married David C. Dissinger, who died before she did; Laura I., who married Dietrich James; Maria W., who died unmarried ; and Grace and Emma, who died young. Only two of this family, Henry and Mrs. Moore, survived the father, who died Oct. 28, 1898, attaining the great age of eighty-five years, nine months, seventeen davs. He was buried at Sunbury.

HENRY CLEMENT, the only son of Ira T. Clement who survived him, is still a resident of Sunbury, where he was born, in what was then Upper Augusta township, Sept. 4, 1838. When a mere boy he commenced elerking in his father's store, and he was always associated with him in his Jum- ber and manufacturing interests, for many years before his father's death being with him in the management of his entire business. He stepped into a busy eareer, but he has proved himself well adapted to its demands, as his capable manage- ment of his various interests shows that he not only inherited the business but the ability to look after it to advantage. He was one of the pioneers in the West Branch lumber industry, but though thoroughly progressive he is conservative and has a reputation for sound judgment which makes his opinion on business questions highly valued. Though his time is well taken up with his private affairs he has found time to serve the borough as councilman. He is a Republican in political faith. Fraternally Mr. Clement is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 203, I. O. O. F., to Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., and to Northumber- land Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M.

On March 23, 1860, Mr. Clement married Cath- arine Geist, of Northumberland, this eounty, daughter of John and Susan ( Frederick) Geist, and she died in 1899, leaving two children : Jen- nie M., who is the wife of William II. Faries, a court stenographer of this and surrounding eoun- matters until his death. A born leader, he was ties; and Ira T., of Sunbury, who married Eliza- foremost in many movements which have made a beth B. Fisher and has one son, Henry Clement, permanent impression upon the development and Jr. welfare. of Sunbury. He was one of the pioneer casket manufacturers of Pennsylvania, and as such started a line of industry in Sunbury which con- tinues to be one of its business factors. Though he never took any direct part in publie affairs he

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Louisa Haupt, widow of George W. Haupt and time of his death. In politics he was a Repub- daughter of Ira T. Clement. They had no chil- lican. dren. Mr. Moore was a Lutheran in religious connection.

GEORGE W. HAUPT was born in Sunbury Feb. 22, 1840, son of Sebastian and Sarah ( Hahn) Haupt. In his earlier manhood he followed teach- ing and won considerable success and local distinc- tion in that profession, serving as superintendent of the Northumberland county schools from 1866 to 1868. He resigned Sept. 1, 1868, on account of ill health, William J. Wolverton being ap- pointed by the State to fill the unexpired term. Mr. Haupt studied law under Judge Jordan and practiced from the time he was adinitted to the bar until his death, which occurred Jan. 18, 1870. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and a Mason in fraternal connection, holding member- ship in Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M. In politics he was a Democrat. Mr. Haupt married Louisa Clement, daughter of Ira T. Clement, and by this union there was one son, Wilson.

FRANKLIN MARTZ, late of Ralpho township, Northumberland county, was one of the substan- tial and highly respected citizens of his locality and a descendant of an old family, .his father, David Martz, having been born in the county.

David Martz was born Oct. 15, 1802, in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, and died Nov. 11, 1855. Shortly after his marriage he located at P'axinos and owned and operated a fulling mill there, being quite successful in bus- iness. He was a respected man, and for many years was chosen to serve as justice of the peace at Paxinos. His wife, Hannah (Evert), born Oct. 6, 1804, died June 9, 1880, and they are buried at the Blue church in Ralpho township. Their children were: Eliza died unmarried; Henry, who was a teacher, died unmarried : Mar- garet married David Adams; Sarah married, and by his first union had a son Lawrence, who Emanuel Artman : Franklin is mentioned below ; Mary married Albert Fisher : David P. is a resi- dent of Ralpho township, this county : John, twin of David, is deccased; Hannah married Jackson Hoffman ; Susan died young.

On Oct. 25, 1860, Mr. Martz married Margaret Fisher, daughter of John and Hannah ( Yocum) Fisher, who was born in Northumberland county Dec. 7, 1840; she now makes her home at Pax- inos. Mrs. Martz is a member of the German Re- formed Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Martz were born the following children : Henry E. died of smallpox when eleven years old; Mary H. died in infancy ; Catharine A. married William Kreig- baum, and they reside at Elysburg, Pa .: Edwin H. lives in Shamokin ; William F. married Eliza- beth Fisher and they reside in Shamokin; Clar- ence K. lives at Paxinos; Ira T. died in infancy ; John C. died in infancy ; Bertha M. married Frank Wertley, and they reside at Paxinos.

WILLIAM H. ROHRBACH, postmaster and merchant at Paxinos, has been prominent in the business and public affairs of that section of Northumberland county for many years. and is indeed well known all over the county. He bears a name which has long been regarded as the syn- onym of progress and executive ability, many members of the Rohrbach family having attained ' position and means, and their honorable lives have been a credit to themselves and to the com- munity as well.

Mr. Rohrbach was born July 13, 1852, in Cata- wissa township, Columbia Co., Pa., son of Jolin Rohrbach and grandson of Jacob Rohrbach. The family is an old one in Pennsylvania, of German origin, being descended from John George Rohr- bach, who emigrated to America about the middle of the eighteenth century. He settled in eastern Pennsylvania, in Berks county, in the territory now embraced in District township, and the family is now quite numerous in the eastern end of that county. The ancestral homestead is still owned by one of his descendants. He was twice married. had five sons, Daniel, George (who had eight children), Christopher (or Stophel, who had eleven children), Jacob and Henry. By his sec- ond wife, Christiana Moser, he had five children. George, John, Simon, Eva and Christiana. Those of the name now living in Berks county are de- seendants of Lawrence and John: Simon is said to have moved to Catawissa, Columbia county : George to have gone West: Eva married Jacob Finkbohner, who after her death married her sister Christiana.

Franklin Martz was born Dec. 12. 1835, in Shamokin township, and received his education in the local schools. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed several years. During the Civil war he enlisted in the 172d Regiinent, Pennsylvania Militia, and was out eleven months. After he returned home he The ancestor of a number of the name now liv- ing in Northumberland county devoted himself bought a farm in Shamokin (now Ralpho) town- ship, of 150 acres, the old Solomon Hummel to his business affairs and lived and labored in place, and there he lived and tarmed until his the section of Pennsylvania referred to. He was death, which occurred July 21, 1889. He is bur- a successful and influential man of his day, al- ied at the Blue Church, of which he was a Re- though he had no aspirations toward public honors formed niember, and was serving as eller at the and took no part in anything outside of his pri-

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

OLIVER P. ROCKEFELLER. of Sunbury. charcoal furnace in conjunction with farming. He was engaged in the bottling business in that bor- married Catharine Fenstermaehier, and to them ough for many years, and is at present dividing was born a large family. Their son George, born his attention between the "Montour House," at in 1808 in Columbia county, Pa., was the father Danville, Pa., of which he is a part owner, and his of the late Lloyd T. and William H. Rohrbach, both prominent citizens of Sunbury.

extensive real estate interests. He was born in Upper Augusta township, this county, Nov. 6,

John Rohrbach, son of Jacob and father of 1862, son of Lewis and Catherine (Campbell) William H. Rohrbach, of Paxinos, was born Oct. Rockefeller.

The Rockefeller family has long been well rep- resented among the best class of citizens in North- 1855 came to Shamokin. township, Northumber- umberland county, and one of the townships of the land county. In his early years he had followed county bears the name, which was founded here farming for some time, later being employed in by Godfrey Rockefeller, from whom David P., the ironworks at Catawissa, Columbia county, and Emery and Oliver P., brothers, of Sunbury, are after coming to this region purchased, in part- deseended in the fifth generation. nership with his brother-in-law, William Reed, a

. The Rockefeller family traces its beginning in farnı at Reed's station, consisting of about 175 America to one Peter Rockefeller, who was born acres. Here he followed farming until his death, in Europe and in 1710, on emigrating to Amer- which occurred April ?, 1895, and he is buried ica, settled at Amwell, Hunterdon Co., N. J. He at St. Jacob's ( Reed's) Church in Ralpho town- died there about 1740, leaving to his son, who was ship. He married Julian Reed, daughter of Jacob also named Peter, 763 acres of land in the county and Hannah Reed, and she survives him. making mentioned.

her home at Paxinos. They had two children, Clara E. and William H. The daughter married Peter Rockefeller (?). He came to Northumber- Amos Epler and both are deceased : they left five land county, Pa., in 1789, and took up land in children.

Godfrey Rockefeller, born in 1747, was a son of

the vicinity of Snydertown. He married Margar-

William H. Rohrbach was only three years old et Lewis, and they had a family of eleven chil- when the family settled in Shamokin township, dren, three sons and eight daughters. One of the and after attending the local public schools he be- sons was the grandfather of John D. Rockefeller. came a pupil at the Elysburg Academy, then taught of Standard Oil fame. The other two were John by Rev. James Wampole. He remained at home, and William, the former the great-grandfather of assisting his father, until the latter's death, after David P. and Emery and Oliver P. Rockefeller. of which he took the farm for five years, conduct- Sunbury, the latter the father of David (born ing it until elected county commissioner, in 1900. Sept. 6, 1802) and grandfather of Judge William He filled that offiee efficiently for one term of M. Rockefeller (born Ang. 18, 1830), who mar- three years, and in 1904 took another public posi- ried Emily Jones, daughter of Thomas and Maria tion, having been appointed mercantile appraiser, ( Housel) Jones, of Lewisburg. Pennsylvania. in which capacity he served for one year. During John Rockefeller, son of Godfrey, was the great- that time he purchased the business of Miller grandfather of David P., Emery and Oliver P. Rockefeller.

Brothers, general merchants at Paxinos, which he has since carried on, and in connection with which

John Rockefeller, the grandfather, was killed he has performed the duties of postmaster, to on his way home from Reading, at a time when which office he was appointed in 1904. Mr. Rohr- much of the country was still a wilderness. He inarried Elizabeth Moore, and they were the par- ents. of Lewis Rockefeller, their other children he- ing as follows : Henry married Elizabeth Mor- gan and had five children, John, James, Jacob, Franklin and Harriet ( Mrs. John Gulick) : Michael never married; David was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Isabella Campbell : John the opinion of his fellow citizens and has en- married Harriet Kneiss and had five children.

bach has been prominent in the political and pub- lic activities of his township as a zealous member of the Democratic party. He has served as mem- ber of the election board, and has been elected assessor, tax collector and auditor. his work in every capacity justifying the flattering support he received as a candidate. He stands high in deavored to merit their judgment of his character

Alice (wife of Rev. John Bowman), Caroline and abilities. Socially he is a member and a past ( Mrs. Woods). Anne (wife of Jacob Frye), Eliz- master of Elysburg Lodge, No. 414. F. & A. M. abeth (wife of Jesse Cleaver) and Ella (Mrs. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Sanders) ; Mary. married George Bassett and

Mr. Rohrbach married Emma Keifer, daughter had six children, Uncy. Alda. Ruth, Maggie, of Abraham and Maria ( Everly ) Keifer. of Colum- Elizabeth and George: Esther married Isaac Eck- bia conntv, Pa., and they have two children, Jolin man and had five children, Col. Charles ( mar- L. and Wallace K. ried Sophia Gearhart). David married Ella

vate interests. For many years he conducted a

15, 1819, in Clay township, Berks Co., Pa., moved to. Columbia county, Pa., with his father, and in

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Wolfe and had children, Franklin, Alfred, Dyer young. (?) Rhoda married Samuel Oberdorf, and Ethiel), Elizabeth ( first married Oscar Heller and they have had eleven children, Oliver (de- and second Joseph Bonner), Harriet (married ceased), Isaac (deceased), Hamilton (deceased), George Mettler and had two children, Ella and Su- Isabella ( deceased ), Chalmers (deceased), Mary, san ) and Lewis. Peter, G. Donald (a graduate of Prinee- Lewis Rockefeller, born Sept. 12, 1823, died in October, 1898. He married Catherine Camp- bell, who survives him, and they became the par- ents of a large family : Joseph, born in 1859, died ton and now principal of the Mount Car- inel high school, who married Olive A. Ruch), Maurer (married to Amanda Gearhart), William ( who married Ollie Wolverton and has two chril- in 1870; Lemuel married Hattie McClow and dren, Calvin and Robert, the former a graduate of Bucknell University), and Susan ( Mrs. Lor-

they have three children, Catharine, Mary and Margaret; Sarah married. H. Clay Seasholtz and enza Eckman, who has two children, James and has had one son, David : Isabella died in 1888, at Chalmers). (8) Elizabeth married (first) Bloom- the age of twenty-five: Hattie married H. C. field Carr, by whom she had two sons, James and Lyons ; Charles married Mattie Manier and has William, and (second) Charles Houghout. by two. children, Harrison and Helen: Isaac married whom she has two daughters, Virginia and Roda, Emma Specht: David P. married Agnes Cum- the latter the wife of William Clark and the mings ; Oliver P. married Jennie A. Haupt; Em- inother of three children, Bessie, George and Mor- ery married Minnie Gonsar. ris.

Mrs. Catherine (Campbell) Rockefeller

Oliver P. Rockefeller, son of Lewis and Cath- though now (1911) in her eighty-first year is erine (Campbell) Rockefeller, attended the public active and retains all her faculties, and to her schools of his native township, and later was a excellent memory we are indebted for much of the pupil at private school in Sunbury. He followed data in this article. She enjoys good health, and farm work until fifteen years of age, when he her kind and unselfish disposition keeps her in- went to Philadelphia. After clerking there for terested in the welfare of her numerous descend- five years he returned to Northumberland county, ants and endears her to a wide circle of relatives and settled at Sunbury, engaging in the bottling and friends. She now makes her home with her business with his brother David P., in 1883. After daughter Mrs. Seasholtz. Her cheerful temper- an association of fourteen years he bought out his brother, in 1898, and thereafter conducted the business alone till November, 1909. when he gave it up after a career of twenty-seven years in the one line. He was very successful, and by his ability 'and fine business qualities became one ament and fine Christian character have won for her the esteem and love of all fortunate enough to know her. She was one of a family of eight children born to Christopher and Sarah ( Kline) Campbell, the former of whom was the son of Christopher Campbell, the latter the daughter of the leading men of Sunbury. He lived retired of Isaac Kline. Isaac Kline and his wife Cath- one year, until he and Mr. H. W. Gever bought arine had the following sons: Harmon, Henry. ont the well known "Montour House" at Dan- Isaac and Christopher. The children of Chris- ville. to which Mr. Rockefeller has given most topher and Sarah (Kline) Campbell were as fol- of his time since. He is also a large real estate lows : (1) Isaac married Hannah Campbell. owner, the management of his property occupy- Children : Dr. John, who died in Philadelphia. ing most of his time.

Pa .; Lemuel, who married Sally Kersuge: James, who married Alice Van Zant : Rebecca, who mar- ried Joseph Eckman ; and Flora, who died young. Mr. Rockefeller married Jennie Alice Haupt, daughter of the late Dr. Fred L. Haupt. They have no children. He is a member of the local (?) Lemuel married Emma Smith. Children: lodge of Elks, No. 267, and of the Fraternal Order

Dr. Charles, who married Lizzie Enos: William, who died young : Eli, who died young : and Mary. who lives in Sunbury. (3) Abraham died young. (4) Herman married Elizabeth Reed and their

of Eagles. In politics he is a Republican.

FRED L. HAUPT. M. D .. late of Sunbury, was born in that borough Nov. 11, 1836. He re- son, Edmund, married Mary Haupt. - (5) Sarah ceived his preparatory literary training at the married Charles Eckman, and had two children, Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa .. be- Frank and Ellard (who married Ella Snyder). gan reading medicine in Sunbury, and completed (6) Ella married (first) Kelso Savidge, by whom the course at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- she had three children. Clinton (who married delphia, in 1861. in which year he commenced Louise Essie and had six children, Harry W., Al- practice at Sunbury. At the beginning of the bert C., Ralph W. E., Preston M., Louise and Lu- Civil war he enlisted. as surgeon. for three months. cile), Harrison C. and Lizzie A. (married Wil- serving that term with the 130th Regiment, and lard Robinson). Her second marriage was to upon its close reenlisted in the same command, George Forrester, by whom she had two children, for three years. His army record is highly cred- Isabella (Mrs. Clark) and Ellen, the latter dying itable. He was poisoned at Winchester, Va .. con-

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tracting illness which never wholly left him and which eventually was partly responsible for his death. After the war he resumed practice at Sunbury, where he not only established a large private practice but also served sixteen years as surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railway Company, some years as physician at the county jail and five years as member of the board of pension examiners of which he was president. As a surgeon he gained high repute and was widely known. He was an intimate friend of Dr. James D. Strawbridge and Dr. Martin, and they were associated in perform- ing many operations. For a number of years be- fore his death Dr. Haupt, being unable because of poor health to endure the demands of his heavy medical practice, was engaged in the drug business at the corner of Fourth and Market streets, Sunbury. He died March 16, 1894, and is buried in Pomfret Manor cemetery. Few cit- izens of the borough were more generally known or respected. Politically he was a Democrat, and was elected a member of the board of educa- tion of Sunbury; fraternally he belonged to Washington (.D. C.) City Lodge, F. & A. M., and to the Improved Order of Red Men.

In 1866 Dr. Haupt married Angeline Bowen, and to them was born a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: John B., bookkeeper, machinist and druggist of Sunbury, lives with his mother; Alice Jennie married O. P. Rockefeller; Alexander B. died at the age of forty-one years; William F., born in 1871, died in 1900; Joseph Priestley died at the age of thirty- two years.

John Bowen, father of Mrs. Angeline (Bowen) Haupt, was a native of Wales and came to Amer- ica about 1825, when four years old. He was engaged in business as a coal operator at Sham- okin, this county, and was a lumber dealer at Sunbury as a member of the firm of Frveling, Bowen & Engel. He died at Sunbury about 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Bowen was a Republican in politics and in religion a member of the Reformed Church. He married Hannah Barnhart, daughter of Michael Barnhart, and they had three children: William, deceased; Jane, deceased; and Angeline, Mrs. Haupt.

LENKER. The Lenker family has many rep- resentatives in Northumberland county, descend- ants of Adam Lenker (or John Adam Lenker), a native of Switzerland, who was one of the pio- neer settlers in this region. He located in terri- tory now embraced in Lower Mahanoy township, and followed farming, the original homestead upon which he settled being the farm now owned by David Bohner. He was born Dec. 12, 1765, died March 24, 1834, and is buried at the Zion church in Stone Valley, as is also his wife, Anna

Maria; she was born June 15, 1764, and died May 12, 1822. Their children were: Michael, John Adam, Jacob, Polly (married John Witmer) and Mary (married William Schaffer).

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 17

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