Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 19

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 19

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A special evidence of Mr. Fisher's enterprise is the optical department connected with his store. He himself took a course at the McCormick Neu- rological College, at Chicago, Ill., from which he was graduated, receiving his diploma July 19, 1904. His equipment for the diagnosis of all kinds of defective vision is complete, and his un- derstanding of the cause. treatment and cure of the various nervous disorders and other ills of the human system arising from such source has been proved in the numerous cases he has successfully handled. Thus it will be seen that his success is due to a combination of qualities which make him a valuable member of the community in which he resides. He is a Mason of high degree, holding membership in Maclay Lodge, No. 632, F. & A. M., of Sunbury ; in Northumberland Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M. ; in Mount Hermon Commandery, No. 84, K. T., and in Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre. He was a charter mem- ber of Maclay Lodge and was elected treasurer upon the organization, having held that position continuously since. He is a past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, of Sunbury, and is a member of the Temple Club and of the Amer- icus Club, and president of the Sunbury Auto Club, which was organized July 30, 1909. In re- ligion he is a member of the Reformed Church.

On April 16, 1894, Mr. Fisher married Susan Stroh, daughter of George W. Stroh, of Sunbury, Pa. She died Dec. 8, 1910.

JOHN HENRY KREITZER. of Milton, Northumberland county. proprietor of the largest wholesale and retail grocery establishment in that section of the State, president and treasurer of the Kreitzer Wholesale Candy Company, one of the most popular borongh officials Milton has ever had, a leader of the Republican party and active in almost every phase of the life of his locality, is a citizen who deservedly holds the esteem and confidence of the entire community. Mr. Kreitzer has won his standing by hard work and ability in the management of his affairs, and a mere rec- ord of his many successful undertakings is suffi- cient to show how busy a life he leads. None but . a man of energy and progressive disposition could. handle the numerous enterprises he looks after so ably, and his judgment has been in . demand in the execution of public trusts, to which he has

been called time and again. He belongs to a fam- ily of German origin established in this county by his great-grandfather, with whom the record of the family history begins.

Peter Kreitzer, a native of Germany, came to America when a young man, settling in Tulpe- hocken, Berks Co., Pa., in 1762, and there lived until his death. He was a farmer by occupation. He was twice married, his second wife living to be 105 years old, and both wives are buried in Berks county. There were five children by the first union and ten by the second, among them being Frederick, who died in Berks county ; Wil- liam, who went to Illinois, where he died (he has two sons in Texas, both druggists) ; and Balser.

Balser Kreitzer, son of Peter, was born in Berks county (at what is now Myerstown, Lebanon county) in 1800, and about 1826-27 moved to Mil- ton, Northumberland county, where he lived and died. After his settlement there he did day's work at first, but in time became a contractor. his principal business being lumbering, in the pur- suit of which he cleared off most of the timber around Milton. He formed the logs into rafts which he took to market. When the old Lutheran church on Mahoning street was sold at the time of the ercction of the new edifice (subsequently destroyed by fire) he purchased it and remodeled it into a dwelling. He himself was a Lutheran in religious belief, and assisted in the building of the first church of that denomination in Milton. In politics he was originally a Whig. later a Re- publican, and he took an interest in local affairs, holding minor township offices and later borough offices. He died in Milton in 1878. at the age of seventy-eight years, and is buried in Harmony cemetery. His wife, Mary ( Zimmerman), of Berks county, Pa., died in 1884, at the age of eighty- four. They had children as follows: John, who was killed in the last battle of the Civil war; George Washington: Jacob, of Milton. formerly a shoe merchant, who married Sarah Beidehnan and has children, Edith. Sedosia. Bertha, Frank. Carrie and George; Renben. who was killed at Milton, on the railroad (he was twice married, his first wife being Emma Crawford. his second Emma Applegate) : Sarah, who married Andrew Irvin, and died in 1904: William, who served through the Civil war. and who died at Milton (he married Rebecca Ehrhart ) : Adam ; and Moses. who died in early childhood.

George Washington Kreitzer (known as Wash- ington Kreitzer), son of Balser, was the father of John Heury Kreitzer. He was born in 1828 at Milton. and as was the custom in that day began work early. being only a boy of ten when he began driving a team on the Union canal. His fondness for horses kept him in such work for some time. Te drove a packet team for a while and in winter a stagecoach, also carrying the mail up and down

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the river for many years. After a time he learned ness to include, besides the original lines of gro- the butcher's trade, and being ambitious he saved ceries and provisions, crockery, wooden and willow wares, grain, hay and feed. In this connection he also deals extensively in country produce, which his earnings, accumulating enough to enable him to start business independently. He formed a partnership with Conrad Cares, under the firm he ships to other markets. In 1894 he organized name of Kreitzer & Cares, and engaged in the meat business in Milton, following that line in all for about eight years. After his association with Mr. Cares was dissolved he had Charles Hoy for a partner. Selling out his interest in the meat business, he was for a time in the employ of Wil- liam Priee Hull, dealer in coal and grain, and later followed the dairy business. During his last years he assisted his son John. A man of strong constitution, he continued to work hard to the end of his days and enjoyed it. He died June 12. 1898, in his seventieth year, and was buried in Harmony cemetery. He was a Republican in politics and served two terms as street commissioner.

Mr. Kreitzer married Mary J. Lohr, daughter of Jolin and Mary A. (Wilson) Lohr. of Iola, Columbia Co., Pa., and she survives him, contin- ning to make her home in Milton. The following children were born to this union: Mary Cather- ine, who married John Byers, and lives near Mil- ton ; John H .; Sarah Elizabeth, who married William Cowles, formerly of Picture Rock, Pa., now living at Chester; Abraham L., who died in infancy; Ada Nora, who married Augustus Ber- ger, of Watsontown ; and William Washington, who died aged seven years, ten months.

John Henry Kreitzer was born at Milton Oct. 24, 1858, and received his education there in the publie schools, which he attended until he was fourteen years of age. Like his father, he began work as a driver on the towpath, and when the eanal season closed for the winter he found em- ployment in the office of William Price . Hull, at that time a prominent coal and grain dealer of Milton. After two years in his employ he decided to return to school, as he was ambitious to gain a good education, and he was at his studies again for three years. On April 1, 1877, he began clerk- ing for Albert Cadwallader, who had a grocery and provision store in Milton, and made such good progress in learning the details of this business that on Aug. 12, 1879, he was made superintend- ent of James Buoy's grocery store on Mahoning street. On Jan. 11, 1881, he purchased a halt interest in this establishment from Mr: Buoy, the firm name being Buoy & Kreitzer. In May. 1883, this partnership was dissolved. Mr. Kreitzer pur- chasing Mr. Buoy's interest and continuing the business alone. Such was the beginning of his present extensive business, the largest wholesale and retail grocery house in this section of Penn- sylvania. It is located in a fine brick block which Mr. Kreitzer owns and adjoining which, in 1891. he built a large three-story warehouse: since the long period. He has long been a valued worker in erection of this building he has enlarged his busi-

the Kreitzer Wholesale Candy Company, dealers in confectionery, fruit and nuts, and he erected and owns the building occupied by this concern, adjoining his grocery establishment. He is presi- dent and treasurer of this company, of which M. C. Kreitzer is assistant treasurer and M. E. Kreit- zer secretary. Mr. Kreitzer employs from twenty to thirty-five people, and four teams are used in the delivery and transportation of his goods. Since 1898 Mr. Kreitzer has also had a retail store in West Milton, Union county. Since 1894 he has owned a sand plant two miles south of Milton, shipping sand to all parts of Pennsylvania and various portions of New York State-for use in foundry and concrete work, and a particularly fine quality for special uses. Such a record of un- broken suceess is the lot of few men, but Mr. Kreit- zer has won all his triumphs by hard work and upright dealings, and he has the good will of his employees and of all who come in contact with him in business or other relations.

Though he has never neglected his business in any way, Mr. Kreitzer has found time to take a public-spirited interest in the welfare of the com- munity. His influenee being valuable, his work is much appreciated, for he has the faculty of in- fusing energy into movements that need encourage- inent and of putting through any work he under- takes. He has long been a member of the Board of Trade and is serving as a director, taking an active part in its enterprises. He is a stockholder in the Milton Driving Park and Fair Association. the Milton Knitting Mill and the Milton Trust & Safe Deposit Company. It was principally through the earnest efforts he put forth that the bridge which spans the river between Milton and West Milton was built, victory rewarding its advocates after three years of hard fighting in the courts : it was opened to travel in 1894. He is the only citizen of Milton who has thrice been honored with election to the office of chief burgess, for terms of three years each, his services extending . from 1894 to 1897, from 1900 to 1903. and from 1906 to 1909. The issue upon which he won in' his latest campaign when a candidate for this office was the obtaining of mountain water for the bor- ough, and he made good all his promises. no place in the State enjoying purer water or better privi- leges than Milton. Mr. Kreitzer had previously served three years as councilman. to which office he was elected in 1884: and three years as auditor, to which office he was elected in 1881; so that his active participation in public affairs has covered a

the Republican party. He was elected ward com-

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mitteeman in 18S? ; served two years as judge of as a member of the 172d Regiment, Pennsylvania election ; and was delegate to the State convention in 1902. He was chairman of the Anti-Tramp convention that met in Philadelphia May 15, 1901.

Mr. Kreitzer served nine years as secretary and treasurer of the Baptist Sunday school. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and so -. cially he unites with the Royal Arcannm.

In 1857 Mr. Kauffman married Sarah Burns, daughter of John Burns, of Lower Augusta town- ship, and he survived her only a few weeks, her On Feb. 11, 1886, Mr. Kreitzer married Mary Catharine Ettla, daughter of Capt. George H. and Amanda C. Ettla, and they have one daugh- ter, Mary Elizabeth. death taking place when she was seventy-four years old, exactly seven weeks before the day of his funeral, which was held August 28, 1910. They are buried in the Kauffman lot in Pomfret Manor cemetery. Mr. Kauffman was a lifelong JOSIAH M. KAUFFMAN (deceased) was a prominent citizen of Lower Augusta township, this county, until his removal in 1892 to Sunbury, where he passed the remainder of his life and where his family now reside. He was a man of sterling worth and high personal character. Mr. member of the Lutheran Church, and the funeral services were held at his late home on Pine street by Rev. J. N. Wetzler, of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman were survived by three children, namely: Silas D., of Conestoga, N. Y .; Mrs. Clarence Parsons, of Nan- Kauffman was born in Lower Angusta township, ticoke, Pa .; and Mrs. Morris Swartz, of Urban, Jan. 7, 1860, son of Daniel and Sarah (Burns) Pa., as well as the widow and children of their late

Kauffinan and grandson of Daniel and Mary (Ressler) Kauffman, of whose family the follow- ing still survive: John R., of Sunbury; Levi, of Paxton, Pa .; Caroline, Mrs. James Coldren, of Sunbury; Lucy, Mrs. Brocious, of Buchanan, Mich .; Malinda, Mrs. I. J. Renn, of Asherton, Pa .; and Rachel, Mrs. James Lower, of Asherton. The family is well known, its various branches being well represented throughont this section of the country.

Daniel Kauffman, son of Daniel and Mary (Ressler) Kauffman, was born Jan. 21, 1834, in Upper Mahanoy township, this county, and was quite yonng when the family moved to Lower Augusta township, where he resided for many years, engaging in farming. Retiring from agri- cultural pnrsnits he removed to Sunbury, when elected county commissioner, and there passed the last twenty-five years of his life. He served one term of three years, 1888-90, as connty commis- sioner, and at the end of his service in that office bought the "Empire House" on Third street, which he continued to carry on until a few years before his death. He then removed to his late residence on Pine strect, where he passed the remainder of his days in peaceful retirement. About three weeks before his death he was taken to the Mary M. "Packer hospital, where he died after two serious operations, Aug. 25, 1910. With the exception of this illness Mr. Kauffman, although past seventy- six years of age, had enjoyed nnnsual health, being as strong and active as men many years his junior. His family had always been noted for remarkable vitality, and his death was the first in their circle in thirty years. Mr. Kauffman was a good busi- ness man and gave creditable service as county commissioner, being a citizen highly respected throughout his wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances. During the Civil war he served the Union

Volunteers, and he became a member of William A. Bruner Post, No. 335, G. A. R .; the flag in Cameron park flew at half mast upon the occasion of his death.

son, Josiah M. Kauffman, of Sunbury. They had a number of grandchildren and great-grandchil- dren.

Josiah M. Kanffman, son of Daniel and Saralı (Burns) Kauffman, received his early education in the public schools of Lower Angusta township and later attended the academy at Selisgrove, this county. He tanght school for seven years in Lower Angusta township and one term in Upper Mahanoy township, holding a professional certifi- cate, and meanwhile followed farming during the summer season, having been trained to that voca- tion from early boyhood. He owned the homestead of his grandfather Daniel in Lower Augusta town- ship (now the property of H. S. Bowersox) and farmed that place for one year; for eleven years he lived upon and cultivated one farm in Lower Augusta township. Moving with his family to Sunbury in 1892, he there passed the remainder of his life, dying April 25, 1908. He is buried in Pomfret Manor cemetery. In 1898 he erected the building at Nos. 416-418 Market street where Mrs. Kanffman is still engaged in business. Mr. Kauff- man was an intelligent citizen, capable in the man- agement of his own affairs and public-spirited in his interest in snch matters as affected the general welfare. He served as justice of the peace in Lower Angusta township, resigning the office when he removed to Sunbury, was active in local affairs generally and well known socially, belonging to Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., and to the Lutheran Church. He was a regular attendant upon church services and an efficient worker in church and Sun- day-school, serving four years as Sunday school superintendent before his removal to Sunbury. He was a stanch Democrat in political matters.

On July 30, 1882, Mr. Kauffman married Esther Bohner, daughter of Henry and Esther ( Haas) Bohner, of Plum Creek, Northumberland county,

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and they had a family of four children: Sarah Maud, who assists her mother in the millinery business, is the wife of Waldo Shipman: Myrtle May is a public school teacher in Sunbury : Harry S. is an electrician engaged in business at Blooms- burg and Danville, Pa .; Bessie Mabel is a trained nurse. The family are Lutherans and Presby- terians in religious connection.

When the family removed to Sunbury Mrs. Kauffinan opened a millinery establishment at No. 416 Market street, where she is still located, and she enjoys the leading trade in the borough as well as a large share of the custom from the sur- rounding district. She carries a full line of mil- linery, and is an obliging and capable business woman, well deserving the success which has re- warded her efforts. In 1909 she erected a double residence at Nos. 417-419 Woodlawn avenue, Sun- bury.

CAPT. JACOB F. HOFFMAN, now living re- tired at Herndon, Northumberland county, is a native of Dauphin county, Pa., and a member of a family long established . in that section. great-great-grandfather settled in Berks county, in what was then the Province of Pennsylvania, early in the eighteenth century, and his great-grand- father, John Nicholas Hoffman, was at the battle of Brandywine, during the Revolutionary war, where he picked up a spent case shot. The Hoff- mans have been patriotic citizens, members of the family having served in the Revolution. the war of 1812 and the Civil war. At the close of the latter five sons of Amos Hoffman were still in the service, while another, Henry, had done his part also as a soldier.

Jacob Hoffman, son of John Nicholas, was the grandfather of Capt. Jacob F. Hoffman. He was born in the Lykens valley, in Lykens township, Dauphin Co., Pa., was a substantial farmer, and an influential man in his community, serving as member of the State Legislature . from 1822 to 1824. His wife, who was a Ferrec, was of French descent. They had children as follows: Jacob, who lives at Harrisburg, now (1910) nearly ninety years old; Amos; Hannah, who married John Rumberger : Sarah, who married Michael Forney ; and Mrs. Abraham Hess.

Amos Hoffman, son of Jacob, was born in May, 1809, in Lykens township, Dauphin county, was a lifelong farmer, and died at Girardville, Schuyl- kill county, about 1899, in his eighty-ninth year. He is buried at Berrysburg, Dauphin county. He married Amanda Harper, and they were the par- ents of ten children : Henry, who served in the Civil war as a private in the 8th Illinois Cavalry ; Thomas W., who became a lieutenant colonel in the Civil war; Capt. Jacob F .; Edwin A., who served as sergeant in the Civil war: John H., who was a drummer in the Civil war, though but fif-

teen years old at the time; George M .: Charles H .; Joseph W .; Henrietta, wife of William Wil- lard ; and Adaline, wife of Charles Koser.

Jacob F. Hoffman was born Dec. 25, 1841, in Lykens township, Dauphin Co., Pa., and there received his elementary education in the public schools, later attending Berrysburg Seminary sev- eral terms. For one terin he taught school. He then engaged in the general merchandise business at Pillow, Dauphin county, and afterward at Ber- rysburg, where he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining the 26th Regiment of Pennsylvania militia, which was among the first troops in the field in the emergency just before the battle of Gettysburg. This comunand met White's Cavalry and defeated them, then fell back to Fort Wash- ington, at Bridgeport, where they were held during the battle with other troops. After the battle they followed Lee as far south as Greencastle. They were regularly sworn into the Federal service, uni- formed and paid by the Federal government. and the regiment has a monument at Gettysburg. The company to which Captain Hoffman belonged was His mustered out at Harrisburg in the latter part of July, 1863. After that he went to Harrisburg and clerked for Kelker Brothers, and in August, 1864, he again entered the service, becoming first lieutenant of Company A, 208th Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was sent to the front with other troops, arriving at Bermuda Hundred in September, 1864. It was brigaded with the 200th. 205th, 207th, 209th and 211th Pennsylvania regiments, forming the light brigade commanded by Colonel Patter of the 12th New Hampshire Regiment, and which for about two months did picket duty between Dutch Gap and Petersburg. In the latter part of November it was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, in which the six regiments mentioned formed the 3d Division of the 9th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. J. F. Hartranft. The brigade did reserve duty with the 1st Division, consisting of the 200tu, 208th and 209th Regiments. On March 25, 1865, General Gordon made an assault upon Fort Stead- man and batteries 9, 10, 12 and 13, which he cap- tured. The 1st Brigade, 3d Division, came to the rescue and fought the enemy successfully. Cap- tain Hoffinan was wounded in the right thigh dur- ing this engagement. When the 2d Brigade came to the relief of the 1st both brigades charged the enemy, which fled across the lines, and all that had been lost to the 1st Division of the 9th Arny Corps was recaptured, but with a loss of 4,500 men in dead, wounded and captured. On the Belfield raid Captain Hoffman had charge of the advance guard over the Jerusalem Plank Road, also commanding Company A of the 208th Regi- ment at Hatcher's Run and Fort Steadman. After being wounded he was sent to City Point hospital and from there home on leave of absence.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Recovering to some extent, he rejoined his regi- 1815, at Minersville, but has lived at Mount Car- mel since he was a year old.

ment at Alexandria, Va., but was not accepted for duty and was sent to Armory Square hospital, at Washington, D. C. He was mustered out by order of the war department June 23, 1865.

Following the Civil war Captain Hoffman and his brother Col. Thomas W. Hoffman embarked in the general merchandise business at Port Trever- ton, Snyder Co., Pa., where they carried on a store for thirty years, doing well throughout that period. Froin 1896 the Captain followed other avocations. Meantime, in January, 1891, he had taken up his residence at Port Treverton, where he made his home until his removal to Herndon, Northumberland county. in 1902. There he has since lived in comparative retirement, though he

Captain Hoffman's first wife, Martha (Witmer), daughter of Abraham Witmer, of Juniata county, Pa .. died Oct. 16, 1892, after eighteen years of married life, aged forty-one years, ten months, twenty-eight days. She was the mother of two sons : Charles H., who is engaged as shipping clerk at Burnham, Pa., for the Logan Steel & Iron Company : and Edwin S., a machinist employed at the National Gun Works, Washington. D. C. On Jan. 2, 1905, Captain Hoffman married (sec- ond) Mary Agnes Blasser, daughter of Abraham D. Blasser.

For many years Captain Hoffman has been an active member of the G. A. R., is at present serving as assistant patriotic instructor, and is chaplain of John C. Arnold Post, No. 402, of Port Trever- ton. In religious matters he is identified with the United Brethren Church, of which he has been a member since 1874. He held the office of class leader for twenty-two years, was Sunday school superintendent for eight years, and is now superintendent of the Union Sunday school at Herndon. He is also president of the North- umberland county district of the State Sunday School Association. Captain Hoffman was made a Mason in Lafayette Lodge. F. & A. M., in 1869.

David Williams, grandfather of Thomas Reese Williams, was a native of South Wales and came to America in 1829. His first location in this country was at Carbondale, Lackawanna Co., Pa., where he was engaged as foreman for the Dela- ware & Hudson Caual Company. In 1836 he re- moved to Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., thence to Summit Hill, Carbon Co., this State, where for five years he operated the mine known as Spring Tunnel. He then became general agent for the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, which posi- tion he held until his death, Nov. 6, 1848. His wife's name was Sarah.

Benjamin H. Williams, son of David and Sarah, maintains business relations with the John Win- was born July 19, 1833, at Carbondale, Lacka- ston Publishing House of Philadelphia, and the National Silverware Company of the same city, not being content to be entirely without occupa- tion. He is a much respected resident of the borough, where he is well known. wanna Co., Pa., and grew to manhood in this State, receiving his education in the various places at which the family lived. In 1852 he went out to California, where he spent five years, engaged in gold mining. Returning to Pennsylvania he remained a year, in 1858 again going to Califor- nia, where he continued to reside until 1874. He has since made his home in Pennsylvania. and has been a resident of Mount Carmel since 1876. For a number of years after settling in the bor- ough he followed coal mining, but he retired from that business several years ago, and since 1905 has been engaged in the grocery business at No. 15 North Maple street. He is a substantial and respected citizen of Mount Carmel, where he is well known. In politics he is a Republican.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 19

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