Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 21

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 21

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Mahantango township, Schuylkill county, follow- ing farming. He married Sarah Reiner. born Feb. 26, 1805, who died Sept. 13, 1887. and they had children: Harris, Peter (who was an under- taker ), Elias, Hettie, Katie, Mary ( married Nel- son Knorr) and Elizabeth (married Isaac Knorr).

Samuel Fetterolf, son of Johann Peter, was born Oct. 11, 1800, and died March 29, 1880. He was a worker in a fulling or carding inill, where wool was manufactured, the old establishment standing on the Little Mahantango creek. Later he owned and operated a grist and saw mill, and he was a large land owner, having 360 acres of land at County Line, in which region he was a most useful and influential citizen, being a man of ex- tensive business interests. In his grist and saw mill he gave employment to a number of hands, and he built a number of dais or retaining walls, named after his sponsor, Frank Dengler.

John Fetherolf, son of Johann Peter, was a farmer. His first wife, whose maiden name was Maurer, is buried with him at Kimmel's Church. She was the mother of Peter. Daniel and Jesse ; and by his second wife, who was a sister of the first, he had one son, Frank Dengler Fetherolf,

upon which he expended considerable money, and George Fetterolf, son of Johann Peter, was born he was a shoemaker, but farming was his principal occupation. Through his wife he obtained the homestead of his father-in-law, Johann Nicholas Rebuck, which was located in Upper Mahanoy township on the public road between Rough & Ready and Urban, now owned by Edward Fette- rolf, grandson of George. His wife, Polly (Re- buck), born March 30, 1810, was a daughter of Johann Nicholas Rebuck (17:1-1855) and his wife Magdalena Wolfgang (1777-1859). She died aged eighty-five years, three days. Mr. and Mrs. Fetterolf are buried at the Salem ( Herb) Church, which he served in the offices of deacon and elder. They were the parents of ten children : Adam and Emanuel are mentioned later in this article ; George is a resident of Illinois: Gabriel lives at Heplers. Schuylkill county; Dinah died unmarried ; Amanda married George Wolfgang : four died young, George and three who were older than he. which also afforded work for many men. He also March 11, 1809, and died Dec. 31. 1888. By trade built a large brick house and several barns. His example and encouragement were powerful factors for good in the development and betterment of his section, in more than a material sense. He was a pillar of the church of his choice, he and his wife being active members of the Evangelical As- sociation, and they are buried side by side at the Bingaman meeting-house near County Line. the Lower Mahanoy Church of that denomination. Mrs. Fetterolf, whose maiden name was Rachel Maurer, was born Dec. 15, 1807, daughter of John Maurer, of Lehigh county, Pa., and died Sept. 21. 1889, at the home of her son Daniel. Their ten children were: Elizabeth, Mrs. Peter Kehler ; Catharine, Mrs. John C. Renn ; Sarah, Mrs. George Kehler : Hannah, Mrs. Isaiah Kiehl ; Lydia, Mrs. John D. Deibler : Felix, whose wife Elizabeth died Aug. 30, 1900, aged sixty-four years, six months, ten days: Daniel : Samuel ; John, and Elias. Of this family,

Daniel Fetterolf, a farmer of Lower Mahanoy township, .Northumberland county, born July 1. 1835, has been an agriculturist all his life. In 1860 he began farming on his own account in Dauphin county, at County Line, being a tenant for ten years. In 1870 he purchased his present farm, a tract of eighty-three acres which was for- merly the John Kohl homestead (it was much

has prospered steadily, in 1907 building the at- tractive frame residence which now adorns the property. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served as election officer and filled the position of supervisor in his township. His wife, Sarah,

Joseph Fetherolf, born May 25, 1813, died July 11, 1882. He married Abby Rice, who was born April 12, 1815, and died Dec. 24. 1890. and they were farming people in Upper Mahantango town- ship, living near Heplers post office. Their chil- dren were : Joseph. Daniel, Samuel, Alice, Hettie. and Amelia (married James Thomas).

Daniel Fetherolf, son of Johann Peter. married larger in Mr. Kohl's time). Mr. Fetterolf has a Miss Miller, and they had one danghter. Katie, since occupied and cultivated this farm, and he who married Henry Herb. Daniel Fetherolf died at a comparatively early age, of smallpox. and he and his wife are buried at Klinger's Church. (There is a Daniel Feterolf buried there, born April 22. 1804, died Ang. 13, 1830.)

Adam Fetterolf, son of George, was born May

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

27, 1834, in Upper Mahanoy township, of which trict, where he has been chosen to the office of - his brothers and sisters were also natives, and school director, in which he has been serving for has passed all liis life there, being now one of the last five years. the oldest residents of that section. He received In December, 1894, Mr. Fetterolf married Cevilla Snyder, daughter of Levi Snyder, of Up- per Mahanoy township, whose wife was a Dielil. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Fetterolf are members of the Salem ( Herb) Church, and he has served as deacon. his education in the German subscription schools conducted during his boyhood, and worked for his parents until he reached the age of thirty, soon after the Civil war commencing farming for him- self on his father's place, where lie continued to live and work for eight years. In 1877 he pur- chased his present place, to which he removed at that time, and which consists of 105 acres of valuable land. He is a Democrat in political connection and a Lutheran in religion, he and his family belonging to the Lutheran congregation at the Salem (Herb) Church, which he served as elder four years. In 1867 he married Mary Brown, daughter of Michael and Peggy ( Erdman) Brown ; ten children have been born to this union: Sarah, Lydia, Nathan, Mary, George Henry, David, Har- riet, Wilson, Victor, and one that died young.

Emanuel Fetterolf, son of George, farmed his father's homestead, of which he became the owner. It is located on the public road between Leck Kill and Klingerstown, the latter being his post office. He was a useful man in his district, serving as school director, and he was an active member of the Lutheran congregation at the Salem Church, which he served as deacon and elder. He was a Democrat in politics, He died Nov. 26, 1894, aged fifty-seven years, ten months, six days, and is buried at the Salem Church. Mr. Fetterolf mar- ried Catharine Knorr, daughter of John and Cath- arine (Schadle) Knorr, and since his death she has become the wife of Nathan Steely, of Schuyl- kill county. By her union with Mr. Fetterolf she was the mother of seven children : Catharine mar- ried Samuel Ressler and they live in Upper Ma- hanoy township: Edward is mentioned later ; John M. died at the age of twenty-seven years, unmar- ried ; Daniel C. is mentioned later ; Emma J. mar- ried Samuel Schmeltz and they live in Schuylkill county ; two died young.

EDWARD FETTEROLF, a farmer of Upper Ma- hanoy township, was born there, on his father's homestead, Oct. 2, 1867, and attended the town- ship schools during his boyhood. He was reared to farming, working for his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four, and in the spring of 1891 began cultivating his grandfather's place, where he lived for fifteen years. He then pur- chased the fine farm he now owns and ocenpies, which contains fifty-eight acres along the road be- tween Leck Kill and Line Mountain. It was the old John Diehl homestead. . Mr. Fetterolf has made a number of improvements on this property during his ownership, and he also owns the home- stead of his grandfather, George Fetterolf, now comprising 127 acres. He is a prosperous, enter- prising and highly respected citizen of his dis-

DANIEL C. FETTEROLE, now farming his father's old homestead in Upper Mahanoy township. was born there Feb. 2, 18:1, and received his educa- tion in the local connon schools. Farming has been his occupation all his life, and he worked for his parents until he attained his majority. In the spring of 1895 he began working the home place on his own account, purchasing the property from his father's estate. "This place was formerly the homestead of Paul Brosius, from whom George Fetterolf purchased it for his son Emanuel, father of the present owner. The house was built many years ago and was remodeled by the late Emanuel Fetterolf. The barn was erected in 1904 by Daniel C. Fetterolf, to replace the one destroyed by fire May 10th of that year. The farm contains 110 acres, which Mr. Fetterolf has under profitable cultivation. He is an industrious and intelligent worker, and has taken his place ameng the pro- gressive farmers of his district.

On Dec. 26, 1903, Mr. Fetterolf married Lydia Rebnek, daughter of Jonas and Rebecca ( Malick) Rebuck, and they have had two children, Minnie G. and Lottie D. Mr. Fetterolf and his family are Lutheran members of the Salem Union Church. located just across the Northumberland line in Schuylkill connty. Politically he is a Democrat.

NATHAN F. MARTZ. of Sunbury, is the old- est living member of the Martz family, which has been settled in Northumberland county for at least a. century, and he has long been known as the "grand old man" of that borough. where over half of his ninety vears have been passed. He is a grandson of David Martz, the pioneer of this . family in Northumberland county.

The Martz (or Mertz) family is quite numer- ous in Berks county, Pa., where, in Longswamp township, the first ancestor to conie from Ger- many made a settlement. The name is perpet- uated there by the town Mertztown, in Longswamp township, and Mertz's Church in the same section. Johannes Martz (also Maertz), the founder of this family in America, was one of 242. passengers on the ship "Ann," which sailed from Rotterdam. last from Cowes. He was a son of Johannes Maeriz, of Stockhausen, Wurtemberg, abont thirty- five miles northwest of Frankfort-on-the-Main. and forty miles northeast of Coblentz, in Germany. Johannes Maertz, the emigrant. landed at Phila- delphia Sept. 28, 1149. He settled in the vicinity

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Lyons, Berks county, and the church located near his home was named Mertz's Church in honor of him. The births of his first four children are recorded there. On May 24, 1756, he married Rosina Hase, daughter of Melchior Hase. Their children were: Johannes, born July 17, 1757; Anna Maria, Dec. 2, 1760; Maria Salome, May 24, 1763; Melchior, April 11, 1765; and Peter, March 9, 1769. The line in which we are inter- ested at present descends from either Johannes or Melchior.

David and Jacob Martz, brothers, moved from Berks or Lancaster county toward the elose of the eighteenth century, settling on the Shamokin creek, three miles south of Sunbury, in North- umberland county. Jacob, however, did not re- main long, moving to the Lykens valley, in Dau- phin eounty, where he died and is buried. David Martz was a blacksmith, and followed his trade in connection with farming. He married Bar- bara Miller, and they had a family of seven chil- dren, five sons and two daughters: David, Henry, Peter, Abraham and George, all of whom but Henry moved to Dayton, Ohio, where they died; Susan, who married Jolin Richstine, and Eliza- betli, who married Abraham Arter. The son Peter, of this family, was commissioned associate judge of Northumberland county April 12, 1833, qualified on the following day, and served a little more than a year.

Henry Martz, son of David, was born on the homestead. in Shamokin township, Northumber- land county, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth Fagely, daughter of Christian and Magdalena Fagely, pioneers of Shamokin township. Mr. and Mrs. Martz both died in Shamokin and are buried in St. Peter's grave- yard They had six children: Hettie, Katie, Mary Ann, George, Solomon and Nathan. F., all now deceased but the last named.

came the first baggagemaster for that road at Sunbury. He held the position continuously for thirty-five years, until his retirement, and was un- doubtedly one of the most familiar figures in this section of Northumberland county. Mr. Martz has always been popular with his fellow citizens. who have shown him many evidences of their es- teem. A social organization of the town has been named the Nathan F. Martz Club in his honor. Though he lias passed the ninetieth anniversary of his birth he is remarkably well preserved and reads the newspapers assiduously without glasses, retaining liis interest in local and national events and in everyday affairs of all kinds. He was never addicted to the use of tobacco or liquor, and enjoys a game of cards as much as ever. Tall and of massive build, he has been blessed with a fine physique, and he is very active for one of his years, though he has long since retired from ar- duous labors. He speaks both English and Ger- man.

In 1842 Mr. Martz became a member of "Old '76 Lodge," at Mauch Chunk, of the I. O. O. F .. and he is now one of the oldest living Odd Fel- lows in the United States. His first Presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk, but he left the Democratic party when Polk took his stand on the tariff question and has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He has held local offices, having served four years as overseer of the poor, and was a inember of the town council for several years. He has been a member of the Reformed Church for seventy-six years, having joined when he was a boy of fifteen. He first became a member of the Blue Church in Ralphio townsluip, and later was a member of the First Reformed Church of Sunbury, in which he and all his family have been active workers. He was a member of the consistory for half a century and has long been one of the pillars of the eongrega- tion. Mr. Martz lived on Market street for many corner of Fourth street and Woodlawn avenue.

Nathan F. Martz was born July 20. 1820, in . Shamokin township, Northumberland county. He years, but since 1885 has made his home at the

spent niost of his early days on the farm and when eighteen years old went to Mauch Chunk, where On Sept. 19, 1848, Mr. Martz married. at Allentown, Eliza Samuels, who was born Sept. 13. 1822, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Engleman) Samuels, of Allentown. They celebrated their sixtieth anniversary Sept. 19, 1908, and Mrs. Martz passed away Sept. 21, 1908. Six children were born to this union: One daughter died in infancy; William E. is a resident of Shamokin : Jesse S. died in 1856; Edward died Feb. 2. 1857: Ida V. B. is the wife of W. C. McConnell; Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Henry B. Smith. he became a clerk in the store of his uncles, Nathan and George Fagely. After eight years in their employ he formed a partnership with Robert Klotz, under the firm name of Martz & Klotz, and they earried on a general store for some time, un- til Mr. Klotz's enlistment in a military company ; he served as a lieutenant in the Mexican war. During the period of that war Mr. Martz sold out to a Mr. Lowry and went into the butchering bus- iness, in which he continued for two years. In 1851 he came to Sunbury, where he has since made his home. Here he was first associated with HENRY B. SMITH, of Sunbury, was born Nov. 19, 1855, in Womelsdorf. Berks Co .. Pa., son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Haak) Smith, he being the second of their four children, two sons and his uncles William and Reuben Fagely, who shipped considerable eoal at that time, remaining with them until the completion of the Northern Central railroad, in 1856, at which time he be- two daughters. The father, who was a lumber

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

merchant, died in 1876, at the age of fifty-six whose home he died about 1843. He is buried at years. The mother continued to live at Womels- the western end of the old graveyard of Zion's dorf. Henry B. Smith had received all his school- (Stone Valley) Church. As tradition has it that ing by the time he reached his thirteenth year, he was in his twenty-second year when he came to when he began to clerk in his native place. At this country, in 1776, having been born in 1754, the end of a year he had saved twenty dollars, with he was evidently about ninety at the time of his which he started out, intending to go West. By demise. He was a tall, robust man, of strong the time he reached Sunbury, Northumberland character and convictions, and lived a peaceful, county, his money was so nearly gone that he took industrions and useful life. His many descend- employment with Clement & Dissinger, merchants, ants in Northumberland county have been num- with whom he remained for ten or eleven years, bered among the thrifty and successful farmers until he was ready to commence business on his and business men of their respective communities. own account. In 1882, having saved about two He married Anna Reed, born March 11, 1:59, hundred dollars, he formed a partnership with S. died Dec. 11, 1833, and they had six children : C. Drumheller and embarked in the eoal business. John; Adam; Nicholas: George; Eve, who mar- The following year he became associated with Mr. ried and moved West, where she died, leaving one Drumheller and Walter Zeigler as H. B. Smith & daughter; and Catharine, who married Peter Co .; dealers in dry goods. Mr. Zeigler withdrew Hain. from this partnership three years later, and Mr. John Bingaman, son of John, born April 27, Drumheller two years after that, Mr. Smith do- 1801, died May 10, 1882; his wife Susanna died ing business alone as a merchant since 1887. Nov. 20, 1903, aged ninety-eight years, one month, Their combined capital at the outset was but three ten days, and both are buried at Georgetown, this county, where they died. He owned part of the thousand dollars: Mr. Smith has since increased his investment to many times that amount, and he homestead farm, which was later owned by John does a wholesale as well as a retail business, being Kiehl and was still later purchased by David one of the most substantial merchants in the bor- Hain. His children were: Adam, John (better ough of Sunbury.

known as "Jack"). Sarah (married Enoch Raker),

On Oct. 24, 1888, Mr. Smith married, in Sun- Mary (married William Wiest) and Eliza (Mrs. bury, Mary E. Martz, daughter of Nathan F. Sholl). "Jack" Bingaman had a son Willian Martz, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth who was known locally as "Haughel Bill," and . Martz Smith. In religion Mr. Smith is a mnem- "Jack's" brother Adam had a son William who ber of the Lutheran Church. Socially he belongs was distinguished from his cousin of the same to the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Royal name by the cognomen of "Denvel's Bill." Arcanum and Conclave.

Adam Bingaman, son of John the emigrant, was born July 5, 1791, in Lower Mahanoy town-

BINGAMAN. The Bingaman family now ship, and lived on and cultivated the farm in that numerous throughout Northumberland county is township lying adjacent to the property now oc- descended from one John Bingaman, one of the cupied by his grandson William E. Bingaman. "Hessian" soldiers (many of them came from He died Jan. 28. 1856, on his home place. He Hessen Cassel, Germany) sent to this country in owned another tract of 123 acres in the Stone the pay of the British during the Revolutionary Valley which had belonged to his father, and war, and one of those captured on Christmas night, which is now owned by Edwin Badman. He was 1776, by Washington at Trenton. Many of those enterprising, and prospered in his farm work. and taken prisoner were held at Penn Common, at was also a popular auctioneer, crying most of the Reading. Berks Co., Pa., until the close of the sales held in the neighborhood in his day ; he was war, and John Bingaman was one of those who re- widely known in this connection. He married fused to leave this country, of which he became a Hannah Schrover, born Feb. 9, 1796, died Oct. loyal citizen. About 1790 he came to Northumber- 27. 1871, and they are buried at Zion's (Stone land county, where his first location was in the Valley) Church, of which he was a Reformed mem- vicinity of Mahantango, in Lower Mahanoy town- ber. Their children were: John. Jacob. Abraham. ship, about where Levi Kauffman now lives. William. Alexander, and Catharine (married There le conducted a hotel on the banks of the Elias Wiest). Elizabeth, wife of Jacob, born Susquehanna river, and according to family tra- July 13. 1819, died Aug. 9, 1851. Rebecca, wife dition the Indians used to visit him and drink of William, born March 29, 1839, died July 30, his applejaek. He afterward settled farther north 1866. in the township, on a large tract which is now the Nicholas Bingaman, son of John the emigrant, was born Nov. 28, 1798, in Lower Mahaney town- farm of Edwin Badman, and there he erected buildings and continued to make his home for ship. He made his home on the farm of 100 acres many years. Some years before his death he re- where Benjamin Bingaman now lives, and was a tired and went to live with one of his sons, at substantial and industrious man, engaging in

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

huckstering as well as farming for many years; him, there were nine children, six of whom were he made trips with produce to Tremont and Don- living in 1890, namely: William O., Charles C., aldson every week. At the time of his death he Mary (married Joseph Morgan), Harry W., Fred- owned three farms. He was a leading member erick W. and Lizzie. and supporter of Bingaman's Evangelical Church, WILLIAM O. BINGAMAN, son of John, was born Feb. 6, 1856, and received a good education, at- tending the academies at Berrysburg and Free- burg and the State normal school at Shippens- burg. In 1875 he entered his father's store as clerk, and upon his father's death he purchased the business. He has been a prominent citizen of Georgetown in public as well as business cir- cles (serving as assessor, postmaster and tax col- lector of that town and Lower Mahanoy town- ship) and as a well known member of the Re- publican party. He married Lillie Beaver, of Snyder county, and they had three children, Blanche, John G. and Ella Corrine. The family belong to the German Reformed Church. at the county line, which he served as class leader and exhorter, and was an upright and conscien- tious man in all the relations of life. He married Mary (Polly) Witmer, who was born Oct. 15, ' 1801, daughter of Christopliel Witmer, and died Aug. 11, 1883, surviving her husband many years. He died June 10, 1860. They are buried at Binga- man's Church. They had children as follows : An- nie married John Kiehl : Catharine married John Underkoffler ; John : Hannah, who died of small- pox, married Isaac Schaffer and they had one son, Benjamin ; Sarah married George Bohner and went to live in Dakota: Mary married Philip Grim; William W. and Elias are mentioned be- low ; Caroline married Cyrus Buffington; Henry

CHARLES C. BINGEMAN, son of John and Mary died in Dakota. Sarah and her brothers Elias. (Wiest) Bingaman, was born March 28. 1863, in

and William W. are now the only survivors of this large family.

George Bingaman, son of John the emigrant, lived for some years with his brother Nicholas in Lower Malianoy township, later moving out to Illinois, whither he made the trip in big cov- ered wagons. IIe located near Polo. His wife was a daughter of Philip Zerbe, of Lower Mahanoy township, and among their children were: John, who was a tall man, and who is said to have be- come very rich : Jacob, who came East to marry; Lovana; and George. Long after reaching matur- ity these sons came East to visit. John had no children.

Of the posterity of Adam Bingaman, son of John the emigrant, we give herewith the record of three lines, those of his sons John, Abraham and Alexander. John Bingaman was born in Lower Mahanoy township in 1817, and was reared upon the farm. Early in life he became a boatman up- on the Susquehanna canal, and in the winter drove teanis to Pittsburg and Philadelphia, transport- ing farmers' produce to market. Locating at Georgetown, this county, early in the forties, he engaged in the coal and lumber business, and in 1850 purchased what is now known as the "Binga- man House," conducting same in connection with his other affairs. In 1875 he built the brick store where he was engaged in the mercantile bus- iness until his death, and he also had extensive agricultural interests. He was an ardent Repub- lican in politics, but never took any part in pub- lic matters, his time being well occupied with his many private concerns. He was a member of the

Lower Mahanoy township, and attended school at Dalmatia, receiving a good education. He as- sisted his father in the management of his various business interests, store, hotel and farm, coal and lumber trade, etc., and, his father being the lead- ing business man of Georgetown for years, he gained ample experience in that connection. He eventually engaged in the hotel business at Dal- matia (Georgetown) on his own account, conduct- ing the "Bingaman House" for fourteen years. He sold it to the present owner in about 1907. Meantime he had gone to Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa., where he conducted the "Crawford House" for about four years, in January, 1905, removing to Sunbury, where he accepted a posi- tion as traveling man. After two and a half years in that work he took the "Keystone Hotel" at Selinsgrove, this county, which he carried on for about two and a half years, in October, 1910. be- coming proprietor of the "Hoffman House" at Sunbury, one of the leading hotels of that bor- ough. It is located on Third street. south of Market, in an advantageous situation near the Pennsylvania railway depot and the post office, and has forty guests rooms. Mr. Bingeman has been well fitted by long business experience to make a success of this hotel, which already has a well established patronage. His reputation in previous ventures of the kind, his adaptability for the business and recognized executive talents all augur well for the future of the "Hoffman House."

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 21

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