Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 24

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 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Johns Cours

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

end proved successful. In 1859 he withdrew from farmers of his section of Northumberland county. the firm to take charge of the Henry Clay colliery, He was born Aug. 30, 1850, in Frailey township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and belongs to a family which has been settled in Pennsylvania since Provincial times, being a descendant of John Martin Beck, who was born in Europe in the year 1724, and died Sept. 29, 1785. His wife, Catharine, was born May 1, 1726, and died Oct. 19, 180-4. Among their children were sons Daniel, John and Jacob. A Catharine Beck, born June 27, 1766, who died July 2, 1846, was probably a daughter of John Martin and Catharine Beck, who were the grand- parents of Gottlieben Hoeckly.

and he acquired a handsome fortune. He opened and operated the Brady colliery for a few years, and in 1873 began working the Ben Franklin col- liery, at which he was engaged for the remainder of his life. He died Nov. 15, 1874, in the faith . of the Presbyterian Church. On May 22, 1836, he married Lavinia Jones, daughter of William and Catharine Jones, of Reading. They had one son, William H. Mr. Douty was a man of decided views, and was very tenacious of his opinion. He had a kind heart, and was ever generous to those less fortunate than himself.

WILLIAM H. DOUTY, son of John B., was born at Pottsville, Pa., in 1836, and died in October, 1896, in Philadelphia, where he was buried. He assisted his father in the management of his coal mines at Shamokin and Dontyville. He was sole manager of the Ben Franklin colliery at Douty- ville, one of the largest mine workings in the an- thracite field, and with John Gabel became the owner of the Garfield mine .. He was one of the chief movers in suppressing the terrible crimes of that desperate band of men known as the "Mol- lie Maguires," who infested the coal region in the early seventies. He had other business rela- tions, however, being engaged in the dry goods and grocery business on Sunbury street, his place being known as the "Brown Stone Front," and was very successful in his undertakings. In 1893 he went to Philadelphia, where he lived in retire- ment until his death. He married Dorothea M. Stroup, daughter of William and Sarah (Christ) Stroup. Their children were: Phoebe, wife of Philip Goodwill, of Bramwell, Mercer Co., W. Va .; Minnie F., widow of George W. Parmley; John, of Cumberland, Md. : and Sallie, who lives with her sister Mrs. Goodwill.

Mr. Douty was burgess of Shamokin in . 1873, an office in which his father's brother, . R. B. Douty, had been the first incumbent in 1864-65. materially to his original acreage. He was a Re- He was the first president and director of the Ed- ison Electric Illuminating Company of Sham- In the spring of 1848 he married Elizabeth Shadel, who was born in Schuylkill county Aug. 24, 1822, daughter of David Shadel, a native of Northumberland county, who married Polly Hof- fey, of Lykens valley, Dauphin county. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shadel : Elizabeth, Henry, Caroline. Sarah, Catharine, and Eve. Mr. Shadel passed most of his life in the Lykens val- ley, and was a hat manufacturer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Beck had three children: John H .: David, who died when seven years old : and Louisa. who married W. B. Eister, Esq., a merchant and postmaster at Seven Points, this county. okin, which was incorporated Nov. 29, 1882. Mr. Douty was one of the prominent citizens of Sham- okin appointed as a committee to prepare a con- stitution and by-laws for the Board of Trade, Jan. 24, 1887, and he became the first president of that important organization. The first attempt at fixing up the streets of Shamokin was made by Mr. Douty and Dr. R. S. Hollenback. both go- ing to Harrisburg to appeal to the Legislature for a loan of money from the State for that pur- pose, as the taxes at that early time were insuť- ficient for any improvements of this kind. Mr. Douty and his family were Presbyterians.

JOHN H. BECK, of Rockefeller township, has long been considered one of the most progressive 7

John H. Beck, the grandfather of John H. Beck, was a grandson of John Martin Beck, the immigrant ancestor. He was born Feb. 11, 1286, in Northampton county, Pa., and settled in Ly- kens valley, in Dauphin county, where he fol- lowed farming throughout his active years. He died June 20, 1855, aged sixty-nine years, four months, nine days, and is buried at Uniontown, Dauphin Co., Pa. He gave considerable land to the cemetery. He married Susan Greenswicht, of Northampton county, and to them were born the following children : Daniel; John and David, twins: Jonathan; George; John Jacob; Polly, Mrs. Benneville Ossman ; Harriet, Mrs. Wolf (she and her husband moved to Ohio) ; Susanna, Mrs. Heater ; and Christianna, Mrs. Charles Drumin.

John Jacob Beck, son of John H .. was born June 24, 1820, and died May 15, 1883. He is buried at the Wolf's Cross Road Church. For a number of years he was a coal miner, living in Audenried, Pa., for several years, and for three years at Hazleton. After his marriage he moved to Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, Northumberland county, where he bought from David Shipe the farm of eighty acres upon which he made liis home to the close of his life. He car- ried on general farming, in which he prospered so well that he was able to buy more land, adding publican in politics and a Lutheran in religion.

John H. Beck was reared and educated in Rockefeller township, where he has passed all his life. He was reared to farm work and eventually bought the old homestead, to which he has added

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

until he now has a tract of 260 aeres, where he Abbie M., born Sept. 30, 1888 ; Kate F., born May carries on general farming. He has raised con- 30, 1890 : Esther N., born Sept. 13, 1892; and Or- ville E., born July 23, 1895. siderable stock, and for many years was engaged in the dairy business, running a milk team daily to Sunbury. He kept as many as thirty-two cows, which were cared for in the most approved hy- gienie fashion, his barn being a model modern es- tablishment, supplied with running water and var- ious other facilities for keeping it cleanly and at- tractive. He has also made a number of improve- ments in his residence, which is supplied with run- ning water and is a comfortable home, kept up with the same care which characterizes all Mr. Beck's possessions. He has shown excellent bus- NELSON MILLER, late of Rockefeller town- ship. was one of the leading farmers of his section for a number of years. He was born there June 14. 1860. on the homestead of his father, Solomon Miller, who at the time of his death was the old- est citizen of Rockefeller township, and grandson of David Miller. iness ability in every branch of his work, which has thriven under his management until he is justly regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of his section. He has interested himself in the local welfare, taking part in such movements as affect the entire community, and has been particu- larly active in local educational matters, having served six years as school director, as supervisor, to which office he was appointed by the conrt, and from 1903 to 1906 as county commissioner; he was secretary of the board three years. Politically he is a Republican.

Mr. Beck's hobby has been music, and he is a fine perforiner on the B-flat cornet, which he has played as member of the Seven Points band : he has also played the tenor horn with that organiza- tion. Socially he is a member and past master of Lodge No. 414, F. & A. M., of Elvsburg, and a member of Camp No. 139, P. O. S. of A., of Seven Points. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church.

On Jan. 2, 1868, Mr. Beck married Abbie R. Zostman, of Lower Augusta township, daughter of Daniel and Esther ( Raker) Zostman, both of that township, whose children were: Sarah Ann. one that died in infancy, Alexander, Harriet, Wil- liam, Mary Jane, Rebecca, Catharine. Abbie R., one that died in infancy, Daniel and Esther. For his second wife Mr. Zostman married Susanna Conrad, of Lower Augusta. He was a tanner by trade, and died in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have had a large family. namely: William Edward. who died April 21, 1872: David Albert, born May 6, 1871, a dairyman in the Irish valley, in Sham- okin township, who married Alberta Dunkel- berger ; Mary Alice, born Aug. 26, 1872. wife of Harvey E. Miller. a butcher, of Sunbury; Daniel J., born Dec. 13, 1873, a farmer of Rockefeller township, who married Emma J. Manrer and has children, Laura V. and Lloyd E .: George W ..

Among the family traditions preserved by the Becks are stories of the trouble these pioneers had with the Indians during the early days in Northampton county. It is said that they suffered from several attacks of the savages, from whom. they were in such danger that they had a place of refuge constructed under the floor of their house, where they would secrete themselves when the out- look was threatening.

The Miller family has long been established in Pennsylvania. George Miller, commonly called "Hunter George," emigrated from Germany some time during the eighteenth century. He settled near Hamburg, in Berks county. Pa., and had ser- eral children, of whom nothing is known at pres- ent except such history as has been preserved con- cerning the son John. John Miller, born in 1259, settled in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, prior to 1785. He owned about thirteen hundred acres of land situated upon the Centre pike, and built his log house upon the south side of the road opposite where George W. Miller, his great-grandson, now resides. In 1785 he married Catharine Reber, who was born Sept. 26, 1769, and to them were born two sons and two daughters : George: David; Elizabeth, who was twice mar- ried, first to a Mr. Rockefeller and second to a Mr. Wilbour; and Sarah, Mrs. Miller. Be- fore his death, which occurred in 1804, when he was forty-five years old, George Miller divided his property between his sons, David obtaining the land on the south side of the valley and George that on the north side. His wife, who survived him many years, died Aug. 19, 1845, at the age of seventy-six years. John and Elizabeth Miller are interred in the old Baptist burial ground near Deiblers station, in Shamokin township.

township. and had a long active career, retaining his physical vigor until well advanced in years. He continued to work until five years before his death. when he sustained an injury which made it necessary for him to relinquish some of his activ-

Solomon Miller, father of Nelson Miller, was born in August, 1826, in Shamokin township. this county, and thence moved to Rockefeller town- ship, where he lived for sixty years. For many years he was one of the most prominent residents of his section. A prosperous farmer, he acquired born June 18, 1875: Harry Luther, born July 18, the ownership of several of the finest farms in the 1877, who married Susanna Dunkelberger and lives in Shamokin township: John Norman, born June 26, 1881; Susan Elizabeth, born Oct. 12, 1883, who married Theodore P. Bennett, of Co- lumbia county ; Franklin W., born Jan. 20, 1SS6 ;

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ities. He died July 11, 1909, when almost eighty- been identified with business and public affairs three, and was the oldest citizen of the township for a long period. He was born in Cameron town- at that time, His death was caused by paralysis. ship April 28, 1845, son of Daniel and Catharine (Weary) Sehleig, and comes of a family of Ger- man origin. Mr. Miller's home was seven miles from Sunbury, where his remains were taken for interment, in Pomfret Manor cemetery. The community felt that in his death it had lost one of its most val- uable citizens. He had not only managed his own affairs well but had been intimately associated with the best interests of his section, encouraging and supporting everything that would. advance the prosperity of the township, and those in financial distress found a true friend in him. Mr. Miller had been married three times, his first wife being Adaline Kline, who died three or four years after their marriage. To this union was born one daugh- ter, Theresa, now the widow of Prof. Ira Shipman and living in Sunbury. By his second wife, Cath- arine (Long), daughter of Daniel Long, there were two sons, Nelson and Jefferson. the latter now in Texas, where he holds a responsible posi -. tion in the oil fields.

Nelson Miller received his education in the pub- lic schools and was reared to farming, which he followed all his life. From the time he was twelve years old he had charge of his father's teams. In 1910 the homestead farm of his father came into his possession-one of the finest farm properties in Rockefeller township and under an excellent state of cultivation. The farm on which he died, and where his widow and family live, contains considerably over one hundred acres, and in addi- tion Mr. Miller owned two adjoining farms. He died Nov. 14, 1910, suddenly, succumbing to a stroke of paralysis from which he suffered the day before. Fifty years of age, and possessing abun- dant vitality and splendid physique. he was taken away when the best part of his life was apparently before him. He is buried at the Stone Church at Augustaville. The family are Lutherans. At the time of his death Mr. Miller was serving as supervisor of his township, and he had been a member of its school board. He was a man who possessed the confidence of his fellow citizens, and proved himself worthy of it in the discharge of the duties of his public trusts.

On May 13, 1883, Mr. Miller married Tillie C. Klase, daughter of Francis and Rebecca (Shaffer) Klase, who lived at Stonington, Pa., and seven children were born to them: Dora E .: Carl W., now farming one of the tracts belonging to his father's estate, who married Stella Bartholomew and has one child. Arline: Arthur E. : Frank S. : Ralph W. ; Mary T., who died in childhood; and Grace R.

PETER W. SCHLEIG, justice of the peace and retired merchant, of Gowen City, in Cameron township, is one of the best known citizens of his . section of Northumberland county. where he has

Adam Schleig, his great-grandfather, came to this country from Germany, and served his adopted land in the Revolutionary war. He after- ward settled upon the land now owned by Brinton Hartline, in Cameron township, Northumberland Co., Pa., and died at the age of seventy years. His son Adam, who was born about 1774. inherited that property and passed his entire life there. He taught German in the local schools. He died in Cameron township about 1819, at the age of forty-five years. To him and his wife. Catharine (Derck), were born six children: Daniel ; Michael ; Martin ; Elizabeth ; Sarah, Mrs. John. Derr; and Catharine, Mrs. Philip Kerstetter. Elizabeth, who lived in Cameron township, was the last survivor of the family.

Daniel Schleig, eldest son of Adam, was born Aug. 8, 1812, at the old homestead, and died in 1872, at the age of sixty years. He learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed in connec- tion with farming, and was quite a prominent man in' his day in the locality, holding minor township offices and being an active worker in the Reformed Church, which he served as elder and deacon. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Catharine Weary, who survived him, continuing to make her home in Cameron township until her death, in 1897, at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of six children: Peter W., Joseph, Michael, Hannah (wife of Daniel Knarr). Salome (wife of Henry Sortman), and Martin, all now de- ceased except Peter W. and Hannah.

Peter W. Schleig was reared upon the old home- stead place, which his father inherited and oc- cupied. He received his education in the public schools of Cameron township, and when a boy of thirteen commenced work in the mines. where he was employed for sixteen years, filling various positions. In 1874 he established himself in the mercantile business at Gowen City, which he con- tinued for over thirty-five years, retiring June ??. 1910, since when the store has been carried on by his son Andrew H. Schleig. Mr. Schleig, how- ever, has by no means retired from active partici- pation in business or matters of general interest. In 1909, in partnership with his son Andrew and Elias Gonser, he established a telephone company for local service which has proved a boon to the community, both as a progressive measure and for the convenience it has afforded many residents of the locality. It is known as the Gowen City branch of the Bell phone, and has been a highly successful enterprise.

There are few men in this section who have been

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more prominently identified with the administra- and he is a grandson of Jacob Sechiler and great- tion of local public affairs. Mr. Schleig has al- grandson of John Sechler. ways been an enthusiastic supporter of the cause John Seehler was a soldier in the Revolution- of free education, and as such was repeatedly ary war. In 1775 he purchased from the Penns some five hundred acres of land in what is now Danville, and built a house not far from where the State hospital now stands, in which house, in 1790, his son Jaeob was born, the first male child born within the present limits of Danville. The old Mahoning burying ground was taken from his land.

elected to membership on the school board, his willing services meeting with the highest approval of his fellow eitizens. He has also served his township as treasurer, auditor, assessor ( five years ) and justice of the peace, to which office he was first eleeted in 1876, and in which he has served continuously since. He has been a lifelong Demo- crat, and one of the leading members of the party in his township. In every relation of life he has won the respect of all associated with him. So- eially he holds membership in Gowen City Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Rebekah Lodge No. 15 of Gowen City, Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., and Gowen City Camp, P. O. S. of A. In religion he is a member of the Reformed Church, and has served six years as deacon.

History informs us that there were four broth- ers of the Sechler family who settled in or around Danville. One of these was Rudolf Sechler, born in 1722, who married Susanna Douty. He was a blacksmith by trade, but later became register and recorder of Columbia county, Pa., and in 1821 he was appointed justice of the peace, which office he held until 1845, resigning on account of his age. He died in 1857, at the age of eighty-five. Mr. Schleig's first wife, Annetta (Haupt), daughter of Benjamin Haupt, died at the age of forty-six years. By this union there was one son, Andrew H., who was born March 28, 1864, Jan. 26, 1808. In his early life he became a received a public school education. and at an early age entered the employ of his father, with whom He was the father of six children, of only one of whom, at this writing, we have any definite knowl- edge, this being H. B. D. Sechler, who was born painter, following that business all his active life. In 1830 he married Jane Jamison, of Mifflin coun- he has ever since been associated in business. In ty, Pa., who died in 1831: in 1835 he married 1885 he was appointed postmaster at Gowen City (second) Sarah Gearhart, daughter of John Gear- and he has held the office ever since. He has hart, and a member of the Gearhart family so served the township as auditor and tax collector, prominent in this section. and they were the par- and served as county auditor two terms. He is ents of Harriet ( Mrs. John Watters) and Emma a Democrat in politics, and has been an active (Mrs. John Yorgy).

citizen in many ways, leading a busy and useful

Jacob Sechler, son of John, born in 1790, was a

life. He is a member of Gowen City Lodge, I. O. soldier in the war of 1812 .. He married Barbara O. F., and of the encampment. and a member Reese, and they were the parents of a large family, of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M. He married of whom we have the following record: (1) Abram, born in Danville April 13, 1814. was Mary Henninger, daughter of Nathan Henninger, of Cameron township, and they have had two chil- twice married, the first time, in 1835, to Lavina.

dren, Charles and Goldie. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew H. Schleig are members of the Lutheran Church.

For his second wife Peter W. Schleig married Mrs. Lillie A. (Yoder) May, daughter of Enos D. Yoder and widow of Harry May. by whom she had two children, Joseph G. and Enos D. Her father was born in the Mahanoy Valley and moved thence to Shamokin. where he engaged in the Martha ( Mrs. Charles Robinson). (2) Samuel. jewelry business : he married Susanna Drumheller. born in Danville. married Martha Morgan. and Mr. and Mrs. Peter W. Schleig have had these children : Rolland L., Goldie L. and Annie S., Ends), Dallas, Isaac, John and Mrs. Newberry all living. Socially Mrs. Schleig holds member-

daughter of Asa Pancoast. She died in 1864, the mother of five children. of whom are men- tioned Mary Alice ( Mrs. Henry Schick), Sarah Jane (Mrs. John Kerwin) and W. W. (of Phil- adelphia, Pa.). In 1869 Abram Sechler married (second) Harriet Wertman, daughter of John Wertman, and to this union was born one child.

they were the parents of Jacob, Hannah ( Mrs. (of Sunbury, Pa.). (3) Jacob married Susan ship in Rebekah Lodge No. 75 of Gowen City, Harris and they were the parents of the follow- the ladies auxiliary of the I. O. O. F., and she is a member of the Reformed Church. ing children : Harris, Charles. Anna, Ida and Jay, all of whom live in the West, their father LAFAYETTE SECHLER. now a resident of the borongli of Riverside, was until recently a farmer in Gearhart township, in which section his family has residled for several generations. Mr. Sechler was born in 1860, at Bradys Bond. Armstrong Co., Pa., son of Alem Marr Sechler, having moved to that section many years ago. settling in Wisconsin, where he founded the town still known as Sechlerville. (4) Mary. Mrs. Coxer, had children, Jacob Sechler. Martha and Eliza- beth, all of whom live in Ohio. (5) Alem Marr is mentioned below. (6) Frank R., born March 22, 1826, in Mahoning township, Montour county.

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married in 1850 Abigail Best, and they have chil- sylvania in his capacity of court reporter, a pro- dren, Barbara (Mrs. Kinney) and Clarke (of fession he has followed for a period of thirty-five Philadelphia, Pa.). (?) James moved out to St. years. His work has not only taken hin into the Louis, Mo. . (S) Lafayette, born in Danville, courts of a number of counties in this State, but married Rosanna McBride, and they had four also into the State Legislative bodies. He was the first official stenographer appointed in the counties of Union, Snyder, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry after the act authorizing their appointment in 1874 was passed. children, Margaret ( Mrs. Jeremiah Faust). Anna (wife of Rev. J. H. Mortimer), William A. ( who married Mary Williams and has one son, Jay) and Ida M.

Mr. Cummings was born March 13, 1853, at

Alem Marr Sechler was born in 1824 in Dan- ville, Montour Co., Pa., and died in 1903. He McEwensville, Northumberland county, son of was by trade a straightener of iron rails, for rail- Alexander Cummings and grandson of James roads, and straightened the first rail made in the Cummings, who was a son of John Cummings, the iron mills at Danville. In 1854 he purchased a first ancestor of this family in America. farm in Gearhart township, Northumberland coun- ty, lying along what is known as Kipp's run, it be- ing a part of the tract settled by the Doutys and lat- er owned by the Kipps. Mr. Sechler married Em- ily Love, daughter of Stephen Fairchild and Ma- hala (Nelson) Love, and they had three children, Lafayette, Kate and Gardner Little (who died in infancy ) ; the daughter inarried Charles W. Blakes- lee, a teacher in the High school at Long Branch, N. J., and they became the parents of three chil- dren, Marrion and two sons who are deceased.

John Cummings landed at Newcastle, whence he proceeded to Philadelphia and from there to Sunbury, Northumberland county. He located in Sunbury at an early day, having been a member of the town council in 1797. He is known to have been possessed of some means upon his arrival in the borough. Of Scotch-Irish extraction, he was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and he left the reputation of having been a man of exceedingly kindly disposition. He is buried at Middle Creek, Snyder Co., Pa. His children were: John, James; Nancy, who married a Mr. Spence; Eliza- beth, who married John Cummings, and died at the age of eighty years; and Nancy (the second of that name in the family), who married James Russell and lived at Danville, Pa. John Cuni- mings, husband of Elizabeth, was the first sheriff of Lycoming county, Pa., served as associate judge and was known as "Judge" Cummings, and in 1816 was master of the Masonic lodge at Williams- port, where they resided. He was the owner of a farm on which part of Newberry is located.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 24

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