Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 25

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 25

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Lafayette Sechler was reared on the farm, mean- time receiving his education in the common schools of his home township and at Williamsport, Pa. After attaining his majority he continued farm- ing,. on his own account, and upon the death of his father he purchased the old homestead in Gearhart township, which he carried on until 1909. At that time he moved to his present home in the borough of Riverside, and he has since rented his farm, which comprises 156 acres of excellent river bottom land. Mr. Sechler has been enterprising in his business, and has made a suc- cess' of his undertakings, but he has also found time to take part in various matters of interest to the community generally, and he has filled different township offices. having several times held that of school director. He is a Mason, hold- ing membership in Lodge No. 516, F. & A. M., of Danville, of which he is a past master.

On Oct. 9, 1884, Mr. Sechler married Clarissa Smith, daughter of Dr. Samuel S. and Sarah (Reed) Smith, and they have two children: Blanche is the wife of P. M. Irey, and lives in Lewisburg, Pa., where Mr. Irey owns and con- ducts what was formerly the Marsh shoe store; Billmeyer, and died April 16, 1835. Mr. and Paul is in his senior year at the Danville high school. The family are members of the Baptist Church, though Mr. Sechler is a Methodist in religious connection.

James Cummings, son of John, was born July 11, 1794, and died June 26, 1836. For some time he was a merchant at Washingtonville, Montour Co., Pa., where he was residing at the time of his death, winning an excellent reputation as a business man. He was public-spirited and took an active interest in the affairs of his time, held the rank of major in the State militia, and was a member of Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M .. at Sun- bury, to which his father also belonged. On Nov. 6, 1817, he married Fannie Billmeyer, who was born in 1788, near Washingtonville, now in Mon- tour county, daughter of Andrew and Fannie Mrs. James Cummings are buried in the Bill- meyer private graveyard, six miles east of Milton, along the Chillisquaque creek. Their children were born as follows: Andrew, Sept. 11, 1818: Alexander, April 3, 1819; Christiana, June 18. 1822; Fannie, March 16, 1826; Nancy, Sept. 11, 1829.

JOSEPH F. CUMMINGS, of Sunbury, former · chief burgess, an influential and honored citizen of that borough, whose career lias made him one Alexander Cummings was born at Washington- ville, Montour Co., Pa. He became engaged in of its most respected residents, has had long and intimate connection with public affairs in Penn- the hotel business at Mifflinburg, Union :Co:, Pa.,

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where he was burned out in 1857, his place of 1814 he received such appointment to serve in the business being completely destroyed, and he him- courts of Union, Snyder, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry counties. At the beginning of such service he entered the Millersville State normal school, near Lancaster, Pa., and pursued the studies of the course between courts, and at the expiration of three years entered the office of Hon. S. P. Wolverton and remained with him between courts until 1881. self so badly injured in the disaster that he died six months later, in the same year. His wife, Mary E. (Morgan), whom he married Feb. 26, 1846, still survives at the age of eighty-six, making her honic with her daughter at Mexico, Montour county. She is a faithful member of the Pres- byterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were born six children: James H. (who was killed at , the Billmeyer sawmill. at the age of

nine years, while seated on a sawlog), Robert M., and continues his work in the courts of Juniata John J., Joseph F., Annie F. and Robert .1.

Mrs. Mary E. (Morgan) Cummings was born Nov. 4, 1824, one mile east of the Chillisquaque Church, daughter of Robert and Anne (Auten) Morgan. The latter was the daughter of John Auten, who was a large land owner and miller, conducting as well a sawmill on the Chillisquaque creek, having been among the first settlers along the said creek to utilize its waters for business purposes. His farms are now owned by Hon. Alexander Billmeyer. The children of Robert and

For seventeen years Mr. Cummings reported for the courts of Union, Snyder and Mifflin counties, and Perry counties, in addition to the courts of Northumberland county. In his long experience as court reporter he has been engaged specially in the counties of .Cambria, Blair, Bedford, Hunting- don, Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Adams, Montgom- cry, Delaware, Philadelphia, Lycoming, Clinton and Elk. He was for seven years official reporter for the State Board of Agriculture before said body was organized as a department. and he was similarly employed a number of times as reporter for the State Horticultural Society, of which he

Anne Morgan were: John J., Mary E. ( Mrs. is a life member. For the past ten years he has Cummings), Joseph A. (died young), Jane, also reported in the State, Senate of Pennsylvania, Joseph T., Sarah A. and Robert G.

Mrs. Anne ( Auten) Morgan, maternal grand- mother of the subject of this sketch, was a de- scendent of Adrian Hendrickson Auten and his wife Elizabeth ( Thomas), who came from Hol- land and settled in Flatbush, Long Island, in 1651, his descendants having moved to Northamp- ton Co., Pa., near Delaware Water Gap, in 1764, and soon thereafter one of the members of the family located in Northumberland county.

his work including the proceedings of the commit- tee appointed by the Senate and House to inves- tigate the insane asylums of the State, which re- port was published in book form. In 1880 he was stenographer on the State committee of which Hon. A. H. Dill was chairman. In 1888 he accompanied the Pennsylvania Millers' State Association on their trip across the continent to San Francisco and as far north as Taconia, Wash., stopping at various places along the route and traveling a week in Yellowstone park. In 1890 he planted a peach orchard of five thousand trees four miles south of Sunbury, and with his other duties man- aged the growth and product of the orchard for twenty years. When the trees became exhausted he sold the place.

Joseph F. Cummings began his education in the conimon schools, and in his youth learned tele- graphy in the Milton office of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company. He was only fourteen years of age when he took charge of a telegraph office near Lock Haven. and after a few years' service was transferred to the day office at Lock Mr. Cummings's wide experience of and thor- ough insight regarding public affairs has made him a particularly valuable citizen of his home place. He served some years as a member of the council Haven, where he was operator for the Philadelphia & Erie and Bald Eagle Valley roads and the West- ern Union Telegraph Company. It was at this time that he took up the study of shorthand. with- of the borough of Sunbury, and was subsequently out a teacher, and with no help from any one who elected clniet burgess, in 1891. During his incum- understood its practice. This was in 18:2. and in bency of that office the first square of vitrified brick paving was laid. He showed his progressive spirit and intelligent understanding of the needs of the community in many ways, chief among which was the bringing to Sunbury of a representa- tive of the Lewis Mercer Sewer Construction Com- pany, of New York City. for the purpose of estab- spite of obvious disadvantages he had progressed so far in 18:3 that he was requested to proceed to Erie to take the position of private stenographer to William A. Baldwin, thien general superintendent of the Philadelphia & Erie railroad. He was the first incumbent to hold a position of this kind in the service of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad lishing a general sewer system throughout the bor- Company, and he was with Mr. Baldwin when the ough. An agreement was made satisfactory to offices were removed to Williamsport. After he the borough conncil and an ordinance formulated had remained a year with Mr. Baldwin the Act . to accomplish the object. The authority was aft- of Assembly authorizing the appointment of offi- erward vested in a local party. but never com- cial stenographers was passed, and in the fall of pleted. He was active in encouraging all move-

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ments for the benefit of the greatest number, and went back to Schuylkill county, returning to giving his aid to worthy projects whenever possible. Northumberland county in 1860 and remaining He and his family are members of the Presby- terian Church, in the work of which he has taken an active part, being at present a ruling elder and superintendent of the Sabbath school, which latter position he has held for a number of years. He has served as a director of the Sunbury Mutual Fire Insurance Company from. its organization in 1896.

Socially Mr. Cummings is a Mason, being a member and past master of Lodge No. 22. F. & A. M., member and past high priest of Northum- berland Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M., both of Sun- bury, and a member of Bloomsburg Consistory, thirty-second degree. He is at present senior grand master of ceremonies of the Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Veteran Association of the Eastern Division of the Philadelphia & Erie Rail- road Company.

On Dec. 29, 1887, Mr. Cummings married Emily . M. Umberger, daughter of Dr. John R. and Mary E. (Moody) Umberger, of Dauphin, Dauphin Co., Pa., and they have a family of four children : John U., Mary E., Juliet R. and Joseph F. The last named, who was born May 18, 1898, is gener- ally coneeded to be the largest child of his age in Pennsylvania. When eleven years of age, in the summer of 1909, he was four feet, eleven inches in height and weighed 226 pounds. Except for his size he is a normal, healthy boy. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have an ideal home, a large. convenient and well appointed residence with all the comforts which go to constitute a desirable dwelling place.

until his death, which oceurred June 10, 18:3. At the time of his death he was in the employ of Douty & Baumgardner, at the old Henry Clay eol- liery, which was operated by Alexander Fulton. of Shamokin, and the gas explosion there in which . he and ten other men lost their lives was the first accident of such serious importance in the district. Mr. Drumheiser was well known in the town in various eonneetions. He organized the first band at Shamokin and taught the same, and he was also known as a composer of music, devoting all the time possible to such work, in which he took the keenest enjoyment. He was a eharter member of the German Reformed Church of Shamokin and one of its liberal supporters.

Conrad Drumheiser was twice married, his first union being with Elizabeth Neagart, of Schuylkill county, by whom he had two children, John F. and Charles, the latter also a resident of Shamo- kin. By his second wife, Henrietta Maehet. he had four children: Elizabeth ( married William Lewis), Conrad, Philip W. and Barbara (Mrs. Adamıs) .

John F. Drumheiser came to Shamokin with his father and here received all his edneation in the public schools. When a boy he began work at the mines, which he has continued ever since, having been employed in that line for the long pe- riod of thirty-nine years. He is now at the Burnside colliery, in the employ of the Coal & Iron Com- pany. Mr. Drumheiser is a worker whose intelli- gence and reliability can be depended upon. and he has the highest reputation for efficiency.

In 1879 Mr. Drumheiser married Caroline Yo- children : Oliver Charles, Raymond, Ida May, Cora, Gertrude, Maleolm, Helen Irene and Curtis Allen.

JOHN F. DRUMHEISER, of Shamokin. for- der, and to this union have been born the following

mer chief burgess of that borough and for over ten years a member of the borough council, is a eitizen who has done his share in administering the affairs of the community in such a manner as to reflect Mr. Drumheiser's publie service began with his election as member of the council from the Second ward, in 1897. He served ten and a half years in that position. during which time he presided over the council for a year. In 1906 he was elected chief burgess, and served as such until 1909. He- is a Republican in political faith. He is a member of Camp No. 149, P. O. S. of A .. in Shamokin .. credit on both himself and the community. Dur- ing his long serviee in the eouneil-of which body he was president one year-and his three years as chief burgess he was in a position to promote mueh valuable legislation affecting the local welfare, es- pecially as regards improvements in the borough's public utilities. That he used his powers in the most public-spirited manner is attested by his of the West End Fire Company, and of the Ger- long retention in office. He has made a permanent man Reformed Church.

place for himself among the citizens of Shamokin who have done something for the borough.

ZARTMAN. The Zartmans of Jackson town- ship, Northumberland county, have been identified with the best element in that region for several generations past, and the family has been settled in this county for over one hundred and forty years. The founder of the family in this country settled in Lancaster county.

Mr. Drumheiser was born. Ang. 23, 1857, at St. Clair, Schuylkill Co., Pa .. son of Conrad Drum- heiser, a native of Germany, born near Berlin in April, 1831, who came to America when eighteen years old. He landed at New York City, but pro- ceeded at onee to St. Clair, Schuylkill county, where he followed mining. He first came to Sha- Alexander Zartman and his wife Ann Catharina mokin in 1859, but his wife died there and he came from Germany to America in the summer of

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1728. They were classified with the German Pal- tin's son Daniel and Daniel's son Samnei S., who atinates, but it is more likely that they came from sold it only recently to Edward Hilbush. There is the province of Wurtemberg, possibly from Erlen- a very good spring near the old house, and there baclı. Their first stopping-place was Philadelphia, stood a beautiful pear tree, from which four gen- whence they followed the pike leading to Harris- erations gathered fruit. In February, 1793, Jacob Zartman made his last will and testament, and died' either that month or the month following. He is interred in a private burial-ground in the ineadow west of the house; he has no tombstone. He married Anna Margareth Roemin ( Ream), and their children were: Henry; Martin; Anna Margareth, born Oct. 28, 1755; Snsanna; Eve, born Oct. 1, 1758 (probably died young : her birth and baptism are recorded at Brickerville Church) ; Peter, born March 3, 1760; Jacob; Anna Maria. burg, and at length found their way into the re- gion of the Tulpehocken, southwest of Reading, in Berks county, not far from the Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church, where they wor- shipped in the years 1728 and 1:29. Before 1130, however, they located in Warwick township, Lan- caster Co., Pa., and in 1738 purchased a tract of land near Brickerville, that county, the deed for which (calling for 197 acres) was given by the Penns to Alexander Zartman in abont 1150. He made his last will and testament (recorded at Lan- Henry Zartman, son of Jacob, married Eliza- beth Hauser, and they had ten children, namely: Christena ; John Martin, born Dec. 31, 1774; John Henry, born Sept. 5. 1126; John Peter, born Nov. 30, 1778; John Jacob, born Dec. 10, 1780 (died Feb. 7, 1849) : Elizabeth ; Sophia, born May 12, 1185; Alexander, born Oct. 29, 1786; Samuel, born Dec. 13, 1788; and Michael. easter, Pa.) Oct. 6, 1162, and it was probated in December, that year. His age is not given. He lived in America thirty-four years. His wife sur- vived him some years. They had two sons, Jacob and Alexander, and as there is no record of other offspring it is probable these were their only chil- dren. The line in which we are interested is de- scended from Jacob. and is given in detail pres- ently.

Alexander Zartman, son of the emigrant, was born July 29, 1731, near Brickerville. Lancaster Co., Pa., and spent all his life in his native county, most likely on the farm he received from his father. This property was near Brickerville, and Alexander Zartman (2) was a member of the Lutheran Church there, at which church he is buried. He lived to the age of seventy-two years. His homestead remained in the family until about 1907, descending through his son Emanuel to Alexander (3), Jacob. George, David and Wil- liam, son of David. To Alexander Zartman (?) and his wife Magdalena were born children as fol- lows: John Michael. Alexander, Susanna, Maria Elizabeth, Catharine. Emanuel and Margaret. The three sons became the heads of large families, and their posterity is scattered over many States of the Union.

Jacob Zartman, ancestor of the Zartmans of Northumberland county, may have been born in Germany. He received his inheritance from his parents in 1754, when they deeded to him seventy- one acres of the old homestead. This land Jacob Zartman sold to George Graffe in 1159 for £280 ($1,355.20). In about 1768 he came to Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, where he pur- chased a 122-acre tract at the foot of Line Moun- tain. In 1775 John Adam Shaffer deeded a farm of 100 acres to Jacob Zartman. of Mahanov town- ship, the consideration being £11, and there, be- tween what are now known as Kneass and Otto stations, established the old Zartman homestead, which after his death was owned by his sons Mar- tin and Peter, later by their brother Henry, and then, successively. by Henry's son Martin, Mar- 1795: Margaret, 1797; David, Dec. 30. 1:99.

John Martin Zartman, son of Henry, was born Dec. 31, 1224, and in accordance with the terms of his father's will purchased the old homestead in Mahanoy township. It then consisted of 206 acres. He was born on that place and passed his entire life there, dying April 27, 1833 ; he is buried on the farm. By trade he was a blacksmith. His wife, Elizabeth ( Kniss), born Nov. 19. 1:19, died Jan. 14, 1854, and they had three children: Sam- uel, born Feb. 23, 1803: Daniel, born May 18, 1808, who died March 5, 1883 (his wife Catharine, born April 23, 1814, died May 5, 1898) ; and Mary.

Samuel Zartman. son of John Martin, moved in 1828 to Jamestown, Greene Co., Ohio, and died July 31, 1856. Like his father he was a black- smith by trade. On Feb. 12, 1824. he married Margaret Crumrine, who died Feb. 2, 1875. They had the following children, the first two born in Pennsylvania: Elizabeth Ann Maria, Harriet, James W., Eliza, Adelia, Miranda, Samnel H .. William Isaac, Charles H., Daniel E. and Essan- nia H.

Martin Zartman, son of Jacob and Anna Mar- gareth Zartman, was born in Lancaster county. and in about 1769 moved to Northumberland county, where he passed the remainder of his life. Under his father's will he and his brother Peter became joint owners of the homestead at the foot of Line Mountain. He made his last will and tes- tament Oct. 2. 1816, and it was probated Oct. 2. 1812. He married Susanna Futler ( Fitler), sister of his brother Jacob's wife, and their children were born as follows: Elizabeth. April 22, 1580: Martin. Nov. 11. 1781 : Benjamin, March 13, 1783: William, May 28, 1985; Eve Magdalene. Oct. S.

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Martin (Johann Martin) Zartman, son of Mar- 3, 1838) ; Lydia, Sept. 3, 183 ;; Abigail, Dec. 24, tin, born Nov. 11, 1781, lived in Northumberland county, and died May 8, 1849. He was a weaver by trade. He married Elizabeth Kobel, born Sept. 10, 1725, died June 3, 1856, and they had three children : Sophia, John, and Sarah Ann ( who married William Schlappig and moved out West, where they died).

Benjamin Zartnian, son of Martin, born March 13, 1783, was a farmer in Northumberland coun- ty, where he married Mary Stonebraker (Stein- bruch). In 1811 he and his family moved out to Millville, Butler Co., Ohio, where they arrived Nov. 9th. He bought.land there, reared a large family, and died Feb. 18, 1834; he is buried in the Ziegler graveyard, west of Hamilton, Ohio. His children (at least one: Daniel, born in Northumberland county) were: Daniel, Jonathan, David, Benja- min, William, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Lydia.

William Zartman, son of Martin, born in North- umberland county May 28, 1785, was a farmer in Jackson township, owning and occupying the farmn there which is now the property of his grandson, Samuel M. Zartman. He died April 30, 1857, very suddenly, while engaged in burning brush ; he was sitting on a fence when overtaken by the ities and has served three years as school director. stroke which ended his life instantly. He is buried In January, 1873, Mr. Zartman married Han- Metz, of Berrysburg, Pa., and they have two chil- dren: Henry A. married Nettie Steffy and has at St. Peter's church, at Mahanov. His first wife, nah Metz, daughter of William and Kate ( Forney) Sarah (Herb), who is buried at Hunter, was the mother of eleven children, namely: Adam. born Aug. 1, 1810; Daniel, born Sept. 29, 1811 : Lydia, children, Stanley C., Warren U., Lennie. Hannalı born Feb. 12, 1814; George H., born April 4, L. and Edith May. Charles F. married Martha 1817; Abraham, born Dec. 5, 1821 : Mary ( Polly), born in 1824; Rebecca: Harriet: Sarah : Abigail; and Hannah, who married Charles Leader. One of the daughters married Daniel Reitz, one Simon

Lenker and has two children, Paul Elias and Max Alvin. Both the sons live in Jackson town, ship, Henry A. Zartman farming for himself and Charles F. assisting his father. Mr. Zartman and Bohner, and another Adam Campbell. After the his family are Lutheran members of St. John's Church in Jackson township.

death of his first wife William Zartman married Mrs. Catharine Elizabeth ( Wolf) Seiler, who was Abraham Zartman, son of William, was born . born Feb. 25, 1781, and died Feb. 22. 1867. They Dec. 5, 1821, on the home place now owned by his had a son Joseph, born May 11, 1833, who died ' son, and was a lifelong farmer, successful in his Dec. 21, 1858.

Adam Zartman, son of William, was born Aug. 1, 1810, in Jackson township, and passed all his long life in Northumberland county. dying Dec. 28, 1889, as the result of an accident, at Herndon. He was caught and killed by a fast train on the Pennsylvania railroad, while crossing the track. He is buried at St. John's Lutheran church. He was a lifelong farmer, in 1844 purchasing the farm in Jackson township which now belongs to his son Elias F. Zartman, and he was a well known and highly respected resident of his district, serving many years as supervisor of his township. On Feb. 27, 1834, Mr. Zartman married Susanna Reitz, daughter of Jacob Reitz, of Little Mahanoy township, and she died Nov. 23, 1842. the niother of five children, who were born as follows: Henry. Dec. 30. 1834: Hannah. Dec. 25, 1835 (died Oct.

1838 (died Jan. 18, 1894) ; Eliza, July 11, 1841. On July 8, 1843, Mr. Zartman married (second ) Susanna Forney, daughter of Peter Forney, and by this union there were eight children: Sarah, born April 15, 1845; Harriet, Oct. 1, 1846 : Polly, June 20, 1849 ; Phoebe, Nov. 24, 1830; Elias F., Sept. 14, 1852; Michael, April 13, 1854: Ma- linda, July 25, 1856; Lucy Ann, Oct. 22, 1858.

ELIAS F. ZARTMAN, son of Adam, was born Sept. ; 14, 1852, in Jackson township, on his father's homestead, and received his education in the home district, attending subscription schools and for the last two years of his school life the free schools. He was reared to farming, which he commenced on the homestead place on his own account in 1874, and with the exception of 1826 and 1877, when he lived at Berrysburg, Dauphin county, he has been there continuously since. He was also farming at Berrysburg. In September, 1890, the Adam Zartman farm came into his pos- session. It consists of 188 acres of good land, lo- cated in the upper end of Jackson township, and is a valuable piece of property. Mr. Zartinan is a thrifty farmer and a representative member of an excellent old family. He is a Democrat in pol-

work and active in the public affairs of his sec- tion. For many years he held local offices, serving as school director and supervisor, and he was also interested in church work as a prominent member at St. Peter's, where he held the offices of deacon and elder. He died Dec. 31, 1898, and is buried at that church. Politically he was a Democrat. His wife, Sarah Michael, was born Nov. 25. 1826. and died May 10, 1880. They had a large family. namely: Wilhelmina married Isaac Raker: Dan- iel M. (deceased) was a resident of Little Ma- hanoy township; Hannah married Benjamin Pei- fer; William M. lives near Sunbury: Samuel M. is a resident of Jackson township: Joseph M. lives in Rush township, near Montoursville : Alice mar- ried Galen Latsha : Elizabeth married Levi Drum- heller: Mary married George Peifer, brother of Benjamin Peifer.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 25

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