Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 35

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 35

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B. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler : Isaac May, son of Joseph and Anna. was born and the Conclave. He is a trustee of the First in Cornwall, England, March 18. 1819. After

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coming to the New World, he was employed in the Pa. Major May was prominent in public life, and coal mines in Schuylkill county, Pa., and later in served the borough three years in the council, and the lead mines at Galena, Ill. After some time spent at the latter place, he returned to Schuylkill county, and again entered the mines. In 1864 he located in Shamokin, and as the head of the firm of May, Patterson & Co. operated for ten years the Buck Ridge colliery, which was afterward carried on by May, Audenried & Co. He then leased and operated the Burnside for six years, after which. under the name of Isaac May & Co., he leased and operated the Morris Ridge colliery for several years. This ended his active participation in busi- ness. He was once the owner of the Maysville tract where Maysville Park, named after him, is sit- uated. Outside his coal interests he was engaged actively and officially with several financial insti- tutions, being a director of the Northumberland County National Bank, president of the Miners' Trust & Safe Deposit Company, one of the origina- tors of the First National Bank and its second president. He married Mary Sterling. daughter of John and Sarah Sterling, of Berks county, Pa., and they had fourtceu children, among whom were James, Elizabeth (Mrs. H. W. Morgan), Isaac, Jr., Emma (who married A. D. Allen and later M. M. "Markle). Jennie ( MIrs. A. A. Heiz- man), Ida (who married J. F. Graeber and later Thomas O'Connor), Susan ( Mrs. W. W. Rvon), George, Joseph, Carrie and Laura (Mrs. D. J. dren, William Mullen, Margaret May, and James Driscoll). Mr. May was a Republican in politics. and a Methodist in religious faith. Mrs. May was a member of St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church at Shamokin. was treasurer of the Home Building and Loan Association. He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and of Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R. Gov. R. E. Pattison appointed Major May one of a com- mission to locate the position of the 48th Regi- ment during the battle of Antietam, upon which ground a monument was erected: it was unveiled Oct. 17, 1904. In politics he was a Republican. His religious connection was with St. Edward's Catholic Church. On Jan. 31, 1866, he married in Shamokin, Pa., Mary Gillen Snyder, daughter of John A. and Catherine Styles ( Egolff) Snyder. and ten of their twelve children reached mature years namely : Catherine, born Nov. 26, 1866. married May 2, 1893, William A. Mullen, of Shan- okin, a powder manufacturer, and they have had two children, John, born in 1894 at Shamokin, and Mary May, born Dec. 25, 1895, the latter of whom died March 7, 1910, and is buried in St. Edward's cemetery at Shamokin. Louise, born March 20, 1870, is the wife of Frank K. Conley, a hardware merchant at Shamokin. and they have had one child, which died in infancy. Elizabeth Egolff, born Jan. 8, 18?2, married J. Edward Gilger, of Shamokin, a clerk in the Shamokin post office, and they have had four chil- May and Edward, twins. Margaret, born Aug. 5, 1873, is the wife of J. A. Shephard, of the Wood, Shephard Varnish Company, of New York, Mr. Shephard being the patentee of Shephard's Para- gon Varnish : Mr. and Mrs. Shephard have no chil- dren. Charles Heizmann, born March 2, 18:5. a druggist at Shamokin, married Catharine M. Mor- ris, of Shamokin, and they have had two children. Richard Morris and Eleanor Claire. Samuel Egolff was born Oct. 8, 1876. Richard Francis. born Aug. 17, 1878, is unmarried, and is a min- ing engineer at Shamokin. Jeanne, born Dec. 4. 1881, married Dr. G. O. Roberts, of Savannah. Ga., , a dentist at Shamokin, and they have had one child, Lonise May. Eleanor Claire, born Jan- 25, 1884, and James Isaac, born April 4, 1890, are unmarried. The latter assists his brother Samue!

Maj. James May, son of Isaac, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa .. Dec. 4, 1843. and there attended school and grew to manhood. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, 48th Pa. Vol. Inf., and participated in a number of the noted engagements of the Civil war, among these being Bull Run. South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness (where he won a second lieutenant's commission), Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor. Peters- burg Mine, Knoxville, Loudon. Campbell Station and Petersburg. In the latter engagement he was promoted to first lieutenant, and as such completed his term of enlistment, serving throughout the war. In 1867 he joined the Pennsylvania National Egolff May. The mother of this family, Mrs. Guard, becoming first lieutenant of the Shamokin Mary G. May, still resides at Shamokin.

Guards, later captain, and finally major, serving in the latter capacity twelve years. After his re- turn from the war he was engaged in a mercantile business until 18:1, when with his father he began the operation of the Burnside colliery. Samuel Egolff May has been well fitted for the responsibilities of his position, his practical experi- ence and his school training both tending to place him at the top of his profession. He has made a He was careful study of all branches from the construction also interested in the Morris Ridge colliery, under of roads to sewerage and the building of water- the firm name of Isaac May & Co., which later dis- works, and his work has won him a high reputa- solved. after which Morris Ridge colliery was op- tion. He has been borongh engineer since 1905. erated by May. Troutinan & Co., with Maj. James and has done a great deal of work for the county. Mr. May is a member of the Military Order of May as senior partner. He died Sept. 29. 1905. and is buried in St. Edward's cemetery. Shamokin, the Loyal Legion of the United States, the B. P. O.

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Elks, Sons of Veterans and West End Fire Com- of March or April, 1746, and journeyed to Rotter- pany, and enjoys high social standing.

EGOLFF FAMILY-an introduction to a part of the Egolff family. and some of their descend- ants (written in 1896) : "The history of the Egolff family is quite a lengthy one, although I intend to bring up only the descendants of one branch of the family: I have, of course, reference to one of the branches that go back in a lineal line to the first Egolff that landed in the Province of Pennsylvania in 1246. The history of this one branch will, however, be found sufficiently long, as it reaches to the seventh generation now in this year of grace 1896.

"Michael Egolff, 1st. (On the documents con- tained in the German Bible which was printed in 1246, in possession of William and Barbara Egolff, at Carlisic, the name Egolff is always written with a ff at the end of the name.)

"Michael Egolff, 1st, was the oldest son of Michael and Agatha Egolff. He was born at Eng- stadt, in the district of Bahlinger, in the Duchy of Wittenberg, on the 26th of April. 1693. His mother died in 1698, when he was five years of age : his father died in 1734, thirty-six years after the death of his mother.

"Michael Egolff, 1st, was a cooper by trade. He was married to Mary Voutsh on the 10th of April, 1735, in the church of Engstadt; his wife Mary Voutsh was born on the 27th of July, 1704, and was consequently eleven years younger than her husband.

"The name of his father-in-law (his wife's fa- ther) was Martin Voutsh. a citizen and farmer at Engstadt: the maiden name of his mother-in- law (his wife's mother) was Mary Reisbein, who it is said died a premature death when her daugh- ter Mary was but six years of age.

. "Michael and Mary Egolff, 1st. had ten children, four of whom died in their infancy. The births and names of those that died in their infaney arc not given on the original documents. The follow- ing is the order in which those that grew up were born: (1) Michael Egolff, 2d, was born at Eng- stadt, on the 2d of October, 1227. (?) Balthaser Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 8th of May, 1729. (3) John Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 11th of August, 1732. (4) Mary Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 9th of May, 1738. (5) Martin Egolff, 2d. was born at Engstadt, on the Sth of October, 1742. (G) Anna Elizabeth Egolff. 2d, was born in all probability at Philadelphia on the 15th of October, 1:47. * * *

"During the fall of 1:45 Michael Egolff. 1st. conceived the idea of emigrating to the English Province of Pennsylvania in North America with his family. They left their native town of Eng- stadt, as well as relations and friends, in the month

dam, one of the seaports of Holland: the name of the ship on which they embarked was 'Mary Gallen'; William Wilson was the name of the captain. They must have been on the ocean considerably over one hundred days, for they did not arrive at Phil- adelphia until about the 20th of September of that year. On the 24th of September, just a few days after they had landed, Michael Egolff, 1st, was qualified as a British subject, which was the cus- tom then according to the laws of Great Britain. They were also going to qualify Michael Egolff, 2d, thinking him to be old enough, but after as- certaining his age, and finding him too young, they abandoned it. . (Some of the above information, in regard to their landing in Philadelphia and being qualified as British subjects, can be found in Penn- sylvania Archives. Second Series, Vol. 12, page 225.)

"Of the movements of Michael Egolff, Ist. with his family we have information. His three oldest. sons were pretty well grown up when he arrived in this country. According to the traditions in the family, he remained at Philadelphia for some - vears. Whether he and his wife ever left the city is not known, but his children, or some of them. after having been in the city for some years. pushed up into the country, into Lancaster. Berks and Montgomery counties, for it appears there are quite a number of Egolffs. down in that part of the State. So far we have no account that ever any Egolff settled in Cumberland county except Michael Egolff, 2d. What year he came to the county is not known, probably between 1180 and 1785. The name of Egolff can not be found in the archives of Cumberland until 1784 or 1785. It appears that all the Egolffs through Cumber- land, Franklin and Perry counties, etc., spring from one branch of the family, namely, that of Michael Egolff, 2d.

"In stating in the above paragraph that Michael Egolff, 2d, was the ancestor of all the Egolffs in this part of the State, it will be understood that Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, was supposed to be one of his sons, although we have no absolute or authentic proof that he was (the matter is be- ing investigated). Should it, however. be proved that he was not a son of Michael Egolff. 2d. then the descendants of the Egolff family in this part of the State would spring from two branches, namely, Michael Egolff. 2d. and one of his brothers (?d). whatever one would be proved to have been the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff. 3d. The de- scendants of Grandfather Henry Egolff. 3d. are much more numerous in this part of the State than those of the other branch.

"Now we come to Michael. Egolf, 2d, who is the only Egolff we know of that came to Cumberland county. Michael Egolff, 2d. as we have seen, was the oldest son of Michacl and Mary Voutsh Egolf, 1st.

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He was born on the 2d of October. 1227, and was

ing him is that he was never married and that he nineteen years of age when his father landed in made his home with the Goshert family, and that he died at their house about 1837 or 1838 (the home of the Goshert family was three or four miles north of St. Thomas, Franklin Co., Pa.). I do not know what age he was. He is buried at the Southern graveyard at St. Thomas.

this country. He had learned the coopering trade with his father. He was married to Elizabeth ( her family name is not given), of Dellenburg, in Nas- sau, on the 14th of January, 1757. It was supposed they were married at Philadelphia. They had ten children, of whom two died in their infancy. There is no record of the births or names of the children, and the following imperfect record of them is from family tradition, with the supposition that he was the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3rd: (1) I will begin with Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, who was born in 1159. (2) Jo- seph Egolff, 3d, who was born on the 16th of November, 1:65 (William and Barbara Egolff, 4th, children of Joseph Egolff, 3d, who are still living at an advanced age in this year of grace 1896, sav that they think their father was born in Philadel- phia ; if it will be proved that Michael Egolff, 2d, was the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, then there is no doubt that he also was born there, as he was born six years before his supposed brother Joseph). (3) Jacob Egolff, 3d (it is not known when he was born). (+). Michael Egolff, 3d (it is not know when he was born). (5) Polly (or Mary) Egolff, 3d (it is not known when she was born).

"In the above we have five of the eight children of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d, accounted for; the investigation mentioned, if successful, will probably bring the other three to light. With this I will close with Michael Egolff, 2d. His wife Elizabeth died at Carlisle in 1295, and he died on Wednesday, April 9th, 1817, at the very advanced age of ninety years, having been born on the 2d of October, 1:27. They are both buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle.

"I will now begin with the third generation, which brings us a little nearer home. I will take · them-up in regular order, and give such informa- tion as is at my command concerning them. and will close with Grandfather Henry Egoltf, 3d, and his family.

"Polly (or Mary) Egolff, 3d, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d: Concerning her and her descendants I know but very little. Her marriage to Thomas Mattheson on. the 3d of July,. 1795, is recorded at the parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle. They had some children. He was a nephew of Grandfather Henry Egolff. 3d. I was informed that the de- scendants of the Matthesons were numerous, some of them living north of Carlisle, some in Perry county, and others farther west.

"Joseph Egolff, 3d, son of Michael and Elizabethi E'golff, 2d: Of him I knew but little or nothing. I do not know whether he was older or younger than Grandfather Henry Egolff. 3d. I do not know when or where he was born. All I know concern-

"Michael Egolff, 3d: He is supposed to have been a son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d. but when and where he was born is not known, nor do I know whether he was a mechanic or a farmer. He had a family. I only know from family tradi- tion that he lived and died near Mercersburg. Do not know what became of his family after his death. We have accounts of what might be sup- posed to be two Michael Egolffs, 3d. They were no doubt one and the same person. In the history of Cumberland and Adams counties, printed in 1886 (second part, pages 101 and 102), it is stated that among the members of one of the.companies that went from Carlisle to assist in subduing the Whiskey Insurrection in the western part of the State, in 1994, were Joseph and Michael Egolff: they were supposed to have been brothers. The Michael Egolff, 3d, referred to above, in or near Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., where he died prior to 1832, was a brother of Henry Egolff, 3d. and is supposed to have been the same Michael Egolff, 3d, that was in service during the Whiskey Insurrection. The investigation referred to will probably throw the desired light on this subject. "Joseph Egolff, 3d, a son of Michael and Eliza- beth Egoiff, 2nd, is supposed to have been born (at Philadelphia) on the 16th of November, 1765. He was a saddler by trade. It is not known when he came to Carlisle, but it is quite likely that he came there with his parents about 1780 or 1785. He carried on his trade in Carlisle for many years. He was married twice. The family name of his first wife was Catherine Roads. It is not known what year he was married the first time. They had two children, a son and a daughter; the daughter died in her infancy, the son's name was John. 4th. He died at Harrisburg on the 5th of November. 1834, and was buried at Carlisle. At the time of the Whiskey Insurrection in the western part of the State, in 1994, as we have seen above, he was in that service with one of the Carlisle companies ; they were only in service about two months, from the 1st of October to the 5th of December, of the same year, on which date they were discharged. [Refer to the History of Cumberland and Adams counties, as requested above.]

"Whether Joseph Egolff. 3d, was single, married or a widower when he entered the service at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection is not known to the writer. He was married the second time to Miss Barbara Loose, on the 12th of September. 1810. By this marriage, so far as my information goes, there were five children, three sons and two

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daughters ; the names of these children are Michael, I will conclude the history of Joseph Egolff, 3d, William, Joseph. Elizabeth and Barbara. I will and his family. now give short sketches of the children of Joseph and Barbara Loose Egolff, 3d.

"(1) Michael Egolff, 4th, was the oldest of Jo- seph and Barbara Egolff's family. He was born at Carlisle in 1811. When, in 1832, he became of age, he engaged in the mercantile business in his native town, in which he, however, only continued until July, 1833, when he discontinued the busi- ness. He was married to Miss Mary McManus, a daughter of Carmack McManus, on March the 23d, 1835, by the Rev. Mr. Ulrich. Carmack McManus was one of the prominent members of the Catholic Church at Carlisle : his daughter Mary could not have been a Catholic, as the Rev. Mr. Ulrich was the Lutheran minister at Carlisle. Michael Egolff, 4th, resides at Albany, N. Y., where he has resided for many years. I am not able to say what year he left Carlisle. His descendants are quite numerous there, in children, 5th, grand- children, 6th, and great-grandchildren, tth. He is still in the enjoyment of good health in this year 'of grace 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.

, "(2) Joseph Egolff, 4th, is probably next in age to his brother Michael. I am not able to say what he follows. He was married in the month of June, 1837, to Susana Mickey, of Perry county. He re- sides at Reading, where he has a family of chil- dren, 5th, and grandchildren. 6th.

"(3) William Egolff. 4th, was born at Carlisle in 1819. He has resided at Carlisle all his life. He resides with his sister Barbara. They keep a private boarding house. William Egolff is now, in this year of grace 1896. seventy-eight years of age. He is quite feeble, but is able to be about. 'that he was still in the service of the government He was never married.

"(4) Miss Barbara Egolff, 4th, was born at Car- lisle, where she has resided all the time, as stated above. She and her brother William reside to- gether. She was never married. She is a very pleasant : conversationalist and enjoys very good health for a lady that is past seventy-two years of age.

"(5) Miss Elizabeth Egolff, 4th : Of her I ean say but very little. She died a few years ago and is buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle. She was never married.

"Joseph Egolff was in very comfortable circum- stances, and was very much respected among his fellow citizens. He owned several properties in the town of Carlisle. In the month of March. 1826, he was nominated for town council and held other responsible places of trust. His second wife died in 1845 and he having a paralytic stroke was con- fined to the house for four or five years, when in 1850 he followed his wife to the grave at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. They are both buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle, With this

"To all those who are lineal descendants of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, the following will be the most interesting part of this investigation and history, namely, the biographical sketch of himself and his family.

"Henry Egolff, 3d, was a son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff. His birthplace is no doubt Philadelphia, where he was born about the year 1:59. We have seen that Joseph Egolff, 3d. a brother of his, was born in 1:65, at Philadelphia also; and as Henry was six years older than his brother Joseph there is scarcely any doubt but he was born at Philadelphia. Of his early life we have little or no information. We do not know whether he had learned the trade of his father. namely, that of a cooper, or learned some other trade ; or whether he followed the business that we find him employed in during the most active part of his life, namely, that of a farmer and teamster. We are informed through family tradition that his father, although a cooper by trade, followed farm- ing. It is quite likely that he was with his father on the farm until he got married. We have no means of knowing where his father was engaged in farming, whether in one of the lower counties of the State or near Carlisle. We first come across Henry's name on the military roll of the Pennsyl- vania volunteers who had enlisted to free the. thirteen colonies in North America from the tyran- nical yoke of Great Britain. Whether his father still resided at Philadelphia at the time of his en- listment or had gone to one of the neighboring counties west of Philadelphia we do not know. We knew from public documents of the State archives on the 1st of Jannary, 1781. He was among the number who received depreciation pay. They were determined that they should receive what they had been promised, dollar for dollar, and not with money that they could only pass for forty or fifty cents on the dollar. He also received a pension by the general as well as by the State government. The official information in regard to Grandfather Henry Egolff and his confreres in the service dur- ing the Revolution will be found in Pennsylvania Archives. Second Series, Vol. 13, page 64.

. "About two years after peace was declared. namely. in 1785. we find his name in the archives of Cninberland county. After the war of inde- pendence he returned to his home. to enjoy the fruits of his valor. He had bought about six acres of land from James Duncan. The land was not far from the town of Carlisle. The old home- stead where he lived with his wife is on the Wal- nut Bottom road, something less than a mile from town. The old log house, which was afterward weather-boarded, was torn down a few years ago and replaced by a brick house. He was at this

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tinie about twenty-six years of age and in all proba- holding some distinguished office in the organiza- bility single yet. His father, Michael Egolff, 2d, tion. He lost an arm in the Civil war. He had no doubt now come to Cumberland county, if not with all at least with some of his children.

"It is not known what year he was married.

seeins to be very comfortably fixed at Carlisle. I cannot say whether David Bailey, 6th, has any brothers or sisters or not. (2) Samuel Egolft. Stli, What is to be regretted the most is that we have son of Valentine Egolff, 4th, was never married. no information at all respecting his wife. We He was of a rather roving disposition. I am not do not know her family nor her Christian name. Their oldest child, Valentine, was born in 1190. We may reasonably suppose that they were mar- ried sometime in the year 1189.

able to say whether he had a trade or not. He was the owner of five teams which traded between Carlisle and Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburg. I saw his name enrolled on an old list of the Union Fire Company at Carlisle. He died and was buried at Battle Mountain, Nev., about the year 1890. (3) Elizabeth Egolff, 5th, daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth ( Martin ) Egolff. 4th, was born

"From the conversations that I can remember by Mother Green, he lived with his family on the little farm he had bought near town, where it is supposed he went soon after they were married. He farmed in the summer; during the winter at Carlisle in May. 1821. She was inarried to he would be engaged in teaming trom Baltimore or Philadelphia to Carlisle and other neighboring towns, and later on, when the turnpikes were made westward, he sometimes went as far as Pittsburgh.

"They had eight children, two sons and six daughters. There are only two or three of them the date of whose birth I know very near, the rest I must put down promiscuously. The names of the children are as follows: Valentine Egolff, 4th, was born in 1:90, at Carlisle (died in 1832) : Mary Egolff, 4th, was born near Carlisle, in 1:93; Henry Egolff, 4th, was born near Carlisle (date of birth not known ) ; Genevieve Egolff. 4th. was born near Carlisle (date of birth not known) : Cath- erine Egolff. 4th, Sarah Egolff, 4th. Jane Egolff, 4th, were born near Carlisle (dates of birth not known) ; Malinda Egolff, Atlı, is supposed to have been born in 1808, near Carlisle.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 35

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