Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 41

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 41

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Mr. Richie married Bertha Gass, daughter of

WILLIAM E. RICHIE, son of Isaae Riche, was born Feb. 26, 1875, in Shamokin township, where he now carries on farming. He attended the pub- lic schools, and subsequently worked with his fa- ther until he reached the age of eighteen. after which he took charge of the homestead farm. con- tinning thus for three years. For the next twelve years he farmed the Wolverton farm, in Shamokin township, at the end of that period buying land of his own, a tract of 135 acres in Irish Valley for- merly known as the Jesse Martz farm. It is lo- cated about three miles from the borough of Sham- which he supplies daily. He engages in general

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excellent location but also in the matter of up-to- er), daughter of Henry Bower, of Dry Valley, date buildings and general improvements. He is a Union Co., Pa., survived him a number of years, thrifty man, a useful citizen and a much respected member of his community. dying March 2:, 1902, aged sixty-one years, five months, twelve days. They had children as fol- lows: Emma, who is the widow of S. H. Smith, of Sunbury : Asher S. : Harry W., of Sunbury : and Mary E., who married Peter Winters, of Danville, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Richie married Rebecca Mowery, daughter of Peter and Mary Ann ( Moyer) Mowery, and they have a family of six children : Verna, Melvin, Mary, Clarence, Leon and Elwood. Mr. Richie is a Democrat in politics and in religion a member of the United Brethren Church.

ASHER S. HOFFMAN has a large farm in the northwestern section of Point township, along Montour Ridge, and is one of the most progres- . sive agriculturists of his vicinity, where he has also served in public offices and proved useful in vari- ous associations. He is an energetic man, and has prospered by application to his work until he ranks among the successful farmers of the township.

The Hoffman family has long been settled in Pennsylvania. Henry Hoffman, grandfather of Asher S. Hoffman, was born in Berks county, Pa., and when a young man moved thence to Union county, dying in that vicinity, in what is now Monroe township, Snyder county, in 1834. He was buried at Shamokin Dam, Snyder county, in the same grave as his wife, Rebecca, who died only twelve hours before he did. Mr. Hoffman was a shoemaker, and found work at his trade among the farmers in his locality. He was the father of ' a large family, namely: George died in Monroe township, Snyder county: William died in Hunt- ingdon county, Pa .; Rebecca married John Brobst : Elijah died in Iowa : Henry died at Selins- grove, Pa. : Polly married Lewis Bower: David is mentioned below : John died in Northumberland borough : Hannah married Charles Kessler . and died in Kansas : Charles, born in March, 1831. now living at Selinsgrove, Pa., married Molly Matthias and they had three children, Adda E. ( Mrs. Wil- liam Snook), Sarah ( unmarried ) and Margaret (Mrs. John Clopp) : Sarah married Charles Dun- kelberger and is living in Chicago, Illinois.

David Hoffman, son of Henry, was born Sept. 8. 1825, in Snyder county, and being only a boy ' when his parents died was reared in the family of Mrs. Betsy Brobst. He learned the trade of car- penter, which he followed for some years, and soon after attaining his majority commenced farming in Monroe township, Snyder county, remaining there until he removed across the river into Point continued farming in his new location to the end of his days, passing away Dee. 25, 1885, in Point township, at the age of sixty years. In politics a

Asher S. Hoffman was born June 12, 1862, in Monroe township, Snyder Co., Pa., and there spent his youth up to his twelfth year, when he moved with the family across the Susquehanna into Point township, Northumberland county. He continued to assist his father until he was twenty-four years old, since when he has been farming on his own account, in - Point township. In the -spring of 1893 he settled upon the place he has since occupied, and cultivated, what was the old Thomas Baumgardner farm, which he operated as a tenant during the first eight years of his residence there: he purchased it in 1901, from Jolm Baumgardner. The prop- erty contains 305 acres, and Mr. Hoffman is not only engaged in general farming but also gives considerable attention to live stock, owning some valuable cattle. For thirteen years he ran a dairy wagon to Northumberland, but since 1907 he has wholesaled his milk, finding this plan more con- venient with the numerous details connected with the work about the place. The farm is so large that excellent management is necessary to keep it in good running order, but Mr. Hoffman has been very successful in arranging his work, and he is re- garded as one of the most intelligent farmers in the region, his operations and methods showing results which justify this opinion of him. He has served as school director of the township since 1898. was president of the board one year and has been secretary of that body since 1901 : he was a road supervisor. filling. that position from 190; to 1910.

On Feb. 10, 1885, Mr. Hoffman married S. Liz- zie Zeluff, daughter of Thomas and Jane ( Renn) Zeluff. late of Washingtonville, Montour Co .. Pa .. whose children were John W., Mary A .. Charles H., William F .. Susan Lizzie (Mrs. Hoffman ) and Margaret. Solomon Zelnff, Mrs. Hoffman's grand- father. was of French and English descent. He moved from Tioga county, Pa., to Northumber- land. Northumberland county, where he is buried. His children were: Mary, who married John Mar- township, Northumberland county. in 1873. He shall: Benjamin ; Jane: Magaret, now the only

member of the family living (she is past eighty- three years old) ; and Thomas.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have had these chil- Democrat, he took an interest in party affairs and dren : Ray P .. Margaret A., Renna M. and Thomas the public welfare, serving as supervisor of his L. The family are members of Trinity Lutheran township while a resident of Snyder county and Church, of Point township, and Mr. Hoffman has as overseer of the poor in Point township. He was served many years in the church council. He is a Lutheran in religion. His wife, Sarah E. ( Bow- a Democrat in politics.

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ALFRED J. PERSING, postmaster at Elys- lic schools. Ile was reared by his uncle, Eli Per- burg, Northumberland county, where he also has sing, at Shamrock station, in Ralpho township. a stationery store, has passed the greater portion of his life in this section of the county. He is a member of one of the oldest families in this region, the Persings having been established here from the time of his great-great-grandfather, William Per- sing.

William Persing was born in Germany, and com- ing to this country settled in Jersey before the since 1900 has served as postmaster. In connec- Revolutionary . war. Washington camped at one tion with the post office he conducts a stationery business. He is an estcemed citizen, and deserves the confidence his fellow men have shown in him. time near the Persing home and the family was honored with his acquaintance. William Persing married in Germany and had two children when Mr. Persing married Clara Crowl, daughter of he emigrated. He and his wife died in New Jer- . Jackson Crowl, of Ralpho township, and they have sey. Their family was as follows : William, Jr., two children: Howard C., a printer : and Irene N .. George, Philip, Jacob, John, Tyson, Margaret, and another daughter.

Tyson Persing, one of the sons of William, was born in New Jersey and came to Northumberland county with his brothers. " He followed farming, his political views. in Shamokin township, died at his homestead, and is buried at the Blue church. He married Katie Baker, and their children were: Jacob: William : Miller : Rebecca, wife of William Scholl : Mary, wife of Sol Hummel: Lena, wife of Adam Dim- ick; Margaret, wife of John Goss; and Elizabeth, wife of David Cromp.

Philip Persing, one of the sons of William, the emigrant ancestor, was born in New Jersey and came to Shamokin township, Northumberland county, when a young man, settling in Irish Val- lev. He followed shoemaking and farming. He died at the age of 101 years, and was buried at the Blue church. To him and his wife Mary ( Ev- Valley, this county, and spent his early life upon land) were born these children: William. Abra- ham, Solomon, George, Elizabeth (married John Cherry), Catharine (who died unmarried) and Hannah ( Mrs. Orlando Templin, of Shamokin, the

Jacob Persing, son of Tyson, was born in Irish the farin. He learned the shoemaking trade and followed it at Danville and at Riverside, but he died in Sunbury, while living with his daughter. His wife was Elizabeth Shipe, and they had the last named now the only survivor of the family). following children: David, Eli, Iliff, Israel (of Danville, Pa.), Reiley (living in Kansas ; he served in the Civil war), Susanna (married Joe Garvick ) and . Matilda (married John Lawrence).

David Persing, son of Jacob, was born in Irish Valley, and like his father became a shoemaker. He was one of the pioneers at Shamokin, to which place he removed when there were very few houses on the site of that now prosperous borough. and

later he moved to Locust Gap, this county, where nah ( Reed) Derr, now makes her home with her

he engaged in the timber business and remained for some time. His next location was at Broad Top, where he became interested in the soft coal business with Krieger & Ammerman, but their venture did not prosper and he went to Clearfield county, Pa., where he was in the lumber business for a time. From there he went to Hontzdale, Clearfield Co., Pa., where he is now living retired. Mr. Persing has been married three times. By his first marriage, to Mary Jane Krieger, he had three children, Alfred J., George and Celestial. His second marriage was to Isabelle Clark, and their children are AAndrew C. and Laura (wife of Isaac Goss).

After following farming for a time he learned the trade of wheelwright, and in his young manhood, in 1877, made a trip out to Kansas, where he spent two years. Returning to Northumberland county he followed lumbering for five years, after which lie settled at Elvsburg. He followed his trade of wheelwright for about twenty years thereafter, and

at home. Mr. Persing is a member of Elysburg Lodge, No. 548, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member of Reed's Reformed Church, and a Republican in

Daniel Persing, a son of William Persing. Jr., was born in 1828 in Irish Valley, lived at Selins- grove, Pa., for seventeen years, and then in 1869 settled at Shamokin, where he was employed at the Cameron colliery until his death, in 1883. Pre- viously he had followed shoemaking and farm- ing. He is buried at Shamokin cemetery. His wife, Anna ( Derr ), daughter of William and Han- daughter. Mrs. Smith, in Shamokin. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Persing had children as follows: A !- fred lived at Deiblers station: Emma married Monroe Geasey: Sylvia married William Yost : Alice married William Mitchell: JJosephine died young: Jemima married Charles Thompson ; Lloyd is an employee of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company: Della married Charles Schlegel : Clara married James Long : Charles died young.

JOHN WESLEY GILLESPIE, of the North- nmberland county bar, with offices at Ninth and Independence streets, Shamokin, Pa .. is one of those able, clear-headed and straightforward at-

Alfred J. Persing was born Feb. 9, 1856, at torneys who have upheld the dignity of the law and Locust Gap, and received his education in the pub-

made it respected throughout the county. He was

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

born in Trevorton, this county, in 1850, son of which time he again came to Shamokin, and tor Anthony Gillespie, and of sturdy Scotch-Irish an- years he has had one of the largest practices in cestry.

Northumberland county, appearing in the most

James Gillespie, his paternal grandfather, emi- important civil and criminal cases in this section grated from Scotland, bringing his family with of the State. In 1889 he was elected borough solic-

him, and found a new home in the State of Mary- land, where he died. His children were: Anthony ; and Margaret and William, both of whom went to New York and there died.

itor of Shamokin borough, and has served in that capacity almost continuously for fifteen years, be- ing the present solicitor. As one of the foremost lawyers in the county he has frequently been ap-

Anthony Gillespie, the father of John Wesley proached to permit his name to be used as a candi- Gillespie, was born in Scotland in 18 ?? , and eame date for judge of the county bar, but has invari- to America with his parents when about nine years ably refused to do so.

of age. However. he did not remain long in Mary- . In 1871 Mr. Gillespie was united in marriage land, but moved to Trevorton, Northumberland with Valeria, daughter of Silas Farrow, of Sham- Co., Pa., afterward to Snufftown, said county, okin township, and they have been blessed with where he learned the blacksmith's trade. This he two children, as follows: John Malcolm, who grad- followed all of his active life. He died in Sham- okin in 1883. He married Sarah Fove, daughter of Phineas Foye, of Northumberland county, and they are buried, respectively, in the Shamokin cem- etery and Irish Valley burial ground. uated from the Shamokin high school in 1899 and the Dickinson School of Law in 1904, and is now associated in practice with his father, married Marcella Trommetter, and is residing at. No. 221 East Sunbury street : Lillian J. is at home.

John Wesley Gillespie, son of Anthony Gilles- pie and Saralı, his wife, began life at the age of seven years as a slate picker hoy at the Trevorton breaker. At the age of eight years he left Trevor- ton and worked for his board on the farm of Alex- ander Sober in Irish Valley until he was fifteen

SAMUEL WILSON MURRAY. late of Milton, was one of the most distinguished citizens of that borough and for many years a leader in the de- velopment of the community, not only in his ca- pacity of business man but also in the inaugura- years of age, meanwhile attending the old Stone tion and encouragement of progressive enterprises school in Irish Valley. He then went to Shamokin, of all kinds. As one of the founders of the Mil- Pa., where he picked slate at the Cameron break- ton Car Works, the first large industrial plant established there, he showed a faith in the com- mercial possibilities of the place amply justified by the success of the venture, and he continued his connection with same for a period of thirty-five vocating and introducing measures which had for their object the good of the people generally. His foresight and wisdom were demonstrated in many ways, in the condnet of his personal affairs and in his discharge of the duties of citizenship as in- terpreted according to his high standards. Few men attain or deserve such honorable standing as he enjoyed.

er, at that time owned by the Fagely Brothers. He then worked on the township roads of Coal township for one year. after which he went to Lewisburg and attended the Lewisburg high school for a short time. His next move was to Danville, years. As a citizen he was always foremost in ad- where he secured employment in the Watterman and Beaver rolling mills, laboring there for three years. Late in the year 1869 he returned to Sham- okin, where he learned cabinet-making under Uri- ah Sober, and in 1871 he engaged in that line for himself in Turbutville, where he conducted a fur- niture store until 1873. He then took up under- taking, and returning to Shamokin he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, in the year 1875 entering into partnership in that business with M. C. Farrow.

Mr. Murray was a native of Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa., born Oct. 16, 1829. and belonged to a family which has been identified with that sec- tion for over a hundred and forty years. About 1470 three brothers. James, William and John Murray, settled on lands lying along the Chillis- quaque creek in Northumberland county. in the vi-

Being naturally ambitious, Mr. Gillespie devot- ed his leisure hours to study. in time taking np law, for which he had a decided liking. In 1883 he disposed of his interest in the furniture and under- taking business and went to Ann Arbor, Mich., cinity of the present village of Pottsgrove, for where he entered the law department of the Uni- which they obtained patents from the Common- wealth. To this original colony were afterward added several members of a family of the name of Murray who had come from Scotland and settled on the Swatara (now in Dauphin county) in 1432. It is known that kinship was claimed be- tween these two families, but the relationship was probably remote and cannot now be determined. versity of Michigan. graduating in 1885. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme and Cir- cuit courts of Michigan. and entered the office of Sawyer & Knowlton. at Ann Arbor. Returning to Shamokin on July 12, 1886, he was admitted to the Northumberland county bar. The next year, 1887, he went to Lincoln, Nebr., where he was engaged in practice for two years, at the end of There appear to have been others also of the same

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Thomas Murray, Jr., was a member of the

name who settled in the same locality at about the same period, but it is not known that any blood State House of Representatives in 1813, and in relationship existed between the latter and the 1814 was elected to the Senate. In 1820 he was two families first mentioned. The Murrays were staneh Presbyterians and active members of the Chillisquaque Church. The several families of the same name became at one time so numerous as to constitute a large proportion of the local cominun- ity, but subsequently many of the members re- moved to different parts of the West, and compar- atively few of their descendants now remain in this State.

Among the members of the Swatara family who settled on the Chillisquaque creck was John Mur- ray, who represented this district in the State Leg- islature from 1807 to 1810, and served as a mem- ber of Congress from 1817 to 1820. He was born in 1768 and was married to Margaret Murray, a daughter of Col. John Murray, of Dauphin county. They had several children, one of whom was the late John Murray, formerly a merchant of Milton.

James Murray, one of the three brothers first mentioned. and known as Col. James Murray, took an active part in the war of the Revolution as col- onel of a reginient of militia which had probably been raised in the upper end of the county. At the organization of the Northumberland county mili- tia in January and February, 1776, James Murray was captain of the ?th company of the 2d battalion (Col. James Potter's) and William Murray was captain of the 5th company of the 3d battalion (Col. William Plunket's,), in which the lieuten- ant colonel was James Murray. Subsequently James Murray became colonel (succeeding Colonel Plunket probably, as the latter was not entirely in sympathy with the American cause after the Declaration of Independence) : he was first called into active service in the winter of 1726-12. and on Nov. 4, 1777, marched with the Northumberland

man engaged in the machine business under the firm name of Vanderbilt, Murray & Bowman. About the middle of the following January their works were entirely destroyed by fire. They im- mediately purchased another establishment ^ then owned and operated by John B. Hall. but during the following summer came the great commercial

John Murray, another of the three brothers first the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The succeeding year he spent in the Baldwin Lo-

mentioned, had one son, Thomas, and three daugh- ters: Jane, who married John MeMahan: Ann, comotive Works at Philadelphia. In the fall of who married John Reznor, and Mary. numarried. 1860 he returned to Lewisburg. and became in- terested in the firm of Slifer, Walls, Shriner & Company, which was about to engage in the man- ufacture of agricultural implements. In Febru- The son was known as Thomas Murray, Jr., to distinguish him from another of the same name a few years his senior.

elected a member of the Seventeenth Congress and served during the years 1821 and 1822, being the immediate successor of the John Murray previous- ly mentioned. On account of increasing ill health he declined a renomination, and diced Aug. 25, 1823. He married Charity Arbour, who in her early life had some thrilling experiences with the Indians and had frequently been obliged to fly to Fort Augusta for protection. Their children were: Mary, Jolin F., William, Hannah. Joseph Arbour, Nancy, James, Thomas and Margaret.

William Murray, son of Thomas Murray, Jr., was born.Aug. 26, 1796. He married Nancy Gray Wilson, of Lewisburg, and they resided for a time at Washingtonville, Montour Co .. Pa. They re- moved from there to Lewisburg and subsequently to Lancaster, Pa., where he died June 13, 1886. They had three children : Eliza N., who married James Black, of Lancaster; Thomas, who died in early life, and Samnel Wilson.

Samuel Wilson Murray received his education at the old Lewisburg Academy under Hugh Pol- lock and his successor in that venerable institu- tion, John Robinson. He was about seventeen years of age when he went to Lancaster. Pa., where his father then resided, and two years later he went to Portland, Maine, entering the Port- land Locomotive Works for a term of three years for the purpose of learning the trade of machinist. After the expiration of his time at the Portland works, he spent a year and a half at Vernon. Ind., and in Rhode Island, at the end of that period re- turning to Lancaster, where he was employed for the three succeeding years as draftsman in the Lancaster Locomotive Works. In September, 1856, he went to Williamsport, Pa., and in con- county militia to Philadelphia. His regiment was nection with William Vanderbilt and Charles Bow-

attached to Gen. James Potter's brigade and par- ticipated in the movements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 1776-78. A paper dated May 1, 1778, is on record in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth, giving the names of the cap- tains and number of men in the rank and file of the 2d battalion of the Northumberland county militia commanded by Col. James Murray. James crash of 1857, and this, together with their losses McMahan, one of the captains of this regiment by fire, crippled the firm to such an extent that they deemed it expedient to resell the works to Mr. and subsequently known as Major McMahan, was married to a sister of Colonel Murray. There are Hall and retire from business. Mr. Murray then but few of Colonel Murray's descendants now liv- returned to Lancaster, and shortly afterward went ing in the county. to Pittsburg, where he was employed a year in

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ary, 1864, he came to Milton, and in connection with men at the head who were capable of meeting with several others founded the Milton Car Works. large industrial and financial responsibilities, With that important concern he was identified con- this grew to be one of the largest and most suc- tinuously until the year 1899, when the business. cessful car building plants in the State of Pennsyl- was sold to the American Car & Foundry Com- pany.

vania. The relation of such an industrial insti- tution to the prosperity of the borough may be In 1864, upon coming to Milton, Mr. Murray readily understood. Mr. Murray was not only entered upon a partnership with William P. foremost in business circles in his connection with this establishment, but was also active in oth- er local enterprises, being one of the organizers and originators of the Milton Iron Company, in 1842, of the Milton Water Company, in 1883, and interested in various other concerns of great im- portance to the community. Toward the close of his life, because of failing health, he relinquished' his activity in business to some extent, but he was nevertheless an important factor in the life of

Dougal and others as senior member of the firin of Murray, Dougal & Co., and the erection of the car works was begun that year. During the years in- inediately following a number of changes were made in the personnel of the company, C. C. Mc- Cormick and John McCleery being eventually the associates of Mr. Murray and Mr. Dougal. Mr. McCleery retired in 1875, Mr. McCormick in 1878 and Mr. Dougal a few months later that year. The business was still continued under the the borough to the end of his days.

original firm name, however, and the firin was re- While a resident of Portland, Maine, Mr. Mur- ray cast his first vote at the municipal election at which Neal Dow was elected mayor of the city and which resulted in the enactment of the famous "Maine Law." He became at that time a con- vert to the theory that prohibition was the only practical remedy for the evils of intemperance and remained a life-long adherent to the cause. In early life he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which creed his parents and sister also adhered, and he was a prominent leader in church work for many years, a liberal contributor to re- ligious and benevolent purposes, At a special organized in 1880, when Charles H. Dickerman and R. C. Carter became associated with Mr. Mur- ray as a limited partnership under the law of 1874. Soon afterward William R. Kramer became a member of the firm, and in 1881 R. M. Long- more. The business consisted principally of the construction of all kinds of freight cars, includ- ing oil tank cars, an important branch, of which they have built a very large number. The firm was engaged also for several years in the construc- tion of iron bridges, but the bridge department of the works, destroyed in the great fire in 1880, was not rebuilt. They also for a time had a large meeting of the official board of the M. E. Church trade in the construction of oil tanks for storage of Milton, held July 19, 1909, the following res- olutions were passed : purposes, and also steam boilers. The manufac- ture of freight cars, however, constituted the lead- "WHEREAS, it has pleased the kind Heavenly Father, in His wise Providence, to remove from the church militant to the church triumphant our beloved and highly esteemed brother and fellow worker in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Samuel Wilson Murray, therefore be it ing business of the firm, and there is no descrip- tion of car used in the freight traffic which has not been turned out of the Milton Car Works. A large number of their cars have been exported to Cuba and the various countries of South America. The capacity of the works being ten 60-thou- "Resolved first that we how in sorrowful recog- sand-pound hopper coal cars per day, or three nition of our great loss in his departure, acknowl- thousand cars per year, employment was ordinarily edging the supreme will of God. and pledging our- given to about four hundred hands, though at selves anew to the great tasks to which he gave the times the number reached nearly five hundred. strength of his years and the devotion of his life.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 41

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