Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 43

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 43

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On Feb. 21, 1888, Mr. Brierley married Char- lotte Miller, of New Jersey, and they have three children : David M., Elsie C. and Charlotte M. The family home is at Edgewood. Mr. Brierley is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to Sham- okin Lodge, No. 255, F. &. A. M., to Lodge No. 664, I. O. O. F., and to the Triple Link Club of Shamokin. In religious connection he is a Luth- eran.

JOHN KEIM, of Riverside, Northumberland county, has been a citizen of that borough through- out its existence and has been a leader in the ad- ministration of its public affairs as well as in business circles. He has been engaged in the manufacture of brick practically from boyhood. having begun the business so early in life that he is still known all over the State as the "boy brick maker." Mr. Keim was born Feb. 22. 1845, at . Shoemakersville, son of David Keim, and comes

of a family long known in Berks county, Pa., where

its representatives are still numerous. His grand- father was Samuel Kein.

where he lived until his removal to Danville, Mon- tour Co., Pa., in 1847. He was a farmer by ce- cupation, and passed the rest of his life at Dan- ville, where he is buried. His death occurred Jan. 3, 1878. In religion he was a Lutheran, in politics a Democrat. His wife, Harriet Arnold (sister of Dr. John Arnold, a dentist of Reading), was born July 13, 1813. and died April 19, 188 :. Their children were born as follows: Matilda, Jan. 18, 1831; Catharine, Nov. 23, 1832 : Susan, July 28, 1834; Harriet, April 3, 1836 (died in November, 1910, in Chicago, Ill.) ; Anna M .. Sept. 22, 1838; George W., July 22, 1840; Daniel, May 3, 1842 ; John, Feb. 22. 1845; Sarah, Jan. 25, 1847; Wil- liam, Nov. 2, 1851.

John Keim was reared at Dauville, and he was only a youth of fifteen when he enlisted froul that place for service in the Civil war, holding the record as Danville's youngest representative who carried a musket in that conflict. He became a member of Company H, 93d Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, with which he served one year, and during his second enlistment he was enrolled in Company B, 194th Regiment, as first sergeant. He served four months in this command. His third term of service was with Company I. +1st Regiment, in which he was also first sergeant, and at its expiration he enlisted in Company I. 104th Regiment, being given the same rank. He saw considerable active service in the field, taking part in many engagements, and made a highly creditable record. At the battle of Fair Oaks two men were shot by his side.

Mr. Keim burned his first kiln of brick before he was eighteen years old, and he has been in the business continuously ever since. His plants are at Danville. and the product is a red clay, hand- made brick which is shipped into all the coal mining towns, the demands being steady, and the trade having expanded to such dimensions that as many as fifty-five men are given steady employ- ment. In 1909 the yearly output was 2,400,000. Mr. Keim has built up his large business by con- stant attention to its needs and by keeping thoroughly abreast of the times in his line. and he is considered a deservedly prosperous man by all who have had dealings with him. His asso- ciation with Riverside as a municipality dates from the time of its organization. He came to the town when there were only twelve houses on the site, and he was one of the leading spirits in its incorporation as a borough, which took place in 1871. As school director and member of the conn- cil for many years. he has taken an active part in its affairs and has done public-spirited duty. Po- litically he is a member of the Republican party. and socially he is connected with Danville Post. No. 22, G. A. R., and with Danville Lodge. Vo.

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224, F. & A. M., of which latter he was chaplain ning of the nineteenth century and locating in what for some years.

In 1862 Mr. Keim married Christiana Bowers, who died in 1897, at the age of fifty-one years, the mother of the following children: William is engaged as a brick manufacturer in Oklahoma ; Catharine,' who teaches music in Danville and Riverside, is unmarried ; Alice married Rev. M. B. Bird, a Congregational minister, and they live in Chicago, Ill .; Emerson J. is engaged as a manu- facturer of brick and foreman of a cement plant at Independence, Kans .: Mamie is at home. In 1898 Mr. Keim married Ida M. Morgan, dangli- ter of Charles Grier Morgan, of Danville. Mr: Keim and his family are members of the Methodist Church, in which he has held the offices of trustee and steward, serving in the latter for many years.

Joseph Morgan, grandfather of Mrs. Ida MI. (Morgan) Keim, was born Aug. 29, 1784, and was of Welsh extraction, his father, Charles Mor- gan, having come from Wales with his wife and a large family, nine sons and one daughter. He

settled in the Irish Valley, in Northumberland county, Pa., where he owned a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. His children were Charles. David, Peter and Joseph. Joseph Morgan followed farming in the Irish Valley also, dying there in 1846, in his sixty-third year. He is buried at Klinesgrove. His wife, Charity (Campbell), born Nov. 19, 1790, preceded him to the grave. Their children were born as follows: Emily, Sept. 9, Feb. 2, 1891; they had one daughter) : Mary: 1812; Huldah, Feb. 16, 1815; Jolin C., July 20, 1818 (was sheriff of Northumberland county) ; Maria, Dec. 2, 1819: Charity. June 20, 1824; Charles Grier. Sept. 3, 1826.

Charles Grier Morgan lived at Danville, Pa., where he died Oct. 12, 1866. He married Sarah Ann Maurer, daughter of John Maurer, and she also died at Danville, March 17. 1910. They had a family of four children : Elliott R .. who married Margaret Bassett, daughter of George Bassett. of Danville, Pa .; Sarah E .: Ida M., Mrs. Keim : and Seth W., who married Kate Johnson, daughter of ly all this family are buried at the Stone Valley Stephen Johnson, of Danville. Church.

ELMER W. DOCKEY, one of the leading citi- zens of Pillow ( formerly known as Uniontown), former auditor of Dauphin county. and now ex- tensively . engaged in the insurance business, was born at Pillow March 22, 1866. son of Benjamin Dockey.

The Dockey family of Northumberland and. the surrounding counties of Pennsylvania has its ori- gin in John Adamı Dockey, who came to America during the Revolutionary war as one of the Hes- sian soldiers hired by King George. After the close of that war for independence he remained in America. With a number of his fellow conn- trymen he first lived in Berks county. thence com- ing to Northumberland county prior to the begin- and Mary ( Lenker) Witmer, born Feb. 8. 1833,

is now Lower Mahanoy township. Here he mar- ried, prospered, lived and died. He and his wife are buried in the old part of the graveyard at Zion's Church of Stone Valley. He was tall, erect, of typical military appearance and good address, and possessed more than ordinary intelligence. He was a man of resolute will and strong con- victions. He had three children, namely : John, mentioned later; Elizabeth, who died unmarried ; and Catharine, who married Simon Lenker, of Lower Mahanoy.

John Dockey, son of John Adam, was born July 17. 1787, in the lower end of the Mahantango Val- ley. He died on his large farm in Lower Mahanoy township July 28; 1858. He was a lifelong farmer, and owned considerable real estate. His wife, Anna Maria Schaffer, who was of an old established Lower Mahanoy township family, was born Aug. 1, 1:95, and died Feb. 25, 1862. John Dockey and his wife prospered by their industry, and reared a large family of children to usefulness and thrift. They were members of the Lutheran congrega- tion of Zion's Church, in Stone Valley, and are buried at that church. They had thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. viz. : Michael, born March 2, 1813, who died Nov. 12, 1889 (he had two sons and three daughters) ; John, born March 24, 1815, who died Sept. 24, 1887 (wife Elizabeth, born Nov. 27, 1815, died Jonas, born Dec. 31, 1819, who died July 2, 1904 (his wife Catharine Hepner, born June 15, 1869, died Oct. 29, 1891: they had one son and one daughter) : Elizabeth: Joseph, who had two sons and four daughters : Sarah ; Catharine Magdalena. who married David Underkoffler and had fifteen children : Benjamin : Annie, who never married ; Elias, born June 21, 1833, who died Dec. 7, 1888 (his wife Eliza, born in 1834, died in 1893; they had two sons and five daughters) : and Nathan, horn Dec. 11, 1830, who died Oct. 3, 1835. Near-

Benjamin Dockey, son of John, was a tailor, and followed the trade in his earlier life. About 1850 he engaged in the store business at County Line, and later huckstered produce and followed farming. In 1866 he came to Uniontown ( Pil- low), where he has since lived, following various occupations. Ile was a drover some years and for some years was connected with a hotel at Potts- ville. Since 1896 he has made his home with his son Elmer W. Dockey. He has taken some part in public affairs, having heid various local offices. among them that of constable, which be filled for some years. He is the oldest resident of his sec- tion, but though advanced in years is well pre- served. His wife. Mary Witmer, daughter of John

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government for service in the Revolutionary war, and was one of those surprised and taken prisoner on that memorable night at Trenton. Atter the war he refused to return to his native land, settling in Pennsylvania, near Amityville, in Amity town- ship, Berks county. He was well educated and engaged in school teaching, and for years was choirmaster of the German Lutheran Church there. He died in 1839, at the advanced age of eighty- three. He married Catharine Beitam, of Carlisle,

their widowed mother. He was only eleven when he commenced to work as a slate pieker at the breakers, and in time he became a full-fledged miner, following mining until he decided to start in business. He had been careful and industrious, but when he commenced the grocery business to which he has since given his attention he started on the modest capital of $15, in a small store in the Tenth, ward. This was in 1900. His early experi- ence in overcoming obstacles prevented him from Pa., and they had the following children : Eliza- becoming discouraged, however, and the success beth, Catharine. Sarah, George and Henry.

Daniel Auman, great-grandfather of George O.' incentive to further effort, if he needed it. That Aunan, was born in Berks county, and there fol- lowed farming and milling, near the Lebanon coun- ty line. He died there, while his children were young, and they were put out to make their living among strangers.

Jacob Auman, son of Daniel, was born near the Lebanon county line in Berks county in February, 1817, and there followed milling. He was married in Berks county, whence he and his wife moved to Taylorsville, Schuylkill county, where he continued that occupation, and later he settled at Ashland, that county, making a permanent home there. At Ashland he went into the butcher business, but in his later years did hauling. He died there in 1878, and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery, having been a member of the fraternity. Jacob Auman married Mary A. Owens, who was born in 1817, daughter of Samuel Owens, and they had a large family, viz. : Emaline. born in 1843, married S. T. Gottschall : William H., born in 1845, died at Aslıland ; Aaron, born in 1846, was the father of George O. Auman: Mary A., born in 1848, mar- ried E. P. Burkert, of Ashland: Jacob. born in 1850, a carpenter of Shamokin. married (first) Elizabeth Keefer and ( second) Malinda Herb : Elizabeth, born in 1853. married George Stein- hilber and lives at No. 556 Oakland street, Ash- land ; Esther, born in 1856. married ( first ) a Mr. Heiser and (second) Isaac Davis : Samuel D., born in 1858, was killed in the mines at Ashland when nineteen years old: John died at Ashland when a young man.

Aaron Auman, son of Jacob, was born in 1846, and died in May, 1882. He was a butcher by trade, and followed that calling as well as mining. He and his wife, Sarah ( Hoover), had a family of the council he was found to be one of the most five children, . namely: Samuel J., Aaron E., energetic and efficient members of that body. George O., Laura (married Lewis Hipler) and Elizabeth (married William Dorset), all of whom were very young when the father died. The mother subsequently married James Metz, by whom she had one. daughter, Bessie (married Andrew Su- dieskie).

George O. Auman attended public school in Shamokin, but his advantages for education were limited, as he and his brothers were obliged to he- gin work at an unusually early age in order to help

which came to him as the years passed was an he has devoted himself intelligently to the build- ing up of this business may be judged from the fact that he and his brother, Aaron E., who be- came his partner in 1900, now have one of the best paying grocery stores in West Shamokin. The establishment, which occupies the site at Nos. 601-609 West Walnut street, is commodious, but none too large for the extensive business done by Auman brothers, who carry a fine and complete stock, in addition to groceries and green truck, of cigars and confectionery, being among the largest retailers of tobacco and penny goods in Shamokin. The partners are popular personally. and respected for their integrity as well as their enterprise, and though both are still young they have established a profitable business and acquired property and standing in their native town.

Mr. George O. Auman has developed business ' ability and foresight with the needs of his expand- ing interests ; in fact, he has succeeded so far in keeping ahead of them, and his outlook for the future is excellent. He has taken his place among the leading young men of the borough in municipal matters, with which he has been identified ever since he reached his majority. When just twenty- one he became a delegate to the Republican county convention ; was later committeeman of his ward, the Tenth, and he was a delegate to the State con- vention when Sheetz was nominated for treasurer. In 1903 he was elected to the borough council. of which body he has since been a member. In dis- charging the duties of this office he has shown the same ability and application which made his pri- vate undertakings successful. Though the young- est man to serve in that position when he entered

where his fellow members soon found that. he could be intrusted with important respon- sibilities. So he has grown steadily .in use- fulness and popularity, and in March. 1910, he was honored with clection to the presi- dency of the council. The year before he and Mr. Earley were candidates for the honor, Mr. Earley winning by two votes. The following comment by the Shamokin Dispatch upon this incident and Mr. Auman's subsequent election is of interest as

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showing the good-will existing in the borough re- ducting a large business as a dealer in wall paper garding this young man and his achievements :

"George Auman, the new president of council, The brothers are among the most enterprising cit- is admirably fitted for the important position to which he was elected and the fact that he had no opposition speaks still higher for him. For five The Hoffman family is of German origin. Jacob Hoffman, its founder in this country, was a native of Germany, and on immigrating to this country settled in New Jersey, where he followed farming. He was a soldier in the Revolution. years Mr. Auman has conscientiously served his constituents and has never been under bondage or under the control of any man. He is totally free from outside influences and it is believed that he will make a most capable official, as has Mr. Earley, his predecessor, who has accredited to him the honor of presiding over one of the best coun- cilmanic bodies that have ever represented Sham- okin boroughı

"Last year Mr. Auman and Mr. Earley both sought the office of president of the council. Mr. Auman was defeated by two votes. This did not interfere with his good work. Shoulder to shoulder he and his successful opponent, Mr. Earley, worked out plans for bettering the borough and it is said that there has never been a better body of coun- cilmen representing this borongh.

"Mr. Auman is honest in his dealings and is noted for this characteristic and will make an ideal official. He expects to make the coming term one of the most successful Shamokin borough has ever had. Taking the retrospective of last year. if be does this, speaking in the sporting vernacular. he will 'have to go some.' However, the Dispatch be- lieves Mr. Auman's ambitions will be realized."

Mr. Anman was the candidate of his party for representative to the State Legislature in 1908, but was defeated. He is well known socially. be- longing to the I. O. R. M. (of which he is a past sacheni), the Haymakers (of which he is a past chief) and the I. O. O. F .: is president of the Modern Protective Association, and president of the Rescue Fire Company, of which latter organi- zation he was made an honorary member, and served as foreman before being elected to his pres- ent office. He was one of the organizers of the Liars' Club, which is made up of young business men of his section of Shamokin.

Mr. Auman married Maude May Yost. daughter of Henry and Susan ( Rubendale) Yost and men- ber of an old Shamokin family. Mr. and Mrs. Auman have two children. George E. and Russel C. The family reside at No. 548 North Third street. 'They are identified with the Reformed Church.

and paints, and as a paper hanger and painter. izens of Sunbury, favorably known as reliable in every transaction.

Abraham Hoffman, son of Jacob, settled in Y Shamokin township. Northumberland Co., Pa., and followed farming successfully. His children were: John; Peter: Michael : Abraham : Barbara, and Maria.

Abraham Hoffman, son of Abraham, was born on his father's farm in Northumberland county, where he spent his boyhood assisting with the ag- ricultural work. After attaining his majority he was in the mercantile business for a number of years, and selling out purchased a farm in Rush township, this county. There he passed the rest of. his life, dying at the age of eighty-seven years, four months, twenty-seven days. He was a hearty, strong and active man up to the time of his death, which was caused suddenly, by a stroke of ap- oplexy. He married Elizabeth Wolverton, daugh- ter of Roger Wolverton. of Northampton county, Pa .. and she died at the age of fitty-nine years. Eight children were born to this couple: Maria. John, Beulah, Jacob, Jemima, Erastus, Isaac and Edward G.

Erastus Hoffman, son of Abraham and Eliz- abeth (Wolverton) Hoffman, was born in Rush township, and there spent his youth on the paren- tal farm near South Danville. He lived at Sun- bury for about thirty years before his death. engag- ing in varions occupations, being employed at one time in the office of the register and recorder. He then became associated in the real estate business with his son, W. P. G. Hoffman, as E. Hoffman & Son. retiring only a few years before his death, which occurred at his home, No. 222 Catawissa avenue, Aug. 22, 1910, when he was eighty-one years old. He was interred in Pomfret Manor cemetery. He was long a prominent citizen of the borough, and especially well known as an active member of the Baptist Church, to which he had belonged practically all his life. For many years he was regarded as one of the pillars of the church in Sunbury and aided materially in placing its affairs on the substantial hasis at present enjoyed, doing as much as any one member of the congrega- tion toward that end. He was long a trustee of the church, where his death was regarded as a great loss. Mr. Hoffman married Clarinda Dun- ham, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Hussy) Dunham, of Northumberland borough, and he was

HOFFMAN. . The Hoffmans, the late Erastus , Hoffman and his two sons, W. P. G. and Howard D. Hoffman, have been known in business circles in the borough of Sunbury for a number of years, W. P. G. Hoffman having been associated with his father in the real estate business, in which he survived by his wife and two sons, W. P. G. and is still interested, and Howard D. Hoffman con-

Howard D.

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W. P. G. HOFFMAN was born in November, et M. Campbell, daughter of Harmon and Rachel 1862, in Rush township, and was educated at Dan- ( Barnhart) Campbell, and they have two children, ville, Pa. For several years he was engaged in the Elizabeth May and Fred Erastus. He is a meni- hardware business at Danville, Montour county, ber of the First Baptist Church, Mrs. Hoffman of and in the boroughi of Northumberland, Northum- the Catawissa Avenue M. E. Church, and he is a Democrat politically and active in local affairs, having served as member of the council from the Eighth ward. Socially he belongs to several fra- ternal bodies, K. of P. Lodge No. 194, the Royal Areanum and the P. O. S. of A., all of Sunbury, and the K. of P. lodge at Alleglieny City, Pennsyl- vania. berland county, and continued that business for eleven years after he settled in Sunbury, in 1891. He has since been engaged in the real estate bus- iness, in which he was associated with his father until the latter's retirement, in 1900. The busi- ness they founded now controls the bulk of real estate transactions in Sunbury. He and his fa- ther became members of the National Real Estate Exelange, and their property list embraced the greater part of the best holdings in the city and surrounding territory. The business increased so rapidly that it required their entire attention. about Sunbury real estate, its values and advantag-

DANIEL CLINGER, president of the Milton Trust & Safe Deposit Company, of Milton, North- umberland county, has been associated with that institution for many years, formerly as director There are few nien in this seetion who know more and member of the executive board, and since 1907 in his present relation. A mere enumeration es, than Mr. Hoffman, or who are better able to dis- of the local enterprises which he has helped to fi- nance tand direet would be sufficient indication of his activity in the affairs of the borough to show how important a place he occupies and has oecu- pied in the development of the place during the past forty years. His interest and efforts have not been confined to business, but have extended into the local eivil administration, polities. church and social affairs, in all of which he has been a factor for progress and intelligent activity.

course on the subject. The advanees made in local real estate values, the substantial reasons there- for, the future of the community, the opportunities offered by superior facilities of various kinds found in the territory. all these are subjects with which he is thoroughly familiar, and he is sineere in his belief that the advantages here afforded are su- perior to those of any other locality in this part of the State. His particular hobby is that satisfae- tory and profitable investments may be found near home ; that there is no need for people to go to dis- tant regions to find paying property, and that there are opportunities at the doors of those who recog- nize them. Moreover, Mr. Hoffman has interested himself actively in securing the advantages and facilities he considers most desirable for the in- provement of the locality, particularly as regards transportation and the promotion of public util- ities of various kinds.

Mr. Clinger was born Nov. 18, 1837, in Lime- stone township,-Lycoming Co., Pa. He is of Ger- man deseent, his great-grandfather, John Cling- er, having emigrated to this country from Ger- many about 1745 and settled at what was then known as Chester County Springs, now Chester Springs, in Chester county, Pa. He took up land in that vicinity and followed farming and milling there the rest of his days. His wife's maiden name was Sloyer, and it is supposed she belonged to the family of that name who came from Germany to America at the same time as John Clinger. Both are buried in Chester county.

HOWARD D. HOFFMAN, son of Erastus Hotfinan, was born Aug. 23, 1867, in Rush township, North- umberland county, where he lived until sixteen years old. At that time he moved with his parents

John Clinger, son of the emigrant, was born at to Sunbury, and he learned the trade of painter Chester Springs, and died in Chester county, where and paper hanger. During 1886 and 1887 he he is buried, at Homeville. He was a miller as lived in Shamokin. In 1889 he went West, where well as farmer. He and his wife reared a large family, as follows: Jacob, who died at Homeville. Pa. : Henry : Samuel, who died at Camden. N. J. : Dr. Peter, who died at Conestoga Center, Lancas- ter county, Pa .: Edgar, who died in Ches- ter county ; Margaret, Mrs. Rhoads : Ann, who mar- ried Thomas Pennington ; and Hannah, Mrs. Booth. he remained for a number of years, returning East in 1898. For the next two years he was in the buteher business. but he has since been engaged in his old line, having now the leading establishment of the kind in the borough. He is located at No. 620 Market street. He has a large and complete line of paints and wall papers, and does a large business in painting and paper hanging, keeping from twelve to twenty mien busy. His patronage is one of the largest in and around Sunbury, and his work is its best recommendation, his reputation as a reliable and artistie workman having been gained in years of satisfactory service.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 43

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