Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 45

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 45

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Reared to labor on the farm, and in the saw and grist mills, with the limited educational advantages of a country school. in August, 1862, the darkest days of the Rebellion, he entered the Union army as a volunteer for nine months' service, in the old 5th Corps, participating in the campaigns of An- tietam. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At- ter his discharge, at the end of his term of service. being in too delieate health for hard labor, he took a preparatory collegiate course in Freeburg Aead- emy, but his limited means prevented him from going further. In 1864 he began his pedagogical career by taking charge of a public school in his own district.

On Sept. 27, 1860, Mr. Shipman married Maria In 1869 he was elected superintendent of schools of his native county, and reelected in 1872, serv- ing six years in all. In this position he made a very efficient offieer. Characterized as a hard work- er, he followed up what he undertook with an ens ergy and perseverance worthy of imitation. - Punc- tual in all his appointments, he allowed nothing to interrupt the fulfillment of his engagements. By Bloom, who was born Aug. 16, 1842, daughter of William Bloom, and they had a family of six chil- dren, viz. : William A. is mentioned below : D. Web- ster, born March 1, 1863, a practicing attorney, has been distriet attorney of Northumberland coun- ty: Edwin H., born Oct. 30, 1867, is em- ploved by the Shamokin Street Railway Company ; Lizzie, born Aug. 10, 1869, died Aug. 19, 1871: his thorough course he greatly elevated the grade Charles C., born Oct. 2, 1872. died Dec. 11, 1874: of the schools of the eounty. Augusta. born March 19. 1874, married S. C. Yo-

In the summer of 1870 he conducted a local cum, who is superintendent of schools of Coal town- normal sehool at Shamokin-the first movement ship, Northumberland eounty.

of the kind in this section of the country and a

WILLIAM A. SHIPMAN. now engaged in the un- most gratifying suecess. He has the reputation dertaking business at No. : 01 Market street, Sun- of having been the most efficient examining officer bury. Northumberland county, was born Sept. 11, that ever filled the position of school superintend- 1861. in Rockefeller township, this county. He ent of this county; also. the eredit of having held began his education there in the local schools and the best series of institutes ever held in the county. was ten years old when he came with his parents The annual reports prepared by him as superin- to Sunbury, where he attended the high school. tendent of schools are concise, pithy, suggestive

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Sra Shifuman

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and outspoken doenments and form a valuable birthplace, attended also at New Bloomfield, Perry contribution to the county school literature. An county, and was later a student at the Freeburg independent thinker, he is positive in his opinions and actions, conscientions in the discharge of du- ties, just and unyielding in what he believes to be right. Academy and the Shippensburg normal school. He began to teach at the age of seventeen and found his principal work in that profession to the end of his days. The first four years he was en- gaged in his native township, after which he was chosen a teacher for Sunbury, in which borough he followed his profession, as teacher, principal and superintendent. for nearly thirty years. There

He is a member of the G. A. R., has served as secretary of church and joint councils: secretary of his own lodge, and representative to the grand lodge, 1. O. O. F .: is secretary-treasurer of Plnm Creek Cemetery Company (incorporated), of is hardly any one educator whose influence on the which he was the organizer, and is now serving his schools of the borough has been so strong or so nineteenth year, by annual election, as secretary of lasting. In 1893 he was chosen county superin- a local inutual fire insurance company, incorpor- >tendent of schools, and held that office until 1899, ated. He resides in Rockefeller township, and is engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits, his work in these occupations being excellent ob- ject lessons, and his advice and suggestions eagerly sought by the most progressive people engaged in the same pursuits.

Mr. Shipman married July 13. 1869, Lucinda Fasold, who was born Sept. 20, 1841. They had nine children, eight sons and one daughter, all still living, seven of whom were teachers in the public schools : only one has remained in that work, the second 'being a supervising principal in the Phila-

after which, until his death, he was borough super- intendent. At a meeting of the board of educa- tion held May 2, 1905, his term of office was ex- tended for a period of three years, he being elected without opposition and at an increased salary. Had he lived, he would have entered upon the duties of principal of the Herndon ( Northumber- land county) schools, to which position he had been chosen, and which opened the day before his death. Such is a brief statement of the various capacities in which his services were given. Of his work, none who knew him had anything but words of

delphia schools. The record of this family is as, praise. During his incumbeney as superintendent

the country schools were especially benefited, be- ing graded and brought to a high state of efficiency, and he was equally zealous in his work at Sunbury. Indefatigable in his own efforts, he expected the same degree of industry and enthusiasm from all the teachers cooperating with him, but he was ap- preciative and just, winning their loyalty and sup- port as well as their best exertions. He died Aug. 31, 1909: at the age of fifty-five years, mourned by all who knew him. The following explains it- self :

"WHEREAS: Since the last meeting of the Northumberland County Teachers' Institute. God. in His allwise providence, has seen fit to remove. by death, from the ranks of our profession, Prof.

"WHEREAS: By the death of Prof. Shipman, the County has lost an educator who, by persistent ef- fort, indefatigable work and intelligent applica- tion, placed himself at the head of the sehools of

. in Danville. (8) Catherine E., the only daughter, married Charles W. Gearhart, and resides at Sun- have lost a sincere friend, a wise counselor, and a buy. (9) Don Benito is now a junior student in splendid leader in the positions which he so ably the Sunbury high school.

"WHEREAS: By the death of Prof. Shipman we

filled, a self-made man, attentive to his duties, a real help to the teachers, a model school man, and. as Dr. Schaeffer puts it, 'One of the three great course of study. monthly reviews, final examin- ations, and the granting of diplomas, stand ont as monuments of his work :

IRA SHIPMAN, son of Abraham, was born in Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, this County Superintendents of the State'-the graded county, May 17, 1854. It is a coincidence that the year of his birth was the year the office of eounty superintendent of schools, in which he served effi- ciently for six years, was established. He received "Therefore: Be it resolved that we extend onr his early education in the country schools near his heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family in its

follows: (1) Warren Lee graduated from the Millersville. normal school, supplementing this course with a special course at Valparaiso, Ind., and also graduated from the Dickinson Law School, Carlisle, l'a. ; he now resides in Arkansas, engaged in farming and stock raising. (?) Gor- don Bryant, a graduate of Millersville State nor- · mal school, supplemented his work there by an ex- tended . course, and is now a public school prin- cipal in Philadelphia. (3) Cullen Frazer, a grad- uate of Bucknell University, and Hon. S. P. Wol- verton's last law student, is now a practicing at- torney at Sunbury. (4) Ivan Vernon, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Dental College. Philadelphia, is now practicing dentistry at Sunbury. (3) Mel- ville M. is a carrier in the mail service from the Ira Shipman of the borough of Sunbury. Philadelphia post office. (6) Truman G. is in the government service, in the United States weather bureau. (7) Grover C. served his apprenticeship as a patternmaker at Baldwin's, Philadelphia, and is now engaged as a skilled workman at his trade, the County and of the borough of Sunbury, and.

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affliction, and commend it to Him who doeth all 1829. He received a common school education in things well. Sunbury and attended the Bloomsburg State Nor- * * * be recorded on the minutes of the Northumberland County Teachers' Institute, and that copies of the same be sent to the bereaved families." The doeu- ment bears the signatures of the seven members of the Memorial committee.

"Be it further resolved: That these resolutions mal School at Bloomsburg, Pa. Later he served an apprenticeship to the trade of machinist. In December, 1908, his father became connected with the Shipman Instrument Company, which manu- factures speed indicators for use on automobiles and railroads. and Ralph Shipman became secre- tary and treasurer of the concern after the death of his father. This company produced the first successful speed indicator built on the escapement principle, recording the speed in miles per hour, trip and season distanees, and trip and season running hours. Mr. Shipman is an enterprising young business man, and a citizen of promising valne to the community. He is a member of Lodge No. 262, B. P. O. Elks, of the Royal Arcanum and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1907 he married Della Daniels, and they have had one son, Raldo.

It was not alone in the schools that Mr. Ship- man served his community well. When a young man he studied surveying with his father, spend- ing his holidays at the work. and in 1882 was ap- pointed county surveyor to succeed E. M. Purdy, who had resigned, filling the position until the next election, in 1883. He also gained consider- able knowledge of civil engineering under his fa- ther, and after his father's death became eustodian of the notes of many important surveys. He at- tained a high reputation as a civil engineer, and served the borough of Sunbury in that capacity for five years, during which time the first section of street paving was laid there, under his super- vision. He filled this position .while teaching, re- signing it in 1893, when elected county superin- tendent of schools. He was for a time borough regulator, and served Rockefeller township as jus- tiee of the peaee.

ample of unselfish devotion to the ideals he cher- ished, and the strength of character he displayed in carrying out his plans, especially in his educa- tional work, is referred to with pride by all who knew him. Thoughtfulness marked all his actions. even to the last. Realizing a few days before his death that the end was near, he made complete arrangements for his funeral and interment, spar- ing his family and friends as many of the sad du- ties as possible. He passed away at his home on Catawissa avenne and was laid to rest in Pom- fret Manor cemetery. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church from early life to the end of his days, but as the First Presbyterian church of Sunbury was undergoing repairs at the time of his deeease the funeral services were held in the First Baptist church. Fraternally Mr. Shipman held membership in Lodge No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, the

Sovereign Patriotie Knights, the 1. O. O. F., the peace. late of Sunbury, was tor many years one P. O. S. of A. and the Roval Arcanum.

On April 27, 1876, Mr. Shipman married Ther- known in his earlier years as a public school teacher esa Miller, daughter of Solomon and Caroline and later as a successful member of the legal pro- ( Kline) Miller, who lived in Lower Augusta (now fession.

children were born to this union, Herbert MI. (de- ceased ), Ralph and Waldo. Upon the death of his father Mr. Shipman purchased the old family homestead, where he had spent his early life. re- modeled the dwelling, and there made his home for eight or ten years.

WALDO SHIPMAN. son of Ira, was born Feb. 2, 1882. in Lower Augusta township, graduated from the Sunbury high school in 1901, and subsequently attended the Pratt Institute. at Brooklyn, N. Y., taking the electrical course, and graduating in 1905. Meantime he had been in the employ of the Westinghouse Company, extensive manufacturers

Mr. Shipman's life was in every respect an ex- of electrical supplies, and after his graduation he engaged in the electrical contracting business at Lewistown. Pa., for two years. He then began as a salesman for the Elliott Lewis Electrie Company of Philadelphia, his territory being northeastern Pennsylvania and the lower end of New York State. His thorough familiarity with the produets he handles makes his services particularly ethcient. He is a member of Lodge No. 663, B. P. O. E., of Lewistown ; of Sunbury Council, Royal Arcanum : and of Lewistown Lodge, No. 203, F. & A. M .. Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, and Trem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. of Wilkes-Barre. He also belongs to U. C. T. Council, No. 350. of Wil- hamsport, Pa. On March 21. 1906, Mr. Shipman married Sarah Maud Kauffman. They have no children.

WALTER SHIPMAN, lawyer and justice of the of the prominent residents of that borough, well

Rockefeller) township, where Mr. Miller was the Mr. Shipman was born Aug. 3, 1856, in Lower owner of a large farm. which he cultivated. Three Augusta township, this county, son of Abraham and Elizabeth ( Yoxtheimer) Shipman. In his carly life he attended the Freeburg Academy. later becoming a student at the Millersville State Nor- mal school. after which he was engaged as an edn- cator for fifteen years, in the public schools of Sunbury, where he won especial reputation for

RALPH SHIPMAN, son of Fra, was born Ang. 13, thoroughness and skill as a disciplinarian. During

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the latter part of this period he studied law under the former of whom, a farmer of Rockefeller town- George B. Reimensnyder, Esq., of Sunbury, was ship, died July 16, 1905. Mrs. Shipman survives, as do also the three children of Mr. Shipman by admitted to the bar in 1885, and made a deeided success as a legal practitioner. Hle had an exten- a former union : Lida Maude, now Mrs. William sive practiee, handling many important eases not Gaskins, of Sunbury: Carrie Glen, now Mrs. Charles D. Keeter, of Sunbury ; and James Fay, a graduate of the Dickinson Law School, who was admitted to practice in Northumberland county but is now a practicing attorney at Moundsville, West Virginia. only in the lower courts but also in the Supreme . eourt, and had an especially large practice in the Orphans' court of the county. His standing among the members of liis profession may be judged from the fact that he served for over ten years as member of the examining committee of . the county bar, giving his services withont eom- pensation. He filled a number of publie positions, for the most part in the line of his chosen work, being borough solicitor two years (at the time his brother Ira Shipman was borough regulator), holding this office nnder two Republiean chief burgesses-Peter Bowen and Jacob Renn-thougli he himself was a Democrat. In 1893 he was elected justice of the peaee on the Democratic tieket, by a majority of 283, and in 1898 was reelected by a majority of 1,100, continuing to. serve until his death, at which time he was filling his fourth term. In 1901 he was a eandidate for the Demo- eratic nomination for president judge, and re- ceived flattering indorsement, earrying every ward in his own eity, though he did not reeeive the nom- ination. The Shipmans generally have been prom- inent in public affairs and politics, and he proved no exception to the rule; gaining and maintaining honorable standing in the life of the community.

Mr. Shipman died July 21, 1911, at his home in Sunbury, after about a year's illness and suffering, during which he underwent three fruitless oper- ations. The simple but impressive funeral serv- ices, held at the house, were conducted by Rev. Robert O'Boyle, assisted by Rev. Richard Gass, of Elysburg, and Rev. Walter W. C. Pugh, of Sun-

Joseph Shipman was a farmer in what is now Lower Augusta, township, owning a farm which was later the property of his son John B., who sold it to one James H. Smith. Joseph Shipman is buried at the Mountain Presbyterian Church. He married Mary, daughter of John Bergstresser, and nine children were born to this union, viz. : Eliza- beth married Matthew DeWitt; John B. is men- tioned below ; Phoebe married William P. Koontz, who died May 23, 1854, aged twenty-five years, eleven months, and she subsequently married George McCarthy; Nieholas lives in Ohio; Lot, who was a school teacher, later interested in a grain elevator, died April 1, 1904, in Ohio, aged seventy years, five months, ten days, and is buried in the West ; Jemima married John Ditty and died Ang. 2, 1904, aged sixty-one years, ten days (she is bur- ied at Shamokin, Pa.) ; Adaline, who was the wife of Robert Feaster, died May 12, 1891, aged forty- . five years, five months, eleven days, and is buried at the Baptist Church at Augusta: Catharine died July 26, 1836, aged eight years, fourteen days; Joseph married Harriet Read, and died Oct. 20, 1845, aged forty-two years, one month, eight days.

JOHN B. SHIPMAN was a native of Lower Aug- usta township, born March 23, 1830, and died July 18, 1906, on his farm near Vera Cruz ( Mal- bury, and were largely attended. The members ta post office), in Lower Mahanoy township. He was a lifelong fariner, a substantial and respeeted eitizen, one who held the good will and esteem of all who knew him. Reared in his native town- . ship, he afterward owned his father's farm there, selling it to James H. Smith before he settled in

of the Northumberland County Bar Association and other organizations to which Mr. Shipman be- longed attended in a body. The interment at Pom- fret Manor cemetery was private, though the ritual of the B. P. O. Elks, of which he was a prominent member, was observed. The acting pallbearers, Lower Mahanoy, in 1884. He had a farm of 144 nephews of Mr. Shipman, were Dr. H. W. Gass, Dr. acres in the latter township (formerly owned by I. V. Shipman, Ralph Shipman, D. W. Shipman, John Underkoffler), and. there passed the re- Esq., Frazer Shipman, Esq., and R. Ira Gass. The mainder of his days. It was the old original Da-

honorary pallbearers were Ilon. C. R. Savidge, vid Underkoffler homestead and was settled by a Hon. Voris Auten, Hon. C. B. Witmer, Harry S. Witmer: the house is a pebble-dashed log strue- Knight, H. W. Cummings and John V. Lesher. ture and one of the landmarks of that seetion.

Mr. Shipman was one of the most prominent members of Lodge No. 267. B. P. O. Elks. a past exalted ruler of that body, and represented the lodge at the convention held in Salt Lake City in 1902. He was also a member of Washington Camp No. 194, P.O. S. of A., Lanee and Shield Conelave and the Royal Arcanum.

In 1883 Mr. Shipman married Emma J. De- Witt, daughter of Paul and Abigail (Shipman) DeWitt, of Lower Angusta township, and the fol- lowing year, as above mentioned, they moved to the farm in Lower Mahanoy township where Mr. Shipman followed farming until his death. As they were English-speaking people they had some

Mr. Shipman married Claudine Fasold, dangh- difficulty at first in their social intercourse with ter of Solomon W .and Maranda ( Kimble) Fasold, their German neighbors. Two children were born

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to Mr. and Mrs. Shipman : Carrie Abigail, who father's assistant in the store, and was postmaster dicd in infancy, and Franklin Clyde. The son at Sunbury from 1806 until 1816, but his public farms the homestead place, where he and his mother continue to make their home, and he is an career began when he was a comparatively young man and covered many years. From 1812 to 1820 industrious and respected young man, intelligent he represented his district in the State Assembly and up-to-date in his agricultural methods, which have been attended with excellent results. Hc re- ceived his early education in the local schools and later attended summer normal school at George- town.

Mr. Shipman was a Presbyterian in religious connection and is buried at the Mountain Presby- terian Church.

and in 1823 was elected State senator to succeed Albright, deceased, serving three years in that ca- . pacity. In 1830 he was elected a member of the Twenty-second Congress from what is now the Ser- enteenth district and was reelected in 1832. In 1834 he was honored with reelection to the State Legislature, in which he resumed his seat and served three terms, until 1840, during the last year of that period being honored with the speakership of the House. In 1839 he was chief burgess of

WILLIAM L. DEWART. of Sunbury, editor and proprietor of the Sunbury Daily and the Sunbury, and for many years ke was a member of Northumberland County Democrat, wields in that the School Board. Mr. Dewart was' not only a benefited the community equally in his activity in connection an appreciable influence upon public highly capable public servant, but a citizen who sentiment and progress in that community. His father and grandfather were men of character and the development of industrial enterprises, note- force, both representatives in the National Legis- worthy among which was the Danville & Pottsville railroad, which. in company with Stephen Girard, lature, and the name has long been associated in Pennsylvania with leadership in the Democratic of Philadelphia, and Gen. Daniel Montgomery, of party.

William Dewart, the great-grandfather of Wil- liam L. Dewart, was born in 1740 in Ireland, and came thence to America in 1765, first settling in Chester county, Pa. He was in such humble cir- cunstances that he paid his passage money after · his arrival. working for five dollars a month, but industry and thrift soon brought their reward. He came to Sunbury, where he opened a store in 1175, Danville, lie organized and built : Mr. Dewart was one of the first directors of this road and served as such for many years. He and Stephen Girard were the pioncers in the Schuylkill county coal fields, and they had large holdings of valuable coal property in the vicinity of Shamokin, this county, as well as in Schuylkill county. Their idea was to uncover the coal instead of tunneling, but the pro- cess proved too expensive to be practicable. Mr. just three years after the organization of North- Dewart was identified with the promotion or real- umberland county. He was the second merchant ization of many of the most advanced improve- at that point, and his store was the first in the ments of his day and was, indeed, one of the most town, a log building on Chestnut street, between prominent citizens in central Pennsylvania, but his Second and Center streets. Subsequently he pur- business undertakings were particularly helpful to the opening up of the territory north of Sunbury. In 1840, the year he retired from active business pursuits, he was a Democratic candidate for the nomination for governor. He was succeeded in the leadership of the party by his son, William Lewis Dewart, who carried the honor of the name into even greater usefulness than his father had at- tempted. Lewis Dewart was associated with the most noted men of his time, being a warm friend of Andrew Jackson. and his influential connections gave him the opportunity to do much for his home community that would have been impossible for one less powerful or valuable personally. He was a man of fine presence, commanding attention and respect wherever he went. His death occurred April 26, 1852, when he was seventy-one years old. and his remains rest in a vanlt at Sunbury. He married Elizabeth Liggett, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania. chased ground on the north side of Market street, where he built a brick residence and store, and he made a success of his business, accumulating con- siderable property. He was constable of Augusta township as early as 1777. He died July 25, 1814, aged seventy-four years. His wife, Eleanor, died Sept. 17, 1805, aged fifty-eight years, ten inonthis, twenty-four days. They had a large family of children, most of whom, however, died in youth. We have record of the two sons William, Jr., and Lewis, the latter of whom was the grandfather of the present William L. Dewart, of Sunbury. Wil- liam Dewart, Jr., died Nov. 12, 1810, aged thirty- two years, one month, twenty-three days; he mar- ricd Liberty Brady, who was born Aug. 9, 1778, daughter of John and Mary Brady, and died July 25, 1851. Their son. William, born Nov. 24, 1806, died May 18, 1841 : he was a well known merchant at Sunbury.

Hon. Lewis Dewart, son of William and Eleanor ITon. William Lewis Dewart, only son of Lewis Dewart, was born in Sunbury Nov. 14, 1780, when and Elizabeth ( Liggett) Dewart, was born .June the place was little more than a military post in 21, 1821, at Sunbury, and received his education the wilderness. For a number of years he was his at various places. His early training was largely

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 45

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