Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 49

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 49

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Mr. Yarnall married Mary A. (Christian), ' widow of Benjamin Starner, and to them were born six children, of whom five are mentioned : William H., who died in infancy; Gaynor, who died young : Horace, who died young : Charles E., of Sunbury: and John G. The mother was born July 30, 1821, and died in June, 1897.

JOHN G. YARNALL was born Nov. 24, 1860, at Sunbury, where he has passed all his life, being now one of the prosperous business men of that borough. He received his education in the local public schools, graduating from the high school in the spring of 1817, and in 1879 entered the employ of Fra T. Clement, as clerk in the office. remaining with him until Jan. 1. 1895, and be- coming a valuable emplovce. He has since been in business for himself. He began as a partner of T. H. Paul, in association with whom he pur- chased, at the time mentioned, the goodwill, stock and fixtures of C. G. Heckert, whose business was then located at No. 416 Market street, Sunbury,

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being the leading furniture house of the place. Orange, and who was promoted to a majority in The firm of Yarnall & Paul lasted four years, the British army for bravery shown at the battle of when, in 1899, Mr. Yarnall became sole owner, and he has since continued the business alone. In Oc- tober, 1900, he located at his present place, No. 334 Market street, which building he purchased the previous August. It has a frontage of 39 feet, on Market street, and the building has a depth of 160 feet, the lot, however, being 230 feet deep. Mr. Yarnall carries a large line of furniture, rugs, etc., and enjoys an extensive trade, which he has attained and held by the most honorable methods and satisfactory goods, for which his establishment is noted. the Boyne. However that may be, we do know that he was born in Ireland about 1766. As to what part of the Emerald Isle gave birth to our ancestor, I am in total ignorance, although I have gone to very great pains endeavoring to find out. Of his early life we know practically nothing, although family traditions tell us that he was a school teach- er in his native country. He early determined to emigrate to the "land of the free" and did so in or about 1790. On landing in America he first lo- cated in the vicinity of West Chester, Pa .. where he remained about three years. , He then removed to Mr. Yarnall married Harriet D. Haas, daugh- ter of Henry Haas. of Mahanoy City, Pa., and his first wife, whose maiden name was Smith. George Haas, Mrs. Yarnall's grandfather, lived in the Swatara Creek Valley in Dauphin county. Mr. and Mrs. Yarnall have had five children : Mary Ann died in infancy; Joseph H., electrical en- gineer, who has been engaged as assistant engineer of the elevated railroad of Boston, Mass., since June, 1910, is a graduate of State College and an ambitious young man ; Ira T., also a graduate of State College, is now in the government employ as a forester, in New Mexico; Sarah O. is a sten- ographer ; John W. is assisting his father in busi- ness. what is now Montour county, Pa., it being at that time a part of Northumberland county. The first definite allusion to him that I have found is in the report for 1877 of County Superintendent William Henry, in which he says : "The first (schoolhouse) of which we have an authentic account was. built in 1793 by James Montgomery, the father of H. R. Montgomery, Esq .. and the few scattered settlers. in the vicinity. The building stood near the Mil- ton and Danville road and but a short distance from the present boundary line between Montour and Northumberland counties, on lands now owned by Romanus Mull. James Montgomery became its first teacher and he can with truth be called the pioneer school master of the county. It is supposed Mr. Yarnall is a Republican in politics, and in 1884 he was a member of the borough council, where he proved an aggressive worker. He is a prominent member and one of the trustees of Sunbury Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, and fraternally holds membership in the I. O. O. F. and Encampment. old Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., and the Royal Arcanum, all of Sunbury. He be- longs to the Reformed Church. that Mr. Montgomery was the only teacher that taught in the building. It is known that he taught school for some time. He was a teacher who firmly believed in 'sparing not the rod.' The late Eli Wilson of Danville, bore to the end of his life a scar, the result of a violent collision with this master's ruler. In addition to teaching he for many years followed the arduous profession of civil engineer- ing, a calling much more in demand at that early dav than at present."

JAMES MONTGOMERY." the progenitor of the Pottsgrove branch of the Montgomerys, was a member of that numerous body, the "Scotch Irish," which has done so much for the material, moral and spiritual advancement of our beloved America.

Many circumstances, and family traditions as well, show beyond a reasonable doubt that the Dan- ville. Paradise and Pottsgrove families of this name are connected by ties of blood, but at this late dav it seems wholly impossible to trace the rela- tionship. Some day, should a complete history of the Montgomery family be written, we may know inneh of our ancestors of which we are now ignor- ant.

It seems fairly certain that the head of our branch was a descendant of Captain Montgomery, born 1666, who was an officer under William of

Captain Montgomery, as he was . familiarly known, for many years held the office of justice of the peace, his first commission, bearing date Jan. 5, 1815, being given him by Gov. Simon Snyder, for District No. ? in the township of Chillisqua- que in the county of Columbia, the same being val- id "so long as you do behave yourself well." His second commission, bearing the signature of Gov- ernor Shultz, was dated May 29. 1826, and was for the township of Liberty, county of Columbia.

He was a member of the Masonic craft, having in November, 1816, joined by card Lodge No. 144 at Lewisburg, Pa .; he was a member of the fra- ternity previously: I have been wholly unable to find out, but suppose it to have been over in Ire- land.

The Pennsylvania Archives, as well as family tradition, show that he was early a member of the local military organization, he being captain (hence his title) of the 81st Regiment. Pennsylvania Mili- tia, during and subsequent to 1805. That he re-

* History of the "POTTSGROVE BRANCHI" of the Montgomery family, by James R. Montgomery, M. D., 1903.

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mained with the "boys" and did not desert his adopted country in time of peril is evideneed by the fact that in 1814 he and his regiment were called out, they going as far as Northumberland, where they were ordered to encamup. They re- mained in camp for fifteen days, when, the war being practically ended, they were sent home.

Of course it is a foregone conclusion that a de- born Aug. 7, 1800, died Jan. 16, 1826; Nathaniel, seendant of one of William of Orange's soldiers born Ang. 3, 1802, died Nov. 20, 1824; William, could be naught but a Presbyterian and sueli was born April 16, 1805, died Aug. 14, 1826; Mary, the fact in this case. Grandfather was during his born 1808, died 1854; Daniel W., born life a consistent member and supporter of the 1811, died 1866; Andrew, boru June 24, 1814, Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church, an organiza- died Aug. 3, 1838; Robert G., born 1817, died tion formed in 1773, a few years prior to his ar- 1875; Hugh R., born 1819. died 1881; Anne, born July 9, 1822, died Jan. 23, 1829. It was a sad and remarkable coincidenee that, so many of the sons died in early manhood.

rival herc. A personal letter recently received from my venerable friend, Samuel Me Mahan, of Milton, Pa., says, "I remember your grandfather very well. He with the greater part of those fam- ilies that came from the North of Ireland, were strong Presbyterians. He was one of the regular supporters of the old Chillisquaque Church."

On March 6, 1800, in consideration of the sum of three hundred pounds, he received from James Sheldon a deed for 133 aeres and 6 per ecnt allow- ance of land along the Beaver run in what is now Liberty township, Montour Co., Pa., it being part of a tract of land which the Proprietors of Penn- sylvania did by patent dated the 3d day of April, 1776, grant to James Sheldon. This farm was very beautifully located, and covered with a thick growth of heavy timber, mostly white oak. I

have heard it said that he chose this land because of the splendid timber on it, arguing from this that the soil must be extremely productive, while other settlers having less means were compelled to purchase the apparently poorer, lenee cheaper, land, that was covered with small serubby trees. We see his error now. His acres turned out to be a fair quality of gravel, while his poorer neighbors beeame tlie possessors of the valuable limestone farms, as fertile as any in the State, and which have made their deseendants wealthy. He pro- eeeded to clear up a farm and to erect the neces- sary buildings for the comfort and maintenance of himself and his family. These have long sinee disappeared. The house, built of logs, stood about two rods east of the location of the present dwell- ing. There was a splendid spring near the house and as there was at that time little or no market for his surplus. grain lie, like many of the pioneer settlers, built a distillery for its consumption. With tireless energy he laboriously hewed out the broad acres of the old homestead where his chil- dren were all born and which remained in the pos- session of himself and his deseendants for nearly a eentury thereafter.

During the summer of 1795 he married Sarah Sheddan, who was born at "Seoiceberry Grove," the Sheddan homestead in Liberty township. Jan. 16, 1778, a daughter of James Sheddan, an Irish-

man, born Aug. 12, 1744, who with his wife, born in August, 1749, came to America in 1774. Mrs. Montgomery was a devoted wife to the end of her life, which occurred July 22, 1827. She and her liusband were the parents of the following ehil- dren : Samuel, born Sept. 20, 1196; died April 17, 1798; James, born 1798, died 1827; Samuel (2),

Soon after the death of his wife James Mont- gomery again assumed the matrimonial relation, being united in marriage with Mrs. Catherine Burns, nee Harvey, who bore him three children : John C., born 1828, died 1859: David H., born 1831, died 1902, and Margaret J., born 1835, died 1842. . She survived him some years, finally going the way of all flesh, Ang. 18, 1856.

As indicated in the foregoing sketch our grand- father was a man of considerable importanec to the community in his day and generation. In- tellectually he was far above the average settler. My old friend, Samuel MeMahan, tells me, "I saw him sign the temperanee pledge in the eenter schoolhouse and lie was spoken of as a man of pro- nounced views, who would be of much help in the reformation." Physically he was a large, finely built man, not tall but rather heavy. Like a true son of Erin, he was jovial and witty. As a hus- band he was thoughtful of the comfort of his part- ner, as a father he was kind and just, although somewhat striet as was the habit of the old eolon- ists. As a neighbor and eitizen his efforts and in- fluence were all to the good.

He lived to the Biblical limit of three-score and ten. His death occurred suddenly and without any premonitions, he being found dead in his bed, probably from an apoplectic seizure, Dee. 6, 1836. His remains were buried by the side of his first wife in the old Chillisquaque cemetery and have long since been followed by all that was mortal of his widow and many of his children. There they quietly rest in that dreamless sleep from which they shall not awaken until the resurrection niorn.

Concerning the children of James and Saralı (Sheddan) Montgomery who reached maturity.

.James Montgomery was born, probably at the Sheddan homestead, Oct. 10, 1:98. Very little is now known about him. On Nov. 15, 1825, he mar- ried Jane Harrison (a sister of the late Mrs. Obed Everett of Frosty Valley), who was born in Union county, Pa., June 12, 1805. During their honey- moon they visited friends near Milton and both

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contracted colds which developed into illness so and tear and exposure incident to the life of the serious that in both cases it terminated fatally, her busy physician whose creed and practice always is death occurring July 31, 1826, his following on May 10, 1827. They left no children. "others before yourself." Physically Dr. Mont- gomery was not a robust man, being slight in build and not tall, but he had a clear eye, a firm, resolute chin and a thoughtful, faith-inspiring face. In early life he had some trouble with one of his

Mary Montgomery was born on the old Mont- gomery homestead Nov. 20, 1808, and died Jan. 27, 1854. . About 1830 she married John Rogers (an Irishman and school teacher), by whom she ankles, which caused a permanent lameness.

had two children, Sarah Anne and Elinor. The On April 13, 1839, he purchased the lot on cor- latter was born Nov. 20, 1834, and died without ner of Main and Mount Pleasant streets, in the vil- issue Feb. 22, 1857. Sarah Anne was born in lage of Orangeville, on which he built the house which was his home to the end of his life, in which caster, Pa., Dee. 30, 1891. On Sept. 9, 1858, she his children were all born, and which still remains in the possession of his son. Some years later he purchased a fine farm in Orange township.

Liberty township May 1, 1832, and died in Lan- was married in Morrow county, Ohio, to Samuel Burns (born in Liberty township Oct. 12, 1832, died in Lancaster, Pa., Opt. 24, 1906), and they were the parents of five children : Ella, John, Anna, Amos and Robert, all of whom died during childhood, and thus terminated this branch of the family.

Dr. Daniel W. Montgomery was born on the old homestead in what was then Turbut township, Northumberland county, May 7, 1811. He left home at an early age, probably about fifteen, and matrienlated as a student at an institution of much note at the time, the old Milton Academy, the lead- ing spirit of which was the eccentric but learned minister David Kirkpatrick, familiarly known as "Old Kirk." Among his classmates were James Pollock, who afterward served as governor of Pennsylvania, and Andrew G. Curtin, who later became the famous "War Governor" of our Com- monwealth, as well as others who achieved con- siderable snecess in the various walks of life. Aft- er graduation he was retained in the academy as teacher for several years. Being poor but am- bitious he, as many before and since have done, re- sorted to the schoolmaster's desk in order to ob- tain funds with which to secure a medical edu- cation. He taught at Danville, Mausdale, Sodom, ment, with his long experience. rendered him one the "Marsh," and' probably at other schools in the of more than ordinary skill. The profession has forks of the Susquehanna. It is worthy of note that the lady who afterward became his wife was at out this and adjoining counties who have frequent- one time one of his pupils. He now entered the ly sought his counsel will sadly deplore the loss of office, of Dr. William H. Magill, a noted physician one whose life has been so valuable to the profes- lost a valnable member and the physicians through- of Danville, as a student of medicine, and in due sion and community. But alas! He is no more. tine matriculated at Jefferson Medical College. Death has claimed him and his quiet, tranqui! death assures us that his spirit rests in peace .? After a faithful attendance at its courses of lee- tures he was granted the coveted degree in 1835. His mortal remains now rest in that dreamless He immediately located at Orangeville, where by sleep that knows no wakening this side of eternity. by the side of her he loved in life, in beautiful Orangeville cemetery. energy and industry he soon built up a large but exceedingly laborious practice, his field being a very extensive one, embracing territory which now On Nov. 16, 1837, at the home of her parents. he was joined in wedlock to Margaret, daughter of William and Jane ( Moore) Curry, and grand- daughter of Robert Curry, a native of Ireland, who was one of the earliest settlers of what is now Montour county and who was killed by the Judians in 1780. Mrs. Montgomery was born on the ohl supports over a dozen physicians. But he never faltered until failing health compelled him to de- sist, retaining the confidence and support of his patrons to the end. His premature death, which occurred Nov. 16, 1866, was like that of thousands of his brother physicians-unhonored and unsung, yet heroes none the less-directly due to the wear Curry homestead in Valley township, Columbia

The Doctor was one of a small body of medical men who on the 31st day of July, 1858, founded the Columbia County Medical Society, an associa- tion which has endured to the present day and which embraces in its membership the leading practitioners of the county. Although in no sense a politician he, like all our family, was a life-long Demnoerat. My father onee told me that had it not been deemed impossible to dispense with his serv- ices as a physician, he would have been thrust in the stifling vanlts of Fort Mifflin along with the other poor victims of that horrid creation of ma- lignity and falsehood, the so called "Fishing creek Confederacy." Yet it is but the simple truth that no purer-minded, more patriotic American ever lived than was he. A contemporary newspaper, The Star of the North, says of him : "His long res- idence in the place, in connection with his great, success in the practice of medicine, his unwavering principles of morality and integrity, his zeal for the cause of education, his aid and energy for the public welfare, leave a community to mourn his loss as irreparable. As a physician he ranked among the highest. His calmi and deliberate judg-

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(now Montour) county, Jan. 20, 1815, and after bank barn. Here he lived till 1865, when he sold it a faithful performance of the many and varied duties that confronted her as wife, mother and grandparent departed this life in Orangeville, in the house where all of a congenial and happy mar- ried life had been spent. Jan. 6, 1888. Both Doc- tor and Mrs. Montgomery were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the par- ents of the following children : Clara J. C., born May 17, 1843, who died Sept. 10, 1853: Zelma Agnes, born Jan. 19, 1842 ; and James B., born July 6, 1849.

Robert G. Montgomery was born on the old Montgomery homestead, Jan. 5, 1812, and lived on it during the whole of his life, following the humble but very honorable and useful occupation of tiller of the soil. He was an excellent farmer and liked nothing better than to "make two blades of grass grow where one grew before." . He became the owner of his farm sometime during the forties and improved it by the erection of a fine brick house and a large bank barn. He was a man of qui- et tastes, one who thoroughly despised vulgar os- tentations. He was honest and God-fearing, and while liis fame was merely local, who can say how far reaching is the influence of that well lived life ! I shall never forget a remark made by a neighbor which I overheard at his funeral, "There lies a perfectly honest man, one who never had an ene- my." On Dec. 4, 1857, he married Susan, daugh- ter of Fleming and Anna ( Randolph) Nesbit, who was born at Carlisle, Pa., Jan. 22, 1827, and died at the home of her daughter May, in Orangeville, Nov. 29, 1890. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: James F., born Jan. 26, 1862: Ida May, born Feb. 8, 1864; John C., born Dec. 19, 1867; and three others who died in infancy. Mr. Montgomery's death, which was sudden and un- expected, occurred Dec. 31, 1875, from an attack of pneumonia. He was buried in the new Chillis- quaque cemetery. His widow was buried . at Orangeville. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the old Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church.

and moved to the "Auten" farin, where he lived one year, when he bought and moved on the "Morgan" farm in the Village of Mexico. Here he lived for three years, when he sold the place and purchased a large tract of land along the banks of the Chillis- quaque, near Pottsgrove. This was known as the "Bennage" farm and was the same tract originally known as "The True Point," which in considera- tion of the sum of twelve pounds, two shillings, sixpence sterling was granted, released and con- firmed unto John Morrow (a progenitor of our present Murray family) on the sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord 1774, and the four- teenth year of the reign of King George the Third over Great Britain, etc., by Thomas Penn and John Penn, Esq's., etc., etc. He moved on this farm during the month of April, 1869, and soon im- proved it by the erection of an excellent brick house, which he occupied until his death, whichi oc- curred after a lingering illness, July 28, 1881. He was a man of sterling honor and integrity and a person of much more than ordinary intelligence. Although naturally rather backward and unas- suming, his life was an active and useful one. He was first commissioned justice of the peace by Gov- ernor Johnston in 1850, an office he continuously held until his removal from the county, in 1869. He was executor or administrator of a great many estates. He took much interest in educational matters, was a member of the school board for many years and was one of the founders of the Pottsgrove Academy. He was for many years a member of and an elder in the old Chillisquaque Presbyterian church. By his death his wife lost a kind, thoughtful husband, his children a loving father, the church an excellent counselor, the community an upright, conscientious, God-fearing member. His mortal remains rest in the family plot in the upper cemetery at Milton, Pa.

On June 25, 1857, at Danville, Pa., Rev. I. W. Yeomans united him in the bonds of holy matri- mony with Sarah S. Moll, who proved a true help- mate during the quarter century of their married

Hugh R. Montgomery, the youngest son of life. She bore him the following children : James James and Sarah Montgomery, was born May 26, R., born May 15, 1858: John S., born Aug. 21. 1819, on the old Montgomery homestead. where he 1859; Mary E., born Nov. 20, 1860; Sarah A .. lived until he arrived at manhood's estate. Al- born Sept. 20, 1863; Daniel M., born Sept. 22. 1865; William A., born Sept. 2, 1867: Hugh B., - born Aug. 27. 1868: Clara B., born Nov. 29, 1820 (died July 23, 1900) ; Alice J., born Dec. 17, 1873. though never physically robust, yet like most of our ancestors of a century ago he early became ac- customed to hard work. He helped clear up and till his father's farin, while during the long win- ters he taught the district school. The latter oe- ' cupation he followed for many years, the former

Sarah S. Moll was born in Berks county, Pa., March 30, 1837, daughter of Daniel F. and Mary (Seidel) Moll, granddaughter of John and Mary during his lifetime. The lady who afterward be- Elizabeth ( Foust) Moll, and great-granddaughter came his wife was for some time a pupil of his. In of Henry Moll. Of the original Molls (or Mulls 1842 he bought a tract of land to which he moved as they spelled it) but little is known. but it is sup- to which he subsequently made additions (this is posed they came from Germany.

John C. Montgomery, son of James and Cath-

now known as the "Lindrew" farm), and improved by building a substantial brick house and large erine ( Burns) Montgomery, was born on the old

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homestead Oct. 31. 182%. He was a man of consid-

Margaret J. Montgomery. daughter of James erable promise, being bright, energetic and indns- and Catherine (Burns) Montgomery, was born trious. Physically he was a splendid speeimen of March 23, 1835, and died May 14, 1842. manhood. He had a decided military build and was a member of the local militia, He bought the "Bond" farm, a tract of land adjoining his father's farm on the west, and this he proceeded to improve by the erection of a large briek house and bank barn. He was engaged at the former when he was stricken by an attack of erysipelas which resulted fatally, Sept. 11, 1859. He had never married.

Dr. James R. Montgomery, son of Hugh R. and Sarah S. ( Moll) Montgomery, was born on the "Harvey" farm in Liberty township, Montonr Co., Pa., May 15, 1858. He worked with his father on the farin till he was seventeen, attending the com- mon sehools during the winter months and com- pleting his literary education at Millersville Nor- mal School. He then taught two terms of school at Oak Grove, in his native township, at the same time reading medicine with his preceptor, Dr. Charles H. Dougal, of Milton, Pa. He matrienlat- ed at Jefferson Medieal College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was gradnated "with honorable mention" of his thesis, March 13, 1880. He prae- ticed his profession for upward of a year in Phil- adelphia, when his father desiring him nearer home during his illness he located in Clarkstown, from which place he, on Jan. 16, 188?, removed to Buck-

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 49

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