Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 54

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 54

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Mr. Martz has been a leader in supporting move- ments for the advancement and material improve- ment of the town, having long been a director of the Shamokin Banking Company (of which he was one of the organizers ), a director and secretary of the. Edison Electric Illuminating Company, a. retary and director of the Shamokin Water Com- pany, and of the Roaring Creek. Anthracite and Bear Gap Water Companies. He is still secretary of the Roaring Creek Water Company. He is a member of the Shamokin Board of Trade, and in every way has done his share toward bringing the borough up to the standard of modern business

Mr. Martz was always interested in the welfare of the community and the success of those enter- prises that affected all its members. His gener- osity to those less fortunate than himself, his benevolence to all philanthropic movements. his ideals. sympathy with all who needed it, were as much the cause of the esteem he enjoyed as his industrious and successful career. He and his family attended the German Reformed Church, and when St. Jacob's. (Recd's) was rebuilt, in 1840, he contrib- uted all the brick necessary, one hundred thousand, his children giving the money to erect the steeple. $1,200. In politics he was a stanch Republican and greatly interested in the success of the party, though he never had any political aspirations for himself. He was overseer of the poor for one unteers. year after settling in Shamokin tewnship.

On Sept. 2, 1865, Mr. Martz married Emma L. Keener, of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and they re- side in their home at No. 141 East Sunbury street. Shamokin. They have had one daughter. Ada G .. who married H. C. Beury and resides in Philadel- phia: Mr. and Mrs. Beury have three children. William M., Emma T. and Susanna G.

In politics Mr. Martz has always been a stancil Republican. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company A, 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol-

On April 6, 1841, Mr. Martz married Hannah MARTZ. The Martz family has been settled Reed, born in 1815. died Dec. 15. 1895. aged in Northumberland county for over a century, and eighty years, daughter of John and Eva ( Howard) David P. Martz. now retired, of Ralpho township. occupies part of his father's old homestead, living along the Central turnpike. Edward H. Martz. of Shamokin, is a nephew of David P. Martz, being Reed. of Shamokin township, and to this nnion . were born seven children : George O. : William F .. who died young : Isabella, who died in 1875, aged thirty-one years: Sophronia, who died in 1874, at a son of Franklin Martz.

the age of thirty-three years: Reuben F., John Henry and Jesse R., all of whom live at Reed sta- grandfather of Edward H. Martz, was born Oct. tion, Jesse being on part of the old homestead.

David Martz. father of David P. Martz and 15. 1802, 'in Lower Augusta township, Northum-

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berland county, and died Nov. 11, 1855. Shortly Helen. By his second wife, Mamie McCollum, after his marriage he located at Paxinos and owned daughter of Jacob I. McCollum, he has had one and operated a fulling-inill there, being quite suc- son, John Edwin. cessful in business. He was a respected man, and Fraternally Mr. Martz holds membership in the for many years was chosen to serve as justice of B. P. O. E., P. O. S. of A. and Knights of Malta. the peace at Paxinos. His wife, Hannah ( Evert), He is a Republican in political preference.

born Oct. 6, 1804, died June 9, 1880, and they are buried at the Blne church in Ralpho township. Children : Eliza died unmarried : Henry, who was teacher, died unmarried; Margaret married David Adams; Sarah married Emanuel Artman ; Franklin is mentioned below; Mary married Al-

DAVID P. MARTZ, son of David, was born April 16, 1840, in Ralpho township, with which he has been identified throughout his long life. He was a reared upon the farm and in his boyhood attended the public schools of the locality. When a young man he commenced to learn milling, but never bert Fisher ; David is mentioned below ; John, twin followed it to any extent. On Sept. 10, 1861, he of David, is deceased; Hannah married Jackson enlisted in Company F, 50th Regiment, Pennsyl- Hoffman : Susan died young.

vania Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout

Franklin Martz, son of David, was born Dec. 12, the Civil war, receiving liis honorable discharge 1835, in Northumberland county, was reared upon Aug. 5, 1865 .. He was in twenty-nine battles, with a farm and learned the carpenter's trade. follow- the Army of the Potomac, among them the im- ing both farming and carpentry. He died near portant engagements at Hilton Head, Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Bull Run, Vicks- Paxinos in July, 1887, and is buried at the Blue church. His wife, Margaret ( Fisher), a native of burg, the Wilderness, Knoxville, etc. He was Northumberland county, daughter of John Fisher, wounded four times, twice in the head and twice in still survives, residing at Paxinos. She is a mem- the right leg. At the close of his army service Mr. ber of the German Reformed Church, as was also

Martz began farming for himself. settling upon Mr. Martz. They were the parents of ten children, his present property, a farmi of 101 acres at Pax- five of whom are living: Edward H. : William, who lives in Shamokin; Bertha M., married to Frank Wertley ; Catharine A., married to William Krieg- baum : and Clarence C., living at Paxinos.

inos, lying along the old Central turnpike. It is part of the old Martz homestead. On this place Mr. Martz erected a substantial barn and outbuild- ings, and in 1823 he put up a sawmill on the site

EDWARD H. MARTZ has been engaged in the liv- formerly occupied by a fulling-mill. He operated ery business at Shamokin since 1889, at present in it for some time. Since 1907 he has been retired

partnership with Jacob I. McCollum. He has a from the more active duties of the farm, enjoying large patronage and is counted among the substan- the fruits of his early labors. He is a citizen of tial citizens of the borough, where he has been lo- the highest worth, deserving the confidence of cated practically throughout his business life. He his fellow men, and is a much respected member was born Jan. 3, 1867, at Paxinos, Northumber- of the community. He has served the township land county, son of Franklin Martz, and received three years as school director, is a member of boyhood he did farm work and later was employed

his education in the public schools. During his Progress Grange, P. of H., and is active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. to which Sunday school. He is a Republican in political sentiment.

at the mines for three years before entering his he belongs, serving as steward and teacher in the present line. In 1889 he purchased a half interest in the livery and feed business of C. M. Adams, and subsequently admitted Andrew G. Murray to a partnership. being associated with him for seven

On Dec. 12, 1869, Mr. Martz married Rebecca C. Repley, daughter of Jolin and Rachel Repley. years under the name of Martz & Murray. Mr. She died Oct. 6, 1900, and is buried at the Oak Murray withdrew from the firm in 1809 and the Grove church in Ralpho township. To this mar- business is now conducted by Mr. Martz and his riage were born children as follows: John W. is father-in-law. Jacob I. McCollum. Their stable living at Norfolk. Va. : Grace is married to Wil- is located at Rock and Webster streets, and they liam C. Bower and has two children. Lois and Le- ona : Nora is the wife of Wilson Willow, living in Ralpho township, and has two children. Ellen and Alfred: Ruth married Harrison Erdman. living in Shamokin, and has one child, Mildred. keep about thirty-five horses, having a constant and profitable trade. They are up-to-date in manage- ment and methods as well as equipment and enjoy a reputation second to none in the place. Mr. Martz has prospered, and besides his business owns a fine farm in Ralpho township, consisting of 195

REV. CHARLES J. GALLIGAN. pastor of acres located on the main road leading from Pax- St. Joseph's Church. Locust Gap. Northumber- inos to Bear Gap.

land county, who has just celebrated the twenty- first anniversary of his ordination. beloved by his

Mr. Martz has been twice married. His first wife, Hannah Brocions, daughter of John H. Bro- flock and respected by people of all religions de- cions, died in June, 1908, leaving one daughter, nominations, is a native of New York City, and

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first saw the light of day in July, 1863. Gradu- tions of the Indians, and they accordingly estab,- ating from Manhattan College in 1884 he as- lished a military post, the men carrying their guns when they went forth to their work in the morning and returning to the fort when their day's work was done. This state of affairs continued from 1754 to 1764, but with all their precautions about one hundred settlers were killed, a brother of Jacob Kauffman being among the number. Jacob Kauffman himself had many thrilling adventures and some narrow escapes from death, but he con- tinued to work and prosper and in time became a well-to-do man. In later years he built a substan- tial stone mansion upon this farm, and this dwell- ing is still standing in a good state of preserva- tion. He followed farming on his old homestead until his death in 1804, and he left a tract of a little over one hundred acres (the old homestead) to his son Yost: this is now owned by the John Kauffman Estate, the sixth generation. Jacob Kauffman was buried at St. Michael's church. of which he was one of the promoters and an active member. He reared a large family of children, and it is said that his sons became great hunters, deer in that day being very plentiful in their sec- tion. Tradition has it that a gun now owned by one of his descendants has killed as many as two hundred deer. sumed the study of his natural vocation and wit- nessed the consummation of his cherished ideal when he was elevated to the priesthood, by Bishop Curtis, of Baltimore Seminary, Feb. 7, 1890. His career since has been marked by continuous suc- cess in his chosen field of goodness. His zeal and fidelity to the different laity who have been under his spiritual care furnish an example to all la- borers in Christ's Vineyard. During his career he has seen service at Harrisburg. Marietta, York, Renova, Mount Carmel and Lykens, being trans- ferred to his present location April 22. 1908. In a constructive sense he exhibited his personal influence and business ability by paying off an indebtedness of long standing on his church at Marietta. He has made many improvements at Locust Gap, but his crowning achievement in this direction was the erection of St. Patrick's Church, at York, which is a credit to the city and will ever stand as a monument to Father Galligan's taste and industry. It is in the spiritual work. how- ever, that Father Galligan loves to exercise his faculties. ' He is, therefore, beloved by his con- gregation, a credit to his church and to the vo- cation for which he has such natural fitness, and the duties of which he has so creditably dis- charged. He is, par excellence, an ideal priest.

KAUFFMAN. The Kanffmans of Northum- berland county have been settled there for several generations, but the earlier representatives of this name in the United States were residents of Berks county, where many Kauffmans are to be found to this day.

Philip Kauffman, son of Jacob, born Dec. 21, 1757, died Nov. 17, 1843. He was buried at St. Michael's Lutheran church, of which he was a member. Hle served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. For many years he carried on farm- ing, living on a portion of the original tract taken up by his father, where he remained until his death. He married Magdalena Seaman. daugh- ter of Ludwig Seaman, and to them were born

On Sept. 15. 1249. one Jacob Kauffman landed , eleven children. seven sons and four daughters.

in the. United States, having come hither in the ship "Phoenix," with 550 other passengers from Jacob and Samuel Kauffman, brothers, who emi- grated from Switzerland to America in 1770, have many descendants in Berks county, the former set- tling in the Oley Valley and the latter in Maiden- creek, where he became a very prosperous farmer and stock dealer and a man well and favorably known in his vicinity. The name of his wife is not known, but it is known that their son. Sam- nel, married Catharine Berndt and had a large family. among whom were: John G .. Samuel, Daniel. David and two daughters, one of whom married a Mr. Sell, the other David Haas. In re- ligious belief the family were members of the Re- formed denomination. The Kauffmans were Whigs up to the time of the formation of the Re- Zweibrucken, Nassau. Wurtemberg and the Pa- latinate. He and two brothers located in Lancaster county. Pa., but the land there was not what he wanted, so lie did not remain long. He did not want to undertake the work of clearing away the forests which then covered that region, and land which could be converted into meadows, to raise hav to feed his stock, seemed to him more desir- able, so with one brother he settled in Berks coun- ty, in Bern (now Upper Bern) township. He took up a large tract of land in the fertile valley at the foot of the Blue Mountain, near the present. site of St. Michael's church, receiving a patent for about seven hundred acres, part of which was meadow land, with an abundant water supply. He publican party, when many joined the latter or- built a log house with a cellar, particularly adapted ganization. for defense against the Indians, there being no opening which afforded an easy entrance, and an

There is a very old family of Kauffmans in Oley attack could be repelled by shooting from a win -. township. Berks county, which was founded there dow. The few settlers in the vicinity at that time between 1:20 and 1234 by David Kauffman, who suffered much from the treachery and depreda- came there from Germantown. Pa., where his

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mother resided. In 1734 he obtained a warrant where a county, a town, a paper and a postoffice for land from the Penns for property located in bear the family name. Oley township, Philadelphia (now Berks) county. This warrant bears the date May 24, 1734, and is for one hundred acres located in the eastern part of the township, and part of this property is still in the possession of the family; being the property of Frank Y. Kaufman. Later David obtained an-

Daniel Kauffman, son of Leonard, was born on Jan. 17. 1804. in Upper Malanoy township, North- umberland Co .. Pa., and died in 1889, aged eighty- four years, in Lower Angusta township, this coun- ty. He followed farming all' his life, renting until other warrant, under date of July 1. 1740, for 54 he was able to have his own property, and he pur- aeres, 154 perehes. This tract adjoined the former one, and part of it is also owned by Frank Y. Kaufman. In addition to this property David owned 200 acres (now owned by his descendants Ephraim K. Kauffman and Frank Y.), which he obtained prior to 1734, his holdings totaling 354 acres, admitted to be among the very choicest land of the township. Upon this property he erected

chased the farm of 150 aeres in Lower Augusta now owned by H. S. Bowersox. He is buried in that township, at the St. Elias Union church. Daniel Kauffman married Mary Ressler, born Aug. 23, 1807, who died in 1885. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, she of the Reformed denomi- nation., They had children as follows: Sallie, who inatried Samuel Conrad: John R .. who lives at buildings, since replaced by those of more modern " Sunbury, this county: Elizabeth, who died an in- construction, but in their day considered models tant: Eliza, who died of smallpox after reaching · of convenience and elegance. He is buried in a inaturity: Daniel, also of Sunbury: Levi: Caro- private burying ground upon the premises and his line, of Sunbury, widow of James Coldren ; Mary, resting place is marked by a linestone without any ,who married Hiram Savage : Levi : Melinda, widow inseription. Five generations are buried in that of Isaiah J. Renn : Lucy. of Buchanan, Mich., widow of Abraham Brosius (now spelled Broceus) ; and Rachel who married ( first) Ira T. Ren and (second) James Lower.

little plot. His wife, Veronica, in 1663, with her other children, released the property to her son Jacob. In the release it is stated that she was the widow of David, and therefore it is evident that David died some tinie prior to 1763. This release is signed by the widow and her children, who were as follows: Annie Yoder, Mary Shenkle, Barbara Lasker, and John, who settled in Maiden-ereek township, where his descendants still reside. It is evident that David had but two sons, Jaeob and John.

Another interesting faet revealed by the records of the township is that in 1758 and 1759 Jaeob Kauffman paid heavy taxes in Oley township, his assessment being thirty pounds.

David, the original ancestor of this Oley town- ship family, had a brother Jacob who died without will, and his mother, Anna, of Philadelphia eoun- ty, took out letters of administration in 1732, the letters stating that she was his mother and next of kin. Anna, mother of David and Jacob, made a will in which she bequeathed the grandfather cloek to David, and the balance of her estate to all the children of her son David. except David's son John, who was left out.

LEVI KAUFFMAN, a substantial citizen of Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, was born Dec. 27. 1842, in Lower Augusta township, son of Daniel and Mary ( Ressler) Kauffman. He lived at home until just before he attained his ma- jority. at the age of twenty going into business with his brother John, the young men conducting a store in Lower Augusta. After two years' asso- ciation Levi Kauffman went into business at Augustaville on his sole account, continuing thus for three years, after which he practically retired for a year, being ill for some time. In 1869 he came to Lower Mahanoy, where he was in the mill- ing business for a year before he resumed mer- chandising, opening a general store in the south- western part of the township. on the banks of the Susquehanna. He carried this place on success- fully for about fifteen years, at the end of which time it was taken over by his son Webster. Mean- time, in 1880, Mr. Kauffman had purchased the ninety-six-aere farin in Lower Mahanoy on which he now lives, and on which he built the present

Jacob Kauffman, son of David. 'obtained the large residenee in 1889. Many other valuable im- family estate in 1963, as above stated, purchasing provements have been made on the place during the thirty years of his ownership. The land is ex- it from the other heirs, and he retained it until his death, residing upon the property and engag- cellent, and under his management has increased ing in farming. His wife was a member of the steadily in valne. Mr. Kauffman is a thrifty and family of Hill, and among their children were: much respected citizen of his section of the county. Jacob, John, Nicholas, Peter. Samnel and David. He has become widely known personally as well as in a business way.

There is a tradition in the family that two of these sons, David and Nicholas, settled in Union Mr. Kauffman married ( first) Mary Ann county, Pa., and that Samuel settled in the State Wynn. whose parents. John and Elizabeth ( Sny- of Indiana. It is also believed that a son of the der) Wynn. of New Jersey. were English people : first Jacob located in the then wilds of Texas, John Wynn had a most remarkable memory. Six

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children were born to this union: Webster, who is clearing land which he continued to cultivate until a merchant at Bridgeport, in Lower Mahanoy : his death, in March, 1836. He was long a leading citizen of his district. He was twice married, but the name of his first wife is not known, and he had no children by that union. By his second marriage, to Mary Campbell, he had five children : Isaac: John B., deceased: Elizabeth, of Ralpho township; Katic, deceased, who married Peter Youi'm; and Mary, deceased, who married John Persing. Tamar; Warren L., of Yonkers, N. Y .; Lee, of Danville, Pa. : Daniel, a farmer, living at home : and Mary O., who married George Cowan and lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. For his second wife Mr. Kauff- man married Amanda Trautman, widow of Daniel Messner, and they have had two sons: James, who was accidentally killed on the railroad ; and Harrison, a graduate of Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kauffman and his family are members of St. Luke's Lutheran and Reformed Church, of which he has been an elder for more than twenty- five years. He is a Democrat in political opinion.

- MATTHIAS TEITSWORTH, a farmer of Ralphio township, has spent all his life in the sec- tion where he now resides, having been born upon the farm where he still makes his home. He is a great-grandson of John Teitsworth, the founder of the family in Northumberland county, who was one of the pioneer settlers here, coming from New Jersey, before the Revolutionary war. It is quite certain that his father came at the same time, and they settled on, Shamokin creek, near what is now Snydertown. He owned about five hundred acres of land. Subsequently he kept a tavern at what is known as Paxinos, on the line of Ralpho and Shamokin townships, and he died about 1800. He had two sons, William and Robert, and one daugh- ter, who married Benjamin Campbell. The far- ily is of Scotch-Irish extraction.

Robert Teitsworth, the younger of the two sons of John Teitsworth, was born Aug. S, 1768, and died June 9, 1832. His first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Taylor, was born Oct. 6, 1775, and died Oct. 17, 1815. They were married June 12, 1794, and their children were born as follows: Leanah. July 29, 1795: William, Dec. 1, 179; John, March 15, 1800: Sarah, Oct. 7, 1802 : Mar- garet, May 14, 1805: Phebe, Oct. 10, 1807; Rob- ert. May 25, 1811; Eliza. Aug. 5, 1814. Ou March 27, 1817, Mr. Teitsworth married (second ) Elizabeth Andrews, who was a daughter of Philip (born Oct. 15, 1772) and Elizabeth (DeWitt) (born Jan. 26, 1778) Andrews. There were two children by this marriage. James and Perry. Rob- ert Teitsworth and his first wife are interred in the old Presbyterian burial ground near Reed's station, in Ralpho township.

William Teitsworth. elder son of John Teits- worth, was born in Shamokin township. He served in the Revolutionary war. For many years he conducted the tavern which he inherited from, his father, and was also engaged in farming, at one time owning about eight hundred acres of land where Paxinos is now located. Later he sold this traet and bought about 250 acres where his grand- son Matthias now owns, building a log house and

Isaac Teitsworth, son of William, was born Dec. 5, 1801. at Paxinos, Northumberland county, and in time became the owner of his father's tarm. which is now in the possession of his son Mat- thias. He cleared this land and followed farming. in his latter years removing to Elvsburg, where he lived retired and died Aug. 28. 1882. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church. of which he was an elder fifty years, and he and his wife are buried in the old Presbyterian grave- vard in Ralpho township, near Reed's station. He married Sarah Catharine Persing, who was born Oct. 18, 1806, daughter of John Persing, and after her husband's death resided with her son Isaac N. in Columbia county. Pa., dying Jan. 28. 1895. They were the parents of a large family: Mary A. married Jacob H. Reed and (second) William Haas: Lemuel died at Bloomsburg. Pa. : Rev. Wil- liam P. is living at Oakland, Cal. : Benjamin Fran- klin died in Columbia county; Alfred, born Feb. 9, 1833, enlisted for service in the Civil war in the 46th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed in battle near Culpeper, Va., at the engagement of Cedar Mountain, Aug. S. 186 ?: Susanna mar- ried Daniel Adams and resides at Bear Gap ; Isaac Newton, who lives in Columbia county, was also a soldier in the Civil war: Matthias is mentioned below : Kate died unmarried; John H. died in Michigan ; Harriet, born Nov. 24. 1834, died June 6, 1853, and she and her brother and sister are interred in the same cemetery as their parents: Matilda married Theodore Clayton, formerly of Riverside, Pa., and is now living at South Dan- ville, Pa .; Antoinette (Nettie) married Harvey B. Soult, of Elvsburg, and they now live in the State of Washington.

Matthias Teitsworth was born Oct. 25, 1840. He was reared upon the farm and attended the schools of the home locality, and after his parents died he took the old homestead. where he is still living. This farm contains 10; acres, uear Elys- burg, and Mr. Teitsworth is still actively engaged in its cultivation and improvement. In 1894 he erected his present residence there. He owns another farm of ninety-six acres, also in the vicin- ity of Elysburg. Mr. Teitsworth formerly attend- el market at Mount Carmel, later taking his produce to Shamokin. He is a substantial and influential citizen, ready to do his share for the maintenance of the moral and progressive force-

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 54

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