Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 55

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 55

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of the community. He was one of the promoters hard-working, he became one of the leading taen of the old Elysburg Academy, built in 1865: was a of the county. He married Susan Schod, who was charter member of Elysburg Lodge, No. 548, I. O. born in Lehigh county May 12, 1774, and they O. F., organized Jan. 1, 1859; was one of the had the following children: Jacob E., Gideon, organizers of the Pine Hill Cemetery Association Peter, Lydia (married Christian Baldy) and Kit- (the cemetery being located near Elvsburg, in tie (married Martin Weaver). All are now de- Ralpho township), and is still a trustee; and he ceased. The parents both died in Northumber- has served as a trustee of the Presbyterian Church, land county. of which he and his family are active members.

Jacob E. Leisenring, eldest child of Peter, was In politics he is a Republican. In 1862 he be- born in Lehigh county July 14, 1794, and when a canie a member of Company H, 172d Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and served for ten months,

and Pittsburg, where they attended the markets. and he used to carry to Philadelphia large sums of money to purchase supplies for the farmers in the In the war of 1812 he enlisted under Captain Hummel and served nine months. In 1833, in company with William Cloud, whose in- terest he later bought, he purchased the old Fisher property at Bear Gap, where his grandson, Jacob E .. now resides, this property consisting of 105 acres of land, a gristmill and tavern. of which latter he was the landlord for a period of forty years. The house, a large stone structure, was built by Caleb Fisher about 181?, and the location being a changing point for the stagecoaches the stand was a very prosperous one. During this period the country was so wild that bears were still very plentiful. Mr. Leisenring later bought from Benjamin Tilhnan the adjoining land. so that he had in one tract then about six hundred acres : he also had another farm at what is now Paxinos, of two hundred acres. As the thriving condition of his affairs would indicate. he was a man of excellent judgment and a good overseer in business matters, and his opinion and counsel were often sought by his neighbors. He devoted all his time to business and was considered one of the leading men in the county, though he took no di- rect part in the conduct of public affairs. He was a Democrat, and interested in the success of the party, but was never active in its affairs. He found time for church work, however, being a zealous member of the Lutheran Church, in which for many years he filled the office of deacon. and few men were as highly respected.

On June 13, 1819, Mr. Leisenring married Peter Leisenring, son of John Conrad, was born Mary Bucher, daughter of Henry, of Sunbury. Pa .. Feb. 28. 1770, in Lehigh county. Pa .. where he and she died a few years before he did. Jupe 11. 1813. aged seventy-three years. six months. Mr. Leisenring died May 11, 1878. and they are buried at the Blue church in Ralpho township. They were the parents of nine children. two of whom died in infancy, and Mr. Leisenring was able to

passed his vonth and early married life. Com- ing to Northumberland county in 1805. he settled upon a tract of 109 acres about two miles south of Sunbury, in what is now Upper Augusta town- ship, and on this property erected one of the first tanneries in the county: he also ran a distillery, give a farm or a house to each of the seven who carrying on a large business for the time. He was reached maturity, namely: Charles: Hemv. who is deceased : Lydia (deceased). Mrs. Benjamin Wolverion : Catharine, who married George Hugh- want, whom she survived : Frank. deceased : Mars. a progressive man, and raised the first red elover in this section of the county. He also planted the first orchard in his district. Enterprising and

young man learned the tanning trade with his fa- ther. He was engaged in hauling the products being stationed at Yorktown for seven months. of the tannery, distillery and farm to Philadelphia

In 1865 Mr. Teitsworth married Lanah Louisa Myers, who was born March 14, 1849, daughter of John C. and Rachel ( Watson) Myers, of Co- lumbia county, Pa. Mrs. Teitsworth died Jan. 20, district. 1910, aged sixty years, and is buried in Pine Hill cemetery. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Teitsworth: Alfred, who lives at Sunbury, married Minnie Kulp; Harvey B., who lives in Ralpho township, married Annie Wilt: William Morris, now of Mount Carmel, married Elizabeth Unger; Amos is in the west: Maggie M. married Clark Campbell: Josiah B. married Minerva Rhoads; Preston, who is living in Ralpho township, married Lucy Leiby; Della I. is at home.

LEISENRING. The Leisenrings of Northum- berland and Lehigh counties. Pa .. trace their line from John Conrad Leisenrinck, who came from Saxony, Germany, as early as 1744 and first lo- cated in Baltimore. He found a permanent home in Pennsylvania, coming first to Northampton connty and in 1752 settling in White Hall town- ship, Lehigh county, where he purchased a very large estate, securing the title from the Penns. He is buried in the cemetery at Egypt, Lehigh county, and his name, spelled as above. is still to be seen on his tombstone, which was bought in German- town and was the first marble gravestone in that cemetery. He and his family lived like the typical thrifty people of their day. His wife spun yarn and sold it to customers in Philadelphia. They had a family of four sons and three daughters, namely : Conrad. Andrew, Peter, John Sebastian, Annie Maria, Elizabeth and Barbara.

Peter Leisenring

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

241

deceased. who married George Mifflin, of Paxinos: and Peter Shindel.

PETER SHINDEL LEISENRING, son of Jacob E., was born May 12, 1842, upon the homestead at Bear Gap, and was educated at the local schools. In his youth he was employed with his father. clearing the land and farming, and at the age of twenty-two years he engaged in the lumber busi- , ness in connection with farming and grist- and saw-milling, continuing all these industries with success. His farm consisted of 285 acres of land, under profitable cultivation, and with all these in- terests he also conducted the hotel for some time. He was very well known, being one of the most substantial citizens of his time, and his success in all his undertakings was such as to make him one of the most valuable men in his community, where his death was regarded as a general loss. On Feb. 13, 1876, Mr. Leisenring married Mary A. Sand- ers, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Fisher) Sanders, of Columbia county, Pa., and they had the wife of David K. Geise, and they have one son, Frank ; they reside in Ralpho township.

Charles Leisenring, son of Jacob E., was born 1821 and received his education in the school of the home locality. He followed farming and also kept hotel at Paxinos, this eounty. Mr. Leisen- ring died Aug. 27, 1868, at the comparatively early age of forty-seven years, his death being caused by the kiek of a colt, while he was going about his work. He is buried at the Blue church. His widow, who is still living at Bloomsburg. Pa., was Maria Haas, and they were the parents of five children : Ida, Mrs. John Pensyl; Emma. who married Rev. John Adams, a Lutheran minister (both are dead) ; Lewis C .; James; and Clara, Mrs. John Snyder.

Lewis C. Leisenring. son of Charles, was born at Paxinos, Pa., Ang. 4, 1856, and when a boy came with his parents to a farm in Ralpho town- ship, near -Bear Gap. He followed the life of a farmer, and in 1896 took his father's homestead of 147 acres, which is located at Bear Gap and joins the farms of his cousins, Jacob E. and George K.

two children, Jacob E. and Mary C. The latter is Leisenring. Lewis C. Leisenring married Emna

Teats, daughter of Jeremiah Teats, of Shamokin township, and they have had children as follows: Charles (married Blanche John), Walter, Grace and Warren. Mr. Leisenring is a Democrat and served Ralpho township as school director for of the Blue Church.

Henry Leisenring, son of Jacob, was born at Sunbury, Pa., March 31, 1823, and died at Elys-

JACOB E. LEISENRING, a well known business man of Bear Gap, Northumberland county, is burg, Pa., Feb. 22, 1895. He is buried at the the only son of Peter Shindel Leisenring. He Blue church. In early life he learned milling and was born Nov. 17, 1877. at the place where he still resides, and attended the local public schools and Elysburg Academy. From the time he was old enough to be useful he assisted his father, and after the latter's death he continued his business affairs for .four years. He then bought the old home- stead, which now consists of about 132 acres of land, and his holdings at present aggregate about 450 acres, of which a good deal is timber land. He carries on the lumber business in addition to farming, and has given every evidence that the rep- utation of the family for business thrift and sagac- ity will not suffer in his career. Well known in his business and social relations, popular person- ally, ambitious, honorable and trustworthy, he has okin. Their children are Dayton, Clara and Grace. gratifying prospects for a useful and prosperous future. He has served as road commissioner and , auditor of his township.

was engaged in the flour and feed business at Bear Gap. He was also engaged in the lumber business, which he followed some time, and then returned to the milling business at Bear Gap. He was a Lutheran in religion. His wife, Mary A. Eckroth, daughter of John, died Oct. 15. 1898, aged seventy-nine years. They had these children : (1) Anna died unmarried aged twenty-eight. (2) Herbert, who lives in Shamokin. married Cathar- ine Laneiscus, daughter of John and Lena ( Bird) Lanciscus, and they have had four children, Mal- colm L., Edna L. (deceased), Lena M. (at home) and Ethel F. (deceased ). (3.) Estella is the wife of Clark R. Creasy, and they are living in Sham- (4) Tacie, widow of Theodore Heck, of Shamokin, is the mother of Irene (wife of Dr. A. G. Shiss- ler), Millie (wife of J. A. Shipman), and Harry (who died aged twenty-one). (5) Dayton, who

Mr. Leisenring married Emma Yocum, daugh- ter of Ezra and Joannah ( Hummel) Yocum, and lives at Elysburg, Pa., married Carrie Vought

they have had four children : One son that died and has one son, John. in infancy ; Kathleen, who died when six years old ; Charlotte, and Mary Johannah. Politically Mr. Leisenring is a Democrat, and in religion a Luth- eran. He is a member of Elysburg Lodge, No. He had a fine farm of 150 acres at Bear Gap, cul- 414, F. & A. M., and of Shamokin Lodge of Elks.

Frank Leisenring, son of Jacob E., was born in 1835, upon the homestead at Bear Gap, and was edneated in the public schools of the vicinity. tivating the same until his death, which occurred at the farm Jan, 16, 1902, when he was sixty-six

Mr. Leisenring was a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religions faith, belonging to the Blue Church in Ralpho township. He died July 8,

1898, aged fifty-six years, and is buried at the five years. In religion he is a Lutheran, a member Blue church. His widow resides with her son and daughter in Ralpho township.

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

years, three months, four days old. In 1861 he

Charles O'Connor was eight and a half years old married Angeline Keller, of Ralpho township, who when he came to America, in 1869, and he attend- is now living with her son, George K. They had ed school at Shamokin for some years thereafter. three' children : Savanna, deceased; George K .; He began work as a slate picker, and in time en- and Laura, widow of William Campbell, of Ralpho gaged in mining, following this occupation until Feb. 5. 1905. Meantime, however, he had ae- ber of the Democratic party and filled the office of quired other interests, and he is now an active busi- township. Mr. Leisenring was a well known mem- school director and other township positions. He ness man, was a Lutheran in religious faith.

GEORGE K. LEISENRING, son of Frank, was born the "Elk Hotel," the best known hostelry in the Jan. 31, 1866, in Ralpho township, and became a town. It was built in 1851, and is now the prop- farmer. He was employed with his father until he erty of Mr. O'Connor. Since October, 1909, he began for himself in 1890, and now owns his fa- has also been interested in the clothing business, be- ther's homestead, having a fine farm at Bear Gap, well appointed, with substantial and up-to-date buildings. Politically he is a Democrat, has served his community as overseer of the poor, and in re- ligious connection, like so many others of the fam- ily, is a Lutheran and a member of the Blue Church.

Mr. Leisenring married Elizabeth Haas, daugli- ter of Abraham Haas, and to them have been born six children : Frank (died aged six years), Ruth, Mary, Dorothy, Catherine and Marcella.

CHARLES O'CONNOR is identified with the business life of Trevorton, Northumberland county, in various associations, being owner and proprietor of the well known "Elk Hotel," proprietor of the New York clothing store, treasurer of the Trev- orton Industrial Stock Company and director of the Miners' Savings & Loan Association, in which relations he has come in contact with so many of his fellow citizens that he is an unusually well known man in his community. He was born March 19, 1861, in England, son of Michael O'Connor.

Michael O'Connor was born in 1836 in the he is a Catholic. belonging to St. Patrick's Church Province of Munster, Ireland, and brought his at Trevorton. family thence to America in 1868, landing at New Mr. O'Connor married Mary Kelliher, daughter York City. . After a brief residence in New Jer- of John and Catherine Kelliher, and they have had sey, engaged at his trade. that of potter, he came a large family. viz .: Thomas, who died young; to Shamokin (in 1868). Northumberland Co .. Michael, who was educated at St. Vincent College. Pa., and here found work at mining. following that occupation most of his active years. For some time before his death he was in the shoe business at Shamokin, his store being in the old Weaver build- ing. He died in Shamokin January 16, 1894. Mr. O'Connor married .Catherine Costello, a na- tive of Ireland, whose people settled at Fall River, Mass .. and she died Oct. 12, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor are buried at Shamokin, Nine children were born to them: Michael, who lives in Sham- okin : Charles; Thomas, of Shamokin : Patrick, of Shamokin; James, of Shamokin: Margaret,

ZIMMERMAN. The Zimmerman family. rep- wife of Thomas Tamey, of Shamokin; William resented in Schuylkill county for several gener- Francis, who died young: William P .. of Sham- ations, and among the most substantial and public- spirited citizens of this region, has been settled okin : and F. Ilenry, who died June 15. 1820, and . cemetery at Shamokin.

On Feb. 5, 1905, he engaged in the hotel business at Trevorton, becoming proprietor of

ing proprietor of the fine, up-to-date store located opposite his hotel, conducted by what is. known as the New York Clothing Company. He is con- nected with the Trevorton Industrial Stock Com- pany as treasurer and member of the board of trus- tees, liis son Michael being secretary of the com- pany and Mr. Plummer president of the board of trustces. He is treasurer (since 1908) and mem- ber of the board of directors of the Miners' Sav- ings & Loan Association of Trevorton (serving as vice president from 1904 to 1908. when he was elected treasurer), which was established April 20, 1904. In 1898 Mr. O'Connor became jury com- missioner of Northumberland county. and suc- ceeded himself for another term, in 1901, having the distinction of being the first man ever to suc- ceed himself in this office since the county was or- ganized, 1722. Politically he is a Democrat, and he has numerous social connections, being a mem- ber of Lodge No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, of Sunbury, this county (since 1898) : a member of the F. O. E. Aerie at Shamokin. of which he was one of the first trustees ; a member of St. Patrick's Beneficial Society, and a member of the A. O. H. In religion

Latrobe, Pa., and Mount St. Mary's, Emmitsburg. Md., and is now clerk of the Quarter Sessions cont at Sunbury : Patrick (also a student at St. Mary's College). who married Verna Kehler and has one son, George : Catherine : Charles Raymond, . who died when one year, five months old: Joseph, who died at the age of thirteen years : Francis, who died when eleven months old : William Raymond, who died in infancy : Barmary, who is still attend- ing school : Margaret : and Joseph.

who was the second person buried in the Catholic in Pennsylvania for a hundred and eighty years, since the four brothers Abraham, Jacob, Isaae and

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Sebastian Zimmerman came from Germany in most respected residents. Mr. Zimmerman has 1730-31. They first settled in eastern Pennsyl- never sought office, but he has served thirteen years vania, near Kutztown, in Maxatawny . township, as school director, part of the time for what is Berks county, in which township Abraham paid now Rockefeller township and part of the time sixteen pounds tax in 1759-the year the first tax for the borough of Sunbury. He is a Democrat was levied, Sebastian (or Bastian, as he was known in Berks county) paying twenty-three pounds tax there that year. The latter, who was the ancestor of the branch of the family in which we are here in- terested, the line of the present Sebastian Zim- merman, of Sunbury, an old resident of that place, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Abrahanı Zimmerman, son of Sebastian, married Bernice Werley, and they lived near Kutztown, in Maxatawny township. where they were farming people. Their children, all born in that township, were: Elizabeth, Abraham, Samuel, Jacob, Sebas- tian, Solomon, Carrie, Esther, Dewald, John and Isaac.

Sebastian Zimmerman, son of Abraham, was fices. born May 7, 1796, in Berks county. He, together with three of his brothers. was a soldier in the war ' of 1812, and was one of the fonr men detailed to bury the dead in the disasters about Washington that resulted in the burning of the national capital by the British. Moving to Schuylkill county, he acquired a large farm in Upper Mahantango town- ship, which has since been divided into two farms, one of which is owned by Felix Masser. The prop- erty originally comprised over two hundred acres. Mr. Zimmerman died in July, 1885, in the Upper Mahantango Valley, near the Northumberland county line, aged eighty-nine years, two months, July 15, 1871).

in political matters. He has always been interest- ed in the welfare of the Lutheran Church, having served as deacon while he was a resident of Upper Mahantango, and he and his wife are members of the Zion's New Lutheran Church at Sunbury. On Oct. 28, 1862, Mr. Zimmerman enlisted from Schuylkill county in Company K, 172d Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. F. A. Hoff- man, was promoted to second sergeant of that company, and served with the Army of the Potom- ac. He was discharged Aug. 1, 1863, with his reg- iment, at Harrisburg. Mr. Zimmerman has long been an active member of William Bruner Post, No. 335, G. A. R., in which he has held various of-

On Feb. 23, 1851, Mr. Zimmerman married (first) Elizabeth Schlappig, who was born Nov. 25, 1832, daughter of Benjamin Schlappig, and died Dec. 8. 1872, in her, forty-first year. They had a family of ten children, born as follows : Henry S., Jan. 22, 1852; Sarah, Sept. 17, 1853; Lewis, May 1, 1855 (died Nov. 22, 1907) ;. Ed- win, March 10, 1857 (died June 15, 1866) ; John, July 20, 1859: Sebastian, Dec. 15, 1861: Eliza- beth, May 12, 1864 (died Dec. 8, 1872) : Williain, July 11, 1866; Benjamin, July 25, 1868 (died Aug. 11, 1820) : Mary Ann, May 26, 1870 (died

one day. His wife, Elizabeth B. Klock, daughter of Jacob Klock, was born Ang. 30, 1796, and died Jan. 13, 1875. They were Lutherans. and are Mr. Zimmerman's second marriage was to Mrs. Harriet ( Klock) Yoder, born Feb. 18. 1832, daughter of Jacob and Polly ( Masser ) Klock, and buried at. the Salem ( Herb) Church at Rough and by this union there are two children : Alice, born Ready, in Schuylkill county. They were the par- Feb. 13, 1874, and Clara, born Dec. 13, 1875. By ents of children as follows: Joseph, Catharine, her first marriage, to Peter Yoder, son of Anthony Elizabeth, Salome, Esther, Lydia, Sebastian and Yoder, of Schuylkill county and later of North- George. The last named was killed at the battle umberland county, Mrs. Zimmerman had six chil- of Petersburg. Va. : he married Eliza Herter, and dren : Sarah (deceased), Lewis, Emma, Juliann, they had four sons, Jonathan, Washington, Joel Christian and Peter.

and Monroc.

Mr. Zimmerman is much interested in incidents

SEBASTIAN ZIMMERMAN. son of Sebastian and of the early days in this region, and he relates one Elizabeth B. ( Klock) Zimmerman, was born June story, about the manner in which the famous Con- 2, 1830, in Cameron township, Northumberland Co., Pa. His parents moved across the line into rad Weiser acquired possession of one of the is- lands in the Susquehanna river, which is worth Upper Mahantango township, Schuylkill county. repeating: The Indians had great faith in dreams, when he was about a year old, and he was there reared to farming, which he continued to follow after beginning life on his own account, acquir- ing a farm in that locality which he cultivated until his removal to Northumberland county in 1867. At that time he settled in Lower Augusta township, the part now included in Rockefeller township, remaining there for about twenty years, until he retired from active pursuits, in 1887. Since his retirement he has made his home in Sun- bury, of which place he is one of the oklest and and as far as possible executed commands or heed- ed warnings received during sleep. Conrad Weiser, the great friend of the Indians, had a fine gun which the Redmen admired as much as the owner prized it. Shikellimy, the Oneida chief. who was Weiser's stanch friend. was stationed at Sun- bury at the time of this happening. He coveted the gun, and one night dreamed that Weiser gave it to him. The next time he met Weiser he told him of the dream. and Weiser, knowing that it would be bad policy to deny him the gift, gave his

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

treasured gun to the Indian, though reluctantly. well-informed for his time, and was looked up to Now it was the white man's turn to dream. In the by his neighbors for his sound judgment and com- Susquehanna river, below Sunbury, is the Isle of mnon sense. His wife, Catharine ( Hall), born Aug. 1, 1791, died June 30, 1858, aged sixty-six years, ten months, twenty-nine days. They are buried in the old Sunbury cemetery on South Fourth street. Two children were born to this couple, Samuel H. and Susan, the latter of whom married James Covert and lived first at Sunbury, later at Selinsgrove, this county. Mr. Zimmerman and his family were members of Zion Lutheran Church at Sunbury.

Cue, upon which the Indians lived and which they valued highly. Weiser had often asked for it, but the Indians, though friendly, said they could not part with it. Weiser dreamed that his friend Shik- ellimy made him a present of the island, and when he met the Chief began by apologizing for har- ing a dream to relate which might not please the latter. The Chief reassured him on the strength of their great friendship and Weiser, with apparent regret, told his story. Shikellimy, though evident- Samuel H. Zimmerman, son of Daniel. was born Aug. 23, 1824-25, in what was then Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, Northumberland county, and died Feb. 3, 1893. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the home farm, where he passed all his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He ly disturbed, was "game" and insisted that the dream must be fulfilled, but at the same time he gave his friend to understand that it was time to put an end to their dreaming. This story is re- lated as the true version of the manner in which the island came into Weiser's possession. It is a improved the place considerably, building the pres- matter of record that he did own it.

ent dwelling on the property in the year 1876 and the barn in 1888. Mr. Zimmerman had received John Zimmerman, who was from Berks county, Pa., settled in Upper Augusta township, Northum- berland county. His children were: Daniel, who married Catharine Hall: John, who lived in Up- per Augusta township; Sarah, who married Abra- ham Hartman; a daughter, who married Daniel Zimmerman ; George, who married Mary Hall (sis- ter of Catharine) ; and Peter, who moved away from this section. Of this family, George Zim- merman lived in Augusta township, and later came to Sunbury, Pa., where he built a house, which is still standing, now occupied by his grandsons Sam- uel and William H. Stroh. George Zimmerman's a good common school education for his day, and like his father was a man of intelligence and good sense above the average, showing his character in all the relations of life. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, confirmed at Sunbury and was active in the work of the church at Plum creek, where he is buried. He served as a member of the church council. He was a Republican in polities. In 1850 Mr. Zimmerman married Mary Bartholo- mew. daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Bloom) Bartholomew of Rush township. and five children were born to their union : Malinda married George W. Schive and they reside at Scranton, Pa. ; Ange- children were: Jeremiah (a prominent man, who line (deceased) married Henry Wolf : Morris A. is served as Representative in the State Legislature). Rachel, Luzy (died young), Mary, Elizabeth and Emma.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 55

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