Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 59

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 59

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tiana Koons; daughter of Michael Koons, and to them have been born children as follows: Robert A., a musician, who plays with Our Band and Zenda Orchestra (he is a cigarmaker by trade) ; William H., who is also a musician (member of Our Band and the Zenda Orchestra) and who as- sists his father in the cigar manufacturing busi- ness ; Raymond L., at school ; Charles L. and Fran- cis W., both at school.

GEORGE FRANCIS CRONE, son of Gotthilf C. and J. W. L. (Stollen) Crone, was born in 183? in born to this union reached maturity: Enuna C., Westphalia, Prussia, and came to this country Louisa P., Francis G., Henry J., Bertha C. and with his parents. He was employed for many Willian.

years in the slate and coal mines of this region, in 1865 being appointed superintendent of the

SAMUEL II. MCKINNEY, present ehief burg- mines at Trevorton. Later he was engaged ess of the borough of Sunbury, has been engaged in the same capacity . at Mahanoy Valley in business there from early manhood, condueting and Shamokin, continuing at this work until the only established general transfer business at 1885, when he opened a restaurant at Shamokin. that point. He is a native of Herndon, North- He has conducted the establishment ever since, umberland eounty, born Feb. 20, 1868.

making a success of that business as he has of his The Mckinney family is of Scotch-Irish origin. other ventures. He was associated with his broth- David Mckinney, the great-great-grandfather of er, H. T. Crone, in the manufacture of powder, the Samuel H. MeKinney, lived in New Jersey and works being at Trevorton, where, as at Shamokin, Virginia before he came to Sunbury, Northumber- he has many friends. While living there he was honored with choiee to the offices of election land Co., Pa., where he located in the spring of 1772. He was a miller by trade, but he established

judge and eonstable. He is a Democrat in politics one of the first distilleries at Sunbury and carried and a member of the Lutheran Church, socially be- on the business some years. Late in life he re- longing to Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., and Lin- moved to a farm on the West Branch, near the coln Post, G. A. R. He is entitled to membership Great Island, and there died at an advaneed age. in the latter organization by reason of his serviee He had a family of nine children, Abraham, Mary. in the Civil war, having enlisted in 186? in Com- John, Isaac, Sarah, Jacob, James, Elizabeth and pany D, 172d Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which Rachel. Of these, Isaae removed to Center eounty, command he served nine months.

Pa., where he beeame a prominent citizen, estab-

In 1857 Mr. Crone married Charlotte Creamer, lishing an iron furnace and serving as associate and they have had eight children, the survivors be- judge. ing: Lena (wife of Isaac P. Treon), Christian, Herman T. and Sarah A.

HERMAN T. CRONE, brother of George F. and son of Gotthilf C. and J. W. I. (Stollen) Crone, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, in 1834. He came to this country with his parents, and like most of the family engaged in mining during his early years, which he also followed after moving with his fa- ther to Trevorton. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany D, 172d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served nine months. In 1869 he en- gaged in the butehering business at Trevorton,

Abraham Mckinney, son of David, was born Nov. 12, 1762, and came to Northumberland coun- ty from New Jersey. He first lived at what is now the site of Herndon, being one of the earliest set- tlers thereabout, and later moved to Sunbury. where he followed his trade of stonemason and built many of the stone houses in that section, some of his work still standing. He built and op- erated the first mill on Mahanoy ereek, in Jack- son township. He died at Sunbury Sept. 13, 1835, and was the first person buried in the lower cem- etery at Sunbury. Among his children were Jacob. continuing it until his death, and in 188? he also John and James, of whom Jacob served as sheriff of Northumberland county (1830-33) and was a

engaged in the powder business, becoming a mem- ber of the firm of Gillespie, Crone & Co., who prominent man in various ways; he subsequently founded the Shamokin Powder Company. Subse- went West, where he died. quently selling his interest in that concern, he James MeKinney, son of Abraham, was born in formed a partnership with his brother George F. 1805 at Mahanoy, Northumberland county. He Crone, and they erected the works at Trevorton, learning milling, and followed that trade for manufacturing powder under the firm name of H. many years. Obtaining a position as foreman on

In 1861 Mr. Crone married Fredrica Knapp, who died in 1862, leaving one child, who died young. His seeond marriage was to Mary S. Yuengling, of Trevorton, and six of the children

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the Philadelphia & Reading railroad he located active part in the loeal civil administration. He in Schuylkill county, and followed that line of was elected to represent the Second ward of Sun- work throughout his active years. He died at bury twice in the borough council, and in 1908 Cressona, that county, at the age of seventy-seven was elected chief burgess, receiving a majority of years, and is buried there. He married Lydia 345 votes-a very large majority for a Demo- Sheriff, a native of Northumberland county, who crat in his community. Socially he holds mem- also died at Cressona, Schuylkill county. They bership in Lodge No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, of Sun- were the parents of seven children: Hiram, who bury, Pa., and in No. 1 Fire Company.

died young; Abraham, who died young; Abigail, who died young; David, who died at Cressona, Schuylkill county; Lovina, wife of Michael Thom- as; Sarah J., Mrs. Lynch ; and Samuel.

Samuel Mckinney, father of Samuel H. Mc- Kinney, was born May 2, 1826, six miles east of Sunbury. He learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed all his aetive life, being in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railway Company for the long period of forty-one years, engaged on the construction of bridges, locks and canal repairs. . In 1849 he settled at Herndon, where he has since maintained a home, being now the oldest living resident of the place. He has always been an in- matters. He retired in the year 1899. Mr. Mc-

telligent citizen, and is well informed on local had one son, John.

John Pensyl, son of Jacob, was born in 1767. Kinney is a Democrat in political conviction, but and was nine years old when his father settled at has never been active in public or political affairs. what is now Shamokin. He was a member of the

Mr. Mckinney married Mary A. Ziegler, daugh- German Reformed Church, one of the organizers ter of Andrew and Catharine (Wise) Ziegler. She and original members of the old Blue Church in Ralpho township, and donated an aere of ground for church purposes, the edifice of that congrega- tion being located thereon to this day. He died upon the homestead in Ralpho township in April, 1849, at the age of eighty-two. John Pensyl mar- ried Barbara Hinkle, and to them were born five children : Kate, who married Frederick Lebic; Leah, who married John Fisher; John, who was twice married; George, born Aug. 1, 1799; and Leonard.

died July 25, 1900, aged sixty-six years, five months, eleven days, and is buried at Herndon. Five children were born to this union: James Monroe married Hettie Heim and they have chil- dren, Archie B., Erma, Charles E., Guy, Samuel W., Daniel H. and Wilbur; Andrew J. married Catharine Ruth and they have had four children, Ethel, Dorothy, Gerald and Harold: Samuel H. is mentioned below; Sarah died young; Catharine died aged twenty-three years.

Samuel H. Mckinney received his edueation in the schools of his home loeality at Herndon. His first work was upon a sawmill, where he was en- gaged for a short time, after which he did farm work at Herndon for a while. In 1885 he first came to Sunbury, finding employment with Ira

John Pensyl, eldest son of John and Barbara (Hinkle) Pensyl, was born on the old homestead in Ralpho township. When a young man he went to Sunbury and learned the trade of shoemaker. Later he purchased a farm of two hundred acres at Union Corners, in Rush township, where he T. Clement, with whom he remained four montlis, lived for a number of years, afterward purchas- after which he was engaged at the "Neff House." In 1888, while still employed at that hotel, he be- gan the draving business which he has ever sinee continued. In 1894 he added a general hack and transfer business to his original line, which he has extended until he now has the best trade of the kind in his section. He runs three haeks and three drays, and he makes his headquarters at the "City Hotel." Mr. Mckinney owes his prosperity to · his earnest attempts to please his patrons in ev- ery branch of his business, his aecommodating dis- position and excellent management enabling him to accomplish many things which have won him friends and customers all over this section.

ing and removing to the adjoining farm, where he died in 1873. By his first marriage, to Lydia Kaseman, he had six children: George, born Mar 14, 1818, died July 7, 1880; Jolm, shoemaker and farmer of Rush township, lived retired before his death : Daniel lives at Danville, Pa. ; Barbara, de- ceased, was the wife of Henry Hill, of Shamokin township: Hannah, who died at Manayunk, Phil- adelphia, was twice married, her first husband be- ing Charles Dimiek, her second John Hiney: Cath- arine married James Matter. of Scranton, Pa. For his second wife Mr. Pensyl married Mary Arter, daughter of John and Mary ( Heller) Arter. of Elvsburg, and she died. Nov. 18, 1890, at the

For several years Mr. MeKinney has taken an home of her son Adam, in Rush township, at the

PENSYL. The Pensyl family has been repre- sented in Northumberland county for one hun- dred' and thirty-five years, ever since the advent in America of Jacob Pensyl, or, as the name was originally spelled, Bentzel. He was a native of Germany, and coming to this country made his home in Northumberland county, Pa., taking up fifty acres of land at the present site of the bor- ough of Shamokin. His location was where the "Eagle Hotel" now stands. Later he abandoned this place and took up a 200-acre traet in Ralpho township (where his great-grandson, David R. Pensyl, later resided) to which he moved. He

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advanced age of eighty-seven years. Seven chil- inent inember of Elysburg Lodge, No. 414, F. & dren were born to this marriage: Jacob died in A. M., of which he is a past master, and he has 1861, when twenty-six years old; William is men- been treasurer of that body for the past twenty tioned below; Samuel, who was a retired farmer years. of Rush township, died in 1897; Margaret died On June 28, 1860, Mr. Pensyl married Harriet when twenty years old ; Adam is mentioned below ; C. Hull, daughter of Isaac and Catharine ( Ritter) Henry A. died at the age of twenty years; and Francis lives at Jersey Shore, Pa. (he was a iner- chant, miller, postmaster and farmer at Pensyl, Columbia county, for some years). Hull, of Ralpho township. She died Aug. 10, 1899, and is buried at the Rush Baptist church. The following children were born to this marriage: M. Laura married William Reed, a prominent miller at Shamrock, Pa .; Estella V. is the wife

WILLIAM PENSYL, son of John and Mary (Ar- ter) Pensyl, is probably the best known man in of Dr. Amos Persing: Annie M. married Preston

his seetion of Northumberland county. He was born Sept. 29, 1835, on the Pensyl homestead in Rush township, and was educated in the local schools. When a boy he went to learn tanning with Charles Hull, with whom he worked for sev- eral years, at the tannery near Elysburg which is now his own property. He manifested consider- able aptitude for the work and became an ex- .pert, and in 1857 he was made a partner in the business with William Hull, in Ralpho township, this association lasting until 1867. Mr. Pensyl then took his brother Francis into partnership, meantime purchasing and enlarging the tannery property, raising the capacity to two hundred hides a week. The brothers carried on the business to- gether until 1880, in which year William Pensyl became sole owner. He has one of the oldest and best known tanning establishments in central Pennsylvania, and his output has always been in steady demand. This place has been burned out

ADAM PENSYL, son of John and Mary (Arter) Pensyl, is now living retired at Elysburg, a re- spected citizen, who has led an industrious and useful life. He was born Jan. 18, 1842, at Union Corners, in Rush township, Northumberland coun- ty, and there attended the public schools. He was reared upon the farm, where he remained until his enlistment, in 1864, in Company C, 16th Penn- sylvania Cavalry, with which he served to the close of the Civil war, thereafter doing guard duty until discharged. His service included the battle at Petersburg and the eight days' fight. Upon his return from the army he went to Sunbury, where he drove a mill team for some time, after which he went back home and farmed his father's land until the latter's death. He then bought the home- twice, with considerable loss, the first time in May, stead place, consisting of 150 acres, some of which has been cleared by him. He has made many im- provements on the property, including an entire set of new buildings, and made his home there from 1866 until his retirement, in 1900. That year he removed to Elysburg, where he has since resided. During his army service Mr. Pensyl con- tracted rheumatism, from which he has suffered ever since. While in Rush township he served as property he has erected all new buildings, and has overseer of the poor, and he is a well known mem-

. 1859, and again on Feb.' 3, 1901; Mr. Pensyl re- built at once. Though he was successful in the tanning business he did not devote all his time to that one line, becoming quite extensively interest- ed . in the shipping of horses, which he found profitable, and in connection with his tannery he has three hundred acres of valuable land at Elys- burg, the old Rothermel and Hull farms. On this

everything in up-to-date condition. Mr. Pensyl ber of the community, commanding the esteem was one of the first directors of the First National of all with whom he associates.

Bank of Danville, Pa., and of the Guarantee Trust

Mr. Pensyl married Henrietta Vought, daughter & Safe Deposit Company of Shamokin, but he of E. Howell and Louise (Crowl) Vought, and has resigned from both boards. He is director and president of the Shamokin Township Fire Insur- they have had four children: Edward, who died when twenty-one months old; Ambrose; Addie, ance Company. He was president of the board of who is at home; and Lena, who died when five supervisors of Ralpho township, has served many years old. The son Ambrose is now engaged in years as school director (being also president of farming the homestead, being the third generation the board), and in other useful associations has of his family to cultivate that place. He married proved his public spirit and real interest in the Sadie Klingman, and their children are Leon, general welfare. His extensive business enter- Chester, Lawrence, Myrlan and Henrietta. The prises have afforded employment for a number of family are Lutherans in religious connection. Po- men, and all in all he has been as thoroughly iden- litically Mr. Pensyl is a Democrat.

tified with the best interests of the community as any other one citizen. He is a Republican in pol- itics and a Baptist in religion, and formerly served ing retired, has had a successful and useful ca- as trustee of his church. Socially he is a prom- reer, and he is well known in Lower Mahanoy

EMANUEL S. RADLE, of Dalmatia, now liv -.

i Vought, an attorney of Mount Carmel ; Viola mar- ried A. C. Bobb, of Paxinos; Carrie B. married Willard Mittler, who is engaged in farming for his father-in-law.

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township and that section of the county, having belonged to his father. He died in March, 1857, held official positions and engaged in business there aged fifty-one years, six months, of typhoid fever. for a number of years. He was born Jan. 16, 1845, in Upper Paxton township, Dauphin Co., Pa., on the farm of his father, Daniel Radel.

According to family tradition and the state- ments of the older residents of this region the in Tulpehocken township, Berks Co., Pa., and died Radel family descends from one of the Hessian soldiers who came to this country to fight in King George's army during the Revolution aud remained

Pa., later moving across the Susquehanna river to Snyder or Juniata county. He was twice mar- ried, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Schroyer, had these children: Hannah, Cath- arine, Julia, Elizabeth, Polly, Susan, Sallie, Philip and John. His second wife, whose maiden name was Minnich, was the mother of : George, Thomas, Simon, Jonas and Daniel.

There is record of the will of one Michael `Roe- del, of Mifflin township, Dauphin county, made Feb. 1, 1828, probated Jan. 26, 1829. The execu- tors were his oldest son-in-law, Christophel Yeger, Mahanoy township, and Joseph Roedel; witnesses, John Happel. John where he entered into a partnership with his N. Happel and Samuel Koppenhaffer. He left father-in-law, Philip Messner, under the firm a farm in Mifflin township to his oldest sons, name of Messner & Radle, conducting a general Joseph and Michael ($2,000) : a farm in Mifflin store at Mahantango, in the extreme southwestern to his son Daniel ($1,100) ; Joseph "shall have part of the township. This firm existed for four $471 for his hereditament" ; Elizabeth, $351; An- years, at the end of which time Mr. Radle com- namaria, $?21 ; Marktha, $200; Catharine, $271; menced railroading on the Northern Central road, Anna, $271 ; Hana, $231 ; Susanna, $251. There was another clause : "Because my housewife left me 15 months ago withont cause, and contrary to agreement as made Aug. 4, 1824, that had she re- mained until after my death she would have been paid $60 in money and been given free place of residence in my house and land."

There is also on record the will of Elizabeth chased a section of stray logs. He sawed fully Radel, dated June 9, 1841; executor, Benjamin four million feet during those four years, and Koppenhaffer.

The grandfather of Emanuel S. Radle had a at a time. Most of his lumber was disposed of family of three sons and several daughters, three in Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Carlisle, and in the

of whom are mentioned, namely : Daniel : Mich- ael ; Joseph : Margaret, Mrs. Jacob Hoch: Eliza- beth, Mrs. Christophel Yeager: and Mrs. Mittle. This would indicate that he was the Michael Roedel whose. will is given above. Of the sons, Daniel and Michael are mentioned below; Joseph settled central part of the State. His next business ven- ture was as proprietor of a drug and hardware store at Georgetown (Dalmatia), and in 190? he assumed personal charge of the establishment, having had a clerk there for fully a year. This store he conducted until the fall of 1909, when he across the Susquehanna river in Perry county, sold out and retired. He prospered steadily during .

owned land and was a farmer; he is buried at

Liverpool, along the Susquehanna. His wife, whose maiden name was Weaver, bore him three children : George, Rebecca, and another daughter.

Daniel Radel, son of Michael, was born about 1805 in Lykeus Valley, Dauphin county, and owned a farm of 162 acres in Upper Paxton town- ship (now owned by Henry Lark) which formerly

He is buried in the cemetery of Killingers Luth- eran Church. He was an enterprising man and successful in his work. His wife, Mary Magda- lena (Spotts), daughter of Adam Spotts, was born

in her eightieth year; she is buried at the Stone Valley Church, in Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county. They had children as here after the elose of the war. It is in part con- follows: Benjamin lived in Pauls Valley, Dauphin firmed by record that Daniel and John Radel were brothers who came to America as Hessian soldiers. county ; Lydia married Alexander Schuman : Polly (Mary Magdalena) died unmarried; Daniel lives John Radel lived near Berrysburg, Dauphin Co., in Lower Mahanoy township: John died unmar- ried ; Kate married William Allman; Emanuel S. is mentioned below ; Rebecca married Levi Bohner, and died in young womanhood.

Emanuel S. Radle was reared to farm life and followed that kind of work until he enlisted. dur- ing the Civil war, for service in the Union army. In August. 1864, he became a member of Com- pany F, 201st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, volunteering for a year, and saw active service in Virginia ; he was detailed as dispatch carrier for a signal corps. After the war he located in Lower Northumberland county,

on which he was engaged for ten years, being watchman on Section No. 25, between Mahantango and Georgetown. After that he followed lumber- ing in the lower end of the county for twelve years, employing on an average six men. For the next four years his operations were transferred to Harrisburg, where he ran a mill, having pur-

had as many as twenty-five men in his employ

his active years, and besides two dwellings in Dal- matia, where he makes his home, he has several properties in Tower City, Schuylkill county. He has taken considerable part in the work of the Democratie party in his locality, having been township committeeman for four years and dele- gate to a number of county conventions. He served his district as school director for five years,

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and was justice of the peace of Lower Mahanoy township.

In August, 1866, Mr. Radle married Sarah eran and Reformed Church. He has served as

Messner, daughter of Philip and Mary (Doekey) Messner. Mrs. Radle died . May 12, 1894, aged time.

forty-four years, one month, seven days, and is buried at the Union Chureli at Dalmatia. Seven

Mr. Radle and his family are members of the Reformned congregation of the Georgetown Luth- elder for twenty years, from 1891 to the present

Michael Radel, son of the Michael Roedel men- children were born to this union: (1) A daughter tioned above, was a resident of Lower Mahanoy

lived only twenty-four hours. (?) Philip E. grad- township, Northumberland county, living and farming near Radel's schoolhouse. He owned four large farms (one of them the place now belong- ing to Daniel Heckert) and a half interest in Wert's gristmill which was located along the Mahantango creek in Lower Mahanoy township. He was a man of affairs, and wielded considerable influence in his district. His death occurred March 25, 1864, when he was aged fifty-six years, uated from the Mount Joy Soldiers' Orphans sehool, in Lancaster Co., Pa., and received a gold medal of honor; he also graduated from the Millersville State Normal school in 1898, and taught school in Philadelphia. Afterward he took a course in the Dickinson School of Law, was graduated, and was admitted to practice in Cum- berland, Northumberland and Snyder counties, Pa. He was accidentally killed Feb. 22, 1909, eight months, three days, and his wife, Catharine,

on the railroad, near Paradise, in Monroe county,

whose maiden name was Bonawitz, subsequently

Pa. By his first marriage, to Mamie Ziegler, he married for her second husband Jacob Witmer. had one daughter, Mamie I. Mrs. Mamie Radle She died May 25, 1892, aged 80 years, 6 months, dying not long after her marriage, he married 6 days, and they are buried at Zion's Church, (seeond) Edna Paige, by whom he had three sons, of which Mr. Radel was an active Lutheran mnem- Lawrence, Philip Rex and William M. (3) Lettie ber, holding various church offices. The children died aged seven years. (4) Howard died when of Michael and Catharine Radel were as follows : Solomon, Isaae, Henry, John, Elias, Elizabeth (married Elias Byerly), Catharine (married Alex- ander Bingaman), Lovina (married Emanuel Klinger), Polly (married Harry Lentz), Emma, thirteen years old. (5) Irene graduated from the Mount Joy Soldiers' Orphans school, and at- tended the Shippensburg State Normal school. In 1894, in her senior year, owing to her mother's illness, she was obliged to return home and she Mrs. Andrew Riegel and Mary (married Hiram tended and cared for her until her death. She Hoch).

was most successful as a teacher, having taught Isaac Radel, son of Michael, was born in Lower when she was but sixteen years of age. She mar- Mahanoy township, became a farmer, and lived ried George W. Dilling, and they reside in Phila- and died on the farm of 100 acres near Stone delphia. She has two children, Carl Emerson, aged sixteen, and Bissie, aged seven. Valley Church which he owned. He also owned (6) Julia a tract of thirty-five acres in Mahantango Valley, graduated from the Mount Joy Soldiers' Orphans Lower Mahanoy township, and was a substantial. sehool. She also attended the Shippensburg State respected eitizen, a successful farmer and a useful Normal school, finishing the course there. Like member of his community. His homestead is her sister Irene she was a most successful teacher. now owned by Morris Bohner. He died June 28, She taught the high school at Dahnatia for two 1897, aged sixty-four years, eight months, two days, and his wife, Mary Ann (Lenker), daughter of George and Catharine (Snyder) Lenker and granddaughter of Johan Adam Snyder, died Nov.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 59

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