Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 61

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 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Haas is a member of Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 125, I. O. O. F., and of Sunbury Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. M. He was a charter member of the Rescue Hose Company of Shamokin. In 1877 he became a member of Company B, 7th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, in 1880 became lieutenant, and four years later resigned.

In 1892 Mr. Haas married Nellie Murray, of Shamokin, and they have had two children : Frank M. and Frederick, Jr.

FRANK W. SHIPE, secretary of the Herndon Manufacturing Company, of Herndon, Northum- berland county, is one of the foremost citizens of his section, and has been prominent in official as well as business circles, serving the comnmnity efficiently in various positions of trust and proving his ability in his various undertakings. He is a native of Jackson township, born July 25, 1851, son of Abraham and Lydia ( Rebuck) Shipe, and .comes of a family which has been settled in this county for several generations, since the time of his grandfather, Jacob Shipe. This name is va- riously spelled, Shive, Scheib and Sheib being common forms.

cesstul. His wife Barbara ( Fluck), born March 27, 1777, died Oct. 29, 1857, and they are buried at the Stone church, Augustaville, both having been active members of the Reformed congregation of that Church. Their children were as follows: (1) John F. (Shive), who obtained the homestead after his father's death, died Jan. 30, 1890, aged eighty- eight years, one month, seventeen days. His wife, Rachel Gehringer, died March 8, 1885, aged sev- enty-nine years, eleven months, twenty-one days. They had a large family, among their sons being Levi, Henry George and William. (2) Henry is mentioned below. (3) David was a farmer in Up- per Augusta township, and died Oct. 30, 1881, aged seventy years, twenty-five days. His wife Mar- garet, who died June 28, 1890, aged seventy-seven years, four months, sixteen days, was the mother of Enos, Hettie, Sarah, Mrs. Emanuel Kulp, Mrs. Sarah Barhart and Hannah. (4) George passed most of his life at Shamokin, and followed mer- chandising. His wife was a Hoover, and they had three sons and three daughters, William, George, Albert, Catharine, Barbara and Alice. (5) Samuel was a farmer in Lower Augusta township. His wife, Lovina Fryling, born Aug. 29, 1814, died March 15, 1872. They had children : John, Reu- ben (born March 25, 1848. died Jan. 1, 1822, being killed while "shooting off" an anvil loaded with powder), Isaac F., Henry, Washington, and Louisa C. (deceased). (6) Catharine married Daniel Long, and they had one son (Samuel) and six daughters. They were farming people in Lower Augusta township. (?) Abraham was the father of Frank W. Shipe.

Abraham Shipe, son of Jacob, was born Dec. 14. 1822, in Lower Augusta township, and there grew to manhood. He learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, and followed it all his life, both as a journeyman and as an employer, having work for a number of men and teaching the trade to many. He erected a number of substantial buildings in Sunbury. He lived at Lock Haven, Pa., for seven years, and thence in 1868 came to Sunbury. where he passed the remainder of his days, dying Ang. 14, 1874, in his fifty-second year. Mr. Shipe was an intelligent man, showing fine mechanical abil- ity in his work and proving a valuable factor in the various cireles in which he moved. He served six years as assessor of Jackson township, and was an officer of the Reformed Church in which he held membership.

In 1840 Mr. Shipe inarried (first) Esther Hen- ninger, who died Nov. 2, 1846, aged twenty-three years, eleven months. eight days, the mother of three children : Peter, who died at Reading. Pa. :

Jacob Shipe was born Jan. 24, 1122. in Doyles- town, Bucks Co., Pa., and coming to Northumber- land county settled shortly after his marriage on a farm near Seven Points, in what was then Lower Susan, widow of Frank Stonte, who died at Minne-

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apolis, Kans., where she still resides; and Bar- marriage was to Lydia L. Drumheller, daughter bara, who died in infaney. Mr. Shipe's second of Nicholas S. and Abigail ( Kembel) Druniheller, marriage was to Lydia Rebuek, who died Nov. 10, 1905, in her eighty-sixth year. She is buried at . Mahanoy church, and Mr. Shipe is buried in Lower Angusta township. They had four children: Ab- bie Ann and Lucy Jane, twins, the former of whom is the widow of H. Z. Drumheller ( Lucy Jane died at the age of twelve years) ; Frank W .; and Mar- tin E., a carpenter, now residing at Montgomery, Alabama.

Frank W. Shipe received his education at the schools of Lock Haven, Pa. At the age of seven- teen he commenced to learn the carpenter trade, which he followed for two years. In 1873 he en- tered the employ of Ira T. Clement, who operated a large planing-mill, remaining with him for nine years, after which he took charge of an organ fac- tory at Sunbury. He was thus engaged three years, at the end of that time taking charge of William Whitmer & Sons' planing-mill, at Sun- bury, where he was engaged for seven years. Sev- enty people were employed there. In 1891 Mr. Shipe came to Herndon, where he became asso- ciated with John D. Bogar and George W. Rhoads in the organization of the Herndon Manufacturing Company, of which he has been secretary and man- ager ever since. They manufacture fine mill work and interior finishings of all kinds, especially the high class work required in the completion of houses, and have been successful from the start. When they commenced business six men were suffi- cient to turn out the work in hand. Now employ- ment is given to eighty men, and the trade extends all over the eastern part of the United States. The business has been built up by progressive methods and the ability to hold customers by giving the satisfaction and service they desire, by anticipating their wants and enterprise in introducing new and improved products, all of which appeal to up-to- date business people.

Mr. Shipe has been an excellent citizen, and in spite of his busy life has found time to serve the community. He was a member of the school board of Jackson township for six years, during which tiine he was secretary of the board four years and president one year. Since 1906 he has been a mem- ber of the Herndon conneil, and he was the second chief burgess of that town. Politically he is a Republican.

On July 3, 1823, Mr. Shipe married Margaret Martz, daughter of William K. and Susan (Bowen) Martz, of Sunbury, and to them were born two children : Laura married A. W. Smith, of Lewisburg. Pa., and has one daughter. Ethel Wynn ; Elizabeth M. married Charles Eby, of Herndon, and has four children, Edgar, Gertrude, Esther and Margaret. Mrs. Shipe died Sept. 10, 1883, aged thirty-nine years. Mr. Shipe's second

of Jackson township, prominent residents of that district, who were members of the Evangelical As- sociation and are buried at Zartman's church. By this marriage there are also two children : Robert W., of Herndon, his father's assistant at the Hern- don Manufacturing Company, married Nellie Trautman; Paul E. graduated from the Herndon high school in 1908, at the age of fourteen. Mr. Shipe and his family worship at the Reformed Church.

Henry Shipe, son of Jacob, above, was an exten- sive farmer in Lower Augusta township, where he was a large landowner, among other holdings, own- ing the farm now in the possession of John Drumm. He had a farmn for each of his eight chil- dren. He died May 28, 1887, aged eighty-three years, three months, eight days, and is buried at Hollowing Run Lutheran and Reformed church. His wife, Hannah, was a Reeser. She died Aug. 24, 1880, aged seventy-six years, font months, five days. They had children: Catharine married Daniel Shipe; Mary married John Gehringer; Hannah married Frank Kelley: Hettie married Jacob Long; Solomon R., who lived at Sunbury, died Jan. 24, 1885, aged fifty-seven years, twenty- six days (his wife Mary died Jan. 27, 1901, aged sixty-six years, seven months, twenty-two days) ; David R., who lived at Shamokin Hill, died Dec. 3, 1887, aged fifty-eight years, three months. twenty-five days (his wife Maria died March 20, 1900, aged seventy-three years. three months, fourteen days and they are buried at Mount Pleas- ant M. E. church, in Upper Augusta township) ; Aaron lived at Shamokin Dam; there was another son.

Daniel Shipe (son of Samuel) and his wife Catharine (daughter of Henry) lived on the farmn now the property of Landis Shipe, and were farm- ing people. They are buried at the Lutheran and Reformed church in Hollowing Run. Mr. Shipe died Dec. 10, 1902, aged seventy-one years, two months, seven days, and his wife died Jan. 20, 1905, aged seventy-one years, seven months, thir- teen days. They had these children: Samuel. Nelson, Sneary (?), William, Landis (died aged four years), Alice ( married Oliver Shaffer) and Rose.

Landis Shaffer Shipe, son of Oliver and Alice (Shipe) Shaffer. has formally adopted the name Shipe. He was born July 9. 1878. was reared to farm life, and after his mother's death obtained the farm which belonged to her, a tract then consist- ing of 130 acres. Mr. Shipe has sold forty-seven aeres, retaining the other eighty-three aeres, where he carries on general farming. Ile attends the Sunbury markets, his farm being located four miles south of Sunbury, and does a thriving business, be-

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ing an energetic young man and an exeellent man; hundred aeres. He followed farming there to the ager. Mr. Shipe married Maud Hetriek, daughter end of his aetive life, and died upon his farm Jan. of John and Catharine (Thomas) Hetrick, of 9, 1886. His wife, Susanna Burrell, born June Lower Augusta. township, and they have had four children, Daisy, George, Mary and Harry, all born in the month of July, two years apart. Mr. Shipe is a member of the Reformed Church, with which his family is identified.

Samuel Shipe was a resident of Lower Augusta township, living on the tract now belonging to the estate of Peter Lenker. He was a blacksmith by trade .. His children were: Maria married David R. Shipe; Sallie married Daniel Martz; Elizabeth married Joseph Neidig and (second) Joseph Gass; Samuel lived and died in Washington township; a daughter died after she had grown up and left these parts ; Daniel married Catharine Shipe, daughter of Henry.

Samuel B. Reitz, son of Daniel, was born in 1832 on a part of the old Reitz homestead. In his early life lie learned the tailor's trade and followed it for some time, but he eventually settled down to farming, owning part of the old homestead. He ELIAS R. REITZ, of Mount Carmel, and died June 29, 1906. . He married Eliza Reitz, formerly a well known resident of Washington daughter of Philip and Annie Wagner, and to - township, this eounty, is a member of a family well represented in Northumberland, particularly in . Washington, Little Mahanoy and Lower Augusta townships, in which section it was founded in the middle of the eighteenth century by one George Reitz, who settled in Washington township among the earliest pioneers of that region.

George Reitz settled in Washington township among its first residents and was a large landowner there, his original tract including the land now em- braced in the farms of Luther Rebuck, William Rebuek, Harvey Rothermel, Charles B. Hetrieh and A. C. Adams. He is buried in an unmarked grave near a fenee, in the orchard on the farm now owned by C. B. Hetrich. Among his children were sons Andraes (Andrew ) and Michael.

Michael Reitz, son of George, born in January, 1757, died Dee. 17, 1825. He lived near what is now Rebuck, in Washington (then Upper Ma- hanoy) township, and there his death occurred; he is buried at Himmel's church, in that township, having been a Lutheran member of that church. When the church was erected in 1818 there were a Michael and a Peter Reitz among the members of the building committee. A Michael Reitz is on the communion list of June 30, 1776, of that churel. He married Elizabeth Schnope, who died Dec. 18, 1853, aged eiglity-seven years, and they were the parents of the following children : Michael ; Peter, who settled near Richfield, in Juniata county, Pa .; William, who settled in Jefferson county, Pa. ; Daniel, who lived on the old homestead. as did Jonathan; Henry, who lived in Washington town- ship; George, who settled in Jefferson county ; John, who settled in Jefferson county; and two daughters. All lived to old age.

26, 1810, died Jan. 12, 1881. They had a large family, viz .: Maria married Elias Rebuck ; Jona- than B. died in Missouri ; Samuel B. is mentioned below ; Katie married ( first ) Godfried Rebuek and (seeond) Andrew Rebuck (brothers) ; John B. is living in Nebraska; Salome married Milton Drumheller ; Elizabeth married Jared Snyder; Michael B. lives in Washington township, this county; Leonard B. lives in Nebraska ; Daniel B. lives in Mifflintown, Juniata county, and is at present (1910) sheriff of that county.

them were born nine children: Nathan died young ; John R. is a resident of Nebraska: Elias R. is mentioned below ; Henry M. is a resident of Sunbury, this eounty; Mary A. married William Rebuck; Andrew D. is living in Jefferson county. Pa .; Susan married George A. Foltz, of Sunbury ; George W. is living at the homestead; Hannah A .. - who is unmarried, lives in Shamokin, this county.

Elias R. Reitz, son of Samuel, was born Jan. 19. 1858, at the old Reitz homestead. He received his education in the schools of the locality and taught school for five terms in Washington township. Un- til he was twenty he was engaged at farm work. to which he had been reared, and for eleven years was in the mercantile business at Rebuck, in Wash- ington township, where he became very well knownl. serving eleven years as justice of the peace and three years as jury commissioner during his resi- dence there. In 1905 he eame to Mount Carmel, where he has since resided. He engaged in the wholesale produce business in partnership with Jolin L. Reitz, under the firm name of E. R. & J. L. Reitz, and after withdrawing from this asso- ciation engaged in mercantile business on his own account for a short time. His home is at No. 234 West Third street, and he has represented his ward, the Fourth, on the school board. although he is a Demoerat and the ward is normally a strong Republiean district. In public or private life his reeord is a creditable one. for he has won recog- nition as a useful eitizen in every community with which he has been identified.

On Dec. 27, 1885, Mr. Reitz married Lydia E. (Gehires) Kehres, daughter of Nathan E. and Catherine ( Hoffman) Gehres, or Kehres, and they have had three children, as follows: Bertha M. died when eighteen years old : Mabel G. is a gradu- ate of the Keystone State normal school, at Kutz-

Daniel Reitz, son of Michael. Jr .. was born Aug. 11, 1804, near Rebuck, and came into possession of the old homestead, which comprised about four town; Charles H. is attending the Mount Carmel

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high school, being a member of the class of 1911. was the senior partner. Later Mr. Lenker with- Mr. Reitz is a Lutheran in religious connection, drew and was succeeded by John Bingeman, the his wife a member of the Reformed Church. So- firm then becoming known as Bingeman & Ditty. cially he holds membership in the Elks, Odd Fel- Mr. Bubb was with Mr. Ditty about two years, at lows and Red Men.

BENNEVILLE M. BUBB, of Dalmatia, is one of the oldest justices in Northumberland county, his serviees as such having extended over a period of more than forty years-from 1869 to the pres- ent. There are few men in his loeality better known, and none commands more respect than this venerable citizen, who holds a most honored place in the esteem of all his fellow men. He was born Nov. 21, 1833, in Lower Mahanoy township, son of Philip Bubb, and comes of an old settled family of the region, where his grandfather, Johan Philip, lived and died.

Johan Philip, Bubb, born Sept. 28, 1:89, owned a traet of land in Lower Mahanoy township, and was a cooper by trade. He died Dec. 10, 1854, and was buried at Zion's church. His two wives, Mag- dalena and Hannah Kerstetter, respectively, were sisters, and his children, the two first named born to the first union, were as follows: Philip, Lydia (married Joseph Fenstermacher), Polly (married John Patrick), Sally (married Josiah Wert), Catharine (married Jacob Michael), Susan (mar- ried Augustus Badman, late of Montgomery coun- ty, Pa.) and Isaae (who was a farmer in Lower Mahanoy township). Philip Bubb had a brother Michael.and sisters Elizabeth (Mrs. John Lenker), tinued to hold this office, by reeleetion, ever since, Mrs. Paul Lahr, Mrs. Michael Wert and Mrs. and in this connection has also been extensively en- Witmer.

Philip Bubb, son of Philip, was born in Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, and became a well known resident of Lower Mahanoy township, where he owned a tract of land. He followed shoe- making until his retirement, and died at a ripe old age. His wife, Magdalena (Michael), was born Jan. 2, 1810, daughter of Wilhelm Michael, and died Jan. 16, 1895. Philip Bubb and his wife are buried at Dahinatia. He was a Lutheran, she a member of the Reformed Church. They had ten children. five of whom died vonng, the others be- ing: Benneville M .; Elizabeth, who married Peter Sechrist; Sarah, who married George Shull ; Isaac, who died while serving in defense of his country in the Civil war, being killed at the siege of Atlanta while serving as a regular in the 15th United States Infantry; and Anna, who married Henry Spotts.

the end of which time he became clerk in the gen- eral store of Peter Borel ( name now spelled Burrell -- it is of French extraction). Mr. Borel operated a general store and bought up grain, which was taken across the Susquehanna at Georgetown, by flats, to "Mc Kees Half Falls,". to the Pennsylvania eanal, was loaded onto a Union canalboat, at Mid- dletown, where the Union eanal started, and went by way of Reading to Philadelphia, where the grain was sold. Mr. Bubb was with Mr. Borel for five years, until he and George W. Arbogast bought out the good will, stock and fixtures of Borel's store, the firm being Arbogast & Bubb. This associa- tion lasted three years, when Mr. Bubb bought out the interest of his partner and conducted it alone for two years. At the end of that time he admitted George Bordner to the firm, which became Bubb & Bordner for two years. When the Civil war began they sold out to Backhus & Ells. for whom Mr. Bubb continued elerking, also conducting the post office in the store. He was the postmaster during the two administrations of President Lin- coln, from 1860 to 1866. He remained as clerk with P. S. Biekel, who succeeded to the general merchandise business of Backhus & Ells, and who was a justice of the peace many years, Mr. Bubb succeeding him in this office in 1869. He has eon-

gaged in surveying, conveyancing, etc., establish- ing his business as surveyor in 1880. He has writ- ten many wills, deeds. ete., and his reputation for reliable work is such that his services are in great demand. He is a true peacemaker, having by lis friendly and wise advice settled many cases with- out recourse to the regular processes of law, thus saving those who consulted him, as well as the community, mauy thousands of dollars which might have been expended in useless litigation, to say nothing of maintaining goodwill between rela- tives and friends. He has elerked at mary public sales. During 1908, 1909 and 1910 Mr. Bubb was badly hampered in his work by a cataraet in the right eye : he has also an undeveloped cataract in the left eye. Having been a resident of Dalmatia from his youth he has seen the town improve great- ly. It was laid out by one Gray, a deputy surveyor of Pennsylvania, in 1798, and the original name was Georgetown. In 1908 the name was changed to Dalmatia because of a Georgetown in Beaver county, Pa., causing errors in mail and freight shipments. Mr. Bubb owns a number of lots in the town, and has also a stone quarry of six aeres.

Benneville M. Babb was reared at the paternal home in Lower Mahanov township. He obtained his education in the subscription schools and at Freeburg Academy. When about fifteen years old he became elerk in a general store at Georgetown . (which is now known as Dalmatia) eondueted by Mr. Bubb is a Republican in politics, and he has served Lower Mahanoy township on the school one Andrew Ditty, who was succeeded in the busi- ness by the firm of Ditty & Lenker, of which he board a number of years. He was one of the first

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school directors elected in the township, in 1865, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and died at Gordon, in Butler and helped to establish the free schools here, al- township. He was a farmer by occupation, and though he had opposed their introduction. At the retired at a comparatively early age. His wife, time he was teaching subscription school, and he taught two terms of publie school. He continued to serve as school director until 1888. He was in- strumental in the establishment of the Dalmatia independent school district and the erection of the present four-room brick school building. All in all, he has been a highly useful citizen.

Mr. Bubb's first wife, Eliza ( Roush ), born Sept. 9, 1838, died April 8, 1861. leaving a son, William C. She is buried at Georgetown church. On Dec. 7, 1862, he was married (second) to Susan Se- christ, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Se-

Charles Rice, son of Frederick, was born April 24, 1850, in Schuylkill county, and in his early christ) Sechrist, and granddaughter of Christian life followed farming, later learning the machin- Sechrist, whose wife's maiden name was Grace. ist's trade in the car sliops at Cressona ; he is now one of the oldest workmen at Gordon. Since 1873 he has made his home in the borough of Gordon, in Schuylkill county, and he has served that com- munity in the official capacity of school director. He is a Republican in political sentiment. He and his family are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Rice married Isabella Seitzinger, and they are the parents of ten children : Dr. Fred, Margaret (who died of diphtheria, about 1883), Gertrude, Aaron L., Edith, Stella, Charles, Ruth, Cameron, and Beatrice ( who died in infancy). To this marriage were born seven children: Pauline married Luther Albert; Lizzie A. died young ; U. S. Grant lives at Milton, Pa. ; Isaac N. died in infancy ; Henry S. is a resident of Dalına- tia; Lewis N .. of Herndon, Pa .; Arthur S., of Philadelphia (he is a printer and works on tlie Philadelphia Inquirer). Mr. Bubb and his family are members of the Reformed Congregation of the Dalmatia Church, and he has served as deacon and elder for many years. He has an old German Bible brought to America by the Sechrists, who hailed from Switzerland, and in whose family it has been for several centuries. Though fully three hundred and fifty years old it is well preserved.

WILLIAM C. BUBB, son of Benneville M. Bubb, is postmaster at Dalniatia, where he was born Feb. 14, 1861. He was engaged at clerking in a store there for many years, first for P. S. Bickel & Son, later for Albert Schnee ; and for two years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Dalmatia on his own account. On Aug. 29, 1897, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Dalmatia, which is a fourthi- class office. He married Sevilla Brosius, daughter of Napoleon Brosius, who lived at Mount Pleas- ant Mills, Pa., and they have one daughter. Mary Magdalene. Mr. Bubb and his family are members of the Reformed Church. He has a nice residence in Dalınatia. Politically he has been identified with the Republican party, was formerly commit- teeman from Lower Mahanoy township, and has been delegate to a number of county conventions.

FRED RICE, M. D., of Sunbury, has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession in that borough since 1901, the year after his graduation from medical college, and commands a large pat- ronage, being considered one of the foremost phy- sicians of his section. He devotes himself to gen- eral practice. Dr. Rice is a native of Schuylkill county, Pa., born in Butler township Aug. 1%, 1875, son of Charles Rice and grandson of Fred- erick Rice.

Frederick Rice was born near Taylorsville, seven.

Catharine (Carl), died in 1881, and they are buried at Kimmel's church, in Schuylkill county, both having been members of the Reformed con- gregation of that church. Mr. Rice was a Whig in politics. His children were: Edward, William, John, Charles, Alfred, Aaron, Louisa (married Charles E. Bergstresser, a passenger conductor on the Lykens Valley railroad), Arvella (married Elsworth Shoemaker, who is employed on the Lykens Valley railroad) and Mary (unmarried).

Mrs. Rice is a granddaughter of Jacob Seit- zinger, a native of Berks county, Pa., born near Reading, who settled in Pottsville, Schuylkill county, where he was one of the leading men of his day. He built the "Exchange Hotel" at that point, the first hotel there, and prospered well in his business ventures, leaving a large estate. His wife, Elizabeth (Scott), was also from Berks coun- ty, and both are buried at Pottsville. Their chil- dren were as follows: Capt. Israel was the fatlier of Mrs. Rice ; Jeremiah owned and operated a coal breaker and owned and occupied a mansion back of the present courthouse in Pottsville: Isabella married George Palmer and they lived in Potts- ville ; Elizabeth married William Bigler (brother of former Governor Bigler, of Iowa) ; Nettie mar- ried Joseph Scuyler, who lived in Pottsville: Sarah married John Fernsler and they lived in Pottsville; Adelia married Charles Hipple, Esq., of Pottsville.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 61

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