Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 7

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 7

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Originally a Democrat, the Judge in 1861 united with the Republican party and was ever afterward an ardent Republican. He was a mem- ber and vestryman of Trinity Episcopal Church while at Pottsville, Pa .. and superintendent of their mission Sunday school at Fishback, Schuyl-

CHARLES P. HELFENSTEIN was born Sept. 12, 1819, in Carlisle, Pa., and spent most of his boy- hood in that town. His family moved from there to Dayton, Ohio, whence he went to Yale College, graduating from there in 1841. He subsequently read law for two years in the office of his brother- in-law, Judge Benjamin Patton (subsequently of Trevorton), in Pittsburg. In the meantime his family had removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and he went to tliat place and entered the land office of his brother Albert. About 1850 he came to North- umberland county to assist his brother, Judge Hel- fenstein, in his Trevorton operations and in the development of his coal lands. While in Trevor- ton he had charge of the lumber interests of the companies which his brother had organized, and made the acquaintance of Jeremiah Perkins, who was in charge of the lumber interests of another of Judge Helfenstein's coal companies. Mr. Perkins was a native of New Hampshire, was one of the pioneers of Northumberland county, and resided for a number of years in Sunbury. In 1855 Charles P. Helfenstein married Caroline H., eldest daughter of Jeremiah Perkins, and settled in Sha- mokin, where he built himself a home in the belt of woods between the eastern and western portions time purchased the interests of his brother and David MeKnight, in the town of Shamokin and surrounding. country, he engaged for several years in the real estate business, and was for several more years in the lumber business. He also turned his attention to the development of the Helfenstein coal lands, and, in connection with his brother Judge Helfenstein, laid out the towns of Helfenstein and West Shamokin. After dispos- ing of most of his coal lands in 18 ?? he retired from active business. He resided in the home which he erected in 1855 until his death, which occurred Feb. 15, 1900, when he was in his eighty-

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first year. He is buried in Shamokin cemetery. the U. S. S. "Tallapoosa," U. S. protected crniser His widow still occupies the old home in Sha- "Baltimore," U. S. armored cruiser "Brooklyn" mokin, her daughter and son-in-law, .Rear Ad- and U. S. battleship "Indiana:" and was chief miral Forsyth and wife, making their home with of the staff of Rear Admiral J. C. Watson, eom- her. Four ehildren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Helfenstein : John P., attorney at law at Sha- mokin : William L., president of the First Na- tional Bank of Trevorton, also a resident of Sha- mokin ; Elizabeth, wife of T. Pershing, of Phila- delphia ; and Carrie A., Mrs. Forsyth.

.Mr. Helfenstein was actively interested in many of the institutions of his adopted home. He was a director of the Northumberland County Bank, vice president of the Shamokin Banking Company, a stockhokler in the Shamokin Water Company, one of the eorporators and president of the Sha- mokin Gas Light Company, and one of the cor- porators of the Shamokin Cemetery Company, as well as the first president of the institution. Al- though a member of the Reformed Episcopal Church, he was one of the leading spirits in the erection of .the First Presbyterian Church of Sha- mokin and a liberal contributor to same. He was a Republican from the time of the Civil war, but never held any political office except that of chief burgess of Shamokin for two terms. He was one of the members of the committee of creditors of the Jay Cooke estate.

manding the Philippine fleets, 1899-1900. Ad- miral Forsyth is six feet. four inches in height, and very erect, a typieal officer of the naval service. He is a member of the order of the Loyal Legion, the Naval Order of the United States, the G. A. R., the Union League of Philadelphia and the United Serviee; and as a Mason he holds mem- bership in Union Lodge, No. 121, F. & A. M .; Shamokin Chapter: Shamokin Commandery ; Caldwell Consistory, thirty-second degree, at Bloomsburg, Pa. : and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. In 1873 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the Central high school at Philadelphia.

The Admiral's first marriage was to Mary J. M. Perkins, of Philadelphia, the ceremony taking place Aug. 1, 1871, and they had one son, James Perkins, born Aug. 20, 1878. now living at Con- cord, N. H .; he married Harriet Gilmore, and they have two children, Fores McQueen, born June 22, 1905, and James Huntington. born July 17, 1906. On Oct. 7, 1903, the Admiral married (sec- ond) Caroline A. Helfenstein, daughter of the late Charles P. Helfenstein, of Shamokin. Pa., and there he has since resided. He has made trips to Shamokin since 1823. From 1880 to 1885 his home was in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

REAR ADMIRAL JAMES MCQUEEN FORSYTH, U. S. N., retired, has long been well known in Shamokin, where he has made his home since 1903. He was born Jan. 1, 1842, on Long Island, in the Bahamas, British West Indies, son of James and CLARENCE G. VORIS, late of Milton, was for years one of the leading attorneys of North- umberland county, where he was in practice for over thirty years. His professional connections were of the highest and most honorable character, Catherine Ann (Taylor) Forsyth. His father was a planter and magistrate in the Bahamas, where he died in 1855. In September, 1853. James M. Forsyth came to the United States, spending the following few years in Philadelphia, where he and his achievements and methods were of the was graduated from the Central high school in kind that reflect credit on the legal fraternity, 1858. He went to sea as a sailor before the mast,' his own high standards making a permanent im- serving as sueh from 1858 to 1861, when he pression for good on such procedures generally. entered the volunteer navy, with which he served Mr. Voris was born Jan. 29, 1851, in Danville, Montour county, son of Archibald Gray and Re- becea N. ( Frick ) Voris and grandson of James Voris. His father, born Nov. 14, 1817, in Chil- lisquaque township, Northumberland eounty, died at Danville in 1894. He was a eontraetor and builder by occupation, and in 1840 moved to Dan- ville, where he followed that business to the end of his days, becoming one of the prominent citi- zens of that place. His wife, born in the borough of Northumberland Jan. 15, 1815, died at Dan- ville Ang. 25, 1887. Five of their children grew to maturity: Elizabeth A. (now deceased ). Mary. Clarence G., Louisa and John G. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, which Mr. Voris served as elder. during the Civil war. On Sept. 25, 1861, he was appointed acting master's mate. He took part in the capture of Forts Clark and Hatteras. Aug. 27, 1861, engagements under Farragut on the Mis- sissippi, the engagement with the Rebel ram "Arkansas" and at Sumter, Moultrie and other fortifications in Charleston harbor. He was pro- Inoted to aeting ensign. Sept. 5, 1862, and to act- `ing master, Aug. 1, 1864. Entering a competitive examination for admission to the regular navy he passed as No. 23 of sixty-five admitted out of nine hundred competing ; was made commanding master March 14, 1868 ; lieutenant, Dec. 18, 1868 : lieutenant commander, May, 1878: commander, March, 1889 : captain, March 3, 1899 : and placed upon the retired list at his own request. Sept. 25, Clarence G. Voris was reared in Danville and there received his early education, attending the public schools and the academy. He then entered 1901, after forty years of service, with the rank of rear admiral. He commanded at various times

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Lafayette College, from which he was graduated in the Civil war, responding at the first call for in 1872, after which he read law with Silas M. troops as the leader of Company F, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, organized as the Sun- bury Guards, his command being the first detach- ment of troops to leave Northumberland county for service in the Civil war, April 20, 1861. He served about six months; during which time he took part in the battle of Falling Waters and was afterward in the emergency service for a short time, when after the disastrous second battle of Bull Run the Confederate army moved toward the North. In this service he was captain of Com- pany D, 3d Regiment, which regiment was or- ganized Sept. 11-13, 1862, and discharged Sept. 23-25, 1862. Clark, who later served on the Supreme court bench. He furthered his preparation for the law at the Law School of Columbia University, New York City, and was admitted to the bar in Indi- ana county, this State, in the spring of 1876. In 1877 he opened an office at Sunbury, this county, was admitted to the bar of Northumber- land county Oct. 3, 1877, and continued to prac- tice at his original location until Jan. 1, 1887, when he removed to Milton. At the new location he formed a partnership with Col. John McCleery, under the firm name of McCleery & Voris, and the combination proved very effective, the firmn receiving a large share of the best legal work in Captain Bruner was appointed collector of in- ternal revenue for the Fourteenth Pennsylvania district by General Grant, and served successively under Hayes and Arthur, holding the office four- teen years in all. He died March 15, 1885. Of his legal standing and reputation, we have excellent evidence in the resolutions adopted at the meeting of the bar held at Sunbury Monday March 30, 1885, for that purpose, which we quote : this section. The Milton Trust & Safe Deposit Company was among their patrons, that institution retaining their services for many years. Mr. Vor- is continued in successful and lucrative practice until his death, which occurred at Philadelphia July 2, 1909. He is buried at Danville. In re- ligions connection he was a Presbyterian. He was a Republican on political questions.

On March 28, 1888, Mr. Voris married Mary G. Bruner, daughter of Capt. Charles J. Bruner, late of Sunbury, a great-grandson of the noted Capt. John Brady. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Voris: Clarence Archibald, who is at- tending Haverford College, Haverford, Pa., and Charles William B., who is still a pupil in the pub- lic school. Mrs. Voris continues to make her honie in Milton. Like her husband she is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.

CAPT. CHARLES J. BRUNER (deceased), long a distinguished citizen of Sunbury. North- umberland county, was born there Nov. 17, 1820, son of Rev. Martin and Mary (Gray) Bruner, the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of Sun- bury. The father, a clergyman of the German Reformed Church, came to Sunbury when twenty- one years old, moved thence to Hagerstown, Md., and thence to Lancaster, Pa., where he died in 1852. The mother lived to the age of seventy-five years. Captain Bruner was descended in the ma- ternal line from the celebrated Brady family, he having been a great-grandson of the noted Capt. John Brady.

Charles J. Bruner came to Sunbury to live in 1840. He received his literary education in Lan- caster, and received a thorough training for the legal profession, studying law under Judge Alex- ander Jordan. He was admitted to the Northum- berland county bar Jan. 3, 1843, and at once opened an office of his own in Sunbury. For some years in the earlier part of his professional career he was associated with Maj. William L. Dewart, latter practicing alone. He took a prominent part

The bar of Northumberland county, having con- vened to take recognition of the death, and to pay some seemly tribute to the character and memory of the late Charles J. Bruner, Esquire, whose relations as a member thereof have always been so honorable, but whose untimely decease it has been so suddenly and unexpectedly called to deplore, doth resolve,

First, That his spotless career as a lawyer while in active membership of this bar, his exemplary courage when in camp and field, while he served his country as a soldier in the early and trying days of the late Civil war, his enviable record for efficiency and in- tegrity as an officer in the civil service of the Federal government during the fourteen years or more he held the important trust of collector of internal revenue for the Fourteenth district of Pennsylvania, and his fair promise of honorable achievement on his recent return to and renewal of active employment in his profession of the law, have made his name and character well worthy to be held in active memory, and render his fame well worthy of perpetuation among the historical records of our bar and his virtues and achievements in public and professional life well worthy of righteous emulation.

Second, That his learning, the high order of his natural abilities, his discriminating judgment and quick- ness of perception, and the noble virtues of his public and private life, have largely contributed to place him in high rank among the just and honorable of his pro- fession.

Third, That by his genial manners, his amiable tem- per, his affectionate disposition, his generous impulses, as well by his unswerving fidelity in pure and disin- terested friendship as by his kindly and beneficent in- fluences in social and professional intercourse, hé has won his way to the strongest feelings and best im- pulses of our hearts.

Fourth, That a committee of four members of the bar be appointed to convey to his family the assurance of our heartfelt sympathy with them in this sudden and great bereavement, and to commend them in the great depth of their sorrow to the strong staff tendered by him "who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," and fails not to remember the widow or the orphan,

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but notes in tenderness of mercy even the fall of the sparrow.

Signed, W. A. SOBER, G. W. ZEIGLER, SAMUEL HECKERT, P. L. HACKENBERG, Committee.

Though Captain Bruner began life in humble eircumstanees, and accumulated whatever prop- erty he had through his own efforts, he left a fair competency, and, more than that, he had always been liberal in giving to those less fortunate than himself. His sueeess never developed in him a greed for wealth or selfishness of any kind. his prosperity being to him a welcome opportunity to gratify the impulses of a naturally kind and gen- erous disposition. He belonged to the Reformed Church and was a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. The G. A. R. post at Sunbury was named in honor of his brother William.

Captain Bruner was married June 3, 1852, in Sunbury, to Louisa Weiser, a direct descendant of Conrad Weiser. the noted Indian interpreter so prominent during the early settlement of the region around Shamokin. at what is now Sunbury. Six children were born to this union: Mary Gray, now the widow of Clarence G. Voris. of Milton; Elizabeth, who died when less than a year old ; Louisa, who died when four and a half years old; Charles, who died when one and a half years old; William W., who died Dec. 7, 1901. in Sunbury, Pa .; and Franklin, who died when eight years old.

AMOS ELMAKER KAPP was one of the lead- ing eitizens of the borough of Northumberland for over fifty years. In his day he was undoubt- edly one of the best known men in eentral Penn- sylvania, particularly in the period preceding the advent of the railroad, when his connection with stage lines and eanal paekets, as a member of the firm of Kapp & Calder, gave him an unusually wide acquaintance. He was one of the most en- terprising residents of the borough. being the or- ganizer of the First National Bank, a director of the Northern Central Railroad Company, a mem- ber of the lumber firm of Kapp & Co., and in many ways identified with important interests of vari- ons kinds.

Mr. Kapp was born Aug. 27, 1809, in Harris- burg, Pa., son of Michael Kapp, one of the pi- oneers in the mercantile business at Harrisburg. Michael Kapp was born Aug. 1. 1720. in Sehaef- ferstown, Lancaster Co., Pa., and died at Harris- burg July 1, 1830. He owned valuable property in Harrisburg, upon what is now the Square, and there did business until his death. He brought his goods from Philadelphia by team. Mr. Kapp married Mary Elmaker, who was born May 13, 1776, daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth ( Baker) Elmaker, and died at Harrisburg Oct. 28, 1814. Two children were born to this union. Catharine and Amos E. The daughter, born Feb: S, 1799,

was the first pupil to graduate from Linden Hall Seminary, at Lititz, Laneaster county. She never married, and was very well known in Harrisburg, where she remained at the old homestead until her death, Sept. 18, 1880.

Amos E. Kapp was born in Harrisburg in a building which stood in the northwest corner of Market square, adjoining the present "Bolton House." He spent his early years in his native eitv, which he left Dec. 30, 1832, for Northumber- land, making the journey by stageeoaeh. He passed the remainder of his life there. Immedi- ately after his arrival. on Jan. 1, 1833, he took eharge of the stagecoach business there, beeom- ing identified with the famous old line which car- ried passengers up and down the river. Forming a partnership with William Calder (?), under the name of Kapp & Calder, he built up a large business. They had two offiees, one in Harrisburg and one in Northumberland, Mr. Calder looking after the Harrisburg offiee, and in addition to car- rying passengers did an extensive business in haul- ing from Philadelphia to eentral Pennsylvania, having as many as one hundred horses, the best that could be obtained.

When Mr. Kapp came to Northumberland the stagecoach was the only means of transportation, and he and his partner not only ran stages but also paekets on the eanal, following this business un- til they were bought out by the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. There were few men in this sec- tion who witnessed so much of its progress as Mr. Kapp, and there were few who had more to do with its opening up and advancement. He organ- ized the First National Bank of Northumberland and served as its president: he was identified with the Northern Central Railroad Company for many years and served as one of its directors : he was ac- tive in the lumber business as president of Kapp & Co., and deeply interested in the agricultural development of his State, serving as president of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society.

Mr. Kapp purchased two hundred acres of val- uable land in Point township, adjoining the bor- ough of Northumberland. and there he made his" home, dying on that place Sept. 22, 1887. It is a very fertile tract and under his management was kept in a high state of cultivation. He kept reg- istered Jersey cattle, and in many other ways dis- played his advanced ideas in agricultural lines. The original house on this farm known as Hum- inel's Inn was built in 1799 and repaired in 1852. The barn was built in 1851. and at the time of its erection was the largest barn in the State, be- ing 100 by 50 feet in dimensions. Mr. Kapp re- tired from active life in 1875.

On Feb. 16, 1841, Mr. Kapp was married at Sunbury, by Rev. Mr. Fisher, to Margaret Wigh- ington, who was born Dec. 10, 1818, in Mifflin- burg, Union Co .. Pa., daughter of George and ('atharine ( Youngman) Wighington, and died

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

June 13, 1868. She was the mother of the fol- site of the ancient mansion. also the church in lowing named children : Clara M., Amos E. (de- 1776 on the site of the former church. He died ceased ), Horace E. (deceased), William C. (de- in 1784 and was succeeded by liis only son, the pres- ceased), Maggie (living in New Jersey, widow of ent James Frampton of Moreton. Col. James Samuel Trump ; she has one daughter, Margaret), Frampton served as high sheriff for the County of Laura (deceased in infancy), Helen, Mary E. Dorset in 1793." They have arms and a crest, the latter a greyhound ; the motto is "Perseverando." The family seat is at Moreton in Dorsetshire. (wife of Frank L. Sheppard, of New York City, general manager of the United Railroads of New Jersey), Bertha (who is married to P. Leisen- ring and has one son, Frank), Annie . (living in New York City), Cameron (deceased).

Though over half a century elapsed from the time Mr. Kapp left Harrisburg until his death, it was his custom to visit his native city yearly on the anniversary of his departure and spend the day with his friend, William D. Boas, of Harrisburg, who had accompanied him to the coach when he set out to seek his fortune up the river. He was aetive and energetic to the close of his long life and interested in the events of the day, the social and political changes which had taken place during his mature years affording him much pleasure. He was present at the inauguration ceremonies of sixteen different governors of Pennsylvania, and as six of them served two terms each he attended twenty-two inaugurations-a record which few citizens of the State can equal.

The Misses Clara and Helen Kapp lived upon the home farmi just outside of Northumberland until July 20, 1909, when they moved into the borough, having sold the old place to the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, the property being very desirable for yards, which were established there in that year. The station known as Kapp's, on the Pennsylvania road, was named for the family. The Misses Kapp are members of the D. A. R. and active and prominent in the social life of the borough, being very hospitable and noted en- tertainers.

FRAMPTON. The Framptons have been a prominent family in Pennsylvania, especially in the early days in Philadelphia, from Colonial times, and some of the descendants of William Frampton, a Friend who was a member of Penn's first Provincial council, are living in Northumber- land county at this day. They are of English stock.

In Burke's "Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland" the Frampton family of England are spoken of as "Frampton of Moreton in 1355. John De Frampton was returned to serve in that year in Parliament for the borough of Dorchester in the County of Dorset. His son Walter De Frampton acquired the manor and estate of Moreton by mar- riage. It was entailed and is in the possession of the family still. There seems to be a William in almost every generation. Mr. James Frampton built the present house at Moreton in 1:46 on the

John Frampton of England, born in 1581, was a merchant and a compatriot of John Hampden, Oliver Cromwell and other members of the Par- liament which resisted the aggressions of Charles I., and founded the English Commonwealth. He was probably the grandfather of William Framp- ton, the ancestor of the American branch. In the Pennsylvania Archives, and in the Colonial Rec- ords, we find numerous references to his services and participation in important affairs. He was a brother-in-law of Robert Turner (a prominent member of Penn's council), with whom we fre- quently find his name associated in publie ser- vice. His business was evidently that of merchant, as his name first appears in the Provincial records in the year 1683, ,as a merchant to whom certain bills (given) were due for merchandise: and among the proceedings attending a common coun- cil meeting March 1, 1683-84, from minutes of the common council. City of New York, 1675- 1696, we find the following :

"Pursuant to an order from the Mayor and al- dermen and common Council, bareing. date the 23rd of Feb. 1683-4 appointing ns underwritten as A Committee to make a listt of all barques, sloopes, and open boates, Belonging to this Porte, and to inquire wt vessels are in Areare for their Dockage doe returne this underwritten as Our Report (233) and cannot understand what vessels are in Areare. ? Sloopes-Francis Rich- ardson, Wm. Frampton." Then follows a long list of other boats and owners.

In New York is also found a record, 27th day of 9th month, 1678, showing that William Framp- ton was present at the marriage of George Mas- ters and Mary Willis. [Item found in Lennox Library, New York City.] At the Hall of Rec- ords, New York City, there are two deeds, both long documents, one from William Frampton to Alexander Farley, Lib. XIII, page 42 : date of in- strument Oct. 17, 1681; recorded May 16, 1684: place of residence, New York City: Merchant. The second is from "Wm. fframpton & Elizabeth his wife, Grantors, to Daniel Butts. Grantee. 13 Lib., 44th Page. Date of Instrument. May 15th. 1684. Recorded May 27th, 1684." This property. was on Newe street, a short street two blocks long, extending from Wall street to Exchange place. The deed is dated thus: "15th day in the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Sovereign Lord Charles ve 2nd by the grace of God of Eng .. Scot., France & Ireland, Defender of the faith."

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William Frampton was a large landholder in that body and recorded as present. He was also Philadelphia county, as shown in the Pennsylvania one of the peace commissioners for the county of Archives, where lists are preserved of the first pur- Philadelphia, and was one of the three persons chasers of lots in Philadelphia. In a list of those who jointly filled the office of register general, and . purchasing lots of less than one thousand acres,

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 7

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