Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 84

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 84

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).

Joseph Albright, grandfather of Joseph Al- bright of Watsontown, settled in Lehigh county, Pa., and is buried in the vicinity of Allentown. His wife's maiden name was Yund. They had children : Mrs. Biggert. of Allentown; James, who died in Allentown ; and Charles S.

Joseph Albright was educated in Columbia county, and was twenty years old when he com- menced to learn the plastering trade, coming to Northumberland county in 1856. He followed his trade until the Civil war period, when he en- listed in August, 1862, in Company B, 131st Regiment, with which he served ten months. Dur- ing this time he was in the second battle of Bull Run, in the engagements at Monocacy, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chan- cellorsville. His second enlistment was in Febru- ary, 1864, in Company K, 112th Regiment, 2d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, for three years. and he served to the close of the war, taking part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, etc. On June 16-18, 1864, the com- mand was established in front of Petersburg, where he received two bullet wounds, fighting hand to hand and standing up to his waist among the dead and wounded. At Cold Harbor, while he was reloading his rifle, a bullet stripped the skin from his nose. On July 30th, at the mine explosion, he was captured, and was held eight months in the prison at Danville, being trans- ferred to Libby prison, from which he was ex- changed March 10, 1865. He was then brought to Annapolis, and sent to Baltimore hospital, where he remained several weeks in a serious con- dition, weighing less than sixty-five pounds. He was brought to Sunbury in this sad condition, and thence to the "Huff House" at Milton, more dead than alive; he laid between life and death from April 2d to Oct. 2d, 1865, but eventually recor- ered, though his improvement was very gradual. His army experience was trying and full of hard- ships. and he saw active service in some of the most important battles of the war. At Fredericks- burg his brigade was nearest to the heights where the Confederate line was posted.

Charles S. Albright was born at Allentown and married there. He was a tailor by trade, but fol- lowed farming for many years, moving to a place near Catawissa, Columbia county, where he farmed until he sold out and settled near Wash- ingtonville, Montour county, owning a seventy- After the war Mr. Albright worked at his trade fiye-acre farm on which he died in 186". at the for a year, and then, having some property at Wat- sontown, he engaged in business there, keeping a livery stable for eight years. Then he returned to his trade, which he continued to follow until 1881. From 1883 until 1890 he was confined to bed or chair, with illness contracted during the time he was in his country's service, but he has since recovered. Though always occupied with age of fifty-nine years, nine months. He is buried at Strawberry Ridge Church. He was a Luther- an in religion. His wife, Esther (Newhart), who came from Lehigh county. died in 1882, at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of twelve children: George W., of the state of Washington ; John T., who died at Paradise, . Northumberland county, Pa. : Thomas D., who en -. his business affairs during his more active years tercd the service during the Civil war and died Mr. Albright found time to serve his community, while a prisoner at Florence, S. C. : Joseph: Anna, holding the offices of overseer of the poor, con- stable and collector with satisfaction to all con- cerned. He is a Republican in political faith, and in religion a member of the Methodist church. in the welfare of which he has been much interested, Mrs. Ramson of Iowa; Charles F., who died in Towa; Hettie, who was married three times, to Benson Carl, Christopher Herr and Reuben Clapp, respectively ; Henry A., who died when three years

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having acted as president of the board of trustees had children, Mary ( Mrs. Harry Haas), Luther of his church. He also holds membership in the and John; Elizabeth, born Jan. 23, 1842, who Grand Army of the Republic.

married Thomas Rissel; William, who married Alice Acor and has a son, Edward M .; and M. Luther, who married Sarah Wolfe and had eight children, Daniel, Louis, Myra, George, Elizabeth,

In December, 1858, Mr. Albright married Mary Ann McCurley Tate, of Milton, who was born March 28, 1840, daughter of John and Nancy (Holder) Tate, who lived at Milton. Four sons Frank, Howard and Carrie. were born to this marriage: David T., who lives Charles M. Rissel attended public school and as a boy worked on the home farm. When a young man he learned the trade of carpenter, and soon began contracting on his own account, build- ing many houses and barns in the neighborhood of his home. He was a popular and successful business man, and was considered a master in in Milton ; John S. (of Watsontown) and Elmer C. (deceased), twins, and William N., of Wat- sontown. Mrs. Albright was killed in a trolley accident at Philadelphia Aug. 26, 1902, aged fifty-nine years. In August, 1902, Mr. Albright married (second) Ella Blue, daughter of Isaiah and Phoebe Agnes (Taggart) Blue. Isaiah Blue his line, his services being in continuous demand, married for his second wife Emma Falls Wetzel, by whom he had two children, David and Gertrude.

but in 1876 he discontinued work at his trade, de- voting himself thereafter to farming. That year he erected a house on the farm in East Chillis- CHARLES M. RISSEL. a retired citizen of East Chillisquagne township, for many years a farmer and previously a well known contractor in that region, was born Jan. 7, 1838, in Montour county, Pa., and comes of a family which has long been established in America. Its founder in this country was Heinrich Ulrich Rishel (as many of the family spell the name), who came to America with his family in 1753 and settled in Bucks county, Pa. He had six sons-Jacob, Leonard, Ludwig, Martin Luther, Michael and William- quaque township which he had purchased, and in. 1888 he put up the barn. Always a progressive, thrifty and industrious man, he prospered and gained the esteem of his neighbors, and there are many substantial evidences of his mechanical skill still standing. He is now retired from the more arduous work of farming, making his home with his son Jonas at the old place. He was married Nov. 3, 1864, to Mary Ann Koch, who was born Jan. 4, 1838, daughter of Jonas and Lealı ( Bachman) Koch, who are mentioned who served in the Revolutionary war, William fully elsewhere in this work, and died Aug. 29, holding the rank of captain. After the war two of the sons, Michael and Martin Luther, came to Mr. Rissel, holding membership in the church at 1905. In religion she was a Lutheran, as is also Pottsgrove. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rissel: Jonas, born June 23, 1865, who now carries on the old home farm, married Mar- garet Berger, daughter of Levi and Susan (Mack) Berger, and they have had two sons, George Frank- lin and Charles Levi; Jennie E., born March 12, 1876, died March 8, 1882.

Montour county, Pa., where they toon up land and made permanent homes, Martin Luther set- tling in Liberty township. Among his children were Jacob, John and Henry, of whom we have record, descendants of John Rishel now living in West Chillisquaque township. Martin Luther Rishel had the old German hymn book brought by the family from Germany, and as indicated by this the family were Lutherans.

On Aug. 9, 1862, Mr. Rissel enlisted in the Union service, becoming a private in Company E, 131st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, under the command of Cant. I. B. Davis

Henry Rissel, son of Martin Luther, was born March 1, 178-1, was a farmer, and died in 1830. He and his wives are buried at Chillisquaque and Colonel Allaboch. He took part in the battles Church. By his first marriage, to Leah Sechler,. of Antictam (Sept. 17, 1862), Fredericksburg who was born April 23, 1792, he had two children, (Dec. 11-14, 1862), and Chancellorsville ( May John (who lived .to be ninety-two years old) and 1-4, 1863), and was honorably discharged at Har- Jacob S. His second marriage was to Sarah risburg, May 27, 1863.

Hayes, who . bore him five children: William Henry; Martin, who lived to be ninety-six years old; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Keefer; Da- vid, and Daniel.

WILLIAM H. FISHER, proprietor of Fisher's Iron Foundry, located at Rebuck, in Washington township, is a micinber of a family which has been

William Henry Rissel, son of Henry, was born identified with Northumberland county from the April 12, 1811, and followed farming all his life, early days, though not continuously in this branch.

dying March 12, 1844. On April 14, 1837, he He was born Oct. 28, 1851, in Dauphin county, married Mary Hoover, daughter of George Hoover, at Gratz, where his father settled and lived for of Schuylkill county, born April 1, 1815, died many years. Nov. 28, 1871. They were the parents of the fol- . Joseph Fisher, who founded this family in lowing children: Charles M .: Daniel W., born America, was born in Germany in April, 1734, and Dec. 26, 1840, who married Amanda Gast and on June 5, 1361, married Catharine Minegar, also

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a native of Germany, born in August, 1746. They Hetrich, of Northumberland county, and she sur- were the parents of the following children: Cath- vived him many years, dying in 1906, at the age arine, who married Nicholas Shipman; Henry; of seventy-two. She is buried by her husband's Mary, who married Samuel Mutchler; Hannah, side at Gratz. They had a family of five chil- who married Caleb Farlee; Elizabeth; John; dren: Mary J. (who died young), a daughter that died in infancy, Williani H., Adam M. (de- ceased) and Franklin I. (deceased).

Moses ; David; Jacob, and Joseph. It is claimed that the parents settled near the site of Catawissa, in what is now Columbia county, Pa., some time in the eighteenth century, but prior to that they evidently lived in Bradford county, where their oldest son, Henry, was born July 25, 1767.

Henry Fisher, born in Bradford county, Pa., July 25, 1767, lived for some years in Columbia county, thence removing to Northumberland county. He was the father of these children: Jacob, John, Caleb, Clotworthy, Joseph, Sarah, Elizabeth and Catharine. He located upon the land later owned by Peter Leisenring, where he built a gristmill and tavern, which he operated many years. He also owned about eighteen acres of land adjacent to the mill and hotel property. His death occurred about 1825, after which all his family except his son John (born Sept. 20, 1800) left that locality.

Caleb Fisher, son of Henry, lived at Bear Gap, in Coal township (Bear Gap is now included in Ralpho township), Northumberland county. In early life he learned the trade of miller, which he followed during the greater part of his active life, operating Fisher's mill, now known as the Leisenring mill, at Bear Gap for many years, succeeding his father at that place. Later he moved to Sunbury. Caleb Fisher was an able and enterprising business man and at one time quite well-to-do. He died at Sunbury and is buried there. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Bird, had the. following children: Clinton, who was a machinist, lived at Danville at one time and was also a resident of Muncy; John I., a molder by. trade, lived in Sunbury; Jared is mentioned later; Albert, a printer, lived at Danville ; Harri- son died at Sunbury; Henry C., a foundryman, lived at Freeburg; Jane never married.

Jared Fisher, son of Caleb, was born at Bear Gap, and died during the eighties, when sixty-five years old, at Gratz, Dauphin Co., Pa., whither he had removed in 1848. He is buried there. Mr. Fisher was a machinist and blacksmith. At one time he lived in Minersville, Schuylkill county, thence going to Gratz, where he had a shop of his own and did general blacksmithing until his death. He was a prosperous man, and owned his own home. Politically he was a Republican, and during the Civil war was an active Union sym- pathizer, serving in that war under two enlist- ments. He was a soldier in Company I, 103d Regiment, for nine months, and reënlisted, serv- ing until the close of the struggle. Mr. Fisher was a member of the Reformed Church at Gratz. He married Elizabeth Hotrich, daughter of Jacob

William H. Fisher received his elementary edu- cation in the common schools in his native county. In 1868 he began to learn the molding trade from his uncle, Henry C. Fisher, being located at Re- buck, and remained with him three years. Re- suining his studies, he attended Freeburg Academy for three terms, and later was a student at Berrys- burg Academy, in Dauphin county, for three terms, after which he was granted a license to teach. He followed the profession for three terms, being engaged in Washington township, Northumberland county, until in 1875 he was taken into partnership by his uncle, Henry C. Fisher, who moved to Freeburg, where they built a shop and established an iron foundry. They . did business under the firm name of H. C. & W. H. Fisher for two years, William H. Fisher with- drawing from the association in 1877 and coming to Greenbrier, Northumberland county, where he started the foundry business on his own account. He was in successful business there for four years, in 1882 settling at Rebuck, where he has since remained. During his first four years at that location he rented his place of business and then purchased the property he now occupies. He is a practical mechanic and a foundryman of thor- ough experience, and is the only man in the busi- ness in his section. However, that is not the only reason he has established such a thriving trade. His work is reliable, and there is a steady demand for the products of his plant, plows of all kinds and common agricultural implements; the well known Fisher plow is his specialty and has an ex- cellent reputation. The foundry occupies a half acre of ground. Mr. Fisher owns a tract of six acres which formerly belonged to his uncle Henry C. Fisher, and in 1897 he purchased the old Dr. Fred Tryon farm, consisting of thirty acres at Rebuck, upon which place the first store, hotel and post office were located. The hotel was abandoned by Mr. Fisher. He is a Republican in politics and has served three years as school director.

On Dec. 25, 1875, Mr. Fisher married Hannah S. Kieffer, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Wel- ker) Kieffer, of Washington township, earlier of Jackson township, and they have had six children : Elizabeth died unmarried and is buried in the family plot at the Himmel Church; Nellie J. married Tra Mattern and they reside at Ashland; H. Emma married William Brosius and they live at Seven Points : Katie married Henry Hubler, of Mahanoy City, Pa. ; Clara S. and Walter H. com-

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plete the family. Mr. Fisher and his family are 1874, sinee when he has made his home at Mil- Lutheran members of the Himmel Church, and he is cspceially devoted to Sunday school work; he has been superintendent of the Union Sunday school of that organization sinee 1909.

WILLIAM P. WENDLE, justice of the peace of Milton, Northumberland county, for. more than twenty-five years, was first elected to that office in 1879, and with but one term intermission has held it continuously to the present time. He is one of the most respceted citizens of the borough, a veteran of the Civil war and a well known worker in the Republican party.

In 1863 Mr. Wendle married Ellen J. Blue, Mr. Wendle was born July 16, 1840, at Muney, daughter of Daniel Blue, and they had three Lycoming Co., Pa., and is of Dutch descent, his children : Carrie Ida, wife of Reverdy J. Bramble. grandfather, John Wendle, having come from Hol- of Milton, Pa. ; Nellie T., at home; and Elizabeth land. He settled near Muncy and followed farm- M., wife of George Bramble, of Cumberland, Md. ing, dying about 1838. He is buried at Muncy. Mrs. Wendle died- March 12, 1910, aged seventy years.

Peter Wendle, son of John and father of Wil- liam P., was born in 1802 in Lyeoming county, Pa., and died in 1868. By trade he was a wagon- maker, and about 1838 had a shop at McEwens- ville, Northumberland eounty, later removing to Muney. He was a prominent Demoerat and served as county commissioner of Lycoming coun- ty, also holding various other offices. In re- ligion he was a member of the Evangelical Church. He married Sarah Buck. who was born in Lyeom- ing county in 1801, and died in 1848, and they were the parents of cight children, namely: Dan- iel B., who was a merchant in Philadelphia; Wil- liam P .; Thomas P., who was a carriage-maker in Philadelphia (his only son, George, lives in Williamsport, Pa.) ; Peter E., a cabinet-maker, who lived in Williamsport; Frances I., who mar- ried Alexander Hall and has six children, J. A., P. C., William, Alfred, Mary R. and Etta; Ellen G., who married Joseph Gibson, of Philadelphia. and has three children, Alfred and Clara and Millie; Sarah E., who married Jesse Edgar and has four children, Harry, Emily, Harvey and Grant; Jane, who married Silas Axtel, of Iowa, and has two children, Zenis and one daughter; her second husband is a Mr. Lee, of Kansas.

William P. Wendle received his edueation in the schools of Muncy. In 1856 he went West to In- diana, where he learned the cabinet-maker's lived in the borough of Reading in 1790, in which trade, and there in 1861 hie enlisted for three years' service in the Civil war, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, 20th Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, with which he went to the front. He was taken prisoner at Hatteras, N. C., was held at Charleston, S. C., and twice at . the notorious · Libby Prison, before securing his release. Hav- ing been captured in the engagement at Hatteras he was honorably discharged on account of dis- ability, May 26, 1862, and returned to Muney, where he engaged in business. In 1871 he again moved to Indiana, remaining in that State until

ton. For five years after settling in Milton Mr. Wendle followed his trade, and, as previously stated, he was elected justice of the peace in 1879, being honored with re-election again and again. His services are highly valued and he has the esteem of all his fellow citizens. He is a Re- publican, and has represented his party in many conventions, and socially he holds membership in Henry Wilson Post, 129, G. A. R., the Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 265, the Knights of Pythias and the P. II. C. He and his family at- tend the Lutheran Church.

DANIEL S. SCHREFFLER, now living in partial retirement at Leck Kill, in Upper Ma- hanoy township, was for a number of years en- gaged successfully in farming on the south side of Line Mountain, and he is one of the most sub- stantial and highly esteemed residents of that sec- tion, where he has passed all his life.

The Sehreffler family of eastern Pennsylvania elaims as its founder in America Heinrich Schröffler, who settled in the borough of Reading, Berks county, at an early date. His will, on record in Will Book A, page 83, in the Berks county courthouse, was made April 25, 1783, he "being old and weak in body," and was probated Sept. 6, 1784. Apparently he died in the summer of 1784. He made his mark on the document, and his sons Christian and Godfriedt (as the name was spelled in the will) were appointed executors. Among the items was one to the effect that George "shall have my fine stocking weaver loom, with all belongings." The son Conrad died be- fore his father, and his son, also named Conrad, obtained his father's share of the inheritance. To Heinrich and Magdalena Sehroffler were born the following children : Christian, Henry. Godfried, Carl, George and Conrad. The son Christian year he was the head of a family consisting of himself, wife, three sons under sixteen years of age and three daughters.

Godfried Schreffler, son of Heinrich (Henry), was a farmer in Bethel township. Berks county. He made his will in 1811 and died in 1812. The executors of his will were his sons John and God- fried, his family consisting of nine children, namely: John, Godfried. Peter, George, Conrad. Catharine ( married Simon Smeltzer), Polly (married John Focht), Betsy (married John Groff) and Hannah (unmarried).

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Godfried Schreffler, the grandfather of Daniel (Schankweiler) Schreiffer, was born in 1851. He S. Sehreffler, was a farmer in Northumberland grew up on the home farm and attended the coun- try schools. After his marriage to Caroline county, owning the farm in Washington township which is now the property of Andrew Adams. He Kieffer, in 1873, he purchased a farm in Wash- is buried in that township, at the Himmel Church,

ington township, and there resided until the time and was a Lutheran in religious connection. He of his death, following agricultural work. He was was a tall man and dark complexioned. To him and his wife Eve (Lebo) were born children as follows : Joseph ; Godfried; John; Daniel; Mrs. Michael Dockey; Susanna, Mrs. John Snyder; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Nicholas Adam.

John Schrefiler, son of Godfried and Eve ( Lebo) Sehreffler, was born in 1819 in Dauphin county, Pa., and died in 1894. He and his wife, Salome (Rebuek), who died in 1893, aged seventy-three years, are buried at the Hinmel Church. He owned an eighty-aere farm situated on the south side of Line Mountain, in Washington township, to the cultivation of which he devoted the major part of his life. In August, 1863, he enlisted for nine months' serviee in the Civil war. His family was a large one, namely: Harry married Hettie Bergner; Lovina married John Falck: Urias married Mary Ferster; Katie married James Seil- er; John married Amanda Hetrich ; Hiram mar- ried Malinda Rebnek: Nathan married Mary Mil- ler; Mary married Joel Mattern; Fietta married Enoch Mattern; Elias is unmarried; Frank mar- ried Malinda Rebuck and (second) Lydia Drum- heller.

the Lutheran congregation at St. John's Church many years living and working in Upper Maha- for a number of years, and is at present serving as noy township, where he owned the traet of seventy- trustec; he was formerly a deaeon. His family seven aeres now owned by Malinda Sehreffler. He are also identified with this church. served as supervisor of his township, and was well On March 9, 1879, Mr. Schreffier married Sarah Jane Falck, and to their union have been born six children, as follows: Daniel O. died in his eighth year: Mazy C. died in her ninth year: Charles M. married Nealla Paul ; Katie A. married William Fetherolf: Edward L. is a school teacher in Upper Mahanoy township; Emma A. died in her sixth year. known in fraternal circles, belonging to the local organizations of the I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A. until they were disbanded. He and his family were Lutheran members of St. John's Church, where he and his two wives are buried. His first marriage was to Sallie Schankweiler, who was born Oet. 20, 1825, and died March 19, 1882. His second wife, Dina ( Bohner), was born Sept. 22, 1833, and died Dee. 26, 1907. Mr. Sehreffler passed away March 4, 1908. All his children were born to his first marriage, viz. : John: William : Lizzie, who married Silas Eister : James S. : Mary. who married Joel Reitz: Andrew, who died young : Daniel S. : Sarah. who married John Kahl- ' er; a son that died in infancy; Elias, who died young ; and Henry.

John Schreffler, eldest son of Daniel and Sallie

the father of these children: Andrew, who mar- ried Martha Rebuck; Mima, who married Cyrus Moyer : Callie, who married Lewis Rebuek; Sam- uel, who married Jemima Demmoyer; Etta, who married Samuel Kieffer .; Katie, who married Adam Drumheller; Dora, who married David Reitz; Jane, who married Daniel Reitz; David, Sallie and Mazy, all three deceased; John and Lov.

Mr. Schreffler was a prominent factor in the Himmel Lutheran Church, of which he was trustee for a number of years. He was sehool director for years, also supervisor for a number of years. In politics he was a Demoerat.

James S. Schreffler, son of Daniel and Sallie Schreffler, was born Sept. 2, 1854, and spent his early years at farm work. When nineteen he be- gan to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed regularly for about two years, and has con- tinued to work at it off and on ever since. In the spring of 1879 he commenced to farm at his present location in Upper Mahanoy township, hav- ing a traet of sixty-six acres along the south side of Line Mountain, at the head of Greenbrier creek. Urias Sehreffler, son of John and Salome (Re- buck) Sehreffler, is a farmer in Washington town- ship, this county. His children are: James, Charles, Levi, Jay and Ida. It was formerly the property of Jacob Shank- weiler, who built the house and barn in 1852, burning the briek he used from elay obtained in the meadow above the house. Mr. Schreffler has Daniel Sehreffler, son of Godfried and Eve been quite aetive in the work of the Democratic (Lebo) Schreffler, was born Sept. 9, 1827, in the party in his seetion, has served as election officer. lower seetion of Northumberland county, and was and was a member of the township school board reared in Washington township, where Andrew for nine years. He has been an active member of Adam now lives. He was a lifelong farmer, for

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 84

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