Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 104

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 > Part 104

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On Oct. 25, 1866, Mr. Sowers married Ella Lord, daughter of Henry Lord, of Pottsville, Pa. Their home is at No. 1101 Vine street, Shamokin. Five children have been born to this nnion, fonr surviving, namely: Harry, a machinist. in the em- ploy of John Mullen & Son (he married Katie Miller and has two children. Essie and Frank) : Elizabeth : Harvey B .. a molder also in the employ of John Mullen & Son (he married Frances Burn- er) ; and Ella May.

CLARENCE K. MARTZ. blacksmith and wheelwright at Paxinos. Northumberland county. belongs to a family which has been settled in this county for over a century, being a son of Frank- lin Martz and grandson of David Martz.

David Martz was born Oct. 15, 1802, in Lower

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Augusta township, Northumberland county, and 1891 until his recent removal to the borough. He died Nov. 11, 1855. Shortly after his marriage is employed as car inspector in the yards of the lie located at Paxinos and owned and operated a Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Sunbury, his fulling mill there, being quite successful in busi- service with the company covering over thirty ness. He was a respected man, and for many years-since 1877. Mr. Culp was born Nov. 14, years was chosen to serve as justice of the peace 1850, in what was then known as Augusta town- at Paxinos. His wife, Hannah (Evert), born ship, Northumberland county, son of Peter Culp, grandson of Henry Culp (or Kolb) and great- grandson of Conrad Culp, who was born in the year 1761 and died April 8, 1846, aged about eighty-five years. He lived in Augusta (now Up- per Augusta) township, where he had the farni now owned by a Mr. Ilaas. His wife, Magdalena. born in 1:61, died Feb. 9, 1849. Their children were Mrs. Stophel Sterner and Henry. Oct. 6, 1804, died June 9, 1880, and they are buried at the Blue church in Ralpho township. Their children were : Eliza died unmarried; Henry, who was a teacher, died unmarried; Mar- garet married David Adams; Sarah married Emanuel Artman; Franklin is mentioned below ; Mary married Albert Fisher; David P. is a resi- dent of Ralpho township, this county; John, twin of David, is deceased; Hannah married Jackson Hoffman : Susan died young.

Franklin Martz, son of David, was born Dec. 12, 1835, in Northumberland county, was reared upon a farm and learned the carpenter's trade. following both farming and carpentry. He died near Paxinos, on his farm, in July, 1887, and is buried at the Blue church. ' His wife, Margaret (Fisher), a native of Northumberland county, daughter of John Fisher, still survives, residing at Paxinos. She is a member of the German Re- formed Church, as was also Mr. Martz. They were the parents of a large family, five of whom are living: Edward H .; William, who lives in Shamokin ; Bertha M., married to Frank Wertley; Catherine A., married to William Kriegbaum; and Clarence K.

Clarence K. Martz was born. April 9, 1873. re- ceived his education in the schools of the home locality and was reared upon the farm until he reached the age of nineteen. At that time he went to Elysburg to learn the trade of blacksmith with Joseph Lynn, remaining there for a period of five years, after which he went to Shamokin for a vear. After that he carried on a farm in con- nection with his trade for some time, and in 1902 Peter Culp, son of Henry, was born April 22, 1811. and lived and died in what is now Upper Augusta township. His birth and death occurred on the same farm. He followed farming all his life, and died at a comparatively early age. Sept. 5, 1850. He is buried in the Union cemetery at Sunbury. His wife, Gertrude Lantz, was a daugh- began business at his present stand, in Paxinos, where he has been doing business continuously since. It is a fine location, and he has built up a profit- able custom, doing a general blacksmith and wheel- wright business. In 1907 he admitted William E. Fisher to a partnership in the business, the firm being known as Martz & Fisher. Mr. Martz has ter of Samuel and Magdalene (Martz) Lantz, her served his township in the capacity of supervisor, father a foremost citizen of Rockefeller township. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Culp had the following chil- which office he has held for three years. He is a

Republican in politics and in religion a Lutheran, dren: Susan, who married William Weitzel (both belonging to St. Jacob's (Recd's) Church. So- are deceased) ; Henry, late of Sunbury ; Samuel. cially he holds membership in the P. O. S. of A. of Sunbury (he was a soldier in the Civil war) :

and in the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Martz married Julia A. Epler, daughter of Amos Epler, of Shamokin township, aud to this union have been born two children, namely : Clara and Fred.

PETER F. CULP, now of Sunbury, made his home on his farm in Rockefeller township from

Henry Culp (or Kolb) was a native of one of the lower counties of Pennsylvania, born March 10, 1191, and was one of the pioneer settlers in his section of Northumberland county, where he located on what is known as the old Pike (Tul- pehocken ) road, about two miles east of Sunbury. He owned a farm in Augusta (now Upper Au- gusta) township, which has since been divided into several tracts. He lost considerable of his estate through the shrinkage of Continental currency. His death occurred Sept. 11, 1833, and lie is buried at Sunbury. He was a member of the German Reformed Church. His wife, Saloma, born in February, 1790, died April 15, 1835. They were the parents of the following children: Ben- jamin lived in Crawford county, Pa .; Willian lived in Millersburg, Elkhart Co., Ind., and there are still many Kolps, Kolbs. Colbs and Colps in that county, descendants of this family; Samuel died at Shamokin, Pa .; Charles lived at Ashland, Pa., where he conducted a hotel : Hettie (Esther) married a Mr. Brobst and they lived at McEwens- ville, Pa. ; Sarah married Henry Kniss (who had a brother Peter), of Rockefeller township, where he followed farming; Peter is mentioned below.

David, who died while serving in the army during the Civil war : Richard. also a soldier in the Civil war, who lived and died in Sunbury: Albert S. : and Peter F.

Peter F. Culp was trained from boyhood to farm life, and has always retained his interest in agricultural pursuits. Since 1822 he has been an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,

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being engaged as car inspector at the Sunbury yards. In 1891 he settled on his ninety-acre sas) ; John; and two who died young. There farm in Rockefeller township, which was formerly were two children by the second union : Anna, Mrs. Peter F. Culp, and Isaialı A., of Kansas. the old Judge Abraham Shipmau homestead, and for ten years. he owned and operated the Judge Daniel D. Heilman, son of Daniel, was born in Lower Augusta township Dec. 25, 1829, and died on his farm there June 30, 1904. He was a farmer, but also followed the carpenter's trade and undertaking. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Hanck, who was born Nov. 15, 1831, daughter of David and Anna (Lantz) Hauek, and died Oct. 11, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Heilman are buried at the Augustaville Church. They had four chil- dren : Margaret Anna, wife of Robert Charles : Clara Elizabeth, Mrs. A. J. Smith : Dr. D. Frank- lin, of Northumberland; and John Calvin, who was accidentally killed in Indiana, when twenty- five years old: Shipman grist and saw mill, which stood on his property. He is an energetic and active man, and though occupied with his business interests has found time for public service and social pleasures. For twenty-three years he held the office of school director, serving over fifteen years as secretary of the board. He has long been a working member of the Democratic party, and has served a num- ber of times as delegate to the county conventions. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, and he was choir leader of the Lantz Church (named after his grandfather) for over twelve years. Recently he and his wife took a month's trip through the West. They came to Sunbury April 3, 1911, aud reside at No. 1273 East Market street.

In 1823 Mr. Culp married Anna Heilman, daugliter of Daniel and Margaret. (Smeltzer) Hcil- man, and they have had a family of eight chil- · dren : Gertrude, who married Jacob Drumm; Mar- garet. wife of Ed. Bartholomew, of Sunbury; Creighton Glenn, who married Gertrude Reader, and resides in Sunbury; Peal Vernon, who mar- ried Mary Hewett. and lives in Sunbury: Roval Palmer, who married Stella Lytle and farms the homestead place in Rockefeller township; Albert Bernard, who married Ethel Weitzel and lives in Rockefeller township; Bessie Blanche, and Bryan Darlington.

Daniel Heilman, father of Mrs. Culp, was born Jan. 26, 17.95, in Northampton county. Pa., and came to Northumberland county about 1820. set- tling in Lower Augusta township on the farm now owned by his granddaughter, Margaret Anna (Heilman), wife of Robert Charles. Here he died April 29, 1875. He served as a soldier during the war of 1812-15. Mr. Heilman was employed as a cabinetmaker,.carpenter and undertaker. In politics he was a Democrat. in religious connec- tion a devout member of the Lutheran Church, serving many years in the church council. ITis first wife, Gertraut (Diehl), born Jan. 18, 1993, died Oct. 22, 18-16, and his second wife. Margaret (Smeltzer), of Lower Augusta township, daughter of Daniel Smeltzer. who came from Stone Valley. and widow of Christopher Ummel, died Jan. 5. 1888, aged seventy-three years. three months. sixteen days. Mr. Heilman and both his wives are buried at the Augustaville Lutheran and Re- formed Church. Mrs. Heilman was a member of the Reformed congregation. Ten children were born to the first marriage: Lydia, Mrs. Henry H. Malick : Hannah, Mrs. William Maliek :. friends.

Gertrude, Mrs. Henry Savage; Jeremiah, of Ne- braska; Daniel D .; Maria, Mrs. Hiram Bloom ;

Esther, Mrs. Andrew Hauck (they live in Kan-

ALBERT S. CULP, son of Peter and brother of Peter F. Culp, was born Nov. 29, 1848, and lived near the Lantz Church, in Rockefeller township, where. he owned a piece of property. He was a car inspector for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Sunbury, where he was accidentally killed, while on duty. March 16, 1882. He is buried at Lantz's Church. His wife, Annie K. (Hower). now (1910) fifty-eight years old, survives, making her home with her sons. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Culp: Samuel E., who is unmarried ; Charles L .; Sarah G., who died aged twelve years; and Mary K., who married Rev. E. L. Kistler, a Lutheran minister located near Sunbury, who died in the spring of 1911.

Charles L. Culp, son of Albert S. Culp, was born Sept. 10, 1874, in Rockefeller township. For over fifteen years he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in the spring of 1909 commencing farming on his own account in Rockefeller township. he and his brother Sam- uel E. purchasing the 116-acre tract formerly known as the George M. Kelly farm. They are cultivating this land, and Mr. Culp makes a specialty of dairying. selling his milk wholesale in Sunbury. He is an enterprising and progress- ive young man, and has accomplished consider- able even in the short period he has devoted him- self to agricultural work. In 1897 he married Henrietta DeWitt, daughter of David DeWitt, aud they have one son, Albert David.

JOHN O'GARA. of Shamokin. member of the firm of O'Gara & Dooley, who conduct a hotel at No. 322 Independence street, opposite the. Read- ing station, is well known in that connection and also as the leader in central Pennsylvania of those who encourage and support clean sports. His activity in this dircetion has won him many

Mr. O'Gara was born at Trevorton, this county. Dec. 24, 1861, son of Patrick O'Gara. who was

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born in Ireland in 1829 and came to America in 1845. He landed at New York City but did not remain there long, proceeding to Beaver Meadows, Carbon Co., Pa., where he found work at the mines. Later he made his home at Trevorton, Northumberland connty, where he continued min- ing to the end of his active days. He died in 1896, at Shamokin. Mr. O'Gara married Mar- garet Donlin, a native of Ireland, who came to this country with her parents in 1845 and lived at Beaver Meadows, where she was married. She died in 1900.' Seven children were born to this union, Catherine, Thomas, Mary, Bridget, John, Michael and Daniel.

John O'Gara attended. school at Trevorton and began work as a slate picker, working as such for a short time. He then drove team in the mines and in time beeanie a miner, following mining for about twenty years, during which time he was employed at the North Franklin. Sterling. Burn- side and Bear Valley collieries. After abandon- ing mining he was for six years engaged as a elerk for J. E. Herrold, at the "Exchange Hotel," at Shamokin, of which he became proprietor at the end of that period, conducting it successfully for six years on his own account. In 1908 he be- came associated with his brother-in-law. J. W. Dooley, under the firm name of O'Gara & Dooley, and they have since condueted the hotel at No. 322 Independence street. opposite the Reading station. The location is particularly favorable. and they have a large patronage, which they re- tain by fair treatment and attention to the wel- fare of their patrons.

Mr. O'Gara's connection with the promotion of clean sports has made him a well known figure throughout central Pennsylvania. He is an au- thority on such matters and well fitted for leader- ship. Fraternally he holds membership in the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is a Democrat in politics and a Catholic in religion, being a member of St. Ed- ward's Church at Shamokin.

PETER ROOS, outside foreman at one of the largest collieries in Northumberland county, the Locust. Spring colliery at Locust Gap, in Mount Carmel township, has been engaged in mining ever since he commenced work with the exception of a comparatively short time spent at the black- smith trade. He has had about twenty years' experience as assistant foreman and foreman.

Mr. Roos was born in 1860 at Thomaston, Schuylkill Co., Pa., son of Peter Roos, a native of Germany who came to this country in his young manhood and passed the remainder of his life in this seetion of Pennsylvania. He settled in Schuylkill county, where he worked at the mines, and died at Mahanoy City, in that county, at the age of forty-five years. His wife, Catherine (Ecker), lived to the age of seventy-two, dying in 1908. They were the parents of nine children : Catherine .. Mary, Peter, George, John, Anthony, Barbara, Philip and Christine.

Peter Roos received his edueation in the public schools of Mahanoy City. He was only a boy when he began picking slate at the breaker, and he was thus employed until he reached the age of fourteen, when he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, following that occupation for some time. He then became employed at the Boston Run colliery, in the capacity of assistant foreman, continuing to hold that position for about ten years, until he eame to Locust Gap to take the position of outside foreman at the Loenst Spring colliery. Three hundred and fifty men and boys are employed at this colliery. and Mr. Roos's long service there attests his value as an intelligent and faithful overseer. He is familiar with all the details of sueeessful mining in this section and a man to be relied upon to do his duty well.

In 1884 Mr. Roos married Elizabeth Becker. daughter of Mathias Beeker. a Frenchman. and seven children have been born to them. namely : George, Barbara. Mary. Lena, Christiana, Eliza- beth and Catherine. Mr. Roos is a member of the Catholic Church. He does not adhere to any political party, voting independently, as publie questions and candidates appeal to him. He is one of the most esteemed residents of Locust Gap. a citizen whose infinenee is considerable and always. exerted in favor of the most worthy objeets.

HARRY F. CONRAD, one of the younger mer- On June 25, 1884, Mr. O'Gara married Ella chants of Sunbury doing a thriving business Mansfield, who died June 19, 1891, the mother of there, was born April 21, 1882, in Penn township, four children : Frank. Mary ( married George F. Snyder Co .. Pa., son of Aaron A. Conrad. He Mullen), Morris and Arthur. His second wife comes of a family which has been identified with was Jennie Dooley, dangliter of Michael and Catharine ( Kerstetter) Dooley, and they have had eight children : Edwin, Warren, Hilda, Ruth. Martha, Leon, Helen and Elizabeth.

this part of Northumberland county for several generations. Jacob and Adam Conrad are shown by the records to have been taxables in Augusta township in 1774. In the early aeeounts of the Conrads we find that John Conrad, the great- grandfather of Harry F. Conrad. owned a farm of some four hundred acres east of Sunbury. This John Conrad, born March 18. 1177, died June 11. 1839. He married Julia Cooper, and they had children as follows: Daniel married a Miss Wolfe : William married Susan Huey and (second) a Mr. Bartholomew, and had a son George: Eli married Polly Gerlinger: George married Esther Reeser :

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Julia Ann married Henry Gass and had William, as a trustee of the Reformed Church of which he Jacob, George, Maria, Susan, Louise and Harriet ; and his family are members. Kate married Mr. Cooper; Sarah married Charles Gelirlinger; Ann Maria married Decadon Herb and had Julia, Maria, Daniel, Decadon ( married Mrs. Maria Dietrich) and Samuel; Susan married Samuel Herb.

On Dec. 10, 1877, Mr. Conrad married Mary E. Weis, daughter of Urias and Sarah (Duke) Weis, farming people of Washington township, Snyder county, and they have had two children, Roberta (who lives with her parents) and Harry F. In March, 1911, Mr. Aaron A. Conrad returned to Sunbury, where he now makes his home.

George Conrad, son of John, born Ang. 26, 1808, died May 17, 18:7. He owned a large farm, comprising some two hundred and fifty acres, upon which what is now the eastern portion of Sunbury is built. He married Esther Reeser, born July 26, 1811, died Nov. 11, 1886. and they be- cante the parents of the following children : Catha- rine married Albert Buckley and had four chil- dren, Florine (married Charles Zerbe), Clara (married John Evert), Alice (died young) and Hattic; William died young; Harriet married Philip Eckman and had a daughter Esther ; Henry married Sophia Fasold ; Aaron A. is mentioned below; Gideon was the next in the family; Silas married Ellen Clark.

Aaron A. Conrad, son of George, was born May he purchased the stock, good will and fixtures of . 9, 1852, in Upper Augusta township, and received

Harry F. Conrad received a public school edu- cation at Selinsgrove, and during his earlier years took an active part in local athletic affairs. When he started out for himself he became a traveling salesman for the Witman, Schwartz Company, wholesale grocers of Harrisburg, Pa .. in whose employ he continued for six years, from June 12, 1904, to May 1, 1910, his territory be- ing in Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon and Bed- ford counties. Meantime, he had gained consider- able familiarity with the trade and wide experience, so that when he started in the business on his own account it was not as a novice. On May 4, 1910. J. F. Berlew, a grocer located at the corner of his education there in the common schools. He Market and Tenth streets, Sunbury, and there he was reared to farm life, but has not been engaged has since been established in business. handling a complete line of fancy groceries and fresh meats. He employs four clerks, and has a large trade. making deliveries all over the town. Personally Mr. Conrad has a high reputation. and he has every prospect of making a substantial place for himself among the prosperous business men of the borough. in agricultural pursuits for many years. In 1817 he engaged in inerchandising in that part of Upper Augusta township which later became East Sun- bury, and is now included within the limits of the borough of Sunbury, his store being located at the southeast corner of Tenth and Market streets. There he did business until 1880, when he moved to Penn township. Snyder county, and became On Sept. 10, 1905, Mr. Conrad married Auna M. Miller, daughter of Joseph A. and Mary J. ( Fry) Miller, of Lewistown, Pa. They have one son, Joseph Miller Conrad. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are members of the Lutheran Church. interested in milling. In May, 1886. he moved to Selinsgrove, this county, where he has since made his home. For some time he carried on a general gristmilling business at an old mill locally known in the earlier days as Snyder's mill, and later as Conrad's mill : the establishment is over one hun- WILLIAM PHILIPPI, of Shamokin, North- umberland county, has made his home in that city ever since he came to this country from his native Germany, and he has conducted his present bakery since 1901. His home and place of business are at the corner of Sunbury and Pearl streets. dred years old, and is one of the landmarks of Lower Augusta township. For eight years Mr. Conrad did an extensive business shipping fruit to New York, Pittsburg and the West, in the fall season. He is now living retired. Successful and energetie in his business undertakings, he Mr. Philippi was born Sept. 3, 1862. at Rhein- busch, Neunkirchen, Germany, son of Nicholas Philippi, who for many years was the postmaster at Neunkirchen, where he died. William Philippi learned the trade of baker in his native country. He came to America in 1891, landing at Phila- delphia June 3rd of that. vear. After six weeks in that city he proceeded to Pottsville, Pa .. where he remained three weeks, in September, 1891, ar- riving at Shamokin, which has since been his home. Not finding employment at his trade immediately. he went to mining, which occupation he followed for three years before he commenced baking again. By 1901 he was in shape to go into business on has also been active and useful in his relations to the community, having served as school director six years, during which time he was president of the board four years and treasurer one year; as street commissioner one year. and as assessor three years, in spite of the fact that he was a Democrat in a Republican stronghold. He has been promi- nent in local fraternal organizations, having been first president of Washington Camp No. 936, P. O. S. of A., of Selinsgrove (he has passed through all the chairs) ; and is a past grand of Selins- grove Lodge, No. 197, I. O. O. F., and active in the work of that body. He served fourteen years

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his own account and he established the bakery at Auchmuty, was born near Selinsgrove, Pa., and Sunbury and Pearl streets which he has since conducted. His thrift and thorough understand- ing of the business have brought him deserved prosperity and held a large and increasing patron- age. In 1908 he built the fine home at Sunbury and Pearl streets which he and his family now occupy, a two-story brick house 25 by 50 feet in dimensions. The bake house is on the rear of the lot.

On Nov. 3, 1903, Mr. Philippi married Mrs. Sarah A. ( Markle) Tretter, daughter of Martin Markle, a prominent citizen of Shamokin, and widow of Charles Tretter, who died in 1894; he was a jeweler by trade. By her first marriage Mrs. Philippi had three children, namely: Ferdinand M., who lives in Schuylkill county; Lena A., at home; and Catharine, who died in infancy. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Philippi. The family are members of St. Edward's Catholic Church.

FRANKLIN A. BERGSTRESSER, of Locust Gap, Northumberland county, who is engaged as machinist at the Locust Spring colliery, was born Aug. 3, 1866, at Shamokin, this county, son of Asa Bergstresser, and comes of an old family which has long been established in eastern Penn- sylvania.

John Jacob Bergstresser, luis emigrant ancestor, was born in Germany, came to this country in 1231 and made his home in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Later, with his three brothers, he removed to Union county, where they were among the earliest settlers.

Philip Bergstresser, son of John Jacob, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., was a farmer by occupation, and a pioneer in Snyder county, where he died.

then . removed to Berrysburg. Dauphin county. where he followed his trade in connection withi farming until his death. He served as captain of a company of American volunteers in the war of 1812. He married Ann Auchmuty, and they had a family of ten children: Jacob. William, Mary (Mrs. Joseph Shipman ). John. Lot. Phebe (Mrs. Jonathan Hoffman ). Samuel A .. Hannah (Mrs. Daniel Rumbarger). Asa and Julia (Mrs. A. B. Sprout), the last survivor of this family being Samnel A. Bergstresser.

Mrs. Ann ( Auchmutv) Bergstresser was of Scotch Presbyterian stock. Her father, Samuel

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 104

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1024