Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 107

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 107

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).

Frank Bowman, and (second) Frank Warren but eight years of age. He worked his way up (both her husbands are deceased and she resides from the humblest position by faithful and efficient in Chicago, Illinois).

serviees, and has been engaged in his present

Wesley Van Gasken eame to Shamokin with his eapaeity for the past ten years.

father in boyhood and remained here until seven-

Mr. Gordon was born at Pottsville. Sehnylkill

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Co., Pa., in 1852, son of James Gordon. The by one Rev. Mr. Alexander, a Baptist Minister. father was born in Ireland and left that country During the winter of 1909-10 the church was for America when a young man, settling in Potts- torn down but the foundation of it is still intact. ville, Pa., where he lived for some time. He also This church stood distant about three city squares lived at St. Clair, in the same county, and later from the River cemetery, at Fisher's Ferry. Most removed to Ashland, where he died at the age of of the settlers who worshipped there are buried forty-five years. He was a miner by occupation. in the River cemetery. Probably there are sev- His wife, Anna Corcoran, was also a native of eral hundred buried there who have no tomb- Ireland, and sixteen children were born to them, stones to record their names or the dates of their only five of whom grew to maturity, namely: birth and departure from this life. Yet they did their share in the settlement of the district, and Michael, Patrick, James F., Nellie and Sarah.

James F. Gordon attended school at St. Clair much for the good of their posterity, and they and Ashland, in his native county. He began should not be forgotten.

picking slate at the breaker before he was eight years old, and was thus employed for two years,

PETER C. KUZMICZ, who is engaged in busi- after which he went into the mines, in which he ness at No. 427 North Shamokin street, in the has found his life work. He was engaged in the borough of Shamokin, is making a substantial po- mines at Ashland until he came to Locust Gap, sition for himself as a high-class tailor and has Northumberland county, in 1896. Here he was prospered by hard work and satisfactory service. fire boss for two years, the next two years acting He is a native of Galicia, Austria, born March 12, 1874, and his father, Stephen Kuzmicz, was a blacksmith in Austria where he lived and died. Only two of the family came to America, Peter C.

as assistant inside foreman, and in 1900 becoming inside foreman, the duties of which position he has since filled. He has a most creditable record as a careful miner and a good manager, having and his sister Amelia, who lives at Bloomfield, New Jersey.

450 men to look after. MIr. Gordon is popular with his men and with his fellow citizens of all

Mr. Kuzmicz attended school in his native land degrees in Locust Gap, respected for his indus- and there learned the trade of tailor. He landed at trious and useful life and as a typical representa- New York City in 1895 and came at once to Sha- tive of the reliable and trustworthy workers en- mokin, Northumberland Co., Pa., where he was gaged in the foremost industry of this part of the engaged in work at liis trade as journeyman for a Štate.

Mr. Gordon married Mary O'Hara, who was own. He commenced business on his own account born in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., daughter of Patrick O'Hara, and they have had six chil- dren; Anna, now the wife of John I. Carr; Thomas; Margaret, married to John J. Brodrick ; Nellie; James ; and Edward, who died when four years old. Mr. Gordon and his family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church, and he is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus and of the Holy Name Society. He is a Democrat in politics, and kinds, his skill and neatness winning and holding while a resident of Ashland served three years as a custom and being his best recommendation. He is

member of the borough council.

few years before opening an establishment of his . in 1901, at his present location, and has been suc- cessful from the start, his work at present keeping from ten to fifteen men busy. In addition to cus- tom tailoring he does cleaning and pressing, and his patronage has been growing steadily, his cus- tomers including some of the best people in Sha- mokin. He has a high reputation for satisfactory work and is conscientious in filling orders of all

a good citizen of his adopted home, industrious and thrifty, and has good standing among his fellow countrymen in Shamokin.

RIVER CEMETERY, Fisher's Ferry, Lower Augusta township. One of the earliest houses of Mr. Kuzmicz married Katie Anderson, of Sha- worship in the territory now embraced in Lower mokin, a daughter of Anthony Anderson, the lat- Augusta township, Northumberland county, was ter a native of Germany. Two children have been located at Fisher's Ferry, Pa. At the upper rail- born to this marriage: Rosie and Stephen. Mr. road crossing immediately south of the public Kuzmicz is a member of the Ruthenian Catholic road stood a one-story log building 16x24 feet. Church and active in its work and in the church The roof extended fully two feet over the walls. societies. In politics he is a Republican.

The building had an odd appearance and strongly resembled Swiss architecture. Information at this

GEORGE C. MEISER, who has the leading late day states the church was non-sectarian, and livery business in the borough of Sunbury, was born Sept. 18, 1884, in Snyder county, Pa., where the family has long been established. He came to Sunbury in 1903.

that the pioneer settlers gathered in this building dedicated to the "Glory of God" about once every month, or oftener if a minister chanced to come along who would preach the word to them. In Henry Meiser, his grandfather, was born in or 1902 the last services were held in the building near Fremont, Snyder county, and was a lifelong

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farmer, dying upon his farm, which is now owned has reached profitable proportions, and he is rc- by Charles Spoots. It consisted of about 120 garded as one of the most enterprising and hon- acres. He was a member of Grubo's Lutheran orable young business men in the city. Church, where he is buried, and his wife, Rebceea, On April 2, 1910, Mr. Meiser married Sue Ker- who survived him, is also interred there. They had stetter, daughter of Reilly Kerstetter, of Sunbury. the following children: Henry, who lived and He is a member of Fire Company No. 1, of Sun- died at Fremont, Pa. : Alice, who married John bury. Seiler and lives at McKee's Half Falls, Pa. ; Fred, living out West : Joel, of Oriental. Pa. : Elizabeth, Mrs. Reinhart, who lived at Independence, Pa .; Benjamin, who lived and died out West; and Jon- athan.

THEODORE MINER, who lives at Sagon, in Mount Carmel township, Northumberland county, is employed as teamnster at the Hickory Ridge eol- liery and has been there engaged in that capacity

Jonathan Meiser, son of Henry, was born Feb. for over twenty years. He is an industrious, re- 25, 1849, on the homestead farmi near Fremont, speeted eitizen of the neighborhood. Mr. Miner Snyder county, and like his father followed farm- was born in Columbia county, Pa., May 27, 1847, ing, until he met with a disastrous loss by fire, son of Peter Miner. His grandfather was born in about twelve years before his death. His barn Germany and died in Columbia county.

took fire and was burned with all the year's crops, a number of cattle, sleep and poultry, and as there was no insurance on any of the property the loss Peter Miner was a cooper, and in his time flour implements and live stock, including nine horses, was shipped in barrels. He followed his trade for quite a while, but later took up farming. He died at a ripe old age and was buried at Roaring Creek was so heavy that Mr. Meiser never recovered fi- forty years ago. His wife, Rebecca (Marks), was nancially. Afterward, until his death, he worked also of that county, and they had a family of six for others. He was a man who had by his indus- children, Theodore being the only son. They were :

trious and upright life won the respcet of all who Elizabeth married Joseph Gaumer, and resided knew him, and he had the sympathy of the entire in Catawissa township. Columbia county; Jane community in his misfortune. He died four miles married Jacob Artley, who died several years ago, northeast of Fremont, June 28, 1901, aged fifty- and resided in Franklin township, Columbia coun- two years, and is buried at Troutman's Evangelieal ty ; Caroline married John Mason, a Civil war vet- cran, and removed to Hazleton, Luzerne county ; Theodore will be mentioned below ; Alice and Em- Church, where he was a member. His wife, Sarah (Snyder), who survives him, and is still living near Fremont, was a daughter of David Snyder, ma were twins; Emma married Frank Magill, had of Herndon, Pa. Mrs. Mciser is now (1911) fifty- a large family and moved to Luzerne county, where one years old. They were the parents of nine chil- he died ; Alice married Hon. W. C. Kerbaugh, who dren : Mary. wife of Oliver Walter, of Middleburg, served as representative at Harrisburg.

Pa .; Jennie, married to Dory Haupt, a butehier of Theodore Miner received his education in the Shamokin, Pa .; George C .; Edward, of Snyder- publie schools of Loeust township, Columbia coun- town, Pa .; Ammon, of Shamokin; Reilly, of Sny- der county ; Clarence, of Snyder county ; a son that died in infancy, twin to Clarence; and Della, of Shaniokin.

ty. When he commenced to make his own way he worked at farming but later learned the mill- ing trade at "Mendenhall's" mill, under the tutel- age of the famous Moses McHenry. Getting a position with the Kulp, MeWilliams & MeCon- nell Company, he worked several years, going as farmer for the same company for three years, and

George C. Meiser attended the publie schools of the hoine district and was reared to farming until he was twelve years old, at which time he went to Shamokin to begin learning the butcher trade. He as a six-mule driver for another year. He then followed that business for about ten years, being secured a position as teamster at Hiekory Ridge, obliged to abandon it on aeeount of ill health, and in 1887, which position he still holds, being a faithi- in 1903 he came to Sunbury, where he has since ful employee and a reliable worker. He is a charter made his home. Upon settling in the borough he member of Washington Camp No. 619, P. O. S. began draying, at which he was engaged for five of A., also of the Commandery; a member of the years, in 1907 commencing the livery business, in Independent Order of Americans; an honored old which he has been very successful. He now has soldier and a citizen who has always commanded the leading establishment of the kind in the city, the respect of his fellow men. He lias always been keeping twelve horses. Mr. Meiser has first-class a faithful worker for the Republican party. equipment in every particular, owning fine teams

On Jan. 6, 1870, Mr. Miner married Catherine and having all the facilities for giving excellent Price, daughter of Jonas and Rebeeea Priee, of service to his patrons, and he provides vehicles for Columbia county, and they had the following chil- most of the local funerals. His business-like meth- dren: (1) Charles E. married Ellen H. Long, ods and reliable character have been the principal and their children are Robert Leroy (a base ball factors in the development of his business, which pitcher of some note), Claude E., Walter Linton,

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Emma Catherine. Edna May, Charles Albert and the predecessors of the Croninger Packing Com- Lester Earl. (2) Mary A. married A. R. Rephardt. pany. He drove the team for seven years, and on April 5, 1899, was made foreman of the large plant.

an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad. (3) Florence M. married John Weind, an engineer on He is conscientious and thorough in all that he the Pennsylvania raihoad, at Pottsville, and has three children, Mabel, Marvin L. and Ora. (4)

undertakes, and he well deserves all the credit for the position he has attained and for the place he Elmer E. married Elizabeth Moore and had chil- holds in the estimation of his employers and his dren, Marion E., Mary A .. and Lillian N. The fellow employees.

father, Elmer E. Miner, was accidentally shot and killed at Maysville. (5) C. Estella married George Grinaway and had children, Marlin W., Helen Irene and Dorothy A. Mr. Grinaway is also an engineer by trade and is at present postmaster at Sagon. He enlisted in the army and served his term in the Philippines. (6) Lillian died when thirteen days old. (?) Bessie married Ira Snyder, of Sunbury. (8) Howard L. is at home.

Mr. Straub married Ada Hoffman, daughter of Thomas Hoffman, of Bear Gap. Their home has been blessed by children as follows: George A .; Charles W .; J. Ellsworth: Melvin G. ; Alma N .: and Ruth, who died in infancy. In his political principles Mr. Straub is a Republican, but he has never taken much active part in party work. He is a charter member of Black Diamond Lodge, No. 1092, I. O. O. F., of Shamokin. With his family he attends the United Evangelical Church.

HARRY J. STRAUB, of Shamokin, foreman of the Croninger Packing Company, was born at PAUL KLINGER, inside breaker boss at the Trevorton, Pa., Feb. 16, 18:3, son of Tobias Cameron colliery, Shamokin, has been engaged

Straub, and a descendant of good industrious Ger- man ancestry.

George Straub, his grandfather, was a farmer in the Mahantango Valley, in Schuylkill County, where he had ?60 acres of excellent land. He died in Deep Creek Valley in 1858, aged fifty-three years, and is buried there. He married Bevvie Zerbe, daughter of John Zerbe, and she died aged ninety-nine years, and is buried at Williamstown. Dauphin county. They were the parents of ten children. as follows: John and George, who both died in Sehnylkill county ; Elias, who died at Sha- mokin : Joseph, who died at Girardville, Pa. ; Dan- iel, living at Williamstown; Moses, who died young; Henry, who served in the Civil war and died one week after his release from Andersonville prison ; Emanuel, born in the Mahantango Valley Nov. 5, 1843, who served in the Civil war in Com- pany D, 48th Pa. V. I., and now lives at Shamokin : Harriet, who married David Crone, and died in Schuylkill county : and Tobias.

Tobias Straub, son of George and father of Har- ry J., was born in Schuylkill county, and for many years followed mining in Schuylkill and Northum- berland counties. He is now living at Wiconisco, Dauphin county, where he is employed at day's labor. He married Ellen Schughart, who died in 1904. Their children, besides Harry J., were: Agnes, who married James Tschopp, a carpenter by trade ; George A., who was killed in the mines when but fifteen years of age ; and Sallie, who died in infancy.

there since 1888, and his entire experience in the mines covers a period of forty-four years. He is a native of Barry township, Schuylkill Co., Pa .. born Jan. 25, 1856, son of Edward B. Klinger and grandson of Jacob Klinger, and he comes of an old family of that county, his great-grandfather having lived in Deep Creek Valley, in Barry town- ship, where he died.

Jacob Klinger followed farming on the home- stead in Deep Creek Valley and died there at the age of seventy-one years. He is buried in the U. B. cemetery in that township. . He was twiee mar- ried, his second wife being a Bixler, and his chil- dren were: Benneville, Edward B., Isaac, Han- nah (married David Knarr) and Lydia (married William Minnier, and residing in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county).

Edward B. Klinger, son of Jacob, was born in 1833 at the homestead in Schuylkill county, and died in October, 1902; he is buried at the same place as his father. For several years he fol- lowed saw-milling. During the Civil war he en- listed. at Pottsville, serving with Company E. 113th Regiment, and after the war, in April, 1866, he moved to Shamokin, where he found employ- ment at the mines, doing outside work. He was a member of the G. A. R. post at Shamokin and of the Lodge of United American Mechanics. Sev- en children were born to, him and his wife Eliza- beth (Derr) : Emanuel B., who is living in Coal township, Northumberland county : Daniel D., also living in Coal township: Edward D., deceased : Pierce F., who lives at Second and Walnut streets. Shamokin : Paul: Joseph, whose residence is at Second and Independence streets. Shamokin : and Hannah, wife of Henry Welker.

Harry J. Straub attended the public schools of Williams Valley, and was only a lad of eight years when he began picking slate at the mines. Later he was engaged as a miner, being the youngest miner at that time in the Sterling colliery. He . Panl Klinger attended school in his native town- ship until the family came to Shamokin, during worked in the mines for eight years, and then be- came a driver for J. S. Reitz & Co., of Shamokin, his boyhood. About that time he began work at

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the mines, as a slate picker for Heim & Good- cluding the okl jail building ou Market street. will, and he bas done this kind of work ever since, having been at the Cameron mine since 1888, the greater part of that time as boss over different gangs. Mr. Klinger also has a grocery store at No. 915 West Walnut street, Shamokin, where he resides. He is a thrifty, intelligent and substantial citizen. Outside of his work he takes great inter- est in the welfare of the United Brethren Church, of which he has long been a most active member. having served as chorister, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, treasurer and superintend- ent ; he was president of the board of trustees dur- ing the rebuilding of the church. All his family are active members of the Sunday school. Since 1880 Mr. Klinger has been a member of Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of 1 .. and he is well known in. appearing in 1976, as overseer of the poor in Au- the Knights of the Golden Eagle,'in which he is a past chief.

In 1876 Mr. Klinger married Emma A. Cremer, tice of the county court, and frequently presiding daughter of George and Susan (Zimmerman) Cremer, and eight children have blessed this un- ion, namely : James H., who is deceased : Charles W., who married Gertrude Menidol: Susan E., at home; F. Blanch. at home: Dora H., wife of Reginald Berkheiser; Herbert H .; Lillian M., de- ceased ; and Hester I ..

John R. Cremer, grandfather of Mrs. Paul Klinger, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and later settled at Bloomsburg, Pa., where he died. He served in the Revolutionary war. His chil- dren were: Reuben, Andrew, Lydia, Catharine, Susanna, George and Louisa.

George Cremer, father of Mrs. Klinger, lived at Bloomsburg, and followed boating, also doing day's work. He married Susan Zimmerman, and their children were: Emma A. (Mrs. Klinger), James (living at Shamokin), Margaret, Lenora and Ra- ehel.

HOWARD BUYERS, of Sunbury, foreman of the construction gang for the Susquehanna Silk Mills, is a descendant of two of the oldest settled families of this section of the county. being a son of John and Mary Alice ( Painter) Buyers.

The Buyers family in this country is traced back to John Buyers, who with his wife Letitia (Pat- ton) emigrated from Monaghan, County Mon- aghan, in the North of Ireland, in 1235 or 1736, and settled in the Pequea valley, in Lancaster county, Pa. He was a farmer by occupation, and there passed the remainder of his days, being buried in Lancaster county. He had a large family, and his posterity is still numerous in that section.

Jolin Buyers, son of John and Letitia ( Patton) Buvers, was born in Lancaster county June 9. 1749, and learned the trade of carpenter. He re- moved to Sunbury, Northumberland county, short -. ly after that place was laid out, and was engaged upon the erection of many of the first houses, in-

He first resided at the sontheast corner of Race and Second streets, several years later removing to the sontheast corner of Penn and Front streets, where he began merchandising. In 196 he built a brick residence and store room on the opposite corner of Penn street, continuing business there until 1814 or 1815. . At the time of his death he lived along the river below the site of Blank & Gottshall's mill, in the brick house which he had erected. He owned what was known as "Buyers Island" in the Susquehanna river, south of Sunbury, which con- tains about ninety-five acres of fertile land, this property remaining in the Buyers name for 115 years. Mr. Buyers was prominent as a local official for many years, his name in that connection first gusta township; on Sept. 28, 1780, he was com- missioned justice of the peace, serving also as jus- in the absence of the regularly commissioned pres- ident. On Sept. 1, 1791, he was commissioned justice of the peace tor Sunbury and Augusta town- ship, serving as such some years. On Dec. 31. 1784, and on Jan. 3, 1286, he was elected county treasurer, filling that office again later, in 1787-88. From 1800 to 1808, inclusive, he was county auditor. He died at Sunbury May 5, 1821. Mr. Buyers was a Presbyterian in religious faith.

John Buyers married Ann Enllerton, daughter of William Fullerton, and she died Oct. 30, 1808, in her fifty-ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. Buvers are buried in the South Fourth street cemetery at Sun- bury. They had a family of ten children: Mar- garet, Letitia, John, William F., Sallie, Robert, Samuel, George P., Alexander F. and Jeremialı.

William F. Buyers, son of John and Ann ( Ful- lerton ) Buyers, was born Jan. 12, 1782, at Sun- bury, and learned the printing business with Breyvogel. In Kennedy's Gazette of Oct. 26, 1801. the statement is made that "William Buyers has now established a printing office at Williamsport," from which it is evident that he entered upon his career as a newspaper publisher immediately after completing his apprenticeship. His paper was the Williamsport Gazette, the pioneer newspaper of Lycoming county, Pa., which he continued to publish, under many difficulties and often irreg- ularly. nntil 1808. Returning to Sunbury, which had been without a paper since the suspension of its first journal. Der Freiheitsrogel, he started the second paper at that place. The Times, in the summer of 1812. It is said that he retired at the end of three years, but this seems improbable, as he certainly published the paper in 1816 and 1817. During the war of 1812 he commanded a company in the 17th Regiment of Pennsylvania militia. In 1815-18 he served as commissioner of North- umberland county. In 1816 he was a Fed- eral Republican candidate for Congress, but

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was defeated. The issue of his paper for years of his life he spent most of his time reading, Sept. 26, 1816, shows a four-column folio, enjoying newspapers and books, and he became 18 inches long and 11 inches wide, and as unusually well informed. In religion he was a the Congressional election was to be held the fol- strict Presbyterian. lowing month the number was replete with polit- Mr. Buyers married Mary Alice Painter, daugh- ter of Jacob Painter, of Sunbury, and they became the parents of nine children : William, who died when a boy ; John, who lives in Texas ; IIceber, who died at Fort Concho, Texas; Mary H., who mat- ried Rev. William P. Taylor, a Methodist min- ister, and died in Delaware, where her husband was then stationed; Howard ; Kate R., unmarried, living at Selinsgrove; Harris P., of Sunbury; Rev. Frank C., a Methodist minister stationed at Lock Haven, Pa. ; and Emily A., unmarried, who lives at Sunbury. ical articles. It is likely Captain Buyers published The Times throughout the period it was continued under that name. His printing office was in the second story of the "state house," which occupied the site of the present courthouse, and he was also located in a small frame building on the west side of Second street, at the corner of Barberry alley, where the "Neff House" stable now stands. Mr. Buvers died June 27, 1821, at the compar- atively early age of thirty-nine years. On Dec. 13, 1815, he married Martha Hunter, who was born Jan. 5, 1792, daughter of Alexander Hunter, and Howard Buyers was born March 25, 1862, and was reared at home to farm life. He never at- tended public school, as the family lived on Buyers Island during his youth and the father instructed the children himself. They kept regular school hours, and as the father was a man of remarkable intelligence and well informed the children did not suffer for the lack of public school advantages. Mr. Buyers continued at farm work until after he was grown, and he learned electrical work, at a descendant of Col. Samuel Hunter. Two chil- dren were born to them, Ann M., born Sept. 6, 1816, died May 9, 1853, and William D., born Jan. 5, 1819, who died March 25, 1853, neither of whom ever married, both dying after reaching maturity. George Patton Buyers, son of John and Ann (Fullerton ) Buyers, was engaged in boating on the river before the construction of the canal. He then built a canal-boat, which he ran between Sunbury and Philadelphia. He married Mrs. which he is occupied in the Silk Mills when not Martha ( IIunter) Buyers, widow of his brother busy on construction work. He has charge of the construction gang at the Susquehanna Silk Mills. having from ten to sixty men under his direction as the necessities of the work demand. He has a high reputation for efficieney, and enjoys the confidence of his employers fully. William F. Buvers, and to them were born three children : John: Hunter, who lived at Sunbury and died unmarried; and Mary, who married Latrobe B. Reed and is buried at the South Fourth street cemetery in Sunbury. Mrs. Martha (Hun- ter) Buyers died June 6, 1854.

In 1889 Mr. Buyers married Sallie Cool, a daughter of William Henry and Jane ( Leisenring) Cool, who for years lived at Montandon, North- umberland county. They have two children : Anna Painter, who is taking the classical course at Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y .; and John Howard, who is a student in the Sunbury high school. Mr. Buyers and his family are members of the Methodist Church at Sunbury.

John Buyers, son of George Patton Buyers, was born in December, 182?, in Sunbury, and lived on Buyers Island for eighteen years, engaged in farming. He moved to the island in 1869 and thence in 1887 to Selinsgrove, where he spent the remainder of his days. dying in April, 1908, in his eighty-first year. He is buried in Pomfret Manor cemetery. In his earlier life Mr. Buyers was a merchant in Sunbury for a time, and later cultivated one of the Hunter farms, until the Col. Samuel Hunter, one of the maternal an- cestors of the Buyers family above referred to, was born in 1732 in the North of Ireland. His military carcer began in 1760, on May 2d of which year he was commissioned lieutenant in Capt. Joseph Scott's company, Col. Hugh Mercer's battalion, of the Pennsylvania regiment. On Nov. 10. 1763, he became captain in Col. Turbutt Fran- cis's battalion. He was at Fort Augusta in June, 1:63, when the first intelligence of Pontiac's con- spiracy was received, and initiated the measure subsequently carried out by Colonel Burd, for the defense of that post. The following year he joined Colonel Bouquet's expedition, but was again at Fort Augusta in 1768, and doubtless earlier. ITis home was north of the town. Quoting from an breaking out of the Civil war, when he raised Company I, 58th Pennsylvania Volunteers, for the Union service, becoming the first captain of that organization, which was known as the Augusta Rangers. He was in active service in command of this company from October, 1861, to the summer of 1863; his drummer boy, John Mullein, who managed to get into the service when fourteen years old, is still living. Mr. Buyers was a man of typical military appearance, weighed 160 pounds, and was of medium build and straight as an arrow. He was officially connected with the old state militia, and he was a member of Good Intent Fire Company. His neighbors and friends held him in high esteem, and he was called upon to fill township office. But for the last twenty-five historical sketch of Sunbury : "The most extensive

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addition to the original town plat is that part of Samuel, who was born Dec. 25, 1807, and died the borough popularly known as Caketown. This July 3, 1852, leaving the farm to his sisters Mary land also formed part of the manor of Pomfret; it (born Nov. 14, 1798, died April 22, 1886) and einbraced the site of Fort Augusta, and was the Nancy (born July 16, 1803, died Feb. 21, 1859) residence of Col. Samuel Hunter until his death, and Elizabeth (wife of Henry Billington). Mary although it does not appear that he ever acquired Hunter eventually acquired 106 acres of the tract. selling it to Benjamin Hendricks Aug. 9, 1859. On June 25, 1863, it was purchased from Mr. Hendricks by Joseph W. Cake. Mrs. Martha (Hunter) Buyers, who married William F. Buy- ers and later his brother, George Patton Buyers, was also a daughter of Alexander and Ann (Hun- ter) Hunter. a proprietary interest. On April 10, 1786, John Penn, Jr., and Jolin Penn executed a conveyance to William Wilson for 342 acres of land, 'the same place and tract of land whereon the late Colonel Hunter dwelt and part of the manor of Pomfret,' the consideration being 1,026 pounds specie. The purehaser was an American officer during the Revolution and associate judge of Northumberland The other daughter of Colonel Hunter, Mrs. Mary Scott, died intestate, and her property was county, 1792-1813 . . . On the 20th of October, 1790, he sold one moiety or undivided half part divided among her children, Samuel H., Sarah of this tract to Alexander Hunter; the other (Mrs. Gobin, wife of Charles Gobin) and Susan. moiety was deeded to Mary Scott, June 17, 1811, Samuel H. Scott also died intestate, his property at a nominal consideration, and from this time going to his two sisters, who sold the farin to David Longenecker, of Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 4, 1854. It was acquired by Joseph W. Cake Aug. 23, 1859, and he founded Caketown on these two historic pieces of property. (or possibly at an earlier date), the land was known as the Hunter and Scott farms. The latter, em- bracing 140 acres, adjoined the original northern boundary of Sunbury borough; the former com- prised 133 acres."

Colonel Hunter was a prominent man at Fort Augusta until his death, which occurred there April 10, 1784. On March 24, 1772, he was commis- sioned one of the first justices for Northumberland

A. O. CAWLEY, veterinarian, Milton, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania.

THOMAS M. MILES, of Milton, has been county, was elected to the Assembly from this identified with the business life of that borough county for 1772-75, was a member of the Com- throughout the period of his residence there as mittee of Safety (1775-76), and of the Council of general superintendent of the Milton Manufactur- Censors (1783) ; when the militia was organized ing Company, one of the most important indus- at the outbreak of the Revolution he was elected colonel of the 1st Battalion, Feb. 8, 1776, was appointed county lieutenant, March 21, 1777, and reappointed April 6, 1780. In this respon- sible position he directed the movements of the local militia during the Revolution, and his official correspondence is so highly prized for accuracy and historical importance that it is preserved in the Pennsylvania Arehives. trial concerns of this section. Mr. Miles is a native of Howard, Center Co., Pa .. born in 1858. His family is an old one in that part of the State, his grandfather, Alexander Miles, having also been born at Howard, where he died when Thomas M. Miles was a small boy. He was employed in the iron mills. His family consisted of the following children : Thomas, William, Robert, Kate (mar- ried Peter Tipple) and Rebecca (married H.

Col. Samuel Hunter married Susanna Scott, Lucas). .

who survived him with two daughters, Nancy and Mary, the former marrying Alexander Hunter, the latter Samuel Scott.

Thomas Miles, son of Alexander, was born in 1828 at Howard, Center county, and followed iron working all his active life, becoming well known in his time in that connection. He died in 1901. His wife, Mary (McKenny), died in 1902,

Of the family of Alexander and Nancy (Hun- ter) Hunter we have no record positively com- plete, but various scattered records show that he and they are buried at Bellefonte, Center county. died in June, 1810, and that his widow, Ann They were the parents of children as follows : (Nancy), died Sept. 25, 1834. Continuing the William, of Johnstown, Pa .; Thomas M. : John, quotation above made, regarding the Scott and of Milesburg. Pa .: Mary, wife of A. W. Rishel : Clara, wife of E. K. Adams ; and Frank, who died

Hunter farms, "the upper division, taken in execu- tion as the property of Alexander Hunter at the in 1898. suit of John Cowden, was sold at sheriff's sale on Thomas M. Miles attended school at Howard and Milesburg. He has always been identified with the iron business since he began work, having first found employment in a rolling mill at Miles- burg, Center county, where he remained until he reached the age of eighteen. He then went to Ber- the 22d of April, 1814, and purchased by Thomas Grant. In compliance with his will, his executors and executrix, George, William and Deborah Grant, deeded it to Mrs. Nancy Hunter, widow of Alexander Hunter, October 16, 1817." Her will, made July 26, 1833, gave the farm to her son wick, Pa., where he remained until his removal

988

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to Milton, in 1887, to take the position of general known in the local fraternal bodies, holding mem- superintendent of the Milton Manufacturing Com- bership in the I. O. O. F., the Encampment, the pany. an incumbency in which he is still serving. K. G. E. and the Royal Arcanum. His long experience in the business and at this

On Dec. 25, 1879, Mr. Miles was married to particular plant has made him a valuable man in Clara Gensel, daughter of Samuel and Mary J. Gensel, of Berwick, Pa., and they have had three sons : Oscar, who is employed by the Milton Mani- facturing Company ; Frank, who is now a student at State College; and Charles, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. The family home is a beautiful residence at No. 312 Front street, Milton. Mr. Miles is a member of the Methodist Church, of which he was an official

the place, and his work is highly appreciated. Mr. Miles has seven hundred employees to look after, and his responsibilities are well managed. He has kept up with the growth of the plant. and, indeed, has furthered it by his efficient manage- ment, so that he may justly be said to have had a part in the upbuilding of one of Milton's most ex- tensive manufacturing establishments. one which vitally affects her general welfare. He is well for ten years.

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ECKMAN NDERY INC. JAN 94

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Did -To -Plens& N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 107

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