Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 11

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 11

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).

John Brennan came to the United States when a young man, and settled at Pottsville, Pa. IIe was a shoemaker, and followed his trade there un- til his death, which occurred in 1873. He mar- ried Catherine Colby, who survived, him many years, dying in 1899, and they are buried at Pottsville. They had a large family, namely : Patriek, Annie, Elizabeth, Michael, William, has for the past few years been interested in the James, Catherine, Mary, Margaret, John and Thomas L.

JACOB IRVIN MCCOLLUM, of Shamokin, livery business there in partnership with E. H. Martz, under the firm name of Martz & McCol- For a number of years before he became engaged in that line he was employed at the col- lieties. Mr. McCollum is a native of Union coun- tv, Pa., born June 22, 1862, near Winfield, son of Ephraim S. McCollum and grandson of George McCollum.

Thomas L. Brennan attended the public schools of Pottsville and began work at the mines when only a boy. picking slate. Later he became a regular miner, and on coming to Locust Gap, in February, 1908, was employed at tunnel work for a year at the Locust Spring colliery. On Feb. 23, 1909. he took charge of the "Kellagher Hotel," The MeCollum family is of Scottish origin, its founder in this country coming from Scotland at an early date. Peter McCollum, the great-grand- father of Jacob I. McCollum, lived at New Hol- a well known and old established hotel stand in this region, which he has since snecessfully man- aged. He has an obliging disposition which wins and holds custom, and bids fair to continue the land, Lancaster Co., Pa., at which place his son popularity the hotel has always enjoyed. George MeCollum was born. In his early life he

On Feb. 23. 1909, Mr. Brennan married Mrs. followed agricultural pursuits, later learning the Margaret . (Brown) Kellagher, widow of Michael Kellagher. They have no children.

trade of millwright in his native county. He fol- lowed it at different times, but not exclusively. MICHAEL KELLAGHER was born Nov. 21. 1857, at Forestville, Schuylkill Co .. Pa., son of Patrick and Jane ( Lynch) Kellagher. natives of Counties Fermanagh and Cavan, Ireland. respec- tively, who came to America in 1840. They set- Moving to Northumberland county with his wife and eldest son, he located in Point township. where he was employed at farm work by Squire Gale. He then went to Union county, where he lived for many years, and was there employed at his trade by Squire Shannon, repairing mills. His tled in Schuylkill county, where the father began closing years were spent in retirement at the home work in the mines, following that occupation 'of his son Ephraim S., in Trevorton, Northum- throughout his active years. In the late sixties berland county, where he died. He is buried there. he removed to Locust Gap, where he made a per- His wife. Julia ( Irvin), a native of Lancaster county. died in Union county. They had children as follows: Uriah died in Union county: Samuel

manent home and died. He and his wife had a family of twelve children, two of whom died young. the others being as follows: Michael. Mary died in Union county : Mary married Jacob Mein- ( Mrs. John McHugh), William. Jane, Robert, John, Anna, Kate, Susan and Elizabeth.

er and died at Danville, Pa .: William died at Danville, Pa. : Jane married Edward Clark: Eph- raim S. is mentioned below : Julia married Charles Mills: George died in Union county; Alexander is living in the borough of Shamokin.

Michael Kellagher received his education in the publie schools. He was only nine when he began work at a coal breaker, and continued work at the mines until he reached the age of twenty-one. Ephraim S. McCollunu, son of George, was born when he established himself as proprietor of the Nov. 17, 1838, in Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Pa .. "Locust Summit Hotel" at Locust Gap. He was and attended the local schools until he reached successfully engaged as a hotel-keeper there un- the age of twelve years. For the next five years til his death, which occurred Aug. 19, 1902. Mr. he was employed at the iron ore mines, after which

his end of Northumberland county, and a man highly respected by all who came in contact with him. He was a Democrat in polities, served as school director of Mount Carmel township, and in 1881 was elected county commissioner, in which

On April 14, 1887, Mr. Kellagher married Margaret Brown, daughter of Simon and Mary (Caser) Brown. of Danville, Pa., and to them were born five children. namely: Jennie, who was a public school teacher before her marriage to Raymond Everett: Florence, who is engaged as a teacher in Mount Carmel township; Margaret ; William, and Helen. Mr. Kellagher was a Catho- lic in religious faith.

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he was engaged at the ironworks at Union Fur- ceeded to Berks county, Pa .. where they made a naee, Union county, for some time. There he en- permanent home, and where Sebastian Spat passed listed, in 1864, for service in the Union army his youth and early married life. All his ehil- dren were born there. He brought his family to during the Civil war, joining Company M, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, for one year. After the Northumberland eounty in an early day, settling war he came to Northumberland county, being first at Shamokin, and followed work at the mines until his retirement, being employed in both the rock and coal mines. Since 1909 he has not done cated in the Stone Valley, which region was wild any laborious work. He lived at Trevorton several years, and now resides in Shamokin.

Mr. McCollum married Sarah Allvord, a native of Selfuylkill county. Pa., daughter of George All- vord, of Williams Valley, that county. She died June 29, 1881, at Trevorton. Northumberland county, the mother of three children: Jacob I .; trade. Jane, who married Jolin A. Weaver, of Shamo- kin ; and Frederick, living at Burnside.

Jacob I. McCollum, son of Ephraim $., received his education in the publie schools of Trevorton. He began work at the North Franklin eolliery, No. 10, where he continued to be employed for abont ten years, at the end of which time he came to Shamokin and went to work at the Henry Clay colliery, where he remained one year and three months. From there he changed to the Burnside colliery, where he was employed continuously for the long period of twenty-two years. On Dee. 6, 1909, Mr. McCollum returned to Shamokin and formed his present association with his son-in-law, E. H. Martz, engaging in the livery business un- der the firm . name of Martz & MeCollum. They have established a large and paying business, and have a reputation for reliability which attracts and holds their patrons.

Mr. MeCollum has become well known in va- rious connections. He has been active in the local interests of the Republican party, and for three years served as register assessor of the South Coal District. Socially he holds membership in Shamokin Lodge, I. O. O. F., Shamokin Lodge, B. P. O. E., the K. G. E., the Red Men and the Conclave, S. P. K. He belongs to the Evan- gelieal church. For some time he was a member of the old Trevorton band.

in that part of Mahanoy township now known as Lower Mahanoy, where he died Mareh 26, 1802. He was a large land owner, his property being lo- when he located there. The Indians were his neighbors. Among his children were Johannes, Adam and Matthias. The last named lived in the vieinity of Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., Pa., where he is buried, and the Spotts family of that region are his deseendants. He was a blacksmith by

Johannes Spatz (as he spelled tlie name), son of Sebastian, was born May 24, 1762, in Berks county (probably in Bern township), and died Nov. 24, 1856, when over ninety-four years old. His tombstone is in the old part of the grave- vard of Stone Valley church. He married Anna Maria Keiser (1765-1834). also a native of Berks county. and they eame to Northumberland eounty soon after their marriage, carrying all their. be- longings in a bundle. This was about 1784. Tak- ing up land in Stone Valley now embraced in the farm of John H. Spotts, a deseendant, they erect- ed a log hut near the fine spring which still makes that tract famous in the vicinity, it being one of the strongest and purest in the State. The land has remained in the family name continuously since-a period of over 126 years. The country was in its primitive state at the time of their set- tlement here. Wolves and bears often visited their clearing, and bears several times killed pigs in the pen : onee they licked out the kettles in which "Mother" Spatz cooked the mush. Johannes Spatz was a man of medium size, but healthy, ro- bust and industrious, and he was a profieient blacksmith, following the trade for forty years, and only abandoning it eventually because of a disabled arm. He made hinges, loeks, ete., and found his mechanical skill very useful in the new country. In those days the pioneers in this local- ity had to take their grain to Reading to be ground, and they had to buy all their market goods at the same point, where what little pro- duce they had to sell or exeliange was also dis-

On July 24, 1883, Mr. McCollum married Mary Haupt, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Sarah (Frame) Haupt. and they have had a large fam- ily, namely: Sarah May, wife of E. H. Martz; Jolmn W .: Hettie A .; Frederick I .: Ivanhoe; posed of. In going down the steep hills they were George C .: Samuel I .; Ralph W .; Theodore R., obliged to improvise brakes for their wagons, and. Mary J.

which they did by chopping down trees which (with all their branches) they fastened by ehains

SPOTTS. There are two branches of the to the back of the wagon. Among the possessions . Spotts family in Lower Mahanoy township, both of Johannes Spatz and his wife which have come descended from Sebastian Spat, the aneestor of a down as treasured heirlooms to the present gen- numerous family, who was born on the ship while eration are a walnut bureau made by one Jolin his parents were en route to America, Feb. 25, Schmidt and now owned by Henry Spotts, grand- 1740. They were natives of Wurtemberg. Ger- son of Johannes. Miss Fietta Spotts, of Dalmatia, many. After landing at Philadelphia they pro- has chinaware that belonged to them, red and blue

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dishes that are unusually beautiful and highly val- supervisor, while in Ohio, he has never taken .any ucd. This pioneer couple were German Reformed active part in public life. In politics he is a Dem- members of the Stone Valley Church, which he ocrat. He belongs to the Reformed congregation served as elder many years. He was well informed at Stone Valley Church.

concerning the Scriptures, and during his later veais spent much time in their.perusal. His family consisted of two sons and four daughters: . Eliza- beth ( Betz) ., Mrs. Kemp; Catharine, Mrs. Jo- hannes Brosius: Mrs. Adam Herb; Mrs. Philip Spayd : Johannes, born Sept. 15, 1786, who died Feb. 3, 1810. from the effects of his efforts in a jumping match in which the boys and young men of his distriet participated one Sunday; and Ja- ·col).

In 1856 Mr. Spotts married Emma Jane Binga- man, who became the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Fietta ; Saralı Elizabeth, wife of Peter H. Daubert; John O., of Port Treverton, Pa .; and William C., of Shamokin Dam, Pa. For his second wife Mr. Spotts married Anna M. Bubb, by whom he has three sons: George Clarence is engaged in farni- ing the land of his sister in Lower Mahanoy town- ship; Leon lives in Mahanoy City (he was a soldier in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war) : Philip, who is a railroader, lives at Sun- bury, this county.

Jacob Spotts, son of Johannes, was born June 14, 1:88, in what is now Lower Mahanoy town- ship, and died on his farm there June 16, 1852. He owned the farm which was formerly his fa- MISS FIETTA SPOTTS owns a farm of seventy- four acres in Lower Mahanoy township, which her brother is farming. She made her home in Dal- matia, where she had a nice residence, comfortable and well equipped, until her recent removal to Harrisburg, Pa. She is a member of the Reformed congregation of the Dalmatia Union Church, and for a number of years was active in the Sunday school work of that organization. ther's. and in the ownership of which Jacob was succeeded by his son Jacob, the latter's son Uriah next obtaining possession of it .. and John H. Spotts. the present owner, being Uriah's son. Ja- cob Spotts, Sr., built the present barn on the place and part of the house. He was a blacksmith by trade, and skillful in turning ont various pro- ducts, making nails, iron spoons, etc. His grand- daughter, Fietta Spotts, has a frying pan that he made with a hammer. He was a man of fairly good Adam Spotts, another son of Sebastian Spat, the pioneer, was born in Berks county, Pa., and lived there until after his marriage. About 1806 he came to what is now Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, settling on the farm along the Mahantango creek now owned by John H. Witmer. He was a blacksmith by trade, as werc two of his brothers, one settling near Northum- berland, and the other two, Johannes and Adam, in Mahanoy (now Lower Mahanoy) township. education, all in German. He took an active part in church work, belonging to Zion's Church of Stone Valley, which he served as trustee and elder His wife, Sarah Maria ( Emerich), born Apri! 28. 1789, daughter of John Michacl Emerich. died Dec. 14, 1842 or 1873. Ten children were born to this couple: Jacob : Adam, who died when twenty years old; John: Elizabeth, who married Jo!m Seiler: George; Philip; Catharine, who married Isaac Schaffer; Michael ; Henry; and William, Adam Spotts is buried at the Stone Valley Church, who died in youth. in Lower Mahanoy township. His wife. Barbara

HENRY SPOTTS, son of Jacob, was born June 12, ( Fritz). was from Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa. Their 1831, on the homestead farm in Lower Mahanoy children were as follows: Elizabeth married John township, and has passed all but seven years of Spayd: Mary, Magdalena married Daniel Radel : Sally hharried Samuel Witmer ; Lydia married Nicholas Bohner: Joseph married Sarah Shutt: Michael married Catharine Bolmer; John married Lydia Hepner. his life in this section. He was reared to farm life, and when eighteen years old commenced to learn the trade of saddler from a man named Kemp, who came from Berks county. He followed his trade in various localities. Moving out to Ohio, he lived there for seven years. in New Pitts- burg. Wayne county, where he followed his trade, conducted a hotel, and for two years engaged in butchering. For eleven years Mr. Spotts was en- gaged in hotel-keeping at MeKces Half Falls. where he also lived for five years more, and he also conducted a hotel at Shamokin Dam. where he lived for three years. When seventy-five years Joseph Spotts, son of Adam, was known as "Lo- cust" Spotts. He was a well known merchant at Line Mountain. in Lower Mahanov. He married old he made a double set of harness which his daughter Fietta owns and prizes greatly. He has always been regarded as a reliable and valuable cit- Sarah Shutt, and they had children: William, izen, in every community with which he has been Catharine, Polly, Hannah and John. identified, though except for a year's service as Michael Spotts, son of Adam, was the progen-

John Spotts, son of Adam, was a farmer in Lower Mahanoy township, owning the place which now belongs to Henry Kiehl. He was nicknamed "Monty." Mr. Spotts made the old kind of wood- en pumps, and he was noted for his skill and reli- ability as a fencemaker. He married Lydia Hep- ner. and his children were: Samuel. Isaac, Elias, Joel. Frank. Benjamin, Eliza and Sophia.

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itor of the line in which we are at present inter- the spring of 1910, when he purchased the old ested. Like his brothers, he had a nickname, be- Samuel Hepner homestead there. This property ing well known as "Pinky" Spotts. He was an ex- consists of thirty acres, lying on the road between pert miller, and followed his trade for many years, living at different mills. Born in Lower Mahanoy township, he ended his days in the same vicinity, dying at Pillow (Uniontown) Feb. 17, 1901, aged eighty-three years. four months; he is buried at that place. His wife, Catharine ( Bohner), daugh- ter of Henry Bohner. died May 10, 1897. aged ser- enty-six years, two months, twenty-one days. The following children were born to this union : Henry ; John ; Aaron ; Mary ( Polly), Mrs. Heury Searer : Adam ; Sarah, Mrs. Fred Wiest: Andrew : Louisa, Mrs. Emanuel Michael ; Benneville: Ellen, Mrs. Leon Martz: Michael.

Aaron Spotts, son of Michael, was born Feb. 6. 1844, on the farm in Lower Mahanoy township now owned by Pierce Bover, and he was reared in that township. During his early life he followed farming, to which he had been trained from early boyhood, and for a number of years he was a ten- ant farmer. He served as a soldier in Company D, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, having enlisted for three years, and war closed. In 1872 he purchased twenty-five there he has since resided, cultivating his land and engaging in other work. He built his house in 1873 and his barn in 1887. For some years Mr. Spotts followed carpentering, and for five years he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, working on bridges. He has been quite active in the public affairs of the commun- ity, served two terms as constable, and is at pres- ent one of the road commissioners. Politically he is a Republican.

had served eighteen months of his tern when the Church, belonging to the Reformed congregation. Politically he is a Republican, and he has taken acres of land, part of the Samuel Miller farm, and considerable interest in the welfare of his party in his locality : he has served as register assessor.

On Oct. 3, 1867. Mr. Spotts married Sarah Jane Schaffer, who was born in 1847, daughter of Abra- of Samuel H. Dornsife.

ham and Elizabeth ( Reed) Schaffer, and died Feb. 22, 1889. She is buried at Zion's Stone Valley Church. Six children were born to this union, two of whom, one son and one daughter, died young, the others being: Harry E .; Lizzie. Mrs. Elmer I. Radel; Eva J., Mrs. Jere W. Lenker : and Rev. George W., a Reformed minister now living at Tremont, Pa., who married Pauline Schock. Mr. Spotts and his family are members of the Reformed congregation of the Stone Valley Church, and he has served as deacon.

HARRY E. SPOTTS, son of Aaron, was born Oct. 6, 1872, in Lower Mahanoy township. where he is now engaged in farming. He worked for his parents until he became of age, meanwhile reeeiv- ing a good practical education in the local public schools and a thorough training to farm work. In the spring of 1893 he began farming as a ten- ant in his native township, renting land until

Hickory Corners and Pillow. Mr. Spotts is par- ticularly interested in poultry raising. He has various other business affairs to occupy his time and attention, being associated closely in business matters with Dr. M. L. Emerick, for whom he is private secretary, also looking after the Doctor's financial interests to a large extent. Mr. Spotts has property in Washington, D. C., which he owns individually, and besides has large holdings in the Federal Realty Company and in the Keystone Realty Company, both of Washington, D. C. His real estate transactions have reached considerable proportions, and he has handled them ably and in- telligently, proving himself a man of ability in his different undertakings.

On Sept. 1, 1892, Mr. Spotts married Mary E. Radel, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Lenker) Radel, and to them have been born thirteen chil- dren, six of whom are deceased, the survivors be- ing: Cordelia May, Mary Jane. Lottie Fav. Ed- na M., Harry A., Stella and Marlan. Mr. Spotts and his family are members of the Stone Valley

FREDERICK R. DORNSIFE. merchant and proprietor of the "Hotel Dornsife." at Dorusife, this county, was born in Little Mahanoy township .Jan. 15, 1871, son of Samuel II. and Harriet ( Raker) Dornsife. The family has long been established in that section, Daniel Dornsife. grand- father of Frederick R. Dornsife, having lived there on the farm later owned by his son Samuel and now in the possession of Henry Reed. son-in-law

Daniel Dornaife was born Oet. 28, 1:92, and died Aug. 2, 1859, aged sixty-six years. nine months, six days. He and his wife Anna ( Herb) are buried at the Little Mahanoy Church, of which they were Lutheran members. By occupation he was a farmer. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The children of Daniel and Anna ( Herb) Dornsite were: Susan married Conrad Raker: Anna married Daniel Raker: Lydia HI .. born Oct. 29. 1837, died unmarried Aug. 25. 1863: Rebecca married John Raker: Isaac lived in Ma- hanov City : Harry ( Henry ) lived in Kansas City ; Samuel H. is mentioned below : Dr. Daniel lived at Nanticoke. Pennsylvania.

Henry Dornsife, brother of Daniel (above). was born JJune 9. 1794, and died Sept. 3, 1867; his wife, Mary Elizabeth ( Fasold). born Dee. 18, 1199, died Ang. 13. 1823. . They were farming people and lived in Little Mahanoy township.

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Their children were: John, William, Elias, Levi, and lumber, giving employment to two men and Henry, Jonathan (died young), Mary ( Polly), doing considerable of the work himself. He has Elizabeth, Catharine and Susanna.

These brothers Daniel and Henry Dornsife were the sons of one of the Hessian soldiers brought over to fight in the King's army during the Revo- lution. Like many of his countrymen he remained dred people, was named for Henry Dornsife (un- in America, settling on the west side of the Sus- quehanna river, where he died at a comparatively

early age: he is buried there. He married Eliz- creek, in successful operation. Dornsife is a sta- abeth Kahwel, who was born March 20, 1761, and tion on the Herndon branch of the Philadelphia died Sept. 3, 1827, in Little Mahanoy township, & Reading road. Northumberland county, whither she and her

In September, 190-, Mr. Dornsife married Cas- two sons Daniel and Henry moved after her hus- sie, daughter of the late Daniel M. Zartman and band's death. Here she married (second) John his wife Lena ( Peifer), of Dornsite. . Three chil- Dunkelberger (1745-1818), and they are buried in a private burial-ground on the old John Dunkel- Robert Raynold and Lena Catharine. berger homestead. Her sons Daniel and Henry Mr. Dornsife is a member of the I. O. O. F. (locally known as "Henner") Dornsife are buried lodge at Trevorton and of Lodge No. 355, B. P. O. at Little Mahanoy Church ; they were nicknamed "die Grumbera Hesse."

Samuel H. Dornsife, son of Daniel Dornsife, was born May 20, 1825, in Little Mahanoy town- ship, where he lived and died, passing away April 4, 1889. His birth and death took place on the farm now owned by his son-in-law, Henry Reed. in the western part of Little Mahanoy, though the tract was larger in his day, and he not only fol- lowed farming but blacksmithing and tanning, having a small tannery in which he made leather

become prosperous through his industry and good management, and is a creditable representative of a family always honored in this district. The vil- lage of Dornsife, a settlement of about one hun- cle of Frederick R. Dornsife), who was a miller and had a gristmill near by, on the Mahanoy dren have been born to this union : Goldie May,

Elks, of Shamokin. He is independent in politics and has taken considerable interest in local affairs, having held various public offices. At present lie is serving as tax collector of Little Mahanoy township.

ROSS. The Rosses of Lower Augusta and Rockefeller townships in Northumberland county belong to the historic family of Scottish origin founded in this country about 1256 by four broth- ers, George, William, John and Joseph Ross. na- for his own use. He also hewed millstones, and tives of Scotland, all of whom served with distinc- was an all-around mechanic, quite famous in the tion in the Revolution, making long and nier- locality for his skill. His wife Harriet, daughter itorious records as supporters of the cause of frec- of Frederick, and Elizabeth ( Hoffman) Raker, of dom. They were personally acquainted with Gen- Little Mahanoy township, died March 19, 1902, eral Washington. Betsy Ross, the Philadelphia aged sixty-five years, eight months, eighteen days, damsel who made the first American flag. adopted the inother of a large family, namely: Anna, wife by Congress at Washington's suggestion, was of of Henry Reed : Daniel, of Shamokin : Katie, wife this family, a daughter of one George Ross, who settled at Philadelphia and was a soldier in the Revolution.

' of Jacob Lenker: Samuel R., who died Jan. ??. 1901, aged thirty-one years, eight months, fifteen days ; Frederick R .; Susan, who died Sept. 23, 1890, aged seventeen years, cight monthis, twenty- eight days : Henry : Reilly : a son that died in in- fancy ; Mary, wife of Anthony Dice; David, and Felix.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 11

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