Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 18

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 18

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).

The Lark family is of Swiss, origin. George Lark, great-grandfather of Charles C., was born in Mifflin township. Dauphin county, and became a farmer. there. He died at the age of twenty- nine years, and is buried at Buffington church in his native township. He married Elizabeth Enterline, who married ( seeond) Captain Snyder, of Lykens township, Dauphin eounty. After the death of her second husband she made her home with her son George, and died there aged seventy- five years. . To George and Elizabeth Lark were born four children : Amos and Elizabeth, who died young ; John ; and George, who settled at Berrys- burg, as a merchant, and was the father of Leon, Elizabeth, Edward, William B., Mamie, Annie and Clara.

Jolin Lark, son of George, was born on the old homestead in Mifflin township Feb. 7, 1826. He learned the stonemason's trade as a young man, but never followed it. He devoted his time to farming, and died in Salina, Saline Co., Kans., aged seventy-two years, and is buried there. He married Leah Shoop, daughter of Jacob Shoop. preme and Superior courts of the State, and the and they had two children: George, who died in infancy ; and Emanuel S.

Emanuel S. Lark, son of John, was born in Mifflin township, on the same farm on which both his father and grandfather were born, Feb. 8, 1853. He attended the local schools, Freeburg Academy, in Snyder county, Berrysburg Seminary and Millersburg Academy. He taught ten terms of school in Dauphin and Northumberland eonn- ties, and was very successful as an instructor. Turning his attention to farmning on the old home- stead, he remained there for three years, after

Charles C. Lark was but six years of age when his parents came to Shamokin. He was gradu- ated from the Shamokin high school with hon- ors in 1893, and for a number of years was en- gaged in teaching, for four years being principal of the Coal township schools. In 1894 he began the study of law in the office of John Quincy Adams, Esq., and was admitted to the North- umberland county bar in 1898. During his prep- aration for his profession he engaged in teaching. In 1898 he formed a partnership with Frederick B. Moser,, noder the firm name of Lark & Moser. which was dissolved in October, 1906. Mr. Lark has also been admitted to practice before the Su-

United States District and Cireuit eourts. He has been employed in a large number of important cases tried in Northumberland and other counties since his admission to the bar, among which de- serving special mention are Bucher vs. Northuni- berland County, and Commonwealth vs. Angelo Molignani.

The former of these cases involved the liability of the county for alleged negligence on the part of the county commissioners in failing to keep in good condition the sidewalks in the publie street adjoining the courthouse at Sunbury. In the de-

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fense of the county he contended that there was ing, and, although the youngest financial institu- no liability; and even though owners have been tion of Shamokin, it enjoys the unqualified con- held responsible for their negligence in not prop- fidence of its patrons. Mr. Lark is a director and solicitor for this institution. He is also a director and solicitor for the Central Building & Loan As- sociation of Shamokin, as well as a number of erly maintaining the sidewalks abutting on their properties under similar circumstances, Mr. Lark was successful in convincing the Supreme court of Pennsylvania that the county is a quasi munic- other corporations.

On Nov. 5, 1896, Mr. Lark was married to

ipal corporation, a political subdivision and the agent of the State in the erection and mainte- Iney Cornelia Hamilton, daughter of the late nance of the courthouse and its appurtenances, and Maj. E. C. Hamilton, of Shamokin, and they have the State not being liable, its agent, the county, three children, Cornelia E., Leah H. and Mir- cannot be either. This case at the time attracted iam R.

, wide attention and was commented upon editori- ally by the large metropolitan newspapers; it was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

HAUPT. The Haupt family, which now has a number of representatives in Shamokin, was

The case against Molignani was one in which founded in this country by Conrad Haupt, a na- the defendant was charged with murder. On the tive of Wurtemberg, Germany, who settled in fifth day after the commission of the crime the Berks county, Pa. He had five sons: Conrad, trial was begun, and it was very generally pre- who settled in Lower Augusta township, North- dicted that the defendant would have to answer umberland county: Daniel, who settled in Belle- with his life. The jury, after having deliberated fonte, Center county: Samuel, who settled in Schuylkill county; John, who settled in the west-

for five full days, decided that the defendant was not guilty of first degree murder. Mr. Lark's ern part of the State: and Henry, the ancestor address to the jury in behalf of Molignani is said of the Haupt family here under consideration. to have been one of the most logical and finest Henry Haupt, son of Conrad, the emigrant an- oratorical efforts heard in the local courts in years. cestor, was born toward the close of the eighteenth He is regarded as a resourceful lawyer, and as century. He came from Berks county to North- an eloquent pleader before a jury. He is faith- umberland when a young man and was a pioneer ful to the trust his clients repose in him, and in the Mahanoy valley, settling in Coal (now is honorable in his dealings. In 1903-05 he held Cameron) township; he had about four hundred the office of county solicitor. acres of land in the valley. He served five years

Mr. Lark has been active in politics, has fre- in the Revolutionary war and after its close was quently appeared as a delegate in Republican coun- ty conventions, and in 1901 was a delegate to the lie was a private in Capt. Michael Hoelman's State convention.

engaged in fighting the Indians for two years; company, Chester county militia. in 1781 [page

Mr. Lark is a member of St. John's Reformed 858, Vol. V, 5th Series, Pennsylvania Archives]. Church and was, for a number of years, a mem- At one time during the war he had nothing to ber of its consistory and superintendent of its eat for three days but a chicken hawk and a rat- Sunday school. Fraternally he is a thirty-second- tlesnake. He died about 1847. He was a Dem- degree Mason, belonging to Shamokin Lodge, No. ocrat in politics and quite active in the affairs 255, F. & A. M .; and Caldwell Consistory, thirty- of his locality, filling a number of minor town- second degree, at Bloomsburg. He also belongs to James A. Garfield Lodge, No. 1061, I. O. O. F .; Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of A. ; the Royal Arcanum ; and Independence Fire Company. He is a mem- ber of the Temple Club.

ship offices ; in religious belief he was a Lutheran. His children were: Jacob, who died in the Ma- hanoy Valley : Benjamin, who died in the Maha- noy Valley; John: George, who died in Lower Augusta ; Susanna, Mrs. George Kreamer: Annie, Mrs. Samuel Derr : Mary, Mrs. Henry Klock ; Mrs.

In the spring of 1910 Mr. Lark began organiz- ing the Dime Trust and Safe Deposit Company, Daniel Kreamer, of Schuylkill county : Sarah, Mrs. with a capital of $125,000, and a surplus of $125 .- George Derk: and Hetty, Mrs. Gideon Derk. 000. He was successful in his efforts and on May

John Haupt, son of Henry, was born April 26, 16, 1910, this institution was opened for business, 1808, in Cameron township, and grew up on the and on April 1, 1911. moved into its handsome homestead. He learned the trade of stonemason, five-story, fireproof building at the corner of Inde- which he followed in connection with farming, pendence and Market streets. Shamokin. In its and was a substantial citizen of his day. He held directorate are some of the best and most sub- various township offices, and was identified with the Democratic party in politics and in religion stantial business men of Shamokin. The building occupied by this institution is without doubt the with the Lutheran Church, of which he was an finest in Pennsylvania outside of the large cities. active member and liberal supporter, and in which Ever since its opening day the Dime Trust and he held the office of elder. He died in November, Safe Deposit Company has been gradually grow- 1873, and is buried at the White church near

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Gowen City. Mr. Haupt married Catherine Maur- particularly active in local matters outside of busi- er, like liniself a native of Cameron township, and ness he is interested in the success of the Repub- a daughter of Philip Maurer, and she survived lican party and has served as delegate to county him, making her home with her son John. Eight convention. children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haupt: Sarah, Mr. Haupt married Emma R. Williams, daugli- ter of James Williams, of Shamokin, and they have one son, W. Earle, who is now a high school pupil. The family home is at No. 220 Sunbury street. Mrs. William Yoder, living in Jefferson county, Pa. : Catherine, who lives in Philadelphia; Mary, who married Washington Smink and . (second) Jolin Bohner ; Benjamin : Annie, Mrs. Jared Hov- erter; Philip, a resident of Cameron township; John, of Cameron township; and William, of Shamokin.

Some years ago Mr. Haupt had a remarkable escape. He and Judge L. S. Walter, of Mount Carniel, were passengers on the Lehigh Valley rail- road train wrecked at Dunellen, N. J., Jan. 9, 1899, and though seventeen persons in the coach in which they rode were killed they were unin- jured.

WILLIAM T. HAUPT, son of Benjamin, was born at Shamokin April 26, 1876, and there received his education in the public schools. He learned the butcher's trade with his father, but for some years during his early life was engaged at slate picking in the summer months, finding employ- ment at the mines for a number of years. How- ever, butchering has always been his principal oc- cupation, and he was engaged with his father until 1902, in which year he and his brother, Harry E. Haupt, engaged in business on their own account. South Market street. Shamokin, a building which was erected in 1896. The Haupt homestead, next door, was erected in 1869. The firm, which is known as Haupt Brothers, does a thriving busi- less, carrying both meats and groceries, and the trade is large and steadily increasing, thanks to the Haupts' commendable methods and judicious catering to the wants of their customers.

a much respected citizen of Shamokin, where he They occupy their father's old stand at No. 259

served as a member of the borough council, and was also quite active in church work, being a trustee of the Evangelical Church at Shamokin, in which he hield membership. He was a Repub- lican in political matters.

In 1863 Mr. Haupt married Catharine Hen- ninger, daughter of Thomas Henninger, and five of the eight children born to this union survive, namely: Josephi H., Elizabeth (married George.

Mr. Haupt married Jennie Miser, daughter of E. Long), Jennie (wife of N. E. Stepp), William Jonathan Miser, of Snyder county, Pa. They T. and Harrison E. Augustus died in 1903. The have no children. He is a Republican in politics, and socially holds membership in the Sons of Vet- erans, the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, the K. of P., and the local lodge of the B. P. O. Elks.

mother of. this family died in 1880, and in 188? Mr. Haupt married Elizabeth Daniel, daughter of Elias Daniel, of Schuylkill county, Pa. One child was born to this union, Charles D.

JOSEPH H. HAUPT, son of Benjamin, was born May 14, 1866, at Bell's Tunnel. near Mount Car- mel, this county, and came to Shamokin with his

schools, and began work as a slate picker, being employed at the mines until he reached the age of eighteen. He has since followed the butcher business, and since February, 1904, has had a store of his own, at present conducting two estab- lishments in Shamokin. one on Eighth street and one on Independence street. He has built up a lucrative trade, which is constantly on the in- crease, and his satisfactory service and sincere de- sire to please customers have had their reward in the long continued patronage of many who have dealt at his establishments. He is a very favor- ably known citizen of the borough, and though not

YOCUM. The Yocum family of Northumber- land county to which Adonijah F. Yocum and George W. Yocum, cousins, belong was founded parents in childhood. He attended the public here by their grandfather, who was a member of the old Berks county (Pa.) family of Yocum or Yocom. The name has long been familiar to the inhabitants of that section of Pennsylvania, and the family is particularly prominent in the lower end of Berks county. The earlier generations were identified with Oley township, but Nicholas Yo- com, who founded the family in Cumru town- ship, settling there about the beginning of the last century, came from Douglassville.

Late in the seventeenth century a colony of Swedes settled at the Wissahickon, near Philadel- phia. In 1201 a number of these Swedes, among whom were three "Yocom" brothers, settled along

Benjamin Haupt, son of Jolin, was born Jan. 15, 1841, in Cameron township, and was reared upon the farm settled by his grandfather, remain- ing there until he entered the government service during the Civil war. He was drafted in 1862 and assigned to the 172d Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, serving nine months. After his army service he engaged in mining, which he followed for seventeen years, in 1880 engaging in the butch- er business in the borough of Shamokin. He re- nioved from his first stand after several years to the place where he was located many years. then located two doors below. buying out Joseph Reitz, and in 1893 came to the corner of Market and Mulberry streets. He died Oct. 6, 1902. He was

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the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, in the locality ing from Berks county after his marriage to of Douglassville, Berks county. Surveys for land Northumberland county, he settled in Shamokin for these pioneers were made Oct. 21, 1701, and township at the present location of Paxinos. He and his wife are interred in the old Presbyterian

patents were issued between 1704 and 1705 for these lands. One J. Jonas "Jocun" (then "Yo- burial ground near Reed's station. comb," also spelled Yokham, Yocum and now Yo- granted him by the Peuns for 350 acres in Amity township. On the eastern bank of the Schuylkill where the Douglassville bridge spans the river, is an historic stone house erected in 1716 by Mourice Jones. He was a son-in-law of J. Jonas Yocom,

Their chil- dren were: Alexander, Peter, Daniel, Michael,. com), youngest of these brothers, had a patent Mrs. Hettie Carr and Mrs. Boughner.

Alexander Yocom was born May 19, 1824, at Paxinos, Northumberland county, and learned the. miller's trade, which he followed for some time, in all about eighteen years, first at Klinesgrove, later at Powers' mill and subsequently at Roar- and was an executor, with Peter Yocum, of the ing Creek. He then bought the Adam Gilger farm will of J. Jonas Yocum. This document was of 109 acres, in what is now Ralpho township,. made Aug. 8, 1757, and was witnessed by Morde- now owned by his son George W., and at that cai, Thomas and Joseph Millard, Quaker people place devoted himself to farming until his death, which occurred March 24, 1893. He is buried at the Methodist church at Bear Gap, in which- church he held membership and served as deacon. To him and his wife Martha Jane (Lot) were. born children as follows: Mary J., who is de- ceased ; Anna E., wife of William Fisher; Clara B., wife of John Unger; Sarah E., wife of Wil- liam F. Adams; and George W. of Union township. The will was entered in Berks county courthouse for probate Dec. 27, 1760, and he left a large estate, equitably divided among the following children: Peter, who obtained one of the homesteads: Judith Mary; Margaret, and John. At the making of the will, the "beloved" wife of the ancestor was still living. The son John, who had died prior to the making of his aged father's will, left his widow Margaret and three sons, Jonas, Peter and John, the youngest child born after the fatlier's death. The ancestor amply provided for his widowed daughter-in-law.

Moses Yocom, of Douglass township, a descend- ant of J. Jonas, made his will May 20, 1823; it was probated Feb. 28, 1824, and is recorded vived him. The executors of the will were Daniel Yocom and Jacob Fritz. His children were : Moses, John, Peter, George, Mary, Ann and Hannalı.

The will of Maria Yocom, of Douglass town- ship, probated in 1829, provides that each of the legatecs of lier will shall buy a large family Bible for each of their children. Her children were : Ann, who married Jonas Yocom ; Rachel Ragsize, who had a daughter Mary; and Daniel Yocom. Daniel Yocom, son, and Jonas Yocom, son-in-law, were cxceutors of the will.

John Yocom (son of John, and grandson of J. Jonas) was born in 1749 and died Oct. 14, In 1885 Mr. Yocum married Sallie A. Pen- syl, and they have a family of five: Martha S.,. Edward B., S. Alexander, William C. and Caro- line G. 1823. He had a son Moses, born on the homestead in Amity township Oct. 11, 1786, who died Aug. 30, 1850. Moses Yocom was married to Susanna, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Weaver, who were George Pensyl, Mrs. Yocum's grandfather, mar- ried Mary Keller. and they had a large family : Solomon, Jacob, Jeremiah, George, Daniel, John, beth. the parents of Peter Weaver, who was the father of Col. Jeremiah Weaver. Susanna ( Weaver) Yo- com was born Ang. 18, 1791, and died May 19, Henry, Leah, Polly, Hannah, Susanna and Eliza- 1872. Moses and Susanna Yocom had a son Wil- liam, born Jan. 23, 1817. He married Mary B. Kline, a daughter of George Kline, and they had a son William B. Yocom, a prominent man of Amity township.

Solomon Pensyl, son of George, was a farmer- and merchant and a well known man of his dis- trict, serving as tax collector and in other town- ship offices. He died at Riverside May 24, 1904,

The grandfather of Adonijah F. and George and his widow, Caroline (Epler), is still living W. Yocom was undoubtedly of this stock. Mov- at that place. Their children were: Mary Ellen,

GEORGE W. Yocux, son of AAlexander, is a well known farmer of Ralpho township, born Feb. 22, 1864, at the place where he now resides. He ob- tained his schooling in the locality, and for a time after liis school days were over was em- ploved at the farm work with his father. Going to Shamokin, he was engaged in railroading three

cery of Amos Mengel, at Shamokin. Returning to farm work, he spent two years cultivating dif- ferent farms and in 1891 located on the home- stead, whereon he has since lived. He purchased the property in 1908. Many improvements have. been made on the place during his occupancy. He is enterprising and thrifty, attends the Sha- mokin markets, and conducts his work in a busi- ness-like manner. Mr. Yocum has taken an inter- est in the public administration and has served as overseer of the poor of Ralpho township. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Lutheran, being a member of Blue Church.

in Will Book D, page 449. His wife Susanna sur- years and for one year he was clerk in the gro-

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deceased, who was the wife of E. B. Vought; Schuylkill county, when only twenty-seven years Sallie A., Mrs. Yocum ; Harriet S., wife of John old. Clingman : and H. Willington, who died young.

John J. Laughlin attended sehool at Ashland and there began work as a elerk in the employ Michael Yocum, brotlier of Alexander, above, of the railway company with which he is still eon-

was born at Paxinos, in Shamokin township, and followed farming all his life. He died at the Ridge, in Shamokin township, in 1845, and is in- terred in the old Presbyterian burial ground near Reed's station, in Ralpho township. His wife, Anna (Fahrensworth), died at the age of sixty- seven years, and is interred in the Baptist burial ground in Shamokin township. They had chil- dren : John lives in Trevorton, this county ; Saralı J., widow of Michael Yarnold, lives at Sunbury : Susanna, widow of Hiram Dill, lives in Shamo- kin township: Adonijah F. is mentioned below; Francis died young.

nected, in 1879. He was the first agent at Ash- land, whence he was transferred to Centralia, Columbia county, and thence to Girardville, Schuylkill county. He was also at Lost Creek, Schuylkill county, for a time before receiving his position as station agent at Mount Carmel, in the fall of 1898. This is an important station, and nine clerks are engaged here. The first railroad opened to Mount Carmel was the old Northern C'entral, in 1854, and the next was the Lehigh Valley. in 1866. The present Lehigh Valley & Pennsylvania station at that point was constructed in 1907. Mount Carmel is a great shipping point, and there has been a steady increase of business which greatly enhanced its consequence during Mr. Laughlin's incumbency of the position. He proved a competent and resourceful man in the place, pos- sessing good judgment in the transaction of the business of the station, and gained and held the

ADONIJAH F. Yocry, who is engaged in the teaming business at Shamokin, was born Jan. 1, 1844, in Shamokin township, and received his ed- ucation in the public sehools. He assisted his mother as soon as he was able, his father having died when he was an infant. During the Civil war he served nine months in the Union army, respect of his fellow citizens in his adopted place. enlisting in Company C, 131st Regiment, Penn- On Nov. 1, 1910, he resigned as joint agent to accept the agency of the Adams and Southern Express Companies at Mount Carmel. While liv- ing in Columbia county, Pa., Mr. Laughlin was elected justice of the peace for two terms, on the People's tieket. sylvania Volunteers. Subsequently he spent one year at Trevorton, in 1864 moving to Shamokin and locating at the place where he still resides, No. 28 South Shamokin street. For a period of twenty-four years he followed mining, and he then engaged in the hauling business, in which he has established quite a profitable patronage. He is a steady-going, reliable man, and has the respeet of his fellow citizens. In politics he is a Repub- liean, in religion a Lutheran.

On Sept. 16, 1890, Mr. Laughlin married Cath- erine Flanagan, daughter of Peter Flanagan, a merehant of Ashland, Pa., and they are the par- ents of six children, namely : Howard, Mary, Margaret, Nellie, Lawrence and John.

Mr. Yocum married Harriet Fegley, daughter Mr. Laughlin is a Catholie in religious faith and is a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus, having been the first grand knight of the Mount Carmel organization. He is also a member of the local lodge of Elks. of John Fegley. She died March 24, 1905, and is buried at Shamokin. The following children were born to this union : Hannah E., William and Bertha all died young; George C., who is a mer- chant and has other business interests at Shamo- kin, married Clara Haupt and (seeond) Anna Johns: Harry E., who is associated in the store an educator of several years' standing in Sunbury, with his brother George, married Gertrude Crason and their children are Marion, David, Harry and Edward ; Benneville married Annie Isaacs, and died in 1910.

PROF. WILLIAM MENDON KLECKNER, founder and principal of the Sunbury Commercial College and in charge of the commercial depart- ment of the Sunbury high school, has made a high reputation in his special field and has beeome widely known in the pursuit of his chosen calling.

JOHN J. LAUGHLIN, express agent at Mount Taylor Kleckner, his father, was a native of New Berlin, Pa., born in 1848, and died May 29, 1904, in Lewisburg. Union county, aged sixty-six years. In his earlier life he followed farming, later becoming a salesman for the Champion Reaper Company, for whom he traveled twenty- four years, his territory covering Union. Snyder and Northumberland counties. He was a Luth- eran and an active church member, serving some Carmel, Northumberland county, until recently station agent of the Lehigh Valley & Pennsyl- vania Railway Company at that point. was born Dee. 28. 1862, in Schuylkill county, Pa .. son of Lawrenee Laughlin. The father was a native of Ireland and came to America when a young man, settling in Schuylkill county. He was a contract- or at the mines and also did railroad contracting, and he met an aceidental death at Ashland, years as deacon of the Dreisbach Church. Politi- 37

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cally he was a Republican. He married Angeline Mr. Smith's home; all have been razed. George Spotts, daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Derr) Long served in the war of 1812 on the American Spotts, and two children were born to them: Wil- side, and he may have been a soldier in King liam Mendon and a daughter, the latter dying in George's army during the Revolutionary war. infancy.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 18

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